#the longest tag is apt for our times

[meandmyechoes]

I posted 2,885 times in 2022

263 posts created (9%)

2,622 posts reblogged (91%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@gizkalord

@gffa

@intermundia

@maiseey

@ahskatano

I tagged 2,867 of my posts in 2022

Only 1% of my posts had no tags

#kenobi spoilers - 210 posts

#reblog:ahsoka - 201 posts

#andor spoilers - 137 posts

#reblog:star wars - 127 posts

#kenobi - 101 posts

#rebels - 99 posts

#reblog:clone wars - 92 posts

#anakin skywalker - 91 posts

#:) - 90 posts

#tcw fam - 89 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#(and backgound about how most of them are developed during the warring states period so what choice do you have when the king doesn't listen

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

rip pointy knees

990 notes - Posted October 30, 2022

#4

See the full post

1,079 notes - Posted May 29, 2022

#3

See the full post

1,330 notes - Posted September 11, 2022

#2

Tales of the Jedi 1.05 The Clone Wars 7.09

2,625 notes - Posted October 29, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

this shot is messing me up

2,750 notes - Posted October 26, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[monimolimnion]

I posted 11,344 times in 2022

That's 4,097 more posts than 2021!

35 posts created (0%)

11,309 posts reblogged (100%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@jollyfanasties

@itsrapsodia

@charmps-you-grickly

@freakinflipflop

@4ragon

I tagged 4,014 of my posts in 2022

#ofmd - 1,064 posts

#wwdits - 917 posts

#queue - 109 posts

#goncharov - 92 posts

#unreality - 74 posts

#seascape tag - 68 posts

#help - 48 posts

#lauren - 46 posts

#drawtectives - 35 posts

#oh my god - 28 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#the day after i saw this post for the first time i hung out with my friends and we had the most cursed conversations in ubers both there and

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Kindred [Chapter 12 + Epilogue]

name: Kindred fandom: Ace Attorney | Gyakuten Saiban pairing: Mitsurugi Reiji | Miles Edgeworth/Naruhodou Ryuuichi | Phoenix Wright wordcount/chapters: 13/13, 96k additional tags: miles adopting pess: the fic!, it'll take a while but we'll get to narumitsu eventually i promise, set during disbarment but no AJ spoilers bc i haven't played it yet, Plot Lite(TM), very mild disbarment-typical angst, Slow(ish) Burn, References to / characters from AAI 1&2 but no major spoilers, COMPLETE!

summary:

Her ears prick up at the sound of his voice, but she doesn’t move. "You'll have to forgive me, I'm afraid. I suspect that I am not very good at this." Miles would feel silly to an extreme for speaking to her like this, except for the way that Pess thaws, ever so slightly - her tail twitches, her head dips a little from its stiff posture, and she huffs out a long breath, heavier than her shallow meter from before. "I'm aware you don't understand me, but I am quite certain that I understand you, Pess, at least a little. And I want you to know you are safe with me in this house, and that this will be your home so long as you are happy here.”

Against his better judgement, Miles Edgeworth adopts a dog.

Read it on AO3!

74 notes - Posted August 8, 2022

#4

not to bang on about it, but i think the Goncharov Phenomenon and the new Defunctland video being released at the same time is kind of. apt?

in the documentary Kevin spends an hour and a half in agony about his existence as a youtuber/artist/documentarian, agony i recognise and deeply resonate with, and comes to the conclusion that work doesnt have to be "great" to be worth it. that seriousness and importance is not something worth trading off joy for. that it's not actually a bad thing necessarily that sketches and memes take off and stuff you worked hard on doesn't, even if it feels bad in the moment

his point being that creativity is worth it even in isolation, that even the "real" virtuosos have no regrets about producing work that is less important, and that it's about whoever you touch with the work, no matter how shallow or simple the work may seem, and no matter how shallow or simple the impact might be on whoever you touched.

you still touched them, didn't you?

i think it's obvious why this resonates with me quite so much - in a fandom context, as well as where that intersects with my work in games, my ideas for novels that might not get anywhere, and what i "should" be doing to be considered a proper writer

and that's why goncharov is such a fantastic fucking example.

the entire POINT of goncharov is that it doesn't mean anything. and because of that, it can mean everything at once. the outpouring of creativity in unison from seemingly all corners of tumblr is no less beautiful because it is couched in memery and an inside joke. the analysis speaks just as much about the context of our zeitgeist as it does the film that doesn't exist. the art, the writing, the music. everyone taking whatever craft they've built for themselves and using it to reach out to each other for no reason other than it's fun.

it is worthy of doing, in and of itself.

my god. humans just need an excuse to create beauty sometimes because we'll do it about fucking anything. and i think that's wonderful

90 notes - Posted November 23, 2022

#3

ok. hear me out. i have thoughts about nandor’s list of ideal wife traits.

ive seen posts that are like 'it's a list of traits guillermo has!' reading it as a nandermo hint, as well as posts that say 'guillermo has the exact opposite of those traits to show that nandor is in denial' and i really don’t think it’s a direct 1:1 of either of those at all

it's pretty clear to me that the list is first of all much more literal than that - the show isn't always trying to indicate something aside from literally what it's talking about (the traits of the wives he re-deaded during the montage) and while i love reading into things as much as the next guy i think this list really was just written to serve the joke more than anything

BUT. but. it's also something that is much more indicative of nandor's inner workings than it is a straight up list of things he likes about guillermo but won’t admit to because, well, let's list the traits -humble, an excellent listener, not petty or slovenly or vain or manipulative, never asked him to shave off his beard, not smarter than him, warm and wanted to be with him (🥺), kind, a good haggler, merciful, horny, and has a sense of spontaneity and fun

to me this reads almost as if it's a classic comphet 'oh i just have high standards' kind of bent thinking. half of the traits seem to actively contradict another item in the list! this is the exact kind of thought pattern that happens when you are so divorced from your actual Self that you don't actually even know what you want - if i just have a reason that every relationship isn't perfect, an excuse for it to never be right, then i don't have to face what is genuinely happening inside me. if i have a formula, then i am safe. 

i would argue that the list is actually three separate things: 1: things nandor genuinely does want in a relationship (which do tend to line up with guillermo's own traits, or the ones he has made most visible during his servitude) 2: things that would be good for nandor’s personal development and therefore he does not want to be challenged on them (especially by a near-stranger as his wives have become to him - the fight scene is the big example here, since his reaction to guillermo in the same context was so different, but also i’m including things like not being smarter than him, etc. these are largely Also traits guillermo has, and are the ones pointed out by the posts arguing that the whole list is about guillermo in negative).  3: the other things are just quibbles because he is a petty little bitch but we been knew that already

to me his total misread of marwa's personality at the end of the episode is so starkly obvious for those exact reasons - he doesn't know what he wants at all, and it's not as simple as his subconscious having all the answers in a direct negative for us to superimpose guillermo on, either. because divorcing yourself from your emotions and anything remotely difficult to process for 400 years is bound to have some sort of impact.

also i am deeply certain that nandor was largely the same (read: an asshole) even while he was still human, too, but that’s a topic for another time

118 notes - Posted July 16, 2022

#2

287 notes - Posted February 3, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

thinking about how nandor calling all his partners wives is a clever way to have him very explicitly handwave heteronormativity and establishes him as someone who doesn't even register the modern sexuality zeitgeist BUT still places him as the sole husband: still centers him as the man of the house, the one waited on hand and foot, the one in charge, and the one ultimately aloof from a relationship that is supposed to be a partnership (there being many wives notwithstanding).

and how if, in the end, guillermo refuses to be nandor's wife and insists on being his husband that it sings in total synergy with the entire storyline thus far - it would be guillermo learning to own himself, his sexuality, his self worth, and refusing to be a doormat, and nandor accepting that change is part of life even when you are undying, and that he cannot always be dominant in order to avoid being vulnerable, and in fact needs a partner that will challenge him

in this essay i won't

1,634 notes - Posted July 17, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[somebodyhelpthenotdeadfreds]

I posted 3,177 times in 2022

19 posts created (1%)

3,158 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@90sbard

@morganbritton132

@mymycorrhizae

@rocktheholygrail

@stolligaseptember

I tagged 369 of my posts in 2022

#legends of tomorrow - 36 posts

#stranger things - 20 posts

#strangerthingsedit - 19 posts

#dailystrangerthings - 17 posts

#steve harrington - 16 posts

#dcedit - 14 posts

#lotedit - 13 posts

#cinemapix - 10 posts

#* - 10 posts

#tvstrangerthings - 9 posts

Longest Tag: 110 characters

#the star trek spoof will never not be funny to me bc a) content for me and b) the shatner-c"ity match was. apt

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Constangreen + “So how much do you hate me?”

sorry, did someone ask for old flames reconnecting?

10 notes - Posted February 14, 2022

#4

terrible news, Alun has more screen time in Morbius than LOT

14 notes - Posted September 12, 2022

#3

Gary's grown so much, the Legends treated him like shit in season 4, so to see him tell them that he and Gideon deserve apologies along with everyone else was all I've ever wanted for Gary.

29 notes - Posted January 20, 2022

#2

I'm sorry, but if you watched Behrad's beautiful emotional monologue about struggling with his identity and sense of self that culminates in him and the girl he likes deciding that they'll take things slow and your ONLY reaction was 'but what about spoonstra' I can't help you

37 notes - Posted January 20, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

me, happily writing my little Vandal-Savage-as-Gary-Green's-father AU, humming away in my corner:

James Egan, writer for LOT, unprompted:

me: wait what is that

See the full post

40 notes - Posted January 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[sahdah]

I posted 180 times in 2021

30 posts created (17%)

150 posts reblogged (83%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 5.0 posts.

I added 244 tags in 2021

#soul eater - 71 posts

#maka albarn - 46 posts

#resbang 2020 - 24 posts

#soma - 21 posts

#sahdah things - 20 posts

#resbang - 19 posts

#arcane - 11 posts

#se - 11 posts

#resbang2020 - 11 posts

#soul evans - 10 posts

Longest Tag: 136 characters

#the wall above her fireplace is bare at the moment and i wasn't sure she'd have the teenaged poster she and soul have in their anime apt

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

I’m reading THIS by @thisdarkthing I GOT THE FEELS!

So I do use body references. I’d like to thank Black*Star who was roped into being my standing double. He’s so good and sweet. 

87 notes • Posted 2021-02-26 21:12:40 GMT

#4

I’m so excited to post my piece for [NAUTICAL RECKONINGS] by @smilingatyou for Resbang 2020! I signed up for a collaboration (spur of the moment!) with the truly fantastical @alcruid (like have you seen all the art she’s blessed us with?!) you can find her resbang piece [HERE] and our collaboration piece [HERE]

Please be sure to check out the art by our other talented artists partners:

@gunningtwice [HERE]

and

@addiedraws [HERE]

And as always thanks for the mods who put on this event!!

Summary: Appearing out of nowhere, a murderous sea monster ends the lives of thousands of people. The world calls for the slaughter of the beast, and an expedition bands together to achieve this design. Maka, a world-famous biologist along with her butler Crona, and Blake Starvenson, a professional harpooner and shark-culler join Captain Liz, and her crew on this quest. Only Maka isn’t so sure that killing the beast would be the answer to their problems. Swept away under the waves, she will discover a world she had never known, landing in the midst of a unfolding conspiracy, all the while trying to figure out a romance with a mysterious stranger. A 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Au

98 notes • Posted 2021-03-22 20:24:23 GMT

#3

Zi gave a ted talk-- I attended. 

Also-- what in death city is consistent style?! I stg I use the same settings. I don’t flip canvases. I also apologize cause like how does one...askhdfakl forget it. 

141 notes • Posted 2021-01-09 04:47:19 GMT

#2

Saw this on Snapchat’s Moxi 

141 notes • Posted 2021-03-03 05:33:43 GMT

#1

I saw that “draw this scene in your style” from months back– apparently resbang 2020 has restored my will to arts. 

556 notes • Posted 2021-01-04 04:01:27 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[bonvoyagenoona]

About Me | 07: Why I Write BTS Fanfiction

I opened up tumblr to talk about why I write fanfiction but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw @ynki​‘s incredible gifset featuring a very soft, cute Yoongi from the most recent episode of Run, which I have not yet seen because I’m technically still on the clock but will be watching tonight before sleepytimes.

Aaaaaand I’ve lost my train of thought.

Fuck.

Yoongi looks so cute.

What was I talking about?

Yoongi.

Shit. Wait.

Right. 

Fanfiction.

OK, so I’ve been seeing a lot of fanfiction-related articles being published lately, like this great Vox article on the controversy behind ao3′s tagging system, made salient by the fic Sexy Times with Wangxian. (Btw this controversy is wild!)

Or like this article by Jessica Pryde of Book Riot, with a great tongue-in-cheek title, I Don’t Read Fanfiction for the Plot. (I’ll leave it up to you to guess which “cheek” I mean 😜.)

In all seriousness, though, I’ve been feeling so supported by our BTS fanfic community, making such great connections with people and commenting back and forth here and on ao3, that I’ve started feeling like I wish I could talk about it with people more. Other people talk about the marathon they’re training for, or the new quilt they’ve made. Even my co-workers who are fellow ARMY talk about the photocards that they’re collecting, or the latest merch they bought.

Why do I feel so awkward and nervous about letting people know that I am A Writer™, and that it is with an emphatic yes that I deeply embed my fanfiction in that identity?

I mean, like so many of you, I’ve been a fanfiction writer all my life. It’s one of my longest-lasting interests. When I was 9, I wrote out Anne of Green Gables stories in my notebooks. At 10, I typed out Backstreet Boys fanfics on my mom’s old, loud, intoxicating-smelling typewriter, throwing the pages away almost immediately because of my cringe-worthy attempts to describe how they kissed. Throughout my youth, I wrote fanfiction for major fandoms, like Harry Potter (where are my H/H shippers?!). In grad school, I even wrote spec scripts for The Mindy Project (yes, I was once known on tumblr as “calmdowncheryl”, and it’s a name I should’ve stuck with because it’s still apt, tbh). 

Fanfiction taught me how to write, a sentiment that most articles on fanfiction identify, especially this one from Juie Beck at The Atlantic.

And it’s now, during the pandemic, that I’m finding time to reconnect with my favorite interest. What I often feel is my true identity.

After seeing all these aspects that pop culture pundits have identified as potential reasons why fanfiction is gaining popularity during the pandemic specifically -- things like reduced social contact, more time to oneself, increased desire for wish fulfillment, and a hunger for comfort and positivity -- I started thinking about why I was so enthralled with fanfiction starting at an early age, and why I always felt such shame around it.

Constance Grady’s Vox article, Why We’re Terrified of Fanfiction, makes a great point about media for young women:

Young women are so attacked for loving the media they love that it is a radical act for a young woman to love something unashamedly. And transformative fandom is the most radical act of all, because it reverses that "lady thing to respectable thing" process. It takes a piece of media that may not have been designed for young women and makes it for young women.

I’ve carried that through my adulthood, not just as a former teen girl (gasp!), but also as an immigrant, a woman in her own right, and a woman of color at that, especially one who reached her terminal degree before the age of 30. I’ve always had to enter spaces that people thought I had no right being in and hammer them into spaces that fit right for me.

This is where my unbridled joy for writing comes from, this idea of taking something seemingly taken for granted and shaking it up to squeeze even more, new meaning out of it. To let others see themselves in it where they didn’t before. 

To share.

I was talking with someone who left a comment on Office Hours about how I started the whole fic zooming in on a zipper. How a zipper works. What the parts of the zipper actually are. I spent hours looking at diagrams and descriptions of zippers. I use zippers probably five times a day, every day, and it wasn’t until then that I learned what they really were. 

