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#had this parallel in mind since last week's preview
maggiecheungs · 2 years
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escaping to the ocean
bad buddy (2021) episode 11 || your name engraved herein (2020)
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iridescentides · 3 years
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i watched the ep twice bc i didnt take notes the first time BUT. hsmtmts 2.04 thoughts under the cut
gina first. my favorite part of the episode was when she admitted that she feels out of place living in someone else’s house and that she wanted a bigger part in the play. i was SO worried they were gonna just let her happily sideline herself in a “yay she learned her lesson about not being the center of attention” kind of way bc i would not be able to handle that two seasons in a row. let her be angry!!! she has a lot to be upset about
the gina/carlos conflict was awful bc theyre making carlos unreasonably annoying this season. last season he was nice, he was enthusiastic, not competitive and just rooting for other people. idk why they needed to flip him so drastically to being spoiled, rich, selfish, pushy, and bitchy. and on top of that i have not been vibing with the pieces of dialogue theyve been giving him this season just to score woke points. its so unbearably obvious that even though hes a brown gay character, he was written by a white gay person who thought, on some level, that he was giving the gen z kids the #hashtag representation they wanted. his delivery of every line that screams “remember, im mexican” is so awkward, it doesnt land well, and im begging them to stop. they want so badly to commodify his character and parade him around as a “look how diverse our show is!” thing and im so so sick of it bc you can tell, with all the surface-level pieces of dialogue, that they dont actually care at all
(”look around, theres not a lot of me at this school” we GET it, this show wants to be glee so bad)
im honestly starting to slowly ship rina less and less. in season one i loved seeing someone make gina happy, especially since she had no friends before opening up to ricky. but now its just a whole mess and i wish she would love herself a lil more to realize that its not worth all this stress. he made a choice and no amount of conflicted moments of eye contact is going to fully take that back. im not necessarily against love triangle plots, but i HATE the whole “women wait around hopefully while male character, whose decisions have already hurt multiple people, makes up his mind” bullshit
that being said, gina handled the situation like a CHAMP, im dying over how quickly she was able to mask her pain and make the joke about the twix bar. im love her
we were absolutely ROBBED of an ej/big red performance this episode!!! i am at my LIMIT we better get gaston next week or i will riot
on the ej train, him not getting into duke was extremely predictable. we all kinda saw that coming and knew that would be his main point of growth this season. im glad they didnt wait super long to do it. now please @ writers i am BEGGING you to give my man more screen time than one scene per episode
its very odd that they keep making mr mazzara have emotionally tough conversations with the students. i will do a parallel gifset of those once the season ends. i liked his convo with ej for the most part, but he really didnt have to beat him over the head with the “youre an emotionless robot” thing again. its clear ej is gonna throw himself into av club or whatever (even though at the end of last season that was supposed to be big red?) and discover that he has a lot going for him. because he does, he literally has everything going for him, thats why they had to make his “problem” not knowing himself. bisexual ej caswell ftw
i love the parallels between ej and nini this episode? i think since the beginning ive felt that there was a lot about them under the surface that was similar. it was interesting seeing ej tell nini about duke first, instead of the obvious choice of ashlyn. i wouldve loved to see how that scene wouldve gone with ricky, gina, carlos, or big red though bc each reaction and attempt at comforting him wouldve been so different. i didnt love that nini had to be pulled away from the conversation, but im glad they can still talk to each other after everything that went down. and i love the juxtaposition of ej’s convo with mazzara directly following nini’s convo with miss jenn bc theyre essentially the same.
speaking of, i loved miss jenn in this episode. her stories are always so funny, but i loved seeing her care so much for nini and guide her, like a teacher. i loved how she pointed out that everyone who loves nini just wants her to be happy
im glad nini is leaving yac bc there was no good way to keep that up honestly. but im pretty annoyed that they were so obvious about it? like, they immediately made it the worst place in the world without exploring it very much. the place is super unrealistic, ive never been to drama school but im sure it wouldnt be like that. no creative arts place for KIDS would be so impossibly limiting. plus the weird bluish coloring in comparison to the nice warm tones of the rest of the show was, again, a dead giveaway. why send her to the school at all if it wasnt even gonna matter?
even though im glad nini left yac, im NOT looking forward to the way miss jenn is about to bend over backwards to put her in the play somehow. she plays obvious favorites and im so annoyed
(sidenote: nini just? decided to leave yac without consulting her parents??? ummm)
granted is a very good song, one of my faves so far
ricky deciding to tell nini he wants her to stay was stupid. what did he think that would accomplish? who in their right mind would drop out of a good school for you?
i loved when nini said yac was missing something, and miss jenn said “ricky” and nini said “you.” that was so so sweet and cute
i think the kourtney/howie thing is gonna grow on me. i hate amatonormativity so im not a big fan of them introducing a whole ass character exclusively so kourtney can have a love interest, but i loved the gesture he made of bringing her the pizzas and her flashcards. i feel like kourtneys love language is acts of service, and she was literally this meme when he did that for her:
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i liked seeing ashlyn try to be there emotionally for gina! i want more of them together
overall this episode was okay. not enough songs, and i wish they were spreading out the emotional conversations through the season instead of packing them all into literally one episode, but what we did get was pretty good.
after watching the preview i see that next weeks episode is gonna be about carlos’s party, and i love party episodes. BUT i hope that after that ep we finally get an advancement on the north high stuff! i dont give too many fucks about lily, but i wanna see my son asher angel
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Lovely Writer Episode 7 - analysis
This week's episode was - comparing to the others - rather calm and just about Nubsib and Gene. All the other side characters had no screen time at all and I was missing them a bit but at the same time I somehow wasn't... The flashbacks could've been a bit shorter though.
Nubsib
At least, we finally understood him and he wasn't faking anything. Six whole episodes of waiting until he will be real was long enough.
So, apparently Nubsib was hit, abused and unloved as a child. Well, it explains at least why he's so drawn to Gene who was the opposite of all these three things. He protected him from the stick, he believed him when he told him about the piano teacher and played with him out of his own will, not because he was forced to. As a child, it must've meant a lot to Nubsib. It wasn't romantic love back then, not even the closest, but for Nubsib their friendship was precious and very important. He had someone who cared.
Nubsib asked me to use your aunt's surname because his father doesn't support him.
These years alone must've been very lonely and since Nubsib's family wasn't very nice to him and his dad didn't like the path he chose for living, he had to escape his own family alone. He had to face all of this alone without Gene by his side. But it was all worth it because he would see Gene again. Isn't this romantic?
It would be romantic if Nubsib wouldn't be so selfish and manipulative. He held on to this memory that was becoming a fantasy and did everything to make it turn into reality no matter what, and that's pretty selfish.
But you can tell Nubsib only behaved the way he did these past episodes to earn Gene's trust and love again. He is so desperate to be liked by him, he even pretended to be someone else. Gene means so much to him, he is ready to lie, pretend and manipulate. But behaving like he did as a child (at least a bit) means a lot of energy for him, I guess, because he outlived some stuff and changed a lot since then. It must've been hard to pretend all the time...
Gene
In the flashbacks we saw Gene being as antisocial as he his right now. He lives so much in his head, he doesn't understand when people tell him to let others into his world because it doesn't make sense for him. It's the same we saw last episode when he was storming out because of his rage. I believe he regretted it as soon as he closed the door but blinded by his anger he just wanted to get away because he was disappointed and hurt. He shut the door to the outside and Nubsib couldn't get through to him even if he tried which got pretty clear when he wanted to touch Gene's face but Gene turned away last minute. He shut the world out and it's something he always did and will always do. Nubsib just has to find a way to stop him and in some way save him from getting lost in thoughts. We saw that before and now in the flashbacks.
Everyone can tell the parallels between the scene when he was drunk in the car and the one in the flashbacks when he was playing with the plushies. When he plays with toys, the story happens in his own head and he doesn't let people in to see the things he does. When he's in the car, he does exactly the same and Nubsib recognizes this strong character trait of him, that's why this scene was so quiet and sweet because Nubsib found his Gene again. He saw something from the younger version of Gene in his very adult self.
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They make up
Gene is still mad and pushes Nubsib away but nevertheless, he's listening when Nubsib doesn't go anywhere. Because Nubib has his mission now and won't let it fail. We saw in the flashbacks, he waited until late in the evening being sad about Gene not showing up. He knows now, Gene would rather be sad and regret it all his life than looking for him to explain why he acted the way he did. And as a child, Nubsib didn't get it but now he does and he knows he has to reach out first and if not through phone calls, then he needs to show up in person.
Like I said, Gene lives in his head and somehow wouldn't ever get the idea of being the first one to reach out and apologize because he's so damn antisocial.
Don't pretend to be a good kid. Just say whatever's on your mind.
What I liked a lot in this scene was when Gene says Nubsib should be real if he wants Gene to like him. I don't think it's just because he scond-guessed all their conversations but because he always had an odd feeling about Nubsib not being completely real and honest. Nubsib was always weird and Gene felt that too. But of course, he's mainly calling Nubsib out because of all the drama before.
And also, it is not right to start a relationship based on lies. You are not that low and Gene stands up for himself. He doesn't accept it, now that he knows about it and he makes sure Nubsib will remember, lying and manipulating is not romantic or something that will be forgotten quickly. Nubsib has to work a bit to earn Gene's trust again. Gene's speaking up and I love it.
privacy
After the weird dog metaphor that was somehow romantic, the ending of this episode was very calm and pure.
And like in episode 4, I had the feeling of watching something I was not supposed to watch. It felt very private what they were doing - or I should just say what Nubsib was doing.
Do you know? Since you left, I've been very lonely. Now that we can be together again, don't disappear again.
The way Nubsib tucked Gene in and touched his face softly was so caring, calm and pure, my fangirly heart was dying. But apart from it, it was nice to see them being a couple - or like a couple because they haven't made that clear yet.
Also, the lighting in this scene is important too. When Gene was alone and uninspired because his thoughts were spinning around his fallout with Nubsib, the sky was cloudy and it didn't look very warm nor bright outside but now, they sort things out and the bed room is flooded with bright sunshine. Everythig is positive and happy now and sunlight also represents peace.
flashbacks
Even though the part with the flashbacks was pretty long, it was not like nothing was explained through them but I agree there were some parts that were boring.
I saw some people saying the flashbacks felt weird and I totally agree and I don't know if I see this whole show as it's supposed to be seen but I always see it as some sort of parody. I believe the drama last week which was out of character and out of the blue was in fact something the writers made fun about because such sensless drama always happens in BLs and suddenly the drama becomes big and one of them even storms out to escape the scenery. It was so over-the-top dramatc, I believe that was the point. This is just a cliché. Just like the quick make up. I don't know how much time has passed but I believe it was a day or something and Nubsib shows up and things are suddenly okay. People were saying their kiss was too early and I feel like this too but again, if they are resolving the stupid drama then at least with a kiss, right? Because it's the absolute cliché.
The "childhood friends" trope is nothing I am against but I find it weird to romaticize such a friendship when they are like 6 or something. Here, Nubsib was even younger, so it makes no sense for their friendship to be romaticized because as a 4-year-old (or something), you don't feeel such things. You can't, or at least you don't understand it at all. And I guess, the writers also wanted to make fun of this trope being so romanticized when they were too young to understand the feeling and act on it. The flashbacks felt even weirder when the cheek kiss was cut and when they went to sleep in a close hug.
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I think the director does a good job for portaying weirdness as awkward and private matters as uncomfortable for the audience as it is.
preview
It seems like we'll see the side characters again but Aey won't be nice at all.
Aey is such a troubled person who should protect his heart more because if you wear it on your sleeve all the time, people will be quicker in breaking it. And it's not like he didn't know Nubsib doesn't like him that way. I don't know what to think of him.
And the fanservice will become an even bigger problem. I wonder if Gene can handle it even though Nubsib is now clearly his but I guess, Gene will assume stuff again. Trouble is gonna be big guys.
But to comfort you - Gene being a mood:
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its-chelisey-stuff · 4 years
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TKEM ep 13: thoughts, feels and theories
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Ah. So here we are. Only 3 episodes left and still two weeks to go. Something that I thought was tue last week, but well, life is unpredictable.
Last week's episodes were full of action, blood, twists, romance and thrill. This week's episode (and I'm still bitter about it only being one... I mean, that's not enough of Minho dosis for me or for anyone and the thing I hate most about live watching dramas is preemption ugh) was the calm before the storm, nicely setting everything into motion for the doom and the mind blowing-ness to fall upon us next.
I wanted to do little posts about some of my thoughts in my favorite scenes, but because I'm angry about only having one episode that ended on that note LIKE SERIOUSLY How do they even expect me to last a week after that TERRIBLE ending??!!! I decided I just want to rant out my theories and feelings here lmao.
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So, we finally have confirmation on that assumption that it was Lee Gon (time traveling somehow) the one who saved himself in 1994. I've been suspecting that for a while except that is always nice to know for sure and the thing I never thought was that Lee Rim would caught onto that as well.
I still can't believe that PM killed (or got her killed) her counterpart from the Republic. Poor lady, we never met her, but I'm assuming she was actually nicer than PM, and most of all, an innocent person. So disappointed in PM because I thought her talent and personality could've been put into use on the good side, but *sigh* oh well. She decided to support the wrong team. And that part of her fate is sealed, because we know the bad side is just not gonna win, no matter how much harm they do. Yikes.
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I mean, yes. She has a point. It’s just that our King likes to think ahead. That’s how he is. He was well aware of the doom in their relationship since their early stages.
Like I mentioned before, there was not much happening this episode, because it was obviously the basis for the big climax that's ahead of us. But I still enjoyed every minute of it, of course. And I know we didn't see, but I just can’t help but think there are some calculations and actual planning that we haven't seen on Lee Gon's part.
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LOL, rude!
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Again with this? Yeong, come on!
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Stop it with the melo eyes. I know you care about your King. We know you love him and we love you for that but give us a break. Nobody needs a reminder when it’s all there, waiting to make us cry. Also, Woo DoHwan appreciation shots.
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My favorite scene this ep and yes, I know how crazy that sounds. Like I said in an earlier post, this is just amazing. I feel the need to congratulate Lee Rim for leveling up, because the  whole “you have the same face as my nephew’s deceased mother” plan was really not gonna work very well, since his hot majesty knows that woman is NOT his mother and had no interest in her. BUT using the face of TaeEul, the woman he loves, as the weapon to make him put his guard down and actually harming him in the way we have been reminded and alerted to since ep 1 (to the point of practically becoming a comic relief, a joke) is totally brilliant and horribly cruel.
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I know this was PP but they were also telling us that’s where the poison was. Hehe. Also, I might be the only one who is actually entertained by Product placements. I mean, they’re hilarious. And definitely not the worst I’ve seen.
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NO! Listen to me you freaking Luna! I know you’re a fictional character, but you have no idea how much I want to hit you right now! HOW DARE YOU! You’re paying for this. Btw nice parallel.
I don't know if I'm breaking the rules of theorizing by going about the spoilers I've seen and the previews with bits that have not happened yet in the drama but I'm gonna go ahead anyway. LOL I think the King is going to try fix things ala Back to the Future way (pretty sure people have thought this as well since spotting that phonecase from TaeEul's) but in doing so, and we know the dynamic from the movies, some things from the present time are gonna change, including some first meetings and interactions between characters up to the point in the story we currently are in. And maybe that's why Lee Gon will try to visit TaeEul at different points in her life so she remembers him when she's an adult and sees him again, and that would explain why in that preview from the other day, they showed their first meeting with TaeEul higging Lee Gon instead of the other way, because she knows who he is or has seen him before.
And all that sounds a lot like The time traveler's wife (the movie, bc I haven't read the book) story to me. This drama is becoming a weirdly interesting mix of those two stories. I just hope the drama ends on a more Back to the future way because otherwise it would be a very sad ending 😢 and that goes against my belief that TKEM will end up with a happily ever after. And I need to keep that hope so my sanity doesn’t suffer.
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wrestlingisfake · 3 years
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Resurgence preview
It's been a year now since New Japan launched their US-based show, NJPW Strong. I'm sure the original plans involved running US tours with a mix of American regulars and visiting stars from the main Japanese roster. The pandemic, however, limited the scope of Strong, mainly featuring minor leagues on a closed set. It almost felt like a parallel universe with little relationship to the "real" NJPW. Now, finally, the brand gets to do a show in front of an actual crowd, and we get to see this concept the way it was meant to be seen.
The show airs live on NJPWworld (999 yen for one month--about $9.12 US) at 11pm EDT. Or, if you just cannot handle setting up your payment on a Japanese website, you can get the show on FITE.tv for $19.99 US. Both services should make the show available on-demand later, in case you want to wait until you're done watching Triplemania.
Lance Archer vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - Archer is defending the IWGP United States champioship. The title was in limbo through most of 2020, as Jon Moxley was unable to schedule a defense in either New Japan or AEW. That changed in 2021, as thawing relations between the two promotions led to more Moxley title matches, until he lost the belt to Archer on July 21. Shortly before Archer's first defense on July 28, AEW aired a video of Tanahashi challenging the winner of that match.
This is Tana's first show outside of Japan since the pandemic began, and his first match in California in nearly three years. I'm not sure anyone expected him to be here, given that the New Japan of America operation has focused on building up North American talent rather than bringing in big stars from the home promotion. So this is a special treat for the live audience, above and beyond Archer coming in from AEW.
I expect a pretty straightforward match with Archer killing Tana with big power moves and Tana rallying for a big babyface comeback. In a vacuum I would think either man could end up with the belt. However, the real story to this match is that Tanahashi went out of his way to make a challenge for the US title, but not until after Jon Moxley lost it. So Moxley has accused Tana of ducking him, and it stands to reason that he'll confront the winner of this match to close the show. That feels like a formula for Tana vs. Mox for the title, maaaybe at the AEW pay-per-view on September 5. Everyone sure seems to hope that's where we're headed, so I don't think a lot of people will be pulling for Archer tonight.
