#I enjoy the shirtless ratio in the show | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

staurora · 1 year

Text

Skinz: One Year Later

It doesn’t matter who you are

It doesn’t matter whether you are black, white, Hispanic, Asian, male, or female.

I’m saying that your mere skin doesn’t matter.

All that matters is you.

Instinct Part.2 was released a little over a year ago, to a mixed reception. On the heels of a controversial Instinct Part.1 era, a steep climb in popularity, and then the sad and mysterious exit of leader and main vocalist Love, many fans were in a sensitive spot. The harsh, unforgiving soundscape of “Skinz” provoked mixed responses.

I’ll save my analysis of the Instinct albums for another day. For now, I want to analyze Skinz as a stand-alone entity.

The music video of Skinz tells a tale of obsession and delusion. A desperate and crude yet unapologetic kind of love and desire. Lyrically, it refers love as something parasitic, describing the intense desire to be as close to a loved one as possible, expressed in the lyrics:

“Face off. Show me what’s behind the mask, under skin”

“I can’t take it anymore

Dig deeper into my skin”

The music video seems to directly, purposefully contrast to the Libido video. Where Libido had a clear narrative with the members playing characters inside the story, Skinz steps out of it, going from a dreamlike fiction to something very close to reality. The members become more themselves. Idols, in their practice room, their van, their beach trip. Even the aspect ratio of the videos enforces this. Libido is cinematic, wide with black bars on the top and bottom. Skinz is full screen and opened up, a broader more lifelike perspective.

Additionally, the watcher is now given a perspective. You play a fan of OnlyOneOf. You watch their van. Your hands tweet about them.

The dark sound of the music video really struck me when I first watched. The English words like “parasite” and “delusion” and “underneath the skin” really popped out.

My immediate thought was a critique of obsessive fan culture, and I think that’s a large, important part of it for sure. The fan is watching OnlyOneOf from afar and desires to become closer, to know more, to see every little thing about their idols. It grows to a point of delusion, as referenced in the lyrics “Delusion in my head spread like a parasite”. The fan can barely tell reality from fiction, taking their joy from imagining themself being closer to OnlyOneOf, catching intimate moments they never would have seen before. Member A feeding member B! Member C being shirtless! And then they turn to the fan and pull them in to join the fun!

And the fan blinks back to reality, the bridge between these worlds always represented by the glitching of the music video and their phone screen. And they can feel satisfied having enjoyed time with the ones they love, as much as possible even if it’s only in their imagination.

Now, I use harsh language like delusion and obsession, but is it so severe? That’s… hard to say. I mean it must be right? How can you refer to this love as parasitic and delusional if it’s not a bad thing? But the description of the track, which I wrote at the top of the post, is so kind. The group is saying they love you, the fans, regardless of superficial things. Additionally, though the music is grating and dark, the moments imagined by the fan are not especially evil or invasive. It’s a vacation. Grilling outside and then walking and playing on the beach. The fan is watching OnlyOneOfs van in the beginning, but were they stalking it or did they happen across it?

I believe the morality of the fan is left intentionally vague because there are so many different fans with different beliefs and boundaries. There are fans who truly have problems with delusions or obsessiveness, and there are those who indulge a bit too much, and those who have the mental state to maintain well-drawn boundaries, and casual fans who would never think to cross any lines.

OnlyOneOf is acknowledging the state of Kpop fan culture, with little further commentary. Their clearest message is their description which I put at the very beginning of this analysis. To summarize it, “I love you, your mere skin doesn’t matter.”

That’s exactly what idols are for isn’t it? When someone is lonely, lacking friends or family or other relationships, when a kid needs someone to look up to, when someone’s life is stressful and their dreams seem unattainable, idols are meant to fill that gap.

(Well, they’re meant to make money for their company. But they wouldn’t make that money if they weren’t doing something beneficial for their fans.)

For me personally, idols have held many different roles. An inspiration to work hard, a muse, a companion when I’ve had no friends, a depiction of healthy masculinity… there is something very meaningful hiding beneath the scary fan culture and the money hungry companies.

It’s the relationship between fan and artist. A relationship which I feel is so perfectly captured in this video. Honestly, I’m so impressed looking at it after so much thought. The fan can be read as completely respectful and innocent, or someone as deeply bad and unhealthy as a sasaeng with serious problems.

In fact, I don’t think it needs to be one or the other. I think many fans engage in many different kinds of fan culture of varying degrees of respectfulness. It’s all based upon personal values and the depths of obsessiveness. I think that’s what’s really at the core of this video. That’s why this was truly a fear of artistry once again from the creative team.

I would love to hear any disagreements or additional points from other fans though if anyone would like to add on! I think there’s plenty more that could be analyzed here down to the smallest details!

I mean I’ve been holding these thoughts for… well, since the music video released. OnlyOneOf really has so much depth to their releases. Maybe next I’ll over analyze seoul collection or the underground idol universe or something.

#kpop #onlyoneof #kpop analysis #onlyoneof theory #OnlyOneOf analysis

9 notes · View notes

thebearcametoo · 2 years

Text

As a big fan of the books I’m loving Reacher. Alan Richson is so well cast and Willa Fitzgerald’s Roscoe is fabulous. I’m not sure Reacher qualifies as a Himbo as he’s too shrewd and cerebral but she looks at him like he’s her favourite himbo so that’s good enough for me.

