#qaf scripts

[brian-kinney-apologist]

I'm sorry but I'm gonna be brave because I neeeeeed to confess something

I can't take seriously people saying stuff about how actors in other shows/films were insane for kissing a little too long or a little too passionately or for going a little off script etc etc when I was raised on queer as folk where in the very first episode gale harold practically put his tongue into randy harrison's asshole AND they filmed it on their first day on set. simply nothing will ever top this for me, sorry guys

(also I would provide visual aid but I don't want to be blocked by tumblr for qaf AGAIN)

[winderlylandchime]

Here's another interview where Hal talks shit about two cast members when asked a question about why there will never be a QAF movie. One gay, one straight. You do the math lol. Admittedly the interview is from 2008, so lots of time has passed, and it does appear that everyone is cool again given the 2018 EW reunion.

https://www.milehighgayguy.com/2008/09/hal-sparks-speaks_11.html?m=1

Thank you! Oh my god he really gets some digs in, doesn’t he?

Here’s the link

And some excerpts:

No way will there ever be a 'Queer as Folk' movie.

Really? Why not?

Because a couple of the cast members I know for sure wouldn’t do it and I’m certain that the executive producers Ron and Dan wouldn’t want to work with them either.

Bad blood?

Uh, yeah.

Gimme the dirt! What happened?

My feeling always was, an an actor - and especially as one of the straight actors on the show, that, to a degree, it was my job to do my lines the way they were written and mind my fucking business because our executive producers and many of our writers were gay and were creating these scripts and lines to tell their stories. What, I’m gonna come in and say, 'well I don’t think my character would do that'?. It’s like, seriously? Fuck off. Let's just say there was a little bit of, um, pushback with some of the other actors on the show. [Aj note: I bet this is reference to Randy pushing back as a queer man about Justin’s ridiculous storylines.]

The gay ones or the straight ones?

Um, one of each, actually. There ended up being a lot of negativity in kind of just trying to get loving storylines done and it was a tall order.

Thank you so much for this link. I am dyingggggg over it.

Ofc the last paragraph of what would happen to SCOTUS with a McCain/Palin win was scarily predictive of SCOTUS under Trump/Pence and good reminder to all US folks to vote blue in 2024!

[weclassybouquetfun]

Charlie Hunnam is currently promoting Netflix's space fantasy REBEL MOON: PART ONE: A CHILD OF FIRE,

directed by Zack Snyder, from a script by Snyder, Shay Hatten (ARMY OF THE DEAD) and Kurt Johnstad (300 and 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE) starring Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ray Fisher, Doona Bae and not one, but two GAME OF THRONES Daario Naharises - Michiel Huisman as the frustratingly hard-headed Gunnar and Ed Skrein

as film's Big Bad Admiral Atticus Noble.

Hunnam plays Kai, an Irish (and it's a fairly passing Irish accent, if I may say so myself) mercenary who is recruited by Boutella's Kora on her mission to stop Noble's plan for domination.

While promoting the film, Hunnam spoke with British GQ and the interviewer asked him if he had seen the mention of his QUEER AS FOLK character Nathan Maloney in the 2022 Showtime reboot of the series.

Nathan being fit as hell tracks. Nathan being on Grindr doesn't. He doesn't need the apps. He could pull effortlessly.

While he didn't know about the mention, he did talk about how, during the 25th anniversary of the original, that they were talks of a revival that didn't pan out and that he would love to revisit the character. Which is refreshing because so many actors try to distance themselves from earlier roles.

Unlike Margot Robbie who appeared last year in the finale of the Australian soap NEIGHBOURS, which she was on from 2008-2011.

So good on Charlie for always bigging up his time on the series and, in particular working with Aidan Gillen who he reunited with on Guy Ritchie's KING ARTHUR.

Charlie and QAF - ***NSFW bits***

Never forget when Hunnam dropped out of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and people speculated that it was due to the nudity and he had to correct the public record real quick.

Yes, we know, babes.

[sophsun1]

I wish there was an up to date site with all the qaf scripts for the episodes it sure would make my gif life a lot easier :/

[maigamal]

A Beginner’s Journey into Arabic: Getting Started with the Language

Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 400 million speakers across more than 20 countries. Whether you're learning it for travel, work, culture, or personal interest, diving into Arabic can be a rewarding experience. It might seem intimidating at first, especially if your first language is English or another Latin-based language, but taking small steps makes a big difference.

Learn to Speak Arabic is a phrase that holds both challenge and excitement. Arabic is different in many ways — the script is written from right to left, the sounds can be unfamiliar, and the grammar follows its own unique patterns. Still, with a consistent approach and the right attitude, beginners can make steady progress.

The Arabic Alphabet

Start with the alphabet. Arabic has 28 letters, and each letter can look different depending on where it appears in a word — at the beginning, middle, or end. Some letters even connect to others, while a few do not. Getting comfortable with these shapes and their sounds is the first big step. Try writing them out by hand. Repetition helps your brain get used to the forms, and it’ll also improve your reading skills.

Sounds and Pronunciation

Arabic includes some sounds that don't exist in English, like the letters ع (‘ayn) and ق (qaf). Listening to native speakers is the best way to get used to these. Watch videos, listen to music, or tune into Arabic podcasts. You don’t need to understand everything — at this stage, just pay attention to how the language flows and how words are pronounced.

Basic Vocabulary and Phrases

Start with simple words and phrases. Learn greetings, common expressions, numbers, and everyday vocabulary. Phrases like "How are you?" "Where is the bathroom?" or "I don’t understand" are useful in real-life situations. Flashcards can help with memorization, or you can label objects around your house with their Arabic names.

Understand the Dialects

One of the first things new learners notice is that Arabic isn’t just one language. There's Modern Standard Arabic (used in books, news, and formal speech), and then there are many local dialects — Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, Moroccan, and more. Modern Standard Arabic is a good place to begin, especially for reading and writing. Later, if you’re focusing on speaking with people from a specific region, you might switch your attention to their dialect.

Practice Speaking

Even if your vocabulary is small, start speaking early. Don’t wait until you feel “ready” — that moment may never come. Speak to yourself, repeat what you hear in videos, or find a conversation partner. Language exchanges, online tutors, and local language meetups are great ways to practice speaking. You’ll make mistakes — that’s part of learning. The important thing is to keep going.