Jay White vs. David Finlay - This is White's first defense of the NEVER openweight championship. It's also his first New Japan match since May, as the quarantine procedures for entering Japan have made travel pretty rough for the non-Japanese talent. As I recall, Finlay received this title shot because he pinned White back in March. Finlay hasn't been back in Japan since that tour. Both of these guys have been in Impact Wrestling as of late.
Originally, the idea behind White winning the NEVER title was to set up a match with Hiroshi Tanahashi at one of the Wrestle Grand Slam stadium shows that New Japan scheduled this summer. The aforementioned travel problems seem to have scuttled that, so now White is facing The Other Guy From FinJuice.
The biggest buzz I've heard surrounding this match is that Finlay appeared on Wrestling Observer Live to promote the show and ended up giving fans the impression that he wanted to go to NXT. I mean, Finlay could be fucking with us on that. But it's not a good sign when people are mainly interested in a match because they're looking for signs that one of the participants is fixing to leave the promotion. Not that it affects the finish, of course--Finlay could sign with NJPW for a million years, and he still wouldn't be booked to beat White for a title in 2021.
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Moose - This match kind of came out of nowhere. Ishii isn't exactly a top guy in New Japan but he's always right below that level, clobbering most of the roster and getting clobbered to set up new contenders. Most of the NJPW Strong roster would be underdogs against him. But then, Moose isn't on the Strong roster--he's coming over from Impact, where he's been pushed as a top heel for months. Moose is a 6-foot-5 big mean guy and Ishii is a 5-foot-7 big mean guy, so this should be an interesting contrast. It's easily the most interesting match on the show.
I'd like to see Moose win, since it'd be a slight upset and he could use the momentum for whatever he's doing next. But if he is gonna win, Ishii is going to convince you that he had to work his ass off to earn it. I'm looking forward to this.
Tom Lawlor & JR Kratos & Danny Limelight & Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs vs. Lio Rush & Chris Dickinson & Adrian Quest & Fred Yehi & Yuya Uemura - Lawlor is the NJPW Strong champion and his team is the New Japan version of "Team Filthy." The babyface team originally featured Brody King, but he was pulled from the card at the last minute due to "unforeseen circumstances", so Adrian Quest is substituting for him. That's a real tough break for the good guys.
There are several storylines at play here. Lio Rush stepped up as the next challenger for Lawlor's title, and they'll have that match at the August 16 tapings. Dickinson was kicked out of Team Filthy, and is currently aligned with Brody King's Violence Unlimited stable. Uemura had been working on the Japan roster as a Young Lion, but he's just begun his excursion so he has a chance to really express himself as a performer.
If Rush wasn't already positioned as Lawlor's next challenger, I might think this match could end with someone pinning Lawlor. As it is, though, it probably makes more sense for Team Filthy to win in a dominant fashion. Yehi and Quest are basically undercard scrubs, and Uemura just now graduated to that position. Rush and Dickinson aren't going to be able to carry so many weak links.
Juice Robinson vs. Hikuleo - Juice has spent most of 2021 teaming with David Finlay over on Impact, whereas Hikuleo has been wrestling on Strong and more recently on a few AEW shows. Given that Hikuleo is 6-foot-8 you'd expect him to squash everything in his path, but New Japan isn't afraid to have more established stars get the better of him. Whether Juice is one of those more established stars remains to be seen.
Juice biggest career highlight was winning the IWGP US title, and Hikuleo's was challenging for that title a few weeks ago. If one of them is going to be in the hunt for that belt, then winning this match should be step one. As much as I'd like to see Juice back in the chase, I get the feeling it'll be Hikuleo taking that role.
Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows vs. Jon Moxley & X - The Good Brothers (Gallows and Anderson) are the Impact Wrestling men's tag team champions, but their title is not at stake here. I think Moxley was originally booked to team with Syota Umino on this show, but travel restrictions prevented Umino from coming into LA. One way or another, Moxley will have a mystery partner that won't be revealed until the match begins.
The backstory is that Gallows and Anderson have been a thorn in Moxley's side every time he's tried to fight Kenny Omega, or really anybody in Omega's stable. With that in mind, the most logical partner would be Sami Callihan, who has a history with Moxley and unfinished business with Omega's group. People have been asking for a Moxley-Callihan reunion from the minute AEW and Impact started collaborating, and there's no reason it can't happen here. On the other hand, I wonder if that's something New Japan would do as a surprise, as opposed to advertising it ahead of time.
If Moxley's partner isn't Callihan, there's a serious risk that the live crowd will start chanting for Callihan and disrupt the match. So if they're going with someone else, it'd better be good. I suppose Eddie Kingston would be accepted, although again, why would that be something you do as a surprise? Personally, I'm all about Moxley and the cold, deadly eyes of Shooter Umino, so I know I'll be disappointed no matter what. :(
Anyway, it'd be stupid for Moxley's team to lose this match.
Rocky Romero & Fred Rosser & Wheeler Yuta vs. TJP & Clark Connors & Ren Narita - This is a pretty good sampling of the NJPW Strong midcard. Of this group, Romero has the most clout with the main New Japan roster. Rosser is still best known as WWE's Darren Young, the guy from the Nexus who looks exactly like John Cena. Yuta has been making waves on AEW, filling in for Trent Beretta with Orange Cassidy's group, so I guess he and Rocky are both Best Friends Twice Removed or something. TJP is a former WWE cruiserweight champion and Impact X division champion. Connors is one of the guys from the Gekiochi-kun ads--I think he's the one who snaps his fingers to teleport everybody. Ren Narita is the guy who used to wrestle Syota Umino all the time, but Syota is not on this show. :(
Alex Coughlin vs. Karl Fredericks - When Strong started, Coughlin, Fredericks, and Clark Connors were the three Young Lions from the LA Dojo who worked as prelim guys. Since then I believe Connors and Fredericks have "graduated," and Coughlin is still working on it. I'm pretty sure Fredericks is the one in the Gekiochi-kun ads that says "that's pretty cool." I don't remember what Coughlin does in those ads, so clearly he needs to get his ass in gear. Anyway, I guess Fredericks wins.
Bateman & Mysterioso & Barrett Brown vs. The DKC & Kevin Knight & Jordan Clearwater - This is scheduled as a dark match 30 minutes before the live stream begins. I've heard most of these names, but the only one I kinda know is Bateman from whatever goofy stable he's in at Ring of Honor. I dunno, I guess his side wins.
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ilkkawhat · 3 years
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just for the sake of sharing. and since i didn’t get the fic done like i wanted to yesterday. here’s a preview of that haunted mansion fic. feel free to ignore.
They’ve been driving for hours on an impromptu road trip to California, since the lab was being shut down for the week due to unfortunate circumstances that they decided to make the best of, collectively pooling the reaped rewards of their overtime paychecks as well as their rainy day funds to sponsor the vacation. They would hit all the big spots in Los Angeles at Greg’s request, then visit the Sequoia National Forest at Nick’s, all while visiting the big tourist attractions per Hodges’ wish—and then finally, in a half-joke but not really a joke, a trip to Disneyland prompted by Henry. 
It was an ambitious quest and one that lost its appeal as highway hypnosis drained their exuberant energies, adding in the fact that they had left rather late to begin with, making little progress in the vastness of the state. Their lighthearted banter turned sour, teasing became tense, and Nick in particular had white knuckles decorating the steering wheel as he pushed a couple digits over the speed limit.  
They find a motel, the flickering neon of a broken sign outshadowed by the green tinted fluorescence that engulfs Nick and Hodges as they walk through a thin, floating slab of cloud surrounding the entrance to check in. Greg may as well be alone in the car, as Henry is knocked out in the back, overcome with drowsiness from his motion sickness medicine. As he watches Nick enter the office, he swears he gets some sort of double vision, seeing another Nick standing by the pillar on the edge of the canopy, staring at the car. 
The hairs on the back of his head stand up, goosebumps tickling his skin and he keeps wary but also weary-eyed contact with the duplicate, and when Hodges and Nick emerge from the office and he finally blinks, the doppel-Nick vanishes and so he takes it for what it was; a figment of his overtired brain playing to the part of him that is truly unsettled in this desolate nightscape void of the flashing sirens and bustling crowds that he’s used to—this is pure isolation. 
That, or the apparition was an omen, warning him of danger, possibly to Nick. 
It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Guy at the front desk said there’s some nasty fog rolling into the valley,” Nick’s voice startles Greg out of his thoughts as he lingers on the empty space, and as Nick pats his back softly he asks a silent question with his eyes, and Greg gives a quick nod of his head.
“Plenty of rooms vacant but none with more than one bed,” Hodges announces, patting Henry awake gently despite his loud voice doing the deed, earning a glare from the awakening man, rubbing his eyes. 
So they get two rooms and split up. Henry and Hodges in one room, Nick and Greg in the other—the obvious choices, of course, but also logical as Greg snores, and Nick’s an insomniac anyway. 
Yet Greg doesn’t seem to fall asleep so easily, or at all, despite his exhaustion. Plagued with restless dreams of a flickering Nick-less void, there’s an unease churning in his stomach and a thumping concert of paranoia in his heart. 
“G? You still awake?” Nick asks from the armchair in the corner of the room, leafing through a magazine in the intrusive fluorescent light bleeding through the thin curtains. His voice perks Greg’s ears, but yet doesn’t soothe the flight response bubbling under his skin.
“Yeah,” Greg grunts, still resisting his urge to toss and turn to the other side, not wanting to be uncomfortably watched by the grumpy zombie in the corner. “How’d you know?”
“Y’ain’t snoring.”
“And how’d you know that?” 
“Sara told me. Remember when we had...that case...in Pioche?”
Of course Greg remembers, and finds it odd that Nick didn’t refer to it as the McBride case for the first time in almost five years.
“You and her shared a room,” he pauses, Greg can envision how his tongue is washing over suddenly dry lips, even with his back turned. “Me and Rick in the other. She told me in the mornin’ how badly you snored.”
“So you can remember that...but you can’t remember...” Greg sighs in exhaustion, his eyes finally dropping but then snapping open at the sound of the magazine getting tossed harshly to the ground with a groan trailing after it. Hears the creaking of leather, and knowing Nick, he’s gotten up from the chair to start to pace like a lion trapped in a cage.
“I told ya I’m sorry—”
“No.” Greg’s turn, to bite down on his lower lip and decide if he really wants to have this conversation right now, but they’re both cranky and tired anyway. “No, from what I recall you just promised not to do it again. You never actually apologized—“
“Well, I’m sorry. Happy?”
“You don’t mean it.”
“Greg—of course I mean it!”
Greg doesn’t realize how tightly his jaw is clenched until it seals tighter when he feels the space next to him sink down. He almost rolls backwards into Nick, whose touch indicates a softness not found in Greg’s vision of animalistic anger and places a tentative hand on Greg’s shoulder which quickly retreats when he feels how stiff Greg is.
“I know that...I’m not invincible,” Nick’s fingers curl into the palm of his hand.
“Coulda fooled me,” Greg scoffs. 
“And I didn’t mean to accuse you of being...some sort of bad guy, I-I mean, you had a point, that kid was probably gonna kill me—”
“He never would have stood a chance anyway,” Greg admits dully. “But that’s really not what upset me. You were just so...angry.”
“I was almost blown up. Twice!” Nick laughs, dropping the softness in his words and exchanging it for daggers. “What, was I supposed to be prancing around giddy with glee that I was alive? That wore off fast after I was pulled outta hell the first goddamn time, Greg.”
“Cath told me what you said.”
“What do you mean?”
“‘I’m not afraid to die.’”
“Yeah. Well...I’m not.”
Greg spins around, propping himself up on his elbows.
“But maybe I am, Nick!” Greg hisses. “And maybe...I’m afraid of...”
“What?” Nick wipes his nose to mask the escaping sniffle. “What are you so afraid of?”
Losing you.
Greg’s elbows give out, he falls back onto the bed, a hand rubbing throbbing temples while the other shoves down the heart bulging out of his chest. There’s an odd sloshing in his lungs, airways in his nose blocked. If he’s not careful he’ll work himself up into an asthma attack. He turns his head away from Nick to ensure the inhaler is right where he left it on the end table. 
“Nothing. Just forget it.”
Nick gets up from the bed, and it’s the sound of clicking—a certain clicking, the one that only comes from the opening of a door, that snaps his head back to the main attraction, the man standing in the opened doorway, ready to escape the suffocating imprisonment of spending the night with Greg Sanders. 
“Wait, where are you going—?” Greg sits up, his heart now soaring, telling him to give Nick a reason to say because he knows that really, he’s about to....
“I’m taking a drive,” Nick answers gruffly, popping the collar to his jacket and pulling on his sleeves. “Gonna fill up the car, I’ll be back by morning.”
“Let me come with you—”
“Get some sleep. You need it.”
“Nick—” Greg gestures to the empty space that Nick just occupied, waving a hand for him to come back. 
He knows he won’t.
He picks up the car keys instead.
“Save it.”
He walks out the door without another word, and Greg leaps out of bed, boxers be damned he flings the door to call out to his friend.
“Nick!” 
Nick enters the car, slamming the door without consideration to the sleeping residents and prying eyes of the motel.
Or even to Greg.
“NICK!” 
Squealing tires, a loud gasp—multiple gasps, from his passengers who start shouting in the white noise of panic as Nick veers off course of an almost collision with a shadowy figure ahead—a figure that was short enough to pass for a child, long hair and a faceless face but the curvature of the body under a slender dress registered the humanoid figure as potentially female—but he doesn’t dwell on that for long as he regains control of the car, swerving in and out of the parallel yellow lines—the car almost tips, he doesn’t release his breath until all four wheels touch the ground and he finally tunes into his passenger’s dialogue.
“What was that?”
“Was that a girl?”
“Jesus, man! Keep your eyes on the road!”
He allows himself a few shortened gasps before gulping down the remainder of his adrenaline, forcing calm on himself as fatigue comes crawling from under his eyelids, daring to pull the curtains.
“Sorry,” Nick gulps. He looks at the clock on the radio. Five A.M. He feels as if he’s been on the road all night, but he remembers getting some semblance of sleep in the dingy motel room with Greg after filling up the gas tank, going back and apologizing through pillow talk. 
Phantom whispers fill his ears, unintelligible voices but it sounds like Greg. He tries to focus but his attention is taken by the urgency of looking for his almost-fatal victim in the rear view mirror and the returning reaction of panic as his mind unscrambles.
Whatever shadow was there that he almost hit is gone. All that’s left is a thick layer of fog that swirls around the car, trailing behind yet also retreating ahead of them. Thick walls sandwich the car and Nick cracks his window to suck in the cold, misty air as a reminder that he’s not necessarily entrapped so much as they are just...well, okay maybe a little trapped but he doesn’t want to admit it, parting his lips and gritting his teeth as he reels himself in before he unravels further.
“Should we go back?” Henry mercifully asks and breaks Nick’s concentration on his inner self. He’s spun around, looking out the rear window but seeing nothing but the same fog, though it’s much less suffocating to him than it is to Nick.
“Y-yeah,” Nick breathes, then swallows down the last nagging thought of panic. It’s time to be the leader of the assclowns. “But I don’t know if a U-turn is a good idea with this fog.”
“Maybe we should stop. Stretch our legs, we can just take a quick walk down the road, we haven’t gone too far yet,” Greg offers. Nick’s ears perk up, he’d very much like that, and immediately schemes a scenario of holding hands so they don’t lose each other. 
“I don’t know, with Lightning McQueen here, we may already be into the next town,” Hodges scoffs, an intrusive finger sliding past Nick’s shoulder to point at the speedometer. 
Fifteen over the speed limit. Whatever the speed limit actually is—the sign is masked and as faceless as the road wanderer.
“I don’t think walkin’ in the fog will do us any favors either,” Nick reluctantly growls as he takes his foot off the pedal and bats Hodges’ finger out of the way. The initial appeal of walking around loses to the settling danger of either losing each other, or losing the car, or losing their minds walking around the ceaseless skyfallen ground. He thinks of how Sara described wandering in the desert for hours and hours and hours, while the intense desert heat is the polar opposite of the frigid foggy roads, he still empathizes with the prospect of having no direction, no hope.
Only difference is, he wouldn’t be so alone.
He puts his foot on the brake and pulls off to the side, channeling his frustrated energy into putting the car in park. He swivels in his seat for a full group discussion.
“Well, what’s it going to be then?” Greg sighs, his tone dripping in annoyance. 
A beat.
“I’ll turn around. If we find the girl, we’ll pick her up and take her home,” Nick concludes, nodding his head to amp himself up for this more logical plan, rather than the more emotionally driven choice of walking around, stretching the cramping legs that kick at the floor of the vehicle. “‘S why it’s a good idea to drive, cover more ground that way.”
“Think she’ll fit back here between us? And she was walking so slow—” She was walking? Nick thinks to himself, astonished that he really wasn’t paying any attention. “—what if she’s hurt, or diseased or something?”
“C’mon, Hodges, wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had a girl between us,” Henry teases.
Hodges begins to stammer, the corners of Nick’s lips twitch up as he does a three-point, as efficiently and cautiously as he can in case there are other blind drivers in the fog, but after nearly ten minutes of driving, there’s no girl in sight.
“There was a turn about a mile back, maybe she went down that road?” Henry suggests.
They follow the road, and reach a dead end with nothing but the road sign sprouting in the sea of fog.
“Guess not.”
They turn around, but the main road is either passed or not reached. They find themselves in a fork that doesn’t seem familiar to Nick.
“Do any of y’all remember seein’ this? Did I run a sign?”
The backseat passengers shake their head, Greg is looking to the left, past Nick.
“Turn left,” he nudges.
“You sure?”
“Positive,” Greg nods his head.
