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snippychicke · 5 years ago

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Headcanons for Reeve & his Assistant

Stolen from @selfloving-shipper Dedicated to @unbiddenrhythm

A: Activity (What is an activity they enjoy doing together)

I think just spending time together while working, even if its on different projects, is something they enjoy. Whether it's work related, or after their together and Reeve is working on a pet project and Rea is occupied with her own hobby (reading?) They just enjoy being close together.

B: Bashful (What is something one of them finds embarrassing about themselves but the other finds adorable)

Reeve: He is rather self conscious about how much he cares for Cait, seeing him less as a toy or robot, and more like a child. He'll catch himself fussing when the cat wanders off to do heroics, or when he comes back injured. Rea thinks it's absolutely adorable amd also quickly accepts Cait as a person rather than a machine.

Rea tends to lose herself when reading, and will start reacting aloud (ie squealing happily, or cussing out characters during plot twist). Reeve realizes the more vocal it is, the better the book (and not to bother her if possible).

He thinks it's the cutest thing he has ever seen a person do.

C: Calm (How do they calm each other down)

Soft touches and meaningful looks tened to help Reeve regain his self control when he gets upset over something. Just gentle reminders that he isn't alone.

Rea, however, when she is truly upset, needs a little bit more persuasion. She has a very even temperament, but once she is fully and truly riled, Reeve sometimes has to physically hold her back and talk her down before it's safe to let her go.

D: Danger (How do they react when they find out the other one is in danger)

When Rea finds out Reeve has somehow placed himself in danger, she is bound and determined to move heaven and hell to assure he is safe. She knows she probably cannot rescue him herself, so she often enlists whomever is best for the job. (Which has meant making some rather unsavory deals, but she doesn't care as long as Reeve is safe.)

When Rea herself is in danger, Reeve doesn't even have to ask before Cait is on his way. There is a lot of anxiety involved, and Reeve is pulling any strings he can to save her. Eventually virtually all of Gaia comes to her rescue.

Gaia help the idiots who thinks its smart to go after these two.

E: Encourage (How to the Encourage each other)

They are both talented at encouraging one another. It's actually a main part of their relationship is supporting one another. Encouraging words, reminding each other of how talented and important they are, and all they have done in the past. This power couple knows exactly what words to use to embolden the other.

F: Flirt (How do they flirt?)

These two initially awkwardly flirt, neither really practiced with it. Even after they've established a relationship, most of it is unintentional flirting-- long looks, bantering back and forth-- but as they get more comfortable in a relationship, it becomes more hands on-- Reeve will skim his hand along Rea's back or arms, and Rea will tug at his tie with a playful look.

G: Greeting (What was their first meeting like?)

[Back when Rea waitress and Reeve had just started]

"Are you new?" Reeve asked the red-haired barista as she worked on his order. It was late at night, wll after main hours. But the Directors were pushing for the upgrades for the Mako reactors to be done before the end of the week, meaning long hours for everyone involved.

She shot a shy smile, "Y-yeah, just started last week. It's my first time running the place by myself."

"I'm sure you'll be okay, there usually isn't a big rush during the night shift."

She handed the drink to him, "I hope you're right. My name is Rea, by the way."

"Reeve Tuesti."

H: Hungry (does one of them cook?)

Despite what Rea and others think, Reeve can cook. He's just usually too busy to do more than a quick simple meal. After spending the night for the first time, Rea discovers this when she wakes to a full breakfast in bed. Healthy, but with a few hearty Kalm staples. She immediately falls in love with his cooking.

Rea knows some basics of cooking, but usually picks up quick meals from the vending machines on her way to or from work.

Also: Cait has tried to cook. And has burnt water. He is banned from the kitchen. Avalanche learnt this the hard way.

I: Imagine( what do they imagine their future together?)

Reeve tries not to get carried away with imaging the future. After all, their life has been insane as it is. He just hopes that no matter what happens in the future, Rea will always be by his side.

Rea figures there might not be any white picket fence kind of future after everything, but does dream about fussing over a few kids, (Denzel perhaps being one) as well as helping to manage the future of the WRO.

She also imagines Cait being an amazing, if not slightly ornery, older brother. (She knows Mog will be happy to cuddle any kids.)

J: Jealousy (Do they get jealous easy?)

Maybe at first, but after a while both are confident in the other. Besides, all of Gaia knows the power couple and knows how devoted the two are to each other.

Reno may still flirt with Rea, but it's mostly out of habit and to see if he can get a rise. Reeve tends to roll his eyes, though Cait will often act on his suppressed impulses and tell the former Turk off (with an accent so thick it's hard to understand).

Rea might be a bit...cold with Shalua Rui at first when the woman starts working closely with Reeve and the WRO. Reeve is perplexed and Cait has to point out the obvious.

There was teasing involved, but Reeve showed how devoted he was to her. Multiple times. A few in his office. And in a utility closet.

K: Kissing (what kind of kisses do they share?)

Many of their kisses are short and sweet pecks through the day. Just quick sweet tokens of affection.

But Rea is rather good at slow, sensual kisses, starting on Reeve's neck when she thinks it's time for a break. Maybe nipping and teasing his ear lobe while trying to drag him away from his desk. Reeve might grumble half heartedly, but he soon concedes and lets her drag him off to bed.

L: Love (When did they first realize they were in love?)

Rea knew she was crushing on Reeve for quite a time, but seeing him stand against President Shinra made her realize. Not fully because of his bravery, but the fear that gripped her heart. Because she knew exactly how Shinra dealt with traitors and instigators. And that fear and devotion just sealed her feelings.

Reeve was a bit more subtle. There was no moment of epiphany or realization, just gradual increase in affection and mindlessly thinking 'Gaia, this woman is amazing' after the events of the Sector 1 bombing.

Of course, it is a long, long, time before they admit their love to one another.

M: Memories (What's their favorite memories of each other?)

Rea favorite memory is the night she first met Denzel and Ruvie. Watching Reeve work on the old train set with the little boy, patient but aome of the child like excitment shining through while she and Ruvie watched fondly. (It was when she was sure Reeve would be a wonderful father some day)

Reeve's favorite memory is the first time he woke to Rea in his bed. Just being able to lay there and appreciate the woman beside him. The firat taste of domestic life that left him wanting more.

N: Nickname (what names do they call each other?)

Reeve calls Rea tender names like sweetheart and darling when they are alone, or in an informal setting.

Rea doesn't do the pet names very often, but at times will drop a 'honey' or 'dear' when at home and asking for a favor.

O: Object (What objects remind them of the other.)

Rea, of course, can't see a cat, especially a plush one, without thinking of Reeve. She may have bought a small plush black cat with Cait's markings to leave on his desk as a present once. (It ends up on her own desk next to her pressed flower.)

Reeve cannot see a red hairdd person without thinking of her. To the point there has been a time he sees red long hair and assumes it's Rea and will start talking without confirming it. (Reno gets a kick out of it)

P: Phone (how often do the communicate)

Oh boy. If these two aren't working in the same building, and for some reason are apart for more than a few hours, you bet they are calling each other or at least messaging each other frequently. And by frequently, I mean at least one text per hour, if not more.

Most is work related updates. Others are questions, sometimes just /i miss you/.

Q: Quiver (what flusters them)

Rea has Reeve wrapped around her finger, and he goes weak when she bites her lip and gives him a 'come hither' look tacked on with a 'sir'. Or when she tugs his tie to lead him somewhere.

All Reeve has to do is stand tall and either adjust his cuff links or tie with a serious expressionon on his face and she's already biting her lip. A finger beneath her chin and she's a melted pile of goo.

R: Routine (Do they have a routine?)

Everything. These two are so in-sync with each other that almost everything runs like clockwork. They are two people pushing for efficiency, so used to working with one another it's when they are apart things start to crumble

S: Selfies (which one takes more selfies?)

Cait, and then Denzel, pushes for selfies with the pair. But out of the two of them, Rea is the one more likely to snap a pic of them together. Usually after a few drinks.

T: Touchy (PDA? Cuddle?)

PDA is generally off the table except maybe for a light touch or a quick kiss, or at least at work, which is 75% of their life.

But in an informal setting, like around friends or home, they love being near each other. Cuddle time on the couch, Rea holding Reeve while he cooks supper. Long soaks in the tub together? Just cuddles in bed? Yep.

U: Unaccustomed (How hard is it to get use to each other?)

At first, its having someone just in their life outside of work. Their home is less….silent. The morning routine of getting ready for work and figuring who gets the shower first is a little rocky at first before it becomes second nature to take turns, and whoever doesn't shower is making a quick breakfast (which Reeve often volunteers because Rea's breakfast is cereal and coffee, maybe a microwave breakfast burrito if she feels ambitious.)

V: Vanish (what would they do if the other just vanished)

They would both be moving heaven and hell, over turning the entire planet to find the other, calling in every favor they could. Which is a lot.

X: Xray (What happens if the other is sick/injured)

Both of them are mother hens when someone they care for is sick or injured, especially each other. Yet on the flip side, they are also very stubborn patients that refuse to admit they are sick or injured.

They will only call in if they're dead. But the slightest sniffle from the other and they're insisting on bed rest and chocobo noodle soup. It balances itself out, luckily.

