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thesimpanions · 4 years

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⭐️ N E W V I D E O ⭐️ The Sims 4 | CC SHOPPING VIDEO - HOW I FIND MY CUSTOM CONTENT + LINKS

Hey there! So this beast of a video took foreeeeever to edit but I'm so happy to finally share it with you guys! Today I'm taking you along on a cc shopping spree and share all of my tips and tricks on how to find the best maxis match cc out there! In the end we'll have a look at everything in CAS. Same as in my CC Showcase videos I added numbers for each cc item to make things easier for you! ♥

▶️https://youtu.be/wW7lmgAck1k

CC LINKS

SKIN DETAILS 1. PEARL SKINBLEND: https://kumikya.tumblr.com/post/190151536721/pearl-non-default-skinblend-hi-this-was-super 2. ALMOND FACE OVERLAY: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33812351 3. IMPULSE SKINBLEND: https://sunlitcrys.tumblr.com/post/190572765196/a-lip-gloss-skinblend-bundle-impulse-skinblend 4. JADED SKINBLEND: https://sunlitcrys.tumblr.com/post/190634371586/jaded-skinblend-another-lil-treat-for-you-all-two 5. ERIKA SKIN: https://www.patreon.com/posts/30610541 6. NAOMI FRECKLES: https://softerhaze.tumblr.com/post/190145403527/naomi-freckles-made-for-guys-and-gals-with-skin 7. CRAZY CUCKOO CONTOUR: https://hookareh.tumblr.com/post/190164060223/crazy-cuckoo-contour-palette-sculpt-that-mug-for

HAIRS 1. HOPPIE HAIRSTYLE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33821872 2. NEEDS HAIRSTYLE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33227512 3. KANG HAIR: https://simandy.tumblr.com/post/187289509186/3rd-place-look-at-my-handsome-boi-love-him-now 4. MAISIE HAIR: https://maxismatchccworld.tumblr.com/post/190584301555/liliili-sims-maisie-hair-ea-color-18 5. DREAD PANDA: https://yooniesim.tumblr.com/post/190833806124/dread-panda-hair-adorable-half-shaved-dread 6. MAISIE HAIR RECOLOR: https://maxismatchccworld.tumblr.com/post/190584301555/liliili-sims-maisie-hair-ea-color-18 7. MORANA HAIR: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190825471290/joliebean-slavic-allure-a-custom-content-pack 8. SYBIL HAIR: https://softerhaze.tumblr.com/post/190876572362/sybil-more-curly-bangs-for-gals-who-like-to-read 9. WICKED WITCH HAIR: https://lightdeficient.tumblr.com/post/187738377616/wicked-witch-hair-this-is-my-second-hair-but-i 10. JUICE HAIR: https://singingpicklessims.tumblr.com/post/190825913290/juice-guys-im-actually-really-proud-of-this-hair 11. SAILOR SPACE BUNS: https://simmister.tumblr.com/post/189152160890/sailor-space-buns-hair-recolored-standalone-with 12. TAMAR TWIST: https://savvysweet.tumblr.com/post/190711659253/tamar-twist-this-hair-is-compatible-with 13. LUDA HAIR V2: https://syaovu.tumblr.com/day/2020/01/27/ 14. FLYAWAY HAIR: https://softpine.tumblr.com/post/190683071589/%F0%9D%90%9F%F0%9D%90%A5%F0%9D%90%B2%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%B0%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%B2-%F0%9D%90%A1%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%A2%F0%9D%90%AB-yes-its-the-tiny-living-braid 15. FLORA HAIR: https://okruee.tumblr.com/post/190795989406/flora-hair-these-bangs-took-me-so-long-to-make-i 16. HELENA HAIR: https://okruee.tumblr.com/post/182346046282/helena-hair-should-be-bgc-hat-compatible 17. LYD HAIR: https://simmister.tumblr.com/post/189908395985/lyd-hair-maxified-recolored-standalone-with 18. KAYA HAIR: https://marsosims.tumblr.com/post/190179513146/kaya-hair-hey-i-lost-all-of-wips-so-i-didnt 19. ARAW HAIR: https://marsosims.tumblr.com/post/190549441246/araw-hair-contrary-to-popular-opinion-i-really 20. GABI HAIR: https://marsosims.tumblr.com/post/190326383492/gabi-hair-this-has-been-in-my-wip-folder-for 21. MANIKA HAIR: https://marsosims.tumblr.com/post/190716285256/manika-hair-this-hair-came-second-in-the-wip-poll 22. HITA HAIR: https://marsosims.tumblr.com/post/190596801196/hita-hair-we-needed-more-witchy-or-hippy-hairs

PRESETS 1. BOBA EYES: https://www.patreon.com/posts/27609454 2. P4D EYES: https://po4-deb.tumblr.com/post/186303700583/500-followers-gift 3. SQUEAMISHSIMS NOSE 3: https://squeamishsims.tumblr.com/post/190629664347/nose-preset-3-by-squeamishsims-so-i-saw-kiwibli 4. P4D NOSE: https://po4-deb.tumblr.com/post/186303700583/500-followers-gift 5. P4D LIP PRESET #1: https://po4-deb.tumblr.com/post/186303700583/500-followers-gift 6. P4D LIP PRESET #2: https://po4-deb.tumblr.com/post/186303700583/500-followers-gift 7. SQUEAMISH SIMS LIPS 2-4: https://squeamishsims.tumblr.com/post/186891910497/lip-preset-pack-by-squeamishsims-i-got-a-bunch-of

JEWELRY: 1. MMSIMS 3D EYELASH V3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/mmsims-3d-v3-27550505 2. HOOPS & LEAVES EARRINGS V1: https://www.thesimsresource.com/members/Nords/downloads/details/category/sims4-accessories-female-earrings/title/hoops-amp%3B-leaves-earrings-v1/id/1476177/ 3. LYRA COLLECTION EARRINGS: https://ilkup.tumblr.com/post/188663924976/lyra-collection-simblreen-2019-gift-3-12-swatches 4. WHISPER TEMP EARRINGS: https://houseofabsurdities.tumblr.com/post/190605590004/feeling-kinda-tired-considering-i-have-mock-exams 5. CANDY HEARTS EARRINGS: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 6. BED TS4 SQUARE GLASSES WITH CHAIN: https://bedisfull.tumblr.com/post/173626130450/bedts4-m-square-glasses-sets-meshtexture-by 7. BED TS4 SQUARE GLASSES WITHOUT CHAIN: https://bedisfull.tumblr.com/post/173626130450/bedts4-m-square-glasses-sets-meshtexture-by 8. SCENT OF SPRING BANDAGE: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 9. LYRA COLLECTION NECKLACE: https://ilkup.tumblr.com/post/188663924976/lyra-collection-simblreen-2019-gift-3-12-swatches

