#I’m friends with the President I’m friends with the pope

[johnnyripped]

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - I Gave a 10/10 to a BL... me!

Organized, in each category, by ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Nov 2023 Wk 3

Ongoing Series - Thai

My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thurs iQIYI) ep 4 of 8 - I love this show. I adore Tew's the simple backstory. No frills. No fuss. He got dragged in the way many do and he can kill so they kept him. They aren’t trying to make it needlessly complicated (which is rare for Thailand). That said, the pacing is way tf off, the emotional arc is rushed and then sappy out of absolutely nowhere. Before you ask, the kiss is not at issue, we halfway through they should be kissing, but the romantic life changes - too soon. But I don’t care. Finally, they left us this ep reminded of 2 v important things,

this pair kisses beautifully

in BL all mafia be gay

Fun fun!

Last Twilight (Fri YT) ep 2 of 12 - It's official, I love this. It’s a classic caregiver/bodyguard trope where one of them is opening the other one up to the world, but sweetly. I’m enjoying the softness of JimmySea's take and I hope GMM TV takes its cues from the success of My School President and doesn’t push this particular show into rough or edgy territory. Stay on target GMMTV. Don't mess with my bias again!

Twins the series (Fri GaGa) ep 3 of 10 - Finally, our adorable side couple has emerged! This show remains engaging without losing pace (despite the main couple being slow burn), which is all I want from a Thai pulp, and more I could ask for currently from a sports BL. 

(Note: when I dictate the computer always puts "Thai pope" instead of Thai pulp - this is hilarious to me.)

Pit Babe (Fri iQIYI) ep 1 of 14 - I guess they didn’t strip the omegaverse out of this. Unfortunately, I’m not an omegaverse fan, so I find its presence extremely off putting. (But it’s kind of amazing that somebody finally put one on our screen.) Unsurprisingly, it’s a lot of alpha posturing and hyper masculinity, because that’s what this kind of worldbuilding is an excuse for (lazy writing and lazier characterization). This means I don’t like Babe AT ALL except that he’s smell orientated and a bit verse. Way is lovely tho, because Nut is a great soft screen presence amongst the testosterone haze. 

Middleman’s Love (Fri YT & iQIYI ep 2 of 8 - I’m not gonna lie (when have I ever bothered to lie to you all?) I’m struggling with this show. The sound effects are getting worse. That is not allowed. Still I found this installment slightly more bearable than the last last, probably because there was more of the cast in play and less of Jade being too cringe to live. 

Absolute Zero (Weds iQIYI) ep 8 of 12 - AKA temporal paradox of pain.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) Friends Forever ep 13 of 24 - Ooo it’s a bit of a teacher/student (coach/player) thing. Linguistic negotiation and kinkification of phi. Also actually kinky. But not consensually. Gonna get dark. Bummer. 

Playboyy (Thurs Gaga) 1 of 14(!) eps - Whines. Must I? Gaga doesn’t have a skip ahead button. Sad sack main characters really do not work for me. But this was better than I expected. I wasn’t expecting much. 

Look: This is helmed by Cheewin (shudder) with screenplay by Den (Only Friends - shudder the second) under Copy A Bangkok (they deserve not my shuddders). It's gonna be a shizz show people. It's Thai dark War of Y style - my least favorites. Apparently, there is meant to be a "plot" but when has Cheewin ever bothered with plot?

On a completely different note does the blond look like that Korean actor/idol from At a Distance Spring is Green & Wanna One to anyone else? Or is it just me? (Park Ji Hoon)

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

A Breeze of Love (Korea iQIYI) eps 3-4 of 8 - I like it a lot. Dongwook is so obtuse and socially awkward and reserved and needy and Dohyun is so gay over and simultaneously wildly confused by this behavior. Fantastic. A bit stiff, even for Korea, btu I'm okay with it since everything else I'm watching right now is decidedly NOT stiff.

I finished it!

Let's Eat Together Aki and Haru AKA Aki wa Haru to Gohan wo - Japan BL movie 1.5 hr

Best friends life together during university - cheerful sunshine loves to cook, grumpy tsundere loves to eat. Aki is a bit manic pixie dream boy for me (not my favorite archetype) but they’re cute and it’s one of those Japanese slice of life pieces like Our Dining Table that isn’t really a romance in fact it’s barely a drama. This isn’t friends to lovers because they’re basically already in a relationship (which everyone around them knows) they just aren’t fucking. I did spend a lot of time worrying that they weren’t eating any green things whatsoever. In the end this isn’t my thing when there’s no kissing at all, and this was a bit too dull even for JBL. Sorry Japan, one cannot trade on cute and cheese alone. I know, you want to. But that's not a BL or a personality. 6/10 

I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan, maybe coming to Netflix) 8 eps - This classic friends-to-lovers BL is everything Japan does best. Angsty. Emo. Aching. Driven by real thirst. Yamato is deeply in love with his childhood bestie, Kakeru, and has been for ages, unable to hide his ungainly damaging high school need. He wants Kakeru in every way possible and it oozes off of the screen. Kakeru is silly and a little simple, but not frenetic or overly camp about it. He is earnest, and genuinely wants to keep Yamato in his life which means giving a romance (and gayness) a fair chance. We watch him realize his affection and what form it can take in a truly authentic way. This show was impossibly kind to both of its lead characters and I felt honored that I got to watch something so lovely and rare play out on my screen.

I LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS. IT'S SO GOOD.

10/10

Let me be perfectly clear: I have watched 646 BLs and only handed out nine 10/10s.

I talk more about why this one made the cut, here.

It's Airing But...

One Room Angel (Japan Gaga) 6 eps - adaptation of Harada’s manga (which I did not like) about a clerk who's stabbed, nearly dies, and returns home to find an angel waiting for him. With only 5 eps and a good chance this won’t end happy, I'm gonna wait and let you tell me how it goes.

SHADOW (Thai Gaga) 14 eps - I'm not wild about Thai horror (or horror at all) even one featuring Singto and Fluke. I'm holding off on this one and if told it's good I'll binge later.

Beyond The Star (Weds iQIYI) 8 eps - House of Stars meets Boyband. I was NOT impressed. Waiting to be told if I should bother.

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - I find this series more fun to binge, so I'm waiting until it completes its run.

Next Week Looks Like This

STARTING

11/20 Bake Me Please (Mon Gaga) ep 1 of 6 - trailer here, stars Ohm (of OhmFluke) opposite Guide (bestie from IFYLITA). This looks like an actually gay version of Antique Bakery (play it again, BL). I'm intrigued, it looks HELLA pretty.

11/22 7 Days Before Valentine (Weds ????) ep 1 of 10 - trailer here, horror-esk. Adapted from y-novel of the same name, directed by Tu (180 Degree) stars Jet (Why You… Y Me?). When you want your old love again, but fate sends you a reaper instead. All he can do for you is kill people. I'll likely give this a pass and wait to binge if safe.

11/24 VIP Only (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 1 of 10 - Screenplay by Lin Pei Yu (WBL) about a chef who courts a shy writer with spicy beef noodles.

11/25 The Sign (Sat ????) ep 1 of 10 - trailer here, horror-esk, but with a suspense and adult characters. Special investigators who loved each other in previous lives reunite in new bodies. Stars Billy Patchanon (BillySeng) & Babe Tanatat (new). Includes other SCOY favorites as a special investigation team. I may give this a try (depending on distribution) because I'm into the non-horror bits.

11/26 The Whisperer (Sun ????) 1 of 10 - trailer here. Thai horror BL that ALSO involves cheating (what joy is mine). He has dimples (My Ride) but I don't think even that gives me the will. You can tell me how this goes.

11/26 Cooking Crush (Sun YT) 1 of 12 - OffGun are back, trailer here. Adapted from the novel “Love Course! เสื้อกาวน์รุกเสื้อกุ๊กรับ” by iJune4S this is about Prem who runs a not-so-popular restaurant with 2 friends. About to go on a cooking competition with a huge reward, Prem gets involved with Ten, a stressed-out med student who wants Prem to teach him to cook.

Still Coming November BL

11/30 For Him (Thurs ????) ep 1 of 10 - high heat trailer, I suspect iQIYI will scoop this one up. From the people who brought us Unforgotten Night (please no) based on a y-novel, man nursing a heartbreak has a one-night stand, but the other boy didn't want it to end. It looks terribly trashy so I'm in! Maybe I'll do a trash watch?

Nov 2023 line up with screen caps here. Not kept updated.

Original 2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

To be fair this was last week but I did get the screen shot until now. (You are Mine)

I Cannot Reach You serving all Japan's favorite tropes plus some very un-Japan decent kisses.

(Last week)

[hayscodings]

character tag game.

tagged by: @mickeym4ndy

favorite fictional character from a movie? audrey (little shop of horrors)

favorite fictional character from tv? samantha jones (sex and the city)

favorite fictional character of all time? elaine benes (seinfeld)

if you could be irl friends with any three fictional characters, who? samantha jones (satc), addison montgomery (grey’s anatomy/private practice), and svetlana yevgenivna (shameless)

favorite fictional couple: lily van der woodsen and rufus humphrey (gossip girl)

okay, you can only choose one fictional character to get stranded on an island with: olivia pope (scandal) because if she doesn’t get me out of there first then the president will

one fictional world you would hate to be a part of: yellowjackets

one fictional world you would love to be a part of: sex and the city

your “HEAR ME OUT” fictional couple: jerry and elaine were in love the entire time they were just too stupid to see it

and finally, something you’re looking forward to this week? i just started the death of ivan ilyich and other stories by leo tolstoy and i’m excited to get into it

tagging: @ariesbilly, @fearsomeandwretched, @ladyofriverrun, @m4ndysk4nkovich, @holymurdock, and @emmasmuse.

[nerdieforpedro]

Wednesday WIP

Hello! 👋🏽 Nerdie here, I am working on a few things:

1. A second entry for @undercoverpena ‘s April Showers Challenge (maybe featuring an agent I haven’t written for a bit). I had a burst of an idea which was different than the original one I had. Such is a Nerdie brain. Don't get lost in there, but there are cookies.

