#so basically john (mostly duncan)

[lulu2992]

Ask meme!

I was tagged by @glowwormsmith! Thank you :)

Rules: Spell out your URL using song titles that can describe your muse/OC/pairings, then tag as many people as there are letters in your URL!

My URL isn’t the best for this game because it simply consists of the same two letters twice (I didn’t take the numbers into account), but I still scoured my entire music library to find titles that worked! I chose my OC Taylor Rook, John Seed, and the couple they form in my heart because of course I did. There are four letters in my username so I’m tagging four people: @cassietrn, @laindtt, @simplegenius042, and @strafethesesinners (only if you feel like doing this, of course)!

(Not all the tracks I wanted have lyrics, so I did this a little differently than you did and wrote a little “story” instead):

In Hope County, Taylor really became a “Lurking Danger” [Yoko Shimomura - Final Fantasy XV] and had to walk along many “Unfamiliar Paths” [Cliff Martinez - Far Cry 4]. John kept telling her, “Let The Water Wash Away Your Sins” [Dan Romer - Far Cry 5], but she remained “Untouchable” [Niels Bye Nielsen - HITMAN 2]. As for the Baptist, deep down, he was just a “Lost Child” [Brian Tyler - Far Cry 3], but on the outside, the thing most people noticed and talked about was his “Unsettling Aura” [Yoko Shimomura - Final Fantasy XV]. I wish he had had time to “Learn To Let Go” [Kesha - Rainbow]*, but all he did in the game was try to be “Unstoppable” [Sia - This Is Acting]*. Their story didn’t end well, so in another world, one that only exists in my head, they decide to “Let It Go” [Demi Lovato - Frozen] and stop being “Under The Gun” [Motörhead - Kiss of Death] all the time because I just want them to sing “Love Me Forever” [Motörhead - 1916]* and “Underneath Your Clothes” [Shakira - Laundry Service]* to each other instead!

*actually for these the lyrics also work

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Rewatch:  “The Reckoning”

The basics:  With four dead, including a CIA Officer, NCIS investigates if this has something to do with the DRONA project.

Written and directed by:  Frank Military Military wrote "Little Angels", "Deliverance", "Lockup", "The Job", "Greed", "Betrayal", "Crimeleon", "Vengeance", "Out of the Past" Part One, "Rude Awakenings" Part Two, season four’s finale "Descent", season five’s premiere "Ascension", "Allegiance", "Spoils of War" (directed by Military), "Black Budget", "SEAL Hunter", "Rage" (directed by Military), "Unspoken", "Unlocked Mind", "Revenge Deferred", "The Seventh Child" (directed by Military), "Crazy Train", "Uncaged" (directed by Military), "The Silo", "Monster", "Line in the Sand" (directed by Military), season ten opener "To Live and Die in Mexico" (directed by Military), "The Patton Project", "Better Angels", "False Flag" (the season 10 finale), "A Bloody Brilliant Plan", season 11 finale "Code of Conduct" (directed by Military), "Raising the Dead", "Through the Looking Glass" (directed by Military), "Indentured", "Down the Rabbit Hole" (directed by Military) and "The Body Stitchers". 

Military directed one episode he did not write, season 11’s holiday episode "Answers". 

He also appeared as Donald Kessler in "Raising the Dead" and several other episodes in photos.

Guest stars of note:  Jere Burns returns from season 13’s “Genesis” as Howard Pembrook, Duncan Campbell is back from the last episode (“Sensu Lato”) as NCIS Agent Castor, David DeSantos as Anthony Beltran and Milissa Sears as Leah Novack are back from “Sleeping Dogs”, Philip Anthony-Rodriguez as CIA Officer Rafael Cortes, Scott Christopher as CIA Officer Chris Behr, Amy Kim Waschke as CIA Officer Avery Lamica, Maurice Hall as AMT Julian Cousins, John Marshall Jones as Jonathan Hunter and Rick Tunell, the series’ longtime producer/director was the Head of Airfield Security

Our heroes:   DRONA drama blah blah blah.

What important things did we learn about: Callen:  Lone wolfing. Sam:  Out of town. Kensi:  Tailing Callen. Deeks:  Airport trip. Fatima:  Figured out early that the CIA was up to no good. Rountree:  Tailing Callen with Kensi. Kilbride:  Side-eye master.

What not so important things did we learn about: Callen:  Wasn’t getting violin lessons as a kid. Sam:    Absent. Kensi:   Waiting for Deeks to return from the airport. Deeks:  Mostly absent. Fatima:  Side-eying with the best of them. Rountree:  Started the day with Deeks, ended it with Kensi. Kilbride:   Friends with the head coach at USC.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  Basking in guilt according to Pembrook.

Who's down with OTP:   Not a lot of OTP time.

Who's down with BrOTP:  Down one part of the BrOTP but Pembrook’s final conversation with Callen was all about the brotherhood of Callen and Sam, the show’s most important relationship.

Fashion review:  Callen wore a light blue and white plaid button down shirt before going in the pool and a navy blue hoodie post-pool.  Kensi wore a wine colored long-sleeve top.  Deeks wore a pale blue henley.  Fatima had a fabulous black leather jacket (soft like butter!) and a white sweater with blue piping at the collar.  Rountree black long sleeve tee-shirt with a black jacket.  Kilbride, as always, dark blue three-piece suit, red tie, pale blue dress shirt. 

Music:  “Home” by Aron Wright plays at the end of the episode.

Any notable cut scene:  Not today.

Quote:  Kilbride:  “And you are not leaving my office until you tell me everything you know about Pembrook and Beltran.” Cortes:  “And you're gonna stop me?  With force?” Kilbride:  “Don't tease me.”

This is was very solid Kilbride as a badass episode.

Anything else:  The previously-s include all the Pembrook nonsense. 

In the hospital, a still comatose Leah Novak is being moved to a rehab facility with serious CIA security around her.  Callen is there as well.  Nobody knows where Leah is going except the head security man – who is driving the ambulance.  Novak will be checked in under an alias.  The security chief promised to keep Callen advised of her status. 

As the security team leaves, the second security team member tells her boss they found one of the Drona subjects, Clayton, dead.  If they can find Clayton, the head man tells her, they can find everyone.  for some reason, the head of security thinks it is a good idea to meet with the other Drona subjects in Pershing Square.  He leaves the ambulance with only a nurse watching Novak.  Clayton was tortured before he was killed, according to one of the Drona survivors.   The group realizes none of them are safe.  And they’re not as a sniper picks off all the Drona subjects except the security chief.  He dodges bullets getting back to the ambulance and driving off.

A cranky Admiral is marching from his office to Ops.  Deeks and Rountree are just behind him.  After a Deeks mindfulness joke falls flat, the Admiral explains that four people, including a CIA Officer named Avery Lamica – she was the number two person moving Novak - were shot dead in Pershing Square.  Kensi has already left for Pershing Square to meet with Callen.   

In Ops is CIA Officer Raphael Cortes (another person allowed to wander about the super-secret office).  After the Admiral does some introductions, Cortes wants to talk to Callen and Sam.  Sam is out of town and not available.  Cortes does not want Callen running the investigation but the Admiral makes sure Cortes understands that Cortes doesn’t make staffing decisions for NCIS.  When the Admiral brings up that Cortes asked for help, Cortes makes sure the Admiral understands that the CIA doesn’t need help, they need information.  Since the FBI is investigating the shooting, Cortes wants to question Callen about letting Beltran get away.  And Cortes wants the Admiral to do that right now.  Knowing Callen wouldn’t return to the office even if Kilbride ordered him to do so, the Admiral won’t – and didn’t plan on anyway.

Deeks asks if the CIA is tracking the ambulance.  They can’t find it, according to Cortes.  CIA Officer Chris Behr is missing – he’s the head security guy.  Cortes thinks Lamica was meeting with other Drona team members.  Pembrook ran black ops for the DoD, NSA and the CIA.  Rountree mentions Beltran’s plan for a lawsuit against Pembrook for what was done to him and to the others when they were children.  Cortes believes Pembrook made monsters – “including Agent Callen.” 

At the crime scene, Callen is covering Avery Lamica’s body with a tarp when Kensi arrives.  Callen has not heard from Behr.  Looking at a high rise building just off Pershing Square, Kensi is going to check the victim’s locations and angle of the gunshot wounds to see if she can backtrack the math to the sniper’s location. 

On comms, Callen asks Fatima to check out security cameras.  Also on comms, Kilbride tells Callen that Cortes would like to speak to him – the FBI can cover the crime scene.  Callen tells Cortes that the FBI isn’t even at the crime scene – though LAPD is all over the crime scene.  Deeks talks about Drona and Callen thinks it makes sense – Lamica and Behr were put on the protection team by the CIA and likely Drona.  Cortes pushes for Callen to come in but Callen fakes some static and is off comms.

Kensi returns to Callen.  Based on the wounds, there is no way the sniper fired from the high rise.  The angles of the bullet wounds are too steep.  The sniper was likely in a helicopter and one great shot.

Fatima has eight helicopters over that part of Los Angeles at 8:16AM – the time of the shooting.  Kensi thinks the shot came from at least 1,400 feet east of Pershing Square.  On the big screen in Ops, Deeks finds the helicopter.  Deeks traces it to a company called Cypress Park Industries.  Rountree asks where did the helicopter come from – Camarillo Airport.  Kilbride is sure there are witnesses or video of someone getting on the helicopter.  Deeks is going to track that down.

Cortes orders Callen to return to the office or he’ll get the FBI to bring Callen in.  Callen says he’s returning but gets a call from an unknown number followed by a text message telling Grisha to pick up.  Callen has Kensi take them off comms.  It is Pembrook on the phone.  Callen has a flashback to his happy times with Pembrook.  He wants to meet and Callen does too.  Kensi gets back on comms to get Fatima to trace the call.  She does this quietly.  Pembrook is about a block away inside Pershing Square, watching Callen and Kensi.

Pembrook starts to walk away from the crime scene, saying that Callen won’t miss a chance to face the monster of his childhood.  Under a bench near the coffee cart is a discarded water bottle with an address in it.  Pembrook wants to meet Callen without any other agents around.  Pembrook hangs up and walks away.  Even tosses his phone into a half finished glass of water. Callen and Kensi check out the bench – he finds the water bottle.  Cortes hears from the FBI – they’re on site and want a sitrep.  Callen shows Kensi the address in North Hollywood.   With the FBI closing in on Callen, he’s off to deal with Pembrook with Kensi on his tail.

At Camarillo Airport, Deeks confirms that Beltran and three other people were on the helicopter but Pembrook wasn’t one of them.  Deeks is getting security video.  Cortes demands that it is sent to Langley as soon as it is available.  The Admiral does his version of rolling his eyes and says “of course.”

Callen arrives at the address Pembrook provided with Kensi just a few blocks back.  No one is at the home but since the bottle had the word “pool” in a circle, Callen check out the backyard.  There is a pool with a box at the bottom and lots of cameras all around.  Realizing that by going in the water Callen shorts out all his comms, Kensi tells Callen not to let Pembrook control the next move.  The Admiral doesn’t want Callen to go offline  Callen tosses his earwig and phone into the pool before diving in for the box.  Cortes pitches a fit that Kilbride has no control over his agents.  Saying they can track Callen through his car – and Kensi can trail him – the Admiral wants Rountree working with Kensi. 

A wet Callen finds a key to the house in the box.  Inside the house is a change of clothes and a key to a vehicle.

Kilbride wants Kensi to go in and see what Callen is up to.

Callen is up to getting into a van and in the van is an armed Pembrook.  Pembrook does the Pembrook stuff – talking about teaching Callen the language of violence.  After getting Callen’s gun, the two are off for a drive.

In Ops, Fatima has video from Camarillo Airport.  Beltran and three randos – two men and a woman - are walking to the helicopter.  Cortes demands Fatima send him the photos to run them through facial rec.  She was going to do that but he barks “send them to me.”  The Admiral nods and Fatima sends the photos.

Entering the house by picking the lock, Kensi finds Callen’s wet gear.  Kensi tells Ops that Callen mentioned a van by the house.  Cortes is disgusted they lost Callen “completely.”

Using Kaleidoscope, Fatima traced Callen through Van Nuys to LAX.  Cortes disses Kaleidoscope as a tenuous connection and tells Kilbride – who is quiet with a lot of side-eyeing – they better pray they don’t lose Callen.  Cortes gets a call – the CIA has ID the three with Beltran.  He leaves Ops.

Callen asks Pembrook what are they doing?  Pembrook says he’s trying to understand what Callen is feeling but Callen is not “doing that.”  Not wanting Pembrook as a therapist, Callen asks what Pembrook wants.  Pembrook wants to save Callen’s life, save Leah’s life and by that, maybe save his own.  Callen really doesn’t care about Pembrook’s life – “full stop.”  Pembrook leads Callen to an underground garage of an office building.

Fatima is still tracking the van on a bit of a delay.  The vehicle is near San Pedro.  Kilbride thinks that an awful long ride for Pembrook to take Callen on just to kill him.  Cortes disagrees – Pembrook could be taking Callen someplace off the grid to torture him.  After his phone beeps, Cortes has IDs for the three people with Beltran.  The three are Russians but not FSB.  The CIA got intel on the three entering the country but nothing else.  Fatima is joining the side-eye brigade.

In the parking lot, Pembrook starts by telling Callen he was obsessive and filled with anger.  Callen says this isn’t about him but Pembrook keeps pushing.  Callen’s anger drives his obsession.  Again, Callen really doesn’t care.  Pembrook admits he did horrible things – he won’t deny it.  And the Drona subject were children.  Pembrook says he thought his training methods were justified.  He’s consumed with remorse.  Callen doesn’t care.  Pembrook says he takes solace that Callen has moved on from his trauma.   Angry, Callen tells Pembrook he doesn’t know anything about Callen’s life.  Pembrook does – he’s been following Callen for 35-years.

Fatima hears from Vance’s assistant.  Kilbride is needed on a conference call in three minutes.  The Admiral is not pleased as he returns to his office.

Rambling, Pembrook has been following all the Drona children, trying to help those in the most distress.  Callen doesn’t believe him.  Knowing Callen so well, Pembrook offers to turn over Callen’s paper file – everything about Callen’s past.  Pembrook tells Callen he can date test the ink.  Pembrook starts talking about his own childhood.  If Callen isn’t interested in hearing Pembrook talk about Callen’s childhood, he certainly doesn’t want to hear about Pembrook’s.  All Callen cares about is the file and is offended that dangling the file in front of Callen is an apology.  Callen starts talking about having a hard time building relationships – he went from the DEA to the CIA to NCIS because Pembrook took from him the most elemental part of being a human – the ability to feel.  Pembrook knows this and knows it was a terrible thing to do.  He apologizes again and Callen isn’t interested in another apology.

In his office, Kilbride is waiting for Vance.  Fatima sends him the NCIS facial rec runs on the “Russians”.  They are, of course, Americans.  Cortes approaches Fatima, asking that she check the last area where the van was seen – maybe there is a CIA safehouse in the area.  Kilbride pops up on the big screen – he wants to see Cortes in his office.

Entering Kilbride’s office, Cortes asks if Kilbride shared what’s going on with Vance.  The Admiral did not and asks Cortes to close the door behind him.   After bickering about Cortes sitting down, Kilbride brings up an issue of dishonesty, especially with Callen being in such a precarious position.  The three with Beltran were Americans, not Russians.  Cortes tries to sell it as a good job with backstopping their IDs.  No, one of the men played football for USC.  Kilbride texted the head coach at USC to confirm it.  Cortes is not leaving the office until he tells Kilbride everything.  Sneering, Cortes asks if Kilbride thinke he can stop him by force.  “Don’t tease me,” the Admiral sneers back.

Rountree meets up with Kensi near the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.  They are sitting tight, waiting for an update on Callen.  Kensi asks Fatima about Cortes’s Russians and Fatima is sure they aren’t Russians.  She’s watching what’s going on Kilbride’s office via a security camera on the second level over the bullpen.

Callen asks Pembrook why is he killing the other Drona subjects.  Pembrook has been running a black ops Drona team for years.  Beltran was part of that team but wanted to start doing jobs for the highest bidder.  The only way Pembrook could get the rouge Drona subjects to stop doing these jobs was to kill them.  Beltran and his team killed a pro-democracy presidential candidate in Ethiopia along with the candidate’s family.  Pembrook was outraged that they killed children for a paycheck (as opposed to Pembrook I guess who only tortured children for a paycheck).   Since Pembrook was trying to kill Beltran’s team, they are returning the favor.  Callen reminds Pembrook that he is responsible for turning these people into psychopaths. 

A team of shooters open fire on the van.  Callen gets his gun back from Pembrook and the two make their way to a stairwell.  From the stairwell, Pembrook shoots into the van and blows it up.  Callen and Pembrook start running up the stairs but Pembrook is slow – he’s been shot.  Neither Callen or Pembrook have phones – Callen’s went into the pool, Pembrook ditched his burner at Pershing Square.  Pembrook has more happy news – he’s out of ammo.

Walking into an office that is being refurbished, Callen and Pembrook have Beltran and a partner in hot pursuit.  Hiding in a cubical farm, Callen and Pembrook escape to a stairwell but almost run into Beltran’s other two partners.  Callen and Pembrook go up another flight.

In Ops, Fatima downloads some photos of Beltran and his team – Cortes is in one of the photographs. 

Kilbride wants full transparency on Pembrook’s Black Ops from Cortes.  That is going to happen according to Cortes.  The CIA is willing to cooperate in the matter but not everything is going to be shared.  With his earwig in, Fatima tells the Admiral that Cortes worked with Beltran.  Cortes gets a text message with a list of CIA safe houses near where Callen and the van were last seen.  Kilbride starts talking to Fatima with Cortes in the room.  Cortes wonders what the Admiral is doing.

Callen and Pembrook get a higher floor.  Pembrook is in rough shape.  Finding a server room – that is fireproof and locks from the inside – Pembrook wants to stop running and let Callen go.  Callen and Pembrook wind up locked in the server room with Beltran and his team now on the floor.

Kilbride accuses Cortes of being part of Beltran’s team.  Cortes denies it.  The Admiral wants to know what Cortes’s role is in all of this.

Beltran tries to open the server door but it is locked.  He is about to move on when he realizes there is blood on his hand.   He asks the team to find something that will cut through the steel door.

Saying that Kilbride’s accusations are stupid, Cortes stands to leave.  The Admiral warns him not to so Cortes pulls a weapon on him.  “Are you insane,” is Kilbride’s reaction.  Saying his life is over as he knows it, Cortes is desperate to get out of the building.  Looking at the big screen, Fatima sees Cortes with his weapon out.  

Fatima walks into Kilbride’s office with her tablet and a pretend update.  Cortes orders her to leave – he’s exiting the building with Kilbride as a hostage.  Fatima won’t leave, earning a second gun pulled by Cortes.  She tells Cortes to look around.  There are several NCIS Agents with their guns drawn all over the second floor of the office building, including Agent Castor directly across the second floor. 

Cortes wants to leave the office and threatens to shoot Kilbride and Fatima if he can’t get his way.  When nobody moves, Cortes fires a shot into the floor by Kilbride and promises the next one is going into Fatima’s face.  While Fatima is clutching her tablet, she has her firearm under it.  To protect Fatima, Kilbride stands.  Cortes wants everyone to lower their weapons and Fatima gives the order to the others.  Cortes wants her to move to the left.  Causing a distracting, Fatima makes a Beyonce joke, asking if it is her left or his left.  When it is her left, the Admiral hits the deck, as does Fatima and the other agents on the floor unload their weapons in what was Kilbride’s office.  When Cortes does not go down, Fatima starts shooting and before long, he’s fallen out the window and onto the main floor outside of Hetty’s office.

As Beltran and company work to drill their way through the lock, Callen is looking for a way out of the server room.  Pulling down an air vent, he makes enough noise to stop Beltran for a second but only a second.  The drilling resumes.  The air vent is way too small to fit Callen or Pembrook.

Using Cortes’s facial ID iPhone, Castor is able to open the phone and pass it on to Fatima.  She finds evidence that Cortes was sending out everything NCIS was working on while he was there (and alive).  She starts tracking Beltran’s phone location.  Fatima sends the office building location to Kensi and Rountree who are on their way.   They were waiting for Deeks but are going in without him.

As the drill gets closer to opening the door, Pembrook tells Callen that when Hetty found out what he was doing she pulled Callen from the program.  He’s to blame for all that happened, not Hetty.  Callen wonders why Hetty didn’t tell him.  The drill breaks through the lock.

Kensi and Rountree see smoke coming out of the garage.  Inside, they find the burnt remains of the van with no bodies.  Bringing the big guns, Kensi and Rountree follow the bloody handprints Pembrook left on the stairway walls.

When Beltran gets into the server room, Pembrook looks to be alone.  Asked where Callen is, a seemingly struggling Pembrook says he doesn’t know, they split up.  Beltran says everyone always thought Pembrook was evil, a monster.  But Beltran knew otherwise and that was going to be Pembrook’s downfall.  Pembrook doesn’t agree.  Living with what he’s done is far more difficult than dying will ever be.  Beltran promises to put Pembrook out of his misery. 

Hanging from a small ledge over the door, Callen shoots Beltran.  Jumping down, he takes out Beltran’s partner.  As the other two team member rush back to the floor, Kensi and Roundtree arrive, arresting both.  Kensi gets an ambulance for Pembrook.

Outside of the ambulance, Pembrook hears that Officer Behr and Leah are safe.  Callen has arranged for NCIS Agents to take Pembrook to the hospital.  That’s not happening as Officer Behr shows up with Intelligence Agents from both the DoD and NSA – they’re taking Pembrook somewhere safe.  Callen is livid – does Behr know what Pembrook has done?  He does, Behr was a Drona subject, “There are a lot of us.  He made us, for worse or for better.”  As Pembrook drives away, Callen wants to know why Hetty never said anything.

Back in the office, Callen looks at all of Hetty’s things.  He gets a phone call from Pembrook.  He wants to meet Callen outside. 

Outside, Pembrook has a large file.  He answers Callen’s question – Hetty never said anything because she was consumed with guilt for getting Callen involved in the Drona program.  Callen isn’t really interested in Hetty’s guilt about trying to turn children into super-agents.  Pembrook disagrees.  Hetty put Callen into the program because he was brilliant and gifted, wanting him to live up to his full potential.  Hetty’s world was the arts and Callen wasn’t going to learn how to play the violin.  She wasn’t going to make the mistake some parents make of taking child with one set of talents and forcing the child to master a different set. 

Callen points out that Hetty isn’t his parents.  “You mean everything to her.  And you always have.”  Callen is as close to a son as Hetty ever had – she told Pembrook that because even Hetty needs someone to talk to sometimes.  While Callen may feel he’s been alone in this world, “you’ve been far from an orphan.”  Hetty loved him deeply.  Both Callen and Pembrook are a little weepy. 

Pembrook turns over the file with some advice.  “Don’t make your life be just about the past.  Let it be about the present and now the future.”  Pembrook offers his congratulations on Callen’s engagement and wishes him all the happiness in the world.  As he leaves, Pembrook mentions he gave Hetty the dossier on Senior Chief Petty Officer Sam Hanna.  “I thought he’d make a great partner.  No, that’s not true.  I thought he’d make a great friend.”  With all he did, Pembrook tried to look out for Callen as a way to make up for it all.

What head canon can be formed from here:    “Frank Military, please come to the front desk, clean up on aisle Drona.”

As an independent hour, this was great.  There wasn’t a dull moment, there wasn’t a dip in the tension, the dialogue was crisp, the action was top notch and there wasn’t a useless scene or conversation.  Frank Military is the king of “competence porn” – everyone on the team was at the top of their game, doing their best work.  Sam being “out of town” was a bummer – nobody writes the Sam Hanna competence porn better than Military.

But Drona.  For the life of me, I don’t know why in season 13 the program completely retcon’d Callen’s childhood.  For years, the backstory was Callen bounced from foster home to foster home, some bad, some really bad and some good.  He was found by Hetty, went to a good college, joined the DEA/CIA/NCIS and served his country.  Now, it seems Callen was some test subject where beating children was seen as great training and Callen completely forgot that part.  He remembered all his foster parents but not the guy who took a hammer to his fingers. 

Feh.

And if Drona and Hetty were keeping their eye on Callen from the time he was a little boy, could someone maybe have grabbed Amy Callen out of the orphanage and moved her in with a foster/adopted family before she drowned. 

Retconning characters’ past isn’t new to me – Samantha Mulder had multiple middle names and multiple kidnapping scenarios.  I have a high crapola tolerance level when it comes to this stuff but 13-seasons in, knowing that every season could be the last, introducing a complicated new storyline just seems like a bad idea.  And it was.

Nice touch having Cortes land right outside the Hetty’s office, what Mosley called Hetty’s throne.   Glad to see Castor not knocked out, instead being a key part of taking Cortes down.

So what did we learn today – you can abuse children physically and psychologically but if you suggest Sam Hanna as a friend to Callen, all’s good.

Episode number:   This is episode 19 of season 14.  The 321st episode overall.

[the-paper-shredder]

Wick: Frostbite AU

So, after years of being on here (and my biggest interest getting some traction on here too) I'm finally doing a post on one of my AUs for Wick! Hooray!

Now you may be wondering, which one? Well, I'm introducing one I mentioned nearly 3 years ago, the Frostbite AU! As seen in the title, lol. Now the current version of it is slightly different from how I described it beforehand, so I'll start with that I guess.

In late 2014, Duncan along with Travis and Sam, do a ritual on the grounds of the Weaver property. It predictably wasn't done right, thus backfiring; they get put in an alternate timeline where they're in the winter of 1927, and the Weaver family never died. However, even with that, when the trio meets the family, everything just feels so wrong.

To put it in simpler terms: time travel and a cannibal cult. You heard that right. Anyway, time to go on with the characters.

Duncan: ➵ Full name is Duncan Wallace. ➵ 16 years old. ➵ Sam's his younger brother and they have a complicated, mostly negative relationship. ➵ Very secretive about why he's going to such great lengths (i.e. the ritual) just for knowledge on Wick/the Weaver family. But he did not expect to be sent to an alternate past. ➵ Looks calm on the outside but on the inside he's freaking out about being in 1927. This combined with his anger issues, stubbornness, and great ambition makes him a force to be reckoned with. ➵ Sees Travis more as a frenemy due to some stuff Travis did a month beforehand.

