#Zach justice one shot

[samandcolbyownme]

Summary: Anon request - "But what about reader and Zach like having Seggs 20 minutes before the podcast so that during the podcast reader is just next to Zach and like holding his hand and kinda just after sex clingy but before the cameras start rolling they have a cute little moment in the studio while everyone's there like Tara Alissa ad jared and they just think it's the cutest sorry if this is stupid" 

Warnings: SMUT18+, strong language, the smut will be right off of the bat so be prepared, hair pulling, unprotected sex, banter from Zach, flirting, post sex clingy-ness, fluff 

Word count: 3.1K | not edited 

This is my first solo Zach one shot. Enjoy! 

╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗

"We got twenty minutes before show time." 

Zach squeezes your shoulders and you turn your head, "Twenty you say?" A smirk grows across your lips as he nods and you turns around to face him, "Lead the way, babe." 

"That's my girl." He smirks, sliding his hand down to meet yours. His fingers interlock with yours before he pulls you with him down the hall and up the steps. 

He pushes open a door, pulling you in. He shuts the door with your body, pinning it against as he reaches down to twist the lock. 

Your lips crash together in a fiery embrace, your hands on either side of his neck. 

He leans down, hooking his hands on the back of your thighs and lifts you up and your legs move to their place around his waist. 

He moves to kiss down your neck, a small moan escapes your lips as your hand moves to slide through his hair, and your head tilts to give him more room. 

"Mm." You whimper, "Not much time." 

"Yeah, yeah. You and your time." He sets you down, a smile on his lips as he shrugs off his black leather jacket. 

You tilt your head, "Did you wear that for me?" 

He shrugs, "Maybe." 

"It's hot." You scrunch up your nose, smirking as you lean down to take off your pants and underwear. He lays his fingers under your chin, "I know." 

He smirks and undoes his belt, pushing his jeans and boxers down just enough for his cock to spring free. 

"You're so full of yourself, you know that?" You wrap your arms around his neck, jumping up for him to catch you. 

He laughs, "Yeah, you're about to be full of me, too." 

You bite down on your lip, resting your head back against the door as you feel him guide his cock into your already soaked entrance. 

You let out a gasp, your fingers grasping the hair at the nape of his neck, "Shit." 

A low groan escapes his lips as rests for a quick moment. He slides his arms under your legs and begins to thrusts. 

You tilt your head down, lips parted, brows furrowed as you stare at him, whimpering and moaning out his name, "Z-Zach.. yesyesyes." 

Your back arches against the door, nails dig into his skin, "Fuck fuck fuck." 

His lip is pulled between his teeth, breath growing faster and faster with each thrusts, "You feel so good." 

He pulls you away from the door, moving you over to lay on the bed. His body over yours as he resumes his thrusts. 

Your arms wrap tightly around his neck, "S-so close. So close." 

His lips kiss your neck, moving up towards your lips, "Cum for me, babe. You can do it." He slides a hand down, gripping your upper thigh, "Cause I'm right there with ya." 

Your back arches off the best, chest pressing against his as your walls tighten around him. His name leaves your lips in a slightly loud tone. 

"S-Shi-" you gasp, clinging to him as you cum. He groans as he feels your walls pulsating around him, urging him to cum next. 

You feel his cock slip out and his cum spills onto your waist with a moan from his lips. 

He tilts his head down, smirking as he admires how you look under him, "We can pick up where we left off after." 

You look at him and he winks, which causes you to giggle, "Sounds good to me." You watch as he moves off of you, bending down to pick up a towel for you to wipe off with. 

Once clean, you stand up and take your pants from him. You slip on your panties and put on your pants and fix your hair. 

"Oh.." you walk over to Zach, "hold on." You reach up, fixing his hair and he smiles at you, "My own personal hairdresser. Gotta love it." 

You roll your eyes, "Uh huh." You smile, "alright. Come on." 

He smiles, taking your hand into his and he unlocks the door and you walk out with him, making your way down the steps to find everyone ready to roll. 

Everyone on the set knew you and Zach were a thing. 

Hell, they called it before you and Zach even thought of it. 

"Ew. I know what you two were doing." Jared points and Zach taps his chin, "Did you know you have something right there?" 

Jared wipes his face, "What? What is it?" 

"Jealousy." Zach laughs and leads you over to your seat. Jared scoffs, "No. that's not at all-" he turns to Alyssa, "Is there really something on my chin?" 

Alyssa laughs, "No, Jared. He's fucking with you." 

"You asshole." Jared laughs and walks to his seat. Tara comes in, "Sorry I'm late, but I'm here." 

"Oh my god, you brought Sugar!" You lean down, holding out your hands for Tara's dog to come over to you, "Hi baby!" 

You pick him up and set him on your lap. 

Tara comes over, sitting down on the other end of the bench, "He got all excited when I said we're going to see you." 

"Oh my god, that's adorable." You smile, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. 

You look up at Zach and his eyes are just glued to you, "Such a cute little puppy." He smirks, "Sugar is cute, too, I guess." 

Your mouth drops but you can't help but laugh, "Rude." 

He shrugs, "I gotta pick on you, you know that." 

"You guys are so cute, it actually kind of hurts." Alyssa says with a laugh and Tara nods, "No I was actually thinking the same thing." 

You can feel your cheeks heating up and you move your hand as Sugar moves towards Tara, "Alright, let's do this." 

You, along with everyone else, puts on their headphones and you look at Zach. He looks at Alyssa and she gives him a thumbs up. 

"Hello everybody, welcome back or welcome to Dropouts!" Zach starts out, "We have a pretty full house today, every mic is taken." 

He looks around, "Did anyone have to do that thing in school where they had to go around and say their name and one thing about themselves because I think that's what we should do." 

"Are you serious?" Jared laughs and Zach gives him a serious, plain look, "Dead, and you can start." 

Jared sighs, "What's up. I'm Jared, I'm nineteen and I never fucking learned how to read." 

You and Tara instantly burst out laughing. 

"That was good!" You point to Jared, "I honestly wasn't expecting that." Tara leans over, laughing, "Oh my god." 

Alyssa laughs, pointing to Zach, "Do you know what he's referencing?" 

"Isn't that a video from the now prehistoric app, Vine?" Zach asks and Jared dies laughing, "Correct." 

Zach raises his brows, "Oh my god, anyway." He tries not to laugh and nods to Tara to go. She takes a deep breath, "I'm Tara and I'm the First Lady of juicy couture." 

You point to her, "You sure are." 

She laughs and motions for you to go, "I'm y/n, and I'm-" 

Zach cuts you off, "Totally in love with Zach Justice." 

Everyone goes silent and you look over at him, "I mean, that's kind of obvious I thought." You laugh reaching your hand out, "But yeah, we can go with that." 

Zach smiles and takes your fingers into his. You move closer to the end of the bench, if it was possible to be right next to him you would. 

You always get clingy after sex, and doing a show right after was rough because you just want to cuddle him, but that isn't an available option right now. 

"So cute it hurts." Jared winces and sighs. 

"Actually, can we talk about that for a second?" Tara leans into her mic, smiling as she points between you and Zach. 

"You mean yap?" Zach rolls his eyes, thumb rubbing over your fingers. 

Tara laughs slightly, "Well yeah, but first we can let Alyssa say her name and the one thing you're forcing us all to say." 

"Do I have a gun to your head?" Zach looks at Alyssa, "Can we make it clear that I am not standing behind you holding something to your head and forcing you to read a script?" 

"I mean, yeah. Zach is totally not standing behind me forcing me to read something that he wrote out on a piece of paper." Alyssa laughs, "I'm Alyssa, and I just love this job so much." 

You smile, looking back at Tara, "What do you wanna talk about?" 

"Yap." Zach corrects you, "It's never just talking with her." 

You squeeze his hand, "Be nice." You smile and Zach nods, "Yes mom. I mean, ma'am." 

"Dude." Jared laughs, shaking his head, "Nice save." 

Zach smirks and looks at Tara and Tara sighs, "Well first off, is it okay that we talk about this? Like I know that you guys kind of were keeping it just between us five." 

You look at Zach and he shrugs, "Bound to get out at some point, might as well come from the Queen yapper herself." 

Tara smirk, "Aw, Zach. You think I'm a Queen?" 

"Oh yapland. Sure." Zach tries not to laugh, but you laugh, "I'm getting you a tiara that says that." 

"Oh my god, please do." Tara laughs, "Okay, so anyway. For the listeners of this podcast, what we're talking about right now is the fact that y/n and Zach are a thing and as Alyssa said, they're so cute it actually hurts." 

Zach gasps, "Me and who!?" He lays a hand on his chest, "This is news to me." 

"Oh my gosh, shut up." You look at him, smiling huge and he smiles back at you, "Kidding. Kidding." 

"Tara, this is like you're telling the world a big government secret." Jared laughs and Alyssa nods, "To some people it probably is." 

You laugh, "I'm sure, but I promise I'll take good care of him." 

You look over and Zach smirks, but before you can say anything it's too late, "Yeah she does." 

"Zach. Ew!" Jared, Tara, and Alyssa all say at the same time and Zach's mouth drops, "You guys need to get your mind out of the gutter because I meant she takes good care of me as in I always have someone to laugh at, I mean laugh with." 

Your mouth drops and you just stare at him, fighting back a smirk, "You know I was thinking the same thing." 

Zach rolls his eyes, "You know what?"

"What?" You tilt your head and he shakes his head, "I'm not saying it because people will take what I say out of context." 

"Don't we always?" Tara furrows her brows and laughs, "Anyway, I figured we could talk about how you and him ended up an official thing." 

"Can I just-" Alyssa raises her hand, "Can I just cut in to say that Tara and I called this a while ago. Like after the second time you were on I think, y/n." 

"Yeah, yeah, Tara told me about that. She actually texted me the one day and was like, you and Zach are totally going to be a thing, and I was like in denial at first but then it just.. I don't know.." you look over at Zach, "Progressed into us flirting until one of us was like look, this is what's happening." 

"So who was it?" Jared asks getting the attention, "Who came onto who to finally move it from the friend zone into the end zone?" 

You laugh and Zach leans in, "y/n." 

"I don't think.." you laugh, "No." You stop laughing, "Was it?" 

Zach stares at you, "I can pull up the texts right now." 

"Do it!" Tara yells, and you tilt your head, "You know what.. I think it was, something about me wanting to sleep in his stupid shirts and hold his stupid hand or something like that." 

Zach smirks, nodding his head, "There ya go, sweetheart. Now you're on the right track." 

You can feel your cheeks forming into a deeper shade of pink, "He's actually going to show you guys the messages." 

"Oh no, babe. I'm reading them out loud." He laughs slightly and holds his phone up as he reaches for your hand again. 

Your hand instantly goes into his and you lean towards him, "What's it say?" 

Zach clears his throat, "So it was just us talking back and forth, mainly us trying to get each other to admit that we liked each other." Zach scrolls down, "And then Y/n just says, I want to sleep in your stupid tshirts and hold your stupid hand, Zach." 

Aw's from the three others in the room emerge and you shake your head, "Yeah, yeah, it's cute or whatever." You lay your hand over your face and Zach laughs, "And I must have been caught off guard because I really didn't expect her to say anything like that, so all I said back was, well damn." 

"Well damn?" Jared laughs, "That's not very romantic, Zach. What did y/n say after that?" 

"She honestly didn't respond for a little bit, so I was actually kind of having an, okay I ruined it, moment, but then she answered with an, that's all you have to say?" Zach laughs and you nod, "Well yeah, I poured my heart out to you and all I get back is a well damn." 

"I mean, I wouldn't have responded right away either." Tara laughs, "But that is such a Zach thing to do." 

You nod, "That's why I gave it a minute because I had to remind myself that that was Zach we're talking about." You laugh, looking over at him, "And yeah. Now we're, what? Seven.. almost eight months into this thing?" 

Zach nods, "Eight months of my life that I don't want back." 

"Who even are you?" Jared looks at him shocked, "Like.. the man that is sitting across from me right now.. is literally.. dare I say.. almost nice?"

"You're pushing it." Zach points to Jared and Jared raises his hands, "No, like I was talking to Alyssa about it a while back and I told her, I think it was before you guys officially told us. I said to her that who ever is bringing out the best in him, needed to stay connected to him." 

"That is true." Alyssa nods, "And I knew it would be y/n, like just the way that they were looking at each other gave it away." 

"Yeah they literally.. I don't even know to explain it, like, it's a connection that can't be explained unless you're with them in person." Tara nods, smiling at you. 

"Yeah, I guess I just fucked around and got attached to you." You smirk, looking over at Zach and he smirks, "Now, I'm going to say this, but it's not like what it sounds, okay?" 

"That.. doesn't sound like a good thing." Jared shakes his head, "But go on, please." 

"You suck sometimes, only because ever since you been around, I've been smiling a lot more than I used to, and that just ruins my mysterious, serious look." Zach laughs slightly, "But I'd still do anything for you." 

You pout, "You're such an asshole." 

"Yeah, yeah, I love you too, princess." Zach laughs slightly and Tara scoffs, "I don't.." she laughs, "I've been seeing this you know, sweeter side of Zach come out over these last few months but it still catches me off guard when something nice follows his, I don't even know, jerkish comments." 

"Yeah but she knows that I don't mean anything in a wrong way." Zach squeezes your hand, "Right? Say that you know." 

He tries not to laugh, but fails when you make a face at him, "She knows." 

You laugh, "If Zach didn't pick on me daily, then I would know that there's something up. But I honestly think that goes for everyone who knows him." 

Alyssa nods, "I always think to myself before coming in, what out of pocket thing is Zach going to say to me today?" 

"I have nightmares about him just being so mean to me." Tara says and Zach looks at her, "Do you really?" 

Tara nods, "Yeah." 

"Tell me what I've said to you." Zach tilts his head and Tara laughs, "No because you'll just write them down and use them against me." 

"Everyone here knows how you are, Zach." Jared laughs and Zach stares at him, "Shut up, you don't even know how to read." 

You all burst out laughing and Zach shakes his head, "And they say I'm mean to them."

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

After the podcast ends, you hang your headphones on the mic stand and stand up to stretch. 

Zach pushes his mic out of the way and extends his arms out to you, "C'mere." 

You walk over to him and he pulls you into his lap, arms around your waist as his head rests on your shoulder. 

This is exactly what you wanted to do the whole time. 

"You know there's rooms upstairs right?" Jared teases and Zach gasps, "Really? I didn't know we had an upstairs, that's so cool." 

You laugh, resting your head against Zach's, "You guys kill me." 

Zach lifts his head, moving to lay his head on your chest, "Liar, I can hear that heart thumping away in there." 

You roll your eyes, laying a hand on his head, "I think that was just an excuse for you to be close to my boobs." 

You feel Zach's body move as he laughs, "Maybe." 

Jared scoffs, "Get a room." He walks away and you feel Zach sit up, so you look over at him with a smirk. 