Y: Yes (who would propose to the other?)

Oh boy. So while both of them would love to get married, they also allow it to become a back-burner issue as they work on WRO and everything else. They figured they're married in every way except legally, so it doesn't matter much to them. They would be happy signing a document and being done with it but everyone else is not having it.

Yuffie gets the crazy idea first, and enlists Denzel, Ruvie, Domino, Cait, and somehow even Vincent. Then all of Avalanche, and then the Turks and Rufus.

The pair thinks they're being called to Kalm for some official business. Instead, they are faced with a surprise wedding. (That somehow goes off without a hitch.)

Z: Zzz (How do they fall asleep?)

As stated before, these two are cuddle bugs. More often than not, they are curled around each other, whether it be spooning or one laying on the other's chest, arms wrapped around the other. (Which is perfect for early morning kisses before the second alarm goes off, set for that purpose expressly.)

More than once, however, their bed is invaded by a certain cat-doll who doesn't need to sleep, but likes relaxing with his two favorite humans. And is happy to just stretch out on both of them like a real cat would.

#reeve tuesti #final fantasy 7 remake #reeve's assistant #cait sith #ff7 #ff7r #reeve x assistant #reeve tuesti's assistant #reeve/reeve's assistant #reeve tuesti x assistant

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sigmaleph · 5 years ago

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Book recs masterpost

y’all really came through here, thanks! Here’s a collected version, I will continue to update it if recs keep coming. Format will be a little inconsistent but I will try to keep books by the same author together and give the summary if it exists and who provided the rec.

Under a cut cause it gets long:

Gene Wolfe:

The Fifth Head of Cerberus

Three interconnected novellas about life on an authoritarian twin planet system where humans have apparently wiped out the natives. Superbly well written and thoughtful imo

rec by @femmenietzsche

Book of the New Sun

rec by @napoleonchingon

Octavia Butler:

Dawn, rec by @empresszo, @typicalacademic

Parable of the Sower, rec by @st-just

Kindred, rec by @squareallworthy

Angelica Gorodischer:

Kalpa Imperial

epic fantasy in the style of conan the barbarian, we see the stories of an old empire in some nondescript country, a nondescript amount of millenia ago. small vignettes of different time periods within the country. very light in fantasy, basically an entire book of nothing but lore for a D&D campaign

Trafalgar

comedy sci fi. the life stories of a sales man, a guy who goes door to door selling whatever he can, except IN SPACE. all the stories are framed as him in his little bar in rosario with his friends or drinking mate, telling his latests adventures through space.

La saga de los confines by Liliana Bodoc

lord of the rings except instead of taking inspiration from nordic folk tales is based on the american conquest. see fantasy races and cultures based on the native american population from south america. lots of poetry, lots of cool classic fantasy with a fresh new flavor

(Already read)

la batalla del calentamiento by marcelo figueras

the fantasy here is very understated to the point of it being magical realism but still my top three favourite book of all time. it starts with a man who suffers gigantism receiving a message from heaven delivered by a wolf speaking in latin. the most colorful and endearing little town with the most wacky of habitants open their arms to the guy who is desperatly in search of redemption

homestuck (by Andrew Hussie)

there is really nothing i can say about this that you havent already heard, so im not even going to bother. just give the first arc (which is about a hundred pages long) a change and see where it goes from there

All of the above suggestions by @fipindustries

Ada Palmer. Terra Ignota series (starts with Too Like the Lightning) (seconded by @youzicha)

(read the first one, have the second one but haven’t read it yet)

Jo Walton, Thessaly series (starts with The Just City)

Yoon Ha Lee, Machinaries of Empire series (starts with Ninefox Gambit) (seconded by @terminallyuninspired)

Ann Leckie:

Imperial Radch series (Starts with Ancillary Justice) (seconded by @youzicha and @squareallworthy)

Raven Tower

N. K. Jemisin:

Broken Earth trilogy (starts with The Fifth Season) (seconded by @typicalacademic)

Dreamblood duology (starts with The Killing Moon)

Seth Dickinson, Masquerade series (starts with The Traitor Baru Cormorant)

(Good rec, already read the first one)

Jeff Vandermeer, Southern Reach series (starts with Annihilation)

Victor LaValle, The Ballad of Black Tom

Tamsyn Muir, Gideon the Ninth

Arkady Martine, A Memory Called Empire

M. R. Carey, The Girl With All The Gifts

All of the above by @st-just

Le guin:

The Dispossessed, rec by @st-just, @youzicha

The Left Hand of Darkness, rec by @youzicha and @typicalacademic

both also seconded by @squareallworthy

(I love Le Guin, read both of these)

Zelazny: Lord of Light, rec by @st-just

Charles Stross:

Missile Gap.

A Colder War.

Peter Watts, Blindsight

Bruce Sterling, Heavy Weather. (I assume. There are multiple books named such)

All of the above by @youzicha

Fonda Lee, Jade City

Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon

Shining Path, more thorough rec here.

all by @typicalacademic

Lois McMaster Bujold:

the Vorkosigan Saga

(rec by @omnidistance, seconded by @squareallworthy. Already read all of them, excellent choice)

The Curse of Chalion, rec by @theorem-sorry

Greg Egan:

Permutation City

Orthogonal

above two and “anything else” by him, rec by @saelf

Diaspora, rec by @squareallworthy

The Clockwork Rocket

Physicist discovers relativity in a Riemannian (as opposed to Minkovskian) universe. Also the world is ending.

rec by @jackhkeynes

Chesterton, The Man Who Was Thursday

Dick, The Man in the High Castle

Gaiman, American Gods

Gibson, Count Zero

Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

Liu, The Three Body Problem

Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

Niffenegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife

Niven and Pournelle, Footfall

North, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

Powers, The Anubis Gates

Wilson, Spin.

All of the above by @squareallworthy

Pratchett, Discworld books (going postal, thud!, unseen academicals, or the wee free men recommended by @acertainaccountofevents, Wyrd Sisters rec’d by @squareallworthy)

Neal Stephenson, Cryptonomicon & D.O.D.O.

Ted Chiang, Story of Your Life and anything else by him

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (also suggesting this review)

C.J. Cherryh – The Faded Sun Trilogy.

Honestly not sure there’s anything groundbreaking or unique about it but a solid scifi tale with aliens and politics and it really fleshed out and made me empathize with all the opposing and strikingly different factions.

Taiyao Fujii – Orbital Cloud

A space-related technothriller, quite fun! If you liked the first 2/3rds of Seveneves you’ll probably like this.

Gwynneth Jones – Life.

Story of a woman trying to be the best biologist she can despite a lot of setbacks, bascially. Barely counts as science fiction, really, but I just really like Anna and Spence as characters and their relationship. This a very feminist book, at times quite preachy–but personally it came across as characters being preachy not the author, and therefore much less annoying, but ymmv.

Katherine Addison – The Goblin Emperor.

Fantasy high politics but nice? Like also pretty level headed but not grimdark like fantasy high politics usually is. Also love the worldbuilding, the linguistics, and my precious cinnamon role Maia who deserves good things.

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey

the most tumblr print book I have ever read. TBH the cover blurb is better than the book but it’s a quick read and enjoyable.

Paolo Bacigalupi - The Windup Girl.

Ian MacDonald – The Dervish House.

The twenty-minutes-into-the-future setting has aged weirdly since it was written back when Turkey was trying to join the EU, but I reread it recently and the plot and characters are still compelling.

All of the above by @businesstiramisu

"James S. A. Corey", The Expanse series (rec by @justjohn-jj)

Mariam Petrosyan’s The Grey House

kids and minders in a boarding school for the disabled, their relationships and their setting. Mostly a coming-of-age thing but with a lot of weirdness and some fantastic elements. Extremely readable

Arkady and Boris Strugatsky:

Hard to be a God

Inhabited Island

Roadside Picnic

Stanisław Lem:

Fiasco

Cyberiad

Karim Berrouka’s Fées, Weed & Guillotines

what it says on the tin. Pretty fun. I would suspect his other fantasy mystery novel comedies are good too.

The Invisible Planets anthology

extremely hit or miss, but definitely has its hits.

Bernard Weber’s Les Fourmis

All of the above by @napoleonchingon

The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells

Sarcastic cyborg tries to avoid humans and watch entertainment media all day and perpetually ends up saving some. With all the snark.

rec by @rhetoricandlogic

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, Claire North

Guy is born in 1910s, dies at 80 or so… and is born again in the 1910s, and so on. Also the world is ending.

The End and Afterwards, Andy Cooke

A probe to Alpha Centauri, an idealist Nigerian biotechnician, a humdrum English family – and then the world ends.

Against Peace and Freedom, Mark Rosenfelder

50th century interstellar humanity is mostly doing okay. But socionomics doesn’t cover crises, such as the dictatorship that’s taken over Okura, or the unscrupulous tycoon who’s plotting something over on New Bharat. For that we have Diplomatic Agents. Like you.

all of the above by @jackhkeynes

Meta-recommendations:

worldswithoutend.com, their list of lists, and in particular, defining science fiction books of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

@squareallworthy

Jo Walton’s Revisiting the Hugos series. (by @businesstiramisu)

#book recs

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melo-yello · 6 years ago

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Baking with the Wakandan Royals would include:

A/n: I've been watching a ton of baking shows lately so I've been mad inspired to write some domestic headcanons.

