#but the romance is a masterpiece and i will fight anyone who says otherwise

[whatintheeverlovingfucketh]

January 2022 Book Review

My Official Book Rating Scale:

1 - Garbage, honestly painful, no thank you.

2 - Bad, won’t read again if I can help it. Boring and cringe.

3 - Not very good, maybe a few enjoyable moments, but still bland.

4 - Okay, not bad or totally unenjoyable but can definitely be improved. Maybe re-read.

5 - Completely average. Nothing life changing.

6 - Good! enjoyable, but nothing overly spectacular.

7 - Great, will definitely read again.

8 - Wonderful, very few rough spots, a good time.

9 - Fantastic, I loved it!

10 - A MASTERPIECE! Captivating, brilliant, a work of art *chef’s kiss*

*any half points are decided by vibes / not fitting fully into one category*

All of my reviews include:

- book title and author

- the date the book was read (if it is marked * that indicates that I have read this book in the past)

- my numerical rating from the scale above

- a summary of the plot from google and the genre of the book

- a small reflection that was written immediately after finishing reading the book 

Conventionally Yours - Annabeth Albert (05/01/2022) 6.5/10

Two young men fall in love on a road trip to Las Vegas for a gaming convention. Conrad Stewart and Alden Roth's rivalry has made them the stars of a gaming vlog about a card game called Odyssey. (LGBT fiction)

Cute, but a little hard to take seriously, young adults playing and fighting over a fantasy card game, and every kind of representation I can list in 30 seconds takes you out of it a little bit, otherwise, good :)

This is Kind of an Epic Love Story - Kacen Callender (06/01/2022) 6/10

A fresh, charming rom-com about Nathan Bird, who has sworn off happy endings but is sorely tested when his former best friend, Ollie, moves back to town. Nathan Bird doesn't believe in happy endings. (YA Fiction)

The title is misleading. A sweet story, and good representation, however a little frustrating. Constant written descriptions of a visual language feel excessive and unhelpful, especially without other cues as to the context, or translations. This is a critique of the writing, not the story. Other than that, good!

Say What You Will - Cammie McGovern (12/01/2022) 9/10

Say What You Will is a heartfelt story about two teens who each have different challenges to overcome as they navigate the difficulties of senior year. Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions.(Fiction)

Wow. wow, wow. What an incredible story, unique, interesting and full of unexpected twists. Beautiful and really entertaining. I thought I was going to cry by the end, but I didn’t at all, it was a different kind of emotional. I loved it.

Late to the Party - Kelly Quindlen (14/01/2022) 10/10

From author Kelly Quindlen comes a poignant and deeply relatable story about friendship, self-acceptance, and what it means to be a Real Teenager. Late to the Party is an ode to late bloomers and wallflowers everywhere. Seventeen is nothing like Codi Teller imagined.(YA Fiction)

Beyond incredible. I loved the dynamics of each relationship, and the passing of time. It was so fluid, and relatable, funny and exciting. I want to have friends like that someday. I cried like two tears at the last page. Truly a beautiful story.

Invisible Ghosts - Robyn Schneider (16/01/2022) 8/10

In Invisible Ghosts, Rose Asher is grappling with grief and guilt five years after her brother Logan's death. She's also dealing with his ghost every day when she gets home from school. It's a secret she can't share with anyone, because she's not sure whether the ghost is real or in her head. (Fiction, Ghost story, Romance)

Really unique plot! Really funny and relatable, (the high school / social interaction part, not the dead ghost brother part lol) Also very realistic “deliberately blurry snapchat”. A lot of “aww’s” :)

*Calling Maggie May - Anonymous (19/01/2022) 9/10

A dark and edgy first-person cautionary tale about how one girl's seemingly minor choices quickly spiraled into a life as a sex worker in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and Lucy in the Sky. She had a normal life, until one small decision changed everything. Suddenly, there were new possibilities and new experiences. (YA fiction, diary fiction)

Incredibly intriguing, a bit disturbing. It feels weird to say that I enjoyed reading a book about a 16 year old girl going into prostitution, but it's a fascinating story. It took me about 2 hours to read. I'm curious if it's because this is a short book, or because each sentence draws you in more than the last.

*The Book Of David - Anonymous (20/01/2022) 8.5/10

Texas high school senior and quarterback David has a secret no one can discover. Forced by his English teacher to keep a journal in which he writes for 10 minutes, three times a week, David chronicles his innermost secret: his attraction to men.( YA fiction)

Exciting. Although it was a very typical "closeted jock with religious parents" story, the perspective of a private journal made it a very interesting read. I really enjoyed it!

The Beauty That Remains - Ashley Woodfolk (25/01/2022) 10/10

Music brought Autumn, Shay, and Logan together. Death wants to tear them apart. But when tragedy strikes each of them, somehow music is no longer enough. Now Logan can’t stop watching vlogs of his dead ex-boyfriend. Shay is a music blogger struggling to keep it together. And Autumn sends messages that she knows can never be answered. (YA fiction, LGBT, Mental health)

Wow. when I read the tagline I was expecting a cheesy story about a song making people come together in a cliché way. This was so not that. It was an incredibly beautiful and complex story about grief, loss, friendship, and mental health. It was truly wonderful.

[outbythehighwind]

The Misconceptions of FF7: A Cloud, Aerith & Tifa Analysis Part 1/5

As a side to - for all my efforts - an objective analysis of the one of the greatest masterpieces in fiction, this post has been on the back of my mind for a while. I did not initially want to do this post. But with all the enmity and spitefulness accumulated in the FF7 fanbase that has warped perceptions of its heroines into ludicrous caricatures over the years, it saddens me to feel that it is now a must. I am, of course, talking about the misconceptions of Cloud’s character, and the false notions & unwarranted hate surrounding Aerith and Tifa.

First, it cannot be denied in any faithfulness to the game, that both women are substantially, substantially important to Cloud.

Tifa is the driving force in Cloud’s backstory and, in both past and present, his primary reason for fighting. This pertains to both the ‘real’ Cloud and “Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud: Cloud joined SOLDIER for Tifa; “Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud is fighting to keep his promise to Tifa; long after FF7, Cloud still fights for Tifa.

A friendship sparks when Cloud and Aerith meet, and his feelings toward her grow a great deal as the story progresses. (Note that until stated otherwise, I will be using the term ‘feelings’ in its general sense – not necessarily in pertinence to romance in the case of either girl.) “Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud goes well out of his way to help Aerith personally in addition to saving the Planet – a fight that ‘real’ Cloud continues to his best efforts after her death.

I will get into the details on both relationships, but let us first clear up the misconceptions around our protagonist.

Firstly, Cloud’s feelings are ‘Cloud’s’. What “Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud says and does (and will say and do) in his own capacity – that is, not under the manipulations of Sephiroth – is what Cloud the being says and does, even if his true self (‘real’ Cloud) would not act in such a manner. The player is playing as Cloud. Otherwise we would be either dealing with split personalities, or playing as a separate being – that such being, I have seen it argued (and will refute below), being Jenova.

Cloud’s entire internal conflict is in recovering his true self. After that true self is recovered – ie. as his true self – he says:

“The combination of Jenova cells, Sephiroth’s strong will, and my own weakness are what created me. Everyone knew that. I’m… Cloud… the master of my own illusionary world. But I can’t remain trapped in an illusion anymore…  I’m going to live my life without pretending.”

“The master of my own illusionary world.” Cloud did not ‘gain’ Zack’s memories; he could not recall how Zack joined SOLDIER or any of Zack’s memories outside of the Nibelheim memories they shared. He did not ‘gain’ Zack’s feelings and attributes; the cells injected into his body were not Zack’s, and the Jenova cells – while they can manipulate him against his will – cannot ‘give’ him the feelings that his will stems from. The absorption of Jenova cells, the trauma of Zack’s death, and his negative self-image of weakness & failure together pushed Cloud’s psyche to breaking point. His coping mechanism was to assume the life he had seen and admired in Zack, and he tricked his own psyche into a self-illusion.

“The self is a relation that relates itself to itself or is the relation’s relating itself to itself in the relation; the self is not the relation but is the relation’s relating itself to itself.” – Soren Kierkegaard

From misrelating the self’s relation to itself we have “Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud, while the ‘real’ Cloud – Cloud’s true self – is trapped within his subconscious. This is why, in my belief, we hear Cloud’s inner voice during moments that trigger important memories he has forgotten, and ‘little’ Cloud appears when Cloud is forced by Sephiroth to act contrary to himself (the voice and ‘little’ Cloud being this true self within his subconscious). The player assumes control of ‘little Cloud’ when “Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud acts contrary to Cloud. The ‘two Clouds’ – “Ex-SOLDIER” and ‘real’ (the voice, ‘little’ Cloud, the true self) – therefore cannot be separated from the being that is ‘Cloud’.

I elaborate on this for three reasons.

The first is to confute the ridiculous argument that the player is not playing as Cloud, but Jenova. We need simply look at two scenes to know that this isn’t true: first, when Jenova (through Sephiroth) manipulates Cloud in the Temple of the Ancients, the player loses control over Cloud and assumes control of ‘little’ Cloud (ie. the player is internally fighting against Jenova); and second, when Sephiroth tries to have Cloud kill Aerith, the player – as Cloud – fights to regain control of Cloud’s actions.

The second reason is to debunk the notion that Cloud’s feelings toward Aerith are Zack’s. As already noted, Cloud did not absorb Zack’s memories or cells. If Cloud’s feelings toward Aerith are fake, then the feelings behind all his actions for all the time that he roams under the “Ex-SOLDIER” persona are fake (for Jenova can only trigger the feelings that stem from the core of Cloud’s own being – just like Sephiroth can trigger Tifa’s doubts through external circumstances). If "Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud’s feelings are not Cloud’s, then Cloud wanting to keep his promise to Tifa is fake. Cloud’s budding friendship with Barret is fake. Cloud’s acceptance and trust toward every party member, even when the others suspect a spy amidst them, is fake. Up until the point where Tifa helps him put his mind back together in the Lifestream, Cloud has no thoughts, feelings or motivations that are his own. This is nonsense.

The third reason I elaborate on not separating Cloud’s selves from ‘Cloud’ is to debunk the equally nonsensical notion that arises simultaneous to the above argument. And that is that, if “Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud’s feelings are Zack’s, then the only feelings of Cloud that are valid to Tifa are those of the real Cloud – who himself only becomes valid and ‘real’ after he is recovered in the Lifestream. Cloud’s entire conflict of finding himself is therefore invalid, and Cloud contradicts Cloud.

Here is a quote by “Ex-SOLDIER” Cloud:

“It’s true that sometimes I can’t figure out who I am. There’s a lot of things muddled up in my memories. But, Tifa… You said, “Long time no see, Cloud” right? Those words will always support me. I am the one you grew up with. I’m Cloud of Nibelheim. No matter how much I lose faith in myself, that is the truth. That’s why you shouldn’t be so scared. No matter what anyone else says to me, it’s your opinion that counts…”

Let us forget this nonsense of taking Cloud’s feelings and attributing them to a separate being.

Parts 2-5 here: https://outbythehighwind.tumblr.com/post/640347336477966336/the-misconceptions-of-ff7-a-cloud-aerith-tifa

#ff7 1997 #cloud strife #aerith gainsborough #tifa lockhart #my analyses #ff7 remake #ff7 advent children #ff7 crisis core

[keelymewett]

Zombie Movie: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

Three words: that fight scene. 

So upon recommendation from a friend, I have recently watched the BBC mini-series of Pride and Prejudice, as well as the Keira Knightley movie. Therefore, I have about 8 hours of Pride and Prejudice knowledge under my belt, so here we go into probably my favourite type of adaptation ever: simply adding zombies.

Uh, medium to light spoilers, but it’s nothing really Earth-shattering especially if you have the gist of how Pride and Prejudice goes. 

Firstly, I love all the Bennet girls in this movie. The subversion of what makes a “lady” is great - instead of sitting around embroidering, they sit around cleaning guns (to then use them) which makes total sense for this period of war. 

Unlike in actual war-time throughout history, where it happened in a “far-off” place wherein the war was seperate from home life, in PPZ (I’m sorry I have to abbreviate it the run on sentence of a title is too much) the war is literally on the home front - anyone can become a zombie, therefore everyone is part of the war, not just soldiers like in the original P&P (had to put the & because otherwise it’s PP which will make me laugh too much yes I’m a child).

We get this absolutely fabulous getting-ready-for-the-ball scene which literally made me scream in excitement - firstly, knives, secondly, FUNCTIONAL FASHION. 

On the subject of fashion, the leather accents on everyone’s outfits in this movie is just *chef’s kiss*, and Mr Darcy is 100% emo. Like, he literally squeaks through every scene he’s wearing that much black leather. 

I will also never not be over the opening scene where he’s like “this guy’s a zombie. Let me finish my drink first though.” That’s very Australian of him, I approve (yes, I know this is British.) 

We get great fight scenes, although in terms of it being a Pride and Prejudice adaptation the plot is a little confusing - all of the plot-beats that make total sense in the BBC series are a bit lost in all the blood. 

I just want the letter scene where Mr Darcy is the one who catches her crying and comforts her - is that too much to ask? 

Other random notes:

Lady Catherine is awesome. I like Mr Collins. His actor, Matt Smith, played him brilliantly. On the subject of actors, Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet? Yes please and thank you. 

Oh and Lydia doesn’t marry Mr Wickham!!! Thank God. 

The zombies

Firstly, they’re called zombies. That’s a win. Secondly, they’re kinda freaky because they can still function as members of society. Which brings me to the first thing that surprised me about this movie: as much as I hate Mr Wickham, I kinda agreed with the dude. Like, he figured out how to win the war by essentially “befriending” the zombies and making a peace treaty. And then Mr Darcy went and ruined the whole thing which is just... ugh. When I pointed this out to my friend, she proposed that Wickham’s plan could’ve just all been a ploy to attack the humans and win, which I will gladly accept to redeem Darcy and condemn Wickham. Might’ve just been a lost-in-translation thing from the book (yes, I haven’t read either book). 

That fight scene 

Welcome to how I convince people who love Pride and Prejudice to watch PPZ. The fight scene. Take the iconic verbal argument, set it in a war-with-zombies period, give the Bennet girls fighting skills and you get this masterpiece, which is filled with so much (romantic? sexual?) tension. If you’ve seen it, you know what I mean when I say the buttons. 

Also, this P&P adaption really amps up the romance between Elizabeth and Darcy (who, I only just found out in this film, has the first name Fitzwilliam. Excuse me what?). So if you’re in it for the romance, you’re in luck. Also, if you’re worried about the horror aspect, as long as you can handle SFX gore it’s not that scary. Just very dramatic. And emo. (Thanks to Darcy.)

I thiiink that covers pretty much everything I wanted to say. As you can see I’ve used GIFs instead of my own screen-grabs because I wanted to watch this for fun. I didn’t even take any notes or anything like I usually do because I really just wanted to watch the movie and when I saw it was on Netflix I wanted to quickly watch it in case they took it off. 

Closing GIF instead of remarks: 

#pride and prejudice #pride and prejudice and zombies #zombies #zombie #movie #THat LOOK #lily james #matt smith #mr darcy #elizabeth bennet

[ikneeieewrites]

The King: Eternal Monarch is one of the most anticipated Korean dramas of 2020. Here’s why:

The King: Eternal Monarch is one of this year’s highly anticipated dramas. It has garnered the interest of netizens ever since the news about its broadcast spread. This drama sparked massive attention not just from South Korea but also around the globe. The profound interest received by this drama is mainly because of its unparalleled storyline, which also meant that a huge budget was used for the production of this drama. Kim Eun Sook, the writer of TKEM, made her comeback on screen by unraveling a story about parallel worlds and time travel. And this unparalleled plot is portrayed by equally powerful casts such as Lee Min Ho, Kim Go Eun, Woo Do Hwan, Jung Eun Chae, Kim Kyung Nam, and Lee Jung Jin.

As the drama reached its last episode, here are 6 reasons why TKEM is worth binge-watching.

1. Lee Min Ho’s comeback

Lee Min Ho, one of South Korea’s finest actors, has finally finished his military enlistment. His dramas are one of the most-watched dramas in Korea. These dramas include Boys over Flowers, City Hunter, and The Heirs. His last drama was The Legend of the Blue Sea in 2017, in which he acted alongside Jun Ji Hyun. The Legend of the Blue Sea also reeled immense interest from the viewers due to its excellent cast, unique plot, and powerful actors' chemistry.

After two years of fulfilling his duties, he was cast as the main lead of the sci-fiction drama, The King Eternal Monarch. This, of course, made his fans excited since he had already received a big project as soon as he finished his enlistment. Lee Min Ho’s popularity is not only because of his striking looks that would make anyone drool but also his impressive acting. His dramas will guarantee you that he is more than just his looks.

2. It’s Kim Eun Sook’s

Kim Eun Sook is known for her outstanding work. She is well known for her works such as The Heirs, Goblin, Descendants of the Sun, and Mr. Sunshine. These are just some of her works that gained the respect of many Korean drama maniacs. Goblin, for instance, is one of Korea’s top five highest-rated dramas on cable television. Unlike public channels in Korea, cable channels cater to smaller audiences; hence, being one of the highest-rated dramas in cable channels says A LOT. Her last drama work was Mr. Sunshine in 2018, which remains one of the most talked dramas of 2018. It is also one of the highest-rated shows on cable television.