You, as a fellow fanfic reader and/or writer, feel the same way. It’s why we have the language that we have. The ships. The tropes. It’s how I feel about this brilliant episode of Rick and Morty (S04E03), where they take an Ocean’s Eleven-style The Caper trope and hammer it into you to the point where you think it’s dead, and then they resurrect the trope in a fantastic and meaningful way that gives you insight into who Rick is at his core.

I mean, even Yoongi wrote fanfiction.

I think it’s that core value that writing fanfiction feeds me. Jessica Pryde talks about in her article, and BTS lends itself to it particularly well. It’s this concept of wanting to take a formed idea and stretch it, pull it, tangle it up, twist it, all to see what else comes out of it.

It’s why Namjoon fits so well with the zipper, in Office Hours. He’s the one whose zipper would break.

And in comes the magic of BTS. 

The members themselves play around with this notion of, well, playing around. At the end of the day, they’re just seven guys who want to create music. But all of the content they produce, like their their games, their concerts, their official alternate universes, and yes, their epic Run episodes, give you the boys in all possible permutations of subunits, themes, positions, stories, friendships, etc. Having seven members gives you such range. And having seven members that have such clear identities allows you to write so many different kinds of permutations that they all can feel so real. To borrow more imagery from another Harmon show that I loved, Community, with each new work, you establish the rules, and then you toss the dice to see how it all pans out. With fanfiction, and writing in general, you get to see all possible outcomes.

In another article, Constance Grady makes a fabulous point about this:

I loved [Buffy the Vampire Slayer]. I loved that it had made me feel something so deeply. I didn’t want the events of the fic I read to take place on the show. What fic gave me was a way to temporarily soothe the pain the show had created, secure in the knowledge that the show existed outside of the world of fic and was going to resolve this storyline in its own fashion. It essentially served as a way to outsource all my baser narrative needs: I got the catharsis of a sentimental ending and the surety that the show itself would avoid sentiment.

That’s why I like writing fanfiction, particularly BTS fanfiction. I feel like I’m stepping into a familiar space, instead of having to carve one out on my own. There’s so much to explore. They’re structured enough that there’s continuity, but room enough to play around. And during a time when I am forced to reckon with myself, I am rediscovering my love for writing, and I am rediscovering myself. I am processing life events that I hadn’t given enough time to. I am reminding myself what is true and real to me. 

I am finally letting go of the things that don’t matter.

BTS is arguably the ultimate Kpop comfort group. They ask their fans to use them as a way to find solitude.

So what better way to pay homage to all of this healing than with a sexy OT7 romp where you literally get everything you could possibly want? 🤣💜

[awesometheydontknowiamhere]

Burning Up

Requested By Anonymous:  Can you do a Diego smut where it’s a real hot day and so the reader walks around in barely anything,, and it turns him on and smut goes on from there MAKE IT DIRTYYYY,,please

Summary: Reader wakes up from a nap and begins her weekend household chores when Diego wakes up to find her in next to nothing. Him and his wandering hands join the Reader, a lot of sneaky touches under the pretext of cleaning. They end up together on the kitchen counter. Smut ensues. Also, a sneak peak at Domestic Diego and Fluff Ball Diego.

Fandom: The Umbrella Academy

Pairing: Diego Hargreaves X Reader

A/N: Here I am, with my first ever requested fic. Apologies to Anon if this isn’t what you had envisioned. I tried my best to deliver. 

Picture credit goes to the man himself ♥️

Words: 1433. Oops.

Warnings: Smut. Language (a little bit). Temperature play ( just ice).

Diego Hargreaves Tag list: @imultifandomstuff @w0nder-marie@chloemac86 @theladywholivesonthemoon   @hemogoblin-s  @pansexualpaperdragons @gorgeourrific-nerd @purplezebra68 @vividholland@bands-and-shietz @onlydeanandjensen @slither-in-a-half @reblogserpent@missscarlett1802 @lovelyheadrush @sippin-on-all-this-tea @mrsdiegohargreeves @lostsoldieronahill  @katylovescats @vividholland @lilithsweetghost @ratfuckb0y @siriusjohnpotter

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You cursed under your breath as you looked down at your shirt. You had to take it off, now that you spilled water on it. You pulled it over your head, missing the cool respite it brought against the soaring heat. You walked over to the laundry basket and chose a clean cropped camisole, an apt choice for sweaty household chores.

You looked around at the living room and began picking up the empty pizza boxes from the previous night, considering you wanted to get a head start before Diego woke up.

An hour passed and living room floor emerged from under throw pillows, strewn novels and random items of clothing.

You walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of water. You chugged one down and placed the other on your hot neck. You closed your eyes in bliss and moved the bottle across your chest, skimming over your collar bones.

"I have never been this jealous of a water bottle in my entire life."

"Diego, you're up!"

You walked up to him and placed a peck on his lips before returning to the bottle.

"Whoa! Babe, you can't give me a tiny taste and walk away like that."

He wrapped his arms around your bare waist and pulled you to him. You giggled as he placed tiny kisses on your neck, travelling to your shoulders.

He hooked a finger under the noodle thin straps of your top and you playfully smacked his hand away.

"Hands off the merchandise! We need to clean up this mess, ensure we can have our impromptu nap sessions without these paper plates sticking our backs."

"Can a man help himself when his girl is wearing next to nothing, looking like a snack? I am almost certain that my utility belt covers more surface area than that," he said with a chuckle.

"Shut it, smart ass. Less chit-chat, put those hands to work now and maybe I'll put mine to work later," you said with a wink.

A long hour passed and the only shelving of your groceries was left. Your black on black combo had compelled Diego to act like horny teenager, his hands seeking you at every possible opportunity.

You played along, humoring him when he tucked you under his chin and vacuumed the carpet, his hand resting on your nearly bare butt.

A swat on your butt, a nibble on your earlobe, you grew antsier with each touch. At one point, you considered dragging him to nearest horizontal surface, to hell with the groceries, but thought against it. You were enjoying Diego's not so accidental touches far too much to stop.

You bent down to pick up a bag and heard a sharp intake of breath. You turned around to see him appreciatively glancing at your butt.

Placing a hand on his chest, you whispered in his ears," Enjoying what you see?"

A dark look crossed his features.

"That's it. Turn around, hands on the counter, please."

Your breath caught in your throat, playtime was over.

"The longest fucking hour of my life, Y/N," Diego growled in your ear.

You waited eagerly. He wasn't touching you but you could feel him behind him. He took something from the fridge and shut, something that rattled against its container.

You felt him move closer to you and squeezed your eyes shut in anticipation.

Diego placed his hands on your waist, his fingers walking over the band of your pants. You purred and leaned back into him.

"Someone's getting hungry," he chuckled, “your turn is over, the ball is in my court now."

His palms cupped your clothed breasts. You pushed into his hands and he dropped them to your hips. Sliding your hair over your shoulder, he kissed a path from the base of your neck to your earlobes.

"Liking the taste of your medicine?"

You began to speak when he flipped you around and captured your answer with his lips. His tongue snaked past your barriers, weakening your knees.

Between his rock hard body and the kitchen counter, you found both, support and relief.

Your hands landed on his chests but he pulled them off and pinned them to your side.

Not one to waste time or words, he gave you a sharp look, fixing you in your spot. He made quick work of your clothes and then his.

"Close your eyes."

A second later you felt his hot tongue flick over your nipple. You hummed at the sensation of his wicked lips. An arm around your waist, his free hand met your lonely breast, his fingers taunting the flesh around your intrigued peaks.

You pressed your thighs together, the moisture of his tongue mimicked at your core.

He stood up to his full height, looking into your eyes. His forehead rested against yours.

You stood down, anticipating a kiss, but little did you know that he had a different kind of kiss planned.

He kissed the tip of your nose, a gesture contrasting his rough demeanor while his fingers slipped into your hot folds. His digits separated them, spreading your moisture around. His first brush with your clit sent a jolt through your body. You grabbed his shoulders, your heart racing.

He smirked and repeated the motion, his fingers playing your body like a well-tuned guitar.

You bit your lip and closed your eyes, leaning into him.

"Aah!"

A sudden shock woke you up. It took you a moment to identify it, but not before Diego repeated it a few more times. Each time the odd sensation touched you, it burned you up. You realized that his weapon was a melting cube of ice.

You looked down to see him rub a dripping ice cube up your slit, and your legs turned into jelly.

He placed it back in a discreet bowl and lifted you up onto the countertop.

Nibbling at your neck, he whispered dirty nothings in your ear. With a soft push, he laid you on your back, your legs ending up on his shoulders.

A singular moan escaped your lips at a single stroke of his tongue over your slit. His mouth spoke a contemporary language at the junction of your thighs. Your body replied, bucking off the flat surface while your eyes rolled to the back of your head.

He placed his arm across your midriff, tethering you to the cool countertops.

He kissed the inside of your thighs and you thoroughly enjoyed the sensory contrast of his two-day old scruff. He turned his attention to your other thigh, giving it the same TLC.

You ran your fingers through his hair, coming to rest at the base of his hair.

His tongue returned to your clit. The heels of your feet dug into back as he pushed a cold finger into your hot depths.

You clenched around his icy digit, his vocal vibration transcending through your core.

A cold thumb stroked your bundle of nerves and a steady stream of moans peppered with expletives shot out of your lips.

The altering sensations of cold and warmth, soft and hard, suckling and pulsing, pushed you to the brink of your orgasm.

"Diego, ple-... I need to..."

You couldn't complete your sentence as his skilled fingers snatched away your chain of thought. You were on the edge, a few thrusts away, when he withdrew his hands and unhooked your legs from his shoulders.

"What are y-"

His fingers interrupted your complaint.

He leaned across the counter to fetch a condom from his wallet and slipped it on.

You were getting fidgety, so close yet so far.

He locked his fingers with yours and buried himself in one smooth thrust.

"Oh God! Fuck yes, baby."

You came on his cock, writhing under his sinewy body. When you came to, you realized you were crushing his fingers.

Before you got a chance to say anything, he started his sweet assault again. Pulling out completely and reentering, he pushed against your walls.

You started matching his thrusts, eliciting unholy moans from his lips.

"Y/N, my love, I am almost there," he whispered.

He pounded into you, intent on bringing you both to climax together. Your hand reached the junction of your cores, rubbing yourself.

The next minute was a blur; you weren't sure who triggered who's orgasm. A wave of mutual pleasure broke over your bodies amid the constant chanting of each other's names.

When he finally regained composure, he pulled out and disposed the condom in the trash can.

Picking you up in his arms, he announced with a cheeky smile,  "Well, that was worth the wait."

[certifiedskywalker]

Jealous Much? (Part One) - Roger Taylor

Have a treat this Wednesday my friends with the first installment of my Roger Taylor x Reader series! Make sure to leave feedback on whether I should continue or not! Suggestions/comments are always appreciated! Love you all, have a wonderful day!

Being Brian May’s closest friend was fantastic to say the least. Having known him before you could even speak, he was without a doubt your bestest friend. So when he started to hang out with Roger Taylor, you were a little jealous…..but not for the reason you may think.

Warnings: drama(???) and cursing, Roger being Roger?

‘-’ signifies a scene change

The best thing about sharing an apartment with Brian May was the fact that everything was always clean. No matter what day of the week or time of day, most of the flat was spotless. It wasn’t all Brian, as you would help him where and when you could; but he had a particular way of doing things. Every book had its designated place, dictated by some order that your friend had formulated in his own mind and the silverware was always in the right slot within the drawer.

So when the flat started to grow a little more cluttered than usual, you began to grow worried. Brian would come home later in the night, with the scent cigarette smoke and beer carried in on his clothes. It was hard to ignore the sharp oders when you did the wash. He also looked more tired than normal. When you asked about it, he would claim it was school and his looming thesis project.

“It’s really fine, Y/N,” he said one night, rubbing his heavy lidded eyes in a vain attempt to wake himself up. You shifted your weight, not buying into his lies.

“I’ve known you long enough to know when something is up, Bri. You know you can tell me anything, right?” You friend offered you an apt nod, his hair, which he was growing out, shaking with the movement. If it wasn’t for the hollowness of his cheeks and his defeated tone, perhaps you would have believed him when he spoke up again.

“I know, and I will when the time comes. As of right now, I’m simply just tired.” With that, he turned back to the textbook cracked open on the table before him and you let the topic die. At least, until a week later when he came home at two in the morning with an echoing crash that woke you from your slumber. He wasn’t drunk, he told you that as soon as you laid eyes on him. It was hard to believe when he was beaming like a loon and seemingly unable to find his balance.

“We did it!”

“We? Did what?” You asked, your brows knitting together. Brian smiled, setting his guitar case, which had been the source of the crash, up against the counter before walking over to you. Your tall friend placed his hands on your shoulders and laughed proudly.

“We booked our first gig!”

-

That was how you found yourself leaning against the polished wood of a counter top in a cramped bar late one Friday night. The day before Brian had explained everything to you. He told you of the late-night writing sessions and band practices he shared with two of his new friends Tim Staffell and Roger Taylor. When you had asked why he didn’t tell you about the band, he flushed.

“I didn’t think we were quite good enough yet,but, since we got the gig, I figured you might want to tag along,” and tag along you did. Brian had left early to help set up, leaving you to get yourself ready. Part of you was right pissed that he had kept this part of his life from you. Brian was your best friend after all; you told each other everything.

The day he told you about his new pet cat, you shared with him the lack-luster tale of your first kiss. You both were bound together, thanks to your parents, by a sense of friendship that was just as old as you were. So it irked you that he didn’t tell you and that he had been spending time he would normally spend with you, with strangers. However, you had managed to swallow your irrational jealousy by the time you made it to the bar. The drinks helped with curbing your edge too.

The air was thick as you made your way closer to the stage. You took note of the instruments already set out, a sign that the show was about to begin. As you waited patiently, you heard the overtly obnoxious laugh of a drunken lady as a long-haired long man spun her about. You rolled your eyes at the scene, ignoring the man’s pair of bright blue eyes when he caught you staring too long.

Sighing, you turned back towards the stage, eager to see your friend show you all that he had hidden from you. You didn’t have to wait much longer as a stout man with a thick beard came up on stage. With meaty hands, he gripped the microphone and tapped it a couple of times until it gave a little feedback. Clearing his throat, the man introduced the main event.

“For the first time ever I give to you, Smile.” An excited chorus of cheers and clapping ensued as the man left the spotlight to make room for the three figures entering from the backstage. You grinned as Brian waved at the crowd, scanning over faces until he noticed you. Grinning widely, you waved before looking at the two other men with him. With a similar hair length as Brian’s the lead singer with the bass seemed to be charming. From what Brian had told you the night before, he was Tim.

However, it was the ruddy blond drummer that caught your eye; just as he did before when he had been flirting with the heavily intoxicated lady. He must be Roger, you mused. You took in his lithe form, hating how handsome he looked under the red glow of a nearby lamp. As he swaggered to the drum set, Brian spoke up on the mic and pulled your attention back to him.

“Thanks for coming out tonight! I’m Brian, on bass we have Tim, and our drummer for this evening is Roger.” A few girlish giggles and wolf-whistles sounded, prompting Roger to send a few winks out into the crowd. You almost swore he winked at you, but you shook your head to focus back on Brian. “And I hope before we leave here tonight, we make you Smile.”

-

The show was amazing and you were still thrumming from the thrill of it all. Never before had music swayed you like the songs Smile preformed. Brian seemed so in his own element, just as he did when he rattled on about space and theoretical physics concepts. You were so proud and any residual anger you felt had nearly been rubbed off by the beat of the music. Nearly.

