#and if this is just one thing about Michael and AL's relationship that has been fudged/manipulated

[ingravinoveritas]

You know what's kind of wild to me? Anna just confirmed they've been together for 6 years. People forget she's still 29, and isn't 30 yet. So they met when she was still 23. Not hugely different from 25, but notable I think. Idk where the narrative that she was 25 came from and how that stuck.

Hi there! So I am still catching up on Asks, and I wanted to make sure I addressed these (grouped together due to similar themes). For those who might not have seen, what is being referred to are two separate incidents that occurred in the days after Anna posted the t-shirt story on Instagram. On Tuesday, she posted this story lashing out at a Swedish publication for sharing a story originally from a UK publication (The Independent) about Michael's answer to the age gap question on The Assembly. The story was originally in Swedish, but the English translation is on the right:

Then on Wednesday, she did the same thing again, this time with another Swedish paper:

Since so much of this hinges on what Michael said in his response, I will post a short clip of that here, so we have the visual:

When AL's stories were first posted, I noticed a few comments on a post from @nightgoodomens from someone who speaks Swedish, and after reading the article, their observation was that all the magazines did was literally translate what Michael said, word for word (which we can then also further confirm by watching the video above).

So Michael's words were translated directly, and on top of that, Anna was not tagged by these papers, or contacted by reporters "for comment"--she seemingly sought out these news stories and shared them on her own social media. What's strange is that most of us would never have even seen them otherwise, and yet she chose to draw attention to them. And if these articles truly are meaningless clickbait, I'm confused as to why Anna would lash out so hard at them, especially if she feels as secure in her and Michael's relationship as she has wanted us to believe.

The other thing for me is that the one voice that is (again) noticeably absent here is Michael's. Nearly every post Michael has responded to/shared in relation to The Assembly was about a moment between him and one of the interviewers, Leo. Not only has the clip of Michael's answer to the age gap question gotten much less circulation/attention than the initial clip of the girl asking him the question, he has not said a single word about it since the show aired on April 5th.

He has especially not said anything about being misquoted (either in UK magazines/newspapers or international ones). And this becomes even more glaring when you realize that Michael immediately jumped on someone Twitter the day before AL shared that first story and corrected them for misquoting him (in regard to his comments about Welsh actors and Welsh roles). So it's very clear that if Michael thought he was being misquoted, there is no reason why he wouldn't speak up about it. And yet...complete silence.

I also find it interesting that for months, Michael was being attacked on social media, first in the aftermath of his comments about the situation in the Middle East, then more recently after recording a video saying hello to Good Omens fans in Russia. In both cases, he was defamed over and over again, accused of supporting war and genocide, and in general had his comments twisted and distorted beyond recognition--in other words, he was repeatedly misquoted (to put it mildly). Not once did Anna defend him against any of this. Not once was there an Insta story or anything speaking up in support of Michael. But as soon as it was something about her/their relationship, here she was posting these stories and letting us know exactly what her priorities are.

To your comments @lookforthelight97 about AL inadvertently saying the quiet parts out loud, that was also something that caught my attention. We could be here all day talking about the narrative and who is trying to change what, but for those who don't know, the narrative of her being 25 came from every media outlet stating that Michael and AL met in May of 2019...despite the fact that she gave birth to Lyra just four months later, in September.

It was this discrepancy that gave a lot of us the feeling that something was off even back in 2019 (and I would urge folks to check out @problematicwelshman, who covered a lot more of this at the time). In actuality, Michael and AL would have had to have met in late 2018 (when Anna was actually 24, as her birthday is in August) for her to then become pregnant and have the baby in September. All of this to say that if the official PR line for the last five years has been that they met in 2019, it makes you wonder why AL is suddenly publicly contradicting it, especially to show the lack of contentment she seems to feel about the relationship even after five (pardon me, six) years.

In any case, my incredulity is and continues to be at AL so readily showing her insecurities in this way, because all these two Insta stories have done is to draw more attention to her response than to the articles that are mentioned. Articles that again, none of us would have known about if she hadn't shared them. Yet as was said above, I don't think there is anything that anyone could post or write that casts doubt on Michael and AL's relationship the way her own social media posts do.

And to what you @vaguelyomens and @angelsadvocate96 said about Michael mentioning that his greatest fear is being alone, I feel like maybe Michael has such a fear of being alone because he already knows what it's like to feel alone. To know deep down that you are not remotely on the same page as the person you're in a relationship with. To know that they don't understand you and never will, but feeling responsible for them nonetheless, and not knowing how to reconcile those two things. It's difficult to imagine anything that would make someone feel more alone than that.

So, those are my thoughts on the Insta stories AL shared earlier this week. As I have said before, I know that I could be completely wrong, and I'm happy for folks to share their perspective, whether you agree or disagree. A heck of a lot to think about, for sure...

#lookforthelight97 #vaguelyomens #angelsadvocate96 #reply post #michael sheen #welsh seduction machine #the assembly #this is cringey all around tbh #and if this is just one thing about Michael and AL's relationship that has been fudged/manipulated #it's hard not to wonder what else has been left out of the story. and why #curiouser and curiouser #also her posting those stories and attacking the media outlets with no comment from Michael feels like a one-sided conversation #the more i think about it the weirder this all seems #choices #not all of them good #but i will leave it to my followers to make up their own minds #anna lundberg #relationships #discourse

[nightgoodomens]

You know what suddenly occurred to me? So we all know Michael has a move for red carpet pics that he has learned from David Frost. We saw the extreme version of it with David at NTAs,how he whispered stuff to him to make him feel comfortable and then burst out laughing which made David chuckle as well, he made David's whole mood lighter and less tense, even for his solo ones, hence those brilliant pics. ( I think DT nicked this from him, he showed a similar thing with GT's PR at BAFTAs.) He also did a milder version of this in The Way Premium with his cast members. ( Again, he did this in short clips of photoshoots for Radio 2.) What gets to me is how seems to forget his tricks around AL. She always looks tense and super uncomfortable with cameras( despite pursuing a modelling career.) on red carpet with her, Michael suddenly stiffens and looks drained out of his usual playfulness and charm, which is very OOC for him. He is not only refusing to play along, but also actively showing resistance towards her to the point that you can't tell it's the same person with her. I can't imagine how disappointed he must have been for his "fans" to ignore his efforts and stick to their fairytales.

Yep, I’ve noticed that too. It’s just yet another thing he does for other people but it’s missing for AL.

I am going to take it to a very basic level. Story time!

My friend had a boyfriend who was doing exactly what MS does - showing his unhappiness, taking miserable selfies, finding reasons to be anywhere but alone with her, not helping, being dismissive…

Everyone could see there was something wrong.

Soon enough he got busted that he had someone on the side. He simply wanted her to break up with him because then he wouldn’t be the ass so he acted his worst to make her snap.

I still have him on socials. You wouldn’t believe it… but he’s the most attentive, sweetest thing with that girl he had on the side that’s now… married to him. He spent years with my friend never popping the question, but got married within a year to the other one.

From my general knowledge regarding relationships and… life 😂 my loose guess is that Michael is hoping she’d let him go. Because if she does, situation with kids will be easier. Because she was meant to, hence the whole PR so she’d get the modelling job and the PR that clearly ended with BAFTAs from which she was excluded - she was meant to be gone by then but started suddenly clinging openly to MS instead because the job never happened. Or maybe she’s just for show so he can keep on talking about his real partner and about how hot he is, and brilliant, and how he sets him on fire fairly regularly, and how he’s in love and loves him… without a problem, because his fans will always say haha well it’s obviously a joke because he has a girlfriend.

A cover wouldn’t surprise me, hoping she’d drop him wouldn’t surprise me. Them just having simply a bit of a shite relationship wouldn’t surprise me. Heck knows. But we know how MS acts with people he adores. Just look at him and DT.

A happy man doesn’t act like he does with his official partner.

#NightGoodOmens talks PR

[queer-whatchamacallit]

Here’s my observations of 1x03 - Brigade of my beloved, The Bear!!

When Carm’s at the beach, there’s a “let it rip, Buddy” which I’m pretty sure is our very first let it rip

Carm takes “the chemistry needs to change” and “just try to keep my side of the street clean” and absorbs it

I think I’ve counted 4 pepto and tums stashes? The office, the bathroom, the locker room, and his bedroom

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Carm sleeps with socks on

In the Al-Anon pamphlet, under the DO (as opposed to DON’T) section was “take it easy— tension is harmful”

Manny, Angel, and Marcus are all definitely there before Carm. Marcus said Carmy was early, but he came in at the same time as Syd, so might be able to assume she comes in before him normally

We get to see a little bit of Carm’s purer passion for cooking. Him just deciding to teach Marcus about the plum thing because he has that knowledge to share. The Carm-Marcus mentor relationship is so superior

Also he says Har-EE-bo which threw me off. I always say HARE-ih-bo

Carm starts the French brigade to keep his side of the street clean and change what he can, but there’s also the layer where Carm likes consciously or subconsciously reliving his traumas, but in a situation he has more control over. Carmy is trying to remake New York here, except he’s the Executive Chef, but he’s not going to be overbearing like his Chef was

“Ebra: I was in a brigade once. Tina: What happened? Ebra: Many people died. Tina: See, Jeff? Carmy: It’s gonna be different” is such a good back and forth, Ebra is easily the funniest person here

Carmy parrots, “They keep their side of the street clean,” and you can almost tell he’s been rolling those words over and over in his head all day

We get Ebra’s first “I accept” !!!

After the call from Niko, it’s like Carm either doesn’t hear Richie the first time he asks, “What was that?” Or he just can’t get words to come out of his mouth. Carm’s voice goes kinda small and quiet. Richie asks if he blew a fuse, and I could imagine that’s exactly what it felt like

“I just felt like Michael was alive for a second.” Carm wasn’t there for the funeral, it’s hard to tell how it was long after Mikey died when he moved back from New York, he never grieved with anyone. He knows Michael’s dead, he can say it without a second thought, he jokes with the “I’ll ask him when he’s not dead” in 1x06, but the deepest proof he has is word of mouth. There’s bound to be some part of him that’s in denial about Mikey’s death

He hears, “I want to set this place on fuckin fire,” in his head, same as after the nightmare in 1x08, so did he know about the failing fire suppression stuff? Did Mikey say that to him at some point? Idk this is just a weird quote, some good s1 unreality tho

As Carm runs from wherever he was to out the door, you can hear shit being knocked over behind him, but he doesn’t look back. He’s pretty okay with telling people when something is wrong, but actually having them be there for him is a different story. The second he crosses the threshold into panic, he bolts, so no one can see it. When he gets off the call with Niko, he never turned around to face Richie and just waited until Richie walked out before he let himself press a hand into his chest and sit down

No matter how pissed Tina is with Syd, she’ll still ask, “What happened? Let me see” when she cuts her finger <3

Tina goes up to Sweeps and Marcus who both have the blue aprons and there’s such a good bit I forgot about, “Tina: You two look like you joined a dumbass cult. Sweeps and Marcus in unison: Thank you”

Another good Ebra bit: “Syd: Well, it’s not good, so Ebra: You betrayed me!”

When Syd goes out front looking for her onions, Richie is talking to Crooked John from 1x06 !!!

There’s a bench outside no one ever seems to use after this (that I’ve noticed), but I guess whenever we see someone go out back, they’re probably either nervously pacing (Carm) or too sad to feel like they deserve a bench (Marcus)

Even after the hellish half day she just had, it takes a little prompting from Carmy to open up about it, and when she does, it feels almost straightforward, I told you this would be bad, you didn’t listen to me, and that isn’t the job I came for, you suddenly gave me this responsibility then left, and it didn’t go well, etc. She also gains a little bit of revenge by fucking with Carmy and lightening the mood. She may not be super comfortable with explaining this stuff to others, but she seems to have a good bit of emotional intelligence (especially compared to Carm) to pinpoint everything that bothered her

Ah, the classic “fuck brunch” <33

And after all that, Carmy snuck out again at sunset to go to the beach and feel painful emotions about it being Mikey’s birthday

I think the first 2 eps introduced external and internal conflict respectively, so now, we could start getting into some recurring stuff. It starts planting the seeds for the season 2 Carmy ditching the restaurant for what he thinks will be healthier arc. And Syd gets her shit rocked, and that’s so rude because she deserves the world

Anyway! Ep 3 boom done!!

#my bear rewatch #the bear #the bear fx #the bear meta #meta analysis #panic attack #character analysis #character writing #fanfic prompt #headcanon #carmy berzatto #carmen berzatto #marcus brooks #marcus the bear #sydney adamu #ebra the bear #richie jerimovich #mikey berzatto #michael berzatto #sweeps the bear

[thedreadvampy]

so I have been thinking about why I hated the Spock Is Turned Human episode of SNW so much and I think I've nailed it down

cause like. Vulcans are a specific flavour of autistic, right?

Throughout 60 years of Star Trek, and particularly through Strange New Worlds, we've had it impressed on us that Vulcans absolutely do not feel less than humans. On the contrary, the reason that Vulcans prize logic, ritual and objectivity is that their emotions are deeply intense and overwhelming. In fact, like one episode prior and in the fuckin. Previously On... for this episode, Spock's saying "Vulcan emotion is too intense to handle and what might happen if I don't suppress it scares me."

It's made repeatedly, explicitly, clear that Vulcan emotional detachment is a choice and a cultural practise. It's made directly clear as well that Vulcans don't experience the world as less intense or emotional than humans; they work from birth to suppress it, it's a learned practice.

And they've leant into this really hard elsewhere in SNW! They've talked about Vulcans choosing to reject logic and act on emotion, Spock's seasons-long arc is about his fear of his own emotions - he's even specifically brought up that he hasn't undergone Kolinahr and therefore is suppressing his emotional state only through conscious practice.

but this episode. is a story about someone who's physiologically less able to feel being "humanised" - experiencing touch, taste, laughter and feeling more strongly than they have before.

That's a Data story. Not a Spock one.