MAKE UP 1. LOVE DRUNK EYESHADOW: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 2. LOVE DRUNK EYESHADOW: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 3. LOTUS EYESHADOW: https://www.patreon.com/posts/lotus-collection-33657933 4. HEART SHAPED WING EYELINER: https://caelhinn.tumblr.com/post/190809835077/heart-shaped-wing-an-eyeliner-by-caelhinn 5. LOTUS EYELINER: https://www.patreon.com/posts/lotus-collection-33657933 6. LOVE DRUNK BLUSHER: LOVE DRUNK EYESHADOW: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 7. LOVE DRUNK BLUSHER: LOVE DRUNK EYESHADOW: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 8. GENERATION G LIPSTICK: https://amygdelights.tumblr.com/post/178575045526/this-is-my-first-cc-so-hear-me-out-glossier-has 9. IMPULSE LIPGLOSS: https://sunlitcrys.tumblr.com/post/190572765196/a-lip-gloss-skinblend-bundle-impulse-skinblend 10. XOXO LIPSTICK: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 11. SWEETHEARTS FACEPAINT: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 12. DARLING BANDAGES: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish

TATTOOS: 1. DARLING BANDAGES: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 2. HOLIDAY SIMLISH TATTOOS: https://peachiiesims.tumblr.com/post/189962785778/holiday-simlish-tattoos-happy-new-year-as-my-last 3. SWEETHEARTS FACEPAINT: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish

TOPS: 1. JUST WANT TO HOLD YOU BODYSUIT: https://helgatisha.tumblr.com/post/190583807221/helgatisha-just-want-to-hold-you-bodysuit 2. ELISE BODYSUIT: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190344642990/rushed-lovers-cc-pack-bgc-all-lods-shadow-maps 3. WONDERWALL TEE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31369303 4. TERESA BLOUSE: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190344642990/rushed-lovers-cc-pack-bgc-all-lods-shadow-maps 5. LANA TOP: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190825114455/slavic-allure-a-cc-pack-by-joliebean-x 6. MOONWALK PAJAMA SHIRT: https://trillyke.tumblr.com/post/188976313228/moonwalk-pajama-shirt-cute-pajama-top-with 7. CORTADO SWEATER: https://www.patreon.com/posts/cortado-sweater-34113361 8. (K)NEAT SWEATER: https://captainmrbored.tumblr.com/post/190550977111/kneat-sweater-i-always-wanted-to-recreate-unif 9. SO WHAT? JACKET: https://dear-solar.tumblr.com/post/190686288550/so-what-jacket-this-jacket-is-inspired-by-the 10. TAON JACKET: https://www.patreon.com/posts/taon-jacket-33053827

BOTTOMS: 1. SEEKER JEANS: https://goodlysims.tumblr.com/post/186449923002/seeker-skinny-jeans-sul-sul-im-very-excited-to 2. JUST SHORTS: https://pixelunivairse.tumblr.com/post/190603475073/one-of-many-other-cc-that-i-created-and-i-was 3. PAPERCUT SHORTS: https://honey-moth.tumblr.com/post/190505576686/papercut-another-set-layered-tee-located-in 4. SELF LOVE UNDIES: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 5. AVA TROUSERS V1: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190344642990/rushed-lovers-cc-pack-bgc-all-lods-shadow-maps 6. FREYA SHORTS: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190344642990/rushed-lovers-cc-pack-bgc-all-lods-shadow-maps 7. AVA TROUSERS V2: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190344642990/rushed-lovers-cc-pack-bgc-all-lods-shadow-maps 8. MOONCHILD FLARED PANTS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31369303 9. JELLY BEAN SKIRT: https://sokea-cc.tumblr.com/post/190897099929/jelly-bean-a-remake-this-is-a-remake-of-my-old 10. ALINA SKIRT: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190825114455/slavic-allure-a-cc-pack-by-joliebean-x 11. GO BABY PANTS: https://trillyke.tumblr.com/post/190880159338/go-baby-pants-tumblr-exclusive-something-always

FULL BODY: 1. SATIN DRESS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33526492 2. ALMOST 1K DRESS: https://sulsulhun.tumblr.com/post/190587503287/sulsulhuns-almost-1k-followers-gift-hiya-so 3. FLEUR DRESS: https://kumikya.tumblr.com/post/190802068481/fleur-dress-happy-early-valentines-heres-my 4. YULIA DRESS: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190825114455/slavic-allure-a-cc-pack-by-joliebean-x 5. SUGARSUGAR BIBS: https://simbience.tumblr.com/post/190820633265/just-a-lil-something-from-the-lovely-faaeish 6. AGAPE SUNDRESS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/34066317 7. IPANEMA DRESS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ipanema-dress-33954033

ACCESSORIES: 1. YULIA DRESS ACCESSORY: https://clumsyalienn.tumblr.com/post/190825114455/slavic-allure-a-cc-pack-by-joliebean-x 2. SO WHAT? JACKET TURTLENECK: https://dear-solar.tumblr.com/post/190686288550/so-what-jacket-this-jacket-is-inspired-by-the 3. LABYRINTH SOCKS: https://www.thesimsresource.com/members/Trillyke/downloads/details/category/sims4-clothing-female-teenadultelder-everyday/title/trillyke--labyrinth-socks/id/1477630/

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brynneweaverbooks · 3 years

Text

Tattoo and cover art by Helena Darling

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mygalfriday · 5 years

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All’s well that ends well to end up with you

{ao3}

The sun is just beginning to peek over the London skyline and creep its soft pink rays across the floor when Aziraphale slips from Crowley’s bed. Knowing how much the Crowley likes to sleep and how utterly unbearable he can be when woken before he’s ready, Aziraphale navigates the bedroom as quietly as possible.

Quite uncharacteristically, his clothes are scattered across the floor without much care. There had simply been no convincing Crowley to let him fold them properly and put them away. To be fair, Aziraphale hadn’t really tried very hard to convince him. Such as task would have involved far less kissing as they stumbled toward the bed and…well. Aziraphale quite likes kissing. Especially when it includes Crowley.

Unwilling to endure the petulance of a sleep-deprived demon, Aziraphale decides not to forage for his things and instead scoops up the nearest article of clothing - which happens to be Crowley’s dressing gown draped over an armchair in the corner. He slips it on and ties it at the waist. It fits a little too snug but a small smile tugs at his mouth at the intimacy of wearing something that belongs to Crowley. He rubs a fingertip over the black silk sleeve and casts one last fond glance over his shoulder.

