#and that’s why I liked the exploration of Murphy and his rights and his feelings because the first movie was about him like. learning that

[bookishjules]

hii jules!! so i saw you wanted to stretch your writing muscles, so can i request one for percabeth?? with the prompt "At least it couldn't get any worse." "I really wish you hadn't said that." (kinda wanted to ask all of the miscellaneous prompts but let’s go with this lol) <3

you can always always request percabeth <3 (send me a prompt!)

"At least it couldn't get any worse," Percy said as he set the last box down. "We're here, our stuff is here . . ." he trailed off, running a hand through his hair, as if the rest of his sentence were alluding him and he was too tired to chase it.

It was their first day in their new apartment. Their first apartment. Their own apartment. And it should have been an exciting day, full of exhausted smiles and quick, giddy kisses and enough trips up and down the stairs to their 4th floor walk-up that they could plan to be sore for the next few days. But they were demigods, they were used to being sore and achey. What they weren't used to was a sketchy moving company that was not only flakey and unprofessional, but that also ended up being run by monsters. They were easy enough to handle when they attacked, but that left the Annabeth and Percy down so much cash that they couldn't even consider finding another company to help move all the stuff they'd accumulated in the last four years from the bay area back to the city. They'd rented a uhaul and spent the next 5 days driving, managing to only break down once on the way, only to hit the worst traffic coming through Philly and then get stuck behind a pile-up on I-80 caused by caused by waterplaning and lack of visibility in the rain--because oh yeah, it had been storming too.

They could have crashed at Sally and Paul's, but it was past one am on a weeknight by the time they crossed into Manhattan and that just didn't feel fair to them. Besides, they were already here--might as well do what they could tonight while they were still motivated by frustration and spite.

So now it was somewhere between four and five a.m. and the sky was beginning to lighten outside the windows. Annabeth was exhausted. She was tired and thirsty and in desperate need of a shower.

Before she could get to any of that, though, she had to wash her hands. Stepping into the kitchen, she turned on the faucet--and paused, shutting it back off as she turned to look at Percy. "I really wish you hadn't said that," she said resentfully.

"What?" Percy asked, distracted.

"You jinxed it."

"What?" he said again.

"The water is brown." Her voice cracked. Of course the water was brown. Why would one thing work as it should when this whole week had been nothing but a prime example of Murphy's Law?

She could feel the tears building behind her eyes and slid to the floor, too tired to hold them back. The black-and-white kitchen tile was wet and grimey from the remains of the summer storm they'd brought in with the boxes and dismantled furniture, but who was she to deny this hell week its dramatic finale?

"Hmm," Percy said, his sneakers squeaked on the tile as he stepped onto the kitchen tile.

"You don't have to check," Annabeth said, still staring at the floor. "It's definitely not clean water."

But instead of stepping around her to reach for the sink, he crouched down beside her, reaching a hand forward to brush a lock of hair behind her ear so that she could turn and look at him without obstruction.

"I haven't explored much of the upper west side, but I do think I remember there being a 24 hour diner on Broadway a couple blocks south of here. Wanna go get breakfast?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Percy. I look like shit."

"Annabeth," he said. "Everyone looks like shit at 4:30 in the morning."

And then a grin broke across his face.

Annabeth gave him the most Are you insane? Why are you smiling right now? look she could muster.

"We're roommates," was his smug explanation. "I get to see you at 4:30 in the morning whenever I want."

Annabeth let that sink in, appreciating the truth and softness of it before giving him another playful eyeroll. "You can try, but there's no way I'm waking up at an ungodly hour just to sit and stare back at you."

There was a glimmer in Percy's eyes as he stood up and offered Annabeth a hand. "Come on," he said. "I could go for some pancakes."

"And coffee," Annabeth added. She reached up, placing her hand in his, and let him take some of her weight as she got her feet under her--

An unexpected squeak sounded through the empty apartment, and Percy was back on the floor, on his butt this time.

He groaned loudly, very likely in some degree of real pain, but Annabeth was already laughing too hard to be worried. She could tell he wanted to give some defense about how he'd slipped on the wet tile, but the laughter bubbled out of him too before he got the chance.

They were hysterical, completely defenseless against the the comical irony of the moment. When the laughs starting dying out, their eyes would meet and they'd begin again as if by compulsion--every stress of the week released breath by choked breath.

Annabeth saw through eyes blurred with tears the apartment they'd moved across the country to live in together--a mess of boxes of full of things that were theirs. She saw Percy still giggling in front of her, the early morning light outlining his profile and shining against his hair. And she was filled with so much love and hope.

Percy was right. They were here.

She sat forward a bit and threw her arms around her boyfriend, breathing in the scent of him underneath layers of sweat and rain and hotel shampoo. "I love you," she said, unreleased laughter still inflating her chest.

Percy's arms wrapped around her, and pulled her tight against him. His voice was a mix of laughter and sincerity as he said, "I love you, too, roomie."

Annabeth felt him press a kiss against her temple, his lips lingering there, silently reminding her that they'd been through worse. That whatever obstacles they faced now, in this new stage of life, they'd be facing them together, as they always had, and everything always felt more manageable when they were together.

#percabeth #percy jackson #annabeth chase #jules writes #pjo #percabeth fic #pjo fanfic #asks #cece 💙

[thefallenangelsgang]

FALLOUT 4 HEADCANON MASTERPOST

two and a half years ago (👀) I posted a list of headcanons right around when I started playing around with the ideas in my fallout WIP

I've decided they ( 1 + 2 ) need to be updated and added to especially after Death Shroud gave me so many great ideas/things I want to steal. Added break to save you dash my loves <3

I will keep adding to this lmao

SECTIONS:

Post #1 Revisions

Post #2 Revisions

Death Shroud Stuff I'm Kidnapping

Misc Stuff From Asks, Mods, and My Brain (AKA THE LONGEST SECTION)

From #1 (Link Here)

We are keeping chair bound Murphy

I may or may not be recanting my gangly tall 'n thin Hancock HC. I oscillate wildly between wanting him to be Eldritch God™ tall and "gimme uppies! :3" short. He may end up being both. His height will be whatever is funniest for the bit.

oh yeah Sarah Lyons got merc-ed B)

We are still kicking with Kellogg in Nicky's skull but with the added angsty-ness brought in by Death Shroud. Oh the plot! Oh how it hurts so good! Kellogg wanting to find someway to punish the SoleSu(s) and Nick for picking through his memories? Ugh! Give me it all.

We are cutting Billy and the Fridge. I don't want to deal with the nightmare plot holes it will bring up and Quincy will already have enough BS. Plus the more I think about it the less I like the whole quest and its placement. Fuck! Maybe he'll be referenced in Publick Occurrences? I don't care! We're loosey goosey bay-be!

- 10. can stay. I have no issues with them and nothing funny to add

From #2 (Link Here)

Now I can bring up my beloved Vault-Tec Rep. Him in the Death Shroud? Perfect. Beautiful. Stunning. I no longer have to call him Paul Eiding as a very direct nod to his VO. Our Beloved David Dwecker is married to Sheffield and they have a house in Sanctuary filled with Nuka-Cola memorabilia (for Sheffield) and collectable plates (the kind grandmothers display for our lovely Rep). They have a little sitting area set up in the carport where they hangout, smoke, and dance together to Diamond City Radio. I need this for my mental health okay?

Shaun being Autistic is something I really want to explore. I truly forget who I first saw say this but it is not an original idea by any means. I also think the poor thing would have some level of trauma from everything so exploring that is gonna be fun! (no it will not oh my god I'm going to dredge up all my childhood issues.)

OHHHH CHRISTMAS. YULETIDE. FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS. I find the "Seth Patrick" bit SO funny in Death Shroud so that is staying but also I feel like the feast of St. Nicholas got jokingly flipped into a celebration of Nick Valentine (Same with Valentine's Day) and people are beginning to forget the correct version. Nick tolerates it with an eye roll and a wry joke about people needing to read their history books but secretly finds the whole thing funny. Ellie has a santa suit for Nick to don during "his" holiday. Also the school children in Diamond City send Nick "Valentines" on valentines day and he displays them on his corkboard.

Music. My god the Johnny Guitar bit had me by the throat during Death Shroud. Expand those music libraries! Before you know it I'm gonna give Travis a rolling ladder attached to bookcases upon bookcases of records and holotapes. I want to hear people complain about how many Andrews Sisters records survived and God why won't Travis stop playing them!