#reacher #roscoe #Alan richson #Willa Fitzgerald #he is a very well put together monster #Frankenstein #I enjoy the shirtless ratio in the show #they understand their audience #Peggy reaching out to Cap’s chest gif #that will do nicely

116 notes · View notes

eyesfixedonthesun22 · 4 years

Text

She’s So High: Chapter 8: B SIDE: ALTERNATE ENDING

Summary: 90’s karaoke and your snarky wit seem to have revived the charming side of one Bucky Barnes. Everything comes full circle the morning after. *RECORD SCRATCH SOUND* Except this is the B Side...see notes. Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Warning(s): Smut 18+. Swearing. Kissing, Fingering (female), Oral Sex (female receiving), Vaginal Sex, Unprotected Sex. No beta reader so like...typos probs. Word Count: xxx Notes: So @marvelous-meggi and @kyber-hearts-and-stardust-souls put the idea in my head when I first posted Chapter 8 of “What would have happened if they had gotten caught?” and I saw that maybe I would write this as sorta a B Side to this chapter. And Meggie tagged me today saying she was waiting still. AND while I was showering I had an idea. So....this happened. ORIGINAL chapter text is in italics. NEW chapter text is regular font.

You’re taken aback by the bright wash of sunshine flooding the room as your eyes flutter open. A room that is clearly not your room. Your half-awake brain remembers the events of last night sluggishly. This is Bucky’s bed… which would explain the large arm draped across your middle.

You savor the warmth from the sunlight spilling across the bed coupled with the warmth radiating from his body next to you. The soft sheets caress your naked skin as you stretch your muscles; careful not to wake Bucky.

You study his face. All the tension it normally holds during the waking hours is absent. His hair is strewn across his pillow. His limbs, all but the one anchoring you to him, seem to be splayed in every direction. You crane your neck to see the clock.

“Fuck.” You allow another five minutes to enjoy the proximity with the man beside you before carefully sliding under his arm.

You curse once more for sleeping in this late but allow it remembering fondly why you were so exhausted. Bucky had woken you up throughout the night. The first time he had ground gently against your backside. He nearly came from the wanton whines that permeated your dreams. When you stirred awake, he slid into you from behind; relishing in how soaked you had been for him.

The second time you had protested a bit, citing lack of sleep. Not easily deterred, his mouth worked your breasts with lavish kisses. All complaints died on your tongue when his head disappeared under the covers with his apology of “just once more for me, darlin’?” You could have sworn you heard a series of knocks clearly coming from the room next door. All worry dissipated as Bucky tongue fucked you through not one but two more orgasms.

The third time was entirely your “fault”. You had woken with your throat parched. Returning from the bathroom with a glass of water, you noticed a tempting tent in the sheets. Thinking you’d have the element of surprise, you were certainly shocked (though not complaining), when things ended with you bent over the side of the bed with Bucky’s cock pounding you into the mattress.

You smirk at the memories, attempting to find your clothing from the night before. Quickly giving up, you opt for Bucky’s flannel as a dressing gown. You’d be able to start breakfast in privacy and come back in normal clothes once the team was awake. Which would be soon if you didn’t hurry; you thought, stealing a final glance back at Bucky’s sleeping form.

You’d settled on a batch of breakfast quiches for the team. You press play on your favorite playlist, letting it provide a pleasant background soundtrack. Once the egg mixture was ready, you could throw it in the oven and probably catch another half hour of lazy morning cuddles with Bucky.

All the vegetables were chopped and ready for the filling. The only problem was you couldn’t remember the ratio of cream to egg. Pulling open the cabinets you see the cookbook you need propped on one of the top shelves. Clearly someone else had used it last. You would never have put it so out of reach. You stand on your tip toes and attempt to swat it down from its elevated prison.

You must have been engrossed in getting the cookbook down because Bucky is able to silently creep into the kitchen. He enjoys watching you struggle; finding your little frustrated cursing adorable.

You see the cookbook teetering, almost within reach, when a pair of hands land on your hips. You freeze but relax once you smell the familiar scent of him behind you. His head drops on your shoulder for a quick kiss behind your ear; hands dipping under the hemline of the flannel.

“You skippin’ out on me, dollface?” He mumbles into your skin.

“I needed to get breakfast in the oven before everyone is up. I was gonna hop back in bed with you while it bakes.” You resume your struggle to get the cookbook down as Bucky chuckles at you. “Would you quit laughing at me?! I need this cookbook. I can’t remember the ratioooooooohh-”

Your reply turns to a moan. One of his hands detaches itself from its place on your hip, effortlessly grabs the cookbook, and tosses it on the island behind you; the other is occupied ever so softly stroking small circles into your clit. You collapse back down off your tip toes and let your weight fall back into his chest.

“Doll, you can’t go around stealing my shirts and making them look ten times sexier than I ever could.” His voice seems entirely unaffected but the sudden shift in mood. “I’m incredibly insecure and you’re showing me up.”

You can hear the smile in his words even if you weren’t feeling it in his lips which are now sloppily and lazily kissing up your neck. You sigh deeply, enjoying the teasing sensations he’s sending through your body.

“Buck-” you whine gently, remembering where you are. “Someone is gonna hear us.”

He pulls back from you to quickly jab at the volume button; increasing the music so others don’t hear you. “Then you better be quiet, sweetheart.”

Needing to see his eyes, you turn around to face him. His hair is mussed. It looks like he’s thrown on the same black jeans from the night before. They hang obscenely low on his hips unbuttoned. He’s deliciously shirtless. Warmth from the bedroom still clings to his skin.

“I distinctly remember a grumpy old man yelling at me for too loud of music this early in the morning.”

The pressure on your clit relents only to feel a digit slide into your core slowly, his thumb takes up the circles on your clit.

“Come back to bed darlin’. Sleeping in isn’t as fun without you there.”

“I have to make breakfast-” Your reply is choked off by a particularly strong wave of pleasure as his finger pushes pressure onto your g-spot. You open your eyes only to see a perfectly smug and unbothered face. If you didn’t feel his motions deep inside your now pulsing cunt, you would have guessed he was almost bored.

