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randomfoggytiger · 2 months

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Collector's Edition: Bill Scully, MSR, and Pain (Part I)

How to melt the Abominable SnowBilly, Season 2 through Season 7 (IVF arc not included.)

**Note**: I had to eliminate fics not specifically related to an illness or injury because the word capacity on Tumblr is uncharitably short.

Loose chronological order below~

SammyLovesASOIAF's I Don't Want You Like A Best Friend

He chuckled to himself. The Scully siblings were a weird juxtaposition of different traits. Bill Jr. was strict, Melissa was carefree, Scully was careful, and Charles—well, he was always in absentia.

AU-- Post One Breath Mulder is almost creamed by a firework before Bill Scully saves him.

@living-in-unreality/@television-overload/ContentsPriceless's beautiful (Ao3)

The pieces slowly come together in his mind, everything he knows about Fox Mulder. His mother must have seen it long ago, hence her willingness to help him this morning. And he would have stood in the way.

Bill Scully can see the love in Mulder's attempts to paint on Scully's makeup for her.

MldrItsMe's A Favor

“Should Dana be out of bed?” Bill grumbled.

Mulder involuntarily squeezed Scully a little closer to himself. “She asked me to,” he said. He thought better of adding “hold her” and just let the situation speak for itself.

AU-- Redux II Scully is suffering on her deathbed: 96 pounds and swiftly losing independence.

@scully-loves-ruthie's cancer arc: mulder sneaks a dying scully out

Bill will storm into her hospital room after, a firecracker beneath a teacup ready to explode sending the fine shards of his rage into the newlyweds. He’ll find himself frozen his fuse stamped out at the sight of his sister’s frail and fading body wrapped like a puzzle piece inside Mulder’s arms, the couple sound asleep.

AU-- Redux II Bill doesn't rip Mulder's head off after finding out he and Scully were quickly married.

intrepidment's Bill and me

"You had talent for medicine, Dana, everyone admitted that. You would've had every right to be haughty, but you never flaunted your talent then. Then you changed your mind, you became an investigator, and suddenly you're this overconfident professional."

I opened my mouth to rebuke him, but I had to admit he was right. Somewhat.

Post Redux II Bill and Scully have a siblings' semantics fight over Mulder's napping body.

amorfati3215/Amorfati32’s (FFN) Number 9 for the dialogue prompt.

Mulder hasn’t got very far when he hears Bill call out, stopping him in his tracks. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

Post Redux II Bill gives Mulder his version of a blessing.

@lotsoforangesoutside/@lotzzoforangezoutside‘s (Ao3) Seven Pound and Six Ounces (Ao3)

He’s never held a day-old baby before this one.

And now, Fox Mulder can proudly say that he has held one, changed his diaper, and napped with the tiny thing like a log in the cradle of his arm.

With his other arm held by one Dana Scully, his hand holding hers. On the sofa in her big brother’s living room.

Post Emily Bill lets Mulder and Scully be.

soverysesual's The Truth Not Considered

He frowned as he observed the scene in front of him: his sister was sitting up, her head resting in an awkward position as she dozed, the mug of tea precariously balanced in one of her hands, while Mulder held her other hand grasped between both of his, as if he was clinging to her for dear life.

Post Emily Bill (reluctantly) helps Scully get comfy next to Mulder.

Marguerite's (Ao3) When the Bough Broke

Bill is standing between us and the embers of last night's fire. Scully has not stirred; I still keep her within the circle of my arms. Her brother's face is unreadable. I make a helpless gesture with my hand, but he stops me and points to my face. It's still wet with tears.

Post Emily Bill finally understands and becomes comrade-in-arms.

pen-paper-aliens/theficisoutthere/aka PPA's 95 ❤️

She’s still holding that hand when we walk in, nobody notices, or if they do, they don’t care. Bill notices too, but even he doesn’t say anything. What do you say to a mother who lost a child she never knew?

AU-- Post Emily Bill lets his sister find comfort in her partner.

Jen's (mulderscreek)

Christmas Eve & Airports and Christmas & Mrs. Scully's House

"He's upstairs," Dana said and could swear she heard Bill mutter something under his breath.

AU-- S6 Scully convinces Mulder to join her and her family for Christmas and ends up nursing his unexpected strep throat.

@baronessblixen‘s (Ao3)

Christmas With The Scullys (Tumblr)

“My bed,” she says, just to clarify. She hears a clatter from behind her and doesn’t need to turn around to know that Bill is there and listening.

S7 Bill and Scully battle it out after she brings an injured Mulder to the Scully family Christmas party.

O Holy No - Chapter 7 (Tumblr)

“Where’s the guy?” he asks, chewing with his mouth open.

“Do you mean Mulder?” Her brother nods, stuffing more chips into his mouth. It reminds her of when they were teenagers and Bill, towering over her and Melissa, would steal their snacks and interrogate them, claiming it was his duty when their father wasn’t home.

AU-- Mulder and Scully, newly minted couple that they are, both fly out to Bill's house for Christmas... and are greeted with unexpected shenanigans.

Shoshana's

Almost Home (4/4)

"Hey, wife," he said, approaching her from behind.

Mulder wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder.

