#Road To Hell And Heaven 2016

[cherrysoulth]

RUTHLESS

💕Pairing: Hoseok x Reader 

📝Summary: When breaking the norm leads to a romance.

✏️Genre/au: Smut, Non-canon, Biker life, Friends to lovers

✏️Rating: 18+, explicit

📝Wordcount: 4508

⚠️chapter warnings: explicit smut

Hii! Did you stumble a cross this work? Glad yo're here 😊 Please, let me know your thoughts once you are finished. Feedback keeps me motivated to write 😁

Note that English is not my first language, so please if you find grammar mistakes, let me know. :)

Riding on top of your 2013 Sportster Iron 883 purple custom felt the closest thing to heaven you could ever imagine. The little stops to take in the view, the things that have changed from when you saw them last time moving east, adding the cherry on top.

Your busy schedule, hectic really, playing dirty on your liking for the road. Visiting home using a plane felt tedious, the bike calling your name from the garage every time you'd get a taxi to get to the airport. Making you feel restrained, choked by a lifestyle that was simply not fit for you. 

Until you said fuck it. Fuck it as to set your feet on your boss's office and tell him that he had a month to find you a replacement; that you were out. Out for good. Out to never see his little man-asshole attitude around your hard work, ever again. Although, with the most respectful and polite phrases you could make use of. Still bold. Still making his jaw drop. 

You had been saving your pennies like a hoarder, living like a broke university student although your good grades had given you honors in your degree and gotten you a very well-paid job. Hard work, not brain. Always hard work. 

More to demonstrate than to enjoy at the beginning. Until you entered the university and met people with a less judgemental mentality than those back in town. Then, it was for you; hell, you could do it. You just could do it. So you did and got your job. But unfortunately, it didn't marry with the wild creature inside of you, the one that prayed to know the world, to see the bigger picture it contained. 

Going back home wasn't a defeat when the defeat was to stay stuck in something you hated. Besides, it wasn't like you were going to go back to live with your parents, although they had suggested it and told you to save your money for further moves. 

You weren't going to spend it in your first days, that was for sure. Jungkook had offered his spare bedroom for two weeks until he could rent it to another company coworker. The last one had to move back to his hometown to take care of a now long-term ill brother, since they lost their parents at a young age. You felt kind of guilty to not spend more time with yours after that and assured yourself that you would. For now, what was living with them were all your belongings. Their garage was full to the brim with all you'd sent from your apartment. Your bike would be with you, resting with your friend's 2016 Sportster Iron 883 dark custom and his housemate's, Taehyung, also customised 2012 Road King red custom. 

As you stopped the roaring engine, in his driveway you observed the two-floor house. It looked cozy but had that single-guy aura printed somewhere. The folding door to the garage opened just before Hoseok poked his head through the main door and went out, followed by Taehyung. They started greeting you enthusiastically as you entered the house and Jungkook closed the door. 

"I can't believe we're gonna be housemates," said Taehyung with a wiggly attitude that surprised you.

"Well-" you started saying.

"C'mon, hyungs, she's been riding for more than ten hours. We should let her rest." Jungkook offered. 

"Let's get you to the bathroom, love." offered Hobi, taking your backpack off your shoulders, as Jungkook unleashed the ones in your bike, to take them inside. 'Love…' you smiled internally. 

Taehyung was fast to open a beer for you as soon as you stepped inside, while Hobi and Jungkook went upstairs to leave your things. When Jungkook came down straight after, it turned out Hobi was filling the main bathroom's bathtub for you. 

After finishing your beer between quick updates, you noticed he hadn't still come down and decided to go see what he was up to. Opening the door to an oscillating lighting and a low water setting, you saw the whole bathroom lit with candles.

"I thought you would enjoy it," he said while placing some more and letting them up after.

"Wow, Hobi… This is… wow." you breathed out. All your customary tough attitude seemingly melting along with the wax forming them.

"I'm done," he said after litting the last one while standing. "I'll let you be. The red set of towels is for you." you looked at the hanging towels in the room: grey, black, and red. 'Such a cliché from us.' you thought. "Welcome home, Army," he said, kissing your cheek right after, then moved to walk out. Something with his gesture, made you turn around and stop him by the leathers before hugging him from behind. "Yeah… I missed you too…" he let out in almost a whisper before turning around and hugging you back. 

You stayed like that for a bit, before he cleared his throat and softly said "The water is gonna get cold." You saw him smiling as you parted from his body. Your leathers ripping from each other with the warmth of the room and with your nod, he left with a sweet smile.

You closed the door and put your head against it, feeling the moist surface over your skin and you sighed. Your heartbeat had gone wild with it all. Another 'I love you.' stuck in your throat, making it hurt. You would have slammed your head against the wooden surface but decided there was no point. 

The next morning, you woke up with one of the most exorbitant hangovers in history, running straight to the bathroom and throwing up the first meal you had as a baby.  A giggle at the other side of the door startled you.

"Forgot you didn't drink that much anymore," Jungkook said with a smile.

"I hate you…" you said before another choke let out more of what you thought was already an empty stomach. Another giggle reached your ears.

"I'll get you something for that." he then said before closing the door behind himself. You felt like passing out and sat with your back against the tiles. Your head was spinning and the light from the ceiling was practically blinding you.

"Fuck me…" you cussed.

"Do you need help?" you heard Taehyung on the other side, concerned. 

“It’s okay, love. Just-” another choke and the door swung open with him coming over to hold your hair.

“This is why I don’t drink.” he then muttered, rubbing your back in circles.

“This is why, I, don’t drink,” you replied. When he was sure nothing else was coming out, he flushed the toilet and opened the window to let in some fresh air. Then wet a cloth and place it on your nape, fresh and awakening.

Going down to the living area, you saw the panorama. Hobi was sound asleep in the darkness behind the French door that separated the living room from the kitchen. Still, you got a glimpse of his naked torso as he hugged the blanket that was supposed to be covering him but didn’t feel right looking anywhere lower. Although you were tempted. 

“If you look at him like that you’ll wake him,” suggested Taehyung taking a sip of his cocoa, hiding a smile. 

“Uh?” you wondered, turning around distractedly. 

“Are you still whipped for him?” wondered  Jungkook calmly, while taking a sip of orange juice before biting into a butter and marmalade toast. You gulped air looking away with squinted eyes. “She is.” he chuckled. You felt nauseated.

“Shut up.” you hissed to him. 

You had time to drink Jungkook’s hangover Americano, the most watery double shot coffee in the world with two pills of vitamin B and zinc, shove down ibuprofen and eat a Croque Madame before Hobi was up. Opening the double door with his eyes still closed and still in underwear, he walked inside the kitchen. Your eyes darted down, involuntary, and you turned your seat towards the aisle again, giving your back to him. His mast was standing and Taehyung gave you a look before pronouncing himself. 

“Hobi-hyung. You are naked.” with the most stern face he could make use of and even though aware of that fact you almost choked on air, huffing.

“Fuck.” you heard him say before his steps led him back to the living room. He didn’t put on the Saint Laurent black T-shirt that was wearing the day before but only the trousers. Entering the kitchen, you saw Jungkook’s smirk before he shook his head. “What?” wondered the man in question, grabbing a water bottle as your eyes traveled down his back to his well-defined peaches. Instinctively, you bit your lower lip. 

“SO,” said Taehyung very loudly all of a sudden, making him turn around immediately. You got caught. You were fast to look away but he still got the whole glance of it; the lip tucked between your teeth, your eyes on the low of his back. You wanted to smack Taehyung, who surely had done it on purpose. "Are we doing something today?"

"I thought it'd be great to ride the seaside road, all along the coast. The sea is looking beautiful these days with all those gigantic clouds, so I wanted to take some shots," announced Jungkook, serving Hobi an Americano. 

"Woah, sounds great!" replied Hobi with a hearted smile but then dropped it to look at you. "Do you feel like it? After yesterday's journey?" 'Maybe he didn't notice you checking him out… maybe…' you thought.

"I was born to be on top of a bike, Hope. I'd love to," you told him with a wide smile that was replied with his.

"So, who is taking me?" he wondered, looking at the pair at opposite sides of the aisle. They looked at each other and raised a brow before looking at him.

"Only chicks at the back, sorry." both pronounced in perfect sync. He looked at them with parted lips in surprise. 

"Wait, then how-Oh." he looked at you before going slightly shy.  You looked at the pair, who winked at you before Hobi looked at them again. 

"You can get closer, Hobi. It's safer," you told him when he held onto you over the bike, pulling his hands to make him advance on the seat and putting them around your waist. The warmth of his body against yours, noticeable even through the leathers and you blushed slightly at the sensation. You felt a slight shake coming from him but when you tilted your head to look at him, he only smiled in approval, gently. Showing off his dimples. You turned around flustered, then heard the roar of the starting engine from Jungkook's bike, soon to be followed by yours and Tae's. "Don't do any sudden moves, stay close," you advised Hobi, one more time before pulling behind Jungkook.

The view, as you left the town's premises, was truly a miracle. The high grey clouds over the sea drawing a spectacle on the waves. A storm was meant to hit the shore sometime during the evening. To you, it was probably going to hit just in time for you to go back to Jungkook's place. He was precise like that, even with the weather, as if things waited to happen when he was done doing what he wanted to do. 

At the highest part of the road, on a cliff, Jungkook signaled to stop and it wasn't until you took off your helmet that Hobi moved. 

His face during the ride, through your rearview mirrors was of absolute bliss. He would look at the horizon with peace written all over his demeanor and give you slight looks through the reflecting surface that made your heart skip a beat. You didn't want the moment to end. On top of the bike, sharing your freedom with him and seeing him respond the same way you did the first time you got on a bike, made your heart swell with love. It was one of the most intimate moments you had ever had with anyone. There, the problems disappeared and the rest of the world, on top of those two wheels, seemed to do so too. It was only you and him, the warmth of his body against yours and the fresh air filling your lungs at every breath. 

He seemed to hesitate to get down until you turned and told him that he could do so. Then he offered you his hand to get down, a gesture that you appreciated but also felt a devilish need to mock until Taehyung pointed out that if he wasn't interested in rubbing your ass with it, he better put it away immediately.

"You bikers are ruthless." Hobi pointed out as you went down and put two hands on his back, you pushed him towards the spot where Jungkook had started his professional camera and was very focused taking different angles of the same image. You hugged Hoseok from the back this time, distractedly, but your heart started to speed up to it, betraying you at the throat. If someone asked you a question you were sure you wouldn't be able to spill a word. When Taehyung approached he gave you a naughty smile that Hobi missed, so amazed by the view you could have sworn you felt him shiver. "The storm is gonna be huge." you heard Hoseok say. "The wind is low but look there." he pointed towards a spot underneath the clouds in the distance. Rain, so much it looked like fog. 

"I know," said Jungkook. "That's why I wanted to make the trip. I want to capture it till the last minute when we are back." he pointed to the Go-pro at the side of his helmet.

"Dude, we are going to get soaked." pointed out Taehyung, caught off guard, leaning over to get a look at his friend past the two of you.

"We won't. Trust me," said Jungkook, calmly. "Let's get back to the wheels." he then added.

You let go of Hobi and went towards your bike obediently, knowing that it was probably the safest choice if you didn't want to mess up time and end up wet to the bones. But he stayed behind as you mounted the bikes. His slender figure, looking like a lost soul with the clouds at the other side. You took your phone out of the inner pocket of your jacket and took a picture of him from that perspective. 

Suddenly, Jungkook got to your side, camera in hand, and passed it to you to take the picture again. Once you gave it back to him, he walked towards Hobi and started taking pics of him like a paparazzi until he made him laugh. Hoseok slapped his shoulder between giggles and then Jungkook approached to tell him something in the ear that made Hobi blush and laugh nervously, moving away. 

The next stop was at a little restaurant in the town ahead, to pick up the best cheesecake in the region. Four little cardboard boxes with triangles of cake inside, that were put on Taehyung's bike side bags before you took the road again. Jungkook stopped a few more times, having other spots to take pictures from that side of the road. 

On the last stop, you asked Jungkook if you'd have time to stop for some groceries. Since you just moved in, there was stuff that you needed. Before taking that decision you looked at Hobi.

"We meant it. Only chicks at the back." Jungkook said with a chuckle and you rolled your eyes before turning on the engine to advance and gain some time before the storm. You saw them giggle through the right rear-view mirror.

At the grocery store, you were thankful there was an area under the roof for bikes where you could park it. You didn't trust the storm to be gentle or give any more warnings.

