#i relate to shaun a lot... when i see people make fun of him for things i do... im just... its not a nice time :(

[senseiwu]

Willi ever recover from people mocking the way shaun walks in a clip on twitter, that's like how I walk

[critter-genfic-events]

This week, we have eight fics that deal with grieving. Check them out under the cut, and comment and kudos if you like them!

Falling Stars by Crewe (3897,Teen) Warnings: A thoughtful, heartfelt look at the way grief can fall on you like a ton of bricks and also wait around the corner to whack you in the teeth with a rock when you're not prepared - but it ends in warmth and broken things on the path to mending. Pairings: Scanlan Shorthalt & Vax'ildanScanlan, Shorthalt & Vex'ahlia

Scanlan has a plan to save Vax. He doesn't. Now he has to say good-bye.

Reccer says: I liked it

A Conspiracy of Ravens by Senor_Sparklefingers (77384,Teen) Warnings: Major Character Death Pairings: Keyleth/Vax'ildan, Shaun Gilmore & Keyleth, background Percy/Vex, background Derrig/Nell

Keyleth grives for Vax and tries to put her life back together, while hiding her unexpected pregnancy from the rest of Vox Machina. Written before the Vilya reveal, so also touches upon the impact of her death on her loved ones, as well as how Vax's death effects Gilmore and his relationship with Kiki.

Reccer says: I liked it

miss you indefinite by gayvincreel (1618,Teen) Warnings: past character death Pairings: Essek Thelyss & Keyleth, mentions of vaxleth and shadowgast

Keyleth meets Essek at Kima's funeral, and they talk about all their loved ones who have passed away.

Reccer says: cross-campaign fics are always fun. i really like the dialogue in this one and how it really puts into perspective the pain that can come from being longer-lived than your friends

what the promised land would promise me by grayintogreen (3169,Teen) Warnings: Pairings: Lucien & The Tombtakers

The Intuit Charge Massacre from the other side.

Reccer says: Harsh and fitting view of how Lucien and Cree dealt with the Mighty Nein's ambush in the ruins of Aeor.

Eyes of the Grave by ThatHCWriter (1427,Teen) Warnings: past character death Pairings: Caduceus & The Mighty Nein, minor Yasha/Zuala and Yeza/Veth

Caduceus can see ghosts. He uses this ability to comfort the M9 members who have lost loved ones.

Reccer says: it's a very cool concept, and i love that he can also use the absence of a ghost to confirm that someone is still alive. this fic has a sort of gentle angst to it and then catharsis with every conversation caduceus has with the others.

in the dream we are always posthumous by hanap (4219,Teen) Warnings: Grief, Angst, Sharing a Body Pairings: Kingsley & Mollymauk & Lucien

In which Kingsley wakes up and discovers that he isn't his body's only occupant.

Reccer says: Kingsley learns to be his own person while he reconciles with the fact that his body used to belong to two other people who still whisper to him. He resents it at first, then realizes the voices are beginning to fade.

The Doom of Gelvaan by Tangent101 (5520,Not Rated) Warnings: None Pairings:

Imogen was only six years old when her father died. The town turned against her, believing her cursed. And then a stranger appeared at the edge of town...

Reccer says: I liked it

Setting Up Stones On a High Hill Side by Senor_Sparklefingers (11140,Teen) Warnings: None Pairings:

In the aftermath of the release of Uk'otoa, Kingsley loses a friend, makes a visit to the Blooming Grove, and says goodbye.

Reccer 1 says: This is part of an ongoing series about Kingsley in the aftermath of the CR2 finale but you don't need to have read the first to enjoy this one. I love stories that commit to the fact that Kingsley is just as much Lucien as he is Molly and Lucien's side of things has a lot to grieve. Reccer 2 says: There's a lot of stories that touch on Kingsley dealing with things from Molly's past or struggling with memories inherited from Molly, but not that many that deal with things related to Lucien, so it's a nice change to see that. Plus, anything that touches on the Cad and King friendship is nice.

If you liked this rec list, follow along for more! We'll be posting a new list with a new theme each Monday. Want to make your own recs? Check out use this form to submit!

Next Monday, we have a Pike Trickfoot themed rec list!

After that, it'll be mysteries, monsters, and then humor

If you're looking for some more, check out some fics written in the critter genfic bingo tag, or the older rec lists! Or you can request your own card and join in on the fun!

[saberamane]

Now that I'm home from work, here's my thoughts on Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.

Overall, loved the game. I love the fact that you literally start off where you ended in AC2, and that you get to see the grand escape from the Vatican. I wish there was a bit more story before Cesare's attack, allow you to really feel the victory, you know? Mainly because the fact the Cesare attacks you literally the day after you beat up his dad and took the apple seems a bit...fast? Like how did he not only get informed of the incident, but he was able to rally his army at Monteriggioni with siege towers and everything? I don't think he'd actually be able to mobilize that fast.

I do love that when Ezio wakes up in Rome he immediately begins to fuck with the Borgia. The day he wakes up he kills an executioner and burns a Borgia tower?? He certainly works fast.

I do love the 'recruits' part of this, how you can find people to become assassin's, send them on missions that help you get money and items, I only wish that you could continue to personalize their outfit after they become Assassin's. And maybe give us a selection of weapons they can use? Instead of them basically being copy and paste.

Story wise, I think they could have given us a bit more background on some of the other 'big' assassinations, like Juan Borgia. He's related to Cesare and the pope, but we only know him as having a risque party and being a banker? Give us more reasons to hate this guy and want him dead! Overall, he didn't seem like an 'evil' guy.

The Romulus lairs were fun, but overall kind of pointless? You never ran into any of these guys actually harassing citizens or anything, so they didn't really have a plot point that we could see. They could have made them random encounters in the more ruin-like area's, like the hundred eyes thieves who would randomly attack you.

Fuck the checkpoint system. The whole point is to save your progress so if you die you can 'reload' to that point in time. Meaning if you fail a 100% synch requirement after a checkpoint, reloading should make it that you still have that progress and not make you REDO THE WHOLE FUCKING THING. I'm looking at you flying machine. If I'm at 100% synch so far, get a checkpoint, fail the 100% synch and then die, I should be reloading at my checkpoint with the same status as when I got the checkpoint. Meaning health, weapons, notoriety, and SYNCHRONIZATION!

The Copernicus Conspiracy was kind of pointless. It was just a bunch of assassinations of 'important' npc's.

The Da Vinci Disappearance, however, was great. Lots of story and purpose behind it, and the missions were fun and interesting. 10/10.

I also liked the modern bits. Leaving the Animus and walking around as Desmond, seeing the modern differences in Monteriggioni, was great. And also added subtle characterization. Shaun and Becca were friendly and joking with each other through email, Lucy was a bit more 'mission oriented' trying to stay serious. And poor Desmond often got ignored. He basically just got the schedule and emails that were sent to everyone. And I get that they had limited dialogue options, but after you spoke to everyone about 3 times they began to just brush Desmond off. I would say arguably Desmond is doing the hardest work, putting his very mental state on the line for these people (with little to no actual, genuine, consent from Desmond) and they can't even have meaningful conversations with him? I don't think anyone really ever asked if he was alright??

And finally, the ending. Honestly, from the climb of the castello to find the apple to the literal end of the game, was very rushed. A 'point of no return' if you will, that is not even hinted at really. And literal years pass from one mission to the next. It's all very quick and leaves little to no emotional connection to what's happening. One scene Cesare is being arrested, and the next he's leading an attack? When did he get out of jail? Did he get out himself or did he have help? And how, exactly, did Ezio know just from the apple? I don't believe the apple would have straight up said 'yo, Cesare is out of jail and attacking Viana'. That part didn't really make sense. And getting the idea to 'ask' the apple because Cesare said something along the lines of 'no chains will hold me' or whatever? Why did that make Ezio believe there was cause for concern of Cesare being freed? I'm sure a lot of people say that when being arrested.

To end this, I just want to say that I know it's an older game, and bound to have issues. I'm not saying it's a bad game, but I am saying that some of the issues could have been patched by now if Ubisoft cared to. And those patches might make it a better experience. But overall, it's a great game with 1 great DLC. (I just wish there was more Leonardo interaction! <3)

[sillyandquiteawkward]

Idk if this is relatable but do you ever finding yourself overwhelmed or sometimes guilt ridden with ideas for your fallout ocs or like,deciding whats their canon/story bc theres so much you can do?I find myself scared to branch out or a little hesitant to do stuff

Also from experience I find it funny when I talk to my friend about our sole survivor oc's becausr we both (I'm back and forth on it as I love yet hate Shaun) stay with the idea that Sole is Shauns parent,like,whos actually Shauns dad or mom lmao but either way I always smile and really enjoy seeing you on my page.Your art and ocs are always so nice to see and I like how you approach them,they're just lil guys,hope you're well! :^]

i think originally i was like worried like, oh the story has to be Solid and exact and i cant fuck with the holiest of fallout and oc canon. but as the time goes by, i think its much more fun to just explore ideas with ocs. i call everything an au, im making up new shit, im retconning. the cool thing about ocs is that you are the boss and no ones gonna get mad at you for branching paths and fucking around with story ideas.

you arent getting a grade on silly little fandom ocs, and ive seen a lot of people embrace and enjoy the wacky and wild and New Takes on fallout protagonist stories. its super refreshing when people break the rules set up by canon. what the point of having little oc dolls when you cant make up random shit for them to deal with in new ways.

i too love to see how people deal with shaun and his whole deal with being the soles kid. i really like when people look at that story and say actually no. fuck this guy. and make something else up they like better, saying shuans adopted, shauns illegitimate, they were just holding him for a friend, etc. ideal. sometimes fallout drops the ball and its our job to fuck around and write a million more funner ways the story couldve gone.

im gripping fallout with my bare hands and squeezing it like an orange. this is the correct way to indulge in fallout oc fandom

:') and im really glad you like my funny lil guys i hope i can continue to entertain!

[daylight-dreams-world]

So I binge watched all 5 seasons of The Good Doctor in 10 days while recovering from tonsillectomy. Hooo boy it was a ride. I really love this show, sure it has some issues, but as a neurodivergent woman, I really really liked it. 🥰

I had seen first two seasons before, but watched them again. I love how Shaun and Lea's relationship progressed, how Shaun is always learning and evolving, how his relationships with his coworkers have blossomed. Oh and I loved almost all the medical stories. This is gonna be kind of like word vomit, sorry, but gotta get my thoughts out.

Season 1 is a classic, introduction to characters and the world, ending with Dr Glassman getting a really bad diagnosis, but Shaun pushing himself to find if it's the right one and saving him in the process. Also all the things with Lea. Hate Dr Melendez and Dr Andrews. Love Dr Kalu and Dr Browne. Shaun had a really bad childhood and it makes me so sad 😐 But also pretty relatable?

