#Dark 3X07: Between the Time

[raayllum]

by the end of s5, what do you think separates claudia and callum (if anything) from being a villain vs a hero?

Oh, there's plenty that differentiates them! This may not be as articulate as I want it to be as I've spent most of the past 3+ years pointing out / trying to convince people of Callum's similarities to Claudia and Viren (which S5 finally cinched for me, beautifully) than having to describe their differences, but I'll do my best!

Callum very much has both the best and worst of Viren and Claudia when it comes to dark magic, where he kind of borrows from each of them in distinct ways to be the most.... reasonable 'dark mage' in a lot of ways, due to 1) his views on dark magic and 2) his motivations for using it. So let's dig into it.

1) Views on dark magic

Unlike Claudia, to Callum dark magic isn't something frivolous (hi dark magic pancakes) or something to aspire after. He's far more like Viren (and even then I don't think Callum would ever consider dark magic "brilliant and clever" even if it is very much practical) in terms of seeing dark magic solely as a last resort since, as I've laid out before, Callum knows it's wrong. That it's a dangerous, slippery slope, for him in particular. Callum is also just willing to do something he Knows is wrong and see it to fruition anyway.

(Now, this also plays into the series' theme of how it's always Easier to play into / perpetuate the Cycle than it is to take the harder path of breaking it, but post for another day.)

Claudia has come closer to this viewpoint in some ways in S4 (crying as she explains what she had to do to bring Viren back) but ultimately, she doesn't think/see/know Aaravos is 'evil'. She doesn't think she's doing anything Wrong But Justified because she doesn't see anything wrong with what she's doing in the first place ("Humans were born with nothing, but we still found a way to do amazing things. That's what dark magic is really all about" / "The elves and the dragons did nothing. They judged us. They pitied us" / "All through history dragons have had the power while humans lived in fear. Well times are changing"). Callum is not that, at all, hence the guilt (even if I think more of it stems now in S4/S5 from what he knows dark magic allows - Aaravos' possession that then in turn also puts his immediate loved ones in danger).

Therefore, Callum's views on dark magic are far more akin to Viren's - powerful, dangerous, a necessity that chips away at you and you alone if you do it right, if you can successfully spare other people. Viren's comfort with dark magic goes further than that, and Callum's comfort with it is lesser than that, but they are more similar I think in their views of dark magic than either of their views are to Claudia's.

Like, regardless, Callum fundamentally disagrees with dark magic - he doesn't like or want to hurt innocent people/creatures if he can help it (again, big difference between him and other two mages, even if there are definitely areas where who Callum views as 'innocent' could be improved). It's a Last Resort, but it's a Resort. His aversion, those reservations, those lines, those morals? They exist (which is a distinction) but ultimately do not matter when Ezran or Rayla are threatened.

Which is, I suppose, as good a time as any to talk about

2) Motivations

Viren's hierarchy is the 1) the world (which his family is a part of), 2) himself, usually (because he believes he is uniquely positioned to be able to help the world & make the right choices) and 3) his family. We see this hierarchy play out pretty succinctly in 1x02-1x03 with Harrow, almost beat for beat. As Viren says there (and in S5) Harrow is his family and means everything to him... but Viren is not willing to reveal or relinquish the dragon egg in hopes of stopping the assassination, because he would rather have himself or Harrow die rather than put a weapon into Xadia's hands. This is also why he's willing to warp Soren into a cinder beast in 3x07. Not only is he personally pretty far gone at that point, but he is willing to sacrifice his family (gaslighting Soren to keep Claudia tethered in 3x03, for example + "I would've asked you to choose the egg over my own life, if it came to it"). In some ways, S5 is showing that he lost that part of himself and is now reclaiming it, making it true in ways it hasn't always been. Love is what made him Lose Himself but also how he ultimately Found Himself again (which bodes very well for Callum's S6 arc, but anyway...)

Alternatively... Callum says "I value those close to me more than Anyone or Anything" (Tales of Xadia bio) and he unequivocally means it.

Callum loves Harrow dearly, but he still knows the safest place for Ezran in 1x03 is to get the fuck away from the castle, so he goes. He breaks the primal stone after watching Rayla and Ezran mutually cry and console each other as Rayla blames herself for Zym's imminent death. As discussed, he'll do dark magic in 2x07 even though he knows it's wrong because it's Rayla's life on the line. He'll jump off the mountain for her. He'll threaten and demand answers from Soren before and after learning that Ez could be in danger, and run right into a trap. He'll do literally everything he did in 5x08 for Rayla, as we know.

In this way, he is very similar to Claudia, who would likewise Do Anything for her family and always mean it, particularly her father (after all, Soren 'walked out' on her, not the other way around; she was still trying to keep them all together). It is worth noting now, though, that Viren has now circled back, so arguably all three of them are sharing in this Motivation, and prime for Aaravos' manipulation if Viren still has a further role to play (although his curtain may have closed lmao). After all:

But yeah, Callum and Claudia are two characters who have always had a steady flow of parallels and a particularly brutal slant toward each other (because their selective loyalty is not and never has been to each other) and the easiest way to have an audience still remain sympathetic to an antagonist is to draw parallels between them and a protagonist, so...

Obviously in TDP there are 'good' guys and 'bad' guys but I don't think the series is that interested in a pure black-white good vs evil dichotomy. Almost every antagonist character is still sympathetic, developed, interesting, and we can understand where they're coming from. The protagonists make plenty of mistakes and have plenty of their own biases and contradictions; it's what makes them interesting too! People aren't necessarily Villains or Heroes so much as they are people stuck in cycles of grief and violence, and the series being an exploration of how and where and why they do or don't (or can't) break those cycles. At least, that's what I find is most useful from a meta perspective.

I think ultimately what differentiates Callum and Claudia in my head is, as mentioned, the different ways they view dark magic even if they have exceedingly similar motivations for using it, as well as Callum striking me more as the type to fight so hard to save his loved ones while they're still alive, but not quite as inclined to go as far as Claudia did and follow through on a resurrection spell the way she did. He's better at emotionally processing (although it's a low bar to clear for her) and better at letting things go, and more respectful of his loved ones' wants (most of the time). If Ez and Rayla both died in tragic/traumatic ways, I think that could (understandably) really warp him to something close to Claudia, but so long as one lived, I think they could keep him from going off the rails.

Claudia left the train station a Long time ago.

More metas that may be of interest (written before S4 and S5):

How Viren and Callum stack up flaws wise (S1-S4, screencap S5 update)

How Callum's initial view of Zym differs from Ez and Rayla (S1-S3)

Callum's morality (S1-S4)

TDP's Perpetual Trolley Problem, or How the Show Frames / Deals with Sacrifice and Exchange (S1-S4)

The Interlocking of the Cycle's Wheel with Viren, Claudia, Callum, and Rayla (S1-S4)

[areseebee]

The imitating-the-head-movement thing is soo great, tbh, I wonder if he was directed to or if he did that on his own. There's some really brilliant "little acting" in this show that's just so very good. I rewatched the S2 finale, and that scene with Cathy (not her eyebrows!), when she has that discussion with Ma Mary, he's full on beaming at his mother's pathetic claims about how much she's missed him, face completely dropping at Mary's "well you did dump him here quite a long time ago!", the way he says "Mum's had a lot going on" - that was sooo nailing the abandoned child in denial about their parent's lack of affection, brilliant, but also Mary's reaction!! When her eyes stay on James for a second before going back to Cathy going on about her business, you can literally watch Ma Mary's heart break for him! Considering there's some quite silly slapsticky comedy and over the top physical stuff in there as well, in some moments we really get to see how much *serious* acting talent there's assembled in this cast! ("Serious" acting talend in addition to comic acting talent, which is obvious in practically every scene I mean)

[this ask is referencing my tags on this reblog of a gifset of james in 3x07 as he watches his erin fancam footage]

yes, totally agree! there's some really, really top tier "little acting" from the entire cast (face acting, i think it's called? idk, don't quote me on that, i am not a trained actor).

in the same vein as the "little acting," the background acting in derry girls is just so excellent. i remember an interview with one of the main cast members where they talk about how tiring some of the long filming days would be because, even if they didn't many lines, they are always in the scene, reacting or doing something in the background. orla/louisa harland gets a lot of recognition for their/her background antics, but i think james/dylan llewellyn is really, really excellent with his background acting too. and, imo, it leads to a really rich text to work with as a fic writer and makes the show endlessly layered and rewatchable. i still feel like i pick up on new things when i revisit the show.

mine and @derrygirlstrash's fic, making moves, is grounded in only a look that erin gives james in the dark when the gang is sneaking into the protestant boys' room in 2x01. she's concerned about how she "doesn't have any moves," looks back at james anxiously, he very clearly notices, and then his next line is about how "boys like girls who are confident." like! why was she looking at him? had they talked about this together before? he's so quick to reassure her, to make sure she's not worried. boom - we wrote a fic about it.

or in 3x03, when james is about to sneeze on the train and erin is looking at him encouragingly, hoping she'll get to hear about his "hopes and dreams," and michelle is looking between the two of them like she suspects something, like whatever is about to happen needs to be stopped. did michelle really just happen on them kissing in 3x04 or had she been watching them for a while, seeing this develop right in front of her eyes and try to interrupt it? because i think it's fun, my headcanon is the latter and it's based literally on that one look in 3x03 alone. i'm not gonna write it, but someone give me a "5 times michelle suspected" fic!

there's just so much there if you've got an eye to it, so many spaces for fun ideas. it's the way i like to write and think about fic - to find those spaces in a source material, to find those opportunities within it to really explore what else could be there and to better understand who the characters are to themselves and to each other. imo not all source material has those spaces, but derry girls has it in spades.

[teamfreewill2pointo]

Visiting the Supernatural shooting locations Part 2

Please find part 1 here.

On our final day, we did Deer Lake and Riverview as the main viewing points.

The thing y'all gotta keep in mind is that there are so many locations, that we drove by countless of them just driving around, so I'm not showing you most of what I saw because I didn't get pictures of it all and also because tumblr wouldn't allow me to post so many photos.

That spot that's highlighted in Riverview? They shot 1x05, 1x10, 1x13, 1x18, 2x01, 2x19, 3x15, 4x06, 4x09, 4x13, 4x16, 5x04, 5x11, 6x10, 6x21, 7x02, 7x03, 7x10, 7x17, 7x21, and 10x09 there.

And that's just one building in Riverview.

It's a beautiful park and we got really lucky with the weather and it only poured rain for half of one day. Even with the bright light, it felt very creepy and I can only imagine how it would look and feel with fog or on a cloudy day. There were a lot of signs warning people not to enter the building or stay on the premises after dark.

A lot of the finale was filmed around Deer Lake. Unfortunately, the Burnaby Village Museum was closed because apparently it's only open to the public in the summer. We weren't able to visit there, but we were able to visit several other filming sites.

One of the things I noticed is that often episodes are filmed in clumps. For example, Regarding Dean was filmed in a few locations, but they grouped together the filming at the various locations to make it easier to film. The restaurant they went to was the Denny's near the motel they went to.

At this Deer Lake location, they filmed multiple scenes from the finale Sam playing catch with son, Dean's funeral pyre, the tree scene, the house the vamps broke into, Sam going for a run, and the pie scene, plus scenes from other episodes.

We found the tree where Baby was parked

which was in a slightly different location than the map said, but close enough that we found it easily. This place looked so different

But we're at a different time of the year and we're visiting 14 years later, so it's probably due to that.

One thing that I forgot to mention on the earlier post is that while Bobby's house is gone, the junkyard is still standing and an active business.

