#scene stealer kings how i missed you

[alphajasperdimitri]

Ngl the Netflix Avatar: The Last Airbender show was kind of a mixed bag of great and iffy kinda like a delicious food but it’s missing something almost perfect, but still I loved the show so far.

What i didnt like:

*The gaang/ trio doing adventures alone by themselves

*The blended/ mixed episodes

*Pacing

*King Bumi’s new personality, his issues, and how his true identity was revealed very early.

*Sokka and Suki’s fast chemistry, (well I kinda like their love story a little, it was sweet, but i think their rushing it).

*Also Sokka kissing both Suki and Yue kinda feels like hes cheating on Suki, they already had a good time and now Yue?

*The Secret tunnel scene which only happened on book 2, ofc I was happy the first minute they showed it but this was Aang and Katara’s moment, they changed that into love between families or siblings but it’s about love between 2 couples Oma and Shu, wish they just did that on season 2.

*Aang didn’t talk to Hei bai or explain about the forest will grow back in time and just buried the seed.

*Kyoshi teaching Aang a lesson by traumatizing him with her merciless past, (thats not how you teach an innocent child).

*Zuko didn’t saved Zhao at the final episode, (in the original he saved him, because he still has that kindness and compassion in him just deeply hidden)

*Aang didn’t really learn how to waterbend, there was this scene were Aang and Katara were playing with water splashing each other I thought after that scene it was skipped to Aang finally progressing on his practice but he learned nothing at all, (well atleast he learned how to contact the spirit world with his past lives and loved ones). Probably at season 2 he masters it already but is skipped.

*About Katara’s necklace, Pakku didnt talk about that and the past.

*Gordon Cormier/Aang and Kiawentiio’s/ Katara’s acting skills.

What I really liked:

*Cgi, visual effects, the animals 10/10

*Martial arts

*Costumes

*New lessons

*Some of the backstories including the introduction.

*How they interpreted Koh the face stealer.

*Aang’s conversation with Zuko after getting captured by Zhao.

*Zuko’s backstory and the 41st division.

*June and Iroh

*Why Ozai can be evil, “yall remember Evil is made not born” he probably had a tough time when he was little, he just doesnt know what he’s doing is not discipline its abuse. Just like what Iroh said it’s in the fire nation’s bloodline on sometimes being harsh and world dominating.

*Azula’s obsession with perfection and her dad’s approval, I liked how hardworking she was until she reached her classic blue flame, she had to go through alot of pain too.

* Dallas Liu’s acting skills as Zuko is amazing, I could literally feel his emotional state, anger and rage.

*Yue’s spiritual abilities.

*Aang meeting Gyatso at the Spirit world broke me.

*Iroh’s backstory along with Zuko broke me.

Let’s just say atleast it’s better than that movie that never existed.

7/10 Imma say its perfectly balanced.

Also forgive me if my english is bad.

[laiqualaurelote]

#10 or #29, for a Miss Fisher fic

I've answered 10 here!

29. Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic. (If you don’t have either, just share a random fic idea you have that you don’t plan on getting to.)

I actually haven't got a lot of spare stuff for MFMM because I wound up using nearly everything I wrote for it (also I tried to have a poke around in my drafts but I could not find the Gdoc for World Enough And Time? this is...alarming. I'd say I dreamt I wrote it but it's right there on AO3). So: random fic idea.

Had I had world enough and time I would have expanded there's something wild about you, child, reinterpreting the entire series as a fae AU. Some highlights:

we would get more backstory on how Aunt Prudence raised changeling!Phryne, deliberately training her to handle iron (this is why she can use a gun if the handle is clad in oak, or take trains)

at some point Dot would have acquired a unicorn. She would have called him, IDK, Stuart

Jane is half-fae. Her mother disappeared because she followed her lover through the veil. She returns after what she thinks was half a day but was in fact ten years

there would still be a Gilbert & Sullivan opera but it would be Iolanthe, not Ruddigore

Camilla would be a hugupo (tiger spirit)

Away With The Fairies would involve literal fairies, probably

the S1 arc: Murdoch Foyle, the original King of the Winter Court, seeks to regain his power by sacrificing four changelings, Phryne being the last

the S2 arc: Sidney Fletcher, stealer of children, is the Erlking

the S3 arc: the final antagonist would be the Gentleman with the Plucked Eyes, who is the King of the Summer Court and Phryne's real father. Following the Tam Lin myth, Jack would get stolen and Phryne would have to save him from the Wild Hunt by holding him fast and fearing him not

the fic would end with Jack introducing Phryne to his grandmother, and Phryne telling him her real name

(from this fic ask game, thank you for asking!)

[teddypmedley]

Tv shows I like with absolutely bangin soundtracks

Gilmore Girls - Carole King, Grant-Lee Philips (troubadour), The Bangles, The Shins, Sam Philips, Bowie, Blondie, Nancy Sinatra, The Smiths, Talking Heads. Everything from the oldies to current stuff, mostly various flavors of rock. Lots of new wave and post punk vibes. It’s got everything from greatest hits to deep cuts. The whole show is a love letter to (mostly American, mostly white) art/media in general. While I acknowledge plenty of the references do not hold up, I hold that the soundtrack has zero misses in terms of well-chosen bangers.

Sex Education - Ezra Furman does a lot of it, and then they throw in loads of rock and pop classics and current stuff. Violent Femmes, Fleetwood Mac, T.Rex, The Velvet Underground, Brenton Wood, Queen. It’s honestly on par with Gilmore Girls, Furman takes the place of Carole King/Grant-Lee Philips and then everything else is an eclectic and fun mix. It’s more diverse than the GG soundtrack and also has zero misses.

Grace & Frankie - the intro theme is Stealers Wheel but the rest of it is a mix of oldies and current stuff. Eclectic as hell, I adore it. Everything from Gloria Gaynor to Bahamas. A bit of it is covers but they’re good covers. Then you’ve got Any Winehouse, The Milk Carton Kids, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick, Alabama Shakes, 7horse, Little Richard, Adele. I think I caught a bit of punk in Frankie’s car in one scene, it might’ve been the Clash but I forget.

Madam Secretary - ok hear me out!!!! You’ve got Andra Day, Adele, Bowie, Peter Frampton, Joni Mitchell, a song from a Sondheim musical, several songs performed by the cast with their vocals and piano (inc. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, a parody of a Billy Joel song, a few Christmas songs…). And then the song of all time, Cemalım (Erkin Koray) which slaps.

Our Flag Means Death - every song in the soundtrack is a banger I just personally always have different associations with them already because they’re always quite important to me before i see the show. Which is why it’s so low on the list for me personally. Also I have spent the last year and a half overthinking every song I hear through the brainrot lens and I associate like a whole other group of songs with that show now instead of the soundtrack. But the actual canon soundtrack is good, I love Lou Reed, Fleetwood Mac, etc.

How to Get Away With Murder - man I didn’t even finish watching this show and some of the songs stuck with me. Mostly IAMX.

What We Do In The Shadows - the fucking intro Norma Tenga song alone changed my life. It goes so goddamn hard. And then you add King Luan, Tol-Puddle Martyrs, Matt Berry’s originals, MUSE!!!!, Echo & The Bunnymen, Haley Heynderickx (who is SURELY also in Sex Ed), THE CRAMPS (perfect choice, I was furious until they finally put ‘em in), Siouxsie and Bauhaus (both almost certainly also in Gilmore Girls, but I could be wrong)… man I could continue from just season 5 alone they really don’t miss.

Community - their soundtrack includes The Police, Florence + The Machine, The Fratellis, The Cranberries, Lord Huron… and of course loads of cast originals.

Criminal Minds - pixies, NIN, the Kinks, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Jeff Buckley… all of this was also on Gilmore Girls. Billy Joel, Sara Bareilles, Jason Mraz, Deep Purple, Korn, Boston, Johnny Cash, AC/DC, Bob Dylan, THE BLACK KEYS!!!!, REM, Leonard Cohen, Cage the Elephant… all bangers. Honestly that’s part of what kept me watching for so long.

