#Di Quon

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Maid in Manhattan 2002

[boasamishipper]

I don't go here (yet!!) but sweetheart deal sounds interesting 👀

Sweetheart Deal is the third fic in my Judge Leon series, which diverges from canon in two major ways: 1) in 1996, Harry gets together with Dan, and 2) in 2023, five years after Harry dies, Harry's former foster son Leon (seen in s3 and s4 of Night Court) becomes the new night court judge and recruits a still grieving Dan to be his public defender. In Sweetheart Deal, love is in the air: Leon works up the courage to ask out Rene Robinson, and Dan wonders if he's ready to date again after a chance reunion with old flame Joan Hobson.

snippet:

“I miss having someone look at me and think that I am beautiful.” “I think you’re beautiful,” Dan says. Quon Le’s smile is watery. “You do not think it the way I need you to.” She wipes her runny nose on her wrist and fiddles with the ring strung through her necklace. “I will always love Mac,” she says. “And I will always miss him. But it has been almost three years, and I miss…I miss more having someone to, to have and to hold and to share my life with.” Her eyes seem to bore right through him, past blood and bone and beating, broken heart. “Don’t you miss that too, Dan?” Of course I do, Dan wants to retort, but the lump in his throat blocks the words from coming out. Of course he misses sharing his life with someone: having someone to hold and tease and laugh with and make love to and go to sleep every night beside. But it’s not a nebulous, vague someone his heart aches for. His grief has a name. “I miss Harry.” Quon Le’s face softens. She pats him on the hand gently, and when Dan heads for the door, she doesn’t stop him.

[myveryownfanfiction]

18+ MINORS AND THOSE WITHOUT AGE IN BIO DNI

requested by @onedirectionlovers2014

Request: It was the reader leaves for a couple of months for school and before they left, Phil died but Dan told them he would be okay so they leave to go and Dan starts losing his mind to the point Harry or someone calls for them to come back and when they do, Dan has an emotional breakdown because 🤕 didn't know if the reader was coming back or not

tags: @illiana-mystery, @eclecticwildflowers

warnings: character death, mental breakdown, swearing

“I’ll be ok.” I looked at Dan, squeezing his shoulder and playing with the hair at the base of his neck. “I promise. I’m going to be alright.” Shaking my head, I wrapped my arms around him.

“Dan…” I whispered as he hugged me tightly. “It’s not your fault. Besides he left you everything.” Dan nodded against my shoulder.

“Yeah. It is a perk.” He whispered back. I rubbed his back as he took a deep breath. “Still. I miss that bum.” I kissed his cheek.

“I know.” I breathed out. Dan buried his head in my neck and breathed out deeply.

“how long will you be gone?” He asked, his breath tickling my neck.

“a couple months.” I responded. “But we can call everyday if you want. Honestly, I’d probably call you while I work just so I can hear your voice and help me focus.”

“I’d like that.” Dan admitted. “I’d like that a lot.” Dan pulled back and i cupped his cheeks. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I smiled at him before kissing him. “I have to go now Dan.” I rubbed his cheek with my thumb and wiped away a stray tear. “I’m only a phone call away. Anytime. Day or night.” Dan nodded and kissed me again.

“go. Or I’ll never let you go.” He chuckled. I nodded, biting my lip to keep my own tears at bay. “Now don’t do that. I won’t let you go if you do that.” Dan wiped away a stray tear and chuckled without humor.

“ok. I’ll…I’ll call you when I get settled in.” I broke away after giving him a kiss. I smiled softly at him before leaving. Dan had raised his hand in farewell and I wiped away my tears as I hurried to get to a cab. After the cab, I took a bus up to my campus. Most of my stuff was already up at the dorm thanks to mac and quon le. I set about unpacking and made sure that the picture of Dan and I was on the nightstand with another on my desk. I called Dan that night and every night after. After two months, Dan stopped answering my calls for a week. I panicked and kept trying to call him but he wouldn’t answer. His answering machine had to be running out of tape by now. “Dan…I don’t know what’s wrong or where you are but please call me back. I need to hear your voice. Please. I love you. Call me back.” I sighed as I hung up and rubbed my forehead. “Please call me back Dan. I need you.” it was two days later I got a call from Harry.

“Harry? Everything ok?” I asked as I picked up the phone. I cooked the cord around my finger, my knee bouncing as I sat at the desk. My eyes flickered to the picture there and I bit my lip to keep the tears at bay.

“Not really. Have you been able to get in contact with Dan?” He asked. I could tell from his voice something was seriously wrong.

“no. Not for a little over a week.” I said. “Harry, what’s wrong? What’s happened to Dan?” Harry sighed and I could hear the door close on the other end.

“it’s this Phil foundation stuff. He hasn’t slept in days. And he’s losing his mind over it.” Harry said. “He saw a doctor who says it’s psychological. Dan ran the foundations symposium. Gave the keynote speech and even gave away most of the money. As in nearly bankrupt the foundation. After admitting that he stole money from it.” I gasped and covered my mouth, worry coursing through my veins. “I think he got some sleep but he still isn’t much better. I think you need to come back down here. If anyone can help him, it’s you.”

“I’m…im on my way.” I breathed out. “Harry, is…is he in trouble? Legally?” I wiped away a few tears that had spilled over.

“No. We…we were able to take care of it.” Harry admitted. “Dan just needs you right now. Please hurry.”

“I will Harry.” I said before hanging up. I got the first bus back into the city and got a cab to the courthouse. “Harry.” I breathed out as I rushed into his chambers. Harry looked up from his paperwork and got up to hug me.

“you made it.” He breathed out. I nodded as I pulled back. “Dans in his office.” I nodded and quickly made my way back through the halls to dans office. I knocked on the door and gently opened it. “Dan?” I called softly. I peeked around the corner and dans head popped up off his desk.

“(Y/N)?” He asked. His voice sounded frail and higher than usual. “Nah. Can’t be. They’re off at school. They aren’t coming back.” I walked fully into the office and closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I took him in. His hair was all over the place, his suit was wrinkled and done up wrong, there were pictures of Phil everywhere and dan looked like he was sleeping in his office again.

“dan.” I whispered as I walked over to his desk. “I’m really here. I came back.” Dan shook his head, not looking at me.

“just another hallucination.” He whispered. “Even my office isn’t safe. I thought the apartment was bad.” I knelt down next to him, putting my hand on his cheek to turn his head towards me.

“dan…” I murmured as I rubbed my thumb over his cheekbone. His eyes were vacant as I shifted on my knees. “Dan I’m really here. Please. What’s wrong?” Dan let his eyes roam over my face. “Harry called me. Please.” I cupped his other cheek and leaned up to kiss him. I ran my fingers through his hair the way I knew he liked and smiled softly at him as he tilted his head to meet my hand.

“(Y/N).” He breathed out, his eyes finally flashing with recognition. “You’re here.” I nodded as he surged forward to hug me. “You’re real.” Pausing he pulled back a second. “You are real right?”

“Yes dan. I’m real.” Dan pulled me back against him and sobbed into my neck. I squeezed my eyes shut as tears pricked my eyes. I tightened my hold on him and buried my head into his shoulder. “God damn I’ve missed you dan. So much. Harry told me what happened. Im so sorry I left you alone. I should never have left.” My voice cracked and dan shook his head pulling back.

“no. I can’t hold you back. You know that. We agreed on that.” Dan wiped away my tears as I reached out to touch his cheek. He shook his head. “I’m ok. It was just too much at once. I’m feeling better now.” I laughed without humor.

“Dan you didn’t know I was real.” I reached down and fixed his tie. “This is too much for you right now. I…I think you should hand over the Phil foundation to someone else.” Dan opened his mouth but I shook my head. “Dan I’m serious. You are hallucinating. How many times have you seen me here when I wasn’t? Or Phil? Harry said you weren’t sleeping for a while. It’s time Dan.” He nodded as I cupped his cheeks again. “Phil knew this would teach you something. Help you grow. And it did. But he wouldn’t want you to run yourself into the ground. Or worse kill yourself over this.”

“I know.” He whispered. ���I know. Phil had a brother. He’s been around the last few days.”

“then that sounds like the perfect person to hand it over to.” I told him. I stood up as Dan nodded. “Let’s go home Dan. I think it’s time you got some actual sleep.”

“I think you’re right.” He chuckled. “Are…are you staying?” He looked up at me with wide eyes, making my heart wrench. Dan looked like a little boy staring at me. I nodded.

“as long as I can.” I promised, kissing him softly. “We’ll go up to the school together and work something out. How does that sound?” Dan nodded again before hugging me around the waist, his head on my stomach.

“I love you.” He whispered. I tangled my fingers in his hair and breathed out a shaky breath.

“I love you too.” I gently pulled him up. “Now let’s go home.”

[ssreeder]

ahhhhh sreedie I lost track of tiiiiime I missed an updateeee

but ykw that means?? you get double the amount of blather from yours truly this time around :D

lmao finally sokka is getting some sword training that isn’t zuko hitting him with a stick when he gets his form wrong

sorry sorry but sweaty sokka is making me think of this one tv show where the main character is panicking bc she has to distract this guy and what she decided to say as a distraction tactic is “I feel.. sticky” and I almost died of second hand embarrassment.

anyways sweaty sokka supremacy this boy needs more minor inconveniences to balance out the major inconveniences that bulldoze over his hopes and dreams

honestly I think sokka is coping pretty well given the circumstances

I’m going to expose myself here but when suki finally reunited with sokka I will admit I was physically wiggling in excitement

aw suki your girlhood dreams are about to be pulverised :((

also can I just say I adore you bc you’ve managed to perfectly balance the fact that suki is a teenage girl with what she thinks is a requited crush BUT ALSO she’s a leader and a tactician and is aware of anomalies in her surroundings at all times

slay kovi my new fav

ALSO ALSO I HAD THIS REALISATION LIKE LAST WEEK BUT WE’RE GETTING MORE AZULA WHICH MEANS WE’RE ALSO GETTING MORE CHEN OR CHAN OR CHANG OR WHATEVER THE ZHAOS BROTHER IS CALLED I FORGOT IM SO SORRY

yoooo suki coming in clutch with the gossip besties

SHEN POV SHEN POV SHEN POV SHEN POV SHEN POV SHEN POV ok yeah I’m gonna be Sooo much more annoying about shen than anybody ever was about reho. now your never gonna wanna remarry me :(

shen is more dedicated to complaining about his sore ass than zuko is to self preservation fr

zuko and shen banter that’s actually purposeful verbal attacks but I’ll pretend is banter bc it’s funny >>>

it’s not Actually funny but it’s lowkey hilarious that shen is like “fuck now I gotta be chivalrous and save zuko over myself if I ever get the chance why must I be such a gentleman woe is me” like bestie if you really didn’t want to help zuko you could just.. Not

also I think you’re handling like the racist propaganda of the fire nation about the other nations really well btw!!

lmao not morrak singling sokka out as an instigator for potential mass injury so blatantly

okay sad that sokka is suffering with communication BUT HOPEFULLY when (and I mean WHEN sreedie istg) zukka are reunited he’ll maybe have a better time trying to get zuko to like.. actually fucking talk about how he’s feeling??? maybe?? a girl can dream okay. but also it’s so real to like not be able to open up to people able difficult topics (not that I have anywhere Near the trauma these boys have) just bc you haven’t yet started talking to someone about them and it’s overwhelming to even think where to begin bc it feels like even if you could figure it out it’ll be impossible to actually convey all the nuance of how you’re feeling bc there’s just so much of it

AUNT WU pls sokka enjoy hating on spirit shenanigans I was you to experience some joy

ohoho please PLEASE let quon’s assholery and ambition bite him in the ass P L E A S E sreedie I’m begging

dude not zuko genuinely considering whether he would maintain his pride better by literally shitting his pants. I can’t anymore with this boy

“are you a good person shen”

“not all the time”

WHAT A SLAY ANSWER OMFG HES AN ICON HES A LEGEND HES-

I’m not sure whether to be scared that quon Will be worse than zhao or laugh at quon’s confidence bc there’s no way he’s worse than zhao

quick question sreedie umm how hasn’t zuko lost any teeth yet am I just supposed to suspend my disbelief about how many times he can get punched in the jaw and not suffer some serious dental damage

awww shen you DO care about zuko :3

genuinely living for shen’s belaboured feral pygmy puma dad era that zuko is forcing him to suffer through its glorious

listen all shen needs to do is leverage sokka against zuko?? like literally just bitch at him about how if he gets himself killed then sokka will be distraught and that’s like at least 60% of his attitude issues solved

do I dislike jet? yeah. do I think it’s going to be wildly entertaining to have him along for the journey? yeah.

