#its pride month walter you know what that means

[sharky-the-idiot]

so I had an idea.

[max--jagerman]

This

[justgrinnin]

hopping on the trend! does this count as art?

[candythemew]

I am an artist.

[gay-cacophony]

also i feel like i need to say that my url is based on that one breaking bad meme

[comicaurora]

Okay so this might be one of those '*vague shrug* I just kinda.... Do It??' answers, but I simply must pick your brain over how you do body language, because Vash taking the wheel and subsequently changing All Of The Body Language made me realize I was not in fact finding things that weren't there when I noticed Walter also changing the body language when possessing Erin. So like. How do you capture various types of body language in panel to panel linework? What's your internal logic/intuition on framing different characters? How much do you make note of contrasting body language between characters in a scene?

(Also fully unrelated, I've been wondering for months now if you recognize recurring people whose questions you answer or if it all kinda washes over you regardless?)

This question is very interesting for me to think about, because it made me realize how character posing is not something I consciously consider - it just follows naturally from my understanding of each character and how they'd move in each situation.

The most visible shift from Kendal to Vash is that Vash appears happy and relaxed, lounging in a completely open stance because he doesn't consider Tynan a threat. Kendal wouldn't do the same, and spent the rest of the fight intensely focused and broadly unhappy. There are situations where their body language overlaps, but broadly they carry themselves differently because they feel different about who they are and what space they fill in the world. Vash incarnates to have a good time; Kendal did not choose his existence and believes it's a means to an end. These two people will respond to their environment differently, and that means they'll carry tension in different areas, react to or disregard different things, etc. Vash and Kendal are similarly poised and graceful, but Vash adds a swagger to his body language that Kendal doesn't, and Kendal has an open, calm curiosity that Vash is too brash and worldly to mirror. Vash is also supremely confident and feels at home anywhere, because in a real sense as a god of a society he is at home anywhere in that society or its neighbors he manifests. In contrast, Kendal does not feel like he belongs anywhere, and correspondingly sticks to the fringes and out-of-the-way corners where he won't disrupt things. This colors a lot of the way they engage with their surroundings and carry themselves.

Erin and the Void Dragon have a slightly subtler internal distinction, because they have a lot of personality similarities. The key difference is the Void Dragon truly believes he knows everything and is better than everyone, while Erin only assumes he knows everything and reacts quickly to adapt when he's proven wrong - and Erin, despite recognizing and taking pride in his own abilities, does not actually believe they make him innately superior to anyone else. He'll play an upper-crust social role when the situation demands it, but it's an act. Erin's enthusiastic curiosity and bricked-over wellspring of insecurities set him apart from the Void Dragon, and that manifests in their body language. When Erin gets intrigued by something it spills over into his body language, breaking his practiced perfect posture into hunched shoulders or flailing arms. When he's sad or disheartened he sags down like his strings are cut. The Void Dragon has none of these nuances, and slides between confident stances with the occasional dip into full-on panic when a situation slips unexpectedly from his supposedly total control. Unlike Erin, the Void Dragon does not have much experience in taking Ls.

And the only time we've seen Life talk through Alinua, Alinua was fully unconscious, and her body language reflected that. It was important to communicate that she wasn't a puppet on strings or a mask being worn by another being.

Body language is crazy complicated and you can do a lot with a little. Even just the set of the shoulders can communicate someone intensely focused, someone rigidly disciplined or loosely relaxed, someone on guard or ready to start swinging. There's no easy way to break it down because it's a truly huge space of visual storytelling, and even in a very narrow subset, similar poses on different characters can reflect completely different things. Kendal's neutral stance is straight-backed and tall with arms loosely at his sides, but the same posture on Falst is very rare, as he only takes a similar posture when he's actively on the lookout for nearby dangers and doesn't want to stay close to the ground. When Alinua's under stress she curls in on herself and makes herself small, hugging her own shoulders, a stance almost nobody else ever takes. Dainix stands tall like Kendal but almost always carries himself with a fluidity, weight shifted on one foot or the other, ready to rock back or spring forward; Falst carries himself with similar flexible energy but stays crouched and low, more willing to use his hands for mobility than anyone else. Tess spends 90% of her time completely relaxed, privileged by armor and speed to be absolutely unbothered by most potential inconveniences, and when she does check into the situation she carries herself loosely and smoothly, stances and arms wide open because she doesn't concern herself with defense. Everyone has a different vibe and a different perspective on their situation, and that means the body language between two different characters will never be the same.

(I do recognize recurring asks! I don't have a dossier or everyone or anything, but I pattern-recognize with the best of 'em)

[prontaentrega]

walter its pride month you know what that means is one of the funniest images on the internet no edit or redraw will ever be funnier. gay meth

[saltycharacters]

[ID: 3 pieces of both digital and traditional artwork featuring a lanky, green scarecrow woman named Effie G. Cornfield. She's depicted with white, short hair, long black coat, and with bows decorating her chest and head. In the 1st drawing, she's shown smirking at the audience, arms and legs crossed as she poses in front of a checkered background, with her name being spelt out to the left of her. The next image is a compilation of various pen doodles, depicting her with different poses and expressions. The last drawing is a parody of the Breaking Bad Gay Meth meme, where Effie takes the place of Gus Fring and some hat-wearing individuals take the place of both Walter and Jesse Pinkman. The text bubbles read; "Its pride month, cronies. You know what that means". "Huh - what - do you want us to write like. Gay news. What". In response, Effie is shown with a shit eating grin and remains silent. End ID]

The best reporter of a cursed town, Effie G. Cornfield.

[goldinavonlea]

25

and on an entirely different note, number 25 is a partial draft of a letter: prior to the final episode (and i suppose the original books but ho hum) Jossing the theory i had it in my head that Anne had got both the teaching and the red hair from her dad, though fittingly i imagined her mum as a botanical illustrator which… language of flowers? i really was weirdly and inaccurately precognitive about this show at times. anyway, note 25 is, again, a partial draft of a letter from Walter to Anne written shortly before his death, in a conceptual AU in which Anne’s search for her history bares more direct fruit

————

Dear Baby,

How I hope that this is a letter you shall never have to read; that some act of divine providence should intervene, reaching down a hand in grace that I might be allowed to stay with you forever. This is the wish of every parent, and for every parent (so long as they are good), it is the source of their greatest fear as it is, of course, impossible. No-one gets to live forever, Baby Anne, only for a lifetime.

I never imagined that my own lifetime might prove so brief as I suspect it shall, nor that so little of its length might intertwine with yours. As I write you now, all those years ahead to find you grown, you lie before me, fast asleep. You are three and half months old. That is 104 days, and if we are to be exact about it, an additional thirteen hours and twenty six minutes. Twenty seven, now. What a horror that seems to write, even though it is so obvious a thing to know: every minute that passes you get a minute older. How frightening, to see time move so very fast, and yet how wonderful it has been to watch you grow, minute by breathless minute. Your mother was infinitely fond of reminding me that I am far more clever than I will ever be wise, and she, in her infinite wisdom, was doubtless right. So though I am afraid I may have little wisdom to offer you (though knowing you, my darling girl, has made me so much wiser even in these short 104 days (13 hours, 31 minutes)), I shall endeavour to rely upon my cleverness through the only means I have ever truly had to do so: words. Though it seems to me suddenly that the words which matter most have no room for cleverness, nor ego, nor imagined wisdom—only for truth, and truth beyond logic or thought or anything but the clear, bright light of its own being. My dear, dear daughter: you have been alive for one-hundred and four days (thirteen hours, thirty six minutes). And every single one of those days, so many times a day, you have heard, I promise you (though you may not have understood. Being as I am, however, your father, and thus given with stunning ease to overwhelming pride on your behalf, it has often occurred to me that you have the cleverest eyes I have ever been blessed to see, and may well understand far more than one would think...), I promise you that you have heard the words ‘I love you’. My girl, you are so loved. You are so loved, and treasured, and wanted. We wanted to stay, your mother and I. We wanted to stay with you more than anything, but your mother always said God has his plans. I cannot pretend to understand what that plan is, nor will I say that I agree with it. But I can hope: I hope that this letter reaches you somewhere warm, somewhere safe, somewhere that treasures you and where you are loved by others as much as you have been these first one-hundred and four days of your life. That hope does not come from providence, but from you: I look at you, my sweet girl, with your mothers eyes (and my hair. do not permit a one of these Canadian folk to insinuate to you that that hair is anything less than a blessing: we brought you that hair all the way from Scotland, and it eases the ache for my homeland in my soul to see it here on you), I look at your little face and your laughing eyes and I feel such fierce hope that you will be loved well throughout your years, for who could know you, precious thing, and fail to love you? Understand that always, dear heart: those in life who cannot great you with love are the ones who have failed. Make sure your heart overflows with it, every day that you can. Love is all: it will soothe the ache of wounds, it will water your fields, it will recarve the shape of your world time and time over if you’ve only the strength to let it. If you let it, it will fill and flow through you like a flood, and the one who survives the storm is not she who stands hard against the force of it, but bends with its weight and current, and is one with it. Be one with love: you will never then be truly without joy, or without hope.