The Flavor of Goodneighbor needs to be so complex. Like a good pasta sauce. I better be so overcome by the layers and smells and textures. Better Goodneighbor and Better Third Rail are really good starts but I'm expanding the shit out of both of them I think. I want to feel like Goodneighbor truly is dangerous to be in. Being able to cross most of the town in one sprint burst isn't cutting it Bethany Esda! Make it truly baffling how Hancock knows so much about the happenings in his town.

- 8. are about the BoS and I stand by them. You will get to meet my Lone Wanderer and learn about the hierarchies a little better. I redesigned the Orders and added one I think? I have to re-sort those notes lmao. Also the piloting thing is like MAJORLY important to me because the frequency of vertibird crashes in game pissed me off to no end.

From Death Shroud (@chadfallout76podcast THANK YOU)

Danse is just... Like That now. I can't wait to explore his character before and after Blind Betrayal especially because he will not be leaving the Brotherhood and he will still be Like That. [spoiler warning ;) for my story lol] I can't wait for the beautiful moments that will be born of it.

I actually kind of love some of the plot points in Death Shroud like the Mob Family wars? Staying 100%. Same with Ma and Boss Lombardo and some of the other families.

As is Charlie but I refuse to let him die. I got very attached to Charlie and his death was so perfect but this time he gets to stay alive dammit.

Magnolia sending Magnolia flowers with her letters? Genius

Vault-Tec Rep (David my beloved) being the saddest, wettest cat of a man imaginable when he's in Goodneighbor? Also fucking genius.

"Fish-lips" Malone being part of the same family as Skinny has me so excited for more mob family bullshit.

Ruffino's and the Black Rose is being transplanted somewhere and maybe might be near the Combat Zone. New den of sin anyone?

Obviously I'm not going to attempt to pull apart the fabric of reality in-canon but my god Death Shroud was fun <3

Some new Misc HCs

Diamond City is bigger and more populated, kind of in the same vein as the Goodneighbor HC. I haven't found a mod layout I like so I might end up redesigning it (Please kill me)

This is an old one from an ask! Hancock will help work the bar at the Third Rail occasionally. He's a notorious show off and his cocktails are mainly just straight liquor but he entertains the hell out of people when he dives over the bar to take orders and bother Whitechapel Charlie. There are major losses on nights he bartends due to the fact he forgets (sometimes purposefully) to take payment. Regulars know to put the cash in the tip jar so Whitechapel can collect it at the end of the night.

Another thing I'm keeping from an ancient ask, Danse wants kids. Badly. And the crushing blow of being sterile really fucks with him for a while. but he eventually comes to terms with it. He's also still touchy (as in he's always touching his partner) per that ask because I think that's cute.

I'm just going through old asks now lmao. Nick and Ellie dance together like the true father-daughter pair they are

I forgot who drew this but I once saw someone pair Sturges and Ellie together and that is the cutest damn thing so it stays.

MacReady got the Lone Wanderer's Grognak magazine as a gift for letting them into Little Lamplight and it's one of his prized possessions.

Macready and the Lone Wanderer's reunion is very cute my dudes.

More general slice of life stuff like fishing on the mainland and boats, more things to do in general, transportation, cool amputees, and other shit listed in this post I reblogged YEARS ago

OH Travis and Scarlett get married <3

Danny Sullivan skips town after taking the fun way down from the mayor's office and travels with some cross country caravans before coming back to work in Diamond City. YES HE LIVES!

Holy fuck i forgot I had this mod but the Institute projects the sky up on their ugly concrete dome because this mod fucks hard

Just the general vibe of raiders employing children and stringing more dead mutilated bodies about. There are mods for that and let me tell you they make the raider camps horrifying. No I will not be linking them. But they are available on Nexus should you want them.

Okay I'm changing the layout of everything apparently: Including but not limited to the Railroad HQ, The Prydwen, Vault 111, etc. Fuck game design I guess lmao. I like XFreakish's Railroad Redone and NordKitten's A Sensible Prydwen Overhaul for in game and basically plan to build off of them.

The asks: Hancock bartending, Danse wanting kids and being into physical affection, Nick and Ellie Dancing + MacReady and the LW's Grognak (same ask)

#fallout 4 #fo4 #fo4 headcanons #headcanons #fo4 headcanon #death shroud #nick valentine #john hancock #paladin danse #fo4 companions #rj maccready #sole survivor #Jericho Writes

[spaceorphan18]

Has the alleged biphobia of Kurt in BIOTA always been an issue, or is it a recent upset for fandom ? I can see what the writers were intending - Kurt’s fear he’d lose Blaine to Rachel, and that’s why he said what he said. And Blaine’s retort that he’d say bye but wouldn’t want to upset Kurt was the writers trying to joke.

But it’s become the number one criticism of Kurt? And like so much in the show that maybe wasn’t an issue in 2010 is now an issue?

I mean, yes and no. I think the younger audience coming to it is less tolerant of this kind of stuff, and can be more harsh?

[I also think - and I'm not pinning this on one demographic - that people tend to see things in black and white, and weaponize mistakes to use as reasons to not like a thing.]

To put in perspective -- I am way younger than Ryan Murphy, but when I first saw this scene it made sense to me as someone who grew up in a time period when being gay was something you did not talk about, and a majority of people of people did not tolerate it. Like, at all.

Case in point - I have an old, high school friend who is gay. He came out in college as bisexual. He used bisexual as a way to kind of test the waters to see how those around him would react. Later, he fully came out as gay. It was a thing that happened, and a thing that happened way before society became much more comfortable with people in the LGBT community.

Look - I'm not saying that Kurt is in the right here -- he's not. He should not be dismissive of Blaine's sexuality exploration. But his words come from the fear, yes, Blaine would leave Kurt as a romantic possibility for Rachel. It is not indicative of how Kurt feels about bisexuals but about how he feels threatened of losing his one hope of an actual romance. And even though this script is credited to Ian Brennan, I have no doubt that Ryan Murphy, as an older gay man, had a big hand in this storyline.

I do know that Kurt had his critics back then. But I also think it's another way people can latch onto Kurt (or the show) being bad at being queer. Or another instance of pointing at Glee's biphobia. Now, look, I'm not saying Glee wasn't biphobic, because there are some really wretched instances of it, the worst being the fact that Brittany was never allowed to openly identify as such, but this is a Kurt's being terrible because of a personal thing. Not Kurt is terrible because he's biphobic.

And, idk Nonny, some people just like to take any reason to be mad on the internet.

#that's how s.o. sees it #i feel like i could have been more eloquent in my discussion #idk

[sometimesrosy]

The 100 2023 rewatch ep 1.4

Murphy's Law

Man I wish Wells had survived. I wish we could have seen who he became. :(

The wall has been built. Good for them. Clarke is outside it in the growing graveyard, mourning Wells. Finn sneaks up on her telling her what to do. (shouldn't be out here) says the guy who spent another night exploring out in the woods. Oh he got her something did he?

And she's charmed by the art supplies. It makes her remember Wells who was trading his own stuff to give her supplies. NOW she starts blaming her mother. I mean, fine it's her mother's fault, but oh she realizes what she can do to make her "feel it." Vengeful child. And feel it she does. The first terminated signal in over a week. She is freaking out over Clarke maybe dying.

Meanwhile, Monty needed a working wristband for the comm signals. "Well be talking to the Ark by nightfall." Monty's such a sweety and so competent.

Look at those delinquents working hard building walls. Look at Murphy being a dick to the kid who stumbles. Look at Bellamy being dad bellamy and teasing little Charlotte. OMG WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU MURPHY??

I forgot he peed on that poor kid who wanted a water break. WHAT A DICK. How in the world did they redeem him. But they did.

O is leading Jasper out into the woods. And she gets grabbed. By one of the Johns. Then he trips and sees Wells' severed fingers. Hello Trauma capital T.

Dick Kane is tracking Abby and wanting to know why he's going to Mecha. She lies and says someone has strep. "We don't want another outbreak." And he backs off. She lies again saying she'll keep him informed. Mecha has Raven fixing the tincan. No pressure regulator and they can't ride in the shuttle.

The metal knife from the drop ship. The grounders didn't kill Wells, it was one of us. Bellamy points out there's more than one murderer in the camp. Ooooh. Bellamy and Clarke conflict. he wants the news quiet. Keep people afraid and they'll work for him. Fear of the grounders is building the wall. Don't even know who's knife that is.

OH really? JM. John Murphy. The people have a right to know. SHe goes RIGHT to Murphy and blames her for killing him. He of course denies it because he didn't. AND BELLAMY believes her. "I don't have to answer to anyone!"