We had read online that the owner is very friendly, but it felt kinda awkward going in there and taking photos while people are hard at work. There's a giant dog that barks at you when you walk in.

One place I wanted to visit, but didn't get to was the Spur 4 Bridge where the finale ended.

There's a few shooting locations up there including the spot where Sam and Dean split up in 5.02 and the purgatory scenes in s15, but the Spur 4 Bridge is a hike since it's on a private road. Most people access it through the Fisherman's Trail

Although it's rated as easy here, someone who hiked it recently said that due to a rockslide, bring boots. You can also bike around it.

Since it was such a long hike, I decided to save it for next visit, when I'll plan a whole day around it. I also want to visit the place where they defeat Chuck, which is up in Minaty Bay and visit the area south of Richmond where they filmed Mystery Spot and several BM scenes.

As for getting around in general, the city of Vancouver is very bikeable and there's different bike rental options available. I don't know about transporting them between locations, but you can do this section by bike easy

We had a car, which enabled us to travel to a wide variety of sites and visit locations such as the Lulu Trestle (1x07, 3x07, 4x03, 4x13, 9x14, 12x22, 15x18).

Now you can get to the Trestle by public transportation, but it'll take you an hour from Burnaby Village Museum by bus versus a 16 minute drive. If you don't have access to a car, I'd focus my visit on the cities. At one point, we split up and I took the Sky Train from Burnaby to Westminster and it was very safe and easy. I also took a few buses to get to and from various locations. Vancouver was, in my experience, a very clean, safe city, with lots of public restrooms. Just don't continue going east of Gastown. There may be other parts that are unsafe, so if you are unsure, send me a PM and I can tell you exactly where we went.

I also recommend Salmon n'Bannock, which is an Indigenous restaurant that had some of the best food I've ever had.

Hope this helps! It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend that you visit. I'd pick out your favorite places before you arrive because there's so many places and it can get overwhelming looking at the map!

[hournites]

Hot & Cold

Hournite 3x07 reaction fic

Summary: Just what happens between the cafeteria scene and the math room?

“We should check the bathrooms.” Beth surveilled the school hallway. Six cameras down, and according to her scan, five more still active in the building. So far they found the auditorium, the cafeteria, the gym, three classrooms on the first floor, and this one mounted on the ceiling in front of Cindy’s locker. The thought of cameras installed in the bathrooms of the schools absolutely disgusted her, and by the look on Rick’s face, it pissed him off too. Although, everything seemed to piss Rick off tonight. The unstable mood of his was one Beth felt very unsettled by—And she wasn’t an idiot. Rick had never turned the hourglass over? Not even for a minute? He’d given himself no reprieve. 

He nodded, leading the way. Or rather, stomping off for Beth to scurry after him. “Let’s go.” 

On the one hand she completely understood the paranoia and anxiety that accompanied finding out some unknown peeping tom was creating havoc all over town. It was a bad thing. Not only because they all had secrets; they were doomed as it were, with the cameras in their homes, a place which was supposed to be private and safe, but Beth knew—she was guilty of it—that they discussed JSA matters in public. She was the one that fully disclosed her Dragon King hypothesis in this very hall at school. So, Rick on high alert and not wanting to surrender his power source made some sense. Back when Eclipso ran loose Beth refused to take her goggles off too. She sympathized with him, really. She did. 

But this? Rick was turning the entire school into his personal punching bag. This new and improved Hourman was restless and unpredictable, grossly so, and she knew that Rick was blind to how drastically he had changed overnight. 

At the auditorium, Rick ripped half of the curtains down just because he could. She had only suggested that maybe the heavy curtains were hiding a camera, since, most productions in the theatre were recorded anyway, and Rick took that as permission to rip the entire set to shreds, proudly producing a tattered mess for her. 

Beth was appalled. 

“What is the drama teacher supposed to think!” Beth admonished. “It costs money to fund public schools!”

“Why would I care about nerdy theatre geeks?” Rick laughed, spinning on his heel. “You’re not in the theatre club, so we’re good.” 

Beth made a funny face behind his back.  

She tried talking to him. And he’d stop to listen to her, dark eyes blown wide and focused on hers with an eerie intensity. But whatever she told him it was like it went in one ear and out the other. He was too focused on impressing her. It was embarrassing. 

Pushing and shoving doors for her,  “Beth, watch this!”  and “Hey, look at that!” and “Bet you never saw anything like this!” with an obnoxious smirk that made Beth roll her eyes. He was being such a…Beth never cared to use bad words but… the phrase  A-class asshole would not leave her mind. 

He laughed, glancing at her over his shoulder when she couldn’t match his impatient steps. “We have to beat the clock, remember?” He tossed his flashlight up in the air, but his swing caused it to fly, smashing into the ceiling. It rained drywall as Beth covered her head and face with a shriek. “Rick!” 

“Oops,” he huffed. When Beth took her time to catch up with him, he smirked at her and called over his shoulder, “I can carry you if you’d like.” 

Beth clenched her fists in her gloves. “No, thank you.” 

“You sure?” He glanced her up and down as she stepped carefully over the mess he left. She felt so horrible for their custodians, Jim, Macy and Nathaniel. When Beth shook her head after picking up the flashlight and returning it to him, he huffed. “Thought you’d like it.” 

“What does that mean?”

Rick shrugged. “Whatever you want.” 

Beth held her tongue. She used to like Rick when he used his strength. She used to like it a lot. He was confident and very reassuring when she was often worried, and she couldn’t deny that was attractive. What Beth was impressed by was Rick’s well-timed decision-making in how to utilize his hour. He’d been especially prudent with it. After what had happened with Grundy, he used his abilities with a sense of duty and responsibility that Beth had respected. And while of course she knew deep down he had wanted his hourglass to last a little longer, he had never once complained.  

In front of the girl’s bathroom, Rick bursted in. He spun around, looking for cameras. Beth tapped her goggles, and found one mounted by the sinks. “There,” she said. 

Before Rick went for it, he smashed a sink in half. 

“Excuse me?” Beth jumped back. “What was that for?” 

“There was a crack in it anyway.” 

“Rick,” she seethed through a dangerous whisper, grabbing onto his arm.

Rick stopped, looking down at where she was latched onto him then grinned wolfishly at her. “You wanna hold my hand now? Just say the word.” 

She let go, flustered or angry, probably an uncomfortable mix of both. 

“Rick,” she said again, “listen to me.” 

“Okay.” 

She took the time to scan his vitals. His heart was racing at an erratic pace, his white blood cell count was off too, which was odd. 

“You need to calm down.” 

“I will when we get this done.” 

“No, I mean you need to calm down right now.” She gestured around the mess. “You are wrecking our school. We have class tomorrow. Do you understand me? You can’t wreck this place just because you feel like it!” 

She took a step forward, trusting him to yield to her, if not just for a moment. Pressing both hands to his chest, she lifted her goggles up so she could look  right up into his eyes. “Rick, I’m asking you to stop and assess. Think about what you’re doing. What are you feeling?” 

He covered her hands on his hourglass with his own with a genuine smile. “I’m feeling a lot of things.” 

Beth had a feeling that she was doing this all wrong. He’d been suggestive all day. Beth swallowed down the frustration. Rick teasing her about her feelings for him was not cool. It hurt, even. Because if Rick wasn’t hopped up on this hourglass, she was certain he wouldn’t be throwing her crush on him in her face. She wasn’t even sure that he knew that she liked him until this mission together. And the fact he’d known all along, and just to feel powerful, was making her feel small? This wasn’t the Rick she knew, and she tried to tell herself that’s why this was a problem, that he wasn’t being himself, but another part of her just wanted to go home and leave him here to cause his mess and let him get in trouble for it. To crawl into a ball in her bed and cry, that her feelings mattered so little to him that he could smirk in her face about it. First Courtney leaving Beth out of her secrets, and now Rick, too self-absorbed to realize he was hurting her. And no parents to talk to her about this, either. 

Beth swallowed it all down. “Talk to me about it. What’s on your mind right now?”

Rick said, “I’m thinking we should be close like this a lot more often.” 

“I’m being serious!” she snapped. 

He dropped his show. “Okay, okay…” Rick closed his eyes and exhaled. “I feel…I feel different.” 

“Yeah? Different how.” 

He laughed dryly. “You wouldn’t get it.” 

“No, try to tell me.” 

“I feel like I can finally be who I was meant to be.” 

“And who’s that?” she whispered. 

“Hourman.” 

“But what about Rick? What about him?” she asked. “The guy underneath the hourglass? I care about him. What’s happening to him?” 

Rick stared at her oddly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“I’m talking about the person who’s sensitive and cares about hurting people’s feelings.” 

“Who am I hurting?” 

“Me,” Beth said. “You’re hurting me by not listening to me.” 

He frowned. “I’m trying to protect you.” 

“Yeah, and you’re being a jerk about it.” 

She could tell the gears were turning in his head. “I’m sorry.” 

Beth sighed, finally, she felt she was getting through to him. “It’s okay. Clearly, something is off and we’re—“

“Wait,” Rick interrupted her. An unfamiliar look seeped into his eyes. “So, I’m a jerk because I’m happy?” 

Beth drew back. “No!” 

“You think I should be depressed?” Rick continued, returning back to their task of looking for cameras. “You want me to feel insignificant again?” 

“I’m not saying that either. You’re twisting my words!”

Rick flexed his arms, stretching them as he cricked his neck back and forth. His eyes darted anxiously around the dark hall as they returned to the hallway. “Thanks for the concern, but I’m fine.” He swung his flashlight around in circles, created a light show that made Beth dizzy. “Let’s check Ms. Woods’ room. I bet the creep show has cameras there.”

“Yeah.” 

“Good. Great.” He shook his limbs loose. His sour mood flipped fast, back to his playful banter. “Coming, moonbug?”  

“Moon...bug?” 

“It’s a nickname for you. Just thought of it now.” He winked at her. “Because the moon is your symbol and you’re small like a bug. It’s cute.” 

If this was any other day, Beth probably would’ve had to excuse herself from the sheer rush of serotonin that would’ve given her. But now, she didn’t know how to even begin the process of this whiplash of emotions. 

“Do you like it?” 

“Yeah…” she said, because she did, and she didn’t feel like having another fight. “Great. I knew you would. C’mon.”

She followed him, putting her goggles back over her eyes as her stomach filled with dread. “I’m coming.” 

[samanddeanwerehere]

Terminal City Iron Works, Vancouver

Terminal City Iron Works is a bit unusual when it comes to repeat locations as it was almost more of a back lot than a location. Once upon a time, it was actually an iron works foundry that manufactured fire hydrants and man hole covers. 

When it closed down in the late 90s, film productions started to take advantage of the space. Most notably, Dark Angel (yes, the one that Jensen was in!) came in and developed it extensively into its own Terminal City (if you’ve watched the series, you’ll know they used the name in the show). That production, which incidentally had the same production designer as Supernatural, build numerous facades in the space that made the location almost as much film set as it was a foundry. Those facades remained when Dark Angel ended and made the space desirable as a location that productions could use almost like a back lot for industrial settings. There were large warehouse and factory type spaces, a tunnel that Dark Angel had turned into a sewer set, an office space that played many a police station. And the location was host to literally hundreds of television series and movies. Anything that shot in Vancouver between 2002 and 2014 probably filmed at Terminal City at one time or another. 

Sadly, in 2015 the site was sold and all the sets demolished. The land where it once sat is now home to a modern (and boring) office park. 