2. Finally progress of my “Wedding 101 with Dieter” fic! I had been having trouble with it. I’m happy to have more Maya, Dieter and Daisy. 🤭 I apologize to @angelofsmalldeath-codeine in advance for any undue stress I shall cause you.

3. Going to finish up my short Frankie body part series which sounds menacing but is the opposite. 😂 Very much so lol It’s called “Only Parts of you Mr. Morales.”

4. I’m working on a Javier Peña series because I feel like I need to give him something nice. Just one thing. 😆 It's very sweet, I have 2 chapters and no idea what to call it. Pfft, go figure. No idea how long it will be - sorry, won't be ready for a bit. Between Javier P and Joel recent. I need to be nice to them. They’re both very haunted. 😖

5. I'm still working on both Din fics and Benny. I'm redoing the outlines. Bullet points are friends and not our enemies. I think. Will there be more random Star Wars people? Is Obi Wan Kenobi a children’s author and Luke that old man who swings his lightsaber in the yard?! Both these things are true. 😌 Messing with Star Wars canon one character at a time. 😂😂😂 The sweet Din fic will remain so. My walking pile of nervous Beskar. 💚

And that's about it, I've cut back a bit on writing to do more school work (papers...ugh...writing about not Pedro. 👀 Eww...)

Previews under the cut:

Anyway, somehow, I went from being stuck in chapter five for 'Weddings 101 with Dieter' to now being in chapter six. I'd like to thank Hemmy for being so encouraging and @megamindsecretlair for discussing Pedro and Oscar with me the other night. I feel like I should make notes and keep both of those in mind for future fics because it's the right thing to do.🫡 Just thinking about it is… 🫠

This is a small excerpt from chapter six, we should all know Nerdie's humor by now 🤣:

“Who’s banging on my door this damn early?! You better get out of here!” “Dee at least ask who it is.” “I don’t care, it could be the president, pope or, no Beyonce could come in.” “I am not meeting Beyonce in my robe. My hair is a mess, my face is puffy, I haven’t showered yet…that’s not who it is!” “I mean, if she shows up on this door, she’s gonna have to be okay with my bare ass, balls and your robe with your cute puffy face. It’s just us. You don’t need one. I’m just going to take it back off to eat you for-” “MR. BRAVO IT’S ME ZACK! YOUR ASSISTANT!” He screamed, he didn’t need to hear Dieter removing anything off of Maya or eating her in any capacity, they can do that after he leaves later. Never any filter with this damn man, he just needs to remind himself of his loans. This job pays the loans.

Gotta love how....open Dieter is with everything. Even Sasha Fierce is not safe. 😭

Second is from my pending Javier Peña fic (I'll think of a good name, I swear!):

Meeting his gaze had her mouth run dry, the sandy tone to his skin contrasted with more papaya tones in his neck. Dark hair and kind eyes behind a gold pair of aviators perched on his curved nose. Tourmaline waves parted on the left side of his crown were matched by his bold eyebrows and thick mustache. His lips were a lace pink and plush. The sunlight made the sweat along his neck glimmer, accentuating its definition. The light blue shirt made the reds and browns in his skin stand out even more. “Did you need to get some fresh air too?” She asked, he could be doing that, escaping someone like she was doing or something else entirely. Now she was curious too, about this man who’d chosen to sit next to her.

I very much enjoy my description of Javier, hehe 😉

That's it! Normally I have more, but it's either still in bullet form or in my head. 🤭

NPT: @maggiemayhemnj @604to647 @connectioneverywhere @morallyinept @rhoorl

@goodwithcheese @soft-persephone @djarinmuse @pedroshotwifey @magpiepills

@secretelephanttattoo @tinytinymenace @inept-the-magnificent @soft-girl-musings @mysterious-moonstruck-musings

@laurfilijames @grogusmum @alltheglitterandtheroar @jessthebaker @musings-of-a-rose

@julesonrecord @wannab-urs @schnarfer

[antisocialite83]

One of my guilty pleasures is watching popular shows AFTER the popularity is all gone. For example, I’m watching #Scandal. Like, THE OLIVIA POPE(!!!) for the first time ever. Don’t get me wrong, I know the outline. However, since there are no such thing as #spoilers (my opinion bc I’ve never “heard” a description that EVER does a film justice), something always gets left out. I have to see the story unfold for myself. I like to fill in my own blanks.

THIS SHOW IS GOOD!!!!

Wow. #OliviaAndFitz are actually the least interesting thing happening on this show lol. There’s always some unbelievable actual scandal going on. So far, I’ve made it into the second season and jeez! It’s free smoke for everybody. They be reading each other for fiiiiiilth!!!(I especially HATE how condescending and downright mean #Cyrus is to James). Also, is Olivia Pope a republican!?! Cuz, what!? But not surprising.

So far I really like Olivia and Cyrus’ odd couple friendship. Huck and Olivia are better friends tho. I can tell their relationship is more intimate, less transactional. lol Even when they’re pissed with each other, they’re still fiercely loyal. I hope he gets to be with his family again. The callous way Charlie tried to break him(#752 🥹), I hope he die real slow. Somebody gon have to pop his ass. I can’t believe I’m only on season 2. Speaking of which, I’ve just gotten to where Eli Pope reveals himself to Cyrus. Olivia doesn’t know…yet. Looking forward to that. Most importantly, it seems like everybody run the White House EXCEPT the president. Specifically, #Mellie, Olivia, and Cyrus.

This is def not everything I’ve noticed/seen BUT I am getting sleepy, finally(!). My sleep’s been better these past couple of nights. I guess political dramas lull me 😂😂😂. I’m glad to have another insomnia treatment.

Oh yeah, Fitz is a immature DICK. Even tho I’m only on S2, something tells me that will be consistent throughout the series.

Finally have made it to season 6. Lemme just once again say, THIS IS A GOOD ASS SHOW!!!!

Also, every character needs therapy.

More importantly, can Lauren, the President’s secretary, PLEASE get some props. She the least corrupted person on the show.

First of all, so glad Olivia and Fitz did not get a happy ending. They didn’t deserve it. Cyrus really got what was coming to him and it was sad but also not really. Too much blood on his hands AND he’s a deadbeat/absentee father!!!! Like, he had no concern about Ella at all. Too busy scheming smh.

Abby is a dick. Lowkey, and now majorly highkey you can see how envious/resentful she is of Olivia. That can happen when you feel indebted to someone. Also, take Olivia off the pedestal lol cuz she def be fuxking up to. Fitz is painfully…MEDIOCRE. And also co-dependent. Like he can’t function without a women around men…managing him. I can’t believe how corrupt this firecr**ch ass bitch became. Also, tho if these the same people who have manage to (somewhat)muzzle Rowan, then I get it. The scary lady who’s name i don’t know, is the actress who plays the mom in #YoungSheldon lmao seeing Mary Cooper be a badass is sendiiiiing me 😂😂😂. “Ms. Majorie Ruland”, and ole boy really knew how to tap into Abby’s insecurities.

RIP HUCK!!!! 🥺😡🥺🥺 …..sike! That was a damn good plot twist. But my boy should stick to his guns. A lesson in trusting your instincts. Had Olivia not started questioning her most loyal friend, I don’t think this would’ve happen. But I knew that girl was a weirdo. And he did to. Of course tho, Olivia couldn’t see the forest for the trees. At least not when it comes to her father.

Season 7!!!!

Mellie is president! And a damn good one. Quinn and Charlie being badass vigilante murderers, who make a kid 🥹🥹🥹>>>>>. That damn Cyrus ain’t NEVA leaving the White House. He should have his own wing atp. Seeing Olivia become Eli is cray. She don’t even wear white anymore!!! But Noir Olivia does have much better hair. Lol. I’m so glad Abby is back in the also(it’s lowkey still fuck her tho). I feel like Olivia is gonna snap. And I’m so ready.

Curtis > Jake > Fitz.

Overall : 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[messervixen]

The Marauders and people as things my Friends and I have said Part 2

Marlene (to James): You can tell all your other guy friends that a bunch of gay girls were putting flowers in your hair.

Alice: Give yourself a beard. Be normal.

Remus: Get in the chair.

Sirius: Cucumbers so sexy.

Pandora: Oh no, my fishbowl!

Alice: And Jesus would say “oh my god”.

Regulus: I’m not gonna let that happen because you’re not that amazing.

Barty: You’re the mentally insane version of your grandma.

Regulus: I am emotionally attached to this ruler.

Barty: I’m bored, let’s fry my goldfish.

Sirius: Don’t say the fuck word.

Mary: If I were a kidnapper, I would totally pick you.

Peter: I need my gummy bears so I can kill people.

Pandora: These poles are actually really good for pole dancing.

Sirius: This guy looks like he would hang out in a dumpster with me.

Marlene: That name is perfect for a gay bottom.

Barty: Broski was originated from the Russian president Taylor Swift.

Sirius: So I’m not like the pope…, I’m god.

James: Please stand up and hit the griddy for demonstration.

Sirius: I am a professional look good-er.

Marlene: Weird question, are you gay?

Regulus: The only animal I have in my house is my brother.

Pandora: Friends are like flowers. If you eat them, they die.

Remus: I want to get run over.

Marlene: He just wiggled like a gay man.

James: It’s not burnt, it’s just ripe.

Regulus: Go die.

Evan: Kids in the backseat cause accidents and accidents in the backseat cause kids.

Lily: Don’t body shame the thick bread.

Sirius: I’m not a British gay, I’m an American straight.

Marlene: Get gayed.

Sirius: My mom just made a very PG-13 word sequence.

Marlene: If you eat your child is that cannibalism or incest?

Lily: I’d be hot as a flower.

Evan: I’m technically not a virgin. In Hawaii a wave shot up my ass.

Regulus: Mommy I want a penis, why is it not growing?