Hobi stretched a bit as you walked into the practically empty store with the last-minute customers rushing through. The contagious frenzy took over you two making you go faster too.

"Let's hurry. I'll pick up half of it. What do you need?" offered Hobi making you stop in the middle of the store. 

"I need avocados, not too mature. Oatmeal, wholegrain snacks, bananas, and red apples." you rushed. "Oohohoh rice milk too please!" you shouted when he moved fast towards the other side. 

"Ok!" he shouted back, and you rushed for toiletries. Pads, tampons, razors, cleaning foam, makeup wipes… condoms. You stopped in front of them, thought about Hobi, and picked a package without thinking. Less, that he would actually be seeing them. 

He did. You were putting the items on the conveyor belt when he came with the rest and as he placed them his eyes darted towards the packaging. His face changed from his bubbly normal self to a completely unreadable demeanor. He passed behind you to help you get the items at the back.

"Taehyung uses an XL if you want to change them," he said without looking at you. His tone was irritated, you knew him too well to miss that detail. You got red at the neck, mostly with frustration. 'What the hell even made him think that?' you thought. You ignored him and kept putting items in the bags. 

After paying, when you walked with him carrying your bags, you observed closer. He helped you get the items arranged in your side bags, condoms getting on the bag at his side, jaw clenching, making you finally realise what was going through his mind. He was jealous. You got mixed emotions from it but your body went from the south one. You clenched around nothing. He wanted you. Better said, in his brain, he felt like you were something his.

"They are for you. Idiot." you mouthed out making him raise his eyes from where he'd put them. You looked away, folding the bag to put it on top of your stuff before closing the luggage at your side. He seemed to click and rushed to close his. Then when he sat down behind you he pulled you suddenly so close to his body that you whimpered. His whole energy felt different. Sexual, in the way his hard-on was pressed tightly on your rear. Dominant, in how possessive his grip was. As if he was going to flip the top right there and fuck you over your bike. You felt your need drip down through your slit to the lacy fabric of your good-to-go underwear. His ragged breath, against your nape, elicited goosebumps all over your body. You had never seen that fierce side of Hoseok but you were totally in for it.

You had been there, just sitting, so lost in each other's presence that the storm caught you at the parallel of Jungkook's neighborhood. At his house, both men inside rushed through the open garage to help you in and close it immediately. The leathers and helmets had done nothing to prevent you from getting soaked and you two only took off your shoes and socks before you were suggested to use the bathrooms to shower and get warm before catching a cold. 

You didn't hesitate, you ran upstairs. Only that Hobi did too and pulled you with him inside the bathroom when you hesitated. Giggles could be heard downstairs before he closed the door behind himself, lips pressed against yours way softer than how he'd pushed you against it. His taste intoxicated you, making you want to deepen the kiss but he only pulled away panting to take off his clothes, eyes on you with a mix of emotions bubbling through the surface but the way it pierced under your belly, talked about desire and you mimicked his nakedness just as fast. 

But as rapidly as he had been with all his clothes, he took his damn time before freeing his shaft, making sure you had the full sight of it. You gasped involuntarily before you tried to remove your underwear. He tsked a no-no and approached pressing his hard-on over your tummy, twitching at the contact. You squirmed, internally screaming, hands trying to find support at his nape for your unstable knees. He put his hand at the low of your back pulling your body closer to his, almost printing his shape on your skin, making sure to breathe on your throat as he unclasped your bra. Your skin crawled underneath, breath failing on your throat, making you moan in need; in a way you had never expressed before. Then his hands traveled down your back and he put both his hands underneath the fabric of your panties, on your peaches, squishing, parting them, with a small growl at the back of his throat. 

He then slid the soft clothing to your sides and pushed it down your thighs to the floor. Kissing the flesh on his way, grabbing your ass again, and nibbling your hip bone at the right making you mewl and let your head fall backward. He then stood, taking possession of your mouth while embracing you tightly and leading you towards the shower with his body. There he kept with the sweet kisses. The contrast in his doings, driving you insane. 

A sudden change of intensity in it, making your walls clench and for you to lose your pace. He chuckled against your lips absorbing your erratic breath. 

"I know exactly what you need, baby," he pronounced against your lips. "Unfortunately, we've left the condoms on your bike," he said with a smirk. Completely separating from you and getting under the water, hands cleaning his torso. Member still hard.

"You better finish what you started, Hobi, I swear to God…" you demanded, frustrated and needy. His right hand landed on your throat as he pined you softly towards the tiles. 

"It's your pussy, baby. If you want it in" he then pulled up one of your thighs at his waist and, squatting a little, aligned with your slick and pushed into his half, silencing your cry with his mouth. Then spoke against it. "You'll get it in." he licked your lower lip and introduced his tongue into your mouth, drawing your palate before pulling out. "But when you want me in…" he whispered in your ear before his hand moved from your throat to your mouth and he pulled out your wet depths to push himself fully in. He growled, chest vibrating against yours. "Fuck… I love how you feel around me…" he grunted against your throat, trying to keep himself in line. You understood, your walls were truly tight against him. His sudden intrusion giving no time to adjust although your wetness, provoking a slight sting as he moved. "But when I'm with you like this. You'll call me daddy and you don't… demand. Understood?" He had clearly made his point firm and you only nodded. "Good girl…" he whispered and bit your earlobe. "Do you want me to keep going, baby?"

"Yess…" you breathed out. "Yes, daddy." you corrected yourself, completely drawn in his hypnotic eyes as he moved to look at you after getting the first weak answer.

"Great…" he whispered, getting close to your lips, making you close your eyes instinctively. "Because I've been crazy for you for years and trust me that, he'd be hurt if you decided to separate them…" he spoke, referring to the parts of your bodies that were connected, making you open your eyes and giggle. He smiled sweetly at you in contrast, getting out of character. 

"Are you trying to brush off that you just confessed?" you asked him with a smile, pulling him for a slow longing kiss. The sort of sigh mixed with his breathing he let out, gave in to how much he had really wanted to be like this with you. How he loved you and longed for you. When you separated something seemed to change in his eyes, love to lust in one second. He pulled your wrist towards the tiles behind at the sides of your head, slowly and gently at first.

"I thought I told you to call me daddy." He then pulled out, almost to the tip and pushed back in, deep; owning it. The low cry escaping you as he did, made him twitch. You knew he was too turned on.

"Have you been practicing all this duality thing, daddy?" you asked, daring, once you caught your breath. That earned you another pounding, softer this time and you started to acknowledge his shape with your lower body. It felt good. He felt good. His body against yours, the abs against your tummy, his hips. How he filled you. "Trying to please me… daddy?" you dared again. He didn't move but stared at your eyes, swallowing you in his.

"Thing is, Army, that I know how to please you… We are best friends…" he moved to whisper in your ear. "I know what turns you on since you started to get turned on." Your skin prickled in goosebumps to his words. "See." he said, lowering a hand from your wrist tracing over the bothered skin before he grabbed it again and started to move inside of you. So molded, so well placed he seemed to just know how your body was made. His grunts against your neck made your breath impossible to catch. His whole energy, his whole existence, exuded something that was overwhelmingly fantastic. The orgasm, just by how long you had wanted to be underneath him, built quick and exploded just as such. Catching your breath in your throat in a high pitched moan that turned into cries as he started fucking you through it at a dangerous pace. Hips slamming against yours, sounding through the bathroom with your voices. 

When the second was about to hit you, he covered your mouth, holding your wrists above your head with only one hand. As it hit you, you felt him spill, and the kink you had over that, only intensified the orgasm, making you cry even louder. His grunts, everything, made your brain go insane. 

After getting out of the shower, he offered to give you a massage and was very concerned about whether you were comfortable walking or if he had hurt you in any way.

"I got a bit carried away, love." he confessed, hugging you. "I should have been more romantic in our first time…"

"So you plan on repeating then?" you replied, cheekily, catching him by surprise. He seemed taken back.

"Won't you?" his previous smile had faded into a cloudy expresion.

"Hobi." you snapped him out of it.

"Hm?" he tried to smile.

"I love you too." you told him, grabbing his face to kiss him gently. The hug that proceeded was full of hope.

I'm starting a schedule that I hope will be possible and will bring lots of content to this page.

I hope you enjoyed this first part 🤭 Let me know your thoughts. See you soon! ~

Thanking @bangtanscotyeondan for the beta work 💜

© 2018-2024 Cherry Soulth, all rights reserved. reposting/modifying of any kind, translations, or unsanctioned adaptations are not allowed.

[not-alien-girl-v]

Angel (lrh)

warning: language, violence, mature content

note: starting a new project. hope you guys like this as much as i do

Luke had never been so sweaty in his life. Los Angeles, winter, 2016, and salty liquid pooled in the crevices of his skin. He was feeling sticky and over all gross, at least he would be feeling so, had he been sober enough to care about such a thing. If he thought about it, really thought, he could probably trace back his drunken stupor to one drink, the first of many that started all of this, but he had not the time nor the mind to do so.

Him and his band finished a set at a smaller venue, somewhat underground, one of a few shows before a hiatus of band activity. Which sort of meant, in this case, a few more nights of being young and stupid before going about his newly found adult life, and he intended to make the most of it, even if the night ended in getting his stomach pumped in the ER.

“You okay mate?” Ashton’s face seemed close enough to breathe on Luke, yet far enough away for his voice to sound distant. The room was spinning a bit, then a little bit more, then Luke made the wise decision to sit down, letting himself fall back blindly, and luckily, collapsing onto a couch backstage. The stupid itchy beige pattern on it made his skin crawl and bile rise in his throat so he sat back up as the room promptly returned to normal. He dug his fingers into his weary eyes and got up again.

“Hey, you wanna go to a party with me and Ash tonight?” Michael entered the room reading something on his phone.

Luke nodded, though he knew it obviously was a bad choice to make, seeing how wasted he already was. You only live once, YOLO, or whatever young people say nowadays, he should know anyway, he was only 20.

“Yeah, let’s do it,” he grumbled and his legs threatened to collapse beneath him, but he found the strength to crawl into the back of Michael’s brand new SUV. A perk of being famous of course, and the ‘new car smell’ settled his stomach in an odd sort of a way. He had no idea where the car was driving to, or how exactly he would make it home to the place he was staying at with his bandmates but he didn’t let either thoughts pollute his mind, leaning against the glass window.

The party was raging, truly, raging, music pumping loud enough to blow an eardrum, floor sticky under his black Converse shoes from spilled liquor or other liquids he didn’t want to think about, and it was packed. Wall to wall, there were people, partygoers, general no-good evil doers with lowered inhibitions.

He stumbled to the kitchen, seeing Michael and some chick in a near fistfight for the last slice of pizza, no, wait, the girl swung at him, it was a real fistfight, now.

Ashton pushed Luke aside quickly to break them up, sending Luke hurdling out the door, and he just accepted his fate, walking out now, seeing where else he could take himself tonight.

Passing a few partygoers outside, he was met with flowers, beds of flowers on front lawns, worms on the pavement and apple cores scattered, just missing trash cans.

Then, like the gates of heaven opening upon him, a glowing red light emerged in the distance, like a feast to a starving man, a den to a wounded and weary creature, crimson in the night sky like an atmospheric blush.

The sun had far set, and the sky was pitch black like a gaping mouth above him, ready to swallow him whole if he confronted it for too long, as he walked down the strip of road which included a Burger King, a CVS, and, as he approached, the name became clear as day in front of him, ‘Les Belles Femmes.’

Slowly, he made his drunken steps to the club, one foot in front of another, only every few steps did he lay his foot wrong on the pavement, uncomfortably rolling his ankles but he kept his gait anyway.

Luke immediately felt out of place here. Every man in this room, hell, even some women, had a sense of belonging here, as if they could not find another place in the world to be. Perhaps Luke did feel out of place in life every now and then, but not to the extent that these individuals did. There was something desparate about them, their eyes hungry and hands feather like through the air. Luke joined them in their desperation, as everybody was looking for something, in one way or another.

He dropped himself into a leather lounge chair somewhat close to the stage and slumped back into the chair, only now feeling the burning sensation behind his eyelids everytime he blinked. But every thought in his mind dissipated to dust the moment he lay eyes on her.

Her, with her silky hair. Her, with her sultry eyes. Her, with skin softer and smoother than the rim of a glass cup, and she reflected like one too, as the heavy LEDs touched the highs of her cheekbones, the curves of her breasts and hips, the highlights in her hair.

Luke had never known much of love, never cared to know anything about what it would feel like to see someone and just know, know, know that they were the one, but if he didn’t know any better, he would say this feels good, whatever it is that he’s experiencing right now as he gazed hungrily at this woman.

