#how it started vs how it's going... it's too early to be excited i like it but i also don't

[bridgertonphd]

BRIDGERTON 1.01 | “Diamond of the First Water” 2.08 | “The Viscount Who Loved Me”

[sky-scribbles]

OK, but I love that Essek might be appearing in the Mighty Nein series before he meets the Nein! It's not just me wanting More Essek (though I do) or wanting to see more of what was going on with his dealings with the Assembly (which I also do). I think this could be super fucking interesting from a narrative construction standpoint.

Because I cannot see how you can include Essek from early in the series and not make it clear to the audience that he's the Dynasty traitor loooong before the Nein find out. Essek having stolen the beacons will not be a surprise. It looks to me like the cast are swapping out surprise for a fuckton of suspense. (Suspense vs surprise was explained to me when I was studying narrative structure as 'surprise is when a bomb goes off that the audience didn't know was there. Suspense is when they see the bomb being placed and have to sit there begging the characters to realise it's there.' In this analogy, Essek is the bomb.)

When we watched C2, the question was is Essek the traitor? In the M9 show, the question for new watchers will be when will the Nein realise that Essek is the traitor? When Essek meets the Nein, the countdown starts ticking; people will know that he is a danger. He is manipulating them. He is going to hurt them. Will the Nein realise before it's too late? But then Essek starts really befriending them, showing more of his loneliness and vulnerability, and... I think the mood will shift. Oh, shit, he really cares about them, doesn't he? What will the Nein do if they find out? Do I even want them to find out? What if they reject him and it makes him worse? He can't keep this up much longer, this is unbearable, they're going to find out - OH FUCK THEY'RE FINDING OUT -

It's such a fascinating choice and I think it goes to show that adaptation is an art form in itself! The actual events in the world will be the same, or at least very similar, but a new format means you can show those events in a totally new way and create a completely different tone! Narrative structure is the fucking coolest! I'm so excited for this show!

[shinjiikar1]

I've been trying to think about what I want to say about these first two episodes of Love in the Big City. I'm watching it slowly, it's a show that makes me want to sit rather than rush ahead, and it also hits a little too close to home to enjoy freely (I've only watched the first two episodes so far and my knowledge of the rest of the story is fairly vague so bear with me).

Go Young experiences two major losses. The parallels between these losses, what could have been vs. what can never be again was what particularly stood out to me.

Mi Ae represents a beautiful time that is forever lost. After she gets married, there's no one he can be fully himself with. He simply doesn't have another relationship on that level, platonic or otherwise, and that's truly such an isolating experience. Who do you call when you're in trouble? Who do you complain to? Who will always be your first port of call?

Often, youthful friendships are particularly intense, you're at a point where the world feels so enormous but you don't quite know what to do with it, or yourself yet. Everything still feels new and exciting. You meet people who understand you in ways you've never been understood and can't imagine it won't last forever.

And then you experience that loss for the first time.

Kim Nam Gyu experiences it too. It's clear early in their relationship that Go Young is overwhelmed and uncomfortable with the intensity of Nam Gyu's feelings (his expressions during the padlock and ring scenes in particular). He feels suffocated and anxious, he's not ready for it. So, rather harshly (at least the first time) he ends things. I've been on both ends, which makes it a lot easier to empathize with both of them. While I feel for Nam Gyu incredibly (especially as I read him as very neurodivergent), that discomfort is not something easily resolved, and it's only made worse by his inability to move on. But how can he when he also has no one else?

In the end, Go Young mentions that he missed out on what could have been a long and lasting love with Nam Gyu but I wonder if that's true. Would he have eventually opened up and reciprocated that intensity? Or would he have continued to wallow in his discomfort and let that resentment pile up even further? It's hard to say, but based on the way he behaves, I think the latter. He just wasn't in a stage of life to accept it yet, without the experiences he has with Mi Ae, and without Nam Gyu's death, would he have made it to that point before it became too much? He says he didn't really believe love was possible for someone like him, it took him a lot to get to the point where he even starts to believe it; I find it hard to imagine that he could've gotten there purely through a relationship with Nam Gyu at that stage, as sad as that might be.

Mi Ae offers a bit of an interesting foil here. She chooses loss, but the loss of her authentic self. She chooses the safe option, a stable relationship and job, pleasing her parents, following societal expectations. Maybe the guy isn't quite right, but in the end what seems most important to her is that security, and she's willing to take a loss to get it. As others in the tags have pointed out, Go Young doesn't have that option. There is no option that will (mostly) guarantee him security and safety that would even be remotely tolerable and grant him any degree of happiness. Perhaps he could have chosen to lose parts of himself to be with Nam Gyu, but that wouldn't have provided him the type of security Mi Ae enjoys. If something went wrong and it didn't work out, he could stand to lose even more.

I think that's something that a lot of cishet people fail to understand, and part of what these episodes have done so well for me. Really underlining how the queer experience differs and how isolating it can be (which I think is reflected in Nam Gyu as well).

[yjdrabbles123]

Jackie's Horrible Terrible No Good very Bad Day part 2

In the bathroom, Jackie stands awkwardly against the counter, a dry washcloth in her hands, watching as Nat turns on the shower and tests the water.

Nat had passed it to her so casually- ‘Here baby-’ because obviously it made sense for Jackie to be wiping off her own face while Nat turned on the shower for her, which was in itself an extra kindness since surely she should be able to run her own shower.

Except she isn’t because to wipe off her face she’d have to move around Nat to get to the sink and what if she gets in Nat’s way and makes her annoyed, or what if Nat meant for her to wait until she’d turned on the shower? It’s not like it’d be the first time she’s ever got confused over what someone said vs what they meant and while she can usually (sometimes) laugh confused glances and sighs and ‘Oh my god how do you need THAT explained to you?’, she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt right now that if she does something that causes Nat to show even a flicker of annoyance at her, she will melt into a puddle of despair and self loathing right here on the bathroom tiles.

After a moment, it occurs to her that doing nothing could (and has) also incur some annoyance (not from Nat, never from Nat yet but even so)- but before she has a chance to start spiralling in a whole other way, Nat is already turning to her, taking the washcloth from her and wetting it under the warm shower spray.

‘Here, let me-’

The washcloth feels nice on her face and she leans into Nat’s touch but all too soon Nat is taking it away.

‘Ok I think the waters warmed up-’ She pauses, glancing at Jackie’s work clothes and then back to her. ‘Want a hand?’

The kindness in the question- in how casually she asks it, as if it isnt pathetic that Jackie suddenly can’t even change her own clothes without help, as if it’s totally fine and Nat isn’t really bothered either way- makes her eyes sting again and it’s only when she feels Nat’s hands gently unbuttoning her shirt that she realises she never answered.

It’s ok- Nat’s always been able to understand her without words, just as as she has learnt to tell Nat’s I’m smoking because I hate the world right now so I need space stance from her I’m smoking because I hate the world right now so please please come and wrap around me to remind me that it’s not all cold and awful- stance just from how tense her back is. 

(Or how a slight stiffening and clearing her throat can mean You said something that might come across as a little bit insensitive to that guy and I’m alerting you subtly so you can smooth it over OR There’s a queer couple over there, look but don’t be obvious so we can be excited together OR There’s someone yelling at a kid in our vicinity so we need to go somewhere else right now and then I’m going to need you let me cling to your side and maybe bury myself in your sweater for a bit in a way that isn’t obvious- depending on a thousand tiny little cues that Jackie can read as easily as words on paper.

If she understood the world like she understood Nat, she sometimes thinks the world would feel like a much safer place.)

*

The shower helps, sort of: she does feel better afterwards, in that she no longer wants to feel off her own skin, but the whole process- washing and then getting out, having to dry off and then having to choose what to put on next (comfy clothes since it’s only early evening or pajamas, and if pajamas then which pajamas?) has her eyes stinging all over again as she stands in front of her dresser, shivering, until Nat gently moves her away and puts one of her own tshirts and pair of cotton pajama pants into her hands.

‘These do?’

It’s easy to nod: they’re soft so they don't prickle her skin, they’re slightly too big, like all Nat’s clothes are on Jackie and especially her pajamas, and most importantly, they smell like Nat, they smell like safety and home.

When she’s changed, Nat pulls back the covers of the bed and urges her under them.

‘Get comfy, I’ll be back in a second-’

Already, she’s reaching for Nat and whining a little, trying to express what is so hard to say outloud: don’t go, don’t leave me, you being here is the only thing making me feel kind of ok again-

Nat obliges, climbing onto the bed beside her and wrapping Jackie up in her arms for a few minutes- but then she’s unpeeling herself again.

‘-nooooo-’

‘Jax, you need to hydrate or you’re gonna feel worse.’ Nat doesn’t sound mad, just firm, but it makes exhausted tears leak from her eyes anyway. ‘I know, I know- I’ll be back really soon though, ok? Here.’ She fishes around behind the pillow and presses the matted stuffed rabbit into Jackie’s arms and Jackie clings to it reluctantly, kind of hating that clutching it to her chest does make her feel a little better.

‘Back before you can count to one hundred.’

‘Really?’

Nat shrugs- ‘Only one way to find out-’ and is gone before Jackie can say anything else.

She buries her face in her rabbit’s familiar fur and begins to count under her breath, rocking back and forth slightly in time with it.

‘One- two-three-’

**

Nat is back before she counts to ninety.

She’s obviously tried hard with the milkshake because it’s in a fancy glass with sprinkles dotting the top and there’s a slice of strawberry wedged onto the rim next to the paper straw. It’s the sort of thing that she’d normally love and take a picture of for her Insta- not because she’s showing off (much) but because it’s so pretty and because she likes to remind everyone who dismisses Nat and her DIY bleached hair and faded band tshirts and her carefully crafted mask of nonchalance towards everything just how sweet and creative her girlfriend is.

Now though shes not thinking about how pretty the drink is- just how heavy and slippery the glass feels in her hand and what a mess it will make if she spills over the clean bedsheets. It’s enough to make her tummy clench tight with anxiety- and utterly erode any appetite at all she might have scrounged back after the bus ride.

‘Here-’ Suddenly Nat is taking the milkshake from her. Her tone isn’t at all annoyed but Jackie assumes she must be feeling at least a little irked that not a single sip has been taken. She’s probably going to pour it down the sink and honestly Jackie won’t blame Nat if she stops making her drinks altogether because she really is acting pretty ungrateful now and-

‘Better?’ 

The lidded water bottle with its hard-to-spill-from plastic spout isn’t anywhere near as pretty but at least it’s not spillable and it’s nice of Nat to still bring her some water even though she ignored the shake. Then she realises that it’s not filled with water at all. No strawberry, no sprinkles, no chance of an insta picture- but Jackie thinks, even sweeter and every bit as worthy of being photographed, even though less obvious to a casual eye: Nat somehow knowing what she needs before she herself even has to think about asking for it.

She nods- her throat is tight again for reasons that have nothing to do with being tired and sad- and takes a tentative sip and although she doesn’t exactly want it, it’s a LOT easier to take than food would be and the relief of knowing that another thing is ticked off for the night- shower, done; nutrients, done- is huge enough that she keeps sucking down little sips.

For now, at least, they stay in her stomach without protest.

Nat climbs up onto the bed beside and holds out an arm so that Jackie can burrow against her side.

‘Thanks, by the way.’

