#truly all Monty needed was some encouragement and friends

[chloesimaginationthings]

FNAF movie Vanessa wants to play with Monty

[lovelybunn]

headcanon for glamrock chica: she tends to hype up all the other members (including sun and moon) and always knows when any of them are upset and has specific ways to help them feel better :)

🧸 glamrock freddy - if freddy's feeling down about something (usually grieving over losing his best friend, bonnie) chica will show him some kind of physical affection/touch to calm his nerves. chica had noticed before bonnie got decommissioned, the two would cuddle when one was in a bad mood and both freddy and bonnie would feel so much better afterward, so she started doing it with freddy herself. most of the time it works, but every now and then, she gives some words of encouragement.

🐊 monty gator - the best way these two bond is through their music. when chica notices monty being a lil antsy, she'll just call him over so they can jam out to their own tunes. all lot of the time, chica will ask monty to play how he feels on his bass, and somehow she's able to psychologically distinguish all of his emotions in that moment. and as soon as you know it, chica and monty are blasting songs of all kinds and having one hell of a time until they're forced to recharge.

🐺 roxy wolf - praise. lots of it. chica is well aware of roxy's insecurities and constant need to be perfect. when she hears or sees roxy crying over anything, from her hair being too frizzy to a child beating her at her own racetrack, chica knows exactly what to say to boost roxy's ego. she'll bat her eyes and stare in awe at roxy, drowning her with compliments until she runs chica off with a loud flustered bark. so far, it's worked everytime.

☀️ sun - chica will take every chance she gets to go spend time with this sad little sunshine man. she realizes how lonely sun really is and how he just wants someone to talk to. sun will being telling a full on sob story, and she'll listen from start to finish, nodding her head to let him know she's actually taking it in. chica will not interrupt until sun's completely finished to either ask questions or just tell him what he truly needs to know. another thing chica noticed is that sun really likes when things are organized, so she'll give him lil puzzles to solve and also helps him clean around the daycare.

🌑 moon - moon tends to bottle up his emotions until he has a huge outburst. luckily, chica is able to sense this before it gets to the point where bad things happen. surprisingly enough, singing him soft lullabies calms him down and lets him cry all of it out. after moon finally relieves himself, she lets him have some kind of treat, like fizzy faz or cookies while reassuring him of anything he thought he did wrong. in addition to that, just like sun, moon perfers things to be set up a certain way. a specific thing is that he likes things to be color coded. chica will bring out a game where you sort out certain colors and create some image with them, and the way it lines up always receives a happy chuckle from moon.

[writing-is-my-guilty-pleasure]

Meeting and falling in love with Portia, Muriel and Lucio || Slight Modern! AU

A/N: Second part!! Nobody really asked for this but it didn’t feel right to not write about these other three. Also sorry this took so long I’ve been at work and on holiday (social distancing safely tho!) and also am preparing for Univeristy :)

Part 1

Main Masterlist

The Arcana Masterlist

Portia

You two first met out in town - you ran into each other on a market day; she was buying things for Nadia and you were merely perusing the various stalls

You literally ran into each other though

You straight up knocked the bags of various items out of her arms - it was incredibly embarrassing for the both of you

You obviously apologised immediately, the both of you trying desperately to gather up Portia’s things without attracting a crowd

It isn’t until the two of you stand up that you get a good look of each other - you recognise her from that one fancy dinner you went to that Nadia held (Asra made you go)

You offer to help her find the rest of the items Nadia needs, and you spend another hour browsing the stalls and talking about everything and nothing

The two of you end up running into each other at the market enough times for y’all to exchange numbers and make the friendship official - when you eventually met Julian he took a liking to you right away which you took as a definite good sign

You’d been friends for a couple of months and you started to pick up on her little habits, and you started to notice her more; like the small efforts she made when you’d go out or the effort she went to as to make sure all of her friends met and loved you

You introduced her to Asra, and Portia became obsessed with everything in your shop, and she went through a phase where all she wanted to do was spend time at your home, and could somehow look at all the items in your shop for hours on end

You’d always had a strong friendship, but soon enough your feelings towards her started to change as you spent more time together

Portia was surprisingly forwards with her intentions and affections – as soon as you started to show more affection towards her or she caught you staring one too many times, she caught on pretty quickly to your real feelings

Which was kind of lucky because you’d been caught up in an inner debate of whether or not she actually felt the same or if you were reading all the signs wrong, so it would have been a while before you actually got the courage to ask her out

So she took pity on you and just casually asked

“Hey Y/N, wanna go on a date tomorrow night?”

You absolutely choked on whatever food or drink you were having

“A…a date?”

“Yeah, you and me, going on a date like partners do.”

“O-Oh…oh, yeah, definitely, I would very much like to do that please”

It wasn’t anything extravagant, but Portia lit up her garden with an insane amount of candles for a candle-lit dinner and honestly you couldn’t have asked for anything more

Muriel

Muriel was intriguing from the start.

You’d heard Asra mention someone with his name a few times, but it never really stuck in your mind for very long; you told yourself that it was because you didn’t have a face to stick with the name.

The first time you saw Muriel was in the shadows outside Asra’s shop – an immediate red flag in your mind (you later told this to Muriel and he was mortified that the thought of him hurting you had ever crossed your mind. It was just like you forgot about it every time you ran into him.

It was strange looking back on the several other interactions you had with Muriel before you really got to know him; you found it odd that you kept forgetting to mention him to Asra – I mean, Muriel wasn’t exactly easy to miss being around six foot, and about ten inches. He’s a giant of a man, seriously.

The first time you properly ran into him, it was really thanks to Inanna – she’d turned up at the shop, most likely looking for Asra so that he could help.

You opened the door expecting to find a body, or someone in desperate need of help; there were bloodstains on the shop door, but you were surprised and slightly (very) scared to see a large, black wolf hiding in the shadows. Well, the first thing you saw were her eyes, large and gleaming in the small amount of light that was in the shop.

When you finally regained enough courage to move and calm down, you cautiously asked it if it needs help, then immediately questioned why you had just asked an animal a real question

You (somewhat lamely) offered to help instead as Asra was currently away.

Next thing you knew, you had followed an unknown wolf into the nearby forest, and after what felt like hours you finally reached the end goal – which happened to be the largest man you’d ever see

And, bonus! He was also covered in blood :)

Muriel was not grateful at all when it came to your offer of help – he seemed to already know who you were, yet still didn’t want to accept your help.

Even though he insisted on cleaning his wound himself, you manage to convince him to let you help him tidy it up and do one last check over.

From there, Asra eventually caught up with the two of you and realised pretty quickly that Muriel was begrudgingly curious about you, and that he liked you but absolutely was not showing it

You bought him a scarf from the marketplace – he didn’t understand why he deserved good things and you made it your mission to shower him with compliments and nice things

Overtime you just became more and more infatuated with him, and slowly encouraged him to come out of his shell around you

When you kissed him, he was so stunned that you thought for a horribly long second that you had misread all the signs and that you’d ruined your friendship, but he was just confused as to what the hell had just happened

He was like ‘….Iwouldn’tmindifyoudiditagain’ so fast you had to ask him to repeat it, but you were so happy and relieved beyond belief to hear it a bit slower and realise that he felt the same way

Basically he is your soft boi who you adore and would kill anyone who hurts him :)

Lucio

You met him after leaving Nadia’s house one night after dinner

Him being her ex, he was trying to sneak into the house to get the rest of his things without Nadia seeing him - she didn't see him, but you sure did

You had just left the house and you saw him trying to sneak in through an upstairs window, and the sight of the moonlight shining on him made him look so ghost-like that you jumped out of your skin, gasping in surprise

He nearly fell out of the window at your gasp, and the two of you just stared at each other for a solid minute in silence before you both spoke at the same time

‘Who the hell are you?” / ”What on earth are you doing up there?”

After a few minutes of Lucio explaining what the hell he was doing sneaking into Nadia’s house and you listening skeptically, you promised not to tell Nadia that he had been trying to take his stuff back. You weren't sure why, but you felt that you could trust him, even though he was an odd man.

It was a while before the two of you next met up - he disappeared to who-knows-where, but when you did eventually meet up you were surprisingly happy to see him.

For a while you found that his ego was waaaaaay too big, and you found out from Nadia that he made some pretty shady deals with some shady people

You also ‘forgot’ to mention that you were kinda friends with Lucio to Asra, as Nadia had mentioned that Asra had never been friendly towards Lucio in any way

The more time you spent around Lucio, the more you were slowly able to look past his large ego, and you could actually see the real person underneath - he even allowed you to call him by his real name, or ‘Monty’ when he began to trust you (that took a very long time)

You realised just how much he trusted you when he confided his family history. He told you how his father died, and that he had come here to escape his mother. You told him that despite his awful childhood, and despite all the shady stuff he’d been involved him, you still believed he could change for good if he did everything he could to make amends

Eventually, you found yourself spending more and more time with Lucio, and you noticed that he started to relax more when he was around you, and the two of you became comfortable in each other’s company to the extent that Asra started to get suspicious that you were seeing someone because you kept forgetting your shifts at the shop.

After a while, your friendship almost naturally turned into something more, until the two of you were painfully aware that there was some unspoken ‘thing’ between you

It was you who made the first move – he’d been joking about the two of you being a couple and how he’d shower you with gifts and it was honestly getting kinda hurtful because you,,,actually did want to be with him and he was treating it as a joke

So you just kissed him to shut him up, but then he kissed you back immediately and you realised he might actually feel the same way

He told you afterwards that he was trying to hint to you that he wanted to be with you but isn’t good with honest emotions so thought that joking about it was the right thing to do, the asshole

