#Can’t remember what campaign or episode it’s from I just know it’s him and it’s from jrwi

[valeovalairs]

When I fuck something up, there’s always this little voice in the back of my head, that says, “oh fuck.” And it’s Charlie Slimecicle saying this. Every. Single. Time.

#This just happened a bit ago and I really became aware of it #He says it in such a specific way too like in this really small panicky way #Can’t remember what campaign or episode it’s from I just know it’s him and it’s from jrwi #charlie slimecicle #jrwi #slimecicle #text post #Anyway if anyone’s been paying attention to my prev posts today this is STILL about the competition I’m at #I messed up

[romeulusroy]

Persecution (Roy!Sibling x Roman Roy)

Character/s: Roman, Jeryd, Kendall, Shiv

Word Count: 1,465

Requested: Hihihi!!! Would it be okay to request? Or maybe just as inspiration or something: i'd love to see the dynamic between roy!siblingreader and roman and how he would interact with them trying/being the big brother to them like connor and kendall are especially takeing care of them or being protective? I have severe roman brainrot rn lol and i love how you write each of them and overall the way you use words and how alive it all feels! ♡- anon

Inspired By: Family Jewels by Marina

Warning/s: sexual harassment, harassment, men being creeps

Tag: @locke-writes

A/N: You know I had to do it!!! You know I had to!!! I can't actually remember all of the election party episode, so this might be a bit off. My apologies!!! Stop my love, Roman makes my brain rot too he lives in there 24/7!!! Thank you for such kind words!!! I try my best :) I hope you like it!!! Feedback is always appreciated 💜💜💜

His hand lingers on the small of your back, on your shoulder, on your body. It burns all the way through. You don’t shake it off though. You can’t. So you smile and excuse yourself, trying to stop yourself from shuddering. It seems wherever you go, wherever you disappear, he is there. He is always there. If not in your presence, then calling, texting, emailing. He is obsessive, hungry, and you have been served to him on a silver platter whether they realize it or not. You sit alone on the couch, nursing your drink, your fourth or fifth of the night just to get through it. His knee touches you, his arm is around you. No one takes notice, not your brothers or sister. No one can save you. He speaks, but only to get closer, so close you can smell the scotch on his breath. He talks mindlessly of his campaign, of the work he and your brother have put into it. That is why you can’t resist. That is why you can’t push him away, throw your drink in his face, call him names that sit on the tip of your tongue. Because your brother has spent too much time building this relationship up, building this man up. You’ve told him time and time again that you don’t like him, that you side with your sister on this, but he doesn’t care. He is not your President yet, though God help you if he becomes him. You won’t be able to escape him. You won’t be able to run. 

His hand is on your thigh, inching down. As if his touch is fire you jump up, dropping your glass, spilling all over him, all over Shiv's carpet. Fuck, you think, fuck, fuck fuck. You apologize profusely despite yourself, picking up the shards. They glitter under the light. The mumble of the crowd never stops, there isn’t a single pause in conversation. You are the baby, the least significant one. These politicians, their groups, they don’t see you. They don’t notice you. No one is coming to help you. He doesn’t seem to notice your distress, instead leaning down, face to face with you, watching you avoid his eyes. He rubs your shoulder, explaining that it was an accident, no big deal. With his finger he tips your head up, smile for me, sweetie. You recoil, apologizing, taking what pieces you have, headed towards the kitchen. You’re unsteady on your feet, too tipsy. You drank too much. You curse yourself, trying not to let the tears that welled up in your eyes fall. You weren’t even supposed to be here. You were supposed to be home, safe, far away from him where he could not possibly reach you. But they wanted you here, they needed you here, the biggest night leading up to the election. You could never disappoint them. Never. So you showed up and you drank and now you’re in this mess. You can feel him behind you, like a shadow, close but not close enough. You catch one look behind you, biting back a scream. He shakes hands, introduces himself, cracks jokes, all while moving through the crowd. You are his target, you always have been. 

From the moment he laid eyes on you, you knew it was over. Too late. You were drowning and they were doing nothing to save you. He spoke to you like you were old friends, touchy from your moment of introduction. Y/n Roy, a pleasure to meet you. A kiss on the cheek. His arm snaking around your waist for the family photo. Pleading with your eyes, but no one to see, no one to understand. Your father was more than happy to serve you to him, proud you’d made a connection so quickly. Oblivious to your disgust, to your discomfort, as always. Still, he hadn’t been that proud of you in a long time, perhaps ever. You thought you could keep up the niceties until he lost, then you would rid yourself of him for good. And then your father died. And then Roman made his deal with him. And now? Now you’re leaning over the sink, trying not to throw up, your hands shaking at the thought of him being near you like that again. He got caught in conversation with a lesser political opponent, his eyes never leaving you. Someone had given him your contact information. First an email here and there. A thank you for being so kind to him. A proposition for coffee, then drink. Texts next. Jokes that fell flat. Apologies for your father. More dates, more events, all of them, he’s hoping, you’ll be there. Calls, too. Pictures. So many pictures. Silly ones, then not so funny. If he wasn’t constantly watching, talking, touching, then he was trying to. You never responded, but that didn’t stop him. It would never stop him. 

What were you going to do? 

You clutch the edge of the sink, taking a few deep breaths. As quickly as you can without making yourself even more nauseous, you cut through the pack, headed towards the bathroom. Without meaning to, your barge through your siblings semi-circle conversation. The tears are falling. All of them look up at you, startled, but you slam the door shut before they can ask anything. Shiv knocks softly, saying your name, trying to get you out. Y/n? Y/n what happened? Can you come out and talk to us? Knees to chest you slide down to the floor, drunk, tired, your skin still crawling. Trying to catch your breath. Y/n, come on, come out. Whatever happened, we can fix it. Kendall sounded exhausted. Rightfully so. You stifle a sob, the words coming out before you can stop them. I didn’t mean- I didn’t- I know this is important to you guys. Mencken. He’s important to them, he’s important to your brother, he was to your father. You couldn’t just suck it up for a little while, you had to cry like a child. Who? What are you talking about? It’s Roman now, his voice close to you. He’s not standing like the others, he’s on your level now. You don’t know how to explain it, you can’t. You fear it’ll sound ridiculous. That you’re making a bigger deal about this than necessary. You’re not sure what else to do. You open every tab, every phone call and text thread and email. Then you open the door just a crack, sliding the phone through, shutting it again. There's a moment of silence that feels like eternity. How long has been this going on? Roman sounds angry. At you? A while. It’s all you can manage, curling into a ball, bracing for the worst. For the yelling, the disappointment, for one of them to bang on the door and demand that you come out right now. You wait, and you wait, but it never comes. It never happens. Instead your brother and sister call after Roman, trying to stop him, but he’s seeing red. 

There’s no stopping him. 

It’s quiet for a long time, but you don’t move a muscle. Your nausea has gotten a little better, your head a little clearer. You call for your siblings, but none answer. What were they doing? What were they saying? You can hear muffled yelling through the door, but the words melt together. Tones rise in pitch. The apartment has quieted. Someone laughs, you think it’s Mencken. More quiet. A door slams. You wince. This is all your fault. Whatever they were doing, whatever was going on, it was your fault. It was all your fault. Then a voice, softer now. He’s gone, kid. You can come out. Roman. He didn’t sound angry, but when did that ever stop anyone? Certainly not your father. When you don’t, you hear him groan, getting to the floor. Through the door, you can hear the weight in his voice. I’m not mad at you, I, I could never be mad at you. A pause. You honestly think I would have chosen him over you? You nod before choking up a yes. It’s my fault, you start, but he doesn’t let you finish. It’s not, it never was. He’s a fucking creep y/n, a monster. I’m, I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner. He's gone now. He won’t come near you ever again. He’s never been so sure of anything in his life. He would never let fucking Mencken do that to you again. He wouldn’t let anyone do that. He shouldn’t have let it happen in the first place, he’d carry this for the rest of his life. He let you down, your big brother. He let you down for the last time.

