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bubbly-bungee-may · 3 years

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ZoNa Valentine’s Week: Day 4 Why I Ship ZoNa: Part 1

So because i’ve never explained why I ship ZoNa, I’ve decided to use this Valentine’s Week as an excuse to make 3 separate posts on why I ship them.

They will be long posts because I am relying on the gifs I made of the anime rather than the manga (even though the manga may be more accurate, but I just started reading the manga so give me some time lol)

OKAY LET’S START.....

So just as a preface: First and foremost these two have known each other the longest. I’m not saying that in order to be a couple you need to know someone for a long time, but in ZoNa’s case I feel like it’s an important part of their relationship.

They started out as friends then shit went down in Arlong Park (namely where Nami plays the villain for a hot second and that shakes Zoro up cause he had trusted her) but then everything was settled and they went back to being friends.

I feel like that incident was necessary not only for the plot, but for Zoro and Nami’s relationship to develop. After everything, they now have full trust in the other and their relationship was able to evolve.

This all leads me to my first reason as to why I ship ZoNa:

1. They are friends FIRST

Yes, I ship them as a couple, but I believe that all successful relationships begin as friends (that’s just my own personal belief). A foundation built on friendship and mutual understanding and trust is what I believe allows this ship to sail.

And despite the fact that everyone thinks Nami and Zoro are only capable of fighting and butting heads, they are actually very good friends who are capable of holding normal conversations.

Exhibit A (Ep.54) : Nami took notice of how Zoro was acting strange and commented on it. She’s aware of his presence and isn’t just writing him off. And this also shows that she cares about him.

Exhibit B (Ep. 62) : Zoro wanted Nami’s opinion on what the strange sound he heard was. Also Nami is taking the time to answer him; she could’ve just ignored him completely but she decided to pay him attention.

Exhibit C (Ep. 154): This is a very brief moment, but Zoro and Nami have a conversation about dropping anchor and the layout of the island. And they are both on the ship alone and idk I like to think that Zoro was waiting for Nami to be done changing so that they could go on the island together.

Exhibit D (Ep. 161): Nami wanting Zoro’s opinion as to if he saw anything. Just shows that she trusts his judgment and how she can rely on him.

Exhibit E (Ep. 161): Short conversation, but still important. Zoro is showing concern and care for Nami by telling her to be more careful. And Nami is replying sincerely.

Exhibit F (Ep. 217): Zoro notices Nami is mad without even looking at her. If that doesn’t tell you how well he knows her by now, then idk what does. But it’s also important that Zoro is listening to her concerns and commenting on them.

So YES, they can hold normal conversations, here is the proof! And having known each other the longest, they also know the other well.

Zoro can spot Nami’s money obsession anytime, anywhere. (Ep.105)

And Nami knows how much Zoro loves sake, so she went out of her way to get it for him. (look at how happy he is hehe) (Ep. 255)

And this ⤵ gif (Ep. 159) is one of my newfound favorite moments and leads us into the next reason. It’s not in the manga, but maybe the animators are also ZoNa fans....??

2. They are comfortable around eachother.

Okay, but doesn’t it seem like Zoro is teasing Nami?!?! She almost ran into a tree and then Zoro is like “oooo a perfect opportunity to tease her”. Idk I just found this part super cute. Like Zoro isn’t usually one to be playful like this, but he is with Nami and ughhh it’s so cute!

And then the multiple times that Zoro is seen sitting/sleeping next to/near Nami. It just shows that they don’t mind each other’s company and honestly (intentional or not) I think they gravitate towards each other because of how comfortable they are with each other.

Exhibit A (46): He came to sit next to her during breakfast when he could’ve sat down next to his captain. Like is this his seat? Has he claimed the spot next to Nami as his own? ..... I like to think so.

Exhibit B (48): The start of Zoro’s debt. I just love how Nami leans in and he doesn’t seem to mind it hehe.

Exhibit C (Episode of Alabasta): The circumstance here was a bit different, but I like to think that she just wanted to be close to Zoro. And idc who tf you are, but if you were in Zoro’s position you can’t just not think about or be conscious about the woman on you. Like yeah you can call yourself friends, but you gotta be at least a bit conscious of where you’re touching and what’s touching you.

Exhibit D (Ep.149) : The start of the famed drinking buddies act. Nami moved here after pouring Robin a drink so I like to think that she felt comfortable and decided to settle down next to him. So i’m guessing Zoro’s seat is next to Nami during breakfast, and Nami’s seat is next to Zoro when they’re drinking?!

Exhibit E (Ep. 193): Psssst Zoro, just scoot your hand over a smidgen

Exhibit F (Ep. 225) : Before one of my favorite parts in the Foxy Arc (that will be shown in another part hehe).

Exhibit G (Ep 228): The two of them were up here alone before Sanji came. I like to think that Nami was relaxing and then Zoro came up wordlessly and just plopped down and fell asleep (before Sanji interrupted)

Exhibit H ( Ep 554): Honestly, Zoro is used to it at this point. And this just proves that Nami believes in his strength and believes that he will protect her no matter what.

Exhibit I (569): Ah yes the drinking buddies, an upgrade from Sky Island.

Exhibit J (569): Ah yes the sobering-up buddies. I made another post (here) on this, but I like to think Zoro likes being near her so he can protect her.

Now, I’d also like to make the argument that them butting heads is actually proof of how close they are.

Nami isn’t afraid of getting close to him and giving him a piece of her mind. Remember in my previous post when Zoro does this with Nami (who is Sanji in Nami’s body). Yeah, they def don’t mind being close to each other even when it comes to arguing.

(Ep 93)

You’d think Zoro would learn that he can rarely win an argument with Nami, but nah, that ain’t Zoro. Personally, I think Zoro low key likes arguing with her. Aside from Nami the only one he really argues with is Sanji (but even then what they argue about is usually something petty). (Ep 147)

I really like this gif because it shows that Zoro is trying to explain to Nami why they did what they did. She thinks they were “beaten”, but that isn’t necessarily correct, so he was trying to get her to see the real picture.... which she didn’t. lol (Ep 151)

But if there’s one thing I noticed about Zoro and Nami’s relationship when it comes to arguing, it’s that the other party is trying to get the other one to see from their point of view; they don’t argue just to argue.

Putting aside the fact that they were arguing about marriage (although if they ever did get married I’d think Nami would want something extravagant while Zoro would just be like “whatever just wake me up when I have to go in” ah okay my imagination is running wild.. stop stop)

Anyway, this part is important because this time it’s Nami who is trying to get Zoro to see from her point of view. Of course, she can’t do so without yelling and gnashing teeth, but the sentiment is the same-she wants Zoro to understand where she’s coming from. (Ep 764)

I mean look, friends have differing viewpoints and thoughts. Yes, they may disagree, but in the end it doesn’t really matter because people can still think differently but be close. Ever heard the saying “opposites attract”? yeah, that’s basically ZoNa in a nutshell. They may argue and disagree, but I think that brings them even closer.

And Zoro is usually referred to as the “calm and cool” guy, but the fact that he easily loses his “cool” over something slight that Nami says, idk I just find that cute that she’s able to get under his skin like that.

I love the dynamic between the two. They’re opposites who like to fight, but always have each other’s backs and couldn’t stand to see the other hurt.

#zona #zonami #zonalove #zonaforever #one piece #nami one piece #zoro one piece #nami #zoro #only otp #one piece otp

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makeste · 5 years

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the good, the bad, and the basement

so @caliginouscarpacian asked me a while back if I could post my thoughts about the strengths and weaknesses of the Overhaul/Yakuza/Internship Arc once I finished up. so this is my post about that, now that I’ve had a little bit of time to reflect. I decided to do one of those alternating good/bad list things, so we’ll see how that goes.

this is quite a long post, so it’s under a cut. and just to be clear, this post is chock full of spoilers up through the end of the Internship Arc (chapter 161).

the good: the villains

okay, I’m starting with this one because truthfully, it’s my favorite thing about the whole arc. the League of Villains finally came into their own, and it was everything I could have hoped for. they are competent but not too overpowered. they are smart and willing to be patient and bide their time for the sake of cool plot twists. THERE’S A FUCKING CAR CHASE. there is character development! these guys actually care about each other! holy shit. there’s actual chemistry between them. they trust one another and they trust Tomura, and he shows for the first time that he might just actually be worthy of that trust. unlike some other villains I can name. anyways. these guys are amazing, and if this arc did nothing else, it firmly established them as serious, in-it-for-the-long-haul adversaries who are cool and interesting and can hold their own on-screen and whose lives and relationships I’m actually invested in. and like, they’re still evil. just to be clear. but they’re also cool and compelling and a genuine delight whenever they make an appearance, and I can’t wait to see what shenanigans they get up to next.

the bad: the villains

hahaha. okay, so I’m not even gonna talk about Overhaul yet -- he gets his own little mini-rant all to himself. but let’s talk about the Eight Precepts for a moment. I was so let down by these guys it’s not even funny. YOU ASSHOLES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COOL. you’re the fucking yakuza for fuck’s sake! but instead they’re just boring. not one of them felt even remotely threatening, and it was just obnoxious to watch the good guys struggling against some of them. none of them had interesting personalities or backstories. a few of them did have interesting quirks (thinking specifically of the Thief quirk and the truth serum confession quirk), but they go to waste since they’re used in decidedly uninteresting ways. (seriously though, that is such a mind-blowing waste of a truth serum quirk that it’s painful to think about. it could have been used for character development, interrogations... any number of plot uses. and what does this asshole do instead? HE TRIES TO MAKE MIRIO SAD. come the fuck on.)

and arguably worse than that is the fact that they all wear the same mask. that was such a bad move on Horikoshi’s part. it means there’s no way for any of them to stand out. if their quirks or personalities weren’t going to cut it, their appearances were the only thing left, and he goes and designs them all to essentially have the same fucking face. why would you do that. as if they didn’t all blend together enough to start with.

and lastly, the blind, ferocious loyalty they all have to Overhaul is completely absurd and makes no fucking sense. like, several of them were literally like, “oh I was treated like shit all my life, and then this guy came along who also treats me like shit, but ~with him I have a place~.” the truth serum guy IIRC liked Overhaul simply because he was honest. at least Chance the Rappa had a decent reason for liking him which was that he was freakishly strong and he just wanted to defeat him. meanwhile his monk friend supposedly doesn’t like violence, and yet here he is loyally serving a man who offs his own subordinates at the drop of a hat, and whose master plan hinges on the perpetual torture of a kindergartner.

just. they all suck so much.

the good: Sir Nighteye

Nighteye had such a great arc. I’m not the biggest fan of how it ended, because that was a perfectly good heart of mine that they ripped out and stomped all over, but aside from that, yeah. he starts out as this cold, disdainful pencil of a man, only for it to gradually be revealed that he’s really just a broken shell of himself, afraid to use his own quirk because he’s scared of whatever horrors he might see that he’ll be helpless to do anything about. he supports Mirio over Deku because he loves Mirio and genuinely thinks he’ll be the better successor, and because he loves All Might, and he’s desperate to stop his premonition from six years ago from actually coming true. it didn’t really surprise me that he became a more likable character in the end, but the degree to which it happened really caught me off guard. I was not expecting to end up loving him so much. and also I just really love the idea of the foresight quirk being as mentally damaging as it turns out to be, because it makes perfect sense, and it’s the perfect way to put such a potentially overpowered quirk in check. just, well done on every aspect of Nighteye’s character and his story arc.