She was a woman, for lack of a better word, and there was nothing childlike or girlish about her, down to her mature frame and set expression on her face. It made him wonder how long she had been doing this for, this job, since she had no doubts about her performance, her appearance, even the opinions or expressions coming from her audience, she didn’t doubt herself and she wasn’t unsure of what she was doing. That was something Luke could never have.

It’s not easy being known. People know you for one thing, you can’t be another. Luke could lie about it all day: he is a grown man, and he doesn’t need the opinions of his audience to dictate his feelings. He could tell it to himself as he fell asleep at night, looking at himself in the mirror, he could write it down on paper, speak it into existence, repeat and repeat to himself before going out on stage, sharing a portion of his existence with everyone who cared enough to look, but he couldn’t hide the way he felt. Even if he did, it wouldn’t stop it. He couldn’t run from the truth, even when the gun fired in the air and he felt the air push past him as everyone else did so, the truth would weigh him down like a ball and chain for the rest of his existence, he supposed.

Her eyes scanned the room the moment she entered and he knew she had a plan all set up in her mind. She gravitated towards one man in particular. Past his prime, but not one foot in the grave, he had a tattoo of an eagle on his tricep and that told Luke all he needed to know about this brown haired man, and if it didn’t, the crusted yellow stains on his gray wife-beater would have done it just as well.

‘Slob’ was the word that came to mind, though Luke wasn’t sure he was much better, covered in sweat and wearing dirty clothes.

He didn’t mean to stare so hard but once he realized he was, it was far too late to stop it now as the woman now sauntered his way. He gulped.

She lay a hand on his shoulder and let it wander as she came into contact with him, “what’s your name?” Her voice was resonant and low in the space of the club, like she was whispering a secret only to him.

“Luke, what’s yours?” He almost stuttered like an idiot but he caught himself. Her laugh was alluring as she smoothly moved closer.

“You can call me Angel,” she spoke to him softly.

Though it wasn’t unnoticed by all. He didn’t pretend he wasn’t looking at all, the man she was previously with. Carrying no shame, he stared down the tall blond boy like nobody’s business, though he was about to make it everybody’s problem. He balled up his hand into a fist by his lap.

In establishments such as this, there’s typically several guards there to prevent things like this from occurring, though tonight, there was only one. Steve McAdams, that was his name. Just by the looks of him, one could easily assume that he played football or did wrestling in his youth, simply by his build and the expression he never let depart from his face.

He stood nearly 6’5, a true giant of sorts at 300 lbs and he only noticed this fight at the second punch, thrown by Luke, after a quick regroup in thought due to the first blow to his own face, right in the jaw, or it would have been, had this other man have been sober.

Steve went for Luke first, gripping the top of his tricep and yanking him forcefully when Angel intervened. “No! No, he didn’t do anything!” She stepped in between the three men and blocked a bloody faced Luke from Steve’s wrath.

It was Steve’s job to protect these girls, this establishment, and to believe them over a customer’s word, so that’s what he did. He yanked the other man away, much more forcefully than he had attempted to do with Luke, and dragged him away.

Angel’s glamour dissipated quickly as she watched in horror as Jason, her regular (and favorite) customer was escorted out of the club, likely the last she’d ever see of him. It’s not that she had grown an emotional connection to him, more to his money. Their relationship went both ways: he was her favorite and she was his. Meaning he tipped well, most importantly.

When she turned back to face Luke, he was still on the ground, hands and knees scraped the floor and blood dripped from his nose. He expected Angel to run to his aid, show some compassion, anything, but she just sighed. With ache, he lifted his head to see her walking away with no care at all.

He didn’t move from that position, until he felt a hand on his arm. It was Angel, she had returned. With no smile or word for comfort, she helped him back onto his feet. He leaned his weight onto her as she led him outside.

She sat him down on a cement planter outside and he slumped over a bit. “Let me see,” she demanded and took his face into her hands to lift it up, inspecting it.

Luke never thought he’d meet an angel. Ironic, since he was in the city of angels itself, but something about the pale moonlight illuminating from behind this woman changed his faith, even for just a moment. “You’re so pretty,” he slurred.

“I know. How are you getting home tonight?” She was crazy, she knew it. She wasn’t supposed to get involved in things like this, customer’s lives and whatnot, but she already was involved, not by her choice, of course, so she couldn’t help but feel guilty. After all, if it wasn’t for her, he’d still be fine right now. He’d be wasted, but he’d be fine.

He shrugged lazily and she groaned, knowing this would be her responsibility. “Alright, I’ll take you home,” she started her lead to her car, a small, gray, Toyota hatchback. He inspected her closer now, and noticed she had a bag of things with her, a purse, though he couldn’t remember the word, and dug out her car keys from the depths of it. Once she did, she opened the passenger’s side door and promptly pushed him into it.

She settled herself into the driver’s seat and took a deep breath. “If you try anything, I’ve got a stun gun you’ll have the pleasure of meeting the wrong end of,” she threatened lowly, just as a precaution, he was still a strange man. He put his hands up in surrender. She shoved her phone his way. “Put in your address.”

[phoenixwatchesmovies]

What I'm Watching: March 2024

New look, same round up. I made the mistake of watching too many things I have things to say about. Time to ramble about Wolf Creek, Penguin Town, The Woman In Black, In Our Own Time, Sinister, Alone, Repo! The Genetic Opera, and Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door...

Wolf Creek (2016-2017)

An anthology series which centers on different characters being targeted by crazed serial killer Mick Taylor in the Australian outback.

Just started season two, and I gotta say, I'm impressed. I wasn't sure how they could get an entire series out of such a basic premise, and to be fair, they didn't. They just expanded on the original concept. I've talked before about how consistent things are across the franchise in terms of production quality, and that's still true. If absolutely everything else about this show sucked balls, it's still gorgeous to look at. Well, minus a few moments of torture and violence and whatnot. It's toned way waaayyy down from the movies, but it is still Wolf Creek. I've adopted Eve Thoroughgood, and there's nothing you can do about it. As far as season one is concerned, secondary characters have a tendency to come full circle while also feeling like ships in the night compared to the main story, and I really like that. A lot. It's cool. Season two felt like a half step down for about five minutes, but the conclusion of episode two made me put down my crocheting and gawk, so take that as you will. Though, full disclosure, everything that felt super quiet in the first episode was spent on getting to know the new season's cast and that moment in the second wouldn't have had the same impact if I hadn't already spent time with these people, so it's calculated...kinda like the first act of the original movie. See what I mean about consistency? And after thinking about it, everything that feels repetitive or recycled in the series only feels that way because I've seen the movies, so again, calculated. You can come into the former without knowing anything about the latter and not miss a beat. If you are coming on from the movies, tho, it's probably for Mick, so let's discuss. He gets just enough backstory for certain moments to have more weight, but other than that? He's Mick. On the surface, an amiable, likeable guy with a sometimes iffy sense of humor who also happens to be a sick, perverted, depraved individual. And it's not like your first impression is wrong, either, which is the freaky part. He's climbing the ranks of my favorite villains due in large part to how grounded he is. He's someone you could meet any day of the week, or *gulp* when you're stuck on the side of the road and need a helping hand. Scary as hell, but also so much fun to watch.

Penguin Town (2021)

In a picturesque South African town, an eclectic group of endangered penguins flock together to find mates, raise families and mix with the locals.

K, so this isn't actually from the series I'm talking about, but those are indeed jackass penguins, so close enough. What do you want me to say about this? It's a nature documentary about penguins. It's free serotonin!

The Woman In Black (2012)

A young solicitor travels to a remote village where he discovers that the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals.

Someday, I'll read the book and watch the og movie. Until then, why are all of my favorite horror movies about dead kids? No, seriously! Second, this is the third time I've watched this one, and my hands were still shaking by the end of it. Strike that. The cold sweat started about 45 seconds in as soon as those girls in the attic abandoned their toys, walked to the windows, and jumped. Then between the dark as hell subject matter and spooky as hell atmosphere established by the visuals and the sound design, it didn't really stop until the movie was over. I try not to watch this one too often so it stays effective in the creep factor department, but it might call for further study as far as photography goes, because this movie is very pleasing to look at. The village, the marsh, Eel Manor House itself, are all good on their own but also filmed well. The house and grounds in particular are *chef kiss* Shadows everywhere, framed in such a way you're sure there is something in them, and yet nothing is ever so dark you can't see it. Remember when movies used to do that? The whole look is everything you imagine when you hear the phrase "Victorian Gothic" and again, *chef kiss* I realize I've been slacking when it comes to keeping up with Daniel Radcliffe flicks, so remind me to do something about that. Dude sells the exhausted, grieving widower for sure, but also the resolve to see through whatever task is set before him. Not that he has much choice, because the stakes are high no matter what he does and every available course of action has immediate and dire consequences. Additionally, this reminded me I've also been slacking on J horror, because the vibes are very similar (at least, in my very limited experience with the genre). It's less about the spirit doing the haunting and more about the haunting itself. Nothing will sate Jennett's need for vengeance, not even being reunited with her lost son. The whispering throughout the house after Arthur and Sam leave it for the last time isn't just a threat, it's a curse. The only scene that matches the first for me is the last. It's eerie and tragic and bittersweet and horrifying, and I still look away from the final shot. *shudder*

Bee Gees: In Our Own Time (2010)

"In Our Own Time" is a new film on the long and illustrious career of the legendary Bee Gees, from their modest beginnings to unrivaled worldwide success in the "70's to the tragedy of losing their brothers Maurice and Andy. The story is told "in their own words" by Barry and Robin from extensive new interviews, and the film also includes archive interview footage of Maurice, videos, TV appearances and live performances.

I'm not even a documentary person, and I've seen this twice. Not too much to say about it other than that. If you're a Bee Gees fan and haven't seen it already, what's wrong with you? If you just like music/documentaries/etc, it's a good watch. With awesome tunes.

Sinister (2012)

A controversial true-crime writer finds a box of Super 8 home movies in his new home, revealing that the murder case he is currently researching could be the work of an unknown serial killer whose legacy dates back to the 1960s.

Going into this aware of its reputation and now having seen it for myself, I've got to hand it to this crew. Getting the audience in survival mode right off the bat, then keeping them there throughout, then making shit jump out at them is a hell of a way to make an anxious movie. My fight or flight responses kicked in every time Ellison watched a new reel, so by the time the jump scares started, I actually jumped. Bad stuff first: I didn't really care for the delivery of the supernatural elements. Specifically, the possessed kids showing up and looking so literal threw off my equilibrium after everything leading up to them was so atmospheric. That goes double for the Bughuul jump scares. They feel cheap and unearned compared to, say, the lawnmower. And this isn't a criticism, but GOD, this movie was depressing as shit. Hard not to be, given the thematic content and the ending (barring the aforementioned literalness of the supernatural), and that's probably the main reason why I won't revisit this much. Because the good stuff, is Good Stuff. The script is concise, the performances are engaging, the look and sound is fucking creepy. The soundscapes sound like nightmare fuel, and the few times the camera cuts away from a snuff film to focus on Ellison's reaction underlines how horrific it is. "It feels like something you shouldn't be watching," etc etc. See above where I talked about Woman In Black being lit where you can only see what you need to and everything else is left dark. And obviously, gotta discuss Ellison himself. I recently saw him included in a bracket of worst horror husbands, and I would agree. All I'm saying is, none of this would have happened if he hadn't moved his family into a crime scene to further his career. To his credit, he did eventually recognize he was in over his head, and it's not his fault he didn't know trying to pull the plug was going to make things so much worse, but still. Smooth move, pun intended. From another standpoint, Ethan Hawke sells it. The guy is just trying to provide for his family while also doing what he loves, and there is just enough time spent showing how much this family loves each other, even if they don't always like each other. Makes the ending that much more tragic. Particular details I want to grind up and snort: the look on Ellison's face when he realizes what he's watching, the shot of the reflection of the burning car in his glasses, and everything about Deputy So and So.

Alone (2020)

A recently widowed traveler is kidnapped by a cold blooded killer, only to escape into the wilderness where she is forced to battle against the elements as her pursuer closes in on her.

...yeah, this was basically Wolf Creek and Hush, but with a weaker script, less compelling characters, and a lot more rain. Not that it's not good, just that it's so similar I can't help but draw comparisons and ultimately prefer the other two. It's way less brutal than the other two, though, so there's at least that, and Jules Wilcox makes a great final girl. Still, she's no Maddie Young, and serial killer guy whose name I already forgot is no Mick Taylor. I'm not going to dwell too much on this one, as I don't have much else to say about it. It looks great, like if Wolf Creek was set in the woods, and the climax was exciting, like if Hush was set even more in the woods. It had positive reception, or so I've read.

Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)

A worldwide epidemic encourages a biotech company to launch an organ-financing program similar in nature to a standard car loan. The repossession clause is a killer, however.

Let me give you my best friend's sales pitch for this: "Do you wanna watch Rupert Giles, Paris Hilton, the girl from Spy Kids, and actual honest to god OG Christine Daae go on a musical journey through a cyberpunk dystopia?" This movie is... hmmm... Well, here's the thing. It looks cheap but also so extra. The music sounds like it was written by angsty middle schoolers but also goes so hard. The premise is grisly but the delivery is completely batshit. And I loved every. Damn. Minute. I was on the fence for the first thirty minutes and asked myself several times, why the fuck am I watching this? It's taking itself so seriously and it's so over the top, and then it hit me, DUH. It's an OPERA. Once I connected those dots, I was fully invested and having a ball. If I'd been stuck on this when I was younger instead of, say, Phantom of the Opera, I 1000% would have turned out very differently. Which is an extra funny observation, because Sarah Brightman factors in either way, and I love her so much. "Things You See In A Graveyard" is my favorite number here purely because of her wailing ominously in the background. And I say it takes itself so seriously, but it also knows exactly what it's doing. Everything we see only happens because some goth dude starts yelling in a cemetery. Paris Hilton, Bill Moseley, and...other sibling whose actor's name I forgot have an entire number about their rivalry while at least two thirds of them are literally getting new faces. Survival is gatekept by the wealthy to the point where poor people are murdered by a system that forces them into debt in the first place. Oh wait, there's tonal dissonance between all of those things, you say? Don't worry, you've got an hour and a half to get used to it.

Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door (2001)

A terrorist explosion releases a deadly virus on the masses, and it's up to the bounty-hunting Bebop crew to catch the cold-blooded culprit.

Despite knowing the series, this is the first time I've ever actually watched the movie, and of course I loved it. It feels like an extra long episode, which means they did it exactly right. As far as I can tell, I've only got two gripes: one, there is some ambiguous/implied/questionable shit that goes down between Faye and the Big Bad that feels way waaayyy out of place, considering there is no precedent for anything like it in the series and I'm wondering why the addition was necessary. Two, I waited all movie to hear "Tank!" (the exclamation point is important) and it was all in vain. 😔 Other than that, it's all business as usual on the Bebop, and that's all I could ask for.

###

Whew! See you next month!

[blogxxvi]

VII. POP (ALBUM)

Kiss (2012) Best Track: Hurt So Good Artpop (2013) Best Track: Jewels N' Drugs Avril Lavigne (2013) Best Track: Bitchin' Summer Pure Heroine (2013) Best Track: No Better 1989 (2014) Best Track: I Wish You Would Sucker (2014) Best Track: Gold Coins Cry Baby (2015) Best Track: Alphabet Boy Emotion (2015) Best Track: When I Needed You Revival (2015) Best Track: Sober Lady Wood (2016) Best Track: Keep It Simple After Laughter (2017) Best Track: Idle Worship Blue Lips (2017) Best Track: Stranger Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017) Best Track: 100 Letters Melodrama (2017) Best Track: Sober Reputation (2017) Best Track: So It Goes... Am I A Girl? (2018) Best Track: Aristocrat Bloom (2018) Best Track: Plum Expectations (2018) Best Track: Let It Be LM5 (2018) Best Track: Monster In Me Malibu Nights (2018) Best Track: Taking Me Back Palo Santo (2018) Best Track: Preacher Singular: Act I (2018) Best Track: Bad Time Youngblood (2018) Best Track: Ghost Of You A Different Kind Of Human – Step 2 (2019) Best Track: Soulless Creatures Dedicated (2019) Best Track: Right Words Wrong Time K-12 (2019) Best Track: Teacher’s Pet Lover (2019) Best Track: Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince Romance (2019) Best Track: Feel It Twice Singular: Act II (2019) Best Track: I'm Fakin Sunshine Kitty (2019) Best Track: Anywhere U Go Symptoms (2019) Best Track: Under Pressure Calm (2020) Best Track: Not in the Same Way Chromatica (2020) Best Track: Fun Tonight Dedicated Side B (2020) Best Track: This Is What They Say Everything Means Nothing (2020) Best Track: If I Were U Heaven And Hell (2020) Best Track: Born to the Night     High Road (2020) Best Track: Birthday Suit Lonely Generation (2020) Best Track: Love You Better Mama's Boy (2020) Best Track: Anything 4 U Petals For Armor (2020) Best Track: Sugar On The Rim Rare (2020) Best Track: People You Know Sawayama (2020) Best Track: Dynasty Dancing With The Devil…The Art of Starting Over (2021) Best Track: Carefully Plastic Hearts (2021) Best Track: Hate Me Sour (2021) Best Track: Happier Charlie (2022) Best Track: Tears On My Piano Crash (2022) Best Track: Constant Repeat Panorama (2022) Best Track: Luna Dirt Femme (2022) - Kick in the Head Emails I Can't Send (2022) - Read Your Mind The Loneliest Time (2022) - Bad Thing Twice Diamonds And Dancefloors (2023) - In The Dark Found Heaven (2024) - The Final Fight

[tomellisfan45]

about lucifer

the show has six seasons it ran from January 25 2016 until September 10 2021.

The show follows the fallen angel Lucifer Morningstar [the light bringer or Samuel] on what he calls a vacation to earth. he goes on a hunt for his stolen angel wings which he had safely locked away. Lucifer eventually gets his wings back. he then discovers that it was his ark angel brother Amenadiel who stole them amenadiel promises that he will do what ever it takes to get Lucifer back to hell. lucifer teams up with a detective for the L.A.P.D. Chloe decker. he then tries to get what she truly desires out of her however this little trick doesn't work. He wants to know why it doesn't work on her. However he then gets told by his mother that Chloe is a gift from god.

Lucifers and Chloe's relationship starts of very hateful however this changes within time they have a very romantic and thoughtful and feeling fulled relationship. However there are some obstacles in the road.

Lucifers "first love' comes to town right after Lucifer and Chloe fight about Chloe sees his 'devil face'. with in the fight Chloe scrams "BECAUSE IM TERRIFIED". Lucifer becomes like the old devil he used to be and its all because he was trying to be what eve his so called "first love" wanted him to be. He dose see the error of his ways and breaks up with eve and sets things right with Chloe. he also saves his nephew Charlie {Lindas and amenadiels baby} from becoming the new king of hell. Chloe tells Lucifer that she's no longer terrified of him. Lucifer knows he needs to go back to hell to keep the demons contained. Before he goes back to hell he tells Chloe

"my first love was never eve it was you Chloe it always has been" he them kisses her and she kisses him and Lucifer goes back to hell.

This is cut short however when his twin the ark angel Michael comes to try and destroy lucifers life and he wants to break Chloe's heart. However Lucifers friends are not stupid and Chloe shoots Michael to prove that he wasn't Lucifer. After Michael is exposed he tells Chloe that she is "a gift from god made only for Lucifer". this confuses Chloe Michael leaves and amenadiel goes to hell to tell Lucifer come back. Lucifer goes back up to earth and goes to the detective but she is not convinced that he is not Michael. Chloe eventually believes luckier and she wants to know more about the fact that she us a "gift from god". She over hears amenadiel and Lucifer talking and she is mad when she hears that amenadiel met up with her mother and used his power to give Penelope decker {Chloe's mother} a baby who is Chloe decker. Chloe , Lucifer and amenadiel talk and Chloe is annoyed that she is meant to be the "perfect mrs Morningstar'. a while after that amenadiel tells Chloe that she is not "the gift" he tells her that the relationship between her and Lucifer and the way that she sees Lucifer in a way that no one else does. Chloe brings up the fact that she makes Lucifer vulnerable. Amenadiel tells Chloe that Lucifer choses to be vulnerable her. She then goes to Lucifer and tells him what amenadiel told her and Lucifer realised that amenadiel is right, Lucifer and Chloe's relationship begins to flourish.

lucifers father announces to the family that he is retiring Michael wants to be god for selfish reasons Lucifer wants to become god cos he wants to be worthy of Chloe's love. He then wants to become god cos he thinks that pain shouldn't exist after dan was shot. This causes him and Michael to go to war. Chloe gets killed by Michael Lucifer risked his life to save her. He gets to heaven and sees Chloe and brings her back to Chloe tells him not to sacrifice himself for her and he revels what he loves her and Chloe gets brought back to life. Chloe almost kills Michael when Lucifer comes back and stops her by saying "this isn't you Chloe'. He then takes the flaming sword and cuts Michaels wings off and he comes god. Before dan dies he shoots Lucifer cos he's terrified after seeing his devil face.

Maze and eve get married Lucifer and Chloe's daughter from the outer comes back to get revenge for not being there for her. Lucifer doesn't believe her. However within time he dose. Lucifers therapy session with Dr Linda takes a turn when he discovers a book that she has wrote about all their therapy seasons. Amenadiel tells Lucifer that he is going to be god instead of Lucifer. Chloe and Lucifer rescues Rory their daughter then Lucifer and Rorys relationship turns from hateful to fills with love and respect. Rory then returns to the future. Lucifer discovers what he is meant to do. He knows he has to go back to hell and be the therapist and the ruler of hell.

Ella reads the book that Dr Linda wrote about Lucifer and is hurt that she was being made fun of behind her back about not knowing about the celestial world. She tells Lucifer that she lost her faith after Charlotte Richard's died. When she sees amenadiel flying her faith comes back again and she is amazed to see a real life angel.

Before he goes back Lucifer and Chloe share a very sweet but upsetting moment and kiss. he goes back to hell soon after. then little baby Rory was born. Chloe is so happy and everyone is happy for her. Amenadiel and Lindas baby Charlie sprouts his wings. fast forward to the future and Chloe is on her deathbed Rory is there by her side. Chloe soon dies and goes to heaven and amenadiel uses hissed power to send Chloe "home". Lucifer is in the middle of a therapy session when a knock on the door and he opens it and Chloe is there and she said "I thought that you need a partner". Lucifer and Chloe share a massive kiss and a hug and they share eternity together forever. The show ends.

[araekniarchive]

request: beginnings are the same as endings

Arrival (2016), dir. Denis Villeneuve

George Lucas, on Star Wars

Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven

Daniel Glattauer, Every Seventh Wave

my pinterest description that i wrote like 5 years ago (no, really)

Serpent Eating Tail (Ouroboros)

F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald

Road to Hell II, from Hadestown

Eugene O’Neill (b. 16th October 1888, d. 27th November 1953)

Beginning of the first and last chapter of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men

Arrival (2016), dir. Denis Villeneuve

[snowgall]

Drarry recs: Three per year!

Earlier today @sitp-recs posted a rec list consisting of two favorite Drarry fics per year, which is the sort of thing that’s exactly up my alley!

So I thought, hey, I should try that too! And it was impossible? Like I just had to make it three fics per year so I could fit in all my favorite authors (I limited myself to one fic per author which was incredibly difficult)*

Without further ado:

2007

In the Bleak Midwinter by oldenuf2nb

Welcome to the Broom Closet by Janice Chess

High Priced by dysonrules

2008

He Was He and I Was Bunny by bryoneybrynn

Boys Don't Cry by furiosity & pixies (wayback)

Perfect Day by scrtkpr (wayback)

2009

Draco Malfoy, It's Your Lucky Day by faithwood

An Inconvenient View by @curiouslyfic

A Funny Thing Happened On The Train To School... by treacle_tartlet

2010

Progressive Displacement by gatewaygirl

For All the Marbles by Veritas03

Some Kind of Wonderful by taradiane

2011

The Boy Who Only Lived Twice by @letteredlettered

Humbug (A Christmas Tale) by Snegurochka

The Silent World Within You by @femmequixotic & @noeeon

2012

After Hours at the Ministry of Magic by birdsofshore

This Charming Man by thusspakekate

Not Your Face by khasael

2013

Matchmaker, Matchmaker by @firethesound

Magic Tricks by talithan

The Owlery and the Slytherin by @writcraft

2014

You First, Loser by zeitgeistic

Shame Keeps Its Watch by @raitala

Appallingly Wrong and Irreparably Broken by tessacrowley

2015*

Slip Into My Lover's Hands by @lqtraintracks

All Roads Lead Home by @dracogotgame

Unexpected Consequences by @heaven-is-my-hell (lauren3210)

2016*

Solder by @i-didnt-wanna-do-it (oakstone730) (I cheated!)*

Written on the Heart by who-la-hoop

Erosmancy by @astolat

2017

Naked by @bixgirl1

Adventures in Solitude (Are You There, Sirius? It’s Me, Draco) by @oceaxereturns

You cannot save people, you can only love them by @heyitsamorette

2018

Orbit by @henrymercury

So Heal Me by Cunninglinguist

Soup-pocalypse and The Great Curry Cataclysm by SquadOfCats

2019

Harry Potter and the elusive day off by pleasebekidding

Grounds for Divorce by @tepre

"Dad says" by GallaPlacidia

2020

The Four Doors by @fluxweed

Far From The Tree by aideomai

If It Takes All Night by @tackytigerfic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*I cheated! 2015 was impossibly difficult for me to narrow down, so I listed  Solder as a 2016 fic instead (it was posted on Dec 29, 2015)

Even after cheating like that, I still had to leave off Draco at Nineteen by birdsofshore (since I had a fic by her for 2012 instead), which almost broke me. But see, I squeezed it in here anyway!

