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doriansquest · 4 months ago

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dragon prince season 7 refuses to be good and I'm so disappointed

i've been putting off finishing the season since it came out and i watched the first three episodes and absolutely hated it, but i finally decided to pull off the bandaid and wow was it so much more worse than i expected. like, i didn't really expect it to be good or anything, since everything has just been going downhill since season 4, but at the very least expected a proper conclusion, but nope, they couldn't even end the show in the finale.

this show just refuses to take the least logical path to the conclusion all the fucking time. like did there need to be so much subversion? follow through on your obvious foreshadowing. let callum be possessed by aaravos after he uses dark magic. that was set up all the way back in season 4. is he good? is he any different than as viren and claudia now, if he's willing to do the wrong thing for the greater good ("however dangerous, however vile")? hell, force rayla to reckon with that difficult choice. put her in the same situation she was in the pilot; is she willing to kill for the greater good, especially now when the stakes are so much higher and the victim is the love of her life?

let claudia kill terry and/or soren. that was bound to happen, she's far past the point of redemption now, she revived aaravos. stop tiptoeing around it. ("i'm still nice! i'm still me" what the fuck, no you're not. you made that decision ages ago, hell when you chose viren over soren all the way back in season 3). arguably, terry, as much as i love him, should have died all the way back in season 5, when viren was revived. it would have cemented claudia's conversion completed to aaravos if there was absolutely no one who loved her around anymore.

and for god's sake, don't try to make your main villain with absolutely no redeeming qualities sympathetic. don't give him a fucking daughter. not every villain is made to be redeemable, they can be just be evil! that's what i loved about aaravos. viren was morally grey from the start, but aaravos was always the dark voice whispering in his ear. he was conniving, manipulative, a force of pure evil! there was absolutely no reason to reduce him to this stupid thing that's so easy to defeat. why was it the dragons that killed him? why not the protagonists of the series instead of some side characters who haven't been in the story for multiple seasons?

like, there is no reason to constantly be adding new plot points? you can take a predictable solution. hell, it should be done in a final season. a story can still be interesting even if it's not the most twisty turvy thing in the world. it would have been so satisfying if the finale went exactly as expected: callum uses dark magic, gets possessed by aaravos and has to fight him out of his head while the other characters have to decide whether to hurt callum or risk aaravos escaping or whatever. we did not need the unicorns, nor the new archdragons, nor the fucking godforsaken sun elf plotline that never connected back to the main plot (and absolutely wasted amaya as a character). and we did not need evyrkind, nor bird harrow who never bothered to contact his sons, nor the seven fucking years. it was so easy to make a satisfying conclusion. why the fuck did the writers decide to take this route?

i don't know, i feel like i've put so much of my investment into this show for the past six years and somehow they manage to fumble it over and over again since season 4, and i keep telling myself that it's going to improve, that they're setting up something good, and they just don't, over and over for seasons. if you somehow enjoyed this season, please explain to me why. i want something good out of the time i spent.

#the dragon prince #dragon prince #tdp #tdp s7 #tdp spoilers #why do you do this to me #i havent felt this strongly about a show since bbc sherlock #and for dragon prince?#i loved this show #why #tdp critical

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raayllum · 1 year ago

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Honestly I think the biggest indication that Callum was always going to do dark magic again is that Villads tells him, "Your conscience is a messy place boyo," even after he's rejected the dark magic version of the cube and subsequently being a dark mage. Your conscience is specifically linked to being the little voice inside your head that helps guide your choices, and we see this specifically being centred around Callum's choice to break the primal stone.

Was he right to give up power, the ability to be useful and helpful, in such a way? It hatched Zym. It gave the world another chance for peace. But it left him helpless. The lack of power is what drove him to do dark magic ("I did one spell. One. I had to") because the only alternative was letting his friends potentially, or almost surely, die.

He's rejected dark magic. He's already said no. But he can't quite let go. He's here on the precipice already, of wondering if without dark magic — if without some kind of power — if he'll be helpless in the future again. If he'll drown.

And then he learns to breathe, and is given the Sky arcanum, and he thinks he has his answer. He thinks it's a no.

Until he's a bind that Sky magic couldn't solve it for him, and he's forced to reckon with what his subconscious was telling him all along: his conscience is a messy place, because he knows — not "to make a real difference in the world," not for "unlimited power," not for his own self gain or importance — with dark magic, for his loved ones, it'll always be a yes. ("Well some things have changed, but not everything: I would do anything for you.") It always has been.

#tdp callum #snake boi callum #2x08 #s2 #arc 2 #multi #mini meta #analysis series #tdp #the dragon prince

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jelzorz · 2 years ago

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156.

Villads is kind enough to give them a lift back to Katolis, which is nice, thinks Rayla, because it's quicker and safer and ultimately more convenient, but also horrible, because it's an extra week of sailing, and Rayla's had enough of the nausea and the vomitting and the world bobbing up and down on the waves.

It does give them a lot of downtime though.

It's weird. They had downtime while they were waiting for Ez and Soren and Corvus to come back from their meeting with Domina Profundus too, but it was a different sort of downtime—one fraught with tension and the itch to move, to do something instead of wait for the end of the world. There's a sense of completion this time, which makes sense, supposes Rayla. They have Aaravos' prison and they need to decide on their next move together, which is easier done in the castle after a little rest and recuperation. But until then, they are sailing, and waiting, and the bruises on Callum's face fade with every passing day, and the split in his lip heals little by little until he barely flinches anymore when he eats or smiles.

"It's not that bad," he promises her when she asks. "I reckon I've had worse."

Rayla clucks her tongue at him. "Have you?"

Callum shrugs. "I dunno. But it's what I'm telling myself until something worse does happen." He grins then, but Rayla catches the waver in the corner of his lip, and she knows it stings to put up such a front but can't be mad at him for it because... Well. She'd do the same.

"Forget about it, okay?" His smile softens into something a bit more genuine, and he touches her face, his fingers gentle against her skin. "We're okay now. That's all that matters."

Rayla supposes he's right, but forgetting about it is not as easy as he makes it sound. Twice now, she's woken up frantic and terrified, her hands numb with cold, and her mind filled with images of him, desperate to help her, him drawing his fist back and slamming it into Finnegrin's jaw, him crumpling onto the deck under the force of Elmer's blow. The steady rocking of Sea Legs beneath her doesn't help—if anything, it makes it worse, and she stumbles on her own feet as she gets up, seeking Callum in the dark, just to make sure he's here, and he's safe.

And he is. Of course he is. How could he not be? He's Callum, and he's looked at every challenge so far and laughed in its face. She breathes out when she finds him in the hammock next to her, his breathing steady, his skin warm beneath her fingers, his pulse drumming stubbornly in his wrist.

He stirs under her touch, and Rayla draws back, her breath caught in her throat. She hadn't meant to wake him, but relief floods her anyway when his eyes flicker open and land on hers, green against lilac, his brow furrowed in concern.

"You okay?"

Rayla hesitates, then swallows, then nods. "Yeah," she mumbles. "I—erm—" She coughs. "I just... wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Why would I not be?"