Crowley sleeps sprawled on his stomach, one arm outstretched as though reaching for Aziraphale in his sleep. His lips part slightly as he breathes, his cheek pressed into the pillow. His freckled shoulders are bare and the sheet has bunched around his narrow hips. There are red marks along his exposed throat, lasting evidence of Aziraphale’s mouth. All the worry lines and prickly defenses have disappeared from his face. Crowley looks as carefree as he had the day Aziraphale had met him in the Garden, as though one night has erased six thousand years. He looks, Aziraphale muses, like a painting. The rising sun setting his auburn hair aglow and tinging all his lovely bare skin a warm shade of pink.

His heart full of wonder that such a creature would want him, would love him as fiercely as Crowley does, Aziraphale turns away with a secret, besotted smile and slips silently from the room. The kitchen is his first stop. They’d had quite a meal at the Ritz last night, celebrating their newfound freedom from the pressures of Heaven and Hell, but after what they’d got up to after their meal, Aziraphale feels peckish again. A cup of tea and a few of those biscuits Crowley keeps around for him will do nicely.

He has been to Crowley’s flat before, of course, but he never stayed long and certainly never overnight. It hadn’t felt safe. To be quite honest, Aziraphale hasn’t felt truly safe since the Arrangement began. He’d always been convinced discovery was right around the corner. Some nights he’d simply paced his shop and wrung his hands, wondering how he would protect Crowley when the time came. And now here he is, roaming barefoot throughout Crowley’s flat with a cup of warm tea cradled in his hands. The irony of feeling safe inside the home of Hell’s best demon is not lost on him but Crowley has never been a threat to Aziraphale. Even in the Garden, he’d known that somehow.

His aimless exploration of Crowley’s flat eventually leads him into the atrium. He’s only ever seen Crowley’s plants in passing before and he breathes out an excited hum as he steps inside, surrounded by vibrant green plants of nearly every variety. There are Chinese evergreens and English ivy, and even Saint Helena Heliotrope - which he’s quite sure has not been grown anywhere since sometime in the early 19th century.

Gently petting one brilliant leaf, he murmurs a delighted, “Hello there. Aren’t you beautiful?” The plant seems to tremble at his touch, leaning almost hungrily into his hand and the quiet praise. Aziraphale beams. “He takes such good care of you, doesn’t he?”

At this, the heliotrope droops a little. The tremor of leaves sounds like a complaint.

Aziraphale tuts. “None of that now,” he murmurs. “He’s all bark, you know. Showing affection is difficult for him so we must be very patient, mustn’t we?”

The plant straightens at this gentle admonishment, the leaves perking up a bit in reply.

With a wide smile, Aziraphale offers it another gentle pat. “Very good, you lovely thing.”

He takes another turn about the room, cooing over the succulents and giving the philodendron a bit of encouragement, before he finally wanders out and across the corridor, finding himself standing in Crowley’s office. Unlike the atrium, this room is just as stark and cold as the rest of the flat. Aziraphale briefly considers the prospect of shopping for new furniture with Crowley to make the place a bit more inviting, a bit more…them and has to shove such thoughts aside before he gets ahead of himself. It’s been one night and he’s already mentally redecorating.

Steady on, old bean.

Tossing a wistful, admiring glance at the da Vinci portrait on the far wall, Aziraphale moves further into the room and runs a hand over the back of Crowley’s chair. Really, more of a throne — his sweetheart does love to make a statement. Aziraphale pushes the chair back and settles into it, placing his teacup on the desk. Crowley doesn’t have many books but he’s rather hoping there’s something here in his office to read as a way to pass the time. Knowing Crowley, he could be asleep for days before he gets hungry enough to stumble out of bed.

Sliding open the top drawer and hoping to find a secret stash of cheap romance novels or even a wayward copy of National Geographic, Aziraphale instead blinks down at a scattering of black and white photographs of himself and Crowley. All of them have been taken at a distance and at various points throughout history, long before the humans had even invented cameras. There they are feeding the ducks at St. James Park, watching rehearsals at the Globe, and sharing an umbrella outside of Aziraphale’s favorite little patisserie in Paris.

There’s something troubling about the photos, almost voyeuristic in nature. Aziraphale frowns, stroking a fingertip over Crowley’s profile in one of them, and wonders where all of these strange photographs had come from and why Crowley had them stashed away in his desk.

Which is just how Crowley finds him moments later when he comes skidding into the room like something half-mad. The wild, panicked look in his eyes fades the second he spots Aziraphale standing behind his desk but it’s quite clear that he’d been under the impression Aziraphale had gone. Though his heart aches to reassure Crowley he doesn’t plan to go anywhere, Aziraphale only smiles, allowing Crowley the dignity of rearranging his expression into something a little less stricken.

“Good morning,” he says warmly. “Sleep well?”

Crowley only grunts, running a hand through his rumpled hair. There’s a crease on his cheek from his pillow and he still looks a bit rattled as he saunters into the room. It’s only then that Aziraphale notices he’s barely dressed, wearing only a tight pair of pants — no trousers or shirt anywhere to be seen. His long, lanky legs and bare chest are on full display. Beautiful. Aziraphale licks his lips, forcing his eyes not to wander before he realizes he doesn’t have to anymore. After last night, there are no more secrets between them.

His gaze drifts.

Catching his stare, Crowley smirks. “Morning, angel.” He pauses when he reaches the desk, scrutinizing Aziraphale’s face. Perhaps looking for permission or trying to discern if his affections are still welcome in the light of a new day. Whatever it is, he must find it in Aziraphale’s smile because to the angel’s delight, he bends to press a soft kiss to his mouth. As Aziraphale hums and savors the sweet-sleep taste of him, Crowley strokes a fingertip over the collar of the dressing gown. When they part, he murmurs, “Suits you.”

“Hardly,” Aziraphale replies, blushing. “But you made certain my own clothes were quite difficult to find.”

Crowley doesn’t look even a little bit guilty, perching lazily against the edge of the desk. In fact, he looks rather proud of himself. “Just didn’t want you going anywhere, angel.”

“Well, no chance of that, I’m afraid.” Aziraphale reaches out a hand and cups his cheek, rubbing his thumb tenderly over the snake tattoo at his temple. “You’re quite stuck with me.”

Though he looks pleased to hear it, Crowley isn’t the sort for sentimental speeches. At least not yet, anyway. Eyes warm and soft, he leans in for a kiss instead and Aziraphale has no choice but to sink into him with a sigh of quiet, giddy contentment. This belongs to him now — this intimacy, this longing finally met, this demon he has loved from afar for centuries. The thrill of it, still so new, makes him dizzy.

