#sorry it’s just one of the funniest forms of irony

[heraldofcrow]

This is non-Soulsborne fandom related so don’t worry frens and colleagues, but one of the funniest things I have ever seen in fandom dramas is when a specific character is widely hated for being petulant or mean or whatever, and when the more neutral people who try to analyze or understand their motives speak out, they get expectedly attacked by the said haters of course…

But those haters sound and act exactly like the character they hate so much, especially when they start attacking the neutral analyzer bfhndj 💀💀💀

[hwrryscherry]

The one with the New Year’s Eve

characters: HARRYxMODEL Y/N

blurb: It’s Dec 31st, 2020 and this is the first time since they started dating that Harry and Model Y/n won’t be traveling for New Year’s Eve but an outing to the Rockfeller Center may be all they needed.

word count: 4.6K

author’s note: HI GUYS!!!! So first of all I wanna say MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone🥳🥳 I know I've been MIA BUT I had a major writer's block and it felt so bad and I couldn't finish this blurb even though I was trying so hard. Anyway, here it is and I hope you like it as much as I do. I also want to say that the reason why I closed my requests it's because we're starting a new year and I want to release all of my requests before receiving new ones. I'm excited for 2021 and I hope it brings all the peace that 2020 didn't. And I'm also very excited to see where 2021 will take Harry and Model Y/N's relationship🥰 Anyway, Happy New Year everyone, I'm so grateful for the support I've been receiving about my writing. I see all of you and I appreciate all of you. THANK YOU!!!♥️♥️♥️♥️

— Can I wear this? — You’d ask looking at Harry while holding one of his dress shirts that was light bluely, with some navy blue strands in it up in the air showing it to him. It's an old shirt, though. You remember buying it for Harry in your first year of dating and you also remember probably wearing it more than Harry himself.

   Harry was sitting by the couch on the living room of your NYC apartment. After spending such a magical time with your families in the French Alps, you both decided that spending christmas with your family was more of a priority than going on your annual new year's trip and that's the reason why you and Harry decided to come back to the USA and after being in LA for so long, New York just felt like the perfect choice. You like Los Angeles, but New York hit different. You loved everything about NY, and you loved the memories and story you created to yourself in NY and that's why you'd choose NY over LA without thinking twice.

   Anyway, Harry was in the couch using his personal phone what made you assume that he's probably talking to his mom or Gemma because it's already 2021 in London and Cheshire, and unlike him, you had already sent Gemma and Anne a text earlier today because they knew that you took hours to get ready even though you're not even preparing to be "glamurous".

   Harry had his pink velvet pants on and a white shirt over it, and only complementing with his vans. Not the old "white" one with the pink shoelaces that he wore everywhere, including in the Vogue cover. Tonight he was wearing the good traditional vans. That one, that is black and have the Vans icon in white. And you couldn't smell from the spot you were but you could assure yourself that he was smelling like heaven, as he always does with his perfect hair that has just been washed, his freshly shaved beard and his nails, that even though wasn't painted by a professional, you can be proud of your job and honestly, so could Harry, because he really loved that you did his nails for him and even matched with yours. Otherwise, you were using a black baggy jeans and a bra because as always, you were procrastinating for too much time and had to get ready when Harry was already ready. A typical night out for both of you.

   Harry lifted his head to analyze your figure in front of him and the cloth piece you had in your hands as he listened to your voice and question directed at him.

— Sure! — He answered your question getting his attention back to his phone right after speaking. You sighed and calmly walked towards the man on the couch and sit besides him what brought his attention to you. You rested your right hand upon his thigh and then rested your chin on his right shoulder and stared at the boys captivating green eyes.

— You're alright? — You asked with a low voice tone giving the boy a tender smile. Harry looked kinda sad, not sad, he seemed a bit down and whenever you noticed he looked like this you would usually get worried about him because you just care and love him so much that you never want to see him in anyway but happy.

— Yeah, I am! — Harry said, but it sounded more like a whisper or a murmur and you kept your gaze at him waiting for him to tell the truth and he sighed letting out a chuckle. Sometimes he'd just forget about how great you knew him. He'd look to his feet upon the grey carpet of your living room and then back at your face on his shoulder — Just feel bad, ye' know? If we were in other circumstances we'd be with our friends or family having the most fun in some place around the world — He'd tell you as he widens his eyes a little and you felt his muscles tense under your hands — It's not that I won't have fun just with you, love —  He'd now complement making you let out a small chuckle at his words because of course you understood exactly what he was saying even though you didn't say anything yet — It's just different, like, there won't be having any shows by the Times Square and all that stuff and I wanted it to be fun for you.

— So...you're worried about me not having fun tonight? — You'd ask him with an ironic tone and raised eyebrows lifting your chin from his shoulder and staring at his face. Your mocking expression and tone was based on the irony f the situation because earlier today you were talking to him about how most of the times that you were together you just felt like you could be stuck in a room with him forever and it would be the funniest thing you've ever done.

— Kinda! — He'd murmur deflecting his gaze from yours until he listened to you let out a giggle which made him look immediately at you as he tried to understand why you were laughing and if you were mocking at him for being that worried about something very silly.

— Harry...how could you even think that? I’ll always have fun with you! — You'd say lively with a smile on your lips and then take a deep breath while you finished forming the words you were about to say in your mind — It's been such a long and hard year and we had some amazing moments and some really bad moments but we're here. We're alive, we're healthy and most of all, we're here together and believe me, even if the world ends by the time that clock turns midnight, there's no other person I'd rather spend the end of the world with — You'd say making a little fun of the "end of the world" conspiracy that you've read previously on that same day and couldn't help giggling with Harry as you'd hear that same angelic sound coming from his mouth. You'd take your hand that was upon his thigh and grab his hand taking it to your lips giving a slight kiss to it feeling the cold metals of his rings against your cheeks and then you gave him a tender smile — Don't worry about it, it'll be great! It will be more than great, it'll be exquisite!

— Alright, alright! — Harry'd say with the cutest smile on his face. That type of smile that you could feel his happiness through it. Now he took your hand to his lips and gave a peck in it — You should finish getting ready though, weren't you the one that was dying for pizza and burgers? — Harry’d tell you mocking at the fact that you've been talking about wanting to eat pizza and burgers from NYC for the past three days in a row and how annoying you were being about it. And with his comment you'd fastly stand up with the shirt in your hands and look at him with a cheeky smile in your face.

— I'll go, I'm sorry for being the best girlfriend in the world and use my time to comfort you! — You'd say ironically as you walked back to the bedroom listening Harry's laugh and a "You're forgiven" being loudly said by your boyfriend.

— By the way, I don't think you should go out only with that shirt because it’s freezing outside! — Harry said on a loud tone from the living room and you'd look up to the big glass window in your bedroom and realizes that he was right. It was probably 32 °F outside and only this shirt wouldn't make you warm enough, so you'd walk to the closet placed in your bedroom and take a dark grey long sleeve blouse and dress up before complementing with Harry's dress shirt and taking out of the closet your brand new leather jacket that you gained from Gemma on christmas day, remembering how perfect it was becase Gemma knows you well enough to know that you'd love it when she bought it. And lastly, you put on shoes that looks more like boots. And finally, with your jacket and your bag in your hand you walked into the living room after turning off the bedroom light.

   You were completely ready when you'd step in the living room with your phone in your hand getting all the attention from Harry that immidietely stoped using his phone to admire you. One of the things that Harry most loved in you is that you don't need to put on the most glamurous outfit or makeup to look stunning and you knew that. You knew that you were beautiful in your own way and if you felt like glamming up, you'd be gorgeous and if you didn't feel like it, you'd still be gorgeous. Harry admired your tomboy styled outfit. He'd admire how your hair fell upon your face as you finished typing on your phone and how you'd use your hand to put a strand of hair behind your ear, giving to him the vision of your gold earrings that was also a previous birthday gift from him. He'd admire the fact that both of your nails were painted the same color because you only had one good nail polish to use so you'd go out matching nails color. He'd admire how the delicate golden rings on your fingers would sparkle because of the light in the room and he'd notice too how your face looked pretty with the small amount of makeup you had putten on your face for the night and he could only imagine how great you smelled now with the one perfume you use since the day he met you and he'd remember how much he loves that scent. He loved everything about you. He loved even the small things about you that stressed the shit out of him. He learned to love your annoying habits just as much as he loved the precious little things about you.

   Harry would stand up from the couch putting his phone on the inner pocket of his black coat as he walked towards your distracted self on the phone. You'd only notice him when he'd stop right beside you looking at your figure. You'd stop looking at the screen of your phone and lift your head up a bit to see the man's smiley face beside you. He was silent and it seemed awkward so you'd let out a chuckle and frown a little at him.

— What are you doing? — You'd ask him holding a mistrusting look on your face as you waited for him to pronouce anything as a response.

— I just think that you look really pretty and I love you! And your hair looks really pretty, though — Harry would say quietly with a tender smile on his face as he listened you murmur a "aw, thank you, love!" with the biggest smile on your lips. He knew how much you loved when he compliments your hair so he'd do it often just to make you smile this big. He'd use his hands to cup your face and lean in a little to give you a peck in the lips — Let's get going! Where do you want to go first?

— Honestly, I wish we went to The Greens at Pier 17 because it looked really cute this year in the pics I saw — You'd tell him as both of you walked towards the door and left the apartment walking to the elevator as you both put on your masks. Your apartment was situated in East Village so depending on the place you'd choose to go, it would take you a while to get there and that's the reason why neither of you had enough patience to drive in NYC, specially on a night like this one because the traffic in New York can be considerated out of this world.

— Isn't it open? — Harry would ask pressing the elevator button to take you to the lobby of the building and feel as the elevator started to go down with both of you in it.

— No, it was between 6 and 10pm, I guess! — You said pressing your back agaisnt the elevator wall as you felt it going down. It's crazy, but whenever you enter a elevator you think about what would happen if it starts collapsing, yes, it's weird — But all I want is to eat a pizza from East Village Pizza because I haven't eaten it in ages — You'd complement letting out a chuckle feeling the elevator stops at the lobby floor.

— Alright, we can go eat pizza and just hang out! Will you be meeting Bella? — Harry said as the elevator door opened giving both of you the iluminated vision of the streets lights coming through the big glasses in the front of the building. You and Harry walked past the porter and both of you smile at him and waved before leaving. You both are very familiar to Toby, the porter of your building and that's the reason why you'd wish him a Happy New Year before leaving, and you also have lived in this building in the past 5 years probably.

— No, she’ll spend it with her family. They’ll all spend it together because of the baby, I guess — You'd answer him feeling the freezing air run through the skin of your face at the moment you'd step in the street. You'd notice the wet floor underneath you because it rained the entire morning and the beginning of the afternoon, there was no resting sign of the snow that happened some days ago but you could definetly still notice the past rain, specially because of all the christmas lights that iluminated the streets now.

   You and Harry walked your way to the East Village Pizza because it was really close to your house which at this moment seems amazing but it's not. It takes you a lot of control to not dine their pizza everyday though. Pizza it's pizza, if you don't like pizza you can't even be consideraded a human being, just saying.

   You and Harry could notice the few people leaving their houses as you walked, and some of them were already by the streets though. The thing is that the big New Year's Eve attraction in New York is the Ball Drop in Times Square and this year is not allowed to have a crowd in there so the streets wasn't completely crowed and honestly that made you feel a little better. It's just that paranoic feeling that when you're around a lot of people you start thinking that one of them is infected, probably everyone during this pandemic had felt like this at some point.

By the moment you and Harry arrived at the pizzeria and ordered your slices of pizza Harry couldn't hold back his laughs at your liveliness that you also couldn't hold back for finally eating your pizza. The place wasn't as crowed as it used to be at this time of the night and that's why you and Harry could take a sit in one of their empty tables. You and him would talk about silly things. You both would talk about the ending of Gossip Girl that you had just watched this afternoon because it was shocking to both of you. You'd talk about the songs you just added at your playlist and you'd talk about what you wanted to do tomorrow on the first day of the year.

— I don't accept any other plan that you can make but if it's to stay cuddling in bed with me all day, love — Harry would say and you'd giggle at his words. He had a point though, because you couldn't imagine anything better to do tomorrow than stay cuddled up in bed under the heavy blankets with him all day long; maybe watching a movie or starting a new tv show together as you just finished gossip girl, you'd probably starts Bridgerton because you have already read the books and you loved it. And then take as many naps as you wanted. It sounded perfect and he knew you just couldn't resist to it.

   It didn't take too much for both of you to eat your pizza slices and as you ate it, Harry would take tons of photos from you all smiley eating your pizza while dancing to a random song that was playing in the background of the pizzeria. Harry loved to take random pics of you and he'd do it everytime he had a chance, which was quite often. But he did it because this way, whenever he was away and his heart ached missing you, he could go on his gallery and see all the random pics he has from you and in some way feel closer to his girl and god, so did you. Even though none of you shared the millions of photos you'd have of each other's in your phones, it felt so good to have them with you whenever you needed it to make your hearts warmer.

                                        ...

— Alright but, do you think that Brad and Angelina slept together before or after he and Jen "broke up"? — You'd randomly ask Harry as you both left the cab that was taking both of you to the Rockefeller Center because a walk from East Village to Rockefeller Center would be a hell of a walk. You both felt the christmas lights on your faces and your eyes were glowing because of them and you couldn't think of a prettier thing in this moment. It wasn't your plan to celebrate the New Year's Eve in New York and actually, the last time you've celebrated it in this city was about four years about before you even met Harry. And honestly, it just feel really cool to go ice skating in Rockfeller Center and then later go dinner somewhere and starts 2021 with a person that you really loved and appreciate on a city that you really loved, and maybe this wasn't what you planned but it was what you needed.

— They definetely were! — Harry said almost immidietely making you let out a loud laugh over his comment. You love when Harry gets into his gossiping mode, it's probably the best thing ever. He doesn't do it much when he's sober, but when he's drunk he'd just say everything you ask him and that's usually really funny, expect for sometimes when he'd tell things that are supposed to be a secret — Just look at their movie together. You could see the sexual tension and no one will convice me otherwise!

— I know but he had a sexual tension with all his co-stars! Don't you remember Legends of the fall? He had a sexual tension with his brother's fiancé that later marries his other brother — You'd argue back to him as making your point. You and Harry are definetely the "Netflix & Chill" type of couple, and as in quarantine you stayed home, you and Harry watched tons of movies on netflix and you'd always take your time to discuss them pretty often. Movies, music and books are the things that fullfill both of your souls the most and that's the reason why you'd often get caught up on discussing the things you've saw.

— It wasn't sexual tension, it was chemistry. It's different, love! — Harry'd argue back throwing his arm upon your shoulders as you both walked closer to the small line of people that were waiting to go ice skating. And you'd stop walking as realizing that you and him just arrived at the right spot and as you waited on the line of the ice skating, you had your back pressed on Harry's chest as he hugged you from behind to take the cold away as you talked. It was a nice time where you could just catch up about your thoughts while admiring the christmas lights and the people on the rink, and if you must confess, laugh a little about the people that couldn't ice skate. Harry told you about his plans to release the Treat People with Kindness music video tomorrow and talked about working with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and had to deal with your drama about not meeting her for what it seems like the millionth time, but you did make it pretty clear to him that you were so excited about the video because you haven't watched it yet because you wanted it to be a new year's surprise to you. You told him about how you missed walking the runaway and everything you want to do in 2021 in your professional career and also personal life, like the books and movies you wanted to read and watch and the places you wanted to visit.

   Anyway, it didn't take you long to get on the ice skating rink, and it also didn't take you more than two minutes to start regretting it. You were clearly not the best skater in the world. You weren't even 50% good; reasonable, would be the right term. And so, when you didn’t have the ability to move gracefully and lightly across the ice, and instead had to skate by holding on to the bars or Harry's arm and then after, having Harry insisting on trying to let you skate alone and then having you to crash into on the floor, Harry couldn't help but laugh. The boy laughed so hard, in a way where he couldn't even breathe properly from laughing so much, and you couldn't contain your own laughs either. Of course, Harry helped you up and then asked you a thousand times if you were okay and you hadn't been hurt, but the scene was just too fun at the moment not to laugh and you'd admit it.

   At around 11:20 pm, you both retired from the skating rink as your time was up and then, you walked away from the short line to the ice skating rink getting a little far away from the line. You used your right hand to move some strands of hair from your face as Harry carefully looked at you.

— You're sure you're alright? — Harry asked one last time making you glare at him with an annoyed look at your face becase he had already asked this about forty times now. He'd shrug his shoulders and put his hands inside the pockets of his black coat — Alright, you're fine.

— I am, love! — You said wrapping your arms around yourself while moving your head to look around you before getting your gaze to focus on Harry's face again — Should we go to a restaurant? Because it's almost midnight! — You asked Harry that looked the time as he took his phone off his pocket to see that the clock indicated the time to be 11:25 pm.

— Yeah let's go! And it's cold here! — He'd say wrapping his arm around your shoulders as you both started to walk again. The things is that near Rockefeller Center, there was plenty of cool and great restaurants that of course you had no idea if they were or not open but it didn't cost you to go check and that's why you'd walk around it to see — Oh, let's go to Bill's Bar and Burger. I want nachos and fries so bad — Harry would say as he stopped walking abruptly in front of the restaurant making you to gaze at the place and then at him.

— Oh my god, yes! — You'd nod at him as you both walked inside the place. You've been in it before and the menu was spectacular, the burgers were so amazing and the place was really cool, though. It had a dark wooden floor and tables and big glass windows that gave you the perfect vision from outside and at the moment you both entered the space you noticed that it wasn't extremely crowed but it had a few people. The televisions in the walls transmitted the Times Square New Year's Eve performances and you sat at the table in the corner of the wall with a padded accent.

You'd take a look at the menu and order. Harry'd order a alcoholic beverage, unlike you that'd go with a coke because if your boyfriend went wasted you needed to take him home and take a 6'0 foot taller man home after few drinks can be quite hard. You'd order fries and nachos for Harry because he just eats fish now and then orders a chicken burger for you and then some milkshakes because you were going to eat all that you wanted as it was the last day of the year.

