#but these rich people aren't eccentric enough

[wuxianxkexing]

Honestly rich people are so fucking lame. If I was rich I would go straight to the animators of my favorite shows and offer them 5 million to make a fanservice episode of my favorite character. Oh, 5 million isn't enough? Well then here's 20 million. I want to see his dick. I want it to be published officially so everyone can see it for free. Please dedicate that episode to me so everyone knows who to thank. I want destiel to be canon and the secret scene to be released to the public. I want to see Mu Qing and Feng Xin fucking. I want an episode of Itachi Uchiha working happily on a farm tending to chickens with his shirt off. I want to see Levi Ackerman and Hanji Zoe get married or at least kiss. I want to renew the Legend of Korra and have them give us the Korrasami that we deserve. I want to fund a cartoon of the Warriors cat books. Give me the money.

[futurequibblerjournalist]

I think we need to let the Black family be more eccentric. And I hear you all saying "oh but fancy pureblood standards" and this is where I get you and I draw you in

We have such a misconstrued idea of what fancy pureblood standards would be in the wizard universe. Most of it I personally blame on edits. Editors don't have access to movies that portray characters wearing funky looking wizard robes so they often go for more victorian looking styles especially for the Black family but just for pureblood families in general. Please please please don't take this as a complaint but ahhhhh I need people to acknowledge the fancy wizard robes that the Black family undoubtedly wore.

Like,,, even if you argue that wizard robes are more of a special occasion thing, that just adds to the point because the Black family would wear that all the time because they're "so much better than everyone" and every day is a special occasion if you're rich enough with the right social standing.

Also, we know from the way their home is described in the book that they're not above being a little eccentric. I mean,, they've got a cut-off troll foot for an umbrella stand and they hang the heads of their previous house elves on plaques on the wall for entertainment. They had a tapestry made to show off their ancestry with fancy gold embroidery in it (if I remember correctly). Like they're out here serving maximum wizard cunt

I think a lot of people get stuck on what high society standards of muggles are and they push that onto the purebloods in this universe, but it's noted how different muggle customs are from wizard (and especially pureblood) customs, so would it not make more sense for a family such as the Black family to try and act as opposite of that? I think this is especially seen in the way gender is portrayed in wizard society. Long robes that border on being dresses are commonly worn by well-respected men in wizard society and we also see wizard clothes that use a lot of vibrant colours, glitter and embroidery.

Also just if we look at those really fucking rich people with so much generational wealth they hardly know what to do with it (aka old money like the Black family and many other pureblood families) a lot of them are unapologetically eccentric. It would just make sense for wizards to be similar

I personally have a headcanon that the purebloods are very fond of lace. It's all homemade, by housewives and the more intricate and the more of it that there is, the more it's a sign that you're a family of good standing because the women are able to stay at home and focus on their lacework. I also think the colour of the lace would send a signal about where in society a family is placed. Black thread is notoriously hard to work with, so if you've managed to create a shirt full of many layers of intricate black lace then clearly you've spent a lot of time on it. I also think these pieces become heirlooms, because that shows that not only did the current generation of the family live up to this standard, the generations before them also did.

On top of that, I think a lot of pureblood families were really big on jewellery. They had all sorts of things for different occasions, many of which were also heirlooms. I could see it being some sort of coming-of-age thing to receive a pair of grandma's earrings or something like that and I 100% imagine that all the pureblood boys ran around with signet rings on after a certain age as well.

Also,,, I just think it's kinda funny to imagine Walburga trying to stuff Sirius into some lacy half-gown-looking robe before she adds a tonne of jewellery and goes "this belonged to your namesake, aren't you just proud?" or something like that

[highstakeweights]

The Blue Heron

A place for the odd few who aren't satisfied with just gambling their finances away. The Blue Heron offers a thrill like no other, with the promise of riches and your wildest dreams if you play well enough. The catch, you may ask? Petty things such as cash, expensive jewelry, or other tangible assets are useless to those who already have all they could want and more. No, The House only accepts much more personal stakes. The buy in for a game of poker could be a cherished memory, the love for your favorite food, or... a few inches on your waist~.

The Blue Heron is not only a casino, but a resort as well. While it has extremely pleasant facilities, the more one indulges, the greater their tab. The House is strange, fickle, and often vindictive. Yet, people still keep coming, even though some may never leave~. It isn't just The House you have to worry about, but the eccentric staff here to make your stay as memorable as possible. Dealers, bunny girls and boys, and food you never remember ordering lurk around every corner. All there to help you have the best time possible! Though, some want to make sure you'd never even think of going back to your boring life...

Meet Madam Diana Welstrom Anatolia Rhysford Mihaly, or Madam D for short. The Maître d' for The Blue Heron, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that both guests and staff have a pleasant time. She ensures that there isn't any mischief afoot... At least, not of her own design. While bearing the title of master of the house, she laughs at the notion of being truly in control of everything around The Blue Heron. Her attention is usually focused on her cadre of bunny girls and boys, running a tight ship with little room for error. Beauties bashfully bursting out of their uniforms is a common sight when Madam D is personally overseeing their work. However, she has been known to don one of those skimpy suits herself to show her blubbery bunnies how it's supposed to be done. Regardless, she's far tubbier than any normal woman, and is known to throw off almost any gambler's groove with her enlarged assets.

Another common sight around The Blue Heron is Walter Romanov (no relation to those you might be thinking of). Walter usually handles any affairs relating to the plethora of dealers, bartenders, and kitchen staff. Like Madam D, he is strict, though he lacks her occasional playfulness afforded to diligent workers. His expression is always neutral, regardless of the situation, and his every move is done with unnatural precision and grace. Regardless of his stoic nature, he can still be seen threatening to brush both sides of a hallway with his hips, not immune to the effects of The House. Though, he is a peculiar sort in that his weight and size can seemingly change on a dime. And, he has been seen helping out Madam D's bunnies when they're particularly short staffed or overworked. Yes, Madam D does make him wear the outfit.

Finally, the most recognizable and enthusiastic bunny girl under Madam D's employ, Tracy Burns. Compared to the other staff, Tracy is by all accounts just a normal girl working as a bunny girl. Though, anyone who works at The Blue Heron is still far from what many would consider normal. And... Well, her proclivities make that statement rather apt. Despite being a fan favorite among many who frequent The Blue Heron, Tracy is often quite the thorn in Madam D's side. The ditzy blonde is always eager to see herself and others grow bigger. Outgrowing her uniform before the start of her shift on numerous occasions, she resorts to using pasties and bikini bottoms that cover precious little when the need arises. If she didn't generate so much guest satisfaction, Madam D would have turned her into a human food disposal long ago...

Of course, The Blue Heron has many more eclectic characters calling it home, but best to pace oneself when avarice could very well be your undoing~. Don't bother trying to find your way here uninvited, The House is very picky about who it welcomes inside. Though, you'll certainly know you're welcome if it wants you there. Once it has its sights set on you, it will never let go. Even if you make it out once, twice, five, ten, or even a hundred times... The House always wins~.

(First attempt at an rp blog! Likes and reblogs appreciated, asks always open, and more than happy to do scenes! Still very unfamiliar with all this, so I please ask your patience and understanding!)

[babyastrowitch]

PLANETS IN THE 5TH HOUSE

-

The fifth house is in charge of pleasure, love, and amusement.

-

Sun in the 5th

may have a highly developed image of self, originality, they need to be recognized for their efforts, optimistic, enjoys sports and very dramatic.

Moon in the 5th

big heart + very kind, childlike spirit, talent in the arts, enjoys expressing emotion, happiest when doing things for people they love.

Mercury in the 5th

may hide true intentions, only enjoys talking about their accomplishments, need to create, thrives in competitive situations.

Venus in the 5th

said to have perfect partners because they are driven by happiness, crazy about romance, charming, easily dependent.

Mars in the 5th

very competitive, will not accept failure as an option, enjoys taking risks, not disciplined, enjoys sports and outdoor activities.

Jupiter in the 5th

craves to express creativity freely, aren't ones to dwell on decisions, very open and sure of themselves, could come off as egotistical.

Saturn in the 5th

they may feel as if people don't love and appreciate them enough, restrictive of emotions, difficulty showing love + usually resorts to giving gifts as a means of showing it.

Uranus in the 5th

enjoys doing things their own way, very creative mind, may be "unusual" people, enter and exits relationship abruptly, attracted to eccentric people, needs freedom.

Neptune in the 5th

can easily put themselves into other people's shoes and feel what they're feeling, talented actors/enjoy seeing movies, rich imagination and very romantic.

Pluto in the 5th

will follow through with things they promised to do, obsessive towards certain interests, protective, artistic.

**

[emeraldspiral]

Thinking about how so far in Invader Zim the only members of Irken society we've seen have been members of the military, fast food workers, and scientists. I headcanon that there are no artists on Irk and all creative work is done by AI, but I like to think that there are civilian Irkens who do other jobs besides working in the military or feeding or supplying the military. I imagine they probably have big corporations that make the snack food Irkens love, their vehicles, communication devices and other infrastructure, their TVs and couches and other everyday items needed for leisure and entertainment, etc... And Irkens absolutely would have a celebrity culture surrounding the CEOs of these companies. Like, everyone idolizes them and hangs onto their every word hoping their success will rub off on them. And since extreme selfishness is so ingrained in their culture, Irkens don't even have to pretend to think these are good people. They know all about and applaud the exploitation of underpaid workers, price gouging customers, and every other shady business practice meant to maximize the CEO's profits at the expense of everyone else. They don't think that makes you evil, they think it makes you smart. But they also kinda only think being greedy and exploitative makes you smart because they think if you're rich, powerful, and successful you must be smart and therefore everything you do is smart. But these guys aren't smart at all. They're basically all indistinguishable from Red and Purple. Literally every CEO is an Almighty Tallest-lite, running their companies the exact same way Red and Purple run the entire Empire. Because the Control Brains love their brainless figureheads.

Irkens are told that if they work hard to prove themselves, they can advance to any station, even overcoming the barriers of height discrimination. But the reality is that the Control Brains have the ability to control for height through genetic selection in the cloning process and hormone control throughout a developing Irken's life. So they can pick and choose who's going to be tall and receive Tallness Privilege and be automatically granted opportunities shorter Irkens have to fight tooth and nail for, only to still be denied no matter what, reinforcing the idea that being taller means being inherently better. So while tall Irkens don't get the benefit of inherited wealth since their are no families on Irk, they do get pre-selected by the system to go through special training sims for business and leadership elites and receive massive grants for free upon graduation to start-up or buy into a business. And of course they also receive bailouts aplenty whenever they run their businesses into the ground. Because don't they deserve another chance to buy their way into and fuck up another company? They are Tall after all. Meanwhile, the lower Irken classes have to save their monies for decades just to open up a hot-dog stand, or try to take out a loan, which most will be denied flat-out if they aren't tall enough. If they can get a loan the interest will be insanely high and investors will expect a return on investment within an unreasonably short period, making it all but impossible for new small businesses to succeed and grow, further reinforcing the notion that smaller Irkens are just too stupid to run businesses.

