#Also I remember the dying & game over screens really scaring me as a kid. LOL

[hollowtones]

opinions on yoshis story? imo that game doesnt deserve to have music that good

I haven't played very much of it and I've been meaning to do something about that forever. I've played some of it and I've watched others go through most of it.

I know I've seen a little bit of modern grumbling (I don't know if this was a point of contention when the game came out because I was three at the time. OK I looked up some reviews from the era and it looks like it was also a thing people were mad about back then. LOL) over the fact that the game isn't more like "Yoshi's Island" & that it feels like it's aimed more at younger audiences. I dunno. I've never been bothered much by games with some tie to one another doing something different. (Some of the response reminds me of Transformers fans being upset over Hasbro making toys and shows for very young children sometimes; admittedly maybe I'm off the mark here.)

It's a very easy game if you want it to be. You can just eat any fruits you want forever and it's over in a blink. And it's fine. It's fine if the video game lets you beat it very fast if you want to. You can also try to collect only one single kind of fruit in a level and that makes things take longer and makes them feel like more of a scavenger hunt (especially if you're trying to get all the melons). I think that's neat. There's sort of an interesting design trajectory from "Super Mario World" to "Yoshi's Island" where the levels become a little longer, a little more meandering, a little more exploratory, sometimes (not always, and not massively, but it's still there) a little less linear. No time limit. Going for collectibles instead; making every level about getting a score of 100 (if you want to). You can see that iterated on in "Yoshi's Story"! No singular end point of the level. Bigger rooms to explore (while still keeping levels relatively short). More of a focus on puzzle solving and exploration. Collectibles simplified to one meter that you fill up, but there are multiple things that can fill it & you get rewarded for only collecting one kind. (And also the hearts that let you pick what level you go to next. There's a lot of "opening up more of the game for yourself if you want to go out and look for it" here. Are there other collectibles, actually? I don't really remember...) Secret fruits that give even more points. It makes the levels feel more like puzzle box toys that you roam around in. It's neat that they designed that for younger kids and it's neat that you can make it more difficult if that sounds fun to you. (I would have to play more of it myself to decide if going for all melons is fun for me specifically. But I like it on paper, y'know?)

The pop-up storybook theming is cute and the visual aesthetic of the game overall works really well. It feels like arts & crafts dioramas made by kids (or with kids) so they could play pretend with their toys while reading a storybook. It's got very strong toy feel overall. The music is really fun!!! It does the dynamic soundtrack thing where some parts of the track change depending on your health!!! I'm always clapping my hands like a seal with a game's music changes depending what I'm doing!!! Maybe it's a little silly of me to say this, given that it's a sentiment I've had in the past, but nowadays I scratch my head a bit at "the music in this has no right to go this hard" type comments. It goes hard because the musicians got hired to make it like that. (I'm imagining a guy who thinks the "Yoshi's Story" music is the hardest music ever created and I'm smiling serenely about it. I hope he's real & I hope he's out there somewhere.) I'm glad they let Totaka do something that feels at least a little experimental for the goofy Yoshi babies storybook super happy yay & jumping throwing game soundtrack. It's a fun contrast, isn't it? It feels very of-the-era in a way I'm having trouble externalizing outside of "well it's a little weird and multi-genre". It's neat that they all have a shared melody that they draw on.

Thanks for reading my short essay on a childrens' video game I haven't played a lot of yet. I need to go take a shower now.

#Also I remember the dying & game over screens really scaring me as a kid. LOL

[what-kinda-fuckery]

Hey so, I was one of the star struck falsettos stans that spent the forty dollars for the webinar, and I took notes (like a weirdo). So I decided I would share my funny moments and updates from the cast here!

- Host: Everyone should be keeping their audio off.

Christian: Oh alright!

Host: nO Christian not you

- Christians in Manhattan and his hair is back and he’s wearing a Superman t-shirt.

- Brandon is with his parents in NJ

- Stephanie and Brandon still love each other

- Brandon: Meat should be cooked just right

- Betsy: Stephanie are you in maple wood?

Stephanie: Well thank you for telling everyone where I am (she’s in NJ)

- Stephanie: Are you fucking kidding meee!!!

- Tracie is in LA, she looks like she’s in Costa Rica and I love her dog.

- Anthony’s VOICE IS LOW EVERYONES FREAKING OUT

they’re all talking about Anthony’s clear skin

- Andy Randy is in LA with a fresh haircut his boyfriend did it and he’s watching too much TV

Andrew: I’m watching this is America

Stephanie: SO GOOD

Andrew: SO GOOD

- Everyone’s having hard days

- Christian is acting out tracies dog’s pathetic bark and everyone’s like WHAT are you doing bc it looks like he’s about to throw up

- BETSY IS A WEEK AWAY FROM HAVINGA WHOLE CHILD

Betsy: What else do you do during a pandemic? Have a baby!

Andrew: Can I toss out another baby name? Celery.

Literally everyone: Goodnight Andrew goodbye!

- Christian is living with a girl (?) and playing board games instead of watching television

HE COOKS NOW EVERYONES PROUD OF HIM

Christian: yesterday I made pork filet en croute

Stephanie: I MADE PORK WITH SAGE AND APPLES ON WEDNESDAY

Stephanie: In mean girls they wear pink on wednesdays. In falsettos they make pork.

- I can’t get over Anthony’s voice

Again everyone returning to his literally perfect skin

- Stephanie: When watching four jews in a room in the beginning who’s in China?? I know the answer I just want to hear someone say it.

Andrew, with a thick accent: It was Bryna, in China, with a torn miniscus

- Christian: Did anything interesting make it on to the telecast between me and you? Andrew? Actually I dont remember I need to do my research.

Andrew: There’s been some strange comments about Christian and I- (AT THIS POINT IM WHEEZING)

HE MENTIONED THE TONY BONY

HE SAID IT WASNT A THING

HE DIDNT HAVE ONE

Andrew: No that’s not a thing that happened

Brandon: Andrew i want you to know that it’s okay if it was. It’s a safe space just the seven of us. (Lol)

- Bill Finn would take two steps into the room: “WROONG”

Stephanie: he wanted me to sing the end of I’m breaking down up the octave and I said #notmytrina

Brandon: #NOTMYTRINA

- Tracie what did you do during act 1

Tracie: Betsy and I sat in that dressing room for like an hour and a half

Andrew: You SANG the WHOLE SHOW TRACIE

- Betsy watched parts of the first act to feel like she was there

- Betsy sprained both her ankles at one point during the run and was a trooper anyways

Brandon reenacting Betsy limping during look look look look

Everyone dies laughing

Christians LAUGH makes me SO HAPPY

- Betsys screen is frozen like this: 🤨

Andrew: What if she went into labor??? (This is a common thread throughout the zoom)

- Anthony: I’m getting a lot of glitching so Stephanie is just like “HUH UH UH UH”

- Betsy comes back and everyone is like

YOU GUYS ITS COMING!!!

- They bought Andrew an ice cream for his birthday from the vending machine at rehearsal

- Andrew: The Hawaii crop top

Betsy: I would give anything to have that

- Tracie: it was very hard. Very precise bringing the blocks together

Brandon: Trying to be like oh my god we’re going to a funeral

Andrew: MY DEATH IT WAS MY DEATH

- fan question: What did the blocks weigh?

Stephanie: They were like thick yoga blocks. Not heavy but awkward shaped

Andrew: Significantly heavier when Anthony sat on them

Anthony: I just realized how much I got thrown around

Stephanie: Anthony were you proud of yourself? #proudofyou

Anthony: The one moment I was cringing was father and son

Christian: HERE WE GO *SLAPS TABLE*

Betsy: Anthony’s like BLAH BLAH BLAH blah my line BLAH BLAH BLAH my line BLAH BLAH

Christian: I LEAVE THE PAUSE IF YOU CANT GET IN THATS ON YOU

Anthony: I was blinking in that number like constantly

Christian: THE WHOLE THING LIKE A SALAMANDER

Oh Anthony.

- Andrew: I HAVE A STORY ABOUT CHRISTIAN BORLE. Tech for what more can i say. He was laying on me. We were shirtless in underpants under the blankets.

Christian: SLOWER

Andrew: he leaned over; He sniffed his armpit and said “I hope you like France”

EVERYONE DIES LAUGHING INCLUDING ME

Christian: i haven’t worn deodorant in 10 years true story

- Christian: i seem to remember holding our pillows and blankets pretending like we were partying on fyre island and Andrew said:

Andrew: WHATS YOUR NAME???