Travis: ➵ 15 years old. ➵ The ritual was technically his idea, but he didn't really mean it seriously. It just happened that Duncan took it seriously. ➵ Doesn't know what the fuck he's doing at all times. He's just trying to hide how anxious he is about being stuck in 1927 by continuing to act how he usually does, a.k.a. talkative and goofy. ➵ Still sees Duncan as a best friend. ➵ Didn't really know Sam until the ritual, so he's attempting to make friends with him (a.k.a. one of the few connections to normalcy he can find). ➵ Admittedly kinda terrified of the Weaver family lol.

Sam: ➵ Full name is Samuel Wallace. ➵ 14 years old. ➵ Duncan's younger brother. Once again, a complicated, mostly negative relationship. ➵ Only got dragged into this because he was wondering what the hell Duncan and Travis were doing on private property in the middle of the night and he's also interested in urban legends. ➵ Literally so pissed about being stuck in 1927 with no way out (pun unintended) and he's making it everyone's problem. ➵ A loner and rather quiet. When he actually opens up, he's sarcastic with an eccentric sense of humor, along with being idealistic and impatient.

John & Mary: ➵ In their early 40s. ➵ With Pastor McAlroy's disappearance, Mary has pretty much taken over the role of religious leader for the small town of Pine Creek. ➵ Mary is also known for giving people in need both shelter and food. ➵ Surprisingly enough, Mary is not totally neglectful of her children. However, she is 100% emotionally abusive and manipulative. Hope she dies ← is literally the writer. ➵ John has been emotionally shut down/repressed for over a decade, even before his time in WWI. ➵ Less active of a parent than Mary, but John still takes care of his children's needs nonetheless.

Benny: ➵ 17 years old. ➵ Practically Mary's right–hand man, trusting her completely even if it's mostly out of fear. ➵ Often helps around town due to his strength, his biggest acquaintances being the Edwards family. ➵ Worried mess who still continues to preach religious stuff both from the bible and what Mary tells him. His only escape from such an anxious life is napping whenever he gets the chance. ➵ Not particularly close with his siblings, but still cares for them. ➵ Towers over pretty much everyone, even his parents.

Tim & Tom: ➵ 14 years old. Tom is a few minutes older than Tim. ➵ Actually Mary's nephews and the Weaver kids' cousins, but are close enough that they're considered basically twin sons and brothers. ➵ Were isolated from society until they were 9. With basic life skills and common knowledge taught by Caleb, they were placed in the same grade as him once put into school. ➵ However, due to Tom's illness, he's often left at home and Tim brings him the notes after school. Tim, along with Caleb, are also Tom's main caretakers. ➵ Tim also will cook meals alongside Mary, although he refuses to make what Mary's often making. ➵ Tom barely talks and is overall a boy filled with terror at the world around him. On Tim's side, he acts older than he actually is, due to the responsibilities he's had to take up.

Caleb: ➵ 12 years old. ➵ Close with Tim, Tom, and Lillian. He's considered one of Tom's main caretakers. ➵ Very aware of what Mary has been doing, he hates her but is also terrified of her, so he tries to avoid trouble. The twins are the only ones who know this. ➵ To outsiders, he's just an energetic kid full of kindness. He is one, he's just one hiding a lot of dark things about his family. ➵ Has a bunch of friends that he often hangs out with. ➵ Not only taller than the twins but overall just tall for his age.

Lillian: ➵ 8 years old. ➵ Mary's favorite child and gets away with being a little shit (particularly toward the twins) because of this. ➵ Close with Caleb and tries to get closer to Benny. Cares about the twins to some degree, but not a whole lot. ➵ Mature for her age but isn't entirely aware of what Mary's doing. She just knows her mom is doing something only a few people are allowed to know the truth about. ➵ Energetic and charismatic, learned from Caleb and Mary. Still loves rabbits. ➵ Tall for her age, but isn't taller than the twins let alone Caleb and Benny.

[ms-rampage]

Eden’s Gate: The Mother Chapter 12 - The Ballet of Amanda and Joseph Seed

Warnings: Mentions of infantcide, and Mandy being a mom to John. [not really a warning]

Word count: 2.1k

Where it all began. 

Summary: With everything falling into place, Mandy continues with her role as The Mother until the New Moon.  

Guest OCs: Dawana Floyd (FC: Anna Diop)

Guest Characters: Raphael [Supernatural; female vessel], God/Chuck [mentioned], Metatron [mentioned]

Note: I made up the names for Joseph’s wife and daughter. This is gonna be a somewhat short chapter.

______________

With everything falling into place, Dawana has Mandy continue her duties as the Mother until the New Moon. Raphael agrees and wants her to keep her role until they can properly do the Invocation of Invisibility to shield her from God and help get her out of the Cult. 

With the help of the Whitetail Militia they can help her get out, and also play the role as an FBI agent to keep her undercover. 

So not being seen with any of the Project’s enemies will help her out, and make sure she is committed to her position, or at least make her look like she’s committed. 

A week has passed, Mandy has been the Mother for 3 in a half months, and time has seemed to move by very, very slowly with everything that has happened. 

“You must play your part” Dawana tells her. 

“I know” Mandy responds, “I have to. Raphael told me that I must, until we get to the New Moon and do the Invisibility spell. Hiding me from Chuck”. 

Because he is God and he can see everything, and everyone. He’ll still see her playing her part as The Mother, but that will all be an illusion to him while the real Mandy will be plotting against him and the Project. Along with the Archangel and the Voodoo Priestess.

“Good” she responds, “It’s still a long time until the New Moon".

Being cleansed by Joseph, confessing and reaching atonement. To top it off marrying Joseph Seed. 

She spends time with Joseph, pretty much every second of every day they spent. She decides to check up on John since she hasn’t seen, or even heard from him since her atonement and her “wedding” to The Father. 

Driving to his ranch house in Holland Valley, she pulls into the huge driveway and approaches the gigantic house. 

John steps out and sees her. “Amanda” he says, surprised, putting emphasis on the A, “I wasn’t expecting you to come over”. 

She lets out a soft exhale, “Well I haven’t seen or heard from you. I just wanted to check up on you”. 

He tilts his head to the side, eyebrows furrowed “Really? Why?”. Surprised that she would even care about his well-being. 

She shrugs, “No reason, I check up on Faith all the time. Jacob doesn’t really need to be checked on, and I live with Joseph, I pretty much see him everyday. I just wanted to see how you’re doing”. Putting on her caring, loving mother act, it’s not really much of an act, it’s just the type of parent she is. 

He lets out a soft chuckle, “Well that’s very sweet of you”. He takes a few steps closer to her, “I’m doing great. Thank you”. 

She smiles at him, “That’s great to hear”.

“So is that all you came over here for? To check on me?” he asks. Crossing his arms.

She nods, “Well I was in the area. Also I haven’t been in Holland Valley in quite a while. Kinda forgotten what everything looks like”. She chuckles, making the youngest Seed brother chuckle as well. 

She crosses her arms, putting on her best typical mom voice, “So, have you been taking care of yourself?”. 

He laughs, scratching his beard, and sarcastically says, “Yes, mother I have”. 

“Good, I ask Faith the exact same questions” she tells him, “She knows my route already”. 

She stays at John’s house for another 20-30 minutes before going back to the church. She got to know a little more about John, and his upbringing with the Duncan’s, and him going to Law school. John also got to know a little more about Mandy as well. She’s half Italian, was married before, lived in several states before moving to Montana, and she can speak 3 languages. 

"Really? Say something then" he asks her. Looking at her in amusement.

"Prendersi cura di se stessi" [Take care of yourself] she responds in Italian.

He looks at her in confusion, he in a way wasn't expecting her to actually respond back in another language. She laughs at his reaction to her speaking another language.

******

Back at Joseph’s compound, one of the Cult’s followers approaches Mandy once she arrives at the church grounds.

“Mother Amanda” he tells her, “Joseph is inside the church waiting for you”. 

She nods her head, “Thank you” and proceeds to enter the church. 

The dark church with a few candles lit inside, Joseph has his back to her, facing the wall in front of him. 

“You were waiting for me” she tells him, standing a few feet away from him. She can hear him take a deep breath before saying, “I haven’t been entirely honest with you”.

Tilting her head sideways, confused. “What do you mean?”. He faces her, “I haven’t told you everything about me. There are things from my past, I feel the need to tell you”. 

She stands before him, with her hands clasped in front of her, wearing white blouse, dark jeans and black boots. Her hair is down in its natural style, wavy. 

Looking up at him, her eyes pointed up at him. Anticipating what he’s gonna tell her. He places his right hand on the back of her neck, while his other hand is caressing her cheek. He goes on to tell her that he was once married, and had a daughter. 

“Did you know I had a wife?” he asks her, showing her his tattoo of his wife, “So beautiful, isn’t she?. We were pregnant with our first child. We were just babies ourselves, and I was terrified.Becoming a father, mostly about money”. 

She stares up at him as he tells her the story about his wife and child. 

“She wasn’t worried, she had faith that things were going to work out. She always had faith, and then one day. She was going to visit a friend. There was an accident, and The Lord Taketh”. Seeing the pain in his eyes, Mandy knows the same pain losing a significant other, she knows that pain too well. 

“They rushed me to the hospital and put me in a room with this little pink bundle stuffed with tubes, and they said I had to be strong because my little girl was going to live. God was looking out for our daughter” he continues to tell her. 

Feeling like time had stood still, painfully still. Almost like the whole church got darker as he tells her this, “And they left me alone in a room with her. I just stared at my daughter. So helpless. So innocent, and all she had in the world was me. A nobody from nowhere with nothing, and in that moment I knew that God was testing me”. 

He moves his hands, both his hands on the sides of her face. Cupping her face, standing very close to her. 

“He was laying out a path before me and all I had to do was choose. So I put my hand on my little girl's head, and I leaned in and I could smell”.

Finding out that this man was once married, and had a child at some point, made her think how he could’ve turned out. Would the Cult still be a thing? Would he still be a lunatic that she married?. Getting lost in her thoughts the next thing he said made her snap back into reality. 

Joseph continues to tell her about his past life and everything before the Cult grew, “And we prayed together, prayed for wisdom. Prayed for strength then I knew. I heard God’s plan for me, and I took my fingers and I put them on that little plastic tube that was taped to her angelic face, and I pinched it shut”.

She looks up at him in horror, this man killed his infant daughter because Chuck told him to do it. Mandy is no saint herself, and she’ll tell you that she has killed innocent people to protect her own family, it may not be the same thing, they both have skeletons in their closets. 

Joseph might have more in his closet than she does, she witnessed him killing an innocent man several weeks ago in front of 30 other people. Gouging out his eyes.

“And after a little while her legs began to kick and kick, and then nothing. Stillness. Release. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh. Pain. Sacrifice” he finishes off. 

Looking up at this man in horror, standing in the middle of the church, frozen in fear. Giving her chills throughout her body. 

“Raphael I need you here now!” she prays in her head. Internally panicking 

Within a few seconds Raphael makes himself present, in his female vessel, only visible to Mandy and not Joseph. 

“You prayed?” he asks. Seeing what’s happening. Look of concern on his/her face. 

“Is what Joseph said true?!” she asks him in her head, while looking up at Joseph pretending that she’s listening to him, “Did he really kill his infant daughter because Chuck told him to?!?”. 

Joseph steps away, and continues to talk to Mandy about his life and upbringing with his brothers. Trying to listen to both her “husband” and her Archangel. 

Raphael sighs, “Yes, it’s all true. Joseph was married. His wife Anna, and their daughter Mary. The accident Anna was in, was orchestrated by God to put him on this path, and also to make him start the Project”. 

Mandy looks over at her Archangel with wide eyes and back to Joseph who is still telling her about his upbringing. His voice is basically a background noise to her and the Archangel’s conversation. 

“So all this has been happening for several years?!?!” she asks in her mind. Raphael snaps his fingers, freezing time. Allowing Mandy to actually speak with him, freezing Joseph. 

“Yes, everything is on Chuck” he tells her, “I can’t say no more”. 

“But, but. But why is Chuck doing this?!?” she asks him, voice shaken “Why is Joseph so important to Chuck?”. 

Taking a few steps closer to her, “He’s not. That I know of, Joseph Seed is not that important to God, the only thing Chuck wants is for someone to spread his word. Prepare for the end”.

She looks at him confused, “What?!? What does that even mean?!”. 

He breaks it down for her, “Think about it. When the world ends, and very few people survive. What’s the first thing that comes to mind?” he asks her. Walking around the somewhat dark church.

She shrugs, “I don’t know!”. Looking confused at the Warrior of God.  

“An act of God” he tells her, “I really can’t say more because that’s all I have on this whole situation. I wish I had more, but I’m sure Metatron has all that information, but If I were you, I wouldn’t waste my time trying to get it. He won’t give it to anyone”. 

He snaps his fingers to unfreeze time, but before he does, he gives her a slight chance of hope. 

“And one more thing Mandeline” he says, she looks over at him, “I believe in you. I know you can get yourself out of this, and I left you something that can help you. I left it under your pillow in your room”.

He disappears from the church. Leaving Mandy alone with Joseph. She looks over at Joseph, he is unfrozen, and continues his talking about his life. Having to pretend she was listening to everything he had said. 

“Now that I have told you about your past” he says, turning around to face her, “What do you have hidden from me?”. 

She looks down at the floor, “There’s too much for me to say” she responds, “I have lived through a dark past. That I wish to forget about”. Looking and sounding ashamed, reminding herself about the horrible things she has done in her lifetime. 

He approaches her, placing his hand on her cheek, caressing it. “I wish to know your past” he tells her, “I want to be the savior for your regrets. For your mistakes, for your sins”. 

She rests her head against his chest, as he holds her close. Hearing his heartbeat slowly, his slow, soft breathing

[consumedkings-archive]

ancient names, pt. vi

A John Seed/Original Female Character Fanfic

Ancient Names, pt vi: dark, and drenched in longing

Masterlink Post

Word Count: ~4.7k

Rating: M for now, rating will change in later chapters as things develop.

Warnings: Language, some “light” religious blasphemy (it’s Far Cry 5). Strong canon deviance from here on out. Mentions of blood/carnage, the frantic energy of people who both hate and are attracted to each other. Also, for this chapter in particular, the forced use of psychotropic drugs (also canon-typical?? I guess). John being himself. Per usual.

Notes: Hi! I'm going to keep these short and sweet because, basically, I have nothing to say for myself. I hope you guys enjoy! I mean it when I say every interaction makes my day. I swear I'm just as awkward in a real conversation as I sound in these notes and I'm not scary at all, so please feel free to come and say hi!

As always, thank you again to everyone who reads! I am so happy to be back in a writing groove with these two idiots again.

Theirs was a strange sort of allyship.

Tentative, to be sure, and certainly strained. But if four days ago you’d told John that he’d be sitting in a van with Junior Deputy Elliot Honeysett driving him straight to his brother, the man she'd slapped cuffs on and tried to arrest at the behest of a U.S. marshal, he’d have laughed in your face. The idea was ridiculous. Expansively, endlessly, incredibly ridiculous.

And yet, if John ignored the clink of the cuffs binding them together, and the knowledge that this van belonged to a strange, traveling band of cultists, he almost felt like he had been tricked into some kind of fucked-up romcom. As soon as they hit the highway, Elliot turned the radio on to the resistance’s repaired music channels, smoked her cigarette down, and leaned back against her seat as though she had not been viciously threatening to kill him just days ago.

Did she still think that? Did he care? John felt his brows furrow and he turned his head away, watching the treeline. He didn’t think he cared. He would say, so what if Elliot still wants to kill me? She needed him, and that was more than he’d gotten out of her in the whole time that she’d been under his thumb.

He didn’t care if she still wanted to kill him, and the thought that maybe she might did not thrill him, and he was not distracted by the stretch of her midriff when she shifted in her seat, and—

—And these were all things that he didn’t struggle with, certainly, because if asked, John would say that yes, he supposed that Elliot Honeysett could be considered conventionally attractive , but only when she wasn’t baring her teeth like a wild animal, only when she didn’t have a gun in her hands, only when she wasn’t making you say please to save the life of someone you didn’t even know the name of.

So, yes, he supposed, she was pretty: and John did not know why in particular he had to leap through those loops to get to that point silently, by himself, but, here he was.

“Oh, I love this song,” Elliot announced suddenly, turning the volume up and startling John out of the reverie he’d plunged himself into. His eyes narrowed when he recognized the song; the very typical back-water-town radio station playing Guns’N’Roses was not beyond his comprehension, and yet he found himself displeased nonetheless.

“Really, deputy?” John asked, staring at her across the console. “You love this song?”

Elliot dropped her glasses— my glasses, John reminded himself irritably—down the bridge of her nose so she could stare at him over the top of them. “It’s a classic, John.”

The radio blared the chorus of Welcome To The Jungle , and John said, “I cannot take you seriously with this music.”

She laughed, apparently pleased by his disdain, cranked the volume higher. Over the sound of aggressive guitar riffs sliding up and down and Boomer barking excitedly in the back, John shouted, “Why don’t we just alert everyone of where we are, hm?”

“Oh, you’re spoiling the fun.” She turned the volume back down, tsking her tongue, and John rolled his eyes. It was so very typical Elliot, to want to enjoy herself at the exact moment that he was trying to remind himself of all the reasons that he disliked her.

A period of silence stretched between them; tranquil, blissful, just for one moment, before John’s gaze slid back to her. She did look peaceful, at that moment, her ponytail smooth and adjusted, her brows relaxed, coughing occasionally into the crook of her elbow but otherwise breathing fine. Relaxed. At ease—with him, of all people. Wouldn't she be furious to know it?

John’s fingers itched. Soft, he thought, reminded of Joseph’s words; you have to love them, John. It wasn’t his style, not particularly, more suited to persuasion rather than fostering mercy as Joseph did. 

He kept his voice light and casual when he asked, “Where did you get your scars, deputy?”

He watched—and watched and watched —to catch her reaction. He couldn’t see her eyes through the reflective shades she wore, but he did see the way her fingers tightened on the wheel, saw the push and pull of her jaw muscle as her teeth worked in her mouth, grinding, perhaps crushing the words she wanted to say between them. He braced himself for the vitriol; it would certainly be something along the lines of, I got them from Go Fuck Yourself USA, John, I’m the goddamn mayor or any suitable string of expletives.

Instead, Elliot prompted, “Who’s asking?”

John’s eyes narrowed. “Pardon?”

“I said, who’s asking?” she reiterated, not once looking at him. “Is this John Seed, or John Duncan?” Hearing her say the name like this—as though John Duncan were at all comparable to the man that John Seed was—made his chest prickle, anger and disdain welling up inside of him.

“That’s not my name,” John bit out. “Don’t play games with me, deputy—”

“I know your fucking cult psycho-bombing tactics, Seed,” Elliot replied, her voice sharp and quick as a whip. John opened his mouth to protest, but she went on, “You might think you’re being clever, waiting until I crack a smile to ask me an invasive question, but you’re not. First, you ask me where my scars come from, and when I open up about my past traumas—”

“So it’s a trauma,” John insisted, but Elliot was already railroading on; any footing he felt he’d was gone.

“—then you say some stupid shit like, have you ever really felt at home with your family, Deputy Honeysett? I could give you a home, Deputy Honeysett, which you would say, because for some reason you don’t understand the concept of someone being a Junior Deputy or having a first name—”

“It was just a question, Elliot ,” John interrupted, effectively ending her barrage. “I was only trying to make small talk with you. I noticed them back at the ranch, and since we’re in a car for several hours together, I thought…”

Elliot’s lips pressed into a thin line. “There’s your first mistake, then. You tried to form a cohesive train of thought.” Her voice dripped with a honeyed, pitiful timbre, “I know how hard that is for you.”

“Alright, thank you for this stimulating conversation, you literal child,” John snipped out. “And you’re still wearing my fucking glasses, by the way.”

“Take them back, then.”

John stared at her. The idea of putting his hand close to Elliot’s face was not only a dangerous one because it was in close proximity to her teeth—proven by her many run-ins with his acolytes before to be suitable weapons in a pinch—but because he worried.

He worried that the willingness for soft contact would make him soft, the way it had felt when Elliot tucked herself against his chest to combat the chilly Montana evening. He worried that getting familiar and comfortable with a feral and untamed creature like Elliot Honeysett would change him, and to be changed by someone like her —

“Consider them a gift.” He kept his voice clipped. “From me to you. They’re Gucci, you know.”

“Oh, very generous of you, Herald. What, little old me, nobody Elliot from Hope County, Nowhere-Montana, with her first pair of Gucci shades? Why, I’d never .” A little bit of a sweet Southern-belle drawl slipped in there, and John didn’t know if it was because of the dramatics or if it was an accent she’d mostly lost and only occasionally regained.

But his stomach twisted a little when she used his title, the patronizing drip of her tone going straight to the headache blooming behind his eyes. “You know, deputy—”

Instinctively, he paused; he waited for her timely interjection, as she was so comfortable doing, but yet again the moment he anticipated it she remained silent. Elliot arched a dark-honey eyebrow and waited. John cleared his throat.

“I think I’ve never met a more troubled woman than you,” he continued casually. “To suspect me of such foul intentions when I only want to know my driving companion better, I’m genuinely wounded.”

“That’s very sweet of you,” Elliot acquiesced, and for a moment—just one teeny-tiny moment—John thought she meant it; and then she said, “But I’d prefer we not get too friendly, as you were just considering drowning me in a river filled with drugs just a few days ago, and...”

The blonde’s words trailed off. The van rolled to a crawl, and when he looked forward, he saw the remains of the fire assault that they had just escaped a day ago; two Eden’s Gate trucks, and flimsy barricades that had been pushed off of the road. No bodies in sight.

It was almost a relief, if he was being honest—he wasn’t sure how many more flower-stuffed corpses he could see before he finally decided to rip his own eyeballs out.

Any playful heat had died out of Elliot’s expression. She was somber now, the lines of her expression harder than before. In the back of the van, Boomer whined, and John could hear the swishing of his tail against the floor.

“I don’t like that they took the bodies,” she said after a moment.

“Me either.”

The next thirty minutes of the drive passed in strange, awkward silence. Elliot looked like she wanted to say something and wouldn’t; he could feel her gaze dipping over to him on occasion, but each time he thought her mouth was opening to let out what was on her mind, she’d just exhale. By the time they’d cleared the field where the tracks from their last ride had dug in and left the barricade far behind them, dark, heavy storm clouds had rolled in; he rolled his window down and felt the heady pre-storm humidity like a slap in the face.

No good, John thought, a few drops hitting his hand before he rolled up the window. He felt the thunder rumble deep in the marrow of his bones. The rain went from a drizzle to a steady silver sheet, and then to a torrential downpour by the time they’d been driving for just under an hour, and eventually Elliot pulled to the side of the road.

“We have to pull in somewhere,” she announced. “This van is great for toting cults around, but it’s not great for avoiding hydroplaning off of the road.”

“Well, isn’t off-roading your specialty?” John quipped. She shot him a glare, pushing his sunglasses up onto her head and nestling them into her hair.

“Yes, actually, now that you mention it,” Elliot replied tartly, “but not when I can’t see where I’m fucking going.”

“We’re only an hour and a half or so away from Joseph,” John insisted. “You really don’t think you can make it there?”

Elliot heaved a sigh. Her fingers fluttered over her forehead and the bridge of her nose like she had a headache that was a twin to his own, and every time he spoke, he was exacerbating it. That was probably true—and John was happier for it because the times when Elliot had been most compliant were when she was the most genuinely inhibited.

“I don’t like not being able to see who’s behind us or coming around the corner,” she insisted after a moment. “It doesn’t matter how close or far Joseph is. What matters is that there’s a group of nutjobs out there who apparently have insurmountable resources to take over a whole county in a single day, and I will not —”

She stopped, as though to calm herself, and John waited; impatient, but silent.

“I will not,” Elliot finished, “get kidnapped by one more fucking cult, John Seed.”

Lightning crackled in the distance, and the rain pelted the windshield violently. Another rumble of thunder went spiraling above them; Boomer whined, his ears flat against his skull. John could see Elliot’s fingers gripping the steering wheel until they went bone-white, but each time her grip loosened to let the circulation back in through her fingers, they trembled.

“Fine,” John said. “Pull off into the trees up there, then. We’ll take a break and pick up again when the rain lets up.”

“Thank you,” Elliot said, pulling down from the side of the road and winding her way out of sight of any traffic that might be coming; no venom laced her voice, only relief, and there was no follow-up jab, either. Under the shelter of the trees, the rain felt less violent, and already John felt the tension fleeing his own shoulders.

As soon as Elliot turned the van off, the motor ticking absently, John rumbled, “I think that’s the nicest you’ve ever been to me, deputy.”

She got up out of the seat, shimmying her way past the console and into the back where Boomer had been enjoying the right, pulling hard enough to yank John’s arm and force him to shimmy back with her. The gesture was awkward, and he only complied because he didn’t want to be sitting in the front seat with their arms slung at the angle to allow her back there.

“It’s incredible what a little decency can get you,” she deadpanned. She opened the back door of the van to let Boomer out, the dog taking off happily into the brush. Stretching out her legs in the more spacious, empty back of the van, Elliot wiped some rain from her face and made herself comfortable. John settled against the wall of the car, absently pulling at the cuff still locked around his wrist.

“I can be plenty decent,” he replied, almost sly, a little grin ticking the corner of his mouth upward. “But you already knew that.”

Elliot groaned. “You’re still on about the fact that one time in a bar like, three years ago, you hit on me when I was drunk and you might have had a chance?”

“I think we both know there’s a little more to it than that.”

She rolled her eyes. She could not have, perhaps, been more dramatic than she was in that moment, although John reminded himself that he had often considered Elliot could not be more of many things—impatient, infuriating, prone to violence—than she already was, and she had proved him wrong many times before.

“All I’m saying is,” John continued, “somewhere, deep down in that teeny-tiny heart of yours, deputy—”

“One time,” Elliot interrupted, holding up a finger to accentuate the number. “One time, many moons ago, I thought a man named John in a bar was objectively attractive. This was before I knew what your personality was like.”

John laughed. “You don’t need to like someone’s personality to fuck them, deputy,” he said and basked in the way her expression scrunched up, as though a particularly sour flavor had just seeped into her mouth.

“I do,” Elliot replied, “and every day, I thank God that Joey Hudson had the good sense to keep me on the straight and narrow.”

“Amen.”

Her gaze flashed with something that might have been amusement. She coughed into her elbow, turning her face away from him to glance out the window at the trees, their branches and leaves swaying in the wind but becoming more and more still the deeper into the woods they went.

“So you think I’m attractive, then.”

“Please stop talking,” Elliot groaned, head lolling against the back of the driver’s seat. “John, if I tell you that I think you’re handsome when your mouth is closed, will you shut the fuck up?”

