#Galaxy Ace II

[surgeaki]

Pq o WhatsApp vai parar de funcionar ?

Acesse https://surgeaki.com e fique por dentro !

WhatsApp vai deixar de operar em modelos antigos ! É triste, mas alguns celulares não serão mais capazes de executar o WhatsApp. A decisão foi tomada pelos desenvolvedores do aplicativo. Veja qual foi a justificativa. Confira também a lista de aparelhos. O WhatsApp é o aplicativo de troca de mensagens mais usado pelo brasileiro há muitos anos, talvez pelos recursos, pela simplicidade ou pelo…

[apalapucian]

crossbow, gun, and magic

i. lily evans knows archery. loves it. grew up to it. she likes the power, the aesthetic. the quiet sort of majesty. the associated memories of her father in one of her wealthy uncle's farms, where he taught her how to shoot. everything was as green and blue as they could get. the field was so vast it felt endless to her as a child. the mountains on the horizon were crayon drippings of the sky, crushed cornflower, galaxies away. somehow they have all shrunk over time, so impossibly small when she visits, much later. (with james, a day after graduation, two years after her dad's death. dad, she says to the gravestone under the old apple tree, this is my boyfriend, james. the target board is chipped and fading but still nailed on the trunk. james's hand is laced with hers, his thumb running soothing lines along the length of her index finger. hello, sir, he says. bows slightly; makes lily chuckle. a real honor. and lily's heart soars, feels like the smooth swoosh of an arrow being let go; the sweet, clean piercing of the highest possible score.)

ii. sirius black's mum teaches him how to use a gun at as early as four years old. by the time he's seven, he's considered a prodigy. by the time he's nine, he's seen more dead bodies than he ought to at his age. (at any age, he realizes later, but not till much so.) by the time he's eleven, he's known enough to really question the 'family business', but not enough to know for sure who is safe to ask. the grey in his eyes turns from storm to smog, mellows from waves to murk, and he hates these words, loathes them; they are as horrid as what he's turning into. he hates almost everything. his reflection in the mirror. his reflection in his brother. god. hates hates hates watching himself in regulus. that same shift. that same — deadening. hates how he tries to stop it but he can't. by the time he's sixteen, he leaves. refuses pointblank for things to be too late for him, and runs. calls the storm back, yells, thrashes in his sleep. recreates the chaos, angers the elements. doesn't ever stay still long enough for the haunting to drag him back there. to — the itch of a starched suit in church, bags of money in candle-lit rooms. shiny red sneers around shiny white teeth. for as long as he lives he refuses to enter any establishment with stained-glass windows. vows to never touch a gun ever again.

iii. the kind of magic james potter does is the card-guessing sleight-of-hand kind, the same kind that won his mum over in a pub many many summers ago; the dust swirling in shafts of light as vivid now in memory as during its time. the way her index finger traced the rim of her topaz drink. the way her hair moved in the afternoon sun. if i guess your card, they ask, like father like son, will you let me buy you a drink? and it's the same old story. ace of spades. a smile that can't be helped. crooked skeptics muttering, of course that fucking boy gets that kinda girl; such is the unfair way of life. jukebox nostalgia and hazy florals on the dance floor and the girl saying yes once that one time, twice another, and then, somehow, by some miracle, yes forever. in this universe the kind of magic james does is the rabbit-out-of-the-hat coin-behind-your-ear flowers-out-of-nowhere kind; harry's peals of laughter high and bright in the yellow-painted nursery.

like stars, harry, sirius said. like uncle padfoot.

like how you boys make me feel, lily said.

iv. (the kind of magic james does is resurrecting hurricanes and hitting bullseye without really knowing it.)

[definesanity]

A Beautiful Song

Voyager was a being ('A girl', she writes) that was not one for many words.

Voyager's handwriting was beautiful: perfectly cursive, yet Vertin did not see much, as it was direct and to the point:

'May I visit?'

The 'Your room' went unsaid; many Arcanists wonder what secrets lie in the illusive Timekeeper's room but, to either amazement or disappointment, it was just that: a room. Stacked documents, here and there, a bed that was yet to be made due to Vertin's sudden bolt out of the room and into the day; and now, a new addition, albeit one Vertin thinks is temporary.

Voyager stood politely, hands clasped in their front, the galaxies upon her stockings and dress shimmering in the gentle light of the room.

Vertin nodded at her. The being from beyond the stars preferred the silence, and Vertin respected it.

Voyager smiled back, before she started to play her violin. It's a familiar song, one Vertin has heard many times. Hearing it in the middle of the night was certainly a surprise, however.

She looked up the songs found on the Voayger spacecrafts, and this one was Greensleeves, a love song from the Tudor period, or thereabouts.

People oft believe it to be related to Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. However, the composition of the original piece was one of Italian origin, that only reached England after Henry's death, which would put it around the time of either Edward VI, Mary I or, most popularly, Elizabeth I.

Nevertheless, it is still associated with Henry VIII due to its themes around the singer wishing for their love to no longer 'cast them aside discourteously'; which is ironic, in the end, due to it being Henry who cast Anne aside in favour of Jane Seymour, leaving Anne to be beheaded for her crimes of adultery, incest and, worst of all, treason against the King of England.

Which, in retrospection, now has Vertin pondering: Did Voyager choose this song for a specific reason?

Voyager played the songs found, or even beyond, the Golden Records on the Voyager I and Voyager II spacecrafts. By that logic, she might have researched it, or guessed the meaning, behind each and every song.

Love was a foreign concept to the Timekeeper. Romantic love, she should specify.

She has experienced parental love from Ms. Tooth Fairy, her treating Vertin like a child. Granted, she did that to every child in the Foundation, but Vertin always felt she was focused more on by the dentist, perhaps out of a lighthearted exasperation on the Toothfairy collector's side. Likewise, Eternity doted on Vertin, treating her as a granddaughter, or something to the effect.

She has experienced the love of both a big and a little sister. Lilya treated Vertin like a younger sibling, with the Russian ace inviting Vertin to ride on the back of her Su-01ве, the two spending free afternoons just flying around The Wilderness.

The little sister is many, one being Mondlicht. The young huntress was grateful for the help the Timekeeper had given her to help defend against the big bad wolves. Recently, the girl had taken to trying to sleep for more than a few hours, Vertin often being the one to place a blanket over the German hunter.

The love of a friend, too; the likes of Horropedia, whom Vertin had since enjoyed the company of. He's a little eccentric, at times, but that adds to his charm. The two watch horror movies together, Horropedia explaining little parts of the movie, and Vertin listening.

The love of a... partner, however...

Schneider was a whirlwind. One that, with her sister and many good friends, was swept away by The Storm. Vertin believes that, in the short time they spent together, the love between two people was there.

Vertin did not know where to place Voyager. Listening again, she could hear the lyrics inside her head:

"You could not wish for anything,

Yet you still had it readily.

Sweet music still I play and sing;

But yet you will not love me..."

Voyager's smile wavered, looking at Vertin with a strange look in her eyes. She appeared... sad.

Did her love not return the same affection...?

Voyager stopped playing, letting go of her violin slowly, it floating and still playing Greensleeves.

The traveller of space gazed at the traveller of time.

A smile danced on the former's lips, that soon gently joined with the latter's lips.

Vertin had never been to space, but was fascinated by it. Yet, she was able to tell that Voyager tasted like star dust.

Vertin had drunk tea before this, but Voyager could still taste the true taste of the Timekeeper's lips.

Voyager let go of the lips of Vertin, the smile now unwavering, eyes glittering like the stars. She had no need for air, and were it not for Vertin's human lungs, she would have continued the caress of their lips forevermore.

Vertin blinked. "Ah."

"Hehe." Voyager giggled, a melodic sound.

With another blink, Vertin then came to a late revelation: It was she who was the Lady Greensleeves.

"...But... why...?" Vertin could never see herself in a light of good, but Voyager could.

"Shh..." she hushed, placing a finger over Vertin's lips, and one over her own.

Vertin faintly heard the violin stopping and playing a new song, but she was still dazed from everything.

'I don't understand,' she thought.

'Do not, then.' a gentle voice whispered back.

'But why?' she questioned.

'Should a reason exist?' the voice questioned back.

'...Am I loved?' she asked the Void.

'Yes. By everyone. Us. Me.' the Void answered back.

Voyager was a mysterious girl of a few words. Outwardly, of course.

Internally? An inner peace of voices, just waiting its chance and moment to be heard...

And the opportunity arrived with the girl with the top hat and beautiful freckles.

Distantly, Voyager heard the chorus:

"Greensleeves was all my joy,

Greensleeves was my delight;

Greensleeves, my heart of gold:

And who but my Lady Greensleeves?"

And vividly, Vertin heard The Chorus.

'Greensleeves, you are my joy,

Greensleeves, you are my delight;

Greensleeves, with a heart of gold:

I am glad to be yours, my Lady Greensleeves.'

[limnsaber]

Mandalorian Slash Fic Rec List - DinLuke Volume III: Canon AU + Other AU

Welcome to Volume III of The Mandalorian Slash! For reference, 🔐 means a restricted work and 💜 means an personal favorite. Check out the other lists here: Gen III, and Mando Slash I, II, and IV. Happy reading, and make sure to give your love to our featured authors!! -Limn <3

💜 Hand in Glove by rinwins (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Prosthesis, Gen, 1k)

“Here,” Luke says, “help me with this?” “I’m not really a mechanic--” “That’s fine, I just need your hand.”

Canon AU

💜 Right Side of the Sun by @vagrantblvrd (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Leia Organa, Greef Karga, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Gen, 6k)

Karga comms Din out of the blue and asks him to come to Nevarro.

Under the Sky by @vagrantblvrd (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Teen, 3k)

“So,” the man currently invading Din’s personal space says, biting his bottom lip as he looks Din over. “You come here often?” Din’s heard better, and when he says as much the man laughs, mouth pulling into a genuine smile.

all for freedom and for pleasure by @foggysirens (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Mutual Pining, Rebellion Era, Teen, 10k)

“It was you.” The words fall from Luke’s lips before he can stop them. The Mandalorian freezes, helmeted gaze turning to focus on him. “The Force was leading me to you.” - Or, in an act of desperation, the Rebellion seeks out help from a rather unlikely source, leaving Luke unsure of how to feel about the new arrival to Echo Base, but unable to deny that the Force works in mysterious ways.

Like the Dawn by @ace-din-djarin (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Mutual Pining, Found Family, Soulmate-Identifying Marks, Teen, 15k)

Din’s words appear a few months after the attack on his village, after he had been taken in and adopted by the Mandalorians and the grief was still thick in his throat. He doesn’t know, at first, that they are there at all, until his baji’buir looks at him, her golden buy’ce tilted, and says, quietly, “I believe you have your words, ad.” She hands him a piece of shining beskar to use as a mirror, and sure enough, curled under his left ear in a slanting script, there they are. Two words: I am.  — Just before his eyes slip closed, he sees something else overlaid on what he can actually see — a flash of silver, shining and beautiful. Something in Luke’s heart sings, for just a second, and he hears the Force whispering ‘ this one.’ He strains, trying to see more, but he can’t hold on, and drops down into unconsciousness. — Or: The first words your soulmate says to you are written on your skin. Luke and Din travel the galaxy before they find their match.

Branching by @alchemyalice (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Finn, Rey, Gen, 8k)

“What color is the ship?” “White and red,” Reeves reported slowly. “Why?” Din’s lungs rattled as he exhaled. “I, uh.” He worked saliva into his mouth. “I think it might be a friendly.”

