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averydavery · 9 months

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The Good, The Bad, and Everything Inbetween of the Playstation 2

Intro

To me, the Playstation 2 is the best video game console ever. Period. Its catalogue is undeniably strong but I am definitely very biased as well, not to mention that the dualshock remote looks almost exactly the same from PS2 to PS4... But mainly, there is a reason many iconic titles from famous series are from this system and era of video game history. The PS2’s time in the spotlight (1999- 2011) was the real start of the hayday of video games.

So, in honor of my love for the system, here is my rankings for the games i’ve played so far and why!

***I will only be judging games that originally launched on the system, including bridge games, NOT PS1 games that are backwards compatible. So sorry MGS1 and FFVII

From Top to Bottom

1. Shadow of the Colossus

5/5 stars. One sentence review: I’m sobbing.

2. Metal Gear Solid 2

4.5/5 stars. One sentence review: “No, that is NOT the real Solid Snake!”

3. Resident Evil 4

4.5/5 stars. One sentence review: Fixed camera and gun controls making me want to get the Las Plagas fr.

4. God of War

4.5/5 stars. One sentence review: I don’t know what’s more unforgiving: the game itself or playing it on the PS2.

5. Bully

4.5/5 stars. One sentence review: I really wish people gave Bully more attention than GTA.

6. GTA Vice City

4/5 stars. One sentence review: For some reason my PS2 had a hard time running Vice City and this game is significantly smaller than others on this list.

7. Onimusha

4/5 stars. One sentence review: I really enjoyed this story and I would’ve loved it a lot more if the controls didn’t feel like I was committing a felony.

8. Devil May Cry

4/5 stars. One sentence review: “I should’ve filled yoUR DARK SOUL WITH LIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!!!”

9. GTA III

4/5 stars. One sentence review: Just didn’t do it for me story wise as much as the others, i dont know.

10. God of War II

3.5/5 stars. One sentence review: Least favorite God of War game besides Chains of Olympus, not that it’s bad it’s just okay.

11. Crazy Taxi

3.5/5 stars. One sentence review: Very fun but only for about ten minutes.

12. Yakuza 2

2/5 stars. One sentence review: I’m a diehard Yakuza/RGG/Like A Dragon fan but I stg this is the worst game in the series, I never even beat it.

13. Devil May Cry 2

2/5 stars. One sentence review: Bad mechanics and bored me.

The Superlatives

The Best Title in a Series

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

An easy pick for this category and a game that is second only to Shadow of the Colossus, is Metal Gear Solid 3. It is a fantastic game as much as it is a great entry in an amazing series. For those who don’t know, MGS3 is a prequel for the entire series and takes place even before the old 8-But Metal Gear games. MGS3 follows Naked Snake who becomes the infamous Big Boss, the notorious antagonist for the rest of the series, and is the first game in the series to really perfect the stealth combat with the addition of an over the shoulder camera and new camouflage mechanics. Other notable aspects of MGS3 are that graphics for the game still hold up today, the characters are some of the most memorable in the series (I LOVE YOU BOSS!!!!), and the boss fights are engaging. Not to mention that if I had to guess, you’re probably humming “Snake Eater” to yourself right now.

MGS3 is such a good MGS title that I believe it sort of set Kojima up for failure with every game that came after it.

The Best Game You’ve Never Played/My Personal Favorite PS2 Game

Blood Will Tell: Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo

The only reason Blood Will Tell isn’t number one is because I felt bad putting Shadow of the Colossus as number 2. I fucking love this game with my whole heart and soul, I really don’t know where to begin. The title of “the best game you’ll never play” isn’t one that I came up with myself, many people refer to Blood Will Tell by that superlative and you’re probably wondering why that is. Blood Will Tell was released by SEGA in 2004 and flopped in the Americas despite many looking back on the title fondly, as a result of its recent popularity (largely due to the 2019 Dororo anime and rise of the collector’s market) and little supply, it became an incredibly rare game with the highest selling price for a PS2 game I have ever seen. Blood Will Tell goes for anywhere between $400 to $700 USD, for reference: Silent Hill 2 goes for about $100. Which is why I don’t give this superlative away lightly, even the copy I own isn’t legitimate. There’s no way I’m spending that much money on a game without playing it myself.

So this brings to the second superlative I gave it: my personal favorite PS2 game. It’s the best game you’ll never play for a reason, there is a demand for it for a reason. While the dub is laughably bad, the game itself is incredibly rich. The goofy voice acting adds to the game’s charm and, in my opinion, makes a fantastic game more enjoyable. The gameplay is addictive and one of the most fluid for the 20 year old console, Blood Will Tell is a hack-n-slash that feels like a mix of Sekiro and Ghost of Tsushima to me —which is funny because both of those games came out the same year and fought for the GotW award. You play as Hyakkimaru, a boy with swords for arms who is cursed after his father gave away all 48 body parts to demons in a deal for power. Now it’s your job to get your body back, piece by piece. This plot allows for incredibly unique visual story telling that is astounding for the time it came out in. For example, in the beginning chapter Hyakki is blind. They show this by making the world entirely black and white until he gets his sight back in which color floods your screen in a beautiful way. Since he can’t speak he has a filter that makes it sound like he’s talking in his head… etc. Even some of the 48 bosses are hidden and optional, something I didn’t expect to see in a game this old. On my first playthrough, I missed some bosses because the map is deceptively big. I think my only critiques besides the silly voice acting (personally, I like it) are that Dororo’s sections of the game aren’t great but they don’t drag on either so I don’t mind them and that the music is stale and repeats.

All in all, I can yap about this game all day because I love it so much. If you are unwilling to spend $700 on Blood Will Tell, I highly recommend that you buy a cheap repro or emulate it on your computer. If neither of those are options for you consider watching a playthrough on youtube or, better yet, reading/watching all the other adaptations of Dororo! Blood Will Tell is based of the 1963 manga Dororo by Osamu Tezuka (the mangaka of Astroboy and Black Jack) and there are many versions of this story!

The Best Adventure Game

Okami

I like to call Okami “the game that raised me” because it pretty much did. I first remember playing it in sixth grade and have played a run through of it probably once a year since. I’ve played it on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 5, and Playstation 2… and I’ll honestly say that it plays best on Switch. When Okami came out it originally launched on the Wii, which is why it plays so well on Switch as well. The reason for that is because of its unique, never before seen gameplay. Okami’s premise is that you play as Okami Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun in the form of a white wolf, who is resurrected in order to save the world from darkness. Ammy’s special ability is that she can manipulate the Celestial Brush, which has 13 different techniques that allow the player to literally play God by painting onto their surroundings to summon things like wind, water, fire, and vines or to literally stop time or cause nature to bloom. This Celestial Brush is why it plays so well on Nintendo consoles, which is actually why I recommend playing this game on one instead of on PS2. Okami has been remastered and really has no reason to be played PS2. In addition to why it isn’t fantastic on the PS2 is that Okami is most known for its visuals. The entire game is done in a painterly style with cell-shaded brush strokes that outline everything decoratively to aid it’s themes of traditional Japanese mythology… And one thing that makes that style look even better is when it is not played in low poly on the PS2.

So to put the kebash on this one, Okami was the best adventure game on the PS2 despite not being suited for the console itself. So please, play the remaster to enjoy the story even more!

The Best Fighting Game

Yakuza

I know a lot of you might disagree with me on this but please know I am only going off games I have played and that I also don’t care about what others think. I love this series. There are 8 Yakuza games, 10 if you count Like A Dragon 8: Infinite Wealth and Gaiden, 13 if you count Ishin, Ishin (Remake/Remaster), Kenzan!, and Dead Souls, 15 if you count Kiwami 1 & 2, and 17 if you count the Black Panther games… but it all started with this one game. Yakuza is a beat ‘em up that was advertised as “Japan’s GTA” which I think is an apt description only for the street fighting you do. In actuality, Yakuza is a game that follows the ex-yakuza Kiryu Kazuma as he fights to save the people he cares about and struggles with his loyalty to his former life a made man. The combat is fun and engaging with its use of combos and cinematics, however the controls are a bit finicky but nothing that will drive you up the wall. Another drawback of this title is the voice acting for the same reason as Blood Will Tell, it is a horrendous English dub. But I think it’s enjoyably bad, Mark Hamill and John DeMagio jumpscared me when I first heard their voices.

Although, I don’t necessarily recommend Yakuza to anyone who doesn’t have a PS2 at all, really, and that is because Yakuza Kiwami exists —which is a remake for modern consoles of this game with a million new things, better graphics and combat, and no English dub. This remake highlights everything that was so good about the original.

The Best Horror Game

Silent Hill 2

I think I can keep this one short because Silent Hill 2 is a game that needs no introduction. It practically invented the psychological survival horror genre as we know it be today and still is an amazing game that manages to always unnerve me. From its multiple endings to its atmospheric environment, Silent Hill 2 sets the bar for what should be a good horror game and inspires many series still. But above all else, Silent Hill 2 has the best soundtrack out of any game that I’ve mentioned so far. Akira Yamaoka is a genius songwriter.

The Worst Game I’ve Played So Far

Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir

I love Fullmetal Alchemist (if my account was any clue into that haha) and I thought that my love for that series was going to help get through this game. But I was so wrong and I should’ve listened to my gut. FMA works really well as video game if you actually try to make it one or else it doesn’t work, the ingredients are there you just have to follow the recipe. But Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir takes this way too seriously. Not only does it harp on the most boring episodes of the original series, it does so in the worst manner possible. The game itself looks like plastic, it’s cellshaded blandly. The music is loud and at times annoying, the fighting is stiff and uninspired when alchemy could be so much fun if done right, and it follows a clunky visual novel style in cutscenes for no reason. Even in the menu you can see that it was trying to be an RPG but never committed and I think this game could’ve shined if it was one, instead of the lame fighter it is now. The only benefit I see in this game is that the voice acting is all the original cast. So that’s nice… everything else? Not so much.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions for me to play!

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cinnamonest · 3 years

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Kaeya is really touchy with his darling, right? So then,, what are the other Yan’s love languages?

NICE I love the love languages stuff! Sorry this was from April but I'm finally getting to it! Usually the two are similar, but sometimes people have different ways of expressing love versus how they want to receive it, so I'll elaborate on that as well. Enjoy my rareish semi-fluffy stuff, boys and which of the 5 love languages they are :3 Kazuha - quality time

Honestly, he's a simple boy. All he really needs to be happy and feel mutual love is sit with you close to him, arms wrapped around you, preferably with you returning the gesture. He has a lot of feelings and fears for the future, lots of emotions all bottled up, so someone to listen to him means a lot. Taking the time to listen to all he has to say makes him sheepish and embarrassed even, but as long as you assure him it's ok, he'll keep coming back for more of your listening ears.

Also, he likes to go on walks. These can be talking or not, sometimes he just likes walking in silence. Either way, accompanying him on said walks is a way to endear yourself to him and show him you love him. Sometimes it's just silently walking down beaches or pathways or in circles around the ship deck, sometimes it's him venting, sometimes it's him gushing about this or that... either way, basically providing him with an outlet for his emotions and spending time with him is what matters.

Zhongli - gifts, quality time

Sugar daddy

But in all seriousness he's big on spoiling a darling. I mean let's be real it's probably someone else's money OR this is in an era where he could just make some, so he will literally get you anything you could ask for, hell, anything he sees you looking at, tons of things you have no use for but he just likes the way your eyes light up all the same. It makes you happy, and that's what love is about, right? Wanting to make people you love happy.

However, for himself, it's a quality time thing, similar to Kazuha's where it's a lot of listening. He has a lot to say sometimes and can get to rambling about details of this or that thing he somehow manages to be an expert on, and while he usually catches himself early on, sometimes he can REALLY go on a while. He knows you don't have any clue what he's talking about, and probably don't really care, but if you sudden bring up a detail that shows you were listening -- it makes him feel oddly warm inside, like you actually think what he talks about is important and care about it. It makes him chuckle a bit, pat your head. He tells you if you're bored you don't have to listen.... so if you insist on doing so anyway, well, that just makes him feel even better inside, oddly validated in a way.

Kaeya - words of affirmation, touch

Is sex a love language?

But in all seriousness, yes as per the opening of the ask, he's very touchy. By 'touch' in this case, that... does translate to sex about 90% of the time. Can you blame him?? It's because he loves you! If he didn't love you he wouldn't wanna get his dick in you so bad! It's love that makes him so handsy and touchy, always rubbing you and running the edges of his fingers under your shirts and skirts and shorts even in public, hands wrapping around your waist and hips, sneaking fondles here and there... and it's out of love that you get railed all the time. His peak happiness is just being balls deep inside you, bodies pressed up against each other, moving slow and gentle and gradually building up... and he wants you to feel like that's love, too. To be honest he gets genuinely sad if you don't see it that way, or if you don't understand it as an expression of love. It seems so natural and innate that being pressed up close together should invoke feelings of love, right?

As for how he understands love as a recipient, well, pretty much the same thing, any sign of eagerness or willingness or especially initiative to fuck sets his brain off. But also, he's weak to any attempts to boost his ego. Say anything positive about him and he'll get excited and let it go to his head, particularly if your words of choice make him feel strong or powerful or capable.

Also speaking of touch, surprisingly big on handholding, especially in public. Sure part of it is a "signaling to others to back off" sort of thing, but he just likes the warmth of your hand as well.

Diluc - touch

It might be a bit surprising, given the stoic nature but... just give this man a hug. Please.

Being inside you is very very nice of course, but he's also notably a cuddly person when you get past the rough exterior. He likes to just sit you in his lap and hold you, spoon you in bed at night, etc.

And as for giving, he doesn't really have knowledge of how to go about other things. He's not good with words at all, he doesn't really know what gifts to get, and despite his affection he's not really submissive enough of a person to go about acts of service, and he's very busy, so while he might get quality time, it's not too often. In the end he doesn't really know how to do anything else, so if he really wants to express affection, the only way he can really think of is just wrapping his arms around you and squeezing. Sometimes a little too hard, like sir I'm asphyxiating please

Also it takes him a while to work up to it. At first he's just too nervous and can barely touch you without retracting his hand back out of nervousness, but he gets used to it.

Razor - quality time, touch

The others are kind of foreign concepts, really. But touch and time is how his kind bond! It's what he's used to. Nuzzling his face into your shoulders and neck and wrapping arms around you and holding you tight. He will often just cling to you physically in some way, holding your wrist in his hand or reaching out to embrace you at random. Of course, sex is a part of it, gotta have that too, it means love to him because he gets the urge whenever he thinks about loving you! And not gonna lie, he tries to remember you don't really like it but, he'll lick you every now and then too. It just comes naturally because he gets excited 'cause he loves you so much!! Lick lick.

Quality time comes in many forms. Every second is quality time in its own way, but especially naps in the sun and walks through the woods. Fun fact: wolf mates go on little "walks" together occasionally, breaking off from the rest of the pack to get alone time. It's fun! You can run through the woods with him! The naps combine the two expressions of touch and time, getting to spend lots of quiet, valuable time, all while snuggled up close. It's nice.

He doesn't really understand if you try to communicate love otherwise, but he'll kind of grasp that it's nice. But really, in the end he wants touch and time too. It's the only form he really understands. The rest just leave him a bit "??" But a nuzzle and a nap in the sun are things he understands perfectly.

Xingqiu - gifts, words of affirmation

The first is more how he shows, the second how he receives. It's a rather selfish form of love, really, because it benefits him as well and it's not exactly difficult. He doesn't have to put a lot of work into gifting, since he can pretty much get anything he asks for out of his father, and even if he says no to something, well, father won't notice a few hundred thousand mora gone from the stash of money kept in his bedroom, right? And he loves giving you gifts because of your reaction! You smile and say thank you and it makes him feel all warm and fuzzy inside... and he likes to think that maybe you feel indebted to him, maybe you're awed and impressed by how he manages to find you such expensive and rare things, maybe it makes you look up to him and see him as superior a bit. Hopefully.

However, because he's got so much wealth already, so gifts don't really do much for him. He responds well to praise, though, especially if you compliment him on the things he cares about, like his sword skills, his writing, his vigilantism. Make him feel like the protagonist he is inside his head, and he'll be beaming with pride and happiness, it makes him feel important, which translates to feeling loved.

Chongyun - quality time, acts of service

In particular, he likes to have you around when he's training. You don't have to train yourself, just be by his side. It makes him more motivated, so he's noticed. Not to mention, he likes showing off if possible to impress you.

Also, he likes having someone to vent to. He's a sweet boy, but he has his stressors and frustrations. He's used to strict self-discipline and normally refrains from talking about his feelings too much, but if you make him feel like your presence is a safe place for him to come to, he will end up almost becoming dependent on getting to emotionally unload on you every day, recalling all the details of every bad thing that happened and waiting for your soft comfort.

Here, "acts of service" is more like... consideration. Little moments where he's reminded you remember his needs and care about them. You make food and note that you made it especially free of anything hot, just for him! Or you make his little popsicles when he forgets, you help him deal with the damage and destruction of his most recent episode. Little acts like that make him feel appreciated, loved and cared for.