Christian: No no it was something like:

WHAT HOUSE ARE YOU STAYING IN??

Andrew: WHAT HOUSE ARE YOU STAYING IN???

Betsy: James lupine I feel like we’re ruining this show

- Andrew: The shenanigans were real but so was the sadness

Stephanie: We’re real and we’re funny what you gonna do

- Andrew talking about how hard the show was to do: Finding some liberty, It’s a hard world to live in all the time. It was a hard time especially for Christian. I would sometimes go home and cry for no reason

Brandon: Building up emotion with nowhere to put it

Betsy: then Lesbians come in and provide all the levity

Stephanie: Although Dr. Charlotte brings in horrible news

Tracie: Everything’s beautiful at what more can i say and I’m like not so fast

- Tracie always had a funny thing to say

- Who broke character the most on stage?

Anthony Stephanie and Christian

Anthony: it was when I said “I don’t want a bar mitzvah” and I spit in your face a lot and you went like *puts arms up* and someone at stage door was like very condescending like it’s not professional

Christian: Oh my bad we’re people sorry

- Stephanie wrote a line in the show “YOU HAVE PAINTINGS OF DICKS”

- James wanted her to cut off her finger during I’m breaking down

And turn around with a bandaged bloody finger

- Betsy’s nose bleeding during something bad is happening

And Tracie was like something BAD IS HAPPENING

Tracie: Christians throwing up right now

Betsy: Bloody Kleenex up the nose THE SHOW MUST GO ON

- Fan question: Stephanie how do you belt with a banana in your mouth

Christian: Practice practice practice

Stephanie: just shove it in your cheek. But Really that wasn’t supposed to happen

Anthony’s nickname in the rehearsal room was little bananas because he had to gather up all the pieces of stuff after Stephanie shoved the table over with her rear. Sometimes he didn’t have enough time to put it somewhere so he would just put the pieces of banana in his mouth and that’s where it came from

That’s why

- Andrew: Stephanie your glasses are very chic

Stephanie: Oh my gosh thank you *shocked*

- Betsy: Bill was like I’d rather DIE than change lyrics for the pbs special

FLaT aS a LaKe

- Cue everyone accidentally talking over each other and saying what at each other for 30 seconds

Christian: what? what? what?

Who is it?

What’s going on?

- If you could play anyone else in the show who would it be

Anthony said Mendel

Tracie said Mendel

Brandon said Trina

Andrew said marvin

Betsy said whizzer

Stephanie said Mendel

And I honestly couldn’t hear if Christian said anything whoops

- Brandon: If someone could at some point explain to me the Mendel eats dirt meme? People have been Asking me if Mendel eats dirt? I don’t think it’s about Trina Trina is not the dirt. I was overwhelmed. Can someone in the Q&A explain this? *A few seconds later* oh It was from a meme generator?

Christian: Greaat.

Brandon: It’s a fan fiction about Mendel eating dirt and getting aroused by it

Everyone: WHAT

- They still get fan art

Someone recreated the whole soundtrack 8bit and also with KAZOOS

- Brandon: CONGRATS CHRISTIAN ON LULOS WIN FOR LITTLE SHOP. If you haven’t seen Christian in little shop it’s revelatory I’m not just blowing smoke up your ass I have not laughed that hard in a while at the theatre

- Christian talking about little shop

Christian has a 12 inch Batman toy in his dressing room and he misses it

- Ticket prices were getting out of control before corona everyones hoping this will make a difference

Brandon and everyone think it should get more accessible

- Brandon: Hear hear I need a refill

- Stephanie: Your hair looks incredible Brandon (it did)

Christian: She’s been waiting to talk about it for 53 minutes

- Andrew: Well Betsy what I’m wondering is have you crowned yet??

Proceed everyone dying

Brandon, taking a picture of the screen: This moment will go down in history as When Betsy was asked if she was crowning

- Everyone mimicking zoom freezing by starting a sentence and freezing halfway through

- Christian: What new Steven sondheim musical are you excited about Anthony *devilish grin*

Anthony having no idea what Christian is talking about

Christian: Come on Anthony you know the answer. Ugh. The minds of the young. You’re smoking pot now aren’t you??

Christian: We have a lot of fun

- Andrew: I’m trying to get people to pay attention to me

- Christians pretending to be frozen

Cue a lot of yelling: Stephanie BRANDON STEPHANIE

NO CHRISTIAN

Everyone accusing each other of being frozen

NO YOURE FROZEN

- Andrew: Let’s all act like we’re frozen

Steph: I see Andrew acting like hes frozen

Betsy: Watching you do that is killing me

- Listening to the cast recording for the first time together

Stephanie: Why was I the a-hole that couldn’t be there???

Christian: That’s a question only you can answer

- Betsys husband came in everyones like BETSY LOOK OUT

Christian: that scared the shit out of me

- What is marvins last name and what was his line of work

Christian: we definitely said it at some point right? (They didnt) but he was in advertising. What was the last name? Gardens? O’Malley?

- Andrew: Betsys gone oh no

Betsy: I’m right here!!!

Andrew: She’s giving birth (again)

Stephanie: Betsy Wolfe is a ceiling

- Brandon: Welcome back Anthony. You’re here now.

Anthony singing merrily we roll along over Betsy trying to tell a story

Christian: STOP SMOKING POT IN YOUR BEDROOM ANTHONY

- Betsy: Steve (Steven Sondheim) comes to the door I call him steve

Into the woods is the reason Betsy is in theatre

- Betsy: Andrew was nervous singing at the tonys for Book of Mormon and he got dry mouth he sang like 😬I BELIEVE and he licked his lips so much during the song.

Brandon: Did you have a boner then too?

Andrew: GUYS DONT BE DICKS

Stephanie: It’ll be like dry mouth, boner

Andrew: BETSY YOU FUCKIN BITCH ITS ACTUALLY NOT THAT BAD

Stephanie: Bets maybe we should wrap it up

- Brandon sings MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

EVERYONE TELLING HIM TO STOP SINGING I took a video it was beautiful might post that later

- “Tracie Thomas from Lent!”

Tracie having stage fright

Tracie: Billy porter said “oh child we all forget the words” and walked away

- Anthony said WHO SHAT THE BED in four jews once

Anthony: That’s my contribution. Steph got her line, I got who shat the bed

- Steph: We lost andrew oh no

Christian: Um, we lost andrew ten minutes ago. Yeah when Brandon started singing

- Then Betsy sang a song by Bill Finn beautiful

- Steph: Wear your masks and eat pork on wednesdays

That was it!! I hope you enjoyed and people who were there if I got anything wrong that’s my human error it was hard to note everything I wanted to. Smooches! Byee

#falsettos #falsettos reunion #christian borle #andrew rannells #stephanie j block #betsy wolfe #tracie thoms #anthony rosenthal #brandon uranowitz #falsettoland #musical theatre #zoom reunion #marvin falsettos #whizzer brown #trina falsettos #cordelia falsettos #dr charlotte #jason falsettos #mendel weisenbachfeld #broadwayhd #broadway cares #broadway evolved

[jadedragoness]

Battle Ground 1st Read Through Reaction

Can I just start off by saying, Holy crap. Chicago got curb-stomped hard. So freaking hard.

I really, really, enjoyed the story. I pretty much didn’t want to stop reading as soon as I cracked open the covers of the book but I did have to have periods of giving myself a break and just put the book down and go do something sensible like do the dishes instead of screaming or shaking my fists at the sky like a lunatic.

I do admit that as a story the continuous battle was draining and exhausting to read. But I think that was the point so I don’t really count it against the story. It is something important to know going in, and why I’d recommend breaks.

Let’s talk spoilers… just assume spoilers for everything Dresden Files related too. Ummm, also this runs long.

First Let’s Me Tell You About the Thing Which Exploded My Brain:

1. MARCONE IS FREAKING KNIGHT OF THE BLACKENED DENARIUS! WHHHAAAAT!!

...okay, I’m done screaming about it.

OF FREAKING THORNED NAMSHIEL!!! ...I lied, I wasn’t done. How long? What? When? I didn’t see this coming at all! And I’m so freaking torn about how to feel about it.