Also, because Irkens are so greedy and have no families to leave inheritance to it's traditional for rich Irkens to arrange for their monies to be burned so that nobody can access their wealth. Because they don't want any inferior Irkens getting their hands on one cent of their money that they earned because they were smarter, taller, and better than everyone else. There are rumors of certain eccentric Irken billionaires who buried their money in a secret location, or in a tomb full of death traps, or used near-impossible to hack encryption software to lock their funds behind a digital wall, so that their wealth might still be accessible to someone clever enough to prove their worth. But whenever someone manages find these alleged treasure hoards, it always turns out to be a cruel prank by the billionaire before they died. Their money was burnt all along.

[see-arcane]

sure adaptations should spicy jonathan up and gnc him instead of whatever they've been doing. but also mina, let her take charge, let her have her arm held, let her check beautiful girls out like in canon

The trouble with Mina in the adaptations is that she so often gets shouldered to one extreme or the other without appreciating her nuance or organically growing from Stoker's admittedly constrained/biased foundation, and not just in the LGBT area.

Mina is either a Complete Damsel Swooning into the Count's Toothy Embrace, or a #Girlboss Strong Independent Spunky Female Character Who Don't Need NO MAN But Gosh isn't that Dracula Soooo Mysterious and Hot??

Jonathan never gets to be Jonathan. Mina never gets to be Mina. That includes their actual good traits and bad traits, the latter of which have every opportunity to be highlighted in a good adaptation, and used as a growing experience. There's a whole moral lesson to be had in dealing with 'the Other' and other nationalities and sexuality and unconventional roles and romances and beliefs and races and imperialism/colonialism and just

So MUCH

that's left laying around for the whole cast to pick up and scrutinize. No, they wouldn't have to be perfectly 21st century No Issues Whatsoever transplants thrust into silly backwards Victorian times. They can still be the characters from the novel. But in addition to all the amazingly rich traits they already have, a good writer-director would know to take Stoker's slipped-in prejudices by the neck, drag them out in the open, and use the entire vampire hunt/conversion affair to force this 19th century cast to break free of their author's clumsy-to-cruel biases. Make them learn! Make them grow! Make them embrace new ideas and drop faulty ones (goodbye physiognomy reliance and Lombroso, you shitty hack)!

These characters--especially Jonathan and Mina--have so much potential to not just be the Amazing Wonderful Unconventional for Victorian Era Good Guys (c) with No Issues At All!, but good people with society-infused flaws that Dracula's mess forcibly rattles them out of. We saw Jonathan break out of his mold after the hell of October 3rd, throwing propriety and his Stalwart Manly Companions' opinions and tropes out the window to go full Gomez Addams. Mina did the same when she clawed her way firmly back into a key player position equal to, and sometimes beyond, Van Helsing's wise paternal leader role; they couldn't have succeeded without her! Without either of the Harkers being themselves: wildly in love, wildly outside the norm, wildly bi and demisexual and gnc and EQUALS!

The same can go for the rest of the ensemble as the story moves forward!

Let Lucy and the suitors acknowledge their broader scope of polyamorous and biromantic love.

Let Jack have a true sense of shame at himself and mourning for Renfield and all the missteps he took in treating the man like an experiment rather than a person; a hero who died trying to save the first person to treat him like an equal, who tried to warn them all, and was slain before anything could be made right.

Let Van Helsing acknowledge that his eccentricities and benevolent reasoning aren't an excuse for leading everyone around by the nose and locking the dainty females out of the loop.

Let everyone get a cold slap of reality in the face when they have to acknowledge the folly of (their author's) myriad haughty-to-bigoted beliefs regarding other cultures and not-Anglo-enough people.

Let! Them! Grow!

[SCREAMS IN UNFULFILLED ADAPTATION DAYDREAMS]

...

Anyway yeah, do agree with you. Let Mina ogle pretty girls in Piccadilly, let Jonathan share a glass of wine with a gallant petty officer who rode away with him on horseback away from peril, good good good

[marzipanandminutiae]

If you were born in like 19th century England, do you think you would’ve been really into contemporary fashion, or would you have looked back at Georgian & Baroque? Do you think your love of regency/Victorian/Edwardian fashion more rooted in historical interest or aesthetic? Or do you think it’s too intertwined to parse?

I've thought about this a fair bit, actually. Whether, serious concerns like bigotry and inferior medicine aside, I'd actually make a Good Victorian. I'm not at all sure I would, even allowing for things like Humans Aren't Etiquette Manual Writers and People Have Always Been People. For one thing, until ragtime, a lot of the popular music was rancid IMO. There are only so many music-hall songs one can take, and only so many minor-key classical pieces or murder ballads to salve the pain.

But I digress.

In terms of fashion, I think I'd be able to find more things I like than I do now- but I'd still be looking backward somewhat. Even as a modern person pining for Victorian gowns, a lot of my favorite 19th century styles are revival movements: standing lace collars that whisper "Elizabethan," for example, or the 18th century influences of the 1870s-early 80s. Or Renaissance-esque puffed and slashed sleeves, or Etruscan Revival earrings. And of course, Gothic Revival has my entire heart in many ways. So I suspect I'd be quite artistic in my approach to dress back then, while still sticking to the basic silhouette of the times.

And good god, would I haaaaate having to update things to keep pace with the vaguely current Look. I'm very much a "find what I like and stick to it" sort of person in terms of aesthetic, and I like to wear and wear my clothing until it utterly gives out- in its original form, to be clear. For my own sanity, I'd be the happiest in a position where my support either didn't depend on respectability or where a bit of eccentricity in dress was allowed for.

So basically I'd have to either be born wealthy enough to never worry about money, or...I don't know. Marry a very rich gay man who runs in Artistic circles and doesn't need me to represent his business/law firm/whatever at parties.

I suspect, unfortunately, that I'd be somewhat curmudgeonly about fashion back then just as I am now (albeit less so). And this, friends, is the lesser micro-level reason I don't indulge in "born in the wrong era" talk.

[obsidiancreates]

Bright Suits and Bright Minds (Though Shenanigans Aren't Far Behind)

(Where in the timeline does this happen? Beats me. They're wanderin' the Feywild and that's all I know. Basically I just wanted Kremy and Frost to meet my OC Carter because there's some similarities XD)

(Edit: I put a Read More in but it's not showing that in the tag so I apologize deeply for anyone in the tag wondering why I put a long-ass fic here. I didn't, Tumblr isn't putting the Read More in and I'm sorry.)

"Well," Gideon sighs, hands on his hips as he looks around and sighs. "We're lost."

"You're just realizing that now?" Frost arcs an eyebrow up at his friend. "We haven't seen anything other than trees and muck for hours."

"Yeah, but, that's kinda just how this place is."

"... You're not wrong," Frost concedes. "Twig, do you have any idea where we are?"

Twig looks around for a moment, peering out into the fog from where she sits on Gideon's shoulders. "... Nope!"

""I really should've used Guidance when we started," Gricko mumbles to himself, wincing with wide eyes at his own mistake. "Maybe someone will come by we can ask for directions?"

"I'm not so sure that'll-"

"Oh, finally!"

"Oh, well, I was wrong!" Kremy picks up the pace a bit after the interruption, but freezes when he sees the owner of the voice. "Is that a fuckin' human?"

"What is it with you and humans, man? I'm half-human, you don't got any problems with me!"

"You're half not-human too, Gid, that fixes it."

"Well gosh, Kremy, your hatred of humans and want to eat them implies such a rich and layered backstory," Gricko says, smiling and leaning in to elbow Kremy's leg knowingly.

"It sure does, Gricko. Anyway, let's see if he dies and I can use his bones for some broth."

"Fuck that, I'm getting directions." Frost strides forward. "Uh, hello! My name is Morning Frost-"

He's met with a warm hand clasping around his shoulders. "Finally!" the person exclaims. "I was starting to think this whole universe was just swampwater and weird little frogs!"

"This universe?" Frost takes in this apparent human. He has deep dark skin that contrasts sharply, but nicely, with his obnoxiously bright yellow suit. His hair, not quite long enough to be considered a full afro but getting close to it, is tucked masterfully into what looks like a boater's hat made of fabric instead of straw. Frost would consider it eccentric if he wasn't used to Kremy's own style.

The man grins at Frost and steps back, swooping off his hat and bowing deeply. "Carter Clevman, god of cleverness, craftiness, charisma, and charm! Not in this world though." He stands back up and sweeps his hat on with the same practiced ease.

"Oh gods, it's another fuckin' weirdo," Gideon whispers roughly to Kremy.

"Are you from the material plane too?" Gricko asks as the rest of the group gets closer. Carter doesn't even bat an eye at Torbek as he trudges over, tubes glowing and bubbling away. "We could travel toge-"

"No more people!" Kremy interrupts. "For the sake of the nine hells, Gricko, we've already got six!"

"I wouldn't be joining you anyway," Carter says with a wave of his hand. "I'm looking for my four friends. See, I decided I wanted to take a little trip through the multiverse, as you do-"

"Yeah of course. Why not." Gideon looks at Kremy and holds up a fist in question.

Kremy shakes his head, parting his mouth a little. He tastes a magic in the air around this person. It's not a very familiar flavor, and unfortunately, it tastes like this guy might not be human after all. When it comes to things that disguise themselves like this in the Feywild? Probably better to just try and get anything useful from them and then get away.

Carter doesn't pay attention, or at least doesn't acknowledge it. "-and we ran into a little unexpected debris in the planes between worlds, and, well, we got separated. Have you seen any other 'humans' or humans around here?" Carter makes air-quotes when he says the first 'humans'.

"No-one but you so far, friend," Kremy says, leaning forward a bit on his cane. "So your little group aren't really humans?"

"Well, half of us aren't. I already said I'm not-"

"Torbek doesn't mean to be rude," Torbek says slowly. "But... Torbek doesn't remember any gods wearing suits like Mr. Kremy's..."

"Suit's like-! My suit is finely tailored! Purple is a-a sign of high society!" Kremy brushes off his lapel, offended. "He doesn't even have a cane!"

"A cane is a good idea though. Love the skull on yours, my friend Evelyn would love it too. She's one of the people I'm looking for. She'll either look like a pale human woman with black hair that's bright blue at the tips, sort of a tough almost biker style to her clothes, or she'll look like a harbinger of plant-based revenge." Carter gestures at his back. "Giant wings that go from scales to feathers, four big horns, glowing blue eyes, stuff like that."

"Have we met anybody like that?" Gricko asks, looking up at his companions.

There's a moment of deliberation.

"Never seen her," Twig finally says, "I'm sorry we can't help."

"Ah, it's alright, it was a long shot. If you do see her, let her know I'm looking for her around this area. I'm also looking for Ashlyn, she's got ginger hair and lots of freckles, I believe she was wearing a pink hoodie this time, and is probably carrying around a glowing bow and arrows, she knows me well enough to be armed when she tries to take vacations with me."

"Oh." Gricko crinkles his nose. "You sound like a fun guy to travel with. Hootsie," he says softly to his daughter, "If you have a friend where you always have to be armed to hang out with them, you get new friends, alright?"

"Um, Gricko? That's the case with us." Frost pats Gricko's back.