You knew that Asra and, well, everyone, wouldn’t be too pleased with this outcome, but you could see that Lucio truly loved you. Even though his ego was still a little too big for his liking, and he had more money than you ever needed, it was obvious that he was trying to tone down all his flamboyance for you.

~~~

@hakunamatatayqueen​ this is part 2 I just forgot to tag it 

[kettle-on]

All right, here we go. My first Monty Python fanfic, and only my second attempt at writing fanfiction since 2005. Bear with me.

This one is Eric/Mike/OFC. I do hope you enjoy! Here’s Chapter 1 of I don’t know how many yet, and it’s a bit of a slow start.

Chapter 1/? January 1978 Heron Bay, Barbados

          As the taxi pulled away and he got his first deep inhale of ocean air, Michael Palin quickly discovered he’d made a very good choice indeed to join his friends and colleagues for a working holiday in Barbados.

          At first, the idea of travelling abroad just to continue working around a table on their typewriters had seemed mostly unnecessary and rather expensive. Together with Terry Jones, he believed they’d made – as usual – the sober and sensible choice to stay at home in England and finish the script for their next film there. Much more convenient and economical.

          Unfortunately (or, fortunately, in this case), their colleagues Eric Idle and John Cleese could boast enough enthusiasm to coax Terry’s curiosity, and bend even Michael’s righteousness. Now they found themselves outside an enormous coral stone villa, and surrounded by trees and grasses that reached up into the bluest blue sky that either of them had ever seen.

          An elaborate Victorian door creaked open, and from inside emerged a red-faced John, an especially golden Eric, and the rarely seen but often spoken-of Y/N, who Eric had now been seeing for many months and with whom he declared he fell instantly in love.

          “So you’ve come to join us at last, have you?” called John, striding toward them and lazily wrapping a warm drunken arm around Terry’s shoulders. “Did you really need quite so much convincing?”

          “I suppose I did, yes. Mike not so much,” Terry admitted, coolly slipping free of the Cleese grip. He surveyed the impressive stonework and columns in front of him, and slowly he, too, warmed to the idea of a working holiday in the sun.

          “How are you both?” Eric greeted them in an unusually relaxed tone. Clearly the combination of sunshine, warmth, and probably a good woman by his side had done wonders for him.

          “I hope the trip was awful,” he added.

          “Absolutely dreadful,” said Michael, “I’d packed all twelve of my favourite books, ready for the flight, and hardly got past a chapter before I conked right out and missed everything.”

          He could feel the jet lag slowly sinking in, but a warm laugh from Eric and Y/N kept Michael alert, and he gazed wide-eyed at his surroundings.

          “You’re looking well, Y/N,” he said, taking in her now familiar appearance.

          “It’s so good to see you, Mike,” she replied with a disarming smile, and tried to remember when they’d last seen each other in person. “That’ll be all this sunshine and fresh air, I think.”

          “Yeah, sunshine, eh? What a concept!” said Eric, “Christ, if I never see snow again, I’ll be a happy man for the rest of my life.”

          “I suppose it does have its charms,” Terry conceded, already very pleased that they’d decided to travel after all. “Come on John, show me where I can find whatever it is that’s got you like that.” 

          His and John’s voices followed them through the door and down a corridor, echoing off of the stone walls and floors as they headed to the nearest drinks trolley for a cocktail.

          “Ooh yes, that’s a good idea,” squeaked Eric. “Now come on, love, I’ll show you to your room.”

          “You’ll do what?” Mike exclaimed with pretend outrage, “You mean I’ve come all this way, to this big grand mansion which has seen the likes of Churchill himself, and I don’t even get to choose my own room?”

          “Well, I figured if I left it up to you, darling, you’d wanna kip with me, and we can’t be having that,” replied Eric in his favourite Mumsie voice. “Well, not just yet, anyway,” he quietly added with an exaggerated wink.

          Even on holiday, the lads of Monty Python took any opportunity to jump into character.

          “Oh Mike, you’ll just love it,” Y/N encouraged, herself adopting a strange and posh character of her own creation. “There’s a simply marvelous view of the road from your room. Truly inspiring!”

          Michael returned her phony sentiment with a squinty, full-cheeked smile and shifted his bag strap onto his shoulder before following Eric up the front steps and indoors. Y/N stayed behind, choosing to give the two old pals some time to catch up alone.

          “I still think we could finish the script much more quickly in London, but I see why this place is so enticing.” Michael conceded to Eric, who had returned to the soft and kindred version of himself that Michael knew very well, but only ever when they were alone. In a crowd, Eric was loud and gregarious, with endless jokes and witticisms to keep his company rolling with laughter. But there was a side of him, reserved for only his closest confidantes, that was quiet, thoughtful, and romantic. Here was the man behind the madness.

          “Pretty special, eh? I told you you’d have to see it for yourself.” Eric smiled. “I dunno if it’s the walls, or the porticos, or something about the way the breezes sweep the sun in through the windows… I think this must be what being a god feels like, y’know? Do whatever you please, driven by nature and desire, with absolutely no thought as to the consequences. Brilliant.”

          “That’ll be the Jagger effect, then,” said Michael, hinting at his friend’s rockstar associations.

          “The what?”

          Michael looked at him with all-knowing raised eyebrows.

          “Do you – do you know?” Eric questioned with hushed concern. Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones had asked Eric’s help in hiding him and model Jerry Hall somewhere beautiful and discreet, out of view of the press and public. Jerry was the girlfriend of singer Bryan Ferry, and in a very rock ‘n roll fashion, they had met up, gotten cozy, and ran off together. They were staying nearby in a fairly glamorous hut, and Eric and Y/N had already been enjoying villa visits and beach terrace dinners with the scandalous couple for a few weeks.

          “Of course I know. You bloody well told me, you silly fool!” Michael tutted, and recalled a phone conversation he’d had with a fairly drunken Eric a fortnight earlier:

          “‘Come on, Mikey,’ you said, ‘you’ll love it down here. Mick’s here with Bryan Ferry’s girlfriend, and we’ve all got our tits out!’”

          “Blimey. Trust me, eh?”

          “Never mind, Eric. Your secret’s safe with me,” Michael assured him with a sturdy pat on his shoulder before turning into what he decided would be his room for the length of his stay.

[worryingthing]

Illuminati Hotties - Frequent Letdown

I was thinking of a little project, to maybe help pull me up, or maybe center me, stear me a bit off of the course of nihilist depression I’ve been on. A meditation of sorts, through the Tarot, if and when I feel like it. Writing helps me sort my thoughts, usually? It’s the start of Leo season and I feel squirmy about that because I feel the opposite of my worth and the complete void of confidence lately. It’s almost August and I’ve been to the beach one time!! and even then it felt like risking our lives potentially? to be nourished, by the sea, the thing I extremely desperately need to wash away all the crowding stray thoughts and sneaky trauma that has settled in comfortably during this time of quarantine. I haven’t been on the Subway since March 13th. I’m unemployed, not playing music at all, and struggling not to be disappointed when I wake up dreading every day. So, a little exercise I guess? The song is there because I like it and that’s how I feel. I listened to it while I shuffled and drew my card. For the curious I am using the classic Smith-Waite tarot deck, I like the clarity of traditional decks’ imagery. It tells a story well. 

For this first entry I pulled the Ace of Pentacles. It looks like a hand from a Monty Python illustration is floating out of a cloud and holding a big coin, which has a star in the center.  Pen-TA-CULLS . I know this suit represents the earth signs, money and all, right? I’m a Taurus sun and rising and no one is surprised. Anyway this card has the floating hand and it’s coin and it also has a garden underneath, and the garden has what look like tall lilies blooming, and then there is a hedge with an archway, and the hedge has red flowers or leaves, and the archway gives way to a view of a pale blue mountain. There is a little worn path that leads to and through the arch. There is grass and growth and lusciousness and what I sense from this card is its statement of possibility. Let’s check Biddy Tarot though:

No matter the occasion, the Ace of Pentacles heralds a sense of prosperity and abundance in the material or financial areas of your life. It undoubtedly comes as a welcome invitation – but it is not a free ride. As with all Aces in the Tarot deck, this card illustrates the possibility of a new endeavor but does not guarantee its manifestation or success. That piece is up to you.

Ok, so full disclosure, a while ago my friend and I talked about illustrating a tarot deck where cards would be paired with songs. We began outlining the project but then, of course, life happened. So forgive me if this exercise constantly brings me back to song, but that is the realm of my old self that my present self just sort of woefully drags around like a deflated homunculus. Anyway this reminds me of (course!) of Springsteen. In truly the most devastating call out I’ve ever felt encountered in lyric form:

You can hide 'neath your covers And study your pain Make crosses from your lovers Throw roses in the rain Waste your summer praying in vain

Ok, so Biddy Tarot also says this: See the Ace of Pentacles as your ‘green light’. It marks the initial stages of manifesting your goals and assures you that you can truly achieve what you have set your mind to do. The world is your oyster and, through careful planning and determined effort, you can manifest your goals and desires. Your ideas are ready to turn into something tangible and real! This card encourages you to map out how you will achieve your ambitions, create targeted plans and get those actions underway. Keep your eyes open for chances to manifest your goals and realise your inner potential.

To be quite honest I wasn’t expecting this much of a doozy with my first pull for this weird, blog accountability thing I made up. But then the next verse of the song goes on to say: Well I got this guitar, and I learned how to make it talk.

Which is of course, abstractly, a goal of mine. I’d love to get good enough to pen a few jangly tunes. I know I could do it? but also I’ve no idea how to continue with music after everything, but I do miss it, and lately I’ve been lusting after a reasonably priced mini amp. I also need actual life direction, which is a huge bummer, and frankly too much to consider in the midst of a pandemic where everyone I know is lucky to even be employed, or alive, at best. D also wants to get out of this country, and who can blame him? It’s so hard to think about now though, what would I be losing? the friends I can’t see, the trains I can’t take, the live music scene I’m unsure will ever recover? 34 is an odd weird year to lose to nothingness this way. Everyone just wants me to have a baby. and i want a single fucking hour of peace and alone time, and to learn all of my favorite guitar riffs without being absolutely overcome by grief of missing the music community I formerly took part in (That’s not all I want, obviously, but I could really use everyone else getting a grip about telling me I need to procreate!!!). ANYWAY the tarot further says: 

This Ace signifies abundance in all areas of your life. Enjoy it! Feel blessed and deserving of everything that comes your way. If you wish to amplify this feeling of prosperity, live by the Law of Attraction and send your positive energy and intent into the Universe so you will receive more in return.

I am pretty sure I can do that. I sent a friend chocolate this week. I have donated variously when I can to places in support of protests and bail funds. I did some yoga today and then did an online figure drawing session, which was me directly trying to make time for myself. I made bread last night and then baked it this afternoon and ate some for dinner as a broccoli melt.  and now I am doing this. I made space for myself and made myself be thankful. I am taking myself by the scruff and forcing my face into the food bowl of existence and making myself appreciate it, even when it has felt excruciating. I’m treading water when I want to be laying down under the waves and merging with the silt. I don’t know. Maybe this will help or maybe I’ll abandon it. It probably would have been smarter to do a spread and not just one card? But a new season? and whether mockingly or not this card seems to feel I have an opportunity to rise to and meet? 

[nola-unchained]

STATS

Name: Montgomery “Monty” Abernathy Gender/pronouns: He/him Age: 165 (looks 24) Species: Werewolf, Omega Occupation: Owner of Wanderer Bookstore Faceclaim: Tom Holland

HISTORY: (triggers: brutal attack, blood, almost death, loss )

The life of Montgomery Abernathy is one for the story books. Born the son of a wealthy banker and his wife in London, Monty had everything set up for him as he grew. His parents had the proper support to help raise him, sent him to the best schools, and did their best to make sure he was part of every proper social circle they could. However, no matter how privileged and set up Monty’s life was, he never let it get to his head. People have always said that Monty always had level headed mind and was very down to earth. Happy to stop and help anyone he could. Even from a young age, the young Abernathy would be found trying to help someone out on the street. His parents had tried to encourage him to keep his distance, just to keep a pristine image, but it never worked for them.

To Monty, his life was pretty boring. It was a matter of going to a party here, going to school there, and playing sports with his mates when he had the chance. It wasn’t until he was in his final year before college that his world had really changed. A fateful day during Christmas break brought him face to face with a girl who was above all the rest. A girl with natural beauty that made him lose his breath. Her name was Lydia Carmichael. Somehow, they ended up in similar circles and he was graced the chance to get to know her more. She was as sweet as she was beautiful. She had his heart, even before they could start courting. Only unfortunate thing was no one truly supported the courtship until Monty finished school and could prove himself the proper provider. So, off he went, continuing his plan to prove himself a worthy man.

Now, while Montgomery was a good man, he was a kind man, of course he got himself into some shenanigans from time to time. Pranks he and his friends would pull on each other, or jokes they would make. It kept his life exciting and kept college from completely dragging. The other thing keeping him going was the letters than he was getting from Lydia. Each letter was a notion for him to keep going. It was the bit of hope he needed that she would still be waiting for him on the other side. Four years came and went, and soon he was back in his home town, starting his new job for his father. Being a banker wasn’t ideal for him, but he was good at it. You could’ve said in ran in his blood. Lydia was there when he got back, and they finally got the permission to start their courtship. While marriage would have to wait, at least he could consider her partially his.

Two years of chaperoned dates and being respectful of traditions, and it was soon going to be time for them to marry. Monty went to Lydia’s father and asked for his permission before finally getting the chance to go down on one knee and proposing to the woman he loved. Much to his relief, she said yes and plans were under way for the big day. Only bad thing was that fate seemed to have something else in store.

One night out with his friends, they had started to get into shenanigans once again, having a good time when the attack happened. Monty had drifted off on his own for a moment when something came out of nowhere. He felt something sharp drag through his chest and parts of his arm. Not long after there was a large pain that was radiating from his leg. Everything had happened so fast that he didn’t have the chance to react. He couldn’t fight back, and by the time his friends found him, the creature was gone and Monty was a bleeding mess on the ground. He could hear their voices, but they were distant and hazy. He couldn’t make out what they were saying over the pain radiating in his body.

The next couple weeks were a blur. He only remembers slight moments that happened throughout the whole thing. Remembered being carried to the hospital. Nurses and doctors surrounding him. His parents. Lydia. Some woman. And then everything was just kind of black for a while. The pain didn’t start to subside until a while later, and slowly he started to be awake more and more, until he was able to stay awake for a few hours at a time. By the time that he woke, Lydia was at his bed side, telling him what happened. She explained that he was attacked by a werewolf, and was bitten as well. Explained that while most would’ve just transformed, the process wasn’t healing him fast enough for him to survive through it. So, a witch came and gave him a healing curse. Down fall to the curse was that he would stop aging, he would never be able to reproduce, and he’d be stuck as a twenty-four-year-old werewolf forever. As if that news wasn’t enough, it turned out she had changed as well. She wasn’t just Lydia anymore, but she was a vampire. She was new as well. It was a lot for him to process, and it took him days to actually accept it all, but nothing prepared him for the first time he transformed. By the time the moon had subsided and he changed back to his normal form, that fear hit him again and he was left to learn a whole new way of living.

Life from that point was always filled with something happening at all times. His parents weren’t excited about the idea of their son being some supernatural beast, but his mother refused to let him go, so she did her best to just focus on the aspect of him healing. Everyone had been so focused on helping Lydia and Monty with their transformations, that everyone had forgotten about the wedding. They were just focused on getting everything back on track. Years and decades passed, and their country was faced with the first World War. Monty was drafted into a special division for supernatural, and fought for his country until the last day of the war. It’s true what they say that war can change people, but for Monty, it was almost like a reset.

Life coming back was easy. He found a job to help earn money and he still had his Lydia with him. Having her by his side was everything to him. He couldn’t imagine having actually survived all of this without her. That thought was prominent in his head when the second World War arrived and he was asked to go fight once more. All it took was one looked at Lydia, and he was back down on his knee in front of her, asking for her hand once more. The two married before he went off to fight again, and have been together ever since.

Recovering from wars had been a little hard at first, but eventually everything started to come together once again. Monty and Lydia made a life for themselves, and even decided to take a leap and move to the states in the 1960s. They landed on the city of New Orleans, finding that the history and sprit of the city was most exciting to them. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that Monty came home and proposed the idea of using his inheritance from his parents to open a book store. He knew the perfect spot on Royal St. and had a plan in order.

To this day, Monty and Lydia still own and work in that same book shop. The building they bought gave them the ability to live above the shop, keeping them close and able to keep their eye on it at all time. Monty runs most of the accounting and technical stuff, while also trying to help keep events going to keep people coming to visit. Their life together has been one that most people wouldn’t believe, but Monty gets to be with the woman he loves, which is all he could ask for.

PERSONALITY:

+ Approachable, Organized, Logical, Self-Disciplined

-   Defensive, Timid, Moody, Stubborn

Monty is played by Katie.  

[calliecat93]

Top 5 Things I Liked About RWBY Volume 1

(Top 5 Dislikes)

Well, got the Dislikes out of the way. So let's move on to the Likes! While V1 is my least favorite volume, I still adore it. I mean it is the volume that got me and many others into RWBY and without we, well... we obviously wouldn’t have a show. I can forgive many of the issues that I listed, as well as things like limited animation and amateur voice acting since it was V1 when they had a smaller budget and were figuring stuff out. ANd there were still plenty of things to love, especially now.

So let take a trip down memory lane and look back at some of the best parts of the beginning of our journey with RWBY Volume 1~!

#5. The Character Trailers

Okay, this might be cheating since they’re technically not part of the volume. But they were made to lead-up to it like the later trailers were for later volumes and they have story relevance later, so I’m counting it! Plus I want to talk about them somewhere because I freakin’ love these so much~!

These trailers are what got me into RWBY. I remember looking up stuff about the show when I started getting interested in it back in late 2013, and I went to watch them when I found out about them. Making these was a very smart move. They introduce us to our characters early on, gave us a feel of each aspect of the show, and of course created hype to ensure that people tuned in when the actual show started. The Red Trailer shows off the amazing fighting animaiton, White shows off the epic soundtrack, Black introduces plot elements and shows that there will be more than just cool fighting, and Yellow brings 'em all together in one badass package. When I binged through all four of these, I became a fan very quickly. I started the show that night, finished the next afternoon as V1 had practically ended just before I started, and I haven’t looked back ever since. And when parts of them came back into the plot later like the bar that Yang trashed in V2? That made me even happier cause it made them have a point outside of just hype.

The trailers were all fantastic. RT was clearly betting a lot on this show to allow Monty to do these, and the gamble paid off. All four of them have their own unique style and aesthetic and still looks amazing even now. It’s why whenever I see anyone ask where to start with RWBY, I tell them to watch these first. They do a great job of introducing you to this world, and with us going into the seventh volume, their impact is still being felt. I couldn’t not put these on here, but since they aren’t technically part of the volume, I left it at Number 5. But still, these are great and if you skipped them, go and watch them. Now. The list will still be here when you get back.

#4. Fight Animation

...what? Are we surprised that this is on here? Monty’s fight animation is amazing. Even years later, they still hold up. Monty got his start at RTwuth his fight animaiton in RvB, which truly brought that series to the next level. Then he got his won show with even more freedom to go crazy, and boy did he deliver. Sure it didn’t always work well, like when he did it for Penny in the finale and gave away the reveal s a result. But it’ still a badass sequence. All fo the major fights are. The trailer fights, Ruby in Chapter 1, the Nevermore fight in 8, everything else in between and after, it all looked incredible. They were fast, creative, and just so much funt o watch. while I am one fo the people who strongly disagree that the fights went downhill after V3, Monty’s style cannot be duplicated. Nor should it be. We may never have Monty’s fights again, but they will forever live on. That’s honestly for the best.

#3. Weiss Development/Rewatch Value