He looks at you, "You know what.." his hand slides down to your thigh, "I think we will." 

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

I hope you liked this! I know there isn't really much Zach stuff, so I hope this is good enough! 

As always, let me know how you liked it! Love you all, thank you for reading! 🖤

Likes and reblogs are majorly appreciated!

[starlight-bread-blog]

i just wanted to say your pfp reminded me of diane nyugen from bojack horseman. speaking of which, do you have any opinions on bojack horseman you'd like to share?

That is Diane! :)) My header is also BoJack Horseman with Diane's amazing quote "Sometimes life is a bitch and then you keep living". I love her and this show SO MUCH, and I absolutly have opinions I wanna share.

If I had to pick an episode that encapsulates what this show is, my picks would be:

Let's Find Out

The Shot

That Went Well

The Underground

Episodes that balance comedy with drama so well I can't even begin to dissect it. Let's Find Out's framing device being a game show is so smart, AND THE ENDING- The Shot is so objectively silly but god, it's the only time (?) we see BoJack full on cry. In The Underground they burn and eat Zach Braff✨️ That Went Well just- words can't do it justice.

I also really like the ending. It's PERFECT. (Not literally). BoJack's journey was about radical freedom, about how all of his actions are his fault, about how after rock bottom, life will still continue.

This theme is the reason why the most important episodes aren't the finales. Having BoJack face all the consequences for his actions is the best way to conclude his journey. It's not conclusive, but that's what the show has been saying this whole time.

Also also, Diane's arc in season 6>>>> Like. That's so real. Stories just kinda creep up on you sometimes fully formed. Negative emotions fuel so much art, and her need to make sense of her trauma by using art to help others, and how it parallels Penny--- the show actually stated that tragety has no meaning in season 2. Herb's death was so stupid and served nothing. BoJack tried to give it meaning, but there was none.

Also also also-- the show called out all the freaks who use BoJack to excuse themselves.

You see these writers care about what they're putting out there. And on top of that, it's also an amazing scene. It's like It's You being followed up with That's Too Much Man. Head in the Coulds -> The Showstopper.

Btw – two of the best episodes if the show are one with all words and no words. Both end with a joke that has a meaning. BoJack could have apologized this whole time. And I love that theme that played at the end of Fish Out of Water. AND Free Churro was nominated for an Emmy! Deserved.

I could keep going, but other points I'd like to touch upon deserve a full meta. Thank you for this ask, I had an excuse to talk about BoJack Horseman! Asks about Bjhm are ALWAYS welcome.

[isfjmel-phleg]

Would love to pull Thad out of his story and show him how much the original readers loved him. There were so many letters to the editor asking for more of him, and the editor was clearly rooting for this too and then apparently the next writers took one look at this sad child whom everyone wanted a happy ending for and said "irredeemable sociopath it is then!" :/ .

Kevin D.: I am VERY interested in this Inertia character. He is exactly what Bart needs: a challenge. Inertia has studied Bart/Impulse and knows everything about him. He thinks through before he fights. He is Bart's exact opposite. Now, is it true that he's Bart's twin brother or did I read wrong? Is he a clone of Bart? If so, I hope we find out where he came from. It's about time this story jump-starts on the action.

Wil M.: Inertia's a good villain, both as a character and visually--love the green.

Michael B.: And when is Inertia coming back? Huh? Huh? I miss him already. I want to have a date so I can count down!

Zach: I hope Inertia, Flash, and some more Young Justice pals show up. Bart is great as a solo character, but he is at his comical best when he is teamed with another hero.

"The Obsolete Man": Inertia's gradual change of heart when he was surrounded by the love and caring of Bart's friends and family was a logical thing. And the look on Inertia's face when Max called him "Bart" right before they went into the Speed Force was classic...a look into Inertia's mind that shows us that he's probably going to go through with his original plans and kill Max after all.

Michael B. (again): Inertia, on the other hand, just realized how pointless his existence is. In those few issues, Thad was fleshed out as a character, and he is obviously not your typical villain. I hope it's not the last time we see him. There's so much more to explore with this character. Inertia's sudden comprehension of the relationship between Bart and Max was a great moment. It's quite rare when a comic book moves me, but I actually felt sad when Inertia realized that no one ever loved him, that he had been used as a tool for someone else's revenge.

Andy B.: What happened to Inertia when he ran into the Speed Force? Did he return to his lab or is he really gone for good? [Editor: I'm putting your questions on hold, 'cause I'm so proud of Todd [Dezago]'s skill at raising Inertia from an "evil twin" type of character to one with real substance that I'm not gonna say anything here that might spoil a chance of a "return."]

"Starmansgal": My favorite part was right after Bart asked Inertia if he'd ever felt that way about anyone, and he said, "Hasn't anyone ever felt that way about YOU?" Inertia looks at Bart as he's holding onto Max for dear life, and replies, "No..." I felt sad for Inertia, because he's never known ANY kind of love in his life, giving OR receiving. [Editor: You realize that all this is music to their ears, right? Whaddya say, Todd, you ready to bring Inertia back for a curtain cail?]

Sarah F.: The most outstanding quality in Max, though, was his willingness to offer even Inertia a chance for a new, better life. It's sad, in a way, that Inertia reacted to the discovery of his empty life with a suicidal plunge into the Speed Storm. No more second chances for him. [Editor: Don't count out Inertia so fast, Sarah. Now that we've seen the depths of what Inertia is capable of, maybe Todd Dezago can be convinced to find some way for him to return, somewhat changed and chastened for the experience. After all, why should he behave exactly the same way as he has in previous appearances? The good thing about our DC Universe is that even its villains can change and grow and adapt!]

"Havk": Inertia: Bart's only serious foe. In their first fight, he had Bart outsmarted and outplanned by a long shot. And even though he "lost," he managed to turn that into a win. Then, in his next appearance, he could very easily have defeated Bart and Max, but he stopped himself.

[loves-pie]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favourite five fics that you've written, then pass it to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

Thanks bb! It's been so long since I've actually written anything, I'm beginning to feel like I'm not really a writer anymore. But hey ho, here's my five favourite fics in no particular order...

The Wedding Date - Chris/Zach, Star Trek RPF. I have a particular soft spot for this one since, for one, it's my first finished Big Bang fic, but also because I wrote it for one of my best fandom friends @thatmysticbafflingwonder. 💖 I had a blast writing it too and I occasionally go back to reread it and enjoy it all over again.

Muted Pleasure - Chris/Zach, Star Trek RPF. This one started as a simple smutty pinto kink meme prompt fill, but somehow developed into a fully fledged fic with feelings and shit?! And I love it.

Bound To You - Harry/Severus, Harry Potter. This was written for a snarry fest on LJ and turned into my longest and most popular HP fic (to date anyway). I wasn't initially sure if I could do the prompt justice, but I actually like how it turned out. And it's really nice that it still gets so much attention.

What Darkness Conceals - Colin/Ryan, WLIIA RPF. This is my longest Whose Line fic, a Buffy-esque AU that stemmed from a Halloween one-shot I wrote years ago, and hands down the one I had the best time writing (so far, she adds hopefully). It was an absolute blast. I love that world so much that I do plan to write a sequel at some point. Or at least try.

There were a few contenders for the fifth fave fic, not including unfinished ones, but since it was an ask to my pinto account I'll go with...

Three's A Crowd - Chris/Zach, Star Trek RPF. This was another kink meme prompt - this time with lots of angst and pining rather than straightforward smut, which made a nice change.

And I've just realized that four out of my five fave fics were basically written for other people lol. Maybe I write better that way? Or maybe it's just the need to please (and I always have that need!). Anyway, hopefully this isn't the final list - I hope to get back to writing in the near future. Perhaps there are new favourites waiting for me. 😊

[austinpanda]

26 June, 2022

26 June, 2022

Dear Dad--

I think I forgot to write a letter last week. Just spaced on it entirely! In my defense, my country is doing a space shuttle Challenger right now, and the Supreme Court just said we’re go at throttle up. I wrote a long Facebook post last night (well, long for a Facebook post) about it, and spent about an hour getting the wording right. If you’re going to call republicans a bunch of shite cunts, which they are, you really should be specific as to why. Everything about this is terrible, from the way Obama’s Supreme Court pick got fucked, to the way Trump got to pick three, how each of the three said Roe was settled law during confirmation, how all three simply lied. They’re Supreme Court justices, and all they had to do to get there, and do this, was to lie. How do you fight corruption when you refuse to use it to achieve your ends, but your opponent doesn’t?

And the Supreme Court just gutted a New York law about gun carrying. To summarize, cities and states can’t ban citizens from carrying guns in public. The number of guns worn by “good guys” in America is about to increase. I suppose republicans believe this will lead to greater safety. This is right after Uvalde, where the “good guys” with guns spent an hour not using them, for fear of being shot by the “bad guy” with his gun, to the great misfortune of all the “murdered children,” and two of their teachers. 

So I suppose it’ll behoove me to keep this week’s letter to you short. I know we disagree on some of this, especially the guns. You stuff loaded handguns into your fucking sofa cusions until they’re covered with dog hair, and you do this…for greater SAFETY. Dad, against whom do you imagine yourself using your gun? Because, and this is my problem, I’m willing to bet every dollar I have, and everything else I own, that it’s a black guy. 

After that, like, what else is there to talk about? Oh, here’s one thing I’m thinking of: Justice Clarence Thomas said that as long as they’re overturning Roe, they might as well reexamine cases that allowed gay marriage. Your political party doesn’t think I should love my husband, much less be married to him. Your political party may take my wedding ring, Dad. 

Already, two of Stacy’s best friends, a couple of amazingly sweet, hard working, talented, loving people are having to leave the state because of the state’s ever-increasing hostility towards trans people. Texas’ republican party just made part of its official platform the strong desire to overturn Obergefell, ignore any federal laws about gay marriage that they choose, imprison anyone who would help trans people be trans, and allow adoption only to single or married heterosexuals. Your political party is making Stacy’s friends go away, Dad. It already made your son leave the state. Well, that, and the repulsive amount of heat, and how it gets noticeably worse year after year after year. Perhaps we can ameliorate climate change by shooting guns at it. 

It just occurred to me, the states that ban abortion may include an exception for abortions that are needed only to save the life of the mother, but they don’t have to! Do we feel secure in the belief that no state is going to ban it entirely, regardless of circumstances? I sure as shit don’t. Your political party is going to kill the SHIT out of lots and lots of women, Dad. And I know you like women, because you fucked so very many of them whilst married to Mom.

Anyway, how ‘bout that sports event, huh? Yay sports team!

Today is the day when the magical thing happens! I have to admit, current events are rather dulling the sheen of excitement around my fucking magical thing, but it’s happening anyway. We got our relief checks from the state government! Because we’re in a blue state, abortions will remain available, and the government will occasionally give extra refunds to taxpayers in the state when there’s a surplus. Zach and I each got checks for $850. (If that sounds great, just know that $800 of it will be eaten by bills.) We agreed that we’d set aside enough money to go to Texas Roadhouse, so Zach could get a big steak--he wants whatever’s the biggest one they have--and I can get a chicken fried steak, and we can share one of those fried onion blossoms, and shit, I just realized, it’s Texas themed. I don’t care a whit about the general quality of their food, or the stupid Southern ambiance. I just hope, I REALLY, REALLY HOPE, that the food we get exceeds expectations, because, to quote Full Metal Jacket, “This is the only pussy you people are going to get.” 

But we’re going at a time when they’re typically slow, so there shouldn’t be a wait, and I hear they give you unlimited free rolls that are particularly magical in some way. 

Just thought of something else: You like the jazz band Pat Metheny Group, right? So, if I was someone in the Pat Metheny Group, I could honestly describe you by saying, “He’s the one, he likes all our pretty songs, and he likes to sing along, and he likes to shoot his gun, but he don’t know what it means, don’t know what it means.”

I should probably end this letter because it’s just turning into a long-winded Up Yours card. I’m not mad at you for what the Supreme Court did. I’m mad at you for putting them in power. If I were on the republican side of things, I’d have to say, this is a success that dwarfs our wildest expectations, that it was the best day this country’s seen since the peaceful protests of January 6th. 

Ugh, Imma go now. Try to be loving for the next seven days.

[lands-of-fantasy]

Batman 

Live-action movies and series + theatrical animated films from 1989-present (2023)

Breakdown:

Directed by Tim Burton, starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman:

Batman (1989)

Batman Returns (1992)

Main cast includes Jack Nicholson as the Joker (B), Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin (BR), Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman (BR), among others.

Directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm, starring Kevin Conroy as the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman:

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Main cast includes Mark Hamill as the Joker.

Related media: Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995).

Directed by Joel Schumacher:

Batman Forever (1995) starring Val Kilmer

Batman & Robin (1997) starring George Clooney

Main cast includes Chris O'Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin, Jim Carrey as Edward Nygma/The Riddler (BF) , Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent/Two Face (BF), Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dr. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze (B&R), Uma Thurman as Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy (B&R), Alicia Silverstone as Barbara Wilson/Batgirl (B&R), among others. 

Schumacher’s movies are sequels to the Burton movies despite the tone changes and recastings.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale:

Batman Begins (2005)

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Main cast includes Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane /Scarecrow (BB),  Heath Ledger as the Joker (TDK), Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent (TDK), Tom Hardy as Bane (TDKR), Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman (TDKR), among others.

Starring Ben Mackenzie as James Gordon and David Mazouz as (young) Bruce Wayne:

Gotham (2014-2019) developed by Bruno Heller. 5 Seasons

Main cast includes Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock, Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma/The Riddler, Camren Bicondova as (young) Selina Kyle, Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth, among others.

Directed by Zack Snyder, starring Ben Affleck:

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Justice League (2017) directed by Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon

Snyder was the director during principal photography, having been replaced in post-production. Whedon was hired and he refilmed some scenes, shot additional ones and left much footage out.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Also known as The Snyder Cut (of the 2017 movie).

Main cast includes Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman, Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash (JL), Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman (JL), Ray Fisher as Victor Stone/Cyborg (JL), among others.

These movies are part of the DC Extended Universe movie series, which starts with Superman feature Man of Steel (2013). Batman makes a small appearance in Suicide Squad (2016), directed by David Ayer. See also The Flash below.

Directed by Chris McKay, starring Wil Arnett:

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Main cast includes Zach Galifianakis as the Joker, Michael Cera as Dick Grayson/Robin, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth, Jenny Slate as Harley Quinn.

Related films: The Lego Movie (2014) and The Lego Movie 2 (2019) also feature Arnett’s Batman.

Directed by Matt Reeves, starring Robert Pattinson:

The Batman (2022)

Main cast includes Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Paul Dano as Edward Nashton/The Riddler, Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, among others.

Directed by Andy Muschietti, starring Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash and Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman:

The Flash (2023)

Main cast includes Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, Michael Shannon as General Zod, among others. Also features Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth.

This movie is also a part of the DC Extended Universe movie series, taking place after the Justice League movie. 