🔐 the albatross by TheCosmicMushroom (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Sith Luke Skywalker, Force Sensitive Din Djarin, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mild Gore, Mature, 5k)

“There, at the epicenter, he awaits. Back-lit by ominous red—so much red—Luke Skywalker appears small, too small certainly for the devastation he’s wrought. Covered head-to-toe in black, he epitomizes the Dark Side itself. Effortlessly, he sends blaster bolts careening back to his would-be attackers with that crackling, wailing blade. Lines blurring from impossible speed, he is a wraith in the waning daylight. And before him, men break into pieces like wet flimsi.” [An AU in which Din finds himself entrenched in the Rebellion and the Imperial Prince’s attention.]

through power, there is victory by @emilianadarling (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Dark, Sith Luke Skywalker, Power Imbalance, Psychological Horror, Teen, 8k)

Then, slipping between Stormtroopers like a living shadow, another man appears. He’s of modest height and slim build, clad in a black cloak with the hood pulled up over his head. The energy in the room instantly changes as he steps forward, becoming weighted and charged. There’s a sense of raw deference in the way everyone watches him. When the commander from earlier steps forward and tries to speak, the man raises a gloved hand to cut him off without looking, dismissing him as easily as one of the rank and file. Din’s stomach bottoms out. - In a galaxy under Emperor Vader’s rule, Din and Grogu are intercepted by Imperials.

only as strong as the warrior next to you by @emilianadarling CaroGolden (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Dark, Sith Luke Skywalker, Power Imbalance, Politics, Possessive Behavior, Imperial Prince Luke Skywalker, Depictions of Fascism, Multimedia, Ensemble Cast, Explicit, 141k, man this one, whoof)

With an indolent air, Luke rests his elbows on the railing, leaning forward to better take in the action. Below the Mandalorian is already in motion, beskar a glinting contrast to black walls and floors. Luke’s eyes trail him as he moves, bitter and gluttonous. Watching as Din takes stock of the concrete half-walls, helmet tilting upward to survey the turrets above. Exploring terrain before the simulation is initiated, his professionalism unaffected by the tension that still lingers beneath armor. Compartmentalization is a skill Luke learned involuntarily; a way to cope with the horror that was once his daily existence. Din, by contrast, embodies the very practice of it. That rigid separation between self and other. The Mandalorian’s inner world is so vast, Luke could get lost in it. - Imperial High Prince Skywalker has taken himself a bodyguard.

Other AU

Persevere by @chocmarss (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Ensemble Cast, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Lighthouses, Teen, 40k)

"And you don’t need to pay me anything just because I saved your life. Anyone could’ve done it.” “You’d be surprised at how many wouldn’t,” Luke told him with a wry smile. “My name’s Luke, by the way. So that you’d know who you just dragged into your home.” “That implies that I should be worried,” The man —Din— pointed out, using his hip to lean against the bedpost by his feet. Luke reached forward and set the glass on the tray. “Should I?” The sun lit up his brown hair, catching every curl that glowed red and amber. Luke met his gaze head-on. “I’m not a threat, if that’s what you’re implying.”

Luke didn't take into account how he could get tossed into the sea when he was on that mission; he didn't think he'd wake up in someone else's house. There were a man, his baby, and his dog, you see. You'd have to understand — Luke wanted to be a part of it.

would you be so kind by furiosophie (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Jyn Erso, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Mature, 4k)

"You ready for self-defense class in second period?” Jyn asks from where she sits with her feet up on the common table of the teacher’s lounge. “Apparently Ahsoka bullied one of the parents into doing it." Now Luke actually comes awake, "One of the parents?" "Yea, that one scary looking dude who never takes off his helmet what was his name--" Oh, Luke knows exactly who that is.

handspun (i could be lonely with you) by @we-re-always-alright (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Ensemble Cast, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Chicago, Mature, 40k)

Luke runs a yarn store out of converted coach house in a quiet part of the Clybourn Corridor. Din is trying to chase his kid and keep him from touching everything in sight. Grogu just wants to live in the softest yarns. (A story about the vibe of a city, spoken poetry and the power of the hand knit.)

splicing (tell all the stars above) by @we-re-always-alright (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Ensemble Cast, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Chicago, Weddings, Mature, 63k)

Luke decides the best way to get your family to approve of your partner is to drag him and his child to France for a week. Din is skeptical of most of the Skywalker family. Grogu is willing to try snails but he already doesn't like the texture of mushrooms and French cuisine loves mushrooms. Leia is having the most elaborate wedding this family has seen since the last time the Amidala family was at court with the Bourbons. Something about weddings can bring out the best and worst in your family, can't it? (A continuation of the story about the vibe of a city, soft spoken poetry and the power of the hand knit. The Over-the-Top Elaborate French Wedding Edition.)

making it easier for us to celebrate by @andfollowthesun (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Meet-Cute, Pre-Relationship, Gen, 6k)

There are some days when he wishes he could stay at home full-time. Like now, when Grogu plants himself in front of Din, and promptly bursts into tears.

💜 Are We Out of the Woods Yet? by @maered613 (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Dinluke Halloween 2022, Mature, 14k)

There’s something following them. Din’s sure of it.  His old instincts have kicked in ever since he heard the snap of that branch.  It’s almost lunchtime, and by now he’s memorised Skywalker’s graceful, sure gait- and all the kid’s chaotic stampeding.  There’s another in the mix.   Grogu’s Boy Scout troop is going camping, and faced with the prospect of spending 48 hours worried out of his mind or sleeping outside for a night, Din decides to get some fresh air. Din thinks his biggest problem is going to be hiding his attraction to Grogu’s Scout leader, that is, until he hears something start to follow them through the woods.

💜 To the trust funds and the punishers by niuxuu (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Teen, 15k)

“But you can say no.” “Why would I say no?” As soon as the words left his mouth he realized he wanted to, he wanted to say no more than anything. But he had no reason to do that, not when everything was going according to plan; this was an accomplishment. Grogu needed this, so why was he being selfish and hoping to deny it? or Where Din is Grogu's foster dad and he convinces himself its just for a short while, until one day he's contacted about a couple that wants to adopt the kid and he realizes he can't imagine a life without him.

Blue Sky by @thrvrnd (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Explicit, 35k)

Luke is trying to adapt to his new life: out of the Navy, in a new town with his newly-found sister, following the death of their long-estranged father. Then he meets a Force-sensitive kid and his single dad at a playground. Luke isn't sure about getting into a relationship with a single father. Din's not sure Luke's ready either. Can they work it out? Yeah, they can. They do. That's the story.

And in my mind, I still need a place to go by @dancynrew (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Teen, 7k)

"Ah," Luke says, blinking rapidly, ice pack dripping into his eyes, lights still flickering, air conditioner still groaning horribly. "Well. This is a disaster."

🔐 I'm still trying to figure out (the end of what I was starting to say) by Kushana (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Asexual Relationship, Mature, 7k)

Luke is still reeling from the discovery that he has somehow found himself another family – and isn’t it strange how right it feels, how easy it feels, to fall into rhythm with Din and Grogu. They have been doing it for months now, unaware of what it meant, of where it was leading, getting in sync without having to think about it.

by committee by @treescape (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Teen, 5k)

Over the years, Luke’s just about seen it all. He and Leia had spent twelve long years growing up in the Imperial Palace while Padme was Supreme Chancellor, and they’re both settling nicely into their own Senatorial careers now that their freshman terms are over. But he’s never seen anything quite like Din Djarin, who’s apparently just won the Mandalorian Senatorial race without ever actually running. Or, Luke and Din are both Senators and serve on the same committee.

Some Glad Tomorrow by @vagrantblvrd (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Pre-Relationship, Teen, 4k)

Din’s not sure what to expect when he gets a call out of the blue. Especially when the caller turns out to be a lawyer.

💜 Up Against the Dark by @vagrantblvrd (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Superheroes, Teen, 5k)

Luke honestly doesn’t know what it says about him that he ends up in these situations. Really. “Strange,” the Mand’alor says, a pained note to his voice, which is fair as he literally just took a bullet for Luke. “I think it says you’re an idiot.”

somewhere only we know by @foggysirens (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Night at the Museum Fusion, Teen, 42k)

Scanning the paper, Din's eyes fall onto a listing that he had somehow missed. Right at the bottom of the page, in smudged black ink, is a listing from the natural history museum looking for a new nighttime security guard. Now that was an interesting thought. - Or, Din is a struggling single father who becomes the natural history museum's new night guard. He's not expecting much out of the job other than a steady paycheque, but when the sun goes down and the exhibits start to come to life, Din needs to find a way to keep everything under control. A task easier said than done, especially when there's a certain Medieval knight who won't leave him alone.

impossible scenario by deniigiq (Din Djarin/Luke Skywalker, Peter Parker, Crossovers, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Reincarnation, Reunions, Teen, 14k)

Luke did a double-take. “That’s a lie,” he accused. “Tell the truth or be compelled.” “By the Force?” Ned asked hopefully. Luke blinked at him. He pointed at the glass sliding door which revealed Obi-Wan holding Junior the cat above his head by the kitchen sink. “By the Force,” he said. Ned’s face fell. (Peter accidentally flirts with a drunk Luke Skywalker in the middle of an identity crisis. He then becomes involved with a bunch of people who might actually be more chaotic than him and decides to help out the best he can.)

[doublesunsets]

Experiment 003

Tech x Reader PWP - NSFW - Explicit Word Count: 4.4K

Summary: It’s time for your experiment, but even if Tech encourages your scientific curiosity, can he let you take control?

Warnings: female reader POV, smut, oral sex male receiving, vaginal sex, brief mention of scars (Tech's), I'm going to say it: unrealistic expectations of sex (really, this is purely indulgent, real sex is not like that)

Author's note: I wanted to write something else, but it didn't work, and it blocked me in such a way that it took me a month to finally be able to finish it. No beta. I hope that at least you enjoy it a little bit, please have mercy with this autistic ace girl that doesn't remember how sex works but likes to pretend she can write about it. -Sunset

part I & part II 💜

✩ AO3 link to the whole fic

The galaxy is a vibrant never stopping place, with dangers lurking in every corner, so if someone had told you a couple of rotations ago that you would be able to pass your time sat inside the Marauder’s cockpit, listening to Tech latest obsession, you would have laughed. Mostly at the Tech part, because you were still wrapping your mind around it. After his experiments, his behaviour towards you had drastically changed. It was obvious to everyone that he felt more at ease with you, small touches were now common, and he actively sought you out to tell you facts or show you his new cool gadgets. 

For that reason, while everyone was around town enjoying their free time you had felt like it was perfectly reasonable to stay with him, just for the sake of it, no need for excuses or ulterior motives. As you suspected, he had been pleased about it, and accepted with a small smile your kiss to his forehead before seating next to him in the copilot seat. As soon as you were seated, he started talking about his topic of the day: gravity, and you listened to him eagerly. Contrary to Hunter’s belief, you didn’t think that Tech filled your head with useless information, you enjoyed learning new facts, and he always captivated your attention. The sound of his voice and being able to look at that pretty face was a pleasant bonus, of course.

For your utterly dismay this time though, after almost an hour of intermittent info-dumping, you were as confused about this topic as you were at the beginning. At first, you had managed to follow up, but at one point he had beamed at you and touched your knee because of a particular sharp question, and as he began explaining, illustrating it with his hands, your mind short-circuited like a faulty droid. He had moved one hand in front of you, while the other had stayed on your knee, fingers splayed, and a shiver had gone down your spine remembering what those fingers could do, and how they looked inside of you. By the time he finished his explanation, you were so flustered by your thoughts that you didn't dare to open your mouth in case some inappropriate sound escaped.