I was a little harsh on Weiss in the Dislikes post, so let's fix that! I love Weiss. She is my second favorite character and one of the best developed. While I complained about her writing int he finale, outside that? She was good. She was snooty and bitchy, but we saw in Chapter 8 that she is aware of her flaws and did save Ruby as well as give her a pep talk... kinda. But The Badge and the Burden is where she really shines. She’s mad about being led by a childish girl who pretty much got allowed into Beacon, Port gave her a stern but encouraging talking to, and Weiss began to try and improve herself as both a teammate and as a person. It’s simple, but for Volume 1, it was nice and made her likable after how mean she was in the first half of the volume.

Then the rest of the series happened, and Weiss in V1 becomes even better.

It makes Weiss’ attitude make sense. She had to work and fight to earn her way into Beacon. Her father outright forced her to fight a Grimm Knight to earn the right to leave and almost lost an eye due to it. Then she meets this careless girl who rushes into fights, gets in her way, and as far as she knows did nothing to get into Beacon while she had to fight tooth and nail. Then the same girl got to be leader despite generally goofing off and not taking anything seriously, and it makes Weiss being angry 100% understandable. She still acted poorly, hence why Port’s talk was necessary, but it isn’t Weiss just being a stereotypical mean rich girl. She has reasons why she acts the way that she does, and she can recognize those flaws and work to fix it. Even with my complaint about her in the finale she DOES follow it up and improve her attitude towards Blake, Faunus, and her team.

Weiss is a fantastic character. V1 gives you many reasons to dislike her, but over time you grow to love her. This volume was the first step in her breaking out of the toxic and hateful environment and mindset that she was raised in, and she took that step in spades. Rewatching her in this volume makes you appreciate her character so much. Again, her development here is simple, but important and overall solid outside of a few spots. I think that Weiss’ arc has the most rewatch value in this volume, and I appreciate it so much. It is a little spotty though, so I put it at Number 3. But we have another good character arc to talk about, one that I think is underrated to be honest.

#2. Ruby Development

Ruby is my favorite character in the entire series. She was since I started the show, and she still is to this day. Many call her a flat and boring character, and it annoys me. But I do see the complaint that up until recently, she hasn't developed. That she is the exact same as when she started. Ugh... yeah, no. I know that V1 was a while ago and that a lot has happened since then, but she developed greatly in this volume and beyond.

In V1, Ruby is just a girl who dreams of being a Huntress. But it’s kinda like a childish fantasy. One that she’s genuine about, but one that she isn’t truly prepared for. She thinks that all she needs is her badass scythe, and she’ll be fine. She’s reckless, charging into battle to prove that she is capable fo being at Beacon. SHe’s awkward and doesn't want to make friends or teammates. Not because she’s anti-social, but because she’s an awkward girl who is already feeling pressure due to not wanting to be received as special when she got let into Beacon early.

This volume greatly sets Ruby on the right path. Her recklessness gets her into trouble, and she only survives because of characters like Weiss helping. She isn’t able to truly take on Grimm until she starts working as a team with the others, in which she stands up and takes the reigns. She starts channeling her recklessness into crazy plans, like the slingshot, which shows her out-of-the-box thinking that becomes a major asset to her. The Badge and the Burden shows her acting childish, goofing off in class and not paying attention. But we also see that she’s anxious in her new role as leader and if she truly belongs in Beacon or if Ozpin made a mistake in letting her in. But Oz gives her a nice pep talk and we later see that she fell asleep while studying, showing that she is trying to put effort into her studies and into her new position. Encouragement that she later gives Jaune, showing that she took ti to heart.

As with Weiss, it’s simple stuff. But it’s still major progression for Ruby. While her goal of Huntress is still somewhat of s childish fantasy, it’s genuine. She is genuine about wanting to help people and make their lives better just because she wants to. Not out fo any personal goal or thrill, just because she wants to do good. We see that she’s learning as she tarts to put her anxiety aside to work with her teammates, learn to take school seriously, learn to not be so reckless and not be so worried about proving that she can do this, and of course begin to take her first steps in becoming a leader. Steps that will lead to great things for her, especially in V6. I can’t properly gush about Ruby in this post, but I love her growth here so much, and it’s one of the best things in the volume for me.

#1. Players and Pieces

So... you’re probably wondering why this is Number One. Well... it’s because while the trailers got me to watch RWBYm this was the episode that convinced me that it was worth something. I enjoyed Chapters 1-7, but I was kinda waiting for that moment that made me see why it had gotten so popular so quickly. I didn’t watch RWBY when it started I hadn’t even heard of Rooster Teeth at that point. I just saw my friends talking about it, got curious, and started watching it. It was nice... but it didn’t really impress me or get why people were loving this so much. It just felt like a slightly above average web series.

Then I got to Players and Pieces.

This episode wowed me when I watched it. You know how I said that the trailers introduced certain aspects and yellow brought them all together? Well, this chapter did that for something within the show. Awesome fight animaiton? Check. Weiss development? Check. Ruby development? Check. It had good humor. It was paced well. It felt satisfying. And the soundtrack? Holy crap the soundtrack. Yeah, I had to force myself to not put ‘Jeff Williams Music’ on this list because it would be redundant, and putting it on every list would get old. But the moment that Red Like Roses Part II kicked in, everything ramped up. Especially when Ruby slayed the Nevermore. That scene is outright iconic.

This chapter took everything that the first seven was building up to and it delivered an amazing payoff. The characters were great. The animaiton was great. The tone was great. It was funny, heartwarming, and badass in every single way. This was when I realized just how amazing this show was going to be. This is when I decided to hop on board the hype train. This was when I became a real fan, and I am still going even six years later. It’ crazy to me that we’re going into V7, cause whenever I rewatch the moment where Ruby is launched at the nevermore and urns up that cliff, I remember when I first saw the scene. And I still feel the same awe that I felt the first time. When I need to remember why I love this show, I turn to this. It was amazing then, and it’s still amazing now and will always be something that I treasure.

And that’s a wrap! My Top 5 Things for RWBY Volume 1~ It was so much fun to go back through this volume. It’s still a fun ride from beginning to end, and will always have a special place among RWBY fans. So now it’s time to prepare the lists for Volume 2~ Thank you all for reading, and I hope you’ll check out the remaining posts for the remaining volumes~!

[chicgeekgirl89]

Vegas Baby! Chap. 7: What Happens in Vegas

Read Chapters 1-6 here!

A/N: I’ll probably post a sappy post about finishing my 100th fic a little later, but I just want to say thanks again to those of you who read so faithfully. You are dear to my heart and I appreciate every kind word you leave about my writing. I couldn’t do it without you!

The flight back to Los Angeles was quiet. All four of them were stewing in the embarrassment of what they had done and the longer Deeks thought about it, the worse it seemed. “I really twerked, didn’t I?” Eric said faintly an hour into the trip.

“Yeah buddy. You did,” Deeks said, patting his arm.

“Okay.” He thought for another minute. “Did it seem like Nell liked it?”

“I’m not having this conversation,” Sam said immediately.

“But—“

“No.”

They sat in relative silence again. “Would you please sit still?” Sam asked, sending a pointed look at his partner.

“I can’t help it,” Callen said as he squirmed in his seat. “These shorts are riding up my ass. And they have completely non-functional pockets. How do women deal with this?!”

“G, everyone’s shorts are up their ass. We have like twenty minutes left. Just deal with it,” Sam said through gritted teeth.

They’d had to dash through the airport to make the flight, which left no time to find more suitable attire. Nell had promised to retrieve their bags from the hotel room and bring them back to LA. They’d been given some strange looks by the flight crew, but a stony glare from an extremely grouchy Sam Hanna had stopped the questions before they started.

Deeks wanted to sleep. He wanted his bed and his dog and a beer and to pretend this whole weekend had never happened. He’d never wanted it in the first place and it had ended even worse than he could have imagined.

Eric ordered a Lyft and it picked them up as soon as they disembarked. Deeks felt himself drifting off and was awoken forty minutes later by Callen asking, “What are we doing here?”

Deeks roused enough to look out the window and found they were not at his house, but the mission.

“Okay,” Eric said, holding up his hands. “Just hear me out.”

“Damn it Eric!” Sam said. “Come on!”

Eric ignored him. Deeks admired him slightly for it. “I know this weekend didn’t go according to plan. But Deeks deserves a good bachelor party. We can’t just admit defeat.”

“Oh yes we can,” Callen said, still tugging futilely on his shorts.

“Did we admit defeat when you all were dragging your sorry butts through the Mexican desert?” Eric asked indignantly. “No. How about when Hetty was captured in Vietnam? Not then either. If we can make it through life or death situations we can at least turn this bachelor party into something to remember. Now go inside and find something to wear that doesn’t make us look like a bunch of high school girls! You have ten minutes. Go!” he insisted when none of them moved.

“Beale’s getting awfully ballsy,” Deeks said as they trudged through the doors. “I don’t think I like it.”

“One night of stripping and suddenly he thinks he’s in charge,” Sam grumbled, pulling a t-shirt from his locker.

They wandered back out to the car fully clothed. Deeks had never in his life been so grateful for jeans that fit. “Eric, your plan better include all of us going home to our own beds,” Callen said.

“You’re just going to have to trust me on this one,” Eric said. “Everybody in.”

They took off and Deeks was wondering just how badly it would hurt to bail out of the car while it was in motion when they stopped. He squinted out the window. “The beach?”

“Come on,” Eric encouraged, shooing them all out into the early morning.

The place was deserted, the sun just starting to come up.

Eric pulled something from the trunk and held it up. “Wetsuits?” Deeks asked.

“What says ‘Deeks’ more than surfing?” Eric said with a grin.

“Oh, now we’re talking.” Deeks grabbed the wetsuit and within minutes the entire team was submerged in the water, rented surfboards in hand.

Deeks floated on the surface, letting the sunshine wash over him as he looked at his friends. They’d tried. They’d really tried to give him a fun weekend. It wasn’t really their fault things hadn’t worked out. Well, it was kind of Eric’s fault, but the ocean had him in a forgiving mood. “Thanks guys.”

“Let’s just hope your honeymoon goes better than this trip,” Sam said.

“If the way he wiggles his hips is any indication it should go really well,” Callen said with a grin.

Deeks shook his head and smiled. They might drive him crazy, but he was grateful for their friendship. Even if it sometimes meant they ended up stripping in front of his fiancée.

If there was one thing the Cupcake Girls loved more than spa days and late night sugar, it was brunch. So it was no surprise that when Kensi finally opened her eyes on Sunday morning the girls immediately shoved her into yet another dress.

She was exceptionally hung-over from all the cheap wine of the night before, but the smell of pancakes and bacon perked her up a bit. The girls spent several hours enjoying mimosas and eggs benedict before packing up and hopping in the limo to head back to LA.

“Okay, okay!” Tiffani tapped her champagne glass as the strip flew by out the window. “I have something to say.” She waited until she had everyone’s attention. “KayKay, when we met, I had no idea that you would become one of my best friends. You are truly one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. You’ve always been there for all of us and we just love you so much.” She began to choke up and Kensi found her own eyes filling with tears.

These silly girls meant so much to her. They’d kept her tethered to the real world and reminded her that there was life outside of kicking ass and interrogating suspects. They’d been there for every significant moment of her adult life. They didn’t care if she hadn’t seen or talked to them in months, they picked up the phone the second she needed them and were at her apartment with booze and chocolate in hand. And they had welcomed Deeks with open arms and nothing but love.

“We are all just so happy that you and Deeks found each other. You are absolutely perfect together and we wish you all the best,” she sniffed and raised her glass. “To Kensi and Deeks.”

The girls all echoed her and Kensi smiled as they clinked glasses. “Okay, enough crying girls!” Mindy said. “We’ve got presents to open!”

Gift bags appeared out of nowhere and Kensi felt her cheeks go slightly pink. She was no prude, but the girls were extremely open about their sex lives and, despite her best effort, she felt like they knew more about what she and Deeks did in their private time than she ever wanted anyone to know.

She opened the first bag praying that the only thing inside would be lingerie and not something more scandalous. She’d been to Mandy’s bachelorette two years earlier and thought she might never forget some of the things that had come wrapped in sparkly pink paper.

Fortunately all she got were some sexy nightie sets, a pair of fuzzy handcuffs (she did not tell the girls that she already had some), and dice with sexy bedroom suggestions and body parts. She had to admit, the girls had very good taste in lingerie and there were quite a few things she knew Deeks would like, including a Wonder Woman set that Nell had handed her with a very cheeky grin on her face. Something told her that Deeks might receive a complementary set of boxers.

“Girls,” Kensi looked at all of them, their faces smiling and wonderful. “You’re amazing. Thank you.”

“We just had to KayKay! You deserve it,” Kat said.

Nell reached over and squeezed her hand. Kensi floated on cloud nine for the rest of the ride home.

 Deeks was in bed watching TV when she returned. Monty barked and jumped off Deeks’ pillow to greet her and then followed her, tail wagging happily, back into the bedroom. Kensi dropped her bag by the door and then flopped face first onto the sheets.

“Well hi there,” Deeks said in amusement. “I take it you had a fun weekend?”

“I need a vacation to recover from my friends.” Kensi’s voice was muffled because she refused to lift her head.

“Welcome to how the rest of us feel about them.”

“How do they have so much energy? They barely eat. They barely sleep. All they do is drink and party and go to day spas.”

“Maybe you’re just getting too old for their shenanigans.”

Kensi lifted her head and glared at him. “This from the man who nearly got murdered and had to become a stripper AT HIS OWN BACHELOR PARTY.”

He winced. “Yeah you’re not going to let that one go anytime soon huh?”

“Oh. No. Definitely not. You’re going to be hearing about that one for a looooooong time,” she said as she pulled herself up to sit next to him.

“Ah well. At least it’ll be a fun story to share with the grandkids.”

“You’re not sharing it with kids of any kind.”

“And you’re not sharing it with my mother,” he said knowingly.

She raised her eyebrows and smirked. “Behave and I won’t have to.”

“Seriously, did you have fun though?” he asked.

She kissed his cheek. “Yeah, I did. I’m freaking starving right now though.”

“I thought you might be. I ordered pizza. Should be here in about thirty minutes.”

“Oh my god,” she stared at him in wonder. “I really am marrying the perfect man.”

She leaned over to kiss him and then upped the ante by swinging a leg over to straddle his hips. “Watcha doing there babe?” he asked in between kisses.

“Well,” she grinned and sat up, slowly sliding the zipper down the back of her dress, “the pizza’s not coming for thirty minutes. And I did just spend an entire weekend in Vegas. I thought I might show you a few tricks I learned from a stripper there.”

 “I thought what happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas,” he said cheekily.

She smiled. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

[holy-mountaineering]

This spread is for -ziggans-.tumblr.com who is in fact, the coolest dude.

As discussed, we’re doing the Tree of Life.

Think of this spread as a sort of quantum map, or even the land of a regular map, everything is happening at once, in each place. It’s important to think of yourself as moving “through” the map but you are also simultaneously everywhere at once. For the sake of this specific experiment, think of this as a map.

Where we’re starting the journey from is Kether, the monad, the first sign of creation. We’ll call this your hometown, since it is where you’re from originally. Here we have the 8 of Disks, Prudence.

This is the Sun in Virgo or centering on the most fertile options or growth in your life. Implied is a balance through pruning or cutting away the dead, dying, and less useful parts of your “plant” (or your material world of everyday things) so that it might grow better. Center your material world on some fertile possibilities of reward that are/will be present in your life and cut out the unnecessary or excess.

Dump the crap that saps your energy and imbalances your material world/everyday life situation. Focus on balancing the creating, building AND maintaining your physical world.

In Chokmah, which is like your freeway getting you out onto the road out of your hometown is the Knight of Wands or the fiery part of fire.

This is acting to act, staying busy and driven, fighting the war that must be fought. 
This is the proverbial fire under your ass driving you forward.
 If you don’t feel motivated, you better do whatever is in your power to get moving because you’re going to need it real bad right now.

Stay busy, start projects. Don’t be still, there is a war to be fought!

In Binah, which is ruled by Saturn and for the sake of this reading we will call the first stop on your roadtrip. You haven’t really arrived anywhere but you’re stopping and getting a chance to repack your car in a more efficient way. Sitting in Binah is, a worthy thing to organize your shit around, VIII Adjustment, Lamed, Libra.

These are the scales of balance in the higher order of things in your life. The scales are naturally balanced, but it is when we add things onto either side of the scale that it becomes tricky. To return to balance you have to remove things or add on things. Such is a balanced life.

The person who is the beam which the scales are balanced on is not blind justice, she wears a mask, not a blindfold. She carries the Sword of the Magus, which is to say she uses her reasoning powers to cut away imbalance.

You are the crux, balance your mind in higher regards. Add things or take away according to the balance it creates.

In Chesed which is ruled by Jupiter and again for the sake of this experiment we’ll say involves your influence and benevolence in your current trip is XXI The Universe, Saturn, Tau.

The Universe is the totality of what we can sense and know. The dance of the Woman with the cosmic serpent and the Eye destroying while everything constantly recreates. We see the Universe only from our position in it. You may send out your satellites to explore unknown areas but you can only process what they might mean from your place. The more we try to take into our restrictive minds and spirits, the more we know about the whole and ourselves and our place in the Universe.

Step back and look at the connections and totality of everything you know and experience. It’s quite a view.

Across the Tree in Geburah, which is Mars Town, where you find your drive and what you’re trying to accomplish/conquer is Knight of Cups, the fiery part of Water or acting on feeling.

Ideally this is the drive to seek higher connections and feelings and being driven by intuition and love. Just don’t fall for illusions and false ideals. This is the love that brings you closer to connecting with everything, recognizing connection and it’s drive. This is the Arthurian tale of chasing the Holy Grail *Insert Monty Python joke here* simply to have a true connection to their god. Seek love like that.

Act on what you feel and truly intuit but only to the ends of unselfish almost worshipful Love. Do things that get you really really feeling.

In Tiphareth, the Sun and center of gravity holding all this in place, the heart pumping the blood through this, your heart is XII The Hanged (or Drowned) Man, Mem, Water.

This card represents the purifying and altering property of water. Here is the mystery of baptism, the origins of which are lost but we can infer their meaning by looking into the symbolism of rebirth. The individual who comes to the water to be baptized is a different individual when they leave the water. The element has cleansed them of their old skin and grit and grime and encouraged the growth of the new skin, so to speak.

This Trump is also the myth of the dying gods. Odin on the tree Yggdrasil, Osiris being spread to the ends of the Earth, Jesus on the cross. These gods or allegories are about intentionally putting yourself through a trial to learn of yourself and the world. Again, symbolic death and then rebirth with a new knowledge of the Universe and your place in it.

Good news is you’re going to learn how to be the new you soon, bad news is you have to kill the old you.

In Netzach, Venus town, where you have the realization about how this is going to change you as a person with a personality is the 10 of Disks, Wealth.

This card is intelligence (Mercury) in fertile possibility (Virgo). This is the peak material situation, a good situation, a situation you really want to be in.

Be swift and mindful of your material task at hand and your everyday experience, it is nearing its end and you stand to profit.

Put your smarts and your communication skills in the most fertile possibilities and cash in before things start to come down from this peak opportune time.

In Mercury Town Hod-ville, where all the Universities are and everyone has real intellectual shit going on is a friend of the show, 5 of Cups Disappointment.

Like all 5s this is the microcosmic and human part of its suit, in this case the human aspect of water, which is emotion, intuition and connectedness to life. Astrologically, this is Mars in Scorpio or emotional uncertainty making acting on your feelings difficult or at least obscured.

Everyone you’re in contact with, and everyone else is just a human with human limitations. Don’t overreach other people’s boundaries and be aware when they cross yours.

There is also a frustration emotionally that you’re “stuck in the middle” of where you started and where you’d like to be feeling. That sucks, but, hey, like, we’re all just human. Just yourself and everyone else as much slack as you can for not being where you want them to be.

Don’t focus on your or others emotional limitations. Try to recognize why you are where/who you are emotionally and keep those waters flowing. You might not be quite where you want to be emotionally and in your relationships, but you’re making progress, in your way and time.

On the Moon in Yesod, the receptive and reflective place that is alot about the feelings that you’re picking up from all this is a friend of the show who’s hand I am NOT in a hurry to shake, XIII Death, Nun, Scorpio.

Death is the best allegory we have for real fundamental change. Death is being in the process of changing from one form to another. I see Scorpio as the murky waters, which things are not clearly seen, Death is not known to those who haven’t died. The undertow on a beach or in a river kicking up sand and silt, the deathtrap is treacherous. Death is feared for the loss of control but when most people go, they get real peaceful and accepting. Death is avoided because of the loss of the current form that you’ve grown so comfortable with. Stagnation is a real killer but Death is a great refresher.