the bad: Overhaul

Overhaul started out with so much potential and it all just went to shit. I’ll start with the good stuff first: his quirk is cool and terrifying, I like his character design, and I like the little touch with him being a germaphobe, even if they didn’t really do much with it in the end.

now the bad. I think my main complaint about Overhaul is that as a rule of thumb, I think that good villains should be written as though they genuinely believe they’re the heroes of their own story. this goes for all types of villains. even sociopaths take pride in being smart enough to take advantage of what they view as the stupidity and weakness of others. meanwhile, righteous villains justify their heinous acts as being for the sake of the greater good. and those villains who are in-between may feel some guilt about some of the things they’ve done, but they justify those acts as being something they had to do, or something the victim deserved, or something they themselves deserved after all of their own pain and suffering. (Tomura is a good example of this type of villain.) then you’ve got anarchist villains who are just in it for the lulz and figure there’s no real purpose to life, so they might as well enjoy themselves. all of these are valid villain personalities and motivations.

the problem with Overhaul is that he acts like a sociopath, and yet supposedly he’s doing all of this in order to somehow pay back his boss for his kindness. and that just doesn’t track. he has not demonstrated himself to be even remotely capable of empathy, so that level of loyalty from him feels forced and entirely unbelievable. I would have much preferred if instead he’d just gone full sociopath. maybe even have it turn out that he was making a power play all along and that he in fact was the one who caused the previous boss’s medical issues in order to seize power. that would have at least made sense with his level of evilness. but instead we have a guy who does shit without remorse that no one with even the barest hint of a functional empathy switch should be able to consider. his boss even tells him on multiple occasions, “hey that’s fucked up, don’t do that.” and he completely fucking ignores him, and we’re supposed to believe that in the end this is his way of trying to show his gratitude? there’s just no internal logic to it at all, and it makes me completely unable to take Overhaul seriously as a character, and so in the end he’s just annoying.

the good: Kirishima

Kirishima is definitely a highlight of this arc. having sneaked up on everyone to become the surprise 5th most popular character, I guess Horikoshi took that as a sign that it was time to give him more development. and it’s such good development. it’s so unexpected to see middle school Kirishima -- brave, sturdy, loyal-to-a-fault Kirishima -- freezing up in the face of danger and panicking and not being able to do anything when others are in peril. and then we learn that he actually has massive self-esteem issues and has no real confidence in his own “boring” quirk, and despite his dream, he finds it difficult to see himself as worthy of being a hero. and yet he managed to overcome that and become the Kirishima we know today, who’s determined to become the manly hero he’s always wanted to be, even if he has to fake it till he makes it. it’s just good stuff, and it was great to see him get the spotlight.

the bad: Kirishima

lol. but having said that, I’m going to be real here: as much as I love him, there’s just no denying the fact that Kiri, when you get down to it, Only Does One Thing. he makes his body harder. that’s it. yes, it’s a very strong and powerful quirk, and he’s absolutely worthy of being in U.A. and will make a great hero one day for sure. but that said, one-on-one Kirishima fights are just not that interesting to watch. Horikoshi has yet to find a way to mix things up and do anything remotely surprising with his quirk. Kiri just makes himself as hard as possible and tries to hold out against whoever he’s fighting until he can either knock them out, or they tire themselves out, or he gets backup, or he loses. so I’ll go ahead and say this here: there was absolutely no fucking reason to give him two multi-chapter fights in this arc. it makes no sense. just combine the two. or at the very least shorten one of them if you absolutely must have him fight twice for whatever reason. but just. I don’t know why we had to sit through so many chapters of him just standing there getting hit by bad guys. jesus christ. and meanwhile neither Ochako or Tsuyu ended up seeing any onscreen action at all, which is fucking ridiculous. they’re both just as deserving of fight time as Kiri is, and Tsuyu in particular has never had her own one-on-one fight and it would have kicked ass. you can’t tell me it wouldn’t have. so yeah. this was definitely a misstep IMO.

the good: the overall dark mood of the arc

this arc was craaaaaaazy dark. like yikes!dark. guns. drugs. the fucking mob. child abuse. depression. anxiety. prophecies of death. lost powers. dead mentors. just, holy shit. it does what it set out to do, which IMO was to introduce the dark side of the hero world, and all the horrors that the job can lead to. this is what you guys are signing up for. this is the reality of what you’ll be facing at times. it’s brutal, but it sure is realistic.

the bad: apparently there is such a thing as too much angst

yeah. who knew? and look, okay, I fucking love angst. love it. but at some point it just gets to be too much. this isn’t fucking Breaking Bad. you’ve gotta throw us a bone here every so often. we need some humor sprinkled here and there, and the occasional moment of triumph and hope. you know it’s bad when somehow we end up having to rely on the villains for both of those things. and yet that’s what happened here, and Toga and Twice basically saved the arc when it was reaching its most frustrating point, and injected some much-needed life back into it.

and speaking of dark, while I was mostly speaking figuratively, I do also mean that quite literally as well. this arc was too dark. lesson learned: never set your 20-chapters-long climax in a fucking basement. chapter after chapter of drab gray settings. no background variation whatsoever. just, god. why would you fucking do that.

the good: girl power

I got so excited when I realized that for the first time ever, the arc was going to feature precisely two female and two male class 1-A students. a fucking 1:1 ratio. 50/50. and this was in addition to Hadou and Ryuukyuu (Ryuukyuu being the very first female top ten ranked hero we’d been introduced to). all in all I was fucking pumped.

the bad: ...but not really

so fucking go figure that right off the bat, they get attacked on the way in and ALL OF THE GIRL CHARACTERS STAY OUTSIDE while the guys go on to continue the arc. except for Bubble, but she gets left behind barely pages later. and then we don’t see any of the ladies again until the very fucking end. fucking travesty tbh.

honestly, none of the girls has really gotten any spotlight action since Ochako fought Bakugou all the way back in the sports festival arc, and it’s getting tired at this point. this is probably one of the reasons why Toga has climbed so high on my favorite character list. because at least we still get to see her fighting, and it’s always entertaining. but I need more ladies kicking ass goddammit.

anyways, this is getting quite long and my will to rant is waning, so I’ll just list the rest of the pros and cons I can think of real quick.

the good: Mirio (such a good boy); the quirk-be-gone and trigger drugs; Eri (who is so sweet and precious and I honestly love her quirk, even if it’s ridiculously overpowered. that’s why they gave it to a six-year-old lol. I don’t think we have to worry about it becoming too broken for a long time); the prophecy and all related angst; and of course, that ending which ripped my heart out and also made me cheer so hard when Overhaul got his comeuppance.

the bad: the basement (yes, I mentioned it before, but honestly it deserves another mention); Overhaul’s lack of an actual master plan (such a letdown, smdh); lack of all of our other faves for like 30 chapters. Bakugou. Todoroki. Momo. Kaminari. Mina. Iida. Sero. god but I missed them so, so much.

final verdict: all in all, this was an excellent arc for world-building, and it set up a few things which I think will have a lasting impact on the story (Nighteye’s premonition; Eri; the whole concept of internships; and last but not least Tomura getting hold of the quirk-erasing drug). it also gave us some decent character development on the heroes’ side, and some frankly excellent character development for nearly every last member of the League of Villains. I am very appreciative of that last in particular, and if I ever go back to reread any parts of the arc once I’m done with the recaps, it will probably be those chapters.

having said that, this arc marked the first time that the series, to me, has ever felt dragged-out and dull, and for multiple chapters in a row at that. I was seriously getting concerned at some points, because it felt nothing at all like the fast-paced series I’d grown accustomed to for the first 120 chapters, with most arcs being resolved in a dozen chapters or less, and moving right along to the next arc. I hate the feeling of having to force myself to read something, and that was the case for quite a few chapters in this arc, which sucks. and there was no reason for it, really. it was just bad writing.

probably the best example of this is coming up in just a few chapters in the recaps. I am referring to chapter 138, which is probably my least favorite chapter in the series to date. this chapter begins with the heroes gathered outside of Overhaul’s house getting ready to enter. it ends with the heroes still outside the fucking house, still having not entered. they literally spend an entire chapter, 19 full pages, trying to go inside a house. the pacing is abysmal. hardly anything interesting happens aside from that really big guy busting through the front gate, and Ryuukyuu turning into her dragon form to stop him. that’s basically it. it’s just boring as fuck. this chapter basically sums up all of the problems I have with this arc in one go.

was it an important arc for the story? yes. would I read it again? probably not, LoV antics aside. basically those are my feelings in a nutshell.

anyways, I’m curious what everyone else’s thoughts are on this arc if anyone else feels like sharing! now that I’m finished with it, it’s a lot more fun to talk about. some things are just more enjoyable in hindsight, when you have finally moved on past them and can joke about them from a safe distance lol.

#bnha #boku no hero academia #overhaul (bnha)#kirishima eijirou #sir nighteye #shigaraki tomura #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #makeste reads bnha #essay #bnha essay #how many pages does it take to enter a building #the answer may surprise you #bnha meta

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blankdblank · 6 years

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2 “Can I buy you a drink?”

5 “If I go through with this, I die. If I don’t, we all die.”

7 “Is that blood?” “No?” “That’s not a question you’re supposed to answer with another question.”

8 “This is all your fault.” “I hope so.”

9 “I’d rather be pecked to death by a flock of hummingbirds.”

11 “Hold on, you died.” “Yeah, well it didn’t stick.”

12 “Excuse me! I was a superhero for ten whole minutes!” “And in that time you got kidnapped and we had to come to the rescue”

13 “I am way too sober for this.”

14 “You’re not as evil as people think you are.” “No. I’m much worse.”

15 “Why do you keep risking your life? To prove a point?” “Yes.”

17 “This plan of yours is going to get us killed. Of course, I’m in.”

19 “Stop that!” “Stop what?” “Doing that thing with your face when you’re happy. It’s making me nauseous.”

20 “You can’t just turn into a bat and fly away when you don’t want to deal with things!” “Watch me!”

21 “Wait, you’re a superhero?” “How do you not know? My face is literally on the news on a weekly basis.” “I’m in grad school. I won’t have time to follow popular media until I finish my thesis. You’re lucky I’ve carved out some non-existent free time to date you.”

22 “I’m just really tired of watching you get thrown off the tops of buildings”

23 “Whether you believe in me or not, I will continue to exist.”

24 “I don’t care where I sleep, as long as it’s with you.”

25 “You’re a psychopath.” “I prefer creative.”

27 “I want to go home.” “And I want to go to the moon. It ain’t happening sweetheart. Time to accept that.”

30 “Nope. I can’t go to hell. Satan still has a restraining order against me.”

31 “Well, what can I say? I’m a badass.”

32 “Define normal.”

33 “Do I get bonus points if I act like I care?”

34 “It’s amazing how fast the world can go from bad to total shit storm.”

35 “And you wonder why you’re still single.”