"... Oh gods, Frosty, you're right. Hootsie, I am so sorry sweetie-"

"I'm also looking for a couple, they'll probably be together. A short woman with light brown hair, oh no. Oh, she was wearing one of her nice pairs of jeans too, I'm going to owe her forever. Literally. Anyway, she'll likely have a bright glowing necklace on and be with her husband, who's about- oh, about the height of your red friend here." Carter gestures at Gideon. "Not red, though, and no beard. Possibly horns, depends on if he's in his demon form or not."

"Demon? We won't be messing with any demons." Kremy looks around and raises his cane a little.

"No no, he's very kind! He rescues cats out of trees and they've fostered orphaned puppies and everything, they're so overly sweet it gave me a cavity once. I didn't even know that could happen, given this physical form is just something I whipped up for fun a few millennia ago."

"If you don't mind my asking," Frost says, looking Carter up and down. "If you're some kind of god or deity... why did you and your companions get so lost? How did something like this happen if you're supposed to be such a-a powerful being?"

"Well, you know how it is. Sometimes you jump into something just bursting with self confidence, and you realize along the way 'Oh-ho! This was unearned'!" Carter chuckles at himself. It's not exactly a happy chuckle. "Ahhh... yeah. I said I was the god of cleverness, not competence."

"If he's the god of cleverness, that might explain a few things. Like how we got so many people to come to our carnival," Gideon says. "You're slackin' off, man."

"Why do you guys keep insultin' the carnival? It was a good carnival!"

"Whatever helps you sleep, Kremy." Frost looks back at Carter. "It's true, you're not doing very well."

"First of all, I said I was the god of it in another universe. I don't know who's in charge of it here, and other cleverness gods and I tend not to get along. ... They think I disgrace the title because I enjoy indulging in silly antics that some would consider dumb. Secondly, I don't control cleverness! I'm a personification of concepts, feelings, aspects! Gods in my world aren't responsible for creation, just... existing as the thing we are! The creation is left up to Sid."

"Sid? You some kinda cleric with a god named Sid?" Kremy lowers his cane. He's starting to think this guy isn't so much dangerous as off his rocker.

"Cleric? Well, at least that narrows down what universe I'm in somewhat... and no! No, Sid is just the nineteen year old who created our universe and controls it by writing it in her spare time."

"Your world is controlled by a nineteen year old?" Frost shakes his head. "I see why you left."

"No, I was just taking a vacation. My friends and I are actually quite close with Sid!"

"Well, are you actually close with them? Or are you kinda forced to be on account of them bein' a god?" Kremy leans a away from Carter.

Frost's eyes widen for just a second as he nods. "That's a good point Kremy. Carter, how do you even know you have free will or agency at all if uh, if your world's creator is involved so deeply in your life?"

"... Don't-don't make me think about that. I- ohhh, god..."

And then Sid didn't know how to end it. So Carter just sat down and had an existential crisis while the Witchlight party walked on.

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

My DCCU Interlude: The Legion of Super-Heroes (Part 4)

Chapter Four: Places and Peoples

OK, in the last essay, I finished up describing the members of the Legion, as of the first season of my theoretical TV series. Since the main characters are set up, this essay's going to address two things: setting and supporting characters. To be fair, there are a lot of possibilities in both categories, but we'll be looking at the major supporting characters for the Legion as a whole, the most prevalent settings we'll see in the first season, as well as some of the conflicts they face as a part of the setting.

As usual, I'll mostly be using my own versions of thee characters and places, rather than using the comic book versions of these things. And lemme tell you, the comic books never seem to agree on some of the things I'm talking about. Also, I'll be talking about these in order of relevance, making a story of sorts that describes the past and present of the Legion in this series, while setting up stories for the future. And so, without further ado...let's start with the only person I really can start with.

R.J. Brande: Eccentric Benefactor

Few characters are as important to the Legion's history as R.J. Brande, their friend and benefactor, as well as their original sponsor. One of the characters that's stayed the most constant throughout the incarnations of the Legion (save for JUST recently under the Bendis run), Brande is one of (if not the) richest men in the galaxy, and uses his well-earned money for both good and eccentric causes. Having gotten his money from a stargate industry, he's got a pretty impressive amount of influence and pull.

So, while we don't see this event until later on, let's talk about how R.J. Brande's relationship with the Legion began, by talking about this universe's founding of the Legion. And interestingly enough, this'll also serve to introduce some of our antagonists of the series, so that's useful. The whole thing starts during the 8th anniversary of the formation of the United Planets, a multi-system organization that seeks to bring disparate planets and cultures together. Basically, space United Nations.

Unsurprisingly, not everyone is a fan of the United Planets, for a number of regions. At the moment, only planets connected through the new Brande Stargate Network are a part of this organization, and those planets or colonies are usually rich or well-connected. Granted, the UP is hoping to expand beyond that at this point, but the memories of cultures galaxy-wide are quite long. Some planets refuse to join if their historical rivals are involved, while others aren't interested in the oversight and judgement from other planets. There is no united force to bring the planets together. And that's all that Brande wants to do.

See, Brande is a trillionaire, sure, but one who's made his fortune through surprisingly altruistic means. Additionally, he made this company with the help of his brother, Doyle Brande, who was at one point the business-savvy one with more selfish motives. Still, his efforts helped to make the company what it was, despite his own proclivities and frivolities. And now, with their deal with multiple planetary governments to connect their worlds to the Stargate Network, the United Planets movement was born from the increased closeness of these worlds.

At the moment, the First Ring of United Planets are Earth, Braal, the Moons of Saturn, the Moons of Neptune, Mars, Bgtzl, Winath, Cargg, Venegar, Rimbor, Bismoll, and Imsk. These worlds are, for the most part, connected and welcomed into the UP Alliance, although Cargg, Venegar, and the Moons of Neptune actually lobbied for their inclusion. Still, this is nowhere near enough of the galaxy, and there's a lot of work to do. And even then, the worlds of the fledgling UP aren't exactly friendly. Imsk and Braal have had building tensions for much of their recent history, while Winath is barely influential enough to be here.

Brande, in particular, has some issues with worlds wishing to be included in the United Nations, as he regularly tries to lobby for the less-affluent worlds for membership, but is regularly refused. Most prominent amongst these refusals is Durla, which Brande has proposed for aid and membership numerous times, to no avail. Durlans are trusted by essentially nobody, because of their shapeshifting ability and tribal culture. But why does Brande lobby so hard for Durla? Well, like I said in the last essay...IYKYK. Plus, I said this in the last essay when talking about Durlan Legionnaire, Chameleon.

Oh, and if you're getting some heavy-ass Star Wars vibes from this whole thing...yeah, that's not gonna change anytime soon. The United Planets isn't a multi-world government in the same way as the Republic in Star Wars, but it is a democratic overarching body that reviews and monitors intergovernmental relations in the same way. And more parallels are going to come later, believe me. Anyway, the United Planets is having trouble all over. That's not including threats and protests directed towards them by some the main antagonists of the first season of the series, the Dark Circle. More on them later.

In the lead-up to the UP meeting, three teenagers from the First Ring are incidentally travelling to Earth on the same trip as R.J. Brande and his brother, Doyle. Also here is an assassin, hired by the Dark Circle to kill R.J. Brande in order to dismantle the United Planets' most ardent herald, and ensure that chaos remains within the galaxy. This assassin is Cadis Thar-ok, an exile from the planet Zadron, which is attempting to join the United Planets. His attempts are thwarted by the three teenagers, who save the life of R.J. Brande, inspiring him to bring them together as a living symbol of interplanetary unity. With the help of his assistant, Marla Latham, the first members of the Legion are brought together.

After this, history continues forwards, as the Legion is formed with R.J. Brande's backing, and with the tentative blessing of the United Planets. By using the Legion as a diplomatic force, the UP plans to entice planets into joining with the promised protections of the Legion as a membership perk. However, what they didn't expect was the fact that the Legion would protect planets outside of the United Planets as well, again with Brande's blessing. Through this, the Legion gains interplanetary reputation, and the UP benefits in turn. And that's a problem for three separate forces. Let's start with the first of these.

Science Police: Bad Cops, Good Cops

OK, the Science Police, in the comics, have had varying degrees of influence and distribution. Sometimes they're limited to NuMetropolis, sometimes they're an Earth-based police force, and sometimes they're the paramilitary group employed by the United Planets as a whole. And I'm leaning between options two and three in this case. In this series, we'll quickly be introduced to the Science Police as a semi-corrupt agency with branches throughout Earth, and within the Sol System to a certain degree. They're on the verge of a connection with the United Planets at large, which is a huge deal for them.

And then Brande comes in with the Legion. Again, in comics and other media, the Science Police have complex relationships with the Legion, mostly bordering on the antagonistic at least. In most instances, though, the Legion's first major enemy is the Science Police, and that's also going to be the case here. The Legion is not only composed of super-powered teenagers with no law enforcement experience, but they're also on the verge of replacing the Science Police as the United Planet's main enforcement unit. And unsurprisingly, that doesn't sit well with the cops.

As I mentioned in the last essay, the leader of the NuMetropolis Science Police is Director Ryna Norg, a traditionalist cop who dislikes the Legion for what she sees as vigilante work. Her supervisor is Chief Jarik Shadder, who also disapproves of the Legion for financial and power-based reasons, rather than moral and professional ones. Therefore, both of them advocate for the inclusion of Lyle Norg, AKA Invisible Kid and Ryna's son, into the Legion to gather intelligence on them.

However, this plan somewhat backfires on them. Predictably, Lyle falls in with the Legion and turns on his mother's machinations. The Legion also gains the favor of the Deputy Chief of the Science Police, and their United Planets liaison, Gigi Cusamano. She'll be stepping in to replace Shadder after...stuff happens. And even Ryna will begin to come around, especially after another concession is made, come the second season of the series. At that point, the relations between the Science Police and Legion will have somewhat warmed up, and the Legion will even agree to have a sanctioned liaison that works alongside them in the form of Shvaughn Erin. And yes, she's trans in this universe as well, obviously. Not sure of a fancast for her, but I'm open to suggestions!

Now, real quick, the Science Police are not horrendously incompetent. I realize that a trope of superhero media is that the cops pale in comparison to the heroes. But it's the 31st century, and Earth has experienced a lot of superpowered nonsense over the centuries. So, as a police force, they're pretty good at everyday stuff. However, interplanetary threats are still a bit too much for your average Science Police Officer, and the powered individuals of the Legion stand a better chance against these threats than the Science Police do, on many occasions. Still, some of the situations where the two groups clash in this series will be the Legion's fault.

Some members of the Science Police, by the way, do have powers like the Legion. But, because of the nature of the organization, they're discouraged from using their abilities except in emergencies. After all, superpowers can be less-than-controllable, and the Science Police is all about control in the end. And teenagers with superpowers aren't exactly controllable, so some conflict is inevitable. Still, these guys are a first season threat, at best. Let's get into another first season threat, while we're at it.

The Dark Circle: Agents of Chaos

Now for some overt antagonists. The Dark Circle is a terrorist organization, firmly opposed to the United Planets, and with an unknown history or motive. And honestly, in the comics, that's all you get. Despite being a major antagonist for the Legion there is so little about these guys, that they're essentially a blank canvas to paint upon. I'll be giving them a bit of motive and context, but these guys are some of the main villains for the first season.