"I don't think Bill suspects a thing," she told him gravely.

AU-- Post Requiem Mulder is returned with ongoing medical complications; but that doesn't stop the leftover Conspiracy or Bill Scully's lingering concerns.

And salliejohns's

Mr. Mulder, Mother Maggie, and Empty Place Settings

It was a big risk, but it paid off well. We were able to establish contact with our old boss and he came through for us, sending Bill Scully, Jr. a cryptic message about his dry cleaning.

AU-- S9 Bill is happy to find his sister and her partner alive in California; but that doesn't erase the pain of losing touch with his mother while Maggie raises baby William in hiding.

Hestia01‘s (Ao3) The Next Great Adventure Chapter 1 and Chapter 5

"Bill, they're here!"

Bill looks around, now looking concerned for his mother's grip on reality. "Who's here?"

"Dana's here! She brought Fox along, too! You can't see them, but they stayed!"

Giving his mother a pitying look, he nods indulgently. "Sure, Mom, whatever helps."

AU-- The crack adventures of Mulder and Scully after death (Skinner hoarding their poster and Bill getting his comeuppance included.)

@incidental-ao3/incidental's

Keep It All the Year

“Where’d he go?” she asked. He shrugged.

“Got in a cab,” he said. “I don’t know where to.” Scully groaned.

“Maybe one of you should stay put so the other can find them,” he said, but she wasn’t listening at all.

“He left his phone at the hotel, I bet he went back to get it,” she said, barreling passing Bill down the stairs and grabbing the keys.

AU-- S6 Mulder is dragged out to Scully's torturous family Christmas in San Diego, where the franchise becomes a complete disaster all the way 'round (Diana included.)

bluesamutra's una via - Chapter 4, Chapter 5 and Chapter 6

Dana had been at death’s door before he showed up at the hospital with a computer chip and a story straight out of a Michael Crichton book. Bill had stood by in disbelief when she, a woman of science, trusted him enough to put it in her neck.

And yet.

And yet, he had watched from the shadows of her room, unseen, when Mulder crept into her room that same night and wept silently into her hand.

AU-- Post Amor Fati Bill Scully's family reunion takes a serious turn when Matthew almost drowns and Mulder injures his shoulder during the rescue.

@scully-eats-sushi/ijustknew's

You're Not Alone and You're Not Alone II

She’d barely stepped inside their mother’s home before Bill had started inspecting her injuries, making her instantly regret not wearing a turtleneck. He went so far as to grasp her chin and tilt her head up to get a better look at them. Irritated, she’d shoved his hand away and declared “I’m fine” before stepping past him to embrace her mother.

Post Millennium Mulder and Scully are navigating their relationship post episode, with their own personal complications as well as her family, profiling, and on-the-job demands.

Red0313's Nothing Breaks Like a Heart

We make eye contact. He knows I am awake. I can’t even fake it. This should be good. Kick a man while he’s down, literally.

“Mister Mulder, I see you’re going to be just fine. That seems to make my sister very happy,” he huffs. Something’s eating him up.

S7 Bill observes his sister's pain and penance after Mulder takes a bullet for her.

Susan Proto’s Barbecue Series 14, The - Labor of Love

She must have picked up Matty, because all I hear from him now are soft whimpers instead of hysterical crying. And then I hear her ask, "What happened, Bill?"

"He got hit by the Harley. He ran into the street and got hit by the Harley."

A Harley?

AU-- Mulder has been bullied by Bill for years, and finally sets his foot down after the other throws away his engagement ring.

@tatooedlaura-blog/tatooedlaura/Laura Sprys’s Always Been Yours

Mulder was out of the shower and in the kitchen helping Scully with a makeshift dinner when Charlie and Bill walked through the door. Scully's eyes swam again when she saw her older brother. Hugging her tightly, he looked over toward Mulder and nodded his head.

In shocked surprise, he walked over a shook Bill's hand, "hello again."

AU-- S7 Maggie is unexpectedly killed in a car accident; and Bill keeps to himself while Mulder prevents Scully from falling apart.

Thank you for reading~

Enjoy!

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traderrock · 2 years

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U-Men - "Gila"

#U-Men #The U-Men #Seattle #Punk Rock #Psychobilly #Grunge #Proto-Grunge #Indie Rock #Sub Pop #1980s #Deep Six #Bombshelter Records #Bruce Pavitt #John Bigley #Tom Price #Charlie Ryan #Jim Tillman #Susan Silver #Spotify

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ooksaidthelibrarian · 3 months

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Babylon 5 Rewatch - Born to the Purple

I love how Sinclair is the only person in this whole conversation who is actually trying to be constructive, right there in the strip club

and that G'Kar, even in the middle of what should be negotiations, is fine with sitting down to watch

KO D'ATH, man I love her

also, good goth, I always forget how early in S1 (and the whole show) this episode happens

I will say this a few more times this season, but the story of Londo and Adira will trigger such huge things

enjoy the happiness, Londo, you will get precious little of it going forward

LOL Vir with the proto-Switch

WHAT IS THAT LAMP, why does it have SPIKES

Moon-faced assassin of joy is such a delightful phrase

this episode does a lot of digging into Londo, his title/position and his feelings about it all, it's setting up so much of his character arc