John’s mouth curved in a half-grin, his chest welling pleasantly at her words. It may have been more than a little petty, to like the words coming out of her mouth—Elliot Honeysett, who would probably strangle him to death with her bare hands if given the opportunity, admitting that he was handsome.

“I might be more inclined,” he offered, sly. She rolled her eyes.

“I’m closing my eyes,” she announced, kicking her legs out and nudging his foot out of the way.

Absolutely childish, John thought absently and without much fervor, compliantly moving his foot out of the way for her. “Just use your words, deputy.”

“Certainly, anything for you,” Elliot purred. “I want you to shut up.”

He flashed her a grin, leaning his head back against the window. Rain pattered against the glass, and somewhere out in the distance, he heard Boomer’s happy bark as he did whatever it was that dogs did in the woods; hunt smaller things, perhaps.

“It’s nice to want things, isn’t it?”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Elliot did not know how long she had been asleep when she finally woke up.

She knew that she had been allowed to sleep uninterrupted, which was the first red flag—there was no way that John would just let her sleep and sleep and let the day tick them by. As she slowly came to, through the corner of her eye she could see that he’d fallen asleep, too, shifting restlessly against the window.

The second thing she realized was that the rain hadn’t stopped, and the reason that she became immediately aware of it was that the back doors of the van were open. She hadn’t done it, obviously, and she couldn’t fathom why in the world John would leave the back doors of the van open, so then the question in her foggy mind persisted; who?

And then someone grabbed her ankle and pulled.

The back of her head hit the metal floor of the van with a heavy thud , the world spinning in her vision as she was pulled closer to the outside world, even as her legs kicked. Panic rose in her throat, violent and hot, and instantly her hand went to reach for John, his name spilling out of her mouth in a desperate attempt to wake him up.

His eyes fluttered open. Groggily, he said, “Elliot?” and as she was yanked violently down he got pulled, too, slammed forward face-first into the floor of the van, biting out a swear that only barely registered in her mind as she struggled to wake up.

She twisted to look at her attacker—a tall redhead with a nasty scar dragging his lip in a permanent sneer. Elliot recognized him as the same red-head that had been handling Faith for the woman from before, the same man who’d nearly rammed his van into hers on the road just a day ago.

His hand fisted in the front of her shirt; he drawled in his thick, round accent, “Go back to sleep, little one,” and slammed her head back against the floor with purpose, her vision going sticky, staticky black on the edges.

She felt the heavy pain blooming behind her eyes. The weight of it dragged her eyelids down; she swam in inky black, only vaguely aware of the sound of raised voices, the feeling of a damp cloth being draped over her mouth, the sensation of floating, as though she were drifting underwater with everyone else shouting above her; all of these things began to fade, slipping through her fingers like sand until there was nothing left except for the empty, hollow black filling her up.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Elliot?”

It was John’s voice, she thought, or maybe not; it was hard to tell. Hands pressed to the tops of her shoulders, the pressure a welcoming comfort. Her chin was tucked against her chest, and she lifted her head—not without significant effort—and opened her eyes.

The world pulsed around her, colors bleeding brightly and violently against her irises. She was in a field—

(I’m in a field? But the floor—)

—and John was kneeling in front of her, his hands coming up to take her face. There was no smugness, no venom in his expression; only concern.

“I was so worried,” John said. “I was so worried about you, Elliot.”

“John,” Elliot said, and when she said his name it felt like the letters were spilling out of her mouth, choking her on the way out. A warm breeze tickled the edges of her vision, and the sunlight hemorrhaged into the grass, into the ground, oscillating in time with her heartbeat. A strange, sticky feeling wound up inside of her.

John said her name again. When she looked at him, his eye sockets were blooming, beautiful purple blooms pouring out of them, brushing his cheekbones like eyelashes. The feeling in her chest deepened; grief, she thought, with desperation, agony, hollowing her out, dread , filling her back up again, nothing but a vessel for the deepest emotions to be carried in.

“I was so worried about you,” John said again. Soft petals tumbled out of his mouth when he spoke. He gripped the sides of her face and pressed their foreheads together, and she started to cry, shaking her head. “My Elliot,” he said, over the sound of her crying, his thumbs brushing the tears from her face, “my Elliot.”

She thought that her skin must be burning, from the inside out, everywhere his hands touched; sliding down her throat, along the slope of her collarbone, gripping her shoulders. Hungry, and burning, lighting her on fire as he murmured, “My Elliot.”

His hands skimmed her face. They felt different, then softer and more slender; she closed her eyes tightly, willing the horror of it to go away, for the clammy terror to slip off of her skin.

“Open your eyes, mor. Did the visions scare you? ” a soft voice asked, the words slinking across her skin, serpentine and cold. She did as she was told, even when she thought, I don’t want to open my eyes, her body operating obediently.

Soft, dark eyes. Wisps of dirty-blonde hair that curtained Elliot’s face. Her head was in the woman’s lap and the night sky stretched, cloudy and endless, above them. Ase smiled at her dreamily.

“I saw your color the minute I laid eyes on you,” Ase whispered. She said the words like they were meant to be treasured, kept between them, only them. Elliot’s eyes fluttered and she tried to will herself to move. Her body was non-compliant, heavy as lead, and the warmth of a tear moving haltingly down her cheek made her skin prickle with goosebumps.

With the touch of a doting mother, Ase wiped the tear from her cheek, the pad of her thumb sliding along the slope of Elliot’s cheekbone, and then brushed the hair from her face. Now, Elliot could see more clearly the way her pupils were blown wide, swallowing up the color of her irises, crushing it in the event horizon of her eyes. She murmured, reverently, “I saw your color, mor, I saw you. Have you ever felt seen? We waited for you, for so long.”

Elliot moaned, misery stinging in the sound. Her lip trembled. She thought, I don’t want to be seen, the way Ase reiterated it making her vulnerable. I don’t want to be seen, I don’t want this. But she couldn’t make the words come out, her jaw hanging slack when she opened her mouth, the knowledge that they had done something to her flickering only briefly through her mind before it was swallowed up by something else.

“I’ll let you go.” Ase’s voice remained silken, spinning around her, weaving a cocoon. “I’ll let you go, mor , but only because I know that you will always come back to us.” She skimmed her fingers lovingly across Elliot’s forehead and whispered into her skin, “Now go back to sleep.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

John found her curled up, her fingers sinking into the earth like she was afraid she was going to float away, and sobbing.

His head was pounding; he felt disoriented, and panicked, the same kind of strange, distant panic that happened when he fell asleep during the day and woke up to it being night. He could only remember the sound of Elliot saying his name jerking him out of his sleep in the van, the sensation of getting pulled forward violently, and the feeling of someone slamming his head into the side of the van.

And then, waking up in a field, in the dark, alone.

He had struggled to his feet when he awoke. He had thought, the handcuffs are off . He had thought, I have to find Elliot. And then he’d started walking, saying her name, until he heard the sound of her crying and found her.

“Elliot,” he said urgently. His mouth felt incredibly dry; he was worried that if he spoke too much, his skin would split. He reached for her when she turned to look at him, and when she saw him she moaned, the sound that came out of her the same kind of sound an animal with its leg caught in a trap would make.

A slur of protests came out of her. A line of no’s that all blurred together, but when brought her to a sitting position she only shrunk away from him a little. He took the sides of her face in his hands and searched her for any sign of wounds or harm that might have come to her: but there was nothing. She was, it appeared, physically untouched.

“Hey,” John managed out. “It’s me, Elliot. I’ve got you.”

She blinked blearily at him. Her face was flushed, puffy, and tears dotted and darkened her lower lashes. Her pupils nearly ate up the entirety of those baby blues; clearly, she’d been drugged. She said, “John?” and he nodded.

“Yes, Rook. It’s me.”

“They did something to me,” Elliot said, her voice rising in her distress. “John—”

“They’re gone,” he said, without confirming her fears. “We have to move, though. Can you stand?”

The blonde hesitated for a moment and then nodded—he supposed she would have to fight through the remains of whatever they had put in her. He stood, taking her hands and helping her as she wobbled to a stand as well. It was hard to figure out exactly where they were, with no road in sight, but the haze of his sleep—which he now thought must also be medically induced—was still weighing on him.

“We have to move,” he said again, Elliot’s fingers clutching his hands so tight it almost hurt. He scanned the horizon of the field, touching on the dip of a hill, a river, and then a treeline. His eyes strained. He thought he might have seen headlights through the dim of them, but it was hard to tell.

It was also all he had to go on.

“Come on,” John said, her hands still locked around his like he was anchoring her to the earth. Unable to guess what they’d drugged her with, he imagined it probably felt like that.

“John,” Elliot said, her voice impossibly small as they began to walk, her steps halting and uneasy, “They did something to me.”

His jaw tightened. He hated this; he hated Elliot like this, emotionally wounded and voice wobbling, because all of a sudden he thought that this was not the Elliot he knew, not his Elliot at all. Where was the venom? The steel? Where had she gone?

Buried, he supposed, under psychotropic drugs, of which he knew not the origin nor the duration.

The rain clouds had moved along; the earth smelled wet, and fresh, the scent of it welling up inside of them, and as they walked his mind felt clearer and clearer. With clarity came the knowledge that they had been trapped; the cultists had had them, and had chosen to leave them alive. For what?

“I know,” John said again, his voice rough with his forcefully-induced sleep. Elliot’s fingers dug into his arm where they clutched, the feverish pitch of her body heat seeping through his clothes from how close she lingered. “You’re fine, deputy, I’ve got you.”

He tried not to think too hard about the voice that echoed in his head, for now.

[drunklander]

Drunj!Der Yells About Outlander

Thoughts on Ep. 506

STAY AT HOOOOOOOME!!!!!

Ok, now that that’s out of the way... I kind of liked this episode. Which surprised me. Because usually I find myself neutral at best. But, considering how much I’ve hated disliked the last few seasons, I guess that feeling mostly neutral means this season has been better? The bar is low, y’all.

Could 1000% still use more Claire though. And more Jamie and Claire. And yes I know I’m saying that in the recap for an episode where the two of them bang.

I said what I said.

The title card’s powder blocker thingy looks like a plague doctor mask. We should bring those back. I found a box that had a bunch of them in it in the closet at my office once. That was weird. Also, stay the fuck at home and 6′ away from people if you have to go out on a supply run or take a walk.

Ooo, a flashback! I miss Scotland.

“Whom do I address, sir?” “I am Samuel Torrington,” said the guy who is most def *not* Samuel Torrington.

I know I shouldn’t laugh because of what’s about to happen, but looool at the girl for stepping in the literal one spot of mud.

Well that was dumb. Why the fuck would you run in between your dad and the guy he’s clearly gonna shoot?

I mean, it’s super sad, I guess. But also hella dumb.

Ah, a lavender pillow. Yes, I know it’s from the book. But between this and the BJR stuff, it’s like, do they know other smells exist?

But yeah, guess I shouldn’t talk since I have lavender hand soap, lavender lotion, lavender tea and a lavender candle.

It’s the best smell.

Ok, I get why Murcasta can’t be endgame. That was a good decision. But including Innes BeCaUsE tHe BoOk is dumb af. They got to the right decision to break up Murcasta, but for the wrong fucking reason.

Like, seriously though, can we please take a moment to appreciate how dumb this is? Like, book!Innes is from Ardsmuir. He’s been part of the squad. He’s basically one of Jamie’s most trusted friends. And he marries Jocasta. Show!Innes is literally some dude we’ve never heard of until last week because the fucking writers were like oh, Jocasta has to marry someone named Duncan Innes. Guess we should make that happen, out of the blue, for no other reason. Lazy idiots...

Jocasta has better handwriting than I do and I can fucking see what I’m doing.

Also lol at her straight up ignoring Roger saying that Jemmy won’t take her money.

Cut to Jemmy crying about the fact that he is now a participant in chattel slavery. I feel you, Jem.

Oh, it’s a cold? Ok fine, but also the whole chattel slavery thing.

ADSOOOOO! Such a good lil floofer! Look how nice he is, bringing them that excellent bug! WHO’S A GOOD KITTY? YOUUU ARE!

I really like Claire’s necklace. Also Claire’s neck. Also Claire’s collarbones. Also Claire. Can we have more Claire please? And less manpain in general?

D’awww, Lord John Grey the awkward gay. GIVE HIM AN APPROPRIATE BOYFRIEND ALREADY, YOU COWARDS.

Tryon is such a fucking douche. So is Quincy Arbuckle.

Well, it might not prevent tumultuous and riotous assembly, but not hanging out in groups larger than 10 sounds like a greAT FUCKING IDEA RIGHT NOW.

STAY AT HOOOOOOOOOOOOME. (If you are able to, and if you have to go to work, WASH YOUR HAAAAAAAAAAAANDS.)

Fergus, Marsali and Bree standing around this room being disappointed with Roger is A Mood™.

Team Give Fergus and Marsali More to Do

Oh, you’ve never been comfortable in your big fancy mansion? Poor you. *plays the world’s smallest violin*

News spreads slowly in/from the backcountry except, apparently, Claire’s medical advice.

Claire Fraser said reproductive rights!!! *ups monthly donation to Planned Parenthood*

The casting for Wylie is fucking perfect. Like kudos to the casting folks again.

I cared more about the Regulator shit in the show than the book because Murtz, but all the “Oh it’s happening! JK, it’s not! JK, it is!” that they took from the book is making me care less about it. Just happen already or fuck off.

Yes, I know it’s gonna happen next week.

Roger shoveling shit makes me happy. Because it’s gross and I do not like Roger.

“You keep shoveling your shit.” -- The Fandom Bree

Wylie should be a caricature with how fucking terrible he is, but let’s be real. We've all run into a guy like that.

Oh, Claire’s rings.

I did some mental gymnastics years ago to try to wrap my brain around why Claire would still wear an emotionally abusive piece of shit’s Fred’s ring. And the fact that the books and the show are like nope, she just likes Fred, drives me up a fucking wall every time.

“He must have been quite the man to inspire such devotion after all these years.” “Nah, he was an asshole. A complete and utter piece of shit. And instead of going with that and all the complexities it brings, we continue to gaslight the audience that he was a Good Dude. Instead of using the ring as a symbol of something more than fucking Fred, we just keep on pretending he didn’t suck.”

I hate everyone involved with refusing to acknowledge how shitty Fred was.

There is literally only one smuggler in the Carolinas.

DO NOT GO WITH THE CREEPY MAN TO A SECOND LOCATION. CLAIRE, THIS IS BEING A WOMAN 101. NEVER GO WITH A CREEP TO A SECOND LOCATION.

“I get a biblical plague.” You get what you deserve, Rog.

Jamie, chill with the extra testosterone. Just punch the bro or something.

Also don’t fucking blame the victim, asshole.

Literalol at Bree showing the women her like stick and sheet fan thing and then cut to all the people with just little squares, barely doing anything.

“Don’t stop! Keep your fires going!” *everyone stops and just stares at the bugs*

Gonna go ahead and take this time to remind folks that’s it’s fucking gross to get married on a plantation. Don’t do that thing.

I know a guy who is like proud of the fact that he’s an asshole. He talks about it like it’s one of his defining traits. This scene with Wylie being like “buddy, I love my shitty reputation” reminds he of that guy. I cannot fucking stand that guy.

*ignores Claire’s feelings about Fred’s dumb ring and headcanons in my own reasons instead because I cannot even with this nonsense anymore*

Ah, the Lindsays like Roger now. I still do not like Roger.

I fucking love this whole Murcasta scene. Can we get one of these for Jamie and Claire? I miss them having big sweeping scenes that have time to breathe and unfold and all the good shit like Murcasta gets here.

The show keeps trying to deny it, but scenes like this are where it’s strongest. But it refuses to accept that this is its lane and keeps trying to go elsewhere.

I miss Jamie and Claire.

I miss the MacKenzies.

I wanna give Jocasta a hug. She’s still trash for enslaving people, though.

Maria Doyle Kennedy is a goddamn treasure. Seriously, her casting was the best choice the show made in years.

That and saving Murtz, of course.

So fucking glad they cut the creepy-ass foot thing.

Jamie, you’re drunk, but read the fucking room. Claire’s right. Just because she says shit from the future all the time doesn’t negate the fact that she’s right about you right now. Also, seriously? You’re taking *this* opportunity to call her out?

Buddy deserved that slap.

Look, I’m always down for the Frasers to fuck. More Fraser fucking, I say. But this is just another instance like their fight at Lallybroch where the fight itself is never actually resolved like it should be. They just fuck about it and magically everything is ok again. Le sigh.

Murcasta gets a big long scene with time to breathe and talk through everything and it’s riveting af. But Jamie and Claire never get that anymore and it pisses me off tbh.

Stop shoehorning in book lines! She can’t see shit through all the skirts and stuff!

I miss the Lallybroch ring. What did they ever end up doing with it? It’s floating around somewhere.

Bonnet is so evil to 11 about fucking everything that it makes him boring. We get it. You’re a bad guy. Do you also have a tiny dick or something that you’re overcompensating for?

Can we please wrap this Bonnet shit up this season? I swear if they drag it out as long as they do in the books I’m gonna be rull annoyed.

Ok so now the war is actually gonna for real happen and I’m like legit out of fucks to give about it because Murtz aside, they’ve done the “it’s coming, jk!” fake out too many times...

Can they try to hang Murtz instead? Because I swear spending half a season with emo!Roger is cruel and unusual punishment.

[deathvalleyqueen]

OC Bio Tag

I was tagged be the lovely @archetypesinthefog​ thank you so much so lets learn a bit more about MJ... 

I am going to tag @trialandseed​ @bluemojave​ @shallow-gravy​ @josephseeds-rosary​ @bigprincess-energy​ @renoscientia​ @lobanhart​ @funkypoacher​ - no pressure and like if other people want to do it go ahead and tag me so I can see your OCs!!!

The Basics

Full Name: 

Mary Jane MacKenna -Maiden Name

Mary Jane Duncan - Original Married name (and the name that appears on her collage diploma btw)

Mary Jane Seed - Legally changed after John changes his name back to Seed.

Codename/Nickname: 

MJ - Mostly her brothers

Mary - The Seeds and what John calls her most often

The Confessor - What Eden’s Gate knows her as... 

“The Bride of the Baptist” - more of a nickname that is given to her by members of Eden’s Gate. 

“The Queen of Holland Valley” - A nickname started by Mary May that takes root among the Resistance 

Birth Date: June 13th 1988

Birth Place: Rome, Georgia 

Nationality: Irish - American

Organization/Group/Profession(?):

Eden’s Gate - While some consider her one of the Heralds - Joseph does not, her role is more public relations and community outreach. this leads to many dubbing her the “Public Face” of Eden’s Gate with John as more people see one of them than Joseph.

Former Affiliations: 

She was attending her first year of law school around the time that Joseph and John reunited. She had goals to word with in the Criminal Justice system ideally as a defense attorney.

Her father ran a small criminal operation out of the family bar that Mary Jane was aware of and participated in most of her life. Mostly loans, gambling and some gun running in later years. Though her father’s operations were eventually absorbed into Eden’s Gate.  

*rest under the cut to save the dash*

Family and Friends:

Father: Patrick Michael MacKenna

Mother: Catherine Marie MacKenna

Siblings:

James “Jimmy” MacKenna - Eden’s Gate

Michael “Mac” MacKenna - Eden’s Gate

Colin MacKenna - Resistance/Deputy Role

Sean MacKenna - Resistance/Eden’s Gate... boy waffles a lot

Robert “Bobby” MacKenna - Eden’s Gate

Other Relatives: Most of her extended family is back in Ireland and she doesn’t know them very much at all, technically speaking by Marriage she is connected to the rest of the Seeds.

Spouse: 

John Seed - Married prior to Eden’s Gate

Children:

Lily Claire Seed - Daughter

Rosalie “Rose” or “Rosie” Faith Seed - Daughter

Grace Lynn Seed - Daughter

Archer Ryan Seed - Son born 6 years after the collapse 

Description:

Height: 5′ - though she will tell everyone she is 5′1″

Weight: 115-125 lbs depending 

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Eye Color: Blue

Skin Color:  Pale, slightly freckly 

Any Scars?:

She has a few -

She obviously eventually in the course of her story ends up with ‘Wrath’ Carved into her chest by John. 

There is another one on her leg from childhood when her brother’s shoved her off their bunk beds and she broke her leg so badly she had to have surgery. 

A small barely noticeable scar above her lip from when her mother’s dog bit her. 

Lastly she has a c-section scar because Lily was stubborn and never wanted to turn all the way.... she is John’s daughter...had to make the most dramatic entrance possible... 

Any Tattoos? 

Why yes... yes she does. I like to HC most of them were done by John save her first one which he took her to get on a date. 

She has a fairly large sleeve that is all flowers that was done over the course a few weeks by John when Lily was a year old... MJ drew the design herself and John did the tattoo. 

She has small birds, similar to the tattoos John has along her ribs. I HC that her and John got the bird tattoos together on their first real date after they had been living together for several months but never actually had a proper date... 

On her ring finger of her left hand she has three little stars that mirror the stones of her engagement ring... 

she has others but these are the main one’s people would see or are majorly important. 

Any Piercings?

She had her tongue pierced when her John were dating but took it out around the time they decided to follow Joseph. 

Other Notable Features: 

Mary Jane is actually horribly self-conscious about her body and appearance, it’s part of the reason she always makes sure she looks very put together. This self consciousness is really reflected in the way she presents herself. Always looking like she spent hours getting ready (because she did) with perfectly matched outfits and impeccable make-up and hair... which is almost never seen in Eden’s Gate many with in the group say the only reason Joseph lets her vanity pass is because she is John’s wife.  

Random Fact:

MJ is an avid reader though rarely fiction. She instead really enjoys history and particularly books relating to crimes and murders (she jokes its to help her understand John) at one point she even brings up to John that Joseph isn’t trying to form a new Church he is starting a Cult after reading several books about The Manson Family. John tells her she is reading too much into similarities that aren’t really there and takes the books from her and suggest she reads something a little more pleasant... 

[hopedalone]

ODD  QUESTIONS  ABOUT  YOUR  MUSE:

Some random questions about your muse that you may not have thought about, but could be fun to consider. Answer with as much detail as you’d like!

Do they make their bed in the morning? yes! always. except on every second weekend, where she strips the bed to wash her sheets.

How do they order their eggs at a diner (scrambled, sunny side up, etc)? sunny side up, with toast to dip in the yolk.

What genre of music is their favorite? she wasn’t allowed to listen to a whole lot of music in her childhood, so immediately listened to everything she could once she was out of her parent’s control. still listens to anything and everything at least once.

Card games or board games? board games, she’s never had a good poker face and has terrible luck drawing hands.

What’s their favorite cryptid? bigfoot. he’s out there in hope county. she knows it.

Did they have a nightlight as a kid? no. her previous foster parents either didn’t have the money or didn’t care. and the duncans certainly wouldn’t let her have anything like that.

What was their favorite food as a child? she had memories from before the duncans, of someone making her boxed macaroni and a pb&j sandwich cut in triangles. that stubbornly remained her favourite meal growing up. though she’d never say that.

Is that food still their favorite? definitely not. although she still likes to cut sandwiches in that way.

What snack food and drink do they get from the gas station on a road trip? energy drinks. enough to keep her awake on the road. and for food, whatever she sees that strikes her mood that day. usually a bag of chips.

How many times have they moved? after john disappeared, she basically never stayed in one place. traveled constantly. it wasn’t til hope county that she was in one place permanently

Does their hair grow quickly or slowly? quickly, thought she trims it frequently.

If they could describe their own style in one word, what would it be? fun!

What kind of bender would they be (fire, water, earth air)? actually, she’d use chi blocking in an avatar verse. but out of the options, probably a fire bender.

Pastels or neon colors? how could you make her choose? probably pastels, if she had to choose.

Who were they in a past life? a rich girl trying to dull the edges of the world anyway she could, the ungrateful child of famed philanthropists and benefactors, the cover of the occasional tabloid, tired but continuing out of spite.

Do they think scars are cool? on others, yes. but she used to be self conscious about her scars, especially the one on her face. especially when people asked how they happened.

Do they know how to read a topographic map? vaguely? she sort of knows where she’s supposed to be going in game, but mostly based on landmarks and description.

How about a map of the stars? she wishes.

Pepsi or cola? regular cola, diet pepsi.

tagged by: @bellytochin technically on nick but i’m also doing it here.

tagging: whoever wants to do it.

[trashcatsnark]

3. 6. 11 for sfw. 3 and 7 nsfw with dahlia and the seeds. any or all

I choooose all, cause I am a seed thot and it be like that. Plus, I feel super bad choosing one over the others, even though they’re fictional, I don’t wanna hurt their feelings. 

Also these mostly assume to be like, in wholesome, no cult AU, cause the whole end of the world, noncon, stockholm syndrome, trapped in a bunker, kind of fucks up the chance for a lot of soff in canon

3. Who fixes the vehicle after a breakdown?

Dahlia and Jacob would be the two of the family to take care of vehicles when they break down. Dahlia is the most mechanically inclined, with her experience with motorcycles and helping Lloyd fix up vehicles. Jacob as the oldest was more often on the farm of the foster family made to help repair equipment and vehicles, usually with lots of screaming and violence if he messed anything up. So, he doesn’t have as fond memories of repairing things. 

Faith and John would call Dahlia or Jacob, or a mechanic, if a car broke down. I feel like Faith never got her license even and one he was adopted, while the Duncans failed in every other aspect of parenting, he never had to worry about fixing his own car. 

Joseph is decent with his hands and isn’t completely lost when it comes to fixing up small things, but generally he’s better off leaving it to Jacob and Dahlia. 

6. Going out to eat: Who pays? Who orders the most food? And who has dessert?

John always offers to pay, without fail. He was taught for years basically that money is the way to show affection and love, so regardless of if it’s him dragging Dahlia out to a nice fancy dinner or the entire family is out at some cheap family joint.

Dahlia usually offers to pay no matter who’s she’s with or to split it, but if they’re insistent or she’s in a kind of mopey mood, she’ll take offers to pay it. Which John, Jacob, and Joseph always do offer when it’s one on one, because they’re older and as much as they know they don’t have to, some of those gender roles pop up in their head of men should pay. It tends to be more even between her and Faith since there’s less of that, Dahlia even probably treats Faith a little bit more, because it makes her feel good and Faith is the only Seed who doesn’t act weird about it in some way. 

Most food is a tie between Jacob and Dahlia, if they’re both going wild.they can eat a lot. Jacob is a bigger guy and isn’t ashamed of his appetite, food is important to him in a lot of ways. Him and Dahlia both have a history of having to go without, so they tend to want to get their fill and then some when they can. However, Dahlia is definitely more of a dessert person than Jacob. He doesn’t know if it’s age or what, but that stuff is just too sweet for him. 