*I added Shuri

T'Challa

If you mention to this man you're thinking about baking he's already checking for necessary ingredients quantities and locating the measuring cups

T'Challa's need for order and a systematic approach to life can either be really helpful when you're baking or really annoying

This man takes pride in prepping the pan

I mean oiled, floured, and lined with parchment

T'Challa didn't come to play. He got a cake stuck one time and he's never been the same

I'm tellin you he's a complete ace when it comes to measurements

This man will measure, level, sift, and whisk together the dry ingredients in less than 90 seconds

"Here you go, Love." handing you the bowl and kissing your temple

He even will have the separate little glass bowls in various sizes like he stepped out of his very own cooking show

T'Challa is definitely the clean as you go type

Boi is washing dishes almost as fast you can make them

I've got that, Sweetheart." snatching up dirty bowls and taking them to the sink like clockwork

You already kno he's a stick to the recipe type of guy

You kno better than to tell him "We can just eyeball it" or end any measurement/cook time with "or so"

He will absolutely lecture you on the acute chemistry of baking

After so many times of 'sneaking' in extra pinches of 'this' and 'that' and him catching you'll be forced to put him out to stop his constant meddling

"Challa, I swear to Bast if you say one more thing about the 'balance of baking' and don't get yo ass outta this damn kitchen, Shuri will be an only child!"

He occasionally peeks back in offering his two cents before you glare at him and he slinks back to whatever he's preoccupying himself with

Once everything out of the oven and cooled you can't help but smile and bring T'Challa a goodie for all his efforts and help even if he's kinda a pain

Erik

He will 100% be minding his own business until he peeps you in the kitchen baking something

He immediately steps in to take over whether he knows what you're making or not

Deadass has slid across a counter, swiped the bowl, stuck the landing and been like "Ok Ma, what am I makin?"

Boi will even take your apron and do it smooth as hell too

The first time you thought he was trying to be freaky by grabbing ya ass and kissin all down ya neck in the kitchen but before you knew it the apron was untied and around his neck and he was stirring the bowl that was just in front of you

Growing up basically raising himself and being bounced around from relative to relative made learning to cook essential and he's a pretty damn good at it

And he knows it

Erik deadass cooks like somebody's Auntie

"Baby, lemme go ahead and do that." Is something you'll hear every step of the way

He'll just stare at the recipe for .5 seconds then be like "Do that shit, That shit right there and it'll be bland as hell!"

Erik starts off measuring but gradually shifts into eyeballing everything

He's prone to add pinches of different spices that are no where to be found in the recipe

Erik refuses to cook in silence and will always throw on one of his playlists

Y'all bop all the way from TLC to Daniel Caesar to Anderson. Paak

When all the baking is done Erik loves to humble brag about his baked treats

"Yea me and Bae, kilt that shit." Or "Oh you know, Babygirl can throw down"

That is until his cousin says something

T'Challa: "These are great."

Erik: "Damn Straight it is, T'Chump! Didn't kno my baby could FUCK it all da way up! Who you think taught her that! Who!"

M'Baku

*nervous laughter*

M'Baku has an enormous sweet tooth but can't bake to save his life

Not that hasn't tried but most of those trails ended in flames

Since then the great gorrilla has been banned from most of the palace kitchens

Naturally when you ask "Baku, help me bake some cookies."

He's a little hesitant

M'Baku tries to explain to you that his strong suit is really savory and much rather do anything

He really hates that he's not naturally good at it like most things he does (fighting, leading, flirting, etc.)

This gets him out of helping the first few times before you drag him in kitchen promising "Trust me, I can teach you. It can't be that bad."

With M'Baku's help be prepared to remake batters at least twice

He's either heavy handed or extremely light handed there's absolutely no inbetween with him

He's gonna apologize each time he messes up no matter how many times you tell him it's fine

You put him on mixing duty but he gets bored so he starts distracting you

"Oh that look absolutely scrumptious, My Love." grabbing your ass as measure out brown sugar

"That tastes amazing, My Queen." giving you bedroom eyes as he sucks your finger clean of the batter you were about to taste

"You smell like heaven, Dear Heart." nipping at your neck as you place a pan in the oven

This is also the kinda man that eats as you bake

As soon as they hit the cooling racks he's bodying half of them

Putting up high doesn't work either when your mans is 6'5" and can reach all your hiding places

Only on rare occasions do you actually have sweets to show for you efforts if you only make one batch

3 seems to be the sweet spot since M'Baku eats half of 2

He actually does pay attention when you show him how to do things correctly and each time he makes fewer mistakes and he's so proud of himself

Shuri

Shuri is allergic to anything remotely domestic. Not that its difficult she just isn't interested

Mysteriously she always has all the software updates to do when you ask "Wouldn't it be fun to help me bake something?"

"Yes, My King?!?!" Shuri yells running down the hall after a very confused T'Challa that tells back "Stop calling me that!" as the two run in the opposite direction as you

She's definitely not above making up tech tasks to get out of being forced into baking

"Oh I'd love to but I need to check... Erik's torso to make sure he's healing ok. Too bad he's shy so you can't come." She shrugs pulling Erik into lab before he can get in a word

Or "Oh yes Sergent Barnes, I do have time to look at the mechanics of each synapses of every nerve ending in your arm. This could take a while." practically tackling Bucky as he enters the lab

The only way to get her there is by treachery

"Shuri, come quick! The stan mixer is smoking you have to fix it. Or I'll never bake again." is enough to get her to bolt out of the door and into the kitchen

There's no way she can let your Double Fudge Sea Salt Pecan brownies vanish from her life

"This mixer is absolutely fine, Y/n. Don't scare me like that ev..." trailing off as she turns to see you locking the door to the kitchen

"Noooooooooooooooooooo!"

Once she finds that all exits are blocked off

Vents, windows, and personal secret passages she has installed for times like these

She starts offering 'helpful' advice to really 'expand' your baking horizions

"I'm telling you, Y/n, 1 and 1/4 teaspoons of white vinegar would really help these sweets raise to the ocassion." as she presses record and steps back

You soon learn after several batter explosions and looped videos and gifs sent across the Insta, Twitter, and Snap she can't be trusted

"Oh come on,now! How was I supposed to know it was going to do that?" Laughing as you glare at her wiping yet another batter blow up off your face

Before you accept her advice now it is questioned with "And if I add that it won't end up in my face?"

Shuri will pause then offer something else because she's no evil just mischievous

She pretends to be bored out of her mind the whole time even though she's mentally pocketing all the little steps so she can later try by herself

Every once in a while she'll hit you with an absolutely old school but completely clutch trick you've never heard of before (most likely something she picked up from cooking with Queen Mother) and you pause to look at her

Like "Where the hell did that come from?"

She just shrugs and offers some off the wall flavor combo to throw you off her trail

"Chocolate and peanut butter? Boring. How about anasis and chardonnay." genuinely curious about the combination

Shuri loves to experiment and play with structures and variables esspecially in the kitchen

So tell her your trying to make a souffle or flan and she's there automatically no plots involved or locked doors

Afters all the sweets and practical jokes are out of the oven and cooling and the doors are unlocked

Shuri takes a treat or two and hums looking satisfied with your team work "This was actually fun." mouth half full and gives you a quick hug before leaving

Ever so often she'll come of her own prompting to you wanting to be shown how to make a cookie or some other baked good

And you do but as soon as they're done

She steals like 75% of the goodies as you check some of the few left in the oven and splits them with M'Baku who was already waiting at the door and they run down the hall like small children

Always leaving a note "XOXO, Princess Shuri" and scribbled in the biggest calligraphy that is usually saved for royal documents "Thx from Great Gorrilla,M'Baku" at the scene of the crime

#black panther #erik killmonger #michael b jordan #t'challa #chadwick boseman #m'baku #winston duke #m'baku x reader #t'challa x reader #erik x reader #headcanon #black panther headcanons #baking #domestic black men #domestic wakandans #shuri #shuri x reader #letitia wright

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aion-rsa · 5 years ago

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How Arachnophobia Became the Perfect Creepy Crawly Horror Comedy

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There’s a moment in Arachnophobia where Jeff Daniels’ Dr Ross Jennings, lying in bed one night worried his new hometown of Canaima is under attack from venomous spiders, spots an eight-legged intruder lurking in plain sight on his bedroom wall. The scene builds to a terrifying crescendo when the panic-stricken Jennings, who has a pathological fear of spiders, decides to confront the arachnid – only to discover it’s a coat hook.

It’s a prime example of the power Arachnophobia still possesses, 30 years on from its release. The power to have audiences breaking out in cold sweats one minute and fits of laughter the next.

The story of an ordinary American town that becomes infested with a deadly new species of spider unwittingly transported over from the Amazon rainforest, Arachnophobia might have been a very different prospect in the hands of another filmmaker.

Fortunately, Arachnophobia had Frank Marshall at the helm.