Things might not be clear now but that’s ‘cause you’re right in the middle of some higher order change. You’ll come out the other side a new person or thing entirely.

Down here in Malkuth-istan, the everyday life mundane, waking up pooping, and going to work world is not at all a friend of the show but should be XVIII The Moon, Pieces, Qoph.

This is the “Sun at midnight where you stand shines on the other side of the world.” The pull of night and day eventually rising illuminating what was once dark. As opposed to the old Aeon idea of the Sun dying, this is cyclic notion of the push and pull of the day and night. The dark give the light context and vis a versa.

See the light in the dark, accept the cyclic push and pull, if you don’t like what “time of day it is” in your life I assure you it will change like the tides.

You’ve got to focus on what you have and how to improve that by DOING the shit you know needs to be done and basing your life around your own balance. You do that by looking toward the bigger picture and doing the shit that is important to you and makes you feel important. Uh, and well, if you want this big change, you have to be the one to do it. You must sacrifice your lower self to your higher self to be reborn who you’d like to be.

Back to this idea of working with your best options, really, your growth is going to grow faster if you just put your thoughts and communication towards your best options, other distractions will always be there. And, don’t base your communication and thinking around your fucking limitation, because you’ve got them. Everyone does and while it is good to know them, they’re not going to be the best motivational speaker.

Back to that CHANGE business… It’s okay to not know, it’s okay to intentionally get involved in shit you don’t know about or have people around you that you don’t really know, it’s not unsafe for you to not know. Relish in your midnight, that just might be where you find the shadows you’ve been looking in the light for…

And for fuck’s sake with the change stuff, RELISH IN YOUR MIDNIGHT THOSE SHADOWS HAVE THINGS TO TEACH YOU. And don’t fear these “deaths” they come for us all, and well, you won’t be gone long...

Ta Da!

Hit me up with any questions or clarification you might need.

Thanks again! 93 93/93

[kinetic-elaboration]

February 5: Thoughts on The 100 2x03 Reapercussions

I am very tired and I should sleep but instead I’m going to bring my The 100 rewatch project out of hiatus yet again with Episode 2x03: Reapercussions.

I miss Anya so much!!!!! This is mostly my Dichen Lachman obsession showing but also the way she gives Clarke that ‘yeah, whatever’ look when Clarke says she’ll get her out of the cage... your Grounder fave could never.

The show honestly peaked with S2 and after this it should have abandoned all attempts at edginess because nothing will ever be more Pure Nightmare Fuel than the Mount Weather Grounder Cages.

Clarke/Anya: the ship that almost was.

So when Clarke takes Anya out of the prison room, she opens a door that says “End Containment Area” and underneath that it says “U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mount Weather Containment Protocol.” And people really thought JRoth made this up omg learn some history.

Considering how they left things (Anya literally trying to kill her and all her friends) it’s actually pretty impressively selfless and magnanimous on Clarke’s part to not just rescue her, but immediately and unthinkably rescue her. On the other hand, Anya feels some remorse for leaving her people whereas Clarke’s like ‘here are some clothes [even though those random bandages are holding up pretty well??], let’s get a move on!’ (I know she intended to come back for them and she was being smart and practical but from the pov of, say, Jasper or Monty, this is cold as hell of her.)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: early S2 Clarke is Peak Clarke: smart, sly, practical, brave.

Byrne mentions Earth Skills teacher “Davis” as being part of the search team for Bell et. al. My question: how many Earth Skills teachers did they have lol?

I fucking love this crashed-ship aesthetic omg I forget how much I love it and then I see it again....

“On the Ark, you did anything you wanted, without a second thought about the consequences.” Like mother, like daughter.

I ALSO miss Jasper and Maya. I’m probably like the lone person out there who still remembers them fondly but they were basically perfect because they were sweet but with the potential for a lot of darkness as well, my favorite combination.

WHERE’S MY ART SCHOOL JAYA AU?

So actually fun fact, that isn’t how the art work would have been stored in Mount Weather. They had special containers for the paintings to protect them and like a special cart thing to transport them quickly from their old homes to the bunker I read a book.

No one ever characterizes him this way sufficiently imo but Monty is really quite uptight in a way. Like first: don’t cockblock him man. And second: just chilll. This is probably why he used to smoke weed.

“Trouble? It’s Clarke. Whatever she’s up to, I’m sure she can handle it.” I mean.... he’s not wrong.

Except for the part where she’s covered in dead bodies. But even then...

So I always felt like the main point of the Reapers was as kind of a zombie police force for Mount Weather: to keep the Grounders scared of the Mountain, so they won’t poke around in it too much. Though of course they also collect Grounders, which is helpful, since the Mountain Men can’t walk that far from their home base (and, as stated, they probably want to keep most of that area Grounder-free anyway). But it occurs to me now that a third use of the Reapers is like dead-body collectors? The Mountain dumps the dead bodies out the trap door, and the Reapers take them away and eat them. So gross and efficient all at once. Mount Weather’s motto basically.

Murphy and his creating-a-distraction stones are still one of the funniest jokes this show has ever pulled, though if it were a quicker reveal after “something like that” it would be funnier.

Never mind, Bellamy appearing out of the bush is true underrated comedy gold,

That said, I feel like everything outside of the Mount Weather and Clarke stories here is filler.

Love! That! Ship!

Major Byrne says that Kane is on the verge of losing control of the camp but... I dunno.... everyone seems to be working together pretty well? Maybe if they had diversified the cast a little, not in terms of yet more Grounders but, like, non-leaders of the Ark, that would be more clear????

Okay, well, admittedly, when the Grounder prisoner is brought in they do start a mini-mob, lol. Also one of the delinquent’s fathers is shot, it would be cool if we knew who he was?? ETA: and then he dies and Abby’s like “does he have any family?” lol he just said that his son was one of the 100 so like obviously he does??

The costuming people, like the set people, really are the geniuses of this show. I love Clarke and Anya’s outfits, and Clarke’s hair somehow being both grungy and beautiful like THAT’s the apocalypse style I wanna see.

Also they absolutely 100% would have gotten together in the S2-S3 hiatus if Anya hadn’t been killed off.

“You saved my life because you needed me” IS true but she also did it absolutely without hesitation, even knowing Anya really quite truly hates her, so this speaks either to some foolhardy bravery mixed in with her practical thoughts, or just straight compassion, or both. I guess that sort of is a Clarke thing. She can be a grudge holder (seriously don’t tell me she isn’t: Wells????) but her grudges are NEVER more important than hard-nosed practical problem-solving.

Time for some gratuitous torture. Honestly, I like Season 2, it’s probably my favorite season, but it has some MAJOR filler problems. Like when it’s good it’s THE BEST but then other times it just doesn’t know how to fill 40 minutes so it resorts to pointless diversions (like Bellamy rappelling down the side of a mountain to save a character who is literally never seen again? for some reason?) or just straight out ugly violence for screaming’s sake (Raven’s surgery, Raven’s Grounder torture, Abby’s shocklashing, etc.) Like honestly I can’t even watch this. I’m just gonna browse tumblr until it’s done.

The Arkers really like the concept of “confessing” don’t they?

Like okay I’m not done WHAT IS THE POINT of this? It all but kills the whole Kabby vibe (I still lowkey ship them but sometimes I think...why?), it’s truly painful to watch, and it has no plot purpose AT ALL not even world-building because, lol, we know the writers don’t care to flesh out Camp Jaha in any real way.

Murphy is taking such sad glee out of instigating Finn’s madness/violence. The Luci of The 100 for sure.

This Bellamy story line is boring though I’m sorry. Some of these scenes (the Clarke or Mount Weather ones) I could watch a million times but this is like... kay, I know what happens already. So.

“There are some lines you can’t uncross.” I mean I think this show has actually shown that’s pretty untrue since people get over almost everything pretty fast. There’s always another horrific thing to do and/or experience!

Yeah my bitterness is seeping in.

Anyway when you come into an interrogation knowing what the “right” answer is, you’ll never learn anything, take note, stupid teenager boys + U.S. law enforcement.

Like honestly this Grounder is 500000x smarter than they are. He saves himself and rains gunfire and destruction upon his enemies. (Well, saves himself for a few minutes--but at least he got to cause harm to those he hates!)

“You thought I was the crazy one, huh?” Was Murphy ever crazy, though, or was he just coldly vengeful?

Speaking of coldly vengeful, Byrne could have been a potentially interesting character? Maybe? I’m not really into the type but as I said I want more Arkers wherever I can find them. And Kane needs real opposition. I have sympathy for him to a degree, but I also think he ultimately weakens rather than strengthens himself.

I love when Monty calls bullshit on stuff. “I can’t see Clarke? Try and fucking stop me, bitches.”

Jasper has such a big heart. Truly the emotional core of this friendship.

I like how Kane speaks as if his “diplomatic mission” of adults is so vastly different than Bellamy and Finn just going off on their own I mean, Byrne is little better than Finn? They’re both easily frustrated and fond of torture? It’s just that Byrne understands a chain of command--barely--that’s literally it.

How does it make literally any sense at all to shocklash a person one hour and make her the Chancellor the next? Like you’ve just encouraged the populace to think of her as nothing special, not above the embarrassing public application of extreme pain--but yes by all means expect them to fall into line behind her leadership. I mean I guess this sort of works if she was already somehow beloved (I guess I’m supposed to just believe that?) and now more sympathy has been generated for her--but such sympathy would seem to come at the expense of Kane. It would seem to be the opposite of what he, or really Byrne, was going for with that disgusting display. But whatever memory is a fiction I guess.

And they have this swelling-music romantic eye-fuck goodbye like??? He was just beating you!! JUST NOW!

What I’m getting out of Murphy advocating for killing the Grounder: first, he has a clear, cold, practicality not unlike Clarke, and two, he still thinks of the delinquents as his friends--how sweet. Two days ago he was killing them, holding them hostage, and stealing their ammo before a huge battle but still. Bygones.

This is not a great ep. for Bellamy leadership lol.

Finn executes a man, while wearing Clarke’s watch, in the place they had sex. Seems...symbolic?? IDK it’s late lol.

I miss Nyko a lot but also now that I’ve seen (part of) Slasher I’m not entirely sure I can ever see Ty Olsson in the same light.

Wouldn’t it be funny if they were literal brothers? Because I always assumed this was metaphorical but...was it? WAS IT?

Weird note to end on, I know. If patterns hold, it’ll be another 2-3 months before I do this again but I’ll try to be a little more on the ball about it.

[seanpatricklittlewriter]

The Movie Post

Greetings and salutations, true believers. I haven’t posted anything in a while other than shameless book promotion stuff for #FourthAndWrong, and for that I apologize. I always say I’d let you know if anything good happened immediately, but nothing good has happened. The new book is out. A few people who have read it told me they liked it. It’s not selling well. Lack of sales means a lack of reviews, which only helps it not sell faster. It’s all a vicious cycle. At a certain point, you have to remember that you’re only writing books because some tiny voice in your head won’t let you stop, and you just throw your hands up and let everything else fall as it may. For the first time, I’ve actually bothered to try real advertising. I’m giving advertising on the Kindle lock screens a go. I’ll let you know if actually works.

 In the meantime, I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts while puttering around the house, going for walks, and ignoring the gym. (I gotta stop ignoring the gym…) If you haven’t watched “Ted Lasso” on AppleTV yet, I HIGHLY recommend it. It’s one of the best shows I’ve watched in a long time. Great writing. Great characters. Great story. Very uplifting and wonderful. One of the show’s writers, creators, and stars, the wonderful Brett Goldstein (who plays the gruff Roy Kent on the show), has a podcast called “Films to Buried With.”

 I started listening to his podcast because I enjoy him on the show so much, and I’ve found out that I enjoy his podcast as much as the show. He’s a genuinely sweet man, and he gets comedian and actor friends to guest on his podcast. The show’s conceit is that Brett invites guests on, tells them they have died, and then gets them to relive their life through the films that meant something to them. It’s a fun little chat show, and a solid way to waste an hour while you’re getting through doing the dishes or mowing the lawn.

 It’s precisely the sort of podcast I would love to be on. I’ve always said you can judge your level of success by what people invite you to do. I always said I’d know if I “made it” if I could ever get invited to be on one of the podcasts I enjoy, rather than trying to wrangle my way into someone else’s podcast or blog. So far— this has not happened. That should tell you what level of success I’m stuck at. I don’t get invited to the movies by my imaginary friends. But Brett encourages people to share their ideas and opinions on social media, anyhow. It’s a fun way to play along at home, tell other people about the podcast, and start conversations around your favorite movies. Stories bind us together. They give us common ground and build bridges toward strengthening relationships. If you meet someone new, you can tell if you’ll get along with them by what films they enjoy. So in that spirit, I’d like to answer the questions Brett asks his guests by discussing a few of my favorite films. If you’d like to play along in the comments, please do. I always love reading about what other people think about movies, books, or music. I won’t bother going through the death/afterlife conceit he uses, but I recommend listening to a few of his podcasts if you enjoy this sort of thing. It’s a fun little premise he uses to generate the episodes.

 --What’s the first film you remember seeing?

         I remember bits and pieces of several films from my childhood. I remember the Muppet Movie in the theater. I remember seeing The Black Hole. I remember a lot of little chunks of a lot of Disney animated films. But the movie that sticks out in my head is “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” It was 1981. I was six. I remember going to see it on a Sunday matinee with my family. I remember it was packed. People were literally sitting on the floor in the aisles. We got three seats someplace, but I remember my dad having to sit in the row in front of us. I don’t remember a ton about the movie the first time I saw it other than being scared of the pit of snakes and the melting Nazi faces. However, I remember the iconic moment when Harrison Ford pulled the gun on the swordsman and shot him. I remember the audience reaction and thinking, “That’s a hero.” I’ve long been a Harrison Ford fan. Between Han Solo and Indiana Jones, he played two of the most iconic heroes of my childhood. When I wrote the TeslaCon novels, I made no secret that my protagonist, Nicodemus Clarke, was just a shallow rip-off of Indiana Jones. It’s funny, but to this day, in my head, if you ask me what a hero looks like, it’s always going to be Harrison Ford.

  --What’s the scariest film you’ve ever seen?

          The scariest film I’ve ever seen is Kevin Smith’s “Red State.” It’s a movie about a religious cult that’s very reminiscent of the Westboro Baptist Church, David Koresh/Waco compound, or any of the other extremely far-right Christian separatist movements. It’s scary because there are many, many of these gun-hoarding compounds, and the movie, while extreme, is not too far off from possibility. Michael Parks plays the leader of the family at the heart of the film, and his performance was award worthy. He was truly terrifying.     As an aside, prior to Red State, I always told people the movie that scared me the most was the original “The Amityville Horror.” Basically, I saw the scene where the poltergeist made the drop-sash window fall on the kid’s fingers and nearly sever them, and that was it. I had the same drop-sash windows in my bedroom, and I was scared of them from then on. I’d like to say that I outgrew my fear of drop-sash windows, but I’m 46 and they still skeeze me out when I see them. A movie I saw 40 years ago warped me forever.

  --What’s the movie that made you cry the most?

         I used to not be someone who cried at movies. However, years of thyroid issues and depression have messed with my response to emotional moments, so I do get teary nowadays at movies. Emotionally speaking, it’s not sad movies that get to me. It’s movies where someone overcomes something difficult. Especially sports movies. The ones that get me the most teary-eyed now are movies like the first “Rocky,” “Hoosiers,” “Miracle,” and “Rudy.” I also get teary-eyed at points of bravery to the point of stupidity. The best example of that is the climax and denouement of “How to Train Your Dragon.” Strangely enough, when a movie does something that is supposed to be a tear-jerker moment to the point that it panders to the audience, I don’t cry— I actually get angry. Anything Nicolas Sparks has ever had his name attached to, for instance. It’s maudlin, and it doesn’t deserve our respect.

  --What the film that made you laugh the most?

       This is not going to be a popular answer. If I was a little more erudite, I’d say something like “Airplane” or “Blazing Saddles” or “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” However, I didn’t see any of those in the theater originally. I was home, watching them on video. While they were funny and some of my favorite movies, I did not really do a ton of laughing while I saw them. I went to see “BASEketball” with my sister, and the theater was packed. Something about seeing a movie in a crowded theater heightens the emotional impact of jokes, and for whatever reason, that movie put me on the floor a couple of times. It’s a silly movie full of cheap laughs, but I remember hurting as I was leaving the theater. My sides and cheeks were sore. Second on that list was the movie “Bridesmaids.” I don’t think I’ve laughed harder at any movie than the scene where they all get diarrhea in the bridal shop. Especially Melissa McCarthy: “LOOK AWAY!”

  --What is the sexist film you’ve seen?

         For me, I will never forget seeing “Bachelor Party” on HBO at a friend’s house. Monique Gabrielle’s scene is probably the first time I saw full-frontal female nudity in a film. It burned itself into my brain. I probably have a thing for redheads to this day because of that scene. The rest of the movie is very wild and funny. It was one of the launching blocks for Tom Hanks’s ridiculously amazing career. But that one moment stands out as one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.

  --What film did you used to love, but now it’s not that great?

         Pretty much anything with “Rocky” in the title and a number following it. I still enjoy them, but Rocky III and IV, especially— not that good. I used to love them. I used to watch them whenever they hit TV, but now I only need to watch the first “Rocky,” and maybe the final fight in “Rocky II.” Anything else, I can leave out. They just feel a little overclocked at this point in my life.

  --What’s a film that people and critics panned, but you enjoyed?

        “Goon.” It’s a hockey film written by Jay Baruchel and starring Seann William Scott. It didn’t get wide release—almost straight-to-video. It didn’t get great reviews. I think Metacritic has it around 60%. But something about that movie hit me, and I love it. I suggest it to people all the time. It’s got great performances. It’s a solid flick. It’s not going to overwhelm you. It’s now one of my comfort films. When I’m bored and need something on in the background, I will often choose “Goon” or its sequel, “Goon: Last of the Enforcers.” The sequel was not as good as the original, but it’s still worth a watch. Kurt Russell’s son Wyatt is the villain in the sequel. He’s extremely good.

  --What’s a film that people love, but you hate?

        Hands down: “Avatar” or “Titanic.” Something about a lot of James Cameron films just don’t work with me. I think it’s because they’re too grandiose. They try too hard. Also, the scripts are just there to get him to the big, visual set-pieces. They’re thin on both character and plot. I can’t stand either of them.

  --What’s a film that means a lot to you, but it’s not because of the quality of the movie (i.e. you saw it with someone and it’s special, or it has importance to people around you, etc…)?

       Easily, “The Man From Snowy River.” This is a family favorite. I grew up watching this flick, and I made my daughter watch it when she was younger. I will never get tired of it. I probably watch it maybe three or four times a year. There’s just something about the cinematography of the climax when Jim goes down the mountainside on Denny’s back. It’s always breath-taking. Also, if you watch “The Man From Snowy River,” you see what my dad always wanted his life to be. Most boys’ fathers want their sons to be doctor or lawyers. My dad wanted me to be a cowboy.

  --What film do you relate to the most?

        “Clerks.” I saw “Clerks” when I was a senior in high school. Rented it from a local video store. I saw two dudes who were outliers in their social group working crappy jobs and dealing with the mundane nothingness of life. It hit me right in the gut. I resolved to do something better than that. So far, I’ve failed to do so, but I keep trying.

  --Empirically speaking, what is the best film? (Not necessarily favorite film— but what film do you think is the best film ever made?)

         I have to say it was “Lawrence of Arabia.” The casting was amazing. The cinematography was incredible, unrivaled, really. The story was excellent. And the ordeal of the entire filming process was without peer. What they went through to make that movie, hands down, makes it the best film ever made. The scope of the film alone is mind-boggling.  The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a close second, but that’s technically three films, so I went with Lawrence of Arabia.

  --What film have you seen the most?

         I have watched “The Muppet Movie” a ton. I still love the movie “Roxanne.” I have also seen “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “The Quiet Man” more than any single person probably should. If I had to think about it and pick one film I’ve seen more than other…it’s probably “Meatballs.” Growing up, my sister and I watched that flick a thousand times. I can probably recite it from memory. It’s also one of the films that cemented an undying loyalty to Bill Murray.

   --And finally: You die and go to heaven. And in heaven, they ask you to pick one film that summarizes your life, one film that makes people understand you, or a film you want people to watch to help them know you better. What is that film?

         Nothing has had more influence on my life than the movie “Ghostbusters.” It defined me in several ways: my love for comedy, my love for the paranormal, and my love for snark and snappy comebacks. I loved Ghostbusters so much that I watched it on a weekly basis. I ran the audio cables from our VCR to a tape deck and recorded an audio copy of the film to play on my Walkman while I road the bus to school every day. I still have the film memorized word-for-word. I will often let my eyes go a little weird and turn to my daughter and say, “Then, during the Third Reconciliation of the Last of the Meketrex Supplicants, they chose a new form for him, that of a giant Sloar! Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of a Sloar that day, I can tell you!” To know me is to understand Ghostbusters on a molecular level. I owe that movie a lot.

