#loved the relationship between him and Gillian’s character though wish there was more of that because I do love a good cop romance ! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

morganaspendragonss · 3 years

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holly's august extravaganza day 17: you and me (moving through this world as a two-man team)

for both my incredible birthday twin jenny (@laelipoo) and a little bit for myself! i hope you are having a wonderful, wonderful day and i wish you all the love in the world. i'm so glad we became friends and i cannot tell you how glad i am for our conversations 🥰🥰🥰

many, many, many thanks to jenny as well for helping me out with the plot!

ao3 | 3.1k | firefighter carlos, hurt/comfort, pining, developing relationship, major character injury (two of them 😌)

TK does not have a crush on the 126's latest hire.

Carlos Reyes: an Austin local, an incredible firefighter, and—objectively speaking—the most beautiful man TK has ever laid eyes on. Which is, in fact, the entire point; TK has eyes and, yes, he will use them to sneak a look or two when he’s suddenly sharing space with a man who looks like a Greek god.

That does not mean he has a crush, Paul.

(and, sure, maybe he does sometimes dream about how soft Carlos’s lips look and the soft blush he gets when he laughs and those little flecks of gold in his eyes, but he’s only human)

(how TK knows about the gold in Carlos’s eyes is none of anybody’s business)

The thing about Carlos Reyes is that he isn’t only stupidly hot; he’s also just plain nice. TK can’t even make up a flimsy excuse to keep his distance. Carlos is, quite literally, perfect.

He shares recipes and book recommendations with Paul, he spars with Marjan, he discusses superheroes with Mateo, and Judd has had nothing but good things to say since before Carlos even joined them. Apparently they’d worked together a lot before the explosion, when Carlos was with the 116, and he’s ‘one of the best damn firefighters’ Judd has ever seen.

He even makes time to hang with the paramedics, which...isn’t a new development, exactly. But it is recent, and TK is willing to bet they’d still be pretty divided if Tim hadn’t suddenly transferred back to Maryland and he hadn’t taken the leap to be a full paramedic.

Even after that… His friends were hardly going to abandon him after he switched, but Nancy had still only been semi-included at best. She’d called him out about it during their first week working together, but fixing it had been a slow process.

Until Carlos came along, that is. Excluding Judd, they all regularly hang out at his place now, and Nancy’s inclusion had never even been a question. Safe to say, Carlos has charmed everyone in the firehouse, including both captains, and the worst part is, he doesn’t seem to realise he’s doing it.

He’s perfect, from his freakishly toned body to his infuriatingly sweet personality to his incredible skills in the field, and TK does not have a crush, goddammit!

One morning about three weeks after Carlos’s arrival, TK is greeted in the firehouse by the sound of a long, beautiful laugh coming from the kitchen. Three weeks is an embarrassingly short amount of time to admit that he’s memorised everything about him, but he instantly recognises the noise as coming from Carlos, even if he can’t see him yet.

He saunters into the kitchen, where Carlos is standing with Paul, and leans up against the counter. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Carlos turns with a winning smile and holds out a steaming mug of coffee, clearly freshly made even though TK only got in two minutes ago.

He blinks. “How—” Then, taking in the slight pinkness to Carlos’s cheeks, “Are you seriously offering me your own coffee, Reyes?”

Carlos shrugs, forcing the mug into TK’s hands. “I only just made it so technically it belongs to anyone, and I can always make another,” he says. “Besides, you look like you could use it more than me.”

His grin has TK narrowing his eyes and stubbornly refusing to drink even though Carlos is right—he really, really needs it.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that was an insult.”

“Who says you do know better?”

TK splutters, momentarily left speechless in the face of Carlos’s smile and the twinkle in those goddamn eyes. He turns to Paul for help, but Paul...has disappeared. Huh. TK honestly hadn't noticed him go.

He shakes his head and looks back to Carlos, only to be stunned silent again by the way his smile has softened into something else, something more.

TK’s heart skips a beat or two and he swallows, staring down into Carlos’s coffee. “Whatever, Reyes,” he mutters.

It was too late for a witty comeback anyway.

Carlos’s laugh follows him out of the kitchen, and TK wonders when, exactly, he let himself fall this far.

“Earth to TK? Hello?”

TK is rudely snapped back to reality by one Nancy Gillian’s hand waving violently in his face. He scowls at her, to which she responds with an eye roll.

“Stop drooling over your man and come help me with inventory.”

“I’m not drooling,” TK argues, following her over to the rig. “And he’s not my man.”

“Right,” Nancy drawls, folding her arms over her chest as she leans against the ambulance. “So you’re just going to deny that weird energy around you two that makes the rest of us feel like we’re creeping on something?”