There was something about Roger and the way he so openly flirted with the crowd that stirred something within you. His banter was friendly at first, calling out a few people in the bar; but then it morphed into smug grins and a cockiness that set you off. He wasn’t the type of company Brian usually kept. You would know, being his longest lasting friend. Ultimately, you choked it up to some sort of jealousy; definitely not having anything to due with the fact you found Roger annoyingly attractive.

Swallowing any negativity, you waited for Brian to come find you at the bar. With your fingers tracing the rim of you almost empty glass, you didn’t see the lumbering shape of your towering friend walking over to you until you felt an arm over your shoulder.

“Bri,” you started, giving your friend a tight hug, “you were amazing! It sounded so good.” You pinched his upper arm slightly. “You didn’t tell me you could sing.” Your friend blushed and you smile, glancing over to his side to see his bandmates standing in wait.

“Y/N, this is Tim,” the brunette waved as Brian formally introduced him to you. Tim’s sharp features glowed as he gave you a bright, toothy grin.

“Brian’s told us a lot about you,” he chirped. You smiled, shaking his now extended hand.

“And this is Roger,” Brian continued and you followed his gaze to the shorter blond. His lips were upturned in that overly confident smile you had seen on stage and you began to wonder if that was how the band got its name in the first place.

“So nice to put a pretty face to a pretty name,” the drummer drawled, taking your hand and bringing it to his soft lips. You tried your hardest to overlook the blatant (and really quite excessive) line and attempted to mask the blush blooming on your cheeks.

“It’s wonderful to meet you both,” you said through slightly gritted teeth. Brian noticed your displeasure at Roger’s flirting and was about to speak up before he was beaten to it.

“Would’ve preferred to meet you sooner,” Roger cooed, still smirking. You bit the inside of your cheek to keep from combusting. He seemed to take note of your red cheeks and his closed-lip smile deepened, as if he enjoyed watching you squirm. Where did he get off?

“I should have warned you,” Brian started, “Rog here is quite the flirt.”

“Yeah, take it easy man,” Tim chimed in, “Y/N is Brian’s girl.” You would have spat out your drink if you had dared to taken a sip. Brian let out a loud laugh and you slapped his back playfully.

“You hear that, love? You’re my girl,” Brian teased. You could barely breathe as you took in Tim’s confused expression. Roger, on the other hand, seemed all too satisfied by this newly acquired knowledge. At least he could read between the lines, you had to give him that.

“We’re not dating,” you clarified to Tim, whose mouth created a dramatized ‘O’ in the midst of his realization. “We’ve just been friends for…..”

“Ever, really,” Brian finished proudly. You fawned over your friend before returning your gaze to his newest additions. Roger cocked his head to the side, blue eyes trailing up your form and taking you in. His pointed gaze made you blush a little harder, but you were certain your skin burned due to anger rather than attraction. He looked at you like Brian looks at a veggie sandwich; like he wants to devour you.

“Sorry, I didn’t know,” Tim said, breaking your attention from Roger’s eyes. You shook your head and comforted the singer, telling him it was alright and that it happened all the time. 

“It’s a problem, really,” you began, “I feel like I’m part of the reason Mr. May doesn’t get laid.” Tim spluttered out into a fit of laughter as did Roger, although he seemed more quiet which unsettled you greatly. Brian blushed, turning all sort of shades of red as you went on. “Plenty of girls on campus have talked about him. It’s all I hear. Then I mention I’m his roommate and it’s like they were never speaking in the first place. It’s a pity.”

“Wait, campus? You’re attending Imperial too?” You nodded at Tim's question, which seemed to pique Roger’s interest. Bits of blond strands had fallen in front of his face, obscuring his features; but you didn’t have to look at him to see him staring. You could feel his eyes on you.

“What are you studying?” The drummer’s voice, while raspy, held a softness to it that didn’t match up with his loud personality. You told them about your major, upon which Tim pestered you with questions about your teachers and classmates. He asked whether you knew this person and that professor, laughing when you told him you hardly knew anyone besides Brian. As the night progressed, you and the bassist talked each other’s ears off with Brian beside you, happy that you were getting along with his new friends. It had to be about an hour or so later when you heard Roger’s voice break through the conversation.

“Goin’ out for a smoke,” he shared suddenly. You turned to face him, your breath catching slightly when you found his baby blue eyes already on you. The corner of his mouth quirked upwards in a teasing manner before he began to stroll towards the door. A few long moments of silence passed as you watched him go.

“I take it he’s why your clothes reeked?” You asked Brian as you tore your eyes away. Your friend nodded quickly in response.

“I don’t know why he’s going outside,” Tim thought aloud, “he can just smoke here.” Brian shifted on his feet, his bright eyes tracing the path the drummer had left.

“Maybe he’s feeling a bit crowded.” You nodded, but noticed how the masses of people was beginning to thin out. It must be getting late.

“We should head out soon,” you suggested to Brian, “we have class earlier tomorrow morning.” Your friend nodded before turning to Tim who sighed loudly.

“But I was having such a great time,” Tim whined. You let out a small giggle and shook your head.

“This will continue, I can promise you that. Especially now that I know that you even exist,” you said, taking a light jab at Brian who rolled his eyes.

“You’re not going to let it go are you?” You raised your eyebrows at him in a ‘you-even-thought-I-would?’ type of expression that made Tim laugh. He had a nice laugh.

“C’mon, we gotta pack up before you leave.” He clapped Brian on the shoulder and hopped off the stool he had been sitting on while talking with you. Before he walked away, Tim turned back to you, “I could I trouble you to tell Rog to come pick up his oversized bongos?”

“No trouble at all,” you said smiling. Jumping off your seat, you made your way towards the door in the same direction you had seen Roger go a few minutes before. The chilled night air of London nipped at any bit of exposed skin as you pushed open the doors. Suppressing a shiver as you stepped out onto the pavement, you glanced around for the familiar head of blond hair you had be asked to find.

It didn’t take long to find Roger. He was leaning against the red brick wall of the bar’s exterior as a gaggle of scantily clad ladies crowded around him. A plume of smoke trailed from his lips as he let out a laugh. It was a higher pitch than Brian’s or Tim’s but there was something so genuine about it that your chest warmed at the sound. It reminded you of birdsongs that filtered through your window in the Summer. You waited awkwardly for either Roger to notice you or for the girls to head off. Five minutes passed until Roger looked in your direction.

As soon as his eyes found yours, Roger excused himself and made his way towards you. That signature smile was spread thickly on his pink lips as he grew closer. The scent of nicotine clung to his jacket that looked thermal and too big for his slight frame. He stopped a few inches before you, studying your features.

“Look cold, darling. Need a light?”

“No, thank you, though. Tim wanted me to tell you that they’re packing up inside.” You bit back the shiver that ran up your spine at the nickname. With the message delivered, you started back towards the bar door. If it wasn’t for the hearty chuckle from Roger, you would have continued on your path.

“You do everything a man tells you?” His words sent a flame of rage through your body, something you hadn’t felt in ages. You spun on your heels and glared at him as he took a calmed drag of his cigarette.

“No,” you spat, “how dare you-”

“You looked awfully cozy with him in there. You sure you’re not doing this for an imagined favor?” Your hands curled into fists by your sides as he continued. “Tim isn’t right for you, believe me, darling.”

“I do things to be helpful, say things that help people. Unlike you, who seems to say things just to be a dick.” You turned towards the door again, but another wave of anger overwhelmed you and drove you to face the drummer once more. You were a mere inches apart now, the tension building brick by agonizing brick. “And you don’t even know me. I feel that Tim is more right for me than you could be for anyone.”

Roger’s face burned at that, as the girls who had been ogling him earlier giggled at your words. You noticed his strong jaw clench and you knew you had struck some sort of nerve. Good, you thought, he deserved that. Pleased with yourself, you turned and sassily swung your hips as you walked back inside the bar. Roger’s eyes followed you as you disappeared inside, his mouth hanging open in a case of wonder.

-

“He’s coming,” you said once you found Brian and Tim inside. Tim thanked you as Brian handed your your coat. Shrugging it on, you did your best to postpone any goodbyes. You had really enjoyed your night, despite Roger’s lousy attitude.

“I hope to see you wherever we play next,” Tim hummed, “hope we made you Smile.” You grinned and nodded.

“You definitely did. I’ll see you soon!” You followed Brian as he strode outside, his hands clinging to his guitar case like a life raft. You buttoned up your coat as you walked, listening to Brian chatter on about what he could have done better. You were about to tell him he did amazing for his first live show, but a shout cut you off.

“See ya Wednesday, May!” You and Brian turned to find Roger, still smoking, waving at the two of you. A girl was leaning against him, her nose nuzzling against his neck. The sight had your stomach curling with a burning heat that rose up to your cheeks and a fury you couldn’t place.

“See ya then, mate!” Brian cheered, turning to continue walking. You should have followed him, but the view of the girl kissing Roger’s cheek, then his lips had you locked in place for a moment. He seemed to glow under her affection and it felt like someone had stabbed you in the gut. “Y/N? You coming or you gonna stand there and freeze?”

Shaking your head you trailed after you best friend. What you didn’t catch was how Roger followed you with his eyes, a frown etched into his features as you walked away. Too busy in your thoughts and half listening to Brian, you came to a startling realization. You were jealous, but not for the reason you had originally thought.

[bigyack-com]

The Best Movies on Netflix in India [February 2020]

In its efforts to win Oscars and please its 167 million members, Netflix has been pouring billions into movies recently, including projects from or featuring the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Martin Scorsese, and Michael Bay. One of those — The Irishman — racked up 10 nominations for the streaming service at the 2020 Oscars, though it failed to come away with a single prize. Netflix has also expanded its film efforts in India in the past year, announcing projects from the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar. For now though, the strength of its catalogue is still the acquisitions. With over 3,500 movies, Netflix offers more choices than any other platform in India. To pick the best movies on Netflix, we relied on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and IMDb ratings to create a shortlist. The last of them was preferred for Indian films given the shortfalls of reviews aggregators in that department. Additionally, we used our own editorial judgement to add or remove a few. This list will be updated once every few months if there are any worthy additions or if some movies are removed from the service, so bookmark this page and keep checking in. Here are the best films currently available on Netflix in India, sorted alphabetically. 12 Monkeys (1995) Inspired by the 1962 French short La Jetée, a prisoner (Bruce Willis) is sent back in time to learn more about the virus that wiped out nearly all of humanity. Terry Gilliam directs. 12 Years A Slave (2013) Duped into slavery on the account of a job, Steve McQueen's adaptation of a free New York black man's (Chiwetel Ejiofor) 19th-century memoir is an incredible true story, and an important watch. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) In Stanley Kubrick's highly-influential sci-fi film, humanity charts a course for Jupiter with the sentient computer HAL 9000, to understand the discovery of a black monolith affecting human evolution. It's less plot, and more a visual and aural experience.

3 Idiots (2009) In this satire of the Indian education system's social pressures, two friends recount their college days and how their third long-lost musketeer (Aamir Khan) inspired them to think creatively and independently in a heavily-conformist world. Co-written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who stands accused in the #MeToo movement. 50/50 (2011) Inspired by a true story, a 27-year-old radio journalist (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is diagnosed with spinal cancer and learns the value of friendship and love as he battles the rare disease. Aamir (2008) Adapted from the 2006 Filipino film Cavite, a young Muslim NRI doctor (Rajeev Khandelwal) returning from the UK to India is forced to comply with terrorists' demands to carry out a bombing in Mumbai after they threaten his family. American History X (1998) In a film that's more relevant today than when it was made, a neo-Nazi white supremacist (Edward Norton), who served three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter, tries to prevent his younger brother from going down the same path. American Hustle (2013) In the late 1970s, two con artists (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) are forced to work for an FBI agent (Bradley Cooper) and set up a sting operation that plans to bring down several corrupt politicians and members of the Mafia. Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner star alongside. Andaz Apna Apna (1994) Two slackers (Aamir Khan and Salman Khan) who belong to middle-class families vie for the affections of an heiress, and inadvertently become her protectors from a local gangster in Rajkumar Santoshi's cult comedy favourite. Andhadhun (2018) Inspired by the French short film L'Accordeur, this black comedy thriller is the story of a piano player (Ayushman Khurrana) who pretends to be visually-impaired and is caught in a web of twists and lies after he walks into a murder scene. Tabu, Radhika Apte star alongside. Apollo 13 (1995) Ron Howard dramatises the aborted Apollo 13 mission that put the astronauts in jeopardy after an on-board explosion ate up all the oxygen and forced NASA to abort and get the men home safely. Argo (2012) Ben Affleck directs and stars in this film about a CIA agent posing as a Hollywood producer scouting for location in Iran, in order to rescue six Americans during the US hostage crisis of 1979. Article 15 (2019) Ayushmann Khurrana plays a cop in this exploration of casteism, religious discrimination, and the current socio-political situation in India, which tracks a missing persons' case involving three teenage girls of a small village. A hard-hitting, well-made movie, though ironically, it was criticised for being casteist itself, and providing an outsider's perspective. The Avengers (2012) Earth's mightiest heroes — including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the Hulk — come together in this groundbreaking Marvel team-up from writer-director Joss Whedon to stop Thor's adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his alien army from subjugating mankind.

The Aviator (2004) With Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes and Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn, Martin Scorsese dives into the life of the aviation pioneer and film producer, who grapples with severe OCD while his fame grows. Awakenings (1990) Robin Williams and Robert De Niro lead the cast of this drama based on a 1973 memoir of the same name, about a doctor (Williams) who discovers the beneficial effects of a drug on catatonic patients, thereby gifting them a new lease on life. Barfi! (2012) Set in the 1970s amidst the hills of Darjeeling, writer-director Anurag Basu tells the tale of three people (Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, and Ileana D'Cruz) as they learn to love while battling the notions held by society. Beasts of No Nation (2015) With civil war raging across a fictional African nation, this Netflix Original focuses on a young boy who's trained as a child soldier by a fierce warlord (Idris Elba), and the effects it has on him. Before Sunrise (1995) In the first chapter of Richard Linklater's long-drawn-out trilogy, two idealistic twentysomethings, an American man (Ethan Hawke) and a French woman (Julie Delpy), spend the night together walking around in the Austrian capital of Vienna. The Big Lebowski (1998) A guy known as The Dude (Jeff Bridges) seeks payback for his ruined carpet after he's mistaken for a millionaire with the same name in this crime comedy from the Coen brothers. Less about the plot and more about a way of living. The Big Short (2015) Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt, a look at Wall Street's penchant for self-profit in a vicious loop that caused the 2007–08 global financial meltdown. Birdman (2014) Alejandro G. Iñárritu won three Oscars including Best Picture for this tale of a washed-up superhero actor (Michael Keaton) who struggles to revive his career with a Broadway play. Known for appearing as if it was shot in a single take, it also starred Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, and Emma Stone. Blade Runner (1982) One of the most influential cyberpunk films ever made is about a burnt-out cop (Harrison Ford) who reluctantly agrees to hunt down a group of fugitive “replicants”, synthetic humans with a limited life-span who aren't allowed to live on Earth. Blue Valentine (2010) Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams lead this drama that shifts between time periods to depict a couple's courtship and how their marriage fell apart. Das Boot (1981) One of the most authentic war movies ever made chronicles the life of a German submarine crew during World War II, as they go through long stretches of boredom and periods of intense conflict, while trying to maintain morale in a capsule 10 feet by 150 feet hundreds of metres under the surface. The Bourne trilogy (2002-07) Technically not a trilogy, but the first three chapters — Identity, Supremacy, and Ultimatum — starring Matt Damon in the lead as the titular CIA assassin suffering from amnesia were so good that they changed the longest-running spy franchise of all-time: James Bond.