  Anyhow, this was a fun way to waste my night. I encourage you to play along. Answer some or all of the questions Brett asks his guests. I highly recommend listening to a few episodes of “Films to Be Buried With” on your favorite podcatcher app. And if anyone out there knows Brett Goldstein, please let him know I’m available to guest on his podcast. Until next time—Thanks for reading.

--Sean

[allie-and-her-fandoms]

Why the hate towards Sun Wukong?!

Dear FNDM, I know I might get a lot of hate for what I am going to say right now, but I feel like I can’t shut up anymore. If you hate Sun and are going to insult me no matter what I have to say, please skip this post or at least, try to give me solid reasons why I shouldn’t like his character. Firstly, you should stop saying Sun’s a stalker and that Blake should not thank him for opening her eyes! He. Is. NOT! Let’s begin with the definition of this word. A stalker is someone who harasses, persecutes or abuses the one who’s following. Has Sun abused Blake in any way since he appeared for the first time? Not. Even. Once! Yes, he followed her, but with good intentions. To protect her from harm, and even her selfish self. Blake pushed him away so many times, and yet he didn’t give up on supporting her and giving her an actually good piece of advice when needed. They are good friends first, and this has been proved during the last Chapter of RWBY. Yes, he did stuff he shouldn’t have to, but it was justified. And it seems like people forget that the two smacks he received were supposed to be TWO PATS ON THE SHOULDER! In my honest opinion, this is a huge difference, that should also be considered. Then again, Sun is not the kind of character that would step aside when someone close to him needs help. He seems to be like a male Ruby (and maybe Nora?). If you need help, he is there for you. Who was the first person Blake has ever confessed to? Sun. Who was the one who encouraged her to get closer to her teammates? Sun. Who fought along with her when she was alone? Sun. Frickin’. Wukong. Yes, he isn’t perfect, but he isn’t a bad character either. He has flaws, like anyone, but I consider the hate towards him to be excessive. By the way, his team was conceived even before JNPR, but they got so little screentime (and therefore their transitions into the show seemed forced) also because of the fans who wanted some more “coffee”. I myself think that if Ruby, Weiss or especially Yang had followed Blake instead of Sun, the fans would’ve been… excited, to say the least, and the shippers would’ve manifested in a way louder way. And remember, Qrow did follow Team RNJR as well, but everyone was civilized about it. Then I wonder why people can’t be civil about it as well. It might be because of his character, the way the writers handled him until now, or because of some aggresive endangered insects. But please, remember: no one is perfect. Not even Team RWBY, the protagonists of the show. They all still have a long way to go, and no one (except CRWBY) knows what is next. Please, let’s just enjoy this amazing show, left as legacy by our very Monty Oum, and just be there for each other, like the time when tragedy struck us all. Yours truly, Alissa

[ramajmedia]

25 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (September 2019) | ScreenRant

While Netflix remains far and away the most popular streaming subscription service out there, it's fair to say that their selection of movies isn't quite what it once was. Netflix is opting more and more to focus on their own original content, and while much of that content is good, it doesn't do much for those looking to take in a great movie that Netflix didn't produce.

Reduction in library size aside, Netflix still plays host to some truly great films, ranging all the way from relatively recent superhero adventures to bonafide Oscar-winning classic dramas. Here are the 25 best films on Netflix that you can watch right now.

NOTE: This list is updated regularly - to ensure availability of the movies listed. Also, the list isn't ranked from worst to best, so a lower number is not meant to denote higher quality. It's just a list of 25 great movies.

Last updated: September 5, 2019

Related: Netflix Stock Hits All-Time High, Now Worth $130 Billion

Before the list proper, there are some notes to be made. First, Netflix offers a different selection in every country it services, and this list focuses solely on films available to U.S. subscribers. That said, those outside the U.S. are encouraged to still check their country's line-up, as some of these picks may also be available to them. Secondly, these 25 films are available to stream as of this writing. If and when included titles are removed from Netflix, this list will be updated with new selections.

25 Monty Python and the Holy Grail

A feature-film offshoot of the classic sketch comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus, 1975's Monty Python and the Holy Grail is regularly cited as one of the funniest comedies of all time, and is also one of the most influential movies in history. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the film that launched a thousand memes, and anyone who watches it for the first time on Netflix is likely to come away in awe at how many common pop cultural references they now understand. For those who can't get enough, Monty Pyton's Flying Circus' full run is also available to stream.

24 Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

One of the lesser-known movies on this list, 2010's Tucker & Dale vs. Evil only received a limited theatrical release, but that doesn't make it any less a great option for a night of Netflix viewing. Directed by Eli Craig, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil stars Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine as the titular duo, mild-mannered hillbillies living in West Virginia. Tucker and Dale are nice people, but resemble the type of backwoods villains seen in many a horror movie, and a series of comic misunderstandings lead a group of young friends to believe the two capable of murder. A lesson in not judging a book by its cover, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a great blend of slasher and comedy.

23 Pulp Fiction

Director Quentin Tarantino's resume boasts many terrific films, but 1994's Pulp Fiction is still arguably his signature work, decades after it took pop culture by storm. Boasting a star-studded cast of acting greats - John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, and more - Pulp Fiction is one of the slickest, coolest crime thrillers to emerge from the 1990s. Chances are most reading this have seen it, but those who haven't owe it to themselves to give it a watch on Netflix.

Related: All of Quentin Tarantino's Movies, Ranked

22 American Psycho

While landing the role of Batman in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy may be what cemented Christian Bale as an A-list star, just a few years earlier, the actor drew raves for his portrayal of yuppie serial killer Patrick Bateman in director Mary Harron's American Psycho. An adaptation of Brett Easton Ellis' controversial 80s-set book, the recently added to Netflix film excises some of Ellis' more upsetting sequences, but still manages to craft one of the most fascinating horror films of its decade. For his part, Bale is a revelation, exuding both undeniable menace and his own odd charm.

21 Hellboy

While it's sad that director Guillermo Del Toro and star Ron Perlman never got to finish their Hellboy trilogy, there's no reason not to go back and watch their original 2004 effort again on Netflix. Hellboy only did decently at the box office, but was critically acclaimed, and earned a big enough cult fanbase to receive 2008 sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army. The Hellboy franchise will soon be rebooted with David Harbour in the lead role and Neil Marshall behind the camera, but to many, Perlman will be always be Big Red.

20 Moonlight

Directed by Barry Jenkins, 2016's coming-of-age drama Moonlight will - for better or worse - probably always be known as the movie that won Best Picture only after the award had been mistakenly given to La La Land. That aside, Moonlight deserved the awards love, and is definitely in the top tier of Netflix's movie selection. The film follows three stages in the life of Chiron Harris (Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes), a young black man trying to both make his way in the world and come to terms with his sexuality, despite dealing with homophobia and his drug-addicted mother. Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Janelle Monae, and Andre Holland also star.

Related: Where Does Moonlight Rank Among Recent Best Picture Winners?

19 Groundhog Day

Bill Murray is generally regarded as one of the most beloved actors of all time, and boasts a resume most performers would be jealous of. Truly one of his best turns came in 1993's Groundhog Day, playing acerbic weatherman Phil Connors. To call Phil a huge jerk would be putting it mildly, but fate has decided to make him relive the same titular day over and over again, until he learns to be a better man. A critical darling, the film was directed by Murray's old Ghostbusters pal Harold Ramis, and is a top-tier Netflix addition.

18 Platoon

While director Oliver Stone is most closely associated nowadays with his penchant for conspiracy theories and being outspoken politically, that doesn't mean his films aren't still by and large brilliant, and worth checking out on Netflix. One of the best is 1986's Platoon, which is based on Stone's own experiences serving in the Vietnam War. The cast is loaded with talent, including Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, and even Johnny Depp in an early role. War truly is hell, and Platoon presents that reality more vividly than the vast majority of movies.

17 Taxi Driver

Often cited as one of legendary director Martin Scorsese’s best films, 1976’s Taxi Driver also features one of the greatest performances to come out of the long acting career of Robert De Niro. Written by Paul Schrader, Taxi Driver stars De Niro as Travis Bickle, an already tightly wound Vietnam veteran who finds himself slowly becoming more and more disillusioned with society after witnessing the rampant crime and corruption in New York City. Bickle of course eventually snaps, going on one of cinema’s most infamous violent rampages. Any serious film fan needs to have seen this film, and Netflix is a great way to do it.

Related: Martin Scorsese's 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes

16 Raiders of the Lost Ark

Directed by legendary hit-maker Steven Spielberg, 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark introduced the world to one of the greatest action/adventure franchises in cinematic history, and also one of cinema's greatest heroes. Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones, a university professor professionally, but a crusading archaeologist and adventurer in his off time. In his film debut, Indy outruns giant boulders, punches out giant Nazis, and quests for the fabled biblical artifact known as the Ark of the Covenant. All three Indiana Jones sequels are also now on Netflix.

15 V for Vendetta

Many pieces of dystopian fiction have taken a look at what the residents of a so-called democracy will tolerate in the name of security, and V for Vendetta treads that well-worn path to an extent. Based on a graphic novel written by  comics legend Alan Moore though, the Wachowskis' film manages to inject new life into the idea of a dystopian future. Set in an alternative UK ruled by a neo-fascist regime, V for Vendetta stars Hugo Weaving as the titular enigmatic revolutionary, and Natalie Portman as Evey, who (initially unwillingly) gets sucked into his crusade. This movie is more than worth streaming on Netflix, even if it isn't the 5th of November.

14 Black Panther

After making a celebrated debut in Captain America: Civil War, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) got a movie to call his own with colossal 2018 hit Black Panther. To refer to director Ryan Coogler's new to Netflix film as a success would almost be a disservice to just how well it performed, hauling in over $1 billion at the box office, and earning critical raves (97% on RT). While T'Challa was snuffed out by Thanos' snap near the end of Avengers: Infinity War, it's obviously only a matter of time until the King of Wakanda returns.

Related: Black Panther’s Success ‘Emboldened’ Marvel To Pursue More Diverse Movies

13 Gremlins

It really says something about the enduring popularity of director Joe Dante's 1984 hit Gremlins that there's seemingly always talk about a new addition to the franchise, despite no films being made since 1990's Gremlins 2: The New Batch. A seamless blend of comedy, horror, and Christmas, Gremlins introduced the world to the adorable Mogwai known as Gizmo, as well as the malevolent titular creatures that spawn when the rules of Mogwai care are violated. Produced by Steven Spielberg, Gremlins was also one of the films that pushed the limits of the PG rating, leading to the creation of PG-13. It may not be December, but Gremlins is a great year-round Netflix pick.

12 The Sixth Sense

While director M. Night Shyamalan's career hasn't quite lived up to what most expected, his 1999 breakout hit (85% score on RT) The Sixth Sense made such a great first impression that he's arguably been riding its wave ever since. Bruce Willis stars as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a psychiatrist trying to help troubled young boy Cole (Haley Joel Osment), who is burdened with the ability to see and interact with ghosts. For those wondering, no, the big twist won't be spoiled here, for the small subset of Netflix subscribers who aren't already aware of what it is.

11 Rain Man

One of the many triumphs to come out of the 1980s from director Barry Levinson, Rain Man tells the unlikely story of slick, fast-talking hustler Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise, in one of the early roles that proved to audiences that he was capable of far more then headlining popcorn fare like Top Gun), who's shocked to find out his father’s sizable estate is being passed on almost entirely to autistic savant Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), an older brother he never knew he had. A critical darling, Rain Man picked up four Oscars, including Best Picture, and Best Actor for Hoffman. It's a great addition to the Netflix catalog.

Related: Tom Cruise's 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes

10 The Conjuring

One of the creepiest films to grace Netflix, director James Wan's The Conjuring impressed both fans and critics, earning an 86% RT score and making a truckload of money. The Conjuring has since spawned its own cinematic universe of sequels and spinoffs, including about the possessed doll Annabelle. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as real life "demonologists" Ed and Lorraine Warren, while Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston play the heads of the family beset by demonic forces.

9 Avengers: Infinity War

Arriving on Netflix just in time for Christmas 2018 is Marvel Studios' MCU blockbuster to end all MCU blockbusters, Avengers: Infinity War. Well, at least until the story continues in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. It's hard to imagine anyone reading this hasn't seen Joe and Anthony Russo's $2 billion-grossing, critically acclaimed hit, but that doesn't mean there''s no reason to stream it again. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Josh Brolin, Tom Holland, Scarlett Johansson, and more fill-out Marvel's most star-studded project to date.

8 Schindler's List

An Oscar-darling - winning seven awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Steven Spielberg - Schindler's List (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time, and it's now on Netflix. However, it's also one of the hardest to watch, as the subject matter is just so incredibly sad. Liam Neeson stars as Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who effectively saved the lives of over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes also star.

Related: Our 10 Favorite Modern Black and White Movies

7 All the President's Men

Considering the modern day scandal surrounding the American presidency, there's never been a better time to revisit the 1976 classic All the President's Men on Netflix. Directed by Alan J. Pakula, All the President's Men shines a spotlight on the real story of reporting duo Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman), whose work helped expose the truth behind the infamous Watergate scandal, and bring down president Richard Nixon. The film earned eight Oscar nominations, winning four.

6 Thor: Ragnarok

One of the most recent entries into Marvel Studios' MCU canon, director Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok represented a major shift in tone and style from the prior Thor films. Thankfully, this new, sillier version of Thor went over well with the masses, and is an excellent choice for Netflix streaming. Critics also loved it, with the sequel sporting a 92% score on RT. Ragnarok sees Chris Hemsworth's Asgardian hero set out to save his home from Hela (Cate Blanchett), aka the Goddess of Death. Assisting him in this quest are Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson).

5 Rocky

While all the sequels don't necessarily live up to the greatness of the original, inspirational sports dramas don't really get more inspirational than 1976's Rocky, the movie that made star Sylvester Stallone an icon. Stallone also wrote the script, which concerns small-time boxer Rocky Balboa getting an unexpected shot at world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Rocky would go on to win Best Picture at the Oscars, and give birth to a franchise that still continues via the Creed films. Rocky II through Rocky V are also available on Netflix.

Read More: All 8 Rocky & Creed Movies Ranked: From 1976 To 2018

4 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Since 2016, Peter Parker's live-action film incarnation has been swinging under the auspices of Marvel Studios' MCU franchise, but last year, Sony did something outside those bounds, creating an Oscar-winning animated masterpiece called Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Featuring the voice of Shameik Moore as Miles Morales, Into the Spider-Verse sees an experiment ordered by Kingpin go awry, and rip a hole in reality that allows Spider-people from various alternate universes to journey over to Miles' world. It's then up to the group of heroes to close the rift, and get everyone back to the dimension they belong in.

3 Jackie Brown

The third feature film by director Quentin Tarantino, Jackie Brown is an adaptation of author Elmore Leonard's 1992 novel Rum Punch, and stars blaxploitation legend Pam Grier in the titular role of a stewardess who runs afoul of a crime lord. In many ways a tribute to Grier's classics like Foxy Brown, Jackie Brown's star-studded cast also includes Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton, and Robert De Niro. While not as highly regarded as predecessor Pulp Fiction, critics still loved Jackie Brown, and it’s a prime Netflix pick.

2 Scream

After ruling the 1980s, the slasher subgenre of horror had fallen off big time by the mid-1990s. That was until director Wes Craven came along in 1996 to revitalize it, just as he had in 1984 with A Nightmare on Elm Street. In addition to being a brutal slasher flick, Scream is also one big love letter to horror fans, taking pleasure in both pointing out the cliches of the genre and still indulging in many of them. Scream is also a damn good murder mystery, keeping the viewer guessing as to the identity of the masked Ghostface killer. Those wanting to binge the franchise are out of luck though, as the only sequel Netflix offers is Scream 4.

1 Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Easily one of - if not the - most controversial and divisive entries in the entire Star Wars canon among fans, director Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi was nevertheless a huge hit with critics, earning a stellar 91% score on RT. The sequel also earned huge bank at the box office, hauling in over $1.3 billion worldwide, and easily topping the list of the highest-grossing movies of 2017. Whatever one thinks of The Last Jedi, it's impossible to deny that the film is worth a Netflix watch at least once, in order to be part of the ongoing cultural conversation surrounding it.

More: The 25 Best Movies on Hulu Right Now

source https://screenrant.com/netflix-best-films/

[english-ext-2]

hello! just wondering about your thoughts on art degrees - are they really 'useless'? i can't think of any other way to study literature :( thank you!

I have many thoughts on this so it’s best to start with a disclaimer: I’m only speaking from my own experiences, am in no way representative of all Arts students, and definitely don’t represent employers’ perspectives (who might have very different opinions to mine).

Before I go anywhere, the following point is the most important: if you want to study literature, then study literature. There is nothing worse than picking a degree you think will be ‘employable’ only to realise you hate it (actually, what’s worse is becoming indifferent to it).

I’m clearly biased here, but Literature is good and not at all useless, and I would strongly encourage you to study it. I don’t want to say anymore else I’d go on forever, but that’s my position. The rest of my answer is under the cut because boy did it get long.

Arts in General

Firstly, arts encompasses a huge range of disciplines. In terms of diversity of knowledge, arts is far from useless. I’m at Usyd, where the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is the largest by far. It’s divided into schools, then departments. A single school, e.g. School of Social and Political Science (SSPS), has several departments. My majors fall under SSPS, the Department of Government and International Relations and the Department of Sociology and Social Work. But you’ve got education, social work, philosophy, museum and heritage studies, archaeology, media and communications, linguistics, languages, a whole range of departments under other schools too. Are all these subjects ‘useless’? Nope.

In purely humanistic terms, people with arts degrees have contributed so much to society. Where would we be without novelists, film producers, directors, script writers? Monty Python was a troupe of over-educated nerds who put their Oxford and Cambridge educations to dictionary-altering satirical use (soz Terry Gilliam, I know you’re American), and we’re better for it. Our world would be poorer without artists of all stripes and the insights that sociologists, historians, anthropologists, philosophers, linguists, etc. have made. The ultimate strike: your teachers studied Education, i.e. Arts. Without them you wouldn’t be reading this, and I wouldn’t be writing it either. Even if arts degrees are semi-jokingly characterised as useless, they’re not. (Btw I aggressively do not enjoy the STEM v Humanities debate because it reduces both sides to shitty stereotypes and gives rise to godawful Discourse, has anyone heard of polymaths.)    

Types of Arts Degrees

You also have to consider the type of arts degree. Once I finish this semester I’m going to graduate with the pass Bachelors of International and Global Studies (i.e. your standard three year degree). In terms of tertiary education, it’s the most basic. I chose not to do a combined degree with, say, Law; nor did I choose to do Honours, which would’ve added an entire year to my degree doing a thesis. Arguably, arts honours and combined arts degrees are less 'useless’ than your run-of-the-mill three-year arts degrees because you supposedly gain advanced research skills and the, well, non-arts part of your combined degree (lol). (I would recommend Honours only if you’re truly, honestly looking for an intellectual challenge and are fully prepared to commit, not just riding along for the perceived employability advantage. A thesis is hard work! I have a friend in Melbourne who can testify.) Incidentally, your three-year arts degree will be an infuriating obstacle if you’re thinking of applying for grad school in North America since most universities only consider candidates who have at least a four­-year undergraduate degree. On another note, I actually once met a girl who was doing combined law/arts and took a cinema elective unit because she enjoyed cinema but knew it wouldn’t likely help her find a job.

Employability