Childe - acts of service

Similar to Kaeya and touch, acts of service is... yeah it's basically sex. It falls more into the category of acts of service because it's a little different in nature from Kaeya's -- he loves normal sex of course, and cuddles are nice too, but in his mind really loving him is about taking initiative and doing things to him... in other words, to translate that in simple terms... blow him. Please. It would make him the happiest man in the world. Or ride him. Just anything that feels like you taking some initiative and making him feel wanted. ...And making him feel worshipped is nice too, getting you down on your knees in front of him or any act of service and submission gives him a sort of high from the ego boost and masculine validation.

And he's similar with how he expresses it himself. Most likely candidate to eat you out against your will. One infuriating and potentially humiliating thing about him is he's one of the most insistent to ensure you cum every single time, if you don't cum from him fucking you he'll just force your legs open and eat you out or shove his fingers into you until you do. Because he loves you and orgasms equate to love in his mind.

Venti - acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts

It's more on the giving end for him -- specifically, he can be a very sappy individual when he's in love, to a point it's nauseating to the people around you, really. But he spends a lot of time writing you poems and songs. To him, song is one of the utmost powerful expressions of love. It sort of combines the service and words -- the writing itself is a labor of love, but the words are filled with praises. He genuinely spends a lot of time on it, though, and it's really important to him that you like the things he makes and plays for you, and will continuously modify his next pieces to what he perceives as your taste. He's a bit of a perfectionist on stuff like that.

Venti is actually rather shy when it comes to receiving love. He tends to be very no, you don't have to do that for me! And things like gifts can make him feel a bit guilty, so... you just have to give him stuff he likes so much he's too busy indulging to feel guilt. Namely alcohol. He gets a bit red in the face, but, deep down he likes words of affirmation and compliments too, even the lightest of sweet words he'll replay in his head over and over for days after you say them.

Bennett - acts of service

One of the quickest ways to endear yourself to him is the simple act of helping him. This can manifest in several ways, such as healing his wounds when he's all scraped up or just come back from an adventure, helping him patch up his clothes that get ripped so much, helping him find some thing he lost in the woods yet again, or following him on one of said adventures. People don't really have him in mind too often, he tends to get forgotten a lot and left to handle things all on his own, and as a result, someone who reaches out to help him has a significant impact on him, he finds himself unable to stop thinking about it and the warm feeling it gives him to know that someone cares.

As a result, he starts basically mimicking the same behaviors because it's all he really knows how to do. He wants to give you the same warm happiness that you give him, so he tries to help you out with the things you need, complete tasks he knows would be helpful to you. Unfortunately for him, this tends to backfire as something usually goes wrong and it turns into a mess that he fears will just make you hate him. Poor baby.

Albedo - quality time

He's one of those people that really loves to just spend time in the presence of the people he loves -- you don't have to be doing something together, or the same thing. Even if you're just reading a book or drawing or something on your own, he likes you to be nearby him. It's kinda cute how if you go wandering off or go into another room, he'll wait a minute, then silently kinda come peeking around the corner to check on you because?? Why did you leave? Did he do something to upset you? He's too proud to explicitly ask you to come back, but he might blatantly follow you to the room you're in, claiming it's just better lighting in here, or the other room was too cold, or some other excuse.

He still likes doing things with you, though, too. Another favorite is late night conversations, the kind you get into once you're already laying in bed in the dark, pressed against each other and mumbling little thoughts that occur to you before you drift off to sleep, questions about tomorrow, or a hey remind me to do this or that, that sort of thing. Little conversations you never really finish, your voices get softer and sleepier with each moment, you eventually close your eyes as you talk back and forth, until one of you eventually doesn't get a response, and then drifts off themselves.... and in the morning neither of you remember who was the last person to speak or what the conversation was even about in the end.

Xiao - touch

He just doesn't... get much else. Words are hard. He doesn't know whether this or that gift or gesture is considered appropriate to present to a human as sign of love, and those kinds of things, words and gifts and stuff, embarrass him too much... and he doesn't every really know whether or not he's correct when interpreting your actions and words either. How does he know the gift isn't just because you wanted to be nice, or that the nice things you said were just meant mildly, and he's just indulging in wishful thinking when he thinks it means more? Ugh. It's too troublesome to have to deal with.

But touch... it's straightforward and easy and impossible to misunderstand. And it's also objectively the best, he thinks, even without the issues in understanding it's just what he feels the most natural urge towards. Why would anyone do any differently? Why do humans waste their time giving each other gifts and compliments and stuff when they could just do the thing that feels so much better than that other stuff? It confuses him. He doesn't want material goods, he just wants to cuddle you and put his dick in you. Yeah it... also translates to sex here, similar to Kaeya. Like, he likes it when you kiss his forehead and snuggle up close, but those things will inevitably result in wanting more. And he loves the rests you two take, half-asleep soundly wrapped up and bodies pressed close, spooning with his arms latched onto you. It's just that said rests/naps are almost always very much naked due to being after cumming in you a few times.

Scaramouche - acts of service, words of affirmation, touch

I mean, you're kinda forced into the acts of service thing, but the idea is that you start to perform said acts willingly, or without needing to be commanded. Eventually you get to where you do things on your own initiative, and he likes to think maybe you just want to (and not because you've been beaten into doing it so many times it's become instinctive, definitely not that). A lot of it is just tasks, but similar to Childe's acts of service, it's definitely a sex thing too, wants you to show initiative and do things on your own -- not that you won't likely get told not to do shit like that without permission, but he still does like it, internally.

Words of praise are similar. Say anything nice about him and he'll probably accuse you of lying or trying to manipulate him/get something, but deep down he kinda thrives on anything positive you have to say or think about him. Not that you'd ever know.

As for how he actually shows love, well... does... he...? Yes actually, primarily it's a touch thing. Not always pleasant touches, but touches. It's similar to how other yans equate different things with love, like Childe sees orgasms as a form of love, to him possession is the utmost expression of "love" in the sense that he perceives it. Possession, to own a thing completely and entirely, to have full power over something... that sort of connection is incredibly intimate, when you think about it. It's a connection on a deep level, it's loving. So anything that expresses possession -- pleasant or unpleasant for you -- is thus an expression of love.

#lena's asks #atml #scheduled post

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ramblings-of-a-mad-cat · 3 years

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Genuinely wondering, if you like S8 then what is it you like about it? I make an honest effort to see what you see but it's just trash. Trash everywhere. I challenge yoou to name 5 things you like about it.

Is this about Game of Thrones? I'm assuming it is, so this should be fun.

I'm not saying Season 8 is award-worthy television. It's one of the weaker seasons for sure. In general, I dislike that the decision to shorten it to six episodes, just as I disliked the choice to shorten Season 7. I also don't like how Doctor Who's seasons have been gradually shortening over time since the Capaldi Era. I just really wish shows would stop doing this. Why actively choose to give us less content? We like your shows! Let us have more! Take the time you need to tell your stories! Ah well, if only these seasons were a bit longer, I feel like they wouldn't be hated quite so much. Though some of the decisions in Season 8 were so universally despised that it might not matter. I'll get to a couple of them. But as you wish, I shall list five things about the eighth season that I unironically loved. Nah, I'll go you one better. Here's ten:

10: Varys' Death. We can talk for hours about all of the terrible events of S8E5, but I don't think this falls under the same category. It's easy to forget that Varys died in this episode because it happens right at the start and, let's be honest, most fans probably just remember this episode as the one where Dany spends 75% of the runtime torching King's Landing. This is the episode that "killed the show" for the general fandom. But Varys' death was perfectly handled. It was foreshadowed in Season 7 extremely well, and much like Littlefinger's death, it's a fitting end for his character. Varys played his games, and they caught up with him. Sure, he did so for noble reasons, but he was still playing with literal fire. I also don't think Daenerys was wrong to kill him, even if I wept to lose such a fine character and honorable man. She vowed to execute him if he betrayed her. In this episode, he spread secrets to undermine her and it's suggested that he tried to poison her. He would still have been a threat from a prison cell, as he has all of his "little birds" and what's more, if Dany doesn't honor her promise, then she's sending the message that her word as Queen means nothing. This was a powerful death, exactly what makes Game of Thrones so great.

9: The conclusion of Theon's character arc. Seriously, as much as I didn't want to lose him, I feel like he'd been marked for death for a while. Had he survived, I believe a small part of him would always have that self-sacrificial death wish, that belief that he didn't deserve to still be alive. He went down a hero, protecting The Starks. Protecting the same boy that he'd once betrayed. Well...not exactly the same person but close enough. Considering how a few other character arcs ultimately ended, I'd say Theon takes the cake for having the best one. He grew up uncertain of who he was, and then he thought he found himself, but he was wrong, so he lost himself - and how. But eventually, he emerged from the dark and reclaimed his identity and his true family. I don't even mind how easily he got defeated. He was never much of a warrior, the strength in his character always came from his emotional complexity. Much like Jaimie, he's the sort of person that initially, you despise and can't imagine yourself feeling for. And yet it creeps up on you, because these people are complex. They're not black and white. Well, some of them are, but not Jaime, (I'll...I'll get to him.) and not Theon.

8: Arya and Sandor's farewell. I'm gonna cheat a little bit for this one, because personally, I do not like Sandor's ending at all. I know everyone loved the Clegane Bowl but that was probably the worst ending he could have gotten. How does it service his character arc at all to fight his brother? To die fighting him? To die fighting him in fire? It doesn't even feel poetic like Jaime's death does. But! Enough about that. We need to talk about the positives. And seriously, few things get me as choked up as hearing Arya call Sandor by his first name. The acknowledgment of their bond. It's some weird blend between former enemies/rivals, big brother/sister, and father/daughter. It's hardly conventional but it's one of my favorite friendships in the entire series. Sandor was always ultimately good, but it took Arya (and Sansa, to a lesser extent) to bring out that side in him, and it took Ray and his friends for Sandor to start accepting it. He entrenched himself in hate for so long and he could see himself in Arya, which gave him pride, but also made him wary. He didn't want her to be like him, not completely. He tells her to save herself, and not inherit the bad parts of his legacy, and Arya finally lets go of her obsession with revenge after the literal embodiment of revenge tells her that it ain't all it's cracked up to be.

7: Jorah's Death. Hot damn, did he go out like a fucking hero. Saving Dany's life yet again, leading her to safety, and-is that Dany holding a sword? Oh hell yeah! Where has this been all my life? Jorah just protecting her to the last, wielding Heartsbane in Sam's stead, which I take as a symbol of their friendship and if you like, a sign that Sam doesn't have any hard feelings toward Jorah for serving Dany, despite what she did to his family. Jorah sustaining multiple fatal wounds throughout the fight, and yet - and yet! He friggin refuses to go down until the White Walkers collapse and he knows Dany's safe. And in the end, he can't even say anything? Oh, my heart. That's painful, and it's realistic too. Sometimes, if you've been stabbed in the chest and you're dying...you physically can't get any words out. Dany's expression, Jorah's expression...oh, it kills me. Drogon landing to shield Dany and mourn Jorah as well? I'm dead. Destroyed. I'd also be remiss not to mention the absolute badassery that is Lyanna. Consider this a shoutout to House Mormont in general, as I am a major fan of theirs. Lyanna, who's all of eleven years old, insists on fighting in the war. She dies, yes, but she takes out a fucking giant first. I'm sorry, y'all can call this kid a bored meme all you like, but your criticisms will be drowned out in the absolute earth-shattering thunder of her storm. She's too cool for you, she's too cool for me, she's too cool for anyone.

6: Tormund. Just, just Tormund. He never fails to make me smile and laugh, and say what you will about some of the other characters, but they didn't miss a single beat with Tormund on this cycle. Seriously, there wasn't any line he had, not a one, that was not perfect. When he tackled Jon in S8E2? "My little crow." God, they are such bros and it makes me so happy. In the first episode at the end, "I've always had blue eyes!" I've got to hand it to the actor, and yes, the writing, for how Tormund was an endless breath of fresh air, and he even got an emotional farewell with Jon in S8E4. Seriously, this character has such heart, and he's so funny. The scene where he's lamenting his woes and his heartbreak about Brienne choosing Jaime, and the camera pans out to reveal a pissed off Sandor being forced to listen to him blubber? I had to pause the damn thing because I cracked up so hard. But my favorite line of his? I'd have to go with his exchange with Jon about how they need to be celebrating. "Vomiting isn't celebrating." And then Tormund, with a straight face. "Yes it is." Seven hells, what a riot. And yeah, I know, I know, he drunkenly rambles on about how badass it is that Jon climbed onto a Dragon, and "kinda forgot" he'd also ridden one himself. Or, y'know, maybe he was referring to people who have actually "piloted" dragons rather than just being passengers, which only Jon, Dany, and the Night King have ever done. Or maybe he was just drunk, guys. That was quite clear during the scene...I swear, some of these complaints are just confusing...

5: Melisandre's death. That's it. Just, that it happened. Not as satisfying or cathartic a death as I would have hoped, but boy am I glad she's dead and I don't care if that's petty. Rest in peace, Shireen. You deserved so much better and you are at last avenged - well, sort of.

Alright, alright, the real #5: Jaime's Death. Okay, flame shields up, let me offer my disclaimer. This was not the ending I wanted for Jaime, not by a longshot. I'm a Braime shipper and I hate Cersei as much as the next fan, possibly more. Even so, as I alluded to earlier, there's a kind of poetry to Jaime and Cersei's death that I cannot ignore. I can somewhat defend the choice to have Jaime go back to her because, let's face it - that relationship is abusive. Jaime has resigned himself to this idea that he can never be a good person because he's done bad things, because he still cares about Cersei, who will always be a bad person. He knows she's never going to change, but he can't let go of her. It's a crying shame because he was on the road to recovery, and I can understand the idea that his character arc was thrown away. I'm not saying I disagree, but I still think of Jaime as a victim and his death as a circular tragedy. Just because the writers make a choice we disagree with or would have done differently, doesn't automatically mean it's bad writing. I don't understand the complaint that Cersei was killed by falling rocks. So? That final moment was unironically beautiful, and sad. The final shot of them being buried choked me up. It's telling that as much as I despise Cersei, I couldn't enjoy her death. How is it "lame" that she was killed by a collapsing building? Besides, Daenerys may not have swung a sword at them, but she's clearly the one who killed them? Besides, if it had never happened, we wouldn't have gotten that gut-wrenching scene of Tyrion unearthing the golden hand and sobbing, hitting the rock on the ground. Or the badass moment where he quits as Daenerys' Hand.

4: Sansa and Daenerys' rivalry. I'm not sure why people disliked this so much, when it's literally the same kind of conflict we've always had. Game of Thrones, for the most part, doesn't have heroes and villains. It has three dimensional people who all have their own political agendas, and Sansa and Dany's agendas were in serious conflict. This is like complaining that Renly and Stannis were at odds with each other. It's just always been a part of the show and I thought it was realized pretty well. Whether you side with the Starks, with Dany, or you think they're both being stupid, it's easy to understand where each of them is coming from. It's a well crafted debate and both sides have good points. And I love how it's not about Jon - it's literally about Northern independence. Sansa is in overprotective sister mode but she also just generally doesn't trust Dany, and Dany knows it. Sansa shows what she's learned from her mentors when she betrays Jon, and yet paradoxically she also proves how much she cares about him. Sansa's betrayal matters a lot, and while I know some fans hate her for it, there was no way she was ever going to do anything else. This response was exactly in character. As was Daenerys' begging Jon to keep his heritage secret and resenting him for not agreeing to. It's a hell of a thing to ask, but Dany's been working toward the throne for the last seven years - and what, all of a sudden it's going to be snatched away because some secret *male* relative shows up at the eleventh hour? Yeah, if I were her, I'd think that was some bullshit as well.

3: Jon's realization about his identity. Alright, I know the memes. Jon only has two lines throughout the season, "I dun want it" and "muh queen" (Frankly, those memes have become more annoying than the actual problems with Jon's character in the show. Seriously, that joke is more dead than Ned Stark, just let it rest.) I agree that not nearly as much was done with Jon's heritage and that his overall role in this season was a passive one - until the end, anyway. But that scene in S8E1 is an actual masterpiece. Jon and Sam reunited in the most wholesome hug, Jon learning the truth at last, not being able to cope with it, the question being raised of who would be better. The discussion about Ned. It's just a magnificent scene. Sam was the perfect person to tell him, and it helps that he also finds out about Dany killing Sam's family in the same scene. I absolutely love the line where Sam asks if Dany would give up a crown to save her people because for better or for worse, S8 kind of suggested that she was not, and would not. It really kicked the conflict of the season, the tension between Jon and Daenerys, into overdrive, and I appreciate that. I appreciate that the scene happened in the crypts as well, and how significant that location has been to this storyline. Hell, you could call this whole scene a narrative mirror to Robert and Ned's scene by Lyanna's statue all the way back in Episode 1.