The issue kept happening, no matter how hard you tried to focus on what he was saying, you kept getting distracted by who was saying it. His voice, his eyes, his hands; your body reacted to him like a well-trained soldier, and apparently today it could only think about Plan 69.

“Therefore, there will be only insignificant forces of friction, and dynamic force acting on the system. It should allow me to–” his legs fell open at his sides, and your mind disconnected again, or at least the rational part of it. The only functioning one was the one capable of focusing on those ridiculously tight blue trousers which hugged those obscene long legs in such a sublime way, besides that, he was not wearing the plastoid armour which made the temptation of kneeling in front of him impossible to ignore. 

Your mouth watered at the image that formed in your mind, and by the time you managed to stop daydreaming, he had already finished his commentary and was back at looking down at his datapad. You were sure that even if he obviously found you attractive, he wasn’t as obsessed with you as you were with him. Every time he put his hand on your back, or moved your hair off your face, an aching filled your chest. You haven’t stopped thinking about that bulge you glimpsed after he touched you that first time, but couldn’t find the way of bringing it up again. It was clear that you had reached your limit today.

Maybe you didn’t have to bring it up, maybe you could just take a scientific approach. Because, scientifically speaking, what would Tech do if you just kneeled in front of him?

Only one way to find out, you told yourself. 

“I want to do an experiment.”

“That’s great, darling. I highly recommend you follow your scientific curiosity, please let me know if you need my assistance.”

“Well, I do need your assistance,” you chuckled, “you are the experiment I want to do, Tech.”

He put his datapad down and looked at you, shifting his focus from the gravitational rotatory forces of outer rim planets, to you. His eyes roamed your face, he studied your expression, noticed your small smile, and the flustered look of your cheeks, and seemed to catch up rather quickly, “Oh. That kind of experiment.”

“Yes, that kind,” your smile only grew at seeing him wet his lips and squirm on his seat.

“There were some things I would like to–,” he put aside his datapad while starting to stand up.

“Oh no, you didn’t understand,” you cut him, and put your hands on his knees, forcing him to sit back again, and looked at him through your eyelashes. “You are going to be the subject today.”

He audibly gulped and took a deep breath through his nose. It wasn’t easy to render him speechless, and pride filled your chest and encouraged you, making you bolder than you would be otherwise. 

“You don’t have to do anything at all, just allow me to explore, is that alright?” As you spoke, you leaned towards him until your lips were a breath away from his, using your hands on his legs to balance yourself.

“It seems acceptable.”

You moved your lips to his neck, trailing your path with the tip of your nose, and gave him a small peck under his jaw, carrying on down until his turtleneck blocked your path.

“Tech? Would you be so kind as to pull down your shirt? My hands are busy.” 

To make your point, you gave his glorious thighs a firm squeeze. He raised his hand and pulled down the turtleneck, and as he was about to comment something very pertinent, you had no doubt, you bit down on the tender flesh of his neck and his witty remark turned into a strangled moan.

“Were you going to say something?” You licked the spot and continued with small kisses up again, towards his ear.

“Not at all, please continue,” his voice was steady, but the hand holding down his shirt was trembling slightly under your chin. His other hand was clenched on a tight fist, and you smiled against his neck. It just occurred to you that he was not used to being the one staying still, moreover, he was not used to relinquishing control in any situation, you were mildly surprised he was not telling you how to kiss him.

You gave a last bite to his earlobe and dropped to your knees between his legs in a smooth movement. He raised his eyebrows and his chest expanded in a deep breath that he let out slowly. Oh, it was so hard for him. Speaking of which. You shifted your attention to his crotch and let out your own breath shakily at the bulge you could outline through his trousers already.

The rough fabric felt stiff under your fingers as you moved your hands up his thighs until you reached the button, which popped open easily. The utility belt was next, and judging by the squirming of his owner, or he did not agree to your actions, or you were being excessively slow undressing him. By the time you finally opened his trousers wide enough, he was fully hard and a wet patch was visible where the tip was. So probably the latter.

“I’m going to suck you off, would you like that?”

“I believe I would, yes.”

You hummed, laughing internally at his oddly polite answer but chose to not make any comment in favour of getting closer to mouth his cock through his underwear. It was warm and solid under the fabric, and you slid it down with your fingers until your lips were no longer feeling the rough material, but the velvety softness of his cock. The musky smell of his pre-cum hit your nose, and you stuck out your tongue flat, dragging it up his member until you reached the tip and could taste the saltiness as well.

Tech’s voice got you out of your reverie, and you looked up at him without moving back, your lips softly resting on the tip of his cock. He was mumbling something, but one of his hands was covering his mouth and you couldn’t hear him properly. He caught you staring and stopped, removing his hand from his face and bringing it down to yours, brushing the side of your mouth with his thumb. 

You opened your mouth and let the head of his cock pass through your lips, until you could feel the ridge with your tongue. His thumb stayed on the corner of your mouth, feeling it stretch around himself, and his eyes were fixed on you behind those tinted lenses. He looked as if he wasn't breathing and the intensity of his gaze was too much for you, so you closed your eyes and focused once again on your task. Breathing through your nose, you let it slide further into your mouth and out again repeatedly, the weight of it in your tongue making you moan, and you wondered if he could feel the vibrations. At the back of your mind, you also noticed the wetness gathering between your legs at finally having his cock in your mouth, and your left hand crawled down to your inner thighs, resting it there and pressing the back of it into yourself to relieve some tension.

When your jaw started to ache, you reluctantly moved back and let it slide out, taking it in your hand, rubbing your spit and his pre-cum all over it. You were being carefully slow, trying to make it last as much as you could. Now that you finally had the courage to do this, you were going to enjoy it. He was rock-hard and flushed, and you might have been biased, but it was the prettiest cock you’ve ever seen. His hand was still holding your jaw and didn’t allow you to move too far back.

“Are you afraid I will stop? Is that why you won’t let me go?” you asked him teasingly, looking up again. You kept pumping him, enjoying the smooth feeling of his hardness, his breath hitched in his chest every time you twisted your hand when reaching his tip.

“On the contrary, I ah– apologies,” his leg had started bouncing at some point, and it kept brushing against your shoulder. “I am stopping myself, darling.”

His statement was followed by a deep moan, triggered by your hand clenching on his cock at hearing his words. Unconsciously, your left hand pressed more insistently against your cunt, starting to rub slightly up and down.

“Stopping yourself?” your voice wavered when you finally paid attention to the man above you. His flushed face had an almost crimson shade and sweat pearled on his forehead, which, paired with his laboured breath, made him look absolutely wrecked. All because of you. You licked your lips and pushed yourself up, on the movement your breasts ended pushed against his balls and Tech closed his eyes while his hand gripped your jaw tighter. “Stopping yourself from doing what, Tech?”

“It is being excruciatingly hard to not push you to the floor of my ship and fuck you right there.” You gasped loudly at his words, and he reopened his eyes, completely black, and focused on you with an intensity that made your left hand move faster. “It was hard enough to ignore the way you were looking at me earlier.”

“Did you notice that?”

“I notice everything. Particularly if it’s about you, always if it’s about you. By how you were biting your lip while looking at my hands, I could assume exactly what you were thinking. Which, I must confess, made it impossible for me to focus on anything that wasn’t your flustered look.”

“Do you find me that irresistible?”

“I assume that’s a rhetorical question.” You had to laugh at his answer, but it came breathless and short, punctuated by a small moan when your knuckles brushed against your clit at your movement. This caught his attention and followed the motion down your body. “Are you— you are touching yourself, that’s unacceptable.”

Before you could process what he had said, he dropped to the floor with you and brought you both down, until you were laying down on your back with Tech looming over you. His arms encased your body and a thrill went down your spine at the look on his face, dark eyes, furrowed brows, he looked determined and dangerous. A soldier with a mission. Same as yours, you hoped.

“I was restraining myself because there’s nothing I respect more than the desire for knowledge, I didn't want to take control again, I was going to behave and let you do it your way,” he started to remove your clothes swiftly while talking, and you hissed when your back came in contact with the cold floor. “I was behaving, even though you were driving me crazy, but I am nothing if patient. But dank farrik, seeing you touching yourself and not doing anything? I don’t think so.”

By the time he stopped rambling, all your clothes were gone and you laid naked in front of him. He kneeled on the floor between your legs, and the vision was almost as good as before. His cock was forgotten, but still out, hard and leaking, his chest rising with every breath, the light that came from the window framing his silhouette, and he was looking at you again like the most fascinating creature in the whole galaxy. You reached for his vest and pulled him to you hastily, smashing a hard kiss to his lips. Your hands scrambled for the hem of his shirt and tried to pull it off unsuccessfully, until you realised that for that you had to stop kissing him, so reluctantly let him go and finished taking it off. When his head emerged again, you couldn’t resist giggling at seeing his goggles askew.

“Goggles stay on?” You asked, fixing them, and holding his face with both your hands.

“I would rather prefer that, yes,” he turned his face and dropped a kiss on your palm. “I prefer to see your face at the same time I hear you moan.”

You gave him one, as a treat, as he gave another open-mouthed kiss to the inside of your wrist. He lowered his head to your chest and started peppering kisses, and you tried to reach the last piece of clothing covering him, but it was too far, so you tried with your legs unashamedly, pushing his trousers down. You had managed to get them past his ass, when he lifted his head, a smirk on his face.

“Someone’s in a hurry.”

“Oh, shut up, you were just now rambling about how much you wanted to fuck me on the floor of your ship,” you lifted your hips, still trying to get leverage to keep pushing his trousers down, but his knees won’t let you go further. “You cannot say that to a lady and not expect her to become a little desperate about it, Tech.”

His smile turned sweet, and he stood up to finish lowering his trousers and removing his boots. You pushed yourself up on your elbows and enjoyed the show, those long legs looked good from every angle, and you were tempted to get to your knees again when he crouched and came back on top of you, this time completely naked. You kissed him, opening your mouth and letting his tongue in, while your hands explored the expanse of his back, his muscles shifting beneath them as he started dragging his whole body against yours, skin against skin in the most delicious friction.

He shifted and started kissing down your neck, leaving small bites, same as you did before with him. His hands moved down your body, and while one of them stayed fondling your breast, the other kept going until reaching your inner thighs. His dexterous fingers found your cunt, and he groaned deeply at how wet you were already.

“All this for me, darling?” He introduced one finger, and your hands grabbed his shoulders, trying to get him to get closer. “I think it is safe to say that you enjoyed your experiment.”

“I did, but please, now I need you, I—” your own moan cut you off when he inserted a second finger, and started to move them inside you, crooking them. “Please.”

He placed a kiss to your cheek and kneeled again between your legs, removing his fingers from inside you with an obscene wet sound, and took his cock, smearing it with your wetness. In your haze, you made a mental note to ask him to masturbate for you at some other moment because the show looked glorious, but right now you needed him inside you as soon as possible. 

Tech grabbed your hips and lifted them with his other hand until your ass was on his lap and your legs fell open at his sides. He positioned his cock at your entrance, dragging it through your slit up and down, gathering more of your wetness. Every time he pressed your clit, you tried to chase it, but his grip on your hip was firm enough that wouldn’t let you move.

“Are you ready?” His gaze was focused on your cunt, or on his cock dragging through it, you couldn’t be sure, but the image had to be good enough for his usually steady voice to sound low and breathless.

“Like a rotation a—aah.” Before you could finish your clever answer, he moved his hips and his cock penetrated smoothly inside you.