KES is already an established screenwriter in South Korea. Netizens always look forward to her works, be it sci-fiction, romance, or melodrama. Her latest work, The King Eternal Monarch, is one of the buzz-worthy dramas of 2020, and KES’s exceptional talent is one of the reasons. This time, she developed a storyline that is, if not rare, uncommon in the Kdrama world. She developed a story of parallel worlds and time traveling matched with romance and drama. And she’s doing great more than ever.

If you’re still not amazed by her, watch her other dramas. And then we can talk again.

3. The mythical-fantasy-romance story line 

 Cliché love stories? Old school dramas? Nah. That ain’t the trend anymore. How about a parallel universe? Time traveling? Interconnected worlds? Doppelgangers? And How about all of these in one drama? Yes, you heard it right. The King Eternal Monarch is more than just science fiction. It tells the story of two worlds and how these worlds are connected.

It depicts the story of Lee Gon, the king of the Kingdom of Corea when he crossed the other universe to find answers to the one who saved him on the night of his uncle’s treason. There, he found Jeong Tae-Eul. The story starts to unfold as they fall in love with each other. The thing is, they are from different worlds. They are meant to meet together, that’s for sure, but are they also meant to be together forever?

The question now is how far they will go to be together? How far will they go for their love?

 If you want answers, you start by watching the first episode of The King: Eternal Monarch.

4. Not your usual bromance

Kdramas are widely known for portraying bromances in their storyline. Some dramas have excellent portrayals of male leads interacting together. Sometimes, these bromances are even more exciting and amusing than the main couples in the drama. Bromance is always about two lead guys in the drama bickering and fighting with each other, but at some point, they begin to be on the same page at the end of the story.

Like other bromances in other dramas, The King: Eternal Monarch is also serving us the best bromance of 2020. Jo Yeong, played by the ever-charismatic Woo Do Hwan, is the captain of the royal guards and Lee Gon’s most trusted best friend. Their friendship in the drama is one for the books. Jo Yeong often ignores and mocks Lee Gon, whose words are law in his Kingdom. Which for everyone is punishable by death, but for Jo Yeong? Nah. This proves that their friendship goes as far as 25 years ago when Lee Gon completed his first duty as the King of his Kingdom. Because, unlike other friendships, theirs started when Lee Gon had no one to share his cries with, but Jo Yeong was there for him. They cried and consoled each other.

Their brotherhood set the bars high, really high, when Jo Yeong decided to go back in time with Lee Gon, even if it meant not going back. OOPS SPOILER.

Still not convinced?

5. TOP TIER ACTING

Portraying a character is complex. And it’s even more complicated if you portray two characters. But that’s not the case in The King Eternal Monarch. Viewers are awed by how excellent the actors in playing their roles, esp. that these two roles are the exact opposite of each other. For instance, Woo Do Hwan plays the role of the serious and intimidating captain of the royal guards in the Kingdom of Corea. He also plays the role of his counterpart in the Republic of Korea, which is way different from his character as a captain. Unlike his intimidating aura in Corea, he is the bubbly and adorable Jo Eun Seop of Korea, a sibling to two twins.

What’s more amusing is the fact that the same actor plays two roles, but you either end up hating or loving the other, or you get attached to both characters. And that’s weird because they are the same actor, but different characters. Yep, weird.

Curious about what I’m talking about? You watch The King: Eternal Monarch.

6. Phenomenal Hallyu Stars in One Drama

The success of this drama also owes it to its stellar cast, both the main and supporting actors. This drama will give you all the feels once you hear Lee Min Ho saying the words “I love you.” Do you want to listen to him say it? Then better log in to your Netflix account and watch The King: Eternal Monarch. This drama is also receiving great feedback regarding the actors’ acting because some of the casts play two roles, and it��s a MASTERPIECE. No one can say it otherwise. It’s incredible how they can switch roles easily with just their gestures, eyes, and voice. Take for example, the roles played by Kim Go Eun. The way she can change from the upfront yet charming Jeong Tae- Eul to creepy and gloomy Luna should be recognized in an awards ceremony. I said what I said. And it’s not only Kim Go Eun who stole our hearts with her acting. There’s Lee Min Ho, whose few words can swoon and stir our emotions. Woo Do Hwan as Jo Yeong and Eun Seop is making us laugh and cry. Kim Kyung Nam playing the role of Detective Kang is one thing you shouldn’t miss. And Jung Eun Chae is excellently taking the part of the ambitious and greedy Prime Minister Koo while Lee Jung Jin playing the villain is a stunner. Imagine the power they hold if they are in one frame. It would be phenomenal! Well, the actors in this drama are undoubted, versatile, and excellent. No questions asked.

There are many other reasons why you should start binge watching The King: Eternal Monarch. If you’re still not convinced with these six reasons, then you really should start setting your bars higher, because TKEM is not your typical average drama. It’s more than that.

#the king eternal monarch #the king eternal monarch finale #kim go eun #lee min ho #woo do hwan #lee jung jin #kim kyung nam #jung eun chae

[stricken-with-clairvoyancy]

Prinxiety fic recs

Hey everyone, I know isolation is difficult, and a good majority of the fandom use fics as an escape mechanism, so hopefully some people can get a kick out of some of these. As my blog title suggests, I mostly just consume prinxiety content, so this list is for any prinxiety stans out there. Feel free to add on with your own fics or recs, regardless of ship! All fics are completed unless stated otherwise, to avoid giving anyone WIPlash. :)

First up, literally anything by the Queen of Prinxiety (and stunning writing in general) @coconut-cluster. Hers was one of the first blogs who’s writing I got really invested in, and her writing is like the equivalent of snuggling into a warm blanket in the sunshine. It’s good stuff y’all. Writing masterlist If you’re overwhelmed by how many incredible stories she’s written though, I gotchu fam, here are some of my favourites to get you started: Sciamachy, My dreams made music in the night, Snowball fight

Powerless by @impatentpending . One of the best stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, better than most published literature I daresay. Seriously it’s just,,, so good!!! If you haven’t read it yet I highly recommend you do. You’ve got morally grey villains, you’ve got wit, you’ve got a hoverbike named Brendon Urie. It’s an all round good time, except when, you know, it’s angsty.

The To Love And Be Loved series by @virgilsjourney It’s so soft!!! So light and sweet and comforting!!! You’ve got hurt/comfort (heavy on the comfort) with a large helping of mutual pining, and it’s the perfect fic if you need a pick-me-up after a long day.

Butterflies by @creativenostalgiastuff . I live for techie Virgil and this fic does not disappoint. Incredibly cute, Roman gets the validation he deserves, 10/10.

My true love gave to me by @lovelylogans Honestly my favourite oneshot of all time, I giggle the whole way through when reading this. The sheer magnitude of their mutual pining,,, incredible. Genuinely this fic is so wonderful and funny and lighthearted and sweet and hhhhhhhhhh. Looking at her masterlist I’ve also come to realise that she’s written a lot of my favourites, so I’ll just link that here! :)

Wet blanket , Life of the party and Social grace by @tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors. A tad angsty, but so worth the read, and they more than make up for any potential hurt with the gratuitous fluff. Hella soft, superb writing. On another note, if you haven’t already, you should absolutely read their jaw-droppingly amazing series Love and other fairytales. Romantic lamp and a heck tonne of cool worldbuilding, gripping plot and fae galore, prepare to become thoroughly invested.

A dragon’s tail by @theeternalspace . This one had me on the edge of my seat you guys, it’s so gripping you’ll wanna stay up all night reading it. You’ve got prince!Virgil, you’ve got knight!Roman, you’ve got Dragon!Logan. Need I say more?

The most adorable Parents!Prinxiety headcanons you ever did read, by the incredible @thelowlysatsuma , with a tooth-rottingly sweet fic to go with it by @watchoutforthefanfics . You WILL get cavities and you WILL sob at the soft domesticity of it all.

@shakesqueer-writes is lowkey a Prinxiety GOD so I’m just gonna link you to their whole entire masterlist of masterpieces.

The phenomenal It’s only logical by @tinysidestrashcaptain . This one is incomplete, but it’s honestly so perfectly written that it’s going on here anyway. I can only dream of achieving Virgil’s level of sass in this fic, an absolute icon. It’s a flower shop au AND a coffee shop au babyyy.

I can only assume from the remarkable quality of the writing that Keep him safe by @whatwashernameagain gets recommended a lot, as it RIGHTLY DESERVES. This fic is also incomplete, but so worth waiting for, each new chapter is a sucker punch of emotions and the character development is second to none. I’d definitely heed the trigger warnings on this one though, it does handle (very well and realistically) some darker themes. There’s also a raccoon named Cat and I love her.

A get-together and getting together by @hickory-dickory-doc-k Fake! dating! Fake! Dating! Fake! Dating! Fak- Ok but for real though guys this one is so gosh darn cute I dropped everything on Christmas day to rush upstairs and read it when the last chapter came out and I was grinning so much lemme tell you. I’ve read a lot of fake dating aus in my time and this one honestly takes the cake.

(I’d never) want once from the cherry tree written by @ace-corvid with gorgeous art to go with it by @blank-ace . YouTuber au!!! Virgil gets to be the chaotic conspiracy guy we know he secretly longs to be, and Roman gets the adoring fanbase he deserves. The humour is also on point. I mean, Deceit’s name in Virgil’s contacts is Snake fursona man, and honestly if that doesn’t sell it, I don’t know what will.

Of trying and towers by @parsnipit . An oldie but a classic, this story is phenomenal. It’s got action! It’s got magical curses! It’s got so many dragons! It’s got highkey terrified but also kinda badass Virgil! It’s so good you guys, the plot and the family bonding and hhhhhhh dragons are so cool.

Destined by @rosesisupposes . Oooooh this one has such a fun premise. Virgil’s a sage (kind of like a seer) and is just kinda vibing with the humans until sh*t goes down, ft sass, flirting, pun-based bakeries, and a coffee machine named Gilda. It’s great. I love it.

Long live by @meginoi . It’s!!! Essentially a really cool princess diaries au!!! How rad is that? Virgil is pretty much permanently stressed, but Pat and Lo are supportive bros and he ;) has ;) Roman ;) there ;) to ;) help.

Falling (falling) by @basically-i-write-shit . Don’t let their url fool you this fic is honestly so gripping, I stayed up way into morning bingeing it. Be warned though, it does handle some pretty dark topics, so heed the trigger warnings. ft. single dad Virgil and babysitter Roman!

Inks and tallies by @skittlesun . Tattoo 👏 artist 👏 Roman 👏 Frick 👏 Yeah 👏 Also by the same author, the amazing fic The betting pool is an absolute delight. Flirting galore. Go read it pls.

Late night, long night by @crowleyspraisekink . Virgil’s in a tank top and Roman is Gay Panic tm. Adorable, superb, 10/10.

A curse is a dream your heart makes by @romansleftshoulderpad This oneshot is a long boi but my god you will enjoy every single second of it. Roman gets cursed by the Dragon witch to act out classic Disney movies with Virgil, and it’s honestly so entrancing. Phenomenal writing.

Queen of fluff @not-so-innocent-bi-sander has so much adorable fics that I’m gonna link their whole masterlist because you deserve to treat yourself to their writing, and I’m also gonna add some quick links to my faves here because I love them: The reunion, Romance in the air…port, Guitar lessons. The first fic of theirs I read is the series The view from here, and it was so heartwarmingly sweet that it helped distract me from some pretty bad cramps, so I highly recommend you go check that out if you need a cute pick me up. It’s incomplete, but it’s mostly fluff and ongoing, so you won’t be left on any cliffhangers.

Thespian by @random-snippets is a heart-wrenchingly sweet hurt/comfort fic that I wholeheartedly recommend. Roman puts on a play in the imagination but neglects to tell Virgil that his character straight up dies at the end, and Virgil is understandably distraught. It’s ok though, Virgil gets love and hugs! Also just check out their masterlist because their writing is absolutely sensational, especially their pining!Virgil LAMP fics.

Through different eyes by @stars-and-rose . Roman’s a warlock who’s been ‘kidnapping’ Patton in an endearing attempt to get the handsome knight’s ;) attention. Super cute and a fun read, honestly it’s adorable.

@today-only-happens-once is another phenomenal writer who’s masterlist I’m also gonna link because they’re all! So! Good!!! Here’s some of my faves: Exposure therapy ft Ace!Roman, Acoustic, Always

A hero’s rescue by @stillebesat . Villain!Roman and Hero!Virgil ft a healthy dose of hurt/comfort and a a really cool premise. I go back and re-read this one a lot!

Welcome to the neighbourhood by @lefaystrent is incomplete, but it’s so goddamn hysterical that it’s going on here anyway. Their comedic genius is astounding. Some more of my favourites of theirs include: Roamin’ nights, Flutter and fall, Rewrite

Blink and you’ll miss it and waterspout by @greenninjagal-blog are both lovely reads which I highly recommend. Seriously guys their writing is amazing, go check them out.

Sweet dreams and Petals red as blood by @candied-peach are both gorgeously written and I absolutely adore them, 10/10.

#fic recs #go hog wild y'all #was this a painfully transparent way for me to compile all my faves in one place for ease of re-reading? #yeah and what of it #i can have a little self indulgence #as a treat :) #seriously though guys all of these authors are crazy talented go show them your love #and this post is a free-for-all so add anything you want #i've likely forgotten some people and if you're one of those people i'm so sorry i'll probably update this as more of them come back to me #ily all stay well #sanders sides #ts sides #romantic prinxiety #shout out to my tags which i can't :) get :) to :) work #Prinxiety

[janiedean]

Ahhh if it's possible for the Springsteen Birthday Extravaganza, I keep thinking how I would love a Moonlight Motel/JB fic SO MUCH but maybe with a less sad ending (yes I am still on my Western Stars bullshit after an entire year)

That would be AMAZING, but if fic inspo is not striking then otherwise an analysis of Atlantic City would make me v happy ❤️❤️

Thank you thank you thank you and happy Bruce Birthday Extravaganza!! 🎉🎉🎉

(ALSO have you heard his weekly radio show because it's absolutely lovely?)

NOW THE FIC IS IN PLANS/INCOMING/MAYBE BEING USED FOR JBWEEK so hold out for that but meanwhile I’ll be delighted to give you atlantic city which I’ll link in my favorite live version Ever u_u

background for the new people: AC is the leading single from bruce’s masterpiece nebraska from 1982 (original version here), most known for a) its stripped down nature b) the bleak nature of the songs and AC was the first single most likely because it was one of the few palatable songs in that sense as it has a very catchy refrain and it’s not as Dark™ as most of that record, but still, not a walk in the park song either. on to it:

Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night Now they blew up his house too Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready for a fight Gonna see what them racket boys can do

not counting that according to me ‘they blew up the chicken man in philly last night’ is a masterpiece of an opening line, we need to unpack the context here because there’s quite some and as usual, bruce being a Good Lyricist, he gives you everything you need to know in the beginning. first thing: the chicken man in question was a philadelphia mafia boss named philip testa who was indeed blown up by its rivals in his house in 1981 (thanks bruce for the american history trivia that gives me a culture in random local criminals), so we know that chicken man being blown up in philly is what starts the entire story we’re about to hear.

now, ‘down on the boardwalk’: there’s no boardwalk in philly but there’s an extremely famous one in atlantic city, which for anyone not in the know is the gambling capital of new jersey and a fairly large crime hub, therefore now we know that the mafia boss being dead in philly means repercussions in atlantic city and that the ‘racket boys’ will do something about it in revenge. so far so good. Now there's trouble busin' in from outta state And the D.A. can't get no relief Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade And the gamblin' commissions hangin' on by the skin of its teeth

on to stanza two... ‘trouble busying in from out of the state’ means that pennsylvania criminals are getting into nj or the consequences are spawning across two states, which means the situation is so bad that all the police involved are in a hard time (the DA can’t get no relief, the gambling commission is hanging by the skin of its teeth) while a rumble on the promenade is in the works, most likely a bad clash between gangs that has to do with gambling which, AC being a gambling central casino city, would indeed be the logical consequence.

Everything dies baby that's a fact Maybe everything that dies someday comes back Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty And meet me tonight in Atlantic City

now, refrain: we’ve moved on from large picture to small picture where we have one person talking to his girlfriend (baby/put your makeup on) who tells her to meet him in atlantic city, so we can presume that it’s where either of them live or work or usually hang out... but the first two lines are pretty damn haunting though they give an idea of death/rebirth in the sense that yes maybe everything goes to shit but it can go back to good at some point so it’s not absolutely bleak, so: our guy is in a shit situation, he’s seeing maybe a way out, he wants girlfriend to meet him in AC, so far so good.

Well I got a job and tried to put my money away But I got debts that no honest man can pay So I drew what I had from the Central Trust And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus

we find out what went on immediately after, as in: our guy had a job, tried to save money, couldn’t, has debts most likely with the mafia or crime because no honest man can pay them (they’re probably gambling-related at this point) - now, he could pay them up (which he can’t) or take his money from the bank and run, and buy *two* tickets, so: he’s in debt with the mafia, he wants to run, he wants his gf to come with, and we have again the refrain asking her to come with him... and then we get to the bridge:

Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold But with you forever I'll stay We're goin' out where the sands turnin' to gold now Put on your stockin's cause the nights gettin' cold and Everything dies, baby, that's a fact but maybe Everything that dies someday comes back things between narrator and gf are not in a good moment of their romance (their luck has died and their love is *cold*, same as in a lot of bruce songs where the couple isn’t young and in love anymore but has gotten to the stage where both of them are cold with each other but are still together), but he swears he’ll be with her forever so he’s still loyal to here regardless of anything, to the point where he promises her they’re going ‘where the sands turn into gold’ which suggests they’re going to the beach/somewhere warm... which lasts for not long because then he tells her that the night is getting cold, so they’re going nowhere warm and the sense of doom keeps on never quite going away, also thanks to the everything dies/someday comes back repetition outside the refrain. Now I been lookin' for a job but it's hard to find Down here it's just winners and losers and don't get caught on the wrong side of that line Well I'm tired of comin' out on the losin' end So honey last night I met this guy and I'm gonna do a little favor for him

now we’re closing on the end: narrator is looking for a job but he can’t find it and says that the only thing you can do to survive ‘down here’ ie in AC is being on the winners’ side or you’re out, and then he says he’s tired of being on the losing end... which means that he didn’t eventually leave with his gf nor went to florida or the sea, because instead he met a guy and he’s going to do a little favor, so he’s gone from small time gambler to small time criminal and there’s no going back from it, which brings us to the vague optimism of the above part to bleak again..