Faith is the kind of person who oohs and awws over desserts on the menu before she even orders and swears to wants this cake or that pie. But halfway through her entree she’s full and never ends up actually ordering her dessert. Some day Faith, some day. 

John and Joseph both tend to be the most mindful of what they eat out of the entire family. Joseph like healthy natural foods because he wants to take care of himself, so he doesn’t indulge too much. Definitely a person who’d consider like just fruit a dessert. John is a bit more into health for vanitys sake. He wants to look good, plain and simple. 

11. Baths or showers? Together or separate? Any bubbles or bubble fights?

Dahlia on her own is generally a shower person, she plays some music and sings as she gets clean. 

Jacob is a shower person, in and out, he’s there to get clean and move on. Jacob and Dahlia don’t really bathe together, if they do it’s after some pride swallowing and asking by Dahlia. Though it’s not unusual, after a while in the relationship, for if they catch the other showering to just step in and join. Jacob will make some justification of it being practical, but he just likes the closeness of it. 

Joseph is typically a shower person, but his pick of all else is using like natural springs and water falls, cause he’s that kind of hippie. It feels much more calming and relaxing to be surrounded by nature as he cleans himself. 

Joseph loves bathing with Dahlia, he’s soft and kind, just wants to wash over every inch of her and hold her as close as possible. He doesn’t like too many bubbles, though occasionally he can be more playful with it. But he likes seeing her through the water.

John is one of those weird cold shower people cause it’s good for the skin, Dahlia thinks he’s nuts. But, he will also take bougie hot baths when he feels like he wants to pamper himself and relax. 

John would shamelessly ask Dahlia to join him in the bath and shower, he’d also jump into her shower if he catches her showering. He sees no reason not to jump at the chance to be wet and naked with her. He definitely indulges in some bubbles, though he mostly likes an intimate atmosphere in his baths with her, she likes to pick fights and will fling bubbles at him. And he always rises to the bait. 

Faith is the biggest bath fan of the family, she likes tons of bubbles, nice scented goodies, and just melting into the warm water. Showers are just if she’s exhausted and wants a quick clean. 

Faith absolutely loves taking baths with Dahlia, lots of bubbles, any bubble fights are very teasing and playful. Faith liking to gather handfuls and blow them at Dahlia, making her swat them away like a cat. 

NSFW UNDER CUT (this got long)

3. Any kinks they clash on?

There’s not a lot of kinks that she clashes with with any of the Seeds, other than hair pulling. Jacob and John both like pulling hair; they’re rougher with Dahlia than Faith or Joseph. But for Dahlia having her hair pulled is actually triggering and upsetting for her, because of previous abuse. So, that’s a clash that’s usually worked around with just pressing on the head, neck, or ya know a leash/collar if need be. 

Dahlia doesn’t a hundred percent get Joseph’s foot thing (Joseph has a foot thing, fight me), but it’s a non issue. She may not get why he like touching her feet or having her foot on his dick, but hey, it makes him feel good and she likes doing that. 

 Faith and Dahlia I don’t feel have any major clashes or even many semi clashes. I feel like maybe Faith is a bit more comfy with being out in the open, in nature during sex, where as Dahlia is a bit more shy. But, that shyness still leads to some…excitement for it on Dahlia’s behalf. 

7. Genital headcanons?

I can’t describe genitals

This is like the hardest thing for me to do, I remember when I did NSFW ABC’s I was struggling

Jacob has the biggest dick, big and thick. Some prominent veins. I feel like he does some shaving and trimming of his pubic hair, nothing crazy but he likes feeling like he’s doing at least some taking care of himself. His pubes are very thick, course ginger hair, a few shades darker than his head of hair. 

Joseph I feel is longer than average but closer to average in thickness  ( still bit more than average cause they all have big dicks okay, Im fantasizing let me live), i feel like he probably does the least in terms of shaving/trimming down there, cause hippie boy is hippie. It still doesn’t grow crazy and he still does some maintenance. I mean his beard isn’t insanely long or anything, so I presume he likes some trimming and care put into his appearance. Plus he just doesn’t have super crazy body hair, some kind over average thickness dark brown hair. 

John isn’t much longer than the average but is on the thicker side definitely. (I hate describing dicks and vaginas, iTS SO WEIRD) In terms of maintenance, John had the biggest difficulty growing his beard, which was frustrating, but he’s thankful for slower body hair growth when it comes to his pubes. He trims and maintains the most when it comes to the bros, the vain baby he his, he likes it neat and well taken care of. What he has is thick and dark brown. 

Faith has a very cute vagina (that sounds weird, but ehhhh) you can just see the inner lips through the outer lips, a kinda small clit that swells and peeks out when she’s turned on. Soft pale and pink skin. Her pubes are pretty well trimmed and shaved down. Sometimes she shaves it down completely, she likes feeling neat and clean, but sometimes, she can’t be bothered. It’s thin and the same sandy color of her hair. 

Dahlia also has a cute vagina (I DONT KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE PUSSYS), she has more compact and closed outer lips, very little of the inner lips or clit showing, if any. The vulva is soft and a little chubby, puffy, squishy, idk the best word. Her natural tawny tan skin and a bit of deeper redder pink to her sex than Faith’s more light pink. Her pubic hair is thick dark brown nearly black and she does trim and shave, but still keeps a patch of hair there. She mostly focuses on it not itching or getting caught in zippers. She feels weird being completely bald down their though. She did it once and it was just itchy razor burn as it grew out. 

[borisbubbles]

Eurovision 2010s: 105 - 101

105. Mariya Yaremchuk - “Tick tock” Ukraine 2014

Conform with the “GODDESSES ONLY” clause of their Eurovision contract, Ukraine once again have blessed us with an amazing opener (Seriously. First Melovin, then Eduard, now this? WE WERE ROBBED OF MARUV OPENING THE FINALE). 

"Tick tock” is a bit too elementary to put into my top 100, HOWEVER that is also why it’s such an easy song to get into. High (production-)quality Ukranian trashpop 😍 Which won Vidbir as an unintentional incest anthem 😍 (if you don’t know, the original version opened with “We belonged to each other, like a sister to a brother” Cersei Lannister is quaking.) 

Naturally, the main reason why Mariya ranks this high is, of course, the staging. THE HAMSTER WHEEL IS LEGENDARY:

Mariya casually flinging herself on top of that giant spinning contraption and torturing her poor hot dancer. 😍 I’d say the staging makes no sense, but then I realized Ukraine probably went with this act because it’s DIRT CHEAP <3 (which is funny as long as you don’t think about why they went with a lowbudget act 😭). It’s just so... honorarily Moldovan? 😍 Ukraine and Moldova using each other as horcruxes <3 Name a more epic ESC alliance, I will wait. Until then,

________________________________________________________________

104. Sanja Vucic - “Goodbye (Shelter)” Serbia 2016

... let us celebrate this glorious cross-over between “Molitva”, “Running” and “l’Amore è femmina”. 😍 “Shelter” takes the best aspects from these three entries and combines them into a increasedly shouty mess. As you can imagine, I LOVE this witches’ cabal of hackneyed hand choreos, shredded leather and facial gymnastics. Most ESC performers would keep their miming to the precise amount of what they need, but Sanja is (and has always been) so UNPLUGGED with her irate facial expressions. A reel:

Which, in a song with such a HEAVY topic as spousal abuse is actually quite appropriate. You show those awful shit husbands, girl!!! 

And you’d think that would be *IT*, but nope you’re wrong because :TEEHEE: I also think “Shelter” is a great song even without the messy misandry. The song is catchy, moody and highly relistenable. It’s one of the better mid-tier bops of this ranking. No wonder it got televotes from all over Euro-

oh. (🤣)

CONGRATZ BOJANA ON BEING THE HIGHEST RANKED SERBIAN ENTRY.

________________________________________________________________

103. Alyona Lanskaya - “Solayoh” Belarus 2013

HI 🙂 MY NAME IS ALYONA LANSKAYA 🙂 I AM FROM BELARUS 🙂 MY SONG SOLAYOH.  🙂

2013 is mostly remembered as the year of ‘splicing unnecessary dubstep into your song’, but there is another recurring trend which was even better. The ‘female performer enters the stage with STYLE’ and as far as stylistic entrances go, Alyona’s is one of the best. This emissary  from the planet Solayoh emerged immediately from her discoball-shaped Escape pod upon landing to tell us all the love and joys of her homeworld 😍

What follows is a lametastic banality anthem, riddled with ESL sentences (”We can make it into hot night” 😍.) and of course, a few iconic hand choreographies:

Topping off the hilarity is the idea of a well-off socialite such as Alyona Lanskaya singing about how “she had work hard all day :lip pout:” while wiggling her dress’s cerulean bossom fringes. 😍😂 Bribing juror being such hard work. <3 We stan lazy queens. 😍

________________________________________________________________

102. Sofi Marinova - “Love unlimited” Bulgaria 2012

DO REN DEM DEM DEI 

Speaking of lazy queens, remember when Bulgaria send an act that consisted entirely of a haggard ponytailed garuda wiggling her diddeys around like-a-so: 

I’m only a recent convert to the Church of Marinova, only seeing the light during my last rewatch and I mean, how could I not fall in love eventually? “Love unlimited” is such a lowbudget afair, a basic dance track whose sole gimmick is saying “I love you” in like 46 different languages. 😍 

As such, "Love unlimited” totally shouldn’t work... and yet it absolutely does? It’s a similar deal to Jurij, except the person taking the stage here is a lovably dimwitted middle-aged hagress who is completely oblivious to the fact that she has no chance to qualify and is giving still giving it her damn’ all, in doing so ALMOST reaching the final from a lost position. WHAT A TROOPER. I LOVE *YOU* SO MUCH, Sofi-Trophy. 😍

________________________________________________________________

101. Conan Osiris - “Telemóveis” Portugal 2019

A lot of people blame several artistic decisions behinds Conan’s NQ, but I’ve had my doubts even before the rehearsals began: this is what I wrote a full month before the semi: 

Conan’s main problems rise from the fact that he tries to be artistic and humorous at the same time, and the two cancel each other out somewhat.

(...) There’s a very high chance “Telemóveis” highbrow message will  fly over the heads of the audience and there’s an equally high chance it will backfire on Conan when it does. 

Portugal faces severe competition from the other acts. They compete with Slovenia for the “This Is High Quality” value-seeking vote, with Iceland and Australia for the novely vote and with Czech Republic and Greece for the “yeah this is actually really fucking clever” highbrow vote. He even competes with Serhat somehwat, both being OTT acts that are on later in the semi. 

It could very well mean death by a thousand cuts for Portugal.

SURPRISE, I actually got it right for once!! 

Of course, “Telemóveis” was less good in Tel Aviv than it was during FdC (people incorrecly blame the dress. I personally thought it was a combination of nerves, João spraining his knee and technical difficulties, much more than the dress). 

Anyway, even if he wasn’t as good in Tel Aviv, a lesser “Telemóveis” is still pretty damn great so idk why everyone was is tripping? The song was still a disarmingly weird acid trip of fado funk, snappy vocals and a bonkers choreography that left the average viewer utterly GOBSMACKED. 😍 It’s one of those entries where, when looking back in a few years, everyone will say was way AHEAD of the curve and that’s never a bad demograph to be a part of. 

CONGRATZ SUZY ON WINNING PORTUGAL!!! But moreover,

CONGRATULATIONS TOP 100!!!! K time for a little recap of who is still in this ranking:

Albania: 2 (Juliana, Eugent) Armenia: 2 (Aram, Iveta) Australia: 1 (KMH) Austria: 2 (Conchita, Zoë) Azerbaijan: 2 (Farid, DiHaj) Belarus: 3 (Litesound, IVAN, NAVIBAND) Belgium: 4 (Tom Dice, Loic, Laura Tesoro, Blanche) Bosnia & Herzegovina: 1 (Dino Merlin) Bulgaria: 3 (Elitsa & Stoyan, both Poli’s) Croatia: 0 Cyprus: 2 (Minus One, Eleni) Czech Republic: 1 (Lake Malawi) Denmark: 1 (Rasmussen) Estonia: 5 (Malcolm Lincoln, Ott, Birgit, Stigelina, Elina Netchayeva) Finland: 4 (Kuukuiskaajat, Krista, Softengine, Norma John) France: 3 (Jessy, Madame Monsieur, Amir) Georgia: 4 (Sopho N., Shin&Mariko, Nina S., Nika) Germany: 2 (Lena 2.0, Michael) Greece: 2 (Giorgos, Koza Mostra) Hungary: 4 (Kati, Andras, Joci 1.0, AWS) Iceland: 3 (Hera, Greta 2.0, Hatari) Ireland: 1 (Molly) Israel: 3 (Nadav, Hovi, Imri) Italy: 4 (Emma, Francesca, Francesco, Mahmood) Latvia: 3 (Aarzemnieki, Aminata, Justs) Lithuania: 2 (Fusedmarc, Ieva) Macedonia: 1 (Jana) Malta 2: (Gianluca, Michela) Moldova: 4 (Pasha, Aliona, Sunstroke 2.0, DoReDoS) Montenegro: 1 (Who See & Nina Z.) the Netherlands: 4 (Joan, Anouk, Common Linnets, Duncan) Norway: 2 (JOWST, KEiiNO) Poland: 1 (Cleo) Portugal: 1 (Suzy) Romania: 1 (Paula & Ovi 1.0) Russia: 1 (Polina) San Marino: 1 (Crisalide) Serbia: 1 (Bojana) Slovakia: 0 Slovenia: 5 (Maja, Tinkara, Maraaya, Lea, ZalaGasper) Spain: 2 (Ruth, Miki) Sweden: 2 (Loreen, Måns) Switzerland: 3 (Sebalter, ZiBBZ, Luca) Turkey: 1 (maNga) Ukraine: 2 (Zlata, Jamala) United Kingdom: 1 (Lucie)

LINK TO THE FULL LIST SO FAR (IMGUR)

[notyobeerwench]

My feelings on Outlander

Fyi......this is REALLY long. But, I need to express my feelings and frustrations.

I have not watched the last 3 episodes of Outlander Season 4. I want to say that up front. My reasons for that are many, but mostly it is because I was so angry at how Jamie and Claire had been relegated to second string of their own story. But, I had hope. I had hope things would get resolved at the end when Jamie and Claire would be at the birth of their grandchild. That Bree and Jamie would reconcile and we would get back on track for season 5. I also hoped that maybe by binging the whole season at once, I might understand the decisions made by production or at least be able to accept them.

Another thing I want to say is no, I'm not a faithful book reader. I have skimmed the books, read Wikis, but I know the basic plots of all the books. No, I didn't just skim for the sex scenes either. Drums is actually a book I've read the most of because the Frasers FINALLY came together as a family. So, I'm not a book clinger. I liked a lot of differences, yes including how Sam played the scene of seeing Bree's pictures. I felt all of the emotion on his face. ALL.OF.IT. I love that Murtagh was saved. And yes, many other changes I've not liked. Jamie knowing what Leghair did and marrying her anyway and the canonization of St. Fronk chief among them.

Now we get to Season 4, I liked a lot of the first half. I understood the ring change but didn't like what I knew that precious ring would become associated with. I think I should have really realized then the direction this season would take after that change though. Jamie and Claire were NEVER truly the same after Bonnett took that ring. The intimacy was lost. There were flashes of them, but only flashes. It was almost like once that ring was removed from her finger, Claire lost her connection to Jamie.

I have no idea if this was intentional by the writers or not, honestly, I don't know if I give them that much credit, but it is how I feel. I know Cait has been criticized a lot for her portrayal this season, but what if part of the problem was a touchstone for her portrayal was gone? Add to that how much she and Sam were apart this season, no wonder Cait had a problem relating to Claire. Add in the insane way the writers did not have Claire step in at all to defend Jamie to Bree over Rogergate, not enough Jamie and Claire time, and no discussion between them on the actual loss of the ring itself, I had a hard time relating to this Claire too. Caitriona Balfe is a talented actress, but she is not an experienced or trained one. I can see no matter how well she knows Claire that it would be extremely difficult to find Claire the way she was presented by the writers, much less what editing did in post. As many have said, this was the wrong season to drop the VOs. In my opinion, both Claire and Cait have been done dirty by production this season. She had some extraordinary moments, but they were few and it didn't have to be that way. Instead the Claire we got was a stranger, and I don't blame Cait for it.

The thing that really killed this season was the damn Leghair shit. I don't give a rat's patootie about Leery. I don't want to see her "humanized". Nell Hudson is a fine actress, but that doesn't mean her character needs a huge chunk of airtime. Production used her character to demean Jamie, and make Bree doubt him. I get that Laura Donnelly wasn't available, but Cree was. Instead of using the time to let Bree know more about her father and hear about how her parents are together from the people who truly know them, we got Leghair sowing doubts in Bree's mind and another stupid useless witch thing. I love little Joanie, but getting to see her again doesn't atone for this atrocity.

Don't even get me started on St. Fronk. I. JUST.CAN'T. Tobias Menzies is a great actor. His portrayal of BJR and Fronk was amazing, but just because I love him as an actor doesn't mean I need to see him on Outlander ANYMORE. If I want to watch TM, I'll watch that show on the ship (I can't remember the name) or The Crown.

Down the Rabbit Hole told us all how Production views Jamie's position in Bree's life. He is second fiddle to St. Fronk. It also told us that Bree will have doubts about Jamie and his character because of what scorned, jealous af Leghair has to say. Oh and let's twist the knife a little more with Little Joanie. Poor Joanie just wants her "Da" back and it reinforces what her bitch mother said about Jamie not wanting Bree. FFS....

Jamie NEVER truly had a chance with Bree. Yes, they had a few bonding moments, but Production had already reduced him in Bree's eyes. So much so, that when Rogergate happened there was no way in hell Bree was going to forgive him. I get that a lot of that was in the book but in the book you also knew Bree and Jamie still loved each other. In that scene, all I felt was a bystander Claire and pure hatred from Bree.

I can't on Roger.....I just can't. His whole character in this show is problematic and disgusting. He is also another reason Cait probably had a problem relating to Claire because who would want their daughter to be with this guy? Who would be willing to give up their nephew in exchange for him? I understand there are Roger fans out there, and I liked what I read of him in the book mostly, but show Roger should have been left with the damn Mohawk and I won't apologize for feeling this way.

Murtagh was a bright spot and I love having him back, except for the Regulator thing. It is added drama that is not needed. There is enough drama without this. The cliffhanger? Really, Production? Sure, Jamie is going to kill Murtagh. Don't think so. They'll marry him off to Jocasta and that will be that. MARK ME.

Thank you Sam Heughan. Your character has been done dirty in many ways and many times by Production and your talent has been reduced to that of beefcake too much. Thank you damnit for always being true to Jamie in your portrayal of him. Thank you for the emotion you show on your face. Thank you for being a brilliant star in this shit season.

Thank you to also to John Bell, Lauren, Cesar, and Duncan Lacroix for still being the Frasers I know and love.

Thank you Caitriona Balfe for giving everything you had even when you couldn't find the Claire you know on the page.

Finally, this is the last thing I want to say. Maril, who was the last member of Production I had a small amount of faith in, said in the after show of 409 that she "pictured" Claire seeing Jamie and Bree together for the first time EVER sitting on the bench like it was in the book. She fought Toni's big fufu lame ass the sun comes out hokey shit. Apparently, Maril didn't "picture" Jamie teaching Bree Gaelic, singing to her, telling her stories. She didn't "picture" Bree forgiving Jamie to his face. She didn't "picture" Jamie and Claire at the birth of their grandchild. She didn't "picture" Bree clinging to her Da as she gave birth. She didn't "picture" Jamie holding his grandson counting his fingers and toes over and over. Nope, she pictured that bench though and fought for that bench.

SHE FOUGHT FOR A BENCH.....

Well folks, at least we got the bench.

[eddycurrents]

The Crooked Man & Others: “The Crooked Man”

Words: Mike Mignola | Art: Richard Corben | Colours: Dave Stewart | Letters: Clem Robins

Originally published by Dark Horse in Hellboy: The Crooked Man #1-3 | July-September 2008

Collected in Hellboy - Volume 10: The Crooked Man & Others | Hellboy Library Edition - Volume 4 | Hellboy: Complete Short Stories - Volume 1

Plot Summary:

In 1958, Hellboy travels to the Appalachian Mountains where he and Tom Farrell try to weather a storm of witches to bury Farrell’s father on consecrated grounds and beat the devil.

Reading Notes:

(Note: Pagination is solely in reference to the story itself and is not indicative of anything found within the issues or collections.)

pg. 1 - I love that during this period of Hellboy stories, where Duncan Fegredo became Mignola’s stand-in for the tales set in the present, the main visuals for the past tales was Richard Corben. Corben is a master of horror and weird tales himself and the collaborations with Mignola, Dave Stewart, and Clem Robins on Hellboy legends were gorgeous. Here in the opening, he and Stewart wonderfully set the rich detail of the nature in this story.

pg. 3 - It’s kind of interesting as to how simple the set up is to get Hellboy into the story. Just checking in on a poor girl who’s been hexed.

pg. 5 - Tom Farrell is mostly a stand-in for Manly Wade Wellman’s character Silver John, a veteran with knowledge of the supernatural, albeit without lugging around a guitar. The little bits and pieces Mignola throws in of Hellboy’s past in passing conversation is nice.

pg. 6 - Chekhov’s church being set up here.

pg. 7 - More witch balls confirms their suspicions. I think these ones are pretty interesting, looking more like sea urchins. 

pg. 9 - The empty skin sure is creepy.

pg. 10 - I love the silence before Hellboy goes into asking Tom a question about his past.

pg. 11 - Never trust the naked girl luring you to the devil. Never. Though, to be fair, it’s interesting the parallels to Eve’s temptation of Adam, if Adam were a lustful fifteen year old boy. Sometimes, I wish, though, that they didn’t necessarily trade off a woman’s sexuality as a taboo.

pg. 13 - Corben’s design for the Crooked Man is amazing. Just creepy and frightening all in one. It’s also neat how Mignola weaves in some backstory for the area, building up the lore of the Appalachians by telling another tall tale within this narrative.

pg. 10-15 - I quite like how these flashbacks are presented. Other than the panels with the Crooked Man’s death, there’s really only a minor softening to the colours, but the indication of a flashback is through a simple rounding of the panel border’s corners.

pg. 16 - This raccoon is adorable. Sure, I know it’s Cora Fisher as an animal crawling back into her vacant skin, but adorable little raccoon.

pg. 17 - The death of her husband and her kids does at least make her sympathetic.

pg. 19 - Effie Kolb, on the other hand, just seems nasty.

pg. 22 - The bridle turning Tom’s father into a horse is a pretty neat trick. Horrifying, yeah, and debilitating for Tom to see him that way, but it’s a kind of evil of these witches and the devil that you didn’t necessarily expect. A way to drive a needle into Tom’s side in an unexpected fashion.

pg. 23 - A good set up for the quest up the mountain, and Hellboy’s inclusion.

pg. 24 - I like Tom’s intent on getting Cora free from her deal with the devil. These pretty much never work out, but it’s at least a nice sentiment.

pg. 25 - Tom’s father as a burden that he must carry himself is representative of one of the themes that often appear in these kinds of Americana tales, in that you have to own your own foibles and face the consequences. Lest things turn worse for you.

pg. 29 - This mixture of American folktale, history, and what I believe is largely Mignola’s own invention to give us another little side story is wonderful. It’s always impressive to see him embellish little details into the broader narrative. Also, Corben’s designs for these witches are terrifying.

pg. 30 - That they’re calling Cora by name just adds to the creep factor.

pg. 31 - That the passage of time seems to be affected by the presence of the devil and the evil that’s seeped into the land is interesting as well. That their presence could essentially fix darkness at noon is kind of neat.

pg. 33 - There’s a bit here that you can’t outrun fate, that you still have to pay for the evil that you’ve done.

pg. 35 - Hellboy versus these frogs and bugs makes my skin crawl, just showing how effective the storytelling is. Corben is a master at drawing these creepy crawlers.

pg. 38 - That’s some nightmare fuel. The vision overall, reinforcing the idea that the devil can’t set foot in a church put forth in the first part of the story, again seems to foreshadow something that might occur.

pg. 39 - Clem Robins’ font for Effie’s laughter has a nice haunting effect.

pg. 40 - Even with what they’ve faced so far, I love the feeling of dread that Corben and Stewart instill through the art, just through a simple moon shot.

pg. 42 - This is at least a little comfort. Despite her death, Cora still escaped the clutches of the devil.

pg. 44 - I think it’s interesting in a lot of horror and fantasy fiction that treats witches almost as though they’re a different class of being. That whatever it is that they become, they’re not quite human. At least, not any more. I suppose it could be a way to essentially other them, to make it all right when the heroes in the stories ultimately kill, burn, and/or destroy them utterly during the course of a story. Rather than thinking that someone can be redeemed of their wicked ways.

pg. 45 - Two neat things here: first, Corben’s designs for the witches are nice. Love the variety and detail among them. Second, I like the question of faith and belief in regards to whether or not magic will or will not work.

pg. 47 - The Crooked Man come to collect his due is an amazing visual.

pg. 48 - Wonderful little cut away on how to make a witch ball. This is both hilarious and frightening when you look at that cat closely.

pg. 49 - Just as there’s the idea common in folklore that the devil always tells the truth, there’s a certain logic and fairness to what the Crooked Man is saying. A deal was made, services were rendered, and now he’s here to collect on his end of the bargain. It is ultimately weighted unfairly in his favour, given that the immortal soul is a real quantity in Hellboy, but there’s the idea that he’s not really wrong planted here.

pg. 50 - The idea of a witch siege of a church is different.

pg. 52 - The witches essentially punking Hellboy is funny.

pg. 53 - The reverend not taking any guff from the Crooked Man is one hell of a mood. Also, trying to bribe him in order to get Tom out of the church and off the consecrated ground is really a tell.

pg. 55 - There’s a nice parallel to Job in the reverend’s temptation and acceptance of his tribulations.

pg. 56 - Taking a different approach of raising the dead within the consecrated ground is something new. The Crooked Man and the witches can’t seem to cross, but their magic does seem to still be able to cause things to manifest and change. Which kind of makes you wonder why they don’t just whip up some kind of spell that whisks Tom off to their clutches. You get the impression that maybe he has to willingly give up.

pg. 57-60 - I like that through this we still get an almost standard Hellboy fight sequence. It’s weird with the raised corpses from the church graveyard, but it looks great.

pg. 61 - Cute little young Hellboy. Also, the Crooked Man trying to get to Hellboy through his destiny is definitely going to wind up in a backlash.

pg. 63 - Consecrating a holy shovel sure does beat all.

pg. 65 - Defeating the devil with a shovel, that sure is something. I love how this panel of the strike basically just goes all white.

pg. 67 - Gorgeous panels from Corben and Stewart. Also, time appears to be working again.

pg. 68 - Interesting that despite fulfilling the quest of burying Tom’s father,  they realize that their job’s not done and they still have to really kill the Crooked Man.