I am so damned (heh) relieved that Marcone’s didn’t die at Ethniu’s hands. I seriously freaked at the moment she snapped his neck that I went into instant denial and my eyes skipped several paragraph down out of the desperate wish to see if it was trick. I’m also very, very delighted that Marcone is now so much harder to kill. I mean, he was already pretty hard to kill being Marcone but this just takes it up to eleven.

On the other hand, a Fallen Angel is so freaking dangerous. *makes gargling worried noises* And while it looks like Marcone appears to have worked out a partnership with the coin I can’t help but remember that when we were first introduced to this Fallen he was called ‘Thorned Namshiel’ and not by the name of his bearer. So he appears to be the type to subsume the human who holds him. Which makes me worried that Marcone could be on that path and not even realize it. *goes back to making gargling worried noises*

I do find reassuring that the coin is on a chain around his neck and therefore easily removed and not buried in his body like some of the other Denarians will do.

However, I am feeling a little disappointed Marcone is no longer purely a ‘vanilla’ mortal who stood toe-to-toe eldritch beings and survived by simply being smarter, deadlier and amazeballs. I’ll miss that. I always thought that it was especially hilarious how much Harry would freak out about Marcone and how deadly Marcone is when even in the same room as scary monsters (like in ;Skin Game;, I mean seriously he was in the same room as Nicodemus and Harry was hardcore worried about upsetting Marcone… hilarious!) when Marcone was a vanilla mortal… but now he’s not.

And yet, now Marcone knows how to sling around magic and is incredibly hard to kill. *thumbs up at Jim Butcher* Yeeeessssss! *is so happy*

Although… if Harry doesn’t end up making all manner of ‘thorny’ jokes at Marcone I’m going to be very disappointed. =D

Things I Sorta Expected:

1. Murphy dying.

Now, I totally bawled at the scene after Rudolph shot Murphy. I especially lost it when Harry kept referring to her body as an ‘empty house.’ ARGH. But I wasn’t actually surprised that she died. I did feel like I got a very strong sense it was going to happen. Actually, from how often Harry’s thoughts seemed to be pinging in that direction I was partially convinced his wizardly ‘insight’ was kicking in and trying to warn him.

And he tried. He really did.

But ultimately it was Karrin’s own choice to be away from safety and be her badass self.

2. Hendricks’ dying.

I’ve actually have read the short story ‘Monsters’ from Goodman Grey’s POV and I’ve read it a little over a week ago and in it he notes Marcone’s bodyguard as a dumb Einherjaren. Which made my brain go: Whoa, wait… where’s Hendricks? Is Hendricks dead? Did Hendricks die and become in Einherjaren? Or is he off doing something and one of those guys is taking over for a bit? Fuck, Hendricks is dying in ‘Battle Ground’ isn’t he?

So I wasn’t exactly surprised, but I was still very, very upset. And when Ethniu picked up Hendrick’s corpse and smashed him into Marcone that’s where I lost it. Like totally lost it while also being worried about Marcone at the same time. Gah.

Curveballs I Did Not Expect:

1. Marva and Drakul. The deaths of Wild Bill and Yoshimo at the hands of Black Court vampires and the threat that we may see them again as Black Court? Did not see that coming. I expected to lose Wardens but not like that.

...and I may be in denial about Chandler (I like the guy, okay) being dead. Please. He’s a wizard. He’ll be back. Of course as soon as I wrote that I was instantly struck of by the thought of: “Yeah, but will you like what you get back?”

2. Also Drakul is a starborn? I get more and more curious about what it means! I’m with Harry in frothing in frustration over how people won’t tell him already! *screams into the void*

Also Kincaid worked for this guy? *shudders*

3. Marcone and Thorned Namshiel. *gurgles*

4. Justine had Nemesis in her! And for years?!

How in the hell are they going to save her? Mab barely saved Lea and she’s Mab!

Also I thought Nemesis was very infectious. Is there anyone else around who has been infected? Maybe among Harry’s friends with Justine as the vector? *is worried*  

5. Not getting a resolution on the situation with the Svartalves. Or did I miss something? Seriously, the ending of the book felt like it was missing about 30 more pages to wrap up and work a bit more on characters.

Things I Did Not Like or Was Disappointed By:

1. Rudolph getting to live. Fuck that guy.

Okay, I understand that his not getting murdered at Harry’s hands wasn’t really for Rudolph’s sake but for Harry’s own soul. I just want him dead. Dammit, is it too much to ask for him to have been shot by a turtleneck or stomped by a Jotun or splattered by Formor acid that slowly ate away at his guts as screamed until his internal organs slowly dissolved?

I have may have a bloodthirsty vengeful streak. And yet: want.

2. I also may have narrowed my eyes at the end of the book there after Harry said that Marcone was dropping off the keys and then it turned out Lara had picked them up instead. I may have also said aloud, “Butcher, are you Marcone-blocking me?” And he was, dammit, because I didn’t get to read more Marcone.

… I do not have a Marcone-addiction.

3. This is more disappointment than dislike but I didn’t get nearly as much Goodman Grey as I thought I’d get. Aw.

4. Harry not getting to talk to Ivy. *grumbles*

Things I Really Liked/Loved

1. Harry got his home back! And it’s the castle! The castle he all but swindled out of Marcone. Yes, I love it! I love Marcone but doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it when Harry get the best of him too. Anyway, I just love the fact that Harry is claiming parts of his life back from the traumatic heart-stomp events which occurred in ‘Changes’. *bounces in excitement* Now he just needs an office!

2. Marcone. Always. Actually I was a little afraid when he vanished after the battle started that there would be very little Marcone in this book too because Butcher is so Marcone-stingy.

3. That Harry is no longer a member of the White Council. I mean, they’ve been pretty useless to helping Harry out. And honestly, Harry has gotten so many headaches from them that I can’t help but think this is a weight he needed to shed.

Although, it really feeds my ‘Harry needs to become a member of the accords in his own right’ thing again. Seriously, he’s the Warden of Demonreach. He bound a Titan. It needs to happen. Ooh, or the Paranet can see about becoming an Accorded organization in their own right and then Harry can be with them. Yeeeessss.

4. Bob is back in Harry’s hands! Freaking yes! Whoohooo! About time! Oooh, wait, has Bob meet Bonnie? Can we read this happening? OMG, I want it so much… or would Harry be too horrified to let Bob influence his spirit-kid? LoL.

5. Seeing Toot-toot and Lacuna again! And when Harry pulled his ‘Za Lord’ maneuver and got the Guard and a ton of other fairies to help in the defense of… well, pizza in Chicago, that was great I punched the air.

 The I gloated even more over how Mab then explained Harry had scared some of the others with that move. Heh.

6. River Shoulders was so damn badass and amazeballs and like Wild Bill said, I’ll take two.

7. Michael and Charity already knowing that Molly is the Winter Lady and being the best parents and loving and accepting and… so much love for those two.

EVERYTHING MARCONE… yes, he’s getting his own heading

1. Gah, I love him. I have mentioned this before. That one of the first things he says to Harry when Harry is staring at him as he changes clothes is to paraphrase ‘did you forget how to get dressed or is this an awkward sexual reconnaissance’ nearly killed me. I was caught between giggling and choking on my own spit and then I nearly fell off the couch. Just remembering about it now, has me giggling at the computer screen.

2. Also, I find that ‘Excellent’ response from Marcone after they exchange threats to be fascinating. This was one of those points were I put the book down and wondered what Marcone meant by that. Then I had the thought that maybe in his own fashion, Marcone was doing the same thing that practically everyone had been doing with Harry since he got back from being shot. He was checking to see if Harry was still the same man he’d been before. And from Harry’s response, Yup. He was. So: “Excellent.”

Having also read ‘Skin Game‘ and how cold Marcone is in the end there? The difference with this Marcone versus the one where Mab was listening? I find that interesting too!

3. When Marcone showed up to the fight! So freaking badass! Love how he led the fighters.

Also I find it significant that both of the guys who are obsessed with protecting Chicago were the ones who manifested ‘banners’ which drew humans to the fight.

Really cool. And it reminds me all over again that for all their different life philosophies Marcone and Dresden do agree on the mantra of: Protect Chicago.

4. This book, especially the lake beach scene reminded me so hard why I love the banter between Harry and Marcone so much. When it just seems to be the two of them and they aren’t actively threatening each they have such a great rapport! Loved reading it! Wished we got more of it in the books.

5. Okay, with Hendricks’ death I’m rather worried for Marcone. ‘Even Hand’ gave the impression Hendricks often acted as a very gentle conscience to Marcone. Losing him has got to be hitting Marcone hard. And that I now know he only has a Fallen angel on his shoulder?