[darkarfs]

My 10 Favorite WWE Matches of All Time (updated)

10: The 2001 Royal Rumble No matter how daft and stupid the product gets, I will never not stoke my head in around January. The Royal Rumble is my favorite match, but this one is my favorite favorite instance of that match. The pacing, the beautiful endurance of Kane, the hardcore interval (which Kane just decides to destroy), the Big Show returning after 4 months just to get shit-canned a minute into his run. There is so much to love about this mess. The preview of Rock and Austin that year for their Wrestlemania showdown. The fact that 4 or 5 of them (Rock, Austin, Kane, Undertaker, even Rikishi) could have been main event contenders. The best midcard in WWE history. Scotty 2 Hotty having the worst night of his life. Drew Carey just showing up. Bradshaw just cliffing everyone, because he's gotta get his shit in. Good Rumbles are like a 3 course meal, and this one is like all your courses at once, and then dessert is a treat you could die on. 9. Tyler Bate vs. WALTER - Takeover Cardiff Crowds make a lot of matches for me (thanks, 2020) but this crowd is especially electric, and for 24-year-old Tyler Bate, who is taking on a TANK, and that tank's name is WALTER, a TANK. But I will never not be a sucker for a David vs. Goliath story, and it was never better told than the boy made of thighs vs. the destroyer made of shattering palms. It is SO CARNY, so many feats of strength, so many OOOOOFS AND UUUUUURGHS that make this so great. Tyler was a hero on this night, but everyone knew he wasn't ready to win. Every feat is a magnificent reach. And it all means something to everyone. Make them what they know SHOULD happen and still surprise them with it. His "refusing to quit!" only to get shut down by a fucking chop. HE STANDS but is immediately ruined. It makes me. This shit fucking makes me. 8. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, 30-Minute Iron Woman Match - Takeover Respect Most of this is just a remix of their epic and warranted classic in Brooklyn. but then Sasha takes the headband off of Izzy. And then they both stepped it up and were *amazing*. We somehow lost Bayley's "RAAAAAH'S and that's sad for me. But then they RAMP IT UP. NOBODY LIKES YOU. FUCK YOU. WE'RE HAPPIER NOW. (WE'RE NOT.) But seriously, Sasha taking Izzy's headband and then THROWING IT AT HER started something special, something grand. THE OUTRAGE. The bastion of heel heat. And then the match got better. They hugged at the end of their encounter in Brooklyn, but then they started poisoning one another. And it all started with this amazing match. (Also, Bayley's amazing red and gold robot tights.) 7. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels, Wrestlemania 21 Listen. HBK's 'Mania outings with the Undertaker are solid "match of the decade" contenders, piss-easy. They are peerless, they are in a league of their own. But saying they're your favorite? Unless you are an actual wrestler, that's like saying "UH, MY FAVE BAND IS THE BEATLES." Ya boring, ya basic, and we can all do better. And seeing how I'm in my late 30s, I understand wrestling a little different than I did when I made this list in...2016??? Christ. I bet AJ Styles vs. John Cena was on it that year. Two of the best performers, both in their prime, and looking back on it, I just prefer the mix of character dynamics at play. Angle is easily one of the best in the world, but he has such an inferiority complex, because he's an Olympic gold medalist who is told *nightly* that he sucks, and he CAN'T best Michaels. He keeps coming back, and he's so charming, so effortlessly good at this whole "wrestling" thing, and it's slowly making Angle, who SHOULD be all of those things, absolutely *spare.* And that informs so many spots and story moments in the match itself, specifically when Angle LOSES it and starts shouting at him, only to have a superkick partied under his face. Angle is one of the best ever because his wrestling acumen served his character, never once defined it. 6. Vince McMahon vs. Shane McMahon, Wrestlemania 17 I haven't gone back to watch the whole of Vince vs. Shane THAT many times. What I have done is watch the finish about 65 times. There is something so addictive and magical about that one pop, when Linda stands up from her chair, and the ENTIRE crowd stands with her. And I'll 100% agree that Vince's comeuppance - one slap, one hoof to the balls, a Mandible Claw and a Coast-To-Coast dropkick - is not NEAR the actual comeuppance he should have gotten for some of the deplorable shit his character got up to from around the Rumble to this match (two of which they've done their very best to scrub from history, they're THAT bad.) But it's the purest example I can think of, of that pantomime aspect of wrestling. Vince McMahon is a deranged bastard. He likes dumb, cruel, crude things, but his commitment to being the world's 2nd-worst lizard man makes some of the stuff that happens to him more richly rewarding than almost any retribution in any medium, ever. The final 4 minutes of that match, the crowd is a fireworks display. They rise, they explode, they rise and explode, over and over. And again, shoutout to my boy 2020 for making me miss a crowd THAT big having THAT good a time. 5. Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano - 2 out of 3 falls - TakeOver New York Now look, I'm not saying that NXT is essentially perfect for me, in terms for what I look for in wrestling. What I will say is that when it cooks, it combines the very best of indie stamina, choreography and stunt work with something WWE sometimes gets VERY right, and that is unabashed, unironic emotion. And it's not even that the intimacy of NXT being a smaller promotion has a denser, more specifically passionate fanbase. It's just the fact that NXT understands that so often, nuance and drama in wrestling doesn't come from promos, or swerves, or endless escalations of said drama, but from getting the FUCK out of the way and letting two of the best in the world *wrestle.* NXT is so good for providing context for the acts of jealousy, pride and entitlement, and then laying out a match that touches on all of these emotions throughout. This main event, built in two weeks, after a terribly-timed Ciampa injury, is actually VERRRY clever booking...disguised to look really simple. Cole starts the match as the crowd favorite, because he's the cool tweener everyone likes (with a catchphrase) to Gargano's unironic Disney prince. Over the course of Cole going all out, making subtle references to Johnny's feud with Ciampa, Gargano fighting from underneath, total fuck-off bastardry from the Undisputed Era (making poor Mauro Ranallo yell "YOU SNAKES!!") Maybe Cole WAS the better choice, but by the end of it, you didn't care. On that night, Johnny refused to lose, and the constant, exciting, *involving* wrestling dragged you to that emotional place. Damn right, you deserve it. 4. CM Punk vs. John Cena, Money In the Bank 2011 It might be a simple choice, but also, sometimes, it's really really gratifying to see a crowd who wants something get what they fucking want for once. A hot crowd makes a good match great, and a great match THIS. A crowd united, either for one guy, and against another, and in this case, BOTH. It makes every. Move. Matter. Trying to find a new angle on this match is like trying to find a new way to say fire is warm. And this crowd created a CAUSE. The no-sold pinfall, the attempted rehash of the Screwjob. Point out the botches if you must. The angle, the promo...it got my friends back into wrestling, a reason to care until the Shield. It's not the best, but it deserves to be. There is no wrestling crowd I wish I was more a part of. And I was at King of the Ring 1998. 3. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar, 60-Minute Iron Man match, Smackdown of September 18, 2003 It MAYBE was a bit of a "hipster" choice to name this my number 1 in 2016. But you know what? Bloody holds up. Two performers who feel "destined to do this forever," like a Triple H/Shawn Michaels, or a Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn. Possessed of freakish physical charisma, could go for days if pressed. Brock Lesnar, literally at the time ONE OF THE BEST ATHLETES in the WORLD being a lazy fucker and taking DQ points, laying the foundation of what Brock Lesnar would come to be known as. And Angle, in that rare position of everyone knowing he's the best thing going. Brilliant Lazy Asshole Brock and Certified Wrestling Machine Angle are two of my unironic favorite characters in all of wrestling, and it's a buffet of THAT. Like a Royal Rumble, only it's just two dudes, being the best they've ever been. 2. DIY vs. the Revival - 2 out of 3 falls - TakeOver Toronto "Tag team wrestling?" says main roster WWE. "What is this...tag team wrestling?" Well, this is it, at its absolute best. It's up there with Rey Mysterio and Edge vs. Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle from No Mercy 2002 for just brilliant, rock-solid tag team psychology. There are more story opportunities when there are more rules to break, how can WWE *not get behind that?* In terms of chemistry, both between opponents and between teams, in terms of callbacks like Johnny muscling through the exact same inverted figure four that lost them the belts in Brooklyn. It is a perfect match. Not an ounce of fat on it. And that closing sequence, of each member of DIY locking the Revival in their signature holds, and the men now known as FTR clinging to one another. It's probably the best tag match in the history of the WWE, and considering the caliber of tag matches on TakeOvers, is FUCKING saying something. 1. Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar, Survivor Series 2018 This match is everything I always hoped for. For the longest time, after the 2015 Royal Rumble debacle, when Reigns won, when simply everything we knew about storytelling said "no, of course it should be Bryan," I wondered what that 'Mania match would look like. If it were anything like this, I would have died a happy man. But then again, what makes this match so GOOD is that Bryan had just come back from an early retirement caused by head and neck surgery, and here he is, being dropped on his head and neck by Brock Fucking Lesnar, aka what would happen if the concept of "not giving a shit" gained corporeal form and starting shilling for Jimmy John's. The match gets really ugly, really fast, and Bryan takes us to uncomfortable places with his selling. It wasn't just the retirement angle, it was also the fact that Brock had turned out some REALLY lazy shit by that point in his career, so we had all mentally prepared for another finish-spamming early night. And then. AND THEN... Bryan hoofs him in the walnuts, hits the running knee, gives us the absolute closest 2-count of the decade, and then the fight is fucking on. Bryan went, over the course of 2 minutes, from never having a chance against Brock Lesnar to it being an *absolute certainty* that he was going to BEAT BROCK LESNAR. Anytime you visibly leave your seat every few seconds during a match, you know it's a special one. Again, it took me away, had me absolutely *screaming* at my monitor, elated, invested, and I don't know what more your favorite match can ask of you. But what happens when your favorite match isn't a match at all? No. 0: The Firefly Funhouse - Wrestlemania 36 I'm not kidding, it actually might be my favorite thing. It could be just my brain latching onto the Cult of the New, but I don't think so. It's not a match, I get it. It exists in a weird null-void outside of time and space, but mostly I am floored that they would broadcast something so virulently anti-WWE. Like, we talk of CM Punk and how WWE let him get away with all his little jokes and cut his little Pipebomb promo. But then WWE signed off on Bray Wyatt tearing the soul out of their business. Burying the biggest star of this generation, skewering and laying bare all of terrible WWE's terrible priorities, and also celebrating insider knowledge, wrestling history, and I just...love it. Right now, it's my favorite thing WWE have ever put out, because it did something they've never done before, told a story I didn't think they were capable of telling. And sure, it was Bray who told it, but I still can't believe it aired. But I am endlessly thankful that it did.

[wickedsingularity]

Until Next Time [Chapter 14]

Banner by PhoenixAlthor @ TDA

The hand on my heart clenched painfully. I stiffened and gritted my teeth. My eyes stung and I couldn't breathe. I was there. I had reached the point where it hurt so bad I didn't know how to live for one more second.

War. We do what we can to find comfort and hope.

Remus Lupin x OC Warnings: Fear, anxiety, "phantom-pain" Words: 1823

Chapter 13 | Masterlist | Chapter 15

Recovery

Focus. Focus on your memory.