36 “Remind me to kill you. Please.”

37 “I’m listening to you. I’m just not paying attention.”

38 “Were you dropped on your head?”

39 “She’s crazy. And just when you think you’ve reached the bottom of her craziness, there’s a crazy underground garage.”

40 “She may seem like lollipops and rainbows but I bet behind close doors she’s latex and whips.”

41 “My middle finger salutes you.”

42 “This is a whole new level of moronic, even for you.”

43 “I don’t think I could ever stab someone. I mean, let’s be honest. I can barely get the straw in the Capri Sun.”

44 “I don’t have enough middle fingers to let you know how I feel.”

45 “Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops.”

46 “Oh darling. Go buy a brain.”

47 “Somebody’s cranky.” “Somebody needs to shut up.”

48 “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

49 “All due respect, but that’s a bunch of crap.”

50 “I am one of the few people in the world who can murder you and leave no forensic evidence behind.”

51 “Excuse me. I have to go make a scene.”

52 “What did I tell you about calling her/him the devil?” “That it’s offensive to the devil?”

53 “I heard that!” “You were supposed to!”

54 “I need therapy after this.”

55 “I’m not weird. I am limited edition.”

56 “I turned out liking you a lot more that I originally planned.”

57 “I think you’re weird.” “I think you’re boring.”

58 “If history repeats itself, I am so getting a dinosaur.”

59 “You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before?”

61 “I’d explain it to you, but you’re brain would explode.”

62 “Wow, there’s a big surprise. I think I’m going to have a heart attack and die from surprise.”

63 “I’m gonna hit you so hard, it’ll make you ancestors dizzy.”

64 “Even when we were kids, I always kicked your ass!”

65 “Sarcasm is the body’s natural reaction to stupidity.”

66 “Well, excuse me, psychic wonder!”

67 “The female of the species is more deadly than the male.”

68 “Don’t look in her eyes, she might steal your soul.”

69 “She’s hot, but she’s evil.”

70 “Do I regret it? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably.”

71 “I already know that I’m going to hell. At this point it’s really go big or go home.”

72 “Go on, knock his teeth down his throat.”

73 “What’s the point in screaming? No one’s listening anyway.”

74 “I’m not a damsel in distress. I’m a damsel doing damage.”

75 “So stick that in your juice box and suck it.”

76 “Never take life seriously. No one ever comes out alive anyway.”

77 “This place hold a lot of memories for me. Some bad, some… No. No, no, all bad.”

78 “A little gasoline… blowtorch… no problem.”

79 “Good, bad, I’m the one with the gun.”

80 “I know you can’t kill anybody, ‘cause I can’t kill anybody.”

81 “You’re insane, but you might also be brilliant.”

82 “What you call insanity, I call inspiration.”

83 “Sometimes I question my sanity. Occasionally it replies.”

85 “Why does everyone assume the worst of me.” “It saves time.”

87 “You successfully cured him/her of anything interesting about his/her personality.”

88 “You’re questioning my methods.” “I’m not questioning it, I’m saying it’s stupid.”

89 “Wow, somebody needs a Happy Meal.”

90 “I didn’t do it!” “Then why are you laughing?” “Because whoever did it is a freaking genius.”

92 “You couldn’t handle me even if I came with instructions.”

93 “I care so little, I almost passed out.”

95 “You’re so weird.” “You have no idea.”

96 “You haven’t even seen my bad side yet.”

97 “Obviously you have mistaken me for somebody who gives a shit.”

98 “How’s life treating you?” “Like I ran over it’s dog.”

99 “Rule number one: don’t bother sucking up. I already hate you, that’s not going to change.”

100 “Oh God, we’re not gonna have to hug or anything, are we.”

101 “I’m so glad you could come.” “Cut the crap. Give me a drink.”

103 “Have fun being a big deal.” “I will.”

105 “It’s called thinking. Go with it.”

106 “I made a new friend today.” “Real or imaginary?” “Imaginary.”

108 “I’m getting real bored and impatient. I don’t do bored and impatient.”

109 “The girl is strange no question.”

110 “Do us a favor… I know it’s difficult for you… but please, stay here, and try no to do anything… stupid.”

111 “I know most people don’t like me; I don’t care, I don’t like most people.”

112 “You are a very strange person.” “Well, thanks for noticing.”

113 “I can tell that you think what you’re saying is funny, but… no.”

114 “I didn’t steal it. I permanently borrowed it.”

115 “I’m not shy. I’m just examining my prey.”

116 “If you pull out my earphones, I will pull out your lungs.”

117 “I don’t dislike you, I nothing you.”

118 “Are you crying? No, I’m impersonating a fountain.”

121 “I feel like a freakin’ soccer mom.”

122 “I’m just gonna pack up and go straight to hell now.”

123 “My ex? Yeah, I’d still hit that. Except this time it would be with a car or baseball bat.”

124 “She’s complicated like the DaVinci code, you know but harder to crack.”

125 “And just like everything else we do around here, it’s about to get weirder.”

126 “Such big evil in such a little thing.”

127 “Why do I still like you, knowing you’re a total asshole?”

128 “What does not kill you will likely try again.”

129 “Oh honey, I would but… I don’t want to.”

130 “And hello to you too… little homewrecker.”

132 “I don’t need anger management. I need people to stop pissing me off.”

133 “What doesn’t kill me might make me kill you.”

134 “In another life, I think I was in a mental institution.”

135 “I’m not crazy. I’m just interesting.”

136 “Don’t make me pop your ten grand sand bags honey.”

137 “This is fun.” “Seriously, we’re trying to hide a body.”

138 “If you touch my food, I’ll have no choice but to hurt you.”

139 “I found this cat. It doesn’t matter how exactly I found it, but we’re keeping it.”

140 “When I was a child, I wanted to be a fire hydrant because I wanted to help people. Well, it was a real let down when my mother told me that being an inanimate object wasn’t a valid option.”

141 “There’s not a single day in my life when I haven’t been thoroughly humiliated and it’s too late to change now.”

142 “Unfortunately, my tears of joy and tears of sadness are not so easy to tell apart.”

143 “Sex dream? About you? Nah…it was about, uh, my uncle!”

144 “How did I break my leg? Well, it’s a long story.”

145 “The punch was out of love. For myself.”

146 “I can 100 percent fall down those stairs without getting hurt.”

147 “You act like I’ve never been lost in a foreign country before.”

148 “I always knew I’d be digging my own grave, I just never expected it would be digging a literal grave.”

149 “I did not eat the cookies. I’ve never even seen a cookie in my life.”

150 “Closets are my mortal enemy. And snakes.”

151 “I am wearing your clothes but not for the reason you think I am.”

152 “I’m trapped under the bed again.” “What do you mean ‘again’?”

153 “I shouldn’t have to tell you not to eat that.”

154 “I’m no longer permitted to enter the city zoo because I ‘allegedly’ don’t understand boundaries.”

155 “I didn’t eat your chocolate bar–Oh, I have chocolate on my face? In that case, it attacked me.”

156 “They told me not to take that selfie in the emergency room but now I have a great profile pic for Halloween!”

157 “I’m not saying I’d fight a child, I’m merely saying my legs are longer, my arms are stronger, and my brain is superior.”

158 “I’ve never been to Japan until today, but I have no idea how I got here.”

159 “We rock, paper, scissors-ed it and I played fire. I won in principle, but lost in morality.”

160 “Trains are fun until you’re fighting the conductor.”

161 “The first time I saw the ocean I cried, but that’s mostly because I was choking on seawater.”

162 “There is no sign in the library that says no birds so how was I to know.”

163 “The chokehold was out of love. Why can’t you see that?”

164 “I know the police.” “What? You know all the police?” “Well, it’s more like they know me.”

165 “I thought I could do parkour, nay, believed but my faith is weak and my body weaker.”

166 “I only got stuck in a baby swing once. The other two times I managed to get myself out before the fire department arrived.”

167 “Elbows and knees. That’s the fight club motto.” “No, it’s really not.”

168 “I don’t get lost. I take the long way.”

169 “There’s a snake in my boot. No, I’m serious. Why is there a snake in my boot?”

170 “My doctor told me chocolate syrup is not an actual beverage. The more you know, huh?”

171 “I don’t fall in love. I faceplant.”

172 “If you try to high five a police officer, they will taze you.”

173 “I can do the splits but not on purpose.”

174 “I am the ruler of pigeons now. I didn’t know I was even a candidate, but here we are.”

175 “To be fair, I’m surprised I didn’t break more fingers.”

176 “Who knew bear traps were that common?”

177 “I will run away with you.”

178 “I am never coming back.”

179 “I forget time and space when I’m with you.”

180 “I don’t belong in your universe.”

181 “I’m dynamite ready to explode.”

182 “I don’t know where you’ve gone. It’s like you aren’t here anymore.”

183 “We are in this together – for better or for worse, do you hear me? I’m not giving up that easily.”

184 “You don’t even have to hold me, and I still feel safe with you.”

187 “Everything you think I need isn’t what I need. What I need is you.”

188 “I always come back to you.”

189 “You have to keep fighting.”

191 “I’m begging you. Please.”

192 “I need you to let me all the way in.”

193 “This was all just a game to you… wasn’t it?”

194 “I will give you heaven and I will give you hell.”

195 “Please, be gentle with me. I’ll break if you aren’t careful enough.”

197 “I can assure you that you are safe here… with me.”

198 “It is my duty to take care of you, so stop forcing me away.”

199 “Never trust a man whose smile steals the breath right from your lungs.”

200 “Take it – I don’t care. Take it all!”

201 “I’ll feel much better if you let me walk you home.”

202 “You make me feel things that I’m not supposed to feel. Why? Why do you have this control over me? You’ve taken over most of my thoughts. It’s infuriating.”

203 “Would you look at that? Anger does fuel me.”

204 “I don’t even remember the last time I got a decent amount of sleep. I’m hallucinating things, I can’t focus for more than five minutes… I’m going crazy.”

205 “You were always beside me.”

206 “What happened to us? To you? I miss it.”

207 “There is no good in goodbye.”

208 “Say it again.”

209 “You look happy. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the reason for it.”

210 “Sometimes we get hurt and we just have to find a way to overcome it, and sometimes… sometimes it’s not enough to heal the wounds.”

211 “You’ll understand. You have to.”

212 “You lit a fire in my veins ever since the first time we held hands.”

213 “Don’t stop.”

215 “I don’t care! I don’t!”

216 “There are times I can drink the pain away, but this time it’s become impossible.”

217 “This pain… it’s still fresh. Give me time.”

218 “Your memory will burn like a fire.”

219 “It just keeps spreading and spreading and spreading and I can’t stop it.”

220 “I won’t ever forget you.”

221 “I think I’m losing myself, and I don’t know if I can ever come back from this.”

222 “I prefer being alone.”

223 “To see you smile, I would do anything.”

224 “If you’re reading this then that means… that means I didn’t make it. I’m sorry.”

225 “Fuck, I wish I could give you one more kiss, to feel your warmth, to see you smile… I miss you so much.”

226 “Don’t go too far, alright? I wanna be able to catch up to you, just give me time.”

227 “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there.”

228 “You stood up for me.”