You try again to defend your actions, “Everyone will go hungry if-”

With his eyes locked on yours he adds a second finger into you. “Fuck.” He cocks his head to the side slightly and gives you his best shit eating grin.

“You were saying?”

“I’m out of excuses.” You mold your lips to his, giving into the pleasurable sensations. You attempt to walk him backwards out of the kitchen towards the bedroom.

“Nuh uh,” he says with his mouth now sucking deep hickeys into your collar bone. “Wanna see you cum right here.”

You want to protest but the clench of your walls around his fingers betrays you before you can get a word out. You pant small breathy moans into his shoulder as he brings his lips to your ears.

“That’s it, darlin’. I can tell that turns you on.” You suppress another low moan and it comes out more of a whimper. “Knowin’ anyone could walk in… see you becoming a panting little mess stuffed with my fingers.”

At this point, you’re relying completely on Bucky for support; your legs have gone to Jell-O. “I can tell you’re close, doll. I feel you fluttering around me.”

The stretch and glide of Bucky’s fingers have you forgetting about the residual soreness. You bite your bottom lip; hoping it will keep you quiet enough. You’re ready to let go with your release-

“Holy fuck, Barnes!” You whine all vestiges of anger about him teasing you previously slipping away. “Don’t stop.”

His pace is measured and calculated hitting unrelenting on your g-spot with perfect pressure. Perhaps any other time you’d be embarrassed by the slick squelches coming from his motions but all you care about was that they didn’t cease.

“Oh I’m not stopping baby. You’re gonna cum for me right here,” his words are hot and low in your ear as your vision goes white. “And then I’m gonna spread your legs and have my breakfast.”

With those final words you’re a panting moaning mess into the crux of his neck and shoulder; cookbook and quiches long since forgotten while your release rips through you.

“Now I do fully appreciate the suave nature of that line you just laid on your lady there, Barnes; but can the both of you move this to a more suitable room?”

“Yeah like literally ANY other room!” Steve chimes in staring at the two of you pink faced and bug eyed.

“But maybe bleach the countertops first.”

“I’m not letting them get off that easy, Tony.” Steve stands with his shoulders squared, a giant wall of muscle blocking the escape. “ James Buchanan Barnes! Agent! What the hell were you thinking? Engaging in…”

“Fucking seems more apt a word”

Steve presses on ignoring Tony’s interjection. “Being intimate in shared common spaces. Did you want to get caught?”

Perhaps it was the tingles of aftershocks still moving through you but you felt your pussy throb as Steve voiced aloud the very words about the situation you were in. Tony, ever the joyful observer of others misery, locks eyes with you. Whatever state of flushed you were went a shade darker at him noticing your state of rekindled arousal. There was something about being caught that just shot jolts straight to your core. You knew it was risky but that was half the fun. Now to have Steve calling you out on the very thing that turned you on really only amplified the situation between your legs.

“I mean anyone could have walked around the corner at any second to see Bucky and you.”

You can’t help but shift your thighs back and forth aching to get back to Bucky’s room and let him finish his earlier promise.

Tony raises and eyebrow before speaking. “I think they’ve had enough lecturing, Cap. But just think about how much worse it would have been if we came in any later.”

“Yeah yeah we get it,” Bucky comes to your rescue, placing his hand in the small of your back to nudge you back to his room. You quickly duck under Steve’s arm, out of the kitchen hoping Bucky is right behind you. You turn only to see Tony pull him aside, no doubt for one more talking to.

***

“Look, hear me out and try to remember I’m only saying this for your benefit as I’m obviously off the market,” Tony says to Bucky while wiggling his wedding band clad finger. “That girl has a thing and it’s a thing you need to look into.”

“A thing?” Skepticism clouds his voice.

“Obviously get her consent but I think you have a bit of an exhibitionist on your hands there Buckaroo.”

***

“We’re gonna be late.”

You can’t help but laugh as he pushes you into the more discreet alley behind Pastimes; pinning you beneath his strong frame while he assaults your neck with wet kisses.

“Let them wait. I haven’t seen my girl all day.”

Nips and pecks turn to hot, open mouthed kiss and gasping embraces. His fingers quickly trace the cleft between thigh more needing places of yours. You mouth a silent thanks that you’d worn a skirt tonight.

“Bucky, we should go a bit further into the alley.”

“Should we?” His words might as well have been a growl. “Afraid we’ll get caught again, little one?”

He pulls your panties aside and presses into your wetness.

“I’d love it if Stevie came out looking for us and caught you stuffed with my fingers, mid-orgasm once more.”

There’s no hiding the tattletale clench of your walls and renewed gush of slick.

“Maybe he’d give you another lecture about proper conduct and soiling the good Avengers name. But you just can’t help it. You love me finger fucking you where anyone could see us. Don’t you?”

You’re certain he’d wanted to force your response but the sudden turn in your boyfriends demeanor was all too much for you. With his question and recent push of fingers inside your tight channel you’ve gone and cum; walls fluttering, eyes going shut, body tensing in Bucky’s arms.

“Holy shit, doll. Just from that?”

You nod sheepishly at him once the afterglow of your release sets in and you can think again.

“I can’t wait to see what else you can do, darling.” He kisses you gently on the forehead and then the lips before helping you get straightened up. “Now let’s go sing some karaoke.”

Bucky plops down across the booth next to Sam like nothing out of the ordinary just occured. You attempt to make conversation with Wanda but you find it hard to focus after Bucky’s little surprise. Your eyes wander and meet his across the booth. They glint playfully. Your gaze moves to his hand holding his drink. Two of the fingers are obviously coated in your slick. Noticing your gaze, he moves the finger up to his mouth and licks it clean. You let out an uncontrolled gasp.

“You okay there?” Tony says. You pry your eyes away from Bucky’s face you manage a nod. You refuse to look back at him, knowing full well he’s got the largest shit eating grin plastered on his face. Just this once you let him have it; he’s earned it.