Amazingly, I think @sitp-recs and I only have two fics in common - but that was nearly deliberate on my part as I was trying not to duplicate their list :) Their picks are all awesome as well!

(I really hope I didn’t make any serious errors in this overlong post. I will probably regret not putting it all behind a read more!)

[metalprompts]

*      🤘   ―    ﴾  𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎  𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜  ﴿   :   𝐀𝐋𝐋  𝐎𝐔𝐑  𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐒  𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄  𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐃  𝐔𝐒.

the  following  has  been  taken  from  the  2016  album  ALL  OUR  GODS  HAVE  ABANDONED  US  by  ARCHITECTS.    feel  free  to  change  and  adjust  anything  as  needed.   trigger  warning  for  drug  mentions.

𝚃𝙷𝙴  𝙴𝙼𝙿𝚃𝚈  𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚁𝙶𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚂.

“ every  moment  is  dead  to  me. “

“ do  you  remember ?  because  i  can’t  forget. “

“ i  see  it  crystal�� clear,  but  it  means  nothing  to  me. “

“ it  means  nothing  to  me. “

“ breathe  and  count  to  ten. “

“ there’s  no  more  time  to  kill  if  time  is  standing  still. “

𝙰  𝙼𝙰𝚃𝙲𝙷  𝙼𝙰𝙳𝙴  𝙸𝙽  𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚅𝙴𝙽.

“ tell me,  was  it  all  worth  it ? “

“ all  the  anchors  in  the  ocean  haven’t  sunk  this  low. “

“ but  we  took  something  they  cannot  replace. “

“ a  match  made  in  heaven  paved  the  road  to  hell. “

“ we’ve  been  down  this  path  before. “

“ fuck  your  revolution. “

“ you  chew  up  peace  and  spit  out  war. “

“ we  found  your  fingerprints  all  over  the  trigger. “

“ we  destroyed  your  home,  we  murdered  your  family,  now  you’re  on  your  own. “

𝙶𝚁𝙰𝚅𝙸𝚃𝚈.

“ this  is  a  wake  up  call. “

“ you  can  run  but  you  can’t  hide. “

“ i  met  the  devil  and  god  and  couldn’t  tell  them  apart. “

“ aren’t  you  tired  of  the  violence  inside  you ? “

“ just  thank  fuck  that  we  don’t  last  forever. “

“ it’s  gone  and  it’s  never  coming  back. “

“ so  twist  the  knife,  ‘cause  i’m  finally  awake. “

𝙰𝙻𝙻  𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴  𝙸𝚂  𝙻𝙾𝚂𝚃.

" their  spirits  are  broken,  they  have  nowhere  to  run. “

“ they  better  bite  their  tongue. “

“ they  would  kill  one  another  just  to  disconnect. “

“ three  cheers  for  desperation. “

“ god  bless  the  godforsaken. “

“ there’s  no  human  in  us  left. “

“ they  play  a  game  they  know  they’ll  never  win. “

“ the  messiah  showed  up  high  on  heroin. “

𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼  𝚃𝙷𝙴  𝚆𝙸𝙻𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂.

“ just  put  us  out  of  our  misery. “

“ we’re  waiting  for  the  world  to  save  itself. “

“ nothing  is  built  to  last. “

“ we  all  know  how  this  ends,  before  long  we’ll  be  dead  and  gone. “

“ the  rest  is  history. “

“ we’re  all  guilty  as  sin. “

“ we  may  be  infinite,  but  this  world  is  not. “

𝙼𝙴𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙾  𝙼𝙾𝚁𝙸.

“ as  above,  so  below. “

“ let  me  live  and  die  in  peace. “

“ it’s  a  promise  you  cannot  break. “

“ was  your  life  worth  dying  for ? “

“ death  is  an  open  door. “

“ the  universe  survives  on  give  and  take,  decay  is  the  only  law. “

“ will  i  see  god ? “

𝚂𝙸𝙻𝚅𝙴𝚁  𝙱𝚄𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚃.

“ there’s  no  price  to  life  when  you’re  high  on  the  white  lie. “

“ i’ve  beat  death. “

“ the  devil  that  you  know  knows  no  death  is  too  low. “

“ our  condition  is  critical  but  we  keep  coming  back  for  more. “

[dweemeister]

The complete list of films featured in 2021′s “31 Days of Oscar” marathon

What follows is the exhaustive list of all 403 short- and feature-length films featured on this blog over the last thirty-one days for the 31 Days of Oscar marathon. This number is up from last year’s count of 327 and is the second-highest number of films I have ever featured in this marathon (behind the 410 films from 2016). Despite the number, this remains only a fraction of the nearly 5,000 films that have been nominated for Academy Awards. This year’s marathon was harder to plan than usual due to the fact it was presented in alphabetical order - with the exception of any write-ups I did.

BREAKDOWN BY DECADE 1927-1929: 7 1930s: 44 1940s: 63 1950s: 63 1960s: 46 1970s: 25 1980s: 29 1990s: 28 2000s: 25 2010s: 43 2020s: 30

Year with most representation (2020 excluded): 1940 (ten films) Median year: 1964

And now, the list. Best Picture winners and the one (and only) winner for Unique and Artistic Production are in bold. Asterisked (*) films are films I haven’t seen in their entirety as of the publishing of this post.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Ace in the Hole (1951)

Adam’s Rib (1949)*

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

After the Thin Man (1936)*

Airport (1970)*

Aladdin (1992)

Albert Nobbs (2011)

Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938)

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Almost Famous (2000)

An American in Paris (1951)

Anastasia (1956)

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Annie (1982)

Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)

Arrival (2016)

Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987, France)

The Awful Truth (1937)

Babe (1995)

Baby Doll (1956)*

Ballad of a Soldier (1959, Soviet Union)*

The Band Wagon (1953)

Bao (2018 short)

Ben-Hur (1959)

Berkeley Square (1933)

The Best Man (1964)

Better Days (2019, Hong Kong)*

The Big Chill (1983)*

The Birds (1963)

Birds Anonymous (1957 short)

Black Orpheus (1959, Brazil)

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

Blue Velvet (1986)

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)*

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2020)*

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Brief Encounter (1945)

Brotherhood (2018 short, Tunisia/Canada/Qatar/Sweden)

Cabin in the Sky (1943)

Calamity Jane (1953)

Carol (2015)*

Casablanca (1942)

Casino (1995)*

Charade (1963)

The Circus (1928)

Citizen Kane (1941)

City of God (2002, Brazil)*

Claudine (1974)*

Closely Watched Trains (1966, Czechoslovakia)

Coraline (2009)*

Da 5 Bloods (2020)*

Dances with Wolves (1990)

Death in Venice (1971)*

Destination Moon (1950)*

The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)

Down Argentine Way (1940)

Dunkirk (2017)

Easter Parade (1948)

The Edge of Democracy (2019, Brazil)*

Educated Fish (1937 short)*

El Cid (1961)*

Elmer Gantry (1960)

The End of the Affair (1999)*

Ernest & Celestine (2012, France/Belgium)

Face to Face (1976, Sweden)*

The Fallen Idol (1948)

Fantasia (1940)

A Fantastic Woman (2017, Chile)*

Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)*

A Farewell to Arms (1932)*

A Few Good Men (1992)*

Five Easy Pieces (1970)*

The Five Pennies (1959)

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)

Flower Drum Song (1961)

Flowers and Trees (1932 short)

Flying Down to Rio (1933)*

For All Mankind (1989)

For Sama (2019)*

Forbidden Planet (1956)

Forrest Gump (1994)

42nd Street (1933)

Four Days in November (1964)*

The Four Feathers (1939)

The 400 Blows (1959, France)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)*

From Here to Eternity (1953)

Funny Face (1957)

Funny Girl (1968)

Fury (1936)*

Gandhi (1982)

The Garden of Allah (1936)

Garden Party (2017 short, France)

Gaslight (1944)

Giant (1956)

Gigi (1958)

Gladiator (2000)

The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather, Part II (1974)

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

Gorillas in the Mist (1988)*

Gosford Park (2001)

Grand Hotel (1932)

Grand Prix (1966)*

The Great Beauty (2013, Italy)

The Great Race (1965)

The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Green Book (2018)

Green Dolphin Street (1947)*

The Green Mile (1999)*

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

Gunga Din (1939)

Hair Love (2019 short)

Hallelujah (1929)*

Hamlet (1948)

Hamlet (1990)

Hamlet (1996)

Hangmen Also Die! (1943)*

The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)

The Harvey Girls (1946)

Heartbreak Ridge (1986)*

The Heiress (1949)

Hell’s Angels (1930)*

Henry V (1989)

Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

Hero (2002, China)*

Hidden Figures (2016)

The High and the Mighty (1954)*

High Noon (1952)

High Society (1956)

Himalaya (1999, France/Switzerland/United Kingdom/Nepal)*

Home Alone (1990)

Honeysuckle Rose (1980)*

Hoosiers (1986)

The House on 92nd Street (1945)*

How the West Was Won (1962)

How to Survive a Plague (2012)*

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

I Married a Witch (1942)*

I Never Sang for My Father (1970)

I Vitelloni (1953, Italy)*

I Wanted Wings (1941)*

I, Tonya (2017)*

Ida (2013, Poland)

Imitation of Life (1959)

In Cold Blood (1967)

In the Absence (2018 short, South Korea)

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Inherit the Wind (1960)

Inside Daisy Clover (1965)*

Inside Moves (1980)*

It Happened One Night (1934)

It Happened Tomorrow (1944)*

It Should Happen to You (1954)*

It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)

Jackie Brown (1997)*

Jammin’ the Blues (1944 short)*

Jaws (1975)

The Jazz Singer (1927)

Jerry’s Cousin (1951 short)

Jesus Camp (2006)*

Jezebel (1938)

Jim: The James Foley Story (2016)*

Joe’s Violin (2016 short)

The Journey of Natty Gann (1985)

Joyeux Noel (2005, France)

Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Julia (1977)*

Juliet of the Spirits (1965, Italy)

Kagemusha (1980, Japan)

The Karate Kid (1984)

The Killers (1946)*

The King and I (1956)

The King’s Speech (2010)

The Kite Runner (2007)

Knights of the Round Table (1953)*

Knives Out (2019)

Kundun (1997)*

La Ronde (1950, France)*

La Strada (1954, Italy)

La Traviata (1982, Italy)*

Lady Be Good (1941)*

The Lady Eve (1941)

The Ladykillers (1955)*

The Last Emperor (1987)

A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

The Life Ahead (2020, Italy)*

Life is Beautiful (1997, Italy)

Life with Feathers (1945 short)

Lili (1953)

Lilies of the Field (1963)

The Lion in Winter (1968)*

Little Caesar (1931)

A Little Romance (1979)

Little Women (2019)

Logan (2017)

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Lost Horizon (1937)

Love Affair (1939)*

Love Story (1970)*

Loving Vincent (2017)

The Magic Flute (1975, Sweden)

The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

Malcolm X (1992)

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

Maria Full of Grace (2004, Colombia)*

Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)*

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Mighty Joe Young (1949)*

Milk (2008)

Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)*

The Miracle Worker (1962)*

Mon Oncle (1958, France)

Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953, France)*

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

My Fair Lady (1964)

My Favorite Wife (1940)

My Favorite Year (1982)

My Night at Maud’s (1969)*

The Narrow Margin (1952)

The Natural (1984)

Nebraska (2013)

Network (1976)

Night Must Fall (1937)*

Nightcrawler (2014)*

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Ninotchka (1939)