Something as simple as having breakfast that first morning after my accident had exhausted me. According to Madam Pomfrey, who came to check on me by lunchtime, both Remus and Sirius had looked in on me a few times, but I had been sleeping like the dead. The matron assured me and them that it was to be expected. It took a lot of energy to refill a person's magic.

After that, she declared me well enough to go home. I didn't dare try my magic too much, I was too scared to see it fail. It made a lot of the everyday tasks difficult to get through, and my clothes were suffering from it, not being able to cast a freshening charm on them. So I spent most of my time sleeping and reading until Madam Pomfrey wanted me for another checkup a few days later.

She advised me to use as much magic as possible. It's like a muscle that needs to be used, and then it will come back in full faster. The feeling of uselessness and unsafety I felt when my magic failed or fizzled, was almost overwhelming. I couldn't remember a time when I didn't use magic. But this was war. I had to help the Order and I had to do my work at Azkaban. So I swallowed my fear and pride, and tried.

By Monday morning, my magic was back to normal. I had tried a Patronus Shield the previous evening, and it had held up for hours. Of course, I had no Dementors at home to put it to the test, but it felt okay enough. That didn't mean I felt mentally ready to go back, but I had to, even if I was going straight onto a week at Azkaban.

With the pre-blood ward schedule, I was supposed to go onto three weeks at the Ministry, but the new wards making Azkaban safer, the schedule had changed and we were supposed to be less at Azkaban and therefore every other week. But the week I had been recovering from my loss of magic, had been all about checking and double-checking the new wards, and while they were working well, the Dementors were getting more and more out of control. So, the new schedule had been changed, to longer hours at Azkaban, including working weekends. And this morning, I was starting my first week of the new schedule at Azkaban.

Swallowing my fear, bundling it all up into a ball and hiding it away in the deepest darkest corner of my mind, I donned my freshly cleaned work robes and Disapparated. The moment I appeared on the Apparition station outside Azkaban and set my eyes on the tall stone structure further out, I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the freezing wind or the nearness to the Dementors. It was my own fear that coursed through me like a poisonous arrow, slimy tendrils of darkness wrapping around my heart. My breath was shallow, my knees felt week, my hands were sweating, heart beating loudly in my head.

I gritted my teeth, clenched my fists and took several deep breaths, forcing air deep into my lungs. If I didn't get myself under control, I could just hand in my resignation right now.

Just as I was getting my heart rate down, someone Apparated next to me. I started at the slight pop and snapped my head around. It was Walter.

"Morning," he greeted. "How are you doing?"

"Little bit hesitant," I admitted. Remus being the only one who had been able to get me to admit how much fear I was repressing while at Azkaban lately, I still felt it was safe to admit this to Walter. It was not a secret that I had nearly been Kissed by a Dementor, and Walter knew the Dementors just as well as I did.

"Understandable." He nodded. "You've tried your Shield?"

"Yeah. It held up for hours yesterday." I had Floo-ed with Walter before the weekend, and he had said that several people had been struggling with their Patronus Shields that week. The Dementors seemed to be stronger and more aggressive, and in turn a lot more draining. There was no reason to wait any longer, and I took out my wand and cast the Patronus Shield. I felt it wrap itself around me, waver for a moment, but then holding steady.

Walter smiled at me as he watched the Shield go from slightly bright blue to transparent. Then he cast his Shield, and we both grabbed a broom, mounted and set off through the icy snowy wind to the prison.

I made it through that first day without my Shield dropping, which was my biggest fear. It wavered when I saw my first Dementor. It had stopped in its tracks, turned its hooded head in my direction, and then started gliding slowly towards me. The way it behaved, it seemed like it was one of the same Dementors as that day, like it remembered what had happened. My Shield became visible, but barely. I was frozen on the spot. If I had been alone, that Dementor would have gotten me. My Shield would have dropped and I would have been defenseless to stop a Kiss. But Walter had laid a hand on my shoulder before taking one step forward, staring at the Dementor. It halted, seemed to consider us both for a few seconds, then went on its way again.

I had never been more thankful for Walter. Until Saturday.

I was exhausted when I woke up on Saturday morning. I was considering owling Madam Pomfrey, because my magic felt wonky, and it didn't feel right that I should be this fatigued. Yes, the week had been draining, the Dementors were not easy to be around, and I was still full of anxiety about my Shield. But I got dressed, Disapparated and flew my broom onto the prison. The day went on as usual – paperwork, prisoner care, food preparations... All day, my Shield didn't waver a single second, and I was surprised and proud of it.

We were all packing up and preparing to leave. Darla, Gregory and Heston had left a few minutes earlier, and Walter, me and Paula were heading towards our brooms. Halfway across the narrow bridge that led through the center of the prison, I felt a wave of exhaustion and dizziness wash over me and I stumbled. My Patronus Shield grew blue and opaque before it melted away like smoke in the wind. The chill of the Dementors crept over me and I gasped, grabbing the handrails for dear life, terrified of losing my balance and plummet down level after level after level to my death.

Walter had been behind me and was by my side in an instant, hands around my arms to help me stand. Paula looked down past the bridge and all three of us followed her gaze, seeing four Dementors flying towards us. The wound on my shoulder, where one of them had grazed me with their claws, started hurting. It was like icicles were stabbing me right into the barely healed scar.

But then it was gone, and the Dementors halted.

"Try to cast your Shield again," Walter spoke right into my ear. Only now did I notice he had his arms wrapped around me from behind. "I'm shielding you for now, but I can't keep it up for long. Cast your Shield again."

With shaking hands, I pulled my wand from my robe and cast the spell, but it didn't hold. Paula was looking between me and the Dementors. "You can do this. Focus. Focus on your memory," she said.

I took a deep breath, focused, and cast the spell again. The familiar blue grew from my skin, then went slowly transparent. Walter let go of me and stepped back slowly, taking his Shield with him. I gasped and I shook my head, and he was right back behind me. Again, I breathed and focused. Took a couple of seconds to really let the memory fill my heart. Then I cast again. The blue grew and went transparent. Walter stepped back, and this time, the chill of the Dementors did not come.

"What happened?" Paula asked, coming closer and looking worried.

"I'm not sure," I said with a frown. "I think I'm tired. Maybe I came back to work too soon. I don't know."

"You should go home and rest and maybe not come in tomorrow," Walter suggested. "We can handle things here without you for one day."

I looked back at him and shook my head. "I will be fine. I'll rest tonight, and it will be okay. Let's just... get out of here."

The other two nodded. I took one last glance down through the prison. The Dementors had retreated but were looking up at us.

I tried not to rush as I followed the other two to our brooms and flew to the Apparition Station, but when I arrived at home, I let out a breath of relief to be gone from there. I tossed my cloak over the back of the couch and was on the way to the bedroom to change my clothes when I stopped, hesitated, and then turned around and went for my cloak. I grabbed it, then dropped it.

"No. He's not there," I said to myself. "He's on a mission. With the werewolves. Right." I shook my head at my own silliness, my own weakness, and then went to get changed again.

Even after all these months of interacting with so many people, of making so many new friends, it still didn't come easy for me to seek out others when I needed it. Growing up feeling so estranged from my own family, being a loner in school and then becoming an Azkaban Security Official, I was used to getting by on my own and not needing anyone. So why did I now crave Remus' company? Why did I have the urge to go to Grimmauld Place just to not be alone?

I searched through my cabinets for something to make for dinner.

People were in and out of Grimmauld Place all the time, not just to relay messages or leave reports. No one would question it if I just... dropped by. I had before. I could leave a message for Madam Pomfrey, saying I wanted to have another check-up just in case. I could ask if anyone knew how Remus' mission was going. I could double-check the guard schedule. I could even have a drink with Sirius.

But I ended up by the kitchen table, glancing out at the waxing moon lighting up the thin layer of snow that had fallen over the landscape during the day, eating my dinner and making plans to get more food after my shift the next day.

Chapter 13 | Masterlist | Chapter 15

[boyprincessmanic]

I’m putting the entire interview I had with this scam company under the cut. I’ve redacted personal information but I just want you guys to see what happened cuz it’s pretty wild lmao 

For reference, they said they found me on Zip Recruiter but the company IMCheck Therapeutics is NOT on Zip Recruiter AT ALL that I could find.

This is a long post so be prepared lol 

Me: Ms. Olivia Walter? This is Tory LastName.

Them: How are you doing today ?

Me: I'm doing well, how are you?

Them: I'm doing just fine.Thanks for asking I believe you are ready for the interview and briefing on the job position ?

Me: I am! I would like to know more about the company. Them: Before we begin i would like to introduce myself am Ms Olivia Walter, One of the hiring manager of ImCheck Therapeutics. I would be the one to brief you about the position and the Organization.

Kindly state your full name and your current location ?

Me: My name is FirstName (preferred name Tory) LastName and I'm located in [City], Texas.

Them: Next would be the briefing about the Job and the company. I advise you read with care.Let me know when you have finished reading and understanding every line. You will be allowed to ask questions later.With each line just respond with an OK..Understood?

Me: ok

Them: Once again the name of this Great Firm is ImCheck Therapeutics.

ImCheck Therapeutics is a Marseille-based, privately-held company developing next generation immuno-modulatory antibodies acting on both adaptive and innate immunity (notably gamma-delta T-cells) for the treatment of cancer and other immune related diseases.

With a “precision medicine-based” translational approach and several established academic collaborations, ImCheck is uniquely positioned to develop the right therapy for each patient.

To-date, ImCheck is developing two first-in-class therapeutic antibodies with a plan to enter into clinical trials by 2019. Imcheck is also advancing additional discovery programs on undisclosed targets.

Me: OK

Them: Here's the company website(www.imchecktherapeutics.com). You are required to glance through the website and read more about the organization. let me know as soon as you are done so we can proceed with the interview..Okay ?

Me: OK

Them: Are you still going through the company's website ?

Me: I have been reading it multiple times so I can fully understand.

Them: Alright.Let me know when you are done.

Me: I'm ready. I think I understand.

Them: Alright Before we get started with the interview session i would like to know if you have any question at this moment.

Me: I understand the company is based in France. Are there any offices where I'm located in [City] or is this a work-from-home position? 