Well I guess everything dies baby that's a fact But maybe everything that dies someday comes back Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty And meet me tonight in Atlantic City And meet me tonight in Atlantic City And meet me tonight in Atlantic City And meet me tonight in Atlantic City

and at that point we go back to the refrain again which in this context doesn’t sound 50/50 which also is obvious from the music, in the sense that (especially in the live version) the last meet me tonight in atlantic city is repeated almost obsessively before it goes into the instrumental part that starts after each refrain, as if the guy is really trying to convince himself she will meet him or as if he’s trying to desperately convince her except that we can’t know if it’s going to work out the way he hopes to, if she’s leaving him or where he’s going to end up, but everything in the text suggests that he’s headed for failure... except that there’s that tiny sliver of hope that he won’t (very tiny) which makes it not the bleakest song on that record. which is probably not... not-depressing but still, in absolute tune with the rest of the record - which is all about people who lose their battles or don’t win them or try to do better by their circumstances and don’t manage to or don’t solve their issues, so it makes sense that in that context the guy ends up becoming a criminal, loses the girl and dies in some fight while wishing he went where the sands turn into gold, but you can still hope that she did meet him in atlantic city after all. personally I’m for the bleak interpretation but could be that I’m not wholly correct at the end of it ;)

#bruce meta #springsteen birthday extravaganza 2k20 #I MANAGED THIS ONE SDKLJGJLKLDKSJ #bruce springsteen for ts #FIC IS COMING ASAP #it-may-be-dull-but-im-determined #ask post

[curejunereblogs]

An Extensive List of Phantom Thieves (怪盗)

but first the criteria:

The boundaries for what makes a thief a phantom and whether it's different from a gentleman thief are wobbly

We can't really just allow everyone who calls themselves "kaitou" to qualify, because there's Kaitou Sai from Nogami Neiro who is a serial killer which is A Very Bad Thing. most good examples of thieves have a "no kill" rule

If we set that they have to steal for Good Reasons, we cut off Kaitou Joker, who is very much a phantom thief, so we have to allow "thrill of the chase" as a valid-ish reason for stealing. no bonus points though, it just not instant disqualification

I found that "sends a calling card" is a good rule to stick to so I trimmed my original surprisingly long list based on whether I know for sure they send announcements or cards or letters or such. If you don't say "come and get me" to your target, you're pragmatic, a realist and also a coward

Which led me to a conclusion that to be a proper phantom thief, the main thing you should be after is the spotlight. You have to steal the show. Otherwise you're just a thief, maybe a gentleman, but not a phantom. Contrary to the name, you have to be seen. Good phantom thieves have a give-and-take relationship with their audience - they take the treasure, and give back a performance or some other form of entertainment (or purpose in life in some cases).

The following compilation doesn't include: books, hentai, eroge, BL, things where i couldn't translate the title into English, the ones that don't send calling cards(as far as i know) and in general a bunch of media i most definitely missed

Phantom Thief Hall of Fame:

- Kaito Kid(1987), Kaitou Saint Tail(1994) and Kaitou Joker(2007) are all brilliant examples of the genre, and if you don't know any of them, they all have a bunch of passionate fans each and they can all be googled really easily

- Joker and his gang from Persona 5(2017); i'm consiously placing him in the second/fourth place because even though he's really cool, very popular and is The phantom thief to a lot of people unfamiliar with the genre... he doesn't have a tophat (his persona is not enough)

- ... I'll just mention that Lupin the 3rd(1967) exists and go on

- and of course, Lupin III and about a quarter of all phantom thieves are in some way based on Arsène Lupin(1905) by Maurice Leblanc

- ex. there was a french-canadian cartoon about Lupin called Night Hood(1996)

- Cat's Eye(1981), cited as an inspiration for Saint Tail, is about a trio of sisters who steal stuff in order to get closer to their dad and it's epic

- Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne(1997), like Saint Tail, doubles as a magical girl series and is about magical stealing and the clothing is eastern and the manga swerves into weird territory in the end but it features one of the precious few phantom thief & phantom thief romances

- King of Bandits Jing(1995), while doesn't have the aesthetic, has the weirdness, the charm, the calling card (i think) and is generally cool enough to steal his place on the list whether he’s a phantom or not

- The Acrobat/Man of Twenty Faces(1990), also known as Akira Ijyuin; charming child somehow without most of the problems the CLAMP protagonists tend to suffer from

- Phantom R the titular Rhythm Thief(2012), a great example of a dancer show-off, has a dog

- The Black Rose from Ashita no Nadja(2003) is a tuxedo mask-esque character

- Kaitou Kiramekiman(2000) is a cool retrofuturistic-looking duo trying to save the world in a show that is tragically more about their police counterparts Doing Absolutely Nothing because the villains tend to be more popular in that franchise

- Pacricon(1999) takes place in a world where money has been cancelled(?), has a hella cool calling card

- Shadow Lady(1995)... well, there's a lot of fanservice - like, a lot, and it's tiring and i warned you - but there's also some genuinely funny twists like cancelling her heist on live tv just because she didn't feel like doing it. it also got very unceremoniously axed

- Kaitou Alexandrite(2006) owns/co-owns/frequents a bordel so there's some nsfw to be seen on occasion but it's tolerable and could be described as tasteful i guess. she stole someone's voice once. it also features one of the best identity reveals

- Chat Noir from Granblue Fantasy(2014) is a fighting unit; he has a "calling card" skill and i think that's beautiful

- Phantom Skye from Harvest Moon DS Cute(2005), a not-very-secret character, is an absolute cheese but it loops right back into being charming

- Kaito Rousseau(2006) for Nintendo DS, where a tiny thief boy is horrible at going unnoticed unless he disguises his face as whatever you draw on your ds screen

- Mask DeMasque from Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations(2004) is a thing?

- Sly Cooper(2002) is known as Kaitou Sly Cooper in Japan so he fits the bill

- PxP(2006), short manga about a girl thief in high school

- Sweet Kaitou Vanilla Moon(2010), pastry-themed phantom thief? hell yeah!

- Kaitou Reinya(2010), a short comedy that is not to be taken seriously but you might get a few chuckles from it and i don't regret giving it a second chance (warning: cartoonish animal abuse)

- Cat's Eye(s)(2010), a remake of the original tale of three sisters with different PoVs

- Kaitou Jack from Nishikida Keibu wa Dorobou ga Osuki(2013); it's a gag manga about a cute phantom thief boy and an old man detective that acts like a schoolgirl around that boy. ... I'm only mentioning it here because I like Jack's costume and "i'm-SO-done-with-this" faces and it's mostly intended to be funny. mostly.

- Kaitou Okami-Zoku Shonen(2013), a oneshot about a werewolf who eats people's hearts (metaphorically! through kisses) but is really stylish about it. Think P5 protagonist but alone and a werewolf

- Phantom Thief F's Scenario(2013) is a vocaloid song about a diamond heist on a luxury liner

- Kaitou Le Vin(2014) is about six people stealing wines and it's epic but they can't shut up about wine for one second

- Gaitou Alice(2015) is about a guy looking like Kaito Kuroba going into people's hearts to steal stuff before P5 made it cool. Features amazing artwork but kinda gross stuff closer to the end so it's kind of understandable why it got axed but it has a kind of weird charm to it

- Mystic Thief X from a mobile dating game Miss Detective's Undercover(2017) (i'm scraping for phantom thief content) is honestly excellent at his job. he might only be showing off for one person but damn it's romantic af and i love him

- Kaitou Shounen Jokers(2017) is a sequel to Kaitou Joker, and is directly about the previous protag's kid going to a phantom thief school (i have no hard evidence he sends calling cards but if he doesn’t take after dad i’m-)

- Kaitou Saint Tail girls!(2018), a sequel to Saint Tail, is very cute and has two new Saint Tails working together! i wish i knew more about it

- Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger(2018), live-action series that is a must-watch for anyone who loves phantom thieves because it's a masterpiece of a tv show; besides the three thieves it also features the best police officers in the genre (it kind of has to since they're protagonists too but boy does it deliver)

- Secret x Warrior Phantomirage(2019) is also a live action and it's all about girls stealing enchanted hearts! i actually don't know if they send cards but it feels right placing them after lupinrangers and they're definitely show-stealers

- Kilroy(2018) is a western comic about a guy who broke an unconventional mirror and has to do unconventional repairs

- Kaitou Kamaitachi(2018) has a cute reporter boy and a lot of butterflies

- Destined Memories(2019) is another mobile dating game, there are thieves (called the Crows) in victorian england and they send notices and it's way better at being a phantom thief story than an actual phantom thief story by this company that i'll maybe mention later if i get to compiling a list of thieves that don't send cards

- I really want to put Majo Kaitou Lip☆s(2019) in this category, I want her to send calling cards, but there's like two chapters out so there's still time. The artwork for this series is GORGEOUS and the idol imagery is amazing and i love it so much I just want her to be popular

i might've ignored some phantoms you may have heard about, but 50% i've checked and they don't send calling cards. If they do, additions are welcome!

#怪盗 #phantom thieves #kaitou #phantom thief #kaito #mysterious thief #phantom thief tag team #stuff i'm passionate about

[percyjacksonfan3]

Thank you to the lovely @wyvernquill who tagged me in this ask game! Sorry it’s a few days late.

Rules: Answer 17 Questions & tag 17 people you want to get to know better (not sure if I can think of 17 but I’ll do my best).

Nickname: Lau to most of my friends, L.J. to some, my mom calls me precious, ‘prec’ for short. My brother calls me sis and every insult under the sun

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio which explains... so much. @wyvernquill put a great Good Omens reference here but I’m not that funny so I’ll just direct you to their answer instead

Height: Between 5′5″ and 5′6″. Let’s go with 5′6″ just ‘cause.

Hogwarts house: Ravenclaw though the first three times I took the Pottermore quiz I got every house equally so... I kind of just shrug and accept Ravenclaw because my friends tell me that’s the best fit

Last thing I googled: the price of bookshelves from stores all over town, because I just moved back home and i have way too many books for my shelves. Honestly though I think I’ll just make another one

Song stuck in my head: I’m currently listening to the Hamilton soundtrack so I don’t have anything in my head rn, but this morning I woke up with Jekyll and Hyde by Bishop Briggs stuck in my head

Following and followers: following 442, followed by 371. Yikes I should probably go through who I’m following and shorten that down a bit. Thank you to the lovelies who follow me though :) I promise I am still working on fics, it’s just that they’re huge monsters in various fandoms

Amount I sleep: if I don’t get at least 7 hours then I will take the next two days- a week to recover. I never nap but I sleep really deeply in the night

Lucky number(s): I don’t think I have any? I used to think 3 but April 3rd was the worst day I’ve had in ages so I’ve abandoned that theory. 42 is a great number though, as it is the answer to life and all

Dream job: right now I’m on track to be a highschool teacher which I’m really looking forward to, but deep down I’ve always wanted to be an actress or writer of some kind. I think novelist or screen writer would be very, very cool

Wearing: leggings and a soft, comfy t-shirt with a cardigan because my room is chilly

Favourite song(s): Please, please do not ask me this. I have a favourite movie. I have a favourite book series. But I cannot pick just one song? Right now I’m obsessed with Low by Grayson Chance but last week I was listening to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks on repeat. It varies a lot. Favourite artist is probably Taylor Swift though

Random fact: Did you know that like a day or two before the Titanic sank the crew was supposed to have a lifeboat safety drill but then Captain Smith canceled it at the last minute for mysterious unknown reasons? So part of why when they hit the iceberg the crew was so disorganized and made so many mistakes is because the captain literally just... didn’t prepare them.

The way that every single detail lined up so perfectly for the Titanic to sink just... it gets me. If even one thing had been different it could have been avoided, or at least less catastrophic, but the individual choices and circumstances all combined to cause one of the biggest examples of human hubris in history and I just think that’s fascinating.

Favourite Authors: I mean I have to put Rick Riordan because the PJO series is a masterpiece and I will fight anyone who says otherwise. Also he is working to include a lot of representation and expand his characters and I appreciate that. But I also really vibe with Madeline Miller’s writing style, and Cassandra Clare is the best romance writer I’ve ever read.

Favourite Animal Noises: birds chirping. If I had to go the rest of my life without hearing birds I would be very disappointed. But I also think there’s something super satisfying about hearing an elephant trumpet

Aesthetic: Tired college student? Bookworm? Basic white girl? They all fit but if I had to pick a character that I relate to I would say Bilbo Baggins (mostly before the quest to Erebor, but I like to think a bit after too)

Okay that’s it I guess! This was super fun, now I just need to tag 17 other people!

@yourstrulytaaay @toast-ish, @innalheid, @marcythevampqueen, @supremequeenofthenerds, @thebeautifulgeneral, @lecter-graham, @hypotheticalboner, @ladylaufeyson1, @g-a-l-a-x-y-cats, @trashmel, and @codelulu

Hmm I can only think of 10 so hopefully that’s good enough? Don’t do it if you don’t want to, or if you have already I’m sorry to tag you again! I’m excited to see your answers!

Thanks again to Wy for tagging me, it was great!

#ask games #Lauren says things

[panelbypanelshow]

Why I’m Excited for “Crisis On Infinite Earths”

With the premier of the “Crisis On Infinite Earths” fast approaching, I recently began to reflect on why I’m so excited for it. Sure, I’m an avid Superman and DC comics fan and Crisis is an iconic story, but it’s more than that.

If you were to ask me “When did you know you were a Superman fan?” I would say, “Somewhere between 7 and 8 years old when my upstairs neighbor gave me his copy of The Death of Superman trade paperback.” Of course, at that age, I didn’t know what a “trade paperback” was. To me, it was a comic book; and like so many other children have done with their favorite comics, books, and toys, I carried it everywhere and read it to the point that I nearly had it memorized. I still have it. It’s beat to hell; but it’s bagged, boarded and stored in a safe place.

My copies of The Death of Superman TPBs. The one on the left I took everywhere with me when I was a boy. 

If you asked me when I became a serious Superman fan and collector I would tell you “My 14th birthday, February 2000.”

My Aunt Susan gave me the Superman Masterpiece Collection for my birthday that year. The set came with a reprinted copy of Superman #1 (printed to the exact specifications of the comic books of that era), a hardcover book chronicling Superman’s Golden Age, and a limited edition statue designed by Alex Ross, made available only with that set.

I still have that, too. It’s a little worn along the edges and corners, but otherwise in excellent shape. I keep it on top of my bookcase. It’s one of my favorite pieces of memorabilia.

Even then, as much as I enjoyed comic books, I only saw them as a form of escapism; another way to keep people entertained. With explosions, science fiction, action, adventure, and romance; it was the modern version of the Greek mythology stories I read as a boy. They were a great way to keep myself entertained but not much else.

That perception changed when shortly after I graduated high school in 2004. I had received, among many other gifts, Barnes and Noble gift cards at my graduation party; and when I redeemed them, there were only two books I had my eye on:

Crisis On Infinite Earths (1985) and Kingdom Come (1996)

Crisis on Infinite Earths brought a new perception to these fictional characters that I had never before considered. There was depth, drama, and serious world-ending – in this case universe-ending – stakes. Universes were literally obliterated from existence , beloved characters were killed off, and the DC Universe was never the same again.

George Perez even introduced a character, Pariah, whose sole purpose was to witness the destruction of every universe, particularly every Earth, with no way to warn or save anyone. I even remember my jaw dropping at the beginning of the story when Earth 3, the home of the Crime Syndicate of Amerika – evil alternate versions of the Justice League, kicked off the story by being destroyed.

Crisis on Infinite Earths saw the teaming up of characters of the same name from different Earths with similar, but still different, backstories and abilities. The Superman of Earth 2, for example, was the Golden Age Superman; who’s abilities are limited to that of early Superman stories, “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” While the Earth 1 Superman was the modern incarnation with all of the abilities we are familiar with today, namely flight.

What made Crisis so successful, however, wasn’t just that there were variations of the same characters fighting side-by-side to save the multiverse from being wiped from existence, but that no one is safe. One of the most iconic covers of all-time is Crisis on Infinite Earths #7.

Cover of Crisis On Infinite Earths #7. 

That basic design, a hero holding the body of a partner/friend/lover, has been used all throughout comic books; but Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 remains iconic not just because it features the world’s most powerful hero holding the dead body of his cousin, who’s abilities are nearly equal to his, reduced to a groveling mess, but because it was proof that absolutely no one was safe. By issue 7, everyone knew the stakes, and the heat was on.

What made Supergirl’s death so memorable and iconic, however, wasn’t just that she died in battle, but that she sacrificed herself, knowing what she was doing would kill her.

Following Crisis, DC rebooted the entire universe and in that reboot, they intended the Superman to be the last Kryptonian rather than the last son. So rather than letting Supergirl become another faceless casualty, she received a hero’s  farewell by protecting her cousin - the entire reason she was sent to Earth in the first place.