Crowley’s hand wanders across his shoulder, bare where the dressing gown has slipped amidst their embrace. Touching a reverent fingertip to the bite mark there, still a vivid red against the pale of Aziraphale’s skin, he asks, “All right?”

Warm all over under his attentions and the memory of exactly when Crowley had bitten him last night, Aziraphale breathes, “Oh, tip-top, darling. Perfectly perfect.”

Crowley looks only marginally less poleaxed by the endearment in the light of morning, avoiding Aziraphale’s affectionate gaze by leaning in to nose at his cheek. “Yes,” he murmurs, as though safe without eyes on him. “You are.”

Aziraphale blushes, his heart thrilling at the smallest hint of sweet nothings from Crowley. As he stares over Crowley’s shoulder and tries to hide a smile, his eyes fall on the photos still scattered on the desk. Remembering his curiosity, he says, “I was looking for something to read and I found those. Where did you get them?”

Crowley turns, following the line of his gaze. “Oh. Gabriel had them.” He rubs a hand over the back of his neck and avoids Aziraphale’s expectant stare. “I nicked them on my way out. Turns out they’ve been keeping an eye on us all along.”

“Well… I’m quite glad I wasn’t aware of that.” Aziraphale grimaces, imagining the nightmarish panic it would have induced. He probably would have agreed to run off to Alpha Centauri just to protect Crowley and who knows if poor young Adam would have had the courage to stand up to Lucifer without a couple of hands to hold. If Aziraphale had known about the existence of these pictures, the Earth might very well have been destroyed. Unsettled by this, Aziraphale turns to frown at them. “But…why take them, my dear?”

With a sniff and a careless shrug, he says, “No reason.” And then, as though sensing Aziraphale’s disappointed stare weighing heavily on him, he sighs and waves a hand he probably intends to look careless. “Oh, you know…thought I’d add them to my collection, that’s all.”

“Collection?”

Gritting his teeth — possibly to hold in something sentimental on the tip of his tongue — Crowley lifts a hand and snaps his fingers. A long, slender black box appears on the desk beside the surveillance photographs. It looks full, the lid on top askew and the mysterious contents beginning to peek out over the edges. Crowley gestures at the box wordlessly.

When Aziraphale glances at him, his cheeks are a bit more full of color than usual. The sight of Anthony J. Crowley, suave demon extraordinaire, blushing is so distracting that it takes Aziraphale a moment to register the words coming out of his mouth. “Open it.”

Hesitantly, Aziraphale reaches out a hand and lifts the lid off the box. And blinks.

Inside is a diverse conglomeration of paraphernalia — mostly photographs and all of them featuring Aziraphale, either alone or with Crowley. Aziraphale reaches out, sifting curiously through them. He moves aside a black and white polaroid of himself standing outside the bookshop sometime in the 1950s; a sepia-toned photograph of him and Crowley posing in their suits and top hats just days before their argument over the holy water; and another Crowley had taken on his mobile just a year or so ago, a closeup of Aziraphale’s face when a butterfly had landed on his nose in St. James Park, his smile wide and his eyes creased with laughter.

There are even a few miniature portraits from the days before the humans had invented cameras. Other little trinkets are nestled inside the box as well, theatre ticket stubs and wine corks from bottles they’ve shared, a few brittle envelopes with handwriting Aziraphale recognizes as his own, and a very old advertisement for the first showing of Hamlet.

Taking it all in, Aziraphale feels a lump begin to form in his throat. Crowley has been hoarding little mementos of their time together. And for quite a while by the look of things — long before the Arrangement even began. Aziraphale spots an oyster shell sitting atop a stack of photographs, thinks fleetingly of Rome, and his trembling hand gently sets it aside as he sifts through more their memories.

Standing beside him but refusing to look at either Aziraphale or the box on the desk, Crowley crosses his arms over his bare chest and frowns into the middle distance. Out of the corner of his eye, Aziraphale notices that his cheeks and the tops of his ears are still flushed. Crowley doesn’t say I love you the way others might. He may not ever say the actual words but Aziraphale hears it when he shows up at the bookshop with tickets to a new play Aziraphale mentioned wanting to see once. He hears it when Crowley orders dessert even though he barely eats any, just so Aziraphale can have a taste. He hears it when Crowley says things like little demonic miracle of my own and we can go off together. And he hears it right now, staring at their whole relationship tucked tenderly into this little box.

With an achingly fond glance at his dear one, Aziraphale plucks a shard of sea glass from Crowley’s collection. Admiring the way it catches the light, he asks, “Might I inquire when-”

“That weekend we holed up in Vladivostok and worked on our reports to Heaven and Hell together.” Crowley risks a glance at him, finds Aziraphale watching him intently, and makes a noise like he’d very much enjoy turning into a snake and slithering away. “It was the first time we’d spent more than an evening together and I…wanted something to remember it by.”

Aziraphale thinks briefly of the tattered, singed volume of Agnes Nutter’s prophecies and Crowley sitting in a pub drinking himself into a stupor. His heart tightens and swells in his chest as he whispers, “A souvenir.”

Caught, Crowley looks away again. “Yeah.”

Rubbing his thumb over the glass, smoothed and worn down by waves and time, Aziraphale asks delicately, “Weren’t you afraid all this might fall into the hands of…the wrong sort?”

Crowley shrugs. “Kept it in the safe with the holy water but…” He sighs, lifting his head and finally really looking at Aziraphale for the first time since the box made its appearance. “Yeah. All the time.”

The sea glass grows warm in Aziraphale’s palm and he curls his fingers around it, swallowing. And it feels like the glass is in his throat, cutting sharply on its way down. “But it didn’t stop you.”

With a sniff, Crowley pokes at a photograph of the two of them dressed as Brother Francis and Nanny Ashtoreth, Warlock cuddled between them and beaming at the camera. “Couldn’t bear to part with any of it.”

Aziraphale bites his lip, the deep well of tenderness within that has always been for Crowley rising up to war with the sharp disappointment he feels at his own cowardice. “You’ve been so much braver than I, my dear.”

Crowley lifts his head from inspecting the contents of the box and frowns. As if he truly doesn’t hold it against him. He really is so much better than he’ll ever believe he is. “I didn’t have anything to lose, angel. You did.”

Carefully depositing the sea glass back into the box, Aziraphale turns to Crowley and shrugs the dressing gown up over his bare shoulder. Crowley follows the movement with his eyes, looking faintly disappointed, but Aziraphale won’t be distracted. “You can’t possibly believe I was afraid of losing anything but you.”

“You-” Crowley blinks at him, mouth opening and closing soundlessly for a moment. “What?”

