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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Why The Great North Isn’t Just Another Bob’s Burgers

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It’s easy to take one look at FOX’s newest animated comedy, The Great North, and assume it’s exactly like the long running and beloved Bob’s Burgers. Two of The Great North’s creators wrote a good chunk of Bob’s Burgers episodes and the shows share a near-identical art style after all. At first glance some of the Bob’s Burgers character archetypes seem to be involved as well: awkward daughter, an odd sarcastic youngest child, and a loving, if somewhat offbeat, father. So why bother with something like Bob’s Burgers when you could just watch Bob’s Burgers?

While there are a few surface similarities, by the end of the first episode of The Great North you’ll realize there’s so much more to it than just an Alaskan set version of the Belcher family. It’s got humor all its own, unique characters, and the potential to be something that isn’t merely a rival to Bob’s Burgers but a truly unique experience.

So let’s head up north to discover all the reasons why The Great North is so wonderful. As a brief primer, the show is set in Alaska and follows the Tobin family with fisherman dad Beef, artistic daughter Judy, loveably dumb son Ham, bear-suit wearing son Moon, oldest and eager to please son Wolf, his always chipper and new to Alaska fiancé Honeybee, and Judy’s best imaginary friend Alanis Morissette…played by Alanis Morssette.

The Family’s Lack of a Mom is Refreshingly Handled

A lack of a mom is a huge trope in animation at this point (look at damn near every ‘90s Disney movie) and if there is a mom, especially in a comedy, she tends to be wacky or overly loving. The Great North puts a new twist on both of these in its very first episode.

The plot of the premiere deals with Beef struggling to get over his ex-wife years after she abandoned the family. An ex-wife isn’t anything to write home about, a single dad taking care of a family is a comedy trope in of itself, but it’s what we learn about Beef’s ex that makes this element so refreshing.

Instead of the mom just not being present or having died off screen, Beef only acts like she’s dead, a fabrication everyone goes along with to keep him sane. When he isn’t around though Judy is quick to point out the rest of the family doesn’t buy this and they never liked her much anyway. She even flat out states,

“She was a really bad mom, okay? And it was actually better when she left.”

The other kids then list off horrible things she did, like name their dog Grandma solely so, “she wouldn’t be lying when she said we were with Grandma when people asked.” She runs a blog with her “new lover” about stores that wont chase you if you shoplift. Even in her goodbye letter to Ham she just wrote, “smell you later.”

I love this so much because it replaces all the easy sentimentality of a dead or simply absent mom that comedies love and instead opens up some fantastic new storytelling opportunities. In the pilot alone it gives us deep insight into Beef, that despite how awful she was he refuses to think anything but the best of her. Why is he like that? Is it his way of not thinking about all the terrible things she did? She’s left him so broken he has to concoct an elaborate fantasy to keep himself sane. It makes you instantly love the character and while he does seemingly get over this denial in the pilot I can foresee it impacting him for the rest of the series.

It’s also so refreshing because the kids aren’t all that broken up about it. Knowing their mom was terrible helps reflect a lot of what kids go through in real life. Sometimes they just have a bad parent and there’s no deep explanation of why, they just are and it’s not great. Maybe Judy and the others are hurt by this and I’d love to see the show tackle that in the future but even if it strictly keeps this part of their characters on the comedic side of things? It’s empowering. These kids aren’t broken up by their awful mom and want her back; they’re thriving BECAUSE she isn’t around.

Nick Offerman Being Nick Offerman

Over the years Nick Offerman has perfected the deadpan and loveable character that brought him to fame in Parks and Recreation. His role as Beef isn’t a major departure from that mold but it does allow Offerman to be even warmer than his most famous character.

As Beef he’s a capable man who gets up to see the sun rise and chop wood. He loves nature so much he steals a potted plant from a mall to take better care of it. His love for his family is on full display and he often goes to absurd lengths to keep them together. Offerman brings a great charm to the role and all of the jokes he delivers are winners.

The Rural Location

Bob’s Burgers draws much inspiration from its city setting, while The Great North is set in rural Alaska. This may seem like a surface level change but once again opens up all kinds of new opportunities for stories and characters. Where the Belcher family was somewhat cynical to city life (you would be to with a landlord breathing down your neck) the Tobin family openly embraces the chilly north.

Judy sits out on the roof and talks with her imaginary best friend, Moon takes great pride in his ability to mimic a soon to be eaten cadaver laying out in the snow, and Beef specifically gets up every morning to stare in wild wonder at Alaska’s majesty while whispering “hot dog.” The whole family even delights in going to the mall, which is the kind of joy only someone living out in the middle of nowhere can truly appreciate.

The Different Character Dynamics

Even after eleven truly fantastic seasons Bob’s Burgers characters still manage to never feel stale and the team behind the show always finds new ways to play around with them. With such a rock solid cast of characters you’d think they could tackle any story imaginable but The Great North is already proving to be a home for stories that just wouldn’t work for Bob’s Burgers.

The most noticeable change is that most of the kids are older. Judy and Ham are both sixteen which opens up a lot of possibilities that couldn’t be done with the Belcher kids. They can get involved in more serious relationships, have jobs (as Judy gets in the first episode), and are able to be more autonomous from the family. Wolf, the oldest of all of them, is engaged! Imagine what could be done with a soon-to-be married couple? Honeybee herself also functions as a delighted fish out of water to Alaska, her thoughts on the Tobins’ life a needed commentary. Her outgoing personality also clashes well with Moon’s stoic nature.

The 10 Best Bob’s Burgers Episodes

By Chris Cummins

Judy and Ham also share a more loving sibling dynamic than any of the Belcher kids ever have. In Bob’s Burgers the kids don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves, they’re more likely to make sarcastic quips about one other. The Great North though has Judy and Ham share a special bond, the two have a secret handshake that goes for an indeterminable amount of time. It’s really sweet and it makes me excited to see what kind of comedy can be mined from this more openly affectionate family.

Ham Is Gay And I Love Him

Ham is my favorite character so far in this show. He’s a little slow on the uptake but loves everyone in his family a lot and can even make a perfect replica of a cadaver… in the form of a cake. He also happens to be gay, a fact that is wonderfully confirmed in the first episode when he blurts out, “I AM GAY!

To which Moon responds, “we know. You’ve come out to us a bunch of times.”

Beef then adds, “we love you just the way you are, damn it!”

Ham, clearly not remembering his past comings-out, yells, “WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ALLY!”

It’s a great scene and kicks any subtext out the door. Queer audiences don’t have to sit around guessing who COULD be queer in the show (as they’re so often forced to do with so little representation in media) there’s a character who said OUT LOUD he’s gay. He’s one of us!

Bob’s Burgers has had several one-time gay characters (Bob did refer to himself as “mostly straight” once but that was more of a gag) but getting a gay teen in the main cast is sublime. He’s also a different sort of gay teen then we’re used to in television, with a tiny “probably thinks it’s cooler than it actually is” mustache and his “not quite all there” personality. He’s not a stereotype, he’s got some obvious flaws, but he’s loveable! Sure enough, his family loves him and accepts him.

Having a gay character in the cast opens up so many story possibilities. Are there any other gay kids in this rural town? What if there’s only one and he’s forced to date him? Does he know what kind of guys he likes yet? Where do the gay kids hang out in this town?

It also must be reiterated that his family loves him and accepts him. While drama over coming out and acceptance is totally valid, I’m glad that Ham will get the chance to just be gay and his family will support him all the way. We can just see him happily (if somewhat absent-mindedly) live his life and that’s needed in a world with so little queer representation. As a pansexual man myself it’s heartwarming. I wish I had a character like Ham when I was growing up.

Alanis Morissette Is A Main Character

Yes, Alanis Morissette is in The Great North (played by the actual Alanis Morissette) but in an absolutely perfect choice she’s not the REAL Alanis Morissette, she’s Judy’s best imaginary friend who just happens to be Alanis Morissette. Judy’s artistic so it makes sense she’d look up to someone as incredible as the Canadian musical genius. As an imaginary best friend she tends to serve as a sounding board for Judy’s thoughts and gives absolutely flawless advice.

Even better though? The imaginary Alanis Morissette also only appears in the Aurora Borealis. That’s… incredible. What a way to take advantage of the show’s location!

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

The Great North is a delight. It’s only been two episodes (the third one premieres February 14 and the first two are available on Hulu) but it’s already shown a lot of promise. Not in the “oh it’ll get good eventually” sense but in the “no it’s already great and I want to see more of it!” Don’t think of it as another Bob’s Burgers, just think of it as its own wonderful moose-filled show (it’s Alaska, what did you expect) and you’ll have a fantastic time. Truly, in these dark times we could all use a little help from imaginary best friend Alanis Morissette.

The post Why The Great North Isn’t Just Another Bob’s Burgers appeared first on Den of Geek.

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evermoire · 3 years

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as if you were a mythical thing | pack

with christmas just behind them and the new year steadily approaching, a blissful quiet settled over the pack, which—- really should have been derek’s first clue that things would go wrong sooner than later.

though not everyone was here today, the house — their house, this time, because they had to let hershel and natalie enjoy their farm in peace at some point — was alight with noise from every corner, a good half of which came from dean playing the record stiles had given him for christmas. everyone seemed to make it a point to make the most of the presents from their secret santas, wearing their jewelry and clothes, carrying their blankets and teddy bears everywhere. cora sat on the couch with boyd, reading one of the books that sam had given her aloud, breaking stride every now and again to explain why something excited her so much. she smiled more nowadays, derek noted with a glance in her direction, and usually around boyd, but he had a feeling she’d scowl at him if he pointed that out. scott had shown up earlier telling them about the progress of his wolf — he’d named her mika, for obvious reasons — and clutching his stuffed toy like it was his most prized possession.

they smelled of scented candles and perfumes and joy, this eagerness to just exist with one another, and it was a feeling derek thought he could get lost in.

when the raeken clan came over — with hayden, jacqui, ezekiel and rory in tow — aoife, swaddled in the blanket from castiel, had grabbed her hand and dragged her upstairs, along with a few of the other girls. derek could still hear their laughter from downstairs, even as he and a few others discussed the one matter from christmas that still needed a bit of work: adopting erica and lucy.

“having stiles’s dad find the reyeses isn’t a bad idea,” camden said, the words obviously preceding a ‘but.’

derek nodded, catching the hint before he had to speak. “but what we find could hurt erica more than it helps her.”

“do you think you should go ahead with lucy’s adoption first?” t-dog asked curiously, though his voice didn’t imply an opinion one way or the other. “since you don’t know how long it’ll take to find erica’s parents.”

“i think you should,” erica said, drumming her fingers along the marble countertop. “i’m not in danger if i go back to my house.” she ended the sentence there, but the implications were enough. “i’ve been independent since i was twelve. lucy still has to go through her mom for important things, and you can’t rely on that. for me, it’s more important that you get custody of lucy now and worry about me later.”

derek rolled her words around in his mind, trying to determine the right thing to do here. he did want to move forward with lucy’s adoption sooner than later, but he didn’t like the idea of leaving erica behind just because her parents had — once again — failed to show up when she needed them most. he opened his mouth to ask if she was sure, then—-

the air grew displaced, as if it was pulled taut around all of them, trapping them in one stiff moment — magic — before there was shuffle of voices, a gasp, and a piercing scream. “HELP!”

if asked, derek couldn’t tell you when or how he got from the kitchen, up the stairs so fast. one second, there was a pen spinning between his fingers and in the next, he was bounding up the stairs in long, quick strides, heading towards evie’s room. before he and the others could make it, lydia came rushing out of the room, her cheeks red and her eyes wet. “no, no, no!” she grabbed derek and lori’s arms, stopping them from going into the room. “you can’t go in there.” she shook her head and a few tears fell. “you can’t.”

every bone in derek’s body wanted to protest, but t-dog slipped past, stepping into the room first. the first thing he saw was the gaggle of women on one side of the room. maggie stood closest to him, her eyes wide and her arms wrapped protectively around enid as she stared at whatever was on the other side of the room. evie buried her face in allison’s neck, her body shaking. kali stood firm in front of beth, a shield between her and whatever was scaring everyone. then there was hayden, eyes gleaming yellow and expression blank as she stood in front of bailey.

a little ahead of all of them was kira, who seemed fine, just—- still.

and then, clear on the other side of the room, sitting in a wicker chair, was meghan. and meghan—- meghan was on fire.

“meghan!” tara all but threw herself towards her sister, stopped only by t-dog’s arms wrapping around her to keep her from getting hurt.

the smell of burning flesh reached t-dog’s nose and his eyes snapped to bailey. “bee—-”

“she can’t see it,” hayden promised, voice blank. “i have a glamour up. but...”

cole slipped past t-dog, shakily kneeling down in front of meghan. she swallowed thickly and held out a hand. t-dog’s eyes widened. “cole, don’t!”

her hand passed through the fire, once, then again. after a second, she rested her hand on top of meghan’s. beats of silence passed, before she let out a breath. “it’s not a fire. it’s...” cole shook her head, amazed. “it’s magic. when it—- that tension we all felt a second ago, that was her magic trying to explode as a result of being let out, but meghan pulled it back in. she’s protecting us. the flames are just her magic taking a familiar form. it can’t hurt us; it’s not hurting her. meghan will be okay,” she reassured them. t-dog hesitantly let tara go, and the teen rushed forward, falling to her knees in front of her baby sister. cole stood up. “meghan’s just getting her magic under control. she’ll need a few minutes, but she’s still conscious. but someone needs to get that necklace from kira.”

burning flesh. his eyes snapped to kira, who still stood still, and he finally recognized that the scent was coming from her. his eyes fell to her hand, clutching a fine object, but—- burning, burning, burning. it was a gruesome scene, one that he’d never witnessed before. he swallowed his nausea and stepped closer to her. “kira, you have to give me the necklace. it’s hurting you.”

she flinched away from him, drawing the necklace to her chest. her face was twisted up, but it was with worry, rather than pain. it didn’t look as though she felt the pain at all. “it would hurt you. it was hurting meghan. that’s why i asked her if i could take her necklace off. i knew it was hurting her, i could sense it. just like lilly’s is hurting her.”

maggie’s eyes worriedly sought out lilly. “lil?”

“it has to be someone human,” kira said. “it’s... it’ll hurt the rest of you. i’m fine,” she said before t-dog could ask for the necklace. “my fox is, um, taking most of the burn. someone has to help lilly first.”

kali — expression blanketed by nothingness, a state that t-dog hadn’t seen in her yet — glanced towards cole. “will the same thing happen to lilly?”

the blonde woman hesitated, shrugging unsurely. “it could? meghan has impeccable control over her magic, so it didn’t hurt anyone. lilly could be the same way, with her magic taking its own form. or her magic could explode. it’s...” her eyes drifted over towards evie sadly, still hiding herself in allison’s safety. “it’s not horribly different from what the laveaus did. except the jewelry didn’t kill meghan and lilly’s magic, it just put a lid on it. so the pressure has built up, and if you take that lid off...”

jo clenched her jaw, a few unsavory words building on her tongue, but she held them back. she placed a hand on lilly’s back. she didn’t imagine lilly knew about what the necklace was doing; she wasn’t cruel enough to ever do something like that, not to anyone, least of all meghan. and jo had questions, but she could save them for later. “are you okay with taking it off, lilly?”

“kira, can you—-” noah stopped, biting his lip. “can someone hold up one of the necklaces? i know i can’t touch it, but i want to inspect it. i might be able to find who did this.”

#gen. : ❛ pack !#par. : ❛ pack paras !#tit. : ❛ as if you were a mythical thing !

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watching-pictures-move · 3 years

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Movie Review | Kill Bill (Tarantino, 2004)

This review contains spoilers.

I recently watched a Taiwanese exploitation movie called The Lady Avenger. It’s a rape revenge movie that isn’t overtly artful by any means, but plays with a real urgency (likely helped by the production circumstances, which I’m guessing were pretty marginal). But in between the punchier moments we associate with exploitation, it finds room for notes that catch us off guard, lingering on images and emotional beats that seem at odds with the uglier content that preceded it. It’s a dynamic not entirely impossible in respectable cinema but seems endemic to exploitation, where the exploitative, outrageous content that gets asses in seats creates the contrast necessary for the moments of depth to land. I bring this movie up because seeing it so soon after a rewatch of Kill Bill brought my thoughts on that film into focus. Kill Bill seems more clearly now than ever to me an exploration of that very idea, founded by a belief that the movies it’s pulling from are in fact good movies and not just sources of cheap thrills.

Of course, thrills are in ample supply, particularly in the first half, which threatens to overwhelm us with the surface pleasures of genre cinema. We get the glimpse of the inciting incident, the heroine’s (Uma Thurman) wedding shot up by her former comrades, and then a lightning fast two hours of high style and splatter (the movie doesn’t even slow down enough to give her a name; she’s known only as the Bride), culminating in an epically violent fight scene in which the heroine takes on dozens of henchmen, systematically chopping them to pieces, and then facing their leader (Lucy Liu) in a one-on-one showdown in a snowy garden. The reference points are numerous and on full display: Shaw Brothers, Lady Snowblood, the Lone Wolf and Cub series, but Tarantino treats this set piece like a plaything, scoping out the location as if it were a dollhouse with roving overhead shots that move to the rhythm of the music of the 5.6.7.8′s. The music changes to Morricone, and soon he begins gleefully smashing his toys together to wreak havoc. (I assume Tarantino had a few Kung Fu Grip G.I. Joes, or at least a Snake Eyes.) His love for these influences doesn’t overwhelm the sheer thrill of the combat itself, which he depicts in a mix of lush colour, black-and-white and silhouettes, shifting from one technique to another as if the heroine is leveling up through a video game and keeping the audience guessing as to both what flourish and what giddily violent act he’ll serve up next. The film on the whole isn’t the most authentic exercise in grindhouse style he’s made (that would be Death Proof), but this sequence does offer his most full-bodied interpretation of said pleasures.

The second half decelerates from this manic pace and begins to unpack what transpired. We revisit the opening massacre and learn that the heroine actually has a name. She’s moved from archetype into actual character, and we get a sense of the wounds that led to and came out of that fateful event. There’s a training sequence, where Gordon Liu (who previously appeared as a commander of the henchmen the heroine slaughtered in the first half) plays the Pai Mei character he once battled in Executioners of Shaolin, and aside from being enjoyably stylish, this scene really buys into Lau Kar-Leung’s idea of kung fu as self improvement, marrying martial arts with character development. Throughout this, Tarantino challenges us to identify with the characters’ motivations, both the heroine and her nemeses, and to question the extent to which we derive mindless enjoyment from the proceedings. The Bride’s killing of the Vivica A. Fox character in the first half is juxtaposed uneasily with that character’s daughter walking in on them. Yes, Fox wronged her, but she too has loved ones and a life not without value. She meets a smooth-talking pimp (Michael Parks, in another neat bit of double-casting), but his capacity for cruelty quickly comes into focus when we glimpse the mutilated face of one of his prostitutes.

In probably the most affecting passage of the film, we spend time with Bud (Michael Madsen), Bill’s brother who has now retired as an assassin and works a demeaning job as a bouncer for a strip club. This formidable killer is now reduced to haggling for shifts and cleaning up overflowing toilets. There’s something poignant seeing him so defeated, even when Tarantino makes no excuses for his failings (he’s the only one in the film to use a racial slur, which like in Reservoir Dogs is used as shorthand for a character’s flawed nature), and his confrontation with the Bride finds him re-energized, if not necessarily more likable. There’s little warmth however in the character of Elle Driver (Darryl Hannah), the eyepatch-wearing assassin who may be most unapologetically cruel of the film’s characters. (Lucy Liu’s character in the first half is similarly vicious, but the film shows it to be at least in part out of necessity.) Yet her disgust at Bud’s unceremonious method of trying to kill the Bride rings true to the movie’s heart. These characters may hate each other, but there is a twisted sense of honour between them and a respect for each other’s true natures. The confrontation between the Bride and Elle Driver also features a gruesome shot of a bare foot squashing an eyeball, which suggests Tarantino, a notable foot fetishist, challenging even himself on his mindless enjoyment of this kind of thing. (Either that it’s doing a lot for him.)

When the Bride finally reunites with the eponymous Bill (David Carradine, bringing his entire history in genre movies to imbue his character with a certain depth), she finds him to be loving father to her daughter, who survived the opening massacre, and to be full of remorse. How much should we really cheering for her to kill him? This movie doesn’t have the political conviction of Tarantino’s subsequent films, but it does share with them a sense of morality so severe that it can’t help but draw out the discomfort in carrying out a quest for revenge. Tarantino has frequently mined pop culture to add meaning (my favourite example is a fairly succinct one: Bruce Willis finding courage and honour through a samurai sword in Pulp Fiction), and here he has the Bride bond with her daughter over Shogun Assassin, another film about a parent-child relationship in a world of great violence and cruelty. Bill gives a speech about Superman that summarizes the themes of the film in one monologue.

“Superman didn’t become Superman. Superman was born Superman....You would’ve worn the costume of Arlene Plympton, but you were born Beatrix Kiddo, and every morning when you woke up, you’d still be Beatrix Kiddo. I’m calling you a killer. A natural born killer. Always have been, and always will be.”

Ultimately Kill Bill is about grappling with one’s true nature, both the characters, ruthless killers despite how they rationalize it, and the film, an exhilarating exercise in and shrewd deconstruction of exploitation.

#film #movie review #kill bill #Quentin Tarantino

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blackjack-15 · 4 years

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Silly Rabbit, Ecological Terrorism is For Kids! — Thoughts on: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek (ICE)

Previous Metas: SCK/SCK2, STFD, MHM, TRT, FIN, SSH, DOG, CAR, DDI, SHA, CUR, CLK, TRN, DAN, CRE

Hello and welcome to a Nancy Drew meta series! 30 metas, 30 Nancy Drew Games that I’m comfortable with doing meta about. Hot takes, cold takes, and just Takes will abound, but one thing’s for sure: they’ll all be longer than I mean them to be.

Each meta will have different distinct sections: an Introduction, an exploration of the Title, an explanation of the Mystery, a run-through of the Suspects. Then, I’ll tackle some of my favorite and least favorite things about the game, and finish it off with ideas on how to improve it. As ICE sends off the Jetsetting Games category and moves into the Odd Games category, there will be a section between The Intro and The Title called The Weird Stuff, where I’ll go into what storyline marks this game a bit Odd in the Nancy Drew series as a whole.

If any game requires an extra section or two, they’ll be listed in the paragraph above, along with links to previous metas.

These metas are not spoiler free, though I’ll list any games/media that they might spoil here: ICE; TRT; mention of FIN; mention of CUR; mention of TRN; mention of SEA.

This meta is under a read more because of its sheer length.

The Intro:

Ughhhhh. UGHHH.

The White Wolf of Icicle Creek has a lot of things that make it distinct in the Nancy Drew video game series — it sports the first new interface since SHA, it has the world’s most boring list of ‘enticing moments’ from the game on the back, its assets look like they were forcefully molded out of gummy bears, it randomly was released on Wii, it’s the best-known game among non-fans thanks to the Game Grumps — but it also stands out because not one of those things make it enjoyable to play or to watch without a heavy amount of MST3K-style commentary.

Also because it features the fandom’s least favorite puzzle of all time…but more on that later.

A point to get out of the way before we get into the game proper is that this game feels a lot like a cheap knock-off of Treasure in a Royal Tower. Like, a lot like a cheap knock-off. One of those animated films called “Bemo’s Lost in the Ocean” or “A Toy Tale” that come out around Disney/Pixar films to try to trick hapless grandmas into buying them.

Just lining it up, we have Nancy stuck in/around a lodge in winter, an edict from the owner of the lodge to figure out what’s up with repeated Incidents and possible sabotage while most guests have left, an academic around Nancy’s age, an Old Coot, an Olympian whose grandparent was important, chores (including food related chores) to do in order to progress in the story, a suspect you can only talk to face-to-face for part of the game…the list honestly goes on in both big and small ways.

While ICE isn’t the only one that tries to do this (since I’m not doing a SEA meta, I won’t get into the fact that SEA literally just remastered DDI’s characters and said ‘good enough’), it does feel particularly egregious because, for all its copying, there’s not enough in the game to distract from it even a bit.