I want to preface the SPN specific portion of this post by noting that the episodes I am about to list are the ones that I know of that shot at Terminal City. It is HIGHLY likely that there were even more that filmed there that I’m just not aware of and/or didn’t pick up on because I don't tend to hunt for interiors that are obviously not public.

SPN’s first Terminal City visit was right out of the gate in 1x03 Dead in the Water. That office space I mentioned that played many a police station, was used for, you guessed it, the police station where the boys first meet the sheriff and Andrea and Lucas. 

Production was back again shortly after for all the sewer scenes in 1x06 Skin, using that tunnel that Dark Angel had made into a sewer set. 

In 1x15 The Benders, Terminal City does double duty, first as the site of the first kidnapping (the Tavern sign in the second shot is a notable feature of the Terminal City set). 

And then both the exterior and interior of that office space are back as yet another police station where Dean meets Kathleen. 

John ends up back in the sewer in 1x21 Salvation while trying to thwart Meg and her demon brother. 

In 2x17 Heart, the streets of Terminal City are the site of a werewolf attack. 

2x20 What Is and What Should Never Be sees Dean getting trapped by a djinn in one of the Terminal City warehouses. 

Terminal City again does double duty in 3x07 Fresh Blood, first as the location where the boys find Lucy the vampire. 

And then later both the exterior and interior of the Terminal City buildings are used for the warehouse where the boys track down vampire Gordon. 

In 5x13 The Song Remains the Same, the interiors are used as the warehouse where Cas and Anna meet and the garage where Anna attacks John and Mary. 

In 6x21 Let It Bleed Dean rescues Ben and Lisa from one of the Terminal City warehouses. 

8x12 As Time Goes By uses Terminal City for the final confrontation with Abbadon.

Terminal City is apparently the happening place for djinn to hang out, because they are back in 8x20 Pac-Man Fever, capturing Charlie. 

The last known appearance of Terminal City was in 9x20 Bloodlines, where the gang sneaks in to rescue Violet. (Humorously, at least to me, the exterior of this location is in Chicago, thousands of miles away). 

Unless there was a Season 10 appearance I missed, that most likely is the end of Terminal City’s journey on Supernatural as it was torn down between S10 and S11. Somewhere out there, some lucky fans probably have some great photos of this set because it was one of the stops on a Russ Bus tour in 2009.

Next up in the repeat locations series, the Delta Barber Shop in Ladner!

[purpleplaid17]

Jess Watches // Wed 5 June // Day 252 & Thu 6 June // Day 253 Synopses & Favourite Scenes & Poll

Dark Matter (with B) 1x06 Superposition

Daniela suspects something's not right with her husband. Jason and Amanda grow closer.

Me trying to think back if Blair ever wore a raspberry beret in the hopes that she could be Amanda's 'partner' in Jason1's world. I've connected the two dots. You didn't connect shit. I've connected them.

Julia (with mum) 2x08 Lobster Américaine (Series Finale)

When the FBI descends on WGBH, Julia uses her experience in wartime espionage to keep the crew safe from accusations of "un-American conduct." Later, a shocking announcement could shape the future of The French Chef.

Always a joyous celebration after a successful team effort to thwart the FBI. You could tell they knew it was ending as the end speeches seemed as much from the cast as from the characters. I wished for another season but what we got was pretty amazing. Would highly recommend.

911 (with mum) 7x06 There Goes the Groom

After years of anticipation, Maddie and Chimney's long-awaited wedding day arrives. However, when the groom mysteriously vanishes, the 118 races against time to ensure he doesn't miss the most crucial day of his life.

The relief at the end as everything turned out ok. And is JLH still releasing songs? Also, did anyone used to watch Two Guys and a Girl (and a pizza place)? When Pete kisses Berg's mum and his beard rubs off on her face. Watch from 14.40.

Acapulco (with mum) 3x07 Video Killed the Radio Star

Sibling rivalry sparks tensions between Memo and Maximo. Meanwhile, Sara, Esteban, and Nora prepare for an important debate competition.

Maximo is a whiny little bitch though, Dulce is right about that lol. And I am really enjoying that Héctor is becoming the great-romantic-loving man Maximo believes himself to be. Alhough that statue of Diane was a hate crime. Also, Sara fumbling the girl and the debate was very understandable but it was so nice of Nora and Esteban to support her.

[brinleyparke]

Hawaii Five-0 Fic Ideas

Based on Specific Episodes:

Post-pilot – Kono goes to Steve's house to check on him.

Post-pilot – How do Steve's superiors react when they hear he's transferring to the Reserves?

1x12 AU – What if Steve and Kono didn't steal the money? What if Steve borrowed from a friend, perhaps Josef Kostan or Lucifer? When Steve can't give him the money back, Steve owes him a favor.

Post 2x03 – Danny reconsiders letting Steve around Grace now that he has really seen what he is capable of.

Post 2x07 – Steve apologizes to Max. They become BFFs.

Post 2x07 – Steve gets payback on Lori for the Sandy costume

Costume ideas:

Angel, Captain America, Clark Kent, cop, cowboy, dark angel, devil, firefighter, gladiator, Greek god/Adonis, handyman/mechanic, lifeguard, lumberjack, pirate, sailor, soldier/SEAL, wrestler.

Post 2x09 – Steve tells Joe what happened with Nick Taylor. Joe tells him it wasn't his fault.

Post 2x10 – Joe tells Doris about Steve being tortured.

Post 2x16 – McRollins h/c

Post 2x22 AU – Kono ends things with Adam after he almost killed Steve.

Post 3x07 – h/c for Steve. Can be McKono, McRollins, or Gen. Maybe Doris or Mary notices the roadrash on Steve's back

3x08 – Steve is upset that his team didn't trust him

Post 3x15 – Chin and Kono's thoughts after seeing the bullet with their boss's/friend's name on it

Reacher (TV show) x-over: Post 3x20 – Reacher decides to go to Hawaii because why not? He ends up getting framed for murder again because that's just his luck. Five-0 gets the case. Steve sees Reacher and looks like he's seen a ghost. Steve believes that Reacher didn't do it. The Five-0 team thinks Steve isn't thinking straight. It's up to Steve, Reacher, and Catherine to prove Reacher's innocence.

4x07 – Danny thinks Steve would actually make a good father.

4x08 – hurt/comfort; what if it wasn't just a graze?

4x08 – Grover starts to consider that maybe steve isn't such a bad guy after all

Post 5x18 – Steve feels guilty that he wasn't the one to get Chin out and that he had to choose between Chin and Danny. Steve goes to apologize to Chin. Chin assures him there's no hard feelings and that he understands why he had to get Danny first (Danny was an American cop in a Colombian prison, while Chin was in America).

6x04 AU – Steve pulls up his shirt to prove the abs are accurate. See evidence below.

Post 6x19 – Steve tells Lou about his mom faking her death and his dad sending him and Mary away.

6x25 AU – What if Chin was the one who gave Steve half his liver instead of Danny?

Post 6x25 – Lou and Chin realize that on all those nights that Steve would call Chin, Steve wasn't sleeping either. (Malia died at the same time that Steve found out his mother was still alive.)

Post 6x25 – Steve is struggling with his medical discharge from the Navy.

Kirk Emerson (the Marine with no legs from 4x20) hears about the plane crash-landing on the news. Maybe he makes some calls or something to see if Steve survived and somehow finds out about the transplant (idk how). Kirk makes a trip to Hawaii because knows what Steve is going through.

Or maybe Joe hears about it and helps Steve adjust to no longer being in the Navy.

7x16 – Insecure!Steve based on the scene where Steve mentions his crow's feet

Post season 7 finale – Steve has one of his spells during a meeting with the governor.

Based on 8x24 – John is worried when he finds out Steve was hurt. He's also grateful to Joe for saving his son and making sure he got out of there...alive.

Post-finale – Steve and Cath visit some people

Chin, Abby, and Sara

Kono

Mary and Joanie

Sam Hanna

MacGyver (they talk about Jack)

Kelly

Reggie Cole and his son (from 1x21)

Danny's family

Harry Langford

Wade Gutches

Post-finale – Steve thinks about the stranger from the hospital chapel all those years ago (from 6x25)

[black-evil-cat]

Young Noah and Young Elisabeth Doppler in Dark 3X07: Between the Time (2020) 

[pluckysidekick]

Just posted my first one shot fanfic, for Nace appreciation week 2022 Week 6 - Taylor Swift lyrics. It’s inspired by “Forever Winter”, and specifically Kennedy saying on Twitter it was an ode to Ace’s low moments in S3, and her own headcanon about Nancy’s reaction to what he was going through. I’ve been haunted by it ever since. I’ll be back next week with Chapter 4 of The Space Between (Season 4 speculation fic)!

This fic is a bit angstier than I usually write - I really wanted to capture the pain Ace is going through in S3 - and have Nancy recognize it and (hopefully) comfort him. It’s a missing scene that takes place in the early morning after the Crew discovers Hannah opened the Copperhead’s cage (3x06), and before the Dads fall under the spell of the youth elixir (3x07). Here is a taste:

Nancy’s phone buzzed, waking her from a sound sleep. She was surprised to see a text from Ace so early in the morning. It was still pitch dark outside.

Ace: im no longer undecided

She thought back to the night before. Ace wasn’t quite his normal chill self when he arrived at the Historical Society. She could tell from the look on his face that something was up. When she asked him if he was OK his answer was “undecided.” But he never elaborated, and soon after they became distracted as Bess learned from the security footage that Hannah had opened the Copperhead’s cage.

Nancy: are you ok?

She waited for a response.

Ace: I don’t think so

Read more on Ao3:

[thesquidkid]

I guess it's been a long way home, trying to face the world alone

Kind of a coda to 3x07 where Alex spends some time in the barn without really knowing what happened in Roswell, studying the Lockhart machine. The machine activates and a man with a sword shows up.

(basically my thoughts on Alex meeting Jones in 1.8k words)

Alex had been at the Gunther farm for 27 hours now, Ramos occasionally bringing him food, both of them sitting by Kyle’s bed, waiting for him to wake up. Ramos would go back and forth between the Deep Sky facility and the farm, but had told Alex to not do the same, to stay with people, have company, in hopes to not lose his mind like Trevor Gunther once had.

The Lockhart machine had been moved to the farm too, per Alex’s request, wanting to stay near Kyle in case he woke up. He barely slept in those 27 hours, closing his eyes only a few times, sitting on the chair, holding one sided conversations with Kyle.

He also barely looked at his phone, putting his whole attention on the machine, on the Caufield files. In hindsight, he probably should’ve been more in touch with his friends in Roswell. That way he maybe could’ve avoided what happened.

He was fiddling with the Lockhart machine, his computer opened on the side looking through the deep web, one had on the top of the machine observing the signals. Suddenly, the machine activated, the soundwave resonating through his entire body, shaking the walls of the barn. Before he could even process what was happening, he found himself pinned against a wall, held by a force that was both familiar yet unknown, facing a man whose face he knew quite well, holding a purple sword that looked very much alien.

“Well, well, well,” said the man with a dark smile that seemed out of place on that face, usually sweet and awkward, taking a few steps forwards in the direction of Alex, getting closer to the machine. “We meet at last, Alex Manes,” he continued, looking at him up and down, examining Alex from all angles, making him feel like an animal in a zoo.

“Jones,” Alex said as a greeting, knowing very well that the Max he knew would never act this way. His mind was racing, thinking of the best plan to follow, trying to predict Jones’ intentions. However, he quickly realised that he didn’t know that much about the man, other than he was a clone of Max (or Max was a clone of him) and that he knew more about the alien’s home planet than his friends did. Which wasn’t much to base a plan off, even with his gut telling him not to trust him. So instead of doing anything, he just stared back at Jones, who just smiled at him.