********************

Superman post: [x]

[beardedmrbean]

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — The mass killing that left six people dead and 12 wounded outside bars just blocks from California’s Capitol last weekend was a gunfight involving at least five shooters from rival gangs, Sacramento police said Wednesday.

Police said they identified at least five gunmen but there may have been more. Only two suspects — both brothers wounded by gunfire — have been arrested in connection with the shooting and, so far, only face firearms charges.

“We’re still working through … who the actual shooters are in the case,” Sgt. Zach Eaton said.

Until Wednesday’s announcement, police had been silent on what led to the shooting that erupted early Sunday as bars were letting out. Rapid-fire bursts of over 100 gunshots echoed through the streets as terrified patrons ran for their lives and others were hit by bullets.

Police said at least two gangs were involved. They declined to provide more details or name the gangs involved or the affiliation of any suspects.

Experts said that if gangs were to blame, it would mark an unusually bloody feud.

In 20 years of researching gangs in Los Angeles, Alex Alonso said he can’t remember a gang-related shooting with such a high body count.

“It’s extremely rare that a gang shooting happened as the way this one is being characterized,” Alonso said. “It’s extremely rare to have that happen in a public place with so many victims.”

Gregory Chris Brown, a criminal justice professor at California State University, Fullerton, said gangs often target rivals in drive-by shootings with fewer victims, though innocent bystanders are sometimes also struck.

The location of the Sacramento shooting – in a bustling area of watering holes near the entertainment district — was incidental to whatever fueled the fight.

“If rival gang members see each other it doesn’t matter if they’re in the Capitol of the United States of America,” Brown said. “If you see a rival gang member and you’re going to attack them, it doesn’t matter where they are.”

The large number of casualties was the result of high-capacity weapons in a crowded area, he said.

Berry Accius, founder of Voice of the Youth who leads gun intervention and prevention programs and offered his services to counsel families who lost loved ones in the shooting, criticized police for characterizing the crime as gang-related, which he said will lead some to “think Black people.”

He said people will see the photos of the Black women and men who were shot, assume they were in a gang and wonder why gang members are downtown.

“That’s the narrative we don’t need at this particular time,” Accius said. “This idea that we’re going to put blame to one demographic of folks and blame them for the violence that ensued.”

Bill Sanders, a criminologist at Cal State LA, said he wanted to see more evidence the shooting was gang-related, a term police often use to drum up support. He said gang shootings are more mundane and most occur in what are considered gang neighborhoods.

“If you looked at a map of gang homicides in the city — or any city — over time, you’d see the same areas lighting up — meaning that’s where they occur. If these guys were white, this wouldn’t be considered gang related — not even for a minute.”

Authorities credited witnesses who contributed nearly 200 videos, photos and other tips with helping the investigation.

Police were trying to determine if a stolen handgun found at the crime scene was used in the massacre. It had been converted to a weapon capable of automatic gunfire.

They are also investigating whether a gun one of the brothers, Smiley Martin, 27, brandished in a video was used in the shooting, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was briefed on the investigation but was not authorized to publicly discuss details and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Martin and his brother were among those wounded in the gunfire that erupted about 2 a.m. Sunday as bars closed and patrons filled the streets.

The Sacramento County coroner identified the three women killed as Johntaya Alexander, 21; Melinda Davis, 57; and Yamile Martinez-Andrade, 21. The three men killed were Sergio Harris, 38; Joshua Hoye-Lucchesi, 32; and De’vazia Turner, 29.

Ten people were wounded in addition to the Martin brothers. At least two remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

Smiley Martin faces charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a machine gun. He remained hospitalized and it wasn’t clear if he had an attorney who could speak for him.

His brother, Dandrae Martin, 26, was arrested as a “related suspect” and appeared briefly Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court on a charge of being a convict carrying a loaded gun.

He did not enter a plea and his attorney said she would wait to see if prosecutors brought more serious charges before deciding whether to seek his release.

Both men have criminal records. Smiley Martin was released from prison in February after serving about half of a 10-year prison sentence for beating a girlfriend. He was denied parole last year after prosecutors said he “clearly has little regard for human life,” documents show.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg questioned why the brothers were on the streets.

“Those questions need to be answered and they will be answered over the days ahead,” Steinberg said.

A 31-year-old man seen carrying a handgun immediately after the shooting was arrested Tuesday on a weapons charge. Police said they don’t believe his gun was used in the shooting.

[minghellafine]

Full interview below.

The first thing Max Minghella does when he joins our Zoom call is ask me about the weather. It wasn't just a conversational cliché though, he really wanted to know what it was like where I was. I tell him I'm in New York City, where spring can surprise you with a day that's colder or warmer than it looks. This particular day was chilly. "I'm always cold," he interjects, "I'm reptilian. My body finds a way to keep me cool." He shivered as he spoke, sitting in his sunny backyard in Los Angeles wearing a T-shirt. I checked the temperature right after our call. It was 80 degrees in L.A.

Despite any discomfort, Minghella is just really happy to be at home. Unlike the millions of people who spent 2020 in quarantine, he was working on season four of The Handmaid's Tale throughout the spring and summer."I'm sort of jealous of people who have this moment to pause and reflect," he says soberly. "Even with all of the trauma it's caused and all the things that obviously were detrimental, I know a lot of people who've had big life changes in the past year."

He acknowledged, however, that creating something in a time when everyone wished they could escape was ultimately a lucky thing. "There was a ubiquitous sense of gratitude," he adds.

Outside of the global pandemic, the dynamics on set had shifted — this season, his co-star Elisabeth Moss (or "Lizzie" as he affectionately calls her), was a director. "She was amazing on set," he explained. "Just very in control and it ran super smoothly. When I saw the episodes she directed, it just kind of blew me away. Her style — it's very cinematic and it really underlines the sci-fi elements of the show. It has a real kind of scope and confidence to it. I think she's a real filmmaker."

RELATED: Marvel's New Face Danny Ramirez Has the Range

Minghella's character Nick has an interesting arc this season too –  he's realizing his role as a senior member of the Gilead ruling class, but also still in love with June [Moss]. It's a complex character that challenges you as an audience member. He is the brooding love interest, and while you may root for him and June to be together, you also have to see him for what he is: an architect of a world that kidnaps women and uses them for childbearing.

What made the previous three seasons of the show even harder for viewers to digest was the fact that people so badly wanted to believe there could be a good guy defector — maybe even Nick — in a room full of bad guys. During those years, many people felt that the dystopian elements of the show were reflective of the nationalist agenda being put forth in the United States by the Trump Administration. So much so that a group of protesters famously wore Handmaid costumes to protest anti-abortion bills and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings. Without saying much about the parallels in the show — other than chalking them up to "pure coincidence," Minghella felt the Handmaid's Tale, whose protagonists are anti-Gilead, are "on the right side of history."  He added diplomatically, "Ultimately, I'm most proud because I think it's really great fiction."

I get the sense that the pursuit of "great fiction" is something that consumes Minghella. He's someone who appreciates art (he got his big break in 2006's Art School Confidential), and his parents are Anthony Minghella, the late award-winning director of The Talented Mr. Ripley, and actress Carolyn Choa. He loves details (see our earlier weather conversation). Even the way he talks about Los Angeles has a story-like quality. He tells me about how he knew when the city became his home after a feeling he got driving past the Silver Lake 7-Eleven. As he told it, I pictured it like a scene in an indie movie starring Zach Braff.

"I had this sort of pathological obsession with movies from birth. [My mother] worked for the British equivalent of the Motion Picture Association, so she would watch three films a day. By three or four years old, I was just kind of an obsessed movie person." It's his favorite movie, Beverly Hills Cop ("I think I saw 100 times by the time I was eight years old," he says) that inspired another big role he was working on during quarantine: Minghella stars as a detective opposite Chris Rock in the Saw franchise spin-off Spiral: From the Book of Saw.

"The movie was so serendipitous for me. I feel like I almost manifested it in my life," Minghella muses. "There's a line very early in the movie where we're investigating these crime scenes and we come to a grizzly one. My character looks nauseous. Chris's [character] says to me, 'Are you okay?' And my character says, 'Yeah. I mean I'd been dreaming about this since I was 12-years-old.' And that was a very kind of weird line because it's just true."

Now at 35 years old, Minghella is feeling settled. He is still a "film nerd" that gets giddy with each new opportunity, but he's less anxious about the results. Next thing on his list? Vacation.

"I'm hoping in May once the movie comes out I can run away somewhere."

Read on for his cheesy would-be campaign slogan, his fast-food weakness, and the time he escaped a tornado while working on a film with Blake Lively.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Mary Tyler Moore.

What's the last thing you do before you fall asleep?

I listen to 1950s radio shows. Usually Dragnet. I was researching a project in that period briefly and got sort of into the radio culture of that time. And now I find it incredibly soothing.

Favorite villain?

Hans Gruber.

Describe a memorable dream.

I had a recurring nightmare as a child in which my grandmother turned into a cat. So Tom Hooper's Cats was very traumatizing to me.

First album you ever owned?

My mother bought me the Top Gun soundtrack on audio cassette.

If you were required to spend $1,000 today, what would you buy and why?

I would do anything to help a distressed dog.

If you ran for office, what would your slogan be?

Some kind of tacky pun using my first name. "Take it to the Max," or maybe "Max on, Max off."

Name one place you've never been but have always wanted to go.

Easy. Japan. I went when I was one, but I don't think that counts.

What's the most uncomfortable outfit you've ever worn?

I did a film called Art School Confidential and I had to wear a beret and I found every moment of it truly humiliating. I remember being completely traumatized by it.

Describe your first kiss.

My first kiss was at a bus stop. I was 14 and I lied and told the girl that it wasn't my first kiss, but I think it was probably immediately evident that it was.

What's one dish you're always tempted to order if you see it on a menu?

There are so many things. That's the sad answer. French fries is the truth.

Favorite on-set memory?

I did a movie called Elvis and Anabelle with Blake Lively like 100 years ago and we shot in Texas. There was a tornado one night that forced us to evacuate the set and we had to sort of drive off in a hurry. I put on this song by The Knife called "Pass This On" in the car which is very dramatic and cinematic. The tornado was sort of in pursuit of the vehicle while we were speeding away. And it was just far enough that it wasn't life-threatening, but also a radical visual. That's one of my favorite life memories.

The Handmaid's Tale season 4 premieres on Hulu April 28, and Spiral: From the Book of Saw hits theaters on May 11.

Photographs by Emily Malan. Grooming by Sonia Lee for Exclusive Artists using La Mer. Polaroid Photos by Max Minghella. Special thanks to Polaroid. Production by Kelly Chiello.

[broadstbroskis]

Anything sweet with Willy?

we all deserve ALL the fluff after tonight; hope this is sweet enough! four times you take a picture of will + one time he takes one of you (or something like that, this is the most informal 4+1)

send me prompts!

one

Photography was a dumb elective class you took in high school, made worse by the subject matter. Honestly, you will never forget Miss Wollin telling you to gather sticks and rubber bands for your first photo. 

But you’d fallen in love with it somehow anyway and it was certainly better when you had a subject like William.

You’d first met William Nylander through mutual friends, a pretty blonde classmate of yours dating an equally pretty teammate of his at the time until it had ended terribly, by which point a group of you had become so close speculating over when they would break up and how that you just...kept talking.

“What are you doing?” Will grins at you one night, a rare, free weekend night of his, when you’re all at a house party celebrating someone’s birthday. He’d spent the week traveling, called up to the Leafs, before being sent back down again, and you know the back and forth has been kind of getting to him, so it’s nice to see the smile on his face.

“Taking your picture!” You say, like duh. What does he think you’re doing with a camera in your hands?

He cheeses it up, kind of ruining what was going to be a perfect candid, but he’s so pretty it doesn’t even matter.

two

Auston Matthews skates by and you snap a picture. Besides Will, he’s the last of the Leafs rookies this season that you need to get one of today, their first home game of a new season- for some of them, their first home game ever.

It’s loud, it’s energizing, it’s exciting; you’re kind of surprised you even manage to get Will’s attention at all during warmups.

Will pulls a face at you and it’s unfair that someone looking cross-eyed at you can still look so attractive.

three

“What are you doing?” You whine, pulling the camera from William’s hands. “You’re going to break it!”

“How?” He protests, laughing. “You just push the button!”

“William!” You gasp, loudly enough that Mitch on your other side turns to look. “There is more to it than that!”

“Like what?” Will reaches for your camera again, even as you pull it further away from him. “Lighting? Depth? Focus?” You nod, even though he’s definitely teasing you, and he continues. “Aperture. Long exposure.”

“You are 100% just saying things you’re pretty sure are photography terms.” You call him out and then immediately snap his picture, at the look on his face when you catch him.

“You know what?” He says, pulling his phone out instead of reaching for your camera again. “I’m going to start taking your picture.”

“Why?” You laugh, but then he holds his phone up and you’re covering your face, realizing he’s serious. “Will! Oh my god!”

“Why?” He repeats, but lowers his phone. “Oh my god, you’re hilarious!”

four

Will’s birthday is a perfect day for day drinking, and just about everyone is perfectly tipsy by the time golden hour hits.

“Smile!” You tell him. You’re on the roof of some bar you can’t remember the name of right now, and he’s got a drink in his hand that sloshes out over his fingers when he turns to grin at you, throwing a peace sign up as he does. 

You snap the picture even as you’re laughing, sure that when you develop it, it’s going to come out blurry. 

But god, there’s golden light and then there’s William Nylander in golden light, and it’s almost frustrating how little justice a photo even does him when the sun hits him just right. 

“Wait, lemme go again, I can do better!” Will cries, and you throw your head back laughing, even as you start preparing to take another, and another, and another.

“That’s cute!” Steph says quietly, next to you, and you don’t realize she’s talking to herself until the next day, when she sends you a picture from that moment, of Will laughing and you beaming at him like you’ll never see anything better.

plus one

You drop the picture off the day before Will’s due to return from Sweden, this shot of Will, Zach, Auston, and Mitch from Will’s birthday back in the spring all playing pong, framed in this dark wooden thing that goes so perfectly with the aesthetic of his condo, you’re pretty sure it’ll be months before he notices you’ve even put it there.

It’s about the farthest thing from what happens.

The day after he returns, he shoots you a text, asking you if you want to grab dinner that night, a typical reunion. He’s got a few places lined up he wants to hit when he comes back, seasonal menus he’s looking to get to before the season starts- the time is now for him. 

“I see you left me a gift.” He grins, as the hostess seats you across from him. “Breaking and entering now?”

“It’s not breaking and entering when you have a key, William.” You tease. “I just really liked it. Now you have a nice memory of all of them.”

He gives you a look, laughing, but not unkindly. “I see them everyday, who am I supposed to be forgetting?”

“Yeah, but someday you won’t.” You say. “You’ll all get old and retire and just...life happens. And that’s what’s so great about having these moments captured!” You grin as he looks at you thoughtfully. “You’ll always be able to look back on them-what the hell?” You cry, as the flash goes off on his phone suddenly. 