Mary: Your butt is being used for the greater good.

Marlene: Do you think demons suck on toes?

Barty: Regulus is my sugar daddy.

James and Regulus in CR: I would have four kids with that man.

Sirius (About Remus): I would literally let him fuck me with a knife handle.

Dorcas: If there were no babies made then there’s nothing to feel guilty about.

Peter: Did you just call your own dad hot?

Sirius: My friends want me, mother.

Marlene: You can tell he’s gay by the way he looks out that window.

James: Nothing gets kinkier than a knife.

Regulus: Apparently I’m running from the trauma of my past.

Sirius: What you did to me on that table is going to leave some bruises.

Frank: Okay we are not raping a dead body.

Barty: I’ll take it as payment.

Peter: Do you have a knee caressing fetish?

Regulus in CR: Oh my god he has a sexy axe.

[jojo0039]

*Summer Heat* The Forbidden Zone Part 2

Lunch time came around and she headed to the conference room where she was meeting her boss with the president of the club. She opened the door, but stopped in surprise when she spotted only her boss, Ward Cameron and Rafe sitting at the table. "Joanna, please come have a seat. We have much to discuss and plan." Her boss pulled up a seat beside her and across from Rafe. She sat down slowly and felt his gaze on her. She chanced a brief look to just catch him already glancing intensely at her. "Ok what all inventory do we have for the party?" Ward Cameron asked Jo. She quickly broke eye contact with Rafe and turned to address his father. "We have everything accounted for, the candles, the table cloths, the flowers. We have the venue, the lights. I got in contact with the best cook on the island." Jo informed them. "Very good. I am pleased and very much impressed that Hannah put you in charge of all of this. I know that Midsummers is a big deal and given such responsibility is an honor. So job well done Miss Mills. Your dad will be so proud of you." Ward complimented. She smiled in gratitude. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She looked at the caller ID and seen that it was JJ. "Umm, excuse me for a second. I have to take this." She quickly got up from her seat and rushed out of the room. "What? I am working?" she whispered into the phone. "Come let us in to the computer lab." JJ commanded into the phone. She sighed in annoyance. "Where are you guys?" she asked. "The main lobby, the doors are locked." Jo quickly rushed down the hall towards the computer center. She quickly spotted them trying not to look too out of place. "You should have called me sooner so you're not standing out here. What's going on?" she asked as she unlocked the door. They all rushed inside and she shut the door behind them. "Oh sweet lord the internet." Pope about had an orgasm as he rushed to the computer. "We're looking up the coordinates on the map that my dad left me." John B explained. "Let me get in there." JJ pushed past John B and Jo to get to Pope. "I gotta check my Insta models." Jo pushed JJ back gently. "You're a dork." she joked. "Awe don't be jealous you know you're still my number one girl." JJ joked as he pulled her into a side hug. "How did you guys even get in here?" Jo asked them. "JJ got us in through the kitchen." Kie informed her. There was a knock on the door catching them off guard. "I'll be right back stay here." Jo ordered as John B gave Pope the coordinates to type in the computer. JJ watched her as she opened the door slightly. Rafe was standing on the other side. JJ didn't like that she still had contact with him and it bugged the hell out of him. Jo pushed Rafe away from the door and walked out behind him closing the door behind her. "What do you want Rafe?" she asked him. "What's going on in there?" he asked trying to peek into the room. "A guest needed help with something. What do you want?" she asked again. "I was told to tell you that the meeting is over and Hannah said you did such a good job." Rafe relayed the message. "Ok thank you for that." She tried to walk back into the room but he stopped her. "Wait, Top is having a party tonight at your parent's house." Rafe informed her. She scoffed at that. "Are you kidding me? And I'm the bad kid?" she shook her head. "I want you to come tonight." Rafe invited as he reached for her hand. She pulled it away with a sigh. "You should go Rafe. Nothing has changed. Goodbye Rafe." She left him standing there as she walked back into the room. She found her friends huddled around the computer. "What did I miss?" she asked leaning over John B's shoulder. "What did douchebag want?" JJ asked with an intense gaze. Her friends all waited for her to respond. "He wanted to invite me to Topper's party tonight." she informed them. "Like a kook party can be better than ours." JJ scoffed at that. "Alright guys come on, what did you find out?" Jo asked trying to rush them before they all got caught. "JJ was just about to explain how 900 feet is totally doable." Kie commented. "Well if you guys would just let me explain, I would gladly tell you." JJ sassed. They waited for him to speak. "The salvage yard. They have a drone that can drop 1,000 feet. It has a 360 camera and everything. It's for like deep dives and stuff. It's exactly what we need." JJ informed them. Jo actually looked impressed. "Can your dad get his grimy little hands on that?" John B asked him. "Well my dad's grimy little hands got his ass fired. I guess the salvage captain frowns on showing up shitfaced. Who knew right." Jo could always tell that JJ hated talking about his dad and she knew when it started to get him upset. "But the drone is there. It's in the impound yard out back." he informed them. "So what you're just gonna go steal from the impound lot?" Jo asked. "You too." JJ retorted back. "Me? I can't I'm working!" she quickly fired back. "Just leave." he shrugged like it was no big deal. "I can't just leave JJ. I have a big task that I have to make sure is ready." she argued back. "You're coming and that's the end of it." JJ firmly commanded. "Guys, how much did you say was on the Royal Merchant?" Kie asked. "400 mil." Both JJ and John B stated. Kie's eyes widened and she grabbed Jo's arm and pulled her up. "You're coming girl and that's final!" Kie stated as she dragged Jo to the door. Pope rushed over and beat them to it. "No. Absolutely not! No!" he stated as he blocked the door from them leaving. "Pope move out of the way." Kie pushed around him as JJ helped her. "Alright guys you win. Let me go clock out and do damage control and I'll meet you out at the van." she whispered to them as she rushed towards the employee door. Once she clocked out she gathered up all she needed and quickly left before she was caught. She pulled on her clothes from earlier and rushed out the back door where her friends were waiting for her. JJ held the door opened for her with a big smile on his face. She smiled back and slid in the back seat beside Pope with JJ sitting on the floor in between her legs.

                *********

The whole time they drove towards the salvage yard, Pope complained about the consequences of being caught stealing. "We're not stealing the drone we're just borrowing it." John B argued back as he drove. Pope looked out with the window with a disbelieving look. "Humans are the only animal that can't tell fantasy from reality." He told them. JJ looked up from the blunt that he was rolling to give him a funny look. "Did you just now come up with that?" John B asked. Jo laughed. "No Albert Bernstein." she answered. JJ kicked her leg softly with his. "Listen to my best friends being smart and shit." he joked. Jo blushed as she swung her hand towards him but missed. "That applies to this whole treasure hunting thing." Pope informed his friends. John B looked very confused. "So which is it? Fantasy or reality?" Pope asked the group. JJ looked up from his blunt. "Why are you so weird Pope?" he asked. Jo nudged his leg with hers. "Why are you an asshole?" Jo retorted back in the same tone. "I think it's fantasy, but possible reality." Kie answered so her friends didn't start fighting. "Its definently reality." John B stated in a sure tone. Kie and Jo shared a look but smiled softly at him. "Its virtual reality." JJ chimed in as he went to light his blunt. Pope snatched it out of his hands quickly. He flicked the unlit blunt towards Jo. She quickly snatched it up and put it in her pocket without them knowing. JJ glared up at Pope as he flicked his lighter closed. "Keep the signal clear." Pope lectured. Jo tried to cover a laugh with a cough. JJ noticed and turned his glare onto her. "Traitor." he accused her. "I'm on everybody's side babe. I'm a free spirit." she joked. John B finally stopped the van in front of Kie's jeep. Kie got out and opened the van door for Jo to get out. "Do you know what your problem is?" JJ turned his attention back to Pope as Jo got out. "You." she heard Pope respond back sarcastically. Jo tuned them both out as they continued to argue. Jo followed Kie over to the car. John B leaned out the window. "Hey don't worry you guys. You got this." he tried to sound encouraging. Kie and Jo shared an amused look. "Its not us that I'm worried about." she sounded amused as she pointed to the two in the back. "Yea you have to rein in dumb and dumber. Maybe you should just come with us." Jo joked as she got in the car behind Kie. "You ready to do this?" Kie asked her. Jo took a deep breath. "Yea let's do this thing." Jo replied.

                    ***********

Once Kie parked the jeep, both girls got out of the car. "Hello!" Kie started shouting to get the security guard's attention. It worked and he walked out of his booth. He eyed Jo up and down thinking that she was older. "Can I help you ladies?" he asked them. "Yea I have a flat. I was wondering if you could help me out." Kie answered when she realized Jo wouldn't. Even though she acted brave in front of her friends and Kie she had real bad social anxiety when talking to people that she didn't know. The security guard continued to eye her down. "Yea sure. Let me see what I can do." he told them as he walked back to grab an air compressor. Kie turned to Jo. "Dude that guy totally has the hots for you. He doesn't look to be much older then us. You should go for it." Kie encouraged her. Jo shook her head. "No I don't think so. Not really my type." The guy walked back over to them. Kie showed him which tire was flat on the boat. "Its this one over here. It must have been a slow leak or something. " Kie commented. "Yea its possible probably from sitting in the yard too long. That happens quite a bit." He made it obvious that his attention was on Jo. "You know I know a little bit more about boats. Maybe I can get your number." Jo's eyes widened and she became flustered. "Oh wow. That is super sweet and I am flattered." Jo was at a loss of words and had no idea what to say to him. He got the hint quickly that she wasn't interested. "Nah its cool. I get it. Don't worry about it." He gave her a small smile as he started putting air in the tire. The dog started barking. "Do you hear something? It sounds like Tebow got something." he started to get up. "You know its probably just a racoon or something. There is always a lot around this area." Jo said smiling down at him. He gave her a smile. "Yea that's probably what it is." he agreed with her. She knew that the dog has found her friends so if they needed to keep him distracted she needed to think quick and take one for the team. "So what else can you tell me about boats?" she asked him trying to sound flirtatious. "Well what do you want to know?" he asked her. "I don't know anything you can tell me." He stood up and went to walk around to the other side. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked catching Kie releasing air from the other tire. "I think this one is losing air too." Kie lamely said to him. He looked between both girls as the dog barked again. He pieced it together and ran back inside. "Oh shit." The girls jumped in the car and left to wait at the meet up spot.