#requested #roman roy #roman roy imagine #roman roy x reader #jeryd mencken #jeryd mencken imagine #jeryd mencken x reader #succession #succession imagine #succession x reader #writing

[pinkerthings]

the importance of mike and will simply getting each other (pt 2):

part one here !

I’ve covered the significance of Mileven simply not understanding each other, & now it’s time to talk about their counterpart !

(specifying that nothing in these posts is new or groundbreaking, I’m just covering multiple topics and gathering info in one place !)

season 1:

Episode one begins with the party playing a d&d campaign:

When Mike goes upstairs to talk to his mom, Will discovers he’d rolled a seven, meaning the monster got him in the game. Dustin and Lucas say “Did Mike see it?” to which Will shakes his head no. “Then it doesn’t count!” Lucas replies as they scramble to leave the house.

Dustin and Lucas leave and Mike stands next to Will in the garage. After a moment of quiet, Will tells Mike,

“It was a seven. The roll. It was a seven. The demogorgon, it got me.”

To which Mike responds with:

nothing.

This scene is the first scene we get with Mine and Will alone in the whole show. This scene sets up the entirety of their relationship, telling the audience right off the bat,

“Hey! These two boys are best friends, and they don’t lie to each other!”

First impressions are always important in media, and next we get El and Mike’s first scenes together.

Remember, Mike only found El because he was out with Dustin and Lucas looking for Will.

Now, Mike is sweet to El that first night and next day. But keep in mind that the only reason El spent that first night in Mike’s basement was because Mike didn’t want to get in trouble by his mom, because he had been out looking for Will, something he wasn’t supposed to be doing.

Dustin says, “I think we should tell your mom,” and Lucas agrees. Mike responds with, “Who’s crazy now?”

Lucas: “How is that crazy?”

Mike: “Because we weren’t supposed to be out tonight, remember?”

Mike makes the plan to have El sleep there for the night, then go around to the front door in the morning so Karen will know what to do with her. Mike wants her to leave in the morning so they can go back to looking for Will.

Remember, the only reason she stayed the night was so the boys didn’t get in trouble for looking for Will.

Mike keeps Eleven around 1. because “bad men” are after her, and Mike does care for her and her safety, and 2. Mike has a feeling Will is alive and El knows how to find him.

They don’t have many interactions in season 1 due to Will being in the upside down, but they reunite at the end of the season and everything is (seemingly) back to normal.

season 2:

Everyone knows season two is byler’s season ! El is living with Hopper, unbeknownst to the boys, and Mike and Will are as close as ever.

Episode 1: The party goes to Palace Arcade and plays Dig Dug. In the midst of this, Will gets a weird feeling and suddenly sees the upside down.

He walks outside slowly and sees the Mind Flayer, followed by one person and one person only: his best friend.

(can’t ss netflix but mike comes out and asks will if he’s okay)

Mike is the only one out of the other three to notice Will is gone and follow him out. He puts his arm around Will and walks him back inside to play Dig Dug.

Later on in episode one, Joyce picks Will up early from school for his appointment with Dr. Owens,

and the camera zooms into Mike and Mike only, saying,

All three boys notice something is off, but Mike is the first to say something about it.

This whole season is meant to showcase the special friendship Mike and Will have. They know each other the best and even the rest of the party knows that.

Episode 2: This episode is an important one. Max joins the party while trick-or-treating and Mike is not on board with the idea.

(sorry for the terrible grimy photos im taking these pics from another screen)

I've noticed when the party split off into groups, it's almost always Mike & Will, Dustin & Lucas, or Lucas & Max. Mike and Will are glued to each other's hip most of the time.

(these photos are so bad im cryin im sorry)

Mike is upset that Will allowed for Max to join them while trick-or-treating, and when Mike hurries ahead of Will, Will almost seems disappointed in himself for disappointing Mike, staring after him like Mike caught him committing atrocities and he feels guilty. lmao poor will, he just wants to make mike happy !

A moment later we have bullies push Will to the ground, resulting in him seeing the upside down & Mind Flayer again, calling for Mike and running to safety.

When Mike finally reaches Will, he exclaims, "Will! I couldn't find you, are you hurt?" indicating that the moment Mike turned around and didn't see Will behind him, he sensed something was off and went looking for him, just like at Palace Arcade.

While the others chase down the stairs, either cussing or verbally confused, Mike is the only one at Will's side asking him if he's okay.

He helps Will up and puts an arm around him again, just like at palace Arcade, and takes him ho--- oh, you thought I was gonna say home? To Will's house? Nope! Mike says he's going to take Will home, and takes him to the Wheeler's basement.

Ladies and gentlemen, how could I make a byler post without including the infamous crazy together scene !?

We have Mike and Will sitting on the couch in the Wheeler's basement, and Will is telling him all about these "visions" he's been having.

He begins describing,

but stops, not knowing how to finish his sentence. But no worries, Mike finishes it for him!

Will then begs Mike to keep it a secret.

Why won't the others understand? Did the other party member not already see a demogorgon? Do they not already know what the upside down is? Will just wants to have something special--a secret only he and Mike know. He knows the others would understand, but doesn't think they'd be of any help. Unlike Mike, whom he trusts completely.

anyways that's all the photos i can fit here so I will cover the rest of s2, 3, & 4 in my next post. byeeee!!!

part 3 here !

#stranger things #byler #mike wheeler #will byers #stranger things 5 #finn wolfhard #st5 #mike and will #noah schnapp

[hawkinsp0st]

when the final scene of stranger things is a grown-up will byers at his kitchen table, drawing, and he calls out “hey, sweetheart? can you bring me my good eraser?” his husband walks out of their home office with the eraser in his left hand, wedding band glinting, wordlessly handing will the item.

will smiles up at him. “thanks, michael,” he teases, and mike leans down to kiss him. “you know, you still need to finish your part of volume 5 before we can send this out.” mike stands up, huffs a laugh and gently rubs will’s shoulders.

the camera focuses on what will’s been drawing—the first draft of a graphic novel. will reaches forward and flips from the early page he’d just been sketching on, which depicts the dnd campaign from s1e1 and will getting captured by the demogorgon, and flips to the end, which depicts the Party saving him in s5 (which we’ve just seen earlier in the episode).

“remember?” will points at empty speech bubbles on the page. “this was all happening in your perspective. i was literally in a trance. i can’t fill it in for you,” will laughs, a mirth-filled sound that radiates through their cozy kitchen and living room.

“oh my god, and especially this part.” will flips back to volume 4 of their comic, showing frames of will and mike in the pizza van. “you left all your thought bubbles empty, babe. lucas and dustin are brutal when they edit our shit, you know they won’t let it slide—”

“yeah, yeah,” mike smiles. he sighs as he reaches down and traces his fingers over the thessalhydra on the final pages of the novel. “will?”

“yeah?”

“this is gorgeous.”

“oh, stop.”

“…and i wanted to ask you—“

“yeah?”

“do you think anyone will believe us?”

the room falls silent. will knows what he means—are readers going to believe that this really happened to them and their friends, that this is really their love story? or are they going to think it’s pure fiction? just a metaphor, maybe? and the bigger question hangs between them: do they want people to believe them?

mike clears his throat and continues. “i guess i should ask you what i’m really worried about. do you think people will… like it?”

finally, will’s face breaks into a beaming smile. “oh, yeah. the smart ones. the ones who know what it’s like to be… different.” will leans back into his husband’s arms. “it’s late. we should sleep. el is picking us up early tomorrow, remember?”

“oh yeah, that’s right. she’s really excited about teaching that yoga class.”

they laugh together and roll their eyes lovingly at the thought of their best friend, and will gets up from his chair. he starts to follow mike into their room, but gets stuck on the image of the whole Party physically pulling him from vecna’s clutches on the final page.

mike notices and peeks out from the hallway. “hon, you coming?”