#bucky x reader #bucky x female reader #bucky barnes #bucky smut #Bucky Barnes smut #she's so high #bonus chapter #my writing #my fics

58 notes · View notes

downwithwritersblock · 6 years

Photo

In Honor of the month of October, and my absolute favorite holiday; Halloween, I have teemed up with a special and amazing blog @quills-and-golden-ink to bring you all this!

The Monthly Guide to Monsters!

Twice a week during the month of October, we will be releasing a quick and friendly guide to help our fellow writers get to know some of the worlds most infamous mythological creatures.

The guide will include basic information, history, how these monsters can be dealt with, and were you can find some examples of these creatures in the media. Pictures will also be provided, as seen above(let’s hope my other half is better at making title pages then I am).

Each guide will also come with a creative aspect, like a prompt set or a short story specifically made to match the monster, for all your spooky Halloween needed inspiration. For the rest of the year, we will be releasing one to two guide every month.

Monsters and Mythology are a large passion of mine, so I hope these guides can be just as helpful and fun to others as they are to me.

So, Without further ado, I present;

Monster Guide #1 The Werewolf

Definition: A human being with the capability to shape-shift into a wolf, or a wolf-human hybrid. Also known as Lycanthropy. Often seen as being a curse or a disease, but that’s not always the case.

Description: Throughout history and media, Werewolves have been depicted in several different ways. Typically, they are appear as normal human beings and their inner wolf is not physically visible. In their animal form, things might differ. They may or may not be discernible from ordinary wolves, they might be seen as slightly larger or with different coloration's. Other tales show hybrid like creatures, often with the body and posture of a human and all the animalistic aspects(fur, claw, teeth, eyes, hunting instinct, etc) of the wolf. Ratio of human to wolf differs in hybrids as well. They might be 99? Wolf once they transforms, others might just slap wolf ears and a tail on a human and call it a Were.

Abilities: Besides the ability to shapeshift into their wolf form, Werewolves are also usually credited to have heightened, or animal like abilities as humans as well. They typically have heightened senses(sight, smell, hearing, etc) and are usually much stronger and faster than other humans.

Curing and Killing:

-Ancient greek and romans believed that good old fashion exhaustion could cure lycanthropy. The accused would be put through extensive and heavy physical work and test to exhaust the disease out of them. This was said to work because the alleged werewolf would always be weak afterwards.

-Medicine (Wolfsbane)

-Medieval folklore also believed in surgery and exorcism to cure lycanthropy.

-Some believed running nails or spikes through the hand could cure it

-In some Germanic regions, a werewolf could be cured simply by repeating it’s christened name three times

-In some folklore, all you had to do was give the wolf a good verbal scolding.

-Converting to Christianity or devotion to St. Hubert, the patron saint of hunting, dogs, and many other things.

-In many legends, blessed weapons could harm or kill werewolves

-Silver weapons were also known to harm or kill werewolves

History: Tales of werewolves are ancient, and common in many different cultures. The story's change a bit here and there, but usually the Lycanthropy root cause is a punishment for sin.

In ancient greek mythology, there was Lycaon; A king of Arcadia that for some reason(changes frequently), fed the guts of one of his sons to Zues. As punishment for this act, Lycaon and all his other son were cursed to become a wolf. He’s sometimes credited with being the source or beginning of all werewolves.

Tales of werewolves are ancient, widespread, and flexible. A creature with much potential, and one you should not fear to make your own in your artistry.

Some Werewolves spotlighted in Media, in case your looking for an October watchlist:

-The Wolf Man (1941)

-The Wolf Man (2010)

-Teen Wolf (1985)

-Werewolf of London (1935)

-The Howling (1981)

-Teen Wolf(2011)

-Being Human (2008)

Prompts:

1.“No! Uhuh, no! No! How many times do I have to tell you? No werewolves on the couch!”

2. “This. This right here. This is why I am a cat person.”

3. “I prefer my werewolf's shirtless and on the cover of a romance novel, not covered in fur and blood and snarling in my face.”

4. “There is nothing like the feeling of the hunt, of chasing after something so helpless, watching it try so hard to live only for your teeth to be buried in it’s flesh and it’s life fading away under your hands moments later. There is no better feeling then a successful hunt. It’s really too bad we can’t retain memories from our wolf forms. It means we have to go our of our way to recreate that feeling.”

5. “Vampires have it easy. When they’re turned, they get to play dead. They drop off the face of the earth and pretend like they no longer exist. They get to hide in the shadows where they don’t have to face themselves. We don’t get that luxury. We still have to face the daylight, we have to lie to our loved ones, and we can still see the monster in the mirror.”

6.”That is not a werewolf. I don’t know what the hell it is, but it’s not one of us.”

I really hope someone out there enjoys this as much as I did while I was making it, and I really hope someone out there can put it to good use. If you did enjoy it, well then keep your eyes open for part two. Where there’s werewolves, there will always be....

#Writing Prompts #Prompts #creative writing prompts #writing inspiration #monsters #werewolves #Writing tips #halloween #halloween prompts #Supernatural creatures #Monster Guide #Imagine your otp #imagine your ocs #imagine your ship #imagine your oc #inktober

614 notes · View notes

misscrawfords · 5 years

Text

I finished watching Sabrina Part 2 and... I have thoughts.

Firstly, Part Two is a lot more interesting than Part One. Secondly, I cannot believe that this show is made by the same people that make Riverdale. I mean, CAOS is an aesthetically cool exploration of religion, feminism and mythology with a coherent plot and characterisation. Riverdale is... none of those things.