NOT MORE OF THE FUCKING BENDER SUPPRESSANTS FUCK OFF ohohoho alas quon you are unaware about zuko being bloody superhuman when it comes to this drug

I was going to say something else but now I have forgotten but!! it’s okay bc now I am going to read the second chapter and hopefully I’ll remember it at some point when I’m writing my next comment >:)

I have been thinking of answering your asks for DAYYYYSSSSS but these damn holidays don’t wanna let me DO IT. But don’t worry ex-lover I am here!

Suki & Sokka reuniting is amazing! She is going to be a good influence on him, I feel it in my BONES!

Or he will gaslight her into thinking he is fine & she won’t be able to help with Shiiit….

Sokka hasn’t spoken to ANYONE about what happened to him except Zuko. & even his dad & Bato got the “safe version” so yeah opening up or even beginning to accept that this is a topic he will EVENTUALLY have to find words to communicate is very difficult… for some people it’s impossible. So I do feel bad for Sokka he isn’t an in easy spot.

It’s funny you mention teeth this was like a big convo in the server today so I’m going to go ahead & say zukos teeth are blessed by Agni themselves so they will not break or fall out it’s canon don’t question me.

Shens teeth are not though

I have my hand pressed against the glass window of my house staring across at your house because we don’t live together anymore but I miss you…..

[nullarysources]

Death of attorney targeted in HOA case ruled suicide

Jeff German for the Las Vegas Review-Journal back in 2012 with a story I somehow only heard about just now:

Northern California authorities said Friday there was no foul play in the death of Las Vegas attorney David Amesbury, a defendant in the sweeping federal investigation into corruption at Las Vegas Valley homeowners associations.

…

Five days before Amesbury killed himself, the body of construction defects attorney Nancy Quon, a key target of the investigation, was discovered in the bathtub of her Henderson condominium.

…

Two other people who attracted interest in the high-profile homeowners association probe, also died under unusual circumstances.

Former Las Vegas police officer Christopher Van Cleef shot himself to death a few days after a September 2008 FBI raid in the investigation. Robbi Castro, a former Vistana homeowners association board member, died in 2010 of a drug overdose.

How do four people commit suicide over homeowners associations corruption?????? Was the mob somehow involved

If you're actually curious about how this HOA thing ended, four people were convicted by a federal jury in 2015 and another thirty-seven pled guilty. German again reported on that and went into much more detail about it

[particuba]

J'y suis depuis 10 semaines : La Habana, Matanzas, Varadero, Trinidad, La Boca, Sancti Spiritus, Camaguey, Holguin, Gibara.

Le pays ne sera plus jamais comme avant.

Si vous êtes touriste, vérifiez l'état de votre tout-inclus avant de réserver - la version en anglais de tripadvisor a plus de commentaires à date sur des hôtels spécifiques.

Si vous êtes voyageur/geuse, attachez votre tuque et votre intestin awec dla broche : en 30 ans, j'ai jamais vu une situation si désespérée.

Les casas (et la plupart des hôtels de ville qui sont toujours ouverts) n'offrent plus les repas. Nada. Nunca. C devenu une activité quotidienne (pas désagréable) de chercher de quoi manger.

On trouve de tout si on est riche et bilingue et pas trop naif (bobo). Les œufs se vendent minimum 2100cup pour un carton de 30. On est en saison pour tomates, concombres, oignons, poivrons, ail; rares sont laitues, carottes et betteraves. Patates ? Ça fait des années quil ny en a plus (je sais où en trouver mais je ne le dis pas LOL).

Les sujets de conversations ? Le prix du riz ou des haricots. Qui vend du porc? Où t'as trouvé ta mortadelle?

Donc, si vous êtes carnivores, buena suerte pour trouver bœuf, porc, poulet et autres pescados. Il y a toujours le problème des déplacements - extrêmement compliqué pour les unilingues car tout Cubain.ne cherche une commission sur tout service pour les tourisses (yumas).

Y a pas un.une jeune adulte que ne pense pas à quitter l'île. Les conditions de logement dans les universités avec des pensionnaires à la semaine sont tellement dégradantes que c'en est honteux pour un pays qui se targuait du meilleur système déducation du continent.

Les plus vieux endurent, les jeunes enfants ny voient rien et cest tant mieux car tous les Cubains qui endurent aujourdhui vont frapper un MUR demain.

En tant que visiteur, on doit naviguer entre le taux de change : 110cup pour 1$cad ou 84cup en banque avec carte de crédit. Facile et gratifiant de faire un don de 200 pesos (2,50$cad) à deux infirmières qui attendent en ligne pour une "pizza de la rue" (Trinidad) ou un cornet de "crème glacée" - helado en cono - sur le bras à 30cup à une manchotte (Camaguey).

Une bière importée (les Cristal ou Bucanero sont rares ou 50% plus chères) revient à 200cup : moins chère qu'à Montréal mais hors de prix d'un simple amateur de houblon cubain. Avant la plandémie, elle se laissait boire pour 80. Donc, 250% d'augmentation.

Entonces, faut dîner au resto et la cuenta est rarement moins de 1200-1500cup. Selon quon obtienne 85cup ou 125 au dollar, ça peut buster un budget assez vite.

[elinaline]

N'empêche que le nombre de gens que je connais dont le plan de vie c'est "si ca marche pas/quand j'aurai assez d'argent je pars élever des chèvres dans une cabane dans le Jura" c'est assez ouf

[newshare-blog1]

Taken from /r/movies/

Posted by Andi via newshare.

[stregaltar]

Ça fait tres petasse capricieuse de dire ça mais ça mgonfle un peu ma mere a mon anniv ou a noel jlui dis tt cque jveux pas et cque jvoudrais éventuellement et elle me ramene tt cque jveux pas justement, g limpression quon sfout dma gueule ça mrend triste jcroyais elle allait me faire plaisir

[freedom-shamrock]

Teacups and Firelights

This is my @atla-secret-santa gift for @wwjacksparrowd.  Happy holidays, I hope you enjoy!

Also on AO3

______________________________

Something was definitely wrong in Ba Sing Se, and just being in the city gave Ty Lee the creepie crawlies several times an hour. After a week of putting up with it, she was at risk of going all Azula once she found the cause. Aang's meditation sessions were probably the only thing keeping her out of an uncontrolled avatar state at this point.

Ty Lee didn't always look or sound the most attentive to details, something that had served her well in the past, but she didn't need anyone to point out when there was something rotten right beneath her nose. Much of what she took in from around her stayed in her head, swirling around with everything else until she was able to make the connections she needed. She wasn't always the fastest of the Ty septuplets at picking apart the tangles of political intrigues, but she was more often right than any of her sisters (she was right more often than her friends, too, but she'd been careful not to point that out). She was also consistently the fastest Ty in sparring, though that may have come from being the avatar, so it felt like a cheat.

She'd come to the Earth Kingdom capital with her unlikely companions for a number of reasons, all quite pressing. Their top priority had been to share intelligence with the Earth king and his generals as part of Sokka's rather brilliant plan to take down the firelord. They'd gotten a meeting scheduled with King Kuei, and flaming monkey tigers, the Fire Nation had nothing on the Earth Kingdom's bureaucracy!  If that weren't enough of a reason to come, they desperately needed time to recover from weeks of things going terribly, horribly wrong. That couldn't happen if they were being chased around the world by her Royal Fire Academy best friends (and the sister she'd left in her place with the circus to avoid raising suspicion when she went off to pursue her destiny). Not even General Iroh had been able to penetrate the ringed city's great wall, and while Azula was brilliant, she wasn't yet up to his standard. Her attempt involving a massive drill had failed, and the princess retreated, so they were safe from that quarter… for now. Their final reason for being in the vast city was to find Appa, her chronologically 112 year old airbending master's sky bison and one of the companions who had been with her since early in this convoluted adventure.

With two of their three goals addressed, or at least pending, they'd all split up to search for any signs of the ten-ton creature (who really shouldn't be this hard to find, even in Ba Sing Se). While out and about they were also gathering information on the general oddness of the city. Joo Dee's messed up orange aura and creepy smile sent a message that they'd all picked up on. Their extremely anxious neighbors, who quietly advised them to not ask questions and most of all to avoid the Dai Li, had flaming red auras. Living in the central ring of the city among the very wealthiest and most influential, they had no reason to show such fear. Well, unless King Kuei's court was as literally cut-throat as Firelord Ozai's but less open about it.

As she skipped down the clean and tidy streets of the inner ring, she noted that while the architecture was different from home, it was no less opulent than the capital she was most familiar with. She idly wondered if they used earthbending to suffocate out any undesirable plant growth, the way fire was used back home. Everything here was so orderly, or as Aang put it, inhibited to the point of joylessness. Even Toph, who was intimately familiar with Earth Kingdom upper class manners found it creepy.

She turned a corner and heard cheerful chatter unlike any she'd encountered during their stay. The Ba Sing Se social elite were quiet and dull, or perhaps they were deathly terrified to lose face and power from whatever was wrong here. Hearing people sounding like they did in every other part of the world was definitely something to investigate. Across the plaza and up a short flight of stairs was a tea shop. It's exterior had clearly been freshly painted, gleaming green and gold under the late morning sun. A cup of tea would make her day's work more pleasant. Pursuing her destiny had sounded a lot more fun before she'd spent weeks on end chasing one lead after another, without the time to really enjoy the places they stopped. They barely had time to bathe for most of the trip.

With a bit of a hop, she was able to vault over the railing, bypassing the stairs entirely. It was not entirely proper decorum, but she was dressed in a way that marked her as an outsider. She and Toph had spent hours comparing social rules and drilling them into Katara's head (the Water Tribe girl was quick to both mock the foolishness of the conventions and to demonstrate she could fit in with even the most elite social climbers). Ty Lee had a surprising number of things in common with her earthbending master, and her bluntness was no worse than Mai's, so they'd fallen into an easy alliance. Katara was something else all together. Despite their countless differences, she'd become a better friend than any Ty Lee had ever had. It was a given that she was a lot nicer than Azula, but she'd never met someone so focused on doing the right thing regardless of the risks, with no other motivation.

Ty Lee skipped up to the open doors and peeked in. This was unlike the other tea shops she'd visited in the city. The waiters were constantly in motion, delivering cups and pots of steaming tea to the many full tables of happy visitors. There was energy and enthusiasm here, not the fog of apathy. The dining room held the gentle fragrances of teas that were familiar and some that she was sure she'd never had. This would definitely clear her mind enough to start connecting all the weirdness of the city. While her friends were good at coming up with plans (spirits knew that they would have died in the desert if not for Katara, and Sokka's use of Wan Shi Tong's knowledge was flat-out brilliant), she felt that she really needed to be pulling her weight. She was the avatar, after all. It was bad enough that they had decided early on to let Aang masquerade as the avatar to take the pressure off her. If she wasn't at least coming up with some of the plans (beyond the completely random trips to spiritual centers), what good was she?

"Hello." A cheerful young man's voice called her out of her own head. "Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon. Our special for the day is Ba Sing Quon, a soothing tea for the refined palate."

She looked up into a very familiar face. "Zuko?" she squeaked. There was no way he could be anyone else. Even if he had a double here in the earth kingdom, there was no concealing the scar his father left on his face, and as one part of a seven-piece matched set, she was never fooled by look-alikes.