ICE is a game searching for an identity and unable to find one, no matter how many plot points, chores, or games (horrible, unskippable games) they throw at the player. We have full on international espionage and ecological terrorism here (more on that in the next section), and it just…doesn’t matter, at the end of the day. It also takes place in Canada, but your only clue to that is that one of the characters says “eh” a lot, so that’s not great either.

If ICE is a new game to you (it can be a bear to install and even worse to complete, so I’m going to go off the assumption that not everyone will be familiar with it), you’ve probably only heard of the cooking chores, fox and geese, and that this is the game with the Return of Tony Balducci, previously of TRN fame. (Honestly, ICE had a big enough cast without its phone characters, but HER decided to shove three phone characters along with one partial phone character at us anyway.) And, to be honest, that’s pretty much all there is to the game.

Now I know this sounds harsh, but there is a possible explanation to the lack of content in this game. In my previous meta (link at the top of this post) I made a note that CRE’s production in all likelihood suffered because the company was focused on ICE’s new interface. I don’t think it’s a leap at all to say that ICE’s story and characters could also have suffered because of the same thing.

The biggest problem with ICE — besides the weird stuff we’ll get into below — is that it’s a shallow game. None of the characters have any real depth, the plot is a paper-thin copy of TRT, the puzzles are alternatingly impossible and extremely easy, and in an effort to add “depth”, we get…well, we get this next section.

The Weird Stuff:

With each of the Odd Games (ICE through RAN, Heaven help us all), there’s something that makes the game truly…well, odd. Odd for the Nancy Drew series, odd for the age range specified on the front of the box, and odd in general when you look at the rest of the plot.

In this game, it comes in the form of terrorism — or rather, two types of terrorism. Guadalupe is our first (and only, in this series) ecological terrorist, belonging to a fringe group called “Run and Go Free” and being perfectly fine with illegal acts (destruction of the fishing lodge, sabotage of personal property), even telling Nancy that she’s done worse in the name of Run and Go Free.

Nancy Drew Games are no stranger to hippie/naturalist types (see DOG, DDI, CAR, etc.) but Lupe is our first to be legitimately dangerous. Sure, she doesn’t end up being the ultimate Bad Guy, but she is A Bad Guy, and it really does seem very odd to me that after everything Lupe does (and insinuates that she’s done), that she gets away with barely a slap on the wrist in having to leave the lodge.

Lupe in no way fits in with the rest of the plot; there’s nothing to justify her being present in the game, she can appear about halfway through the game and then leaves to become a phone contact soon after, she’s not present enough to be an actual suspect — she has no place in the plot nor the game, and it really does just boggle the mind that a character is in it at all, especially with ICE having a greater than average number of suspects to begin with.

On the other hand, however, we have Yanni, an Eastern European Olympian spy/terrorist, sent by the Fredonian (a commonly used fake country) government to bomb around the lodge to find uranium under the cover of training for the next Olympics.

That is a whole lot of things for one character.

You’d think with the presence of Lupe that Yanni would fit right in, but he doesn’t make her — or himself — any less odd or out of place than he would have been alone. It’s a ‘suspicious Olympian’ character that we already got with Jacques, but he’s a million times worse, setting off friggin bombs to find a metal that his government wants for…well, the normal reason that governments want uranium.

So we can add in “reference to ongoing nuclear warfare” as another thing that makes this game Odd.

Yanni doesn’t fit the game or the plot, which is pretty bad considering he’s responsible for about half the plot in the first place. He also has that weird aside about his grandmother being eaten by wolves, as if HER wants the player to suspect him because of some twisted revenge against wolves plot (which would have been Very Weird) so that they can pull the rug out at the end and be like “see?? He’s a political terrorist looking for uranium for nuclear bombs for his country!!! Gotcha!!”.

Like, it’s not a Gotcha if it’s absolute lunacy. My land.

With that explanation out of the way, let’s get to something a little less Odd.

The Title:

I actually don’t have much to say here. The White Wolf of Icicle Creek is honestly a great name; it tells us the focal point of the game (the wolf), the location, (Icicle Creek), and even pretty much tells you the season that this game is happening in (white, icicle). It accomplishes a lot in a very short amount of words, and pertains accurately to the game we’re dealing with.

We’ll chalk that up in the “Win” category…especially since we’re going straight back into the “Lose” category with the next section.

The Mystery:

The mystery is a mess, full stop. There’s way too much going on for the amount of payoff (i.e. little to none), and the plot, thin at best, completely drops off at the 2/3rds mark when all the player has left to do is wait for random events to occur and keep putting off fox and geese.

Anyway.

We begin with strange, destructive incidents of sabotage happening at a renowned winter resort. Most of the guests have left, and there’s been some damage to parts of the resort. Asked for help by the owner of the resort who’s away on business, Nancy must pick up the slack left by staff who have quit, run food-related errands, and discover who might be behind these attacks before it’s too late.

Oh wait, that’s Treasure in a Royal Tower. Lemme start again.

We begin with strange, destructive incidents of sabotage happening at a renowned winter resort. Most of the guests have left, and there’s been some damage —

You get the picture.

The biggest difference pre-game is that after every incident, a white wolf is spotted, only to disappear before the police get there. People start connecting the wolf to the crimes, and go as far as blaming it for cases of food poisoning and slashed tires, as if the wolf is cooking food and using a knife with its paws.

Just as Nancy’s arriving on scene, the bunkhouse is blown up and she hears the wolf howling — so obviously there must be a connection there, and a wolf definitely isn’t just responding to a loud noise.

This part honestly feels a bit like the beginning of CUR, where the game tries to establish Scary Feelings and Ominous Threats and just comes off ham-fisted.

The back of the box features three ‘exciting’ things that Nancy gets to do in this game, which are as follows: cook lunch and dinner, ride a snowmobile and wear snow shoes, and do snowball fights and ice fishing. While it’s sad that those moderately exciting things are the best that the box can boast, it’s even sadder that they really are the best the game has to offer.

It’s easy to lose thread of the mystery nearly as soon as Nancy gets to the lodge, because she’s immediately bombarded with laundry that has to be done before a certain time, meals that have to be done within a certain hour or two, and a suspect (Lupe) that can just refuse to show up.

Oh, and the return of Tino Balducci.

Returning in a game where he doesn’t fit in and where no one wanted him in the first place, Tino’s there to “help” Nancy solve the mystery by giving her a questionnaire for her suspects to fill out that asks what planet they see themselves as, among other inanities.

Honestly, this whole section could be summed up as “Tino returns, among other inanities”.

Nancy, throughout all of this, somehow has time to do a bit of detective work, interviewing a cast of rather one-note suspects, figuring out that more than one person is responsible for the many accidents. Guadalupe’s sabotage is discovered and she’s sent home, Yanni is increasingly unavailable (which is hugely suspicious), snowball fights are more prevalent than necessary, and finally the villain is exposed, all culminating in a glitchy, nigh-impossible snowmobile chase.

Oh, and there’s a half-tamed wolf storyline that kinda pops up every now and again.

All in all, the mystery is a weak thread throughout the game — which is a problem, because it’s the only thread throughout the game — that’s easily overshadowed by the chores, games, and frankly awful visuals throughout the game.

Now, to those who contribute (in a way) to the non-entity that is ICE’s story:

The Suspects:

Ollie Randall is our resident grumpy caretaker and is Chantal’s right-hand man, along with being on the Avalanche Patrol and a firm believer in the bad luck that wolves bring. His wife can’t handle cold temperatures due to a nerve condition, so he’s also his daughter Freddie’s sole parent during the winter.

As a culprit in the game as it now is, Ollie would have been the only sensical option; fed up with the awful guests that come and cause havoc, he starts causing little easily-solved accidents to spook away the less hardy-type guests, but it keeps spiraling as it doesn’t keep out everyone but people like Bill Kessler. Frustrated by the treatment the lodge gets, he decides that if people don’t treat it nicely, they can’t have it at all…

Unfortunately, Ollie is limited to being Grumpy, and not a lot else.

Freddie Randall is Ollie’s daughter and the self-proclaimed Snow Princess due to her ability to stay out in the cold for hours in her snow fort, and to take repeated snowballs to the face courtesy of a teen detective.

Freddie is…I know I talked about how Yanni and Lupe don’t really fit into the game, but Freddie really doesn’t fit any version of this game. She’s there for a mini game, she doesn’t have a personality, you can’t skip her mini game, she’s voiced by Lani Minella…the list goes on and on. Her shining moment of glory is acting as a red herring by throwing a snowball through Lou’s window.

She’s pointless to talk about as a potential culprit, even though she would have been an interesting “culprit” in a case where all the incidents are actually Freddie accidentally causing trouble, but that probably would have been even less satisfying than how the game actually went, so we’ll just move along here.

Our cross-country skiing Olympian from the fictional Eastern European country of Fredonia, Yanni Volkstaia is both our only suspect wearing a onesie and our only suspect with a family member eaten by wolves.

I know, that’s already a high bar to top. Don’t worry, he’ll fall very, very far below it.

Yanni, as mentioned above, is our odd spy/terrorist villain who is disguising his being there for uranium by saying that it’s his Olympic competitors trying to throw off his training. Why an Olympian is training alone without any coaches or security…well, let’s just say that Yanni didn’t really think his cover story through.

Just because Yanni’s the obvious culprit doesn’t mean he fills the role well; Yanni is obvious, annoying, and his paper-thin cover is just annoying enough to be…well, annoying. He throws out that his grandmother was “killed and devoured” by wolves as if he wants Nancy to believe that that’s the reason he’s targeting the lodge but…it still points directly to him. It’s just not great all the way around.

Joining Yanni in terrorism is Guadalupe Comillo, activist from California and hard-to-find suspect. Lupe can, as mentioned above, literally just not appear for a bit, stalling out the game and making her even more annoying than she already is.

Lupe’s cover is that she’s a bird watcher, but she knows absolutely nothing about birds — like honestly nothing, even though she had time to make her cover story (not unlike Yanni).

She gets sent away by destruction of private property (Ollie’s gun – super dangerous to make a gun misaim out in the wild and she’s lucky he didn’t hit anything problematic [like another person] because of it) and good riddance, but appears as a phone friend to rather pointlessly exonerate herself and do pretty much nothing else but stop the game in its tracks until she lets it proceed.

As a culprit, Lupe would have been the other obvious choice, but she’s just not in the game enough, so she’s easy to ignore. Her cover is thin, but so is her motivation (!!! Save the wolf!!!), so she’s one of the most annoying non-entity suspects in this series.

Our second Californian in the cast is Lou Talbot, who is a college student, master of ‘earthitecture’ (inspired by Poppy Dada) and stealer of dinosaur bones for money. He also plays fox and geese with Bill in his spare time. He does a really good impression of the Guy in my MFA twitter as well, but that’s literally it.

No, really, that’s his entire character. I can’t even posit what he would be like as the culprit because that is LITERALLY all we’re given on him. End of bio. My gosh, what a waste of pixels.

Lou’s partner in fox and geese is Bill Kessler, who loves to fish and whose grandmother used to own the lodge before Chantal. While he feels that his grandmother Tilly was cheated out of the lodge, he has little desire to get it back, and really just wants to hide the fact that he’s been to the lodge before (an odd thing to hide, but whatever makes him feel better.)

Like Lou, apart from that, he really doesn’t have any character. He basically is a mix of TRT’s Jacques in his family connection to the lodge and SHA’s Dave in actual amount of motivation (i.e., 0 motivation) to do anything about it. He is, however, the person who makes Nancy play fox and geese, and for that alone, I hate him.

As a culprit, Bill’s played as a red herring for a solid 5 minutes of gameplay (though not very well — why would an avid fisherman blow up a fishing shack?), and then totally discounted the moment Nancy finds out his backstory. He’s really just there — like most of the cast, worryingly enough — to pad out the number of suspects and to give Nancy a taste of Hell through fox and geese.

The Favorite:

There are a few bright spots in this confused mess of a game, so let’s go through them.

My favorite moment in the game is when Nancy, after Yanni says the horrific line about his grandmother being killed and devoured by wolves, can ask “how”. As if that’s a sentence that needs a ‘how’. It’s a great moment of Nancy being absolutely tone deaf, and I giggle like a madman every time I think about it.

My favorite puzzle in the game is probably the cooking minigame, which I dislike in frequency and time requirement, but do love in actual practice. It’s fun to cook in every Nancy Drew game, and this one is no exception. I just wish it wasn’t regimented so heavily.

I love the atmosphere of the lodge; it’s beautifully animated (in fact one of my favorite locations in the ND games), big without being too big, and is never boring, even by the end of the game. The lodge is largely a character unto itself, and is quite successful as a wonderful location.

The Un-Favorite:

There’s a lot to unpack here, but we’ll keep it short because the fix section of this meta is gonna have me by the throat.

My least favorite moment in the game is the moment Tino comes into the game. As the game now stands, there’s no reason for him to be involved, and short a comment about him by the Hardy Boys, which would at least justify it a little, he’s purposeless. He’s worse than that, actually — he’s there to slow the game down, and that’s a cardinal sin.

My least favorite puzzle in the game is a tie between fox and geese (UGH) and the final snowmobile chase. My problems with fox and geese are obvious — they’re everyone’s problems with fox and geese: it’s a required puzzle, it’s hard to do, there’s no way to cheat through it, and it takes forever.

The final snowmobile chase is somehow even worse. It’s buggy, laggy, has nothing to do with the actual plot, has arbitrary win conditions — it’s the worst (or at least among the worst) that HER has to offer with final puzzles. If everything else about ICE was perfect, engaging, fun, and thought-provoking, this final puzzle would still put me off of playing it. It’s just that bad.

The storyline with Isis and that whole backstory isn’t treated well in game; it’s almost as if they came up with the title and then remembered at the last minute that there’s supposed to be an actual wolf. I would have loved more of a focus on that storyline; as it is, it barely counts as a blip on the game’s radar — which is a shame.

The Fix:

Gosh, how on earth will I fix The White Wolf of Icicle Creek? The answer is that I don’t feel like I can just apply a few quick fixes and be on my way; the only answer I could find is to approach this as if I was at the proposal meeting for this game — how would I outline the barebones scenario?

This section will be long, as I’m going to start just from the skeleton and build things in. What follows is my own imaginings of what my own personal ideas would be to create ICE, rather than to fix it from what the finished product was. As an important note, the side-plot with the wolf, as it was really neglected and bare-bones to begin with in the game, is mostly removed.

The first section I’ll work on is structure. Though it wasn’t done perfectly in FIN, I feel like the pacing of ICE could be vastly improved by putting a clock on the game by assigning designated days and tasks. Three days is still probably a good idea, as it lets us easily break the story into a 3-act structure and delineate certain tasks for certain days without overloading one day in particular. We’ll get more into what should happen in Days 1, 2, and 3 later in a general overview of how the plot would go.

The mechanism used to get Nancy there — Chantal being a friend of Carson’s — isn’t bad, but I’d change it up just slightly. Nancy’s not yet a “professional” detective, but we’re only 2 games from her being hired by a foreign country’s authorities, so she should be making her way up there. It stands to reason that Nancy would attract some attention from the business in CRE since the Hardy Boys would definitely mention Nancy in their de-briefing and Aikens is a big name, so let’s build on that from here. Chantal is still Carson’s friend, and she still wants to get these incidents solved while she’s away from the Lodge for legal matters — someone got injured at the lodge and is now suing.

Carson decides to officially hire Nancy — paperwork, legal documentation, etc. — as a “concerned third party” in Chantal’s problems, telling her that her job is to find out two things: find out what’s causing the incidents of sabotage, and give Carson enough evidence in favor of the lodge’s safety that he can prove reasonable doubt against the people accusing Chantal. Nancy will be there undercover as a family friend of Chantal’s, with only Ollie knowing that she’s there in an official capacity.

ICE has a cast that is both unwieldy and characterless, and I feel like the way to fix that is through combining characters. Starting out we have Ned, Chantal, Tino, the ex-maid, her boyfriend, Ollie, Freddie, Lupe, Yanni, Lou, and Bill — 10 characters that we deal with in the present, plus one other player (in the boyfriend/stalker guy). 11 in total. That is a huge, huge cast that we definitely need to pare down.

The first thing to do is to take out Tino Balducci. He slows down the plot, is completely unnecessary, and isn’t even entertaining. Since there’s no Hardy Boys to play off of him (and I would keep the Hardy Boys out of this game, even with my love for them), Tino needs to go the way of the dodo. And good riddance to him, honestly.

Freddie, an obvious subject to axe, should instead be aged up to around 20 and combined with the maid whose ex-boyfriend’s letter Nancy finds at the beginning of the game. Freddie would handle all the chores the first day except the cooking.

Instead of a nebulous, incident-causing ex-boyfriend, Freddie would have just started a relationship with Lou, keeping our cast tight and visible, rather than one-off characters with nothing else to give to the story.

By now we’re down to Carson, Ned, Chantal, Freddie, Ollie, Lupe, Yanni, Lou, and Bill. I think we can do a little better than that.

The next step I’d take is to remove Yanni entirely. Yes, I know it’s a big change to remove the canonical culprit, but bear with me. With Yanni and Lupe having so many similarities and together being guilty of 99% of the Crimes in this game, I’m pretty comfortable in combining them. I’d also make the minor change of having Lupe be an Indigenous Canadian rather than Hispanic and from California, since our game is set in Canada and there’s absolutely no reason for a large portion of our cast to be American.

With Yanni gone, Lupe (or whatever her new name would be, since the name ‘Lupe’, all nationality changes aside, in a game ostensibly about a wolf makes me want to kill myself) assumes a few of his personality quirks – most importantly, a family member with a past with wolves. It doesn’t really matter if it’s positive or negative, you just want the association there as a herring (red or otherwise).

That puts us down to 5 suspects to talk to and three phone friends for a total of 8 players in the present. Since Chantal is supposed to be busy, I’d remove the ability to talk to her entirely — anything that Chantal could offer can come through Carson as Nancy’s official “employer”, which brings us to a nice 7 players — an entirely manageable number.

So let’s begin.

The beginning of the game with Nancy at her desk always includes a case file, so this time the case file would say that Nancy, at the behest of her ‘client’, Carson Drew, is flying out to Alberta to investigate strange happenings at Chantal Moique’s lodge. Chantal is trying to settle with people who got hurt there and are trying to sue her, and Carson’s helping to advise her. Nancy’s mission is two-fold: figure out what’s causing the incidents at the lodge, and find evidence that Chantal can’t be held liable for the injuries incurred by the guests suing her.

Wolves are commonly seen around the area of the lodge — Northern Alberta has some of the highest population of wolves in North America — and there’s a rumor at the lodge that the spirits of the wolves that are hunted in the area every winter are causing some of the sabotage.

Chantal thinks the rumor is being spread by whoever is doing the actual sabotage to make her guests leave and force her out of business, so Carson tells Nancy to pay attention to the stories about the wolves — and one snow-white wolf in particular, who is often sighted very close to the lodge. Carson suspects that, if it exists, the white wolf is actually a trained dog (a white/white and silver Siberian Husky, for example) being used to whip up panic, but tells Nancy to keep an open mind.

As Nancy’s arriving at the Lodge, an explosion occurs in the distance, causing the rumbling of snow to start. Ollie, who’s picked up Nancy from her plane, says darkly that he’s been waiting for something like this to happen, and that this will probably cause a minor avalanche (his opinion as the head of Avalanche Patrol in the area), making it impossible to leave the lodge for a few days. He tells Nancy to head straight to bed once they get to the lodge, as she’s in for an exhausting time dealing with the “weirdos” still left at the lodge.

Nancy wakes up and Day One begins with Freddie freaking out outside Nancy’s door. After explaining that the regular chef (who was off for the last month visiting family) can’t get back to the lodge until tomorrow and that Freddie’s only manned the kitchen once or twice, Nancy says that she has experience cooking and offers to take the chef’s duties for the day.

Day One has Nancy meet all the suspects – Bill’s playing a game (I don’t care what it is as long as it’s something that involves writing things down) with anyone who passes by and talks about how out of all the lodges in Canada, this one’s his favorite; Lou hangs out near the bones (make him an archeology major or something related to but not exactly paleontology) and Definitely Doesn’t Know the Cute Girl Who Works at the Lodge, How Dare Nancy Assume; Not-Lupe is gone until 4pm when it starts getting dark because she loves spending time in nature, especially with the Super Special Wolf running around the place; and Ollie’s in the workshop fixing the things that have been sabotaged, worries about his daughter being away from her mother and about her ‘cavorting’ with a guest.

Nancy still preps lunch and the day goes on without a hitch other than Lou having an overheard argument with someone at around 6. Nancy cooks dinner, accidentally (due to smudged instructions from Freddie) sprinkling paprika in everyone’s food and setting off an allergic (mild to moderate anaphylaxis, helped by an epi pen) reaction + hives in Freddie, who they fly out via helicopter that night.

Ollie, feeling hostile towards Nancy, takes a look at the instructions/recipe that Nancy worked off of and says to her that the first page is Freddie’s handwriting, but the second page isn’t — someone did this on purpose. Nancy calls Carson, who says that the soonest he can get there is the day after next, and to keep herself safe above everything — he’ll check in with the hospital Freddie’s at since it’s also in Edmonton, where Carson and Chantal are. Carson warns Nancy that the guests were about to settle the lawsuit when the news about the explosion hit the news, and are now more determined than ever to sue for all Chantal’s worth.

Day 2 opens with the cook (who’s unseen and just exists in order to relieve Nancy of kitchen duty) arriving and a phone call from Carson asking for Chantal/Freddie if Nancy can grab the laundry bags from the guests’ rooms and that the spare key is in the register at the front (of course guarded by a puzzle — I’d even accept a mini fox and geese, as one of the big problems with that puzzle in the vanilla game is that it goes on way too long.

While snooping in the desk, Nancy finds evidence that Chantal might have been guilty of criminal neglect — a few things around the lodge are listed as “fixed” and totally safe when really they still need some maintenance — and wonders how she should tell Carson and if she should wait until she has more evidence. Before she goes out for the day, Not-Lupe mentions to Nancy “in confidence” that she overheard Lou fighting with Freddie before dinner, calling it a “lover’s quarrel”.

After lunch and talking with all the suspects again, Nancy goes to grab the laundry with the master key and snoops in everyone’s rooms, finding various clues and suspicious things: Bill’s journal detailing how Chantal is running the place into the ground and needs to be replaced, along with a few lodge magazines; Not-Lupe’s gloves with suspicious specks of things on them (Nancy takes a sample of it in a Kleenex or something); Lou’s heavy suitcase that has a case with imprints of bones in it; Ollie’s has maintenance books that also detail how to take things apart and maintenance notes that say he saw the wolf around but didn’t have his gun; Freddie’s only thing of interest is a little dinosaur pin on her dresser.

Nancy takes the opportunity to snoop in Chantal’s normal room and finds that the things that were listed in the documents in the front desk really were fixed; Ollie reported to Chantal that things that he fixed were un-fixed by the time he went back to them the next day — most of the time suffering damage as well, such as the sauna that injured the guests that are suing Chantal. Nancy calls her father with the news, and Carson says to save those documents so that he can come get them tomorrow, and to see if she can find any clues to who might have done it.

After dinner Nancy talks to Lou, who confesses that he and Freddie started dating a few days ago after meeting online last semester in a dinosaur enthusiast forum — hence his decision to come to the lodge, as Freddie said there were cool bones here. He was originally going to steal a few small ones and thought no one would notice if he replaced them with resin-cast replicas, but Freddie caught him and they had a fight which ended with Lou deciding not to steal, and Freddie saying that she could help him make replicas for him to take home and keep in his house.

Nancy asks why he’s telling her, and Lou says that Ollie seems to get along with Nancy well, and he’d like Nancy to calm Ollie down if Ollie discovers that he’s dating Freddie. Nancy asks Lou about the wolf, and Lou says that some of the stuff could be a wolf — he’s seen one around the lodge once or twice — but he hasn’t really been paying attention to anything except the bones and Freddie (who he’s looking forward to visiting once he can).