The ship rocks and moonlight flashes over Callum's lip, still swollen, still split. Rayla flinches at the sight of it, the image of him splayed unconscious on the deck suddenly fresh in her mind once more.

"Oh," says Callum.

Rayla looks away.

There's a pause. It's long and it feels like an ocean between them, so many things still unsaid, so many feelings still unaddressed. Callum shifts, finding her fingers in the dark and resting his forehead against hers, his breath warm and comforting against her lips.

"I'd do it again," he mumbled at last. "I'd take it all again if it meant you'd be safe."

"You wouldn't."

"I would."

Another pause. Another breath. And then the press of lips against hers, gentle, tentative, barely passing for a kiss at all, but a kiss all the same. Rayla tastes the metallic tang of blood on his lips, the split not quite healed all the way just yet, and Callum breathes out, his nose against hers, his breath light on her skin. "I'd do anything for you," he murmurs.

Rayla squeezes her eyes shut, her throat tight, her fingers tighter around his. "I know," she says at last. "That's what I'm scared of."

#in anticipation #rayllum #my favourite thing about s5 us the hurt/comfort

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pinenutpbj · 3 months ago

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9, 11 & 15 pls! 💕

Thank you carnevol for the ask 💓 This is for the WIP questions

9. What is your favorite dialogue you've written so far?

There's an exchange in chapter 2 that I really love, but I don't want to spoil it lol

As from chapter 1, I'm particularly fond of the passage where Callum confesses his tendency to get invested in people.

"My mom worried that I'd get too attached to people I worked with." Callum's voice carried a hint of self-deprecation. "She reckoned that I'll end up falling in love with every co-star I have."

When Austin looked at him with raised eyebrows, he threw his hands in the air.

"I was young and reckless. Stupid." The words came out in a rush, his cheeks flushing faintly. He wouldn't meet Austin's eyes now. "You know what it's like."

Austin wasn't sure he knew. But it was actually imaginable, what Callum would be like a couple years younger. All raw energy and unchecked enthusiasm, throwing himself headlong into everything—roles, relationships, life itself. Wearing his heart more openly on his sleeve, falling for someone simply because they shared the same creative space, the same dreams. Trying to keep things casual until he failed.

"Not that I fell in love with her out of stupidity," the other explained. "It's just—I get invested in people. Maybe too much sometimes."

The admission seemed to cost him something; his shoulders tensed as though bracing for judgment. He looked somewhat frustrated. Austin didn't understand why he'd feel that way. Didn't want him to.

"Well, you like people, there's nothing wrong about it. I like people, too," he half-joked, but he knew Callum would get that he meant it.

11. What scene are you most hyped for this chapter/fic?

The fight scene(s) (sort of)! They have some conflicts they need to work through.

And of course, their intimate encounters, which I felt quite nervous about writing...🥹

15. In as vague of terms as possible (to avoid spoiling), how do you anticipate this chapter/fic to end?

It will end on a very promising note. But I think there will be room left open too. What I want to show is how they could develop a romantic relationship despite all the forces pulling them apart, and I hope the ending feels realistic enough for readers to imagine what comes next.

#ask #almost in love #rpf #caustin

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dhr-ao3 · 1 year ago

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Georgia Davis and the Heartbreak Prince: A Muggles Guide to Marrying a Wizard

Georgia Davis and the Heartbreak Prince: A Muggle’s Guide to Marrying a Wizard https://ift.tt/U0Y9Aqz by evermoredarling Georgia Davis is a small town pediatrician in the US, content to continue on in her status quo of overworking herself and living for Friday nights with her best friend Reid McAllister… until an attack on her home leads to the revelation that he’s actually a wizard, and a famed Auror at that. The two lifelong best friends are then forced to reckon with an impossible decision: erasing their entire friendship from Georgia’s mind, or… choosing each other forever? Words: 7249, Chapters: 2/?, Language: English Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, Taylor Swift (Musician) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: F/M Characters: Georgia Davis, Reid McAllister, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Callum Fraser, Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, Natalie Cortez Relationships: Original Characters - Relationship, Georgia Davis/Reid McAllister, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy Additional Tags: dramione - Freeform, dramione coded, Wizarding World (Harry Potter), Post-Second Wizarding War with Voldemort (Harry Potter), Muggle/Wizard Relations, MACUSA | Magical Congress of the United States of America, Auror Draco Malfoy, Auror Harry Potter, Healer Hermione Granger, Muggle Life, Taylor Swift References, Based on a Taylor Swift Song, Inspired by Taylor Swift, Bonding ceremony, Soul Bond, Muggle/Wizard Relationships, Angst with a Happy Ending, Friends to Lovers, Childhood Friends, Mutual Pining, Denial of Feelings, inappropriate use of magical corsets, Groveling, Sexual Tension, Rescue Missions, Heist, Slow Burn, Eventual Smut via AO3 works tagged 'Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy' https://ift.tt/VuHSidQ April 07, 2024 at 08:42PM

#IFTTT #Dramione #Draco x Hermione

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frontproofmedia · 1 year ago

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Artur Beterbiev is receiving his just-due

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By Sina Latif

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Published: January 24, 2024

Entering the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound rankings at number five in the week following Artur Beterbiev's seven-round beatdown of Callum Smith, it appears the Russian is finally receiving the proper credit and respect he has always deserved. With a 100% knockout ratio, everybody always knew Beterbiev was a light-heavyweight destroyer and a real force to be reckoned with. The extent of how good he is, all of the brilliant, cerebral intricacies of just how he operates in the ring, with his feet, feints, and jab, is now being recognized. He has always been a talent worthy of being recognized as a modern-day great and a top-five pound-for-pound star, and this is now becoming clearer with time.

Each worthy number-one contender who gets brushed aside, regardless of how much readiness and determination they bring into the ring, further highlights how great a champion Beterbiev is.

Against Callum Smith, two top-class pugilists with fight-ending power entered the ring in an interesting clash of styles, with potential jeopardy for both men.

In the end, it was an exhibition of differences in levels. Smith is world-class. Beterbiev is the elite of the elite. Possibly a light heavyweight all-time great in the making.

Great champions dispatch number 1 contenders and other world champions emphatically; the more you doubt them in their most significant fights, the bigger statement they make to show you how great they really are. That is what Beterbiev has done, again and again, during his destructively trail-blazing professional career. Oleksandr Gvozdzyk, Marcus Browne, Joe Smith Jr, Callum Smith. All were seen as legitimate dangers and fell to the same fate. They were simply out-willed and overpowered in a manner never previously experienced.

The fight against Smith was initially scheduled to take place over the summer, but Beterbiev's jaw infection postponed the fight.

How would the subsequent surgery affect Beterbiev's ability to take a punch? Alongside Beterbiev's incoming 39th birthday and all of the miles on the clock across his amateur and professional career, the ingredients were seemingly there for an upset.

Far from the truth, Smith stood at 6ft 3in with a 78inch reach, with real power, yet he was no match for Beterbiev. Usually a slow starter, the Russian backed Smith up to the ropes and unleashed hard combinations in the opening 20 seconds of the fight and, showed this was going to be a long night for the Scouser. Smith had never touched the canvas in his amateur or professional career, but when Beterbiev was letting his heavy leather go in the seventh round, Smith hit the canvas twice in that fateful seventh.