Them: Our office close to you will be completed estimated three months from now, so the position and job done for now is work from home on till the office is completed and (NOTE THAT) As soon as you are confirmed qualified, the company will provide you with complete office equipment to setup a mini office at home. The working hours are flexible and you can choose to work from anywhere of your choice, the pay is $40 per hour during full working hours and the training is $30 per hour and will be getting your payment weekly via check or direct deposit working 30 to 40 hours weekly, if you are employed you are going to be working as a full employee and not an independent contractor. Okay ?

Me: OK

Them: Our goal is to always have the capacity, competence and flexibility to meet our clients' needs, whatever they may be. The positions available are: Guest service representative. Administrative Assistant, IT business analyst, software engineering, Book keeping, Clerical Admin, Credit Correspondent, Customer Service, Data Entry,administrators,Secretary,Patient Access Specialist, Call Center, Office Clerk, GIs Analyst, Phone Representative, Executive Assistant, Finance and Accounting, Medical Biller/Coding, Order processing official, Project Development, Receptionist and Front desk job to create employment opportunity for the less privilege, disables and mainly to decrease the rate of unemployment in the economy. I want you to know that before you begin work, you would be trained towards it. So Which position do you prefer ?

Me: Data Entry 

Them: Here are your duties as a DATA ENTRY ANALYST :

Prepares source data for computer entry by compiling and sorting information; establishing entry priorities.

Processes customer and account source documents by reviewing data for deficiencies; resolving discrepancies by using standard procedures or returning incomplete documents to the team leader for resolution.

Enters customer and account data by inputting alphabetic and numeric information on keyboard or optical scanner according to screen format.

Maintains data entry requirements by following data program techniques and procedures.

Verifies entered customer and account data by reviewing, correcting, deleting, or reentering data; combining data from both systems when account information is incomplete; purging files to eliminate duplication of data.

Can you handle the Job duties if you are being trained towards it ?

Me: Yes! With my experience I believe I can handle the position.

Them: Impressive. Here are the benefits: Health, Dental, Life and AD&D Insurance, Employee Wellness. Paid Time Off and Holidays with Generous Company Discounts.You would be eligible to Benefits after 1months of working with the organization.

You would be eligible to these benefits after 1month of working with the company. Endorsement benefit deals opportunity are available as well.

I hope you are okay with those benefits the company are offering?

Me: Yes, absolutely.

Them: Alright This section of the interview is called question and answer section.I advice you read with care to avoid any mistake...Okay ? 

Me: OK

Have you ever worked from home or online before ?Are you currently employed ?How many hours do you intend to dedicate to this job position daily?

Me: At my previous job, I was occasionally required to work from home, and I perform well when I do. I was very recently laid off from my position due to much of my duties being automated, so currently I am unemployed. If hired, I intend to dedicate 8 hours a day to this position, or more if necessary to complete my tasks.

Them: OK Whats your clerical speed? Do you have an idea of how to use MS excel ?What is your highest educational diploma?When did you receive it?

Me: If by clerical speed you mean typing speed, I top out at 80 words per minute, 70 on average, with 98% accuracy. At my previous position I was required to use Microsoft Excel daily so I believe I am proficient in its use. My highest level of education is a General Educational Development (GED) diploma, which I obtained in 2012. 

Them: Alright What are your strengths/What are your weaknesses?

Me: I pride my strengths in attention to detail, accuracy, and a genuinely love for being as thorough as possible in my work. As for weaknesses, I have difficulty focusing at times, due to what I believe is Adult ADHD, but I work to improve myself every day and always meet deadlines.

Them: Good to know. 4)How long do you expect to remain employed with this company if hired?

4B).How hard working and productive will you be for our company when you start working with us ?

4C). Are you a people person?

Me: I intend to remain employed for as long as possible. I enjoy computer work and I know how reliable I am. I will always, from the very beginning, deliver the best quality work I can provide and do the best I can for the company. I work very well with other people, be they co-workers or clients, and people know that they can trust me.

Them: Interesting. 5)How would you like to be Paid. Weekly Or Bi-Weekly?

5B).Are you seeking for a Full time or Part time position?.

5C). Do you have legal right to work in the United State ?

Me: I have no preference for when I am paid, but I suppose if I had to choose one I am accustomed to a bi-weekly pay schedule. Ideally, I am seeking a full-time position, and yes, I absolutely do have legal right to work in the United States. 

Them: Good. 6)This company do pay employees via Direct Deposit or CHECK. Do you have an issue with getting paid via Direct Deposits or check?

What Bank Do you Operate with to see if it tallies with the company's official salary payment account and how many years have you been with them ?

Me: I have no issues with either option. My account is with [BANK], and I've banked with them since 2011.

Them: OK 7A).Kindly brief me about yourself and your last job?

7B).Do you use AT&T or Verizon,it will be linked with the company's postpaid account so we can cover the cost of the internet you'll be using ?

Me: My previous job was for a credit repair company called [COMPANY NAME], where I was hired in July 2015 to compare reports and update the database. Within 3 months I had proven myself enough that they chose to give me additional responsibilities, such as creating letters on our clients' behalf, and within the next 6 months I was given a promotion to supervisor level. During my time there I maintained a small team of people whom I helped train in our work program and distribute duties accordingly. Thanks to my nearly 3 years of experience at this position, I'm confident in my Data Entry abilities.

I, unfortunately, do not use AT&T or Verizon. My internet provider is Spectrum. 

Them: Interesting. Well you have done well so far and you seem like a perfect fit for this position. Hold  online while i send your answers to my superiors for review and consideration... okay ?

Me: Okay!

[About 15 minutes later] Them: I am back now..the result for the interview is on my desk..

Me: I hope it's good news.

Them: Tory for your consideration stand,You have a good news........................... The good news is.........You've just been confirmed qualified for this position of a DATA ENTRY ANALYST..You are welcome to ImCheck Therapeutics... You are now given a chance to show your commitment,charisma,diligence and be a productive employee.

CONGRATULATIONS !

Me: Thank you!

Them: Your employment letter will be emailed to you tomorrow morning,as soon as your working equipments are available, My superior's will reach you in person they will put you through our organization's guidelines under US Human Resources Laws and Regulations.OKAY ?

Me: Okay!

Them: NOTE: Your salary will be $40 per hour and you will be receiving your payment via direct deposit or check.

You will be undergoing a 3 days training and orientation which will commence as soon as you have all working materials,Your training is going to be done online through your PC and phone and you are rest assured that you will be paid for it.. okay ?

Me: Okay!

Them: I need you to provide the following info for confirmation Full name,state,zipcode,home address,email address,city,cell numbers and email address to enable my secretary enlist them into the Company's Register for proper documentation.

Me: [I gave them my address because I figured if they’d seen my resume they were just asking for confirmation]

Them: Alright.Your info's has been enlisted and updated.

Pay attention to this important details..When you are done reading signify by using DONE ,you will be allowed to ask questions when am done..okay?

Me: Okay 

Them: You will need some Data entry/Accounting software and also a time tracker to commence your training and orientation and also you need the software to get started with work...the work of the time tracker is to calculate your hours worked since this is an online work from home.

Here are the name's of the software's you will need to start working with BS 1 Accounting software ,myob business essentials software 2017,For Peach Tree premium 2012 US Patent Single Users Pack, simply accounting 2012 and a Time Tracker

The Organization will provide you a free Hp laptop with a fast internet connection and your W4 form will be coming along with the working materials you need to start working with.

Me: Done 

Them: The funds for the software and the Hp laptop  will be provided for you by the organization via check ..... make sure you use them as instructed for the software.When the funds gets to you i will refer you to the company's authorized vendor you are to purchase them from As soon as the check its been issued out to you i will notify you and provide you with the tracking number so you can keep track and know when it will get to you..

Me: Okay 

Them: Once you receive the check you are needed to have it deposited into your account via the ATM,inside the bank or using the Bank Mobile App,Then the funds will be made available in your account for cash out within 24hours..Then i will provide you the company's vendor information which you are to make the payment to so your working materials can be made available to you..

All we need from you is good work and trust,you will enjoy every moment working with us.

Me: Okay 

Them: This Job offers Flexible hours but you are to report online via GOOGLE HANGOUT by 8am  for your task and update on the paycheck you are expecting which is meant for the purchase of your working materials.....

Do you think 8am is a perfect time for you to report online ?

Me: Yes 

Them: Alright. Once again Welcome to ImCheck Therapeutics..

Me: Thank you 

Them: Thats all for now.Your employment letter will be emailed to you tomorrow morning. Do not forget to report online tomorrow at 8am for update on your upcoming check which is meant for the purchase of your working materials so you can begin work.Stay Blessed.

Me: Before you go, I have to admit I'm a little bit skeptical. Can you assure me that this is a legitimate offer? 

Them: I understand how you feel.I can assure you that you are very safe working with us.Like i said as soon as your working equipments are available, My superior's will reach you in person they will put you through our organization's guidelines.All we need from you is good work and trust,you will enjoy every moment working with us..Okay ?

Me: Okay. Thank you very much 

Them: I will keep you updated tomorrow at 8am via google hangout here.Have a wonderful time.

[After this conversation I began to feel very suspicious of this company. It felt like a scam, so I talked to a couple friends, both my parents, and my mom’s boyfriend, and they all gave me some advice on what to do next]

--- THE NEXT DAY ---

Them: Good morning Tory

Me: Good morning Olivia 

Them: How are you doing today ?

Me: I'm doing just fine, how are you?

Them: I'm doing just fine.Thanks for asking.I believe you are ready for today's update ?

Me: I am. I also have a few questions for you as well when you are able to answer.

Them: You can ask your question now.

Me: Yesterday you told me that there is an office in [City] opening within 3 months or so. Where is the [City] office going to be located? Is there an address? 

Them: I want you to know that the company's superiors are still delegating on a perfect location for the new office close to you in (City, TX),just to make transportation very easy for newly employed staff.As soon as the delegation is completed i will notify and provide you update on the location.The working hours are flexible and you have the chance to choose your working hours.Okay ?

Me: Do you know if the office is going to be a rented space? Is the company building a new office?

Them: The company is building a new place not rented.The address will be available after you have your working materials.Okay ?