When talking with Bill, he offhandedly mentions that he used to be a handyman — the sink in his room started acting up, but he fixed it easily because he thinks that Ollie has enough to do without doing this easy fix. Bill says that this would never have happened when Chantal’s father was running the Lodge and accuses Chantal of preferring to spend long “business trips” in the city to actually paying attention to the Lodge — he says she should just live in the city and hire a manager with experience who actually cares. Nancy asks Bill about the wolf, and he says if anyone could be haunted by wolves, he’d believe it was Chantal.

Nancy, it should be noted, during her explorations around the lodge, sees a few pawprints and some chewed-on debris, but otherwise hasn’t seen the wolf in person. Just traces and tracks.

Not-Lupe and Ollie both dodge Nancy’s questions – Ollie’s busy as everything seems to be breaking at once, and snaps at Nancy that without Chantal around, he’s the only person keeping the lodge afloat, and he’d be better off without the stress of this job. When Nancy asks him about the wolf, Ollie says that the last thing they need is some idiot tourist being attacked by a wolf, and so he refuses to believe that there’s a wolf around the area.

Not-Lupe is at her normal place at the window (though there’s a chair there because no one stands all day), and when Nancy asks about the wolf, says that that’s why she’s there — she heard the rumor about the wolf and wanted to see it, but that her visit’s been very disappointing — just a junky lodge with incompetent staff and no wolves anywhere. Her hobby is visiting winter lodges, and this one just Isn’t up to snuff.

Nancy tries to pry deeper, but Not-Lupe shuts her down and goes to bed; Nancy investigates the living room as everyone leaves for bed and finds crinkled up under the couch a magazine cutout about the Premier Lodge Group, a company that owns winter lodges all over Canada and the United States, and their plans to build a group of lodges in Alberta as soon as a few “minor inconveniences” with location are solved.

The day ends with Carson calling; Nancy tells him about all the suspects (Carson confirms Lou’s story by having talked to Freddie), the magazine, Ollie wanting to quit, etc. Carson promises to do some research on Premier Lodge Group and tells Nancy to send him a picture of the stuff she found on Lupe’s gloves. Nancy does so, and that’s the end of Day 2.

Day 3 opens again with Carson’s phone call, informing Nancy that he’ll be there in the early evening — he’s having a contact of his look at the photo Nancy sent, but he’s pretty sure it won’t be good news.

Premier Lodge Group was investigated a few years ago for sabotage to their competitors but ultimately nothing came out of it, and Carson suspects that people were paid off to keep quiet about it. Carson says that he’s looked into Ollie (since Carson suspected him the most) and apparently Ollie always grouches about quitting when he’s stressed but has been there for 20 years and is as loyal as they come, so Nancy says she’ll focus on Not-Lupe and Bill — the two lodge-hoppers who seem dissatisfied with the lodge.

Both Not-Lupe and Bill are gone when Nancy gets downstairs, and Lou (who’s planning on leaving that night to go to Edmonton) says that they both got a sack lunch from the kitchen and left early in the morning to go explore outside. He tells Nancy she can borrow his snowshoes and says that they both headed out (independently) in the direction of Skookum Ridge.

When Nancy gets up to the Ridge, she spots the “wolf” — really a Siberian Husky, like Carson thought, who seems very well trained. When the dog comes up to Nancy, a gunshot ripples through the air and nearly hits the dog, who would have gone running off had Nancy not grabbed her collar and yelled not to shoot. Nancy sees Bill across the ridge and waves him over, explaining that it’s a dog, not a wolf. The dog (whose name is something way better than Isis — literally anything else would do) is suspicious of Bill at first, which convinces Nancy that it’s not Bill’s — the only suspect left is Not-Lupe.

When she tells Bill what she knows about Not-Lupe, Bill admits to having seen her before at a lodge that went out of business due to mysterious accidents, but thought it was a coincidence before digging deeper in the magazines he brought and finding Not-Lupe in the back of a small photo of Premier Lodge Administrative Staff — he was worried about keeping it safe and knowing that there would be no cleaning staff until at least the next day, crumpled it up and put it under the couch he normally sits by.

A happy, friendly dog in tow, Nancy and Bill head back to the lodge only to find Ollie and Lou standing outside looking worried. They tell Nancy that they both went outside because they heard a loud noise, only to find the door locked behind them — and every other door locked as well. After realizing that Not-Lupe wouldn’t open the doors for them, Ollie went to get an axe for the door, only to have a note appear on the door’s window that if they forced their way in, the whole Lodge would be burned to the ground in an instant.

Carson calls then, saying that he’s a few minutes away, but that his friend got back to him — Not-Lupe’s gloves were covered in residue from explosives. Bill takes Nancy’s phone and begins to fill Carson in on who they think Not-Lupe is working for and who she is. Nancy asks Lou and Ollie to hoist her up to her own window, which she keeps unlocked, and crawls in, creeping downstairs to the main room to try to find how Not-Lupe will burn the lodge and stop her.

Nancy confronts Not-Lupe, who confirms her identity as a saboteur for the Premier Lodge Group, saying that with the bad press around the lodge Chantal would have already had to sell — but she’s going to go one step further and cause an ‘incident’, blowing up the lodge with fuses hidden around its ground floor — Chantal’s father won’t spend the money to rebuild the lodge, and the only proof that is against her is the word of two American kids, an old man, and a lodge-hopper with a very incriminating diary that would be found soon enough. She tells Nancy that she can either try to catch her or try to save the lodge and runs out the back, intent on escaping as she pushes the button to arm the explosives.

Nancy yells out the window for them to catch Not-Lupe, who’s got to be headed out to the main road, tossing the cushion of the seat Lupe usually sat in so that her dog can catch her scent, then has the final timed puzzle be switching off each detonator (which would be in each of the places where the suspects usually were, with the exception of Ollie’s whose is in the front desk).

As soon as Nancy disarms them, Bill calls out to her that Carson just called — Lou and the dog tracked Lupe to the main road, and Bill called Carson to let him know. Carson’s car stops Not-Lupe (Carson brought a policeman on a hunch), and the day is saved. Premier Lodge is snagged in a major lawsuit by Chantal’s father and other lodge owners who have had the same thing happen to them, and Chantal hires Bill as co-manager to ensure there’s always someone there to manage the lodge and for his wealth of knowledge of what makes a good lodge and good experience for guests.

The game ends with Nancy writing her letter to Hannah (so that Hannah doesn’t worry about them), and with her dad’s praise for a job well done.

I realize that this is a monumental fix; it’s a brand-new game made out of the skeleton of the old one. I also realize that there are a million and one ways to re-write this game; this one takes the idea of sabotage, one of the most frequent inciting incidents in the Nancy Drew world, and just makes it a little bigger.

No terrorism required.

#nancy drew #clue crew #nancy drew games #white wolf of icicle creek #ICE #long post #video games #nancy drew meta

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trademarknickersoncharm · 4 years

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Austin’s spoiler free ND Rankings from best to worst (with reasons why)

PLS NOTE: There is only one game I actually HATE. Every other game there is something I like about it except my last spot. Keep that in mind.

1) Ghost of Thornton Hall. This game is an absolute masterpiece. It is the best game HeR has made since CUR. It is also the best game I think HeR has put out in recent years. These are characters that you actually FEEL for. Not one of them are unlikeable. The closest you get is Clara, who you wind up feeling for in the end. An absolute work of art (it is also the first game I pre-ordered because from the very beginning I was invested.)

2) Labyrinth Of Lies- Hear me out. I absolutely adore this game. It has Greece, Theatre, and Xenia Doukas. Three things I cannot live without. While I absolutely agree that the whole idea of a rotating set system underground is impossible, this game was a dream come true for theatre kids everywhere. I will never not play this game without listening to Mamma Mia. It’s probably my biggest unpopular opinion of this fandom.

3) Last Train To Blue Moon Canyon- This game breaks my literal heart. Camille and Jake Hurly has always been up there in my eyes with Frances and Dirk from SHA. I have always loved the environment of this game. (This is probably due to the fact that Murder On The Orient Express is one of my favorite books) and this is one game that I always go to when I’m feeling nostalgic. It is also the first time you see the Hardy Boys so that’s a sign.

4) Sea Of Darkness- This is the game that I think has the best graphics HeR has offered. We have a lesbian character which was highly requested as well as a cute dog. The aurora borealis is never not STUNNING to look at and it one of the best games that actually feels like Nancy is “there”. The mystery is also one that I think can be misleading. I always assumed it was Ghost Ship TM but boy was I wrong. Elisabet also has my whole heart.

5) The Final Scene- OH MY GOD THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE SASS FILLED GAME AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE FOR IT. I constantly say “I propose you back off!” at every opportune moment. It is the best dialogue Nancy has ever had. Again, it is a Stan for theatre kids everywhere. I have also always thought magic was the coolest thing even though I can't perform it. Solid dialogue and very easy puzzles, which is always a relief.

6) Curse Of Blackmoor Manor- This is not in my top 3 as it is going to be for almost everyone else due to the fact that I think it is a very difficult game. I first played it when I was 12, and it was the only game I could not beat up until that shit show SAW which we will discuss later. Now that I've grown older and wiser, I have really grown to appreciate it more and it is a CLASSIC when looking into this game series. I appreciate the nostalgia value it has and the soundtrack and the characters. Ethel Bossiny FTW. This game also has the best soundtrack of the series.

7) Treasure In The Royal Tower- Another one that will be in everyone else’s top 3 but is not for me, but is still solid. I ADORE this game’s setting and character development- but for me, I never really felt pulled in to the mystery. My time was spent fan grilling over Hotchkiss that the person who broke into the library was on my back burner. HOWEVER, it is still very nostalgic and iconic it is in my top 10.

8) The Phantom Of Venice- Simply put, this game is why I want to go to Italy. I was ALMOST THERE but corona. I absolutely adore the way this game transports you. They included everything they could, even real photos of Venice, which I appreciated as someone who wants to go.

9) Alibi in Ashes- You have to understand how important it is that we finally got a game in River Heights. It was always on the TOP of my list in terms of places I wanted Nancy to go. It did not disappoint. The fact that everyone turned on Nancy so quickly always sends chills down my spine.

10) Legend Of The Crystal Skull- ALRIGHT so another unpopular opinion. This was the FIRST game I every played AND BEAT and so it will always be in my top 10. This is the game that truly got me invested in the series. If it wasn't this, it would not be this high, but it is my number 10 for that reason. Other things I like: Henry, Renee, the setting and music.

11) Warnings At Waverly Academy- WAC’s setting is so amazing. I don’t really know how to explain it, but I have always been intrigued about boarding school mysteries (@ house of Anubis )and this is a solid one. It contains probably one of the best plot twists of the series that blew my mind the first time I played it, and Mel Corbalis is god’s gift to humanity.

12) The Silent Spy- A real tearjerker if there ever was one. This games takes a storyline that has been changed many times (Nancy’s mom) and turns it into something so extremely badass you really wish she wasn't actually dead. Zoe Wolfe is the absolute reason I exist. You also play a cookies mini game which is just about as addicting as crack.

13) Secret Of The Old Clock- Okay, so I feel like this game gets a lot of hate because everyone talks about how weird the time travel is, but this has always been a game I liked. I think personally, that it is the easiest game in the series (if you exclude the dress, which I have never had a problem with) and it is based on the absolute most classic ND story of all. I also highly enjoy this period of time, even though the characters in this game aren't great. Emily Crandall is probably the best one, and even she yells at Nancy.

14) Secret Of Shadow Ranch- Okay. So I’m going to get anon h8 for this. But SHA is... not the best in my opinion. I have talked about this before, but SHA is very tedious in terms of chores and I just do not like that. I wouldn't necessarily mind the chores if they weren't repetitive, but it is the same chores over and over again. With that said, I LOVE the music, the Humber storyline, and the setting, so it is #14

15) Message In A Haunted Mansion- This is probably the only game I have ever pissed my pants over. CUR and GTH didn’t even do that. I think it is bc MHM is one of the first games I played. The hauntings in this game are so AMAZING and when you find out their explanation it totally changes things.

16) The Deadly Device- I love when ND does a Murder Mystery right. This is the time it was done right. The culprit came out of absolutely no where and I loved it. It is ranked this low for me b/c I think some of the puzzles are tedious and hard. Ryan Kilpatrick is an amazing human being and so is Ellie thx.

17) Tomb Of The Lost Queen- Another game which I think gets a lot of undeserved hate. Mummies are badass, especially when the mummy sighting is real and unexplained. Dylan Carter is probably the biggest example of stud you will ever see, and Jamila El-Dine is a bad b****. I am ranking it this high for Jamila alone.

18) Danger On Deception Island- I absolutely adore this game’s music. But I hate Holt Scotto with all the fire within me. He is why this game is not in my top 10. I love everything about this game except Holt F****** Scotto. I want to put it in my top 10. I do. But Holt Scotto sucks.

19) The Haunted Carousel- This was a game which I vividly remember being bullied in daycare over. I took it to daycare one day and we kept getting our eyeballs poked out by the lathe. Daycare memories suck. Also it is the first game by which we get a literal sexual strut by the culprit at the end, which I have never liked. Pluses of the game? An amusement park. Miles.

20) Ransom Of The Seven Ships- SAY IT OUT LOUD. RAN. IS. NOT. THE. WORST. GAME. The puzzles, although always thrown at your face, are actually sort of fun. I would rank it higher but there is way too few characters in a way that makes the culprit very obvious, but it also isn't at the same time.

21) The Captive Curse- This is a game by which I thought had so much potential but I think the monster looks very dumb? It’s like? The inbred cousin of Frankenstien’s monster? However, I LOVE THE SONG “girls”from this game and have a huge love for Lukas, so it isn't bottom 10

22) Stay Tuned For Danger- This game is one that would be so much higher up for me, If you didn’t have to look at EVERYTHING to complete it. If you miss ONE LETTER in a magazine, you cannot beat this game. I get stuck on it every time I play it, but the mystery is amazing and who doesn’t love a good old NYC game.

23) The White Wolf Of Icicle Creek- To begin my bottom 10, ICE. I LOVE ICE as a concept. But, Fox and Geese holds me back from a replay. I absolutely love the idea of a lodge that people are in danger at. The snow atmosphere is amazing and so is Isis. But, Fox and Geese is an abomination.

24) Ghost Dogs Of Moon Lake- I really, really want to like this game because I am a dog lover. However, the insect challenge is such a CHORE to do. I cannot stand to do it. It is so difficult to do in my humble opinion, it requires such a retrace of step that makes it insufferable. Pros? cute doges.

25) The Haunting Of Castle Malloy- YOU ARE LITERALLY THIS LOW BC OF THE END PUZZLE AND YOU KNOW IT. However, not the worst for me because I love Ireland and this game has some of the best music in the series. It is on my top 5 for soundtracks. I love everything about this game except THE END. Fiona is so misunderstood.

26) Secret of The Scarlet Hand- I really like this game, I do, but I am very not interested in the constant phone calls you do in this game. You are on the phone for about 75% of this game and I really didn’t like that about it. LOVE the history behind it though.

27) SCK/SCK2- I really do not like SCK as a concept. School murders are a topic which really turns me off. Not to mention, there is barely a difference between these games but a single character and a puzzle.

28) Danger By Design- Paris? Yes. Fashion? Heck yeah. But I never have really enjoyed DAN because the mystery can literally be solved by pulling a Phantom of The Opera and dropkicking the mask off. I also HATE the cookie puzzle. The edges never curl upwards for me.

29) Creature Of Kapu Cave- Ugh. Shells and fishing make this game untouchable for me. I LOVE HAWAII CONCEPT and supernatural volcanoes and phenomena. But I cannot stand the big island buck system or the man himself. Sorry, big island homies. Also be proud of me because it took me this long to bring up STUPID FRASS

30) Midnight In Salem- I was so excited for this game. We all were. I really enjoy MID’s mystery and as a concept. But, the new format is not good and neither is the constant talking and only being able to complete the game in one order. I was so excited for nothing (which is my own fault)

31) Shadow At The Waters Edge- GOD. The massive nonogram and sudoko have NO place in this game. I refuse to play it because of these 2 puzzles. However, I do love the scares in it. They are top notch scares. I have beat this game in it’s entirety maybe once?

32) Trail Of The Twister- Internship simulator forever. Chores galore, what a bore. Uncompelling mystery and hateful characters. The only thing I liked was the country music, a sentence you don’t hear often.

33) The Shattered Medallion- I literally played the beta of this game and it was ions better than the actual released product. That’s reason enough.

#I challenged a few others for this bc im interested #Nancy drew #ALL OPINIONS don't come forme

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blue-bean-exe · 3 years

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Todrick “Kit” Tweed

Not me, spending a whole day getting the profile to look like it’s from the Twisted Wiki. Thanks to @azulsartdump for being such an inspiration!

Now, without much fuss, here’s my Twisted Wonderland OC!

“Hook or crook, I can do that.”

Todrick Tweed, who prefers to be known as “Kit,” is a third-year student at Savanaclaw. She’s a well-respected student who takes on many responsibilities of a Vice-Dorm Leader, yet will vehemently deny the role. She does well in her classes, despite her delinquency.

Basic Information:

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Birthday: November 20

Starsign: Scorpio

Height: 178cm (5ft 10in)

Eye color: Orange

Hair color: Burnt Orange

Homeland: Land of Pyroxen

Family: Adoptive Father

Dorm: Savanaclaw

School Year: Third

Class: 3-D

Club: Board Game Club

Best Subject: Music

Dominant Hand: Ambidextrous

Favorite Food: Rotisserie Chicken

Least Favorite Food: Brussel Sprouts

Dislikes: Self-righteous behavior

Hobby: Playing Guitar

Talent: Home Repair

Appearance: Kit has a lean build and is about as muscular as Leona. She has wavy dull ginger hair that she keeps shoulder length. She has orange eyes, a brighter color than her hair. She has fox ears, with the black tips. She also has a fox tail. Most of the fur is the same color as her hair, but her tail has a black underline and a white tip. The lining around her eyes is darker than most students. She’s usually seen wearing the Savanaclaw uniform, with only the beaded necklace as decoration. She wears her scarf like Jack and Leona do, around her hips. In her NRC uniform, she ditches the jacket and keeps her tie undone, letting the ends drape down. In her gym and lab uniform, she’s shown with her hair tied back.

Personality: Kit is shown to be a confident beastman who harbors a resentment for Leona. This is most likely due to her surprisingly hard-working nature, given her affinity for harmless pranks. She’s not afraid to ask for help, often doing so with papers due for class. Despite her difficulty with the written word, Kit shows herself to be intelligent, sharing how she’s one of the main winners in her club. She’s an active listener, taking care to ensure she understands what others are saying before adding her own contributions.

Unique Magic: Kit’s Unique Magic is “Red Herring”, which allows her to imperfectly copy magic she observes, so long as it doesn’t have a direct effect on others. Examples of magic she could mimic are “Split Card” (can only do one copy), “Unleashed Beast” (turns her into a normal-sized fox instead of a large wolf), and “Oasis Maker” (summons less water, with more magic and effort on her part).

Trivia: Kit is trans, being assigned male at birth. She doesn’t express discomfort with male pronouns, stating female ones are “just a preference.” She doesn’t want to transition. This is only something she’d share with close friends, since it really doesn’t bother her.

Kit has a good sense of smell.

She’s always on edge around Rook Hunt, saying he “smells off.” This is probably a good decision, because fox hunting is a sport.

She has a childhood friend, named Conner Slade, who goes to Royal Sword Academy.

She once beat Leona in an arm-wrestling match by kicking his shin under the table. She was only allowed back in her dorm once she admitted to cheating. This is her “biggest achievement,” and is a story she’ll tell anyone.

She offers to fix up Ramshackle, with payment in dinner every day she works there. She’d also accept farm-fresh eggs, but she eats those raw. She won’t mention this though.

She uses both “Split Card” and “Unleash Beast” to their full mischief potential.

Author’s Notes: Hello! Thank you for reading this far! just a few more things I wanted to add!

Kit is based off of Tod, the fox from Disney’s 1981 “The Fox and The Hound.” She gets her last name from Widow Tweed, the old lady who takes Tod in.

Her unique magic, “Red Herring,” refers to a technique used when training dogs to hunt foxes; a red herring, being a strong smelling fish, would be dragged across a known fox trail. This is a “test” for the dog; if they continue on the fox trail, they pass!

#twst oc #my twst oc

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wilderwestking · 5 years

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Those Who Cry Wolf Chapter 1 Read On: AO3|FF

Summary: Wolves haven't roamed the forests of Berk for nearly a decade, but when campers begin to hear howls in the night, Astrid is sent to investigate. What she uncovers is far more dangerous than a beast in the night. [Park Ranger!AU with a dark twist]

Rating: T+

The phone was already ringing when Astrid walked through the doors of the Berk Forests National Park Ranger Station Three.

Glancing at her wristwatch as she closed the door behind her, it blinked 0400 in red LED lights. The station was empty, save for her—which was curious considering Snotlout was supposed to be on the late shift.

On the walls, antique paintings of wildlife hung, their painted eyes watching Astrid as she crossed the room. Through the windows, wisps of light shined, but the day was young, and it was dark as Astrid placed her half-eaten banana on the shared desk and grabbed the phone.

Flicking on an old, brass desk lamp, she lifted the phone to her ear with a sense of urgency, mentally cursing Snotlout for skipping out on his responsibilities. If another ranger's station was calling this early in the morning, there must have been an emergency: a fire or a flood or a mother wanting a refund on camping passes because it rained.

Bulky and with a too-long, knotted cord, the outdated phone fit into the space between her shoulder and ear as she leaned against the study, wooden desk. On the line, Ranger Fishlegs Ingerman spoke I rapid bursts, sounding far more awake than she felt.

“Snotlout? Where have you been? Thank Thor, you finally picked up, we—”

“It’s me, Fishlegs,” Astrid interjected. “Snotlout left early, no surprise. What’s wrong?”

Some campers—get this, Astrid!” And she swore there was a twinge of excitement to his tone. “Some campers called in from near Raven’s Point. They say they’ve heard a wolf howling all night!”

“Fishlegs,” She groaned. “Wolves haven’t lived in Berk’s forests for over a decade. You know that.” She settled back into her chair, shrugging out of her heavy ranger’s jacket. “It’s probably just some teenagers playing a prank. Or a really big dog. You know how city people can be.”

Situated in the far north of the Barbaric Archipelago, Berk was more forest than village. A tiny island dense with boreal forests and a plethora of animals, people traveled from all over Europe to hike the snowcapped mountains and kayak in the pristine rivers.

In her five years as a park ranger, Astrid had seen a lot. From drunks to wild animals to the Thorston twins pretending to be lycanwings, there was little that could surprise her at this point.

“I know, I know,” Fishlegs said “But it really seems like it could be a wolf. What if it is? That could mean there’s a pack! And a pack would mean a breeding population! Do you know what the first breeding population in a decade could do for the local fauna?”

Rolling her eyes, Astrid let Fishlegs ramble about the ecological benefits of apex predators for another moment before cutting him off, “—I’ll go check it out, but don’t get your hopes up. Grimmel killed the last wolf when we were kids. “

“Right,” He said, deflating at her history lesson. “I knew that…just be careful, Astrid.”

“I always am.” She assured. "Keep your channel open, I’ll keep you updated.”

Ending their conversation, she shoved the rest of her banana into her mouth and pulled her jacket back on.

Tugging her braid from beneath the thick fabric, she let it fall down her left shoulder before scribbling a note in the off-chance that Snotlout would come back to finish his shift.

Raven’s Point, roughly ten miles from Station Three, was a secluded, primitive campground known for its waterfalls and ancient trees. Climbing into her jeep, she relented that it was just far away enough that she wouldn’t be able to hear a wolf’s howl from her post and that maybe, maybethere could be some legitimacy to Fishleg’s theory.

Turning onto the main road, her Jeep cut through the morning mist. Careful to avoid the skittering squirrels or bother the grazing reindeer, she kept her eyes trained for any sign of a wolf.

Down the path, the animals seemed undisturbed, more concerned with Astrid’s intrusion that the invasion of an apex predator. The wildlife’s passive nature combined with the lack of discarded carcasses or wolf droppings reaffirmed Astrid’s belief that a wolf was an impossible visitor to Berk’s forests.

Reaching a scenic overlook, Astrid made to turn her vehicle around. She had paperwork and rounds to do and this wild goose chase had cost her precious time. She would be behind schedule for the rest of the day if she didn't pick up her pace.