Like I get what they're trying to do - push Spock into dealing directly with his human side, empathise with Amanda's strength, etc - but the way they do it conflicts really directly with everything we know about Vulcans, and also kind of confirms Vulcan bias against Spock's humanity by establishing that yes actually regardless of upbringing humans just Are Wired Wrong for Vulcan society. which is weird actually because both Amanda and Michael, humans raised outside Vulcan, can handle Vulcan societal expectations, but Spock, raised fully in the culture, struggles to and has to have everything explained to him.

And also the way they do it I found really uncomfortable and, you know, dehumanising. We're shown a version of Spock who isn't managing his emotions through discipline and will, but who just Doesn't Have Them That Much and, when given the Normal amount of feelings, goes hog wild and is functionally a child with no self-control.

There's a scene where they explicitly say he's functionally a teenager! As if he's not already been through a human adolescence!

Everyone of every species, not just human, is suddenly lecturing him on the nature of Feeling Things, which he receives as new information! despite the fact we know that managing his emotions has been a constant struggle for Spock! and we know that Spock (like other Vulcans) likes food and music and has a sense of humour and experiences friendship and anger and frustration and love.

and I think it speaks to a deeply neuronormative kind of infantalisation - he isn't reacting to emotion the way Normal (here: human) people do so it must be because he doesn't feel it at all. he isn't vegetarian he just hasn't experienced how Bacon bacon is. he isn't suppressing his distress it just isn't there. he doesn't have a different cultural relationship to humour he just Can't Laugh.

like the 'inhuman entity experiences human emotion' plotline is a Star Trek classic and it's usually a fun time - it's fun with Q and with Data and with Odo et al. but it doesn't work with Spock because we know that Vulcans aren't less physiologically capable of emotion than humans, they're less culturally willing to engage with emotion. And that's specifically because they're more sensitive to strong feeling than humans.

like yeah this is nerd griping, but it's also just very galling from an autistic perspective (the same way that having Spock go bacon-mad this episode seems to have been pretty galling from a Jewish perspective). Something that's always been very resonant about Vulcans and Spock specifically with a lot of autistic people is that experience of feeling things so deeply and strongly that you have to develop a sometimes overly-strict discipline of emotional management and cut yourself off from them entirely, and it is often mistaken by those around you as being unfeeling or numb. And the way Spock is portrayed consistently acknowledges that that's not what it is, that it's an (often maladaptive but necessary) practice that's active work in order to fit into a society that doesn't have space for the scale of your emotions or where your emotions might be a risk. And that you can learn to retain the parts that help you but still make close emotional connections through that barrier.

Idk this episode doesn't understand Vulcans which is really frustrating particularly for an episode entirely about Vulcans. It doesn't make sense that being turned human would fully undermine Spock's ability to behave as Vulcan the way it does unless your position is that Vulcans are inherently more numb to feeling than humans, which is explicitly not the case - and the message of the end of the episode partially rests on the idea that it's bigoted to assume his humanity makes him less Vulcan, especially since Amanda is able to perform Vulcanness well, except the entire precept of the episode and its shenanigans are that his humanity does intrinsically prevent him performing his cultural heritage properly and make him irrational and reactive. Like, the episode's failure to understand Why Vulcans Work doesn't just conflict with the rest of the show, it also leaves this episode a chaotic mess cause A doesn't in any way feed into B.

also unrelatedly T'Pring Did Nothing Wrong and she's so right, Spock is a wee bitch.

#red said #star trekking across the universe #i truly hated this episode. for the record. #and i LOVE species swap episodes i think they're FUN #but i also love when Star Trek understands that most of the species differences it presents are cultural mores not biological differences #because that's what's FUN about Star Trek and what allows it to make interesting commentary! #it's less interested in physiological difference and more interested in mutable cultural differences #and physiological differences like symbiosis or non-solid form or flight or prey status are there to #EXPLAIN and FACILITATE cultural differences

[tomwambsmilk]

Re: your post about drawing explicit lines to real life events and people on Succession, it has been driving me crazy, especially everyone saying 4.08 was "just 2016". It was harrowing, yes, but there were elements of past elections mixed together, and the WI thing reminded me of 2000...idk why people want things to be so cut and dry, 1 for 1 comparisons, that would be lazy writing!!!!! Like...appreciate the good writing.

I 100% agree - the 2000 election is one of the ones that's been explicitly referenced by writers and consultants for 4.08, even more so than 2016 or 2020. If I had to separate out what may have influenced what, I'd say the situation around WI and ATN calling early is much more reminiscent of the hanging chad situation in Florida in 2000, where some news outlets wrongly called the election for Al Gore rather than Bush. The aftermath, however, feels much more reminiscent of the civil unrest which followed the 2020 election. But even then, none of it is exactly the same, because the succverse is its own world!! It really truly would be incredibly lazy to just thoughtlessly recreate the 2016/2020 elections but with succession characters and orgs, and Succession has almost always been better than that.

And tbh, ambiguity around news network calls is not exclusive to 2000, and civil unrest is not exclusive to 2020. I see a lot of connection between the temptation to read succ like this, and the tendency people had when Veep was airing to say it "predicted the future". It didn't really. What actually happened is that the writers of Veep had an awareness of the political landscape and history of the US, and the stories which 'came true' were usually based on or extrapolated from things that had already happened. Anyone who was paying attention could have 'predicted' that. (Veep usually exaggerated, because it was a satire, but it was a satire rooted in a lot of truth). But most people's political awareness seems to be limited to the last 10-20 years, and recency bias leads people to fixate on what's happened in the last couple of election cycles; hence the fixation on 4.08 as being representative of 2020.

(I saw one critic call the choice to have Mencken win under dubious circumstances and have democrats protesting a "subversion" of what happened in 2020 - because he's a republican, not a democrat - and it struck me as so incredibly stupid, not least of all because it shows how mired in modern partisan party politics many American viewers are, to such an extent that they aren't able to acknowledge the greater systemic critiques shows like Veep and Succession are trying to make. Political showmanship and the media-politician relationship and electoral fraud and political violence are not things the Republican party invented in 2016. They've been around forever, and while one party may have more of a history of these things than the other, to a certain extent they do transcend party lines.)

In terms of the family dynamics, it's similarly frustrating to see people go Roys = Murdochs, PGN = NYT, Mencken = Trump etc. because as soon as you shoehorn the characters into that framework you lose a lot of critique. Mencken is far more of an ideologue than Trump ever was, because the critique being put forward with Mencken is not about Trump the person (which would be shallow and topical and hopefully outdated relatively soon) but about fascism the ideology. The family dynamics of PGN emulate the family dynamics of the NYT trust in order to critique 'old money' news and how it operates - but operationally, aspects of PGN function more like a major outlet such as MSNBC, which allows the show to also critique the broader left-leaning media landscape. Even looking just at Logan Roy - Jesse has cited as influences not just Rupert Murdoch, but Conrad Black, Tiny Rowland, Lord Rothermere, William Randolph Hearst, Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Sumner Redstone. (In one direct quote from the book It's Not TV: "It's just fun to be completely freed from any sense of responsibility to portray real people realistically.") To read Logan only through the lens of Rupert Murdoch misses a lot of what the show is trying to say about the nature of wealth, particularly extreme wealth, in a capitalist system, and the role that the media plays in that system (and how that role has evolved over time).

And again, it's frustrating because I think it's indicative of this idea that the corruption and exploitation of the media landscape is a modern phenomenon and not something that's been present and developing since its inception, and I also think it's indicative of the belief that this sort of corruption and exploitation only occurs on the political right, when in actual fact it's something that wealthy and powerful people of all (professed) political stripes have engaged in.

#asks #anon

[nysocboy]

Gemstones Season 2 Finale: Kelvin and Keefe affirm their love. So do Butch and Sundance. With cameos by Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and Al Pacino

The series finales on The Righteous Gemstones are meant to tie up any remaining loose ends and say goodbye to the characters, so we should expect little or no plot development, just a lot of hugging: everyone who has had lost, frayed, or troubled relationships during the season, lovers, friends, parents and children, siblings, will be reconciled.

Hold on tight to the one you love the most:  A blackened stage. Suddenly a spotlight on Jesse.  He begins the country-western song "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend," by Don Williams.  Then Kelvin, lying on a platform, raising a finger to Heaven.  Then Judy and the choir, as she walks up stage.  Then all three siblings together. 

 Coffee black, cigarettes. Start the day like all the rest. 

First thing every moning that I do, is start missing you.

Some broken hearts never mend.  Some memories never end.  

Some tears will never dry.  My love for you will never die. 

Except this song is not about lost love, it's about mended hearts.  You're supposed to look at or point to a loved one. Kelvin starts out by pointing at audience stage left, obviously at Keefe, who points to himself and then back. My love for you will never die,

BJ waves, presumably at Judy.  Cut to Amber and the kids; then Baby Billy, Tiffany, and the baby; he looks back at Harmon, his no-longer estranged son; and finally Eli looks out at the audience. 

In the middle of love's embrace: Flashback to the Alaska Commercial Company, a grocery store chain with 33 locations in Alaska, mostly in rural areas. The Lissons, in hiding after their murders and attempts, are buying -- coffee to go?  Martin has them under surveillance.

Back in church, Eli looks at the band as the siblings sing the second verse together.  Then Jesse and Kelvin, looking up to heaven.

 Rendezvous in the night.

In the middle of love's embrace, I see your face

Wait -- they see God while their partners Amber and Keefe are going downtown?  Makes sense.

Cut to the Lissons in their cabin, watching Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, where the gay-subtext bank robbers, played by Robert Redford, top photo, and Paul Newman, left, are trapped, with no escape, so they go out shooting. 

 Some broken hearts never mend.   Some memories never end.

Some tears will never dry.  My love for you will never die.The Cycle Ninjas:  Cycle Ninjas on glittering metallic snowmobiles zoom through the woods.  

Lyle looks out the window and yells "Get the guns!"

Back at the church, the siblings point at each other. Eli smiles. 

The First Chorus: The congregation rises to sing the chorus.

We see Chad and his wife, who have been having marital problems since Season 1; Martin and his often seen, never-named wife; Judy and BJ;  Junior and Tan Man, Baby Billy and Tiffany, Amber and the kids.  Then the siblings again.  Wait, I thought the Tan Man was just Junior's assistant.  Is there a gay relationship going on back in Memphis? 

In the flashback, the Lissons get out their guns and tell each other that God believes in them: "God will see us through, for we are the Chosen."  Where on Earth did Lyle get that idea?  

More broken hearts after the break

The Second Chorus: Imitating a scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Lyle throws a chest from the second floor.  It contains Lindsey, who opens fire. The Cycle Ninjas shoot her.  

Panicking, Lyle runs from the cabin in his underwear.   The Cycle Ninjas aim at him, but then think, why waste bullets?  He'll freeze to death if the wolves don't get him first. Eli grins at the camera. 

 Some broken hearts never mend.  Some memories never end.

Some tears will never dry.  My love for you will never die.

Kelvin points off camera at Keefe again.

This scene is an homage to a scene in The Godfather (1972) where Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the new head of the Corleone crime family, orders the murders of his rivals while he is attending the baptism of his sister's kid.  Shots of the baptism and the murders are juxtaposed, like shots of the Lissons' murders and the church service are juxtaposed here.  

The Third Chorus: Another run-through of the congregation, except this time Junior and the Tan Man grin at each other, Chad puts his arm around his wife, BJ's parents warm up to the service, and Keefe  points to himself and then to Kelvin. They get two opportunities to sing "My love for you will never die."

Zion's Landing will now be a Gemstone resort.  The siblings hug.  Eli sings.  Lyle has frozen to death as wolves approach.  The end.

McBride didn't know, at this point, if the series would be renewed for a third season, so he wrote as if this was the last we would ever see of the Gemstones.  And he wrote of relationships being mended and affirmations of love. The end.

Whoops, I accidentally posted a photo of Kelvin and Keefe from Season 3.  Oh, well, now you know what's coming up.

The full review, with more analysis and nude dudes, is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

#the righteous gemstones #kelvin gemstone #keefe chambers #Robert Redford #Paul Newman #Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid #The Godfather #Al Pacino

[melis-writes]

One of your chapters has Michael walking outside with the twins and Tom with his dogs, and Michael calls out to Verona who is young child then to watch out for the water… which makes me wonder if she had fallen in before and nearly drowned or something like that and Michael had needed to jump in after her or something like that… could you please write this scenario where toddler Verona falls in or trips in to the lake in whatever way and needs to be rescued.

Oh, yes! 🥺🙏🏻 The Lake Tahoe manor is right next to the lake after all, boat house, yacht and everything so it’s always been something Michael’s emphasized not to run around/be very careful to the children. 😭 Something he was again concerned with in that oneshot when Verona slipped close to the edge! 💔

Come Hell or High Water.

“An anniversary quickly loses its meaning if it includes a public party, Tom.” Michael clasps his hands, keeping them behind his back. “There’s no need for it.”

At a short distance from her father, Verona picks up small pebbles by the docks, tossing it with all her might out into the water as Al Neri stands further back away from her, but monitors her for safety quietly.

“I agree.” Tom sheepishly says, standing just a few feet away from the edge of the lake’s water with Michael. “I’ve had to decline the same offer three times now.”

“I don’t understand it.” Michael moves a hand back, gingerly rubbing his temples. “There’s merit to the media’s desperate need for publicity with our family.”

“Sure there is.” Tom puts his hands in his suit jacket’s pockets. “They see one of Nevada’s most wealthiest families, the owner of every five star resort, hotel and casino. Their questions and curiosity just grow, that’s how it is.”

“Hm.” Michael’s irritation spikes up at Tom’s words. “It’s an excuse for free refreshments and an invasion of my family’s privacy, more like.”

“Perhaps so.” Tom chuckles, looking down at his dress shoes. “Celebrations and annual parties are one thing, but an anniversary made public is a bit far.”

Michael glances out of the corner of his eye to Verona who happily skips around the compound, but grows a little too close towards the lake.