229 “You keep giving me excuses, what’s your problem?”

230 “Always be kind.”

231 “You’re so warm.”

232 “Oh my god! That was so not funny. These are fake tears, and that was sarcasm.”

234 “Daddy.”

235 “Run me over with your car.”

236 “Ew. Emotions.”

237 “I’m sorry, was I supposed to laugh?”

238 “Stab me. No, seriously. Stab me.”

239 “That’s so stupid. Please, do it again.”

240 “But I’m not her.”

241 “I need you to see yourself as I do.”

242 “Breathe.”

243 “What are you running from? Why are you so scared?”

244 “Let’s do something spontaneous!”

245 “I can still feel every little kiss you pressed to my cheek.”

247 “It’s feels like I’m suffocating.”

248 “This will be the last time you lie to me.”

249 “You know it’s not like that.”

251 “You’re never going to be the same after this.”

252 “I just think it’d be best if we never met.”

253 “I can’t believe you would even think to leave me like this.”

254 “You never loved me, did you?”

255 “It didn’t have to be like this, but now you’ve ruined everything.”

256 “I hope you’re happy.”

257 “If you had have kept your mouth shut, then he’d still- he’d still be here!”

258 “What did you want once this was all through? Tell me!”

259 “Now I have to deal with the consequences of your actions. Thanks, it means a lot.”

260 “You could’ve- could’ve stayed. You could’ve helped me fix things.”

261 “I knew she’d never change, she was too stubborn, too similar to me.”

262 “This isn’t going to be fixed. You’ve ruined this for good now.”

263 “I hope I’m not put in the same part of hell as you.”

264 “When did you think you could hurt me again? Today? Tomorrow?”

265 “You’re back in my life and I want to die again.”

266 “You only ever brought me pain and I’m sick of it.”

267 “I hope you got what you wanted.”

268 “You made me miserable and I still loved you.”

269 “When you die, I’ll be the first to dance on your grave.”

271 “If only you knew what you’d brought upon yourself.”

272 “We’re never going to have a happy ending, just remember that.”

273 “Everytime something goes well, I momentarily forget how much I despise you.”

274 “Don’t pretend like you’re not happy to see me like this.”

275 “There is nothing worse than seeing you get what you want.”

276 “Your mind must be a horrible place.”

277 “You can cut me, bruise me and skin me alive, but you will not take her from me.”

278 “How is it that we always end up in this predicament?”

279 “I want to wipe that grin of your face with my sword, but my mother taught me to play nicely.”

280 “Did anyone ever tell you how pathetic you are? It’s incredible how low my standards are for you.”

281 “Ah, well if you want them back alive, I suggest you lay down your own life.”

282 “Don’t be ‘smart’. The battlefield is no place for Math Scholars.”

283 “You shouldn’t have come. You can’t be-”

284 “Stop talking or tomorrow won’t come.”

285 “Hand me the gun and I’ll kill him myself.”

286 “I shouldn’t care for your life, but I’m starting to and it’s becoming an inconvenience.”

287 “If you live to see her, please send my best regards and this box of her father’s ashes.”

288 “It would’ve been nice to get to know you better, but I’m afraid I don’t care.”

289 “I can’t help but think you’re a terrible person.”

290 “Seeing your face has unconventionally made me want to die. I wasn’t quite prepared for this feeling.”

291 “You could have loved me, I’m quite good at seducing, but you’re actually vile.”

292 “I hope I see you in a bodybag sometime.”

293 “Let’s pretend you didn’t cheat on me with my sister and be good people for a few minutes.”

294 “We should probably stop talking forever.”

295 “If I hated you anymore, I think I’d probably be crowned as satan’s right-hand man.”

296 “To say I ‘tolerate you’ is a vast overstatement.”

297 “You broke her heart and came back for more, you bastard.”

298 “This isn’t fifth grade, this is a courtroom, you whore.”

299 “I think you’d be the perfect match for my ex-husband. He loved to sleep with multiple people.”

301 “Time was always a measurement of this relationship and we finally ran out.”

302 “Please don’t look at me with such hatred.”

303 “I could’ve died and you couldn’t have cared less.”

304 “Just get out. I- I don’t want you hear, just leave.”

305 “You’re not the same person I married, don’t tell me I’m wrong.”

306 “I wish you wouldn’t beg for forgiveness, it has the opposite effect of what you want.”

307 “Don’t hate me for this. You would’ve done the same.”

308 “This could’ve been the end and you were ready to let me go.”

309 “You should’ve left me, you could never deserve the person I’ve become.”

310 “Hate me all you want. I know I’m right.”

311 “Today you broke my arm, I hope tomorrow it’s not my heart.”

312 “Nothing can justify this, you’ve ruined him.”

313 “You live with so much guilt, I hope it drives you mad one of these days.”

314 “My life was ruined because of one mistake. You were that mistake.”

315 “You are everything I hate, don’t ever come back.”

316 “Evil doesn’t come close.”

317 “Your wrongdoings are becoming your pastimes.”

318 “I wish you had of just done it for the thrill of it, but now you’re in deep shit.”

319 “Next time, I won’t be here to salvage your wreckage. This is the last time.”

320 “You should have ruined me when you had the chance.”

321 “No one will keep your name alive. Once you’re gone, everything you once stood for disappears too.”

322 “Don’t pretend you haven’t thought about your life without me.”

323 “This is always how it ends.”

324 “Break my heart once more, I dare you.”

325 “Forget how you loved me once, I mean nothing now.”

326 “This isn’t Romeo and Juliet, this is real life and I can go on without you.”

327 “You don’t own me, I don’t belong to you.”

328 “I should’ve died. That would’ve made you happy.”

329 “Are we going to carry on like this or are you going to give him back to me.”

330 “She drowned and he lost his mind.”

321 “We shouldn’t. You’re married and I’m pregnant.”

332 “You’ve never been loved, I can tell.”

333 “Who told you I needed fixing and what made you believe them?”

334 “You’re almost as far-gone as I am.”

335 “Maybe it’s best that we don’t go home.”

336 “Roaming the streets was never safe for her. What makes you think it’s different for you?”

337 “I think you’re going to ruin me. Am I right?”

338 “Do you remember our last feud? I wouldn’t want someone to lose their life again, would you?”

339 “Kiss me quick and leave them be.”

340 “I hate seeing you so sad. It’s just so dramatic how humans show emotions and being sad is such a boring one.”

341 “Will you ever forget my number? No? Ah, because you still love me.”

342 “After the funeral, let’s surrender.”

343 “What made you think I cared for you?”

344 “It’ll be fun explaining this to your sister. I hope she likes horror stories.”

345 “Don’t act as if we’re friends. I know how much you want to slit my throat.”

346 “Let’s not get angry. Let’s calmly and sensibly take this outside so I can ruin your face.”

347 “Please ruin yourself for me and I’ll watch in adoration as I fall apart as well.”

Already requested – but still requestable

1 “Fancy seeing you here.” “I work here.”

3 “Right now, I don’t know if I want to kiss you or shove you off a bridge” “Can I pick?”

4 “You know what they say, panicking burns a shit-ton of calories.” “Who even says that?” “Me. Just now.”

6 “No, no, you do NOT want me navigating. I’ll accidentally navigate us off a cliff.”

10 “You have no power over me.” “You sure about that?”

16 “That’s disgusting. You’re lucky you’re cute.”

18 “Can you please go be stupid somewhere that’s away from me?”

26 “I thought you forgot about me.” “Never.”

28 “Sometimes, memories are the worst torture.”

29 “You really have no clue who I am?” “You’d think the confused looks and blank stare would have answered that for you.”

60 “I’m afraid I’ve been thinking…” “A dangerous pastime.”

84 “Why should we date?” “Because we are attracted to each other.” “I am attracted to pie, but I do not feel the need to date pie.”

91 “Idiots. I’m surrounded by idiots.”

94 “Well behaved woman rarely make history.”

102 “You make no sense to me.” “Welcome to my life.”

104 “Damn, you’re strong for a little thing.”

107 “Where have you been all my life?” “Hiding from you.”

119 “Ah, he’s playing hard-to-get. That’s cute.”

120 “You’re kinda anti-social, you know that?”

131 “I’m gonna make you wish you were dead.”

185 “Be with me.”

186 “I’m vulnerable around you, and it only gets worse when you smile.”

190 “I’m surrendering myself to you; body and soul. What more do you want?”

196 “I promise I’ll be tender.”

214 “Please, just… touch me.”

233 “Damn damn diggity damn.”

246 “I need to be closer to you.”

250 “How could you think this wouldn’t hurt me?”

270 “Don’t underestimate me, I have more power than you can even comprehend.”

300 “I’m not coming home, don’t look for me.”

348 “Are you SURE I can’t punch him in the face?” “Yes.” “What if I break his nose a little?”

349 “Show me your scars.” “But… why?” “I want to see how many times you needed me and I wasn’t there.”

350 “She’s my best friend. That hasn’t changed.” “It’s clear your feelings for her has.”

351 “Did you just… agree with me?” “Oh, I wish I could take-““Nope! You said it! No take-backs!”

352 “I think I’m having a feeling. How do I make it stop?”

353 “Don’t mind me, I’ll just be in the corner having another existential crisis.”

354 “I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you!” “And I’m trying to subtly avoid it!”

355 “You don’t strike me as a professional criminal.” “That’s what makes me so good at it.”

356 “It’s a good thing you’re cute when you’re angry.”

357 “What are you afraid of?” “You.”

358 “I don’t give a damn.” “You give so many damns they’re visible from SPACE.”

359 “It’s a long story” “You conned me into thinking you were dead for eleven months. I have time.”

360 “Unless I screw this up again, I’m going to marry you.” “Well you better not mess this up”

361 “Hey, I didn’t kill anyone today!” “What do you want? A gold star.”

362 “I feel like I’m being stabbed.” “How do you even know what it feels like to be stabbed?”

363 “What now?” “I don’t know. I thought the jump would kill us.”

364 “I saved your life.” “You pushed me off a building.”

365 “How do we keep getting into these situations?” “Eleven years of friendship and I still don’t know.”

366 “We’re leaving.” “But they have a lobster tank in their basement.”

367 “Take my hand.” “Why?” “I’m trying to ask you to marry me, so take my damn hand!”

368 “You look…” “Beautiful, I know. Can we move on?”

369 “I’m fine.” “You don’t look fine.” “Then stop looking.”

370 “You gotta stop doing that.” “What?” “Saying things that make me wanna kiss you.”

371 “I think that you’re not as dark as you want people to believe.”

372 “I hate you.” “Why? I’m lovely.”

373 “Why are they afraid of you?”

374 “Literally everything about this is illegal.”

375 “You love her don’t you?” “Was it that obvious?”

376 “Why me?” “Because you saw me when I was invisible.”

377 “I was just kind of hoping that you’d, y’know…. fall in love with me.”

378 “It’s okay. You don’t have to love me.”

379 “You know, no one bothered me this much when I was dead.”

380 “Only a fool would fall in love with someone as deadly as me.”

381 “I’d know that smirk anywhere.”

382 “I love you. You enormously stubborn pain in the ass.”

383 “Just remember if we get caught, you’re deaf and I don’t speak English.”

