#how joe is drawn in the first one has my heart...

[grandpeachpersona]

can u do a fic where joe has surgery and starts saying crazy stuff after anesthesia to the reader

Ask and you shall receive!

Joe Burrow x Black!oc Sierra Riley

Warnings: Fluff and Joe's medicate language.

Have you ever had that feeling when you wake up with a gut instinct that something bad is going to happen?

Well, it didn’t happen to me; it happened to Joe.

I was watching the Bengals vs. Ravens game from home when I saw Joe walk to the sideline with an unhappy expression on his face.

Then the cameras caught him attempting some practice throws when suddenly, his wrist gave out, and he squatted down in pain.

As an athlete myself, I recognize that reaction all too well: it’s an injury. Not the kind you can shake off to get back into the game, but one that requires surgery.

Now, here I am in the hospital waiting room while Joe is in surgery for his wrist.

“Family for Burrow,” one of the nurses called as she entered the waiting room.

I immediately stood up and approached her. “How did it go?” I asked as she led me down the hall.

She nodded with a smile. “It was successful—no problems at all.”

“Great,” I said, letting out a sigh of relief. “Can I see him?”

She stopped in front of a door, which I assumed was Joe's. “Sure. Just know he might still be sleeping because of the anesthesia, but feel free to go in anytime,” the older nurse said.

I nodded my head. “Thank you so much.”

“No problem. I hope he has a speedy recovery,” she replied as she walked away.

Me too... Me too.

I opened the door and stepped into the room, the door clicking shut behind me. I was greeted by the sight of a sleeping Joe. His hair was slightly messy, most likely from the hairnet.

I quietly pulled the chair closer to the bed, trying not to wake him. But despite my efforts, I heard a slight rustle of the sheets followed by a muffled groan

“Hey,” I said softly as I settled into the chair beside him, wincing slightly at the sterile smell of the recovery room.

Joe turned his head towards me, his expression sluggish, his eyelids drooping as if they carried the weight of the world. “Hi, I guess,” he mumbled, the words slurring together.

Suppressing a chuckle, I could already see where this conversation was headed, and I was determined to tease him mercilessly.

“You guess? Are you not happy to see me?” I asked, giving him a playful pout, my heart swelling at the thought of his reaction.

His brows scrunched together in confusion, but then his face lit up like a Christmas tree, the excitement radiating from him like the warmth of morning sunlight. “Oh, hi, baby!” Joe exclaimed, trying to lift his injured arm in a jubilant gesture, only to freeze as he remembered the constraints of his bandage.

I placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, my fingers trembling slightly, partly from his excitement and partly from concern. “Be careful, you're not even an hour out of surgery.”

“SURGERY,” he echoed, eyes growing wide like a child learning a new word for the first time.

Quickly, I raised my finger to my lips in a shushing motion. “Shhh,” I whispered, trying to keep the ambiance calm.

“Sorry,” he murmured back, his voice barely above a whisper. “Surgery,” he repeated, still in disbelief. I nodded my head reassuringly. “Yep.”

His gaze shifted down to the bulky cast encasing his arm, and a hint of worry flickered across his features. “I’ll be okay, right?” he asked, his lips forming a cute pout that tugged at my heartstrings.

With a small, warm smile, I replied, “You'll be one hundred percent before you know it.”

Silence settled between us for a few moments before Joe's attention was drawn to the TV mounted on the wall. The image on the screen captivated him: the Braves game was currently airing, their vibrant jerseys and energetic atmosphere almost tangible.

Suddenly, Joe grasped my hand with his good arm, his excitement palpable. “That’s you!”

Following his gaze to the TV and back to him, I nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, that’s me.”

“How are you there and here at the same time?” he asked, his eyes wide with amazement, as if he were trying to grasp a magical phenomenon.

I shook my head with a smile, my laughter bubbling just underneath the surface. “It’s an old game, baby.”

Joe smacked his lips in a playful manner. “Sure it is,” he drawled, his playful skepticism underlined with a grin. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.”

Furrowing my brows in mock confusion, I asked, “What secret?”

He beckoned me to lean closer, and I did, intrigued. He lowered his head and whispered conspiratorially into my ear, “That you can teleport.”

Deciding to play along with his fanciful notion, I grinned and asked, “You won’t tell anyone?”

He nodded seriously, letting go of my hand to place it over his heart, his expression earnest. “Scout's honor.”

“Good, now I’m holding you to it,” I pointed, my finger playfully accusing.

His gaze dropped again to his cast before returning to me, eyes filled with childlike sincerity. “How am I going to hold it?”

“In your heart,” I replied, laughter bubbling up again.

“How am I going to hold my heart?” he questioned, his tone imbued with genuine curiosity.

I shrugged, laughing a little. “I don’t know, with your hand, I guess.”

“But I can’t,” he whined, a pout forming on his lips once more. I fought to keep a straight face, biting my lip to stifle my laughter.

“Yes, you can. You have a whole other arm!” I replied, pointing out the obvious.

He glanced down at his left arm, the reality of his situation settling in. “I don’t like this one; I like this one,” he said, gesturing towards his uninjured arm, a touch of longing in his voice. “Will you hold my heart for me since I can’t?”

Hearing his sweet request made my heart flutter. I knew he was still under the influences of medication, but the sincerity in his eyes was unmistakable.

“Yes, baby, I will,” I promised softly, my voice barely above a whisper, knowing in that moment that I would always be there to hold his heart, no matter the circumstance.

[thegreatimpersonator]

since y'all seemed to want this.... here's the live notes i took while listening to each song for the first time (bold are thoughts i had during later listens)

fortnight: 

‘i was a functioning alcohol till nobody noticed my new aesthetic’ what the fuck does that even mean…

love the fact she gave post the female collab treatment. don’t wanna hear what he has to say. 

they’re voices sound actually good together? 

some pockets of the melody are catchy

okay i don’t hate this 

ttpd:

her red flags are on fire in this song lol

this seems very half-cooked

also jacks weird mixing continues to plague us all

CHARLIE PUTH???? WHAT THE FUCK WHY HE HERE

tattooed golden retriever??? ……no way

my boy breaks all his favorite toys:

i blinked and it’s half over

this also is like… half cooked and didn’t need to be released tbh

i love the way she sings the second verse tho

down and:

the production does not match the vibe

did tpain produce this

i’m… kinda bored lol

like i have nothing to say this also didn’t need to be released tbh 

this grew on me a lot actually

so long london 

the production is so futuristic? 

oh im obsessed with how she sounds on this one

her talk-singing in the verses is great

honest lyrics without any clunky unnecessary metaphors! a win!!

the fast-paced verses with th slow chorus is really really cool

a favorite so far

daddy i love him

i can barely hear her? the bad mixing continues 

‘growing up precociously sometimes means not growing up at all’ oh yeah WE KNOW

is this…… is this about her dating matty and loving how people hate him… no fucking way she’s this stupid

SHE IS BEING THIS STUPID

‘it’s white noise’ yeah yeah that’s exactly how id describe him  

.... anyway y'all remember when fans really believed the little mermaid theory and this song was supposed to be about how 'joe stole her voice' lmaooo

we will pretend this one doesn't exist!

fresh out the slammer

are we getting another ‘i didn’t cheat technically’ song lol

what is this weird tempo change….

okay kinda catchy

it’s sounds exactly like you are in love at the end….. jack is really out of tricks

florida

‘my friends all smell like weed or little babies’ what the fuck is she even talking about anymore 

i’m sorry but i’m laughing at the phrase ‘fuck me up florida’

again the production sounds so detached from the vocals 

i honestly still have no idea how i feel about this one

guilt as sin

an real instrument?? wow crazy 

okay she’s kinda cute? catchy and fun, love the melody

i love when she goes up at the end of the vocal 

okay…. i don’t mind this one she’s catchy, a little too long and drawn out but cute

who’s afraid of little old me?

what is this production? it’s way too soft to be as threatening as they’re trying for 

why did jack push her vocals back so far when she’s supposed to scream…. that’s ruins the whole thing…. she’s supposed to be screaming and threatening….. not quiet and far away…. hello

this song is trying very hard to be threatening but it’s not... vigilante shit 2.0

‘you wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum they raised me’…………… upper middle-class pennsylvania? 

‘i’m drunk on my own tears isn’t that what they all say, that’ll  sue you if you step on my lawn’ okay bar?

the bridge was good but that’s about it.

i can fix him 

…………… not another matty song oh god

‘i can handle a dangerous man’…… im too stunned to speak this is so embarrassing 

wow taylor really is that girl who like ‘women supporting women’ and then dates/defends a racist bf…. a walking example of white feminism

intersectional feminism found dead.... twice....

loml

okay this is really nice? 

I WAS ACTUALLY ENJOYING THE SONG WHY DID SHE RUIN IT BY SAYING ‘MR STEAL YOUR GIRL’ 💀

if we ignore that one line we're good this is good. im refusing to let that line ruin such a good song

i can do it with a broken heart

‘bitch smile’ why are there so many cringey lyrics on this album lol

what is this song omg why do i kind of like it 

taylor please learn depressed isn’t a synonym for sad 

they recycled the mastermind production 

wait till taylor finds out most of the entire world is sad while they're doing their job and has to pretend they're not

smallest man who ever lived 

oh i think i like this?

‘you said normal girls were boring’ GIRL AND YOU DIDNT IMMEDIATELY GET UP AND LEAVE??? EWWWW??? she's not beating the pick-me allegations

'i just wanna know if rusting my sparking summer was the goal' okay love that line

i like this a lot

the alchemy

no….. no way this is real

i cannot

THE SPORTS METAPHORS WE JOKED SHED DO THAT AND SHE ACTUALLY DID IT OH NO 

touchdown ✅ teams ✅ benches ✅ winning streak ✅ the league ✅

she’s doing…… the worst thing ever this is so laughable 

the corny lyrics are on overload 

‘this time it’s heroine with an e’ didn’t she write folklore? i can’t remember 

that literally was an snl parody of a taylor song

clara bow

love how the guitar sounds… bet money this is an aaron track 

a stevie nicks reference!! a win!!!

i like this one a lot no cringey lyrics yet

nope never mind she name-dropped herself don’t like that

overall really liked it tho

the black dog

i think i like it?? this is kind of what i expected the album to be

okay for once the weird production choices kind of pay off

imgonnagetyouback

kinda catchy? 

she loves a fancy car getting wrecked line

the pre-choruses are the best part 

this would’ve been better without the jack of it all bc he loves a song that doesnt build to anything

this just comes down to personal preference: i don’t like her lighter vocals with jack’s heavy production (ie most of lover lol)

the albatross

a real instrument!!! production that matches taylor’s voice and is well mixed!!! aaron’s arrived!! 

i think it’s solid, has good writing and she sounds great. that's about it.

chloe or sam or…

took me a solid minute to have any semblance of a fuck to know what was going on but okay

okay i love this one

wayyyy more emotive than like… most of the original album

a lot of the 2nd version (or whatever this is lol) are way more emotive, maybe because her voice isnt drenched in reverb so we can actually hear her voice emote better

how did it end

this sounds like an old school adele song? 

i love this one too…. 

her being upset people wanna know what happened but then also feeding it while promoting the album oop 

i love the story of this one it's so refreshing

so high school

THE PRODUCTION is so good ugh aaron never fails 

the man here is a walking red flag girl and the lyrics are ~not it~ but the production is too pretty to hate it

fuck these lyrics are so bad lol

maybe if i disassociate hard enough i can ignore the lyrics and just listen to the production and vibe

give me a karaoke version of this song and we'd be so back

i hate it here

i mentioned disassociation and she made a whole song about it!!!! this one’s mine!!!! 