Be Consistent

Set a routine that works for you. It doesn’t have to be long — even 15 minutes a day can make a difference if you stick with it. Mix different types of learning: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Use apps if they help, but don’t rely on them alone. Try to create an environment where Arabic becomes part of your daily life.

Connect with the Culture

Language is tied to culture. Exploring Arabic music, movies, food, and traditions can keep your motivation high and make learning more fun. It also gives you a deeper understanding of the people and places where Arabic is spoken.

Final Thoughts

Arabic might take time to get used to, but every word you learn brings you closer to a new way of seeing the world. Approach it with curiosity and patience. You don’t need to rush or compare your progress to anyone else’s. Just focus on the next step — one word, one sentence, one conversation at a time.

[myatfal]

Arabic for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Learning the Language

Arabic is one of the most beautiful and historically rich languages in the world. As the language of the Quran and spoken by millions globally, it holds cultural, religious, and academic significance. For those new to the language, Arabic for Beginners provides a structured way to develop essential skills in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension.

In this article, we will explore the importance of learning Arabic, the best strategies for beginners, and useful resources to make the learning process smooth and enjoyable.

1. Why Learn Arabic?

a) Arabic is a Global Language

✔ Spoken by over 400 million people across the Middle East and North Africa. ✔ Official language in 25 countries and one of the six UN official languages.

b) Understanding Islamic Texts

✔ Arabic is the language of the Quran, Hadith, and classical Islamic literature. ✔ Learning Arabic enables direct access to religious texts without translation.

c) Expands Career Opportunities

✔ Proficiency in Arabic is valuable in diplomacy, journalism, business, and academia. ✔ Demand for Arabic speakers in international organizations and government agencies is increasing.

d) Enhances Cognitive Skills

✔ Learning a new language improves memory, problem-solving skills, and multitasking abilities. ✔ Arabic’s unique script and grammar structure stimulate brain development.

e) Deepens Cultural Appreciation

✔ Arabic is linked to a rich literary, poetic, and historical heritage. ✔ Learning the language allows deeper connections with Arabic culture and traditions.

2. The Challenges of Learning Arabic for Beginners

Arabic is considered one of the most challenging languages for English speakers due to:

✔ A unique script – Arabic is written from right to left with 28 letters. ✔ Complex grammar – Arabic has root-based words, verb conjugations, and dual forms. ✔ Sounds unfamiliar to English speakers – Some Arabic letters, such as ع (Ayn) and ق (Qaf), do not exist in English. ✔ Dialect variations – Arabic has many dialects, making spoken Arabic different from Standard Arabic.

Despite these challenges, with the right approach and dedication, beginners can master Arabic step by step.

3. Best Learning Strategies for Arabic for Beginners

a) Start with the Arabic Alphabet and Pronunciation

✔ Learn the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet. ✔ Practice writing letters and recognizing different forms (beginning, middle, and end). ✔ Focus on pronunciation to develop an authentic Arabic accent.

b) Learn Basic Vocabulary and Common Phrases

Start with frequently used words and daily expressions: ✔ Greetings: "As-salamu alaykum" (Peace be upon you) ✔ Introductions: "Ismi..." (My name is...) ✔ Common words: Kitab (book), Madrasah (school), Maktabah (library)

c) Master Basic Grammar Rules

✔ Understand the difference between nouns (ism), verbs (fi'l), and particles (harf). ✔ Learn about Arabic sentence structure (verb-subject-object order). ✔ Focus on Masculine & Feminine words (e.g., "Mudir" (male teacher) vs. "Mudirah" (female teacher)).

d) Practice Speaking and Listening

✔ Engage in daily conversations using basic Arabic. ✔ Listen to Arabic podcasts, news, and YouTube channels to develop listening skills. ✔ Use language exchange apps to practice with native speakers.

e) Use Flashcards and Interactive Learning Tools

✔ Create flashcards for vocabulary and verb conjugations. ✔ Use mobile apps like Duolingo, Memrise, and Quranic App for daily practice. ✔ Watch Arabic movies with subtitles to connect words with context.

f) Join Arabic Language Classes or Online Courses

✔ Enroll in formal Arabic courses to receive structured guidance. ✔ Many platforms offer Arabic for Beginners courses, including:

Bayyinah TV

Madinah Arabic

Quran Academy

Udemy & Coursera

4. Types of Arabic: What Should Beginners Learn First?

Arabic has three main forms, and beginners should choose based on their goals:

✔ Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) – Used in news, books, formal speeches. Best for academic and formal purposes. ✔ Classical Arabic – The language of the Quran and Islamic texts. Important for religious studies. ✔ Colloquial (Dialectal) Arabic – Everyday spoken Arabic, which varies across regions (Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf Arabic, etc.).

For beginners, starting with Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) provides a solid foundation before diving into dialects.

5. Common Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid

MistakeSolutionSkipping Arabic script and only using transliterationLearn the Arabic script from the start for better reading skills.Trying to learn too many dialects at onceFocus on one type of Arabic before branching into dialects.Avoiding grammar rulesUnderstanding basic grammar helps build sentences correctly.Not practicing speakingSpeak from day one, even if you make mistakes.Memorizing words without contextLearn vocabulary in full sentences for better retention.

Avoiding these mistakes helps Arabic for Beginners learners build confidence and fluency.

6. How Long Does It Take to Learn Arabic?

The time required depends on dedication and practice. On average:

✔ Basic Conversational Level – 3 to 6 months with daily practice. ✔ Intermediate Level – 1 to 2 years for fluency in reading and speaking. ✔ Advanced Level – 2 to 4 years for full proficiency in writing, speaking, and comprehension.

Consistency and immersion play a key role in achieving fluency.

7. Best Resources for Learning Arabic for Beginners

✔ Books:

Arabic Grammar Quick Guide by Mahmoud Gaafar

Madinah Arabic Course by Dr. V. Abdur Rahim ✔ Apps:

Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, Mondly, Quranic App ✔ Websites:

Madinah Arabic, Bayyinah TV, Al Jazeera Arabic Learning ✔ YouTube Channels:

ArabicPod101, Learn Arabic with Maha, Lisanul Arab

Using these resources alongside regular practice makes learning Arabic for Beginners easier and more enjoyable.