The death of Kara Zor-El.

The story didn’t slow down there, either, the following issue saw the death of Barry Allen, A.K.A. The Flash. While the cover isn’t nearly as iconic as the previous, Barry’s death is because it, again, involves self-sacrifice.

Cover of Crisis On Infinite Earths #8.

Throughout the story, Barry’s “ghost” would occasionally pop up, looking less and less ghastly each time; and that was finally explained in issue #8 when Barry ran to create a speed vortex that would draw power from the weapon designed to destroy Earth. The power became too much for his body to handle and he literally ran backwards in time until he disintegrated and became the very lightning bolt that gave him his abilities.

The Death of Barry Allen.

Crisis On Infinite Earths upped the ante in comic book storytelling. It showed that just because the characters aren’t real doesn’t mean they’re immortal and, more importantly, it shows that we can feel connected to them just like we get with a character in our favorite TV show. When I finished reading Crisis I began to take a deeper look at comic book characters and was able to identify what made each character great and different in their own way. Sure, Batman has the money, gadgets, and the car - but it doesn’t mean he won’t long for his parents anytime he sees Superman with Jonathan and Martha. There is much more to comic books than colorful costumes and wacky villains; and it was Crisis On Infinite Earths that helped me realize that.

After Crisis, I picked up Kingdom Come.

Wow.

Let me say that again.

Wow.

Putting aside the writing for now. The art alone is enough to sell the book. Alex Ross is a legend, and his art speaks for itself. I had only ever seen his work in single images, not in comic book panels and I was in awe with how well everything seamlessly flowed together. To this day, Alex Ross’ work in Kingdom Come is among my favorites and will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Now. The story.

Mark Waid could walk into a convention and my heart would stop.

He ranks among some of the very best comic book writers and when you read Kingdom Come, you’ll see why.

Like Crisis On Infinite Earths, Kingdom Come opened my eyes in comic book storytelling that I had never before considered; this time with politics. In my last YouTube video, I talked about how comic books have always been, in some way, political. As children we don’t notice it as much but when we grow, mature, and begin to notice how the world works, we finally become aware of topics we were blissfully unaware of as children. Politics in comic books is one of them.

With Kingdom Come the politics covers not only generational gaps between yesterday’s heroes and the story’s current heroes, but we also see the government get involved out of fear of the destruction the two groups of heroes could cause should they not resolve their differences. Within that narrative was the conflict occurring among the primary characters. Superman and Wonder Woman, while working together, did not see eye-to-eye, Batman wanted nothing to do with their efforts while (shockingly) assembling his own team in accordance with his own plan that involved Lex Luthor and other classic supervillains, and a brainwashed demigod as the wildcard.

Most of all, the story portrayed a war and how the biggest victims aren’t those fighting in it, but those they claim to be fighting for; the unintended casualties. Sure, we feel for the casualties of the war, but it wasn’t until an enraged Superman nearly brought the roof down on the government who did what they did not out of malice, but fear.

Superman nearly loses control in Kingdom Come #4. 

Kingdom Come is easily one of the most powerful stories I have ever read and remains in my top 3 favorite stories. It’s one that I would recommend to anyone, even if they aren’t a comic book fan. Hell, the first Superman shirt I ever bought for myself was Kingdom Come.

I need to get a new one.

Then there’s Brandon Routh.

Routh (rhymes with “south”) was cast to play Superman in 2006’s Superman Returns. While the movie itself was a bit of a disappointment and divisive amongst fans, Routh’s performance as the Man of Steel was not.

Brandon Routh as Superman in 2006’s Superman Returns. 

I was 18 and in my first semester of college when the news of Routh’s casting hit. I was excited. Excited that he was an unknown actor. Excited that he was young and that a franchise could be built around him, excited that he grew up a Superman fan, excited that – like me – he grew up in a part of the country where Superman’s values are ingrained in everyday life. I was truly excited, even if other Superman fans weren’t.

Brandon Routh received, in my opinion, an unfair amount of criticism when he was cast, when pictures of him in the suit were released, when trailers were released, when the movie was released, and even to this day. Honestly, I feel fans and critics weren’t willing to give him a fair chance because he wasn’t Christopher Reeve and was compared to Reeve before the first picture of him in the suit was released. I was one of those fans who tirelessly defended him on the internet. I was insulted by fans, my family was insulted, called names, I was even accused of not being a “real Superman fan” because I was giving the movie my support. I was young, though, and didn’t realize then how pointless it was to argue over the internet; so I kept at it.

I was so excited for the movie I ordered my ticket for opening day the day tickets went on sale. I set out the Superman shirt I wanted to wear to the movie, drove an hour and a half from Limon, CO to Denver to see it, and arrived early to make sure I got a good seat. I had waited my entire life to see Superman on the silver screen and nothing was going to stop me from making it the best experience possible.

I’ll be honest. I enjoyed the movie. I was a bit underwhelmed because I had hoped for more action sequences and felt the story could have been stronger; but that didn’t stop me from walking out of the theater with a smile on my face, seeing it a second time, or looking forward to what the sequel had in store. Hell, at the time Superman Returns came out, I was an aspiring actor and I DREAMED of being cast as John Corben, also known as Metallo, in the Superman Returns sequel and going blow-to-blow with Routh’s Superman.

Ultimately, I think the premise had more to do with my excitement than anything else. I loved – LOVED ­– the idea of Superman being gone for 5 years and returning to a different world; especially with everything the world had been dealing with between 2000-2006.

From Superman Returns. The date of the article is March 3, 2000. 

What if we had Superman on 9/11? What would have been different? How many lives would have saved? Would he have stopped the second plane from hitting the south tower? Would he have prevented it altogether? There was so much that could have been done with that premise that, I feel, was left on the table.

To this day, I believe that instead of being a continuation of the Christopher Reeve films (a decision I supported at the time) I think Superman Returns should have featured a young Superman who fled back to Krypton when he heard the rumor it might still be there. Jason should have been Lois and Richard’s child, Martha should have died while Superman was away, Lex Luthor or Cadmus Labs (both?) should have been trying to clone their own Superman that would turn into Bizarro, Superman should have spent less time pining over his lost love with Lois, and I have always, and firmly, believed there should have been a scene of Clark sitting alone in the Daily Planet film room, glasses in hand and tears in his eyes, watching footage of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Those elements would not only have given Superman Returns a stronger story, it would have made him much more relatable to the casual moviegoer and still would have provided plenty of action for fans.

Despite all of that. I still enjoyed the movie. I enjoyed it so much that when it was available for pre-order on Amazon, I bought the Two-Disc Special Edition.

I still have it.

 When Routh made an appearance at Rose City Comic Con in 2018, I made damn sure I met him.

He signed my copy of the Superman Returns comic book adaptation and I’m still geeking out about it.

Of everything I enjoyed in Superman Returns, the plane sequence, the bank robbery, Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor, Superman flying around saving the city; if I had to pick one thing that I enjoyed the most in the film, it would be Routh himself. While his portrayal of Clark Kent was clearly inspired by Christopher Reeve, his Superman is where he shined. He stood tall, walked and spoke with confidence, and could intimidate someone by his presence alone – until he smiled that warm Superman smile and said something that would calm even the most nervous person like he did with an upset Lois Lane on the roof of the Daily Planet.

“Will I see you around?”

“I’m always around.” 

Because Superman Returns didn’t fare as well in the box office as the studio had hoped, the sequel never happened and that was the end of Routh’s tenure as Superman. I was disappointed, but I understood. It’s a business. Making money comes first and Superman Returns, while profitable, didn’t make nearly enough.

Time marches on and we got more comic book adaptations. Smallville continued for another 5 seasons, ending its run after season 10 and inspiring a spin-off series about the Green Arrow, inspired by Justin Hartley’s popularity of the character in Smallville. Arrow, set apart from the Smallville series, came out swinging and quickly rose in popularity. Then in season 2, came future superheroes as recurring characters: Barry Allen, played by Grant Gustin, and Ray Palmer, played by Brandon Routh.

I was SO excited to see Routh back in the comic book medium. The only thing that would have made me happier was if they brought him back to play Superman; but alas, I knew it didn’t fit with Arrow’s reality.

Routh’s performance as Ray Palmer was different than I expected. Ray always came off as a serious character in the stories I read, not as the “Aw shucks” kind of person Routh portrays him as. It made sense, though. Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen had enough serious to go around for everyone; there needed to be a lighthearted superhero to balance that – like Superman is to Batman.

It worked too! Routh became popular on the show and before too long, was starring alongside other actors who portrayed those lesser known heroes in Legends of Tomorrow. As the Arrowverse continued to up the ante and bring in other shows and characters, so did the expectations; and like the comics the shows are based on, annual crossovers became a thing.

They started small with the first 2 being two-parters with The Flash and Arrow, then expanded across all four shows for Invasion! and Crisis on Earth X, dropped to a 3-parter with Elseworlds while also setting up the Batwoman series, to an epic five-part series based on one of the most iconic stories of all time that showed me how serious comic book storytelling could be.

Then there’s Brandon Routh.

Not only is he returning to play Superman, he’s playing the Kingdom Come Superman! 

I can’t take it anymore. Seriously.

The first actor I ever saw play Superman in theaters – the first Superman actor I have ever met in person, is playing the version of Superman that helped me realize the kind of message that comic books can tell, in an adaptation of an iconic story that showed how serious a comic book can get. Both of those stories, Kingdom Come and Crisis On Infinite Earths, made me into a comic book fan. Not just a Superman fan, but a comic book fan.

Now I have another comic book that I need to get signed by Routh the next time he visits the Pacific Northwest:

It’s gonna happen – and I’ll be sure to get a picture with him while wearing a Kingdom Come Superman shirt.

Fans can always remember what made them fans of their fandom. Crisis on Infinite Earths and Kingdom Come is that for me. Add the casting of Brandon Routh as Superman in Superman Returns shortly after reading those two iconic stories, and It was a done deal for me.

Seeing all of these impactful moments that helped mold my fandom being rolled together like this is, to say the least, emotional. Never in my life did I expect to see any type of live action adaptation of Kingdom Come or Crisis On Infinite Earths; and I certainly never imagined I’d see Brandon Routh play Superman again. It really is a fanboy’s dream come true.

The only thing that could make it better, for me anyway, would be if Routh’s final line as Superman is his best line as Superman:

“I’m always around.”

#crisisoninfiniteearths #kingdomcome #superman #supermanreturns #arrowverse #arrow #flash #supergirl #legendsoftomorrow #brandonrouth #deathofsuperman #raypalmer #theatom #dccomics #cwtv #dctv #dcuniverse #dcmultiverse

[tatticstudio55]

"A Song of Ice and Fire” a Game of Thrones Reading of Bob Dylan’s “The Changing of the Guards”

 Written and submitted by @myasksaccount

“The Changing of the Guards” (link here: https://vimeo.com/267876466 ) is, in my opinion, one of Bob Dylan’s masterpieces. I first listened to this song while I was becoming a fan of Game of Thrones and these two pieces of art will be forever intertwined in my imagination. 

Before I analyze the song as it pertains to Game of Thrones, let me provide the full lyrics:

Sixteen years

Sixteen banners united over the field

Where the good shepherd grieves

Desperate men, desperate women divided

Spreading their wings ‘neath the falling leaves

Fortune calls

I stepped forth from the shadows to the marketplace

Merchants and thieves, hungry for power, my last deal gone down

She’s smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born

On midsummer’s eve, near the tower

The cold-blooded moon

The captain waits above the celebration

Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid

Whose ebony face is beyond communication

The captain is down but still believing that his love will be repaid

They shaved her head

She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo

A messenger arrived with a black nightingale

I seen her on the stairs and I couldn’t help but follow

Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil

I stumbled to my feet

I rode past destruction in the ditches

With the stitches still mending 'neath a heart-shaped tattoo

Renegade priests and treacherous young witches

Were handing out the flowers that I’d given to you

The palace of mirrors

Where dog soldiers are reflected

The endless road and the wailing of chimes

The empty rooms where her memory is protected

Where the angels’ voices whisper to the souls of previous times

She wakes him up

Forty-eight hours later, the sun is breaking

Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rocks

She’s begging to know what measures he now will be taking

He’s pulling her down and she’s clutching on to his long golden locks

Gentlemen, he said

I don’t need your organization, I’ve shined your shoes

I’ve moved your mountains and marked your cards

But Eden is burning, either getting ready for elimination

Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards

Peace will come

With tranquility and splendor on the wheels of fire

But will bring us no reward when her false idols fall

And cruel death surrenders with its pale ghost retreating

Between the King and the Queen of Swords

In this song, Bob Dylan uses some of the same techniques that George Martin uses in the development of his fantasy series. Dylan sets his narrative in a fragmented medieval setting, writes from multiple points of view, draws from elements of medieval romance poetry and refers to archetypical figures out of myth and folklore. 

Use of multiple narrators helps to create a paradoxical impression of interconnection in a song about a divided world. “The Changing of the Guard” jumps between “he,” “she,” and “I” pronouns, making it unclear exactly who is the main figure of the song. In different stanzas, the song is written from first-person, tight third-person and omniscient third-person point of view.

Similarly, the Game of Thrones series switches between protagonists of different genders, social positions and national backgrounds. In this way, the series breaks the convention of fantasy storytelling focusing primarily on the journey of a single hero or heroine. As others have noted, this use of multiple POV characters suggests the plot is not simply focused on one character achieving power and personal growth but on the convergence of multiple storylines and on whether humanity can achieve sufficient cooperation to meet the threat of the White Walkers.

Like other songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s folk movement, Dylan drew inspiration from the love songs of the middle ages, songs that subverted tradition by portraying sexuality outside of arranged marriages and by expressing forms of spiritual power and nobility separate from those dictated by the church and the feudal system. In Into the Mystic: The Visionary Roots of Rock and Roll, Chistopher Hill describes a group of medieval poets called the Fedeli d’Amore (the faithful of love) who were heavily influential on Western music. The Fedeli d’Amor believed “it was the cor gentile [gentle heart] that made a gentleman, not aristocratic power, or wealth, and that the gentle heart could be attained by anyone willing to give his whole heart to his lady and his loyalty to the god Amor” (Hill 111-112). “The Changing of the Guard” invokes this poetic tradition by describing longed-for but absent people and places as agents of spiritual transformation. 

Tropes from medieval romance poetry also abound in Martin’s series. Characters constantly express nostalgia for past eras and idealization of other characters who have died or are otherwise absent. In the essay “The Palace of Love, the Palace of Sorrow” from Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, Linda Antonsson and Elio M. García, Jr., discuss how romanticism is both subverted and appealed to by Martin’s writing. Throughout A Song of Ice and Fire, Martin uses grittiness and realism to subvert tropes of medieval love poetry and of fantasy works derivative of them. At the same time, Martin’s characters often reminiscence nostalgically about fallen kingdoms, long lost loves and the glory of previous times.

A primary example the way in which Robert remembers Lyanna Stark. “The King Robert looks on the effigy of Lyanna Stark at her tomb after a moment of solemn silence, and his first words are ‘She was more beautiful than that.’ Immediately, Robert’s vision of Lyanna is bound up with the past, with his recollection of her beauty as he remembers it now” (García 4). Antonsson and García note that this romantic view of Lynna is particularly striking because Robert would have had very few occasions to actually see or speak with Lynna while she was alive. “His great passion for her seems to be in direct proportion to his feeling that she was taken from him, allowing him an avenue to imagine a Lyanna that may have had little to do with the actual woman” (5). This is similar to the passion that Fedeli d’Amore poets expressed towards love objects were often only tangentially connected real women. 

Another way Dylan connects to poetic and mystical traditions is by using archetypical imagery throughout the song. Most notably, he borrows images from the Major Arcana of the deck of Tarot cards, sometimes referring to cards by name. Some tarot cards invoked in “The Changing of the Guard” are The Tower, The Wheel of Fortune, Strength, Death and the King and Queen of Swords. Dylan also refers to the Roman gods Jupiter and Apollo and to the Christian religious symbols of the Shepard and the Garden of Eden. Moreover, Dylan follows the folk music trope of placing his story inside of a medieval setting as a way of suggesting his themes are timeless enough to be relevant to both past and present day and to the final stanzas which bring the narrative into a prophesized future. 

In ASOIAF, Martin also includes archetypical figures: the Maiden, Mother, Crone, Warrior, Smith, Father and Stranger of the religion of the Seven, the Lord of Light and Azor Ahai of the religion of R’hllor and even the “The Bear” and “the Maiden Fair” of the eponymous song. Over the course of the series, different characters correspond with these archetypical figures in shifting ways. It is unclear, for instance, whether “Azor Ahai reborn” refers to a man or a woman. Prophecies provide similar ambiguity, with multiple possibilities for the identity the “younger, more beautiful” woman foretold to cast down Cersei or of the “three treasons” Daenerys “will know.” As with multiple points of view, archetypical imagery creates a sense of interconnectedness that contrasts with the surface-level fragmentation of society. They also provide a sense of predestination that contrasts with the will required to create a new social order and the choices these changes force individuals to confront. 

Dylan’s songwriting style evokes for me a variety of GOT related characters, events and themes. By breaking the song down by line, I can go into my thoughts about the song and the associations I make with GOT.  

Sixteen years: The opening “sixteen years” suggests a momentous time has arrived, when circumstances cannot continue on as they have in the past. GOT begins with younger characters, Jon, Sansa and Daenerys nearing their coming-of-age and with older characters, Ned, Catelyn and Robert, confronting their shared history. Notably, Robert’s Rebellion took place approximately seventeen years before the plot of GOT begins.