‘without all the racists’ GIRL HUH

WHAT WAS THE REASON

also... girl don’t act like we don’t know you’re fine with that lololololol

if i had a dime for every time i was liking a song to then have it slapped away because of a bad, out-of-pocket lyric…… 

thank you aimee

this isn’t grabbing my attention 

oh the bridge is interesting 

it’s meh 

i will never be thanking the people that bullied me thanks tho

i look in peoples windows 

what do you mean aaron didn’t produce this??? it’s well-made and has instruments? 

i love this one, again a really interesting and unique concept that's very refreshing to hear at this point when a lot of the songs feel repetitive

the prophecy

aaron guitar!!!! 

she’s nice i like her 

i've really grown to love how she sings this one, the melodies are cool.. however i feel like we've heard the same melody.. like on this exact album... where she upturns at the end of every line...

cassandra 

this seems very…. familiar… idk i feel like we’ve covered this (i mean there are 31 songs we’ve already covered everything lol)

this is such an aaron song, that's a classic 'the national' piano

i like her voice in this one tho, sounds good

peter

oh love i love this

now this? THIS feels the most like a taylor swift song

once again she’s at her best with a simple instrument and emotive simple lyrics

the piano reminds me of champagne problems

the bolter 

i like this! the chorus is so cute

oh i like that ending line a lot!

she’s cute, a little long and drawn out but cute

robin

i haven’t seen anyone talk about this one

welp…. i literally have no feelings toward this one but sounds pretty! 

the manuscript

oh this is soooooooo powerful 

i love this concept 

her ending the album on another introspective album that sums everything up a la dear reader yep yep!!

if you actually read of this ily 💗

[iwishryuuandkohakuendedupalone]

This story really caught my attention, and after reading it. It left my mind, I have this weird love-hate relationship with ryuu. I feel like he was a very attractive character, I mean the way he was drawn look so ethereal. Something about him really turns girls on too. There wasn't a very clear answer on the dynamics of their relationship with Madoka, Yuzu, and Koharu. I feel like he really loved the three in his own way, but it's obvious that he feels a special way for Koharu in that panel where Ryuu and Yuzu were talking on how he's always talking about Koharu this and Koharu that. You can see in that chapters that Yuzu has always known that he was different to Koharu and she said to Koharu herself when Ryuu bought them a matching bracelet which she said "He doesn't often do with Madoka or her." Ryuu had been in love with Koharu for 12 years and until now I can't explain the depth of his feelings for her. It was like Koharu was something so precious that he wanted it all for himself and he wanted to spoil it. In that panel where he wanted Koharu to smile always for him and he would spoil it. As Koharu said before she was about to leave him, ryuu was a wimpy lonely kid who desperately was in love with her. Ryuu smiled and said that what she gave him was happiness. Ryuu's love for Koharu was deep and intense, something that overtakes him. I feel like that was what he meant when he said "I had to protect you."

As for Madoka, it was obvious that ryuu also felt something for her. As we can see on that part where ryuu wanted her back and regretted not stopping her. Madoka asked him to choose her and her alone, and ryuu didn't hesitate to say no. How they met, was different to how he met Koharu. He had the same past and story as Madoka and probably felt a familiarity in their life story. Madoka had the same sad past as him which includes doing things they didn't like. He started getting interested to Madoka because Madoka had the “curse" he would always bring up which he later also brought up with Yuzu when he first met her too. He helped Madoka and from then on Madoka never stopped following her whenever she goes. He didn't stop her but he made her promise that once she stop seeing him as a "God" she should immediately leave him which what made him not stop her when Madoka divorced him.

Madoka was all about ryuu, and her life was dependent on him, ryuu was well aware of that and used it on her to make sure he would not leave despite her suffering the polygamy. Until that panel where he saw how it was hurting Madoka and the memory of madoka flashed. And the interesting part was his reaction, when that memory flooded, Madoka asked him what's wrong and he replied with "No one used to notice us back then but look where we are now." It's clear that what he feels for Madoka is a relationship that he knows only Madoka and him could understand. The bitterness of his life and his career and as who he is as a person.

Yuzu on the other hand had the same "curse." By that curse it was the fact that yuzu was desperately in love with Joe. That she would always wait, and welcome him back anytime even though it's hopeless. Yuzu showed signs of jealousy to Joe which he never showed in harekon relationship. That curse was something also ryuu was connected to. The curse of being held captive by someone, and that someone was Koharu. She understood yuzu more than anyone and loved her too.

As we see, it's a very conflicting relationship with his partners. Yuzu and Madoka were like fragments of himself, it was what made him feel complete and enough. As he said they're dynamics is like going to a war with a sage, martial artist, and ect. Those two held a part of his heart, which only the two can relate on. Being a desperately in love boy, and a boy who had messed up past. Maybe that’s why, he was holding on to them despite when it was just him and Koharu, because those two were connected with him and understood a part of him that Koharu cannot. Madoka understood the pain of his past and Yuzu understood the pain of his deep love for Koharu. They were a part of his self that needed comfort and he saw it to them that he had the responsibility to comfort them because he knows what they feel. He needed them and they need him.

Koharu on the other hand, was something he didn't need. Something out of ordinary in his life. Something innocent, precious, and someone who always shines blindly for him. All the things he can't do, and he doesn't try to do like playing piano again no matter how Madoka begs, he easily did for Koharu. Koharu was a big contrast to who he was. He obviously was still expecting to see Koharu even after 12 years. It's also funny how he never once showed emotion when Madoka and Yuzu tried to leave, yet when he first met koharu and the time Koharu tried to leave he immediately broke down crying. The fact he also had a panic attack when Koharu tried to leave, and how he was crying desperately. He looked down on Koharu and the memories with Koharu flashed the same way it did with Madoka but with Koharu it was longer. With Madoka it made him understand the pain in Madoka and the toll on her but he didn't choose her. But with koharu when that memory flashed the question came. "If I told you that I love you and you alone, would you please stay?"

Koharu never made him choose because Koharu knew him better than anyone. Koharu found comfort in that relationship with Yuzu and Madoka. It’s also not talked enough on how the manga continued, the less she showed jealousy and started to genuinely enjoy the polygamy. But if she did make him choose, I think even if he denies it. He would have chosen her than the two. The other two gave him something the only two could understand, but what Koharu gave him was happiness.

Again it's just my own opinion on this manga, I'll never know what was going on in the writer's mind when she or he wrote this.

[schweizercomics]

THE GREATCOATS by Sebastien de Castell

I drew these up as one of the (mostly literary) paper figures I do each month for Patreon.

Despite always being drawn to the trappings of fantasy, there are precious few fantasy books (or movies, etc) that have resonated with me. One very notable exception is the Greatcoats series, four novels that follow a trio of comrades from an effectively-dissolved band of dueling magistrates, who, in their heyday, had been charged with enforcing unpopular verdicts against politically powerful folks who had, until that point, been untouchable by the rule of law.

It’s kind of a thrust-the-Musketeers-into-a-medieval-setting thing, and there are swordfights and sucked-into-political-intrigues-even-though-you’re-ill-suited-towards-them a’plenty, for folks who like that sort of thing, and I very much do.

From the first read (I’ve now read them all thrice, along with a collection of short stories), these have become some of my very favorite books, and I could not recommend them more highly. They can, at times, be a hard read; the world in which the Greatcoats live is an unjust one, and whatever terrible things you can imagine people doing (torture, sexual assault, murder, animal cruelty, etc) can and probably are enacted in it, but what has, to me, set this series apart from some other “grim” fantasies is the balance between the knowledge that the world is an unfair, cruel, and terrible place, with the wholehearted belief that it shouldn’t, and doesn’t have to be. Idealism colors every action of the leads, and there’s something incredibly moving and powerful about characters who persevere against impossible odds towards fairness and justice despite encountering the very worst examples of their absence, never in ignorance or denial but out of pure stubbornness.

De Castell crafts a narrative with masterful control over how it’ll affect the reader; it’s melodrama in the best way, with huge operatic emotional beats. They never feel calculated – they’re all earnest, and they’re all earned. There are sections that make you weep, that make you laugh, and (I suspect this is the rarest, and most difficult to achieve) that make you want to cheer, stomp, salute. Moving speeches, incredible narrative payoffs, characters for whom you desperately root. Plus, of course, the suspense of peril and the best action sequences I’ve ever encountered in prose. De Castell’s first-person narration of fight scenes from the point of view of a strategist follows a pretty wonderful pattern of beginning the fight, edging the audience, and then turning to an aside that informs the context of the fight - a lesson learned long ago, an observation about the human condition, a technique frequently incorporated by duelists, an anecdote – and then return to the fight, the new context both heightening the peril and also providing a means by which the reader can fully appreciate the very clever way that the hero(s) win despite being outmatched. It’s a great internal “meanwhile, back at the ranch” and it gives each action encounter (and they are joyously plentiful) narrative weight.

Again, I can’t recommend the series more highly. It has some truly great characters – the leads, the supporting cast, the villains are wonderful and terrible, and the setting is rich and immersive. De Castell describes it as “swashbuckling fantasy,” and it swashbuckles its heart out.

You can get it in print, or in unabridged audiobook (Audible has it, and probably your library does, too), wonderfully narrated by Joe Jameson.

There are a number of other great characters, too – co-leads in their own right – but to draw them is to provide spoilers, so rather than do a whole cast, as I sometimes do, I’ve stuck to the three that you get from the first page.

Design (for process buffs)

There’s not too much visual description about the characters; Kest is described as of average height and build, with short hair, Brasti has hair long enough to tie back and a beard and is tall… and I think that’s it (at least so far as I’ve noticed, or remember).

There’s a tendency to make archers lean and wiry – it compliments the arrow imagery, and a tight, sinewy form seems a carryover of the bowstring to its user, but I wanted Falcio to be lean and triangular, and stoic Kest to be square, so it got me thinking that Brasti ought to have rounder features to offset and compliment the others. He’s a country boy, too, and where I’m from the troublemakers are often a little meatier, so it felt fitting, though it does suggest that he's physically imposing in a way the stories don’t push. But I kind of like that beefy, country swagger he’s got. He’s carrying two bows, as it’s a plot point that he has bows for different purposes: a fast one, and a powerful one.

The eponymous coats were tricky; they’re practically magic; serving as armor (via little bone plates sewn under the leather) and utility belt, with little pockets for whatever the story may require the characters need. I wanted a way to make them modular, so I figured on making a pretty sturdy chest piece that folds back to allow the coat to be open and unbuttoned, and a rolled epaulet that unrolls and can be used as a gorget to protect the neck during a duel (or from the cold).