Jackie glances up at her, spout still in her mouth, giving Nat a questioning glance: what has she done that would have Nat thanking her?

But her question is answered when Nat rummages in her pocket and pulls out a fuzzy grey figure: the kitten sylvanian she’d taken to putting into one of Nat’s pockets whenever she knows Nat is going to have a harder-than-usual day.

‘You should probably have her back now but thanks.’ (Jackie loves that Nat always says her and not it, even though she professes to not really be into Sylvanians herself). ‘Was…um…a nice surprise.’

(It took Jackie a while that while Nat will give kindness extragently, endlessly, she has trouble accepting it for herself. Baby steps. They’re working on it. One day Nat’s eyes will not widen a little every time Jackie does something nice for her, a silent ‘What? Why me?’, Jackie is sure of it.)

‘Good.’

‘....you wanna talk about it yet?’

‘.....no.’

(She doesn’t. She wants to stay tucked under Nat’s arm in her cozy pink coccoon, where everything is safe and nothing she does or says is going to earn her sidelong glances or angry exclamations, no matter how weird and/or accidentally annoying it is. She wants to forget that there is anything at all beyond the two of them- or three, if you’re counting her rabbit.)

‘Ok.’

(Nat never pushes, she never makes Jackie explain. It’s one of the many things she loves about her. In return, she pushes as much as she can when their positions are reversed: not because she loves Nat less but because Nat has already had many lifetimes of people leaving her be and not bothering about what’s really going on with her, or caring. Jackie is her reminder that she does matter, that at least one person cares about why she feels how she does.)

They’re silent for a long moment. Jackie finishes her milkshake- she’s not feeling sick yet so that’s a win She’s definitely going to remember how much drinking it from a sports bottle helped- almost effortless in a way that nearly let her forget she was drinking at all. She’s tired but she’s also not yet ready to sleep. Her skin still tingles with a residue of the nervous energy from before.

‘Nat?’

‘Hm?’

‘...tell me stuff?’

‘What kind of stuff?’

‘Any stuff.’

‘Ok.’ There’s a smile in Nat’s voice, the kind of fond smile that comes from how she knows that tell me stuff means tell me a story, even though Jackie has never actually confirmed it and Nat has never asked. She doesn’t need to, she knows. ‘So-’ 

There’s a pause as Nat thinks: Jackie imagines her rifling around in the pockets of her jeans, scrabbling up bits and pieces that she can weave into something soothing enough to lull Jackie into sleep.

‘Oh I know!’ Nat brightens and Jackie smiles to herself, settling herself more comfortably in Nat’s arms. ‘So today I was on my way to work and I was going past the 711 on the corner- the one by the cake shop- and then a cat walked out- but like not one of the cats you normally see, you know? Because it had this rat that was kind of riding it-’

Jackie lets her eyes drift closed. Her thumb slides into her mouth. She hopes she doesn’t fall asleep too soon into this story; she has a feeling it’s going to be a good one.

(If you had any thoughts on this, I'd love to know!)

[snowy-vee]

ALL MINE: Hidden Scene (2)

CHECK MY PINNED POST!

DAILY CLICK!!!!

Chapter 3: Abby vs Ellie Fight Scene

(…)“It’s pretty much her name and physic description, yeah,” Ellie licked her lips, nodding slowly.

“Does anyone know where Abby is right now?”

Ellie was furious, she was not going to let her ruin your reputation, she did not cared if you were unbothered by it. She was and that was enough to make her storm in the gym lockers where there was the team around Abby and her phone.

“Everybody out!” She screamed slamming her palm in one of the lockers to make noise, the girls that were there quickly grabbed their things and ran for their lives. Yes, Ellie was a loser socially but she also was know for beating up people who wronged you and she never lost. “Except you”

“I was not going to” Abby chuckled getting up from the bench “She sent you here to beat me up or you just like to act like her guardian dog? You shouldn’t waist your breath in a bitch like her”

Ellie’s punch connected with Abby’s face. No hesitation. Just punched her right in the face, that hurt, but she was so angry of she badmouthing you that she barely felt anything. Abby, caught off guard, raised her arms to shield her face from barrage of punches kept throwing and the moment she saw an opening, aimed a precise kick Ellie’s stomach and pushed her making her trip on the bench.

She did not waist time tackling Ellie putting her leg on top of her back pressing her onto the bench, grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back with her leg. Ellie screamed and shaked trying to break to free.

“You’re truly pathetic, this is the second time I steal something from you and a girl too! You don’t know how to protect was yours, huh?”

“You’re a liar! She told me nothing happened between you too”

“And you believed her? She’s a whore, here! Tell me that’s not her” With her right hand she grabbed Ellie’s hair and pulled her hair up and with her left hand she showed her some compromising pictures that YOU sent to her, that was your user, your face, your body… you lied to her and now she looked like a clown fighting to defend you.

She was so furious but more disappointed that you, one of her most important people on her world, would do this and then she had the memory of that day years ago when she was so excited to go see her first girlfriend, Cat, at her house and Cat “butt-dialed” her

“Cat! I am on my way, well, I am in my house now, I left early, I was going to call you-”

“…¿And what about your girlfriend? I don’t think little Els would like this”

“She doesn’t have to know, anyway I was planning on leave her soon”

“Is that so?”

“Because you like me, right? I’ve been seeing how you check out Ellie’s best friend time to time, I don’t like that”

“Can you blame me? She’s hot”

“Don’t.”

“Why not? You’re still with Ellie, I want to be part of the group too, hell, Imagine I get with the girlfriend and best friend.

“Don’t even joke about it, I will leave Ellie, in fact I’ll do it today, we are going to hang out later… I used to like her a lot at the start but she’s so clingy and there’s the bestie who’s clearly in love with her and Ellie seems to not see that”

“…Are you on a call or something? Your phone is on”

“No… Omg, Ellie?-” Ellie hanged up as soon as she was discovered, her phone fell from her hands, she went to the bathroom to look at herself. Eyes ready to shed tears, she punched the mirror and the scream because of the pain of her hand and her heart.

She punched again, more pain but not as she was feeling on her chest, she couldn’t breath well, she was hyperventilating. She didn’t know what to do, she wanted to hide, she wanted to beat up Abby, she wanted to… She needed you, she needed someone that she could feel safe.

She ran out of her house and kept running until she got to your house, knocking hard, you ran downstairs opening the door kind of scared because who was knocking like a maniac when you were alone at home, but soon that feel became worry as you saw that was Ellie with blood on her.

She threw herself on you, hugging you hard sobbing, you closed the door as you asked hee what happend but it wasn’t until she relaxed a little bit that you could take her to your room and make her sit on your bed while you wen search a first aid kit on the bathroom.

You could hear her mumbles but nothing clear, you couldn’t make something out of it, you had to clean her wounds first. You sighed returning on the room, she was still crying but less than before, you did your job in silence sat in the bed besides her, not making eye contact with her, only saying “sorry” as she winced or made sounds of pain.

“Can you explain to me what happened really?”

“Abby stole something important from me…”

“What Abby? Anderson? That fucking loser? Ellie, I will beat her ass and make her return to you whatever she took ¡Let’s fucking go, rigth now!” You got up from the bed ready to go outside in your pajamas bu Ellie grabbed your hand shooking her head.

“I don’t want it anymore…”

“What else happened? You’re not telling me everything, rght?”

“Please, I just want to rest…” Her broken voice made you roll eyes and sit again caressing her hair. It broke your heart to see her like this.

“Let’s have a sleepover! I’ll call Joel to let him know and I’ll lend you some pajamas… I think you left one the last time, my mom must have cleaned it, let me search first on my drawers” You went to your drawer searching for the pajama. “Maybe it’s downstairs with the clean clothes, wait here! I’ll make popcorn, call Joel, bring the pajama and come back!”

As you went downstars, Ellie’s eyes followed you with Cat’s words passing briefly on her mind ¿Were you in love with her? No way… Ellie knew you were loyal to her as her bestfriend, that you would be there for her no matter what, that you would love her forever and that she would so the same but what if you two ended up as a couple and Abby steal you from her? Abby said to have interest in you, no, she couldn’t take that, she wasn’t that strong.

So, even if you were, Ellie was going to play dumb. If you tried to make advances on her or flirt outside of the friendly kind, she was going to act oblivious, dismissing you everytime you tried to confess changing topics, being clear that her type was the opposite of you and more because as a best friend you couldn’t betray another.

You came back with everything you said and later you two started watching a movie on your laptop. “You don’t like Abby, right? In any way I mean”

She interrupted the silence, you looked at her shooking your head. “Nope and I dislike her more for making you cry”

“You would never have anything with her, right? promise me, promise me, promise me” There it was again her hurt voice.

“Ellie, don’t cry anymore, I promise on our friendship that I will never ever ever do that to you”

You kissed her forehead and kept watching the movie, ellie was satisfied and she finally could feel in peace.

All that memory made her more overwhelmed by anger, with her head she hit Abby on the head and broke free and the fight continued until some teacher stepped in between them two , attempting to diffuse the situation and send them both home.

Ellie didn’t know if she trust herself to drive back home but she did anyways trying to control her breathing, you broke your promise, you broke her friendship, he trust and mostly her heart.

taglist;; @boobdrug @lovelyxbaby @pedropascalsbbg@cherryimaa @yumimak @amberputh @cattjull @carylinflors @ghostlyfangs @teawithnosugar @azxulaa @elliesexual @gato-chino @divinesdior @yumimak @abbystoy @gosomewjere @isitadinosaur

for people who asked me to be tag but it's not, sorry, it's not letting me tag you, I'll try later or next chapter <3

[sunny44]

Old vs new

Pairing: Lewis Hamilton x daughter

Warnings: none, just fluff

Summary: When Lewis is bored in his house and decide to do a instagram live with his daughter.

This is a request

It was a sunny afternoon and I was bored in the house, my wife was with her sister and I was at our house with my daughter who was doing something in her room and then I had the idea of doing an Instagram live witch is something I usually don’t do but since the fans lives Ava I thought it was a good ideia.

I called Ava saying to meet me in my trophies room and when I press the button to start the live, Ava entered the room and she sit in my lap and we immediately created a buzz as fans tuned in to witness our live.

"Hey everyone, I've got a very special lady here with me today," I said to the phone and Ava smiled and waved at everyone. "As you guys already now this is my daughter Ava. And she’s already in go kart to be the next Hamilton.”

Mia giggled, her eyes lighting up as she playfully jabbed, "Yeah, Dad, you're not as fast as you used to be. You're like, ancient in F1 years!"

The comment sparked laughter from Lewis and his audience. "Ancient, huh?" he responded, feigning shock. "Well, I might not be as young as I was when I started, but I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve!"

Ava’s eyes twinkled mischievously. "Oh, I've seen your tricks, Dad. I've also seen your old races on TV. Vintage stuff!"

The banter continued as they reminisced about Lewis's early days in racing. He recounted stories of his breakthrough races, while Mia giggled at the outdated racing gear he used to wear. "Hey, don't laugh too hard! Those suits were cutting-edge back then," Lewis protested, feigning offense.

Mia, her voice dripping with mock seriousness, quipped, "Yeah, sure they were, Dad. Just like those ancient cell phones you used!"