He sucked in a breath, his face going pale as he took a step back.

Her hand darted out and caught the long brown sleeve of his uniform before he could flee. "What are you doing here?" she whispered, keenly aware of the other staff and patrons around them. When she'd last seen him, Aang had knocked him out in the North Pole shortly before she and La had merged to obliterate the Fire Nation navy. Aang had run afoul of him a time or two since then, but she'd managed to stay out of his sight.

She could see in his eyes that he was weighing his options. Zuko had always been smarter than Azula wanted to believe. "What are you doing here?" he countered. "I thought you were hunting down the avatar with my sister." His remaining eyebrow arched.

"I'm on vacation," she said airily. "And what about you?  Aren't you supposed to be on your own hunt?"

"Only if I want to return to court," he said with a sneer. "Which I don't."

She stared at him in awe. That was not something she'd ever expected to hear out of Azula's serious older brother. Frankly, his temperament was better suited to leading the country than her hot-headed school friend.

"I'm making my own destiny, and I'm done chasing ghosts for him," Zuko said firmly.

She offered him a small smile. "I'm happy for you. You deserve your own happiness."

He looked surprised.

"He was always a monster to you, and it wasn't fair," she said. She'd seen favoritism spoil the relationship she and her sisters could have had, and that had been nothing compared to what happened in the firelord's children.

Zuko shrugged. "Like father, like daughter."

Being chased all over the Earth Kingdom by Azula had given her a whole new perspective on her once best friend. "You're not wrong."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

She leaned back in her chair. "I know. I'm supposed to say she's an acquired taste and that she's not that bad, but… if I've learned anything the last several weeks, it's that Azula's been turned into a dangerous weapon that your father will turn on whoever he feels like." It had been frankly terrifying to have that weapon turned on her.

Zuko stepped back. "I'll be back with your tea."

She watched as he walked stiffly to the back of the shop, disappearing behind a curtain. He looked so much better than he had in the north. He actually looked happy. Moments later he returned with a small tray holding a single red-glazed white teacup.

"Your tea, miss." He placed it gently on the table in front of her.

"Thank you, Zuko."

"Lee," he said.

"What?"

"My name is Lee. This my uncle Mushi's tea shop." He took a slow breath. "We close at dusk."

She flashed him a cheery smile. "Very good to know. Thank you."

⁂

Ty Lee sat on the raised edge of the fountain in front of the Jasmine Dragon tea house, watching the sky turn a spectacular peach color. It had taken some pretty heavy assurances before her friends had been willing to let her go off and meet her Fire Nation contact solo. To be fair, they were all a little on edge. Even without Ba Sing Se's creepy aura (who knew a city could have its own aura?) they'd been hunted, chased, and attacked a little too often (especially recently) to just do as they pleased.  She'd refused to share information on her contact, but agreed that they should come look for her if she wasn't back in an hour.

Paying close attention to the vibrations in the thin soles of her dance shoes, she looked up to see Zuko and General Iroh step out of the tea house, working together to close and lock the grand doors. She stood up and waited for them to approach. Zuko moved a little stiffly, but his uncle was as steady as always. He was difficult to read, but his white-streaked violet aura was reassuring. He'd shed the heavy mourning he'd still carried when she'd last seen him, well before she realized she was the avatar. They weren't here with Ozai's blessing or knowledge, then.

"Ty Lee," Iroh said quietly. "You are not someone I ever expected to encounter here in our new home."

She beamed at him. "Then it's a pleasant surprise for all of us," she declared.

Iroh stared at her for a silent moment. "I certainly hope that's the case. My nephew and I have settled in nicely, and I feel we've really found our place." He paused for another moment. "It would be a shame to have to uproot ourselves yet again."

She held out her hands to both of them. "As I told Lee," she smirked at Zuko, "it's nice to see you so happy. I obviously don't know what you've been through on your travels, but it seems to have smoothed out the difficulties life brought on you both."

"How are you even here?" Zuko asked, blunt but without the heat she might have expected. "Last I heard, you'd joined up with Azula to terrorize the avatar."

Ty Lee clapped her hands together. "Yeah, so I've heard."

"She doesn't let people leave her service," Zuko noted. "So I have to assume you're here on a mission for her."

She laughed a little and shook her head. "That situation is not at all what it seems to be."

A small but totally gleeful smile appeared on Iroh's face. "So her companion is one who shares your likeness?"

She rolled her eyes. "You'd think my best friend would be able to tell me and my sisters apart." She gestured to Zuko. "Lee knew it was me immediately." To give Ty Lao credit, she'd fooled everyone, including Mai and Azula, who should have seen through the masquerade.

"That still doesn't answer how and why you're here, though," Zuko pointed out.

"You aren't the only one seeking a different path," she said quietly.

Iroh's large callused hand wrapped around one of hers, and when she looked up, she could see understanding in his eyes. "I believe it is safe to say that none of us are a threat to the other."

Ty Lee nodded. "We're only here until we can meet with King Kuei, and I haven't even told my friends who I'm meeting with tonight."

"So you aren't alone, then?" Iroh asked. "That's good. Safer."

"Who are you traveling with?" Zuko asked, clearly more suspicious than his uncle. He'd never liked unknown variables.

"No one you know, silly," she replied easily. "It's just a small group of friends from all over the world."

"It's been wonderful to see you, my dear," Iroh said. "And I would love to stay and chat, but I've been on my feet all day. Why don't you and Lee catch up." He turned to Zuko and raised his eyebrows in question. "And do be sure to stop back in before you leave Ba Sing Se."

Zuko's shoulders drooped a bit and he nodded.

"How long have you two been here?" she asked once Iroh was gone.

"We're new to working in the upper ring," he explained. "But we've been in Ba Sing Se for several weeks now."

"We've only been here about a week," she said. The silence was uncomfortable. "So, I bet you know of some of the nice sights that we haven't found yet."

Zuko nodded. "Yeah. Why don't I show you the Firelight Fountain. It's in the lower ring, but it's actually really nice." He glanced around. "Less stuffy than the places in the upper ring."

"Sounds great," she agreed, following as he led the way to the nearby monorail station. "How did you come to Ba Sing Se, anyway?" When his face closed off again, she clarified. "I don't need every step of your journey. Just… how did Lee and Mushi end up here?"

He visibly relaxed and nodded. "Uncle knows people all over the world, and he got us new identities. It was easy to join the groups of refugees traveling here." He was silent for a moment. "I didn't really want to come here. I still thought honor was something my father could actually give or take away. But I wasn't in a position to argue with Uncle."

"The Dragon of the West is a formidable opponent," she agreed.

Zuko snorted. "I've come to understand that."

Ty Lee laughed, delighted to see him making something of a joke. 

"Whatever we may think of the Earth Kingdom, they manage the people of Ba Sing Se well. They had apartments available and there's a communal kitchen for newcomers who don't have work placement yet." He shook his head, looking a little awed. "It's a far cry from what happens to refugees in… well, you know."

She did know. In the Fire Nation, being in a poor situation was seen as the culmination of poor choices, and aid wasn't freely given to people who had called misfortune on themselves. Her journey had helped her reframe all of that. No one person caused an earthquake or mudslide. Some people made all the right choices and still ended up poor.

"We still live in the lower ring, in one of the refugee apartments, but we're on a waiting list to move to the middle ring," Zuko continued. "I'm not really in a rush to move, because we don't need much. And I don't care about the status." He looked out the window, blind to the blur of the city passing beneath them. "But it would be good to make the apartment available to someone else. There's so many refugees coming into the city right now."

"I really mean it," Ty Lee said, leaning over to look out the windows as the carriage came to a stop. "I'm glad you're finding your own happiness."

He looked at her for a moment. "Thanks." He got up and gestured that this was their station. "And what about you? Are you finding your happiness?"

It was a fair question. She hadn't been exactly unhappy, not since joining the circus. "Purpose," she decided. "I enjoyed entertaining people, but it wasn't enough." Especially after her extra bending potential spontaneously manifested one evening, and she knew she was meant for more.

"And you needed to travel the world to find it?" he asked.

"Not really. Not to find it," she replied. "It's more that the traveling gets me to where I need to be, to… uh, engage in my purpose." That was vague enough, right?

"What is this purpose that can't be done back… home." That last word came out sounding distasteful. The Fire Nation probably hadn't felt like home since even before he was banished.

"Helping others," she declared. "It's more than I could do with the circus, and definitely not something I could do with Az… your sister." It would probably be best to avoid the name that was known the world over. She'd seen the Dai Li lurking on rooftops during the day. While most people didn't tend to look up, she was an acrobat and preferred to go up when she needed an escape. The buildings were taller here, and maybe lower ring inhabitants were less worthy of close monitoring, but she couldn't risk it. "She would've frowned on it, because I'm not just helping people she would have seen worthy." 

Zuko nodded. "She's pretty selective in who she sees worthy of helping, and there's usually a reason behind who she chooses to help, something not remotely altruistic."

Ty Lee nodded. It was something she'd never liked about Azula, even before she'd learned more about herself. "She only watches out for herself and isn't really interested in real balance." It had been why she hadn't gone to her friend for help when she discovered she was the avatar. She knew Azula would cast their friendship aside as easily as she discarded an out-of-season gown, if it would curry favor with her father.

"Balance?" Zuko let out a huff. "You sound like Uncle." A rare smile found its way onto his face. "And that's not something I ever thought I'd say about you."

"I suppose." She laughed a little. "I'm both surprised and unsurprised that he supports balance."

He gave her a look that clearly begged her to explain further.

"The stories I've heard about his military days are very different from the man he is now." She shrugged. "I guess we can all change."

Zuko nodded. "He taught me to redirect lightning," he said in a low whisper.

She stared at him in surprise. "You can do that?!" She hadn't even heard it was possible.

"It's critical in facing off against my sister, or my father, for that matter."

He wasn't wrong. But how had she not found anything on that technique in all the many firebending scrolls she'd covertly read?  Not even the Fire Sages' library contained that information. Spirits, she needed to learn that. But how could she do that? How could she get that information without telling Zuko more than he needed to know?

"Hey Lee!"

Ty Lee looked up to see a  girl their age waving at Zuko from across the street. She wore her hair in paired braids and was dressed in Earth Kingdom green.

"Who's your friend?" Ty Lee asked, delighted by the blush she saw in his cheeks.

"Hello, Jin," he called back, waving awkwardly. It was enough encouragement for the girl to scurry over to them.

It might break Mai's heart if she knew what Zuko was up to in Ba Sing Se, but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. And Ty Lee wasn't in any position to tell her, not that she was inclined to.

"How have things been at the new tea shop?" the girl asked. "We've all been so excited to hear about it."

"It's going really well," Zuko said. It really was nice to see him happy as he chatted with the girl who clearly had a crush on him. "It's been better than even Uncle hoped for."

"That's wonderful!" The girl exclaimed. She turned to Ty Lee. "Hi, I'm Jin."

"Oh," Zuko looked a little nervous. "Jin, this is my, uh, cousin."

Ty Lee grinned. "I've known Lee practically all my life."

Jin's eyes and mouth went round with surprise. "Were you in the circus with him?"

That was his cover story? Ty Lee almost burst out laughing. This was too easy, and would give her something to tease him about for years. "I was in the circus."

"Were you in the juggling act with him?" Jin pressed, looking all the more eager.

Ty Lee shook her head. "No. I'm an acrobat." She demonstrated by bending backward to stand on one hand for a moment.

Jin clapped enthusiastically. "Oh wonderful." She glanced at Zuko for a moment before leaning in to whisper, "He's out of practice, so maybe don't ask him to show off his skills."

"Thank you for the warning," Ty Lee whispered back. She winked at him before speaking regularly again. "Lee is taking me to see the Firelight Fountain."

Jin clasped her hands together over her chest. "Oh, I'm just coming from there. You won't be disappointed." She turned back to Zuko. "It's all lit up tonight."

"Do you, uh… want to join us?" Zuko asked reluctantly.