I wanted each of the characters to be able to wear the coat differently, to reflect their personalities: Kest, always at the ready and doing things the “right” way, has his greatcoat fully rigged. Byronic Falcio needs to be able to dash about with tragic romanticism, so his coat needs to be a little more open – I probably should’ve had the chestpiece partially unflapped ala the Rocketeer, but I also wanted it to read clearly. And Brasti wears his because he has to, so he has all the trappings tied or buttoned back.

Last Thoughts

For artist and writer pals, I’d highly recommend listening to any of De Castell’s interviews on podcasts or on youtube; he’s generous with his process and has a lot of great thoughts about the act of writing.

[seasidesandstarscapes]

Bite

Summary: They're playing Bobby's old team.

Between worry and anger, Don doesn't know which one will win out.

Rating: Explicit

Genre: Hockey AU, Angst, Major Character Injury, Protective Don Hume, Car Sex, Emotional Hurt/Comfort

Words: 2671

A/N: for @sparrow-in-the-field !! thank you for sending me this idea, it was fun and emotional to write shdfajskdl

-

AO3

or

There is a change to Bobby. 

Don can’t put his finger on it. It’s only been a week after all. Maybe it was the last game they played. They didn’t lose, but the talking they got from Ulbrickson was jarring at best. And Don knows as much as Bobby respects Ulbrickson, more often than not, they’re at odds. 

That doesn’t seem quite the problem however. From stilted smiles to short conversations, Bobby is somewhere else. No matter what Don says, all he gets is a wave, a reassurance that all is well. The helplessness carves into his chest and Don just wants Bobby to tell him the truth. 

Dinner is a quiet affair and when they’re in bed, watching a movie, Don finally tries again.

“You okay?”

Bobby is slow to turn from the TV, brows already furrowed. “Yes…? Why?”

Don shrugs, takes Bobby’s hand in his own. “You just seem a little off is all. Like something is on your mind.”

The sigh that leaves Bobby is drawn out, tinged with a hint of nervousness. “Have you looked at the schedule lately?” 

Don shakes his head. He doesn’t mean to lose track of games, but when it’s one right after the other, they tend to get lost in the shuffle. 

“We’re playing my old team soon.”

Don’s jaw tightens and he pulls Bobby close. Suddenly, Joe’s newfound attachment to Bobby makes sense. This day was bound to come, but Don worries that no one on the team is ready to handle what might be thrown at Bobby.

“Please don’t defend my honor or anything like that,” Bobby looks right in Don’s eyes. “Not that I wouldn’t appreciate it, but as much as I hate to admit it, Peterson is a damn good forward and we need you on the ice.”

A small sigh leaves Don. Bobby is right. If they want to sweep the game, they’ll have to be on their best behavior. No matter the anger that boils low in Don’s gut.

“Okay,” he nods. 

The corner of Bobby’s mouth twitches, a struggle to smile as the silence edges in. 

“I’m not going to let the puck get anywhere close to you,” Don promises. 

“I’m holding you to that.”

Don tilts Bobby’s head up, brings him into a soft kiss. Bobby’s sigh is heavy and Don just wishes he could take on every little thing that eats at Bobby. If only Bobby could never hurt again.

Bobby’s eyes are slow to open when the kiss ends and Don looks on with fondness. Entrancing doesn’t even begin to describe how Bobby looks, the way Don’s heart stutters. 

With a scowl, Bobby’s face turns red and he mumbles something under his breath. Don laughs at this, pulls Bobby onto him. The two adjust so Bobby is sitting on his lap and facing him. 

This earns him a quirked eyebrow, a sly grin, and Don knows the night has only just begun.

~

The locker room is tense. 

Any chatter is quiet, short. There is a cloud hanging in the air and Don chooses to focus on his stall. 

“Alright, boys,” Bobby clambers in, all dressed and ready to go. “I don’t want a single one of you in the penalty box.”

There are glances exchanged, a few nods. Joe’s mouth opens but before he can speak Bobby stops him. 

“Rantz,” he warns. “I know you’ve got some personal beef too, but what’ll really put them in their place is not letting them score a single goal. I know you boys can do it and I’ll be dead before I let a single puck get past me.”

“We’ve got your back, Bobby,” Roger reassures and the first smiles start to show. 

As tempting as it is to pull Bobby into a kiss, Don lets him leave the locker room with the first of the guys trailing behind. Throwing on the rest of his gear, Don is quick to follow, the mouth guard clamped tight between his teeth. His anger is unfamiliar, but he lets it settle deep inside, ready to jump only when necessary. 

The pre-game, the face-off is a flurry. Don is looking into smirking faces, catches a few choice insults when the ref is distracted. If his grip on his stick doesn’t snap it in half, slamming it into Peterson’s face will. 

But, Don does as Bobby asks. He doesn’t cave in to his emotions, keeps his head high. With Shorty and Joe with him, they’re a force to be reckoned with. Only once does Chuck have to get the puck out of Bobby’s zone. 

Then, one of the other players does the unthinkable. Don isn’t close enough, he doesn’t even see it happen until he hears Chuck’s shout. The game comes to a halt and Don scrambles over to Bobby. He’s on his hands and knees, head hanging low. His breaths are haggard and Don falls next to him, arm around his shoulder.

“He decked him!” Chuck yells at the ref. “His neck practically snapped in half!”

The ref is trying to calm Chuck and Don leans in close to Bobby. “What happened?”

“What Chuck said,” Bobby grimaces. “Fuck, I feel dizzy.”

Before Don can yell for Ulbrickson, he’s already there, kneeling on the other side of Bobby. 

“Let’s get you off the ice.”

“No!” Bobby shoves Ulbrickson and Don away, only to lose his balance. He falls against Don and winces. “I can do it, Coach.”

“Like hell you are,” Ulbrickson takes hold of Bobby’s arm. 

Bobby looks to Don for help, but Don has to take Ulbrickson’s side. It’ll be better to have Morry and take their chances than Bobby getting worse. 

With a frustrated groan, Bobby lets himself be taken off the ice. Don just wants to follow, but he stays rooted, gives Morry a nod as he takes his spot in front of the net. 

“Moch has you all eating out of the palm of his hand, doesn’t he?” 

Don turns to the voice, teeth grinding into the mouth guard. He gives an even stare to his opponent, hates the amused smile on the other man’s face.

“He must really be putting out this year. Got a pretty little mouth, doesn’t he?”

Don’s anger spikes but seeing Shorty hold Joe back out of the corner of his eye quells his fire.

“Yeah. Too bad you don’t get to have it anymore,” Don bites back. 

He skates to his position as the ref and coaches try to regain order. Don was determined to put their rivals in their place before, but now he wants them absolutely decimated. His boys match his energy and Don fights and fights. 

They win by a landslide and Bobby, now much better, pulls Don into a hug, almost sending him head over heels into the box. 

The locker room is full of energy in the aftermath and after Bobby’s reassurance that all he’ll have is a sore neck the next day, everyone splits off in their respective groups to rest for the evening. Outside of the locker room, Don throws his arm around Bobby’s shoulders as they walk down the hall. Bobby is already going a mile a minute, praising Don, gushing about Jim’s little trick that turned the other team on their heads. 

Don is just ready to cuddle with Bobby, but it seems life has other ideas. The hall is blocked with Peterson at the front, several other players around him, loud and joking. It’s their only way out and Don holds Bobby closer to him.

“Well, look who it is,” one of the guys calls out. “How’re you doing, Bobby?”

Bobby ignores it and Don tries to make a path for them. 

“Don’t be like that,” another attacks. “Come back to our hotel. Let’s make some more memories.”

Don’s heart breaks when Bobby flinches, but they keep pressing on. They’re outnumbered though he knows he and Bobby have a fighting chance. 

“How can you be with him, knowing what he does? He’s just a slut.”

They were almost free, but this is the last straw. Don turns on his heel, faces the rivals head on. 

“Don,” Bobby tries to stop him. 

“Yeah, that’s right. Defend the guy with the sex channel,” Peterson grins.

“You mean the channel that bought our penthouse apartment? Or are you referring to the fact that both of us are debt free?” Don is a charging bull and he doesn’t give the other men a chance to get a word in. “Not to mention how not a single one of you could score on him when he was in the net. Don’t know how you got into the leagues. And while you’re jerking off your useless dicks, I get to have amazing sex with the man you’ll never lay your hands on again. So, shut up before I knock out the last of your teeth.”

Grabbing Bobby, Don drags them out to the sanctuary of the parking lot. There’s no following footsteps but Don still makes sure the doors are locked when he and Bobby get into his car. 

“Sorry,” Don mutters before pulling out of the lot. 

Bobby is quiet their entire drive home and Don’s mind curses him. He just snapped, couldn’t stop the outpouring. It felt good to say all those things, but it might’ve been too much. He might have hurt Bobby.

When they get to their parking space, Don turns off the car and makes no move to get out. Bobby still hasn’t said a thing. 

“Bobby, I’m sorry. I was out of line.”

Don is slammed back into his seat with Bobby climbing on top of him and he crashes their mouths together. 

“Fuck, that was so hot, Donny,” Bobby pants between open kisses. “I wanted to fuck you right in front of them.”

Shock doesn’t begin to cover it, but Don returns Bobby’s passion all the same. He’s given no time to think as Bobby works open his jeans and he’s only shaken from his stupor when the car horn blares. 

“Shit,” Bobby leans forward. 

Don just laughs, pulls the seat lever so he can lay back to give Bobby some more space. Bobby grins and throws open the console where they keep lube just for occasions like these. He’s all over the place, about to grab the bottle before he’s trying to get his own jeans off. His sweater gets tossed into the back, but he keeps his shirt on as he finally frees himself from his jeans and underwear. Don barely has time to shove his boxers out of the way before Bobby is already stretching himself. 

So impatient he can be sometimes, but Don is endeared nonetheless. His hands trail up under the white shirt and he drags his nails along Bobby’s spine. Bobby whines at this, bites his lower lip as he shoves three fingers deep inside. 

It must hurt, but the smile Bobby gives Don isn’t pained at all. Instead, it steals Don’s breath away and he forgets himself. 

When Bobby lines up with his cock, Don just wants to shove all the way in. He needs to be consumed by every inch of this man. Never know a day’s rest without him. As if reading his mind, Bobby slams down pulling heady groans from both men. 

“Bobby,” Don’s head falls back against the seat. 

“Yeah, such a good boy for me,” Bobby breathes. He has one hand braced on Don’s chest, the other on the window. “So good.”

“Anything for you,” Don confesses. 

Bobby leans down to kiss him then. Don soars, sparks fly from his mind to his fingertips. Bobby is more than just his boyfriend. He’s both the storm and the calmness afterwards. He’s a kiss in the rain, the snow that melts in his hands. 

Don could cry at how lucky he is. 

When Bobby moves to lift his hips, Don sighs with all the love inside of him. He meets Bobby halfway and their bodies collide as they fall further into their hunger. Don can’t help but stare, locking his gaze with Bobby’s while he rubs a thumb along his lips, red and bruised.

“Touch me, Don, please,” Bobby begs, his hand fisting into Don’s shirt. 