But given the state of the job market these days, almost all undergraduate degrees by themselves are next to useless. A freshly-graduated 21-year-old with a single Bachelors and nothing else to their name, no matter the discipline, won’t be zipping up the salary ladder any time soon (would probably struggle to get an entry level job, never mind kickstarting their career). We’re a long way from the days when just having a degree was proof of your knowledge and thus qualification for the job. Higher education is more accessible, and employers’ expectations have changed. The substance of the degree matters less than the transferable, or 'soft’ skills you gain at university. I’m talking leadership, adaptability (a big one), teamwork, written and verbal communication skills, cross-cultural awareness, self-management, time management, problem solving. Your grades are no longer the sole determining factor in your hiring, and may even take a back seat to strong extra-curricular or sporting achievements, or your experience in various casual/part-time jobs. In some ways it’s a welcome change for employers to expressly state they value recruits as people with talents in fields other than academia, and it’s certainly more inclusive of socio-economically disadvantaged students who might not have done well in school but are nonetheless hard workers and have displayed merit in the 'real world’.

From certain other perspectives, the job market is still capitalism, and individuals are still in competition with each other. As soon as employers make it known they’re looking for “well-rounded indvidiuals”, the students with the most cultural capital and financial resources rush off to, say, intern at a law firm, a think tank, the state government, or travel overseas to teach English in a South-East Asian country, i.e. they grab opportunities to expand their set of transferable skills. Doesn’t matter if you’re an arts student; the wealthiest are more likely to have the means to seek out and actively pursue the experiences that’ll enrich their CVs and make them more appealing to recruiters. It takes money to travel, and you need to be from a certain social milieu to know of, if not apply for, valuable career-hopping opportunities (I kid you not, one guy applied to the organisation where I volunteer wanting legal experience because his parents were allegedly dentists and not in the Right Lawyer Circles to get him a paralegal position or clerkship). All of this is a long way of saying that doing arts is but one factor amongst many affecting your job prospects. 

To bring the discussion back to more pleasant grounds, big corporations (read: banks, consultancy firms, your Comm Banks and KPMGs) are recognising the skills and talents that arts students can bring to their companies. The critical thinking skills you gain from analysing those long-ass readings and putting them into practice are highly sought after because they show you’re not just someone who follows instructions, but can analyse, evaluate and synthesise information appropriate to audience, which applies to literally anything in any workplace. Usyd even has a program called ArtSS Career Ready that offers summer/winter internships with various organisations to Arts and Humanities students only.    

It’s implied in the above paragraphs but what it comes down to is that you’re very likely going to end up doing something that has only the faintest relation to your degree. A student who majored in sociology might end up in a consultancy firm; a history student at St George or Westpac. If you’re going to worry about what you’re studying, worry on the basis of whether you’ll enjoy it rather than whether it fits your projected career path. 

Arts Degrees in Context

So far I’ve spoken about arts degrees in very general, abstract terms, disconnected from the institutions that offer them. Does it make a difference if you study English Literature at Usyd rather than UNSW? (Usyd’s English department consistently ranks well in the QS rankings, 18th this year and the highest Australian university if you were wondering, with UNSW at equal 49th.) Though whether an English major from Usyd is more employable than an English major from UNSW, well, Usyd is ranked 4th in terms of graduate employability in the QS rankings but that’s not necessarily reflective of Usyd’s English department. Anyhow, the 'usefulness’ of a degree will rely on its quality, and that quality is directly influenced by two things: the degree structure, and the people teaching your degree. Both will of course vary from uni to uni.

Degree Structure

What do I mean by degree structure? I’m talking mandatory units or majors, and even mandatory internships. Take my INGS degree. The features that differentiate it from your generic Usyd arts degree are:

four mandatory INGS units 

three mandatory language units 

a mandatory one-semester exchange 

a mandatory major chosen from a list (double majoring is optional)

It sounds fancy but if you were a discerning arts student you could take multiple language units and go on exchange; the list of compulsory majors we choose from is not exclusive to INGS students. The real appeal lies in the INGS units, which are themselves an interdisciplinary mix but which in my experience don’t build graduate abilities any more effectively than any other arts unit. Exchange was good though, and certainly useful in the sense I picked up a range of transferable skills (if not applicable in professional contexts then at home; baking soda and vinegar are great cleaning agents.)  

My degree structure wasn’t revolutionary and didn’t necessarily equip me with skills that might make me more attractive to recruiters. Enter mandatory internships. Some universities in their arts degrees make practical experience (internships, practicums, research projects, etc.) compulsory. If this opportunity is already built into your degree and/or discipline, e.g. you have practicums if you study education, then it’s a huge advantage as you don’t have to go looking for one yourself. Macquarie University makes PACE units (Professional and Community Engagement) a requirement of graduating with an arts degree. Students get practical experience in the community with a partner organisation and undertake an “experiential learning activity”. I mention this because I’ve met Macquarie (and UNSW) interns at my volunteer workplace who’ve contributed significantly to various projects - experience that makes them competitive when they graduate. And yes, there’s a PACE unit for English! (I’ll admit that to Usyd’s credit they have the above-mentioned ArtSS Career Ready program.)  

tl;dr not all arts degrees are created equal, the better ones include mandatory practical experience.  

The People 

Secondly, the people teaching your degree. I have thoughts (Thoughts, I tell you) on education as a collaborative effort, which I’ll just boil down to this: your teachers matter. The people you learn alongside with matter. You don’t learn in a vacuum, and yes, while you’re responsible for your education and how much effort you put into readings, assignments, asking questions, and so on, your teachers and tutors play an essential role in how you absorb and understand the material. If you’ve got a lecturer who reads slides out at a catatonic audience, that’s… not helpful. If your course coordinator gives you one-sentence replies to lengthy, well-considered questions, that’s… also not helpful. But if a teacher can engage you with what you’re learning no matter the subject, you’re more likely to develop a genuine interest in it and to do well. Good lecturers and tutors crop up in unexpected places and often at random, and the best way to find them is through word of mouth. In employability terms, these teachers make for sterling referees. If you get to know them enough, they’ll happily vouch for you.

This answer has gotten ridiculously long but I hope it addressed and assuaged any doubts you may have had.

[letmewritefreely]

By Your Side: Part 6

Demetri Stevens had spent the last few years of her life in the skybox for a crime she didn’t commit. One morning she woke up to a huge commotion in her cell block and before she knew it, she was on a dropship. She was sent from the Ark, a space station that had spent the last 97 years in space, down to Earth to see if it is inhabitable with 99 other prisoners. Once on Earth she reconnects with her old best friend, makes new friends, steps on some toes, and helps the 100 survive as they have returned to what was their home once before. With each test and trial; things change, people change, and feelings change. This is a new start for the 100, will Demetri allow it to be a new start for her as well? Or will ghosts of her past keep her stuck, well, in the past?

A The 100 fanfic written by letmewritefreely Bellamy Blake x OC: Demetri Stevens warnings: based off the tv series; gore, mentions or implications of sexual content, angst, fluff, violence, death, gets darker as the series continues.

A/N: 

Anyways feedback, any feedback, is good feedback! Let me know your thoughts! And I’ll bet getting on a semi-regular schedule as I continue to work on the series! (Tuesdays & Saturdays) <3 ((S1:E8))

Parts: Prologue Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

The next day the radio set up was moved to a tent to get all the foot traffic away from the dropship. The main reason being Finn hadn’t woken up yet and Clarke didn’t want unnecessary people around him till she was sure he was okay. Raven and Monty had worked all morning to get it set up and make the signal stronger, they were even able to add a monitor so that communication could happen via video as well. As the announcement of it being up and running spread through camp the 100 slowly started lining up to talk to their families. Many of the kids were excited and anxiously waited to get a few minutes with their parents. Demetri, on the other hand, had spent all day doing whatever she needed to do to avoid the tent and consequently avoid having to talk to anyone on the Ark. Clarke had stayed also in the dropship caring for minor injuries that had happened during the last 24 hours, doing the same thing. As people went in and out of the tent, Demetri made sure to keep an eye out for a certain someone. But as the kids wandered around in and out of the dropship fulfilling tasks Demetri noticed that Bellamy hadn’t come down from the third level practically since he went up there earlier that morning.

Worried about Bellamy and the safety of the grounder, she slowly crept past Clarke, who was tending to a girl’s swollen ankle, and ascended the ladder to the top. The hatch was already open so she slipped into the back of the room to observe under the guise of the noises from camp. She locked eyes with the Grounder as soon as she was tucked away. He had the same interested but indifferent look he had worn since he was brought here. Miller and Bellamy were standing before him, both focused on the restrained man and seemingly in the middle of a discussion. Bellamy shifted his weight from one foot to the next and the motion made the grounder look away from Demetri and to Bellamy.

“We’re not killing him.” Bellamy’s voice rang clear, his attention on Miller beside him. Bellamy crossed his arms over his chest as he turned his head just enough to catch Miller’s eyes, “And that’s final.”

Miller huffed and put his hand in a tub beside the Grounder. He smirked as he made a comment about him being scarier when he was covered in paint and dirt before he smeared what was on his hand on the side of the grounder’s face. Demetri saw the glint in the Grounder’s eyes as he locked eyes with her before Miller was headbutted head on. A staring contest between Bellamy and the Grounder started as Miller jumped back clutching his nose and letting out a string of curses. Miller stepped forward a moment later with his arm raised to hit the grounder but Bellamy grabbed his wrist and shook his head at Miller. There was a moment of still silence as the tension evaporate and Demetri noticed the tiniest of grins on the grounder’s face. She had just bit her tongue when Clarke’s voice rang throughout and around the dropship.

“Has anyone seen Demetri?”

She flinched at how loud Clarke’s question was in the small space but just as silently as she crept up the ladder, Demetri flew back down it to avoid being detected in the room, mostly by Bellamy. She touched down on the bottom floor as Clarke turned from the entrance of the dropship back towards the main area with a furrowed brow and her lip between her teeth. They locked eyes and Demetri tried to act as inconspicuous as possible.

“There you are.” If Clarke had noticed anything she acted like the opposite as she smiled at her friend.

“Do you need something Clarke?” Demetri feigned disinterest, like she was just passing by.

“I’ve got to keep on eye on Finn still, can you go talk to the council for me? Just give them an update and answer their questions.” Clarke spoke so simply like this wasn’t a huge deal for Demetri to do in her place.

“What?” Demetri gawked at her best friend, “You think they’ll want to hear anything I have to say?” Demetri rolled her eyes. “You know he’s apart of the council, I don’t want to deal with him.” Demetri watched Clarke’s face twist into a pout as she moved towards the older girl, latching onto her wrists and swinging them slightly.

“You know just as much, if not more about this whole situation than I or Bellamy do.” Clarke started. “And we both know for a fact that Bellamy won’t talk to them.” She glanced up towards the higher levels before locking eyes with Demetri again. “You also said you wanted to talk to Jaha or Kane as soon as it was up about Bellamy. You can get all the important stuff out of the way, then throw your deal on the table.” Clarke looked right at Demetri with a hopeful look in her eye. “Please Demi, I need more time.” Clarke looked at the floor as she squeezed Demetri’s hand. “I know this is asking a lot of you but please. I can’t face Jaha. Not yet anyway.”

“Fine.” Demetri sighed after a few moments, “You can’t avoid him or your mother forever Clarke, I’ll take over this one time.” Demetri already regretted agreeing to this as she held up her right forefinger.

“I owe you.” Clarke patted Demetri’s shoulder, her whole demeanor instantly brightening, before she shoved her out of the dropship.

---

Demetri sat just outside the tent waiting for a member of the 100 to finish talking to their family. Raven sat across from her leaning back against another tent. The air around the two wasn’t tense but it wasn’t comfortable either, more of an air of tolerance. Both had mixed feelings about the other. Throughout her time on Earth Demetri had gotten to know many of the 100 decently well. She considered herself to be the camp counselor in a way seeing as after it was made apparent she had some pull, kids would come to her about everything. She knew most of their names, what they had been locked up for in most cases, and an abundance of small details just because of how observant she was naturally. It was a role that just fell onto her lap, these kids trusted her and they looked to her for guidance almost as much as they looked to Bellamy and Clarke for instruction and leadership. But because Raven hadn’t been there long she was still completely unknown to Demetri. She knew very little about the slightly older young woman and that unknown made Demetri nervous and cautious. On the other hand, Raven honestly found Demetri very intriguing. It didn’t take long for Raven to notice just how the camp flowed and just how in tune with it and everyone Demetri was. She was quick to jump into action when something happened and Demetri usually had pretty good solutions. Raven admired that about the girl but she kept that to herself and maybe Finn seeing as it was obvious, at least to Raven, that Demetri didn’t really trust her too much. In Raven’s eyes Demetri was an enigma, a puzzle she couldn’t solve, a riddle that Raven couldn’t solve. Of course she knew there was more to the girl before her than just being mysterious but she had a way with pulling people in and Raven wasn’t immune to that draw. Raven was mostly surprised that two polar opposite personalities such as Clarke and Bellamy seemed to listen and take to heart what Demetri said, it was truly fascinating to her. When Demetri looked up from her nails, the feeling of someone watching her too much to continue to ignore, Raven looked like she as going to say something. A young girl bounded out of the tent with a faint smile and a few unshed tears before Raven could vocalize anything. Raven closed her mouth in the next second and walked into the tent with Demetri a few steps behind her.

She examined the communications step up, seeing the wires connected to a monitor, a headset with a microphone sitting just in front of it. It was a setup she was sure both Raven and Monty were proud of. Demetri was impressed with what they made out of literally nothing but she decided to save the praises for later. Raven sat down without a glance Demetri’s way and put on the headset to talk to someone directly.

“This is Raven Reyes, patch us over to the council, we’re ready to fill them in.”

The screen went fuzzy before it cleared up and Jaha’s face was in the center. Demetri just knew that the rest of the council was sitting there in the room, this was a big deal after all. Which meant Kane was also there somewhere. She steeled her nerves before tapping Raven on the shoulder. The older girl looked up at Demetri with a nod, noting how tense she had become before she got up. and Demetri took her spot as Raven handed over the headset. There was a silent exchange between them, almost like Raven was encouraging her before she headed towards the tent flap. Demetri waited until Raven was outside the tent before she placed the headset on her head and greeted the council.

“Ah, Demetri Stevens, it’s been a long time.” Jaha’s voice was surprisingly pleasant.

“Chancellor Jaha.” She replied curtly. “Clarke is busy caring for the injured and making sure things are running smoothly so she asked me to be here in her place.” Demetri kept her voice even as she channelled a more professional tone.

“Are you helping her run things down there?” Jaha asked seemingly surprised.

“Not really, Clarke and Be --” She stopped herself. “No, I’m more of a confidant or a consultant. I know about pretty much everything that goes on in camp.” Demetri’s voice sounded stronger than she thought it would.

“Can you give us an update then? How’s Finn? How many have died? What’s the situation?” Jaha shot off questions faster than Demetri could catch them.

“Finn is recovering well. Thanks to Abby’s guidance Clarke was able to save him. We’ve lost 12 total for various reasons. Currently, we’ve just finished building a wall around camp as a means of protection from the grounders.” Demetri answered each question in turn only pausing to breathe.

“Clarke mentioned a grounder last night, can he provide any information on preparing for winter?” Jaha nodded along to each answer before shooting off another question.

“I don’t think he can.” Demetri opted to not talk about him as much as possible. “We’re doing what we can to prepare. We’re gathering nuts and berries, curing meat, finding roots. We’ve got a pretty steady means of food. We’re way more worried about freezing before we starve.” Demetri’s hands gripped the loose fabric of the standard pants every member of the 100 had as she spoke.

“We have good news on that topic,” The screen cut to Kane, Demetri looked at his grainy image and noticed he was much thinner than the last time she saw him and he’d shaved all his facial hair off. It actually made him look kinder and less like a massive asshole. “According to defense plans made before the war, there should be an emergency aid depot not far from where you landed. Here’s the coordinates.”

Demetri wrote down the location as Kane read them off. She knew he’d be like this too, all work with no time for even a ‘glad you’re not dead’ but then again Demetri preferred it this way. No matter how much she wanted to actually talk to him, hurt gut told her to leave it be. Less time for emotions meant that there would be less time for her to think and worry about Kane.

“Besides supplies, it could offer shelter for the 100 and the citizens coming down from the Ark.” Jaha filled the screen again as he continued.

“What makes you think it’s still intact? That the Grounders didn’t get to it already?” Demetri looked up from the paper before her.

“It was designed to withstand a nuclear war. It should be there, but we don’t know if its been raided. That’s for you guys to check out, if there are supplies use them for yourselves.” Kane assured her, he took a moment to take in her appearance. Even with the grainy image he could see the same determined look in her eyes, her hair was a bit longer and messier, and she definitely look a bit dirtier overall but he figured there wasn’t running water or soap down there. But she looked healthy, she looked like she was physically okay and that’s all Kane had wanted to see after Abby told him her bracelet went out a month ago. He was able to breathe a little easier seeing her before him.

“Alright.” Demetri nodded, “It’s worth a shot. I’ll check it out.”

Kane looked like he was going to say something when a voice Demetri didn’t recognize spoke up. The voice, it sounded like a woman, wanted them to wait for the first dropship to land and some project called Exodus was mentioned. Jaha quickly disagreed, saying it was best for the kids now that they get to the depot and check it out. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the remaining 100 survived, which felt odd seeing as just weeks ago they were seen as expendable. Jaha then asked for everyone but Kane to leave the room. Demetri waiting quietly waiting to see what was going to happen next. Once it was pretty silent on the other end, Jaha leant closer to the monitor.

“Demetri, we’re all proud of what you and the others have accomplished down there. I know your father would have been proud.” The mention of her dad hit a nerve, the last person who should be talking about her dad was the man looking back at her. What little she had managed to relax went away as her body tensed up.

“I’m not here to talk about my dad with you Jaha.” The words were bitter in her mouth. “Whether he would be proud or not is none of your concern. Now, if there is nothing else important I’ll head out first.” Her hands flew up to remove the headset when Jaha called out to her.

“Wait, Demetri, can you tell me what happened to Wells?” There was a desperation in Jaha’s voice Demetri had never heard before, it didn’t belong there. “Please, I need to know.”

“Do you really want to know?” Jaha’s grainy image nodded. “There was a young girl, you floated both of her parents and she ended up getting locked up before being sent down here. You haunted her in her nightmares and when she woke up, she had to face Wells. She thought killing Wells would slay her demons. So she killed him while he was on watch.” Demetri tried to stay indifferent but the guilt that flooded Jaha’s face made her feel sorry for him. “Look, Wells and I didn’t get along, we had a lot of problems between us but he didn’t deserve to die. I’m sorry for your loss.”

Jaha just nodded staring off to the side. There was movement and Kane’s face popped back up on the screen. Whatever emotions Demetri felt evaporated as Kane peered at her through the screen.

“How are you doing Demetri? Are you getting along alright?” Kane’s voice still held that air around it he had always spoke with, but there was the tiniest shred of worry. He wanted to talk to her, even if it were just a simple response.

“Now you decide to give a shit about me?” Demetri snapped, she took a deep breath. “You don’t get to choose when you want to be apart of my life Kane. I’m going to go check out this depot and see what’s there. When I get back I’ll ask to talk to Jaha, there’s something we need to talk about anyway. Demetri, out.”

She threw off the headset and picked up the paper she written the coordinates on. Raven jumped up when Demetri threw the flap open and stormed out, her face unreadable. Raven quickly ran into the tent to make sure nothing was broken before talking to the shocked Kane. Moments later the trail of people wanting to talk to their families continued. Demetri looked back in time to see a guy named Dax walk into the tent before she turned to find Bellamy.

Demetri moved towards the dropship and literally ran into Clarke on the ramp leading up. She filled Clarke in on everything that had transpired during her brief conversation with Jaha and the council. She even included the little bit after the council left when Jaha asked about Wells and Kane asked about her. Clarke’s gears started turning as Demetri finished mumbling about Exodus and the depot, Demetri had an idea about what her friend would say.

“You’re not going to check it out alone.” Clarke said after a moment.