Yup, growing more worried for Marcone at the time.

6. I’m also wondering about what was said in that exchange between Mab and Marcone on the roof when Harry called out Marcone for about being the Lord of Chicago needing to be more than talk. Okay, I can guess. I just really, really want to hear the words because I bet Marcone was badass.

7. The Lord of Chicago giving Harry the title of the Wizard of Chicago? Freaking loved it.

8. Also Marcone freaking purred. Purred. “Prove it,” he purred. “Hero.”

I think Jim Butcher is trying to give me a heart attack or cause me to crack my skull on floor because I nearly fell off the couch again.

9. With Marcone now outed as a magic-wielding Denarian does that mean we get more of him in the future books? Because I freaking hope so... I say this even knowing I’d have the exact same wish even without him being a magic-wielding Denarian.

Things I Found Completely Hilarious

1. Marcone’s opening lines to Harry. Heh. Forever Lol!

2. Is Lacuna a tooth fairy? Her obsession with teeth cracked me up so much.

3. That Mab smacking both Lara and Harry with those wedding plans. *snickers* I mean, I find it totally hilarious because of how gobsmacked both of them were about it. I don’t expect Harry to go through with it at all, not with how we know how seriously he takes relationships. So either he’s going to get out of being the Winter Knight or find some other way to defy Mab. Or hell, maybe Lara gets them both out of it by marrying someone else first. Honestly, I can’t see her agreeing to marry someone who’d burn her with a touch.

Pure Speculation or Things that Just Excite Me for the Future:

1.  Now I bet you’re all wondering why I’m not more upset about Murphy or Hendricks dying. Simply put, I’m 100% convinced that when both Murphy and Hendricks wake up in Valhalla, in drinking (with quaffing I bet) halls full of grunting, fighting obsessed Vikings and they will go ‘Nope, I’m out!’ three seconds later. Those two? Especially knowing how much trouble Harry and Marcone have got to be getting up to without them? They’d probably join forces and stage a breakout to get back.

This is what occurred to me the moment Gard explained what happened to their bodies. The whole not come back until everyone who knew them was gone, yeah, right. Not happening.

Or, jeeze, I can’t image Marcone not thinking this was a possibility and then not having made plans to bust Hendricks out and you know Murphy would demand to come along too. And with Thorned Namshiel providing help? I can see this happening.

...okay, this idea sneaked into my head but now I’m seeing Murphy (having busted out of Valhalla with a bunch of Einherjaren) and learning about the upcoming nuptials between Lara and Harry leads a raiding party (what else, with Vikings!) to bride nap (groom nap?) Harry away before he says “I do.“ Heh. This would be hilarious.

2. I’m sorta vibrating with the possibilities of what the future will bring with a Chicago that is waking up to the dangers of the supernatural while at the same time having learned that it is possible to stand up to monsters and kill them. Especially, what this means when bad things go down in Chicago again, because of course they will. And there may be more people joining in the fight.

Hmm, can the Paranet be deployed as a means of bringing vanilla mortals in or educating them so they don’t go after the good guys? They do sort of stand in the middle, more so than Harry. *lost in thoughts*

3. While I’m actually a little surprised that Ebenezar made it out alive as I actually had him down on my ‘Will Probably Die List’. I was relieved as I hope to see him and Harry actually have that conversation which Harry wants. Seriously, if only for Maggie’s sake, who shouldn’t have her first and last memory of her Great-Grandpa be him being a total jerk.

4. Harry can bind the prisoners of Demonreach to do his bidding? *blinks* Ooh, the possibilities.

5. These Librarians, the Men in Black of the DF ‘verse, sound amazing and I can’t wait to see them show up.

#the dresden files #battle ground #Harry Dresden #harry blackstone copperfield Dresden #The Curbstomp of Chicago #spoilers #battle ground spoilers #dresden files spoilers #karrin Murphy #mab #review/reaction #formor war #formor #river shoulders #nathan hendricks #john marcone #gentleman john marcone #book spoilers

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #387

“today i woke up, & i hate myself”