In Part 1, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the brand of feminism the show appeared to be displaying. It’s actually ages since I watched it so I can’t say anything very meaningful about it at present, but IIRC Miss Wardwell was taking a very misandrist approach to feminism which personally I don’t think is helpful or particularly pleasant.

Anyway, I thought Part 2 was rooted in much clearer systematic dismantling of patriarchal institutions rather than just hating all men. It’s also interesting and refreshing in many ways to see a fantasy series where the heroes are heavily biased towards women and girls and the Big Bad is basically the patriarchy. I’m not saying that the show doesn’t have its flaws but we shouldn’t hold this one to higher standards than any other teen fantasy series just because it’s explicitly feminist. It’s just refreshing. I wonder what boys make of it. In an ideal world we’d have fantasy series with an equal number of male and female characters and they’d model a world without sexist values but considering the number of fantasies that play directly in a men’s world, where the male:female ratio is heavily skewed and where female characters are routinely fridged, it’s so refreshing to see one where the ratio is skewed the other way, where the “good” male characters admire the women in their lives and where women are allowed to be ambitious, powerful, bull-headed, dominating and so on without being punished for it by the narrative. Sabrina is wrong a lot of the time, but no more than your average hot-headed Chosen One boy hero trying to save the world and messing it up pretty much all the time.

Another way in which Part 2 is better than Part 1 IMO is that Nick is just a thousand times better than Harvey as Sabrina’s love interest. It’s making me try to work out just what is so... dull about Harvey. In theory, the star-crossed romance between a witch and a mortal should be engaging, but all through Part 1 it was just so tedious. Partly because Harvey kept dragging Sabrina back to the mortal world and its much less interesting concerns - I want to see Sabrina using her powers and being badass, not constantly having to tiptoe round Harvey’s feelings. Nick loves her powers, admires her and is part of the world she is entering into. He represents moving forwards into something new, Harvey represents falling backwards into a mundane life. I suppose shows that have a character with half a foot in the fantasy world and half a foot in the “normal” world have to deal with how to make the original, non-magic friends/family interesting to the viewer/reader. I think CAOS does an okay job of it in Part 2, mainly because they aren’t in it so much and they aren’t struggling with their identities so much and just getting on with it. I loved Theo and, once again, it’s really refreshing to see a Trans narrative in the show. I’m not Trans so I can’t speak to what watching CAOS is like from that perspective but it seemed to me to be pretty decently executed and explicit in the narrative, which strikes me as a good thing.

Mythology-wise, it’s also interesting. I mean, if I was really into the show, I’d probably be writing essays trying to make sense of it on a theological perspective which I am... not going to do. But the mythology of Christianity (I mean not just the Bible but all the surrounding literature and texts and interpretations) is so ripe for exploration and turning into fantasy whether in a profound or frivolous way, so all power to CAOS. If Milton can have a sexy Satan, why can’t Netflix?!

Speaking of Satan, eh... I think Lucifer could have been done better. His reappearance in the last episode was the most disappointing part of the series, I think. Maybe he would appeal more to teenagers, IDK. But there was so little development. He was a very cardboard villain. Hot shirtless (yet strangely sexless) man wants to take over the world and can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t go along with that and is repeatedly blind to insubordination in the ranks. I mean, he’s kind of... stupid? And could be any video game boss. Faustus made a much more compelling, dangerous and believable antagonist. And, much as I love Nick, if he had actually been Satan all along, would have been a much more compelling twist than just having him work for Lucifer - but it’s okay because he really did fall for Sabrina. Let Lucifer be genuinely sexy and tempting and manipulative! Let Nick be genuinely conflicted and morally grey! Because, damn, at the moment, it’s a wasted opportunity.

So yeah, overall I enjoyed it (and the masquerade was so extra - I loved it) but still not as good as it could be! Bring on Sabrina’s journey to hell in Part 3! I do love a good katabasis.

#caos #the chilling adventures of sabrina

6 notes · View notes

junker-town · 5 years

Text

The Lonely Island’s Bash Brothers special is a work of art

I don’t know why this exists, but I’m so glad it does.

This is a compliment: I don’t know why The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience exists, or what its purpose is. It is a 30-minute fever dream — “a visual poem” according to the summary — about baseball players Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire during their time together on the Oakland Athletics from 1988 to 1992. Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer from The Lonely Island play the duo despite resembling neither McGwire nor Canseco in any way.

There is an 11-song, 25-minute long soundtrack to go with the visual poem. Almost all of the songs mention heavy steroid use. Only one mentions an elaborate sex act involving one hundred cardboard cutouts of period-appropriate swimsuit model Kathy Ireland and a broom. That’s about the right ratio between those two, if anyone was wondering.

If making a 30-minute hip hopera about an iconic and scandalized pair of anabolically-inclined late-80s baseball players seems like a very specific pull for a very specific niche audience, well: it is, and it also isn’t. It is specific in the sense that those with a faint memory of the Bash Brothers — namely big sunglasses, giant biceps, an iconic Costacos Brothers poster, highlights of home runs blasted into the sun-drenched stands of Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, and a certain 1990-ish pagers-and-Lamborghinis vibe surrounding everything — will enjoy how much Samberg and Schaffer clearly adore the whole era.

It also isn’t in the sense that The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience is also essentially Beyonce’s Lemonade, but done instead by three nerds who met in a Bay Area middle school, and written about the 1988 Oakland A’s most juiced pair of sluggers. That kind of barely-anchored surreality has its own logic and needs no excuses. Samberg and Schaffer float underwater in baseball uniforms asking questions like WHERE WILL WE HIDE FROM THE SUN WHEN ALL THE TREES ARE DEAD? McGwire rips the bones out of his own arm. The pair appear with burning angels’ wings, on the deck of Noah’s Ark, and in an ad for a workout video about lifting women instead of weights. “Oakland Nights” is just a solid two minutes of the pair rapping about spending their nights in silk robes and kimonos while Schaffer drops the line “I’m solo and I’m flexin’ but don’t try to soloflex me.” Sia sings the chorus. She is played in The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience by Sterling K. Brown dancing shirtless in silk pajamas and a Sia wig. It’s fine, it’s all fine.