Conclusion: Start Your Arabic Learning Journey Today!

Arabic for Beginners can seem challenging at first, but with the right strategies, consistency, and enthusiasm, anyone can master it. Whether your goal is to read the Quran, improve career opportunities, or explore Arabic culture, learning Arabic opens new doors of knowledge and connection.

Start small, stay motivated, and enjoy the journey of mastering this beautiful language!

[esraaadell]

learn arabic

Learn Arabic: A Journey into a Rich and Timeless Language

Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 400 million speakers across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. It is the language of the Quran, making it significant for over 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide. Whether you are learn arabic for religious, cultural, professional, or personal reasons, mastering this beautiful language can be a rewarding experience.

Why Learn Arabic?

Cultural and Historical Importance Arabic is deeply rooted in the history and culture of many civilizations. It has influenced other languages, such as Spanish, Persian, and Turkish, and plays a vital role in literature, poetry, and philosophy.

Business and Career Opportunities Arabic-speaking countries have growing economies, particularly in sectors such as oil, finance, and tourism. Learning Arabic can open doors to job opportunities in international business, diplomacy, and translation.

Religious Significance Arabic is the language of the Quran and Islamic texts. Understanding Arabic allows Muslims to connect more deeply with their faith and better comprehend religious teachings.

Improved Cognitive Skills Studies show that learning a second language enhances memory, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking. Arabic, with its unique script and structure, provides an excellent mental workout.

Challenges of Learning Arabic

Complex Grammar Arabic has a unique grammatical structure, including gendered nouns, verb conjugations, and different sentence formations. However, with practice, learners can master these rules.

Different Script and Pronunciation The Arabic script is written from right to left and has 28 letters. Some sounds, such as "ع" (Ain) and "ق" (Qaf), do not exist in many other languages, making pronunciation challenging.

Dialects vs. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) Arabic has many dialects, such as Egyptian, Levantine, and Gulf Arabic. MSA is used in formal settings, while dialects are spoken in daily life. Learning both is beneficial, depending on the learner’s goals.

Tips for Learning Arabic

Start with the Basics Learn the Arabic alphabet, basic vocabulary, and common phrases. Focus on pronunciation early to develop good habits.

Practice Regularly Consistency is key. Dedicate time daily to listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Arabic.

Use Language Apps and Online Resources Apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and Memrise offer interactive lessons. Websites like ArabicPod101 provide useful audio and video content.

Engage with Native Speakers Speaking with native Arabic speakers helps improve fluency. Language exchange programs and online tutors are great resources.

Immerse Yourself in Arabic Culture Watch Arabic movies, listen to Arabic music, and read simple Arabic books to build familiarity with the language and culture.

Conclusion

Learn Masri is a fulfilling journey that connects you to a rich linguistic heritage. While it presents challenges, dedication and the right resources can make the process enjoyable and rewarding. Whether for career advancement, religious study, or cultural appreciation, mastering Arabic opens a world of opportunities. Start today, and embrace the beauty of the Arabic language!

[riwaq]

Understanding Qalqalah in Tajweed: Letters, Types, Examples, and Levels

When studying Tajweed, the rules that govern the correct pronunciation of the Quran, one important concept to grasp is qalqalah in tajweed. This term refers to a specific phonetic phenomenon involving certain letters that creates a bouncing sound when pronounced. Qalqalah enhances the beauty and clarity of Quranic recitation and is essential for conveying the message accurately.

The Letters of Qalqalah

There are five letters associated with Qalqalah, and they are known as the Qalqalah letters. These letters are:

ق (Qaf)

ط (Taa)

ب (Baa)

ج (Jeem)

د (Daal)

Each of these letters requires special attention when they appear in specific positions within a word, especially when they are at the end of a syllable.

Types of Qalqalah

Qalqalah is divided into two main types:

Qalqalah Kabir (Major Qalqalah): This occurs when the Qalqalah letters are followed by a sukoon (a pause) at the end of a word. The sound is pronounced strongly, making the bouncing effect more pronounced. For instance, in the word "قُدَرَ" (Qudra), the "ق" at the end produces a noticeable bounce.

Qalqalah Sugra (Minor Qalqalah): This happens when the Qalqalah letters are not at the end of a word, often occurring within a word. The sound is less pronounced than in Major Qalqalah. An example is found in the word "يَجْعَلُ" (Yaj'al), where the "ج" has a softer bounce.

Examples of Qalqalah in Quranic Verses

To see Qalqalah in action, here are a couple of examples from the Quran:

Major Qalqalah: In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286), the word "لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا" includes the letter "ل" which doesn't exhibit Qalqalah. However, if we focus on another example, the word "فَأَنذَرْهُمْ" (Anzarnum) from Surah Al-Muddaththir (74:2) showcases the "د" at the end, illustrating Major Qalqalah.

Minor Qalqalah: In Surah Al-Imran (3:137), the word "كَذَّبَتْ" (Kadhabat) contains "ب" which illustrates Minor Qalqalah since it’s not at the end of the word.

Levels of Qalqalah

There are levels of intensity when applying Qalqalah:

Strong Qalqalah: This occurs with the Qalqalah letters followed by a sukoon at the end of a word. Here, the bouncing sound is clear and emphatic.

Moderate Qalqalah: This is seen in cases where the letters are in the middle of a word. The sound remains distinct but is less pronounced than the strong Qalqalah.

Soft Qalqalah: This level is subtle and often appears in casual recitation, where the pronunciation may not fully convey the bounce but still adheres to the rules of Tajweed.

Learning More About Tajweed and Qalqalah

Understanding Qalqalah is just one piece of mastering Tajweed. To dive deeper into the nuances of Quranic recitation and Tajweed rules, consider exploring resources that specialize in this area. One helpful website is Riwaq Al-Quran, where you can find comprehensive courses and materials that will support your learning journey.

Mastering Qalqalah and other Tajweed rules enriches your Quranic recitation and brings you closer to the beautiful language and meaning of the Quran. Happy learning!