As I mentioned above, the Legion's first interaction with the Dark Circle is through the attempted assassination of R.J. Brande, which kicks off the formation of the Legion. This action is performed in association with Brande's partner and brother, Doyle Brande, who was manipulated by members of the Circle through his gambling debts to give them information on Brande's activities. The assassination was meant to cause the downfall of the Untied Planets, of which Brande was a noted advocate and backer. But why is the Circle against the United Planets? Because they're opposed to order.

OK, OK, I realize that bringing Doctor Fate into this universe through this series would be insane...and I'm not planning to, don't worry. No, he'll be introduced through Wonder Woman's side of the Trinity, at some point down the line. However, his role as a Lord of Order is important here, because the roots of this version of the Dark Circle can be traced back to worship of the Lords of Chaos, and therefore to the Lords of Order. Without going too far into this, let's just say that the mystical forces of the DC Universe are constantly in balance between chaos and order. On Earth, the person who maintains order is Doctor Fate, who bears the Helmet of Nabu to enforce the laws of the universe.

But it's a big universe out there, so it stands to reason that there are more Lords of Order, governing over different corners of the universe. This has barely been touched upon in DC Comics, and it really needs to be, because having ONE DUDE in charge of the entire mystical universe makes no sense, no matter how powerful Fate and Nabu are. So, let's assume there are multiple Agents of Order out there. This means that, for there to be balance, there should also be Agents of Chaos, seeking to tip the balance into eternal chaos, or the kali yuga. Some of these Lords of Chaos eventually gathered followers across the universe, eventually forming into what we call the Dark Circle.

So again, why the United Planets? Easy: what's more ordered than an interplanetary organization seeking to bring the universe into a more unified and controlled entity? Additionally, the United Planets are in some ways directly responsible for the Legion, and once the Legion forms, they become new targets of the Dark Circle. Again, though, to what end? What does the Dark Circle accomplish by sowing chaos across the universe? What's their end goal? Well, they're actually acting in service of a Lord of Chaos, one of the only ones still alive in the 31st century. And this Lord is a pretty major threat.

And it's at this point you might be asking..."wait, wasn't the Dark Circle the antagonist of the recent Legion of Super-Heroes animated film, and didn't they also serve a mysterious lord?" And to that, I say, yes, and fuck that movie. Not only does it ruin a great Legionnaire (spoilers), but it makes the Dark Circle boring by tying them in with Brainiac, making him their secret leader for some reason. And yes, I'm aware that Brainiac 4 in the comics was a leader of the Dark Circle, but this was original Brainiac. And it feels...uninspired. Especially because that action didn't really give the Dark Circle a good reason to exist, and also created some MASSIVE fucking plotholes in the process.

No, no, no, there's a much better answer here. A character who can be (and in some comics is) a Lord of Chaos, wants to take over the United Planets, and a major Legion villain. So, in my universe and theoretical series, the Lord of Chaos that the Dark Circle serves is...

Mordru the Merciless is one of the most important villains in the Legion's history. And mostly, this is because he's near-impossible to defeat when at full power. A wielder of magic, and one of the most powerful figures in the DC Universe, Mordru's only real goal is to obtain power over the universe. As a Lord of Chaos, he only lives to put an end to order. And on multiple occasions, it's taken the entire Legion to help take him down. But with that said, how in the hell is the first Legion roster supposed to stop an all-powerful wizard? And the answer is...they absolutely can't.

The Dark Circle's purpose is to generate enough chaos to weaken the forces of order, allowing Mordru to emerge from his ancient crystal prison. The Circle will be prevented from doing this throughout the first season...for the most part. Because their ultimate goal, to destroy the United Planets permanently, won't move forward thanks to the Legion. But not only does the first season's actions guarantee his eventual arrival, it allows the Legion to win the battles, but possibly lose the war to come in a few seasons. We need the Legion at their best before they fight Mordru.

So who exactly is heading up the Dark Circle? In truth, it doesn't really matter. After all, they're only acting in service of Mordru, so their individual identities matters little. Still, we should see them as background and bit characters throughout the series, appearing in places where the Dark Circle has struck or will strike, like looming and lingering shadows. Even though the characters themselves don't matter so much, I will highlight one whose name we should know: Ontiir.

Ontiir is a Science Police officer from the planet of Tsauron, and he'll be acting undercover for the Circle. It's through Ontiir that the Dark Circle will gather a lot of information and connections, and he'll go completely undetected throughout the entire season, more likely than not. He'll definitely appear in the series, of course, maybe even interact with the Legion here and there, but his tie to the Dark Circle should come as a surprise. When the end of the season rolls around, we'll discover Ontiir's allegiance, and the goal of the Dark Circle to create enough chaos to free Mordru.

With that, though, that leaves one more threat against the Legion associated with the United Planets. And for that one, I think her own essay will do. Well, her and four of her friends. And yeah, I realize I've teased her through three separate essays at this point, so let's end a little of the mystique.

Emerald Empress is, almost certainly, one of the most prominent enemies of the Legion. Through a portion of her history, she played second fiddle to Tharok as leader, but when she has the chance to shine, she is truly terrifying. And in this series, I'm putting Sarya in position as the head of the United Planets. Because firstly, it's an interesting place to see her exist and eventually fall from. And secondly, those who know that Sarya is the Emerald Empress know her eventual fate. Understand when I say that Emerald Empress is very much meant to echo Palpatine in theme, backed by a power unfathomable to most.

But she's here...so what about the rest of the Fatal Five? And what actually is Sarya's role in this series? Well, that is going to be the next essay, I think. And honestly, it's a long time coming.

See you in Part Five!

[homoepathic-pet-medicine]

What are some humorous dog love quotes that lighten the mood and make us smile?

Introduction

Dogs have a unique ability to touch our hearts and bring immense joy into our lives. Their unconditional love and loyalty make them cherished companions for millions of people worldwide. Beyond their endearing antics and wagging tails, dogs have inspired countless heartwarming and humorous quotes that remind us of the special bond we share with our four-legged friends. In this article, we will explore some humorous dog love quotes that never fail to lighten the mood and bring smiles to our faces.

"The more people I meet, the more I love my dog."

This quote serves as a gentle reminder that while human relationships can sometimes be complicated, our dogs remain steadfast and loving companions. It humorously suggests that the more we interact with people, the more we appreciate the simplicity and authenticity of our dogs' love.

To know more about : -

"I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult."

Rita Rudner

Rita Rudner's quote invites us to consider the hilarious perspective of other dogs who might view poodles with their unique hairstyles as belonging to an eccentric canine sect. It's a lighthearted take on the diversity of dog breeds and the quirks that make each one special.

"My windows aren't dirty, that's just my dog's nose art."

Unknown

Anyone with a curious dog knows the struggle of keeping windows clean, as their nose prints leave a trail of artistry behind. This quote cleverly rebrands those smudges as "nose art," highlighting the humor in everyday dog-related challenges.

"Scratch a dog, and you'll find a permanent job."

Franklin P. Jones

Franklin P. Jones captures the essence of a dog's love in this witty quote. Dogs are always eager for attention and affection, and once you start scratching their favorite spot, they're more than willing to make you their designated masseuse.

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person."

Andy Rooney

Andy Rooney's quote playfully suggests that dogs possess qualities of kindness and warmth that often surpass those of humans. It's a humorous way to remind us of the inherent goodness in our furry companions.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."

Roger Caras

This heartwarming quote by Roger Caras underscores the profound impact that dogs have on our lives. While they may not be the entirety of our existence, they certainly fill our days with love, joy, and laughter.

"If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise."

Unknown

This humorous dog love quote takes a cheeky approach to encouraging both dog owners and their pets to stay active. It serves as a gentle nudge to remind us that dogs are often a reflection of our own habits.

"Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and filling an emptiness we didn't even know we had."

Thom Jones

Thom Jones beautifully captures the idea that dogs have an innate ability to sense and heal our emotional needs. Their presence can provide comfort and companionship during the most challenging times in our lives.

"The dog is the only creature on Earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

Josh Billings

Josh Billings' quote is a touching reminder of the selfless love that dogs offer their owners. They prioritize our happiness and well-being above all else, often sacrificing their own desires for our sake.

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you feel rich."

Louis Sabin

Louis Sabin's quote celebrates the wealth of love and happiness that dogs bring into our lives. Their presence can make even the simplest moments feel abundant and fulfilling.

Conclusion

The dog love quotes have a unique way of capturing the essence of our relationships with our furry companions. They remind us of the humor and joy that dogs bring into our lives, as well as the deep and unconditional love they offer. Whether we're chuckling at their nose art or marveling at their ability to fill our hearts, these quotes serve as a delightful testament to the special bond we share with our dogs. So, the next time you need a reason to smile, turn to these humorous dog love quotes and let them brighten your day. After all, as these quotes show, a dog's love and laughter are among life's greatest treasures.

Read more : -

[maplecornia]

chapter 35

𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱: 3.04K

𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔯𝔢: romance | slice of life | fluff | angst | bts x female!reader | ot7

𝔰𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: You watched them from the sidelines ever since you were a young teenage girl. Now you’re grown up, they’ve returned after 2 long years and everything has changed. What happens when you pull back the mask and find the darkness within? What happens when you see that they’re broken?

𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰: cliffhangers | angst | fluff | slight mentions of self hatred | depression | mental health illness | self harm | occurs in the year 2024 | set in a timeline where BTS went to the military together | slight language

tags: @kookaine | @fangirl125reader | @kookiebbyxx | @taradevonne | @rae-bear | @mangminnie | @pixiekooo (not taggable) | @cana

"For your information, I am very against this."

"I thought you were looking forward to starting your training."

You glare at Namjoon when he makes the snide comment, and he has to struggle to keep his smile hidden at the reaction. Pouting in your chair, the stylist has to press her hand on your back to remind you to sit straight. At your reluctance, Namjoon's smile only grows and you struggle to ignore the rise of adoration in your chest.

Rolling your eyes you turn to your reflection in the mirror.

You're nearly unrecognizable.

With heavy lashes brushing against your cheek each time you blink, contour thinning your face, dark eyeliner helping your eyes pop out against the blush on your cheeks, you find it had to remember the way you looked before. Were your eyes always this bright? Did you always have this curl to your lashes? Were your cheeks this rosy, did you have that red hue to your lips? Did they always look so full and appealing?

Swallowing hard, you wonder if you're ready for this.

When Jin told you you'd be modeling today you thought he was joking. But BangPD wouldn't joke about something like this and when you got the call from him it only secured your fears. Biting your bottom lip, you fidget once more in your chair, the stylist sighing behind you.

Sheepishly, you go still, choosing instead to wrap your hands tightly around the arms of the chair. The stylist resumes their work silently, no doubt unaware of the insecurities rising in your chest. Namjoon is different, however, and noticing the way you've suddenly gone silent he glances towards you in worry.

"Is she ready?" Jin's voice breaks through the busybody chaos of the dressing room as he enters, the stylist performing the finishing touches to your hair.

Still holding forms of animosity towards him, you roll your eyes adeptly ignoring him. If he notices he doesn't show it, just angles past your retreating stylist and places his hands on the back of your chair trying to catch your eye. You raise your brow his way, refusing to return his smile. Noting the growing tension, Namjoon clears his throat, heading over to you as well and helping you out of the chair.