“Before we do anything, M Manes,” Jones said, his eyes circling between Alex and the machine, taking a few steps towards the latter, so that he could touch it with his hands. Alex opened his eyes in shock - the machine was reacting to Jones, the metal seemingly changing color. “I want to thank you,” he continued after a long exhale as his hand came into contact with the machine, “for bringing me exactly to where I wanted to be.” He pointed his last words by looking back at Alex, smiling in a way that was so un-Max it creeped Alex out.

He swallowed his saliva hard and frowned, how did Jones find him? Jones must’ve felt Alex’s confusion, since he continued, waving his sword around and finally settling it on his shoulder. “Oh Alex,” he said, shaking his head, “I wish I could answer all your questions, but you see I am a bit in a hurry and you are the final link I need to break.”

With that, he took the final steps towards Alex, and swung his sword down. Alex closed his eyes, knowing what was coming, having been close to death before. He waited for the sharp pain to come, already calculating his chance of survival, knowing he couldn’t move and was at Jones’ mercy. But the blow never came. He opened his eyes slowly, hesitantly, to see Jones frozen in motion, his eyebrows frowned, clearly using his force but being blocked by an invisible force. The sword was a few millimetres from Alex’s chest, touching the fabric of his jumper, so close that he could feel the heat coming from it.

“Don’t touch him!” came a shout from the entrance of the barn, making Alex raise his head in its direction, even though he already knew who it was from. Jones hadn’t moved, couldn’t probably, and was thrown away to the left of the barn, his sword flying into Michael’ hand as he ran towards Alex. Alex could feel his feet touching the ground, but didn’t have to balance to steady himself and fell, making Michael lean to him.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you? I’m gonna-” he rambled as is eyes searched Alex’s body for any sign of injury, the furry clear in his eyes, making Alex chuckle, “I’m fine, Michael,” he interrupted, “Thank you,” he added sincerely, raising Michael’s head with his right hand so they eyes could meet. The furry in Michael melted for a bit, but regained it’s amplitude as Jones laughed on the side.

“Oh isn’t it so cute, saving each other's lives.” He stood up, brushing his trousers with his hands before using his telekinesis to bring the sword back to him. “Anyway, I think some formal introductions are needed, don’t you think, son?”

Alex raised an eyebrow at this. Son? He looked back and forth between Michael and Jones, the latter smiling and the former avoiding him. “Oh my god,” he groaned, his head falling back against the wood panel he was earlier pinned against.

Michael stayed silent, his eyes looking at the floor, his body slightly shaking from what Alex assumed was anger mixed with a bit of fear. Fear of what it meant, fear of what he might become. It was one thing knowing the horrors of your father, another to actually see them. And Alex knew that very well. He stood up, using the wall to balance himself, and stepped in front of Michael, facing Jones. He crossed his arms against his chest and lifted his chin, defying Jones. He knew that it probably wasn’t the best idea, but he also knew very well that all his rational thoughts flew out the window when it came to Michael. And in this moment, he wanted nothing more than to protect him.

“I have an offer for you, Michael,” Jones breathed out, as if tired of this nonsense. What nonsense exactly, Alex didn’t know, but he didn’t want to find out what Jones would do to speed things up. At the mention of his name, Michael looked up, Alex still feeling the anger and fear off of him. “I have a plan, you see. One that involves coming back home,” he smiled at Michael, who unconsciously took a step forward at the mention of home. Jones must’ve noticed it too, as he continued, “I could take you with me, if you wanted. You could see where you are from, the family you have that stayed, the life you so desperately wanted, a life where you are loved, my son.”

As he spoke, Michael took a few steps forward, until he was now the one in front of Alex. Alex looked at him move, his mind racing through all the possibilities. As Michael turned his head towards him, however, all fears about being left alone disappeared. The look Michael gave him was a look he had once described as ‘making him seventeen again’, and he couldn’t agree more with that statement. It was a look of hope and love, but not directed towards Michael’s father or home planet, no. It was directed to the one person who had made him belong on earth. Alex.

The look didn’t last long, though, as Michael turned his head towards Jones. Alex couldn’t see his face, but if he based himself on Jones’ reaction, he could see it satisfied him. His eyes stared at the back of Michael’s skull, all he wanted to do was close his eyes and keep Michael’s look burned into his mind. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t bare himself to not watch, wanting more than anything to trust Michael. For Michael to have the same hope that he had, in them.

Michael walked forwards until he was face to face with Jones, feeling each other’s breaths on their faces. He whispered something that Alex couldn’t hear and the reaction was immediate. Jones, who was previously smiling like the evil mastermind that he was, became instantly furious, a fire burning in his eyes. Alex wanted to shout, tell Michael to take cover, but he didn’t have time as it all happened in a matter of seconds.

Jones went flying against the closest wall but not through it - which Alex found strange with the force that was used against him. His sword went to Michael’s right hand, holding it firmly. He could see Michael’s shoulders raise as he inhaled deeply. And then, just as fast as Michael threw Jones and took his sword, he pushed a bit harder and Jones vanished towards the desert.

Michael turned around finally walking slowly towards Alex, letting Alex fully see him. His hair was a mess, and had been since before he walked into the barn, anger still clear on his face. It was different, though, thought Alex as Michael waked until stopping a few feet in front of him, it was like it had diminished a bit. So had the fear, he realised, it was still there, probably would always be there, but it felt more like a background emotion, not at the forefront of Michael’s thoughts.

The two of them stared at each other for what felt like forever, Jones forgotten. “You stayed,” Alex said, echoing Michael’s words from the first morning he woke up in the airstream. Michael smiled at him, taking a deep, shallow breath, “My family is here on earth,” he said weakly, nearly a whisper. He swallowed and continued, his eyes never leaving Alex’s, “You are,” he whispered this time, so quietly that Alex nearly didn’t hear him.

Except he heard the whisper. Loud and clear. Resonating through his body bringing tears to his eyes and smile to his lips. He closed the distance between them and hugged Michael, hard. The hug was awkward, neither properly used to them, especially with each other, but they both clung hard, not wanting to let go.

“I’m not going anywhere, Alex,” whispered Michael in Alex’s ear, “Neither am I, Michael,” answered Alex in the same tone. They leaned out of the hug, their foreheads touching, the outside world a problem for another time. Right now, they needed to reassure each other, hold each other, the rest could be figured out later. They had time.

Eventually they came out of the barn, and were met with Isobel, Liz and Rosa who had put Jones back in a pod. The three women looked at both of them, smiling as they saw how closely they were walking, but distant enough that everyone knew they still had some distance to go, conversations to be had, lost time to be caught. And that would happen, in its own time, now that they were both on earth and planning to stay.

[botanicallyinclinednerd]

Moments that highlight the sibling relationship between Gwen and Elyan:

3x07: when they are reunited for the first time in years they hug. Elyan keeps hold of her protectively when Cenred approaches them with a knife. When they are alone in the room they separate

3x07: Gwen instantly assumes that Elyan did something and that's why they had both been kidnapped. She looks skeptical and annoyed even after he defensively insists he didn't do anything. She definitely seems to blame elyan for their predicament and it implies that he’s gotten into trouble in the past

3x07: After the shock of seeing him again has worn off and its just the two of them, Gwen pulls away when Elyan reaches out to touch her. She is visibly pissed at him

3x07: Despite her earlier animosity towards her brother, she is very worried about him and asks what Cenred has done with him. She is incredibly distressed when Cenred tells her the consequences of not bringing Arthur to him would be watching Elyan die. (Oh fuck)

3x07: Gwen talks to Arthur about Elyan. She says that she's always worried about Elyan. She describes him as "one of those people who never settled down, never thinks about the future, just follows his heart wherever it leads him." She also says that he "always manages to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." She says that she would still be there for him no matter what, even if he did get himself into trouble. "Thats what you do when you love someone, isn't it?"

3x07: Elyan tells Gwen she shouldn't have come back for him. Gwen responds "You're probably right. You'd think I'd have learned by now," and Elyan rolls his eyes

3x07: Elyan on the Prince Arthur detail. "Prince Arthur of Camelot?" And Gwen’s condescending tone "Yes, Elyan, Prince Arthur of Camelot." (This is a peak sibiling exchange and I love it)

3x07: the whole scene where they are talking about Arthur is excellent. Gwen getting flustered/frustrated trying to explain and Elyan being teasing but soft about it. Also the sass when Gwen says "Yes, I suppose they have" (things changing for her). Elyan says he's glad.

3x07: Elyan observes that Gwen is angry with him and she confirms that she is "A bit." She gets agitated when he tells her he'd been "here and there." We learn that its been 4 years since he left Camelot and he didn't keep in touch at all. Gwen is upset and says "you could have been dead for all I knew." Elyan weakly defends himself, claiming he meant to but it never seemed like the right time (I feel that so hard). Gwen asks why Tom dying wasn't the right moment. Elyan apologizes and sits next to her. "I haven't been much help, have I?" Gwen doesn't answer but she seems to agree with this assessment.

3x07: when Cenred's men attack them by the horses, Elyan moves Gwen out of fighting range. Gwen scoffs in amusement at Elyan's awkward response to Arthur praising his swordsmanship

3x07: Gwen tells Arthur that Elyan "means more to me than I can say"

3x13: Gwen looks very proud when Elyan is knighted

3x13: Elyan's reaction to Gwen and Arthur kissing. He smiles but he also looks away until they are done.

4x08: Gwen is stunned and outraged by Elyan telling her to mind her own businesses

4x08: Gwen notes that she hardly recognizes her brother with the way he is acting

4x08: Gwen is scared for her brother when he falls "mysteriously" ill.

4x08: Gwen tends to Elyan and expresses her fear that he won't make it if he doesn't get help soon. She is near tears

4x09: When Agravaine nods to the guards flanking Gwen to shove her to her knees, you can see Elyan in the corner start to lunge forward as if to stop them. He either holds himself back or Percival stops him, the shot changes.

4x09: Gwen makes eye contact with Elyan before he leaves the council chamber. He appears agitated.

4x10: Gwaine tells Gaius that they had noticed Elyan wasn't himself recently and while he didn't say anything, they could tell he was upset about Gwen’s banishment.

4x10: When the knights are looking for Elyan after he attacked Arthur, Leon wonders why Elyan did it. Percival seems to believe it was because of Gwen "What would you do if your sister had been banished from Camelot?"

5x01: Elyan's reaction after Gwen sentences Sefa to death for treason is shock. He didn’t expect that from her.

5x06: Elyan wrapping an arm around Gwen's shoulders after she places flowers on Tom's grave. Elyan says he is glad they came and Gwen says she is too, and she brings her hand over Elyan’s on her shoulder. Its very wholesome

5x06: Gwen says that she believes Tom would be especially proud of Elyan not only because he's a knight, but "because of the man you've become"

5x06: Gwen pounces at the insinuation that Elyan loves someone and when Elyan is evasive and claims that she is the only female he loves, she orders him to tell her, "Tell me! I'm your sister" (and that is a very bossy sibiling voice she uses). It is very wholesome teasing

5x06: Elyan is very guilty about not protecting Gwen from being taken by Morgana. We learn that Gwen raised Elyan

5x06: When Arthur says he's going to go alone to the dark tower, Elyan instantly says no. "You can't stop me, Arthur. She's my sister."

5x06: The first person Gwen hallucinated in the tower was Elyan and those few seconds before she realized he wasn't real she was smiling in relief.