But then, stopping her jeep mid-turn, she heard it: a wolf howl. Crisp and clear, it cut through the air and echoed off the trees.

Astrid put the jeep in park and jumped out, rushing to the edge of the overlook.

The howl echoed, but after a few moments of concentration, Astrid pinned the noise to Thor’s Hammer, a lake that ran parallel to Raven’s Point. Fortunately, the area contained few campsites due to constant flooding.

She patted her belt, checking for her tranquilizer gun. If the wolf was hostile, she would need to be quick on the trigger.

Straying from the path, Astrid raised the radio to lips, pressing the button to speak. “Fishlegs? I think I found our wolf. Over.”

A few seconds of static hummed in the quiet morning, then Fishleg’s voice rang out, “You did? Really? Did you Tranq it? Over.”

“Not yet, in pursuit. 10-22 is Thor’s Hammer. Over.”

“I’ll have a containment and veterinary team on standby.” He said, and across the radio, Astrid can hear the furious clicking of a keyboard. “ooh! Just think, Astrid! A wolf! In Berk!” The static buzzes for a few more seconds before Fishlegs remembered protocol. “over.”

“Riiight.” She says, voice even as her eyes scan the ground for prints to track. “Just remember: if it eats me, I want Snotlout held personally responsible. Over and out.”

Clicking the radio back into its holster, she slipped carefully between the trees. Stepping over a large, rotted tree, a flock of birds took to the sky, chirping angrily at Astrid for being disturbed.

Knowing she couldn't fight off a wolf, Astrid held her tranquilizer gun in front of her, ready to shoot should the wolf try to attack her.

Stepping down the slope, the wolf howled again. Its cry echoed through the forest and bounced off the trees, but it’s starting location didn't appear to change.

Following the path of least resistance, Astrid arrived at Thor’s Hammer. Freezing in the tree line, the lake comes into view. Thirty feet away, bathed in the early morning fog, a wolf—the wolf—paces at the water’s edge. Solid black but covered in mud, its fur hung in shaggy clumps.

Breath catching in her throat, all she could do was stare. She’d seen coyotes and foxes and even a protective mother bear before, but nothing could compare to the sheer size of the wolf. Her finger hovered over the trigger of her gun as she took aim, watching the creature carefully.

The wolf, seemingly unaware of her presence, continued pacing, giant paws splashing at the shoreline. With shoulders hunched and ears pinned against its head, it walked along the edge, muzzle to the ground. Then, after a few laps of its path, it sat down on its haunches, lifted its muzzle to the sky, and howled once more.

Using the noise to her advantage, Astrid took a step forward, hoping to get a clear shot. Beneath her feet, a twig snapped.

The wolf’s head snapped up and suddenly two intelligent, green eyes were watching her with such intensity that it felt as though the wolf could see straight through her.

Heart pumping, she forced herself to stand still. Afraid of moving too quickly and startling the beast, Astrid was sure it could hear every thump of her nervous heart. Her gun weighed heavy in her hand as she aimed down the sights.

The wolf, noticing the gun, snarled, its muzzle curling up to show a mouth of sharp teeth.

Having a clear shot to the wolf’s chest, Astrid was about to pull the trigger when she noticed a thick, red leather collar breaking through the black fur.

“A collar?” She asked herself, lowering the gun. “Maybe you are just a really, really big dog…”

The really, really too-big-to-be-a-dog-dog threw its head back and howled. The combination of the proximity and the volume caused Astrid to cover her ears. “Okay, okay! Definitely a wolf! But why do you have a collar?”

The wolf tilted its head at her, tongue lolling from the side of its mouth. It stared at her for a few moments and eventually, Astrid lowered the gun, feeling less threatened.

Seeing the gun lowered, the wolf plodded to her side. Sitting at her feet, it stared up at her.

Cautiously, Astrid looked the wolf over, finding a silver tag peeking out from the matted black fur. Reaching forward, her thumb brushed across the engraving. “Toothless?”

The wolf barked in affirmation, pressing its wet nose into her stomach and whining pitifully.

Tentatively, Astrid ran her fingers through the coarse fur, gently unknotting the clumps that had formed around his collar. Aside from the collar and pet tag, the wolf’s passive demeanor was unlike anything Astrid had experienced in her Ranger training. Sure, the section on wolves was brief due to them being functionally extinct on Berk, but she knew without a doubt that wolves were not supposed to be pets. The creature at her feet acted more German Shepard than Tundra Wolf and it made her feel uneasy.

Careful not to startle the wolf, she ran her fingers down its neck and under its chin, jumping back as it grabbed the sleeve of her jacket with its teeth. Turning its head, it tugged her arm in the direction of Raven’s Point.

Frowning, Astrid pulled her jacket back, rubbing her forearm nervously. “What do you want?”

The wolf, to her disbelief, trotted a few steps away, throwing its head once again toward Raven’s Point. Ears perked, and tail wagging, the wolf watched her expectantly.

“You…want me to follow you?”

Again, acting unlike any animal Astrid had ever seen, the wolf nodded its large head before racing into the woods.

“Hey, wait!” Astrid called urgently, stowing her tranquilizer gun in its holster and rushing after the canine.

Through the ferns and fallen logs and thick trees, Astrid followed the wolf further and further into the woods. Passed Thor’s Hammer and Passed Raven’s Point, they hiked. The wolf turned its head back every few steps to ensure that Astrid was indeed still following.

Raising her radio to her mouth, she inhaled deeply before thumbing the button to speak. “Ranger Hofferson reporting in on the 10-91B. Currently in pursuit. Over.”

“Ranger Ingerman responding,” Fishlegs said formally. “Did you capture the wolf? Over.”

“Not yet, there’s been a…complication.” She said, lungs heaving as the wolf took a turn up a craggy hill. Pebbles tumbled down the slope as the pair climbed higher, Astrid having to crawl on all-fours at points to stay balanced. “The wolf…it has a collar. It’s someone’s pet! Fishlegs, it’s..it’s tame! Over.”

“A pet?” He asked, confusion clear even through the static. “Who would have a wolf for a pet and just…leave it? What’s your plan? Over.”

“It’s—“ She took a deep breath “—You’ll think I’m crazy, ‘Legs, but it’s leading me somewhere. I’m following it. Keep your channel live. I’ll keep you informed. Over and out.”

Finally clearing the hill, the ground leveled out and revealed a primitive campsite. Certainly not sanctioned by Berk Forests authorities, a lean-to was built into the side of a rocky hill. Made from tightly woven branches and leaves with a thin canvas thrown over the roof, Astrid’s training told her it was made by someone who knew what they were doing. In front of the shelter, a ring of stones sat cold. Once used for containing fires, it now was filled with ash and broken, burnt logs.

Without hesitation, the wolf entered the lean-to, curling up beside a pile of filthy blankets, its head resting on the center of the pile. Nose snuggling into a crevice, Astrid could hear it whining.

Then, from the pile of blankets, she heard a sickening hack and saw a pale, shaking hand rise from the mound to stroke the dark muzzle.

Rushing forward, Astrid pushed herself into the tiny shelter, nose crinkling at the smell. The foul odor of rot and vomit mixed with the smell of…almonds?

Beside the blankets, a rotten fish and a rabbit carcass sat. Buzzing from the wound openings, flies feasted on the forgotten prey. Astrid pushed the tainted meat away, hoping to ease the odor. Realizing the odor came from the blankets and not the discarded animals, she gagged, covering her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket to avoid breathing in the putrid air.

Using her free arm, she pulled back the blankets.

Amidst the mud and the mold and the blood was a boy.

#httyd #Hiccup Haddock #Astrid Hofferson #Hiccstrid #Hiccup!whump #Grimmel #Toothless #my writing #Those Who Cry Wolf

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whotookcheesuschrist · 6 years

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Some excerpts from the playthrough

I was pretty close to getting chills from that intro. That is the most atmospheric video game intro I’ve experienced thus far. All the way from the menu to the actual game. Fucking damn. (Apart from maybe Dragon Age Inquisition.)

Made it through the first part on the first try. Saved. It didn’t save as far as I thought it would and I had to do it again, failing four times. :-(

“Behold, my amazingly rendered abs. And flat-ass face.”

You can tell this is game was a first attempt in many things; such as delivering awkward, awkward lines.

There is a mission briefing mimicking VHS tapes and I fucking love it.

Whuh... COLONEL DID YOU KILL HIS DOGS? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

So... that was intensly antagonistic of a character who have up to this point been delivering barely any support apart from diet-coke Sun Tzu.

Speaking of Sun-Tzu...

As of writing I’ve finished MGS2, and there’s a certain related part of that that I will get into on a later date, but this one, more than what’s to come, reminds me of that police interrogation in The Venture Bros.

YOUU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

In the most threatening way possible, say the words: Follow the mice.

These controls are hUaORRIBLe

In one way, yes, it adds to the difficulty without being forced, but good fucking god, trying to figure out which direction I’m supposed to push the stick while pressing up against a wall is a nightmare. And having to stand still while shooting and not being able to move while aiming at all is... not very user-friendly design. Thank God for auto-aim

In a similar vein, a third-person shooter with the camera angle being from what we Norwegians call bird perspective is a bit of a challenge

The game play is still pretty dope though

Bee tee dubbs, the ex-Fox unit is hereby dubbed the Suicide Squad

(I would totally play a super-hero video game with that kind of lay-out of the villains and the hero. I think this could actually transfer to comics as well, the way the villains are set-up, introduced and used.)

First meeting with Metrosexual Noodle Eastern.

"I love to reload during a battle! There's nothing like the feeling of slamming a long silver bullet into a well greased chamber." — Revolver Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid.

I bet you do, Ozzie

This game is not complete without a ninja.

There’s a masturbation joke lying in there somewhere.

So far this game has been surprisingly Not Gay. Except from Snake’s sick abs, but then comes Otacon and fucks my shit up on so many levels.

Johny’s grand introduction: Face down, ass up

Meryl... I really like Meryl, but she is so obviously one of the “not like other girls”, tomboy-ish archetype that isn’t really all that useful. It’s pretty sad, because we see her kick ass. We know she can, so it’s a little sad that she isn’t properly utilized.

Poor Otacon.

The ninja was depressingly easy to best. I know the TWEETHT!! that comes later with this guy, but man, you’d think it’d be more of a fight.

OH. MY GOD. Let me count down how many ways Otacon’s introduction is gay.

After being saved from death by katana, Otacon stares at Snake downward-up. When the camera stops, we get a damn good shot, yet again, of Snake’s Sick Abs.

“You’re uniform is not like the others...”

The disappointment in Otacon’s voice upon learning that he was not the goal.

The symbolism of Otacon literally coming out of the closet.

Snake sitting with legs crossed like a fucking femme fatale as he and Otacon catch up to speed

Snake inspecting Otacon, crotch on up

Snake walking up to Otacon until he’s one foot away, laying his hand on his shoulder and asking “you okay?” in an uncharacteristic, caring voice: and Otacon being weirede out by it, commenting: “What’s wrong, getting all friendly all of a sudden...”, to which Snake just awkwardly backs away and says “uh nothing, just... glad you’re okay”

Forget Meryl, Hal’s your love interest and we all know it.

“I’ve been therapied into not having an interest in men and no one can break the spell at all none at all nuh-uh...” And of course Snake is going to prove them wrong. Eww. Call it a product of its time, but still, gross.

Bee-tee-dubbs, Otacon and Snake discussing Meryl’s low-pixelated ass strikes me as hilariously “no homo”. I’m pretty sure, given how Hideo is on the subject in later games, that all of it is intentional. Subtext included.

Psycho Mantis, stop dissing my game stats

Poor dude. Seriously, that is a sad and solid backstory for a character

“Riussiain lieady rieportyingk in on wieapions” I like her tho

Man, this game... In all of the silliness it is STILL on-point with its social commentary. Nastasha’s talks about the START programs, nuclear disarmament, the money involved, the ultimate plan of the Foxhound members, nuclear programs made for short-range launches... All of these are things that I’ve seen in the news this week, and what goes on in the game takes place in the year 2005. Not to mention us becoming more and more desensitized to violence and warfare. It is frightening to behold. I wish I had it in me to talk about all of this at length, because there is really a well of subject matters to discuss here.

Once again I experience a video game trying to impose on me that, in the story, something is urgent, but in reality, I have hours of backtracking if I want to.

I... kinda like the voice they gave Sniper Wolf. And that she’s Kurd; it is nice to see that Hideo remembers a little history. And it brings a little variation in a very formulaic artistic industry.

There is nothing so jarring as video game characters talking specifically about the controls on your PS controller. Abs are still sick. I like the little touch that this death will be different from the others, and set you somewhat back in progress. Not enough for it to make an impact, but I appreciate the effort; the game is present even on its own metalevel

Otacon, you sap. Oh and thank you for massaging my arm, Naomi

If Johnny were ever to be in a Rambo-parody the first movie would be called Johnny - First Brown

My old enemy... Stairs...

OTACON DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT SUBTEXT MEANS

My tactic for handling this: laying down land mines whenever possible and run like a pussy.

Sniper’s demise, the entire scene for all parties involved, is pretty heartfelt still you two should kiss

I have literally played Die Hard.

HUHHHH! THE PLOT THICKENS! WE’VE BEEN BETRAYED!

Vulcan Raven has no sense of humor. I am big man McLargebeef. Fear me.

One of the greatest things about this game is the boss fights. All of them are different and interesting, fun to play. Same goes for the rest of the game: nothing ever gets to the point of being samey.

I mentioned atmosphere earlier, and oh how I do love this for keeping it throughout. This feels like a beautiful tribute to the 80′s action movies, in tone and spirit as well. This is what the 80′s style tribute that we’ve seen lately really ought to be: specs of hilarity and ridiculoussness mixed with complete sincerity and genuine, dark depth, without getting to caught up in aesthetic.

Metal Gear Chicken.

How can anyone survive working on that thing.

I wonder what Ocelot really thought of Liquid.

GAAASP! MILLER IS BRITISH! OH NO!

Liquid is just an asshole, but if that was his upbringing I feel a little bad for him. No wonder he hyper-compensates.

Snake takes these news surprisingly well

Snake being made into a weapon, robbed of information that he really needs: this game makes his feelings and responses, however douchy, feels quite earned

I am fighting a giant mecha and this is STILL a stealth game.

Okay that... that surprise from Gray Fox actually was a surprise. And what the fuck is he MADE of.

So Richard Dawkins is to blame...

OF COURSE-

SHIRTLESS BATTLE! OVER A WOMAN!

“MACGYVEEEEEEEEEER!”

Surprise bitch I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me

Liquid’s death is surprisingly evocative for me. I really do feel like Liquid’s plan is more important to him than anything, because he that desperately needs to prove himself in the light of his “father”.

...

. . .

WILL YOU SHUT UP

BTW I made it through without sacrificing Meryl. I’ve learned what happens in the other ending, and it is pretty dumb how that one leads so much better into the next game than the other. And while on the subject

Woah, yet another twist. Although knowing what I do about Ocelot now it is hardly that surprising. The impact of this is still satisfying and intriguing, because there are things in the game that for someone who isn’t already completely familiar with them seems a bit weird. The reveals here makes some things falll into place, and I am surprised that the game actually did specifically build up to a sequel

It strikes me that I haven’t talked once about the performances. While there are a lot of them that don’t go all in, you gotta give David Hayter props for this, as well as several of the others. This must’ve been so very strange to work on for all of them: not quite a translation from a japanese work, not quite American either, giving this exposition-heavy dialogue a unique life of its own

And the game naming Snake after him is a very cute touch, one that I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t thought of before. And no one could give Snake the layers of believable capability and apparent ineptitude better than he. IQ of 180 my ass.

GOD that ending dragged on.

#Cheesus games #Metal Gear Solid

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fantasticworldoffanfics · 7 years

Text

DEREK/STILES

Fandom: TeenWolf

Just an extended must read list of awesome fanfics that is in no particular order :) ...

top favourites, more top favourites

In The Woods Somewhere

Author: WithMyTeeth (Ylith)

Summary: Peter travels with various carnivals, showcasing a massive black wolf he parades as a man-eating beast. In his caravan he keeps Stiles, his most precious possession who is much more special than he may outwardly appear. Stiles feels a kinship with the creature through their mutual captivity, so when he makes his escape he frees the wolf as well. Like Stiles though, the wolf is also more than he appears

Five Days of Dickings

Author: drunktuesdays, mklutz, the_ragnarok

Summary: Five Dickings in Five Days was the (hopefully interim) title he’d seen on the contract. More like five days of dickings. Whatever, Stiles was into it. The money is great; the fucking is also great. It’s a win-win way to pay for college.

Wolf Pack: Beacon Original

Author: Beerwolves, fearfrost1211

Summary: When his father landed the Deputy Chief of police position in Beacon Hills, Stiles moved to his new town gladly, embracing the chance of a fresh start. What he didn’t expect was to find himself hopelessly drawn to the gruff Vice President of the local motorcycle gang, the Wolf Pack. Derek Hale, resident bad boy of Beacon Hills, spent his time helping his sister lead the Wolf Pack and working on motorcycles at his family’s automotive garage. Then, one hot summer afternoon a bright-eyed boy walked into his life and turned his world upside down.

And That's a Wrap

Author: the_problem_with_stardust

Summary: An insanely attractive guy and his terrifying dog move into the Preserve. Too bad Stiles is a magnet for embarrassing situations.

Comprehensive Study in Getting a Boyfriend via Persuasive Essay-Writing

Author: Luddleston

Summary: Stiles is a junior Journalism major who takes Rhetorical Strategies because it covers his English requirement. He's also trying to be subtle about the way he keeps checking out his professor. Derek is a grad student teaching his first class ever. He also has the most annoying student on the face of the planet, and is donereading essays about the history of male circumcision. Flirty e-mails are exchanged, Stiles spends way too much time in Derek's office, and they fall in love over a mutual hatred for APA formatting.

The Rose and the Wolf

Author: xxjinchuurikixx

Summary: For who could ever learn to love a Beast? Stiles takes his father's place as a Beast's prisoner in an enchanted castle.

Home

Author: coffeeinallcaps

Summary: Derek has bought a beautiful house. Stiles can't stay away. (In which everyone hangs out at Derek's place all the time and Stiles tries but fails not to fall for a certain socially inept alpha.)

(Not So) Pure Imagination

Author: theroguesgambit

Summary: "There is a world where whenever someone fantasizes about you, you can physically feel it, but you have no idea who is thinking it about you."Stiles knows it's wrong, but he's been Fantasizing about Derek and he can't bring himself to stop. Derek doesn't know who's taken an interest in him, but he's enjoying it way more than he probably should.

Forbidden Forest (eat you up)

Author: kishmet

Summary: Okay, so technically werebunny Stiles isn't supposed to wander around in the woods at night. But creative interpretation happens to be one of Stiles' special talents.

Happiness is Not a Horse, You Cannot Harness it

Author: otter

Summary: Derek's expecting the new guy. He's expecting another mostly-useless college kid who doesn't know one end of a horse from the other, and Derek doesn't have the time to babysit. What he's not expecting is Stiles Stilinski, who carries on conversations with the livestock and gets maybe a little too chummy with Isaac and is really kind of stupidly perfect in every way. And it's just distracting, that's all.

On Job Training

Author: suzvoy

Summary: Stiles finally gets the practical experience he's been looking for. It's safe to say it doesn't happen even remotely the way he was expecting. AKA, pretend boyfriends! With a twist!

The Searching Ceremonies Series

Author: KouriArashi

Part 1: Divided We Stand

Summary: Derek is being pressured by his family to pick a mate, and somehow stumbles into a choice that they didn't expect and aren't sure they approve of....

Part 2: United We Mend

Summary: Sequel to Divided We Stand. Six months have gone by, Stiles is slowly recovering from his injuries, and the Searching Ceremony is about to happen. This time it's Cora who brings someone home, but he might not be what he seems...

Part 3: Together We Build

Summary: Everything has settled down after the last Searching Ceremony. Stiles decides to tackle a cold case that his father gives him - a 10 year old murder caused by a rejected werewolf bite. Meanwhile, Derek is trying to solve an even bigger mystery - what's going on between Uncle Peter and Sheriff Stilinski, and how much does he have to worry about it?

Part 4: Forever We Strive

Summary: When Peter and Sheriff Stilinski decide to adopt a child, they meet a little girl named Malia, whose parents were murdered. But when Stiles starts looking into who killed them, he finds a lot of unanswered questions.

Ever After

Author: Sybilina

Summary: Four years ago, Stiles left Beacon Hills, to go to college, to get away from the pack, to try to mend a broken heart. He thought he'd succeeded but right when graduation came around, his whole world fell apart. Again. There's only so many times Stiles can deal with his world falling down around him. This was one time too many.It isn't about getting the girl, or the guy, because romance and lovey feelings aren't a cure for depression.

Play It Again Series

Author: metisket

Part 1: Play It Again

Summary: In which Stiles goes along with one of Derek’s plans and ends up in an alternate universe as a result. He should’ve known better. He did know better, actually, and that means he has no one to blame but himself.“Laura wants to lure the kid in with food and kindness and make a pet of him, like a feral cat. Derek wants to have him arrested for stalking. They’re at an impasse. (And the rest of the family is staying emphatically out of it in a way that suggests bets have been placed.)”

Part 2: This Doesn’t Hurt

Summary: Melissa isn’t sure how she accidentally adopted a teenager, but she’s confident that somehow, it’s all Stiles Stilinski’s fault.

Derek Hale: Werewolf Cop Series

Author: the_deep_magic

Part 1: CherryBomb

Summary: Stiles is yanked up to his feet so fast that his world spins and his shoulder aches and he’s a second from screaming police brutality! when he gets a good look at the cop’s face.Holy shit. Stiles was just tackled to the ground by a fucking underwear model with a badge.

Part 2: Service Weapon

Summary: It is 100% against Beacon Hills Sheriff’s Office policy to allow two officers engaged in a romantic relationship to be partners. It is also 100% accurate that no one else on the force can last more than three days in a car with Stiles without begging for either a ball gag or the sweet release of death.

Scent Marking For Dummies

Author: Hatteress (goddammitstacey)

Summary: Stiles is almost used to being chased around the school by werewolves at this point. Having to share a bed with Derek freaking Hale, on the other hand, is just needlessly complicating his life.

The Right Number

Author: kyaticlikestea

Summary: When Stiles Stilinski's phone gets switched at the gym, he really just wants it back. The last thing he's expecting is to fall hopelessly in lust with the guy who's got his phone.So, of course, that's exactly what happens.

All You Ever Needed To Know About Knotting

Author: KuriKuri

Summary: Derek had started reading the column by accident. Really, reading strangers’ questions about knotting and heat had never really appealed to him. However, at that point in time, he was a little desperate.And he was right: most of the questions submitted by anonymous readers didn’t appeal to him. The answers, though, did.(Or: In which Stiles writes an advice column about knotting and Derek is smitten. Also they're neighbors.)

Show Me The Way Back Home Baby

Author: stilinskisparkles

Summary: In which Lydia and Jackson produce the world's cutest baby, and the pack goes crazy-- the good kind of crazy. Except for Derek, who is afraid of tiny cute babies and Stiles who plans to be the best Uncle ever. Even if Danny called dibs on Godfather.

Dating Backwards

Author: RemainNameless

Summary: Pornstars Derek and Stiles work for the same company. Derek only shoots with werewolves and Stiles only shoots with humans. That's not going to change after they meet. It's really not. (It might.)

Dirty Paws and Furry Coats

Author: queerly_it_is

Summary: Stiles is eight years old when his dad brings Derek home.[AU based on Disney's The Fox and the Hound]

This Is Home

Author: raisesomehale

Summary: Other than being a werefox with a werekit for a son, Stiles' life is relatively normal. He's a single parent, owns a modest sized home, and has a variety of kid-friendly meal recipes tucked neatly under his belt. It might be just him and Nate, but they have it in the bag. Nothing is missing from their lives.That is, until Nate befriends a girl named Sadie Hale on his first day of kindergarten. Then everything changes.