2: Arya killing the Night King. Oh yeah, I said it, I love this. It blows my mind that there are fans who are genuinely devastated that it was Arya, based on fan reception I've seen. First of all, she makes perfect sense - she has the skillset to sneak up on the Night King. This gets into a bigger fallacy I've noticed where fans who hate Arya will simultaneously complain that she's overpowered, and that she never uses her face-changing abilities. Like, which is it, guys? Sometimes I just think people want to hate her, and for the life of me, I don't get why. She spent two whole seasons training to be a master assassin. People hate that storyline too, but they seem to forget it happened when they criticise Arya. (Though believe me, I'm right there with the folks who are mad about the final fight with the Waif. I can suspend my disbelief far enough to accept that she survives those wounds, but do not show her running the very next day, because no. That would not happen.) Second of all, am I the only one who thought that the Night King's death wasn't about who did it, but how it was done? The Catspaw Dagger, the weapon that was used to try and kill Bran all the way back in Episode 2, ultimately saved his life and ended The Long Night. The narrative thread that was resolved with this death wasn't the killer, it was the weapon. But that's just my two cents. I know a lot of people wanted it to be Jon, including Kit Harington himself, but the fact that it wasn't doesn't mean they were just trying to "subvert expectations."

1: Jaime Knighting Brienne. I said before that I was a Braime shipper, but you don't have to be one to appreciate this incredible scene. It was preceded by Jaime's trial, which I also enjoyed, and especially the moment where Brienne speaks out in his defense. It was so damn satisfying to see someone do so and Brienne was the perfect person. Their bond has been built up over the last five seasons and never mind romantic tension, there's a mutual respect going on here, and recurring themes about honor and loyalty and what it means to be a Knight. Jaime's own tricky relationship with all of these values, and how he carries the title anyway. Brienne being the picture perfect example of what a Knight should be and yet not having the rank, having always been held back. This moment is satisfying because holy fuck did Brienne earn this. And it warms my heart to see how happy it makes her, for however much she claimed she didn't want it. And not only did Jaime make logical sense for the person who would do it, narrative-wise, he is absolutely perfect and the only real choice. It just blows my mind how much I love this scene, and really this entire episode. The episode is even named for her, as damn well it should be. I've talked about this before but between Jaime and Brienne fighting together, the two pieces of Ice are reunited to defend Winterfell and that's kind of perfect. I'm gonna have to stop myself now because I could easily gush for another five minutes about this flawless scene and how Season 8 is honestly underrated. Far from perfect, but also far from the travesty that most make it out to be.

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mrsseverussnape · 3 years

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Welcome to our Back to School Collaboration Event! Me and @leydileyla will be working together for your requests and we are super excited to be doing this together! Back to School isn't always fun in real life but we know that we'd probably do anything to go to school at Hogwarts so we thought this would be a fun way for everyone!✨

Event will be open from August 26th until August 30th

Please read each category carefully before sending in a request!

Both Marauders era and Golden Trio era characters are welcome! But i personally prefer Marauders era characters so you can send your Marauders requests to me☺️ These are the characters i write for: Severus, Sirius, Remus, Lucius. For the event’s sake i can write for the other characters who are in this era too.

🐈-Which Magical Pet? Send in some info about yourself and we'll tell you which Magical Pet would be perfect for you!

🎩-Sorting Hat! Send in some info about yourself and we'll sort you into houses!

💘-First Crush! Send in some info about yourself and we'll tell you who would be your first Crush in the school year! Please specify which gender and which era you'd prefer!

☀️-After Summer Holidays! Send in a HP character and we'll prepare a moodboard/polaroid about how you would meet up after summer break! Also don’t forget to give some info about yourself! (Request this one only to me!)

🚂-Hogwarts Express! Send in some info about yourself and we'll tell you who you would befriend on the train!

👯‍♀️-Best Friend! Tell us which Harry Potter character you would want as a best friend and we'll prepare a moodboard and couple polaroids for you! Don’t forget to give some info about yourself! (Request this one only to me!)

Tagging my lovely mutuals and my taglist💕:

@snapefiction @lizlil @elizabeth-baelish @misselsbells06 @mais-e @lunnybunny12 @anfre109 @entirelymesmerising @wolvesofwinter13 @mrssnivellussnape @mestin-writes @echoofawind @pamelalur15 @myamortentia @thathumourblog @aprofoundrickmaniac @warmandbeautifulpaulie @dionysus-lover-ao3 @his-billowing-cloak @st-severus @simpforsnape @half-blood-slytherpuff @rosaline-black @eternal-silvertongued-prince @flowersfromsweetophelia @fooolishwandwaving @happymoony @alwayslucius

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tcm · 3 years

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A Conversation with Patty McCormack on Growing Up on Screen By Kim Luperi

Not many child stars go on to enjoy long, successful careers in show business – and fewer still have earned a prestigious Academy Award nomination before they turned 18. Patty McCormack has achieved both. The actress, who made her first film appearance in 1951 and went on to star in THE BAD SEED (’56, for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress as the murderous Rhoda at age 11); THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (’60) and THE YOUNG RUNAWAYS (’68), continues to work in Hollywood and shows no indication of slowing down.

I had the pleasure of speaking with McCormack recently about some of these titles and more, including the delightful film KATHY O’ ('58) in which she plays a famous child star – an apt springboard for a discussion about growing up on screen and transitioning into more mature roles over her incredibly long, accomplished career.

(This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

I was watching KATHY O’ last night, and I really enjoyed it. In that movie they talk about your blonde pigtail braids as a trademark, and I realized it kind of was; you had that hairstyle in THE BAD SEED and ALL MINE TO GIVE (’57), too. Do you know how that style came about, or was it something you did that caught on?

Patty McCormack: It seems to be! I believe I even had them early on in Mama, which was an old live TV show that was a weekly event. I don't know how that [trademark] happened. I think it just happened because of THE BAD SEED – I think it was the hairdo that I went in with or they just decided on. When you see the original artwork on William March’s book, there’s a very long face drawing of Rhoda, his Rhoda, and there were braids in it. I don't know if they were looped or what, but that could have been it – or I honestly don't remember if it was chosen by my mom because it was easy, but it stuck!

I loved KATHY O’ because I got to live the dream. I loved the notion of them cutting my hair off – except it was a wig that they cut. After a while it felt like I didn't want to look like an older person with braids – you have to get rid of them eventually. As soon as I could, I wanted hair that was like, in that era, a page boy or something like that, where it landed on your shoulder. But I carried that long hair for a long time. And then you know how you revert back to certain hairdos years later?

They come back in style.

PM: Yes, they come back, but now I have shortish hair, and I'm growing it one length. So I got over the braids – just in the nick of time!

Circling back to Rhoda, you originated the role on Broadway before the film version, so you obviously had a lot of practice and familiarity with the part before you took it to the screen. Since she's such a chilling character, how did you get into that mindset at age nine, especially when you had to play the part multiple times a week?

PM: I always go back to the source, and the source was the director, Reginald Denham. He was so good with directing me. He made it fun, because I learned when I'd get an audience reaction on a face I’d make or something, I'd look forward to doing that again – you know, that kind of joy.

He made it so clear and simple, and his point of view was that Rhoda was always right. I know I've said this before, but it's the truth. No matter what anybody says, Rhoda is correct, and anything she wants, she feels entitled to – not using that word ‘entitled’ – but I really wasn't thinking of myself as a bad person, or especially not a murderer. I just thought it was their fault, which is classic, I guess. I had to kill him [the little boy] because he was so mean. So I think that was how I learned to be that character. I was aware of the murders – people were dead because of me, that I knew – but somehow it wasn't disturbing to my mind. If you take a look at it knowing that, you see it. I'm not coming from some sort of evil place, I don't think.

You were nominated for an Oscar for THE BAD SEED, which is amazing; it's a true testament to your talents, of course, but it’s also such a big accolade to have at such a young age. Do you remember there being any pressure on you for your next role?

PM: Well, the role was so odd for a kid to be so noticed, in that era anyway. I can't think of any jobs I didn't get after that that somebody else got, you know? What happened, though, was that each year I grew, and so I just experienced the typical kid actor dilemma which is going from category to category and establishing yourself in that category and learning how to be in that category. I did do something on Playhouse 90 – I did a few PLAYHOUSE 90s back then – and I did a lot of television –

You played Helen Keller [in the original 1957 Playhouse 90 teleplay “The Miracle Worker”].

PM: That's what I was going to say! That was after THE BAD SEED. But mostly, as far as movies went, there was KATHY O’ and a few here and there and at different levels of development. I was always aware that it had been a while since I worked, that I felt, but I didn't think business, like “What will I follow up that with?” I didn't have that kind of mentality, and I really don't think my mother did either, so it just sort of went the way it went.

As you mentioned too, you were still growing up. So, you’re a child, then a teenager, then young adult. You probably wouldn’t be thinking about the business part of it.

PM: No, it's so strange. It's not an easy transition, and as you know famous people go through really hard things. You don't get to sit and relax in a certain mode for too long because before you know it you're in the next one. And then you go through your ‘ugly period’ in front of everybody, which is horrible.

The movie that you mentioned TCM is going to air, THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, when I see the headshots from that I just think, “Aw, I looked uncomfortable!” I could see it even in my body. I felt like I was at the awkward time – you know, part of me was getting bigger, developing – and that hairdo they gave me didn't help; it was still the braids but wrapped up.

I want to ask you about that transition. Did you find anything difficult or surprising about navigating Hollywood and growing up on screen?

PM: The most difficult part, honestly, as a person growing up – I think at the time I always say Sandra Dee was the person we all looked to. She was just so beautiful, and no one else looked like that – maybe Carol Lynley a little bit – but the bar was set very high. With that, you’re insecure anyways because you’re at that age, and more than anything you don't want to be different. I think that's true for a lot of kids. So the maturing, that part of development, was difficult when I look back. You don't have the confidence that you had as a little kid when you don't think about anything. You become all self-conscious about how you look, if you're thin enough, if you’re pretty enough, if your hair looks nice. It's a little bit of an adjustment to get through all that and go back to what you like to do, which is to pretend, and take the focus off what you look like or who you look like or any of that stuff. I don't know if other kid actors had the same experience, but usually people grow out of a look that made them known – most of us anyway, not all of us.

I know when you left Hollywood you went back to Brooklyn and finished high school there. What was that experience like for you?

PM: Well, I took my real name back, and I was going to the high school that my mother and older sister went to, so I was really excited. This is going to sound so weird, but it was almost like playing a part – I was playing the part of a high school student. My real name is Russo, so I was Patty Russo. The experience was really kind of shocking, because I think they expected me to be very conceited, and so I had to hide in the cafeteria in the early days, because it was Brooklyn and they were pretty tough – they were on me! But I made a best friend who helped me navigate through it, and it turned into a nice experience finally. I was glad to have had that.

Then I came back out here [Los Angeles], and I stayed with a friend of my mother's family for a while. I wound up leaving Utrecht [her Brooklyn high school] – it’s a long story – but I did a soap opera in between while I was going to Utrecht, and that was kind of tricky because they weren't flexible like California was. In California they were used to kid actors, and in New York at that time, they really weren't. Then when I came out here, I went back to finish high school at Hollywood Professional and got my diploma that way. But I'm so glad I got to go back to Brooklyn. I'm pleased about that.

It sounds like you had a pretty grounded childhood, especially in attending a regular high school. Do you think that helped how you adjusted when you returned to the film industry?

PM: It was a little bit too grounded, I think! I came from a really good family. I never thought that I was a big deal, and they [her mom and dad] made sure of that. So, coming back to the industry after, I really didn't know the ropes. People handled all that before – the only thing I knew was what I did, and so some things maybe didn't get handled so well, but I learned on my feet when I came back out here. Then I married my childhood boyfriend and we had our children, and I kept working.

Yes, you’ve worked steadily since then.

PM: I did work a lot! It’s true. Nothing on the level of nominations, but I was a journeyman, I like to say.

You've spent six decades in the industry, which is really astounding, especially since you started as a child. I read an interview from 1974 that featured a humorous quote from you that I’d like to share. You said that you lamented that you never got the guy in movies and just once you wanted to “kiss the guys instead of kill them.”

PM: That is funny!

But throughout your career, you played Helen Keller, you played a career woman in THE BEST OF EVERYTHING (’70), you played Pat Nixon more recently in FROST/NIXON (’08), so you've had a lot of experience with different characters. Was there any genre or any type of character that you wish you could explore further?

PM: Well, I'll tell you the truth, it's actually seven decades from when I started, although if you want to make me younger, I don't mind! At this point in time, I'm so grateful when I work, because there could be nothing now, you know? I do enjoy what comes along. The only thing I never got to do, which I would have loved, was to have been in a habit – I would have loved to have played a nun in a habit.

That’s interesting.

PM: Isn’t it? It’s the Catholic school thing.

We’ll have to find you a role like that!

PM: I know, wouldn't that be fun? And it would be a nice way, in your later years, to go from a killer to a nun, you know? I think it would be a good idea.

Going in the right direction!

PM: Yes! But anyways, little things change here and there, and I sometimes do voiceovers, and I did something recently that I had never done, which was so much fun. Did you notice on Netflix a show called ARSENE LUPIN [working title for LUPIN]?

I haven’t heard of it, but I know there’s an old movie with the same name.

PM: Yes, this is a remake. It's in French, and I dubbed a French woman into English, and it was so much fun to do, to have someone else's face up there. I know some people watch foreign movies and they say, “Oh it's so unfair to dub the other actors,” and I probably wouldn't love it if somebody dubbed me either, but I had such a ball doing it. So, if you catch that show, you'll see somewhere in there I'm speaking English for a French woman.

I wanted to talk about two of your more recent roles. I know you starred in MOMMY in the 1990s, kind of a grown-up Rhoda, and you played a psychiatrist in the Lifetime remake of THE BAD SEED in 2018. This story has been filmed a few times; what do you think resonates with people, and how did it feel going back to that character and story but from different perspectives?

PM: Right. Well, to be honest, the Rob Lowe production [for Lifetime] was really a totally different story. There was no mom – he was the mom character – so the writing was really different.

There were two MOMMY movies: MOMMY (’95) and MOMMY’S DAY (’97). Those were written by a writer who lives in Muscatine, Iowa: Max Allan Collins. This is a long time ago now, but it was fun to grow her up, you know, physically. I talked to you about how that is the strange thing about transitioning, and it was so enjoyable to do that. It really was a journey for me internally.

There was also something about shaking hands with that, because in my day, it was never a good thing to have something so long ago be talked about all the time. I got that impression by other people's opinions, not my own, and as time went on, the world changed and people started knowing actors’ work from 20 years ago. So, the appreciation for that old work came back, and I learned to feel good about it through other people's feelings about it. I do have such a different perspective on it now, and it's a character that was so special. That really changed my ability as to how I could hold it [the role].

It’s nice to be able to do that.

PM: Yes, it is.

I have one more question for you. I know we’re in a pandemic and many productions are halted, but do you have any upcoming appearances that I can share with fans to look out for?

PM: Aw, I wish! It's funny, I did some Hallmark Christmas movies. Well, I did one, and then last year I was supposed to do another one, and they cut our parts because of COVID. So, I'm rooting for [the next one], and I have a good feeling, you know, when we have our vaccinations. Also, a downside was that they shoot in Canada, and they have to bring you up there, and at that time you had to stay in 14 days.

A lot of rules!

PM: Yes, a lot of rules. So hopefully there will be a new one. I can't honestly say, but there's no reason there shouldn't be!

My dad loves the Hallmark Christmas movies, and I watch a lot of them because of him, so I'll be rooting for you and looking out for you!

PM: I know, there's so many. People have blankets and all these things! There are real hard-core fans – it's amazing.

#patty mccormack #child actors #TCM #Turner Classic Movies #The bad seed #kim luperi #growing up on screen #acting #actor

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thebudgetgarden · 3 years

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The Budget Garden 3: Seven Seas (V-Premium)

Hello Cardfighters. So this post might be quite unique in the aspect that I don’t really have anything to really “teach” or that much to discuss either to be honest. The Seven Seas archetype has been a mainstay of the Granblue Clan, as a powerful sub-clan that initially dominated the G-era meta during late 2016 up until early-to-mid 2017, where it was hit and left to die as G was entering a new format. People are only familiarized with them due to their very boysterous and loud presence in the G-meta game, but when the time came for them to be rebooted in the new V-series format, which, at the time, didn’t really have any truly cheap budget decks, their aggro playstyle was pushed to the limit in order to create a cheap deck that could steal games from the otherwise very slow and methodical meta of Nightrose and Scharhrot Vampir. The formatting for this instalment is going to be quite unique as we are required, maybe, in a way, even FORCED to run every single card that includes “Seven Seas” in the card name. Therefore, there won’t be much in terms of options for tech choices, as about 90% of the deck is already decided for us.

Let’s begin with our grade 3 line-up… which also just so happens to be the ONLY grade 3 unit that we are going to be playing in our deck, Lord of the Seven Seas, Nightmist.

[AUTO](VC/RC):When its attack hits, choose one of your (VC) or (RC) without any

Treasures

markers, and put a Treasures marker.

[CONT](VC):You get all of the effects below according to the number of your Treasures markers.

• 1 or more - All of your rear-guards with "

Seven Seas

" in their card names can attack and intercept from the back row.

• 3 or more - During your turn, all of your units with "Seven Seas" in their card names get [Power]+5000.

• 6 or more - This unit gets "[AUTO](VC):At the end of the battle it attacked, [Stand] all of your rear-guards with "Seven Seas" in their card names.".