While your orders were being prepared, you and Harry talked about the christmas trip with your families and how funny it was. You'd talk about how the hell could you both forget about the christmas presents and how thank god you could find good new presents in the last minute. Harry would probably tell you about a life story of his starting by "in my epoch" sounding like he was forty years older than you because he knows that this pissed you off. He's three years older. It's not like it's a lifetime. But you'd find fun on his stories, just like he does to yours because even though you're younger than him, you both came from different sides of the world. From completely different families and cultures and it's so cool to share your experiences with each other. With the time, you and Harry learned that everyone had something to add in your life. Something about art, or about bad feelings or good feelings. Something about love, about friendship and jobs and opportunities. You both would reflect about how you just find things and people in life that makes you whole. You grow older and start noticing what really matters. You and Harry always travel on New Year and this year you didn't and being there, on a bar in New York just with each other having the most fun as you shared your stories, made you realize that it's not about the trip or the journey. It's about the person you have on your side as you doing those things. It's about having someone that you love at your side to share the good and the bad and after a hard year, you're lucky for having each other and getting out of it stronger than ever.

When the countdown started, everyone in the bar starting to count as well. You used your phone to record both you and Harry as you both counted. The camera caught the big smile perfectly that you and Harry had on your faces, and it actually caught the cheese from the french fries that Harry was previously eating right in the corner of his mouth but we don't have to focus on this part just yet. When the clock turned midnight, the entire bar screamed happily and you and Harry turned to each other with the happiest smiles ever, hugging each other sharing the "Happy New Year" and then sharing your first kiss of 2021, just as you both did three years ago when the clock turned midnight entering 2018 and you both shared the first kiss of your life. You've been kissing since then.

[depressedacadamia]

Sore Loser

A/N: I rewrote this twice because I deleted half of it- totally no tears here! Comment your opinions and most importantly, enjoy! <3 from moi.

Word count: 1.3K

Summary: The ending to this one shot

Tagging: @showtunesandsolangelo​

Part II

Percy refused to talk to Annabeth the entire ride back to Camp. Most of his team was lighting up on the way back besides Percy and Will who were furious at Nico for overworking himself over a game. Percy would turn his head every time Annabeth spoke to him however when they got off the bus, he snatched her bag out of her hand and threw it over his shoulder. Annabeth tried to not laugh- sure, he wouldn't talk to her but he would still hold her bag for her. 

“Percy, bro cmon, it was a game.” Jason slapped him on the back.  

“That we got beat in!” 

“That was your fault,” Calypso laughed slightly as Leo wove his hand into hers. He had forgiven her for practically yeeting him across into a creek. She still felt quite guilty when she saw the bruise across his back but he had waved it off as if it were nothing. 

“I did warn you that we were going to win,” Annabeth repeated. “ C’mon Perce, it was just a game!”

“Hmph!” Percy shook his head away from Annabeth even though he was holding her hand and her stuff. It was by far one of the funniest things Annabeth had ever seen him do.He clearly did not see the irony. 

“Do you understand what you did? It was a game Nico, a game! Do you understand what those words mean?” Will answered his question before Nico could. “ It means you don’t overexert yourself and have fun. Have you ever heard of fun before!?” 

Nico was trying to keep a poker face and not laugh at Will. He watched as the blond teenager continued freaking out, throwing his hands about and lecturing him. Nico was sitting down on his bed in the infirmary, supporting his weight with both his arms. Yes, Nico injured himself so often that he had an actual bed assigned to him in the infirmary. 

“What are you smiling at!” Will turned on him. 

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“It was you and your little freak outs. Happy now?” Nico raised an eyebrow.

“Oh.” Will seemed significantly quiet as he attempted to fight the rising blush on his cheeks.

“Nerd.”

“Says you.” Will retorted as he sat next to Nico, shuffling so he could get comfortable. Nico shuffled a bit so he could lay his head on Will’s chest who in turn rested his chin on Nico’s head.. Will felt warm, safe and his heart had steady thumps- something that calmed Nico as his eyes closed and he gently drifted into a sleep. The last thing he felt was a soft kiss on his forehead. 

“Anyone seen Will and Nico?” Piper asked as she took a seat.

“Infirmary,” Reyna confirmed as she decided to take a seat by Frank and Hazel. Just as Annabeth was going to take a seat by Piper instead of Percy, she felt a hand grab her wrist. She let Percy drag her to his lap- he was still frowning. His eyes weren’t cloudy like they were when he was truly angry, instead they were his regular sea green hue. His hair was messy form the game and some of the ends had splashes of yellow paint dired to the ends. There were even some splodges on his face and bruises on his arms but despite all of that, Annabeth still thought he looked as handsome as ever. 

“So you’re still going to interact with me but you won’t talk to me?” 

“He’s stubborn,” Leo called out. 

“Grudges really aren’t your thing Percy, leave that to Nico,” Hazel admitted, her legs resting on Frank’s lap. 

“She exploited the trust we had so she could win,” Percy huffed out the few words. Piper literally cackled. Percy was probably the one of the best soldiers in battle but he really wasn’t very good at losing. 

“Percy,” she wheezed. “It was a game. You should have seen it coming.”

“Seaweed brain, I said I’m sorry but come on, you have to admit it was funny!” Annabeth pleaded. She watched as Percy struggled to keep his face under control. The corners of his lips twitched upwards and at the same time, the dimples on his cheeks appeared momentarily before disappearing. His eyebrows creased together in a dramatic fashion, clearly trying to prevent a smile from spreading across his face. 

“Percyyy please!”

“Percy, you realise no one is on your side right?” Reyna reminded. 

“I’m going to my cabin, in case you traitors wanted to continue anymore of your protesting,” Percu huffed as he got up and stormed away in a dramatic fashion. The rest of the group remained in their seats, trying to resist snorting. 

A knock resonated from the door. Percy was considering if he should answer or not. The chances it was a quest or someone in need of his help (he really was close to screaming fuck all the gods except Hestia) and the chance it was Annabeth were both a fair 50/50. The knocking was persistent and finally Percy sighed before getting up and in a violent manner, pulled open the door. 

To his surprise, Annabeth stood there with a plate of blue cookies (that looked like one or two had been burnt), blue nachos (with some famous 7 layer dip which Annabeth had to iris-call Sally to learn the recipe) and a bottle of blue soda which stood by her foot.

“Sorry?” Annabeth offered, her arms a bit full. Percy didn’t know how to react. On instinct, he helped Annabeth, taking the nachos out of her hands and propping the door to his cabin open so she could walk in. As Annabeth walked in, he stuck his head out the door, to make sure Chiron wasn’t watching. 

“So..” Annabeth trailed off, looking at her feet. 

Percy sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “So…”

“I made cookies,” she smiled weakly.

“I saw. How many did you burn?”

Annabeth gasped in mock offense. Her hand flew to mouth dramatically as she struggled to hide a giggle. 

“What! There was no way that Leo didn’t help you with those. He’s the only one who can actually make food here,” Percy laughed slightly. Annabeth, caught red handed, let out a nervous bubble of laughter as she sat herself on one of the chairs in Percy’s cabin. 

“So… have you forgiven me?” Annabeths eyes looked shiny and hopeful. 

Percy had forgotten that he had meant to be mad around Annabeth- when the girl you’re in love with walks into your cabin with blue food and cookie ingredients across her face, you kinda have to stop thinking grrrr. In Percy’s eyes Annabeth looked so adorable- she had flour on her face and hair, her clothes were clearly in a food dye accident and her hands were stained blue. 

“Maybe… I will have to give everything a thorough taste test to determine it though.”

“Oh of course, we can’t have anything not up to your standard,” Annabeth joined in on Percy’s mucking about. Percy took a bite out of the blue cookie that lay on top- expecting the worse however, he was pleasantly surprised when it tasted pretty good. 

“Wow, this is way better than I thought it would be.” The words flew out of Percy’s mouth before he could stop them.

“Glad to see you believe in my baking skills,” Annabeth drawled sarcastically but her lips were still smiling. Annabeth also took a cookie and was shocked at how good it tasted. 

“Wow, these are pretty good.”

“Well you see, I have this super competitive but awesome girlfriend who cannot cook or bake but she has really good battle strategies that seem to also work when coming to blackmailing her friends to make food.”

Percy wrapped his arm around Annabeth's waist, pressing a kiss to her forehead just as she gave him a playful punch, causing him to pout and rub his arm. They set out the food and argued about what movie to watch.

[thebirdandhersong]

Thoughts thoughts thoughts on The Winning of Lucinda... 

Lucinda is a very fairy tale name!! (The question is: can I ever read anything again without enthusiastically shouting Fairy tale! Fairy tale! in my head? Probably not.) (I did get a vicious stab of satisfaction from reading that one wikipedia article that confirmed my thoughts on The Sound of Music being vaguely fairy tale-like, though, and I’m still ruminating over THAT....)

L.M. Montgomery’s writing style is full of both happy contentment and brewing chaos. it’s like a picnic: full of lovely people (some of which are friends, some of which are strangers) and the occasional unintentionally hilarious conversation, but there are also people running everywhere, an abundance of food and relations, and some form of mischief or other is just sitting quietly in the corner and waiting for a careless person to put their foot through it... It’s nice and comfortable and warm, and makes you feel right at home. But it’s also full of friendly activity.

the way she puts things is SO funny. L.M. Montgomery is very funny, in her own gentle and whimsical way. Examples: Mrs. George addressing the dahlias ("Fifteen years!" murmured Mrs. George helplessly to the dahlias. "Engaged for fifteen years and never speaking to each other! Dear heart and soul, think of it! Oh, these Penhallows!"), “the younger fry foregathered and chatted and coquetted”, “I never saw such a splendid chin and dimple”, “Dear me! But WHY?” (a constant mood), “What Penhallow skeleton had she unwittingly jangled?”

I love how L.M. Montgomery makes it a point to write characters who still have that wonder and excitement of childhood!! I love that Lucinda is still full of girlishness because “good taste and a strong sense of humour preserved her”. 

Lucinda still wears Romney’s ring. Out in public. Oh my.

the fact that the family used to lay traps in order to trick her into speaking to Romney is very sweet and also SUCH a considerate yet interfering family thing to do.

NEW DRESS (Fairy tale! Fairy tale!)

I love how Ms Montgomery phrases certain things (“the mirror still dealt gently” with Lucinda!!!)

Romney comparing Lucinda’s eyes to blueberries is very Wodehousian except he was being serious and I’m not sure if this is sweet or the funniest thing I’ve read

ANNE?????? (I’m still surprised, sorry)

I love that when they run into each other she's fuming and also indignant because he's there, and he's surprised and also indignant because she's there

“He liked being the butt of an awkward situation as little as most men; and certainly to be obliged to walk home over moonlit fields at one o'clock in the morning with the woman he had loved and never spoken to for fifteen years was the irony of fate with a vengeance”...... nice

It's a matter of pride... only pride! Lucinda's not as worried about being alone with him (in fact she's relieved that she doesn't have to walk home alone) as much as she's worried about him thinking that she set this whole thing up. Which is very interesting.

I like that she feels safe with him, and that she knows him well enough to know right away that he won't leave her to walk home by herself!!

Romney opens the gate for her. Latches it behind her. Walks beside her. What a gentleman. The romance of all this is both spoiled and heightened because neither one of them is williing to take this nonsense in stride.

Both of them are such drama queens and I love them Very Much

Romney is Angry but he insists on taking care of her and I love him for it. 

It’s.... the funniest thing, too..... the fact that the world around them is described with such beautiful descriptions (even being compared to a fairyland)...... and Lucinda is being carried by her prince......... and here they both are, furious at each other, and Lucinda gets even more furious still because she can't tell him to stop without breaking this spell

"You IDIOT" being the first words Lucinda says to Romney after fifteen years is Peak Comedy

I love that L.M. Montgomery clearly tells us that they both have a good sense of humour (it's referenced twice in Lucinda's case, and Romney struggles to keep a "suspicious quiver of laughter out of his tone" after they fall into the stream)... they’re similar in a lot of ways! Both stubborn, both determined not to make the first move, both drama queens, but both in possession of a good sense of humour (and the same sense of humour, too)

Their conversation has a lot of Wentworth-Anne energy... there's a lot of stuff going on and a lot being communicated on surface level, but underneath it there's a sense of knowing the other person and telling them (whether consciously or unconsciously): I know you. I remember you. I still think of you.

Example: "Hurry, Lucinda," he entreated. "You will catch your death of cold." "I never take cold," answered Lucinda, with chattering teeth. "And it is my dress I am thinking of--was thinking of. You have more need to hurry. You are sopping wet yourself and you know you are subject to colds. There--come." (I LOVE this part because Romney is worried about Lucinda, Lucinda is worried about her dress (I love her), Lucinda is cross but also worried about Romney, Lucinda tells Romney that she knows he gets sick easily!!)

This passage!!! "I was left to walk home," said Lucinda coolly. "So Romney and I came across the fields. There was no bridge over the brook, and when he was carrying me over he slipped and we fell in. That is all. No, Cecilia, I never take cold, so don't worry. Yes, my dress is ruined, but that is of no consequence. No, thank you, Cecilia, I do not care for a hot drink. Romney, do go and take off those wet clothes of yours immediately. No, Cecilia, I will NOT take a hot footbath. I am going straight to bed. Good night."I love that she says “I was left to walk home”, I love that she states the course of events very matter-of-fctly (That Is All. No big deal), I love that Cecilia worries about her, I love that the dress is mentioned again, I love that Cecilia offers her a hot drink, I love how she tells Romney to go and take care of himself, I love that Cecilia suggests that she takes a hot footbath.

“"My dear Cecilia," said Mrs. Frederick, "we shall never know."They never did know” is a wonderful way to end the story :)

[pippytmi]

cuz im mean... obviously "person a and person b show up at a halloween party unintentionally dressed as each other’s character’s love interests"

Siobhan stood her up.

Kara knew it was coming—Siobhan hadn’t been too invested in Nia’s Halloween party to begin with, and with their breakup pretty fresh, Kara hadn’t had high hopes she would still attend.

But still. They’d planned matching costumes a month ago, and instead of being half of an iconic pair Kara is a lonely John Travolta in a leather jacket; she’s been sitting alone for the majority of the night, still nursing the soda Alex had brought her an hour ago.

“Kara!” Nia emerges from somewhere in the crowd, red-cheeked like she has been dancing. “There you are. Brainy’s been boring your date—I think you should intervene.”

“What?” Kara isn’t sure she heard that right. Does that mean that Siobhan showed?

“Come on,” Nia says, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the kitchen. “If we don’t stop him now he’ll put her to sleep.”

Kara obediently lets Nia drag her between the crowd; however, when they reach Brainy, Siobhan is nowhere to be found. Someone else is on the receiving end of Brainy’s conversation—someone who is dressed as Sandy from Grease.

“Nia,” Kara says, stopping her by gripping her elbow. “That’s not Siobhan.”

“Wait, Siobhan is your date tonight?” Nia says. “Then how come you and—” She pauses. “I don’t actually know who that is, but since you two wore a couples’ costume I assumed she was your new girlfriend.”

“Well, she’s not,” Kara says glumly. “I bet she has a date who showed.”

“Come on, Kara. You couldn’t have seriously wanted Siobhan to come,” Nia says. “She broke your heart!”

“She didn’t break my heart.”

Nia shakes her head in a way that says I don’t believe you but is too polite to say so out loud. “Let’s go save this poor girl anyway,” she decides. “Then we can talk about how deeply in denial you are.”

“I am not—”

“Brainy!” Nia shouts, still dragging Kara along by her wrist. “Do you want to dance?”

Brainy stops mid-animated gesture to eye them both. “Dance?” he echoes. “Here?”

“Yes. I’m going to show you how to dougie,” Nia declares.

“To what?” Brainy is taken by the hand before he can pose another question—he casts a helpless glance at Kara, but all she can do is shrug.

And, as distracted as Kara is watching them disappear into the packed crowd, she nearly jumps when a sudden voice to her right says, “Let me guess…Danny Zuko.”

Kara whirls around to find Brainy’s friend watching her. It takes a moment to place her, but then it clicks—Lena Luthor, one of Sam’s friends. “Yeah,” Kara says, sheepishly tugging on her collar. “And you’re…Sandy?”

“You’d think we’d planned it.” Lena leans off the counter, distractedly brushing at the blonde bangs on her forehead. Kara thinks it’s the funniest form of irony ever; Lena, a brunette, wearing a blonde wig while Kara—a blonde—wears a brunette one. “So…where’s your Sandy?”

“She didn’t show,” Kara says, shrugging.

Lena nods, bites her lip in an apologetic manner. “My Danny didn’t come either,” she says. “What a coincidence, huh?”

“Definitely,” Kara agrees, shifting against one of the stools in the kitchen to face Lena—she has no idea why she doesn’t excuse herself now, only knows she wants to stay. “How do you know Nia?”

“I don’t, actually. But my friend knows her. She just invited a few of us along,” Lena says.

“Right, you’re Sam’s friend,” Kara says. Then pauses. “That—that isn’t as stalker-y as it sounds. I know her and she’s…showed me pictures. Lena, right?”

“Yes,” says Lena, smiling in a way that’s hesitantly surprised. “Sorry, I don’t know your name.”

“Oh, duh,” Kara laughs. “I’m actually Sam’s lab partner. Kara.”

“You’re the infamous Kara Danvers?” Lena raises an eyebrow. “Sam swears you’re the clumsiest lab partner she’s ever had.”

Kara winces. “I am?”

“But she doesn’t mind,” Lena assures her. “She has a big crush on your sister.” Now it is her turn to pause. “If she asks, I never told you that.”

“No way. Alex likes Sam too!” Kara exclaims, and Lena’s smile morphs into a small, pleased quirk of lips.

“Now that is a coincidence if I’ve ever heard one,” Lena says. “Speaking of…not to sound rude, but—I could’ve sworn Sam told me you were a blonde.”

“In that case, I feel like I should let you know I’ve seen your picture—I know you’re not a blonde,” Kara counters, and that makes Lena smile a little wider.

“You got me,” she says. “My friend Jack insisted I wear a wig. He said it would be more authentic, but then he had the audacity to get sick and not show up tonight, so…”

“Well…” Kara trails off. “I’ll be your Danny Zuko tonight, if anyone asks.”

Lena meets her gaze head-on, peering up at Kara through mascara-heavy lashes. “I’d like that,” she says.

Kara tries hard to keep from outright beaming. “Really?”

“Of course. It’s certainly better than pretending my date is just getting drinks, and that he’ll be back any second,” Lena says. “That’s what I’ve been telling people all night.”

“So if I get you a drink,” Kara says, feeling bold for all of three seconds, “would that make me your date?”

Lena leans her cheek against her palm, considering. “Maybe,” she says. “Depends on how well you dance.”

“Not to brag, but I am a pro at the macarena,” Kara offers, and Lena laughs—genuinely laughs, the kind that makes her throw her head back a bit—before she holds out her hand.

“Then let’s dance,” Lena says. “And we’ll see about that drink.”