The playful teasing exchanged between father and daughter endeared them to their audience even more. Amidst the jokes, Lewis shared the valuable lessons he learned from his journey – the hard work, dedication, and resilience that drove him to become a champion.

"You know, Ava" Lewis began with a thoughtful expression, "racing isn't just about speed and trophies. It's about determination and pushing yourself beyond your limits. That's something you'll need to remember when you're the next Hamilton in F1."

Mia's eyes gleamed as she leaned closer to the camera. "Oh, I'll remember, Dad. And when I'm on that track, I'll make sure to remind everyone that the Hamilton legacy continues!"

Their connection was a beautiful blend of admiration and camaraderie. As the conversation flowed, Lewis turned the tables on Ava. "You know what, Ava? I think it's time for a challenge. How about we have a karting race this weekend? Old vs new!"

Ava's face lit up, excitement radiating from her. "You're on, Dad! Just remember, I've been practicing!"

As the live session drew to a close, Lewis shared his pride in his daughter's aspirations. "I'm not just her father, but also her biggest fan. If she chooses to step into the world of racing, I'll be there every step of the way."

The Instagram Live ended with promises of the upcoming karting showdown and a grateful farewell to the fans. Lewis and Ava had not only shared their love for racing but had given the world a glimpse into the genuine bond they shared – a bond that would undoubtedly continue to flourish as the next generation of the Hamilton legacy began to unfold.

[imagine-a-sanctuary-like-this]

Some early thoughts on Arcane S2

Just a few thoughts on the 1st Act of the new season. No strong commitments or opinions just yet, it's still early on in the story. I'll start with what I especially liked, then cycle into things I'd have liked to see done differently.

Animation

Visually, this season's a step up from the last. I've especially enjoyed the differently-stylized into sequences to each episode (the charcoal-like funeral, the overlords' last supper and the Grey, respectively). I've read some complaints about the music-video-esque treatment of the fights, but I enjoyed that. The music's not my thing, but it fits the steampunk/sci-fi-fantasy aesthetic pretty well.

Vi/Cait

Good to see it become canon! I also like the tragedy they seem to be setting up, and I do like how they wrote their relationship. Again, have read complaints about them getting together and breaking up too quickly, but I think it makes sense - the kiss is a pay-off to almost a season's worth of build-up. The breakup is the result of the gap between the characters' beliefs, conditions and natures. There's always been tension between them, and they're not perfect for each other, so them getting together all at once would not have been believable. Also, since Act 1 sees basically everything uprooted and thrust into chaos, it makes sense for them to make impulsive decisions trying to find comfort. Sure, they're probably not deeply in love, they've known each other for a short time, but they've clearly liked each other for a while. I don't really get where the people that think it's rushed are coming from.

Cait's arc set-up

I really like where it's going! The arc they seem to be setting up looks like it'll be about the effects of grief on perpetuating hatred and violence, which fits right in with the story. I do wonder if they'll attempt to take Cait to the 'extreme' and then bring her back in a sort of redemption arc. It seems like that might be difficult to do after some point. But I'm excited to find out where it's going.

Jinx, Isha and Sevika

Not much to say here, I like how Jinx's family themes continue even after Silco's death. All kinds of nice parallels going on. I like it.

Alright, now for the stuff I'm not so positive on. There's quite a bit, but simply because it is easier to criticize than to praise, especially when S1 has set a very high standard.

Too many plotlines

I've seen people talk about pacing issues, and I do agree, but to me the more fundamental problem (which is the cause of the first) is that this season's juggling too many plotlines. Just the ones that come to mind:

(1) Zaun vs Piltover, undercity uprising (2) Mel and the Black Rose (3) Ambessa's Noxus interference (4) "The Arcane is waking up" (5) Vi, Jinx and Warwick family drama (6) Victor's becoming (7) Vi and Cait relationship drama (8) Singed

My hope is that these will be bettered by uniting some of the plotlines. Victor and the Arcane will probably end up one storyline, same with the Black Rose and Noxus. Still, the story feels over-loaded with STORIES, and not in a very water-tight writing kind of way, but rather in a 'there's too much going on' kind of way. I'm afraid that they will not have enough screentime to set up, develop and pay off all of these, while also doing justice to the character arcs. I might be wrong, we will see.

For now, I feel like they should have cut one of the plotlines above to make more space for the story to breathe. It's also a little thematically messy. There's usually at least a loose thematic connection (family, using magic/science for good/bad, dangers of the arcane, oppression), but sometimes it feels too loose. Again, I'm sure some of this will come with time as we get these 'looser' plots developed, like the Black Rose, Noxus's political interests, etc. Hopefully, they can pay it off right.

A consequence of so much going on is, yes, some moments are not given enough time. This was most evident for me in the Jayce/Viktor goodbye scene. Perhaps it is meant to be underwhelming and this will be relevant later, but as it stands, it's rushed. I've seen someone given another good example, Jayce and Heimer's reunion scene - it should have been tensed with residual conflict, but there's kind of... nothing.

Another consequence is that some characters screentime feels insufficient for their story importance (e.g., Jayce, Viktor, Ekko), while others', excessive (Maddie, the enforcer dudes). Isha's screentime is fine, since she works as a parallel to Powder, and Salo's is also alright because of politics plotline. I've seen some leaks about Maddie which I will not detail here, but I'm not sure that they justify her abundant screentime.

Scale of conflict

I quite dislike the seeming shift away from the core Zaun vs Piltover conflict towards a more 'global' feel. Makes sense for S2 to have a bigger scope, but this is a little too big for my liking. Both the Arcane waking up and the Noxus stuff is very global, and since the show is more about Arcane than about world politics, I would've preferred to have seen the latter cut down in favour of more screentime to the former, as well as main characters from S1.

I also quite dislike the 'let's put aside our political differences to save the world' direction that this all seems to be winding up to, because it kind of puts the more interesting, interpersonal conflict on hold, and takes what I'd consider the 'easy way out' of the moral difficulties of the conflict. I do not know if this is what they will do this season, but it feels like they're edging towards that with the Jayce, Ekko, Heimer and Victor stuff (and possibly the Grey?).

Viktor and Agency

Once again, with so little screentime it's difficult to tell, but the set-up seems to suggest a certain direction here, which I can't say I like. It's unclear whether Viktor is controlled or mind-addled by the Hexcore, but I do dislike the seeming lack of emotion. If he's controlled, it kind of takes away from what S1 was building towards. I do like that Jayce is pushed to use the Hexcore on Viktor (he chooses to do it, despite promising to destroy it), but I feel like the fallout would have been more compelling, especially in terms of Viktor as a character, if he'd seemed more in-control.

They seem to have chosen to go with something else, and I don't doubt they have an idea for his arc, but I wish there'd been more of the original League concept in Arcane's Viktor. As it stands, all the desperation from S1, the anger and helplessness, have sort of... gone, without a good conclusion (I don't really consider Sky's death a good conclusion). Or at least, without one for now. I thought that S1 had been building up to the Machine Herald stuff. Maybe this is an intentional subversion. I've never found Viktor's character to be very compelling, but he was at his best when pushed to desperate measures by his dying body.

This is a matter of personal enjoyment, but I do genuinely hope they bring some emotions back for him, and I really hope he is not controlled by the Hexcore.

[black-arcana]

"Oh my god, there was so much talk: ‘I bet there’s a real rivalry going on!'" How Within Temptation and Tarja Turunen formed the ultimate symphonic metal tag team for blockbuster single Paradise (What About Us?)

Two symphonic metal icons united for this powerhouse 2013 single. Sharon and Tarja tell us how it all came together

(Image credit: Press)

When Within Temptation and Nightwish released their debut albums in 1997, there wasn’t a name for the kind of music they made. Within Temptation’s Enter, released in April, took obvious influence from gothic metal bands like Paradise Lost, but its grandiose, elegiac compositions and symphonic undertones hinted at the direction the band would eventually take. Conversely, Nightwish’s Angels Fall First, released in November, approached metal from a different direction, drawing more directly and heavily on folk and classical music. Ultimately, both bands would spearhead the symphonic metal movement of the early 2000s. But, anchored as it was around two charismatic women – Sharon den Adel and Tarja Turunen respectively – history tells us surely there must have been some rivalry. Symphonic metal’s answer to Blur vs Oasis perhaps, or Mustaine vs Metallica?

"You look so beautiful, Sharon!” beams Tarja, as her counterpart joins a Zoom call. Erm... maybe not then.

Hammer is speaking to both vocalists more than a decade on from their collaboration on the Within Temptation song Paradise (What About Us?), the lead single from 2014’s Hydra. As soon as Sharon joins, any notion of tension is quashed. Tarja’s expressive face lights up and the pair chat animatedly.

There’s a clear camaraderie between them as they joke and discuss new developments. Which raises the question, was the ‘rivalry’ just a load of bollocks?

“Oh my God! There was so much talk, like, ‘I bet there’s a real rivalry going on between you and Sharon’,” Tarja says, hissing like a cat to illustrate her point. “I was just very happy to see more girls singing in bands. It made me feel really proud of the movement. I still am!”

“We didn’t even really become aware of the idea of ‘symphonic metal’ until later when journalists started giving it a name,” Sharon admits. “I don’t think there was much overlap between Nightwish and Within Temptation. The music was very different but because there were some similarities, people had to give it a name!”

Those similarities were enough to turn Within Temptation and Nightwish into leaders of the burgeoning symphonic metal movement, however. Sharon and Tarja were soon upheld as inspirations for a subsequent wave of symphonically inclined artists that included Epica, Leaves’ Eyes and Delain, dispelling the notion of metal as a boys’ club.

“We often felt like the strange duck on the festival bill because there was a woman in the band where most bands had male singers,” Sharon says. “Plus, I wasn’t really from the scene when I started out – I was a big grunge girl!”

“I started out in classical music so I was a complete weirdo in metal, too!” Tarja chimes in. “Though I never let that experience bother me. I felt the embrace of the crowd, but also our colleagues were really nice, so I never needed to grow balls. Although, maybe I got used to it, because I had two brothers at home and was the only girl in my primary class. Six years with nothing but boys! Urgh!”

Although separated by more than 2,000 kilometres, it wasn’t long before the pair became aware of each other’s work.

“When I first heard Within Temptation, I was like, ‘This woman has such an angelic voice’,” recalls Tarja. “We must’ve still been working on that first Nightwish record, so I’ve been aware of them from the very beginning, really!”

“The first time I became aware of Nightwish, we played a festival together,” says Sharon. “People were really excited about the band so we went to see them. We were blown away by Tarja’s presence onstage. It was so powerful... so diva!”

However, the bands’ chances to cross paths proved surprisingly few and far between. By the end of the 2000s, Within Temptation were undeniably still symphonic metal scene leaders. They’d also grown tired of the tag. Both 2004’s The Silent Force and 2007’s The Heart Of Everything had topped the charts in their native Netherlands – as well as charting internationally – but the group were getting increasingly itchy about where they could go next. 2011’s The Unforgiving was a sprawling, multimedia concept record that saw the band incorporate more pop influence into their music. Now the pressure was on to reinvent themselves again.

“Hydra was our most difficult album,” Sharon acknowledges. “We were very much searching for direction, because we’d already achieved our biggest sound. So it wasn’t like we could go much bigger than that, particularly in terms of symphonics. We were searching for a way to evolve and take inspiration from something new.”

It was an exciting time, but the creative tumult meant some ideas almost got scrapped entirely.