I’d just like to acknowledge Twin Peaks, The Sopranos, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Father Brown, and Heartstopper, Derry Girls, the Good Place, and Parks and Rec, which all also have soundtracks.

[thewatchau]

Lord Brody and IRIS

Fellow Watchers,

This last week has been rife with discoveries, theories, and fires to match the heights of the months of Mayhem years ago. To cover every one of these theories would be an exercise in futility; indeed, my attempt to do so is why this report is a week late. Instead, I shall endeavor to focus on the facts, context, and most widely agreed-upon implications of these events.

As I am sure you all know, on October 5th, King Sean released an entire collection of magical records to The Watch, all of which depicted scenes taking place within the group calling itself IRIS. King Sean did not reveal where or when these records were discovered, and all we know of the circumstances of their creation is that they depict events taking place sometime after January of this year, based on paperwork briefly shown in one of the records. 

Lord Brody

Most notably, of course, these records also showed Lord Brody, locked away within the same IRIS location. At the present, it is unclear whether Lord Brody reached out to IRIS of his own volition, though whatever the case, he was clearly forced to remain against his will. 

Based on brief conversations heard within the records, it seems as though Lord Brody sought answers to the strange teleportation he experienced while investigating a Fae Garden in the Western Forest nearly three years ago. In turn, it seems as though IRIS have accused Lord Brody of killing someone, but who? 

Time Magic

Additionally, these records offer a new glimpse into IRIS’s goals and methods. Several signs can be seen throughout the records, including one warning viewers of “alters” and another calling a specific alter a “time stealer.”

Time magic is widely considered to be impossible within the Mortal Realm, but is an established feature of the Fae Realm. Even Fae Gardens can be affected, with those who enter such liminal places emerging with the impression that far more or less time has passed relative to the world outside. 

However, these magical effects are all intrinsic features of a location, not something that can be controlled at will. Even the Fae Folk have never demonstrated such ability when visiting the Mortal Realm, though of course, that does not necessarily mean they do not have the ability. 

A large portion of The Watch’s theories in the wake of these records revolve around this “time thief,” with some believing it to be The Enemy himself. After all, it would not be the first time The Enemy has demonstrated unnatural abilities that should be unique to the Fae Realm. Moreover, the use of time magic would likely explain the long absences of the Missing Lords, particularly how some of them have seemingly not aged a day since their initial disappearances over a decade ago.

Alters

As for the mention of “alters,” these have only existed in myths and rumors. Also known as simulacrum, alters are beings that take the form of a familiar person and seek to integrate themselves into that person’s life without anyone being the wiser. While the specific origin of these tales is hard to pinpoint, they almost certainly developed in reaction to the discovery of The Enemy’s ability to control others, what we now refer to as “puppets.” 

Most modern tales of alters do not fully align with what we know of The Enemy’s abilities, but rather evolved from misinformation and rumors during the era where little was known of The Enemy’s unnatural magic. Indeed, most myths about alters are closer to depictions of malevolent Fae Folk, who do possess the ability to change their appearance and will at times attempt to mess with the lives of mortals. 

It is most likely that IRIS has co-opted the phrase “alter” from these myths to describe a similar real-world phenomenon. Whether that is indeed The Enemy, some sort of Fae Magic, or another unknown being entirely, it's hard to say. 

However, the use of new terminology is interesting, as it implies that this is a new concept. This would be self-explanatory if indeed these alters are something never before seen by The Watch, but if IRIS is using “alter” to describe The Enemy or even Fae Folk, that would imply their origins are outside of The Watch, who already have existing terminology for these beings. Indeed, perhaps IRIS originates outside of Duilintinn entirely, although that would raise even more questions than it answers. 

Disaster at IRIS

Lastly, the final records in the collection give additional context to the chaotic records discovered by The Watch in the past few weeks. As suspected, something went terribly wrong within IRIS, with at least a handful of casualties. Bloody footprints, scientists being grabbed through doorways, and- unnervingly familiar- dark hallways illuminated by red light. 

The latter, of course, has led many Watchers to believe that The Enemy himself is the source of the attack, though that is not the only possibility. Indeed, if these “alters” are a being yet undiscovered by The Watch, perhaps the attacker is one such alter. However, that would not explain the uncanny resemblance to the magical records depicting Lord Brody’s encounter with The Enemy nearly a decade ago. 

Lord Brody’s fate in the aftermath of this attack is unknown, but little can be done without further information. Watchers have scoured Duilintinn for any sign of IRIS’s hideout without success, making a rescue attempt impossible. 

Final Notes

In the days since the records were released, a few other notable events occurred. King Sean acknowledged Lord Brody in a written declaration, including a picture of his appearance from within the records. 

Additionally, The Enemy’s name day passed with nary a mention of his name, something which the more superstitious within The Watch have called “tempting fate,” particularly when the king responded with a written message simply saying, “Did I miss anything today?” 

Something is brewing on the horizon, and it is likely that more information about this IRIS entity will to surface in the near future. In the meantime, we must continue to be on alert, be open to new knowledge from outside sources, and as always, Keep The Watch.

With Anticipation,

Bard Emily Keyes

Written to Fellow Members of The Watch in the Tenth Month of the Year One Thousand Six Hundred and Seventeen

[longinglook]

Look at these two! Ever since they became official, they've been inseparable.

[buttercups-song]

Thoughts on episode 5 babey:

Classic loki? King shit. Truly unparalleled. Not going after thanos with a butter knife and using magic instead since he is a powerful sorcerer already means he is the superior loki. Getting pruned because he missed thor?? Rip my heart out sir. He died protecting variants of himself and his last creation was an illusion of asgard because he knew he'd never see it again. He died a hero. May he meet his family again in the halls of valhalla.

Kid loki? An icon. Killed thor and sipped his little juice box. Crocki? A scene stealer. All of the lokis betraying each other while 2012!loki was just exasperated in the background? Amazing.

I was kinda sad that the moment loki realised being pruned means being sent wherever they are he didn't ask about mobius or try to find him.

Sylvie pruning herself? Iconic behaviour. No thoughts just impulsive decisions (maybe that's what makes loki a loki). Sylvie and mobius interacting baby! I'd kill to see their road trip through the apocalypse. Seriously, sylvie says that mobius cares about loki so they had to talk about him and I'd like to see it.

(I did spend the whole sylvie and loki scene begging them not to kiss)

I'm going to interpret loki and sylvie as platonic until the mouse comes to my house to beat the shit out of me. Listen, as long as they don't kiss in the finale we're golden. Their conversation outside was really good and it shows that they're both very lonely and bad at maintaining relationships (sylvie never had a chance to even try since she was always on the run). They care deeply about each other because they see themselves in each other (since they are each other).

The blanket sharing scene was probably meant to be romantic, wasn't it? Sigh... I choose to see it as a scene that shows character growth, loki caring about another person's wellbeing (even though you know...). Also as a side note: loki baby you're a jotun, how the hell are your cold because of a mild breeze.

They really had to separate them huh?

We've got a hug folx! It's not a drill, loki finally got a hug! Seriously that poor bastard probably hadn't been hugged in years. It's such great character development for loki, in the first episode he didn't even shake mobius' hand and here he full on throws himself at him. It requires trust! For someone always expecting betrayal and a knife to their back letting themselves be vulnerable in that way is huge!

Loki really went (again!) against a much bigger and presumably stronger opponent with a small dagger. What did he expect?? Did he want to scratch a cloud monster with his knife? Sir use your magic! You know, the thing your mother taught you to use?

Speaking of magic. Yes! He finally used it! I really hope we see more of loki's magic in the finale. He should be just as powerful as sylvie and classic!loki. Also thanks sylvie for reminding everyone that you are the same person, I hope you remember it in the next episode.

(If this show doesn't end with the whole team on a beach vacation having fun on jet skis what's even the point)

[jasontoddiefor]

Title: The Hat Stealer Pirates Summary: Portgas D. Rouge was a strange Captain, mainly because she kept claiming that Brook was going to be the musician of the future Pirate King. Not the one of the first Pirate King, but the one after. For now, he was pretty happy to be part of her crew though and help her on her search for a good hat. (Or: Monkey D. Luffy doesn’t do normal. Not even reincarnation.) AN: Inspired by that one scene in film Gold where Luffy wears a dress and a hibiscus flower. I blame this on literally everybody who said “go write!!” on my “pls stop me” tumblr post. This is for you. Behold. The plot of this is that Luffy/Rouge wants a hat. That’s it. That’s the story.