              ***********

Once the boys returned Kie and Jo took the jeep back to her house and joined the boys back in the van. "I'm starving." JJ announced. Jo gave him a look. "You're always hungry dude." Jo teased him. "We can stop and see if my dad will give us any food." Kie offered as they piled in the twinkie. "Do you think he could that would be amazing." Jo stated as John B drove down the road. "I don't know about you guys, but I could really go for some beer and shrimp chips right about now." JJ commented. "We're going to Kie's parent's restaurant you can't be drinking beer there." Jo lectured. "Yes mom, I am aware." JJ retorted back. Once they got to the Wreck, they piled out of the van and let Jo and Kie go in first. "Hey dad." Kie greeted her dad as the girls walked up to the counter. "Hey Mr. C." Jo greeted as well. "What are you girls up to tonight?" he asked them. "Is there anyway we can get some free food for me and my friends?" Kie asked. Her dad stared at the boys huddled up awkwardly by the front door. "I thought I told you to stop hanging around them. Joanna I don't mind because of who your dad is, but come on those boys are like hungry pelicans." Kie's dad lectured. "Come on dad, they're our friends. Besides everyone at the Kook academy hates me." Kie argued as they looked back towards the boys who gave them awkward waves. Mr. C finally relented. "Alright you may as well take some I have to throw it out anyway." Kie smiled and hugged her dad. "Thank you Mr. C, you're the best." Jo complimented before she waved the boys over to the table. Kie and Jo made the food up and brought it out to the table. They grabbed pitchers of water and sat down. Jo sat beside JJ who instantly propped his foot up on her lap. She threw a french fry at him. "What was that for?" he asked as she giggled. One of their favorite songs started playing on the juke box. Kie was already standing up so she pointed to John B to dance with her. Jo laughed as JJ kept poking at her. "Stop!" she swatted at his hands. She noticed that Pope looked sad and was watching Kie and John B. So Jo pushed JJ's foot off her lap and stood up. She held her hand out to Pope. "Dance with me good sir." She asked in a funny accent. Pope shakes his head. "Nah, I'm good." he tells her. Jo gives him a look and pulls him over to the open floor with Kie and John B. "I wasn't asking." she tells him as they start to dance. Pope finally get a smile on his face. Jo is too focused on making Pope laugh that she doesn't notice the slight jealous look that JJ is giving them.

                 **********

The next morning, Joanna has to work so she quickly rushes out of her house and jumps in the car. Luckily, her mom was still home so she could take the car instead of asking someone for a ride. She makes it to the club on time and heads for the main office where she has a small station set up for her. She quickly signs into the computer to check all the emails that she needs to check that pertain to Midsummers. She is able to get some of the reservations and planning done by the time lunch came around. She is going to grab lunch at the restaurant when she gets a phone call. Her boss wants her to head over to the golf course to speak with one of the founding members and ask them a couple of questions about the seating. She grabs her bag and walks out towards the golf course. She decides to take her shoes off and walk in the sand and take the long way around. She is slowing walking down the path when she notices someone walking towards her. She stops when she sees that its Pope. "Hey man what are you doing here?" she asks as he stops in front of her. "I'm doing some deliveries for my dad." he tells her. "Well do you wanna grab lunch after I'm done here?" she asks him. "We gotta find JJ, but yea that sounds good." he tells her. He looks up and sees Rafe and Topper heading towards them. "Oh great here comes the goon squad." Jo finally notices them. "What do you guys want?" Jo asks. Rafe stops in front of her as Topper stays beside Rafe. "Its good to see you Jo. You look beautiful as always." Rafe goes to take her hand, but she pulls it away quickly. "Hey man don't be touching her." Pope states standing up for Joanna. "Nice to see you too Pope. How much for one of those beers?" Rafe asks trying to take the beer out of his hands. "They're not for sale." Pope defends. "Come on Rafe leave him alone." Jo glares at her ex. "You're not understanding me." Rafe steps dangerously closer to Pope. "You already have so many and we have none." Jo pushes Rafe back from Pope. "You know damn well you can go over to the bar and order a drink. Leave now." Joanna states to Rafe. Rafe just pushes her away before he rips the bag that Pope is carrying. "Are you kidding me! You have to pay for that!" Pope yells at Rafe. "Are you kidding me?! What is wrong with you?" Joanna goes to help Pope pick up the stuff from the bag. "Grab her Top." Rafe tells Topper. Topper grabs Jo and holds her in a tight grip. "Let go of me Topper!" Jo struggles as Rafe pushes Pope down on the ground. "Get away from him Rafe!" Jo yells as she struggles in Topper's grip. Pope stands up and swings at Rafe. Rafe hits him with his golf club. "Rafe!" Topper yells letting go of Jo as Rafe continues to hit Pope with the golf club. Jo and Top pull Rafe away from Pope. "Stay out of Figure 8 pogue!" Rafe shrugs out of their grip. "Get away from him Rafe now!" She pushes him away. "You wonder why I don't want to be with you anymore." She tells him with venom in her voice. Rafe looks at her with wide eyes before he screams and swings the club down hard right next to Pope's head. Joanna and Topper are standing there with wide eyes and in shock. Rafe bends down to Pope. "Stay away from Joanna. I mean it." Topper pulls Rafe away as Joanna bends down to check on Pope. "And you say I have bad taste in friends." Jo glares at Topper who watches Rafe walk away drinking the beer that he took from Pope. "I'm sorry." Topper says before he follows behind Rafe. Joanna then turns her attention to Pope. "I am so sorry this happened. Can you sit up?" she asks him as she helps him slowly sit up. "Man this hurts so bad." Pope winces as Jo checks out his injuries. "It doesn't look to be too bad." she tells him. "Do you need help back to the boat?" she asks him. "No. I'll be okay. You have to get back to work." Pope says as he starts to walk off. "Pope!" Jo calls after him. He turns back around. "I'm ok Jo. Don't worry about me." Jo watches Pope walk back down the trail to the boat.

              ***********

After Jo finishes work, she heads out to the beach where she meets everyone. She grabs bags of food and beer and makes her way to the sand where everyone is coming in from the water. "I brought provisions." she jokes as everyone comes over to her. "Thank god you're here. You always bring food." John B states as he grabs a bag. "Always. I just had them whip something up in the kitchen for me." Jo says. She glances at Pope who is looking at her. She goes to say something and he quickly shakes his head. She nods in understanding and hands him a burger with fries. "So how was the day in kookville?" JJ asks as he throws himself down next to her in the sand. "It was ok. I had to deal with a minor disturbance." she says as she locks eyes with Pope again. "Yea I had something weird happen to me today too." John B says. "What was it man?" JJ asks. "You remember how I said that Sarah Cameron is the reason I got fired? Well she came by the Chateau to tell me she wasn't the one who told Ward." John B tells them. "Yea you're right that is weird." Everyone laughs and finishes eating the food that Jo brought.

               *********

Afterward, they all headed back to John B's house and laid out on the hammocks. Jo and Kie were in one hammock. JJ and Pope were in another and John B was in one by himself. "Do you guys really believe the gold is out there?" Pope asks. "My father believed that it was." John B answers. "But do you JB?" Jo asks sitting up to look in his direction. "After hearing his voice on that tape. Yea I do." he answers. "Well there is only one way to find out." Pope states as he does the pogue handshake with John B. "That's right guys. We have come this far, we can't back out now." Jo says. "So are you coming with us tomorrow or are you going to work?" Kie asks her and everyone waits for her answer. "I love you guys. There is no way I'm letting you find the Royal Merchant without me. Hell yea I'm coming." she tells them. The boys cheer as Jo and Kie do the handshake. "Pogues for life!" Everyone shouts.

          **************

The next morning, Jo calls in to the club and tells them that she intends to work from home today and that she should have everything finished for the end of the day. They hop on Heyward's boat and they head out for the coordinates that they found. Once they reach the spot, John B drops the drone in the water. Jo and Kie slowly drop the rope slowly as they look on the camera. "Anything yet?" Jo asks. "Nothing yet keep going." John B states. The wind starts to pick up and the water starts to get rough. Storm clouds come in and It starts to thunder and rain. "Shit guys this isn't gonna work. We're gonna lose it!" Kie shouts. "Come on guys we're almost out of rope!" Jo shouts. "Oh my god guys! This is it!" Jo and Kie look at the camera and they stop in shock to see the wreck of the Royal Merchant. "Holy shit! We did it!" Jo shouts.

[dankusner]

The unstoppable Boy George mouths off about George Michael, Sinéad, Rosie, Madonna and Eminem, but refuses to discuss his own sex life

CAPTION: Busy blabbermouth Boy George just released his new ambient Chill Out Mix album, and his new best friend Rosie O’Donnell attempts to bring Taboo to Broadway.

The notorious B.O.Y. 

The unstoppable Boy George mouths off about George Michael, Sinéad, Rosie, Madonna and Eminem, but refuses to discuss his own sex life

By DANIEL KUSNER | 10.4.02

Boy George has come a long way. 

Armed with an unaccredited master’s degree in Sass, he began as a scrappy club-kid and emerged into an undeniable pop legend. 

But he hasn’t forgotten his roots. 

The former Culture Club singer stays busy manning the turntables as a celebrated DJ, simultaneously releasing two new discs: “A Night Out with Boy George” and the “Chill-Out Mix.“ 

As a gender-fluid superstar, his path to fame has always been an amorphous route. 

Now with Rosie O’Donnell’s help as a producer, he might globally conquer another genre: showtune-rock-opera musical theater

O’Donnell promises to import Boy George’s autobiographical London stage-musical, “Taboo” and mount a multimillion-dollar Broadway version. 