“It’s not happening.” Michael firmly tells Tom before tilting his head back to see Verona clearly. “Verona,” he calls out his daughter’s name, catching her attention. “Non voglio che ti avvicini al lago, va bene? Fate attenzione.” (I don't want you going near the lake, alright? Please be careful.)

“Va bene, papà!” (Okay, daddy!) Verona shouts back, beginning to move away from the lake as she collects more rocks in her hands.

“I’ll let them know.” Tom nods at Michael. “How do you intend to spend it with Victoria though, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“The yacht.” Michael’s eyes dart to the boathouse. “I want to take her out onto the lake. Full service dinner on board, private and intimate. That’ll be for the day of. The next morning I want a flight with the children, Victoria and I to Rome for the next three days.”

Verona giggles to herself, beginning to pick up larger rocks. “Do you like rocks, Mr. Neri?”

“Rocks?” Neri seems a little confused by the question but more so stunned Verona’s even talking to him.

“Cool rocks.” Verona holds one up in her hand. “I like the smooth, round ones!”

“Rome?” Tom’s eyes light up. “Well, well. That’s romantic.”

Michael shoots Tom a dead serious look, knowing his intimate and private side of life towards his romantic relationship with you is something he doesn’t want to be teased about. “Yes.”

“Okay, okay.” Tom laughs softly. “No problem, Mike. I’ll get it all planned and handled tonight.”

“Come on, we’ll throw them together!” Verona insists, beginning to sprint off towards the docks.

“Miss Corleone—” Al Neri’s eyes widen in alarm as he begins to pick up his pace and follow her.

“We’ll spend the weekend in Rome and be back Monday evening.” Michael decides. “The newspapers don’t need to mention the eighth year of my marriage.”

Just as Michael finishes his sentence, he immediately looks up at the docks to see Verona rushing towards the edge where the yacht is; unaware the docks are yet to be cleaned today and still glistening wet and slippery.

“Verona!” Michael shouts as she only picks up her pace playfully, realizing Neri is chasing after her. “Verona, stop! You’ll—”

“Ah!” Verona shrieks and gasps out as she slips over a puddle with her flats and drops all her rocks onto the deck.

“Daddy!” In the blink of an eye, Verona’s shoe comes off her foot as she loses her balance before Al Neri can even grab at her, and Verona falls sideways into the lake.

“Shit!” Tom hisses, rushing into the water but Michael’s much quicker in his actions.

“Verona—” Michael lunges into the lake, soaking his dress trousers up to his kneecaps as he pulls his daughter out of the water.

Coughing out water and flailing, Verona bursts into sobs—shivering from the cold as she clutches onto her father.

“I got you, I got you—” Michael breathes out shakily, hugging his daughter tightly and quickly moving out of the lake. “Tom—”

“On it.” Tom momentarily scowls at Al Neri upon the docks for next acting soon enough or doing much at all, knowing he’s going to face his own consequences shortly after.

“Daddy,” Verona hiccups up more water onto Michael’s chest as he pats her back with his palm hard enough to get any water out of her and prevent Verona from choking, but not enough to hurt her.

Tom signals up with his hands to the private security by the docks who immediately at the sight of Michael carrying his shivering daughter, blow on their whistle and head off to get Doctor Katherine for medical attention.

“Easy, darling. Easy.” Michael murmurs, kissing Verona’s forehead. “I’ve got you.”

Feeling the cold water soak into his clothes from Verona’s touch, Michael and Tom no time in quickly making their way to the boathouse—protected by Michael’s men and warm from the fireplace on the inside.

“Hic—” Verona hoarsely coughs up the last gulps of water in her system but is unable to stop her body from trembling and shivering.

Water from both Verona and Michael’s soaked clothing drips onto the floorboards as Michael gently lays his daughter down on the chesterfield couch and against two pillows in front of the fireplace.

Tom grabs a nearby folded blanket off another couch, handing it to Michael. “Mike, here.”

 Michael snatches the blanket out of Tom’s hands, quickly wrapping it around Verona so she can snuggle inside of it tightly. “Tom, it’s still not warm enough in here. Make sure the windows and doors are shut and turn on the heater.”

“Got it, Mike.” Tom turns on his heel to check the doors and windows first.

Naturally you’d be the first to hear about it had you not been in New York for the next two days handling a private case for one of Vito’s colleagues in court. It’s only a matter of time until the news gets to you, but Michael’s first concern and priority above all now lies with his daughter’s safety.

Verona whimpers as Michael gently tilts her head back, brushing aside her soaked hair. “H-hurts, daddy.” A small, red gash forms over Verona’s temple.

Michael frowns, taking Verona’s hands in his and drying them off on the blanket. “It’s alright darling, I’m here.”  

“Mr. Corleone?” The door to the boathouse opens as a worried Doctor Katherine clutching her medical bag enters.

“Here, miss Katherine.” Michael calls out, gently moving away any strands of hair from Verona’s gash. “Are you alright, sweetheart?”

“I dunno, daddy,” Verona’s eyes sting with tears as she looks up at her father with hopeless eyes. “Was s-scared.”

“I know.” Michael wipes a stray tear away from Verona’s eyes with his thumbs. “What did I tell you about running on the docks and near the lake, darling?”

“S-sorry, daddy.” Verona cries softly as Doctor Katherine kneels down next to her, beginning to tend to her gash. “Slippery.”

“You couldn’t have known.” Michael’s tone with his daughter is soft and soothing as he continues to hold her hands. “You don’t need to apologize to me, honey.”

Verona’s expression softens at her father as she winces a little from her stinging gash. “O-owie.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Corleone.” Doctor Katherine frowns, exchanging a look with Michael. “This is going to sting a little, okay? But I’m just going to clean up and bandage that gash for you.”

Michael’s heart hurts at the sight of his daughter in pain, ignoring Tom turning on the heater in the background and double checking the windows as Doctor Katherine continues to clean up Verona’s gash.

“It’s okay, it’s over.” Michael takes a tissue from Doctor Katherine’s medical pack, dabbing Verona’s tears with it. “It was just an accident. You’re safe now, okay?”

“O-okay,” Verona sniffles, hugging onto her father’s arm. “Don’t go, daddy.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Michael murmurs, watching as Doctor Katherine puts a white, gash bandage over Verona’s temple as gently as she possibly can be. “I’m right here with you.”

“Thank you,” Tom mutters in the back, taking a pair of new, dry clothes for Verona and walking back towards the couch. “I’ve got her a change of clothing too, Mike. Are you okay, sweetie?”

“Y-yeah,” Verona peeks up at her uncle, giving him a weak smile.

“Why isn’t the deck clean, Tom?” Michael’s tone suddenly grows sharp and unforgiving. “What am I paying the dock team for if they’re not keeping it in pristine condition by the day? It rained yesterday.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Tom frowns, watching Doctor Katherine cleaning off a bruise over Verona’s knee. “I’ll speak with them.”

“No, you won’t.” Michael glares. “You’ll fire them and you’ll find me a competent team. Anyone could have slipped and fell—all it would take is anyone walking over the deck, you don’t have to be running.”

Verona quietly listens to the conversation between Tom and her father, keeping an eye on Doctor Katherine who smiles warmly at her as she mends her little injuries.

“Of course, Mike. I’ll let them know.” Tom nods at Michael, knowing his word and his word alone is final. He turns back on his heel to head out of the boathouse, leaving the three of you.

Michael gently holds up the napkin to Verona’s runny nose, letting his daughter rest her head onto his chest.

Doctor Katherine purposely remains quiet, minding her own business and gently cleaning the little scratches on Verona. “Does this hurt, honey?”

“Nope.” Verona peeps back, watching her. “J-just a teeny bit.”

Michael lets out a deep, quiet sigh—just relieved Verona is okay. He knows very well it could have been much worse and that now he’s more tense and uneasy than ever to see his children by the docks. “Cuts and bruises?”

“Minor scrapes besides the gash, Mr. Corleone.” Doctor Katherine nods, beginning to pack up her things. “I’ve taken care of all of it. We’ll replace her bandage tonight and subsequently so for the next few days and she should be fine.”

“Good.” Michael murmurs, looking down at Verona. “How do you feel?”

“Better,” she sniffles, hugging onto her father’s chest.

“I want her dressed and dried up.” Michael tells Doctor Katherine. “Get Esther to give her a warm bath before supper.”

“Yes, Mr. Corleone.” Doctor Katherine rises to her feet.

“Give us a moment, please? She’s still shaken up.” Michael dismisses Doctor Katherine, hugging his daughter.

“Certainly. I’ll be right outside.” Doctor Katherine grabs her medical kit, exiting the boathouse.

Michael can feel Verona’s heartbeat racing in her chest as she hugs her father even tighter, relieving her fear with his comforting presence. “I don’t wanna go near the docks anymore, daddy.”

“I know.” Michael kisses her cheek. “I don’t blame you. You can with us, alright? Me, your mother, your uncles or your aunts, but it’s not safe running around there by yourself.”

“Mm,” Verona nods glumly, “I wanted to collect cool rocks by the lake… I dropped them.”

“Tom will find them for you.” Michael reassures her. “I saw most of them fell on the docks. Do you still want them?”

“Yeah,” Verona admits shyly. “If that’s okay.”

“It is.” Michael pushes back a curtain of Verona’s wet hair behind her ear, noticing she’s no longer shivering underneath the blankets with the heater and fireplace before her. “You know your safety always comes first to me, no matter what.”

“My fault, daddy.” Verona pouts, pulling the blanket up to her nose.

“Not your fault.” Michael corrects her, “it was an accident. It could have happened to anybody, even if you’re careful. Let’s not run around the docks and water anymore, alright? Just in case.”

“Okay, daddy.” Verona snuggles up to her father. “Maybe mama will be sad.”

“To see you hurt? She will.” Michael nods, signaling to Tom by the window with just his eyes alone to send Doctor Katherine in. “Because she cares about your health and safety just as much as I do.”

“What can I do?” Verona stares sadly at the fireplace.

“Nothing.” Michael tells her. “Nothing but get better and be a little more careful, alright? For me, for your mother, and most certainly for you.”

“Okay, daddy.” Verona smiles up at her father, relaxing her tense muscles as the rush of fear and aching pain subside.

Michael ignores the wetness seeping into his own clothes, only concerned with his daughter’s health and safety.

As Doctor Katherine re-enters the boathouse, Michael slowly rises up from the couch and gives Verona’s forehead another gentle kiss. It’s the relaxed, calm and reassured look in Verona’s eyes up to her father in hope, quelling her fear almost instantly from her accident moments ago.

Even as Verona grew into a young woman, understanding her mother and father’s lives, pasts, and getting involved in the “family business” herself, she could always understand anything her father did and said.

What she couldn’t understand from countless times Michael was there for her, cared for her, let her cry on his shoulder, didn’t belittle or scold her let alone raise his voice at her, was how people could call her father a cold, heartless monster.

To Verona, her father was always her hero.

#Michael corleone fanfic #godfather au #Michael corleone smut #Michael corleone #the godfather x reader #godfather x reader #prompts

[passionforfiction]

Weird The Al Yankovic Story

I'm an 80s child and a 90s teen, so I grew up in the grand era of MTV. I grew up singing to Michael Jackson, Madonna, Queen, Elton John, rock bands and all the other music genre popular at the time. . . And I grew up listening to Weird Al's master parodies. I watched his movies too. My brother and I were counting the months to see this "biographical" movie about one of our favorite music artists and today we finally watched it. I will say that I had expected some sort of alternate universe sort of story because of what Daniel Radcliffe said in an interview but this movie is so wild that the audience knows this is anything BUT a biographical film. And that's when I realized that he didn't want to tell his story; he was doing what he does best: a parody of biographical films. BOOM! Blew my mind.

Biographical films have always been popular and lately we've had some really good ones about musicians: Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Rocketman (2019) and Elvis (2022). Weirld Al takes his life and turns it into a parody of this genre, incorporating all the clichés typical in this kind of film: the rearrangement of events to create tension and move the plot; unsupporting parents, lovers that use them to better their careers and at the end reconnecting with the people who love them.

The movie starts with Weird Al taken to a surgery room and then moves us back to the "beginning" - his childhood. This reminded me of Rocketman that starts with Elton John leaving a concert and arriving to a group therapy session and from there, taking us to his beginnings - his childhood. But these movies don't only start in mid- plot, they also change order in which certain things happened and embellish relationships to hint at things that are not accurate, in a way that stretches or softens reality. For example, in Elvis, the relationship between Elvis and Priscilla is presented in a way that romanticizes their relationship. In Bohemian Rhaspody, makes it look like the band split up because Freddy wanted to make a solo album when it was another member of the band who expressed this need first, and this is one of many different changes. In Rocketman, it is hinted that Taupin wrote "Your Song" for Elton when Taupin said in an interview that it wasn't so. All these changes drive the plot of the story but by changing things, the story is no longer being truthful and what's real is transformed into fiction. And good fiction has great antagonists.

In this version, Weird Al's parents are anything but supportive just like we see in Bohemian Rhaspody and Rocketman. These three musicians share their desire to be accepted by their fathers. This hurtful father-son relationships trigger their sadness and strangles their ability to accept themselves as they are, hence the hiding of their true selves. We might no see this in Elvis, but we have the mentor who manipulates and isolates him from those he loves which we also see in Bohemian Rhaspody (Freddy's relationship with Paul), and Rocketman (Elton's relationship with his manager). In Weird, we have Madonna as the lover who isolates him from his friends and he takes this to the extreem by adding fight scenes, and a kidnappings by a drug lord. But all these fictionalized biographies are inspiring because these people were/are agents of change and were able to achieve their goals; they fell but were able to heal and rise again.