About that: I have no idea why Sterling K. Brown isn’t the most successful person in Hollywood. He made Killmonger’s dad seem sympathetic in about two minutes of screen time in Black Panther. He was so scary as a homicidal dentist in one episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine that he almost undermined the comedy part of the show by himself. He is tearjerking on This is Us, an entire show based on the concept of being tearjerking at all times. He might be a better Sia than Sia, if we’re all being honest here. Someone pay him to play the most terrifying villain of his generation and let him be the titled legend he already is in reality.

Oh, and the “don’t try to soloflex me” line? It’s better than anything Big Sean has ever written. That is a double-edged compliment in that Big Sean is embarrassing, and a low bar for any rapper to clear, but also because after more than a decade doing parody rap, the members of the Lonely Island have advanced from bad-good to kind of good-good at rapping and picking beats. Andy Samberg drops a team-themed verse in “Let’s Bash” that is legit impressive by itself, and maybe more impressive because it’s preceded by a deep cut Walt Weiss joke. They’ve got range now, is what I’m saying, even if it is range employed in service of a 30-minute musical fantasy about Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco.

I love that they did this, and particularly that they did it about a sports thing. The past 20 years have seen a deep and increasingly formal canonization of sports history, driven by docuseries like 30 for 30 and imitators, but also by the internet and the demands of its very particular economy of attention. There are lists, and more lists, and Mount Rushmores, and top 10s, and slideshows, all part of a boundless archive of well-considered lists of the Most Important, Most Consequential, and Most Essential. The lists of bests and most memorables are fine — everyone does them all the time, for all the right and wrong reasons — but they also bypass the experiential, turning history into something more collectible and sterile. Arguing about what’s best in sports is natural, but it ignores a lot of why people watch sports to begin with: Because of the experience, and not because of where their favorite teams or player or moments fall on among precisely sorted commodities.

There are like, maybe three historical facts in the whole of The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience. That’s enough, because the rest is emotionally factual. The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience implicitly argues that baseball was insanely cool when people could and did take terrifying amounts of steroids, which is true. (Problematic! But true.) It reps early West Coast rap beats, Oakley sunglasses, 80s-model Lamborghinis, and neon-accented pastel decorating schemes. It feels way more like what I remember about the Oakland A’s from that era, even if they don’t namecheck Dave Stewart or Mike Gallego.

That’s why I kind of love The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience, despite its complete lack of substance. It’s a thing I didn’t even know I was missing, a way of remembering a soap bubble of a moment in sports that was more vibe and less a series of events with import, weight, or legacy. Someone else might remember the precise impact those A’s had on modern baseball. Cool: I remember huge swole dudes with gold chains jacking dingers and making posters that ended up on my friends’ walls.

That’s real, or at least more real than most of the overblown summaries at the end of sports documentaries about “a team defining a city” or “a legacy that will live forever.” Those messages feel forced, and fall short of illustrating how a moment truly felt. That’s not the fault of the documentary, which is a clean, clinical way of nonfiction storytelling. But where nonfiction like the documentary leaves off, art has to pick up. And yes, I just called a 30-minute parody video about Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco where Maya Rudolph and HAIM sing the words “shake four halves of butt” a work of art. If the label fits, the label fits.