Adventures and Explorations Series

Author: Survivah

Part 1: A Simple Life

Summary: Derek plans to spend the rest of his life holed up in the woods after Laura dies. Then he meets a stubborn young fox, and the stubborn young fox meets an urn of Deaton's magic powder, and his plans change.

Part 2: Finding Miracles

Summary: Stiles was planning on just being a fox for his entire life. Then, well, magic, true love, blah blah blah, things got complicated. But as it turns out, he still has a lot to learn about this new world he's living in. Humanity, man. It's weird.

Knot if You Don't Knock

Author: jsea, marguerite_26

Summary: Stiles never expects to present as an omega -- that's something that happens to people like Greenberg, not him. He is so wrong. His life only gets stranger when Derek Hale mistakenly bursts through the door of his exam room during a doctor’s appointment. What happens next is a complicated series of events, including freshly baked cookies, book-carrying and surprise heats.

Sweet Tooth

Author: Spikedluv

Summary: Derek Hale had returned to Beacon Hills and the ice cream place was reopening. “Best. Day. Ever,” Stiles told Scott.

Oh God, He's Hot

Author: lupus

Summary: When Stiles came home a couple of days before junior year started from a summer away, he was a little more than excited to see his best friend Derek, especially now that he’d finally gotten the courage to act upon his long standing crush on the guy. There’s just one problem; somewhere in the span of three months puberty hit Derek like the bus hit Regina George and all of the sudden Derek is hot. And Stiles isn’t the only one who’s noticed.

Worth Series

Author: holdin_out_4a_hero

Part 1: You’re Worth It

Summary: "NO WAY! Her sons coming here?”Danny sighed dreamily. “Yeah, the Stiles Stilinksi. The young model that made it big on accident with his moms camera. The L.A. heartthrob that has actually never dated anyone, and no one knows what he does over summer, and yet he still manages to keep the hearts of young Americans easily.”“So why’s he coming here?” Scott asked, remembering that the entire Stilinski family was loaded with money, given the success of every single one of them, and yet Stiles would be coming to the middle of nowhere, for a random school that offered nothing.“Who knows? His parents are from here, but they’re not coming here with him. I have no idea, but honestly? I’m not complaining.”

Part 2: You’re Worth Everything

Summary: Stiles loves Derek, Derek loves Stiles... if it's meant to be, why does it seem so hard to get it to be?

The Awkward and Sometimes Painful Life of Genim Hale

Author: BlueRunawayMoon

Summary: Stiles is a writer of gay erotica whose work, according to his Editor (one miss Lydia Martin) has gotten dull and boring. Lydia suggest's that Stiles try to LIVE a little, gain some new juicy experiences that he can write about and bring the heat up again. Only problem is Stiles is a bit on the dorky side and not good with 'living a little'. After a whole slew of embarrassing situations brought on by his best(sometimes!) friend Scott, he's given some wise advice and decides to take a tropical paradise vacation. All's going good and well, and he's got a major crush on his super hot tour guide Danny. Yet it seem's like he can't stop bumping into Derek, who, as annoying and brooding as he seem's, also makes it quite clear he WANTS Stiles. As in...wants wants. With the two being brought together almost by fate, Stiles discover's that Derek is more than he seems....WAY more.

The Christmas Raffle

Author: mikkimouse

Summary: Every year, the royal Hale family raffles off a Christmas dinner with Prince Derek to raise money for charity. But this year, the winner is the second chance Derek didn't know he was looking for.

Kings Of The Moonlight

Author: thelogicoftaste

Summary: Derek is the newly single father to his only son, Isaac Argent Hale, and he finds himself having to move back to his home town of Beacon Hills to escape the insanity of his ex. It's in the middle of all this upheaval, the crazy mess that his life has become that he meets Stiles. Crazy, beautiful Stiles.

more fics: part 2

#fanfics #fanfic #fanfiction #sterek #teenwolf #derek hale #stiles stilinski

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moonliteshadow · 7 years

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【#Solo;— Wild Hearts.】by: @LunaExitiale.

The night was cool and I could feel my skin prickle as a soft breeze filtered through the tiny hairs on my arm. I do this sometimes, just walk in the woods at night. These woods are far enough from Beacon Hills that so few people will be up here at this hour and it’s good sometimes to be alone, in the dark. It’s quiet, save for the sounds of the nocturnal beasts.

The soft shuffling of the leaves as a fox rummages the forest floor for signs of dinner. The distant hoot’s of the owls high in the trees. Out here I can feel it all and it’s not like feeling with your hands; it’s feeling with your soul. Sometimes, I miss being out there, in the night; free and wild. I’ve never told #Stiles that because I don’t think he would understand it. What’s it’s like being trapped in a body that doesn’t feel like mine.

I supposed it’s gotten better but sometimes, just every so often; I come out here and I close my eyes and I imagine myself running through the woods no where to go, no deadlines to meet, no expectations to live up to; just existing. That’s how it was, being a coyote; just…free.

My eyes shot open at the faintest sound. The snap of a twig ripping me from my reverie. No one ever came out here this late, I was certain of that and I had every sound in these wood etched into my mind. I knew this place better than my own bedroom back at home and that sound was definitely out of place. I heard it again and I moved to sit up. I had been laying on the stump of a large tree, large enough in fact I could fit my entire body on top of it.

Another sound and it seemed now that whatever was making these sounds was doing it almost deliberately. It wasn’t an animal, that was for sure and for a second I thought perhaps #Stiles had come for me but he wouldn’t have known these woods well enough to track me here, unless #Scott was with him but I doubted it; I would have smelled them coming from a mile away.

I lifted my nose towards the sky, catching a scent that was both familiar and still mysterious. I must have smelled whoever or [whatever] it was that was out there. I scooted off the stump, silently setting my bare feet upon the moist grass. My eyes glowed slightly, I could see the blue reflecting against the damp ground. I decided for now to put the claws and glowy eyes away on the off-chance this was a normal person.

Despite that, however, I was almost certain the thing lurking in the darkness right now was [not] a normal person. If it had been I would have heard them coming long before now. Again, I sniffed at the air, the scent stronger now. They were close. I crouched, sheathing my form in the shadows of the trees but that’s when I saw it; a wolf, larger than any wolf I’ve seen but that wasn’t even the weirdest part; this wolf, it’s eyes were glowing a bright azure, this was no ordinary wolf.

The wolf had to be at least 2 times the size of any normal one and he’d have at least double that on a normal coyote. I supposed it’s possible I could take him but even #Scott, a true Alpha, can’t turn full wolf and so something told me I didn’t want to tangle with this one but as he neared me I thought that I might not have a choice.

The hulking animal narrowed his cerulean orbs upon me, momentarily obscuring them until they were tiny slits on his otherwise obsidian features but it didn’t seem as though he were rearing for a fight but rather trying to place my face.

I decided to take a chance. Before when I smelled him, and I knew it was a him by now; male wolves give off pheromones and that is what mixed with the more familiar scent before. #Scott doesn’t know this but I could likely smell him coming, provided the wind was working in my favor, for miles and miles. I hadn’t tested the theory in human form but as a coyote I knew when there was a rabbit even before I caught sight of the thing; it never stood a chance.

I moved from my battle crouch and instead allowed the moon to pierce through the leaves of the trees enough to light my features. Once the wolf got a better look at me his eyes seemed to widen into small saucers upon his face, lighting the patch of grass in front of him. That’s when it happened, he took a few timid steps backward as if to allow himself more room and then the distinctive sound of shifting bones and flesh upon flesh filled the night air.

It only took a moment for the male to shift from a large wild dog into that of a human. He faced away from me at first and I took a cautious step back just in case he decided he was still looking to fight. My knees bent subtly and as he began to turn, his nude form shifting in the dim light; the moon catching small beads of sweat upon his body that seemed to give him an almost ethereal glow, I knew him, even before I saw his face.

“Theo,” I breathed his name as if I were holding a breath I didn’t know I had caught in my throat. He wore that same arrogant grin, standing there before me as if her were striking a pose. His strong fingers gripping either arm as he crossed them over his broad chest. I knew I shouldn’t look, for more reasons than the fact that #Stiles wouldn’t like it. Most girls shy away from this kind of thing but I wasn’t most girls. After all, nearly the entire pack has seen me naked by now.

#Theo Raeken stood there brazenly nude, showing no signs of bashfulness and I was hardly going to shield my eyes but as they found there way down the chiseled curves of his chest, towards the V that seemed to lead the way right towards his genital region I supposed I couldn’t hide my shock.

Okay, I spent the better half of my life as a dog. I’ve seen everything a coyote could see, even an alpha wolf in full form and let me just say some dogs are hung like, well, lets just say [not] like dogs and #Theo, as I suppose would likely earn me glares from every single one of my friends, was hung like an alpha.

I turned my face then, making as though I were scanning the horizon. I could feel the moon as it reached it’s peak in the sky. I had learned to control my instincts as any Were could, so the full moon did little to effect my primal ways anymore than making me long for the days I had nothing more to do than sleep all day and hunt all night.

“Malia,” his voice was smooth and it held a tone to it that sent a shiver down my spine and I allowed my gaze to return to him. This time careful not to look anywhere but his eyes. Most wolves in the wild wouldn’t have done that, look an alpha in their eyes, but #Theo wasn’t an alpha; in fact he was the lowest animal on the totem pole, #Theo was an omega and I was just bold enough to get into a staring contest with him if that’s what it took.

Being alone out here, even with a guy who for the most part has shone that he’s loyal, had me on edge but I wasn’t about to let him know it.

He seemed amused by my actions and I struggled for a way to seem less awkward as I straightened my poster subtly and mirrored him by twisting my arms over my chest. To say I was curious about how it was he could shift on command like that would be the understatement of the century. If I could shift at will I could run whenever my coyote heart desired and perhaps I would be less restless all the time. I know it would certainly do #Stiles some good if he weren’t my go-to when I needed to release stress, or not.

The thought had me shifting my weight from one foot to the other, this seemed like the most inopportune moment to be thinking about sex. He stepped forward, dropping his arms to his side and I steeled myself in place, “What are you doing out here?” I asked, it wasn’t what I wanted to ask and he seemed to give me an all too knowing look as he stopped a mere few feet from me.

“That isn’t what you want to know, Malia.” He spoke in this haughty matter of fact tone that had my palms tingling with the need to smack some sense into him. I mean, who the hell did he think he was? I pursed my lips, a single brow hiking with indignantly, “First, you don’t know me…” I said lamely, as I pushed a lost tendril behind my ear in aggravation, “Second… you [don’t] know me.” I said, annoyed that I had nothing better to retort than that.

#Theo turned his head away, a short bout of laughter filtering into the soft breeze which wafted his scent towards me again. His scent, someone both distinctly human and animal, mixed with the pheromones that still lingered upon his skin. It gave me an almost skin crawly feeling the way he smelled; managing to be both sickly sweet and highly alluring all at once.

I shook my head in exasperation, “You didn’t answer my question,” his head flicked back abruptly, his piercing cobalt eyes somehow zeroing in on me in the darkness, forcing me to hold his gaze as if compelling me to not look away, “That’s because that isn’t the right question.” He replied argumentatively.

A soft scoff enters the air and dissipates almost as soon as it leaves my lips, “Alright, what the hell [is] the question? I’ll ask, you can answer then you can tell me why the hell you’re in my woods on a full moon.” His brow lifted in surprise as if he didn’t expect me to talk to him like that. Vaguely, I wondered if perhaps he was used to getting what he wanted. He struck me as the type who had grown accustomed to people just doing as he asked.

If I were any other girl, the human kind, I supposed I would find him attractive. My first reaction when I saw him was almost an instinctive attraction, not because I wanted him but because that tends to be the way of the beta. They are drawn to their alpha as if they could sense him no matter where they were. I remember this because I found it strange that an omega would have that allure about him.

“Alright, I’ll play,” he said, canting his body in a way that seemed to allow the moon’s light to hit every single curve of his chest and abs. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Malia, but when Scott found you, you were just a pup. Unable to shift out of your coyote form and now that you’ve seen that it’s possible to shift at will your first thought was, ‘How’?”

I pressed my lips together in a thin line, I didn’t much like that he could pluck that thought from my mind as if I had spoken it aloud but I wasn’t about to admit he was right. #Stiles didn’t trust him and despite #Theo’s actions being more or less on the up and up I find it’s always smart to trust #Stiles’ instincts.

I mimicked the sound of a buzzer before speaking, “Wrong answer; my first question was…” I stepped forward slightly, my body language more predatory than before as if to dare him to question me on this and as I spoke again I took special care sounding out each syllable in a slow and precise manner, “What. The. Hell. Are. You. Doing. In. [My] Woods?”

#Theo’s eyes narrowed on me ever so slightly. His expression remained blank though like he couldn’t quite figure me out, which to my surprise had me feeling a little smug with myself. “Suit yourself,” he finally spoke, stepping back slightly as if to surrender this particular battle to me. “I didn’t know these were [your] woods.” He said but I had a hard time believing it, after all, we were literally a mile outside my backyard and my scent would likely have been all over the place.

I considered his words carefully, trying to figure on the best way to respond. #Stiles had spent quite a few months trying to hammer into my head that normal people don’t always say the first thing that pops into their head because usually it’s the [wrong] thing. Like that one time I told #Kira I would eat her if it came down to the survival between she and I. She didn’t much like that part of the conversation.

I pursed my lips, eyeing his features for any sign he might be lying before allowing the surrounding noises to silence while I zeroed in on his heart beat. It remained steady but I knew even that wasn’t the best way to tell if someone is lying, especially if their a wolf and #Theo, despite our first assumptions, was no ordinary wolf.

I knew better than to stand here, wondering things about him; wanting to know more about how he can shift at will. #Stiles wouldn’t like it and what’s more they would all be curious to know how a supposedly brand new omega had the power he does and that’s not just mentioning his shift but the aura of the alpha he has.

Perhaps #Scott wouldn’t really understand how that works, he’s the one who has it, not the one who answers to it. So he wouldn’t feel it on #Theo like I do and I doubted #Kira would feel it because she’s something else entirely. Even as he stood there, a lazy grin upon his lips, not a care in the world and zero self consciousness about being naked in front of me, I could feel it. This pull about him, as if he were the sun and I was just some lesser planet who had no choice but to orbit around him.

It had been a couple minutes as I stood here, trying to decipher his true intentions; I was certain he knew exactly what I was doing and even that he was allowing me to. I still had my doubts, I practically live in these woods now and before I actually [did] live in them, so how didn’t he smell me? I wanted to ask that but something made me stop, something almost tangible but unseen.

He had been right about one thing, I wanted to know, I [needed] to know; “How did you do that?” I finally ask, a defeated look flashing upon my visage but his expression wasn’t triumphant or arrogant as my meaning went without saying. Instead, he took the same step forward, that grin still clinging to his lips as he spoke, “I can show you.”

I wasn’t entirely sure I liked the sound of that. I mean I supposed the words were simple enough, show me? Okay, he was just going to give me the secret and then this entire exchange will be over and I can go home and pretend like it never happened. Inwardly, I knew no matter how much I tried to convince myself of that it couldn’t be that simple. If it were everyone would do it.

“What do you mean show me?” I asked, the look on his face gave nothing away. It never seemed to change away from the same air of vague amusement and arrogance. “Like there’s some magical words and poof it happens?” I asking, annoyed with how stupid I probably sounded. #Theo laughed, a chilling sound that left the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.

“It’s not that simple, Malia, few were’s can master it but we already know it’s in you.” He explained, his head leaning forward slightly as he spoke the last part. “We know you can make the shift, Scott probably doesn’t even know there’s a way to do it.” I considered his words and what I knew about my parents. The desert wolf, as far as I knew, could in fact shift completely and who knows what #Peter can do.

I nodded, “I think it’s…” I hesitated to give him anymore information than he already seemed to have but decided if I wanted to learn then I would need to trust him, at least as much as I could. “I think it’s in my blood… My mom,” I scoffed at the word, that woman was never my mother, I killed my mother.

The memory caused me to noticeably wince and #Theo stepped forward, his face actually twisting with concern as his hand touched ever so softly to my elbow. My first reaction was to flinch away from him but there it was again, the pull, the thrall; the alpha in him calling to the beta in me.

It was equal parts disconcerting and almost too hard to resist, “What is it? What’s wrong?” He asked, his eyes searching mine for answers, “It’s nothing… I just know my mom could do it is all.” I said, hoping I sounded convincing.

I was pretty sure he knew there was more to it than that but he let it go for now, moving to stand beside me. I had all but forgotten he had been naked during this entire conversation until this moment. When I could feel the heat off his skin emanating through the cool air as his arm brushed mine while he maneuvered to stand at my side.

So yeah, I’ve seen a naked guy before; I’ve slept with #Stiles in the carnal sense.. /a lot/ but I never really /saw/ him. I mean we were naked but I wasn’t exactly paying attention to that, after all, I was distracted with the sex part of it all.

I pursed my lips and shook my head, inwardly scolding myself for thinking about sex /again/. This wasn’t about that, alright, he was naked; whatever. This was about getting something I needed out of him and not in the orgasmic sense but the sense in which I can learn how to control my shift so that I can be free again; at least momentarily.

I didn’t realize he’d been talking until he snapped two fingers in front of my face. I shook away the cloud of thought to focus on him, “Where’d you go?” He asked, the look that he somehow had an inside joke that only he knew about was back on his face as he spoke.

“Nowhere, I’m listening.” He quirked a brow before finally nodding and turning to face the open woods. “Learning to control the were; the shift, it isn’t something you can think about.” He canted his head to look at me again. “It’s not something you can conjure in your mind, it’s something you have to /feel/ and once you can grasp what it truly means to do what we can then you’ll open the portal to powers you may not even know you have.”

I watched him a moment as he spoke, the words forming upon his lips are slow and precise as if he practiced saying them many times before actually reciting them to me now but his eyes were transfixed on something in the darkness, almost glazed over with adoration. #Theo not only believed what he was saying but he seemed to look upon it as if it were some kind of religious belief. Abruptly, his piercing azure irises flicked to mine as if I’d spoken his name and I flinched, looking away.

He straightened slightly and moved to stand back from me, “Meet me back here…” He said in a way that didn’t give me the opportunity to say no, “When?” I asked instead. “Tomorrow, same time.” And with that his body shifted in an unnatural way before the sounds of bone and skin shifting and stretching filled the night again.

It was all of a second it took for him to shift. If I would have blinked I’m certain I would have missed it. His more canine eyes found mine, seemingly closing the distance between us with a simple look and he gave a wolfish snort. His pelt was all black, save for a white patch on his chest but as he turned away and trotted off he all but vanished into the darkness.

I stared after him long after the sound of his footfalls dissipated into the night replaced with an almost eerie silence. It was predawn, the once black sky, scattered stars and bright full moon would soon be replaced with a burst of red, orange and yellow as the sun made it’s ascent into the sky. I wouldn’t have time for sleep before school, not that I could anyway, but I knew I had a long day ahead.

It didn’t take long to get back to the house where my dad still lay silent in bed. I gave my bed an almost weary glance before heading off for the shower where I washed away the scent of night and #Theo. #Stiles wouldn’t have known the difference between his scent or the vanilla berry shampoo I used but #Scott might and the last thing I needed was to try to explain that away.

It’s not like I could just explain to them that he’s going to teach me how to shift at will, maybe #Scott would get it but #Stiles never would. He doesn’t trust #Theo as far as his human self could throw him. I didn’t want to put that on him but even as I rationalized it inside my mind something about it still felt forbidden and dirty.

It’s not like we were sneaking out at night to do anything bad, right? So why did I feel so guilty? I turned it over in my head a million times on the way to school, “Is there even the slightest chance you’d tell me what was wrong if I asked?” My dad questioned as we pulled up in front of the High School. I glanced at him and tried to smile reassuringly, “Just didn’t sleep is all.” I told him. He seemed unsure about my answer but let it go and sent me on my way with an uneasy grin.

I pulled my bag further up my shoulder as I made my way inside. It didn’t take long for #Stiles to find me, followed by #Lydia and #Scott. Soon, the gang had gathered and each talked animatedly about what was to come during the day and the most recent attacks. I knew there was more important things; something was attacking the student of Beacon Hills High and not just that but kidnapping the dead and yet I couldn’t focus on anything my friends had to say.

“Hey, are you okay?” #Stiles asked only to me as our friends continued their conversation. I looked up at him, pasting on the same smile for him as I did for my dad, “Yeah, I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep much.” His brow creased with concern as his arm, which had been loosely wrapped around my waist, tightened slightly. “This stuff got you worried?” He asked but I knew in some ways it was more about him deflected his own feelings onto me.

#Stiles does that sometimes, not like force them on me but he likes to feel as though we’re on the same page. That if I was worried then maybe his own fears wouldn’t feel so irrational. I understood it, I supposed but at the same time there were moments when I didn’t understand at all why he bothered feeling a certain way about things. I guess I still had a ways to go sometimes when it came to human emotions.

“A little,” I lied, well, it wasn’t a complete lie; to say I wasn’t a little concerned about these deaths isn’t true, I was but right now I couldn’t focus on them, I couldn’t think passed #Theo, our conversation and what he said about unlocking powers I didn’t know I had and now, I felt guilty for lying to #Stiles about it.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips against my forehead. He lingered there a moment before the bell rang which alerted us that classes were starting. I knew I wouldn’t get anything productive done today but as our friends scattered and #Stiles called for me to save him a seat at lunch I found myself wandering the halls aimlessly. Class wasn’t going to happen today but if I wasn’t there for lunch #Stiles would know something was up so I simply decided to disappear into the library.

The stacks in the far back of the library were covered in dust and smelled of old books and save for a horny couple or two no one went back there so that’s where I settled, my eyes sweeping the book covers until they came across one simply titled “Therianthropy.”

The term “therianthropy” comes from the Greel theríon [θηρίον], meaning “wild animal” or “beast” (implicitly mammalian); and anthrōpos [ἄνθρωπος], meaning “human being.” It was used to refer to animal transformation folklore of Europe as early as 1901. Sometimes the term “zoanthropy” is used instead. Therianthropy was used to describe spiritual beliefs in animal transformation in a 1915 Japanese publication, “A History of the Japanese People from the Earliest Times to the End of the Meiji Era.” One source, “The Human Predator,” raises the possibility the term may have been used as early as the 16th century in criminal trials of suspected werewolves.

My eyes scanned the words of the book, each word seemingly more confusing than the last. Most of these refered to werewolves only as other were’s such as myself and the Desert Wolf weren’t exactly well-known species of shapeshifters. In the book it explains the varieties of ‘beliefs’ but nothing concrete as most of the world wouldn’t believe in it even if they saw it for themselves.

Most human minds will rationalize what they can about the supernatural world and then block out the rest. It’s easier to believe that kind of world doesn’t exist than to try to make sense of the things in this life that will never make logical sense. I mean when you think about it; I’m a girl who can change into a wild animal, logistically that would be impossible and yet…

I shook my head, my thoughts interrupted by the sound of the bell that signaled it was lunch. I didn’t exactly want to sit through lunch acting like I was fine, everything was fine. Okay, nothing happened; I’m only guilty of wanting to understand who and what I am better than I already do but #Stiles wouldn’t get it, he wouldn’t understand why it had to be #Theo who helped me and if I told him all he would do is tell #Scott who would raise the question to the entire group and this isn’t about them; it’s about me.

I pushed the book back into it’s slot and after gathering up my things I made my way into the cafeteria. I knew I didn’t have to look for him #Stiles always found me, almost as if he were the one with the coyote senses but instead it was more like a Malia low-jack and there he was, materializing at my side as I went through the motions of getting pizza and my small carton of milk and smiling slightly at the cafeteria ladies as they tried to strike up conversations.

#Stiles spoke animatedly at my side about some experiment he had done in his biology class and as long as I grunted that I was listening at certain intervals then he would assume I heard him and had urged him to continue. Soon, our friends joined and he went about re-accounting the experience to them which allowed my thoughts to wander at least for the time.

I had just picked up a cold fry and was about to stuff it into my mouth chewing and swallowing it down when really I was just going through the motions but as I was about to retrieve another I caught sight of him. #Theo Raeken had positioned himself just outside the window and on the other side of the teacher lot to the side of the school.