They turn down the road and continue on, Nick’s eyes flicker to the clock. Seven A.M, and no signs of the fog letting up—in fact, it’s somehow more packed, though specks of what might be...snow? Scatter the air—It makes no sense, Nick thinks, this part of Cali doesn’t get snow...does it?
Snow was such a rare occurrence for a young boy growing up in Texas that it was a little more disturbing than it was luxurious. He of course, would often see depictions of children such as himself building snowmen, making snow angels, having snowball fights and so at first, the idea of snow excited him—but it was never enough to stick, never enough to craft meltable creations, never enough to get a cold. He appreciated how lighter it was compared to the heaviness of rainfall, but didn’t quite appreciate how it would disappear just as soon as it fell. 
Fleeting, like life itself. 
The wind slices across his cheek, waking him from a ride down memory lane to find a more distorted one, winding downward—he doesn’t typically get nauseous when he’s driving, but something sinks and settles to the pit of his stomach, clogging the drain with a tight not that threatens to burst like a geyser out of his body.
The road straightens out, and they reach another fork that’s missing a prong.
Nick keeps driving forward.
“You sure this is the way?” Hodges asks.
“Quit bein’ a backseat driver, I know where I’m goin’!” Nick hushes him, his accent thickening in his annoyance. “The map had a long winding road, just like this one, dinn’t it?”
“Here, I can pull it up on my phone—Oh...maybe not. No cell service,” Greg mutters. “Maybe we should find the gas station, ask for directions?”
Nick puffs his chest, lifts his chin. 
“Don’t needta. Fog’ll clear up soon.”
“Well, it hasn’t yet—” 
“Calm down, G—”
“I am calm!” 
“I think we’re lost,” Henry groans. 
“We ain’t lost,” Nick proclaims. “When have I ever steered us wrong?”
“When you rolled the car and sprained Henry’s ankle,” Hodges responds immediately.
“That—That wasn’t my fault, just the rolling—which you laughed at, and hey, if I didn’t, we coulda crashed—”
“When you told me that riding that mechanical bull was as easy as those twenty-five cent kiddie rides at the grocery store,” Henry offers.
“That one just had a screw loose is all—”
“When you, Warrick and Sara convinced me to stage a coup against Catherine,” Greg jabs.
“She betrayed our trust, Greggo!” 
“No, she betrayed your trust. You guys kinda forced me into it.”
“That’s not—It wasn’t just—This was years ago and what the hell’s gotten into you?”
“Me? What’s gotten into you? You’ve been all over the place since we got to the motel—”
“Well, sorry I can’t close my eyes for more than a minute without gettin’ nightmares, and therefore, no goddamn sleep!” 
“Mm. Suddenly saying ‘sorry’ a lot now, I see.”
“You know, Nick, if you need a break, maybe I can drive—” Hodges interrupts.
“No.” Nick and Greg say flatly, simultaneously. 
A terse, awkward silence flitters in through the open window, which Nick rolls down even further. He allows himself a few breaths after a few endless minutes before he speaks again.
“Just...need some food in me or somethin’, tank’s gettin’ empty.”
“So’s the gas tank,” Greg observes. 
“I knew that,” Nick mutters, though really, he didn’t know that. He scrunched his face, hadn’t he left to fill up last night? 
They reach another fork with no sign in sight. Nick squints and leans, before getting out of the car to do a quick sweep, as if he’d suddenly find the direction along the listless roads, but the only signs are the red ones telling him to stop. 
He gets back in the car, flexes his fingers around the wheel, and takes a deep breath. 
“I think we’re lost,” Nick admits.
“Oh, really?” Greg sighs loudly in exasperation, tossing a hand into the air to wave at the directionless driver. 
“Relax, man, I’m sure we’ll find our way.”
“Then why even bring it up?” Henry whines from the backseat.
“Just to make you whine, buttercup,” Nick teases with a playful smile into the mirror.
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jungkookiebus · 4 years
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multiverse | kth | preview
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genre: parallel universe!au, maybe angst, eventual smut pairing: taehyung x reader  word count: 1.6k for preview warnings: none yet for the preview summary: what if...what if you found a tear in the universe? in a world where parallel universes seemingly don’t exist, there appears to be an overlap. what you had previously believed to be a haunting has now turned into something else, something tangible. everything you thought you knew about reality is about to be upturned and crumbled like a house of cards. 
It all started with a shift a dust, caught on the wind from a window you had already closed. It flew from the shelf as if swept by a hand; scattered into the air to fall like small snowflakes. You were startled to say the least.
“Hello?”
You were talking to the air as if it would answer. You had seen it happen with your own two eyes, so it wasn’t as if someone was in the room with you. In fact, there was no one else in the house besides you and your ever unfaithful cat, Boots.
“Boots?” you called upon remembering your cat. You suddenly did not want to be alone and at least there would be another beating heart in the room with you. But, as per usual, Boots was not going to come to your rescue when you needed him the most.
You barely breathed as you stood there waiting for it to happen again or for something else to be disturbed. The air was still, and the house was eerily quiet. You had only moved in two weeks ago. The house was old, late 1800s, so you didn’t expect it not to be creepy. Slowly, you walked over to the bookshelf and stood on your tiptoes where you saw it come from. The built in had yet to house any of your books so all the shelves were layered in dust. Except for one. As if a hand had swiped across it, one of the shelves had a clean spot, crescent shaped and the ghost of the shape of a fingertip. There had to be some explanation for it. A cool breeze brushed past your calves and you turned around in a rush to see where it had come from. One of the windows in the reading nook was open, letting fresh air in. Furrowing your brows, you stood looking at the window, having sworn that they had all been closed. You rewound through your last few steps and couldn’t recall seeing if the window was open or not. You must have skipped it when you were closing the others. Walking over, you looked out of the window into the sunny garden and saw nothing but lazy butterflies and buzzing bees. You grabbed the window and pulled it down smoothly. The last thing you needed was for Boots to get out before you could fully trust him in the new house. Where he was this moment God only knew. The best thing to do would be to blow off anything that happened from here on out. Tying your hair up a little tighter, pushing out your chest, and walking with determination you went to grab a box out of the hallway to start unpacking. Getting the books out of the way would make a huge dent in the stacks now crowding your entryway. Remembering to ‘lift with your knees’ as your dad always told you to do, you set your back straight, and carried the box back into the room only to be met with a frightening sight.
Every single window in the room was open.
You dropped the box you were holding. It fell to the side as your Hemingways and Kings slid to floor.
“Hello?” you called again.
Your heart thudded in your chest as you strained to listen. There had to be someone in your house. The sound of your heart pumping and your blood rushing was like waves in your ears. You tried to count slow and time your breaths so that your heart might abate enough for you to hear. Beyond the windows, the garden was just the same, undisturbed and buzzing with various insects. Everything looked innocuous enough, but something in the atmosphere made your skin crawl. The cool breeze was suddenly no longer comforting. Rushing over as fast as you could, tripping over books and your own feet, you closed all the windows as fast as possible. You were breathing heavily now, panicked as you tried to explain away how this could have happened. Maybe there were some kids that lived nearby, and they were playing a prank on you. Yea, that was it. It had to be.
Unpacking was far from your mind now. You exited the house and walked around, only to find nothing. There were no footprints under the window and no other sign of a person around.
You were absolutely dumbfounded when you had no further explanation to how it could have happened. So instead, you went back inside, tried to control your nerves with tea, and thankfully did not have to deal with anymore ‘ghosts’.
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“Are you sure that’s what happened?” your friend’s voice crackled over the line.
You wove the cord around your fingers as you stood leaning against the wall of your kitchen, gazing out of the window but not focusing on the anything as thoughts whirred in your head.
“I’m not crazy.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“I turned around and they were all open. I had just closed the one.”
“Maybe you actually opened them?”
“I’m not crazy.”
“Okay, okay.”
It was silent on her end save for a few sounds as she shuffled around.
“I’m not sure what to tell you, _____. It’s a new house, who knows what could be wrong with it.”
You sighed as you listened to her and soaked it in.
“I guess you’re right.”
“Is that the only thing that’s happened?”
“So far,” you laughed.
“Well, let’s hope it doesn’t do it again.”
“Yea, let’s hope.”
You had no idea how awfully wrong you would be.
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It had been a month since the incident with the windows and nothing else had happened. Boots didn’t even seem to care about anything in the house and as far as you were concerned, animals knew everything there was to know about the afterlife. He sat lazily in the same nook, basking in the sun. The shelves had to been dusted (out of necessity and to prevent ghosts from further cleaning them) and your books had all been put away. In fact, the whole house was now fully unpacked.
You had just settled down for the evening. The tv was on and you were sat in the middle of your bed with your laptop working on a spreadsheet when the sink in your bathroom turned on. Your entire body simultaneously flushed with a chill that ran to the bone and a heat that had sweat beading on your brow. The faucet wasn’t just on, it was on. It was as if someone had turned both the hot and cold water on as high as they could go. The most disturbing fact about it was that the only access to your bathroom was from within your room. Half a second later and the water shut off. Your body seemed to vibrate with nervous energy as you clutched the edges of your laptop. In front of you, your tv was still softly emanating the sounds of a late night show. A shuddering breath left your chest as your entire body tensed tenfold. The shower came on next. Clutching your hand over your mouth, you willed yourself not to cry and scream. You knew you were awake because fear, true unadulterated fear, did not grip your mind in dreams. This type of fear turned your bones to jello and any faculties you had were null.
Then someone started to hum.
Tears welled up in your eyes as you listened. The fear was so deep rooted now that you were sure it wouldn’t ebb with time. It was a man, his voice low as he hummed. It was as if there were a living, breathing person in your bathroom taking a shower; humming as if he were just in there like any other day. You listened as bottles were picked up and sat down, water splashed inconsistently as they bathed, and the humming; he never stopped humming. You watched as steam escaped the crack in the door, telling you that this was real. It floated out in the room and dissipated just like your courage. After maybe ten minutes the water shut off and then…nothing. There was no humming, there were no sounds of him getting out of the shower, and you waited in fear for the door to open but it never did. A laugh track played dully as you gathered the courage to finally set your computer down and stand up. Steam still wafted out of the door and it was hard for you to see in the bathroom at all. Tentatively and with shaking hands, you placed your palm flat on the door and pushed. The steam swirled in the wake of the door, curling up around your legs, and billowing into the air. Everything was out of focus as you blinked, trying to see through the haze. You held your breath as you stepped onto the sweating tile floor, stepping lightly so that you didn’t slip. There still were no other sounds besides your bare feet on the tile. You reached out and grabbed the curtain, pulling it back much like a band-aid from a cut, and peered into the empty shower. Of course, it was wet because the water had been on, there was no surprise there, but nothing else was disturbed. There was no denying now that something was in this house with you. Imagination or not, there was something very wrong here and you weren’t sure you wanted to find out what it was.
It was when you turned back around, towards the door, and facing the mirror over your sink when you broke the silence with your own voice. You yelped and almost fell back on the tile as you saw the neatly written letters in the condensation. They still dripped as if written moments before you turned around.
‘I can hear you, too.’
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blaster-aichi · 4 years
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Cardfight!! Vanguard Extra Story IF 14 things
links lead to images posted on discord because this post is already far too absurdly long, have too many thoughts, what a rollercoaster ride this was
Shuka’s opening a gateway into the past beneath herself and Emi indicted Link Joker Gate flashbacks because of its appearance
If it wasn’t demonstrated prior to this episode, it’s apparent how Aichi is far more malicious than any incarnation of past (i.e. his soldiers ready to maim or straight up murder Emi and Shuka , having Kai-kun abducted; whether either was 100% intended to occur the way they did is anyone’s guess)
Miwa as a Sanctuary Knight: there’s two points to this          — it’s an astonishing turn as he was part of the Mates during Legion Mate — the season which many people have acknowledged the parallels to — but working beneath Aichi turns that on its head as well as the implication that Aichi’s force was concentrated around the Miyaji Cardfight Club, as well as giving a fifth member to his faction in similar vein to Kourin of Legion Mate.         — it splits up the Kai/Miwa/Ibuki trio down the same lines as Ultra Rare; Suiko and Ibuki being firmly aligned with Emi while Kourin and Miwa fall under Aichi’s command. Rekka and Kai-kun would serve as unaccounted for, though it’s more clear-cut in his case, as Rekka made her appearance and her allegiance known at the same time as Kourin entered the fray, as well as already fighting on the side of restoring the timeline to its proper state before Suiko was pulled into activity.         — and it was foreshadowed right before our eyes when they announced IF 14 would be centred around Kai-kun.
"Whenever I hear the name "Toshiki Kai”, for some reason, I get chills”. It’s a strange statement with his behaviour later in the episode, seeming to recognize and feign friendliness with Ibuki and Kai-kun. The only possibility can think of for this line is Miwa, like Aichi and Emi (and the rest of the Sanctuary Knights), is his Outside World self pulled into IF World and his memories tampered with, he might be privy enough to his relationship with the other two for the sake of his act when meeting with them.
Kai-kun hugging Ibuki with no restraint. Rena down. Fuck that’s so soft.
9 years of being dead or arseholes who abandoned their child, we get Mama and Papa and the whole family is adorable! Mama Kai and Shizuka would get along so well, they’re two peas in a pod aaaaa        — Toshi also pointed how out the Kai family love of curry persists to this day and god bless.
me last night on call with Courtney: “There has to be a reason why Aichi hates Vanguard specifically just because of not meeting Kai-kun. It wouldn’t be any more significant than literally anything else. Hey, Aichi, why not hate rock music instead or something?” Kai-kun’s room: this kid loves rock, how dare you
Said room also makes it feel like the show is saying Vanguard/Aichi ruined Kai-kun’s life as opposed to, you know, his parents abandoning him. Bushi no—
It took just his name. That was it.
The static within the audio around Aichi is a neat touch when there feels to be a theme of glitching in the ED and it isn’t as though either reality is “wrong”, just distorted.
Just how they go about instilling memories of Aichi in comparison to Legion Mate is fascinating. In Legion Mate, the Mates were able to cleanly remember as their fights progressed and able to accept that Aichi existed prior to the season; we don’t know the extent of the changes to their lives as a result of his disappearance, but here is a different story. Kai-kun’s entire life has been altered as a result of the distortion and he isn’t able to simply see Aichi in his memories and realize that someone is missing from his past, and it takes a toll on him for these conflicting memories from another life to present themselves to him.
One has to wonder what Shizuka is going through in regards to Aichi vanishing, but also what Kai-kun’s parents must think if they were to investigate the commotion coming from his room suddenly to see him and everyone else gone and the disarray left from just how they left.
IF being the seemingly most lighthearted season with the darkest cliffhanger (topping even Link Joker and Legion Mate, because nothing comes to mind that could honestly match this), even if we know they would never dare kill off Kai-kun but the insinuation for the characters that he could be dead is chilling, particularly when they consist of his childhood friends, young girls and the root being a boy seeking him out, whose intentions around it we don't know and whom we've seen destablize (albeit in another continuity) when it comes to Kai-kun, so imagine the ramification and what it could do to his state of mind (or Ibuki, Miwa, Emi and Shuka’s, for that matter)  if they really did play with the idea of killing him off.
Horizontal Oath
God bless this ED, it’s so good
There’s a lot in here about the clashing realities around Kai-kun and it’s nice to know the season isn’t overlooking the incredibly weighted implications of putting him in this position.
The fire spurning to life, while a nice nod to his usual choice of Kagero an its absence in his current life, could also be representative that, while he has many hobbies in his IF life, Vanguard is where his passion truly lies above all, as he grips it and contemplates the people who should be around him.
Emi, Ibuki and Miwa occupying the same spots in the frames they exist in is a neat choice.
Kai rushing towards the light/Blaster Blade only for the card to vanish as his fingers nears it screams of midpoint Legion Mate where the Mates finally got a glimpse of Aichi, to hear his own request that they give up. As the preview shows them in the same location, it’s possible 15 will serve as the first, failed attempt to bring Aichi back to his senses and force the group to pick themselves up and try again in the same way the Leon episodes served in Legion Mate, signified by the repeated animation usage when Kai-kun runs towards Blaster Blade a second time.
The price Kai-kun is going to pay is not being overlooked. To restore the timeline, it’s apparent that he’ll have to sacrifice his IF life and parents, inflicting unto him the anguish of his original Manga/Reboot continuity life and the hardships that came with it  The darkness that emanates from his younger self and the glimpses of that original life as he kneels demonstrates that, while he might accept that outcome, it’s not about to be an easy task, understandable.       — Initially had suspected from the preview for 14 that this issue might be raised with him and he would reject erasing everything he knows and have to be brought around to the idea, but the ED actually refutes this, as he faces everything head-on.       — In doing so, it speaks to his character and the strength to allow this incredibly high price, as by relinquishing everything he knows, he’s able to regain the friends he made through Vanguard even with the knowledge of the pain and strife that he’ll endure and allow Emi to have her family back, even at the cost of his own.       — Additionally, as the shot closes in on him and he yells/roars, it appears he could be in pain from having to surrender this version of himself and his life; but ultimately does so as he fades while Dragonic Overlord becomes the more dominant face, signifying his reclaiming his Vanguard and his original life.
This resolve to allow the timeline to be returned to its rightful state also comes through beneath the starry sky that corrects itself, with Kai-kun standing at the back of Emi’s group, the only one of them fated to disappear by setting things right. Though the camera continues on past him, towards the light that grows brighter and consumes everything — perhaps a symbol of the corrected timeline taking hold — he doesn’t so much as glance back, but looks ahead to the sky, even with the reality that he and his world will be no more.
[2012 Fanguard voice] Bench-chan lives on.