'I'll have the Centauri empire by its mighty throat' dude you have a fucking death wish

the fact that B5 has paper newspapers just tickles me

being a telepath is rough

I do like that Ivanova doesn't trust Garibaldi enough (yet) to tell him

those are some fast roofies

this dude does not have a good couple of days with random aliens

Sinclair, going right for the blackmail :D

but man every time Londo calls someone his 'good and dear friend', I want to hug him

I fucking love those undercover clothes, especially Sinclair's coat, why does he even have that

oooh boy the 90s sunglasses on that dude

Susan's conversation with her dad always makes me tear up, doesn't matter how often I see it

'And wear it. Proudly, as a free woman.' I love these two so much

#babylon 5 #b5 #b5 rewatch #born to the purple

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tangledinredstring · 2 months

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I struggle to get my head around the religious lore of Fantasy High, sometimes - I suspect I haven't studied the correct subjects at school, but I do my best! But I will put some of my thoughts here, to see if pinning them to the conspiracy board helps me connect the dots.

So, I had this thought during the last episode, and I've seen it mentioned in other people's posts, but it was a bit strange that the dead rage god could be named in the circle, but Cassandra's name had been updated to be Cassandra, even though that definitely was not her name at the time. And there's a couple of explanations, that might be at play here, or a combination of the two.

The first is that Adaine was translating from a Proto-Sylvan language, so it wasn't like she was reading the English/Common words where it said "Susan/Cassandra". My thought it was more like she saw the rune meaning the combined concept of Mystery/Night and understood that to mean the god she knows as Cassandra.

The other explanation that came to me is that although the end result was the same, and possibly the cause leading up to it, what actually happened to the two of them is not the same, or at least I don't think so.

As I understand it, Ankarna died due to a lack of worshippers. That doesn't necessarily mean that it was done maliciously, although the fact that this appears to be the only written record of the name, especially since they are part of a pantheon of gods that are still worshipped, certainly points to someone going through after the fact and removing the name from history books and religious texts does point to that. There is a difference between knowing the god exists and believing in that god, but if no-one cared, the name would have been left in documents as part of the Giant pantheon, and there would be a possibility of worship if someone (like Fig) felt that actually, a god of summer and rage did fit their personal beliefs. But that was removed as a possibility, by parties unknown, so that they would be completely forgotten.

What happened to Cassandra was different, in that immediately prior to the Nightmare King incident she did have worshippers. They had been swayed by the church of Gallicaea into believing they needed to ritually destroy her previous name, but they did exist, so she didn't just fade out of existence like Ankarna. And it was the ritual that makes the difference here; before her followers could ritually destroy the name, she ritually changed it to the Nightmare Kings crown to save herself. Since big ritual magic was involved, and again when she came back to being Cassandra, I don't think it would be out of the question that reality could just be remade to reflect the new names.

TL:DR - I think too much about this.

I had one last thought, only tangentially related. I've seen people saying they feel like Porter is urging Fig to worship Ankarna specifically; because he is Genasi, and because he has some religious backing as a paladin, and with his feelings about rage, it makes sense that he is a follower of this god. But - perhaps I have read Small Gods too many times - that just doesn't make sense to me. If Ankarna had even one believer, let alone if he worships because his ancestors did, Ankarna would not be dead.

#fantasy high #fantasy high spoilers #thoughts from the shower #dimension 20

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magewolf-the-artist · 2 months

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Bon bio, will add ref sheet later

Calm, collected, manipulative, clever, childish, antagonistic, completely apathetic to the suffering of his victims, kinda unhinged ngl

Kind of a goober though, very silly but at the same time takes himself way too seriously

Okay, so here’s a very, very quick summary of his backstory, but I’ll go into it a lot deeper in a later post:

He is actually Jason Pooltrick, the founder and former CEO of Cyber Fun Tech

The reason his soul didn’t disappear is because he attached himself to one of the proto endoskeletons, the one that would eventually become Bon

As a human he had a very weak immune system and died slowly with a myriad of issues, including severe arthritis, hypertensive heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc

Basically the later half of his life was spent in misery between frequent hospital visits and he began to resent the human body for being so weak and fragile. As a possessed animatronic he came to the epiphany that robots do not degrade like humans do. They do not age, feel hunger or thirst, get sick, or get hurt. This is why he believes shoving corpses into animatronics is ‘beautiful’ and a ‘rebirth’

He genuinely doesn’t understand why his victims are so torn up about their deaths. Yeah sure it sucks to be killed, but you get sick-ass new bodies that don’t decay, right?

He no longer associates himself with the name Jason Pooltrick and has fully embraced the character of Bon

He’s an asshole

Like, seriously, he sucks

No no no, I don’t think you get it, he is fucking AWFUL

He likes to piss people off for his own amusement. Usually does this when he’s bored

Is incredibly observant and intelligent. Often uses this to his advantage by, you guessed it, being an asshole

Usually hangs out in the scrap room at the very edge of the building. Now you might think it’s because nobody likes him, but in reality, he couldn’t give a rat’s ass about what they think of him. He just likes the solitude

He also keeps the only working radio in the scrap room and likes to listen to music

He really likes opera music and music from the early 1900s. 20s-40s basically

Is in cahoots with Felix, what a shocker! Basically Felix gave him a list of people to “take care of”, and Bon does the actual dirty work.