[briansjustin]

Did you see their faces? Yeah. We gave them a prom they'll never forget. Me, neither. It's the best night of my life.

[no-literally]

hii i know Ive commented this on one of your posts but I just now discovered this function so may I ask where do you get the qaf uk scripts? 🥺 thanks

They published the first season's scripts! You can probably find a copy on thriftbooks or even maybe for free online on archive.org. (Look for Queer As Folk: The Scripts) I would give almost anything for the season 2 scripts, too.

[brian-kinney-apologist]

hey babe!! i have a qaf question for u

ok so ive heard ppl in this (very small) fandom talk abt hal sparks really negatively either because of his character (understandable, micheal sucks ass) or because of his political views/beliefs/whatevers

i have never understood the second part and was told that u are quite the qaf historian so i was wondering if u could give me a lil summary of what those beliefs/views of his are because i would really like to know!!

ty in advance 🖤

well hello there, nice to know that my reputation in qaf fandom is still alive and well lol

so. here's the thing: if we're talking politics overall he didn't say anything questionable as far as I know (he has a podcast on youtube or smth where he trashes trump and other republican politicians (I'm not american so my knowledge of american politics is pretty basic so don't quote me on this one lol) so it's fine with me lol)

if we're talking the show though 👀💀

he did say some things back in the day that made people dislike him (but mind you now everything is cool between everyone involved in the show at least public wise so we're going to talk about the times when the show was airing and some time after it ended)

1. the most questionable™️ thing that he's ever said was comparing kissing a man (a costar on screen) to kissing a dog and people thought he meant that it was disgusting or smth BUT he did clarify later that people misinterpreted him because he meant that he's not attracted to men so kissing male costars on set during filming did nothing for him (it was an answer to some interviewer's question what it's like to kiss a man so take it as it is 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️)

btw interviewers AND fans had no decorum back in the day asking the whole cast all sorts of personal questions (poor randy still has ptsd bc of this 😭💀)

2. now it's tea time!!!! hal used to have a beef with gale and randy that led to him being hated by their fans. so. before the show aired hal was the most famous actor in the cast (except for sharon gless obviously) and he thought (was promised ?????) that he'd be the lead man™️ of the show. but after qaf aired everyone fell for gale (obviously sorry not sorry lol) because he served and ate everyone up. and also everyone focused on britin. hal didn't like that (considering it was basically gale's and randy's first roles on tv) and he started saying some stuff about them (publicly). for example, he said that actors' work is doing what's written in the script no questions asked. that was a clear dig at gale and randy as they were famous for constantly questioning/criticising the writers/showrunners/producers, disliking their plotlines and basically voicing their opinions on set (they did nothing wrong, should've complained more, look at s5 🥲). also hal did say one time that he would never work with gale again but didn't elaborate why. and as far as I know he did say more shady stuff about gale and randy during different interviews but I don't have any more specific examples (i think he was also constantly pointing out that he's straight while gale didn't say much about his own sexuality and hal was speculating about it). moreover, I remember reading somwhere that hal didn't like people who drank/did drugs bc he himself was against this stuff and gale and peter smoke some weed before some s1 promotion event and hal had a problem with it. the last thing: he also did complain about gale staying in character (whatever that means in regards of gale) during filming but no one else complained so 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️.

(I lied last thing fr fr I wanted to point out that gale and randy NEVER said anything bad about hal so that kinda makes you think)

hope this helps, if someone has something to add or wants to correct me, feel free to do so

[slayerchick303]

I've been thinking about the characters in QAF and how I relate to each of them. It's part of why the show is so great.

●Brian Kinney- I completely agree with his utter contempt for society's expectations of us. I feel the same about his thoughts on marriage (and somewhat on his opinion regarding romantic relationships), but I'm not judgemental about people who disagree with us like he is. I also hate to appear vulnerable. His relationship with blood relatives and found family is also similar to mine. Not to mention, we're both cynical and stubborn. I'm with early Brian: uncredited guest appearances are the only part I want to play in a kid's life. I don't relate to his Ayn Rand worship at all. That's total garbage.

●Justin Taylor- His age gap start was pretty much my experience, too. Though mine was a 13 year gap, and a much more problematic age range (I was 14 and the guy 27). Fortunately, mine only went on for a weekend as he went back to Italy, and I went home from the camp I was at. Thankfully, I couldn't respond to the 2 letters he sent me, so he stopped writing to me. Justin was simultaneously braver and dumber than I was in regards to that. As a disabled person, I also really relate to Justin's disability journey. I have traumatic brain injury, a degenerative neuromuscular disease, etc, so that part of his story really resonates with me. Also, his being especially studious while simultaneously making some wild recreational choices as a teen (mine were early teen years, though). I don't want marriage, children, stables, or a pool, though.

●Emmett Honeycutt- Emmett is the person I aspire to be. I literally named my dog after him. Emmett is such a good man. He's the ultimate defender and champion of people he loves. He refuses to be anyone other than himself, and he supports others in being true to themselves. I identify with his devotion to his friends and his refusal to tolerate people who harm his or other's well-being. If I were given a large inheritance, I'd do the exact same thing that Emmett did with it. I wish I could be as confident and optimistic as Emmett.

●Michael Novotny- I love Michael with my whole heart. I have similar creative interests to Michael. I used to turn a blind eye to people mistreating me like he does. I spent years bending over backward to defend people who would never do it for me. I don't want kids or to get married, though I do love Ben. Ben is superior to David in every single way. I 100% relate to Michael's "nerdy" interests. At least once a week, Hal and I will geek out about comic books/movies. If it's not with me, then Hal does so with someone else. That's pretty much the only thing Hal and Michael have in common. As an aside, a few months ago, I convinced Hal to get an AI to write a new episode of QAF for us when he has time (which knowing his hectic schedule may never happen). If Hal can get me the scripts for every episode, I'll do it myself.

●Ted Schmidt- As much as I want to be Emmett, and I feel like Michael, I know I'm season 1 Ted. I have zero self-esteem. No, less than zero. I have -1,000 self-esteem. My interests and professional ambitions couldn't be further from Ted's, though I do love opera.