"I'd love to," Jin said with a sigh. "But I should get back, and I'm sure you and your cousin need to catch up without strangers around."

"Thank you, Jin," Ty Lee said, bowing gratefully to the other girl. "We do have an awful lot to catch up on, and you know how families can be." She tilted her head and rolled her eyes. "Petty infighting and back-stabbing."

Jin laughed. "I'll see you another time, Lee. I'd love to hear more about the Jade Dragon."

"Jasmine Dragon," he corrected. "Like the tea."

"Oops. Yeah, Jasmine." Jin waved and continued back up the road the direction they'd come from.

"She seemed cheerful," Ty Lee said.

Zuko nodded, awkward again. "She's friendly. Happy."

"She likes you," she pointed out sincerely. There was no need for teasing just now.

He looked both pleased and a little embarrassed. "I know."

"I'm glad some of the people here are seeing who you really are." That certainly hadn't happened at home, not after his mother vanished.

He glanced at her in alarm. "She doesn't know… who I am."

She waved off his concern. "I'm not talking about where you came from or what you can do." She wiggled her fingers at him. "I mean who you are as a person."

"Oh." He nodded slowly. "You really sound like Uncle." He looked closely at her. "You're not the person you used to be. Not at all." 

They stepped into a circle that could only be the Firelight Fountain. "It's lovely." The simple feature beautifully displayed three of the four elements at their best. A warm glow shone from the ring of lanterns, reflecting in the stone fountain's sparkling water.  All that was missing was air, and Ty Lee could see small rings on the lanterns that had probably once held streamers to dance in the breeze. The designed balance was as askew as their world, and it broke her heart a little. She'd need to keep Aang away from this place. He didn't need reminders that he was the last of his kind.

"Hey," Zuko said softly. "Are you all right?"

Ty Lee sniffled a little and quickly rubbed at her eyes as she nodded. "Yeah."

"I didn't think you were the type to cry over a pretty fountain," he said.

"It's not just that." She sighed, trying to figure out how much she could tell him and how she could bring up lightning again. "It's… it's a painfully accurate representation of the world," she finally said. "It wants so badly to be balanced. But it isn't."

"Hmmm." He looked closely at the fountain again. "Did you know that the avatar is still alive?" he asked, his gaze intentionally turned toward the water. "He's traveling the world on a flying bison."

"Oh… yeah." She nodded. That bit wasn't exactly a secret. "I'd heard that. I'm pretty sure that's who your sister is chasing after."

"I saw a flyer the other day," Zuko continued. "I guess his bison is missing."

"How… unfortunate." She'd forgotten how good he was at intrigues, just because he didn't care for them. Had she let slip too much? While it was known in the upper ring that the avatar was there, she didn't want her friends to have to dodge Zuko or Iroh. Her firebending had come a long way, but she was no match for either of them. It was just another reminder of how ill prepared she was for taking down Ozai.

"Do you suppose he's found a firebending master yet?" Zuko asked, glancing at her before looking away again. "I imagine that's been a tough element for him."

"He's the avatar," she pointed out. "Shouldn't he already know how to bend all the elements?" They'd encountered that mindset more than a few times, and as the person trying to meet everyone's needs, it was incredibly frustrating.

"I don't think that's how it works." Zuko shook his head. There was a long moment of silence. "I met him once… well, more than once." He looked embarrassed again, as if he were cringing away from his past actions.

"Really?" Aang had shared all his encounters with the angry banished prince, and the boy always seemed disappointed about something.

Zuko sighed. "I wish I could meet him again, now." He met Ty Lee's eyes. "I owe him an apology."

"Really?" How did he keep surprising her like this?

Zuko nodded. "He offered me friendship and I threw fire at him. I hurt him and his friends when I was still desperate to complete my father's errand. It was wrong, and I see that now."

"You just wanted to come home," she said, internally forgiving him for the things he'd done as a result of the abuse he'd endured.

"Yeah, and I've come to realize that a place where you're expected to do things that you simply can not abide because they are morally wrong no matter how you look at it, that's not home," he declared.

"Has Ba Sing Se become your home, then?"

"It's closer," he admitted. "But not quite my home. Not yet." He moved to settle on the edge of the fountain.

"You might just need a bit more time," she suggested.

"Maybe," he agreed. "But I can't shake the feeling that there's something else I should be doing. Something more I could do to help restore the world's balance."

"Oh?" She wasn't sure how to bend that back to what she needed from him. "So what else could you be doing?"

"Teaching the avatar how to firebend," he said, his voice soft and matter of fact. "Like I said earlier, I think that being able to redirect lightning is going to be crucial." He chewed on his lip for a moment. "I've been going out at night looking for signs of his bison, Appa, I think is its name. And while I'm not fully sure I've found it, I might have a decent lead."

Her heart leapt in her chest and her throat felt tight. Appa was a creature of very few words and much wisdom. "Why… why would you do that? Look for Appa?"

"Because it's the right thing to do," Zuko said earnestly. "I've done the wrong thing so often, I have a lot to make up for. And I think it's going to take something monumental to get his friends to let me talk to him and offer my skills."

"Oh." She couldn't think of anything to say to that. How could she bring this up with her friends? Would they be willing to give him a chance?

"Because of the missing bison flyer, I know the avatar is in the city," Zuko went on. "Do you think it's wrong to hope that he might show up in the Jasmine Dragon one day?"

Her breath caught, and it was a struggle not to show it. "No." She coughed to clear her throat. "Stranger things have happened."

Zuko nodded. "You should get back to your friends before they start to worry." He stood up.

"Yeah." She did not want them coming looking for her.

"It was nice to see you, Ty Lee," he said, offering her a small smile. "Nicer than I would have expected."

"I'm glad I bumped into you," she said.

"Be sure to stop by the tea house again," he suggested. "Before you and your friends leave the city."

She smiled, feeling content for the first time in a while. "I will." She had a lead on both a firebending master and Appa's location. Perhaps those two details would be enough to get her friends to take a chance on adding a new member to the group. Maybe things were finally moving past the point of hopelessness, and she actually stood a chance at becoming a good avatar. 

"I'll see you soon, Lee. I promise." She turned and walked up the street toward the monorail.

_____________________

This was fun to write, but also a challenge.  I have never written from Ty Lee's perspective before, and I'm not sure I really nailed her character, but I'm hoping it's close enough.

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Pulse 2006

[fireember345]

The Chosen prompt

An Avatar Prompt

Do not own Avatar

Anyone can use the Prompt

 Zuko x Jet formerly

Zuko x Mai formerly

Zuko x Sensu

Izumi x Bumi II

Iroh II x Mako

Mpreg

Chosen are men that spirits bless the ability to give birth

Chosen’s children develop more quickly in the womb, causing them to be born earlier

Chosens are treated as the greatest treasures in their nation since they could birth powerful benders

Air Nomads are all Chosen due to their connection with the spirits

Sozin despised Chosens for being the most loved of the nation and decided to hunt and exterminate them, placing the death penalty on them and were called vermin

Ursa and Iroh hid that Zuko was a chosen from the Fire nation and Zuko

Ursa gave Zuko her pendent the day she disappeared so he would never feel alone

Zuko would wear the pendent and rub it when he felt uneased

On the boat, Zuko fell in love with Jet when he told him he was beautiful, scars and all

Zuko waited for his uncle to sleep after stealing food for the passengers to sneak off with Jet

He woke the next morning, he found himself below deck in a janitor’s closet, naked with a torn blanket with Jet and realized what he done

Jet promised Zuko or Li that he would take care of him, making him feel love, and make all Fire Benders pay for what they did to them

Zuko knew he had to reject Jet’s offer since he knew his relationship would never work

Jet then realized they were fire benders when Iroh heated his tea and it broke his heart to learn the man he loved was a Fire Bender all this time

Zuko began to feel different and developed an appetite and grew more grouchy than usual

When Jet confronted Iroh and Zuko in the tea shop and began his duel with Zuko, Jet told him that he hated him and stole the pendent from Zuko before the Dai Li took him away

The next day, Zuko went into labor, unsure why he was in so much pain

Iroh brought a midwife to help his nephew as they spent the entire night bringing a new life into the world

The baby boy was premature and very small, the midwife believed the baby would not last the night

But the baby did survived the night and the day after that and the day after that

Iroh knew the baby would have his nephew’s strength as he helped care for the baby while Zuko heals

Zuko at first didn’t know how to feel until Iroh placed his son in his arms and then instantly fell in love, vowing to always love his son and let him know that

Zuko knew that he was vermin to the Fire Nation and needed to keep it hidden but Iroh told him that in the Earth Kingdom, he would be treated as a treasure

The midwife alerted the Dai Li that Zuko or Li is a Chosen and Long Feng knew that they were General Iroh and Prince Zuko

But Long Feng thought it would be best that they didn’t know that he knew and arrange Quon to arrive at the Tea shop after slipping that they had the best tea in the world

The entire Earth Kingdom soon learned about the chosen and send Zuko treasures and delights to earn his favor

Zuko vowed a better life for his son, more eager to capture the Avatar so his son could have a good life

He names his son Sekiryū, The dragon born from the Stone

When Jet was dying, he begged Katara to give the necklace to his lover named Li and apologized to him

Iroh told Zuko as he was about to kidnap Appa that this was their chance for a new life, for not just them but for Zuko’s son and that Zuko can be a father to his son and finally be happy

When Zuko freed Appa and fallen ill, Sekiryū stayed by his mother’s side as he stayed quiet for Zuko to sleep, knowing that Zuko needed sleep

When Zuko finally recovered, he made sure his son would have everything he needed as Iroh adored the change in him

Zuko brough his son with him when he and Iroh came to visit the Earth King for tea

Azula mocked Zuko for being vermin and for birthing an impure spawn, causing Zuko to give Sekiryū to Iroh to fight Azula

Azula offers Zuko and his son a return home where they would be greeted with love and honor

Zuko joins forces with Azula to defeat the Avatar and their uncle

After Ba Sing Se was captured, Sekiryū used the breath of fire in a sneeze, revealing to be a powerful fire bender

When Ozai heard that Zuko’s son was able to bend before he is one where Azula got her bending at five, he smelled an opportunity

Ozai told his son that he is proud of slaying the Avatar and learned about Zuko’s condition as a Chosen

He told his son not to worry and was in fact proud of that fact, believing that this was a sign that Zuko was meant to rule, bringing forth powerful Fire Benders to defend their home

Ozai told Zuko that perhaps Sozin’s jealousy of the Chosen blinded him to the possibility that Chosens can bring greatness and decided to declare Chosens as the most sacred and protected citizens in the Fire Nation

Zuko elated that his father accepted him and his son as Ozai arranged a nursery for Sekiryū

Ozai came to Iroh’s prison to mock his brother and to thank him for revealing Zuko as a chosen

He told Iroh his plan for Zuko, to make him a broodmare to powerful Fire Bending Generals and bringing forth an future army of powerful fire benders

Iroh was angered by his twisted plans for Zuko and his son to be used as pawns

Zuko took his son to Ember Island with him as people thought he was being a sweet older brother but Azula refused to let Zuko correct them, playing the act as normal teenagers

Mai agreed to help raise Sekiryū

During Black Sun, While Zuko confronted Ozai and the Gaang were fleeing Azula, Sokka took Sekiryū to be used as leverage without thinking before flying off

Ozai confessed that he planned to make Zuko and all chosen Broodmares for the Fire Nation

After Zuko redirect lighting and fled, he looked for his uncle but could not find him, then search for his son to find him gone, thinking his father killed his son

Zuko vowed to be a better person for the memory of his son as he fled the Fire Nation and followed the Gaang

When Zuko tried to join the Gaang and the Gaang were about to fight him, he heard his son crying

Fueled by instinct, Zuko rushes to see Sekiryū alive as the Gaang except Toph think he was going to kill the baby

But Zuko explained that he was a chosen and that this baby was his, Toph confirming it to be true

The Gaang tell him to leave but Aang fought to have Zuko keep his son since it was wrong kidnapping a baby in the first place