A long-time producer who had worked with everyone from Orson Welles to Martin Scorsese prior to founding Amblin Entertainment with his wife Kathleen Kennedy and long-time collaborator Steven Spielberg, Arachnophobia represented Marshall’s directorial debut. In many ways, he couldn’t have picked a better project.

Never work with animals and children

While the old Hollywood adage claimed you should never work with children or animals, Marshall had an impressive track record with both – especially animals. He had overseen the uses of several snakes in Raiders of the Lost Ark as well as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and orchestrated the plague of rats that pop up in the sewers of Venice during Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

More importantly, like Spielberg, he wasn’t averse to cranking up the PG scares whether it be a melting Nazi or the desiccated corpse of a spider bite victim. The key to cooking up a scare in Arachnophobia, however, were the arachnids themselves.

Marshall and his production team auditioned a variety of spiders for the film, whittling it down to a shortlist of four distinct species, including wolf spiders, tarantulas, and huntsman spiders.

“I held what I called the Spider Olympics,” he explained in an interview with Amblin. “I really put them through their paces to see if they could climb a glass, if they looked scary, to see how big they were or if they looked good on camera and how we could motivate them.”

He eventually settled on three-inch wide Delena spiders; a huntsman arachnid native to Australia that had arrived in New Zealand in the 1920s.

Hundreds of little Marlon Brandos

Over 300 were shipped to the US for filming, with more arachnids added as filming continued.

“We had a spider condominium where we had different drawers with spiders that could climb better than others and some that were faster than others. It was really a science of different spider actors.”

A variety of techniques were used to direct the spiders. Hot and cold air proved effective while the crew also hit on the use of Lemon Pledge cleaner to help guide their movements.

In some of the more complex shots, microscopic leashes and tiny steel plates were used but even they had their limitations. Even so, takes regularly ran into the double digits with the film’s arachnid performers guilty of going off script like a bunch of eight-legged Marlon Brandos.

Sometimes things went like clockwork, like the scene where spiders begin to burst out of a bathroom sink.

“We blew hot air and they came bursting out of the drain,” Marshall said. “I never dreamed they would just explode.”

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Other times, however, it proved difficult, with the director citing the scene in which the town coroner and his wife are offed when a rogue arachnid gets inside their bowl of popcorn.

Marshall said: “The popcorn was probably the hardest one and in the shot that we got, the spider comes out and we follow it. That’s all ad-libbed by the spider.”

It required meticulous planning on Marshall’s part and a wealth of patience from stars like Daniels, who acknowledged to the New York Times that it took a “special kind of actor” to work with spiders. It was all worth it though.

The practical approach proved crucial, imbuing Arachnophobia with a sense of realism and a timeless quality missing from the many CGI-led spider monstrosities that have followed in the years since. Not that Marshall was averse to a little technical wizardry though.

While a real-life Amazonian bird-eating tarantula was cast as larger spider credited as “The General” in the movie and known as “Big Bob” on set, Marshall knew the arachnid was neither big enough for some of the film’s stunts nor trained enough to pull off many of the film’s crucial scenes – including any and all close-ups.

Instead, a 15-inch mechanical spider was built in his place by then-rookie special effect whizz Jamie Hyneman, who would go on to find fame on the TV series Mythbusters.

While the handling of the spiders was crucial, Marshall also understood the importance of grounding Arachnophobia in reality was equally important. That required two crucial elements: good casting and relatable set pieces.

Killer casting

One of Arachnophobia’s strengths lies in the fact the film takes the time to establish characters and setting before tearing the whole thing apart with a childlike glee. For Marshall, setting out the stall of the movie was crucial to cranking up the scares – and the fun.

“What’s important in all of these movies is you’ve got to care about the characters,” he told Amblin. “I tried to cast really great actors in the character parts and the smaller parts. I did feel it needed a little bit of comic relief in this story because it was going to be so creepy.”

Populating the town’s doomed cast of characters with seasoned performers like Henry Jones and Mary Carver as well as comedic actors like Stuart Pankin and Peter Jason proved a masterstroke and ensured, by the time the spiders were closing in, you actually cared for their safety. When the arachnids did descend, it was often to disrupt an otherwise familiar scene of life in small town USA: a garden party, a night in watching Jeopardy or a football practice. In another nightmarish set piece, the town’s soon to retire doctor is bitten by a spider hiding in his slippers.

“I thought what’s scariest to people is everyday common things that we all would freak out by,” Marshall said. “I know that every morning when I get up to put on my slippers, I still shake them off.”

In the wrong hands, Arachnophobia could easily have become a straightforward enough horror movie – and, for a brief period at least, it was. According to Jeff Daniels, when he first signed on the film was a far more serious affair.

“You could tell that the lines were kind of written by computer,” he told the Philadelphia Daily News.

With time ticking on both Daniels and Marshall eager for the film to have a streak of black comedy running through it, producer Kathleen Kennedy went in search of help. In December of 1988, she found it in Wesley Strick.

Low-hanging fruit

By then filming had already begun on the movie, with work complete on all of the scenes charting photographer Jerry Manley’s horrifying death at the hands of a spider in the jungles of Venezuela and subsequent transportation back to the US with an arachnid in tow.

Strick had been working with Spielberg on the script for a remake of Cape Fear. When he got the call from Kennedy, he was settling in for a quiet Christmas with his wife and young children. He didn’t know it yet, but Christmas was about to be cancelled.

“Kathleen called and asked: ‘do you have holiday plans? Would you be available to work for two or three weeks on a film called Arachnophobia for my husband, Frank Marshall?’ It sounded like fun and I was stuck at home, so I said yeah,” Strick tells Den of Geek.

Arachnophobia had been in development long before Marshall took charge and, with time ticking on, Kennedy felt it would be beneficial for Strick to glance through some of the previous revisions of screenwriter Don Jakoby’s original script. There were quite a few revisions, as it turned out.

“A messenger showed up from Amblin with basically a massive box full of scripts,” Strick says. “I had never seen so many drafts. It had been in development for a long time. She sent me like 12 scripts that had been written over two years.”

Strick immediately identified the issue.

“The early drafts were both funny and horrific. But by the time I got to the draft they were working with I could see they had developed out most of the horror and the humor. This kind of thing happens in development because studios often seek clarity over entertainment. They believe the audience should be spoon-fed everything.”

But without “the horror and the humor” Arachnophobia wasn’t working.

“In this instance, however, the changes had ended up flattening out the plot in an effort to make the story clear,” Strick says. “They forgot that it also needed to be funny and scary. In these prolonged development situations, people kind of lose focus on what it is they are really trying to do while trying to solve very literal problems. That’s why it’s beneficial to have another writer come in with a fresh eye. Someone who hasn’t been worn down by two years of search and can fix what got broken by accident.”

Something else that jumped out at him too – nobody in the script had arachnophobia.

“That struck me as a huge missed opportunity,” he says. “It was such low-hanging fruit. I started to question my own sanity like, how could they have missed that? So, I called Frank and Kathleen and said ‘hey nobody has arachnophobia; do you not think Ross Jennings should have arachnophobia? And they were both quiet and just kind of said ‘well do you?’ and I said ‘Yeah’ and they were like ‘well go do that’”

While Strick acknowledges such changes come off as “screenwriter 101 stuff”, the decision to make Jeff Daniels’s character an arachnophobe proved crucial in tying the plot together.

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“It helps the movie a lot. It became the dramatic arc of the story,” Strick says. “Things like the moment, early in the film, when Dr Jennings recalls how he became an arachnophobe after a spider crawled up his body as a child. That plays out again in the final act, when he’s pinned down and ‘the general’ is crawling over him. He’s forced to overcome that primal fear. Those moments play great and provide the spine of the picture. Without it, I don’t know how the story would play. It would be a series of set pieces. Maybe that would have been good enough but it’s hard to imagine it without that through line.”

Strick’s role was also to reinvigorate some of what had been lost in the multiple drafts, in an editing process known as “punching up.” The screenwriter and script doctor explains it perfectly in the context of Arachnophobia.

“With a film like this, you were essentially building a ride at a theme park,” he says. “You want to deliver thrills so there needs to be a forward momentum to it. It can’t meander. The dialogue has to crackle. That’s how movies entertain. I am always looking to focus scenes. Often, you read lots of scenes that are fine and have a clear point, but the dialogue isn’t focused. That’s where polishing comes in. It’s looking at every single line and making sure it’s right down to the number of syllables. With Arachnophobia, I had to liven it up. Add some energy and a bit of humor.”

Over the course of three weeks, Strick worked in a garage converted into a makeshift office, “punching up” the script.

“There was a lot of pressure because it was already in production but I had a sense of what was needed,” he said. “Even so, it was a little dicey. There was a lot hanging on it.”

Good times and Goodman

Both Kennedy and Marshall were thrilled with the changes Strick made. It struck a chord with Marshall’s desire to make Arachnophobia more like a ghost train ride at an amusement park than a night in a haunted house.

“I liked his dialogue and he wrote creepy scenes,” Marshall later told Amblin. “I thought that was fun… he wrote good characters.”

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Daniels echoed that sentiment, explaining to the Orlando Sentinel how the fresh injection of comedy helped the film ebb and flow.

“We approached it as a comedy with a couple of thrills,” he said. “We knew we had the thrills in there, so we worked hard to make sure the movie had a sense of humour about itself.”