(This time Kara has no complaints about being dragged along for the ride.)

[mxliv-oftheendless]

Black Dahlia (Chapter 1)

-blows trumpet- Bum-ba-da-dum-bum-bum-BAH! Here it is, the main story of the Black Dahlia series! I am honestly so proud of myself, because I waited until I had it all written out before I posted it; it took me ALL DAMN SUMMER, but it’s finally done! I know it’s basically Scooby Doo and KISS: Rock N Roll Mystery with an added character, but I’ve taken the time to flesh out Black Dahlia’s character a bit. Hope you enjoy! 

She could hear the flowers as she filled up her watering can. They didn’t have a voice in the traditional sense, in that they formed words, but they had a voice of sorts, and that was what she heard.

“It’s all right,” she said aloud as she turned off the water. “I’m coming,”

She knew they couldn’t hear her. Once upon a time, they could… but not anymore. She couldn’t hear them as well, either. Once she could hear them as plainly as she heard everyone else. But as time passed, and as she aged, the voices faded, until they were only a faint whisper.

She went around her house, watering the various plants. Along the way she passed her radio, which had beside it a whole shelf lined with CDs. She paused at her shelf, smiling fondly at her music collection. Earth definitely had produced many amazing rock bands. They all reminded her of the music of home.

She was just finishing when the doorbell rang. She put down her watering can, went to the door, and opened it. Standing on her front porch were four young adults and a Great Dane. 

“Hey, Aunt Heather!” Fred greeted her. 

Heather McMann smiled. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite nephew!”

“I’m your only nephew,” Fred reminded her, still grinning. They did this exchange whenever they met.

“Exactly. C’mere, you!”

Heather hugged Fred tightly, then turned to the others. “Hey, kids. And hello, Scooby,”

“Hi, Miss McMann,” Velma said respectfully. “It’s great to see you,”

Heather shook her head as she ushered them inside. “Velma, what have I said about calling me ‘Miss McMann’?”

“Like, that it makes you feel old,” Shaggy piped up helpfully.

“Reah, rold,” Scooby agreed.

Heather pointed at them and nodded. “Exactly,”

“Well, you look great,” Daphne interjected. The redhead looked to be in an exceptionally good mood today.

Heather grinned and flicked a lock of her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Of course I do, honey,” 

Once the gang had settled down at her kitchen table with drinks, and Shaggy and Scooby had raided her fridge (she made a mental note to go grocery shopping soon), Heather popped open her can of Lacroix and asked, “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from my favorite nephew and his friends?”

“Well—” Fred began, but Daphne interrupted, so excited her words came out in a rush.

“WegotacallfromKISSWorldtocomesolveamysteryandwewantedtoknowifyou’dcomewithus!”

Heather paused and looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “… Run that by me again? And slower, please,”

Daphne took a sip of her drink to calm herself, then repeated what she said. “We got a call from KISS World to come solve a mystery, and we wanted to know if you would come with us,”

Heather tilted her head curiously. “KISS World?”

Velma shrugged. “Apparently, KISS has an entire theme park,”

“Oh, I know, Velma,” She had heard about it when it opened, but had never conjured up the guts to go. It was probably overpriced, anyway. “But I didn’t think there would be any problems at KISS World. Aren’t they having a Halloween concert there?”

She never dared venture out of her house on Halloween. Not when a certain being could show up…

Daphne nodded. “Yeah, they are. That’s why they called us. If we don’t solve the mystery, the concert could be canceled!”

Heather raised her eyebrows. “Now that is a catastrophe,” she agreed. She hated it as much as anyone when a rock concert had to be canceled. But she had the feeling Daphne was a bit more concerned about a KISS concert being canceled. “So you’re going, I’m guessing?”

Shaggy swallowed the bite of his snack and nodded. “Like, yeah, of course we are! It’s KISS, man! What more reason do ya need?”

Heather smiled and toasted him with her can. “Too true, my man. But why do you want me to come along with you?”

“Well, you do love KISS,” Velma reasoned. “A lot. Why do you love them so much, anyway?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? Heather glanced over at her CDs, most of which were indeed KISS albums. Her smile turned wistful for a moment. Then she shrugged. “I just do, Velma. But you still haven’t answered my question.”

“Well…” Fred said sheepishly. “… You’ve only left your house on Halloween once, and that was to take me trick-or-treating when I was ten. And we haven’t hung out in a while, plus you said a while ago it’s been ages since you’ve been to a rock concert. I just thought maybe, you could come with us, and after we solve the mystery, we could all go to the concert?”

Heather stared at him for a second. Then she smiled. Fred may have been a little odd with his obsession with traps and horrible acapella bands, but dang if he wasn’t the sweetest. He got it from his mother. “Aw, Freddy!” she cooed, reaching out to ruffle his hair. “That’s so sweet of you!”

“So you’ll go?” Shaggy asked eagerly.

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to go somewhere on Halloween, just once. Maybe it would turn out okay. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The gang cheered, and Heather laughed.

Maybe it would turn out okay…

-KISSTERIA-

And that was how Heather McMann found herself sitting with Shaggy and Scooby in the back of the Mystery Machine as it rolled down the highway, with a black box of green face paint and a brush in her hands.

“Okay, Scooby, you ready?”

Scooby nodded happily. “Ruh-huh!”

“Okay, hold still,”

Heather dipped her brush into the green paint and began to paint the area around Scooby’s eyes green. The whole gang, except for Fred, had decided to dress up as KISS; Daphne was Starchild, Shaggy was Demon, Velma was Spaceman, and Scooby, in the funniest twist of irony, was Catman. Fred flat-out refused to dress up, saying he didn’t want to look stupid. Heather had refused as well, and currently wore her very ordinary outfit of black Converse, white washed jeans, a plain red shirt and her favorite black leather jacket. As usual, her pendant shaped like a black dahlia flower hung around her neck.

“Daphne, sweetie, you sure you don’t want me to draw the star?” Heather called.

“No thanks, I’m good,” Daphne replied, and returned to sketching the outline of a star over her right eye.

“Like, I can’t believe we get to go to KISS World!” Shaggy exclaimed excitedly as Heather finished on Scooby’s face. He gave her a lick on the cheek in thanks.

“And solve a mystery,” Velma added. “That’s like killing two birds with one stone!”

Scooby popped up, eager to show off his finished makeup. “Reah! Or two birds rith one cat!”

Heather laughed as she moved up to sit with Velma in the backseat. “It’s awesome to see you guys so excited,”

“Like, you look excited, too, Heather,” Shaggy commented.

Heather kept smiling. If she were to be honest, she was excited. She hadn’t left her house on Halloween in years, and now here she was, going to see the boys in concert. Almost exactly like the good old days…

“Personally, I find their sideshow act a little juvenile,” Velma stated. “But my mother told me to take a more active role in my friends’ interests.” She shrugged sheepishly at Heather. “Sorry, Heather.”

Heather shook her head. “It’s fine, Velma. We’re all interested in different things.”

“Well, I’m pretty interested in Starchild,” Daphne piped up. Her star was almost completely colored in. “He’s so dreamy,” she sighed as she went back to painting.

Heather saw Fred’s head turn slightly to glance at her, then he jerked the steering wheel to the left. The van immediately swerved left, throwing them all to the side, and causing Daphne’s brush to jerk away, leaving a black streak across her face.

“Hey!” Daphne protested.

“Sorry, everyone,” Fred apologized, though he didn’t sound sincere.

Daphne pointed her finger accusingly at him. “You did that on purpose!”

Shaggy looked at her black streak and laughed. “Like now it looks like a shooting star. Make a wish, Scoob!”

“Uh, I wish I was eating a Scooby Snack!” Scooby said cheerfully.

“Good one, dude. Uh, I wish I could breathe fire like the Demon!” Shaggy stuck out his tongue and pretended to breathe fire.

Amused, Heather put a finger to her cheek and played along. “Hmm… I wish my bluebells would listen when I tell them to grow. They’ve been real stubborn lately.”

“I wish you’d all come to your senses,” Fred said to them. “You don’t see me acting ridiculous over my favorite group, the Ascot Five, do you?” He reached into the glove compartment and took out a CD, showing five men wearing white shirts and ascots smiling cheesy smiles.

Heather rolled her eyes at her nephew as he loaded the CD into the CD player. He was literally dressed the same way as the guy in the center.

“Oh noooooo, don’t tug my ascot. Don’t tug my ascot (it’s not a scarf, no baby). You can’t have my ascot ‘cause girl, it’s mine.”

Shaggy and Scooby stuck out their tongues in disgust, while Heather’s face scrunched up as she tried to hide her disgust.  How can my own nephew like such a lame band?

Luckily, Daphne ejected the disc. “Fred, please,”

“I’m just saying,” Fred insisted, “I think they’re twice the band KISS is!”

“Fred, they’re a lame do-wop band from the sixties,” Heather deadpanned.

“Yeah, and do the Ascot Five have an awesome amusement park?” Shaggy asked pointedly.

“Reah, rawesome amusement park!” Scooby agreed.

“Quit being so stupid, Fred,” Daphne said snappishly to him.

“I am not being stupid!”

“Yes, you are!”

Heather leaned over into the front seat. “Okay, okay, that’s enough. Daphne, Fred doesn’t like KISS, and that’s fine. And Fred, it’s fine that you like the Ascot Five, just don’t judge the rest of us for liking KISS. All right?”

There was a brief moment of silence, then Fred and Daphne nodded.

Heather nodded, smiling. “Good.” She turned to Daphne. “We can fix the star, I think. Or you could be the Bandit. Starchild went by the Bandit for a while.”

Daphne turned to her curiously. “I didn’t know that,”

“You really know a lot about KISS,” Velma remarked.

“Yeah,” Shaggy agreed. “Like, how do you know so much about KISS, Heather?”

Heather smiled mysteriously at them, though internally she was hit by an onslaught of nostalgia. “That’s my little secret,” 

[cherrymoonvol6]

some avengers endgame Thoughts cause i saw the movie yesterday and can't stop thinking about it

of course..... spoilers ahead

nebula and tony playing!!!! i just love how nebula's personality comes through without it being ooc

also... nebula carefully sitting tony up. she Cares so much :(

steve immediately going to tony :( like im a stucky kind of gal but holy shit i love them

which was completely erased in the next scene where tony drags steve up and down and after that passes out, which is a confrontation Mood

i wonder how they made tony look so skinny and sick. if it was cgi then i applaud them cause it looked so good

the way they killed thanos so fucking quickly here... i don't know how to feel lmao. like cutting the gauntlet arm and then slicing his neck... that's what we were all screaming at them during infinity war. it's good to see them learn from their mistakes, i guess ?

(can't remember the order in which things happen from now so forgive me if i make a mistake)

i told my sister "that's one of the russos!!!!!" so it took me ten seconds to realize that the russo was the gay character everyone was talking about (i thought it would be fury for no other reason than it being shocking and fury having very little to do with the plot, but)

and steve being supportive of that :( man out of time said gay rights!

carol's new hair!! holy shit!!!!!

rocket insinuating carol has been experimenting with more hairstyles... i would like to see it

don't think i missed that carol x rhodey nod. i support it.

don't wanna say it now... for now ill just state: i love what they're doing with natasha in the movie. she truly feels like a friend to steve. like that small gesture of her sliding the plate towards steve is just so domestic and beautiful! it really makes her feel so human and complex at the end. i was so worried about her being wasted but i loved her throughout the film

it was a fucking rat who got scott out. i have to laugh.

also is that the guy from that old "gayyyyy" meme????

cassie is all grown up!!!!!! i can't even imagine how hard it had been for her

also what happened to her mom? and the stepdad??? are they fine????? i hope so

i was hoping we would get more tony as a dad in this movie and it delivered!! tony is so fucking good with kids. the bond between him and morgan was so well portrayed

also the place they live in is so cozy and that's what he deserves

when steve stepped down the car in that black outfit with the leather jacket on i gasped... he's fucking gorgeous

i kept wanting him and tony to kiss lmao tf is wrong with me

OKAY my hawkeye rights. i missed him so much

the stylish subtitles on the middle of the screen felt like too much. this isn't a tumblr gifset honey, just write them down!

thinking about the whole clintasha conversation really foreshadows the whole thing. natasha cares so deeply about clint and really puts his needs before hers. it's so beautiful to see

honestly... my clintasha rights!

i think the hulk/bruce scene was kinda endearing but then the ant man banter dragged on for toooo long

the dab i YELLED. these poor kids have to stand this man on 2023 pulling out 2016 trends to appear Hip and Cool

fat thor...... i hate how it was handled. hate it so fucking much.

new asgard! that's so cute. i hope that's on norway

miek and korg are alive!!!!

the thought of thor insulting a possibly 14 year old on fortnight is too much for me. it sounds like bad fanon talk. i still laughed (bc noobmaster69??? that's fucking hilarious)

tonys reaction to i love you 3000 is so beautiful. like the way he looks taken aback and so happy. i love irondad

steve in a white shirt and jeans!!!! i gasped again. he's delivering, the fucking model

i know they were like, barely being decent to each other again, but i still wanted my stony hug:(

when they're discussing their infinity stones memories and natasha and tony are laying down together on a table???? adorable. amazing.

also why tf didn't nebula said the soul stone required a sacrifice??? i thought that's what she got from gamora dying in volmir

as soon as natasha and clint arrived to volmir i began chanting "nonononononononono"

fuckkdjdksndk fucking nebula. cue to more nononono chanting

rhodey knocking out quill with a single hit is the funniest scene in the movie

clintasha calling on bullshit on the sacrifice thing was also quite funny

the forehead touch :((( im so weak! so sad!

clintasha literally fighting each other to be each other's sacrifice!!!! kill me now!!!!

jeez now i can finally say it: scarjo shined so fucking much on this movie!!!! her delivery was amazing, i really felt a connection between her and the avengers, it really showed her growth during the five year time jump. she fucking killed it. she did her best and she's the best black widow we could've ever gotten.

clint mourning her :((((( probably the third time i cried during the movie

thor's panic attack being used for cheap laughs was the most uncomfortable moment for me... or any scene where people only saw thor as Fat and Lazy (basically, two thirds of the movie)

the freya + thor reunion was so sweet though!

okay. okay. hear me out. tony was on a very serious mission to regain an infinity stone. and the first thing he does is check out steve's ass. and aknowledge how glorious it is. i couldn't believe what i was watching!!!!!! like that actually fucking happened. consider me a fully formed stony bitch.

and scott joining in to say it was "america's ass" ???? poetic cinema

so it's canon that everyone checks out steve's ass and appreciates it as a national treasure. that's all i never thought id needed.

steve saying "hail hydra" i YELLED. it was a nice nod to the whole "cap is a nazi" mess

and steve fighting himself... hot

using his bucky trauma to shock himself is :/// but also :((((

i loved that for one moment i knew everyone on the theatre was staring at steve's ass

and steve being appreciative of his own butt!!!! ok that's all i have to say about steve's ass

i loved the reminder that thor was still kinda goofy back in avengers 1, for everyone who says taika completely changed his character. and the little tony + thor moment was adorable

"howard..... potts" i can understand tony being a mess but how did howard not suspect of anything??? elevator lady took one look of steve's face and all of her alarms started ringing

peggy carter... ive missed my wife so much

did peggy marry souza. i hope she did. steve tf are you doing staring at a married woman (jk)

clint kicking the stones away as soon as bruce is done with the snap is the biggest mood

also... the hell was scott looking at that made him think it had worked? just... more birds outside? i was really curious

the irony of the only avenger without superpowers being left with the stones

"i know you" *hands out stones* how can you not love clint, he's so pure

nebula killing his 2014 self is a power move. that would be me if i met my 2014 self

thor with a braided beard!!!!! beautiful

thanos is like, a real threat and i love that

okay. i kinda saw it coming. i saw thor leave mjolnir behind and i thought "oh????". and then the shock of thanos being able to wield stormbreaker. and then fucking mjolnir moving!!!!! i was the only person in the theatre who yelled

but seriously!!!! steve wielding AND fighting with mjolnir!!!!! couldn't stop thinking about it all day!!!!!!!!! STEVE IS WORTHY!!!!!!!

parallels to thor going for the chest. it never works babies!

and just.... this was steve's moment. steve i-can-do-this-all-day rogers really fighting with every ounce of his body and soul against the most powerful being on earth. justice for him getting knocked after touching thanos for one second in iw!

and steve getting up again! all dirty and wounded!! trembling with exhaustuation and resolution!!! with his broken shield on his arm!!!! just him facing the biggest army of the universe!!!!! so powerful

sorry to destroy this epic moment, but like, okay. people had been reintegrated to life like, twenty minutes before. and i understand that they were all confused and out of place. but sam really needed ALL that time to just... try to communicate with steve????? ok

the "avengers..." *brings mjolnir with one hand while bracing his shield with the other* "assemble" moment was... oh my God. chills all over my body.

that One Moment where steve has stormbreaker on his hand... so fucking hot

the tony and peter reunion holy shit. the hug was everything i needed! like please just hug tony stark for ages

and tony and pepper fighting together!!! that's a power couple right there

i felt it when quill looked at gamora and just... stopped. im so sad his moment was played for laughs when it was obviously such an important moment for his character

thanos was so fucking scared of wanda that he put his own troops at risk to stop her for a little while. strongest avenger right there!

and carol coming back!!!! i was like

i felt so relieved at that point. i was like "yeah thanos is fucking over what's next"

no need to talk about all the women coming together to defend peter :')

thanos getting the gauntlet again... the nonono chanting came back

fucking CAROL trying to stop him. looking at him with such a determined face, like "you can't stop me from stopping you". it was so powerful he had to snatch one stone to stop her

and strange giving him the one finger to tony.... i knew what was coming holy shit. i knew it. they knew it.

tony really proved himself there. it was his best scene on the entire mcu, don't argue with me!!!!!! the way he stood there and took all the power of the stones, unmasked, unaffected, powerful and almighty

"i am... iron man" cue to ugly sobbing

tony knew there was no other way. pepper did, too... she knew exactly what she had to tell him. she was right. tony spent all of these years moved by selfishness first, then fear, then guilt. an endless battle since thanos was on his head. but the war was over. what mattered was that he saved everyone, and he sacrificed himself for everyone. a complete 180° from last movie's ending.... wow

gotta said... peter there felt a little bit out of place for me. i think it would've been more powerful if he didn't say anything, though peter is a teenager, i can get it

his arc with steve felt unfinished, too. i would've liked to see steve's reaction as well, since tony had told him he wanted everyone back and also for his family so survive. but whatever

im not against tony killing thanos instead of gamora and nebula but i would've liked if we saw them react to his death, at least:/ like a little parallel between nebula's reaction at the beginning and the end of endgame

the One stucky interaction here was pulled from cap1 and iw. i feel betrayed

bucky Knew what steve was going to do. i wonder if steve told him before or bucky just sensed it

you can't convince me steve would go back and carelessly dance with peggy knowing his friend is being used like a weapon by hydra and bound to kill tonys parents. nah nah. it all felt wrong

my steggy rights!!!

love that the russos foreshadowed cap!bucky on tws just to give the shield to sam at the end

anyways what the fuck bucky was all steve had but he lived the happiest life without it and left him alone on the 21st century? okay fuck y'all

[blindbatalex]

25. i love snow days because it means that you trek across town to hang out with me and watch movies on the couch except this time you demand to know who i’m crushing on and i don’t know how to say you for Bergy/Marchy?

send me more winter prompts! 