The Breadwinner (2017) This animated film follows a 11-year-old girl living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, who disguises herself as a boy to provide for her family after the father is taken away without reason. Uses wonderfully-drawn vignettes to stress on the importance of storytelling. Bulbul Can Sing (2019) Three teenagers battle patriarchy and the moral police as they explore their sexual identities in Rima Das's National Award-winning drama — and pay for it dearly. Das writes, directs, shoots, edits, and handles costumes. C/o Kancharapalem (2018) Set in the eponymous Andhra Pradesh town, this Telugu film spans four love stories across religion, caste, and age — from a schoolboy to a middle-aged unmarried man. A debut for writer-director Venkatesh Maha, featuing a cast mostly made up of non-professional actors. Capernaum (2018) In the award-winning, highest-grossing Arabic film of all time, a 12-year-old from the slums of Beirut recounts his life leading up to a five-year sentence he's handed for stabbing someone, and in turn, his decision to sue his parents for child neglect. Captain Phillips (2013) The true story of a Somali pirate hijacking of a US cargo ship and its captain (Tom Hanks) being taken hostage, which spawns a rescue effort from the US Navy. The Bourne Ultimatum's Paul Greengrass directs. Cast Away (2000) After his plane crash-lands in the Pacific, a FedEx employee (Tom Hanks) wakes up on a deserted island and must use everything at his disposal and transform himself physically to survive living alone. Castle in the Sky (1986) In the first film officially under the Studio Ghibli banner, a young boy and a girl protect a magic crystal from pirates and military agents, while on the search for a legendary floating castle. Hayao Miyazaki writes and directs. Chupke Chupke (1975) Hrishikesh Mukherjee's remake of the Bengali film Chhadmabeshi, in which a newly-wedded husband (Dharmendra) decides to play pranks on his wife's (Sharmila Tagore) supposedly smart brother-in-law. Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan also star. A Clockwork Orange (1971) Set in a near-future dystopian Britain, writer-director Stanley Kubrick adapts Anthony Burgess' novel of the same name, commenting on juvenile delinquency through the eyes of a small gang leader who enjoys "a bit of the old ultra-violence". Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) Steven Spielberg's slow-paced sci-fi pic — which spent several years in development, being rewritten over and over — is about an everyday blue-collar guy (Richard Dreyfuss) whose humdrum life turns upside down after an encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO).

Cold War (2018) Jumping either side of the Iron Curtain through the late 1940s to the 1960s, Oscar-winner Paweł Pawlikowski depicts the story of two star-crossed lovers, as they deal with Stalinism, rejection, jealousy, change, time — and their own temperaments. Company (2002) Inspired the real-life relationship between Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan, director Ram Gopal Varma offers a look at how a henchman (Vivek Oberoi) climbs up the mobster ladder and befriends the boss (Ajay Devgn), before they fall out. Dallas Buyers Club (2013) Refusing to accept a death sentence from his doctor after being diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s, the true story of an electrician and hustler (Matthew McConaughey) who smuggles banned medications from abroad. Dangal (2016) The extraordinary true story of amateur wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat (Aamir Khan) who trains his two daughters to become India's first world-class female wrestlers, who went on to win gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. The Dark Knight (2008) In the second part of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, regarded as the greatest comic book movie ever, Batman (Christian Bale) faces a villain, the Joker (Heath Ledger), he doesn't understand, and must go through hell to save Gotham and its people. Dev.D (2009) Anurag Kashyap offers a modern-day reimagining of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali romance classic Devdas, in which a man (Abhay Deol), having broken up with his childhood sweetheart, finds refuge in alcohol and drugs, before falling for a prostitute (Kalki Koechlin). Dheepan (2015) Winner of Cannes' top prize, three Sri Lankan refugees — including a Tamil Tiger soldier — pretend to be a family to gain asylum in France, where they soon realise that life isn't very different in the rough neighbourhoods. Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut about three inseparable childhood friends whose wildly different approach to relationships creates a strain on their friendship remains a cult favourite. Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Preity Zinta star. Django Unchained (2012) Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) helps a freed slave (Jamie Foxx) rescue his wife from a charming but cruel plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). Drive (2011) A stuntman moonlighting as a getaway driver (Ryan Gosling) grows fond of his neighbour and her young son, and then takes part in a botched heist to protect them from the debt-ridden husband.

Dunkirk (2017) Christopher Nolan's first historical war movie chronicles the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the French beaches of Dunkirk in World War II, using his love for non-linear storytelling by depicting three fronts — land, sea, and air — in time-shifted ways. The Edge of Seventeen (2016) In this coming-of-age comedy, the life of an awkward young woman (Hailee Steinfeld) gets more complex after her older brother starts dating her best friend, though she finds solace in an unexpected friendship and a teacher-slash-mentor (Woody Harrelson). End of Watch (2012) Before he made a terrible sci-fi remake of his own film, writer-director David Ayer took a near-documentarian lens to the day-to-day police work of two partners (Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña) in South Los Angeles, involving their friendship and dealings with criminal elements. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) An estranged couple (Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) begin a new relationship unaware they dated previously, having erased each other from their memories, in what stands as writer Charlie Kaufman's defining work. The Exorcist (1973) One of the greatest horror films of all time, that has left a lasting influence on the genre and beyond, is about the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl and her mother's attempts to save her with the help of two priests who perform exorcisms. The Florida Project (2017) Set in the shadow of Disney World, a precocious six-year-old girl (Brooklynn Prince) makes the most of her summer with her ragtag playmates, while her rebellious mother tries to make ends meet with the spectre of homelessness always hanging over them. Willem Dafoe stars alongside. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) In John Hughes' now-classic teen picture, a high schooler fakes being sick to spend the day with his girlfriend and his best friend, while his principal is determined to spy on him. Fruitvale Station (2013) Black Panther writer-director Ryan Coogler's first feature offered a look at the real-life events of a young California man's (Michael B. Jordan) death in a police shooting in 2008. Winner of two awards at Sundance Film Festival. Full Metal Jacket (1987) Stanley Kubrick follows a US marine nicknamed Joker from his days as a new recruit under the command of a ruthless sergeant, to his posting as a war correspondent in South Vietnam, while observing the effects of the war on his fellow soldiers.

Ghostbusters (1984) A bunch of eccentric paranormal enthusiasts start a ghost-catching business in New York, and then stumble upon a plot to wreak havoc by summoning ghosts. Gave birth to one of the most iconic song lyrics in history. Gol Maal (1979) A chartered accountant (Amol Palekar), with a knack for singing and acting, falls deep down the rabbit hole after lying to his boss that he has a twin, in this Hrishikesh Mukherjee comedy. Gone Girl (2014) Based on Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel and directed by David Fincher, a confounded husband (Ben Affleck) becomes the primary suspect in the sudden mystery disappearance of his wife (Rosamund Pike). GoodFellas (1990) Considered as one of the best gangster films of all time, it brought Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro together for the sixth time. Based on Nicholas Pilegg's 1985 non-fiction book Wiseguy, it tells the rise and fall story of mob associate Henry Hill, his friends and family between 1955 and 1980. Gravity (2013) Two US astronauts, a first-timer (Sandra Bullock) and another on his final mission (George Clooney), are stranded in space after their shuttle is destroyed, and then must battle debris and challenging conditions to return home. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) A bunch of intergalactic misfits, which includes a talking racoon and tree, come together to form a ragtag team in this Marvel adventure that needs no prior knowledge. Guru (2007) Mani Ratnam wrote and directed this rags-to-riches story of a ruthless and ambitious businessman (Abhishek Bachchan) who doesn't let anything stand in his way as he turns into India's biggest tycoon. Loosely inspired by the life of Dhirubhai Ambani. Haider (2014) Vishal Bhardwaj's Shakespearean trilogy concluded with this modern-day adaptation of Hamlet, that is also based on Basharat Peer's 1990s-Kashmir memoir Curfewed Night. Follows a young man (Shahid Kapoor) who returns home to investigate his father's disappearance and finds himself embroiled in the ongoing violent insurgency. Her (2013) A lonely man (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love with an intelligent computer operating system (Scarlett Johansson), who enriches his life and learns from him, in Spike Jonze's masterpiece. Hot Fuzz (2007) A top London cop (Simon Pegg, also co-writer) is transferred to a sleepy English village for being the lone overachiever in a squad of slackers. A blend of relationship comedy and a genre cop movie. Edgar Wright directs. Hugo (2011) In 1930s Paris, a boy who lives alone in the walls of a train station tries to figure out the mystery involving his late father and his most treasured possession, an automaton, that needs a key to function. Martin Scorsese directs.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) In the best of four movies, Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen is forced to participate in a special edition of the Hunger Games, a competition where individuals fight to the death, featuring the winners of all previous competitions. I, Daniel Blake (2016) After a heart attack that leaves him unable to work, a widowed carpenter is forced to fight an obtuse British welfare system, while developing a strong bond with a single mother who has two children. Winner of the Palme d'Or. I Lost My Body (2019) In this animated Cannes winner, a severed hand escapes from a lab and scrambles through Paris to get back to his body, while recounting its past life that involved moving to France after an accident and falling in love. In This Corner of the World (2016) Set in Hiroshima during World War II, an 18-year-old woman agrees to marry a man she barely knows in this animated Japanese film, and then must learn to cope with life's daily struggles and find a way to push through as the war rages on around her. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Directed by Steven Spielberg off a story by George Lucas, an eponymous archaeologist (Harrison Ford) travels the world and battles a group of Nazis while looking for a mysterious artefact, in what is now often considered as one of the greatest films of all-time. Infernal Affairs (2002) Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning The Departed is a remake of this original Hong Kongian film, in which a police officer is working undercover in a Triad, while a Triad member is secretly working for the police. Both have the same objective: find the mole. Into the Wild (2007) Based on Jon Krakauer's nonfiction book, Sean Penn goes behind the camera to direct the story of a top student and athlete who gives up all possessions and savings to charity, and hitchhikes across America to live in the Alaskan wilderness. Iqbal (2005) In writer-director Nagesh Kukunoor's National Award-winning film, a hearing- and speech-impaired farm boy (Shreyas Talpade) pursues his passion for becoming a cricketer for the national squad, with the help of a washed-up ex-coach (Naseeruddin Shah). The Irishman (2019) Based on Charles Brandt's 2004 book “I Heard You Paint Houses”, Martin Scorsese offers an indulgent, overlong look at the life of a truck driver (Robert De Niro) who becomes a hitman working for the Bufalino crime family and labour union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

John Wick (2014) In the first part of what is now a series, a former hitman (Keanu Reeves) exits retirement to find and kill those that stole his car and killed his dog. Less story, more action, with the filmmakers drawing on anime, Hong Kong action cinema, Spaghetti Westerns, and French crime dramas. Jurassic Park (1993) It might be over 25 years old at this point but watching the very first Jurassic film from Steven Spielberg — based on Michael Crichton's novel, which he co-adapted — is a great way to remind yourself why the new series, Jurassic World, has no idea why it's doing. Kahaani (2012) A pregnant woman (Vidya Balan) travels from London to Kolkata to search for her missing husband in writer-director Sujoy Ghosh's National Award-winning mystery thriller, battling sexism and a cover-up along the way. Khosla Ka Ghosla! (2006) After a powerful property dealer (Boman Irani) holds a middle-class, middle-aged man's (Anupam Kher) newly-purchased property to ransom, his son and his son's friends devise a plot to dupe the swindling squatter and pay him back with his own money. Dibakar Banerjee's directorial debut. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) A coming-of-age story of the young titular witch, who opens an air delivery business, helps a bakery's pregnant owner in exchange for accommodation, and befriends a geeky boy during her year of self-discovery. Hayao Miyazaki writes and directs. Lady Bird (2017) Greta Gerwig's directorial debut is a coming-of-age story of a high school senior (Saoirse Ronan) and her turbulent relationship with her mother (Laurie Metcalf), all while she figures out who she wants to be through friendships and short relationships. Lagaan (2001) Set in Victorian India, a village farmer (Aamir Khan) stakes everyone's future on a game of cricket with the well-equipped British, in exchange for a tax reprieve for three years. The Little Prince (2015) Antoine de Saint-Exupery's 1943 novella is given the animation treatment, in which an elderly pilot (Jeff Bridges) recounts his encounters with a young boy who claimed to be an extra-terrestrial prince to his neighbour, a young girl. Rachel McAdams, James Franco, and Marion Cotillard also voice. A Little Princess (1995) Alfonso Cuarón directs this tale of a young girl who is forced to become a servant by the headmistress at her New York boarding school, after her wealthy aristocratic father is presumed dead in World War I. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) Peter Jackson brought J.R.R. Tolkien's expansive Middle-Earth to life in these three three-hour epics, which charts the journey of a meek hobbit (Elijah Wood) and his various companions, as they try to stop the Dark Lord Sauron by destroying the source of his power, the One Ring.

Loveless (2017) A Cannes winner about the social ills of life in modern Russia, told through the eyes of two separated parents who are drawn back together after their 12-year-old child goes missing. From award-winning director Andrey Zvyagintsev. The Lunchbox (2013) An unlikely mistake by Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox carrier system results in an unusual friendship between a young housewife (Nimrat Kaur) and an older widower (Irrfan Khan) about to retire from his job. Lupin the Third: Castle of Cagliostro (1979) In legendary Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki's feature debut, a dashing master thief enlists the help of a long-time nemesis in the police and a fellow thief to rescue a princess from an evil count, and put an end to his counterfeit money operation. Marriage Story (2019) Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver play an entertainment industry couple going through a divorce, which pulls them — and their young son — from New York to Los Angeles, the two different hometowns of the protagonists. Mary Poppins (1964) Based on P.L. Travers' book series of the same name, a disciplined father hires a loving woman (Julie Andrews) — who he doesn't know is capable of magic — to be the nanny for his two mischievous children. Won five Oscars, including best actress for the debutant Andrews. Masaan (2015) Neeraj Ghaywan ventures into the heartland of India to explore the life of four people in his directorial debut, all of whom must battle issues of caste, culture and norms. Winner of a National Award and the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes. Million Dollar Baby (2004) An overlooked, veteran boxing trainer (Clint Eastwood, who also directs) reluctantly agrees to train a former waitress (Hilary Swank) to help achieve her dreams, which leads to a close father-daughter bond that will forever change their lives. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) With the organisation he works for disbanded and his country after him, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) races against time to prove the existence of the schemers pulling the strings in this fifth chapter. Introduced Rebecca Ferguson to the franchise. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) The legendary British comedy troupe mix their talents with the tale of King Arthur and his knights, as they look for the Holy Grail and encounter a series of horrors. A contender for the best comedy of all-time.

Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) Satire so cutting that it was banned for years in the UK and elsewhere, Life of Brian saw Monty Python turning their eyes on more long-form storytelling. The Life of Brian is the story of a young Jewish man born on the same day and next door to Jesus Christ, who gets mistaken for the messiah. Mudbound (2017) A Netflix Original, this World War II drama is set in rural Mississippi, and follows two veterans – one white and one black – who return home, and must deal with problems of racism in addition to PTSD. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) After his parents find out he has been pretending to be a doctor, a good-natured Mumbai underworld don (Sanjay Dutt) tries to redeem himself by enrolling in a medical college, where his compassion brushes up against the authoritarian dean (Boman Irani). Co-written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who stands accused in the #MeToo movement. My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Set in post-war rural Japan, a heart-warming tale of a professor's two young daughters who have adventures with friendly forest sprits. Hayao Miyazaki writes and directs. Mystic River (2003) Three childhood friends reunite after a brutal murder, in which the victim is one's (Sean Penn) daughter, another (Kevin Bacon) is the case detective, and the third (Tim Robbins) is suspected by both. Clint Eastwood directs. Nightcrawler (2014) Jake Gyllenhaal plays a freelance video journalist with no ethics or morals who will do anything to get the best footage of violent crimes that local news stations love. A feature directorial debut for screenwriter Dan Gilroy. Ocean's Eleven (2001) In this first of Steven Soderbergh's trilogy, which features an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, Danny Ocean (Clooney) and his eleven associates plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos at the same time. Okja (2017) Part environment parable and part skewer of corporatisation, this underappreciated Netflix Original by Bong Joon-ho tells its story of a young Korean girl and her best friend – a giant pet pig – while effortlessly crossing genres. On Body and Soul (2017) A shy, introverted man and a woman who work at a Hungarian slaughterhouse discover they share the same dreams after an incident, and then try to make them come true.