The humor, he said, “kind of relaxes the audience, so that we can come in and get them again.”

Strick ended up staying involved in the project, albeit in a removed capacity – Marshall would occasionally phone him from the set to bounce around ideas. Whether he can be credited for John Goodman’s performance is up for debate, though he did write several of his lines. Goodman’s cameo remains a source of some contention among Arachnophobia fans. Riding high off the success of Roseanne at the time, it was Spielberg who suggested Goodman appear as exterminator Delbert McClintock.

Marshall had been eager to inject some humor into the proceedings but Goodman’s exaggerated performance – supposedly based on a real-life exterminator he knew and an old science teacher – jars with the straight-faced approach seen elsewhere.

Testing and Box Office

Not that it mattered all that much to movie-goers.

“I went to a few test screenings and the whole audience would be shrieking and just generally reacting,” Strick says.

Those test screenings did pick up one issue though, the original ending, which saw the film conclude immediately after the spider nest is destroyed, fell flat. It was Strick who came up with the idea of showing that the family had moved back to San Francisco.

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“They wanted something they could shoot in one day. It had to be simple.”

Billed as the first “thrill-omedy” – a term widely ridiculed by the press at the time – Arachnophobia went on to enjoy modest success at the box office, drawing $53.2 million off a budget of $22 million.

Strick has his own theory for why the film underwhelmed.

“I remember my younger sister, Charlotte, told me she couldn’t see it because she was too scared of spiders. I realized a lot of women felt like that. They say when couples go to the movies it’s the female that picks the movies. I’m not sure if that’s true but that’s gospel in Hollywood. I worried that if women were afraid to see it men wouldn’t either.”

In any case, like many films of the era, Arachnophobia went on to enjoy a second life on video, helped by some standout scares that proved popular with the rewind/slow-motion generation of VHS hounds.

Remake

While Strick tends to avoid revisiting his own work, he was pleasantly surprised when rewatching Arachnophobia.

“I was reluctant to watch it again in case it was a relic of another era of Hollywood but it’s still loads of fun,” he says. “My wife was jumping and shrieking and she’s the ideal audience because she’s terrified with spiders. It’s a very funny movie and yet a lot of people die.”

With talk of a potential remake on the way, Strick has one bit of advice: “Don’t do it”.

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“I don’t especially see how or why they would need to remake it for a modern audience. There is something timeless about the original and the way we made it.”

30 years later, Arachnophobia remains a true one-off. A film equal parts horror and comedy and one that would fall flat if either side hadn’t been up to muster. In that sense it’s wholly unique and might be better off staying that way.

The post How Arachnophobia Became the Perfect Creepy Crawly Horror Comedy appeared first on Den of Geek.

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save-the-spiral · 5 years ago

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How would your ocs react to self-quarantine? Any ocs and any amount of ocs, I don't know them that well.

first off, all my ocs ARE quarantined. because they’re not idiots and understand responsibility for the public’s good!!! I have some vague plans for other ocs as well, they’re not mentioned. This is all the ocs I can remember right now. Hope I’m not forgetting any, I probably am though.

Content Warning for alcohol mentions and implied nsfw (just the pirate ocs). Read more because it’s long and also if you don’t wanna read about quarantine.

Emrys, Mari, and Irisi:

They live together in a small house, one of those floating castles, with one of those teleport swirls like in Triton Avenue, only it takes them outside of the general dorms at Ravenwood. They turned off their teleport station, though!

Irisi, the only one who cooks, tries in vain to get Mari to learn how to make anything other than her favorite veggie wraps/sandwiches. Emrys ends up learning though, and is very good with the preciseness of baking!! He gets the finer details on decorating better than Irisi, who’s not the best with artistic touches, preferring practicality.

Also Mari breaks out the cards and tries to hustle them at poker. She fails and ends up watching Emrys and Irisi pick up the game too quickly and become too good at it.

Haley and Noah:

They have a small shared home, which I’ve kinda just Assumed is a castle plot like the in game wizards can get, on the outskirts of Wizard City. Neither of them are accomplished cooks, and they kinda end up just living on soup, stir fry, and the breakfast foods they actually can cook.

Haley gets BORED. She probably ends up cleaning the house top to bottom and going through her projects (mostly attempts at making clockwork creatures) and probably finding about 15 tools she borrowed from the storm school and lost.

Noah is the type to seclude himself in his room, but he’d probably go to check on Haley and also work on his own runes projects or read in the same room she’s in.

Morelle, Morae, Ianthe, and Leo:

Morelle is used to it, because she has a tendency to hide out anyway, cannot be seen in public in Wizard City. Now she just gets to relax a bit more at home and spend time with her wife Morae.

Morae has decided to continue making the more basic breads and such in her bakery, and has set up a system so their daughter Ianthe and her partner Leo can deliver them around Wizard City, so people can have food. They do have to shut down their bakery. Morae tries and fails to teach her wife how to make macarons (again).

Leo turns out to be very good with macarons. Bonus points for future child-in-law, I suppose.

Serpentine King/Quyen Jade:

In the canon main timeline, he’s probably revamping his garden’s design, and worrying over his children, because he’s in Mooshu far away.

In his origin timeline, where I had a completely wack kingdom au, by the end he and that timeline’s Mari would be probably live off by themselves in the middle of nowhere or in a completely different kingdom in hiding, along with that timeline’s Noah, Haley, and Emrys. They’d probably rehash old stories, a lot of SK’s stories about his late husband and his four other children that Mari grew up with.

Elissa Silvertusk:

She’s not developed enough, I don’t have much planned for her aside from relationships with NPCs. Probably in Khrysalis or Zafaria.

Fledge (in their own timeline):

Probably with their adoptive family, Iridian and Corry! Now without school to deal with, they’re a lot more stress free, because they’re used to being on their own now after their awful trauma. They probably spend time having to confront that though, because they’re not used to being so restless and ‘useless’.

Ursae (Fledge’s timeline again):

As a mermaid she would have her own tank and probably just not surface. She has her own stock of crystals that contain information (like in Dragonspyre) and could go through those, but also, she has lil’ fish friends to interact with as well, and can sign with Fledge through glass.

Rust/Rusty (Pirate):

Would be with her group, an all female/NB vigilante gang in Cool Ranch. They’d all stay at HQ, probably getting everyone’s Sad Backstories after a bunch of family bonding and card games and shit. Rusty would probably get a little tipsy in order to bear it. Also maybe having to go out just a few times to make sure people aren’t being jackasses and making necessities cost more. That’s more fun, because they’re threatening people lol.

Darling Alexander Dove (Pirate):

Bonnie Anne Is In Hell! She Just Is!!! A bored Alexander is a very very dangerous one, and as his right hand man/first mate she’s got a LOT on her plate. He probably almost gets his crew to mutiny against him, or he ends up sleeping with a few who will have to be cut loose after this because they have unrequited love/lusts for their captain now lol. He DOES get shitfaced. Several times. He cannot wait to go to a pub again just to see new faces and not just his crew.

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therunawayscamp · 7 years ago

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[[Hypothetical Situation: one of the crew sustains an injury bad enough that can't be reversed by magic and makes them physically unable to do the work they normally would.]]

This is not as rare an occurrence as one might think. While many of the crew know basic healing magic, R'khan has yet to persuade an expert in restoration to join them permanently and relies instead on Rosie, whose knowledge lies in strictly physical surgery. Potentially severe injuries are many and varied at sea, and multiple past crew members have lost limbs or sight.The standard procedure for when this happens is for the individual to receive the compensation pay outlined in the Articles and be returned to their home port. If R'khan is particularly fond of the person (that is, any of the named crew) and if they are willing, he might offer them a position as cook, a traditional role aboard ships for sailors injured in the course of their work.Ethysil has a little experience in making basic prosthetics, based on Dwemeri designs and surviving fabricant samples from the Clockwork City. With their help, the loss of a limb need not be totally debilitating, and a few of the crew use them, but the psychological trauma often prevents his patients from returning to duty regardless, at least for a while.[Mobile tumblr prevents tagging asks, so - thank you! On a slight tangent, I've toyed with the idea of Ethysil having one or more prosthetic limbs himself, and might still use that in a plot some day.]

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jadedbirch · 7 years ago

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ARTIST CLAIMS ARE NOW OPEN!

If you have questions about some of these fics before signing up and want us to follow up with the authors, please shoot El an email. Otherwise, read all 24 of these, and email in your top 4 picks!

SUBMIT CLAIMS BY APRIL 23rd

1. Good ships scuttled on the deep

His fingers follow flecks of blood down to the point of his captain’s cheekbone. A thin pink scar, no wider than John’s fingernail, marks Flint’s pale skin. Flint’s eyes close completely. “I thought it was a welcome,” John says. Silver and Flint become lovers following the battle on Maroon Island. S4 AU with established silverflint relationship and some canon divergences.

2. Pray For The Wicked On The Weekend John Silver spends his days in a faded green pickup truck filled with salt-loaded shotguns and silver and holy water on the back roads of the United Stated hunting monsters and demons and things that go bump in the night, and he’s fine with it, because it’s the easiest way to forget what he’s lost. But there’s something coming, something that he can’t face alone. So where else would he turn but the best Hunter the US has ever seen. Even if no one has heard from James Flint since Thomas and Miranda Hamilton went missing.