When Zuko finally joins the Gaang as Aang’s teacher, Zuko arrange his tent to suit the needs of his son

Zuko eats separately from the others, Katara fearing he was planning something and Aang thinking Zuko was isolating himself

When Aang and Toph offered Zuko a place at the campfire to eat, it became apparent that Zuko separated himself from the others to nurse his son, having the need to privacy and shocking Sokka that Zuko can produce milk

When Zuko is on a life changing adventure with a member of the Gaang, he makes sure someone looks after his son while he’s gone, leaving bottles of milk for Sekiryū

Zuko told Aang while finding the source of Original Fire Bending that Chosen were considered vermin and Sozin ordered their deaths, Zuko being lucky because his uncle hid it from everyone, including him

On the Boiling Rock, when Mai confronts Zuko, he told her that he was doing this for his nation and for a future for his son

Mai helped Zuko and Sokka escape, knowing he was right

After Katara and Zuko’s life changing journey, she noticed that Sekiryū was afraid of her, like how she was with her mother’s killer, making her feel like a monster

Katara tries her best to show Sekiryū that she was not going to hurt his mom

She finally gain his trust when she saved Zuko from a fire bender’s attack and giving Zuko the Pendant that Jet took, telling him that he was sorry

After Zuko is made Fire Lord and his son his heir, Zuko arranges the prisoners of war to be taken home, meeting Sensu and Gansu again

On the journey to Sensu’s home, the two began to connect and began to like each other

Sensu’s family were happy to see them again, thanking and apologizing Zuko

The two continued to date after Mai left Zuko and after Zuko brings his mother and her family back to the Royal Palace, Sensu purposes to Zuko

Sensu and Zuko get married and later Zuko becomes pregnant with triplets

Azula kidnaped the children and Zuko, planning to use Zuko like her father was going to

Kiyi helped everyone escaped with young Sekiryū

After Azula escaped and everyone was safe, Zuko became heavily protected

Zuko gave birth to three girls, Izumi, Rōzu, and Rirī

Zuko trained Sekiryū in blades and gave him Jet’s blades as an inheritance

Sekiryū decided to take over the Jasmine Dragon after his uncle died and giving the title of the crown to Izumi, who was made for this job

Sekiryū got married, had kids and grandkids at the teashop

Iroh II is a chosen like his grandfather

After the previous president of Republic City lost the race, Mako and Iroh II began dating

[virilalimonera]

Yugo y viri:-dormidos abrazados y cobijados asta los hombros-

Quon:-entra al cuarto y los mira-eh!?!?!?

Xander y ukyo:-tambien los miran-hay no...

Viri:-se mueve un poco y tapa su cara en el pecho de yugo-

Yugo:-abrazandola con amor-

Quon:-los descobija y mira a viri con la camisa de yugo y a yugo sin camisa-USTEDES DOS QUE TANTO HICIERON!!!

Yugo:-lo mira un poco dormido-shhhh!!! Dejala dormir...

Quon:DÍGANME QUE TANTO HICIERON!!!!

Xander y ukyo:hay....

Viri:.....-apunto de despertarse-

Yugo:no hicimos nada...

Quon:entonces porque trae tu camisa?

Yugo:encerio...-suspira enojado y cobija denuevo a Viri-dejame te cuento...

-unas horas atras-

Viri:-en ropa interior-yugo no as visto una camisa de mi hermano? °^°

Yugo:jmmm no-la mira-

Viri:aaa...ya que tendré que dormir incomoda....

Yugo:si quieres te presto la mia

Viri:encerio?...

Yugo:aja-va con ella y le pone su camisa-listo

Viri:gracias yugo!!-lo abraza-

Yugo:Denada...-agarra un peine-dejame peinarte

Viri:esta bien-se sienta en el suelo-

Yugo:-se arrodilla atras de ella y la empiesa a peinar-oye viri,se te cae mucho el cabello....

Viri:lo se...yo digo porque estoy estresada jeje...

Yugo:tu crees?-peinandola-

Viri:si!!

Yugo:-le hace una mini cebolla-listo

Viri:gracias entrenador yugo!!

Yugo:solo dime yugo

Viri:esta bien entrenador ÙwÚ

Yugo:bueno a dormir

Viri:-se acuesta y se cobija-buenas noches pollito

Yugo:buenas noches enana

Viri:hey!!

Yugo:-se ríe y se duerme-

Viri:asta mañana-mira el techo-cuando llegaras hermano...

Yugo:zzz

Viri:-mira por todo el cuarto-uh...e....yugo!!-va con yugo-

Yugo:uh?-se despierta y la mira-que pasa?

Viri:me puedo dormir contigo?....

Yugo:esta bien

Viri:gracias!!-se acuesta en un lado de el y abraza su peluche que yugo le regalo-

Yugo:veo que te gusta el peluche que te di

Viri:si...es muy lindo~

Yugo:-sonrie y la abraza-buenas noches princesa

Viri:buenas noches pollito

Yugo:-la cobija-

Viri:gracias-se duerme-

Yugo:-la abraza y se queda dormido-

-ahora xd-

Quon:ah....ok...aun asi no hicieron nada!?!?!?

Viri:-le da una patada a Quon-deja dormir

Yugo:-la abraza denuevo-

Viri:-abraza a yugo otra vez y tapa su cara en su pecho-

Quon:bueno vente vámonos a dormir hermana

Viri:no yo quiero dormir con yugo!!

Xander y ukyo:-intentando de no reirse-

Quon:pero

Viri:pero nada!!!-se duerme en los brazos de yugo-

Yugo:-mira a quon-tranquilo no le are nada

Quon:esta bien...-se acuesta-cuidala!!!-le da la espalda-

Yugo:si cuñado-se duerme-

Quon:NO ME DIGAS CUÑADO!!!!

Xander y ukyo:-se rien y se acuestan para dormir-

Quon:-intentando de dormir-

-al dia siguiente-

Viri:-comiendo cereal-chocolate nwn

Yugo:se que te encantan-cocinando-

Viri:jeje gracias por comprar este cereal yugo

Xander y ukyo:-desayunando-y Quon

Quon:-se sienta en un lado de viri-

Viri:buenos dias hermano

Xander,yugo y ukyo:buenos dias Quon

Quon:buenos dias....-con ojeras-

Viri:no dormiste bien hermano

Quon:sabes que yo no puedo dormir sin saber que estes bien

Viri:pero si dormi agusto con yugo

Yugo:aja y yo igual-le sirve el desayuno a quon-toma cuñado

Quon:-agarra un pedazo de pan y se la lanza-QUE NO ME DIGAS CUÑADO!!!!

Yugo:-agarra el pedazo de pan y se rie-esta bien CUÑADO

Quon:AGHHH!!

Viri:menor desayuna hermano-intentando de no reirse-

Ukyo y xander:-riéndose bajo-

Quon:deseguro el mio trae veneno!!

Yugo:no trae veneno en realidad al tuyo le eche un poco mas de salsa

Viri:-mira a quon-

Quon:-empiesa a comer-cuando este bien despierto te arrancare el pene!!!

Viri:uh?

Yugo,xander y ukyo:-le lanzan un zapato,sartén y un pan a quon-ELLA NO SABE QUE ES ESO!!!

Viri:que es pene? :v

Quon:nada...

Yugo:-sonrojado y termina de hacer su desayuno-no es nada pequeña jeje

Viri:esta bien-sigue comiendo su cereal-

Yugo:-se sienta en medio de ukyo y quon xd-

Quon:-ataca a yugo-ven aca!!!

Viri:ahh!!!

Xander y ukyo:QUON PARA!!!-intentando de separarlos-

Quon:qidneodnwkdmkednenksmw

Yugo:quien invoco a Satanás ._.

[kiss-my-freckle]

Red’s Vanessa Cruz shooting. A long post. 

Red’s Vanessa Cruz shooting is the most convenient piece. Tom’s involvement in that shooting being the “certain truth" about Red that I believe he wiped from Liz’s memory. Uncovering Tom’s involvement in that, Liz would’ve realized what part Tom played in her Cabal frame. While Red traced everything back to the harbormaster trial in his conversation with Liz on the phone, his shooting in 2x18 was their initial hit. I think Red made that connection to the harbormaster trial for a reason. He didn’t save Tom to save her. Red had no flipping idea Tom would walk on Ames’ murder, he only knew that Liz would. Dialogues show it. The judge didn’t let Tom go, Connolly did. Dialogues show it. I think Red mentioned the harbormaster investigation to leave that open for the memory wipe reveal. Their way to marker the episode where Liz should’ve circled back to that phone call. It was a basic hint to Liz, a puzzle piece - you have more than a grainy photo of Karakurt, you know Connolly made that investigation go away. I think Red knew at that point Tom was involved in his shooting because Connolly allowed him to walk on Ames’ murder. I think that’s why Red doesn’t understand why Liz continued a relationship with him. I think Red knows about everything at this point. Everything BUT her second memory wipe. 

Several things about Red’s 2x18 shooting that are questionable. That’s why I consider Red’s shooting the most convenient piece. 

1. Quon Zhang gave us timeline for each hit. 

Karakurt and Andropov needed to remain in contact and line up their schedules so they could hit back-to-back as they did. The fact that Karakurt entered the country at the end of Zhang’s episode tells us that Anropov infected the college student in that episode rather than in Karakurt’s. He wouldn’t have entered the country until the virus was proven successful. That’s your timeline. Andropov infects the student at the same time Red introduces Zhang. Understanding their need to keep in contact according to their mulitple phases because they needed them to align a certain way. 

Once Andropov tested the student at the open of Zhang’s episode, would’ve contacted Karakurt and informed him. That’s how Quon Zhang could speak to Karakurt entering the country by the end of his episode. Andropov would have informed him at the start of it. Then what you have, is Zhang smuggling Karakurt into the country so he can bomb Orea. Once the Orea bombing was completed, the next phase was Andropov infecting Liz at Union Station. After that, Karakurt’s phase at the memorial as a fake reporter. After the senator was infected, Andropov and Karakurt were done, Liz’s frame fully complete. This would’ve required a back-and-forth sharing of information - which they did. 

Orea agents had no reason to believe Karakurt entered the country. Entering the country wasn’t mentioned in their conversation, they only spoke of “phase two” - which isn’t specific. Andropov in bold. 

-Tell me it worked. -The proof of concept succeeded as projected. -Prepare to initiate Phase Two. -Done. I’ve identified the markers for targeting and customization.

2. Tom called Liz back to his warehouse. 

Tom’s rapid switch, and a reason to question his need to lie to Liz.  

Tom: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I can’t. Not about this.

He can’t tell Liz about the passports. About THIS. The passports didn’t come from Red, yet Tom claimed they did. Tom had no reason to hide the fact that Red hired him. If Red issued those passports, had no reason to hide that either. Tom was already “out.” He pulled himself back in when he messaged Liz to stop by. 

Tom: The passports - the passports came from Reddington.

According to Keen2 shippers, Liz’s kiss goodbye caused Tom to change his mind, pushed him to be honest with her because he couldn’t imagine his life without her. The truth would’ve had no bearing on their relationship, nor affect Red. He didn’t have to know where that intel came from. So simple ... “Hey Red, I found out you hired Tom Keen to enter my life because I was finally able to trace those passports back to you.” Liz learning, not Tom informing. He would've been safe from Red, Liz would’ve appreciated his honesty. Tom simply could not reveal where those passports came from. He basically lied to Liz twice. Honest when he told Liz Red hired him to enter her life. 

One should question: What did Tom hope to gain by informing Liz about Red? Why lie about the passports, but be truthful about his hire?

My belief. Tom told her the truth about Red hiring him so he could sell the lie about where the passports came from and basically bury the real truth. Easy to buy the lie, to buy Red issuing passports for the spy he hired to enter her life. I believe they tell a much bigger story.

3. Missing conversation and Connolly’s dialogue. 

Before they cut scene, Tom had one more thing to say. 