5x06: Elyan finding Gwen in the tower being guarded by the sword. He instantly asks what Morgana did to her. Gwen tries repeatedly to get Elyan to leave and not fight the sword. She looks stunned when it stabs him and begs him to save himself. He obviously does not do this.

5x06 (I'm so sorry): When Elyan collapses, Gwen cushions him against her, repeating "I'm here, I'm here" Gwen's last words to her brother are "Father would be proud of you" he grabs her hand and his last words are: "And of you. So proud." Gwen sobs over Elyan.

[raayllum]

For some S4 positivity:

I am loving the different outlooks on Aaravos we are getting! I know people were/are ranting about how Zubeia did an exposition dump on Aaravos’s backstory. But we have to remember: a) the entire arc of s4-s6 is called the mystery of aaravos, not the season. and b) she’s a bias party who does not have all the information (and at one point, she did like him too. since he was “respected and loved by all” she’s not excluding herself from this, notably). in contrast with claudia’s words to soren during their conversation, it’s so *chef’s kiss.*

it honestly makes me excited to see what other views we’ll get on aaravos, and his true motives.

I also really enjoyed terry’s coming out to viren, viren’s panic attacks and how they were handled, claudia being a badass and no longer passive, and all of soren’s scenes. aaravos’s single scene in episode 4 was also 👌🏻 delicious. the new intro is also fun to listen & watch to! i love going back just to analyze it.

i’m sure i have more to say, but this is what i can think of off the top my head!

Right, like S4 pushes what we already knew (there was a mutual history of some kind between the Draconic Royal family and Aaravos) and then just amplifies it

Then we S4 we get hints at both of their perspectives on how they felt about each other personally

Like all we learned was that

Aaravos may have been involved in getting rid of the previous dragon monarch, Luna Tenebris. This is not confirmed.

Aaravos was likely involved in getting rid of Queen Aditti but we already knew that thanks to be the audience in 3x07

Aaravos has done what he did to Viren (and is doing to Claudia) many times across history. This doesn't tell us much of anything new, merely that his current machinations aren't anything new, either.

The Orphan Queen exposed his treachery in some way, according to Zubeia. The Key of Aaravos was symbolically or literally involved in doing so

Claudia confirms that Aaravos did, or at least tells humans that he did, give him magic through dark magic. This was implied all the way back in 3x01. Now it's confirmed

And... that's it. We still don't know exactly how the prison was constructed, or what crimes he was precisely imprisoned for, or what exactly he wants besides Zubeia and Soren's best guesses that are vague, but communicate intense destruction and upheaval. There's still plenty of mystery, but given that 1) this information had to be communicated orally to some degree (as Aaravos' name disappears when you read it) and 2) Zubeia has been alive for 300+ years to know what happened, even if her mate wasn't involved, I'd take this any day over only hearing from Aaravos himself, because that's about as untrustworthy as they come

It makes me think about how we hear about the death of the Dragon King and Zym over and over again. In 1x02, Rayla claims that humans attacked them unprovoked and Callum doesn't dispute it, even if we only learn in 2x05-2x06 this isn't true at all, thanks to his mother's dead at Thunder's hands. We're led to believe in the 1x01 intro that something rivalling an army took Avizandum down, and then learn in 3x06 that it was literally just Viren and King Harrow with two big dark magic spells that are extremely rare and powerful to manifest. We learn about Rayla's parents fleeing in 1x05 and only get the truth of how that encounter (and how indeed how Viren played into it, after it was hinted in 1x08) played out in 3x08. The show loooves to recontextualize and build to / add to things and perspectives over time. At this point I don't think they have to spell it out

[otp-armada]

If Jason wanted to convince me that Lxa was the love of Clarke's life, he wouldn't have killed her off, effectively cutting their love story permanently, with 4.5 seasons left of the show. Their arc, starting with their introduction in 2x07 and concluding with L's death in 3x07, is 17 episodes long, accounting for 17% of the entire narrative. If I generously add 3x16 to the count, an episode in which L is already dead in the corporeal world Clarke is trying to return to, it's a whopping, grand total of 18%. An 18% congruous with Clarke's intense connection to Bellamy and vice versa, which even A.lycia confirmed as romantic. Feelings romantic enough to spur the formation of a love triangle. An 18% ignoring Clarke's ultimate choice to go back to her people when L wanted her to stay.

CL is a chapter in the story begun and wrapped up in the first half of the narrative. And that's omitting further illumination on the finer details making CL so problematic for Clarke. Do you expect me to believe it was coincidental for CL to occur at a time when Clarke was spiraling down a dark path, commencing with Finn's death? Who played a hand in forcing Clarke's own hand, with Finn, and TonDC, and Mount Weather? Whose example inspired her to ensnare herself in armor and warpaint to be strong enough to save her people? Whose behavior did she emulate in the pushing away of support from her people? Who gave her a place to continue hiding from Bellamy, her mom, and her friends? A place to be someone other than Clarke Griffin? In lieu of facing her fears like the heroine she is? The purpose of CL wasn't to provide Clarke with a magnificent, fairy tale romance gone tragically wrong. I believe Jason's intent with the relationship aimed to further damage Clarke's psyche after L's death, to solidify the belief that her love is not only deadly to its recipients but renders her too weak to do what must be done for survival.

After 3x16, CL is an often superfluous namedrop or two per season for Clarke to briefly react to before carrying on with the plot. Season 5 aside, most of these references are needless enough to be able to interpret them as attempts at reparations for the L/CL fandom's benefit -and their views- without altering the course of the story. Crazy me for thinking it's not enough to constitute an ongoing love story. Crazy me for not thinking this was on par with interactions between living characters. Crazy me for thinking it doesn't befit a love story for the protagonist.

This sliver of the story is what Jason and the CLs would have us unquestionably believe is the pervasive love story of The 100's seven seasons?

Despite his lie and the constant gaslighting from the pineapple CLs, some of us know how to decipher what a temporary love interest is. Lxa? I think you know where I'm heading with this.

I'll acknowledge my admittedly negative appraisal of CL as someone who recognizes its value to the LGBT+ community and treats it as valid while not caring for L/CL on a narrative level. I felt, when swayed by L's influence, Clarke became the antithesis of what I found admirable about her. I resented Clarke's acquiescence of her power to the commander. I wanted nothing more than to remove the wedge L had driven between Clarke and Bellamy.

Let me try to give L/CL the benefit of the doubt for a minute. I don't hold L as responsible for Clarke's choices, but I recognize the prominent role she played in their upbringing. The push and pull was an intriguing aspect of their dynamic, as was the chance to meet a manifestation of who Clarke might have been if she was all head, no heart. Her fall from grace was arguably necessary for her to be a fully-rounded character, not a Mary Sue. It wouldn't be realistic for the protagonist of a tragic story about a brutal world to be a pure cinnamon roll. When forgiveness is an innate theme with Clarke, it would be my bias at work if I was content with her applying it to everyone but Lxa. Clarke saw enough commonalities between her and L to identify with the latter. When she extended forgiveness to L, I believe it was her way of taking the first step on the path to making peace with herself by proxy. None of this means I wanted them paired up. At best, I made my peace with seeing the relationship through to its eventual end. In time for L's death, ironically. My passivity about them notwithstanding, my conclusions are, however, supported by canon.

If I may submit a Doylist reason for romantic CL? Jason knew he had a massive subfandom itching to see them coupled, thereby boosting ratings and generating media buzz. A Watsonian reason? Without relevance, I think L would have been another Anya to Clarke. Grapple shortly with the unfair taking of a life right as they choose to steer towards unity, melancholy giving way to the inconvenience of the loss of a potential, powerful political ally. Romance ensured her arc with L would have the designated impact on Clarke's character moving forward in the next act.

For a show not about relationships, Jason has routinely used romantic love as a shorthand for character and dynamic development. It's happened with so many hastily strung together pairings. And when it does, everyone and their mother bends over backward to defend the relationship. It's romantic because it just is. Didn't you see the kissing? Romantic.

No, The 100 at its core is not about relationships, romantic and otherwise. But stack the number of fans invested exclusively by the action against those of us appreciating a strong plot but are emotionally attached to the characters and dynamics. Who do we think wins? Jason can cry all he wants over an audience refusing to be dazzled solely by his flashy sci-fi.

Funnily enough, "not about relationships'' is only ever applied to Bellarke. Bellarke, a relationship so consistently significant, it's the central dynamic of the show. The backbone on which the story is predicated. Only with Bellarke does it become super imperative to represent male-female platonic relationships. As if Bellarke is the end all, be all of platonic friendship representation on this show. In every single television show in the history of television shows.

Where was this advocacy when B/echo was foisted upon on us after one scene between them where he didn't outright hate Echo? When one interaction before that, he nearly choked the life out of her. If male-female friendship on TV is so sparse, why didn't B/ravens celebrate the familial relationship between Bellamy and Raven? Isn't the fact that they interpret Clarke as abusive to Bellamy all the more reason to praise his oh-so-healthy friendship with Raven as friendship? They might be the one group of shippers at the least liberty to use this argument against Bellarke, lest they want to hear the cacophony of our fandom's laughter at the sheer hypocrisy of the joke. Instead, they've held on with an iron grip to the one sex scene from practically three lifetimes ago when the characters were distracting themselves from their feelings on OTHER people? They've recalled this as "proof" of romance while silent on (or misconstruing) the 99% of narrative wherein they were platonic and the 100% of the time they were canonically non-romantic.

Bellarke is only non-romantic if you believe love stories are told in the space of time it takes for Characters A & B to make out and screw each other onscreen, a timespan amounting to less than the intermission of a quick bathroom break. If it sounds ridiculous, it's because it is. And yet, some can't wrap their heads around the idea that maybe, just maybe, a well-written love story in its entirety is denoted by more than two insubstantial markers and unreliable qualifiers. B/raven had sex, and the deed didn't fashion them into a romance. Jasper and Maya kissed but didn't have sex. Were they half a romantic relationship? Bellarke is paralleled to romantic couples all the time, but it counts for nothing in the eyes of their rival-ship fandom adversaries. Take ship wars out of it by considering Mackson. Like B/echo, the show informed us that Mackson became a couple post-Praimfaya, offscreen, via a kiss. Does anyone fancy them an epic love story with their whisper of a buildup? Since a kiss is all it takes, as dictated by fandom parameters, we should.

If Characters A & B are ensconced in a romantic storyline, then by definition, their relationship is neither non-romantic nor fanon. "Platonic" rings hollow as a descriptor for feelings canonically not so.

If the rest of the fandom doesn't want to take our word for granted, Bob confirmed Bellarke as romantic. Is he as delusional as we are? Bob is not a shipper, but he knows what he was told to perform and how. Why do the pineapples twist themselves in knots to discredit his word? If they are so assured by Jason's word-of-god affirmation, then what credibility does it bear to have Bellarke validated by someone other than the one in charge? They're so quick to aggressively repudiate any statement less than "CL is everything. Nothing else exists. CL is the only fictional love story in The 100, nay, the WORLD. CL is the single greatest man-made invention since the advent of the wheel."

We've all seen a show with a romantic relationship between the leads at the core of the story. We all know the definition of slowburn. We can pinpoint the tropes used to convey romantic feelings. We know conflict is how stories are told. We know when interferences are meant to separate them. We know when obstacles are overcome, they're stronger for it. We know that's why the hurdles exist. We know those impediments often take the shape of interim, third-party love interests. We know what love triangles are. We know pining and longing.