“Capturing a nice memory.” He says simply, looking down at the picture.

“We just sat down!” You try to reach for the phone, see what he could possibly be looking at with that look on his face. God, he must have gotten you mid-rant; what is your face even doing?

Will locks his screen and puts it on the table, making sure to meet your eyes. “Everything with you is a nice memory.”

That’s...a lot. “Oh.” You bite your lip. 

“Yeah.” Will laughs, and any uncertainty you might have had about his intentions is eased when he presses his ankle against yours under the table and leaves it there for the rest of dinner.

[samandcolbyownme]

Summary: anon request - "can you do a zach one where he like exposes him and readers secret relationship and she just goes with it , like " you weren't so quiet last night " and she just has her jaw dropped and says something back and it ends with smut" 

Warnings: this one shot will contain reader having sexual daydreams during the podcast, those dreams will include, oral (m rec), unprotected sex, the rest will contain Zach's usual banter and fluffiness

Word count: 2.1 k | not edited 

Also - I know it might get confusing, but the italics are what happened the night before, but in the form as if it's happening right now, like you're replaying the night in your mind. Hope that made sense, enjoy! 

╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗

"You want to know what I think is crazy?" Zach asks as his fingers drag up and down your arm. 

"Hmm?" You hum quietly as you keep your head on his chest. You feel him laugh slightly, "That no one has figured us out yet." 

You laugh, moving your head to look up at him, "Well now you just jinxed the hell out of that." 

He shrugs, a smirk on his face, "I mean I like us being a secret and all, but it's so hard for me to not say certain things when you're on the pod with us." 

You nod, "Yeah, I know what you mean." You smirk, "So what, is that your way of telling me you're going to out us at tomorrow's show?" 

He raises his brows, "I'm full of surprises babe. Guess you're going to have to wait and see." 

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

The next day, you're sitting on the red bench, headphones on and you're getting ready to do the show, but your mind just isn't there. 

Instead it's elsewhere. 

Specifically, replaying the time spent with Zach the previous night. 

The way you felt coming back from the restaurant, you needed him, his hands resting on your hips as you unlock your door made you crave him. 

When you finally got the door open, it was like the energy that craved one another clashed, As soon as you push the door open, he spun you around, lips on yours as he backs you into your apartment. 

"Hey." A hand is woven in front of you, "Earth to y/n." 

You look over at Tara and blink as you take your headphones off, "Yeah, hi. I'm here." 

"Where the fuck did you go. You were like-" she mimics how you were staring, "Zoned out." 

You laugh, "Sorry. I'm tired. I was up all night." Zach and Jared walk onto the set, "Oooh. Up all night doing what?" Zach teases and you roll your eyes, "I was coming up with a list of places that've already been to for Sam and Colby." 

Zach sits down and raises his brows, "Wow that was very specific." Zach sighs, placing his headphones on and you can't help but laugh. 

Friends around friends, lovers when it's just you two. 

You lean back, placing your headphones back on and Tara speaks up, "So I have to ask, how does it feel being better than two of the most liked ghost hunters in the world?" 

You laugh slightly, "What do you mean?" 

"I know you do paranormal investigation stuff too, and just the fact that Sam and Colby are coming to you for stuff.. I don't know that just.." Tara laughs and you tilt your head, "Are you just saying that to make a jab at them?" 

She nods and lean in to your mic, "Well then it feels pretty damn good." 

"Alright, alright. Anymore and we'll be scraping your brain off the walls from your head swelling to the point of exploding." Zach tries not to laugh and you shrug, "Hey, I take it when I can." 

You give him a quick and subtle wink then quickly change the subject, "Cat got Zach's tongue so I'll just go ahead and do the intro for him." You laugh, "What's up guys, we're here with Tara, Alyssa, me, Jared and oh, I guess Zach is here too." 

Zach just stares at you and you can't help but laugh. 

"Okay, but I love the fact that she announced Tara and me first." Alyssa laughs and you point to her. Tara nods, "Yeah, I'm going to have to say that we need to all vote to make y/n the person who announces the show." 

"Like a pre-recorded track because there are days she isn't here." Alyssa points out and you nod, "I agree. All in favor." You raise your hand and instantly say, "Three versus two. Girls win." 

"Youre ridiculous. Who invited you here anyway?" Zach rolls his eyes and you furrow your brows, "Um, you?" 

"Can you just like, zip it." Zach motions at his mouth and you smirk, "Make me. Take my headphones away." 

Zach tries not to laugh, "I mean, I can. But you might moan a little." 

"Oh my god. No. No. No." you close your eyes and look away from him, but in secret, you'd be on your knees in seconds for him. 

Zach places his hands on your shoulders, urging you to your knees. You drop down, complying to his every silent request. 

You stare up at him as he shrugs his black jean jacket off, eyes locked on yours as his jaw is slightly slack from your hand sliding over his throbbing cock that's being held back by his jeans. 

"I don't think.. you should say that to our guests?" Jared says with a nervous laugh, "I'm actually surprised you haven't gotten sued yet." 

"Please." Zach shrugs, nodding to you, "She won't sue me." 

Tara points to you, "I think you should just for his reaction. 

You laugh, "Thinking about it." 

You weren't thinking about that at all, Zach undoes his belt, followed by his jeans. The quick sound of the zipper going down causes your skin to perk up with goosebumps, caused by excitement. 

You rise up from your calves, licking your lips as you work fast to free him from his boxers. 

Zach speaking pulls you back into reality, "So now that we're past that embarrassing ensemble.." 

Zach trails off and so does your mind, You loved hearing Zach's little moans and groans as you held his cock with your lips and tongue. 

The way his fingers gentle drug over your head, slowly pulling your hair as his pleasure grew larger, "Fuck." 

Zach didn't really swear in general, so when he did, and it was because of you. It was even fucking hotter. 

You blink, snapping back into reality. 

"So I thought we could talk about something serious today." Zach says and Jared laughs, "Oh no. Someone's getting fired." 

"Yeah it's you." Zach says, pretending to be serious and Jared laughs, "I'd love to see you try, I'll just tell you no and you'll listen." 

You laugh and nod, "No that's so true." 

"Yeah whatever." Zach rolls his eyes, "No I have an exciting announcement." 

Your heart thumps and your head snaps towards him slightly. 

His eyes move to you and he smiles a little bit, "So, I have some news that may shock a lot of people, but I think everyone should know this, from me." 

"What's the fuck is happening?" Tara asks and Zach sighs, speaking quickly, "We're going to be doing a live dropouts show." 

You let out a breath and keep your stare on him, "Wow, Zach. That's great." 

"Better be, because they want all of us who are here right now." Zach gives a thumbs up, "What a relief it was to get that off my chest." 

You laugh slightly as your eyes trail down his neck to his necklace that's lying comfortably on his chest. 

Your back slams onto the bed, Zach's lips kissing over any skin they can reach. You let out a moan as he sucks a hicky into the skin over your hip. 

He kisses up over your boobs and up your neck. He leans up and you feel his cock slip between the folds of your pussy. 

The shiny necklace dangling from his neck as you feel him slide into you fully. You find it so hot when it swings back and forth with each thrust.

"Hey, I can't lie." Jared laughs and Tara cuts him off with a yell, "Say it!" 

You look over, at Tara, laughing as she keeps pointing to jared. You look over at Zach and he gives you a look that would make your legs go weak if you were standing. 

It wasn't a weird look. It was him just staring at you, knowing why you keep zoning out, and he was just making it worse. 

"I liked y/n's intro." Jared sighs and you look over at Jared with a clap, "Thank you." 

"You definitely thought it was better than Zach's intro, right?" Alyssa asks and Jared laughs, "I'm not answering that." 

You yelling with excitement, "Fuck yeah! Because you know that girls are just better than boys!" You motion between you, Tara and Alyssa. 

"Whoa, whoa!" Zach says waving his hand out in front of him a few times, "Settle down. Settle down, I'm getting flashbacks." 

"War flashbacks." Jared snorts and Tara asks with a laugh, "Flashbacks of what?!" 

You look at Zach, laughing and he shakes his head while furrowing his brows, "I don't know what you're laughing about because these flashbacks are of how loud you were being last night." 

It all happened so fast you blank, "What the fuck." 

"What did he just say?" Jared asks, mouth dropped with surprise. 

"Oh yeah, okay." Tara rolls her eyes and as you're still staring at Zach, he tilts his head slightly, giving his brows a quick flick. 

He outted you at tomorrow's show. 

Might as well roll with it. 

"You gonna tell them or you want me to, princess?" Zach smirks and you shrug, letting out a dramatic sigh, "Whatever helps you sleep at night." 

"Oh, you know exactly what helps me sleep at night." Zach winks as you look at him and you shake your head, looking down to rest it in your hand. 

"I can't tell if they're joking." Alyssa laughs and Tara cuts in, "Yeahhh, I mean, okay. I've actually been extremely suspicions about these two for weeks now."

"Oh please tell us what made you think that, Tara." Jared leans in, super invested into the conversation. 

You look up and look from Tara to Zach and he shrugs, "Hit me." He nods to Tara and she smirks, looking between you and Zach, "Well for starters, he stares at her every time she looks away." 

"I like looking at the back of her head. It makes it so I don't have anything mean to say." Zach shrugs and you  just laugh. 

"What else you got, Tara?" Jared encourages and Tara laughs, "Another thing is, they'll stop answering me at both at the same time. Like I'll be texting both of them and then all of a sudden.. radio silence." 

"I have a very strict bed time, Tara." You and Zach both say, just adding fuel to the fire and you just laugh, knowing that you're caught. 

"See!" Tara tells pointing, "See!" 

"Well.. if you don't know you do now." Zach laughs and Jared eggs him on, "Know what? Zach. Care to enlighten us with a perfect confirmation?" 

"What's my lawyer?" Zach yells looking around as he raises his hand. 

"So isn't true? You and.." Alyssa points from you to Zach and you laugh, nodding your head slowly. 

"Wow." Jared says, "I honestly did not expect this is come out onto the podcast today." 

Zach reaches for his water and takes a sip, "Listen, we played dumb, but we knew what we were doing." Zach scoffs, "Alright. You can't tell me that you weren't fooled."

"I knew my suspicions were there for a reason." Tara laughs, "How long?" 

"Two months." You laugh and they don't believe you.  Zach nods, "No she's serious.  It was after the episode with Jake and Johnnie." 

"Oh shit, yeah I guess that was two months ago." Tara nods, "I'm just like.. having a holy fuck moment." 

"Yeah." Zach laughs, "She came to see if I was as rich as I bragged that I was, and I must have passed inspection because she didn't go home that night." 

"Oh my god." You laugh, "That's not.." you shake your head and Jared laughs, "I just.. that really does shock me, like.. y/n. Why him?" 

You shrug, smiling as you look over at Zach. He glances at you and smirks, "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

Thank you for reading! Let me know how you liked it. Love you all! Thank you so much for reading! 

Likes and reblogs are majorly appreciated!

[benhardypout-archive]

004. thank you, alex

a/n: so this is one of my Wonty "comfort fics" - so it's far from canon or never followed the original plot - which i would probably never publish (unless there's one i would like to share), but this time in this fic which i titled "Dirty Little Secret", I'm just going to post some chapters which I enjoyed writing. So the number is the chapter of this fic, and this is the chapter 4, hence, 004. Enjoy reading! 🙈

Perhaps, my crush on Monty was getting out of hand.

I flipped through the Liberty yearbook which Tyler lent me only to feast my eyes over the photos of the guy in Jersey no. 32 through the weekend, as I sat on the floor with my back against the bed.

Montgomery de la Cruz, I chanted in my head, reading his name printed in bold letters.

I stopped by a certain picture of his, running my fingers over the glossy paper, tracing his face. Tyler was lucky to have taken this rare shot of him smiling beautifully like this; those white teeth showing. He was leaning back and wearing a blue tank top. For once, he looked really happy…

I should probably ask Tyler the story behind this shot.

My phone rang a message.

I,  mindlessly, searched for it, not keeping my eyes away from the image. I could feel my heart expanding by this simple picture of him.

Bringing my phone to my face, there’s a  message from Alex: U free this afternoon?

Basically, I'm free for the whole day.

I typed a quick reply: Yes.

And not long after, Alex texted back asking us to meet up at this mall, only a five minute drive.

I wonder if this hang out thing meant anything or just platonic. Anyway, Alex seemed nice. I would love to get to know him more and perhaps get acquainted.

Looking back to the yearbook, I'm so tempted to cut the picture. Or maybe I could just ask Tyler just give me this specific yearbook, like a gift.

* * *

Alex took me bowling. And I'm not so good with the game but so far I'm having fun.

"You're so good at this," I said as Alex hit another strike.

He smiled. "Nah."

"Now, don't be modest on me," I chuckled lightly and took a bowling ball from the rack and positioned it on my hand, adjusting to its weight. Walking by the lane, I put on a stance and ran my tongue over my lower lip, aiming for a strike. Not that I'm expecting to hit one, which of course didn't happen. I looked at Alex, throwing my hands in defeat. "No, not good at this."

Alex went to hit next and of course, another strike. He raises both his arms dramatically and spun around facing me, smiling victoriously, cocking a brow.

"I give up!" I chuckled and sat down by the bench.

"You're named Winston for a reason," Alex commented, sitting beside me.

"What does that mean?"

"Winston, like Winner. Root word, win."

I laughed, throwing my head back a little. "Damn. I think I'm not doing my name justice, then."

"Practice makes perfect."

"Let's just eat. I'm starving."

"Sure."

We walked aimlessly along the mall in silence, with a few side comments about the boutiques or the shops we passed on. Then we saw and spotted some familiar faces. Well, Alex introduced me to some of them, simply pointing from afar and telling their names, since I barely knew anyone from Liberty yet, who also worked here.

Then my stomach decided to embarrass me and did a growl as we reached the food court.

“Someone’s whining,” Alex retorted.

“I know right.”

Since it’s the afternoon, there’s a lot of tables to choose from, not to mention, stalls without queues. A lot of options for us. But we just settled on some corn dogs.

"We should see some movie some time," Alex suggested. "How about tomorrow?"

"Oh, okay." I thought back if I had plans. Is looking at pictures of Monty in the yearbook counted as one?

He smiled and told me the time and rendezvous. And then added, "I-it's a date,"

I blinked. "A d-date?"

"I meant friendly date," he quickly clarified, faking a smile. I could see dejection in his eyes.

I wanted to apologize but perhaps I’m just overthinking the situation and putting meaning on how Alex was acting the past days. I may try to brush it off and act like I’m not noticing anything, but it’s there. Yet, he said so himself ‘friendly date’, maybe he really just meant us to be friendly.

"So you like someone else?" Alex asked after a moment which of course caught me off guard. I should’ve expected that question to come. I almost coughed my Coke out. Good thing, I had swallowed it down. My heart began to skip.

Should I tell him?