What common problem have you never experienced? The loss of a close family member (that doesn't include pets). Alternatively, what's an uncommon problem you have experienced? Homelessness. Do you know anyone who opposes marriage equality? I sure do. What was the last thing you got really emotional about? Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty premiering. What's the longest amount of time you've been ill for? I don't really know. I don't get sick a lot at all. Who is your closest male friend? Girt. Do you know anyone who hunts for meat? Sadly. I say "sadly" because it's not like they need it. Have you ever lived with a boyfriend/girlfriend? Yes, although I wasn't a technical resident. I was there all the time, though. What do you wash dishes with? Sponge, scrub brush, rag, something else? A sponge. Is there anything you prefer to do the old-fashioned way? There's probably something, but I can't think of anything. Do you put your glasses and mugs right side up or upside down on the cabinet shelf? Upside-down. What was the worst part of your childhood? My parents fighting. Have you ever seen a high school relationship last long-term? (like 10+yrs) Yeah. Do you know any cancer survivors? Quite a few. Leftover pizza for breakfast... yay or nay? Good shit, man. Do you personally know anyone who's a psychopath or sociopath? I don't think so. What is your most used kitchen appliance? Lately, it's been the apple slicer. I've been on a real apple slices + peanut butter kick lately. What is something that you would personally like to be remembered for? For being a caring person towards all living things. Have you ever been diagnosed as clinically depressed before? Yes. Do you like bowling? Yeah, it's fun. Do you own binoculars or nonoculars? What do you use them for? No. Do you ever wish you had a telescope on the roof or attic to stargaze? Yeah, that'd be cool. Have you ever had to deal with someone close to you going off to war? No, thankfully. Who do you feel you have the most in common with? Sara, easily. Who in your life causes you the most stress or negative feelings? My damn self lmao. Have you ever had a teacher that also taught your parents? No. My parents didn't grow up in NC. What’s one thing that people definitely CAN’T count on you for? To remember like... anything. What about something they definitely can count on you for? Someone to listen to encourage them. What’s one food that you want to try but haven’t yet? I've always thought macaroons look good. Do you have anything planned for the summer? No. Do you walk fast or slow? Slow. Would you consider yourself an adrenaline junkie? No. What is a common slang word from where you live? Plural "you" does not exist. It's "y'all," lol. What’s the scariest thing you’ve accidentally found on the internet? *shrug* Probably something as a kid, going on those sketchy websites with loads of games and stuff. Thinking of every Halloween costume you’ve had, which one was the most creative? I don't think I've had any creative costumes for Halloween. What’s one random city you want to visit? It's not exactly "random" as it's a popular location, but anyway, I would love to visit Venice. What subjects do you or did you get the worst grades in? Math. When was the last time you ate cake and what type of cake was it? That's a good question, actually. Maybe my niece's birthday in February? I don't remember what kind of cake it was. Do you have photos to go with all of the contacts in your phone? No; I don't have any. Do you like snowy winter days or do you prefer rainy days? SNOWY! Name 3 things you find most beautiful in nature: Mountains, large waterfalls, and desert dunes in the wind. If you could ask one person one questions and get a completely honest answer who would it be and what would you ask? Jason. I'd ask if he thought I was emotionally abusive. What is your favorite winter activity? Building snowmen. Who is the greatest singer who is no longer living? Freddie Mercury. What is your idea of heaven? I don't know, really... I have to ask myself IS there a heaven in eternity? Living forever just... doesn't appeal to me. "Living" is an odd word to use there, but hopefully you get it. Existing on and on and on and on seems like it'd just be a drag, but at the same time I do like the thought of feeling relentlessly happy and peaceful with my loved ones. I guess that would be my definition of it, if it does exist. What’s one of the scariest things you’ve ever done? ODed. Have you ever watched the Superbowl all the way through? Just once, on my 16th birthday because I was at Jason's place and all of his family was watching it. I had absolutely zero interest, but we wanted to hang with the family. If you had to move to another country, where would you move? Canada. Do you watch American Horror Story? I haven't in years. It was Jason's and my first "show," and the first season was excellent. I lost interest in the second one, honestly. I'd be up for watching other seasons, though. How many relationships have you been in this year? None. What's your favorite cereal? Probably Cinnamon Toast Crunch. That's also the only cereal where I can happily drink the milk afterwards. Twitter or Facebook? Facebook. Do you like to paint your nails? No. What's the coolest place you've ever been to? Disney World, probably. Have you ever punched anyone? No. What's something you wish you knew how to do? Cook. :/ I really need to make an effort to learn. It'd be great to not rely on a microwave for the rest of my life. What's a celebrity that everyone likes but you don't? *shrug* What food do you eat the most? Probably bread in some form or another. That really needs to stop. Green or purple grapes? Either one, but they have to be firm. I cannooooooot with soft grapes. Have you ever cried over a text? Yeah. What's the background of your phone of? My lock screen is this pretty, simplistic periwinkle color with "work on you for you" written on it. It's one I plan on keeping for probably a long time because I connect to it so deeply with my stupid damn head frequently demanding I have to improve "for Jason" to prove him wrong. Which is a very unhealthy mindset to have, I know. My home screen is a cute lil Mark edit someone made with a very similar pale blue background, so my phone is just currently an #aesthetic. Do you have a Snapchat? No. What's your favorite sports team? (if you like sports)? I don't like sports, but I'm biased towards the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team because of my dad. Last thing you ate? I had Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast. Do you take a lot of selfies? Definitely not. I just hate how I look so much; it takes way too much effort for me to get an "acceptable" one. Do you prefer strawberries or cherries? Strawberries. I hate cherries. How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Maybe like, three. -_- Our A/C is still out, and it was like, 87 in the house last night. It was impossible to sleep. Do you listen to music daily? Not EVERY day, but usually. Biggest insecurity? My weight. Do you play video games? Not as much as I used to. I'd probably play way more if I actually had a PS4 + the games I'm DYING to have. Do you consider yourself lazy? "Yes, but a lot of it is also health related for my lack of energy and motivation." <<<< This for me as well. What recently made you laugh? I was watching a bit of The Nanny with Mom yesterday. We love that show. Do you like gummy bears? Yep. What was the last song you listened to? I'm randomly hooked on "My Nocturnal Serenade" by YOHIO. Like, I've known the song for a long time, but NOW I'm bingeing it???? Describe your mom with one word. Selfless. What's the biggest turn-off? Probably being misogynistic. But being a cocky ass is definitely high up there, too. What fish scares you the most? Mfkng whale sharks terrify me. How do you feel about snails? They're cuties!!! What's your favorite app? Pokemon GO. Would you rather time travel into the past or future? The future, to see what's coming. I feel like you could come back with some pretty valuable information. What is the saddest song you've ever heard? I think "Terrible Things" by Mayday Parade has to come on top. What insect do you hate the most? I was reminded that stag beetles exist last night, and omfg those. Well, "hate" is the wrong word, really, I'm just terrified of them. Would you ever have a wild animal as a pet if possible? I 110% want to rescue an opossum, emphasis on "rescue." I'm not plucking one from the wild or anything like that. I would be in HEAVEN raising one of those angels. Are there any decorations that makes you happy? (lights, candles, plants..) I love those beds decorated with fairy lights, and just Christmas lights in general. Halloween and Christmas decor tend to give me sparks of happiness when I see 'em. Does race matter to you when it comes to dating? Not at all for me. When was the last time you painted something? Not since I was still in school and took a Painting course. When was the last time you really felt alive, and what were you doing? I have NO idea. What is one question you would like an answer to? Why the worst things tend to happen to good people. Name one favorite thing to do with kids while babysitting. I don't babysit, but if I was to be in charge of a kid, I'd love to teach them to play video games from my childhood. Playing Pokemon with my niece and nephew is always a blast, ahhhh. Name one flavor you like. Strawberry is pretty consistent. Name one thing you are hoping for. Venus' new terrarium soon... big sigh. I can't for the life of me find one that's a reasonable price and also adequately sized. I'm willing to put the rest of my cash into it, but Mom is helping, so I can't just buy the first one I see. Then I'd need more substrate, I seriously want a temperature gun and hygrometer, a cool hide, sticks and stuff for cover... It's going to be expensive, but I want Venus to have a truly proper environment she can thrive in. Write the name of one of your imaginary friends from when you were younger. Oddly enough, I can't remember the imaginary wolf that was my "friend." I say "oddly" because his whole idea was important to me as a weird-ass kid. Name one girl's name that starts with a "J" that you like. "Justine." Name one boy's name that starts with a "J" that you like. Maybe "Jaxson." Have you ever been kissed? Yeah. Have you ever feared that you would be killed? It's never been like, a fear I actively worry about. I just acknowledge it's always a possibility for anyone. What is the last great opportunity you missed? This was quite a while ago by now, but I'd say by dropping out of school, I really let photography opportunities slip since I became the newspaper photographer...

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''under the graveyard'' by ozzy osbourne

[vaguely-concerned]

Some Alec Ryder Meta

So since I couldn’t find the screenshots of Alec Ryder’s dying ‘thoughts’, I went and got them myself!* And I am uh way closer to crying than I thought I would be, Alec sort of surprised me here. Let’s go! 

I was NOT prepared for his literal first thought to be of his children. And notice -- this is not his children being impressive or special or idk ordered/obedient. It’s them being happy and safe and playing and chaotic. I uh did not expect this, frankly.

I’m guessing this is where they used to live when the kids were small! (Would this be before or during their time on the Citadel? The timeline there is so hazy to me haha, I can never quite remember how that works)

Baby Scott on the swing ;______; I wonder if Alec is ‘there’ off screen in this scene, pushing him, since we start off with a shot looking over Scott’s shoulder like that 

Can I just say how quietly charmed I am by the fact that in Alec’s memories Ellen isn’t captured when she was ~*young and beautiful*~ or whatever nonsense -- she’s a mature woman, the same age as himself. It feels like there is something sweet and telling in that, like they were partners/equals in his mind. (This also makes me very uncomfortable to think he didn’t ask her/didn’t get her consent at the last moment on her death bed to put her in stasis, after the twins left the room at least; he seems to have respected her so much, if he went against her wishes that’s... such a breach of everything she seems to have meant to him and really should have been addressed more because it would essentially be his big sin as a character. So I choose to believe for now that when the kids left he did one last ‘give it this one last shot and I promise that if I find nothing within a certain time I’ll let you go and grieve like a normal fucking person’ sales pitch, possibly with prepared Science to back him up because they were both kind of weird like that and I think that if anything could have worked that would. ‘But think of the scientific implications tho babe wouldn’t you want to be able to find out how worked?’ ‘...You’ve got me there’)

More confirmation that Ellen had probably come to terms with her death and Alec Really Hadn’t lol. (Ellen might have just been grateful she lost neither of her children to the eezo exposure, actually -- she would have understood intimately how phenomenally lucky they were that both the twins survived and were healthy to boot) If I were to hazard a guess I’d say that Alec probably was in pretty bad need of space therapy even before his wife got ill, she was just his emotional support and he was intelligent and driven enough to hide most of it until that stability came under threat

:( this is upsetting. It doesn’t come across as well without the movement but he’s bowing his head and putting his face in his hands. Either Ellen when she’s really sick or when she uh ‘died’ 

I’m fairly sure that’s Ellen’s eyes -- and crucially they’re opening again. 

Mom and the twins :’) I think it’s pretty clear Alec did that thing some people (especially men) do where they sort of organize all their feelings through their partner -- “Your mother would have been proud of you, of both of you” JESUS CHRIST ALEC JUST TELL YOUR CHILDREN YOU’RE PROUD OF THEM LIKE YOU ACTUALLY MEANT TO SAY, THEY ALREADY KNOW THEIR MOM LOVED THEM FOR GOD’S SAKE YOU ARE THE UNCERTAIN ELEMENT HERE

ETA: actually this might also have something to do with how convinced he seems to be that the kids don’t need him -- that his love and attention and regard doesn’t matter or count, or would even be seen as an imposition (he consistently refers to himself pretty self-deprecatingly in connection to them, their ‘old man’ coming in and messing up their lives, like he considers his absence to probably be the best he can do for them? He certainly devalues his own impact massively, positive or negative). Meanwhile Ellen’s place in all their lives is a clear and uncontested positive so maybe that’s why he goes for her pride and her love like that. Again: who the fuck raised this weird dysfunctional man to be like this and how did he get away with it for so long haha

Alec and adult/at least teenaged twins! a) I suspect going to another galaxy with them to explore might honestly have been his idea of how bonding works, which... well and b) Sara is right behind him, leaning in like she’s listening and interested in what he’s saying and maybe even speaking too, and Scott looks to me like he’s sort of stranded on the side, looking in but not quite able to connect the same way. (This might be coloured by what I know about their respective relationships from the rest of the game, granted)

The same memory as before BUT interestingly --

the camera is turning around, like Alec is trying to get a look at his children’s faces and can’t :) this is fine and not at all illustrative of his entire deal *everything in my heart is on fire*

sOME observations: 

- These flashes give you more emotional insight in him than all the unlockable memories put together, and you’ll literally never see most of them unless you’re a freak like me, painstakingly frame by framing your way through it. That... seems like a waste?? 