Also, that Cora is still there is somewhat sad. You would hope that she’d have moved on.

pg. 69 - The appearance of a stately mansion in the middle of the Appalachians is weird. It just reinforces the idea that the Crooked Man, in life, lived one of opulence and extravagance.

pg. 70 - And his “true” appearance, hoarding his gold, is both pathetic and creepy.

pg. 72 - A humorous and fitting end to Effie Kolb.

Final Thoughts:

In part it was due to giving a lot of lead time to Duncan Fegredo in order to wrap up the present-day Arthurian trilogy in The Storm and The Fury without too incredibly long breaks in between issues, but I quite liked the somewhat parallel approach to the final three volumes of the original Hellboy series and the Plague of Frogs narrative cycle for BPRD. Both features two volumes that focused on the past before diving into the grand finales.

As per his introductory statements to this story, Mike Mignola wears the influence of Manly Wade Wellman on his sleeve. Not just through the feel of the Silver John stories, but the overall feel of his down home weird Americana within the Appalachians. More so than similar stories from Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ambrose Bierce, and Robert E Howard, Wellman’s stories exhibited a kind of matter-of-factness that’s missing from the others. The supernatural and oddities in the world are almost accepted as a given, something as normal as the sun rising, which carries over well into Hellboy stories since Mignola has developed a similar aesthetic. So witches running around as raccoons and devils who appear as a dead, greedy landowner that used to cause problems for the area.

d. emerson eddy has danced with the devil in the pale of the moonlight.

[edmunderson]

some more post-time loop stuff. part 1(???) can be found here

-John is pretty neutral to dogs and cats (except Peaches, she still scares the shit out of him despite how much Garrett loves that mountain lion. it’s a good thing Miss Mable keeps her in the new timeline lmao) though he does eventually get a turtle named Turt Reynolds (i know, Turt is from the firewatch au, but i just like the idea of him having a pet turtle) that he found in the Whitetails National Park that one time Jacob convinced him to go camping.

-both John and Garrett have a lot of manic energy, it just manifests in different ways. like with John ya mostly see it during the events of fc5 and how he’s Like That, but with Garrett it’s more like... he has to be doing something or he gets fidgety. sometimes he’s fine with not doing anything, but usually he has too much energy to do nothing.

-even tho i already knew how time loop au was going to end, i still had that Writer’s Urge to make it sad. or make a joke ending where everything went even more wrong before posting the actual ending.

-in the main post i mentioned that John adapts to life after the time shenanigans (or even during the time loops, really) more easily than Garrett does and i feel that’s because John learned to roll with the punches better than Garrett did growing up; his mom left or died, his dad got arrested, he and his brothers got put into foster care, then he got separated from his brothers and got adopted by emotionally/mentally abusive people, etc. basically he’s a lot more used to unstable environments/situations than Garrett, who still had a not great home life as a kid but had stability in the form of the Fairgrave family.

-i always picture Mr. and Mrs. Seed as being two people who really shouldn’t have ever had kids. like, they really loved each other at one point, but the stress of having kids and just their personalities in general did not mesh well at all. not to excuse any of their behavior/actions towards their kids, but you ever look at someone and think “they should never, ever become a parent”? that’s Mr. and Mrs. Seed x100

-Mr. and Mrs. Duncan aren’t any better. sure they were more well off/probably better equipped to have kids, but they still shouldn’t have had any.

-Garrett is pretty much an animal whisperer; a few guns for hire call the deputy an animal whisperer, probably because of Cheeseburger and Peaches. John jokingly calls him Snow White because of it.

-Joseph and Garrett have a weird relationship; Garrett’s wary because “i know what kinda batshit cult leader shenanigans you’re capable of and i don’t trust it” whereas Joseph is like “this is awkward because we met once before when i was literally about to smother my daughter and i regret that my darkest moment was me almost killing her, but since you’ve seen me at my worst your opinion of me can’t possibly get any lower so hold my beer while i get up on this table and sing DeBarge and embarrass my kid”

-John does eventually get to see Garrett’s embarrassing high school photos of him and Billy having frosted tips and every other bad/amazing late 90′s/early 00′s fashion styles.

[welcometomy20s]

September 17, 2022

Part 4 - The Third Way

John Major somehow managed to hold on after the 1992 general election, one of the baffling wins, although it was probably due to goodwill on Major and Kinnock being seen as old and out of touch. Whatever it was, Major did not have a strong majority, and he was still dealing with a recession, but he was thankful saved by a crisis. Back then, the UK was kind of fixed to the Deutschmark in a thing called Exchange Rate Mechanism, and well, Germany was reunified so their economy was running hot… and that was not good for anyone else, and UK was forced to leave the arrangement, which finally made Britain breathe a bit, and made for a period of relative prosperity until the Great Recession in 2008. 

During that relative prosperity, Major privatized coal and the railways (something even Thatcher thought was horrible), basically started the British version of War on Crime, and dressed it up with circuses like the National Heritage and the National Lottery. Of course, Major was socially liberal and he helped with the Northern Ireland peace process. And the press was starting to disfavor the Conservatives, and started reporting on sleazes like Arms for Iraq and Cash for Questions. There were more pertinent things plaguing him, such as the growing rift regarding European Integration, and of course the Bosnian war.

By 1997, it was clear that the long 4 term reign of Conservatives was over. But who replaces Major? It was not John Smith, who replaced Neil Kinnock, because again… he died unexpectedly, and so it was Tony Blair who would go on and take on the role.

John Major - C+ 

Tony Blair famously replaced Clause IV, which was Labour’s commitment to nationalization, into more of a social democratic approach, which was started by Kinnock. He was a young one, the youngest since 1812, and he did… okay. He finished what his predecessor built and got the Good Friday Agreement. He made the go ahead for another devolution referendum, which was successful in both accounts. There was the Freedom of Information Act, and relative equality of Homosexuality and Transgender people. It’s a mishmash of policies - National Minimum Wage, tuition fees, identity card legislation and increase in police powers.

It’s hard to know what Tony Blair was doing because he was doing anything to hold onto power. That had some good effects, Blair shifted welfare around as to increase benefits, but it also had a more nasty effect, like the main theme of the second term. The 2001 election was basically the same exact sweeping results for Blair as William Hague did not step up to the challenge.

Therefore Blair continued to do whatever, well until 9/11, where his staunch and steadfast ally really showed up in his push to join the Afghan and the Iraq War. That was really the big sticking point for Blair in his second term, as he trusted Bush and perhaps America and its regal presidency a bit too much, methinks. This is carried on by people like Macron…

The problem was that Conservatives couldn’t find themselves a leader. After Hague was kicked out, Duncan Ian Smith was put in, but he was deemed ‘unfit’, and put in Michael Howard, who didn’t work either. Labour won the 2005 election, with less of a majority, but still great.

Third term also started out with a tragedy, all Blair terms starts out like that, how bizarre, with the 2005 London Bombings. Blair responded with even more stringent laws, which was this time mostly thrown down. There was a shuffle in 2006 after a poor showing in the elections and soon Blair resigned in 2007, giving Gordon Brown the job before leaving.

Tony Blair - C

Gordon Brown continued many of Blair’s policies, well, more like tempered them. He sought to remove some of the more unpopular policies like the increase in policing. But Gordon Brown was seen as more of the same and of course the Great Recession happened and so that meant Brown was on the way out, with threats from him coming in daily.

Gordon Brown - C-

[armsinthewronghands]

Ash Kreider and PH Lee’s lie about rape

https://pastebin.com/LApBj8Cy

80some People Owe You An Apology So +John Stavropoulos  finally finished his exhaustive, 10 months-long, unbelievably Lawful Good  research into whether 80 RPG freelancers and commenters (many of them his friends) actually are taking what they say about rape online seriously. Basically: months ago, Ben Lehman (author of tedious RPG products) claimed James Desborough (author of different tedious RPG products) was "Someone who threatens their critics with rape" Now I hope I don't get an argument when I say this isn't something you just casually toss out there . Right? Even if it was an honest mistake--you really really check first before saying someone did something that shitty in a public place. Right? Like: this is an ethical standard you hold yourself to The short of Jon's research is this accusation turned out to be bullshit even though 80some people +1ed it and it got shared all over the RPG internet. Now Jon didn't name names, because he "doesn't want a witchhunt". Which is respectable. But I'm not Jon and I do think the RPG community as a whole deserves an apology from every single one of these people for confusing and distorting a very real and very serious issue of real violence that actually affects peoples' lives. I also think the RPG community deserves to know who they cannot trust in conversations about ethics. Anyone on the list below who hasn't apologized has the opportunity to do that now. Or at the very least Un-Plus One Ben Lehman's totally irresponsible public bullshit. The 79 people (including RPG freelancers) who signed on to Ben's totally unsubstantiated accusation, before today (see below) via +1's were Cam Banks (author of Marvel Heroic RPG) +Erik Amundsen +Alexis Siemon +Josh Mannon +RJ Stewart +Paul Ettin +andrew gill +Adrian Sprysak +Áine ní Dhonnchadha Jeff Johnston Jon Cole John Sheldon Alana O'keeve Sarah Perry-Shipp

Pat Gamblin +Laura Simpson +Eric Duncan (has since apologized, see below) +Scott Slater +Dave Michalak (Dave has gracefully apologized) +Sam Anderson +Eon Fontes-May +Ezio Melega +Daniel Levine +Shawn Ervin Laiel Shepherd David Hill Anna Krieder aka Go MakeMe A Sandwich +Brennan Taylor +Josh Elliott +tracy hurley aka Sarah Darkmagic +Evan Torner +David Blalock +Caitlynn Blocker Dymphna C Brandon Schmelz (of Grognards.txt) +Christoph Boeckle +Becky Annison +Lukas Myhan +Aleksandra Sontowska +kendra tornheim Ivan Somero +Peter Borah +Alex Norris +Sean Kelley  +ach Sean Dunstan Rowan Cota +jacob bouvier +ed heil +Dylan Boates +Jamie Sue (apologized below) Dev Purkayastha

If any of these people have a problem being named, they can feel free to remove their +1 on Ben's post. _______

Here are the results of Jon's attempt to dig down to the facts: https://plus.google.com/+JohnStavropoulos/posts/2YEADUV2Bua This is Jon talking " Final Update: I've gone through many emails, links, and messages on this subject.

To review: --------------------------- 1. James has been accused of allegedly threatening his critics with rape. --------------------------- 2. James has been accused of allegedly being a rape apologist. --------------------------- 3. These are serious allegations and as someone with friends and family who have been raped, I don't take this topic lightly. --------------------------- 4. There is a track record of people spreading misinformation about James. One clear example, there was a petition against James that included libel. --------------------------- 5. I don’t know James, I don't care for his work, and I disagree with many of his opinions (for example, I'm strongly in favor of anti-harassment policies at conventions, have written several, and have implemented many). I'm not here to defend James. James was one of the first people I blocked on G+ for reasons unrelated to any of this (he made fun of vegetarians). --------------------------- 6. I'm personally disturbed by the seemingly vast number of people who seemingly accepted the above allegations as seemingly truth or who strongly suspect these allegations are false but have said nothing. --------------------------- 6. As a potential consumer of products and services from companies affiliated with James and as someone who is very aware how these topics can destroy people's lives, I would like to know what is going on. --------------------------- 7. So I asked anyone to send me proof. In this thread. In email. Anonymously. In any way that anyone is comfortable with. --------------------------- 8. I'm going to present what I know and move on from this topic. Don't ask more from me. I've dedicated a lot of time to it, and have chosen to end several friendships because of it. --------------------------- 9. This is NOT a witch hunt. I'm not going to name names. This isn't about shaming. Part of the point of this thread is to fight against potential witch hunts (which some have alleged that James may have been the target of). I'm not an attorney, judge, or jury, and my words are primarily opinion. You should make up your own minds. --------------------------- 10. The rules for this thread still stand, don't post unless you have proof. ---------------------------

That all said, I've received several links in this thread that I've reviewed and you can read about in detail above. Additionally, I've received many more emails on this topic.

Let me flat out, in the clearest way possible state:

I have received NO information that proves, in my opinion, that James has allegedly threatened his critics with rape.

Unfortunately, the rape apologist allegation is much more complicated and the more I look into it, confusing. Why?

The definition for rape apologist seems to vary substantially and it's often unclear what definition someone is using.

One (of many) definition is that a rape apologist is someone who argues that rapists have no control over the sexual temptation they experience in response to the victim, therefore the victim could have avoided awakening the irresistible rape temptation by behaving differently. From what I've seen, I don't think it is reasonable to accuse James of any of this. But we don't know what definition of rape apologist someone is using.

Another (fairly different) definition is that a rape apologist is someone who communicates that rape isn't really rape or claims that allegations of rape are untrue or exaggerated. Some have claimed that James may match this definition because of statements here, http://talesofgrim.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/kickstart-your-tart/, specifically: "I’m sure RAINN does a lot of good work but they’re mostly known – to me – for their promotion of what appear to be vastly inflated rape statistics. I am deeply uncomfortable with my objection to the project having lead, indirectly, to funding an organisation that seems to use and abuse poor statistics. I don’t, personally, believe that you need to inflate the figures. Rape is a horrible crime and making people more afraid than they need to be doesn’t help." and James links to a controversial news article http://goo.gl/HuCk7 which contains problematic content (an article which makes me personally uncomfortable), but it's impossible from James' blog post to determine if James agrees with the specifics of that news article, or if he is simply linking to it to explain his hesitation with RAINN itself.

Another (again, fairly different) definition is that a rape apologist is someone who is an apologist for rape culture (which we would need to nail down exactly what rape culture means to argue this point as this terms also has several definitions that many don't agree on) and may not be a direct apologist for rape itself. This definition is so potentially large and potentially vague that you could potentially accuse many people of various degrees of supporting rape culture or being a rape apologist for rape culture. It's very difficult, using these definitions, for me to make any definitive judgments on this topic.

Given the vagueness of what rape apologist might mean, I don't want to potentially add to any potential misinformation to this topic, so I won't. I'm going to move away from the whole rape apologist thing and concentrate on the more serious primary allegation.

While rape apologist may be an unclear term, alleging that James has threatened his critics with rape, is not in my opinion, unclear at all. So let me repeat again, in the clearest way possible:

I have received NO information that proves, in my opinion, that James has allegedly threatened his critics with rape.

Does that mean there is no proof to be found? No. But I don't have any proof to offer and no one I know has it or is willing to share it. And given the seriousness of these allegations, I feel VERY uncomfortable with people alleging such things with such absolute statements and no information to back them up. Given that, I've been moved to do all this work and share it with you. Additionally, I've chosen to end several friendship because of this.

Rape is a serious real problem that affects many people and there is already too much misinformation around rape and it already can be so difficult to prove, that I feel it is important we do what we can to fix these problems. But potentially false allegations, in my opinion, only make this serious problem, worse. And while it is convenient for many to look the other way, I will not.

Never forget, the standard you walk past, is the standard you accept. " P.S.

[fan-of-mulligan]

FOM BLOG: GILLINGHAM 1-0 SUNDERLAND

My Thoughts On Gillingham V Sunderland (League One)………..

Because of train delays, I arrived out-side Priestfield Stadium at 13.45PM And I went into The Ticket Office to find out if I could collect vouchers for My Season Ticket, I couldn’t collect any vouchers, But if you want to find out more about these vouchers then the link is here LINK: https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2019/december/voucher-collections/ - I also asked when tickets for Gillingham V West Ham United will be on sale, And I was told that tickets will be on sale over the next few days, I then headed inside The Club Shop to buy One Match-Day Programme for £3, before exiting the shop and speaking with Charlie, Matt, Lisa, Dennis, Ann and Diane, and we were all very pleased that Gillingham had been drawn at home to West Ham United In The Third Round Of The FA Cup, The 18.16PM Kick Off Time could be off putting for some people and some fans who are unable to go to the game may well opt to watch Gillingham V West Ham United On BT Sports.

I knew as soon as we drew West Ham United at home that this match would be selected for TV, But it all depended on whether Gillingham would be playing against West Ham United On Friday, Sunday or Monday, Thankfully, Gillingham V West Ham United isn’t going to be played on Friday or Monday Night, Also, With Gillingham V West Ham United televised and the very high probability of this match being played in-front of A 10,000 - 11,000 Crowd, This means that there will be funds available for Steve Evans to strengthen the squad in The January Transfer Window as well as using The FA Cup Game Against West Ham United as a motivational team talk for the league games against Sunderland, Fleetwood Town, MK Dons, Ipswich Town, Rochdale and Portsmouth, Because if the players do not perform well in those matches, then they won’t play for Gillingham In The FA Cup Third Round Tie - Four of those six matches are home games, and there are some massive matches in that run of games, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth and West Ham United are all huge football clubs, and these are the games you want to see Gillingham competing in on a regular basis.

I was guessing ticket prices for Gillingham V West Ham United, And I was guessing £25 for A Adult Ticket, simply because Gillingham will want to make as much money from this match as possible, West Ham will also get there share of the attendance money as well, So we probably want to make as much as possible from this game, The attendances against Sunderland and Doncaster Rovers In The FA Cup were 3,561 and 3,216 respectively, So neither cup game against decent League One Teams were pulling in the supporters (And it is a real shame to see The FA Cup in real decline like this) But when your draw one of the big guns, that’s when you get a full attendance and everyone is interested in going along and watching Gillingham Play, and maybe for first time supporters, You need that inspirational game to go along and watch Gillingham play for the first time, and maybe if Gillingham put in a respectable performance against West Ham United, then that first time supporter comes along and watches Gillingham play more regularly.

As Far As Gillingham’s Team News Goes, Gillingham Lined Up As Follows,,,,,,, Jack Bonham, Barry Fuller, Max Ehmer, Jack Tucker, Connor Ogilvie, Alfie Jones, Mark Byrne, Tom O’Connor, Olly Lee, Mikael Mandron, Brandon Hanlan SUBS: Joe Walsh (GK), Lee Hodson, Ousseynou Cisse, Mark Marshall, Regan Charles-Cook, Mikael Ndjoli, and Alex Jakubiak - So Matty Willock is not named among the substitutes bench despite getting a brief cameo against Doncaster Rovers, But The Starting Line Up Remains Unchanged, which is not surprising because Gillingham’s 3-0 home win against Doncaster Rovers was our best performance and best result of the season.

As for where to strengthen the team in the transfer window, Me and Charlie spoke about where the team do need to strengthen, Up-front is a gimme, and maybe even two strikers should Mikael Ndjoli go back to AFC Bournemouth, And A Centre Back to provide cover, Because Alfie Jones, Jack Tucker, Max Ehmer and Connor Ogilvie are all starting for Gillingham, And I would say another midfielder should Olly Lee return to Hearts, I do think that we are going to rely mostly on the loan market for any reinforcements in January, There might be a paid signing, But I also do think that any money Gillingham have gained from this FA Cup Run should be used to tie Jack Tucker and Brandon Hanlan down to long term contracts, both players have been in remarkable form for The Gills, and if both players keep this form going for the next eighteen months, then big clubs in The Championship and one or two Premier League Clubs will come calling with some very good offers, And if we’re in a position where Gillingham don’t have to accept the first offer on the table, then that can only be a good thing.

And as for Last Sunday’s Match Against Doncaster Rovers, This match was Gillingham’s best performance and best result of the season, But I also could not believe just how poor Doncaster Rovers were, Doncaster Rovers are normally a side who dominate possession and pop the ball around you and your basically chasing the game for the entire match, But as good as Gillingham were in-terms of taking our chances and the pressing and intensity, Doncaster Rovers were poor in possession of the ball, which is not like them at all, And I am so pleased that our wins against Sunderland and Doncaster Rovers have been rewarded with a decent money spinning tie in The FA Cup Third Round against West Ham United, I am sure we would have been devastated if Gillingham were drawn away against Oxford United, Blackpool, or Tranmere Rovers, Because once you get to The Third Round, you want a money spinning FA Cup Tie.

And looking ahead to the match against Sunderland, Despite the fact that the visitor’s are in horrendous form, you only have to look at there match-day squad to realise just how many quality players that Sunderland have got in there side, with the likes of Jon McLaughlin, Tom Flanagan, Grant Leadbitter, Luke O’Nien, Will Grigg and Marc McNulty all in the starting line up, while Duncan Watmore, Chris Maguire, Aiden McGeady, and Charlie Wyke were all named among the substitutes bench, This is a very talented Sunderland Team that are currently under-performing under Phil Parkinson’s Management, I do think that Gillingham go into this match full of confidence, but we have to be aware of the quality and ability that is in this Sunderland Side, And we cannot have another repeat of what happened against AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow where Gillingham created plenty of chances and failed to take them, yes, The Referee that day should have awarded Gillingham three penalties and AFC Wimbledon should have had a penalty kick themselves, but poor finishing also cost us on that day, Sunderland have got players like Will Grigg and Marc McNulty who only need one chance to stick the ball into the back of the net, So when Gillingham do get a goal-scoring opportunity, we need to score.

I got speaking with Richard pre-match, And we’re enjoying this impressive run of victories and clean sheets for Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium at this present moment in time, and Sunderland provide Gillingham with another difficult test on this Saturday Afternoon, Whether Gillingham can replicate our cup performances against Sunderland and Doncaster Rovers against Sunderland in the league is going to be a question we will only see answered at the full time whistle, Sunderland didn’t play last weekend, they have had plenty of time to prepare themselves for this fixture, players on the treatment table will be back available for selection and the visitor’s will want a victory to try and get there league season back on track, I think Gillingham can sneak this match 1-0, But it is going to be a very difficult League One Fixture that is for sure.

After speaking with Richard, I made my way towards The Family Enclosure of The Medway Stand, And My Gillingham Bag was searched before being allowed to enter the ground, And I gave My Season Ticket to The Turnstile Operator, who tore out one of the match tickets, and after getting My Season Ticket Back, I went through the turnstiles before paying £1 for One Fifty / Fifty Match-Day Lottery Ticket, I then got speaking with Max before kick off, And we were both very pleased that Gillingham have been rewarded for reaching The Third Round Of The FA Cup with a home tie against West Ham United, We could have been drawn away from home to Tranmere Rovers for example, so it is great to see Gillingham drawn at home to Premier League Opposition, Priestfield Stadium is going to be full for that FA Cup Game, which is obviously going to be great to see, however, It would be great if a full attendance for the game against West Ham United will see Gillingham’s Home Attendances go up in the league, And looking around the ground before kick off, Gillingham V Sunderland isn’t going to get anywhere close to the 8,438 Attendance we saw inside Priestfield Stadium when Gillingham played against Sunderland in the league last season.

Both of us also got speaking about Gillingham’s 3-0 home win against Doncaster Rovers - Which Is Gillingham’s Best Performance And Result Of The Season In A Very Important Match, And that win against Doncaster Rovers has seen Gillingham earn that money spinning third round tie against West Ham United - Both of us spoke about Doncaster Rovers and how there short passing game played into Gillingham’s Hands and Doncaster Rovers would either be forced to kick the ball long, or, they would cheaply give away possession of the ball, Now Doncaster Rovers have lost John Marquis to Portsmouth for big money, and trying to sign someone to replace Marquis is easier said then done, But the passing game you associate with Doncaster Rovers was not there either and Gillingham were on the front-foot from minute one.

I then said c ya to Max as I headed towards My Seat towards the back of The Medway Stand and I checked On Twitter to see that Mitchell Dickenson and Liam Nash were both starting for Hemel Hempstead Town before I sent out a tweet and photo of Gillingham and Sunderland lining up before both teams kicked off, And as both teams lined up for kick off, the atmosphere raised in volume inside Priestfield Stadium anticipating a very important League One Fixture.

Thankfully, Referee Andy Woolmer didn’t switch ends, meaning that Gillingham will be kicking towards The Brian Moore Stand In The First Half and Sunderland will be kicking towards The Rainham End, meaning that both teams will be kicking towards the ends where there supporters are situated in for The Second Half, Hopefully, Gillingham can make it five home wins in a row in all competitions and Gillingham can move up The League One Table - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIRST HALF:

And the first noteworthy moment of the first half see’s Alfie Jones kicks the ball long down the line down the left side of the pitch, And Mikael Mandron manages to get the ball under control and Jordan Willis challenges Mikael Mandron and knocks the ball out of play for A Gillingham Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw, Connor Ogilvie throws the ball long down the line and Alim Ozturk headers the ball out of play for A Gillingham Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Mark Byrne hurls in a long dangerous throw and Alim Ozturk wins the initial aerial challenge and Jordan Willis and Will Gregg win the next two aerial challenges and Max Ehmer is penalised for his foul on George Dobson and Sunderland have been awarded a free kick in there own defensive final third, and from the resulting free kick, Jon McLaughlin kicks the ball long down-field and Marc McNulty looks to flicks the ball on towards Will Grigg, But Jack Tucker gets to the ball first and Jack Tucker scuffs his clearance towards the byline and Barry Fuller kicks the ball into touch and out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw, Laurens De Bock throws the ball short to George Dobson, who passes the ball back to Laurens De Bock, And Laurens De Bock is being closed down by Mark Byrne and Laurens De Bock passes the ball back to Tom Flanagan, who plays a first time pass down the line and Alfie Jones wins the initial aerial challenge and Luke O’Nien gets to the loose ball ahead of Tom O’Connor and lays the ball off to George Dobson, And George Dobson passes the ball out-wide to Laurens De Bock, who passes the ball back to Tom Flanagan, And Tom Flanagan cannot keep the ball in play on the halfway line and the ball goes out of play for A Gillingham Throw On.