“Were you going to say something?” he repeated to you, but you were too busy enjoying the feeling of him filling you to actually appreciate the joke.

He stopped when he bottomed out, his pelvis fitted between your thighs, and took a moment to collect himself. You could see the sweat dripping down his face and the deep scowl of his eyebrows, his eyes were closed and both his hands were gripping tightly your hips now, keeping you in place and completely at his mercy. He took two deep breaths, in and out, and you let him took the obvious time that he needed to centre himself, but you also needed him to move, and soon. He felt the same way, because by the third breath his hips made a short thrusting that had both of you moaning, and he opened his eyes, as black as the void of the galaxy, and an unhinged expression crossed his face. You could almost hear his brain analysing what he was experiencing, and for a moment you thought that he was going to grab his datapad and write it down as he always did to process things, but his hips had not stopped, couldn’t stop it seemed, and his thrusts were growing in intensity, the pleasure overwhelming him.

“Tech, look at me, hey, look at me,” you grabbed his wrist and caught his attention, trying to make your voice firm, even though it came more as a desperate plea, “focus on me, don’t try to control it, it’s okay. Let it go and give it to me, I’ll take it.”

Your words seemed to snap something inside of him, his fingers digging into your flesh and the next thrust drove into you with no hesitancy, hitting a spot inside of you that made you mewl. He kept thrusting firmly against you, in powerful short lunges, and your nails scratched his forearm, trying to grab at something. There was no finesse on his thrusts right now, just an overwhelming power, but the position allowed him to go deep inside you and left your clit exposed to his blows and to the friction with his pelvic bone, making the knot inside you grow hot. 

A particular hard thrust made you gasp loudly and lose the grasp you had on his arms. Eager to do something with your hands, you grabbed your own breasts, which had been bouncing with every hard push from Tech, and started kneading them, playing with them and moaning at the added sensation of your hard nipples between your fingers. A wet and lewd noise engulfed the cockpit, the metallic walls echoing back your own moans. Tech’s movement stuttered, his gaze locked on your hands playing with your breasts, so you dropped one and motioned for him to come closer. With no hesitation, he let go of your hip and leaned towards you, your right leg dropping to the floor on the movement, while his mouth attached itself to your breast and sucked. You cradled his head, entangling your fingers with his hair and pulling softly, his moan vibrating through your skin.

The new position made him falter and for a moment he just kept thrusting superficially, out of inertia, his focus in devouring you. One hand was supporting his weight on the ship floor, while the other had travelled up, replacing your hand with his. While he was distracted, you grabbed his shoulders and flipped you both, putting yourself on top. You straightened your back and almost laughed at the offended expression on his face, if because of the switching positions or because you took your boobs away from him, you didn’t know. His face quickly changed when you spread out your hands on his strong chest, allowing your arms to push your tits together on display, and circled your hips.

“Oh,” he breathed out, his hands flying to your thighs, but only resting them there.

He seemed content with the show, so you focused on chasing your pleasure. Using his chest as leverage, you rolled and circled your hips, rutting against him at an increasing pace. The build up had you already so close that it didn’t take you long until you were panting, the edges of your orgasm present on every cell of your body, almost within your reach.

“You are almost there, aren’t you, darling?” Tech’s deep voice only pushed you closer, he sounded breathless, clearly enjoying this as much as you. “I think you would be able to bring yourself to completion just by fucking yourself on my cock, would you like that or do you want me to help?”

You clawed at his chest, your now jerking motions increasing speed, and some of the gasps leaving your throat might have sounded like a call for help because suddenly Tech’s fingers were firmly against your clit, pressing and circling in a rapid movement. Your orgasm crashed onto you, the force of it doubling you over, and collapsed against his chest, while he continued circling your clit, helping you to ride it out. Still not completely back from it, you noticed Tech’s small thrusts against you and lifted your head.

“Fuck me, don’t stop, I want you to cum in me, now.”

Your permission was all he needed, he planted his feet on the floor and started fucking you with a strength you didn’t know it was possible from his position. He surrounded your body with his arms, locking you in place, with his cock pounding against your pussy in a relentless pace, his delightful grunts reaching your ears mixed with the wet slaps. You were so sensitive from your recent orgasm that your moans turned into screams, but your body surprised you, and you felt another one rapidly growing and hitting you again. Your second orgasm dragged Tech with you, and he came with a deep and long moan that made you shiver.

You were exhausted and would have happily laid down on his chest for a nap, but the mess you both made was leaking out of you and Tech didn’t seem comfortable about it. He gave you a soft kiss and manoeuvred you back onto the floor, grabbing his own shirt, and started cleaning you methodically.

“How are you? Did I hurt you?” He anxiously inspected your body, noticing the faint marks on your hips. 

“No, but I did.” Your fingers grazed his forearm, where your nails had left your mark. There were angry red lines down his chest, as well, and they looked glorious.

“I wouldn’t worry about that, darling, these are hardly the worst injuries I have sustained,” he raised his arm, the blaster bolt scar that decorated his left side on display, and playfully hummed, inspecting closing his forearm and chest. “I rather like them.”

You chuckled, and not without effort sat up to give him a kiss on his cheek that made him smile. “I’ll keep that in mind,” you whispered cheekily, before kissing his lips this time, and putting your head on his shoulder.

For what seemed like an eternity, both of you stayed there, sitting on the floor, your fingers drawing patterns on his skin while listening to the steady rhythm of his heart against his chest. The sweat was cooling on your skin, and you were starting to feel cold. Now that you were not distracted, the floor was not exactly comfortable. But even though, it was the most perfect moment you could think of.

“Gravitational pulls,” he said, startling you.

You lifted your head and found him already looking at you with that glint in his eyes that signified that he had had a brilliant idea.

“Are you about to lecture me about what I didn’t pay attention to earlier?” You wouldn’t be surprised if that was his idea of aftercare, to be honest. You wouldn’t mind, either.

“I could, if you want, it is a fascinating topic, and very useful during interplanetary travels,” he pointed out, finger raised. “But actually, I was talking about us.”

“Us?”

“Indeed, I have been trying to find a suitable way to explain the way I feel about you. Simply saying that I love you does not suffice. It just came to me, it has to be a force of nature, I believe that scale does it justice. It is not a figure of speech, though, I do believe that physics might be the only way of explaining you and me.”

“Tech, I—“ you looked at him, confused for a moment, but then you thought about everything that had happened and smiled.

“Yes, darling?”

“I gravitational pull you too.”

“I know.”

Thank you for reading! Reblogs and comments are appreciated because they keep the Dark Side at bay ✨

Taglist: (let me know if you want to be included or deleted from it)

@motte-the-goblin @fenharel-enaste @nahoney22 @stunkbiggu

[princess-polls]

1A

Princess (The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince) VS Eruca (Radiant Historia)

Sapphia (High-Class Homos) VS Zara (Disney Princess Enchanted Journey)

Lucina (Fire Emblem Awakening) VS Beatrice (Rune Factory 5)

Ace (Love Nikki) VS Angela (Trials of Mana)

Princess Pride (Mega Man Battle Network) VS Katora Paige (Inazuma Eleven GO Galaxy)

Kaguya Houraisan (Touhou Project) VS Miranda Vanderbilt (Monster Prom)

Elodie (Long Live the Queen) VS Merurulince Rede Arls (Atelier Meruru)

Pecorine (Princess Connect) VS Parasoul (Skullgirls)

2A

Princess (Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Visier) VS Princess Minnie (Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers)

Rapunzel (Tangled) VS Catania (Barbie Mariposa and the Fairy Princess)

Mermista (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) VS Starfire/Koriand'r (DC Comics)

Coronabeth Tridentarius (The Locked Tomb) VS Princess Vespa (Spaceballs)

Melinoe (Hades II) VS Blaze the Cat (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Chibiusa Tsukino (Sailor Moon) VS Midna (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)

Eilonwy (The Black Cauldron) VS Allura (Voltron: Legendary Defender)

Nefertari Vivi (One Piece) VS Rue Kuroha/Princess Kraehe (Princess Tutu)

1B

Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) VS Star Butterfly (Star vs. the Forces of Evil)

Isla Kokoro (Barbie: Princess Charm School) VS Merida (Brave)

Ariel (The Little Mermaid) VS Clara (Barbie in the Nutcracker)

Princess Peach (Mario Games) VS Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

Snow White (Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs) VS Aurora Syalis Goodereste (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle)

Shirahoshi (One Piece) VS Princess Selenia (Arthur and the Invisibles)

Marianne (Strange Magic) VS Nunnally vi Britannia (Code Geass)

Ahiru/Princess Tutu (Princess Tutu) VS Poppy (Trolls)

2B

Kilala Reno (Kilala Princess) VS Griselda (Ys: Memories of Celceta)

Tsunami (Wings of Fire) VS Gruier Serenity (Mouretsu Pirates)

Priscilla Barielle (Re:Zero) VS Lucia Nanami (Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pich)

Momo (Magical Princess Minky Momo) VS Princess/Hime-sama ('Tis Time For "Torture," Princess)

Princess Luna (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) VS Sofia (Sofia the First)

Stella (Winx Club) VS Haruka Haruno/Cure Flora (Go! Princess Precure)

Harumi (Ninjago) VS Princess Iron Fan (Lego Monkie Kid)

Mouscedes King (Monster High) VS Elena (Elena of Avalor)

[azurezfiction]

Power Rangers ship list

Because everyone seems to be doing it; here is my ship list!

Everything under the read more because it's a ton:

MMPRS1-Turbo 1: Tommy x Kimberly Zack x Trini Billy x Trini Jason x Tommy Billy x Skull (because of augment-techs) Stone Canyon Trio Rocky x Adam Aisha x Shawna Bulk x Connie David Truehart x Trey Tanya x Kat Tanya x Adam Tanya x Zack Aisha x Zack Turbo II - Lost Galaxy: Ashley x Cassie Andros x Ashley Zhane x Andros Zhane x Astronema/Karone Karone x Maya Mike Corbett x Carlos Vallerte Kai x Damon Leo x Andros TJ x Damon Lightspeed Rescue - Wild Force Joel x Miss Fairweather Kelsey Winslow x Nancy Thompson Carter x Ryan Dana x Taylor Taylor x Alyssa Merrick x Cole Eric x Wes Wes x Jen x Eric Katie x Trip Eric x Trip Danny x Max

Ninja Storm - SPD Dustin x Hunter Tori x Blake Blake x Trent Tori x Kira Dustin x Conner x Hunter Ethan x Cassidy

Mystic Force - RPM Nick x Xander Chip x Vida Udonna x Leanbow Leelee x Phineas Claire x Xander RJ x Casey Lilly x Theo Jarrod x Camilla Casey x Jarrod (x RJ) Ziggy x Dillion Flynn x Gemma

Samurai - Dino Charge Antonio x Jayden Lauren x Mia Troy x Jordan Noah x Orion Gia x Emma One-sided Jake x Noah (Jake crushing on Noah). Tyler x Shelby Tyler x Ivan Ivan x Tyler x Matt Koda x Phillip

Ninja Steel - Cosmic Fury Brody x Preston Calvin x Preston Calvin x Men. Sarah x Hayley Devon x Blaze Ravi x Roxy Ollie x Javi Amelia x Javi Izzy x Fern Zayto x Aiyon Zayto x Javi

Comics: Ace x Gent* Trek x Ace* Violet x Zack Ellarien x Remi Nikolai x Daniel Grace x Jamie x Terona Grace x Terona Matt Cook x Billy Cranston Crossover ships: Andrew Hartford x Mr Kelman (1995 Movie) x Dane Romero Fred Kelman x Justin Stewart Cam x Kimberly Conner McKnight x muscular guys Merrick x RJ Chad x Danny Chad x Aurico Delphine x Hayley Ziktor

*I have so many headcanons about these two ships and how it connects to canon, I'm really hoping to get it out soon!