3. patron saint of lost causes

It takes two weeks to get Flint off Skeleton Island. Or rather--it takes two weeks for the island to let them go. In which Skeleton Island is a living character and brings a host of nightmares through the mist which force Silver and Flint to confront the dangers of their minds. Featuring surreal dreamscape horror as Silver literally battles figures from his murky, unnamed past and Flint moving through a river of blood and ghosts until he and Silver finally meet in the middle. Influences include Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone and Maria Luisa Bombal's work.

4. Let It All Unbreak You Post season four. Alone in taverns, at different points in time, Flint and Silver ponder what went wrong with their different relationships. They drink, remember and regret. They reflect upon the little they had together, and regret not making it work after the war with Madi or Thomas, while knowing very well that the very reason it all went wrong is that they had changed too much, had given each other too much, yet were not brave enough to admit it to each other when it was still time.

(Ships: Silverflint, flint x miranda x thomas, flint x thomas, silver x madi) (Angst, definitely not fix-it, no happy ending)

5. Pirate Sex is In Vogue

My fic is a modern AU primarily through email correspondence between Silver and Flint, although other mediums (such as texting and phoning) will be introduced as the story evolves. Silver is a crack erotica writer and Flint is the librarian who just wouldn't showcase his books at the Nassau Public Library, despite the insistence of the latter. They become unexpected virtual pen pals after Flint sends a heated rejection letter and grow closer through their correspondence, helping each other confront the inner demons of their personal lives. There will be polyamory, since Flint is involved with Thomas and Miranda by the time he and Silver fall in love.

6. Tell me we're dead and I'll love you even more

In the year 1725, or thereabouts, John Silver finds himself driven by a winter storm into an inconsequential little port town, barely a speck on any civilised map. Returned to the life of a drifter, tired and rough around the edges, he is resigned to waiting for the weather to pass before he can sail on again to the next town, and the next, and the next. That is until he overhears a conversation in the inn about a local fisherman, one Captain Barlow, and his tall tales of tempests and becalmings, devils and sharks, and Silver finds a new future opening up to him, haunted by the spectres of his past. Whether landed in this place by fortune, or fate, or even divine intervention, he finds he cannot leave again without following this trail that leads from an old and half-forgotten tether knotted deep between his ribs to somewhere that feels familiar and safe, like home. The way won’t be easy; it’s paved with notable absences and painful unspoken truths, and there’s as good a chance as any that he’ll find a knife to his throat before he can so much as say ‘Long time no see, Captain’. Still, all roads do seem to lead to them baring their souls to one another in the dark, and Silver would be lying if he said he hadn’t missed it.

7. An Epilogue

After the events of Treasure Island, John finds James and Thomas. There’s a gradual awkward descent to domesticity when pirates retire. Madi brings Jim Hawkins with her from London. This is the ultimate fix it where there are no unanswered questions and everyone lives happily ever after. SilverFlint, SilverHamilton, SilverFlintHamilton, SilverMadi

8. Stealing Hearts

A 1920s AU with Flint as a mob boss, fighting a corrupt police force/police system, and Silver as a thief who gets caught up in all of it.

9. Space Raiders of Nassau

The space station Nassau is in open rebellion against the interplanetary Imperial Alliance. Captain James Flint is in deep shit for rearranging the face of a fellow raider captain. As punishment, Nassau's leaders assign an inside man to his crew, with a very convincing cover story (that they're married). Complicating things further is the fact that Flint's shifty new husband, John Silver, knows a lot more than he's telling about their secret mission. Their own survival as well as Nassau’s future depend on how successfully they can navigate the dangerous skies… and each other.

10. The Pirate Captain's Wedding Once he has his hands on the thief Flint is willing to do whatever it takes to get the page from him. And then Billy & Gates say marriage is the only solution left on the table. Or rather matelotage – the time honored pirate form of matrimony. Billy says it’s the only way to regain the crew’s trust, by marrying one of them, and Gates agrees. For once Flint’s desperate enough to agree to it. He never expects to actually fall in love with the little shit. Canon-Era Season1/Season2 AU– with angsty developing feelings, public consummation, & There Is Only One Bed night after hot sticky sweaty night. 11. The devil's gotta' earn

Supernatural AU. James Flint has been a hunter for over a decade now and he knows people join this profession for plenty of reasons and few of those are happy ones. Some people just seek the thrill, some want to protect the so called innocent, some - like him - are out for revenge and John Bloody Silver apparently is just trying to get rich. [Borrows mostly from first seasons of Supernatural, little to no prior knowledge of this show required. Miranda lives, Thomas tragically does not. Lots of angst, few monsters of the week and a demon or two.]

12. touch me James is a widow, bartender and owner of the gay-bar “The Rainbow“. After Thomas' death it had been John who had lift him up. One day one of his usual dancers - because what is a gay bar without your occasional striptease - can't perform. John offers to fill the space and James has to face that John is more than just a friend. Slow burn and StripperJohn!AU

13. Adamantine Flame Flint is a forest god called The Flame and Silver is part of the cult that worships him that resides on the fringes of the underworld. 14. [Title TBD] Silver never met another werewolf before. Well, realistically, he knew he must have because he wasn't born a werewolf so someone had to have done this to him. But that didn't count since his memory of the whole incident was lackluster at best. He knew others had to be out there somewhere though and he wanted to find at least one, just to know he wasn't all alone. Flint was surrounded by werewolves all his life. Always part of a family, always knowing someone cared for him. Knowing he had someone to care for. The memories were as vivid as ever, of a time when he cared for someone. But they were gone and he knew he was meant to be all alone. 15. set my soul on fire

Nothing quite like getting out of prison to make a man feel like pulling off the biggest heist you’ve ever heard of. But he can’t do it alone - he’s going to need some money, a plan, a crew, and of course, his partner. His incorrigible, oral fixation-having, blue-eyed devil of a partner. Who is this smooth, seasoned con man with his eyes on the prize? James fucking Flint, naturally. And his partner? John Silver.Viva Las Vegas, baby.

16. cat dad

Modern au. Flint's life is fine. It's quiet and it's fine and he's fine. Well, except that his upstairs neighbor is a dick and his relationship with Miranda is strained and maybe quiet isn't all it's cracked up to be. But then a one-eyed cat enters his life and with it one John Silver. Flint's not sure how he feels about that, but he's working on it. Plot includes cat shenanigans, cooking, fluff, and feelings.

17. [Title TBD]

A post-canon rendition of the Silver and Flint reunion wherein rather than seeking each other out the two are brought back together by outside forces. There’s a wedge of sour history and new lives built between them but love and desire become hard to deny when every path you set out on to leave someone behind sends you hurdling straight back to them. Treasure Island divergent/ignorant, though I pull some things from TI including the bird. (Includes SilverMadi and FlintHamilton as side-pairings, warning for canon Black Sails side-character death.) 18. The Spark

it's a Girl Genius AU

That's it, that's the whole shtick. It's basically the plot of the show, but clockwork-punk with mad geniuses (of course Flint is one), Urca being chock full of Aztec tech a'la Mysterious Cities of Gold, and dr. Howell and colleagues taking medicine to some quite Frankenstein levels - convenient with so many characters who should know better than to fucking die.

Also John Silver might be a construct. The prosthetics are not nearly as complicated as in treasure planet, but at least one person has a gun arm? dirigibles are "Supposed Not To Be Invented Yet", but not for the lack of trying. Silverflint revolves around having "The Spark" and personhood and is shaping up heavier than i intended... luckily they will have plenty of people to set them to rights - i'm aiming for a happy polyfamily forming in the background.

19. he’s funny that way

1920s Atlantic City. Everybody knows the only way to leave crime boss Eleanor Guthrie's business is through a funeral - either delivering the sermon or laid out in the casket. Still, Flint leaves anyway, because he likes to make his life as difficult as possible. Case in point: his new partner, the scruffy, irate, one-legged racketeer with a pretty mouth, a quick tongue, and a rye recipe even Pussyfoot Johnson wouldn't spit out. His new partner's making sure he's not joining the church and taking a celibacy vow anytime soon - but will anyone be able to save Flint from his early - or long overdue - grave?

20. Ship to Wreck

"I don't know if you've noticed, Doctor," Silver snaps, incredulous, "But every moment the Captain is unconscious in that bed is another step away from five million fucking dollars. As if that weren't enough, we're locked in a ridiculous show of force with a madman who seems keen on blowing us sky high unless we concede to his demands; we've got a crowd of men up top losing their Goddamned minds because they've been promised a fight that we cannot presently even hope to deliver; and--" Silver pauses, exhaling hard. "Actually, you know what? There is no and. I’d say that’s about enough shit to make us all a little tense, wouldn’t you agree?" "Hm," Howell says, mildly. A post 204 fic in which: Flint gets a fever, Silver has a panic attack, and Howell gets a migraine. Includes, among other things--Silver trying and failing at playing nurse; Silver trying and failing at controlling his feelings; Flint being dazed and delirious and soft; some singing, some yelling, and heavy doses of mutual pining. Love, obviously, turns out to be the best medicine. 21. More Than One Odysseus

Reunion fic, about two years after 4.10. Quite a lot of talking and a little of the following: fishing, sex, hunting, bathtubs, Jewish surnames, books, stories and Terra Australis. Canon-compliant, not TI-compliant. A few animals killed (for food, not sport).