0 notes

datingadviceonreddit · 4 years

Link

Dating apps like Tinder are the most popular way to meet people these days, especially now during a global pandemic. However so many men fail to do well on them mostly because they just don’t understand all the nuance of how they work.Take myself for example, someone who’s 5’8, black and about a solid 7 or 8 depending on the day. I knew I was never ugly but for some reason always wondered why my luck was so bad on this app. Usually I would get about a couple of matches a month...if I was lucky. Then I decided to run an experiment and pay for Tinder gold and a couple of boosts. My likes and matches skyrocketed and in one 30 minute period had over 50+ likes and 20+ matches.So I asked myself how is this possible especially when I live in one of the worst areas for dating? After doing some research I’m going share to you what is going on. Although some may know this most don’t.- HOW TINDER WORKSDating apps are completely saturated with men and thus women tend to get favored more and always shown to people no matter what. Men on the other hand aren’t so lucky and are prioritized on a number of different things.When you first make a tinder account as a guy you get a short 12 hour boost which makes your profile shown to as many people as possible which slowly dissipates from then on out. The more women who are swiping on you means that you will be prioritized and shown to even more women. If tinder decides that you aren’t attractive enough or enough women aren’t swiping on you then you go to the bottom of the stack and seen by less and less people. It can get so bad that eventually no one can see your profile anymore unless you pay for a boost.HOW TO SWIPEThe first tip I can give is to STOP 🛑 swiping on every woman’s profile in a desperate attempt to get matches because that ultimately hurts your ‘ratio’. Your ratio is the amount of matches you get vs the number of right swipes you’re giving. So if you’re just swiping on people without matching that means tinder will show you to even fewer people and your ratio will go down. This is part of the hidden algorithm.1. Only swipe on women whom you think would have the best chance of swiping back- Women are picky and it’s no secret. Only a handful of guys will be able to circumvent this so just do your best judging who you think might have the most interest in you. It’s hard because I’ve seen how women swipe (via friends I’ve met off the app) and they are brutal.2. Only swipe during peak hours- Most people aren’t swiping on weekdays or in of the middle of the afternoon. The best times to swipe are on Sunday/Monday nights between 8-10pm. Swiping during a ‘Swipe Surge’ is fine too which typically happen at night. Don’t hurt your ratio by swiping during a time no one will see your profile.3. Pay for 1 boost a week during the above peak times I described above.- Yeah having to spend money on these apps no one likes to do but in the case of Tinder, it’s pretty much mandatory for 90% of men because of the way it works against us. Spending $7 to get matches isn’t that big of the deal and sometimes Tinder does discounts for $0.99 cent boosts. Cmon now, you’ll be spending a lot more on the date 😂THINGS YOU CAN’T CONTROLThe biggest thing that gets men down on these apps are the things they have no control over like their height, hobbies or who finds them attractive. Don’t feel like you have to try to appeal to everyone because that’s simply not possible.THINGS YOU CAN CONTROLOnly focus on things that you can control such as the quality of your profile and how you portray yourself. Stop taking selfie pictures in your house/bathroom and go outside. I learned this the hard way so I bought a tripod for my phone and took some nice photos of me doing things I actually enjoy. The amount of attention I was getting drastically went up in doing so.Avoid posting pictures of yourself with other women or other guy friends. Yeah it’s nice to show you’re upbeat and like hanging out with people but sometimes they may find the other guys in the picture more attractive than you which is what you don’t want. If you’re going to do it at least make sure you stand out and are the core focus of the photo.———————-Pro Tip————————-Some women find shirtless pictures a turn off. There is a time and place for it and having it front and center as your first or second picture is a sure fire way to get swiped left on.I can’t even begin to tell you the number of women I’ve been on dates with who said they appreciated I was one of the few without trying so hard to show off their abs. Keep in mind age groups play a big role in this, I’m 29.If you want to display your physique or that you workout, have a picture towards the end of you at the beach or some place that requires your shirt to be off in a natural setting. —————————————————————Once you have matches please for the love of all that is holy STOP sending pickup lines and referencing things people put into their bios. You don’t think women catch on to the same tired pickup lines everyone passes around? Everyone is trying so hard to be original but they forget the best way to truly be original is to be themselves.Don’t be afraid to message with something meaningful like asking what their best quality is or something they’re passionate about. This helps open the door to discuss similar interests and even a possible first date idea.KNOW YOUR AUDIENCEDespite Tinder having a reputation for being a glorified hookup app these days, people are all swiping for different things including real connections and relationships.Make sure to put exactly what you’re looking for in your bio because women will respect that more than matching only to find out they just wasted 2 hours talking to someone who just wanted sex right away. Yeah women want to get laid too but at least be respectful about it.If you’re swiping in the 18-24 age range typically most aren’t looking for something serious but make sure to feel that out. Ages 25-35 more than likely they aren’t only there to play games. This isn’t true for everyone but just a general rule of thumb.———————Pro Tip———————-Women are being bombarded by hundreds of matches and messages on a daily basis. Their job is to sort and sift through the possible options and get rid of the creeps and jerks. The best way to make your sound stand out is giving her a very interesting and engaging message she can’t help but reapond to, something to make her think. Avoid things like “hey” and “what’s up” in favor of something like “How was your weekend [Her name], I just got done doing [Insert fun hobby]. A guy who can have a real conversation and be engaging will automatically put you ahead of 80% of the other guys messaging her. ———————————————————-SUPER LIKESI’ll never understand why there is such a strong stigma against sending super likes...they work wonders! Some people are so scared to seem desperate that they forget that it’s ACTUALLY OKAY to show that you’re interested. Way too many games are being played these days with dating and if someone doesn’t like that then they probably aren’t the one for you.If you pay for Tinder Gold you get 5 super likes a day so make use of them. Lately I’ve been out with a few women I’d consider 10s because I sent them a super like. 🤷🏽‍♂️——-Now obviously these are just tips based on my own personal experience with Tinder and online dating in general. The truth of the matter is that yes, physical attraction plays a big role in who women swipe on and that’s okay. There are so many things you can do to appear more attractive like working out and putting on some muscle tone, standing up straight in your photos with good posture, smiling and not having the only thing in your bio that you love to smoke weed and go to raves...no one cares lol.Results may vary.Good luck! via /r/dating_advice

#dating #dating advice #reddit

0 notes

eyesfixedonthesun22 · 5 years

Text

She’s So High: Chapter 8

Summary: 90’s karaoke and your snarky wit seem to have revived the charming side of one Bucky Barnes. Everything comes full circle the morning after. Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Warning(s): Smut 18+. Swearing. Kissing, Fingering (female), Oral Sex (female receiving), Vaginal Sex, Unprotected Sex. Word Count: 1,996 Notes: Idea was inspired by this 90′s playlist. This chapter was beta read by the lovely @viktordrago. You all go thank her cause without her there would have been A TON of really laughable errors. Shout out to @stanclub for giving me some insight re: Steve and hair gel haha. Thank you so much to everyone for their likes and reblogs thus far. First series is done and in the bag! Anyone who left comments has literally melted my heart. I love you all Smut Note: ***DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, INTERACT WITH MY WORK IF YOU’RE NOT 18+*** It goes without saying, unprotected sex….please make sure your partners are clean and you use an agreed upon form of protection (if relevant).

“Fuck.” You allow another five minutes to enjoy the proximity with the man besides you before carefully sliding under his arm.

You smirk at the memories, attempting to find your clothing from the night before. Quickly giving up, you opt for Bucky’s flannel as a dressing gown. You’d be able to start breakfast in privacy and come back in normal clothes once the team was awake. Which would be soon if you didn’t hurry; you thought stealing a final glance back at Bucky’s sleeping form.

You’d settled on a batch of breakfast quiches for the team. You press play on your favorite playlist letting it provide a pleasant background soundtrack. Once the egg mixture was ready, you could throw it in the oven and probably catch another half hour of lazy morning cuddles with Bucky.