●Melanie Marcus- I love Melanie. I share her desire for true justice. Her disgust at hypocrisy is mild in comparison to my own. She doesn't suffer fools and loves fiercely. I'm like her in that I'll defend the rights of someone even if they make my blood boil with anger.

●Lindsey Peterson- I relate to Lindsey's artistic nature and her devotion to lifting up the community. Lindsey also hoping time and time again that she'll be treated well despite all evidence and experience showing her that'll never happen was absolutely me, once upon a time. Thankfully, I've mostly gotten over that. The whole maternal thing I could not relate to less. I have zero desire to have children. Children are fine in small doses, then they can be given back to their parents.

●Debbie Novotny- Everyone deserves a parent like Debbie. I'm like her in that I can be... course and sometimes crass. I enjoy slapping a loved one upside the head to show affection. If you hurt someone I love, I will destroy you. My mouth occasionally gets me in trouble. I'll say, "I told you so to someone's face." I don't know how she has the energy to do everything she does though. She's a true hero and mom to everyone in the community.

I'd love to see how all of you feel, too. How do you relate to each of these characters? Are there other QAF characters that you think should be on this list? Are there any people you can't relate to at all?

[im-some-lionheart]

QAF S3 Finale really was something, wasn't it? The Justin-Brian-Michael supremacy of it all is, the continuity, the character development... *chef's kiss*

So in the previous episode, Justin tells Brian he got suspended for not apologizing to Stockwell, and this happens:

Brian: so you sacrificed everything?

Justin: sometimes you have to, for what you believe in.

Brian: *leans in and kisses him*

which, ok. cute. But then,

THEN

In the finale,

Brian goes on to max out 5 golden cards to save The Gay Agenda ™ 🥺✊🏻 our hero ❤️

He, as per usual, doesn't want credit for it, but still he tells Justin and Michael and them alone that he was Concerned Citizens For The Truth 🥺

When Justin asks why he did it, he says "some asshole" told him "that if you believe in something strongly enough, you have to be willing to sacrifice everything"

When Michael asks how he could do it, Brian shrugs and says "sometimes a gay man's gotta do what a gay man's gotta do"

When Stockwell loses and Justin says "thanks to Rage, the streets of Gayopolis are once again safe for perverts", Brian looks at him and sighs, which knowing Brian means he's thinking "it was actually thanks to you, kid."

When Michael comes in running with Hunter, this exchange happens:

Michael: I had to do something

Brian: so you risked it all?

Michael: *nods and smiles*

He then proceeds to give Michael the keys to his Corvette and tells him to "go for it", after which this exchange happens:

Justin: Jesus Christ, Brian. Now you don't even have a car

Brian: yeah, I guess I've lost everything

Justin: *smiles*

Brian: *looks up at him*

Justin: *puts his arm around Brian's shoulder* not everything

I- 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

the beauty of this show's scripts, I swear to god. It's all there, it's subtle, but if you pay attention you're rewarded by the most wonderful character development. You can see how these people care about each other and influence each other in little ways. It's so beautiful..

[sophsun1]

i just finished QAF for the first time and discovered your gifs while searching the Britin tag and i just wanted to say how much i love them! especially the script direction set. :)

apologies if this has already been asked an answered, but i was wondering what you imagine for brian and justin’s future post series?

Hey anon!

I love new qaf fans appearing especially as the fandom is basically me and maybe two other people active in the tag lol so it's always nice when new people appear!

Aww thank you <3 I do try and be more creative with my gifsets when I think of something and the script direction is a personal fave of mine too as it gives an insight into how well Gale and Randy's chemistry was by seeing what it was they were supposed to convey and how good they were at doing it.

Well the ending wasn't for everyone but for me personally there were things I wasn't a fan of and would've tweaked but in general I was always pro them not getting married but staying together.

So in my post show canon Brian eventually moved to New York to be with Justin and open a branch of Kinnetic out there with Cynthia tagging along as his executive assistant of course. The bright lights and eclecticism of New York is so *them* they would fit right in. It absolutely makes sense and is him coming full circle as it was always Brian's dream within the show to move there before he even got fully involved with Justin.

Justin is continuing with his art career and again it goes hand in hand that an artist would be involved with an advertising genius and they would work together sometimes on projects. Gus would come visit them and we would see the gang out there and they would travel to Pittsburgh and relive their heyday dancing away at Babylon which Brian still owns but Ted runs for him alongside Pittsburgh Kinnetic.

Maybe they would get married at some point but not because they had to but because they wanted to. It wouldn't change them in any significant way"they don't need rings and vows to prove anything remember " ;) They would still be that same wild, kinky couple they were but with a solid foundation of love on both sides there now. They would fight and argue and Brian would still be infuriating at times and Justin a bit of a brat but that's how they like it it's why they fell for each other.

What were your thoughts on the show and britin? Did you enjoy the ending created for them? What story arcs did you love or hate?

[rotzaprachim]

Kalimat/كلمات

Yusuf al-Khaysani/Niccolò di Genova, 3.3k, teen, AO3 LINK

Yusuf translates medical texts for Niccolò from Greek and Persian into Arabic, and Niccolò spots the substratum of the ideas of the classical authors that he had once believed the basis of his own civilisation that he would go to the sword to defend, translated and passed down and sewn into a no longer foreign script. There are words Yusuf does not know how to translate. They will never, ever know all of the words. The prospect is thrilling. --- It takes Niccolò lifetimes to learn Arabic.

(I've tried pretty hard to make this at least historically feasible but I'm very sure this is just. Jam packed with mistakes. As is the Arabic langauge stuff- I got booted from the class due to dyslexia. I also hope the representation of Islam and Islamic culture is accurate.) 

Languages drop from Joe’s lips easily. Nicky struggles with survival phrases in lingua francas- What Hurts in Dari and Can you breath- nod yes in Swahili and How can we help in French, but Joe can easily lose himself in the sea of a new language’s words and come up swimming, not just stringing together sentences but swallowing poetry, drama, and music. In Ughyar, Bosnian, Zapotec, Spanish, Tamil, Sylheti, Albanian. The shelves of his books line their lives. That is important to Joe, that people be seen not just as they always seem to be in western news reports - as the bodies in the ruined city- but as poets. As storytellers. As humans who struck fire with language that will survive and burn anew.