Numerous people in YouTube comments remarked that Horizontal Oath amplifies the Legion Mate atmosphere and its emphasis on Kai-kun whilst doing so is notable. As that was his journey to bring Aichi back and the current is Emi’s, the shift in tone with this new ED and new arc incorporating him heavily is a nice reflection of that when the OP remains the same.      — There is an implication, though, that Emi might start to fall back from the protagonist role, as she appears far more passive in the ED while Kai-kun stands front and centre. When the two of them and Shuka are standing in a field, Emi’s feet are surrounded by shade, and when looking to the sun, she stands on the edge of the formation, seeming far more distant. At the same time, Shuka is on the other side, both of the group as a whole and Kai-kun specifically, with her back to the others. Her guilt has been an enormous factor since the truth of her actions came to light and how they weigh on her, but this feels as though her attention shifting away from Emi and towards Kai-kun as a means of atoning for her mistake.     — Going to be hopeful that they can balance what Aichi means to Emi and Kai-kun in similar vein to Kai-kun and Naoki of Legion Mate, so that they both share an equal part in the fight going forward.
IF 15
Thank goodness, we’re getting answers about Aichi, Takuto and the Sanctuary Knights, let’s go.
Aichi pointing a sword at Ibuki and (Kourin) opening up a fissure beneath the both of them — and right in front of Kai-kun — is a stark contrast to the Aichi(s) we’ve known until now, as how he was seen by Kai-kun was something of great importance to him, but depending on the context of the scene, it’s apparent that this version of him gives no fucks about anything of the sort.
Something that’s been on my mind within the last week is that, aside from the scene in the forest when he was acting seemingly normal, Aichi’s right eye is never detailed beneath his visor, or even when he overrode Majesty Lord (typically, his hair doesn’t completely conceal his eye while in a unit). The theories that came to mind were heterochromia, like Voidkuto, a permanent Psyqualia glow or it’s completely blank in typical possession/brainwashed fashion (or some sort of visual cue pertaining to the fact that a great deal is off about him) but by putting on the airs of normality, he was able to mask it as a normal eye when meeting with Shuka.
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adecila · 5 years
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Game of Thrones – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - 8x02 episode analysis (kind of)
…or the episode we should have gotten last week.
And we’re back! I am not here to shit on last week’s episode I actually enjoyed it very much, if you just take it for what it was, but! I cannot help but remark how much better episode 2 has been to us… the writing was very very good and rich, and in character, and it finally feels like GoT and… I honestly don’t know what happened in episode 1. But moving on…
As you can already tell, this is going to my personal summary, thoughts and analysis of episode 02 of season 8. Going to put it all under a cut – spoilers, you have been warned.
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Are you an Oathkeeper or on Oathbreaker? Or the Jaime Fucking Lannister Fest
Listen I am not calling this a trial, because it is not. Yes I know they call it a trial in the BTS and Inside the episode.
Dany’s speech about Jaime’s deeds against House Targaryen is very good. As I have mentioned in my preview analysis, this is the first time (third time is a charm ha) that Jaime and Dany speak to one another. She doesn’t know this man. This man tried to kill her and he killed her father.
I got right half of the stuff at least, for what it’s worth. Tyrion looks soooo sooo bad. LIKE YOU KNEW YOUR SISTER? Oh the glare!!! If looks could kill, Tyrion would be dust. LiStEn, Tyrion, honey. Sit down. Jeez, read the room, you are not making it better. Dany is right - why should she trust this man? And Sansa is right there with her… until Brienne speaks. 
Gwen called Brienne’s speech something “almost like a declaration of love” and I think that is so beautiful it hurts. Not a Braime fan, but hey you got fed fam, I am happy for you! I already mentioned in my live blogging that it was either incoherent or just plain retcon to forget that Sansa sent Brienne to KL because she thought Brienne would kill her if it meant a showdown with Arya. But I digress. 
I find it very interesting how Jaime didn’t apologise and his cojones to say so because “we were at war” - and I get it, my dude, Ser Hot Stuff, we all know all is fair in love and war, but I guess it would be ooc for him to apologise. Great delivery, I don’t particularly like NCW but this scene? Top notch. I rate it one doggy style fuck out of one, but so good your legs are wobbly and you can barely find the energy to plop on your bed afterwards. 
The things we do for love… and Bran is back with the fucking shit stirring drama. We stan Bran Starkashian. 
I find it interesting since this is also Dany’s chance to show how she rules - Lady Sansa says her opinion, which surprises Dany. Then she turns to Jon, who the entire time has been very very quiet. Like the kind of quiet you are when you have the biggest hangover and you are stuck in class and you just want it to be over with. So Jon says what he could say to get the fuck out of there. “We need every man we can get.” So Jaime is given his sword back after Grey Worm literally gives him the I AM WATCHING YOU BITCH glare. 
But Jon’s chair is not facing forward, it is slightly oriented towards Dany’s. Notice how he doesn’t look at her, even when she addresses him directly. She gets up and everyone does so afterwards FINALLY SOME FUCKING RESPECT and she turns to Jon… and he doesn’t even look at her… and my baby looks heartbroken because he just ignores her *coughs* As soon as the meeting ended, he rushed out, not giving her a chance to say a word. *coughs*
In defence of Jon… Know what, we’ll talk about Jon later, when we get to the reveal. 
Oh and Bran totes doesn’t care about Jaime enough to expose him in front of the entire Great Hall. Because ya know, he is a drama queen, but he keeps his cards close, he either already has a plan for Jaime or as he said, and as I have predicted from the preview, it serves no purpose to expose Jaime for what he did to Bran. Like just click on it and read it. Good that Bran called him out on his apology naaah bitch you don’t get to go holier than thou here. It is what it is. 
Me at Bran this episode:
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Jaime and Tyrion’s conversation is very interesting, not only about Dany in general whether she is worthy or not, and Tyrion seems to be team Dany. Was it just me or Tyrion more like whispered the part where he talks about Cersei’s baby. Also also listen Jaime, unless you’re suddenly a gynaecologist how the fuck do you know she is not lying? I loved how Tyrion called Jaime out on the fact that he loved Cersei despite knowing full well what and who she was. Dude let’s call it what it was. Don’t play coy now. 
Ding ding ding Tyrion mentions marching to KL and killing Cersei … and that’s all I am gonna say about it.
Jaime x Brienne wow this ship is getting so fed - enjoy babies ! And I loved how Brienne was suddenly WHY ARENT YOU INSULTING ME I DONT KNOW HOW TO INTERACT TO YOU !!!! Brienne is leading the left flank and Jaime wants to be led by her. Keep in mind for next week’s episode! I am so proud of my son Pod, I am basically proudmom!Brienne tbh. 
The episode in which Dany gets a lot of counsel - because that’s also the type of ruler she is 
Tyrion x Varys x Jorah vs Dany - Dany gives the best scolding ever tbh. Moms, take notes, because look at Tyrion’s face. He knows this Christmas when the NK comes he will only get coal. No whores and wine for Tyrion. He was naughty boy.  
KHALESSI - Listen. I don’t like Jorah in the books, and my impression of show!Jorah has always been tainted by it. But this Jorah is redeemed and deserves to live I WILL RIOT IF HE DIES. The scene he has with Dany is one of my favourites because it just shows how much history they have together. I will sob if he dies because he is the only one left from S1E01 with her.  Jorah tells her to forgive Tyrion and seek out S.ansa to smooth things over. MY BEAR
S.ansa x Daenerys - First time I thought it was going well, they were bonding… and then S.ansa leaned forward and the hand placing seemed a bit too deliberate to me, too Margaery. What I am trying to say is that it is very hard to know if S.ansa is being genuine. It is a very good scene and it holds a lot of importance later on, more on that when I talk about the reveal in the last scene (and I this is what I wanted from episode 1 - cold but courteous.) 
S.ansa tells Dany Jon loves her and that “men do stupid things for the women they love, they’re easily manipulated” - which, fair point; she saw Cersei and Margaery do it. Buuuut she also had the counter-argument: she saw how Littlefinger manipulated her aunt. So it goes both ways, bby. 
“All my life I have known one goal: the Iron Throne […] until I met Jon 
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INTERRUPTING THIS PROGRAMME TO FLAIL BECAUSE HOLY SHIT WE FINALLY HEAR DANY CALL HIM “JON” ON SCREEN YES YES FUCKING FINALLY THANK YOU BABY JESUS AND MARY AND THE ENTIRE TEAM OF 12 APOSTLES  
“Now I am here, half a world away, fighting Jon’s war alongside him. Tell me, who manipulated whom?”  - I love how Dany turns the tables here, because she is right; if Dany was manipulating Jon, then how come she is the one here, fighting with all her men and resources and dragons? Who gains from this more? SEE S.ANSA IT MAKES NO FUCKING SENSE IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN- 
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FINALLY SOME GOOD FUCKING CONTENT. 
Then S.ansa goes for that smile ugh and agaaaain I am having soooo much trouble taking it for genuine. 
“I am here because I love your brother and I trust him and I know he is true to his word […]” I AM DEAD DEAD DEAD 
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And then it goes to shite because S.ansa is now clearly drawing inspiration from Theresa fucking May since she has no fucking skills to bring up Brexit - is it Nexit? Dany retreating her hands tho - she feels played LIKE REALLY BITCH I WAS SPEAKING FROM MY HEART AND YOU WERE JUST BUYING TIME HERE. 
Theonsa everywhere - or the ship you never thought would happen in this show yet you can’t help but ship it 
That hug!!!! Wow I loved it!!! Sophie and Alfie killed it. Also watch Dany in the background - my baby!!! Do you know how hard it is being around people with big families when you’re… alone? It’s fucking depressing, and I just want to hug Dany and carry her to safety. 
We got 3 Theonsa moments (and one was a Jonerys parallel so you know the romantic undertones are strong) in this episode soooo yeah! Enjoy! I am afraid they are setting Theon up to die, especially since it would be poetic cinema.jpeg for him to die defending Bran after he took WF from him.
Also also feels like book!Theon and show!Theon are colliding again. 
The Merry Men and the Night’s Watch leftovers ; and Ghost for 3 seconds - you’re welcome ; the Hound and Beric; Missandei and Grey Worm
Tormund calling Jon “little crow” was fucking everything! did you catch Jon’s smile??? Precious baby!!! And then asking about Brienne!!!! But did you catch Jon’s face when he saw Sam was also there - like ugh you again - BYE 
Missandei x Grey - one of them is totally dead BYE I AM GONNA FLUNG MYSELF OUT THE WINDOW 
Sam x Jon on the battlements - ugh Sam really you are looking soooooo bad right now. Jon’s face is again precious. He is so over Sam atm and he is just like WHEN WILL THE NK COME FOR ME BECAUSE IF I HAVE TO STAY ONE MORE SECOND WITH THIS BITCH ISTG– Then I got emo when Edd came up. Damn. Watch Edd die too… I feel it in mah bones. That’s how the last of the NW dies. 
Arya x The Hound - I get soooo many dad feels from the Hound tbh and I love it. My guess the Hound makes it. Beric tho??? hmmm Idk about that. 
Tormund is fucking insane and I love him
THE BRIENNE KNIGHTING WAS EVERYTHING AND I CANT EVEN LOOK AT THE GIFS WITHOUT SOBBING MAH HEART - also!!! Dunk and Egg reference - Brienne parallel?? And the title of the episode! ugh Summerhall references? BRIENNE DO NOT DIE 
Sam gives Jorah Heartsbane - Good. It’s what Jorah deserves. *pushes Sam out of the shot*
Pod singing Jenny’s Song is tearing me apart and making me sob harder I FUCKING LOST IT AND I AM STILL GETTING CHILLS YALL THIS WAS FUN. SEEMS EVERYONE DIES. No, I jest. But I love how they paired up the couples for a tragic love song - Brienne x Jaime, Sam x Gilly, S.ansa x Theon, Arya x Gendry, Missandei x Greyworm, Jon x Dany. I wouldn’t look too much into the song choice tbh, since in Inside the episode they say they knew they wanted a song and they just picked this one and added more verses since it was incomplete. I know this is the second Summerhall reference, but ya know, I personally wouldn’t look too much into it.  Edit: I should have never trusted D&D - now go read these amazing posts made by @tomakeitbeautifultolive in which she explains the song and the significance for Jonerys. Also Ramin Djawadi spoke about the song and fed our fandom just today (April 25th).
The War Council or let’s gather around Bran Starkashian so he can spill some tea on the NK
Plan sounds basic imo, not that I had expected much about that, but in Miguel we trust and we know he will absolutely crash this battle in episode 3. 
Interesting how the casually dropped that apparently the NK’s goal is to destroy Bran. And the mention of the mark - so now basically Bran is chipped. Cool beans. Sam’s remark about “death is forgetting, being forgotten is very interesting. Memories don’t come from books, your stories aren’t just stories.” - interesting take here. I Sam writing the book about Jonerys? If so I am afraid he has A FUCKING BIAS OMG I AM GETTING HEATED AGAIN. Also my friend @iane-casey  was totally annoyed how much screen time Sam got which honestly same dude I am still pissed at you *joins Jon to brood and glare at Sam*
Dany publicly makes a point in that she still needs Tyrion aka he is forgiven so that there is no bad blood between them. 
Lmao my friend @zavocado says we should totes just tape Bran to Drogon’s belly and lure the NK away from WF *grabs the duct-tape* 
FINALLY A MAP: listen, they are outnumbered as fuuuuck… besides that it is clear that Dany’s forces will get the most hit since they are in the vanguard, Birenne on the left with the Knights of the Vale and some Stark forces, on the right we get the rest of the North, and the Mormonts are inside the gates! 
Jon walks on Dany a second time - Dany stops as the room clears out (Qhono and Jorah and Varys behind her), looks expectandly at Jon, he doesn’t look at her (MY BABY BOY HE LOOKS SO ROUGH DID HE EVEN SLEEP?), falters “Your Grace”, and bolts. She falters, her face is all WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING and she clears the room too. More on that at the end.
Gendrya or the OTP you did not know you need and why you fucking need it
First of all, this fandom is so pure. I loooooved all the Gendrya on my dash from episode 1 and then this episode I got flooded and I am here for it bitch. Give me all the feels.
I cannot wait to see Arya with her new weapon!!! 
GENDRY IS SO SHOOKETH BY ARYA AND I LOVED THAT SHE TOPPED HIM
I HAVE A SON YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER LET’S JOIN OUR HOUSES
The gendrya - jonerys parallels??? EVERYTHING JUST WOW
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Jonerys parentage reveal 2.0 or the reveal Jon also deserved not the travesty he got
I will do a play by play of the scene, but first. Why does Jon avoid Dany? Simple. He is hurting. Since we get the Jaime vs Bran stare down and then we get the Jaime trial, it is safe to assume that happens the morning after Sam blurted the truth to Jon about his mom and dad. 
So at Jaime’s fake trial, Jon had what? A few hours at best to process everything - and by that I mean: Dany is his aunt; Ned lied to him his entire life (no matter the reason, Jon has been raised a certain way and to hear the man who was so honourable was capable of the biggest lie in the realm… das huge! so this is shocking his entire moral compass and belief system built upon the education his dad gave him); his dad actually loved his mom and married her so he is no longer a bastard - ya know aka the thing that affected his entire life and the thing he wanted most; his mom died giving birth to him and she managed to think of him in her last moments, enough to make Ned promise her he will take care of her son; the fact that if Robert even caught a whiff of it, he would have been dead. SO that is a LOT LOT. 
Which explains why Jon was so out of it when he is asked about Jaime. Also explains why he bolts out of the room without looking at Dany - I think if he had even so much as looked at her he would have broken down. He isn’t ready for it.
Oh the stuff I mentioned he had to come to terms with? On top of all of it we must add the stress of finding a way of telling all of this to Dany in a way that he doesn’t hurt her. Also I bet your ass he thought there was a chance she may not believe him (he himself did not in the beginning)… and a chance she may think he wants the throne since Sam drilled this into his head so now he is afraid of that too. 
So when Jon is in the war room he had what? around 12 hours in total since Sam told him? 15? 20? Do you think that’s enough? Because I don’t. But this time he is doing much better. So he is still not looking at Dany, but he addressed her “Your Grace” and leaves - which means he is already in a better place than where he was in the morning, but not quite there yet. 
This is good angst. We should rejoice, it will hurt before it gets better. 
Moving on. Why didn’t he just directly go to Dany? I honestly don’t think it’s in Jon’s character to seek out comfort. This is a kid who had no one to go to when he would hurt himself. That shit stays with you. You don’t just flip a switch and start seeking out your other half. No, in moments of stress the brain reverts to things it knows bets, to muscle memory and old habits; it uses the energy to overthink itself to death so ain’t nobody got time for that new behaviours shit. At this point jonerys have been together for how long? 3? 4 weeks? That’s not that much. They are used to each other, but not enough to break old habits and past traumas. 
Now, the reveal: 
Dany stops, silently asking permission before she approaches Jon. Poor bean must be a bit hurt that he avoided her twice, so better make sure he actually wants her company. Jon actually smiles at her, even if it is a sad smile. It kills me how he is just staring at him mom’s statue. KILLS ME. Only then, she approaches him (look at her face, brief relief!). She stops next to him, he turns to her and nods, and only THEN SHE EMBRACES HIS SIDE, HOLDING HIS HANDS, CHIN TO HIS SHOULDER.
“Who is that?”
“Lyanna Stark.” Jon eventually says
Dany looks a bit like oh… shit, again my family yikes… I would say she looks apologetic. “My brother Rhaegar, everyone told me he was decent and kind. He liked to sing. Gave money to poor children. And he raped her” - ok but this is big, because Dany just in S7 recognised her own rape… So no wonder her opinion on Rhaegar is not that good atm. 
“He didn’t” 
Dany looks shook, but she is still holding onto Jon. Notice how his hand is on hers? 
“He loved her.” 
She doesn’t interrupt. Jon almost looks like he is feeling brave, so he keeps her hand into his and turns to face her. 