Boy George recently added another ingredient into his recipe for success — shifting from soul-infused music to soul food. Last year, he published a cookbook “Karma Macrobiotic.”

Earlier this week, he answered his London phone in a bubbly mood, speaking in a clipped British accent that raced by faster than a rocket-fueled Astin Martin. 

A master conversationalist, Boy George does most of the heavy lifting in interviews. Just toss him any question. He catches your drift and flings back clever remarks.

Sept. 29 is an auspicious anniversary. That marks the day you were kicked out of high school. 

Wasn’t that a great day?

What was your offense?

Being born. And being disobedient. 

For a year, I tried to get expelled. Then they finally kicked me out. 

My headmaster’s last words to me were, “You’ll never amount to anything.’ 

I turned around and said, “Watch me.”

You regularly keep an eye on George Michael, who’s now openly gay. What did you think about his recent politically charged single “Shoot the Dog”?

I thought it was really bad. It was his “War Song.”

When a celebrity officially comes out, they usually go through an evangelical period. And they always overdo it. 

I’ve seen that with George. He’s appeared at every kind of gay benefit —standing up there like he’s Harvey Milk or something. I think he lives in a cultural bubble. 

I don’t think he realizes that “Shoot the Dog” was just bad timing. People had been fucking killed. You can’t do that. 

I was watching the American news. And people were just freaking out over the song.

I cringed watching George try to argue his case. 

I was like, “Honey, stay out of politics. And while you’re at it, stay out of the public toilet.”

You recently said that you’d fuck Eminem just to hurt him.

And I’d take him by surprise — with no lube.

I have a new song called “Intimacy” that’s just like his “Without Me.” But mine’s funnier. Do you want to hear it?

Hell, yes. I want to hear it.

See, you were poor.

And you were trailer trash.

Now you’re living like Elvis, 

Rolled in cash.

Bet your house is real palatial. 

Hey, pretty boy, did you enjoy your facial?

And that shit’s supposed to calm you down?

Why are you so angry?

Because you ain’t brown.”

I made 500 T-shirts for Moby last Wednesday that said, “Moby for President” on the front and “Eminem for Intern” on the back.

Sinéad O’Connor has a new album out — full of traditional Irish folk songs. This weekend marks the 10-year anniversary of when she ripped up the Pope’s picture on “Saturday Night Live.” What did you make of Sinead’s brief affair with lesbianism during the publicity blitz from her last album?

I love Sinéad. I think she’s a brilliant singer. But she’s as mad as a box of frogs. 

And the whole “I’m a lesbian, now I’m a priest.” I love all that because it’s just like Joan Crawford or something. 

I love the fact that there are mad people in the world. They make the world a more interesting place. But don’t I necessarily agree with everything she comes out with. 

My mother is Irish. A few years ago, Sinéad was ranting on about the famine in Ireland and getting mixed up with Rastafarians. My mom was watching the telly, and she goes, “Jesus, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. God love her. She’s got all her history mixed right up there.”

Speaking of Irish lasses, I hear you are in cahoots with Rosie O’Donnell to bring “Taboo” to Broadway. 

I like lesbians. And they like me. What’s wrong with that?

Is this really going to happen. And do you sanction Rosie’s new lopsided hairdo?

I think Rosie is the coolest. She is so fantastic. Such a laugh. She’s just my kind of person. She says how it is. And I love that about her.

Rosie complained that you never graced her talkshow.

That’s because I was never in American during that time. She asked me to go on. She tried to get me on for years. And she told me that when she met me. She said, “You bastard! Why didn’t you ever come on my show?”

So will this friendship with Rosie bring you and Madonna together at last?

Honey, even Bianca Jagger standing naked on the top of the White House couldn’t do that. But we can work on it. I mean, I’m forgiving. 

Rosie knows I don’t like Madonna. I’ve told her that straight out. I said, “I don’t like her. But if you can convince me otherwise, I’d love to have my opinion changed.” 

Because there is a part of me that begrudgingly respects Madonna and admires what she’s done. But at the same time, I’ve heard stories about how she’s treated people. 

I think if you’re beautiful and rich — not that Madonna’s a great beauty....  But if you’re born beautiful or make a lot of money, you have an obligation to be nice to the rest of us. 

Who are you nice to? Do you have a boyfriend?

Of course.

What’s his name?

Mind your own business.

What does he do for a living?

He’s an information technologies expert.

Older? Younger.?

Younger.

How long has this been going on?

Ohhhh, you’re being very freaky today. Mind your own business!

You’d rather have a cup of tea than talk about sex?

Cups of tea are more reliable than men, that’s for sure. You don’t have to argue to get it in your mouth, do you? You just put the kettle on ... and pour. 

[bachloretteliz]

Mistress for 3 years…

Welcome back sweetie pies! Buckle up because this contestant’s story is gonna be juicy. We’ll start by his nickname, Fitz. Now the nickname comes from the tv show, Scandal. President Fitzgerald, married to his wife, but has a mistress named Olivia Pope. But in this scenario I’m Olivia Pope and he is Fitz.

Honestly don’t remember how I met Fitz, I’ve just known him for so long. He was just that boy who was always there, and I didn’t acknowledge him till we were freshmen. His aunt was a teacher and worked with my mom, so we were close to her family. His other aunt I knew because her kids were always at the pool I worked at during the summer. And yea, we just always knew of each other. Fun fact, his aunt thought we’d be best friends when we were younger. LOL. NO.

But like I said we didn’t really acknowledge each other’s existence until we were freshmen. But he had a girlfriend, and I respected that and we stayed close friends. Until his girlfriend got between us, and I stopped talking to him because she was crazy. Like run me over with her car type crazy. But like I said, respected their relationship so we forgot each other and lived our lives. Well I thought we forgot about each other, but I guess he didn’t.

We rekindled our junior year. Me and my gal were bored so we went to another guy friends house for a fire one night. Well Fitz was there along with another guy. So 2 girls, 3 boys, but 1 boy and 1 girl had feelings for each other. Well silly kids we were, we played ghost in the graveyard. But Fitz needed to talk to Olivia about something, so they hid together to talk. He explained that his marriage is falling a part, and he needed me as a friend again. I said I didn’t know, his wife hated me, and I didn’t want to ruin his marriage. He kept reassuring me the marriage was over, and he just needed me for support. So I fell for it, and the support he needed? I stupidly gave him.

After that night we talked and talked. It was like our friendship didn’t take a break, and we were back to how we were. Until he got back with his ex-wife… yea ex-wifey knew we were texting and hanging out together (with our other friends) and hated me even more. I’m talking bout the DM’s threatening me, making tik toks about me, captioning her posts towards me, all of the above. I laid off Fitz again, and lived my happy life.

Well every time Fitz needed “support” for his broken marriage, I was there. For a whole year we hid our secret affair. To clarify every time we hung out him and his wife were on a “break” (found out they never were so I felt horrible). And then we hit senior year… Senior year started off great. Me, my gal, and our 2 guy friends were thriving. Late night McDonald runs, going to each others volleyball or football games together, it was lovely. Until Fitz would show up at me and my gals volleyball games with the other guys. I wanted to commit suicide in 10 different ways every time, it was so embarrassing. No one knew what we’ve been up to, except my gal. She knew all. But still, he and his wife were perfectly happy, why show up and drag me into your marriage when I don’t want to be?

The best part, his marriage ended at my volleyball game. There’s film evidence. She asked to meet up with him, and they broke up, and he came back to my game. Guess she was tired of being the wife? Well me and Fitz started talking again, but I told him that we’d never get into a relationship. This was all about support.

Yea Fitz went into a post-divorce hole, and looked for support in 10 other girls! WHAT?! Man was wilding… I left and said never again. Now he’s married to one of the 10 supporters, and they’re so happy. But like we say, once a cheater always a cheater. She actually stalked my instagram one night, liked my post, and then unliked it. Caught you girly pop! I know, it’s hard to be as good as me. I’m the girl Fitz always came back to after all… not a great moment in my life though.

Well that’s Fitz for ya. A cheating, lying, and non-athletic douche. I can’t wait for someone to humble him, because he needs it.

Until next time, I promise the next man is MUCH better. Only 2 men standing, who will get the final rose?

See you soon sweetie pies:)

[whereareroo]

DEAR POPE FRANCIS

WF THOUGHTS (3/11/24).

Dear Pope Francis,

Jesus! What the hell is wrong with you? Have you lost your holy mind?

With horror, I’ve been reading news accounts about your recent comments regarding Ukraine. In a recent interview with a Swiss journalist, you suggested that Ukraine should have the “courage” to negotiate a settlement with Russia. Here are your exact words: “When you see that you are defeated and that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.” Later in the interview, you said that Ukraine must have “the courage of the white flag.”

Your comments are asinine and total bullshit. You’ve embarrassed yourself, and you’ve embarrassed the entire Catholic Church. For the love of God, you’ve got to immediately appear on a popular internationally recognized news outlet and you’ve got to retract your stupid comments. Your retraction must include a sincere apology to Ukraine and to the world. Remember, as the Church teaches, forgiveness is not possible without sincere contrition and sincere repentance. You really messed up here, and you have to make it right.

As preparation for your retraction, let’s do a quick review of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. As you know, it sets forth the official doctrine of the Church. You seem to need a refresher course.

In sections 2302 through 2307 of the Catechism, the Church focuses on “thou shall not kill” and sets forth the general principle that war should be avoided. Obviously, that basic teaching is no surprise. The problem is that you apparently forgot to read the next few sections.

Section 2308 of the Catechism expressly states that “governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self defense, once all peace efforts have failed.”

Section 2309 of the Catechism explains that “legitimate defense by military force” is acceptable if a nation is faced with “lasting, grave, and certain” damage that has been inflicted by an “aggressor.”