Joe recites Khachatur Abovian to calm the fractured nerves of a former schoolteacher ripped from his home while he and Nicky rush to forge passports and visas for the teacher and his wife and his seven children to make new lives in America. In a post war displaced persons camp he speaks Yiddish, reads Sholem Aleichem and Avrom Sutzkever from paperbacks pulled from the fires and then decades later in the dust of Baghdad, Arabic and al-Sayyab. And he listens, listens even more than he speaks. He listens to stories upon stories of war and loss and human suffering with his ears and his eyes and heart and a clasped hand that says, I do not claim to know your pain but I have felt my own.

Nicky sets arms and delivers babies and administers vaccines and sorts endless boxes of quinine tables and bandages. He speaks with his hands, mainly, and his bedside manner is different from Joe’s. He learned long ago to keep lollipops in the right pocket of his jacket. The first language Nicky learned to speak was the sea and the second was the wind, and spoken words come to him slower, with less agility, blending into occasionally archaic jumbles. He means to ask an assistant for an antiseptic wipe at one point, has to dig through his mind through the piles of once vital vocabulary bleached useless by time, military jargon for battles lost nine hundred years ago and colloquial derja words for plants and crops gone extinct under the tides of modern monocropping, and comes up sputtering, asking if anyone, perchance, has a neckerchief?

The linguistic stumbling of an unlettered genovese sailor versus a middle class trader’s son who learned to love the written world on his mother’s lap.

It took Nicky a human life time to master spoken Arabic, in a few of her many varieties, with her tricky mazes of roots, more decades of listening and stumbling through conversations and gentle corrections than the average human mind could take before his own readujsted to the beauty of a world described through roots with all things connected to each other.

It took him another life time again to master fusHa, the complex turns of phrase and imagery and unwritten short vowells, and a brush and then pen always felt far more alien in his hands than a sword did. (Although the precision of a pen prepares him well for the precision of a scalpel, and that, perhaps, is the instrument with which Nicky writes history.)

A thousand years ago, in the same city who’s people Joe and Nicky will die again and again for to try and pull from the ruin, the man then Yusuf wrapped his hand around the hand of the man then Niccolò and guided him through this mysterious world of written letters. Alif-ba-ta-thaa and then nun-qaf-waw-lam-alif,

اسمي نقولا

For the first time, Niccolò wrote himself down.

The script contained other mysteries and hidden trap doors. The disappearing mem that could get swallowed by lam and alif and the mysterious shape-shifting ta marbouta and the categories of sun and moon letters that lent the marks on a page a tangible quality, the burning Mediterranean sole that Niccolò’s people marked their years by and la luna by which Yusuf’s people knew their own time by.

When they had reached their first truce in the battlefield and had to learn how to say things beyond various threats and claims of the name of God, they’d each had to remake the world in a new image, relabel everything they’d thought they’d known. Shams, the enemy man had said over and over again, pointing up, and Niccolò hadn’t known if he meant “sky” or “blue” or “above” or “God” or the color “blue.” Niccolò had drawn a line in the sand, the past running to the future and tried to map out the different tenses of his own language he didn’t fully understand himself, only knew how he’d use them in a sentence. He’d hatched an x in the middle for now, drawn two little stick figures and two blobby horses, us he’d said in zenaize, then future, right of the men, past, left.

“Ahhh,” the man who Niccolò now knew as Ana Ismee Yusuf, nodded. He stood up and pointed right. “Lelshar’.” To the left. “Lel’arb.” He smiled and Niccolò thought it might be worth dying, just to see again. “Si, si. Io capiscooo.” He stretched his syllables out in a deadpan imitation of a puffed-up Genovese noble, and Niccolò laughed himself.

Several lifetimes later and Niccolò tries to label his world anew again in writing. Yusuf writes out words in large, blocky script on pieces of scap paper, marks the harakat around the words carefully in red ink. He tacks باب to the door and سَرِير to their bed and even أنا to himself. He holds up a piece of paper to the sky outside, the sun blinding their eyes momentarily before they repair. الشَّمس, the first word. Yusuf even attempts to stick قِطّ onto Amira, the sharp eyed street cat who’s wormed her wait into their household. The scratches that earns him heal quickly.

It takes Niccolò far longer than he wants anyone to know before his mind properly started to see a word and see it as a word, something more than a collection of letters but a thing that existed, definitively, in God’s world. بَيْت, what he and Yusuf have now had in Basra, Palermu, Fustat. مُحيط, like the Mare Nostrum. فَتاة, a girl like like the sister he left behind.

And then the door was opened, and Niccolò could read, or at least, understand this process of reading for himself, and more than that, he could see this part of Yusuf, so crucial to the soul he nad come to love and this heart he now held in his own. Yusuf loved words, and books, and writing, he loved his Book as the word of God to his prophet and he loved his books as connection to the mother who had first taught him suras and his father who wrote in three languages, and, he had once gold Niccolò in the quiet safety of their bed, in the night, with the first boy he had ever loved, the other star pupil at their madrassa with whom he would lie composing lines of poetry under a lemon tree.

Niccolò thought of Yusuf reading in the small, cool courtyard of the house in Damascus that would for this lifetime be their home, his mouth moving silently in prayer as his fingers followed reverently over the verses. He thought of Yusuf moving elegantly through the world, his speech dry and witty or educated where his own felt blunt, trading jokes and barbs back and forth in the tea house and the market. But mostly, Niccolò thought of Yusuf writing, face still with all the steady focus and silent reverence of prayer, bent over a carved rosewood writing desk, the sunlight streaming in through the windows setting his curls on fire. And his hands, so strong, so reliable, moving unerringly across the page, line after line of the script that Niccolò once feared and mocked because he feared but which he now knew could contain all the beauty of the world.

He practiced by writing to the those he loved but no longer walked the world.

Oum, today sun bright. I see roses in market. I think of you, when I see roses in market.

Abba, in house of God happy I know you are, happy makes it me.

Maria, to read you will love, i know. Your son man now. Good i know. Peace to you.