Only Yesterday (1991) A Studio Ghibli production about a 27-year-old career-driven Tokyo woman who reminisces about her childhood on her way to the countryside to see her sister's family. Isao Takahata writes and directs. Paan Singh Tomar (2012) A true story of the eponymous soldier and athlete (Irrfan Khan) who won gold at the National Games, and later turned into a dacoit to resolve a land dispute. Won top honours for film and actor (Khan) at National Awards. Pan's Labyrinth (2006) In Guillermo del Toro's fantastical version of Spain five years after the civil war, Ofelia – a young stepdaughter of a cruel army officer – is told she is the reincarnated version of an underworld princess but must complete three tasks to prove herself. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Emma Watson stars in this coming-of-age comedy based on the novel of the same name by Stephen Chbosky, who also wrote and directed the film. Watson plays one of two seniors who guide a nervous freshman. Phantom Thread (2017) Set in the glamourous couture world of 1950s post-war London, the life of a renowned dressmaker (Daniel Day-Lewis), who is used to women coming and going through his tailored life, unravels after he falls in love with a young, strong-willed waitress. Pink (2016) A lawyer (Amitabh Bachchan) comes out of retirement to help three women (Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, and Andrea Tariang) clear their names in a crime involving a politician's nephew (Angad Bedi). Won a National Award. PK (2014) A satirical comedy-drama that probes religious dogmas and superstitions, through the lens of an alien (Aamir Khan) who is stranded on Earth after he loses his personal communicator and befriends a TV journalist (Anushka Sharma) as he attempts to retrieve it. Porco Rosso (1992) Transformed into an anthropomorphic pig by an unusual curse, an Italian World War I ace fighter veteran now works as a freelance bounty hunter in 1930s Adriatic Sea in the Mediterranean. Hayao Miyazaki writes and directs. Queen (2013) A 24-year-old shy woman (Kangana Ranaut) sets off on her honeymoon alone to Europe after her fiancé calls off the wedding a day prior. There, freed from the traditional trappings and with the help of new friends, she gains a newfound perspective on life. Director Vikas Bahl stands accused in the #MeToo movement.

Rang De Basanti (2006) Aamir Khan leads the ensemble cast of this award-winning film that focuses on four young New Delhi men who turn into revolutionary heroes themselves while playacting as five Indian freedom fighters from the 1920s for a docudrama. Ratatouille (2007) An anthropomorphic rat (Patton Oswalt) who longs to be a chef tries to achieve his dream by making an alliance with a young garbage boy at a Parisian restaurant. From Pixar. Rebecca (1940) Alfred Hitchcock's first American film is based on Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel of the same name, about a naïve, young woman who marries an aristocratic widower and then struggles under the intimidating reputation of his first wife, who died under mysterious circumstances. The Remains of the Day (1993) Made by the duo of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, this based-on-a-book film is about a dedicated and loyal butler (Anthony Hopkins), who gave much of his life — and missed out on a lot — serving a British lord who turns out to be a Nazi sympathiser. Reservoir Dogs (1992) After a simply jewellery heist goes wrong in Quentin Tarantino's feature-length debut, six criminals – Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Madsen are a few of the actors – who don't know each other's identity start to suspect each other of being a police informant. The Revenant (2015) Leonardo DiCaprio and director Alejandro G. Iñárritu won Oscars for their work on this semi-biographical Western film set in the 1820s, which tells the story of frontiersman Hugh Glass and his quest for survival and justice amidst severe winters. Roma (2018) Alfonso Cuarón revisits his childhood in the eponymous Mexico City neighbourhood, during the political turmoil of the 1970s, through the eyes of a middle-class family's live-in maid, who takes care of the house and four children, while balancing the complications of her own personal life. Sairat (2016) In a tiny village in the Indian state of Maharashtra, a fisherman's son and a local politician's daughter fall in love, which sends ripples across the society because their families belong to different castes. Currently the highest-grossing Marathi-language film of all time. Scarface (1983) Al Pacino delivers one of his best performances as a Cuban refugee who arrives in 1980s Miami with nothing, rises the ranks to become a powerful drug kingpin, and then falls due to his ego, his paranoia, and a growing list of enemies. Se7en (1995) In this dark, gripping thriller from David Fincher, two detectives – one new (Brad Pitt) and one about to retire (Morgan Freeman) – hunt a serial killer (Kevin Spacey) who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives. Secret Superstar (2017) Though frequently melodramatic, this coming-of-age story – produced by Aamir Khan and wife Kiran Rao – of a Muslim girl from Vadodara who dreams of being a singer dealt with important social issues and broke several box office records during its theatrical run.

Sense and Sensibility (1995) Jane Austen's famous work is brought to life by director Ang Lee, about three sisters who are forced to seek financial security through marriage after the death of their wealthy father leaves them poor by the rules of inheritance. The Shining (1980) Stephen King's popular novel gets the film treatment from Stanley Kubrick, about a father who loses his sanity in an isolated hotel the family is staying at for the winter, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and the future. Shoplifters (2018) Winner of the top prize at Cannes, the story of a group of poverty-stricken outsiders scraping together an under-the-radar living in Tokyo, whose life is upended after they take in a new, young member. Hirokazu Kore-eda writes, directs, and edits. Shrek (2001) A half-parody of fairy tales, Shrek is about an eponymous ogre who agrees to help an evil lord get a queen in exchange for the deed to his swamp, filled with enough jokes for the adults and a simple plot children. A Silent Voice: The Movie (2016) Based on the manga of the same name, a coming-of-age story of a school bully who tries to make amends with a hearing-impaired girl he tormented back in the day, after the tables are turned on him. Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Two people (Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper) with pain and suffering in their past begin a road to recovery while training together for a dance competition, in what becomes an unlikely love story. The Sixth Sense (1999) In writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's best film to date, a child psychologist (Bruce Willis) tries to help a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who can see and talk to the dead. Snowpiercer (2013) Chris Evans stars in this sci-fi from Bong Joon-ho, which takes place in a future ravaged by an experiment, where the survivors live on a train that continuously circles the globe and has led to a punishing new class system. The Social Network (2010) The tale of Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg gets a slight fictional spin, as it explores how the young engineer was sued by twin brothers who claimed he stole their idea, and sold lies to his co-founder and squeezed him out.

Soni (2019) A short-tempered young policewoman and her cool-headed female boss must contend with ingrained misogyny in their daily lives and even at work, where it impacts their coordinated attempts to tackle the rise of crimes against women in Delhi. Spartacus (1960) After failing to land the title role in Ben-Hur, Kirk Douglas optioned a book with a similar theme, about a slave who led a revolt — known retrospectively as the Third Servile War — against the mighty Roman Empire. Won four Oscars and was named as one of the best historical epics. The Stranger (1946) A war crimes investigator hunts a high-ranking Nazi fugitive (Orson Welles, also director) hiding in the US state of Connecticut, who is also duping his naïve new wife. Super Deluxe (2019) An inter-linked anthology of four stories, involving an unfaithful wife, a transgender woman, a bunch of teenagers, which deal in sex, stigma, and spirituality. Runs at nearly three hours. Swades (2004) Shah Rukh Khan stars a successful NASA scientist in this based on a true story drama, who returns home to India to take his nanny to the US, rediscovers his roots and connects with the local village community in the process. Taare Zameen Par (2007) Sent to boarding school against his will, a dyslexic eight-year-old is helped by an unconventional art teacher (Aamir Khan) to overcome his disability and discover his true potential. Talvar (2015) Meghna Gulzar and Vishal Bhardwaj combine forces to tell the story of the 2008 Noida double murder case, in which a teenage girl and the family's hired servant were killed, and the inept police bungled the investigation. Uses the Rashomon effect for a three-pronged take. Tangerine (2015) Shot entirely on iPhones, a transgender female sex worker vows revenge on her boyfriend-pimp who cheated on her while she was in jail. Tangled (2010) Locked up by her overly protective mother, a young long-haired girl finally gets her wish to escape into the world outside thanks to a good-hearted thief, and discovers her true self.

Thithi (2016) In this award-winning Kannada-language film, set in a remote village in the state of Karnataka, three generations of men reflect on the death of their locally-famous, bad-tempered 101-year-old patriarch. Made with a cast of non-professional actors. The Town (2010) While a group of lifelong Boston friends plan a major final heist at Fenway Park, one of them (Ben Affleck) falls in love with the hostage from an earlier robbery, complicating matters. Train to Busan (2016) Stuck on a blood-drenched bullet train ride across Korea, a father and his daughter must fight their way through a countrywide zombie outbreak to make it to the only city that's safe. Tu Hai Mera Sunday (2016) Five thirty-something friends struggle to find a place in Mumbai where they can play football in peace in this light-hearted rom-com tale, which explores gender divides and social mores along the way. The Two Popes (2019) Inspired by real life, the tale of friendship that formed between Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), the future Pope Francis, after the latter approached the former regarding his concerns with the direction of the Catholic Church. Udaan (2010) Vikramaditya Motwane made his directorial debut with this coming-of-age story of a teenager who is expelled from boarding school and returns home to the industrial town of Jamshedpur, where he must work at his oppressive father's factory. Udta Punjab (2016) With the eponymous Indian state's drug crisis as the backdrop, this black comedy crime film depicts the interwoven lives of a junior policeman (Diljit Dosanjh), an activist doctor (Kareena Kapoor), a migrant worker (Alia Bhatt), and a rock star (Shahid Kapoor). Uncut Gems (2019) A charismatic, New York-based Jewish jeweller and a gambling addict (Adam Sandler) ends up in over his head in this taut thriller, struggling to keep a lid on his family, desires, business, and enemies. The Untouchables (1987) With mobster Al Capone (Robert De Niro) making use of the rampant corruption during the Prohibition period in the US, federal agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) hand picks a team to expose his business and bring him to justice. Brian De Palma directs. Up in the Air (2009) A corporate downsizing expert (George Clooney) who loves living out of a suitcase finds his lifestyle threatened due to a potential love interest (Vera Farmiga) and an ambitious new hire (Anna Kendrick).

Vertigo (1958) Topping Citizen Kane in the latest Sight & Sound poll of greatest films of all time, Alfred Hitchcock's thriller about a detective afraid of heights who falls for an old friend's wife while investigating her strange activities continued his tradition of turning audiences into voyeurs. Village Rockstars (2017) A young Assamese girl of a widow pines to own a guitar and start her own rock band, but societal norms routinely get in the way. Rima Das writes, directs, shoots, edits, and handles costumes. Visaranai (2015) Winner of three National Awards and based on M. Chandrakumar's novel Lock Up, the story of four Tamil laborers who are framed and tortured by politically-motivated cops in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. Vetrimaaran writes and directs. A Wednesday! (2008) Neeraj Pandey's film is set between 2 pm and 6 pm on a Wednesday, naturally, when a common man (Naseeruddin Shah) threatens to detonate five bombs in Mumbai unless four terrorists accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case are released. Wonder Woman (2017) After a pilot crashes and informs them about an ongoing World War, an Amazonian princess (Gal Gadot) leaves her secluded life to enter the world of men and stop what she believes to be the return of Amazons' nemesis. Wreck-It Ralph (2012) This Disney animated film tells the story of a video game villain who sets out to fulfil his dream of becoming a hero but ends up bringing havoc to the entire arcade where he lives. Zero Dark Thirty (2012) The decade-long international manhunt for Osama bin Laden is the focus of this thriller from Kathryn Bigelow, dramatised as and when needed to keep a CIA intelligence analyst (Jessica Chastain) at the centre of the story. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, and Abhay Deol star as three childhood friends who set off on a bachelor trip across Spain, which becomes an opportunity to heal past wounds, combat their worst fears, and fall in love with life. Zodiac (2007) David Fincher signed on Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. to depict a cartoonist's (Gyllenhaal) obsession with figuring out the identity of the Zodiac Killer in the 1960s–70s. Zombieland (2009) A student looking for his parents (Jesse Eisenberg), a man looking for a favourite snack, and two con artist sisters join forces and take an extended road trip across a zombie-filled America, while they all search for a zombie-free sanctuary. Read the full article

[sterek-bingo]

New year, new themes, we hope you lovely senpais out there will notice us!

That's right folks, the official Sterek Bingo 2019 themes are here!! A little delayed, as this year, we decided to release the descriptions and themes at the same time, so without further ado, click "Readmore" for our list of themes- we hope to see you in May!

The Raven- Quoth the raven, nevermore! According to Teen Wolf, there are three kinds of tricksters, a fox, a coyote, and a raven, in the series the raven bit fell a little short, but now with this theme you have the chance to fix that- if you want to! Otherwise, using a normal raven is just fine, perhaps a witch's familiar or even taking inspiration from the famous poem, anything you want, as long as it involves a raven of some kind, is accepted! You could even take a note from Teen Titans and use The Raven as a superhero name, sounds a little like Stiles if you ask me

Masquerade- Historically, masquerades have always been a great device used in literature, plays, film, and just about any other art form you can think of, a great way to move stories along or develop them from the ground up, with beautifull costumes and elaborate masks, now is your time to play with the creativity that the beauty and mystery of a masquerade will bring

Opening a door- Often times when people call out to spirits- through oujia boards, EMFs, and even ghost hunting- it's said that they're opening a door to the other side, letting evil in.... your job with this theme is to decide what door opens, what opens it, and what crosses over- or lies within- once it's ajar, it could be paranoia that says opening a door always invites evil spirits.... or it could just be the truth in plain sight

Astrology- According to the official Teen Wolf calander released with season 3A, Stiles is an Aries, and Derek is a Capricorn- the ram and the seagoat, what a cute combination! ... Ofcourse, other sources say that Stiles may be a Gemini and Derek might be a Scorpio, in the end though, you don't even have to use official sources, what matters is that astrology comes to play into your peice in some form, it could be real, or fake, or ambigous- it might not even apply in terms of birth dates at all, as long as astrology plays a role, this is the theme for you!

Revenge- Perhaps it's a dish best served cold, or perhaps the best kind is living well, however you take revenge, it's appropriate for this theme, use the theme however you wish- Stiles or Derek getting revenge for eachother, or for a loved one, or perhaps someone getting revenge on them, maybe revenge doesn't actually even take place, but is persuaded against, all that matters is that the subject of revenge pops up somewhere in your peice

Flower Language- Red roses mean true love, blue violets mean love between women, and those are just two of the most promising, despite it's name, flower language doesn't stop at just flowers, all plants have some sort of symbolism- grass represents homosexuality, Witch Hazel means magic, and there are thousands more where those come from! You can feature any plant, any meaning, as long as flower language is featured in some way, you're coming up roses for this theme

Music- Music is the language of love... and heart-break... and just about every other emotion, music can communicate what's often too hard to say in conversation or to express to people directly, music can make us feel, it can inspire us, and that's what you need to do for this theme- get inspired by music, or feature it smewhere in your peice, unlike other themes, music doesn't have to be directly featured, it can serve merely as inspiration if that's preferred

Derek Hale Deserves Nice Things- A popular tag on AO3, and an even more popular sentiment amongst Teen Wolf fans, Derek Hale has been long deserving of some nice things in his life, a break, a vacation, even a nap, your job for this theme is to give him some of those much desired good things, or atleast one of them, make up for all of the wrongs Teen Wolf did by giving this sweet boy something nice!