He sometimes refers to the ‘74 gang by their animatronic names because he knows it pisses ‘em off. Susan has whacked multiple times for this

Has varying relationships with the ‘74 gang, as mentioned in previous posts:

Edd and Molly constantly take the piss out of him and this REALLY gets under his skin. Especially since they constantly criticize his methods of murder. They’re the only ones who can get him fuming

Susan is perpetually irritated and isn’t afraid to let him know that. He likes pissing her off, but the downside is that she ain’t afraid to whack him upside the head with a random fallen pipe

Charles is very unnerved by him and Bon purposefully plays up his gremlin-ness just to make him squirm

Rosemary is scared shitless of him and he is absolutely tickled pink by this. Sometimes if he’s feeling particularly devilish he’ll say his infamous “I know where he is, Rosie” line and watch as she freaks out

Ashley is also scared of him but threatens to beat him up whenever he appears. She probably wouldn’t actually follow through with that but that’s neither here nor there, now is it?

He didn’t intend to kill either Ashley or Brian but Ashley discovered the hitlist Felix made and Brian saw Bon waking up, so ehhhhh, whaddya gonna do?

Once he killed Brian he realized “Oh wait I’m out of the facility” and is currently making his way to Sophie

#the walten files #walten files #twf bon #Domestic K-9

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janeaustentextposts · 2 years

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May I ask your thoughts on Lucy Steele? I really like Elinor so I disliked Lucy on my first readthrough because of how she kept rubbing her engagement in Elinor's face, but I feel like I'm being unfair to her given that she has if anything fewer resources at her disposal than the Dashwood girls do.

Personally I love Lucy for being an audacious bitch who goes materially unpunished. There are shades of Lady Susan in her but I feel like Austen saw that a side-character was as far as she could push that limit. (And Lucy is certainly two-faced but her betrayal of her betrothed isn't as unchaste as we see in other self-serving women in other novels.)

The whole of Lucy’s behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and conscience.

Just a masterwork of praise undone by the utter disdain of the final word in the sentence.

I'm not saying Lucy is a role model for ethics but she's a hoot and will go far in life. She's a proto-Becky Sharp and I wish that Austen had lived longer and written many many many more novels, and had more opportunities and more boldness in what she could publish to give us more of these magnificent vamps.

#Sense and Sensibility #Jane Austen #Ask Me Anything Austen-Adjacent #AMAAA

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docgold13 · 1 year

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365 Marvel Comics Paper Cut-Out SuperHeroes - One Hero, Every Day, All Year…

December 24th - Franklin and Valeria Richards

The children of Reed Richards and Susan Storm-Richards, Franklin and Valeria have had highly eventful childhoods as the junior members of Marvel’s first family, The Fantastic Four.

Franklin is the elder of the two. He was born with vast, realty-warping powers. For a long while, Franklin was believed to be a Mutant possessing the X-Gene. It was later revealed, however, that Franklin had subconsciously altered his own genome, making him something of a ‘proto-Mutant.’ He has unconsciously surpassed his reality altering powers for most of his life, concerned over the possibility of losing control and doing harm. Although there have been instances where Franklin has unleashed the full limits of his powers in extreme circumstances - such as when he created an entirely new universe to defeat Onslaught and save the lives of The Fantastic Four and The Avengers. Franklin additionally used his powers in more subtle ways whilst acting as a member of The Power Pack and later The Daydreamers.

In his later childhood, Franklin was periodically visited by a strange man who was later revealed to he his older self having traveled back in time. Franklin’s older self helped guide him and the Fantastic Four to overcome the threat of the Interdimensional Council of Reed Richards as well as heal Galactus and destroy the Mad Celestial.

Following the Secret Wars event, Franklin used his powers to help recreate the multiverse. This gradually depleted his powers and Franklin has since used his abilities in a sparing manner understanding there is only so much left and will eventually diminish entirely.

Valeria is Franklin’s younger sister. Her birth was very difficult and required the aide of Doctor Doom to use both science and sorcery to save her and her mother. In exchange, Doom was made the child’s godfather and was allowed to name her; he offered her the name ‘Valeria’ after a young woman he had loved in his youth.

Although Valeria did not demonstrate super powers like her parents or brother, it was clear early on that she possessed a remarkable intellect. Her cognitive faculties developed rapidly and by her mid-childhood she already possessed a genius on par with that of her father and godfather.

Not long thereafter, Valeria also encountered the older version of her brother who had traveled back in time to warn the siblings of the threat posed by the Interdimensional Council of Reeds. Valeria ended up eliciting the aide of Dr. Doom and she and her godfather worked together to prevail in the crisis.

Following the Secret Wars event, Valeria accompanied the Future Foundation in traversing the multiverse and repairing all that had been destroyed by the incursions leading up to the event. After her brother’s powers became depleted, Val and her family returned to earth.

Franklin first appeared in the pages of Fantastic Four Vol. 1 Annual #6 (1968); whereas Valeria first appeared in Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #54 (2002).