With a patient sigh, Aziraphale reaches for his hand. “I tried to keep my distance for you, Crowley. Not because I was afraid of Falling or earning Gabriel’s wrath. Because I feared what hell might do to you if they discovered us.” In his grasp, Crowley’s hand trembles and Aziraphale squeezes his fingers, rubbing his thumb soothingly over one of Crowley’s sharp knuckles. “It was never fear for myself that kept me from you.”

“Angel.” Crowley breathes out unsteadily, a hushed reverence in his voice that Aziraphale has only ever heard in the prayers of the devout. Until last night, at least. Crowley is nothing less than worshipful when they’re in bed together — a strange contrast to the blasphemy dripping from Aziraphale’s lips when Crowley touches him.

“I’ve always been so afraid for you,” Aziraphale confides in a whisper, his breath washing warm over Crowley’s cheek as they stand together. “Forgive me, my love, for pushing you away to keep you safe.”

Crowley squeezes his amber eyes shut, swaying forward to press their foreheads together. His slender hand wraps around the back of Aziraphale’s neck to keep him close, his fingers digging in tight like everything will slip away if he doesn’t hold on with all his might. “I really don’t deserve you.”

Keeping his eyes open — all the better to admire him with — Aziraphale smiles fondly and points out, “Says the man who risked complete annihilation just to hoard a few keepsakes in a shoe box.”

Crowley scowls, eyes blinking open to glare weakly at him.

Aziraphale keeps smiling, lifting a hand to stroke his sharp cheekbone. “I believe it’s safe to say we deserve each other, my dear. For better or worse.”

Turning to nuzzle into Aziraphale’s touch, Crowley presses a kiss to his palm and raises an eyebrow. “That sounds a bit like marriage vows, angel.”

“Does it?” Aziraphale hums thoughtfully, watching Crowley through his lashes. “Well, it has been six thousand years, after all.”

Crowley makes an incomprehensible noise in the back of his throat, lips parting wordlessly. “What - uh, what happened to going too fast?”

Tracing a fingertip over Crowley’s jawline, Aziraphale replies honestly, “I suppose I’m not afraid anymore.”

“No.” Crowley wraps an arm around his waist and as he gathers him close, Aziraphale feels a soft, careful kiss pressed to his temple. Like he’s something precious. A treasure to be tucked safely inside the box on the desk, right alongside old letters and photographs. As though he’s something Crowley doesn’t want to forget. “Neither am I.”

With a hopeful grin, Aziraphale leans back just enough to look into his eyes. “Might I take that as a yes?”

Crowley huffs out a laugh, his face softening the way it had as he’d slept - like all the stresses of Heaven and Hell have been lifted from his thin shoulders. “It’s been yes for a long time, angel,” he murmurs.

“Oh, lovely,” Aziraphale says, just before their lips meet.

As he melts against Crowley with a happy sigh, he smiles broadly into their kiss —giddy at the very idea of adopting such a human custom. Nothing thrills him more than the notion of belonging to Crowley and publicly declaring that Crowley belongs to him too. Perhaps they could even invite some friends.

Anathema and Newt would surely attend and Madame Tracy, of course. Though Crowley might balk if she insists on bringing Sergeant Shadwell. He’d been a bit tetchy about the man when Aziraphale had told him the story of how he’d ended up getting discorporated in the first place. But surely the children could attend. And Warlock, of course. It simply wouldn’t be a proper wedding without their godson.

Oh dear. Perhaps they have gone a bit native.

Well. In for a penny, in for a pound, as the humans say.

Aziraphale breaks from Crowley’s warm, devouring mouth with a gasp. “I forgot something.” At Crowley’s soft noise of protest, he smiles and assures him, “Only for a moment, darling.”

Under Crowley’s watchful gaze, Aziraphale slowly slips the ring from his pinky finger for the first time in six thousand years. His hand looks strange without it - naked and vulnerable. No matter. Aziraphale suspects he’ll have another ring to wear soon enough.

“Angel,” Crowley begins, brow furrowing. “What-”

“I believe a ring is customarily presented along with the proposal.”

He takes Crowley’s hand, waiting patiently for approval. Crowley swallows audibly, his eyes wide. His hand trembles in Aziraphale’s reassuring grasp. After a long moment spent staring at the ring and then another moment studying Aziraphale, he finally clenches his jaw. And then he nods, once.

Pleased, Aziraphale slides the ring onto his finger.

And it fits.

The angel wings wrap snugly around Crowley’s ring finger and somehow, impossibly, the ring looks right there. As though it had never really been Aziraphale’s ring at all. It had always belonged to Crowley all this time and Aziraphale had just been keeping it safe until the proper moment. It’s a keepsake Aziraphale is only too happy to part with. “Look at that,” he whispers, smiling. “It suits you.”

Crowley stares down at his hand, at the ring on his finger, and blinks again. His throat works as he tries to speak but for a long moment, he manages nothing but a wordless noise of bewilderment. “Right.” He clears his throat, still staring at the ring. His voice comes out hoarse and unsteady as he asks with a drawl, “So… how do humans usually celebrate an engagement?”

Properly enamored with the sight of Crowley wearing his ring, Aziraphale beams. “Oh, with crepes, I should think.”

Crowley laughs, startled and fond and genuine. “Crepes,” his intended promises, his eyes warm and mischievous. “After we celebrate my way.”

“Your wa - oh.” Aziraphale yelps as Crowley grasps him by the sleeve of his dressing gown and tugs him emphatically in the direction of the bedroom. His new ring glints in the morning light, bright against the black of Aziraphale’s borrowed robe. Stifling a chuckle, he stumbles after him and agrees, “Yes, dearest. Definitely yours first.”

And as they tumble back into bed together, entwined and grinning, the rest of eternity promises to be very good indeed.

#good omens #ineffable husbands #aziraphale #crowley #gofic #my fic

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helenadarlingtattoo · 2 years

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Darling tattoos. Halifax Nova Scotia

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chicagocityfclanspromoblog · 3 years

Photo

Marquis Anderson → Aubrey Joseph → Hunter

→ Basic Information

Age: 23

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Gay

Birthday: October 28th

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Religion: Atheist

Like Marquis? Consider taking him in our Hunter Giveaway Event! We will be waiving applications para samples, personalities and histories requirements for all canon hunters. Just send in the first and last name of the hunter(s) you would like to the main.