Jason wasn't revolutionary in his structure of Bellarke. He wasn't sly. Jason modeled them no differently than most other shows do with their main romances. Subtler and slower, sure. Sometimes not subtle at all. There's no subtlety in having Clarke viscerally react to multiple shots of Bellamy with his girlfriend. No subtlety in him prioritizing her life over the others in Sanctum's clutches. In her prioritizing his life above all the other lives she was sure would perish if he opened the bunker door. There is no subtlety in Bellamy poisoning his sister to stave off Clarke's impending execution. In her relinquishing 50 Arkadian lives for him after it killed her to choose only 100 to preserve. In her sending the daughter Clarke was hellbent to protect, into the trenches to save him. In him marching across enemy lines to rescue her. In her surrender to her kidnapper to march to potential death, to prevent Bellamy's immediate one. No subtlety in Josie's callouts. No subtlety in Lxa's successful use of his name to convince Clarke to let a bomb drop on an unsuspecting village. Bet every dollar you have that the list goes on and on.

There are a lot of layers to what this show was. It was a tragedy, with hope for light at the end of the tunnel. It was, first and foremost, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi survival drama. Within this overarch is the story of how the union of Clarke Griffin and Bellamy Blake saves humanity, ushering in an age of peace. In this regard, their relationship transcended romance. But with the two of them growing exponentially more intimate each season, pulled apart by obstacles only to draw closer once again, theirs was a love story. A romantic opus, the crescendo timed in such a way that the resolution of this storyline -the moment they get together- would align with the resolution of the main plot. Tying Bellarke to the completion of this tale made them more meaningful than any other relationship on this show, not less.

Whereas the trend with every other pair was to chronicle whether they survived this hostile world intact or succumbed to it, Bellarke was a slowburn. A unique appellation for the couples on this show, but not disqualifying them from romantic acknowledgment.

Framing Bellarke in this manner was 100% Jason's choice. If he wanted the audience to treat them as platonic, he should have made it clear within the narrative itself, not through vague, word-of-god dispatches. A mishandled 180-degree swerve at the clutch as a consequence of extra-textual factors doesn't negate the 84% of the story prior. It's just bad writing to not follow through. And Jason's poor, nearsighted decisions ruined a hell of a lot more than a Bellarke endgame.

The problem is, when Bellarke is legitimized, the pineapples are yanked out of their fantasies where they get to pretend the quoted exaggerations above are real. Here I'm embellishing, but some of them have deeply ingrained their identities in CL to the degree where hyperbole is rechristened to incontestable facts. An endorsement for Bellarke is an obtrusive reminder of the not all-encompassing reception of their ship. A lack of positive sentiment is an attack on their OTP, elevated to an attack on their identity. Before long, it ascends to an alleged offense to their right to exist. The perpetrators of this evil against humanity are the enemy, and they must attack in kind, in defense of themselves.

Truthfully, I think it's sad, the connotation of human happiness wholly dependent on the outcome of a fictional liaison already terminated years ago. I'm not unaware of the marginalization of minorities, of the LGBT+ community, in media. I haven't buried my head in the sand to pretend there aren't horrible crimes committed against them. I don't pretend prejudice isn't rampant. When defense and education devolve into hatred and libel for asinine reasons, though, the line has been crossed. You don't get a free pass to hurt someone with your words over a damn ship war. No matter how hard you try to dress it up as righteous social justice, I assure you, you're woefully transparent.

[darling-i-read-it]

Digestivo

3x07

Hannibal Lecter x reader x Will Graham 

Hannibal Re-Write Series Masterlist

Word Count: 2.9k 

Warnings: spoilers for hannibal, murder, dead bodies, blood, surgery, canniblism  

Author’s Note: ugh this one is so sad because we’re in the home stretch and UGH i hope you guys enjoy (?) it 

I used some direct quotes from the script so some things may seem familiar 

Official Episode Summary: Captured in Italy, Hannibal and Will are brought to Muskrat Farm, where Mason awaits; Alana plots Will's rescue; Margot is reminded that Mason never keeps his promises; Chiyoh learns of Hannibal's location.

I don’t own these characters. They belong to author/director 

Tag List (is always open!) : @llperfectsymmetryll​ @ericacactus​ @vlightning95​ @sweetgoodangel​

(not my gif) (last to by @/rocktheholygrail

The police filed into Pazzi’s apartment. Commendator Benetti led the pack of people who quickly got Hannibal Lecter on the ground, hands in the air for surrender. Jack eagerly looked to his friend who continued to drip blood from his wounded head. 

“Commendator Benetti. Don’t imagine you’re here to make an arrest,” Jack said.

“You imagine correctly.”

He glanced over to the man behind Hannibal. He knocked Hannibal out swiftly. 

“Take Lecter and this one. He’ll pay us double for both. There’s no price on your head, Signor Crawford,” Benetti said as a man put a black bag over Will’s head. The same thing was done to Hannibal on the side. 

“Hannibal Lecter, il Mostro di Firenze, narrowly escapes the Questura. That's how the story goes?” 

“Missed him by that much. The good Doctor Lecter is once more in the wind. But he left one last victim.” Benetti gestured to some men and pointed at Will who was being carried out. “Open him the way Lecter opened the other one. Open him all the way.” He looked at Jack. “Arrivederci.” 

Benettie walked out of the door.

“Arrivederci.” 

The two remaining cops moved forward to Jack. The lead cop picked up the bone saw that Hannibal had set down. Jack panicked, trying to figure his way out of this one. There had to be a way out of this one. 

In a blink one of the guns was shot through the head from a bullet coming from the window. The other cop looked stunned but from one of the corner rooms came you, slitting his throat with Will’s knife. 

He fell to the ground. 

Your eyes went on Jack and then to the other man you had not killed. 

“Chiyoh,” you muttered. Jack furrowed his eyebrows but your thoughts were already elsewhere. 

“Were you hiding?” Jack questioned. You shook your head.

“You think I would hide as they carted Hannibal and Will away?” You took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Hannibal drugged me. What happened?”

“Hannibal cut open Will’s head. They’re both being carted to the Verger farm as we speak.” You cursed under your breath and ran a hand through your hair. Jack had never seen you so distraught and alone. Usually it was you distraught with Will or with Hannibal. Now you were alone, the two people you were closest with being carted to their tortuous death. “Could I trouble you to take this needle out of my neck?” 

You looked at him like you had just realized he was there.

“Chiyoh will do that.” 

You left the apartment.

-

Mason sat at one end of the table. At the other end, sat Hannibal. Between them was Will, looking out of his depth and tired. He should not have been there, and yet.

“The transplant surgery is extremely skillful, which is why Cordell here will be performing the face-off,” Mason was saying. 

“Hello,” Cordell said, making himself known. Hannibal looked at the cook with interested eyes. 

“You boys remind me of the German cannibal who advertised for a friend, then ate the friend’s penis with him before he died. Tragedy being, the penis was overcooked. Go to all that trouble to eat a friend, and you overcook his penis. They ate it anyway. They had to, they committed. I’m committed to enjoy every bite of you.”

Will, a few seconds behind with the head injury, looked over to Mason.

“You’re going to eat him...with my face?” 

“Yes. I got a taste for it after the two of you had me eat my nose.” 

Will and Hannibal’s minds were both considerably spaced. Will was itching to know where you were. He couldn’t remember what had really happened and his mind now was in no condition to find those memories. He couldn’t ask Hannibal now. Not in case you had managed to get away and Mason would want to look for you. 

“You must be terribly proud that you could bring this off, Mason,” Hannibal said. By his voice Will was willing to bet you were alive. For whatever reason, that was what he felt. 

“An accomplishment comparable to the discovery of radium. I imagine you, they produce all my searching and expenditure, glowing in the dark like the vial in Madame Curie’s laboratory. I imaging after eating you, my belly will glow like a lightbulb.” 

“It’s dangerous to get exactly what you want, Mason. What will you do after you’ve eaten me?” Hannibal asked.

“You could wreck some foster homes and torment some children…” Will suggested.

“Drink martinis made with tears.” 

“But where, Mason, would the hard-core fun come from?” Hannibal questioned.

“Foolish to dilute this ecstatic time with fears about the future. Cordell, Mr. Graham is looking very dry. A little moisturizer, please.” 

Cordell walked over to Will.

“I’m curious, what will be the first cuts of me you’ll serve?” Hannibal asked. Cordell, preparing the moisturizer, approached Will.

“The first course, of course, will be your hands and feet. Sizzling on a Promethean barbecue. The coal is white and very hard, makes a clear ringing sound when struck.” 

“You’ve thought of everything,” Hannibal said pleasantly. 

“After all, we’ll have a pajama party, you and I. You can wear shorties by then. Cordell’s going to keep you alive for a long time.” 

Cordell leaned in to apply Will’s moisturizer. When he got close, Will bit off a chunk of his cheek. He spit it out on the plate in front of him, blood dripping down his cheek. 

Hannibal gave him a fond look.

-

Will sat at the table alone. Hannibal had been carted off to be with the pigs and Mason was off talking to Margot. Will was alone until Alana Bloom stepped into the room, carrying half her weight on the cain. 

Will looked at her and scoffed a bit, surprised at her presence.

“What are you doing here?” he questioned.

“I’m Mason Verger’s psychiatrist,” she explained. Will nodded, breathing out hard. 

“That part of his therapy or yours?” 

“I think we’re all working through some issues. I’m putting an emphasis on self-preservation.” She paused. “Jack’s alive.” He nodded. That meant something bad for you. If Jack was still alive when you were leaving then you would have killed him. 

“Good for Jack,” he spit. He paused and wondered if asking Alana was the right thing to do. 

“They didn’t find a body for Y/N. She’s alive.” Will narrowed his eyes.

“Unless I ate her.” There was a small silence and they understood that was completely within the realm of possibility. Will had no idea how long he had been at Pazzi’s. He could have been there for hours or minutes. “You helped Mason Verger find us.” 

“I helped Mason find Hannibal. We followed Batard-Montrachet when we should have just followed you,” she whispered, sitting down at the table.

“Almost as ugly as what Mason wants to do to us is the fact that he can do it with the tacit agreement of people sworn to uphold the law,” Will admitted. 

“It’s the way of the world.” 

-

Alana stepped into the pig farm. She greeted the guard with a stiff smile and then reached into her handbag, picked up the tranquilizer gun and shot him in the throat. He dropped quickly.

Margot, standing by Hannibal’s cage, stared at her surprised. 

“He had a pocket knife,” Hannibal said. Alana retrieved the pocketknife and crossed to where Hannibal was. 

“Are you out of your mind?” Margot yelled. 

“Yes,” she answered. “I thought I could save Will from you, but right now, you’re the only one I know can save him for sure.” She looked at him. “Unless you didn’t eat Y/N.” Hannibal showed no emotional response. “Promise me you’ll save him. Please.”

“I promise, Alana. And I always keep my promises. Just cut the ropes on one arm, give me the knife and leave. I can do the rest.” 

She nodded.

“Are you going to kill Mason?” 

“Margot is. Snatch some of my hair, back from the hairline, if you don't' mind; get some skin. Put it in Mason’s hand after he’s dead.” They started at each other for a moment.

“Could I have ever understood you?” she questioned. He smiled.

“No.”

As Alana and Margot left silently, Hannibal got himself out of his reigns. 

He smiled at you, who stood at the door.

“I was meant to come save you,” you whispered. He was naked but you didn’t seem phased. “If you’re saved, I suppose I should find Will.” 

“Mason wants his face.” You raised an eyebrow.

“He has good taste in faces.”