Three Minutes Into The Match, And Sunderland had the first shot on target, Laurens De Bock throws the ball short to George Dobson, who passes the ball back out-wide to Laurens De Bock, And Laurens De Bock passes the ball back to Tom Flanagan, And Tom Flanagan passes the ball back to Jon McLaughlin, And The Sunderland Goalkeeper kicks the ball long down-field and Jack Tucker wins the aerial challenge up against Will Gregg to header the ball back towards Connor Ogilvie, who kicks the ball long down-field and Alim Ozturk headers the ball down the right side of the pitch - Gillingham’s Left - And Connor Ogilvie is in the right place at the right time again to header the ball clear and Brandon Hanlan is first to the loose ball, but unfortunately, Brandon Hanlan cannot keep the ball in play, and it is from this throw on where Sunderland had there first shot on target, Luke O’Nien hurls the ball long down the line from the resulting throw on and Will Grigg is on to the loose ball first and manages to retain possession of the ball before dropping the ball back to Luke O’Nien, And Luke O’Nien whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross first time and Max Ehmer headers the ball partially clear and away from danger and Laurens De Bock scuffed shot towards goal is on target, but routinely saved by Jack Bonham In Gillingham’s Goal.

And from here, Gillingham had the chance to open the scoring, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Mikael Mandron wins the aerial challenge up against Tom Flanagan and George Dobson gets to the loose ball and kicks the ball long down-field and Marc McNulty couldn’t move towards the ball because he was coming back from an offside position, and Jack Bonham picks the ball up before throwing the ball out-wide to Jack Tucker, who takes a few touches in possession of the ball before kicking the ball long down-field and Brandon Hanlan manages to retain possession of the ball before George Dobson times his challenge to perfection and Jordan Willis kicks the ball long down-field towards Will Grigg and Jack Tucker wins the aerial challenge up against Will Grigg to header the ball back towards Max Ehmer, who passes the ball out-wide to Barry Fuller down the right side of the pitch, And Barry Fuller takes a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down-field towards Mikael Mandron and Tom Flanagan wins the aerial challenge up against Mikael Mandron and Alim Ozturk headers the ball out-wide and Mark Byrne is first to the loose ball and Mark Byrne works his way towards the byline and fire in a low cross across the six yard box which is partially cleared away from goal with Alim Ozturk making the all important clearance at his near post, however, Alfie Jones is first to react to the loose ball on the edge of Sunderland’s Penalty Area and Alfie Jones see’s his attempted pass towards Tom O’Connor cut out by Luke O’Nien and Sunderland partially get the ball clear and away from goal, But Jack Tucker headers the ball out-wide to Max Ehmer and Gillingham continue to play on despite the fact that Will Grigg has gone to the ground very easily and Max Ehmer passes the ball out-wide to Barry Fuller, who takes a few touches in possession of the ball before kicking the ball long down-field and Alim Ozturk wins the aerial challenge up against Brandon Hanlan and The Sunderland Defender wins the second aerial challenge and headers the ball partially clear and away from goal, But Alfie Jones manages to get the ball under control and pass the ball short to Connor Ogilvie and Connor Ogilvie runs forwards in possession of the ball before passing the ball through to Tom O’Connor on the over-lap, And Tom O’Connor takes a touch to control the ball before whipping in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Jordan Willis headers the ball clear and Will Grigg is on to the loose ball and drops the ball short to Marc McNulty, who turns back on himself and see’s his attempted return pass through towards Will Grigg cut out by Barry Fuller, and Barry Fuller passes the ball back to Max Ehmer, who takes a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down-field, and Alim Ozturk wins the aerial challenge up against Mikael Mandron and Luke O’Nien is first to the loose ball and Luke O’Nien passes the ball short to Grant Leadbitter, who has no choice but to pass the ball back to Jon McLaughlin, And Jon McLaughlin kicks the ball long down-field first time and Max Ehmer wins the initial aerial challenge, however, Luke O’Nien is on to the loose ball, And The Sunderland Midfielder is brought down to the deck by a late challenge from Tom O’Connor and Sunderland have been awarded a free kick - I did think that when the ball dropped to Alfie Jones on the edge of Sunderland’s Penalty Area that Alfie Jones could have gone for goal, But Alfie Jones opted instead to try and pick out Tom O’Connor with a pass which was cut out.

And From The Resulting Free Kick, Grant Leadbitter kicks the ball high and long towards the back-stick and it looked very likely that the final touch came off Mark Byrne who climbed for the aerial challenge up against Will Grigg, But Referee Andy Woolmer points towards A Goal-Kick For Gillingham, And From The Resulting Goal-Kick, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Mikael Mandron wins the initial aerial challenge and Luke O’Nien wins the aerial challenge up against Alfie Jones and Max Ehmer headers the ball down the line towards Mark Byrne, who headers the ball inside towards Olly Lee, who plays a first time hooked pass down the line towards Brandon Hanlan, And Brandon Hanlan manages to get the ball under control and run down the right flank in possession of the ball, And Brandon Hanlan is waiting for service and support before opting to pass the ball back to Barry Fuller, who gets the ball under control with his first touch and Barry Fuller manages to pick out Olly Lee with a first time through-ball over the top, however, The Linesman Down The Medway Stand / Brian Moore Stand Side Of The Pitch had flagged Olly Lee who receiving the ball in a offside position.

Eight Minutes Into The Match, And Sunderland create there first clear cut goal-scoring opportunity of the match as Luke O’Nien passes the ball through to Conor McLaughlin on the over-lap and Conor McLaughlin takes a touch to control the ball before whipping in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Marc McNulty manages to bring the ball under control before seeing his shot on the turn brilliantly blocked by Barry Fuller and the ball ricochets towards George Dobson, who takes a touch to control the ball before passing the ball square to Grant Leadbitter, And Grant Leadbitter passes the ball out-wide to Conor McLaughlin, who takes a touch to control the ball and Conor McLaughlin whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross towards the far post and there is Barry Fuller at the right place at the right time to header the ball clear and away from danger and Mikael Mandron gets to the loose ball first and runs towards the byline before retaining possession of the ball and heading back towards his own goal and Mikael Mandron is being double marked by Jordan Willis and Marc McNulty and Mikael Mandron goes right back to the byline in the far corner of The Medway Stand / Rainham End, And Mikael Mandron somehow managed to turn himself out of trouble, go round the outside of Jordan Willis and pass the ball inside to Alfie Jones, and that was really good defensive work from Mikael Mandron there.

Nine Minutes Into The Match, And Marc McNulty was flagged for offside as Luke O’Nien manages to pick out The Sunderland Striker with a long ball over the top, And From The Resulting Defensive Free Kick, Gillingham had the chance to open the scoring, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Jordan Willis wins the aerial challenge up against Mikael Mandron and Will Grigg manages to get to the loose ball ahead of Tom O’Connor and pass the ball back to Luke O’Nien, who kicks the ball long down the line and Jack Bonham was able to gather the ball with ease, and Jack Bonham then rolls the ball short to Jack Tucker, who takes a touch to control the ball, And Jack Tucker then looks up and plays a long ball down-field and Jordan Willis cannot get the ball under control and this allows Brandon Hanlan to nip in there and intercept the ball and Brandon Hanlan and Mikael Mandron almost get in each other’s way, But Brandon Hanlan passes the ball through to Mikael Mandron on the over-lap down the left side of the pitch and Mikael Mandron manages to retain possession of the ball and turn back and pass the ball back towards Connor Ogilvie, who whips in a sensational in-swinging cross first time and the ball deflects off Tom Flanagan and goes out of play for A Gillingham Corner Kick - and that deflection off Tom Flanagan could have gone anywhere as well.

And From The Resulting Corner Kick, Olly Lee whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Mikael Mandron flicks the ball on towards the far post and the ball goes out of play for A Sunderland Goal-Kick, at the time, and from my position in The Medway Stand, I thought that Olly Lee’s corner kick had gone all the way through and then out of play for a corner kick, And when play resumes, Sunderland had a half-chance to open the scoring, Jon McLaughlin kicks the ball long down-field and Luke O’Nien goes down to the deck underneath Connor Ogilvie’s challenge very easily, however, Conor McLaughlin manages to hook the ball over his shoulder and almost play the ball through to Will Grigg to run on to, But Jack Tucker manages to shield the ball back and allow Jack Bonham to gather the ball.

Thirteen Minutes Into The Match, And Jon McLaughlin tries to pick out Marc McNulty with a long kick down-field, But Jon McLaughlin’s kick is too long and Jack Bonham gathers the ball with ease, And from here, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Laurens De Bock shields the ball out of play for A Sunderland Throw On in there own defensive final third, and from the resulting throw on, Tom Flanagan throws the ball long down the line and Barry Fuller wins the initial aerial challenge and Grant Leadbitter is on to the loose ball first ahead of Olly Lee, and Grant Leadbitter’s pass out-wide towards Conor McLaughlin is short and Connor Ogilvie manages to intercept the ball and Connor Ogilvie is challenged by The Sunderland Right Wing Back, and the ball ricochets towards Olly Lee, who see’s his shot towards goal blocked by George Dobson and the ball ricochets towards Mark Byrne, who kicks the ball high and long down-field and Tom O’Connor wins the initial aerial challenge and Connor Ogilvie is first to the loose ball and Connor Ogilvie passes the ball back to Olly Lee, and Olly Lee works his way down the left side of the pitch and Olly Lee’s pass down the line towards Brandon Hanlan is slightly over-hit, But Jordan Willis is forced to kick the ball into touch for A Gillingham Throw On after being pressurised by Mikael Mandron, and from the resulting throw on, Mark Byrne hurls in a dangerous long throw, and Connor Ogilvie flicks the ball on and Laurens De Bock just about does enough to prevent Brandon Hanlan from heading the ball on target and Jordan Willis crucially kicks the ball away from Olly Lee and Conor McLaughlin headers the ball on towards Will Grigg on the edge of Sunderland’s Penalty Area, But Will Grigg is being triple marked by Mark Byrne, Connor Ogilvie and Tom O’Connor and all Will Grigg can do is kick the ball out of play for another Gillingham Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Mark Byrne hurls in another dangerous throw and Alim Ozturk wins the initial aerial challenge and Will Grigg passes the ball back short to Jordan Willis who just kicks the ball clear and away from Sunderland’s Goal and Jack Tucker headers the ball towards Barry Fuller down the right side of the pitch, And Barry Fuller passes the ball down the line towards Olly Lee, who losses his balance and as George Dobson looks to pass the ball long down-field, Barry Fuller times his challenge to perfection and knocks the ball out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Tom Flanagan threw the ball long down the line and Max Ehmer wins the fifty / fifty challenge up against Marc McNulty and Alfie Jones kicks the ball against George Dobson to win Gillingham a throw on in Sunderland’s Half Of The Pitch, And From The Resulting Throw On, Mark Byrne quickly hurls the ball long down the line towards Brandon Hanlan and Alim Ozturk has to come across and knock the ball out of play for another Gillingham Throw On, And Mark Byrne hurls in a dangerous long throw from the resulting throw on and Will Grigg and George Dobson win the initial two aerial challenges and Mikael Mandron is penalised for his challenge on Grant Leadbitter and Sunderland have been awarded a defensive free kick.

At least now the sun had gone low enough so that I could see what was happening on the pitch more clearly, Because for the first fifteen minutes of this match, Gillingham Supporters In the Medway Stand have had some difficulty seeing what is going on, on the football pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Jon McLaughlin kicks the ball long down-field and Connor Ogilvie wins the initial aerial challenge and Mikael Mandron is first to the loose ball and manages to retain possession of the ball before passing the ball short to Barry Fuller, And Barry Fuller kicks the ball long down the line and a heavy touch from Mark Byrne knocks the ball out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, Which see’s Tom Flanagan throw the ball down the line and Max Ehmer headers the ball clear and out of play for another Sunderland Throw On.

Eighteen Minutes Into The Match, And Gillingham had the chance to open the scoring, And this attacking opportunity came from Gillingham making an all important defensive clearance, Because Conor McLaughlin whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and there was Max Ehmer to make the vital aerial interception and Alfie Jones gets the ball under control on the edge of Gillingham’s Penalty Area before passing the ball square to Connor Ogilvie, And Connor Ogilvie uses his pace to take on Conor McLaughlin before going on a driving run down the left side of the pitch, and Connor Ogilvie continued his run into Sunderland’s Half Of The Pitch and right into the final third, And Connor Ogilvie passes the ball square to Mikael Mandron in a central area of the pitch, And Mikael Mandron takes one touch to control the ball and evade the attempted challenge from Grant Leadbitter, And Mikael Mandron passes the ball towards Brandon Hanlan in a right / central area of the pitch on the eighteen yard line, And Brandon Hanlan takes one touch to control the ball and another to hit a snap-shot effort towards goal which fails to hit the target by some considerable distance - But that was a sensational run from Connor Ogilvie.

Twenty Minutes Into The Match, And Barry Fuller wins Gillingham a throw on by barging Luke O’Nien off the ball and kicking the ball against The Sunderland Midfielder, and from the resulting throw on, Barry Fuller throws the ball long down the line and Tom Flanagan wins the initial aerial challenge and Laurens De Bock kicks the ball long down-field and Max Ehmer headers the ball forwards and Alfie Jones headers the ball out-wide to Barry Fuller, who just about manages to keep the ball in play and Mark Byrne wins the next aerial challenge, But Luke O’Nien manages to pick out Conor McLaughlin with a fantastic cross-field pass and Conor McLaughlin is challenged by Connor Ogilvie, But George Dobson is first to react to the loose ball and George Dobson passes the ball out-wide to Conor McLaughlin, who passes the ball inside to Will Grigg, And Will Grigg passes the ball back out-wide to Conor McLaughlin, who passes the ball back to George Dobson, And George Dobson passes the ball square to Grant Leadbitter, And Grant Leadbitter passes the ball back to Alim Ozturk, who takes a touch to control the ball and The Sunderland Defender passes the ball out-wide to Tom Flanagan, who takes a touch to control the ball before over-running the ball out of play for A Gillingham Throw On, However, play continued as Tom Flanagan passes the ball inside to Marc McNulty, who retains possession of the ball before passing the ball forwards to Luke O’Nien, And Luke O’Nien skips past Max Ehmer’s Challenge, But Barry Fuller tracks back and gets to the loose ball and kicks the ball long down-field and Tom Flanagan wins the first aerial challenge and George Dobson wins the second aerial challenge up against Alfie Jones and Tom O’Connor is on to the loose ball, and Tom O’Connor shows great composure to retain possession of the ball and run down the right side of the pitch and pass the ball short towards Brandon Hanlan, who’s pass back to Barry Fuller wasn’t the best and the ball goes out of play for A Sunderland Throw On.

And From The Resulting Throw On, Luke O’Nien is quick to throw the ball towards Grant Leadbitter, who passes the ball back out-wide to Luke O’Nien, Who manages to pass the ball back to George Dobson in the middle of midfield and George Dobson passes the ball back to Jordan Willis, who passes the ball square to Tom Flanagan inside Sunderland’s own final third, and Tom Flanagan plays a one / two with Grant Leadbitter before taking a few touches in possession of the ball and passing the ball forwards to Marc McNulty, who manages to retain possession of the ball and pass the ball back to George Dobson, who is challenged by Mikael Mandron and Alfie Jones is first to react to the ricochet and pass the ball square to Jack Tucker, who passes the ball back to Jack Bonham, And Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Tom Flanagan wins the aerial challenge up against Brandon Hanlan and Laurens De Bock manages to pick out Marc McNulty with a hooked pass over his shoulder and Marc McNulty is intercepted by Mark Byrne, who passes the ball back to Max Ehmer, And Max Ehmer passes the ball out-wide to Barry Fuller, And Barry Fuller manages to keep the ball in play before clipping the ball long down the line towards Brandon Hanlan, And Brandon Hanlan manages to retain possession of the ball and pass the ball back to Mark Byrne, who clips a long ball down-field and Alim Ozturk climbs all over the back of Mikael Mandron to win that aerial challenge - but no free kick was awarded to Gillingham - and Grant Leadbitter gets the ball under control and passes the ball out-wide to Tom Flanagan, who kicks the ball long down the line and Will Grigg wins the aerial challenge up against Jack Tucker, But all Will Grigg can do is header the ball out of play for A Gillingham Throw On.

And From The Resulting Throw On In The Twenty Second Minute Of The Match, Gillingham had a half decent chance to open the scoring, Barry Fuller throws the ball long down the line and Mikael Mandron is able to chest the ball under control and lay the ball off to Mark Byrne, who kicks the ball long over the top, and despite the fact that Brandon Hanlan is second best to the ball because Jordan Willis is favourite, Brandon Hanlan has possession of the ball and he is through on goal and Jordan Willis’ desperate sliding tackle perhaps forces Brandon Hanlan to go wider then he would have liked, But Brandon Hanlan see’s his attempted pull back deflect away from Olly Lee at the crucial moment and Conor McLaughlin manages to boot the ball clear and away from danger, however, Marc McNulty may have won the aerial challenge up against Barry Fuller, But Max Ehmer is now in possession of the ball and Max Ehmer takes a few touches before kicking the ball long down the line, and this time, it is Mikael Mandron who wins the fifty / fifty challenge up against Tom Flanagan down the left side of the pitch, and Mikael Mandron passes the ball short to Olly Lee, who evades the challenge from Grant Leadbitter on the edge of Sunderland’s Penalty Area, And Olly Lee whips in a fantastic in-swinging cross and there was Brandon Hanlan to climb highest inside Sunderland’s Penalty Area and Brandon Hanlan’s Looping Header goes past Jon McLaughlin and hits the underside of the crossbar and the ball bounces back up off the turf and hits the crossbar and Jon McLaughlin gathers the loose ball.

Like many other Gillingham Supporters Inside Priestfield Stadium, I cheered and I was convinced that was a goal in real time and I thought that Brandon Hanlan did everything right and that Brandon Hanlan had opened the scoring for Gillingham, Now there is no goal-line technology in League One, But if there was, Then Referee Andy Woolmer would have looked at his watch to see if it was a goal or not, and now we have got ourselves a controversial talking point, Because if Gillingham don’t win against Sunderland, then we are going to be looking at this incident as a turning point in the match.

And despite the goal / no goal controversy, Gillingham were still pilling on the pressure on to Sunderland’s Goal, Jon McLaughlin rolls the ball short to George Dobson, And George Dobson kicks the ball long down-field and George Dobson’s long clearance goes all the way through to Jack Bonham, who takes a touch to control the ball and Jack Bonham lays the ball off to Alfie Jones, who takes a touch to control the ball and Alfie Jones retains possession of the ball and passes the ball back to Jack Bonham, And Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Tom Flanagan wins the aerial challenge up against Mikael Mandron and Barry Fuller headers the ball forwards and Grant Leadbitter headers the ball sideways towards George Dobson, who headers the ball back to Alim Ozturk, And Alim Ozturk takes a few touches in possession of the ball and passes the ball back to Jon McLaughlin, And The Sunderland Goalkeeper takes a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down-field and Will Grigg wins the initial aerial challenge and Jack Tucker headers the ball partially clear and away from danger, But Marc McNulty has possession of the ball in Gillingham’s Half Of The Pitch, And Marc McNulty takes a few touches in possession of the ball and is challenged by Mark Byrne and George Dobson is first to the loose ball and passes the ball out-wide to Tom Flanagan, And Tom Flanagan passes the ball back to Grant Leadbitter, And The Sunderland Midfielder has to pass the ball back to Jon McLaughlin, And Jon McLaughlin takes a few touches in possession of the ball before kicking the ball long down-field and Mark Byrne wins the initial aerial challenge and Grant Leadbitter is on to the loose ball and passes the ball out-wide to Tom Flanagan, And Tom Flanagan takes a few touches in possession of the ball before seeing his attempted pass down the line deflect out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Gillingham had the chance to open the scoring, Laurens De Bock throws the ball long down the line and Barry Fuller wins the initial aerial challenge and Olly Lee wins the fifty / fifty challenge with George Dobson, and Grant Leadbitter’s back pass almost plays Brandon Hanlan through on goal, But Tom Flanagan manages to hook the ball partially clear and away from danger and Luke O’Nien headers the ball out-wide to Grant Leadbitter, who plays a short pass down the line towards Laurens De Bock, who kicks the ball up into the air, and Alfie Jones gets the ball under control and passes the ball back to Jack Bonham, And Jack Bonham takes a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down-field and Mikael Mandron wins the initial aerial challenge and Alim Ozturk and Mikael Mandron are both competing for the loose ball and both players cannot retain possession of the ball and Olly Lee gets on to the loose ball on the edge of Sunderland’s Penalty Area and Olly Lee looks to take on Jordan Willis but Jon McLaughlin is quick off his line to dive on to the loose ball and the chance had gone for The Gills.

Twenty Seven Minutes Into The Match, And Will Grigg is flagged for offside after Marc McNulty plays a threaded through-ball for Will Grigg to run on to, and that pass is just a reminder of the quality that Sunderland have got in there match-day squad, and this is something to be concerned about even though Gillingham have played exceptionally well in the first half so far, And A Minute Later, Sunderland looked likely they were going to take the lead, George Dobson kicks the ball long down-field and Jack Tucker gets to the loose ball first and shows great composure in possession of the ball, however, Jack Tucker has smashed the ball into George Dobson and the ball ricochets into Marc McNulty’s and path and Marc McNulty is through on goal, however, George Dobson is penalised for handball, and I thought that Gillingham had got away with one there and we were fortunate to get given the free kick decision.

Twenty Nine Minutes Into The Match, And George Dobson is penalised for his challenge on Max Ehmer right on the halfway line in-front of the dugouts and Gillingham have been awarded a free kick, and George Dobson is only given a warning from Referee Andy Woolmer, and from the resulting free kick, Jack Tucker manages to pick out Connor Ogilvie with a cross-field pass and Connor Ogilvie gets the ball under control before passing the ball back to Tom O’Connor, And Tom O’Connor takes a touch to control the ball before trying to pick out Barry Fuller with a cross-field pass down the right side of the pitch in Sunderland’s Final Third and Laurens De Bock manages to get to the loose ball first, And Laurens De Bock kicks the ball against Barry Fuller and manages to win Sunderland a throw on in there own defensive final third, and from the resulting throw on, Gillingham had a half chance to try and open the scoring, Tom Flanagan throws the ball long down the line and Will Grigg flicks the ball on and Jack Tucker kicks the ball long down-field which almost turns into a decent pass towards Brandon Hanlan, But Jon McLaughlin is off his line quickly to gather the ball with ease, and from here, Jon McLaughlin throws the ball out-wide to Jordan Willis, And Jordan Willis passes the ball back inside to Alim Ozturk in a central area of the pitch, And Alim Ozturk takes a few touches in possession of the ball before playing a one / two with George Dobson, And Alim Ozturk takes a few touches in possession of the ball and passes the ball square to George Dobson, who passes the ball back to Alim Ozturk, who passes the ball short to Jordan Willis, And Jordan Willis passes the ball forwards to Grant Leadbitter, And Grant Leadbitter passes the ball square to George Dobson, And George Dobson passes the ball back to Alim Ozturk, who passes the ball back to Jon McLaughlin, And Jon McLaughlin passes the ball out-wide to Jordan Willis, who passes the ball down the line towards Grant Leadbitter, and Grant Leadbitter tries to pick out one of Will Grigg or Marc McNulty with a long ball down-field, and the ball is just about to long and Jack Bonham just about manages to gather the ball right inside his own penalty area - another yard or two and Jack Bonham would have been out-side his penalty area.

Thirty One Minutes Into The Match, And Alfie Jones is penalised for his challenge on Marc McNulty on the halfway line and Sunderland have been awarded a free kick, and from the resulting free kick, Grant Leadbitter kicks the ball long down the line and even though Tom Flanagan wins the aerial challenge up against Barry Fuller, Tom Flanagan couldn’t header the ball back across the face of goal and Tom Flanagan’s appeals for a corner kick went unheard and Gillingham were awarded a goal-kick.

Thirty Three Minutes Into The Match, And Olly Lee tee’s up Brandon Hanlan to hit a fiercely driven volley towards goal which is blocked by Tom Flanagan, and I had no idea how or why Barry Fuller was penalised for his challenge on George Dobson, But Referee Andy Woolmer awards Sunderland A Defensive Free Kick, And From The Resulting Free Kick, Jon McLaughlin passes the ball short to Alim Ozturk, who passes the ball short to Grant Leadbitter, who takes many touches in possession of the ball and looking around for support and Grant Leadbitter passes the ball forwards to George Dobson, who passes the ball back towards Alim Ozturk, And The Sunderland Defender has to kick the ball long down-field and Jack Tucker manages to hook the ball over his shoulder to clear the ball away from danger and there was a collision between Olly Lee and Luke O’Nien on the halfway line and the ball ricochets back towards Jordan Willis, who runs down the right flank in possession of the ball, and with Jordan Willis being crowded out, Jordan Willis retains possession of the ball and passes the ball out-wide to Conor McLaughlin, who kicks the ball long down the line and George Dobson is penalised for handball and Gillingham have been awarded a defensive free kick.

Thirty Four Minutes Into The Match, And Barry Fuller manages to win A Throw On For Gillingham, And From The Resulting Throw On, Mark Byrne hurls in a long dangerous throw and Luke O’Nien manages to header the ball away from goal and Laurens De Bock slices the ball up into the air and Olly Lee gets the ball under control and turns back on himself before being challenged by Laurens De Bock, and the ball ricochets out of play for A Gillingham Corner Kick, And From The Resulting Corner Kick, Tom O’Connor whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross towards the far post and Jack Tucker wins the initial aerial challenge and headers the ball against Alim Ozturk and the ball ricochets up into the air and Will Grigg boots the ball long down-field and Barry Fuller takes no chances and headers the ball back to Jack Bonham in Gillingham’s Goal, And From Here, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and although Mikael Mandron wins the aerial challenge up against Tom Flanagan, the ball goes out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw, Tom Flanagan throws the ball long down the line towards Will Grigg, who manages to retain possession of the ball and drop the ball off to Laurens De Bock, who is challenged by Mark Byrne and Olly Lee passes the ball back to Alfie Jones, and Alfie Jones passes the ball back to Jack Tucker, who kicks the ball long down-field, and Tom O’Connor’s first touch just takes the ball away from A Sunderland Player, But Luke O’Nien manages to get to the ball by the byline, However, Luke O’Nien’s forced pass back towards Jon McLaughlin is under-hit and Brandon Hanlan almost gets on to the end of that pass, But Jon McLaughlin manages to kick the ball clear and away from danger and Jon McLaughlin’s clearance actually turns into a decent pass towards Will Grigg, And Will Grigg manages to get the ball under control before passing the ball square to Marc McNulty, who continue’s his run inside Gillingham’s Penalty Area Down The Right Side Of The Pitch, And Marc McNulty works his way towards the byline and see’s his low cross at the near post blocked by Jack Tucker, who not only made a very important block, But Jack Tucker also stops the ball going out of play for A Sunderland Corner Kick as well.