Foxes- Ever since the nogitsune, fox!Stiles has been a staple of the fandom, and now you have the choice to join the trend... or throw a curveball and do something else! Fox!Stiles, fox!Derek, or perhaps somebody else, hell it doesn't even have to be a werefox or fox-shifter at all, it can be a normal fix or even a toy fox- any fox will do, as long as it's featured in your peice

Vampires- From Buffy to True Blood, The Vampire Diaries to Twilight, vampire-centric media has often been apt to feature werewolves, but the opposite isn't necessarily true, one promise Jeff Davis came through on was that vampires would never exist in Teen Wolf, but now it's your chance to change that! Canonverse, AU, crossover, it doesn't matter, choose your opportunity to bring vampires to the world of Sterek

Disney- When you wish upon a star.... the dream of Sterek may come true, depending on who you ask, Disney could represent a great number of things, childhood innocence, dreams coming true, cooporate monopoly and the sustaining of puritanism... hopefully that last part won't play into your peice too much, be it a crossover with an existing Disney property, Disney-fying your art or writing style, or simply using Disneyland, Disney Studios, or some other real-world example of Disney as a part of your work, this theme offers as many different choices as there are stars in the sky

Chocolate- Mmmmm ... chocolate!! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, chocolate cake, and just plain ol' chocolate candy, it's hard to come across a sweet treat that doesn't have an association with chocolate of some kind, all you have to do is choose your favorite flavor and design a peice around that, what a treat this theme is!

Murder Husbands- Though the phrase was popularized when Freddie Lounds proposed it in Hannibal, the theme of "Murder Husbands"- a couple, be it romantic or platonic, who kill together- has been around since atleast the 40s, with Alfred Hitchcock's "The Rope", and has even existed in real life, the cat-and-mouse aspect also can't be ignored, from Hannibal it's self to the more recent Killing Eve, there's definitely something to be said for the thrill of the chase, described by Rachel Roth of "Fansided" as "a modern day Hades searching for his Persephone; an innocent's descent into Hellfire", there are plenty of ways to go for a killer theme like this- partners in crime, vampire boyfreinds, a cop-and-killer chase, the only thing that can be truly certain is that this theme is recomended for those who like their Sterek with a darker twist

Games- From the intellectually stirring challenge of chess, to the athletic trial of lacrosse, to even the magical feilds of Quidditch or the strategy-straining Duel Monsters, games can be anything from a fun pass-time to a freindly competition, or, as seen with examples such as the Triwizard Tournament, Shadow Games, and even game-based horrors like SAW and Escape Room, trials of life and death, even these themes are a game when you think about it, all you have to do now is decide how to play this one

Dragons- Here be dragons! One of the world's longest standing magical creatures, dragons can be found all over the globe, and in every form of media too, from the dangers of Harry Potter and The Hobbit, to the excitement of How To Train Your Dragon and Avatar: The Last Airbender, it's hard to find fantasy media that doesn't atleast mention dragons... and yet, there's Teen Wolf, wich sadly, only ever came as close as kanimas, but now is your chance to fix that! Take to the skies and use any kind of dragon you like to make the world of Teen Wolf better, brighter, and more fire-breathing than ever!

The Lake- Depending on your personal veiws, lakes can represent all sorts of things, from a fun family vacation, to a romantic summer date, to a spooky atmosphere with something lurking just beneath the surface... your peice can be any tone or atmosphere that you like, as long as a lake is featured in some way, perhaps Sties is a merman living in the local lake, or the pack takes a vacation to Lydia's lakehouse, or maybe whatever is living in the lake in Beacon Hills finally makes it's self known, however you want to spin it, time to dive in with this aquatic theme!

Puppy Pile- Aww, puppy piles! What's cuter than a puppy? An entire pile of them, and what's cuter than a werewolf? Well, you get the picture, the fun thing about this theme is that you can use humans, werewolves, normal wolves, or even actual puppies! The choices for who piles up for a nap- or a night of sleep- in this theme is all up to you!

Triskelion- The sun, the moon, the truth; Alpha, beta, omega; past, present, future.... triskelions can represent alot of things, and that's just what they signify on Teen Wolf, in real life, there are even more things for triskelions to symbolize, this theme can be used in just about any way- Derek's tattoo, the mantra-disc he tried to use as a teenager, a rune, or even just what the triskelion means (IE: a peice about the past, the present, and the future) however you twist and turn it, all that matters is that a triskelion is somehow featured in your peice

Faeries- One thing I really wish had been better explained in Teen Wolf is the fact that banshees are technically a type of faery, meaning that faeries are canonically part of Teen Wolf- and everything they bring with them as well, from faery!Stiles, to "Faeries made them do it", fae folk are a common theme to be brought up in fanfiction, as well as in folklore, throughout history fae have been presented as everything from good to evil to morally ambigous, weather they have wings or magic or telepathic abilities, living in their own realms, communicating with nature, or controlling their size, there are a million different ways you can go with the faery theme, now's your time to take off and fly with it

Strangers On A Train- In 1951, Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers On A Train" was released, featuring two strangers making a murder pact after meeting on a train, wile this theme is certainly one that you can use- it's been used ever since in both media and in real life, after all- it doesn't *have* to be, the theme can be much more fun and fluffy, or mysterious and strange, or dark and twisted, the idea of meeting someone on a train who ultimately changes your life hasn't dimmed with time, even if trains are significantly less common of a transporation system these days, they still make a splash in media, from the iconic Hogwarts Express to the setting of 2017's "The Commuter", it's time to get on board with this peculiar theme

Other Realms- One of the things that was touched on, yet not nearly explained enough, was that there are in fact other realms in Teen Wolf, The Wild Hunt made that more than clear, but what extent exactly does this go to? Faery realms? Atlantis? Afterlives? It's up to you to decide, you can use as few or as many different realms as you'd wish, and are as always, free to make it an AU, just as long as you feature atleast one alterante realm in some way in your peice

Cosplay- One of the greatest forms of expression in fandom, cosplay has turned "Dressing up" into an Olympic sport, be it a simple store-bought costume, a pain-stakingly hand-made costume, one that's affordable or one that takes your life savings, cosplay isn't about looking theatrical or professional, it's about having fun! Be it for Halloween, a convention, or a party, let the fan flag fly with this theme

Cabin In The Woods- Peacefull life of flannel and fireplaces.... or horror movie setting of death? The Cabin In The Woods, much like The Lake, has two very conflicting atmospheres to them, the peacefull, content relaxation of being away from society, in the woods or the mountains, surrounded by nature and without the stresses of every day life.... and being in the middle of nowhere, without the use of electronics, where anything can happen and no one can hear you scream... it's your choice for wich version of the theme you'll use- or perhaps you could even use a different one, alot can happen when your theme is only the setting after all!

Mechanic- Finding a good mechanic is every non-car-person's deepest desire, and that's probably even more so for Stiles- who drives what I'm generously calling a "fixer upper", and Derek, who's Camarao is probably worth more than my life value, now's the time to give them the car help they need- or perhaps allow one of them to be a mechanic himself! Fixing cars is no easy task, but hopefully finding a way to plug a mechanic into your theme won't be nearly so daunting

Unicorns- This theme is a very special unicorn.... literally! Much to my surprise and delight, unicorns are a pretty common theme in this fandom, and now is your time to make it your own, from unicorns who follow virgin "maidens", to those who are attached to folks with good hearts, or maybe they aren't necessarily attached to anyone at all, perhaps they're just minding their own business when Stiles or Derek stumbles upon them, maybe one of them is a unicorn herder, or possibly something else that I've yet to describe, the magic of this theme is that you can get as creative as you want

Urban Legends- From Diet Coke and Pop Rocks to organ harvesting in a bath of ice, urban legends have a tendency to be odd, macabre, and ... questionably realistic, after all, it wouldn't be an urban legend if there didn't atleast sound like a crumb of truth was contained inside, your job is to use any existing urban legend- or to create your own!- in your Bingo peice, it can be a rumor gone wrong, a legend disproved, or perhaps even that grain of truth inside the urban legends, whatever you decide, I'm sure it'll be legendary

Past lives- Reincarnation is definitely one of the most fascinating themes I can think of, it has the potential for everything from mystery to angst to even fluff, so when one starts exploring Stiles and Derek's past lives, you know you'll be in for a treat, or, perhaps, Stiles and Derek *are* the past lives being explored, it's perfectly possible that your peice focus on future incarnations of their souls as well, as long as we can tell that it's these two idiots in love, any incarnation is applicable

Pack parents- Pack Mom, Pack Dad, whatever you call them, it's clear that Stiles and Derek are the "parents" of the pack, even without either being the Alpha (though if you want to Alpha-nize either of them that's definitely fine by us) Stiles and Derek have, since the beginning, treated their packmates like children, and with good reason, now is your time to capitalize on that! Be they literal parents or just using that as a figure of speech- maybe even a sarcastic one- it's time to have a sit down with the pack parents and feel young again

Alpha & Emissary Gathering- Werewolf symposiums, supernatural conventions, Alpha & Emissary gatherings... they're all essentially the same thing, an opportunity to show off the fun of a convention with the stress of a supernatural hot spot, be it Alpha!Derek and Emissary!Stiles, Alpha!Stiles and Emissary!Derek, or some other combination to surprise us with, it's time to gather your ideas and ready one of them for this fun theme

Wild Card- This is the obligatory bingo square in the very middle where you can do absolutely anything you want! That’s right. There’s no restriction, no guideline, no THEME! It’s your freebie to do anything you may have been wanting to do, but haven’t really had the time or inspiration to do until now- here’s your chance. Now go forth and create Sterek!

[noxsden]

The Underside of Bliss

My longest story to date, it took a lot of work to get it done but I’m really impressed with how it turned out.  Broken up into chapters of sort but I wanted to keep it as one post.   Special thanks to @lesleylycan for proofreading and helping me edit.  Sorry about the drought in my posts but anyone that enjoys reading them thank you it means a lot. <3 <3 <3

The most dangerous weapon is not the mind or knowledge, but the absence of them.  There was a time when darkness was a threat to everyday life.  When the tales were raw, and dripping with the vitriol that we hide now. We forgot it is a part of us, that we aren’t above it.  We were afraid of the dark, afraid of what lurked in the forests, and for good reason.  Now, from our heightened awareness, fear is for savages, it is strange and wrong, unless it’s used it the right way.  We forget its lessons, we forgot why the tales were important.  They are all based on something true.  

Snow clung to the dark, damp bark of the innumerable trees that made up the forest that surrounded the lone figure.  Crunching sounds echoed out as bare feet cleaved into the fallen ground, the heat difference leaving a lingering stain. The figure’s head tilted up and darted back and forth, ears flicking to the low pulsing sound in the air.  Dancing to the deep throbbing bass sounds that pulsed like a heartbeat, a heartbeat loud enough to be carried along the wind.  Also carried along the wind was a heat that betrayed the nature of the brisk air, with a heavy stench to it, one of life.  Motivated as if the true path through the labyrinth was discovered, the figure bounded off in that direction.

The figure’s silhouette flashed between the trees, without caring for the distance.  It seemed to cover it with a single stride.  Limbs telescoped out to bridge the gaps it needed, with only a rustling sound accompanied the movements.  The disturbance of the ground left prints of an impossibly large stride, lingering until they returned to nature with the snowfall that brought innocence once more, only the silent gaze of the pale moon knew its secrets.  The striding form grew hunched, lowering itself down, bobbing with its leaping movements to gather momentum forward.  It turned into a blur of motion as it sought a relief from the pale scrutiny behind the trees that grew closer.  

Jagged and twisted shadows sprouted out of the figure’s head, curling into a cresting bramble crown upon the figure’s head from behind its tree cover.  Bounding from tree to tree the figure tried to escape the looming darkness that cast its merciless shadow over all that had once lived in the now barren waste of a forest.  Tree branches appeared more like bones seeking to scratch and tear away at life that wandered too close, hoping to reclaim their splendor from the verdant daydreams plants have.  The winter stretched ever onwards, it had become all that was known.  Pale skin barely phased by the frost, and breath that passed unseen, suited for the environment it passed through.  Footsteps elongated, weighted more on the toes that curled into the ground and tore away the dirt, blood pooling in the desperate tracks it created.  The looming shadow of the horizon nipped at its heels at a steady pace as the pale moon was seduced into its gravity.

The figure was directionless among the trunks, fingernails scraped for purchase, leaving more of itself behind with each movement.  The monster’s arms reached forward, stretching to grab at the trees as if they were rungs on a ladder propelling just enough to keep their head above the encroaching tide.  It had to keep moving, as warmth beat down on it’s back, a warm glow to cast upon its fragile looking shadow.  It had been caught.  Sweat formed on its bare skin, heated by the light and seeming to be peeled away as the droplets trailed down.  Pain couldn’t be a hindrance, if one gives up from pain the only option is death.  A new form became visible in the distance, walking slowly back and forth.  Its eyes bore a soft spark of amber, and its grin was hideously white.  A cruel taunt of a beckon from the creature before its arms went out awaiting an embrace.

Then with an apocalyptic crash the world shifted.  Golden sunlight rained down upon the figures, basking the two in heat. The ground shook beneath them and trees began to flake away under the soft breeze.  Blinking the creature found itself in stasis and airborne with no purchase left to give, the being let out a primal roar, shattering what remained of the winter illusion and letting nothing but the shadow remain.  With the bolstering glow upon it, the umbra swallowed them.  Like searing tar it covered every inch of the misshapen body until it was in nothing but abyss.  Bones reached out, clawing where the air had been, searching and seeking, but there was nothing to grab hold of.  The fingernails twisted and grew into fine points in a desperate attempt to stay above the surface. The beasts’ efforts were futile and they were dragged into infinity.

************

A series of loud repetitive noises sounded until a frustrated hand came down to knock the alarm away.  A routine was hard to break, not having a job was something she had gotten used to,and it wasn’t something she was going to let change her.  Coated in a sheen of sweat that was glistening under the light her sliver of a window provided, she begged herself for just five more minutes.  Begrudgingly getting up from the bed and walking about the apartment, she was up hours early but there was no point in trying to go back to sleep.  She looked back at the bed for a few moments of study, furrowing her features at how it called out to her.  Another noise from behind her broke the trance she had, and this time the stubborn alarm was just kicked across the room for its startling cry.

The mirror was the next thing to catch her focus. Hands ran along her arms and then down her stomach as she turned to inspect herself from another angle.  She traced the muscle lines of her abs and hips that disappeared into her underwear, the act accompanied by a grumbling sigh.  The rest of the morning went on by routine, a small breakfast and shower with clothes picked out for the day.  Getting dressed in a leisurely fashion and opening the door to step out when a temperate breeze coasted back in.  She looked back at the mirror and caught sight of the many layers she had put on, dressed as if she was stepping out into the middle of winter rather than the artificial season that awaited her.