“yeah,” will says, and he smiles fondly, thinking about how lucky he is to have the people that he has, and to have been to hell and back with them. “yeah, was just looking at a couple things.” he sighs and closes the book, and follows mike. his voice trails off as he says “you know, i’m still not sure about the title…”

the camera shows us that the draft’s cover reads:

STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED…

by William & Michael Byers

Introduction by Jane “El” Hopper

Epilogue by Maxine Mayfield-Sinclair

Henclair Media, 2016©

#byler #this was not my original idea btw #like the general concept #yes i’m putting the meme on this no i won’t be taking questions comments or concerns #/lh #sorry this is so cheesy but i had to post bc it just haunts me #duffers

[the-orion-scribe]

The Stanchurian Candidate is more messed-up than we thought

I think the majority of the fandom is unaware of or often overlooked two major plot holes for this episode, which I think are best highlighted here. If anyone were to think deeper, this episode is actually super messed-up with many out-of-character moments.

Major Plot Hole #1: Why is Stan both insistent upon brutal honesty and somehow completely unable to handle himself in front of a crowd during his mayoral campaign? Public speaking and being a showman, often to these very people, was literally Stan’s entire job description for over half his life, so he should have no reason to be that awkward and incompetent. Suddenly insisting upon brutal honesty is also completely out of character for him. (Seriously, if Stan managed to not spill anything about Ford during the Truth Teeth episode, how is he suddenly incapable of lying here?) But even this massive break in character pales in comparison to…

Major Plot Hole #2: (This one is deeper than the Bottomless Pit.) How are Dipper and Mabel just completely OK with using the mind-control tie on Stan, without even seeking his consent first? Especially given that Dipper was possessed by Bill (and, based on the events of the very next episode, definitely traumatized by the incident) not more than two weeks prior? I am positive that such an incident could be never forgotten so easily by either of the twins, but particularly by Dipper. Yet he raises no objection beyond “that’s… ethically ambiguous!”

Even when Soos was very visibly frightened after having the Tie “tested” on him, Dipper and Mabel just laughed at his pain and fear. Keep in mind that just a few episodes prior, the twins risked their lives and/or existences just to fix Soos’s issues with his birthday. I hardly think they’d be inclined to laugh at his pain and distress for any reason.

And, because I know someone will suggest it, the twins’ memories of the Sock Opera could not have been wiped by the Society of the Blind Eye, since 1) the Society was destroyed less than a week after the Sock Opera, and 2) in the Journal 3 entry corresponding to s2e11: Not What He Seems, Dipper directly references his being possessed by Bill, meaning he remembered the experience at that point (after the Society was gone), and would therefore also remember it during the events of The Stanchurian Candidate.

And also quoting from a conversation with @detectivejigsawpines, The twins literally overrode their uncle’s autonomy and took over his body without his knowing consent. And Ford should have known better, considering he was doing the same thing Bill did.

But I’m not being entirely fair. Though it pains me to say it, The Stanchurian Candidate does still have good points, despite all these faults. It is, of course, still an episode of Gravity Falls, and was, according to the credits, written by the same people as the rest of the series.

In actuality, the episode is quite good when viewed completely in a vacuum. Were this the first episode of the show that someone ever saw, they would (probably) not think it was bad. Without the greater context of Sock Opera and the personality traits the main cast has firmly established throughout the first season and a half, there would be nothing amiss about any of their actions.

In addition, the selfless love of Grunkle Stan still shines through in this episode, when he doesn't hesitate to break off his campaign speech and rescue Dipper and Mabel who are in great danger.

When viewed from that mindset, it’s alright. There are good jokes, fun moments, and the villain-of-the-week is soundly beaten in a satisfying manner. Still not the best episode in the series by a long shot, but not the worst either.

Of course, since Gravity Falls is a very story-based cartoon, you can’t consider this episode in a vacuum, which is where all the problems come from. Even the initial premise of the wacky mayoral election and why Stan wants to participate in it don’t make sense unless you understand something about Gravity Falls as a town, and Stan as a person, respectively.

Idea for a fix: My head canon has become that the majority of the episode (basically everything after they get back from the town hall) was a dream Stan had, since I think the writers may have intended for it to be an episode addressing the “stuff” Stan mentions he has been dealing with later, in “[Twins] vs the Future.” I feel this makes sense because, stylistically, the bulk of the plot appears less like a standard episode and more like the stories Stan sometimes tells throughout the series (such as those in the non-canon s2e06: Little Gift Shop of Horrors), which tend to feature exaggerated behavior and a slight sense of ‘unreality’ (compared to the baseline). Therefore, him having a vivid, all-the-negative-emotions-fueled dream that distorts his family members in somewhat disturbing ways makes a lot more sense than “and then Dipper and Mabel were randomly and - most significantly - gleefully supervillainous (and surprisingly, given their personalities, competent politicians) for one episode.”

Thoughts? Opinions? Soundly reasoned rebuttals?

(Above written with assistance from @callipraxia and @theoryofweirdness)

#gravity falls #gravity falls essays #stan pines #stanley pines #the stanchurian candidate #plot holes #dipper pines #mabel pines

[alicepao13]

Hudson and Rex S06E15

So, as I’m sure a lot of people have already figured out, we just watched the intended season finale. CityTV, you better hope I never get to cross that ocean. I mean, every season finale aside from the two where Peter Mitchell was in charge (coincidence?) were run of the mill episodes which could have fit anywhere in the season. Maybe it will be fitting for this season to start and end with viewers wondering what they watched. But I’m getting ahead of myself here and I might be wrong. Let’s focus on 15 which may very well be the best episode of the season for me, probably tied with S06E04.

The spoiled scene with Charlie and Sarah’s mentioned anniversary. Rex totally wants to stay with Jesse after their “celebration”. I’m trying to figure whether Jesse is pretending to be naive or is actually being naive about it. Or if the whole response is the writers being unable to outright say that Charlie and Sarah really spent their anniversary having sex all night.

Speaking of, two years, Charlie Hudson? What are you waiting for, an epiphany to hit you in the head? Oh, wait.

What do you mean, we didn’t save the day? There’s a dead woman? Huh? 

Nice bomb explosion by the way.

“My bosses are gonna hate this but tell me more”. lol Jesse

How did we end up as security detail for the woman who might become prime minister?

Look, I like when there’s a case where they’re toying with supernatural elements. That’s why I loved Castle so much. And Jesse is always eager to believe. Charlie on the other hand looks like he’s got tons to say on the subject. Rex too. Apparently he doesn’t believe in time travel either.

Any so called time traveler should come back to the present with the numbers for the lottery. That would be ample proof for me :P

Can I say how much I like the camera work on this one? Good directing by John Vatcher.

Rex is getting so many pats in this episode. Deserved.

This campaign manager is on par with the Veep campaign managers. And by that I mean he’s ruthless and self-centered and I want to punch him.

That food now possibly has dog hair in it.

I come from a country where it’s pretty normal to put a musical montage right in the middle of an episode (even a dance number), so I’m not going to say anything about the needless song.

Thunk! There goes Charlie. Again. I’ll spare y’all the concussion speech. Besides, time moves in mysterious ways in this show, maybe it’s already been six months since episode 11.

Seriously, why do you tell Rex to chase a lead if you can’t survive being ten feet away from him?

I can’t remember the last time any of my shows put a bomb vest on one of the main characters. The latest that I remember was FBI but it was on a minor character. That had been a great episode too.

I haven’t yet decided whether that bomb vest looks too amateurish. To be fair, given who the culprit was, it shouldn’t look professional.

Sarah finding Charlie as he has a bomb vest on is like, the best thing that has happened lately on this show. Her look. His look as he realizes that he’s got his entire family now in this (and the mantra of no, no, no that must be playing in his head, I’m filling the blanks, don’t mind me). The slight zooming in of the camera in both of their shots, denoting the direness of the situation.

I was almost waiting for Charlie to say “this isn’t as enjoyable as it was last night” as Sarah was touching him while she’s checking the bomb vest. It writes itself, come on.

In my last review post I wrote that I was hoping the earphones would serve for Charlie to call Sarah and tell her goodbye or something like that. This certainly exceeded my expectations.