And from here, Jack Tucker kicks the ball long down-field and Luke O’Nien manages to win the initial aerial challenge, but the second ball drops kindly to Tom O’Connor, who kicks the ball long down Sunderland’s Left Side and Brandon Hanlan uses his pace to win the foot-race up against Tom Flanagan, and Brandon Hanlan gets the ball under control before twisting and turning and using his pace to take on Tom Flanagan and work his way towards the byline, and Brandon Hanlan fires in a low cross across the six yard box and Mikael Mandron’s first time effort towards goal smashes against the crossbar and the ball ricochets back towards Mark Byrne on the edge of Sunderland’s Crossbar, And Mark Byrne’s first time volley towards goal is sliced over his own crossbar by Jordan Willis, And Gillingham have been awarded a corner kick, But really, we should be talking about Gillingham taking the lead because that was a golden goal-scoring opportunity for Mikael Mandron, And From The Resulting Corner Kick, Tom O’Connor whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Jon McLaughlin was able to gather the ball with ease.

Marc McNulty is then penalised for his foul on Mark Byrne on the halfway line as Sunderland are looking to break up play and get to half-time with the score-line still goal-less, Thirty Nine Minutes Into The Match, And Conor McLaughlin almost manages to pick out Marc McNulty with a dangerous in-swinging cross which is just too high for The Sunderland Striker to header goal-wards and the ball goes out of play for A Gillingham Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Barry Fuller throws the ball long down the line and Tom Flanagan wins the initial aerial challenge and Marc McNulty wins the aerial challenge up against Barry Fuller to flick the ball on, But Marc McNulty’s attempted flick on runs out of play for A Gillingham Goal-Kick, And In The Forty First Minute Of The Match, Max Ehmer over-runs the ball and Laurens De Bock kicks the ball against Max Ehmer and the ball ricochets out of play for A Sunderland Throw On and this was a decent spell for Gillingham to try and open the scoring.

However, Mark Byrne was down injured by the byline in the far corner of The Medway Stand / Brian Moore Stand and Physio Gary Hemens goes across to check on the extent of Mark Byrne’s Injury and to see if Mark Byrne was OK to continue playing, But Mark Byrne clearly was unable to continue playing and had to be substituted, and at the time, I thought that with Mark Byrne getting back on to his feat and being helped off the pitch was a encouraging sign that the injury wasn’t a severe one, Mark Marshall was brought on as Mark Byrne’s Replacement as Gillingham are forced to make there first substitution of the match.

And when play resumed, Max Ehmer was penalised for his challenge on Marc McNulty on there halfway line and Sunderland have been awarded a free kick, and from the resulting free kick, Tom Flanagan kicks the ball down the line towards Marc McNulty and Barry Fuller slides in and intercepts the ball and knocks the ball out of play for A Sunderland Throw, And somehow the throw on was awarded in Gillingham’s Favour and there is no-way that Gillingham should have been awarded the throw on, And From The Resulting Throw On, Barry Fuller throws the ball long down the line and Laurens De Bock wins the initial aerial challenge up against Mikael Mandron, but the second ball drops kindly to Brandon Hanlan, and Brandon Hanlan losses possession of the ball to Luke O’Nien, who passes the ball out-wide to Laurens De Bock, who passes the ball down the line to Marc McNulty, and Marc McNulty flicks the ball inside to George Dobson, who manages to retain possession of the ball before playing a short pass out-wide to Marc McNulty, who passes the ball back towards Laurens De Bock, And Laurens De Bock passes the ball forwards to George Dobson, And George Dobson passes the ball out-wide to Marc McNulty, who pass down the line goes out of play for A Gillingham Throw On.

And From Here, Barry Fuller throws the ball long down the line and Marc McNulty wins the initial aerial challenge up against Mikael Mandron and Grant Leadbitter headers the ball forwards and Max Ehmer is in the right place at the right time to header the ball away from goal and Olly Lee wins the fifty / fifty challenge with Luke O’Nien, and Mark Marshall headers the ball square to Tom O’Connor, And Tom O’Connor kicks the ball long down the right side of the pitch and Brandon Hanlan manages to keep the ball in play before forcing Tom Flanagan to kick the ball into touch for A Gillingham Throw On, And Gillingham have the chance to open the scoring just before the half time whistle, and from the resulting throw on, Connor Ogilvie hurls in a long dangerous throw and Max Ehmer is penalised for his foul on Tom Flanagan and Sunderland have been awarded a defensive free kick.

And the final noteworthy moment of The First Half See’s Conor McLaughlin header the ball down the line towards Will Grigg and Jack Tucker was able to shield the ball out of play for A Gillingham Goal-Kick, And Referee Andy Woolmer blows his whistle at half time with the deadlock yet to be broken, But we will be wondering how or why Gillingham have yet to open the scoring based on what we have seen from Gillingham In The Opening Forty Five Minutes Of The Match.

HALF TIME: GILLINGHAM 0-0 SUNDERLAND

I had uploaded the following comment on to Twitter,,,,,, HALF TIME: GILLINGHAM 0-0 SUNDERLAND - Gillingham have been magnificent in the first half and the only thing we have missed is the goal that our performance deserves, I thought Hanlan's Header had hit the back of the net, But somehow Gillingham didn't open the scoring. Mandron also saw his effort on goal hit the crossbar and stay out, Lee saw his follow up effort scuffed behind for A Gillingham Corner Kick. Mark Byrne's Injury at the end of the first half is a devastating blow and I hope that Mark Byrne's injury isn't a serious one.

I then re-tweeted Matt’s Video Clip and posted the following,,,,, Did Brandon Hanlan's Header Cross The Line??? - Hopefully, Gillingham can take there chances in the second half, Otherwise this will be a talking point., And I uploaded a photo of The Rainham End at Half Time on to Twitter as well, But looking at the chances created, Brandon Hanlan’s Looping Header hit the crossbar and somehow stayed out (even though I thought it was a goal at the time) Mikael Mandron hit the crossbar from Brandon Hanlan’s Pull-Back and the follow up effort from Mark Byrne was sliced over Sunderland’s Crossbar by Jordan Willis, Brandon Hanlan also had one powerful struck effort towards goal which failed to hit the target and Gillingham have been the better side, while Sunderland are struggling to get the ball forwards with any urgency and there back five is causing there own problems at this moment in time.

The real problem Gillingham have got now is the fact that Gillingham have not taken the lead while we have been the better side, I am expecting Sunderland Manager Phil Parkinson to give his team a kick up the back-side at half time and we can expect to see Sunderland put in the type of performance that we will expect from a side who were tipped as favourites to be promoted as League One Champions, and if Sunderland need to make a change, then Aiden McGeady, Charlie Wyke, Chris Maguire and Duncan Watmore are all capable of coming on and giving Sunderland a much needed impact from the bench.

As far as Gillingham Substitutions Go, Well, Mark Marshall has come on to replace Mark Byrne because of injury so Gillingham are unlikely to make a second substitution at half time, Let’s hope that Mark Byrne can make a full recovery as quickly as possible and that Mark Byrne’s Injury isn’t as bad as first feared, But if Gillingham do need to make an attacking substitution then Mikael Ndjoli, Alex Jakubiak and Regan Charles-Cook are all attacking options who can come on and make an impact off the bench.

Both teams then came out on to the pitch and neither Steve Evans nor Phil Parkinson opted to make a change at the break, with both manager’s opting to wait and see on what happens for the first fifteen minutes of the second half before looking to the bench to make any tactical changes, Hopefully, With Gillingham kicking towards The Rainham End In The Second Half, Gillingham can make the breakthrough and pick up three valuable points against A Sunderland Side who are below there expectations at this present moment in time - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!

SECOND HALF:

And the first noteworthy moment of the second half see’s Will Grigg penalised for his challenge on Max Ehmer and Gillingham have been awarded a free kick in there own defensive final third, and from the resulting free kick, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Grant Leadbitter wins the initial aerial challenge up against Mikael Mandron and Laurens De Bock kicks the ball partially clear and away from danger and Marc McNulty wins the aerial challenge up against Max Ehmer on the halfway line, but the loose ball runs through to Jack Tucker, who boots the ball long down the line and Mikael Mandron and Laurens De Bock both miss the ball, but the ball bounces through to Mark Marshall, who was able to retain possession of the ball before passing the ball inside to Olly Lee, who plays a first time pass forwards to Mark Marshall, who skips past the attempted challenge from Alim Ozturk and Mark Marshall’s through-ball through to Brandon Hanlan is over-hit and Jon McLaughlin was able to gather the ball with ease.

And From Here, Jon McLaughlin rolls the ball out-wide to Jordan Willis, And Jordan Willis takes a few touches in possession of the ball before kicking the ball long down the line and Max Ehmer manages to get to the ball first, And Max Ehmer attempted clearance falls kindly to Conor McLaughlin, who’s attempted pass forwards is cut our by Connor Ogilvie and the ball runs out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Will Grigg throws the ball short to Luke O’Nien, who passes the ball back out-wide to Will Grigg, And Tom O’Connor manages to time his challenge to perfection on The Sunderland Striker, and the ball deflects out of play for A Gillingham Throw On as well, And From The Resulting Throw On, Connor Ogilvie throws the ball long down the line and Mikael Mandron manages to get the ball under control, turn and pass the ball down the line towards Brandon Hanlan, who was in a one on one foot-race with

Alim Ozturk, And The Sunderland Defender’s Back-Pass was over-hit and runs out of play for A Gillingham Corner Kick, But Referee Andy Woolmer awards Sunderland A Defensive Free Kick and Brandon Hanlan is very harshly penalised for a foul - much to the irritation of every Gillingham Supporter Inside Priestfield Stadium.

And From The Resulting Free Kick, Jon McLaughlin kicks the ball long down-field and Max Ehmer wins the initial fifty / fifty challenge and Olly Lee lays the ball off to Tom O’Connor, who see’s his attempted clearance blocked and Luke O’Nien passes the ball square to Conor McLaughlin, who’s pass square to Grant Leadbitter was not the best and the ball deflects kindly towards Alfie Jones, who passes the ball out-wide to Connor Ogilvie and Connor Ogilvie kicks the ball long down the line and Connor Ogilvie’s clearance almost turns into a decent pass towards Brandon Hanlan and Alim Ozturk has to kick the ball into touch for A Gillingham Throw On - And I have got to say that the pressurising from the front from Brandon Hanlan and Mikael Mandron has caused Sunderland all sorts of problems defensively, and from the resulting throw on, Tom O’Connor is quick to throw the ball long down the line and Brandon Hanlan plays a one touch layoff into Mikael Mandron’s Path, And Mikael Mandron passes the ball out-wide to Brandon Hanlan, who keeps the ball in play and Brandon Hanlan is challenged by Conor McLaughlin and the ball deflects out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Jordan Willis throws the ball long down the line and Marc McNulty flicks the ball on and Jack Bonham is quick off his line to slide on the deck and gather the loose ball inside his penalty area.

And From Here, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Mikael Mandron wins the initial aerial challenge and as Mark Marshall reacts quickest to try and get on to the loose ball, And George Dobson is penalised for his challenge on Mark Marshall and Gillingham have been awarded a free kick in a very promising position on the pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Olly Lee clips a dangerous cross towards the far post which bounces all the way through to Max Ehmer, who’s volleyed pull back across the face of goal was partially headed clear and away from goal by Jordan Willis and Mark Marshall was able to get the ball under control inside Sunderland’s Penalty Area, And Mark Marshall passes the ball out-wide to Max Ehmer, who gets the ball under control and Max Ehmer’s attempted cross is deflected goal-wards and Jon McLaughlin has to parry the ball away from the on-rushing Brandon Hanlan and Mark Marshall’s follow up effort on goal is blocked and Luke O’Nien managed to header the ball partially clear and away from danger and Alfie Jones gets the ball under control and takes a few touches to retain possession of the ball before managing to pick out Olly Lee with a cross-field pass, and Olly Lee gets the ball under control before passing the ball out-wide to Jack Tucker, who whips in a fantastic first time cross low towards the near post and George Dobson on the stretch manages to clear the ball away from danger and Laurens De Bock kicks the ball long down the line towards Marc McNulty, who manages to retain possession of the ball before laying the ball off to Will Grigg, who started his run on the out-side before running into a more central position on the pitch, and Will Grigg manages to pick out Conor McLaughlin with a cross-field pass, And Conor McLaughlin manages to pass the ball down the line towards Luke O’Nien, And Luke O’Nien is being closely marked by Alfie Jones, But Luke O’Nien still manages to work his way towards the byline down in the far corner of The Medway Stand / Brian Moore Stand, and Luke O’Nien’s cross takes a slight deflection off Alfie Jones and Jack Tucker stands on the loose ball inside Gillingham’s Penalty Area and George Dobson slips at the crucial moment and that slip allows Jack Tucker to clear the ball away from danger and Brandon Hanlan manages to retain possession of the ball despite Jordan Willis’s Persistent Challenges, And Brandon Hanlan’s Pass out-wide to Mikael Mandron is over-hit and goes out of play for a throw on - But Referee Andy Woolmer points to A Gillingham Free Kick Because Gillingham didn’t gain an advantage.

And From The Resulting Free Kick, Connor Ogilvie is quick to pass the ball square to Barry Fuller, who goes on a driving run down the right side of the pitch and Barry Fuller whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross which is headed clear and away from danger by Alim Ozturk, And Gillingham have been awarded a throw on in the far corner of The Gordon Road Stand / The Rainham End, And From The Resulting Throw On, Connor Ogilvie hurls in a long dangerous throw and Grant Leadbitter can only header the ball partially clear towards the edge of there own penalty area and Alfie Jones plays the ball back inside Sunderland’s Penalty Area and Jon McLaughlin is able to gather the ball with ease.

And from here, even though Gillingham have made a very bright start to The Second Half, Sunderland had the chance to open the scoring, Jon McLaughlin quickly rolls the ball forwards to Conor McLaughlin and Conor McLaughlin goes on a driving run down the right side of the pitch, and Conor McLaughlin manages to pick out Marc McNulty with a cross-field pass and Marc McNulty knocks the ball down and Barry Fuller is first to the loose ball and Barry Fuller gets the ball under control and kicks the ball long down-field, and Tom Flanagan passes the ball back to Jon McLaughlin, who passes the ball forwards to Alim Ozturk, And Alim Ozturk passes the ball out-wide to Tom Flanagan and Tom Flanagan passes the ball down the line towards Laurens De Bock, who takes a touch to control the ball before passing the ball back towards Tom Flanagan, who passes the ball back to Jon McLaughlin, And The Sunderland Goalkeeper takes a few touches in possession of the ball before kicking the ball long down the left side of the pitch and Laurens De Bock wins the aerial challenge up against Mark Marshall and the ball deflects out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Laurens De Bock throws the ball short to Will Grigg, who passes the ball back to Laurens De Bock, And Laurens De Bock passes the ball inside to Luke O’Nien, And Luke O’Nien passes the ball out-wide to Will Grigg and Will Grigg runs down the left side of the pitch in possession of the ball before running into a more central area of the pitch, and Will Grigg passes the ball square to George Dobson, And George Dobson passes the ball out-wide to Conor McLaughlin, who has possession of the ball down the right side of the pitch in Gillingham’s Final Third, and Conor McLaughlin passes the ball back to Jordan Willis, And Jordan Willis passes the ball square to George Dobson, who takes a touch to control the ball and George Dobson whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross towards the back-stick and Laurens De Bock wins the aerial battle at the back-stick to knock the ball down towards Will Grigg and Will Grigg’s shot on the turn is fired over Gillingham’s Crossbar and that was the chance for Sunderland to open the scoring - However, The Linesman Down The Medway Stand / Brian Moore Stand side of the pitch had his flag raised for offside, So had Will Grigg opened the scoring for Sunderland, then the goal wouldn’t have counted.

But in the next noteworthy goal-scoring opportunity, Sunderland had the chance to open the scoring, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Mikael Mandron gets the ball under control initially before being intercepted by Grant Leadbitter and George Dobson manages to nip in there first and get to the second ball, keep the ball in play before running down the left wing in possession of the ball, and George Dobson continue’s his run down the left wing and being closely marked by Barry Fuller and Barry Fuller manages to intercept the ball and pass the ball inside to Max Ehmer, who is then intercepted by George Dobson and Max Ehmer is disposed inside Gillingham’s Penalty Area and George Dobson see’s his attempted pull-back across the face of goal partially cleared by Jack Tucker and Luke O’Nien see’s his first time volley brilliantly saved by Jack Bonham and Conor McLaughlin is first to the loose ball down the right side of the pitch - Gillingham’s Left - And Conor McLaughlin see’s his cross hit Connor Ogilvie and Alfie Jones kicks the ball long down-field and Alim Ozturk headers the ball out-wide to Jordan Willis, who manages to keep the ball in play, and Jordan Willis see’s his attempted clearance charged down by Connor Ogilvie and the ball ricochets into Brandon Hanlan’s Path, And Brandon Hanlan uses his pace to run towards the byline and Brandon Hanlan tries to win a corner kick for Gillingham, However, Jordan Willis manages to intercept the ball and kick the ball long down-field towards the halfway line and Will Grigg manages to retain possession of the ball before passing the ball back to George Dobson, who is fouled by Mark Marshall and Sunderland have been awarded a free kick - Sunderland Supporters were appealing for a penalty kick when Conor McLaughlin’s cross hits Connor Ogilvie, but no penalty kick was awarded by Referee Andy Woolmer.

And From The Resulting Free Kick, Luke O’Nien passes the ball back to Alim Ozturk, And Alim Ozturk passes the ball square to Tom Flanagan, And Tom Flanagan takes a few touches in possession of the ball before passing the ball centrally to George Dobson, who passes the ball out-wide to Conor McLaughlin down the right side of the pitch and Conor McLaughlin see’s his first time pass down the line go out of play for A Gillingham Throw On, And From The Resulting Throw On, Connor Ogilvie throws the ball long down the line and Mikael Mandron wins the aerial battle up against Conor McLaughlin, But The Sunderland Right Wing Back manages to knock the ball out of play for A Gillingham Throw On Just In Sunderland’s Half Of The Pitch, And From The Resulting Throw On, Connor Ogilvie is quick to throw the ball long down the line and Connor Ogilvie’s throw is too long and runs out of play for A Sunderland Goal-Kick.

In The Fifty Seventh Minute Of The Match, Gillingham have a throw on down the right side of the pitch in Sunderland’s Final Third, And Barry Fuller throws the ball short to Mark Marshall, who passes the ball back to Barry Fuller, And Barry Fuller passes the ball short down the line to Mark Marshall, who works his way into a crossing position and Mark Marshall is challenged by Laurens De Bock and Gillingham have been awarded a corner kick, And From The Resulting Corner Kick, Tom O’Connor whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Grant Leadbitter is in the right place at the right time to header the ball clear and away from danger at the expense of conceding a throw on, and before the resulting throw on could be taken, Referee Andy Woolmer was having words with Mikael Mandron, Brandon Hanlan, Tom Flanagan and Luke O’Nien regarding a few protests and maybe Sunderland wanted a foul and a defensive free kick should be awarded in there favour, This altercation shows that we can get at Sunderland and if Brandon Hanlan and Mikael Mandron can rough up Sunderland’s Three Centre Back’s, then maybe Gillingham can turn this goal-less draw into a valuable win for The Gills.

And From The Resulting Throw On, Connor Ogilvie hurls in a long dangerous throw and Alim Ozturk headers the ball partially clear and away from danger and Alfie Jones is quick to pass the ball out-wide to Olly Lee, who manages to keep the ball in play, and Olly Lee passes the ball back to Alfie Jones, who works his way into a crossing position and Alfie Jones see’s his attempted cross charged down by Will Grigg and Gillingham have been awarded a corner kick, and from the resulting corner kick, Tom O’Connor whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Jon McLaughlin was able to gather the ball with ease, And From Here, Jon McLaughlin tries to pick out Laurens De Bock with a clipped pass down the left side of the pitch, But Mark Marshall wins the aerial challenge and Mikael Mandron gets the second ball under control, spins and passes the ball out-wide to Mark Marshall, who runs down the right flank in possession of the ball and Mark Marshall see’s his attempted cross charged down by Laurens De Bock at the expense of conceding another corner kick for The Gills, and from the resulting corner kick, Tom O’Connor’s in-swinging cross towards the back-stick is headed clear and out of play for another corner kick by Alike Ozturk, and from the resulting corner kick, Olly Lee passes the ball short to Max Ehmer, who passes the ball back out-wide to Olly Lee, and Olly Lee’s cross is charged down by Marc McNulty at the expense of conceding another corner kick - Most Gillingham Supporters were disappointed that Olly Lee didn’t whip in the cross first time instead of opting for a short corner kick routine.

And from the resulting corner kick, Olly Lee’s in-swinging cross towards the near post is headed clear by Grant Leadbitter and Barry Fuller is first to the loose ball and Barry Fuller passes the ball square to Alfie Jones, who takes a touch to control the ball and Alfie Jones whips in a cross towards the back-stick and Jack Tucker’s attempted pull back back across the face of goal was comfortably saved by Jon McLaughlin.

And from here, Jon McLaughlin kicks the ball long down-field and Marc McNulty wins the aerial challenge up against Connor Ogilvie and George Dobson is on to the second ball and George Dobson plays a neat one / two with Will Grigg and Jack Tucker times his challenge to perfection and Connor Ogilvie and Conor McLaughlin slide in for the loose ball down the left side of the pitch and Connor Ogilvie manages to win a defensive throw on for The Gills, And before that throw on could be taken, Sunderland make there first substitution of the afternoon, Because Charlie Wyke comes on to replace Marc McNulty as Sunderland look to make a change in attack which could prove to make the difference as Sunderland look to pick up all three points, And from the resulting throw on, Sunderland really should have opened the scoring, Connor Ogilvie throws the ball long down the line and Mikael Mandron flicks the ball on and Jordan Willis takes a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down the line and Charlie Wyke gets the ball under control and has the strength to evade the attempted challenge from Jack Tucker, and Charlie Wyke takes another touch to control the ball before firing a low effort across the face of goal which just about goes wide of the far left post and Jack Bonham had dived at full stretch as well - AND THAT WAS THE CHANCE FOR SUNDERLAND TO OPEN THE SCORING - I genuinely thought that Sunderland had scored and Charlie Wyke would have made an instant impact off the bench.

Sixty Four Minutes Into The Match, And Gillingham had a potential penalty appeal waved away, Connor Ogilvie hurls a long dangerous throw into Sunderland’s Penalty Area and Mikael Mandron manages to retain possession of the ball before laying the ball off to Tom O’Connor who goes down to the deck underneath Grant Leadbitter’s challenge and there were appeals for A Gillingham Penalty Kick which were quickly waved away because Referee Andy Woolmer awards Sunderland a defensive free kick, and In The Sixty Fifth Minute, Jack Tucker is booked for his challenge on Will Grigg down the left side of the pitch and Sunderland have been awarded a free kick in a promising position here, and from the resulting free kick, Grant Leadbitter whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and although Charlie Wyke wins the initial aerial challenge, Brandon Hanlan and Connor Ogilvie between the two of them manage to clear the ball clear and away from danger, and In The Sixty Seventh Minute Of The Match, George Dobson tries to pick out Will Grigg with a long pass down-field which is over-hit and runs all the way through to Jack Bonham who makes a routine save.

And From Here, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field and Tom Flanagan wins the aerial challenge up against Mikael Mandron and George Dobson kicks the ball long down-field and Charlie Wyke was coming back from an offside position so he couldn’t interfere with play and Max Ehmer passes the ball back to Jack Bonham, who tales a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down-field, and Tom Flanagan wins the aerial challenge and Alfie Jones headers the ball forwards and Alim Ozturk takes no chances and kicks the ball into touch for A Gillingham Throw On In Gillingham’s Half Of The Pitch, And From The Resulting Throw On, Barry Fuller throws the ball long down the line and Tom Flanagan headers the ball out of play for A Gillingham Throw On, However, Tom Flanagan was deemed to have pushed Mikael Mandron in the back and Gillingham have been awarded a free kick in a very promising position on the pitch, And From The Resulting Free Kick, Tom O’Connor passes the ball square to Olly Lee, who takes a few touches in possession of the ball before whipping in a high and hanging cross which is to close to Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who was able to gather the ball with ease.

And From Here, Jon McLaughlin quickly rolls the ball towards Grant Leadbitter, who takes a few touches in possession of the ball before passing the ball down the line towards Luke O’Nien, And Luke O’Nien retains possession of the ball before playing a one / two with Grant Leadbitter, and Luke O’Nien runs into a more central area of the pitch and Luke O’Nien continue’s his run centrally before looking to pick out Laurens De Bock, And Laurens De Bock cannot get the ball under control and Mark Marshall was able to intercept the ball and go on a driving run forwards down the right side of the pitch - GO ON MARK MARSHALL!!!!! - Was My Response - And Mark Marshall continue’s his run into Sunderland’s Half Of The Pitch before passing the ball forwards to Brandon Hanlan, And Brandon Hanlan passes the ball out-wide to Mark Marshall, who was able to keep the ball in play, And Mark Marshall runs all the way through towards the byline and Mark Marshall manages to whip in a low dangerous cross which is partially cleared by Tom Flanagan and Barry Fuller headers the ball forwards to Alfie Jones, who manages to retain possession of the ball, But Alfie Jones pass out-wide to Mark Marshall was over-hit and runs out of play for A Sunderland Throw On.

Seventy Minutes Into The Match, And Will Grigg is penalised for a foul on Jack Tucker, And I have got to say that the decision to award Gillingham A Free Kick was a very fortunate one and Gillingham might have got away with one there, And with twenty minutes to go, I am looking at our options on the substitutes bench to see who can come on to try and turn this 0-0 draw into a win for The Gills, Mikael Ndjoli and Alex Jakubiak both provide Gillingham with attacking options on the bench, But Brandon Hanlan and Mikael Mandron have both lead the line really well and caused Sunderland a lot of problems defensively, But Regan Charles-Cook could come on for one of Stuart O’Keefe or Tom O’Connor if we’re looking to inject some more pace into Gillingham’s Midfield.