“I know, do I assume you’re coming or do I ask Bellamy?” Demetri nodded towards the ladder leading up.

“Bellamy.” Octavia spoke up, scaring both Clarke and Demetri. “Get him out of camp so I can go up there.”

“Octav--” Clarke started but Demetri stopped her.

“If something happens to you Bellamy will have my head on a stick.” Demetri turned to the younger Blake, a step ahead of her. “I know exactly what you mean by that Octavia and I’d rather not have your brother wanting to end me.”

“Nothing will happen to me, I just need to talk to him.” Demetri nodded, choosing to trust Octavia. “Plus Bell could never hurt you.” Octavia added with a wink, causing Demetri to glare at the younger girl.

She turned to Clarke ready to talk her out of arguing when Bellamy descended the ladder. He had a new look in his eyes, one Demetri hadn’t seen before. He stopped when he saw the three girls standing around looking at him. It filled him with a sense of dread to see the three of them together because nothing good could come from it.

“What’s going on here?” He asked Demetri.

“I just got done talking to the council, they said there’s an emergency depot not far from here. Possibly with supplies.” Demetri waved the map she had grabbed on the way over in front of him.

“What kind of supplies?” He looked between Clarke and Demetri.

“The kind that could help us survive winter, come with me.” Demetri watched him.

“Why are you asking me?” His attention flitting between the girls before landing on Demetri.

“Because we’ve implemented the buddy system and you’ve got an eye for useful stuff.” She leant forward, “And if we’re both gone Clarke can’t avoid her mom.”

“I heard that!” Clarke’s eyes went wide. “Demi!”

Bellamy turned to Octavia who had been watching them from a seat in the dropship she’d taken when Bellamy came down. He walked away from the pair of bickering friends and moved towards his sister. He kneeled before her, but she turned away from him.

“Please, listen to me just this once and stay away from him.” Octavia looked at Demetri. “At least promise me if you’re going to go against me, be careful. If something happens to you, I don’t know what I’d do.” Bellamy rested his hand on her knee which she pushed off.

“Why do you care? I thought I ruined your life?” Octavia spat at him, the hurt still clear as day in her eyes.

“O, I didn’t mean it, I could never mean it.” Bellamy pleaded. When Octavia showed no reaction he turned towards Demetri. “I’ll get my bag, 5 minutes at the gate.” Then he left the dropship without looking back.

“I know you’re angry Octavia, but he loves you so much.” Demetri sent the younger girl a pleading look. “Boys are dumb and they don’t know what to say sometimes but please, try and look at things from his perspective. For both of your sakes.”

“Go on, don’t be out too long.” Octavia’s voice was quiet, “and take care of him.”

“I will.” Demetri sent both Octavia and Clarke a smile as she left, only for Clarke to come up beside her just outside the dropship.

“I wanted to check on Finn before the leader duties take over. Come with me real quick?” Demetri nodded, Clarke had hardly been alone with Finn lately and Demetri knew Clarke needed her.

The pair got to Finn’s tent and Clarke looked over the stitches in the top right of his chest. As if she knew someone was with Finn, Raven joined them a few minutes later. Clarke informed them that Bellamy was leaving camp to check on something for them and the Ark, so Clarke was going to be taking over running the camp. Neither her or Demetri would be able to sit here with Finn all day because Demetri was going out too.

“Demetri, it’s not safe out there.” Finn protested, he had started to see Demetri as a little sister as the days had passed. He instantly sat up and moved to leave but Clarke pushed him back down.

“She’s not going alone.” Bellamy’s head popped through the opening of the tent. “C’mon we should get going, we need to get back before sundown if we can.”

“I’ll be fine Finn. You worry about getting better. Take care of him.” Demetri turned towards the two girls beside her.

“I will.” They said at the same time causing an awkward tension to blossom. Demetri glanced at Clarke before she waved at Finn and Raven.

“We’ll be back soon.” Demetri stood and walked through the flap Bellamy held open for her. “C’mon.”

“Let me get some rations.” They walked to the bin that was beginning to fill up with wrapped rations of nuts and berries.

“That’s a lot Bellamy, did you forget this is a day trip?” Demetri teased when Bellamy grabbed enough for a few days.

“A lot can happen in a day.” He turned his eyes on Demetri before they softened. “It’s just a precaution.” Demetri nodded, motioning towards the gate.

They shouldered their bags and left camp in pursuit of the emergency depot. Bellamy stopped at the edge of camp to look back one last time and locked eyes with Octavia before she disappeared into the dropship. He knew she was going to go up to the top level and talk with the grounder, he hoped his trust wasn’t misplaced.

They walked in silence for the most part, except for Demetri opening one of the rations and munching on the nuts and berries and offering a few to Bellamy. They were at the base of a hill when Demetri decided to break the silence.

“The first dropship will be coming down soon, you’ll have to face Jaha soon.”

“Once everyone gets down here it won’t be too hard to avoid him.” Bellamy answered, holding his hand out for Demetri as they moved up the hill.

“I already told you.” Demetri grabbed his hand and let him pull her up to stand beside him at the top. “I’m not letting you face this alone, once we get back from this run I’m talking to Jaha. I’m telling him what happened and exchanging information for you to be pardoned.”

“This must be it.” Bellamy motioned towards what had to be what was left of a town, not that much was actually left, as he looked at the map Demetri had marked with the coordinates. “Demetri, I don’t think it’ll work.”

“We won’t know if we don’t try.” Demetri turned to him, the look in her eyes begging him to try and prove her wrong.

“There’s got to be a door to the depot around here, let’s split up to look for it.” Bellamy backed down. “Stay within shouting distance.”

The pair separated and began their search. Demetri used a large stick to push away the overgrown plants as she tapped around on the ground listening for a metallic sound. She opted to go right towards an old and decaying building and what might have been a windmill in the past. Many things were running through her head, one of the loudest thoughts being, did she push too hard earlier.

“Are you crossing a line meddling in his life?” She asked herself, she just wanted to help Bellamy but maybe she was being too aggressive about it. This almost innate need to protect Bellamy was overriding all other thoughts and rationale.

She kept going over everything that had happened the last week when a metallic thud made her freeze. She had wondered towards one of the smaller hills and had been poking the side as she walked. With the stick she hit the same place again and got the same sound.

“Bellamy!” She called, turning in the last direction she saw him, “I think I found the door!”

He quickly crossed the field to get back to Demetri’s side. He found her kneeling over a metal hatch built into the side of one of the hills. She was struggling to try to turn the latch when Bellamy noticed the rust flaking off. He looked at the door as a whole to see rust, mold, and overgrowth covering most of it. The mere fact that Demetri had seen the door was impressive. Bellamy bit back a grin as he pulled a hatchet from his belt and stopped Demetri’s attempts at opening the door.

“Watch your foot.” He bashed his hatchet against one of the hinges to break up the rust and to loosen it, seeing as no one had tried to open the door in many years. “Ok, let’s try together.”

With a few quick tugs and a lot of jiggling the handle, the hatch swung open to reveal a set of steel stairs. They exchanged a look before Demetri lead the way digging out two lights, one for her and one for Bellamy. He took it from her with a nod before he flipped it on and started looking at the bare and slightly decaying entrance. Anything not made of metal was broke and bending in on itself and the initial odor was pungent. It was strong enough that they both covered their noses for a moment before the overwhelming curiosity pushed them forward. Demetri just started looking around at the small room when Bellamy’s voice rang out, full of disbelief.

“You really think this place hasn’t been touched in almost a hundred years?” His attention flitted around them, his flashlight beam running over all the walls as he went.

“We’ll see won’t we?” Demetri swallowed her nerves and started wandering deeper into the depot. Barely a minute later a set of double doors caught her attention down a short hallway and they lead to a set of stairs that went further down.

Bellamy wordlessly fell in step behind her as she lead their descend. The stairs leading down, which seemed to go on forever, didn’t feel too sturdy and the handrails were freezing against her hands. She looked around as they walked, eyes taking in the dim emergency lights that lined the walls, looking like stars in the night sky as they went deeper. Demetri was looking for any sign that told her this place would be safe and useful but it wasn’t looking good so far. Her attention had just moved back to her front when she froze in the middle of the spiral staircase. It was so sudden that Bellamy walked right into her because he attention was all around him too. He staggered back when he bounced off her and looked around Demetri to see a mummified skeleton came right in the center of her light. It was aged, brown, and covered in some type of mold. There were a few rags hanging off the bones but that’s it. There was nothing else left, it barely looked human with the way time had dealt with the skeleton. It was hugging one of the bars of the railing, like it didn’t want to go and with a quick look over the railing what would have been it’s right leg was gone. It was colder the further down they went but this sight, the clear sign that this bunker might not have been touched in almost a 100 years made Demetri’s body rattle.

“Hell of a place to die.” Bellamy pressed his hand against her lower back, urging her forward and around what was left of the skeleton. He became aware of where he stepped and where Demetri stepped as she continued down.

They finally made it to the bottom of the staircase to see the place in a decaying disarray. Demetri barely let out a sigh from being back on solid ground when her eyes started darting around the large open area, taking in the mess. They stayed within sight of each other as they started poking around. No box was left upturned and every crate or barrel they saw they checked. There were a few skeletons scattered around and every time Demetri came face to face with one she let out a startled yelp. Bellamy was finding nothing but piles and piles of molded or decaying clothes and the like. The little food they had found, two small crates, had long since expired. They believed that anything else that could have been of use was either gone or hidden really well. It had been such a mess when they had gotten down there maybe someone had beaten them to it. With every new box or crate discovered to be useless Demetri felt her hope dwindle.

“So much for possibly living here, it’s disgusting.” Demetri spoke mostly to herself. A hand moved to brush stray hairs from her face in exasperation. “Shit.”

They kept looking, going deeper and deeper into the emergency depot grasping at the tiny string of hope that the trip hadn’t been a total waste until Demetri exclaimed.

“Blankets! I found blankets!” The two hour hike, the descent into darkness, and the last hour or so of searching wasn’t in complete vain, at least that’s what Demetri was telling herself.

Bellamy had just opened a metal crate to find an array of glow sticks, he broke a few and tossed them about. He stuffed as many as he could in one of the few intact duffel bags they had found and tried to keep his disappointment to himself.

“You’re excited about a couple of blankets?” The words hit a nerve in Demetri and her head snapped to him in an instant.

“It’s at least something Bellamy. Going back with blankets is better than going back empty handed.” She shook out duffel bag and started stuffing the blankets in it.

“Why not a canteen or a med kit?” Bellamy huffed, clearly just as frustrated as Demetry felt. “Some better medical supplies would be great. Or even a decent freaking tent!” Bellamy paced around a bit before he kicked a plastic barrel and stopped in his tracks when it didn’t budge. He kicked it again and the sound it produced told him it was full of something. Intrigued, he popped the lid and dipped his fingers tips into the liquid before bringing them up to his nose to smell it. In the next moment, Demetri watched him submerge his entire hand into the liquid in the barrel and when he pulled his hand back it held a gun. A child-like wonder filled his eyes before it was replaced by a new look, a brave fighting spirit.

With a new vigor he stared pulling guns out of the barrels, there were four barrels total, and started laying a few of them out. He was checking the firearms, seeing how to load and unload a bullet and the clips. He told Demetri everything he was doing so she had some idea. She stayed back though, weapons of mass destruction were on her list of things she did not like. Bellamy found a stash of ammo in a side room, there was more than enough to fully arm all the guns they had found. He didn’t know if all the bullets were good but he had hope some were. He loaded two clips and wiped down two rifles, one for hime and one for Demetri. After they were sufficiently cleaned for use, he turned to Demetri with that same gleam he’d had in his eyes when he found them a hour ago.

“This changes everything, no more running from spears.” He went a ways away and threw a sheet over a pipe. “Are you ready to be a badass Sweetheart?” His grin was wide and mischievous which did nothing to ease the anxiety all this stirred in Demetri’s stomach.

“Bellamy,” She started as he walked back towards her. “You don’t need me to tell you I don’t like this idea at all.” Her voice fell off as he picked up one of the rifles and pointed the barrel towards the sheet. “But I won’t fight you on it.” Demetri eyed the rifle in his hands wearily, mainly because she had never seen one in real life except for the handgun Bellamy came down with. She’d only ever seen the Guard use stun batons and those didn’t kill people, usually. But the piece of metal in his hands, it had the power to end lives and that terrified Demetri.

“We have a way to fight back now Demetri. We won’t be sitting ducks.” He turned to her suddenly, holding the gun out to her. “I need you to know how to use one, it will make me feel better.” Bellamy went from courageous leader to worried about the girl he cares about in seconds. “Please.”

“Fine.” Demetri nodded begrudgingly. “Tell me what to do.” She held a hand out for the gun before needing both just to make sure she wouldn’t drop it.

“Put this end up against your shoulder, hold tightly here and here.”

Bellamy showed Demetri the best way to hold the semi-automatic rifle. He stood behind her and placed his hands over hers to guide her. His face was right next to hers as they stared down the barrel of the gun. Demetri ignored how warm her body flushed at their proximity. It was harder to ignore him when he turned his head just an inch and locked eyes with her. She looked up at him through her lashes and she felt the air leave her lungs. Bellamy gulped before he looked away first and focused back on their target. His pointer finger covered hers and they pulled the trigger. Time slowed as Demetri prepared herself for the jerk and the loud boom but the first shot was a dud. Bellamy stepped back, eyes only on the gun, and popped the dud from the chamber and making sure a new one was loaded before handing Demetri the gun again. This time when she pulled the trigger herself a bullet fired from the gun, jerking her arms back and leaving a hole in the top corner sheet in its wake. Her entire body buzzed.

“Wow.” Demetri breathed, the rush of adrenaline still coursing through her veins.

“It’s pretty cool right? Try again.” Bellamy motioned towards the sheet his eyes alive.

“No,” Demetri pointed the gun towards the ground, “We need to save ammo and talk about what we do now that we have guns. Where are they going to go, who gets access?” Demetri paused, watching a few looks passover Bellamy’s face as she talked. “You trust Nathan Miller, you left him with the Grounder so he’d be someone to consider.”

“You and Clarke keep him close, the rest listen to him.” The words didn’t sound right as they left Bellamy’s lips.

Your lips parted ready to ask him what he meant by that when he moved swiftly away from you. Bellamy picked up the other gun and shot two shots right at the sheet nearly hitting right on the mark he had made. Demetri stared in awe for a moment, her jaw slack, before she shook her head and focused back on what he just said.

“Don’t you even think about it Bellamy Blake.” Demetri turned on him and slammed the gun onto the tabletop. “I know what you’re thinking and you’re not leaving.” She felt sweat gather at the base of her neck as she stared up at Bellamy.

“I’m not--” He shook his head.

“I can read you like an open book.” Demetri stepped up to him, suddenly she felt like she did this a lot; stood toe-to-toe and faced him head on like this.

“Look, I don’t want to talk about this right now, just,” Bellamy sucked in a huge breath of the stuffy, earthy air. “I need to get some air, I’ll be back in a few.” He put his gun down on the table as he left Demetri at the bottom of the bunker.

Demetri watched Bellamy storm off, noticing a slight stagger in his steps. She would not let him run from his problems. He was done running, they all were. And because she was going to face them with him. They’d do it together. Demetri sighed feeling a wave of nausea hit her. It was one thing to live up in space but now, having been on earth for a bit she found she hated being underground much more than up in space.

“Maybe one shot won’t hurt.” She mumbled to herself as she tried to focus on anything but how constricted she had started to feel after Bellamy left.

She picked up the gun from before and pointed it at the sheet again. She made sure her hands were in the correct places and she double checked her grip before she looked down the barrel again. Everything went blurry as she tried to focus on the sheet. She straightened her neck and before her eyes the sheet dissolved and turned into a giant python, one she had only read about in books. It was a striking green with glowing yellow eyes, Demetri watched frozen as it writhed up to her, slithered up my leg and torso, and wrapped around her arms causing her to drop the gun. It’s body started to curl around her body and she felt it constrict around her. Her fight-or-flight kicked in and she started thrashing, trying to pull the snake from her arms and throw it away. When Demetri had finally got it off of her, she jumped back in shock and kept shuffling back till her back hit a wall. Time slowed as she looked around her and jerked her head around so fast it spun. She blinked rapidly and rubbed at her eyes; when she was able to focus again she saw the wall of her old home, before the skybox, before moving into Clarke’s home, before her father died. Before everything.

All her old drawings were attached to the walls by means of tape or magnets, and the pictures she kept in her notebook were back in their original places on a shelf in the main room. Their small table was littered with her sparse writing utensils and some unfinished drawings laid amongst them. There on their tiny couch, that was barely big enough for them to sit, laid a tiny blanket. Demetri’s mother had it made using scrap fabric she traded for when she found out she was pregnant. So many small mementos of Demetri’s old life were before her, everything she never realized she had missed till they were all right there. She tiptoed around the room in awe that it hadn’t changed in all these years, her finger tips ghosting along the sparse furniture and her eyes couldn’t focus anywhere for too long. She just started to question what this was when a voice froze her on the spot.

“Hey Princess, it’s been a while.” Demetri slowly turned around to see her dad leaning against the table, adoring eyes watching her.

“Dad?” The word came out quiet and broken. The unexplainable emotions from seeing her father right in front of her and his pet name for her, it all slammed into her all at once.

“Come here.” His arms opened wide and Demetri all but ran into them.

The comforting hug from her dad felt too good to be true. She hadn’t felt this safe and loved in years, not since she left for class that day. She relished in his thick, strong arms holding her together. She relished in the familiar scent of copper wires and cinnamon. She relished in the faint heartbeat she could hear. She would stay right there, forever, if she could but the rational part of her brain started yelling at her.

“This isn’t real is it?” Demetri mumbled already started to tear up. “This isn’t real because you’re dead. You left me.” Charlie’s arms tightened around Demetri, holding her so tight she forgot to breathe.

“I know I did.” His voice was soft but thick with regret. “And I’m so sorry for that Princess.”

“I’m so angry, but I’ve missed you so much.” She paused and pulled back from the hug to look up at her dad. “Why did you leave?” Charlie slowly wiped away his daughter’s tears.

“I wasn’t strong enough to face you.” He answered quietly, “I promised your mom I’d take care of you but I couldn’t do it. You’re so much stronger than I ever was.” He cupped her face in his warm hands and she placed her hands on top of his. “And you’ve gone on to do such great things. You’re so compassionate and selfless. And look, you’re helping lead the last hope of humanity and keep others alive? Your mom and I, we’re proud of you.”

“Thank you dad.” Her knees nearly gave out after he spoke and kissed her forehead. Those last four words erased so many hard feelings from her heart, even if she couldn’t believe this was completely real. Charlie quickly wrapped his arms back around her in a hug and they stood their, in their old room on the Ark in each other’s arms. It was silent, as if he was allowing his words to settle. Demetri sniffled and moved to look up at her dad when she watched the look on his face change. A heartbeat passed before he stepped back a bit and spoke again.

“You really should give Marcus another chance.” His tone changed, like he was scolding Demetri when she was younger and she’d caused trouble.

“He’s done nothing to deserve a second chance.” Demetr’s tone turned defiant. “He hasn’t cared about me since you left.” 

“You called him Uncle Marcus up until he became a council member?” Her father placed his hands on her shoulder to keep her attention. “He was my best friend, he helped raise you.”

“So?” Demetri thumbed the zipper of Charlie’s jacket with a pout on her lips.

“You stopped calling him Uncle Marcus because you believed that he was in a position of power and that it was inappropriate. You told him to put work first so that he could do great things on the Ark. Did you stop to think that he’s honoring your wishes to keep a distance from you.” Demetri never stopped to think about that, she didn’t even remember that. “Marcus is a good man underneath it all, I hope now that you’re older you’ll get to see how much I appreciated him.” Charlie was hopeful as he watched Demetri seem to come around to what he was telling her.

“So what? You want me to forgive him for all he’s done under the guise of protecting me?” Demetri had always been uncooperative, she didn’t want to give in so easily. “Sure, I miss having someone around but I spent so much time alone. It’s easier for me now, to be alone I mean.” Demetri shook her head. “He hasn’t done anything to earn my forgiveness dad, regardless of how good of a person he was before it means nothing if he’s not that way now.” She didn’t know what she felt silly all of a sudden.

“Forgiveness is more for closure for ourselves than anyone else.” Her father stated, waiting for his daughter to see the reason behind his words. She locked eyes with him, a part of her mind telling her this is what her subconscious wanted, to make up with Kane and to trust him again.

“I get it, I’ll try.” She nodded, hugging him again. “You’ve missed so much so I know you don’t understand how I feel but I’ll try, for you.”

“No Demetri, do it for you.” She felt his body start to disappear in her arms.

“Wait, dad, you have to go again?” The time had been too short. “I still have so many questions.”