The Russian has scary power, and when you combine that with excellent ring IQ, discipline, relaxation in the ring, high work rate, control of distance, solid fundamentals, and educated, relentless pressure, Beterbiev is a formidable force at 175 lbs.

Heading into the Beterbiev vs Smith fight, Smith had only fought six rounds in three years, but in those six rounds, he had displayed his brutal two-fisted power at his new weight to produce vicious back-to-back knockouts. At a more comfortable weight, one in which the Liverpudlian can allow his big frame to fill out more naturally, Smith was deemed a legit threat. Many genuinely believed that with a potential Dmitry Bivol undisputed showdown on the horizon, this was a dangerous fight for Beterbiev. Ultimately, it turned out to be a very handy warm-up for the Russian.

Beterbiev is just special. He made a very legitimate, threatening contender look ordinary, and that is what great fighters do.

If Smith had beaten Beterbiev, it would have qualified as one of the greatest victories by a British fighter in history. In itself, that highlights the challenge of beating Beterbiev.

There appear to be only two foes with a legitimate chance of defeating Beterbiev right now… Father Time or Bivol.

Beterbiev vs Bivol is the one the world wants to see now. It's one of the best pure match-ups boxing has to offer. Both men are long-reigning champions with multiple title defenses against nearly all of the legit contenders of their era. The fight will be a great clash of styles between the crafty, disciplined pressure fighter in Beterbiev, and a gifted technical boxer in Bivol. The winner will put himself in the pantheon of light-heavyweight all-time greats alongside the likes of Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, and Bob Foster.

This undisputed showdown fits the profile of what Turki Alal Shaikh is looking for in his quest to turn Saudi Arabia into the world's premier fight capital.

Beterbiev is not perfect, of course. Muhammad Ali has been dropped, hurt, and beaten before. Roberto Duran surrendered mid-fight once and was also knocked out clean, landing face-down on the canvas. Yet, Ali and Duran are two of the greatest fighters to ever grace boxing. They have some of the best wins in the entire history of the sport, and their great moments far outnumbered and over-took those moments of shortcomings and vulnerabilities.

Beterbiev is a fearsome champion, about as scary and formidable a champion as you will find in boxing today, but he is by no means infallible. In 2014, Beterbiev was dropped in a flash knockdown by Jeff Page Jr. In 2018, Beterbiev was floored heavily by Callum Johnson in a four-round firefight, and against Anthony Yarde last year, the veteran went through periods of slight discomfort to pull through against his younger, determined foe.

Beterbiev has his vulnerabilities, but he knows how to win. Whenever he meets adversity, he usually responds almost immediately by going through the gears and aggressively re-gaining the upper hand in the fight, and when you have a fighter who is extremely powerful and strong, with the smarts, toughness, and all of the desirable intangibles in abundance, you have a champion that is incredibly hard to beat. It will take a special fighter to defeat Beterbiev.

As well as combating what Beterbiev presents in the ring, there is now the aura and composure of Beterbiev that presents just as much of an issue for his opponents. To share a ring with Beterbiev perceptively makes you the next highlight knockout reel on a perfect knockout record, and there is an uneasy inevitability to Beterbiev fights, which is bound to add to the anxiety of opponents. Against Smith, an already small ring would have felt so much smaller with Beterbiev's ability to cut off the ring and Smith's own fears. The man to beat Beterbiev will not only have to nullify Beterbiev's in-ring capabilities but must carry a fearless mindset that cannot be tamed under immense pressure.

"It's because of luck. It's my coach. Our team works hard with me, maybe that's why, too. But I think it's because of luck," said Beterbiev after the Smith fight.

If we are to believe him, and it would take a very brave man to openly not do so, Beterbiev is the luckiest man in the world.

(Featured Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

#SL #Artur Beterbiev #Dmitry Bivol #Light Heavyweight Division #Pound For Pound

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secretgcrdens · 2 months ago

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“Too honest, hmm?” Callum chuckled, bringing his pointer finger up to poke Cassandra’s adorable pout. He hadn’t thought before he acted — fearing he��d crossed a boundary, he cleared his throat nervously. Though his gaze lingered on her lips, perhaps for a beat too long. “Does that mean you’ve never once lied to me?” he cut his eyes at her playfully, “Even when I wore that hideous suit to the Diamond Ball and you told me I looked fine?” He laughed, shaking his head, “I knew I should’ve chosen a different suit.” He held up his hands as if he were under attack, a humored grin on his lips, “Fine, fine I believe you!” Cassandra made Callum feel alive — as if there were a love for life within him just waiting to escape. It was as if the world — he — had stifled this love, not allowing it to grow. He’d let his anxiety and panic prevent him from smiling. From hoping. But Cassandra had a rare talent, making Callum feel safe enough to allow happiness into his life. He just prayed to the gods that he would get hurt in the process.

“And you say Winnie is the dramatic one,” he teased, placing a hand on his stomach as he laughed with her, her giggle taking him to cloud nine. “Well, when you put it that way,” he started, a grin tugging on his lips, “I’ll never cut off your supply of honey cakes. I’m not sure I could live without you now that you’ve come into my life.” His laughter quickly turned into a shy smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. It was true, Cassandra had brought joy to his life — he couldn’t lose her. And while there were foreign feelings infiltrating his heart — sleepless nights thinking about her or waking up from dreams he’d never experienced, searching for her beautiful brown eyes in every room, the skip of his heart whenever their gazes met — he knew he couldn’t live without her, even if all he ever had was her friendship. His heart suddenly felt as if it’d been hit with a dagger. Friendship. He was certain that was all he’d ever have with her — she’d find someone handsome, wealthy, with a family that has a good reputation — and he’d have to smile and be happy for her, despite his heart breaking. “Spoiled, maybe. But she loves me, so I’m willing to look past that,” he mused, gently running his hand up and down Winnie’s back. He tilted his head, a small frown forming on his lips. It pained him to think that Cassandra’s governess had ever made her feel like she was too much, especially since Callum could get drunk off of her and never have enough. “Well, your governess sounds like she was a bit of a bore who couldn’t handle any fun,” he replied, giving the brunette a smile that he hoped was comforting. Pink rushed to his cheeks, betraying him completely. The fact that she enjoyed sharing such a special part of her day with him was enough to make his heart skip a beat. "Our arrangement is the reason I get out of bed each morning," he admitted, running his fingers through his hair.

"My mother is a saint," he chuckled, glancing down at his soaking, muddy clothes. "Luckily, Atticus was ever the rule follower — but Henry, Jasper, and I were a force to be reckoned with," he smiled fondly as nostalgia swept over him, "And don't count out Cecilia — she may look innocent and put together, but she was a handful, too." He knew he was lucky to grow up in such a noisy, loving home. And he hoped one day he'd have one of his own — the chaos of children who he would love fiercely. It certainly wasn't always perfect, but he wouldn't change a thing. Once he began shutting himself away due to the anxiety and doctors visits, he'd hear his siblings laughing and running down the hallways, aching to join them and he regretted the times he missed with them. He laughed, watching Dusty and Winnie shake in the rain, trotting in circles together, "They quite like each other, do they not?"