[best-plant-bracket]

after much procrastination, i shall finally reveal the bracket character list

audrey ii - little shop of horrors (15) charley - ace attorney (7) flowey - undertale (3) the great deku tree - the legend of zelda (3) pando - irl (3) planty the potted plant - phineas and ferb (3) reginald bushroot - darkwing duck (3) the tree that owns itself - irl (3) breath of evil - wings of fire (2) the giving tree - eponymous (2) hestu - the legend of zelda (2) jabe - doctor who (2) lisa the plant - life is strange (2) methuselah (the old one) - irl (2) stray cat - jojo’s bizarre adventure (2) telperion - the silmarillion (2) leafy - bfdi (2) agrajag - hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy (1) baby melon - steven universe (1) baby groot - mcu (1) biollante - godzilla v. biollante (1) the blessed eternal - wolf 359 (1) bob - veggietales (1) bradley - milo murphy’s law (1) dr. brewer’s clone - goosebumps (1) cactuar - final fantasy (1) some cactus? - twilight (1) cagney carnation - cuphead (1) cleopatra - the addams family (1) cosmo - sonic x (1) cowplant - the sims (1) crowley’s plants - good omens (1) cup shaped cotyledon - irl (1) daisy - oswald (1) eurydice - hades (1) fern - adventure time (1) flower - bfdi (1) grandmother willow - pocahontas (1) henry crabgrass - critical role (1) hyperion - irl (1) john steinbeck - bungou stray dogs (1) kodama mother tree - princess mononoke (1) laputa tree - castle in the sky (1) larry - veggietales (1)  laurelin - the silmarillion (1) locacaca - jojo’s bizarre adventure (1) the mallory tree - lord of the rings (1) ozga - oz (1) petey piranha - super mario (1) plants in pants - tumblr (1) pumpkin - steven universe (1) rosemon - digimon (1) rumor weed - veggietales (1) stick - stormlight archive/the cosmere (1) sun tree - critical role (1) superman - irl (1) tree - bfdi (1) treebeard - fangorn (1) vash the stampede - trigun (1) venus mcflytrap - monster high (1) whispy woods - kirby (1) wormwood - don’t starve together (1) yumyulack - solar opposites (1)

please tell me if there are any errors in this listing but please don’t tell me if anyone got in that would break the rules. some of them probably do. just vote against them i’m tired

[eridanisanenby]

Atlantis Attacks

Ant Ant

Arkham Asylum

Agent A (Alfred)

Amity Arkham

Amadeus Arkham

All-American comics

Baxter Building

Bombastic-Bag man

robert Bruce Banner

james Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes

Black Blot/Blackagar Boltagon

elizabeth “Betsy” Braddock

Brian Braddock

william “Billy” Braddock

Billy Batson

Beast Boy

Blue Beetle

Boston Brand

BlueBird

Bouncing Boy

Carl “Crusher” Creel

Captain Carter

nathan Christopher Charles summers/Cable

Curtis "Curt" Connors

Caped Crusader

oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot

Captain Cold

Captain Carrot

Catherine Cobert

Cressida Clarke

Crocky the Crodile

Doctor Darrk

Doctor Destiny

Dorthy Duncan

Ding-Dong Daddy

yankee Doodle Dandy

Dinah Drake

Darla Dudley

Damien Darhk

(new) Fantastic Four

Four Freedoms plaza

Fin Fang Foom

Freedom Fighters

Freddy Freeman

Felix Faust

Guardian of the Galaxy

Green Goblin

Guy Gardener

Gorilla Grodd

Gotham Gazette

Gotham Globe

Gotham General

Green Guardsman

Golden Glider

Glorious Gordon Godfrey

Happy Hogan

Hank Hensley

Hank Hall (Hawk)

Henry “Hank” Henshaw

Hank Hall

Hippolyta "lyta" Hall

Hank Haywood

Jessica Jones

John Jonah Jameson

Katherine “Kate” Kane

Kristen Kringle

Kip Kettering

Lacie Lorraine

Loki Laufeyson

Lunella Lafayette

Lonnie Lincoln

Lois Lane

Lex Luther

Lighting Lad

Linda Lee

Luma Lynai

Lana Lang

Laura Lang

Louise Lincoln

dinah Laurel Lance

Linda Lang

Lena Luther

MasterMind

May Melinda

Miles Morales (og 42)

Meows Morales

Michael Morbius

Multiverse of Madness

MilkMan Man

Mateo Maximoff

Marya Maximoff

Mole Man

Mister Mxyptlk “Mxy”

M’gann M’orzz/Megan Morse/Miss Martian

Mia “Maps” Mizoguchi

Mary Marvel

Miguel Montez

Music Master

Mr. Miracle

Mirror Master

Mad Mod

Malcolm Merlyn

Maria Mercedes Mooney

Matches Malone

Monsieur Mallah

Nia Nal

Olivia Octavius (doctor Octopus/doc Ock)

Pepper Potts

Peter Parker(s)

Pabitr Prabhakav

Peni Parker

Peter Porker

Pedro Peña

Penny Plunderer

Quasar’s Quantum bands

Quentin Quale

Reed Richards

Rocket Raccoon

Richard Rider

Roberto “Robbie” Reyes (og 69)

Rachel Roth (Raven)

Ronald Raymond

SlapStick

Sun Spider

Scarlet Spider

Serpent Society

Super Skrull

Silver Sable/Silvija Sablinova

Sinister Syndicate

Sinister Six

Steven Strange (dr Strange)

Sybil Silverlock

Susan “Sue” Storm

Spider-Society

Samuel Sterns

Sebastian Shaw

Suicide Squad

Star Sapphire

Silver St. Cloud

Secret Six

Pter Ptarker (TT)

Taneleer Tivan

Tyros The Terrible (Terrax)

Teen Titans

Titans Tomorrow

Tom Turbine

Traci Thirteen

Unus the Untouchable

Vicki Vale

Valerie Vale

Web Warriors

Wade Winston Wilson

Wallace “Wally” West

Wallace “ace” West II

Wonder Woman

Warlock the Wizard

Wizards & Warlocks

Zatanna Zatara

Zachary Zatara

Zilius Zox

Duela Dent Napier Nigma

Cooper Coen/Web Weaver

Matthew Michael “Matt” Murdock/DareDevil

Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel

Otto Octavius (doctor Octopus/doc Ock)/Superior Spider-man

Victor Von doom/Doctor Doom

Warren Worthington III/ArchAngel

Cassandra “Cass” Cain/Black Bat

J’onn J’onnz/John Jones/Hank Henshaw/Martian Manhunter

Kei Kawade/Kaiju Kid(/Kid Kaiju)

Mitchell Mayo/Condiment King

Max Mercury/Windrunner Whip WhirlWind

Red Robin/Joker Junior

Cletus Cortland Kassidy (Carnage)

Clark Kent

Conner “Kon” Kent

Chemical King

Carrie Kelley

Killer Croc

Karen Crane

Seaboard City

Total alliteration: 207

[leaftilde]

What are your top 5 games?

GOOD QUESTION. I dunno if I can give them ranked, but I can give you a Top 5 (I think). These won't necessarily be The Best Games, but they will be my favourites. Games that made me sad when they were over.

Bioshock: Holds a special place in my heart. I love the aesthetics, I love the setting, I love the idea of playing with the idea of player *choice* in a video game, and though everyone points at this as like Patient Zero for ludonarrative dissonance, I think there's more of a metacontext in here than it's given credit for. It's a black arrow shot to the heart of Objectivism and Libertarian ideals of "great men" moving the world. it's practically a violent screed delivered on Ayn Rand's exhumed corpse. The only thing that isn't too hot about it is the shooting. Yes, one of my favourite games is actually not that good a game.

Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters: I absolutely love this game and what it accomplished, especially being a 3DO game originally. Exploring a vast galaxy, assembling a coalition of very silly aliens, and kicking the hell out of some space-tyrants. More like a series of minigames than a single one, it's nevertheless a wonderful experience best played blind and with a notepad for making your own notes/maps.

Final Fantasy XIV: I know, I know. It's gotten plenty of praise but it's genuinely one of the more emotionally moving video games I've ever played. I can't recommend it without massive caveats (the first 40 hours, a full game length, is incredibly mid) but the payoff is...it's quite good. G'raha Tia I LOVE YOU MY BEAUTIFUL BOY

Alpha Centauri: I'd be remiss if I didn't include a 4X game, given how much time I spent playing them in my 20s. AC is, IMO, their shining star. A deeply cynical but nevertheless interesting and exciting story told almost entirely through background details and cinematics you get when you unlock technologies. I've stolen so much from it over the years it's ridiculous.

Mass Effect 2: Bit of an odd choice I guess. It's great! But maybe not everyone's favourite game. Great characters, tight story, wonderful worldbuilding and I love the idea of putting together a ragtag team of scoundrels, roustabouts, and pals to pull off a suicide mission. But, importantly to me, it's the first game I tried out playing a female character because I heard "Femshep" was better than Maleshep and something fucking...clicked in my brain. Like shifting into drive and finding you can't put on the brakes anymore. It led me here, eventually, so I gotta give it a shoutout. Or damn it forever, I guess, for letting me know, in a small way, that things could be better.

[bestgameostcrownduel]

Polls for Round 1, Side B:

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All (2002) vs Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 (2012) [winner]

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (2007) [winner] vs World of Goo (2008)

Undertale (2015) [winner] vs Hollow Knight (2017)

Danganrona: Trigger Happy Havoc (2010) vs Celeste (2018) [winner]

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (2012) [winner] vs Doki Doki Literature Club (2017)

Super Mario: Galaxy (2007) [winner] vs Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (2001)

Bloodborne (2015) [winner] vs Doom (2016)

Final Fantasy X (2001) [winner] vs Bastion (2011)

Silent Hill 2 (2001) vs Fire Emblem: Awakening (2012) [winner]

Kirby Super Star Ultra (2008) [winner] vs Ms Pac-Man Maze Madness (2000)

Terraria (2011) vs Minecraft (2011) [winner]

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (2009) vs Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) [winner]

Katamari Damacy (2004) [winner] vs Pikuniku (2019)

Splatoon 2 (2017) [winner] vs Plok! (1993)

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (2008) vs Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2010) [winner]

Persona 5 (2016) [winner] vs NEO: The World Ends with You (2021)

Pac-Man All-Stars (2002) vs Toree 3D (2021)

Persona 5 Strikers (2020) vs Hades (2020)

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux (2017) vs Golden Sun (2001)

Touhou ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (2002) vs Neon White (2022)

Enderal - Main Soundtrack (2016) vs Flame in the Flood (2016)

Pikmin (2001) vs A Short Hike (2019)

Resident Evil (2002) vs Signalis (2022)

Superliminal (2019) vs Unravel (2016)

LISA: the Painful (2014) vs Off (2008)

Salt and Sanctuary (2016) vs Rogue Legacy (2013)

Tunic (2022) vs Vexx (2003)

Heroes of Might & Magic II (1996) vs Octopath Traveler 2 (2023)

Wandersong (2018) vs Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012)

Braid (2008) vs Octopath Traveler (2018)

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (2015) vs Stray Gods (2023)

Okage Shadow King (2001) vs Hollow Knight - Gods & Nightmares (2017)

[xtrain]

1979-1990 Anime Primer

I wrote this primer to serve as an introduction to those new to 80s anime. It features 50 titles (plus one bonus title), all of which are either films or OVAs for ease of viewing. Please note that Studio Ghibli films from this era were purposefully excluded since they are already so well-known (I consider Nausicaä to be pre-Ghibli).