And From The Resulting Free Kick, Jack Tucker clips a diagonal cross-field cross to try and pick out one of Max Ehmer or Connor Ogilvie, But Jordan Willis manages to header the ball clear and away from danger for A Gillingham Throw On In Sunderland’s Final Third, And The Atmosphere Inside Priestfield Stadium raises in volume anticipating a opening goal for The Gills, And From The Resulting Throw On, Connor Ogilvie hurls in a long dangerous throw and Tom Flanagan headers the ball partially clear and away from danger and Alfie Jones is first to the second ball, And Alfie Jones passes the ball out-wide to Connor Ogilvie, And Connor Ogilvie whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross first time and Alim Ozturk wins the initial aerial challenge, but the second ball falls kindly to Mark Marshall, who manages to retain possession of the ball and Mark Marshall runs wide in possession of the ball before turning back on himself and looking to whip in a dangerous cross, But Mark Marshall passes the ball to Barry Fuller on the out-side and Barry Fuller skilfully cuts inside before whipping in a dangerous in-swinging cross towards the far post and Mikael Mandron was unable to divert his header goal-wards, But the chance has not gone and Tom Flanagan and Grant Leadbitter are both competing with Connor Ogilvie for the loose ball and Tom Flanagan kicks the ball against Connor Ogilvie and the ball deflects over Sunderland’s Crossbar and goes out of play for A Sunderland Goal-Kick - But there were huge protests from Gillingham Supporters In The Rainham End for a hand-ball - And Because I couldn’t see if it was or wasn’t a handball decision or not, I could not say for sure if Gillingham should have been awarded a penalty kick ???

But despite all the pressure that Gillingham are putting on to Sunderland’s Goal, Sunderland manage to win themselves a corner kick in the seventy third minute because George Dobson goes on a driving run forwards in possession of the ball right down into the far corner of The Medway Stand / Brian Moore Stand Side Of The Pitch, And Connor Ogilvie times his challenge to perfection, at the expense of conceding a corner kick, and from the resulting corner kick, Grant Leadbitter whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Mikael Mandron headers the ball clear and Olly Lee clears the ball away from danger and Mark Marshall cannot get on to the loose ball and Alim Ozturk passes the ball back to Jordan Willis, who kicks the ball long down-field and Connor Ogilvie wins the initial aerial challenge and Mikael Mandron manages to get the ball under control, retain possession and pass the ball out-wide to Olly Lee, And Olly Lee takes a touch to control the ball before clipping the ball long down the line towards Brandon Hanlan, And Brandon Hanlan uses his pace to run with possession of the ball inside Sunderland’s Penalty Area and Brandon Hanlan overcomplicates things and Mikael Mandron’s shot towards goal is charged down and Tom O’Connor is on to the loose ball, and despite being urged to shoot, Tom O’Connor passes the ball out-wide to Mark Marshall, and Mark Marshall see’s his low cross across the six yard box blocked by Grant Leadbitter, and as Mark Marshall chases back and looks to get the ball back, he is penalised for a late challenge on Conor McLaughlin and Sunderland have been awarded a defensive free kick - Much to the irritation of every Gillingham Supporter Inside Priestfield Stadium.

Seventy Five Minutes Into The Match, And Brandon Hanlan almost manages to pick out Olly Lee with a pass down the left side of the pitch but Jordan Willis has managed to come across and kick the ball into touch at the expense of conceding a throw on in Sunderland’s Defensive Final Third Down The Medway Stand / Rainham End Stand Side Of The Pitch, And From The Resulting Throw On, Connor Ogilvie hurls in a long dangerous throw and Alim Ozturk headers the ball out of play for A Gillingham Corner Kick.

However, From The Resulting Corner Kick, We all thought that Sunderland had managed to open the scoring, Olly Lee whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross towards the near post and Grant Leadbitter manages to header the ball partially clear and away from danger and Max Ehmer gets to the loose ball down the right side of the pitch and Max Ehmer waits for support before passing the ball out-wide to Mark Marshall, who looks to work his way into a crossing position and whip in a cross, But Mark Marshall turns back on himself and spends to much time in possession of the ball, and Charlie Wyke manages to intercept the ball and George Dobson goes on a driving run down the left side of the pitch, And George Dobson manages to pass the inside to Charlie Wyke, who manages to poke the ball through to Will Grigg before Tom O’Connor manages to intercept the ball, And Will Grigg see’s his initial shot towards goal blocked by Barry Fuller, but the ball ricochets back towards Will Grigg, who works his way towards the byline before clipping the ball back across the face of goal and there was Charlie Wyke to header the ball into the back of the net to give Sunderland The Lead, And I was then thinking after all our hard work and generally how well Gillingham have performed against Sunderland, A Costly Error From Mark Marshall is going to cost Gillingham This Match.

The Sunderland Supporters In The Brian Moore Stand were rightfully cheering and celebrating the goal, and even a smoke flare was thrown by supporters in the away end, But Referee Andy Woolmer had just gone over to speak to The Linesman Down The Medway Stand / Brian Moore Stand Side Of The Pitch, And there were a few protests from Gillingham Supporters and I wasn’t sure what was going on at the time, However, Referee Andy Woolmer had disallowed the goal and it was Gillingham Supporters Turn to celebrate the decision and Sunderland have not taken the lead, Now, Did Charlie Wyke handle the ball into the back of the net, Was Charlie Wyke Offside or was there a foul in the build up to the goal ???

But the most relieved Gillingham Player inside Priestfield Stadium has got to be Mark Marshall, because it was his error that lead to Sunderland opening the scoring, only for Charlie Wyke’s Goal to be disallowed, And with just over ten minutes remaining plus additional time, I am looking at the bench wondering if one of Mikael Ndjoli or Alex Jakubiak are going to come on to provide Gillingham with additional fire power to try and turn this goal-less draw into a valuable win for The Gills, Because I do think that we need to make another substitution, just to try and freshen the team up a bit.

Seventy Eight Minutes Into The Match, And Sunderland have been awarded a throw on, And Tom Flanagan throws the ball long down the line and Barry Fuller wins the initial aerial challenge and Olly Lee flicks the ball on and Grant Leadbitter kicks the ball long down-field and Max Ehmer headers the ball out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, And before play could resume, One Of Sunderland’s Coaching Staff were booked for there protests regarding Charlie Wyke’s Goal Being Disallowed and Phil Parkinson was not happy with the decision either, And From The Resulting Throw On, Laurens De Bock throws the ball long down the line and Mark Marshall wins the initial aerial challenge and Luke O’Nien wins the second aerial challenge and Charlie Wyke headers the ball down towards Will Grigg, who manages to retain possession of the ball before passing the ball out-wide to Laurens De Bock, who passes the ball inside to Luke O’Nien, And Luke O’Nien takes a touch to control the ball before passing the ball back out-wide to Laurens De Bock, And Laurens De Bock passes the ball back to Grant Leadbitter, who clips the ball long down the line and Barry Fuller wins the initial aerial challenge and Luke O’Nien gets to the loose ball just ahead of Alfie Jones and Mark Marshall kicks the ball clear and away from goal and George Dobson on the stretch manages to pass the ball back to Grant Leadbitter and Grant Leadbitter passes the ball back to Jordan Willis, who takes a touch to control the ball, and Jordan Willis manages to pick out Laurens De Bock with a diagonal cross-field pass down the left side of the pitch in Gillingham’s Final Third and Laurens De Bock forces his way down by the byline and Barry Fuller is penalised for his challenge on Laurens De Bock as The Sunderland Left Wing Back manages to check back inside, And Sunderland have been awarded a free kick in a very promising position on the pitch, and from the resulting free kick, Grant Leadbitter whips in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Jack Bonham was able to gather the ball with ease - GREAT SAVE BONHAM, Was My Response.

Eighty Two Minutes Into The Match, And Olly Lee passes the ball out-wide to Mark Marshall, who goes on a driving run down the right side of the pitch, and Mark Marshall continue’s his run forwards right towards the byline, and Mark Marshall see’s his attempted cross blocked and deflected out of play for A Gillingham Throw On Off Tom Flanagan, But Gillingham still have the chance to pile on the pressure on to Sunderland’s Goal, And From The Resulting Throw On, Connor Ogilvie hurls in a long dangerous throw and Max Ehmer flicks the ball on towards goal and Jon McLaughlin has to scramble across his goal-line to punch the ball clear and away from goal and Tom O’Connor just about manages to get to the loose ball first and passes the ball short back to Brandon Hanlan, And Conor McLaughlin times his challenge to perfection on Brandon Hanlan and knocks the ball out of play for a throw on, and from the resulting throw on, Connor Ogilvie hurls in a long dangerous throw and Conor McLaughlin is caught underneath the ball and he can only knock the ball down towards Mikael Mandron, who’s shot on the turn is blocked and the ball ricochets back towards Tom O’Connor, who manages to pass the ball out-wide to Connor Ogilvie, and Connor Ogilvie whips in a dangerous cross first time and Mikael Mandron’s acrobatic scissor kick fails to hit the target by some considerable distance, but that was a difficult attempt to try and divert the ball goal-wards from Mikael Mandron.

Eighty Four Minutes Into The Match, And Alfie Jones is penalised for his foul on Charlie Wyke and Sunderland have been awarded a free kick roughly thirty five yards from Gillingham’s Goal, And From The Resulting Free Kick, Grant Leadbitter’s cross towards the back-stick is over-hit and runs out of play for A Gillingham Goal-Kick, Tom Flanagan was appealing for a corner kick because he believed that the final touch came off Jack Tucker, who was currently down on the deck, and if Gillingham were going to be forced into making a defensive change, then Connor Ogilvie could play at Centre Back, Tom O’Connor gets pushed to Left Back and Regan Charles-Cook could come on in midfield, or, Alfie Jones drops back to Centre Back and Ousseynou Cissé comes on to play as A Defensive Holding Midfielder, Thankfully, Jack Tucker was back on his feat and OK to continue playing, In The Eighty Fifth Minute Of The Match, Sunderland have a throw on in there own half of the pitch and Laurens De Bock throws the ball long down the line and Charlie Wyke pushes Barry Fuller down to the deck and Gillingham have been awarded a defensive free kick, and from the resulting free kick, Jack Bonham kicks the ball long cross-field and the ball bounces through to Conor McLaughlin, who boots the ball clear and away from danger and Max Ehmer wins the fifty / fifty challenge up against Charlie Wyke to knee the ball forwards and Jordan Willis wins the initial aerial challenge and Luke O’Nien wins the second aerial battle and Jack Tucker manages to pass the ball out-wide to Barry Fuller, who manages to keep the ball in play before kicking the ball long down the line, and Brandon Hanlan does brilliantly to get the ball under control, and Brandon Hanlan uses his pace to work his way towards the byline and take on Tom Flanagan, who cynically takes out Brandon Hanlan and Gillingham have been awarded a free kick in a very promising position on the pitch and Tom Flanagan has been shown a yellow card by Referee Andy Woolmer, And you have to say that yellow card was deserved as well - And I have got to add that Brandon Hanlan and Mikael Mandron have both lead the line superbly well against Sunderland’s Three Centre Back’s, who have had problems dealing with Gillingham’s Strike-Force throughout the entire match.

And From The Resulting Free Kick, Tom O’Connor fires in a fiercely driven free kick and Conor McLaughlin headers the ball over his own crossbar at the expense of conceding a corner kick, and from the resulting corner kick, Gillingham manage to open the scoring, Olly Lee manages to whip in a dangerous in-swinging cross and Mikael Mandron headers the ball back across the face of goal and Max Ehmer manages to get the ball under control before Conor McLaughlin intercepts the ball, and Connor Ogilvie controls the ball and that control allows Connor Ogilvie to volley the ball on the turn into the top left corner of the net and there is nothing that Jon McLaughlin could do about that, And Gillingham have taken the lead In The Eighty Eighth Minute Of The Match, and what a time for Gillingham to score as well.

And the roof just came off Priestfield Stadium when Connor Ogilvie scored that dramatic late goal for The Gills, and so many Gillingham Supporters ran to the front of The Rainham End where the players were celebrating and the atmosphere after that goal went in was something to savour, And you have got to say that the control and finish from Connor Ogilvie was magnificent and that was a real strikers finish, and a great goal scored right in-front of The Rainham End as well.

GILLINGHAM 1-0 SUNDERLAND - FANTASTIC GOAL FROM CONNOR OGILVIE!!!!!!!!!

And from the kick off, Grant Leadbitter kicks the ball back to Alim Ozturk, who takes a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down the right side of the pitch and Charlie Wyke wins the initial aerial challenge to knock the ball down to Luke O’Nien, And Luke O’Nien hits the ball across to the opposite side of the pitch and Barry Fuller manages to win the fifty / fifty challenge up against Laurens De Bock to win Gillingham a throw on down the right side of the pitch in Gillingham’s Half, And while the ball was out of play, I was wondering if Gillingham were looking to bring on one of Alex Jakubiak or Mikael Ndjoli for Mikael Mandron or Brandon Hanlan, just to give either striker a standing ovation for there efforts against Sunderland, although both strikers have not got themselves on the score-sheet, there efforts of leading the line has caused Sunderland a lot of problems defensively.

In The Ninetieth Minute Of The Match, Jordan Willis takes a few touches in possession of the ball before passing the ball out-wide to Conor Mclaughlin down the right side of the pitch in Gillingham’s Half, And Conor McLaughlin passes the ball forwards to Will Grigg, who is being closely marked by Jack Tucker and Jack Tucker manages to intercept the ball and Connor Ogilvie has just smashed the ball long down-field and anywhere will do as far as Gillingham are concerned at this present moment in time, and from the resulting throw on, Jordan Willis throws the ball back to Jon McLaughlin, who takes a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down-field and Max Ehmer wins the aerial challenge up against Charlie Wyke and Olly Lee boots the ball over his shoulder and again, anywhere will do as far as Gillingham are concerned and Jordan Willis headers the ball forwards and Max Ehmer and Mark Marshall do enough between the two of them to prevent Charlie Wyke from getting on the end of the loose ball and Alfie Jones kicks the ball down-field and Mikael Mandron flicks the ball on towards Brandon Hanlan, who turns past Alim Ozturk and is pulled down to the ground by The Sunderland Defender and Referee Andy Woolmer awards Gillingham A Free Kick On The Halfway Line and Defender Alim Ozturk is also shown A Yellow Card.

And with that stoppage in play, Sunderland make there second substitution of the afternoon, Because Chris Maguire comes on to replace Conor McLaughlin as Sunderland throw on another forward to try and see if they can find an equaliser, and from the resulting free kick, Jack Tucker kicks the ball long down the left side of the pitch and Mikael Mandron wins the aerial challenge up against Jordan Willis, But Mikael Mandron can only header the ball out of play for A Sunderland Throw, And From The Resulting Throw On, Luke O’Nien throws the ball long down the line and Connor Ogilvie wins the initial aerial challenge and headers the ball out of play for another Sunderland Throw On as Gillingham look to run down the clock, and from the resulting throw on, Jordan Willis throws the ball square to Alim Ozturk, And Alim Ozturk takes a touch to control the ball before kicking the ball long down-field and Max Ehmer wins the aerial challenge and Grant Leadbitter is first to the loose ball and lays the ball off to George Dobson, who gets the ball under control before passing the ball down a right / central area of the pitch to Chris Maguire, And Chris Maguire losses possession of the ball to Tom O’Connor, But Luke O’Nien is on to the second ball out by the byline, And Luke O’Nien slips and is intercepted by Tom O’Connor who goes on a driving run forwards into Sunderland’s Half Of The Pitch, And Tom O’Connor passes the ball square to Mikael Mandron, And Mikael Mandron takes a touch to control the ball before passing the ball through to Mark Marshall who has got plenty of space to run into and Mark Marshall is now through on to Sunderland’s Goal, and Mark Marshall takes another touch to control the ball before firing his effort on goal well wide of Jon McLaughlin’s Far Left Post and Mark Marshall should have gone across the face of goal to the opposite corner, And 2-0 would have made the three points safe for The Gills.

And From The Resulting Goal-Kick, Jon McLaughlin kicks the ball long down-field and Connor Ogilvie wins the initial aerial challenge and Jordan Willis wins the second aerial challenge and Grant Leadbitter gets the ball under control and passes the ball forwards to Will Grigg, who tries to flick the ball through to Chris Maguire, But Max Ehmer is in the right place at the right time to make a very important block and kick the ball into Sunderland’s Half Of The Pitch, But Tom Flanagan manages to header the ball forwards to George Dobson, who flicks the ball on and Jack Tucker kicks the ball clear and away from danger and Alim Ozturk kicks the ball up into the air and   Luke O’Nien headers the ball down the line and Connor Ogilvie slices the ball up into the air and when the ball comes back down again, Will Grigg lays the ball off to Charlie Wyke, who passes the ball forwards to George Dobson, But Max Ehmer intercepts that pass and Charlie Wyke is on to the second ball, and Charlie Wyke lays the ball off to Chris Maguire, who manages to pick out Luke O’Nien with a pass down the right side of Gillingham’s Penalty Area, And Luke O’Nien tee’s himself up for a cross and Will Grigg’s Looping Header is comfortably saved by Jack Bonham.

And the final noteworthy moment of The Match See’s Laurens De Bock kick the ball long down-field and Will Grigg flicks the ball on and Max Ehmer allows the ball to run through to Jack Bonham, who only just about manages to gather the ball inside his penalty area with Charlie Wyke going all out to try and get on to the end of Will Grigg’s Flick On, And once Jack Bonham kicks the ball long down-field, Referee Andy Woolmer blows his whistle for full time, and that is a massive massive win for The Gills, And The Atmosphere Around Priestfield Stadium raised in volume for what was a magnificent performance, a magnificent result and plenty of effort and endeavour showed by Gillingham against a very good Sunderland Side, And that is now five home wins in a row, and five home clean sheets in a row for The Gills.

FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 1-0 SUNDERLAND

A Remarkable Win, A Sensational Win, An Incredible Atmosphere as Gillingham pick up three valuable points at Priestfield Stadium against A Sunderland Side that has got plenty of quality and ability, But that’s now twice that Gillingham have won 1-0 against Sunderland at Priestfield Stadium This Season, And before this season, Gillingham’s only win against Sunderland Was The win against Sunderland at Priestfield Stadium In The 1987 Playoffs - That Season Saw Promotion Playoffs Introduced for the first time as well - But if we’re to name one obvious negative, It has to be Mark Byrne being substituted because of injury, and we will not know the extent of that injury for the time being at least.

I made sure that I had everything on me before heading towards the exit, And I caught up with Lisa, Gary, and Mick, And that was a fantastic win for The Gills, The Atmosphere after Connor Ogilvie scored in-front of The Rainham End was out-standing and you have got to say on balance of play that Gillingham deserved the win and we deserved three points against Sunderland, And that win against Sunderland has moved Gillingham up to Fourteenth In The League One Table and Gillingham are ten points clear of The League One Relegation Zone, (Eleven points if you take goal difference into consideration) and while we shouldn’t be looking over our shoulder, It would be nice if Gillingham can go on a four or five match unbeaten run and we can start looking up the table rather then over our shoulder, I then said c ya to Lisa, Gary and Mick before catching up with Diane, Ann and Gary.

And the first thing that the four of us spoke about was Brandon Hanlan’s Goal and whether the ball had or hadn’t crossed the line, I was convinced that the ball had crossed the goal-line and I had celebrated Brandon Hanlan’s Goal as well, And Gary mentioned that the ball had in-fact crossed the goal-line and was clearly over the goal-line by a good yard or two, and had Gillingham not won against Sunderland, that decision not to give Brandon Hanlan the goal would be a continuous talking point, But if we’re going to talk about Brandon Hanlan’s Goal not being given, then we must also have to talk about Charlie Wyke’s Goal being disallowed for either a foul or offside, (With Sunderland Supporters letting off A Smoke Flare) I just assumed that Sunderland had scored and Mark Marshall lost possession of the ball prior to Sunderland scoring and Gillingham were pushing for a winning goal at this stage as well.

Gillingham have won five home matches in a row without conceding a goal, which truly is a remarkable record, Gary added that you had to go back to The Southern League Days where Gillingham won seven home matches in a row, and with home matches against MK Dons and Rochdale coming up, then Gillingham could match that seven home winless run going into 2020, And I have got to say that Gillingham fully deserved to win against Sunderland, and based on what we saw throughout the entire match, then we would have been disappointed to leave Priestfield Stadium with only a point, Gillingham deserved the win, and to score late on with a last gasp winner from Connor Ogilvie was a fantastic way to celebrate the win against Sunderland.

But while we are praising the performance, the win, the three points and the clean sheet, The Attendance was announced as 5,401, which was later corrected to over 6,000, And I have to say that Gillingham V Sunderland should be getting A 7,000+ Attendance at the very least, And the problem that will arise in The January Transfer Window will be supporters demanding that Gillingham spend money to strengthen the squad, But if the attendances are low for the home games against Sunderland, MK Dons, Rochdale and Portsmouth, then any spare money available will be used to make up for the short-fall in those attendances, Obviously, If Gillingham were to win against West Ham United and get drawn away against Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal, then that is a different debate entirely, But until then, I think any money available to strengthen the squad will be used on a few loan signings, I do think reinforcements are needed, But at the same-time, I don’t believe there is as much money available to use in The January Transfer Window compared to what other supporters believe we have available to spend - But that comes down to individual interpretation, and things can change between now and The January Transfer Window Opening as well.

Me and Gary also spoke about a funny moment in the first half where Barry Fuller clearly and obviously knocked the ball out of play for A Sunderland Throw On, Only For A Gillingham Throw On to be awarded instead, Jack Tucker is getting better and better and he is the latest young player that Gillingham need to tie down to a long term contract and the sooner that Jack Tucker can be tied down to a long term contract the better, Because it is vital for Jack Tucker’s Development that he is playing competitive first team football on a week in, week out basis, But Jack Tucker is only going to be learning from the likes of Max Ehmer and Barry Fuller by training alongside them on a daily basis.

Me, Diane and Ann said c ya to Gary before heading off, Diane added that she is not going to Fleetwood Town Next Saturday. While Ann mentioned that she was going to the game, by pointing out that I have got a very early start for the trip to Fleetwood Town, As for tickets for Gillingham V West Ham United, tickets should go on sale either on Monday Or Tuesday Morning, And I can see Gillingham V West Ham United being a sell out, Gillingham Supporters are looking forward to the match, While West Ham United Supporters do not have far to travel either.

Diane also asked me when is the weekend where Gillingham do not play, because that is the weekend where Gillingham were supposed to be playing against Bury at home, and I mentioned Saturday The 1st of February, And Diane will be looking to go to an event on that weekend, While I will probably look at A Local Non League Game to go to instead, and look to tick off a new stadium, Without traveling to far of course, I started to check Twitter and I Re-tweeted Tweets From Gillingham’s Official Twitter Account, Gills Debate and BBC Radio Kent as Steve Evans Post Match Comments started to appear on Social Media, And I re-tweeted Steve Evans Post Match Comments From Gillingham’s Official Twitter Account, and Steve Evans thought that Brandon Hanlan’s Header had clearly crossed the goal-line as well, Diane and Ann both thought that Gillingham had scored as well and there was some confusion as to why the goal was not given.

I Said C Ya To Diane and Ann before walking back to Gillingham Train Station, And I arrived with a few minutes to spare before The 18.09PM Train Arrived, and while I was waiting for the train, I uploaded the following status update on to Twitter,,,, FULL TIME: GILLINGHAM 1-0 SUNDERLAND Ogilvie's Late Winner seals three valuable points for The Gills in a match where Gillingham deserved the win, We were outstanding today, There was a heart in mouth moment where Sunderland opened the scoring only for there goal to be disallowed, But with Hanlan's goal being ruled out when highlights show the ball crossing the line, Both decisions not being given as goals balance each other out. Superb Win For The Gills, Five home wins and five clean sheets in a row, And Gills look very strong at Priestfield Stadium now - Balance each other out is probably not the best phrase, But both teams had scored with goals being ruled out would have been a more accurate response, But that really was a magnificent win for The Gills.

I also added the following,,,,, Hopefully, Mark Byrne's injury isn't a serious one, Because with Byrne, O'Keefe & Willock all unavailable, With those three midfielders all ruled out because of injuries, Gillingham are lacking options in midfield. And we have got a lot of games coming up over the next few weeks, I can see Gillingham looking to sign one or two midfielders In The January Transfer Window, especially if Olly Lee was to get recalled by Hearts, Because Olly Lee’s loan spell is up at the end of January.

I got on The 18.09PM Train and I phoned home to say that I was on the train, Mum wanted Fish-Cake and Chips and Dad was already cooking dinner for himself, I added that I would be back in Rainham in five minutes, And while I was waiting on the train, I Re-Tweeted a group of photo’s from Gillingham’s Official Twitter Account, While Folkestone Invicta had won 2-1 against Horsham FC, I also re-tweeted a few tweets with Louis, and The Gills Fan-Cast generally were very positive regarding Gillingham’s win against Sunderland, While D3D4 Added that while this was a great win for The Gills, Pressure is building on Manager Phil Parkinson, But even if Phil Parkinson is sacked, there are bigger problems at Sunderland Football Club - Problems that Sunderland Supporters will have more information about and I recommend that you look up The Roker Report for all things regarding Sunderland Football Club, Because they really do upload some fantastic content that is worth checking out.

I then got off the train at Rainham Train Station at 18.16PM, Before heading for the exit and going to the local Newsagents to buy two 500ML Bottle’s Of Coca Cola For £2.50, And after getting my change back from The Cashier, I then headed to George’s Plaice to buy One Small Portion Of Chips and One Fish-Cake, And One Small Portion Of Chips and One Double Cheese-Burger For £8, I spoke about the game to members of staff and how well Gillingham have played and how we deserved the win, and Connor Ogilvie scored very late on to secure all three points for The Gills.

After collecting My Order, I headed to where My Dad had parked In The Car Park, and as for other League One Results, Bristol Rovers won 4-2 against Southend United and Bristol Rovers were losing 2-0 as well, and Blackpool beat Fleetwood Town 3-1 in the local derby, Dad mentioned that Stewart had already got back from the game, Because Stewart put My Two Free Tickets Voucher to good use by going to Gillingham V Sunderland, I know Stewart has no interest in going to Gillingham V West Ham United, Because It Is A Sunday 18.16PM Kick Off Time, I think that kick off time could put a few people off, But I am sure that those who regularly go and watch Gillingham Play will be keen to go to Gillingham V West Ham United, I just need to sort out my tickets for that match.

But all in all, that was a fantastic win for The Gills, A 1-0 Win, A Clean Sheet, Three Points, Five Home Wins and Five Home Clean Sheets In A Row, And Connor Ogilvie’s Last Gasp Winner took the roof off Priestfield Stadium, Hopefully, Gillingham can build on this win against Sunderland by going unbeaten in our next two league games against Fleetwood Town and MK Dons, Both Matches are going to be difficult and Mark Byrne’s Injury is going to be a devastating blow as well, But I am hoping that Gillingham can build some momentum and pick up points against Fleetwood Town, MK Dons, Ipswich Town, Rochdale and Portsmouth before Gillingham take on West Ham United In The Third Round Of The FA Cup - COME ON THE GILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!