Season 2 intoduces Dr Lim, Dr Reznick, Dr Park and Dr Han. It's kind of heavier season? Dr Kalu has to leave, Dr Han is a fucking PRICK🙂 and I am glad Dr Andrews came to his fucking senses and protected Shaun. People are still questioning if Shaun should be working there during this season and it's.. sad.

Lea and Shaun become roommates, OMG they were roommates!!😳😳 I don't like Dr Reznick, she kinda reminds me of Haley from Stardew Valley. Dr Lim and Park are really nice. Melendez and Lim become a couple and it's SO CUTE! I love Claire's support for Shaun. ❤️ It was heartbreaking to find out about Dr Glassman's daughter though 😭

Season 3.. it's really good. Might be my favourite season so far? We see Shaun pursuing a relationship with Carly, getting closer and more comfortable with eachother. Eventually they break up and Shaun tries to tell Lea how he loves her, but she has insecurities and doesnt want a relationship. Shaun struggles with losing both Carly and Lea 🥺 Claire struggles a lot this season, Im glad that Lim and Melendez are helping. Reznick being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis is very fucking sad. She is SO driven to be a surgeon, but she probably has to give it up.

But my favourite part was probably the two-parter season finale. THE ENDING DESTROYED ME 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Melendez dying came out of NOWHERE, I was so hoping for a magical last minute cure which never came... I really loved Melendez this season and how he helped Claire. Also this taught me how you should never ignore "small" injuries, it's not worth to die for. They could've had the romance of the century 😭❤️

I am really glad the ending helped Lea realize how much she loves Shaun. Also Dr Park with that boy stuck under a bar that fell during the earthquake, slowly dying.. LET'S JUST SAY THERE WERE A LOT OF TEARS THIS SEASON 🥲🥲🥲

Season 4 starts with coronavirus two-parter opening. It's super sad and I am actually kinda surprised, that only Dr Lim ended up with PTSD. This season introduces us to new residents that Reznick, Park, Shaun, Claire, Lim and Andrews have to teach. Loved Olivia, but I was sure she was gonna quit. The other guy didn't really resonate with me, but it made me sad how they kinda made fun of polyamory. Dr Allen.. she's nice, but I don't really like overly religious people. Dr Asher Wolke, however, is my FAVOURITE?! after Shaun and Claire and Melendez? His story really resonated with me, him leaving his family and religion to be himself. Oh and it was so sad when he lost his freaking FIRST PATIENT?? 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Him continueing CPR even though he knew it was futale.... Made me cry so hard.

Dr Reznick giving up surgery was really sad, I felt for her so much.

Meanwhile, Lea and Shaun's relationship is blossoming and turns out Lea is pregnant! I'm glad they showed us the option to abort. I kinda spoiled myself though 💀 Was scrolling through episodes list and saw about grief and well, that happened, they lost the baby. I don't EVER want kids myself, but they portrayed the loss very well and I felt a lot of empathy for both Lea and Shaun.

I really loved the season finale two-parter in Guatemala. To see how life is there, how privileged I am to have FREE healthcare. I knew Lim and that guy were going to get together, but I didn't really like it. I really liked how Lea at first refused to hold that woman's baby but then did and also helped all night. I think that really helped her deal with grief. Park and Reznick getting together was.. surprising but I like it? CLAIRE LEAVING WAS SAD :( We lost Melendez last season and well, at least Claire didn't DIE, but it was sad to see her go, especially since she is Shaun's best friend. Lea proposing was very surprising but nice!!

Season 5, final season for now, I didn't actually like THAT much? Maybe like 2nd best from the bottom. I hated, that The BITCH Salen posed as a PATIENT with ADHD and then turned out to be buyer of the hospital. I hated her guts, so much. Also hated Reznick and Andrews for a while, but at least they made up for their mistakes. First half of the season was just stressing me the hell out. Also Lea and Shaun fighting 😐 and having trouble deciding on the wedding. The Shaun Show and The Lea Show were very nice episodes ❤️ I am glad they finally married in the final episode, they teased us so much!

AND I AM FREAKING OUT ABOUT DR LIM AND THAT NURSE, GUYS PLS DON'T BE DEAD, YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ME AFTER MELENDEZ WHICH I AM STILL NOT OVER WITH!!

That was a lot, you're a hero if you read this far, thank you! ❤️ I can't wait for the next season to break and mend my heart even more🥰❤️

[kanerallels]

Shang-Chi Freaking Rocked And Here's Why

Alright, I'm writing this post out of spite because I heard someone didn't like it. AND WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.

(I really don't understand why you wouldn't like it??? It's amazing??? And liking things is so much more fun that not liking them usually??? But hey, that's my opinion, man)

Anyhoo, prepare for a long post full of the reasons Shang-Chi was a truly stellar movie! Much though I'd love to go through every moment in the movie and scream about it for nerdy reasons, I'm going to be a professional nerd and offer reasons that will appeal to people other than just nerdy glee. I hope. (there will be some nerdy glee, though)

Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings spoilers under the cut!

- The beginning was SO EXCELLENT. I really like that it wasn't narrated in English, because they live in China. Of course they wouldn't speak that. It's just a good detail that I appreciated

- The way the first pan through the Ten Rings' compound mirrored the last end credits scene was amazing, I ADORED IT.

- asdfghjklsdklfjlskdfjldfjsk the FIRST FIGHT SCENE. The choreography was beautiful, and I mean GORGEOUS. Wenwu and Ying Li's actors (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Fala Chen, respectively) somehow managed to convey their aggressive intent and the CLEAR respect and attraction that was growing between them

- Really, the choreography of all the fight scenes was incredible.(disclaimer-- I know nothing about martial arts and I won't pretend otherwise) During the bus scene, you could see the moment when Shaun made the switch from being just some guy to Shang-Chi, and it was so OBVIOUS. His confidence as he fought, how quickly he took out his enemies-- that was not, especially in Katy's eyes, something Shaun would do

- This is something one of my best friends pointed out when we went to see it-- Shang-Chi's aunt says that he looks like his mom. Not his sister. And how that must have felt for her. All this time she's been looked at as a shadow of her mother (especially by her dad) as just another reminder of her. That part, and the part where her aunt gave her the dragon scale rope dart, were kind of defining for her, in that she truly started to make her own way. Not just say she was, but do it.

- The revenge and redemption story in here was fantastic. Because Shang-Chi was legit hurt and angry and he wanted to take vengeance on his father for what he'd done. But in the end, he let go because revenge will only fill you with anger

- I really, really liked the whole "reclaiming what your parents passed on to you" parts. They were just beautiful. The fact that he couldn't defeat his dad fighting like his dad, or fighting like his mom. He had to fight as BOTH, as himself. He had to accept the gifts his father had given him, and release the pain he'd been holding onto. And only then was he able to defeat his father

- Katy's story line was super cool, and relatable. Not knowing what you want to do with your life, being afraid to try so not even bothering-- I can't be the only one out there who felt that. Which was why this one line kinda struck me, when Katy was being taught to shoot. That one old lady who's name I can't remember for the life of me said "If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing." And it's true. I mean, there's a possibility you fail, but if you never try you definitely won't succeed. Even if it's hard, you've gotta start shooting, or you'll never hit your mark. (which is a good lesson for me, frankly.)

- There was a line of Ying Nan's that I thought was particularly beautiful. During her and Shang-Chi's training session-- which I'll segue into after this note-- she said something along the lines of, "You must stop hiding from your past, nephew. It will only prolong the pain." And. I mean. She's hecking right??? Hiding from what you fear doesn't make it go away, it only makes the wait to face it longer

- I know some people who were disappointed that the warrior with the mask wasn't revealed to be anyone in particular, and I was disappointed about that at first, too. But my second time watching it, I thought-- maybe he's not supposed to be anyone. Maybe he's just a representation of all the pain Shang-Chi went through at his father's hands, of what his father did to him and let happen to him. Just a thought

- The training scene between Ying Nan and Shang-Chi was beautiful, I loved it!! Seriously, whoever choreographed the fights in this movie is amazing, major respect to them. The way Ying Nan, Ying Li and Shang-Chi's fight scenes using airbending (I know that's not what it is but I'm just gonna call it that here okay? Okay) had parts that mirrored each other? Poetic cinema

- Wenwu was... not a great dad but I really, really liked what they did with him, to the extent that I'm writing another post specifically about him. I'll link it in the notes later

- I really liked all the mythological creatures, especially since they're all from Asian mythology! I thought that was a super cool detail, personally

Okay, I think that's it, until I make my post about Wenwu who I apparently have a LOT more thoughts about than I expected. Until next time!

[hyper-cryptic]

Nick and Hancock headcanons?

YES...YEEEEES. I am so eager to talk about these two! Especially Nick since I have been talking all day about Hancock, not that I mind of course. 😳

Starting with Nick!

He really likes animals. I have no actual explanation for this, he just looks like the guy that would take in a lot of cats and then have his house infested by stray cats. Ellie loves the cats, but they GOT TO GO.

He literally forgets he has his hat on sometimes.

I feel like he would like going on strolls around DC, for no reason, just to stretch the legs or to take a smoke. It’s calming for him to go around, seeing the city working and people interact with each other. He prefers going out at night, he likes the lights. :)!

He is actually very disorganized with stuff, forgets where he leaves his files, puts files in the wrong places, sometimes doesn't even file a report...I mean, look at his agency, it's a disaster and I adore it. If it wasn't for Ellie, who at least tries to organize when Nick is out, or busy, he would be so lost.

Okay but, he likes rain right? Imagine him just going out to his roof when it's raining and just be there. Maybe he likes it because of how it feels, the bits of pressure on his skin as the raindrops fall, and maybe the calming sound.

He totally meets up with Hancock every once in a while. Just to catch up with stuff. How is the town going? How are the cases going? Mostly casual things.

He is absolutely terrified of Piper, but in the best way. He admires her determination and how brave she is, but god, he wished she slowed down sometimes.

He likes coffee a little bit too much...Tastes good!

I honestly wonder how his vision is. A part of me wants it to be something similar to the V.A.T.S or even the power armor screen, has little colors and a lot of analysis shit. Or normal, full color vision with the analysis shit on, so he can be happier. :)

He really sweet food. He doesn’t eat much, but he likes to get some treats once in a while.

He likes children. This doesn’t mean he would like to be a father though, he thinks he wouldn’t be able to give the kid the attention he needs, and bla bla, you know him. But he sure enjoys spending time with Shaun and chatting with him, or just doing whatever activity. He is just interested in the dumb things the children do, thinks it’s funny. Imagine the feeling you have when you see a cat playing with whatever? Yeah, same feeling.

Likes to play chess...and he is real good at it. Thinks it’s a really fun pastime and enjoys watching your face as he totally beats your ass at chess, that is if you're bad at it. If not, he enjoys a challenge...if you win he’d be really impressed and give you praise, if you lose he keeps his smug face and suggests to try again if you want to.