He can’t say no to that. Don reaches for Bobby’s cock, stroking with a featherlight grip. It pulls a whimper out of Bobby and Don does it again just to hear that beautiful sound. 

Don can’t focus on just one part of Bobby. From his tight hole to his weeping cock, hair falling into his face, Bobby is a masterpiece. The parking lot is dark, but Don can still see Bobby’s eyes shine, blue like a diamond in the ocean.

Lost in ecstasy, Don squeezes Bobby’s sides, makes him cry out again and again. Bobby is almost there, his mouth dropping open, gasping, struggling for a single breath. Watching him fall apart is enough to drive Don over the edge, but he needs to see Bobby come. Needs to have his very being poured into him.

Bobby spills over Don with little warning and his moan shakes the car. It takes just a moment for Bobby to collect himself before he keeps moving on Don’s cock. Bobby teases him with slow drags, clenching his hole, but it’s more than enough.

“Bobby,” Don chokes out, slamming into Bobby, two, three more times before his own release crashes into him. 

Bobby falls on top of Don and the two hold onto each other as if this is their last moment together. The car seals them off from the rest of the world, a solitude so difficult to find some days.

“I love you. I love you so much,” Bobby whispers. 

Wetness falls against Don’s neck and in his worry, he pulls Bobby’s face into his hands. Bobby is crying, refusing to look Don in the eye. Don’s stomach sinks and he doesn’t know what’s broken.

He wipes at Bobby’s tears and kisses the corner of his mouth. “Bobby?”

It’s a tense moment as Bobby hiccups, mouth opening, but no sound coming out. Don can only hold his face, hoping his touch is some reassurance.

Bobby takes a slow breath, shaking and shallow, and his voice strains. “I don’t deserve you.”

Don doesn’t know what to say. He brushes Bobby’s hair from his face, keeps catching his tears. He would repeat his love over and over if it would be of any help. Before Don can, however, Bobby speaks up again.

“But I’m so happy, god, I’m so lucky I have you.”

Pulling Bobby back into a hug, Don squeezes him tight, rubs his shoulders. “You deserve the world, Bobby. I’m going to make sure you have it.”

Bobby sniffs, kisses the crook of Don’s neck. “You’ve given me that. All that and more.”

Don isn’t sure he’s earned such high praise. It’s Bobby who’s forged this new life for them. He’s the one that washes all of Don’s doubts away. But for Bobby, Don can convince himself that he’s done alright. 

After a few more minutes of just soaking in each other, Bobby finally opens the driver’s door. “Suppose we better,” he says as he peels himself off Don. 

He steps out, unashamed of his appearance as he grabs his discarded clothes from the back seat. Don’s thankful for the quiet parking lot as he takes off his stained hoodie and he waits for Bobby to pull on his jeans and shoes before they head to the elevators. 

Their hands are interlaced the entire way up and when they enter their apartment, Don tugs Bobby into one last kiss. They’re utterly exhausted, they’ll have to talk more in the morning, but for now, they can rest. 

As they crawl into bed, Bobby tucks himself into Don, arm wrapping around his waist. The warmth seeps into Don and he breathes, the world starting to make a little more sense. 

Bobby is his, to love and cherish, and he’ll be damned if anyone takes that away. 

[moonandmouse]

Bc I'm impatient and Ao3 is currently not totally functional for me, I'm gonna publish the first chapter of my Joe-is-the-one-in-the-iron coffin AU here first & then move it over. I've been meaning to play in this particular fandom sandbox for a while now so I'm psyched about this one. 😈 No knowledge of TOG 2 required, this is a purely TOG 1 compliant start. (edit: now with ao3 link!)

Fic title: sleep like dead men (wake up like dead men)

Rating: Explicit eventually (both for sex and for like...violence + coffin aftermath) but this first chapter is solidly teen

Nicky is already strapped down to a gurney when he regains consciousness: a pity, when he was rather hoping to be at least an inconvenience during the transfer.  They either stripped him of his shirt while he was out or, more likely, cut it off of him.  He has larger issues to manage than being faintly chilled—to whit, being strapped to a gurney and rolled through the corporate lair of a megalomaniac, accompanied by at least the four armed guards he can see—but he lets himself acknowledge the irritation before he puts it aside.  He will need to find another shirt in his eventual escape, and it will almost certainly be less comfortable than the one he was wearing.  Or he will make his escape half-naked, and later Quỳnh will tease him about—what is the name of that character again?  The one who always loses his shirt?

His gurney is rolled into an elevator, and the guards cluster closer to fit.  Nicky shifts, as unobtrusive a motion as he can make it.  If he can get a hand free just enough, the closest guard on his left has a firearm strapped to his belt.  Unfortunately, Nicky is well secured.  The guard sees the movement and shifts away slightly, muttering, "Try it and see what happens, asshole."  Nicky makes himself smile at the man, the particular smile that Andy tells him makes others uneasy.  "Freak," the guard sneers, and shifts further.

The elevator doors open, and Nicky is rolled down a hall.  The air is colder on this floor.  They must be approaching the lab of Merrick's preferred butcher.  Nicky had been hoping to avoid torture entirely, but he had never liked his odds for that: captured alone, disarmed, and very outnumbered.  Now, as they roll him through a set of double doors, into a room full of metal racks of medical equipment, it seems those odds have dropped to zero. They approach a second set of double doors, and Nicky casts through his mind for his distraction of choice during what is to follow: will it be music, this time?  Poetry?  Or perhaps—

The metallic doors swing open, and Yusuf is—

Yusuf is—

There is a low, wounded noise in the air, and Nicky hears it before he realizes he's making it.  

Yusuf is in this lab, strapped down to a gurney much like Nicky's, equally shirtless, hair cropped short and beard even shorter, but here.  Chest rising and falling with easy breaths.  There, the sweet dark eyes; there the perfect curve of his lips; the line of his neck, stubble yielding to smooth skin; the bow of his shoulders, posture a little slumped; his arms, below the straps, those arms which have held Nicky a thousand times; his perfect, strong, dexterous hands; Yusuf.  Yusuf, alive and breathing.  

Nicky had been so afraid that he was forgetting Yusuf after all these years; he both was and wasn't, as he now learns.  He'd forgotten the precise way in which Yusuf's hair curled, the exact shade of his brown eyes, so many small things.  He'd forgotten quite how Yusuf made him feel: like a compass needle drawn inextricably towards true north, an inescapable magnetism that Nicky would never, never fight. But he'd remembered enough to see his heart and know at once who this man was, this other half of him, even after 500 years.

"Am I dreaming?" Nicky asks, urgently.  "Have I died?  This seems an odd sort of Heaven, but if you are here then perhaps it might be."  

Yusuf says nothing, only looks at Nicky unblinkingly.  Slowly, in utter silence, tears form in Yusuf's eyes. His breath hitches—the tears well up against his eyelashes and then break over them to fall in thick wet trails down his cheeks—and still, still he is silent.  It is, very suddenly, intolerable; Yusuf was never the quiet one in their pair.  

"Is this real?"  If it is not, Nicky will bear it, as he must bear all things that cannot kill him, but a part of him will die of it, he thinks.  If he comes awake again and finds this has been a dream—the most beautiful dream— "I wish I could touch you," Nicky says.  "I wish I could touch you and know you are—are you really here, Yusuf?"

"Joe."

It is the first word Yusuf has spoken to Nicky in centuries, and Nicky feels it: not so much a sound as a sensation.  An arrow to the heart—a lightning strike—rapture.  Nicky lacks the words to describe it.  Of the two of them, Yusuf was always the poet.  Dazed, trembling, half-insensate with joy, Nicky says, "What?  Yusuf—" 

Yusuf flinches back against his gurney and snaps out, "Don't." 

And suddenly it occurs to Nicky, watching his love flinch: all is not well with Yusuf.

A moment later, Nicky wishes he could shake himself.  Of course all isn’t well with Yusuf—what a foolish thing to be taken aback by.  Had he forgotten, in the joy of this reunion, what caused their separation to begin with?  Had he forgotten that his love had spent five hundred years drowning?

Did he truly think Yusuf would be so quick to forget it?

“I’m sorry,” Nicky says, and then, because it is galling to offer such a paltry apology, “What do you need?” Would that Yusuf had returned to him somewhere else, anywhere else.  When Nicky had allowed himself the rare luxury of imagining Yusuf’s return, above all else he had pictured being able to offer his heart comfort.  A meal, of Yusuf’s choosing; a safe, warm place to rest; the comfort of his embrace, if Yusuf still wanted his touch: these were what Nicky allowed himself to dwell on, when he imagined Yusuf returning.  To have it happen here, instead, where Nicky has less than nothing to offer, feels like an ache in Nicky’s breast.  Still, he finds himself saying,  “Anything at all, Yusuf—”

“Notanother word, Nicolò.”

"Man," another voice says, "what the fuck are you two talking about?"

Everything comes back to Nicky at once: the guards, the restraints, the impending torture. They feel out of step now, somehow, less real than Yusuf. Nicky realizes, almost distantly, that there are hands on him. Ah. His position's been adjusted and he's been re-secured, in the time he spent singularly focused. A pity. That was likely the best window he'd have to escape for some time.

The asshole guard, seemingly irritated not to have gotten the response he wanted, doubles down. "If you're gonna be chatting away, can you at least do it in English?"

A familiar flicker of irritation lights in Yusuf's eyes: Yusuf, who has always worn his heart on his sleeve, who's never been able to stay quiet when provoked. "Why do you care?" he asks, in English less accented than Nicky's. "You feeling left out?"

Nicky's eyes fly to Yusuf's lips as he speaks, watching their movement as if that will change what he's hearing. It doesn't. English. Not the well worn pidgin of Ligurian, Arabic, and Greek that Nicky had instinctly fallen back into—the language they spoke most often between the two of them, the language they built together out of necessity hundreds of years ago—but English. How long has Yusuf been out of the water? How long has he been trapped here, in Merrick's hands?

"I should have figured you'd get more talkative when we brought another one of you in," the guard says, patting one hand proprietarily over Nicky's bare side. Nicky jerks from the touch, baring his teeth instinctively. With the restraints in place, he cannot go far. "You two old friends?"

Yusuf's gaze locks flintily on the guard. The muscles in his arms and chest draw tight, tense. "You want to know more about me? Come closer. I'll whisper in your ear."

The guard snorts a little laugh. "None of us are that stupid anymore. Anyway. Enjoy your reunion while it lasts, boys. You've got a doctor's appointment today." At his signal, the rest of the guards start to move towards the exit. The talkative one has some kind of rank, then.

"Yeah, go ahead and laugh, big guy," Yusuf says. "I've got a good memory for faces, and a long, long time to get out."

"I'm shaking in my boots," the guard calls over his shoulder, and then the lab's door swings closed behind him before Yusuf can get a last word in.

Not that that stops Yusuf from trying. "You will be!" Yusuf calls loudly towards the door. Then, more quietly, "Asshole."