#365 Marvel Comics Heroes #Franklin Richards #Val Richards #Fantastic Four #cut-outs #paper art

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audiofanficpod · 1 year

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AFP S3E12: Dope Ass Recs, Super-sized

Instead of our scheduled AFP Top 3, which you’ll see soon, enjoy a supersized episode of #DopeAssRecs. Check out some fic recs from @msrtheatre0223, @red2007 and our episode guests @dinalit and @slippinmickeys.

Kristin's Recs

a pale circle of light by @ghostbustermelanieking and read by @msrtheatre0223

No Place for an Entomologist by @agirlcallednarelle and read by @msrtheatre0223

The Sushi Dinner by @lotsoforangesoutside and read by @msrtheatre0223

Dina's Recs

Aprons And Scrubs by @lokisgame

Christopher Ryan Scully Stories by Jori

Barbecue Series by Susan Proto

Kasey's Recs

The Big Orange by @teethnbone

The Fisher King + Bonus Chapter by @aloysiavirgata

The Taos Hum by @lepus-arcticus and read by Anon

Rachel's Recs

Latent Heat by quantumsilver and read by @red2007

the long gone bitter truth by @sassbewitchedmyass and read by @red2007

Sins of the Flesh by @darwin-xf

#dope ass recs #audio fanfic podcast #audiofanficpod #txf #txf fanfic #fic recs #st voyager #voyager fanfic #svu fic #law and order svu #SoundCloud

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madmarkinabox · 6 months

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Season 2

The Rescue

The TARDIS lands on the planet Dido, and the crew come across a crashed ship from Earth with only two survivors: Vicki, and the crippled Bennett. Will the rescue ship get to them safely in time, or will they fall to the sinister native Koquillion?

This is a harmless enough story. Easily digestible at 2 episodes, but I wonder how it could have gone if it had maybe been stretched into 3. Give us more time to learn about Sandy, a proto-Drashig-ish creature who doesn't get much to do except growl at Ian and the Doctor from the bottom of a chasm, and then get shot by Barbara in an understandable case of misunderstanding (try saying that when you're drunk. I can probably barely say it when I'm sober). Hell, dive into more of the Doctor's history with Dido. That said, they're often talking about places they've visited throughout the show but we've never seen. His reminiscing is a nice little touch.

Ultimately, this story is really a vehicle to introduce Vicki as a companion, recently orphaned, and so far pretty much Susan 2.0, minus the intelligence that led Ian and Barbara to follow her home. I wonder if maybe they should have had another story between this one and The Dalek Invasion of Earth to go further into the Doctor's turmoil. He's clearly pining for Susan in his own way and is a little absent-minded. Because it's such a quick story, it's not hard to immediately work out the twist coming regarding Koquillion either. Incidentally, watching him, I thought "he sounds a lot like Skeletor," then when the credits rolled I realised it was Ray Barrett playing him, and it clicked. He was essentially redoing the voice he developed for Titan as Stingray went on. Less imperial, more just short of cackling. But I digress: Not sold on Vicki just yet, but we shall see how she develops as we go on. A harmless, enjoyable story for me, not going to set the world on fire, but good enough for what it is.

Next time: The Romans.

#classic doctor who #doctor who #first doctor

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cordeliaflyte · 1 year

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Books I enjoyed in 2022

Inspired by the legendary @gaudigf 🌷!

Memorial: an Excavation of the Iliad by Alice Oswald (read in February). Potentially the most influential poem I've ever read + where my blog title comes from! Just look at the scene of Hector's death:

And HECTOR died like everyone else

He was in charge of the Trojans

But a spear found out the little patch of white

Between his collarbone and his throat

Just exactly where a man’s soul sits

Waiting for the mouth to open

He always knew it would happen

He who was so boastful and anxious

And used to nip home deafened by weapons

To stand in full armour in the doorway

Like a man rushing in leaving his motorbike running

All women loved him

His wife was Andromache

One day he looked at her quietly

He said I know what will happen

And an image stared at him of himself dead

And her in Argos weaving for some foreign woman

He blinked and went back to his work

Hector loved Andromache

But in the end he let her face slide from his mind

He came back to her sightless

Strengthless expressionless

Asking only to be washed and burned

And his bones wrapped in soft cloths

And returned to the ground

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (reread in March). This shaped my identity fundamentally. A wonderful intermingling of comedy and tragedy.

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (read in April). My favourite Toni Morrison! A touch of magic realism. No-one names characters as skilfully as Morrison.

The Iliad as translated by Caroline Alexander (read in May). What is there to say even.

The Horse, the Wheel, and Language by David W. Anthony (read in May). Genuinely fascinating read about the spread of Proto-Indo-European. Would recommend it wholeheartedly!

The Old Arcadia by Philip Sidney (read in July). Bucolics + cross-dressing, what's not to love?

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (reread in September). Wonderfully constructed familial bonds.

Devotions on Emergent Occasions and Death's Duel by John Donne (read in September). So much rot and putrefaction!

Dancing in Odessa & Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky (read back to back in October). Mesmerizing poetry collections would recommend wholeheartedly.