I avoided his gaze, and took another sip on my drink. "Uhm… yes," I said in a low voice.

"Oh…. right. Of course."

"Alex-"

"I-I'm just asking," Alex cut me off. Though, I’m afraid I’m already ruining this budding friendship and it’s the last thing I wanted. But, if he ever decides and calls off our little friendly movie date, I'd understand.

"I… Maybe I just need some company," he went on, resting his arms on the table as if for comfort. "And I… I actually like Zach," he glanced at me.

Zach. Oh. I know him.

"I kissed him," he murmured so low I almost didn’t catch it. Then he snorted, lightly. "But… of course he said he's straight."

"I'm sorry," I said in empathy. I wanted to reach for his hands but then decided against it. Then a scenario flashed in my head where I kissed Monty and then he said the same thing-- Ouch!

"It's all right. Thanks for going out with me, and listening." Alex interrupted, saving me from my disastrous thoughts.

I nodded. But then... he asked the question I’m shit scared to answer.

"May I ask who you like?"

Fuck...

I shifted on my seat. "Oh… uhm…It's..." I looked at him, warily. He was indifferent… yet. Wait till you hear this.

With a deep shaky breath I say, "Monty."

* * *

No words had been spoken since, besides the sensational "What the… fuck?" reaction from Alex who wavered before saying the word. And an awkward "Yep" from me, popping the 'p'.

We just went to our own cars and left after.

I'm sure Alex hated me now, or worse, despised me.

I knew it.

Maybe liking Monty would make you lose some friends-- lose some potential friends, rather. We're not even friends.

Was that what Monty meant when he said I got no friends here, as his own experience? Because people didn't like him?

I received a text from Alex later that night, apologizing from how he reacted. Which relieved me a hundred fold. And then he added…

Alex: But… Monty? I just can't believe it! And I think he's as straight as a ruler.

Winston: It's all right. Still a plastic ruler can be bent.

Alex: Correction. Wooden ruler. It just breaks in half, and he'll just break you.

Okay, I couldn't argue with that.

Winston: I guess. But could you keep a promise not to tell anyone?

Alex: Ok

Winston: Thanks.

Alex: So tomorrow. Same time. Same place. And move on from Monty. There's far better guys than that asshole.

Hope it's  that easy…

* * *

I'm glad that Alex didn't change towards me. He still smiled and spoke to me as if I didn't tell him something, which he found horrible.

After buying two movie tickets, we went to the snack bar to buy some popcorn.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me." I heard Alex mutter under his breath, causing me to turn and follow his gaze, only for my world to stop, seeing Monty by the entrance.

I forgot the ability to move until Alex nudged me. I blinked and turned to him. He has this amused smile.

"Seriously, Winston, close your fucking mouth. Some fly would literally rent in there."

I blushed, and sneaked another glance at Monty, longer than necessary, then to the other jocks he’s with. They’re standing by the ticket booth. I shifted closer to Alex and poked his side. "Zach's among them."

"I know. I hate it." Alex then stepped forward as it's our turn. "Two medium-sized popcorn please. Plain... And two cokes?" He told the guy behind the counter and turned to me.

"Coke," I confirmed.

And he went on ordering. But half of my attention was on the noise from the jocks. God… I couldn't believe I would see Monty here.

Oh, fuck.

I desperately searched for any mirror or any surface where I could see my reflection and fixed my hair as I saw them making their way towards us!!!

"Hi, Alex." Zach said beside me. I, discreetly, give Alex another nudge.

Alex barely glanced. "Hi."

"Zachy, I'm gonna have these Hot Tamales," Monty announced, tapping his fingers on the glass display counters, pointing over the Hot Tamales candy bars wrapped in red.

He caught my gaze and it was too late to retrieve my eyes back. So, I threw a soft smile at him, hoping I wasn’t too obvious about my loud attraction.

"Hey, Winston. You and Alex on a date?" he asked instead, and I swore I felt blood rush through my cheeks.

"N-no," I shook my head at once.

"What about you and Zach, Monty? You guys on a date?" Alex cuts in.

"Yeah. Actually it's the four of us, Scott and Charlie."

Scott and Charlie smiled and waved, making Alex roll his eyes.

Zach cleared his throat and looked at Alex. I guessed that maybe he wanted to speak to him… alone, so being a good friend as I am, I stepped aside and took the chance to stand beside Monty. But I made sure to be discreet and just tapped my fingers against the counter, my eyes fixated at the menu posted in front.

Zach whispered something to Alex and I could only catch a few words like 'mad' and 'me', giving me enough hint of what he's saying.

I tensed feeling Monty moved closer to me. "Never thought I'd see you here."

I blushed and glanced at him. "Yeah. Small world."

Then he asked me if we’re going to watch the same movie. A horror one.

“I think we should just sit together, then." Monty suggested, glancing over to Zach and Alex. "Especially, it looks like Zach and Alex have something to talk about."

I chuckled, "Sure." Would love to sit next to you.

"Winston," I heard Alex called and saw that our popcorn was ready. I took one last glance at Monty and uttered a "See you later," before making my way back to Alex.

"What did Zach tell you?" I whispered as we made our way inside the cinema.

"He wants to talk. I said yes."

I just hummed.

"Dammit, Winston. I still like him and I hate it," Alex whined a moment later, making me smile.

We took the seat in the middle section, since it's not too far and not too close, and we could watch properly. Different trailers were being shown and I noticed that there were only a few cinema-goers or maybe only few wanted to see this movie.

Later, I spotted Monty and the group inside looking for a seat, so I gave a secret wave at them, specifically, at Monty. He called his friends after he saw me. Then they made their way to us. I hid a smile. My heart wouldn't shut up about it, and it literally wanted to jump off my chest when Monty took the seat next to me.

Calm down, Winston. I’m afraid he could hear it from here, screaming his name.

Zach tried and asked Alex if he could sit beside him, only receiving a nod from Alex. But I could practically read his mind regretting taking the middle seats, when we could just take the space on either right or left wing, and have all the spaces on our own.

"Are you following me?" I heard Alex mumble to Zach.

"No. I… Monty pointed us here and…maybe I did, by deciding to sit next to you," Zach admitted.

I decided and just diverted my attention to Monty and his Hot Tamales. "Does that taste good?"

"You wanna taste?" He gestured one to my direction. I swallowed, not expecting his sudden offer. Or maybe it's because his shoulder brushed against mine.

"N-no. Thanks."

"Come on," Monty began tearing one package open and handed it to me, "Have some."

I glanced at him and reluctantly reached, staring intently at his hand, tempting to hold it.

"No, don't taste that." One of the jocks interrupted. I stopped. "You will get addicted," he added, grinning.

"Oh, fuck off, Charlie," Monty waved. "Come on. Gimme your hand."

"You're not trying to poison me, are you?" I tried to joke.

And I blushed seeing his boyish smile. "Oh no. It's a love potion," he winked.

Now that sent me. If I happen to be an ice, I've melted by now.

You don't need to give me any love potion, Monty. I wanted to say.

With a trembling hand, I held my palm out and he poured some on it. I uttered a thanks and put everything in my mouth, letting it melt in my tongue.

Charlie was right, it's kind of addicting.

"So?"

"I think I'm in love," I blurted, not breaking eye contact.

He looked away.

Oh no! Wrong move, Winston.

"I mean your friend's right. It's addicting."

He turned back to me and smiled. "I know right." He, then, handed me the Hot Tamales. “Here, have it.”

It would be a shame to take his offer down, so I just took it, our fingers brushing; enough to send electricity down my body. I wondered if he felt it too.

Wishful thinking, Winston.

"Why are you taking Monty's food? It might be contaminated," Alex whispered.

I shrugged him off and offered it to him. "You should try."

"No thanks."

I couldn't help but find Alex's distaste towards Monty, funny. Even though I shouldn't. But I'm afraid I might continue teasing him about it.

The movie finally started. And it's supposed to be scary as it's a horror film. But I'm not a bit scared. However, I'm tempted to hold Monty's hand that was on the armrest between us. But more tempted to pull the armrest up and just lean onto him. Maybe act scared?

As he took his hand away to get some popcorn - since I decided to share my popcorn with him and his friends, who I now know the names of: Charlie and Scott - I, sneakily, placed my hand on the armrest in hopes to be held by him.

Sadly, after he took a handful of popcorn he didn't put his hand back, but my hand stayed where it was. And I just forgot all my attempts on flirting.

"Holy shit!" he exclaimed.

And I tensed not because the scene was scary but because his hand, finally, landed on mine. I hid a smile. And when I thought he would notice and take it away, he didn't, and just stayed there. Though, I wasn't sure if he was ever aware of our hands, or he's too focused on the movie to even notice.

My heart pounded so loud, I could barely hear the show, and could hardly concentrate on it, blocking everything around me but only his presence. I’m only aware of the warmth and the weight of his hand on mine, making my throat dry. I just dreamt of kissing him, or simply lean on him, and embrace more of his scent.

Ugh! Shut it, Winston. Try and hold yourself together.

But how, when he’s close like this? Needless to say, his hand on mine?

The movie just ended without me really understanding everything that happened.

Monty made some comments about it, asking me some of it as soon as we got out to the lobby. I just nodded along, agreeing with everything he said. But Charlie argued with him and they went on, leaving me completely clueless, even though we all watched it together. I should've tried and focused on the show, so I could have a proper conversation with him. But until now, the heat of his hand pricked on my skin.

"Winston," Alex called, and began to walk. I hesitated and followed him outside, not giving me the chance to say goodbye to Monty and his friends.

"Are you alright on your own?" he asked

I frowned, blinking once. "Y-yeah."

"I need to go with Zach," he glanced at Zach, who’s busy chatting or probably saying parting words with his buddies, and rolled his eyes back to me. "Said he wants to talk."

"Oh. Sure."

"Again, beware of Monty. Don't be fooled by his good looks."

"So, you admit he looks good."

Alex stammered but soon gave up, sighing. "Whatever Winston. Don't say, I didn't warn you."

"Okay. Have fun with Zach." I gave his shoulder a pat. "And thanks for inviting me. I really had fun," I smiled.

Alex had to roll his eyes again. "I think I know why."

[theliterateape]

I Like to Watch | Zack Snyder’s Justice League

by Don Hall

Mythology is fun.

As a kid I loved reading Edith Hamilton’s book on the Greek gods and the myths. Hercules, Perseus, Apollo, and Hera—this fell completely in line with my love for superhero comics. The strangely petty human traits of envy, greed, and lust combined with the power to level cities make for some great storytelling.

Zeus was basically Harvey Weinstein in the retroactive revision we’re mired in today. If Harvey could’ve changed into a golden animal and boned unsuspecting ladies looking for careers in Hollywood I’m pretty certain he would. The gods and demi-gods of the Greeks dealt with daddy issues, mommy issues, bad relationships, and fighting. Lots of fighting. Sometimes for the good of humanity but more often for the glory of winning.

Zach Snyder is in the business of tackling myths and reframing them with a style all his own. His career has become its own myth.

From Dawn of the Dead (not so much a reboot of Romero's zombie mythology but a philosophical reimagining of the genre that arguably jumpstarted The Hollywood fascination with it), 300 (a borderline homoerotic take on the myth of the Greek underdog), and Watchmen (a ridiculously ambitious attempt to put one of the most iconic takedowns on the potential fascism of the superhero legend machine ever written) to his nearly single-handed hack at answering the Marvel juggernaut with Man of Steel and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Snyder is in the artistic business of subverting and re-envisioning the mythologies we embrace without even seeing them as such.

Snyder's style is operatic. It is on a grand scale even in the most mundane moments. The guy loves slow motion like Scorcese loves mobsters and Italian food. When you're tackling big themes with larger than life stories, the epic nature of his vision makes sense and has alienated a good number of audience members. With such excess, there are bound to be missteps but I'd argue that his massive take on these characters he molds from common understanding and popular nomenclature elevates them to god-like stature.

Fans of Moore's Watchmen have much to complain about Snyder's adaptation. The titular graphic novel is almost impossible to put in any other form than the one Moore intended and yet, Snyder jumped in feet-first and created a living, breathing representation of most, if not all, of the source material's intent. Whether you dig on it or not, it's hard to avoid acknowledging that the first five minutes of Watchmen is a mini-masterpiece of style, storytelling, and epic tragedy wrapped up in a music video.

Despite a host of critical backlash for his one fully original take, Sucker Punch is an amazing thing to see. More a commentary on video game enthusiasm with its lust for hot animated chicks and over-the-top violence that a celebration of cleavage and guns, the film is crazily entertaining. For those who hated the ending, he told you in the title what his plan was all along.

The first movie I saw in the theaters that tried to take a superhero mythology and treat it seriously (for the most part) was Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie. Never as big a fan of the DC characters as I have been of Marvel, it was still extraordinary to see a character I had only really known in pages to be so fully realized. Then came Burton's Batman movies. The superhero film was still an anomaly but steam was gaining. Things changed with Bryan Singer's X-Men in 2000, then Raimi's Spiderman, and those of us who grew up with our pulpy versions of Athena, Hermes, and Hades were rewarded with Nolan's Batman Begins. A far cry from the tongue-in-cheek camp of the 1966 TV Batman, Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne was a serious character and his tale over three films is a tragic commentary filled with the kind of death and betrayal and triumph befitting the grand narrative he deserved.

I loved Singer's Superman Returns in 2006 because it was such a love letter to the 1978 film (down to the opening credits) but by then, the MCU was taking over the world.

Snyder's first of what turns out to be an epic storyline involving perhaps seven or eight movies was Man of Steel. It was fun and, while I had my issues with the broodiness of Kal El, the odd take on Jonathan Kent, and a redheaded Lois Lane, I had no issue with Superman snapping Zod's neck. Darker and more tragic than any other version of the Kryptonian, it was still super entertaining.

Then came Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. By 2016, Marvel had codified their formula of serious characters wrestling with serious issues of power and responsibility peppered with lots of good humor and bright colors. Snyder's desaturated pallete and angst-filled demi-gods was not the obvious road to financial competition.

I'll confess, I hated it. BvS felt half-rendered. Lex Luthor was kind of superficial and played as a kind of Joker. The whole Bruce Wayne wants to kill Superman thing felt undeveloped and the "Martha" moment was just stupid.

When Joss Whedon's version of Snyder's Justice League came out in 2017, I was primed for it to be a turd and I wasn't surprised. So much of it didn't work on any level. I dismissed it as DC trying and failing miserably and was comforted by the coming of Thanos.

Following Thanos and the time heist was COVID. Suddenly, we were internationally sidelined and the movie theater industry caved in. Streaming services started popping up like knock-off smartphones and Hollywood was reeling, doing anything and everything to find a way back. Since Whedon's disastrous helming of Snyder's third act, fans online had been demanding to #ReleasetheSnyderCut but no one was ever really taking them seriously until all movie production was shut down for a year.