A silver expanse was what greeted her when she stepped outside, shimmering in the sunlight that kept the snow forever melting from the walls, making every building look as if it was glistening with sweat.  Off in the distance, the spires cast their shadows over all buildings and streets and onto the perpetual lines of patrons that sought their healing and soothsaying from on high, delivered by the voices of their idols.  Every morning she swore that if she squinted just right she could see them, foregoing work or other important activities to be told how to live by those that claimed to be greater than themselves.  As she turned to leave, she spotted an unusual bit of paper, something that stood apart from the routine and had found its way inside the local news.  Colorful and bright font drew her eye from the drab it was surrounded by.  As she looked it over a chuckle burst forth, loud enough that she swore she heard her neighbors take fright. On the cover it read ‘The Real and Only Truth’.

Pulling out what she assumed was a religious pamphlet from its sanctuary, the grin rose on her face.  It was a great pleasure to her, reading the garbage that the organizations tried to shove down people’s throats.  Though, as her eyes read over the text she beheld a much different message.

‘The golden city lies in ruins.  Barriers broken down, angels brought to ground.  The lies unveiled for all to see.  Heroes thanked for their deeds.  Equality.’

So it was some kind of joke.  News of the sister city falling would not be able to be held back.  Just some poor fool trying to ruffle feathers.  Things were never equal, that was just a word used to make you look the other way.  To placate the masses into thinking what they have is the right amount of it.  She tossed the pamphlet over the railing and began her descent to the bustling streets of the metropolis.

She enjoyed having a place in the higher levels, snow just barely clung to the railing at her level.  Each layer down the concept of the weather seemed to grow more and more faint, fading back into memory.  The idea of a jacket seemed to almost fall to the wayside as well, until that breeze came up.  She smiled to herself at its predictability.  Sometimes it wasn’t so bad.  She passed by neighbors with nothing more than a nod, and only sometimes a smile was given in return. What luxury it was to part of the nameless group of her apartment building.  Ottilia, It was either a cruel curse or a blessing by her parents to plaster someone with a unique tag, perhaps that was why she was so comfortable keeping it to herself.

She pushed open the door to the chime that announced her number ‘134’, it was much more apt in the bustle of gears than a personalized name.  A cog seeking its proper place.  As she stepped out onto the street she was greeted with a gust of air, the linger of melted snow brought a damp but fresh aroma to it.  Earthy undertones that seemed to spike in her mind clung in the bouquet.  It didn’t take her long to run into one of the many lines, having to elbow her way through the disgruntled people to get to her transit.

With time to kill before her interview, she took a detour before arriving, stopping at a few of the parks and picking up a small dish of food from a street vendor at her favorite one.  It was relaxing.  At times she could close her eyes while sitting on a bench and imagine feeding animals like those old stories talked about.  The sounds of bells and machinery became machinations of the organic for just a brief moment until it was snatched away from her grasp as a rude individual bumped into her foot and started shouting at her.  Anger was not found on her face as she realized that she had lost her food in the process.  The man hadn’t even stopped, instead just continuing to walk and mumbling curses at her without even looking back.

Growling and clenching her fists, she took a couple steps to follow him before a ringing of her alarm went off.  The cogs would have to fit back into place.  She had to hurry to the interview.  Most of the landscape was neutral.  Nothing really drew any attention as far as separation from one building to the next.  That was until the goliath of a skyscraper towered over all other surrounding buildings came into view.  Constructed with arcing and rounded lines, it was built to stand out.  They were always hiring, and they always had spots open if the risk was worth the attempt.  Never enough at a time for flood gates, but this was her lucky day.

Waiting for the meeting was the toughest part, she had already seen a few turned away with expedient solutions.  All the mistakes that could be had, she closed her eyes and did her best to relax.  The darkness of her closed eyes gave way to white.  Snow, it was so white and fluffy in this place, where she could frolic and wander about the trees.  At home, it felt like she was at home.  Soon the land was in turmoil as if it was all within a snowglobe that was being shaken to reveal it’s hidden tricks.  She woke with a start and looked up to see an assistant sitting there and tapping a pen against a clipboard.  An apology every step of the way before she was led into a large office where a man sat behind a large desk with his hands entangled and covering his face.  Ominous was the large window sat behind him and could see over the entire city, a sight that seemed impossible had she not been there at this moment.  She tried to answer all the questions as honestly as she could, but something in her just wanted to be outside.

The questions had finished quickly and he stood then to walk around the desk and lean in close to Ottilia.  Her eyes going wide for a few moments as beads of sweat began to form.  This business was always hiring.  She watched the assistant leave the room and the man stood back up straight, adjusting to lean against the desk.  The climate had shifted dramatically, this city was slowing down and no one quite understood why.  Every naysayer had their purpose, but this all watching tower continued to grow.  To claim all that was around it and consume the businesses that dared to step out of line.  It sold the image well, sell the word they want to hear, and keep them from doing harm, cutting edge indeed.

There were no more questions to be had, no more qualifications to be read off from rehearsal.  Time stretched on and the assistant made a few notes just in time for Ottilia to come back into the room and look to her.  A keycard given to the quiet woman and she was sent on her way to return tomorrow.  A satisfied CEO turned on a dime and went back out to the overlook perch.  The door to his office shutting with a slam.

*******

Her days became hectic after that, morning routines were rushed and the scenery became a blur.  Colors seemed to drain away as she slogged through her work, even if they were never strong to start.  It was an honor to work there, to be given such a high station so quickly.  That’s what they kept telling her, watching the unfortunate mob in endless progression, optimism into crushing defeat.  Perhaps if they turned to the summit, the words were like poison in her mouth.  Poison that she had to drink on regular basis.  It kept her mind in balance, in regularity, knowing that the passage of time had happened and that it wasn’t some prolonged instant.  It was brief, but the only respite away from the world of four confining walls she had.

Days turned into weeks easily enough, flowing into each other with no real break for breathing.  Her mornings had turned more restless and she found her eyes increasingly discerning of her figure.  She missed the walking that she had been afforded in her times of freedom, now only sleep was her release.  Even then, as evenings became plague with small periods of rest, she woke up just as frazzled.  She saw it calling to her, in darkened woods where sound was foreign.  She swore her feet were cold with the clinging droplets of melted snow, but there was never any proof.  Her mornings grew frantic, the next wake up under more increased stress than the last.  The shadow loomed closer, heated breath on her neck, swatting at figures that weren’t there.

In transit she swore she caught scent of that earthy fresh embodiment, but as she sought it out all she received was strange looks.  Stepping too far out of her place, back in the line or back of the line were the only options.  She was lucky to be afforded such courtesy, imagine what it would be like to have nothing at all.  That thought became a daydream that she had to keep secret, smiling behind a false face.  Retreating to that paradise where she could knock down her walls and be free, free from the consumption of her being.

At the end of the week she spotted another newspaper, and inside it a small pamphlet, reading the same thing it did so many months ago.  Clearly it was mistaken, a cruel joke, nothing would change.  The brief look of colors had her transfixed, she dropped it to the ground and let a smile creep over her face.  Before she realized it her feet had carried her back to the small park, the warm and inviting food once again in her lap and she sat down to savor.  Again her eyes grew heavy and closed, the warmth and aroma carrying her away to lands full of what this park represented.  The world that had to be out there, perhaps even just at the city limits, she had never been that far out before.  A sense of pressure in the back of her nose, this had all happened before.

Her eyes darted open but they were too late, and she was forced to watch the man bump into her.  His hand intentionally knocking her food from her hands.  Berating curses were spewed from him, equal parts hot air and vile the man did his best to enact a volcano’s eruption.  His footsteps echoed in her mind compelling her to stand up.  She could get a better look at the man, in a suit too small for him, dirty with a sense that all others walked on eggshells around him.  He reeked of it, physically, mentally, nothing but consumption and rot.  Of taking from those around him.  Her footsteps echoed his own as she followed him, just a few paces behind.  Her mind wild with ideas of what she could do if she caught up, instead she was just a shadow extending from his own.  The more time that dragged on the more her will flaked away, she became tempered with each step until she had stopped and watched his offensive figure disappear into the horizon.

*****

Starting off the week on the right foot she got up well rested and free of the shimmering sweat that plagued her so often.  Her body seemed to fight her commands, slogging over to the mirror where she felt her hand move along the growing curve.  She needed more exercise, I’m sure they’d approve of small breaks if they saw how it was affecting her, she thought to herself.  Her production value would go down if she deteriorated any further.  Just a slice of what had been the norm, maybe she was just still waking up.

It hadn’t taken long for her day to shift on axis, she hadn’t thought that missing a small amount of time would cause such a stir.  Called to the bosses office as soon as she had stepped into the building, her shoulders drawing back and inwards.  Soft steps made their way passed the large double doors, finding the boss standing up and overlooking the city.  His back was to her, not speaking or turning until she had sat down at the other side of his desk.  Hearing the creak of the wood as he walked up to place his hands on the desk.  Looking up from her seated position her gaze angled to see the various trophies that lined the ceiling.  How had she not noticed them before, staring back at her with their dark empty pits.

An impressive set of antlers seemed to almost frame his head as he loomed over her.  It was a speech she had heard all her life, how she needed to be a cog like everyone else.  These rules were in place for a reason, smooth and steady meant happy.  The leering and angry demeanor seemed to cool and heavy steps carried him around the obstacle his desk had become with a sure and confident pace.  Leaning against it and eyeing her up and down, hand reaching out to take her by the chin and tilt her head towards him.  There was a feeling of cold sweat that beaded at the back of her head, her eyes never meeting his, simply looking down and accepting the words as they were said.  The words were true, but spoken cruelly for laughs.  She didn’t need to ask for time, she already knew the answer.

After the uncomfortable amount of time had passed she walked carefully from the office and made her way back down to her own.  She didn’t have a choice, one person couldn’t bring down the machine.  It would just swallow her up, never to be heard from again, like the lives they ruined everyday.  Money was easy to hold over someone, it was easy to bait them down the aisle.  The welcome mat like a tongue disguised as a red carpet sweeping away their dreams and leaving nothing left.  That was life, especially out here where this city is all that is and all that was.  We all accept that snow never finds its way to the streets as normal, she thought to herself, hands coming up to her cheeks as if they could stop her strong features from breaking.

Her cold sweat and unrelenting mornings came back the next day, she could barely get out of bed, let alone walk.  Legs aren’t needed to get to where you are going when the will is there to succeed, to survive.  The saying rattled in her mind, she couldn’t afford to be sent away.  Hurrying through the rest of the routine she barely caught a glimpse of her form’s curves.  The sayings were jeering now, ‘if you don’t work you might as well be dead.’  Colorful expressions from something that boasted the best business in the land.  She was merely a spec in its towering form.  Opening the door she stood still, a mound of snow had seemingly piled up in her doorway.

*****

It was impossible, there hadn’t been a snowfall recorded in some time.  Her room still seemed the same as her confused features gave it a thorough look over.  Slow steps backwards, a troubled look on her face as she watched the world around her twist and distort.  A flicker of light at her side had her turning to look at her mirror.  Her normal mirror was gone and had been replaced by a cruel warped funhouse mirror, normally something played for laughs.  Yet this one looked on with abject terror, her face pale and cracking away.  The sound of rustling and pounding feet grew closer and closer, until it was more like thunder threatening to break open the sky.  She had awoke, but not in the bed she remembered.  Slowly getting out of but instead prying herself up from the floor.  Her eyes immediately widened as they caught sight of her mirror, fractured glass split the one image into many, and all were staring back at her.

Her hands clutched her belly before she backed up into the wall.  Her reflection was there, but it was surrounded by emptiness, the manmade structure of her home had vanished. With another step back she found herself in freefall.  Her surroundings drifted away until it was all void.  She tumbled through it, seeing nothing but black except for the small blips of white in the form of snowflakes.  The flakes stilled in time as she spun about, blinking she found that fear didn’t hold grip on her heart.  Below her the white ground grew closer, a relaxed pace even as trees came into view they were far away from her landing.

Just before time lost meaning impact was made.  The snowflakes started to fall onto her face and bare skin, a heated breath escaped from her body with a laugh, she felt no danger.  It was still, quiet, cold, it seeped into her being.  It couldn’t be true and she knew that, but boy did she want it to be.  If only she was so lucky, pain shot from her stomach causing her to curl into a ball, clutching at herself.  Crimson stained the snow, silvered glints of claws flashed out to either side of her form.  She started to crawl, until her progress was halted as a force yanked at her ankle.  A set of ruby wings burst forth to frame her crippled being.  Humiliation increased by a deep bellowing laugh that was followed by pressure on her chest.  The weight increasing until the strain was too much and she found her ribs breaking so catastrophically that it echoed out around her.

Suddenly the forest that had only moments ago been a refuge grew tight as many eyes focused on her struggle from all around, staring in the silence, unmoving.  Unblinking the judging lights watched her in that position as if it was meant for her.  Above her battered form, the dark vision took shape, large and horned, its bellowing laughed carried out in place of her pain.  Twisting its leg back and forth, grinding her deeper into the melting snow.  She sunk into the ground until the eyes could no longer be seen, until warmth took hold, until her senses were slowly overtaken by pain.  Then there was nothing, she was nothing, the abyss had found her again with no horizon or playful sight of snowflakes only existing in her memory.

Twisting into focus the darkness was cut by twisting orange shapes.  Curling thorns built into an outline that bathed her broken being in light.  Her arms could move, touching her body as the wounds stitched themselves back together.  She was made whole in the strange natural and familiar light.  A smile crept onto her face, watching the blood return into her pale form giving life.  Pleasant pops of joints as her limbs stretched caused her laugh to ring out, louder and louder until it shattered the abyss.  Her eyes opened up and she sat up from her bed with a grin.

******

Confident steps had her leave her home as quickly as she had awoken, not even a moment spared to look at herself in the mirror.  Quiet became a distant memory, now where her feet fell drew only noise and attention.  Even the innumerable lines turned and looked in terror, tripping over themselves to get closer to the opulent gates, and put as much buffer between them as possible.  Those glorious gates of faith had fallen closed in their time of need.  Neighbors in queue had become enemies as they clawed at each other as if it garnered them freedom from a raging fire.  Still she only laughed and continued forward.

Confidence really was the key to getting everything you wanted in the world, that’s how those grand buildings got all their fuel.  The vendor still gave her food, double portions even, of which she was able to enjoy and savor in peace for what seemed to be the first time in her life.  The streets had grown abandoned around her, the bustle had fled, leaving her victorious.  Music came to her ears in the form of a high pitch sound that rained down from above.  Familiar sounding that beckon to arms had her standing with a bow towards the vendor she was off to work.  One couldn’t be late for such importance.

Each step of stone walkway seemed reminiscent of stepping over tombstones, chills running up her spin from the palpable excitement that lingered around her.  The lobby was still lit, rows of white lights and tiles like an open maw, inviting the populace to come wandering into their dooms, one by one.  Soon the soft padding of her feet joined the fray that the city had become.  The shadows had faded away, with all of their secrets revealed, whether they wanted to look on them or not.  She climbed the floors with a purpose, pushing through the bile that tried to flood over her until she would burst free from the bloated corpse reborn.  No one ever said a phoenix had to be pretty.

The large man scrambled from station to station, trying to keep the machine working along the tracks as it naturally belonged.  The secretary’s station was empty, signs of a struggle was clear enough. Dark crimson covered the room like a coat of fresh paint left to dry, making the fate of the woman obvious as the silhouette of her boss paced back and forth.  Even at the top all it did was feed on itself, a glorious city indeed.  Soft footfalls might as well have been thunder to the man with the startled look on his face as it turned to look her way.  Brandishing a gun to bear down on his creation, and all that he had orchestrated come for the harvest..