Sixteen banners united over the field: This lyric places the song in a medieval setting in a time of war. The irony of this line is how people unite through the identities represented by the banners they fight under. They need common enemies in order to join together in communities. In GOT, the members of different Houses draw their senses of identity through the sigils and sayings of their banners. They are “united” in all belonging to groups with mixed allegiance and animosity towards other groups. 

Where the good shepherd grieves: A good shepherd cares for his/her flock. For Dylan, the shepherd could signify Christ but I interpret the shepherd as symbolic of any caring authority figure. The shepherd’s grief shows that this is a society in which leaders struggle to protect those in their care. Leaders in GOT who grieve for their “flock” include Daenerys wishing she could protect her figurative “children,” Cersei grieving for her literal children or Jon despairing of saving Westeros from the White Walkers. Because this line occurs early in the song, I associate it with the death of Ned Stark which sets into motion the journeys of the Stark children.

Desperate men, desperate women divided: “Divided” is rhymed with “united,” contrasting two apparent opposites. The division is emphasized by “men” and “women” being referred to separately. In GOT important divisions include woman vs. man, highborn vs. bastards vs. common people, and Stark vs. Lannister vs. Targaryen. Regardless of what side of these lines characters fall on, everyone is desperate. There is no easy, pleasant or morally unambiguous road for any character in this story and it is hard to tell what anyone might do next in such unstable circumstances. 

Spreading their wings: The men and women ‘spread their wings’ in the sense of falling to the ground wounded or dead. The symbol of ‘wings’ could suggest how the dead are idealized in the memories of their survivors and/or could indicate that “angels” (the innocent) perish soon in an injustice world.

‘Neath the falling leaves: “Winter is coming” and with it, the loss of warmth and community. Falling leaves also brings to mind a family tree that has been sundered, such as the Targaryen, Stark and eventually Lannister families. 

Fortune calls: Fortune’s Wheel is a symbol frequently found in medieval texts. Fortune’s wheel raises up the formerly low and lays low the formerly high. In the Tarot deck, the Wheel of Fortune card represents the inconstancy of Fortune and the inevitability of change. A “call” to meet one’s destiny is a common first stage of a hero’s journey. Receiving a “call” means that one has been chosen to take part in a story with great consequence.  

I stepped forth from the shadows to the marketplace: Shadows in a marketplace evoke shady dealings and illicit transactions. Someone stepping forth from the shadows could also mean someone from an obscure background making himself or herself present on the greater world stage, perhaps someone at the lower rungs of Fortune’s Wheel moving towards the higher rungs.  

Merchants and thieves, hungry for power: GOT is full of power-hungry merchants, including Petyr Baelish, Illyrio and Xaro Xhoan Daxos. Significantly, this line links “merchants” and “thieves,” even though “merchants” conduct socially sanctioned activities while “thieves” are stigmatized as criminals by society. In GOT, this connection between merchants and thieves brings up the slave market and other instances of selling human lives, such as Tywin bribing the Freys and Boltons to betray the Starks.

 My last deal gone down- she’s: A deal is made over a woman or girl. To me, this seems like a direct reference to slavery, such as Viserys selling Daenerys to acquire an army. It could include more oblique forms of “selling” a girl or woman, like Ned Stark marrying Sansa off to Joffrey.

Smelling sweet like the meadows: GOT is full of references to sweet smells and to longings for a pastoral springtime world. Sometimes, sweetness implies genuine innocence, childhood and hope. At other times, sweetness implies dangerous naiveté or a cloying outer presentation that hides a malignant core. 

Where she was born on midsummer’s eve: A significant birth date is a common trope in fairy tales and fantasy literature. Significantly timed births in GOT are Daenerys’s birth during a severe summer storm and Tyrion’s birth in the middle of a long winter. In ASOIAF, one born during the summer is a sheltered “sweet summer child" whose innocence cannot last for long. On the other hand, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,“ by William Shakespeare is a not-entirely innocent play full of magic, sexuality and wildness.

Near the Tower: In the Tarot, the Tower card shows lighting striking a tower while two people leap from the tower’s windows. This card represents catastrophe, shattered foundations, upheaval and revelation. In Winterfell, the Broken Tower is a tower ruined a century ago by a lightning strike. Jaime throws Bran from the Broken Tower, injuring Bran permanently and instigating much of the division of society that follows as well as Bran’s eventual transformation into the Three Eyed Raven. The Tower of Joy, where Lyanna dies and Jon is born, also brings to mind the juxtaposition of birth and disaster in this stanza. One born “on the midsummer’s eve, near the tower” could someone born in sheltering innocence whose sense of security will be inevitably shattered or could be one born at an auspicious time whose life will shake the foundations of society.  

The cold-blooded moon: Cold vs. warmth is an enormous motif in GOT. Some have even argued that “cold” is the main antagonist of the saga. The Night King and Others manifest “cold” in its most explicit monstrous form but "cold” is found throughout in the calculation of manipulative political agents and the disconnection of traumatized survivors. In tarot, the Moon card bears the image of wolves howling at a moon positioned between two towers. The Moon is symbolic of illusion and fear as well as of the subconscious and the intuition. A “cold-blooded moon” reminds me of how the Stark children have the intuition of wolves but also sometimes suffer from feeling or acting overly “cold.”

The captain waits above the celebration: GOT is famous for having mixing celebrations like weddings with utter disaster. Ironically, a ceremony meant to symbolize harmony. love and loyalty becomes a further demonstration of turmoil, brutality and treachery. This stanza particularly makes me think of the ill fortune of the military captain Rob Stark.

 Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid: In romance poetry, lover and beloved may be separated by circumstances they can still connect on a spiritual level. Poets of courtly romance “believed that when you looked into your own heart, what you saw was an image of your beloved at a level where it no longer had any meaning to try to determine what was you and what was her; your identities were fused, even if your love was unrequited” (Hill 118). Separated characters send their yearnings out to absent people and places constantly, like when Daenerys dreams of the House with the Red Door, Jon wishes he were with Arya, Tyrion obsesses over the whereabouts of Tysha or Sansa yearns for Winterfell.

Whose ebony face is beyond communication: Another trope of romantic poetry is a beloved who is both earthly and divine. “If you viewed your lady with the terrifically concentrated vision of love, while she never ceased to a be real, particular woman, she was also revealed as the donna angelicata, ‘the angelic lady,’ and as such became a source of spiritual guidance, knowledge and illumination” (Hill 111). One interpretation of this line is that the woman is past communicating with because she is no longer alive, another interpretation is that the captain is so in love he cannot possibly express his feelings and a further interpretation is that her qualities cannot possibly be communicated because she is so sacred and mysterious.  

The captain is down but still believing that his love will be repaid: “Repayment” comes up again and again in GOT, obviously with the line “A Lannister always repays their debts” and in its many permutations, such as when Oberyan remarks “Lannister’s aren’t the only one who pays their debts” as he intends to avenge the murder of his sister Elia. Believing, against the odds, that love will be repaid could also mean impossible longing for love to be returned. This could include unrequited love, such as Jorah’s feelings for Daenerys or pining for lost love combined with desire for revenge, such as Tyrion’s mixed idealized longing for Tysha and murderous fury at Tywin.  

They shaved her head: Violation of the female characters occur throughout this series. In the essay “Power and Feminism in Westeros,” Caroline Spector notes, “There is an enormous amount of violence against women in A Song of Ice and Fire…Rape and sexual violence, both from ‘protectors’ and from strangers, are persistent threats to all female characters” (185 Spector). A striking example of sexualized violence against a woman is when the Sparrows shave Cersei’s hair and strip her of her clothes during the Walk of Shame.

She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo: In Greek mythology, Apollo is the son of the father god Jupiter. Because Jupiter and Apollo are father and son, the image of a woman torn between these two figures makes me think of an intergenerational chain of violence, such as the sadism passed down from Roose to Ramsey Bolton or from Tywin to his sons.  

In the myth of Apollo and Daphne, Apollo chased Daphne and attempted to rape her. Daphne prayed to a river god, who transformed her into a laurel tree when Apollo caught up with her. In Spinning Straw into Gold, Joan Gould analyzes the myth of Apollo and Daphne as a metaphor for how women survive rape and other forms of violation against which they are helpless to fight back. 

“In desperation, a woman can withdraw from life and slide down the scale of consciousness into a creature lower than herself who suffers less proportionally less: A laurel tree. A fountain. A sleeper. She doesn’t escape as she was, but she survives” (Gould 110). 

Daphne’s survival reminds me of the survival strategies of the Stark girls, Sansa hiding behind her armor of courtesy in while a hostage of Lannisters and taking on the disguise of Alayne in presence of Littlefinger, or Arya hiding in her identities as Arry or No One until her Stark identity becomes safe to reassume. 

A messenger arrived with a black nightingale: “Black wings, black words.” In GOT, a message delivered by crow probably contains dark news. In his role as the Three Eyed Raven, Bran is another messenger associated with a black-colored bird. Throughout the series, the truth about what is happening frequently becomes scattered and confused. News of violence sends shockwaves through the Seven Kingdoms, whether true (news of Ned’s beheading reaching the Wall) or false rumors (Rhaegar’s supposed abduction of Lyanna or Cateyln’s claim that Tyrion is trying to murder Bran).

I seen her on the stairs and I couldn’t help but follow: In contrast to characters who receive far-off news are those who witness crimes firsthand. Often in GOT characters are traumatized by their inability to save the ones they love as they watch helplessly.  I think of the Stark daughters watching the Lannisters behead Ned, Arya witnessing the Red Wedding or Tyrion forced to participate in Tasha’s rape.  

Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil: The lifting of a veil again implies involuntary exposure in which the vulnerable “her” is outnumbered by the more powerful “they.” A “fountain” recalls springtime, rebirth and life. That this crime occurs near a fountain implies additional desecration of the sacred.

I stumbled to my feet: In aftermath of disaster, those who remain have to keep going. However, they continue on as the walking wounded, forever changed by what they have experienced.

I rode past destruction in the ditches: Destruction isn’t localized to a single area but exists everywhere throughout Westeros and Essos. I think of the many scenes in which characters travel on the road, Jaimie with Brienne or Aryra with Sandor, and constantly run into gory and disturbing scenes that demonstrate the universality of corruption and violence.   

With the stitches still mending 'neath a heart-shaped tattoo: In the Tarot deck, the Three of Hearts card pictures a heart with three swords stabbing into it. By this point in the narrative, scars and wounds have been acquired, physical as well as emotional. Characters carry psychological wounds that mar their security, sense of identity and ability to love. Others bear physical wounds, like Jaimie’s lost hand or Tyrion’s scars after the Battle of Blackwater. Jon even acquires scars that are literally over his heart.  

Renegade priests and treacherous young witches: Various religious sects and occult forces are also entangled in scheming for power. Magic or the illusion of magic is used by the witches Melissandre and Mirri Maz Dur to twist others to their will and to enact revenge. The Sparrows tear apart society with their political maneuvering rather than using spiritual wisdom as a force for harmony and common good.

Were handing out the flowers that I’d given to you: “Flowers” again signals hope, fertility and love. Flowers given freely contrast to the transactions of the merchants and thieves described earlier in the song and to the sexuality stolen in allusions to rape. Here, I think of Tyrion calling himself the “knight of the flowers” in reference to his attentions in the bedroom. Anger at these flowers being “handed out” without any regard to where they came from reminds me of Tyrion’s growing bitterness towards false shows of affection and piety.

The palace of mirrors: A palace of mirrors indicates a system of power that relies on the use of propaganda, deception and distortion. This phrasing could also suggest that power is itself an illusion, as in the many instances in GOT when a character apparently holds power because he/she sits on a throne, commands an army or possesses noble blood but nonetheless some other factor brings the seemingly powerful character to his/her defeat. 

Where dog soldiers are reflected: Warriors are dehumanized, their reflection in mirrors showing a blurring of individuality. They are regulated to the status of animals and develop bestial characteristics. Sandor, nicknamed “The Hound”, for instance, has lost touch with his humanity and is not regarded as fully human because of his wounded appearance and violence in battle. Jon Snow, as one of the Brothers of Black, is also torn between embracing his lone wolf qualities and becoming a loyal “dog” of his military order.

The endless road and the wailing of chimes: Many characters in GOT go on quests that seem endless, whether its Dany trying to return to Westeros or the Stark children trying to return to Winterfell. Wailing chimes denote a state of continual peril. For many viewers/readers of the series, it seems that characters will be stuck forever encountering one deadly trial after another without any chance of reprieve and shelter.

The empty rooms where her memory is protected: In contrast to the disorienting palace of mirrors or the chaotic road is a space of quiet preserving the memory of a beloved woman. There are several “hers” this line could bring to mind. Lyanna, Rhaella and Joanna are the characters that come to my mind, as they are among the women in the series whose memories are most cherished. This whole stanza makes me think of Martin’s recurring descriptions of tombs and ruins, particularly Lyanna’s tomb in the Crypt of Winterfell.

Where the angels’ voices whisper to the souls of previous times: Angels again signify deification of the dead or lost. A large number of characters die within the course of this series or are dead before story begins but linger in memory. The gentle “whispering” of the angels in this secluded space contrasts with the chaotic “wailing” on the road.  

She wakes him up. Forty-eight hours later, the sun is breaking: A turning point occurs in this stanza, with an awakening and the breaking of the sun. Perhaps the soul of the deceased is calling a man to action. Or perhaps a woman was slumbering in a Daphne-like state but begins to awaken from her lowered consciousness. A breaking sun shows hope for a new dawn and beginning of spring once more.

Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rocks: “Broken chains” make me think of the Breaker of Chains, Daenerys and her proactive fight against oppression. Mountain laurel is another flower symbol, but a flower capable of flourishing in a harsher environment than those that bloom in a summer meadow. The “rolling” of the rocks brings to mind the Wheel of Fortune and changes that have been set into motion.

She’s begging to know what measures he now will be taking: Here, the female figure has consciousness and a voice while the male figure is about to take action. It’s unclear if he’s about to take action to harm her or if he’s about to take action against the corrupt society that has been described so far in this song.

He’s pulling her down and she’s clutching on to his long golden locks: This line reads ambiguously to me as something that could be a passionate love scene or another rape scene (unfortunately, not unlike a few of scenes in GOT or ASOIAF where I’m not sure exactly what was intended by the writing or direction). In the Tarot deck, a woman clutching at golden locks would be the Strength card in which a woman strokes and tames a ferocious golden lion. The Strength card represents inner as opposed to outer strength, the fortitude to remain calm and possessed during a struggle. A lady loving a lion and a man with golden locks makes me think of Brienne and Jaimie or Daenerys and Tyrion.  

Gentlemen, he said: A proactive figure addresses the “gentlemen” of the noble and patriarchal old order.

As the first piece of dialogue in the song, it suggests the reaching of a climatic point wherein forces must be confronted and beliefs must be voiced. This speaking person issues a declaration of independence from the current order and offers a prophetic warning.

I don’t need your organization, I’ve shined your shoes: The person making this address has served in a lower role within the social structure and no longer sees the need to stay in that role. Many characters in GOT make such a declaration, such as Jon gaining the confidence to rule despite being born a bastard, Daenerys realizing she is the true dragon of her generation of Targaryens even if she is a woman or Tyrion standing up to his family’s ablest abuse during his trial. 

I’ve moved your mountains and marked your cards: A person who has served in a lower position in society has gained deep knowledge of the working of that society. Throughout GOT, characters develop knowledge and awareness of the world during their times in exile or as outsiders. Brent Harbinger in “A Different Kind of Other” discusses the role of outsiders in the series: “Having suffered dearly under the rules of an unforgiving society, outcasts such as Tyrion and Varys pay keen attention to rules, precisely so they can manipulate them in order to give themselves a fighting change. They also keep a close eye on other outsiders, as they can be valuable allies” (162 Hartinger). Marking cards refers to the Tarot deck again, perhaps in the sense of having insight into the strengths and weaknesses of others.

But Eden is burning: In Judaic, Christian and Islamic traditions, the Garden of Eden symbolizes innocence and the loss of that innocence.  The burning of Eden connects back to previous references to pastoral landscapes and to nostalgic pining for what has been lost. Here, the violation of innocence is a dire emergency, impossible to ignore. 

Either brace yourself for elimination: In GOT, Jon Snow constantly serves as a harbinger of doom, trying to convince the other characters that if they don’t band together then everyone will die an icy apocalypse. Daenerys offers another kind of warning, telling tyrants that if they don’t change their oppressive practices she will bring them to justice with dragon-fire. This lyric ambiguously combines a conqueror’s warning (“Submit or face my wrath.”) an enforcer of justice’s edict (“Change your ways or pay the price.”) and a spiritual guide’s counsel to society (“If we can’t band together, we’re all doomed.). 

Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards: The only alterative to doom is finding the courage to change society. Given all the terrors alluded to throughout the song, it is going to take much courage to make those changes.

Peace will come: Dylan shifts from present to future tense, lending the final stanza the resonance of a prophecy. In GOT, messianic hopes are attached to the figure of Azor Ahai who is expected to be reborn and to prevail against the night. In GOT, some place messianic hopes in Daenerys or Jon, while the overall focus of series suggests that peace can only arrive through the joining together of many individuals.