“Paradise (What About Us?) was one of the few more typical Within Temptation songs on that album, but that whole record took a lot of searching,” Sharon remembers. “I actually wrote it with our keyboardist, Martijn [Spierenburg], and when I first looked back on it I was like, ‘Urgh, this is too much!’ It was Robert [Westerholt, guitars and Sharon’s husband] who insisted it was really good, and he wrote the song’s main riff. I had originally written it with just lines on the piano, but he added a whole different flavour to it that really worked. Otherwise Paradise might’ve ended up in the waste bin!”

During the writing process for the record, Within Temptation decided to reach out to a number of guest vocalists, feeling they could add unique flavours to the music. They signed up former Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones, Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner and even rapper Xzibit, but by far their biggest coup was enlisting Tarja to sing on lead single Paradise (What About Us)?.

“There were two reasons we wanted Tarja for Paradise,” Sharon admits. “Not only for her voice – we felt like she could really add something – but also because in a more literal sense we figured it would be paradise for the fans! Ha ha ha!”

As it turned out, Tarja was delighted by the opportunity. She’d been trying to catch up with Sharon over the years, but their schedules had never aligned. Now they were working together, they could connect properly.

“It felt like I’d known her forever,” Tarja says happily. “I kind of felt that connection even before we met; Sharon must have gone through so many similar things to myself. We could recognise each other.”

Although they were bonding, there was still a distance between Tarja and Sharon – physically, at least. Tarja provided her vocals remotely from a studio in Buenos Aires, where she was living with her husband and infant daughter.

“I was bubbling with the joy of being a new mother and my family travelled with me everywhere, even to the studio when I recorded [2013 album] Colours In The Dark,” Tarja says. “I’d faced a lot of challenges of my own; I wasn’t really trusting in my abilities as a songwriter, for example. Paradise helped me so much, because it was so nice to even be asked about something like that. I think I had been waiting – without knowing – for something big to really happen. I didn’t doubt for a millisecond that this collaboration would be special!”

As it turned out, the distance also helped Tarja interpret the song, and gave her a bit of breathing room to work on ideas.

“I was really nervous!” she admits. “I think if Sharon and the guys had been next to me, that would have been something completely different. Because I was somewhere else, I could get into the song in my own way.”

“That’s also beautiful, because it means Tarja’s meaning for the song became its own thing,” Sharon adds. “For me, the song was about how we never learn from our mistakes as human beings. Because it’s such a big and cinematic song, Tarja’s voice added that enormity to it. She’s the empress!”

Released on September 27 2013, Paradise (What About Us?) finally united two of symphonic metal’s leading ladies. Predictably, the response was ecstatic from critics and fans alike, and to date the song has amassed more than 30 million streams on Spotify, as well as more than 100 million on YouTube. In turn, when its parent album, Hydra, was released on February 4, it quickly became Within Temptation’s most successful release to date, topping the charts at home in the Netherlands while landing a Top 10 position in the UK (No.6) and Top 20 in the US (No.16).

More than a decade on from its release, Paradise (What About Us?) feels like the moment Within Temptation drew a line under everything that had come before, saluting the original leading lights of symphonic metal while also elevating them beyond the genre and into arena-conquering territory.

“Doing a song together, when nobody expected it, was so positive on every level,” Sharon says. “We still have this connection after all these years, and our friendship has only grown from that point.”

“It gave me a new friend in my life,” agrees Tarja. “It’s a song of friendship to me. I’m so happy we could bring people joy and love by working on this together.”

Within Temptation's latest album Bleed Out is out now. The band tour the UK with Tarja Turunen in support this month

[juanabaloo]

BTVS group rewatch: 1.01 and 1.02!

alright, joining in on the group rewatch! I'm old enough that BTVS came out when I was in college. but I didn't start watching it until several seasons in, and I started at the beginning. also I didn't interact with the rest of the fandom online (or in person honestly) back then, for various reasons. so maybe this can correct that a bit!

I'm gonna be on the lookout for my favorite lines, possible parallels with future episodes, and proof of bisexual Buffy Summers. (which isn't technically explicitly spelled out canon but is widely accepted in the fandom. or at least the pro-Fuffy spaces of the fandom I am usually hanging out in. (and yeah, something happens in the comics but I ignore those.) so be warned I WILL mention Faith, and I'm a huge fan of Faith.

cut because this got long and also spoilers for any new BTVS viewers. (i swear there are more every day. met one IRL a few weeks ago!)

Overall I thought both episodes were just OK. They felt slow to me.

Bi rating: 0

I didn't notice any substantial bi behavior from Buffy. (More power to Coffy shippers, but based solely on these 2 episodes I am not convinced. Same with Willow, sorry Billow or Summersberg shippers.) I'm surprised at how good the show depicts Buffy's navigation of the cliques/groups as a new student. Like that is tricky! That feeling of "I don't want to alienate people bc I'm new but oh no this person seems shitty" which seems like Buffy's take on Cordelia, as her bitchiness (mostly towards Willow at first) is revealed. Not unrelated, Cordelia has a ton of great lines in these 2 eps.

RECYCLED IDEAS / FORESHADOWING / PARALLELS

Darla in her schoolgirl costume -> reminds me of Faith's story in 7x18

Buffy saying "I don't care" (but she actually does) -> reminds me of Faith in 3x14

Buffy claiming she really doesn't like Angel -> reminds me of her reaction to Faith when she first meets her

Buffy going after Willow after she's spotted with a guy in dated clothes (which apparently means he's a vampire) -> reminds me of 3x03 with Faith

Buffy's hair with the curls at the bottom -> reminds me of 3x03 / early S3 Faith

backwards headbutt Buffy does -> reminds me of 3x03 Faith

sunrise fake-out -> reminds me of actual sunrise move from ATS 4x13 Faith (against Angelus)

FAVORITE LINES

"the softer side of Sears" - Cordelia

"it's like a whole big sucking thing" - Buffy

"didn't say I was yours" - Angel (LOL he thinks it's a line but it's just confusing given what he said before)

"what is your childhood trauma?" - Cordelia

OTHER THOUGHTS

Giles' grin when he presents the Vampyr book to Buffy, he's so excited!

(whenever I see Vampyr spelled like that I can hear Andrew's voice: "the slayer of Vampiiiiiires" *snort*)

funny to imagine Darla stuffing the dead guy in a locker, and why did she pick the girls' locker room? i think she is going for max reaction, and Aura (whose locker it is) delivers with a great scream

don't love Joyce complaining to Buffy that the move is "hard on me too." realistic but - complain to your friends Joyce, not to Buffy!

the music is very good. when Buffy walks alone it sounds like an episode of Unsolved Mysteries (affectionate). other times it is like a horror movie like Halloween. Bravo!

first real fight of the show is Buffy vs Darla - awesome!

Angel really is OOC here, he's like a different character than later S1 Angel. he's really not brooding at all, more of a snarky lurker who occasionally does something helpful

Jesse and Xander hugging - honestly refreshing, esp in 1997. hooray for the warmth between these 2 young men.... oh shit Jesse's a vampire! (but really the hugging was nice. does Xander ever hug another man on-screen?)

LOVE Buffy's leather jacket / whole outfit when she goes to The Bronze the second night (in 1.02) and then her first truly badass scene IMO - when she stakes the vamp off-screen with the pool cue. she's so magnetic, the camera doesn't even bother with the vampire. (it's this gif, thank you for making it deactivated OP)

slomo - ish shot of Darla entering The Bronze with her little crew. reminds me a little of The Craft (original movie). I remember reading somewhere that The Craft was the first time they had a slomo (slow motion) entrance like that, which sounds unbelievable. (internet rumors I'm starting count: 1)

minor inconsistency that I noticed: Principal says there's no "off campus" access but that changes by 3x03. that's when Buffy makes a nice picnic that the couples enjoy across the street, and I think it's a perk reserved for Seniors.

I'm sad for Buffy that she had to pay The Bronze cover on Thursday night (1.01) - girl should gotten in for free!

Pop culture references: 0/2. I knew who James Spader was back then but only vaguely. So that reference feels a bit off. I had to lookup what the hell "The Watchtower" was just now, so clearly I didn't know that either, then or now. (It's a Jehovah's Witness newspaper.)

[ros3ybabe]

Daily Check-in: May 20, 2024 🎀

omg it'd almost the end of May, what the heck? I'm so excited, I leave to Colorado for my 8 weeks of work very soon and I can't wait! it's going to be such a cool experience being in a new place for a while!

Monday was a good day. My dad and my boyfriend both think I overdid it on the physical exertion a bit, and I agree. I took a long walk, outside, in 95 degree heat, with no sunscreen. Which is why they said I overdid it because my chest and shoulders are sooooo sunburnt. But Monday was amazing! Started off strong, ended not as strong but still good!

🩷 What I Accomplished:

~13k+ steps for the day

took an hour and a half long walk outside(it was amazing, I loved it, I stayed hydrated ans soaked up all the sunlight and fresh air)

completed a 30 min beginner pilates workout from Move with Nicole

did my morning journaling and gratitude

wrote down a positive quote of the day and read through my journal where I wrote down some things that I want to read daily

read and "annotated" 14 pages of Atomic Habits

took a 20 minute power nap

worked a ~6.5 hour shift

drank at least ~80oz of water (that's pretty good given I used to drink like 20oz a day and wonder why I never felt good)

took my two medications + vitamin D supplement

took a cool shower and washed my hair at the end of the day

went to sleep early!

💞 Good Things That Happened

my friend and a supervisor im close with complimented my appearance in a way that gave me a confidence/motivational boost

my other friend and I decided we're probably getting our nails done together next week

that same friend ^ and I are going to go shopping next week as well

my work is going to schedule me where I can still go to brunch with my dad on Friday!

my man starts his first day of work on Tuesday (I'm so excited for him! It's gonna suck not being able to text him all day, but I'm so proud of him for getting this job and all the progress he's made)

got complimented on how efficient I was at work by the night shift supervisor

ate goods that made me happy without feeling guilty or anxiety about it

💔 What Could've Gone Better

I over ate a bit at night after work and felt kind of bloated and sick when I went to bed. it's okay tho, things happen, and Tuesday is a new day <3

super sunburnt!!!! my chest and shoulders are bright, bright red! and I'm a naturally pretty tan person, so seeing my skin that red, yep, I'm definitely super burnt! need to wear sunscreen and protective clothes when I take a shorter walk on tuesday

I definitely overdid it on that walk. got too overzealous and pushed myself a lot. my legs were hurting so bad by the end of the day and that's not good. as much as I enjoyed the walk, I need to be so much more kinder to and thoughtful of my body. it does a lot for me, and I need to treat it right <3

💗 Stuff For Tuesday

take a shorter walk outside in the morning

read more of Atomic Habits (and annotate)

begin studying Spanish some more (fell off the habit but I have a lesson next Tuesday the 28th, so I need to be prepared!)

do some gentle morning and night skincare (my face is a little red from yesterday but not too bad since I wore a hat during my walk)

do my morning beginner pilates and gratitude journaling (I've already done these as of right now, but I struggled with the so-called "beginner" pilates video from IsaWelly. practice makes perfect, tho so I've got to keep consistent!)

book nail appointments with my friend for next week (hopefully the nail tech/nail salon I go to has availability for her and I to go together! I also need to pick the design i want!)