→ His Personality (one to two paragraphs)

→ His Personal Facts

Occupation: Hunter

Scars: Scars running along the back of both arms from a hunting accident

Tattoos: None

Two Likes: Lo-Fi Music and Riding the L

Two Dislikes: Betrayal and Neon Yellow

Two Fears: Being the center of attention and Witches and Warlocks

Two Hobbies: Sketching and Crime/Mystery Solving (human cases)

Three Positive Traits: Strategic, Persistent, Loyal

Three Negative Traits: Brooding, Quiet, Secretive

→ His Connections

Parent Names:

Alexus Anderson (Mother): Alexus isn’t a bad mother but isn’t the best either.

Samson Anderson (Father): Samson used to be there but he has been missing lately. Marquis will leave with him in a heartbeat if it comes up.

Sibling Names:

Nia Anderson (Sister): Marquis likes Nia but she pays too much attention to him.

Trevon Anderson (Brother): Trevon is a great brother but a horrible friend.

Children Names:

None

Romantic Connections:

None

Platonic Connections:

Grant Anderson (Uncle): Grant is his uncle. They’re on good terms.

Imani Anderson (Cousin): Marquis likes his cousin. She introduced him to Alice and Helena.

Ebony Anderson (Cousin): Ebony is cool. They don’t hunt much together.

Jazmine Anderson (Aunt): Jazmine has bad vibes around her. He stays quiet when they’re in the same room.

Raven Jenkins (Cousin): Raven is his favorite cousin. She doesn’t ask questions or get too involved.

Alice Colt (Good Friend): Alice is the leader of their friend group and the person who gives them pseudo missions. He likes her, though he knows she just sees him as muscle.

Helena Stone (Good Friend): Helena is a good hunter. She likes to be cruel like Alice, but they get along ok. She wants to run away too, and he understands why.

Churchill Darling (Mentor): Churchill was the one who got Marquis started on PI work. He’s been a big help with knowing police procedure and even gave Marquis the paperwork to become a PI. He’s not sure why Church is doing it, but is chalking it up to him wanting another hunter “off” the street.

Douglas Gish (Connection to the Police Department): Douglas is Marquis’s local contact at the police station. He calls him when he has the case solved, and has even dropped off detained criminals. Douglas doesn’t push too much info wise, but Marquis knows he uses his info to officially solve the cold cases.

Hostile Connections:

None

Pets:

None

→ History (paragraph(s) on background)

→ The Present (paragraph(s) on how the character connects to the plot)

→ Available Gif Hunts (we do not own these)

Aubrey Joseph [1][2][3][4]

#Aubrey Joseph #hunter rp #open roleplay #new rpg #city rp

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helenaknightt · 3 years

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August 2nd, 2018. Flashback; @Inked. 7:45pm.

Attention heavy on the drawing before her, aiming to appease every last detail needed to make this the eye awarding piece she knew it’d be. Her focus so deep, that she would miss the tall and full man that would appear before her, in a nicely tailor suit. It’d be only when he slid a thin piece of paper into her eye sight, overlapping the piece she was so maliciously into. Immediately the recognition of a foreign check, housing a nice flow of zeros; five to be exact; consumed her thoughts. Resulting in a fleeing confusion, as she leaned back, and took in the familiar figure of a man she had only met mere days before. The confusion would be replaced with a knowing intend. Pointed eyes, and arms crossing over her chest, as she leaned back in her chair; the studio bare as it was nearing closing.

“You’re buying me off?” “Consider it a peace offering.” “To stay away from your son?” “My son’s future is ahead of him. One he has worked immediately hard to achieve. A wild oat shouldn’t try and mess with that.” “A wild oat? Are you fucking kidding me?” “That’s all that you are, Helena. And to be fair, your baggage is unreasonable.” “My baggage?” “Baggage, Helena. Two kids,--” He paused, and glanced down at the brunette’s midsection, before bringing his attention back upon her. “Another on the way.” The rigid, unfeeling expression she was putting off when he mentioned her pregnancy would cause a fault in her demeanor, her mouth dipping opening slightly, “How’d--” A devious grin danced upon perfected features, “Anything can be bought, Helena. Information, especially. But right now, you.” Eyes pointing once again, and a defense walling up at his words, “Yeah, I call bullshit. In order to be bought, you gotta be on sale. And I ain’t on sale.” She stated, then shoving the check back towards him, “So, go fuck yourself.” “Such a filthy mouth.” “Yeah, well, you son didn’t seem to mind it. In fact, this mouth do tricks.” Any trace of lightness in the older man’s face disappeared completely, as his tone got rough, and his features harden. “Let me repeat myself, Helena. Anything can be bought, information, especially. I know things about you that you wouldn’t even want your brother to know.” He stated, “Matthew, right?” At the mention of her brother, she could feel her blood start to boil, and a heighten emotional state follow. But before she could say anything back, the older Reed continued. Hand on the check, pushing it back towards her, through and through business like. “I am being much nicer about this than my wife wanted to be, Helena. So, I’d suggest you accept this offer. And if you were smart, you’d use some of that money to do what’s right --” He gave a small pause, eyes flickering back to her midsection, “--for all that’s involved.” Her own eyes traveled down to her stomach, picking up on the hint rather quickly, and spitting back in the only real defense mode she had at that moment. “Brave of you to think it’s your son’s.” She commented, as she looked back up, a fire burning in normally green hues. “Actually, I don’t think it is.” He stated, or at the very least, he wasn’t going to believe it was. “But I want to make something very clear, Helena. Even if it is, it will never be a Reed. It will never be apart of my family, it will never be apart of Jackson. So, for the sake of everyone involved, for the sake of it’s future, it’s wellbeing and emotions, I sincerely hope it’s not.” With a few small steps back, his posture still remaining rather poise, “But like I said, if you were smart, you’d take some of that money and make it right. Two’s truly more then enough for someone as interesting as you, my darling.” A backhanded comment at it’s finest. “Stay away from my son. I’m giving you way nicer of a way out then I should. I would strongly suggest you don’t spit that in my face.” He offered, before then turning his back to her, assuming the business deal was more then finalized. “Have a wonderful night, ms. Knight.”

October 28th, 2020. Present Day; @Pacific Planes. 1:26pm. @jacksonr--d.

Helena sat in her car, in front of a place she hadn’t been to in a good two years. Fond memories involving her doing more sneaking in and out, then actual business. Services having been preformed, but not the ones the company tended to offer up to their customers. Why she was there, she almost didn’t know. Honestly, had it not been for the guilt that was eating at her now, she might have just continued to put this off. Apart of her had convinced herself that this was unselfish, but deep down, she knew it was exactly that; selfish. And all so dangerous. She wasn’t quite sure where else she could go to try and run into her former fling. One she had hardly laid eyes on in two years; the product that reminded her that this had, in fact, happened, was the twenty month old that ran around her house. Most people would claim that Wyatt looked just like her, some would say they saw Matt as well. But hardly anyone said he must look like his father, simply because no one actually knew who that was. But Helena did, and she could see the parts of Jackson in her son. And it’d be those parts that her son would eventually wanna know more about. Apart of her was more then sure she’d go on lying to everyone, including her son. This was until her last client came in. The story behind the tattoo she was getting built guilt up into an otherwise guilt less gut. The selfish part of her almost hoped that Jackson reacted the same way his parents had, so that when she’d tell her son his dad wanted nothing to do with him, she could mean it. As horrible as that would be, at least, it would the truth. There was another part of her that knew that wouldn’t be the case. And that was probably more dangerous then Wyatt possibly hating her later on.