Weird Al's contribution to pop culture in the United States is huge and he inspired us to be as "weird" as we are. But there is something else that I liked about this mega fictionalized "biography" - the criticism on the concept of originality and creativity. In the film, people in the industry and his parents kept telling Al that his songs had no value because they were using the music of existing songs. Remix Culture experts like Lessing, Jenkins and Ferguson are very clear on the fact that all creative work is based or influenced by those that came before. What makes something "original" is it's transformative nature and Weird Al transforms each song into something totally different, totally new and it's protected by Fair Use. Some artists didn't mind being parodied while others did. And he presents both sides in the movie by putting himself in their shoes by having his song "Eat it" come before Jackson's "Beat It''. It's funny to see him enraged, refusing to sing the song because he thinks people will connect it to the "parody." It just shows how ridiculous it is. In the other side, we have artists who see the benefit of having their songs parodied- new and old audiences rediscover the original songs and artists, thus bringing new profit.

This is a brilliant and weird as hell movie with criticism hidden in the laughter. Don't see it expecting to learn who Weird Al is outside of his profession because this film is another parodes masterpiece.

#biographical films #elvis #bohemian rhaspody #rocketman #Weird Al #weird the al yankovic story #daniel radcliffe #music parody #film parody

[alfredosauce50]

Ghost of jealousy [Possessive! America x reader]

Wordcount: 5,545 Synopsis: Alfred gets upset when he finds you hanging around Mathias during his Halloween party. You tell him he’s your friend, but everything escalates into an argument, so he takes it outside to his car. He regrets everything he’s done, but you refuse to talk to him while he drives off to find some lodging for the night—an old inn. While you avoid him by staying in a separate room, it becomes apparent there’s something very off about this place. Something otherworldly. Will he make it up to you by saving you before something terrible happens? 

(I was inspired by this song by Michael Jackson, “Ghosts”) The reader is referred to as she/her.

It didn’t bother you that Alfred always disappeared during his parties. He was the host, after all, and you were merely another attendee, boyfriend or not. There were guests to interact with, excitement to arouse, and the general gist of event-running. So while he was off doing his business, you loitered around in the kitchen with one of your friends. You were dressed as a mermaid, with a seashell bra and all, while Mathias was in his pirate get-up.

Here away from the incessant pounding of Halloween classics and chatter, you could actually hear him talk. "I think it’s cute that we’re matching! Are you sure you didn’t wear this on purpose just so we could look like a couple?" He grinned, earning a small gasp from you.

"Hey! It’s not my problem you wear the same thing every year, Mathias. I—on the other hand, change it up." You gloated a little at that, giving his hip a light bump. He had been sipping a cup of punch, but spilled some as a result. "Ah! Jeez.” Because it was so dark, with only jack-o-lanterns and fairy lights to illuminate the house, you never even realized.

"What’s wrong?”

"Why don’t you smell my coat to find out?” He hummed mischievously. Cupping a hand around your head, he pulled you in and pressed your face against a mysterious wet patch.

"Ew! What was that?!" You pulled away and rubbed your cheek as he exploded into a fit of laughter.

"... Juice?"

"That’s right, min prinsesse. And it’s all your fault." Leaning in with his hands on his hips, he tapped your nose. A dash of guilt was present in your eyes, so he quickly added this. "Don’t look so stressed, (F/N)! I always forgive what you do to me. Mostly. This time, if you wanna make up for it, you’ll have to go to our after-party for once!"

You blinked. "After-party? You mean with just you and Lukas and everyone?" He nodded excitedly. The question was innocent enough, but really, you had another concern in the back of your mind. Every year, you and Alfred would spend a night together after the festivities. You could only imagine how upset he’d get if that didn’t happen. He always valued the time together with you, even to the point of being a little excessive. "Mm... I don’t know. Alfred and I usually do something afterward. I’ll ask him."

His wide grin faltered a touch. Alfred this, Alfred that. Mathias couldn’t exactly say he was jealous—though he’d joke about it, a lot—but wasn’t he a little controlling sometimes? "Mm, mm. Not good enough. I won’t take no for an answer!" Scooping you up in a bridal style carry, you let out a small yelp and reached out for his neck to stabilize yourself. "Let the King of Scandinavia save you from the evil clutches of American capitalism!"

"Mathias, you idiot!" You hissed through a flustered expression, but you couldn’t deny you were enjoying yourself. While he laughed away, bouncing you in his arms, you bonked him on the head numerous times. "Put. Me. Down!"

"Ow. Ah! Okay, okay, stop hitting me!" The Dane was as big of a goofball as your boyfriend, but just less serious most of the time. That was right. As your relationship with Alfred progressed, he was less easy-going than he initially seemed. More stubborn. Argumentative. And you never imagined how soon you would see this side of him.

"What’s this about saving (F/N) from the evil clutches of American capitalism?"

The chorus of you and Mathias’s laughter came to an abrupt end. Uh oh. Turning to the voice, you found yourself staring at none other than your boyfriend, dressed in a long orange coat with a Jason Vorhee's mask on the side of his head. And his arms were crossed with an unamused expression. Only then did you feel yourself get set down to the floor. Great. "Alfred, hey! We were just talking about his after-party. You know, the one where they have a lego-building contest?"

"Mhm. Sounds fun. But we’re doing something even better." Reaching out to your hand, he pulled you away from your friend, much to your displeasure. Mathias didn’t look all too happy either. Alfred then managed a small smile, but it was a little strained. "So c’mon, babe. Most of the party’s events are ending, anyway. Let’s go to my car." He squeezed you in his grip and turned to leave, all with you in tow.

But you weren’t having it. Couldn’t he at least let you explain yourself a little better, considering how upset he seemed already? You stopped, the action pulling on his arm so he would too. "Wait, Al. He asked if I wanted to go, and I kinda want to. Just this one time, please? Lukas, Berwald, Tino, and Emil are gonna be there too—" The fact that you were listing all these names only made it blatantly obvious who was in right, and who was in the wrong.

All you were asking for was some time with your friends. But he played the jealous boyfriend role all too well.

He turned to you with a frown. It was annoying enough to see Mathias carrying you like that. But going to a sleepover with him? He couldn’t be any less enthusiastic. "No, (F/N). Halloween is our thing. We’re supposed to spend the night together like we always do." Reaching out to your cheek, he caressed it gently. "You can hang out with them any other day of the year. Just not today."

Unlike other times, you didn’t give in. He already showed up with an attitude, so sweet-talking wasn’t going to cut it. Especially when you felt Mathias’s hand on your shoulder. The thought that he was behind you and trying to calm you down only egged you on to stand your ground. "Any other day? You’d have to exclude Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s, and St. Patty’s as well. I never get to celebrate them with my friends, either, so can’t you let me go this one time?"

The room fell silent. Even with the Dane’s friends present, nobody spoke a word. And nobody had to because they all shared one thought.

Alfred was being way too controlling.

Almost as if he could read their minds, he felt himself crumble under their scrutiny. "I’m not talking about this here with you." Without another word, he pulled you out of the house against your will.

"And why not? Is it because Mathias is here?" You retorted, feeling bile rise in your throat.

Once you and he disappeared out the door, Lukas made a brief comment.

"... He really has to stop doing that." 

“Yep. Man, I wish he’d just step on a lego." The blonde heaved out a sigh. 

"Fair enough."

Once Alfred managed to get you outside his car, he turned to you to finally give you an answer. "And what if it is because he’s there, (F/N)?" He exasperated, already feeling his tongue start slipping now that he was alone with you. And his words only held more impact against the deafening silence of the night. "The reason why I don’t want you hanging out with them on special occasions is cuz’ he’s in the group.”

“Why? Do you hate him or something? But that’s got nothing to do with me!" You ripped your hand from his grip to see his eyes widen with shock. This was the first time you ever lashed out, so he could already feel the inklings of regret well in his chest. He should’ve just shut his trap and let you go.

But something told him he would’ve never let that happen.

"They’re my friends, Alfred! You can’t expect me to pass on every invite they give me just because you don’t like someone!"

He dug his hands through his sandy locks of hair stressfully. 

"That’s the thing! Mathias obviously doesn’t just wanna be friends with you! He likes you, I can tell!" He yelled. 

The cat was finally out of the bag now. What had been plaguing his mind for months was this—competition. And he hoped that admitting it would somehow get you to understand his behavior, no matter how uncalled for it had been.

But you didn’t. You refused to.

Your jaw dropped, but not out of surprise. Instead, it was pure disappointment. "Even if he did, are you saying you don’t trust me with him?" You scoffed, folding your arms at him.

At this point, Alfred knew how bad he fucked up.

"No, that’s not what I—" His brows knitted together, and his cerulean blue eyes welled with moisture. "I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. I just..." But it was.

Wasn’t it?

Otherwise, why else was he so possessive of you?

"It’s exactly what you meant. If it wasn’t, you’d be defending yourself by now." A small smile curled up at your lips, and it was from anything but mirth. It was your defense mechanism to keep the waterworks at bay, but even that had failed you. The tears finally came spilling over the rim, streaming down your face as he watched on with guilt.

"Even if you hate him, he’s not what you think he is. It wouldn’t matter if he loved me. He wouldn’t do anything because he respects me." Reaching up to your eyes, you rubbed them, but the effort was in vain as you let out a sob. "If you’re so quick to doubt me, then maybe..." You struggled to string together the words as you continued to cry. "Maybe we shouldn’t..."

Maybe we shouldn’t be together anymore. 

Alfred froze. Anything but that. And yet, you had all the right in the world to think of ending things. But his heart couldn’t take it.

"No, no, no... Don’t you finish that sentence..." You would probably hate him after this, but kissing you was what he first thought of. The connection between his and your lips managed to silence you, and the close proximity let you feel the waves of heat radiating from his face. And he continued to kiss you, gently, for as long as you let him until you decided to shove him away.

"Don’t." You whispered faintly, albeit firmly. Leaving his side to get into the passenger seat of his car, you buckled yourself up and turned to the window.

He breathed out a sigh, but joined you in the driver’s seat. Facing you with remorse so deep, it made his eyes droop. "You know I love you, right?"

You were still crying, and you never spared him so little as a single glance.

He royally screwed up, for sure. 

The engine purred to life. Now, to find a place to stay for the night. Hopefully, he could make up with you before lights out. But his gut told him it wouldn’t be so simple. The car began to move, crushing sticks and leaves under the wheels as he drove on a dirt path deep in the woods. He picked this cabin for the ominous ambiance, but he was beginning to regret his choices. The same could be said for everything he did tonight, hell, the same could be said for how he acted all these months.

He was the jealous, insecure, shitty boyfriend.

And the whole time, he never realized how kind you were to put up with him.

He wanted to tell you he trusted you. To pull you into his arms and apologize a million times. But what could he say to convince you when he’d come off as a liar? Even he didn’t know if he could be honest. Why did Mathias’s presence get him to feel like this, anyway? He boiled it down to how similar he was to him. Like you always said, he and Mathias were two of the same person. Loud, fun, and obnoxious sweethearts. So of course he started comparing himself to him.

And he was doing it right now. He couldn’t imagine Mathias ever having these kinds of problems if he dated you. Fuck. Aside from self-loathing and bitter regret, he was beginning to feel the beginnings of ugly jealousy all over again.

Are you serious right now, Alfred? He thought. 

Narrowing his eyes on the road that seemed to disappear, he slowed to a stop. Was it just him losing concentration over these thoughts, or did he really lose his way? Perhaps. But at least he found something. He peered around his windshield to see a few rooftops resembling an old, vintage villa in the distance. Could that possibly be a motel?

He sped up and drove closer and closer until he reached a clearing. Climbing out of his car with you trailing close behind, he made his way to the entrance of the establishment. There was an open lawn in front of the building, and in one of the gardens stood a wooden sign with "The Aura Inn" inscribed into it. Neither of you thought much of it, let alone read the little sub-paragraph of text below it.

"Let’s go." Looking at you over his shoulder, he held out a hand for you to take. You just brushed past him and kept walking. Right. He forgot for a second that you were mad at him.

The only thing that concerned you was having somewhere to stay the night, so the reception was the first stop. Making up with him could come later.

Upon arriving, you were greeted by nothing but an empty room. There was no furniture besides a wooden counter, and even then, it was lacking quite a few amenities. There was no receptionist here either, and yet, the lights were on. That could only mean one thing. Somebody was here, just not in a way you liked. But you were just overthinking, weren’t you? Needless to say, this inn was starting to feel a little off to you.

Gripping the scales of your mermaid dress, you turned to Alfred with a nervous glance. Immediately, he responded with a reassuring smile.

"You okay, babe?"

Hold on. Did he just call you babe? Your mood went sour when you felt yourself nearly give in to him. What he did couldn’t be forgiven so easily, otherwise, how could he take your feelings seriously? So you forced yourself to lie.

"Yes." You murmured. "I’m perfectly fine."

He knew you were lying, but he couldn’t blame you.

"Okay. I’ll just... Get us a room. I think this is an Airbnb." He pulled out his phone.

The thought of sleeping in the same bed as him irked you, to say the least. After the stunt he pulled today, which effectively stopped you from going to Mathias’s after-party, you needed some space. That was right. How come after all these years, you’ve never been to one of his infamous after-parties? Even though you were a close friend of his? It was simple. Because Alfred never let you go. God, thinking about it just made you relive the anger all over again. 

So before he finished the booking, you reached out for his arm.

"Wait. I don’t want to be in the same room as you."

He paused, and you saw sadness flash in his eyes. And once again, you found yourself tempted to cave. But you didn’t. You couldn’t.

"... Oh. Sure." Alfred finished with the online forms and walked you to your room. The halls were long, winding, and dimly-lit. You would’ve thanked him for accompanying you in this unsettling place, but you couldn’t bring yourself to. Once you managed to open the door, which wasn’t locked, he gave you a reluctant goodbye. Resting his arms against the doorframe, he gazed down at you with a bittersweet smile. "Night, babe. I’ll see you in the morning—"

The door slammed in his face and he cringed.

"... Love you too." He murmured, clenching his fists against the door. This was by far the worst argument he’s ever had with you, and it was all his fault.