384 “Don’t look for any redeeming qualities. I don’t have any.”

385 “If my day gets any worse, I’m asking hell if they’re having an exchange program.”

386 “If I survive, can I go home?”

387 “That’s a little melodramatic, don’t you think?”

388 “You didn’t get in trouble for lying. You got in trouble for lying badly.”

389 “You’re good. A monster pain in the ass… but you’re good.”

390 “Neither one us is drunk enough for this conversation.”

391 “The universe may not always play fair, but at least it’s got a hell of a sense of humor.”

392 “My advice is much more subtle. Stop being an ass.”

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spacyparker · 7 years

Text

Sign of the times serie - part one We’re fucking lost

MASTERLIST - PROMPT LIST

Request : “161 with tom? Maybe?”

» “We are not going to steal someone’s dog.”

Characters : Tom Holland x reader

Word count : ~1650

A/N : I think I’mma turn it into a serie because why not and I like the idea of them being strangers to each other so ??? Just tell me if you want it to continue guys

The shooting of Chaos Walking was really exhausting, and Tom didn't get enough sleep. As he told his fans through lives, it was the more difficult filming he ever did for now on. Even veing Spider-Man wasn't that hard. But the more he would spend his energy on the film, the better the finish would be. It was worth the price, the only thing that really mattered was how the public and critics would react to the movie. But it was only the start of the second week of shooting. Damn.

Him and Harrison were going back to their cabin in the forest, where they'd watch movies and sleep as they was already doing for other a week now. It was kind of sad to be this alone in such a place, Tom would have liked having his family with him, enjoy some camping with them, around a wild fire eating some marshmallows. It wasn't all fun being two, even if they were best friends. I guess they were just so used to each other already.

“Okay, that's it, I'm going on adventure.” Said Tom, leaving the couch to go to the bedroom.

“That does not look like some fun adventure.” Replied Harrison. Seeing his brother going to the bedroom, he thought he was just going to sleep. But Tom was filling a backpack with a hoodie, his camera, before he went to the kitchen to grab water and some food. “Wait what ?”

He shruggled, focused on what he was taking. “You coming ?”

Harrison didn't even hesitated. “Fuck, YES.” Few minutes later, they were outside, letting their steps lost them without caring. Everything seemed similar here, it was just trees, and trees, and other trees. But the only thing that mattered was that they were together, and they discussed about everything. It was late, they were tired, so they lost any talking filter they could have had.

“Have you never wanted to take a year to go on a huge adventure ? Like, hitch hiking with a tent on your back, not knowing if you will be able to eat the evening because you have no food left and you haven't met anyone offering you dinner ?” Tom creased his nose, his head now in the clouds. Je was picturing himself in this situation, with a friend by his side, just enjoying life and people's sympathy.

“Yes. Well, I mean, not especially hitch hiking, but why not. I'm open to that stuff, you know-”

Woof, woof.

Harrison stopped talking, cut by a dog. Both guys immediately turned around themselves, looking everywhere to find the puppy. But they didn't see anything and the dog couldn't stop woofing. Tom was scared, why was a dog woofing in the middle of the forest, and so late ? Was someone abandoning them before going on holidays ? This simple thought broke his heart, no animal deserved such a treat.

“Doggy doggy doggy !” He called him, hoping the dog would hear him and don't hesitate to run to him. “Where are you ?!” He screamed. And suddenly he could hear branches cracking over steps coming toward them. A husky was heading right to him.

It didn't take long to Tom to become friend with the dog. Actually, it was all natural for him, and he never had to put efforts. Destiny wanted him as dogs' friend -which he liked. On his collar, there was his name, Loki. Tom couldn't help but smile, Thor's brother. Well, adoptive brother. There was also an address, but it was clearly impossible to Tom to know where the shit the house could be, he didn't even know where his own were. "We should take him home."

Harrison was petting Loki, a light smile in his face as he found a new friend, but he was kind of jealous of Tom and his special link with dogs. They'd always jump on the curly haired guy and not him. What a life. "We're not going to steal someone's dog."

A few minutes later, they'd found the way back home and Loki was their new guest.

Hours. You've searched for hours, but there was still no track of Loki. It was the last time your little sister would take him alone for a walk, like, really. Lose your dog... No, he was the reason you came back home everyday, the love of your life. Loki was your confident, the only man of your life. Without him, you'd be lost, no one to talk to. You couldn't think of the eventuality of having lost him forever.

"I need to reach a guy's heart. I need to take Loki for a walk." You mumbled on an angry tone, imitating your sister asking for your man's services. "Well, Fuck You !" You shouted.

You've cried for hours while searching and your eyes stung so bad you were having blurred vision. But stop searching ? No way. This dog was your fucking life. Stupid sister.

"Loki !" You called for him, again. You were starting to lose hope, he might be so scared, alone in the forest. He wasn't used to loneliness as you were always here for you, and when you went to school, you took him to your grandma so she could take care of him and he could play with his brother. He was literally never by himself. He had never been.

What if he was thinking you abandoned him ? Would he think that ? Did he know you loved him so much you'd take a bullet for him ? Your heart broke again, did he know ? "Loki !" You shouted while tears started falling again.

You walked, again. You were lost too know, the sky was dark and the trees didn't let you get any light from the moon. The only way for you to see was to use your phone but it didn't help much. In fact it didn't work at all, you could barely see in front of you and that wasn't what would help you. “Loki !” You shouted a new time. But nothing, there was no woofing.

You started thinking of going back home, heartbroken, but for so you needed to find your way back, which seemed hard. For lengthy minutes you just walked going only God knew where, trying to receive some network to use your map. Nothing seemed to go well for you tonight. Until you saw a kind of illuminated duplex far away. There was someone, someone who could probably help you out.

Knock knock knock.

Tom frowned, it was so late and they were in the middle of nowhere, who was knocking at the door ? He looked up at Harrison who was as confused as him, and Loki started woofing while running to the door. “Okay, calm down good boy !” Said Tom, getting up to reach the door. He opened it and had no time to see who knocked because Loki jumped on the person.

“Oh my God baby I thought I've lost you ! I'm sorry Y/S/N acted like a bitch and used you, she's never taking you for a walk again any way soon.” You hugged your soulmate, kissing himbefore raising your head to your savior. “Thank you for taking him, I'm so-” You stopped. You couldn't believe it, in front of you was nothing less than Tom Holland, the fucking Spider-Man. “Wow. I was... I was looking for Loki and I found both him and Peter Parker, what a life.” You whispered getting up.

Tom didn't need to be a genius to understand you already knew him. He smirked, glad you didn't scream or anything else too outrageous. Some meetings were really crazy, with fans screaming or fainting. He was too tired to take care of those things. “That's right I'm Spider-Man.” You giggled knowing him enough to know he loved when people reminded him that fact -not that he would forget it one day. “Loki's a real love, I was so pleased having him with me you know.”

You nodded, blushing. Tom fucking Holland took care of your dog and was now talking to you. “Yes, couldn't imagine my life without him, even for a day. You might be missing Tessa a lot.” You creased your nose, realizing this sounded weird. “Uhm, sorry, didn't mean to look like some creeper. It's just... Well, it's not like you keep her out of the spotlight.”

Loki started woofing again, huddling Tom. So the actor leaned to the dog, instantly petting him. “No, that's cool, and you're actually right.” His British accent made your heartbeat go even faster. You had a crush on Tom, well a celebrity crush, he was your favorite and that was all, not like you'd flirt with him or try anything else. You just liked him as a person. “You know your way back home ?”

“Not really, but I'll find something out.” You assured. “It's not the first time I'm lost.”

Tom frowned and got all his attention on you. “There's no way I let you if you don't know where you're going.” His voice seemed stern as if he was really concerned of your situation, you blushed at all this kindness he gave you without asking. “Come in.”

Tom stepped back to let you enter the house, Loki already running to the living room to meet Harrison. You felt obligated to stay, but you were embarrassed getting into his life like that. “Thank you, I'll leave as soon as the sun arrives.”

Tom smiled, walking to the living-room. “No way. Anyways, this is Harrison, but I think you already know that too.”

You nodded, and before you could say him hello, the blond-haired boy frowned. “What the fuck, is that a stripper ? I didn't order any this time I promise.”

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inawickedlittletown · 5 years

Text

Walking The Wire (150/161)

Summary: Tony Stark always knew about Peter Parker. He didn’t know that Peter was going to get superpowers and become Spider-Man, but he always knew about Peter because Peter was his son.

This will span from pre-Iron Man up through the rest of the MCU (eventually including Infinity War) and will be for the most part canon compliant except where I’ve taken some liberties and interpreted canon a certain way.

Pairings: Pepper/Tony, Tony/Steve (endgame), Tony/Mary (past)

A/N: If you want me to tag you when I post new chapters let me know. This fic is also on AO3

I used Collider’s MCU timeline to stay canon and the title of this fic is an Imagine Dragons song that is just so fitting for Peter and Tony

@findmeinthestarss

Masterpost

Chapter One Hundred Forty Nine

Travelling by Bifrost was not unlike time travelling -- maybe it was a little more dizzying. Tony stumbled when they arrived in Asgard, but Steve caught him deftly and Tony lingered leaning on him for a small moment before straightening up. They were in a huge dome like structure. A man in full armor stood by some sort of device raised up right in the middle of the dome and beyond him was the rainbow bridge. They had seen some of this in Thor’s memories through BARF but it was something else to see it in person. To see Heimdall in person because he was more impressive than seeing him through Thor’s memories.

“Woah,” Scott said, echoing everyone’s thoughts. Only Bruce, Thor, and Rocket seemed unaffected by how amazing the place was.

The man that had been by the device walked down. He was in golden armor that actually gleamed and his eyes shone. There was even a sword in his hands. He looked like something out of a fantasy epic.

“You are not from this time,” he said without preamble.

“We are not,” Thor said and it was so clear that he hadn’t been considering the emotional toll it would all take.

“Heimdall, we come from the future. We are here to take the Aether. The fate of the Universe depends on it,” Tony said, stepping forward.

“I believe Odin has ordered it taken to Taneleer Tivan,” Heimdall said.

“The Collector,” Rocket said in a half-whisper.

“Whose real name is Tanleer Tivan?” Clint asked and laughed.

Steve nudged him.

Thor seemed to have collected himself because nodded. “We’re aware. We want to take it before it leaves Asgard. The future is -- there is a threat and the Infinity Stones were collected and used. We are working to undo it.”

Heimdall’s eyes shone even brighter before he spoke again.

“The stone -- the Aether, it will be returned to the moment it is taken from,” Tony said quickly and Heimdall’s gaze landed on him. “For this to work the stones have to go where they were once we are finished using them. They have important roles to play.”

“You must be confident in your victory. If you suppose that you will be able to return the stones,” Heimdall said.

They all paused at that. None of them had considered the consequences of not prevailing. None of them wanted to think about not being able to bring everyone back.

“It will not be difficult to retrieve the stone,” Heimdall said. “I see you brought a replica. Switching it out will make things easier.”