&optional soundtrack

~*~

It isn’t that often that practice gets cancelled due to inclement weather but when it does Brad really doesn’t complain.

He and Bergy have a routine for those precious stolen off days - no matter how bad the storm, Bergy puts on his ski pants and scarf and treks the short distance between their apartments to spend the day with Brad. They work out together in Brad’s gym, Brad makes mac and cheese and they spend the rest of the day either binging on the latest TV show they are obsessed with or watching cheesy Christmas movies.

They have gone the second route this time. The blizzard is raging on outside, snowflakes caught in the wind patter against Brad’s ceiling to floor windows and the movie ends with the two protagonists - childhood friends driven apart by life - kissing under the mistletoe after rekindling their high school romance over Christmas.

Brad makes a soft noise at the back of his throat as the credits roll. He knows real life isn’t like the movies, people don’t just get happy endings like that, but with Bergy lounging on his couch in a soft grey hoodie, fingers wrapped around a near empty cup of hot cocoa it’s just-

Bergy turns to him in an instant. “Oh my God,” he says, “you have a crush and I don’t even know about it.”

How-

Brad opens his mouth to protest but Bergy carries on before he can.

“Not even a crush. You are head over heels in love with someone and I have no idea. Man.”

“Dude, you are jumping into conclusions faster than Sens are jumping into irrelevance,” Brad replies, when he finally finds his voice. It definitely comes off as too defensive.

How the fuck-

“No, I know that sound,” Bergy counters. He is fully facing Brad now, sitting sideways on the couch with one bare foot tucked under himself, and a spark in his eye he usually only gets right before he is about to make a fatal, gorgeous shot on the ice.

“That’s a sound of wistful dreamy longing. Last time you made it was on December 17, 2014, when you were head over heels in love with Parker, and the time before that was when you saw a life size cut out of Donatello and wanted to bring it home.”

Brad looks at his friend with his jaw hanging approximately at his chest.

“How the fuck-?”

“No, the question is who the fuck. Come on man, why wouldn’t you tell me, your best friend?”

Fuck. Brad knows Bergy and when Bergy gets like this he won’t let it go. How the fuck he remembers the things he does, Brad has no fucking clue.

So Brad goes for the next best thing, revels in the irony of saying what he says to Bergy’s face.

“Well, I didn’t tell you because it’s never going to go anywhere. He is- not interested. I will just have to get over it.”

He shrugs. He has no doubt that he will. This is not the first time Brad fell in love with Bergy, and the feelings subside usually when Bergy finds someone to date.

They never disappear though. There is always that lump sitting at the very back of his chest, made of longing and love and melancholy. It’s so easy to imagine a life for the two of them, with late rides back from road trips and quick breakfasts before practice and quiet days like this, when they can snuggle in each other’s arms as time slows down to a standstill and the outside world stops existing, however briefly.

“How do you even know that?”

Brad has to keep himself from smiling too bitterly.

“Does he- like spending time with you?” Bergy asks.

Brad nods. “Yeah, but as friends.”

And that’s the thing. Given who he is and given who Brad is, asking for more would be ungrateful. He knows that no matter how much his mind would love to run away with one impossible dream after the other.

“Does he laugh at your dumb jokes?”

“Listen, everyone laughs at my jokes. They are not dumb.”

“No, I mean the ones you make after three beers and when you are running on five hours of sleep, the really dumb ones?”

Those seem to be the jokes Bergy finds the funniest- that, and whenever Brad is high on painkillers. Brad will make as many stupid jokes as he can on those nights just to hear Bergy laugh.

“Well then,” Bergy concludes, “chances are this guy likes you. You will never know if you don’t ask.”

Brad’s heart breaks a little at that. Could it be-? But it’s of no matter. He shrugs.

“Even if he did,” he says, fighting against a knot forming at the back of his throat. “There is no point. So this guy right, I like him a lot and if we tried to date I know I would fuck it up and I’m not ready to lose him for good.”

He stands up to walk to the window, look outside at the whirlwind of white and the empty streets so he doesn’t have to look at Bergy.

It’s been two years since Parker so much as said hi to him and he would die before he let the same thing happen with Bergy.

When Bergy objects Brad reminds him of that first part and he seems to understand. He comes to stand beside Brad and puts a tentative arm around his shoulder.

“Oh Brad,” he says quietly, “I am so sorry you feel that way. Your crush would be lucky to have you and for what it’s worth you will always have me in your corner.”

Why are you doing this? Brad wants to ask. He wants to run. Why won’t you stop?

There is a seagull trying to fly in the middle of the blizzard. It’s white figure is almost invisible against the white backdrop. 

“Thanks man,” Brad says watching it, flap and flap its wings against the wind in vain, unable to move an inch forward, pinned to its spot.

“Let’s face it. There isn’t a single man on earth who wouldn’t be lucky to have me. I’m essentially a snack.”

[pitubea1910]

Grilled Sandwich

Pairing: Alec Lightwood x Reader

Featuring: Jace Wayland, Clary Fray, Izzy Lightwood

Words: 2003

Warnings: fluff

Tags: @stormblastfanfiction @raveenasblog

Request: requested by @raveenasblog :

“Can you do an Alec lightwood and reader where he is busy with fighting demons and is not able to spend time with her so the reader cooks food for him and the gang and spends some time with them at the institute. Just a fluff imagine..”

Notes: -

MASTERLIST

Sorry, babe, I can’t make it today.

It was the third day in a row Alec gave you that reply when you tried to have dinner or lunch with him. Lately he had been way too busy fighting demons around NYC and although you understood the situation, it was still quite frustrating for you and it made you feel lonely.

“I’m really sorry”, Alec said on the other side of the phone that night. “Everything is chaotic lately” he added with a sigh.

“It’s not your fault, don’t worry” you said with a small smile.

“Still” he sighed sitting on his bed. He had been dying to go and see you that day, but they had been alerted of some demons in Brooklyn and he just had to go.

He knew you understood his job perfectly, but it still worried him that someday you would get tired of waiting for him for so long. He always tried his best to make time for you but lately it had been a blur and a mess, making him feel awful every time you spoke on the phone.

“Alec, seriously” you repeated. “I understand, it’s okay” you added.

“I’ll try to take a day off alright?” He said. You had heard that so many times that it made you roll your eyes. He couldn’t take days off and you knew that.

“Alec, stop” you almost laughed. “It’s not the end of the world, it’s just a busy week” you reassured him.

Even though you kept on telling him it was okay, he just didn’t stop. You knew he felt bad for cancelling on your over and over again but you truly understood. But it looked like he didn’t believe it. When you hung up that night, your head was pounding slightly and you still had a lot to study. You sighed sitting on your chair and looked down at your notes. They made no sense at all. You were exhausted but you knew you had to pass this test so you went to make yourself a coffee and get ready to spend most of the night awake.

When Saturday came and your exam had been done, you still hadn’t seen Alec. You did talk on the phone every day but you were starting to miss him really badly and you remembered him saying he probably would be able to see that day. Biting your lip, you picked up your phone to check the messages but there was nothing from him so you called him but when he didn’t pick up you decided to call Jace.

“Hey (Y/N)!” He said on the other side of the line. “How are you?” He asked.

“Fine, thanks” you smiled and bite your lip. “Is Alec over there? He told me we could met up today but I haven’t heard from him”

“Oh I think he’s asleep” Jace replied. “We have spent most of the night out due to some demons messing up around Queens” he explained.

“Oh…” you mumbled sitting on your bed. That sounded like it was going to be another day without him.

“But hey! Why don’t you come over? We can spend the day here all together” Jace suggested.

“I thought mundanes weren’t allowed in the Institute” you laughed, but deep down you were excited.

“Yeah well, that’s the general rule but there are exception and I’m sure as hell you’re one of them” he replied, probably smiling. “C’mon, Alec has been dying to see you all week” he added.

“Really?” You asked with a huge smile.

“He’s been a pain in the ass” he admitted making you laugh. “So c’mon” he repeated.

“Okay” you nodded to yourself as you got up. “I’m going to get ready and tell you when I’m on my way” you stated.

“Good, see you later then” he said and hung up when you said your goodbyes.

Suddenly the thought of this Saturday was much brighter than before. With a huge smile you stepped into the shower with music playing out loud and started getting ready, exited to see Alec after a long week. Since you probably wouldn’t leave the Institute you decided to wear something simple: a pair of jeans, your white Adidas and a jumper. Then, you took your coat and bag and got out of your house, heading towards the underground while you texted Jace saying you were on your way.

Thirty minutes later you were standing in front of the ruins that actually were the Institute. A bit hesitating, you walked through the fences and soon you could see the huge place. You smiled as you saw Jace waiting for you at the door.

“It took you ages” he said after giving you a quick hug.

“Sorry I don’t have a portal at home” you said with irony as you two walked in.

When you looked around you smiled. The Institute was a place you loved, a place where you always felt safe no matter what. People used to be nice to you, despite you being a mundane. You had a found a family within those walls. As usual, you spot Alec looking at the screen, which made you smile. It didn’t matter that he had a day off, he was always ready for the fight. Meanwhile, Clary and Izzy was sitting on some stairs with a bag of chips. They were the first ones to see you.

“(Y/N)!” Izzy exclaimed getting up.

When Alec heard your name being called, he looked up confused and then looked at the door, a smiling immediately forming as he saw you hugging Clary. It had been a whole week since the last time he saw you, a long and rough week, but there you were. Alec looked at Jace, who winked at him and Alec laughed. He did was a really good friend.

Forgetting about the screens, he walked over you, not taking his eyes off you until you spotted him walking closer. The smile you had grew even bigger as you walked faster towards him. As soon as you were closed enough, he took you in his arms, kissing you like he had been waiting to do all week. You hugged him tight when you both pulled away and hid your face in his neck.

“I missed you” you whispered after he kissed your head.

“I missed you too” he replied looking down at you. “I’m really-“ he started apologising again but you stopped him.

“If you apologise again for being busy I swear I’ll shoot an arrow at you” you threatened him, making him laugh before hugging you again.

The day you spent there at the Institute was the funniest and more relaxed you had in a long time. You were so happy every time you were around them and you actually wished you could just live there. But, as a mundane, you knew it wasn’t possible for you. Nevertheless, you were happy with being able to come and go anytime you wanted.

“I’m hungry” Jace mumbled when you finished watching a training session between him and Alec.

Alec went immediately to your side and kissed you softly, making you smile and blush lightly. Izzy was a few feet away training with Clary and when they saw that the guys had stopped, they did the same and joined you.

“We should have dinner” Clary said taking a bottle of water that Jace offered her.

“I don’t feel like cooking” Izzy mumbled taking a seat next to Alec who nodded in agreement.

“Maybe we can go out and buy something?” Jace suggested but they all groaned, not feeling like going out.

“Maybe I can cook something for you” you shrugged with a smile. Your cooking skills weren’t that good but they were useful enough to serve some dinner for four friends and your boyfriend.

“You can cook?” Izzy asked surprised.

“Don’t be so shocked” you laughed leaning against Alec.

“She’s good actually” Alec informed while rubbing your arm up and down.

“I’m in” Clary shrugged. “What can you do?”

“I don’t know…burgers? Omelette? Grilled cheese sandwiches?” You said as you thought of the fastest things to do.

“I’m in for a grilled cheese sandwich to be honest” Jace nodded with a small smile.

Everyone seemed pleased with that option so with a shrug you got up and they guided you to the kitchen, where they showed you where everything was and immediately offered their help. Eventually, it was only Alec and you cooking. It was enough for you. While you made the sandwiches, he was in charge of making a salad, requested by his sister who had gone, like the others, to take a shower.

“You know you can go and take a shower as well right?”  You told Alec.

“I have time for that” he shrugged. “Now I want to be with you as much as I can” he added making you smile.

“You’ll have plenty of me” you said. “You’ll be sick of me in the end”

“That’s impossible” he smiled at you before moving closer. “You’re too good to get sick of you” he said before kissing your head.

“It’s the hunger talking” you teased him.

“Shut up” he laughed pushing you with his hip, making you laugh.

You spent the whole time cooking messing around. Sometimes he would through a piece of lettuce at you or you could through some cheese at him, until you both ended up in the middle of the kitchen, you against the table and Alec in front of you while kissing you.

“Over the food, really?” Jace said walking in. You pulled away laughing.

“Jealous” Alec said in your ear, making you laugh even more but you forced him to move away so you could finish the only sandwich left.

“Set up the table guys, this is almost done” you informed.

Immediately, they did as you were told and by the time the sandwiches were all done, the table was set. So you put the plates with the food in front of each one of the chairs, just when Izzy and Clary walked in the kitchen.

“Smells great” Clary said taking a seat. Izzy went to the fridge to grab something to drink before taking a seat as well.

“Thank you so much (Y/N)” Izzy thanked you with a smile.

“You can come and cook anytime you want” Jace winked, already taking his sandwich.

“Jerk” Alec laughed and looked at you. “You can come anytime you want” he shrugged.

“Thanks for inviting me” you shrugged with a big smile.

Dinner passed by full of laughter and jokes, most of them were just to tease you which ended in you saying how much you hated all of them. Alec changed your mind in no time, making everyone tease even more. When you finished, Izzy said she had some report to fill, Clary and Jace stayed cleaning up while you and Alec walked out of the kitchen hand in hand.

“I should get going” you sighed looking at him. It was getting late.

“I was thinking…” he bit his lip. “The subway will be closing soon…maybe you can stay over?” he proposed shyly.

“You…want me to stay?” You asked blushing.

“Of course” he shrugged. “I want to spend the night with you” he admitted pulling you closer to him. “I want to wake up next to you” he shrugged and moved his mouth towards your ear. “And I want to make you mine” he whispered, sending shivers down your back. You bit your lip and looked at him.

“I…” you laughed nervous all of sudden and decided not to talk, instead you stood on your toes and crashed your lips against his.

He chuckled against the kiss and pulled you closer, taking your action as a yes. He pulled away and looked down at you before taking your hand and taking you to his room where you would disappear for the rest of the night and a big part of the next day.

[some-flyleaves]

tonight on spontaneous media thoughts with a-flyleaf, some rambles on Paranoia Agent because yours truly just went and binged another old anime maybe two people and a paperclip have ever heard of!

so a few weeks ago I somehow got into the mini habit of watching videos on the side while drawing, splitting my desktop between art on one half and youtube on the other. somehow the videos of choice ended up being anime reviews, because I... I don’t know, really. :V I’ve watched like 5 anime now, this one included, and wasn’t particularly planning on adding any more to that little lineup. (keep meaning to check out cowboy beepboop but EH.) the lack of investment helps with the “wait did I just miss something” multitasking mood I guess...?

anyway it was a short-lived habit if only because I ran out of stuff that needed drawing aka Image Comic Process but I digress. Paranoia Agent first came to my attention indirectly through... something completely different! \o/

in entirely unrelated circumstances, stumbled upon this article a few days ago and the “realistic portrayal” example caught my attention. a brief comment dig later and the name was identified, and it... features a weird cartoon dog? the wikipedia premise intrigued me but it ended up on my hypothetical neverending list of stuff to check out.

I mention the review thing because, while procrastinating on everything earlier today, I found this video and it immediately caught my attention. and hey, looks like the whole dub is up on youtube, only 13 episodes so might as well!

...not that I’d. necessarily recommend the youtube dub upload. it lacks subtitles for the writing which is actually pretty damn essential.

go watch that review if you haven’t already, because it sums up the show better than I ever could and talks about what hooked me: a basis in psychology and experimental art.

AND NOW FOR MY ACTUAL THOUGHTS ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ (to be formatted in bullet points later probably, again tfw mobile) edit 11/21: done, plus some additional thoughts after reading a few reviews/analyses around the web

it practically starts with a bang via baseball bat, and imo the first four episodes are the strongest of the series. in addition to the clever toying with art style as the video describes, we’re introduced to an ensemble cast of not necessarily likable but no less complex characters, and I always appreciate it when media doesn’t seem to be hitting you over the head (harhar) with LIKE THIS PERSON DAMMIT.

while I don’t have dissociative identity disorder and thus can’t speak to accuracy in its portrayal or weirdness in the subplot’s resolution, episode four three* also had one of the first examples I’ve seen of a character with “multiple personalities” that didn’t lean on the tired but one of them... is a MURDERER schtick.

*I initially got the numbering messed up here; the episode with the character who has DID is third, not fourth.

the entire series explores the idea of fiction and reality - no, this is neither the time nor place for the Shipping Debacle(TM), moreso in how fiction is a form of escapism both destructive yet necessary in just about everyone’s lives. the experimental elements play with this well, forcing the viewer to think about why the art is changing the way it does.

until around the end of episode 4*, it’s relatively clear when we’re getting a glimpse into a character’s psyche vs seeing what’s actually going on. and then the next installment hits, and it honestly wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of people bail at this point. it’s not bad necessarily, but the line between fantasy and reality isn’t just blurred - save for a few quick cuts, said line is utterly trampled. symbolism runs rampant and it can be tricky to figure out exactly what’s Actually going on, if anything at all - more on this later.