With the guards gone, Nicky and Yusuf are alone—together—for the first time in hundreds of years. "Yusuf—" Nicky starts to say, with no idea of what he's going to say next. Beloved, speak to me, maybe. I cannot begin to say sorry to you—I could never find words strong enough—but I would say it again and again for the rest of our long lives if you would let me—

But it doesn't matter what Nicky would say next, because Yusuf speaks first, says in that same smooth English, "My name is Joe."

It feels as though there's a stone lodged in Nicky's throat, and no amount of swallowing shifts it. "Alright," he manages to croak out. "Joe."

Yusuf—Joe, Nicky has to remind himself, Joe—closes his eyes. Hoarsely, he says, "Merrick has this whole place rigged up. Cameras, audio, everything. I'd rather not give him anything to work with, if we don't have to."

They could speak freely, if Yusuf—if Joe—would just leave English alone; Nicky knows that it would take years of looking for linguists before Merrick could even begin to translate their particularly archaic pidgin tongue, if he ever could. Nicky could say this.

He looks at Joe: hunched in on himself in his restraints, his eyes closed tight. What wouldn't Nicky give, to offer this man even the slightest comfort?

"Alright," Nicky agrees, gently.

He closes his eyes, and waits.

[dragonlizard89]

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens review (spoilers)

For some odd reason none of my high school teachers assigned me Dickens, and I avoided the Dickens course in college, owing to the fact that I had no idea what to expect from him. All I really knew of him was what had percolated into pop culture; more direct knowledge was little, since I had somehow managed to avoid watching most TV and movie adaptations during my lifetime, and so this is my first Dickens novel.

He certainly isn't stuffy like other Victorian writers can be. It's easy to see why he was the preeminent Victorian writer, why he's acclaimed by both popular and critical opinion. From page one I was instantly enthralled by his powers of narration. This is truly a yarn spun. The rhythm of his words, his way with words--well, this book seems perfect for reading aloud. The stakes are there; yet, there is a lot of wit and humor in the narration which propels it forward. You understand Pip's fears and motivations so totally. It's easy to care about the characters, who are all so wonderfully drawn and memorable, even the side characters. It's easy to see them in your head as well as visualize every place or thing that's happening in the story, especially Miss Havisham and Satis House. Dickens has such wonderful powers of description. When he establishes setting it just seems so easy to him. Pip has his flaws and mistakes (not visiting Joe and Biddy!) but you still sympathize with him in most ways. In fact you sympathize with basically everyone. I suppose I know what the term Dickensian means now.

This is the type of storytelling where every element is interlinked. If a character is introduced, you can be sure they will be involved in some fashion later on no matter how minor they may seem initially. Of course, I also know now why people always mention the whole serialization aspect of Dickens and how he was paid by the word or whatever. Some of it might be wordiness or going into a character's thoughts way too much, but more of it was that Dickens certainly could've condensed the narrative if he wanted to. Like, I got way too many words on Mr. Wopsle and Mr. Pumpelchook. They were annoying as hell (as they were designed to be, I know). I thought of knocking a bit off the rating for this reason, but I suppose I can't.

It's quite skillful how much ground is covered, taking Pip from childhood to a young adulthood full of hopes and dreams and expectations and then to a more weathered adulthood at the end, giving him as well as Estella valuable perspective. You really feel like you've lived through a life with all its ups and downs, the soaring heights and hopes, the aching wants and disappointments. You feel the relationships so acutely--the friendship of Herbert, the distance of Estella, the good heart and devotion of Joe…. Just a well-spun yarn with no loose ends. My only unfulfilled wish was for Estella and Magwitch to have met each other. 5/5 stars.

[snowbunnytrick]

(I think I nearly blacked out writing this I was possessed by the divine Peterick spirit. I'm too scared to put this on my own blog but I need the world to hear and I think you'd like this ram me based on your fic ref list)

Not to like, insanely dead dove-ify peterick but something that swims around in my head SO MUCH is how it really does feel like Pete took Patrick on a whirlwind when he was just a kid. Some slightly creepy, hopelessly suppressed bi-curious in the early 2000s, touch starved, boystarved, Patrick-starved 20/21 year old falling in love at first sight with a precious, pink, stupidly awkward dork 16 year old. So much that he still remembers what Patrick was wearing. Doesn't care for his audio recordings that Joe showed him until he SEES him, yknow? There's an inherent freakness there.

Promising his mom you'll take good care of him and sleeping next to and on top of him, crowded and trapped in the back of a shitty van you can barely cover the gas costs of. Spinning around and shoving against him on stage and screaming in his mic and getting to take him home with you every day. Your golden ticket, a sweaty teenager getting into YOUR van.

Ugh and I could go on forever about it. How by ioh there's this inkling of Patrick growing up. Still so young but getting his senses. Seeing how real relationships work. He's in his 20s now. 22/23 and Pete 26/27 and seeing his grip loosening. He knows he's losing him. He's even clingier on stage, writing love songs about teenage promises and calling him before calling even his mom after overdosing. (Though I'm not sure if that one is urban legend.)

I think part of how bad the band dynamic was after Folie was that venom Patrick had for Pete. It's 25/26 and 29/30. Patrick sees Pete being sold as this tabloid figurehead and he's stolen his late teens and early 20s. Spent his last high school summer with this dickhead who can't keep his life together. Who fights with him on everything and he needs out NOW but Pete's holding on so tight he's drawing blood and then licking the wounds. He needs him.

Soul Punk being the flop it was (completely ahead of it's time, besides the point) and feeling like you've failed. Pete made you peak and dragged you down with him. You can't start over. So you give in. He asks to hang out again and you get those words again. The same ones that made your brain light up with their rhythm at 16. The drummer in you. And you go back to him. And things are scary and careful and you're walking on eggshells but it's nice. It comfortable. You sink back in and do 2 records back to back. He's learned. He knows what he's done to you but he doesn't have to apologize. His lyrics are his apology.

Mania being so polarizing, too. Trying new things and not letting it get to you this time. You've conquered each other, you don't need the world. You can write music for each other and yourself and no one else. And stardust is just. So so so full circle. It's okay. Everything makes sense again. You can dance on stage and Pete can recite his words to people and not just a recording booth. It's 39 and 44 and you wouldn't trade it for the world.

YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH OH MY GOD ……. what a wonderful little essay you’re SO fucking right!!!! something that has always drawn me back to them after drifting back and forth to them in bursts of obsession is just. like. every single little facet of their relationship that has developed over the years and how it all well and truly stemmed from this very strange, unnatural, curious, twisted, enchanting fascination that this local too-sick celebrity cursed/blessed with boundless charm and a too-big heart and so much ink and mean white teeth and dirty dirty hands had with this fucking geeky teenage boy with patchy sideburns and bitten-through red lips and an off-kilter voice that he was still trying to grow into and limp skinny wrists and a pudgy stomach. he took that teenage boy to college parties, he bought him gifts, he took him to the movies, he made sure to saturate every square inch of his life with this new world that this kid was being thrust into—partially by force. waiting with baited breath until summer break starts and taking him across the country with him to breathe into his neck and touch him and tug on him and push him around until he snaps and it feels so fucking good when he does. patrick’s entire adolescence and the foundation of the rest of his life was permanently altered through pete and everything that started in the summer of 2001 still remains to this day in little touches and glances and inside jokes and intimacy and tenderness and adoration that most people would kill to feel. it’s so endlessly, hopelessly romantic and there are so many wounds that have been pulled open along the way and then either clumsily or carefully sewn back up…..… all these moments of intense codependency and tragedy and violence and anguish and possession and desperation. they feel so deeply for each other that it’s manifested so many times in the worst that humanity has to offer. i’ll never get away from them because they will never get away from each other because they physically can’t. it destroys them every single time it happens. and that makes me happy

[ronaldanthony4]

I’ve created another digital artwork, and, as usual, it’s a fan art. This time, I’ve drawn a character who’s close to my heart—BJ, the lively yellow Protoceratops from Barney & Friends. Now, some people might not remember him as clearly as Barney himself, but to me, BJ is every bit as memorable. His unique character and vibrant appearance always stood out in the colourful world of Barney, and I thought he’d be the perfect addition to my fan art collection.

BJ is a seven-year-old dinosaur, full of energy and mischief. Every time I watched him on Barney & Friends, I felt like his spirit brought an extra spark to the show. His design is so distinct—he’s a bright yellow Protoceratops, which, as many of you know, is a dinosaur with a distinctive frill and beak. BJ’s frill is large and adorned with purple spots, which are scattered all over his body as well. I made sure to capture those spots in my artwork, dotting them around his arms, legs, and even his cheeks. They add such personality to his look, almost like a hint of freckles, and they make him feel even more real and alive.

Of course, no picture of BJ would be complete without his iconic red baseball cap. It’s such a classic part of his look—worn backwards, with a tuft of hair peeking out right in front. I like to think that hair tuft is BJ’s way of showing he’s just a little bit rebellious, a little bit cooler than your average seven-year-old dinosaur. His red cap, like his character, is bold and bright, a colour that stands out and draws attention. I made sure to add shading to his cap to give it depth and realism, and the little tuft of hair just beneath it is a personal touch I had fun drawing. It adds a softness to his otherwise sturdy, dinosaur look, and makes him appear even more endearing.

BJ’s red and white sneakers are another trademark part of his outfit, and I had a lot of fun illustrating those. They’re chunky, with oversized white laces that stand out against the bright red of the shoes. In the show, his shoes always gave him a sporty look, which makes sense since BJ is always on the move. Whether he’s playing a game, riding his scooter, or just running around, those sneakers are practically made for adventure. In my artwork, I paid extra attention to those details—adding little highlights and shadows to make the sneakers look realistic, as though you could almost reach out and touch them.

But BJ’s personality is what really brings the character to life. I tried to capture his playful expression—his eyes wide and full of curiosity, a friendly smile on his face. BJ has always had this slightly mischievous look about him, like he’s ready to jump into the next game or come up with a fun idea. Drawing his facial expression was one of the most enjoyable parts of the process. I wanted to show that spark, that hint of energy that he carries with him everywhere. His eyes are a warm shade of brown, with little highlights to make them look alive. It’s amazing how much character you can bring out with just a few details in the eyes and mouth.

There’s a lot more to BJ than just his appearance, though. He was named after Sheryl Leach’s father, Billy Joe “B.J.” Stamps, as a way of honouring him. From what I understand, B.J. Stamps was a significant influence on Sheryl Leach, and this naming choice was a heartfelt memorial to him after he passed away near the end of Barney & Friends’ first season. Originally, his name was spelled with periods as “B.J.”, but eventually, they simplified it to just BJ. This change helped avoid the inevitable questions from young fans about what the letters stood for. And now, in the latest series, "Barney’s World," they’ve gone even further and evolved his name to Billy. It’s a thoughtful progression, almost as if the character himself is growing up.

BJ is more than just a friend to Barney—he’s part of a little family of friends that makes the show so special. He’s the older brother of Baby Bop, a role he takes seriously in his own charming way. He calls her “Sissy” most of the time, which I think is adorable. It’s a sibling nickname that shows his affection, though on rare occasions, he’ll use her actual name. It’s these little details that make their relationship feel genuine and relatable. Even though they’re dinosaurs from the imagination of children, BJ and Baby Bop have this real sibling bond that makes them feel like part of our own families.