Come again? Asks bellamy. And he says the knife and fingers were found together. Poor murphy. He really didn't do it. The kid he peed on wants him floated. "It's justice." She says revenge isn't justice. WOW that's a lot of delinquents jumping Murphy. O wanted to stop it. She was a lot less blood thirsty in season 1. I wish we coulda stuck with that.

Clarke is saying they can't string him up

Oooh. this is graphic. Clarke says Bellamy can stop this and the peed boy says Bellamy should do it. They start chanting his name. And Clarke says she saw him in the woods and she knows he's not a killer.

OMG they actually drop him. THat is awful. Awful. WOW>

HOLY SHIT. I forgot how HORRIBLE that was in the immediate reveal that Charlotte did it.

Horror on top of horror on top of horror. That's how this show dragged us in. We never had a chance to recover or even process one horror before finding another.

Meanwhile Bellamy REALLY does not want to do this, but he's going with the crowd. He's NOT in control, but he's afraid that if he stands against them he'll lose control.

Nigel's "little bird" needs a pressure regulator. What for? Regulating pressure. She says she has her mother's sense of humor. And she doesn't move machine parts. How bout some moonshine and herb. She tries to pimp Raven out to the chief of electrical. Her mother would have taken that deal. In fact, she did, many times. We forgot about Raven's history, didn't we.

"I was just trying to slay my demons, like you told me."

Little girl never learned about metaphors and symbolism. What that little girl could have used was a good ENGLISH TEACHER!!! That's right, an english teacher could have saved Wells. lol

Bellamy blames Clarke. If she didn't tell then those idiots would still be building the wall. Meanwhile he wants to save Charlotte the actual murderer. "Giving the people what they wanted."

Now Murphy is trying to get the delinquents to string up Charlotte. "It's okay to string me up for nothing but when this little bitch confesses, you wanna let her walk." And Murphy slams Bellamy and tries to get the girl. This is jam packed.

Clarke and Finn run off with Charlotte into the woods.

UH OH. The arc medical unit. There's a lot of kids not doing so well. Oxygen deprivation. Raven can't get the part. Nygel has the part, and Abby is going to take care of it. I actually always wanted to see Nygel on earth. She would have been GREAT as a villain. Trading morphine for a pressure regulator.

Charlotte tries to hold Clarke's hand and Clarke is MAD. "Clarke she's just a kid." "She's a killer. Look at me, you can't just kill someone to make yourself feel better."

Finn found a bunker for hiding.Art supply store. "I can't believe you kept this place quiet." Clarke agrees with me. Repurposing and sharing with the group. He bribes her with colored pencils. Jerk. They're using a shit ton of candles. Wasteful.

She thinks if she hadn't told none of this would've happened. Finn says she couldn't have known. "Bellamy knew."

Kane's mom Vera. It's funny whose names i remember. The magic earth tree. It's just a bonsai. Nygel tells Kane about Abby. She sucks. Great villain. He calls her a plague on the ship.Oops theres the morphine.

Clarke fell asleep on Finn's shoulder and she grins, she's got a crush on the worthless jackass. And Charlotte's gone.

Bellamy has found her. It's Charlotte hunting season. Bellamy is trying to help her. "I'm not your sister." She's got your number B.

"Listen to me Charlotte. I. Won't. Leave. You."

She calls for Murphy.

Raven and Abby fixing the shuttle as we wait for Kane to come. She finds out that Kane knows the morphine is gone. They're gonna be here in five and Raven needs 20. "Only one of us needs to get to the ground. 300 people will die if you don't." "They'll float you." "Then they'll float me."

Bellamy is carrying Charlotte over her shoulder before running into the cliff. Here comes murphy. He's ready to take a few of them with her. Clarke arrives. "This has gone too far."

Murphy grabs her and holds a knife to Clarke's throat. A trade for Charlotte. She wants to trade herself. She's feeling guilt. So she jumps over the cliff.

Bellarke's first lost child.

Now Murphy is like, "bellamy..." and bellamy is going to bet him to death. "he deserves to die."

"NO! We don't decide who lives or dies, not down here."

This is when they become partners. "We need rules."

"And who makes those rules? YOu?"

"For now WE make the rules. We banish him."

Bellamy is with her. Threatens him if he ever sees him in camp again. And says the other four can be with him or die with Murphy. THey choose Bellamy.

Finn is all emotional. And useless I might add.

Raven racing against the clock to regulate pressure. And Nygel gave her a bum part. Great villain. She sees a space suit. oh that will work.

Abby tells Kane that she's trying to save "all of us." He arrests her and continues the search for Raven Reyes WHO has just taken off in a rusted tincan. She floated HERSELF bitch.

Clarke and Bellamy speaking to the collected Delinquents and nodding to each other. Partners.

Monty has gotten the wristband working. Morse code. OH no. It fried every last wristband. Fried them all? Then how did they use the wristband in season 3??? Oh it might have been one of the ones the took off before.

Meanwhile O is rewarding "brave" Jasper with a kiss. He picked the wrong girl to have a crush on, I tell yah.

Oh UGH. Finn is destroying the bunker because "we're dead to them." we're not alone. YOURE Not alone. No it was Finn who kissed her not Clarke who kissed finn. Now they have their love scene. Meh. Short.

With his girlfriend Raven coming down AS they're doing it.

Rude. Honestly what a soapy mess. Clarke and Raven shoulda gotten together and left Finn out completely. Damn right.

Anyway. That's a jam packed episode. Very dramatic. High stakes. Life and death on the small scale with the delinquents and the large scale with the Ark.

The hanging scene was BRUTAL. Like it was really violent. And the Charlotte reveal was a gut punch. The acting has stepped up big time. (I still don't love O and Jasper, I never really did, but everyone else.)

Murphy is absolutely despicable in all conceivable ways. Clarke is desperate. Bellamy is floundering. Finn is just standing around doing nothing while Bellarke does it all... sorry, he's judging. He does that. Raven is a super star. Abby is determined. Kane has a stick up his butt but he honestly does think he's doing the right thing, although he's still a dick. Monty is a genius. Jasper is terrified. O is a lot kinder in this episode. She loses that later, too bad. We got a lot of worldbuilding for the Ark in this episode with the politics and blackmarket and health crises and Raven's backstory.

I'm actually really enjoying watching this show for story OUTSIDE of Bellarke. There's a lot that I've forgotten.

#the 100 rewatch 2023 #murphy's law #sorry i'm late with this i had a busy week and didn't get the chance to watch. #hopefully i'll get to watch the next episode today too

[denimbex1986]

"...What I really need to do was take the audience and put them into Oppenheimer's head, so that we experience what he experienced, we make the decisions he made - we understand him, rather than judge him."

"Chris was very clear - from the first time we talked about it - that this entire thing was going to live and die on the back of Cillian Murphy. That that performance is absolutely central, and that in fact he wrote the script in the first person to give us, you know the crew and the cast, the understanding that this is gonna be what the movie feels like; this is going to be like a journey through this man's mind."

"...Chris used this great phrase at the beginning of our journey, and he said he, he likened Oppenheimer's approach to kind of morality as being like dancing between the raindrops and that was very useful to me."

"I've worked with Cillian before so we do have a sort of history and and secret language with each other now. I, I love him; would love to work with him on everything, and I think there's a lot of trust there. But truly the scenes that I had with Cillian were very raw and emotional; it's almost like all of these characters around Oppenheimer you get to tease out different sides to the spectrum of the person. And I think his scenes with Kitty were like very much what it looks like when the sky goes dark. Like, what does this man look like, and the exploration of the true trauma on his - on that brain, like, living with a brain like that."

"I've always loved trying to portray the kind of internal landscape of a character non-verbally, you know, to me that's, that's what screen acting is, and in this script, Chris had written in all these kind of cutaways to what we think might be the interior of Oppenheimer's imagination, or it could be sort of physics at work in the universe."

"...brains like this are so unique, and they come from all over the world...they all know each other, right, so this handful of people are very familiar with each other...and so Oppenheimer was in a unique position to, to understand and instruct Groves: 'Someone's going to bring this bomb into the world and it's better than it's us than them.'"

"I love the dynamic particularly between me and Matt, me and - because we are very much the kind of the, the, you know, the, the, the odd couple, and the, the kind of duo - and I don't think necessarily, but they needed each other."

"Groves desperately needed Oppenheimer to achieve a bomb and Oppenheimer needed Groves' logistics and logistical skill and, and, and really that mentality - I mean Oppenheimer would've been too permissive. That, that tension that existed between the military and the scientists was very interesting..."