“They were married in secret. After Rhaegar fell on the Trident, she had a son. Robert would have murdered the baby if he ever found out and Lyanna knew it.”
Dany is surpised, but so far so good. Jon stares into her eyes.
“So the last thing she did as she bled to death on her birthing bed was give the boy to her brother” – camera on Emilia — oh shit for a split second it starts to show that she is putting two and two together – “Ned Stark” – her eyes widen and she blinks – “to raise as his bastard” – she exhales, breathing accelerates – “My name,” – breathing heavily on her part –  “my real name” -- she looks incredulous and nods a smal no – “is Aegon Targaryen” – she blinks, exhales, puls away her hand and turn halfway away from Jon. 
She looks away, then at him, he is almost leaning over her but still too far. “That’s impossible.”
Camera on Jonerys
“I wish it were.” (SEE THIS IS WHAT I AM SAYING MY POOR SON)
“Who told you this?”
“Bran. He was it.”
“He SAW it?” She sound clipped, the ARE YOU KIDDING ME tone clipped 
“And Samwell confirmed it.”He read about their marriage at the CItadel” – camera on Emilia —”without even knowing what it meant” (OK BUT FUCK OFF SAM GILLY READ THAT) - Dany’s face her, she is clearly restraining herself because this sounds insane.
“A secret no one in the world knew, except your brother and your best friend, doesn’t seem strange to you?” she shakes her head and it breaks my heart how you can see the wheels turning in her head going fuck here we go again, I laid my heart bare and that’s it. Yet another betrayal. 
Camera on Kit. He looks at her, takes a step forward “It’s true, Dany.” – camera on Emilia – “I know it is.” (UM HELLO DANY I AM HYPERVENTILATING BITCH)
Dany shakes her head, her face looks full with distrust. Then it goes to despair - her voice shaky “If it were true, it would make you the last male heir of the House Targaryen.” – camera on Kit HE FUCKING FROWNS LIKE WHAT – camera on Emilia – “You’d have a claim to the Iron Throne” – camera on Kit and his face goes again WHA— 
THEN THE FUCKING HORN SOUNDS. Jon turns his head towards the door, but Dany keeps staring at him and she looks heartbroken.
They go out and it’s all business. He nods to her and she leaves. Interesting though - she comes out first. Jon turned back towards the sound so if they were just running out he should have come out first. Either he remembered to be courteous or there is another small exchange we didn’t get to see. Or maybe I am reading way into things and it was a lame ass decision hahah. 
Ok so the reveal to Dany - you better fucking take notes Sam cuz this is how you do a reveal: being calm, level headed, explaining to the person as much as you can, answering questions.
On Dany’s reaction: my friend @oadara said it so so well in this post here. So, building on that, we need to put her reaction in context, just like I did with Jon’s cold shoulder. Dany’s discussion with S.asnsa is fresh in her mind, not just the part about who is manipulating whom, and that must drive her nuts now, but also the part in which S.asnsa did a 180 on her just when she thought she was making progress, so feeling like she was being manipulated. One of course must start asking questions. Has Jon just found out? Has he always known? Did he seduce her to take her armies and her dragons her her throne?? Moreover, Dany specifically tells S.ansa that her only goal in life has been the Iron Throne. Imagine that - having one goal in life, and suddenly someone comes in and can just rip it all away from you, poof just like that, they just need to say the word. Moreover, males have preference… and so many would rather follow a male than a female. And that’s a fact.  
Moreover… she still thinks herself barren… 
Like I am not saying Dany suddenly hates Jon or will cast him away (ok maybe she will initially I have a prediction/theory I will explain in a different post). I am saying… JUST GIVE DANY TIME. She just found out and now she gotta go save everyone’s ass. Let the girl breathe.
I was asking myself but why would Jon tell her now? If he himself wishes she had never known? I think it may be a very Ned Stark thing - he genuinely thinks he will fall, and he wanted to tell her the truth, because Rhaegar Targaryen may be his dad but Ned Stark is his daddy. 
What do you think? As always, dms and asks are open! 
Will make a preview post and another about my jonerys theory. 
All in all, this episode was incredible and I loved it. I am so not ready for the fight fuuuuuuuuuuuu-
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luki-fanfic · 5 years
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BNHA/KHR Fic Preview: Blue Fire with Yellow Flames
...And I am officially BNHA trash.  I’ve stopped clinging to the side and dived right in.
Yesterday, I had a thought that made me laugh for about 2 minutes.  It fused with a couple of other ideas I’d had and churned out a reincarnation one shot.  Enjoy a brief taste while I try to finish it up.
Todoroki Toya’s first word is ‘mama.’
Immediately after, he bursts into tears and screams until he passes out. Thankfully, when he wakes up, he seems to have recovered, much to the relief of his parents.
In fact, as of that morning, he became the perfect toddler.  He rarely cried, was potty trained in a matter of weeks, and he picked up language at a frightening pace.
His mother was delighted at her little genius, while his father would grin and tell him he hoped his quirk was as strong as his mind.
But when they set him down for the night, Toya would sometimes scramble out of bed and dig out a mirror he’d hidden in his toy box, staring at the red hair and blue eyes, trying to familiarise himself with the face that became alien the second his mind learned to comprehend words.
It’s rather disappointing. Reborn was a much cuter toddler the first time round.
Reborn never thought he’d be grateful for the Arcobaleno curse, but in his new life, it’s making things so much easier.  Because he’s already done the whole adult-trapped-in-a-child’s-body adjustment before, and it hadn’t been easy.  This time around, it’s just like putting on an old hat, although having parents that try to regulate his behaviour is a change.  He ends up treating them to way he used to treat Tsuna in boss mode.  Like they technically have authority over him, but nobody actually expects him to obey.
His mother seems to accept this.  His father bursts into flames every time Reborn pisses him off.  Which is an interesting development and one Reborn wants to know more about, because some experimenting has proved that flames still exist in this reality, but his father definitely isn’t using them.
In this parallel world, flames remain as unknown to most of society, while something called ‘quirks’ dominate.  Crime is at an all time low, while ‘hero’ is a legitimate career – and the only way the average civilian is allowed to use their quirk.  
His father is a hero.  Apparently one of the best, and as Toya gets closer and closer to his quirk-date, he makes it perfectly clear that his son is expected to follow in his footsteps.  
“A powerful fire quirk” his father, Enji, summarises when the topic comes up.  “I had hoped for more of a mutation, but I expect you’ll take after me.”
His disappointment however, can’t be hidden, and when Toya is two years old, he becomes an older brother for the first time in any life.  
Come Toya, meet your sister” his mother had said, when she returned from the hospital.  Enji had been grinning when they returned, and Reborn could see why.  The little baby girl had a crop of their mother’s white hair, but it was interspersed with the odd strand of red from their father.  Perhaps the girl’s quirk will mutate in the same way.
Reborn has never been a fan of children.  But he has always believed in a certain amount of chivalry for women.  As such he’s grateful his sibling is female, it makes being an older brother so much easier. Finally, he understands why Sasagawa Ryohei had been so over dramatic regarding Kyoko.  Fuyumi is adorable.  Quiet and sweet, and looks at her parents and older brother like they hung the starts.
At least, she is right up until Toya’s quirk decides to show up.  He spends an entire day feeling far too hot, and has a moment of absolute dread while holding his little sister’s hand in the garden.  Seconds after yanking it loose, his hand bursts into searing hot flames, electric blue from the sheer heat.  
Fuyumi screams for her ‘papa,’ and in the chaos that follows – Enji crowing at the sheer power in Reborn’s burned hand and his mother consoling his sister – Reborn barely registers that Fuyumi screams for a solid hour, and then doesn’t say a word for two days.
It’s nearly a week before Reborn learns of the new development regarding his sister.  Between an emergency hospital visit and Enji’s ‘congratulations-you-might-actually-be-useful-despite-no-mutation’ speech, he hasn’t had any time alone with her since his quirk activated.  His mother doesn’t want him anywhere near her until he can control it.  A wise, if unnecessary restriction.
When he does get to play with his sister again, he learns she’s finally mastered speech, picking it up as fast as he did, and smiles when she looks up from her picture book.
“Toya” Fuyumi says, and Reborn grins, glancing up at the door.  When he’s certain they’re alone, he leans towards her.
“Good job Fuyumi” he says.  “But, when we’re alone, you can call me Reborn” he says.  He fully intends to use that name again, and his adorable little sister deserves to be the first to know.  Fuyumi however, just looks at him.
“Re-born?” she repeats, and Reborn smiles.
“Such a quick learner you are, Fu.”
Fuyumi shakes her head.
“Chrome” she says, correcting him, and Reborn blinks.
“...Chrome?”
The toddler nods.  “Dokooro.”
Reborn leans back on his heels, while the girl looks at him with equal shock.  
Well, this is unexpected.
To be fair, it’s not like Reborn could have expected other members of Vongola to follow him to this world.  Although he regained his memories of a past life, the last few hours leading up to his death are...fuzzy.  Chrome had definitely still been alive when he died though, of that he’s certain.  If anything, he would have expected to run into Tsuna’s Sun Guardian, the late Sasagawa Ryohei having died several months before him.
“Boss was inconsolable when you died” Chrome-no, Fuyumi, says.  “We wanted answers, and I think I found a lead?  Yamamoto and Gokudera were following up another when...”
“You can’t remember what happened?” Reborn asks, and Fuyumi nods.  
“I got to the location and then, everything’s all jumbled.  The next thing I remember clearly is your quirk activating” she says.  
In the end, it doesn’t really matter.   As much as both of them dearly miss their old world, it’s clear they can’t get back, and they have new lives to lead.  They’ll keep an eye out for their former family members, but if they’re not here, they’re still alive. It’s good news no matter what.
At least, that’s how Reborn’s choosing to see it.
Fuyumi’s quirk comes in when their mother is pregnant with their third sibling.  Despite her hair, it’s an ice related quirk, and weaker than their mother’s.  Ironically, adding fire to her quirk had weakened it’s potential.  
Todoroki Enji is livid.  There are fights every other day with Rei, and both children try to make themselves scarce.  However it’s much harder for Reborn, since with Fuyumi considered a failure, Enji has decided it’s time Toya started carrying the family legacy.  When he turns six years old, Enji takes him into the garden, and forces him to use his quirk to levels far beyond what is safe.  
Reborn is all for pushing past limits, but his skin is melting. Dying Will is one thing, it’s designed to break down barriers.  This is actual fire, and his body has built in limitations Enji refuses to acknowledge.  His sun flames immediately start working on the worst of the damage, but any respect Toya might have pretended to have for the man who is biologically his father in this life is gone.
As such, when Enji deems the training finished for the day, and orders ‘Toya’ to go inside and clean up, he corrects him.
“Reborn” he says, forcing his feet towards the house.  Enji watches him with a frown.
“Excuse me?” he says.
“My name isn’t Toya” Reborn tells him.  “It’s Reborn.”
Enji looks at him, before a hand goes up to scratch the fiery beard.  It’s such grandstanding Reborn feels sad just looking at him.
“Reborn...like a phoenix rising from the flames” Enji muses.  “It’s powerful, not bad for a hero name.”
“Not a hero name” Reborn corrects.  “It’s my name.”
Enji grins.  “All right, Reborn.  But if that’s what you want, then you’d better be prepared to work for it.”
Reborn grins.
As if there’s anything this idiot could throw at him that the World’s Greatest can’t handle.
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darkzorua100 · 5 years
Text
I first off like to say that a part of me is disappointed that we didn’t actually get the clash of the titans between Revolver and Soulburner. That duel would have just been so epic and I’m crossing my fingers so hard that they will end up having a rematch in the future. I’m very thankful though that the writers didn’t go the route I seriously thought they would have by having Lightning’s group show up to interrupt the duel just so Soulburner wouldn’t have actually lose because lets be real here, with the way he was acting, Revolver would have kicked his ass so badly if he wanted to. 
No, I’m genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed this episode. Like holy crap, this was amazing for character development and season 1 nostalgia. This is a obvious statement but jesus everyone in this show needs therapy, even those that went to therapy need more therapy!
First off let’s talk about Takeru/Soulburner. This episode really solidified a big character flaw of his. His emotions. When his anger gets the better of him, he really doesn’t not think straight. His dueling, while it might not seem like it on the surface, was just so rash, summoning his ace monster whose effect makes it so much better to summon it in the late game but he summoned it right out of the gate just to have a big beater on the field. And I just love how Flame was the one to address this. He was willing to risk Flame’s very life, when it wasn’t necessary in the first place, just to get his revenge on Revolver. And guess what, he didn’t care. He put his own partner’s existence at risk, not thinking of the consequences of his actions, because all he was thinking about in that very moment was getting even at Revolver for the Hanoi Project and his parents’ death. If Revolver was actually going to be dueling for keeps, he would have destroyed him because Soulburner wasn’t thinking straight at all. He would have lost Flame because his anger got the best of him in that moment. Interesting implications for what this could mean for the future because now that this fatal flaw of Takeru’s has been addressed, it is definitely going to come back to bite him in the ass and the next time this happens, he is going to lose Flame and who knows how Takeru is going to react to that. After all, Flame is the one that has been helping Takeru through all of his problems, the one that has been addressing his problems and helping him find a solution for them. His depression, his lack of confidence in himself, his anger. I’m genuinely worried about Takeru’s emotion state if he actually does lose Flame. It is definitely not going to be pretty.
Now Ryoken/Revolver. Oh my god, and I thought his guilt complex was bad during season 1. It seriously has gotten so much worse during season 2. Now I know the fandom is very divided when it comes to Ryoken/Revolver as a character. You either love his guts or you want to stab said guts. There really is no middle ground when it comes to him. Still, regardless if you hate the guy or love him, you can’t deny his impact on the show. This guy has had a hand in everything that has happen at this point. And that really has not been a good thing for Ryoken’s mental state. This whole duel, Revolver allowed Soulburner to use him as a punching bag to unleash his frustration on because in his eyes, he probably thinks he deserves it as the son of the man who destroyed Takeru’s life. And it is just sad because when it comes to the Hanoi Project, Ryoken did nothing wrong! Yes he was the reason that Yusaku ended up in the Hanoi Project but do I have to restate the fact that he was just a kid! Heck I even went back to episode 43, the episode where we got Ryoken’s backstory, and he even states it himself that he had no idea what was actually going on! So no, you actually can’t blame him for that. If anything, he saved his life! Those six kids probably would have died if Ryoken didn’t do what he did. But as we all know, Ryoken couldn’t feel good about that because life had to guilt him with ever choice he makes. Geez, Ryoken seriously is just the unofficial 7th Lost Child. This single event destroyed his life as well and has continued to destroy it. He became Revolver when he was 13. That just says a lot right there. He is just so obsessed with completing his father’s work that’s lets say he actually does destroy all six Ignises. Then what? Where does he seriously go from there? I don’t know and it is concerning when you remember that he was planning on suicide bombing Link Vrains just to kill the Ignis.
I do like to mention Yusaku/Playmaker role in this whole thing. As good as this duel was for Ryoken and Takeru’s characters, this whole thing probably could have been avoid if he just told Takeru what the heck was up when it come to Revolver. Yeah we know Yusaku isn’t some social butterfly, and in his mind probably didn’t think it was his right to tell Takeru about Ryoken without his permission, but you seriously didn’t tell Takeru anything?! You could have left the detail out about who Revolver actually was, again that feels like something Ryoken should do personally (and holy crap he actually did in front of everyone. That made my jaw drop when he revealed his real life identity to everyone) but you could have at least told him that Revolver was the one to save you guys from the Hanoi Project and inform him that he wasn’t the one directly responsible for it. I feel like this is a trust issue between them that needs to be addressed but isn’t going to be. Yusaku has shown that he’s a bit protective of Takeru after the whole Blood Shepherd’s incident but that doesn’t mean you just leave the guy in the dark when it comes to the same event that you both were apart of. He has a right to know as well, Yusaku. I mean yeah he needed to get that build up anger out of his system but this situation still could have been handled so much better if you just told him the truth. Though with that in mind, I take it he doesn’t know about Spectre being a Lost Child either? Yeah we just need to sit Takeru down and tell him everything huh?
Now for the other half of the episode. The return of the Tower of Hanoi. Holy crap, that was awesome. I love when shows take a symbol that was once used as destruction and turn it into something the heroes can use later down the line. The Tower of Hanoi has essentially been turned into the symbol of the alliance between Team Playmaker and the Knights of Hanoi since they all came together to turn it into a locator for Lightning. That was just the highlight of my week. I also liked how Takeru and Flame had a moment together about this alliance. Ryoken knows that Takeru sucks at coding but he still had him show up, knowing that he was going to be pissed at him, just so he could get his anger out of his system. I just love how in his own way Ryoken cares for each of the Lost Incident victims and wants to make up to them for what his father did. They are still going to have to fight against each other later down the line but I’m going to enjoy this alliance and Ryoken being a big brother figure to the Lost Childen as long as I can. On another note, I find it interesting how in this episode we find out how Neo Link Vrains wasn’t even a fixed up and improved Link Vrains but simply a new version of it. The old was so destroyed because of the Tower of Hanoi that SOL Technologies couldn’t fix it or they simply didn’t even try to. Knowing SOL, they probably didn’t even try. 
The Frog and Pigeon. I love how Revolver wasn’t having any of their crap and just trapped them in a hamster ball and just decided on the spot that “hey I have a frog and pigeon as pets now.” I truly do love this meme lord. He really make this show so much more fun. I do like how he allowed them to come along with him and the others when they were entering Mirror Link Vrains. I truly do think Revolver is going to use them to show the world that the Knights of Hanoi are fighting for a good reason and that the Ignises are a threat to humanity. Don’t think the start of season 3 is looking to good in Playmaker’s favor if he and his team are going to be seen as the enemies in that case for supporting humanity’s greatest threat. 