Pressing your back against the door, you felt blood rush up to your face after hearing what he said. He nearly had you. But you managed to seal yourself away in the safety of your room. It hurt to push him away, but you had to. He couldn’t keep having his way. Alfred needed to accept the consequences of his actions, and you needed to be strong enough for that to happen. 

And plus, he needed to get used to not having you around him all the time. But the boy was excessively clingy, and you let this carry on for far too long. 

Unpacking your things on the bed, you got your things ready for a shower. As you melted into the hot embrace of the water, your concerns of this inn melted away too. It was just Halloween jitters, wasn’t it? Turning off the faucet, you dried yourself off with a towel before getting dressed. When you exited the bathroom, your room was plunged into almost pitch-black darkness. But you never turned off the lights.

Perhaps this was an energy-saving function. 

Well, it saved you from the effort of going to the light switch, anyhow. 

Before you moved from your spot, you shuddered at the feeling of a cold draft blowing against your body. Looking over to the source, you were shocked to see that the door was wide open, letting the dim halls stare back at you. 

There was probably a little wind tonight, and somehow, you didn’t shut the door properly. Making your way to close it again, you made sure you heard a little click. When you did, you didn’t feel any wind from outside at all, not even a gentle breeze. 

Weird. 

Setting your things down on the bedside table, you climbed into bed and tucked yourself in. While you made yourself comfortable, you faced the entirety of the room, which had a small wall-mounted TV, rocking chair, and desk. Of course there was a rocking chair. And you somehow couldn’t tear your gaze away from its faint outline in the dark. 

Then, it began to rock. 

Forwards and backward as if an invisible entity was sitting in it. 

“!” Your blood ran cold and you buried your head underneath the blanket. Something was in the room with you. Unlike before, you couldn’t blame it on the wind because you just closed the door. As you came to terms with that reality, the icy hands of fear gripped around your heart. Your breathing grew ragged and uneven. There was something behind you. Someone behind you. 

You could practically feel their presence creeping towards you. Closer and closer to your bed as the carpet compressed under its footsteps. Your chest constricted when you felt the bed dip under a weight. 

Then, it began to crawl. 

But you were too terrified to scream, let alone move. 

In that moment, you never regretted your decisions this much in your life. And you never wished more for Alfred to be with you.  

Unbeknownst to him as he finished up with his own shower in his room, you were left paralyzed in bed. If he’d known what was happening, he would have run to you as fast as he could. But he didn’t. He only assumed you were busy brooding over him, and maybe even second-guessing your relationship with him. The thought was reasonable, and that upset him to no end. Throwing his towel to a random spot in the room, he fell on his back onto the bed. 

Reaching out to the ceiling to stare at his arm, he sighed. 

“I’m so sorry...” He murmured, lowering his hands to cover his face with them.

If he was lucky, he’d be able to make up with you by the end of tomorrow. But for now, he was burdened with uncertainty. But his attention was quickly diverted to something else. A laugh. Your laugh. Sitting up with visible confusion, he listened in to the muffled sounds of your voice down the hall. 

The walls here were thin, so it didn’t surprise him he could hear you so clearly. 

But what did was what he heard next. Another voice talking, and it belonged to a boy. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach as he registered it as someone he knew. Mathias. Wait a second, what the hell was he doing here? But there was no way he could be, right? Didn’t he have an after-party to be at? The longer he eavesdropped on the conversation, the more obvious it became that it was Mathias. And they were talking about him. 

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come this year. Again. But you know how Alfred gets.”

“Yeah... Don’t worry about it. This can be our own little after-party. Just as long as he doesn’t find out, you’ll be fine!” 

Wait, what? 

From what he heard, it sounded like you really had moved on. But you never had the decency to tell him, and that was what filled him to the brim with betrayal--it broke his heart. Was this why you wanted to be in a separate room tonight? Sliding himself off the bed, he stormed out the door to find you. His glasses were already fogging up, but he never bothered to clear them as he marched down the empty halls. 

Your voices grew louder and louder, all until he came to a stop outside a room he never booked. That was right. He applied for one with a single bed. He could only imagine what you were doing with Mathias in a room with a double bed. 

The laughing continued behind the door. 

“You know these walls are thin, right?” He began lowly. Swinging open the door, the noises disappeared along with the people inside. The room was completely dark, and when he flicked on the lights, you and Mathias were nowhere in sight. Not a soul was in here. 

“... What the fuck.” He grumbled.

He swore he heard you both giggling away like school children. Did you two hear him coming and hide somewhere? He was skeptical, but he checked around nonetheless. In the wardrobe, then under the bed. There was no sign of either of you. The shower, maybe? Stepping into the bathroom and pulling open the curtains, he was prepared to catch you red-handed. But there was nothing there except for a porcelain white tub.  A defeated sigh fell from his lips. What the hell was going on? Alfred was completely sober, a miracle considering he usually drank at his parties. So he had a terrible feeling he wasn’t just hearing things. That only pointed towards one explanation. 

This inn was totally haunted. 

And whoever, or whatever that haunted it was toying with him.

He swallowed thickly and turned to the mirror, only to jump at what he saw. The reflection revealed a figure standing behind him. 

It was Mathias, except his face was twisted in a sick smile. 

“Holy shit--!” Alfred paled as he stared face to face with the entity. As he lost himself in its soulless, blue eyes, he was overcome with dread, almost as if the spirit was forcing fear into him. Reminding him of his failures, insecurities, and the uncertainty of his relationship. All of his faults flashed in his mind again and again so incessantly, he thought he would break down on the spot. 

Where is (F/N)? 

She doesn’t want you anymore. 

You should just give up. 

And the deeper in he spiraled into these self-destructive thoughts, the wider the entity smiled, its lips stretching to impossible lengths it became grotesque. Darting his wide eyes around the reflection in his bout of panic, he saw its hand reach out to his shoulder in the mirror. He didn’t know how he managed to do this, but he spun around quickly to defend himself. And there was nobody there.

In his brief moment of disorientation, the spirit shot out two arms, breaking the barrier of the glass. Tightening its hands around his neck, Alfred was pulled back against the mirror and choked. “Gh--!” His airway was completely constricted by the iron grip, and he was forced to struggle a few inches above the ground. 

Digging his fingernails into the hands, he never felt them loosen. 

So he did the unthinkable--he started to smash his fist against the mirror. It hurt like hell and left his knuckles bruised and raw, but the thought of you in danger kept him going. That was right. There was no saying if you weren’t being choked, attacked, or worst. Punching the glass again and again, it finally shattered, and the grip around his neck loosened. 

The mirror was reduced to shards and fell into the sink.

Falling to the ground in a loud thump, he stood up while coughing violently. 

The arms disappeared, and so did the entity. 

And Alfred had a feeling it had to do with the mirror it was in. 

Leaving the bathroom with heavy breaths, he ran back to his room and picked up his chainsaw. Halloween had the perks of carrying around dangerous tools, and he was never this glad that he took it with him instead of leaving it in his car unattended. Too bad he was out of costume, though. But a white tank and boxers would do. Holding it above his chest, he revved his chainsaw and ran out the door. 

It was time to fuck shit up. 

You were still stuck in bed, but the spirit managed to remove your blanket. A soft whimper fell from your lips as your only form of protection was stripped away. If you thought you were terrified, then you would prove yourself wrong with a whole new level of fear as two arms wrapped around your neck from behind. No way. Was it going to choke you? One of its legs was thrown over yours, so you were completely enveloped by its limbs. 

As you trembled away in the dark, you let out a soft cry when you felt its warm breath tickle your ear. 

“I missed you. Why didn’t you wanna stay in a room with me?” It cooed, the voice sending shivers down your spine. It sounded strangely similar to Alfred’s, and what he said was exactly what he would’ve said too, except it wasn’t him. You never saw him come in, and the last time you checked, he wasn’t invisible. 

“... W-What... What are you?” You stammered, feeling a hand glide down your bare thigh. “Stop--” 

“I’m his desire, sweetheart.” It began in a low and alluring voice. “Every feeling in the Aura inn festers into a semi-physical form. That’s why I’m here right now. Because he wants you.” 

You screwed your eyes shut. Just what the hell kind of place was this inn? A magical hut that personified emotions? “... Can you please let me go? I don’t like the way how you’re... Hugging me.” You pleaded, only to feel the entity tighten itself around you. 

“But I don’t want to. He doesn’t want to.” It responded with a hum. “I reflect everything he wants. And currently, he wants to see you more than anything. Especially when he’s dealing with jealousy... And having a hard time at that.” 

“Jealousy?” It wasn’t shocking, per se, but he had you curious. If desire festered into a sultry form of someone and hugged their object of affections, what did jealousy turn into?  “... I knew he was jealous of Mathias. But that’s not the problem here. We’ll sort it out later. If you’re desire, then what’s jealousy like?” 

It let out a deep, foreboding laugh. “Depends. If it’s only a little bit of envy, he’ll start hearing things that hit his nerves. Nothing but... Harmless fun.” You felt yourself get rolled onto your back, and you were caught off guard by what loomed over you. It was Alfred himself, or more accurately put, his personified desire, but this time, you could see him. “But if his jealousy gets mixed in with insecurity, that’s when things get pretty ugly...” 

You furrowed your brows with concern. “Ugly? How so? Is he gonna be okay?” 

It craned his head from side to side. “Who knows.” 

“But I’ll tell you a few things that I do know. Jealousy tends to be pretty sneaky. It’ll snoop around in mirrors and attack him.” You tensed up all over. “So Alfred will have to smash every mirror in the inn to get it to come out. And when it does, all he needs to do is be with you to send it away.”

Loud chainsaw noises were heard down the halls, silencing both you and the entity. Following that was the shattering of glass. 

“... Hm. Looks like he already figured it out.” 

Joy filled you to the brim and you smiled wide. “He really did! I’m so glad!” Reaching out to hug the entity around its chest, you pulled away and slid yourself off the bed. 

“Thank you, um, Alfred’s desire! I’m gonna go find him now!” 

He laid on his side and watched you run off. “You can just call me Alfred.” 

“Okay, Alfred!” 

While you exited the room to stand in the halls, you found yourself staring at a number of doors that were wide open, and the lights on inside. You assumed those were the rooms he already cleared, which meant he still had quite a bit to do. But he was fast. Appearing out of one room, he continued tearing down door after door to smash every single mirror and window in the inn. And soon, he managed to reduce every piece of glass present into shards. 

Once the chainsaw revs came to a stop, you called out his name. 

“Alfred!” 

He jerked up at the sound, then glanced around. “(F/N)!?” While he was on the first floor in the courtyard, you were on the second in the mezzanine, so he had to glance up to see you. “Oh God, I was so worried! Are you okay?” He shouted. 

“Yes!” You called back. “This place is... Super haunted. Let’s get out of here!”

“You called it. I nearly got murdered!” 

Running down the stairs to meet with him, you practically jumped onto him after he dropped his chainsaw to the ground. Embracing you with his strong arms, he pressed kiss after kiss all over your face. While he did, you spotted another figure standing by the stairs. Was that Mathias? You couldn’t take a better look at him before he disappeared into thin air. “Oh my fucking god. I missed you so much.” He exasperated, setting you down on your feet. “You won’t believe what happened. I’ll explain everything in the car.”

As he led you out of the Godforsaken inn, he gripped you tight with his hand. And you squeezed right back. “Let me guess. You were attacked by something in the mirror so you shattered every single one here. I know.” 

At this point, you and him had arrived outside his car.

Turning to you with shock, he placed his hands on his hips. 

“And how the hell did you know? I thought it was original enough that you wouldn’t be able to guess!” He exclaimed, much to your amusement. 

“Mm... Not really. With how many horror movies you’ve watched, I wouldn’t put it past you to come up with a solution like that.” Giving him an affectionate pinch on the cheek, he rubbed the spot with a light pout. You considered telling him the truth, but you already wanted to forget tonight. If he didn’t know about it, then moving on yourself would be so much easier. 

“Now, I think you have some apologizing to do.” 

He softened his gaze. “Yeah... I really do. Sorry for everything. Sorry for being a dick. And not just... For today.” Pulling you into another hug, he nestled his chin into your shoulder. God, did it feel good to have you in his arms again. “I’m gonna be real. I never hated Mathias. He’s my friend. But seeing him with you gets me... Really jealous. And it’s not cuz’ I don’t trust you, it’s because I’m...” His cheeks grew rosy. “I don’t know. I just feel...”

You knew he’d get stuck at this part, so you helped him. 

“Because you feel insecure?” 

“... Yeah.” 

“You idiot...” A soft, content sigh was heard from your end. “It doesn’t matter how similar you are to him. You don’t have to try to make any changes or keep him away from me for me to choose you.” 

His heart fluttered as he released you with a sheepish smile. 

“I really needed to hear that. So, thanks.” Alfred murmured, reaching out to cup your cheek. “Kinda lame of me to put you through that. I should’ve just talked it out with you.” 

“Yeah, you dumbass.” You grumbled, but it was on an affectionate note. 

“So, do you think we’ll make it in time to the party for me to carpool with Mathias back to his place? I wanna see what they’re building this year!”

He frowned, but his expression was short-lived as a smile began creeping onto his lips. “Are you serious right now?” 

“I’m kidding!” 

🎶 Tell me, are you the ghost of jealousy?

This is a request. Thank you for requesting.

#parry this you fucking casual #hetalia #hetalia fanfiction #hetalia x reader #america x reader #aph america x reader #APH America #axis powers hetalia #Axis powers ヘタリア #supernatural #ghosts #spooky #halloween #request #oneshot #ask answered #reader insert #alfred f jones

[ingravinoveritas]

longingtolinger-blog replied to your post "Have you seen AL's latest Insta story? sure it…"

Yeah…my hope is things will work out for the best in their own time. I will say if I met both of them I'm not sure AL and I would get along very well, and it's not just because I have a massive crush on her boyfriend.