Continuing that, he is really competitive. He's good sportsmanship, don’t get me wrong but he likes to be able to keep his ego as high as he can.

Would totally accompany Daisy to the library now that is safer, they both have a love for books. He is totally into dumb, noir novellas...You literally can’t tell me I’m wrong.

Now for my self-indulgent part of the headcanons...He has ADD! Yeah, if little habits like smoking would pass down to Nick, why not this? After all, it was a brain scan, it is totally neurological and ADD being a neurological disorder, it would make sense that it passes down to him! This would also explain how unorganized he is, and I got to say it is very interesting how a synth, a literal bot made for work has traits like “forgetting his appointments very often”, plus his impulsivity and fixation with Eddie. Besides, it makes me happy that I can find a character to relate to at that level.

He really enjoys the Silver Shroud plays. Not a super fan, but definitely enjoys the show! It’s something he would be into. (I actually don’t know if this is canon I’ve never heard him say anything about Silver Shroud, but he has some voice lines about it, PLEASE TELL ME, I WANT TO HEAR ‘EM SO BADLY.) Plus, Kent refers to him as “Synth shaped Silver Shroud”, he takes the compliment!

He is a good hugger. You know it, I know it, everyone knows it. He might be a good hugger, but he isn’t too sure about them anymore ‘cuz of how his body is built.

His synthetic skin is actually quite soft! Not really soft, but more than expected.

How to break him: literally place your hand on his cheek plus some eye contact and watch him melt onto it. He is pretty much touch starved at this point so any touch will make his heart skip a beat, but do that and he will be at your mercy.

He sends letters to DiMA (obviously once he meets him, accepts him as a brother and isn’t killed) every once in a while to catch up with him! Chase is the messenger. :)!

I just realized that I’ve written lots about Nick already, so! Now Hancock. :D

If he isn’t doing drugs, he’s chewing gum, well...not at that rate, but when he can get his hands on some gum he’ll have some! He really likes it! Mint is his faV. as a funny extra, he didn’t know that swallowing it is...bad, until Sosu or Nick tells him, LMAO.

He would have a pet snake if he could have one. Like really imagine it, he would love reptiles, and know all kinds of stuff about them. He probably really likes Deathclaws.

He knows how to play the guitar. No, I do not have an explanation for this, no I do not accept no for an answer.

He likes very sour or citrus foods, his taste buds are a bit fucked up thanks to radiation, so he likes the fact that the sour taste can make his buds go off the rails. And that’s why he could eat a lemon with a straight face and even enjoy it.

He also really likes coffee, not as much as Valentine but he really likes the strong taste of it! He would drink black coffee and nothing else.

Okay, okay! Last one about food! He is a texture over taste kind of guy, that’s a big reason why he doesn’t like Mirelurk, it’s slimy and weird, no matter how cooked or uncooked it is, he absolutely hates ‘lurk meat. His only exception is boba, he loves boba.

He probably goes around the house only in boxers...because. Doesn’t he give the vibes? Like he would be either shirtless or without pants on relax days or in the mornings.

Autumn is his favorite season. He just likes the orange view of it all, even tho there isn’t much of a change, he does like the chilly breezes that are very common around this season, not cold enough to be annoying but enough to be enjoyable!

He is probably warmer than a normal human because of radiation, so his hands and overall body are warm all the time! (another reason why he likes autumn and cold weather). But yeah! Cuddling and stuff like that are so much more enjoyable with him. :)

His favorite flower might be the carrot flowers there’s around in the ‘whealth. They remind him of the sun *looks at Sole*.

And! That’s all I have for now!! :D

[rpg-elf-girl]

Shadows House

I have a lot of thoughts surrounding this particular show, both good & bad.

Allow me to give a quick summary for anyone who hasn't seen/read it!

Shadows House is about 'a faceless family of nobles who all live within this giant manor, the Shadows House.

When a Shadow comes of age they receive a 'Living Doll' to both serve as their face and to clean the soot they emit from their bodies.

The most important rule of the living dolls is "don't fret over trivial matters"

A task which is difficult for the ever curious doll Emiliko.

Watch this tale unfold as Emiliko & her mistress Kate navigate this ever mysterious Manor together.'

For a fan of slow burn thrillers, horror, slice of life, supernatural & mystery series' this has been an absolute blast!

It's not quite the combination of genres you'd expect from a show, but it works really well here!

In fact I was so into the anime that this is actually the first show where I broke down and read the manga!

Unfortunately there's no official English release, but at least there are some people translating the series!

As much as I'd like to go on about the manga, this post is meant to be more so about the anime so I'll (try to) leave it at that.

Though i feel obligated to warn anime onlys I'll likely refer the manga a lot in a spoiler section latter in this post I'll try to be vague but I can't guarantee anything. For anyone worried about that I'll lable it do you can read on until then.

Everything from the animation to the music was amazing & completely fit the mood of the story! I remember a couple scenes where I actually teared up because of this!

The Ending theme is an absolute banger! I've listened to that on repeat ever since I first heard it! And the Opening is also great! It's cool for it to be an instrumental, stuff like that is pretty rare! I also heard the song in the op as a motif in the music throughout the show! It really sets the right mood in each scene it's in! It's amazing for getting into each episode!

In terms of adaptation almost everything from the beginning to the end of the Debut arc was done amazingly well!

Even with the stuff they cut it still holds true to the spirit of its source.

The main important part that was cut is something that could easily be introduced latter if they decide to go for a second season, so I'm not too mad about that.

However! Everything after the debut is a bit of a different story.

There was a lot I liked about the last couple episodes but there were some parts that were immersion breaking for me.

I've been being vague up until this point l, but I'm planning on going into spoiler territory for both the anime and manga after this. So I'll make a quick spoiler free summary of my thoughts before moving onto that.

I really really loved this show but in my opinion the last 3 episodes were the weakest of them all. They went anime only for the ending. I don't mind that on it's own, but it was rushed and the writing was sloppy at times.

Now I'm not telling you to not watch the show! Most of It's really really good, and I can still see people enjoying the parts I'm talking about if they want to give the anime a try. Overall I've fallen in love with this series and I could never recommend it enough.

If what I'm saying is giving you bad vibes the manga is available and doesn't have the issues I've mentioned. You can look for a translation online, it didn't take me long to find one so don't worry too much about that.