To the majority of people that are having a full on Aneurysm reading this skill, I don’t blame you. The Treasure Markers are just that, markers that are placed on your circles, and that give off specific skills and unique abilities depending on the unit that is in top of them. Think of them as an indicator to know when your cards have their unique abilities and skills, instead of having to keep track of them yourself. Spoiler alert for every single card incoming, every single memeber of the Seven Seas archetype have the skill that allows you to obtain a treasure marker on one of your circles when they perform a successful attack.

Nightmist, apart from having really great artwork, is the main unit of our strategy, and the only real “payoff” for us actually obtaining these force markers. Do not be fooled by the shiny “protect” sumbol on the upper-leftmost corner, this is an insanely fast and loose Aggro deck, aiming to obtain 6 Treasure markers in order to perform 11 attacks in a single turn. This is perfectly reflected in Nightmist’s skill. The first skill allows for your backrow to attack your opponent’s units, just like a test-run version of Magnolia, as well as allowing them to intercept from the backrow, which seems very random but it will become obvious in a second.

The second skill gives your entire board a very nice boost. With 6 Seven Seas units on your circles, it gives your board an overall surplus of 30k power, while also allowing your grade 1 units to hit force numbers, effectively allowing you to rush against all 3 gifts.

The third skill is awesome, but really hard to pull off. If you have laid 6 successful attacks on your opponent and their units, Nightmist gets an effect that allows your ENTIRE board to restand, effectively giving you 5 bonus attacks.

Sound awesome, right? In the 25-30 games I have played to playtest for this very blog, I have managed to resolve this final skill on about 5 or 6 of them, either because at that point of the match I had either won the game or lost the game. It pops up SO LATE into the game that you might as well have already won, but when you do get to pull it off, it feels amazing … just don’t expect it to come up that often.

Nightmist is a hilariously bloated card, clearly being designed to fix holes that existed with this strategy before he even got printed. Nightmist is also the most expensive part of the deck, as a playset will set you back about 5-10 euros.

Moving forward to the grade 2 line-up, the units in this segment arent nearly as complicated or long-winded as Nightmist, as the grade 2 line up does an excellent job of adding some much needed consistency and raw power.

Our Grade 2 line-up consists of three units, Nightspinel, Negrolazy and Slash Shade.

[AUTO](VC/RC):When its attack hits, choose one of your (VC) or (RC) without any Treasures markers, and put a Treasures marker. [AUTO](VC/RC):When placed, COST [Counter Blast (1) & put two cards from the top of your deck into the drop zone], and call up to one card with "Seven Seas" in its card name not named "Seven Seas Pillager, Nightspinel" from your drop zone to (RC).

[AUTO](VC/RC):When its attack hits, choose one of your (VC) or (RC) without any Treasures markers, and put a Treasures marker. [CONT](RC):During your turn, if there is a marker on this unit's circle, this unit gets [Power]+15000.

[AUTO](VC/RC):When placed, you may call a grade 0 from your drop zone to (RC).

There really isn’t a lot to say, Cardfighters, these are the two types of skills that were really needed for some added consistency and power. Nightspinel not only fulfills the role of the “waifu" card in this archetype, she’s also a very nice way of setting your drop zone up for certain ressurection effects, but she is a single card that can provide more board advantage in a deck that calls a lot of its hand onto the board. Also, she’s very cute, which is also a plus. And in the category of “not so cute, but much more playable” comes Slash Shade, a card with a very simple, yet powerful effect. He can make himself a 24k attacker by just existing on a circle with a marker on it, key word being ANY marker. A protect II gift, which manifests itself as a marker on a circle also works with this skill, so a protect II market makes Slash Shade, even while unboosted, a 29k attacker. Couple that with Nightmist’s second skill, 3-4 of your circles are most likely going to be attacking from the backrow for 29k-34k. Slash Shade is, in a complete turn of events, the true boss monster for the Seven Seas, as he is by himself an attacker that requires a 20k or more shield from your opponent per attack, making him the unofficial win condition for this deck. Negrolazy seems like an odd addition, as getting a trigger back onto your board seems rather useless. It is. However, Negrolazy has great synergy with a grade 0 unit that we will be discussing in a little bit. While the grade 2 line-up is quite great for what it does, the most important aspect to any Blitz/Aggro strategy lies within the Grade 1 line-up, as it needs to provide some sort of value/recursion to offset the early hand loss. The grade 1 units that we will be using are the following: Witch Doctor of the Seven Seas, Raistutor Seven Seas Helmsman, Nightcrow Skeleton Sea Navigator Witch Doctor of Powdered Bone, Negrobone

[AUTO](VC/RC):When its attack hits, choose one of your (VC) or (RC) without any Treasures markers, and put a Treasures marker. [CONT](RC):If there is a marker on this unit's circle, this unit gets "Intercept".

[AUTO](VC/RC):When its attack hits, choose one of your (VC) or (RC) without any Treasures markers, and put a Treasures marker. [ACT](Drop zone):If you have a vanguard with "Seven Seas" in its card name, COST [Soul Blast (1) & retire a rear-guard not named "Seven Seas Helmsman, Nightcrow"], and call this card to (RC).

[ACT](RC):COST [[Rest] two rear-guards], and put five cards from the top of your deck into your drop zone.

[ACT](Drop zone):COST [Discard a card from your hand & put this card on the bottom of your deck], and call a grade 1 from your drop zone to (RC). If your drop zone has ten or more cards, you may call any grade instead. As you can see, all of the cards in our grade 1 line-up offer some form of utility, and it is as basic as it is good. Raistutor gives herself the ability to intercept, which works really well in conjunction with the Nightmist’s skill, as well as letting herself become a 20k backrow interceptor if there is a protect II marker on her circle. Nightcrow works really well while he is in the drop zone, as he can turn any unit on our board into a copy of himself for a soulblast. Also blasting the cards from our soul means more options in our drop zone, so he’s a fun addition that works well with the rest of the archetype. Skeleton Sea Navigator is our mill engine. Granblue decks love to put cards from the top of their deck in the drop zone to fulfill certain conditions or allow for more options. Since we cannot afford to put many cards that mill our own deck, as space is very tight, the Navigator allows up to mill ourselves for no cost at all. Negrobone is a powerful payoff for milling ourselves. Reviving a grade 1 unit isn’t awful since they provide us with value or more Seven Seas units for attacks, but his ability to be able to revive a unit regardless of grade means that we have another way to get our Slash Shades back onto the board. So these are our options for the grade 1 units, but don’t touch that dial, we have a consistency boosting grade 0 unit that helps us find the right Seven Seas units at the right time. (I’m too lazy to make a grade 0 introductory section for a single card)

[AUTO](VC/RC):When its attack hits, choose one of your (VC) or (RC) without any Treasures markers, and put a Treasures marker. [ACT](RC):COST [Bind this unit & put two cards from the top of your deck into the drop zone], and return a card with "Seven Seas" in its card name not named "Seven Seas Apprentice, Nightrunner" from your drop zone to your hand. He mills our deck, he reccurs cards, he gets revived from Negrolazy, he mops the floor, Nightrunner does it all. He is an excellent addition for our deck as he does pretty much everything that our deck wants to do, with an added layer of consistency.

Decklist and Final Thoughts.

GRADE 3 x4 Nightmist Grade 2 x4 Nightspinelx4 Slash Shadex3 Negrolazy Grade 1 x4 Nightcrow x4 Raistutor x3 Skeleton Sea Navigator x3 Negrobone Grade 0 x4 Nightrunner 8 critical triggers (2 sentinels) 4 draw triggers (2 perfect guards) 4 heals1 Starting Vanguard This deck is one of my favorites. It’s a deck that provides a very unique and interesting take on what a “protect” deck should be, and it allows for some of the most hectic and fun board states compared to the majority of decks in general, not just budget decks. However, time has not been kind to this beauty, as it has been powercrept quite a bit compared to the other budget decks descussed previously. However, if you want a deck that, from the moment that you flip your vanguard over, is chaotic and hectic fun, as well as a very unique take on an aggro deck, look no further than Nightmist and his treasure-loving posse. Thank you all for reading ! If you have any questions or any suggestions as to what I should cover next, please don’t hesitate to contact me on Discord, I would be happy to hear any suggestions or ideas that you might have ! (Bloom#8890) That’s all for now, Cardfighters ! See ya next time. Bloom, aka thebudgetgarden.

#cardfight!! vanguard #cardgame #tabletop #budgetdecks #budget #seven seas #vanguard

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recentanimenews · 4 years

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FEATURE: Happy 10th Anniversary To Every Anime Opening Ever Made (The Video)

I don't remember where I was at when I first watched "Supercut - Every Anime Opening Ever Made," but I do remember the inescapable truth it showed me after I watched it. Maybe I was on Gaia Online or some other forum when someone posted the link and asked "have you seen this?" I started the video and saw the seagulls flying in the sky. Then the white text on a black background showed up, saying that the following was in every single anime opening sequence...

The montage began! Cameras heading towards the sun! Going right into the character's eyes! The running! This dude was right: This stuff IS in every anime opening!

youtube

This Youtube supercut turns ten years old today, and if you were in the anime fandom around 2010 you had probably seen this video at some point. Now with 3 Million views, I think the reason it resonated with so many people is that for as much anime we watched, we probably noticed these trends but didn't make the full connection until it was fully presented in front of us. Regardless of genre or tone, there was this underlying connective tissue across dozens of shows that we may or may not have seen before. And shown in such a slick and edited fashion provided a connection across the shows we love. While videos like this are likely uploaded onto Youtube now more than I can imagine (maybe even right now as I write this!), this supercut was the original, back in a time when fandom was certainly a lot smaller and growing. Even though Youtube was becoming more of a hub for anime content (as we were slowly getting out of the Bleach-episode-split-into-three-parts era), fandom was more split in the sense that everyone had their own particular hub or forum they claimed home. There was no AniTwitter or Youtube Community tab to trudge around and find out what wider fandom was talking about. And yet, everyone seemed to have come around and appreciated this, a small stepping stone to what the community would end up becoming today. I was just going to celebrate this little piece of fandom fun with an article going down memory lane, but I decided to try to reach out to Derek Lieu, the original creator of the video, to see if he had anything to add for this retrospective. And luckily he got back to me really quickly! Can you first introduce yourself and what you do? My name is Derek Lieu, I currently live in Brooklyn NY and I make video game trailers! I’ve worked on trailers for Firewatch, Subnautica, Spelunky 2, Ooblets, Dead Cells, Half-Life: Alyx, and a lot more. How did you get the idea to make the "Every Anime Opening Ever Made" video? When I learned the American X-Men animated series from the 90s had alternate opening sequences made for when it aired in Japan I became fascinated by what made those openings so distinctly Japanese. I don’t remember my precise thought process, but I started downloading textless versions of anime openings from YouTube to start, and started sorting the footage. I think the one exception I made was for Neon Genesis Evangelion because I couldn’t not include it. About how long do you think it took to edit? Believe it or not the whole project took about an afternoon and maybe part of the evening. Downloading all the openings took longer than the actual editing. After downloading them I sorted the different tropes into categories like I normally do when editing stuff. Once the footage was sorted I barely moved anything around except to adjust for music sync and also where each chunk of tropes fit into the video. I used a specific Ayumi Hamasaki song which was used for the cel-shaded Molly Star Racer trailer (which much later became Oban Star Racers). The original remix song is much longer so I edited it down to about 3.5 minutes.

youtube

Is there anything in particular that stood out to you when you were making it? (Outside of so many shows using the same shots, obviously haha) I think the main thing that occurred to me is that so many of these tropes are just great ways to create cool moving images using as little animation as possible, but which still feel dynamic and fun to watch. One interesting bit of trivia is Trigun is one of the few series whose opening is footage from episodes cut together. This was by far the exception to the rule. I remember this video very fondly back in the earlier Youtube days, and it has 3 Million views as to date. Did you ever expect it to be that successful? Haha, not in the slightest. It seems the videos I give the least amount of thought always get the most number of views and the ones I spend a lot of time get the fewest. What do you think is your favorite and least favorite "trope" in the original video? I like the head turns. I didn’t even give attention to that one when I started the project, but it very quickly revealed itself as one of the most common ones. I don’t think I have a least favorite; they’re all fun to watch. One of the funniest is a person reaching their hand out to someone on the ground; I like this one because it’s so incredibly specific.

youtube

Do you still watch any anime? And if you do, do you see any of those same shots/frames/movements in particular still being used today? I don’t currently watch any anime, but I assume a lot of openings still use a lot of these tropes. Because they cover everything from standing still to running. I later made a video for unique anime openings because there are some which have really great stylized art and interesting images. I also made one for classic anime from the 80s and earlier which helped me see where a lot of the tropes originates. Do you have any other thoughts on the video looking back on it ten years later? Reading comments from people who watched it as a kid and now are rewatching it as adults makes me feel old, haha. Also, people keep telling me I “forgot” an anime. I once tallied all the anime people say I excluded and the list was far far longer than the number of anime in my video. Also, a lot of people mention anime which released after the video was made :P One bit of trivia, I didn’t include any Naruto because at the time I thought it would’ve been funny to exclude the most popular anime at the time. Sorry, Naruto fans. We'd like to thank Derek Lieu for not only making the video, but also for taking the time to speak to us. You can find him on Twitter and Youtube.

Kyle Cardine is an Editor for Crunchyroll. You can find his Twitter here.

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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mascherata · 5 years

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Mon Cher Martyr - a short story

Genre: dark romance, thriller, with fantasy and historical elements

Category: young adult

Setting: a fantasy world with influences of the Victorian, regency, and Renaissance eras

Tone: elegant, regal, acidic and witty, creepy

POV: first-person, past-tense

About

A budding romance between a charismatic socialite and a prim young florist comes to a head on their first date.

This story was written with the intent of being part of an anthology alongside other works, but it works well enough as a standalone if you don’t mind a few loose ends and lack of exposition.

Content warning for light violence, creepy imagery, bigoted language, and descriptions of sexual assault (though kept brief and mostly only alluded to as past events).

Comments and feedback are very much appreciated!

Mon Cher Martyr by Mascherata

About a quarter past seven and my date finally arrived at the tavern with a flick of her rust-colored hair and beam of varnished lips; obscenely late, and yet who was I to complain? This time of evening, we’d have practically the entire vicinity to ourselves. Poised and pretty as a rose from her mother’s garden, she sat across from me, small, peachy hands woven together in her lap. Of course I returned her smile, setting a chalice in front of her and uncorking the bottle of champagne I had been saving for my dear.

“How did you guess what I wanted?” she chuckled at me – with a note of gratitude; or embarrassment, perhaps. Filling her glass with the crystalline liquor, I laughed lightly in response.

“I’d believe my Ofeilian heritage is responsible,” I smiled modestly as I filled my own glass. “we tend to know what women like, you’ll find.”

“We’ve barely met,” My friend’s freckled cheeks heated, but she smiled teasingly. “I’d reckon it was more of a lucky guess.”

“My guesses are very scarcely incorrect.” I jested mysteriously, setting aside the bottle of liquor and raising the cool glass to my lips. Her dimpled grin was enough to warm a dead man’s heart. “Now, cherie. How are you this fine autumn evening?”

“I’m very well, thank you!” she laughed a tinkling laugh. Sipping her champagne, her honey eyes met my steely grey ones, twinkling softly as her smile turned to concern. Whatever was on her mind she did not verbalize.

“Hmm, might there be something on my glasses?” I teased her, removing my round spectacles with a chortle (though I immediately put them back on as I was frustratingly nearsighted). “Something on my face? Go on, you can tell me!”

“Oh…it’s nothing that important,” she said with a dismissive smile, setting her chalice back on the table. “I only hope you can also say you’re well? You’re looking a bit peaky.”

“Ah, I’ve gotten a bit of a cold,” I answered disarmingly. “A mere inconvenience – don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”

“Oh! I hope you feel better,” Her gaze was sympathetic. “I have to say, it’s easy to worry about you – all the charity work you do, volunteering night and day…when in the world do you sleep?”

“I know my limits, Amy!” I laughed heartily. “I’d never bite off more than I could chew. I can safely assure you that I, like every other human, do in fact sleep.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear,” she chuckled, becoming relaxed as she drank more of her champagne. “You do so much for others, yet you never tire. How?”

“A philanthropist’s job is never done,” I mused with an enigmatic smile. “But many hands make for light work. I’m simply contributing my piece.”

Her almond eyes met mine for a second time, perhaps with a gaze of veneration. I pondered what she could have been thinking as silence fell between us. Her fair, soft face was very rosy, and her ear-to-ear, laughing smile never diminished, even when she raised her glass to drink. I chortled softly at her, aware of my own heated cheeks.

“What is it, dove?” I inquired.

“Your face is all red.”

“I must look silly.”

“I find it adorable, actually.”

“Oh, do stop with the flattery.”

Amy giggled and drank from her chalice, face reddening even further from the combination of champagne and affection, rather like fresh blood on snow. It would have been immensely difficult to stop smiling at her had I wanted to.

“It isn’t flattery if it’s true,” she said playfully. “I know we’ve only known each other for so long, but…”

She trailed off when her eyes met mine. I had been giving her the most knowing, tender smile, and she returned it with utmost warmth as a passionate silence fell between us. For several minutes we more or less let ourselves exist with nothing on our minds but the love that hung in the air, faces flushed with infatuation and compassion.