-

“Good news and bad news. The good news is, until recently, a full face transplant was almost unthinkable,” Cordell explained. “But medical science is a fast-moving train. First, I’ll lift your pretty much right off, and then I’ll expose the blood vessels and major connections of Mason’s face, then lay yours straight on top. You really are done, you know. That’s the bad news.”

Will realized then, the gravity of this situation. He couldn’t get out of this situation. You were likely dead, Hannibal was chained. Who else had he ever counted on saving him? Will’s eyes moved to the gleaming tray of surgical instruments. Sharp blades and tools. He struggled to move his limbs and as nothing moved, panci reached his eyes. 

“Cordell told me, if I waited long enough, he could grow me a new face from my own cells, but I was adamant it was your face I wanted. I was looking at your face while you were watching me cut mine off. I thought, ‘That’s a nice face.’ And the pleasure of knowing you’ve digested your girlfriend with that face...ah the serendipity,” Mason said as he was placed on the surgical table beside Will. 

“You’re going under now, Mr. Verger and when you awake up, your face will be bound and uncomfortable.” Cordell adjusted Mason’s dosage and Mason’s eyes slowly fell to sleep. Cordell moved to Will. “This will immobilize your body, but you’ll feel everything. I’m going to cut your face without anesthesia, Mr. Graham.”

Will looked up at Cordell and his hands squeezed into a tight fist just as Cordell’s throat was slit. A hand gripped his chest as it reached around him. Slowly, Cordells body fell to the ground beside the surgical table. Will had his blood sprayed all over his face. 

As Cordell fell you were revealed behind him, holding a bloodied knife. You smiled at Will, pleased to see that nothing had happened to him.

“Hey pretty face. Glad to see it’s still intact.” Will let out a breath of relief. 

“I thought I ate you.” You laughed and shook your head. 

“I fed you the soup silly.” You started at the straps to help him out. “Hannibal drugged me.”

“What was that?” Hannibal emerged from the shadows. You turned around quickly, pleased to see him. 

“I was saying you drugged me.”

“Ah yes.” Hannibal moved to Cordell’s body and you handed him the knife you used. Swiftly, Hannibal worked at peeling off Cordell’s face. You helped Will out of the surgical table but he was too exhausted to walk on his own.

“I can’t hold him on my own,” you said. Hannibal nodded. 

“I’ll take him when I’m done with this.”

You cupped Will’s face in your hands as he leaned against the table. Your hand rubbed gently across the bandage on his forehead. 

“It bleeds worse than it is,” he promised. You scoffed and nodded softly. 

“Alana and Margot will kill Mason when he wakes up. We take Will back home.” You nodded, smiling gently. 

“Home.”

-

Your house seemed different. The last time you were in it was just before you went to Europe. What a different world that had been. 

Will was draped over the bed and you sat beside him, hand holding his. He was out cold.  Hannibal stood at the foot of the bed.

“You do know Will’s wishes right?” you asked. Hannibal looked at you for a moment and nodded slowly. 

“I assume he’ll tell us.” 

“He doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

“And you?” You paused, lips pursed as you looked anywhere but Hannibal. You held Will’s hand in yours and you rubbed it, breathing steadily. 

“And I will do whatever Will decides to do.” He was surprised at that. “But I don’t want you to be caught. I won’t put you in jail, I won’t cooperate or participate. I can’t.” Hannibal glanced outside of the window.

“Chiyoh is here.” You nodded.

“Go speak with her, before he wakes up.” 

-

When Hannibal walked back inside, Will woke up. He adjusted himself so that he was sitting up and able to look at Will. 

“Do we talk about teacups and time and rules of disorder?” Hannibal questioned. 

“The teacup is broken. It’ll never gather itself back together again,” Will stated. Hannibal sat at the chair across from the bed. 

“Not even in your mind? Your memory palace is building Will. It’s full of new things. It shared some rooms with my own. I’ve discovered you there. Victorious.” Hannibal glanced at you. “And what was nothing with you Y/N has grown, grown to something so grand.” He sounded proud. You had to look away. You knew how this conversation would go.

“When it comes to you and me and Y/N, there can be no decisive victory,” Will stated.

“We are a zero-sum game?” 

Will took that in for a moment and glanced at you. You didn’t meet his eyes.

“I miss my dogs.” Will started and you closed your eyes tightly, facing the wall. “I’m not going to miss you. I’m not going to find you. I’m not going to look for you. I don’t want to know where you are or what you do. I don’t want to think about you anymore.” 

Will’s voice was cold and flat. It striked Hannibal.

“You delight in wickedness and then berate yourself for the delight,” Hannibal said.

“You delight. I tolerate,” Will quipped. 

“Tolerance is a fig leaf to hide your ravenous self from the world,” Hannibal said.

“I don’t have your appetite.” He paused and took one last long breath in. “Good-bye, Hannibal.” 

Hannibal stared for a moment, rejected, hurt. Will looked at you but you refused to look at him. Hannibal finally stood up and you stood up quickly, rushing over to Hannibal. You threw your arms around him, hugging him tightly.

“It’s for the best that you go. Go and keep going,” you whispered so Will couldn’t hear. He relished in smelling you. He breathed you in and knew that your feelings were different than Will’s but you agreed. You couldn’t do this anymore. “And keep my job open,” you whispered. He couldn’t help but laugh a bit. 

You peeled away from him and stared at him, taking in all his features. He was reminded of the look you had when he left for Florence. 

You let him go. 

He left.

-

That night, the police arrived at Will’s home in droves. Will glanced at you and the grip you had on the mug you were holding tightened. You looked over at him. 

“Why didn’t you kill Jack?” he asked. “I’d been meaning to ask that.” 

“I honestly thought Chiyoh would do it. I was unfortunately wrong.” You walked out of the door and Will followed suit. You had both showered, looked over each other's wounds, cried in each other's arms. 

You faced Jack Crawford with a hard look. 

“He’s gone, Jack,” Will said. You nodded.

“I’m here.” Your head snapped to where Hannibal had emerged. Your heart felt stabbed. You had told him to go. He was supposed to go. 

He kneeled to the ground and you moved forward to grab him, do something to stop this. Will grabbed your arm. You shook your head, protesting against him. 

“You finally caught the Chesapeake Ripper, Jack,” Hannibal said, hands above his head.

“Didn’t catch you, you surrendered.” 

You kept moving forward, pushing against Will’s hold on you. He had to wrap his arms around you now to keep you from walking off of the porch.

“I want you to know exactly where I am. And where you can find me.”

You quit protesting. You turned around and buried your head in Will’s chest. He held you tighter than he ever had as he watched Jack arrest Hannibal Lecter.

3x08

[invisiblue]

[SPOILERS] Dark s03 was insanely good, some things i want to point out:

-HOZIER'S IN THE WOODS SOMEWHERE got me shaking

-3x07 montage were so perfect i can't stress enough was good it was, well ep7 as a hole was everything i wanted since day one

-3x05 was so painful but on the same hand so poetic, Nielsen family deserved better omg

-I'm only gonna mention about that travelers medal, that was so fucked up omg the amount of details that it carrys, i can't

-I'm happy that they showed how Charlotte and Peter met, sometimes still can't believe that Helge had a child

-3×04 scene where adult!Magnus tell alt!Martha that for 33 YEARS he didnt want to believe that she left them em 1888, only for now, understands that was requested by them all along. And for alt!Martha was only a DAY or two. Time relativity always hits me xD

-I was feeling that Schrödinger's cat was going to figure out, and BANG a nice explanation, I'm a forever fan :)

-Incredible how Old!Claudia had to let Regina die for her adult self be able to change things, and in the end Tronte was not Regina's father, for me was quite plotwist. Also that she killed Alt!Claudia !!!!

-Charlotte's clock was not meant for her properly but for H.G. Tannhaus grandaughter who also was called Charlotte

-Also, i loved than H.G. Tanhaus was the one who caused all these caos, since he was so important for everything to happen but somehow he was not "directly" family involved, it always felt like something was missing

-I was happy(???) that Alt!Helge managed to kill Alt!Ulrich in the end, Helge deserved better. They didnt have much time to develop the alternative world this season, and still was good and not less complex

-The journal with all the information, that everyone used was written by Martha's and Jonas's son (honestly? Mindblown). Also that he caused the nuclear incident in 1986, just ties all loose ends so beautifully. The fact the he was always accompanied with himself was such good move, he never had a place in any world omg what a life concept, i want to know everything about him

-the shook faces of Bartosz and Hanno Tauber when they realised the mess they got themself into, how they really never had any chance or free will at all :(

-Well, they really didnt let Woller finish his eye story (again xD) and also i always wanted to know what happened between Boris Niewald and real Aleksander Kohler

-I want to hope that after baby!Charlotte was left with H.G. Tannhaus adult!Elizabeth and adult!Charlotte stayed together somehow

-The end was so poetic, Dark is already timeless art (literally hahaha)

[snowbellewells]

Self Promo Sunday: “Kingdom Come”

This is another one of my early Captain Swan one shots, this one written during the hiatus between 3a and 3b.  The idea entered my head when I first heard "Demons" by Imagine Dragons, which is where the title and the lyrics included come from. There was also some added inspiration from episode 3x06 "Ariel" and episode 3x07 "Dark Hollow". I don't think there is anything in here that goes against show canon; it's mostly imagined thoughts and missing scenes that go along with what has happened, and some guesses at what we may see when "Once" returns again in March.

As always, I have no claim to the show, the characters, or the song used. They belong to their creators and I'm merely celebrating their genius!

Also available on both AO3 and ff.net

“Kingdom Come”

by: @snowbellewells​

He knew that he should have kept his distance. She was shining light in contrast to his dark shadow, and a villainous wretch was the last sort she needed to have dogging her steps. Yet from their first meeting – knife at his throat, fingers fisted in his hair, hard, dangerous eyes hiding tense, nervous fear – he hadn't been able to pull away. He had no choice but to follow her. Call it a compulsion, an addiction, but he was as drunk on her as he had ever been on his chosen rum, and he despaired from the moment she left him chained atop that bloody beanstalk to any time she had left his side since.

The words Cora had hissed at him in warning echoed back to him, "You chose her…and the consequences of that decision…" Whether it was good or bad for either of them didn't seem to matter to his black, barely-beating heart. It was true: he had chosen the Swan girl…

When the days are cold

and the cards all fold

and the saints we see

are all made of gold

When your dreams all fail

and the ones we hail

are the worst of all

and the blood's run stale

It had become even clearer to him after the Echo Caves. When he had bared his soul and the feelings he harbored for her to be met with only silence and Emma's panicked uncertainty, fearless pirate he might be, but Killian Jones knew he should take a step back. The incredible, unparalleled kiss they had shared in the Neverland jungle told him the Savior was as attracted as he, but she was not ready for him. Her sole focus was on her boy – as it should be – but beyond that, she was running scared from anyone else who might try to breach her emotional defenses.

He knew it had been too much, too soon, to unload the truth about feeling that he could love again upon meeting her, and if he had been free to proceed as himself – as Killian Jones wooing a lady properly – he would have never been so clumsily blunt, but instead he was a pirate captain desperate to prove his loyalty and worth, while stuck on Peter Pan's nightmare island. They had needed to get Neal back without further delay and return to seeking Henry, and so he'd had to make clear that he was correct in the way the infernal cave worked. It had not been easy to look into her beautiful, tormented eyes when he had offered his confession, hoping he hadn't driven a wedge which would push her even farther away. It had been even worse to see her run across the bridge formed for her of their painful admissions, right up to Baelfire without giving him a word of comfort, encouragement, or thanks. He felt his shoulders slump in defeat, hurting more than he had imagined, when the cage holding the Crocodile's son vanished at words from Emma which he could not hear, and she fell into the embrace of her first love.