Niccolò burned the letters in a fire and hoped God would make it so his 'aa'ila could read them. Yusuf and Niccolò were both young in the business of being immortal. They had not learned to shoulder the pain of it yet, so they faced the loneliness, together and alone. Niccolò thought that he saw the appeal of letter writing, then, imagined a world in which he could have written his family from the Holy Land, told them that no matter how many infidels he killed to cleanse this world for the Cross he felt no closer to holiness himself, told them that the one he killed and killed and killed again he had found holiness in, told his parents that their son died and died and did not die. That he missed home, the rocky shores and fishing villages of Liguria, but that he missed them more, because his family was his home, even if there were things about him that he hid in the darker parts of himself because he knew they would never understand.

His sister’s grandchildren- or maybe her great-grandchildren, he wasn’t quite sure- were still alive, probably, but there wasn’t a way they’d respond well to the idea of a relative who’d have been forty years past death even without war sending them letters written in the alphabet they’d been taught to hate, if they could read at all.

With the ashes of his letters, he lets his family go, and prays God looks kindly upon them, and shows them mercy, and grants them peace and understanding. Every century or so, he’ll check in, he vows, even from afar, because he owes Maria that much. He hopes her son or his son or his son has not wasted his life to die in a war on foreign soil like he did, or that her daughter or her daughter or her daughter has not been left a widow.

Yusuf’s family still lived in Tunis. His sister Maryam took over the trading business after his death and made the al-Khaysani family a great name and funded many hospitals and houses of learning. News of her death reached Palermu weeks after the burial, and it was one of the few times in their long, long lives that Yusuf had to walk for months alone, to process a grief as large as the world. He let the waves of the sea and the sand of the desert swallow him again and again, and when he did not die, he rose and lifted his head to the sky and swore he would make the world as good as she wanted it to be. In every city they go to with a cathedral or even a baked mud church Niccolò lights candles for Maria and for Maryam. Santa Maria, madre de dio, they’ll pick up one day, in a language centuries off from existing. You know she is named more times in our book than yours, Yusuf told him in one one of their many cycles of death and coming back, when Niccolò called out for her, bleeding out on the sand.

When Niccolò found Yusuf again they stood with their hands clasped at her grave outside the medina and then they prayed and set off again. New cities, new tongues, new people. To avoid suspicion, they alter the sounds of their names to match the sounds of the city. Yusuf and Naaqid. Giuseppe and Niccolò. Nikolai and Iosef. Every death is shorter.

Yusuf forges the documents and the names, barters and trades, even makes several seperate respectable fortunes as a merchant of cloth and then spices before even claims of pomegranates doing wonders for one’s health start to wear a bit thin and they have to fake their deaths again. He writes, and though home quickly becomes what they can carry, he keeps sheaths of poetry in tiny, perfect script in his saddlebag, recites long poems as they make camp in the desert. Some were written by and for men like them. Others Yusuf tweaks the gender of, chooses inta over inti. Every time they die they leave a generous waqf behind.

Niccolò takes care of the horses, and then he tries to take care of people. He learns as much of these strange healing arts of the east as he can from Yosef, and then from a doctor in Basra and a Jewish apothecary in the city of Fustat. It is not blasphemy to try to know the body, he is deciding, it is not sacrilige to try as hard as one might to save a life. At some point, the knowledge goes beyond what he can remember or what a diagram can tell him, and so it’s in Damascus that Niccolò decides, even with his previous failed attempts at the aliph-baa, to ask Yusuf to teach him how to read.

And he does. It takes time, years, before he can, before he feels more man than child with a pen in his hand and he does not smear ink across the page. And there are limits. He is never a poet. His language is always more practical than- and this is a word that will not exist for centuries but that colors his memories even still- than romantic. For him heart is a thing of muscles and chords that powers a life. He reads and takes notes on Al Razi far more than Abu Nuwwas or al Muttanabi. Ibn Sina’s Canon of Medicine astounds him just as Ferdowsi’s perfect schemes of monorhymes entrance Yusuf. His sentences do not flow into rivers like Yusuf’s do. They build squat, strong houses. They encode information that Niccolò can leave behind when he dies, only to return to a century later and find that have been added on to by scholars after him, the foundations for someone else’s palace. Sometimes, the things he thought were true are completely washed away in the flood of some new discovery, and he prays and begs the forgiveness of all those he caused unnecessary pain in his ignorance.

But even in his clumsiness, the power of words surges through. Yusuf’s words and his love of words surges through to Niccolò in the years of learning, until Niccolò loves words too, just as Niccolò’s love of the sea and her many tempestuous moods and promise of infinite freedoms filters through to Yusuf. Yusuf translates texts for Niccolò from Greek and Persian into Arabic, and just as with Mary and Maryam centuries ago on a battlefield, Niccolò spots the substratum of the ideas of the classical authors that he had once believed the basis of his own civilisation that he would go to the sword to defend, translated and passed down and sewn into a no longer foreign script. There are words Yusuf does not know how to translate. They will never, ever know all of the words. The prospect is thrilling.

And Yusuf’s love of words surges up into Niccolò’s love of Yusuf too. It took him about three weeks after their initial truce to realise the man was soft, which then took him a few decades to find more endearing than annoying. That he liked sweet things and flowers and goddamn useless hobbies like calligraphy and drawing complex borders of tulips and interlocking knots along the borders of his writing papers. And he knew he was a good poet, to his own ears, that he fit words together nicely. But being able to read Yusuf’s poems, even the unwritten snippets he leaves scattered around the house, often unfinished, is something else entirely. A glimpse into being seen, by the person who sees him best. But God above, he doesn’t think anyone alive has had their eyes compared to the beauty of the sea after the desert quite so many times, or wrung as many turns of phrase from the has the double meaning of عَيْن.

“The world,” he says one night as they sit and watch night descend softly upon the City of Jasmine. It’s a city to make even the woman who will come knocking at their door in a matter of decades feel young and insignificant, and even the colloquial name suits Yusuf’s pretensions annoyingly well. Steam from cups of tea curls into the evening air. The smells of horse shit and rosewater both on the air. The calm cradle of the evening after the maghrib prayer. “You see it …” He does not know how to end it.