We’re a bit late for love confessions under duress but when Charlie was asked about whether Sarah was his wife and he replied “Not yet”, that was a nice moment. At least we know where his head is at.

Their silent communication. They’re so in sync.

Elsewhere, Joe and Jesse are quietly trying to figure out a way to save innocent people and somehow not get their friend blown up.

Superintendent Joe Donovan making airplane noises. I laughed so much.

They are holding hands as they’re walking to their doom! Oh, by the way, interesting music choice. I wonder if it’s score created for the show or non-original music. I’ve certainly not heard it before on the show.

Goodbye kiss! I love it here. And look at the shot of Charlie and Rex leaving as Sarah is staying behind.

Me: no way it’s the convict. Five minutes later: it’s the fucking convict!!! Ten minutes later: it’s not the convict???

Ha, Charlie using the mute button which is pretty convenient but almost no one uses on calls. 

Okay, they fooled me with the bomber. But the takedown went pretty much as I expected. Nice communication with Rex through hand signals, again. Although the detonator flying off the lady’s hand… anything could have happened.

Rex’s influence to the system will be more K9s lol. They may also have ensured unlimited funding for the SJPD.

Can the time traveling guy tell us if Charlie is going to propose anytime soon? Or is the “not yet” considered a non-proposal proposal?

This is the first time I’m hearing about the so called Alice in wonderland syndrome.

“Everybody needs a Rex”. Ah, yes. Our catchphrase.

Charlie, put the phone down. When is that man clocking out? Who’s going to make sure Rex is getting adequate rest? I need to talk to his superior. Joe!

Well, I kept saying that I wanted Charlie and Sarah to be in danger again together since they hadn’t after they had become a couple, and I got my wish, thank you, show. We could have had an aftermath scene with them but I’m not going to complain about it in an otherwise good episode.

Promo: I’m beyond frustrated that they keep shuffling the episodes and they wouldn’t even give it a rest when they got the season finale or the 100th episode on their hands. Today’s (yesterday’s) episode would have been a better 100th episode than The Rookie’s for sure (which is embarrassing for The Rookie). But instead we get to watch it as episode 99 and have a run of the mill case for the 100th, which, unless it ends up in a huge celebration scene, is going to fall flat. We basically end off exactly as we started, expect I now know this is 100% CityTV’s fault.

Speaking of, is CityTV even going to acknowledge that it’s the 100th episode? Is anyone? I’m obviously not expecting the magnitude of promotion ABC gave The Rookie or 911 this season (and that was a lot) but something that shows they’re not completely neglecting Hudson and Rex. It doesn’t seem like we’re getting renewal news anytime soon, so I’d settle for them celebrating the episodes they already filmed. There are quite a few production companies involved too, this does not only fall on CityTV. If Shaftesbury wants to celebrate this milestone, I won’t say no.

#hudson and rex

[willthewise7]

Season 1 Episode 1 Analysis

Will Byers’ sexuality hinted from the start:

It’s clear to see from the very beginning that Will was intended to be gay. Very obvious hints in dialogue from Hopper and Joyce whilst speaking about Lonnie and how he use to think he was “queer”. Hopper asks if that was true to see if a potential hate crime was the key cause of Will’s disappearance.

Will Byers has powers:

Right from the very beginning of the episode this is teased. Remember when the writers/producers mentioned how everything is written intentionally? This here is a prime example.

The first hint of this being a potential plot point is through the demogorgon scene. Firstly, it’s clear that Will did not bleed when he fell of his bike. If he did, they would’ve shown it on camera to demonstrate that this is how demogorgons hunt, primarily through smell (specifically blood). This was not shown, due to Will not being hurt from the crash. Therefore, why did the demogorgon still pursue Will? Even when he was in the house and surely not easily detectable by the demogorgon?

Moving on, once the demogorgon reaches the house it moves the latch on the door. Seems normal right? Sure, if the latch was on the other side of the door. It used telekinesis to open the door which we know they can’t do. So it’s probable that Vecna was involved in using the demogorgon to retrieve Will. Why this is remains to be seen, until Season 5. But my bet is it’s due to Will having unknown powers.

The last part of the scene I want to mention is the shed. Firstly, the demogorgon just emerges out of no where at all. How is this possible? Potentially a portal opened up inside the shed which the demogorgon created, which does make sense. It also makes sense for Will to escape through the portal (which is what Hopper examines the remains of). So to me, that plot point is logical and I can rest with that.

This brings me to my final point. During one of the last scenes of the episode we see Joyce and Jonathan looking at photos of Will. Whilst they do so, the phone begins to ring. However, it sounds very ominous and ends with a demogorgon noise. I don’t think a demogorgon thought of doing a prank call out of nowhere. It could’ve been Vecna but again, I don’t see why he’d bother. It was Will trying to communicate with Joyce, but the demogorgon over heard. Hence why Will has to run away and the demogorgon finds the phone, making the noise at the end of the call. Will therefore somehow can manipulate objects and matter through dimensions. Further leading me to believe that he has powers. Read my other theories for why I believe time froze as a result of Will in the Upside Down.

The next part of the episode that hints at Will having powers is the campaign scenes and party scenes. Will could cast protection in the campaign but he decides to, instead, cast fireball and risk his own life for the party. Like Mike said “he could have played it safe”, and he “could’ve cast protection”, but he risked himself “for the party”. It’s very odd how these actions became real after it happens in the campaign. Will gets taken by the demogorgon in real life, and he gets taken out in the game. His actions lead to real consequences in both reality and in the game. What if he’d not cast fireball? Would the whole party have been in real danger?

Again, does he have some sort of powers with dimensions he’s unaware of? Does he have the power to make the game come to life?

Byler is hinted from the start:

Right from the start Byler is hinted at, very subtley. It’s hinted at that Will is gay but also that he cares a lot about Mike. He could easily lie to Mike so that he wouldn’t have been taken by the demogorgon in the game. However, he has to tell Mike the truth because he cares about him a lot. Trust is the main foundation for any healthy relationship. You can’t lie easily to those that you care about deeply.

Mike also cares deeply about Will. I lost count of the amount of times that Mike is concerned about Will and even says “I’m the only one who cares about Will”. You could just say that it’s because they’re best friends, which is true. They are best friends. But the entire party are really good friends. So they’re clearly trying to tell the audience from the start that these two have a unique and special relationship. The camera and directing focuses on Mike when searching for Will the most. The rest of the party are concerned too, but the directing focuses on Mike more. Rememeber, this is intentional. They want us to notice and pay attention to this.

A last note on Byler and Mike is the last scene when they find El. We know in Season 4 that Mike says that day and moment is when he realised he loved El. But the first episode directing and acting says otherwise. It didn’t look to me like love at first sight. They were all shocked to see a random girl in the middle of the woods. It’s not what you’d expect to see. So I do believe that line was a lie. Otherwise the directing would have been different or that line wouldn’t have been included.

#byler #will byers #mike wheeler #will the wise #will byers has powers #st vecna #vecna/henry/001 #stranger things dnd #demogorgon #jim hopper #joyce byers #jonathan byers #lucas sinclair #dustin henderson #el hopper

[meliorao]

You and Eddie

Summary: Some headcanons about you and Eddie as a couple

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Genderneutral!Reader

Warnings: smut, bad jokes, dumb thoughts, some swearing, probably more but I can’t remember-, not proof read!

Words: 1,1k

A/N: So I made this because I needed to post something and my Tom Grant fic is taking longer than expected to write so here we go!

His hair

• This one sounds strange but I have this idea okay

• Let’s put one thing clear

• Eddie is NOT like so many people seems to be claiming

• He wouldn’t let you touch his hair

• Only if he really needed to

• Like if he got gum in his hair and needed to get it out he would ask you for help

• But he would probably lose his patience and cut it off

• But it wouldn’t make much of a difference anyways because it would simply hide nicely into his long locks anyways

• Other than that I can’t see him allow you to touch it much

• Except maybe if you were making out or having sex

• Then I can definitely see you pull his hair and he wouldn’t give a fuck

Hellfire club

• Despite loving this man with my entire heart

• I don’t think he would be big on dates

• And he would definitely cancel for Hellfire

• I mean the man would probably not even contact you for days when he is planning big parts of the campaign

• And IF you were to follow him to hellfire night

• You would not be allowed to sit in his lap Okay?