- Despite his numerous flaws and shortcomings as a parent and as a person, literally every single thought he has at the end is about his family -- and not only his wife, all of them. There’s no place for his work here at all. That doesn’t absolve him of anything, of course, but it makes me sad that he never found a better way to show it, or to emotionally connect with his children, which he seems to have a real wish to. (”Maybe six hundred years can change a man”) Bioware... Bioware sequel pls don’t leave it like this ;_________;

- He himself does not figure prominently in his memories, and when he does he is faceless and vague -- except for when he is completely alone with his grief and Ellen is gone. I think there is something to be said about the fact that he makes all these huge inspiring speeches about the unknown and exploration... and yet his actual motivation is so firmly rooted in this immense fear of the unknown and of himself, of not knowing who to be without his wife, of not knowing how to go on living, of being alone. I wonder to what degree he knows this himself. (From what I’ve read so far of Mass Effect Initiation he certainly isn’t as idealistic about the whole thing as even the game portrays him, where he’s show to be pretty clear-eyed about the Initiative already -- or maybe he sort of is an idealist, under the fear and the jaded exhaustion. Either he genuinely believes Andromeda will hold answers and that science can achieve the impossible or he’s just too scared to consider any other outcome. Oh Boy tm)

- Ellen’s illness is such a cataclysmic event for him that I really have to assume he was never that stable to begin with. And as we’ve seen: When a Ryder goes off the rails they do so in STYLE and drag thousands of people with them to an uncertain fate haha

- My personal headcanon is that Alec used to be a better dad before Ellen got ill and when the kids were still very young; when all they really needed was to be held and loved and made to feel safe, and then became more and more distant as his work with SAM progressed and the children’s emotional needs grew more complex and demanding. Sara remembers this part of their father better (or clings to it more desperately, depending on your point of view) and is also more like him in general, being driven, competitive and intensely intellectually engaged (no matter how you play her in-game, Sara is always presented as vastly more A Nerd than Scott is -- its own can of worms of course but it’s there in the text). Meanwhile Scott has reached a resigned sort of ‘It’s perfectly plausible my dad would not be able to pick me out from a crowd’ place about it and given up on expecting anything more a long time ago in self defense. I think they’ve both hit on different parts of the truth there lol

(Also Sara and Alec seem to have bonded over making fun of Scott a little bit and considering him the underachiever of the two and like Not Cool guys!!! :( ) 

- Anyway Alec Ryder is a very interesting and immensely flawed character and killing him off and never meaningfully engaging with him again seems like throwing away a golden opportunity. Sequel where ‘Ghost Riders’ takes on a new meaning when??? I just want the twins to be able to either yell at him or connect to him better, as appropriate to the feelings of the individual player (I totally get why people would want to give their Ryders a chance to straight up hate him)

I think where it really hurts for me is that he clearly has these feelings, the capacity for it. There’s a wealth of affection and... tenderness? reverence, nearly? in these memories. None of his outward hardass needs-everything-to-be-under-control persona. And yet he could find no way to express this or even really meaningfully stay with his own feelings and his children suffered for it. It’s just all so fucking sad

*Courtesy of DanaDuchy’s youtube channel, which is truly one of the marvels of the internet; please check it out if you have any interest at all in Bioware games or indeed RPGs/games in general, there’s SO much content and it’s all neatly organized! If like me you want to listen to all the banter of every game... this channel’s got you covered

#mass effect #mass effect andromeda #meta #alec ryder #is a real SOB but the more I learn about him the more grudging confused affection I have for him lol #this must be what it's like to be the ryder twins #today in the 'I know no one asked for this but my brain won't shut up about it' report lol

[tippitv]

Recap: “Scoobynatural”

Welcome to my first recap in... a very long time!

Right off the bat, Dean is engaging in fisticuffs with a giant stuffed dinosaur. Or perhaps a person in a fuzzy dinosaur costume. Sam taps in and Dean whips out some holy oil and starts sloshing it all over the dino like it's free vinaigrette at the Olive Garden.

Remember when that stuff was super rare? The holy oil, I mean. Anyway, he sets the dino on fire. It explodes in a shower of melted foam and green fuzz. Presumably the Winchesters double-checked to make sure a person wasn't in there.

A shopkeeper named Alan---we're in a pawnshop here---is glad to be alive. Some guy named Jay shows up to see what all the ruckus was about. It's pretty obvious he's the bad guy even though he seems nice because 1. he gets a fair amount of exposition about owning a lot of real estate and 2. he's wearing this outfit.

Alan offers the Winchesters anything in the store as thanks for saving his life. Dean picks out a big flat screen TV. I can't decided if this is in character or not because I can't remember where the show last settled on Dean's characterization.

Back at the bunker, Sam pores over the lore trying to figure out what it was they just fought. Dean quotes Elsa from Frozen: Let it go. Sam is baffled and let me tell you, I was clenched up thinking they were gonna make a "what are you, a little girl?" joke but they didn't. Phew. Dean wants to show off his new "Dean Cave," which I promise you is not a weird goatse thing.

There's beer and games and two old recliners, which I guess means Castiel has to sit in Dean's lap if he shows up for movie night. The centerpiece is their old new TV.

The TV sparkles with an eerie purple light and the Winchesters stand there staring at it even though nothing good can come of it. Suddenly, they're transported to a cartoon world where Sam and Dean are the same height.

The Impala is also magically there because, Dean guesses, the keys were in his pocket. Imagine what would've popped up if he'd had condoms in his pocket and this wasn't a kids' cartoon...

They soon find out exactly which kids' cartoon when they go for a drive to the nearest malt shop and find the Scooby Gang. The poor Mystery Machine looks so homely next to the Impala.

"Great, so we're stuck in a cartoon with a talking dog," Sam grumps as he sees Scooby slurping up a malt. Dean defends Scooby and the rest of the gang, except for Fred. He says the characters are their role models. "We do the same things! We go to spooky places, we hunt monsters! We fight ghosts!" Sam's like, "Our ghosts don't wear masks! And we don't have a talking dog!"

Now, there were a couple of ways they could have gone with this joke. Dean could have said, "Well, we kind of had a talking dog once," or even, "Hey I was kind of a talking dog once!"

But the joke they make is, "Cas is kinda like a talking dog." So, I propose that,  much like Scooby Doo is named after its talking dog, Supernatural be named after their talking dog.

The Winchesters introduce themselves to the gang. Dean kisses Daphne's hand which seems like kinda a dick move in front of her boyfriend even if everyone is a cartoon. They find out Scooby has been named an heir to the recently deceased “Colonel Sanders”.

Sam thinks they should be trying to find a way out, but Dean reminds him that the last time they got stuck in a TV show reality they had to play their parts.

They get themselves invited along to the reading of Colonel Sanders's will and hit the road. Dean grumbles about how much he hates Fred because of his "perfect hair, can-do attitude, and that stupid ascot." I'm pretty sure that's a neckerchief, but whatever. He challenges Fred to a race, which the Mystery Machine handily wins because... Baby's not used to driving on cartoon roads, maybe. Meanwhile, a shadowy figure emerges just before the cut.

At the reading of the Colonel's will, everyone finds out they have to spend the night in a haunted mansion to get their million-dollar inheritance. If I somehow come into possession of a mansion before I die, I'm going to have everyone do this, except instead of ghosts it's going to be haunted by male strippers.

Sam's about to tell Velma they're all in a cartoon but Dean shushes him up. "They don't know they're in a c-word!" Oh the age-inappropriate mental image! Anyway, everyone gets to their gender-segregated rooms and Dean puts on a comfy "sleeping robe." He says it's like being wrapped in hugs.

Daphne and Velma have a very het conversation about Sam Winchester while a cloaked ghost goes roaming through the mansion. As happens normally in the regular show but not in the Scoob-verse, the ghost is preceded by a drop in temperature.