Brook didn’t know anyone stranger than his Captain. Portgas D. Rouge was a force to be reckoned with. She was bright, loud and vibrant, never really slowing down. In her own way, she forced people to go along with her pace, never really just inviting them to join her. No, Rouge managed to draw people in, attracting all kinds of attention, by merely existing. Not everyone could stand it though, which was why Brook supposed their crew was so small.

They were barely ten members, Captain and cabin boy included in his count. Brook hadn’t thought Rouge would let a nine-year-old join, but she had shown up with little Mihawk a few weeks ago and the kid had stayed ever since. He was a stubborn little brat, demanding sword lessons from Brook every day and Haki lessons from their Captain right after.

“He’s like a more serious Zoro!” Rouge had chirped, squishing Mihawk’s cheeks to his protest.

Brook didn’t know what a Zoro was, but he trusted his Captain’s word.

She tended to be right about all things dear to her.

X

Kureha hadn’t wanted to join a pirate crew. She had been quite content on Drum island, but then that D. had shown up and Kureha hadn’t been able to say no to the charismatic woman kicking down her door. Not when she had talked about the future with so much sincerity.

“Is it a good place?” Kureha asked one morning.

“The very best! You’ll teach the doctor who can heal any sickness!”

Kureha, despite her appearance or attitude, was an old woman in the sense that she had lived a long life already. Perhaps too long. Sometimes it was difficult for her to look back at the age that was and still believe that the future will be any better.

But in the meantime, if she was supposed to mentor a doctor as kind as this Chopper her Captain described, Kureha should better brush up on her knowledge on sicknesses all beyond Drum. It wouldn’t do if her apprentice weren’t prepared well enough for the storm Rouge betted on.

X

“What about this one?” Heracles said, stealing the hat of the captain of the crew they had just captured.

He handed the orange barrett hat to Rouge.

“Oooh, I like the color!” Rouge exclaimed. “Ace will have one just like that!”

Cheerfully she picked the pink hibiscus flower from her hair and carefully stashed it in the pocket of her red vest. Heracles was reasonably sure that the flower should be dried out by now, but it was still as pretty as the day he had met Rouge for the first time.

Then again, this was the Grand Line.

Their musician was a talking skeleton.

Heracles should stop wondering about all the strange occurrences in these waters.

Rouge tried the hat on, moving it around a few times with a thoughtful expression.

“What the fuck- Urgh!”

Heracles glanced at Mihawk, but the cabin boy didn’t even bother to look apologetic as he pushed Rouge’s kairoseki staff even deeper into the rival Captain’s stomach.

“How do I look?” Rouge asked, semi-content with how the hat was positioned on her head.

If there was one thing Heracles had learned in the past year traveling with his Captain, it was that Rouge valued honesty. No matter how ugly and terrible, she couldn’t stand lies.

“The color fits your freckles,” Heracles replied. “But it’s not your kind of hat.”

Rouge sighed and dropped her arms in defeat. “I knew it. I’ll never find a proper hat!”

She then placed the hat back on the head of their hostage and held out her hand for her staff. They had started confiscating Mihawk’s sword a while back in hopes the kid wouldn’t immediately jump into every battle they faced, but the kid had just opted for stealing an enemy’s sword, building quite the collecting, or Rouge’s staff since she started favoring her fists when the fights became too dull.

Most of their battles had been beneath her level so far.

Heracles had stopped believing she was from a tiny island in South Blue a while ago.

“Did you know you can coat your weapons in Haki?” Rouge asked Mihawk.

The boy nodded eagerly and Rouge grinned, then she took a step back from the captured pirates.

The men whimpered.

“Take good care of your hat!” Rouge shouted and sent them flying with her black staff.

They watched as the other crew landed a couple hundred meters away in the water, their one devil fruit user being held up by the rest of the crew.

“So!” Rouge spoke up again and put her flower back into her hair. “Party now?”

X

“Mihawk,” Rouge said, drawing out the vowels. “You’re not supposed to go on an adventure without me.”

The fourteen-year-old tried to escape Rouge’s hug, but the Captain wouldn’t let go of him. Rouge was an annoying woman, always touching people and trying to make them smile. Mihawk really wasn’t the kind of person who did either and Rouge had seemed to make it her personal mission to shower him in affection.

Thankfully, he had learned how to distract her.

“I brought you a hat!” Mihawk declared and presented Rouge the straw hat he had liberated from a red-haired brat.

The kid had almost made him lose his match with his distracting shouts, he’d had it coming. Besides, Mihawk had needed something to make Rouge forget he’d taken off on his own again. While Rouge had never cared what exactly everyone was up to when they went exploring a new island, she at least wanted to be told when you took off. Mihawk may have ignored that in favor of racing to a sword tournament. He just hadn’t been able to wait! He had won plenty of money too and was willing to buy himself his quiet hours by bribing Rouge with meat.

“That’s a good hat,” Rouge agreed. She looked almost nostalgic. “Where did you get it?”

“I-“

“HEY!”

Mihawk looked past Rouge to see the scrawny red-head from before approach at a rapid speed. So Mihawk hadn’t been able to get rid off the kid.

Damn it.

X

Portgas D. Rouge had been a strange child, always talking about places and people she shouldn’t know of, but had seen in her dreams. The village that had raised her had simply accepted the oddness of the little girl and had moved on. The circumstances under which she had come into their care had already been weird enough, there was no need to question her further.

Rouge herself hadn’t known the truth behind her dreams and the Voice whispering so sweetly in her ears until she had almost drowned at the beach one morning, playing with the other kids.

Baterilla had been so full of adventure before Rouge had choked on saltwater.

Afterward, it had appeared much too dull, simple, and gray for the late Pirate King.

Monkey D. Luffy had lived his life. He had fulfilled his own dream and watched his Nakama reach their goals one by one, joyful smiles spread over their faces.

He’d died in battle like he had wanted, and now he was back again.

And Bored.

Luffy, Rouge, hadn’t wanted to become Pirate King again - and, yes, she would have been King still. That was the proper title and the name Rouge wore now didn’t change that. But without her dream to go chase or her Nakama to support, Rouge felt empty. What was there to do when you had already fulfilled the dream you had pursued all your life?

She and her brothers had sworn to live a life without regrets, so Rouge tried her best to look forward, even if she had a hard time seeing anything interesting at all.

She missed her friends and her family.

And she missed her hat.

Shanks had let Luffy keep it in the end. The Mugiwara Pirates couldn’t really be Straw Hats without their signature symbol after all.

Rouge, on the other hand, didn’t have a hat and had become used to sticking flowers in her hair. They were pretty cool and smelled nice, but they were no hat. The women in the village had called it a shame to cover her beautiful locks with anything. Naturally, Rouge disagreed with that sentiment. Everything was better with a hat, even the hair the women and girls loved to braid. They adored doing that almost as much as they liked sticking her into wide and frilly skirts.

Luffy had only worn skirts and dresses a couple times, they hadn’t suited his fighting style then with his rubber powers. But Rouge hadn’t eaten the Gomu Gomu no Mi, so no rubber limbs were getting tangled in the skirts’ fabric.

Rouge had no devil fruit powers, no hat and no crew and no idea what to do.

Setting sail again had seemed like a good idea. She didn’t know these waters, so maybe there’d be new adventures for her. Rouge would be a horrible Captain if she didn’t make sure that her family would get to live in freedom a little earlier if Rouge pushed the storms in the right direction. Brook was already waiting for someone to hear him play, and she might not be his Captain anymore, and never would be, but she couldn’t let Brook suffer loneliness any longer if she could prevent it.

And somewhere in-between the waves of the sea, Rouge learned how to appreciate swimming, picked up a crew and goal: she wanted a new hat.