1979    Aim for the Ace!

1979    Galaxy Express 999　

1979    Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro　

1981    Ashita no Joe 2

1981    The Door into Summer 1981    The Fantastic Adventures of Unico　

1981    Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movie Trilogy

1982    Arcadia of My Youth

1982    Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie

1983    Urusei Yatsura Movie 1: Only You

1984    Birth

1981    Daicon IV

1984    Macross: Do You Remember Love?

1984    Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

1984    The Star of Cottonland

1984    Urusei Yatsura Movie 2: Beautiful Dreamer

1985    Angel’s Egg

1985    GoShogun: The Time Étranger

1985    Leda: The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko

1985    Megazone 23

1985    Minky Momo: La Ronde in My Dream 1985    Night on the Galactic Railroad 1986    Fist of the North Star

1986    Megazone 23 Part II

1986    Project A-ko

1986    Windaria

1987    Black Magic M-66

1987    Bubblegum Crisis

1987    Devilman: The Birth/Demon Bird

1987    Dirty Pair: Project Eden

1987    Neo-Tokyo

1987    Robot Carnival

1987    Royal Space Force: Wings of the Honnêamise

1987    To-y

1987    Twilight of the Cockroaches

1988    Akira

1988    Dominion Tank Police

1988    Dragon’s Heaven

1988    Gunbuster

1988    Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars

1988    One Pound Gospel

1988    Vampire Princess Miyu

1989    The Five Star Stories

1989    Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai!

1989    Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

1989    Patlabor: The Movie

1989    Venus Wars

1990    Cyber City Oedo 808

1990    Nineteen 19

1990    Record of Lodoss War

BONUS    Blue Blazes

[6ad6ro]

top 5 games from every console -nes- -game boy- -pc engine- 1. ninja gaiden 1. castlevania ii 1. castlevania rb 2. river city ransom 2. zelda la 2. ys book 1 and 2 3. akumajou densetsu 3. wario land 3. lords of thunder 4. mario 3 4. pokemon red 4. r-type 5. zelda 2 5. kirby's dreamland 2 5. galaga '90

-genesis- -snes- -neo geo- 1. streets of rage 2 1. earthbound 1. garou mow 2. castlevania bl 2. zelda lttp 2. windjammers 3. sonic 3ak 3. chrono trigger 3. king of fighters 99 4. contra hard corps 4. super mario world 4. metal slug 5. sonic 2 5. super metroid 5. king of fighters 2001 -sega cd- -ps1- -saturn- 1. snatcher 1. final fantasy vii 1. vampire savior 2. sonic cd 2. castlevania sotn 2. street fighter alpha 3 3. final fight cd 3. resident evil 3 3. virtua fighter 2 4. lunar 4. rival schools 4. virtua cop 2 5. monkey island 5. final fantasy ix 5. castlevania sotn (really) -n64- -dreamcast- -ps2- 1. mario 64 1. jet grind radio 1. silent hill 2 2. mystical ninja 2. shenmue 2. gta vice city 3. zelda oot 3. thps 2 3. smt nocturne 4. banjo kazooie 4. crazy taxi 4. we love katamari 5. mario kart 64 5. ecoo dotf 5. dragon quest viii

-gamecube- -xbox- -gba- 1. resident evil rm 1. jet set radio future 1. castlevania aos 2. f-zero gx 2. shenmue 2 2. castlevania hod 3. zelda tp 3. morrowind 3. metroid fusion 4. killer7 4. fable 4. river city ransom ex 5. mario sunshine 5. guilty gear xx #ac 5. metroid zm -nds- -psp- -xbox 360- 1. castlevania ooe 1. castlevania dxc 1. dead rising 2. castlevania dos 2. gta vcs 2. deadly premonition 3. castlevania por 3. ffvii cc 3. half-life 2 4. tingle's balloon trip of love 4. persona 3p 4. skyrim 5. phoenix wright 5. power stone 5. gta iv -ps3- -wii- -wii u- 1. dead rising 2 1. mario galaxy 1. zelda ww hd 2. sfiii 3s oe 2. no more heroes 2. mario kart 8 3. yakuza 5 3. okami 3. tekken tag 2 4. gta v 4. wii sports 4. zelda botw 5. 3d dot game heroes 5. castlevania rb 5. nintendo land -3ds- -vita- -ps4- 1. smt iv 1. persona 4 golden 1. ff vii rm 2. zelda oot 3d 2. undertale 2. elden ring 3. zelda mm 3d 3. jet set radio hd 3. persona 5 4. star fox 64 3d 4. hotline miami 2 4. resident evil 2 rm 5. river city rs 5. spelunky 5. dragon quest xi -switch- -steam deck/pc- -virtual boy (forgot)- 1. mario odyssey 1. half-life 1. vb wario land 2. sonic mania 2. unreal tournament 2. mario's tennis 3. smash ultimate 3. dead cells castlevania 3. galactic pinball 4. metroid dread 4. lba2 twinsen's odyssey 4. teleroboxer 5. mario wonder 5. bomb rush cyberfunk 5. jack bros

[moonstrider9904]

MOONWALKER, PART II: THE FLAME

SERIES MASTERLIST

Collection Masterlist | Ao3 link | Wattpad link

Read Part I Here

Summary: Force-sensitive Sarah Adhara struggles with the attachment and darkness she knows she shouldn’t feel. After leaving Crosshair on a platform on Kamino against her will, Sarah questions her place in the galaxy and in Clone Force 99 as the Empire’s unbroken rise threatens to destroy all that she holds dear.

Rating: Explicit, though most chapters are just Mature. 18+ series. Minors do not read. Smut chapters will be marked with a *

Please read each chapter’s individual tags on tumblr before reading!

Pairings: Crosshair x Original Female Character, Hunter x Original Female Character, Tech x Original Female Character

Chapter 1 - The Ace Auror

Chapter 2 - Serenno

Chapter 3 - Old Friends

Chapter 4 - Flyin' Ace (coming soon!)

Chapter 5 - Brown Eyes* (coming soon!)

Chapter 6 - Your First Steps (coming soon!)

More chapters TBA!

[disappointingyet]

A bunch of movies that didn't make my final films of the year – some of them are very good, mind (and one or two really aren't).

Godzilla Minus One

Very much not to be confused with the current US Godzilla movies, this comes from Toho Studios and not only goes back to the start, but the story is all about Japan coming to terms with World War II. Our central (human) character is Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) a guilt-ridden former fighter pilot trying to get by in bomb-flattened Tokyo. He acquires not one but two found families: a young woman and the child she rescued from the rubble, and the crew of the minesweeper he finds work on. The healing for both the material and psychic damage seems underway when a massive, mysterious creature – which Shikishima encountered during the war – reappears, only bigger and with new powers…

G-M1 is a talky film with sombre stretches (there are jokes, too), with lots of grief and guilt and trying to figure out how not to make the same mistakes again*. And, in between all that, we get a big stompy monster (this is mean Godzilla, not saviour Godzilla). The special effects do the job: you’re unlikely to be awestruck, but equally I didn’t spend any time wanting to chuck something at the screen as I often do with (say) Marvel movies. 

Satisfying.

(*I was trying to think of other movies where I successfully guessed what was going to happen not so much because of plot tropes as ideology… the only one that springs to mind is the Robert Aldrich-directed Burt Lancaster & Gary Cooper Mexican-set Western Vera Cruz.)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 

What were the odds, in the year of full superhero backlash, that there would be a critically endorsed Ninja Turtles movie? But here it is, and yes, it’s good. Essentially, TMNT:MM is (as far as I know) lo the first post-Spider-verse film, embracing the idea that comic-book adaptations can look drawn. This is 3D computer animation, but it’s not trying to look solid or clean, and so you don’t end up with Shrekian chunkiness. It’s weird and colourful and sometimes rather beautiful.

It’s a basic origin story: how did these strange creatures come to be, why do they regard a rat as their father, what other weird animals are lurking in New York? Well, for one, Superfly, a massive insect styled after Ron O’Neal’s Blaxploitation antihero and voiced by Ice Cube.

The movie leans hard into the ‘teenage’ part of the title - these are kids, cocky, confused, bored, trying to fit in and figure themselves out (often contradictory impulses.) The script is by Seth Rogen and chums, so doesn’t take itself too seriously. 

There’s an argument to be had about whether famous faces deserve to be the voice leads in animated movies - surely specialists are better at the job and anyway, much of the time nobody recognises it’s eg, Chris Pratt. But here, I think the star casting works - as well as Cube, we get Jackie Chan being very endearing as Splinter the rat, a brief but perfect turn from Giancarlo Esposito and the ubiquitous Ayo Edebiri as April.

The soundtrack is ace - and maybe gives away who the target audience is: it’s a bunch of late 1980s/90s hip-hop standards.

The storytelling isn’t groundbreaking but the visuals are so good. One of the best surprises of the year.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

Essentially: ‘You know that game the kids in Stranger Things play? The one people used to get beat up for been associated with but now movie stars boast about their expertise at? Let’s do a Guardians Of The Galaxy-style film based on that.’  So they did, and gathered a more-than-decent cast: Chris Pine*, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant, and send them off on some questing. The jokes do the job, the dialogue largely non-fantasy mode, Rodriguez does all the action and Pine is the Hannibal Smith-esque generator of plans (but w/tragic backstory). As this kind of adventure movie goes, it’s comfortably above average: not as good as the first Guardians, the first Pirates Of The Caribbean or Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, but better than most of the tosh out there. *Brudenell Road’s most famous former resident!

They Cloned Tyrone

Strange things seem to be happening in the hood and a drug dealer (John Boyega), a sex worker (Teyonah Parris) and – reluctantly – a pimp (Jamie Foxx) team up to investigate. This is a comedy with sci-fi elements as well as things that would be horror if this had a different vibe. Maybe think of this as a much broader take on Jordan Peele’s Get Out or Nope or a less way-out Sorry To Bother You. Although it’s set now, there are nods to the Blaxploitation era (Foxx’s hair, various cars.) There’s a nice murky look to the night scenes, a tangible atmosphere and an excellent cast – so plenty to enjoy.

(Netflix)

Theater Camp

Fond and indulgent mockumentary made by a bunch of chums who grew up as theatre kids. Very familiar set-up: much-loved thespian institution (in this case, a summer camp) has its future under threat – will everyone rally round for a big show to save the day?

There are plenty of familiar faces here, particularly if you’ve seen Booksmart and The Bear (Molly Gordon, who is one of the directors, writers and stars of this links that terrific film and that excellent TV show.)  

Ben Platt, who has become even more mocked and reviled in critical and showbiz gossip circles than his Pitch Perfect cast mates, makes the wise decision to write himself a largely dickish character to play. 

Theater Camp mostly manages to be the right kind of silly – I enjoyed it a bunch. (Disney +)

Bottoms

Extremely daft although reasonably fun comedy. Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri (who are both 28 years old and aren’t trying to fool you otherwise) play a pair of unpopular high-school kids who start a female fight club with the hope of hooking up with the cheerleaders they have crushes on. It’s very silly, gets a reasonable amount of mileage out of people punching each other and has plenty of decent jokes. Had me thinking of Rock ’n’ Roll High School more than I expected. 