• I know a billion people has said he would but the man would not let anyone be in the way of him giving the performance of his life to each campaign

• I mean we all saw him in episode 1? He was almost crawling on the table at one point

• Yeah he would need his space

• And If you’re not into playing? Yeah you can probably count on sitting on the side in silence for as long as they need if you come there but I don’t even think you would be offered to follow him?

• Like this is such an important and sacred thing for him

• I honestly believe that it’s a way for him to cope, writing these stories that makes him in control of his mess of a real life

• However if you are into play?

• Damn he would think it was the best thing ever

• Like yes he takes Hellfire serious and wouldn’t allow anyone to make it as a joke

• But as long as you wanted to play? Yeah he would fucking love it

• But don’t think he would go soft on you just because he loves you

• “Sorry darling I don’t make the rules”

• He would kill you if needed (in the campaign of course)

Sexuality

• So let’s put this straight

• I don’t think he is gay

• I don’t think he is straight

• He is simply sexual

• No label, just purely horny

• Meaning his partner or even if it was a hookup wouldn’t matter what gender they have

• Just as long as he is the the dom

• And despite a lot of peoples believes I don’t think he is wearing the bandana in his pocket for the handkerchief code

• Robin probably explained to him what it was and he was a bit confused but didn’t care so he kept wearing it

• I mean he probably saw his favourite singers in his metal bands wear them and thought it was cool

Intimacy

• He definitely don’t have a lot of experience, he was after all hated in the town he lived in

• That’s not to say he doesn’t have any experience at all?

• I mean I can’t be the only one who saw the smirk he gave those cheerleaders in the cafeteria scene as they giggled and passed him?

• Yeah he got those stains from somewhere alright

• But not a lot of experience

• Just someeee okay

• Despite not having a BUNCH of experience he does however not show any signs of it

• He is a god in bed

• Or perhaps I should say the devil?

• If you weren’t experienced he would easily show you

• Because he definitely knows what he likes

• His libido is skyrocketing

• Yeah you’re having sex a lot

• He definitely is the more into fucking than love-making

• But that doesn’t mean it’s not emotional

• He is just rough and fast

• Yeah definitely fast

• Hair pulling, biting, scratching, give him it all and he will break the bed

• Because yeah he did break his bed at one point

• And when he had to explain what happened to his uncle he came up with the dumbest excuse

• And his uncle did not buy it at all

• “Yeah I was jumping on it while playing guitar”

• “Oh is that so?”

• Yeah his uncle knew exactly what you two were up to

• As his uncle often work late he just cannot see a reason to be potentially caught by your family

• Because if he can’t make you scream then why bother?

• He would also not be into sex somewhere public

• He also wouldn’t be comfortable with PDA around your parents or his uncle whatsoever

• That’s a big no no

• If you were horny and his uncle could walk in? NOPE

• I fear he would want to keep you for himself when it came to that stuff so no places he cannot lock the door

• You’ll probably end up doing 2-3 rounds before he is done

• Also he loves oral

• Giving and receiving

• He would also probably see something in one of his porn magazines and ask you to try it with him out of pure curiosity

• Probably so messy giving oral though

• Will end up spitting on you (on accent and not so much on accident)

Misc thoughts

• Sarcastic as fuck

• I believe that he wouldn’t be the one to say I loves you often

• This is because of his childhood trauma

• But that means when he actually say it? It means the most because you know he truly mean it

• But that means that he would also probably have other ways to explain how he loves you

• Small gestures, taking care of you, all of that

• He is also not the jealous type

• He would trust you around everyone

• No matter if it was hellfire or others

• But the few times he got jealous? You would have to remind him who you belong to

• Lastly… the man probably ate crayons as a kid and was dead serious that all different colours had different flavours

• Bye this is awful

#joseph quinn #eddie munson #imagines #joseph quinn smut #stranger things #eddie munson smut #fanfic #eddie munson oneshot #eddie munson x reader

[eirwyn]

Season 2 of the Legend of Vox Machina is over. And as per usual I have some thoughts.

I know I said this last time, but I was genuinely scared about going into this season because the Chroma Conclave is the best arc Critical Role has ever done and I am including all three campaigns in this and no I’m not open to debating it. It is the best story they have ever told.

Anyway.

This is high stakes for me. Again, I knew stuff was going to have to be changed. I knew stuff would have to be moved around. I remember Matt saying that we might get more of the bad guys’ perspective which obviously we couldn’t get in the campaign, which, again, would change things. I am bad at change, but I promise I was braced for it.

I can say that almost unequivocally, I love all of the changes they brought about. Every time I heard a line from the campaign I would start cry-laughing hysterically. I had forgotten how much I fucking worship Vax. The Raven Queen was so gorgeous in animation and I loved all of their scenes together, even if I do still hate her. Vax’s story still reduces me down to emotional wreckage. Saundor and Fenthras were just incredible, and Percy got his mic-drop moment. So grateful to see Artagan and hear Matt voice him, for a moment I was afraid we weren’t going to see him at all.

The little changes to Grog’s story were perfection. The clever way they tied in Earthbreaker Groon and Craven Edge and Kevdak. Screamed at the top of my lungs at ‘VOX MACHINA FUCK SHIT UP!’ Thought we weren’t going to get Kaylie at all, so pleased to see her. The Kill Box is the only fight I regularly rewatch and I was so pleased to see it done such justice.

I have only one gripe, and that is the changes done to ‘I have passed through fire.’ I completely understand why, but in my opinion, most of the emotional weight of that line was completely washed away. Am I grateful it was included? Endlessly. Will it ever live up to the campaign? Not ever. But it’s the only aspect that I can describe as such, which considering they’ve had to condense hundreds of hours of story-telling into 12 half-hour episodes is pretty damn amazing.

I’m incredibly excited for season 3. I can’t wait to see what this talented bunch of nerdy voice actors manages to do next. And with the announcement of the Mighty Nein series, Critical Role is going from strength to strength to strength. And while we’re now well beyond what a crazy bunch of fans kickstarted for them, I can’t help but feel a slight sense of personal pride in everything that’s happening for them. I did that. I helped make that happen for them. My silly little emotional support D&D show is now on TV, and I love them, and I helped.

#critical role #the legend of vox machina #personal

[bananathebookworm]

TLOVM Season 2 Eps 7-9 Ramblings

EP. 7

- I love the Feywild design so much. In general, the distinct designs of each location in this show are amazing, but I really enjoy how well they convey the Fewwild’s unique atmosphere.

- Percy’s such a fucking dork oh my god...

- Oh good. The sword’s corruption is visible to the others now.

- Grog trying to keep the sword sounding a little like Travis’ own frustrations bleeding through. I know he hated not being able to use Kraven Edge to its full potential in game.

- I do not like these jumpscares I have anxiety fuck off

- Garmelie! 

- Scrawny Grog!

- Vax’s anger at Percy... understandable why he feels that way, but I don’t know that I like it. 

- I love hearing more of the cast singing this season. Also turning “Makin’ My Way” into a new song... fucking phenomenal. I need the album for all of the music this season with full versions of everything.

- Also appreciating Scanlan the caregiver. I remember Sam/Scanlan always made a point to make sure everyone else was healed before accepting any himself.

- Garmelie fucking with Percy is my favourite thing.

- Feywild acid trip... I don’t know if this is amazing or terrifying.

- These fights are so fun. I love seeing their more creative battle tactics come to life.

- Percy letting Vax know he has his back even if Vax wants nothing to do with Percy... 

- I also love seeing these villain conversations that we never got to see in the campaign.

- Scrawny Grog is reminding me of Fjord losing his powers and Travis’ struggle feeling useless in the fights they had before he got them back. 