The Absolutist by John Boyne (read in November). Your typical WW1 drama. The first page was crafted in a lab to enthral me. A traumatized man returns from the trenches haunted by his dead best friend who he had an ambiguous relationship with on a train to return letters said friend had received from his sister… When I saw this premise I gasped because I am 100% earnest this has been one of my little daydream scenarios for years.

Selected Poems by Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Susan Ranson and Marielle Sutherland, read in November). Got it for a friend's birthday but naturally had to read it as well to ensure quality. Especially enchanted by the Duino Elegies.

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake (read in December). And recommended by Medli Gaudigf! Mushrooms. Written in a beautiful and informative way.

Poet in New York by Federico García Lorca (translated by Greg Simon and Stephen F. White, read in December). Got this for my birthday :) my first Lorca, gifted by a friend who knew I wanted to get into him, influenced by my infatuation with Leonard Cohen. Beautiful. This edition also includes some letters to his family, they're sparkling and witty and filled with warmth.

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (translated by Arthur Wesley Wheen, read in December) read on a flight. More dying horribly in the trenches :D.

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galaxysharks · 1 year

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Ej was such a big brother to Maddox. Just the pure joy when he saw her having fun, he humors her so much and it means everything.

Imagine Ej's earlier years at the camp:

Jock!Baby!Elton gets sent to Shallow Lake cause camp 'builds character' and Cash can't be bothered to raise his one and only son.

Ej figures he will coast by in the ensemble/security/person who can lift things.

Realizes quickly that all the fun tools and props are locked up to keep unsupervised children away from them, as instructed by the director.

Trys unsuccessfully to charm director because the old man can tell when a kid is helping, and when one just wants access to things that can make fire.

That's when he notices that the weird little tween that only speaks to the director and tinkers with the tech equipment has the only other set of keys.

Que: Operation: get keys to fireworks part 2.

Report: Mission failed because Maddox doesn't understand metaphors for stealing minor explosives and won't break rules anyway. Also never leaves them anywhere, so he can't just take them.

Ej decides to pretend to befriend this girl until she trusts him to have keys, and because he is at this point a proto-Cash, he does this by suggesting she do stereotypical 'camp' behaviors like playing reveille at 7 am, or asking for secrets in the cabins, or any other amount of behaviors that would get her socially eviscerated. He figures most of the camp would follow his lead, so he just needs to play nice for a few days, then they can do whatever while he gets to explode things. Starts calling her Gadget, cause he can't remember her name.

Except Maddox Loves Camp. To her, Ej is rapidly becoming her best friend because he actually wants to be around her, and do the things she loves. Sure Val listens to her, but Maddox's too awkward around pretty girls to have any real conversations, and Ej is even giving her suggestions to make this summer even more like the old movies.

Val pulls Ej aside like: Don't you fucking dare make fun of this child, she's going through things right now..

Ej get 0.001% into this plan and realizes, oh shit she's adorable, I can't let people ruin this for her.

Cue Mr. Elton Jock wholeheartedly throwing himself into every one of these stupid challenges and traditions. Taunting and egging on everyone and generally becoming the helpful kind of menace to society that makes the weird parts of a summer camp seem fun.

The first night the camp serves tacos, and that's awesome, but Maddox tells him it's not usually a great idea to eat twelve of them at once.

Spoiler: she's right. Ej spends a morning dedicated to vomit and pain in the medical cabin. Maddox sits with him and helps him read lines for his different ensemble characters in between laughing at him and dodging Val bringing him more water and crackers.

They are assigned to the same tent in the wooded camp out night, because the director has noticed, and she usually takes a solo tent, which is not a good look for their safety rating.

She's jumping at shadows and hiding as soon as the tale of Susan Fine is over. She knows it's not real, but she's still freaked out by it.

Ej tells her that they're going to make it real, and she won't be scared cause she'll know what 'susan fine' will be doing all night. Maddox is going to be the woman in the woods, he'll be a shrub monster and they can scare people together.

He buys a large pack of twizzlers, some geodes, and candles from the local shop, and they set up the first ever Susan Fine shrine.

They collect a record 11 full screams and 1 full tackle from some kid named Johnny that breaks things alot.

After they've had their fun, Ej and Maddox spend the night making up a dumb camp song. With references to the taco disaster and the scary stories.

They perform at a mid-week talent show, and get a request for an encore at camp prom.

During color wars, Ej notices Maddox was missing, and Val tells him she helps the director set up the fireworks every year, but she'll be back in time for the sing-off.

At this point Ej is having more fun doing the color wars than he would have had stealing the fireworks to begin with.

She saves him a bottle rocket. They launch it later and Ej catches his shorts on fire. once he is put out and in his boxers, Maddox and Val try to find something between them for him to wear. When cleaning Val notices a patch on the inside lining of the burnt shorts 'Elton John Caswell'. Maddox laughs at him and calls him Rocketman.

Most of camp thinks it is because of the bottle rocket, but Val and Maddox know.

Uses his call from winning color wars to tell Cash that he'll take some business courses in school if he gets to come back to camp every year.