Me: Is [City] the only city in the US that you're expanding to?

Them: Yes there are few other cities.The company's aim is to create employment opportunity for the less privilege, disables and mainly to decrease the rate of unemployment in the economy.Okay ?

Me: Are you partnered with a realtor for opening offices in [City]?

Them: The company has already take care of that,as soon as your working equipments are available, My superior's will reach you in person they will put you through our organization's guidelines.Okay ?

Me: Can you tell me what realtor you are working with for the office?

Them: That is not my department am in charge of the hiring process.Like i just said  as soon as your working equipments are available, My superior's will reach you in person they will put you through our organization's guidelines.

Me: Just one more question for now. Would you be willing to do a video call or voice call? Would any of your superiors be willing to do this? 

Them: Yes correct there will be a video call after you have your working materials just to confirm you have the complete working materials.

Me: Is there any way I could do a call before I begin work? 

Them: Yes that will be when you have your working materials before you begin work.

Me: Is there any way I could do a call before I have the materials? As early as today if possible.

Them: I can see you are not ready to work.

Me: I apologize if I seem rude, I am trying to be as cautious as possible. 

Them: I understand how you feel.I can assure you that you are very safe working with us.All we need from you is good work and trust,you will enjoy every moment working with us. [THIS IS THE EXACT SAME RESPONSE FROM YESTERDAY, COPIED WORD-FOR-WORD]

Me: Lastly, I had some trouble verifying some of the information you've given me, so I contacted IMCheck Therapeutics through the company website. Please understand my caution. I cannot proceed with giving you my personal information until I have verified the information. If what you have told me is true then you have nothing to worry about. Thank you for your patience.

THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AFTER THIS. This was definitely a scam and I have #regerts but at least I know now.

[chicagoindiecritics]

New from Every Movie Has a Lesson by Don Shanahan: MOVIE REVIEW: Working Man

(Image: imdb.cpm)

WORKING MAN— 4 STARS

Movies becoming timely is almost always an accident. They’re made months in advance and can never reliably predict the future they will enter when released. The right match of content and happenstance can elevate a film’s mystique, even that of a tiny little indie that normally wouldn’t carry much of one at all. The award-winning Working Man, filmed in and around Chicago last year, debuts on VOD services today to a sheltered public facing jobless claims that topped 30 million in two short quarantined months. The distinctive part about this movie is that it displays a sense of workplace fulfillment that would still work if that bellwether statistic was zero. Timeliness only makes it better.

LESSON #1: THE SLOW DECLINE OF FACTORY INDUSTRIES— Working Man presents a slice-of-life story surrounding a tight-knit community of workers beset by the closure of their once-busy factory. The veteran workers speak of a hey-day when the fictional New Liberty Plastics used to employ 500+ people and built the sturdy success of the surrounding community. Ask any Grain Belt or Rust Belt community, and they have their own (or several) New Liberty Plastics equivalents where foreign diversification or automation have replaced people and production. 

The film arrives at the last half-day where the few dozen rabble remaining sadly collect their final paychecks. An envelope and a feigned handshake are the only thanks they get stepping off this line and into the unemployment one. The longest tenured floor employee and last one to leave is Allery Parkes, played by professional TV/movie villain Peter Gerety. Quiet to no end on the outside, you wonder how hard his disappointment is kicking and screaming on the inside. 

Allery is a creature of habit who passed on retirement years before and emotionally depends on the normalcy of a work routine, from his usual lunch gear to his short walking commute to and from the factory. His wife Iola (the ever-glowing Talia Shire) is eager to see him relax into retirement, but Allery is unsettled and uncomfortable to the point where he begins going back to the factory by himself every day even after the shutdown.

LESSON #2: POINTS OF PRIDE— Allery doesn’t go there to mope or to protest. He goes there to continue his comforts and to clean the place up. You see that “work” for him is more than a source of means. There’s a different worth, so to speak, to work for this man. It is one of many points of pride to his sense of diligence and dedication. These are character traits we don’t often see portrayed in movies about workplaces where louder and more argumentative characters move the needle. It is flat-out empowering and pleasant to see a veteran old soul employee who is not a trope of the conservative and irascible complainer.

Allery’s neighbors and former co-workers, led by the more ardent mouthpiece Walter (Billy Brown of How to Get Away with Murder), catch wind of what Allery is up to. They admire his efforts and begin to join him rather than chastise him as a senile senior. What starts as shared occupation turns into solidarity and a mini-movement that challenges corporate aims and bolsters contagious hope.

With a different slant or pace, a movie like Working Man would land uncomfortably closer to kumbaya whimsy. Victories would be assured and cheers would be telegraphed on command through the editing of Rocky Oscar winner Richard Halsey working alongside his daughter Morgan. That’s not the case here whatsoever. Patience is paramount. Debuting feature writer/director Robert Jury constructs strengths of wisdom and honesty in each collective cog of this narrative machine. Reality is not bent to suit or save all happiness. Losses are real and the characters emerging as leaders or sources of esteem have tangible flaws that formulate both their limits and their passions.

LESSON #3: ALL WORK IS HONORABLE IF YOU DO IT RIGHT— This mantra can encapsulate the crew who made Working Man, the characters on-screen, and the performers who portray them. The inspired have created the inspiring. You root not for heroics but for satisfaction of the efforts shown. Mix in the lucky fate of timely poignancy and those efforts have become rewarded in the form of Best Narrative Feature Film laurels from the Kansas City International Film Festival and SCAD Savannah Film Festival.

The person who exemplifies that lesson the most is Peter Gerety as Allery. One of the greatest perks of the independent film scene are the special opportunities to see a long-time character actor get a lead part and run with it. Their bigger and more stock work keeps them employed and present, but it’s in places like this where you truly realize their full talent. If all you’ve ever seen of Gerety is his “hey, I know that guy” animated and nonchalant heavies in the likes of Ray Donovan, Flight, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Wire, and dozens more, you (and this very writer) have overlooked a true master.

Gerety, who turns 80 this month, brings a remarkable level of affecting introvertedness to this damaged leading role. Contrary to his career gilded by a brand of explosive boisterousness, the actor uses massive presence and body language to fill the drama of Working Man. Often alone with his thoughts and sorrow, Peter gives Allery a shuffling gait, and even a wobble of his agape jaw, that never surges into caricature. Restraint and resonance like that is a hearty treat and a revelation all its own.

LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED

Permalink

from REVIEW BLOG – Every Movie Has a Lesson https://ift.tt/2L63rTI via IFTTT

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2YFojsU via IFTTT

[abakersquest]

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE – MAY WE ALL MEET AGAIN IN BETTER TIMES

He’Lain Outpost had been burning for most of the day, thick black smoke marring the open sky above. Soldiers of the United Front Army dashed from building to building escorting as many fleeing civilians to safety as they could. Then, the soul dropping sound of wood and metal struggling to remain intact stabbed into the ears of all in range of it.

“THE CRANE CAN’T HOLD MORE WEIGHT!” Someone cried above the panicked din. “SEND THIS LOT DOWN!”

“CAPTAIN WALTER! THERE’S STILL CIVILIANS IN THE OUTPOST! THOSE BLACK ROCK KNIGHTS WILL BE HERE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE!”

Weary and injured soldiers turned away from the crane and panicking civilians. Their eyes all fell on the small wallaby framed in the approaching glow of an inferno, newly appointed captain in the United Front Army, Nathaniel J. Walter. Nathan had been assigned soldiers and a post only two months ago, intended to assure the safety of those in He’Lain Outpost and the steady stream of supplies they could offer to the war effort. Not two days ago, they’d defended the outpost from a squadron of Sauroian foot soldiers. That battle proved more costly than expected, with several of their strongest too injured to fight or move. Now a fire, most likely set by those loyal to Kota’s cause, began to spread from the north end of the settlement.

Those who could still act desperately tried to fight the flames, and move the people of He’Lain Outpost to the safety of the ocean below. But they could only lower so many with each load, and the Black Rock Knights would be upon them even before the current escapees reached the waters below. Without a second thought Nathan took his hammer up and started walking toward the monstrous battalion that approached from the south.

“KEEP WORKING!” He shouted. “I’LL HOLD THEM OFF!” Before there could be any protest, any plea to join him, Captain Walter sprang away from the burning outpost racing toward the fight of his life.

Between the acrid smoke, infernal haze, and making use of the time that was fought for, there was no one there who saw the whole of Captain Walter’s fight against the force of enchanted knights at least twenty strong. A few stolen looks here or there, an ear turned toward the shattering of weighty stone and cry off effort. They say he fought like a demon, with power and ferocity they could hardly imagine such a small body capable off. There are those who claim when his hammer had shattered, he used the broken off limb of one knight as its replacement. Other recalled him splitting a Knight down the middle with only his tail.

But there is one detail every retelling of that day shares absolutely. As the final evacuees were ready to be lowered, a cry of pain rang out from the Captain that chilled the hearts of everyone listening. All eyes that still could, turned to see him flat on his back, a bleeding stump where the rest of his leg ought to be. And yet despite that, the Captain did not flee, he did not call for aide. Everyone watched as he hastily tied off the wound, hopped back up on his remaining leg, and cried out, “IT’LL TAKE MORE THAN THAT, YOU BLOATED PEBBLES!”

By the time his fellow soldiers could come to his side, they found him unconscious, bruised, bloodied, and surrounded on all sides by the broken remains of Black Rock Knights.

---

“At least that’s how my uncle Hiro tells the story, and we believe him because he was there. They even made a statue of him because He’Lain Outpost is the heart of things here in Orni’Hu, even everyone living in Stormyard counts on it.”

Wally started at Gan, once more adopting the all together neutral expression he’d had the last time he’d heard that his father’s time in the United Front Army was far more adventurous and action packed than he’d ever told any of his children. ‘I guess,’ He thought quietly. ‘That’s why he doesn’t make swords anymore… I probably wouldn’t want to make popovers if it cost me a limb either.’

“Are you alright, Sir Wally?”