- Syngorn! Time for more Twins backstory.

- Wait, that’s the end of the episode already? Fuck these are too short.

EP. 8 

- Again loving the designs of this place.

- Velora! She’s so cute!

- Ugh. Syldor. Fuck off. Stay on the cute sibling bonding.

- Wilhand! Let’s stay with the Trickfoots for a bit.

- Can we throw Syldor out that window behind him. I hate him so much. (Kudos to Liam, Laura, Matt, and Troy for creating and bringing this character to life in all his despicableness.)

- Was not expecting to see Scanlan shoving something up Grog’s ass... but here we are...

- Percy telling off Syldor and standing up for Vex. And Vex telling him off immediately after.

- “What does fuck you mean?” I wish they had kept the entire sequence of Velora picking up phrases from Scanlan.

- The lighting in this series is so well done.

- I hate watching villains exploit a characters’ insecurities... poor Vex.

- “I can fix you.” SHE’S NOT BROKEN FUCK OFF.

- “My heart is someone else’s.” HELL YES.

- I love fire elemental Keyleth. And also just Keyleth.

- “The Fey Realm is definitely better in the books.” Okay nerd.

- ARTIE REVEAL! Also love that Matt is voicing him. I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing it. 

- “He killed me with them.” Grog backstory next! 

EP. 9

- Boulder, parchment, shears! I love how many inside jokes they work into the show while still making them make sense.

- Scanlan’s red beret! I love the little hat on the little dragonfly.

- Kaylie!

- Grog’s backstory is another reminder of the stark difference between hearing the backstories on stream and actually seeing them brought to life.

- Dark-haired Pike! I wonder if they’re ever going to explain that change now that they’ve shown it.

- “No one wants your damn autograph!” followed by an immediate zoom out to Dr. Dranzel tucking a piece of paper into his jacket. Brilliant.

- Also changing Scanlan’s story a bit so that he was never a part of Dr. Dranzel’s group, but Kaylie is.

- Oh good. Ripley and Umbrasyl are here. This is good. Everything’s great.

- Once again the dragon designs this season are terrifying

- Kevdak’s death is going to be the most satisfying one this season holy fuck.

- I love that Pike pluralizes “Buddies” every time.

- The Tabaxi mother with her baby... my heart...

- Ending on Grog screaming Kevdak’s name. Ugh. Chills. This fight is one of my favourites

-----

GENERAL

- I can’t believe there are only three episodes left and they haven’t taken down a single dragon yet. And yet so. much. has happened.

- Also can’t help but wonder how the two groups are going to reconnect. One of my favourite parts of the Kevdak fight is the use of the locket and Vex isn’t with Grog right now. There’s also a key Scanlan and Vax conversation after this fight that I hope they kept, but could easily be moved to a different time.

- I like the idea of splitting the party for these episodes. I didn’t think I would, but it really helped to get some important parts of the story told concurrently and concisely instead of spread out over the entire season. 

#cr spoilers #critical role #tlovm spoilers #the legend of vox machina #the legend of vox machina spoilers

[calzonekestis]

No but the way ST is the biggest project so far that Grace has been a part of… that she got to work with actors she respected and who respected her… play a character and dynamic that left such a resonance despite being limited to a single episode…

She is absolutely allowed to enjoy that and the fact people have tainted the experience by being so fucking heinous and despicable is something I’ll never forgive.

Because like yes she is loved and knows she is loved, but the fact people are just. So dedicated to trying to tear or down and make her seem like a bad or creepy person.

When she is literally just the sweetest and probably most unproblematic person who just wants to live her life and play her games and cuddle her cat and eat noodles.

And enjoy the success and acclaim and fan following that she has absolutely earned and deserved.

That people make false, seriously horrifying claims about her character… while she out here just trying to vibe.

Like I know we should choose Love over Hate, don’t stoop to their level, but no fuck that I hate y’all.

If you dedicate your day to trying to tear down someone and run a smear campaign again against then - idc if they’re a celebrity or not - because you can’t stand to see them happy and living their best life? The life they deserve?

No, go fuck yourself.

If you prioritize fictional characters relationships over treating someone with just basic human decency.

Bitch I’m unhinged. Like don’t go calling me ableist, bc I legit have mental health struggles and like… that’s no excuse.

I don’t even know what the hell these people are.

A pathetic and broken excuse for a human being, I guess.

It doesn’t matter how much love, support, and solidarity is thrown Grace’s way. It doesn’t erase the abuse and bullying.

What should be one of the highlights of her life and career is forever tainted bc no matter how fondly she remembers it or loves the fans or has pleasant experiences with them - she won’t forget the absolute bullshit the twitter demons have put her though.

All this over fictional characters. Who are fucking dead within the canon, anyway.

Meanwhile her costar is even louder these days with his praise for, both her and for the ship… yet he’s infantilized and needs to be protected from his friend because she’s some sort of creepy stalker fan for being proud of the work they did together.

The man is out here with his whole chest talking about how his character had a crush, how those feelings informed his arc and how he played the character. You treat him like an infant who is babbling nonsense.

The woman shares cute fan art. She’s the antichrist, apparently.

I’m mad as hell.

Honesty, I’m glad she and Joe aren’t on the show anymore - because while I love their characters, this is the most Extreme fandom I’ve ever seen. The lovely people are so lovely, angelic. The bad apples are just.. demons. Literal actual demons. I can’t say I’m sad the show is ending, because Jesus Christ on Fire.

The way some of you people treat the cast.

Y’all making gross claims, throwing around the word “p*do” at people for shipping two high school seniors who are legally old enough to consent. Their is nothing illegal or immoral about that fictional relationship. There is no power imbalance.

The maximum age difference is 2 years… between two people who would both be adults by the time graduation came around in like two months.

Meanwhile, y’all been sexualizing Millie and Finn since they were like 13 years old.

Somehow Grace is a stalker for hanging out with a co Star a few times nearly two years ago.

Yet having notifications on for someone you hate, screenshot thing her story, and dragging her on twitter all within the span of 2 minutes of her posting it… that’s completely normal human behavior.

Again, go fuck yourself. With a cactus.

#grace van dien #joseph quinn #stranger things cast

[lin-lizzie]

I JUST LISTENED TO THE EPISODE OF TFTSD WHERE YOU'RE A CHARACTER THATS SO COOL!! ALSO WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PC FROM EACH CAMPAIGN?? SORRY IM EXCITED :D

aaa it’s ok!!! I was sooooo excited hearing my name too LOL

as for favorite player characters… for campaign 1 Kyborg!!! He’s so goofy and silly and stupid, I honestly never expected to love him so much but omg before the Spectril brainrot i was CRAZY for Kyborg too. he’s just??? So???? HEHWHWHEHWHEHWHWHWHWHEEHWH

I think it’s also because of his whole arc in Armageddon plus his backstory… I love me a traumatized man/j

Im really struggling for the second campaign though… like ok can I be honest here? I love both campaigns, I really really do love the work the cast puts into each episode!!! But for some reason the second campaign hasn’t exactly… captured my full attention? I don’t know how to word or phrase this, but as funny and amazing and cool Groteth is… it hasn’t exactly drawn me in as much as the Infinight campaign did. I really don’t know what it is, like literally they still have the same humor, rp and y’know all that, but like… I don’t know ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I really want to say though I am between Mathide and Chip, mainly cuz Chip is a tiefling rogue (assassin too) and omg I LOVOOVOVOEEEEEE that. He’s also very funny, and love how his wife is missing (I miss my wife tails. I miss her a lot.), but also Mathide is just… so relatable. LOL

I think I liked Duran and uhhhhhh what’s her name again? Barbara’s character in the mini campaign, the Euthagenia memes are taking over my head so I can’t remember her name…

I am also going to use this ask as an excuse to talk about my other favorite characters that are NOT player characters!

From the Infinight campaign, everyone that knows me or have seen my stuff SHOULD know who my favorite NPC is here. I love him so much!!! Spectril, just, AUAAUUAUAAUUAHHHH

however I would like to say that I LOVE all of the OG Infinights too! I sooooo wish we had more on Elleve and Grissly, sad the women get barely any screentime :( I also wanna know more about Fred and Elleve!!!