Tom: Liz, there’s more.

That’s it. That’s all we hear. Cut scene. 

Jasper: It’s me. It’s done. Red: I’m listening. Jasper: The vote went your way. The Director wasn’t very happy, but - a vote’s a vote. Red: And Hobbs? Jasper: He wants to meet. Red: Yes, I’m quite sure he would have. But he can’t, can he? Jasper: What are you talking about? Red: Hobbs was to contact me after the vote was cast. He didn’t, which means he’s dead, which means you betrayed him. Betrayed me. Jasper: That’s not true. He specifically asked that the three of us should meet so that we can discuss the future. Red: You need to run, Jasper. Run like the prairie wind because I’m coming for you. And when I find you, I’m going to cut out that forked tongue of yours and deliver it to the Director myself.

Jasper was the one who said The Director had an inside man. Samar played it off like she was his inside man, but she was not. Jasper, The Director with his inside man, Red, and Dembe. 

Red: It’s time to go away, Dembe. Dembe: Agent Keen wants to meet regarding the Fulcrum.

Red was prepared to go away because Liz wouldn’t give him the Fulcrum and his life was in immediate danger. The Cabal pushed him into a corner. That’s what made this work all the better. The Director knew it. His inside man knew it. The Director already got his backing to kill Red. That’s what they were voting for. All he needed at that point, was the Fulcrum. Guess what Liz did? Took the Fulcrum to the very location where Red took a bullet. Everything The Director wanted was there - after Liz left Tom’s warehouse:  

“Liz, there’s more.”

One should question: What else did Tom tell Liz that we didn’t get to hear?

My belief. Tom told Liz that Red only entered her life for the Fulcrum. Basically confirming that fear she had since her Braxton recall.  

Caul’s episode brought quite a coincidence. A bit of dialogue that came from the very man who allowed Tom to walk out of prison. Not only walk on the murder of Eugene Ames, but on charges stemming from his work for Berlin.  

Connolly: I appreciate your loyalty to Agent Keen, Harold, but - you have to admit, there’s a possibility she’s being completely manipulated by Reddington. What if the reason he chose her in the first place is because he wanted to get his hands on this thing? What if that’s the real reason he turned himself in? Cooper: I don’t believe that. Connolly: All this talk about some personal connection between Reddington and Keen, why he chose her, some shared history - what if Reddington doesn’t care about Agent Keen and it’s all been a manipulation?

My belief. While Cooper didn’t believe what Connolly was selling, I believe Tom did, and I believe he sold it to Liz in their missing conversation. 

From saying this on-screen: “Liz, there’s more.”  

To saying this off-screen: “You’re being completely manipulated by Reddington. He chose you because he wanted to get his hands on the Fulcrum. That’s why he turned himself in. You have no shared connection, no shared history. You want to know why he chose you? It’s because of the Fulcrum. He knows you have it.”

I think that’s why she called Dembe immediately afterward, and told him she wanted to meet regarding the Fulcrum. I also think that’s why she brought the Fulcrum to their meeting. 

4. Pushed to the edge. 

Imagine the build-up since Luther Braxton. Liz’s fear that Red only entered her life for the Fulcrum. She spoke of this immediately following her recall. Several more mentions after that. The idea bothered Liz. Moreso because she became possessive of him. She spoke of this to Samar. Selling a shared history/connection just to get his hands on a blackmail file. Basically preying on her emotions, as she spoke of at Tom’s grave. That’s what Red would’ve been doing if that were the case. Yes, that’s something to fear. Even in The Deer Hunter. 

Add in her belief that her father died because of the Fulcrum. Because Red and his people came for it that night. Now add in the man Red hired to enter her life. Their entire relationship built on a lie. And Tom could’ve easily sold that as yet another lie - claim he was hired by Red to enter her life in an effort to find the Fulcrum.

Her dialogue as well as her emotion. 

Liz: Here. This is all you wanted. Now you have it.

Liz: I said, please do not attempt to explain why. I don’t care why. I just want this to stop. I want it all to stop, right now. Take it!

That’s quite a leap from Red issuing passports and hiring Tom to enter her life. “THIS is all you wanted” taken back to Tom’s initial statement. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I can’t. Not about THIS.” 

5. Tracking Red.

No one has EVER been able to get close to Red. Surely not close enough to put a bullet in his chest. I know some theorists believe Fitch was able to get close to him due to S1 dialogue, but one must look at his dialogue, compare it, then consider intent. 

Fitch: You were walking in the park this morning. We could’ve taken you then. Instead, we dragged you from the safety and security of the bed you’re now sharing with new friends. 

Solomon: The plan was to grab her today, no matter where she was. Grocery store or house of God, it makes little difference to me. 

As you know, Solomon was in custody at the time Liz was attacked in the grocery store parking lot. Word of mouth. That’s all anyone needs. 

Their intent? To instill fear and maintain control. 

Red is off the grid. No digital footprint. One can’t actually track him. No phone, no email, everything is done face-to-face. Not even Dembe’s flip phone. What I’m basically saying is this: NO ONE tracked Red to that meeting with Liz.

One should question: How did the Cabal learn about Red and Liz’s meeting and location?

Liz’s Lord Baltimore tail makes this all the more interesting. Compare her Lord Baltimore tail to Ezra. So obvious that it feels blatant.  

Ezra tails her out in the open. You quite literally see him tailing her from the very beginning of S2. He has no need to wear Keen2 glasses. We NEVER see him wear them, and it’s not like he needs them - he’s not pretending to be a teacher. They only tail Liz for one episode, and they tail her specifically. They show this in scene. They are following her, not him. 

How does one track Red when he leaves no digital trace and no one can get close enough? Either study his tie purchases like Samar, or take the simple route: tail Liz. As cautious as she was trying to be - changing her route, living in motels, etc - this person was still able to track her. I believe they brought this tail in specifically to show how the Cabal was able to put a bullet in Red’s chest. I believe they tailed her from Tom’s warehouse to the meeting location. 

A gif set after this post to show what I mean by the tail and its purpose. 

6. The time it took them to put a bullet in Red’s chest. 

Less than 90 seconds after he arrived at their location. That’s 90 seconds his shooter had to get to the fourth floor and set up the shot.

7. Their initial hit. 

Red’s shooting was their initial hit. The first move the Cabal made after learning Liz was born Masha Rostova. The first move they made in their plan to frame her for treason. They needed him out of the way so he wouldn’t be around when Karakurt and Andropov came in, nor be around to clear Liz’s name. Basicallly, they wanted things to go as planned.

8. Hits and their differences.

Section one.

While the Cabal orchestrated Red’s shooting, they had no idea Liz would shoot Connolly. An obvious difference there. Connolly’s shooting compared to the Orea bombing and the senator, just as obvious. His shooting didn’t require a frame. Liz pulled the trigger herself in a banquet hall full of credible witnesses. Unlike Red, one can easily get close enough to take a shot at Connolly. When it came to exoneration, Connolly’s shooting took her badge. She was cleared on everything else. Had she not shot him, Liz would’ve had her badge when she returned to work, no deal required. 

Summation of Connolly’s murder.

Was not part of Liz’s Cabal frame. 

Happened unexpectedly. 

Was a choice Liz made.  

Provided credible witnesses. 

Took Liz’s badge. 

The only charge that wasn’t exonerated. 

Coincidence, the many parallels and dialogues supporting the possibility that Liz's second memory manipulation may have played a role in this shooting. 

Section two. 

Liz’s fingerprint found on the explosive device involved in the Orea bombing. An obvious plant. Seen near the truck, but not prior to detonation. An act that didn’t have as much proof as the virus that killed the senator. News reporter feed that recorded Liz infecting the senator as she assisted him into the car. Her blood testing positive for the virus. Overall, the biggest difference is the lack of evidence in the Orea bombing compared to the evidence they had for the senator’s death. Orea required more planting, whereas the senator simply required they mislead Liz into killing him. 

Summation of the senator’s murder.

More evidence. Stronger evidence. Harder to disprove evidence. 

Liz being misled, requiring less falsification.

Planting evidence in her blood. 

Harder to plant evidence in someone’s blood. Wouldn’t be that hard to plant a fingerprint and falsify documentation. I believe the Orea bombing came first because their plan to reignite the Cold War required it in that order. 

One final, glaring difference between hits: Tom’s character.

The Orea bombing. The virus that killed the senator. Connolly’s shooting. Three hits that put Liz on the run. Tom was hesitant to help her with the Orea bombing and the senator, but eager to help with Connolly’s shooting. Add in the possibility of Liz’s second memory manipulation. 

Tom’s thoughts regarding the Orea bombing and the senator. That’s Reddington talking. There’s no clearing it up, there’s only leaving it behind. He can keep her safe, he can help her disappear. He doesn’t know Andropov. Liz told him she had proof that Cooper’s doctor worked for the Cabal, and he told her to slow down. She can’t leave. Then he can’t stay. Basically, Tom couldn’t stay either way, he had to leave with or without Liz. Why?

Connolly’s shooting in S3 was complete opposite. Tom came back. For some reason, now able to stay. For some reason, now eager to help Liz. For some reason, not a single moment of hesitation. Sitting by the phone, waiting for her call. Leaving his number with the damn waitress ffs. Tailing Ressler for the sake of it. And doing this to exonerate her. Apparently, they can clear this up rather than leave it behind. No need to keep her safe or help her disappear. He knew Karakurt but not Andropov. No need to tell Liz to slow down, Tom himself was unable to slow down. Why the change?

Connolly’s shooting mattered to Tom. Why?

Because Tom saw The Director on the news. The Director wasn’t on the news until S3. Cooper fooled by Connolly. Ressler fooled by Laurel. Tom fooled by Peter. 

[dweemeister]

2019 Movie Odyssey Awards

As the 2019 Movie Odyssey Award for Best Original Song final was extended, the 2019 Movie Odyssey Awards themselves are late. As always, this is the annual awards ceremony to recognize a year of films that I saw for the first time in their entirety in the calendar year. All films featured - with the exception of those in the Worst Picture category (and even then, the Worst Picture winner won a competitive award below) - are worth seeing.

The full list of every single film I saw as part of the 2019 Movie Odyssey can be seen in this link.

Best Pictures (I name ten winners, none of which are distinguished above the other nine)

The Ascent (1977, Soviet Union)

An Autumn Afternoon (1962, Japan)

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

The Informer (1935)

Kuroneko (1968, Japan)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Sons of the Desert (1933)

Victor/Victoria (1982)

The Westerner (1940)

Woodstock (1970)

Three of these Best Picture winners received 10/10 from yours truly: The Ascent, Sons of the Desert, and Woodstock. To my discredit, there are - for the second consecutive time - no silent films here. It is also the second consecutive Best Picture lineups without entries from the 1990s or 2000s. This is the first Best Picture lineup without a winner from the 1950s. It is, as a result of my seeing fewer feature-length films than usual this year, the most monolingual Best Picture field in a while. This field of ten runs the gamut of comedy, documentary (Woodstock is only the third documentary of 80 over the last eight years to be a Best Picture winner), horror, musical, American Western, war, family drama, and historical drama.

Best Comedy

Booksmart (2019)

Design for Living (1933)

The Great McGinty (1940)

Jewel Robbery (1932)

Jour de Fête (1949, France)

Sitting Pretty (1948)

Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Sons of the Desert

Toy Story 4 (2019)

Victor/Victoria

Most of these had me bursting in laughter. Design for Living not Jewel Robbery may not have been gut-burstingly funny, but I appreciate the wittiness of ‘30s romantic comedies and so there get a spot here. Booksmart is the best pure comedy of 2019 and Smokey and the Bandit has been described by a few Southerners of not so much a comedy as it is a documentary of Southern culture in the 1970s. But Sons of the Desert, with Laurel and Hardy’s slapstick mastery, takes it away here. Fun fact: “Sons of the Desert” is the name of the international Laurel and Hardy fan club (its founding documents co-written by Stan Laurel).