*****

The first shot barely registered to her, and even as the next ones rang out, sinking into her chest, the dark little marks with crimson filling was all the reaction her body gave.  Her hand lifted up to point to his window, a look of glee on her face as snowflakes fell.  From the looks of it, the city had already begun to be coated by the triumphant snow, losing that innocent shine.  All of his hard work, vanished in an instant as she laughed at him.  There was no pain in her, just rage.  Her muscles tightened, lines of definition she didn’t know she had began to fill in.  Sickening pops sounded out as her bones extended, limbs curling out and bending in, nails coming to points of claws.  That scent, sharp and poignant, left no trace of the gunsmoke, sweat or decay.

She looked to those claws, earthy remnants of bark and dirt underneath them.  Pain finally took hold next, spreading form her stomach rather than her chest where the wounds had been.  A pulsing expanse and surge of growth under her skin before it burst outward, spilling her throbbing insides.  Intestines dangled out of her torso with some dragging along the floor she stumbled towards him.  Shock wasn’t on her face as a newly formed claw reached down to test the organs, pushing them back in as much as she could.  Her cackling was still heard above the sloshing squish of misplaced entrails and clicking toenails that curved out from bloodied stumps.  It was no more than an orchestral accompaniment to her laughter, the shrill sound like nails on a chalkboard.

He backed up, tumbling over the desk sending the termination papers scattering about, fluttering down like the picturesque fresh snowfall that taunted him.  Standing up against the backdrop, those antlers again framing his silhouette as her hunched body crept closer.  Laughing turned to a roar as pain overcame her again, the pulsing throb returned now located on her face instead of her stomach.  He watched in horror as it expanded, bursting through the fragile skin that folded back to reveal the deer skull beneath.  Dark pits blotted the surface where the eyes and nose had been, sharpened teeth where molars should be, jagged and serrated while gnashing together.  The skin still clung to the skull as if yanked back by the scalp, wandering eyes blinking without a sense of direction.  Legs sprouted next, bones extending until the muscles ripped and fluttered about the new limb like ribbons.  All the while the inhuman wallow grew louder as she now towered over him.

The gun dropped to the ground, followed by his knees as he started pleading for forgiveness, for his endeavors to be forgotten, praised for the ambition it had taken for him to get this far.  Another bellow, anger taking root and spreading up as her visage grew twisted horns from her head, pushing forth from bone to grow into imposing gnarls like twisting roots grasping for new life.  The window shattering outward at the shock, cold air whipping through the room and nearly taking him with it.  Stumbling backwards, he crawled away, towards  the orifice that lead to the city below where the wind and snow blustered at his back, hoping for his luck to change with a swift fall.  There was no solace in nature, the desk was sent flying as one heavy hand tossed it aside.  Step, his hand reached back and gored its soft palm upon the broken glass.  Step, his suit shredded as he scurried across the ground, seeking asylum with as much distance that he could create.  Step, he was out of places to go.  Step, out of excuses to give.  Step, her ominous shadow extended out across him, enveloping the cowering figure.  Her form bent forward, creeping closer and closer until her hot breath could be felt along his features, drowning out the cold bluster with all but her presence.  Sheened in cold sweat, he pleaded through clenched teeth, before her jaws snapped closed.

From her vantage point the city seemed quiet, it seemed magical given the shimmer of melting snow across the rooftops.  Her breathing was haggard, the bulky form lifted with each inhale.  The warm colors of the sunset bathed over her, melting away the broken features of the beast to reveal her own once again.  Steam released from her as a laugh crept out pushing herself up to her feet and beginning the long trek out of the building.  Leaving the building stripped to its bones and tall like a monument to the decay that spread to the city.  Bastions of faith tried to keep the masses at bay but they were all swept clean in the end, truth winning out.

Her feet slowly carried her along with little input from her mind.  The streets littered with those colorful pamphlets, and a freshness had come in with the breeze.  It might be a good time for layers, she thought to herself.  A smile tugging at her features as they became hers once more, softening to the embrace the light gave her.  The sky opening like a veil being pulled back, nature being let into the city that had forgotten it.  She could still feel a lingering presence as her eyes began to close, but it was free of shadows.  With the monuments of gluttony torn down, cogs returned to flesh, and people back to living.  The wind picked up, carrying her tired body with it, refreshing the odorous stench that had soaked into every crack.  It continued to blow, lifting up the fetid cannibalism that had called to the spirits for vengeance.  Only by exhuming the cancer could the place be restored.

Without bells or alarms it was hard to wake up, her body was heavy, and the views of this dream was so charming.  The snow at her feet melted even more with green able to be seen in the footprints.  The bark and buds, so this is what blossoming looked like.  A shadow crept up on her, sporting an impressive antler crown and she turned to smile up at it.  She awoke and lifted slowly, clutching a cloak that had been laid out across her.  Her eyes flicking over to the bright sunlight, before her nostrils began flaring as she caught hold of a familiar scent.  She looked to her right and spotted a small container of food sat next to her on the bench.  She needed her strength, there was places to go.

[asfeedin]

Astronaut Scott Kelly: Always Prepare for the Next Worst Thing

Captain Scott Kelly, whose longest mission aboard the International Space Station lasted nearly a year, is uniquely acquainted with leading through uncertain times–and doing so while confined to a small space, separated from friends and colleagues.

Kelly’s thoughts are apt for a world coping with the coronavirus, one reason he’s the first guest on our new Inc. podcast, What I Know. I interviewed him about the many lessons he’s learned during his fascinating rise from unfocused student to commanding a group of international astronauts.

He explained that one strategy for mitigating crises is to think like an engineer: Even during high-stress times, always consider and plan for worst-case scenarios. He says NASA taught him to constantly think, “What’s the next worst thing that can happen? And, then, what is the next worst thing that could happen after that?” 

Listen for this and more in the player above, or wherever you get your podcasts. And please subscribe to What I Know, our new podcast in which entrepreneurs and visionaries recount how they’ve gotten where they are–and what they’ve discovered that helped them along the way.

Published on: Apr 27, 2020

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Tags: Astronaut, Kelly, Prepare, Scott, Worst

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[sahibookworm]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone who are celebrating today … !!!!!! What a perfect day for this post.

When Laura @ Thebookcorps tagged me for this, I thought how wonderful and apt it was towards the end of the year, because so many bloggers like me are a bit reticent about talking about our own posts and promoting them. So, thank you so much Laura for creating this tag so that we all can reflect on our blogging journey this 2019 and look back at some of our favorite posts. Do checkout her blog for more amazing posts.

RULES:

All the answers must be about your blog posts

Please link the original creator of the tag so Laura can see all your posts!

You don’t have to provide just one post for each question, you can provide as many as you want so long as they were written in 2019

If you haven’t written a post that matches one of the questions, choose one that relates to it as close as possible

Tag 5+ bloggers to they can share their accomplishments too! And make sure you read the posts they share!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK REVIEW?

This is very hard to answer because I love writing book reviews and love most of what I write (even though they are just okay). So, I’ll just select a few which I love going back to, to motivate myself to write even better.

The review of Red, White and Royal Blue is my highest viewed post of the year, so I would be remiss not to include it here. It’s also my favorite book of the year, and I tried to pour all my feelings into it. I’m not someone who is able to translate my emotions into words, so my reviews read like essays but I still think this was not badly written. I also think this is probably my longest review ever.

Both Good Talk and The (Other) F Word are books that spoke to a part of me – one about being a brown women in the US, and the other about being a fat woman. These books affected me profoundly and that’s why their reviews are where I’ve probably talked the most about myself. So, I don’t know if these are some of the best reviews I’ve written, but they truly reflect my thoughts and experiences.

She Said and Catch and Kill are both phenomenal books about the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal, the #MeToo movement and an overall look at how power structures work in the world to silence women. I don’t think I can do justice to the work of these brilliant journalists but I think I managed to write my thoughts about them in an articulate manner.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE DISCUSSION POST?

I’m not someone who writes discussion posts at all because I’m pretty scared of voicing my opinion on any hot topics. I feel I am not thoughtful enough to weigh in on important matters, and I’m also scared to be wrong or offend anyone. However, there’s one post I would love to talk more about.

I went to the Baltimore Book Festival a couple of weeks ago, and it was the most amazing experience I had in 2019. I was so happy being among book lovers and authors, listening to them discuss the best things about books and reading. And I couldn’t resist writing about my experience (click here for the very long post). This post is really a labor of love and I think I’m quite proud of it.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FUN POST?

(By “fun post” I mean a post that doesn’t fall under a particular category like reviews, discussions or tags do.)

As you might have already guessed, I’m not a very fun person by nature and that’s not the vibe you’ll get from my posts (sorry…). But there are a couple posts I managed to write which I thought were quite fun, in the sense that they got a lot of engagement and everyone seemed to enjoy discussing them.

I borrowed the idea of Guess that Book by the Cover from Charvi @ Not Just Fiction because I thought it was amazing and I had so much fun writing it. And if you look at the comments section, I think many of you had fun guessing the books too…!! What more can I want….

Popular Series I Probably Won’t Read is the kind of post that can be a lot of fun to wrote (I did) but also something that can offend readers if they find their favorite books on my list. But all of you are very sweet and supportive and just told me about your love for the books I didn’t wanna read but no one tried to convince me. It was definitely a very fun topic to discuss.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK RECOMMENDATION POST?

I’ve always been scared to write recommendation posts because I feel why would anyone want to read my recs. But I have finally gotten over myself and scheduled two rec posts, but unfortunately they don’t post until later next month. And that’s why, I have only one similar post I can talk about here.

If you know me at all, you know that I have grown up reading the Mahabharata and various versions of it. So, during our India Lit Readathon in July, I wrote this post about all my favorite Mahabharata novels, retellings and reimaginings – and I can’t tell you how much satisfaction it gave me writing about it.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK/BOOKISH PHOTO?

These three pictures are from my trip to Boston where I got to visit the absolutely stunning Boston Public Library (with it’s gorgeous reading room) and two Harvard Book stores which were my favorite part of the vacation.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ORIGINAL IDEA/BLOG POST?

Not many ideas are truly original in our community because we do tend to discuss similar topics all the time, so I won’t presume that these posts are without any inspiration. But I did think of them without really seeing them being done by anyone else, so I guess they qualify.

As someone who is not at all adventurous in my reading choices, I had a lot of fun wondering why some of the books mentioned in this post – Unlikely Books on my TBR – were even on my radar. And true to form, I’ve only managed to read one of them and have no clue if I’ll ever get to the others.

As someone who mostly reads hyped books, I loved writing this post about all the Books I Read due to Hype – and how many of them I actually ended up liking or hating. My initial list was very long but I think I managed to make it small and readable.

WHAT’S YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE BLOG POST YOU WROTE THIS YEAR?

All the reviews I mentioned above and the Mahabarata post are some of my favorite posts of the year. I have many other review posts which I loved writing but I don’t think I wanna go on and on about them. But there’s one which I think is my absolute favorite because of what it means to me.

In probably my most personal post ever titled Books That Have Defined my Reading Life, I talked about all the books that have affected me and defined me as a person in the three decades of my life and I think if you want to know me better, you should start from this post.

HAVE YOU REACHED ANY BLOGGING ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR?

I finally reached 1000 followers on the blog and as someone who never thought it would happen,  it made me very very ecstatic and I can’t describe in words how I felt when I crossed the milestone.

And while I never had any other major goals as far as blogging is concerned, this current post is my 240th of the year and as I’m very sure that I’ll complete 250 in 2019, I’m very satisfied that I have been able to post so consistently and still enjoying it.

I Tag:

Krisha || Dany || Ahana || Shalini || Sohinee || Meaghan || Jane || All bloggers who would love to look back on their blogging year.

  My Favorite 2019 Blogging Moments Tag HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone who are celebrating today ... !!!!!! What a perfect day for this post.

[sterlingfink-blog]

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[josephkitchen0]

Safely Castrating Calves

By Heather Smith Thomas

The best age and method for castrating calves may vary, depending on your situation. Some stockmen feel that a calf should be allowed to grow all summer before being castrated, since calves grow faster as bulls. The hormones of the young bull enable him to gain weight and breed definition more quickly than a steer of the same age. But on the other hand, steers may produce better quality beef, if you intend to sell or butcher the animal for beef. 

Some people also have a preference regarding whether a knife or a “rubber band” is the best way of castrating calves. Whichever method is used, the animal must be adequately restrained for castration.

It is true that young bulls grow a little faster than steers, due to hormonal influences on growth. It is also true that the meat from steers is sometimes better quality. Steer meat is less apt to be dark colored and tough due to stress and excitement at the time of butchering, since steers tend to be more docile and calm than bulls.

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Any bull calf that is not destined to become a herd sire should be castrated. Longhorn breeders who are trying to produce animals with spectacular horns prefer to castrate any bull calf they don’t intend to keep for breeding, since the steer of this cattle breed grow the longest horns.

Most stockmen castrate bull calves early in life. The procedure is not only much easier on calves when they are small, but cattle handling is easier with steers than young bulls as they grow up. Steers are less aggressive, and much safer to be around. As the calf grows up, he’ll be less apt to try to get through fences and go find other cattle, if he is a steer.

The easiest way to castrate a calf is to use an elastrator ring during the first week of life. Try to keep him as calm as possible, and make sure both testicles are in the scrotum before applying the band, or you’ve only done half the job.

The simplest and most humane way to castrate, and with less risk of infection or extensive bleeding, is to put a “rubber band” (elastrator ring) on the calf when he is a day or so old. This can be done any time during the first weeks of life. These strong rubber rings can be purchased cheaply at a farm supply store or veterinary clinic. The ring is about the size and shape of Cheerios cereal. The tool to apply the rubber ring has four small prongs upon which you place the ring. The tool spreads and stretches the ring when you squeeze the handles, so it can be placed over the testicles and situated above them.

This can be readily accomplished with a small calf simply by placing him on the ground on his side, having someone hold his head and front legs so he can’t get up. Kneeling behind him so he can’t kick you with his hind legs, hold the scrotum with one hand and place the ring over it, using the stretching tool. Always make sure both testicles are in the scrotum before situating the ring. Pull them down as far as possible so they are completely below the ring when it is released.  If the calf is tense or trying to kick, he may pull one or both testicles back up out of your grasp. He must be relaxed.

The tight ring cuts off circulation to the scrotum. The calf feels some numbing discomfort for a short while, and then no pain at all. Tissue below the constricting ring dies from lack of blood, the scrotal sac and its contents wither and dry up, falling off after a few weeks — leaving a small raw spot that soon heals.

Surgical castration with a knife can be done at any age, but this, too, is much easier on a calf when done young, while testicles are small. Removing the small testicles of a baby calf is not nearly as risky for blood loss or infection as it would be after he is older, with larger testicles and more blood supply.

A slit is made in the scrotum with a clean, sharp knife. Each testicle is worked out through the slit and removed with the knife. There is less bleeding if you scrape the knife back and forth on the cord attachment to sever it, rather than making a straight cut. A scraped and torn blood vessel tends to shrink up and close off more readily than a vessel cut straight across.

The procedure is easiest when the calf is lying on his side. A small calf can be held by two people; one person holds the head and front legs and the other holds the hind legs so the calf cannot kick the person doing the castrating. A large calf is more safely held with ropes, or restrained on a calf table (a small tilting chute).

If restraining him with ropes, you need a rope around his head and one front leg so the calf will not choke and also so he cannot get up, or a halter on the head, and both front feet secured with another rope, and a rope around both hind legs with a half hitch so he can’t kick out of it. The ropes should be securely tied or dallied around a fence post or some other sturdy object so the large calf will be completely restrained—stretched out on the ground on his side.

While the calf is thus restrained, this is also a good time to give him any needed vaccinations, or put in an ear tag or brand him.

Originally published in the March/April 2013 issue of Countryside & Small Stock Journal.

Safely Castrating Calves was originally posted by All About Chickens