Back to Spectril though, there’s SO much I love about him. Not just design and voice (aka physical attraction) but literally he AUUAUAUAUGHHH

his whole little arc within Wight Winter? His introduction with his bust at the library? Just. I don’t know how to explain this without making this whole post about him. Maybe after this.

The mini campaign didn’t have many npcs… but I will say I absolutely LOVED the references to the main 4. (Well, 3. Idk if Gum Gum had one, I can’t hear for shit)

Campaign two should be a little obvious but omg I LOVE LIMBER LIZZIE. THEY ARE SO COOL. BADASS. YOU GO LIMBER LIZZIE. oh and uhhh what’s her name? Franceska? Robert’s wife also the Wolfman’s girlfriend?(/j) yeah she’s cool too

#tales from the stinky dragon #stinkydragonpod #stinky dragon pod #hehehehheehe Spectril brainrot #literally so sorry that took forever to respond 💀 I’m distracted with an ace attorney video

[mx-lamour]

OC ask: 6, 12, 22, 38, B, I

6. Do they consider laws flexible, or immovable?

Ezra probably sees laws as immovable. But, as such, laws are also finite. They only exist under particular circumstances. Ezra has been to many settlements, a few cities, and they're all a bit different from each other. The wilderness functions by its own rules. Then there's Barovia, and the other Dread lands. Laws are like lighthouses. They mark a potentially dangerous bit of landfall, but what you do with that insight is up to you. Keep sailing, or take a defined risk?

We'll not go down the rabbit hole of undefined risks just now. That's where terror and folklore thrive.

12. How do they deal with an itch found in a place they can’t quite reach?

I assume Ezra has flexible arms like I do, and I haven’t yet found an itch I can't scratch. However, the new prosthetic situation has been tricky for him. He's anticipating a more articulated hand soon, but for now he has what amounts to a wooden mitten, and it's not very effective for scritches. Sticks exist, though; arrow shafts, things like that. It's just enough to give his remaining hand that extra reach.

22. How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)?

Ezra has long been resigned to the idea that he doesn't get to have nice things (usually to do with caring relationships or a sense of belonging, not material wealth). So he goes through a kind of grieving process with envy. To witness something beautiful, that he wants for himself but knows he can't have, is as excruciating as it is inspiring.

Ezra also tends to be incredibly supportive of the object of his jealousy. He can't have this, but by gods, it is going to work for them. It has to work for someone. He'll live through it vicariously. (But I think this particular response has been unique to Barovia onward.)

38. What memory do they revisit the most often?

He has a few that crop up here and there. The first time he met Ireena, and sat up with her late into the evening while his companions slept. The first time he realized the Traveler was with him; he sent out a little prayer, riding in the back of Ezmerelda’s wagon, and a single candle flickered to life in response. The first time he read about Alek and Strahd hanging over a cliff, refusing to let each other go, and realized he would have done anything for a friendship like that when he was young.

But the one that he has revisited most often is the memory that's been with him the longest. It was the first time he'd set fire to a foster family's home. It was an accident, but it didn't matter. The effect was ruinous. House gone, people injured, livelihoods in ash. No one ever looked at him the same after that. Their fears had redoubled. That was the first time Ezra felt like a monster.

B) What inspired you to create them?

Autism. 😅 Now, an essay...

I was at a point where I had newly considered the possibility and was pretty sure that I was/am autistic. I had started to learn a lot about my own experiences (I wasn't actually diagnosed until about a year into the campaign, so very recently), and I used Ezra as an allegory to process some of what was being revealed to me. (I had also written kind of a horrible memoir podcast for the same purpose, and Ezra was featured in episode 5. I am not going to link it, haha.)

That aspect of Ezra wasn't actually intentional until I noticed I was doing it, but then I leaned in.

I don’t remember what made me choose a fire genasi initially. I had to talk it over with my DM when it came to me, because I liked the idea, but I wasn't sure it would fit well enough with the setting or the class I wanted to play. (At the time, I had been thinking about playing a rogue. My first and longest-running rpg character had been a rogue, and it had been a while since I played one.) My DM reassured me of the setting component, at least.

But I wasn't entirely convinced that I could pull off a blazing bright man being the kind of stealthy I was going for (this art is pretty damn accurate to how I saw him at this point in the process), so I took a little bit of a turn into my other most familiar territory: #i play clerics a lot, and some divine energy was certainly going to be useful in a horror setting. But I hadn't tried out the trickery domain yet, and that had the potential to still give me a little bit of that roguish flavor I had originally envisioned.

When, much later (my DM had been planning CoS for about a year before launch), it finally came time to nail down who this person really was and put them into a world, that was when my autistic revelations decided they were going to have Input.

I really ran with the personification of fire. What can fire eat? How would fire sleep? How is it viewed and interacted with generally by people going about their daily lives? With sentience, how does it feel about and react to this? I gave him little stims and sensory icks. Following through on the stealth aspect of trickery, I had him in disguise, but it was just masking. A coping mechanism for interacting with a world that didn't understand him and, beyond that, couldn't really teach him to understand himself either.

When my DM asked who his patron deity was, I wasn't sure. I looked at a few. When I decided on the Traveler (which had been vaguely familiar to me only through having created a changeling character for a previous campaign), my DM had this tell, that I assume all DMs have, where they get this glint in their eye that means they've made a connection and they're doing mental steeple-fingers up in there. But he discussed it very reasonably with me, and we agreed that it was a suitable choice, and that Ezra wasn't a priest or anything. The Traveler chose him, not the other way around.

Because of this (and tbh it's one of my favorite things to play with) I didn't even use most of his class abilities until we were well into the campaign, and those I did use were disguised as seemingly ordinary gestures to him. Eventually, though, it couldn't be helped, and we found ways for him to suspect that something more was happening there.

And, because I had played into his fire aspect so much when building his background, I started to give him levels in sorcerer, too. I had not planned on doing this, before we got into it, but it helped to stave off becoming too powerful too fast as a cleric before he figured things out, and it also allowed me to explore some of his fear and self-consciousness, because he had been put in this new situation where his ability to burn was becoming pretty vital and maybe even desirable.

So he actually had to face that, and when he started to let himself go a little bit more and explore his own power, that's when I would give him another level in [phoenix] sorcerer. And when he started to accept that there might actually be something looking out for him and started to get more comfortable asking for its help, that's when I would give him a level in cleric. (There were a couple exceptions to this, in which the mechanics were just going to be frustrating and weird if I didn't do it a certain way, but in general that was the idea.)

Ezra has been a seriously therapeutic character these last 15 months. He's been teaching me things about myself, and I've been trickling in on him things I've learned from my therapist (Ezra’s been with me longer than she has). It's a symbiotic relationship at this point. I inspired him and he inspires me. :')

I) Do you prefer to keep them in their canon universe?

Bro, what isn't his canon universe?

He’s from Faerûn, he got sucked into Barovia, and there he's stumbled upon the remains of people who might have even been from our irl world initially. He’s the child of a genie and an elf, he was born in hell, he’s been to places that shouldn't exist, his patron is the literal Traveler, and he's preparing to alter time itself. I couldn't contain him to a universe if I tried. Heck, the universe he came from can hardly contain itself to one canon. 😂

#ezra sunstar #my sweet little guy #curse of strahd oc #character backstory #character development #dungeons and dragons #emotional support oc #actually autistic #i love asks #character building

[greenorangevioletgrass]

OKAY SO when i said my thoughts around carmy and bradley werent coherent at all I meant that quite literally 😭 i havent thought about it in detail aside from the rough idea BUT if i have to expand on it i’d say it could be something along the lines of denim through the decades? or taking into account what you said about james dean/marlo brando i think it would be fun to see a campaign centered around iconic moments of denim in pop culture too. Maybe recreating some movie sets and outfits and such. 