Killian felt her slipping away – if she had ever been within his grasp at all. Bowing his head, he hid the pain in his eyes from Snow White and Prince Charming's curious, searching gazes. Burning fire within him seared away the tentative hope he had foolishly let kindle within. He was nothing but a pirate, as the Prince had reminded him not so long ago. Though he couldn't help wanting to hold her, it was probably for the best…

I wanna hide the truth

I wanna shelter you

But with the beast inside

there's nowhere we can hide

No matter what we breed,

we still are made of greed

This is my kingdom come,

This is my kingdom come

There was no longer any doubt. He was a fool – a sodding, pathetic fool. For him to let a glimmer of belief take root in his chest again was begging for misery, but Killian Jones had felt it growing all the same.

Venturing into the Dark Hollow had been a risky, desperate move at best, but after his face-off with Baelfire and discovering that Emma had not even deemed what had been brewing between them worth mention, self-preservation had not been so high atop his list. He had barely cared what happened to him in their suicide quest to capture Pan's shadow.

Of course, the fiend trying to rip his shadow from his body had jolted things into focus with frightening clarity; especially when he realized that Baelfire was facing the exact same fate, but it was his moniker of 'Hook!' that Emma cried out in horror. That she found the power to magically light their star map shadowcatcher just after her concern for him surfaced was not lost on Killian. No matter how much he cautioned himself not to dwell on it, he couldn't ignore the implications. Emma might not want to admit it, might not be free to show it, but when push came to shove, she cared more for him than she wished to admit.

He had not lied to her when he had promised no deviousness or trickery. If Emma Swan – the Enchanted Forest's lost princess – ever gave him the chance to truly win her heart, he would use no dishonorable means. He understood good form and had once dreamed of being a hero. He might be an orphan and a pirate, not some prince or man of noble blood, and his thirst for revenge had kept him lost in villainy for countless years, but he still had honor, could strive to show it valiantly once again. He knew deep down that she wanted him; what he did not know was if Swan would ever allow herself to acknowledge her desires. He could only vow that he would endeavor to deserve her if she came to him with such a golden opportunity.

Swan needed some joy and lightheartedness in her life. Though she looked fragile, she was hard as steel; she'd had to be for far too long. To him, her beauty was unrivalled, but it was clear that Emma did not see that in herself. He wanted to worship her as she deserved, unfit as he might be to do so. Killian Jones wanted to restore her lad to her, heal the wounds of her past, love her unconditionally, and never leave her side. He trembled to risk pulling her that close; his history proving over and over that anyone he dared to love had suffered a horrible fate. It was better his own heart be crushed than for her to suffer harm by nearness to him. Still, if he fought back the darkness he had sunk into, shouldn't he be allowed to step into the light?

When you feel my heat,

look into my eyes

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

Don't get too close

It's dark inside

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

She came to him at the helm of his ship once Henry was truly safe and resting peacefully with Regina watching over him. There had been a scare when Pan had tried to take Henry from them once again, but it appeared Rumplestiltskin's strength had indeed been greater than the ageless boy's, and their antagonist was now trapped safely in Pandora's Box. Sighing as she came to a stop just beyond arm's reach from him and leaned against the Jolly's hull, Emma didn't know if weariness or relief was winning within her at present. She was not sure that seeking out Hook when her emotions were such a mess was a good idea, but it was a need all the same. She was drawn to him like a magnet – impelled to speak to him, to thank him for helping them to get this far…to make sure that he was alright.

Emma knew he had been left hanging, knew he wanted more. What she didn't know was what she had to give. It had nothing to do with still doubting his motives or that he was a pirate; Hook had long since proven himself in her eyes. She simply wasn't sure her heart could let any man in the way he would want and deserve. She found it didn't matter though: she still ached to be near the Captain. He calmed her, despite the turmoil she had been in ever since this voyage started, and his constant support at her back, whatever the situation or whatever her decisions, had given her strength. She wanted to tell him so; if nothing else, he ought to know what it meant to have had him in her corner and that she would not soon forget it.

"Hook…" she began, then shook her head to cut herself off, knowing that wasn't right. Her corrected word came out breathy and more ragged than she had intended, "….Killian…"

He turned to face her when she spoke his name, though he had already known she was there. Just then, she could see everything he was feeling in those ocean blue eyes. Though their decadent depths often smirked, prodded, threatened, or demanded as the situation called for, at that moment they were raw, reflecting mirrors letting her see right into his exposed inner soul.

All the words she had intended to give him flew from her head, and Emma was left standing frozen, swallowing hard and wondering why she wanted to talk at all. With that in mind, she moved to stand before him, just within his reach, when one corner of his mouth tilted up in a tempting smirk as he beckoned her closer. Obviously pleased with himself, he took things a step farther, resting both hand and hook at either side of her waist, his thumb rubbing soothing circles that she could feel the warmth of through the waistband of her jeans, as if he were stilling a skittish animal so it didn't flee. "Was there something you wished to discuss with me, Love?"

"I…" her mouth went dry staring into his eyes and she struggled to focus on anything other than the desire for a second kiss from him, but she finally pieced together coherent words. "I just wanted to thank you…for everything. We couldn't have even followed Henry without your ship and your help. David would be dead by now. And I, well, I just…"

"Come, Lass, it's just me. There's no need to be so formal. I offered you my ship and my services, and I meant it." As he said these words, he was slowly, deliberately, pinning her in his gaze so she understood just how much it did mean to him. He placed the cool, smooth curve of his hook under her chin, tilting her face up to meet his.

"But – it's just – it's so much more than that," she floundered, and if she weren't so grateful and attracted and muddled all at once she would have been irritated that he could sound so composed and romantic while she struggled to get a sentence out. Emotional tears almost welled over her eyelids, but she blinked them back and stepped closer yet, almost begging him to hold her, causing their noses to nearly brush. Looking up at him, she hoped that just maybe her eyes could convey her affection, gratitude, and want without the words that seemed lost to her. Biting her lower lip in nervous anticipation, Emma raised her eyes, blinking, to his cerulean gaze and prayed he would simply read her scrambled mind.

Chuckling low in his throat, Killian seemed to do just that, and wrapped his muscled arms around to reel her in. "All you had to do was ask, Love," he teased, lightly ghosting his lips over her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, forestalling the inevitable and making her heart thud erratically even as she grew impatient for his lips to reach hers. Just as she had grabbed him and driven their first kiss – fast, desperate, bruising – he was taking over this second one, creating a slow, languorous, building simmer that Emma wasn't sure she would survive.

Killian's hand came up to cradle her head, hook resting along her neck on the other side, the one bit of cool relief to the fire in which he had engulfed her. His calloused fingers stroked along her jaw as if hoping to coax her nearer still. This kiss carried their feelings in it; there was still heat and passion, but below it thrummed something more, something deeper: it required a decision. Emma's breath caught at the realization that this kiss was something which might last.

Killian was thinking, hoping, the same thing, hardly daring to believe, but unable to stop it either. Greedy thief and pirate that he was, he wanted more of Emma; it would never be enough. Fool he might be, but he did not aim to stop until he had stolen her very heart. Not so long ago, he had been rudderless, with nothing in this world to keep him but his vengeance. Now, he prayed that he could change his course. At last, he had something to fight for, someone to hold dear. Killian Jones – Captain Hook – had despaired of being anything else but hell bound…until she crossed his path. Perhaps he might still find redemption in Emma. Heaven had to know his every effort and act for good has been due to her. It's all for her.

Don't wanna let you down

but I am hell bound

Though this is all for you,

don't wanna hide the truth…

This is my kingdom come

This is my kingdom come

The door slams in his face – her door – and Killian lets himself slump against the wall, dejected. It all happened so quickly and now Emma is gone. She is beyond his grasp, as he had always known she was. He has waited so long to see her lovely face again, traveled so far, and though he tried to prepare himself for the very reaction he received, it didn't hurt any less when she gave him the blank look which told him his Swan no longer knew him.

Upon their forced return to the Enchanted Forest, he had tried to steer clear of everyone. Angry, wounded, and bitter, he had wanted nothing more than to hide himself below deck on the Roger and drink until he couldn't think of how being ripped from her just when she had given him a chance had hurt. He had not wanted to be near anyone and had made horrible, snarling company when someone forced the issue, but that had not stopped Snow and Charming. Emma's parents were a painful reminder of her, but no matter how he strove to avoid them and steer clear, they would not leave him alone.

It was exasperating how they kept trying to draw him into rebuilding the castle and their kingdom, tried to cheer him up, provided work for he and his crew as supplies were needed from other ports, and generally would not allow him to wallow in his misery as he had desired. They kept repeating that they had faith this separation would not last forever. For some unfathomable reason, he seemed to have found his way into their affection, and they would not let him despair either.

When Regina had finally put together a memory restorative potion, he had been willing to concede that these royal types and their unending hope were not so completely off base. The former evil queen had been almost pleasant and much more willing to help ever since meeting Robin Hood – apparently the man she had been destined to meet long ago. Some of the dangerous emptiness and hurt left her eyes when she was around the archer, and especially near his young son. Killian knew that she hoped Emma would find a way back and bring Henry if she could be made to remember. Regina also knew the rules of the second curse well though; she was to give up the thing she loved most. She couldn't be the one to go after them, couldn't force her hand. She would have to trust those whom she had spent so long fighting against.

Killian had been stunned however when David and Snow both championed his undertaking the quest. Something knowing flickered between the Prince and Princess' eyes, but he didn't waste time trying to figure it out. He was too grateful, touched, and ridiculously anxious to get going, whatever the mode of travel, to ask questions.

Now, faced with the harsh truth, he almost forgets the potion tucked into a pocket of his vest. He had to try True Love's Kiss, had to see for himself if it were possible. He shouldn't have even entertained the dream, and yet he couldn't help himself. He truly thought she loved him…but maybe she still does and has simply forgotten. He has come too far to turn back now without seeing his mission through. Any realm he tries to make his life in now will be empty without her regardless. He will wait for his moment, and he will try again…

They say it's what you make

I say it's up to Fate

It's woven in my soul

I need to let you go

Your eyes they shine so bright

I wanna save that light

I can't escape this now,

Unless you show me how…

Killian stands outside the large, several story building where Emma and Henry now reside, oblivious to the crush of people rushing around him on all sides, looking up to the window he knows is theirs, comforted by the fact that, though she may not remember him right now, they are once again in the same place and time. He can get to her, and he will succeed in bringing her back to her family…and to him.

That she wants him to keep his distance right now means little. He is sorry that she is at last safe with her son and free of the heavy weight of her destiny and he seeks to interrupt that. However, he thinks he knows Emma well enough to believe she would not wish for an illusion over truth; even if it pained her, she would rather face reality. He knows that much of his Swan.

Villain that he has been, that the world has always seen, the selfless action would be to let her go, but he cannot allow himself to admit defeat. Emma has never truly been loved – treasured – as she ought to have been, as he had planned to do. He fervently wishes to be the one to show her what it is to be wholly adored. He wants her to know that she is his whole world, and he needs the chance to see if she can love him in return, keep him striving to live again. The demons that still haunt him, that say her kingdom and his black soul are already lost, try to whisper that he will fail. Their voices hiss that he will never bring her back, that her knowledge and memories are lost forever. Killian pushes those insidious echoes from his mind. Soon, he will meet her haunting, storm-tossed eyes again, and he will make her see.

This is my kingdom come…

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