*e: this time I actually do mean the fourth episode.

on the topic of symbolism, there’s definitely something symbolic going on with the crows/ravens (death?) and to some extent color (namely gold/yellow, green, and red) but I haven’t quite put my finger on it.

you know that thing the video says about Lil Slugger being a manifestation of mass hysteria and destructive escapism? (if you don’t, what are you waiting for >:V it’s about 10 minutes long if you skip the spoilery part.) turns out, he really truly is, and it’s not just metaphors.

spoilers ahead; I’d recommend going in blind but use your best judgment, I know I might not have been so intrigued if not for reading the entire wikipedia plot synopsis in advance. why do I keep getting into media by knowing the Big Reveals first.

on one hand, I really like Lil Slugger being both symbolic and a literal supernatural threat. what I’m much less sold on, however, is how the less explained aspects are incorporated, namely towards the end. (big spoiler warning again, last chance!)

so what exactly DID happen to Harumi with the weird clownish smile makeup? what’s all this prophetic babbling from an old dude who really likes chalk (and whose ramblings admittedly might’ve made more sense if I could actually read his stuff), and how does he know it? what’s the deal with the otaku dude and his magical talking figurines? who knows! who cares, I guess. it’s all in the name of thematic significance - or to put it ironically, ~it’s media~

I can respect that as an artistic direction but it can feel a bit stranger than necessary, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. so, what, suddenly chief’s 2d dream world is an actual real place he goes to? the “darkness closing in” is an actual black blob? holy shit, I really must emphasize the otaku dude’s weird voodoo sculptures and bascially everything else about him. th... the ex-“good cop” is now a wannabe superhero?? you do have to read between the lines to an extent to really Get the characters at times, which I actually like, but imo this was pushing it.

actually even before the climactic sequence I was... less than thrilled with the wife’s monologue. for the most part the show is good about not talking down to the viewer, obligatory exposition sprinkles aside, but just in case you weren’t sure what the themes were yet, here they are ft. odd visual echoing that doesn’t seem particularly relevant to the speaker’s state of mind!

there’s a bit more thematic narm towards the finale, especially from local sidekick-turned-video game hero, but at that point I was too busy wondering what the hell was going on to be too bothered.

e: several analyses and a rewatch later, the end of Harumi’s episode seems less nonsensical. it still doesn’t quite explain when she found the time to throw on all that makeup, but as with many other aspects of the series I was left baffled by at first (up to and including weird old math man), it makes much more sense thematically. Paranoia Agent is not a show meant to be taken at face value and trying to understand it all literally is an exercise in futility - not for everyone, but if you are willing to reconsider how you’re parsing it, it’s worthwhile. ...I’m still confused by otaku dude’s figurines, though >:V

/endspoilers (for now)

DESPITE the spoiler-loaded nitpicking above, overall I found it a solid watch - and the irony of bingeing it to procrastinate on school isn’t lost on me, especially after an all-too-relatable vignette featuring a student in the throes of quadratic equations.

while it definitely includes some darker themes, up to and including an episode about three internet friends meeting up to carry out a sort of suicide pact (which again probably would’ve been clearer if the version I watched had subtitles for text), the tone never feels particularly hopeless. it deals with the self-detrimental effects of overindulging in escapism, sure, but isn’t exactly MEDIA IS BAD TECHNOLOGY IS SCARY THE NEW GENERATION SUCKS. (one character has a similar attitude but it’s based more in nostalgia than hatred of the modern.)

reality sucks but you gotta face it and own up to your fuckups, pal, sorry! but rest and respite are important, too, lest you end up like the animation monkey whose very animation becomes rougher as the sleep deprivation really kicks in.

yes, monkey. not literally but definitely in design (no sameface \o/) and arguably behavior. there were a few comedic moments throughout the show, albeit often dark and/or satirically based so YMMV on how much they actually lighten the mood. for what it’s worth, the episode with the aforementioned suicide pact was probably the overall funniest.

overall I would recommend it as a good thought-provoking series, although if you’re having trouble at the fifth episode I won’t blame you for not sticking it to the end. personally, I kept watching because A) I wanted to see just how the murderous baseball kid mystery turned out & B) the art and symbolism shenanigans up to that point, definitely including the intro, had already given me a few Ideas(TM) and I wanted to see what else was in store. worth it? sure, but don’t expect too many explanations on the supernatural parts.

okay one more spoilery detour - and it’s a VERY BIG spoiler that I am actually going to encourage you not to read if you plan on watching. seriously. (e: format isn’t a mistake, I think it works better connected in paragraphs.)

sooo after skimming the plot synopsis and watching that entire review video, I already knew the thing about Maromi being based on a dead dog and Lil Slugger being the mystery assailant. what I did not expect was even that being a lie, in a way that I won’t specify because I’ve said too much already. and while I question the use of what I’m guessing was pms of all things, I actually really liked that twist.

HOWEVER. given that it all comes back to Tsukiko, she was fucking robbed in the character arc department. I get that she’s quiet and secretive so we don’t get any real details on her past until last second, which imo was a really forced reveal (seriously what is WITH those anime girls and their magic prophetic video game), and again I do like how she pretty much has a victim complex and that basically causes everything.

what I don’t like is that we needed cop superhero dude to lay it all out for her in terms of Big Realization Moments. everything only really gets “resolved” because she finally comes to terms with & takes responsibility for her mistake, but what leads her to this action? guys yell at her for fucking up and everyone gets consumed by inexplicable black ooze? EHHHHHHH I don’t buy it.

the chief’s mini-arc with his wife, which unfortunately was more told than shown (sensibly, so we could get Slugger’s reactions to the story, but it doesn’t mean I’m happy with it), was predictable but IMO believable. I definitely don’t think every story has to have clearly-defined protagonist/antagonist characters, especially with the “antagonist” here being a man vs society type of setup, but the end sequence seemed confused on who the real “hero” was supposed to be.

Ikari got the Big Moments of realizing he couldn’t live a lie forever, of smashing his dream world. Tsukiko... gets to go back in time and hug her dog, I guess? where was her moment, however subtle, of realizing she actually doesn’t NEED this little pink dog to save and protect her from reality. if that was supposed to be conveyed when her younger self started making stuff up it... lost me, unfortunately. as far as I registered it went straight for the dog and apology.

e: and you know, after all the aforementioned reading, I’m still inclined to agree with my initial thoughts - HOWEVER. this is a show that lives, breathes, thrives on thematic significance. character development and miniature arcs happen, absolutely, but they’re not the focal point. I can appreciate the ending’s direction much more if I kick conventional thoughts on character progression to the curb.

oh, and the intro? with everyone laughing with chaotic and/or destructive backgrounds while the random mysterious old people get a fancy restaurant and the goddamn moon? guessing the latter is because ~universal themes~ or something but the formal setting after a series of Heck is a moment of fridge logic - the woman’s homeless. she’s probably no stranger to more ravaged settings.

e: oh yeah, and something else I noticed about the intro - everyone is laughing, yes, but Tsukiko’s doesn’t seem... real. everyone else (minus Lil Slugger I guess but his eyes aren’t shown) has the characteristic squint of a genuine smile, but she’s wide-eyed as ever. maybe foreshadowing how she’s the one behind all this...? hrmm.

alrighty no more spoilers For Real This Time, just some miscellaneous notes that didn’t really fit elsewhere

one side character has the same voice as my favorite character from Urasawa’s Monster so that was neat. turns out detective #2 also shares actors with Monster’s protagonist, which took me longer to catch onto but was VERY amusing once noticed.

there’s no overt fanservice, minus like one or two questionable angles that aren’t even in the spotlight. a couple episodes have some Unfortunate Closeups but they’re entirely in service of the story; you’re definitely not supposed to be comfortable with it.

WHERE ARE THE OFF CROSSOVERS.

e: actually, for various spoilery reasons, I would not be the least bit surprised if this influenced OFF to some extent. but that’s another ramble for another time.

[theloniuswomb-blog]

So I binged watched the Netflix adaption of GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) over the past two days. If you're unfamiliar with GLOW, GLOW was an all women's wrestling show that began in the 80's. It was the first of it's kind with women in the wrestling world tending to be more of a side show rather than headline material. Being a big wrestling nerd I'd always been aware of GLOW but had never really watched it. I was more content with women's wrestling I saw today, and didn't feel the need to watch 80's wrestling that probably wouldn't be much different to the other standard wrestling of the time. I was very wrong. Alongside the new Netflix drama, Netflix also aired a short documentary about the original show. Again, being a wrestling nerd, I couldn't help but want to learn something about this era in wrestling history, so I went for it. I was very surprised with what I saw. They took the campiest bits of the 80's style of wrestling and amped it up by 10. I was very impressed and instantly knew that I'd be watching the original GLOW very soon in the near future. But before that, I'd be watching the Netflix adaption. Mainly because the first season was out, I was hungover and I couldn't be bothered to try and track down the original GLOW series on the internet. There were good and bad things about this series. Mainly good, in fact, I was pretty damned impressed by this Netflix adaption. Many Netflix Original series suffer from what I consider a pandering attitude to more progressive or SJW type values. Which are often good on paper, but I often feel stifle true creative outlet. Especially when they pride that over delivering good, solid content. There are exceptions, like F is for Family, or that they also import many other comedy series that may not be considered PC or SJW friendly onto the platform. Which I admire. Netflix know not to cater to just one audience. This Netflix Series was different. It toed a line between the two areas. In some ways it was very obviously trying to be PC, in others it was not. But we'll get into that as we go along. Before all that I want to comment on a few things briefly. I have to say, the acting in this series was pretty damned good. There were some awkward actors, but luckily they had bit parts that meant they weren't as integral to the story. Writing was pretty solid, and some actors even gave what I would consider stellar performances. Maybe not Oscar worthy, but bloody good for a show like this. I was honestly taken aback. I didn't know what to expect, but one thing I definitely did NOT expect was to like it as much as I did. Anyway, lets actually review this thing. The show centres around Ruth (Alsion Brie), the lead character who later becomes one of the chief villains of GLOW. She's a struggling actor who has a friend in a fairly successful soap actor named Debbie Eagan. Debbie despite being successful, had quit acting to pursue being a mother, so both women were technically out of work actors in the beginning. The series begins with Ruth looking for acting work and being offered an audition for porn. Ruth would not take the part. I found it ironic that almost a minuet later the actor who plays Ruth was in a sex scene in which her breasts were exposed, and essentially doing soft-core porn. I feel that this was intentional and I honestly liked that they kind of blurred the lines between the characters and reality. Now, this sex scene isn't just for tits and giggles. It's actually really important. As the man in question happens to be Debbies husband who she has just had a child with. I thought it was very risky to begin a series by making the main character extremely unlikeable. I honestly found myself hating her for the first few episodes. Which is hard to do because she's genuinely a very funny character as well. The reason I could hate her was because of Debbies performance. Her reaction and her acting were pretty powerful in my opinion. By the end of the first or second episode (sorry, they kind of blend into one for me) Debbie finds out about Ruth's transgression and confronts her in the newly founded GLOW training gym. I was feeling the heat man, Debbie got me going, Of course I knew it was acting, but it was very convincing, and it was only because of Debbie that I continued to watch the show. Oh and Sam (Marc Maron), the director of GLOW, who is also fantastic in this series. (To clarify, Ruth is also fantastic in terms of her acting and humour. She takes you on a journey, where in the end, you're not sure if you hate her any more. Again, I just found that a risky thing to do, and I give the series credit for taking that path). Now I wanna mention cameos. There are a couple of wrestling cameos I wanna pick out that happen through the series. The first being Johnny Mundo/Nitro or whatever he calls himself today. I got pretty excited. He was essentially to be playing Chavo Guerrero Sr 's part as the wrestling coach for GLOW.  And I thought that was a nice touch. However, Johnny's part was written out of the show. I have no idea why this was. But I boiled it down to two reasons. Either 1) Johnny had other commitments, or he was too expensive to keep for the show. Or 2) they wanted to keep it as All-Woman as possible. Now, I don't mind it being as all woman as possible, I mean, this is GLOW we're talking about. But it felt a little unfair to write such a pivotal person out of the whole thing. It'd be like doing an ABBA movie but cutting the blonde. Chavo trained these women and he's one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. I felt a little respect was being lost there. But it didn't phase me too much, the replacement Cherry, felt a little off, but I also conceded that it may have also been a move to keep her character relevant in the series somehow. Which I applaud because Sydelle Noel is a really good actor and I loved her banter with her husband Keith (Bashir Salahuddin).   Time progresses and we get to know some of the characters more. All of which have fairly distinct personalities and are written really well. As they begin training for GLOW they start picking wrestling personas. This is where the show loses any form of PC direction. They make a character called “The Welfare Queen”, “The Mad Bomber Beirut” (A terrorist), “The Old Biddies”, the list goes on. If you wanted to you could find something to be outraged by by any character. Be it their stereotype or sexualization. But I really liked this essence of realism. The girls took it on without too much complaint, understanding they needed to appeal to audiences with simple concepts and humour. Some of course questioned it, but eventually all of them fit into their personas easily. I have to say The Welfare Queen being one of the funniest things ever. She happily fucks the government, wears a Burgerking crown and throws food stamps around like she's making it rain. It was outrageous, I loved it and gave me some of my biggest laughs from the show. (The other irony of this character being that Tamme (Kia Stevens) was actually a very successful woman who has a child in stanford university). Ruth struggles to pick a persona, and as she struggles Debbie is enlisted by Sam to join the GLOW team as the star of the show “Liberty Bell”, an all American, wholesome apple pie eating country girl. It's disgusting and patriotic and I loved that too. Of course this creates friction for both Ruth and Debbie, as Debbie still hadn't forgiven Ruth for sleeping with her husband. And neither had I. To cut a long story short, the girls band together and eventually put on the first real GLOW show to some minor success. Ruth finally gets a persona, which is also successful (and hilarious), and we see the characters grow and progress. Along the way there are ups and downs, perhaps one of the worst being Ruth's abortion scene. And as a brooding man myself, that scene actually made me tear up a little. Now a lot of people will push this series as a feminist series. But I don't see it that way. Of course it stars a bunch of women doing what men would normally be doing. But that had already been done in the 80's with the original GLOW and so I don't feel that this series is all that special when considering that. Also, when I come into contact with shows that are more “feminist” in nature, they tend to err towards a slightly more idealistic, or Mary-Sue type characters that can do no wrong. Or are just never very introspective, or cast men in a kind of bad light. This is not the case here, many different types of women are portrayed here. Successful women, clueless girls, party girls, responsible girls, weirdo girls, nerdy girls, witty girls. Of course some characters are a combination of these things as well. There are also moments where there is clarity that men and women can't always do the exact same thing, and that respect goes both ways for different strengths. I liked this a lot as this side of life is not often portrayed in current media and is something that should be mentioned and celebrated more. I also feel that this series makes wrestling more appealing to women. And I'm all for that. Anything that gets more women into watching wrestling gets my stamp of approval erry damn day. Oh, the other cameos were Brodus Clay and Christopher Daniels. There were others, but I have no clue who those guys were. They probably worked for TNA, and TNA sucks ass these days, so I never watch it. So what's my totally bias and subjective star rating for this series? 4.2 out of 5. The acting was generally good, sometimes amazing. The humour was excellent, particularly picking up in the last few episodes. The plot never felt stale, each episode felt like it's own story but also added to a bigger story. Each character was fleshed out and felt relevant. The camera work was great. The music/score for the series left a little to be desired, with just flashes of music here and there, and sometimes I thought the choice of song was a little off. The 80's aesthetic was pretty on point. Honestly, I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of wrestling and comedy. This is good stuff and I await the second series with pleasure.

[scenarioslovers]

Friend request >> Jungkook, You (Part 2)

Warning: Too long 4k+ words, a lot of grammar errors and typos (It would be nice if you told me about the most frustrating mistake to change it. Thank you.) 

I hope you like it though ^_^ Thank you for loving the first part <3

Part 1

Lies and more lies.

You wondered how you were fooled by him. Just because you texted Jungkook, through the whole Christmas break, made you two close. How come you didn’t catch up with him plan sooner?

A popular boy and a girl who had always been bullied from his friends.

How irony this sounded.

With fire shooting out of your eyes and tears blurring your vision, you wanted to scream at him. Ask him if he had fun already. He didn’t even deserve any word from you. He wouldn’t understand any of what you were going to say. People like him enjoyed watching people like you in this state. Even though the look in his eyes said otherwise.    

Jungkook opened his mouth to talk, but before he could say anything, you shoved him away before running. You didn’t want to hear his voice. You didn’t want to see his face. He made you sick. Just the thought of him made you angry.

“Y/N!!” Your name being called didn’t stop you.

Watching you disappear in the hallway, Jungkook clenched his hands tightly beside him. He was standing frozen in his place, couldn’t believe that this just had happened to you. He never expected that something this cruel could happen to you. The look in your eyes, the tears, the hatred he could see from them, felt as if someone punched him in the stomach and the air left his lungs for good.

The look in your eyes. It was filled with hatred and anger towards him. His heart clenched at the thought of it.

He didn’t know how your conversation with him became public like this. He didn’t know how on earth his messages with you was printed and thrown everywhere for everyone to read. He didn’t thought that texting you, would hurt you this much. He didn’t mean all of this.

“I can’t believe how silly she is.” Jungkook looked beside him, to find the guy he called his friend saying with a cocky smile over his face. He put a hand over Jungkook’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “If you are playing with her, you should have made us join you man. She is the funniest kid in our class.”

“What?” Jungkook’s eyes widened.

“How could you have fun by yourself? I can’t believe she thought you had feelings for her.” He shook his head, still smiling like an idiot. The empty bottle in his hand stirred something inside of Jungkook. His blood started to boil and he could feel the heat raise inside of him.

Whatever happened next, went too fast that all the class was watching in fear. His friend yelp and grunted in surprise when suddenly, Jungkook grabbed him from his shirt and pressed him on the wall, in front of the whole class.

The class fell silence. They were clueless what was going on. Even Jungkook’s friend seemed surprised by his friend sudden action.

“It was you. What did you do?” Jungkook snapped, pressing his friend harder against the wall.

“What? You really have feelings for her? It doesn’t suit you man.”

Jungkook pressed harder and his friend grunted, gasping for air. His face reddened, his eyes widened in fear. The last time Jungkook used violence was two years ago. He knew how strong Jungkook was so he took his side to avoid situations like this.

But Jungkook decided not to use violence anymore and all the work was left to him.

“What did you do?” Jungkook repeated again, firmly this time.

“I didn’t know you were serious about her. I swear.” He said, his eyes looking at Jungkook, begging him to let go of him.  “If I knew this would never had happened.”

“Did you hack my account?”

The boy shook his head vigorously. “You left it open after you used my laptop, last time. I saw it and found it funny. Because Jungkook… This isn’t like you at all.”

So it was his fault because he was careless. Because he trusted people that couldn’t be trusted. Because his friend would reveal his conversation with a girl to the whole school just to have fun. Just to bully her. He felt sick of himself and of this person in front of him.

Letting go of him, Jungkook pinned him with his glare. “Make sure that our path doesn’t cross once again.” Before he could wait for the boy response, he ran out of the class to find you. It was all his fault.

He had knew it the first time he saw the paper everywhere like a restaurant advertisement. That moment he realized that it was his fault, but he didn’t knew how this happened.