With tranquility and splendor on the wheels of fire: This line mysteriously sees fire as a conduit for peace. Fire in GOT brings to mind the “fire and blood” military tactics of House Targaryen and the use of fiery weapons to fight against the While Walkers. “Wheels of fire” implies an unstoppable force that will knock down those at the top of society, an inflammatory variation on the Wheel of Fortune. The strange use of “tranquility and splendor” to describe such violence makes me think of the look of calm on Daenery’s face whenever she’s connected to her dragons. The transformation of society through “wheels of fire” predicted here brings up the complex moral reactions I have to GOT as I wonder at the ambiguity of achieving peace through destruction

But will bring us no reward when her false idols fall: ‘False idols’ could be the falseness of thief-like merchants, duplicitous religious figures, political ‘palaces of mirrors’ and messages from ‘black nightingales’ bearing inaccurate report. The agents of change are not seeking ‘reward’ of the same kind as the materialistic rewards sought by the old order.  

And cruel death surrenders with its pale ghost retreating: A final confrontation between ‘cruel death’ and its ‘pale ghost’ recalls the highly foreshadowed battle between humanity and the Night King’s army. The Night King and the Others symbolize a fate worse than death that can only be vanquished through fire.  

Between the King and the Queen of Swords: The tarot deck is sorted into the suits of Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles with corresponding royal figures for each suit. This song describes “wheels of fire” defeating the order established by the King and Queen of Swords. Because the Wands suit corresponds with the element of fire and the Swords suit corresponds with the element of air, I interpret the final stanza of this song as a confrontation between Sword and Wand values and forms of leadership.

In her guide Tarot Wisdom, Rachel Pollack describes the suit of swords as “useless for anything but combat.” “This,” she says, “gives the suit an aggressive quality, an overlay of sorrow that we cannot get away from no matter how high-minded we try to make it” (333). 

The Queen of Swords upright represents grief, possibly widowhood, resilience, independence and use of intelligence rather than brute force. When reversed, this card is associated with corruption, powerful intelligence turned towards manipulation and cold-heartedness.  

The King of Swords is a warrior with great intellectual power and authority, who is comfortable with being in command. Reversed, the King of Swords symbolizes corruption in high places and a personality serving itself instead of society.

On the other hand, the Queen of Swords is associated with boldness, creativity and sexuality. Writes Pollack, “The essential quality of the queen is mastery, and she is the master of fire, the feminine part of complete confidence. Wands are sexual energy, and in the Rider she is famously the most sexual of the queens, for she sits with her legs apart.” When reversed, the Queen of Swords has impatience dealing with crises that go on too long and difficulty understanding limitations. 

The King of Wands likewise represents “confidence that can slide into arrogance around people not as powerful or self-assured as he” as it is “the nature of fire to move, to seek freedom and reject whatever would hold it down.” Reversed, the King of Wands is associated with temper, quickness to anger and self-doubt.

As the last Targaryens that we know of, Jon and Daenerys both have a strong connection to the element of fire and the suit of Wands. From a GOT viewpoint, one reading of a clash of Swords and Wands is the overthrow of the social order imposed by Cersei and Tywin, the most powerful female and male rulers (sorry Robert) in Westeros at the beginning of GOT, by Daenerys and Jon, the female and male characters who have been growing as leaders throughout the series.

I feel this may be a little simplistic. Cersei has some Wand qualities (like her use of wildfire in battle) and Daenerys has some Sword qualities (like her widowhood and preoccupation with justice, both traditionally Queen of Sword attributes). I perceive the clash between Swords and Wands expressed in this song as a more general conflict between deceit, cold-heartedness and dehumanization on one hand and creativity, warmth and boldness on the other, with the later set of values being necessary to defeat the ghost of living death.  

“The Changing of the Guards” includes many of the themes found in Game of Thrones- themes of unity and division, innocence and corruption, peace and violence, trauma and survival, revenge and justice. The song contrasts imagery of autumn and winter, war, loss, betrayal, catastrophe, oppression and annihilation with imagery of spring and summer, parental care, romantic love, innocence, peace and mystical beauty. Violations of the sacred lead to a wounded society and ultimately to a necessary change to the social order.

Both works of art leave me with similar questions. Does this song truly convey commitment to justice, love of beauty and hope for humanity’s future or is it about romantic yearning for an idealized past, an unobtainable beloved and an impossibly messianic world-to-come? Is Martin’s epic about loss of innocence and the defeat of evil by long-suffering but ultimately heroic protagonists or is it about how stories that insist on such a patterns erase the complexity of the past, present and future? My opinion is that both “Changing of the Guard” and GOT ultimately convey an assurance of the triumph of humanity over inhumanity. At the same time, both convey that such a triumph must come a heavier cost and after more struggle than in the kind of songs Petyr refers to when he tells Sansa that life is not one.

References:

Dylan, Bob. “The Changing of the Guards.” Street Legal. Rundown Studios, 1978.  

García, Jr., Elio and Linda Antonsson. “The Palace of Love, the Palace of Sorrow.” Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Ed. James Lowder. BenBella Books, Inc., 2012. 

Gould, Joan. Spinning Straw into Gold: What Fairy Tales Reveal about the Transformations in a Woman’s Life. Random House, Inc., 2006.

Hartinger, Brent. “A Different King of Other: The Role of Freaks and Outcasts in A Song of Ice and Fire." Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Ed. James Lowder. BenBella Books, Inc., 2012.

Hill, Christopher. Into the Mystic: The Visionary Roots of Rock and Roll. Simon & Schuster, 2017.

Pollack, Rachel. Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings. Llewellyn Publications, 2008. 

Spector, Caroline. “Power and Feminism in Westeros.” Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Ed. James Lowder. BenBella Books, Inc., 2012.

#myasksaccount is a smart cookie #bob dylan #asoiaf meta #submission #asoiaf analysis #song analysis #tarot deck

[esmeiolanthe]

Spy Challenge rules

I’ve made up a challenge, because making up challenges is fun. It has to do with spies, because spies are cool. The rules are pretty hefty, because I like making lists and challenge rules are all about lists. You can read the rules below the cut or at my Dreamwidth.

The challenge is to play a successful spy. There are a few Dos, a few Don’ts, and lots of flavor.

 DO

Max Body skill (Spies need to be able to climb things, swim away from things, ski down mountains after jumping out of airplanes, and fight big thugs with metal teeth – or at least James Bond does in the movies…)

Max Logic skill (Spies need to know how to figure things out from little hints and scraps of information, and know what information is important and what isn’t)

Max Charisma skill (Spies often have to recruit others to find things out for them, so they need to be charming)

If your sim was a playable with a family, you have two options.

1.       Easy Mode: You can have contact with your family as normal – unless your cover is blown

2.       Hard Mode: You can have contact with one relative of your choice, once per week +200 points for voluntarily completing the challenge on Hard Mode

 DON’T

Do NOT take a job in the Intelligence career, if it’s available in your game set up (Successful spies don’t go around saying “Hi, I’m a spy!”)

Do NOT use strawberry juice (If someone gets mad at a spy and somehow blows their cover, their life is on the line, after all)

 FLAVOR SKILLS

Spies have lots of skills they need to know. I freely admit that I picked up a lot of these from a BBC reality show called Spy that came out in the early 2000s. I’ll list the skill and then how to incorporate it into your game.

 Go gray/Go undercover: Spies need to be able to blend in with everyone else and not stand out in any way at all. Get a job in any career (except Intelligence), but make sure you do NOT pass Level 5. If you pass Level 5, your cover is blown. You may not ignore chance cards.

Withstand torture: Spies need to be able to keep their heads at all times, even under adverse conditions. Keep your sim with all meters in orange/red for at least 24 hours without any critical failures or death. “Critical failures” are the Shrink, the Social Bunny, or any of the Aspiration desperation actions. If your sim wets their pants, that’s okay – just have them drink three glasses of water right away afterwards. +15 for every time you complete this. You can only choose to do this once. It may trigger additional times based on other circumstances.

Talk their way into someone’s home: Spies need to be personable and able to talk their way into places. Build a relationship with another sim such that they invite you to a community lot/on a date. When you get the invitation, accept it, and have the outing/date be at least a Good Time if not better. Bonus points if this sim is a townie or a safe NPC. +5 for every time you complete this.

Follow someone: Spies need to be able to follow people without being caught. Go to from one community lot to another and see the same sim 5 times in a row. (This is somewhat random due to game mechanisms, but theoretically possible.) +20 for every time you accomplish this.

Get someone to do iffy things for them: The first step for a spy to recruit an informant is to get them to do something a little bit iffy but not actually illegal. If that works, they ask for a bit more and a bit more and all of a sudden, the spy has another unwitting spy working for them. Use Influence 5 times in a row without being rejected. Refusal to perform the task resets the counter to 0 and means that you can never try Influence on that particular sim again. Bonus points if you manage this on 5 different people. +5 for every time you complete this. +25 bonus points for completing this with 5 different people.

Be good at languages: Spies need to be able to talk to people from other countries. In some cases, they even need to pass as people from other countries. Travel to all three vacation destinations and learn the vacation greetings. Do not stay at expensive hotels, and do not stay a long time, as both of these will make your sim stand out. +10 for every vacation destination greeting mastered.

Evade pursuers: Spies need to be able to get away when an enemy is following or actively chasing them. Learn to teleport, either from the ninja or from meditation once your Logic skill gets high enough. +10 for learning via meditation, +20 for learning from the ninja. You can only learn to teleport via one method, not both.

Have covert contacts with allies, informers, double agents, and so forth: Sometimes spies need to meet with contacts that they can’t really be seen with, so these meetings need to be brief, casual, and apparently accidental. In Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman stated that this was usually done by feeding the ducks, but there aren’t any ducks to feed in TS2. Fish in public and chat with other sims fishing. +5 per event.

Romance/seduce people: Spies sometimes have to use their sex appeal to get information from the enemy. Get Mr. Big/The Diva to fall in love with you. Bonus points if the love is one-sided (them to you only). Double bonus points if the one you seduce is the one that’s opposite your autonomous gender preference. +50 for successful completion. +25 for a one-sided love. +50 for a successful romance with the opposite of your autonomous gender preference.

Take covert pictures/plant cameras: Spies often need to get footage of an enemy doing something, or need to photograph important documents. Take pictures on four separate, busy community lots without having any other sims looking in your direction when you take the picture. If you do not have Bon Voyage, see if you can figure out a way to use the University career reward. +15 for every time you manage this.

Send hidden messages in innocuous things: Spies sometimes send messages in otherwise ordinary items rather than on secret thumb drives or microdots or similar. (For instance, sending a contact a perfectly ordinary book where the message is conveyed by the book chosen.) Paint a picture or write a novel.  The painting cannot be a masterpiece, and the novel cannot be a best-seller, since this will make your sim stand out. +10 for every time you complete this.

Drive well: As anyone who has ever watched a spy movie knows, car chases are inevitable. Buy a car, install an alarm, and “Go for a spin” 3 times a week to practice driving – and to learn the lay of the land. +10 at the end of the challenge if you have completed this faithfully. If you have not completed it faithfully, -10 points.

Hack into systems: Spies often need to get into protected databases. Have a LAN party 2 times a week and chat online 3 times a week. +10 at the end of the challenge if you have completed this faithfully. If you have not completed it faithfully, -10 points.

Courier items from one place to another: Spies often need to transport secret documents, packages, or messages. (Fun Fact: Josephine Baker once smuggled important documents past an enemy checkpoint in her underwear.) Take something from one lot to another lot and leave it at the second lot. The second lot must be a community lot. You can hand the item off to a secret contact identified with the appropriate code phrase (see below). Bonus points if you somehow manage to leave the item on a community lot without handing it off to a contact. Extra bonus points if the item in question didn’t belong to your sim in the first place – for example, a gnome stolen from a different sim’s house. +10 for each successful courier mission. +20 if you manage to leave the couriered item on a community lot without handing it off to a contact. +10 if the item in question didn’t belong to you in the first place.

Use code phrases: Spies often have to identify allies they have never met to get help in difficult or emergency situations. To be sure that you are working with an ally, first pick an area of Interest. There are 18 of these in TS2. Each area of Interest has 5 icons that represent it. For example, for Sci-Fi, the icons are rocket ship, astronaut, robot, planet, gray alien. (You can find a full list here: http://sims.wikia.com/wiki/Interest) Before you go to a meeting, pick a sequence of icons. This sequence can be as few as two icons, or as many as you like. (The higher the number, the more unlikely it is that you be able to use it.) When you arrive at the meeting, go up to the sim you think might be your contact and initiate a conversation about the chosen Interest. When your first chosen icon starts off the conversation, this is bringing in the code phrase. If the other sim replies with the next icon in your chosen sequence, they are an allied agent. (If your chosen sequence is longer than two icons, then matching icons need to continue until the correct sequence is reached.) In English, this exchange might go something like “The pelican flies at midnight” answered with “Crickets chirp in the rain.” In TS2, the exchange might go “Rocket ship” answered with “Gray alien.” Feel free to make up your own fancy code phrases to go along with the icons; making up silly code phrases is fun! +25 for every successful pair of code phrases exchanged. -10 every time the initial code phrase is not met with the return code phrase. -25 if the entire topic of conversation is rejected.

Use dead drops: Spies often communicate with or leave things for allies who they never meet. They do this by leaving things in a public place to be picked up later, leaving things visible in an area they control, or doing specific things that are publicly visible. This way, their ally can get the message without ever having to come in contact with the spy. Every day, flip a coin or roll a die to see if you need to do one of the “dead drop” type tasks listed below. Heads/evens= yes, tails/odds=no. If you get an assignment, roll a d20 or use a different randomizer of your choice to choose what your assignment is for the day.

1.       Put red flowers out in front of your house (in a vase or a pot or something, not on a bush)

2.       Mail something (this can be paying a bill or using the custom mail system of your choice)

3.       Wear a blue shirt

4.       Read the newspaper in your front lawn

5.       Wear a hat

6.       Play fetch

7.       Go jogging

8.       Buy a magazine

9.       Walk to work/drive to work (whichever is not usual for you). If it is your day off, walk/drive to a community lot, again doing whichever is not usual for you.

10.   Order groceries

11.   Have coffee on a community lot between 4-6 pm

12.   Comb/style your hair differently (do not cut or dye it – just a different part, an updo, something like that)

13.   Sunbathe (either on a towel or in a recliner – if it is currently winter, this will be quite cold)

14.   Water your plants between 2-3 pm

15.   Dig for treasure and leave the hole for 24 hours

16.   Make and play with a paper airplane, then leave it on the lawn

17.   Buy and display a new lawn ornament (you can leave it on the lawn after – it won’t be new anymore, so it’s okay)

18.   Leave trash on the lawn while you are at work

19.   Wear sunglasses

20.   Hang out in the yard with a radio playing salsa music in the yard with you

If you do not have the specific EP needed to perform one of these actions, do something similar given your particular game set up. +1 for every dead drop completed

 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

These are special circumstances that may or may not come up in your game, depending on your set up and play style.

Friend or Foe?: When you identify an allied agent using a code phrase, spend 3 hours cultivating a relationship with them. If you end up with a positive relationship, you earn points. If you end up with a negative relationship, as enemies, and/or with the other sim furious at you, they will betray you. You lose points when they betray you. If you are Enemies, this blows your cover. +15 for a positive relationship. -25 points for a negative relationship.

Take a Chance on Me: If a stranger calls you up and asks you to go out (either date or outing), always accept. Flip a coin before you head out. Heads=the person is an ally, tails=the person is an enemy agent. If the person is an ally, nothing further happens – have an ordinary outing. If the person is an enemy agent, try to befriend them. If you max out the outing/date meter, you turn them into a double agent who is now secretly on your side. If you have a positive (but not maxed) or a neutral outing/date, you and your enemy go your separate ways with a new respect for each other, but without interference. If you have a negative (but not bottomed out) outing/date, this triggers the torture scenario above. If you bottom out the outing/date meter, you become the double agent who is now secretly on the enemy’s side. If you become a double agent, adjust your relationship with the enemy spy to 75/75, and change your relationships with your former allies to no more than 30/30. For all scoring purposes, your former allies are now your enemies and your former enemies are now your allies. Every time you complete a mission for your former allies, call your friendly enemy spy and chat on the phone for one game hour. +25 for a maxed outing/date meter, 0 for a neutral meter, -20 for a negative meter, -100 for a bottomed out meter.

Sim of a Thousand Faces: If you are contacted by a hobby leader, you must put on a disguise – in fact, a whole new identity (see below) – go to a community lot (or even the hobby lot), and pick a sim you don’t know to interact with in keeping with the disguise for 3 hours. At the end of the time, if your relationship with the sim is positive, your mission was a success. If your relationship is negative, this triggers the torture scenario above. If you end up as enemies/furious, your cover has been blown. +25 for a successful mission, -20 for a failure triggering torture.

 Identity Elements (Choose all 20 elements randomly via whatever randomizing method you prefer)

1.       Male/Female

2.       Young Adult/Adult/Elder

3.       Hair: Red/Blonde/Brown/Black/Custom

4.       Fit/Average/Fat

5.       Eyes: Brown/Dark blue/Green/Gray/Light blue/custom

6.       Supernatural/Not supernatural

a.       If supernatural: combination supernatural/just one type of supernatural

b.       Vampire/Alien/Zombie/Witch/Bigfoot/Genie/Servo/Plantsim/Werewolf

c.       If witch: Good/Neutral/Evil

7.       Employed/Not employed

8.       Rich/Not rich

9.       Hobby: Cuisine/Film & Literature/Tinkering/Sports/Music & Dance/Fitness/Arts & Crafts/Science/Games/Nature

10.   Turn On: Hair Color/Clothing/Accessories/Makeup/Fitness/Smell/Life State/Employment

a.       Hair color: Red/blonde/brown/black/grey/custom/facial hair

b.       Clothing: Swim wear/formal wear/underwear

c.       Accessories: Glasses/hats/jewelry

d.       Makeup: Makeup/full face makeup

e.       Fitness: Fat/fit/average

f.        Smell: Cologne/stink

g.       Supernatural state: As in #6b above

h.       Employment: Unemployed, employed, hard worker (Level 6+ in career)

11.   Turn Off: As in #10 above. Remove the Turn On you chose from consideration.

12.   Primary Interest: Environment/Food/Weather/Culture/Money/Politics/Paranormal/Health/ Fashion/Travel/Crime/Sports/Entertainment/Animals/Work/School/Toys/Sci-Fi

13.   Career: Adventurer/Architecture/Artist/Athlete/Business/Culinary/Criminal/Dance/Education/ Entertainment/Show Business/Journalism/Law/Law Enforcement/Medicine/ Military/Music/Natural Scientist/Oceanographer/Paranormal/Politics/Science/Slacker          (Note that Intelligence is NOT an option!)