Also! if you're an anime only who's finished the series and want to know where to pick up the Manga I'd recommend at least skiming through the beginning. I know it might not be what you're looking for but there were a bunch of small scenes that either got cut or were merged for adaptation purposes that I think are super cute & give more context to different aspects of the setting. However! Pay close attention during the "night watchers part" something important got cut .

~~~Now for spoilers!!!!~~~

I don't want to make it sound like I'm some manga purist who hates the very thought of the slightest change from the source. I'm anime only for a lot of different shows and I've always despised it when that type of manga reader reared it's ugly head.

While I'll admit some changes did bother me I won't make a fuss about the smaller stuff.

With that said!

I hinted earlier in this post that I didn't have a big problem with Robe-same being cut. That was because without them there it does make for a more complete story if they only get one season to work with.

If there is another season they can easily be introduced latter on. Like maybe Emiliko & Shaun can meet them when the Debutant class reunion is going on before they talk on the roof (or right after that) I actually think that would be the perfect time to introduce them (other than the time they were supposed to appear, but I digress)

Louise teaming up & being friendly with Kate can be explained with some dialogue changes at the first Debutant Class Reunion. Louise can say she was just trying to show off or that she just wanted to get back at Edward and that she isn't interested in helping Kate with her problems. Things can then go on as they did in the manga.

Kates being reckless & telling everything to John can be explained by her being extremely panicked when Emiliko went missing, as long as there are some lines of dialogue adressing this it's fine. Though I do wish she tried to keep some stuff a secret but couldn't because Shaun tries to interfer because he's still brainwashed, or something along those lines. It felt a bit weird after she just told Emiliko to keep that stuff between them. Still that could be explained by how panicked she was.

There are other things, but I don't want to drag the post on too long. Most of the issues can be fixed with little changes here & there.

I never had a problem with the idea of them going in an anime only direction. I just want to have a good time with the show.

Unfortunately I can't 100% vouche for the direction the show went in. There were elements that I can't excuse, even viewing it as it's own entity instead of an adaptation.

My main complaint with it is how they handled the brainwashing of Ricky & Lou. They didn't say a word when the Debutants were talking badly about Edward & even went along with a plan to go against him. It makes absolutely no sense!

Shaun freaked out when John only suggested that he didn't have to be loyal to the house. These guys were flat out rebelling against an adult! It felt like Ricky & Lou didn't have a purpose & were just there to be there.

The whole point of the coffee is to influence shadows against doing stuff like this. It makes the coffee seem pointless and the adults seem dumb for relying on it to control the kids.

I haven't even brought up the fact that both of their brainwashings were broken by something as simple as a few kind words. It straight up contradicts the rules established by both the Anime and Manga.

This becomes very apparent when you consider all the trouble John & Kate went through to free Shaun & Emiliko.

This was my biggest complaint, but I have some other issues as well.

The next big one is how they handled Edward.

1. Why on earth would he even consider kidnapping Emiliko when he had complete control of the childrens wing? Before this point he was depicted as being a lot more crafty than this. He could easily have Kate monitored or something.

2. Why didn't he use his powers to stop them like what he did to Maryrose & Rosemary when they fought back being taken to the adults wing? He's already shown off his power at this point, why not?

3. Why did he reveal his soot powers at all!? Especially while using his face in front of the kids! The whole unification thing is one of the biggest secrets of the house for good reason! There's no way he wouldn't get in huge trouble for exposing it to children!

Here are some other related questions.

Why didn't Kate, Emiliko, & John react to Edward using soot powers? They shouldn't know about unification yet so why didn't they act shocked, or say anything about it?

Is Edward being banished even an option in the Shadows House? Wouldn't the third floor lords just dispose of him rather than risk letting him leave?

How did John even get a veiled dolls outfit? Louise had to use her powers to get Kate one & she left a long time ago.

I can't think of much else at the moment, but I think you get my point.

Please don't take this as me saying that I hate the show because of these episodes. Even if I consider them the weakest of the series I still found a lot of parts to be very enjoyable!

Like I thought it was adorable When Edward was attempting to interrogate Emiliko & she kept being her sunshine self pretending to eat & falling asleep.

Barbara getting to tell off Edward for breaking the rules was great!

I loved seeing Shaun hatch the plan to get Kate into the adults wing to save Emiliko.

Seeing John (attempt to) sneak around the adults wing had me rolling!

The ending scene of Shaun, Ricky, & Lou singing gave me the chills.

(Though I wonder how they'd handle Shaun & Emiliko being brainwashed again since they already used the scenes where they're freed)

Kate & Emilico being propelled by John back to the children's wing was absolutely amazing! I found Shaun & Ricky running over to catch them to be super sweet! (Not to mention the way that scene was animated was absolutely gorgeous!)

Getting hints to what was supposed to come after the debut was nice, at least the groundwork is there in case this gets a season 2!

To (try to) wrap this all up while there were a lot of things I loved and disliked about this show I still had a really fun time watching it!

I kinda hope there's a season two just to see if they can tidy up the mess that the last few episodes created.

Regardless of whether that happens or not I came out of this with a series I absolutely adore.

Heck I could make a whole other post about the manga. (Hopefully one that's less ranty)

Anyway! I won't take any more of your time.

I hope you all have a wonderful day/night! And I hope to see you in my next post!

(Sorry if this one was a bit of a mess!)

[thecaffeinebookwarrior]

Monster of the Week: The Undead!

From spooky scary skeletons to the original zombies, let’s have a look at the undead who have risen around the globe! This will not include vampires (which I have already compiled a post on) or ghosts (which I plan to compile a post on.)

Note that many of these can best be understood -- or only understood -- in their original cultural context, and I encourage you to continue your research if the lore interests you.

Skeletons/Skeletal Creatures

I am, for whatever reason, enthusiastic about skeletons. There’s a drama to them. They look like they’re perpetually grinning, or grimacing, which makes them oddly relatable. As an artist, I’m always thinking about them as the framework for poses. 

More importantly, there’s one in all of us -- sorry if that made you uncomfortable -- which makes them a universally recurring being in global folklore. Let’s take a look at just a few.

Gashadokuro

Literally translating to “rattling skull,” the Gashadokuro is also called Odokoru (giant skull) or simply “the hungry skeleton.” That basically tells you all you need to know. 

These big boys (and I mean REALLY big) wander around the countryside at night. Their name derives from the eerie rattling noise produced by their giant skulls. As chill as this may sound, the Gashadokuro is not actually chill at all, and if you come across them they will not hesitate bite your head off. This may seem like a jerk move, since they don’t even have a stomach, but they need the energy of the living in order to sustain themselves.

Like most undead fellas on this list, the Gashadokuro has its origins in the real world. They are thought to originate from the mass-graves, usually of those who died under violent or inhumane circumstances, the supernatural byproduct of countless skeletons. 

The first Gashadokuro was thought to have originated after a specific bloody rebellion, in which the bereaved, sorceress daughter of a samurai summoned a giant skeleton from the mass grave of the rebelling soldiers and used it to attack the city. Queen behavior, if you ask me.

Santa Muerte

Image Source

Let’s conclude this portion with my favorite skeleton (excluding Baron Samedi, who doesn’t count, as he is often depicted as a man, or a man with a skull-like face), the goddess/folk saint Santa Muerte.  

I still have a lot to learn about the rich folklore surrounding Santa Muerte, but to my understanding, she was born of a combination of pre-Columbian Indigenous religions and Mexican-American folk Catholicism. 

Depicted as a skeleton in beautiful, feminine attire and considered to be embodiment of death, Santa Muerte is a healing and protective figure. She is beloved by legions of worshippers, despite condemnations from the Catholic church, and symbolizes a culturally positive relationship with death. 

Despite appearances, she is a life-affirming figure.

Zombies and Reanimated Corpses:

The Draugr

When we hear “zombie,” we don’t traditionally think of “Norse mythology.” And yet, the Nordics had their very own zombie mythos, boasting some truly terrifying undead.

It is said that they first emerge from their graves as little more than wisps of smoke and a stench of decay, before adopting a humanoid form that boasts superhuman strength, the ability to change size at will, and the ability to shape-shift. 

They aren’t mindless -- far from it. They boast an anthropomorphic intelligence, which makes them all the more dangerous.  

As to what drives them from their graves? Jealousy and bitterness towards the living. Relatable, honestly. 

The Jiangshi

(Note: I wish they were all as adorable as the one in this gif.)

This Chinese hopping corpse may have evolved into more of a vampire by Western influences, but it was originally far more zombie-like. And a unique zombie at that. 

Due to rigor mortis, the Jiangshi hops stiffly from place to place, holding its arms straight out. What’s even more singular is their origin. Try to guess. Go ahead, try. You won’t be able to.

The Jiangshi is what occurs when a bereaved family, lacking the proper funds to send their loved one’s body back to their ancestral land for burial, hires a necromancing corpse driver to reanimate the cadaver and guide it as it hops back to its resting place. They’d travel at night to avoid or minimize decay, either prodded by a stick or to the beat of a drum.

Other ways to create a Jiangshi include improper burial, suicide, or possession.

Looking upon a Jiangshi is said to be bad luck, and presumably very unpleasant. However, the real problem is their insatiable appetite. 

But fear not: if you see an unhealthy looking fellow hopping towards you with pasty, possibly decaying skin, you can protect yourself with mirrors, the hooves of a black donkey, or the wood of a peach tree. They can also be scared off by the sound of a crowing rooster, though that would require a bit of planning, and the cooperation of the rooster in question. Which, knowing roosters, is unlikely. 

Haitian Zombies

All legends of the undead have roots in real tragedies, but this one is particularly upsetting -- and the source of the zombie legend in the Western world today.

The enslaved people of Haiti believed that death would set them free, sending them back to an idyllic version of their homeland unburdened by colonialism. But only if death came naturally. Suicide would turn them into mindless husks, carrying out the drudgery of their captors. A haunting parallel to the practice of slavery itself. 

The concept was introduced to a contemporary audience by the 1932 film White Zombie, which sees a white “voodoo master” (who clearly didn’t know anything about the actual Voodoo religion) using witchcraft to create obedient slaves. He eventually uses this (ahem) “”voodoo”” on a white woman to try and force her to fall in love with him. 

With the term “zombie” in public consciousness, it became an applicable allegory for all of society’s ills, and can now be used to refer to anything from mob mentality to consumerism. But few are as haunting and as disturbing as its origins.

Videos on zombies: 

The Origin of the Zombie, from Haiti to the US

Where Zombies Come From

100 Hundred Years of Zombie Evolution in Pop Culture

Best Contemporary Zombie Movies*

*That I know of. Will update with more.

Night of the Living Dead - Though White Zombie introduced the term, it was arguably this film that popularized zombies as we know them today, particularly as an allegory for herd mentality and consumerism. Its successors, including Day of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead, prove similarly influential. 

The Evil Dead Trilogy - Established that zombies can be fun, while also serving as an allegory for various societal problems. Also features undead that are refreshingly ravenous and evil without necessarily being mindless.