Callum couldn't help but smile brightly — all he had wanted since the day Cassandra walked through their doors was for her to feel welcome, cared for, adored. "You're an honorary Sinclair, Miss Lockridge," he smiled before his gaze raked down to notice the way Cassandra's chest rose and fell with her breathing, the way the raindrops had fallen on her chest, making it's way down her cleavage. He tried snapping himself out of it — it was impolite for him to think about such things.

It seemed that time stood still — rain still fell heavily around them, but their gaze locked and he was drowning in her brown eyes. When he felt her hands on his chest, he could've sworn his knees were about to give out on him. Her touch ignited something in him that he never knew existed. Their bodies fit together perfectly, he could hear the sound of her breathing, and he thought at any second she would push him away. But, then her lips met his and it was a passionate collision that could have sent shockwaves across the English Channel. His first kiss and he had no idea what he was doing.

Overwhelmed with desire — and other feelings he’d never had before, Callum kissed her back fervently, nearly tripping over himself when he felt her fingers in his hair. The way she moaned against his lips made him dizzy with desire — the sweetest noise he'd ever heard. He pressed himself against her curves, placing one hand on the side of her neck as he gently pushed her back against a tree. With one hand steadying himself against the bark the other found her waist, gripping her just slightly. “Cass,” he groaned against her lips, their wet bodies flush against each other. Pushing his hips against hers, he groaned again, parting his lips for her. Callum couldn't bring himself to break the kiss — he was addicted. And he wanted more.

"I would never lie," she crossed her arms across her chest, "in fact, I've been told I am too honest," she pouted. Her governess had called her too precocious and clever for her own good. It had been a problem in her youth to always be punished for being unable to keep her smart mouth shut. Her mother was never present to know her daughter and her father was too busy to care. It was easy to be pawned off on those they could pay to worry about her instead of taking that burden on themselves. Her mouth dropped, "never! I would never risk a honey cake for any lie that I could make up," she grinned back at him. Ever since arriving in Mayfair, the Sinclair manor had been a home she never had and even though she missed Margate, there was something here she had never experienced before.

"I was only teasing, Callum, please," she whined dramatically to him, "if I were to lose my only source to honey cakes, I would not be able to survive Mayfair much longer," she feigned the dramatics, laughter breaking through her seriousness. Every moment spent with him reminded her of the happiness she still could have, despite her circumstances. Yes, she may have to become someone's wife by the end of this season, but there were still things she could smile about. "She is spoiled, don't let her trick you," she teased as she nodded, "yes, I do believe my governness called me mischievous and too smart for my own good," she admitted with a frown. Cassandra often had been made to feel as if she was too much for everything all her life. Too smart, too bold, too overconfident. With Callum she never felt bad for any of those traits. "Of course, I never feel more like myself then when I am riding and for you to be by my side makes me happy. I'm glad to hear that you have also been benefiting from our arrangement," she grinned hoping that he held the same fondness for their time spent together as she did.

Their laughter filled the air, making Cassandra forget all about being completely drenched from the torrential downpour, "how did she deal with it? Four boys. I highly doubt that you were the first or last to track in mud every day." Her home had been quiet, except for the reprimands her governess often doled out to her. Cassandra's mother was quiet and her father was always away to find her mother the help she needed. The Sinclair manor had been filled with all types of emotions: laughter, sadness, shouting, praising. It was all so foreign to her. In their laughter, she didn't allow herself to become anxious at their bodies against each other. If Sir Thayer had seen them, she was sure he'd rip her away from him. Yet now, all she could think of was how she wanted him to be even closer, if that was a possibility. "Do not apologize, Callum," she smiled, "I believe Dusty and Winnie are enjoying the rain for us," she nodded her head to the horses that seemingly basked in the showers.

Shaking her head quickly, "I could never regret it or even be ashamed, not when you've give me such joy Callum. Your family has welcomed me into your home, never once letting me think that I was an intruder upon your home. Your mother does love you," she whispered, looking up at him through her dew covered eyelashes. Cassandra's heart raced, so much so that she was sure he could feel it through her own corset.

Cassandra couldn’t understand her emotions. It was quiet except for the rain that surrounded them but inside her head, it was a cacophony of sounds. Her hand rested against his strong chest as she swallowed all her fears, “Callum, I—“ her voice was clipped as she realized that words would not suffice to explain herself. There was clarity in her mind, finally and realized that if her feelings were not returned at least the rain could wash away her sins.

Pushing herself up on her toes, she pressed her lips softly against his in a moment of complete liberation, her hand reaching to the nape of his neck to bury her fingers in his dampened curls. It was better than she could imagine with him and she wanted more. Letting out a soft moan against him, she could only pull him in closer her boldness growing, silently begging for him with every kiss as she parted her lips gently. Every worry of fear had been replaced by comforting warmth in her chest.

#𓍢 ・ interactions.#callum x cassandra

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aimlacely-sapphic · 2 years ago

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Building on my pervious post about the meanings of the arcanums I love that tdp chose the specific arcanums to represent each season not only based on the types of magic the characters encounter but also based on the thematic developments.

Book 1: Moon is about death and about characters seeing past the illusions and lies they believed in. Harrows assassination is the foundation of the plotline and throughout the season the other characters have to unlearn and relearn because of the assumptions they held. From Rayla realizing that vengeance is not the answer, Callum realizing he can trust Rayla, to them all seeing past their assumptions of what is normal and okay in the world, Season 1 is all about lies and illusions. Some of that does carry over into season 2 but the establishment of the idea that all is not as it seems is fundamental to season 1.

Book 2: Sky is about love and trust. It is about Callum and Rayla coming to fully trust each other and love each other (because even if their romance comes in season 3, season 2 is where the deep platonic love and trust gets fully established). It is also where Callum and Claudia declare their love for Rayla and Soren respectively by pushing beyond the boundaries of what they are supposed to do in order to save the ones they love (Fire and Fury). Callum also connects with his parents through Harrows letter and his dream and it is in those connections to and acceptances of love that he understands the world better and is able to connect with the sky arcanum.

Book 3: Sun is about passion. Fire is the arcanum most connected to battle and conflict so it makes sense for this season with the big final conflict to be the associated with the sun. Beyond the main conflict this season is about relationships forged in the heat of battle and bold declarations. Callum jumps off a cliff, Soren tries to kill his dad, Ezran gives up his crown, Rayla kisses Callum. Where in the previous seasons more of the decisions were based on steadier and more constant feelings and beliefs, season 3 is about strong feelings, strong ideas, passion and anger.

Book 4: Earth is about life and growth. It is about Claudia bringing back to life her dad and them having to reckon with their understanding of the worth of life. It is about Callum and Rayla slowly rebuilding a relationship, growing into is as steadily as a plant grows. It is about the taking of life and the saving of it and the shaking of steady foundations.

This also gives us clues as to what the last 3 seasons could look like.

Book 5: is probably Ocean. It is probably going to be a season of transformation, in the world, in character dynamics, in beliefs and relationships. Season 4 shook foundations and created some of the chaos through which change and transformation can occur in Season 5. By making season 5 about change, it also allows the creators to set up the stage for the final arch of major conflict in season 6 and 7 where the world will have to face a complete reckoning and far greater conflict than season 4 or 5 will provide.