Which seemed simple but very clearly wasn’t. Not only did Thor look nothing like the Thor from this time. The wig they’d gotten him didn’t really sit all that well on him and it didn’t match what Thor’s hair used to look like exactly but Heimdall had some sort of insight to that since he could apparently see everything -- or mostly everything.

“The Aether is currently in the throne room. Odin is waiting to pass it on to Sif and Volstagg who will take it to Tanaleer Tivan.”

Thor nodded and Tony could tell that he was wondering what they all were -- if it was Odin or Loki disguised as Odin that sat on the throne. But that really wasn’t their concern at the moment. It wasn’t why they were in the past.

“So we cause a distraction to get him out of the throne room,” Steve said.

“I could request he come here,” Heimdall offered.

Thor nodded. “Yes. That would work. And then I’ll sneak in and switch them and we’ll be on our way. Easy.”

Thor paused before they could leave the dome, but Tony motioned for the others to walk. Clint and Rocket went ahead and then Scott and Steve and Bruce. Tony looked back and saw Heindall with his hands on Thor’s shoulders. Thor’s head was bent. The moment didn’t last long and then Thor and Heimdall turned towards them.

“Not all of you should go,” Heimdall said.

Tony was not going to miss out seeing Asgard and Clint seemed to be of the same mind but Bruce and Scott hung back and when Tony looked at Steve smiled tightly at him.

“I’ll wait. You and Clint go with him. But we’ll come after you if you’re not back in twenty.”

“Okay,” Tony said.

Outside of the dome was the Bifrost bridge and it was amazing and like nothing that Tony had ever seen before. It went on for a while and it would have been easy to fall off of it, but Tony was mostly focused on how fluid and colorful it was. But as amazing as the bridge was, Asgard and the palace was impressive in a different way.

The thing about Asgard was that it was so obviously in space and yet there was enough structurally that made it seem like some sort of ancient city like Rome. But the palace itself was gold and huge and beautiful and futuristic.

“And somehow you wanted to stay with us on Earth,” Clint said, breaking the silence.

“I did not want to rule,” Thor said. Unlike Loki.

“Still,” Clint said.

“It’s gone now,” Thor said.

Thinking about it made Tony recall the illusion that Thanos had created to show Titan as it had been in its prime. Things didn’t last -- they were very rarely ephemeral. Even places. The walk to the palace proper wasn’t long -- or at least it didn’t feel long because there was so much to take in. And then they were inside and Tony had known what to expect but it was more spectacular than he’d expected. Thor had grown up here. It was often hard to remember that Thor wasn’t just a god -- he was also royalty. Not that any of it mattered anymore.

The inside of the palace was as impressive as the outside with huge halls and high ceilings and decorations that spoke of the opulence of Asgard as a kingdom. There were also a lot of Asgardians around so Thor found them a few robes to make it easier to blend in but Tony still thought that they stuck out a bit. More than a bit. A few of the people that did see them seemed to take a second look as they passed but no one said anything maybe because they saw Thor among them.

They made it into the throne room eventually and Tony didn’t know what to look at because the room was so grand.

It was as they approached the actual throne that someone else entered and they all froze. Clint reached for his arrows, but Thor stepped in front of them.

“Friends,” he said, arms open.

Tony recognized them, then. He’d seen them in the videos of Thor’s memories from BARF. These were Thor’s friends that were supposed to take the aether to The Collector.

“Back so soon,” one of them said, the one with the red hair and long beard. Had to be Volstagg.

“Did something happen?” Sif asked.

“No. No. I -- I decided I would deliver the Aether myself before I remained in Midgard”

Thor’s friends had to be suspicious. Thor had two different colored eyes and hair that only nearly matched what it had been like back then. He wasn’t even really dressed like Thor.

“We can accompany you,” Sif offered.

“I--”

“We came with Thor to help him,” Tony said, stepping forward.

The two Asgardians looked to him and then Clint with some level of suspicion.

“Humans,” Volstagg said after a moment. “This is not a concern for you.”

“Like hell it is,” Clint said. “That thing just left destruction on our planet and we are here to make sure that doesn’t happen again. We’re The Avengers.”

Thor nodded and he stepped closer to Tony and Clint. “Yes. These are my friends and teammates from Midgard. We’ll take care of the aether. I’ve already spoken to my father.”

They still looked suspicious but they didn’t seem keen to argue or fight and so Thor strode towards the throne and the box that was sitting on one of the steps leading up to it. He brought it back over and handed it to Tony who opened it and sure enough inside was a glass vial with the aether.

“We need to be on our way,” Thor said.

His friends each hugged him and Tony met Clint’s eyes. Thor seemed to be fighting to not hold on to them for longer. They were gone in the future -- not even due to the snap. Thor’s sister had killed them.

“Come on, big guy,” Clint said as they walked away from them, this time taking a more direct route.

Tony took more of the palace in as they walked and he had to stop when Clint glasped and pointed at the ceiling.

“Doesn’t tell the real story, apparently,” Thor said, eyes looking up at what had been painted above them.

Even if it was a lie, it was a beautiful lie and it had been either made by magic or hand painted. The royal family of Asgard and the palace itself and other details but each drawn and painted beautifully. The only thing that Tony could compare it to was Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

They walked back out and to the bridge quickly enough, taking some sort of transport to get them onto the bridge faster. It was when they arrived on the bridge that they saw Odin. Or Loki. They still couldn’t be sure.

They stayed out of the way and out of sight, but as Odin drew near, Thor stepped out into Odin’s path. Odin looked like Thor but older with grey hair, dramatic robes, and a missing eye.

“Father,” Thor said.

Odin stopped. Surprised. “Ah. My son, I thought you’d gone already. Back to Midgard and…” Odin trailed off, staring at Thor. “You look--”

“Loki?”

“Your brother is dead. You told me so, Thor, what is--”

Thor shook his head. “Loki, I know it’s you. I know what you did with father.”

“And you’re not the Thor that went back to Midgard,” Odin/Loki said and in a flash it was Loki standing in front of Thor and not Odin.

Thor shook his head. “I am not, brother. It is good to see you.”

“Good to--”

“Do well by our people, brother. And maybe check up on our father every once in a while.”

“Your father,” Loki said.

“Our,” Thor returned. “I will return one day. I won’t be happy with what you’ve done.”

Loki laughed, cackling, and then he changed back into Odin and was on his way. “When are you ever?” he called back before he walked away.

When Thor returned to them, he looked a little lighter.

“I had to--”

“I know,” Tony said. “He was your brother.”

Loki may had straddled that line between good and evil -- or he was just in it for the mischief and the trickery -- but he was still Thor’s family.

They made it across the bridge in just a few minutes and rejoined the others.

“Got it,” Clint said and held up the box.

“I guess it’s time we go,” Thor said.

He looked back out at Asgard and Steve and Bruce walked over to join him.

“He’s gone through much more than I could ever foresee,” Heimdall said.

“Yes,” Tony said.

“Open the bifrost,” Thor said.

“You got what you wanted,” Heimdall said and then stared at Thor for a long while. He placed a hand on Thor’s shoulder. “You have gone through a lot, I can see that. But things must pass as they need to.”

Thor nodded and didn’t say much else as Heimdall opened the Bifrost to send them back to Earth.

---

Shuri reminded Peter a little bit of MJ and a little bit of Ned, but she was still very much her own person. She was kind of brilliant too. He’d shown her his suit at her insistence. After wandering around the great orange vastness with it on for a while, Peter had taken off the suit. It was just more comfortable to walk around in his own clothes. But he’d kept the suit close.

“I thought it’d be more like the Iron Man armor,” Shuri admitted, “but this is different. I like it. But it’s still protection and I assume it works with your powers.”

They spend a long time discussing his suit, but Shuri was rather impressed with the web shooters and the web fluid.

“This is impressive. I’d love to experiment with it if we ever get the chance.”

“We will get out of here,” Peter said. He liked to stay optimistic.

Bucky seemed to get along really well with Shuri and T’Challa as well and Peter was reminded that Bucky had been living in Wakanda for a while now. He asked Shuri about how she’d managed to fix the brainwashing and Peter couldn’t pretend to understand everything, but he could follow some of it.

“I’m going to need to visit your lab,” Peter said.

Shuri laughed. “Yes, you will. I’d love to see your father in person again. I’m extending an invitation personally.”

During the few moments when Shuri reminded Peter of MJ, he thought about how much MJ would love Shuri. Ned would love her too, for that matter. He’d be sure to introduce them if he could.

Chapter One Hundred Fifty One

#peter and tony #peter and tony fic #mcuwriting #mcu fic #iron dad #iron dad and spider son #stony #stony fic #marvel

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steampunkfan · 7 years

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161: What I learned from top Social Media Experts at Social Media Marketing World 2017

From the welcome party to the opening keynote and all the way to the final session, Social Media Marketing World (SMMW) 2017 was incredible.

Allow me to expound…

Putting on events isn’t easy

First off, it’s not easy to put on an event, let alone an event with over 3,000 attendees and 200 speakers from around the world!

SMMW crushed it in several ways:

The networking events were top notch, including the opening night party on the USS Midway and another night out at Parq, best described as an indoor playground for adults;

Breakfast and lunch were included both days;

They had “table talks” so you could easily meet up and connect with others who have the same interests;

Coffee and snacks were plentiful;

Directions on how to do what were simple – and if you still didn’t get it, there was always someone nearby who could help;

Last, but certainly not least, the bathrooms were clean (come on, you know this is a big deal!)

Not to mention the session lineup, which was chock-full of relevant and timely presentations from today’s top social media marketers.

Let’s have a look…

The sessions

Workshop with Michael O’Neal

Before the conference had “officially” started I got to sit in on a workshop from Michael O’Neal of the Solopreneur Hour Podcast (which I recently appeared on with JLD and Jill & Josh Stanton from Screw The Nine To Five).

His topic: The Art of the Interview.

There were several takeaways from this session, but the one that stood out to me the most was simple: do the work.

At the beginning of the session Michael called someone up on stage, passed her a microphone, and said, “Interview me.”

Timid, confused and caught off guard, the girl stumbled around until she finally whispered, “What’s your name?”

Michael handed her a checklist and sent her back to her seat, giving her the heads up that she’d have the opportunity to come back up on stage at the end to give it another go.

Since I was sitting behind her I had a perfect view to see that she spent the rest of the session checking off boxes on the sheet Michael had handed her.

Come time for her to go back up on stage, she nailed it.

All she had to do was do the work – follow a simple set of steps Michael had given her in order to make her guest feel special and ask the right questions so her listeners walked away with something valuable.

If you want to do a deep dive on Michael’s teachings around The Art of the Interview, you can check him out on Chris Ducker’s podcast where he does a deep dive on the topic.

Opening Keynote with Mike Stelzner

Mike Stelzner is the man behind the entire show: SMMW is put on by his company Social Media Examiner. If you’re in the social media space, or want to learn more about leveraging different social media platforms to grow your reach and business, then his site is where its at.

During his opening keynote, Mike focused on his annual Social Media Marketing Industry report, a report he’s been compiling for the past seven years on the latest and greatest data – plus, what it means.

You can grab this report free if you sign up on his website.

My biggest takeaway from Mike’s session was that Facebook is still #1.