"Chris works on this big scale, on this giant canvas, and his films, you know, are spectacles in many ways, but in all my six movies working with Chris I never really think of them as big, ginormous sets and set pieces and explosions. I always think of them as me and Chris and the actors in a room, one camera, the boom op, and no monitors, no video village nothing like that - and it becomes a kind of a laboratory, a very safe and private and intimate laboratory, you know, where you're able to explore and, and find things and fail and that's; they're the best environments to work in."

"What Cillian brings is the charisma and empathetic nature of a great actor who can open his mind, his heart to the audience and bring them into his, his state of mind. And so we needed to take the audience, and we used large format film to do this with its higher resolution and increased clarity; we try and push our way through his eyes and into, into his head in a pretty physical manner with this giant IMAX camera just inches from his nose."

"...he is this visual giant, but he's just as interested, curious and specific about the acting as well; the, the performances are just as integral, you know, in his movies. I think that's why you see that rare mix in his films; they're, they're so entertaining and they're huge, sweeping movies, but these very intimate relationships at the core of it - he's just as interested in both."

"Chris is an analog filmmaker, that's what he believes in; he believes there's an emotional connection to, to real, practical effects, much more so than there is with computer-generated effects and, you know, I've been in, over so many films with Chris, like I've been on that boat out in the middle of nowhere in, in Dunkirk and up on top of a mountain in this whiteout snowstorm in Inception, and he believes that if you put the performers in that environment, that naturally they're going to respond in a much more truthful, honest, kind of viscerally energetic way than they would if they were in a sort of a green screen environment or a, or a set. And in this movie, every single location was a real location. There was no set builds in the movie, so we're in Oppenheimer's house and we were in, we were in Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos, so there's, there's some, some energy that comes off those walls, there's some kind of vibrations, there's some stories that they tell you."

"You don't get to work like that that often; it's not fully realised for you. And I think as we feel it, I think you guys feel it, I think it's the same watching Tom Cruise do stunts; you are sucked into it because you know he's doing it. And it's more nightmarish. And I think Oppenheimer and when the bomb goes off, it is scarier, it's more nightmarish because you know it's real."

"When I first read the script, it was really overwhelming; it's very intense and I, and I said to him: "God, how is it that my mind played this trick on me? That, you know the Cold War ended and I went - my, my brain just went: 'Ah this isn't a problem anymore, you can get on with your life.'" And, you know, obviously that's absurd; you know, the threat didn't go anywhere. And as we started shooting, the war in Ukraine broke out, and suddenly it was like a switch was flipped and everybody was talking about it again."

"So for me, it's about my desire to be in that room, and as an audience member, bring myself and other audience members into that room to be there for that moment where they, they went ahead and did that, because it's one of the great dramatic moments in history."

#Oppenheimer #Cillian Murphy #Emily Blunt #Matt Damon #Christopher Nolan #Youtube

[checkoutmybookshelf]

The Cassidy Brothers

CE Murphy is a favorite on this blog, to the point that I, a strict physical book reader, was so amped for this new book that I caved and bought the e-book (with the intention to also purchase a physical copy when those come out, because we must have standards and frankly reading on the Kindle app on any device is a goddamn nightmare and I hate it). Then I was so caught up in the exploits of the Cassidy Brothers that I inhaled this book between tasks for a wedding I was helping to throw. Let's talk Through the Fire.

This book is NOT Supernatural fanfic. Anybody on the internet saying that a) doesn't know what they're talking about, b) doesn't understand how copyright and publishing laws work, and c) needs to stop saying that. Plus, I tried for years to like Supernatural (Dean Winchester is very pretty to look at) and never managed to do it. Through the Fire had me at hello.

What this book IS is an exploration of Chris and Nick Cassidy as they come back together after a three-year estrangement to "bury" their father. Their dad made a living as a bounty hunter for both common criminals and grendels (I could define this for you, but I won't. Read the book.). Chris was pulled into the family business and into raising his younger brother after their mother's death. Then emotions get complicated when Chris so successfully raises his brother that Nick gets into college and is 3/4 of the way into med school when they have to come back together.

That's about all I'm going to give you for plot though, because--and I cannot stress this enough--I STRONGLY recommend reading this book.

I will say, however, that the sometimes cruel and sometimes tender but always deeply loving relationship between these brothers was the heart and soul of the book, and it pulled me through as a reader without my even noticing. The sheer immersion was excellent.

The other real strength of this book was the feeling of trying to be between and navigate class. Nick was raised in a family that was perpetually short of money, but in college he clearly learned fast how to pass in a more affluent world. Murphy slams those two worlds together and doesn't for a moment shy away from the fallout and emotional toll of that collision. Honestly my favorite moments were, in no particular order, a rich student saying "My parents can make it right with the school if I miss my midterms" and the exchange about painting cars properly yourself, followed by "Why don't you just take it to a shop?" The silence and cringe were PALPABLE.

Books about brothers are not new, but it's rare that I gravitate toward them. If I could yeet this book into readers' brains (the story though, not the physical book. We do not yeet physical books at people's heads.), I absolutely would, because the story of these two brothers is just that good.

#ce murphy #through the fire #adult fantasy novel #adult fiction #books & libraries #books and reading #books and novels #book recommendations #brothers #books about brothers

[sinceileftyoublog]

Lankum Album Review: False Lankum

(Rough Trade)

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Lankum are a true progressive folk band, exploring the genre’s crossover appeal. Yet, the Irish quartet don’t make accessible music, necessarily; rather, they find common themes among tales of heartbreak, murder, oppression, and the terrible things the human race is capable of, diving headfirst into the darkness of old stories and applying it to new worlds. Produced by John “Spud” Murphy, the band’s latest album False Lankum is far and away their most ambitious and best, as horrific at times as it is beautiful. It begins with “Go Dig My Grave”, a standard tale of lovelorn suicide and its resulting note with burial instructions, that’s seen versions by everyone from Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson to Lambchop. It starts with singer Radie Peat, a capella, an uneasy shrillness in the weariness of her voice and the sharp tones of the guitar stabs. Eventually, the piercing drones and stomping percussion--meant to invoke the Irish process of keening--emulate the never-ending strikes of shovels in the ground during a burial. It’s straight out of an Ari Aster film.

False Lankum take traditional Irish music and put it up against a mirror, the inherent doom of the song’s themes staring right back at it in the face. “Master Crowley’s” is an instrumental fiddle reel that morphs into something truly sinister and dangerous, woozy concertinas and string instruments squeaking and growling like rabid, out-of-breath animals. On “Lord Abore and Mary Flynn”, Cormac MacDiarmada’s pained singing carries the dark, sad jaunt about a mother who poisons her teenage son instead of allowing him to choose his own love. Epic closer “The Turn”, one of two Daragh Lynch originals, sees the vocal harmonies in lower octaves, the song structure alternating between ambient and a galloping, fatalistic chorus. “Turn, we’ll find better days / Burned to the ground / Mourn, it’s the only way / We’ll make a sound,” they sing, before the song ends with clattering drums and squealing drones, the true sound of mourning, indeed.

Of course, there’s beauty and triumph in the pain on False Lankum, like on Gordon Bok tune “Clear Away in the Morning”, where the abstractly doom-filled strings are nonetheless gentle in their delivery alongside whispered vocal harmonies. “Netta Perseus”, another original, sports muted harmonies and plucked guitars, rolling drums and synthesizers that take us into an abyss of sound. The harmonic, chanted “The New York Trader” is a sea shanty about sacrificing the life of a confessed murderer boat captain in order to calm the seas, immigrants coming ashore in “Amerikay” bloodied but alive, which is how you feel as the song thrashes about until its conclusion.

And then there’s centerpiece “Newcastle”, which has origins in the 17th century but, along with “Lord Abore and Mary Flynn”, has undeniable contemporary applications. The former could be sung from the perspective of the latter’s victim. “Why should I not love my love? / Why shouldn’t my love love me? / Why shouldn’t I not speed after her / Since love to all is free?” the band longingly ask on “Newcastle”, presenting the questions of freedoms and human agency as matter-of-fact, righteous parts of existence rather than something to be begged for. In telling these stories, Lankum keep folk alive and well, peeling back its layers to reveal raw wounds.

#album review #lankum #false lankum #rough trade #rough trade records #john spud murphy #jean ritchie #doc watson #lampchop #radie peat #ari aster #cormac macdiarmada #daragh lynch #gordon bok

[badassbutterfly1987]

Day 7: castle

Fandom: Dresden Files

Group: Harry Dresden & Thomas Raith

Tags: post Skin Game AU

Summary: Thomas explores Harry's new castle.