The stage was set to remedy a mistake (or at least make some bucks on a do-over of a huge box office failure). Snyder had left the production in part because of the suicide of his daughter and in part due to the constant artistic fights over executives looking for the quippy fun of the MCU but he still had all the original footage. Add to that the broiling accusations that Joss Whedon was "abusive" during the reshoots, the path seemed destined. For an additional $70 million and complete control, Snyder delivered a four hour mega-movie streamed on HBOMax.

Of course, I was going to watch the thing as soon as I could.

The Whedon version opens with an homage to the now dead Superman (including the much maligned digitally erased mustache on Henry Cavill). The SynderCut opens with the death of Superman and the agony of his death scream as it travels across the planet. It's a simple change but exemplifies the very different visions of how this thing is gonna play out.

Snyder doesn't want us to be OK with the power of these beings unleashed. He wants us to feel the damage and pain of death. He wants the results of violence to be as real as he can. When Marvel's Steve Rogers kicks a thug across the room and the thug hits a wall, he crumples and it is effectively over. When Batman does the same thing, we see the broken bones (often in slow motion) and the blood smear on the wall as the thug slides to the ground.

The longer SnyderCut is bloated in some places (like the extended Celtic choir singing Aquaman off to sea or the extended narrations by Wonder Woman which sound slightly like someone trying to explain the plot to Siri). On the other hand, the scene with Barry Allen saving Iris West is both endearing and extraordinary, giving insight to the power of the Flash as well as some essential character-building in contrast to Whedon's comic foil version.

One thing I noticed in this variant is that Zach wants the audience to experience the sequence of every moment as the characters do. An example comes when Diana Prince goes to the crypt to see the very plot she belabors over later. The sequence is simple. She gets a torch and goes down. Most directors which jump cut to the torch. Snyder gives us five beats as she grabs the timber, wraps cloth around the end, soaks it with kerosene, pulls out a box of matches, and lights the torch. Then she goes down the dark passageway.

The gigantic, lush diversity of Snyder’s vision of the DC superhero universe—from the long shots of the sea life in the world of Atlantis to the ancient structures and equipment of Themyscira— is almost painterly. Snyder isn't taking our time; he's taking his time. We are rewarded our patience with a far better backstory for the villain, a beautifully rendered historic battle thwarting Darkseid's initial invasion (including a fucking Green Lantern), and answers to a score of questions set up in both previous films.

Whedon's Bruce Wayne was more Ben Affleck; Snyder's is full-on Frank Miller Batman, the smartest, most brutal fucker in the room. Cyborg, instead of Whedon's sidelined non-character, is now a Frankenstein's monster, grappling with the trade-off between acceptance and enormous power. Wonder Woman is now more in line with the Patty Jenkins version and instead of being told about the loss of Superman, we are forced to live with the anguish of both his mother and Lois Lane in quiet moments of incredible grief.

To be fair to Whedon (something few are willing to do as he is now being castigated not for racism or sexism but for being mean to people) having him come in to throw in some levity and Marvel-esque color to Snyder's Wagnerian pomposity is like hiring Huey Lewis to lighten up Pink Floyd's The Wall or getting Douglas Adams to rewrite Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

I loved Snyder's self-indulgent, mythologic DC universe.

So much so that I then re-watched Man of Steel and then watched the director's version of BvS (which Snyder added approximately 32 minutes). The second film is far better at three hours and Eisenberg's Lex Luthor now makes sense. Then I watched Zach Snyder's Justice League a second time.

After nineteen hours of Snyder's re-imagining of these DC heroes and villains, I saw details that, upon first viewing, are ignored or dismissed, but after seeing them in order and complete, are suddenly consistent and relevant. Like Nolan or Fincher, Snyder defies anyone to eliminate even one piece of his narrative no matter how long. With all the pieces, this is an epic story and the pieces left at the extended epilogue play into a grander narrative we will never see.

Or maybe we will. Who knows these days?

[jamielea81]

Conversations

Chapter 12

Description: You accompany your friends on a day trip to Animal Kingdom Theme Park where you meet Scott Evans by chance. This one afternoon leads to a year long friendship with both Chris and Scott over text messages and phone calls.

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader

Warning: Little angst, lot of fluff. A curse word or two.

Word Count: 5,542

A/N: I know nothing about the lives of the Evans family and mean no harm. This is purely fiction and for fun. Reblogs and comments are much appreciated! The tag list is now closed. Each chapter tends to get reblogged from me a few times, so if you’re following me, you can’t miss it.  

*Italics are internal thoughts

Catch up with Chapter 11

**

A less drunk person would be more concerned that her old friend, kind of ex flame, and now kind of friend is sitting comfortably in her favorite chair in the middle of her living room.  As if this is how one normally spends a Saturday night. But not you. Those last few shots really took the edge off. You were happily munching on tacos with the boys. Albeit making a mess, but you would have to worry about that tomorrow.

“I want mouse ears!” Chris fake pouted.

“Ya can’t! It’s a Sassy and Grumpy exclusive,” Scott stated.

“’Sides, you don’t have a nickname. Oh! Dork! Dork is your nickname,” you shouted.

“Dork is not my nickname,” Chris said.

“Yeah, even I think that’s bad,” Scott said, earning a shove from you.

“Should we watch a movie?” you asked.

You were tucked closely next to Scott and Zach on the couch while Chris sat in the upholstered chair on the far end of the couch from you.

“Princess Bride?” Chris asked, eyes hopeful.

“Nooooo. That makes me sleepy,” you whined much to Scott’s enjoyment.

He threw his arm around your shoulders and pulled you close. “Does someone not want to go sleepy?”

“I just ate a bunch of tacos,” you sighed out, patting your stomach. “We should go swimming!”

“I don’t think so sweetheart,” Chris quickly said.

You stuck your tongue out at him. No one said you were mature.

“Buzz kill!” Scott yelled.

“Party pooper!” Zach added.

Chris apparently would be babysitting the drunks tonight. He did not see that coming when he booked his ticket late Thursday night.

With most of the taco mess cleaned up, you grabbed a few of throw blankets from your bedroom closet and passed them out. Zach was already out with his head laying against the back of the couch.

Chris queued up the Hangover. Poetic Justice? Maybe.

Scott had gone to the kitchen, mixing you a random cocktail of whatever he could find in your refrigerator. It wasn’t a good idea, but neither of you were thinking.

“Heeeey. What’s that?” Chris asked pointing at the two glasses in Scott’s hand as he takes a seat and passes one to you.

“Mind ya business,” Scott answers firmly.

“Do you both need to still be drinkin’?”

“Yes,” you answered simply enough, taking a long drink from the glass, promptly coughing at the burn. “Is this that raspberry shit?” you questioned Scott.

“We have to use it up,” he said with a shrug.

You closed your eyes and took another big sip, promptly sticking your tongue to the taste. Chris chuckled, shaking his head.

“You guys are idiots,” he said.

“Takes one to be one! Wait. Takes to be one to know one! Damnit!” you shouted.

“Takes one to know one!” Scott shouted.

“Thank you,” you said, laying your head on Scott.

“I got you girl,” Scott said.

“Can always count on you,” you said pointedly to Scott.

“Heeeey,” Chris chided.

Surprisingly Zach slept through all the shouting.

The movie played on with the three of you contently watching. Twenty minutes in, Scott zonked out, his head resting on Zach’s stomach. Both of them lightly snoring in tandem much to your amusement. The two allies had suddenly left you defenseless against the eldest Evans. You were in no state to talk to Chris and you really hoped he didn’t bring up the two of you dating again in your weakened brain capacity.

Maybe I should go to sleep.

Deciding to chug the rest of Scott’s specialty concoction, you quickly got up to rinse your glass in the sink before briskly walking into your room. You realized quickly that you were not staying in your own room, so you quickly backed out the door and into the guestroom.

“Night, Y/N,” Chris called out. You waved your hand, but didn’t bother to turn around.

**

You weren’t sure what time it was, having left your phone in the living room and not bothering to install an alarm clock in the guestroom. All you knew is you were sick. You woke in a cold sweat, body shaking, slightly disoriented as to where you were. You needed to get up and get to a bathroom before you made a mess on the bed. You cursed yourself for drinking so much just because Chris had shown up. This was mostly Scott’s fault by feeding you shots earlier in the day. The tacos and chugging that last drink were strictly the fault of your own.

On shaky legs, you got up from the bed, and slowly moved to the door, opening it with what little strength you had. You made it to the hallway but then your stomach started to turn. You quickly dashed across the hall to the bathroom, well, dash was a strong word. One foot was able to push off the ground with some semblance of agility before you other knee started to drop. You practically slid across the hardwood floor, scrambling on hands and knees to the toilet, promptly emptying your stomach into the bowl. You started to cry, always hating the way your stomach convulsed as if it was no longer connected to your body. A second wave of nausea hit when you felt a hand on your shoulder. The person kneeled beside you, brushing back the damp pieces of hair from forehead as you held onto the bowl for dear life.

It wasn’t until he spoke, did you know that it was Chris that was rubbing soothing circles on your back.

“I got you sweetheart,” he said softly.

The tears continued to flow as you dry heaved a few more times into the toilet bowl.

“Do you feel like you’re done?” he asked gently.

You nodded your head yes slightly. You were afraid too much movement would cause another wave of sickness.

Chris got to his feet, gently placing his hands under your armpits to slowly lift you up. Once you were off the ground, he held onto you with one arm and lowered the toilet seat with the other.

“Why don’t you sit down for a moment and I’ll clean you up.”

He helped you lower yourself to the closed lid before moving to the linen closet to grab a washcloth. He turned on the hot water and let it run for bit before soaking the cloth then ringing it out. Chris wiped gently around your mouth before bringing it back under the water again and ringing it out a second time. He ran the cloth over your forehead and then along your cheeks.

“Do you think you’re going to throw up again?”

“No, I think I’m done.”

Chris nodded his head. “Let’s get you back to bed.”

“I need to,” you point at your mouth and scrunched your face. Chris chuckled, moving back into the closet pulling out a bottle of mouth wash.

You got up gingerly, holding on to the vanity for support. Chris place an arm around your waist to keep you steady while you rinsed your mouth.

Although you were weak, you probably could have managed to get back to bed by this point, but Chris wasn’t letting you go. The two of you walked across the hall with one of his arms wrapped around your back before gently helping you settle on the edge of the bed.

“I really think we should get you changed; you’ve soaked through your t-shirt. You nodded in agreement.

Chris turned to the closest opening the accordion style doors before turning around to face you.

“S’not my room. The dresser in my room,” you said, pointing out the door.

Chris gave you a gentle smile before exiting the room. You heard him knock lightly before hearing the sound of muffled voices. You were still pretty drunk and still unaware of the time. In the morning you would be embarrassed, right now you just wanted to lay down and go back to sleep.

Chris came back in the room a short while later carrying another t-shirt and gym shorts.

“Let’s get you out of this sweetheart,” he said, setting down the change of clothes next to you.

He pulled at the hem of your shirt as you lifted your arms for him to pull it over your head. Chris kept his eyes on yours and you frankly couldn’t look away. Once the new shirt was situated, you stood up on unsteady legs and slid your sleep shorts down. Chris grasped your hands as you stepped out of the shorts. He knelt down to help put the new pair on as you rested your hands on his shoulders for support.

“You’re all set.”

You dropped to your butt, scooting up the bed to get to the pillow. Chris pulled the sheet and blanket over your legs and then brushed the palm of his hand over your forehead.

“Thank you,” you mumbled.

“I’m going to grab the trashcan just in case you need it,” he said while leaving the room. He was back a second later, setting it on the floor near your head. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“No room,” you said slight shrugging a shoulder.

Chris grinned, lowering his head and shaking it. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Okay,” you replied sleepily.

Chris came back in the room carrying two pillows and a blanket, setting them on the ground before leaving the room again. He entered again this time carrying two couch cushions, placing them on the floor on the other side of the bed before retrieving the pillows and blanket and laying down.

“Now remember, your trashcan is on that side, I’m on this side,” he said. You hummed in response. “Night sweetheart.”

You didn’t respond as your senses were coming back to you slightly with your emotions on the brink of escape.

“Y/N, are you still with me?” he whispered.

Tears started to sprout for the corners of your eyes. You held your breath, trying to pretend you were asleep, but it came out like a whimper in your drunk state.

Chris sat up, placing a hand on the mattress. “What’s wrong? Are you going to be sick again?”

It was dark, but your eyes had adjusted and you could almost make out his face. You attempted to hold back the tears once more but it was of no use.

“Sweetheart, please tell me what’s wrong.”

“I-I’m sad at you,” you whimpered out, fat tears rolling down your cheeks.

It was the best way to describe how you felt about the two of you. You weren’t mad, although you had been mad when you first saw the photos, you were generally just sad at the situation. Sad that the last two times you were supposed to get together hadn’t turned out.

“You’re sad? At me?” he asked. You nodded your head yes and closed your eyes. Chris got to his feet, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Baby, I’m so sorry that I hurt you.”

You opened your eyes, seeing that his face was much closer to your own. “It’s not all you. I’m just sad that this didn’t work out. It’s too hard,” you said between soft sobs.

Chris leaned forward, placing a kiss on your forehead. One hand wiped the tears from your cheeks. “Can we please talk tomorrow? I promise there’ll be coffee.”

You gave him a small smile and nodded. The two of you really needed to talk about your relationship. In the middle of the night when you’re still drunk is definitely not the right time.

“Okay.” He stroked your cheek again before pulling up the blanket to your chin. “Try to get some sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” you said softly.

“Night,” he said, going back to the floor.

**

It was morning, but you were still unaware of the actual time. The room was bright with the shades doing nothing to block the sun’s rays. You stirred slowly as the massive headache did not aide your motivation to get out of bed. Zach and Scott weren’t set to fly out until late afternoon, so at least you knew that you had not missed their exit. You were sure Scott would wake you anyway.

You remembered a lot of the night, well, mostly what had occurred when you woke up and found yourself sick with Chris taking care of you. The rest you remembered bits and pieces. Starting now, you were officially giving up drinking shots. You were much too old to drink all day, especially shots.

Leaning over the side of the bed you saw that Chris as well as the cushions, pillows, and blanket were gone. It was probably for the better as you didn’t want to have that conversation right this minute.

When is he flying out anyway?

After taking a few more minutes for yourself, you crawled out of bed and walked across the hall to the guest bathroom you found yourself very acquainted with last night. You brushed out your hair, washed your face, and then brushed your teeth. Showering could wait until later.

Taking a big breath, you opened the bathroom door and shuffled down the hallway to your living room and kitchen. Scott and Zach sat at the kitchen island eating pancakes while Chris maned the stove making more.

“Hi,” you said shyly. This was your house, but it felt odd to have other people living in it while you slept.

“Good morning, princess,” Scott said, getting up from his barstool. He pulled you into a hug and rocked you back and forth. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit. How about you?”

“Better now that I ate something.”

You hummed in response, leaving his embrace to place a hand on Zach’s shoulder before walking up to Chris at the stove. You placed a hand on his upper back while you went to stand beside him.