He didn’t move, he didn’t even blink; he just stood there staring in at me. The intensity of his stare was an almost tangible force that somehow managing to close the distance as invisible tendrils caressed my flesh. I had just closed my eyes, allowing my other senses to take over but was jerked out of my mind at the sound of #Stiles and the bell over his voice. “Malia, you coming to English?” he asked, concern lacing his words.

I turn back to where #Theo had stood but he was gone, as he had never stood there at all. I turned back to #Stiles, twisting my face in a way that I hoped looked genuine. “Actually, this cafeteria food isn’t setting right,” I lied. I hoped he wouldn’t give it too much thought. Considering my healing powers, which weren’t quite as extensive as #Scott’s but were still better than any human’s, would likely knock out any upset my stomach might have rather quickly but he seemed to buy it as his face scrunched with concern.

“Maybe you should go lay down…” he told me. There was something else there, hidden behind his brown eyes. I knew there was more and for once I wished reading minds was one of my powers. I nodded anyhow, keeping up the facade. “Yeah,” I agreed. “I’ll be home right after school with pizza from that place you like, across town.” I flashed him a small smile. It was true; I liked that pizza best and the prospect of it had my mouth watering but I wasn’t going to #Stiles’ house right now.

After he left me I turned on a heel and headed for the parking lot where I saw #Theo. I glanced around, I knew he was here, I could sense him. “I know you’re out here, why were you staring at me like that? What if Stiles saw you?” #Theo’s voice sounded before I actually saw him, “He’s already suspicious of my intentions, I doubt they could get much worse.” He said.

I shock my head, “Oh no, they could get worse… Trust me. It’s Stiles, his superpower is sussing out the truth and exposing it.” I said, slightly agitated with the truth in my words, “Aren’t you worried?” #Theo said, “Hmm?” I said, mildly distracted by my own thoughts. “Aren’t you worried he will find out?” He asked. I shrugged, “He will.” I answered plainly. “He will find out eventually and when he does…”

My words trail off, pursing my lips slightly; “I guess I’ll just hope he can understand why I needed to do this… Why I needed to know.” #Theo’s lips twitched into a smile, one that seemed to imply he knew something I didn’t. “Soon they will all understand.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, his piercing blue irises found my eyes. Once more that feeling of being touched when he wasn’t even close had taken me over. His words roiling through my head as she simply stood and stared. “What did you mean?” I asked again but instead of answering the sounds of shifting bones and stretching skin sang in my ear and I found myself glancing around to ensure no one was around to see.

Soon, instead of #Theo what stood before me was an onyx wolf. Black fur covered every inch of his body save for the patch of white on his chest. The wolf approached me, he was far too big to be a normal wild dog and his head came up to about my hip as his snout nudged my hand.

My eyes narrowed slightly as again his cold nose touched to my hand as if her were any ole house pet begging to have his ears scratched. I allowed my fingers to comb through his thick fur; he was soft, like running my hand through the hair of a puppy and yet now that he was in his wolf form I could feel the allure of the Alpha in him.

He snorted softly as if to remind me about our plan tonight before stepping back, my hand dropping to my side before he starts away from me and into the woods. I glanced around again, praying no one had seen what had happened and since no one came running out to me I assumed no one did.

I stared at the pile of clothes left in #Theo’s wake and decide to pick them up. If at the very least so I have them to give him later. Thinking about what his saying rather than him being there naked might make this entire process easier and also so it wouldn’t be weird for someone to just find them in the parking lot.

I stuffed them into my pack and before long I had arrived at #Stiles’ house. His dad would be at work for several more hours yet and my dad would likely be gone as well. I could be alone, I could give myself some time to think but I knew, judging by the position of the sun, that in a little over 2 hours #Stiles would be home and he would want to ask questions that I would have to lie to.

That thought alone left my stomach feeling all the disgusting I had implied I’d been feeling at school. I didn’t enjoy this one bit. #Stiles was the first person in my life I had ever cared about in this way. In the way that it physically made me sick to lie to him and yet I knew I had to.

There was a part of me that wanted to share this with him, that soon I might learn how to shift at will; that it might be able to help #Scott and give me the outlet I need too and yet there’s another part, the more prominent part, that knew I could never tell him. Not only would he not understand, even if it was someone else teaching me, but since it is #Theo he’d probably insist he go along and that’s only if he didn’t try to talk me out of it first.

No, this is something I had to do on my own, for me. I made my way into his room and after taking a moment to log his scent to memory, I found some paper and scrawled a note across it. It was another lie, telling him I had decided to spend the evening at home with my dad and that I would see him tomorrow but it was as close to the truth as I could get.

He’d call me when he found the note and if I responded at all it would likely be in a text so I didn’t have to hear his voice, the disappointment of not seeing me or sleeping in the same bed as we’ve done so many nights before. Tonight, I wouldn’t be able to go from what I was doing with #Theo and then crawl into #Stiles’ bed like nothing was wrong.

I’m not doing anything wrong, I reminded myself for the 100th time in the last hour. Needing to understand what I am and what I can do isn’t wrong. I told myself after leaving #Stiles’ house behind, “Then why does it feel like it?” I asked myself aloud. “Why do I feel so dirty?” I spoke again. I turned back to catch a glimpse of his house in the distance, “I really hope that you can understand.”

The day hours seemed to drag on deliberately slow as if the day itself was trying to tell me this was wrong. It, like most other arguments, couldn’t convince me. I needed to do this, as I am now, as I’ve been since #Scott called me back, made me more human than animal, I’m incomplete. I need to understand what I can do and truth be told if there was any other way, any other person who could show me then I would go to them but there isn’t.

#Peter, who only turned full wolf as an Alpha, was locked deep within Eichen House and even if I wanted to go back to that hell hole getting to him would be impossible. Clearly, my mother, The Desert Wolf, wasn’t going to be entirely forthcoming with the details and that leaves #Theo. The only person, that I know of, who could possibly understand what I’m going through.

I went over the same words more times than I’d care to count, convincing myself, rationalizing my actions; something I never would have done before. I shake my head, the soft light upon my side table the only thing that kept me from complete darkness now that the clock read 11:45.

#Stiles did call and he texted a couple times as well. I replied with short noncommittal responses which seemed to appease him enough that he didn’t just show up on my front porch and if his last text was any indication he’d been sleeping now for nearly an hour. My dad, who was now snoring in his room across the hall, had been asleep for about that long as well.

I moved quietly through my room, shoving pillows in my bed as if it would somehow fool my dad. If I were being honest it’s likely he’s noticed every time I left to stay at #Stiles’ house and he simply hasn’t said anything because I was always home before he woke. Tonight would be no different.

I snatched up my book bag and after quickly relieving it of school books and papers, I pushed it up and over my shoulder before vanishing soundlessly through my open window. The night air was cool and moist. The moon hung in the sky, the shape of a face almost mocking me as I made it through the woods to the same spot I had been so many times before but tonight it felt almost forbidden.

#Theo had made it there before I did; I could tell as I smelled him long before I arrived. He stood there, facing away from me. He had a pair of pants on but no shirt and his pale skin seemed to almost to glow as the moon’s rays bounced off it. I made no sound but as I approached he turned, startling me a moment.

He has far better senses than I do, it was both disconcerting and encouraging. His lips twisted into a wry grin as his eyes zeroed in on me. “What’s the bag for?” he asked, quirking his head as if to look directly at the book bag on my back. “Clothes,” I could just see his brow elevate in question. “The ones you left in the parking lot at school.”

His lips twisted up further, “Well I came prepared today… I saw how shy you were about it last night.”

“I wasn’t shy about it.” I said perhaps too fast and #Theo nodded knowingly before taking the pack from me and dropping it upon the large stump. “Of course you weren’t.” I wrinkled my nose in mild annoyance. His eyes raked down my form as if I were the one who was naked when in reality I wore the same sort of thing I often wore.

Shorts, boots, a loose fitting T-shirt and a jacket and yet the way he leered at me made me feel as though I were completely bare here before him. “What—What are you doing?” I asked. #Theo’s eyes pierced through the night and closed the distance between us as they meet mine once more.

“You might want to take some of your clothes off too.” he suggested. I crossed my arms over my chest as if to hide myself from him, “Why?” I asked stupidly. I knew the answer even before he said but I waited for his answer anyhow. “To shift.” He said plainly. I nipped at my lower lip and conceded to his reasoning before kicking off my boots and peeling my socks away to shove them into the shoes.

Afterwards, I also removed my jacket and T-shirt to reveal a smaller, tighter tank top and again despite having all the important bits covered I still felt entirely naked under his scrutiny. “That’ll do, you probably won’t shift the first time anyway.”

“What? Why?” I asked, genuinely agitated with the realization. “Well it took most your life to shift and even then it was only for survival.” he offered. It wasn’t until recently that I truly understood what happened back then. In the crash. For most of my life I blamed myself. I killed them. I killed my family and that’s why being a coyote was so much easier but now I know different. I know it wasn’t me, it was The Desert Wolf; my mother, and I shifted to escape.

I flinched slightly at the memory and again at the memory of when #Theo figured it out, or when I told him. He moved towards me then and gripped my arm. His hand was so warm I would have been convinced he’d just taken it off a heater and though the gesture was meant to be calming and genuine I found myself flinching away from it as if he’d burned me.

“Let’s just get this over with.” I spoke in a tone that sounded harsher than I’d actually meant but I was determined, more now than before, to learn how to control it; not just for me but so when the time came I could kill her. I could kill my [real] mother.

“Easy there, Tiger…” #Theo said, his words seemed teasing but his tone was almost worried as again his hand touched my skin. I craned my head to look at him, “What?” I asked exasperatedly. He pursed his lips and took a measured step toward me. His hand felt like touching the sun, hot without burning me and yet he couldn’t be any warmer than I was. I subtly moved in a way that had him dropping his hand but it also allowed him to get closer to me.

I nipped at my lip, eyeing him wearily as he stood close enough to touch, “I get it,” he said but seemed to pause as if his meaning should be apparent. I shook my head slightly, “Get what?” #Theo’s lips curled up subtly but the ghost of a smile fell away as quick as it came. “I get that you [need] this and not just because you want to be able to run when you’re feeling restless.”

I found myself annoyed that I had been so transparent or that he somehow had this understanding of me that even I didn’t have. Either way, it left me feeling agitated and bare. “Don’t do that!” I hissed, moving away and turning to face the woods.

The night had grown still, all sounds seemingly stopped so that only #Theo and I could be heard. As if even the night wanted to hear what was happening here. A soft sound came from his lips, like a clicking before I could feel him behind me. The heat off his skin emanating through the cool night air, kissing my own. “What am I doing?” he asked.

I swiveled around, my face twisting with irritation. “You’re [not] stupid,” I offered in accusing tone. “Thank you?” he said in question. I scoffed, my gaze flicking away from him again before I finally offered an explanation. “That thing, you know the thing,” I reconnected my gaze with his but when I did his eyes were glowing.

Wide amber saucers that shone bright enough to have pierced the night and light his features almost menacingly. My own, seemingly following suit, lit as well. The blue mingling with the gold mixed into an almost purple haze between us. “Dogs don’t travel in packs just for survivals.” He said, bypassing my entire tirade. “It’s in our nature, to be with others, being apart of a pack is like having a family that would kill for you.”

His voice seemed to dip as he went on explaining, as though he were a bard telling an ancient tale about warriors and Gods. “Would Scott kill for you?” #Theo asked abruptly and I’ll admit the question caught me off-guard but as I tucked a loose tendril behind my ear I found myself shaking my head. “No, Scott doesn’t kill.” His lips twisted upwards in disapproval and some other emotion that I couldn’t quite pin-point.

“In a fight between beasts sometimes you have to be ready to kill. It’s very literally a dog-eat-dog world out there and if you don’t learn to take a life to save one then your emissary will surely get the better of you,” his words rang truer to me than it might ever for #Scott. I glanced away from his stare, the glow of my eyes shining against the moistened grass.

“Scott’s a true alpha and he’s always found a way around killing someone.” #Theo appeared right in front of me now, entirely too close. So close in fact his body touched mine and I struggled to remain still as he caught my gaze again. “An Alpha shouldn’t be out for themselves, they should be able to keep their pack safe. Never assume the enemy will go easy on you, or him for that matter, just because he’s never killed anyone. Actually, they may find that as a weakness, and opening and they [will] go in for the killing blow and you need to be prepared.”

It was there again, the pull of an Alpha. The pull I never felt quite this strong out of #Scott and I couldn’t look away now if I wanted to. “Do you feel that?” He asked. Somehow I knew what he meant, he meant the connection, the unseen tendrils between us that kept us tethered in this moment. I nodded, “When a [true] Alpha takes his command all others fall in line and the same goes for Were’s only the bond between Alpha and Beta is different. When an Alpha achieves full transition, his pack not only gains the same ability but has no choice but to shift as well. It’s pack mentality, you won’t make the change…” his words trailed off as if to let those last words sink in.

He finally blinked and I couldn’t help but feel slightly relieved to be released from whatever hold he had over me. I shook my head as if to clear away the haze before eyeing him wearily, “You’ll [never] change…” he repeated in a softer, less commanding, voice but emphasizing the word ‘never’ so as to really pound it in before continuing, “Until you submit.”

He couldn’t be serious. I may have checked out for a few years but even I knew what Fifty Shades of Gray was, mostly because the girls in Beacon Hills High School would rave over how Christian Gray was like the [ultimate man] and yet I always found the idea of allowing a man to control me in any way, least of all a sexual way, entirely unappealing. Perhaps I was used to being in control of my own life but it wasn’t until this moment that I realized I was never in control, the beast was, the coyote.

Once the animal took over I never really made it back, not until #Scott found me and ever since then I haven’t been able to return. Still, I wasn’t about to roll over and expose my under parts to #Theo. I didn’t like the idea of him thinking he had any sort of power over me but in the grand scheme if I fought too hard against it perhaps he was right, I would never make the change.

I purse my lips, allowing my countenance to shift incredulously, “Submit to what? To you?” I scoffed softly, shaking my head. Within the last few minutes it seemed the entire mood shifted to something more feral like some unseen animalistic need had taken hold. #Theo’s eyes remained on me but he didn’t answer, not at first. Instead, he moved so that he stood behind me.

His hands coiled around my upper arms and the heat, that had become all too familiar at this point, seemed to spread through my body from the point of contact until I was bathed in a comfortable warmth as though a fire had been lit before me. “Close your eyes,” he said, his voice closing any remaining distance between our bodies as his lips pressed against the shell of my ear.

It felt dirty, forbidden; being here with him so close to me. All too intimate and suddenly my thoughts went to #Stiles. Until now I had only been this close to him and until now I hadn’t considered ever being close to anyone else and yet here I am, in the woods; a darkness swallowing us as if the night itself wanted to conceal this exchange from prying eyes.

“Malia,” #Theo’s voice plucked me out of my thoughts and brought me back to reality and I jerked out of his grasp. “What is this? You’re supposed to be teaching me how to control it, the coyote, not…” I flung a hand out towards him, my eyes raking down his half nude form. “Whatever the hell [you’re] doing.” I felt lame, I couldn’t articulate my thoughts in the way #Lydia could and I didn’t pull off the unassuming vixen thing that #Kira did; I was just me.

Malia Tate…Hale and I wasn’t normal by any means. I didn’t do flirty or cute, I’m blunt and abrasive and I very rarely practice tact and yet with #Theo it’s like I can barely form a thought. He was like…[math]. Something I couldn’t figure out, something that completely baffled me and I didn’t like it in the least. A soft sound came from his lips, a sigh perhaps and he ran a hand through his hair in an almost exasperated manner.

“Maybe this was a bad idea,” he offered, turning back towards the large stump, where he had found me only last night. Was it really only yesterday? It seemed so long ago, it seemed as though so much has happened in the last 24 hours that it had to have been longer than that. I shake my head, “It’s definitely a bad idea,” I agreed but I also felt determined to make this bad decision despite all the reasons I shouldn’t.

“But…” I said and he turned his head to look back at me. “I have to do this.” #Theo’s expression fell into something indiscernible. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, not that I ever could, but now his entire expression was devoid of any emotion whatsoever and it left me feeling nervous about what he might say next.

“I get it,” he finally speaks, twisting his body so that he was facing me again. “Stiles and Scott painted me as this menacing person,”

“You may have played a small role in that.” I offered and he smirked slightly before nodding. “I did but only because I need them.” I quirk a brow but before I could ask the question that had popped into my head he went on. “Regardless, I’m not the bad guy here, Malia. There are greater threats out there and you need to be prepared for what’s to come.” Again I wanted to ask what he meant by that but I wasn’t able to voice it as he stepped towards me.

“Let me help you.” The words sounded less like a request, less like he was asking me to trust him but instead commanding it. The power in his voice was there again, touching me, caressing my skin in a way that left it prickling up. “I can’t help you if you don’t trust me.”

It felt wrong again, forbidden like the fruit in the Garden of Eden. What I was about to do, putting my trust in #Theo Raeken, despite all the protests, despite what #Stiles and #Scott might think. Like getting into bed with the enemy, even if it might be for some rather understandable reasons and perhaps some reasons #Scott would never approve of.

I pull in a breath and it felt very much like signing my soul over to the devil and once I uttered the words there would be no going back but against my better judgement I spoke, “I trust you.”

#malia tate #malia hale #theo raeken #role play twitter malia theo teen wolf #role play twitter

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frxstguardian · 7 years

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I was tagged by @musicalhog thank you :)))

Rules: Answer all the questions, then add one of your own, and tag as many people as there are questions

1) Coke or Pepsi? Coke because I would never betray Atlanta 2) Disney or Dreamworks? Dreamworks. Even though Dreamworks is all over the place in terms of quality, when they’re good they’re GREAT. I’m willing to endure more Bee Movies and Turbos if we can get more films like KFP 2 and ROTG. 3) Coffee or tea? Coffee 4) Books or movies? Books, although I barely read books for fun anymore smh 5) Windows or Mac? Mac. I used to prefer Windows bc it’s more affordable but then I got a Mac as a gift and I don’t think I could ever go back. They’re just... so much cleaner/sleeker. 6) D.C. or Marvel? Marvel, but specifically X-Men not Avengers 7) Xbox or PlayStation? Idk, I never played videogames as a kid 8) Night owl or early riser? Night owl for sure 9) Cards or chess? Cards because more than one person can play 10) Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate 11) Vans or converse? Converse 12) Fluff or angst? I like either, depending on my mood. Both can be cathartic for me. 13) Beach or forest? Forest 14) Dogs or cats? Cats 15) Clear skies or rain? Rain 16) Cooking or eating out? Eating out, cooking takes so much effort lmao 17) Spicy or mild food? Mild, I’m so weak, I can’t handle any spicy food haha 18) Halloween/Samhain or Christmas/Yule? Christmas 19) Would you rather forever be a little too cold or a little too hot? A little too cold. You can always put on more clothes, but you can’t take off your skin. 20) If you could have a superpower what would it be? Teleportation or telepathy 21) Animation or live action? Animation 22) Bath or shower? Shower 23) Team Cap or team Ironman? TEAM X-MEN 24) Fantasy or sci-fi? Fantasy 25) Do you have 3 or 4 favourite quotes if so what are they? This one quote by Maya Angelou I saw recently really impacted me: “You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies / You may tread me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I’ll rise.” 26) YouTube or Netflix? YouTube 27) Harry Potter or Percy Jackson? Harry Potter is an objectively better series, but I’m gonna go with Percy Jackson because I connect emotionally with it more? Idk. It has much better representation in any case, both for racial minorities and LGBT people. 28) When do you feel accomplished? Surprisingly, doing little things like chores always makes me feel accomplished and productive. And then I use it as an excuse not to do anything else that day haha. 29) Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars 30) Paperback books or hardcover books? I don’t really have a preference. 31) Rock or pop music? Pop 32) What is the most important thing in your life? At the moment, getting through college. 33) Mountains or sea/ocean? Ocean 34) How do you express yourself? Through reaction gifs and emojis lmao. 35) What’s the first book/film that really counted to you? Lord of the Rings was probably my first fandom. I was determined to read all the books before watching the movies, even though I was in elementary school, and I did it somehow. Idk just something about the world of Middle-Earth captured my imagination. I read the Silmarillion in 4th grade too, that’s how dedicated and obsessed I was haha. I’ve reread the Silmarillion 3 times since then and I always discover something new every time. Also the movies are so great too. The attention to detail and accuracy to the source content is so great, and the cast was perfect. 36) What’s your element (air, water, etc.)? Water 37) If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? New Zealand 38) If you had any job in the world, what would it be? Idk tbh. I’m undecided in my major, let alone my dream job lol. 39) If you were granted three wishes, what would they be? First wish would be for unlimited money, duh. Second wish would be for teleportation/telepathy/shapeshifting. Third wish would be for diseases like AIDS/cancer/Alzheimer’s to be cured. 40) If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Coffee flavored ice cream. Or sushi, idk if that counts since that’s a v broad category lol. 41) What is your dream companion animal? A fox or a hawk. Or a wolf. 42) Do you think there is life on other planets in universe? Yes. There must be, the universe is so huge. Life is out there, we just have to find it, and it’ll probably be way different from what we were expecting. 43) What’s your strangest childhood memory? One time a little girl poked me in the eye, and then complained that my eyeball hurt her finger jcjlcjlcjlcjllcc. 44) What is your perfect breakfast? Scrambled eggs, bacon, and potatoes. 45) What was the last movie you watched? “I Love You Phillip Morris” about a con artist (Jim Carrey) who falls in love with a fellow inmate (Ewan McGregor) and breaks out of prison four times to be reunited with him. It was funny but sad. A true tragicomedy. Also it’s based on a true story which is cool. Each escape is more daring and creative than the last.

I tag @elissastillstands @berkfrost @southerntinkerbelle and whoever else wants to do this, just tag me so I can see your answers :)

#fox talks #tag meme #i removed a couple questions that i didn't like lmao

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nyxelestia · 7 years

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What I Didn't Write in 2016

Plotbunnies that I never ended up writing (and, if I'm going to be honest with myself, probably never will).

Ghost Allison - Death wasn't enough to stop Allison from protecting her friends. (ETA: Never Mind.)

Jordan and Derek, Guilty (BR)OTP Fic (Unrequited Marrish and Sterek) - Jordan and Derek hate themselves for loving Lydia and Stiles. >:)

Post Season 2 Allison/Lydia, with Pregnant Lydia - Jackson impregnated Lydia just before he died in the Season 2 finale. Allison steps in.

West Wing Sterek AU - Stiles as the First Son, and Derek as the President's assistant. They are basically Zoey and Charlie. That's it, that's the plot.

Stiles-Centric AU (Witch!Claudia -> Warlock!Stiles) - A completely plot-less AU/idea about Claudia having been a powerful witch, and Stiles having inherited some magical ability from her.

Sheriff Stilinski Was Once Johnny Cage (Stallison or Gen) - altered to fit the Teen Wolf universe, the events of the Mortal Kombat movie were the manipulations of the nogitsune, before it was re-imprisoned back in California. When it escapes again, it intentionally possessed "Johnny Cage's son".

Avatar Scott AU (Sciles) - Scott is the Avatar, and Stiles is his non-bending best friend who he doesn't go anywhere without and who helps him learn. The Swamp Tree is called the Nemeton, and the academic fox spirits at the library are getting corrupted, which leads to one possessed Stiles.

Werewolf!Sheriff (Sterek) - The Sheriff gets Bitten, comedy and angst ensue. Let's be real, if I wrote this, it would mostly be angst.

Teen Dad Stiles (Pre/Post Sterek) - Babies don't make everything better, and in fact can ruin your lives, especially if you're a teenager.

Chris/Melissa/John Fic - What was originally a farce just to fuck with Rafael blossoms into an actual relationship. Their kids...try not to think about it.

"Seraph Stilinski" (Gen) - Claudia was a demon, the Sheriff is an angel, and all the forces of Heaven and Hell are deadset on making sure the world never finds out they had a kid together - the best way to do that being to kill the kid.

Stiles Number 7 (Clone AU, Derek & Stiles, Derek's POV) - Stiles is one of several clones, who are all based on Dylan O'Brien's other acting roles.

Trans Scott Fic (Scott & Stiles - Possible Sciles?) - Scott was born female, but is a boy. Stiles was his first and fiercest advocate, which is why the nogitsune acts like a transphobe the moment it possesses Stiles.