Nowhere in Africa (2001, Germany)*

Odd Man Out (1947)*

The Official Story (1985, Argentina)*

Oklahoma! (1955)*

Oliver! (1968)

On Golden Pond (1981)*

On the Riviera (1951)*

On the Waterfront (1954)

One Day in September (1999)*

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

One Foot in Heaven (1941)

One Hour with You (1932)

One Potato, Two Potato (1964)*

Only Angels Have Wings (1939)*

Our Town (1940)

Paisan (1946, Italy)

Pal Joey (1957)*

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006, Mexico)

Paper Moon (1973)*

Parasite (2019, South Korea)

The Parent Trap (1961)

A Passage to India (1984)*

Patton (1970)

Pelle the Conqueror (1987, Denmark)*

Period. End of Sentence. (2018 short)

Persepolis (2007, France)

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)

Pigs in a Polka (1943 short)*

Pillow Talk (1959)*

Pinocchio (1940)

Places in the Heart (1984)*

Poltergeist (1982)

Portrait of Jennie (1948)

Precious (2009)*

The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927)*

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)*

The Producers (1967)

Psycho (1960)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Purple Rain (1984)

Puss Gets the Boot (1940 short)

Pygmalion (1938)

Quiet Please! (1945 short)

Quo Vadis, Aida? (2020, Bosnia-Herzegovina)*

Rachel, Rachel (1968)*

Ran (1985, Japan)

Random Harvest (1942)

Rashômon (1950, Japan)

Rasputin and the Empress (1932)*

Rear Window (1954)

Rebecca (1940)

Red River (1948)

The Red Shoes (1948)

A River Runs Through It (1992)

Road to Perdition (2002)

Roma (2018, Mexico)

Saludos Amigos (1942)

Same Time, Next Year (1978)*

The Secret of Kells (2009)

Sense and Sensibility (1995)*

Sergeant York (1941)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Seven Samurai (1954, Japan)

Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

The Shape of Water (2017)

Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)*

She Done Him Wrong (1933)*

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

The Shootist (1976)

The Shop on Main Street (1965, Czechoslovakia)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Silverado (1985)

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)

The Snake Pit (1948)*

Song of the Sea (2014)

Sounder (1972)

The Sound of Music (1965)

The Spanish Main (1945)*

Speedy (1928)

Speedy Gonzales (1955 short)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Spirited Away (2001, Japan)

Stagecoach (1939)

A Star is Born (1937)

A Star is Born (1954)

A Star is Born (1976)*

A Star is Born (2018)

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Star Wars (1977)

Starship Troopers (1997)

The Sting (1973)

A Stolen Life (1946)*

The Story of Three Loves (1953)*

The Story of the Weeping Camel (2003, Mongolia)*

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)*

The Stranger (1946)*

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Strike Up the Band (1940)

Strings (1991 short)*

The Sundowners (1960)*

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Superman (1978)

Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)

Swing Time (1936)

T-Men (1947)*

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013, Japan)

Tangerines (2013, Estonia)*

Tenet (2020)

Them! (1954)

Theodora Goes Wild (1936)*

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)*

This is Cinerama (1952)*

The Three Musketeers (1948)

Three Orphan Kittens (1935 short)

Time (2020)*

Timecode (2016 short, Spain)

Tom Jones (1963)

Toni Erdmann (2016, Germany)*

Top Hat (1935)

The Triplets of Belleville (2003, France)*

The Truman Show (1998)*

12 Angry Men (1957)

Twilight of Honor (1963)*

Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)*

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Umberto D. (1952, Italy)

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964, France)

Unforgiven (1992)

Up (2009)

Vertigo (1958)

Victor/Victoria (1982)

WALL-E (2008)

Watch on the Rhine (1943)*

Waterloo Bridge (1940)

Weary River (1929)*

West Side Story (1961)

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968 short)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Wolfwalkers (2020)

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

You Can’t Take It with You (1938)

Zorba the Greek (1964)*

The 15 nominated short films for the 93rd Academy Awards

The 8 nominees for Best Picture at the 93rd Academy Awards, including the winner, Nomadland

Until next year’s ceremony, folks - February will be here before we know it!

[leviabeat]

Michael Poulsen of Volbeat on Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie

by Greg Prato || Songfacts || May 11, 2016

How does the songwriting work primarily in Volbeat?

“I pretty much write everything at home, and then I bring it to the rehearsal room and I play it to the other guys, and we put on the rest of the instruments. There will be songs where maybe Rob has a certain idea for a middle part, then we might change it. Jon, the drummer, may have an idea for something, and then we change it. That's pretty much how it works.

Normally, I will write a whole song and show it to the other guys in the rehearsal room and we play it. Other times, I will come with a half song, and we finish it up on the road in soundcheck, or we write backstage. This time [for Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie] Rob has been there when we start writing. Rob wrote most of the song "The Loa's Crossroad," and he was writing with me on a song called "You Will Know." He had a middle part in "The Gates of Babylon." So he had his impact here and there. But I would say I write 95 percent of the music and I write 100 percent of the lyrics.”

What is the lyrical inspiration behind the song "Heaven Nor Hell"?

“It's a song that tells people to believe in themselves instead of using anything else as a crutch. We're not a religious band - we don't believe in the devil and we don't believe in God or anything else. We do believe in the spiritual world; we do believe in the spirit in every human being. So as I remember, it's a song I wrote for myself and people to believe more in themselves, instead of leaning up against any kind of religious belief.”

Click here for the full interview from Songfacts!

Image source here.

[according-to-the-laura]

StackedNatural Day 152: 1x18, 11x18, 12x17

StackedNatural Masterpost: [x]

April 6, 2022

1x18: Something Wicked

Written by: Daniel Knauf

Directed by: Whitney Ransick

Original air date: April 6, 2006

Plot Synopsis:

Dean gets a second chance to right a wrong from his past when the brothers get a mysterious tip from their father about a case they'd worked years ago, but left unfinished after Sam was nearly killed by the creature.

Features:

Sam the Bikini Inspector, unconscious kids, spooky handprints, the parentification of 9 year old Dean, John Winchester’s unfinished business, using kids as Shtriga-bait.

My Thoughts:

Ooooh baby any time I got mad at John Winchester this entire Stacked experience I just thought about how someday I would get to watch this episode and feel the hate flow through me. I love how early the show built into its DNA that while John Winchester very obviously loved his kids, he wasn’t a good father.

This is the only episode that this writer ever wrote, which is a shame, because I consider it one of the quintessential, unskippable episodes of the early seasons. My favourite episodes are when Dean’s mirrors are scared little kids that try their best.

The moral conundrum that they’re forced into with using Mike as bait is really elegantly written. I don’t think that Dean necessarily would always choose to use kids as bait, but in this instance he thinks (knows) that his Dad would, and if accepts that it’s ethically wrong then he has to accept that his Dad was wrong, and Dean isn’t in a place where he can accept that John Winchester can be wrong. Not only does he still worship him, but his whole life is built on a foundation of following his dad’s orders or Sam being put at risk.

And when they do decide that they have to follow through with using Mike as bait, they go about it the exact opposite way that John Winchester did. They sit Mike down, explain all the risks, tell him exactly what’s going to happen, and then protect him the entire time.

I can’t fathom that John would have known that he was going into a town where kids were at risk of dying and then left them in a motel there rather than 3 hours away with a friend where he knew that it would be safe, if not that they were bait. It’s semi-canon from cut lines from later scripts that he used Dean as bait when he got older too, to make him look vulnerable to monsters of the side of the road, and that he used Jo’s dad as bait and the hunt went sideways and he died.

Not to mention that he then sent Dean bak to deal with the same monster he himself had failed to kill, to what? Remind him that he was responsible for Sam? In just a few episodes he’s going to tell him that he might have to kill him. Shitty parenting.

Other than great writing, I also really liked the lighting and directing in this episode. The lights especially when they thought the old lady was a witch in the hospital and they were in the shadow of the blinds in her room, or when Sam had the light from the microfiche at the library spilling all over his face. Good stuff.

Notable Lines:

“Lock the doors, the windows, close the shades. Most important....” “Watch out for Sammy.”

“An old person huh? In a hospital? Phew. Better call the Coast Guard.”

“You know, Dad never spoke about it again, I didn't ask. But he...he looked at me different, you know? Which was worse. Not that I blame him. He gave me an order and I didn't listen, I almost got you killed.”

“I'd give anything not to tell you this, but sometimes nightmares are real.”

“You okay, little brother?”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 9.8

IMdB Rating: 8.6

11x18: Hell's Angel

Written by: Buckleming

Directed by: Phil Sgriccia

Original air date: April 6, 2016

Plot Synopsis:

Lucifer tries to assert himself into heaven; Crowley tells Sam and Dean they must take down Lucifer.

Features:

The Horn of Joshua, Rowena as a survivor bonding with Amara, Casifer breaking into Heaven, the Darkness making a comeback after Heaven’s smiting, a message from Rowena, Cas and Lucifer and Crowley all hanging out in Jimmy’s body,

My Thoughts:

You know me, I’m always ready to dunk on a Buckleming episode, but actually I really enjoyed this one. There’s a lot of good Destiel stuff, and a lot of good Casifer stuff, and we got to see my boy Cas as well, who I’ve been missing despite absolutely relishing Casifer.

I was taking it with a grain of salt when people said that season 11 was really Destiel-heavy, because I knew that Amara was technically Dean’s baby-duck-imprinted-love-interest, but y’all weren’t fucking around when you said that the back half of the season is Dean ignoring Amara to fight to rescue Cas. He literally looked as Cas(ifer) and Amara standing next to each other and desperately called Cas’ name. The inherent romance in trying to reach your lover through possession. Fighting for Cas being the Heart Choice instead of the Head Choice. The focus on bringing Cas home over defeating the darkness in the final scene with the brothers. Sam’s unspoken understanding and agreement that Dean was fighting for Cas. I can’t believe I stopped watching before season 11.

I don’t love how bureaucratic and boring the angels are in this episode, but it did let me see Casifer climb into a dude’s lap, so I forgive the choice to have them all in vessels in this instance. I think Misha should have to climb into dude’s laps more often. He does a great job of making Buckleming’s dialogue work in ways that it really shouldn’t be able to. I hope to God the end of this episode doesn’t mean that Casifer is going to be over soon, because I am enjoying the hell out of him.

As I was watching, I kept thinking, “do I ship Amara and Rowena? No. Yes? No. Maybe?”, which is a fun series of emotions to go through in a scene. They’re a fun pair to watch on screen together.

Phil Sgriccia did a great job with the directing in this episode, especially that transition into the last scene and the Darkness in Heaven (that’s going to be very nicely paralleled with the Empty in Byzantium). I can’t get a handle on him because sometimes I hate his directing but sometimes I really dig it.

Notable Lines:

“Mankind is His creation.” “Oh, come on! It's not like He invented the Prius, which actually works.”

“Dean, it's a strong vessel. It's held Cas for years, and we know what he's been through. I'm guessing it can hold Lucifer.” “‘It’? It's not an ‘it,’ Sam. It's Cas.”

“Zthere's times I want to get slapped during sex by a girl wearing a Zorro mask. That don't make it a good idea.”

“Well, let's go find that idiot and bring him home.”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 9.0

IMdB Rating: 8.8

12x17: The British Invasion

Written by: Buckleming

Directed by: John F. Showalter

Original air date: April 6, 2017

Plot Synopsis:

Sam and Dean get a lead on Kelly Kline's whereabouts. Mick drops by the bunker unexpectedly and decides to join the hunt.

Features:

A Kedricks flashback, Kelly and Dagon getting an ultrasound, Lucifer “submitting” to Crowley, early Saileen, Crowley’s re-election campaign, Eileen accidentally killing a prick, Mary and Ketch hook up, a lot of British Men of Letters lore than I don’t care for, the death of Mick Davies.

My Thoughts:

The thing about learning more about the British Men of Letters system is that I understand, conceptually, that it’s kind of necessary for the story, but also I don’t care about it and I want it to be over. Plus, it makes no sense and the organization is cartoonishly evil. Forcing kids to kill each other breeds resentment of management and fosters competition so that there’s no team cohesion. It’s not good leadership even if you don’t give a shit about the individuals. I still don’t have a clear understanding of why the British are suddenly interested in America. I get that they cleaned England out or whatever, but surely they realize that the systems that work for a small island nation where ports of entry can be controlled won’t work for a sprawling half a continent with landmasses on either side, right?

Mick’s moral crisis was alright (I always liked him better than Ketch), but the writing is so mediocre that his decent performance is undercut by the clumsiness of the script.