He had no idea what expression he must’ve been wearing, but it certainly worried his young friend. He replaced it quickly with his most genial smile. “I’m fine, it’s just… It’s a lot to take in. I know my father served in the Army and that he had soldiers to command… But standing up against a legion of Black Rock Knights all alone…”

“That’s what made him a knight! Sure there was other soldiers n’ everything, but he was more than that! Just like you, right?”

Wally couldn’t think of anything to say, he simply patted his new friend on the shoulder and kept walking, taking the time to observe his surroundings. Orni’Hu seemed odd at first, but there was an underlying sameness to it. In place of grass, there were clouds. A stream of darker clouds, weighted no doubt with water, flowed along unseen geometry, it wasn’t hard to imagine those as rivers. It was, in essence, a landscape that’d been painted over by cloudscape.

Gan’s wing interrupted both his stride and observations, watching as the kestrel slowly pointed up to what appeared to be little more than a small stray cloud. When Gan reached for his weapons slowly, Wally did the same without question.

Above them, the seemingly serene cloud suddenly wasn’t either as it began unfolding. Between the seemingly cloud covered parts of this creature’s body were octagonal scales the same shade of storm clouds. It swam through the sky like an eel, its head a blunt structure with beady black eyes and deadly fangs open and ready to eviscerate prey.

“It’s called an Ala, don’t move until it does,” Gan whispered.

Wally watched this strange floating creature carefully, keeping his breathing as normal as he could with the bandages and thin air in the way. It slid against itself, head moving between its two intended targets, deciding which to strike at first. It instantly uncoiled like a rope pulled taut and raced toward Wally only to be cut off by a broadside bolt of white lightning from Gan’s knife.

The Ala recoiled and hissed, the clouds on its body quickly turning black, small arcs of electric hate bounding from one fluffy bundle to the next. It sailed back, so fast Wally’s eyes could only just follow, before darting around randomly. ‘It must have Storm Magic,’ he surmised. ‘That means it can move closer in the time it takes me to blink.’

Now wary of dangerous prey, the beast approached and recoiled like a ball being bounced between two walls, testing for any weakness in their defenses. ‘Only move when it moves,’ Wally pondered as he stared. ‘That can only mean it will strike when I move either closer or further.’ With well practiced courage, Wally deliberately stepped to the side, putting distance between himself and Gan. As the young Orni’Hulan cried out a warning the monstrous carnivore streaked toward Wally like a bolt of lightning, its deadly jaw wide open hoping to snatch the wallaby up in one bite.

This powerful jaw was quite possibly dislocated on impact with Wally’s waiting hands. Gan watched in awe as the Ala crumpled against the brave knight like it’d crashed headlong into a solid wall.

“You know,” Wally began to say, the stunned beast wriggling in his mighty grip. “We have something like these back home… They’re called 'Rockfangs,' and they live in hollowed out boulders and bite whatever comes nearby. Their hides about as thick as this fella here, so what you have to do-”

Gan saw the build up of energy in the monster’s body. “Sir Wally!”

Taking that shout as a cue, Wally quickly exhaled all the air in his lungs, a tinge of magic sliding up along with it turning his breath into fuel for a mighty flame. The jet of fire raced into the still open maw of the Ala, flash frying its insides.

Satisfied it was cooked to perfection; he let the thing drop and turned to face an even more amazed Gan. “Well, that. But much less show offy and a lot deader before you even think of getting that close.”

“H-How did you know you could catch it?”

“Oh, well. I could see it, all that darting around. It was nowhere near as fast as when my friend Hector does that so I knew I could catch it. That little trick with the fire just now was new though.”

Mid-explanation, in fact mid-blink, Gan had vanished from Wally's sight, a streak of ivory lightning running from where he stood to a place above Wally’s head. There, Gan's knives had already been driven into the gizzard of a second Ala.

With a short cry of effort, a charge of power shot up the hilt of his kukri knives and rushed into the writhing monster's body. It cooked the beast almost as quick as Wally's fire breath.

As Gan glided down to his side and the Ala dropped harshly to the ground steaming. Wally quickly understood why Khan wanted him to take the boy. He couldn't imagine having that kind of power at such a young age.

"See,” Gan began to explain. “They like to pretend to be clouds then strike in pairs. One always comes from wherever the sun is so you don't know it's there ‘til the last second." Gan's plumage flared out. "Oh no! I'm sorry! I moved without your say so!"

Wally looked at him sideways then finally laughed at the absurd statement. "Gan please, that's exactly the kind of situation where you have to move first and think after. I'm grateful for that by the way, since it almost took my head off my shoulders." Gan wings crossed over his chest and he bowed his head deeply. "Understood, Sir Wally! Thank you for the lesson!"

"... You have to promise me right now you're never going to do that whole salute and bow thing again."

Gan caught himself midway into a second bow then awkwardly fell into a relaxed posture. “Y... yes sir."

Wally rubbed at his aching chest a bit, catching the Ala mid-flight made for a surge of pain. Addressing it however reminded him of something very important. “While we're at it, Gan... You also have to promise me you'll never tell anyone anywhere that your sister saw me naked."

"You have my word, sir! On my honor as your squire!”

There was an odd mixture of pride and embarrassment that Wally couldn’t parse out, he simply couldn’t bring himself to tell the bright young lad that he didn’t need to show him this much respect. He seemed so excited, focused, and happy about the whole situation that Wally thought it best to just let him enjoy it.

Even if he knew the others would absolutely never let him hear the end of it.

---

The trek to He’Lain Outpost was fraught with a prevailing gale that made it harder for Wally to see and keep his footing, losing most of the day in the going. When the wind finally died down, the sun was setting ahead of them, its warm yet darkening orange glow falling upon a wholly unexpected sight.

The myriad of ornate buildings ahead resembled flared out wedding cakes to Wally. Stacked eaves of variously sized pagodas made from both bright metals, and colorful tile, created a prismatic showcase around the enormous wrought iron tripod at the center of a small town. Its sturdy legs standing out against the much smaller more colorful buildings, yet still bearing some slightly worn engravings that gave it a style all its own. It would’ve been a beautiful sight to see in the setting sunlight. If not for the fact the entire town was encrusted in ice, and half buried in snow.

“T-That’s not right,” Gan’s confused voice made Wally turn back to him. “Winter isn’t for another two months, and it’s never this bad, even late season.”

The wallaby’s eyes narrowed as he looked ahead. “That strong wind we felt before, that could’ve been a side effect of whatever caused this. Come on; let’s see if we can’t find someone in the outpost who can tell us what happened.”

Gan nodded and the pair slowly approached the now frigid settlement ahead. As they grew closer, Wally saw something only half buried in the deep snow that looked vaguely familiar. With a gentle waft of flame from his hand, the snow melted and revealed a far more familiar sight, a wallaby’s head in a helmet. With a bit more fire Wally cleared all the snow away from a bronze statue of a wallaby in armor, three times the size of any wallaby it could’ve been based on. In its hand a hammer exactly like the one his father used for his work, right down to the small makers mark on the bottom near the handle. It showed signs of having been welded back together, and was in stark contrast to the bronze hand that held it.

He could deny it no longer; he was standing before a statue built in honor of his father.

There were no words for the thoughts and feelings that rocked him to his soul. The recounted exploits of some unknown person who may have been a wallaby of war were distant and hazy things. But before him now stood an undeniable marker of his father’s life, erected where he’d once stood and fought against untold odds, bled for his fellow soldiers, and sacrificed for innocents. He slowly reached out a hand and touched the ice-cold base of stone, finally managing to look away long enough to see the inscription that lay there.

It read, ‘We embattled allies, shall friends remain. Our fallen, cherished always. May we all meet again in better times.’

The imagined voice of his father rang clearly in his heart as he read the words before him. He was shaken at last from a maelstrom of emotion as he felt warmth creep down his cheeks in stark contrast to their frosty surroundings.

“So, he really is your father then?” Gan asked quietly.

Wally looked to the young bird with tears still in his eyes and an undeniably content smile. “Yes, he most certainly is.”

The doubt and strangeness of it all finally melted away, somehow the visage of his father standing where he now stood as a soldier reconciled with the compassionate hard working wallaby that clomped home every day on a sturdy iron peg. A newfound calm in his heart served to sharpen Wally’s resolve. He took a deep breath, let magic pool into his hands, and swept them both across the space ahead of him, creating a plume of heat that evaporated every ounce of snow that flanked the statue. It both fulfilled his feelings of sentiment and created a path through the snow bank surrounding the outpost.

They walked amidst the hastily shuttered buildings, seeing their residents huddled near whatever sources of warmth their homes possessed through narrow and frost covered window slats. As they turned a corner, Gan fell immediately into a defensive stance only to gasp in shock at the sight before them. Several Orni’Hulans, no doubt fleeing a now long passed threat, had been frozen solid in the street. Their faces now a rigid tableau of fear and despair.

Wally reached out and held Gan’s shoulder to console him, a furtive nod his only response.

In turning from the frozen citizens, Wally could see something he hadn’t before. Amidst the pagoda’s eaves were icicles, tilted up and away from a natural course. As he scanned from building to building, it was clear that there’d been some instant blast of impossible cold somewhere in the outpost that caused all this. With that hint to the instant winter’s origins, the two followed the pattern of bent icicles, on a clear cut course toward the massive crane at the center.

Wally’s ear twitched, he heard something moving ahead and held his hand against Gan’s chest to stop him. They quickly scrambled for cover just as a small pod of Shades skittered into view. The dark angular things jerked in place in the middle of the street ahead. It was hard to tell what they were doing as they lacked anything more than a bizarre outline, but Wally guessed they were looking around. The air around one was made to hiss loudly and the pack of them scampered off as quickly as they’d appeared.

“Those were Shades,” Wally whispered to Gan. “That can only mean Kota’s servants are here, this cold must be their doing.” He looked him in the eyes before continuing. “Don’t suppose asking you to go home’ll work, right?”

Gan’s brow furrowed and he shook his head with clear conviction.

“Didn’t think so. Shades move in packs but they’re fast and strong to boot, only magic can do any sort of lasting damage so fight conservatively and stay close, no telling what else is out here.”

With that they moved toward the crane, keeping closer to the buildings and wary of corners. Soon they drew close to a plaza near the Sky Dock.