"I should hope so, doesn't she look ready?" He murmurs a bit nervously, and nudges you, clearly screaming at you to make nice with Jin and let bygones be bygones. You roll your eyes at the not-so-subtle signs and force a somewhat convincing smile towards the veteran. Jin nods in satisfaction before leading the three of you to the door, bowing respectfully to the rest of the staff.

Jin shivers in anticipation as he heads down the corridor. "Kind of nervewracking huh?"

Glaring him out of the corner of your eye, you scoff.

"Wasn't this your idea?"

Unfazed, Jin leans down peering into your eyes.

"Was it?"

Biting the inside of your cheek, you flick his forehead with your thumb and forefinger and he reels back, groaning in pain. You can't help but smile in satisfaction, but when you turn to Namjoon, his disapproving stare is enough to make the smile fade away.

"He started it." You mutter under your breath as you enter the shooting area.

Multiple set pieces and lights, bustling people hurrying from one set to another, sounds of photos being taken, bright flashes, and shouts from one side of the room to another. Models in flashy apparel, makeup artists, and stylists are ready to touch up anyone who needs it.

As you come face to face with the sight, you have to refrain from cursing underneath your breath.

"Ah Yen, good you're ready." At the voice, you blink out of your reverie only to find Sejin standing before the three of you. "Thank you for doing this again."

The head of BTS' management team, you've only met the man once before. He looks the same as he did then. Tall and intimidating, burly but with kind eyes. Graying black hair and signature glasses rest on his nose, a soft smile always playing on his lips. He puts you at ease, gives you a sense of familiarity and comfort.

"Of course, sir." You bow your head respectfully towards him, ignoring the incredulous look Jin makes beside you.

"Favoritism." He murmurs under his breath, and you wonder silently if Sejin will notice you elbowing him hard in his gut.

"They won't show your face that much, so all you have to do is stand there and look pretty for the camera. Simple enough, right?" Sejin explains, either pretending to be or completely oblivious to the exchange you and Jin just had. You nod as he turns away, picking up a call from his phone.

"Yeah..." You shakily look down at your hands, praying for them to stop shaking. "Simple."

Namjoon glances your way and reaches for your hand, prepared to offer you some words of encouragement, but another voice breaks through the chaos and he flinches away as soon as your head snaps up once more.

"Let's get going everyone!"

A man stands amidst the bustling crowd, with a clipboard in his hands and an earpiece secured in his ear. A couple of people are constantly trailing after him, asking questions and then darting away to carry out another set of tasks. He wears extravagant yet down-to-earth clothing, something that lets you know he's important but still a part of the background.

"Who's..." you start to say, but Namjoon, following your gaze, already answering your question as he folds his arms.

"That's the director for the shoot." He sighs, almost in exhaustion. Jin nods at his explanation getting the same worn-out look on his face at the sight of the man.

"He's just a little...eccentric." He adds to Namjoon's assumption, and you can't help but snort. Luckily, Jin doesn't seem to notice.

"That's rich coming from you." You mutter under your breath, holding your hand over your mouth to conceal your small giggles of laughter. Namjoon nudges you again to remind you to be respectful, but even he can't keep the smile off his face at the comparison.

"You must be Yen!"

At the shout from across the studio, you flinch as you turn to see the director just a few feet away from you. He takes your hand in his and shakes it excitably, and you have to resist the urge to remind him of personal space.

"My name is Deokhwa, thank you for filling in today."

You smile weakly at his enthusiasm, trying to read his excitement and understand why it's necessary.

"It's no problem."

Almost as soon as he was by your side, he turns on his heel and heads the other way once more calling out instructions to the staff members scuttling around.

"Can we get Taehyung and Jungkook into hair and makeup, please?! This should have been done ages ago!" With wide eyes, you watch him leave, your hand still outstretched where he had shaken it moments ago.

"Is he always like this?"

"Sometimes it's worse," Jin whispers in your ear, and you can't help it, you laugh, any hostility held against him now gone. There wasn't any reason for you to be mad at him, but it's just startling.

Aren't you supposed to be prepared for things like this? But standing here, you couldn't feel more out of place.

"Suga and Jimin, get into costume! Someone touch up Yoongi's hair please, he fell asleep...again."

Swallowing hard, you consider turning on your heel and running out of there. You wonder what they'd do if you just gave everything up now. You'd be okay, right? You've dealt with letting down people before. This wouldn't be anything different.

Then you remember.

The only person you'd be hurting would be yourself.

Clenching your jaw tight, you root your feet to the ground, refusing to let yourself get intimidated. Yes, you're not fully prepared, but you can do this. You have to do this.

"Hoseok!" Deokhwa calls for Jhope who's dawdling around near Suga. He turns at the sound of his name, Yoongi opening an eye, half-delirious and half annoyed. "Are you ready?"

"Yes sir!" He nods, a little too excited. Suga winces from his place beside Jhope, and pulls a pillow off the couch he was sleeping on.

"Then you and Yen can go first, alright?" Deokhwa decides, crossing something off of his clipboard. Jhope nods, saluting the director with a wide smile.

"Roger that!" He shouts once more, unbeknownst of Yoongi winding up behind him, and smacking the pillow straight into his back. Jhope shrieks, startled before turning to Suga and delving into a slight argument.

Namjoon, shaking his head at the encounter, almost forgets that you're right beside him. It's only when you take a deep breath to steady your nerves does he remember, turning to you. Biting his bottom lip, he considers reaching out to console you but pulls away hesitantly. Instead, he clears his throat, gathering your attention.

"Don't worry so much." He murmurs, glancing your way and sending you a slightly awkward but reassuring smile. "You can do this."

You return the smile, finding his concern to be comforting before turning to Deokhwa and heading over there to meet Jhope.

Maybe he's right, maybe you can do this.

Or maybe you're in over your head.

Standing in the middle of the set, you find yourself freezing, unable to move at the sight of so many eyes on you, so many cameras pointed your way. Ready to capture your every move, your every expression, your every misstep. You can't move, afraid that you'll screw everything up. Everything is so perfect, everything is set where it's supposed to be, what if you'll break it when you touch it? Anxiety growing larger and larger within your gut you try your hardest not to break down.

Why did they think you were ready for this? You don't even know what to do, much less how to do it even if you could figure out how to move again. Deokhwa tries his hardest to give you directions, but it's lost within the noise in your head. Static grows, mixing in with the bright lights and eyes staring at you, waiting to devour you and pick you apart as though you were a doll meant for their enjoyment.

When his hand wraps around your arm, sending warmth throughout your shaking body, you find yourself completely helpless. He pulls you to his side, his hands strong and sure behind you, making sure that you won't fall on his watch. You look to him, wondering if he can see how vulnerable you are at the moment, wondering if he knows that you aren't as strong as you pretend to be.

Jhope only smiles, brushing your hair off of your forehead and giving you a soft kiss in their place. You blink, shocked at the sudden show of affection, and equally as shocked when the camera flashes, taking a shot of the encounter.

Flinching, you turn to the camera, and the director, who's grinning from ear to ear. "That was great! Keep it up you two! And Yen, it's okay to be nervous at first, don't worry you'll get the hang of it."

Sheepishly, you nod, any fear or anxiety you had before quickly fading away in an instant. As the shooting commences, you turn to Jhope who has since let go of you and let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Thank you."

Hoseok glances at you from the corner of his eye, chuckling to himself as he takes your hands and leads you over to another section of the set. Dubiously still posing for the cameramen of the shoot. You notice, and can't help but smile. He really is kind.

"For what?"

At his question, you give him a look, but the innocent smile on his face only grows wider. It's a smile that tells you he knows exactly what he did, but he won't admit to it. You roll your eyes at the notion, finding it so like him, and yet so infuriating.

Instead, he picks up a bouquet and hands it to you. "There's nothing to thank me for, it's only right to help out someone new on set."

You take the flowers delicately into your hands, finding them to be an exquisite array of daffodils and sunflowers, a few peonies dotted here and there. You raise the flowers to your face, inhaling the sweet scent. As you do, Jhope smiles affectionately, multiple flashes from the camera capturing every second. However, the two of you are too distracted to care.

"Do you know what these flowers mean?" He asks you, and you look up at him, shaking your head silently. He chuckles at the curious spark in your eye and takes one of the daffodil petals into his hands, stepping closer to you.

"Daffodil's represent rebirth and new beginnings." He explains. "The first bloom after winter fades."

New beginnings. You wonder if there's any left for you to find.

"The sunflower is simple. A sign of happiness and good fortune. Peonies are difficult, however."

"How so?" You ask him, and he smiles, lifting a one from the bouquet.

"They mean something different all over the world. In Greece, they are known to represent bashfulness. In Japan, they're associated with bravery and honor." Looking up at you through his long eyelashes, he brushes his finger across your cheek as he tucks the flower behind your ear. "Generally though, they can be known to represent prosperity and love."

At the mention of the word, both of you look at the other. There's something in his eyes, something that reminds you of the way Jungkook has looked at you before. The same electrifying look that Taehyung has sent your way. The same connection you shared with the masked man.

He only pulls away from your touch long enough to set the flowers aside, then his hands reach for yours and they soon intertwine together.

Maybe it's the strange feeling of the set or the weird way the flowers have resonated with you, but you can feel your heartbeat increasing with every step he takes towards you. He presses his forehead against yours, and you find yourself avoiding his eyes, your cheeks flushing a bright red. Swallowing hard, you look up to find his eyes hooded, all traces of his once comforting smile now gone and replaced with something more sentimental.

"What?" you whisper.

"What do you mean?" This time, he doesn't smile innocently, instead, his warm hands tighten around yours, creating a cocoon around the two of you. You take a shaky breath, trying to refuse the loud pounding of your heart in your ears.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

He offers you no answer, only takes a step closer, your bodies now able to feel the other's warmth. A comforting feeling, one that lets you know that you still breathe and feel the same if not a bit different from the other. He presses his thumb against your cheek, rubbing it softly over your skin in a delicate motion. With wide eyes, you look up at him, wondering what is there that has entranced him so.

"Did you know you have a freckle here?"

Before you can move or even respond, Deokhwa's voice cuts through the cocoon, and the both of you are brought back to the harsh reality you had once escaped from in the arms of the other.

"Alright! That's a wrap, good job you two. Hoseok you can now get changed for your solo shots, and Namjoon get ready you'll be next."

When Jhope pulls away, you find yourself frozen, and confused.

Was that...was that all an act?

Watching him bow slightly to the director and cameramen, but still stay a considerable distance away from you, you can't help but feel a bit slighted. It all felt so real. Could he really have been faking it--?

And so what if he had?

Blushing profusely, you place your hands on your cheeks cursing and begging the rosy hue to erase itself from your skin.

Honestly, Yen, what were you expecting? He doesn't even know you that well, certainly not as well as Namjoon or Tae...

And why are you bringing those two into this?!

Inwardly, you groan. Having all of these idols around you 24/7 isn't doing any favors for your heart. Biting your bottom lip, you feel the darkness growing inside of you once more as you remember your promise.

Not now Yen.

Not yet.

Chuckling nervously, you turn to Jhope.

"You're good at this."