Three Musketeers: Part 1 - D’Artagnan

Yes, yet another version of the Dumas book. This one has the virtue of being actually French. The vibe is somewhat gritty: the fights include guns and punching rather than only elegant sword work. Many of buildings are actual historic buildings rather something fairly see-through cobbled together on a computer. We get Vincent Cassel and Romain Duris as Athos and Aramis, plus Louis Garrel as the king. I’ve never really got Eva Green but she makes perfect sense as Milady. What’s added (from what I remember of the book) is a conspiracy involving a war-hungry faction at court and the Protestant rebellion.* Anyway, this is a solid and satisfying period action movie.

*To be clear, the siege of La Rochelle is in the book - it’s what leads to that that’s new here.

Maestro

Are you intrigued by the idea of current movie stars attempted many-layered 1940s accents? How about a film half in the lushest of lush black & white and half in fairly authentic-looking late 1960s colour, also rather beautiful? Tidal waves of great, great music? Fully committed performances? Some genuinely extraordinary, including a scene where biopic slips into ballet…

Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic is wildly ambitious, and it succeeds more than I was anticipating. Cooper, as often, gives a better performance than I expect him to. Carey Mulligan is excellent as Felicia Montealegre, Bernstein’s wife, even if the accent escapes her occasionally. It looks and sounds incredible.

But? It’s a big film with a small story at its heart. Firstly, what happens to a marriage between two people in the arts when their careers have very different trajectories? 'Isn’t the only other film Cooper has directed A Star Is Born?', you point out correctly.

Secondly, what happens to that marriage if it begins with the acceptance that one of this pair is going to continue shagging other people, but once there are kids to consider that seems less cool and you don’t feel like trying to explain to your daughter why her middle-aged father is chasing young men around, especially because this is only the 1970s…

I’m certainly not saying a film needs to say big stuff. But Maestro has a scale and sense of importance that seems at odds with what it wants to talk about. We do get some scenes with Bernstein pronouncing about music in grand terms – and those are the worst parts of the movie. But other than hearing the tunes, we don’t really get much of a sense of why Bernstein was such an imposing cultural figure. Credit to Cooper for acknowledging the pivot that most based-on-real-life stories take if they span a fair bit of time: things are fun, and then they are difficult. In Maestro, that fun part is not just in b&w, but the rules of space and time don’t apply. As we’re watching them, that’s clearly the case within scenes, but as we learn in the colour second half, things that you would have guessed took a couple of weeks took several years. All of that first part, it seems but is never stated, was lovely memories that edit all the tricky stuff. 

Not a wholly successful film then, but one I’m really glad I watched and even a little regretful I didn’t see it on the big screen.  (Netflix)

Creed III

Better than Creed II, nowhere near as good as Creed. Michael B Jordan does a decent job as the director and introduces some interesting visual elements. There’s no Stallone, which I’m fine with. The issue is a classic genre film trap: how to get the main character back to doing the thing the franchise needs them to do, even though that’s a terrible choice. Weirdly, for once, if this was hyper-realism, that wouldn’t be a problem – legendary boxers clamber out of retirement and back into the ring the whole time, often repeatedly. But in this movie, Adonis Creed seems to have too much going on – as the beautiful, successful guy with a beautiful, talented family – and to be too smart to get himself clobbered again. True to life, but somehow implausible within this fiction.

(Prime)

Babylon

Damien Chazelle’s massive, noisy discursion on the history of Hollywood is a film I definitely enjoyed talking about – there was so much to debate. But it was probably more fun talking about it than it was watching the last two hours of the movie (maybe watch the two big set pieces at the start and then stop?)

Full review here

Air

Schlubby dudes sit around in dingy offices arguing about the details of a deal for a young athlete to endorse a shoe. Not a painful watch, but nothing that Affleck/Damon manage here convinces me that this is a story worthy of cinema and not a very long Nike ad.

Full review here

Barbie

On the one hand, most of Barbie was fun, and an impressive feat of multi-level storytelling (eg, the very niche joke at the expense of fans of 1990s indie band Pavement.) Could’ve done without the Will Ferrell and Rhea Perlman bits, but a billion-dollar box office movie taking the piss out of the patriarchy is a great thing.

On the other, as much as I want to celebrate popular art, in my heart I know I’d rather Gerwig was making films like Lady Bird or Mistress America. Much as I hope Boden and Fleck’s future work is more like Sugar or Mississippi Grind than Captain Marvel, and that Cate Shortland goes back to films like Somersault and Lore instead of Black Widow.  

Ferrari

In some ways, this could be a companion piece to Maestro – another film about wife who has sort-of-tolerated the chronic infidelity of her giant-of-the-20th-century husband. Although, in this case, he's only cheating with women and by the time the film is set – the late 1950s – only one woman. In Michael Mann's movie, Adam Driver plays Enzo Ferrari, Penélope Cruz Laura Ferrari and Shailene Woodley the mistress. These people, you may have noticed, are not Italian. Yes, this is a film in English in which the actors do accents to indicate they are speaking Italian (the bit players, confusingly, talk actual Italian). I'm generally not in favour of that approach. This isn't a biopic, as such – it seemingly takes place over a few months as Enzo faces simultaneous work and personal crisis, linked by Laura, who was his work partner as well as spouse. Cruz is excellent value as the fuming, grieving Laura. Driver – has his hair ever been this short on film – is good too, and wears excellent suits. It looks lovely, too – whatever issues Mann had during the early digital switchover (Collateral?!) are long past. But the ending just fizzles out, in a way that leaves me wondering (other than Cruz being entertainingly furious) what this was all about. And the big events just before that are handled in a way I found both clunky and kind of distasteful. (I feel you need to be at least somewhat careful portraying real-life tragedies on screen. And also announcing your characters bear no responsibility when with all things taken into account, they do.) One of those films that I was very into when I was watching, but increasingly less so on the walk home.

No Hard Feelings

The sort-of-return of the once weirdly popular older-woman-deflowers-kid ‘raunchy comedy’ genre. This being 2023, the kid is a legal 19 but socially awkward, inexperienced etc (I mean, to be fair, there are a lot of people like that). Jennifer Lawrence plays the desperate-for-cash local who is hired by a Princeton-bound nerd’s parents to make a man of him. The film is well cast, and some of the jokes work… ‘the hey! we’ve all learned something’ stuff maybe less so. Pretty OK.

The Killer

Michael Fassbender plays a stat-bore hitman in David Fincher’s fan-boy-pleasing thriller. Some generally sane critics reckon it’s a blinder. I reckon it’s cliched, obvious and very grating. (Many of the arguments in its favour are based on the idea that it is Fincher taking the piss out of himself – to which I say, who cares?) 

Starts well as Fassbender is patiently doing the tedious prep for a kill in Paris, but goes duff quickly once he’s off on the obligatory revenge kick. Fassbender’s American accent is horrible, the gags are thumpingly obvious and yet triple-underlined in case you didn’t get them the first time. I kept hoping against hope that one of Fassbender’s enemies would finish him off and we’d be done with all of this. Tilda Swinton is good but she only gets one scene. (Fassbender had a supporting role in Fincher’s bestie Steven Soderbergh’s somewhat similar Haywire, which – for my money – is way better.) 

(Netflix)

Love At First Sight

Industry wisdom is the romcom is one of the genres people will no longer pay to see in a cinema but will consume happily on streaming. Netflix is notorious for putting out loads of them with TV-movie production levels. This is maybe one of their higher budget efforts? I saw it because Haley Lu Richardson was great in two of my favourite movies of recent times: Columbus and Support The Girls. 

LAFS* feels like three different ideas chucked together. First, a high-concept romcom with lots of vibrant colours and some bollocks about fate and Jameela Jamil as the narrator who pops up in turn as a flight attendant, immigration officer, bartender, helpful passerby…** Secondly, your contemporary British comedy where the characters are all wearyingly eccentric (so many British films, whether comedies or thrillers, just try far too hard.) Thirdly, a melancholy film about two people in pain who make a connection on a transAtlantic flight. Unsurprisingly, these three ideas constantly undermine each other. (Oh, and the London geography is just distractingly nonsense.)

*The title of the book this is adapted from is The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight, which is a much better match for the theme and tone of the story.

**An idea seemingly nicked, as I’m happy to admit I didn’t know when I watched it, from Max Ophuls’ 1950 classic La Ronde, emphatically not a romcom.

(Netflix)

Documentaries

Squaring The Circle: The Story Of Hipgnosis 

What was Hipgnosis, you ask? Hipgnosis was a little company that designed the covers of long-playing records, most famously for Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Its founders Storm Thorgerson and Po Powell were dope-smoking chums of the future members of (The) Pink Floyd in Cambridge (the city, not the university) who had enough photographic and graphic design nous to turn a favour for mates into a lucrative career.

Everyone in this documentary talks about how grumpy Thorgerson (who died in 2013) was: ‘He was rude to everyone,’ someone says. Now, as it happens, a long, long time ago I used to interview designers and photographers about famous album covers for a rock magazine. Almost all these chats happened over the phone… except for the one with Thorgerson about the Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. Thorgerson invited me over to his large, comfortable north-west London home and we sat drinking tea as he told me about how the LP sleeve had come about. As I remember it, he was an excellent host and I sat there feeling guilty about how bloody hideous I thought almost all of his work was and how unbearable his old mates’ music was. Maybe he’d mellowed by then.

Anyway, this documentary was made by Anton Corbijn, legendary rock photographer/terrible feature film director, which accounts for the interviewees being shot in elegant, flattering b&w. Corbijn’s movies are utterly humourless so it’s a pleasant surprise to find plenty of chuckles here. The heart of the film, indeed, is a series of tales from the mid-1970s in which the album shoots involve vast expense, effort, travel time and even danger… and afterwards everyone decides for all the record buyers will notice, it could have been done round the corner or just in the studio…

If you like a rock dinosaur, there’s a bunch here: Planty! Pagey! Macca! Gabriel! And the surviving Floyds, of course. Speaking of which, my big concern watching this was the presence of Roger Waters and Noel Gallagher, both extremely low-quality human beings. Fortunately, restricted to talking about album covers (both) and the early days (Waters) they are non-toxic. Just why Gallagher is here is a different question. He has no connection to Hipgnosis – not as a client nor even (as far as made the cut) as a fan. He just talks about album artwork in general, including his daughter not knowing it was a thing that exists. So he’s effectively the cut-price Bono, here to provide uninformed vibes and enthusiasm – but as the man who shot U2’s most famous images, surely Corbijn could have got the real thing?

There’s a tradition of documentaries – which I think this fits into – that work two ways depending on how you feel about the subjects. If you think the cover of (say) Led Zep’s Houses Of The Holy is a great piece of image-making, here’s the inside story of how it came about. On the other hand, if you find the aesthetics of 1970s rock grotesque or funny, then this is an entertaining account of how completely everyone lost the plot as the cash (and coke) rolled in. (Netflix)

Little Richard: I Am Everything

You can see why people want to make documentaries these days about Little Richard – he was black, he was gay, he did some drag early in his career and certainly had no truck with the 20th-century western version of masculinity. In 2023, if you want to celebrate a rock ’n’ roll pioneer, he’s more appealing than one of those white guys with their child brides. (Before we overtip the balance, it's almost certain that Richard also had sex with teenage girls when he was an adult, even if they weren’t his main area of interest.) 