Book 6: is probably Stars. It is probably going to be a season focused on destiny. Bits and peices of this theme have come through in the previous seasons but with Aaravos probably out of his prison by this point, or at least holding much greater power, Callum is going to have to resist his influence and grab a hold of his own destiny. Rayla will also probably have to face her own perception of her destiny as a protector and a self sacrificial hero (hopefully because decoining her parents will force her to rethink her identity). And this will hopefully be the season where Claudia starts considering a redemption arch as she questions her destiny and purpose in life for the first time.

Book 7: I hope will be Dark Magic. Because the final conflict will probably have a motif of dark vs light but also because the ultimate question will be what we want the world to look like. It will push all the characters to the limits of their morality and force them to decide what they care about the most. They are going to have to reckon with why dark magic really exists and how a world after conflict can look such that peoples needs and desires are met.

#tdp #the dragon prince #the dragon prince: mystery of aaravos #arc 1 #arc 2 #season 5 is ocean truther #tdp theory #tdp meta #tdp s1 #tdp s2 #tdp s3 #tdp s4 #tdp s5 theory #tdp s6 theory #tdp s7 theory #primal sources

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raayllum · 2 years ago

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One of the things that craziest to me about Aaravos is in 5x09 is how much his own overconfidence in Claudia got in his way. (Whether things went the way he actually wanted/secretly planned and he was saying shit about his faith in her to mess up Viren is up in the air, but I doubt it, given his anger at Viren in the end does seem legitimate at being turned over / 'disobeyed').

Before the season came out, I wondered how Claudia as a solo mage would fare against presumably at least three combat opponents - Soren, Callum, Rayla - in addition to Ezran. It seems just the trio (+ Stella) were enough to foil her plans and leave her badly injured with heavy losses all around.

However, Claudia literally could've had the easiest walk in the park getting the prison if Aaravos had just channelled his magic through her the way he did with Viren in 2x09. He'd been nothing but a dark mage, but was able to use all six arcanum like he'd been connected all his life, Aaravos manifesting it through him seamlessly.

Aaravos can channel any (all) of his magics through his pawns by the body/soul-sharing quasi or outright possession shit. There doesn't seem to be any kind of time limit with the possession. He could've had Claudia breathe underwater in a way that couldn't be removed. He could've given her access and help through six arcanum, something the trio definitely would've had a difficult time defeating (they, to be fair, barely defeated her in the first place). Having powerful, capable pawns is useful in terms of carrying out his plans when Aaravos doesn't feel like directly intervening, but it is absolutely not necessary for them to be ultra-powerful so long as Aaravos has a hold on them. Which makes sense - if you're ultra-powerful, what do you really need him for, as a pull, as a lure? If Claudia could just save her father herself, why bother with Aaravos at all?

But it does make me curious as to where Aaravos and Claudia will go as a dynamic. In arc 1, Claudia's main 'failure' she was trying to make up for was to her dad for losing the dragon egg. Now, she's majorly failed Aaravos, but he's also failed her, and he'll have to spin it delicately (revenge wise) to keep her fully on his side now that he doesn't have a Viren carrot to dangle over her.

It also makes me think about what will happen the next time Aaravos possesses Callum, as it will, inevitably, happen. He has two arcanums down, of course, but nowhere near Aaravos' knowledge overall, and it means he'll be a particular force to be reckoned with if Aaravos is channelling all six arcanum through him. The first time, Aaravos used Callum to verbally hit his friends where it hurts; I expect the second time, it'll be a much more brutal, physically grisly manner with magic.

After all: Aaravos won't make the same mistake of overconfidence twice (at least, not until after he's free).

#asset #tdp #the dragon prince #mini meta #analysis series #pawns #5x09 #s5 #arc 2 #tdp aaravos #s6 speculation #s6

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pridepages · 3 years ago

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Tangled Web: The Atlas Paradox

I just finished The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake. I have some thoughts...

Here there be spoilers!

Poet Walter Scott was the first to write “Oh what a tangled web we weave / when first we practice to deceive.”

The residents of the Alexandrian Society manor house spent all of their first year together weaving their deceptions. Now, in Olivie Blake’s followup The Atlas Paradox, all six initiates must face the reckoning of their choices--and find themselves and their affections more deeply entangled than ever.

Many fantasy trilogies tend to suffer from sophomore slump. Often, the second book is the weakest of the lineup. Fair dues to Blake: Paradox is in many ways a stronger novel than The Atlas Six. Firstly, the world-building is much more clearly shaped. Why did our wizards have to murder one of their own to join this academic cult? Because, apparently, the library is a malevolent, sentient force that thirsts for blood. Better still, the disappearance of Libby Rhodes will not suffice. The archives are wise to such cheats. In fact, when Atlas Blakely’s class tried the same thing by disappearing Ezra Fowler, the archives took vengeance: each of the remaining members of the class were eventually killed except for Ezra (bouncing around the timeline) and Atlas (remaining to be fed upon by the murder books). Similarly, we watch as the remaining members of Atlas’s Six begin to fall apart in different ways: Nico sickens, Reina obsesses, Parisa sours, Tristan sulks, and Callum drinks. All of them are still being puppeteered by Atlas, who reveals that his Master Plan appears to be to use the collective gifts of the Six to find a door to a wider multiverse. Meanwhile, Libby has been stranded in 1989. To get home, she will be confronted with the ultimate moral choice and will face her own fall from grace.

Blake has described this book as the characters experiencing their quarter-life crisis. And it shows. Admittedly, it’s a bit aggravating to hear almost all of them repeatedly telling the reader about how life and the world are pointless because Alexandrians all have power and can effectively do nothing to change the world, their individual fates, or otherwise find happiness. But, much like the grating nobody-understands-me adolescent phase, it is a stage that any thinking young adult has to go through. And the characters are charismatic enough that you want to stick with them.

As in the first book, the Six find themselves navigating tangled relationships. Initial attractions are complicated by the choices that each has made and the ways they have hurt each other. The question posed to all of them is: Where do we go from here?

An early question answered (yay for being right!) was about Reina: “she never thought of anyone sexually.” So her arc is all about her friendships. “She developed a talent for isolation,” Reina reminds us early. But the problem with that is that she resents being overlooked. And although she can identify moments when she’s being unfair--expecting other people to reach out to her or praise her or admire her despite the hostile demeanor she radiates--she can never quite get over her own pride enough to try to reach out for the closeness she wants.

Meanwhile, we rejoin some of the couples facing the immediate consequences of their actions. Callum knows that Tristan tried to kill him at the suggestion of Libby Rhodes. Callum also knows that Tristan and Libby slept together. Therefore, Callum concludes, “This was who Tristan had chosen over Callum...He hoped it would pain Tristan for the rest of his life.” A vengeful Callum is perfectly in line with the person we know. Most of book one we were exposed to Callum’s vanity to the point where whether he was interested in other people beyond manipulating them was debatable. But here we see a softer, truly wounded Callum: “Tristan might have betrayed Callum, but he wasn’t the bad guy...This was just the world. You trusted people, you loved them, you offered them the dignity of your time and the intimacy of your thoughts and the frailty of your hope and they either accepted it and cared for it or they rejected it and destroyed it and in the end, none of it was up to you. This was just what you got. Heartbreak was inevitable. Disappointment assured.”