The Re-Animator - These days, the average zombie movie pushes the bounds of creativity is “make ‘em faster!” The Re-Animator’s take on the genre, however, would make Mary Shelley proud. Based loosely on the Lovecraft story, “Herbert West - Reanimator,” the films greatest triumph is its ability to have fun with its grisly premise, and compel the audience to have fun, too. It’s also a cautionary tale about why it’s important to be careful while getting a roommate. 

Shaun of the Dead - I’m not kidding. This film is great, and shows that you don’t need a serious tone to be heartfelt, scary, or provide a thought-provoking social commentary. Way back when I was a sixteen-year-old college freshman, I turned up to class as a zombie cheerleader, and my psychology professor recommended Shaun of the Dead to me. She’s a woman of impeccable taste, and it did not disappoint. 

28 Days Later - Before Cillian Murphy gave us Tommy Shelby, a gangster so pretty he could give Al Capone a sexual identity crisis, he was proving his mettle in the zombie-addled UK. For 2020 reasons, watching him wander the abandoned streets of London with a questionable haircut feels very topical. Add a stellar performance from Naomie Harris, and there’s a reason it sent me into a bisexual panic it’s considered a modern classic of the genre. 

Little Monsters - An egregiously underrated flick, featuring a kindergarten teacher (who happens to be, you know, Lupita Nyong’o) protecting her class during a zombie outbreak. A must watch if you want a zombie movie with a powerhouse lead, a happy ending, and perhaps the most badass kindergarten teacher in cinematic history. 

[parkerflix]

skz as: kids i work with

a/n: i work at a daycare center and work in an infant room and it’s a lot of fun but today i was looking at my kids and was like 🤨🤨 imagine skz as you guys and then it’s been in my brain all day anyways will explain ofc!! *slightly changed some names so that way i don’t get @ by their parents if they ever find this HDGVSHSBSN

also!! this is just for funsies it’s not to be taken seriously and i’ve kinda done some picking and choosing of personality traits because they wouldn’t all fit each member! okay yeah

•••

BANG CHAN: AURORA

•okay so

•aurora is literally the oldest out of all my kids (she’s 16 months today!!)

• and she’s very sweet and probably the most calm and happy baby at her age i’ve met in a while

•but

•she can and will scream for no reason and then smile right after

•and that gives me chan vibes bc i so feel like he would do that for funsies

•also

•she’s very much a mothering soul she takes like soft dolls we have and pats their backs and rocks them to sleep

• granted she chucks them across the room after

• but she means well!!

•has a hard time during nap time tho and is a picky eater -.-

•but very much is the sweetest and even tho she can be annoying sometimes very much see chan in her yes yes

MINHO: EMMA

•emma!! she’s the newest addition (joined the class in december!)

•currently the 4th oldest (10 almost 11 months!!)

• okay so emma

•first of all she seems very scared of everything which isn’t rlly minho but her neutral face is very 😐 which i think fits minho pretty well

•also

•the moment you get her warmed up to you?

•THE MOST SMILEY BABY EVER

•she will eat a lot bc she’s growing

•also she’s very clingy to the people she’s closest to

•aka minho with his cats as he should.

• she also has a hard time with nap time 🙄‼️ these older mfs i swear

•anyways once she’s asleep she’s so cute

•cheeks!! and puffs them out too!!

•honestly she’s pretty quiet she makes sounds when she wants you to pay attention to her

CHANGBIN:JAYDEN

•BUE I LITERALLY SAW THIS AS SOON AS I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT THIS

•ok so u know how people when they first see changbin are like “omg so scary!! he looks very angry omg nooo” but as soon as he opens his mouth they go ♡´･ᴗ･`♡

•basically thats jayden

•he is second youngest!! (7 months)

•he’s bald except for little bits of hair not related just wanted to mention he’s part of the bald twins

•when he first started he cried a lot and was very grumpy and i feel like for the longest time that’s how people viewed changbin

•SIKE THO as soon as jayden started crawling mf is the biggest smiler and so funny

•and if that isn’t changbin idk what is tbh

•jayden just started solid food and his reactions are PRICELESS.

•tried blackberry yesterday,, was not a fan

•paris pls ur getting off track

•anyways, he clocks out so easy and he’s pretty laid back

•very funny baby,, also can be loud when he wants but for the most time he’s pretty calm and just roams around the room

HYUNJIN: RILEY

•I ALSO SAW THIS ONE AS SOON AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS

•riley!! middle baby (9 months!!)

• she makes my heart go woosh! i adore her to pieces

•no i didn’t pick my favorite kid for my ult noooo

•JDGSSJSJHS the favoritism.

•anyways

•riley is super sweet!

• although she’s really sensitive too ):

•and everyone knows that hyunjin is sensitive pls be kind to my boyfriend): HDGSHS

• also??

•their laughs? so sweet and pure

•very dramatic too omg

•today riley didn’t wanna sit on the floor when i grabbed her out of her crib after she woke up from her nap and proceeded to scream and fake cry at me

•...she got what she wanted

•also sleeps horribly and won’t take her bottles...

•but makes up for it by being the biggest sweetheart and just is always smiling at people and is so infectious to be around love her

•even tho she sneezed in my face today

JISUNG: SHAUN

•SO

• shaun is also 9 months!!

• him and jisung have the cutest chubby cheeks ):

•also their smiles ? 10/10

• although did base this off of their personalities

•shaun is very overactive and is just like always talking and always around everyone

•very jisung like!!

•also another funny kid they make me laugh

•can make the other babies laugh too

•when frustrated will either verbalize it or you can just see his mood change

•probably the one i spend the least amount of time with bc he’s always moving around and he sleeps a lot

• has nothing to do with the fact that he spits up everywhere and i hate when he spits up on me

FELIX: EMILY

•em!!!

•she’s the youngest of the group (7 months today!!)

• she is probably the cuddliest of the group

•will let you hold her forever if you want

•is a very happy baby

• her smile?? unparalleled.

• is literal sunshine

•everyone in the center knows who em is!!

• also another of my favorites although i love all of them

• she is so relaxed and she does everything to 100%

•very stubborn and determined

•currently trying to stand up and will spend all day trying

•reminds me of felix and his determination

• goes down easily for a nap and wakes up smiling most of the time

•can also be sensitive

•most of the kids kinda underestimate her bc she’s small and bc she can’t walk yet but she holds her ground!!!

•very felix like in that sense

SEUNGMIN: KNOX

•BIGGEST PUPPY EVER!!

•turned 1 on uh... SATURDAY.

•very energetic when he’s not like exhausted

•also super talkative when he’s comfortable with you??

•very gucci flip flops kid

•although he screams constantly

•but we move on from that bc seungmin would to that just to be funny too...

•omg yk seungmin going “STA” when the balloon fell and how i died laughing okay anyways

•knox basically is that moment but embodied

•he’s funny and so sweet

•will cuddle you and give you the biggest laugh and smile every when he’s happy

•tbh knox’s laugh reminds me of like a gerber baby laugh or the sun from the teletubbies

•anyways i digress.

JEONGIN: ELIJAH

•so eli is 13 months!

•very much reminds me of jeongin bc they’re both young but old

•like jeongin is my age.... and he’s super successful.. and i’m writing this...

•anyways

• like he’s young?? but also old compared to the younger ones???

•eli is the baby of his family and it translates into the classroom too my coteachers tend to baby him

•and sometimes when he’s cranky he doesn’t mind

•like jeongin

•but is currently trying to move past that

•and kinda be seen as the toddler he is

•or adult in jeongin’s case!!

•smiles and laughs are so precious

•always best outfits of sweats and a cute sweater

•definitely when he’s older will give jeongin a run for his money on the #OOTD shshshs

• tbh when he’s super sleepy he gets kinda super sensitive

•once when he was in that mood i said one thing to him and he burst into tears and then passed out sleeping

• i told him broccoli.

•anyways he’s funny too

and this concludes skz as kids in my room/ i work with/ the ones i see the 40 hours a week i spend at work.

[specialagentlokitty]

Shaun x Sister!reader - Trust

May I request shaun x younger sister reader. The r diagnosed of cancer and Shaun was being big brother and he been there at her side. Everyone was amazed how shaun loves his sister and they observed their great bond. Angsty pls wanna feels it cause im bored. Its up to you what's the ending. Thannkk u - Anon❤️

You yawned and rubbed your eyes as you held Glassmans arm, softly walking into the hospital with him.

“Tired?” He chuckled.

“I was playing games.” You grinned sheepishly.

Glassman sighed softly, casting you a small smile with a shake of his head.

“You need to sleep, staying well rested will help.”

You nodded your head, he was right and you knew that. Having osteosarcoma sucked a lot, but you were getting treatmeant and having checkups, so there wasn’t much you could do.

You adjusted the bandana on your head with your free hand and eagerly looked around, you wanted to find your brother.

“Don’t worry, we’ll find him first.”

“Heh... thanks Glassman.” You smiled.

Both of you held light conversation as you wondered the hospital looking for Shaun, and eventually you found him talking with two others. A woman with blonde hair, and a guy who reminded you off a police officer.

Glassman sat you in a seat, holding his finger up warning you.

“Stay here.”

“Yes boss.” You grinned.

Glassman laughed and walked over, holding a small conversation with them before Shaun spun around.

“(Y/N)!” Shaun said excitedly.

He rushed off and you stood up, letting your brother awkwardly hug you and you pat his back before he pulled away.

“Hey Shaun, hows work?”

“It is fun.” He smiled, “Are you here for your chemotherapy?” He asked.

You shook your head and pointed to the ex principal of the hospital.

“No, Glassman is taking me to have a meeting with some of the surgery team to talk about my options.”

Shaun nodded his head, following along with what you were saying. He fiddled with his fingers and glanced to Glassman before looking away, glancing at you quickly before turning away. He introduced you to the other two before changing the topic.

“I have to be there.” Shaun demanded.

You turned to Glassman with pleading eyes, grading Shaun’s shirt lightly.

“Shaun, we can’t be there for every patient.” The woman snided.

You glared at her and blew raspberries.

“Glassman hes my legal family, he has to be there.”

Morgan and Park choked on air at that, and You beamed proudly.

“Shaun will be there, I’ll come get him just before the meeting, Okay? We need to get you to your room so the nurses can do you check ups.”

You sighed and ruffled Shaun’s hair a little, offering him a soft smile.

“I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay.” Shaun mused.

You headed over to Glassman and looped your arm with his and let him lead you away.

You didn’t mind the nurses checking you over, but you got pretty bored sat in your room when they left. Your attention when to the door when it opened, and in walked a different woman and Park.

“Alright (Y/N) Murphy....” the woman trailed off, looking at you, “Are you related to a Shaun Murphy?”

You grinned and nodded your head.

“He’s my older brother, what’s your name?”

“Right, I’m Dr Claire Browne, and this is Doctor Alex Park, we need to run some tests if you don’t mind.”

You shrugged, flopping back onto your bed.

“Go for it, whatever you gotta do. Dr park?”

He walked over and peered down at you with the softest of smiles.

“Can you tell Shaun I want juice.”

“Uhm.. sure, what kind of juice?”

“He’ll know.”

Dr Park rose a brow but again agreed, and you left with them to do some tests. When you were done, you entered your room to find Shaun on your bed with your favourite kind of juice in his hand.

“Hey Shauny.” You mused.

Padding over, you climbed onto the bed and made grabby hands at the juice.

“How did the tests go?” He asked.

“They were alright, very boring.”

Shaun frowned a little, shuffling to lean against the pillows like you were doing, his gaze trained on you.

“They will help you.”

You gulped your juice down and placed the empty carton down, looking up, giving Shaun a smile.

“I know. Don’t you have work?”

Shaun shook his head.

“No, I finished 20 minutes ago. My shift has ended.”

“Ah, makes sense. Wanna watch crappy Tv on my phone with me?”

“Okay.” Shaun agreed.

You pulled up some random show, tilting the screen towards Shaun so he could see it more, not complaining when he gingerly took the phone from your hands to watch.

The silence was peaceful, both of you were unaware that Morgan, Park and Claire kept glancing in, shocked at the sight of you two.

Eventually the door opened again, drawing your attention towards it, six people walked in.

“Hello Dr Andrews, Dr Melendez.” Shaun greeted.

They introduced themselves to you, and Andrews turned to Shaun with a slight scowl.