Everyone goes running when they hear Cousin Simple scream bloody murder and find that he's been... bloodily murdered. "Well, gang, it looks like we've got another mystery to solve," Fred cheerfully announces. The Winchesters are both aghast at his casual attitude towards death. Lol

Although to Dean's credit, he's just putting down Fred to try to score points with Daphne. Wait... that's not a credit! The brothers realize that if cartoon people can die, it means they can die, too. Dean's more worried about Scooby than his own fate, because the show's been renewed for season 14 so he ain't dying anytime soon.

Suddenly, the mysterious figure from earlier bursts through the doors! It's Cas. Or "Cass" as the show continues to insist on spelling it.

Flashback to how Castiel got into the cartoon: He was in the bunker looking for the brothers, having just returned from Syria with fruit from the Tree of Life. How'd he get those past customs? He had to fight and love his way through a pack of Jinn to get them. "I think I'm technically married to their queen now!" he calls out in the empty bunker. The magical TV sucked him into the cartoon.

The Scooby Gang overhear the Winchesters and Cas talking about the killer stuffed dinosaur from the pawn shop. They say they're just talking about a book they're writing. Cas blurts out, "It's called The Killer Stuffed Dinosaur... in Love..."

The ghost shows up, does some ghost stuff that scares everyone, and disappears again. Scooby and Shaggy jump into Castiel's arms and he just... pitches them onto the floor. They find the lawyer in one of the rooms, decapitated. Sam and Dean have possibly literally never looked more disturbed by a death on this show.

Everybody decides to go look for clues. Dean tries to split off with Daphne but Fred gets in the middle of them like he's about to get the threesome awakening of his life. Velma practically humps Sam all the way up to the attic, and Castiel ends up with what's left. "I once led armies and now I'm paired with a scruffy philistine and a talking dog." That's a weird judgment after knowing Shaggy for 2 minutes.

Velma cannot shut up about Sam's broad shoulders and he has no idea why. It's called heteronormativity, Sam! He tries to convince her ghosts are real but she says most villains are just unscrupulous real estate developers.

Meanwhile, Dean's still trying to hit on Daphne when he inadvertently sends them all down a trapdoor to the basement. He ends up flirting with the ghost, to his dismay.

No really. After the standard Scooby Ghost Chase Musical Montage, everyone is reunited and Daphne tells them, "Dean had him by the thigh!" and Castiel's like, "YOU WHUT??" and Dean's all, "I almost caught him, that's the point!" Sam's reacting to him like this and I don't know why:

The ghost barges into the room where they're all being straight and starts throwing people into walls and out windows. The Winchesters beat the ghost off with iron candlesticks. You know what I mean.

Shaggy ends up with a broken arm---something that's never happened to him---despite Cas's best efforts. Sam and Dean decide they have to tell the gang the whole truth. This leads to all of them having an existential crisis. Dean gives them a pep talk about what heroes they really are. Man, if only all existential crises were this easy to fix.

Sam wants to arm the gang with guns but Dean reminds him. "That's a Scooby-don't!" Instead he tells Fred and the others to build a trap. This involves a Rube Goldbergian setup of soap bubbles, coconut, chains and a washing machine.

Naturally, this backfires on them and Castiel ends up in the washing machine with Scooby and Shaggy.

Luckily there's a second equally complex but much more successful trap that uses the trapdoor and a salt ring in the basement. Why would a ghost fall through a trapdoor instead of hovering? Shut up that's why.

The ghost turns out to be this poor dead kid whose spirit was tied to a pocket knife that belongs to Jay. He's been making the kid scare people in the neighborhood so they'll sell their property to him.

Now, the Scooby Gang isn't around to hear any of this. Just Sam, Dean and Cas. So they work out a bargain with the kid and promise to set him free when they get back to the real world

The kid pretends to be the cartoon baddie who was wearing a mask all along so that Velma and the others don't have their world view changed. Why can't they just leave now? It's not like anything they do in the cartoon has an effect on Scooby canon, does it? This episode aired decades ago.

Dean sends Daphne off with Fred, Castiel bids a fond farewell to Shaggy and Scooby, and Velma grabs Sam and dips him into a kiss. Dang, she's like the cartoon Becky. He'd better get out of there before she sets a real trap.

The kid zaps them all back to the real world, where Dean smashes up the TV to get the pocket knife Jay hid in it. He... could have just turned it upside down and shaken it. Sam torches the knife, making me wonder why it didn't burn when they flambeed the dinosaur.

I mean, they have Castiel right there. Couldn't he have just taken the kid to heaven? Or is he persona non grata up there again? I have the hardest time where the chess pieces are sometimes.

Anyway, Sam and Dean confront Jay at the pawn shop where he's conveniently about to get Alan to sign sale papers for him. I feel like you'd need a notary public for this kind of thing or... something. Dean is wearing a red neckerchief, which baffles Alan a bit.

Flashback to explain how Jay used the haunted knife to scare shop owners in the neighborhood, including Alan and later the Winchesters' new TV. How did he ever plan to get it back, though? The Winchesters did some digging and found out Jay hasn't been paying his taxes.

Suddenly the local cops show up, sirens blaring, because they do that for tax evasion in this reality. Jay is led away in cuffs, cursing, "I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for those meddling middle-aged men kids!"  Dean is so tickled that he looks right at the camera and goes,

Sam and Castiel are old grumps about the whole thing. I mean, so am I, but not as much as them.

I give the episode 3.5 Late Great Hellhounds out of 5.

Thanks for reading! This took about 14 hours to work up so I hope it's enjoyable for readers. And like, no pressure or anything but I have a virtual tip jar via ko-fi here:

https://ko-fi.com/A4017DA

#supernatural #recaps #tippitv #scoobynatural

[buythebackpackdobbyfucker]

Lesson after Lesson

For @pjosapphicweeks Day 5: Career AU! This doesn’t fit quite right but I started typing this out at 2 am and I’m not going back now.

Lacy meets Hazel in the staff room and has to work very hard to remember that kissing girls you’ve never seen before without mentioning it to your partner is irresponsible to control herself because Hazel is so fucking pretty and kind and soft and complimented Lacy’s glitter nail polish.

Lacy nods along to whatever Hazel says for most of the conversation and almost dies when Hazel blushes because she accidentally swore, she apologizes quickly and Lacy nods some more and then the bell rings and ugh, kids are lining up because lunch is over so Lacy waves goodbye and races to pick her class up from the door.

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Sadie’s helping a kid fix up their cords because their last guitar teacher must’ve been an idiot when her girlfriend gets home. She checks the clock and thanks the gods that the kids mom shows up in five minutes. She has the kid write down everything, packs up for them and shoves them out the door into their mom’s hand and then Sadie races into the kitchen to kiss Lacy hello.

Lacy blushes as usual, kisses her back and then starts rambling about the new fifth grade teacher. Sadie knows she must be something when Lacy knocks over a treble clef vase. She smiles and tells her to go for it and then they make dinner together and watch the Vampire Diaries before Sadie’s flute lesson comes over.

Later when Sadie’s writing down some lyrics that drifted into her mind and Lacy’s marking her seventh graders science labs Sadie asks Lacy for the new teacher’s name and Lacy flails and falls out of bed when she realizes she forgot to mention that. Sadie giggles and pulls her back into bed and they put away their papers and kiss each other to sleep.

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Hazel’s just started the lesson on grammar and the difference between past and present tense when the cute blonde seventh grade teacher pokes her head in, “Hey zero divided by zero is zero, right?”

Hazel pauses. Lacy blushes and 12 year olds screech from the class across the hall that they’re right and Ms. Veen’s is clearly wrong. Hazel giggles a little and then calls across the hall back to the tweens that, “All of you need to be giving Ms Veen’s a break! I’m sure you’ve all asked siri the same question!” Hazel’s 10 year old’s screech in laughter and Lacy smiles brightly and-oh, Yeah, Hazel’s gay.

Lacy skips off back to her class and Hazel turns back to the board a little dazed, because wow. Wow, okay.

The kids snicker, but she saw one of the boys swoon when Lacy flounced off so they can’t really talk.

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Lacy may have used her loud ass 12 year olds to give her an excuse to talk to Hazel. And holy shit how is Hazel’s class so good? She’s taking five of them next time they’re on Plan B. Actually nevermind, Hazel’s not allowed to be absent.

Lacy squeals as she realizes what she just thought and tries to drown herself in her classes failure to comprehend BEDMAS.