And now she was finally looking at it.

Monkey D. Luffy had lived and died, but Rouge was a pirate and pirates were selfish.

And she really, really wanted her hat.

“You can’t have it!” Shanks protested, pointing accusingly at the straw hat. His voice was much too high and he was much too short. “It belongs to my Captain!”

Rouge hadn’t really spent a lot of time thinking about the not yet Pirate King. The Roger Pirates seemed like a fun bunch, though, and she had been meaning to find someone strong to fight.

It had taken a while to adjust to limbs that didn’t stretch endlessly, but once she had managed that, all battles became slightly disappointing. At least Mihawk was on his way to become the World’s Greatest Swordsman (until Zoro took his title) and training him was fun.

“If it belongs to your Captain, why do you have it?” Rouge asked Shanks.

Shanks crossed his arms in front of his chest, blushing red. “Well- I’m holding onto it for him right now! But that doesn’t matter! You have to give it back!”

Rouge twirled her hat in her hands, then tucked her flower behind the hat’s red ribbon and put it on her head. Its weight was familiar, it fit well.

No way she’d give it back now.

“Tell your Captain if he wants it back, he can come and fight me for it!”

“What!? You can’t do that!” Shanks shouted but made no move to attack her.

“I’m a pirate, I can do whatever I want.”

Smiling happily, Rouge turned to walk into the direction of her ship, Mihawk following her. It took only a moment, then Shanks rushed after them, still demanding the hat back. If he made it onto her ship, he’d have to come with them. Heracles and Brook had caused some trouble in the city, the marines would chase them out soon.

Oh, well. Roger was almost at his strongest right now, wasn’t he? He should be able to pick up on Shanks’s disappearance.

Rouge would get to fight the Pirate King. This life had undoubtedly turned out to be an excellent adventure.

Ignoring Shanks and Mihawk’s shouting behind her back, Rouge wondered if defeating him meant that she could take all his supplies too. He was a D. after all, he must have lots of meat on his ship. And if not, she’d make him invite her to the matches between him and Ace’s old Captain. She never got to fight him either!

“Rouge, can I get rid of the brat?”

“Don’t call me a brat, you creepy vampire!”

This life had really turned out to be a great adventure, and it was only getting better.

[carat10library]

The Elite: SEVENTEEN edition

A/N: Because I haven’t moved on yet after reading Kiera Cass’s “The Heir” and “The Crown”, I decided to write an imagine featuring my favorite boys (for my Carat heart is waving at me).

To those who haven’t read the novels: For me, the Selection is like a screening process for the prince or princess to find their potential spouse who will help them to lead the people. (But it has a deeper meaning than that because the princes are being married to commoners.)

Now, think of yourself as a princess next in line to the throne. Your Highness as everyone addresses you. Your Selection had begun with thirty-five young men as participants. The twenty-two others you have eliminated (due to judgments, but mostly because SVT is thirteen haha). And these thirteen suitors of yours are the ones left—the Elite as they are called.

   Sir S.Coups – confident (can be overconfident), a different kind of handsome, his eyes and words can lure you, and so he could be your first kiss among the other Selected

You were disoriented and his eyes were soft. “Good night, Your Highness.” He turned to leave but looked back at you as if he forgot something. “I’m torn about apologizing for what I’ve done, really. But I don’t have regrets—that I kissed you. I thought you should know.” And he left after a hurried curtsy. You calmed your giddy heart, standing alone in that dim hallway.

 Sir Jeonghan – composed, smart, cunning, he’s too handsome to be a commoner, a good listener, your dates are mostly calming walks in the garden

Today must be a really good day because he’s in a good mood. And he even spilled the beans regarding his original motive. “At first it was only for the crown, but these days I realized it’s now because of you,” he said casually. That revelation made you stop. For a moment you cannot feel the soft grass under your heels.

 Sir Joshua – ever the gentleman, linking arms with him feels like the most natural thing, calm, kind, sweet, sings for you and even writes you poetry

“To be queen is to be powerful. You just have to ask and you’ll have it. But to be a queen is more than that. What I’m saying is even when you’re not queen; I’d do anything for you without you asking,” he professed with a quick squeeze of your hand. You just closed your eyes at the moment and tried to picture a future with him. You smiled at the thought that of possibly good days, cheerful laughs and butterflies.

 Sir Jun – a bunch of nerves, fidgets and jitters, the fact that he’s super handsome and could still be shy around you amuses you

It’s good to finally see him feeling comfortable with you. “Aren’t you embarrassed because of me? You don’t think I’m a mess when we’re together. Well, that’s gracious of you, Your Highness. It’s sweet but you can laugh at me.” His eyes met yours, giving you affirmation. A nervous laugh from him followed and you find yourself joining in. It was certainly not because he told you to laugh at him—it’s because of the sound of his laugh touching a part of your heart.

 Sir Hoshi – of course he’s fun to be with, considerate, a talker, but could be a little shy, he always asks, your constant dance partner in galas

His expression turned soft and something in you melted. The grip on your hand never loosened. “It’s not being prince consort and later on to be the king that I truly wanted. Those title seems everything, but not for me. Not for me who only wants to be with you.” The confession took him a lot of courage. How many people had told you they want you more than the queen in you? Your head told you it’s only him.

 Sir Wonwoo – quiet and intimidating, but there’s more to him than the cold façade, exudes an aura of a king, a gentleman with a love for books, definitely something

“After having to spend time with you, I think you are truly wonderful. Being here is a privilege after all. You’re worth it,” said the guy who wouldn’t look you in the eyes when you first met. Stunned with his words, you meet his cold stares and felt something tug at your heart. He then flashed you a rare smile as he reached for your hand.

 Sir Woozi – probably the biggest threat to other suitors, brains like his makes for a king, is too awkward when escorting you, a good listener, music dates

“You can always send me home, you know. But don’t go missing the music we made together if you don’t choose me. It’s the best you can do for me.” There wasn’t any trace of sadness in his voice. You’re planning to keep him for long and he’s like saying goodbye to you. Tiny needles pricked your heart. But he smiled genuinely at you, indicating he’s only kidding. And he resumed playing with a piece from Chopin.

 Sir Dokyeom – a mixture of timid and confident, so funny, he makes you laugh every day, enjoys the experiences and company above anything else

He watched the vast morning sky with contentment on his face. A smile completed his look. “Knowing you is a huge honor to me. This Selection will surely be a part of my memory whatever happens.” You smiled at yourself, pleased that he’s happy. He turned to glance at you and he looked like he’s on the verge of tears. Quickly, you felt guilty at the sight of that.

 Sir Mingyu – scene stealer, tall, dark and handsome, cool but not always, polite, nice, thoughtful, seriously he’s close to having it all

He was pacing back and forth, deep in thought while you’re sitting on a bench. He got on one knee in front of you so he could meet your eyes. The gesture took you by surprise. “I may not be the next king, but remember that I will always be there whenever you call for me. I just hope you won’t hesitate.” He was so close now and you can close your eyes any moment.

 Sir The8 – cool is his name, unassuming, not pushy, not afraid of being honest with you, he looks good in almost anything he wears, photography dates

There was only you and him now. Like every time you’re together, he has his camera. He paused as his eyes directed at you. “I know I’m no prince and that there are others out there, but for you I’ll try and do my best. You just tell me if you want me to.” Suddenly, he snapped a photo of you. You don’t care how the photo will turn out. His words hang in the air, stayed in your head, entered your confused heart.

 Sir Seungkwan – unexpectedly good company, talks even about little things like all the time, compliments here and there, could be shy at times, real cute

His smile was highly inviting. That’s what you notice about him. “Your Highness, you look lovely as always. What does my princess want to do today?” He curtsied grandly and offered you his arm which you gladly took. His cheeks blushed when you gave him a real smile. You expected a happy day ahead.

 Sir Vernon – his silence is comforting, whenever you’re stressed he’s one of the suitors you like to spend time with, no nonsense type, intelligent, and he’s gorgeous

He’s waiting for you at the bottom of the grand staircase, a kindhearted smile on his face. When you reached him, he offered an arm. After minutes of comfortable silence, he spoke. “Actually I didn’t come here to compete, but it’s like everyone is daring me to. And if I want to win your heart, I want to be the same person as before. I won’t pretend for you.” Grateful, you beamed. Whether it’s because of his decency or the possibility of winning you, you can’t tell.