BUT im also thinking something a lot more chill bc ik recreating movie sets n stuff can be 1) a hassle and 2) a lil cheesy, so considering that the people involved in the campaign would be people with an interest in vintage denim n such i was thinking about  levis incorporating some vintage pieces from personal collections. Picture one of the countless denims carmy stores inside his oven (sob) or one of bradley’s staples too. Mix that with a limited edition line of ‘brought from the past’ jeans, jackets, etc. and i think itd be golden. 

By no means am I a denim expert, I’m talking out of my ass here after a few minutes of research LMFAO but its fun to think about it.

I’m sure carmy would be WAYYY more hesitant to participate than bradley. The latter is probably ecstatic and doesnt let his manager (im guessing levis would be in contact with his manager) finish. As soon as the words levis and collab leave his mouth, Bradley's sold. 

I think carmy would be interested in working with levis, a little flattered that they considered him. Maybe taken aback too bc im guessing he’s a very private person and doesnt talk much about his denim collection and such so levi’s def did their research lol. Still, i think he was going to turn them down and then Sugar and Syd found out and tried to convince him bc ‘its levis, u gotta say yes’ but it didnt exactly work and in the end it was Richie who replied to the email with something along the lines ‘id be honoured to be a part of the campaign’ or smth weird in his attempt to impersonate carmen.

With the two of them on set, i quite frankly don’t know if they would interact or how that interaction would go. Think carmy might be too nervous to properly interact bc its a hectic environment. Maybe bradley saw him all closed up and semi alone and decided to strike a conversation with him, talking about denim and such. What do you think?

BTW im so sorry about the typos i keep making, i only notice after you respond LMFAO i swear my english is good, promise.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! thank you so much for indulging me 😭😭 and no worries, i feel like we’re speaking in a language beyond english where we’re just throwing concepts at each other and we actually understand it. it’s beautiful.

i totally get it that recreating movie sets is a lot. what they can do is recreate looks inspired by these iconic movies (like james dean in rebel without a cause—carmy would look great in that!) they can do a studio shoot or an outdoor city shoot like JAW’s CK campaign (still not over that btw skshsjdhsj)

ok hear me out: carmy is reserved in his private life but i feel like deep down he likes being the golden boy. remember his monologue abt smoking ppl out wherever he works? and just the way he steps up to lead and plays up to people who wanna hear what he wants to say. i feel like with the restaurant on the rise, he’s bound to have done some interviews, and on one of them he went on a hyperfixation-fueled tangent abt vintage denim like the first episode.

and you’re so right, it still would take him a lot of nudging and jostling to say yes. i loooove the idea of richie very eloquently replying to the email and making carmy sound very eager and cordial 🤭 (i imagine he would be a very short emailer/texter if he ever does reply)

with carmy, i feel like it’s not so much that he dislikes hectic environments (how much more hectic can his kitchen get, right?) but it’s the kind of hectic that he can’t control. and it drives him nuts, and he’d take smoke breaks often and eventually, bradley goes with him although he doesn’t smoke. he’d say that he has been to noma a few times and he enjoyed it and they bonded over restaurants and food and all. he’d love to visit the bear some time, to which carmy is like “of course let me know anytime you’re in town”

(Bradley thinks carmy is one of the coolest people he’s ever met. Carmy thinks for someone who’s that famous, Bradley is super chill.)

#this is an unlikely duo that i am INTO #bradley bradshaw #carmy berzatto #carmy & bradley crossover #fx the bear #top gun maverick #footballer!bradley #ask ava

[captainsspnanon]

C3E45 reaction

No comments in regards to the dnd drama at large.  I have mixed thoughts, mixed thoughts in regards to CR’s statement, and just everything.

How was this episode only three and half hours, I feel like we got so MUCH!!

I have speculation - the first of which is I wonder if Sam out of game spoke to the group between last session and this and said that he really wanted FCG to have a chance to meet with the professor.  It’s quite possible that this was just the roleplay, but it did change between last episode seeming like they clearly were not stopping for it, with the change to definitely stopping for it this time.  Possibly same with Laura re: Imogen and Kadijah Sumal - but that one feels more like just roleplay initiative as I know Laura’s aware of the time she’s had in the spotlight and I can’t see her pushing for another section while she’s still in the thick of it.

The second speculation is I’m 95% sure that Matt ran a one on one for Taliesin, at least on some level.  Maybe not a full session, but there had to have been some back and forth and rolls involved in that.  It SOUNDS like how a fast paced one on one could go, but it also sounds like a combination of Taliesin and Matt’s ideas, so I’m not 100% sure.

Speaking of: Ashton’s absence.  I’m really glad that it got brought into the narrative the way that it did, it gave Taliesin some information that the party didn’t have (or at least tied him into aspects of it) allowing him to feel like he was being helpful even if Ashton was absent.   Also, Taliesin’s masterful having Ashton approach in disguise, pulling one on the players instead of the PCs.  I’m not sure how much they bought into it, but it seemed like at least a few of them were seriously wondering if he brought a new PC.

Not too much new for FCG but a nice confirmation of what they already knew, plus the addition that their model was designed for caring and guiding.  Love how Sam is playing into the indecision and the fear/stress that FCG has about having to determine their own path rather than just having it stated for them.  Matt’s NPC?  AMAZING.  GLORIOUS.  I LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT.  Don’t remember the name at all, Indvol?  WHO KNOWS.  I hope he’s a reoccurring NPC though.  In my mind, THIS is the Victor/Zorth/Orly of C3.  This is the first time the voice has cut through so much of the table!

Also - easy bake oven.  what the fuck sam, also this is amazing, but also what the fuck.

AND THEN FUCKING LUDINUS DA’LETH WITH IMOGEN AND FEARNE OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK

One - Khadijah Sumal = fantastic, love her.  The quiet paranoia played perfectly, but sadly not paying off.  Ludinus coming in is one of the events which I wonder if Matt had on a timeline.  If the party hadn’t stopped by Khadijah’s today, would Ludinus still have gotten the papers now and hit her with the spell?  I suspect so, this seems like a somewhat fixed timeline - whenever the party got to Yios, that’s when Ludinus would be there, if they interacted with Khadijah or not.

I don’t remember Ludinus too much from C2, but I vaguely remember him being more genial?  Maybe that was just because he was in the Empire at the time, and was dealing with Cobalt!Beau and Empire!Caleb (and CharmingConfusingPutsYouOffBalance!Jester).  I’m only starting e66 on my rewatch, so I feel like I’ve got a decent bit of episodes before they have their next/first real interaction with Ludinus.

FEYWILD FEYWILD YES YES YES YES

Possible controversial comment!  My C2 rewatch has only shown to me how much more alive the locations and settings for C2 felt versus the ones for C3 (for me).  They felt much more varied and rich and lived in, whereas I’ve struggled with the feeling of that for C3.  I think the Heartmore Hamlet felt fleshed out, as well as Bassuras, but a lot of the more landscapy areas (the journey to and from the Heartmore, the travel over the Wilds in the airship) have felt more generic or rushed, like this campaign is much less about travel and exploration than C2 and a lot more of Big Storyline.  But the Feywild completely felt alive and living and rich and detailed.  I have two theories as to why.  One - Matt not only gave a description of the area, but immediately had the opportunity to have a location interaction with the players (the flowers and the trees).  I’m finding that similar to some of the C2 descriptions, where the locations will be described and then a much smaller tighter aspect will be interacted with.  That’s both on Matt and on the players, if that’s what’s causing it.  The other theory (and this is super controversial I know) is that I know Matt has had several co-creators for Marquet, and likely several cultural consultants.  I wonder if this means that when he is describing a location, he feels more pressured to really describe how it is on the sheet (so opening with a very long detailed description that while fun ends up getting lost quickly) and maybe a bit more reluctant to improv areas or descriptions of it.

NANA MORRI.  I love her and watching Ashley be so thoroughly delighted by every aspect of the Feywild and her home and her grandmother is the BEST.  Not a hag though!  Or at least not one that I’m familiar with!

#cr spoilers #critical role #bells hells