Thomas had insisted on exploring every room in the castle. 

Harry truddged along behind him, trying not to feel irritated. Some days his brother just had a lot of energy and motivation, and today was seemingly one of those days. Maybe he'd recieved good news before his visit.

At least he hadn't started jumping on one of the beds. Yet.

"I don't get why you're so excited," he eventually said. "You grew up in an estate."

Thomas just grinned back at him, currently examining yet another guest bedroom. "Yeah, but that was an estate; this is a castle."

Harry was pretty sure that the only real difference between a castle and an estate was square footage, and Thomas wasn't the type to care about size. But maybe the emptiness was part of the appeal; no abusive sex vampires in sight.

"Will Maggie be moving in with you?"

"Probably." It was about time he acted like a proper father to her, couldn't keep pushing her off onto the Carpenters; they adored Maggie certainly, and generally raised their children well, but they weren't her parents. "Lot of empty rooms though, not sure what I'll do with them."

It took Harry a moment to notice that Thomas had gone silent and was now looking at him expectantly. Oh.

"You want to move in," he said flatly.

"Can we?" Thomas asked hopefully. "Justine would like that; the apartment won't be big enough in a few months. I bet Murphy would like to move in too."

Harry's first thought was Oh god, McCoy's gonna hate this, his second was it's like the roommate situation all over again, and the third...

"What's changing in a few months?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Thomas' face went carefully blank. 

"...do you want the long version with annotated diagrams or the short boring version?"

"Short version?"

Thomas was trying not to fidget but Harry knew his tells well enough that it was clear he was brimming with hopeful excitement. "We didn't want to tell you too early in case it didn't work out. Plus we're still debating names."

Oh. Oh. 

"Oh, wow," he said weakly. 

"I know, right?" Thomas grinned. "So, do you think there's room for us?"

There was no way he could refuse them.

#writersmonth2022 #dresden files #thomas raith #harry dresden #fanfic #harry + thomas

[symeraid-s]

2023 Retrospective: TV Shows, Movies and other Music

This is not being ranked. I’m just gonna talk about TV Shows and Movies I watched this year, as well as one artist that released a banger album, which I could not fit in anywhere else. So, let’s start out with:

Other Music

Måneskin

Yeah, the RUSH! Album is really fantastic. I don’t really know what to tell you. GOSSIP was randomly recommended to me, and I couldn’t stop listening to the entire album afterwards. My favourite song of it right now is probably either OWN MY MIND of GASOLINE, but it is a great all round package. If you like rock music, I really recommend you check this out.

TV Shows and Movies

Kamen Rider Geats

Technically this show started in 2022, but it finished in 2023, so I’ll count it regardless. This was the first Kamen Rider Season I watched while airing and honestly? I don’t regret it. It’s probably not my favourite Kamen Rider Season, that title will most likely remain with Build for a while, but God damn, is Ace just a fun main rider to watch. Because I can’t deny it: I love it when a character is an asshole with a heart of gold. He also gives me gender envy. I also really like the design of the rider forms (particularly Geats Mach 2 and Nago Fantasy) and the fact that there are multiple female riders that get a lot of screen time throughout the entire season. The fandom got really weird for a while though, which was not enjoyable. But hey, I guess that’s just normal with Toku shows.

Oppenheimer

Yeah, this might be one of the best directed movies I have ever seen. It’s 3 Hours of talking, but it never drags, and it never feels like anything should have been left on the cutting room floor. Cillian Murphy is also really fantastic as Oppenheimer, and I really hope he finally wins an Oscar for this movie. He would absolutely deserve it.

Barbie

It only feels right to put this one after Oppenheimer. I didn’t like it as much, but it certainly was one of the most movies to ever movie. I wish it had been a bit campier and actually stuck with the commentary they were doing, because it does backpedal at the end, when it gets to Mattel. It’s still their product after all, so you can’t portray them as irredeemable villains, but they really got of way too easy. Just saying. The set and costume design is off the charts though and Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are fantastic in their respective roles.

Nimona

This movie is just a delight to watch. It’ll make you laugh, but it’ll also emotionally destroy you and leave you weeping in a puddle by the end. According to fans of the graphic novel, it deviates a lot from the actual ending, but I really loved the conclusion, so I can’t complain too much about that. All of the voice actors did a fantastic job and the chemistry between the characters is perfect.

Bokura no Shokutaku/Our Dining Table

The Toku to BL pipeline is going strong with two main riders starring in this show. Both Iijima Hiroki and Inukai Atsuhiro are absolutely fantastic in this show and at this point I don’t know why I’m still surprised with Inukai’s performances. He always gives 200%. This show is really wholesome, but also sad. It explores how trauma can stem from the seemingly smallest thing, which is something that really needs to be explored more in media. It’s probably one of my favourite shows this year.

Heartstopper Season 2

The second season diverges a lot from the Webtoon, but in a good way. It expands the universe, so to say. It also starts to deal with more serious themes yet keeps you in this bubble of queer warmth which is beautiful. There is also a canon asexual character, so that’s also a win. My favourite character this season was Tao. Mostly because every time he opens his mouth I think: “He’s just like me for real.” William Gao really does a great job.

Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves

This is just a really good fantasy movie, regardless of if you play DnD. I watched this one together with my DnD party though, which was really hilarious, because our DM constantly went: “You are just as stupid as them”. Aside from that, the technical aspects of this movie are also really great. The practical effects are really stunning and the VFX look just as good. Chris Pine is also the best Hollywood Chris.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

I watched this movie together with my colleagues because the company I work for contributed the COVID tests for the filming done in Germany. So, whenever we recognised a set, we would immediately point it out. Some shots from District 12 and the Capitol were filmed in Duisburg and Berlin respectively, in case anyone is interested. But yeah, I wouldn’t have watched this movie, if it wasn’t for that. To be fair, the performances were really good, and I liked the songs, but it does kind off feel… weird. Like, some of the plot advancements seem contrived.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

My father is a big fan of the franchise and Harrison Ford, so he dragged me and my mother to see this movie. It was not the worst, but god, was it a drag at times. The entire opening scene, where they de-aged Harrison Ford was so badly lit, that I almost couldn’t see any of the action. The main villain’s plan doesn’t make any sense. The ending seems purposefully left open, even though we don’t want or need a new movie. I can’t believe I’d say this, but just let Indy die.

#disclaimer: just my opinion #2023 retrospective #maneskin #kamen rider geats #oppenheimer #barbie #barbenheimer #nimona #bokura no shokutaku #our dining table #heartstopper #dungeons and dragons honor amongst thieves #the hunger games #indiana jones #final part

[themovieblogonline]

Jurassic Park Is Celebrating 30 Years Since Release

When Jurassic Park stomped its way onto the big screen back in July of 1993, viewers were just not ready to have their lives completely changed (For the better!). No one had seen anything of this size before, and it was also one of the first big blockbusters to really push the process of CGI forward. Based on the book of the same name by author Michael Crichton; Paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) & Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), along with Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are selected to tour Isla Nublar, an isolated island funded by billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) that’s populated with re-created dinosaurs, events, unsurprisingly take a horrific turn as humans become the prey. Steven Spielberg’s approach to Jurassic Park is a textbook lesson when it comes to a movie that respects its source material. There are so many truly incredible moments in Jurassic Park, so I just wanted to take this opportunity to point out just a couple of them. When Ellie and Alan first see a Brachiosaurus, you really feel their sense of awe. The moment feels as real as it possibly can be, and as a viewer, you become so excited at the notion of being able to explore this park with them. When the tour, as I’ve already hinted, goes ridiculously wrong, we get our encounter with the T-Rex, and it's a sequence that still sticks with many of us. You see John Hammond’s grandchildren Lex (Ariana Richards) & Tim Murphy (Joseph Mazzello) attempt to stay safe when a T-Rex throws their tour car around like a bit of trash. When this is happening, Alan does his best to distract the T-Rex. Overall, it’s a LOUD and powerful scene, that has you on the edge of your seat. You’ve also got the legendary dino-car chase sequence with an injured Ian Malcolm in the back seat, you see that "Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear" moment, with the T-Rex crashing its way towards their car. Finally, no one can forget that classic shot of the T-Rex, as the "When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth" banner comes crashing down in front of it, it's simple, yet genius. One of the absolute best things about Jurassic Park, outside of the story itself, is its soundtrack. The main theme tune, composed by the legendary John Williams is so iconic, and so memorable, that I'm pretty sure it's permanently playing in my mind. You can hear it right now, can’t you? AND, you can also see that helicopter flying towards Isla Nublar... To conclude I'm excited to remind you that Jurassic Park is returning to cinema screens this month to celebrate its 30th anniversary. To this day it's considered by many as the best dinosaur film ever made, and to be honest, not much within the same genre has come close to its creative level since, it's a giganotosaurus-sized achievement, and it's a film that'll be played until the end of time. There’s an endless list of reasons as to why this film is so iconic, however, can you think of some of the ones that I’ve missed? If so, just put them in the comment section below! Read the full article

[k00280184]

Stephen Murphy

This morning we got a talk from Stephen Murphy which was really interesting and useful. I learned a lot about finding your niche as an artist and what can direct your art and style.