The big problem I had with this film – which got some rapturous reviews – is not its fault at all. What happened was that earlier in the year I had seen the BBC’s Little Richard: The King And Queen Of Rock’n’Roll, which has some of the same interviewees (plus Keef rather than Mick as their Rolling Stone), much of the same archive and – as the title suggests – the same contemporary take. I Am Everything’s director Lisa Cortes does try to do some things to make this movie-like, including having clouds of glitter and bursts of high-speed nature montages. She also has some current musicians in to a play a few songs, almost always a bad move in a music documentary. There are some good academics etc here, but alas, if you’ve recently heard all this stuff, I Am Everything doesn’t add that much. But if you’re not familiar with this story, this is a great place to start.

[gildedmuse]

One Piece Master List

**Work In Progress, Turns Out It's Taking Me A While To Gather All The Links To All My Writing**

Two things. First, you may have noticed this is a One Piece list. That is because, while I have written for plenty of other fandoms (have you heard of Rent? Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy? Have you read fanfic for it? Yeah, well congrats, you've definitely read something I wrote in high school) all of that has meticulously been uploaded Here where you can go through it at your leisure, quietly (QUIETLY) judging me for things I wrote over a decade ago.

Second, purposefully left out the word "fanfic", because not everything listed is fanfic in the strictest sense. It's all definitely fiction based around One Piece. The question is more how much work went into said fiction.

Series

All Hearts

I mean, if you've read it you would understand. And if you've read any of my One Piece fic, it's probably, definitely this.

Links: Full fic on AO3 | Backstory Fill | Random "Summary" | The Surgeon's Blade (Short) | Original First Chapter | A/B/O Alt Intro |

Summary: Canon rewrite of One Piece where Zoro ends up stranded in North Blue and ends up as the Vice Captain of The Heart Pirates.

Ships: Zoro/Law (with small hints of Zoro/Mihawk, Penguin/Shachi, and kind of Zoro/Bonney but not really).

Rating: Mature due to some heavy make-out when Zoro is a hormonal teenager and Law is just a whore.

In Love & Kendo (aka Kendo Rivals)

Despite this not being a "real" fic, in the sense of just started as me spit balling and kind of got out of hand from there, it's still somehow like my second most popular One Piece work according to ZoLaw Bitches, and honestly theirs is the opinion I value most.

Links: AO3 Link | Original Post: Part I | OP: Part II | OP: Part III

Summary: Modern AU where kendo rivals Law and Zoro are placed together to compete in the kendo League double championship, despite all appearances that they utterly hate each other. When Law tries to extend an olive branch to Zoro by "taking him and his girlfriend" on a double date, Zoro's "big bro" Ace steps in to.... Help?

Additionally, While writing this up, I posted the following POV summaries for @jhaernyl and thought they were fun:

Law's Summary: "As some sort of punishment for being decent at tricking the media, Silvers-ya forces me to pair up with Kendo Baby Roronoa Zoro if I want to compete in the League Championship. Zoro-ya takes this with as much maturity as you would expect, and then when I go out of my way to try and strengthen our alliance, he brings flashy, pompous actor Portgas-ya along as if MOCKING my offer! And Portgas-ya has the nerve to make out with my new teammate in the middle of the restaurant, showing absolutely no remorse or sense of honor. Also, how is someone like Zoro-ya even dating such a shallow, self-loving IDIOT who clearly has no interest in Kendo beyond how cute Zoro-ya looks in his hakama. Is that really what Zoro-ya finds attractive in a partner? It seems highly unlikely, and I quickly develop a plan to uncover the truth."

Ace's Summary: "Torao is an asshole and I'm way hotter, anyway."

Ships: Law/Zoro, Ace/Zoro, mentions of Law/Robin and not-even-bothering-to-fake-it Perona/Zoro. There are a couple background couples but Nami/Vivi and Sabo/Koala are the only one that gets any real mention.

Ratings: Mature because Ace can't keep his hands to himself. Law at least tries, Ace. At least, up to a point.

Sora: Warrior Of The Sea

So, this is what happens when people engage me online. Multi-part, sprawling head canons for a crazy au about a totally fictional show based on a fake manga from the original anime. Look, it's not gonna get LESS complex after this point, so it was best to prepare you now. Created with @devilfruitsaladfordinner

Links: MASTER POST FOR SORA:WOTS

Summary: What if you had a modern One Piece AU where, after years of working his way through the Saboady film/TV scene, Trafalgar Law finally got to work on his dream project: writing a real life adaption of North Blue's (and Law's) favorite manga of all time, "Sora: Warrior of the Sea"? And what if all that was nearly ruined when, instead of some skilled thespian, the producers decided to hire stunt performer (and real life kendo competitor) Roronoa Zoro as Sora's first mate and closest ally? And what if this leads to the worst thing Law could have possibly dreamed up. Developing feelings.

Ships: it gets pretty messy at times, but the main ones "actors" are Zoro, Law, Ace and Luffy and so pretty much any combo of those four - leaning Law/Zoro, Ace/Zoro/Law, demiace!Luffy/Zoro, Law/Zoro/Luffy

Rating: Varies from General Audience to Explicit. The master list has a better overview on that end.

Different Crew AUs

I mean, is it weird to write a bunch of fics that are "inspired" by your own? Yes, yes it is. But I did it anyway.

Link: Three Of Spades | Seeing Red | Three Tailed Fox | (Prompted) Thriller Bark

Summary: What if instead of being found by Luffy, Zoro had been.... Found by Ace and became First Mate of The Spade Pirates / Taken in by Shanks and raised as the baby of the Red-Haired Pirates / Won in a contest by Foxy and became an unwilling member of the Foxy Pirates / Stolen away along with his older sister by Moriah and became an officer of the Thriller Bark Pirates

Ships: Law/Zoro to some degree on another. Passing mentions of Mihawk/Zoro (Red)

Rating: Safely Teen for the most part. Passing sexual references in Red.

—💚—

Short & Sweet:

Captain To Your Ship (AO3): [Law/Zoro, Unintentional Luffy/Zoro, Teen] Listening to Strawhat-ya and Zoro-ya playing around after most of the party had died down, you would have to be some kind of idiot to miss all the double meaning behind their little game. Law decides to try and see just how innocent these two really are, and if it happens to get him an invitation into a certain swordsman's bed then all the better.

So Stop Me (AO3 Part I) | (Script Style Part II) | (Original Short): [Ace/Zoro, Mihawk/Zoro, Law/Zoro and, if you'd like, Luffy/Zoro at the end. Explicit] Zoro wants different things from different captains. And he gets them. (Aka "Could I write a porny fic that was just like Ace, Law, and Mihawk fucking Zoro senseless only for Zoro to choose Luffy over all of them?" That's a real question I asked myself. And it turns out yes, yes I could.)

Three Date Style (AO3): [Law/Zoro, Teen] Law has had plans in motion. Plans he's been careful about, meticulous. Law has to make sure he doesn't misstep, doesn't set off the many traps lying in his way. So how is it he only finds out that him and Zoro are dating after the fact?

To War Over You (AO3) | (OP Part I) I (OP Part II) | (OP Part III): [Law/Zoro, Mihawk/Zoro, Explicit] At first, Law only takes Zoro-ya to marine headquarters because, well, they clearly require some proof that the former Strawhats are working under Law as the shichibukai claimed. After a chance encounter with Dracule Mihawk, it quickly becomes less about maintaining the lie the Strawhats are now working for Law, and more about marking his very real claim to Zoro-ya.

The Eastern Sun Rising Over A Piece Of Cold Northern Shore: (AO3) | (Tumblr): [Law/Zoro, Chopper-Safe] Law contemplates (and basks in) Zoro's light and warmth.

Strawhat Wildlife Rescue (A03): [Law, Luffy, Tiger!Zoro, Chopper-Safe] Trafalgar Law is a vet working for the Strawhat Wildlife Rescue. He loves his job, but he does require sleep every now and then. Unfortunately, the strawhat boy does not seem to believe in the concept.

Eat Your Heart Out (Part I) | (Part II): [Law/Zoro, Mihawk/Zoro, Explicit] Law is an incubus who needs to find a human devotee. I mean, what else do you want?

Room For One More (AO3) | (Tumblr): [Mihawk/Law, Law/Zoro, Mihawk/Zoro, Teen] Law lives a relatively happy - if somewhat busy - life as a renown doctor whose partner just so happens to be world famous Dracula Mihawk. Or at least Law had THOUGHT they were happily married, until one day he came home to find Hawk-ya in the kitchen with some baby faced boytoy claiming the kid was supposedly "working" as his temporary replacement personal assistant.

Run Away Together (Tumblr): [Mihawk/Law, Law/Zoro, Teen] Zoro has never been so bored out of his mind as when his sensei, Dracule Mihawk, makes him attend these damned dinners and other adult type gatherings; what's the point when he could be using his time practicing kendo instead? Though when twenty something year old doctor Trafalgar Law returns to the island, Zoro finds he has a reason to socialize after all.

Suri Asha (A03) | (Tumblr): [Law/Zoro, Mihawk/Zoro, Teen] Why did Hawkeyes insist on taking him to this formal shichibukai marine mess in the first place? Why is he making Zoro wear this itchy suit and learn to dance? And why is that mysterious other super rookie from back in Soabody following them around as if he's with them?

Who Has Three Swords & Doesn't Give A Fuck? (Tumblr): [Law/Zoro, Teen] (An alternative intro to All Hearts) Zoro is a young omega picked up by (fairly new) pirate captain and alpha Trafalgar Law.

The Surgeon's Blade (AO3) | (Tumblr): [Law/Zoro, Teen] The story of how Zoro got his first decent blade and earned his place on The Polar Tang (All Hearts adjacent.)

Shadow The Snow (Tumblr): [Law/Zoro, Teen] An alternative first meeting for Zoro and Law in the North Blue.

Gifted-Wrapped (AO3) | (Tumblr): [Mihawk/Zoro, Mihawk/Law, Mihawk/Ace, one sided Law/Zoro, Mature] Like a Mihawk who just so happens to be lucky enough to have stumble across all three of these boys in situations where they were tied up, chained down or otherwise incapacitated and unable to move. And while he would never use such a situation to fell an enemy - there’s no honor in that not to mention no challenge - it would also be incredibly wasteful of him not to take advantage of such opportune moments.

—🧡—

Unscripted:

Bad Heart (Or) Donquixote Pirate Law Captures Zoro (Tumblr) | (AO3): Law/Zoro, Doflamingo/Zoro, Teen Kojo-Akai (Or) ZoLaw Moulin Rouge Style (Tumblr): Law/Zoro, Mihawk/Zoro, Doflamingo/Zoro, Mature

Marine Law/Revolutionary Zoro: Law/Zoro, Ace/Zoro, Corazon, Sabo, Koala, Mature

Lead (Or) Vet Law/Zoro: Law/Zoro, Dog Bepo, Puppy Chopper, Chopper-Safe

Manga Artist Zoro/Writer Law: Law/Zoro, Hints of Luffy/Zoro, Corazon, Doflamingo, Teen

Drummer Zoro/Deaf Law: Law/Zoro, The Strawhats, Penguin, Shachi, Chopper-Safe

Pain Sharing AU: Law/Zoro, Teen

So There's A Party & All These Hot Guys Are There: Law/Zoro, Mihawk/Zoro, Teen Probably Bad For You: Doflamingo/Law, Mihawk/Zoro, Law/Zoro, Mature

—💜—

Short ZoLaw AUs (That Nobody Asked For):

Shichibukkaki

Idol Law/Bodyguard Zoro

Cheesy Christmas Movie Plots

AU Ideas

ZoLaw Fics We Need More Of

More Zoro Law AUs