Then there’s his cousin, Riff, who’s also his best friend. The dynamic between BJ and Riff is a lot of fun—they share a lot of interests, especially when it comes to music. Riff, as you might know, is all about music and rhythm, and BJ loves the drums. BJ players drum in his rock band, BJ and the Rockets. BJ is often seen with his drumsticks, tapping out rhythms and adding his own beat to any situation. I imagine him as the kind of kid who can’t resist tapping on any surface he finds, always creating a beat, always adding a bit of music to life.

When I look back at BJ’s character in Barney & Friends, what really stands out is his boundless energy and his love for sports. BJ is the kind of dinosaur who’s always moving, always ready for the next game or adventure. Whether it’s baseball, basketball, or soccer, BJ throws himself into every sport with enthusiasm. He’s never met a sport he didn’t like, and I think that makes him relatable to a lot of kids watching the show. Sports are a way for BJ to express himself, to channel all that energy into something fun and constructive. In my artwork, I tried to capture that sense of movement, that readiness to leap into action at any moment.

One of my favourite aspects of BJ’s character is his superhero alter-ego, Captain Pickles. It’s a playful side of him that shows his imagination and his love for a good adventure. The name “Captain Pickles” is a nod to his favourite snack, pickles, which I think is such a quirky and charming detail. Every time BJ pretends to be Captain Pickles, he’s showing us the power of imagination, of transforming yourself into something brave and heroic. Drawing BJ made me think of how much fun he’d be having as Captain Pickles, zooming around and saving the day in his own playful way.

BJ’s enthusiasm and impulsive nature make him a bit of a handful sometimes, but that’s part of what makes him so loveable. He’s the type of character who doesn’t always think things through, who acts first and thinks later. But he’s also quick to apologise and make things right. He cares deeply about his friends and family and is always ready to help, even if he might get himself into a bit of trouble along the way. This combination of impulsiveness and kindness is something I wanted to reflect in his expression—he’s not perfect, but he’s genuine, and that’s what makes him such a beloved character.

Creating this fan art of BJ was more than just a drawing exercise; it was a chance to reconnect with a character who represents so many good memories. In every line and colour, I tried to bring out his personality, to show not just what he looks like but who he is. BJ might be a character from a children’s show, but he has layers, and there’s a lot to appreciate about him. His bravery, his curiosity, his love for fun and adventure—they’re all qualities that make him someone to look up to, even as a dinosaur in a child’s imagination.

As I finished the artwork, adding the final touches and shading, I felt a sense of satisfaction. BJ looked back at me from the screen, his bright yellow frill spotted with purple, his cap tilted just right, and that friendly, slightly mischievous smile on his face. It felt like he was ready to jump out of the picture and go on his next adventure. And maybe that’s the magic of BJ and characters like him—they make you feel like there’s always another game to play, another mystery to solve, another friend to help.

In the end, creating this piece reminded me of why I love drawing characters like BJ. They’re simple, but they’re also deeply meaningful. They bring out the best in us, reminding us of the joy of imagination and the importance of friendship. BJ is more than just a yellow dinosaur with a red cap and sneakers; he’s a symbol of everything fun and innocent about childhood. And as long as we have characters like him, there will always be a reason to celebrate imagination, kindness, and the magic of being a kid.

[epickiya722]

Hello, can I ask from this ask game :

https://www.tumblr.com/threecheersforinking/677824836625694720/anime-ask-game?source=share

For anime/manga : Sk8, Demon Slayer, BNHA, and Jujutsu Kaisen.

Thanks 🌻

I guess so, Anon! 😆

**

SK8 THE INFINITY 🛹

Favorite Character: Reki, hands down it's Reki. He's just such a great character to me, honestly a little bit of relatable (both as someone who isn't sure of themselves and having siblings).

Favorite Arc/Episode/Scene: The beach episode is definitely my favorite episode. But I gotta say the epilogue scene he has with his family is one of my favorite scenes because it's so damn cute!

Favorite Ship/Pairing: Reki/Langa is my favorite! They're just so cute!

Character I Think is Underrated: Oka is one, Sketchy is another. But a really underrated character? Miki. She's the green haired woman seen in the first episode. Made a post about how she should be a more major SK8 character. I like her design very much and I just think she should be a bigger part of the cast as a skater.

Character I Think is Overrated: Ooh, it's like most of the main cast... Reki is definitely one, Langa is one, too... Shadow is more underrated though... but it's definitely Joe and Cherry!

Something I Love About the Show/Movie: What mostly drawn me in to the show was the vibrant colors. I love colors and the aesthetic of the show is a bonus to me. Also, I love that Reki isn't like some big shot protagonist where he can outskate everyone and anybody. Really like it took an opposite approach, and hone in that he was the more creative type.

**

DEMON SLAYER 🗡

Favorite Character: Tanjiro! He is just so precious, kind and badass! (And it will always gets me how he got that hard ass forehead he got from his mom.)

Favorite Arc/Episode/Scene: Just any time he interacts with Nezuko will always touch my heart. One scene I adore a lot is from the Swordsmith Village arc when Tanjiro braids her hair to mimic Mitsuri's style. It was just too cute. Ooh, but overall my favorite arc so far has to be the Entertainment District arc. Gyutaro and Daki actually became my favorite antagonists because of that arc. And the opening for that arc in the anime is one of my favorite songs.

Favorite Ship/Pairing: I actually had to stop and think for this one. "Do I have a favorite ship here?" Okay, I gotta admit Tengen with his wives are cute. (Watching the anime in dub though becomes something else when you also watch JJK in dub and realize Sukuna and Uraume are married here.)

Character I Think is Underrated: Hmm... I wanna say Mitsuri for this one. Every since the Swordsmith Village arc came out, everywhere I turn there's some video on how Muichiro put in work in his fight scenes, and he did. I applaud that precious little misty guy. But I don't see a lot or even a little praise for Mitsuri and she was whipping that sword!! If anything, that is very impressive that she has a sword like that!!

Character I Think is Overrated: Ah... I gotta say it's tie between Uzui and Rengoku. But before anyone gets on my ass, I do adore both characters very much. (Remember seeing a post that had the absolute nerve to put Rengoku on the list of "frauds".)

Something I Love About the Show/Movie: That anime definitely deserved the animation award. But for me, it's definitely the character designs. The art style makes those designs pop and a lot of the way the characters look pleases me. Like the demons? They don't look like your average demons. One of the reasons why Tanjiro is my favorite is because of his character design.

**

MY HERO ACADEMIA ✨️

Favorite Character: If you have been following since forever, you already know I'm going to say my favorite two are Miruko and Midoriya. They're both my #1s.

Favorite Arc/Episode/Scene: The first half of Miruko's episode. I'll be honest... while I do like Kaminari, every time I rewatch that episode I just watch the Miruko parts. Another episode I really like is the dorm episode because it's mostly like a feel-good episode for me.

Favorite Ship/Pairing: It's Burnin/Miruko for me. "They haven't inter---" Ah! I am allowed to ship characters who haven't interacted and I adore them. Right now, they are my top ship.

Character I Think is Underrated: A lot of them. 😭 First person that comes to mind is Rock Lock. I would question, too, why kids are at a meeting about a dangerous situation. He's a husband and a dad and he loves his family! Of course, he would ask that!

Character I Think is Overrated: In-Universe, Hawks. I'm sorry, but every time there is a scene that showcases how he has many fans I just make this face 😐. He's like that famous gut almost everyone and their mama loves but you are just like "... what's so great about him". I mean, I get it, I do and I like Hawks. But... Also by the fandom, other than Hawks, Dabi and Bakugou. I feel like I don't have to explain here. Again, characters I like, but they are overrated. "But, Kiya, you like Midoriya!" I do! And I don't know if there is another popularity poll coming up, but if he doesn't get #1 on that I will scream. Come on, 9th poll? He is the 9th OFA user?

Something I Love About the Show/Movie: Definitely the range of quirks here. Some quirks, Horikoshi definitely got creative with. Also, say what you want, I like how some of the common tropes are here, but not exactly. Weird thing to be happy about, but I was happy I had to guess who the protagonist was because Midoriya didn't look like the typical one. (I didn't watch the first season first.)

**

JUJUTSU KAISEN 😈

Favorite Character: Yuji Itadori! He is my sunshine! Also a little feral and will take your kneecaps. Like Midoriya, I find he's not really the typical protagonist. He has some traits, but others you don't see too often in protagonists.

Favorite Arc/Episode/Scene: I do like the Shibuya Incident and Culling Game Arcs. Personally, for me, and yes I'm a little bias, my favorite scenes are those with Yuji. My favorite fight scene is his fight against Choso. Now, for the Culling Game Arc, I really enjoyed the fight between Uro, Ryu and Yuta. Mostly because Uro was the best character for me there. But fight scenes aside, I gotta say that other scenes I enjoy are those scenes Yuji has with Megumi and Nobara.

Favorite Ship/Pairing: ItaFushi is the first ship I got into! It's just... it makes me want to cry. Also, NobaMaki! Oh my gosh, that scene they have after the small confrontation with Mai? Love that scene!!

Character I Think is Underrated: The Kyoto students as a whole. My favorite out the bunch is Kasumi Miwa. She's just so silly, kind and come on. I know she says she's frightened at times, but she's also really brave to still fight. I admire that.

Character I Think is Overrated: Once season 2 came, I swear Toji has been a favorite almost overnight! Don't blame the fans, of course. And, no surprise, Gojo and Sukuna.

Something I Love About the Show/Movie: If I need a story to break my heart, I know I can just look to JJK! And I mean not in a dramatic way, I mean like "I'm watching a horror movie and the character I hot attached to too fast dies". Okay, for real though, one of the strongest points for me is the characters. I find a lot of the characters entertaining and intriguing. Even if it's a character I don't practically like. When it comes to the characters, I actually don't get bored of them. There's probably a couple I don't really care for. Also, unpopular opinion, I do like Akutami's art style from the beginning and to end. The style before has this charm to it I just like and it's the same for the style now.

Anime Ask Game

[prakharstuff]

Watched 2 Ghibli studio movies this past week and this is why I adore them.

First being an animation film I have to appreciate the phenomenal animation which kept me unblinking and mesmerized the whole of the movie.

Second was the themes and symbolism which I will discuss for both films.

Spirited away:

What I observed is that this and other movies from this studio don't have a definite beginning and end but between them, a beautiful story is woven.

In Miyazaki's films often concepts interpenetrate each other; it is not necessarily good or bad and the main hero seeks harmony, not triumph.

It's also just an incredible film in general. Its superiority is beyond anime, you don't need to watch more anime to enjoy it, it goes beyond animation in general. It has an original plot with an intriguing story and characters, it's stunning to look at and Joe Hisaishi's scores are one of the best in cinema history. Animation is so incredibly detailed and fluid, you completely forget that this is something drawn frame by frame by hand.

When No Face is running amok every single member of the crowd is a unique hand-drawn character. They aren't duplicating with computers like most comics will do. Also, the background characters are getting the same number of keyframes as the foreground characters, even when they aren't the focus of the shot.