So a last few things to add before I wrap this up. Playmaker/Ai, Soulburner/Flame, Blue Maiden/Aqua, Revolver, and Spectre are the ones heading into Mirror Link Vrains. Ghost Girl is staying behind to watch over normal Link Vrains should Lightning unleash an attack while everyone is gone. Kusanagi is watching over the boys as always, the rest of the Knights are watching over Revolver and Spectre as while as the rest of the network, and Blue Maiden...well she is a strong independent woman who doesn’t need anyone watching over her. We got to see Bohman and Haru during this episode. Bohman seems to be getting his final upgrades and he thanks Haru for watching over him as a brother during his beginning states but Haru just tells him he did so because of his orders. Interesting how Bohman still see Haru as his brother and I wonder if that’s going to have any effect in the upcoming episodes for the both of them? Bohman did say an infamous line from ARC-V, implying that him and Haru are also going to be joining together at some point and it makes it wonder if he’s actually going to go through with that? Ai finally fulfilled his promise to Roboppy and made her smarter and I’m 100% sure that’s going to have some terrible repercussions. Akira seems to have made a program to protect Link Vrains so hopefully he will be joining Ghost Girl soon in guard duty. Windy...I don’t even know what the heck he is wearing. The tiny cape and eyepatch are just amazing. He isn’t to happy about his new appearance though. Seriously hoping his Origin has a similar design because parallels. 
But yeah a really good episode. I bash on this show a lot but when it does good things, they are really good things. The preview is also looking promising because with what we saw of Haru this episode and what was stated about him in the preview, it really looks like Blue Maiden might actually get the win and get through to Haru. This will be a nice call back if so to season 1 during her duel against Spectre on how she tried and failed to save him because she truly didn’t understand him. Maybe this time she will with Haru? If not, and she actually does end up losing, the fake out is real.
We also have the summary for episode 87 now and yeah Spectre vs Lightning is going to be two parts. Seems that Spectre has taken back the lead but I’m still 100% he isn’t beating Lightning. I am curious now though, after thinking about it, that if he does end up getting killed during this duel, similar to how he felt Earth’s death, will Go end up feeling Spectre’s death because Earth is inside of him? Again I’m a sucker for parallels so I’m very curious to see if Go will be on the cast list for this episode because of this. Also Revolver’s reaction. Lightning has just been going for Ryoken’s throat, trying to wear him down by taking out his allies. If he takes out Spectre, that will be a hard blow to Revolver. If Lightning does have a clone of Dr. Kogami around here somewhere, oh boy here come the pain train. Next stop, Revolver.
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tjovalboy · 5 years
Note
Marty and TJ rap battle
The FIghty FIght
Words: 2888 and I am so done
AO3 (please let me know what I need to improve)
Cyrus thumbed through the note document on TJ’s phone– his early preview given more because he begged for one than to give any critical input. “This is good, this is good,” he remarked. “I think you’re going to be fire out there. Absolute domination.”
“Okay, buddy. Easy there,” TJ chuckled, but he knew it was true.
TJ shoved his smartphone, in which he poured hours the past week perfecting his rhymed insults, into his back pocket. In an organized rap battle, the guy who doesn’t have his shit memorized is already ten times more lame than the other, no matter how good his lines are.
Cyrus punched his chest weakly, breaking him out of his thought. “I can’t wait to see the look on her face every time I’m gonna finish my baby taters this week, and hand her the check after I’ve finished every last crumb.”
He shook his head at him, then craned his neck over his shoulder to glimpse at their opponents. Marty Thupparty, a track star parallelling his finesse with the hoops, bobbed his head along to something Buffy Driscoll was explaining very firmly. It was probably something useless, anyway. It’s not like either of them had nearly as much experience as he did, which made this pairing an overkill.
The whole thing was Cyrus’s idea, really. He knew TJ rapped, and that Marty rapped, and that Marty was a little afraid of TJ at one point last year, so naturally, he thought a rap battle would be the sickest way to bring them together– a friendship ploy for Marty’s second initiation into the group since his absence from Buffy’s life.
The baby tater bet was to get Buffy involved for even teams. She only agreed to coach Marty if they bet that the losing rapper coach would have to buy baby taters at the Spoon for the winner the whole week afterward.
They were taking it a lot more seriously than he and Marty even were.
“We should get going,” TJ breathed after seeing their opponents start heading away.
The asphalt scorched the flat bottoms of his sneakers as he walked towards the court. It was like the entire world just decided to preheat on itself, he thought, as sweat began prickle his arms and the mass of excited chatter drew closer. He knew he didn’t make the decision to have an outdoor rap battle at three o’clock in the afternoon in June.
At Basketball Court Number Three, a large, but niche, clump of people had come to watch them rap. They had formed a space for both of them in the middle of the circle, in which Marty was already positioned.
“Alright, alright, settle down everyone! They’re both finally here,” announced Jonah Beck as some random little hands shoved TJ from the outskirts to the space across from Marty. There were whoops and shouts coming from directions he couldn’t pinpoint, and some were so close to his ear he didn’t know where to turn.
He eyed Cyrus and Buffy at most inner circle of the crowd and grinned as they playfully nudged each other, keeping fierce looks in their eyes. However, he couldn’t decipher what was going through his opponent’s head. He stood across from him with his hands shoved in his pockets as if he was watching a golf match, his face as flat as a brick as he alternated slight glances with the crowd, Buffy, and TJ.
“Most of you already know, but I’m Jonah Beck. I started walking home from school today, then I saw this crowd and stopped to say ‘hi’ to everyone, and now I guess I’m hosting this rap battle!”
The kids erupted in giggles, but TJ swore he was dead serious.
“On this side…” he stretched an arm out at TJ. “…captain of the Jefferson Basketball team, king of hair gel, and connoisseur of more redemption arcs than I can count– no really, I never learned how to count– my man, ‘True Jank Fruity!’”
TJ stuck his chin up a little higher and smirked. Jonah waited for the giddy chatter and whoops to fade before turning to Marty. “And over here– track star, lover of parties and, I think, country music; he saw me fall on my face once– ‘Eleven Point Yikes’!”
Marty ran his fingers through his dark hair, which was messier than usual. They stood so close that TJ could see his own frowning face in the reflection of his eyes. ”Ready to lose, Kippen?” he sneered.
“You wish,” he shot back.
Smartphones went vertical one after the other, waiting to catch every hard jab and mangled line between the two dogs, their fingers probably already on the ‘post’ button in hopes of garnering the most attention by sharing first.
“We’re doing two rounds, starting with TrueJank,” Jonah announced. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“You say you’re ‘Marty From The Party’ but you’ve never been invited
When I see the pics on Insta, your blurry head looked like I smudged it
You should take advice from pocket lint, maybe then, you’ll get some relevance
I asked who I was battling, they said, “Middle Schooler #100”
It’s 2018 and they really named you “Martin”
Popped you out the womb and remembered their fifty year old accountant
I think I scraped you off the wall last week, now that needed an extra napkin
Four classes with me and you were nameless? Bro, look around. The whole school had that experience.”
The “ohh’s!” loudened after his most powerful lines, preceding a much larger display of fist pumps and hoots (even from the ones he’d bullied) after the verse was over. However, Marty, surprisingly witted for a newbie, hushed the crowd before he could take in the music.
“Let’s get things straight, TrueJank, you sicken me.
You think shitty rhymes make them pity you for an apology?
You’re like the last day of October, all face with no sincerity.
At least the other ex-bullies use their heads, they differ “sorry” from stupidity.
Aw, but, I know you feel bad; got all this baggage weighing on you
You swing at the park because your mind’s got too many issues
But it’s time to skip the angst, skip the coldness and the frown
Your just plain scary, and JMS won’t let you live it down.”
The screams seemed about equal to his.
“So you didn’t make my team. What a surprise.
I know you were out, and you were trying, but you tripped over every painted line!
I’d say go right, like Mario Kart you’d run zig zags like there was squid ink in your eye.  
You got Buffy calling witness protection cause she so embarrassed she let you inside.
Two athletes in a fight, Wit to wit without the fouling.
I throw words, you shoot em back and think “I’ll end him with these similes.”
We running lines in the weight room, spitting verbs where we kick grovel.
From a rapper to a rapper, we playing for different leagues
You couldn’t diss me better than you wipe the dirt off your cleats”
It wasn’t until after spat his final lines that he could focus enough to hear his heart pound. There was nothing more he had to show, but the world seemed to slow as Marty returned with his own final verse.
“Your hoodies upon hoodies got style enough for Fashion Week.
The critics say “eclectic” cause it’s “he-don’t-leave-his-basement chic”.
Runway shots of your ‘do be like White Christmas with the gel that flakes.
Your name says it all, the only fashion show you running is the coach ordered jank from the sports teams.
Yeah, you’ve rapped longer but your rhymes ‘aint unique
Jock, bully, kinda dumb, and lives a trope like a bad movie
Put some shades, baggy shorts, fake chains, and you’ll almost be a rapper
I’m a newbie? Why am I hearing your MTV lines a decade after?
You’re unoriginal.
Your first date hears “Perfect” by Ed and shakes at all the horror.
He sees your cliche ass boombox blaring like you’re Dobler.”
It took a few moments for TJ to register that his mouth hung open. His classmates were breaking into hysterics and patting Marty on the back like he’d just single-handedly fought a war for them and emerged victorious. He could vaguely hear Jonah amongst the crowd declare Marty as the winner.
TJ tried to pick Cyrus out of the crowd, but he couldn’t amongst the blaring amount of chaos. Teeth gritted, he decided he would just wait by the gate.
-
TJ, feeling a little selfless, held his full tray out to Buffy and offered her some french fries.
“No, thanks,” she stopped sipping her milkshake to reply. “I have practice right after this and I’m already stuffed.”
He nodded, and offered the same next to him. “Cyrus?”
His friend shrugged. “Sure, why not?” He set the tray between them and they both dug in for a handful. The calm chatter and occasional sound of the bell atop the entrance door overtook them at The Spoon diner. After a few moments, he noticed Buffy grimacing at him.
“…and Marty?” she pressed impatiently.
Oh, right. He probably wanted to feel included, too. With his lips tightened, he gave the fries a slight push so they slid forward and stopped at the spiky haired boy’s milkshake glass where he’d accept the offer if he wanted. “Take some,” he said simply, and Marty rolled his eyes at him.
Buffy gave Cyrus a look, then turned back to him. “You’re seriously still mad you lost the rap battle?” she bursted, holding back a laugh. “That happened a whole week ago!”
“I’m not mad,” he muttered in reply, focusing very hard on the pedestrian activity outside the window beside them.
“You totally are,” she pressed. ‘You’ve been weird ever since it happened.”
Cyrus sighed dramatically and slumped down with his elbow on the table. “And I really thought my friendship-making plan would work! I guess I can’t fix everyone’s relationship problems.”
Buffy patted his hand lamely. “It’s okay, Cyrus. You’ll get ‘em next time around.”
He and Marty’s tension had been going on since the battle. He was just a little irked that “I’ve-been-rapping-for-a month-Marty” pulled rhymes out of his butt that shanked his bully boy reputation into little pieces. He may have ignored a few of Marty’s texts since it happened, which pushed Marty into ignoring him, and therefore, neither of them hanging out with the Good Hair Crew that week in fear of seeing each other. While their excuses were believable, it was more difficult to get out of plans Buffy and Cyrus made for all four of them after school.
He almost wanted to tell Cyrus that his friendship-plan wasn’t gonna work from the beginning.
“While you were both amazing,” started Cyrus. “Marty, your last line about TJ being so cliche he’d hold a boombox above his head on his first date was hilarious.”
Buffy snorted. “That’s the part people keep sending me videos of. Someone would have to slap me in the face twice if I actually saw you doing that, Kippen.”
TJ didn’t know how to respond and just shook his head playfully. His gaze flickered toward Marty, and while a corner of his mouth tugged up at the look, he broke away quickly and returned to his comfortable frown.
“Listen, TJ,” Marty had his elbows propped on the table and his eyes bordered on desperate. “If you wanna talk, then let’s talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about because I’m not mad.” He surveyed the contents on his table. “I’m gonna go grab some more ketchup,” he excused himself without looking anyone in the eye.
-
At the ketchup pump, he pushed the lever down with too much force and much of the red blob squirted onto the counter next to his paper container.
There was a snort from someone behind him. “Nice one.”
He almost chuckled, too, but bit it back when he recognized the voice. There’s no way he was staying here alone with him, so he began heading back without a turn.
“Wait, TJ, you can’t just pout and stomp away. You have to tell me what’s really up,” he pleaded sternly.
He glanced at Buffy and Cyrus who were both in some heated debate and didn’t even seem to notice their absence, and before he could process his thoughts, he was face to face with Marty again and had blurted, “The boombox line.”
Marty hesitated, like he wanted to know what he meant, but he couldn’t admit that he didn’t. “Um, what?”
Your first date hears “Perfect” by Ed and shakes at all the horror.
He sees your cliche ass boombox blaring like you’re Dobler.
“The boombox line,” he repeated with a breath. “I thought you said that was your favorite part of our first date– the way I ended it.”
“It was. I always tell you that,” he replied.
“Well, you didn’t have to make fun of it,” he argued. “Yeah, I know we both hated the song and the whole thing was part of an inside joke, but I did it for you to see. Not for the whole school to imagine.”
Marty’s face went red much like the way it did when he held TJ’s hand for the first time at the soccer game, and when he and TJ sprinted down the street filling the sky with their laughs when Buffy and Cyrus almost caught them together, and the Friday they agreed they would go on a date the next day and plan absolutely none of it; thus it finishing with TJ blasting “Perfect” in Marty’s driveway while he cracked up from the second story bedroom window.
They were already calling themselves boyfriends by the time Marty apologized to Buffy and she let him back into their group (which included TJ). They were clueless about the countless dates they had been on since that first.
“Well, sorry, okay,” Marty muttered. “Literally no one suspected it was you and me, though, so you don’t have to be mad. I would never really make fun of you like that.”
TJ’s stomach twisted. He knew he used to scare him before they really talked, but they were countless secret dates past that. “I know. It sounds ridiculous to me now that I’m saying it out loud.”
Marty exaggerated a shrug and put on a dopey grin, showing him that they were okay. “Apology accepted, Kippen. Glad my boyfriend is talking to me again.”
TJ stepped forward couldn’t ignore the smell of greasy foods frying from where they were standing at the back by the kitchen door. He didn’t mind, though, as they were used to meeting in odd locations to talk. “I had no idea you would win, though. I’ve been rapping for so long and you’ve literally been doing it for two seconds!” TJ said through a laugh.
Marty smirked, grabbing his hand and letting it dangle between them. “Maybe I was born with it.”
As his mind ran with ways to banter back, he remembered another one of his problems. “It sucks that Cyrus thinks we’re never gonna be friends,” he commented.
Five weeks was a long time to hide a relationship. In hindsight, they could’ve at least pretended they were friends, but the enemies trope seemed more safe.
Marty rubbed the back of his hand with his thumb. “It does. Even after you rapped about me being as irrelevant as a T.V. show extra and I called you out on your ugly clothes, we still hate each other in their eyes.”
“Their” meaning Cyrus and Buffy. Cyrus was TJ’s closest friend, and Buffy was getting to be Marty’s. After missing Marty all week, he began to wonder how long secret relationships were supposed to last. He caught Marty’s gze flickering over his shoulder at them. “I think we should tell them soon.”
“We should.”
“But how? When?” TJ furrowed his brows, and Marty stared at him like he just suggested that boombox thing from Say Anything was a good idea for a first date.
“Duh, we rap it to them!” he hissed.
Holy shit. His boyfriend’s brain!
“We both wrote awesome verses insulting each other in like a week. It’ll be great!” he continued.
“Four classes and you were nameless? Bro look around. That’s a universal experience.” did have a certain energy to it that would be perfect for a relationship reveal. He was proud when he thought of that while his mother dragged his with her to the bank. He already couldn’t wait or this collab. “I am so in, Eleven Point Yikes.”
“Just let me have some of your fries first, in like, not a passive aggressive way, and then we can start, True Jank Fruity.”
They unclasped their hands to whip their arms around for a painful high five, causing some people to turn their heads. They jogged back to their table, where Buffy and Cyrus already had their necks craned at them, and grabbed the rest of the fries out of TJ’s tray by hand and skipped out the door ignoring their questions. Cyrus probably assumed they made up, but he’d be even happier when they told him in a few days.
TJ would remember to thank Ed Sheeran, or the rap gods, later.
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Love, Necromancy, Cocks, and the Reanimated Corpse of Compulsory Heterosexuality: Watching Notes for 14x06
Oh my goodness this episode was pure fucking delight!! Is there a member of the NextGen writers’ room who isn’t binging wall-to-wall fanfic as inspiration? I mean, this even began as a library AU for crying out loud! I love these people and I love what they’re doing and they managed to do something I thought was impossible...not mind that this is our third episode in a row without Cas. We even got a nice lil’ shoutout to meta writers as Sam illustrated for Charlie why she was like the flyman and she gently insisted that, although Sam did have a point, she was not, to be clear, actually the same as flyman. (This will not stop me from proceeding with my flyman-type readings though. But thanks, Yockey!)
So obviously this was an episode about love and....love as we could tell from the tagline, “the things we do for love” and the title, “Optimism.” I’m sorry to say, though, that I ended up feeling that both those things were a setup for some very dark times indeed that are a-comin’! *rocks chair* *sips moonshine* We just learned from the PR that 14x08 will be an episode in which Cas makes an “enormous sacrifice.” And, well, there are only a few options for that at this point. I’ll talk more about it in a sec, but I think “the things we do for love” is pretty clear foreshadowing of not precisely what he’ll do but why he’ll do it. 
So anyway, here are some bullet-point-type rambles about things I noticed immediately post-episode. If I have time I might get to expand on them but, the way my time has been lately, it’s a lot more likely that they’ll stay rambly and informal. Still, feel free to pick up and toss around/expand on whatever appeals!