Hoseok looks towards you, once more feigning innocence. You almost want to strangle that puppy dog look from his eyes. It's as though he refuses to show you a real side to him. It's maddening, you can't seem to figure him out.

"What do you mean?" he asks, and you force a smile, beneath your grimace. Taking a deep breath, you pull the peony from your ear, smiling softly.

"You know...faking." You say the word before you realize how insulting it could be interpreted. At Hoseok's slight eyebrow raise, you grimace noting that he took it exactly that way. You stammer, scrambling for the right way to make up for your wrong usage of words. "I mean, you're a good actor! I almost believed that was real."

Jhope looks as though he wants to say something in response, but before he can, Deokhwa call from beyond the set, near a couple of stylists touching up Namjoon's makeup before he heads up.

"Come on you two! Come take a look at the monitor."

You nod, silently thanking God for giving you a weird and eccentric director. You don't notice the odd way Hoseok is looking at you, nor do you realize that he's taken a step closer to you. Placing his hand on your shoulder, you jump a bit, turning to him, but his lips are already by your ear, his breath hot and dancing on your skin.

You try your hardest not to shiver as he whispers his next words, the sound reverberating in your eardrums.

"I wasn't faking anything."

𝔞/𝔫: i feel like we have hardly any Jhope moments so here you go! i hope this is a nice one, even if it's kind of short ;-;

chapter 36 here

check the Infinite Stars masterlist for more chapters

check my BTS masterlist for other BTS content

check out my masterlist for other kpop fanfics

[boop-le-snoot]

PARTY FAVOURS I CHAPTER 13

first time readers click here 💖

TWs/Summary: In this house, we ship Reader/Tony's Rolls-Royce. Reader and Tony being dorks on a date. That's it that's the chapter. Lots of sass and Tony being Tony.

A question for my readers: Are you still invested? How's the slow burn? Is everything realistic? 👉🏻👈🏻🥺

As usual, my beta is @miscmarvelwritings . I love her.

"Nice digs, Cupcake."

"Nice ride, Tin Man."

The sass fell from my lips, warm and familiar, paving the way for our upcoming debut like the old, soft living room rug. Any awkwardness I had expected there to be left the moment I saw Tony pull up to my front gate in his Royce: the man was just that extra. The size of my estate, the five-figure outfit of mine - it paled in comparison to his own clout. 

In a world where my choices were usually distributed between stuck-up rich boys or insecure middle-class men, Tony was a fresh drink of water with his absolute indifference towards my and his own net worth.

I wasn't afraid to admire said ride, either. Being a huge petrolhead was what got me interested in engineering, physics and computer sciences in the first place. The desire for speed grew into thirst for knowledge: how to get more horsepower, how to tune, how to mod. No mechanic took an eighteen year old rich-girl seriously even when I had all the lingo right, I had to be a step ahead, at all times, if I wanted my ride to be the best. And I never settled for less than that.

"No driver?" I inquired for the reason behind the unusual behaviour. After all, a Rolls' wasn't the kind of car you drive personally. All the amenities it had, it had in the back.

"Gave Happy a day off," Tony remarked absently. I noticed the small quirk of his eyebrow, however. He was intrigued.

I decided to give it a shot. "So what, this thing packs, what, about five-fifty horses?" I mused, watching Tony nearly swerve into the opposite lane. "At two and a half tons, it's still gotta be pretty quick with that V12-turbo. How fast it go?" The satisfaction was immeasurable, as pleasant to my soul as sitting in a heated leather chair with the smell of a new car, engine quietly rumbling in front of me. And by quietly I mean, it was focus-or-you'll-miss-it kind of quiet.

"Well aren't you full of surprises, baby girl," Tony grinned; a happy, excited grin even. It made his face lose ten years of age just like that. "Zero to sixty in five and a half seconds," He said after a moment. 

"Not bad," I said, sounding impressed. I already knew that but I wasn't planning on robbing Tony out of well deserved praise for his choice in vehicles. 

"Got a ride of your own?" He asked with a smile, like he didn't know it already. No background check would have skipped my three speeding tickets, but I concur. This game was fun.

"I do, actually. It's a 2008 Range Rover. Supercharged," I added in the end, just to emphasise.

"A big car for such a little girl," Tony whistled playfully.

"I'm compensating," I deadpanned. "I'm a little slow on the uptake, y'know, so my Rangie with five hundred horses makes up for it. Gotta keep it balanced."

Tony chewed on his lip. "Five hundred? Haven't heard about that, it comes with three-ninety-five in stock," His eyebrow wiggled. "Tuned it?" He cast me a contemplative glance.

"Yup," I exclaimed happily. As far as the date, I would have been utterly ecstatic to talk about cars all evening. Screw the boring "where do you see yourself in five years" questions, talk to me about your favourite engine swaps. Concept cars, give me those. Monster trucks? Yes, please. Vintage low-riders? Couldn't wait to get my grubby little hands on one. Gimmee!

Tony kept his silence and kept his press smile starting the moment we set foot on getting out of the car. The place he'd taken me to was ridiculously upscale and fancy; the valet hesitated only for a second before catching the keys Tony so carelessly tossed in his direction. There was almost no fear in his body language when the boy approached the massive, expensive vehicle.

The hostess smiled big at Tony and gave me the world's biggest stink-eye when he looked the other way but what else is new? As soon as she left us in the privacy of our booth, I didn't hesitate to stick my tongue at her retreating back. A brief lapse in maturity, if you will.

Tony cackled, growing suddenly serious. "Did she bother you? I can get her fired. I should get her fired."

"Nah," I shrugged. "Don't really care, just wanted to showcase my amazing sense of humour." Snorting, I gave Tony a wink and a secretive grin.

"You really don't give a fuck, do you," His eyebrows twitched again, a sign of mild interest that I noted during our routine sciencing time together. Tony was incredibly expressive if one took the time to observe.

"I could suck your dick under the table right now," I answered honestly. "It's just that when God gave out things like dignity and shame, I wasn't home. Too many fun things to do, y'know," I spoke as casually as I could even though I was dying of laughter inside.

Eyes bulging, jaw hanging mid-way to the floor. Tony was serving Looks™ and I didn't mean just the white tee and purple blazer combo. "Princess, you're going to be the fucking death of me!" He took a sip from his water glass, smirking.

Finally releasing my mirth, I gathered my hands in a lock in front of me. His own, warm and calloused, reached over - I allowed the brief intimacy, clasping them, fiddling with the leather band of his watch. For a moment, it was just us, sitting in the dim light, discovering each other anew to Robert Johnson singing the blues and NYC bustling with life just behind the wall. 

The waiter took our orders - and if I totally butchered the Italian, Tony was gentleman enough not to make any remarks. 

"Somehow, every time I am with you, you both manage to meet my expectations to a T and surprise me at the same time," I wasn't able to completely ignore my nerves. My hand was still loosely in his and he didn't mind at all, me messing with his watch.

"How so?"

"I'm going to loosely quote someone, bear with me." Mr Davies's words popped into my mind just as I was wondering how to best articulate my feelings. "You're eccentric and interesting because it's, well, it's you, because it would be much weirder if we'd be sitting here and making boring small-talk and asking each other the genetic get-to-know-you questions," I briefly paused to sip my Dom Peringon and stare at our hands. Gathering my wits. "That would be why I don't do dates. It sounds so tedious on paper, just sorting through people until a person that's not absolutely mind-numbing comes around."

Tony was silent for a moment, the sheen of his eyes, the faraway look; he was lost in memories. Probably remembering all the girls he had charmed before. I didn't doubt it was easy for him: his smile was distracting and people usually were attracted to shiny things. He shone plenty. Also, most people were stupid, they never cared to look past the golden wrapper. I was convinced there was a diamond under it. But then again, I was biased.

"I've never thought about it that way, but I guess you're right," He finally said, serious. "With Pepper, at least, it was. Come to think of it, we never had that much in common, besides Stark Industries and her willingness to put up with my shit." It was painful for him to talk about her, that much was obvious. His laugh was forced and sardonic.

I, on the other hand, never understood why they got together in the first place. Or maybe I did - but the cold, composed Pepper and the chaotic, energetic Tony reminded me too much of my own parents. All four people in this fucked up equation could have been much happier if they choose... What? Being alone? That was terrifying, too.

I kept quiet, giving his hands a gentle squeeze.

"You know, this is so bizarre. Even an eighteen year old kid has got it figured out," He suddenly said, his tone bitter like the coffee that he loved.

"Woah, slow down," I put up a hand. "I never said I know what to do. I just said I know what NOT to do." The 'kid' remark would have made me eye-roll so hard my skull would crack any day. In this context, however, it was pretty spot on.

Tony snorted. "And how did you come by that information, pray tell, Baby?"

I huffed. "Have you met my parents?" We simultaneously cringed and I hurried to erase that mental image. "I make fun of myself for being into old dudes all the time," I made air quotes around the phrase that made Tony scoff, "But, honestly speaking, I've never even been on a date. Like a real one. Usually it's twenty minutes and I'm falling asleep mid-conversation. People can't seem to keep up with me or something," I felt genuinely dejected. "So many meaningless questions, so many downright idiotic comments. From men," I pointed out the obvious. "My mother used to tell me she thought I was gay because I didn't act like a girl... Whatever that means."

"That sounds pretty shitty," Tony was studying me like one would have been looking at an exotic animal in a zoo. "That said, I agree."

"That I don't act like a girl?" I teased him, the left corner of my mouth tilting upward. "Fuck that noise. I want to drive fast cars, drink straight liquor and have orgasms. If that makes me a dude... I look pretty good for a dude in a dress."

We laughed in unison, tension evaporating under the shared, mutual understanding. With Tony, it was easy. The waiter brought our selected dishes. Blink-and-he's-gone. Top notch service.

"A dude in a dress, can't say I'm surprised 'bout your lack of dates," He remarked conversationally, happily digging into his food. The noises he made were intriguing, to say the least, and I followed suit on my own food, finding it absolutely delicious. A delicious meal with a delicious man at my side. I refused to feel guilty about my thoughts.

"I guess I have exactly one (1) date on my ledger now," I raised my argument.

The fork clattered as Tony once again, came to a sudden realization. "Holy shit, you weren't kidding."

"No shit," I gave into the urge to roll my eyes. "But on the upside, my first date was with the most gorgeous, intelligent and witty bachelor of the city. I'd say I don't have it all that bad," I quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Aw, you're making me blush," Tony recovered quickly, grinning. "And don't be shy. The most desired bachelor of the country, if not the world."

I shook my head. "No, the world's most delectable bachelor is one of the Saudi princes. What's-his-name, the one who posts goat and horse pics on Insta," I snapped my fingers a couple of times, trying to remember the name as Tony looked at me all offended. "Anyways, you get my point. I could have a go at him, don't you think?" Cocking my shoulder, coyly twirling the strap of my dress, I gave Tony my best come-hither look and was rewarded with an appreciative once-over. His eyes were growing hungry again. 

"You're a million dollar baby," He finally said, voice low. "And the extent of people I would be willing to share you with is very small."

That got me interested, sudden heat prickling underneath my skin. The conversation took a turn I didn't expect it to; and there lied the delight of being around Tony. He was always ready to surprise, in the best way. "Tell me," I requested politely.