 Sir Dino – straightforward but still careful, confident, you never turn him down when he asks for a dance, always makes you smile, tends to be heroic

The music is making you feel good as well as the gentleman holding you in his arms. You’ve been dancing for you can’t tell exactly how long. It just makes you feel good, you can’t stop smiling. After when the song ended, he walked you back to the table. “You have everything, even this heart of mine. You have the right to break it and I wouldn’t mind.” He smiled a tiny smile before leaving. But you don’t want to break his heart when you could tell he was happy.

  You sighed, feeling more puzzled. Who says being in a Selection is easy—much more to find real love within a competition? After getting to know all of them, they all got a piece of your heart. Maybe now it’s hard to let them go, but you will have to eventually. They know what’s at stake and it is only you who isn’t prepared. The choosing part is always inevitable. But you’re going to be the queen soon and a queen must not be rash in making decisions.

Who will be your very own “One” in the end?

[lizardrosen]

Andrew Scott Hamlet (2017)

I'm finally watching the Andrew Scott Hamlet and it's so good!

This post is mostly a liveblog I did on twitter, but edited for reading clarity, and with a few notes I took that I didn’t talk about in my posts.

the watchtower scene is in a security guard room filled with screens, and the ghost makes the camera short out

Andrew Scott is just. a perfect hamlet - AUGH, his bitter laugh at “unmanly grief”. He stays inside while everyone else is dancing on the balcony outside, and sits on his suitcase in the dark. He’s a good sad boy.

and he's FRIENDS with both laertes and ophelia - he and laertes share a genuinely friendly hug before laertes leaves, and then it’s so clear how much ophelia and hamet care for each other, and she holds him as he cries, and cheers him up.

Polonius is a Good Dad, and while most of his advice is stuff he's said hundreds of times before, "this above all..." isn't rehearsed, he really just wants to say what he means to a child he loves dearly

oh cool, i'm loving how they rearranged and merged the scenes here!

Hamlet's "too too solid flesh" merges into him kissing ophelia and hiding behind the couch while laertes and polonius tell her not to trust him, and then he speaks with horatio, and they just miss r&g - he hasn't gone to see the ghost yet, so he hasn't put on an antic disposition, which means claudius was already planning to keep him in line before he gave any cause for it, and I just love how shifting a few scenes changes everything so dramatically.

Hamlet and the ghost: - horatio is so frantic for his friend's safety! but then Hamlet runs to find the ghost anyway. hamlet reaches out hesitantly to touch his father's face and they CLING to each other, then "pity me not." the ghost speaks of his death super fast, as if afraid to dwell on it, then slows as he charges hamlet "taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul proceed against thy mother." But then two minutes after being told not to blame his mother Hamlet goes "o pernicious woman" he's not very good at following directions. and then, poor baby, he picks up the gun and uses it to follow claudius as he walks down a hallway on the security footage.

a very well structured scene!

polonius gave laertes a watch as a parting gift, and then after hamlet makes horatio and marcellus swear, he gets engrossed by his own watch in a way that feels dangerous, and then goes "the time is out of joint" this is a GOOD parallel and i hope it comes up again because DAMN!

Up to Me, by Bob Dylan is just. the perfect song for the transition to act two, i can't handle how well it works with the action on stage - hamlet walking off sadly, then claudius and gertrude being flirty and cute, then hamlet kissing ophelia in the bath and perusing her face

Oh man, Polonius forgetting what he has to say when speaking to Reynaldo is a moment of such stillness and silence that it’s one of the most tense and compelling things I’ve every seen. I was half convinced he was going to have a stroke right there, or that his heart would be what actually killed him in the closet scene later.

When Ophelia tells him about Hamlet charging into her room, he’s super wrong, of course, but he cares for his dauther truly. She deflates when he says “the very ecstasy of love” though, because it’s clear she won’t get any real help there.

ooh, they put To Be or Not to Be before polonius talks to him, not before the nunnery scene. interesting! It’s a fairly common visual trope for Hamlet to be barefoot at around this point in the play, but it’s always fun to see.

Polonius has a mic on him so Claudius and Gertrude can hear their conversation, and all of his asides are whispered into it, a fact Hamlet clearly KNOWS, because “Except my life” is said while mockingly lifting the collar of his teeshirt and whispering into it.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are perfect here, omg!!! Guil is a black woman, and Ros a tallish man, and you can tell all three were good friends. when Guil finally has to say "my lord, we were sent for" you can see on both their faces that this play just became a TRAGEDY. "o what a piece of work is man" isn't a show this hamlet is putting on, he's baring his soul, and ros and guil are literally CRYING for and with him, because they can clearly see how he’s changed. but because they know they have split loyalties they can't come closer to him to comfort him. poor babies! rosencrantz is very proud that he was able to save them by bringing up the Players, and behind hamlet's back, guildenstern mouths "tragedians" and gives him an approving nod when he gets it right. i love them so much, and they're up there with gary oldman and tim roth!

The Player is the same actor as King Hamlet, I’ve never seen that specific double casting, but it’s so perfect! Poor Hamlet trying his best to remember his speech — he’s trying his best and the actual players are very patient with him.

the middle of "O what a rogue and peasant slave" is the first moment when you can visibly see Hamlet lose it, instead of sinking into depression or twisting his own and other's words like he had been up to now, but then he pulls back suddenly and goes "why what an ass am I"

"He asked no questions, and was of our demands most free in his reply." ROSENCRANTZ, you LIAR! 27-3 and you think he might have had the edge?? But as he says this he puts his hand on Guil's shoulder to make sure she'll also keep to that story.

hey ouch, this was one of the most painful nunnery scenes i've ever seen! she's all dressed up for him, but so scared, but she rolls her eyes at the book Polonius has her read. they get a few moments to be cute together before they break up for good and they're just crying, and they KNOW they're being watched. then he laughs at the favors and just drops them on the ground before he walks away, and after she gathers them up and starts to go, he comes in through a different door to kiss her violently and throw water on her face, and everything just HURTS. (the water has a daisy in it!)

Polonius briefly checks that she’s okay but then goes back to talking to Claudius about sending  Hamlet to England. Meanwhile, in the background, she’s become fascinated by the daisy. She flinches away from everyone’s touch and stares at nothing, and I really like the clear progression in her, that her later breakdown isn’t just a reaction to one single shocking event, it’s all the slings and arrows that have been aimed at her throughout the play and her whole life.

ALERT, ALERT, HE'S PLAYING WITH HIS WATCH WHILE HE TELLS HORATIO HOW MUCH HE LOVES HIM!!!

(he also says Horatio is "not a pipe for fortune's finger to sound what stops you please," which is a line that's often left out, so i'd forgotten that metaphor was already on his mind)

the rest of the court enters through the auditorium, and sit in the front row to watch the show! and i only just now realized that when hamlet says "and my father died within these two hours" he's speaking ~madness~ but ALSO talking about the length of the play he's in.

The dumbshow is to the tune of One Too Many Mornings by Bob Dylan again, and shows papa hamlet's gonzago’s entire courtship with his wife, and them raising hamlet together and seeing him off to college, which then leads directly into the dialogue part of the play! it's SO GOOD.

The Lucianus monologue is very good, and then Claudius just walks out grimly, and it's presumably the intermission bc the screen goes staticky.

there's been a conceit of a camera following characters around and the image shows up on two sets of screens above the stage, so we get to see the play within the play AND hamlet et al's reaction to it at the same time.