budget for this upcoming paycheck and what I need to save vs what I'm going to spend (and need to buy)

work a ~5 hour shift

talk to my man over video call at the end of the day to see how work/training went for him (it's his first day of work, but it's a hands on training kind of day for him as well)

💕 Song of The Day: aespa - Supernova

what an absolutely amazing song omg. aespa literally never misses with their music. I almost put Spicy, but I've been obsessed with Supernove since it dropped. I love it so much <3

That's all for Monday, like I said, it was a beautiful start to the week for me! And here's to Tuesday being a good day as well <3 I hope everyone here has a wonderful beginning of their week!

til next time lovelies 🩷

[animecharacter]

im gonna NOT blog about the "unaffiliated emergency meeting" happening next week thats making me die of anxiety/anticipation and instead will write down my thoughts on my first dragon gate livestream (june 4 korakuen)

- was SOOOO happy to see my boys win the triangle gate belts ^____^ the possibility of z-brats holding ALL the gold next month is frankly delightful

- the match was very fun too like i loved the start LOL and ishin had a fantastic little in-ring sequence with flamita - i really think he has sooo much potential as a heel leader if he keeps this up. hes so fucking cute im smitten

- very glad kagetora did not get legit injured 😥 shun took the early stop in great stride though like he looked dominant as fuck because of it

- apart from ishin and shun i think the other wrestlers that caught my eye were uhhhh ryoya and mochizuki junior?? and the main event but those two especially were great. the junior vs u-t match was a lot of fun

- the main event was awesome ohhhh boy. these old men can GO. i loved the finish too like i couldnt see them simply Stopping in a normal way until one of them was knocked out so that was a good one

- i love how many unconventional match finishes dg uses?? like no contests and interference disqualification type stuff...it feels fresh and fun and moreso bc this stuff would not fly in a bigger promotion lol

- that post-match stuff SHUNNNN WHAT THE HELL!!! im glad naito taught me the word 退団 because my breath left my lungs along with everyone else in korakuen's when he announced his stipulation. title vs career is nuts and i love how confident shun is LOL. im super excited for it

- really fun stuff!! i'll keep up with DG from now on i have soooo much to dive into. i really want to look up the key masquerade matches im so hyped

[goodboyaudios]

hi GBA! okay i'm back and i have Thoughts about Albus. he's such a fun character and he's so loveable, in his own rugged way.

(pardon me if this gets long; i am a Yapper)

so. Albus York. i suspected early on that his demeanor is very much like armor for him. a defense mechanism, of sorts. he's a bastard, and in that world bastards seem to be treated with less respect than the worms in the dirt. so i gathered his demeanor came about as a result of the hostile environment he was born in; if they already hate you, then they can't turn around and hurt you later. antagonize them, put them on the defensive, so that way he can't get hurt by whatever they throw at him.

i wanna say by episode...3? 4? shortly after we meet Devlin, i figured some of Albus was doing was putting up a front. he seemed afraid of letting his guard down, especially when he's alone with his own feelings about Faithful. easier to pre-emptively quash any feelings about love so you won't get hurt later, right?

and then the episode with Cravitas happened, when he was shoving Albus' past in his face, and i wanted to cry 🥲 i KNEW something was up, but man...this poor guy please someone give him a hug! that was so much worse than i expected it to be! the writing there was excellently done and incredibly gripping. i would also jump at the chance to kick Cravitas in the dick.

man...i love, love, loved how this story has panned out. Devlin is a sweetie, and considering how much i adore Zed, i'm not shocked at how quickly Devlin grew on me! and Albus is such a fascinating character, and i adore him, warts and all!

gah, this is getting so long. i love analysing characters and i could honestly go on for much longer on both of our Yorks. fictional characters give us great mediums for exploring certain mixes of traits and different tropes, and also gives us a great means of deconstructing things like family bonds and masculinity, like with Albus here!

this was absolutely splendidly done! and i'm excited to start Bastards vs Zombies, too! i love how interconnected everything is! 😊

(okay, i'm done yapping...for now 🤭)

Things like this gives me the motivation to keep working on the stuff I make! Thank you so much for your analysis! It means very much to hear what other people think on a deeper level when it comes to my characters!

Hope you enjoy BvZ! I put a lot of hard work into it!

[tiggymalvern]

Burn Noticed 4x18 Last Stand

The disagreements start early in this one!

Bri: There were some really nice character moments that we don’t always get in season finales, and they usually seem forced and they didn’t this time.

Chris: Oh, I totally thought they did 🤪

Chris: Michael decides they need to give the list to someone powerful enough to do something with it, which is what they should have done in the first place instead of messing around with Marv.

Bri: Marv was a respected figure in the community and they trusted him. Cowley’s a loose cannon who’s only it for himself. I understand why they did it the way that they did.

Chris: But they should have expected that the thing that happened would happen.

Bri: I guess if the only CIA agent you ever talk to is this one guy, somebody’s going to buy him off.

Chris: And also the lower you put it into the chain of command, the more options it has to get stopped.

Bri: I love that they consider Cowley to be Madeline’s source. He saw the other guys, he’ll recognise any of them, but no, Madeline’s the one who’ll get through to him. I love the way she Karens her way in – she’s very effective at that. (❤️❤️ Madeline)

On Michael and Fi:

Chris: Fi feels like she’s in an alien vs predator situation – whoever wins she loses. I’m sick and tired of this fight and I hope this is the end of it.

Bri: This is the best terms that they’ve parted on at the end of this episode and I think that we’re finally over it. I think the end of this episode is meant to imply that even if Michael doesn’t turn the CIA down, she wins no matter what.

Chris: I like Fi better in this episode when she’s worried about Jesse. That’s a more immediate concern than rehashing an old fight. They’re busy!

Bri: Yeah, it feels very un-Fi-like. It’s not that she wouldn’t hi-jack a situation to have an emotional conversation – she’s done that and that’s always fun – but it does feel weird when they’re actively strapping Jesse’s leg up.

Michael throws himself off a building.

Bri: It feels very Mission Impossible.

Chris. It did! I like when this show does Mission Impossible.

Bri: Me too! It also felt kind of Die Hard with the siege and I like Die Hard too.

Chris: When I realised they were going to get into this building and stay there for the rest of the episode, I was disappointed.

Bri: Oh, I was excited. I like when they’re forced to improvise from a point of weakness. It’s the Bad Breaks formula.

Madeline and Sam have a parting scene when he says Michael will be mad at him if she stays, and she tells him to stay away from bullets.

Chris: It’s a really cute scene, I like this a lot.

Bri: Anything Madeline’s in is perfect, but also Madeline and Bruce Campbell are fantastic together. I’m still sad that we were robbed of Sam and Madeline’s room-mate adventures.

Chris: Remember when we didn’t like Madeline?

Bri: Well, the show didn’t like Madeline.

Chris: We took our cues from the show, and the show made Madeline suck.

Bri: Even when she was infuriating, she was an excellent performer. (Yes, yes, Sharon Gless ❤️❤️❤️)

But then Madeline gets snatched.

Bri: They should have expected this and had a better plan than, ‘Drive the car that you own and everybody in the intelligence knows that you own.’

I think that’s fair, but Sam was trying to get the Congressman out of there. He didn’t have chance to steal a car for her, and she doesn’t know how. There doesn’t seem to be a great choice here. She could have tried staying in the venue where the fundraiser was being held and being very publicly in a crowd like she did at the end of season two, but I don’t think that would have helped. When the FBI are actively looking for them, she could have been arrested and dragged off from the middle of a crowd just as easily and nobody would have interfered.

Fi and Michael in the pool shack.

Bri: Whatever he might have chosen, she has chosen. This is her statement of, ‘I need to stop pretending that Michael Westen isn’t Michael Westen and I need to decide if I’m okay with that, and I am.’

Chris: Gabrielle Anwar in this scene is really good.

Bri: She fucking kills it.

Chris: He’s good too. He’s really good at playing this character that seems completely unable to show emotion and when he does it looks awkward as hell.

Bri: I like when Sam gets to come in all commando-like and just punch a guy in the face 😁

There’s a discussion about poor story-telling construction at the episode end. Michael gets into the car with the suits, then in the next scene he’s in the car with suits, and suddenly it’s a week later? There’s not even a fade or anything to make it more clear. There’s a voice-over talking about how to deal with being interrogated, but that could equally be an interrogation he’s expecting, not one that he’s just been living through. (There’s a suggestion that on airing it would have cut to commercial between, which might have helped, but not necessarily? You’re still just going from car scene under arrest to car scene under arrest with an assumption that takes a while to be broken.)

And then we see that Michael’s in Washington D.C.

Chris: Season end cliffhangers are a thing that this show does very well.

This is easily a great episode of Burn Notice for the podcasters - it passes every one of their metrics. It does not, however, rate being a great episode of television. They say it’s very solid, but not quite making the bar.

Season overview: 10 great episodes of Burn Notice and 5 great episodes of television. Per the podcasters, the strongest season of BN so far.

Chris: Jesse forced them to do more with the plot plot.

Bri: We actually got to sit with people – every conflict felt earned. We got to know Vaughn and it was vindicating that he was taken down. We got Larry and Brennen – we know all these people, and the show got to capitalize on its own history. Jesse forced them to do a lot more interesting things too – having to see Michael and team make morally questionable decisions made the plot more interesting.

Chris: Vaughn didn’t have that much more screen time than like Carla, but it was more satisfying.

Bri: Carla only talked to Michael, but Vaughn interfaced with Fi and had opinions on what they should do about Jesse. (Hard agree, and also I still wish we’d kept that cut scene with Sam and Vaughn outside the hospital.)

Chris: I feel like this was the first season of Burn Notice that was competently executed as a season.

Bri: I agree. It had an equally strong first and second half in terms of what their goal was. It felt cohesive even as they were separate little macro-plots. By the end of the season, our gang of four feel like a really well-oiled machine.

However the yoghurt count this season was low 🤪🤪🤪

The podcast episode concludes with a discussion of how they're going to have to change their metrics for rating a great episode of Burn Notice again next season - and Madeline getting a good role is going to be included, yay! Because Madeline really is a fully active team member now 😁😁😁

[dozyisdead]

Carlos -> Williams: My Thoughts

So, I will be attempting to separate this into sections to keep it less like a ramble and more coherent! The (attempted) sections will be as follows: 

Logan and his treatment at Williams and how that has changed their image

Alex and Logan’s Relationship (as I have seen)

Alex’s Position within the team

Carlos’s impact as a Driver and his connections

Alex and Carlos’s positions within the team.

1.Logan and Williams

   To start this off: Williams, after leaving the original family’s hands, has done better. That does not mean they’re doing good, but they’re doing better. That being said, Williams has been cultivating this “Lovable Underdog” image for a long time, but we’ve seen how that’s been far from the truth. I mean, looking back historically, look at how they treated Valtteri! Now, we see how they treated Logan. Yes, I agree that it was an amazing thing that Williams sponsored Logan, and they’ve given drivers like Alex great opportunities to get into/stay in the sport, but they are NOT what they present themselves as.