Ashamed that something like this actually happened, it was too awkward to lock eyes with you. He just acted as if he didn’t see you even though he wanted so bad to talk to you. To ask you if you had good dreams and if you made lunch for him as he asked you.

He had always wanted to get closer to you, or even get the chance to have a conversation with you. But you were always alone and when he approached you, you wouldn’t even look up to check who it was. When he pressed the ‘Send friend request’, his heart was bounding in his chest, wondering if you would accept him.

Luckily you did. And he finally got his chance to approach you like he wanted. Never regretting it one bit. He came to wonder more and more about you. He couldn’t wait for the Christmas break to be over so he finally could talk to you face to face.

But he was too stupid. Too stupid to ignore you and act as if you weren’t there.

~~

Crying your heart out, you looked at yourself in the mirror. Your hair was wet, sticking on your face like a ghost and your eyes were red from crying. There was so many reason behind your tears. And the main reason was that you felt naïve and stupid. That was why you didn’t trust people.

Whenever you make a friendship with someone, that person would betray you and leave you alone broken. You recalled your first friend from elementary school and how she reveal all your secrets to the whole class and then everyone started to bully you.

You second friend from middle high school. You thought you finally could have a friend whom you can depend on, but she was worst. She just left you to stay with girls who were cooler and wore makeup to school. She told you that she couldn’t be your friend anymore and the reason she gave you was that you weren’t suitable to be her friend.

It made you so angry. So mad. You felt so betrayed. How could people forgot about everything just because they got tired of you? That why you isolated yourself, but that didn’t stop them from bullying you. Actually they found you an easy target because you were alone, there was no one to help you out.

Why did you think that Jungkook was different? They were all the same. Full with lies.

Coming out of the bathroom, you knew that you had already missed the first class so there was no use of going back to the classroom. You wanted to go home and stay there for a couple more days.

Walking in the hallway, you yelped when someone suddenly grabbed you by the wrist. You were dragged to the empty space under the stairs. Looking to see who that was, ready to snap at whoever could be, the words stuck in your throat. He put a finger on your lips as he looked up to check if there was anyone around.

“Who is there?” A teacher voice sounded, made you shiver in fear. It was the first time you skip a class, but still were inside the school building. Jungkook squeezed your shoulder, begging you with his eyes not to make a sound.

“What is it, sir?” Another teacher asked.

“I saw someone walking at the hallway.”

“Maybe they went to the bathroom.”

“They always use the bathroom as an excuse to skip classes.”

“Yeah, that could happen.” Their voices started to fade away as there steps sounded so far.

Jungkook sighed in relief, putting a hand on his chest. He looked at you, and something sparked in his eyes. But from the look on his face, you could tell that he had a lot of things to talk about.

He was about to talk but you beat him on, not giving him the chance. “Why? Do you want to humiliate me more? You aren’t satisfied yet. The whole school haven’t made fun of me yet? What do you want from me?”

He pressed his lips into a thin lines, before finding words that wouldn’t be lame excuse. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Y/N. But I want you to know that I never wished for this to happen.”

“More lies.” You said, tears forming again in your eyes. “I don’t want to talk to you again, Jungkook.”

You were about to leave, but Jungkook stopped you by grabbing your wrist. You pulled your arm right away, but gave him a chance to say whatever he wanted to say. “You have all the rights to hate me, not to talk to me again. But I want you to know that I’m so sorry, this will never happen again I promise. No one will touch you again, I won’t let anyone do that to you.”

You could have actually laughed at his words, but you preferred to walk away as if you heard nothing.  

~~

The next day, your mom refused to let you skip school, not buying any of the excuses you made. That’s how you ended up in school, with eyes on you again. But this time wasn’t because of what happened the other day, Jungkook was sitting in front of you, resting his chin on your desk, staring at you.

“Are you still mad? I apologized. Don’t be angry, huh? I’m sorry.” Jungkook said.

Because of the many eyes that were watching you, you felt your body temperature increase. What was Jungkook doing now? Why wouldn’t he leave you alone? You wondered if he still was planning to humiliate you and embarrass you in front of the class once you said that you forgave him. But you wouldn’t.

You were still angry and mad at him that he ignored you the other day. You were more angry and mad at yourself, for wanting to forgive him and believe him. What if he hurt you once again?

Ignoring him was the best choice.

“Y/N~” He sung a song as he reached out and tucked a hair strand. Your eyes shot towards him, glaring. But he grinned. A very beautiful smile. It was the first time to see him smile this close. A faint dimple appeared on his cheek and his eyes sparkled. He looked like a child when he smile like this.

You tried hard to smile at him, even though your lips curved upwards a little bit.

“Oh, oh.” Jungkook exclaimed, pointing at you. “You are smiling.”

Pressing your lips in a thin line, you glared at him again. “Leave me alone Jungkook.”

“I don’t want to.” Shrugging, he straightened up his back. You rolled your eyes, resisting the urge to slap your head on your desk. He was so frustrating.

Even after the teacher entered the class, Jungkook refused to move away and return to his desk. He didn’t give attention to the teacher at all, only looking at you.

“Please.” Cheeks turning red, you begged Jungkook to leave already. The teacher was glaring at you and you knew there was a punishment coming on later. You even skipped her class the other day.

“I’ll leave if you accept to eat lunch with me today.”

Your eyes widened in shook. “What?”

“This is class, not a matching office. Jungkook return to your place, right now.” The teacher snapped, but he didn’t even flinch. He looked at you with a smirk an eyebrow raised. He was challenging you. This would be over with a simple answer from you.

“Okay, fine.” You said, closing your eyes tightly.

A smile flashed on Jungkook’s lips, before he left the chair for its original owner, returning back to his chair. “Sorry”

~~

At the lunch break, Jungkook didn’t even give you the chance to collect your stuff, before dragging you with him to the cafeteria. You yelped at the sudden contact, he held your hand as he pulled you with him inside the cafeteria and waited in the queue.

Realizing that he was still holding your hands, you pulled your hand away from his, rubbing it in your shirt. You could feel the heat creeping to your cheeks. Jungkook just hold your hand. Trying to hide your blush, you glared at Jungkook.

“I won’t run away, you know.”

Noticing how you pulled your hand away from him, Jungkook suddenly couldn’t meet your eyes. He held his hands together, trying not to think about how soft, or how small your hand was.

“I just wanted to make sure you will be here.” He smiled as the queue moved on. Reaching your turn, Jungkook gave you a tray before reaching for his own. His eye brows raised as he said. “Plus, I regret missing your bento. Or you didn’t even prepare it for me.”

“I made one for you. I ate it.”

He chuckled. “You better make another one for me.”

You shrugged, rolling your eyes.  

After filling both trays, you followed Jungkook to an empty table. Kids around the room seemed to have a great interest in both of you as eyes never failed to look away from your table. It was so uncomfortable. You weren’t used of people staring at you while eating. But Jungkook didn’t seem to have a problem. He was eating as if he hadn’t eaten for days.

“Doesn’t it make you uncomfortable?” You started trying to eat bite by bite.

“What?”

You nodded in his direction behind him, before looking at the both sides of you. “People are watching us. I think I should eat alone.” Before you could stand up, Jungkook pulled you back to your seat.

“Don’t go anywhere.” He said firmly. His lips were pressed into a thin line as he took a deep breath. Slapping his hand on the table, surprising even you, he stood up and glared at those who were watching you. Before he could say anything, everyone looked away and started to eat their food, acting as if you weren’t there anymore.  

You looked at him with eyes wide and open mouth. “What was that?”

“I told you, I will protect you.” He said, but he wasn’t looking at you. For a second you thought he was blushing. But he started to eat his food again. “I really care about you and about how you feel. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Even me.”

Feeling your lips curving upward, you looked down trying to hide your pinkish cheeks. There were butterflies squirting in your stomach and your heart raced. You still had feelings for him after all of this. You still liked him the same and his smile drove you crazy. Why was he playing with your feelings like this? Did he really like you? Or was he just playing around?

You couldn’t understand him at all.

~~

Week had passed and Jungkook was still hovering around you. Always sticking to you during break time and between classes. You didn’t fail to notice the envious stares of the girls. And you couldn’t blame them. A girl who almost feared to look at anyone, now the popular boy of the school was around her almost every day. But you found it ridiculous. Because Jungkook was just messing around with you and you asked him many times to leave you, but he never listened. Making you think that he actually had feelings for you.  

One day as you arrived to school, you gasped in shock when you opened your locker. Crumbled papers started to fall down your locker. There were a lot of them inside of your locker, mixed with rotten fruits and trash.

Eyes widened and mouth dropped to the ground. You reached for a crumbled paper and stretched it open only to have your heart dropped to the ground.

Just die.

You opened another one after the other and also that one. You opened most of the paper. There were hateful and threatening words everywhere. Asking you to leave Jungkook alone. That you were witch. That you made them feel disgusted. They asked you to just die, better than living like this. Someone even asked if she was pregnant already or not.

Your body started to tremble as your breath hitched in you chest.  

It had all started again. They wouldn’t leave you alone. They would never do that. If they didn’t bully you and made you hate your life, they wouldn’t have lived till that day. They lived on your agony and your pain, they loved seeing you suffer that was why they always bullied you. At least that what you thought.

Beholding Jungkook walking at the end of the hallway, you hurried and collected the trash from your locker, hiding them before Jungkook could see them. It wasn’t his problem. It wasn’t.

They had always bullied me anyway. It has nothing to do with him.

“What are you doing?”

You slapped your locker shut and faked a smile. But your lips quivered and your body was trembling. “Nothing.”

It’s not his problem. It’s mine. You kept telling yourself over and over again.

Jungkook narrowed his eyes at you, not believing you. You could see it in his eyes that he knew something was wrong, but he didn’t push you for it. “Let’s go. You will be late for class.”

“I will follow shortly. You can go first.” With a wry smile, you gestured for him to leave.

Taking a deep breath, Jungkook shrugged before going to class first. But his expression wasn’t good. Once you made sure he was nowhere to be seen, you opened your locker and collected all the garbage and threw it in the trash, cleaning your locker completely. Even though it still had disgusting smell, it was better than before.

Entering the class, Jungkook wasn’t sitting on the desk in front of you like every day. This time he returned back to his seat. He didn’t even glance at you way when he heard the movement of your chair, which was so strange.

A few of girls started to giggle to themselves as they kept looking towards you. As if you wouldn’t know they were talking about you. You rolled your eyes and slapped your books on your desk frustrated.

You felt someone poking your shoulder from behind. Turning your head to the side, Jimin, the boy who was sitting behind you smiled. You tried to smile back, but actually your eyes fell on Jungkook who looked away when you met his eyes. What was that?

“Did you break up already?” Jimin asked.

“What? No. I mean…” Were you disappointed? There was some strange feeling inside of you. And you didn’t like it. It felt as if Jungkook was ignoring you. Did you do something wrong? “We aren’t dating, anyway.”

“Impossible. I thought you were crazily in love. That’s strange.”

“No…” You gave a small smile, shaking your head. “We’re not.”

“But he’s ignoring you, isn’t he?”

This time you nodded, even though you weren’t sure. He just talked to you a while ago. What happened exactly?

All this time, you didn’t like that Jungkook was messing around with you, because you never knew if he meant it or not. But you never thought it’d hurt like that when everything was over. As if someone threw you in hell and left you alone.

“Seems like that.”

“Good then. Now I have a chance.” Jimin grinned, you looked at him confused.

“What?”

“Well, you were my strongest rival. If it is you, I have no chance with him. But now that everything is over, I have a chance.”

You blinked many times, before smiling. You never expected it like this. Why did you think it would be you? Of course it was Jungkook. Jimin always watched him from afar. You noticed it many times. You thought that maybe Jimin didn’t like him or he had bad feelings for him. It was the other way around.

“Yeah, sure.” You said, finally. Still smiling from ear to ear, even though it made you nervous. For Jungkook to be taken.

“You don’t mind?”

“It’s his choice. Plus, he isn’t serious about me. It’s just a one sided love.” You pointed at yourself. “But thank you for thinking I’m your strongest rival.”

“Because you are the only Jungkook open to.”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “Impossible--”

“It’s true.” Jimin cut you suddenly, surprising you. “You are the only one who saw the real Jungkook. He really likes you.”

You couldn’t smile. You just looked away and started to think over and over again of what Jimin had said. Did Jungkook really like you? For real?

~~

At the lunch break, Jungkook didn’t wait for you like every day, which made you frown deeply. You even prepared a bento for him this time. Grabbing the bento, you ran after him, calling his name. But he never stopped. He kept walking as if he didn’t hear you.

“Yah, Jungkook. Stop.” You screamed, tears already soaking your eyes. People in the hallway stopped at how loud you were, looking at you as if you were crazy. Even Jungkook stopped and turned around slowly.

His eyes widened when he noticed the tears in your eyes. You rolled your eyes at his expression. He cared now.

“I was calling. Why didn’t you stop and look at me?” You snapped at him, decreasing the distance between the two of you. When he didn’t reply, you pushed the bento into his chest hard and glared at him as you met his eyes. “Ignore me as much as you want. I don’t know what is wrong with you today. Is your game now over? That’s good then. But don’t tell me to prepare a lunch for you and not eat it.”

You turned to leave with tears running down your cheeks, but Jungkook started to talk, stopping you. “I’m angry at you. Because you lied.”

You frowned as you spun to look at him. “Sorry?”

“If something like that happened again, you should tell me. It’s unacceptable.”

“And what will you do if I told you. Would it stop? It’s not even your problem.”

“It’s.” Jungkook snapped, glaring. Not at you, but at the girls in the hallway who were watching. They flinched when Jungkook started to direct his words at them. “If you bother her again, it will be your end. I promise you. Leave her alone, if you still care about your future.”

“Are you really serious about her, Jungkook? That’s impossible.” One girl said.

“It’s possible. What’s wrong with it? I love Y/N. If anyone have a problem with this, deal with me.” Your eyes widened as his sudden confession. It wasn’t just between you and him, but in front of the whole school. Heat reddened your cheeks and you felt like running away when Jungkook met your eyes. “And you. If anything like this happened again, you better tell me.”

You nodded and he smiled. You noticed how the girls growled in frustration as they walked away. There was no one in the hall except for you and him.

“Promise me.” Jungkook said, walking closer to you. “That you will not lie again and that you will tell me everything.”

“Are you really serious about me?”

“Of course you idiot.” He rolled his eyes. “I thought I made it clear already.”

“Since when?”

“Way before sending you a friend request. You don’t know how scared I was you. What if you didn’t accept it? I was really happy when you did.”

Your eyes widened in surprise. “You didn’t plan this to make fun of me.”

“Of course no. I already told you, it’s a misunderstanding. Will you believe me now?” He looked at you steadily.  His eyes kept you still in your place, but made your heart beaten faster with every breath you take.

Beholding Jimin walking at the end of the hallway, you smiled before meeting Jungkook’s eyes again. “Well, let me think about it.”

“What?”

Before Jungkook could say anything else, you walked to Jimin and linked his arm. Jungkook watched you with a frown as you disappeared with Jimin inside the cafeteria.

“What was that?” He smiled at himself as he looked at the bento. He couldn’t wait to open it and eat it all. Maybe he needed to work harder to gain your trust. He was ready for the challenge. He wasn’t going to give up on you.

 Bonus:

 “You made up already.” Jimin asked, watching your wide smile.

“He confessed.” You exclaimed, excited. “I can’t believe he actually loves me.”

“I told you, he does.” Jimin smiled as he looked at you. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Jimin.” You said, calming down. “And I’m sorry too. I stole him away.”

“Actually I’m fine with you. As long as it is you, I give up. I hoped for this happy ending.”

 The end

Please, tell me what you think. Thank you so much for liking part 1 and I hope this part wasn’t disappointing. <3 Thank you for reading ^^

[someonewhoisunlikelytowritethis]

(Homestuck) Dave Strider x Reader: Ruby Eyes

Dave Strider... That boy had to be the most mysterious, weird and cool person I have ever seen. Even though we have never talked, I can’t help but catch myself staring at him and blushing, did I mention he was H-O-T?

Everything about him spoke cute, bad-ass, mysterious and rad as fuck! If I had to choose to be locked in a room with anyone, I would choose him. Now you are probably thinking “Wow he is probably one of those popular jackasses...” but get this, he has never gone out with anyone and he respects girls more than any guy I know. Plus, he didn’t babble and act like a selfish asshole... Yes, he can be an insufferable prick sometimes but I am glad there is always a reason for it.

One thing I always wanted to know is what are behind those shades of his, why did he even where glasses? I hope no one made fun of his eyes... That would make me upset, people are kind of a prick to him... Now that I think about it, I almost never see anyone around him or speak to him. 

“(F/N) (L/N) and Dave Strider.”

I was snapped out of my trance by the sudden call of my name, the teacher was picking partners... Crap, I wasn’t listening-

Wait... I am partners with the Dave Strider?! This is not going to end any better than rosy cheeks and constant staring and stutters. I sighed and accepted my fate, hopefully, the blonde haired boy was paying attention. 

I grabbed my bag and moved towards him with hesitation, he was busy doodling and scribbling on the back of his notebook to realize I had sat next to him. I saw him glance to the side a little before glancing back, then he jerked a bit and looked at me again before sitting up.

“Uhh... When did you get there?”

He asks and sits back against the chair flipping his notebook over and putting the pencil he had down, oh no was he not listening?

“Just now, sorry if I got you by surprise...”

“Don’t worry ‘bout it, I am Dave... Who are you again?”

“(F/N), nice to meet you... Um, were you listening to what she was talking about?”

“Nope, I wasn’t listening to a single word. We will manage, though, with the little things she wrote on the board I think we can hold up til’ she explains things again.”

The way he said that made me giggle a little, he was so calm and straight forward when he talks... And when he spoke so bluntly it only made things funnier.

“O-Oh, alright... So... It’s a writing project?”

Oh gosh, he comes the stuttering next is the blushing and it all ends with embarrassment.

“Poem project to be exact, we have to write five things about our partner and form it into a poem... This is going to be some corny and sappy shit, I can already tell.”

I smile and laugh a little, caught off guard when the boy smirks and opens his notebook to a clean page.

“I guess you are right... I am kind of scared to see what some of the others will right... There is going to be at least one that is going to be inappropriate.”

“Exactly, those are the funniest... But at the same time, they make me cringe til’ it feels like my neck is going to break.”

I bust out laughing, understanding what he meant completely. The blonde chuckles and leans his head in his palm, his elbow against the desk.

“You’re cool... I am surprised...”