The great crane of He’Lain Outpost was the first marvel of engineering to the Sky Dock’s second. A specially designed array of water filled chambers that allowed ships lifted up by the crane to properly dock. They never over flowed, were always calm, and could be adjusted easily for the size and displacement of any boat ever built. There were several boats frozen in the docks, the sails of one shattered like a pane of glass on its riggings.

As they approached they took a place behind a snow bank and could see, leaning against the foundations of the Sky Dock, someone wearing armor that resembled the colors and markings of Dota Temblain’s. Wally’s eyes went wide as he realized it was another of the lost breeds of Marsu, a koala. His mother had told him once they were the most like wallabies, strong and fast despite their small stature. Before Wally could speak to the matter, Gan quickly tapped his shoulder and pointed toward an approaching landmass with arms and legs. It was without a doubt the tallest and broadest Animani Wally had ever seen, its bulk forcing it to hunch ever so slightly, not that that made it any less intimidating. He had no doubt that what stood before them was a gorilla. Something he always believed never existed and was only made up to tease small children.

At the risk of being spotted, Wally unpinned his ears to listen as the two similarly armored individuals conversed.

“Have you been standing here the whole time, Phas?” the gorilla grumbled.

“Can you blame me, Noin?” Phas replied. “Just look at it… The frigid beauty of it all in the setting sun, the light dancing in the ice as it fades into the horizon. I can’t wait to see it in the moonlight.”

“Wax poetic on your own time,” He grunted.

She smiled up at him. “Live in the moment, you stuffy ape. This time will never come again, especially when Halcyon finally rises. This old world’s seeing its last few days, so we might as well enjoy the sights before they’re gone.”

He snorted. “Good riddance to it all.”

She clicked her tongue dismissively and walked toward him holding her hands up. He huffed and tried to turn away at first before he slowly knelt down so his chin rested in her hands. “You’re just homesick is all, love. I miss it too you know. This world doesn’t hold a candle to Halcyon. With all the noise, confusion, useless doubt, and pain that was here, we had to freeze it to make it even half as beautiful.”

“Can’t be homesick, you’re here.”

“Then you’re just a big grumpy ape then, ain’tcha.” She stood on her toes and kissed him rather sweetly on the cheek. “Now come on, we’re going to Stormyard.”

“But the Lock Bolt-”

“Isn’t here, I checked. This crane is powered by sunlight, not the Lock Bolt like we guessed. Or did you think I was really just standing here doing nothing?” She playfully chided as she slowly walked away.

The gorilla replied with a short but loud laugh before beginning to follow.

To describe Wally’s thoughts on the scene, one would have to use words like ‘gob smacked’ and ‘flabbergasted’ to truly capture his sense of confusion. These two armored opponents plotted the apparent demise of Mondia with neither malice nor hate. If anything, it felt more like mild distain to Wally’s empathic senses. He thought perhaps the fact they were apparently a couple threw him off, or their motivations were something he just couldn’t fathom. One thing was certain however, they were free of any mystical influence and truly believed in their cause, and that made them all the more terrifying.

As he began to move to follow, the snow gave way more than he’d expected, causing him to slip down the side of the snow bank audibly. Phas’ attention quickly turned to where the two had hidden themselves and with a gesture the snow in-between began to explode.

“GAN, MOVE!” Wally waited until he saw him flare his wings and dive away from the snowy blast wave before leaping in the same direction. The snow bank exploded like a small bomb easily revealing the retreating duo.

“The Flarebearer!” Noin shouted. “He survived the crash!”

“Well he won’t survive us! SHEERING STORM!” Phas raised her arm and snow raced up from all around her, forming a large floating mass above her upturned palm. She shouted as she hurled it skyward above Wally and Gan, the huge ball exploding when it reached its apogee. A rain of deadly ice shards emerged from that explosion, cascading down toward them like a hail of daggers.

Gan’s voice rang out intoned with magic, “LIGHTNING FLASH!” Gan vanished from the ground and reappeared in the air beyond the falling ice shards, his mystically charged kukri knives glinting in the fading sunlight as ice exploded in a brilliant cascade of lightning behind him.

Wally rushed toward the Halcyon Knights to reclaim their attention before they targeted the young Orni’Hulan. With a running slash he launched a fireball at the snowy ground beneath their feet, hoping the rising curtain of instant steam would mask his approach.

The gorilla swept his massive arm once, and the makeshift smokescreen was instantly banished.

Wally’s eyes followed Noin’s hands as lightning began to ball up around them. Not at all interested in seeing the outcome of that spell, he set on striking the gorilla first, only to be forced into a stop by a barely blocked shard of ice.

Ahead of him, Phas now held an icy dagger in each hand, perfectly shaped to mimic throwing knives. With clearly trained precision she hurled both simultaneously, forcing Wally to throw out a belt of flame, evaporating them before they could do any harm.

“Plenty more where those came from!” She taunted as her empty hands went back to ready a throw and were filled instantly with new ice knives.

The furious rain of mystical daggers locked Wally down entirely, leaving Gan to fly down and help the beleaguered knight. A bolt of Storm magic leapt from the tip of his blade and splashed against a sudden wall of snow between him and Phas. In face, the snow spun around her, forming a solid dome.

It was then that Noin began to bellow, “SKY QUAKE!” He clapped his enormous hands together and from their collision came a massive shockwave that spread out ahead of him.

Gan and Wally both moved to block it, weapons filled to the brim with magic struggling against the impossible force directed toward them. Gan’s defenses collapsed and sent him tumbling hard into the snow below and rolling into a building. Wally fared much better, his fire cutting through the blast, his feet sliding on the plane of snow beneath them, pushing him closer to Gan.

As the wave of power subsided, Gan shook off the pain and dizziness as best he could. Unfortunately as his vision straightened all he could see was a sortie of Shades, three rows deep, spontaneously emerging from the snow to corner him and Wally.

Surrounded and vastly outnumbered, Wally knew the best course of action was retreat, even if the thought left a sour taste in his mouth. He moved over to Gan, the light of fire on his sword keeping the Shade at a wary distance, Noin and Phas taking their time to approach.

The quickly forming plans in his mind faded the instant he heard an all too familiar sound cut through the air in the small plaza.

“No… It can’t be…” Wally said shocked.

All eyes turned toward the approaching din of mighty propellers buzzing. As it grew closer, Wally realized the sound was somehow different than that of the Aegis’ engines. Sure enough, coming out from behind a cloud was an airship much smaller than the flying fortress, but certainly not tiny by any stretch of the imagination. As the last rays of sunset peeked over the horizon, the vessel, adorned in a familiar dark oak brown with a red trim, brought the widest of smiles to Wally’s face.

“What is that?!” Gan asked loudly over the sound of engines.

Cannon fire rang out from the ship blasting away a section of Shades and forcing the Halcyon Knights to fall back.

“Friends!” Wally shouted back. “Come on! We need to get over to it!”

Gan flapped hard to get himself airborne and race toward the airship while Wally sprang up past the slowly recovering Shades, hoping from one pagoda’s eave to the next to get closer to the approaching craft.

The approaching airship lowered itself near a building Wally had gotten to the top of and swung around, its back end opening into a ramp revealing Rozzi standing there shouting, “ NOW HOW’S THAT FOR AN ENTRANCE?!”

<[Chapter 28]–[Index]–[Chapter 30]>

[dachi-chan25]

January 2020 Wrap Up

I got back on track this month. Sadly this was not a good reading month, I didn't like or was pretty meh about a lot of this books so I did a massive unhaul this month to ensure I'll read books I am intrested in and want to read.

1.- Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) - Rachel Hartman

🌟🌟🌟

I was so disappointed! I loved the 1st book so much, it had an amazing intresting world and politics but that got thrown out of the window in this one, the characters seem to even forget their relationships with each other and the villian is just badly constructed, the ending feels rushed and unsatisfactory, I just gave it 3 stars cuz i couldn't bear to give less stars to a world and characters I actually like.

2.- Heroes -Stephen Fry

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I always love to re-read greek myths, and Stephen Fry makes really funny commentary and narrative decisions when it comes to his adaptations. It was a very enjoyable read.

3.- Love from A to Z - S.K Ali

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I don't read much romance cuz a LOT of romance authors construct relationships I am not intrested in, but THIS. It was amazing, the way both characters saw the world was beautiful, all that pride for Muslim culture and the fight against islamophobia felt actual and relevant, I really liked both characters, and the way their relationship develops felt fitting to their personalities and ages and that is something that is so rare to find. I really recc this one.

4.- Once Upon a Burning Throne - Ashok K. Banker

🌟🌟🌟

So I really liked the beginning of the book, it had a super intresting premise and intresting characters along with high political stakes, but the conflict you get presented at the beginning never get a pay off, and it goes around many characters and plots that made me a bit confused so idk the ending was strong and I know it's a series but I don't think I am intrested in reading the rest cuz this one was pretty confusing for me.

5.- All the Crooked Saints - Maggie Stiefvater

🌟🌟

Sadly I think Maggie Stiefvater is not the author for me, I tried to get into Raven Boys but didn't liked it. I find her writing and characters to be a bit superficial, very aesthetic and quirky but ultimately completley one dimensional, the metaphors she uses make no sense, I do like when an author spices things up with the flow of their sentences and the words the use but Maggie Stiefvater's prose it's just too much for me.

6.- The Girl who Played with Fire (Millenium #2) - Stieg Larsson

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is my first re-read of this book. I really liked this series when I 1st read them, but I found some stupid stuff that made me roll my eyes so hard cuz male authors writing woman sometimes lead to cringey stuff. Lisbeth Salander has always been one of my favorite characters, but she is very different in this book, I love the fact we get to see more of her past, that she has vulnerability but also she is so heavily coded as masculine that it exasperates me also LOL about every woman wanting to fuck Mikael, I have some amazing memories of this series (the 1st one is superior in every aspect imho) and I still love them but yeah I was a much different person and I like to critizise even the things that I like.

7.- North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I just love this book so much, the intricacies of industry and of the fair treatment of the workers, the differences of a life in a City vs life on the countryside in the middle of the Industrial Revolution. This book is so intelligent and layered. The characters are well defined and they develop so well. The romance!!! I just love it.