Check out this graph Mike shared on how social media marketers view the importance of these social channels as it relates to their business:

It’s pretty incredible to see Facebook at 62% in terms of the most important social media platform for marketers.

Perhaps it’s because of Facebook Live, or the fact that their ads dashboard can’t be touched by any other social media platform?

Whatever the case may be, live video was also a major topic in the keynote and throughout the conference, in addition to being the one thing Mike said every marketer should be on the lookout for in 2017.

How to Build up Anticipation for Your Next Launch using Facebook (FB) with Amy Porterfield

One of my favorite business podcasts to listen to is Amy Porterfield’s Online Marketing Made Easy, and that’s because Amy knows how to break it down.

Her presentation was no exception.

Anyone in that room who was paying any attention walked out with a detailed step-by-step process to follow for their next launch marketing plan using FB Live.

Amy called this: The 4-Week Facebook Live Pre-Launch Formula

Here are some of the highlights Amy shared for your preparation period:

Choose your pre-launch and promo dates

Sounds simple, right? Surprisingly, most people don’t take the time to create a schedule for themselves, which can result in lost time.

Set a topic and lead magnet for each live session you’ll do

Time consuming? Yes. Worth it? As Amy has proven time and time again – Yes!

Place the FB pixel on all opt-in and TY pages for your lead magnets

It sounds technical and hard, but it’s not. Any landing page builder will have a box for you to simply copy and paste your FB pixel into.

One of my favorite tips from Amy throughout her session was to schedule your FB Live sessions on the same day at the same time every week. This way, your audience knows when to expect your live sessions, and therefore can plan ahead to show up.

How to Land Guest Appearances on Podcasts with John Lee Dumas

This was the most valuable panel I’ve ever attended – and I don’t just say that because our very own JLD was the moderator. With Jessica Rhodes, Jill Stanton, and Aaron Walker by his side, this crew crushed it.

One of the biggest eye-openers during this session was when Aaron Walker expressed that he has literally grown his business based off from the guest podcasting he’s done.

When you take the time to find the right podcasts, with the right audience, where you can deliver massive value, and you nurture a relationship with the host, big things can happen!

The key is figuring out how you can bring the most value to the audience who is tuning in.

As the panelists put it: “Don’t be in it for you, be in it for the host and their audience.”

Getting to 100 Episodes and Beyond with Mark Mason

Another value-packed panel came from moderator Mark Mason, along with Pat Flynn, Lou Mongello, and Cliff Ravenscraft. Combined, these guys have produced over 7,000 podcast episodes!

The resounding answer to “How do I get to 100 episodes and host a successful podcast?”

CONSISTENCY.

Each panelists talked a lot about how most podcasters are only concerned with the numbers. But who cares if you have 17 or 700 downloads?… as long as you have engaged listeners who tune in because they genuinely care about what you have to say, your podcast will be successful.

Their parting piece of advice for the audience was this:

If you’re looking to start a podcast because you think you’re going to get a sponsor and make a lot of money, then don’t start a podcast. Start a podcast because you’re passionate about a topic and know you can make an impact by sharing your knowledge with others.

From Blog to Podcast: How to Create and Audio Blog with Kate Erickson

You got it! Yours truly had her first ever speaking opportunity at SMMW this year, and I couldn’t have been more excited for it!

My topic was all about going from blog to podcast: how to create an audio blog, which was quite fitting seeing as this is how I choose to approach my own podcast.

I broke it down step-by-step for those in the audience who already have a blog and want to repurpose their content in a powerful way.

Here’s how to get started:

Catalogue your content

Break it down by category

Create your content calendar

These are the exact steps I followed after posting on the blog for over one year: I simply compiled the content I had already created and put together a plan to turn it into audio episodes.

Over two years later, I’ve switched up my format, gained and lost a lot of listeners, and am loving every minute of the journey.

SMMW feedback and looking ahead

You’ve heard my feedback, but what about others who attended SMMW?

When asked what their biggest takeaway was from the event, here’s the feedback I received from a couple of people I met:

The incredible value of deep relationships. I didn’t go for the information, I went to get to know people better that I like, trust and want to learn from. From that comes incredible collaborative ideas. I already have proof of that from this trip, as a huge opportunity was presented to me from being there. I am so much better because of it already.

I’m still processing a bit, but I am reenergized and giving some serious thought to jetting back out on my own. Most of the sessions I attended [proved I’m] up to speed on the latest, but it was so valuable to hear the real life discourse of it all. I was also relieved to know that marketers struggle with some of the same challenges [I do].

And the biggest takeaway from JLD?…

It’s time to start paying attention to Facebook Messenger ads and bots; both will be hot in 2017!

If you want to hang out with 200 thought-leaders in the social media and online business world, attend meet ups and mixers, soak up some valuable content through a number of focused sessions, and connect with like-minded people in American’s Finest City, then be sure to check out Social Media Marketing World 2018!

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eng251unvoicedthoughts · 4 years

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To all the seculars:

Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor, wrote Meditations, thoughts on stoic philosophy between 161- 180AD. Although this book tends to be more popular amongst seculars than the Bible, the amount of similarities between the two books is unexpected.

“You entered the world as a part, and you will vanish back into that which brought you to birth; or rather, you will be received back into its generative reason through a process of change” (Aurelius 26). This strikes similarity with John: 3 in The Bible when Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” to which Nicodemus answers, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (p. 1328).

“Rarely is a person seen to be in a bad way because he has failed to attend to what is happening in someone else’s soul, but those who fail to pay careful attention to the motions of their own souls are bound to be in a wretched state” (Aurelius 12). When Jesus is preaching the Sermon on the Mount St. Mathew 7: 3, the same concept is taught, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (p. 1197).

Another comparison between the two accords can be made regarding Aurelius’s description of Maximus in his last days, “How he behaved to the tax-collector at Tusculum who asked for his forgiveness, and his general conduct in such matters. He was never harsh, or implacable, or overbearing-” (Aurelius 8). This is similar to the forgiveness shown in The Bible when Jesus is giving the parable of the self- righteous pharisee and the humbled publican. Within St Luke 18: 12-14 it reads, “I fast twice in the week I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (p. 1308). Both stories hold the emphasized motif of being kind to someone that debt is owed to.

At this point throughout Aurelius’s writings I begin thinking that Meditations, to me, reads as a characterless version of The Bible and in doing so, provides a stripped version of religion down to the basic beliefs of spirituality. Sam Harris, author of Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion explains the taboo structure behind defining or even comparing spirituality to religion, “They don’t always point to the same underlying reality- and when they do, they don’t do it equally well. Nor are all these teachings equally suited for export beyond the cultures that first conceived them… In one sense, all religions and spiritual practices must address the same reality- because people of all faiths have glimpsed many of the same truths” (Harris 20). Harris goes on to explain that the fact that many religions have quoted from or adopted other religion’s beliefs, testifies that human interconnections outweigh the strength of religion. I find the ties between these two blatantly different accounts beautiful and a witness of the similarities between all human hearts and intellect.

To all the religious Netflix lovers:

Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris offers the audience methods of meditation to serve as proxy of religion. As the title of the book would suggest, spirituality is brought to the forefront, allowing the reader to delve into their own spirituality while questioning the methods of religion. Referenced in the annotation for Educated: A Memoir, Harris explains the perceived deception that can happen within hierarchies of religion, “A relationship with a guru, or indeed with any expert, tends to run along authoritarian lines. You don’t know what you need to know, and the expert presumably does; that’s why you are sitting in front of him in the first place (Harris 159).

I recently was able to watch a couple episodes of Tiger King. Although I don’t fully understand the hype it’s generated, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the show, religion, and spirituality.

The staff working on these cat farms are paid $100 an hour, so other than working with exotic animals, why would they stay?

On Carole Baskin’s farm, she has organized a hierarchy through her employees through the color of shirts they wear. The longer they’ve worked there, the higher ranking of shirt they’re given, and the more attention received from Carole Baskin. This reminded me of the levels of priesthood within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Similar levels are given to the young women within the church as they progress through their teenage years. By being recognized through these levels, people are more likely to stay in particular organizations or cults.

Another element that stood out was the admittance to luring in those that only have that job as their last resort. They are in desperate need financially, emotionally or both. How many religious members are using their beliefs or their religious community as a refuge from what they’re dealing with and sometimes, because of this, refuse to believe anything else?

Within Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, it reads, “Let this saying of Epicurus come to your aid, that ‘pain is neither unendurable nor everlasting, if you keep its limits in mind and do not add to it through your own imagination’. And remember this too, that many disagreeable feelings are really just the same as pain although we do not perceive them to be so-” (Aurelius 67). Harris writes about pain and the customary quality of pain being perceived as negative until it is suddenly associated to growth, such as after a workout. Harris goes on to write about the emotional difference it would make if people regularly associated all pain with progression.

One of Joe Exotic’s employees ends up losing their arm due to a tiger attack. Although her arm ends up needing to be amputated, she jumps right back into work after her surgery. She did this so that Joe Exotic’s business wouldn’t face the repercussions of her injury. How many times do people subconsciously force themselves to believe in a prayer or a blessing given to them because brief disappointment is better than no longer having something to believe in?

To all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:

Within Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover, Westover outlines some of her earliest memories growing up in Idaho as a Latter-Day-Saint. Emphasis is placed on the eccentrics of her family due to a self-inflicted sheltered life and unconventional religious views. Although Westover disclaims her experiences to have any affiliation with the church itself, being a Mormon that grew up in rural Idaho as well, I recognized similarities between our lives that should be addressed. To preface these similarities, I’ll first shed some light on the parallels that can be drawn between Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris and Educated: A Memoir. Harris unveils an authoritative manipulation approach within religion. The “self-deception” and “exploited trust” one is susceptible to when being taught by a spiritual teacher can be due merely to the setup of them being the intellectual superior in that given situation. “The bishop and I met every Sunday until that spring. To me he was a patriarch with authority over me, but he seemed to surrender that authority the moment I passed through his door” (Westover 200). Although Westover paints her bishop in a more forgiving light, the fact that he had authority over her is not shied away from, it is written barefaced to help explain the gaping hierarchy. The hierarchy within the Bishop’s office followed her into her own home. Westover was abused mentally and physically by her older brother and mentally by her father. Nobody within the household would stand up to either male figure, even Westover’s mother was described many times to back down to the will of her father due to it being “a man’s house”. Although my family is very loving now and I am very fortunate, my household was once abusive as well, leaving my mother, my two older brothers, and me running from my father, staying with different friends of my mother’s to avoid my father finding us. Maybe this is a coincidence and has nothing to do with the religion of my father, but I’ve always wondered if the hierarchy of males within the Mormon church has swayed the treatment of the women. Westover explains some of the teachings within the Latter-Day Saint church, “As a child I’d been taught-by my father but also in Sunday school that in the fullness of time God would restore polygamy, and in the afterlife, I would be a plural wife” (Westover 245). I, as well as most women within the church I’m sure, have always taken issue with this. Once, my sophomore year of college I asked my Bishop if it were reversed, and the men were told that in heaven they would be plural husbands to their wives, if he would still believe in the faith, to which he replied along the lines of, “Yes, if that were God’s will”. If the doctrine were changed, I honestly don’t see as many men being members of the church and I also don’t think sexism- against women, would be as prevalent. Harris writes of the account of Tibetan lama Chogyam Trungpa where he orders a young girl to be stripped of her clothing and paraded around. While this is sexual assault, Harris writes that Trungpa’s followers viewed this occurrence as “a spiritual teaching meant to subdue their egos” (Harris 160). Within The Last Podcast On the Left with Ben Kissel, Henry Zebrowski, and Marcus Parks also tackle a time when Latter-Day Saint prophet, Joseph Smith safeguarded his way through illegal, degrading actions. According to their findings, Joseph had an affair on his wife and was caught doing so, before announcing his revelation for polygamy. However, members of the Latter-Day Saint faith are told his reasons for polygamy were to ensure celestial glories for the women of that time since there were more women than men and the women would need to be sealed. How many other teachings of the church have subtly quieted women into uncomfortable acceptance? If not careful, will certain hierarchies within religions translate to feelings of superiority within the home?