@longingtolinger-blog This is only a feeling that I've had, but it seems like AL doesn't get along with many people very well. I'm mainly thinking of Michael's friends, but especially David. Because we never see or hear David talk about Anna, and she never talks or posts about him, except for the same "official" behind-the-scenes pictures from Staged that she's repeatedly posted. It's like...this is her boyfriend's best friend (at a minimum), and she acts as if he doesn't exist (which could also be because a rule has been put in place that she isn't allowed to post about him on social media, which makes the blurry photo that she posted even more suspect). And this all suggests AL and David having (at best) a cordial relationship on the surface, and a rather frostier one underneath.

Even with Georgia, I've mentioned previously on my blog about how their friendship feels so forced (that recent picture and Georgia's tepid re-sharing of it with no additional comment or hashtag certainly didn't help matters), and so it's as if Georgia tolerates her because David loves Michael, but draws a line between that and being AL a close friend of theirs.

I will reiterate that I could be wrong about every bit of this, but at this point it seems like Anna has shown her true colors too many times, and now other people are noticing it. Like you, I of course want things to work out for the best, but what that ultimately is still remains to be seen...

#longingtolinger-blog #reply post #michael sheen #welsh seduction machine #again if this was a one time thing i wouldn't even say anything #but what's the old saying: when someone shows you who they are believe them the first time #David is also the nicest person ever so when you think about all of this #and the friction between him and AL that has been palpable for a while now #it just seems like a red flag #anna lundberg #relationships #discourse

[nightgoodomens]

Asks under the cut (p3)

I feel like Michael has been showing how done with it he is since he started making a point to look as miserable as possible with her and to make it more blatant, how glowing he looked with DT instead. I also feel like that photoshoot was meant to be the beginning of finding her a career so they can end her bearding one. So she has some career so she isn’t dependant on him anymore. But that didn’t work out so she started clinging to him again. It’s a sad situation for everyone. I’d never want to have anyone this dependent on me so I can’t get rid of them, and I’d never want to be a woman this dependant on a man.

That thread is disgusting. Not only half of them have zero idea wtf they’re talking about, like usual on Twitter, but the absolute disgust leaking from it is pure homophobia. The same people feel like they can squeak over everything the ladies do, and can ask about those relationships, but anything about the men deserves disgust and how embarrassing it is. It’s fucked up. I am against asking questions like this but it wasn’t THAT bad, and I hardly blame the person who asked considering they asked AL who will respond with crap like “oh my loud parrot was a preparation for dating MS” yeah you know what, ask her whatever you want. She’s embarrassing. Besides 1. She didn’t need to answer. 2. That wasn’t a back off face, they’re just projecting their feelings yet again. It was a confused/thinking about it and then “hm” as she looked away. Like her reaction was actually quite funny because it looked like a “oh fuck he does” realisation. No need to project all feelings of hatred on it.

They literally told everyone they’re one big family and DT and MS are partners/boyfriends/husbands - if people think it’s disgusting then that’s something they have to deal with. I don’t think any of these people have the mental capacity to consider poly or anything but most typical relationships out there. Which is so ironic because this is supposed to be super open minded fandom… yet they freak the second someone says so I think two men might love each other. Please.

I always felt a little “huh” about that moment because of how serious he is during that. Not the usual joke way you would expect but a borderline statement. There’s so many moments during those years where you expect them to take the piss out of each other but they’re really serious about what they say.

I think it’s kind of looking up to her because GT does it at least a little better than her. GT does a lot of questionable things to me but majority of people just see the perfect image she created on the surface. She worked very hard for people to forget how fucked up the beginnings of this relationship were and now feels confident enough to call her kids drunk accidents and get away with it. But that is the fandom’s fault who sucks up everything she says and won’t dare to criticise. And she knows that. Well until she finally touched a subject that struck the nerve but while some chased her off, others were screaming queen you can do no wrong - see this is why they think they can do bare minimum and people will suck it up anyway.

But you’re right, generally her arrangement with DT works better (mostly, because she posted a video where he was complaining too, or pics where he’s done with everything, or her weird selfies where she looks into camera and he’s suppose to be cuddling to her which always gives me the cringe, or the “mine” even though the night was about him) and she’s better at support when she feels like it hence probably why people have more warmth for her. Majority of people just want DT content and they don’t care how or what it is.

But generally people who see through bullshit point out both GTs and ALs missteps. And MS and DT when they do some dumb shit. It’s the best fans who won’t dare to criticise anything.

To me it looks like MS is harder work because he’s done with shit so he won’t be pulling cute selfies etc to help the bullshit. But DT is easier to make feel guilty (omg I want to be my wife for a day to see how she deals with me… bruh you ok?) so he will do a stupid Morrisons video, take selfies and cling to her like he’s less than her on HIS big days. And constantly work his ass off to finally have her accomplish something instead of finally giving up. It’s weird and sad to me. And explains why he shines so much with MS who actually lets him be who he is and compliments him and loves him openly instead of trying to make him feel less.

Oh yeah season three will be a nepo show, big time!

#NightGoodOmens talks PR #NightGoodOmens talks Michael and David

[russian-soft-bitch]

I posted 1,422 times in 2021

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For every post I created, I reblogged 4.2 posts.

I added 126 tags in 2021

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Longest Tag: 55 characters

#you're literally promoting my acc every day ashley 😭😭

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Just a little something I really wanted to write

🚫 TFATWS SPOILERS 🚫

- in 40s you were experimented with too, just like Steve

- now, more than 80 years later, you're still here

- you and Bucky are together again, just like before the war

- so when he was going to see Sam, you went with him of course

- the idea of new captain America was irritating to you too. But you didn't know the man yet, so you assumed he was good enough for that

- that was before. But now that you've met him, you didn't like him at all

- after bucky was arrested for missing his therapy, you went with sam

- needless to say, you laughed your ass off after the therapy session

- your mood was ruined by that blonde shit that had the shield now

- you were going to stay silent, but he needed to be put on his place

- "hey can I see your helmet please? It looks so cool, y'know?"

- "yeah, sure", the shit was smiling, thinking that you've found him attractive

- you took the helmet and squeezed it with your bare hands without much effort

- "oh, sorry, you need a new one", you dropped it to the ground, "don't act like you can ever replace him"

- the whistle that you heard from Sam when you walked away was awesome

120 notes • Posted 2021-03-27 11:28:59 GMT

#4

Being a wife of Michael Corleone headcanons

- you're the strongest woman he's ever met (after his mother of course)

- he's busy all the time, you got used to it very early in your relationship

- he always makes sure to spend at least one day a week with you. If he can't spend all day, he'll make sure his evening is free for you

- he doesn't like to give you overly expensive gifts, he knows that you'll prefer a little cute note and a flower from your garden to diamond necklace

- but also he knows when exactly he needs to buy you something expensive

- you like to cook dinner for just two of you or your little family. You love his big family, but sometimes the crowd can be too much

- he likes to comb your hair, it soothes him

- also he likes to be around you at all times, especially on business meetings because your presence and your smell calms him down

- you both love each other dearly but don't say it often, you prefer to show your love with your actions, not words

121 notes • Posted 2021-02-12 09:10:08 GMT

#3

“Marry me then. Simple”

Pairing: Michael Corleone x reader

Word count: 741

A/N: I really like this one, kinda proud of it

You've known each other since you were kids - him being older for 2 years. Your dad had some business with Michael’s dad, so you were always hanging out with the boy. You even went to the same school. You were basically inseparable. Carmela was even telling you that you’re like a second daughter to her.

Things changed when you became teenagers. Michael was still a boy, interested in everything army related. You were more mature than him. And another little fact helped to grow up a little. He was your first love. You thought it would be easy: you fell in love with him, he’s gonna fall in love with you. But it's never that easy, right? It was too early for him. You were sure that Michael never even thought about that before.

Now you both are grown-ups, with your own problems and feelings. And now there's always someone more beautiful, someone smarter than you, someone funnier than you. But in your case it's always someone more obedient than you.

Michael thinks that you're the stubbornest person he's ever known. The way your mind works has always been a riddle to him. Of course, he's not blind. He can see the way your e/c eyes shine in the sun. The way your lips curl in that beautiful smile of yours when he's telling a funny story. The way your h/c hair fall on your face when you're blushing after a compliment someone said to you. It's never him who's saying to you how beautiful you are. Every time he wants that person to be him. He wants to see your reaction to HIS compliment. He wants to tell you that you're a real treasure, that there's no other person on this planet like you. He wants to tell you that every day for the rest of his life. But you're just friends, right?

If only you knew what he was thinking while looking at you. And you still loved him. Your mom told you all those years ago that it was just a crush, you were seeing Michael almost every day after all. But you never grew out of it. You still wish you were able to run your fingers through his dark hair. To hold his hand gently in yours. To see his rare smile. To call him yours.

You were sitting at the dinner table with his family. Carmela didn't let you help her (again), so you just sat there silently. Michael was at your side, sitting silently too and listening to his father. Vito looked at you and asked why exactly you're not married. You smiled gently and said, "I'm waiting for the right one. It takes time". After that no one really paid attention to you, so you excused yourself and went to see their garden.

Next thing you knew, Michael was by your side again. You looked at him and settled you gaze at flowers again. “I wonder why everyone just keeps asking me that stupid question”, you sighed and lowered your head. Michael put his hands in pockets and said,” It’s not stupid, you’re 23 already”. You huffed,” And you’re 25. Vito had how many children at that age? Exactly. And I doubt it’s so hard for you to find a woman”. Michael stood right in front of you, “And I doubt it’s so hard for you to find the ‘right one’. You could have anybody”. Shaking your head, you said quietly, “If I could do that, I’d be already married to you”.

When you realized what you just said, it was too late. Michael was standing there opening and closing his mouth, not knowing what to say. When you tried to apologies for saying this, he shrugged his shoulders and said,” Marry me then”. You stood there dumbfounded and was looking at him like he grew out the second head,” Excuse me. What?” “Marry me then. Simple”. You took a step back and run your fingers through your hair,” It’s not simple. And you look like you’re actually serious about that”. “What if I am?” He took your hand,” What if I am serious? I just can’t imagine anyone else beside me all my life. Just marry me, after your words I know you want it too”. You cleared your throat,” Propose properly and then I’ll think about that. But you already have a very high chances of having a ‘yes’ Corleone”.

131 notes • Posted 2021-06-05 16:07:32 GMT

#2

ok ok ok ok ok - I have so many

a selection of moments that you're playing with dog tags please? you know I have a thing for them lmao

thank you so much queen 🖤

I tried lol hope you like it queen ❤️

- it started when Bucky was comfortable enough with you for him to take off his shirt (I can't really see him with his dog tags above his shirt)

- you were having a movie night at his place. Just a quiet evening for you two, eating take out food and watching some 60s movie (you were helping him to catch up on everything). Your legs were on his lap, he was hugging you with his right arm. You put your hand on his chest and subconsciously started to play with his dog tags. It took him a moment to realise what you were doing, but he kinda liked it, so Bucky didn't comment on that

- next time that happened, you were in your kitchen trying to cook a dinner. Im saying 'trying' because you were just dancing to some old music and laughing together. Now he stood between your legs while you were sitting on a kitchen counter . He was telling you a story, keeping his arms around you. You looked at him, holding his dog tags with your fingers and gently tugging at them

- you liked to play with it after sex. You were laying there on his chest, trying to calm you breathing. He hugged you, you layed your hand on his chest and instantly took the dog tags in your hand. Lately you were having a feeling that it kinda helped you to relax

- he realised that it helped him to relax too. After his nightmares he loved to hold you in his arms while you were kissing his cheeks and gently touching his chest where his heart was. When you started to tug at his dog tags, it helped his to move his focus to you

- you played with it on your wedding day. When most of the guests were gone, you were dancing there in the middle of the ballroom. His shirt was unbuttoned a little and you had the opportunity to touch his chest. You layed your hand on his collarbone first but then grabbed his dog tags and started to fidget with them

- next person who was allowed to do that was your son

148 notes • Posted 2021-04-12 15:33:29 GMT

#1

Marriage with Hannibal Lecter

- you're probably (100%) a very smart person, that's why he married you

- you're trying to keep him on his toes, because you know that if he's bored, you're dead

- not that he doesn't know the way you taste 😏

- anyway, you're always making sure that he's intrigued by you

- I'd like to think that you're probably a psychiatrist and you're working with Chilton

- patients like you more lol

- someone would call you a bad housewife because you don't do anything around the house.' yes, I do the cooking, yes, I do the cleaning' is about Hannibal

- you like to wear his shirts, they're always look good with your favourite pants and that super expensive pair of shoes

- he likes to write you letters and makes sure to surprise you with them

- you know he's a manipulative bastard and you're not allowing him to manipulate you. You know your feelings are real

- you're completely different

- like you probably met Will Graham while wearing a really pretty short dress and a pair of very high-heeled shoes. You love to have fun

- Hannibal trusts you, so he's okay with that

- not a lot of public displays of affection, but he makes sure to keep his hand on you: holding your hand, keeping his hand on your waist or a small of your back

- you probably never saw him doing something silly. So one time when you were cooking together, you threw a small amount of flour into his face. You were afraid for your life for a second but he smiled a real smile and told you that his mother and father used to do that a lot

- you had conversations about having children together, but you're building your career at the moment. Maybe later, he won't pressure you

- you, being a psychiatrist, never saw a couple with a healthier relationship than yours

151 notes • Posted 2021-02-12 17:26:16 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

#my 2021 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

[magical-girl-hell]

A Fan-%#&#$-tastically Good Story

A Reading Guide to Marvel Comics’ Loki

This is an updated version of an old post that was getting a little unwieldy to edit. Same caveat as the original post: this isn’t every appearance of Loki in the last fifteen years, but it’s pretty dang close! I’ve tried to focus on trade paperbacks with the most commonly listed author, to make it easy for people to find them.

Part 1: 2007-2015

Thor by J. Michael Straczynski (volumes 1-3)

Thor, now king of Asgard and wielding the Odinforce, is returned from the void after Ragnarok. He decides to bring back the rest of the Asgardians and establish a new Asgard floating above Broxton, Oklahoma, but Loki has plans of his own –  or rather, her own.