Let’s apply Section 2308 and Section 2309 to the situation in Ukraine. Without provocation, Ukraine was attacked by Russia. The President of Ukraine immediately volunteered to meet with Putin to explain that Ukraine would not surrender. He wanted an opportunity to convince Putin to stop his unwarranted aggression. Putin wouldn’t agree to any meeting. Putin is not interested in peace. Putin has repeatedly said that his objective is to totally conquer Ukraine and to make Ukraine part of Russia. Certainly Ukraine’s total loss of sovereignty and independence would be “lasting, grave, and certain damage.” With no other choice, Ukraine has been forced to use military force to defend herself. Under Section 2308 and 2309 of the Catechism, this is a textbook case of appropriate and acceptable self defense. It’s heartbreaking to hear that you’ve apparently decided to ignore the facts and that you’re taking the side of the aggressor. You’ve made a big mistake, and you should immediately correct that mistake.

I apologize for the formality of this letter. As you know, I’m one of your biggest fans. I know that you prefer to communicate with me via our regular phone calls. As a friend, I have an obligation to confront you when you have made a mistake. Because this mistake was so big and so consequential, I decided that a letter was necessary. It is extremely important for you to correct this mistake immediately. Please do the right thing. Because you are the Pope, doing the right thing should be easy for you. The world, and your Church, is counting on you.

Let’s talk by phone after you’ve fixed this mess. There are other items that we should discuss privately.

Respectfully Yours In Christ,

WF

[asilentcathedral]

Anonymous Coward asked: Tell me more about Callanin and his whole deal! Who is he, what’s his motivations? Tell me about his cat divorce :p

Of course!!

 Callanin is the President (read: dictator) of Velana, which is the country on Vuliros that Acentel and Imerial are in. He's a very traditional Vulirosi guy and he's very anti-church. Through the uprising and eventual coup that he was head of, there's been a big shift in Velena to bringing back a lot of the traditional Vulurosi ways from before the church came to Vuliros, and a lot of that involves rights for quadfolk in general and specifically the right for people not to be forced to maintain elfshape in order to exist in Velenian society. Because of all of this, the Sliasistic Church has been moving leftward in a frantic attempt to maintain control, including appointing the first non-elf to the highest office within the church (the pope equivalent, which I know I gave a proper title but I can't find that in my notes right now.)

Callanin himself is an ex-military guy, and maintained elfshape for a long time. He's notably huge, and even in elfshape he's over 7 feet tall. I'm still working out all the details of his backstory, but the main important parts are his relationship with the previous royal family and Antanaia.

Velena used to have a royal family, which was appointed by the church. The title of king would still be handed down to the king's offspring, but the church could strip them of their power and titles at any time, and for many centuries would just straight up execute them. Antanaia's family had been in charge of Velena for a while, but they were falling out of favor with the church and were at risk of having their titles stripped. Antanaia was really interested in what Callanin had to say about the political system and the church, and ended up helping him with the coup. They eventually wed (in the traditional Vulurosi style of course) and had a baby named Taliv.

 Callanin's power went to his head pretty fast, and though he holds a lot of ideals that we'd consider leftist, he ends up being a very authoritarian ruler. Antanaia is not a fan of that, which is why they decide to leave him. Taliv still lives with her father because she's a daddy's girl through and through.

Callanin has a pretty important role in the major world events going on in Saints & Machines so I won't get too into where his plot is going, but I will say that he's good friends with Urale, which will be a thing that causes a lot of pain and suffering later on down the line. :^)

[of-a-chaotic-mind]

Premium Subscription

Summary: JJ & (Y/N) have been best friends since kindergarten. Now that they’re older, it’s painfully obvious to their group of friends that they have feelings for each other but are too scared to admit it. Said group of friends has finally had enough and decides to give them a little nudge. 

TW/CW: JJ Maybank x Reader, Get Together, Fluff

Requested?: Nope 

Word Count: 989 

A/N: I day dream way too much while I work and last night’s shift was a long boring one. This imagine helped me pass the time. 

Prompts: None 

    Hanging with my best friend JJ and our other Pogue friends is always entertaining. This time, however, the power is out and we have no trouble to get into. JJ and I had plenty of dastardly ideas but no one in the group bit the bait. So here we sit, twiddling our thumbs and praying the power would arise from the dead.  

    Kie sat up suddenly, “What about spin the bottle? But just like kisses on the cheek or something?”  

    Everyone looked around at each other but Pope was quick to dismiss the idea, “No, the last time we played that, John B and Sarah sat there macking for an hour just for shits and giggles.”  

    “Okay, fine. Truth or Dare then. One person spins the bottle and they get to truth or dare whoever it lands on. Then the person who was just challenged gets to spin next,” Kie shot back. No one seemed to object so Kie grabbed the bottle and spun it.  

    A few rounds went by of playful truths and easy dares before the bottle finally landed back on Kie who was dared to do a handstand without using the wall as support. It was obviously very easy for her. She quickly completed the handstand and then spun the bottle. It almost landed on John B to JJ’s right but Kie in a not-so-subtle rigging bumped it back a bit to land on JJ.   

    JJ raised an eyebrow, “That was rigged but go ahead.”  

    Kie had to contain her giggles before asking, “Truth or Dare.”  

    “I’m not some pansy, give me a dare,” comes JJ’s quick response. 

    “I dare you to kiss (Y/N) on the lips,” Kie shoots out.  

    I’ll be honest here, it’s not that I don’t want JJ to do the dare, but I’m sure he doesn’t want to do it so I feel the need to speak up in an effort to save myself some embarrassment, “Ah, but the rule, Kie. No pogue on pogue macking.”  

    John B is the first to speak up this time, “Well as Pogue President, I hereby deem a macking session between JJ Maybank and (Y/N) (Y/L/N) to be lawful due to the fact that JJ and (Y/N) were best friends before they were pogues.” He shoots JJ a look that says he knows they’ve got us cornered so JJ leans forward on the couch and rests his head on top of mine as I sit in front of him.   

    He picks his head up and looks at the side of my face as I glare at Kie, “Yay or Nay, (Y/N)?” Looking up at him, I nod so he slowly leans forward before our lips connect and, as cliché as it sounds, fireworks erupt. When we pull apart, I prop my face up in my hands in hopes of hiding the blush.   

    JJ leans back into the couch for a moment and takes a deep breath before quickly leaning back forward and whispering in my ear, “X marks the spot.” The code phrase for, “meet me at our secret place.” Our secret place is this little alcove just down the beach from here that we found when we were kids. It quickly became our favorite getaway and we pinky promised to never share it with anyone else. He and I get up and head for the door, “We’ll be back later,” JJ mumbles amongst the whoops and hollers of our friends.  

    We walk down the beach, side by side in silence. The awkward tension between us hangs thick and my stomach twists itself into knots as my brain assumes the worst. However, when we finally duck into the alcove JJ pulls me into a hug, “They did that to force us to stop dancing around the bush about the feelings we have for each other.”  

    I nod into his chest, “I know.”  

    As we release each other I look up at him with a giant grin on my face, “I’d like to upgrade my subscription to JJ Maybank from standard to premium please.”  

    He laughs wholeheartedly with a smile on his face, “I can do that for you. However, you’ll need to submit a valid form of payment. Although, I should inform you that at this time, kisses are the only acceptable method.” I stand up on my tiptoes and kiss him for the second time tonight. As he pulls me close, I slip his phone out of his pocket, pull away, and pretend to check his notifications, “You have an email. It says, ‘Congratulations, JJ Maybank you have won a free premium subscription to (Y/N) (Y/L/N).’” He grins at me as I hand him his phone back and we begin making our way back to The Chateau hand in hand.  

    We’re almost there when JJ pulls me closer and throws his arm around my shoulders, “By the way, you’re not sleeping on the couch anymore.”  

    I look up at him with mock surprise, “Oh really? Is that some perk of my premium membership?”  

    He nods, “Yup, as a premium subscriber you get an all-expenses-paid stay at the JJ Maybank Bed and Breakfast. Betcha can’t guess what’s on the menu for breakfast.”  

    I shake my head and giggle at him, “JJ, is your head in the gutter again?”  

    He shrugs, “It never leaves the gutter, babe.”   

    Once we hit the porch of The Chateau, JJ opens the front door for me. I step into the living room before him and can feel his eyes on my ass but I don’t mind. It is in fact included in his premium subscription. Once we both plop down onto the couch and join the conversations of our friends, he throws his arm back around my shoulders and I snuggle into his side. This of course does not go unnoticed by our friends who erupt into a chorus of awwws and a great big, “Fucking finally!” from Kie. 

Masterlist

More JJ Maybank Imagines

[cappymightwrite]

What draws you to incest ?

*sighs* Ok, here we go. I'm a real card carrying Jonsa now aren't I?

Anon, listen. I know this is an anti question that gets bandied about a lot, aimed at provoking, etc, when we all know no Jonsa is out here being all you know what, it really is the incest, and the incest alone, that draws me in. I mean, come on now. Grow up.

If I was "drawn" to incest I'd be a fan of Cersei x Jaime, Lucrezia x Cesare, hell Oedipus x Jocasta etc... but I haven't displayed any interest in them now, have I? So, huh, it can't be that.

Frankly, it's a derivitive question that is really missing the mark. I'm not "drawn" to it, though yeah, it is an unavoidable element of Jonsa. The real question you should be asking though, is what draws GRRM to it? Because he obviously is drawn to it, specifically what is termed the "incest motif" in academic and literary scholarship. That is a far more worthwhile avenue of thinking and questioning, compared with asking me. Luckily for you though anon, I sort of anticipated getting this kind of question so had something in my drafts on standby...

You really don't have to look far, or that deeply, to be hit over the head by the connection between GRRM's literary influences and the incest motif. I mean, let's start with the big cheese himself, Tolkein:

Tolkein + Quenta Silmarillion

We know for definite that GRRM has been influenced by Tolkein, and in The Silmarillion you notably have a case of unintentional incest in Quenta Silmarillion, where Túrin Turambar, under the power of a curse, unwittingly murders his friend, as well as marries and impregnates his sister, Nienor Níniel, who herself had lost her memory due to an enchantment.