And then there’s Tristan, who shows perhaps the most maturity out of any of the characters in this book when he finally says to Callum: “This--between us--it was real for me. You can pretend that it didn’t matter. That I was the one who wronged you. That you had no hand in how things happened. That I made a choice based on nothing, based on my own insecurities and flaws. But I am not such an idiot--I’m not so devoid of feeling to not be perfectly aware that you and I had something rare and difficult and fucking significant, and in the end it only broke because I broke it.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t make things right between them. Callum is still in deep pain and lashing out because of it. He cannot see that there is a way through the mess between them: forgiveness. But forgiveness takes courage, and more than just recognizing your flaws. It takes accountability for your own imperfections, taking responsibility for your actions both in the past and in the future. Tristan, by actually putting out there that he wronged Callum, was building a bridge that Callum has refused to cross. For all its failure, Tristan’s maturity in trying deserves a gold star.

Another way Tristan has changed is leaning into his affection for Libby. For most of the first book, Tristan was cold, reserved, apparently off-put by Libby’s earnestness and sensitivity. But secretly, he seems to have found it rather attractive. He sets Libby up in his mind as a kind of hero archetype, a contrast to how much he hates himself. But Parisa cautions him: “You like her because she’s innocent...because she’s moral. Because she’s good. Because she represents something to you that the rest of us no longer have, because we came here. And because we made choices. But she made a choice too, Tristan. She knew what the consequences were. Libby Rhodes is not your goodness, Tristan. She’s her own open flame.” Tristan is certainly in danger of idealizing Libby out of existence, fictionalizing her in his head--which is easy to do since she is absent from his life for most of the book. But, in the end, Tristan determines he’d “rather have whatever version of Libby she had become than face the prospect of having no Libby at all.” Whether he will be able to live with the reality of that choice will remain to be seen in the next installment.

Similarly, Parisa’s journey is one of identity. Parisa has been repeatedly accused of being unable to love. Parisa finally refutes this misconception: “Of course she loved...to her, sex and love and desire and affection were different things--some of which she needed or wanted, and some she firmly did not.” Parisa knows who she is. However, Parisa learns that book one paramour Dalton Ellery is not who she thought he was. She was previously aware that Dalton’s consciousness had been split. She now learns that Dalton split off a part of himself that he did not like--his ambition--in order to both make himself safer to handle his power in the world and because it would allow the archives to trust him with more information for his research. Parisa ultimately contributes to reuniting Dalton’s consciousness, but a ‘healed’ Dalton is a new Dalton: “She realized that without the entirety of himself--with no ambition, and indeed, no formulation of the future, which was a thing she thought they had in common until she realized that, actually, his version of a blank page was wildly different from hers--she had never seen the other intricacies of him. His dreams. His longings. His fears.” Their arc is particularly fascinating because it invites the discussion: would you change what you perceive to be your worst qualities? If you did, you would be a different person. If you were, would you still be right for the people who love you now as you are? Perhaps it is different when life changes who we are gradually, as it inevitably does. But neatly removing one element entirely does not make you a ‘better’ version of yourself. It just makes you different.

Speaking of differences: wow, Libby Rhodes! I admit, I had a pet theory about Libby Rhodes. Part of it arose from the kind of way she spoke about Ezra (like he was a box she was ticking off, like she was acting in ways a good girlfriend should, the way she seemed to easily resent and want to ditch him). I was just getting big closeted sapphic vibes off her. Then, of course, she had threesome with Tristan and Parisa in book one. This at least suggested queerness to me, but still felt unconfirmed...until we get this gem in Paradox: “I’m a time traveler from the future...who maybe kind of slept with one or two of my coworkers, whom I would also (maybe) like to sleep with again.” Them, plural, as in she was into Parisa. But, then again, who isn’t? Firmly orienting Libby with the sapphics is that she gets a crush on a fellow medeian academic during her sojourn into 1989: “a cautious kiss from Belen’s careful mouth, was riotous with sensation. The hint of pressure was like a spark to Libby’s imagination, igniting something dormant in her chest as a purr of satisfaction slipped from her parted lips into Belen’s smiling mouth.” Libby is at first her typical unsure self in this moment, feeling “the kind of weird that preceded a cliff’s edge, a sharp drop. A sip of absinthe and a first kiss.” A sip of absinthe. The drink she shared with Parisa before their tryst. Not to put to fine a point on it, “Libby reached for her...and heard the vestiges of Parisa’s voice in her head: Have what you want, Rhodes. Take it.” Big. Gay. Vibes. We love to see it. But it’s unclear whether Libby is meant to end up with Parisa, Tristan, or anyone else. All we know is that “All this time she’d been desperate for help, for someone else to reassure her, for some form of comfort, or anything that could make her feel she wasn’t alone--but she was alone.” Being cast out on her own forces Libby into a reckoning. Because, for her, companionship has always been about tacit acceptance or approval. Libby has needed to be constantly reassured of her own worth. But now she’s growing beyond that. “She was no longer desperate for the crutch of someone else’s faith. For the first time...she would not presume herself to be deficient. She would not doubt the power in her body. She would not question what was earned. She would do this, and she would do it alone.” If we’re heading toward a Libby who needs to forge a future standing completely alone, uncoupled to signify that she is finally emotionally self-sufficient, wouldn’t hate it. But it would be better if it were gay.

So, thank goodness for my absolute favorite arc in the novel. In book one, an obvious romantic connection to me from the beginning was Nico and his friend Gideon, the one who he claimed to come to the Society to help. The one who he does so much to protect. The one he worries about constantly. It could not be clearer as their interactions pile up in Paradox that it’s two-sided: these idiot boys are so in love. And just when you think they’re never going to do anything about it, Gideo takes the leap: “Relief, that no one had put a stop to that arrogant laugh...some madness in Gideon’s chest made up his mind for him. He leaned forward and caught Nico’s mouth with his in something of a punitive force, a captive blow. More of a gasp that anything else, really. Although technically, it was a kiss.”

Thank you, God. Finally. But these characters are unpredictable. Nico has shown attraction to women before (well, Parisa, but again--who hasn’t?) and maybe we were heading for another heartbreaking twist:

“Gideon felt Nico’s breath catch on his tongue, an audible hitch of surprise, and then Nico pulled away and Gideon thought no, no, no-- ‘Oh, so it’s like that?’ Nico said. His eyes were searching and bewilderingly, confusingly bright. In response Gideon felt unopened and raw, like he’d cracked his chest in two and presented the evidence for Nico’s evaluation... ‘Yeah, it’s like that.’ Nico’s smile broadened. ‘Good.’ Nico caught him by a fistful of his t-shirt, tugging him in again.”

Good. Just good. For so long they struggled with their words, struggled to articulate even to themselves what they are. But at last, they chose to take a risk: no more deceptions. No more tangled thoughts, fears, self-consciousness, or denial. Instead of deciding to stay caught in the web, they tore themselves free.