Hamlet talks very fast and impatiently to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as they try to tell him to visit his mother, and they’re trying SO HARD to connect with him. Interesting that the “My lord, you once did love me” line is given to Guildenstern, but it makes sense for how these characters have been played so far. I’m not at all worried that they did that to make the play straighter, because they do not shy away from the homoerotic subtext. And he pauses and really seems to think about his answer before saying “I do still, by these pickers and stealers.” And the recorder scene is just sad on both sides, everything is SAD

oh DAMN, claudius watches hamlet come into the room with a gun and then does his "O my offense is rank, it smells to heaven" speech, and seems to forget his audience as he tries to pray, and right after hamlet decides not to kill him yet, he stands and smirks and tells him "words without thoughts never to heaven go" and stands with his arms open, DARING hamlet to actually kill him. the last thing we see is his fingers trying to get a grip on the handle, and then a blackout.

if you don't know this play you might think he does it now.

when ros & guil find him he's wiping his bloody hands on polonius's shirt, and during the sponge bit he wrings it out so it drips on the floor. andrew scott is so gooood at this role but also legitimately scary.

and he's been playing with his watch more and more as everything gets more dire, i love this detail a whole bunch.

after hamlet calls claudius his mother, he hugs him and claudius reluctantly returns the embrace. for a brief moment hamlet seems to be seeking comfort here, and then he sniffles and breaks away. "To England" he says as he goes, mocking the accent.

so. ophelia. she's wheeled in strapped into a wheelchair, presumably at a psych facility. mostly she's turned inwards and singing softly, except when she hits her head and screams as if to say "you hurt me and ignored me, but you can't ignore the hurt you make me do to myself." and like. i get it, and i'm mostly glad that it's not the same version of mad ophelia you tend to see, where she's all over the stage and ripping her clothes, but still. it feels icky and ableist and like. fear tactics? shock factor? something like that.

laertes comes in looking truly unhinged -- actually gets gertrude kneeling on the ground with a gun at her temple, before claudius calms him down, and he's jumpy in a way that mirrors hamlet right after killing polonius. poor horatio is the first to come in and gets a gun pointed at him for his it. no one deserves any of what’s happening to them!

but laertes stills entirely when he sees ophelia. ouch.

flowers!

rosemary - the nurse who wheeled her chair

pansies - claudius

fennel and columbine - claudius's security guard

rue - gertrude

she drops the daisy on the ground and turns to laertes to apologize about the violets.

when claudius goes "where the offense is, let the great axe fall" gertrude looks at him sharply because THAT wasn't part of the plan, and he brushes her off with "I pray you"

the Bad Quarto scene with her and horatio is in here, and makes a LOT of sense given that interaction.

gertrude is in the doorway, unseen, as claudius tells laertes the only reason hamlet's not dead is because gertrude loves him so much. and then she's CLEARLY watching for his response when the messenger tells him about the letters from hamlet. i like this gertrude a lot.

(and I’m pretty sure I saw Hamlet being a sneaky boy and passing behind the window right by Claudius, as Claudius is handed his letters)

ooh, hamlet's wearing white and khaki when he comes back from the pirates, and he seems much calmer than he did the last time we saw him.

and laertes is so lost and sad when he says "what ceremony else?"

they're such good foils for each other, i can't stand it!

hamlet seems amazed as he asks "what is he, whose grief bears such an emphasis" and he's not angry when he climbs into the grave, more like he's expecting to be welcomed with open arms, and then he's just surprised when laertes tries to strangle him. when he says “yet have I in me something dangerous” he’s trying so hard to convince himself of this, oh kiddo.

welp, hamlet is no longer calm, as he screams about how much he loved ophelia, and writhes around on the ground. then he stands up like nothing happened and says "what is the reason you use me such?" and sounds so hurt.

some hamlets did not date laertes, but this one SUPER did

Hamlet feels bad about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, but moves on quickly because he feels worse about Laertes, and it’s so painfully clear that he knows what genre he’s in. Osric is just a security guard (and later the judge for the fencing match) with no noticeable character but that works really well for this production, and Laertes has enough going on without having a boyfriend.

“Hamlet does it not… his madness” isn’t him giving up empty excuses, but real sorrow and despair, and maybe he really does believe he briefly became another person. I’m ! So ! Sad ! and oh SHIT, when laertes says "this one's too heavy" here, it's NOT to make sure he gets the poisoned blade but because he was moved by hamlet's apology and is BEGGING claudius to let him off the hook of needing to kill his friend, but claudius shakes his head and so they play.

HEY WOW RUDE!!! the music during the fencing match is Not Dark Yet (also by Bob Dylan) and everything HURTS

laertes FLINCHES and runs forward too late to stop claudius from putting in the poisoned pearl, and then he does his best to fight badly, and i'm going to CRY. hamlet's about to drink when gertrude runs forward with her napkin, then claudius grabs the cup from her and she maintains eye contact and they clasp hands as she drinks. she turns her choke into a laugh, while in the background laertes offers claudius preemptive sympathy. but everything is drawing to a close so he has to commit to hitting Hamlet, no matter his reservations.

the music stops as soon as hamlet is struck, and the brightness of the fencing match returns to the darkness of Act Two, but one by one they rise as ghosts, hand their watches over to King Hamlet, and go into the party upstage. And Laertes and Hamlet exchange forgiveness! it's a soft hopeful darkness though, something horatio wishes to be welcomed into, but hamlet tells him to "absent thee from felicity awhile" and he agrees.

hamlet gets scared for "the rest is silence" then it all snaps back to real time while he convulses in horatio's arms.

The play closes as it opens: with a bunch of news stories about the death of danish royalty.

And the closing credits are One More Cup of Coffee by Bob Dylan, it's so good!

[halinski]

WIP Meme

hahahahahahha possibly the best tag game ever, oh gosh... buckle up, here we go (disclaimer, some of these are just ideas that i noted down and developed and where i don’t actually have anything written, some of these only have like 2 paragraphs... i need to start actually working on things... and finishing)

thanks to @mehehilill for tagging me and flattering me so <3

Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you, or interests you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it!!

in no particular order (only going through fanfics(poems), sterek unless stated otherwise):

1. Try to Find the Light

2. Untitled (Cordia)

3. Halloween sterek

4. Wolf Kisses

5. I can’t decide

6. Cassy’s fic

7. Blood Moon

8. It’s Not Right

9. Scene Stealer

10. Alternate Canon

11. Lyrics/Quotes

12. Scooby-wolf

13. Witch Hunt

14. Vamp

15. something

16. Baseball fic

17. Derek kid alpha

18. Untitled (Rumancek)

19. Resurrection

20. ace!Stiles donuts

21. 101 things better than sex ace

22. sterek ghost

23. Spyau

24. Rage

25. Dragonhunter

26. teen delinquent

27. THE ONE BIG FIC

28. It starts

29. Survival

30. Derek’s

31. Sun infused

32. Stiles had never seen Derek cry

33. Home

34. Derek’s Hands

35. Broken - Who would ever

36. Whatever you’re selling I’m not buying

37. Storm

38. Sad DNA

39. travel au

40. Despicable me au

41. Alive

42. Millionaire Matchmaker

43. hales

44. another resurrection fic

45. thief stiles

46. baseball/softball au

47. hs au

48. faded

49. bfg au

50. another lifetime

51. bffstarcrossed

52. blur

53. BO

54. car radio

55. doc3

56. dragon

57. eternal

58. every once in a blue moon

59. ficlet

60. If Love was Red then He was Colorblind

61. Irmy’s

62. Let Go

63. Not Enough

64. Piano

65. Shakespeare

66. silent companion shadow of mine

67. sterek song kings

68. supermanscrap

69. this

70. Untitled document(1)

71. Untitled document(2)

72. Untitled document(3)

73. Untitled document(5)

74. Untitled document(6)

75. Warning

76. Demons

77. can i watch

78. Isaac

79. Superman

80. dreamcatcher!derek

81. untitleddocument

82. hoem

83. la

84. smth

85. draft

86. SC

87. BOTTLE

88. SCIF

89. p

90. temporary dead

91. pt1 wolf moon

92. to the moon and back

93. coronation

94. king under your control

95. drapetomania

96. dream

97. hkagdvk

98. i miss you postcard

99. idea

100. LETTER

101. LETTER2

102. mysterious as the dark side of the moon

103. stress

104. be honest

105. i had

106. i thought life was as pointless as foam in the sea

107. idkyet sunmon wolf

108. maybe song away

109. rainbows

JFC i had no idea there were THIS many wtf... i am a not a writer lol, just a thinker hah and i had other headcanons i posted, do those count as wips when i had planned a story in my head but let it go? xD

and... i know there has been more ideas that i have never noted down or written in any way but yeah... i need to get busy

(idk who to tag, i feel like i’ll just bother people :( )

[oneweekoneband]

King’s X - Talk To You (from Faith Hope Love 1990)

Before we go any further, I should clear something up. King’s X did not invent grunge.