Mr Tolkein, "what draws you to incest?"

Old Norse + Völsunga saga

Tolkein, as a professor of Anglo-Saxon, was hugely influenced by Old English and Old Norse literature. The story of the ring Andvaranaut, told in Völsunga saga, is strongly thought to have been a key influence behind The Lord of the Rings. Also featured within this legendary saga is the relationship between the twins Signy and Sigmund — at one point in the saga, Signy tricks her brother into sleeping with her, which produces a son, Sinfjotli, of pure Völsung blood, raised with the singular purpose of enacting vengence.

Anonymous Norse saga writer, "what draws you to incest?"

Medieval Literature as a whole

A lot is made of how "true" to the storied past ASOIAF is, how reflective it is of medieval society (and earlier), its power structures, its ideals and martial values etc. ASOIAF, however, is not attempting historical accuracy, and should not be read as such. Yet it is clearly drawing from a version of the past, as depicted in medieval romances and pre-Christian mythology for instance, as well as dusty tomes on warfare strategy. As noted by Elizabeth Archibald in her article Incest in Medieval Literature and Society (1989):

Of course the Middle Ages inherited and retold a number of incest stories from the classical world. Through Statius they knew Oedipus, through Ovid they knew the stories of Canace, Byblis, Myrrha and Phaedra. All these stories end more or less tragically: the main characters either die or suffer metamorphosis. Medieval readers also knew the classical tradition of incest as a polemical accusation,* for instance the charges against Caligula and Nero. – p. 2

The word "polemic" is connected to controversy, to debate and dispute, therefore these classical texts were exploring the incest motif in order to create discussion on a controversial topic. In a way, your question of "what draws you to incest?" has a whiff of polemical accusation to it, but as I stated, you're missing the bigger question.

Moving back to the Middle Ages, however, it is interesting that we do see a trend of more incest stories appearing within new narratives between the 11th and 13th centuries, according to Archibald:

The texts I am thinking of include the legend of Judas, which makes him commit patricide and then incest before betraying Christ; the legend of Gregorius, product of sibling incest who marries his own mother, but after years of rigorous penance finally becomes a much respected pope; the legend of St Albanus, product of father-daughter incest, who marries his mother, does penance with both his parents but kills them when they relapse into sin, and after further penance dies a holy man; the exemplary stories about women who sleep with their sons, and bear children (whom they sometimes kill), but refuse to confess until the Virgin intervenes to save them; the legends of the incestuous begetting of Roland by Charlemagne and of Mordred by Arthur; and finally the Incestuous Father romances about calumniated wives, which resemble Chaucer's Man of Law's Tale except that the heroine's adventures begin when she runs away from home to escape her father's unwelcome advances. – p. 2

I mean... that last bit sounds eerily quite close to what we have going on with Petyr Baelish and Sansa Stark. But I digress. What I'm trying to say is that from a medieval and classical standpoint... GRRM is not unique in his exploration of the incest motif, far from it.

Sophocles, Ovid, Hartmann von Aue, Thomas Malory, etc., "what draws you to incest?"

Faulkner + The Sound and the Fury, and more!

Moving on to more modern influences though, when talking about the writing ethos at the heart of his work, GRRM has famously quoted William Faulker:

His mantra has always been William Faulkner’s comment in his Nobel prize acceptance speech, that only the “human heart in conflict with itself… is worth writing about”. [source]

I’ve never read any Faulker, so I did just a quick search on “Faulkner and incest” and I pulled up this article on JSTOR, called Faulkner and the Politics of Incest (1998). Apparently, Faulkner explores the incest motif in at least five novels, therefore it was enough of a distinctive theme in his work to warrant academic analysis. In this journal article, Karl F. Zender notes that:

[...] incest for Faulkner always remains tragic [...] – p. 746

Ah, we can see a bit of running theme here, can't we? But obviously, GRRM (one would hope) doesn’t just appreciate Faulkner’s writing for his extensive exploration of incest. This quote possibly sums up the potential artistic crossover between the two:

Beyond each level of achieved empathy in Faulkner's fiction stands a further level of exclusion and marginalization. – pp. 759–60

To me, the above parallels somewhat GRRM’s own interest in outcasts, in personal struggle (which incest also fits into):

I am attracted to bastards, cripples and broken things as is reflected in the book. Outcasts, second-class citizens for whatever reason. There’s more drama in characters like that, more to struggle with. [source]

Interestingly, however, this essay on Faulkner also connects his interest in the incest motif with the romantic poets, such as Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron:

As Peter Thorslev says in an important study of romantic representations of incest, " [p]arent-child incest is universally condemned in Romantic literature...; sibling incest, on the other hand, is invariably made sympathetic, is sometimes exonerated, and, in Byron's and Shelley's works, is definitely idealized.” – p. 741

Faulkner, "what draws you to incest?" ... I mean, that article gives some good explanations, actually.

Lord Byron, Manfred + The Bride of Abydos

Which brings us onto GRRM interest in the Romantics:

I was always intensely Romantic, even when I was too young to understand what that meant. But Romanticism has its dark side, as any Romantic soon discovers... which is where the melancholy comes in, I suppose. I don't know if this is a matter of artistic influences so much as it is of temperament. But there's always been something in a twilight that moves me, and a sunset speaks to me in a way that no sunrise ever has. [source]

I'm already in the process of writing a long meta about the influence of Lord Byron in ASOIAF, specifically examining this quote by GRRM:

The character I’m probably most like in real life is Samwell Tarly. Good old Sam. And the character I’d want to be? Well who wouldn’t want to be Jon Snow — the brooding, Byronic, romantic hero whom all the girls love. Theon [Greyjoy] is the one I’d fear becoming. Theon wants to be Jon Snow, but he can’t do it. He keeps making the wrong decisions. He keeps giving into his own selfish, worst impulses. [source]

Lord Byron, "what draws you to—", oh, um, right. Nevermind.

I'm not going to repeat myself here, but it's worth noting that there is a clear through line between GRRM and the Romantic writers, besides perhaps melancholic "temperament"... and it's incest.

But look, is choosing to explore the incest motif...well, a choice? Yeah, and an uncomfortable one at that, but it’s obvious that that is what GRRM is doing. I think it’s frankly a bit naive of some people to argue that GRRM would never do Jonsa because it’s pseudo-incest and therefore morally repugnant, no ifs, no buts. I’m sorry, as icky as it may be to our modern eyes, GRRM has set the president for it in his writing with the Targaryens and the Lannister twins.

The difference with them is that they knowingly commit incest, basing it in their own sense of exceptionalism, and there are/will be bad consequences — this arguably parallels the medieval narratives in which incest always ends badly, unless some kind of real penance is involved. For Jon and Sansa, however, the Jonsa argument is that they will choose not to commit incest, despite a confused attraction, and then will be rewarded in the narrative through the parentage reveal, a la Byron’s The Bride of Abydos. The Targaryens and Lannisters, in several ways excluding the incest (geez the amount of times I’ve written incest in this post), are foils for the Starks, and in particular, Jon and Sansa. Exploring the incest motif has been on the cards since the very beginning — just look at that infamous "original" outline — regardless of whether we personally consider that an interesting writing choice, or a morally inexcusable one.

Word of advice, or rather, warning... don't think you can catch me out with these kinds of questions. I have access to a university database, so if I feel like procrastinating my real academic work, I can and will pull out highly researched articles to school you, lmao.

But you know, thanks for the ask anyway, I guess.

[belovedgamers]

Foolish’s Lore: L’Sandburg

Final part of my Foolish lore summary!

DISCLAIMER: it’s canon <3

That being said! Summary under the cut!

CREATION

Soon after the Red Banquet, Bad claimed a 3x3 space in Foolish’s path. Throughout a disagreement with Foolish, Bad proceeded to claim more and more space. Foolish eventually agreed to let him have one chunk of land to build. Bad built a tower and dubbed it L’Sandburg. Antfrost supported Bad. HBomb joined in, also claiming a chunk of land for his own country. Shenanigans ensued in which more and more land was claimed under different names.

Eventually, Foolish hired Purpled to kill Bad. A little later, they settled down and Bad went back to his one chunk of land in L’Sanburg, agreeing to let Foolish rearrange it as needed if he wanted it to fit more with the general aesthetic of the Summer Home. Bad attempted to install a toll of passage, which Foolish refused to pay. At the same time, Bad went through a dispute with Puffy over whether the land was L’Sandburg of L’Puffberg.

PATHING DISPUTE

Foolish proceeded to build a pathing around L’Sandburg while also remodeling it to make it look more in sync with the rest of his Temple. Offscreen, Bad built a wall on Foolish’s pathing, violating their original agreement, and demanding payment of one golden apple per passage. Foolish continues to refuse to pay that toll on his own land, and is enraged by Bad’s building of the wall.

ULTIMATUMS

Foolish writes a letter to give “the leader of L’Sandburg” AKA Bad an ultimatum to remove the wall in five days or face the consequences, although he would like to avoid full out war. 

Bad responded by leaving him a letter in response telling him to “EAT DIRT”, “DOWN WITH THE TYRANNICAL TOTEM” and “DIEEEEEEEE”. Bad also, upon learning of Foolish’s kids, briefly kidnaps Finley before giving her back, congratulating Foolish on his fatherhood and giving him some gold.

Foolish, in response to the threatening letter, proceeded to make preparations. He wonders if this is how he’ll break his peaceful vow and make his first kill.

ALLIES

Foolish does not want to involve too many people as the conflict could get bigger and bigger and damage his home. He spent yesterday stream talking to Skeppy and then making letters to a few key figures. Among the people Foolish has tried to recruit are:

Skeppy (Confirmed)

In exchange for a tower in the Summer Home

Attempt to get to Bad through his connection with Skeppy.

There is a plan to “fake kidnap” Skeppy and tell Bad he will only be released if Bad relinquishes L’Sandburg.