There’s a lot in these, but particularly there’s a good amount of time devoted to Loki’s origin and how he came to be adopted by Odin. I highly recommend these! They’re quite good, and if you’re new to the Marvel Comics universe (if you’re coming from the cinematic universe, for example) it’ll give you a good idea of who the characters are and how they fit into this world.

Thor by Kieron Gillen (Complete Collection) and Siege by Brian Michael Bendis

With the help of Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers, Loki works to bring new Asgard crashing down – but the heroes bring chaos that not even Loki is prepared for.

Thor: The World Eaters by Matt Fraction

In the wake of the siege of Asgard, Thor misses his brother. Oh, and Galactus wants to eat Earth or something.

These are transitional, and there’s a lot less focus on Loki overall, but I still recommend them. Siege is a big Avengers crossover event, Gillen’s book and Siege contain the end of Old Loki, and World Eaters contains the beginning of Kid Loki. If you want to skip them, the next entry in this series will recap them.

Journey Into Mystery by Kieron Gillen

The complete(ish) adventures of Kid Loki. The old Loki is dead and in his place is a new Loki: a child with no memories of his predecessor’s evil. But Asgard doesn’t trust him, and old Loki left behind plenty of schemes. Some crimes can never be forgiven.

If you want these in paperback and you can afford it, there is a pair of lovely and sadly out-of-print omnibus books, but for the rest of us peasants, there are five volumes to keep track of:

Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself

Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself Fallout

Journey Into Mystery: The Terrorism Myth

Journey Into Mystery: The Manchester Gods

The Mighty Thor / Journey Into Mystery: Everything Burns

Tie-ins:

The Mighty Thor by Matt Fraction (volumes 1-3) -- While Loki and Leah are doing their own thing in Journey into Mystery, Loki’s having some adventures with Thor on the side, as well. If you want to read about them, this is where to find them.

Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen

Loki schemes to manipulate a bunch of teenage superheroes into helping him regain his full power as the group is pursued across the multiverse by the sinister Mother: an extradimensional entity invisible to adults, who manifests as murderous doppelgangers of the teenagers’ parents.

At least digitally, these are available now as a single collection: Young Avengers by Gillen & Mckelvie: The Complete Collection (But one comic didn’t look that great so... enjoy the original three trade paperbacks -- the full collection has the same cover as the last volume, sans volume title.)

Tie-ins:

A+X 005 (collected in Marvel A+X TPB: Equals Awesome) -- Directly before the events of Young Avengers, Loki appears in issue 5 of Marvel’s one-shot crossover series A+X, in a teamup (of sorts) with Mister Sinister. I can’t find the trade paperback anywhere, but it’s just a one-shot side story and he only appears in the one issue, so unless you’re really invested in finding out the fate of Doom’s Loki clones from Siege or you want to read the rest of the Avengers/X-men teamups in the book, you can skip this.

Loki: Agent of Asgard by Al Ewing

Loki makes a deal with the All-Mother of Asgard: for every mission he takes on for them, they will strike one of old Loki’s crimes from the books. Since the old Loki was reborn when Thor called the Asgardians back from the void, he has been scheming and struggling against the vicious cycles of his past. Loki has done terrible things to become the god he is today -- and now he is determined to wrest back control of his destiny and write his own story at last.

Or die trying... again.

Original Sin: Thor & Loki -- The Tenth Realm by Jason Aaron and Al Ewing

Loki takes a break from dealing with the All-Mother’s missions to accompany Thor on a mission to the sealed-off tenth realm to find their long-lost sister.

These are available as a single complete collection digitally (Loki: Agent Of Asgard - The Complete Collection), and I highly recommend it, as it also contains the relevant parts of the elusive Marvel Now! Point One 001 one-shot prequel comic (without which, the beginning of Agent of Asgard is rather abrupt.) Otherwise, if you want the three original volumes, don’t skip Original Sin -- it’s not recapped in Agent of Asgard, and without it the transition from volume 1 to 2 is very confusing. Think of it as volume 1.5.

Tie-ins:

Ms. Marvel 012 (Collected in Ms. Marvel Vol. 3: Crushed by G. Willow Wilson) -- (Takes place before Original Sin.) Loki makes some mischief in Kamala’s neighborhood -- and her love life! -- in the Valentine’s Day issue of Ms. Marvel. One-shot, can be safely skipped.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis by Rick Rumender -- The full Axis alignment-swap event. Relevant parts are included in the trade paperbacks for Agent of Asgard, but there’s more Loki content in the full event! It can be safely skipped.

Angela: Asgard’s Assassin (Collected in Angela: Asgard's Assassin Vol. 1: Priceless by Kieron Gillen) -- Loki has a brief part trying to help Thor hunt down their sisters when Angela steals Odin and Freyja’s new baby daughter, Laussa. Recommended if you liked Angela from Original Sin and/or if you’ve enjoyed the rest of Kieron Gillen’s work so far. If you’re just here for Loki, you can safely skip it, he ducks out of the adventure pretty early.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl 007-008 (Collected in The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume 2: Squirrel You Know It’s True by Ryan North) -- Somewhere between the end of Axis and the end of Agent of Asgard, Loki helps Squirrel Girl trap Ratatoskr, the wicked squirrel-god of gossip – never mind that he’s kind of the one that let her out to begin with! While you can skip this one, I actually really recommend reading it unless you’re super not into SG. Loki gets a fair few more little teamups with her (including some that span multiple issues), Thors appear (in both Worthy and Unworthy flavors), and Ratatoskr stays relevant. It’s pretty easy to find single issues digitally if you don’t want the whole tbp. (Loki appears in the second half, in issue #8)

Honorable mention:

Thor and Loki: Blood Brothers by Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic -- In an alternate universe, Loki has waged war on Asgard and won, and now he must decide what to do with his new crown and his captured enemies. To secure victory for all time, all he must do now is execute Thor -- so why does he hesitate?

A heavy deep dive into Loki’s character, his past, and his relationships that, while not canon to the 616 comic universe, has greatly informed both the comics and cinematic adaptations of Loki. A piece of Loki history, and the source of a lot of common fanon.

-

I’ll link to part 2 when it’s finished. Until then, enjoy this updated guide!

I don’t know that I remember some of these well enough to give good content warnings for them, but I definitely remember Siege in particular having some brief but surprisingly extreme gore, so you might want to skip it if that’s gonna bother you. (And maybe World Eaters, if that contains the dream arc?) Tenth Realm and Asgard’s Assassin also both contain babies in mortal peril.

#marvel loki #marvel thor #marvel comics #reading guide #long post

[leafvy]

Sage Kaiser

for @crescendemon‘s bachelor challenge

Ever heard of somebody being dubbed the life of the party? Someone who lights up the room as soon as they walk in? Well, one young woman named Sage Kaiser tends to be just that person that everybody is describing.

Sage Kaiser was adopted at only a few days old by a lesbian couple who wanted so badly to give this precious baby a loving home. Though never being told why she was put up for adoption in the first place, the only thing Sage knows about her biological parents is that her Mother is an Al Simhara native and her Father is a Selvadoradan native. The little information she has on the two doesn’t bother her, she simply feels like the luckiest girl on the face of the planet to have been adopted and raised by two adoring Mothers. A little quirky might be how her Mum’s are described but they couldn’t love her more and they have always been 100% supportive of everything she does. They both run yoga and well-being classes from their home which Sage has had plenty to do with over the years. Sage has a wild heart and a free spirit, she is in love with life and appreciates the little things each and every day. Some find this a little intimidating, especially how comfortable she can be with the human form. 

At just age 22, Sage took a year off from her studies at Uni so that she could travel around to different countries, volunteering and helping those less fortunate. Now back a year later at her home in tropical Sulani, Sage has resumed her studies and does work placement at a daycare centre where she gets to help teach and play with all the little tots. She found her travels to be immensely rewarding and they have helped her in aiding kids from all different walks of life. She hopes one day to be a primary/elementary school teacher.

It may sound like Sage is a little of a all-work-no-play kinda gal but that couldn’t be more wrong. Sage LOVES to party. This girl ain’t afraid of throwing her ass in a circle. Even throughout high school Sage partied hard, it left her peers mystified at how she kept up her grade-A average. So many big bashes were thrown at her house over the years, her Mum’s often times joining in to dance and sing along. Almost all of the school would attend these parties and Sage got along with almost each and everyone of them, most of them are still in contact now! 

In her free time, Sage loves to head down to the beach and swim amidst the sapphire blue waves, taking in the fresh ocean air and watching the seagulls flood the skies. A lot of the times she can be found scanning the shore for seashells or doing odd jobs for her neighbours. If one thing is for certain, Sage surely isn’t shy. She makes friends with just about everyone she comes across and one thing they remember her by is how happy-go-lucky she is, always smiling, singing and dancing, even as she walks alone.

Whilst away on her gap year Sage met a girl who she fell head over heels for. They both got along fantastically and loved being in one another’s company but unfortunately that relationship had to end with the Summer, long distance just wouldn’t work out. So the two said goodbye, spending their last day together exploring the village until waving Sage off on her flight. Other than this short-lived relationship, there really haven’t been any proper significant others in her life. I mean, there’s been a date here and there but no one can seem to keep up with Sage’s fast paced, energetic lifestyle. So after seeing an article online for the newest season of the Bachelor starring Michael, Sage made an impulsive decision and quickly filled out an application. 

Perhaps Michael could be the one who can handle her quirky lifestyle?

some extra facts below

23

she doesn’t like to label herself but she would identity most with bisexual

she lives with her mumma’s while she’s studying and saving up for a beach shack all of her own

being raised by two mother’s who run sex education for adults classes resulted in sage being exceptionally comfortable in her own skin, you might catch her skinny dipping on a clear night

an absolute riot of a laugh to be around

loves nature, meditates, is a vegan and explores spirituality a lot

5′6ft 

LOVES dancing, you can’t stop her she will embarrass you in the grocery store

has a friend sea turtle that comes to visit her on the beach every month

very flexible thanks to yoga

will compliment you any chance she gets, and she truly means it

a literal ray of sunshine

pisces sun, sag moon and virgo rising

can come off as a littttle overbearing at times but means well

aspiration: friend of the world

traits: goofball, dance machine, outgoing

private dl if chosen :)

#i hope u like her cres!!!!! #she is baby #sorry it's a little long! #sage #sage kaiser #cresbachelorchallenge #ts4 #simblr #the sims #the sims 4 #sims #sims 4 #ts4 bachelor challenge #ts4 bachelor entry #ts4 sim #ts4 edit #edit #s4 #s4edit #s4 edit #ts4edit #sims edit #oc

[why-this-kolaveri-machi]

chin fucking up, amigo.

Titans 3.02

... eh?

SPOILERS ahead.

1. you know that music video for billie jean where michael jackson would dance along the pavement and the tiles would light up under his feet in different colours? yeah? me too.

titans hasn��t met a table top or a support arch that it doesn’t want to light up in a headache-inducing blue like the world’s most boring nightlight. i mean, i’m not an expert on lighting or cinematography or just... colour by any means, and the quality of the video i’m watching is poor given that i can’t access hbo max, but all the orange and teal and neon is making it very difficult to really differentiate between say, the batcave and the gotham police department and hell, the titans tower. i feel like there’s oftentimes a gap between idea and execution with titans, with gotham being this almost otherwordly hellscape with an aesthetic pulled from a gothic horror novel, but the colours and design just... leave it flat and dark and dull.

1.5. like what really frustrates me is that titans has a delightful mix of tones--the fights often remind me of schumacher-era batman camp, with the contrived quips and the start-stop rhythm and krypto just sallying in and ending the fight with a fucking SuperBark (tm) but in the same episode you have red hood just casually pulling out severed heads out of a duffle bag and desperate people blackmailed into killing themselves out of drug overdoses. I MEAN. it’s wonderful! but it looks all the same. it sounds Absolutely Bonkers on paper but on screen both Quip and Murder happen in the same washed-out blue and i wanted to be excited about the batcave, dammit!

2. things re: red hood have happened at such a breakneck speed that it feels like there’s so much that’s happened off-screen that we’re not privy to. a real proper mystery! 

things that are intriguing about the red hood arc so far:

a) what was that chemical he huffed just before going to fight the joker? is it a regular old performance/adrenaline booster or is it something more lazarus-juice adjacent? if it’s the latter, i can’t imagine he got that much information from a lone chemistry textbook. and where is he getting the resources to set up his little chemistry lab? is somebody else orchestrating things behind the scenes?

b) the red hood persona, costume and mask, plus the elaborate plan he’s putting in place to both string along gotham’s rogues and enact his revenge against the titans seems too... fully-formed and elaborate to have been concocted in just a few days. how long do you think jason’s been planning this? just... stewing in resentment and building rage, dismissed and passed around and underestimated and realising that the power he thought he would get by being robin is no power, no protection at all, but something that’s left him even more vulnerable than before? 

c) do we think that the scarecrow is at least partly behind this transformation? because yes, it was batman that set up this whole hannibal lecter-esque situation with him, and he would be irresponsible enough to have jason-as-robin go talk to him regularly regarding “~profiling~” criminals. it’s not too far of a leap to assume that scarecrow could’ve been manipulating jason at a very vulnerable time, and that he could’ve passed along some of his chemistry know-how, too.

d) ... or fuck, i wouldn’t put it past titans to introduce ra’s al ghul in a fucking ten second aside

e) anyway, the thing that won’t leave me alone is jason seeking out the joker not necessarily to fight him, but to orchestrate his own death. the whole thing has to have been part of a bigger plan. he broke batman with it, after all. and he’s starting to break the titans, too.

f) i love it! i mean, it does re-tread some of the storybeats we had with deathstroke last season (turning the titans against each other as revenge, etc) but it’s... tighter, this time, and at least for now seems better-executed. and as a red hood story it’s different enough to be really interesting, and i appreciate the ways in which its reframed the revenge story to focus on the titans rather than just the batman. like fuck everything up, i say! turn it on its head! slash the innards out of that sacred cow and strew it like garlands in the path of the Story You Want To Tell!