“Alexandre?”

I cocked my head, beaming brightly. Her hand met my cheek, twisting a lock of my auburn hair around her finger.

“Yes?”

“I–”

For a mere fraction of a second, a most uncharacteristic grimace distorted her pretty face. She drew her hand back. I was unable to help but notice how much she had blanched.

“Is something the matter?” I asked sympathetically, brow furrowing with concern as I set my chalice back on the polished table.

“I just feel a bit–” Amy shifted in her spot and shook her head wearily, again bearing a smile. “–it’s nothing.”

“Are you sure you’re feeling fine?” I inquired with a frown. “You’re white as a sheet.”

“I’m absolutely sure, thank you,” she nodded with a reassuring smile, though the pink hue in her cheeks had noticeably diminished. “a little faint, but I’m positive I’m only tired.”

“Perhaps some more wine will cheer you,” I suggested, grinning eloquently.

From her amused giggle I could infer that she agreed, and so I took the decanter and re-filled my friend’s chalice with glistening champagne. She was quick to take a drink, visibly relaxing as a calming quiet fell upon us once more. It had been gradually getting darker, until the tavern was completely submerged in shadow, lit only by the tall, flickering candle I had placed on the table prior to Amy's arrival. Somewhere along the lines rain had started to drum against the dusty window, though neither of us had taken much notice up until this moment, as we were so caught up in each other.

“This has been lovely,” said my friend, voice soft, even drowsy. How could I have blamed her? The atmosphere was nearly soporific. “You're lovely.”

“Speak for yourself, will you?” I teased. “No, you've made this night wondrous. You are an absolute gem, mon cher.”

With another sip of wine, her eyelids became heavy – it was clear she was having trouble staying alert. I set the bottle aside, gaze again shifting to one of concern for my dear friend.

“Perhaps we should call it a night?” I offered. “I would be more than happy to escort you home.”

“I’m only a little sleepy,” she shook her head, taking another swig. Her eyes began to drift shut. “I’d hate to cut this short…”

“Come now, you’re practically falling asleep!” I chortled. “It’s absolutely no trouble.”

“I’m fiiine…”

“I’ll even carry you if you prefer – I doubt you weigh much!”

“I don’t know…”

“Sleep, Amy,” I instructed. “Sleep, mon cher.”

“…no,” she murmured uneasily, eyes closed. “I don’t want to.”

“Sleep.”

Below her breath, my friend mumbled something and slumped back in her spot. When her head lolled backwards and her arms dropped to her side like a discarded rag doll, I knew she was no longer conscious. Silently I rose from my seat, inching over and crouching beside her. I took her delicate, lax hand in mine and checked for her pulse. Aloud I sighed as the relief flooded through me – the dose had been enough to ensure that she would indeed awaken later.

I slung an arm around her waist and gingerly lifted her limp, warm body. I need not have worried about inadvertently rising her from her slumber, for the effects of the tincture wouldn’t be so quick to fade. My assessment had been correct – barely standing above five feet, Amy was quite easy to carry. On our way to the exit of the tavern, I turned to give a polite smile to the pale bartender – an unfortunately pockmarked, overworked young bloke with a hooked nose and ungroomed curls the color of tar.

“You recall our agreement.” I said to the trembling young man. It was difficult to suppress a chuckle – he looked rather like a terrified mouse, frozen in its tracks before a creature of prey snatches it up.

“F-five hundred gold…” he muttered timidly.

“Yes, Fernand,” I smiled, turning back on my heel to take my leave. “‘f-five hundred gold’.”

The bartender hesitated before making an attempt at defiance.

“W-wait!” he called. I could not stifle a small laugh, again glancing back at the feeble teenager.

“Yes?”

He inhaled and exhaled sharply, fruitlessly attempting to shake his painfully obvious anxiety.

“W-when will I-I be…” he breathed, rather comically feigning confidence. “…receiving it?”

“Once I’ve had my bit of fun,” I replied. “and once you’ve proven you’ll keep your mouth closed.”

Leaving him amusingly dumbfounded, I again turned to the threshold and exited into the cool, rainy night, Amy’s delicate warmth in my arms. I clicked the flimsy wooden door shut, its resounding “snap” reminiscent of the sound my mother’s enchanted deer traps would make when she took me hunting as a child.

And the trap indeed snapped shut, for I had caught a particularly fine gazelle.

The town – usually bustling with life and merriment – had fallen with an uncanny calm as a result of the heavy rain. Nobody would be out in this sort of weather. Where hills and moors were once visible in the distance was now a dense fog that hung in the air, masking even the majority of the drenched cobblestone road, to the point where I could only see a few feet ahead of me.

The rain spattered my glasses and slightly clouded my vision, yet I was far too giddy to care. Each time I captured my quarry, I was overwhelmed by pride and fervor – even when it came to my relatively easy targets, I always grew excited. Sometimes the best catches were the simpler ones, after all: The very young, very black woman I found out on the streets of the Opal slums in the dead of night, for instance, crawling back to her house after being shot in the leg by a city guard – she was an extremely memorable “involuntary acolyte” of mine, if you will. Her pitiful air of helplessness was what drew me to her – despite resisting, she and I both knew I was the only man who would give her time of day.

Even the occasion I was most proud of – one of the most widely desired Ofeilian socialites, no less – had barely put up any level of struggle. Always a martyr to the ideal, she was a sickly thing, starved half to death and weak as an anemic child. I had stayed after watching her kittenish gypsy performance to converse with her (and eventually have my way with her). But she was not a naive soul – she could guess my game, I could see it in her bloodless face: Aversion, nausea – her fear was what turned me on. I would never forget those harrowed, rose-colored eyes. I hadn’t even bothered to bind her to the harem, satisfying as it’d have been to acquire an aristocrat – but like the harlot I found bleeding that night in the Opal slums, leaving her in turmoil was the most gratifying move I could’ve taken.

I gazed down at the prize I held in my arms, drenched in rain and thoroughly oblivious to her surroundings. In a way, Amy was quite like the noblewoman I cornered – they shared the same ivory skin and rosy cheeks; the same softness; the same pitiable attempts at masking distress with defiance. I slid a finger across her cheek, illuminated in a warm glow from the tavern sconces, and feverishly contemplated how she would look in linen and beads. Yet my fantasies would have to wait – clicking my tongue in anticipation, I glanced back to the inky blackness and narrowed my eyes in attempt to see through the combination of shadowy fog and rain-streaked lenses: An infeasible feat. I grew frustrated – how was I to bring my quarry home in such weather?

I would just have to make do with the circumstances. Clenching my jaw and ignoring the tickling stream of rain making its path across my cheek, I warily started down the dangerously slick cobblestone road, straining my eyes to such an extent all I could see was blotches and specks of imaginary color. Initially it wasn’t quite as difficult as I anticipated, though I hadn’t the slightest idea whether I was going the right way. Yet as fate would have it, my foot wound up getting caught in a loose stone and I stumbled forward, cursing loudly as I struggled to keep myself from hitting the ground. Albeit half-blind and filled with adrenaline, I succeeded in catching myself.

Generally I’d have been more meticulous regarding whether someone had heard my exclamation, but nobody would possibly be going about in this sort of weather. My voice had no doubt been drowned out in the thunderous downpour. Exhaling a heavy sigh, I carried on warily, though my enthusiasm had rather been soured by the inconvenience. I was unscathed, yet I cursed myself for not considering the possibility of a storm before I went about my scheme.

Just as my eyes had begun to adjust to the murkiness, I became aware that I was not alone. Much to my chagrin, a low chuckle sounded from behind me, just barely audible over the relentless downpour. Had my senses not been as vigilant as I fine-tuned them to be, it’d have gone unnoticed.

“Reckon you’re glad nobody saw that.”

Again I gritted my teeth in irritation and paused in my tracks. Letting out an exasperated sigh and mustering a hostile smile, I turned to face whatever absolute asinine lunatic was out in the rain on this godawful night. A single glance at this newcomer and I was filled with dread – it was him, of all people.

I was face-to-face with the most disheveled young gypsy I had seen in ages, dressed in a dirtied suit that was no doubt stolen from a nobleman. My immediate reaction was to take a few steps back, yet I was too mortified to move. Gangling and painfully scrawny, yet nearly as tall as I – he was like a spindly cellar spider. His peculiarly wine-colored, chin-length hair – which he very obviously cut himself, for the ends were frayed and jagged – was completely soaked with rain and plastered to his thin, sharp features. Regardless of the darkness the fog had submerged us in, I could see his porcelain-white, gaunt face plainly – he was just that ashen. Despite my annoyance, I had to silently admire that the rumors had made no exaggeration: Though he frankly looked as if he had just survived the plague, he held himself in the most ridiculously campy, theatrical pose I had ever seen in my life, with a hand on the hip he jutted out and his head cocked in a farcical attempt at appearing coy.

“Fancy seeing another venturesome creature of the night out and about, luv!”

Bearing a vacuous, ear-to-ear grin, he dropped his cadaverous body into a nauseatingly cheesy bow. I refused to return his smile.

“What – in God’s name–” I inhaled and exhaled deeply. “–are you doing here?”

“Heard of me, have ya?” His stupid grin only seemed to grow, much to my dismay. “Well – who hasn’t? I am a rather illustrious star, if I do say so myself!”

The temptation to drop Amy and throttle him was unbearable in every sense of the word.

“You are a vagrant,” I corrected him curtly. “a vagrant who makes a living by ruthlessly goading strangers into throwing gold at you.”

“So you have heard of me!” He snickered and clapped his spidery hand onto my shoulder. He was so unsettlingly close I could feel his hot breath in my face. “Though might I make a quick – ahem – correction: I also get my income from concerned mothers who hope I’ll have a bit of decency and leave their pretty daughters alone!”

For a good fifteen seconds he stood there, sniggering at his own fatuous jest like a brainless idiot, perhaps in hopes that I would join in. I did not.

“Eheheh…ahem. That’s not funny.” he continued ruefully as he removed his hand and stepped aside, tilting his head at me. “Well, then, angelface. To, ah, turn your question around a smidgen, what are you doing out here?”

“This is none of your concern.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but instead caught a glimpse of what I held in my arms, the unconscious young lady’s mouth hanging half-open, droplets of rain caught in her wispy eyelashes. The gypsy glanced back at me, chortling lowly.

“Oh, a ladies’ man, are you?” He raised his very black eyebrows. “Well, I’ll say, pally! We’ve got more in common than I initially imagined!”

“It’s nothing of that sort, gypsy filth,” I made a nauseated expression. “She had a bit too much to drink. I’m merely taking her home.”

“To do what?” He smiled cheekily. “That’s right, that’s what I thought. Haven’t ya heard what they say, darlin’? There’s no lying to me. Nothing gets past Vermillion Hellsing, the esteemed actor!”

He flipped his waterlogged hair in such an obnoxious fashion that it made my blood boil. It took everything in me not to hex him into the void (though perhaps it was simply because I was feeling significantly drained at this point). I pointedly cleared my throat.

“If you are at long last done prying into the personal life of someone you don’t even know, I’ll be on my way.” I said coolly, shoving past him and carrying on down the street. To my aggravation, he almost immediately tagged along and gripped me by the shoulders.

“Wait just a tick, friend!”

I whirled around to face him, making no effort to hide how absolutely livid I was that he had the backbone to delay my business any further.

“What–the absolute hell–” I spluttered through my clenched teeth.

He took a few steps back. I privately wondered how he managed to be so thoroughly apathetic to my obvious vexation that he was able to just continue on smirking like a thickheaded bastard.

“Now…don’t get me wrong, luv, don’t get me wrong…I don’t think you’re stupid or anything…” he said, chewing on his cracked lips. “…but I can’t help but notice…”

He trailed off and paused, staring at me for several moments. I was seeing red.

“What? What is it?”

“Well…it’s just…you’re trying to walk alone – to that godforsaken forest, it looks like – in this weather?” he finally asked in dual mockery and fascination. “What kind of elderberries ya been sticking your nose in?”

I said nothing, refusing to give him that satisfaction. He eyed me, that curious smirk of his growing.

“If only there was somebody who could potentially accompany you…lithe as a panther, perfect eyesight, armed with an enchanted handgun; a master of sneaking around and aiding convicts worldwide…” he chortled mischievously. “…well, mate, you’re in luck, I’d say, I might even know a shortcut or two…”

“You are raving.”

I exhaled and turned on my heel again, briskly striding down the cobbles. I prayed with every ounce of my being that this lunatic would finally leave me be. Dealing with such a multitude of disturbances was terribly exhausting – though she had felt so light at first, Amy was now so heavy in my arms, carrying her was becoming unbearable. My strength had greatly depleted throughout this exchange, to such an extent that I felt as if I had just recovered from a bout of influenza. More than likely a result of my sudden weakness, I skidded across the slippery stone and lost my footing, once again just barely catching my balance. My face felt extremely hot when I heard that inane gypsy behind me, cackling like a madman at my error.

“Raving I may be, if not extraordinarily extraordinary!” he chimed jauntily. “What say you, sweetcakes?”

It pained me to admit it – it truly did – but I was privately beginning to consider accepting his offer. Though Vermillion Hellsing was notoriously mendacious and fly-by-night, he was said to be a valuable ally with the influence of payment. It was starting to seem highly improbable that I would reach my destination safely alone.

“…what do you want from me, gypsy?” I finally sighed, turning to face him, yet refusing to meet his eye.

“Oh, it’s nothing much, a mere pittance, really…” he responded with an impish grin he probably thought to be dastardly or roguish. He stepped forward and caressed Amy’s cheek with his long, skeletal forefinger. “…I’d be content if you’d let me have at her, just for a night – maybe two.”

“Quite a catch, yes?” I almost smiled. For the first time, he was starting to make an ounce of sense.

“Surprised someone who looks the way you do managed to get his hands on this lovely gal,” he tutted, running his fingers through her ginger hair lustfully. “Ah, well. Guess it’s all a matter of the drugs you slip ‘em. What’d you use?”

“An elixir of my own creation, actually,” I responded, unable to help but speak with a note of pride in my voice. “It’s outstanding what you can concoct with a bit of help from the dark arts. She won’t awaken until I’m ready for her to.”

“Ah-ha! The ultimate drug, I see. Didn’t quite take ya for a potionmaster, luv!” He wiggled his eyebrows, grinning toothily. “Perhaps you’ll have to teach me your ways in trickery and seduction. Now, I personally opt to shoot ‘em between the eyes and then have my bit of fun, but perchance someday I’ll give your approach a shot–get it? A shot? Eh? Eh?!”

He snorted at his own dreadful joke and burst into raucous laughter as I stood there, deadpanning and waiting for it to subside. Once it finally did after what felt like an eternity, he cleared his throat and elbowed me in the ribs.

“Where to, pally-o-pal?” he inquired jauntily. “Was I mistaken, or are ya really crackbrained enough to be heading for the woods?”

“The creatures there don’t dare cross me.” I blurted out, perhaps a bit defensively. “They know what I’m capable of.”

“Yes, yes, indeedy-indeed, I believe you, m’dear big boy! Definitely believe you!” Vermillion chortled, clicking his fingers. “Now, now, off we go! Don’t worry your pretty little head, I’ll shoot the baddies for ya! I certainly know my way around, that’s for sure – where in particular are ya headed? Chances are I’ve got a shortcut that can make this hellish journey a walk in the park!”

“The abandoned Hulder cavern system, east of the lake,” I replied, though almost certain he’d have no idea what I was talking about. There was no way he would be that well-versed in every nook the forest held.

“Wha–” he gawked at me. “Now that’s one helluva shitty hideout. Why there, of all places?”

My lips curled into a smile.

“It’s the only place vast enough for my collection.”

“Aha, sounds about right,” he snorted. “Onwards and outwards we go, sir and ma’am!”

Vermillion strode onwards, with a very distinct spring in his step. He sashayed and sort of waltzed as he walked – even though he was sopping wet, he was completely unphased by the rain and seemed almost comically determined not to let it hinder his dramatic flair. As much as I loathed to admit it to myself, his presence was enough to clear my mind. It was easier to think straight when I had someone else to worry for my safety. Despite how loathsome he was, the gypsy was a valuable asset. I would just have to put up with it until we arrived at the caverns.

As we walked, the constant pattering of rain was having a lulling effect on me, as was the steady beat of our footsteps against the smooth ground. Though I had only pretended to drink my champagne, I felt very hazy and exhausted. I glanced down at the arduous burden in my aching arms with envy – she was able to rest. But it would be completely worth it once we got to our destination. I could then at last take my prize; the recompense for all my troubles. A single look at my dear friend’s softness – the water tracing her collarbones, casting a pallor on her delicate flesh – it was all I needed to steel myself and persevere.

Soon the path led us into the thick woods. The downpour was significantly less harsh thanks to the tarp of foliage the trees provided, but the fog remained a tar-like, thick blanket of mist. I desperately wanted to clean my water-stained spectacles – or remove them at the very least, as they did nothing but blur my vision at this point – but I knew it would have to wait. It took everything in me to keep my patience from waning.