Foolish suspects that Skeppy may betray him and go to Bad’s side.

Philza (Dubious)

Due to his dislike for governments

Attempt to recruit him via letter, is not directed to the Syndicate since Foolish does not canonically know about them

Foolish does not want withers in his land, but he recognizes Philza and his ally Techno’s strength and is hoping they will agree to help him. Appeals to Philza

Refers to himself as “your friend and greatest rival.”

Eret (Invited)

Due to their past friendship

Foolish leaves a letter to him and tells him of the slight against him by “Bitchboyhalo”, doesn’t make any promises or offers

Refers to Eret again as “old pal” and himself as “your old friend”.

He will NOT involve: Tommy (has been through too many wars) or Tubbo (he doesn’t want nukes, chat, this is his home).

UPDATE: Tubbo and Tommy have since involved themselves (explained further down).

PHILZA’S SOLUTION

Philza visited L’Sandburg in order to assess the situation before bringing it up with “the council” (the Syndicate). He did not see any major problem and did not understand why Foolish claimed in his letter that the people of L’Sandburg had impeded his safe passage to his home, as the Nether pathway was undisturbed.

Upon seeing the wall on Foolish’s path, he was still in disbelief of the situation as he saw an easy solution: walk around the wall and not pay the toll, since nobody was there to stop him. 

He read the books and their dispute but did not make any major comments.

Philza set up iron gate parkour along the side of L’Sandburg before returning to his home, jokingly demanding payment. He then said that Foolish could come to him if the situation became more serious, but for now the solution was simple and set.

TUBBO’S “PRESIDENCY”

Tubbo checked out L’Sandburg in search for Foolish’s vault. He claimed presidency over it and left signs on the land, claiming it as his. He attempted to impersonate Bad in an official declaration of war in an attempt to reap chaos. 

Foolish did not believe the declaration, as it was signed by Tubbo himself. He was willing to accept Tubbo’s presidency, however, as he assumed Tubbo would not have major involvement and suspected he would not visit L’Sandburg again.

OBSIDIAN WALLS

After seeing the expanded walls and Tubbo’s declaration of presidency, Foolish built obsidian walls around L’Sandburg, although they did not encase it completely and he still allowed for its inhabitants’ passage.

RANBOO, TUBBO AND TOMMY VISIT

Later, alongside Ranboo and Tubbo, they attempted to claim Foolish’s land in the name of the Pope (Tommy). Foolish refused. Tubbo continued to claim presidency and ownership over L’Sandburg. He tried to say that L’Sandburg was his home, only to be reminded by Foolish that he’d already commissioned a mansion from Foolish himself. 

Tubbo told Foolish to tear down the wall, Foolish refused. Tubbo insisted he didn’t want Foolish to pay a tool but rather to feel inferior. He declared himself President of L’Sandburg, Ranboo the Vice President and Tommy the secretary of state.

Negotiations continued, Foolish attempted to convince Tubbo to move L’Sandburg with little success. Tubbo offered Foolish $100 (a Nintendo gift card from Mr Beast) in exchange of tearing down the obsidian walls. When Foolish continued to refuse, Tubbo threatened to declare independence. Ranboo and Tubbo (Tommy had left earlier) took their leave.

Foolish checked if the gift card was indeed valid but did not reclaim the funds. Instead, he decided he didn’t really want to put the time to tear down the obsidian walls and ended stream.

Foolish then declared that he will give L’Sandburg (Bad) two days to leave before taking action.

“In two days, I will see this removed, even if I have to change my ways.”

BAD’S LONG TERM PLAN

Bad contacted Puffy to show her the walls Foolish had built around L’Sandburg. Bad found the signs by Tubbo and took them down. He also talked about his long-term plans to get people used to the toll. This way, he plans to make a steady income and hopes to interest Foolish in a purchase of L’Sandburg, sell stocks and become a millionaire. 

To note, Bad diminished his actions as part of the Eggpire and the events of the Red Banquet, saying things like “Eggpire, what is that?” and “I have no idea what you’re talking about” when Foolish’s death was brought up. He tried to claim that Foolish has been bamboozled once or twice before Puffy stopped him by describing the situation as Foolish being “brutally murdered in front of friends and loved ones.” 

Bad proceeded to ask Puffy for ways to increase the value of the walls of L’Sandburg “in order to sell it back to Foolish.” Puffy proceeded to say that if Bad had presented the offer to buy L’Sandburg to Foolish originally, he may have taken it but after Bad’s threats it may be too late. Bad argued he’s been playing hard to get. Puffy countered that he was actually scamming Bad, although he denied it.

He then attempted to argue that it should be fair he get “overhang land” from the original agreement, before declaring that he’d gotten it through conquest. He proceeded to say he would make L’Sandburg giant and decided to use Foolish’s obsidian walls as another toll gate. 

L’SANDBURG THE TOLL COMPANY

Bad wondered if he could get Wilbur involved in this and remarked that he needed allies. He then declared L’Sandburg not a government but a toll company in order to prevent ending up on Technoblade’s bad side.

“We’re a toll collecting agency that collects tolls, builds stocks and, you know what? We also specialize in walls.”

He later took it back and decided to be “just L’Sandburg” and demanded Puffy pay the toll. He claimed Foolish’s obsidian wall as part of L’Sandburg. He then wondered how much Technoblade would charge for protecting L’Sandburg, calling it his “sand castle”.

PUFFY’S INVOLVEMENT

It is unclear if Puffy will be taking any sides in this conflict. She called herself “an outlier, just spectating” when Bad tried to include her in L’Sandburg and did not want to participate in his scam. She refused to be included in the plan even when Bad offered to rename L’Sandburg into L’Puffberg.

“I’m playing the long game.”

“Well, you’ve inspired me to play mine.”

Puffy later helped Bad write his offer for Foolish, but clarified the following;

“I’m not scamming my own son. It’s either this or involving my son in a war.”

[thicc-astronaut]

A typical Pinky and the Brain episode

Act 1: Pinky is watching the Oprah Winfrey Show, while Brain tries to come up with a plan to take over the world. Brain realizes that being a talk show host like Oprah will give him an international audience and thanks Pinky for the idea (cue “are you pondering what I’m pondering” and subsequent non-sequitur) 

Act 2: Brain starts a talk show under the alias “P.T. Brainum”, but boots Pinky off of the show because he’s afraid Pinky’s eccentric personality and spontaneous decision making will scare off viewers. The P.T. Brainum Show becomes wildly popular as its host uses his encyclopedic knowledge of psychology to help guests and viewers through their emotional struggles and interpersonal relations.

Act 3: Brain is able to get the leaders of all 193 member states of the UN (plus Pope Francis) onto The P.T. Brainum Show at once, and is going to convince them all to hand over all powers to him, so that they each have time to mend their personal relationships. However, as His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi is talking about having to leave behind his childhood friends to become President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brain starts thinking about his relationship with Pinky and realizes he’s made a mistake. Brain leaves the set in the middle of filming, which upsets all the world leaders. Brain runs back to the lab, apologizes to Pinky, and both adamantly insist their relationship is platonic. 

[my-mt-heart]

We are right together. My thinking was on Maggie. I want to read what you say on her. I like her. It is not like enough for Maggie to be used for Reapers. I think Angela Kang said the Reapers are because Daryl has a side of dark to him. He needs to see it and fix it because it matches with the story of Carol's side of dark. I think the many people can watch it wrong because they say only Carol has side of dark but no Daryl. He is always trying to be good. But I think that this is a wrong thing. Daryl side of dark is Leah. But Daryl side of light is Carol. So Maggie story in Reapers no very right for this. She is an old character too maybe this is why? But it is wrong to tell story this way. She should be in the Commonwealth already and we see her there. And be the President like in the comic. This is better. Pope and Leah and Maggie no make sense together.

Yes Carol and Daryl have more episodes to be together so we can still see. In the b, Leah will die. And Daryl will love Carol in his words. He was no mad at her because he thinks all things happen is her fault. He was mad at Carol because he is scared to lose her and he go back to how he was in the beginning, the season one and two and three and four, he push away when he is scared of losing. He get mad when he is scared of losing. He say the mean things when scared of losing. He did this all to Carol because he is a lover of Carol.

And Daryl was wrong because he say Carol "couldn't deal with the guilt". He see he was wrong. Because Carol is deal with all the guilt all by herself. From since she lost her baby in the season two. And no one wants to be her friend when she feel guilt, Daryl too. In the season two Carol say "everyone either avoids me or treats me like I'm crazy." Daryl too. He did it. He was wrong.

But Daryl see Leah no deal with the guilt. She blame Daryl. He see Leah in him because he blame Carol for mess up everything. Because Angela said Leah is Daryl side of dark. Carol forgive and love Daryl, so she is light and no dark. It is beautiful. They can do this in the part b and the part c and hug. But it is too big for here. That is why go on their show to see more of each other.

I agree that Maggie’s arc was misshapen. She deserves a good story, absolutely, but this conflict with the Reapers (if it should have existed at all) feels like it shouldn’t have been her burden to bear, especially when you consider her lack of personal history with Pope and Leah. IMO, seeing her try to find her place again at Alexandria while dealing with Negan would’ve been more fitting, and then 11b and c could focus on her working her way up the ranks at the CW. But I’ll talk more about Maggie later once I see the rest of the Reaper arc play out.

Leah definitely represents Daryl’s dark side, hence why he needs to realize saving her isn’t worth it and go back to his light, Carol, who is trying to do everything Leah is not—overcoming trauma, striving for a future, choosing life over death. I think it’s true that Daryl lashes out when he gets scared, and so does Carol in her own way (by running). Both of them had some things to learn after their fight, which will help them be able to move forward with each other. Could there still have been more connective tissue between their journeys? Yes, and I will die on that hill. Hopefully we’ll see steady improvements in 11B, and a good, satisfying, emotional story in 11C. I’m not convinced that what they’re currently struggling with needs to carry over into the spin-off.