No matter what Jeff Ament said on MTV that one time. (Which, if you can find a direct source for that quote, you’re one up on me.) No matter how cool dUg was to Mike Inez after that ‘89 Reseda show. Yes, King’s X reached drop-D nirvana before most of the Seattle bands, but I have it on good authority that King Buzzo hipped Kim Thayil to drop-D in ‘86, the same year of Ty’s epiphany, so at best Ty is A.R. Wallace to their Darwin. Soundgarden’s first drop-D on record was “Nothing to Say” in ‘87, the year before Planet dropped, and it was as slow and sludgy and ugly as “Pleiades” was clean and arranged. And anyway, drop-D was but one tool in the grunge tool kit, along with opiods and trying to out-drawl Cher circa “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves.”

King’s X fans have nevertheless clung to this bit of Ament apocrypha. This is less because Ament’s eyes crinkle with penetrating wisdom tempered by perpetual mischief (although they do), and more because King’s X should have been huge but never was. King’s X’s dirty little secret is that it tried desperately to be huge, and failed. Chastened by this near-miss, fans and band members alike cling to praise and lore like scraps from the music biz table.

The album meant to bring forth this hugeness was Faith Hope Love, which in retrospect seems hilarious. It was a Christian prog-metal concept album about 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Any word of that description might forestall the possibility of Billboard hititude, especially the “Christian” -- Amy Grant’s crossover smash Heart In Motion was still a year away, and Michael W. Smith was only starting to blaze a trail that led to vice. 

The strange thing was, FHL almost did the trick. “It’s Love” went top 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart, trapped like Elon Musk’s faithful shareholders between Tesla and Bad Company. The band scored a song on the Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey soundtrack -- which, OK, you scoff, but that sucker turned a profit and a good review from none less than Roger fuckin’ Ebert. The band was one crossover hit away from becoming, if not Pearl Jam, at least Queensryche.

The deep cut “Talk to You” demonstrates, in three riffs, how you might connect the dots from King’s X to the northwestern sasquatch scene, especially Soundgarden. The opening drop-D-for-beginners riff lumbers like “Nothing to Say.” Turning on a dime, King’s X anticipates two riffs from Badmotorfinger: the speedy squiggles of “Rusty Cage” and the full band jackhammer of “Jesus Christ Pose,” with everyone accenting their notes so weirdly you can’t believe Jerry held it all together. Everyone brings their vocal game -- dUg with his mid-song scene-stealer “IIIIIIIIIII got the blues this morning,” one of the top five marginal radnesses in the band’s catalog, and the whole group “ahhhh”-ing like the men’s chorus in New Order’s “Blue Monday.”

Trivia time! Soundgarden, of course, did not stop at drop-D. They swiftly went to drop-C and beyond, which is some real 7-Minute Abs shit. But Thayil and Chris Cornell did all sorts of other unspeakable things to their tuning pegs, which backs up my theory that, while the two bands’ trips might be cladistically related, one did not beget the other.

[dokyeomini]

thank you for the recommendations, I would definitely love some more! and I completely moved away from it too, though I could never really stop thinking about it or missing it altogether hah. and recently I've seen people talk about it again and stumbled upon metas and stuff and now there is a little voice in my head that says "maybe you shouldn't have given up" while another is shouting "have you lost your kind completely now" and yeah. lmao

i know, it feels like a breakup lmao. but if you wanna move on you have to find someone new i guess jkdfjs. in my opinion, or to me it doesn’t feel like a fun time to analyze it anymore so i’ll just start thinking about it if/when sth actually happens. there’s so many stories out there and shows that have actually delivered. but not a lot of them satisfy like the need for deep and meaningful storytelling. i have to say tho, idk if i was just having an emotional week when i was watching i told sunset about you, but that with the 5 movie length episodes that followed the 5 act story structure (ep 4 was fucking low man) was the closest to what sherlock could be. even tho the last episode wasn’t as amazing as i guess i was hoping, it was still really good overall, i was genuinely impressed. i’ll probably rewatch it some time.

i’ll put the recommendations under the read more

i’m only including shows with the main couple being gay

there are even some korean shows (with pretty short episodes, all on viki, maybe on yt too): Where Your Eyes Linger (a rich kid and his bodyguard, the power dynamic is ehhh, but it was good), Mr Heart (marathon running, i only had one problem with one moment, otherwise wholesome), Colour Rush (just started watching it today, there’s only 2 episodes out rn)

some japanese ones: Cherry Magic - you get magic abilities if you’re a 30 year old virgin lmao (i was kinda let down with the ending tho it was a happy one, i enjoyed it tho, basically the ‘how is he so hot... and respectful meme’) should be on yt, Life~Love on the line (broke my heart for an episode or so) idk if it’s on youtube but it’s on viki, His (2020) (a movie) very cute but also broke my heart a few times, it’s on yt

a vietnamese movie: Goodbye Mother - a guy takes his bf home to vietnam, he’s not out to his family yet (it was pretty chill, a little sad but the grandma is a scene stealer) it’s on yt

thai bl-s are mostly kinda trash or meme-y and the writing is sometimes actually gringe but they can be fun. some are very questionable/problematic (tharn/type lol) tho lol but if you can write the questionable things out of the story in your mind then they’re watchable i guess. i usually watch them for the side couples bc the main couples are usually boring lol (the drama is unnecessary). the good thing about them is tho that there’s like ~3 gay couples in a show, like almost no one is straight, tho their storylines are sometimes abandoned. they’re all on youtube. some of the ones i liked are 

My Engineer (Ram & King are wholesome af, pm only watched it for them), 

Dark Blue Kiss (maybe the first one i watched that had a cohesive storyline and the side characters are cool, it has a prequel i think as well Kiss Me Again or sth like that), 

2gether (had to push through the first episodes but they’re both pretty much idiots so it was fun, they play guitar). 

i watched I Told Sunset About You on dramacool 

that’s pretty much the recap of the shows i watched in 2020 lol i think i actually got sick of american/british shows for quite a long time

if you watch any of them pls let me know what you think of them!!! i have no one to talk to about any of them

[badintroverttales]

Bad Introvert Talks Movies: Black Panther (Wakanda Ooh Na Na)

Let me preface this by saying that I am strictly an Marvel Cinematic Universe girl. I get by with what I need for speculation off comic book canon but by and large my perspective is solely rooted in the MCU. Not only that for, this particular film, I’m an outsider looking in. I may be fairly cognizant of issues that were painted in Black Panther, but there’s only so much I can discuss about how impactful it is to have a movie about black characters taking on black issues.

That being said, hot damn, Black Panther was a good movie. Solid storytelling with multi-faceted characters against the vivid background of Wakanda. It was an introduction to T’chala’s motives and objectives as a man, king and protector as it was an introduction to Wakanda as a nation and as a people.

As a fangirl who plays in the MCU sandox,I loved that the movie was able to stand on its own and at the same time give us a view of how the Black Panther and Wakanda itself will integrate with the greater Marvel universe come Infinity War.

There was also a lot of parallels of real world issues that would mostly be missed by someone who isn’t as familiar with said issues. One of my friends for example found the movie too “tribal” (deep breaths) which I feel comes from a perspective that’s heavily influenced by largely white-washed Western media. Especially since Black Panther wasn’t just tackling race issues, it was coming at it from a place in history that a lot of non-black people have forgotten or were never educated about.

Even I had to remind myself that Wakanda is literally in Africa and therefore calling Agent Ross “colonizer” and talking about “conquered vs conquer” wasn’t just a heavy handed way of discussing race issues, it comes from a very real part of this fictional country’s history.