“Dr Murphy you should be at home.”

You raised your hand a little gaining his attention.

“Actually sir, he’s here for me. Shaun’s my legal family, so he’s gotta be here too.”

“You two are related.” Melendez asked shocked.

You nodded your head with a huge smile, nudging Shaun lightly with your elbow.

“He’s my brother.”

“Right, Okay.” Andrews sighed, “we’re to talk about your treatment.”

They listed all your options, letting you decided based on facts.

“You have to amputate her leg.” Shaun spoke up.

Everyone turned to Shaun and you did as well, shocked.

“Shaun! That’s not how you tell the patient!” Morgan hissed.

Tears burned your eyes, and you glared at her. Glassman walked over and sat down with you, running his hand up and down your back as comfort.

“Shut up! He can tell me however he likes!”

Shaun turned to your silently crying form and awkwardly wrapped his arm around your shoulder before pulling away, settling for rubbing your hair like you did for him.

“Please don’t be upset (Y/N), the procedure has a very high rate of success.” Melendez said softly.

You sniffled, nodding your head.

“If you agree to the surgery, we can do it tomorrow morning. Unfortunately Dr Murphy will not be taking part.” Andrews said.

Everyone’s head turned to him in shock and you shook your head.

“I won’t agree if he’s not doing it.” You sniffled.

“You can’t deny your life saving surgery just because your brother won’t be preforming it.” Andrews sighed.

You glared and nodded your head.

“I have to do it.” Shaun said panicked, “I have to help her. I have to save her.”

You ran your fingers through Shaun’s hair and rested your head on his shoulder.

“It’s okay Shauny, I can be with Stevie again.”

“I don’t want you to go to heaven...” Shaun whispered.

“I won’t go straight away, I’ll still be here with you.” You said gently.

“(Y/N), think about this, please.” Glassman asked.

“I have, I refuse to have the surgery... I want Shaun to do it... I trust him.”

Shaun closed his eyes and placed his head to yours.

“Andrews you can’t do this to them. Shaun is more than capable of helping.” Claire pleaded.

“I’ve made my decision, I’ll come back in a hour to see what you’re final decision is.”

With that he left and you burst into tears.

“Please don’t cry.” Shaun begged, “I do not like to see you cry.”

You sniffled, wiping your tears, taking Shaun and Glassmans hands in yours as you clamed down.

Shaun took your phone and put your favourite song in, playing it lowly as background noise.

“It is your favourite song, it helps you calm down.” He smiled.

You smiled weakly back and nodded.

“Andrews is an asshole...” you muttered.

“(Y/N), language please.” Glassman chuckled.

The others chuckled along, and you turned your eyes to Melendez pleadingly.

“Please, you have to help. I want the surgery, but I trust Shaun, I can’t do it without him being there...”

Melendez nodded his head in understanding.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you.” Shaun spoke up.

Melendez smiled at him and left, leaving you guys all alone. So, you started light conversations with them while cuddled into Shaun’s side, but it wasn’t long before you fell asleep.

Shaun got up, pulling he cover back before covering you up with it.

“You really care for her.” Claire said gently.

“I love my sister.” Shaun smiled.

Park, Morgan and Claire all smiled back, taking scattered seats across the room. They’d start a mass protest if they had to, just so Shaun could operate on you, they could let you refuse it and they couldn’t bare to see Shaun loose his last sibling

[ollyarchive]

Olly Alexander discusses his complex character in new queer drama It’s A Sin

BY LEWIS CORNER

Russell T Davies (Queer As Folk, Doctor Who) is back with a brilliant new drama that sees him work with Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander for the first time.

It’s A Sin follows a group of friends living in London who group up in the shadow of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as it unfolds throughout the 1980s.

The first character in the show that we get to meet is Ritchie Tozer, who leaves the family home on the Isle of Wight to move to the Big Smoke in search of fame and success.

Played by Olly Alexander, Ritchie’s story is one that many LGBTQ+ people watching the show can relate to. Leaving the family home for a new life of independence allows us to explore and embrace our true selves.

But despite moving to a big city and surrounding himself with LGBTQ+ friends and allies, Ritchie’s social and political views don’t always align with what we might expect from his character.

“When I read the script, that’s what really blew me away about Ritchie’s character,” Olly told us during the cover story for the latest issue of GAY TIMES Magazine. “I was so excited to try and get into his headspace.

“Ritchie makes a lot of questionable choices, you might say, watching the show. But playing him was so much fun because I really felt like I could understand where he was coming from.

Russell T Davies wins the GAY TIMES Honour for Outstanding Impact

“It’s really important to have a character that makes questionable choices. I really empathise with Ritchie going from a small town to London. That’s what I did.

“My biggest thing with Ritchie was he always just wanted to be the best, and he just wanted to never be afraid. He wanted to just be someone. He’s so ambitious, and I related to that straight away. And I thought, well, maybe if I’d grown up a little differently, and I didn’t have a liberal mum, maybe I would have been a bit more politically like Ritchie.

“So it was just fun to explore all of that. It’s quite funny because it’s so different to me.”

Olly added: “Russell actually apologised to me! He was like, ‘I’m sorry I’m going to have to make you say that line.’ I was like, ‘No, I love that. It’s going to make people question it.’ That’s the joy of the show and Russell’s writing.”

Olly Alexander is in conversation with his fellow It’s A Sin cast members Omari Douglas, Lydia West, Nathaniel Curtis and Callum Scott Howells, as well as show-runner Russell T Davies for the new issue of GAY TIMES Magazine.

It’s A Sin will air on Channel 4 in January 2021.

Neil Patrick Harris, Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry, Tracy Ann Oberman, and Shaun Dooley Also star in the five-part series, which will air on HBO Max in the US.

The Winter 2020/21 Issue of GAY TIMES Magazine is available now in stores and on Apple News+.

[incomingalbatross]

Psych, Shaun and Juliet!

Hmm!

So... I don't think Shawn is much of an internet guy, honestly. My impression is that he browses for information (useful and otherwise) quite a bit, but he much prefers his social life to be IRL, face-to-face interaction, even if it's casual.

So, because of that--and because you'd probably have to move them around in time ANYWAY--I think I would probably do this by putting twenty-something Shawn and Jules in the present. As in, during quarantine.

Quarantined Shawn is, unsurprisingly, going out of his mind with cabin fever. He's in some random town in the US, where he was only planning to stay for a couple weeks but surprise! Now he's in his small, probably-not-quite-legal rental for the duration. He does get a grocery store job, which gives him something to live on and something to do, but it's not exactly fun work and the lack of recreational activity/interaction is seriously messing with him.

HOWEVER, it's 2020 and that means there are at least a lot of options for long-distance hanging out with Gus.

This means that, before too long, Gus talks him into ordering a Switch so he can see Gus's Animal Crossing island

(I know NOTHING about AC except all the Tumblr content, but that's enough to know it's exactly the kind of thing Shawn and Gus would get sucked into)

Shawn makes his own Pineapple Island, full of custom pop-culture stuff and MANY pineapples, and quickly becomes very engrossed in making it the Best Island Possible, because he has nothing else to focus on! This involves finding ways to make trades with other players

Enter Juliet (FINALLY) who is ALSO under quarantine stress in Miami and using AC to escape

Shawn tries to get the best of her in a deal

He does not succeed

Impressed by this, Shawn stays in contact with her and makes a better second impression. They "visit" back and forth

Jules's island is VERY cute, but she's also ruthless in running it the way she likes it

At some point they have a disagreement over something trivial, and Jules challenges Shawn to single combat

Shawn: "...I hate to break it to you, but this game doesn't have a combat mode?"

Jules: "There are other games."

She ALSO plays first-person-shooters, as it happens, and they end up arranging to meet in one and go head-to-head

Shawn is not a gamer, but he gets on early and figures out the mechanics, and he's a quick study with an excellent grasp of tactics

Jules wipes the floor with him

She is EXPERIENCED. She's a MUCH higher level than him, and has the skills to back it up

But what Shawn does get out of this is the realization that the challenge and adrenaline of FPS are also fun, and he starts playing with her there too

...Now they have voice chat

As one of them is Shawn, they talk a lot. This is where they really become friends, though they still don't know a lot of IRL Facts about each other. At some point Jules starts joining him and Gus sometimes when they're streaming cartoons together

BUT. Sometimes in the heat of virtual combat, Jules starts slipping into cop lingo. And Shawn responds automatically, because he knows this stuff, and since he's not always sure what's common knowledge and what isn't it takes a while to make him wonder about Jules

But eventually he asks where she learned it, and she goes "...I don't really tell people this often, online, but. Yeah. I'm a police officer"

And Shawn doesn't let his reaction show over the mic (just says, when she returns the question, that "my dad was a cop" in a closed-off sort of tone), but after they part ways he sits there, in his tiny apartment, with all his Henry Issues rushing forward, thinking I've fallen for a COP

"HOW COULD THE UNIVERSE DO THIS TO ME, GUS"

He decides he can live with it, though. He doesn't actually dislike the police as a whole, and he can be a supportive friend at least, right?

At some point he finds out she was getting ready for her detective's exam when quarantine started, and he goes "Oh, I could help you study, I took that when I was 16"

He DOES help, but this also leads to Shawn's Cop Skills being revealed to her

Somewhere in here, I think, they have a late-night conversation about Jules's dad and why she's a cop, and Shawn's dad and why he's not a cop

Fun Fact: I'm pretty sure at this point in canon Jules and Henry BOTH live in Miami

If not, well, it's already an AU 🤷

At some point Shawn finds out she lives in Miami

"...If you ever get a call about a cantankerous old coot named Henry Spencer," he says a couple hours after that, "let me know how he's handling this? Because Gus says he says he's fine, but he's probably going crazy alone without anyone else's rule-breaking to disapprove of. *chuckle* He's probably reduced to yelling at the TV."

So... Jules looks up the name, and finds Henry's called in some tips to the Miami PD over time (he IS a Spencer), though not recently

And

Here's the thing

Jules WANTS to respect her friend's privacy, and his obviously-superior knowledge of his own relationships... But she is a bit of a Meddler. And she ALSO wants Shawn to be able to have a better relationship with his dad, even if it's just the level of HER not-close-but-amicable parallel

And she's heard enough frustration and hurt and occasional wistfulness in his voice to think that, on some level, he really wants that too

So she makes up a reason to meet Henry Spencer, at six feet apart--something police-related, I don't know, maybe just driving through the neighborhood "checking up on people"

And... He's nice. Since he's also starved for human company, it's easy to get your conversation, and he has a lot of good advice to give her as a young officer.

He says he'd offer her cookies if it weren't for the contagion issues (Henry would be a quarantine baker, this is just a fact)

Jules knows that "likeable" and "good parent" don't have to corolate, of course, but she's surprised by how much she likes him

And then "loved ones currently out of reach" come up, because Quarantine Topics

Henry goes on a bit of a rant about his son who's who-knows-where, allergic to authority, and has ZERO sense of self-preservation. "His friend SAYS he's fine, but it's hard to imagine him keeping quarantine, you know? If he is, he's probably bored out of his mind..."

It's not hard to get Henry talking about Shawn

There's bitterness and disapproval there, and stuff Jules disagrees with... But there's pride, too, and fondness, and worry

She leaves sure of two things: A) she still wants him and Shawn to make up, and B) she's going to have to tell Shawn about this, because it feels wrong to keep it a secret

(Shawn is angry, but eventually she gets him to understand that her only real desire here is for him to be okay and not have to carry this hurt around)

(and he's also invested in hearing what she can tell him about his dad)

(so he's okay with her going back)

I'm not sure how things develop here, exactly, but Jules gets closer to Henry and Shawn over time (and Gus! Gus is helpful to this project, as well, though he doesn't want to take sides AT ALL)