Why do we make art? There are two reasons - to receive pleasure, or to escape pain. Murphy says his reason is to escape pain, that art scratches an itch in his brain. Because of this, his work tends to be serious and laborious, or seen as tortured. He said that people are often surprised when they meet him that he isn't an overly serious person. I think this is a great point that art can be used as an outlet and exploration.

For example, this work of his "Playing Possum" shows a child playing dead, following a theme of death in his work. It's a solemn image, contrasted with the childish toys and costume.

He also talked about some of the practicalities of being an artist, like receiving criticism and rejection or dealing with competitiveness. Because art is subjective, people will have all kinds of opinions on it. While constructive criticism is useful, It's important to consider your own feelings on your work and what advice you choose to take on or not. Rejection isn't a failure and opinions on your work may change over time. He also reminded us that we're not in competition with other artists, like our classmates or exhibition applicants. I think that was good to hear, because since art is so subjective, you might feel that you're fighting to have objectively the "best" art when that isn't possible to achieve.

We also got to ask questions at the end, so I asked about his approach to art - did he start solely as a painter, and would he recommend exploring a multi-disciplinary approach right from the start? Unfortunately my answer from Murphy was cut off as we ran out of time, but I got to hear him talk about how as a painter, he stubbornly painted everything, even when it may have made more sense to draw it or approach it another way. Later he moved into drawing, collage and sculpture, and said to keep in mind that the medium should match the message. Some works make sense as paintings, others as sculptures, it just depends of what you want it to say. I thought this was really useful advice to keep in mind.

#painting elective #artist research

[eliceislandent]

Back In The Saddle

Back In the Saddle:

I went to bed way too late. I got my second wind at 9pm and ended up staying up until 3:49am. I was working on my horror script for a little, then watched the movie BARBARIAN as a palette cleanser. Gotta say this movie was quite entertaining — with the caveat that the underlying reason for the horror was downright awful.

However, as scary movies go it was original (-ish.) There are shades of Fede Álvarez’s DON’T BREATHE. Part of what makes BARBARIAN feel fresh and surprising is the way writer-director Zach Cregger chose to tell the story. It was like a puzzle where you keep finding new pieces in the box. High recommend for you horror fans.

(A special nod to the editing here. Done with a deft touch by Joe Murphy. There are two cuts in particular that I don’t want to go into detail on for fear of ruining the movie for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but they work in a way that impacts the viewer as only movies can. After the first cut, I was instantly disappointed I hadn’t seen Barbarian with an audience. It’s the kind of scene movies are made for, and why the best experience is still a dark movie theater.)

After the movie ended, I read some of the Lee Child novel I am into, but it still took another hour to fall asleep because I was still thinking about the movie, whcihis the mark of any good story. It sticks with you.

I finally dozed off just before 4am.

Fortunately, my wife is home today so she was able to get the kids up and at ‘em this morning (usually I am the early riser who makes breakfast). I woke up at 8:17, and rolled out of bed about ten minutes later.

Also fortunate is the fact that our children are all feeling better, one well enough to return to school. As a parent you can’t think quite straight when your kids are sick. Thank God for the blessings of good health. So off to school the middle child went, not without some protest once she realized her two siblings were staying home.

Sorry, kiddo.

Took the next couple of hours to ease into the day. I made breakfast for Nic and myself, then we cleaned up the house and tended to the laundry list of requests from the two children still home sick today. My son’s catchy sing-song way of asking for something — a melodic “I waaaaaant” — is heard so often that we’ve taken to responding to it by echoing it in our own octave ranges.

Finally, around 11:15am I turn to the writing. I remember like 20 years ago Kevin Smith did one of the first daily blogs I ever read. He used to write about the minutiae of his day in hourly detail. This included him discussing what he was working on and more importantly how he was going about getting his work done with a young family at home. I found it fascinating. I take a lot of inspiration from that, and from the Steve Martin autobiography, “The War Years” which is among my favorite books on having a career creating art that entertains people.

Stephen King says that audiences love to read about people working. I suppose it’s because as Studs Terkel once intuited work is something we all do.

Another of my favorite books on writing is “Working Days,” Steinbeck’s journals from when he wrote The Grapes of Wrath. It shows Steinbeck, one of the great masters of the craft, doing his work in the most routine and ordinary of ways.

As writers today are fond of saying: “butt in chair, fingers on keyboard.”

One reason I like that book, and a blog like Smith’s is they deglamorize the art of writing.

Writing perhaps more than any other of the art forms requires deglamorization. Dance, painting, or sculpting say, seem to be imbued with a sense of elevation, of rising above it all. Writing on the other hand seems to require a declination. You have to get down and dirty. You have to strip everything away, get quiet, and let the imagination roam free to explore the limits of who and what you are writing about. If done right you wallow in flaws and failure. Not just those of your characters by design, but your own by default.

So then, enough delay, off to the day’s work.

I am still working on the few chapters leading up to the book’s ending. Though I prefer to write without an outline in first draft, there comes a point where the ending is in sight. At which point I write to that ending. Typically, a climactic scene takes shape in my mind and I attempt to steer the characters toward it.

During revisions, I am adjusting and tightening and shaping the character’s moves to get there so that (hopefully) the story keeps the audience guessing, enthralling them until the final showdown.

The goal is to be unputdownable.

Like all great books.

One of my favorite feelings in life is being caught in the grip of a good story (book, movie, tv show).

Everything else fades away.

You know the feeling. It’s that moment when you finish a chapter or an episode and you know you are going to read/watch the next one. It’s usually around this time that the excuses start to form in your head as to why you are going to be late for work tomorrow — or not go in at all. Heck, I’d skip work for a “Gone Girl” an “Exodus” or “The Dead Zone” any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

To the ink mines then. I will see you on the other side.

[thebisexualdogdad]

Hi I'm a fan of what you write, I wanted to know if you could do a story about luke murphy (after high school) in which luke has a gay best friend and wants to experience gay sex for the first time and maybe a little brush with Dylan and the male reader.

"I want you to have sex with me," Luke says as you're driving him home from your shared college class. 

"I'm sorry what?" You say in total shock nearly running a stop sign. 

"Do you not think I'm hot?" He asks defensively.

"Yeah Luke you're hot but why do you want to have sex with me?" You say suddenly forgetting you're supposed to be driving until the car behind you honks and you take off. 

"Listen, I think I might be bi but I don't want to having sex with a guy for the first time be with a stranger and you're gay and we've been best friends since we were six so like… let's have sex," he explains. 

"I don't know Luke what if you don't like it and it makes things weird between us, I don't want to lose my best friend because your solution to determining your bi-curiosity is having sex with me," you tell him. 

"Just think about it okay," he says as you pull up to the Dunphy house. 

He smiles that goofy Luke Dunphy smile and gets out of your car, you sit for a moment trying to process the conversation that just occurred before finally heading home. 

That night you think through your options, keep your friendship safe or have a night of fun with your best friend who you definitely had a bit of a crush on when you were figuring out your own sexuality in middle school. 

It didn't have to mean anything right?

Just two friends having sex, one helping the other try to determine if he likes sleeping with guys or not. 

Luke is in bed when his phone buzzes, it's a text from you that says "my place Friday night, you bring the condoms I'll have the lube." 

He is beaming with excitement texting you back with promises that it'll be fun and no strings attached, you guys were in college after all, what is college without some harmless experimentation. 

Friday night comes around and Luke knocks on your door shortly after your parents go out for the evening. 

Your parents knew Luke was coming over but they had no idea that you would be doing way more than playing video games and eating pizza like you usually did when you hung out. 

"I got the condoms," Luke says proudly holding up a box that he bought from the liquor store on his way to your place. 