There are so may things to pick apart and dissect that I appreciated how the different acts of the movie were cut into actual mini stories. From the introduction to Wakanda, to T’Challa taking on the responsibilities of the throne, to Klaue, to Killmonger and then finally to that breath-taking climax where Wakandan is pitted against Wakandan.

So much was put into the movie that I’m in awe that it didn’t feel at all like the movie was taking on too much.

We had a throwback to T’chaka and what happened in Civil War, an intro to Wakanda and all these new characters, T’chala’s journey and various conflicts (external, internal, bigger external, bigger internal), an amazing villain origin story for Killmonger, concrete personal intentions for all the actions of the key players and a final battle where foes turned allies and allies turned foes

My favorite part of course are the women. The women! Shuri is a literal Disney Princess, intelligent and compassionate and an absolute ray of sunshine. Okoye is fierce and loyal and conflicted but also isn’t afraid to be affectionate and soft. Ramonda is royalty personified. Not a leader, but a true mother of Wakanda. She’s protective and willing to stand up and fight for her children but also knows when to bend for them. And finally Nakia who is cunning and brave and has a heart too big for Wakanda.

To be honest I would have been happy without the romance between her and T’challa. Not because I think T’challa and Sam as a couple would be cute as hell (I can enjoy that in fanfic tyvm), but because I didn’t feel like it was necessary aside from it filling a romantic storyline quota.

I am eternally grateful though that Nakia wasn’t just a love interest. She was a fully formed character that just happened to be romantically involved with T’challa and that’s something that’s severely lacking in most movies, not just action/comic book ones.

In fact all of the women were multi-dimensional characters in their own right and didn’t need any sort of saving at any point in the movie. They were essential to both moving the story forward and in winning that final battle.

As we move towards the end of Phase Three of the MCU I’m still expecting to see Black Panther as a strong part of the MCU moving forward. There’s still so much to play with and with the expectation that the older Avengers will be turning over the mantle to a new team, I hope to see more of T’challa, Shuri and Wakanda in general.

Other things that I loved:

T’challa in the ancestral plane reminded me of “everything the light touches is our kingdom”.

Is Everett Ross the new Coulson? As long as he doesnt get sent to Tahiti I’m down. I’m so tired of mourning over characters I like even if it’s temporary. (I’m looking at you Infinity war!)

Shuri’s gleeful, “Great! Another broken white boy for us to fix.” (No, I did not audibly squee in the theater. No ma’am)

M’baku is a certified scene stealer and I would love to see more of him

Where be my lesbians?? Honestly I was expecting Okoye and Nakia to be a thing. Apparently it wasn’t just me wearing my rainbow-tinted glasses, there really was speculation during the beginning that one of the characters would be a lesbian so I’m not just making it up.

Michael B. Jordan. Hot damn hot damn hot damn. Killmonger in itself was a great character but he ascended to another level in the hands of Michael B. Jordan.

Two great shots that stayed with me: Killmonger looking on as the garden of the heart-shaped herb burned. And that tracking shot that started out upside down when Killmonger sat on the Wakandan throne.

and of course BUCKY! What kind of Bucky stan would I be if I didn’t mention the light of Steve Rogers’ life. So many things to speculate with that “White Wolf” shout out.

And now just like everyone else I’m vibrating with excitement as we countdown to Infinity War!!!

[fishcommander]

Sarcasm And A Gun - Chapter Two (Sterek Fic)

A Miss Congeniality AU. Chapter 2/?. ~5.5k. Rated T.

Posted for Sterek Week 2017 Day 2: Scene Stealer.

Chapter One (posted almost exactly a year ago omg HOW has it been so long, I’m the worst)

—

The problem with coming into the competition at the last minute and being expected to both keep a low profile and infiltrate the group of contestants is that he's never been more awkward and ill-equipped in his life. The other Mister United States contestants already seem familiar with each other, probably from previous heats or other competitions, and their camaraderie leaves Stiles feeling super conspicuous and excluded, not to mention way too unpretty to be here.

It's just like his senior prom all over again.

It even sort of looks like it could be prom—the contestants are staying in this fancy hotel for the duration of the competition, and the organisers are using one of the many function rooms to host a pre-pageant brunch. It's… not great. The room is bursting with ugly decorations, the contestants are sullenly loitering around the edges of the space, there's bad 90s music playing the background, and there's a small podium at the back where they could be announcing king and queen.

But it's not prom, and this is not high school. This time Stiles has a job to do, a job where actual lives are on the line. He squares his shoulders, tilts his chin up like Lydia taught him, straightens his New Jersey sash, and steps into the room. Immediately, the temperature goes up by at least five degrees, because squeezing fifty-plus dudes into a small room is never a great idea, and he's assaulted by the pungent stench of almost-rotting roses, because someone has gone a little overboard with the flowers.

"Great," he mutters, reaching up to switch on his comm. Immediately, there's a loud wolf-whistle right in his ear, and he flinches wildly, arms windmilling and nearly smacking New Mexico in the face as he tries to saunter past.

New Mexico glares, his perfect teeth gritting, shapely eyebrows narrowing, and he steps away from Stiles like he's diseased.

"Well we all know who won't be winning Mr Congeniality," Stiles mutters. "Thanks Erica, by the way."

Erica's snicker reverberates in his earpiece and his cringes again.

"Think we could adjust the volume a bit? The whole room can hear you at this point."

"Only if you tilt your camera up a bit, I'm missing out on so much right now," she says, but she's much quieter than before. "Ugh, some of these guys are fine as hell."

"I think you mean all of them," Stiles murmurs, grudgingly adjusting his pin camera, eyes following Mr Florida as he strolls past, looking the epitome of beautiful and confident in his expensive suit.

Meanwhile, Stiles is pretty sure he can't lift his arms above waist height due to the epic sweat stains he can feel soaking through his shirt.

"Well, it is kinda their job to be hot," Erica reminds him. "Who's the only person in that room who can also claim to be one of the FBI's best profilers slash decoders?"

Stiles can't stop the corner of his mouth from ticking up. "I'm kind of enjoying this whole new 'supportive' schtick you've got going on, you know. I've never felt more empowered."

—

Read more on AO3!

[melisbookreviews]

The sky will fall, a star will rise Ambar changed by the king's demise Her magic untouched and unknown by all Marked with a star, she'll bring his downfall. 🦄🦄🦄 -Synopsis in the comments- 🦄🦄🦄 Hunted by the Sky is the first book in the fantasy series by Tanaz Bhathena. I'm in love with this book. I'm in love with Gul, I'm in love with Cavas, I'm in love with everything. Gul is the perfect representation of a badass, no nonsense woman that we need as a role model in today's world. Though she needs time to learn and understand how to deal with the grey area of life, she's still a strong Indian woman who doesn't let anything or anyone get in her way. My feelings and emotions for Cavas started out a bit rocky but his manner won me over. Their bond runs deeper than any relationship I've ever read in the Indian Fantasy world (and it also includes my favourite trope so yes there is a little bit of a bias there 🙈). The Sisters of the Golden Lotus are definite scene stealers and I would love to read a spin off series with one or of them as the main focus because these women are a true representation of bold and brave. Not only does this book have amazing character, the plot development is some of the best work I've read that kept me engaged from start to finish without missing a beat. The world that the author has created ISA beauty in itself with the lands and it's people described in a way that makes you feel like your there and living amongst the people. The use of non-English words does add a sense of authenticity but don't fear, at the end of the book is a glossary to help those who may not understand the meanings of these words. That ending though, thanks a lot for playing with my emotions like that and now I'm going to sit in a corner while I eagerly await the sequel that is probably going to kill me on the inside like this one did. 😭 But, keeping all the formalities aside, this was such a great read everyone needs to give this a chance. 🦄🦄🦄 Rated 10/10 Melina L. #bookreview #authorsofinstagram #authorsofig #bookreviewer #bookhaul #bookreviewerswanted #goodreads #bookworm #booksofinstagram #bookishlove #bookcommunity #thebookieclub #Bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CDi0KndABvw/?igshid=jswa7eq7pzvm