22. Seedlings

"If there's anything I can help you with-- Or if you'd like to order flowers for an upcoming occasion--"

"All right, honestly?" Handsomely disgruntled customer looked Silver dead in the eye and said, "I'm looking for a gift that says, 'You are making a dreadful mistake, and you will regret these actions for the rest of your days. Call me when you've figured out what a fucking hash of things you've made.'" He spoke the way some people chewed tinfoil.

Silver felt two things: lust like a plague of locusts, and the words 'uh-oh' waft through his brain.

On the second anniversary of the worst day of his adult life, John Silver─temporary florist, burgeoning gardner, and former thief─meets James Flint. It is only love at first sight for one of them. (Or is it?)

23. The Curse of Aeaea

Inspired by the connection between Flint and Odysseus: Silver and Flint find themselves dealing with a very Circe-like situation. Once the curse affects Silver, they have to figure out a way to end it or be trapped on an island that’s not on any map.

(Animal Transformation, Body Horror, Poor Coping Mechanisms, Circe’s Curse, Odysseus, Post-Season 2, Pre-Season 3)

24. With Strange Aeons Months after the disappearance and presumed death of Captain Flint and Long John Silver, Max smuggles Jack and Anne to Oglethorpe’s plantation. Thomas learns that not only do the three of them have a friend in common, but he is not the only one whose dreams are haunted by a strange city and a terrifying name. Meanwhile, Flint and Silver try to escape an island trapped in time, impossibly built and impossibly old. Along the way they’re forced question reality, each other, and themselves.

And in his house in R’lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming. (Prior knowledge of Lovecraft is fun, but not required.)

#sfbb2018 #silverflint #art claims

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nanigma · 8 years ago

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So after the Awakening story mode was actually pretty good and heartwarming in places, the story is now turning into a serious mess?

While the Awakening cast had a lovely CG intro and many sweet scenes throughout, the Hoshidan chapters have so far been almost enitrely text based, with the plot being some of the most half-cooked lazy write up I have seen yet.

Basically the Hoshidans (except Sakura) are attacking you in every chapter because they think you have taken Sakura (and Hinoka in Takumi’s case) hostage or something. Only to get corrected every single chapter like clockwork (what’s common sense?)... In Takumi’s chapter, Rowan gets sick from the same plot-illness as Elise and Takumi in Fates, so Sakura/Hinoka start searching for the cure...

They made Takumi a sideshow in his own damn chapter. An obstacle in the path to the golden cure. Time limit is also pretty stringent, while Takumi and Oboro are freakishly strong, so that just got me my first Game Over.

I wouldn’t feel so angry about this if Rowan was actually a sympathetic character, but he is a stereotypical shonen protag turned up to eleven, hitting every idiot hero trope in the book and generally being a nuisance. It’s worse when he is not the main protag, since that just makes him come across as a rock tied to Lianna’s ankle (who is actually pleasant and reasonably competent despite her inexperience). Really not helping me feel sorry for him dying and costing me my victory, while relegating Takumi to a sideshow.

I better not turn up in the Nohr chapters and discover it is the land of pretty cutscenes and original story-telling, my god.

#fe:warriors #warriors spoilers #spoilers #heading to bed to calm down now

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tastesoftamriel · 8 years ago

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Into the unknown (a long tale by Talviel)

Middas, 10th of Second Seed, 4E 206. I sat upon Roach, at the crossroads where Falkreath met Cyrodiil and Hammerfell. I’d finally made my way through all of Skyrim, managing to pry as many recipes as I could from as many people as I could, and taking on the odd cooking job until I was summoned to the Blue Palace to cook for High Queen Elisif and her court, with astounding success. Word of my fame had spread through the province. I was officially ready to move on. Now I was torn between where to go, to the west into Hammerfell, or south-east to Cyrodiil. Several days ago while I was making camp, the wandering Khajiit, M'aiq the Liar, joined me and we exchanged stories (though he did most of the talking). “One does not simply cross the border,” he said, as we parted ways. Roach snorted, stomping a hoof with impatience. Guiding her along the road, I officially crossed the border from Skyrim, and made my way into Cyrodiil.

My mother is an Imperial, hailing from the city of Kvatch, which was totalled during the Oblivion Crisis but built anew before the Great War. Her family was not prosperous, like all who had lost so much during the Crisis, but they were driven away by the fear of the city’s close proximity to the Aldmeri Dominion. Finding work in the Market District in the Imperial City, my grandmother was a cook and cleaner in the district tavern, while my grandfather worked as a gardener throughout the city. My mother was only 12 years old when they moved, so she helped both her parents with their jobs until she was old enough to find work at a weapons shop (where she subsequently met my mercenary father years later, and fled before the Great War). She considered the Imperial City to be her true home in Cyrodiil, and I was curious to see it myself despite the damage done by the Thalmor there. In the three decades since the war, the Imperial City had come a long way in its refurbishment, despite the assassination of the Emperor Titus Mede II in Skyrim by the Dark Brotherhood in 4E 202. Once again, the Empire was faced with the same situation as during the end of the Septim line, and a newly reformed Elder Council was put in place to govern until a new Emperor could be put in place on the throne. However, in spite of a lacking leader, the city flourished and the debris of war was just a memory to the younger folk.

I picked my way west towards Bruma, a town on the tip of the border, and worked hard at the ancient and esteemed Jerall View Inn. In three weeks I was ready to make my way south towards the Imperial City, trembling with excitement to see the lore and legend with my own eyes. I was no supporter of the Empire, but in comparison to the genocidal alternatives of the Aldmeri Dominion and the Stormcloaks, they were kittens in comparison. I tucked my amulet of Talos into my tunic just to be safe, and made my way inside. The vastness of the city and its districts was like nothing in Skyrim, where the biggest cities I had seen were Solitude and Whiterun. Clutching my recommendation from High Queen Elisif, I made my way towards the legendary Tiber Septim Hotel, hoping to find work in their kitchens. The proprietor was a snooty Dunmer woman, who took one look at my letter of recommendation and shook her head at me. “We don’t serve Nord cooking here. Try your luck elsewhere and when you can cook like an Imperial, come find me and we can organise a trial.” She said, as I slunk towards the door feeling humiliated.

After wandering the city and finding mostly squalid or simple taverns and inns with nothing to offer to my culinary education, I finally came upon the Akatosh Tavern in the Elven Gardens District, which before the war had apparently been called the King and Queen Tavern and had been standing since the 3rd era. It was comfortable and homely, and they took me in happily upon seeing my recommendation. The head chef, a portly Imperial named Garrus, was relieved to have an apprentice to help with the kitchen work, and was accommodating and helpful, sharpening the basic knowledge of Imperial cuisine I had picked up in Bruma. He sent me weekly to the countryside outside of the city to pick herbs and vegetables, and when he discovered I was an adept hunter, sent me to collect game (“Why buy from the markets if we can get it for free?” he often said). I soon discovered Imperial cooking to be more flavourful than what I was used to. Marinades, dips, and an abundance of olive oil were staples of our kitchen, as were cheeses (I was introduced to something called ‘feta’, which was also popular with our Khajiit and Redguard patrons). Fresh fruit and vegetables that I had only heard of were rife, and I was ecstatic to finally test my skills with something totally new. To think, just a week from Skyrim’s borders would yield such new experiences! Already I was plotting my trips into Hammerfell, High Rock, and even the deep south under the Aldmeri Dominion, which my parents strongly opposed, being worshippers of Talos.

On my days off, I explored the city, and smiled when I saw Guild marks carved next to every shop and home. Our little Riften Guild had begun its ambitious expansion to conquer all of Tamriel, and while the Grey Fox of the third era was now just a fable, Brynjolf was most certainly real and was running the Guild with clockwork precision and determination. We penned letters to each other frequently, where I talked about my adventures and he about the rapid expansion of the Thieves Guild now that we were once more under blessing of Nocturnal. I made a point of buying items from fences whenever I could to keep the gears of the Guild oiled, and each transaction was made with a knowing nod. As Brynjolf had said, once a thief, always a thief. Each of his letters were in envelopes with a wax seal bearing the mark of the Guild, which when opened smelled strongly of cinnamon and cloves that I always breathed deeply from, wishing we were close.

Two months went by at the Akatosh Tavern. I had gone from being an errand-runner and dish washer to a chef of equal standing with Garrus, who showed no sign of having his position threatened as he knew of my intent to try my luck again at the Tiber Septim Hotel. Until then, I was groomed in the ways of Imperial cuisine, until I was able to handle the kitchen on my own while he took a much deserved holiday. Word spread around the city (not without the help of some name-dropping by the Guild) about my cooking, and soon the dining room of the tavern was packed, day and night. I made fresh mozzarella by hand and kneaded fiddly filo pastries. I mastered stuffed grape leaves and marinated vegetables. The sticky, sickly sweet confectionery, soaked in syrup and nuts, that the Imperials adored were churned out in huge batches that we put on display for our hungry patrons. Soon I was hoisted from the kitchen to cater to parties and fancy dinners at rich homes around the city, until a courier came to me one day bearing the message that the proprietor of the Tiber Septim Hotel wanted to speak with me. Smiling at my triumph, I walked over while greeting the odd customer or merchant who had come to recognise my unnatural grey head around the city.