Exiting her car, she’d emerge in an oversized trench coat, and sunglasses to match. Along with a scarf that wrapped around her head. Making rather sure she appear business like, and almost unrecognized to anyone she may not have wanted to run into. Within minutes, she was was making her way into Jackson’s office, a polite older lady ahead of her, “Katie Harris is here for her interview, Mr. Reed.” She’d introduce, before then turning and disappearing; the door shutting behind her. Hands deep in the pocket of her oversized coat, Helena would make her way towards the two chairs before him in a rather slow fashion. Finally removing the sunglasses she wore, “I hope you didn’t need that secretary just yet.” She spoke, as she moved to unwrap the scarf, long dark hair falling at her shoulders, “Or that you mind the dramatics-- guess I always had a flare for roleplay.” It was an attempt at a joke, although at this point, this also seemed rather deceitful. But wasn’t that Helena’s MO at this point? She offered up a soft smile that fell rather short, but still rather warm in its approach. “Hello Jackson.” She greeted, “Looks like we have some time to talk.”

#convo #c:jackson #//my starter game is not good #never has been never will be #but like helena would do some shit like this #also first half has little point to this. but i thought why not anyways. so yeah. xoxo

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elonanwrites · 5 years

Text

wip questions tag game

tagged by: my darling @sleepy-and-anxious. thank you, bel!

tagging: anyone who hasn’t done this yet. tag me so i can learn about your wips! also tagging my tag list for WTSK at the bottom because there’s a lot of information here that y’all might want to know.

Answers will be for my WIP What the Shadows Keep.

Rules: Answer the questions, then tag some people.

1. Describe the plot in one sentence

A human with healing powers is born into a world that is split between killing and protecting werewolves that were the result from human experiments gone bad.

2. Pick one sight, smell, sound, feel, and taste to describe the aesthetic for your WIP

Sight: A forest so thick with trees that you can’t see light from the other side. There is no path to walk on even though there is a sign that says differently.

Smell: Snow-soaked soil. The more you smell, the more you can’t tell if the smell is intoxicating or rancid.

Sound: A crow’s call. The same call keeps coming from different directions.

Feel: Fur matted with sharp twigs that poke between your fingers.

Taste: Copper pennies that were burned in a coal fire.

3. Which 3+ songs would make a playlist for your novel?

Wolfpack - TALA, BANKS

The Warmth - Koda

Last of My Kind - Alice in Chains

The Other Side - Ruelle

i don’t know what to say - Bring Me The Horizon

Empty House - Billy Lockett

4. What’s the time period and location in which your novel takes place?

Time: Present Day

Setting: Helena, Montana and the surrounding forests/mountains

5. Are there any former titles you’ve considered but discarded?

WTSK was previously titled Dwindling Moons, which, fun fact, I got from a novel title generator. Here are some other titles that didn’t make the cut:

What the Moon Keeps

What the Wolves Sing

When the Wolves Sing

Along the Tree Line

Among the Shadows

Helena

What the Forest Hides

Ikor’s Children

6. What’s the first line of your novel?

“There was a time when the cashier at the convenience store was human, but Elara couldn’t remember those days.”

7. What’s a line of dialogue you’re particularly proud of?

“You are not my god, [REDACTED]. You killed us for your own sins.”

8. Which line from the novel most represents it as a whole?

“You’re one of them. Why should I trust you?”

“Your parents’ blood flows through your veins, Elara Cannon. You’re just as much of ‘one of them’ as I am.”

9. Who are your character(s) face claims?

These aren’t all of my characters. Just a few off the top of my head.

Elara: Maggie Lindemann

Milo: Lee Gikwang

Thatcher: Miles McMillan

Shaddix: Emil Andersson

Mitra: Lynn Gunn

Rahna: Jaimie Alexander

Ulima: Sabina Karlsson

Naila: Aja Naomi King

10. Sort your characters into Hogwarts houses

Gryffindor: Milo, Rahna, Evander, Ulima

Ravenclaw: Thatcher, Naila, Celesta

Slytherin: Mitra, Shaddix, Theo

Hufflepuff: Elara, Gideon

11. Which character’s name do you like the most?

Mitra. I just love saying it and typing it and seeing it :-)

12. Describe each character’s daily outfit

I’ll do the main characters and the guard.

Elara: Pale blue skinny jeans, baggy sweaters and cardigans, black Sk8 Hi Vans

Milo: Black jeans, T-shirts, really worn leather jackets

Thatcher: Dark gray slacks, white button-up shirt, black dress shoes

Mitra: Modernized Viking clothes; lots of layers and lots of places to hide knives :-)

Rahna: Fitted gray long-sleeves, black jeans, biker boots

Evander: Levi’s, T-shirts, flannels

Theo: Cargo pants, band tees, Converse

13. Do any characters have any distinctive birthmarks/scars?

Elara and Rahna both have hook-shaped birthmarks. Elara’s is on her chest and Rahna’s is on her forearm.

Mitra has burn marks on their back from a fire that raged through their village in Sweden.

Shaddix has a sun tattoo on his nape and a small “T” on his forearm.

Milo has a scar through his right eyebrow.

Theo has a scar through his bottom lip and chin.

14. Which character most fits a character trope?

Milo fits the “bad boy that’s not good for me” trope. Rahna fits the “bitchy girl” trope. But they’re both fronts that they put up to protect themselves.

15. Which character is the best writer? Worst?

Thatcher is the best writer. He’s able to portray emotions in ways that are really impressive. The worst would be Evander. He finds the task meaningless.

16. Which character is the best liar? Worst?

Celesta is the best liar. She finds out how people view her and then uses that to manipulate them into doing things for her. The worst would be Theo. His eye twitches when he lies and gives him away.

17. Which character swears the most? Least?

Rahna swears the most. Evander swears the least.

18. Which character has the best handwriting? Worst?

Gideon and Elara are tied for best handwriting. Which makes sense because they’re both Virgos. Milo has the worst handwriting. Which makes sense because he’s an Aries lol

19. Which character is the most like you? Least like you?

Unfortunately, Rahna is the most like me. Cynical. Annoyed 24/7. And just wants everyone to let them die in peace. We would hate each other though because we’d be like “Why are you such a downer?” while doing the exact same thing.