I think we all have a tendency to overcomplicate our relationships. It’s easy to pull strands of negative thought. We tease out all the reasons that we can’t be happy with someone else: our sense of our inadequacies, our obligations, our histories, our resentments, our fear of risk--and we weave them into nets that keep us trapped. But we have the ability to make new and different choices. In the grand scheme of things, maybe choosing to pull ourselves out of our misery webs may seem like so much wasted or pointless effort. But if this life is all we get, and all we can control is ourselves, then maybe there is something worthy and heroic in setting ourselves free.

#the atlas paradox #olivie blake #lgbt reads #queer lit

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secretgcrdens · 2 months ago

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Callum was worried about how the Sinclair’s staff were feeling, and if they were getting paid. The staff, who he loved, who had watched him grow up — he’d hate to see them suffer with low wages. And William, who he’d grown to admire and was grateful for his friendship — who encouraged him and gave him an escape from Society — he worried for his financial stability. He smiled softly, appreciative that William was trying to ease Callum’s worries. He tilted his head to the side, he’d been curious about what really happened between Miss Thorpe and William and to hear that Lady Whistledown had fabricated the most innocent of interactions, that eased his mind. “I’ve heard Miss Thorpe is a force to be reckoned with,” he chuckled. Maybe Lady Whistledown had fabricated the Sinclair’s situation — or perhaps that was wishful thinking.

Callum pondered over William’s words. He was right, Callum couldn’t run from everything — despite the fact that it was in his very nature. He had to face these problems, even if they made him uncomfortable — because if he didn’t, he’d be running forever. And he was exhausted from running. He didn’t want to press William and ask him what problems he had run from, but his curiosity was piqued. He valued William’s candor and honesty with him.

“Mister Erwood, you are too kind to me,” he smiled softly, patting Dusty’s back as he did so. “I hope we can make it through this scandal. I hope nothing tears my family apart,” he admitted, glancing down for a moment before chuckling at William’s jest. “You’re absolutely correct. Maybe a family meeting is in order.”

When the scandal first broke, William had resented the Sinclair house a little for jeopardising his position, but it couldn’t really be helped. Half of the family was unaware of how perilous their financial situation was, and their kindness had far outweighed their current issues. Seeing how the family had spiralled these last few days was a bit hard to watch, but each had their own way of dealing with it. William took a moment to consider Callum’s question, and while he didn’t want to lie, he didn’t exactly see the benefit of telling the truth in this moment. “I think that Lady Whistledown deliberately leaves out the context to things,” William sighed as he tried to think carefully on what words he could use. “The first article was written about me and Miss Thorpe, for example. I think it was alluded to that there was a ride together when in fact I had ridden past her, ruining her dress, though I’ll never admit the wrongdoing to her.” William tried to evade any questions about Cassandra. While he wouldn’t be truthful, lying was never one of his stronger skills.

“I understand the feeling and have done such a thing myself, but problems have a way of catching up to you. You need to decide if you’ll like the man you’ll become if you keep running.” William had spent almost every major decision running away. Ten years ago, his father had asked him to marry another to secure a business deal, and when he refused, William fled Wales. When the scandal in Margate broke (thankfully it was contained to the seaside town), William had no choice but to flee to London in search of employment. The decisions that went alongside that, well, those were some regrets but not everything.

William looked to Callum, and he could see a man riddled with worry, and none of it was of his own creation. “No, this scandal will ride itself out, and you will all be stronger for it.” William tried his best to reassure the man, but how much the other put in William’s words was beyond him. “As far as I am concerned, your household is without shame, but you could all work better on your communication.” William teased, trying to bring some light-heartedness to the situation but feeling as if he had failed in that task.

#𓍢 ・ interactions.#callum x william

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whump-it · 3 years ago

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Only if you WANT to....but tongue snipping? I don't know if you've read little men but Father Baehr had that happened when he lied

TW MOUTH GORE

Master Hayden had the nail scissors in his hand. He passed them back and for. Hand to hand. Nonchalantly as though they were harmless.

A blade was never harmless.

Callum knew this without a doubt. Once, and he didn't know when, but once, his Master has taken him outside and he had held a knife. He had held his Masters knife. He had made no move whatsoever to hurt Master Hayden with it.

It has still been pushed into his mouth while he had worked his tongue around it's blade, trying not to hurt himself.

"Come here, stupid little pet," Master Hayden said. Callum shuffled to him on his knees, hands cuffed behind his back as they usually were. Master Hayden looked down at him with narrowed eyes.

Wide eyed with love for his Master, Callum looked back up at him then bent to kiss his feet without being asked. He had been so so good lately. The skin around his mouth wasn't sore or cracked because he hadn't been forced to wear his muzzle for quite a while. His Master was wonderful. Scary. A force to be reckoned with. His protector.

"Kneel up," Master Hayden said. Callum knelt and stared up. "Stick your tongue out little pet."

Callum did as he was bid. He remembered his first day here, when he had screamed and fought and swore so much that his Master had made him poke his tongue out then doused a cigarette on it. This must be better because he hadn't been fighting.

"Close your eyes,"

Cold. Hot. The taste of iron and then the hideous flash of pain on the very tip of his tongue as the blades of the scissors pushed together across it. He howled, tears springing to his eyes as he tumbled backwards with no way to break his fall. Master Hayden dropped down next to him and grabbed up a handful of his hair, yanking his head back and slapping him hard across the face, spraying a fine mist of blood from his mouth with the force of the motion.

"Little pet," Master Hayden hissed in his ear as he sobbed in great gulps. "Little wretch. That's how fine the line is. Don't you forget it."

He was shoved hard to the floor by the hand that fisted in his hair.

"And if you don't want worse, then I suggest you don't bleed on my floor."

#oc callum morrow #oc callum #where do people go when they've had enough of their lives #the collection programme #the collection box #oc hayden reeve #oc hayden #oc master hayden #master hayden is a dicksplat #mouth gore tw #scissors #whumper #whumpee #callum is crying #callum will be perfect #Callum wants to be perfect #Callum will atone

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courtneysmovieblog · 3 years ago

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The complicated feels of “Secrets of Dumbledore”

As I already said before, being a Harry Potter fan is really complicated right now.

I would have been so much more excited for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore years back, regardless of the plot holes and problems. But this franchise, which had so much potential, really feels cursed these days. So it’s maybe for the best that this movie might be the last one.

When we last left Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and his beasts, his rambunctious Niffler Teddy just stole the blood oath necklace that held Dumbledore (Jude Law) back from going after Grindelwald (Madds Mikkelsen). Queenie (Alison Sudol) and Jacob (Dan Fogler) broke up and Queenie joined Grindelwald, and Credence (Ezra Miller) might be Dumbledore’s brother.

So now Dumbledore, Newt, and Jacob are ready to fight Grindelwald, who has manipulated his way into the wizarding world’s election for Supreme Mugwump. On the squad is Newt’s brother Theseus, (Callum Turner), the late Leta Lestranger’s brother Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam) and Professor Lally Hicks (Jessica Williams). Dumbledore, knowing he has to face his former lover (yes, it’s explicitly stated), is also forced to reckon with his past.