None of those softballs is copied and pasted, they are all uniquely drawn. This probably gets completely missed by most people but animators geek out over how often Miyazaki chooses NOT to skip corners, even when there is no way the audience would notice.

The thing which I love the most about Spirited Away is that it is loaded with symbolism and cultural commentary on modern Japan and the rest of the world.

The most prominent one of course: Capitalism and Western influence on Japanese culture.

The laborers are all indentured servants to Yubaba, who takes their real name from them (which in turn suggests that capitalism is distorting and erasing Japanese identity). This is similar to the norm of lifetime employment, where a worker's individuality is replaced by the will of the firm. Characterized by lifetime employment and unending devotion to the company he's employed by. This is the figure you see in movies who leaves to work before his family wakes up and comes home to a sleeping family and a wrapped plate of food on an empty dinner table. This work ethic and attitude was the cultural norm for working Japanese men from the 1950s when salarymen were considered the engine of Japan's economic recovery. It later became a topic of critique in the 1990s and 2000s after the Japanese economy collapsed.

Although the bathhouse is physically a symbol of traditional Japan, with its architecture and spirit clientele, at its heart are capitalism and salarymen. The bathhouse proprietress and witch Yubaba is a symbol of cold, indifferent capitalism. All her actions are motivated by money and gain. There is a scene when her baby is transformed into a hamster. When Haku tells her something precious of hers is missing, Yubaba first looks at her gold and treasures before looking for her child. Even the workers are all also motivated by money.

All in all, with serene animation and music with essential symbolism this may not be my favorite film but it was one of the greatest and worth the hype.

(The next film in next post)

⊙‿⊙

[jvstheworld]

The Buffy Re-watch: S1E8 (part 1)

I, Robot, You, Jane

Also known as the perils of online dating

The title itself is a play on 'Me, Tarzan, you, Jane'. The only version of Tarzan I've seen is the 1999 Disney one, Does anyone remember the TV show they did of it? And did anyone like it when it was a playable world in the first Kingdom Hearts game? For me it was kind of meh.

Straight away we know who our monster of the week is. Moloch. A demon that was around in 1400s Italy corrupting people to love him before he kills them. Sort of a Jim Jones vibe here.

Circle of Kayless. Huh, sounds kind of Klingon to me.

Evil demon is trapped in a book and kept in storage for 500 years until it happens to be in the possession of our favourite librarian. Question is: how did he get?

The first appearance of Jenny Calender. And is the complete opposite of Giles. Those tend to attract.

Giles in this season is hesitant to scan his books for easy access, but this is something he tries to do at the beginning of season 5 when he is making plans to leave for England. But the project was probably never finished as when he does leave in season 6 the gang still use the books.

Fritz's speech on the greatness of virtual vs paper is kind of true, but in a very annoying way. We currently have everything an our finger tips, news, books, TV, film, any info we want we can find by going online, and get it quicker than we can brew tea. it's convenient, anyone can access it as long as it's not behind paywall, and it is often cheaper than a physical copy. However, you don't own it. With what we are seeing with streaming services removing films and shows from their libraries is that nothing is permanent. Companies like HBO do it so they can save money. It's imperative, now more than ever, to own physic copies of the things you like because it may disappear virtually. Tech is great and using it can make lives easier, but in some cases just because you paid for it, doesn't mean you own it. Physical copies my cost more and take up space but it will still be there for later.

Giles is horrified that more interactions take place digitally that face to face. Yeah, it just gets worse over time. Giles would hate social media.

Jenny is flirting with Giles, so cute.

How is Willow scanning anything. She's holding the scanner so close to the book that she's missing both sides of the page and she did like 2 pages. What was the point of that?

Demon is a computer? Oh shit!

Chad Lindberg- also starred in Supernatural as Ash, the guy who lived at The Roadhouse with Joe and Ellen in season 2. There are a few Buffy actor who appeared in Supernatural, including Charisma Carpenter who was in season 7 episode 5 playing Maggie Stark, the wife of Don Stark who was played by James Marsters.

Did you notice that Willow has a photo of her and Giles in her locker door? When did they take that? Also gives more credence to her admission that she had a crush on him in season 4 episode 18.

Buffy has a good reason to be mistrustful about Malcolm. This was back when internet dating wasn't as prevalent as it is now. Nowadays it's more widely accepted, hell my dad met my step-mum through a dating site. The internet was still in its infancy here and Buffy just wants to make sure that Willow isn't getting catfished. I mean she is, but they don't know that yet.

An extra is talking about how his history report got messed up to say things that should not be said. We get a few details like this throughout the episode to show the scope of what Moloch is capable of.

Okay, okay, okay. I went on a couple of tangents and turned one point into a slight rant. Won't guarantee it won't happen again because it most definitely will. These posts I'm doing are in order of what happens in each episode and what I think of while watching them, so tangents happen and so long, drawn out thoughts.

Part 2 tomorrow.

[like-rain-or-confetti]

hi, Vanity, are ok? Hope so!

well, would linda writing some headcannon of Midnight Mass with John Pruitt and a s/o witch

Ohhh okay okay, I'm going to completely stick with the story but add this side character so MAJOR SPOILERS to anyone who hasn't seen midnight mass and intends to! Im also doing this by memory. I havent watched it since it first came out so if i forget or get something wrong- my bad! I also know nothing about witch craft personally so this is my best guess.

Also I'm good, I'm just going through some health stuff and life changes for the better! I talk about it a few posts down. Thank you for asking ❤️

So this relationship wasn't forseen by either when the young handsome priest arrives to the island for the 'first' time.

Witchcraft isn't actually frowned upon by most- except Bev Keane because she is a bitch and everything is beneath her. But no witch craft isn't really known to if it works or doesn't but you seem nice enough so maybe you aren't any harm right?

But back to the handsome priest man who is focused on bringing the community together in worship...kinda. mostly. It's a goal of his.

So he originally doesn't think much of the witch craft stuff. He's a believer in the freedom to choose ones own belief system. Unlike some certain church members -COUGH-

He's even rather fascinated by it along with the Sheriff who knows what it's like to be deemed an outcast before you so much as step through the door. Both passionate in the pursuit of knowledge and becomes quite the therapeutic relationship. A friend who has compassion without judgement and a friend who takes pride in the pursuit of knowledge and constant interest in the world around him.

The small community really brings everyone together just like small communities do.

Things begin to change between you and the priest, John Pruitt. He was like an old soul you couldn't help but be drawn to with eyes full of life-long pain despite his young appearance. Yet he still saw beauty in the present day. He's mystifying and comforting. The days of time together become more frequent as time goes on.

You notice he's rather secretive. He appeared as though an open book but you couldn't help the feeling you were only getting half of the story.

Things were getting strange around the island. Cats turning up dead on the beach put most if not all on edge of a potential virus but all is reassured by John who is zoning his focus on newly returned Riley who needs mandatory AA meetings as a part of his release.

John expresses his concern about poor old Mildred Gunning, who was slipping away with every day. He was told she was very passionate about her religion after all before she got too sick to do so. You thought it a major kindness and very much like John to take mass to Mildred. A noble thing indeed.

Bev Keane seems to have her sights on Joe, his dog, and the Sheriff with her snarky comments. Naturally, when she couldn't get a reaction from Erin or the others, her sights zoned back to you and the temptations you offered being in bad faith.

Despite how loyal Bev is to John. John supports you entirely, insisting you paid her comments no mind after a heart to heart about your own religious beliefs.

Your look into witchcraft was not with ill intent or an attack on God. It was merely that God had given you the ability to reach out and acknowledge other deities. That God was not one but many and like the island prayed and went to mass, you gave these deities offerings and love just the same. You saw beauty and magic within the crystals you kept. Like religion helped them, witch craft healed what was needed in your soul.

That night, you and John had your first kiss. You had never felt more connected to a man or anyone the way you had connected to him.

Things get even weirder on the island. You witnessed a girl who was wheelchair bound, walk again. Mildred gunning was not only physically looking better -and definitely a little younger as nuts as that sounded- she was also very much more aware of her surroundings. None of this should be possible. Not to mention Sarah Gunning has called you to her home to show you blood samples literally explode. She asked you of you had any ideas. It was a long shot but maybe a witch would know. You had seen many coincidences that could be only that or magic. You had seen the down right bizarre on the island but nothing prepared you for that moment that blood sample shattered and sizzled under the sunlight of the window. Your faith told you that there were simply things in this world people would never understand but fear in your gut told you that you didn't want to know the answers sometimes. What reasoning could there be to make that sight any less crazy?

You voiced all of this to John, who- as always sat, listened entirely and didn't try to talk you out of things you claimed to see or think. Instead, he hoped to provide comfort for those things. He didn't try to give answers for these things and will them away. In hindsight, maybe it wasn't so much a kindness that he didn't give you answers.

Mildred was getting younger by the day. Riley disappeared, and Erin, already mourning her baby's loss, insisted that Riley was dead. That he burned to dust in front of her and that John Pruitt wasn't to be trusted. That last part somehow became the least believable out of all of that, ironically. At least until the angel came.

Or at least John called that thing that. An angel as well as a miracle asking the church to not be afraid... but you were. You were more terrified of anything, and for the first time, you finally saw that other side of John you had since talked yourself out of believing existed. Many had secrets, but very few came in the form of something that looked to be an 8 foot tall monster. Mildred seemed to have the same experience at the very same time.

Things went to hell after that. The bloodshed, the poisonings, the death. It was like a ripple effect, threatening to wipe out the already very small population of people.

Sarah's death is what made John see what he had done and only then on the church stairs as the monster soared the sky looking for its next victim did John explain himself to you and a now young Mildred.

John and Mildred had a secret love affair. Sarah was the product of that affair, Mildred's deceased husband having no idea nor did Sarah until her last night but John and Mildred knew.

John saw how Mildred's condition was wasting away at her, and on top of that, he knew his own condition had begun to eat away at him too. He was attacked by the angeland when he awoke. He was restored. So he bribed the being, smuggled it back with him to the island for no more death or sickness. Bev always saw it as a new way of life but John wasn't interested in that. He did it for Mildred and Sarah and eventually, he did it for you, too.

You were not a part of the plan. You were a gift from God, John believed. A wonderful person who was young and passionate but now he felt he had been greedy and has robbed you of your years. You had a whole life to live before him and John got greedy and wanted to save you from a necessary evil that was only going to come that much quicker if you didnt survive. With every passing minute that seemed less and less likely.

He apologised constantly and even Mildred felt pain for you. She understood she and John had taken borrowed time that wasn't theirs to take and now those so young like the sheriff's son, Sarah' their own daughter and possibly you and every other young person on this island no longer had a future.

John said he wanted to try, to at least try and give you one last gift as a thanks and prove of his love. To help you get off the island. It was a long shot but he'd go through hell and high water just for that small chance that you'd live and leave this all behind. You hadn't died yet. The blood would exit your existence eventually.

You found Lisa, the girl who could suddenly walk and Riley's younger brother. The three of you getting off the island and watching the sun come up as the island went up in flames. A flutter of hope emerging when Lisa said the words. "I can't feel my legs." A bittersweet sign of a future.