My companion took a turn into a thicket, not allowing himself to be hindered by the lack of light, nor the brambles he brushed through. He strode at such a brisk, imperturbable pace that I nearly had to break into a sprint to not be left alone in the midst of the grove. At least it was very apparent that he knew where he was going.

“Your ‘collection’, hm?” Vermillion smiled. “Do tell me more.”

“What is it you’d like to know?”

“How many might you have accumulated?”

“Many.”

“Ten? Twenty? Hundreds? Thousands?”

“More women than you’ve seen in your life.”

The gypsy laughed that irritatingly vacuous laugh of his and glanced back at me.

“Now, we both know that’s a highly improbable number.”

“That isn’t including the ones I decided not to take home,” I told him, the pride washing over me. It wasn’t every day I was able to recount my accomplishments to outsiders. “I’ve lost count. I’ve been with a multitude of important, rich women as well as nobodies who happen to be noteworthy in appearance. A personal favorite of mine was a certain Lady Jaime Rose of Ofeilia.”

“A right fine gal in bed, or so they say! What was she really like?”

“Not quite the ingenue the stories say she was,” I chuckled lowly. “she knew exactly what was going on. There was no trickery, she was merely too sickly to resist. I played on her fear.”

“Ah, you lucky bastard!” Vermillion gritted his teeth. “The hell did you not get caught? Last time I tried to get near a noblewoman, I got thwomped with a steel gauntlet and hauled off to the Serpentine Asylum for eight months!”

“Do you honestly think they’d believe her?” I smiled. “When you’ve got a reputation spotless as mine, the heir of a well-renowned clan with enough coin to donate to every cause, to bribe every judge, to hire every lawyer…a woman’s claims start to seem rather silly.”

“Ah, to be rich,” The gypsy sighed petulantly, glancing down at his grass-stained coat. “Well, I’ve got my looks going for me! Women dote, fawn, swoon, and beg for me as is!”

“You look like an undead fop.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

He must have been severely offended by this observation, for he scoffed and flipped his hair, sashaying onwards ostentatiously. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I followed him through the copse and thorns. Annoying as he was, I felt the need to at least try to keep my temper – should he become fed-up with me, it was completely in his power to leave me for dead (or lead me directly into a Huldre nest).

Thankfully this minor worry of mine turned out to be unfounded, for we arrived at our destination – how Vermillion knew how to get there so quickly mystified me. The rumors did say that he was exceedingly good at getting into places he shouldn’t, but I hadn’t entirely expected it to be so accurate – yet there we stood, at the beginning of a rickety, wooden makeshift staircase that descended into the underground tunnel system that once belonged to the Huldre.

“Aha!” Vermillion clapped his hands together in triumph. “So this would be your cozy little harem-hovel! Hovel-harem, or harem-hovel? Hmm…we’ll say the latter.”

“Thank you for your service.” I said to him, forcing a smile for the sake of politeness as I took a step onto the first disturbingly waterlogged stair. “I’ll be on my way now.”

“Nuh-uh, no sir-ee, not so fast,” he shook his head and stepped forward, much to my chagrin. “I’d love to take a peek at your collection before I take my leave.”

On most any other occasion, I’d have refused, but I was rain-sodden, exhausted, and my head was throbbing. The last thing I wanted to do was argue with this stubborn gypsy any further. I sighed heavily and relented.

“Fine, fine,” I muttered wearily, starting down the dim stairway. “but please make it quick.”

“It’ll be snappy as can be!”

We descended into the blackness of the tunnel, each stair creaking dangerously under our steps. I started to again become giddy with eagerness to at last make this night worth it – I was so close, at long last. It had felt like an eternity, though I knew it couldn’t have been very long in reality. Through my date with Amy, throughout the entire loathsome exchange with the wretched gypsy, all I could think of was the reward at the end of it all. It was about to be worth it – I just had to keep my patience for a little bit longer.

Due to the lack of sconces, it was impossible to see in the entrance to the cave system, but I knew my way around well enough that I need not have been concerned. A part of me hoped that Vermillion wouldn’t be daft enough to wander off, though if he wound up getting himself killed, I don’t believe I’d have particularly cared. Quickly enough we reached the end of the passage, arriving at the foot of a beaten makeshift door that was barely more than a pathetic plank with hinges. I pushed it open with my elbow and strode inside.

My eyes had no time to adjust to the sudden light. Albeit from dim sconces, my vision had been used to nothing but the inky blackness for so long, I had to squeeze my eyes shut for several moments to prevent them from burning. Once the blur subsided, I was able to gaze out at my prized collection.

Before us was the envy of men everywhere – the collection I had spent countless years accumulating and perfecting. Countless women – none very old, all dressed in the same lace and pearls – were bound by their wrists and ankles to the craggly stone walls of the broad caverns in glowing wires, bordering the walls in rows. I gazed up at them in pride, revering in the memento of my hard work. It had taken a great amount of effort to create a tincture that allowed for them to only awaken when I willed it so, but it was completely worth it. I turned around to face the gypsy standing a little ways behind me, smiling in my pride.

“Such a pretty sight, yes?”

He did not smile back. It was the first time he did not bear a grin of charisma and sardony. He seemed to be frozen in place, staring into my eyes with the most unreadable look I had seen – his gaze did not seem to be out of fear, nor anger or sadness; it was simply an expressionless mask. Initially I thought perhaps he suddenly felt unwell – given his pallor this seemed highly probable – or possibly he realized there was something he had forgotten, yet both theories were disproven when my eyes travelled to his extended arm and I realized that he was holding me at gunpoint.

“Alexandre.”

While his face had been relatively clear in the murkiness of the night as a result of his pale skin, this was the first time I had gotten an actual glance into his eyes. I felt the deep malaise run through me. Like the color of pink roses, deep-set and with prominent dark circles etched beneath them – there was only one person I knew with those eyes.

“Release them.”

Dumbfounded, I stared at him, unable to react or speak. He was so vastly different than he was in our last encounter, yet it now seemed so hideously obvious. How had he managed to elude me, when I had so easily overpowered him all those years ago? How had I not recognized that voice?

“…is this your idea of retribution?” I inquired hoarsely, my words sounding strangely distant in my head.

“It is.” His voice held no emotion, and had become so quiet I could barely hear it over the din of the rain that spattered to the ground above us.

“…after all these years?” I laughed highly. “It’s over and done with. Why are you unable to let go of something that happened so far in the past?”

“You ruined my life, and you’ll continue to ruin more.” he responded. It was uncanny how little he seemed to move, unblinking and refusing to lower his arm. Had it not been for the slight rising and falling of his chest, it’d have been easy to assume he was an inanimate statue. “Release them.”

“I ‘ruined your life’?” I chortled, unable to contain my amusement. “It’s only natural – predator and prey; men and unwary girls. And if you don’t like that, well, perhaps…perhaps you shouldn’t have made yourself such an easy target.”

Though I found it entertaining at first, the wrathful pain that gleamed in his eyes would haunt me for ages to come. He didn’t deign respond. I was laughing at his expression when it happened, so I did not fully comprehend the crackling report until after I felt a burning, blistering pain searing through my upper back. Caught by surprise, I glanced down and became aware of the hot, sticky blood that was pouring from my chest and spreading across my expensively tailored, lavender suit. Extremely lightheaded and dazed, I let Amy fall from my arms as I dropped to the cold, stone ground, clutching my bleeding chest in an awful kind of frenzy. My glasses clattered onto the stone in front of me.

I had to live. I was going to live. I could not die. I was not about to be killed – and I was most certainly not about to be killed by a former quarry of mine. Inhaling and exhaling rapidly, I assured myself that I was going to live. I had to. My legacy could not end so early – I had only just acquired the woman I had sought for so long.

My denial was shattered when I saw it through my bleary eyes: Each and every member of my collection, once bound to the walls of the cavern in magic chains, were freed. One by one, they fell to the ground, pretty eyes fluttering open and glancing around the blurry world around them. There was nothing I could do to prevent it. My power over them had evaporated as I lied there, helplessly weak and bleeding profusely.

“Go.” I heard Jaime instruct them, as he helped one of the youngest captives to her feet. “You’ll be safe now. Get back to your families. Do your wonderful things.”

They didn’t have to be told twice, scurrying past me to the door that led to their long-awaited freedom. The searing pressure in my breast became so severe, I could not keep my heavy eyelids open any longer. They flitted closed. Vaguely I heard a chilling wail of agony, and it took me a few moments to realize that the noise had escaped from my mouth.

“This way, please! You need to get out of here! What are you–”

I pried my eyelids open. Through the blur, my clouded eyes registered a petite young lady by the threshold – with her rust-colored hair and peach skin drenched in rain and red, she stood gazing at me with such an emotion that could only be described as tired disappointment.

“Goodbye, Alexandre.”

She had turned back to look; my one and only friend.

I miss her.

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dawittiest · 6 years

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depression tips for when you’re casually rotting

aka when youre so depressed heating up an instant meal on a pan feels like Too Much

i had this in my drafts for a while, and since the era of tumblr seems to be dusking i might as well post it now—

i love those depression tips that are circled around on tumblr but every single one of them would be a lot on a mild depression day but when it hits me hard its impossible to even entertain. so i decided to share my own tips for the Depression Apocalypse

i sorted them into area of life categories for easier use

1. feeding yourself

gotta stay nutrished! but how do if making the simpliest meal and chewing feels like torture? the answer is this shit my dudes:

protein coctails! they’re /extremely/ easy to make, you just gotta mix it with water and thats it! you dont need to do anything else!

pluses:

– theyre literally all proteins so they’ll keep you nourished

– you can store them for months and if you havent done groceries for weeks you can still make those

– they come in different flavors

if youre feeling extravagant you can add some sugar and milk and microwave them, they taste better then (tho i realize that having not spoiled milk in the middle of a depression spell is short of a miracle)

option two: buttered popcorn! put this baby in a microwave and you have warm, filling carbs! plus it will feel like a treat

also orange juice counts as breakfast (or lunch, or really, really late lunch)

2. hydrating yourself

this one i stole from another list but: keep an empty water bottle so you can refill it every day and keep it with you in your Depression Nest. i find that if i keep it close to me i dont even need to remember to drink i just do it authomatically

making tea (bagged is easier) counts as a special treat

3. hygiene

keep three supercomfy sweatshirts and try to alternate between them at least every few days

instead of shower you can just wipe your face and armpits with water or wet wipes, it really makes a difference. this is level hard but try to comb your hair at least every other day. it doesnt need to look pretty, just so it wont tangle into knots (i know they take too much energy to untangle later). if you cant manage that, at least put your hair in a bun.

when you have a nice shower that feels more like an indulgence than a chore, do everything under it. seriously. wash your teeth in a shower, pee, comb your hair. it will trick your brain into thinking its just a one thing and you can accomplish more.

4. environment

you know how you spend days in bed in your Depression Nest and everything is sweaty and disgusting? if you can, try to make your depression nest outside of bed, ex. make a blanket nest on your couch. that way when you finally feel like you can sleep you wont have to do it in digusting sheets (bc you know they're not getting changed).

scented candles! scented candles really do wonders. even in your rotting dirty nest you’ll feel like in a spa

level hard: kick all your dirty messy shit into one big ass pile. you dont need to sort it, you can just kick it to release some frustration, just so /some/ floor is visible

5. rest

sleeping? ahaha? i dont know her. if you lie in bed and close your eyes and listen to podcasts for eight hours, it counts as resting (i recommend alice isnt dead and the black tapes bc theyre awesome).

6. keeping healthy

it would be great if you could do simple stretching exercises, but if you could do that, you woudnt need this list, would you? standing up and going to the toilet/moving from bed to couch counts as physical exercise. opening windows and inhaling some air for a moment counts as going outside.

7. keeping your spirits up

those grounding exercises to lie down on the ground, close your eyes and feel your body or open a window and take in the world a moment? they do work. so does a breathing square – you can make it all fancy so its more fun

when youre feeling guilty for not doing anything you can make an easy to do list for future – planning is a chore too! if it just makes you panicked, you can do 1 simple task – rinsing one dirty spoon counts as a chore. so does taking out a new trash bag for Later. watching a movie from your netflix list (not a random ass new one) counts as a chore too, these are the rules. if youre feeling like shit for not being Creative, writing down your feelings in a journal counts as writing (drawing your emotions with crayons like youre in the third grade works too). if you dont have the energy to pick up a pen, recording yourself speaking on your phone works too

8. managing self-harm

this one was suggested to me by my doctor and i haven’t actually tried that, but when you get a violent urge to self-harm, try putting ice cubs on your bare skin. it’s not exactly the same but can soothe the craving a bit

feel free to add your own tips! take care of yourself as best as you can, and don’t beat yourself up when it feels like pulling your teeth. managing your mental health is hard. it gets better with time, just hold on

#archives #depression tips

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somethinginthewayiam · 6 years

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Imagine...

You met Ben while working on the Bohemian Rhapsody film as the head of costume department. Even though at your young age, the producers and the director trusted you with your skills, enough to hire you for this big project.

You and Ben fell in love almost immediately upon meeting and have been an official couple since the wrap party of the film.

You are nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume and attended with your boyfriend Ben. You walked the red carpet and sat together, surrounded by the band Queen, the producers and of course the other guys, Gwil, Joe and Allen on the left side of the auditorium. Rami and Lucy were sitting front center as Rami was one of the Best Actor nominees.

When they announced your name as the winner of the category Best Costume, you couldn’t believe your eyes and Ben had to lift you up by your arms. He pulled you in a tight hug, kissing your cheek and telling you how proud he was of you. You got hugs and kisses by the other ones and Brian and Roger as well as you shuffled out of the row to walk up to the stage.

Your knees had never felt weaker. You concentrated hard to not trip on the stairs or over your dress, you didn’t want to pull a Jennifer Lawrence.

As you accepted the award from Melissa McCarthy in a giant, funny-looking dress, your hands were shaking and for a second you were afraid you would drop the little statue as it was heavier than you had imagined. “Congratulations”, you heard her say and snapped you out of your trance a bit. It all was so surreal!

You stepped up to the microphone, clearing your throat, praying for a steady voice. “Oh my god, this is so…unexpected. This is…wow”, you stumbled over your words, looking at the shining figure in your hands. Your tummy was jumping and twisting and tingling and all sorts.

“I have to be honest here, I didn’t prepare anything”, you said and as you looked up, you looked in the faces of the biggest stars, which was intimidating to say the least. Your eyes found Rami and Lucy right in front of you. You concentrated on them as you started piecing together an acceptance speech.

“Thank you so much to the producers and the studio to believe in me and trust me enough with this amazing project. Uhm, thanks to the 70’s and 80’s for their fashion and thank you to Queen and especially Freddie for wearing the hell out of that era. Oh, can I say that? I’m sorry…anyway”, you paused again and light laughter floated around you. You felt like running out of time too quickly. You took a deep breath and looked up again.

“This movie…this journey had taught me so much about my craft, about myself. It not only gave me the best time ever on a movie set and the chance to meet my heroes of all crafts, but it also gave…me a second family”, you look down to Lucy and Rami and then over to Gwil, Joe and Allen. “And most of all it gave me the love of my life…”, you looked directly at Ben, now only focusing on him. You saw him smiling proudly up at you, his cheeks getting a bit flushed because he knew everybody was looking at him right now and probably a camera somewhere transporting his face to a billion TV screens all over the world.

“…and so much more”, you added and automatically put your hand on your belly without even thinking about it. The two of you had a little secret. You haven’t told anybody yet and wanted to do so at the afterparty. For most people, it probably looked like you were just nervous and it was an innocent gesture with your hand, but your friends immediately picked up on it.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Rami craning his neck as he was looking over to find Ben in the crowd to look for any kind of conformation, Lucy’s jaw dropping as she stared at you. Joe’s and Gwil’s head spinning around, looking confused and irritated at Ben, but he only had eyes for you. “I love you”, you said and he mouthed it back, smiling brighter than ever before.

“Thank you”, you finally said into the microphone and together with the presenters you walked backstage, holding on tightly to your very own Oscar.

It took a while until you were reunited with your group, Ben leading in front as they came towards you, pulling you in a tight embrace and spinning you around. “I’m so proud of you Y/N. God, I love you so much”, he said and as he placed you back on your feet, he leaned down to give you a passionate kiss.

“Congrats, Y/N!”, you heard everybody around you, getting pulled into one hug after the other. You congratulated Rami right back for his award as Best Actor.

“Okay, I need to know now”, Joe stepped in. “Are you pregnant?”, he asked and the whole group was looking at you. Instead of saying anything, you looked up at Ben, who had put his arm around you, holding you close to him. He looked down at you with a warm smile and then looked up at your friends, or better said, your family.

“We wanted to tell you at the after party”, he said and as soon as he confirmed it, Lucy cheered and flung her arms around your neck. “Oh my god, I’m so happy for you guys”, she said at your ear and kissed your cheek. You hugged her right back as this was a different kind of hug than the you-won-an-award-hug.

“That’s so great, guys, I’m so happy for you”, Gwil said from the back, starting to make his way to you again. “See, I thought your boobs were bigger, but I didn’t want to say anything”, Joe said and shook his head. “Hey, you’re talking about the mother of my child”, Ben warned him, but to you it were the sweetest words ever. The mother of his child.