It sucks for me personally that I had to see Pellegrino shirtless AND his tongue in the same episode. Crowley was stupid in this one too, which is out of character for him but in character for Buckleming. The Ketch/Mary stuff is also bad for me, although I find Mary essentially saying “I am capable of romantic love but not with you” directly to his face after fucking him very funny. He is the most annoying man and he’s not hot enough to justify his treatment in the scripts or the direction. As @meg3point0 says every time he’s on screen, he looks like a thumb.

The highlights of this one were Eileen’s return - she is so cute and I love her being displayed as an extremely competent hunter, and also early Saileen flirting - and Dagon giving demons a little oomf that they’ve been missing recently. Unfortunately all the other demons in this episode are pathetic so it offsets her cool abilities a bit.

Notable Lines:

“This is my voicemail. Make your voice a mail.”

“I was top of my class at Kendricks-” “No one cares.”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 4.0

IMdB Rating: 8.2

In Conclusion: Courtesy of @meg3point0: all three episodes today were about unquestionable authority that takes complete control of someone’s life.

<< Previous Day  |  Next Day >>

[jacaranda-bloom]

October Fic Rec

I’ve been super slack in doing my monthly fic recs of late (sorry!) so this list covers the last 3 months and there’s lots of lovely fics to devour!

In this instalment, there are fics from @lesbianiconharrystyles @kingsofeverything @mediawhorefics @lululawrence @harryanthus @evilovesyou @fallinglikethis @cocoalou @gaycousinlarry @comebackassholes @daggerandrose @allwaswell16 @sadaveniren @all-these-larrythings @wait4ever @jaerie @laynefaire @harrybridgers and @missandrogyny.

Thank you to all the writers for sharing their wonderful talent with us. Please don’t forget to leave kudos and a comment if you enjoy their work. 💜

New Reads

💜 Ever Since I Tried Your Way | @lesbianiconharrystyles / flowercrownfemme | E | 26k | June 2020 | 1940′s/50′s, farm/ranch, farmer Louis, farmer Harry, virgin Harry, gay cowboys, repression, internalised homophobia, hurt/comfort, gender exploration, marriage kink, feminisation, romantic face shaving, body worship, country music | As soon as I started this fic I knew it wouldn’t be able to put it down. It’s just... gosh. The writing is stunning and I was completely immersed from the first page to the last.

💜 Have Love, Will Travel | @kingsofeverything | E | 97k | Sept 2020 | road trip, camping, friends to lovers, smut, humour, youtube, POV Louis, slow burn | God, this story was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. Amazing relationship building and great communication. Hilarious, brilliant dialogue, heartwarming.

💜 Love You In The Dark | Perzikje | E | 10k | Oct 2020 | wedding night, arranged marriage, smut, dubious consent | Sexual exploration and first times. Check authors note.

💜 All These Lights | @mediawhorefics | E | 35k | Nov 2015 | ABO, X Factor, consensual under age sex, omega Harry, alpha Louis, angst with a happy ending, smut | I’m a sucker for a good ABO fic and this one didn’t disappoint.

💜 I Go Down Blazing, Feeling Like I’m Going Crazy (series) | @lululawrence | NR | 30k | Niall / Rory McIlroy | Oct 2020 | soulmates, famous/famous, singer Niall, golfer Rory, pining, diet angst, no smut, heartbreak weather, based on Dear Patience and Bend The Rules | This was my first time reading Niall/Rory and I adored it. Brilliant take on the soulmate trope too, heartwarming and tender. 

💜 Who Do You Burn For | @harryanthus | NR | 4k | Oct 2020 | strangers to lovers, implied/referenced drug use, references to addition | I am such a massive fan of this author and I will inhale anything they publish. More like poetry than prose. So evocative.

💜 Point. Drop, Call. | @evilovesyou / 4ureyesonly28 | G | 1.6k | Jan 2020 | summer, best friends, summer romance, first kiss, party games, mutual crushes, coming out | This was absolutely adorable and managed to provide a whole-ass story in 1,610 words. All the summer feels.

💜 Eat Your Vegetables | bananaheathen | M | 9k | Aug 2020 | soccer player Louis, nutritionist Harry, shopping, banter, sexual realisation, smut | This fic sucked me in from the very first page, so much so that when I went back to grab the link to add to this post I ended up re-reading the entire thing. So witty and sweet and all the goodness in the world.

💜 For Wanting | anonymous | E | 5k | Oct 2020 | post mpreg Louis, male lactation, body worship, lactation kink, strangers to lovers, neighbours, dirty talk | Really sweet and hot, beautifully written. 

💜 Pillow Talk | @fallinglikethis | E | 26k | Feb 2016 | friends to lovers, sexuality crisis, first time, mutual pining | I have no idea how I’ve never read this fic. Such a clever plot and perfectly delivered. Hot and funny and sweet and all the loveliness.

💜 The End | @harryanthus | T | 5k | Aug 2020 | post-war, selectively mute Louis, soldier Harry, psychological trauma, hopeful ending, non-specific time period | This is everything I usually avoid reading but this writer’s words just do something to my brain and I let down all of my protective barriers and dive in not caring about what I’m going to be faced with. I’m yet to be disappointed. When I read their fics I always feel like I’m floating or drowning or... I don’t even know how to describe it, but yeah. Wow.

💜 The Anticipation of Knowing You | @cocoalou / sweetrevenge | T | 13k | Sept 2020 | strangers to lovers, neighbours, pen pals, love letters, baked goods as a wooing technique | This was all kinds of lovely and funny and sweet. The premise is brilliant and I understand that we’re to be blessed with parts 2 and 3 in the near future, so yay!

💜 It’s Halftime. Are You Ready To Go? | @gaycousinlarry / momentofclarity | E | 12k | Oct 2017 | friends to lovers, awkward boners, pining, banter, flirting, dirty talk, body worship, smut, watching football as a seduction technique, Niall texts Harry terrible sporting innuendos to make him sweat, jockstraps | So fucking good. Sexy and cute and funny. Could read this one again and again.

💜 Salvation Let’s Their Wings Unfold | twoshipstiedup | M | 14k | May 2019 | angels and demons, heaven and hell, angel Louis, demon Harry, humour, fluff, romance | So much love for this fic. Way less heavy than the tags suggest. Niall is both supremely unhelpful and the captain of the ship as always. Fluffy and fun and romantic.

💜 Dom Louis (series) | @comebackassholes / dimpled_halo | E | 12k | Mar 2020 | dom Louis, sub Marcel, BDSM, kink negotiation | God. This series is amazing. Hot and sweet and nnnrrgggh. Really hope we get more in this universe.

💜 For You I’d Bleed Myself Dry | @daggerandrose / amomentoflove | E | 50k | May 2019 | vampire Louis, human Harry, soulmates, king Louis, angst, depression, blood drinking, past abuse, past kidnapping | I absolutely loved this fic. Beautifully written and so thick with emotion. Check tags, summary and author notes.

💜 Interview With The Vampire | @allwaswell16 | E | 4k | Louis / Robert Pattinson | Sept 2020 | ABO, omega Louis, alpha Rob, journalist Louis, actor, Rob, interviews, humour, bad cooking, bad flirting, scenting, knotting, smut | The rare pair I never knew I needed. Wow. Brilliantly told story. Cute and cheeky and fluffy and hot. Loved it.

💜 Fellowship of Eroda | @sadaveniren | E | 5k | Feb 2020 | dungeons and dragons, gaming, hate to love, BDSM, face slapping, facials, wrestling, choking, spanking, Louis is a brat, so is Harry a bit | Adored this. Such a clever plot and the writing is amazing as always.

💜 Brooklyn Saw Me | alreadyhome | E | 29k | Nov 2017 | homeless Louis, uni student Harry, no-graphic violence, homophobia, angst, slow burn, hurt/comfort, NYC | Painfully beautiful and so well written. Loved it from start to finish.

💜 It Feels Different When You’re With Me | @all-these-larrythings / rearviewdreamer | M | 45k | May 2020 | deaf Louis, sign language instructor Harry, slow burn, mentions of major character injury in the past | God. This fic is amazing. Gorgeous writing and so romantic and sweet.

💜 You’re Music To My Eyes | @fallinglikethis @wait4ever / recycledstardust | T | 6k | July 2020 | blind Louis, Be My Eyes app, volunteer Harry, TPWK | This fic is truly wonderful, romantic and so sweet. It even encouraged me to sign up for the app and I’ve taken two calls already!

💜 We’ll Be Alright | @jaerie | E | 20k | Feb 2020 | ABO, alpha Harry, omega Louis, major illness, sick Harry, sex therapist Louis, dubious ethics, sexual dysfunction, depression, recovery, mating, knotting, unplanned pregnancy | Gosh. So good. So hot. So lovely.

💜 Let Me Be Your Everlasting Light | @laynefaire | M | 12k | Aug 2020 | established relationship, northern lights, Norway, romance, proposal | Loved every beautiful word of this. So romantic and sweet. Can I go to Norway please?

Re-Reads

💜 Here In The Afterglow | @harrybridgers / fondleeds | E | 89k | Dec 2016 | 1970′s AU, small town America, gay rights movement, period-typical homophobia, strange to friends to lovers, angst, hurt/comfort, bullying, high school | Re-read of an old fave which hits differently each time I revisit it. Hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking in some parts, but ultimately uplifting and hopeful.

💜 Led By Your Beating Heart | @missandrogyny | E | 30k | Oct 2015 | famous Harry, non-famous Louis, Call or Delete, Cute Lou from the Loo, coming out, smut, banter, romance | Still one of my all time faves. The plot is delicious and the flow of the whole story just makes me smile throughout. I find myself going back to this one every few months. Romantic and fluffy and sexy as all hell.

💜 Is This Seat Taken? | Lainy122 | E 35k | Dec 2015 | famous Harry, non-famous Louis, popstar Harry, seat-filler Louis (eventually), Louis and Zayn make bets, penis-shaped cashew nuts, miscommunication, shitty PR tactics | One of my all-time fave fics. I must’ve read this one more than ten times by now and it never disappoints. Funny and sweet and hot.

💜 When The Sun Won’t Let You Sleep | @allwaswell16 | E | 30k | July 2018 | enemies to lovers, scientist Louis, scientist Harry, Antarctica, sexual tension, smut, diet angst | Such an interesting plot that is handled so beautifully. I adore all of this authors work but this definitely up there with my faves.

[odinsson2021]

Here the Playlist of my Tonight's show:

Stormwitch-Rondo ala Turca-Eye of the Storm-Hot Blood-1989

Lou Gramm-Lost in the Shadows-The Lost Boys O.S.T.-Atlantic Records-1987

Loverboy-Working for the Weekend-Get Lucky-CBS Records-1981

Lovetrick-Dance all Night-Lovetrick-Rough Trade records-1990

Masquerade-Gimme all your Love-Masquerade-Dino Music-1992

Steve Dalton-Road to Redemption-Primitive-Pride&Joy Music-18.03.2022

Mindstorm-See the Future-Mindstorm-Aquarius Records-1987

Misha Calvin-Kingdom of Man-Evolution II-Megarock Records-1995

Mitch Malloy-Speak of the Devil-Making Noise-Eigenproduktion-2016

Montrose-Game of Love-Mean-Enigma Records-1987

Mother Road-Drive me Crazy-Drive-Metalapolis Records-2014

Mydra-I've got the Power-Mydra-Vertigo Records-1988

Backslash-Hammertime-No Steel No Future-Iron Shield Records-11.03.2022

Brainstorm-Beyond my Destiny-Ambiguity-Metal Blade Records-2000

Hammerfall-Crimson Thunder-Crimson Thunder-Nuclear Blast Records-2002

Sign X-Into the Unknown-Back to Eden-Pride&Joy Music-18.03.2022

Hammerschmitt-Still on Fire-Still on Fire-Massacre Records-2016

Headhunter-Riding on at Midnight-Headhunter-Scream Records-1985

Heaven&Hell-Bible Black-The Devil you know-Roadrunner Records-2009

Heavenly-Fullmoon-Carpe Diem-AFM Records-2009

Heavens Gate-Shadows-In Control-No Remorse Records-1989

Helloween-I'm Alive-Keeper of the Seven Keys Part: 1-Noise Records-1987

Blind Guardian-Mr. Sandman (Single)-Virgin Records-1996

[theconqueeror]

Selling cheap Steam games

300+ games. They’re either super cheap or just old games removed from steam (that can still be activated and played, just not bought directly from the store).

If you want to level up your library & hoard tons of games, here’s your super cheap chance! 1 game for $1. Or bundles, 10 games for $8, 20 for $15, etc. 