The Tiber Septim Hotel’s dining area was close to empty compared to the Akatosh Tavern, I observed when I walked in. The snooty Imperial proprietor looked stressed when she saw me, and offered a huge salary for me to move over from the tavern. Knowing I had the upper hand, I leapt at my chance. “I want one month’s salary in advance. I plan on making a journey through the province, to take some time off work and see if there is anything else to learn on the road.” Wearily, she agreed, and I signed a contract there and then that would keep me employed for six months. Grinning from ear to ear, I knew I’d done it. When the year was up, I would probably be cooking for the Elder Council and getting a glimpse into the Palace that was a mystery to all but the privileged. I shouldered my satchel, whistling an old Nord tune, and went to fetch Roach from the stables. The south and west of Cyrodiil awaited, unfolding countless promises and Ayleid ruins to explore despite the damage done by the Thalmor. Further to the south lay Elsweyr and Valenwood, and back north, Hammerfell and High Rock awaited me. Tamriel was sprawling, but I knew I had but a month to cover Cyrodiil alone. I set Roach on a fast trot, and we made our way on the road. As it turns out, leaving Skyrim for the greatest adventure of my lifetime was the best decision I had ever made. M'aiq was right. One does not simply cross the border- one crosses it with an open heart, an open mind, and the promise of the open road.

#cyrodiil #tes iv: oblivion #oblivion #imperial city #the elder scrolls #4e #tes #adventure #travel #cooking #fanfic #fanfiction #tes v skyrim #chapter 6

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smallchou · 6 years ago

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60 Months as Dad

E turned 60 months old today. We celebrated with her favorite dinner of Mac-and-cheese, peas, and carrots. Ivy and I made a terrible mess of some beef short ribs that we subjected my parents to as well; they’re in town for a few weeks. We had a couple of local NYC beers (still struggling to find a decent local IPA). We each had our choice of ice cream for dessert, which E stuck candles into to inspire us to the Nth rendition of Happy Birthday today. It was clear most of the day, temperature hovering within a crisp range of 35-45 degrees F all day long.

Two nights ago I popped awake at 3:30am to the murmuring cries of E next door. Ivy and I did the usual parent silent negotiation of who could pretend to still be asleep for longer. But by the time I started stumbling towards the kids’ room, I was moving pretty quickly because I was actually worried about something.

Gabba and I have been pretty ill over the past week. I spent 36 hours in bed with a triple-digit fever earlier in the week, but he probably would have traded places with me. And what I was worried about was this: E’s birthday party was “two sleeps” away, and if she was really ill… and we had to cancel or postpone it… she would be devastated. DEVASTATED, really. At 37, I’ve only been as emotionally distraught two or three times as a cancellation-worthy illness would’ve made E. All of this ran through my head in the course of just a few steps.

That’s the best explanation of what being a dad of 5- and 3-year olds is like to me.

First, you know so much more than these kids. That birthday parties come and go. That E barely remembers that her fourth birthday party was canceled due to California wildfire smoke. That every other parent attending the party is secretly (or not so secretly) happy to have one less obligation for the weekend. That it will all be FINE. No, really E, it’s OK. I’m sorry this happened, and yes it is the worst, but let’s reschedule and maybe get some ice cream and you’ll feel better. Oh hey, Frozen 2 AND the Nutcracker are this month? High five!

Second, at the same time, you just want these things to be perfect for them. I can’t remember the last time I had as elaborate of a birthday party as every one we’ve planned for E. When I was 10, my parents rented out the arcade venue Aladdin’s Castle. That may have been it. And that’s truly, completely fine by me. But when I think about how devastated E would be… it really hurts with a unique helplessness of parenthood. Because you don’t want to tell her not to care; what is a life, a young life, without that caring. So you can’t also tell her she shouldn’t have cared.

And then third… what the fuck am I doing up at 3:30am in the morning and how much longer does this happen?

It has been a whole year since I’ve written one of these. I didn’t stop trying until several months into this past year. But I found it hard to distinguish the notable differences from month to month. They were 4 and 2 by then basically, and so each month brought fewer leaps forward.

We’ve changed so many things since a year ago. Basically same family, new lives. East coast. Real fall. Real winter. Own a coat, carry an umbrella. NYC. Walk to school. Walk to the office. New work. No car. High-rise living. No idea where we will be a year from now. And fully understand why McCaffrey and Luck never won the Heisman. One thing we were right about: this is the PERFECT age for two kids to have a family adventure.

A few years from now, E’s memory will be so vivid and long, and her thoughts so fast-paced, that who knows how she would take a move. Those are the two personality characteristics that pop out most: vivid memory and linear thinking. She is so observational and pensive, remembering tiny little things and noodling on them silently for days. A few weeks ago, we were walking on a weekend and she suddenly asked why I didn’t wear the parents’ security badge for her school on a lanyard like the other parents. A tiny little thing she observed, bouncing around in her head for days, as she watched parent after parent carry a little plastic badge differently from me. There’s rarely anything that she hasn’t mentally processed to no end.

She loves art, which is why her birthday party was at an art studio. You’ll know this when you see her, because she will tell you very directly, “I am an artist.” I remember being amazed when she was two or three and able to sit and color by herself for an hour on end. And now, sometimes she will just stop mid-play, tell us she is going to go make some art, pull out the supplies herself, and get to it for hours on end, signing each piece with impeccably written all-caps “E T O I V Y” or “T O J A C K”.

This past week she turned to me and asked, “Daddy? This weekend, if it’s nice out, can we go have a picnic in Central Park?” A pretty innocuous and sweet ask by any child. But for E, it’s a really precise question because she both knows that her dad loves to cook, eat, and relax outdoors… and she asked it because she knew that just asking it would make me happy. She does this often now, choosing to do things to make Ivy or me feel better. It is as sweet as it sounds.

Sometimes one piece of her daily prolific art even reads, “E T O G A B B A”, which he diligently appreciates for a few seconds before he races off. He adores her, he just doesn’t have the patience to be held still for quite that amount of time. In the grand scheme of sibling relationships, theirs is one of playfulness, fun, and contrast. He is so sweet and thoughtful, always remembering to get an extra of anything for her. And she knows him so deeply, skillfully convincing him to do dumb shit for her entertainment. And of course, he knows how to get on her nerves when he needs to.

He’s at an age where his emotions will regularly overrun his own logic. “Gabba, can you please help clean up.” “No.” “OK, but no dessert then after dinner. Do you want dessert?” “No.” “But Gabba, don’t you -“ “ No.” The first row of his Responsibility Chart just reads ‘No Whining’, which he has yet to ever earn a star for.

But when he isn’t in a mood… it’s hard to say there’s ever been a sweeter child who ever walked the earth. Snuggles, hugs, giant smiles, total enthusiasm, constant enjoyment of life, clockwork thoughtfulness, wholly inclusive of everyone, wants to try everything, no grudge kept, and oh so friendly. At the doctor’s office yesterday, he eagerly listened to every ask and took part just to try it out. Cotton swab jammed all the way to the back of my throat? Yes please! Three different temperature readings from three different places? Can we do a fourth? I wish that I had the good-natured, positive openness that both he and Ivy have. I’m sure E does as well.

A few weeks ago, putting them to bed, E sat quietly on her bed while I helped Gabba, shifting around in an odd way. I looked at her funny, she froze up, and immediately we were both jumping to her pillow to see what she’d hidden under there. When I pulled it up, 5 Paw Patrol action figures sat there while E plaintively explained that she and Gabba have been plotting and playing Paw Patrol together after bedtime. It’s one of the rare times as a Dad when I’ve felt like I have no idea what’s the “right” thing to do. Honor bedtime or love their friendship?

A running theme of these posts used to be a general regret (paranoia?) about feeling like each thing was happening too fast and then ending too fast. I think in the past year, my mindset has shifted to now just being present in enjoying the moment as it happens and not grasping at last occasions too plaintively. That’s to say that I’ve come to peace with how our lives will turn. All that matters is that I’m still ready if Gabba turns to me tomorrow and requests Sit on your shoulders? while we walk somewhere.

When I burst into their room the other night, E’s birthday party flashing by in front of my eyes, she was luckily *just* cringing from a nightmare and a slight nosebleed. Whew, devastation averted! And right on cue, wide-awake sitting in his bed, was Gabba holding up his pillow, wide-eyed with a huge smile. “Look, daddy! No poo-poo on my pillow!” He was legitimately proud (really, don’t ask), but also hopeful that he would get some of my attention too.

Of course, when I got E all back ready for bed, Gabba asked me to “Daddy, sit in the middle” of their room, as I often do on a small circular rug, talking to them while they go to sleep. And who could refuse these angels. I sat, at 3:57am, listening to their breathing slow and quiet, knowing this could always be the last night they need me this much.

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