"And you are absolutely sure you want to do this?" You ask letting him inside. 

"Oh for sure so who's gonna top and who's gonna bottom? I learned that from the internet," He asks as you head to your room. 

"Whichever you want Luke," you tell him, both of you kicking off your shoes and sitting on the edge of your bed. 

"Hmm I think I want to bottom," he says. 

"Do you want to like… makeout first?" You say nervously and he nods. 

Luke can tell you still have your doubts about this whole thing so he leans in and kisses you first. 

His hand goes to your neck and you easily fall into a rhythm with him, deepening the kiss. 

You sit there on your bed for a while, kissing and exploring each other with your hands. 

Luke briefly separates from your lips to take his shirt off, you following suit and removing yours as well. 

Kissing for a few minutes longer your hand goes from his bare chest to his pants, feeling his erection through his jeans. 

"Do you want to keep going?" You ask. 

"Yes," he says, giving you his consent. 

You both stand up, taking your jeans and boxers off so you're completely naked. 

"Wow, dicks are even better in person," Luke says in awe, staring at your hard cock standing high. 

"You've been watching a lot of gay porn lately haven't you," you laugh. 

"Yes I have," he says. 

You put your hands on his chest and sit him back on the bed, getting to your knees in front of him. 

He nods again when you look up at him and you take the tip of his cock in your mouth. 

Luke is groaning as you bob your head up and down, it's not the first blow job he's gotten but it sure is different. 

When you feel like you've worked him up enough you release his cock and get to your feet. 

"Lay back," you tell him and he does as he's told. 

You grab the lube from your drawer and a condom that he brought putting it on yourself.

Squeezing some lube onto your hand you promptly lather your cock in it, taking the extra and running it over his hole. 

"Oh that's cold," Luke says clenching when your finger spreads the lube on the outside as well as shallowly inside him. 

"You ready?" You say lifting his hips up to give you better access. 

"Hell yes," he states and you tease him with the tip of your cock. 

He sighs and you press the tip slowly inside of him and give a few small rocks of your hips. 

"Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

"Yes, but in a good way, keep going," he assures you. 

You push a few more inches in, stretching him with slow thrusts to let him adjust. 

Luke is moaning, his thighs twitching every so often when he's hit with a new sense of pleasure. 

"This feels so good," he tells you and you start to move your hips faster knowing he's enjoying himself. 

"Just tell me if you need me to stop okay," you say but he's too far gone to respond. 

His cock is slapping against his stomach as you fuck him, finding a steady pace that the two of you fall into. 

Luke is grasping at the sheets under him, his eyes screwed tight and his mouth hanging open. 

"Fuck Luke," you mutter, loving how he feels around your cock. 

"Faster," he groans and you thrust even faster.

Your house is silent except for the moans coming from your bedroom and the sound of your bed creaking. 

After a few minutes Luke reaches down and strokes his cock, it doesn't much longer and he's cumming all over his stomach. 

When his climax finishes he's more sensitive than he usually is and begs for you to pull out of him. 

You slip your cock out and begin to jerk yourself off to completion, your cum joining his on his torso. 

"That was incredible," he shouts in excitement and you fall onto the bed next to him. 

"So you think you're bisexual then?" You laugh. 

"I am definitely bisexual," he says with a smile still trying to catch his breath, "next time can I try topping you?"

"You want to do this again?" 

"I want to try everything dude!" 

#modern family imagine #luke dunphy imagine #luke dunphy x reader #x male reader #fic

[queenshelby]

Fan with Benefits (Part Two)

Pairing: Cillian Murphy x Reader

Words: 2,229

Warning: Smut

Notes: As usual, this is fiction and has nothing to do with Cillian’s real life.

Just after you gotten of the phone with Cillian, your friend and roommate Katherine asked you who it was and, when you told her, it almost blew her mind.

‘He is coming here? Oh my god’ she said almost shocked before asking you the all-important question as to whether you wanted her to leave when he did.

‘It’s fine. He is just coming here to sign the paperwork for the artwork he is buying’ you explained.

‘To your apartment? Common, don’t be so naïve. It’s a booty call’ Katherine said and you surely hoped that it was, although you didn’t want to get your hopes up. After all, you knew that he was married.

After a bit more conversation, Katherine convinced you to be prepared, freshly shaved and showered and told you that she would leave at around 6 o’clock.

***

At 4 o’clock you attended your usual yoga class and, in order to save some time, you had a shower at the gym following your class before making your way back home so that you could tidy up and apply some make up.

To your surprise, when you walked into the apartment building, you saw Cillian sit on one of the arm chairs near the elevators.

‘You are early’ you said as you returned.

‘Yes, I am. I ended up getting an earlier flight and texted you’ Cillian then said and you quickly pulled out your phone and realised that he had, indeed, texted you but you didn’t see this message until now.

‘Sorry, I have been out and didn’t check my phone’ you said nervously. You were worried that Katherine had left the apartment in a mess, giving you no chance to tidy up now before Cillian’s arrival.

***

‘Common in’ you said as you reached the second floor of the building and unlocked the door to your apartment. You were impressed that Katherine had not only picked up after herself as promised, but even had left on a couple small lamps to dim the living room slightly.

To your surprise, there also was glassware on the kitchen counter, a fresh bottle of red wine and a packet of condoms which you hoped Cillian wouldn’t notice. You could imagine the inevitable interrogation to ensue the next day, regardless of what happened and you were embarrassed beyond believe.

‘Red wine and condoms?’ Cillian chuckled as he looked towards the kitchen counter and your cheeks turned red immediately and you wanted to sink into the ground.

‘Oh my god. Uhm, this stuff belongs to my roommate’ you explained shyly and nervously, causing Cillian to laugh.

‘Are you sure? Because there is a note saying “Y/N, just in case you need them. Have fun”’ Cillian laughed, reading out the little note that Katherine had stuck to the packet of condoms.

‘Uhm, yeah, no, this stuff is hers. I know nothing about this’ you huffed out with total embarrassment.  

‘That’s a shame. I really felt like a glass of wine and perhaps something else as well’ Cillian winked as he placed the packet of condoms and note back onto the kitchen counter.

‘Uhm, well, you can…I mean we can…aren’t you married?’ you then stammered.  

‘My wife doesn’t mind. In fact, I told her about the nice young lady I met at the gallery last night’ Cillian then said, moving closer towards you.

‘So, is this why you are here?’ you asked nervously, biting your lip.

‘I thought that was obvious’ Cillian then chucked and you felt even more embarrassed than before.

You shook your head nervously. It wasn’t obvious to you at all.

‘Well, obviously your friend thought it was obvious’ Cillian then chuckled and, just as he did, one of his hands caressed your cheeks.

‘She did’ you said before taking up all of your courage and leaning forward towards him which is when his lips met yours in a tentative kiss

‘How did you know that I would want to sleep with you?’ you then asked after your lips drifted apart.

‘I didn’t. I was just being hopeful. Although, I saw the way you kept looking at me last night’ he then said as he leaned against you, pressing your shorter frame against the kitchen counter, and kissing you again.

Your mouths were totally connected now.Your tongues were swirling, darting and exploring each other while the kiss refused to end.

His hands were moving up your sides, gently pressing in against the swell of your ample breasts. At the same time, you digged your fingernails into his back and then grabbed hold of his neck, desperately pulling his face closer towards you.

The smell of his chest and cologne was intoxicating and you were lost in a trance. Was this really happening?

***

‘Where is your bedroom Y/N? I am all for comfort’ Cillian chuckled as your lips drifted apart and he pulled four condoms out of the packet Katherine had left on the counter for you.

‘Four? Do we really need that many?’ you asked surprised while Cillian’s fingertips had begun meandering up and down your forearm.

‘Well, as you have already pointed out, I am married so this will be a one-night thing and I really want to make the most of it’ Cillian then whispered into your ear as your skin bristled at the sensation on your arm and you relished his scent.

‘So, I guess I will be sore tomorrow then, hmm?’ you asked seductively, biting your lip.

‘It’s likely, but I will make it worth it for you. Despite, I will make use of all you have to offer so that your already soaking pussy can have a rest in between’ Cillian then said in between more and more kisses while he slid one of his hands beneath your dress and panties, collecting some of your juices with his fingers.  

You couldn’t help but moan and wanted him to keep his hands right there, in between your legs, but he didn’t.

‘Common, I want to taste you’ Cillian then said, taking you by the hand and urging you to show him to your bedroom.