    Logan was plucked from F2 a year too early, like we saw with Nick De Vries, and that impacted how he got into the sport. F2 vs. F1 in a large gap, especially compared to the F4/F3/F2 jumps. It’s just not the same. Yet, they put a world of pressure on their drivers to perform in tractors. Alex has done so well because he himself is an incredible driver, but Logan was not on the same level. I think he’s improved tremendously and is definitely doing a lot better, but to put it simply he is not Alex, and Alex is not Logan.

   Now, onto how the team has treated Logan specifically. Logan has never been given the same upgrades as Alex at the same time. And yes I understand that funding and the cost of upgrading is a big part of that, especially in lower field teams, but it’s still an insane thought. After nearly 1 ½ years, they finally get the same upgrades at the same time, and you can visibly see how excited Logan was! But my main point in this is that Alex is treated better, beyond the scope of Drivers 1 & 2. It feels closer to Driver 1 & The Reserve. Not to mention the fact that Williams gave Alex Logan’s car after ALEX shunted his own car, then proceeded to shunt Logan’s car as well. And, though I might be wrong about this, Logan received Alex’s repaired chassis and parts from 2023. Again, I might be wrong but I've seen somewhere that that was the case.

   All of this is to say that Williams is lying, blatantly, to our faces. I understand that being at the level that you are in Formula One means that you have to think in the bigger picture, but the fact that they try to cover up all their bad actions and stick to the lovable underdog image despite evidence being everywhere really makes me despise them. I don’t hate Alex, or Carlos for that matter, but I hate their team.

2.Alex And Logan

   Alex and Logan seem to get along very well, and I believe that is due to the both of them being very down to earth and humble as people. Logan is incredibly sweet, he’s nice, and genuine in his actions. Alex is the same! He is very thoughtful, such as him going to Ferrari and teaching Carlos what to do after his appendix surgery. Alex is also so ready to speak to someone no matter what. I am a fan of the Korean Englishmen on YouTube, and they did an episode with Alex that I loved! He is genuine and just very connective with fans, and you can see how much he cares for his friends when it comes to being around them.

   Logan has been somewhat apart from the rest of the grid, and I think that’s due to what seems to be a slightly more introverted personality! I understand that, I can be the same at times, but Alex has really brought him out of his shell and I love that. Their relationship is a good one, even with all the bullshit that Williams does that could break that. Logan speaks well of his, and Alex supports Logan. I think Alex remembers what it’s like to be a rookie and be pushed aside a bit, kind of what happened to Logan, and saw someone he could help.

   Their relationship in general is one I love, and I’m not 100% sure how Alex and Carlos are going to get along, with Carlo’s personality. I will explain my thoughts on that more in a moment.

3.Alex in Williams

   We can all somewhat agree that Alex is Williams’ “Golden Boy” the way Max is to Red Bull and Charles is to Ferrari, but I don’t know if it’s that strong. I’m not sure how long Alex has signed with Williams, but I want to say he is with them for 2025v and 2026. That’s a long time, especially for F1. I mean, we’ve seen drivers be replaced mid season before, so 2+ year contract extensions is long in the grand scheme of things. I believe there’s a quote out there regarding Alex’s feelings about a potential dip in performance for one year if it meant an even better run for the year after that. And yes, I acknowledge that Gorge had a large part to do with Alex getting the Williams seat, but to keep a seat is heavily based on the driver, 99% of the time. (I’m looking at you Red Bull, demoting drivers mid season like it’s a hobby. And Williams, James begging for Esteban to come over and the only reason he didn’t and Logan didn’t lose his seat mid season was because Alpine blocked it.)

   Alex has received preferential treatment at Williams. And, I can understand it in a business sense. He had already raced for Williams for since 2022, so he had a year on Logan, not to mention he was at Red Bull and replaced Pierre, so he had a lot more experience and a win under his belt at DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), and as a test/reserve driver for RBRH (Red Bull) and SAT (AlphaTauri) in the 2021 season. All of this is to say he had experience. More than what Logan had, which was none when it came to F1. I mean, even Oscar had half a year’s worth of experience at Alpine, despite the sinking ship that the team was. 

   Alex was viewed as a driver with potential because he has a lot of it. He is an excellent driver. His overtake at Montreal this year was amazing, and I've watched clips back multiple times of his driving. He genuinely has skill, and a lot more than he’s given credit for. From a purely business perspective, Alex is an amazing investment. But, like I mentioned earlier, Williams takes it to a ridiculous level. I mean, giving Logan’s car to Alex? When we all know that cars are tailored to specific drivers? It already wasn’t looking good in that aspect.

4.Carlos’s Impact as a Driver and his connections

   To put it simply, Carlos Sainz Jr. is a nepo baby. And before anyone gets offended, I do not necessarily view him badly because of that. It is just an aspect of his life that we cannot ignore. Carlos grew up with money and his last name has backing behind it that cannot be brushed over! No, he is not technically a Legacy driver because his father didn’t race in Formula One like Mick or Max’s fathers did, but he knows racing. He knows power and influence. And, as unfortunate as it is, people who grow up like that often interact with others differently.

   Carlos is very competitive and stubborn. It’s his personality, and we’ve seen that with the way he has interacted with other drivers on and off the track. Take him and Oscar’s relationship for example. I do not know exactly what happened, but I believe the incident was labeled exactly that, a racing incident. But, that didn’t matter to Carlos. There is a level of entitlement that all humans have, and the way you are brought up can change how much of it you feel you deserve. Carlos has a higher level due to his upbringing. But, there is no place for that on a track. I mean, look at Latifi. He didn’t seem to be very entitled, even with his family being the main sponsor behind Williams, but his family and money could not save his seat. Even Mazaspin’s backing couldn’t save his seat from that absurd and shitty personality and performance. I feel like the obvious exception to this has been Lance Stroll and Aston Martin, but Lawrence Stroll fucking partially owns the team. That’s a bit different than being a main sponsor.

   Within all of this, I have mentioned one thing that is the main driver behind F1: MONEY.

You cannot get a seat without money, unless you are the perfect amalgamation of all of the F1 greats and can outrace everyone on a goddamn Zamboni. Carlos Sainz Jr. brings money, and sponsors, which is something that Williams is in desperate need of. I mean, maybe not as much as Haas did in 2021/2022 and even now, but they need it. Upgrades are expensive, crashes are expensive, F1 is fucking expensive. So, his sponsors coming to the table has a big impact. I mean, again this is from a purely business standpoint, I would be begging him to join a team too. Mans has his own burger joint line. He’s got money to spare, and Williams is holding out it’s cup begging.

5.Alex and Carlos’s positions within the team

   With me mentioning before that Alex is the closest thing to William’s golden boy that we have, I absolutely have to address the issue of positions within the team shifting (or not) now that Carlos is joining next year. We all know that Alex has stated that he’s willing to sacrifice one season if that means the next one is infinitely better, and I respect that. That, along with the team’s visible backing of him, really makes it seem like he’s their version of Charles, just maybe not on such an insane level (Ferrari is a cult and Charles is both the LeaderTM and the SacrificeTM). With that being said, Carlos is also an impressive driver in his own regard. My earlier comments regarding his personality do not mean to discredit his skills as a driver, as he is an incredible one, but Alex is also rather impressive. Again, I would like to mention that the main comparisons that we have for Alex are Logan Sargeant in a Tractor And Old Parts, Nicholas Latifi (iykyk) and Max “The Dutch Lion/Super Max” Verstappen. That’s three very obvious extremes. Not to mention that the cars are different and that is an Important Point when it comes to comparisons. 

   Now, this is going to go back to Logan’s treatment at Williams. We see him being treated second to Alex in terms of upgrades. Alex got everything first, and even a new fucking car because he crashed his own. He was fully pushed into the 2nd driver seat. With their relationship, it was easy to do that because Logan didn’t have a huge name backing him, and Alex had experience and proved his skills. The issue coming up for 2025 is that Carlos is decidedly not Logan. He has a name behind him, has more experience behind him, and has definitely proved himself a worthy driver despite the absolute circus that is Ferrari. Like the man was more of an acrobat than a clown on a unicycle in regards to Ferrari, he made do with what he had. My main concern is are we going to see a repeat of Alex and Logan with the positions switched and Carlos becoming the golden boy, or is this going to be Carlos fighting the team and the rest of the grid. Or, alternatively, are we going to see Williams get their head out of their ass and rally around both drivers to give them a somewhat equal playing field. As much as that would be interesting to watch, I seriously don’t think that’s going to happen. I think it’s going to be shit show either way. As much as I wish Alex hadn’t been treated better, I do not want to see anyone else go through what Logan went through. If we see a shift to Carlos becoming the golden boy, I think that’s going to cause much more controversy for Williams, especially since we already know the team’s (and James’s) tendency to sacrifice. And yes I know every team does it (Looking at you McLaren) but that does not mean I am happy with it at all, in any way shape or form.

   The big point I’m trying to make is that Williams is going to have to make some major changes or face hell from either side. With Alex, his fanbase, which includes a bit of Lando’s and George’s as well, absolutely rioting at the slightest hint of bad treatment of the like that Logan received. Then, Carlos’s fanbase and family (again he’s a nepo baby with a family name), who despite a good portion being Tifosi (Yes I know that a lot of the hate that he gets is ironically also Tifosi, but they're specifically Lecfosi so it’s a bit different), will still love their Spainaird till death. Once a Ferrari driver, always a Ferrari driver, or something like that. Carlos is not one to back down as we have seen before, so it's hell either way. Williams just has a storm coming and I’m excited to see how they handle it (by excited I mean I’m hogging the door and letting James drown even if there’s plenty of space).

8/9/24 Edit: **With every goddamn new bit of information I learn about James Vowels I more and more wish I never knew who he was. What do you mean Mrs.Vowels and Rebbecca wished there were cameras? “I have a wave of emotion that floods my body. I cannot express how thankful I am that he’s here” You’re obsessed with him I hope you know that. Quoting someone online, “Everything I learn about James Vowels is involuntary.” You sir give me the creeps. Also HE'S BEEN LOOKING FOR THE PAST 8-9 MONTHS FOR SOMEONE NEW?? James I hope you step on and break every charger you own, I hope your pillows are always too warm and your bed too soft, I hope you get divebombed by Magpies the moment you step in Australia, I hope the geese chase you around the canadian paddock, I hope there’s seagulls holding your car hostage in Miami. I could go on and on.**

I would like everyone to keep in mind that I am in no way super knowledgeable about the sport, as I actually only truly joined right before Monaco 2024. I had yet to watch a full race or dive super deep into it, but I've learned a lot more. These are just my thoughts put in a way that is most organized to me!