“I said, I didn’t want to say anything”, Joe defended himself. “But you just did, mate”, Ben countered. “Yeah, well now, she’s confirmed it”, Joe held against. “Guys, guys, please, it’s okay”, you stepped in. “And Joe is right, they are”, you said and looked down at your breasts yourself.

“Do we already know what it is?”, Lucy asked, putting her hand on your belly. You couldn’t see anything yet as you were only 10 weeks along. “Yeah, will it be a Freddie or a Mary?”, Rami asked and put his arm around the waist of his girlfriend.

“No, we don’t know yet”, you shook your head with a chuckle. “But you will tell us as soon as you know, right? I can’t handle another surprise like this”, Joe told you and played serious. “No, let’s do a gender reveal party, it would be so fun”, Lucy sounded really excited. “We could bake a cake and the inside is colored or we could pop balloons…or let them fly”, she started rambling ideas.

Your group started moving towards your table for dinner and the guys jumped in on Lucy’s gender-reveal-party planning. You and Ben fell back and walked behind them. You had your boyfriend in one arm and your brand new Oscar in the other hand.

“That slipped away from us rather quickly, huh?”, you asked as you watched your friends but were smiling from ear to ear. “We kinda knew this would happen”, Ben sighed. “But I would trade them for nothing in the world”, you said and he nodded. “And I would give every Oscar in the world to keep you and this baby forever”, you turned to him. “I love you, Y/N Y/L/N”, he said and the look he gave you warmed your heart. “I love you too, Ben Hardy”, you said to him and you guys stopped for a second to kiss each other.

“So where we gonna put little Oscar?”, Ben asked as you continued walking and took the little statue out of your hand. “Let’s put him in a crib. He can be our practice baby until we have the real one”, you suggested with a smirk in the corner of your mouth. “We don’t need a practice baby, we already have Joe”, Ben replied.

#oscars 2019 #ben hardy #bohemian rhapsody #secret #fluff #sweet #surprise #borhap boys #imagine #ben hardy imagine #ben hardy fluff

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flyingmustachio · 6 years

Text

You know what I think is really important to understand is that we under American Capitalism are kind of gaslit by our poor understanding of history and biology. We assume that we have no right to demand more peace and more freedoms and more pleasure and more joy and more equality since we are living in “the most privileged and comfortable era in all of human history thanks to technology.” How can be so ungrateful and miserable when so few of us suffer and die horribly from the kind of diseases that used to plague mankind? When we have electricity and cars and heat and air conditioning? When we “live more luxuriously than any ancient emperor?”

And to some extent, that’s true. It’s wonderful that so few people die in childbirth or from diseases or injuries when compared to the rest of human history, and it’s wonderful that we are able to have access to such a variety of foods and activities and services. But it’s completely incorrect to assume that because these difficult things were more common in the past that the vast majority of everyone throughout history spent every second of their lives in misery and drudgery and we’re just ungrateful, wussy pricks for feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled by our comparative material bliss. We assume that society in the Middle Ages or the ancient world were divided into The Rich Few and The Poor Masses, and that if you were among the Poor Masses your life was just misery and toil until you died at 30 of some horrible infection.

But the more I learn about the common people throughout history, the more I realize this simply isn’t true. The average life span was only 30 since so many babies, and mothers and warriors died early. If you lived past your teens in the past, you were just as likely to live to be in your 70′s as today, unless there was a war or famine or plague happening. Most people were farmers, and yes, farm work by hand is very hard, and yes, making everything by hand takes a lot of time so yes, people in the past did a whole lot of work, but here’s the thing - it wasn’t even close to as dehumanizing for most people as work is today. Resting was not demonized. Enjoying yourself and valuing fun and amusement wasn’t seen as childish. Though they worked an hour or so longer than we do on average today, Medieval peasants had more time off than we do, with all of the weeks long religious festivals every year. Naps were normal. And yes, if it was a time of scarcity or famine people suffered horribly, but, like, it wasn’t always a time of scarcity or famine. It was a time of scarcity or famine less often than you probably think.

And if you think about the type of work most people used to do, it was much slower, more self directed, and allowed for much more human connection. If you’re weaving, or making cheese, or tilling a field, you or your small team are in control. You can stop and rest for a short time if you need to. None of these tasks require 100 percent concentration. You can talk to the people around you while you work. You can make friends and tell jokes and stories. You can be connected and productive at the same time. While the work was physically harder than most work today, it was much less mentally taxing or isolating. Especially now when many jobs expect you to be on call all the time or to still answer emails during your off hours. It’s absurd! It’s not normal!

I mean, look at the hobbies people choose nowadays. The things we view as “extra” that people “waste time” on. Hunting. Fishing. Crafts. Hiking. For most people throughout human history, those things WERE your work. And sure there was more pressure back in the day. Like there’s a lot more pressure to actually catch a fish on your fishing trip when if you don’t catch one your family doesn’t eat tonight. But it says something about the nature of our work today that so many people would spend their precious and short free time and spend the money they toiled to earn in order to have the opportunity to do the same things our ancestors considered “work.”

And even the more “passive” hobbies that people see as less productive, like TV and video games are not some new luxury. Stories have been around forever, and they have always been an integral part of what it is to be human and to connect with other humans. Most modern jobs don’t allow for story or connection. You’re busy, mostly alone, all day long. If we can’t tell each other stories while we churn our butter or plow our fields, we’ll watch TV and play video games together on our days off.

I guess my point is that it’s not normal to be this miserable. It’s not normal to hate your job or your life. It’s not normal to feel so isolated and disconnected. That, while we are more physically comfortable on the whole than at any time in history, we actually seem to be considerably LESS mentally comfortable, healthy, and fulfilled than most other times in history, and we’re not wrong or ungrateful for wanting to change that.

Many people blame technology for our lack of connection. They think that the fact that most people spend their time off work watching TV or playing video games to relax and many people prioritize those activities over more direct and authentic quality time spent with family and friends means that TV and video games are inherently addictive and bad and that they and the internet keep us in bubbles, divided from each other. But I think that these technologies aren’t what’s actually to blame, I think it’s how we structure our work. There is only so much time in the day, and we can’t fit in work and human connection, and basic home tasks, and rest and relaxation. I mean think back to how much easier it was to make friends when you were in school. You were at class together, you could do homework together and help each other. The human connection happened at the same time as the work, and you made deep friendships because of all the time you spent together. I imagine the same was true of pre-industrial work. If you’re telling stories while weaving cloth, teaching the beginners and helping each other, the human connection is happening at the same time as the work. I mean it makes sense why so many people today seem to have trouble keeping deep friendships, sleeping enough, or simply getting enough peaceful downtime. There simply isn’t enough time in the day, so something is bound to get left by the wayside in favor of other needs.

I think it’s like how crash diets contribute to binge eating. If you cut out whole categories of food and cut your calories very quickly you are much more likely to lose control and eat much more than you would have in the first place if you had just eaten normally. I think modern Americans only act so “lazy” when they’re outside of work because they are so very overworked and underconnected to begin with. You wouldn’t expect someone who hasn’t slept for a week to be able to just have a regular 8 hour sleep and be back to normal. They’re going to need to sleep long and rest up and recover. One argument against things like Universal Basic Income is “Without the threat of poverty, what will motivate people to be productive? Everyone will just sit around and watch TV for the rest of their lives.” But you can’t expect an entire population who haven’t known real rest and leisure since childhood to just magically know how to distribute their time healthily. They’re going to act really lazy and hedonistic for a while. But eventually they will get bored, and they will realize they feel better and more connected and more fulfilled when they are working on things that interest them. And most of them will find some sort of job again, but this time they’ll actually have the luxury to figure out what they’re actually passionate about and feel fulfilled in their job, which will lead to even more innovation and productivity than before. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but passion and curiosity are the parents of progress. And if some people do turn out to just be lazy to the core? Fine. Let them watch TV forever and be happy! Technology is constantly making our work more efficient while our population continues to rise. There simply aren’t enough jobs to support all of the people we have, and I don’t think people should starve because of that.

#Universal Basic Income #It's not normal to be miserable all the time #Wanting fulfillment is not decadent or unreasonable

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nogoodmox · 6 years

Text

since it’s late n u guys have been so encouraging

i wanna preface this by saying....im not a Writer and this is pretty much the first wrestling-related thing i’ve ever written. also this was written at 3 am yesterday so pls keep that in mind ALSO it’s not very. romantic bc 1.) im not good with that stuff and 2.) it’s kinda covering the early stages of their relationship so they’re barely even friends yet! (this takes place right before war games!)

that being said thanks for being so nice abt it guys ur all the sweetest and i love u and i’m sorry this isn’t Better but constructive criticism would be appreciated! mwah!

Pete tapped his fist against his jaw in a needless effort to hype himself up.

The guaranteed brutality of his upcoming match didn’t faze him—brutality was his specialty, after all— but despite that, he couldn’t shake off an uncomfortable feeling.

Maybe it was the thought of having to rely on others for his victory, or maybe it was the thought of them relying on him. Neither were things that he was exactly used to.

He wondered, when the time came, if he would put himself in harm’s way for the sake of the others.

Pete thought of the last time he had relied on someone. It was ironic in a way, how the same person he had tentatively began to trust would be one of his opponents tonight.

He had never really thought of Roderick as a friend, just a sort of unavoidable ally. His eagerness had been irritating as was his general disposition, but Pete had chosen to put his trust in him. A choice he’d come to regret.

He liked to believe that the betrayal had made him all the more dangerous now. Not only could he use his desire for vengeance to his advantage, he’d also be sure not to make a mistake like that again.

Pete had operated just fine on his own for as long as he could remember. There were a select few times where he’d tried opening up, and each time he paid for it. It took a few experiences for the lesson to be drilled into his brain, but at least now there was no way he could forget it.

He should stick with what he knew best, and what he knew best was solitude.

Keep interactions short and bitter. You look out for one person, and that person is yourself. Everyone else is simply an obstacle or dead weight.

It was a philosophy he lived by, and one he truly believed in. There just happened to be times where he’d let it slip and thought maybe, just maybe, someone could be an exception. But they never were.

A steady knock on the locker room door disrupted his thoughts. A faint feeling of pain registered in Pete’s jaw as he realized he’d been tapping his fist against it this whole time. Before he could say anything, the door opened and Ricochet’s head popped in.

“You got a minute?”

Pete didn’t answer, he just raised an eyebrow when he noticed something in Ricochet’s hands. It looked like a tube of toothpaste.

Ricochet followed his gaze and held up the object, wiggling it in his hand. “Oh, this? Yeah, it’s kinda why I’m here, actually.” He walked up to Pete and held it out to him. Pete read the label, which only confused him more.

“White….face paint?”

The other man adjusted his North American Championship on his shoulder. “Yeah. Y’know, war paint for tonight. It was Hanson and Rowe’s idea. They figured we should at least look like a cohesive unit.”

“What’s the point of that?” Pete deadpanned. “Face paint won’t get us a win against Undisputed Era.”

Ricochet looked at a loss for a second, then sighed. “C’mon man. It’s to pump you up, get you excited to kick some ass. Plus it’ll look cool, yeah?”

Pete wasn’t very convinced, but he wasn’t in the mood to argue. He did admittedly like the idea of amping up the intimidation factor, not that he was going to tell Ricochet that. “Fine. Might as well fool people into thinking we’re a real team.”

“S’that supposed to mean? We’re a real team. Cole and his cronies are gonna see just how real we are tonight.” Ricochet declared, giving Pete a few taps on the chest.

Pete stiffened at the contact and glared at the highflier. Ricochet was someone who currently fell under the obstacle category in Pete’s eyes. He hadn’t forgotten the match where both their titles had been on the line. They never received closure, and Pete intended to change that next time they crossed paths in the ring.

He’d prefer for Ricochet to stay an obstacle rather than become dead weight.

“I’ve said it before, you’re just a guy carrying a piece of gold that I want. As for the other two, they’ve already got each other. We may be on the same side, but we’re not a team.”

The grin on Ricochet’s face weakened a bit. “Man do you like, practice this stuff in a mirror before you talk to anyone?” He chuckled at his own joke—was it a joke? The weight of Pete’s words didn’t seem to mean much to him, however, as he quickly bounced back. “Anyway, face paint, yes or no?”

“Sure.” Pete said.

“Great.” Ricochet tossed the tube of paint to Pete. “Doll me up.”

Pete barely caught the tube in time. He whipped his head up to face Ricochet, trying to make sure he had heard him correctly. “What?”

Ricochet had placed his title on the bench next to him and met Pete’s gaze expectantly. “What? I can’t put it on myself. There’s no mirror in here.”

“Then find one.”

“No can do.” He almost looked smug, as if he had planned this. “Bathroom’s closed for repairs, apparently Kyle and Bobby thought it’d be fun to flush Sullivan’s gear down the toilet. He caught ‘em in the act.” Ricochet let out a whistle. “It wasn’t pretty.”

Pete didn’t want to hear any more. For whatever reason, Ricochet was intent on sporting war paint, he might as well indulge him. After tonight, he could set his sights on what really mattered.

“Alright. C’mere.” Pete placed his championship on the bench opposite of Ricochet’s and squeezed some paint onto his fingers.

He lifted his hand only to pause suddenly, leaving it hovering in front of Ricochet’s face. “What’s their paint look like anyways?”

Ricochet thought for a moment. “It’s like…a V shape on each cheek.” He explained, tracing the motion over Pete’s cheeks with his finger. “Simple enough.”

“Right.” Pete grunted, doing everything he could to ignore the way his face had heated up. He pressed his fingers to Ricochet’s face and began painting the design, trying his best to keep his hand steady.

Pete came to a halt when Ricochet started giggling quietly. He gave him a strange look, pulling his hand away.

The other man took a moment to compose himself, then cleared his throat. “Tickles.” Came the simple explanation. Pete rolled his eyes and continued with his work, retracing the lines to smooth out the jagged edges.

He paused again to add more paint to his fingers, avoiding Ricochet’s gaze. Pete could feel the man looking at him and unconsciously tossed his head a bit to let his hair cover his face.

As Pete started on the other cheek, he noticed Ricochet hadn’t stopped staring at him at him, almost amusingly.

“What?” Pete finally asked, with a hint of challenge.

Ricochet seemed unbothered. “You’re just a lot more careful than I thought you’d be” He said, a little quieter than usual. It was unclear if the remark was meant to be teasing. It seemed sincere enough, but even if it was Pete wasn’t sure what the implications were.

Pete said nothing and averted his eyes again, finishing with a final swipe. “There.” He muttered. “All done.”

“Great! I’ll just have to trust that it looks good.” Ricochet reached up to touch his freshly painted face, then decided against it. “Alright, your turn!”

Pete froze, he hadn’t thought that far ahead.

He wasn’t particularly keen on anyone paying close attention to his face.

It was bumpy and weird; he knew this. Acne scars and uneven stubble were just the beginning of it. It was something he’d learned to accept, but he wasn’t exactly dying for others to get a good look at it.

Regardless, he knew Ricochet wouldn’t take no for an answer. If he had, Pete wouldn’t have just spent the past few minutes spreading paint on his face in uncomfortable silence.

Ricochet took the paint tube from Pete’s hands. “You mind uh…” He made a hair flip motion. “Getting that out of the way?”

Pete looked down at his hands, covered in white paint, and decided to go with option two. He swung his head to the side—a little too forcefully—and flipped the blond mess back. He was satisfied for a moment before it came toppling back down in his face.

It was times like this where he seriously reconsidered growing out his hair.

“I gotchu.” Ricochet intervened, looking even more amused than before. He tucked Pete’s hair behind his ear to keep it from coming loose again. “Sure got a lot of hair homeboy.” He commented.

“Guess you can’t relate.” Pete replied bluntly.

Ricochet laughed out loud at that, almost too eager to make fun of himself. “Guess not.” He emptied what was left of the paint into his hand and got to work. Pete winced at the cold feeling, trying not to pull away. “But you know,” Ricochet continued. “The lack of hair could be the secret to my speed.”

Pete wasn’t fully sure if he was joking. “I reckon that’s why you got pieces missing in your eyebrows too?”

The highflier laughed again, this time not as loud, but a huge smile graced his face. “Man, you’re alright.”

Ricochet spread the paint on Pete’s cheeks with ease, moving just as smoothly as he did in the ring. Pete fought with everything he had to try not to break out into a fit of laughter. Ricochet was right, the feeling made him ticklish. His lip curved upward in a smile that he quickly pushed away.

“All set.” Ricochet finally announced, looking proud of his work. Pete didn’t doubt that the man had probably done a better job than him. “Now we look like a force to be reckoned with.”

Pete held couldn’t help but soften his expression a bit. He felt cool, and far more relaxed than earlier. Once again, he wasn’t going to tell Ricochet that, but he appreciated the feeling. “If painting faces keeps you from screwing up tonight, then so be it.” He replied with a shrug.

Ricochet shook his head, and if Pete didn’t know any better he’d say he was annoyed. “You never quit do you? Y’know we can do this whole rivalry thing without all the little remarks, yeah?”

“Cause make no mistake,” Ricochet’s tone grew serious. “I’m just as focused on that title of yours as you are on mine.”