“Hey sweetheart. How are you feeling?”

“Massive headache, but otherwise I’ll live.”

“How many do you want? You gotta eat,” Chris added when you didn’t immediately respond.

“Just two.” He nodded, flipping over the pancakes that were in the pan. “Listen, thank you for taking care of me last night.”

“Of course,” he said, turning to face you. “I’m sorry you got sick, but I’m glad you were able to get some more sleep after.”

You gave his arm a squeeze before turning back and taking a seat next to Zach at the island.

**

Scott and Zach left your place at two in the afternoon. Scott whispering “good luck” in your ear after hugging you goodbye.

Chris and you walked back in the house, both heading into the living room sitting on opposite ends of the couch.

“So,” he started

“Thank you again for taking care of me last night. I drank way too much, though Scott is most to blame for that.”

“Why were you guys day drinking anyway?”

You chuckled softly to yourself. “Okay, um. Hmm. I’m pretty sure Scott was trying to get me nice and drunk because he knew you were coming.

Chris wiped a hand down his face but his lips were turned up in a smile. “Suppose I deserve that.”

“No one deserved that. Especially my liver. I still feel like dying.” You gave him a soft smile, grabbing a throw pillow and wrapping your arms around it. “So, why did you come out here anyway?”

It was an honest question. You had called off whatever the two of you were a week ago and then he shows up at your door.

“I wanted to see you and spend time with you. I know you want to go back to being friends and I will respect that, for the time being,” he said.

“Such a brat,” you said.

“Me? Me?”

You took the pillow in your hand and wacked him with it.

“Well, I am happy to see you. How long are you staying?”

“A few days?” he asked. “Didn’t exactly book a return flight.”

You shook your head and scrunched up your lips at him.

“Well,” you said, clapping your hands together. “We need groceries. And you do realize I have to work.”

“It’s fine. Told you, I’m your pool boy,” he said wiggling his eyebrows. “Besides, I get you for breakfast and dinner. And I’m just realizing how dirty that sounds.” He said chuckling.

“Oh my god! Such a brat,” you said shaking your head once again. “I’m visiting Boston in October.”

“You are?! Staying with me?”

“Scott.”

Chris pouted his lips.

“Don’t give me that look. He offered and you told me your house is having work done,” you reasoned.

“Still livable. Just can’t use like half of it,” he shrugged. “Maybe a third by October.”

There was a beat of silence before Chris’ smiling face turned serious.

“I don’t like that you’re sad about us. I want us to get back to what we were, before a dating relationship even began. You are one of my closest friends. You mean so much to me, Y/N.”

You grabbed his hand and scooted closer to him.

“You’re one of my closest friends too. When we first started talking regularly, I never thought it would be anything more than that. Then you got a little flirty with me and I flirted right back. Then one day you surprised me and said you were coming out here and we had a good day together. Well, a good second day together,” you said, earning a smile from him. “Then you kissed me and it changed everything. I just didn’t realize how hard it was going to be. The distance. You live an entirely different lifestyle from me and I’m not used to that. Don’t think I’ll ever be used to other women throwing themselves at you. I mean, I can’t blame them, but it’s not something I want to see. I need more than seeing you once every few months, even once a month. If you’re filming, that’s one thing. But in the beginning of our relationship, not to be able to see you and plans getting canceled last second. It’s just not helping.”

Chris takes your joined hands in his other hand. “You’re right. We weren’t being fair to us. I wasn’t being fair. Let me show you what we can be. Please let me show you how great we can be together. I should’ve said.” He licks his lips. “I should have said from the moment we kissed that I wanted to give this an honest try. There’s shit I have to think about more. Need to think about the stuff I don’t normally have to when I’m seeing someone from the industry, or someone who lives in the same city as I do. That’s on me and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have canceled on you this last time.”

You shake your head at that. “This is your job Chris and you got that role. You had to go.”

“I coulda pressed to reschedule. Shoulda called you after because of course, you’re important to me. But I was stupid and got drunk.”

You shake you’re head again. “I’m not trying to change you. You’re allowed to celebrate with friends. Just maybe think about me during those moments. Send me a text. I think it bothered me more because we were supposed to be spending that time together. But I should have spoken up and said, ‘hey, can we Facetime when I get home?’ so it would have been like we were still together like we planned.”

“You’re right. I think we both need to be a little more honest with what we want. I’m willing to take this slow if that’s what you want, but I’m not trying to spend time with anyone else. I’m not going to do that to you.”

You took a deep breath, exhaling slowly out your nose. The idea of trying again was scary. Would it be much of the same? Only seeing each other every few months wasn’t something you wanted.

“How would this work?” you asked.

“Well, much like yesterday, I’d fly in more often. You have to work every week, so it’s easier for me to come to you. I won’t take any last-minute meetings when I have plans to be with you. We’ll…”

“I want to go on dates,” you interrupted. “Like actual dates. Nothing that’ll draw unwanted attention to you, but I think jumping right into semi living together isn’t going to do us any favors. Not that I don’t want you here. I want you here. But people go on dates.”

Chris chuckled. “Dates.” He nodded his head slowly. “Yeah, people go on dates. We can do that. Every time I’m here, I owe you a date.” His eyes crinkled and you couldn’t help but stare.

Do his eyes always crinkle like that?

“Oh! Okay. Good,” you said with a nod. “Good.”

“I promised you coffee today. I know it’s already way past morning, but do you want to go to that place you love?”

“Um, nah, we can skip it today.” you said nervously.

Chris gave you a questioning look. “You sure?”

“Well, uh.” You licked at your lips. “Me and Ethan, my ex, we used to go there every Sunday. Don’t want to run into him by chance,” you said with a shrug. “We’re not on bad terms or anything. Would just be kind of awkward to run into him there.”

“Then we find our own place. A place that we go to every time I’m in town.”

You smiled widely at that. Our own place. Suddenly you had the urge to kiss him, so you do. It was fast and chaste but it felt right. You pulled back to see a large grin on Chris’ face.

“We are still going slow,” you reminded him.

“Of course. Didn’t even think otherwise. I do have a question though.”

“And what’s that?” you asked.

“Do you only get to decide when we kiss?”

Smartass.

“Well, I suppose you get to decide on the half the kisses. It’s only fair after all.” Chris started to lean in. “But! We are going slow,” you reminded him again.

“Right, right. I’m taking you on a date tomorrow anyway. So, maybe I’ll get that kiss.”

“Maybe.”

**

There was something so domestic and familiar about coming home from work to find Chris on your couch watching TV.

“Honey, I’m home.”

“Cute,” he said, getting up. “You need to get changed into something casual. I’m taking you out.”

Oh! Right. We have a date.

Despite you being the local, Chris had taken it upon himself to look places to go nearby.

Dressed in jeans, a short sleeved pink blouse, and flats, the two of you were out the door twenty minutes later. Chris insisted on driving you in his rental, something about it being the date he planned so he was going to drive.

Thirty minutes later, Chris pulled into a nearly empty parking lot of a brewery you hadn’t been to.

“They have a food truck here that’s supposed to be really good,” he said.

“Sounds good to me!”

The two of you decided to grab a table outside rather than going inside where it was a bit more crowded. The patio had an overhang with a few ceiling fans as well as white twinkle lights that ran the length of the cement slab. There were over thirty brews and ciders on the menu, so Chris spent a good amount of time going over the menu, sending the server away more than once. You couldn’t help but laugh each time he told her we needed more time. You decided on a pineapple cider within minutes of arriving. After much deliberation, Christmas ultimately decided on a plain old lager.  

“That was an amazing thing to experience,” you said with an amused tone.

“What was?” Chris asked, eyebrows furrowing.

“That whole taking a long time with the menu thing,” you said gesturing one hand down the drink menu in the middle of the table.

“Hey! I have a particular set of taste buds that need to be thoroughly pleased. One does not simply pick a beer at random Miss cider. What’s up with that? Cider…”

“It’s got pineapple! It’s yummy,” you said sticking out your tongue at him.

“M’sure. What do you say we go take a look at that food truck?”

**

Chris pulled in your driveway at ten minutes to nine. The two of you walking hand in hand to the front door. You tempted to let go of Chris’ hand to grab the keys from your purse, but he wasn’t having it. He pulled you until you spun around and into his arms as if he were a salsa dancer.

“Whoa,” you said, your arms resting on his shoulders for stability.

He grinned at your response, one arm going around your waist while his other hand rested on your cheek.

“What are you doing?” you whispered.

“Kissing you goodnight.”

And he did. It was slow, almost torturously slow. You peeked your tongue out of your mouth, but he wasn’t playing fair as continued to mold his lips to yours. It was all soft lips and gentle caresses that you let yourself melt into. He slowly removed his lips from yours but kept his face close, time almost standing still.

“Maybe we can do this again sometime,” he said softly.

Heat instantly filled your cheeks. He was a such a dork, but he was your dork.

“M’hmm,” you replied. “I think I’d like that too.”

He kissed you again, but this time you pulled back first. “Okay, bye!” you said, turning away from him, unlocking the door and closing it in his face. Really, this was a date and he already kissed you goodnight, it was only fair to toy with him a bit.

You counted to ten and then slowly opened the door. Both palms of his hands were resting on the door frame as he leaned forward, head bowed down.

“Are you coming in or what?”

“Sassy, livin’ up to that nickname,” he said walking through the door and closing it behind him.

When you were ready to turn in for the night, you kissed softly outside your bedroom door before sending him to the guestroom for the night.  

Chris left two days later with promises to return soon. You felt a lot better about your relationship this time than when it first began. Having a serious talk about your feelings really was needed. He really wanted to give your relationship a go even if it meant going slow.

**

Two and a half weeks later, Chris was warming your front door with a big smile and a small suitcase. He cooked you pesto eggs before work the next morning and took you to the cinema for a late night showing. He didn’t press when you set the guestroom up for him again this trip. As much as you wanted to, you didn’t want to jump right back into bed together.

The next day you were supposed to be at work, but instead, you were in your favorite coffee shop, in the back corner away from the noise of the afternoon coffee breakers. A little bit of guilt plagued you because Chris was in your home while you were supposed to be in the newsroom.

Asia Williams’ business card sat snug in your grip with your cell phone’s keypad waiting for you to simply type in her digits. You needed to do this. Chris was making all this effort to come see you. Despite your plans to be in Boston next month, he had already made plans to come see you in another two weeks. Even though Chris was an experienced traveler, he would eventual run himself ragged.

Taking a deep breath, you dialed Asia’s number and crossed your fingers.

“Asia Williams,” she answered.

“Hi Asia. This is Y/N Y/L/N. We met at the conference last month. Brooks Cole’s friend.

“Yes, hi Y/N. It’s nice to hear from you. Have you thought more about my offer?”

“I have actually. I’m looking for a change, but I have something I’d like to propose,” you said.

“Okay, I’m listening.”

“I’d like to stay on as a freelancer with the Orlando Sentinel. I’d only cover Disney for them. Ride openings, hotel openings, major anniversaries. It’s the Magic Kingdom’s 50th next year. But otherwise I’m exclusively yours.”

“And the Sentinel’s okay with this arrangement?” she asked.

“I believe they will be, but I wanted to run it by you first. If they’re not, it will be tough to part ways, but I believe you organization is the next step for me.”

“I believe it is as well. Why don’t I send over a contract, you speak with the Sentinel, and call me if you have any questions.”

“Thank you, Asia. I’m very excited to come aboard.”

“I’m excited to have you. Do you think you’re going to stick with your home base of Florida like Brooks did?” she asked.

“I’m not entirely sure yet, but a big move is on my mind.”

“We’ll chat soon then.”

“Sounds great. Talk to you soon.”

You took another deep breath, letting it out slowly as a large grin eased itself on your face. This was going to be a big change, but you were ready for a challenge.

You grabbed a coffee on your way out the door. You needed to meet with you boss James before he left for the day, a surge of caffeine is exactly what you needed.

**

“Honey I’m home!”

“Is that ever going to get old to you?” Chris asked from your kitchen.

“Nope.”

“What do you think of chicken parm for dinner?” he asked.

“I think that sounds delicious, but I’m taking you out to dinner instead,” you said, giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

“Not that I don’t like this whole you treating me to dinner thing, but what’s the occasion?” he asked.

“We are celebrating. I got a new job,” you grinned.

“You did?” he exclaimed. “I didn’t even know you were looking for something different!” He threw his arms around you hugging you tight.

“Honestly, I’ve been thinking about a change for the last two years, but I was scared to make a move. I still have to look over the contract a second time, Jana’s already looking it over for me too, but it’s pretty much good to go. It’s going to be a lot different. I actually met with my boss at the Sentinel and they are going to keep me on as freelance. Basically, I get to cover what I want when it comes to Disney.”

“That’s great sweetheart! Where will you be working?”

“News Now. It’s an online news source.”

“I’ve heard of it. Actually, I use it quite frequently. That’s amazing. Since it’s online, do you get to work from home?”

“That’s actually one of the benefits. I can work from anywhere. Visit my family, visit you, and still work. I get to take on stories I care about. They want a lot of opinion pieces from me too. I’m nervous as hell, but also really excited.”

“This is amazing,” he said, giving you a quick kiss and then pulling you into another hug.

**

With happy and full stomachs, the two of you went to bed after watching a few episodes of The Office.

It was such an exciting day that you were finding it hard to sleep. First, the guy you were seeing was in town, not only in town, but in your house. Secondly, you got a new job. Not only was it something new, it was a change that would fulfill that part of your life completely. Thirdly, you were able to stay on with the paper, keeping your credentials to attend media events of your choosing. It was like you won the happy life lottery today.

After tossing and turning for another hour, you got out of bed, threw open your door, and walked with determination down the hall. Stopping in front of Chris’ room, you knocked on the door quietly. If he didn’t answer, you’d just go back to bed and watch TV.

Maybe Scott’s still awake.

Before you could turn around and go back to your room, the door opened.

“Sweetheart, everything alright?”

“Ye-yeah. It’s just. Okay, you know.” You let out a breath as Chris looked on, arms folded across his chest. “This is silly. Will you come sleep with me?’

He chuckled light, sleepy grin on his face. “Yeah. I can do that.”

Just because you weren’t ready to jump back into an intimate relationship, it didn’t mean you couldn’t snuggle and sleep in the same bed.

“Let’s go to bed sweetheart,” Chris said, gesturing toward your bedroom door.

Chris pulled the covers back on the side you didn’t sleep on and laid down on the bed. This was the first time Chris had slept in your bed, and you couldn’t deny you liked the look of it. Crawling in next to him, you turned off the lamp on your nightstand and snuggled up on his chest.

“Goodnight babe,” you said softly.

“Goodnight beautiful.”