14.   Successful/Not successful

15.   Pet/No pet

a.       If pet: cat/dog/bird/fish

16.   Taken/Available (for romantic purposes)

17.   Kids/No kids

18.   Favorite color: Red/Orange/Yellow/Green/Blue/Purple/Pink/Black/White/Gray/Brown

19.   Conservative/Rebellious/Quirky/Sporty/Elegant/Geeky/Ordinary

20.   Social group: None/Gearhead/Bohemian/Jock/Tech/Socialite

Some of these things may require custom content to pull off. (For example, if a male sim has to pass himself off as a female sim, you will probably need some form of custom content for his clothing.) Some of the things you choose will not show (such as social group), but can inform your interactions. For example, if your sim is supposed to be a Socialite, they should greet people with the Kiss Kiss Darling interaction. If your sim is supposed to have a Turn Off for red hair, they should not flirt with any redheads. If your sim has kids, they might turn the conversation topic to School or Toys. If your sim is a geeky sim with a pet fish and with the favorite color of pink, they might wear a pink shirt with a picture of a fish on it. Some of the Turn On options listed above are not available in game, or are broken. That’s okay – you’re not really changing your sim’s preferences, just having them pretend. (It’s harder that way.)

Maintain a Legend: Have a pretend relationship with another sim, preferably an allied agent. This pretend relationship has all the trappings of marriage/romance, including living together and sleeping in the same bed, but without romantic attachment. This sim may NOT be Mr. Big or The Diva. Bonus points if, when you’re playing a different household and invite the spy over, this pretend partner comes along when the spy asks “Can my friend come too?” +100 for a cover identity, +50 if the pretend partner your sim’s friend brought to a different household.

 END OF THE CHALLENGE

This challenge can end in one of two ways: Either you are successful enough to eventually be brought in from the cold, or you mess up badly and can never work as a spy again.

If you make it to Elder without having your cover blown, you can come in from the cold. You can drop your cover identity, and even take a job in Intelligence if you like. (This represents getting a nice desk job or training new recruits.) Alternatively, you can relax and enjoy retirement without any fear of anyone torturing or killing you. You do have to move to a completely different house. +500 for honorably coming in from the cold.

If your cover is blown once, you lose all your points, lose your job, and lose any Rewards or inventory you may have earned. You have to move to a new house with a new cover identity (use the Sim of a Thousand Faces chart to help pick this) and start a new job. Your new job cannot be in your old career track. You are immediately placed in Hard Mode, if you weren’t already there. -200 points for being forced to complete the challenge on Hard Mode because your cover was blown (Yes, this means you might start over with negative points.)

 If your cover is blown a second time, you are not cut out for the spy life. Flip a coin or roll a die to decide what happens to you.

1.       Heads/evens=You are forcibly retired. You move to a new house with a new identity. You can never see your family again (if you had one), and you have to get a new job that is not in any prior career path, in Intelligence, or in Law Enforcement.

2.       Tails/odds=You are found out and killed by the enemy. You lose all your points. Kill your sim via the method of your choice. Hey, being a spy is dangerous!

 SCORING

+1 for every dead drop completed

+5 for every time your sim is invited on an outing/date with a known sim

+5 per covert contact

+5 for every successful completion of the “iffy things” requirement above.

+25 bonus points for completion of the “iffy things” requirement with five different sims

+10 for every vacation destination greeting mastered

+10 for learning to teleport via meditation

You can only learn to teleport via one method, not both.

+10 for every time you send a message via an innocuous object

+10 if you faithfully complete the driving requirements

-10 If you have not completed it faithfully

+10 if you faithfully complete the hacking requirements

-10 If you have not completed it faithfully

+10 for each successful courier mission

+20 if you leave the couriered item on a community lot without handing it off to a contact.

+10 if the item in question didn’t belong to you in the first place.

+15 for every time your sim is invited on an outing/date with an unknown sim

+15 for every time you successfully take covert pictures

+15 for every time your sim withstands torture

+20 for every time your sim successfully follows someone

+20 for learning to teleport from the ninja

You can only learn to teleport via one method, not both.

+25 for every successful pair of code phrases exchanged

-10 every time the initial code phrase is not met with the return code phrase

-25 if the entire topic of conversation is rejected

+50 for successful romance/seduction of Mr. Big/The Diva

+25 bonus points for a one-sided love

+50 bonus points for a romance with the opposite of your autonomous gender preference.

+200 points for voluntarily completing the challenge on Hard Mode

-200 points for being forced to complete the challenge on Hard Mode because your cover was blown

+500 for honorably coming in from the cold

Friend or Foe? scenario

+15 for a positive relationship

-25 points for a negative relationship

Take a Chance On Me scenario

+25 for a maxed outing/date meter

0 for a neutral meter or a positive but not maxed meter

-20 for a negative meter

-100 for a bottomed out meter

Sim of a Thousand Faces  scenario

+25 for a successful mission

-20 for a failure triggering torture

Maintain a Legend scenario

+100 for a cover identity

+50 if the pretend partner is the “bring a friend” at a different household when your sim goes to visit

#sims 2 #sims 2 challenges

[grumpytrashpanda]

Sweetest Of Dreams - My Valentine - [Archive Of Our Own]

A Valentine’s Day themed project by Archive Of Our Own.

Original Link - Click Here To Read It @AO3

Chapter 1/3: My Valentine

Author: Go_LuckyFanfics

Word Count: 3149

Rating: General - Will change later in the plot for heavy smut.

Summery: It’s the holiday for endless romance among the stars and our hopeless romantic Peter Quill is looking to indulge his fiancé and favorite trash panda in the foreign traditions known as Valentine’s Day. Perhaps a spicy retreat away from the Guardians while planet-side is in order to help kindle their relationship.

It’s another special time of year, one that our romanced Guardians have of yet to celebrate and the humanly side of the relationship would stop at nothing to make it another occasion for the future. It’s a holiday meant for sharing the closest of moments with our significant other, though it’s not a time to treat them with extra kindness simple because it’s a holiday of love but rather to remember why two souls can still be together despite all the differences between them.

It’s the kindling of romance in the night sky, an unsure ache in someone’s heart of what might await down the road and where to go from here. I’m of course talking about Valentine’s Day.

So let’s begin our story...

The Milano cruised just outside Xandar’s atmosphere in the galaxy with their new designated pilot Kraglin, at the helm. The humbled Xandarian gladly accepted the role bestowed to him allowing everyone else to attend to their own things, the importance of their current activities questioned when comparing it to his current place in the cockpit.

Drax was downstairs in the common room benching with a large white towel draped over the room’s table nearby, the growing band of misfits always making a beeline to avoid eating in the room whenever the muscular brute was working on his abs. At least since they’d gotten some proper exercise equipment, the Destroyer had mostly stopped taking his rage out on the ship’s accommodations and dashboard.

Gamora had mostly been keeping to herself for the past few days in her bedroom away from the others, sometimes talking to her sister who’d long since left after the events on Ego’s Planet. She felt like something really changed in Nebula back there in the caverns, something she’d been hesitant to believe was still a part of their sibling rivalry, a piece inside that wanted to know more and maybe have an actual relationship like they once did. Maybe she was right.

Mantis and Groot had made a surprising connection as of lately, the two of them sparking their own little thing in the background. The empath with using her abilities could connect with the growing teenage tree in the same fashion as his friend Rocket could but it went beyond just communicating. For someone like him that only spoke three simple words there was always such a profound meaning in how they were spoken.

She learned through their time together bonding alone that Groot wasn’t angry at everyone around him, rather more at himself. He might’ve been a teenager and had his typical mood swings like anyone else in his place but there was a place of him that felt left out, like they knew his entire life and he didn’t. it was frustrating for everyone in his family to know his life and yet he didn’t but of course he couldn’t. That was someone else, another soul that gave itself up to ensure his new family could go on without him leaving this small gift for Rocket to care for all those nights like the friendly log did for him al his lowest points in the form of a potted twig not to take his place but to carry his heart and the love hidden inside.

Meanwhile, secluded away in the captain’s bedroom our two space dorks have been attending to important matters of their own, slumbering away in somber from a long in and beyond their shared bedroom under the sheets when Peter blinked his eyes awake.

The half-human turned over and stared at Rocket always seeing a small twinkled shine in the peace during early mornings watching his fiancé sleep under the many blankets on their bed. The ringtail was always a cuddler in his own way even more so during his first rutting season while dating Quill. He’d likely obliterate anyone who accused him of being such a softie in these moments even though it wasn’t really a secret around the Milano, as if the idea of keeping secrets was a fruitful thought when you’ve got this many people living together in one place.

With a very tender touch lie caressing a gentle flower, Peter smoothed a single finger across Rocket’s left brow and watched his mate’s eyes gently awake to face him.

He used to be afraid of sleeping, the thought of being awakened from something or someone would draw the old instinct to fight like it meant thinking otherwise would spell something grave if he didn’t. Since he began sleeping with Quill in his room and their relationship continued to grow, there wasn’t a need to think about it anymore or the fear the threats of the outside world. When he feel asleep every night with his lover beside him there was no dread or despair and the nightmares were shared together when one couldn’t sleep.

These lives, the both of us here, it’s something we’ve learned to share. The pain of what we’ve endured before and those lost along the way. I choose to share it aside the one I trust the most, the only one I wish to spend my life with everytime I stare at our commitment when in doubt.

I share with you my pain, my tears, my past, and above all...my love.

These days Rocket would look forward to what might’ve awaited them when falling asleep for the night, it felt surreal at times.

“Good morning babe.” Peter chirped propped up on an elbow when he booped his mate’s wet nose as part of their morning ritual, gaining a small smile from the mammal.

“Mornin’ boo.” Rocket let out a long yawn while nestled under the covers and not making any attempt to move much aside from stretching his limbs as they popped a few times. “Does the charm ever die with this one? I thought you’d still be out and we could just sleep through the whole day.” His normally deep voice cracked mid-sentence, rubbing one of his eyes.

“Nah.” Peter replied as matter of factly on the subject. He’d always wake up ahead of the raccoon early in the morning, just the Star-Lord and Gammy silently sharing coffee in the common room before chaos would break loose when the rest of the crew would rise from the dead. “Someone on this ship has to cook and it isn’t Drax or you, as much as I love you when I say that.”

Hey for your information I can cook..” Rocket argued, the nude ringtail sitting up in the bed to match Peter’s height. “but why should I have to when I’ve got you to do it for me? I burned that casserole to prove a point to everyone.”

“That you’re an asshole and people don’t like tail-fur in their meals?”

“Yeah and you can’t blame me for that either, I know you of all people like tail-fur in your face.” The raccoon snickered to which Peter playfully shoved him aside, even if it was true to an extent. Truth be told Rocket was perhaps a better cook then any of them though his height made reaching some things difficult the few times he was tasked with making a meal more complicated then a sandwich. It wasn’t much different then advanced chemistry only with cooking you got to eat your creations when finished such as indulging in a decadent lava cake Rocket made once with Vyloo eggs, never minding the destroyed kitchen he left in his path to create the masterpiece.

“You’re something else...” Peter chuckled stepping outside the bed, putting on some jeans and staring at his bare shaved chest as Rocket did the same with a pair of grey boxers just out of sight when his voice perked to the figure collecting himself from the other side of the bedroom.

“Hey Rocket?”

“Yeah?”

He listened to the footsteps form behind when thinking on how to ask the question, the latter searching through varies clothes in their closet when he paused thinking something was wrong. They weren’t facing each other in the moment but Peter could feel Rocket staring over his shoulder while getting dressed so he quickly just spit the thought out to be heard. What’s the worse that could happen?

“What do you think about us and Valentine’s Day?” Quill wasn’t sure why it seemed weird to ask scuffing his foot across the floor, especially to the guy he was planning to her married to within the new few couple months. Maybe it’s because even if they’d been dating for close to a year the two males hadn’t done much in the ways of traditions aside Christmas or other gimmicks with what they had going on.

“Aw here we go again with your dang’ traditions nobody besides you ever celebrated around here.” For a moment Peter thought they were going to have another long discussion about the history of Terra’s holiday rituals when it came into their conversation.

“Well I-”

“I’m just joshing you Pete, I know what yer’ talking about.” Rocket rolled his eyes, showing he did have an interest in Terra’s traditions after the Guardian’s celebrated Christmas last year. “Gotta admit though, should surprise me our hopeless romantic remembers something so mushy like that and forgets to tell about News Years Day which I might add would’ve been my favorite holiday.”

Rocket was quick on those feet when he wanted to be, already fully dressed in casual clothing and a black t-shirt and disappearing into their bathroom before Peter could reply now trotting after the smaller male whom jumped onto a stepstool to reach the counter’s sink running some cold water to wake himself up while reaching for his toothbrush across the sink.

“So what do you think about it?” Peter asked standing aside his partner, the latter only shrugging and mumbling something of uncertainty with an extra amount of mint-flavored toothpaste in his mouth, typical behavior by the overly-hygienic trash panda when it came to his presentation in public. From Rocket’s point it sounded like such a strange idea to make a special day out of something they had no issues embracing. Celebrating Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be anything different in his eyes since they didn’t need a foreign ritual or supposed holiday of love to solidify their romance.

“So....is that shrug agreeing to a special date? You know because we don't have to if you don’t like the idea.” Peter urged with a hint of hesitance in the question. He didn’t want to put pressure on the silly idea, being nothing more then just that but he also believed in trying new things to help the spark in their relationship. Without a doubt, Peter would love to share this special day with the first person he genuinely loved in a very long time. Sure he screwed around most of his life and with his smooth demeanor bedded all kinds of people among the galaxy but it’s not until you truly fall in love for someone that you realize no matter how much tail you chase in the universe and the amount of sex you get from various hookups, it’s meaningless if it doesn’t stand for anything the morning afterwards.

“I da’ know, sounds eh...” Rocket spat into the sink, rinsing his mouth with some more water and messing with the matted fur around his ears In the room’s mirror. “I mean, I’m not like some prancing gal-toy that’s swoon over some sweets and all that d’ast getups.”

“I know that, of course I do.” Peter eased wrapping his arms around his fiancé's waist from behind, it was nice to be able to hug his lover like this thanks to the height advantage of the bathroom’s stool. “I’ve got a few ideas for us if you’re interested.”

Rocket was resting with his paws on the sink and head hanging down staring at his reflection, considering the idea with a sigh as Peter placed his head on Rocket’s briefly and gave a very small kiss to his left ear while continuing to hug onto him. The smaller male wasn’t sure if it was intentional or not when it happened but a hint of him was already turned on when the man’s sheltered member was rubbing in clockwork against his hip from behind, a petite moan escaping Rocket’s muzzle he tried to keep hidden form being heard.

“Ok I give, so what would you have in mind for this dumb thing?” The raccoon straightened his posture putting his palms on Quill’s arms wrapped around him like a snuggled blanket. There was something comforting about being held in this way that always put Rocket at ease, his mind in a place of peace and warmth as the all-so quiet purrs filled the couple’s bedroom.

“Well...” Peter in-wrapped himself from the hug and spun his mate around on his heels so they could look at each other seeing the small twinkle in his white teeth and a hopeless romantic in the heart that’d only be of his Star-Dork. “I was thinking we could take the day and go out to this fancy club I made reservations for us at. Get some good food, actual good food and maybe some exotic drinks too, just the two of us.”

“You always have to use booze to win me over for your plans?” Rocket snorted giving a small grin of his own. The sounds of foreign drinks did sound enticing and he’d try anything at least once, recalling back a few months at a bar when Drax jokingly ordered the tomboyish tyrant something called a Sunset Mimosa while he was in the washroom and upon returning to his barstool Rocket shrugged playing his bluff for ordering what many would call a frilly drink and downed it anyway. Now he’d never admit it to anyone aside Quill but he was head over heels fro any drinks with fruit in them, call him frilly for thinking so because he didn’t know alcohol could ever taste that good.

“Nope. I’ve just learned how to treat my favorite boy well, know all the things he enjoys and little quirks that’ll make him happy.” Peter was always a charmer when being persuasive and speaking in a softened tone he only used with his furred mate. His lowered voice sounded so dorky coming out but who said that wasn’t one of Rocket’s favorite kinks about him when trying to ease him over.

“Ok maybe I’m a tad intrigued, been so long since-” Rocket spoke up, his damp whiskers perked and unable to finish the sentence. The idea of this date didn’t sound too out of the ordinary for their usual outings but if he knew his partner better and the lengths he’d go to make it memorable for him, he was going to be spoiled rotten.