[blackoutbugza]

i headcanon logan sanders with autism and im tired of pretending i dont

first of all, hyperfixations. he gets so excited about tiny things like in selfishness vs selflessness he gets super excited when janus mentioned max stirner. he stood up, raised his hand, and started going “i know i know!” and “ooh! ooh ooh ooh!” also crofters, getting really excited over that. he willingly sung about it even though it’s canon he hates singing. not to mention his necktie. he gets very excited about that too, pointing it out a lot in late season 1/early season 2.

he’s extremely intelligent. i’m not stereotyping that all autistic people are smart, but tying in with hyperfixations, he gets happy whenever he gets to use “big words” and shows them off a lot. he will often reassure all of the sides (such as what he did in dwit) and act almost like a therapist to them.

he takes things very literally. he doesn’t understand idioms, metaphors, or sarcasm and will often take them to fact. for example, in incorrect quotes, janus said “well if it isnt logan sanders” and he replied with “but is IS me. your manipulative tricks wont work on me!” as janus is seen with a confused expression. also why he says “figuratively” before stating a metaphor of his own.

he shows little to no emotion. people with autism usually can’t really understand how to feel for a while which is why they script what to do, say, and feel inside of their head before they do it. logan has done this a lot, never really showing any emotions though he is able to match them with the sides at times (confusion, frustration, and appreciation in expression).

relating to the previous topic, logan can sometimes have a hard time regulating his emotions. such as whenever he screams “falsehood” and in working with intrusive thoughts when he screamed “stop ignoring me!!” he obviously gets upset and he can’t control those thoughts. also when him and thomas are working together in “losing my motivation”, patton says he’s going to be watson as logan is already sherlock and logan snaps “no, you can’t play with us!”

safe foods. logan definitely has a safe food: crofters. it’s the only jam he eats. it’s the only FOOD he eats. its his favorite and he gets so happy whenever he gets to have some. it’s sweet imo.

(disclaimer: i myself have autism. im not trying to patronize or stereotype anyone who has these traits. all of what is said here is just reasoning for a HEADCANON and is in no way intended to target thomas; character or him personally. thank you for reading)

[swiftsaltsweet]

Two Knives Interlude 1: Rangi- Damn

Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi (RoK characters tbh)

Pairing: Rangshi

Rating: M

Summary:

Things have been stressful for Kyoshi. First, she sang a poem and now the whole kitchen staff thinks it’s about Rangi, and is sure that there will be gossip. Then, Yun asks her to join him for the Fifth Nation treaty signing. Now Rangi’s acting strange. It’s becoming a bit much for Kyoshi’s small corner of the world.

(Canon Divergent AU- Kelsang wasn’t the one who heard the poem?….aka What if it took longer for them to realize Kyoshi was the Avatar?)

Other Sites: AO3 

A/N: (Future me edit: Phew! Glad you guys seemed to like the little twist at the end, was a little nervous ngl TT0TT Also YAY! I CAN FINALLY START SHARING THE RANGI CHAPTERS! *sobs* so excited and haha oh man now I’m nervous akfjskfdaj)

(back to past me:) Heyyyyyy it’s POV switch time, just like The Hunt For Kyoshi’s: The Hunter and The Hunted chapters :’D

I only had this POV flip planned so………u_u but hey! It’s like 3 chapters worth in one chapter so :’D Wait…3 chapters….. *looks at the length of this chapter vs the others* Oh someone save meeeeeee TT0TT Haha this is gonna be a long chapter-Oh wait I’m getting a call. Ahuh. Hmm. Yup… 27 pages????......AND YOU AREN’T DONE……. THREE CHAPTERS AND NOT ONE?! Ok We’re splitting this into three chapters sorry. :’D

I underestimated how much Rangi yaps. u_u Pining more than a damn pine tree.

Me from the future (again): *stumbles in* Heyyyyy-o. Oh boi. Um….yes. So….THIS chapter was supposed to be chapter 4, but then I changed it. :’D So like….just remember how these were written/structured: Kyoshi’s first 3 chapters, and then Rangi’s first three chapters, then chapters 4-6, then Rangi’s 4th chapter (that 4th chapter wasn’t originally going to exist too jaklfjds. Man this fic has been shuffled about more than a deck of cards kjfdslafjs

____

Rangi was an idiot. She couldn’t believe that she walked all the way down to the kitchen, and had forgotten to tell Kyoshi the one important news she wanted to relay to her! She cursed that Aoma girl and her cronies for bullying Kyoshi, because they’d distracted her as well. Instead of telling Kyoshi the good news of Master Kelsang returning from a relief mission early, she was trying to give the giant girl tips on how to defend herself.

All those tips falling on deaf ears, as usual. 

She slowly and silently made her way back down to the ruckus kitchen. She heard them from the hallway, something about singing a dirty song or something about unrequited love. She really hoped Kyoshi wasn’t still wasting her time down there. 

“Kyoshi next!” someone said, and the sound of Kyoshi’s name made Rangi stop on the stairs. “She’s never here, so let’s make the most of it!”

Rangi stood in the middle of the staircase, just out of sight from the kitchen. Unsure of what to do. On one hand, she was annoyed that her hunch was right, and Kyoshi was still down there. But on the other hand, she wondered if Kyoshi was going to join in. If she was going to sing. What her singing voice sounded like. What she was going to sing about. 

She stood there, heart thrumming in her chest to the beat of the kitchen appliances.

“I’ve got two knives that are cast in bronze / they pierce all the way to the soul / they draw you in with the promise of sin / like the moth to the flame to the coal.”

Rangi’s eyes widened as she heard Kyoshi’s singing voice for the first time. It was such a lovely alto. Her voice was smooth, strong and rich. 

The kitchen howled. Someone clucked in disapproval. “Keep going, you naughty girl!” a voice shouted.

Oh, right, she supposed she should be listening to the lyrics. She shook her head, as much as she’d love to listen to Kyoshi’s voice. The song itself might give her an indication on if Kyoshi liked someone.

Let’s see, something about bronze and fire? Rangi’s heart leapt at the thought of the second description, but tapered it down. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself. 

“I’ve got hair like the starless night / it sticks to my lips when I smile / I’ll wind it with yours and we’ll drift off course / in a ship touching hearts all the while.”

Kyoshi drummed on, more percussion started filling the air. And Rangi’s heart started to pound harder. Starless night. Black. A hand flew to her chest. Ok, now she couldn’t stop from getting ahead of herself. There were only a handful of people on the estate that had black hair, and she was one of them. 

“For the way I walk is a lantern lit / that leads you into the night / I’ll hold you close and love you the most / until our end is in sight.”

Rangi could feel the blood pounding in her ears, she could feel the blush covering her body. She knew she was beat red. Black hair, fire, light. Entangled hair. Wanting to hold and love them. Rangi leaned against the wall for support, and prayed. Prayed to every spirit imaginable. Prayed to every Avatar. Prayed that the person Kyoshi was talking about was her. Was Rangi. 

“It’s Rangi!” someone shouted. Rangi nearly leapt out of her skin. She stumbled back a few steps, fearing someone saw her. 

I thought I was out of sight!

“It is Rangi!”someone else cooed, the sound of kissing noises were heard.

“W-where?” Kyoshi asked, alarmed.

“Not in here, idiot!” a male voice said. “In your song! Just admit it, you just sang about Rangi.”

Rangi feared she was going to go into cardiac arrest. So she wasn’t crazy. She wasn’t the only one who saw the resemblance between her and Kyoshi’s song. Now, would Kyoshi admit it? Should she admit it? What should Rangi do if she did?

A million questions spiraled in her mind. 

What she wanted to do right then and there was run down there and…. Take Kyoshi right where she stood? Take her hand and run off with her? Both? 

Rangi drew a breath as quietly as she could. At some point she’d forgotten how to breathe. No, no, she couldn’t act brashly. Kyoshi had to confirm. And….there were other obstacles Rangi may have to overcome if Kyoshi did confirm. 

Rangi, and the rest of the staff waited for Kyoshi’s answer.

“I-I, uh, I,” Kyoshi started. 

Did Kyoshi not mean to sing about Rangi? Did the kitchen staff guess wrong? Did Kyoshi think no one would be able to guess it was about Rangi? 

The wait was killing her.

“I, uh, I have to go get ready for my gifting duties,” Kyoshi said hurriedly, and the sound of movement could be heard.

Rangi jumped and sprinted up the stairs as fast as she could. She quickly ascended the stairs, scratching and clawing on all fours, unable to keep her balance. Surely she was not as silent as she’d wanted to be. As soon as she got to the top she dove through the open window on the other side of the hall from the stairs without thinking. 

She landed in the bushes, and sat there, under the windowsill out of view. Her hand over her mouth to stifle any noises. She heard Kyoshi finish ascending the staircase, and then run in the direction of her room.

Rangi sat there for a moment, trying to catch her breath, and to cool her features off. She didn’t need to be walking around with her face flushed the same color as her red armor.

She placed her forehead on her knees and breathed. She likes me? Does this mean she likes me? She thought to herself, unable to stop the hope rising in her chest. 

For the past two years she’d resigned herself into thinking Kyoshi wouldn’t like her back. That her crush would go unanswered. So this hope was dangerous, if she completely gave in then…. What if Kyoshi still didn't like her? What would she do then?

Rangi took a few more calming breaths, and then slapped her own cheeks. She needed to calm down. She had duties to attend to!

…but first, she should probably go wash her face in her room. The water might help cool it off.

She scrunched up her face into the signature Sei’naka- or maybe it was just the Fire Nation?- stoic look. No one would be able to tell what she was thinking if she kept it like this. 

She made sure now one was looking before she escaped out of the bushes, and ran to her own room.

________________

Rangi ran the cool towel over her face, it warmed almost instantly at the contact of her skin. She repeated the process about a dozen or so times until her reddened face had finally calmed down. 

She grabbed a nearby dry towel and dried her face off. When she finally pulled it away, she began inspecting her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, so she fixed it. Trying not to think of the lyrics.

She inspected her skin, it was back to the normal pale it usually was, only a slight red hue scattered across it. Her fingers brushed at her neck, then her jaw, then her cheeks and then they froze. Her gaze lingered on her eyes. Her bronze colored eyes. 

“I’ve got two knives that are cast in bronze / they pierce all the way to the soul”

Rangi gasped, and pressed the towel into her face again. As if the pressure could stop the lyrics from forming in her mind. 

Kyoshi had been singing about her eyes. No! No, she needed to think rationally. Kyoshi might’ve been singing about her eyes. Might!

 “They draw you in with the promise of sin / like the moth to the flame to the coal.”

Rangi let out a muffled scream into the towel, her flush coming back red hot. Did Kyoshi really say her gaze was sinful? 

Have I been too obvious? Please tell me I haven’t been too obvious!

She thought about every longing look she thought she snuck and it caused her to do a little dance of embarrassment. Which led to her tripping over her own feet, and falling backwards onto the floor. 

Rangi’s face was still in the towel as she screamed and cringed into it with each memory that passed in her mind; kicking her legs on the floor all the while. It was a pathetic sight. If anyone were to walk in, that might be the final blow to her ego. She may never recover. Thankfully, there was nary a person in the estate that would just barge into Rangi’s room unannounced.

Rangi heard her door slide open with a click.

She slowly removed the towel to see a pair of familiar boots.

She looked up at her mother with absolute dismay. If anyone could or would see Rangi at her lowest and most vulnerable, her mother would always be there with a front row seat. 

Hei-Ran gazed down at her daughter with a deep frown. “What on earth are you doing?”

Breaking down. She thought. Rangi did her best to screw her face back into a stoic expression, the flush be damned. She stood up straight, inhaled, ready to give the excuse of her life. 

She exhaled…..and stared at her mother.

She had nothing. No excuse existed in this world that could’ve explained such disappointing behavior. It’d be better if she told her mother the truth, but she’d never do that. She feared what her mother might say or do if she mentioned her crush on Kyoshi.

Instead, she kept the staring contest up with her mother, until Hei-Ran finally broke it by pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Oh, nevermind. I don’t think I want to know,” Hei-Ran conceded. Rangi was going to leave the biggest and bestest offering for the spirits when she had time. 