“Surprised?”

“Yeah, most of the girls I have ever made contact with right away just flirt and make fools of themselves... No dignity, we were born in the era of sluts and man-whores.”

I laugh again everything he said may be true but the way he says it is hilarious, just imagine a straight-faced boy with shades on speaking in the most monotone voice.

Throughout the whole class, as we wrote our “poems”, Dave would mutter the most hilarious things to me and make me laugh. 

“Did you just write something about my dick?”

He bluntly asks and points to my page, I blush and look up then back down.

“Where?!”

Dave makes a noise like “pfft” and rubs his eyes, making sure the glasses don’t fall off or reveal anything.

“You said ‘where’ as if you wrote something about my dick... Thirsty much?”

“Noooo, back off.”

“Nah, this is hilarious.”

I look down at my paper and sigh, just missing one more line but there was nothing else I could say. I wrote about how he looks, his personality, his sense of humor and even how he is irony thirsty... But I can’t think of anything else.

“Dave, I am stumped.”

He looks up from his paper and at me, I think?

“Hm?”

“I used up everything I know about you... I can’t think of anything else.”

“I am stumped, too... Both on my paper and ideas for yours.”

“Dave, why do you where those sunglasses all the time?”

He seems surprised by the sudden question but composes himself right away.

“They were a present and they make me feel more confident.”

“Would you ever... Consider taking them off?”

I ask curiously, he sighs and shrugs.

“I don’t know, maybe? Only to someone special, like I can trust them.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Well, yeah... You’re the only person who has ever really started a conversation with me and-”

“Then just show me your eyes... I am sure they are just as cool as you.”

“Is that what you think?”

“I know so.”

He sighs and looks around before moving closer, causing my cheeks to flush. He lifts his sunglasses only a bit to reveal the most beautiful ruby red eyes, my jaw drops and he quickly covers them.

“Why did you cover them? Those had to be the most beautiful and unique eyes I have ever seen... They were like rubies- That’s it, the last line of my paper!”

He smiles softly and looks down, writing one last line just as I did.

“Done.”

We said in unison, I sigh of relief right when the bell rings and we are dismissed. Dave and I grab our bags and belongings before handing our papers into the front desk and leaving.

“You have to be the coolest girl I’ve ever met, maybe even cooler than me.”

I blush and turn away, he chuckles.

“Your cheeks turned as red as my eyes.”

I only turn a brighter red and he smirks ruffling up my hair.

[thomaspredestined-blog]

Dirty Water (Typed Sermon).

Here’s the transcript from the sermon I gave on December 10th, 2017.

The audio version is here.

Mark 1:1-8

Good morning! Okay.  For those that weren’t here last week, I’m not Josh.  I have way less gray and my beard is imaginary.  By the way, after last week, I’ve come to the conclusion that he uses this mic because it makes him feel very much like a mid-2000’s Britney Spears, which is an amazing feeling.

I’m Ryan and, for those that were here last week, I decided to go against the shirt embargo and wear what I normally do.  It’s a HOLE-Y shirt, guys!  Get it?!  Holy?!  Bringin’ that Josh level humor.  I figured today is probably gonna get weird, so I might as well be comfortable.

Josh asked me to speak last week and this morning.  And just like last week, I want to let you know that the views and opinions expressed in the next half hour-ish, don’t directly reflect those of Josh and the leadership team here at the Bridge.  If I say something that offends you, sparks your interest, or if you have questions about anything that I say, by all means, come talk to me after the message.  

In the early days of the church, the teaching portion of their time was spent in discussion.  It was an open dialogue with people voicing differing opinions.  I love that idea.  We all have had different experiences that have formed different views.  We learn and grow from each other.  Keeping in the spirit of that, then, I would ask that, in the same way that I promise not to shut out what you have to say, please do not shut out what I say this morning.

It’s my plan to delivers today’s message in a few sections.  We will be talking about John the Baptist (Mark 1:1-8), but we’ll be getting there in a strange, convoluted way.  

First, I will tell you about me, give you some context as to who I am and why I’m here.  After that, we will go over the scripture together and hopefully, I’ll tell you some cool things about that.  And, once we’ve done those two things, if I’ve done this correctly, I’ll tie it all together for you.

For those of you keeping score at home or taking notes:

I’m gonna tell you about me. I’m gonna tell you about the reading for today. I’m gonna tie it all together.

Alright.  Me.  

The chubby, angry, tattooed fella.

I was raised in the Christian, fundamentalist faith.  I was saved and baptized by age 7.  I rededicated my life a couple of times at all the big youth rallies and conventions during junior high and high school.  I went to a Christian college, played drums in almost every church I’ve attended, led youth, and have even preached a few sermons before this.

All of that to say, for about the past decade, I’ve said that I was an atheist.  My mother and father are here.  This is the first time they’re hearing me say that.  I am forever sorry, guys.  

I genuinely thought that I didn’t believe in a god, much less the god of the bible, or the god of fundamentalism.  I didn’t understand him.  I didn’t understand the faith I was brought up in.  I saw the way the church, alleged stewards of God’s love, treated people.  I heard the things that were said about the gay community.  I saw the way communities of color were treated.  I couldn’t believe in a god that felt that way about his creation.  That would love some and not others.  That would care about pigmentation and preference above heart, action, love.

So, first mentally, then emotionally, and finally physically, I walked away.

With or without my faith, there have been four women in my life who have ultimately shaped me. There was my mother, Sherry (the crazy one from last week and the one who’s crying now), who taught me truth and strength.  My first dog, Emmylou (who was fat, sassy, and had the absolute worst gas in the world), who taught me compassion.  My wife, Steph (the absolute hottest, funniest, coolest woman who’s ever talked to me and who foolishly agreed to marry me), who has taught me how to be a man and how to submit my will and desire to another.  And Tisha.

Tisha…

Tisha was beyond description.  To call her a force of nature doesn’t describe the kinda whirlwind she was.  To try to sum up her strength, character, force of will, heart, beauty, laugh, sarcasm is a waste of time.  There are no words.  They simply do not exist.  

When I couldn’t afford to eat, she made me potato soup and yelled at me for not taking leftovers home.  

When I met a new girl, Tisha was the litmus test.  If who I was dating could stand up to Tisha, then that girl was worth dating.

And when I needed a reality check, an ego check, a throat punch, an album recommendation, or a hug, Tisha was always there.  Jammin’ Leonard Cohen and smiling behind a cigarette.

Then, she died.

I watched her husband cry over her in a box.  

I cried over her in that same box.  

When I kissed her forehead, it wasn’t her.  It was a hard, plastic thing.  That was not the woman who snuck out of the hospital to smoke with me.  That was not the woman who told me to marry my wife.  That was not the woman who challenged my lack of belief every time we spoke over coffee and dirty jokes.

But, she had died.

I started trying to reconcile what I’d been taught growing up with what I saw, with what I knew and had experienced.  I tried to make things line up.  She couldn’t just be gone.  

God does not need an angel more than I need her.  God certainly does not need her more than her 15-year-old daughter does.  More than her broken, hurting husband does.  God didn’t call her home.  Her husband and her daughter will always be her home.  Our friends are her home.  Christian platitudes and cliches about death weren’t the answer.  

Science taught me that matter reverts to energy and energy to matter.  And she was nothing but radiant energy.  Energy doesn’t just stop.  The bigness of her could not just stop.  She had to still be something.  She had to still be somewhere.  But, science said she became worm food and nutrient-rich soil.  So, science wasn’t the answer, either.

But she was dead and I could not accept that she was gone.

So, I started looking.  I started trying to find Tisha.

Who’s depressed now, eh?

We’re gonna put a pin in the sadness and come back to that, okay?  I can’t handle too much more of that or I might end up snot bubble crying in front of all of you and that will be an even less pleasant sight.  However, I promise we will come back to it, okay?

We go from my past to Christianity’s past, now.

It’s about 60 C.E.  A dude named John Mark is working with his friend, Peter, to write down a story about a man named Jesus who John Mark had never met. Peter, however, had been with Jesus and went about preaching to whoever would listen about what he’d learned at Jesus’ side.  John Mark, then, attempted to chronicle all of these teachings into a book.

Somewhere around 4-6 B.C.E., this man, this Jesus is born.  And one would think that if you’re writing the story of this man, you’d start at the beginning of that story.  The birth of this man.  That’s not where Mark starts his story, though.  Mark starts the story about 25 years after that, in the middle of a thing.  He starts Mark 1:1 with:

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…”

I love this for two reasons.  One, that’s not a sentence.  It’s not.  If you read through my notes, you’ll notice that I’m a rather big fan of writing in fragments.  And secondly, when Mark was writing this, he would have been in, or near, Rome.  This salutation was how people would ride through the streets to announce the coming of Caesar.  So, already, Mark is starting this off by announcing the kingship, the authority, the heavenly and divine mandate of Jesus with a sly, ironic, tongue-in-cheek smile.  Keep that in mind as we go on:

“…As it is written in Isaiah, the prophet: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way. A voice crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!…”

This, again, is Mark doing another clever thing.  He starts us in the middle of the story and immediately jumps to the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah.  Mark is utilizing these specific words because, according to oral tradition and rabbinic texts, Isaiah would have been one of the most popular Jewish texts at the time.  He’s showing us that something is happening by using two things, the proclamation of Caesar and Old Testament scriptures, that everyone in his day would have easily, quickly, readily understood.  He’s giving us a peek behind the divine curtain to show the Jewish community of his day that the old words, the old traditions, the words of Isaiah are still alive. Mark was also a huge fan of irony in his text.  He paints a very human picture of the divine Christ figure.  He lets the readers, you and I, in on the secrets of who this Jesus character is before everyone else is made aware of it in the story.  He downplays the power of Christ, Jesus’ claims of divinity, and even ends his story without the resurrection.  The ultimate in irony.  Throughout the entirety of his text, Mark never loses sight of the real lives of ordinary people.  He focuses primarily on the economic and social ramifications, the earthly over the divine, and the present over the future.  

Everyone still tracking with me?

“…John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins…”

Rome was in control of everything about Jewish life, including the Temple.  This is the great Temple.  Solomon’s temple.  Albeit, a rebuilt, expanded upon, destroyed and rebuilt multiple times over version of Solomon’s temple.  But, it’s that Temple that Rome controls.  And they control it to the point where wealthy families get into bidding wars with each other to pay Rome for their sons to be the high priest.  The one who enters the Holy of Holies, the one who speaks directly with God for the atonement of His people, all of Israel.  That position is up for sale at this time.

Alongside this, you have lenders, creditors, standing outside the temple offering lines of credit to the people who can’t afford a sacrifice.  Rome was taxing the citizens of Judea around 90%, so if you’re a poor farmer, you would take a line of credit to buy an animal that was raised specifically for sacrifice because that was what the law of Moses required.  And if you failed to repay this debt, or missed a payment, they didn’t repo the goat or the chicken, they took you and your family as slaves.  They took your land as their own.  

So, essentially, you have a small number of the Jewish aristocracy, that has sworn allegiance to Rome in exchange for power and wealth, preying on the rest of the Judean population.  The wealthy elite are holding everyone’s salvation and atonement hostage.

This was the world that John the Baptist was stepping out of the wilderness into.  And he was telling these people, this corrupt Jewish aristocracy and the poor Jewish community and the normal Israelites in between, that they needed to be baptized.  Aside from the priest taking ceremonial baths, baptism was a thing reserved for Gentiles at this time.  It was a rite of passage to be cleaned when converting to Judaism.  And here’s this dude, standing in the same river where people wash their clothes and their armpits and so on, telling the entire nation they need to come down there and be baptized.

It goes on:

“John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.  He was preaching: ‘Someone more powerful than I will come after me.  I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals.  I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”

At the same time, there were people roaming all over Judea, claiming to be the messiah, amassing followers, murdering Romans, and establishing credibility to be Israel’s savior, a physical king of a physical realm.

And juxtaposed with this, happening next to these faux-messiahs, you have John, a man born to descendants of Aaron, making John a descendant of Aaron.  A kohen, priest.  One of the potentially wealthy elite that could pledge his allegiance to Rome and live a life of luxury.  And he’s living in the wilderness and we meet him standing in a dirty river.  He is humbling himself in appearance, wearing the clothes of Elijah an old testament prophet (who was said to come again before the coming of the Messiah), well beneath what a man of his station should be wearing.  Essentially, John is super punk rock.  He’s living off honey and locusts, bugs and bug juice, when as a Kohen, he should be feasting on meat from the sacrificed animals and drinking the finest wine.  But, there, in the Jordan, he stands.  Proclaiming, unlike the other Jewish rebels with a following, he is not the messiah.  Proclaiming he’s not even worth to untie the messiah’s shoelaces.  Proclaiming what he’s doing is nothing compared to what the one who comes after him, the true messiah, will do.

Before we get too far into this and further unpack what’s happening here, I do want to point out something very important to me and near to my heart.  We grew out of Judaism.  Which means we absolutely, positively, 100% MUST give it the respect and honor it’s due.  We are a Judaic cult, a branch of the Jewish faith that went a little further in it’s belief system.  We can not gloss over the importance of Judaism to the current church or in the text.  We must respect it.  We must honor the Jewish nature of the Christ, the early mothers and fathers of the church, and the importance that Jewish customs, traditions, and oral histories played on the scriptures.

Right out of the gate, “fresh out the box,” as the kids would say (did I get that right, youngin’s?), you get this incredibly politically charged statement from Mark.  A statement that could certainly get you killed for making at that time. He immediately draws a parallel between the earthly power of Caesar and the heavenly power of the Christ. He’s letting the reader in on a powerful, ironic secret. He’s establishing this new thing, the gospel, good news, about the Messiah, with a capital M. The true messiah. He’s signaling the importance of what’s to come in the rest of the book, drawing the reader into this social, political, eternal drama that’s unfolding.

Mark then dives into the OT, something every Jewish person would have known. He tells them about a prophecy of Isaiah wherein John’s coming is foretold. The same prophecy that John’s father, Zekkariah, receives from Gabriel in other gospels.

(Also, once John the Baptist’s dad finds out he’s gonna have a son, he can’t speak. Literally. He goes the entirety of his wife’s pregnancy without speaking. When it comes time to decide on a name, he actually writes “His name will be John” on a tablet. I’m sure there’s more than one woman in here that would see a mute baby daddy as a blessing…)

It’s in this corrupt, combined church and state system that John comes up in. Where the rich, the elite, the fancy pants types push for more power and more wealth and more dominance over everyone else.  It wasn’t the whole of the Jewish community, but a small percentage that traded their own people for a little bit more money and power.  

Being a Kohen, descendant of Aaron, of priestly lineage, he would have been taught all of the things of his people, as well as the Romans. John would have been afforded the right to take his place in that group of social, political, and monetarily elite ruling class of Jews.  He would have known about the money changers, the creditors, the garish feasts and rights of the priests. He would have been an inside man. A made man. John could have sat in a tiki-themed temple, cracking wise with his knucklehead cronies, asking the tough questions like, “I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you?”

Some 2,000 years later, it’s this same system of greed and wealth and power and dominance and moral gluttony that we find ourselves in today. There are “prosperity” bibles out there and people telling you if you give them all of your money, God will bless you beyond your wildest dreams. We fight for political power, bending the teachings of Jesus to fit within our political definition of morality. “Well, the Bible says this but means that...” to justify marginalization and pushing people out the door. We temper love with dogma and faith with certainty. We favor being right over being humble.

We have used a corrupt religious system to influence our politics in an effort to gain power or dominance. John gave up every notion of power actually afforded to him by his birth to lead the people to Christ. He gave up the wealth and the social standing and clout he received just by who his great-great-great-grandpa was in an effort to be who God said he was, not what society said he was, not what the power structure said he was.

John the Baptist, and later Jesus, goes on to call the religious figures who wielded political power a “brood of vipers.” That’s not just a super gnarly band name, it was a major insult in those days. Snakes were associated with evil (you know, Garden of Eden, creation story, etc.) not with awesome album covers or dudes with bleach blonde mullets drinking Budweiser in American flag t-shirts. He called these priests, who used their religion to make political decisions that placed their boot squarely on the throats of others, children of evil. Yeah. That’s a thing. (If you’re not offended easily by strong language, ask me after the service what they were really being called.)

Is any of this ringing true for how the church operates today? Can you think of any more fitting a thing to say about the Westboro Hatemongers, TV evangelists spewing anti-gay rhetoric, God’s desire for you to be rich, or the importance of division among the church over political views?  

Peter Popoff, Jerry Falwell Jr., Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Beny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham.  They all preach monetary faith, they all preach wealth and power, they all preach political and social dominance.  They preach America and Empire in suits that cost more than some people’s yearly salaries, from the pulpit of million dollar stages, after being driven to their church in a six figure car.  Those ideas and ideals are antithetical to what Jesus, “the one who comes after,” actually spoke about.  

John wasn’t standing in a dirty river telling the elite to come to him, he was calling all to him. Stating that he was baptizing them in water, but the one who would come after would baptize them in the Holy Spirit. He didn’t say that the baptism would be reserved for those who voted down a party line.  He didn’t say that the baptism would only be for those who claimed a specific doctrinal belief or belonged to a specific church denomination. He didn’t say that the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be reserved for those that said “Merry Christmas.”

As a people belonging to this faith tradition, we absolutely must understand where we come from to understand where we’re going.  We came out of corruption.  We came out of religious power wielded by a moral majority of elitists who used that power to gain wealth and influence.  That tradition is what Christ stood up against, leading a very small percentage of the wealthy, elite, upper echelon Jewish leaders to work with Empire in the killing of the Christ.  We have our roots in that tradition, but John the Baptist and the Christ figure showed up and moved us away from earthly power and towards the river.  Our inheritance is standing in dirty water.  

As Americans, we were lucky enough to be born on the correct side of a man-made line on a map, at a specific time.  As Americans, we have been born into a culture of dominance.  As Americans, we have been born into a state-run temple, a theocratic system of government that we call democracy.  As Americans, we have been born into a system defined by power, wealth, works.  As Americans we have been born into a flag waving, gun toting, National Anthem singing, allegiance pledging, worshipping the golden calf of the stars and bars, love it or leave it, this-faith-and-these-colors-don’t-run church.

But, as believers, we are called to turn from those things that our country teaches us are important and turn to the one who truly is important.  This is the repentance that John spoke of.  Turning away from our own self, our own desires for advancement, and to turn towards a desire to advance all who are willing to step foot into that dirty river.