I think Jules just ends up being in the right place, at the right time, to be a bridge between them

Eventually Henry and Shawn get in direct contact for the first time in years. It's still difficult, but Jules sets up some weekly game thing for the four of them, and just spending time together helps

Also! Jules has been talking about hard cases with Shawn for a while, but now they come up in the group as well. Watching BOTH the Spencer men solve something together is very impressive...

And at some point they start playing a puzzle game together, just the two of them. They fight, of course, but when the intellectual thrill outweighs their bad blood and they get on the same page, it's... Something to watch. And eventually this teamwork becomes a more consistent thing, and they can beat Gus and Jules at certain types of games, now, as a team

(Also, Words With Friends. Henry is very offended by all the "words" this game allows, which delights Shawn immensely)

Anyway this is why, when the quarantine lifts, the first place Shawn goes will be Miami

He'll see his dad, of course, but first he'll wait outside the Miami precinct for a certain Detective O'Hara (whose name and face he knows by now, of course)

"Excuse me, miss, would you like to see my island?"

"Shawn!"

And then he asks her out.

Jules... Likes him. She knows that. But she tells him she can't do an on-again, off-again thing with him, and if he doesn't know where he's going to be in a year, or five years, or if he'll ever settle anywhere...

He tells her he's actually been thinking, with everything that's happened recently, about being a detective for real. He can't be a cop, but he can be a PI... Not without Gus, though, which means moving home and setting up shop in Santa Barbara. "I do want this to be a real thing, Jules, you and me. It would have to be long-distance, at least for now, but..."

She dimples suddenly, looking up at him. "I think we've proven we can do long-distance, Shawn."

[its-sixxers]

About the Character

Tagged by @deaconlovemail​ (thank you!!)

Your muse’s name: Eleanora / “Charmer”

One picture / faceclaim of your muse:

Two headcanons you have for your muse?

1. Her dad was a big time doomsday prepper, so she was a SMIDGE more prepared for the end of the world than your every day regular joe. Thanks to him she can make some survival supplies out of scrap.

2. The romance between her and Nate was a whirlwind one and a glimmer of happiness for them both in a world of uncertainty. They dressed in their Sunday best and had a courthouse wedding just before he deployed. Shaun was born shortly before his return. Nate was a giant himbo and Nora adored him for it.

Three things your character likes doing in their free time:

1. Reading. It helps connect her with the world of the past AND is something you can do basically whenever.

2. Scavenging. Finding old world treasures really warms her heart and it reminds her of her dad.

3. Various Deacon related shenanigans. Sometimes she likes to lie about what the pre-war world was like and see if he can figure it out. He usually does, but she’s getting better at it. Slowly.

Seven people your muse loves/likes:

1. Shaun. (Both versions - he’s her son, after all. Synth Shaun is objectively better though.) Even though things ended PRETTY POORLY having her son back - or the closest thing to it - soothes most of the wound. It’s introduced its own problems but hey that’s life.

2. Preston! The man was the first to really deal with her out of the vault and he’s the one to thank for her living long enough to hit Diamond City. Their friendship has made the Commonwealth a better place after the Institute’s fall, uniting the Railroad and Minutemen.

3. Nick Valentine. He’s the only person she knows who really remembers what things used to be like and can comprehend the pain she’s felt. She still helps him with cases from time to time, and makes sure to check in at least once a month to make sure no one’s giving him trouble.

4. Deacon. Finding love after her husband’s death and the end of the world was not something Eleanora expected to happen. Finding it in a man with aggressive identity issues and a very broken psyche was also pretty unexpected. His sense of fun and interest in things pre-war did wonders for her. Together they’ve managed to learn and grow and patch up a few wounds, and their shared little internal glimmer of hope has pushed them to do amazing things. They’re both the others’ ‘second love’, and each hopes they can do right by the other.

5. Dogmeat. I mean, duh. The canine’s got a mind of his own and she doesn’t really ‘own’ him, but he was there in the darkest parts of her life right after leaving the vault and is still very good emotional support.

6. Desdemona. Dez has big sister energy when it comes to Eleanora, and they’re also sort of the den mothers when it comes to the Railroad.

7. The Courier. The two women have a very unique friendship in that they’re the only ones who understand the burden that was placed upon them and what it’s like to be a sort of mythical figure. They’ve been fated to change the world in their own way and deal with the consequences of it. The Courier’s tried her best to make sure Eleanora didn’t make the same mistakes she did. They’ve got a sisterly relationship and the Courier’s basically Shaun’s godmother/cool aunt.

A phobia your muse has:

Taphophobia is the closest thing I could find - she hates the underground. Vaults especially really mess her up. There’s a lot of trauma there.

Tagging: So idk who hasn’t done this but if you’ve already been tagged I’m sorry maybe u can do another character or something i get so anxious about this u dont have to obviously

@randomwordsandstormydays​, @slothssassin​, @falloutglow​, @dangernoodleofhell​, @jacksonsdead​, @benny-gecko-official​, @robobrainmurdermysterytheatre​, @courier-sux​ and anyone else who sees and would like to do the thing TAG MEEE SO I CAN SEE <3333

[fallout4treasures]

I’m bored. Here are my actor choices for a Fallout 4 movie.

I don’t think it’s everyone, but it still took me all day.

I tried to keep them in a rough order of appearance.

Also, I based Nate and Nora off of the games’ preset. However, if I were actually casting a movie, I would just have open auditions. But anyway, here we go.

Nate:

Milo Ventimiglia

It was between him and Jensen Ackles. But honestly, I already had my Nora choice in my heart and I could just see Milo and her running to the vault in a panic together. If that’s not enough I saw Nate in him instantly. The widowed soldier desperately looking for his son in the annihilated future. Plagued with nightmares, but he would still stay warm and uplifting. Milo + Jumpsuit + Dogmeat = Yes, please.

Nora:

Anne Hathaway

Anything I say about her won’t do her justice. First off, she’s easily one of the most talented actors of all time. From the Princess Diaries to Les Miserables, she has proved time and time again that she can be anyone she wants to. Could she be a full-of-life but grief ridden mother, making new friends and enemies while shooting her way through the Commonwealth to find her kidnapped child? In her fucking sleep. Plus her presence would be plenty strong enough to stand up to any of the rest of our star studded, “would-be” cast.

Codsworth & all the Mr. Handy bots(voice):

Tim Curry 

I just want to see it, I have no other excuse.

Conrad Kellogg:

Christopher Meloni

I kept wanting to go with Jeffery Dean Morgan, but I just didn’t think I could learn to hate that face the way I hate Kellogg’s. But then once I thought of Christopher there was no other choice. He can do the voice and the terrifying, non-emotional thing with no issue. (His character seriously got to me in Handmaid’s Tale.) But he could also be relatable enough to actually feel for Kellogg while diving through his memories. 

Preston Garvey:

John Boyega

I had definitely forgotten about John when I was browsing through. My husband and I actually discussed him versus Donald Glover for awhile. In the end we decided that Boyega’s Preston would have a stronger stoic side as well as the fun loving friend. I think he would effortlessly display Preston’s disappointment in the Minutemen, as well as his survivor’s guilt.

Sturges:

Chris Pratt

This part is way too small for Chris nowadays, but I really think he could fall into Sturges’ carefree 50’s mechanic vibe. Plus I could see him throwing in a new sarcastic side to him that could be fun. If not, then I think he would still take him on perfectly, line for line.

Mama Murphy:

Helen Mirren

She’s powerful. She’s gorgeous. I would almost be afraid she would steal from anyone else on screen with her. And yet, it’s the surreal power that’s needed to make Mama Murphy a real life character. So there ya go. 

Paladin Danse:

John Krasinski

Have you seen him in Jack Ryan? I really think he could embody Danse, heart and soul. From his hardened and serious outsides to his soft, broken, and vulnerable insides. He would play the soldier with so much heart, and would probably have us sobbing when he struggles over his new identity. (Me being in love with both of them has absolutely nothing to do with it. Nothing at all.) Plus him in a flight suit. Nuff said.

Piper Wright:

Kat Dennings

First off, she’s freaking gorgeous. Second, I think Piper’s fiery personality would fit her like a glove. Plus she would take on the role of Nat’s big sister perfectly. If you’ve seen her in Thor then you already know she makes an excellent side-kick and adds some great comic relief.  

Mayor McDonough:

Alec Baldwin

I jumped around a lot with this one. I even considered people like James Spader and Jack Nicholson (too old, I know). But then I remembered Alec’s ability to lay on the cheeeeeese. I have no doubt he could handle McDonough’s suspicious but seemingly normal character, and transitioning into his manic and desperate attempt to stay alive. Plus, he would nail his “I am not a synth!” speech, finding the perfect balance of creepy and welcoming.

Ellie Perkins:

Ellie Kemper

She has an adorable, scrappy, and loving personality that glows every time she’s on screen. I don’t think I’ve seen her in anything serious, personally, but I bet she’d be up for the challenge. Especially to fill the role for someone cute and spunky like Ellie. 

Nick Valentine:

Liev Schreiber

I really, really struggled with this one. Obviously CGI and other special effects would have to happen no matter what, but whoever I chose still had to have those serious eyes, warm and friendly smile, and that old Boston gumshoe voice. Cue Liev. He’s probably a touch young, but if we’re already using CGI anyway so who cares.

Elder Arthur Maxson:

Tom Hardy

I don’t even feel the need to explain myself here. Venom. That’s all I’ll say.

X6-88: 

Michael B. Jordan

As sweet as his smile is, I feel like the minute Jordan pulls on a stone cold look, blood would drain the face of whoever was playing opposite of him. However he would easily be able to add the oddly comforting touch X6 has when he watches over the Sole Survivor. 

Desdemona:

Laura Prepon

Her commanding and sexy vibe in everything she plays is absolutely perfect. At least for me. She’s a bit young, but I think it would be easy enough to age her up. She would naturally become the leader of the Railroad, and would totally scare the piss out of everyone in her way.

Deacon:

Ryan Alosio 

Yep, the man himself. He’s got the look, the charisma, and he can obviously do Deac’s iconic voice. Don’t fix what’s not broken. If you’re not convinced, watch this very impressive reel of his. Or do it anyway because DAMN. It was shameful how quickly I fell in love. 

https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3911957785?ref_=nmvi_vi_imdb_1

Tinker Tom:

Anthony Mackie

Tom has a whole lot of energy to keep up with. I pushed him off to one of the last ones I chose because he is just so unique, and I actually needed my husband’s opinion. We finally settled on the talented and energetic Anthony. He’s goofy, absolutely lovable, and would probably have way too much fun playing into the crazy conspiracy bits.

Father(Old Man Shaun):

Gary Oldman

I feel bad not giving this brilliant actor a bigger role. His chameleon ability could land him almost anything here, but his soft but strong voice is literally perfect for Father’s. Just age him up a bit and he’ll melt into the role like with everything he doeswewse. He would make the reunion with Shaun 1000x more intense and emotional, and I could see him almost convincing all of us to join the Institute. I mean, it’s Gary fucking Oldman.

(Side Quest Characters)

John Hancock:

James Franco 

I actually couldn’t believe I hadn’t put this together before. I’m starting to wonder if Hancock was actually written for James. Super chill, but not scared to get shit done. Including taking care of Finn in the most casual and Godfather way possible within the first few moments of meeting him. Then afterward he would take some chems with Sole and talk about life for awhile. I’m totally okay with this idea.

Robert MacCready:

James Marsden 

I’ll be honest, I have never played with MacCready before. I had to watch some videos to get a feel for it but in the end I feel like I found a solid choice. I know he’s “pretty” but throw on some scruff, dirt, and a green cap and he’s there. Think Westworld.

Cait:

Karen Gillan

Cait can kick my ass any day, and that’s how I feel about Karen. They are both just so breathtakingly badass. Any sole survivor would struggle to keep from lusting after her, and then caring deeply as they worked through her drug addiction. 