Rangi cleared her throat. “What brings you to my room, mother? Shouldn’t you be with Yun?”

Hei-Ran sighed, “Yes, but we are taking a break. However, it appears he wants his break extended. It seems he galavanted off somewhere.”

Rangi nodded. That sounded like her Avatar.

“And I was wondering if his bodyguard would know where he was,” Hei-Ran glared at her daughter.

Rangi stiffened. She’d been neglecting her duties for the day. To be fair, she didn’t necessarily have to bodyguard Yun when he was in the presence of his Sifus, but still. She was slacking.

“I’ll go and fetch him,” Rangi said with a bow.

“Good,” Hei-Ran replied, turning on her heel to leave. 

As she exited the door, a group of servants passed her room in the hall. “Did you see the Avatar?”

“Yeah I saw him on his way to the gifting room, you know where Kyoshi is!”

“How scandalous-Hey!”

Rangi practically barreled into her mother and the other maids as she passed, face pale in distress.

_____________

No! No no no no! Not the gifting room! Not those two alone!

Rangi’s mind was now screaming as she sprinted through the estate, she didn’t care if she looked like a spirit out of hell. She had to get to the gifting room, stat!

She was having a possibly amazing day, she didn’t need it to be ruined by the memories from around eight months ago. When she last left Yun and Kyoshi in a room together, alone. How they looked at each other. How Kyoshi sprinkled Fire Lilies over Yun’s face. How they….kissed. Or, almost kissed? Rangi didn’t know, she didn’t stick around to watch.

Rangi rounded the corner, she was running at the door with a full sprint. Body ready to catch them in the act this time, mind not as prepared.

She reached the door, stopped just in time, and slid the door open with a smooth click. 

She gazed at the two in front of her. Kyoshi and Yun were a respectable distance apart. Nothing nefarious happened this time. She sighed inwardly, and then remembered to keep her face in its stoic placement. She didn’t trust her real emotions at the moment. 

"Avatar." She bowed deeply and solemnly to Yun. Then she turned to Kyoshi, Kyoshi appeared more sullen than usual. “And you! You’ve barely made any prog-”

Rangi cut herself off and tore her eyes away from Kyoshi, looking around the room. Her eyes widened a bit. “Oh….it’s…. actually almost done.” She wasn’t expecting that….

Almost all the presents were in neat little piles, all that needed to be done was transfer them.

“I got here early….” she heard Kyoshi muttered. She wouldn’t look at Rangi at all. 

Rangi could feel her pulse race. Is it because of the song she sang? Is it true? Or is she just self-conscious because the kitchen staff had teased her? Questions began to fill Rangi’s mind once again.

“Yeah Rangi,” Yun laughed. “This is Kyoshi we’re talking about, how dare you question her skill of working fast and efficiently?”

Rangi turned on her heel to face the Avatar, glaring at him. He was throwing her under the bus in front of Kyoshi! Again! “D-don’t put words in my mouth! I simply thought due to the volume that came in, and the fact you are skipping training to be a distraction, she may not have gotten as far as she did.”

“Well, I left the kitchen as soon as possible and got to work, just like you wanted,” Kyoshi mumbled. 

Rangi looked back, and Kyoshi had a slight glower on her face. She could feel her palms getting sweaty. Had Rangi upset her? Had she been upset before Rangi arrived? More millions of questions flew through her mind. Too many, she didn’t know which ones to ask first.

Kyoshi looked back at them, eyes widened a little, and then scratched her nose in embarrassment. “Did I say something wrong?”

Rangi stared at Kyoshi, trying to read her but found it too difficult. She looked down at her feet in defeat.  “No… it’s just….” Do you like me? Do you hate me? Do I upset you? So many questions.

“I think Kyoshi’s just a little nervous,” Yun announced.

Was it because of the song? How did he know about it? Did gossip already spread? Wait, if he knows about it then-

“I just asked her to join the Fifth Nation signing and she agreed to go,” he continued calmly.

Rangi’s train of thought came to a crashing halt when she heard him finish his sentence. Kyoshi was…..coming with them? To the daofei meeting. Sweet, innocent, never seen combat before, Kyoshi. She was going to go to a possible battleground. A war. A maid who has never held a weapon in her life, and might have to fight to the death. Her Kyoshi.

Rangi turned on Yun, glaring at him with the heat of a thousand suns. “Wh-what?! What do you mean she’s going?!”

“I was going to tell you,” Yun smiled, putting his hands up in surrender. 

Rangi spluttered and looked between Yun and Kyoshi. Why wasn’t Kyoshi saying anything? Did he pressure her into it? Was she stupid?! Did she not realize how dangerous this was? 

“Have you lost your mind? The both of you? She’s not going!” Rangi couldn’t believe she had to say those words aloud.

“Are you going against your Avatar’s wishes?” Yun grinned at her, his tone was joking. He didn’t mean it. But it hit Rangi like she’d been run over by a komodo rhino. Because that’s exactly what she was doing. She was disobeying the Avatar, to keep the girl she was in love with from harm. “Calm down, it’ll be good to have her there.”

“Good for who?” Rangi groused. He was being selfish again, thinking only of himself and not Kyoshi’s well being. No she couldn’t assume that! He was the Avatar. The Avatar was always well meaning. Maybe he just….didn’t realize the risk? Yes, that’s what it was. She just needed to talk some sense into him!

She pressed a fist to her forehead and sighed. Then she glared at Yun and grabbed his sleeve. “We’re talking about this later. Right now, I’m taking you back to your training!”

She started to pull her charge towards the door.

“Gah! Rangi! Wait!” Yun bemoaned. 

Rangi practically threw the Avatar through the doorway in front of her, and then stopped with her hand on the doorframe. She looked back at Kyoshi. Kyoshi sat there with the same calm and beautiful, silent strength she knew the girl possessed. She didn’t want to see it destroyed by some daofei. She wanted her protected. She hated the idea of some dumb bullies harming the girl, but if that pirate laid a hand on her-!

Rangi gripped the doorframe slightly. She looked around the room, trying to find something for Kyoshi to do. “And you-! Clean-no. Just. Gah. Do whatever you were doing!”

Apparently she couldn’t find anything. So she just slammed the door behind her.

____________

Rangi was greeted by Kyoshi with a scream to the face. 

“I’m sorry,” Kyoshi gasped, looking sincerely apologetic. “You surprised me!”

Rangi began walking, indicating for Kyoshi to follow her. She would escort her to the next destination.

Rangi didn’t mind Kyoshi screaming like that, partially because it wasn’t the first time this had happened. In all honesty, Rangi brought it on herself, sometimes she was too stealthy……or Kyoshi was too absentminded. Another reason why she shouldn’t come.

Rangi seethed inside her head. Yun wasn’t listening to reason. He had it in his head that Kyoshi needed to come along. To remind him of the little people he was doing it all for. 

What a load of bull cow crap! He should be able to see that with the servants that work here every day! Or the villagers he sees when he sneaks a peak over the wall! He didn’t need to drag Kyoshi into it!

Kyoshi had already suffered enough growing up. At least, from what Aunti Mui had let slip to her about Kyoshi’s life before the mansion. Kyoshi didn’t need to be put into peril again, and she most certainly didn’t need to suffer an agonizing death at the hands of some daofei!

She just wanted Kyoshi to live a long and healthy life. But she couldn’t do that if she was dead!

Rangi looked up and realized they were somewhere in the garden. She didn’t notice how she got there, when they got there, nor cared. 

An idea passed through her head. If she couldn’t convince Yun, maybe she could convince Kyoshi.

“Kyoshi,” Rangi started, breaking the silence. She saw Kyoshi flinch out of the corner of her eye.

“Y-yes?” 

“You aren’t going,” Rangi said. Rangi tried to say it with a finality. Try to push Kyoshi into the same mindset as her. Whatever it would take to keep her safe.

Kyoshi sighed. “I don’t think I have a choice, Rangi. It’s a special request from the Avatar.”

Rangi stopped walking and turned to glare at Kyoshi. “Of course you have a choice! You just have to tell him you don’t want to! Just tell him ‘no,’ Kyoshi!”

Please, just for once. Don’t think of him. Don’t give in to him. Just tell him ‘no.’ Rangi sobbed internally. Lately, she couldn’t stop the thoughts she’d usually fought to ignore from bubbling to the surface. 

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow and gave her a joking smile. “And disobey the Avatar?”

Rangi stiffened. Yes. That’s exactly what she wanted. Every time she brought it up, it was another hit to her honor. Disobeying her honorbound duty. Each time she tried to find an excuse, to cover up her own horrid act and shame. “It’s not ‘disobeying’ if he gave you an option in the first place, right?”

“I don’t mind though,” Kyoshi said, smiling at Rangi. The same smile and expression she would make whenever she’d come home with dirty clothes and poorly covered bruises. When the other village teens had roughed her up or thrown mud and rocks at her. Rangi knew Kyoshi was lying, and it was making her sick to her stomach.

Kyoshi got closer to Rangi and whispered. “Plus he practically begged me. How could I say no?”

Rangi’s eyes widened. Is that it? Is that all? All Yun had to do was beg Kyoshi and he had her? A simple plea and she’d willingly give herself over?

Nausea started to take over and Rangi started feeling dizzy. It wasn’t fair. People took advantage of Kyoshi’s kind nature so often. And now she was marching herself to an executioner's block to unknowingly stroke Yun’s ego.

Rangi couldn’t have that. If she must, she’d stoop as low as those worms!

She saw Kyoshi had started walking and grabbed the girl by the arm, pulling her back.

“Then what about me, huh?” Rangi got in Kyoshi’s face. Her space. Trying to take up as much residency in Kyoshi’s being as possible. She only wanted the other girl to see her, only her, no one else. “What if I begged? What if I begged you not to come along? What would you do then?”

Would you afford me the same treatment as Yun? Would you give yourself to me too? Do I want you to? 

Rangi shook Kyoshi’s arm once and let her stoic mask crumple. She wanted Kyoshi to know how she truly felt. She wanted Kyoshi to realize someone cared about her. Wanted her to be safe. Not to run into danger because of some misguided duty. 

Rangi shook her arm again. “Please. Kyoshi, please don’t come with us,” she begged again. She’d beg as many times as it would take. 

Rangi watched as Kyoshi bit her lip and held the package she was holding tighter to her being. Recoiling from Rangi. 

She watched as Kyoshi went to form the words “I’m sorry” from her lips, before they got caught by the heat Rangi had started to form around them.

Rangi realized she couldn’t make Kyoshi do anything. Even Yun couldn’t make her do anything. Kyoshi was doing this because she chose to. Just like how she’d actively choose to not defend herself against her own bullies. 

Rangi was a fool, an idiot, to not see it before. Kyoshi had chosen and was doing what she wanted to do. In doing so, Rangi realized Kyoshi had also chosen Yun over her.

Rangi grimaced and released Kyoshi. “Forget it,” she said in defeat, as she walked away. If she couldn’t stop Kyoshi from going with them, then she’d need to find a way to protect her.

_____

A/N:Me: Rangi’s side is more serious! You need to treat it more seriously!Also me: Ok she’s kind of a loser, gotcha. TT0TT

 I love high blood pressure!Rangi, I love gremlin!Rangi. But lovesick!Rangi? Hmmm yes! *throws all three in a blender to mix them up* uwu