“It’s just been us? Yeah that’s part of living with five other people, ain’t much privacy to be had around here.” It was true with everything going on as of lately, that there wasn’t as much time for themselves as they would've wished but their last job brought in enough units to pay off their upcoming wedding and all the usual expenses for them to live lavishly for a while. “So I went ahead and rented us a room for tonight at one Xandar’s most lavish hotels, get us some private time away from the others and send them on their own adventure while we-”

Peter cooed his head next to Rocket’s and began to whisper with a very seductive breath, his smooth break tickling the hairs around his fiancé’s attentive ears a couple smutty things about he was going to make him feel beautiful tonight and ne nearly choked when his face blushed under all that facial fur, his own member unsheathing itself and aching to break free from the clothes separating them form conjoining in what would’ve been their fourth trip around the clock this week alone.

“Do what do you say, be my Valentine Rocky?” Quill asked with a goofy grin etching for permission on a mischievous retreat but it was given with the same sincere face as Rocket’s marriage proposal. He planned the whole night just for them both and it was the first time in a long time they’d be on a genuine date.

“Aw what the flarkin’ hell,” Rocket gripped Peter’s hands and pulled him closer causing the man to stumble lightly when the raccoon clicked his teeth and caught him, burying his head into his shirtless partner’s chest. “sure I’ll be your sack of hearts to pamper all night.”

“So it’s a date.” Peter exclaimed as they both nodded in agreement, staring into each other’s eyes and watched the unique speckles in each of their faces massaging one of his knuckles on Rocket’s left cheek. “We’ll have fun, I ain’t dressing formal or nothing for it.”

“Oh please. You, acting formal and in a suit? “Rocket laughed, deciding he’s just go with the flow and whatever tonight might bring for them. “Since when was that ever a thing for either of us? You’re just as much of a disaster as I am on that.”

“Well you’ll have to wear one at the wedding.” Peter shook his head turning around to exit the bathroom and leave Rocket alone while he made breakfast for the crew when he was snatched back into a surprise kiss from his mate’s inviting muzzle and many teeth grazing his lips, the strong scent of mint-flavored toothpaste they shared between their mouths when the raccoon gave him a taste of what awaited him later in the night.

“Yeah don’t remind me...” Rocket punched the man in the chest before sending him off to make some food and leaving the door open. “and take a d’ast shower already before we go out later, I’ll be back in my old room if you go another night without one.”

“What about you? You got that weird aroma going on...”

“I was going to when I came in here,” Rocket hollered with a humored snap at the trailing man’s voice leaving the bedroom. “until Hefner interrupted me with his stupid holiday rituals.”

He started undressing from his clothes listening to the door slide shut when he knew the Terran had left him to his thoughts to take a quick shower, the group heading planet-side after everything was discussed.

Huh, so Valentine’s Day...

Oh glorb, what did I get myself into this time...

#roquill #peter quill #rocket raccoon #guardians of the galaxy #valentinesday #request

[maychorian]

Weekly Voltron Fic Recs #47

I am probably going to do two of these this week to catch up on all my recs before the new season drops, so hold onto your hats. I’ve been reading a lot of fics, just haven’t been posting them because I’m lazy and easily distracted.

Rules: You can find past weekly rec lists here, and non-list recs in my general fic rec tag. Also follow @maychorianrecs for individually tagged posts, the easier to search and reblog. This is stuff I like, and I have a huge bias toward Lance, hurt/comfort, and general fluff, in that order. Gen unless otherwise noted. Please comment on the fics if you read and enjoy them!

Shadows of Stars by squirenonny Words: 11,030 (1/42) Author’s Summary: The paladins have dealt a major blow to Zarkon’s empire. Reunited with their families and stronger than ever, they’re ready to launch a counter-offensive. But to do so, they need more allies. Allies like the fabled New Altea and their spy ring, the Accords. But Zarkon isn’t about to sit idly by as his enemies gather their strength. He means to put an end to the Voltron Coalition once and for all–and this war is about to get personal.[Season 3 of Voltron: Duality] [Updates Mondays] My Comments: DUALITY IS BACK! I’m so excited, ahh, one chapter in and still amazing, of course, not that I expected anything else. I’ve been reccing this fic since we were only a quarter of the way into the first volume, and the AU has expanded immensely since then. I will keep reccing it until squirenonny quits writing it, so hopefully never. It’s so good, so amazing. Obviously you should start at the beginning, and I don’t want to spoil anything with a detailed review here, but just… Take my words for it. You will not regret the investment of time to devour this masterpiece. There are lots of romantic relationships, but the focus is on the team as a whole and the war, which is incredibly well thought-out and executed. Everything is good.

Equinox by vacant houses (the_lost_robot) Words: 4,862 Author’s Summary: There’s an entire universe inside the Black Lion. There’s a ghost in the Black Lion’s cockpit. OR: the path back home is never straightforward. My Comments: Fascinating and heartbreaking exploration of the concept of Shiro as the “white paladin.” A beautiful read.

One Step Closer by wilyasha Words: 8,142 Author’s Summary: Her father is more rigid, more cruel, and she cannot stomach the thought of him destroying Altea. My Comments: I’m usually not much for fics centered on an OC, and this one is about Zarkon’s never-mentioned-in-canon daughter, which is usually a sign of shenanigans. But this is good. Really good. Reading it is a great experience, though painful and heartbreaking set as it is right before the destruction of Altea. Give it a shot.

Someday by akaashikeijis Words: 1,223 Author’s Summary: Shiro is tired and they know. My Comments: I love fics where everyone just surrounds a hurting character and does everything they can to make it better. It’s good for Shiro to get a turn.

The Poster by GlowwormiK Words: 5,199 Author’s Summary: The story of how Varkon, a policeman, managed to meet the Emperor and receivd the poster we saw in his office.Inspired by this awesome art: http://aminoapps.com/page/voltron-legendary-defenders/7445245/varkon-dream-come-true . Written for https://platonicvldmonth.tumblr.com/, but i cannot wait to post it right now. My Comments: As much as I love and will never tire of the familiar fanfic tropes of some character I love being hurt and then comforted, there’s something I love even more about fanfiction, and that’s when a story can make me feel something NEW, something I never expected. Especially for a character who is basically a one-off joke in-universe. I mean, did you ever expect to read a Varkon-centric fic? Did you ever expect to read about a Voltron Galra mall cop saving the day and meeting his hero and just being the sweetest, humblest, most genuinely GOOD guy you’ve ever met in fiction? Well, here’s your chance. Read this fic. It will make you feel things. It made me feel so much, and I am truly grateful for the experience. Just a great, wonderful thing that you will find nowhere else. Unique and memorable.

At Rest (Five Miles Behind the Front) by Mytay Words: 19,258 Author’s Summary: Shiro is no longer the Black Paladin. He is no longer the commander of Team Voltron. He is a soldier without a purpose and a leader without a legion at his back.Lance is a seventh wheel. He is not fit to be a leader, and perhaps not even fit to be a Paladin. Or, in which two Paladins of Voltron learn their true worth, and finally, there is well-earned rest. My Comments: This has everything I love, ahh, I love it, instant favorite. Shiro angst, Lance angst, both of them trying to sacrifice themselves for the other and then trying to convince each other that they’re worthwhile and important. Not to be that person, but it kind of reminds me of my own fic, Boom Crash the Sound of My Ship, except in a post-Season Three context where it feels amazingly in-canon and in-character. I’m so glad it’s so long, too. Utterly satisfying read. I’ll be enjoying it again, probably more than once.

Full Capacity by spitfire00 Words: 863 Author’s Summary: The healing pods are full. The paladins are bloody and bruised. Shiro helps ease their aches and pains. My Comments: Just so cute, gah, Shiro is the best. Everyone needs a Shiro in their lives.

the shuffle of crabs by againstmygreeleaf Words: 12,253 Author’s Summary: Dinner is loud in all but volume. Shiro and Keith don’t show. Allura keeps trying to help by saying sentimental things that don’t help at all. It grinds on Lance’s nerves but he’s too drained to tune her out. He just lets her words unintentionally pelt his battered heart like stones, and watches the subtle way her hands shake as she spoons up her goo instead of trying to eat his own. Pidge eats hers, but it’s all automatic. She starts crying midway through the meal and doesn’t seem to notice. My Comments: I don’t write major character death. I rarely read it. Awhile ago someone asked me how I would write it, if I did, and I described exactly this scenario. Hunk dies at the beginning of the fic, and the rest of it is about the others learning to navigate their grief and finding some means of continuing on even in the face of this utter devastation. I’m glad this has already been written, by an author I trust absolutely, so I don’t have to do it. It’s gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. But yeah, Hunk dies, and it’s brutal and unfair and hits like a rocket to the midsection. Don’t read if you can’t handle that. I almost couldn’t.

Scent by Red_Dead Words: 1,400 Author’s Summary: Lance has taken something from Allura and she’s not to happy about it. My Comments: Aw, poor Allura. Lance really didn’t mean to hurt her like that. I love that it ends with bonding.

The Sleeping Habits of Humans (Far From Home) by hulklinging Words: 1,618 Author’s Summary: Pidge doesn’t sleep much. Neither does anyone else, really. No, Lance, annoying her to death will not make her more rested. My Comments: I love Lance figuring out why Pidge can’t sleep and gently bullying her into resting. He’s so smart and kind.

The Rain is Gone by isabeau25 Words: 5,066 Author’s Summary: Keith has a bad night, but it ends well. My Comments: Another part of a super lovely and relaxing platonic coffee shop AU. Poor Keith is having a rough life, and you can really feel Shiro’s grief and frustration for him. But he’s in a good place now, with cats and sunlight and people who care. It’s a great read.

The Packrat by VelkynKarma for maychorian Words: 11,519 Author’s Summary: While the paladins of Voltron fight a war that spans galaxies, Coran has a more personal war going on right under their noses in the Castle of Lions. My Comments: Even if this wasn’t a gift for me based on my prompt, I would still rec it. I was grinning the whole way through this fic and laughed aloud several times. Coran is so good and he deserves more fics where he’s the protagonist, and he and Lance teaming up was delightful. Fun, fun stuff.

Empty by Bandity Words: 21,248 Author’s Summary: The sequel to A Lonely Mind. You should read that first. Inner strength waxes and wanes. Lance finds himself facing his inner demons again when he begins having issues with his antidepressants. My Comments: Everything Bandity writes is amazing, and this one is no exception. This one is just about life, how it doesn’t stop no matter how much we want it to, and sometimes things don’t easier, they don’t go away. Everyone struggles, everyone needs to be accepted and loved. There are good days and bad days, hopefully more than good than bad, but all we have is each other. It’s great.

give out to give in by tyrellis Words: 20,198 Author’s Summary: So typical. So fucking typical, that Lance is the youngest and worst of his siblings, and then the kids come along and he isn’t even the cutest anymore, and he only made fighter pilot because perfect fucking Keith dropped out and even when he piloted a lion he didn’t have a thing like the others, and now he can’t even have Blue. Maybe he was the one to suggest it, but he was barrelling towards this point all along; rock fucking bottom. When it becomes clear that Allura is a better pilot than him, Lance steps down as the Blue Paladin. It is, after all, the obvious decision. Lance is, and has always been, the afterthought. But who needs an afterthought? My Comments: Langst done right. Warning for attempted suicide. Lance’s depression and downward spiral feel realistic and understandable, and the emotional scenes are absolutely perfect. Klance at the end, and even that didn’t put me off. It was cute without being overpowering, and the romance wasn’t used as something to “fix” Lance, but a natural outgrowth of their development together.

All Sorted Out by genericfanatic Words: 3,135  Author’s Summary: Lance is so excited for his first day of Hogwarts, and looks forward to getting sorted into one of the four houses! His sorting doesn’t go quite as planned, however. My Comments: Absolutely adorable Harry Potter AU in which the hat stalls forever in sorting Lance, because he has qualities that would make him do well in any of the houses. Later, naturally, he worries that he doesn’t really belong anywhere, but his friends help him see differently. 

Conversation in Blue by FroldGapp Words: 1,414 Author’s Summary: Lance talks to Shiro about his ‘Keith problem’. My Comments: I love that Lance actually takes steps to understand why he and Keith sometimes rub each other the wrong way. Going to Shiro for insight is exactly the right move. Keith and Lance could be such good friends, but their backgrounds and methods of communication make it difficult, sometimes. Lance is a sweetheart for trying.

Tambourine Man by oldmythologies for SassafrassRex (Serbajean) Words: 1,166 Author’s Summary: “They knew his path well. They winked in front of him as a guide as Shiro swallowed his yawn, feet dragging. He was tired; he knew he was tired. Going to bed wouldn’t fix it; he didn’t sleep there either. There he was alone, without even the lights to keep him company. In bed, he had to close his eyes, to trap himself between his ears. It wasn’t a fun place to be. Better to make sure everyone else slept well than to waste time being afraid of the dark.” A commission for sassafrassrex <3 My Comments: Really sweet comfort fic with Shiro and Black.

Don’t Let Me Be Gone by Cocopops1995 Words: 1,402 Author’s Summary: Lance comforts Keith after watching Keith’s paladin vlog. My Comments: Really sweet. Angsty, hurty fics that end with cuddling are my favorite.

Keep Them Galra Rollin (Rawhide) by Demenior for Serbajean Words: 1,377 Author’s Summary: Sendak, Shiro, ‘n Ulaz have crashed on a jungle-y Death World, and they’ve got till sundown to speed-run their way to a safe pickup location to rendezvous with a ship. They’re all grown men who are working together to take down the Galra empire (some more willingly than others), which means they’re over the whole ‘yeah i tortured and killed you that one time’ thing. Totally over it. It’s all in the past. Hint: it’s not [a birthday gift for Sassafrassrex] My Comments: The possibilities of this setup are fun to contemplate. A little on the dark side, but nothing wrong with that.

Steady Footing by SilverMoon53 Words: 3,735 Author’s Summary: Pidge is good at many things. Coding, robotics, and sneaking into enemy bases to steal information, are all quite high on that list. People, however, are not one of the things she’s good at. Or Keith has a panic attack while on a mission. Pidge has an… interesting way of making sure he gets out alive. My Comments: Very angsty exploration of Pidge and Keith and their trauma. I’m glad they eventually shared with each other.

A Bland Night Across Space And Time by genericfanatic Words: 4,156 Author’s Summary: Across the universe, people have a night in. A reward fic for getting 1,000 followers for my blog Bland Voltron Headcanons My Comments: Bit of a dizzying trip across time and space, but fun to read.

Not Just Another Mall Trip by Eastofthemoon Words: 1,519 Author’s Summary: Lance, Hunk and Pidge see many different kinds of aliens at the space mall, but when they catch a spy they discover something they never expected to see there. My Comments: Really fun little canon-divergence AU with a very different way to bring the gang together. Everyone is adorable.

Previously Recced Fics That Updated:

Water and Blood (30658 words) As Color Fades Away (171897 words) The Ones Who Were Left Behind (58391 words) In Sickness and Health (19550 words)  - complete Ten Days (71938 words) Truce (186702 words) The Field of Blood (26588 words) Words Fail (27376 words) - complete Gate Keeper (100127 words) I'm not the Lance You think I am (67010 words)

#voltron legendary defender #weekly voltron fic recs #fic rec #vldgen

[meant-to-be-a-hero]

Rules: 1. Always post these rules 2. Answer the questions given by the person who tagged you. 3. Write 11 questions of your own. 4. Tag 11 people.

I was tagged by: @tw-stilinskis​ which amazes me on like omg senpai noticed me levels.

1. Top 5 ships?

In no particular order: Olicity, Captain Swan, Kolvina, Stydia, Karamel.

I am a sucker for angsty romance.

2. Last Movie/TV show you watched?

Prison Break, I think? I’m bombing through Season 2 (or I was, but now OITNB is here so that takes priority until that’s finished)

3. Favorite quote?

I don’t know who said it, I think it was like someone’s grandma on Tumblr or something, but it’s basically ‘The first thing you think is what people expect you to think, and the second thing you think is what you actually think.’ Something like that.

4. What is your native language?

English.

5. How many languages can you speak?

I did very well at French at GCSE level, but never continued past that. I can read it okay, but I can’t speak it at any useful level.

6. Last concert you went to?

We saw Busted a few months back, which was amazing. I’d never seen them live before and they were great.

7. Favorite food?

Chocolate. Don’t @ me.

Or cheese.

8. What do you do for fun?

I like reading (he says, ignoring the vast pile of unread books and comics threatening to crush him), or a good video game. I’m playing Nier Automata atm and waiting for the Crash N-Sane trilogy to come out because I never played those originally, my first Crash game was Team Racing (which is a flawless masterpiece and I will fight anyone who says otherwise).

9. Where would you like to travel to?

I’ve decided that I want to go to Vancouver and see where they shoot all the CW superhero shows because I am a giant fucking nerd.

10. Favorite month?

December. Because Christmas, and winter, and yes.

11. Can you play any instruments?

Unfortunately not. I can sing okay? Or maybe I can’t, but that doesn’t stop me so lmao.

My questions:

1. What did you have for lunch today?

2. Last thing you bought online?

3. Favourite swear word?

4. Pokémon starters: Water, Grass, or Fire?

5. Star Wars, or Star Trek?

6. Perfect first date?

7. Movie you’re most looking forward to?

8. When you wish upon a star, what’d you wish for?

9. Favourite superhero movie?

10. Hit random on your current playlist. What song did you get?

11. Last video game you played?

I’m tagging: @afanc​ @eternal-nova​ @sodomymcscurvylegs​ @calmandcalculating​ @ohmygil​ @growlandpounce​ @chanvasquez​ @thejedihavetheleft​ @zerofluxgiven @ianstagram @sjhawkins

#It feels like I'm back on Myspace again lmao #I love it #*tags people I've never spoken to but follow from afar in attempts to make friends #Questions #Lem's generic text post tag