You must have been engrossed in getting the cookbook down because Bucky is able to silently creep into the kitchen. He enjoys watching you struggle; finding your little frustrated cursing adorable.

“You skippin’ out on me, dollface?” He mumbles into your skin.

You can hear the smile in his words even if you weren’t feeling it in his lips which are now sloppily and lazily kissing up your neck. You sigh deeply enjoying the teasing sensations he’s sending through your body.

“Buck-” you whine gently, remembering where you are. “Someone is gonna hear us.”

He pulls back from you to quickly jab at the volume button; increasing the music so others don’t hear you. “Then you better be quiet, sweetheart.”

“I distinctly remember a grumpy old man yelling at me for too loud of music this early in the morning.”

The pressure on your clit relents only to feel a digit slide into your core slowly, his thumb takes up the circles on your clit.

“Come back to bed darlin’. Sleeping in isn’t as fun without you there.”

You try again to defend your actions, “Everyone will go hungry if-”

With his eyes locked on yours he adds a second finger into you. “Fuck.” He cocks his head to the side slightly and gives you his best shit eating grin.

“You were saying?”

“I’m out of excuses.” You mold your lips to his, giving into the pleasurable sensations. You attempt to walk him backwards out of the kitchen towards the bedroom.

“Nuh uh,” he says with his mouth now sucking deep hickeys into your collar bone. “Wanna see you cum right here.”

You want to protest but the clench of your walls around his fingers betrays you before you can get a word out. You pant small breathy moans into his shoulder as he brings his lips to your ears.

At this point, you’re relying completely on Bucky for support; your legs have gone to Jell-O. “I can tell you’re close, doll. I feel you fluttering around me.”

The stretch and glide of Bucky’s fingers have you forgetting about the residual soreness. You bite your bottom lip; hoping it will keep you quiet enough. You’re ready to let go with your release-

“What the fuck, Barnes!” You whine angrily. His hand had abandoned your cunt right at the crucial moment. He’s pushed far away from you. Before you realize what’s happening, he’s plopped in one of the bar stools at the island casually flipping through the cookbook that had seconds before been abandoned.

You’re ready to beat the shit out of him but Tony and Steve round the corner. They’re deep in conversation and don’t look at either of you. Your eyes meet Bucky’s and they glint playfully. Your gaze moves to his hand holding the cookbook. Two of the fingers are obviously coated in your slick. Noticing your gaze, he moves the finger up to his mouth and licks it clean. You let out an uncontrolled gasp only to draw attention of Steve and Tony.

“You okay there, Y/N/N?” Tony says. You pry your eyes away from Bucky’s face you manage a nod. You refuse to look back at him, knowing full well he’s got the largest shit eating grin plastered on his face.

“What’s for breakfast? You need any help?” Steve asks. He moves to your side of the island; observing the slew of ingredients which sit deserted.

“Hold the phone… Y/N, where are your pants?” Tony interrupts. “I’m not objecting to the view. Just curious as to-”

There’s an uncomfortably long pause as Tony’s face flickers through a vast array of expressions. You and Bucky are frozen simply hoping he’s attempting to formulate some crude joke.

“Ahhhhh. Got it.”

“Got what?” Steve asks. Tony tuts and smiles like fox in the hen house. “GOT WHAT?! Steve yells more insistently looking at the two of you for some help.

“Tin Man and Y/N. That’s why they didn’t come back. It would appear they sang a little duet of their own last night.” He waggles his eyebrows daring you to refute him.

Steve’s face is a mask of confusion as he attempts to decode Tony’s statement. You and Bucky share glances back and forth debating your next point of action. You’re thinking of running for it but at this point the entire team has filed into the dining room and kitchen.

Steve’s face switches to one of epiphany as Bucky points a warning finger at Tony. Stark simply smirks, paying no mind to the threatening finger.

Rolling your eyes and deciding to intervene before you see how expertly Bucky decides to keep Tony silent; you gently grab his arm and kiss the tip of his finger lowering it back to his side.

“It’s fine, Buck. They’ll figure it out eventually”.

“Or literally as it’s happening.” Natasha yells from the kitchen. “I share a wall with you Barnes… just saying!”

“I’m now taking music requests and breakfast orders. Anyone who feels the need to comment on my activities last night won’t be eating!” You quickly decide to put an end to that conversation. A chorus of “okay okay” greet your ears. “That's what I thought.”

Everyone dissolves into their own morning conversations. You turn back to the food in front of you wondering if now it would be best to switch to omelets.

“Y/N/N.” Bucky wraps his arms around your waist, and you’re pulled into his little bubble. You wonder if his effect would ever wear off. You thoroughly hope it doesn’t.

In the background you hear, Steve describing how long it took to get all the gel out of his hair last night. Nat’s livid about getting her curling wand back covered in gel.

“You best hope it’s gel!” Sam shouts further antagonizing her. You chuckle slightly at your misfit family before giving Bucky your full attention once more.

“Doll, I wasn’t trying to keep us secret for any malicious reason. I hope you know that.” His expression is soft and hesitant. “I just wanted you to have your privacy. We hadn’t really discussed telling the team, yet.”

You kiss him once on the lips and again on his nose. “I know, Buck. Now, go grab the cookbook and help me feed the ungrateful goons.” You can’t help but adore how much Bucky’s beaming.

“You’re on bacon duty.”

“Babe! I’m shirtless. Gonna get little bacon burns everywhere.”

“Well if someone wasn’t so picky about his bacon crispiness…” you say with a wink.

#Bucky x reader #bucky x female reader #bucky x you #Bucky Barnes x reader #Bucky Barnes x female reader #Bucky Barnes x you #bucky #bucky barnes #bucky fanfic #bucky smut #marvel #mcu #avengers #avengers fanfiction #my writing #my fics #She's So High

91 notes · View notes