All the games are listed under “keep reading” and if you have any questions just shoot me a message!

Accurate Segmentation 3 Ace Of Words Achievement Collector: Cat Achievements Printer Adva-lines Adventures of Heroes Again? AironBall: The Floating Lands AI War: Fleet Command Alien Bubble Destroyer Alien Invaders All Guns On Deck aMAZE (5 games for $3! includes: Double, Easter, Classic, 3D, Lunar) Another Otter AppleSnake2 Arcane ReRaise + Arcane PreRaise Archery Practice Aviation Hurricane Storm BACK TO EBATORIA BAIKO BAIKO Baikonur Space Beer Bar Behind The Door Beyond Reality Bitcoin Clicker BitRay Bizango Blast Blackwater Bayou Blockstorm Blonde Driver Blood of Old Bomber Crew Braveland Breezeblox BoneBone: Rise of the Deathlord Boons Farm Build buildings Bunnyrama Capture the monster Caramba! Caravan Castle Rencounter Cave Adventures Caveman Alive Caves! Chocolate makes you happy Chowderchu Circle Pong Click and Manage Tycoon City of Chains Cludbugz’s Twisted Magic Countryballs: Over The World CRACKHEAD Crankies Workshop: Grizzbot Assembly Crash Drive 2 Crazy Alien Crazy Pirate Crypts of Anak Shab Crystal City Cube - The Jumper Cunning Fox Dangerous Skies 80’s edition DarkEnd Dead Bits Dead Pixels Adventure! Death Penalty: Beginning Debtor Deep Blue Defend the planet Demon robot runner Direwolf Disco Zombie Rampage 2 DISTRAINT: Deluxe Edition Dodge Dummy DOKA 2 Dolphins-cyborgs and open space Double Stretch Douche Bag Dracula’s Library Dragon Perception Draw Rider 2 Dropping of the Dead DRUNK WIZARDS Dungeons of the dead Dungetris EGO PROTOCOL Egyptian Senet El Matador Enclave Endorlight Energy nodes Epic drag puZOOls Epic PVP Castles Epic roll Fable Rush + OST (DLC) Fall Of Light Far Cnight FastGo Running Figure Quest Finder Five Rooms Flotus Fruit Pop II Furry Stories: Alpha-Male G-DINO’S JUNGLE ADVENTURE GAI travel GALAXY 3D SPACE DEFENDER Glitch Simulator 2018 God vs Zombies Gold Rush! Classic Golf Extreme Gomo GooCubelets (3 random versions of the game for $1.5! Includes: GooCubelets, GooCubelets 2, The Algorithm, OCD, The Void) Grandpa Grav Blazer Gravity puzzles Greeng 2D Dungeon Grunt1914 Guns of Icarus Alliance H.I.S.T.O.R.Y T.O.R.C.H.K.A 2 Hard Rock Zombie Truck Head Shot Heaven Island VR Heckabomb HellCat Hentai Shooter 3D Art Collection DLC Hero Quest: Tower Conflict Heroic Dungeon + OST (DLC) High Cats Huntsman: The Orphanage Hurricane Ship Ghost In The Fighting Incoming Forces Infinite Fall Infinite Road Injured by space Joumee The Hedgehog Jump to the circle Kamikaze Cube 2 King Killer Backflip 5 Knife Battles Laggerjack Learn to Drive on Moto Wars Light Gravity Cube LittleBigSoko Loader Lock Parsing 2 Lord VS Nas Vai Lost in the tomb Lost Moon Lost with Dinosaurs Machine With a Big Gun Mad Dagger 2 McPixel Measurement Problem Melting World Online Mid or Feed Mind Portal Mini Gold Coop Mission Wolf Monarch of Greed Act 1 Monsters & Anomaly Monsti Mr.Jezko Neonicum Ninja from Hell vs. Reptiloids NitroRage Noise Normality Occult Raise Ochkarik Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee Oh My Gore! OneScreen Solar Sails One Tank to Rule Them All Outer Space Outrunner 2 Overcast - Walden and the Werewolf Overhead Owen to have fun! Pain Train Paint Skills Park the Car Particula Perimeter Pixel Hentai Mosaic Platypus II Police Adventure Potatoe Poultry Panic Pressure Princess.Loot.Pixel.Again x2 Psi Project 2 Psychedelic platformer Psychonauts Puzzle Agent Puzzle Chambers Quadrant M4 Qvabllock Rage Parking Simulator 2016 Raccoon Hero Under The Sea Range Ball Ranger in Spider’s den Rats - Time is running out! Red Risk ReX Rise Up RKN - Roskomnadzor Banned The Internet RKN Simulator Robot Chase Robot Squad Simulator 2017 Rolling Sun Running Man 3D Russian world cup battlegrounds Ruthless Safari Safeguard Garrison Space Colonies SAMOLIOTIK Santa Runner Save President From Rebels scram: scrammunism DLC Septerra Core Shooting Stars Silent Tweets Simple Story – Alex Sky Road Slayer Of Traitors Sleengster Snail Racer EXTREME SNIPER TANKS Soccer Versus Sometimes: Success Requires Sacrifice SPACECOM Space Chaos Spaceguy 2 Star Shield Down Star Wolves 2 Stickman - Killer of Apples Story: Heaven & Hell (Complete Edition) Street Racing + OST (DLC) Suicide Guy Suicide Guy: Sleepin' Deeply Super Furi Puzzles Super Inefficient Golf Survival Tycoon Symbiotic Overload Tanks!!! Tank Game Teenager vs.Tropical Mutants Temptation The 39 Steps The Battle for the Hut The Best Of MagiCats The Crypts of Anak Shaba The Culling Of The Cows The Dark Stone from Mebara The Deed The Deed 2 The Deer The Last Mission The Last Photon The Last Tower The Life of One Dog The Momo Game The Ninja Path The Official GamingTaylor Game, Great Job! The Orb Chambers II The Prison Experiment The Putinland: Divide & Conquer The Rare Nine The Wanderings Dragon Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 THREE CANDYBERRY MATCH Torch Cave 2 Torture Chamber Totally Mayhem Treasures of the Ancients: Egypt Trials of Illuminati Assorted Jigsaw Trials of Illuminati Sea Creatures Trials of Illuminati Christmas Time Jigsaw Trials of the Illuminati: Cityscape Animated Jigsaws Trials of The Illuminati: Snack Time Jigsaw Puzzles Trials of Illuminati Women of Beauty Trio Tritan Initiative Turn the bridge Uganda know de way Unknown Battle Uriel's Chasm 2: את Vault of Honor Vickinachi Viking's drakkars WAR_WAR_WAR: Smiles vs Ghosts Warlords Awakening Weird Dungeon Explorer: Defender Weird Dungeon Explorer: Run Away WildGooChase Why So Evil 2: Dystopia WIN THE GAME: DO IT! Woodle Tree Adventures World War III: Black Gold World of Tea WWII – TD Yellow: The Yellow Artifact Your Car Shooter ZAMBI 2 KIL Zatwor trilogy: Absconding Zatwor, Break Into Zatwor, Fiends of Imprisonment ZiL Truck RallyCross Zimbo Zombow

[atlasishere]

I Will Follow You Into the Dark

This was supposed to be a drabble and is instead over 1k words. 

MAG 200 spoilers

Ship: JonMartin

Fandom: The Magnus Archives

Word count: 1,151

Martin didn’t love Jon, not really. Sure Jon was attractive, but it hadn’t built to love. That didn’t mean that Martin hurt less after Jon said he was useless. He knew it was because he was less dedicated than Jon but Martin couldn’t find any dedication for anything really, he tried and was happy when he got his followups in on time. 

Jon knew Martin wasn’t a workaholic like him but it was hard for him to not comprehend working hard nonetheless. He wasn’t trying to hide a crush, no matter what his internal Georgie was telling him.

Following Jane Prentiss’ invasion, Martin got better at reading Jon’s emotions. He began to see the true emotions hidden by Jon’s frustration. It wasn’t hard to see that Jon really held something else for Martin and didn’t know how to cope with it. Tim and Sasha had even begun to notice. Jon’s outbursts at Martin began to be seen for what they really were: frustration, and inability to cope with feelings. 

Jon was leaving, he was going to stop the stranger and Martin didn’t know what to do about it. He wanted to be there, to help, but he was needed here. He would follow Jon anywhere, no matter how dark of a place, yet Jon wasn’t ready to accept that. Martin knew Jon wasn’t ready, he had just started trying to have real conversations with Martin that were not lectures. So he had waited and given Jon the space he needed to process as he continued to be there for Jon. He only hoped he would get the chance to tell Jon before the end.

Martin sat by Jon’s hospital bed, humming. He could only hope Jon could hear him inside of his coma. Martin was frustrated, Jon shouldn’t be alive for one thing. The doctors still were not sure how he was still alive. Martin knew he was alone and started to sing. 

Illuminate the no’s on their vacancy signs

"If Heaven and Hell decide, that they both are satisfied

If there’s no one besides you 

When your soul embarks

Martin knew it wasn’t good, he had a rough voice from his hormone therapy, but it was the sentiment that mattered. Martin could only hope Jon had heard his song and understood as Martin walked out of the hospital room for the last time.

I will follow you into the dark"

Martin knew Jon was back, it didn’t matter but Martin knew. He reminisced on the memories he had with Jon before the wax museum and began humming again. He quietly worked and tried to figure out how to walk by and see Jon. Obviously from a distance, but Martin had mourned. He had spent months mourning and was separated from his emotions.

Jon missed Martin. It was simple, Jon wanted to tell Martin he is ready. Jon was ready, he knew now that he was and he had survived for Martin. So yeah, Jon missed Martin and loved him. He loved Martin more than he thought he could say. 

The Lonely was a cold place, a cold and damp wasteland. Martin felt indifferent here, indifferent and numb. It had felt a lot like how his early Archive days had felt. Martin was no stranger to depression and the Lonely was amplifying that feeling. The overwhelming numbness was not hard to get used to. Here he was with his thoughts, his thoughts about Jon and Jonah and Peter. Some weren’t bad thoughts but all of them were loud. Most of Martin’s hope was gone, all it had died down to was a small flicker of a spark that Jon might still try to save him. Well, it had been before snuffed out by the fog of the Lonely. That’s where Martin was like it was 2016 all over again, but without the light of Sasha and Tim. God, Sasha had been gone for so long and he couldn’t even remember her. Martin wanted to cry, to mourn what could’ve been, but was too numb. Martin began to see Jon, telling him he a good-for-nothing fool, that he could never love Martin. It hurt but Martin was used to these thoughts. As he heard these voices, he saw someone running towards him. It looked like Jon, but why would Jon save him? He looked at Jon and heard his voice, but mumbled about surviving on his own and disappeared. 

Martin didn’t know how long it had been, not really. Time was warped here, but he began to hear singing. It was a very familiar song to him, one he had sung so long ago.

“ Love of mine, One day you will die

But I’ll be close behind, I’ll follow you into the dark”

It had faded out, like a radio tuning in and out. Martin began to think he had imagined it when he heard the singing again.

If there’s no one besides you when your soul embarks

“Illuminate the no’s on their vacancy signs

I will follow you into the dark”

The voice was deep, a bit rough. It was familiar. Martin heard his name being called, yelled. It was full of desperation and love. It was full of need. Martin realized it was Jon trying to find him. Upon this realization, Jon found him. Martin saw Jon and was saved from his Loneliness.

The safehouse was nice. It was far away and gave Martin the chance to breathe. He was with Jon and Jon had chosen Martin. There were so many cows and the scenery was pleasant. He and Jon had talked and decided to date. They were happy. It wasn’t perfect but they were happy.

It was the end, Martin knew this. He was going to kill Jonah Magnus and help the entities leave their world. But Jon was gone, he had left and Martin knew. He knew Jon felt guilty and wanted to save the world. Jon wanted to martyr himself. So Martin ran, ran to try and stop Jon. The plan was set into motion and Martin left.

There Jon was, in the Panopticon, trying to fight the influence of the fears. He walked to Jon and began to talk to him. Jon was crying, struggling, and fighting. He was telling Martin to kill him. But he didn’t want to be the one to kill Jon, he couldn’t do that after he had fought so hard to be with him. But Martin knew he had to. Martin knew that if he didn’t, then they would lose and the world would stay the same. Sobbing, Martin stabbed Jon as the Archives went up in flames, taking the entities to Hill Top Road, dragging Martin with Jon in his arms. Martin followed Jon into the Dark as he had always told Jon he would, holding tight with the hope that it wouldn’t be as bad as he previously thought.