#high school musical the musical the series #hsmtmts ej #hsmtsts #hsmtmts maddox #hsmtmts val #timeframe: after jet started disliking performing #before the last 'outing me to parents fight'#camp shallow lake #big brother Ej #this camp sved us from Cash 2.0 #it crops up every now and again #but its mostly gone #Val 100% knows Gadget likes her #just nice enough not to call it out

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randomfoggytiger · 2 years

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X-Files Collector’s Edition: Redux II Samantha Was Real

My own personal belief is: Redux II Samantha was the real deal. Of course, I have to be blind to the events in Closure... which is just fine by me, as it was a mess and a half. HOWEVER: for those of the Closure-minded, these fics are the best I’ve read-- thus far-- that deals with the “what if” alternatives: tenderly, angrily, or mixtures in-between.

**Edit: I forgot the one Samantha story that started this all (Susanne Barringer’s Thicker than Blood and Jenna’s IOU)-- it’s now listed below.**

xraelynn/Rachel Nobel’s Given - Chapter 3

““Scully smiled back at him. “See, you and Bill might be able to find common ground after all,” she said.

After I’m gone, her mind supplied, and something in Mulder’s smile faded as if he knew what she was thinking.

“What was she like, Mulder?” she asked impulsively, and she felt Mulder’s thumb grow still atop her hand. “Samantha. You…” She faltered. “You never talk about her.””

A little precursor to Samantha’s POVs-- Everyone is waiting for the prognosis of Scully’s new chip, and Mulder is trying not to react to Bill. Scully asks for stories of Samantha in an impulsive need to connect to her.

Vickie Moseley’s The Visit (Goss)

“"Sweetheart, he wants to meet you. Tonight."

I couldn't believe my ears. "Daddy! Not tonight! I can't possibly go tonight.””

Samantha is as we’ve never seen her: kowtowed, subdued, completely dependent on CSM. She is forced into meeting her brother; and doesn’t have the spine to resist.

Dawn/sunrize’s Heart’s Desire (Goss)

“"Tell me, Mulder."

So much conflict within him, it was nearly tangible. He wanted to tell her, but didn't want to burden her.”“

In the immediate aftermath of Redux II, Mulder rejoins Scully and breaks down over his destroyed quest and lost (again) sister. She uplifts and helps pierce his swirling confusion.

shannono’s Meeting

“"You took her!" Mulder cried out. "You held her for twenty- four years! You lied to her, you told her Mom was dead, that you didn't know where I was. If she's really your daughter, how could you do that to her?" The smile faded. "I am not proud of all my actions, Mr. Mulder. But you may be assured that I have always done what I thought best for my daughter."”

This doesn’t have Samantha in it, but it is a conversation between CSM and Mulder about Sam’s visit. CSM explains his reasons for keeping her, his secrecy, and why he’s letting Mulder see her now.

Jennifer-Oksana’s Going Home Again

““To Whom It May–

To My–

Dear Mr. Mulder–

Dear Fox. “”

Samantha contemplates sending her brother a letter... but just can’t.

Livia Balaban’s Samantha’s Fate - Version 04

“”She wept, she missed me. She was ordered to stay away. If she got close they would have killed us. Me, Mom, her. Later, when she married and Scully entered my life, the threats expanded to include them as well.

Five lives bound up in one lie.”“

Samantha shows up, trying to reconnect. Mulder doesn’t believe her and insists she leave. A dessert helps to prove who she is.

Jenna’s IOU

""Oh, it's complicated, Samantha. We work together and I just think it wouldn't work."

"There's your problem, Fox. You think too much. Don't think, just make it happen. I can tell you're obviously crazy about her."”

Mulder is rooting through his parent’s attic with Samantha. She questions his closeness to Scully; and encourages him to go make a move with her now.

Mish’s Contact

"”I raise the binoculars again to find Samantha nuzzling Michael's sandy curls. James is patiently holding a dripping cone of chocolate ice cream for the child to eat when Mom is finished with the toddler's dust- off.

"They're beautiful," I whisper, grasping Mulder's hand. He fits his palm to mine and brings our clasped hands to my chest. “”

Post Redux II, Mulder takes Scully to a kids’ baseball game. It’s his nephew’s; and Scully is further surprised to meet Samantha.

AUs (of an AU)

Jennifer Maurer’s Perfect Gifts

““The man's slow, poisonous smile chilled Mulder more than the winter wind blowing around him.

"You will give up the search for your sister Samantha and accept the fact that her fate is entirely out of your hands. It always has been, actually, you just refused to believe that. You may keep the X-Files open as you wish, but I will not tolerate any further interference in the Project."“

An AU before Redux II: On Christmas Eve, Mulder is offered a deal for Scully’s cure; however, it is for naught as Scully takes up a trade deal for Samantha.

Susanne Barringer’s Thicker Than Blood

“"We have to try," piped up Samantha. Scully resented her, although she didn't want to. This woman had just walked into Mulder's life today, after breaking his heart for six months by not having any contact with him. She'd been in his life for all of eighteen hours and already asked him to put his life on the line for her. Like he hadn't already done that a million times. Yes, she knew that Mulder had to find the answers someday, but to walk right into it without any investigation first, without finding out exactly what he was dealing with, and without the Bureau's resources was too much to ask. Even of a brother.””