The sudden change surprised Pete, but it didn’t faze him. After all, this was why he kept up his guard so high. He knew behind every person there was a set of intentions, and each interaction with him was a means of achieving them.

“I’m well aware.” Pete said evenly. “S’why I’m not buying this partner ruse. We’re not friends, and we never will be.”

Ricochet paused for a moment. “Just ‘cause you’re a future opponent, doesn’t mean we can’t be on the same page now. It’s no ruse, I’ve got your back tonight. I mean that.”

“Better to have your own back first.”

Ricochet lifted his hand to rub the back of his neck, looking unsure of where to go from there.

“You’re a tough nut to crack.” He said finally, leaning down to grab his North American championship. When he came back up, he was smiling again. “But I’m willing to prove where my loyalties lie out there. There’s no hiding in the ring.”

Pete eyed him for a moment, then nodded briskly. “That’s one thing we can agree on.”

“I’ve got another. We both wanna beat the hell out of those undisputed assholes, right?” Ricochet offered. “That snake Roddy’s gonna be out there tonight. If you ask me, you should focus on giving him the ass whopping he’s had coming instead of making enemies out of your partners.”

An odd silence followed his words. Pete didn’t know how to respond, and Ricochet’s intense gaze wasn’t making it any easier. In his heart Pete knew he had a point.

He was more than willing to take on all four members of the Undisputed Era himself, but he knew realistically he wouldn’t come out victorious. He needed Ricochet and the War Raiders whether he liked it or not.

Just one night couldn’t be so bad, right? Even if it involved putting his faith in other people. Ricochet had nothing to gain from betraying him. Hanson and Rowe, he wasn’t so sure, but considering how fixated they had been on the Undisputed Era for the past several weeks, it was unlikely.

Ricochet saved Pete from having to muster up an answer by reaching over and picking up his United Kingdom Championship. Pete’s eyes widened and he tensed up, ready to snatch it out of his hands.

There was no need to, however, as Ricochet placed it snugly on Pete’s shoulder.

He gave it a few pats, admiring the intricate design on the belt for several moments.

Ricochet took a few steps back, his own title sitting around his waist. “You look good.” He said finally. “Let’s do work tonight, mate.”

Pete’s partner tossed the now empty paint tube in his hand once, then turned to saunter off.

“Not your mate.” Pete replied in a half-hearted protest. He couldn’t see Ricochet’s face as he left the room, but Pete knew he was smiling.

“By the way, the bathroom’s perfectly fine. Just figured we could use a team bonding exercise.”

#heh #there u go #like i said not very romantic #but idk ihope u enjoy! thanks for being so nice guys <3333333 #mine #ig #writing for wrestlers like pete or dean is really really hard #cuz i love them so much im afraid im gonna mess them up

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reconditarmonia · 5 years

Text

Dear Trick or Treat Author

Hi! Thank you for writing for me! I’m reconditarmonia here and on AO3 (and have been since LJ days, but my LJ is locked down and I only have a DW to see locked things). I have anon messaging off, but mods should be able to contact me if you have any questions.

Far From the Madding Crowd | Simoun | Spinning Silver | The Strange Case of Starship Iris

General likes:

– Relationships that aren’t built on romance or attraction. They can be romantic or sexual as well, but my favorite ships are all ones where it would still be interesting or compelling if the romantic component never materialized.

– Loyalty kink! Trust, affectionate or loving use of titles, gestures of loyalty, replacing one’s situational or ethical judgment with someone else’s, risking oneself (physically or otherwise) for someone else, not doing so on their orders. Can be commander-subordinate or comrades-in-arms.

– Heists, or other stories where there’s a lot of planning and then we see how the plan goes.

– Femslash, complicated or intense relationships between women, and female-centric gen. Women doing “male” stuff (possibly while crossdressing).

– Stories whose emotional climax or resolution isn’t the sex scene, if there is one.

– Uniforms/costumes/clothing.

– Stories, history, and performance. What gets told and how, what doesn’t get told or written down, behavior in a society where everyone’s consuming media and aware of its tropes, how people create their personas and script their own lines.

Smut Likes: clothing, uniforms, sexual tension, breasts, cunnilingus, grinding, informal d/s elements, intensity; stories whose resolution isn’t the sex scene.

General DNW: rape/dubcon, torture, other creative gore; unrequested AUs, including “same setting, different rules” AUs such as soulmates/soulbonds; PWP; food sex; embarrassment; focus on pregnancy; Christmas/Christian themes; focus on unrequested canon or non-canon ships.

—

Fandom: Far From the Madding Crowd

Character(s): Bathsheba Everdene

One thing that always sticks in my mind about this novel is the way Hardy calls Bathsheba “the young farmer” just as he refers to the men as farmers - which, just saying, is more than most people writing about this story can do - and so, that being the case, what I’m most interested in is something about Bathsheba as farmer. One day in the life or four seasons in the life or five plantings/harvests in the life, or pseudo-academic fic about a case study of a woman farmer in the Victorian era, or a conflict between the farm and nature that Bathsheba has to decide how to solve.

Feel free to bring in other characters if it suits what you’re trying to do, but what I’m really looking for is a focus on Bathsheba’s work, determination, and process of learning. (I like how Bathsheba's relationship with Gabriel ends up playing out in canon, but I don't want shipfic.) Other ideas: something like a merchant ship AU (as the first alternate setting that came to mind where it would be not exactly the done thing for her to captain her inherited ship and make commercial decisions herself - although I do have to point out that contrary to popular belief, there were a lot of women on shipboard in the age of sail, may this be useful - but also where nature and luck/fate are as influential as they are in the original setting), or something in which the land, superstition, and ritual are more overtly magical.

I've only requested treats for this fandom, so I would prefer that the outlook of the fic, including if you decide to incorporate non-canon magical or spooky elements, be ultimately positive. A seasonal treat would be right up the alley of this request. I'd also be into interactive fiction.

—

Fandom: Simoun

Character(s): Neviril, Paraietta, Mamiina, Rodoreamon, Yun, Dominuura

This is a perennial request for me and anything would make me very happy. I'm so interested in how the war changes all the characters and their relationships with one another, how Everything is Beautiful and Then Shit Gets Real but amidst the war-is-hell there's still the creation of bonds of trust and loyalty and chances to do what's right (the bits with the Plumbish priestesses, for instance). Every character gets a chance to develop and make choices that are all brave in different ways. Would also be curious about post-canon (what happens if Neviril and Aeru make it back to the main world when war is brewing again, but Neviril has no one from the old cohort to lead because they can’t fly anymore?) and/or about magic and time weirdness retconning character deaths or disappearances.

I've requested either tricks or treats here. For tricks I'd prefer "dark" to "cynical" - throw as much shit at them as you want in terms of war-is-hell and weird magic and time horror, but I believe that the characters mostly want to do what they believe is the right thing and help each other. My treat preferences are, I think, more about thematic focus than content - if it's slice of life, how is that life striving towards their ideals even in small ways? (Helping the war orphans, flying the Simoun, growing a garden?) If it's more about Things Happening, in the war or whatnot, what do those things show about their growth or the changes in their relationships? I would also be super into interactive fiction.

As far as ships go, I'm on board with most of the canon ones (no romantic/sexual Dominuura/Limone, please) but have a small soft spot for postcanon Paraietta/Rodoreamon as well.

—

Fandom: Spinning Silver

Character(s): Miryem Mandelstam

I love hard-headed, practical, ambitious women who get into adventures because of, rather than in spite of, those qualities, and so I love Miryem and her good sense, pride, and rules-lawyering. I’m really interested in what the book does with power - Miryem’s real-world power of accounting and hardheadedness becoming magic in the Staryk world, being a queen in one world while belonging to a disenfranchised minority in another. What happens when Miryem is back in the human world, post-canon? I never got the impression that she’d be happy just avoiding the whole question of the town’s contempt for her by finding power elsewhere - what’s it like if she comes back a queen? (Can she use the mirror from Irina to do an end run around the whole Persephone setup and travel back and forth whenever she wants, and if so, what sorts of plot would make that fun to play with? If not, that’s still fine.) Or, what are some adventures in the Staryk world where she could use her Accounting Powers, other than the post-war rebuilding the book talks about? Or tell me more about Miryem practicing Judaism in the Staryk world, and the application of Judaism to that world and those customs that we get some hints of (that’s a hell of a diaspora - what would the rabbis think of it?).

I'm very uninterested in Miryem's romance with the Staryk Lord unless you feel like making it f/f, so while I don't require you to retcon it or break them up, I don't want a fic focusing on it. If you're interested in shipping her with Irina or Wanda, I have some previous prompts for them in my "dear author letters" tag. (These may also be relevant to platonic fic that includes Irina or Wanda - like Wanda becoming a magical gatekeeper to Miryem's land or having the "magic" of reading/writing that Miryem gave her become magic-magic in the Staryk land, or Irina and Miryem's different ideas of who their commitment as queen is to - but there's more detail and prompts in the tag.)

I'm happy to receive either tricks or treats for this fandom. I'm explicitly okay with a story in either category involving anti-Semitic prejudice, but would prefer that the dark/scary elements in a "trick" fic come from supernatural horror rather than the human capacity for racist violence. I suppose treat fic would be about finding or making one's place in the world, the place where you can use the powers that you've got and make your world safe for yourself and others around you.

—

Fandom: The Strange Case of Starship Iris

Character(s): Sana Tripathi, Arkady Patel, Krejjh, Brian Jeeter, Rumor Crew, Agent Park

I just want MORE of any or all of these people because I love them - Krejjh's dashing pilot thing ("feast on my leavings, mortality! I am danger on wheels and those wheels are rooOOOOLLING!") and what it masks, Brian's geekery and humanist passion, Arkady's tough outside and squishy center and Sana's soft outside and iron center, the crew-as-found-family, Park's fifth-cup-of-cold-coffee burnout and wry edge. Slice of life? Their backstories? Things they like or get excited about? (More about the music they like to listen to/sing/play!) Arkady and/or Sana (or other crew members) on missions off-ship, or the crew all facing a problem or a heist together? Dwarnian customs (and Krejjh introducing Dwarnian customs to their friends and how they maybe pick some of those up - or adopting human customs and how they're different)? Park adjusting to the crew and them adjusting to him (and what's his role going forward)?

I've requested treats only for this fandom, no tricks - I'm totally fine with characters' angsty pasts and angsty present feelings being included, but I'd prefer that the overall mood of a fic that involved angst be one that focused on a better future, bonds with others, a cause to believe in, etc.

I ship Arkady with Sana (that loyalty kink!), but I don't mind if a fic includes Violet/Arkady (after all, it is canon) as long as it's not shipfic/focused on their romance. Brian/Krejjh is good too.

#dear author letters #starship iris #simoun #far from the madding crowd #spinning silver

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bmichael · 6 years

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Cold Takes

You need something extra after you drag yourself out of bed at 450am in a polar vortex to go to the gym long before sunrise. So I was honestly delighted this morning to see a new Chuck Klosterman - Bill Simmons podcast posted.

I’ve had an up-and-down relationship to reading and listening to these two. Growing up, I was a sponge for their ideas, then as a more mature person I outright rejected and ridiculed them, and now as we’re all more or less adults I can relate to their thoughts in a probably more considered way.

Simmons was in the news recently because of this WSJ profile of The Ringer and him that mentioned, among other things, that the Ringer makes around $15MM a year on ad and podcast revenue. Now, I saw some sports blogs and twitter users throw this number around as if it were large. And it’s not zero, but it’s not really a large revenue figure for a media network with you’ve got to figure at least 50 staffers (it launched with 43 and has grown) based in LA. He’s a businessman and a business, man (I will retire that phrase now) but it’s definitely still a pretty small business.

So the podcast. I started listening to it as I went through my usual deadlift-squat-rows day -- not super fun but not the worst (squats-focused is the worst) and found it pretty entertaining. I don’t really care about Tony Romo’s announcing one way or the other and I thought they both circled around some pretty un-nuanced ideas re: basketball offenses. (Is the best offense just having James Harden try to score every play or pass -- maybe?! Three pointers and dunks are really good -- whoa, great point!)

There’s one relevant point to this ramble where they’re talking about the different Fyre Festival docs and what being an influencer means. Neither seems to have a strong grasp on the term. Simmons focuses on it qua job or activity, where you get paid to endorse something while Klosterman sees it more as an Aristotelian category. Neither correctly assesses it as a figure in the culture with great-than-zero brand recognition and a role within the capitalist-media complex to generate added revenue for someone or something and not always yourself. Ie, they’re both influencers, but neither seems to consider this.

(This point sort of comes up later tangentially and unnoticed when Klosterman laments his latest book dealing with all these things currently being made into films and documentaries while he got none of the credit...)

At the 1:15 mark Simmons brings up the movie Green Book and its unfair treatment thus far. Now, in the last podcast with Wesley Morris, Simmons talks about how he likes Green Book and thinks the movie works just fine while simultaneously reading the wikipedia page for the concept of the magic negro (really, he does this). He’s coming from a place of really liking the movie and attributing to it (or to his enjoyment of the movie, maybe more precisely) a nobody-believes-in-us type of moral gumption and gravity.

My reading of Simmons in the last two podcasts is that the movie’s embattled status as controversial and under fire by parts of the media pisses him off slightly and makes him want to see it succeed. In this equation, Green Book is the 2019 Patriots and Simmons treats it accordingly.

So Simmons says to Klosterman (almost a direct quote, but I don’t have time to go back and re-listen. It’s at 1:15:30-ish)

unless you satisfy all these different demographics, a piece of art will be rejected

He doesn’t clarify what “different demographics” he means, but I’m taking him to mean black people, primarily. He perhaps also means young people and/or woke twitter warriors. Simmons continues, saying that he thinks art “should make you think”.

By itself, I found this point uproariously out of touch and wrong, but Simmons kind of continues to sort of tease this point out with Klosterman. I’m saying “continues to sort of tease” not because I write in a folksy, casual style but because he really doesn’t seem to have an argument or single point of view in mind, and this is what I found so fascinating by this part of the podcast.

(Klosterman, for his part, doesn’t really say much about Simmons’ comments except that he grew up in a different era and understands he has a POV or prejudices implicitly that he cannot control.)

So a little later, Simmons brings up the movie Cruising, which I have not seen, but he says is very good. Apparently, its a “ 1980 erotic crime thriller film written and directed by William Friedkin and starring Al Pacino” about a serial killer targeting gay men. Simmons brings this movie up to make the point that people are much more easily mobilized these days (so insightful...) and to say, further, that if the movie were released today it would have been boycotted heavily and possibly not released.

I find this to be a laughable take, but he goes on to say something very revealing in response to something Klosterman says. Chuck says that if Cruising were made in 2019, maybe it would be made by a gay director and/or have a gay star. And Simmons is like, oh so they’d anticipate these issues and get out in front of the controversy.

This was so revealing to me because it snaps into focus a few different domains Simmons occupies and shows he almost ‘code switches’ his thought process, unconsciously, depending on whatever ghost of a coherent thought happens to be haunting his mind in a given moment.

This is clearly Simmons the producer and media mogul. He wants to get this movie, Crusing, made in 2019. Logistically, he knows certain demographics will boycott the film and maybe prevent it from being released.

(By the way, there have been some movies prevented from being released, generally on the basis of a moral panic, but the most recent one I can think of is the Woody Allen Louis CK one which, who the fuck would want to see that anyway? I’m sure it would ‘make you think’... that CK and Allen are pieces of shit.)

This is not really a great place to come from as a critic or even person who runs the Ringer media empire. Speaking to the latter, obviously the Ringer is a vehicle to make money for its owners, but it does seem to have a more coherent, somewhat woke new media 3.0 purpose that’s not 100% cynical in the vein of, ‘hey cast a gay actor for this homophobic film so that it won’t get boycotted’. For the former, sure it would be something you’d note and maybe write about, but would it really ‘make you think’? It would make me think that the movie was a cynical piece of shit floating in the homophobic toilet bowl of American culture.

Drawing back even further, it just goes to show me at least that the majority of influencers in this apparently lamentable influencer culture still don’t really consider themselves influencers. The sort of way saying someone’s a “white male” is kind of offensive because it creates this contre-pied cognitive step where a white man actually has to identify as a subgroup of humanity and not the default setting, as it were, and realize that he has discursive and political motivations that aren’t just ‘natural law’ or something and are generally around to further his demographic’s self-interests.

Simmons constantly spouts this backward, establishment-protecting bullshit when it comes to entertainment - and with regard to everything else. The one arguably moral stand he took, to badmouth Roger Goodell on his ESPN podcast, had the effect of making him more famous and gave his flagging outsider status a little more life, allowing him to pivot to the Ringer. He and his site still slavishly cover football, despite making jokes (I guess?) about CTE and concussions.

There is not a large conclusion to all this except to get my thoughts out there. Like, I don’t think Simmons is evil or anything, but he’s totally unaware of his biases -- the same as anyone, I know.

It just galls me that I think he thinks he’s this establishment-wrecking poster boy for new media when he’s just the same old self-congratulatory, now-middle-aged white guy holding back progress in the name of art or a sophisticated critical view when it’s really about the bottom line and protecting conservative values.

#bill simmons #chuck klosterman

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