Curie:

Mélanie Laurent

Both Curie and Melanie are just innocently stunning and can light up a room with a smile. Curie would be especially difficult because not only is she gorgeous, but she’s almost always the smartest one in the room, but I think Melanie could do her justice.

---

So there is our very expensive cast list!

There’s a lot here that I feel on the fence about but this was still a lot of fun to do. I’m sure there are other actors that I have forgotten that could take on these characters too, so let me know what you would have done differently!

[victorluvsalice]

AU Thursday: Tell Me Where To Find Shelter -- Layers of Victor

Saw this meme going around the #fallout4 tag a while back (I believe I specifically ganked it from @radbeetle), and thought it might be fun to do for my Sole Survivor!Victor. And my Malkavian!Alice, but let’s start with SS!Victor. XD

LAYER ONE: THE OUTSIDE

- Name: Victor Fitzwilliam Van Dort

- Eye Color: Very dark brown – it can be very hard to tell the difference between pupil and iris!

- Hair Style/Color: Black, generally combed back with two "tufts" of bangs falling over what little forehead he has

- Height: Six feet three inches (and thin as a rail)

- Clothing style: Relatively formal pre-War – he grew up in a household that impressed upon him that you wore ties and suits whenever you were in public, and often even in private. Post-War, he spends a lot of time switching between a pair of upgraded Vault suits from Vault 111 while looking for clothes that actually fit his lanky frame. He's a lot more casual in his style once he does – though he still likes a good sweater vest, and he keeps a few suits if he needs to look fancy.

- Best physical feature: Victor would personally say his hands – he's a pianist and a tinkerer, and he appreciates his long reach over a keyboard, along with his ability to finely handle delicate parts when upgrading or repairing things!

LAYER TWO: THE INSIDE

- Fears: Total darkness (as in you can't see ANYTHING – as long as there's some sort of light source, he can manage); blindness (related to previous); small enclosed spaces (being locked in a cryonic pod will do that to a guy); losing those he cares about again (he – has a lot of trauma from seeing Victoria shot, Shaun kidnapped, then trying to open Emily's pod after he finally got out, only to see her corpse half-rotted inside)

- Guilty pleasure: Pre-War, it would have been comics – he was always a little embarrassed about how much he continued to like the adventures of Grognak and the Unstoppables and whatnot after his teenage years (not helped by his mother sneering at the stories). Post-War, though, he ditches the "guilty" part – especially after meeting Kent Connolly and getting to play Silver Shroud. XD I'm not sure he has one post-War – he occasionally feels weird about how much he enjoys modifying his weapons and armor? But that's quite practical as well as pleasurable, so. . .

- Biggest pet peeve: Being rapidly promoted in organizations that he's only just joined (Preston, you're easily one of his best friends, but SERIOUSLY, dude, GENERAL?)

- Ambitions for the future: To continue keeping his little portion of the Commonwealth safe, and start training up someone with some more Charisma to be the General of the Minutemen once he retires (he's still not sure why people follow him when he's so socially awkward)

LAYER THREE: THOUGHTS

- First thoughts waking up: Depends on what wakes him up. If he's waking up on his own, it's generally a variation on "Breakfast? Where breakfast?" If someone else wakes him up, it's generally "Why are you shaking/licking me, I don't wanna get up yet." And if it's combat nearby, it's generally "SHIT WHERE'S MY GUN oh wait are they shooting at me still should find gun."

- What they think about most: All his various responsibilities – finding his son, acting as General of the Minutemen, working with the Railroad, helping the people on the settlements, wondering what the hell is going to happen between him and the Brotherhood of Steel, or him and the Institute. . .it doesn't do much for his anxiety, is what I'm saying.

- What they think about before bed: If he's not exhausted enough just to collapse onto the nearest sleeping surface, then probably what I mentioned above. He's probably up late trying to plan routes to help settlements that have called for assistance and follow leads on the Institute and whatnot.

- What they think their best quality is: Victor would consider it his willingness to be helpful whenever possible. He generally enjoys helping people, and it makes him feel better in general to help improve the Commonwealth in some small way. (Not to mention, him helping out personally with the problems of a lot of the families/communities in the Commonwealth has earned him a lot of friends for his Minutemen! A General so hands-on seems to impress people.)

LAYER FOUR: WHAT’S BETTER?

- Single or group dates: . . .this gets a little harder to answer when he was in a polyamorous relationship pre-War, you know. XD But yeah, Victor prefers one-on-one, or one-on-two in the case of Victoria and Emily. A group date puts the pressure on him to perform like the perfect boyfriend/husband, and he doesn't need the extra stress. Maybe he'd be okay with a double date if it was with some very close friends.

- To be loved or respected: Victor would rather be loved, or at least liked – though part of that is low self-esteem telling him people aren't going to respect him. (Or like him, for that matter.) It's what informs his desire to help people, at least in part.

- Beauty or brains: While Victor isn't immune to a nice face or body, he really likes having someone he can talk to about stuff. Sharing interests is fun, and he appreciates someone who will at least try to keep up with his nattering on about butterflies and robots and whatnot.

- Dogs or cats: Dogs! Victor gets along decently with cats, but he is first and foremost a dog person. He had a dog named Scraps when he was a child, and he, Victoria, and Emily were making plans to adopt one before the bombs fell. Meeting Dogmeat at the Red Rocket really helped pull him out of his post-War "almost everything I knew is gone and I'm a stranger in my own state" funk.

LAYER FIVE: DO THEY?

- Lie: Yup. Victor will tell the usual social "white lies" (even if he's not very good at them), and he's done bigger lies in the past – like not telling his parents that Emily was more than their "roommate." (Of course, that was done not to have a family blowout about him and his wife having a girlfriend.)

- Believe in themselves: Not usually – as stated, Victor has pretty low self-esteem, thanks mostly to growing up with a mother who was criticizing him and everything he was when she wasn't absent doing social climbing stuff. It's hard for him to think of himself as being someone who has worth, sadly. He gets better when he starts seeing more results of his actions in helping the Minutemen and the Railroad, and realizes he's genuinely making a difference for people.

- Believe in love: Yes – his relationship with Victoria and Emily was one of the high points of his pre-War life. He was utterly heartbroken when Victoria was shot, and Emily later died due to the life support to the other pods being cut off. But then later he meets Alice, and. . .well, it takes some time, but he manages to come around to loving and being loved again.

- Want someone: Pre-War, not really – he was in a happy threesome and wasn't currently looking to expand. Post-War, most of his life precludes wanting anyone – though he does develop a bit of a crush on Piper as time goes on. And then, of course, he meets Alice, and eventually ends up wanting her. . . (Yes, in-game I intend for him to romance Piper – and there's a chance in the AU he, Piper, and Alice would end up in a poly situation. We'll see where this goes!)

LAYER SIX: EVER?

- Been on stage: Pre-War, never officially – Nell had him play piano at some of her parties (which was always stressful, as he felt all her guests were either judging him or just hated him for being related to her), but that was as far as performing got. He of course had the speech he was asked to do that he was practicing the day the bombs dropped, but – well, the bombs dropped. Post-War – he probably will have to give some inspirational speeches to his Minutemen troops, which he will somehow get through and then go have a little quiet panic attack somewhere.

- Done chems/drugs: . . .I have occasionally toyed with the headcanon that Victor was unwillingly dosed with Psycho, or a drug like it, back in his Army days and has been haunted by the experience ever since. But other than that, not the hard stuff – Victor doesn't even smoke (he tried once – after nearly coughing up a lung, he refused to ever try again) and he tends not to drink (he's tried that too, and discovered he's an embarrassingly chatty drunk, so he doesn't typically indulge). He will, of course, take Rad-X and Rad-Away, because those are freaking necessary to survive in parts of the Wasteland.

- Changed who you were to fit in: Occasionally attempted, never stuck. He's not good at keeping up a facade. One of his most embarrassing memories is trying to ask a girl to dance at a party his mother dragged him to when he was about 16, imitating the more popular "jock"-kinda guys, and getting laughed at so much he retreated to the buffet for the rest of the night.

LAYER SEVEN: FAVORITES

- Favorite color: Blue

- Favorite animal: Dogs, butterflies

- Favorite movie: Victor will confess to a love for schlocky monster movies, so he was quite enamored of Night of the Fish Men's Revenge when it came out (he's quite excited when he sees it in the projector in Eden Meadows Cinema, and quite sad that he can only get it to play the title screen). He also enjoyed Another Day In the Monster Factory for much the same reasons.

- Favorite game: With his affinity for comic books and a secret love of roleplaying (which becomes not-so-secret once he starts Silver Shrouding), Grognak & The Ruby Ruins quite appeals to him. He likes that it has some replay value too, with changing up your party and whatnot. The action of Pipfall appeals to him too, though that time limit can be stressful!

LAYER EIGHT: AGE

- DOB: June 9th, 2050 (he was 27 and a few months when the bombs dropped)

- Day of their next birthday, they will be: His next birthday according to the game would be June 9th, 2088 – he'd be 238 in terms of time passed, 28 in terms of biology

- Age they lost their virginity: Twenty – Victor had been yanked by the Army into Canada to help with the Sino-American war shortly after graduating high school, but got some leave around his twentieth birthday to go home. He immediately caught back up with his high school sweethearts, Victoria and Emily, and ended up doing the deed with Victoria. They managed to keep it a secret from their conservative parents, fortunately.

- Does age matter: In general? Victor is willing to listen to advice from those older than he is, certainly – though he tends to take it with a grain of salt depending on their obvious biases. In a relationship? Unless one of the parties is a minor, Victor won't get involved, though bigger gaps will probably make him wonder what exactly they see in each other. (He allows this is hypocritical of him to a degree, as Alice is much older than him even taking into account the freezing – but on the flip side, she was Embraced at 20, he was frozen at 27. . .)

LAYER NINE: IN A BOY OR GIRL

- Best personality: Victor likes people who are sweet and kind, but have a tougher or sassier side to them as well. Victoria leaned mostly toward the "sweet" side, but was also pretty determined when it came to getting what she wanted from him; Emily was cheerful and enthusiastic, but if you angered her – wooo boy; Alice of course is snark incarnate, but is kind to people and generally likes helping others. Even Piper is one of the kinder companions, but doesn't shy away from sarcastic comments.

- Best eye color: Well, Victoria and Emily both had blue eyes (of differing shades), and Alice's green eyes were one of the first things that struck Victor about her, sooo. . .blue or green!

- Best hair color: I'm not sure Victor has a preference here – Victoria was a super-light brown, almost gray; Emily was a blonde; Alice has dark hair that looks black or brown depending on the light/how well cared for it is (and she says her hair was almost red when she was a kid!); Piper has dark brown/black hair. I guess pre-War he went for lighter; post-War he goes for darker?

- Best thing to do with a partner: Victor likes finding some sort of creative interest they can share, or at least do at the same time. He would sit in the living room and draw while Victoria embroidered in the afternoons; and he and Emily both played piano, so they'd often have little duets. With Alice, he probably ends up illustrating some of the stories she tells – maybe eventually they throw together a book of sorts, with Piper's help!

LAYER TEN: FINISH THE SENTENCE

- I love: Alice! And the rest of my friends too, of course.

- I feel: completely out of my depth, most of the time.

- I hide: how anxious all of this makes me – not sure how well I'm succeeding, but. . .

- I miss: the life I had before, in Sanctuary.

- I wish: that Victoria and Emily hadn't – that t-they were still here to meet the friends I've made.