(and yes i am fully aware that by the time i post this review, there will be a whole lot more information out but if i come across like a fool then goddammit i will be a fool!)

2. i love how every season of titans starts off with, ‘oh dick, you thought you were settling into a role and a life and a pattern of relationships? well fuck you, here’s a terrible and traumatic thing, tons more responsibility, and circumstances that will lead you to uproot your entire life and move somewhere else.’ and dick’s just like, ‘well, ok. fuck you, but all right’.

can you imagine? the man was just settling into leading a team in sf and smiling for the first time in years, and now he has to deal with jason’s death, bruce experiencing a full fledged breakdown, coming back to a city that represents more bad memories than good, red hood, and a frightening new case that seems to be targeting him and his team. it’s a testament to dick’s growth that he’s not reacting to this stress like he did last year, shutting everybody out, making irrational decisions and experiencing sharp, short bursts of anger. (not to mention a full fledged psychotic episode.)

2.5. but i’ve also talked about dick performing a fair amount of unwarranted emotional labour for his team(s) in that he just lets them take out their frustrations on him and... does nothing. be it his team exploding at him for jericho (both in flashback and present-day) or donna and hank needling him for handling deathstroke poorly or barbara berating him for not handling the bank situation as well as she thought batman would though just the previous episode she had talked about how fucked up it was that bruce just expected dick to step up and replace him in gotham without any real notice. i mean it’s all perfectly understandable and sympathetic from their end--and i’m not trying to bash them here!--but hank, my man, the same chin you’re asking your amigo to keep up is the one that you punched last year and never apologised for. just sayin’.

2.75. @superohclair did a wonderful breakdown of what the ‘fear’ contract could imply here and there’s not too much i could add to that. it’s just really interesting that fear ended up being such a defining feature of their lives, albeit it’s the fear of seeming less than invincible in the face of bigger, more tangible fears. am i making sense?  dick feared loss, and abandonment, and the more existential concept of turning into something that he didn’t want to. bruce so feared being alone that he’s scouting kids to replace robin within days of jason dying. 

it also goes some way in explaining the tense sort of... restraint that bruce and dick show in the wake of loss and tragedy, like anything less than complete control of your emotions can lead to tragedy. it’s conditioning that dick couldn’t shake off when he was at his lowest in detroit, hating his legacy but unable to let it go either.

2.775. but i definitely appreciate the softness that dick displays with his team now, checking on them after a mission-gone-bad, welcoming back old members with no caveats or resentments (and kory’s delight in seeing hank back! hank and dick hanging out together and hank trying to prop dick up!), and appreciating their teamwork in solving cases. that’s always been the essence of dick as a person, and the beating heart of this show: flawed and traumatised people coming together to a place that will always be open to them, where they can be their worst and be supported still, allowed to make mistakes and grow from them. that’s family.

2.8. coming back to bruce for just a sec, it’s interesting how that gotham rogue was so certain when he said that ‘batman doesn’t kill’ but it’s not a rule that either jason or dick put much store by when they were robins. the ‘no-killing’ rule clearly didn’t mitigate dick’s fears about turning into batman and jason’s never been seeing giving two shits about it. it seems to me of a piece with bruce’s distant, second-hand sort of parenting that we see in dick’s flashbacks from s1 where the fear was never about personally disappointing batman, but taking lessons from him on finding a place in gotham’s hellish ecosystem and surviving.

3. kory having waking flashbacks! i don’t buy the bullshit parasomnia episode explanation from fake!HPG (because c’mon, justin has to be some sort of tamaranean ruse) because for one, you have to be actually asleep for that diagnosis. 

(and here i was, hoping against hope that HPG would actually end up as the team’s therapist)

curiouser and curiouser! i wonder if these flashbacks are from the time between kory landing on earth and the beginning of season 1, when she was completely amnesiac? it’d be cool if the show was considering repercussions from that time, and if kory hasn’t gained all her memories back. 

4. i just love the vibes between gar and conner and kory. gar Having Things To Do is only one part of my wishlist for him, however: other parts include having an actual story arc, and actually bonding with members who are not conner and kory. (dick! dick! hank! dick!)

anyway. time to move on to watching ep3 and seeing this family bond and nothing terrible and tragic happening at all, nope, nosiree. 

#titans #titans spoilers #meta #dick grayson #jason todd #red hood #koriand'r #garfield logan #bruce wayne #his name is justin. #a byronic cupcake #a tragic jalebi #badass strawberry truffle #manic pixie pop tart

[lambourngb]

re: your tags on that one post abt plotholes in rnm: what are the plotholes that make you lose the most sleep?

(this is my main btw, my rnm blog is @curlyguerin )

Hi! Okay... strap in, because there are a lot of little and big things that wiggle into my thoughts and makes me wonder ...am I the only one who couldn't follow that plotline?

In my opinion RNM suffers more from abandoned narratives and continuity errors than plot holes I guess, since we only have 2 seasons, with at least 2 more to go I guess I can hope they come back to these issues... but: [Under the cut plus some spoilers for season 3]

Things I would like explained :

1. What did Jesse Manes fund with family money in 1x08 ? I'm guessing it was surveillance of the town and the search for more aliens that could have escaped the military in 1947-1948. The idea that Jesse funded Caulfield is just laughable to me, along with how he was able to get his Army-assigned son moved from Germany to New Mexico for 5 years and no one noticed?? Caulfield has to be separate from whatever Jesse was doing in Roswell. Clearly there is still an ACTIVE military project focused on aliens because Flint isn't AWOL, Flint also takes Noah's body to Area 51, so where was Jesse in violation of his orders (Alex's threat to Jesse in 1x08 and then shipping him to Niger)? Surveilling citizens and setting up cameras all over town?

2. Did they ever build an Air Force base on the Fosters Homestead Ranch? (1x01-1x02) ...then it's never mentioned again.

3. I am aware I am the only one who cares about this little bit, but the show seemed to set up a narrative in season 1 about the spotlight Roswell shined white victims of crimes - like Katie and Jasmine, that the town of Roswell holds quite a lot of racism regarding justice- vilifying Rosa for over 10 years, ignoring the deaths of people around Ranchero Night, and then Noah kills Wyatt Long's best friend Hank Gibbons in 1x13. I dunno, I was expecting more from Wyatt in season 2 about this than picking a fight with Michael over Mimi's missing persons sheet and showing up with a crossbow in 2x04. And like, there was a theme of people going missing in season 2!! Mimi, Jenna, the weird twins from 2x06, Charlie -- but yet, no closer scrutiny by Sheriff Valenti other than her focus on Max Evans and the story about Mexico- Like this felt not like a plot hole, but a dropped narrative -- to wrap up the fate of Racist Hank in a missing persons sheet in 2x01. To treat him weirdly like all of Noah's other victims (who were women and men of color and poor), but for a few factors like he was white, he had actual lines in the show over a couple of episodes, and he's one of the few townspeople we learn his first and last name still sticks out in my mind as strange. The Doylist explanation is the actor wasn't available for season 2, but the Watson-perspective of this is just someone the in-show universe doesn't care about ...? Okay. I will keep that in mind, and try to ignore the fact that the town of Roswell swings wildly back to caring about white victims again in 2x13 with Jesse Manes.

4. The Alighting from 1x13 - just how far away was it from happening? Noah was ready to stick a sheriff's deputy, the town event planner and Michael (who probably would be been the only one to go missing without much fanfare, except maybe by Alex) into a pod...for how long? Months? Years? What was his endgame? how did he expect to go unnoticed by the town while he waited for his alien salvation/alien UBER to arrive? Could he just mindwarp everyone into forgetting about the pod squad? Since we didn't see any alien ships show up in the six months from 1x13 to 2x13, and no further follow up by any of our heroes about what Noah was babbling about... I'm going to say this should come back into play for season 3, otherwise it's the most egregious plot hole from season 1.

5. Why did Flint want to work with Helena? Jesse had this master plan that Helena knew all about apparently but she never shares the plan with Flint? Jesse never shares this plan with Flint either? Why? As far as I can tell from the plot of season 2, Jesse takes the console piece from Alex, he was going to kill Alex to keep him out of the way, use the console to blow up civilians, he created a paper trail that pointed the finger at Max, and then when everyone knew the truth about aliens, he was going to use HIS atomizer bomb to release the toxin that Charlie had already developed for Project Shepherd to kill all the aliens.... WHY would Flint want to stop that, especially since they fight in 2x11 over how slow Jesse was moving in his plans? Other than objecting to killing Alex, why would Flint turn Alex over to Helena to blackmail Michael into building a second atomizer bomb? He should have just kept Alex out of the way until it was all over and let Jesse proceed with his plans. Flint's desire to work with Helena Ortecho remains a plot hole to me, that is explained in the most flimsy way of he thinks his dad isn't serious about killing all the aliens even though he has the means? And if he takes Alex from Jesse's control so easily, why not steal the bomb Jesse had too?

6. These are more gripes about continuity, not really plot holes, but the fact we have this loose timeline of events but it doesn't match the weather of filming.... Like Heather Hemmens looked so gorgeous in that little silk outfit in 2x01, but she's wandering outside in Dec in Roswell New Mexico looking like that. I get that it was filmed in August/Sept of 2019 but come on... so my main frustration is I have no idea what season and month is supposed to be on screen. Universe timeline says Winter but filming schedule meant it was early fall with still having the heat of summer there...then the show ends in May/June in the universe, but we all know RNM wrapped in Dec 2019/Jan 2020 so they are all bundled up in winter again.

7. Also on continuity, small things like Rosa's birthday being wrong, the fact her astrological sign isn't Pieces for either date, openly letting Greg Manes see Rosa, not seeming to care that Liz's ex-fiance hears that Rosa is alive - like i'm sure her "dead" sister came up in conversation between Liz/Diego

- the show gives us this beautiful conversation with Michael sharing his background with Alex in 1x10, but then Alex completely forgets it in 2x04 by dropping some line like "this is what you do with family" when Michael expresses confusion about a height chart. Also, on the same note- the jabs about the Library being a dive bar, also felt like a drop in continuity because Alex knows that Michael just lost his mom (1x12) , the government IS studying aliens, and his brother is in a pod, so like, he has some very valid reasons to drink if that's what he wanted to do with in his life in early season 2!! but, also he knows Michael is a genius??

- Why Alex never mentions Rosa, Isobel's blackouts/why Michael gave up UNM, or even hint about what happened with his dad in the shed during his conversation with Maria in 2x05 is also beyond bizarre to me. It was an "information" dump conversation that Alex still doesn't share all the information he has about a situation and just ends up looking kind of judgmental in my opinion.

- the truck conversation in 2x06 between Maria and Alex, why Maria prompts a girl's name when Alex says he's never been in a real relationship INSTEAD of addressing the very real elephant in the room, Michael Guerin, that they had a conversation about in 2x05- also feels like a gap in continuity.

8. Science wise- the pathogen that Charlie developed? It was supposed to be so specific that it could kill a leader of Al Quada and all of their direct descendants but leave the rest of the population unharmed. [Which um, that's a war crime, but whatever!] How was Maria affected? the DNA they had at Caulfield to develop it - like, Maria was descended from Louise and Louise lived free. The only person that pathogen SHOULD have affected was Michael (if they used Nora to base it on) Unless you're telling me that there's some protein in "alien dna" that is so specific to aliens, that no other human shares it, but also so completely undetectable that Kyle couldn't find it in Maria's blood... ? I suppose it's possible. I hope we get more explanation about that in season 3. It makes me wonder why Caulfield/Project Shepherd ever let Patty Harris go after she volunteered for some study then, and remained content to just pay her medical bills through a fake insurance company? [But also didn't flag Mimi and all the doctors that Maria took her to???]

9. Michael's hand. I'm going to reserve judgment about this, because some of my salt on this is based on season 3 promo pictures, but I really thought that moment in 2x13 when he takes off his hat, while Alex is singing, you see him without the wrapping on his hand, that maybe he found some peace with Jesse dead and demolishing the shed with Alex. But then it looks like the hand-danna is all over season 3, right up until the finale of season 3, so... was that a mistake in wardrobe AND not a beautiful moment of character growth??? I wish I could extend some grace to RNM about that, but alas... see above for why I have trust issues.

10. Perhaps I wasn't watching season 1 closely, but I thought Noah's madness was brought on by the fact he was stuck in his pod? That it was "lower class travel accommodations" and Isobel's scream at 13 got his attention? I assumed that he stayed in the pod, possessing Isobel on and off, right up until he used her body to kill Rosa in 2008, absorbing enough power to break out. So how did Noah find Jim Valenti so quickly? If it was through Isobel's memories, then why did Jim not immediately have Noah, some random alien approaching him about his recently dead daughter, hauled off to Caulfield? Jim pays $1,000 for Rosa's body, putting her in a pod [Noah's broken pod??] and stores her, waiting for...something? An alien to come along to bring her back. So did Jim know about The Savior? Why would Jim work with Noah and vice versa? Again, I'm hoping we get more about this in season 3.

11. Was there a point of keeping Alex in the Air Force? He arranges a place for them to work on bringing Max back, but I feel like anyone could have done that? Like Isobel had money, she could have rented a storage facility. All of the equipment was borrowed from the hospital, not the military. The information about 1947-1948 was from the drives decoded from Caulfield or the AAR report left by Flint in the Project Shepherd bunker (which again was decommissioned, not an active military installation). I could support the decision if it had provided some richness to the plot or some conflict within the character, neither of which really happened. Alex hacking the government and going undercover in the Air Force to protect Michael is basically fanon. I love that fanon, but alas...

12. Finally, the time jump. What year are we jumping into? 2020? 2021? Why does it make me think none of those questions above will be answered.

#rnm thoughts #season 3 thoughts #very long post #season 2 had tons of important conversations happen off screen #and tons of ooc conversations happen on screen #hopefully that changes in season 3