Necromancers - it’s not real love if it’s dead: I reblogged the lovely @mittensmorgul already being smart as usual about the connection between this and last season’s Yockey treat “Various and Sundry Villains” but I thought of it the moment I saw Harper because she looked so very much like the Plum sisters--you remember, the codependent ladies who put a love spell on Dean to steal a book and then tried to raise their mom from the dead only to have it lead to their demise at each other’s hands. Harper mentions that she’s from a long line of necromancers and, well, seems pretty plausible to me. Where the Plum sisters brought back their mom, though, Harper is looking to bring back her man (or men, if Jack is her next target) to stay with her forever. 
Just as the Plum sisters showed an unhealthy model of parent-child and sibling-sibling relationships that was allegorically appropriate to the Winchesters, Harper shows an unhealthy model of what a relationship is or could be. The Plums were unwilling to let their dead mother (or each other) go, clinging with slavish devotion to the idea of getting her, and their normal life, back. Instead of having real relationships, they cast love spells and sacrificed men (read: any possibility of a non-familial partner) to sustain it. Harper may have had a good enough relationship with Vance to start, who knows?, but she was unwilling to let him go in much the same way the Plums couldn’t let their mother die. He wanted to leave the town that she was tied to because of her family and her family business (necromancy). And instead of adhering to the idea that if you love something you should let it go she killed him and brought him back to participate in a kind of love that literally fed on other people to keep it going. Harper kept him against his will, forcing him to fit into her life in a way that required sacrificing innocent lives and kept her from being able to move on.
In both cases? It’s not love if it’s dead. Let it go.
My boyfriend’s back and you’re gonna be in trouble: Anyone else remember that uber-terrible 90s movie where a girl’s boyfriend came back as a zombie? No? I didn’t see it, but I recall seeing the preview in a theater and that it had a scene where they were making out and his ear fell off and it HORRIFIED me since I’d barely even heard of making out at that point. Anyway, I bet you anything Steve Yockey saw that movie which was called “my boyfriend’s back.” Harper has too many interested men, actually, which is the source of her “terrible luck” and being “perpetually single.” So, just to be clear, someone who says she’s “perpetually single” (and ready to mingle?) and has “terrible luck” with relationships is actually in a secret long-term relationship with her first love who she killed (all relationships have their issues!) and brought back from the dead as a supernatural creature who is terribly possessive of her. She wasn’t just single with terrible luck she actually had her boyfriend back!
Now, it’s not a 1-to-1 Destiel parallel and I’m not saying it is. This isn’t a flyman situation. But it’s suggestive of it anyway because all Harper’s “bad luck” with romance actually has a pretty simple explanation. She’s already in a relationship. So, uh, Dean you having some trouble there? Not finding any relationships that will stick? People you show affection for maybe keep dying? Try this explanation on for size. 
Like a romance novel: Again, I’m not suggesting this is all 1-to-1. But following up on these other two points I’d like to point out how Harper and Vance are stereotypical of a certain kind of “first love”. They met in high school. He was a football player she was the prom queen everything was going great. Then he wanted to leave and expand their lives and she wanted to keep everything the same. So she killed him. To keep everything the same. To combat change and the unfamiliar. So that instead what she got was the familiar, reanimated and always consuming everyone around her, living when it manifestly shouldn’t. They’re a romance novel gone wrong. A heterosexual romance novel gone wrong. Because Vance, “Archie,” is a certain kind of all-American guy. 
And if you think there wasn’t some kind of symbolic resonance to the reanimated corpse of All-American masculinity beating Dean up after he got clobbered with a shelf full or romance novels, well, think again. And then Vance just...decided Dean wasn’t a threat. He just walks off and leaves him and we’re left going ??? until we learn that he’s after Jack and that, because he sees Jack as a more viable romantic threat than Dean, he needs to pursue him. Dean was judged by the specter of toxic masculinity (or compulsory heterosexuality) and found wanting. That’s kind of big, guys.
Dick’s diner (love them, uh, Roosters): You guys, the monster knew that even sweet lil’ cinnamon roll Jack is more heterosexual than Dean is right now. Jack’s the one asking (repeatedly) about sex and Dean’s the one (repeatedly) not talking about it. He’s all business with the waitress, even when she tells Jack that “sometimes you just have the sex,” and even though he’s spouting a lot of wisdom about love (as someone who has obviously read one billion romance novels for “research purposes”) he’s not saying anything about what women want in the bedroom (or wherever else they want it). Even the diner, canonically the site of all Dean’s hookups with a no-bullshit waitress who explicitly mentions sex is filled with cocks. Just...cocks everywhere. And, yeah, Dean’s going to touch some of those cocks. He can’t really help it when they’re just everywhere. And he’s NOT going to make any time for a classic diner hookup. He’s just...gonna keep staring at those cocks. (I know they are about Richard Speight directing--and certainly the diner name is a reference to that--but there is no way it’s not also about cocks. And also I make no apologies for my sense of humor here. Cocks are funny and they’ll always be funny. The end.)
Let’s give ‘em something to talk about....how about love? Whew! You know who wants to talk about love? Dean Winchester. Kudos to Jensen because I felt that any conversation that had the L-word going on was heavy with Things Unsaid. Dean distracting Zombie Archie by trying to talk to him about what love really is but stopping short just after saying “that’s not what love is...c’mon, think about it” but before saying what it was instead? Dean saying that people do a lot crazier things for love (see my long crack rant about just what those kind of things might be DEAN)? I was legitimately kind of prepared for Jack to ask Dean a question about love and Dean to give a revealing answer that allowed Jack to serve as a GA proxy and go “Holy shit! You love Castiel!”. 
But hey, next week they’re apparently going to road trip to Vegas and Jack is going to drive the Impala (BEFORE CAS??? BLASPHEMY!!) so maybe there’s still going to be some time to callback to Sam’s Vegas wedding and how you know you want to marry someone. 
My apologies to Sam and Charlie, whose plotline I did very much enjoy, but I’ve tired myself out. This was pure joy and I feel happy and well fed and, well, optimistic...which can only mean dark times to come because nothing good ever happens on SPN. Take care, lovelies, and stay away from necromancy!
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The Striking Absence in the Detroit Institute of Arts’s Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Blockbuster
“The number of reverberations between then and now becomes horrible, and frightening, and amazing.” So said Detroit Institute of Arts curator Mark Rosenthal last week, at a preview of “Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit.” He’s right, possibly more so than even he knows.
During the Great Depression, the museum almost went under; the storm of publicity surrounding its commission of Diego Rivera’s epic Detroit Industry frescoes in 1932 saved it, inspiring the city to step in to fund DIA. Having just suffered another near-death experience amid Detroit’s recent bankruptcy, DIA is clearly hoping this show focusing on the art-history power couple’s year in Motor City can serve as a symbolic comeback. It will certainly bring crowds. (The show runs through July 12.)
Of course, by now it is Frida, not Diego, who is the main attraction (see Frida Fever: Iconic Photos of Frida Kahlo by Edward Weston and Others at Throckmorton). The Detroit Institute of Arts’s new crowd-pleaser is unlikely to change that gospel; her mordant self-examination just feels more contemporary than his grandiose political allegory.
And yet “Diego and Frida in Detroit” shows the Rivera/Kahlo pairing in a new light for me. There’s a story to be told—and since we are talking about parallels to the present, that should be told—about their art’s relative merits that is less about our changing tastes, and more about the tangled relationship of art and money, art and power.
The show features work from “Before,” “After,” and “During” their sojourn in Detroit in 1932.
In the first category are examples of Rivera’s stately images of flower sellers, as well as Kahlo’s double wedding portrait of the two—he a giant, she tiny—painted while they were visiting San Francisco in 1931 (this picture represents the first time her self-conscious costuming makes an appearance in her art).
“After” features a focused but wide-ranging gathering of canvasses that give a sense of where they each wound up, aesthetically: Rivera’s stylish, willowy Portrait of Ruth Rivera (1949), his daughter from an earlier marriage; Kahlo’s gory true-crime painting A Few Small Nips (1935), showing a man having just butchered his wife.
But the heart of the show clearly resides in the galleries that chronicle the crucial year of 1932: the large-scale cartoons Rivera made to plan Detroit Industry, his meticulous 27-panel cycle depicting scenes from Ford’s River Rouge plant, which surround the DIA’s Rivera Court, and which are widely considered Rivera’s most important mural work in the United States. Also in these galleries are Kahlo’s series of canvasses and drawings showing her sharp turn towards Surrealism.
Detroit’s Agony
When they arrived in Detroit, the 44-year-old Rivera was one of the most celebrated artists in the world. As the key exponent of “Mexican Muralism,” he had built up a level of art fame that is now probably unthinkable. His retrospective at the young Museum of Modern Art was only the institution’s second devoted to a single figure. The first was Matisse.
His wife, 25, was a brash near-unknown. The two had ejected themselves from the Mexican Communist Party in 1929, but were still celebrity radicals, given to blustery anti-capitalist talk and mercurial symbolic gestures. The commission for Detroit Industrywas $20,000 at the height of the Great Depression, more than $300,000 today. It would be paid for by Edsel Ford, the son of Henry and the chief of the Ford Motor Company, the era’s single most emblematic capitalist name.
Detroit, meanwhile, was deep in the throes of the Depression, swollen with the homeless and unemployed. Ford’s River Rouge plant, which Rivera would depict with such muscular bravado in Detroit Industry, had laid off thousands of workers and was operating at reduced capacity. Pay had been slashed for the remaining workers—River Rouge paid more than $181 million in wages in 1929; two years later, just $76 million. Two months before the couple arrived, workers had marched on that very plant, demanding higher pay. Company security and police reacted with violence, killing six. The result came to be known as the “Ford Massacre.”
Rivera’s Compromise
As he had been everywhere he went on his US tour, Rivera was wined and dined in Detroit. He would remember that Henry Ford was a “true poet and artist” and that Edsel had the “simplicity and directness of a workman in his own factories.” Kahlo seems to have been less enthused, resorting to impotent needling of their hosts, asking Henry, a well-known anti-Semite responsible for injecting the Protocols of the Elders of Zion into the public mind, whether he himself was Jewish.
How did Rivera square the circle of his revolutionary beliefs and his arch-capitalist patron in his head? A book could be written about the combination of industrial romanticization (he claimed that during his visit to Russia in 1927-28, he had seen Ford’s image revered alongside Marx and Lenin) and artistic self-delusion (he believed that if he won the Yankee masses to his mural style, he had secured a public for revolutionary art) at play, but there is no doubt that it deeply compromised him, politically and artistically.
Detroit Industry is a heroic and memorable depiction of factory labor, which is not nothing. It has passed deep into Detroit’s civic symbolism. But the striving enfilade of auto workers who form its central image are stolid, impassive—it is a picture of labor peace painted at a time of labor strife. They are also pointedly multiracial, when in fact the Fords kept their plants segregated.
Most importantly, it is, ultimately, a celebration of the boss: Edsel Ford, inserted in a panel at the corner in the manner of Renaissance paintings of patrons, gazes out benignly. It is a bravura work, but it is also an image that could serve in any PR pamphlet emphasizing Ford’s “progressive” corporate values—which is how it has often functioned.
As his final act in Detroit, Rivera wrote to Edsel Ford, asking him to rehire one W.J. Settler, a photographer with whom the artist had worked. In the words of Rosenthal’s catalogue essay, Settler “had been fired from his job with the Ford Company for smoking in his own home, thus violating one of the rules for employees.”
Edsel Ford did not rehire Settler. On some level, Rivera must have known that he had let himself be used.
Indeed, with some of this in mind, the most famous controversy of Rivera’s career—when, in the ensuing months of 1933, he inserted an image of Lenin (and what Rivera would describe as “a night-club scene of the debauched rich” featuring John D. Rockefeller, Sr.) into his Rockefeller Center mural commission in New York, provoking its destruction—appears to be a desperate grab at socialist credibility after a very public cop-out in Detroit.
Kahlo’s Breakthrough
In the lead up to Rivera commencing Detroit Industry, Kahlo became pregnant. On July 4, 1932, she lost the child. (The DIA show’s public text and audio indicate a miscarriage; the catalogue authors suggest that it was a self-induced abortion; I gather the truth is not known.) The emotion of this event, all the more focused as Kahlo felt stranded in a hostile city, knocked her art in a new direction, with lasting effects.
The painting that compresses all this is the compact, devastating Henry Ford Hospital. A bed floats in a barren plane. On it, Kahlo has painted herself, blood staining the sheets. Red threads branch from her abdomen connecting to various floating objects, hieroglyphic representations of trauma: an anatomical model; a crumpled orchid, inspired by the ones that Rivera had brought her in the hospital; a fractured pelvic bone; and so on.
Rivera’s art was seemingly affected by the loss of the child as well, possibly accounting for the most idiosyncratic element of Detroit Industry. He had been planning a tableau of agricultural labor for the main East Panel. Now this section was taken over by an image of an unborn child, cradled in the bulb of a plant, a bit of personal mythology embedded in this very public statement.
But most importantly to me is how Kahlo’s laceratingly personal Henry Ford Hospital can be read as a kind of rebuttal to Rivera’s mythologization of Detroit. On the side of the blood-soaked bed, Kahlo has stamped the title, “Henry Ford Hospital.” Yet she has placed herself not in the interior of the hospital, but outdoors, exposed in public; on the horizon in the background, Detroit’s industrial architecture is arrayed like a collection of castoff toys—the very structures that her husband was researching with a view to glorify. It is as if the painting were saying, “All is not right in the world of Henry Ford.”
Here, then, is an aesthetic hypothesis: If Kahlo’s work strikes us today as more alive, this is not only because social realism has gone out of vogue in favor of the intimate and the psychological. It’s almost the opposite, I think: Because Rivera became trapped in celebrating his host, he had to step back from the painful reality of the world he was depicting; Kahlo’s art, unencumbered by this burden and focusing on her own experience, actually does express some of that missing reality.
In this case, because Kahlo’s work is more personal, it is also more political.
Ford’s Gamble
There’s one final, long footnote on a part of the story of Diego and Frida in Detroit that doesn’t get told correctly.
Part of the legend of Rivera’s Detroit Industry, cementing its reputation as an enduringly subversive work, is the uproar surrounding its opening. Upon its unveiling in early 1933, conservatives protested the murals as atheistic, communist, dangerous. The debate in the press attracted hoards to the opening. There was even a bloc of workers who organized to defend Rivera’s opus.
Edsel Ford is given credit for having put a lid on the fracas by issuing a statement to those alarmed at the specter of the Mexican artist’s socialist politics that declared, “I admire Rivera’s spirit.” A key detail, however, is that this controversy was very possibly trumped up by Edsel Ford in the first place by planting incendiary stories in the papers. According to current DIA director Graham Beal, when Ford’s assistant showed him the attacks on the murals in the papers, the industrialist is said to have told him that “we’d accomplished what he wanted.”
Why? Ford had been personally bankrolling the museum through the Depression. The Rivera controversy attracted popular attention; the popular attention brought in big crowds; and the big crowds convinced the city to raise the museum’s budget, thereby taking a money-suck off his hands.
But there is another, much more important piece of context that doesn’t get nearly enough attention in telling the tale of Detroit Industry: the Detroit Banking Crisis of 1933, a disaster in which Edsel and Henry Ford played a very, very prominent role. To escape his father’s long shadow, Edsel had moved into banking in the 1920s, heading up the Guardian Trust Company. It expanded rapidly and unwisely, gobbling up smaller banks with real estate holdings that went dramatically sour after the stock market crash of 1929.
Throughout the entire period of the commission, creation, and unveiling of Detroit Industry, Edsel Ford would have been principally consumed with the intensifying crisis. He personally had to inject money into Guardian to backstop its escalating losses. Looking over its books, the national bank examiner would describe its operations as “the worst I’d ever seen.” In February, the government desperately tried to broker a rescue—but the deal would have involved Henry Ford freezing his massive deposits. Instead, the elder Ford threatened to remove them, ensuring disaster. “Let the crash come,” said the man Rivera remembered as a poet.
On February 14, 1933 after Ford refused the Feds’ rescue plan, all banks in the state of Michigan were shuttered. Five days later, on February 19, the first cartoons for Detroit Industry were shown at DIA.
This Lehmann Brothers moment—touching off a cascade of panic—was the immediate context of the unveiling of the work. Banks would not open again until March 24; and the Rivera Court, transformed with Rivera’s murals, debuted on March 21.
Perhaps the controversy that roared up around the DIA murals was fueled by their association with Edsel Ford. Indeed, the same right-wing radio preacher who attacked Rivera’s Vaccination panel as sacrilegious had been inveighing relentlessly against “banksters,” provoking alarming deposit withdrawals from his followers on Mondays after his sermons.
Yet one can also imagine that Edsel Ford might actually prefer, at such a moment, having a spotlight on his support of a left-wing artist’s depiction of labor instead of his role as figurehead of a failed company that was unleashing nationwide economic chaos.
Indeed, Ford’s support of Rivera continues to play that role to this day. Consider the catalogue for the present show, which contains an essay by John Dean titled, “‘He’s the Artist in the Family’: The Life, Times and Character of Edsel Ford,” extolling his “love of place, family, hard work, self-reliance, community, capitalism, and competition.” Dean argues that Edsel Ford’s partnership with Rivera makes him an example of the “businessman as artist.” He does not mention his role in one of the most catastrophic incidents of the Great Depression, despite its proximity to the Rivera event.
A little radical art patronage, it seems, buys you a lot of good PR, and for eternity. But it would be a shame to let the allure of art celebrity occlude what should be the larger moral of this show’s story, one that seems very relevant for the present indeed: Ford giveth, and Ford taketh away.
~ Ben Davis · March 16, 2015.