The Jordan River, the dirty water in the desert, with a madman shouting from it, is the great equalizer.  It is here that we are called to turn away from corruption, power, greed, and towards equality, grace, humility.  It is here that we are asked to show our unity with all who would step into the water.  It is here that we are given the chance to meet the one who comes after.

I know that this feels like an incredibly political message, but I promise you that I don’t care what your politics are. I don’t. I care about you standing in that dirty water, humbling yourself when telling all to come, repent, and be baptized. To prepare themselves for who’s to come. Because the humbling and inclusion that happens, the renouncing of systems and power, that’s where you’ll find the one who comes after. Turning away from the structures we’ve built to separate, demean, demoralize, institutionalize, and weaponize; that’s where you find the second baptism; the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist calls us to humble ourselves.  To repent.  To make ourselves like those we try to fit into our molds.  Those we try to clean up, pretty up, church up.  John tells us to make ourselves their equal and stand in the dirty water.  

Tisha lived her life in the dirty water and because of that, I found the one who came after her.  I found him in a more profound way than I could have at seven.  Or 13.  Or 15.  Or 17.  

176 days after Tisha left this world, her husband married my wife and I.  He was stoned and in pain and broken.  He spoke softly, the exact opposite of how she would have been, and kept the service weird and short, exactly like she was.  He spoke to the importance of love in life and in death.  

373 days after she died, I found myself on my knees thanking the God that I swore did not exist.  Thanking him for the beautiful, mystical wife he’d blessed me with.  The painfully smart, hilarious, and earnest friends he blessed me with.  And amazing, understanding, comforting, loving, and currently crying parents and family.  

When I went looking for Tisha, I found humility and love and grace.  I found pieces of her in every single person I’ve encountered over the last year.  

I found the love she showed in her husband as he and I have journeyed through hell, relationships, faith, and whiskey this past year.

I found the hugs, crass humor, and desire to feed people she showed in a couple of vegan bakers that are trying to build community using baked treats and chili.

I found her deep-rooted, inclusive faith in a bar while having a beer with a pastor, and telling him that I believe in a resurrected Christ and an eternal God.  I found her in the realization that this is the calling on my life, to teach.  I found her in coming to terms with the last 10 years of my life being an inevitable journey through the wilderness, just so I could stand in the dirty water and say, “The one who comes after me…”

In the immortal words of Jack Black in this century’s Citizen Kane, School of Rock, you’re not hardcore unless you live hardcore.  John the Baptist was hardcore because he lived it.  Tisha was hardcore because she lived it.  We are all called to be hardcore.  We are called to be the voice in the wilderness.  We are called to be the ones declaring the one who comes after us.  We are called to stand in the dirty water and invite ALL to join us.

A close friend came out to last week’s sermon and told me that I didn’t offer up too much hope in my message.  For those that felt the same, I do want to apologize.  I’m the hope, guys.  I was born in a double-wide and my dad still rocks a mullet.  My wife and I live paycheck to paycheck.  My friends and I have family style dinner at someone’s house once a week to save money on groceries.  I have tattoos, I have blasphemed against God, I have sinned and I have failed my wife, my family, my friends, and my God more times than I have succeeded.  But, despite all of that, the stack of items in the con-column versus the “He made us laugh” item in the pro-column, I am here.  I was invited to stand in the dirty water and asked to proclaim the one who comes after me.  Whether you were born the elite, or you borrowed gas money to get here, it doesn’t matter.  We have all been invited into the water just the same.  I challenge you to go out, into your lives and into your week, secure in the knowledge that you are good enough to step into the water exactly where you’re at.  You don’t have to say the right words or know the right things. If a Pearl Jam fan is worthy to stand in that dirty water and make that proclamation, you are, too.

[saintsnsinnersbdb]

Beginning of Lhe and Pru

Lhethal [Twas too darned cold at this time of year. Snow could go shove it's foot up its arse and take the black ice with it. I needed sex. I needed blood. I didna’ care in what order they came as long as I had both. Walking along Caldwell’s streets were a pain, mostly because I drew attention. Perchance it was my size… My face… My hair… Didna’ matter. Mundanes were always trying t’ get into m’ leathers. While I wasnae against a good tryst, I was a far cry from gentlemanly when it came t’ that. Tonight wasna a time t’ be picking a female- Or male- up from the ground because they could nay longer stand, far less walk. I ignored most of the advances, yielding an occasional heated look t’ keep them wondering long enough for me t’ waltz past while they were still garnering their courage. Just as I was about t’ change m’ course, I spotted another male coming from a shop. There was nay doubt he was a civilian and he scurried on along, looking oe’r his shoulder twice before crossing the street. I looked around, scanning the area again before or headed towards the area. Mayhap a good fight was in store nearby. As I happened upon the show window, I barked a laugh. ‘The Freaks Come Out At Night’. What a truth. I searched for the door and pushed, finding it open. Sharp ears picked up slapping skin and a smirk graced m’ lips. I explored the toys, walking around, browsing the sinful items before I stilled. There was the sound of heels on the floor and I made m'self seen, not intending t’ cause alarm. The redhead at the counter had m’ brow in the air.] Y’ work here, lass? Prue ~Another day, another dollar. Or, night, as the case may be. Despite the cold outside and small piles of snow lining the streets and sidewalks from an early winter’s squall, business had been steady to my pleasant surprise. Approaching the second anniversary of the opening of my business this Spring, I wouldn't have imagined I'd be doing as well as I was. My recent plans for expansion were coming along nicely and I was eager to finish tying up certain details and spread the word among the civilian community of the race. I'd even mentioned it to the civilian who'd just purchased a few items with cheeks so red he could be mistaken as a stoplight. Adorable, really. I hoped he and his male enjoyed the purchase and mentioned my store to friends. I knew that word of mouth was one of my best marketing tools. More thoughts of plans for the expansion and promotions to keep business moving through the winter whirled in my mind when I heard the completely inappropriate, but always comical moaning door chimes sound. Straightening from behind the counter case where I'd been realigning a row of expensive glass dildos and anal beads, I stretched my neck to see around the displays, curious as to the type of customer I'd be serving next. It was ever entertaining to discover the type of person who was brave enough to venture through my door, and this time was no different. Well, hello there. Tall, blonde, strong, and vampire, it was the female, not the business owner that appreciated the fine specimen that currently graced my establishment. Plastering my best customer service smile into place on glossy red lips, his direct question had my chin lifting slightly. I caught the tones of a sexy as fuck accent as he spoke, my curiosity further peaked. Mmm, come to Pru, big boy.~ Work, stock, own. Welcome to The Freaks Come Out at Night, for all your naughty delights. ~Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I straightened my spine, caring more than I should about my first impression for some unknown reason.~ What can I help you with, handsome? Lhe [Proprietor? That was unexpected but then, I shouldnae have been surprised. She must be a civilian. No glymera female would be caught dead admitting t’ owning a place like this. Both brows lifted this time and I watched as the redhead flipped her hair and stood straight. Her red lips curved into a smile tha t was stunning but twas her eyes that had m’ mind nay forming words at the moment. Eventually I removed m’ gloves and tucked them into the pocket of m’ leather jacket. I could feel her assessing me as I moved into plain sight, eyeing the restraints on display t’ m’ right.] I dinnae ken if y’ can help right at this moment, lass. [Twas said to ruffle her feathers. I wasnae about t’ walk into some trap by this female. Scribe knew I was wary of them, especially the ones that were likely t’ be a real hole in m’ weakness. Why did I walk into here again? Quick thinking, old male.] D’ y’ ken what's going on next door? [M’ ears were so sharp I missed not a damned thing. Wasna’ always a gift, but twas real close t’ one at this point. If she truly was the owner of all this fine establishment, mayhap she could help after all. I'd find a willing lass, take her there -if twas what I thought it was, get what I required and be gone. Some civilian had gone and created an app t’ aid with it anyway. Twas more useful than I first thought. I scanned the rest of the area, letting the array of devices and their variations sink in. Eventually, m’ eyes found hers again and I waited expectantly for her response.] Pru ~ Watching him assessing, I didn't get the vibe that he was a threat to me, but just in case, I drifted my fingertips along the underside of the counter, silently pressing the button that would activate the in store cameras. His question about the happenings next door had one sculpted brow rising. Could he really hear…? Damn. It was early enough in the night that I hadn't turned the music on yet, having had a few customers as soon as I'd unlocked the door. Now to play coy with this male, or reveal the goings on of my business to a perfect stranger? Who am I kidding, of course I'd play.~ I'm afraid you'll need to be more specific. A few doors up the street is one of the most popular clubs in the city. ~Tilting my head slightly, a coy smile lifted my lips.~ To the left is a… soft opening of sorts. A private affair that a few acquaintances are participating in. Any particular reason you're asking…? I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name? Lhe [I extended a hand to her the traditional way of this modern era. I heard her press some button or other and wondered what it did but I wasnae very concerned. The amount of concealed weapons I held in m’ jacket alone was ridiculous by the standard of the mundanes, though I highly doubted she would be foolish enough t’ call them.] I am called Lhethal. [I didna’ answer her other questions as yet, preferring t’ deflect and perchance come back to those when the assessing looks were o’er on both sides. This would mayhap at least allow us t’ give the other a modicum of some sort of trust.] Pru ~Noticing that this male was one who picked and choose what he didn't and didn't say very carefully, had my lips twitching ryely. Extending my arm across the counter, I slide my hand into his. My soft palm slid against his calloused one as we shook. He didn't try to exert an unnecessary amount of strength, and I appreciated that. There was no dispute that he'd outmatch me in any fight. The fact that he didn't feel the need to reinforce that had my respect for the unknown male rising. I didn't think this male did anything without a purpose. ~ It's nice to make your acquaintance, Lhethal. I'm Prudence. ~Inclining my head, my smile made a reappearance as I once again tried to find out his purpose.~ What brings you into my shop this night? Lhe [I laughed quietly at that irony and raised a brow] Dinnae tell me yer trying t' be everything opposite t' what yer mahmen named you t' be now lass? [Surely the Scribe dealt many a hand in it. Yet this was the funniest one I'd seen all day. Twas even more so than the fact that I had an aching hunger that needed t’ be fed and there was a female directly afore me. I supposed she could be bought or persuaded… Mayhap even be asked t’ lend aid. The only problem was that I indebted m'self t’ no one. Her lips had curved yet again and I waited for her response.] Prue ~Eyes flaring wide for a brief second I was impressed by his quick intellect. The meaning of my name never came up in discussion, but the fact that my most recent chosen path, that of running a sex toy shop was completely contrary to the meaning never failed to make a laugh internally. Always keep them guessing. I didn't miss that he failed to answer my question for the second time, but I let it slide. He was the only customer here and conversing with one as good looking as him was no hardship.~ I might be... ~Lifts a slender shoulder, my lips twitching coyly.~ I haven't always been this ironic, but I'm finding it suits me more and more, lately. Lhe [M' grin replaced the laughter, eyes showing a slight interest in this topic of conversation.] Ah. And how is it working out then? [Mayhap m’ walking into this store was a great idea. Even if I didna’ obtain anything specific t’ fit m’ current needs, this lass was far more entertaining than as first thought. Ace, warrior. I pat m’self metaphorically on the back and again looked her o’er.] Tell me, then. Does that help yer business t’ boom? [I waved a hand, nonchalantly motioning t’ the entire store] The irony of yer name and the things y’ sell? [I assumed twas played in actions as well but I wouldnae insult the female by insinuating it. For all I knew she just sold items and accommodated others in her space.] Prue ~I debated ignoring his question for a brief moment, playing a bit of tit for tat as he hadn't answered my question, but it seemed he'd inadvertently found a certain weakness of mine. My pride in my store and just how well business was doing was something I could pradle on about almost indefinitely if I didn't think it would bore the listener. I knew that if nothing else, perhaps the male would spread the word about my shop, increasing my business further.~ Let's just say that my profit margins increase with each less prudent business expansion I make. ~Flashes a cheeky grin, my chin lifted. Pride and a willingness to defend my decisions should he turn out to be a naysayer had me trying to mentally prepare for where the conversation might be headed next.~ Lhe [I tilted m' head and leaned against a wall as I contemplated how to respond] Well, considering that in this era there are so many things out in the open that wouldnae have e'er been spoken aloud in certain times, I find that's truthful t' believe. 'Tis not a bad way to spend one's time either, if I dare say so. [In m’ four hundred and seventy-four years I'd seen plenty. Scribe knew I'd done plenty. I almost smiled as a memory or ten flashed through the fore of m’ thoughts before retiring t’ whate’er place m’ brain kept them buried in. As I regained m’ focus m’ eyes returned squarely t’ hers.] Prue ~Pleasantly surprised by his seeming acceptance of a female, not only running a business, but a business such as mine, I found myself relaxing slightly. Open-mindedness was a rare and welcome quality in any male of the race, and I found myself more and more curious about the one before me. Arching a sculpted brow, crimson lips curling at the corner, as I decided to see how he might take to being teased. ~ Is someone interested in the lifestyle I help to promote? ~A husky laugh past my lips as I tuck a strand of red behind my ear.~ It helps that civilians have always had to blend in with the humans more. They love my shop, even without being permitted in the back rooms. ~I cast the bait, hoping perchance that the mention of the back rooms might further peak his curiosity. Perhaps to further explain my business, perhaps to see where the evening might lead.~ Lhe [My eyes danced o'er the female as m' lips twitched into a smile.Trust her brain t’ be sedulous in figuring me out, even if she had t’ use an assumtion t’ lay the bait so to speak.] Some parts of it. Aye. I dinnae care for absolute extremes but I am not against a good session. [A brow raised in question] The back there [M’ head tilted slightly t’ motion t’ where I meant. That very inconspicuous den that no one would look for unless they knew what they were coming for in the first place.] ... 'Tis specifically for our kind then? Pru ~Nodding as he speaks. my interest always peaked when it comes to learning someone's... Preferences.~ I have a small playroom where I have sessions and lessons. My newest expansion is more of a casual feeding room. There's a bar, music. I'm bringing feeding, at least for single civilians into the modern world. We've been left to our own devices in many instances. I'm helping facilitate feeding with ease. ~My smile probably held a hint for pride again, but I was excited about my newest venture.~ Lhe [The female afore me was much more interesting than I first thought. Aye. She spoke proudly of her achievements -as she should. I shifted my burly frame and now I was standing upright, listening intently.] 'Tis a noble venture, that. Civilians are ne'er quite thought of something much. I have had my share of them but if 'Tis not already obvious, I dinnae mingle much. [M' eyes narrowed as I I rubbed a hand over my scruff] Speaking of feedings, I may have t' pop in at some point. ['Twas a while -a gross understatement, if I was honest with m'self - since I'd last fed myself and she presented the perfect opportunity.] Pru I appreciate that. ~Nodding as heat infuses my cheek, my smile softening under the praise.~ I've been scoffed at by some, but the brotherhood supports my business, so I don't worry too much about it. ~My lips twitching in rye amusement, I lift a shoulder, my head tilting slightly as I look you over with a more assessing eye.~ I wouldn't assume to know your social preferences to mingle or not. I try not to make quick judgments. If you find yourself in need of a feeding, my doors are open. As long as you're not looking to cause any trouble. ~Winks, teasingly.~ Well, depending on the trouble, of course. Lhe [In my opinion the Brotherhood was wise t' support her. It would surely get them in the good books of most of the civilian population they protected. Of course there'd be the uptight twats in our race who kissed the ass of the glymera and wouldnae take kindly t' this new way, but 'twas their business not mine. A feed and a fuck in a safe place wasna' a sin. Her last statement yielded a low laugh and his eyes roamed o'er her body good and proper] Aye? Perchance I shall call on you then, Prudence. I sense yer plenty of trouble all on yer own. 'T willna' be long until I need t' be relieved and fed. Lhe ~I felt as much as watched his gaze caress my form and would be lying to myself if I tried to deny enjoying the attention. Dragging the tip of my tongue over my bottom lip as my lips curled, my eyes gleaming with mischief.~ Are you propositioning me, sir? You assume that I'm on the menu for my patrons. That wouldn't be very professional, would it? ~I couldn't help the tease, as I propped a hand on my hip, knowing that the smirk fighting for purchase on my lips likely betrayed my feigned indignation.~ Unless you fancy yourself special enough for me to grace with my attention. And lifeblood. Lhe [She spoke but her body betrayed her. Her eyes... Her smile tha' was itching t' come out and play...] I have. The action is now in the past, aye? I said I would come t' yer place but I didna' say I intended to be there as a patron, lass. [My fanged smile returned as she propped that hand on her hip and her curves became enhanced by the way she stood.] That's yer call then, lass. I too offered m' own lifeblood. 'Tis not one that is lightly made. Consider it and if it is found t' be worth yer time, you can reach me. [I didna' touch her, but I slid a card towards her. 'Twas human looking with a human name on it, but I knew she would find what she needed on it.] Pru ~The hint of fang revealed by a smile that very nearly knocked me back a step, had my own petite fang pinning my bottom lip. Nodding as if to concede his point, I lowered my gaze briefly.~ Of course. I should not have assumed after just stating that I try to avoid snap judgments. ~Lifting my eyes once more, I reached for the card, trying not to appear eager as I pulled it toward me across the counter.~ I'll mull it over. It has been a fair amount of time since I've fed myself. The convenience of a willing male is always appreciated. ~My slow smile was sly this time as I glanced over the information, revealing his human facade.~ Lhe [Her scent was positively welcoming. A willing female was ne’er a bad thing. Nay. Especially when she was both pretty /and/ intelligent.] Dinnae wait too long, aye female? I am a patient male but when the thirst comes I dinnae waste time. I must remain strong. [My thumb danced o'er a fang as it pulsed and my eyes darkened for the briefest moment.] Pru ~I knew he was taunting me with his fangs showing, and it was working. But two could play this game. The knowledge of his interest emboldened me, as I slowly rolled my head on my neck, my eyes falling to half mast as I lifted my hand to caress the column of my throat, one well manicured nail dragging down my speeding pulse point.~ Worry not, male. My time is too valuable to waste, as you shall soon find out. Lhe [Scribe. I made a good choice with this one. She wasna' afraid to tease back or speak her mind. My tongue flicked out to dampen my lower lip as the female's painted nail passed o'er her skin- In that spot I was more than willing t' sink my fangs into. Ah. 'Twas a good thing I was taught control. Aye... If I hadna' been soundly schooled, the lass would already be pinned under me for the taking. I snapped m' mind back from the road it was trying t' travel and inhaled deeply instead.] We shall see, Little Prudence. We shall see. [Her lidded eyes sent my hands straight t' m' pockets, where they would be safely restrained... At least for the time being. I was for once, very much looking forward t’ the time in the near future with this one.]