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Sadie is helping a piano student figure out the game plan for her upcoming exam when Lay starts spam texting her, which honestly? What the fuck? Her Lace has class right now? Her Lace should be educating tomorrow’s generation or whatever the fuck she does instead of interrupting a tinys lesson. Sadie rolls her eyes and tells the midget to make a list of the intervals they need to know and the songs that help them remember them and looks at Lacy’s texts.

Oh. Oh fuck that girl is pretty. Holy fucking shit what the fuck know she knows why Sadie used her pink eyeliner today fuck.

And from Lace’s rambles this Hazel girl is also really smart and sweet and good with kids. Fuckity fuck fuck.

Sadie swallows.

S: Babe holy fuck L: Oh light of my life, heart of hearts, I need to actually hold a full out conversation with her first S: Babe please L: I’m tryingggt L: she speaks french btw L: like I was in the workroom and trying to hide from the kids who were in French and I mention this to Hazel and she laughs and she starts spitting out French really dad and I spent the next ½ hour dieing S: babe. L: I CAN’T HELP IT

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Lacy’s just minding her own business when Hazel sits down next to her without any warning which is not fair because Hazel’s wearing this really pretty lipgloss and Lacy is not an adult and falls out of her chair when Hazel smiles.

Hazel helps her up, “Are you okay?”

“Go out with me?” Lacy answers. Thankfully, she doesn’t say that out loud. A voice in her head that sounds like Sadie tells her to ask Hazel out for real. Lacy ignores it.

“Urm, yes fine good very good, yep thank you, hi?” She flops internally.

Hazel still looks concerned but let’s Lacy’s flailing limbs slide. “Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to escape the school next week for lunch?” Lacy almost faints but pulls herself together, it’s not a date it’s a friendship growing. Dates are later-Sadie needs to get out of her head, gods.

Lacy nods eagerly at this and leaps for Hazel’s phone to punch in her number and mumbles some excuse and holy shit her background is a horse and it’s so cute oh gods. Lacy shakes herself out of it and sends herself a text before returning the phone. Hazel laughs and makes her take a picture for her contacts.

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Hazel wanders back into her class after recess beaming and lets the kids watch The Prince of Egypt for the mythology unit instead of reading from the textbooks.

She texts her roommate Leo as she’s marking some of their english paragraphs. She doesn’t bother letting anyone else know because Leo will tell them fast than she could even if she tried.

H: you know the cute girl with the pink eyeliner L: DO YOU HAVE PICS YET H: picture_attached L: LOL YOUR SCREWED L: HAVE YOU ASKED HER OUT YET H: i got her number? L: HOLY F*** I’M TELLING MY BOYFRIENDS H: you do realize i know that f*** is fuck right L: SHHH, YOUR TOO PURE H: its you’re L: JASON SAYS YOUR TOO YOUNG TO DATE AND FRANK SAYS GOOD FOR YOU L: PIPER SAYS YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO HER TEXTS L: ANNABETH SAYS TO ASK HER OUT ALREADY L: REYN

Hazel giggles when the messages stop because someone’s clearly stolen his phone, Leo likes to have the typing noise on max to make up for his lack of long nails to click. Or maybe one of his boyfriend’s just wanted some more Leo time and less Leo-On-His-Phone time.

She hesitates before typing out a text to Lacy and sending it.

H: hey, do you want to do brunch on saturday instead of going to some fast food place for five minutes on friday

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Lacy doesn’t check her phone till she get’s home because she blew out her battery texting Piper and Mitch.

When she does she scares one of Sadie’s students with her shriek, she apologizes quickly and counts down the minutes for Sadie’s lesson to be over to tell her. In the meantime she lets Piper and Mitch know the update and looks at animal shelters for the pet she’s working on convincing Sadie to get. She wonders what Hazel thinks of pets, is she a cat person or a dog person?

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Sadie finally gets rid of the five year old trying to learn the violin and slides across the floor to the kitchen where her Lace is staring at her phone, “Hey babe.” She kisses the top of her head and looks to see what Lace is staring at.

“I think she asked me out,” Lacy whispers. “Holy shit, I think she asked me out.”

Sadie laughs, “Babe, say yes.”

Lacy nods, “Yeah okay.” She continues to stare at the screen. Sadie sighs and steals her phone.

L: hey lacy would love to get brunch with you H: uhm L: Oh sorry, I’m laces gf sadie, lace is a little busy dying on the kitchen counter H: Oh. Hi! I didn’t know Lacy had a girlfriend, nice to meet you! H: well not meet you H: but uh H: hi?

Sadie found herself staring at the phone. This girl was adorable.

L: heyo, lace also has a mega huge crush on you though, so dw H: wait what L: u like her 2 rite? H: Um H: uh H: …yes L: so u and lace saturday for brunch=date? H: please

Lacy finally moves to wrestle the phone out of Sadie’s hand, and the  she sees the texts and drops her phone. Sadie kisses her cheek and tells Hazel that Lacy will meet her at 10:30.

She turns to smile at Lacy, “You’re welcome babe.”

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Hazel watches as Lacy’s girlfriend drops her off and her jaw drops because wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Lacy walks over to meet her and Hazel awkwardly offers her hand and let’s out a sigh of relief when Lacy takes it. The two of them blush their ways inside.

Once they’re seated they order a waffle to share and start talking, Lacy loves all sorts of animals so Hazel starts gushing about her horse Arion and then she notices Lacy’s glittery pineapple dress and squeals over it and everything seems to settle nicely together.

Lacy decorates her sections of the waffle with strawberries and Hazel puts whipped cream and blueberries on hers and they take a picture with dorky faces and Hazel steals some of Lacy’s strawberries and Lacy swipes her bowl of whipped cream and hoards it.

They split the bill and skip out hand and hand, Sadie’s waiting for Lacy so Hazel doesn’t kiss her goodbye, but then Lacy kisses her and Hazel almost faints because her lips are so soft and she still had a bit of whipped cream on the corner of her mouth and gods.

They both swoon and Sadie has to help them both up and they blush sheepishly. Sadie laughs good naturedly and they start to wander along a walk in the park across the street and holy fuck Sadie’s really cool. Lacy and Sadie drive her to the subway later and Lacy kisses her goodbye one more time and Hazel stumbles onto the train in a happy daze.

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Sadie and Lacy drive home and Lacy’s rambling about the date and then Sadie starts talking about how nice Hazel was and wow her horse was so nice (she’d shown them pictures) and the two stop and look at each other.

“You want to date her.” Lacy says, smiling.

Sadie looks at her, “I want to date her.”

“Let’s date her.” Lacy says, still smiling.

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Hazel, Sadie and Lacy go to the library and the movies and bike riding and Hazel brings them to meet Arion and they fall into a relationship, Sadie’s jealous of the other two because they get to see each other at their school so Sadie ask Hazel to spend the night whenever she can and then Lacy asks her to move in because the night’s Hazel doesn’t spend the night are always a little bit empty now. Hazel’s filled a spot in their life that didn’t need to be filled but life’s so much nicer now that it is.

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Ten months after they’ve moved in together and met all the family and Sadie’s asked both their dad’s for permission because her girlfriends like it when Sadie does stuff like that she asks their Principal Reyna if Sadie can propose to them over the PA.

All the secretaries giggle but Reyna just smiles at her and passes over the mike and then Sadie’s on air.

Sadie takes in a deep breath, “Lacy Veen and Hazel Levesque, this is your wonderful and extremely talented girlfriend and I. Um, I was wondering if you two would like to shackle yourselves to me for the rest of your lives.”

The next thing she knows two beautiful teachers are screaming in her ears and showering her with kisses and classes are buzzing in to ask what they said so Reyna hands Hazel the mike and Hazel just screeches so Lacy yells yes into it and there’s laughter and Sadie hugs them tight and pulls out their rings and then Hazel’s giggling and she gets down on one knee with two rings.

“Hey, I love you two?” Sadie and Lacy take the rings and they smile and pull her up and kiss her on both cheeks and then Reyna’s in front of them with a camera and they all try to smile but they’re too busy laughing and telling each other “I love you”.

The picture comes out blurry but they hang it in their apartment anyway.

#pjofemslashweek #ladizel #i write #i dont even know what this is #lacy #hazel levesque #sadie kane #pjo #day 6 #career day #i found this ship and this week yesterday and then this happened ok #ted tries to write