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BnHA 49 - 50 | Hinamatsuri 11 - 12 (FINAL) | MSO 12 (FINAL) | Boueibu HK 10 - 11 | Rokuhoudou 11
BnHA 49
“Tsukauchi…All Might…” – Come to think of it, what is Tsukauchi doing at this moment in time, anyway?
“…the ones who are smiling are the strongest.” – This reminds me of what Atro Spyker said in Rokka no Yuusha…“If you want to be strong, smile! He who can smile, even when he's so sad that he wants to die, when it's so painful that he wants to give it all up and run away, is the one who becomes strong.”
Why is there a person wearing a LLENN cap in the crowd, anyway? Is that intentional?
“What is with that pitiful back?!” – You can really see parallels between Bakugo and Izuku now between Endeavour and All Might…hmm.
Gran Torino in his prime…looks like Knuckleduster from Vigilantes somewhat.
Interestingly, the word daikokubashira (central pillar) comes to mind with all this talk about pillars. Normally I’d use that word in conjunction with a nuclear family and apparently the word can be used in a more literal sense with a house. However, in both cases, All Might is the pillar to the structure he made with society itself. Now that he’s pretty much done for, it’s like a Jenga game’s end. Everything falls apart. (Hey, I have a post on this topic in progress! Probably shouldn’t have mentioned all this…)
Hypertrophy.
All for One looks…normal when he’s dead. I thought he was creepy when he was still up and about, but now I’m no longer afraid. Ha…haha…
Hey, it’s Uwabami! Haven’t seen her in a while.
Oh, the guy in the ED is Eraserhead with his hair slung back.
Hinamatsuri 11
One more episode until we have to say goodbye to this show…I really liked it while it was around.
Isn’t Rairaiken the name of the Chinese restaurant Anzu works at…?
Wait, so Nitta’s sister knows karate?! What?! Why didn’t anyone mention that earlier?!
This scene with the ashtray reminds me of Nitta’s senpai, although I forgot what the senpai’s name is…wasn’t he in the previous episode though? I really do have a terrible memory sometimes, huh?
“Is he really just a regular nice guy?”
It’s basically the Ember Island Players all over again! Hahaha…
Hina’s shirt says doutoku. The only kanji combo I could get for that means “morals” or “morality”.
What’s up with the line about yaks, anyway?
Hina’s shirt says sugosugi = “too awesome”. Then it said “haha”, which could mean her mother…but I think it’s more the English meaning, out of context.
I’d read in an interview on Seiyuu+ that “Anzu is an angel” and that Nitta wanted to keep Anzu instead of Hina, but I never thought it meant either so literally…
“Reality (Hina) is coming home.” – LOL!
What…? Hina’s gone missing, in the mountains? What if Ikaruga took her??? Oh dear…
Boueibu HK 10
Well, there ain’t nothing more manly than sleeping in nothing but your birthday suit on a futon…right? (kidding)
I laughed so hard at Kyoutarou sneezing. The “person’s drowning” trope for fanservice at least goes back to 2004 or so – DN Angel (the anime, I believe) did it, I definitely remember that.
Poor Kyoutarou is being used as a demo dummy in this set of illustrations, LOL.
Everyone’s using the phrase nechatta, which holds some interesting implications. You see, the meaning of chatta means either completion…or the fact the action being done has negative implications. In this case, it’s both.
I think Kyoutarou called Karurusu “Karuru” or “Karu” or something.
Turtle-kun is so smol, I wanna cuddle him!
Hey, even the subs use “Martha” now…I’m so confused, still.
The word the old men want is “monster” (kaijin), but then the other word they thought of was katsukare- (pork cutlet curry), so I can see why the word was bent out of shape like that now. Notably, Karurusu didn’t age at all…
Taishi’s using the word yancha (naughty), which basically confirms he was a delinquent when he was younger. Just in a very roundabout way.
Notably, Nanao hasn’t stopped drinking tea after all those years, and Karurusu seems to have a very very long lifespan if he comments on it like that…
Inago = locust. Ichigo = strawberry. The former is correct (it’s in katakana, so there’s one stroke’s difference between na and chi).
Wow…spoilers told me I should’ve seen that coming, but watching old men transform is not my gig, so thank goodness I was spared from that ordeal…
Hey, we’re back to our old tradition of dark skies for the finale…although we didn’t have that in s2, eh?
They don’t even have voice roles for smol!Ata, Ryoma and Kyoutarou! That’s unfair!
The reason we all call the show “Boueibu” is because the staff did it first…so here’s (the next ep preview) just some extra proof of that.
MSO 12 (FINAL)
Noticeably, Yamo uses the word taoshite (to collapse), so literally his demand is to “make me collapse”…it’s a bit weird to translate it like that, which is probably why the subbers went with a different translation.
What did Mohiro ever do to be hurt like this, anyway? He doesn’t deserve to be hurt, Yamo…dangit. This is why you can’t be MVP anymore.
More montages…*sigh*
What the-orbefjvpenfp, Hyoue?! Don’t ruin the moment, regardless of whether it constitutes yaoi or not!
So…uh, somehow demons are talked about in terms of code? Y’see, this is why you need a good garbage collector.
I love how they were just called “The Hyoue Squad”, even though this show is called “Mahou Shoujo Ore”.
Gah! Anime-original characters steal the spotlight again…well, there goes my hopes for a good MSO ending, eh?
To think that Michiru’s male form is voiced by Kisho Taniyama – the guy who voiced Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs) – though…I still don’t match those voices with each other in my head, y’know.
…and somehow they were in Tokyo Tower. Of course, because Tokyo is the centre of the universe (sarcastic).
The thing about this show is that it’s so off-the-wall it doesn’t quite make emotional moments work, even ones like Yamo’s final handshake…sure, it kind of hit me in the feels because I’ve known this series for longer than some people, but not really…if you get what I mean.
I think Astral was thinking about this during one of the other episodes, but…they’re only bringing the topic of who Ore is to Michiru now??? Wuh???
The experience of this show wasn’t as bad as I was making it out to be in the beginning, but it wasn’t the most perfect thing either. I would rather they have done more filler with Saki and Sakuyo instead of coming up with anime-original characters to fill the gaps, but I’m also fine with what we got in the end...it’s a complex set of feelings that I don’t think I’ll ever get over. Anyways, that’s another show over and done. See you next time!
Rokuhoudou 11
Demi-glace.
Gotta love Sui’s Gendo poses! By the way, ponzu is some kind of citrus sauce.
This isn’t a particularly standout OP, but I might miss it for a week or two after this show’s end…I don’t want this show to end, actually. But as they say, be careful what you wish for.
(I still have no idea why they say “girls be ambitious” in the OP when the main stars are dudes…)
You might’ve noticed the one I like best from Rokuhoudou is Tokitaka. His voice, his hair, his caring nature (as demonstrated here with the old people), his ability to cook great food…*sighs dreamily* what a man he is!
You might not know this is you haven’t read the character pages for the show, but Tokitaka runs a pottery class. That’s why Osada and co. call him “Sensei”.
“Nagae”? I’ve never seen Sui refer to Tokitaka by his last name before! This is really something!
Oh dear, more Hotel East Side…notably, Osada is using very polite words (keigo) since she’s not really familiar with Sui.
There’s a shot where the light from the window streams on to Sui and you can’t tell if he’s wearing a kimono or a business suit…ooh, that must be symbolic in some way, y’know?
Mirin is a type of alcohol.
Rokuhoudou keeps surprising its customers…I wonder if I, as a blogger, can keep surprising people that way too…then I’d be set for life.
So that’s how Tokitaka uses unused stuff from his classes (using them at the Rokuhoudou)?! Wow, didn’t see that coming!
Osada looked like she was gonna cry, and that almost made me cry for a second!
“My father built East Side Grande.” – *spits out half-eaten food* Holy shiitake mushrooms! Rokuhoudou is best enjoyed with food, but if I keep spitting it out, I’m going to have to clean up around here…(kidding)
I didn’t even realise half the episode had gone so quickly! Yipes!
Hinamatsuri 12 (FINAL)
“It’s snow big deal.” – I get the feeling it was meant to have a pun in Japanese, but I don’t hear one when I listen to the audio…
Oh, there’s no Utako at the end of the OP! I kept skipping it, so that’s why I never knew…
Interestingly, the yuki is in kanji and the rest is in hiragana, which probably means it has to be a riff on the show’s name and not referring to any particular snow festival in particular.
Wait, forcible shipping? C’mon, they’re 13! That just lowered my opinion of the show somewhat.
Doesn’t this remind you of when Mao got stranded on the island and then made Hina go “Feed me”? She was on the ball after all…
Geez, that kid on the left (either Kengo or the other guy) is sadistic…
“Although you’ll be getting a roe deal.” – This was a pun on ikura (salmon roe)…although I can’t tell exactly how the pun works…
Is this Namahage Town, or what? What is up with all the namahage puns? Can someone tell me???
Wait, if credits are appearing here, then why is there half an episode left…?
Montage time…*sigh*
Why did a shot of Anzu appear (LOL)?
The yakuza guys are still watching that documentary?! What (LOL)?!
The horse seems to be called Eiyon Size…or something like that.
Hey, I think it was pretty accurate for “Oi, get your hands off her!” or “Oi, young man, don’t touch her!” in Chinese…or something like that. It is pretty garbled though…
LOL, Atsushi’s screaming in English though…”Mayonnaise is Atsushi!”
The monk’s name is Shinyhead (LOL)!
Ehh? Ain’t this the same scene from the beginning? Aw man, don’t make it like DN Angel…
“Watashi no smartphone ga!” Gets me every time, man.
In the end, Pruny Shinyhead just wants money, eh?...Haha.
Wait, so Pruny Shinyhead is like Mao like the boss man to Hina, huh?
That’s an actual plane company written on the side of that plane! Lufthansa! (The writing gets cut off when it’s at its most visible, though.)
So…in the end, we don’t discover what happened to Hina and Anzu three years later. Read the manga…I get it. *sigh*
BnHA 50
Noticeably, the sign says “stop!” in katakana.
I read on the wiki Shouto’s sister is called Fuyumi. That makes sense if she has an ice quirk like her mother (fuyu = winter).
“I can’t accept it. Not like this…” - Once again, you can see Bakugo in Endeavour…
Yap! (Yahoo!) News, LOL. The site doesn’t even bother parodying the purple or other style things about Yahoo!, though.
They…actually told us what happened to Ragdoll and Best Jeanist? That’s kinda sad, y’know?
Jiro’s parents are rockers? Well…that makes a lot of sense, actually.
Didn’t Brian the Sun do…yep, BnHA ED 1!
I’ve never seen a kid embarrass their dad before. It’s amazing…and so fresh.
Wow, Bakugo’s mum is…really something else. She’s got exactly the same temperament, I wonder how that family functions…
Midoriya’s shirt says “dress shirt”, LOL!
Inko’s feelings for Izuku resonated so strongly with me, I nearly cried…nearly.
I just realised…that computer in the flashback is a Windows 10. It’s got the menu and everything!
Wait…there’s an extra bit after the credits! The credits are way too long! Keep watching, keep watching…
Tartarus…? Like Alcatraz or something?
Hmm…in a lot of stories, the mentor dies. Here, the mentor doesn’t die. Good point, All for One.
Boueibu HK 11
Can I stop screaming “No duh!” every time they say “This is bad!”?
Manza the delinquent is exposed!
They’re attaching –san to the end of people’s magical aliases! Fabulous, if I do say so myself.
“We’ll stand up again and again!” – Uh, Karurusu? Kyoutarou’s sitting down…(LOL)
And…skip the transformation sequence again…and skip the purification sequence again…*sigh*
Notably, the kanji word on the wall not too far away from the pictures is “hope”.
*screams* My LOVE! boys! They’re back! (I knew they were coming because spoilers said they would, but this…this is wonderful…)
“…fail to realise…”
This entire conflict…it really is Kin-chan all over again.
This pink pigeon…is adorable! Like Turtle-kun last episode!
You can clearly see a purple hand (paw?) taking Kamopapa away, which is clearly Wao, that scoundrel of a lemur.
*voice caught in throat as Karurusu cries* Karurusu…don’t cry…
Does this mean the thing Ata wanted all along…was a handshake?
The next ep preview says "Danger is approaching King Kamopapa! Now isn't the time to be arguing!", by the way.
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seven-oomen · 3 years
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Omg, that sounds like a hell of an adventure with the couch!  My apartment also has a narrow L-shaped staircase, but luckily most of the heavy stuff I’ve had to drag up them by myself have been in flatpack boxes or storage tubs, so awkward, but somewhat maneuverable.  (At least you had somewhere to crash when you were done?)  And I have yet to make it to an IKEA (the closest one is at the other end of the state, I think), but I have assembled a fair amount of similar furniture, and I very much like to look at the instructions.  XD  I may need them less the further along I get, but I like being able to double check what I’m doing (unless it’s something like my dining room table, which was literally “screw the legs into the table top.”)  Although it does remind me of some of the displays we get at work that don’t even come a picture of what it’s supposed to look like when assembled.  It’s like “here’s a bunch of large cardboard pieces with pre-marked ridges, but we’re not gonna tell you which way they’re supposed to fold, or at what point in the process.  we believe in you.  godspeed, spiderman."  Apparently I’m decent at it, though, because they keep asking me to do it.
I only saw Friends for the first time last year (or so?), because it was on Netflix, and I was just like "what the hell?  let’s see what the commotion’s about."  I never did quite finish it.  I liked parts of it, but never did get the allure.  And Ross is a piece of shit, Rachel’s not particularly likeable, and they’re toxic for each other, so I REALLY didn’t understand that whole thing.  But the pivot! pivot! thing pops up a lot on tumblr, so when I think of moving furniture, that’s where my mind immediately goes.  Fun story: in one of my apartments, we had to pop the screens out of an upstairs window to pass a mattress and box spring up because it wouldn’t fit up the stairs.
My tree (whenever I get it up; probably next week because I close the next few nights) is a wild mish-mash of cheesy Hallmark ornaments I stole borrowed from my mom’s collection, and weird, nerdy ornaments I’ve picked up over the years, for the most part.  It’s topped with an angel I found at a vintage shop that’s an almost identical, but smaller, version of the one my mom has used since before I was born (possibly since before my parents got married.)  And definitely multi-colored lights, the kind that you can make twinkle in different patterns and speeds if I can manage, but I can’t always find those.  To swing into headcanon land, I feel like Chris would prefer warm white lights, because they’re more elegant, Noah would like the multi-color because they’re more cheerful, and Peter could kinda go either way depending on his mood.  Luckily, with that many kids, they pretty much have to have two trees, so everybody’s still happy (or depending on the size of the living room, maybe they just have one gigantic tree and decorate it with both.  XD )
Speaking of headcanons, I thought of a few for your Noah post:
1. My instinct would have been drums over guitar, but I like both.  Either way, he was definitely in a garage band in high school (possibly why he quit scouts?)  They were actually decent, but mostly just doing it for fun (and in his case to not be at home), so it didn’t really go anywhere.
2. Since we don’t know his exact age in canon, it’s hard to say for sure, but it’s possible that he might have been part of Operation Desert Storm in Iraq towards the tail end of his enlistment, which would make a nice parallel for Jordan having been in Afghanistan.
3. He definitely scheduled leave time to attend Live Aid in London in ‘85, because like hell he was missing out on the chance to see both David Bowie and Queen in the same concert (Peter is jealous not only because of that, but because Wham! was there, too.  XD )  He definitely has a t-shirt from then, too, carefully hidden so neither his son (nor Peter) can steal it.
4. I feel like he has at least one tattoo that he got while in service, I just can’t decide what.  I’d say on his left shoulder, either an oak tree (referencing his time spent out in the preserve and unknowingly the Nemeton/druids/etc), something to do with the band he’d been in, or something like one of the tanks from Combat! or Battlezone (both Atari games).  I’m also all about him and Stiles eventually getting Hale pack tattoos.
5. I think he gets back into crochet by making things with thicker yarn and a larger hook, because those tend to show a result faster, and give the sense of accomplishment that makes you want to keep going, and works his way down into more intricate stuff from there.  (I want to say that Chris prefers macrame because he has more experience figuring out knots from his hunter training, but feel it might come across the wrong way XD )
That’s all my brain has for now on the subject, though I’ll try to think of more.
And yay, I did interpret the letters correctly once I figured out what they were!  And I very much look forward to seeing Lahey get what he deserves (and how they find out, since obvs no kanima this time.)  Oh shit, I’m definitely gonna have to buy another bottle of wine then.  I foolishly thought we were moving past the drama, but I see we’re just transferring who it centers around.  XD  That hurts on so many levels already.  (Also, I’m very curious about why?  Why keep it a secret?  I know, I know, I have to wait. ;D )
Thank you, again!  I’m just glad other people are liking it, too!  I really need to starting working on my WIPs again, but work has been stupidly crazy lately for a lot of reasons, and I pretty much just come home and crash lately.
Thankfully the dishes were still okay, and today was pretty chill for the most part.  Felt weird to be eating Thanksgiving food by myself, but I wasn’t going to risk it, even if me and both my parents are all still working.  I am also clearly not someone who will judge someone else for rambling (nor for being up far too late despite an early morning), so no worries. :D  And I very much look forward to the GIFs.  Take care!  *Hugs!*
So I don’t have much energy right now but I just wanted to say I very much enjoyed your post and headcanons and I really love reading these messages. I do have a bit of a gift for you and I hope you like it. A little preview of what I’m working on for the DILF Club Once Upon a Time gifs.
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Although now I kinda want to do a short cutesy vid XD. Hey I might make that and then gif it. I have enough material for it, god knows.
I just hope your shift was okay and that you’re okay as I’m kinda worried about you. And though I don’t have much energy rn, I kinda want to cheer you up. <3
Hope you’re doing okay and big hugs from me and Mo <3
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