Best Musical

Frozen II (2019)

The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

King of Jazz (1930)

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

The Perils of Pauline (1947)

Rocketman (2019)

Thousands Cheer (1943)

Victor/Victoria

Oh this wasn’t close. Some films here may have packed more songs into their runtime (The Happiest Millionaire and Mary Poppins Returns), others were more fantastical (Rocketman), or dispensed with a plot altogether to concentrate on the music (Thousands Cheer)... but Victor/Victoria felt narratively decades of its time and was bolstered by an outstanding performance by Julie Andrews. Credit to Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse for their musical score, too.

Best Animated Feature

Frozen II

Fun and Fancy Free (1947)

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

Modest Heroes (2018, Japan)

Toy Story 4

There have been years where some category dries up in its nominees. This year, it was certainly animated feature. The wave of recent non-English language animated films that usually populate this category were severely diminished to just one last year: Modest Heroes. The weakest Toy Story film of the four - note that this bar is extremely high - is your winner, just edging HTTYD.

Best Documentary

The African Lion (1955)

Hale County This Morning, This Evening (2018)

Made in Vietnam (2017)

Minding the Gap (2018)

Pavarotti (2019)

Seadrift (2019)

Walk Run Cha-Cha (2019 short)

While I Breathe, I Hope (2018)

Woodstock

Yellowstone Cubs (1963)

A year that saw yours truly watch many more documentaries than usual sees Woodstock, directed by Michael Wadleigh, as the winner here. Woodstock perfectly immerses the viewer into the totality of the eponymous 1969 music festival of the same name and is one of the great concert films. Runners-up included the experimental Hale County This Morning, This Evening  (a collection of contemporary images of black lives in Hale County, Alabama) and the excellent Minding the Gap (an observational glimpse into the lives of three friends from Rockford, Illinois who are all drawn to skateboarding and a devastating portrait of youth and masculinity in America) - both Oscar nominees and both shown on PBS earlier in 2019.

Congratulations to Walk Run Cha-Cha for being the first short film nominated in this category since 2015. I first saw it as part of the curatorial committee on Viet FIlm Fest this year and this New York Times film is now shortlisted as a potential Best Documentary Short Film nominee for the 92nd Academy Awards.

Best Non-English Language Film

The Ascent, Soviet Union

An Autumn Afternoon, Japan

Barnali (1963), India

The Garden of Mr. Vong (2017 short), Germany

Ginger and Fred (1986), Italy

Jour de Fête, France

Kuroneko, Japan

La Pointe Courte (1955), France

Pitfall (1962), Japan

Song Lang (2018), Vietnam

I may have seen fewer non-English language films this year, but there’s still a great selection here. In what was essentially a choice between The Ascent or An Autumn Afternoon, the only 10/10 recipient is the winner here. Vietnam has its first appearance in this category with Leon Le’s Song Lang - which is still making the film festival circuits.

Best Silent Film

Bobby Bumps and His Pointer Pup (1916 short)

Bobby Bumps at the Dentist (1918 short)

Bobby Bumps, Chef (1917 short)

Bobby Bumps in Their Master’s Voice (1921 short)

Bobby Bumps’ Last Smoke (1919 short)

Bobby Bumps Starts for School (1917 short)

The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West (1916 short)

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (1922, Germany)

The Racket (1928)

Street Angel (1928)

As you can see, I didn’t see a lot of silent films this year. Dominated by Earl Hurd’s Bobby Bumps series of animated short films - Hurd innovated cel animation, a technique that would be used by pretty much everyone in hand-drawn animation for several decades - the winner is Fritz Lang’s sprawling crime epic, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler. The first Mabuse film is a solid, if imperfect, example of German Expressionism, a movement emphasizing darker stories and production/lighting design depending upon extremely angled sets and high-contrast lights and shadows.

Personal Favorite Film

Booksmart

The Farewell (2019)

House of Usher (1960)

The Moon-Spinners (1964)

Murder, She Said (1961)

One Foot in Heaven (1941)

Smokey and the Bandit

Sons of the Desert

Toy Story 4

The War of the Worlds (1953)

“I can hear the scratch of rat claws in the stone walls.” I mean, come on. How could one not appreciate Vincent Price’s straight performance in a fun, albeit loose, adaptation of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher? Such a great horror movie for an October evening and you don’t want to be scared out your wits. Runners-up were two other literary adaptations: Murder, She Said (adapted from Agatha Christie’s 4.50 from Paddington and starring a fantastic Margaret Rutherford as Ms. Marple) and The War of the Worlds (a chilling adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel, with special effects convincing for its time and a change of setting to SoCal).

Best Director

Stuart Cooper, Overlord (1975)

John Ford, The Informer

Fritz Lang, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler

Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman

Laurence Olivier, Henry V (1944)

Yasujirô Ozu, An Autumn Afternoon

Irving Rapper, One Foot in Heaven

Larisa Shepitko, The Ascent

Kaneto Shindô, Kuroneko

Michael Wadleigh, Woodstock

By no agenda at all, we have our first woman winner in Best Director. Shepitko directs her film with the utmost discipline and interest; it is to cinema’s misfortune that she died so young. Other considerations were Ford, Olivier, Ozu, and Wadleigh.

Best Acting Ensemble

An Autumn Afternoon

BlacKkKlansman

The Farewell

The Great McGinty

The Holly and the Ivy (1952)

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

One Foot in Heaven

Victor/Victoria

The Whales of August (1987)

Standout performances alone don’t always triumph here, nor do big names. So when it comes to collective performances, there was a wealth of options from the 2019 Movie Odyssey. Just edging An Autumn Afternoon (recommended for those who have seen several Ozu films) and The Whales of August (which I would recommend for those who have seen plenty of Bette Davis, Lillian Gish, and Vincent Price) is The Farewell. What surprised me most about the movie was how well-directed it was. I came into it expecting it to be poignantly written, but the caliber of acting from the cast was astoundingly high.

Best Actor

Demián Bichir, A Better Life (2011)

Yul Brynner, Anastasia

Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler

Fredric March, One Foot in Heaven

Marcello Mastroianni, Ginger and Fred

Victor McLaglen, The Informer

Laurence Olivier, Henry V

Vincent Price, House of Usher

Burt Reynolds, Smokey and the Bandit

Edward G. Robinson, Little Caesar (1931)

Somewhat forgotten amid more popular John Ford films is The Informer. And with that, mostly forgotten is Victor McLaglen’s performance. McLaglen was a major star who peaked in the late 1920s and 1930s, mostly playing Irish drunks even though he himself was of English origin. He was relegated to supporting roles in the 1940s and beyond. He’s a force of nature as Gypo Nolan in The Informer though, and it is his brute force and physical acting that carries him over the likes March, Olivier, Price, and Robinson (who is my second choice here).

Best Actress

Jane Alexander, The Great White Hope (1970)

Julie Andrews, Victor/Victoria

Constance Bennett, What Price Hollywood? (1932)

Ingrid Bergman, Anastasia

Janet Gaynor, Street Angel

Giulietta Masina, Ginger and Fred

Yûko Mochizuki, Farewell to Dream (1956)

Lupita Nyong’o, Us (2019)

Ann Rutherford, Murder, She Said

Sharmila Tagore, Barnali

What can she not do? We think of Julie Andrews so much as the governess or nanny who makes everything right in the end. For those who don’t know, Andrews stars in Victor/Victoria as Victoria Grant, a struggling song-and-dance lady who, going along with her friend Robert Preston’s get-rich-quick plans, plays a man named Count Victor Grezhinski who plays a woman. Confused? Then you probably haven’t seen the movie (thanks to Blake Andrews’ direction, the film sells the illusion even though we the viewer can see through the disguise). Behind Andrews are Bergman, Nyong’o, and Rutherford.

Best Supporting Actor

Mahershala Ali, Green Book (2018)

Walter Brennan, The Westerner

Jackie Gleason, Smokey and the Bandit

Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

Tim Blake Nelson, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Robert Preston, Victor/Victoria

Anatoly Solonitsyn, The Ascent

Akim Tamiroff, The Great McGinty

Eijirô Tôno, Farewell to Dream

Supporting categories tend to like villainous roles. In a faux supporting role, Walter Brennan - that raspy-voiced (because of his exposure to mustard gas while serving in WWI) coot who had the misfortune/fortune? to always look at least sixty or seventy years old - is “Judge” Roy Bean, a hanging judge who holds kangaroo courts in his lawless corner of Texas. Charismatic, out-of-touch, sexist, and silver-tongued is Brennan in this film... and never for a moment is he anything other than a delight to watch (as much as you may hate his character). Within striking distance are Brad Pitt and Akim Solonitsyn.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, Vice (2018)

Beulah Bondi, One Foot in Heaven

Doris Davenport, The Westerner

Helen Hayes, Anastasia

Holly Hunter, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Yoshiko Kuga, Farewell to Dream

Maureen O’Hara, Sitting Pretty

Kiwako Taichi, Kuroneko

Lesley Ann Warren, Victor/Victoria

The most recent Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress does the same thing here for If Beale Street Could Talk. As the mother of the female lead in the film, King is an emotional scene-stealer from the first moment we meet her. Her character’s sojourn to Puerto Rico late in the film solidifies that. Far behind King is Yoshiko Kuga.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Yuri Klepikov and Larisa Shepitko, The Ascent

Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Wilmott, and Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman

Ben Hecht, Design for Living

Lulu Wang, The Farewell

Howard Sackler, The Great White Hope

Kaneto Shindo, Kuroenko

Dudley Nichols, The Informer

Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Casey Robinson, One Foot in Heaven

F. Hugh Herbert, Sitting Pretty

One Foot in Heaven is a film with its Christian themes on its sleeve. Hell, the film does revolve around a Methodist minister, his family, and the community he serves over the course of a few decades. But it is a film with no need to proselytize, its heart understanding how human suffering can be tempered with mercy and forgiveness. Runners-up were BlacKkKlansman; The Farewell; and O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Best Original Screenplay

James Gray and Ethan Gross, Ad Astra (2019)

Kôgo Noda and Yasujirô Ozu, An Autumn Afternoon

Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman, Booksmart

Federico Fellini, Tonino Guerra, and Tullio Pinelli, Ginger and Fred

Preston Sturges, The Great McGinty

Rian Johnson, Knives Out (2019)

Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Christopher Hudson and Stuart Cooper, Overlord

Kôbô Abe, Pitfall

Oliver Hardy, Jack Barty, Stan Laurel, William A. Seiter, Glenn Tyron, and Eddie Welch, Sons of the Desert

Ozu’s final film shows that, though he usually revolved around familial dramas, never changed his signature visual aesthetic, and demanded little sensational acting, his films were always imbued with a deeply-ingrained humanity - asking complex questions about aspects of our familial or public lives that we would not give a second thought to. Ozu and his frequent collaborator Noda make those mundanities cinematic. That is why he is one of the greatest writer-directors who has ever lived.

Best Cinematography

Hoyte Van Hoytema, Ad Astra

Alfred Milotte and Elma Milotte, The African Lion

Vladimir Chukhnov and Pavel Lebeshev, The Ascent

Robert Krasker, Henry V

Joseph H. August, The Informer

Kiyomi Kuroda, Kuroneko

Roger Deakins, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

John Alcott, Overlord

Paul Ivano and Ernest Palmer, Street Angel

Frank V. Phillips, The Wild Country (1970)

In the history of WWII films, Overlord almost always never gets a mention. But this highly personal story of one young British soldier’s service on D-Day - and its shocking, but realistic ending - is beautifully shot. Runners-up include The Ascent and Kuroneko.

Best Film Editing

Norman R. Palmer, The African Lion

Uncredited, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler

Andrew Buckland, Michael McCusker, and Dirk Westervelt, Ford v Ferrari (2019)

George Hively, The Informer

Alain Resnais, La Pointe Courte

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, and Tricia Cooke, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Jonathan Gili, Overlord

Barney Wolf, Street Angel

Everett Douglas, The War of the Worlds

Thelma Schoonmaker, Jere Huggins, Martin Scorsese, Michael Wadleigh, Stanley Warnow, and Yeu-Bun Yee, Woodstock

Taking editing techniques that had been used but not pieced together so masterfully before give the Woodstock team the victory here. Their closest competition came from Ford v Ferrari, Overlord, and The War of the Worlds.