***

Within less than a minute, you found yourself completely naked on your large Queen bed while Cillian stood in front of it, wearing nothing but his tight blue jeans.

You took it all in, his scent, the glow of his freckled skin and the feel of the little bit of hair on his chest.

Never, in your wildest dreams, did you think that you would ever get to have this man and, whilst you were a little inexperienced, you decided that you would let him have it all. All of you, just as he had requested.

‘What are you waiting for Mr Murphy? I am all yours’ you said eagerly, waiting for him on the bed.

‘Just admiring the view’ Cillian said as he was taking off his watch and placing it onto your dresser along with his phone before climbing onto the bed with you.

When he did, you anticipated him to kiss you but he had other things in mind.

‘Spread your legs’ he demanded and, without thought your legs parted and his head disappeared in between them almost eagerly.

Without warning, his tongue immediately located the hood of your clit, causing you to scream out loud.

Your reaction clearly made him smile as, with all of the anticipation and new sensations, a cold sweat beaded up on your brow.

‘So fucking wet, aren’t you?’ Cillian groaned as his tongue kept swirling around your clit and then, occasionally, slid up and down in between your slit, lapping up your juices.

You flooded your channel as Cillian almost sent you over the edge with his skilled tongue alone and, in that moment, two of his fingers slid over your wet folds, slowly parting your well lubricated lips and entered you.

‘Oh my god’ you groaned as your flower opened and the invaders found the way to your previously unexplored g-spot.

He manipulated you, edging you slowly with his thrusting fingers and tongue. He had you on the brink and you were about cum.

‘Oh god Cillian’ you moaned again as chills ran up both your legs and you trembled involuntarily. Your orgasm hit you right then and there, fast and hard and somewhat unexpectedly.

You came all around Cillian’s fingers within five minutes and, whilst you were almost embarrassed by how quick you came, he was rather pleased with himself.

‘So needy. I will have a lot of fun with you’ he observed as you finally came down from your high and allowed you some time to relax.

When you had finally recovered from your intense orgasm, Cillian pulled you off the bed.

Then he took a step closer to you and immediately started undoing his belt buckle and opening his fly. You instinctively dropped to your knees with a smile on your face and as he unzipped his pants you grabbed the waistband of his jeans and his Calvin Klein briefs and began slowly tugging them down.

First you saw his dark pubic hair, then the top of his cock shaft, and as you pulled his bottoms further down his cock sprang forth in all its erect glory. You actually jumped a little when it leaped out at you, a fact that he noticed.

‘Are you going to be a good girl and take my cock all the way into your mouth?’ he asked in a deep voice, sending shivers down your spine.

‘I sure will, after I have a little play with it first’ you replied as you took his cock in your hand eagerly. This was all you had ever fantasised about and wanted to take in everything, the look of it, the feel of it and its scent.

At first you just stroked Cillian’s cock slowly and observed it as it began to swell even more in your hand. You moved in closer to get your other hand on his balls and you could smell his musk. It was intoxicating to you! As you gently massaged Cillian’s testicles you could feel how full they were and you couldn't help it anymore. you needed to taste him.

You stuck out your tongue and licked his shaft from his balls all the way up to the tip. Then you swirled your tongue around the tip a few times as he growled under his breath. Finally, you completely enveloped Cillian’s cock head with your lips and started sucking him. You let lots of saliva dribble out of your mouth to keep the shaft lubricated as you continued to stroke him.

‘Fuck, that’s it’ Cillian groaned as you kept at it, working his shaft with one hand, massaging his balls with the other, and sucking him for several minutes. He had his hands on your head guiding his cock in and out of your mouth.

Eventually, Cillian tightened the grip he had on the back of your head and pushed you further down on his shaft until, finally, he bottomed out against the back of your throat.

You gagged, saliva dripping out of your mouth as the wetness in between your legs was building.

‘You are doing so fucking well’ he groaned again as you gave into his force and let him take your mouth as you were moaning around his thick member.

Eventually, Cillian released his grip against your head and let you get back to work at your own pace, and you continued giving him a slobbery blowjob. This time, you forced yourself further and further down his long shaft, making yourself gag and listening to him groan in approval.

One of your hands kept a firm grip on his balls while the other stroked him up and down in tempo with your head bobbing.

His groans were getting louder and you moaned softly against him, slurping loudly as you moved, letting his cock hit or lightly ease into your throat every time you sank down. You gave him long strides, really making sure all of his cock was getting some form of attention.

‘Fuck’ he murmured, starting to squirm. ‘I am close’ he then groaned and you were really curious what his cum would taste like.

Cillian’s groans and moans just made you work harder. You wanted his orgasm to be nice and intense, so you ramped up the speed and your slurping noises were getting even louder as you milked his cock faster.

Cillian’s hand found its way back to your head, his fingers getting locked in your hair as he got closer and closer until finally, he started to cum.

‘Fuck’ he groaned again as his hips twitched upwards, trying to get deeper into your mouth as he filled it with his load.

‘I want to watch you swallow it Love’ he groaned as he held your head against his cock while he filled your mouth. His cum was so thick and sweet and coated your tongue, making you drool even more as you collected it all in your mouth.

Then, finally, he released the grip on your head and pulled away from you and lifted up your cum filled mouth for him to see.

‘Show me’ he groaned, still coming down from his high and you complied with his request and opened your mouth, moving your cum covered tongue around seductively.

Then, you closed your mouth again and swallowed down his load, gulping slightly as you did before licking your lips clean seductively.

‘So fucking sexy’ Cillian huffed out before pulling you up and towards him.

He pressed his lips onto yours and practically growled, wrapping his arms around you and kissing you ferociously which was when, suddenly, his phone began to ring.

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#cillian murphy #cillian murphy smut #Cillian Murphy x Reader #cillian murphy imagine

[denimbex1986]

'Cillian Murphy has certain opinions on the new age of superhero films. The apparently never-ending stream of superhero films began in 2002 with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, a great popcorn watch. But then, in 2005, filmmaker Christopher Nolan released Batman Begins, launching a high-quality, dramatic, and dark trilogy that wasn't simply a superhero movie but, well, a cinematic excellence. Since then, companies have been encouraged to explore the Marvel and DC archives for every single character and Avenger to be adapted for the big screen. But after recent Marvel and DC films, many feel a different way. So does, Cillian Murphy. In a 2016 interview with Vulture, the Oppenheimer actor revealed his thoughts on superhero movies.

Cillian Murphy revealed his thoughts on superhero movies

Cillian Murphy, like many of us, wonders if we're running out of caped crusader stories to adapt. In a 2016 interview with Vulture, Murphy said, "Have they exhausted every single comic book ever? I don't know where they're coming from anymore.” Murphy, who played Dr. Jonathan Crane, a.k.a. Scarecrow, in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, posed an intriguing question.

Those three films emerged at the same time when widely accessible special effects helped spawn a surge of movies deliberately designed to spread worldwide, resulting in the glut of half-baked, spandex-laden blockbusters that have followed.

The Oppenheimer star revealed while he was promoting his then-film Anthropoid, "It was a different time back then when we made Batman Begins. I believe Christopher Nolan deserves credit for creating that trilogy of films. I believe they are grounded in relatable reality. Nobody in those films ever had a superpower. Do you understand what I mean? It's a slightly elevated level of storytelling in which New York is transformed into Gotham and no one performs any magical feats. In his films, Batman basically performed a bunch of pushups and pretended to be British. That is what I liked about them.”

Murphy's Anthropoid co-star Jamie Dornan perked up and spoke up from the couch. "Do you remember when you were a kid and you used to wonder, 'Would Batman or Superman win in a fight? That is exactly what studios are doing right now. They're having playful rivalries like, 'Oh, who do you think would win in a race between these two?' 'Oh, why don't we make a bloody movie about it?' they think. It's like going to the park."

To which Murphy replied, "I think they're going to make a Rice Krispies movie starring Snap, Crackle, and Pop; I'm hoping to be able to play Crackle."

Cillian Murphy on the work front

Cillian Murphy is famously known for his part in the hit series Peaky Blinders, but the actor has recently been making headlines for his amazing performance in Christopher Nolan’s directorial Oppenheimer, where he starred as the lead character J. Robert Oppenheimer. Meanwhile, Murphy received a lot of love and appreciation from the world for his depiction of the role. Oppenheimer went on to become one of the global hits of this year.'

#Cillian Murphy #Oppenheimer #Christopher Nolan #Peaky Blinders #Anthropoid #Jamie Dornan #Dr. Jonathan Crane #Scarecrow #The Dark Knight Trilogy