“How, then, do I see the world, hayati?”

“You see the stars above a battlefield. You see the stars and then the fields that will grow again after the ashes are tilled into the soil. You see stars as gems, and the windstorms of the desert is the finest music, if you would believe your poems.

“And you are angry that I have seen the good in the world? I would not call the man who came to a foreign land to kill the infidel and came to spend a hundred years learning best to save their lives a man who does not see beauty in unexpected things either.”

“You are-”

He looks for a word, any word in his mind that has learned so many. Unchanging would not be right for the man who once killed him so many times and learned Greek and Latin to read him the words of the Apostles as they were written, who has accompanied him on pilgrimages to Antioch and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. He has changed as much as Niccolò has. No, it’s something-

“You are looking at me as you look at your patients.” Yusuf reaches out and brushes back Niccolò’s hair. He kisses his forehead. A kiss from Yusuf, no matter how chaste or how many, still sends lightning through his body.

“As if you were ill?”

“No. You look with such focus upon the world, with so much kindness about how to help it heal.” For a time whose number has since gone beyond count, their hands interlink. “We cannot save the world, but we can save some, and by saving some, we can save the world. We will work to repair what is broken.”

“I have found the cause of your affliction.”

“What do you consider me afflicted by, Doctor Al-Zenowaizi?”

The word romantic is still more than six centuries out, although they’ll soon wander through Europe during the heyday of the romance, and Yusuf will even write a few himself in Occitan and Provençal. For now, though, the word carries the implications of Roma and the waning Basileion Rhomaion to the north, to the al-Rum rite of the Damascene churches he now celebrates the Eucharist in, the river of his faith turned down a different course. For now, though, the word romantic remains firmly in the future. No, it’s something else he thinks of.

“Hope. You have a most serious case of hope.”

“And what do you suggest as remedy, Doctor Al-Zenowaizi?”

Niccolò pulls him in for a proper kiss, long and deep and hot and sweet and bitter from the tea. He loses himself in the warmth of his body, his hands in the curls of his hair, and he thinks how blessed he has been by God that this is the man he has been destined to spend forever with.

“Albi, I do not think there is one. I think you have been cursed with an incurable case of hope.”

[maigamal]

Why Learning Modern Standard Arabic Feels So Hard—and What You Can Do About It

Learning Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) can feel like climbing a steep hill without knowing exactly where the top is. It’s a beautiful language with deep roots and rich history, but it’s also very different from most Western languages. That difference is what draws people in—and what makes the learning process challenging.

Let’s talk about some of the most common issues learners face when diving into MSA and how you can tackle them one by one. You’ll see that it’s not about being a language genius—it’s about knowing what to expect and how to work with it.

The Gap Between Written and Spoken Arabic

One of the first surprises people run into is that the Arabic they read in textbooks doesn’t quite match the Arabic they hear in everyday conversations. Modern Standard Arabic is mostly used in news, books, official speeches, and formal settings. But in real life, native speakers use dialects—Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, Maghrebi, and more.

This can be frustrating. You spend hours studying grammar and vocabulary, and then you try to talk to someone and realize they’re not speaking the same kind of Arabic you just learned.

What to do: Stick with MSA if your goal is reading, writing, or understanding the formal language used in media or religious texts. But if you want to speak with locals, consider learning a dialect alongside it. Even basic exposure to a spoken variety will help bridge the gap and make you feel more connected.

Grammar Is No Joke

Arabic grammar can feel like a maze. There are verb patterns (called "forms"), noun cases, gender rules, broken plurals, and more. It’s a lot to take in, and it’s not always intuitive.

Many learners get stuck trying to make everything perfect and end up not speaking at all. The grammar is important, sure, but it shouldn’t stop you from trying.

What to do: Focus on patterns instead of memorizing every rule. You’ll notice that a lot of the grammar falls into repeatable shapes. Get comfortable with the basics, like the past and present tense, and build from there. Listening to well-structured content like news broadcasts or audiobooks in MSA helps reinforce the grammar naturally.

The Script Can Be Intimidating

Arabic script is beautiful, but it’s very different from the Latin alphabet. It’s written right to left, has different forms depending on where the letter sits in a word, and leaves out most vowels in writing.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when every word looks unfamiliar.

What to do: Practice reading slowly and consistently. Start with words you already know and build up from there. Don’t worry about reading full sentences at first. Use vowelled texts (with small symbols showing pronunciation) when you can. These help a lot, especially in the early stages.

Vocabulary Can Feel Like a Black Hole

Because Arabic is from a different language family than English, most words won’t remind you of anything you already know. That means you’re starting from zero, and there’s a lot of memorization involved.

To make things harder, Arabic uses roots and patterns to build words. A three-letter root can produce a dozen different related words depending on the pattern used.

What to do: Instead of trying to learn random words, focus on high-frequency vocabulary and group them by topic. Also, learn the roots and start noticing how different words are related. This not only makes memorization easier, but it also helps you guess meanings in context.

Pronunciation Can Trip You Up

Some Arabic sounds don’t exist in English. Letters like ع (ayn), ق (qaf), or غ (ghayn) take time and effort to pronounce correctly. If you’re not used to hearing them, they might sound similar or even the same at first.

What to do: Don’t worry about sounding perfect right away. Focus on being clear and consistent. Listen to native speakers and try to mimic them. Record yourself and compare. Over time, your ear will sharpen and your mouth will adjust.

Feeling Overwhelmed Is Normal

Many learners feel discouraged at some point. It’s easy to compare yourself to others or feel like you’re not progressing fast enough. This is common in a language like Arabic that has a steep learning curve in the beginning.

What to do: Set small, realistic goals. Celebrate progress—however small it feels. Learning Arabic is a long-term journey, not a quick sprint. Surround yourself with encouraging resources, people, and a community if possible.

Final Thought

It’s completely normal to struggle when learning MSA. Every language has its tough spots, and Arabic just happens to have more of them early on. But with patience, consistency, and the right mindset, those walls start to come down.

Remember this: Top Challenges When You Learn Modern Standard Arabic and How to Beat Them is all about staying steady, not perfect. Stick with it, and you’ll be surprised at how much ground you can cover.