8.- Paper Tigers - Damien Angelica Walters

🌟🌟🌟

I was loving this book at the beginning, such an intresting concept, to have a possesed photo álbum, and to have a disabled protagonist dealing with her appereance and going out again it was hard hitting, I know this is horror but the ending broke my heart, it made me feel hopless and sad especially when the protagonist had already developed SO much it didn't felt like a victory even when the book tries to present it in that way.

9.- Morning Star (Red Rising #3) - Pierce Brown

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Favorite read of the month!!! This book was a rollercoaster, it had me at the edge of my seat all the time, I love the Red Rising series and this book its a perfect conclusion for this amazing story (I know there are still 2 books but idk if Darrow is the main character on those cuz his story and arc could very well end in this book) it was so satisfying and hopeful. This is what an ending should be.

10.- Black House (The Talisman #2) -Stephen King/ Peter Straub

🌟🌟🌟

I was so excited about reading this one because I loved the Talisman so much, but this book was HARD to get through. It needed some serious editing. Like it didn't feel like a sequel for the first 100 pages or so cuz we don't get to see Jake up until that point, and there is waaaaay to much unnecesary exposition that took away from the suspenseful stuff, also it was kinda repetitive and that annoyed me. Gosh I know lots of people say this particular era on SK writing career was bad, and they not lying, I just can't connect like I did before (though I know it gets better cuz his recent books are good)

11.- China's Rich Girlfriend (Crazy Rich Asians #2) - Kevin Kwan

🌟🌟🌟

I mean it was ok, like some things get resolved, so plot wise we do get a development and I dare say some characters do develop. Tbh I don't take these too seriously they are just outrageous and dramatic, I have fun reading them and I am wondering how some of the plots will translate into the movie .

12.- The Revisioners - Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Magical Realism is my jam, I really enjoyed this one, though the ending was kinda meh and I feel the magical aspect could have been given more significance. The story was beautiful and impactful.

13.- Scarlett (Lunar Chronicles #2) Marissa Meyer

🌟🌟

I did find this book more enjoyable than Cinder, and the concept of fairytales in space seems wonderful to me, but I just think they are too juvenile for me, like i know if I had read them when I was younger I would have loved them but now I just go my my through the book hoping for more complexity and so I decided not to read them anymore cuz it's not fair for me to judge books that are definitely not directed towards me.

14.- Dark Reunion (Vampire Diaries #4) - L.J Smith

🌟🌟🌟

I am reading these cuz I wanted to know just how different they were from the TV series (the answer is VERY) and they are really enjoyable, they have this dark atmospheric tone but are still super campy and cliché but not so much that it's unbearable, idk I just really like to read them and they are so short it's super motivating knowing I can just relax reading one of these.

15- Vengeful (Villians #2) - V. E Schwab

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I just love the characters and the world so much!!!!! I need more books of this universe cuz it really gives for so much more.

16.- Puddin' (Dumplin' #2) - Julie Murphy

🌟🌟🌟 🌟

These books are so cute. Honestly no shade to Willowdean but I liked this book much more than the 1st and I loved that we had Millie and Callie as protagonists, their friendship was great and I just really liked this book so much I hope it gets a movie too.

17.- Suspicious Minds - Gwenda Bond

🌟🌟

I liked some stuff but honestly I couldn't help but think of a book that have a similar concept but it's way better (Firestarter) and I guess that's what happens when you rely on a concept that has already been succesful. Like it's pretty clear this was written to get money out of Stranger Things fans and that doesn't sit to well with me,

[richmegavideo]

Ryan from 'The Office' Was TV’s Best Villain Ever

This article originally appeared on VICE Canada.

What do we enjoy about villains? Or more accurately, what is it that makes us enjoy villains? Usually, if a villain is presented to us, fully formed and ready to kill or betray or do villainous stuff with a cackle, we aren’t going to be transfixed by their character. Lex Luther, for example: In almost every context we consume Lex Luther, he is already bald and already hellbent on destroying Superman. Boring.

No, with villains, we like a slow-burn from goodish to evil. Or a chaotic descent. We like to see elements of ourselves, ounces of humanity that can be severed and burnt and spat on so the not-yet-evil character becomes the nefarious soul the plot needs right in front of our eyes. That way, they become three-dimensional and to a degree, relatable. That’s exactly why Walter White has a place amongst televillan greats. He arrived a loving father; innocent school teacher; green-shirt and tan chinos wearer. Then, on account of the screaming cancer inside him and the financial burden associated with that, he became Heisenberg. Then Heisenberg became Walter White and vice versa and we all collectively lost our shit.

But Walter White almost became too villainous and powerful by the end of Breaking Bad, and as such, felt closer to comic book villain than flawed man. For me, what really makes a compelling evil character, is one who blends in amongst good people, seemingly no different, and yet never outwardly displays any sort of behavior that can be considered altruistic.

This is why The Office’s Ryan Howard is television’s best villain ever.

Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak) appears in The Office pilot an innocent boy, fresh out of college and ready to take on the professional world. For a year or two he stumbles around, generally meaning generally well-ish, inadvertently striking up a romance with Mindy Kaling’s Kelly. He’s not a great boyfriend. He doesn’t particularly enjoy Kelly and he lets her know that. But is he a villain at this point? Hardly, maybe just more the guy your mom warned you about. But a villain, no chance.

Then he burns down the office. And look: burning down the office doesn’t ignite something in him. He doesn’t get a taste and burn down every office space in Scranton, insisting people call him The Arsonist. That, my friend, is Basic Bitch Villainy. No, the fire incident simply leaves a chip on his shoulder. He’s now branded as a doofus, a fool, the office jester. Which he doesn’t like.

Then, after a few twists and turns, he’s promoted to Dunder Mifflin’s corporate office in season 4. This is when he gets the prowess he needs to take the next step in his character arc. He carries this newfound authority with pride, undermining anyone who dares speak to him, especially those in his former office. He strikes up a feud with Jim for no reason other than the fact Jim is lazy and perhaps in the same league, maybe even the one above, in terms of attractiveness. (This is a good reason to begin a feud with someone.) Kelly? She’s history. He broke up with her the second he got the promotion (when he dumps her he does this thing where he looks at the camera for literally a split second and in my opinion, this camera stare is actually better than Jim’s but that’s a different argument for a different day.)

Continuing this arc, Ryan would admittedly be no better than another seven out of ten villain. Funny, but obvious; simply a mean boss with vested interest in making people’s lives not as good as they could be. But a year later, Ryan is arrested for fraud and he is demoted back to being a temp.

But the thing is: His ego doesn’t fall with him. Ryan’s scandal would cause any sane person to fall into themselves, a shell of what they once were, reminiscing about the good ol’ days (only when alone to avoid getting visibly upset in public). Not Ryan. He gets even more confident after his scandal, carrying around his criminal conviction and goatee with pride.

I feel sorry for anyone who’s favorite character is Michael or Jim or Pam because whilst funny and objectively good, as individuals, their shtick can become slightly dull. Every moment we see Ryan take the center stage he blows the audience away. For example:

i) He pretends to be Kelly’s supervisor, lambasting her unrelentingly so the new boss (Will Ferrell) doesn’t discover he hasn’t actually had a job for years.

ii) He gives a baby who’s barely 6-months-old and allergic to strawberries a strawberry so he can speak to Kelly who was previously occupied with looking after the baby.

iii) He scams Pam out of $50 for her wedding present.

iv) He conspires with Dwight to get Jim fired.

v) He ignores Michael’s love, repeatedly, only ever using it for his own gain.

vi) He—and this is undoubtedly Ryan’s best in his oeuvre of bad guy moments—returns from his corporate calamity to find Kelly in a relationship with Daryl. After a few thrusts of pseudo-masculinity, he has Kelly emotionally lassoed to the point where he can control her. Then he, off camera, types out a text for Kelly intended for Daryl essentially saying we’re over and gets her to send it.

Which is funny and pathetically evil enough alone. But after that, obsessed with the means and not the end, Ryan instantly realizes he’s made a mistake. So he, unexpectedly, but very characteristically, announces he is going Thailand and thus needs to break up with Kelly. He also asks if he can have whatever she has in her savings and she obliges. And he says they should be adults and have sex one more time. She, again, obliges. It later turns out he actually went to Fort Lauderdale.

Every moment with Ryan as the focus is filled with a sordid richness that is just so clever and smart and well thought-out it’s genuinely one of the most enjoyable aspects of the show.

After his fall from grace, Ryan displays a more subtle, nuanced evil. The thing is: He hadn’t actually achieved anything in New York—he crashed and burned. But he comes back to Scranton somehow more confident, more entitled, more up himself, treating literally everyone as lesser and not worthy of his respect.

Like a lot of the now-bald (and rich) assholes that you went to high school with, Ryan is Machiavellianism at its best. Although he doesn’t commit much traditionally villain behavior—killing, blowing up cities, taking over the world—you know, if the situation played the right notes and his selfish tendencies were stroked a certain way, he would. He’d look literally anyone in the eye, tell them they look nice and then stab them in the chest without breaking eye contact for a second, simply waiting for their sense of being to float away.

This is the Ryan we’re sold; this is the Ryan I believe in. As a villain, his untapped potential, seemingly bottomless self-interest bubbling beneath the surface, is ultimately much more enjoyable than Mr. Burns or Walter White or Dexter or any other famous villain. This is because at the core he is painfully mediocre and despite how very bad and deceitful and up for chincary he is, he ultimately never achieves more than a low-tier position at a distinctly lackluster paper company.

Ryan Howard is the best ever villain because he arrives fairly nice and then becomes something larger and sinister. He’s the best villain ever because he’s an amplified version of that guy you work with who got promoted despite being very shitty. He is the best ever villain because, like you and I, he spends 60 percent of his life in an office frying under artificial light. He isn’t actually smart or clever enough to be exactly what he intends to be, but he tries, and it is funny to watch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.

Follow Kieron Passaway on Twitter.

The post Ryan from 'The Office' Was TV’s Best Villain Ever appeared first on .

The post Ryan from 'The Office' Was TV’s Best Villain Ever appeared first on .

from WordPress http://www.richmegavideo.com/ryan-from-the-office-was-tvs-best-villain-ever/