"That's a conversation for another time," He was enjoying the chit-chat, desire beginning to creep into his features.

"Mmm, you think?" I allowed the strap of my dress to slip down my shoulder, exposing a collarbone, showing him just how far I was willing to go to satisfy my curiosity.

He swallowed audibly. "I think... You're smart enough to figure it out," He finally gritted his teeth, finishing off his dinner and immediately calling for the check. 

I wasn't done yet, however. The possibility of riling him up, taunting him into a lustful frenzy - I was in heaven. Karma had favoured me that evening, it had given me a chance to get Tony back for all the times he unknowingly made my mouth water and my brain go blip. "Must be Steve then," I bit my lip in thought. 

Honestly? I was as clueless as the couple next table over. Steve it wasn't, that much I knew for sure, he and Tony had their little love/hate dramatic connection that always ended in a massive ego standoff. Tony would be on the frontline fighting against Steve if the blonde dared to show anything even remotely resembling romantic interest towards someone Tony himself had his eyes on.

"Princess," Tony growled, sarcastically raising an eyebrow.

"Not Steve," I replied, cracking a smile. Success! "You know, I'm really bad at guessing who's into me. Unless someone is balls deep in me," My face was mere inches away as we quickly shrugged on our coats. "And even then, I can't be sure."

My giggling was accompanied by Tony shaking his head in exasperated fashion; he took my hand nonetheless and I happily swayed it between us, poster child for "not a care in the world". He allowed it, maintaining the same exasperated air about him, and I let him. Fondness and happiness seeped through that anyways.

"Brat," His voice was kind. And his kiss tingled where he left it on the corner of my mouth, sweet and short. "Here, have a go," Before I could react, the keys to his Rolls Royce were placed in my palm and he was making his way around the car to the passenger's side.

THE TAG LIST IS NOW OPEN! @another-stark-sub ​ @mostly-marvel-musings  @vozit ​ @littlegasps ​ @pilloclock ​ @shereadsinquiet @downeyreads ​ @hermione-grangers-wife ​ @individualistfem ​ @sleep-i-ness @capbrie @lillsxd @agustdowney @dee-vn @justanotherblonde23 @fanngirl19 @persephonehemingway (it finally let me tag you)! @softie-socks @schemefrenzy

[deepseavibez]

Wave of Want_1 || KSJ

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Part 1

... maybe the past liked to visit too much and shadows were not as harmless as we thought. - A/N

Word Count - 2k

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It was a humid night. No breeze, no noise, no people, but then Town Road Plaza was not supposed to be busy at ten in the night - only you were. The hustle and bustle of the crowd around here usually died down by eight. Then the shops closed, cleaned and prepared for the next day. You’d waved off almost every acquaintance that worked in the kiosk across from your shop, and your neighboring clothing and accessory shops.

You would have joined them, but your supplier delivered your new selection of hats and caps late and they were set to be displayed and sold to customers for the new week. You had just recently got promoted too. Beside it being another achievement on your ladder of success, it has also added to your set of responsibilities.

There would be a huge backlog should it not be ready.

Plus, you weren’t one of those people where work was something to run away from. You loved your job and your life, no matter how much it actually did suck sometimes.

But it was all about dealing. And for the people around you? No way were you going to sport a sad face or a negative attitude when your loved ones needed you. You played your roles; good daughter to your dad, a motherly big sister to your baby sis and a best friend to the ones that you chose to make family.

You lived on a line of careful balance, where emotion was important, but logic helped you stay alive. You could cry, as long as you smiled after. You could scream and shout, as long as the voice of reason made an appearance at the end, and you could love and love and love so hard, but walk away when it just was not worth it.

Placing the last cap on the mannequin head, you sighed – a combination of relief and acceptance because it was too late to visit dad and Bee, but on the bright side, work was done for the night.

Turning away from the rich toned racks of matching jackets, coats and blazers you headed in the direction of your office. You didn't usually spend a lot of time in here; always hands on, a people person to the core, love for your job and your store always had you on your feet. It was a bit of a killer when heels were a norm, but beauty was painful.

Your desk had your laptop, a few bills and orders and a photo frame of your family. Smiling with a heavy heart, as the fleeting memory of your mom brushed past, you looked down at the light blinking on your phone.

Picking it up off the desk you typed in the passcode and noticed the notifications all coming from Twitter. The pop up detail showed it was from your girls.

It was not always about just being a fan on Twitter. There were a number of people you had met online and trusted with parts of you so deep you did not know they existed. That's what made it close to every person's heart.

They spoke about problems, family, life, languages and travel, talent and interests and hobbies. And everyone could be themselves. Anything could be said, whether it was about sex, about softness or even just about food, it was all meshed together by an emotion you wouldn't think to find on a social media group chat with everyone halfway across the world from each other, and that was love.

Total unconditional, uncompromising respect, love and support. And it was real. It felt real.

Right now the chaos was about a concept photo drop from a kpop group. Tapping on the Twitter icon, your notifications were wild with funny reactions and online screaming at how good the pictures and ideas looked.

Searching for their usernames you giggled at the responses. Your friends replies were exactly like their personalities.

Josie was the smallest of the group. She was the one that held the most power in tugging on the protective reigns of every one of them.

School being her worst enemy she still worked hard, still took up hobbies and interests and she had so many of them. She was so kind, really and there was a need in you to always stick around Josie.

Watching her grow up, adapt, be better than her original self and take care of her. Because every one of your friends here, were younger then you, but Josie was closest to your baby sisters age. And your heart could never say no to a feeling so old and embedded in your heart, to shrug it off would be tearing yourself open.

Stevie was the crazy one, but crazy in the most admirable way possible. Nothing stopped her; nothing and no one. She was eccentric really, her selfies at angles and moments no one would think to put out there, her messages and replies so on another perspective it was a need to have her around.

And she had a spine of steel - a literal spine of steel. Everyone had days honestly, but Vee was so strong, you wouldn't even notice something had happened. And that was scary, the people with the steely exteriors, needed the most love. And damn did they love showing it in their own way.

Believe it or not there were campaigners for Stevie being president. You knew there would be war if that actually ever happened, but hell; you'd just pull up a chair and a glass of wine and watch the show unfold.

You really would protect them, because what else did you need in the world except for the few good-hearted friends that could be a comfort in your world.

Eyes catching the clock in the corner of your screen it now said 10.30pm.

Getting lost in Twitter was a whole struggle.

Putting your phone back down and shutting down your laptop, you packed up to get ready to go. Making to grab your charger you found it not in its socket. Eyebrows scrunched up in confusion you looked around.

Where -

A fleeting memory, your eyes blew wide in realization, as you did a backtrack to help you remember. It was in the kitchen last. Macy had used it, because she forgot hers at home.

You scrunched your face up in disdain. She was always using your stuff. Whining about how your make-up was flawless and she couldn't apply it like you. She wanted your face creams and commented on your choice in clothing - it was the bomb apparently. You knew this already and Macy was on thin ice, you only had so much tolerance.

‘Stupid, bitch.’ You muttered and suddenly thought of Josie, because she would have definitely called her that.

Shaking your head with a smile, you figured you’d grab the charger when switching the lights off and locking up the back.

A loud scraping signified a chair being moved. The noise startled you. You held your breath, the laptop bag flap held in midair as you questioned if you actually imagined it or not.

There it was again.

Eyes blown wide, confusion plaguing your senses you tried to think over the dangerous thud of your heart. The only chairs were in the kitchen, but you were the only one left at the store.

'Hello?' You shouted. 'Is anyone there?'

You internally cringed at the question.

Like anyone would actually answer, the fuck

Partially recovered, you woke up slowly, the need to investigate overpowering fear.

Sending a silent prayer up for sanity, you looked around you. Eyes catching the light flashing on phone in your hand, you turned it over and saw the missed calls and messages coming through on the screen, one after the other. Opening the chat, you read the messages and got even more confused.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬You couldn't answer him right now, what if someone was actually here. You hoped that wasn’t the case, but if it was, he did say he was on his way.

Locking the phone, you clutched it tightly, trying to ignore the tandem of your heart. This was your store, your baby. You couldn't just run out. You were caught. You didn't want to make him worry, and you were scared, but this was your responsibility.

Trying to feel convinced from your thoughts you noticed the slight click in your black stiletto pumps. Kicking time off slowly, you adjusted to the cold of the tile seeping to your bare feet.

Atleast your toes looked pretty, freshly manicured in a pale pink.

Shaking your head to focus on the task at hand, you chided your stubbornness and ran a hand through your hair. You needed to think about how you would defend yourself and - you did a double take as you turned your head; attention caught on the the broom in the corner. You grabbed it and held it in front of you, as if preparing for war, you took a deep breath, steeling yourself to stop being a chickenshit and move.

Cautiously leaving your office and walking as close to the edge of the wall as possible, you tiptoed your way to the kitchen.

Walking to the last room in the hallway wasn't supposed to be this creepy; you had done it so often and at later times than this. But today your hair stood on end. You had to walk there, because you had to lock up. And the knives were in the goddamn kitchen.

Blood thundering in your ears, you leaned into the wall, hands clutching the handle of the cheap broomstick to your chest, you neared the open door of the kitchen.

Closing your eyes in a silent prayer, you huffed a breath and turned.

'Hyaaaahhhh!' Swinging wildly with the broom, you hit the air, the only sounds being the battle cry coming from your throat and the background hum of the running refrigerator.

You stopped and took in the empty room before lifting yourself from your almost crouch, and acted as composed as possible.

Eyes darting from left to right twice before being satisfied enough, your mood elevated. Pssht, no one's here. The broom shook in your hand however, a telltale sign of the blood rush in the minutes of heightened emotion.

The kitchen was compact. Cream coloured walls, a refrigerator and grey table with four wooden chairs; granite, grey counter on the wall in front of you next to the fridge and white cupboards below the counter.

Shaking your head at the empty room, you aren't going to die today, you told yourself, your lips curving down in the lame attempt to humor the situation.

You turned. 'Oh God! Fuck!'

Catching your reflection in the mirror on the far side wall, at the worst time possible you clutched at your heart. Shaking your head, you rolled your eyes at the overreaction.

'Breathe y/n, for fucks sake.' Grabbing your charger from the table, with a little more force than necessary you turned on your heels, and switched the light off before padding, barefoot to the doorway. Closing the kitchen door behind you, you grabbed the key on the door and twisted it.

No more randomly moving chairs for the rest of the night.

Breathing now evened out and the dead silence of night your only companion, you were ready to go home to your warm bed and open loving arms.

You sighed, a small smile gracing your lips at the reminder of the love of your life.

An ear blistering shriek left your mouth as you felt a heavy weight on your shoulder, a second later. The hand that caused it, twisted off as you spun around so fast it would have given anyone watching you whiplash.

Shaken and terrified you had the end of the broom pointed at your would be assailant.

'What the fuck are you doing here?!'