Sources:

Aurelius, Marcus, et al. Meditations: Oxford University Press, 2011.

Bible: King James Version. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1979.

Harris, Sam. Waking up: a Guide to Spirituality without Religion. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2015.

Kissel, Ben, et al. “Episode 378: Mormonism Part I - When You're Here You're Family.” Castbox, The Last Podcast on the Left, 2019, castbox.fm/episode/Episode-378%3A-Mormonism-Part-I---When-You%E2%80%99re-Here-You%E2%80%99re-Family-id1383024-id177828673.

Westover, Tara. Educated: a Memoir. Random House, 2018.

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mikeyd1986 · 5 years

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MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 161, June 2019

Last Saturday night, I celebrated my cousin Nathan Dunkling’s 21st birthday at The Comic's Lounge in North Melbourne. Social gatherings like birthday parties can often be huge anxiety triggers for me but somehow my anxiety was under control tonight even being in a large group of people and inside a crowded live comedy venue. Yes it filled up very quickly which meant that the volume levels of conversation gradually rose up and it was very difficult to hear what was going on even at my own table.

Some of Nathan’s friends were sitting at my table and so it was hard for me to engage in conversation with them. Thankfully I had a solution to this, pulling out my phone and playing Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery to curb my boredom levels before the show actually began. Some people might pull out the “anti-social” card but I really don’t care as I see it as a coping mechanism and way of feeling comfortable when I can’t connect with the people around me. Plus waiting for our meals did take a long time so I didn’t have much else to do.

Finally around 8.15pm, the MC for the evening Josh Earl began his comedy routine whilst I began chowing away at my entree, salt and pepper calarami. I also ordered an Atlantic salmon for mains which was really delicious. There were four comedians in total including an American lady named Eve, an Australian named Claire and the main headliner Dave Thornton. Honestly it was a very hit and miss affair for me. Plus I felt like there were too many breaks in between and it seemed to stretch the night out a bit too late for me (We were there for over 4 hours).

Admittedly, some jokes simply soared over my head perhaps because I missed the context of what they were talking about. Others I basically didn’t find funny at all. It’s not to say that I don’t have a sense of humour, more I can only stomach so many jokes related to Sex - poo, dicks, vaginas, masturbation, circumcision, vasectomies. Religion - Jewish people. Christian people, believing in God. Children - dealing with being a parent, being able to handle kids, changing nappies. I’ve pretty much heard it all. I think a lot of it depends on the delivery of the joke too. If it’s too forced, I’m most likely not going to laugh at it. Still it was an enjoyable night out and good value for money.

On Sunday morning, we checked out of our hotel room at Best Western Melbourne City Hotel - Formerly Pensione Hotel and had breakfast downstairs at Oliver's. Then we drove down to St. Kilda to visit the Esplanade Market and walked along the pier. Even though the air was fairly cold, eventually the sun broke through the overcast clouds and it become a lovely morning to check out the scenic views. I do get a little nervous when it comes to passing by stalls in a market which some sellers trying really hard to get my to buy something but it’s nice just having a browse and watching the people walking their dogs along the footpath.

On Monday morning, I had an appointment with my support worker Seb at Jamaica Blue Cranbourne. A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling pretty conflicted and disheartened about the service Mentis Assist was providing to me. There was a lot of being messed around with lack of communication and no confirmations being made over the past few weeks besides having one fill in support worker. Everything felt like it was in limbo. I sent a text message to Seb yesterday but I had no idea if he would even turn up today.

Eventually he did reply and things got back on track again today. What was alarming to me though was the fact that he wasn’t informed about what was happening with me over the past few weeks. Nobody at Mentis Assist told him that a replacement support worker would be organised for me or that my appointment would be switched to Tuesday afternoon. It was almost enough for me to pull the plug but honestly none of this is Seb’s fault, just the broken system that had left me hanging.

On Monday afternoon, I had my second last Creative Writing class at Balla Balla Community Centre in Cranbourne East. I have to admit that I was stuck in a rut of sorts after the last class and really struggled on the previous homework task of coming up with five different endings to a short story I began in Week 3. I was feeling a little uncertain about what I’d come up with but at least I gave it a go.

ENDINGS HOMEWORK EXERCISE

Ryan is determined to escape the trappings of his old life and even in these dire circumstances, he will make it to Fiji one way or another.

Ryan decides to build friendships with the locals in New Caledonia and eventually settles there.

Ryan sends a distress call back home to Australia in order to be saved from the ordeal he has been through. He managed to escape the plane crash with only minor injuries, however it has had a major impact on him psychologically. He makes contact with a counselor to find strategies to overcome his trauma.

Ryan ends up in a local hospital wired up to machines - life support, oxygen, heart rate monitor. The experience of the plane crash was too much for him and has taken a tool on him physically as well as mentally and emotionally.

Upon landing in New Caledonia, Ryan ends up getting himself captured by a tribe of warriors, clad with wooden spears and shields, deep inside the bushland. Will he manage to survive?

During today’s class, we looked into scenes vs. chapters, improving your draft, killing off your darlings and the habits of successful authors. Scenes are more complicated and more important than chapters. They are very specific building blocks within your story. They also need tension and conflict. Each scene can be divided into two parts: ACTION (Goal, conflict, disaster) and REACTION (Reaction, dilemma, decision).

Chapters are arbitrary divisions within a book. They impose order and create a certain sense of structure. Chapter breaks are more about pacing and must be placed strategically. They leave readers with a question or a reason to know more. Scene structure has nothing to do with chapter breaks.

Improving your draft. Your first draft is the writing equivalent of running a marathon. You need to take a step back, question the structure and the characters, ask whether all the characters want the same thing, does the story contain enough conflict. After draft two and beyond, you need to be a little more critical with your work. Hire a professional editor and get your manuscript copy edited. Then finally have the manuscript proof read.

Killing off your darlings. Cut out any elements that doesn’t serve to further the work as a whole, in order to enhance the story. Darlings can be words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs or characters. The main benefits of killing off your darlings are: it strengthens your characters and plot, improves the overall quality of your writing and refines your self discipline. Things to cut: weak characters, extraneous plot lines, backstory and prologues.

The habits of successful authors include write everyday, finish your stories, learn the rules, break the rules, create their own inspiration, don’t slack off on the hard stuff, follow their hearts and not the market, develop a thick skin, set their stories free, love what they do, write with joy and embrace fragments of writing.

On Monday night, I went to my Boxing small group fitness class with CinFull Fitness. Tonight was a very small group with just myself, Rodney Sack and Ben Milton. We each got our measurements taken before we actually started. It’s been something of a fleeting thought for me, particularly the scales and weighing myself. It’s not longer been an unhealthy obsession. In fact, I hardly ever weigh myself at all these days. I used to get really fixated on THE NUMBER but now I’m able to let it go more easily considering it’s not a true representation of how “fat” or “overweight” I am. There are so many other factors that go into it like muscle mass and water weight.

Tonight’s class consisted of drills and partner work, push ups, plank holds, ground and pounds, sit up punches, V-ups, Russian twists, star jumps, walking lunges and squat holds.

Being paired up with a hard-hitter like Rodney certainly got me out of my comfort zone. I was a little nervous about not being able to handle it (and be accidentally punched in the face) but I wasn’t going to let that fear stop me. I needed to release all of those negative labels that have been given to me in the past (weak, slow, incapable, incompetent, useless, a loser). I’m not any of those things. Sometimes I really do surprise myself in being able to overcome a struggle such as physical fatigue or being out of breath. I know that I’m not as fit as some of the others but that fact shouldn’t stop me from participating in the class.

On Wednesday morning, I attended the funeral of Rita Hartney at Tobin Brothers in Berwick. I knew Rita from a few years ago when she began hosting her radio program Hot Topics With Rita at Casey Radio - 97.7FM as well as her motivational talks and appearances at places such as Balla Balla Community Centre and U3A Cranbourne. She also ran a short course called Speaking Before The Public which helped me work on self confidence and oral presentation skills. It was only a few weeks ago that I learned of her decline in health and subsequent passing on Facebook.

After signing the guest book and taking a copy of Rita’s book It’s Time For Women to Take Control, Mum and I made our way into the main service room which was packed with Rita’s family, friends and other guests. We were really lucky to find a couple of spare seats to sit down in. It was a really beautiful service which highlighted the many strengths and achievements that Rita had gained over the years. She really had a significant impact on many people’s lives.

The speeches were both funny and moving, painting Rita as a strong, determined woman trying to make her mark in a male dominated world. The music selection was very fitting as well, reflecting Rita’s colourful and flamboyant personality. Songs included Elvis Presley’s Devil in Disguise and Helen Reddy’s I Am Woman.

Attending someone’s funeral seems to give me a gentle reminder about how precious life truly is. That you really do need to be grateful for what you have and make every moment count. It also forces me to think about my own funeral. Not just the kinds of arrangements that I will have but questions like: Who will be attending? What will I be remembered for? What kind of mark will I leave behind? I never used to be this philosophical about funerals until more recently when I realised how important it is not to let my life go to waste.

On Thursday morning, I decided to take myself off to Casey Smiles Dental Clinic after experiencing more annoying dental pain, this time on the right hand side of my mouth. I was really hoping that the pain would subside with some simply remedies but after having a restless night with this agonizing toothache, it was time to face the music and the dentist once more.

The good news was that I didn’t have to get my x-rays done like last time as they were already on my patient record. It was also easier to explain to Dr. Mohamed where abouts the pain was coming from and not simply guess which tooth it was. He gave me two options: first would be to exact it like last time, which would be easier and more cost effective. The second option was to have a root canal done in order to potentially save the tooth. However, he warned me that he could cost me up to $1500. So obviously I went with option one.

Thankfully the process was a lot quicker this time around. There was a young female dental assistant doing some training and learning about all the different surgical instruments and how to use the suction hose. It provided a nice distraction for me. Dr. Mohamed reminded me to keep breathing as he applied pressure to the decayed tooth. It was over and done with within a few minutes. The anesthesia needle probably hurt more than the actual tooth removal did. Plus it only cost me $160 as it was a basic tooth removal and it didn’t need to be surgically removed like last time.

https://caseysmiles.com.au/dr-mohamed-massaud

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almostsuperdream · 7 years