“You’ve lost your mind, little bitch.” The stark contrast shocked Demetri, she looked from where her father just was and saw Dax behind her. In a shaky rush she tried to stand, anything to give her a better chance to deal with Dax’s looming figure.

Dax was faster. He slammed the butt of a gun into Demetri’s back knocking her to the ground, hard. By the time Demetri managed to roll over and get a handle on her surroundings, a sense of urgency overcame her. Dax had been there and he had a gun. She was unarmed, Bellamy was unarmed but Dax had a gun. He wouldn’t have knocked her out if he wasn’t about to do something. She scrambled to her feet and grabbed the gun Bellamy had shot earlier. It felt heavy in her hands as she ran all the way up the various flights of stairs and out of the bunker.

As soon as she was back above ground she paused, trying to listen over the sounds of both her panting and her heart beating out of her chest. Demetri heard Bellamy’s pained groans off to the side a bit deeper into the woods. She held the rifle just as Bellamy had showed her, made sure a bullet was in the chamber, and snuck towards what she hoped was Bellamy.

She quietly rounded a corner around a group of trees to find Dax standing over Bellamy laying on the ground looking out of it. His lip was busted and his body was visibly shaking. The gun in Dax’s hands was pointed right at Bellamy’s head and the fear that racked Demetri’s body hit her immediately and violently. Dax was going to kill Bellamy and there’s no telling if he’d stop there. Demetri had gotten the impression that he was a chill and good guy, he worked hard and never strayed from his routine. Something had to have changed, someone had to have said something to him. Demetri heard Dax put a bullet in the chamber of his gun and it threw her back to the present. She held the gun tightly in her grasp and sucked in a calming breath before she stepped out from behind the tree she was hiding behind.

“Put it down Dax.” Demetri growled, pointing her gun at Dax as she moved away from the tree. She ignored the way Bellamy focused on her alone with his hands fisting the dirt.

“Should have stayed down there Demetri.” Dax spun on his heels to face her with the gun pointing at her now. “I tried not to kill you but here you are. And Shumway said no witnesses.”

“Shumway’s behind this too?” Demetri laughed, disbelief oozing from her. “He’s using you Dax, whatever he promised you is a lie.”

“Walk away and I won’t kill you.” Dax’s voice boomed in the silence of the night. It was clear she wouldn’t be able to get through to him, whatever Shumway promised must have been important to Dax.

“You’re not killing Bellamy.” Demetri countered, holding her gun tighter. “I won’t let you.”

“Your choice then.” Bellamy jerked into a sitting position then.

Demetri pulled the trigger first but the bullet was a dud. In the next second a shot rang out from Dax’s gun and the bullet grazed Demetri’s arm. She groaned as she ducked behind the closest tree as Dax shot again.

“No!” Bellamy yelled, tackling Dax and punching him in the face.

Dax managed to throw Bellamy off of him before jumping on him and punching Bellamy in the face three times. In the moments of Bellamy’s haze Dax went for the gun again. He then used all his weight and pressed the body of the gun down on Bellamy’s chest and neck making it hard for the older one to breathe. As the seconds ticked by Demetri was fiddling with the gun, trying to get a new bullet into the chamber. Bellamy’s gasping made her change tactics and she held the gun more like a melee weapon and charged at Dax. He saw her in time to take the butt of his gun and slam it into her stomach knocking her back a few feet, sending her gasping for air. She stood up, straightened herself, and charged at Dax again. He held his gun like a melee weapon this time and smacked her across the face with it, knocking her to the ground that time. Bellamy started to panic when she didn’t start to move immediately and he frantically looked for a way to help. Demetri rolled onto her side and spat out the blood that coated her mouth from the strike. Dax watched her to see if she would try to attack him again, lessening the force on Bellamy. In the moment of Dax being distracted by Demetri, Bellamy saw the unshot bullet Dax had removed when his first shot at Bellamy was a dud. Bellamy grabbed the bullet and in one quick motion stabbed it into Dax’s neck with all his might as Dax turned back to Bellamy. Time stilled as every froze. Dax dropped the gun and fell to his side, gasping and scratching at the bullet in his neck.

As soon as Dax was off Bellamy and a few feet away choking on his own blood, Bellamy rushed to get up on his hands and knees and crawled to Demetri. He grabbed her face and looked her over to make sure she wasn’t severely injured. He pulled her away from Dax’s now still body and back towards a tree. Bellamy didn’t let go of her until he was sure she was alive in front of him, that she was real.

“You’re okay.” She panted, forcing air into her lungs as she looked Bellamy over. “For the most part.”

She carefully touched Bellamy’s face, bruises were already forming from Dax’s blows. Blood, some already dried, from the few abrasions Bellamy suffered gathered around the corner of his mouth and by his nose. The cuts on his face looked worse than they were and as long as they were cleaned they’d heal.

“No, I’m not.” He sniffled. “If my mom knew what I’ve done down here.” Bellamy panted, “Who I am. She raised me to be good but all I do is hurt people.”

“Bellamy.” Demetri’s strong facade crumbled at the tears forming in Bellamy’s eyes.

“I’m a monster.” His jaw was tensing and relaxing as he tried to keep himself together.

“Hey, you saved my life today Bellamy.” She turned to face him. “You may be an ass half the time, but I need you. Everyone back at camp needs you. If you weren’t here we wouldn’t have survived for as long as we have.” Demetri tentatively cupped Bellamy’s face and forced him to look at her. “You’re not a monster Bellamy, you’re not a murderer. If you’re seeking forgiveness for your choices, you have it.” Demetri swallowed the lump in her throat. “I forgive you, I will always forgive you. But you can’t run Bellamy. You have to face it. And I’ll be with you.”

“And if Jaha kills me when he gets here?” Bellamy asked, trying desperately not to break.

“I told you, I’ve got it figured out.” She smiled weakly. “Do you trust me?” Demetri searched Bellamy’s red and swollen eyes for anything that said what he didn’t.

“I trust you.” Bellamy whispered as a few tears fell. He looked away from her sniffling as he wiped at his cheeks.

“Good, when you’re ready,” She paused. “We head back to camp and we take those guns with us.” Demetri would do anything in that moment to make him feel safe again.

Bellamy returned the small smile Demetri wore. After a few minutes they finally got their breath back and they started to move. After cleaning each other up, which consisted of Demetri wiping off blood and Bellamy wrapping up the bullet graze, they went back down into the dark, damp, and dank bunker to pack up. They grabbed what they could carry with the plan to return with more hands tomorrow before they left the bunker. Bellamy took a piece of malleable metal and fashioned a lock out of it to keep the hatch shut. Then they shouldered the bags full of blankets and weapons and started their way back to camp.

---

They got back to camp to see it in an uproar. Kids were running this way and that, some were armed and some weren’t, and it was hard to get an idea about what happened while they were gone. It took Demetri finding Clarke, who was treating a large gash on a younger girls arm, for them to find out it was about the grounder escaping. Everyone was acting like he was going to jump out and kill them any second. Demetri locked eyes with Octavia, who was getting water to some pale looking kids, before Bellamy dropped one of the duffel bags onto the ground. The thump was enough to catch the attention of those close, and upon seeing who had returned the camp quickly quieted down. He told everyone that they no longer had to be afraid, they had a way to protect themselves now. Clarke stepped up to Demetri’s side as she opened the duffel bag at her feet to reveal it was full of guns. Demetri informed them that these guns were not toys but were tools to keep everyone safe. She stated that when the Ark came down the Guard would probably take them away, but for now, they were the 100’s protection.

“In the morning we start training, so get some rest.” Bellamy pulled a few people aside, Nathan being one of them, and started giving orders about placing the guns in the dropship and having someone watching them at all times.

Demetri went straight for Octavia who stood near the back of the crowd the moment she was free. She tugged the younger girl away and off into an empty tent. As soon as they were inside and hidden from prying eyes, Demetri stepped as close as she could without crossing a line and stared at the younger Blake.

“You got him out?” Demetri had not planned for that to happen. Her arms crossed as Octavia’s ‘I don’t give a shit’ attitude started to crack.

“I didn’t know what else to do, I couldn’t let him stay here and die.” Octavia’s indifference melted into panic. She grabbed Demetri’s hand worried flooding her eyes. “I saw a chance and I took it, he should be far from camp by now. And he said he wouldn’t attack us.”

“It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone.” Demetri sighed as she let go of Octavia’s hand and reached back to rub her neck. “Not even Bellamy.” Demetri assured her. “Did he say anything before he left? Anything at all?”

“Just that those berries cause hallucinations,” Demetri watched Octavia smile to herself, “And that his name is Lincoln.”

“Lincoln.” Demetri nodded, “That may be useful.” Demetri turned to leave but stopped. “Octavia, if you go out there to look for him please, please be careful and smart about it. I know you’ll try to find him.”

“You already know me so well.” Octavia laughed dryly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. I promise.”

“I have to go report back in to the Ark, but we need to talk later okay?”

Octavia nodded and watched the older girl leave the tent. Octavia followed her for a few steps, she felt thankful that someone took the time to understand her and trust her about Lincoln. Octavia felt deep down that they could trust Lincoln, that he wouldn’t hurt them not like they think he will. He’s different, he’s good and Octavia saw that. She hoped that Demetri saw it too and that’s why she was so trusting. She had noticed that Demetri had a way with people and making them feel comfortable around her, she was no different. Octavia went to the wall and looked out into the forest, hoping the Lincoln made it away safely.

Demetri went straight to the tent that Raven had moved into in camp, which happened to be Finn’s tent too. She tapped on the tarp and waited till Raven stepped out. The older girl straightened her clothing and locked eyes with Demetri after a moment.

“I need to talk to Jaha, I have to report in about the depot.”

“Follow me.” Raven led them back to the tent the radio was in and focused anywhere but her companion. Raven wanted to ask about the rip in Demetri’s jacket when she noticed the bandage peeking through, but they weren’t close enough for her to justify being worried. So Raven stayed quiet even though her mind went wild trying to figure out what happened at the bunker, why had they both returned looking like shit.

Raven held the flap open for Demetri before she sat down and made sure it all set. Demetri requested that a second headset bet set up if it were possible and Raven watched her out of the corner of her eyes as she connected it.

“What’s up with you and Bellamy?” Raven tried to be nonchalant about it. “You two a thing?”

“What if we are?” Demetri caught Raven staring, holding the eye contact before Raven looked away first.

“It was just a question, you two seem pretty close.” Raven moved a few wires and sat a second headset on the table. “I’ve heard rumors, most of the camp assume the two of you are together.”

“And we let them assume.” Demetri wasn’t in the mood to deal with Raven and her questions, she’d almost died again and only ate hallucinogenic nuts all day, she was exhausted. Both mentally and physically. “Rumors are just rumors without proof anyways.”

“Hm. It’s ready, let me request for Jaha.” Raven let the conversation drop.

“Great, I’ll be right back.” Demetri stepped through the flap to look around the camp.

Bellamy was with Octavia by the fence, a quiet exchange was happening between them. She gave them a minute before calling for Bellamy. He turned around, a torn look on his face. He said a few more words to Octavia before walking over to Demetri. He no longer hid fear behind a scowl. He was more confident, more of the himself that Demetri got to see.

They entered the tent together and Raven looked between them with a comment on the tip of her tongue. She bit her tongue keeping it to herself at the state she saw both of them in. She told Demetri how to connect to the Ark and start the transmission from their side, and left. Demetri and Bellamy shared one last look before sitting down and putting on the headsets as Demetri pressed the button to connect them to the Ark.

“Ah, Demetri you’re back. And Bellamy Blake, someone I’ve wanted to talk to for a while now.”

“Before you do Jaha, I want to say that when you sent us down here you sent us to die.” Demetri kept her tone even and her expression neutral. “Yet, miraculously, most of us are still alive. A large part of that is because of Bellamy. He is one of us, and he deserves to be pardoned of his crimes just like the rest of us.” Demetri chose her words carefully. Her hand held Bellamy’s out of sight, a habit she realized in that moment she had picked up recently.

“I appreciate what you’re saying Demetri, but it’s not that simple.” Jaha shook his head, his distorted voice making him seem a bit menacing.

“But it is, if you want to know who wants you dead up on the Ark.” Bellamy spoke up, his voice strong, he tried to be strong like Demetri was in the moment.

“Someone approached him with a deal, he shoots you and he gets on the dropship with his sister.” Demetri added, “That same someone just tried to get one of the 100 to kill both me and Bellamy to keep him quiet.”

Jaha went silent, the two on the ground looked between each other. Demetri’s heart was in her throat, what if it didn’t work. What if Jaha still decided to kill Bellamy? Demetri would never stop fighting for him. If there was one thing she never did it was give up. The air left the room as Jaha cleared his throat. Demetri thought she was going to throw up.

“Bellamy Blake, you’re pardoned for your crimes and your record has been wiped clean by the power of the Chancellor of the Ark.” Breaths they didn’t know they were holding released at the same time as Bellamy squeezed Demetri’s hand tightly. “Now,” Jaha’s tone brought their attention back to the screen. “Tell me who gave you the gun.”

“Commander Shumway.” Bellamy breathed the name out, feeling a 1000-lb weight lift off his chest. “He came to me with the deal and gave me the gun.”

“I’ll take care of him.” Jaha didn’t seem surprised, but that was that. “Now tell me about the depot, what did you find?”

Demetri filled Jaha in on what they found at the depot, the good and the bad. He listened intently to what was said from both Bellamy and Demetri and Demetri answered the questions Jaha had. He gave them some useful ideas and informed them that he’d meet with the council soon and see if they could find anything else that might be useful. After all the important points were hit, it was time for the conversation to end.

There was a promise to check in regularly and more conversations after the kids had rested before Demetri called Raven in to do what she needed to do with the radio. The pair left the tent, Demetri noted the sun had set while they were busy, and walked out into the evening air. Demetri sucked in a deep breath much like when they had first landed. The air was much more crisp and refreshing than it was in the bunker and she was kind of glad it wasn’t livable. She turned to see Bellamy watching her with a softness about his features. Demetri looped her arm through his and leant her head against his shoulder as she looked up at the stars.

“I told you I had it all figured out.” Demetri felt blissful for the first time in days, maybe even weeks. “Aren’t you glad you trusted me?” She grinned at Bellamy.

“Of course.” Bellamy couldn’t help but smile back at her, that bright smile of hers was contagious. “How ever can I repay you?” He quirked his brow flashing her his own smirk.

“How about not getting yourself on the list for execution.” Demetri retorted, using her free hand to lightly smack him in the chest.

“Now that I can promise.” Bellamy’s free hand grasped her cheek and he kissed her before she could react.

“Bellamy!” Demetri gasped, covering her lips.

“What? I wanted to celebrate becoming a free man.” He teased already moving in again. “How about another one?”

“Not happening!” Demetri giggled as she pushed his hand away, she unlatched from his side and ran away.

Bellamy happily gave chase. The pair were unaware of how Raven watched form the radio tent with jealousy coursing through her veins as they ran off without a current care in the world.

[kane-and-griffin]

ahhhhh kabby mom I'm so scared about Abby in these new episodes! I'm rlly happy she's back in the next ep but I'm already seing people hating on her in the tag even before they know what's gonna happen and comparing her to Lorelai Tsing(!?!) as if sacrificing 1 willing person to save the entire world is somehow the same as brutally painfully murdering 50 children just so you can go outside?? if its this bad NOW, is this season is gonna make the fandom hate Abby because this ALWAYS happens!! :(:(

I mean, if there are people who can’t tell the difference between Abby being emotionally devastated at merely ENTERTAINING THE VERY THOUGHT of taking one life deliberately even to save the entire human race, and Dr. Tsing coolly and calmly committing attempted genocide on innocent grounders and 50 children, then that’s not a person whose opinion on this show I feel like I really need to take all that seriously.  I’m sure there are people whose hate for Abby is such that they will find a way to make her a villain over this, and that’s exhausting as hell, and I feel like it’s sort of an individual judgment call for each of us whether we dig in and try to explain or just mute and block them all so we don’t have to see that shit.  But if you’re worried about this storyline because it’s going to make the fandom hate Abby, first of all, what I’d urge you to remember is that a great deal of that will go away if - as it definitely seems like the show is setting it up - Abby’s solution ends up being the solution that works.  If Abby actually does end up being the person who cracks Nightblood and saves the entire human race, if Abby’s the reason your fave is still alive for Season 5, then “but she still shouldn’t have done it” becomes a totally specious argument we can all happily ignore.  And it 100% appears at this point that that’s the direction we’re headed; Nightblood will work, but there will be complications (my guess is they’re going to need a ton more blood and that’s when Gaia becoming a Nightblood scout becomes plot-relevant), and then of course they’ll still need somewhere to ride out the storm, which means either Becca’s bunker, the lab if it’s radiation-proof, or wherever this Bill Cadogan story ends up going.  But the Nightblood is what’s going to make a Season 5 possible so they can actually, you know, go outside and walk around and repopulate the earth.  And they can’t get there without Abby. 

So if you’re concerned about people unreasonably demonizing her and the fandom being a shitshow, like I FEEL YOU MY DUDE but also all we can do is block and move on.

If what you’re worried about is whether the show ITSELF is in some way villainizing her, I really and truly don’t think that’s something we need to panic about either.  First of all, it’s hugely significant that what we see in the trailer is Abby agonizing over the decision, but we don’t see how that person in the tank comes to be there.  We haven’t seen Abby “there has to be another way” Griffin try to find another way.  (For example, does somebody volunteer?)  We haven’t seen the whole context of what leads up to that conversation over the radio, we haven’t heard all of what she says, we haven’t seen how the other characters - Kane, Clarke, Raven, Luna, Murphy, Roan, Jackson - respond or what their position is on this same issue.  But I don’t think they’re making her the bad guy, I think they’re setting her up as a conflicted and flawed hero, just like her daughter is, making the hard ugly choices that have to be made for everyone to survive, but busting her ass to try absolutely everything else first.

This is different from the ridiculous, out-of-character Raven slap, or all the characters at the beginning of S3 loudly announcing what a bad chancellor she was in order to move the chess pieces around to get the chancellor pin to Kane for plot reasons.  Those were bonehead writing choices that demonized Abby unnecessarily and they continue to annoy me (physical violence is anathema to Abby, this is a running thread, and obviously she was a pretty damn good chancellor since she’s the one who built Arkadia into a home and gave them three months of peace; so like, THOSE THINGS DIDN’T MAKE SENSE).  But this is a classic Abby conundrum.  I’d encourage you not to get pulled into listening to people compare her to Dr. Tsing, and to think about this in the context of the The Culling.  It was inarguably necessary that they needed to float a certain number of people in order to preserve oxygen.  But Abby tried everything else first.  She tried to convince the Council to wait for the kids to reestablish contact, for a decisive sign from the wristbands.  When that failed, she commandeered a Russian dropship and a Raven Reyes and sent her to Earth to report back.  When that failed, she released Jake’s tape to the whole Ark so everyone knew what was happening, to keep Kane and Jaha from killing all of Section 17 with no warning.  It worked by getting people to volunteer - that is, it became self-sacrifice and not murder - but all those people still died, because based on all the information they had, they TRULY believed that that was necessary for them to survive.  So we know who Abby Griffin is in these circumstances.  We know she doesn’t have the capacity to just stand back and watch, or hide behind the rules, and we know she feels every single one of those deaths acutely, and we know how hard she fights to preserve every life that she can.  So knowing what we now know - that Nightblood may be, like the Culling, the thing that needs to be done for humanity to survive - the question is how Abby will handle it. 

Yes, the Mt. Weather parallels are there - this season has been all about parallels with major events from past seasons.  But the important thing to note is that those parallels have all been flipped in some way.  For example, the Clarke/Jasper/Monty parallel to the Jaha/Clarke/Jake situation.  Clarke (in the Jaha slot) shocklashes and arrests Jasper (Jake) to keep him from telling everyone the truth, then Monty (Abby) runs over and shouts it out through the intercom anyway. So far, so good.  Nice clear parallel, right?  Except then what happens?  Clarke realizes she crossed a line and lets Jasper go.  She works hard to make it right with Jasper and Monty.  She doesn’t want to be the kind of leader, like Jaha, who could float his friends.  And then Arkadia burns a few episodes later, making the list moot.  So the parallel is set up the same way, and then switches direction.  We’ve seen a lot of these throughout the show so far, and they’ve all been switched up or turned on their head in some way.  So if they’re setting up a line between Abby and Dr. Tsing, the way they did between, say, Jasper and Jake, then the thing to watch for is how they pull the rug out from under us and flip that parallel in an unexpected way.  And my guess with Abby is that it’s going to be something to do with the idea of sacrifice or consent; can she convince someone to volunteer their life to help her make Nightblood?  Can she find another way?

Anyway, I’m not freaking out about this and I hope you don’t either.  I’m really excited when Abby is relevant to the plot - she got so shafted last year - and when we get to remember she’s not just Clarke’s mom and Kane’s girlfriend, she’s a brilliant scientific and medical genius who has a supercharged ALIE brain.  They’re setting her up to be the person who saves the day - as she so often is - and I’m here for it.  If people want to deliberately misinterpret her motives, I can’t stop them, but I’m ready for emotionally conflicted doctor hero Abby to save humanity.