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[anhed-nia]

BLOGTOBER 10/4/2020: SOCIETY

Without having a survey to back me up, I feel comfortable asserting that as a horror fan, you go through different phases with SOCIETY. It’s a basic fact of life, and yet it morphs and mutates underneath you, shocking you anew just when you think you’ve got a grip on it. You never forget your first time, because there is simply nothing like it. Then, after you get over the initial shock of its patented brand of body horror, you start to take it for granted; it's so broad and monolithic that it becomes something like the Grand Canyon--when it’s not right there in front of you, you begin to experience it more iconically, as part of the wallpaper of existence, rather than an in-your-face confrontation with the limits of experience. Then, you revisit it every few years (or months, depending on what sort of person you are), and the prophylactic layer that your brain has wrapped around your memories of it--the one that allows you to think of SOCIETY as a fun, wacky cheap thrill--begins to crumble, and you realize all over again how iconoclastically vile it is. Wherever you happen to be at, with this inimitable genre landmark, you'd be hard pressed to deny that it earns its royal status among horror movies, just for being so uniquely fucked up.

Filmmaker Brian Yuzna is best known as the co-creator of the indispensable RE-ANIMATOR (or as the co-writer of HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS...depending on what sort of person you are, again), itself a milestone achievement in the blending of sex and gore that so characterized '80s horror production. That film clearly brought out the best in Yuzna and frequent collaborator Stuart Gordon (also of HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS fame...among other things), but it's interesting to see how they operate apart, to understand the unique ingredients that each filmmaker brought to the more perfect union of their classic Lovecraft adaptation. Gordon skewed darker and more intellectual, as evidenced by the end of his career with the shattering mob thriller KING OF THE ANTS, the disturbing true crime drama STUCK, and the Mamet-penned EDMOND. Yuzna, for his part, is almost anti-intellectual, preferring to cook up blackly comic, semi-pornographic nightmares like his two increasingly horny RE-ANIMATOR sequels, the terminal S&M fantasy RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3, and the shamelessly hokey comic book adaptation FAUST: LOVE OF THE DAMNED. Yuzna's lack of shame is really his defining feature as an artist, and nowhere is this more obvious than in his directorial debut and signature masterpiece, SOCIETY.

Salvador Dali's "The Great Masturbator," a chief visual inspiration for SOCIETY.

Yuzna was able to leverage the success of RE-ANIMATOR to lock in two directorial opportunities, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, and a bizarre body horror exercise about a Beverly Hills orphan who discovers that not only are his adoptive family from a different bloodline, but they're not even from the same species. That both pictures employed the writing team of Woody Keith and Rick Fry gives you a little taste of what to expect from SOCIETY, but to be frank, the latter threatens to make the former look like a very special episode of ER; "overkill" barely begins to describe SOCIETY’s ambitious assault on the human body. In a recent interview, the philipino-american director giggles perversely, "I think my friends were a little embarrassed for me (when they saw SOCIETY)," and this sound bite reminded me that the last, most important ingredient that Yuzna contributes to any project is unabashed joy. It's a little hard to imagine stomaching SOCIETY without it.

In this unusual scene from the class struggle in Beverly Hills, Billy Warlock (son of HALLOWEEN 2's Michael Myers, Dick Warlock) plays Bill Whitney, a rich, handsome, athletic high school student with a heavy duty anxiety disorder. Although he appears to have it all, he is plagued by nightmares and hallucinations, reflecting suspicions that the family that spoils him is also out to get him. Perhaps this is all understandable, though. Bill is under a lot of pressure these days, with his parents devoting all of their attention to his sister's coming out party, and his narcissistic girlfriend pushing him to ingratiate himself to the assholes higher up the social ladder; it's enough to make any teenager feel alienated and insecure. But, do these garden variety anxieties account for his visions of his sister's body deforming itself unnaturally, or the dubious evidence he finds that her debutante ball involves incestuous orgies and human sacrifice? Is Bill simply crumbling under the strain of societal expectations, or is the friction with his shrink, his parents, and his peers all symptomatic of an elaborate plot against him by elites who are truly less than human?

I can’t believe they use this cheapo blanket trick MORE THAN ONCE in a movie that is famous for its unforgettable special effects, and I guess I kind of love it.

In case I haven't made the answer abundantly obvious, I'll add that while SOCIETY is the purest expression of Yuzna-ness on the market, it has an important co-author in Screaming Mad George. The eccentric japanese FX master, whose name is apparently an amalgamation of Mad Magazine, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and...George, has produced some of horror's most outrageous makeup and visual effects, mostly for Yuzna, many of them in SOCIETY. If you've seen even a trailer for Alex Winter's 1993 oddity FREAKED--which is itself a grossout criticism of American social standards--then you are already familiar with SMG's trademark style. He specializes in twisted perversions of the human form that would make a cenobite blush, driven by a penchant for puns, and influenced equally by THE THING's Rob Botin, and Big Daddy Roth’s Rat Fink style. Screaming Mad George is instrumental in articulating Yuzna's premise: that behind the shimmering veneer of success and sophistication, the upper class are just a bunch of degenerates, who literally degenerate into something unimaginable behind closed doors. It's impossible to imagine SOCIETY without his sinuous, slithering monstrosities, or his indescribable realization of their most important social event, "the shunt".

One of many great images from a zine I wish I owned, on SMG’s Facebook page.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by SOCIETY's visual impact, but its message is just as potent now as it was at the end of the Reagan era: Rich people are not only different from the rest of us, but in fact, they aren't even human. Writers Keith and Fry make an interesting choice of hero to help put this across. A lazier writer would have selected any archetype from the Freaks and Geeks set to create an easy Us vs Them tension, but SOCIETY is led by a promising young man who, for reasons he himself does not yet understand, is just not "the right kind of people". Bill appears to have every advantage in life, including a level of popularity that wins him presidency of the debate team despite his nerdier rival’s superior prowess--and yet, he suffers from a stigmatizing psychiatric disorder that is the natural result of feeling indefinably different from one's peers, and intuiting that, as a consequence, they don't even really like you. The shallow jock with deep-seated emotional problems is a much more interesting protagonist for this kind of social allegory than the charismatic outcasts that you get in movies like THE FACULTY and DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, for whom the idea that the elites could be aliens is just de rigueur.

It's worth noting that this complexity of character extends to Bill's love interest, sympathetic society girl Clarissa Carlyn (Playboy Playmate Devin DeVasquez). At first, she seems villainously eager to introduce Bill to the many splendors of "the shunting", but as the plot against him mounts to its horrifying conclusion, she defects. There appears to be a reason for this, although honestly, this is the most difficult part of SOCIETY for me to wrap my head around. Clarissa lives as an essentially independent adult, only burdened by her mother (Pamela Matheson), a possibly brain damaged hulk who lurks in and out of various scenes just to be disturbing, always announced by some toots on a tuba, before eventually siding with our heroes. I'm really not sure what's supposed to be going on in this part of the movie, except that this character contributes to a number of distasteful jokes. But, I hold on to the idea that by virtue of whatever disorder Mrs. Carlyn suffers from, she serves the purpose of priming Clarissa to rebel, since her very existence makes her daughter something of a societal outcast herself. That's the best I can do.

In any case, everyone working on SOCIETY commits completely, with Mrs. Carlyn being no exception. The movie's climactic orgy of the damned is an all hands on deck operation, just as reliant on Screaming Mad George's artistic abilities as it is on the actors' responsibility to make you believe that this fucked up shit is really happening. There's a visceral patina of sleaze spread over the entire film, dripping from the way that characters talk to and touch each other, flirting and flaunting their bodies in a distinctly unseemly fashion, even when it stays within the realm of mundane reality. This constant sinister, insinuating attitude on the part of the whole cast lays the foundation for what is to come, and while I appreciate everybody's hard work, my favorite performance is from an actor who only comes in at the very end: David Wiley as society king Judge Carter. Wiley's career consisted almost exclusively of the most ordinary sort of television work, which makes his outrageous turn in this alien porno flick all the more respectable. While other characters transition from suspicious pod people to full-on mutated perverts, Judge Carter has to show up just for the finale, establish his authority, rip off his clothes, and plunge straight into a sea of slime, happily fisting his way through the cast. Wiley meets this challenge with aplomb, making of himself a hybrid of Robert Englund and Gene Hackman, perfectly embodying the movie's joyful absurdity, and never betraying the slightest hint of embarrassment. 

SOCIETY is very much a don't-look-down type of endeavor, a fairy that could expire at the slightest lapse in faith. There's a visual pun in the last act that's so gross, so offensive, so frankly idiotic, that I don't have the courage to describe it; my whole body tenses up when I know this scene is coming, as if it were the meat hook scene in TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE or the brutal rape in the middle of SHOWGIRLS. I don't like it, but at the same time, I respect Yuzna's unhesitating commitment to show it to me, and I think that actor Charles Lucia should get some kind of award for shouldering the burden so valiantly. SOCIETY is a daring movie in the truest sense, a film with more balls than brains, and in this it exposes the limitation of intelligence and taste, and the real need for pure transgression, in producing art of any real value. You might argue with me about whether Yuzna's masturbatory magnum opus really qualifies as art, but to respond to that, I'll quote the great transgressor Alejandro Jodorowsky: "If you are great, EL TOPO is a great picture. If you are limited, EL TOPO is limited." So stick that in your shunt and smoke it.

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PS Here, have this stuck in your head for the rest of your life.

[thebreadcrew]

Bread Crew Text Posts Part 34

Freyja: me? overreacting? probably/ this weekends to do list: clean room, catch up on reading, unshackle the bonds of womanhood & scream by the sea/ i am one hell of a woman and you should all be fucking terrified of me/ AND KNIFE AS A TREAT/ it is a Scientifically Proven Fact that once a group people become friends, the tendency to make really stupid decisions skyrockets...and from this chaos...the Mom FriendTM rises, ready to keep everyone alive, armed with exasperation and common sense in spades/ the best acessory? a sword. next question/ if I could swing a really big sword it wouldn't matter anyone loved me or not/ swords aren't just naturally whooshy enough for me when you swing them. that's why I add the noise. that's why I add the noise, Susan. That's why I add the noise. Susan

Aisling: I'm trying to keep my reputation of being perfect/ book smart street stupid/ a japanese legend says if you shut the fuck up you wouldn't be so annoying/ do you have those memories that are really cringey and you never speak of and something triggers the memory and you want to fucking wash your brain out with bleach/ The number of times I think "I don't care" when people are talking is getting out of hand/ fire is a gay spell. if a character has fire in their spell list as a mage then they're gay/ I'm wasting my youth and beauty being a mysterious eccentric loner and I wouldn't have it any other way/ the longer my hair gets the more powerful i become

Criswyn: my heart says yes but my bank balance says no/ *to Aisling* yeah good grades are cool and all but have you ever had a good nights sleep/ I determined to live my coziest life/ sometimes making tea is less about drinking it and more ab it keeping you company/ dont invite me anywhere unless there's snacks/ I might not have "brain cells" like classic authors and ancient philosophers but at least I respect women/ like 95% of my vocabulary is 'what'

Lilith: me looking in the mirror: what's up you anxious bisexual fuck/ I've Said It Before And I'll Say It Again

Fuck/ I'm BI I'm HOMELESS I have RADIATION POISONING and I'm NEW IN TOWN/...and this is my bedroom aka my Isolation Station TM

The Crew: sir that's my emotional support found family trope/ i didn't come here to make friends [big dumb smile] i came here to make best friends

The Crew with Hawthorne: life hack: be friends with rich people