Chapter 13

**

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[movie-magic]

The Tomorrow War review: Amazon’s sci-fi epic starring Chris Pratt has no grasp on what it is

When Will Smith punched an alien in Independence Day and welcomed it to Earth, it was glorious – a firmly tongue-in-cheek evocation of how America sees itself, as the globe’s bare-knuckled saviour. When Chris Pratt repeatedly shanks an alien in The Tomorrow War, while angrily whimpering “die”, it has the look and feel of a bar brawl – not exactly glorious, though an unintentionally fairer representation of America’s true nature.

This sci-fi wreck, which Amazon acquired from Paramount Pictures for an eye-watering $200m, certainly likes to think of itself as being as patriotic as the films of Roland Emmerich. Much like Independence Day, it’s about a global war against extraterrestrial invaders that only the United States seems to be actively participating in. Here, the battle’s actually being fought 30 years in the future, with reinforcements from the present being drafted and forced to dive down a time-tunnel in order to join the fight.

The Tomorrow War hopes audiences will thus also be reminded of Edge of Tomorrow, Alien, Back to the Future, and, for less logical reasons, Pratt’s own Jurassic World franchise (the aliens have adorable little T-Rex arms and shriek like velociraptors). In fact, think of anything else, The Tomorrow War begs – anything that might distract from the vast, spinning black hole of purpose at its centre. It has no idea of what it is, what it wants to do, or why it should take up nearly two and a half hours of anyone’s time.

The film is written by Zach Dean, whose experience is primarily with grimy crime stories, and directed by The LEGO Batman Movie’s Chris McKay. Both of them seem so creatively at odds that Pratt, as their star, acts like his brain’s being split in two, his eyebrow so violently cocked in confusion that it threatens to leap right off his face. At first, his character, Dan Forester, seems like he’s a variation on the Golden Retriever-like goofball he played on Parks and Recreation (and, to some degree his Marvel character, Star-Lord).

A central concept in The Tomorrow War is that these vicious aliens, the white spikes, are so relentless that they’ve nearly wiped out the world’s population in 2051, necessitating that present-day Earth sends endless waves of ordinary, randomly picked citizens as back-up – including Dan. There’s no real explanation as to why the US government never established a formal training programme (too long is spent having to explain the ins and outs of why they can only time travel to one particular spot, in one particular way). It does mean that Dan is surrounded by sitcom actors, like Veep’s Sam Richardson and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Mary Lynn Rajskub, reeling off faint jokes about how boring their lives are and how likely they are to die.

But, at times, Dan’s expressions will suddenly stiffen into cement and we’re reminded he’s actually a competent military veteran, who loves nothing better than a vague, stoic expression like “I’m not a hero, I’m just trying to save my daughter”. For a film that features several sequences of characters leaping slo-mo out of the way of an explosion, The Tomorrow War has the odd audacity to insist it’s also a moralising lesson about the effects of PTSD on the families of American veterans. There are plenty of tortuous, faux-profound close-ups of shaking hands, spliced in between the shots of rampaging dino-aliens getting filleted by bullets.

Dan was abandoned by his father James (JK Simmons, still bearded and ripped like he was in 2017’s Justice League), who was so broken by his experiences in Vietnam that he feared for his own family’s safety. But, since The Tomorrow War is a film with zero sense of identity, the message its characters walk away with is not only deeply crass but genuinely offensive to those it's pretending to champion. James is chastised for his “mistake”. Dan must become the better man. And The Tomorrow War pretends it’s taking the high ground right as it plummets off the cliff of reason.

[tabloidtoc]

Star, March 1

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Humiliated Jennifer Lopez used for money and fame by Alex Rodriguez

Page 1: Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who is a UK ambassador for George Clooney and Rande Gerber's tequila brand, welcomed a son on February 9 at London's Portland Hospital

Page 2: Contents, Robin Thicke in front of a piano at Gold Diggers studio in L.A.

Page 3: Star Shots -- Serena Williams honored late Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner by rocking a one-legged Nike catsuit at the first day of the Australian open, Chrissy Metz brought some vibrancy to the virtual SCAD aTVFest where she discussed This Is Us and was honored with the Vanguard Award, Olivia Culpo checked out the view before heading to the Shaq Bowl in Tampa

Page 4: Inside Britney Spears' nightmare -- a shocking new documentary exposes how Britney was used and abused by people she trusted -- Britney's unable to communicate with fans directly without permission -- fans flooded Justin Timberlake's Instagram to demand an apology for what one called profiting from trashing a woman

Page 5: Facing a lawsuit from her estranged older sister has rattled Mariah Carey -- Alison Carey alleged to a NYC court that Mariah had intentionally inflicted emotional distress by writing about her in the 2020 tell-all The Meaning of Mariah Carey and Alison is seeking $1.25 million after the singer accused her of, among other things, throwing boiling hot tea on her and trying to sell a 12-year-old Mariah to a pimp -- now Mariah has become wary of even those in her inner circle and is making longtime employees re-interview for their jobs -- Mariah's always been on the paranoid side but everyone is a suspect now and she's grilling everyone from bodyguards to chefs to stylists and household staff who have been with her for years and if anyone pushes back they are shown the door -- her great fear is that people could cross over and spill secrets to the enemy because she's been caught off guard before by those she trusted

* Catching ZZZs has become a real problem for Kelly Clarkson -- between her gig as a daytime host, trying to sell homes in Nashville and Encino, and battling her ex Brandon Blackstock over custody of their two kids, she is beyond stressed and she can't sleep and nothing works; the most shut-eye she gets is two to three hours -- it's gotten so bad she's even tried hypnotherapy but her workaholic brain outwits it -- meanwhile her legal woes including a lawsuit with her husband and ex father-in-law's talent agency are getting nastier and Brandon has told her in no uncertain terms that he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants which is a ton of money and time with the kids

* She was the most loathed mother in America and now Casey Anthony wants her say -- 10 years after she was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee, Casey is making a documentary about the trial and she thinks she can clear her name -- she's not looking for sympathy but she believes she's a victim too and was unfairly convicted in the public eye -- she is planning on dropping bombshells in the doc including her take on the theory that the toddler accidentally drowned in the family pool as well as shocking secrets about her own abusive upbringing but don't expect much remorse

Page 6: Just over a year after her father Kobe Bryant and sister Gianna Bryant perished in a tragic helicopter crash, Natalia Bryant who is Kobe's oldest daughter, has signed a modeling contract with IMG Models who also represent Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid and the just signed Inauguration standout poet Amanda Gorman

* Rumer Willis was heartbroken when her months-long relationship with Armie Hammer fizzled out in December but after harrowing reports of Armie's alleged abuse of women including asking to barbecue their ribs and carry their severed toes in his pocket, Rumer is telling friends she feels lucky -- she wanted to defend him when the cannibalism stories first came out because she thought they were outrageous and now she feels badly for all of the victims and she's really grateful she didn't get caught up in the Armie nightmare

* Star Spots the Stars -- Eva Longoria, Mandy Moore, Demi Lovato, Dan Levy, Dorinda Medley

Page 8: Star Shots -- Meg Ryan wore some wide-legged trousers and a cute cap on a nature walk in Santa Barbara, Gavin Rossdale wore pink socks while playing tennis in L.A., Ciara holding six-month-old son Win during a family getaway to Hawaii

Page 9: Delilah Belle Hamlin and Love Island's Eyal Booker removed their masks for a quick street smooch during a coffee date in L.A., Sofia Richie enjoyed some PDA with shipping heir Gil Ofer in Miami

Page 12: Kate Upton doing yoga, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and her husband Cory Hardrict shared dishwashing duty after cooking at home, Robin Roberts tasted a treat on Good Morning America in New York City

Page 13: Pregnant Brittany Cartwright brought her dog along to retrieve the mail in L.A., Victoria Justice showed off her toned tummy post-workout in L.A.

Page 14: Goldie Hawn turned quality time with granddaughter Rani into a workout toting her in a backpack, Madonna and Guy Ritchie's son Rocco Ritchie waded in during a vacation in Tulum in Mexico, Lucy Hale on a stroll with her dog Elvis in L.A.

Page 16: Chris Noth put in a day's work on The Equalizer in Paterson in New Jersey, Flavor Flav and Flo Rida at The Super Glow Super Bowl kick-off party in Tampa, Bradley Cooper kept daughter Lea close as the two ran errands in NYC

Page 17: More than a week after celebrating 18 months of sobriety Lily Allen enjoyed a snack on-the-go in London, Jessica Alba lifted her son Hayes while riding scooters with husband Cash Warren in Beverly Hills

Page 18: Normal or Not? Cody Simpson got physical with new girlfriend Marloes Stevens during a romantic getaway in St. Barts -- normal, Selling Sunset's Christine Quinn picking up a portrait of herself in L.A. -- normal, Jack Black raised Thor's hammer in a parody posted on Instagram prompting Chris Hemsworth to call it the greatest thing he's ever seen -- not normal

Page 19: The Crown's Emma Corrin looked intrigued by a leafy object she stumbled upon during a stroll in London -- not normal, Sarah Jessica Parker kicked back in heels during a break from assisting shoppers at her flagship store in NYC -- not normal

Page 20: Fashion -- stars look sweet in tiered dresses -- Maude Apatow, Logan Browning, Margot Robbie

Page 21: Julianne Moore, Camila Morrone, Saoirse Ronan

Page 24: After months of quietly dating, Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley are ready to marry and they announced it in the most low-key way possible and the couple are madly in love and feel unequivocally that this is the real deal -- Aaron and Shailene were friends long before sparks flew in August last year and having to endure a long-distance romance during football season actually made their bond stronger -- Aaron and Shailene are already planning to start a family and they're at that stage when they feel ready to be parents and are keen to have a baby

Page 25: Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles have found another dynamic duo to spend their downtime with which is Florence Pugh and Zach Braff -- the foursome hit it off on the set of Don't Worry, Darling which Olivia is directing and in which Florence and Harry star -- they have the best time together and know how to forget the world outside -- as it turns out bearing witness to Florence and Zach's happy relationship despite their 20-year age difference played a part in Olivia taking a chance on dating Harry who is nine years her junior following her split from Jason Sudeikis and seeing them together inspired Olivia to go for it with Harry and she's so glad she did

* While some couples are overwhelmed being with their kids 24/7 in lockdown, Prince William and Duchess Kate have enjoyed the extended family time with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis -- having the kids at home during the pandemic has given Kate baby fever and she loves being around them and wants to have one more and she and William are trying for another, with Kate saying she's hoping for a girl -- as for raising four young kids, the pair are up to the challenge because Kate's a pro at multitasking and William is a devoted dad and they'll split parenting duties

* Matt Damon is hoping a change of scenery will save his rocky 17-year relationship with wife Luciana Barroso as the couple and their three girls have set up house in a lavish $7000-a-night rental in Australia's tony Byron Bay while the actor films Thor: Love and Thunder -- the beachy new surroundings are just what the couple needs after hitting a rough patch and Matt is working overtime to make sure Luciana enjoys herself Down Under by arranging date nights and buying gifts for her to open every day and even when he's working he's got time set aside for just them and the gestures seem to be working and it's the shot in the arm they both needed

Page 26: Cover Story -- Jennifer Lopez humiliated and used -- shocking cheating allegations rock J.Lo's world as fiance Alex Rodriguez's mistress Madison LeCroy tells all -- while Jennifer is putting on a brave face the affair rumors are devastating to her whether she admits it or not -- after revealing she and Alex exchanged DMs Madison said she doesn't want anything bad for his family or for hers -- Alex says it was innocent and that nothing happened but Jennifer is not fully buying it -- Jennifer and Alex's relationship is personal but it's also business; together, their fortunes have doubled

Page 30: Chip and Joanna Gaines -- inside our farmhouse reno -- Chip and Jo are expanding and renovating their Waco home and it may be their toughest job yet

Page 32: Celeb Parenting Fails -- these celebrity moms and dads share their hilarious hapless moments -- Anne Hathaway, Brad Pitt

Page 33: Willie Geist, Mila Kunis, Pink

Page 48: Parting Shot -- Despite it being her first concert in over a year, Miley Cyrus was ready to rock while headlining the TikTok Tailgate Super Bowl pre-show event in Tampa -- the show treated 7500 Florida-based healthcare workers to a set that included guest appearances by Joan Jett and Billy Idol, who both collaborated on Miley's latest album

[chilling-seavey]

From the thing you reblogged ----> "Anonymously - or not - tell me what passage, fic, line of narration, or anything you remember me by as a writer."

2. Passchendaele/Normandy

Bruh, where do I even start with this one. I remember the time you posted the first chapter for this- I already fell in love with it. I'm such a history geek and literally became so invested in this (still am). The stories, the love, the bonds, the relationships, the realities of the war- there is so much to take in hear, that if I tried to fit it into this ask, it would literally do absolutely no justice to what the Passchendaele Universe is.

I love Daniel and Lizzie, so much. But my favorite character pairs would definitely be Daniel and Corbyn especially in the later years. The bond that Zach and Daniel had - that was something else, something I'll never forget.

A moment - or moments- which I won't ever forget are those between Daniel and Christian. We saw so much - especially in some of the later blurbs where we got a peek into Christian's life- we saw so much of how the war and his upbringing changed Christian. That disruption of Daniel's image and how he later had to cope with the death of his brother- wow. I will never get over that.

And Normandy - oh my gosh. Ever since I saw their face claims, I literally see every blurb like a scene from a movie, so clearly in my head. Your writing has improved so much and it's so clear. I will never forget that description you made about Charlie's nightmares transforming from a dragon in his nightmares to another form of a dragon as the plane- gets me every time. Also, that bond between Charlie and Daniel is so special. The way Daniel chooses to put aside his upbringing with a typically stereotyped father (of that era with those beliefs and values) to raise and help his son after the war. That's true growth, bravery and beauty.

Also I won't ever forget the scene where Richie dies. That just always hurts, man. I don't know whether I should hate you or love you for that.

Gosh, Passchendaele is my baby. It’s my favourite. The one I poured parts of my soul into. It may not receive as much attention as my other universes but us close few who cherish it make all the difference. 

I’m so glad the bonds and character growth stood out to you because this was my first real piece of writing that I grew and pulled out deep and honest characterization. Christian spoke on a livestream way back last year about wanting to play a role that focusses on the hardships and trauma of war and how the horrors can change a man. So I wrote him one. His character himself is the epitome of change and Daniel’s character follows quite a similar turn as well. But it’s Zach, the child admits the hell, where you can really see this. Daniel felt like his mother. He was just a boy and yet gave up his entire future for Daniel to have a shot at his. I could talk for hours about simply the characterization in Passchendaele and it makes me so happy that you notice it. Sometimes I wonder if people read just for the names - Daniel, WDW, etc - and not for the true meaning behind this novel especially. You’re proof that this isn’t the case and I honestly thank you for that.

Normandy was the perfect continuation of my characters’ growth and being able to study them closer and broaden their personalities and traumas. Daniel’s character arc is honestly...honest. And inspiring. And although I wrote him and crafted his character with my own hands, I am proud of him. And it nearly brings me to tears that you are too. Passchendaele is truly the love of my life.