Best Adaptation or Musical Score

An Ton That and Leon Le, and Song Lang

T Bone Burnett, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Alfonso Corelli and Milton Ager, King of Jazz

Robert Emmett Dolan, The Perils of Pauline

Ian Neil, Rocketman

Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Frozen II

Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Mary Poppins Returns

Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, The Happiest Millionaire

Herbert Stothart, Thousands Cheer

Every song was an original in Song Lang. And with cải lương a receding artform in Vietnam, what an unlikely shot in the arm Song Lang is - the beauty of its melodies and especially those lyrics. This category, which advantages musical scores over adaptation scores, also saw Mancini and Bricusse nearly take this one.

Best Original Score

Terence Blanchard, BlacKkKlansman

Bronislau Kaper, The Red Badge of Courage (1951)

Alfred Newman, Anastasia

John Powell, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Leonard Rosenman, Fantastic Voyage

Alfred Schnittke, The Ascent

Max Steiner, The Informer

Leith Stevens, The War of the Worlds

William Walton, Henry V

John Williams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Not the best field for Original Score, but our winner ranks among the greatest film scores of all time. For the second straight year, a composer better known for their classical music work rather than film scoring has won. Following Ralph Vaughan Williams for 49th Parallel (1941) is fellow Englishman William Walton. For Olivier’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V, Walton was inspired by Elizabethan music, stunning magisterial fanfares. And, of course, there is the passacaglia “Death of Falstaff”. Walton beats Newman, Steiner, and Williams by a country mile.

Best Original Song

“Are We Dancing?”, music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, The Happiest Millionaire

“Crazy World”, music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria

“East Bound and Down”, music and lyrics by Jerry Reed, Smokey and the Bandit

“I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, The Perils of Pauline

“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”, music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin, Rocketman

“Le Jazz Hot!”, music by Henry Macini, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria

“The Next Right Thing”, music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Frozen II

“The Shady Dame from Seville”, music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria

“Trường Tương Tư”, music and lyrics by Leon Le, Song Lang

“Woodstock”, music and lyrics by Joni Mitchell, Woodstock

Thank you all to those who participated in the preliminary and the final round of MOABOS this year!

Best Costume Design

René Hubert, Anastasia

Roger K. Furse, Henry V

Walter Plunkett, The Informer

Herman Rosse, King of Jazz

Yoshio Ueno, Kuroneko

Mary Zophres, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Sarah Edwards, Ocean’s Eight (2018)

Edith Head and Waldo Angelo, The Perils of Pauline

Ghia Fam, Song Lang

Patricia Norris, Victor/Victoria

There were a handful of films I saw in 2019 that were revue musicals - something that, unless you’re an aficionado of musical theater history or know musical films, is unfamiliar to most people in 2020. A revue musical is a musical that features a collection of musical numbers that serve no narrative purpose when put together, often integrating dance or comedy sketches. Revue musicals were far more popular in the first half of the twentieth century. King of Jazz is an early two-strip Technicolor revue musical and its costume design reflects the extreme stylistic and cultural differences of its musical numbers. Behind King of Jazz are Anastasia and Song Lang.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Ma Kalaadevi Ananda and Tony Ward, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Uncredited, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler

Tony Sforzini and Vivienne Walker, Henry V

Jack P. Pierce, King of Jazz

Shigeo Kobayashi, Kuroneko

Louise McCarthy and Alan D’Angerio, Ocean’s Eight

Wally Westmore, The Perils of Pauline

Le Cam Huong, Song Lang

Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe, and Patricia Dehaney, Vice

Paul Engelen, Harry Frampton, Peter Frampton, and Bobbie Smith, Victor/Victoria

Damn there was a lot of makeup in this movie, rendering certain actors unrecognizable. As much as despised Vice (more on that shortly), it takes the cake here. Also being considered was Dr. Mabuse the Gambler.

Best Production Design

John Graysmark, Andrej Andrejew, and William C. Andrews, Anastasia

Otto Hunte, Erich Kettelhut, Karl Stahl-Urach, and Karl Vollbrecht, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler

Jack Martin Smith, Dale Hennesy, Walter M. Scott, and Stuart A. Reiss, Fantastic Voyage (1966)

Paul Sheriff and Carmen Dillon, Henry V

Van Nest Polglase and Julia Heron, The Informer

John Myhre and Gordon Sim, Mary Poppins Returns

Anthony Masters, The Moon-Spinners

Cedric Gibbons, Daniel B. Cathcart, Edwin B. Willis, and Jacques Mersereau, Thousands Cheer

Rodger Maus, Tim Hutchinson, William Craig Smith, and Harry Cordwell, Victor/Victoria

Harper Goff, The Vikings (1958)

An absolutely ridiculous German Expressionist classic with ridiculous production design that would not have passed in an era with color. The amount of sets needed would have been mind-boggling. Behind Mabuse is Henry V (credit to the reconstruction of the Globe Theater).

Achievement in Visual Effects (all are winners because it would be unfair to compare the visuals of Ad Astra against 1953′s The War of the Worlds)

Ad Astra

Detective Pikachu (2019)

Fantastic Voyage

Ford v Ferrari

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

King of Jazz

Niagara (1953)

The War of the Worlds

Worst Picture

Gus (1976)

The Last Flight of Noah’s Ark (1980)

Vice

The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973)

Adam McKay’s conceit for The Big Short (2015) fails spectacularly with Vice - which I found neither funny nor enlightening. It is your “winner” over some pretty culturally insensitive, somewhat entertaining movies that folks who were creating Disney+ probably have not watched.

Honorary Awards:

Kevin Brownlow, for his efforts in silent film preservation

Earl Hurd, for innovating cel animation in film through the Bobby Bumps series

Robert Israel, for his modern-day film scores helping audiences connect to silent films

Jacqueline Stewart, for her scholarship on black cinema in the United States

FILMS WITH MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS (excluding Worst Picture... 48)

Fourteen: Victor/Victoria Nine: The Informer Eight: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Seven: The Ascent; Henry V; Kuroneko Six: Dr. Mabuse the Gambler; One Foot in Heaven Five: An Autumn Afternoon; BlacKkKlansman; King of Jazz; The Perils of Pauline; Smokey and the Bandit; Song Lang; Woodstock Four: Frozen II; Ginger and Fred; The Great McGinty; Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; Overlord;  Sons of the Desert; Street Angel; The War of the Worlds Three: Ad Astra; The African Lion; Booksmart; The Farewell; Farewell to Dream; The Happiest Millionaire; Mary Poppins Returns; Rocketman; Sitting Pretty; Thousands Cheer; Toy Story 4; Vice; The Westerner Two: Barnali; A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood; Design for Living; The Great White Hope; House of Usher; How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World; Jour de Fête; La Pointe Courte; The Moon-Spinners; Murder, She Said; Ocean’s Eight; Pitfall

Victor/Victoria’s nominations haul is a record for the Movie Odyssey Awards.

WINNERS (excluding honorary awards and Worst Picture; 28) 3 wins: The Ascent, Victor/Victoria; Woodstock 2 wins: An Autumn Afternoon; Dr. Mabuse the Gambler; The Informer; King of Jazz; Sons of the Desert; The Westerner 1 win: Ad Astra; The Ascent; Detective Pikachu; Fantastic Voyage; The Farewell; Ford v Ferrari; Henry V; House of Usher; Godzilla: King of the Monsters; If Beale Street Could Talk; Kuroneko; Niagara; Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; One Foot in Heaven; Overlord; The Perils of Pauline; Song Lang; Toy Story 4; Vice; The War of the Worlds

85 films were nominated in 26 categories.

[vaste-monde]

"J'arrive jamais à trouver mes mots, à trouver les bons exemples pour parler de ça en direct avec les gens. Alors j'ai décidé d'écrire ça ici. Alors ça sera pas bien passionnant, ça sera peut être long mais j'ai besoin d'écrire, de vider mon sac. Tout à commencer avec le divorce. Tu t'es mis à faire des différences entre mon frère et moi, j'ai vu comment tu agissais... alors oui pour les gens ce ne sera sûrement rien mais je les laisse vivre comme ça 1 ans et après je les laisserais imaginer vivre comme ça 8 ans. Les différences entre mon frère et moi sont à la fois discrètes et flagrantes : ça va du petit commentaire où tu prends la défense de mon frère a la différence d'argent énorme que tu nous offre. Pour que les gens ai une idée on précisera que depuis qu'il a commencé le foot c'est à dire 4 ans tu n'as raté aucun match, entraînement Sauf quand tu travailles. Je vous laisse imaginer mes samedis après midi... toujours réglé par le foot, donc soit je le regardais soir j'attendais patiemment à la maison, mon frère a le droit de tout et moi surtout de me taire. Ensuite parlons de ton comportement. Là encore rien de bien grave, juste un ado attardé manipulateur. Un ado attardé parce que connecté à la PlayStation, au téléphone, aux filles (pas très habillées ). Parlons de la fois où tu as fait un massage du dos à une de tes amis qui étaient donc en sous vêtements rouge dentelle pendant que mon frère d'à peine 10 ans était dans la pièce, ou encore de la fois où on était tous les 3 au restaurant, que tu as vu une belle fille et que tu as pas pu t'empêcher de la prendre en photo sauf qu'il y avait le flash et tout le monde nous a regardé car tout le monde t'a vu. Tu imagines ce que ça fait à des enfants de vivre ça. Sans oublier toutes tes histoires, au moins une par jour, où tu es un héro, tu fais mieux que tout le monde, tu es le meilleur. Ensuite pour la manipulation il y a tellement d'exemples, dans la globalité on dira que tu retournes la situation à ton avantage devant les gens. La fois où maman à du me prendre alors que je devais être chez toi parce que j'avais l'anniversaire d'une de mes meilleures amies dont tu étais au courant depuis 3 mois et que tu as préfère partir voir ta soeur, mes cousins sans moi sur un coup de tête plutôt que de rester passer un weekend avec moi. Mais c'était de ma faute j'aurais dû dire non à ma copine 1 semaine à l'avance .... la fois où tu n'as pas voulu venir me chercher chez mon copain pour quon passe la journée ensemble parce que ça faisait trop d'essence juste pour une journ��e ensemble (50km aller/retour que maman fait tout le temps ). La fois où tu mas dit que ce serait mieux si je dormais chez mon copain parce que tu avais invité des amis et il ny avait plus de place pour que je dorme chez toi.... le pire dans tout ça c'est que je te hais pour tout ça mais après tu me dis que c'est de ma faute, que c'est moi le problème et que tu fais tout du mieux que tu peux . J'arrive jamais à ton vouloir parce que je culpabilise toujours. Sauf que cette fois je t'ai répondu,je t'ai dit tout ce que je te reprochait et tu mas dit : "dégage de chez moi ! Tu me casses les couilles j'en peux plus de toi " et là j'étais prête, j'allais partir chez maman et ne plus revenir mais je ne t'ai rien dit tu m'as déposé chez maman pour qu'elle m'emmène à mon rdv comme prévu. Je me suis effondrée dans ses bras une nouvelle fois et je suis revenue chez toi après. Tu as pleuré, tes excusé. Nous revoilà au point de départ et aujourd'hui je suis plus désarmé que jamais je ne sais plus quoi faire, quoi penser. J'ai tellement besoin d'aide. Maman a raison je ne sais pas si je vais tenir comme ça bien longtemps mais je ne sais pas si j'arriverai à te faire ça un jour parce que je suis comme ça. Tu me consumes à petits feux depuis 8 ans et je n'ai jamais osé te faire le coup de ne plus venir alors que ça serait la clé de mon bonheur..... si quelqu'un peut m'aider avant que le feu ne s'éteigne à jamais