Shaddix is the least like me. Optimistic. A morning person. Knows what they want in life. He would tell me to shut up, eat some vegetables, and get some sun.

20. Which character would you most like to be?

Milo. To be confident and excited for the future, and also incredibly dark and mysterious. That’s the fkn dream.

WTSK tag list: @sleepy-and-anxious | @writingtostaysane | @shelbytakaiwrites | @sarmarble | @writer-jess

ask to be added/removed ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

#sorry mobile if the read more doesn't work #oh boy am i tired #but this was a lot of fun #tag game;#wip: what the shadows keep

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inkcyclopedia · 6 years

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Helena Darling (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

#helena darling #nova scotia #ca #femme #mad max #movie #portrait #charlize theron #tattoo #jan 2018

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bitofanink · 5 years

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Tattoo Masters Helena Darling via Tumblr

#tattoo #gallery #ink #marked #inked #body

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doomonfilm · 3 years

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Ranking : David Fincher (1962-present)

It takes a special breed of director to take material that many would approach with a basic nature and raise the caliber of the work to memorable levels. David Fincher could have easily been one of the many cogs in the Jerry Bruckheimer machine, especially after two and a half decades of iconic music video making, but instead, he chose the path of adding extra flair and personal touches to already unique scripts, resulting in a style and emotional tone that is unmatched by his peers, outside of directors the level of Christopher Nolan and so on. With all that in mind, it’s time to take a stab at ranking the films of one of my favorite modern day creatives.

Editor’s Note : I have not seen Alien 3 in a very long time, and I have yet to see any of the films in the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo franchise (the first of which David Fincher directed), so until those films are given proper viewings, neither will be on this list. I will hopefully update the list as I see those films.

9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) While pretty astonishing in terms of the aging makeup and effects used to age and de-age Brad Pitt, I did not find much memorable in this film, and thus, have never really felt compelled to return to it. Taraji P. Henson was impressive, as well as Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton, which was a nice turn of events as many of Fincher’s films prior to this were extremely male-fueled and charged, but ultimately, this film personally felt as the most “gimmicky” of his output... better than most films from other directors, but the anchor of this particular list.

8. Gone Girl (2014) It took me way longer than it should have to get around to this film. Rosamund Pike gave a wonderfully dynamic performance in this film, but as I think back on it, it seems like Gone Girl ended up enhancing Ben Affleck’s performance on the terms of its material quality, rather than Affleck elevating the material as an actor. Even with its wonderfully satisfying ending, this film plays it pretty by the book, and knowing what tricks Fincher has up his sleeves, I can call this film more so suitable than mind-blowing.

7. Zodiac (2007) Based on the pure scale alone of this film, not to mention an inherent lack of resolution based on the status of the real life case this film was inspired by, it’s an impressive feat that David Fincher was able to make a compelling film at all. His All The President’s Men approach of letting journalists (and their inquisitive nature) propel the narrative forward works well, as it leaves room for the killing sequences to be compelling without the burden of carrying the story. On a purely technical note, the film contains some of Fincher’s best decisions in regards to cinematography, and his text style and implementation on the location inserts became an industry standard for many, many years after Zodiac’s release.

6. Panic Room (2002) Limiting your film into a “bottle”-style would be a crippling application for many directors, but after several sprawling narratives such as Seven, The Game and Fight Club, it was a nice change of pace to see Panic Room, which takes place within the confines of an apartment for the better part of the film’s run. Not only is this film jam-packed with quality actors giving performances much better than called for in terms of the film’s simple premise (including a performance from Kristen Stewart that immediately put her on my radar), but the extremely subtle use of digital cinematography gives the camera an inquisitive, literal “fly on the wall” feel as it makes moves that a full-sized camera are incapable of. Probably the most tension-filled film of Fincher’s career as well.

5. Mank (2020) This film has everything needed to be the darling of the 2021 Academy Awards ceremony. Gary Oldman gives another compelling, immersive, chameleon-like performance (something we as viewers almost take for granted these days in terms of his skill), and the look of the film immediately skews our perception in terms of placing it on the greater Hollywood timeline. A monumental story about the creation of a monumental film that demands (and earns) all of the respect it received.

4. Seven (1995) The film that made David Fincher a name to be respected in the Hollywood community. Not only did he come a million miles an hour out of the gate on the first film you could truly call his, but the fact that “What’s in the box?!” has become a line so iconic that people who have never seen the film know it is a testament to the greatness of this movie. Between the production design and the way that it is shot, it is impossible not to feel this film on extremely deep levels. The sloth scene still haunts me to this day.

3. The Game (1997) I had the pleasure of seeing this film in theaters during its initial run with absolutely no clue on what it was about, and needless to say, I was made an immediate believer in the cinematic power of David Finch. Between the equally powerful performances of Michael Douglas and Sean Penn alone, you could call this film a win, but the story is so epic and intriguing that it burns itself into the memory of its fans in a very real way. Watching Douglas choose to make that leap near the film’s conclusion is such an incredibly cathartic resolution to the film that the eventual swerve hits that much harder.

2. Fight Club (1999) For many fans of David Fincher, and people of a certain age range who may not be familiar with him as a director, this was the defining film of the new millennium’s dawn. Chuck Palahniuk’s wonderfully strange take on toxic masculinity and the importance of self-identity was transformed into a mesmerizing and curious film, driving home the fact that Edward Norton and Brad Pitt were acting royalty while helping propel Helena Bonham Carter and Jared Leto into a new level of fame. If not for the number one film on this list, this would have easily gone down as the most efficient and impressive story told in Fincher’s film career.

1. The Social Network (2010) For all the promise that Fight Club showed as the defining movie of the new millennium, The Social Network met and exceeded that promise, and all incredibly close to within 5 years of the date that Facebook, which the film was all about, was created. Jesse Eisenberg embodied the spirit of Mark Zuckerberg while also helping David Fincher display character and personality traits that Facebook would soon make commonplace in society, and the can’t miss scoring duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross started their wonderful journey with this film. What could have easily been an Aaron Sorkin-led cultural cash grab was transformed into a masterpiece of immediate relevancy all thanks to the direction of Fincher.

#ChiefDoomsday #DOOMonFILM #DavidFincher #Alien3 #Seven #TheGame #FightClub #PanicRoom #Zodiac #TheCuriousCaseOfBenjaminButtons #TheSocialNetwork #TheGirlWithTheDragonTattoo #GoneGirl #Mank

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