Details below!

Ghost Allison

ETA: So I ended up not only writing a fic for this one, but making a fanvid as well. Go figure.

Exactly what it sounds like: Allison is a ghost. I play around with various ghost mythologies, but the end result is that the pack realizes that Allison never left and she's been with them all along (which is why no one in the pack ever died after 3B). She sent Scott back after Theo killed him, she nudged Lydia in the right direction when she was in Eichen House, and she intentionally made Scott think of her when her own ancestor, Sebastian, tried to claw him for the memories.

This one, though, I'm actually not writing because I have an idea on how to make it a fanvid, instead. ♥

Jordan and Derek, Guilty (BR)OTP Fic (Unrequited Marrish and Sterek)

Basically, a fic which takes the age differences seriously. It's a lot of Jordan and Derek slowly realizing the other one is also, like themselves, attracted to a teenager (who, even while "legal", they just do not feel comfortable trying to start a relationship with, for many reasons, age merely being the biggest one).

It oscillated between humorous (the boys commiserating over the snarky teen geniuses they're in love with) and dark (the boys sleeping with each other and openly using each other as a "distraction" from the kids they are in love with). It was going to end with these two working behind the scenes to set up Stydia, figuring that Stiles and Lydia were better off with each other than with them, and then Derek and Jordan kinda parting ways and moving on, better able to love their respective teenagers from afar.

Post Season 2 Allison/Lydia, with Pregnant Lydia

Inspired by this gifset. Jackson actually died in the Season 2 finale, and Lydia found out she was pregnant with his baby soon after - and with Jackson dead, she refused to abort it. My twist is that Lydia's pregnancy is progressing against the backdrop of canon (though in an AU where, because Allison stayed to help Lydia through the pregnancy, she helped find Erica and Boyd, meaning they lived, and the Hale pack was more cohesive by the time Deucalion made his move). Lydia is explicitly targeted by the alpha pack because of her pregnancy (since the pack is an actual pack in this AU, practically everyone sees Lydia as family, and thus her baby as their future niece/nephew). The nogitsune tried to make her miscarry - though thankfully, it failed, if only barely. The fact that it was distracted attempting to cause the miscarriage meant Allison survived, though also only barely. Lydia was with Derek when Kate attacked, so the baby was born prematurely. Allison - at this point fully in love with and dedicated to Lydia and the baby - is furious, so when the pack goes to rescue Derek, she kills Kate for hurting Lydia and potentially killing the baby. Luckily, the pack comes back to Beacon Hills to find Lydia and her baby daughter are safe and on the path to recovery. The baby is named Jackie, after her lost father, and everyone loves her and all the bullshit of Season 4 never happened. The first full moon even reveals that the baby is actually going to be a werewolf, which Lydia is - much to everyone else's surprise - delighted by. Lydia is grateful to have the power to protect her friends, but being a banshee is traumatic and she's glad to know that her baby won't have to suffer through it. The epilogue is Satomi introducing herself and her pack to Scott and his pack - not from the fear and death of the deadpool, but to celebrate the new arrival to Scott's pack.

West Wing Sterek AU - First Son Stiles

Derek comes to the White House looking for a mailroom job, needing to support himself and his sisters after the rest of his family is killed in a brutal housefire. Due to a series of shenanigans, he gets hired as President Stilinski's body-man/personal assistant, instead. He eventually ends up dating the First Son, Stiles, and life seems good for him...until the First Family, the staff, and Derek are shot at by Neo-Nazis, because they object to the First Son being in a gay relationship. They stick together through that, though they split up later for personal reasons...yet Derek still loses his mind when Stiles' new boyfriend's stupidity gets Stiles kidnapped. As such, they eventually reunite (with only a little bit of meddling from Stiles' dad.) (This based off the Zoey/Charlie arc in The West Wing. Charlie's mom was a cop killed in the line of duty, and the Neo-Nazis attack because Charlie is black while Zoey is white. After they split, Zoey's new boyfriend gave her some E despite her already saying she didn't want it, and while he had no nefarious intentions beyond that, this made her vulnerable and led to her kidnapping.)

Stiles-Centric AU (Witch!Claudia -> Warlock!Stiles)

AU where Claudia was actually a very, very powerful witch. Stiles and the Sheriff have known about the supernatural world all along (Scott only found out after he was Bitten), and this somehow nebulously led to no real change in the events of Season 2, but after it, Erica and Boyd were saved from the alpha pack, and Allison stuck around town instead of leaving, so come Season 3 - when the story starts - the pack is a more cohesive pack, Allison is rebuilding her Hunting group/"family" with a new code, and Stiles is formally training to become Derek's emissary (and then Scott's, once Derek gives up his spark to save Cora, while Scott becomes the True Alpha). This one, I chose not to write because while I had some individual scenes and such planned out, I had no actual plot in mind.

The closest was some weird rom-com bullshit in which a coven comes into town and accuses the pack of breaking into their stuff/breaking some old wards of theirs. It's about to turn into a fight until Scott and Stiles show up and recognizes "Stiles's mom's book-club friends", and the witches recognize Scott and Stiles. They have trouble believing that the little boy who used to play with Stiles is now a True Alpha, but they do realize Stiles' "breaking" the wards/shields were genuine accidents - those shields were originally set up by Claudia, and the only thing more powerful than them are talismans she gave to Stiles and the Sheriff (made out of the Sheriff's old dog tags). They actually want Stiles to come with them, but they shrug it off when he declines and chooses to stay with his pack. One of the witches who is new to the coven tries to instigate a fight, but they're all like, "we can't fight them, we helped potty train them!" That's quite literally the extent of my planning for this fic. :P

Sheriff Stilinski Was Once Johnny Cage - Mortal Kombat (Stallison or Gen)

AU where "Stilinski" is actually Claudia's family name, which the Sheriff changed his name to in order to escape the fame of his movie days - he was actually born as Johnny Cage. Kitana was 'merely' a thousand years old, and a kitsune (halfway through the story, we find out she's Noshiko's older sister). Liu Kang is like Deaton, a Spark/Emissary/monk/user-of-magic (he grew up learning it, ran away from it, and the events of the movie were him coming back to that heritage). Sonya Blade is a Hunter from a Russian/Russian-descended family that has a testy relationship with the Argents (though she's not the leader yet in the events of the Mortal Kombat movie). The events of the Mortal Kombat movie were altered, so that it turns out the sorcerer Shang Tsung wasn't working for some other-dimensional demon, but the nogitsune (which Kitana accidentally released in the process of looking for her long-lost sister). The "tournament" was an elaborate human sacrifice ritual to superpower the sorcerer (and then/thus the nogitsune). Luckily, this original badass quartet managed to put a stop to the preceedings, and put the nogitsune back in its prison in California. Unfortunately, they were not able to capture Shang Tsung (which is why he later turns up leading a Yakuza ring right under Johnny Cage's nose in Beacon Hills - the actor playing Silver Finger is the guy who played the evil sorcerer in the Mortal Kombat movie). The story starts a few decades after that, though. Stiles is still very much the guy we all know and love, except that he grew up learning martial arts from his dad, his godfather "Uncle" Liu, and his godmothers "Aunt" Sonya and "Aunt" Kitana. (It's mostly just a hobby for him, something he does with his dad on the weekends.) The Sheriff and Stiles are both attempting to figure out or solve the supernatural drama, but from different directions. Both are attempting to protect each other from it, so neither of them know that the other one is involved until Matt's attack on the station, when they both know the kanima when they see it. Stiles learns the truth about his Uncle and Aunts, with Liu and Sonya even coming to town (though they don't really make it until after the Season 2 finale). Liu helps Stiles get started on learning how to be an Emissary, while Sonya (now the leader of her Hunting family) helps Allison clean up the Argent family and its mess. Kitana doesn't show up until the events of Season 3B, which is when it comes out that she and Noshiko are estranged sisters. Since Stiles genuinely sees Kitana as his aunt, this leads to him and Kira viewing each other as something akin to long-lost cousins. The joy of newfound family is short-lived, since the nogitsune has escaped yet again - and it wants revenge, which is why out of all the people it could've taken, it chose to possess Johnny Cage's son. >:) This fic was going to have a lot fun parallels between two quartets - the "original" quartet of Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, and Princess Kitana, against the "new" quartet of Stiles, Allison, Lydia, and Scott. However, it wasn't a fic I could really write about a single event or short period of time. Conversely, I didn't want to start yet another long, drawn-out, and heavily involved AU, when I'm already writing three of them.

Avatar Scott AU (Sciles)

From this post. Avatar AU, where Scott is the Avatar, and Stiles is his non-bending best friend and companion. Scott had many earthbending masters, though his most valuable lessons came from Stiles' father, the metal-bending Chief of Police. The Fire Nation hasn't attacked yet, but aspirations for world conquest are simmering in its royal family, the Argents.

Allison - a Yu Yan archer - has been exiled, ends up befriending the Avatar, and finds him the best fire-bending teacher possible: Kira, a lightning-bender. Monk Deaton teaches him airbending, as well as how to take care of the air-bison and all the other creatures of the Avatar world. (He is also an avid Pai Sho player, and taught Stiles how to play - and gave him a White Lotus tile when the boys finally left the temple after Scott mastered air-bending.) The Hales are the chiefs of the Water Tribe, who have always lived by the moon, and Derek is the one tasked to teach Scott water-bending.

Scott's first "mission" as the Avatar is to find out who is trying to attack the most spiritual tree in the world, the Nemeton. Before he tries, though, he has to go to The Library to learn about it. Unfortunately, something has been corrupting the fox spirits there, which no one realizes until one takes Stiles away from Scott. This was a premise, but there no actual plot to this, hence why I didn't write it.

Werewolf!Sheriff (Sterek)

In an AU where Erica, Boyd, and Allison all lived, and Isaac, Jackson, and Cora never left. Stiles has been instrumental in training all of them (especially once he sees what a disaster at it Derek was.) Werewolf shenanigans leads to the Sheriff getting Bitten by some rogue alpha, so now he has to learn how to be a werewolf. There are some good sides - he's loving how useful his new, enhanced senses are in his investigative work, and Stiles lets him eat whatever he wants. Unfortunately, he doesn't react well to the news that he can never drink again, and his first full-moon is trauatizing for everyone.

It was a lot of themes about how growing up can change your relationships with your parents and other parental figures around you. A big part of the story is that the Sheriff largely sees Scott as something akin to another son, but Scott has to be the Sheriff's alpha in order to protect him and everyone around them - and Stiles often unwittingly follows suit, as the Emissary. So their relationships kinda get flipped on their heads. And remember all the psychological nastiness of Scott's first full moon, and the physical violence of several other characters' first full moons? Yeah, imagine the Sheriff doing that, directed at his actual son and his adoptive son. >:)

(Despite not having enough of a plot to bother writing this, I did somehow develop plans for a sequel where this happens all over again because Melissa gets Bitten, too. However, in her case, she just asked Scott to Bite her, so she made an active choice to become a werewolf, well-aware of all the strife that would come with it.)

Teen Dad Stiles (Pre/Post Sterek)

Stiles and Malia didn't exactly use protection when they screwed in the basement of Eichen House in 3B, and Malia gets pregnant. In this AU, though, she never wanted to stay in the human world, so after she gives birth to the baby (toward the end of summer, just before senior year), she regains her coyote shift and returns to the wild - for good. Stiles is left with a baby, and the whole pack is supportive, and Derek in particular chips in a lot, since the baby is family (via Malia), and he's feeling a little bit responsible (for a variety of reasons). However, this isn't a feel-good fic where babies make everything better. Even with all the support in the world, being a parent is tough, and being a teen parent especially so. Stiles struggles with being a teenage father, and affects his social life, his ability to handle supernatural problems, and his grades - and with them, his career aspirations. He resents being a teen father, and slowly starts to resent the baby. Babies not only don't make everything better, but Stiles starts to feel like the baby ruined his life. Derek - seeing what could happen to the baby if she were raised by someone who resented or even hated her - demands full custody, and even threatens to sue for it. Stiles is resisting mostly because of what a massive blow to his pride and his sense of self this is, though also because he feels like Derek taking the baby out of obligation wouldn't be much better. (His resentment of being a teen parent is so deep, he doesn't realize that Derek - in a much better place in life to raise a child - actually looks forward to having a kid to take care of.) Derek is about to force the issue, but everyone remembers that while Stiles is the father, he is still a teenager, which is why the final say/official custody actually fell to the Sheriff - who saw the same thing Derek did, and thus agreed that the baby should go to Derek instead of staying with Stiles. The fic ends with the epilogue, which takes on the baby's first birthday, and when Stiles is getting ready to head off to college. There are no promises that Derek will wait for Stiles, nor that Stiles will ever "come back" or reclaim the baby. But Derek will always be there for Stiles, and while Stiles may not raise the baby, he will still be a big part of her life and try to do right by her in his limited capacity.

You can probably see why I didn't write this. Look, I'm sorry, but no matter how cute they are, sometimes babies not only don't make things better, they really do ruin people's lives.

Chris/Melissa/John Fic

This was a pretty cutsey fic idea, set in some nebulous post-S4 world, but where Allison lived and Isaac never left - and where Rafael McCall did, indeed, come back to Beacon Hills like he said he would in Season 4. However, he seems to be trying to 'reclaim' his place in the McCall family, refusing to see that Melissa has no interest in reuniting with him or that Scott neither wants nor needs him. (I consider this to be very OOC for him, though, which is a small part of why I didn't bother writing this.) The story actually begins after some minor supernatural scuffle results in Chris and the Sheriff crashing at Melissa's place for a night while the kids are out and about. The next morning, Rafael happens to barge into the house unannounced, sees Melissa making breakfast for Chris and the Sheriff (with Chris and the Sheriff in boxers and tee-shirts, since Melissa didn't have anything that could fit them), and jumps to the wrong conclusion. Rather than disabuse him of the notion, though, the three pretend they did, indeed, have some kind of threesome, leading to Rafael to storm off in disgust. They actually continue this facade for a while, much to the kids' amusement - it seems like the perfect way to throw people off their tracks, while making Rafael (and a few other interested parties) not think twice about some strange behavior. However, the fake relationship eventually grows into a real one, the three of them banding together to take care of and protect the kids in the face of all the supernatural crazy that is Beacon Hills. Their kids do find out that this "fake" threesome has become a real one. They struggle with it at first, for different reasons, but eventually come to be glad for their parents. (Mid-way through college, the two men knock up Melissa. The kids' reaction mostly boils down to teasing the parents for getting into an accidental pregnancy after having spent years lecturing the teenagers on practicing safe sex specifically to prevent something like this from happening. But when their baby sister is born, they spoil her to bits.)

"Seraph Stilinski" (Gen)

A kind of very dark Good Omens crossover/AU, with a lot of Saga undertones to it. Heaven and Hell have long been at war with each other, a conflict as old as humanity itself. One of the most powerful Arch Angels and another very powerful demon left their respective sides after falling in love with each other. They became human, which hid them from their former comrades, and spent multiple lifetimes together like this. Eventually, they even had a child together, taking great pains to make it look like that child was adopted, should someone unfortunately discover them. However, they realized too late that the process of having a child would doom the mother - which led to Claudia's human form deteriorating. She probably could've been cured just by undoing the human body and returning to her former self, but to do that would've been to reveal her location to the depths of hell, and possibly the truth about her child, so she died rather than put her husband and Stiles at risk. Supposedly, the Stilinski family happens to have been in Beacon Hills for a long time, and have passed down some uncanny resemblances, which is one no one questions it on the rare occasions they could swear they see John (or, I guess he's Noah, now?) in some decades-old photograph or century-old painting. However, some things aren't adding up, and by the end of Season 2, Stiles knows his father isn't human, and is a lot older than he looks. But the Sheriff is keeping remarkably tight-lipped about it all, which doesn't make sense until Stiles is possessed by a demonic fox-spirit...who the Sheriff says is, in the closest approximation to human terms, Claudia's brother - and thus, Stiles' uncle. And to think Derek thought he had it bad!

I also didn't write it because it was sprawling into some multi-million year angelic/demonic conspiracy. The reason why Claudia and John tried to hide that Stiles was their kid was because a angel-demon child was taboo, due to myths that such a child would be tremendously powerful. They were very confused when their baby was human, though relieved to see this would make him easier to hide. However, various "higher ups" in both Heaven and Hell still want this kid dead, and eventually, everyone figures out why. It's not that Stiles is particularly powerful, but that all humans are - they are not bound to any concept, object, element, or natural entity like angels, demons, spirits, and most supernatural creatures are. Things that devastate other creatures - iron, salt, silver, etc. - humans cloak themselves in, and powerful roots or herbs like mountain ash have zero effect on them. Despite humans being so physically weak and slow and their senses being so dulled, they've taken over the planet, and they can even leave it, a concept that up until recent was deemed impossible by everyone on and around Earth. In the purely physical sense, humans are "weak", but from the supernatural standpoint, humans are tremendously powerful (and/or rather, invincible). So why to the "higher ups" want him dead, if all humans are powerful? Well, Stiles is proof that all humans - all of humanity - are descendants of angels and demons. That thing about the conflict between heaven and hell being as old as humanity? Well, Heaven and Hell - angels and demons - predate humanity. Stiles - a confirmed child of an angel and a demon - is living proof that they weren't always at war, and that in fact there was so much fraternizing/uniting between these two sides, they created enough "demon/angel children" to create a whole new species: humans. Stiles is living proof that angels and demons can coexist peacefully, so of course everyone wants him dead before word of this gets out. This got very convoluted and extremely Sheriff-centric (with surprisingly little of Stiles or the pack in it), so I never bothered writing it. The Sheriff is popular, but not that popular/not on his own, so I doubted this would get read much, and if it's just for myself, why bother writing it when I can enjoy a story in my head?

Stiles Number 7 (Clone AU, Derek & Stiles, though surprisingly not necessarily Derek/Stiles)

A Clone AU, loosely based off of the tween novel series Amy Number Seven (which is like the middle school version of Orphan Black, but focused on the character coping with the clone background after finding out about it, rather than the clone mystery itself). Mostly Derek's POV. Basically, Seasons 1 and 2 are largely unchanged, except there are multiple implications that Stiles was kidnapped as a child and only recently returned home, but Derek doesn't know or figure out the details. Meanwhile, throughout these events, Stiles and Scott make a lot of references to Stiles getting help from mysterious "cousins" and "brothers".

After Matt's attack on the police station, Stiles calls in those mysterious cousins. Derek meets this AU's version of Minho, Brenda, Theresa, and Newt when Stiles goes missing after the Championship Game in the S2 finale. They are Stiles' "cousins", and despite the fact Stiles has been kidnapped, everyone agrees Stiles was kidnapped by "someone local", so the problem isn't big enough to warrant calling in Stiles' "brothers" just yet. Derek still had no clue what the fuck is going on, but not only are Stiles' cousins clearly child soldiers, Stiles himself actually manages to disable Gerard in that basement, and he's the one that frees Erica and Boyd. The warehouse battle still happens, and Stiles' mysterious cousins vanish soon after, and Derek is still very confused - even more so because Stiles is disturbingly competent and militant when it comes to finding and rescuing Erica and Boyd. (And also because Stiles disappears to "go help his cousins/brothers" once or twice throughout the summer.) However, the nogitsune is a BIG problem, which is when Derek gets to meet Stiles' "brothers" - clones.

These clones are all basically OC's inspired by/based on Dylan O'Brien's other roles. In this universe, the kids were made by some evil organization trying to produce soldiers, and these kids were the experiments/subjects. They survived, escaped, etc. - and now this story is about their lives afterwards. (The "cousins" were various experiments in how to amplify certain human strengths, while the "brothers" were just an experiment to successfully clone human beings. The next step was basically to "combine" these two experiments - clone people with those amplified traits - but these kids escaped and destroyed the organization doing this before that could happen.)

This was going to be fun once Stiles' "brothers" roll into town, because neither the pack nor the "cousins" are willing to kill Stiles - but his brothers are, and in fact are setting out to do that, leading to the clones working against the pack and the "cousins". The clones are all completely normal humans, while the pack are obviously supernatural, and the "cousins" have some superpowered traits (amplifications of hints of what we saw in the books), not to mention they've got the law and Hunters on their side (via the Sheriff and Allison). Despite this, the two sides are pretty evenly matched. Later, Stiles thinks that his "brothers" should very easily have been able to kick everyone else's asses, so he thinks they just didn't try hard enough because they didn't want him to die, and doesn't believe they were actually outmatched; some of his "brothers" are...not disagreeing. :P

Trans Scott Fic (Scott & Stiles - Possible Sciles?)

A fic where Scott had been born genetically female, but is transitioning to male - and has been for quite a while by the time he is Bitten. There is a lot of dysmorphia because the werewolf Bite interferes with the transition process, but Stiles learns magic specifically to counteract these problems. There was also a big plot arc where this interfered with Scott's ability to completely turn into a wolf (but once he does, the wolf form is male). To be honest, there wasn't much of a plot, just a lot of smaller ideas or scenes I had in mind. The ones I originally came up with - and at the center of the story - are something which I expect would be extremely controversial at best.

Stiles has always been Scott's Number One advocate, and his first defender in the face of transphobia. Where Scott tries to assume the best of people and educate everyone, Stiles thinks Scott shouldn't waste his time and that transphobes should just go die in a fire. Stiles was the first person Scott ever told, and he was the one who helped Scott talk to his parents to get the transition process started, when Scott was too scared to.

So when a thousand year old chaos spirit intent on causing as much emotional pain as possible possesses Stiles, what does it do? Deadnames Scott, constantly calling him by his birth name and intentionally referring to him with female pronouns as much as possible. This is directly parallel to Scott's transphobic father coming back into town and doing the same thing, insisting that Scott is his daughter, deadnaming him and misgendering him. What Rafael is doing to Scott out of transphobia, the nogitsune is doing because it knows how much it hurts Scott (and Stiles). What transphobes insist is "natural" or "right", the nogitsune is using as a weapon in its psychological warfare - because it's just that bad, that painful, and that devastating.

#teen wolf au #teen wolf fanfic #or at least ideas for them #teen wolf #nyxie writes things #or rather #nyxie DOESN'T write things

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icantlose · 3 years

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The very concept of a “good idea” is objective; just because you don’t think something is a good idea does not mean it is a bad idea. Fans have different perspectives and these are usually based on different life experiences. But frankly, multiple members of the community don’t believe that your ideas are very good: particularly the one of yours where you infantize Krystal. It’s fuckin’ gross and creepy and minimizes the character more than the fandom already does.

People are judgmental of you because it is natural human defense mechanism. You have come out of nowhere to criticize people and their ideas based off of canon story, which you have violently rejected on multiple occasions. You have a long history of attacking people unfairly for writing fiction based within the margins of established Star Fox canon. Of course people are going to be judgmental of you, because you’re the villain in this situation: they did not ask for your opinion and you never fail to deliver your opinion in a very rude, insulting and frankly non-constructive manner. You get what you give, Jacob.

Nobody cares that you don’t like Krystal being on Star Wolf.

You’re not being called out for “simply” disliking something. You’re being called out for all the hateful messages you keep sending multiple people across multiple platforms. Don’t mix things up, sweetheart.

Acting like a martyr, acting like you are the only one who has ever suffered through hardship is the fastest way to alienate yourself. People don’t want to befriend someone who weaponizes their hardships in the way that you do. It makes you come across as very hard to approach, very judgmental--there’s that word again--and like no matter what, the person trying to get to know you can’t win because you, yourself, are going though “absolute HELL.”

Speaking of going through “absolute HELL”, so are many of us in this community but I’ve yet to see you reach out and actually give a shit.

You have not been trying to “play nice”. You’ve been trying to duck under the radar and avoid accountability. There is a major difference.

If something as simple as the idea of a video game you’re not forced to play pisses you off, it’s time to get off the computer, bud.