Mulder is overjoyed that Samantha has contacted him; and overlooks all the manipulative and gaslighting behavior she exhibits. Even though Scully suspects, she can’t deter Mulder from the lethal mission Sam sends him on.

Susan Proto’s Familiar Faces

“"There was no doubt in his mind it was Samantha.

Or a clone.

"Scully__?" he choked out.

"Could it be the same woman you'd met at the diner?" Scully asked....””

Post FTF-- Mulder and Scully are openly dating. While leisurely walking in the park, they stumble upon a little girl that looks exactly like Samantha-- until they realize her mother IS Samantha. Scully professionally handles questioning; and Mulder is gut-punched that Sam doesn’t want to remember her past.

This is a cherry-pick pick, I must admit. I only read the initial interaction between Mulder, Scully, and Sam’s family before I dropped off (as it, admittedly, gets too dramatic and seems to shift into sliiiight absurdity. Just my own thoughts.)

finisterre’s The Tunnel at the End of the Light

""Scully? You're Scully, aren't you? I'm sorry, I don't know your first name.

"Then, I see the gleam of something metallic. A gun in her hand, rising. "Who are you?" she snaps.

"I'm ... uh, a friend of the Mulder family," I said.

The visible eye thins to a suspicious slit. "Friends of Mulder's family aren't usually friends of his. So who are you?"”

This takes place during Season 8: Samantha hasn’t reached out since Redux II-- but that changes when she realizes her life, her friends, and her husband were a fabrication CSM used to keep her dependent. She flees, ending up at a very hostile Scully’s (who softens when Sam is devastated at the news of her brother’s abduction.) She is awed when Scully hands over the only false identity The Lone Gunmen had set up as emergency; and hopes to meet again soon.

Enjoy!

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disappointingyet · 2 years

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Smithereens

Director Susan Seidelman Stars Susan Berman, Brad Rijn, Richard Hell USA 1982 Language English 1hr 33mins Colour

Authentically roach-infested view of post-punk NYC

Desperately Seeking Susan is a delightful film that takes a touristy trip to a scrubbed-up version of Manhattan’s mid-‘80s downtown scene. For a grimier, noisier and less alluring take, you need to watch director Susan Seidelman’s previous movie, Smithereens.

Smithereens is about Wren (Susan Berman), who we meet wearing a plastic houndstooth skirt and checkered sunglasses. She’s mouthy, energetic, very what people think of as New York (and like a lot of classic New Yorkers, she’s actually from New Jersey). She’s on the scene, talking her way into clubs, trying to meet bands, self-promoting with Xeroxes of herself and the words ‘Who is this?’ that she hands out or sticks on walls.

She’s both vulnerable and a user, and seems to be the kind of person who wears through people’s patience. There’s something proto-Llewyn Davis about the way she runs out of places to sleep/park her stuff. During the short time frame covered by the film, there are two men she spends time with: Eric (punk pioneer Richard Hell), singer in Smithereens, and clueless out-of-towner Paul (Brad Rijn), whose main utility to Wren is that he has a van to sleep in. Eric might seem big time by comparison, but even he lives in an ultra-grubby loft and is constantly on the look out for new ways to hustle cash.

Seidelman does not, then, seem to trying to tempt us into this world. It looks tiring and uncomfortable and none-too-glamorous, no matter how cool some of the characters appear to be before you get to know them.

I wonder a bit about the intended and perceived balance of sympathy, when it was made and now, between Wren and Paul from Montana. Wren definitely strings Paul along, but it’s on him to realise that doing favours for anyone brings no duty to provide sex in return. My guess is that that’s Seidelman’s view but some viewers saw it differently.

Wren, I feel, is something of a precursor to the young women struggling to hold it together in boho New York in movies like Frances Ha, but her existence is more precarious both financially and safety-wise.

It’s low-budget but not experimental – the film is episodic but linear: there’s a clear beginning and end and Seidelman avoids gimmicks. There’s no disguising the low budget but its nicely shot by Chirine El Khadem.

One of the things I mentioned in my review of Desperately Seeking Susan is that while there are assorted cult musicians in doing bit parts, the music is very mainstream. Not so here: weaving its way through the film are the spidery guitars of New Jersey band The Feelies, whose vibe is encapsulated by the title of the first song on their debut album (and present in this film) The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness. The highlight of the soundtrack might be ESG’s indie-funk classic Moody.

But the real snob points on the music front come not from a band you hear in the film, but whose name you can see on the marquee of The Peppermint Lounge: 3 Teens Kill 4. They are remembered not for any of the songs but because one of their members was artist/writer David Wojnarowicz, the dead-too-soon downtown martyr of choice for people who feel that Basquiat and Haring are way too mainstream.

If Smithereens is more authentic than Desperately Seeking Susan, more representative of the grotty lives that many people trying to get a bit of the action in post-punk New York, does that make it a better movie? Emphatically not – if you see one of these two films, definitely make it Desperately Seeking Susan. But Smithereens is certainly worth a watch if you are interested in this time and place or like a female antihero.

Part of my ‘Every girl should be given an electric guitar on her 16th birthday’series

#smithereens #1980s new york #1980s movies #punk movies

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