You never spoke a word of what happened on the island but when you sought those deities at night- you asked them to take care of those lost souls from the island and forgive them if nothing else. No one more than John Pruitt.

[odditycircus-2002]

Hellboy And The Crooked Man Review

I'm on YouTube! I guess star on the Big Screen Show's channel.

I may have given my review and thoughts about the movie in the video, but I want to go more in-depth here. I write better than I talk, especially when I'm passionate about something and my brain is going faster than my mouth.

SPOILERS BELOW!

I specifically want to talk about the flak that critics or some viewers give the new movie. As I mentioned, given Hellboy (2019) was a MAJOR box office bomb, no significant studios would be giving the Hellboy IP a big budget again and risk losing millions of dollars again. So, this new Hellboy movie has a noticeably lower budget. This means that the production has to be more creative and/or take shortcuts to make the final product look as good as it is. Granted, you could see the low budget for sure, such as with the CGI snake that came out of Cora Fishers.... lady bits and her mouth. Or the action is only sometimes being focused on as the camera becomes too shaky, making fight scenes harder to focus on. Or the action gets dulled down near the end, such as the final fight against the titular Crooked Man being killed by Hellboy punching him, throwing him down some stairs, and then stomping him. I'll admit the effect was good with that last part, as the villain was stomped and revealed to have a bunch of coins inside him. Like he was some sort of evil piggy bank.

The movie follows the comics closely, with some scenes coming straight out of the pages. Yet, it's not a shot-by-shot comic book movie since, as the comics were short, the story had to be expanded with its characters to make it a feature film—which it does successfully, for the most part. This new movie as a lot more focused on suspense and atmosphere, rather than just action, as the woods are dripping with old evil that should've stayed dead. The set up of Hellboy and Bobby Joe ending up in Appalachia is fitting, as it seems like something that would happen within the world of Hellboy. I liked that the Crooked Man's demise was more stretched out, with him mainly relying on trickery to take out Hellboy and Tom Ferral in his wounded state rather than brute force like earlier in the film. I didn't care for Hellboy having mommy issues this time around. Sure, here, being a witch is kinda fitting for the themes of witchcraft and condemning yourself for the sake of power, but it was honestly needed and shoehorned in. Firstly, how would Hellboy even know about his mother or that she's a witch???

When Hellboy and the Crooked Man first released images behind the scenes, I, too, was cautious with the new Hellboy, not just because of the costume and the makeup, especially with the horns. I also wanted to know if Jack Kesey could bring our favorite demon-hybrid paranormal investigator to life. Jack Kesey really brought the comic book character from the comic to life! I was so drawn in by the actor's performance that I hardly noticed that he didn't have yellow eyes or that his tail moved. While Hellboy would still be fairly new in his career at the BPRD, having only done it for a couple of years instead of decades, he's still a gruff character who holds himself with a demeanor of a blue-collar worker who works in heavy labor, who probably would like to take a nap by the end of all this, but still will get the job done. Yet, Jack Kesey also portrays Hellboy's humanity and insecurity, which are integral parts of the stoic demon man, who has some deep-seated self-hatred, often taking the brunt of the Crooked Man's attacks to protect the rest of the humans. While Jack Kesey's Hellboy isn't some action hero like Ron Perlman's Hellboy, he still has his one-liners, which is something more you'd hear from John McClain in Die Hard as a way to keep himself and everyone else calm as he can. Ultimately, Jack Kesey portrays Hellboy's good heart throughout the film.

The new character, Bobby Joe, was also a solid new character who wasn't just some damsel for Hellboy to keep safe. She's this former government researcher who came to work for the BPRD to continue as a researcher of the occult before switching to fieldwork. Bobby Joe is a go-getter, being the first to offer Tom Ferral assistance rather than Hellboy and to cast a spell in the mines to cut off the Crooked Man's source of power, the tunnels in the hills. Which would ultimately save Big Red. Bobby Joe is also sort of our audience surrogate, being a newbie to fieldwork and everything, as she reacts far more to the strange and unusual phenomena around her than Hellboy, who has been seeing that sort of thing since he was 10 years old. Who wouldn't freak out seeing someone's empty skin on their bed or the sun suddenly set in a matter of seconds before their eyes?Or see the sunset before their eyes in a matter of minutes? I think she may have a thing for Hellboy, who wouldn't TBH, as was hinted at by the Reverend but I don't see it that way, honestly. I would prefer her not to be made as another love interest to Hellbpy, as I see them more as a mentor/mentee thing where Big Red is showing her the ropes, readjusting her expectations accordingly, and NOT getting her killed.

Yes, this movie is flawed and clearly has production issues. However, I still stand by as a fan of this film—a film that was clearly made with love and effort. It was made for the enjoyment of longtime fans of the Hellboy Franchise. I've seen proof of this on Tumblr and Twitter, with them enjoying the movie even with its flaws and appreciating Mike Mignola for helping to give his character another shot at the Silver Screen. So whatever YOUR thoughts may be, just know that the true fans of this franchisee's love for it are as unwavering as the Right Hand of Doom.

[spoilmesweetieforficssake]

This prompt for Melissa x Reader, Reader is defo corny. And a fellow teacher at Abbott.

"Oh my god, you are so corny." "But you find it attractive, so that's a win."

Thank you for requesting this one - I had fun writing it. Sorry it's a little on the short side, but when I saw the prompt, this was what came out. Hope you like it!

*

Joe had never showered Melissa with love, that much had become apparent in all you’d heard of the man.  Even his physical acts seemed to be for his own satisfaction and not to worship the red headed temptress.  You thought he was an absolute ass of a man, and that was putting it politely.

In being lucky enough to be in a relationship with Melissa, you had no intention of making the same mistake.  You didn’t ram the fact you adored her down everyone’s throats like Jacob was often guilty of, but you made sure she knew.  You’d leave little gifts, little notes, tiny hearts drawn on her whiteboard.  You’d throw out corny picky up lines that would have her rolling her eyes, but blushing all the same. 

“Oh my God, you are so corny!” she says even as she laughs at your latest line. 

“Yeah, but you find it attractive, so that’s a win for me,” you grin.  “You love it really,” you tease.

There’s a pause and something in her expression changes.  “I love you,” she says softly, smiling shyly.

It’s the first time she’s said the words out loud to you.  She’s shown you in a hundred different ways and in many love languages, but this is the first you’re hearing the words come out of her mouth.  You didn’t exactly expect it to happen in the breakroom at lunch on a random Tuesday, but the warmth blooms in your chest all the same.  Not to leave her hanging, you reply without hesitation.  “I love you too.”

You’ve known for months but hadn’t wanted to spook her by saying it too soon.  A flush spreads across her cheeks and bleeds down to her chest as her eyes go glassy with unshed tears.  Not wanting to embarrass her or draw too much attention, you stand, pressing a kiss to her head as you move to heat up your lunches.  Prepared by Melissa, of course.

Standing by the microwave, you turn as Barb places a gentle touch to your arm, offering a warm smile clearly approving of the interaction she has just had the privilege of witnessing.  She too, had a rather low opinion of Joe and was rather defensive when you and Melissa started dating, not wanting to see her friend hurt again.  You had worked hard to convince her you had no intention of ever hurting the red head.  That you realised just how lucky you were in being given a chance with her, and would do everything you could to take care of her show her just how much she meant to you. 

Hearing the beeping of the microwave, you collect your shared lunch and head back to take up your seat next to Melissa, who still sports an adorable blush on her cheeks and a shy smile on her face. 

The room starts to fill up with the other members of your little dysfunctional Abbott family, most of whom flash you a smile but from experience, largely ignore Melissa, who by now has her head down, engrossed in something on her phone.  You don’t mind, instead reaching for your fork and digging into the contents of the Tupperware box in front of you.  You would be lying if you said the food wasn’t a huge perk of dating the red head.  That said, you’ve love her all the same even if she couldn’t even boil an egg. 

You glance down as a familiar touch settles on your arm, gentle fingers tracing over your own before Melissa begins to draw patterns on your bare forearm with a single finger.  Her gaze remains on her phone, but it seems she still has something to say as you realise what is being spelt out on your arm.  I LOVE YOU.

“Who’s corny now?” you ask with a smirk, earning an adorable scrunching of her nose in reply.

[ofwemetbychance]

continued

@yesiteachzumba

It was cute; he was the goofy kind of cute; the kind that was modest, he didn’t realize the effect he had on people. It’s why I was so drawn to Joe Cruz, because he didn’t care what anyone thought. He didn’t turn me down because of a lack of interest; he was only surprised I genuinely did like him. And yeah maybe at first it was the hero in him that I might have developed feelings for, but I knew my heart. I knew the way it did flip flops around him, how nervous I got at the idea of seeing his face again. I felt the knots in my stomach knowing I was leaving my phone number for him. Because I did want to see him again.

Any girl would’ve cut her loses and moved on. But yeah Joe was an idiot but when he has whispers in his ear about my intentions I couldn’t blame him. And I was hot, I probably was out of his league based on his words of flattery. I had to let the beaming smile cover my bare lips at his compliments. I had to enjoy the moment. He was worth unlimited chances. The way I felt when I was near him it was unconditional; it wasn’t a fleeting moment; it was real. 

“ I can say I probably am not like the girls you’re used to. But you’re wrong about me being out of your league. At first glance I felt how special you were. You care so deeply, you’re the guy that wants to do right by the people in their life. You don’t realize the affect you have on others. Any girl would be lucky to be near you. I’m surprised someone hasn’t snatched you up yet.” A beaming smile continued to lace over her features. It was unfortunate the circumstances that brought us together again; but I was happy it did. Because I did believe Joe was done with rejecting me based on the way he got comfortable in the hospital chair. He stayed until I was out of surgeon, he was loyal. It made me smile on the inside as well; it made my stomach knot up; in the good way. 

He was a firefighter; he had crazy schedules; I was an office girl; and with my level at work being reconstructed I was working more from work which would probably work in my benefit now given my injuries. But I understood Joe would be a hand when he could, I appreciated the effort. “ I know you will, stop by when you can. But when you can’t maybe it’ll just give you the chance to use that number i sent your way, unless you threw it out..” It was hint of a teasing comment; but of course Chloe would be hurt if he did by chance toss the number out. Any girl would feel her ego bruised. But I wouldn’t hold it against him. Joe showed up when it counted. 

“ It doesn’t have to be perfect, I like to think any time I’m near you it’s perfect, even in this dull hospital room.” A date; one I’ve been longing for. But I also knew it would be time before we took that step given where I sat. The stitched up patch on my forehead, the ache I felt in my chest each time I took too much of a heavy breath. The bruises on my arms said it all; my body was probably covered with black and blue marks. But for a second I wasn’t thinking of the injuries I was focused on him; and how Joe made me feel. 

Now at the mention of what he could do for me; I had to think of it; but the ice cream comment made my mouth water; I was starving, I barely ate in hours. “ Ice cream huh, pulling out all the stops I see. Water and ice cream, also if you could talk to your people about getting me out of here earlier that would be amazing.” Now the last request was a long shot considering the extent of my injuries; I could barely walk fully on my own; but I wanted let Joe help in any way he could.