I’ve referred to you as a “white knight” because you’re coming to the defense of a character that nobody hates here in this particular community. In fact, in recent years Krystal has been widely celebrated and widely adored ESPECIALLY with the unofficial release of Dinosaur Planet. You’ve created a problem there isn’t one; any idea that you disagree with regarding Krystal and her character has been met with an onslaught of HATE MESSAGES from YOU, JACOB. You’ve expressed extreme reactions to multiple attempts across several platforms by several different people to give Krystal a dynamic character and award more than Nintendo has given her: Nintendo themselves has admitted to wanting to use her as a sex-symbol and you’ve done nothing but kick and scream any time someone presents her as less than perfect in your ideal. That is not fair.

Nobody here has depicted her in a negative light and it’s very sad and very insulting of you to suggest that her being a part of Star Wolf, a squadron of anti-heroes (anti-hero: n. a central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes but whom cannot be identified as a villain) is somehow a negative depiction.

No one considers that Krystal isn’t the only character that you think of when you think of Star Fox because you’ve shown us that it she is the only character you think of UNLESS you are confronted with the fact that you don’t think of anyone else except Krystal. You told @blackarwing that you have a “crush” on every female character in the Star Fox roster. That is extremely discomforting and hard to take seriously because this is an extreme opinion was only admitted once you were confronted with the fact that you only seem to be obsessed with Krystal. You NEVER talk about Fox, or James, even; you have never expressed opinions of Slippy, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you mention talk of Peppy or Pepper or Beltino. You FREQUENTLY villainize Wolf even though in-game he has proven he’s not a bad guy, you shit on Panther and you have attacked Leon. But we sure do know how you feel about fuckin’ Krystal.

You’re not sorry.

Just as most of us have both suspected and claimed, it is clear that you do not understand what “I’m sorry” actually means. If you were actually sorry, you would express actual sorrow towards your actions and you would purposefully make a point to stop acting the way that you have that has upset several different communities, but you have not.

While I’m at it, you apologized to me and I said I hope you’ll do better, you responded with “I hope so too”. That is the perfect indication that you were unwilling to actually try to improve yourself. You weren’t sorry, you’re just looking to get all the pressure from the groups of people you’ve pissed off off of your back. Not only is that the perfect indication that you’re not willing to improve, but it is also the best possible example of you, Jacob, and your shitty character. You “hope” that you will do better. Instead of actually putting the work in to improving yourself. You do not “hope” that you will do better, you just fuckin’ DO BETTER. It’s not a gamble when YOU are the person behind the goddamn wheel! Wake. Up.

You cannot blame “stress” for how you are acting the way that you are online. We all have “stress”. The majority of us are older than you and have bills to pay, you don’t see us using that as an excuse online to shit all over people we disagree with. I’m not talking at you because I’m stressed, I’m talking at you because you’re a young person that needs to understand that this is not how someone communicates to other creative content creators. This is not okay. You’re being really fuckin’ shitty.

Whatever you are going through in the real world, it is absolutely unfair to bring that forward and take your “stress” out on the people who have nothing to do with your “stress” online. That is extremely selfish, destructive and fuckin’ mean. Blaming stress for the bullshit you’ve been providing us since fuckin’ March is NOT an excuse for an adult to make. If you’re referring to ‘stress’ online, then I know I’m victim-blaming, but you brought this on your fuckin’ self, dude. You’ve been causing nothing but “stress” on everyone else since you arrived your garbage and yet you’re the only one lashing out at people and citing “stress” as the culprit.

If it’s driving you nuts then do something to change it.

If your dog is that sick, being on the internet whining about a fictional blue fox, is the absolute fucking LAST thing you should be doing.

I’m glad you’re trying to treat his cancer as best you can. But that still doesn’t excuse the environment you’re providing for the poor thing. If he’s that sick, he ABSOLUTELY. SHOULD. NOT. be in that dirty of an environment, what the fuck is wrong with you!? Actually. Don’t answer. I don’t want to see you come up with a shitty excuse for this one either.

This was posted while I was typing this response.

If you wanted to be my friend, you WOULD NOT lay into me for the shit we disagree with. the idea behind making friends is focusing on what you have in common with others. You would put effort into getting to know people. You’re not trying to befriend me; you’re trying to prove how much “better” of a Star Fox fan you are than I am because I see things differently than you, (y’know, despite the fact that I’m much older than you, have been playing the games longer than you, but here I go fuckin’ gatekeeping). I guarantee you, you don’t know how old I am, what my favorite color is, what Star Fox game I prefer, what my opinion of Krystal is, or hell, what my real name is: all you have ever cared about is how I’ve presented Krystal to a space you have invited yourself into. Don’t try to twist things, buddy.

Don’t you ever. Ever. E V E R. try and suicide-bait me ever again, do you understand me? it’s disgusting that you would ever even fuckin’ try that shit. There are people in this platform that SERIOULSY struggle with suicide, that are struggling to find the strength to go on, to face the entire day for real; it is a constant battle and you’re just making light to make me feel bad for pointing out your shitty behavior is incredibly outrageous and infuriating. The fucking fact that you would try and use that as a fuckin means to get the upper-hand in this conversation is absolutely, positively fuckin’ disgusting, and outrageous. I mean how dare you? How. Dare. You? Fuck. You. NEVER do that again. You are an absolute insult to those who actually struggle with depression and self-esteem. The fact that you would actually try this shit as a means to get me to back off over something this fuckin’ trivial is absolutely disgusting. DISGUSTING. You’ve made things absolutely fuckin’ worse.

This is not a game. I’m demanding accountability and I’m making sure that every single person is aware of what you just tried to pull with me. Newcomer24 just pulled the suicide card over Krystal bein’ acknowledged as a Star Wolf team member.

Suicide threats are not a joke, they are not a weapon. You’re crossing a major line over FUCKIN’ KRYSTAL. How. Fucking. Dare. You. Over the course of an hour, you’ve made yourself look a hundred times worse. Stop trying to save your skin. Of course you meant to send those messages; you wanted to get back at someone that upset you and you chose the most toxic, most vile most evil way to respond. You wanted to hang your life over my head. You wanted to put your blood on my hands.

You are talking to a suicide attempt survivor. Any amount of respect you still had with me, you’ve absolutely lost.

All. Over. Krystal.

#tw: suicide #tw: cancer #tw: loss of pet #tw: animal neglect #newcomer24

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weekendwarriorblog · 5 years

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND November 30, 2018 - The Possession of Hannah Grace

Finally! A long-needed reprieve from the slew of fall releases with a weekend where there’s only one new wide release … and it’s the textbook definition of a “dumper,” too. At least all the Thanksgiving releases did better than I predicted, particularly Creed II, and they should continue to dominate over the next couple weeks until a bunch of new wide releases open on December 14.

THE POSSESSION OF HANNAH GRACE (Sony/Screen Gems)

I’m not even sure what to say about this horror movie, originally called “Cadaver,” except that it was directed by Dutch filmmaker Diederik Van Rooijen (no, I don’t know that name either) and that it’s been on the shelf for quite some time. Presumably, it’s a leftover from the Clint Culpepper Screen Gems that was famous for making low-budget horror films that would be bounced around the release calendar, sometimes for years. This one is about the found corpse of a young girl who may have been killed via exorcism.

This was originally supposed to open in the summer of 2017, but like so many other Screen Gems films, it was continually pushed back, so now it follows the studio’s summer horror release Slender Man, which probably should have done better than its $30.6 million domestic gross. The it wound up on the less-than-desirable weekend after Thanksgiving, a known dumping ground.

Regardless, various horror hits have proven that having bankable stars isn’t completely necessary, and one thing that Possession has going for it is exactly that, having the word “possession” in its title, because it’s something that still holds a lot of interest for horror fans. Having the word “exorcism” in the title helped Scott Derickson’s debut The Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Last Exorcism, though not the latter’s unfortunate sequel. Chances are that few over the age of 20 will have any interest in the movie even with stronger horror films like Halloween and Overlord mostly vacating theaters.

Like Slender Man, this movie doesn’t really have any bankable stars, with Shay Mitchell from Pretty Little Liars being the film’s biggest name, followed by Grey Damon, Mirror Master from The Flash.

On top of that, Screen Gems is only opening Possession in less than 2,000 theaters, another pointer that it shows little faith in the movie, as does the fact it won’t be screened in advance for critics (another Screen Gems practice of olde). I’m sure that the critics forced to pay to see the movie on Thursday night to review will just be THRILLED to write raves about a movie that few will know or care about. Frankly, I’ll be shocked if The Possession of Hannah Grace gets anywhere near the top 5 this weekend, and a 7th place opening with between $5 and 6 million would be about as good as it should get.

This week’s Top 10 should look something like this…

1. Ralph Breaks the Internet (Disney) - $24.5 million -56% 2. Creed II (MGM) - $18.5 million -48% 3. The Grinch (Universal) - $14 million -54% 4. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Warner Bros.) - $12.7 million -57% 5. Bohemian Rhapsody (20thCentury Fox) - $7 million -50% 6. Instant Family (Paramount) - $6.5 million -48% 7. The Possession of Hannah Grace (Sony/Screen Gems) - $5.3 million N/A 8. Widows (20thCentury Fox) – $4.4 million -47% 9. Robin Hood (Lionsgate) - $3.9 million -58% 10. Green Book (Universal) - $3.3 million* -40%

*UPDATE: Universal didn’t expand this into more theaters as I expected, so I’ve lowered my number accordingly. Maybe the studio will expand it further next week.

LIMITED RELEASES

While there’s only one new wide release, there’s plenty of limiteds, and two of the most high-profile ones are from Netflix, one that’s also streaming Friday, the other streaming in December. For those who want to go out this weekend, there’s also a musical-comedy to put horror fans into the holiday spirit that’s been running the genre fest circuit…

Those who have been waiting for this year’s big holiday musical zombie comedy are in luck, because John McPhail’s ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE (Orion Pictures) comes out Friday after playing almost every genre festival going back to Fantastic Fest 2017. Taking place in the town of Little Haven, it stars Ella Hunt as Anna, a young woman planning for her high school holiday musical whose world is turned upside-down by the zombie apocalypse, but that’s not going to stop her and her friends from breaking out into song. I saw this film a few months back, and I was mixed on it, partially because it’s such an obvious homage to Shaun of the Dead but also has very modern poppy songs that really weren’t my cup-of-tea. I know a lot of people who love the movie, though, and if you want a fun time, I think the film is quickly becoming a cult classic among those who have seen and dug it.

MOWGLI: LEGEND OF THE JUNGLE is Andy Serkis’ second feature as a director, and as you may have guessed, it’s based on the same Rudyard Kipling novel “The Jungle Book” that inspired the Disney movies, using the performance capture CG technology Serkis perfected in the “Planet of the Apes” movies. Featuring performances and voices by Cate Blanchett (voicing the python Kaa), Christian Bale (as Bagheera), Benedict Cumberbatch (Shere Khan) and Serkis himself as Balloo, this is a much darker take on the material, probably not for very small kids, but I liked it more than the Jon Favreau Disney movie, maybe because it handles things more seriously. I also thought newcomer Rohand Chand was a much more palatable Mowgli. The film does decently when it’s just Mowgli and talking animals, but gets even better when humans are introduced into the story. Netflix will give Mowgli a limited theatrical release before streaming on the network starting Dec. 7.

The latest GKIDS animated contender to the Disney animated Oscar domination is MIRAI (GKIDS), the new film from filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Wolf Children) along with Japan’s Studio Chizu. It’s about a four-year-old boy named Kun, whose parents give him a baby sister named Mirai (or “future”), who he immediately is jealous of due to the attention she gets. I watched the dubbed version of the movie (not my favorite thing since dubbed Japanese films always seem somewhat dumbed down for Western audiences), featuring the voices of John Cho, Rebecca Hall and Daniel Dae Kim, and it’s a fairly sweet movie with some great life lessons for younger children. It doesn’t have as many fantasy aspects as other Japanese Anime films but it does have Kun interacting with different versions of those around him, including his dog.

Receiving a one-week qualifying release on Friday is Germany’s Oscar entry is NEVER LOOK AWAY (Sony Classics), the new film from Oscar-winning filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Lives of Others). This is another historical drama, loosely based on the life of visual artist Gerhard Richter with Tom Schilling (Woman in Gold) playing a young artist who has watched East Berlin go from Nazi occupation, watching his older sister be sentenced to death due to her mental illness by a ruthless Nazi doctor (Sebastian Koch), to falling in love with a young woman (Paula Beer) who happens to be that doctor’s daughter and escaping to West Berlin during the country’s contemporary art movement. I found the movie to be overly long and a little confusing, because I wasn’t sure what the movie was supposed to be about until about 30 minutes into it. Either way, it will open for its full theatrical release in February.

Another Oscar entry out Friday is the one from Italy, which is Alice Rohrwacher’s HAPPY AS LAZARRO, exec. produced by Martin Scorsese and getting a limited theatrical release in New York and L.A. (mainly for Oscar qualification) at the same time as streaming on Netflix. It’s a fable set within the countryside estate of Inviolata, a community of hard-working tobacco farmers who are being used by the area’s greedy Marquise. Much of the film is seen through the eyes of a teenaged simpleton named Lazzaro (Adriano Tardiolo), who observes more than he speaks, creating an introspective film that jumps forward in time… and that’s about all I can say about what’s a pretty major plot twist.

Another acclaimed doc getting a limited theatrical release is Dava Whisenant’s BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY (Focus Features), which follows comedy writer Steve Young who discovered a number of vintage record albums that ended up being “internal use only” cast recordings for Broadway musicals made for some of America’s biggest companies like General Electric, Ford and more. The winner of this year’s Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director, the film features interviews with David Letterman (White wrote for Letterman’s show and Letterman is also the film’s exec. producer), Chita Rivera, Martin Short and more, and it will get a limited release Friday.

In THE MERCY (Screen Media), directed by James Marsh (The Theory of Everything, Man on Wire), Colin Firth plays Donald Crowhurst, an amateur sailor who participates in a 1968 round-the-world sailing race. Although he isn’t as experienced as other racers, Crowhurst’s design sense convinces him that he can be the fastest in the round-the-world race, much to the concern of his wife (played by Rachel Weisz). Crowhurst’s journey in his boat the Teignmouth Electron was the stuff of legend as he relayed stories back to the press in England, but as they say on the internet, you would not BELIEVE how his story ended…. And I won’t give it away. As a sailing aficionado myself (having received my sailing license a few short years ago), I was pretty excited for this movie when I heard about it a few years ago -- I even asked Firth about this when I interviewed him for the last Bridget Jones movie -- but it ended up being a dull and ultimately dour affair that didn’t even keep this sailing fan invested.

Opening on Wednesday at the Metrograph is Gary Hustwit’s doc Rams (Film First) about design innovator Dieter Rams, best known for his work at Braun and Vitsoe. No surprise that the theater owned by a designer and doc filmmaker in Alex Olch would show this, and Hustwit will be there in person after the 6pm screening Friday and 4:30pm screening Sunday to discuss. Also, it features an original score by Brian Eno!

A rare limited release from Warner Bros’ is Til Schweiger’s Head Full of Honey, an English remake of his own 2014 German hit of the same name. It stars Nick Nolte as Amadeus, a man who is slowly succumbing to dementia, much to the consternation of his son (Matt Dillon) and his wife (Emily Mortimer). In order to help her grandfather get back some of his memories, Amadeus’ 10-year-old granddaughter Tilda (Nolte’s actual daughter, Sophia Lane Nolte) takes her grandfather to Venice before he can be thrown into a home.

Opening in select theaters and On Demand is the John Pogue-directed crime-thriller Blood Brother (Lionsgate) starring R’n’B star Trey Songz (aka Tremaine Neverson) as a cop forced to risk his life to stop an ex-con from getting revenge on the childhood friends who let him take the fall for a crime they committed. It also has a cameo by WWE superstar R-Truth!

For one “night” only, people can see the director’s cut of Lars von Trier’s controversial serial killer thriller The House That Jack Built (IFC Films), starring Matt Dillon, which played (and disgusted many) at Cannes over the summer. I haven’t seen it yet but already got my ticket, hoping that I won’t be as nauseated as I was in the clit-snipping scene in Anti-Christ. Von Trier’s latest also stars and the “American cut” (or whatever it’s called) will be released theatrically on Dec. 14. If you’re in New York, it’s showing almost all day at the IFC Center but with many screenings already sold out.

Henry Barrial’s drama DriverX (Sundance Selects) stars Patrick Fabian (The Last Exorcism) as a middle-class L.A. father whose record store closes, so to keep his family afloat, he takes a job driving for a ride-share service called “DriverX,” forcing him to learn to deal with his young passengers. It opens at the IFC Center in New York and presumably in L.A. and On Demand.

Just in time for the holidays, the family-friendly animated Elliot: The Littlest Reinder (Screen Media) will open in select cities Friday and then be available for one-night only in other areas on Saturday night. It’s the story of a miniature horse named Elliot who travels to the North Pole to compete for a spot on Santa’s sleigh team. It features the voices of Josh Hutcherson, John Cleese, Martin Short, Samantha Bee and more.

Opening Friday at the Cinema Village isNo Shade (Artmattan Films), Clare Anyiam-Osigwe’s British romantic drama starring Adele Oni as freelance photographer Jade, who has been in love with her best friend Danny for 10 years, but what’s keeping them from going further is the shade of her skin.

Other films out this weekend include the Bollywood offering 2.0, Shankar’s follow-up to 2010’s Robot; Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza’s Sicilian Ghost Story (Strand) opening at the Quad; the Korean crime-thriller Unstoppable (Well GO USA) from Kim Min-Ho; and filmmaker Robert Townsend returns with his new doc Making the Five Heartbeats (about his 1991 passion project), which gets an Oscar-qualifying run at L.A.’s Laemmle Noho 7 this Friday and in New York on Dec. 7

STREAMING

Netflix will also be streaming Italy’s Oscar entry HAPPY AS LAZARRO on the streaming network starting Friday in case you can’t get to one of the cities/theaters playing it. (See above for more.) Also, the holiday movies start coming at you hot and heavy with the sequel A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding, starring Rose McIver and Ben Lamb, which follows last year’s holiday rom-com. Angela’s Christmas is an animated family movie set in 1910 Ireland featuring the voices of Ruth Negga (Preacher) and Lucy O’Connell, based on Frank McCourt’s book. (I’m not sure if this is the same short that premiered in 2017 or an extension, sorry!) From France comes Romain Gavra’s crime-comedy THE WORLD IS YOURS about a small-time mobster who accepts a job in Spain that involves drugs, the Illuminati and his overbearing mother. The description describes the movie as “Cynical” which means that it was made for me! Lastly, there’s Sebastian Hoffman’s Spanish film Tiempo Compartido (translated as “Time Share”), described as “Cerebral” (maybe not so much for me?). It involves two family men trying to save their families from a tropical paradise convinced that an American time share company wants to take their loved ones away.

REPERTORY

METROGRAPH (NYC):

A couple more days of the Midnight Cowboy restoration, plus the Darius Khondji retrospective continues for a few more days – I highly recommend seeing David Fincher’s Se7en on the big screen if you haven’t already. This weekend’s Playtime Family Matinee is one of my personal faves, Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, screening on Saturday and Sunday at 11AM – bring the kids! A bit last-minute, but Metrograph has added a Spike Lee X6 mini-retrospective, since he was already slated to intro a screening of BlacKkKlansman. They’ve added 1990′s Mo’ Better Blues, his 2006 reunion with Denzel for Inside Man, 2000′s Bamboozled, and one of my personal faves, Summer of Sam from 1999. (Not really repertory, but the Metrograph is also launching a series this weekend called Double Exposure: Portraits and Parallels Across the Diaspora, as in African and African-American filmmakers. I’m afraid I don’t know too much more than what you can read on the site.)

NEW BEVERLY (L.A.):

Exciting news for L.A. repertory buffs… The New Bev is back!! The festivities will kick-off Saturday with screenings of Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, a double feature of Butch and Sundance: The Early Days and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and a 25th Anniversary screening of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused! Unfortunately, these are all sold out online but there may be tickets available at the door. I look forward to the programming ahead for this beloved theater.

FILM FORUM (NYC):

Rita Hayworth 100 continues through Thursday with screenings of Blood and Sand, Cover Girland The Lady from Shanghai on Wednesday, andPal Joey, Separate Tables and Gilda on Thursday. This weekend’s Film Forum Jr. selection is Elliot Silverstein’s 1965 film Cat Ballou, starring Jane Fonda, Lee Marvin and Nat King Cole. Beginning on Friday, they have a 4k restoration of Edgar G. Ulmer’s 1945 film Detour (Janus Films), starring Tom Neal and Anne Savage. On Friday, Film Forum is also launching a new 4k restoration of Alex Cox’s 1991 Mexican feature Highway Patrolman (Kino Lorber), and I’m always interested in seeing more from the director of Repo Man and Sid and Nancy.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE (LA):

This weekend, the American Cinematerque’s theater has an Argentina: New Cinema 2018 series, so no repertory for now.

AERO (LA):

On the other hand, the Cinemateque’s other theater is showing a bunch of Buster Keaton movies as part of The Great Buster series (named after the recent Peter Bogdonavich doc), which will include Sherlock Jr. (1924) and Steamboat Willie Jr. (1928) on Friday as a double feature, The General (1926) on Saturday with the 1921 short The High Sign, Seven Chances (1925) on Sunday with a digital restoration of the short Cops!, followed by a screening of that aforementioned doc Sunday evening. Should be a fun weekend for Buster Keaton fans.

QUAD CINEMA (NYC):

Ack! Totally spaced on the fact that the Quad was doing a giallo series, which began over the weekend with Perversion Stories: A Fistful of Giallo Restorationspremiering DCPs of many rarey-seen if even screened in the States films like The Case of the Scorpion’s Tale (1971), Torso (1993), The Suspicious Death of a Minor (1975) and more. I’m really bummed that I forgot to mention this in last week’s column (that’s what happens when you begin a series on a Sunday, Quad) and that I wasn’t able to get to any of these, but it runs through Thursday so if you’re reading this on Weds. morning (hopefully), you still have time to catch a few of them.

IFC CENTER (NYC)

Late Night Favorites shows James Cameron’s Aliens (1986), Weekend Classics continues its Coen Brothers retrospective with O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) in 35mm on Friday through Sunday, while the Shaw Brothers Spectaculars series offers The Super Inframan

(1975), which looks pretty cool.

LANDMARK THEATRES NUART (LA):

This weekend, the theater gets the restoration of Luchino Viscoti’s Senso (1968) which had been playing at New York’s Film Forum. Matt Donato*’s favorite film of all time, Dude Bro Party Massacre III, will play at midnight on Friday. (*Look him up on social media!)

FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER (NYC):

German filmmaker Christian Petzold will be in town for a sneak preview of his new film Transiton Friday night, but it will kick off Christian Pentzold: The State We Are In, a two-week retrospective of the underrated German filmmaker who has delivered such modern-day classics as Barbara and Phoenix (one of my favorite movies of 2014), 2008’s Jerichow and many more, some of which have barely been seen in the United States, including his 1998 television film The Sex Thief, and 2000’s The State I Am In. Click on the title above for the full line-up, but Pentzold will do QnAs after Transit and a couple others this coming weekend.

BAM CINEMATEK (NYC):

On Monday, BAM kicked off its Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema series, so no repertory for now.

MOMA (NYC):

The Museum of Modern Art is in the midst of it’s The Contenders 2018 series, but it also continues its Silent Comedy International series with screenings of Transatlantic Teamwork on Thursday and Sunday, Clowning Around (the World) on Thursday, another screening of Daffy in Deutschland on Friday and other repeats over the weekend. Modern Matinees: Douglas Fairbanks Jr.continues with State Secret (1950) on Thursday, Stella Dallas (1925) on Friday then A Woman of Affairs (1928) next Wednesday. Since I haven’t seen any of this, I have nothing further to add.

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (NYC):

The 50thAnniversary restoration of Gordon Quinn and Gerald Temaner’s Inquiring Nuns continues as well as Glenn Close: Ten Great Performances by Glenn Close with Dangerous Liaisonson Friday evening, a “Sensory Friendly Screening” of Disney’s 101 Dalmations on Saturday (as well as another matinee of this on Sunday, Reversal of Fortune and Cookie’s Fortune on Saturday afternoon/evening, as well as Albert Nobbs and Close’s latest The Wife on Sunday.

That’s it for this week. Next week, no new movies in wide release... but I’ll still have a column for those interested in other stuff.

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