You’ll be happy to know that the magical creatures are a huge part of the plot after being sidelined in the last movie. Also, we finally get the full tragic Dumbledore family history that was pretty much cut from the Deathly Hallows movie, as well as the true backstory of Credence...which does work, but because it took such a long, convoluted path to get to the answers, the ultimate resolution feels a bit like a letdown.

Watching this gave me mixed feelings. On one hand, there is still a lot of good to appreciate. Redmayne is adorable, Law is perfect as Dumbledore, and I’m sorry, but Mikkelsen is such an upgrade as Grindelwald that I don’t understand why they didn’t just cast him in the first place. The visuals are spectacular and the magical creatures are as adorable as ever. And despite all the dark subplots of wizarding politics, there are several moments of whimsy that will make anyone nostalgic for the Harry Potter of old.

And yet.

There were parts that were so frustrating. Which brings us into the elephant in the room: Rowling.

It’s amazing how someone who can write with such perception be so blind about their own prejudices. She shows us sequences of Grindelwald manipulating his way into power through prejudice and fanatical powers, and playing on feelings of prejudices. She shows us Queenie’s dawning realization that she has been complicit in acts of evil. She shows us Obscurials like Ariana Dumbledore and Credence wind up destroying themselves because their trauma has caused them to repress their truest selves.

But despite all this, all this spot-on commentary on the damage of bigotry, she cannot (or will not) understand how she’s harming the transgender community. It’s an irony that cannot be ignored. And it’s heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time.

If this is the final Fantastic Beasts movie, it ends on a fairly good note, doing its best to tie up loose ends while leaving some open. With all the other problems plaguing the series, it might be better just to end it now instead of adding on two more movies as was originally planned.

If only the rest of the problems for the Harry Potter fandom could be resolved so easily. Some of us can’t bring ourselves to completely disavow the series that we loved, myself included. There’s still so much good in the bad.

Perhaps the most poignant theme of Secrets of Dumbledore addresses is while there is evil in the world, not everybody is completely good or bad. No matter much we deny it, everybody holds some subconscious bias. And while some people deserve to be written off, others may eventually see the light and try to make amends.

I want so badly to believe that’s still true.

7 out of 10

#the secrets of dumbledore #review

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ravenadottir · 4 years ago

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In Love Island UK, I watched 2 bombshells coming in as TWINS. I forgot which season it was though. Now I'm playing the stick or switch recoupling in S2 and everyone's talking about how similar MC was with Blake. And my imagination being so weird, what if it was MC's twin and not Blake? Like, they hate each other so MC never talked about her. They could be identical or fraternal. What do you think the scenario would be? 👀

SHEESH! my god, anon! why do i love this so much though!?!!

ok, so first things first, i think you’re talking about jess and eve, from season 6. i love how they go “we’re not gonna fight over a man” to then fighting over who’s gonna choose callum! lol

ok, in the scenario where mc’s partner switches to her sister?

THAT SISTER IS WICKED! that’s a lot of flavor for just one prompt ask! lol FUSEBOX SHOULD TAKE NOTES ON YOUR IDEA. i would pay gems to confront them, istg! a sister, cousin, friend. someone close coming in and stealing your partner? pff, i would love to see it.

i’mma use lucas for this one, if you don’t mind. and the sister being fraternal twin, the shock would be much bigger once they find out. ‘cause i reckon none of the boys would dare switching if they knew they’re related.

this is the prompt for a telenovela love island the game and it’s just so galaxy brain, i cannot with you, anon! ((i’m picturing all sorts of paola bracho memes in my head rn)) and take a shot every time the word 'evil' comes up 🥴

- mc’s eyes would go wide, filled with shock, anger, popping out of its sockets with the surprise

- the absolute silence because no one knows what the hell is going on, and the boys exchanging looks with the girls

- her sister’s stance is smug and defiant after they reach the firepit for the reveal

- as they stop, on the first step, holding hands, the boys are of course upset because lucas switched, but as they see your reaction, they’re puzzled

- the girls as well. shocked and a little disgusted, but still, because lucas switched to someone new

- mc opens her mouth but she can’t speak. not a word comes out and now, her fist closes on the side of her body

- the boys are ready to hold her back if they need to, and they mention getting up, especially bobby and gary

- her sister has one brow raised, waiting for her reaction with a grin, the most playful mc has ever seen

- mc’s mind goes blank and she moves towards them, immediately grunting

- the boys and girls move to stop her, bobby and gary almost not being able to

- the sister furrows her brows with am innocent and confused look, almost shrugging

- lucas moves in front of her, “i’m sorry, but i clicked with her. i couldn’t help it. i’m sorry you’re upset, and i’m sure you’ll want to talk to me about it...”

- mc’s focus is now on him, showing teeth, warm cheeks and neck, full-on red eyes, “that’s my sister, you c***.”

- everyone’s heads turn to look at the sister, SHOCKED. mouths hanging open, eyes wide, girls covering their mouths, boys moving to hold mc back, because she WILL attack her sister

- lucas “wait... what?” he turns to see the girl behind him, now noticing some similarites “whaaaa...” under his breath

- “you’re such a fucking c...” before mc can finish her sentence, noah stops her, taking her away from the firepit before she says something that could cost her place in the villa

- the girls immediately go to her rescue, no exception, even shannon who doesn’t even know her

- bobby and gary get water and alcohol for her, if she drinks

- lucas is terrified for being played like that during casa amor

- everything goes to shit when he arrives at the roof terrace to apologize. she almost flies from gary’s and bobby’s grip onto his neck

- “i didn’t know!”

- “i know, but you’re still a fucking idiot, you know that?!”

- lucas sleeps outside, the girl is in bed, alone, but doesnt give sign of moving outside or to the couch, because someone so evil wouldn’t just walk away. she would force her presence upon everyone

- the bright side might be the single boys want to cuddle mc that night, also in the daybeds, making lucas move to the roof terrace or the stretchers

- the next day is pure tension, everyone ignoring the girl, except for shannon, who’s gonna be the messenger between the og girls and the evil twin

- NOTHING ELSE IS TALKED ABOUT, except for mc’s wicked sister stealing her man. another perk i guess! no one is daring to discuss jakub or noah, or anything that isn’t mc’s situation

- the sister is not intimidated, changing clothes, putting makeup on in the same room, and despite lottie’s attempts of making her feel uncomfortable, she doesn’t give a shit, because well... she must be insanely mean

- the dumping ceremony arrives at night, and the sister is M-A-D that her sister can save lucas but she can’t stay

- when she’s dumped, she’s the one who almost gets to mc, but she’s escorted by the security from the villa

- she’s dumped and lucas proceeds to be traumatized, thinking five times before any decision he makes from now on

- the girls comfort mc, having a full pampering day in the dressing room, and a party comes on that night

- the producers reached out to her sister, because “rates would go off the charts” but she agreed because she - is - E-V-I-L.

#litg noah #litg gary #litg lucas #litg bobby #litg #love island the game #love island the game season 2 #litg s2 #litg season 2 #fusebox #fusebox games #queue #group asks

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