“Exactly.” TK nods emphatically, then frowns. “Wait, what?”

Nancy casts her eyes heavenward. “You know,” she says, “you’re a lot of things, Strand, but I hadn’t pegged you for oblivious.”

TK’s next words are reflexive, said without thought for the consequences—the story of his life, really.

“I’m not oblivious!”

The grin spreading over Nancy’s face rams home just how much he’s fucked up with those three words. TK drops his head in his hands and groans, unable and unwilling to look Nancy in the eye.

“Not a word,” he warns, which Nancy appears to respect, for now. TK is well aware that there will be words—several of them—later, whether he wants them or not.

The thing is, he really isn’t oblivious. He knows perfectly well what Nancy is talking about and he has often fantasised about all the things he’d do to Carlos given half a chance. TK likes Carlos, way more than just in the physical sense, and he’s pretty sure that Carlos likes him right back. It would be so easy to start something between them and, god, TK wants to. He just… He can’t.

One year—that’s what he promised himself back in New York. One year on his own to sort his head out and figure out how he fits back into the world after the overdose. Granted, his sobriety anniversary is only a couple of months away now, but he refuses to give up on his promise, especially when he’s so close.

Maybe in a couple months, if Carlos hasn’t gotten bored of something that’s clearly going nowhere.

But not now.

“He did not ask me out!”

“He totally did, dude, and you know it. You want to say yes, I can tell.”

“No, I don’t. I—”

“Children,” Tommy interrupts from the back of the ambulance. They’re heading to a callout, and Nancy has not let up the entire way about something TK is certain never actually happened. “Either of you want to enlighten me on what the argument is about this time?”

“TK’s too chicken to go out with Carlos,” Nancy jumps in, before TK can stop her.

“I am not!” he protests. “Plus, he wasn’t asking me out, he said we should go over to his place for dinner sometime, which Carlos does all the time. So there.”

“Strand, you are not this dense,” Nancy snarks, probably rolling her eyes. “His exact words were, ‘You should come over sometime’.”

“We were all there! It was obviously the plural you.”

“Oh my god—”

“Alright!” Tommy sighs wearily. “Nancy, can we keep from provoking TK until we’re back at the firehouse and he’s no longer driving?”

“Ha!” TK exclaims, but Tommy’s not done.

“TK, if I weren’t your captain, I’d be telling you that Nancy is right and you should pull your head out of your ass before it’s too late, understand?”

Now it’s Nancy’s turn to be triumphant as TK struggles to form a coherent response. Thankfully, he’s saved from further torment by them finally pulling up at the scene—a warehouse where one of the workers had become trapped after parts of the upper level walkway had broken and fallen. Apparently, the falling metal had caused some of the machinery to malfunction, turning the call from simple to beyond complicated in a matter of minutes.

“TK, grab your turnout gear and your bag; I’m sending you in with them,” Tommy informs him as soon as they’re out of the rig. “Normally, we’d just talk the firefighters through it over radio, but given your training it’ll be quicker and safer for you to deal with our patient.”

TK grins; he’s missed the adrenaline rush of running into emergencies more than he can say. “Got it, Cap.”

“Maybe try and look a little less happy about a serious injury, too.”

“Copy that.”

The noise when they enter the warehouse is deafening, an ugly screeching cutting right through TK’s skull.

“Shouldn’t they have shut the machines off?” he shouts, fighting to be heard.

“Apparently they can’t,” Judd calls back. “Something wrong with the control panel, I don’t know exactly what.”

TK groans—just what they need. The sound is lost in the din, but Carlos still looks over and gives him a sympathetic grin, shrugging in a ‘what can you do’ motion. TK can’t help but grin back, the mere sight of Carlos easing the annoyance he feels and the headache already beginning to build behind his eyes.

Their patient, when they reach him, is pinned under a large, heavy-looking sheet of metal. He’s bleeding from a gash on his temple and his skin is worryingly pale, to the extent that TK can tell even from a distance. He jogs to the patient’s side and kneels down, pressing his fingers against his neck.

“Cap, I have a pulse,” he reports into his radio after a few seconds. “But he’s unconscious with a head wound, and I think there are probably injuries I can’t see yet. Possible spinal damage, but I can’t tell until we’ve got this metal off him.”

“Copy that,” Captain Vega says. “Get ready to run a line; he’s gonna need it as soon as he’s free.”

TK nods and moves to secure a c-collar around his neck. “We need to cut this thing off of him,” he says, addressing the team. “Quickly, but carefully.”

Judd steps forward, brandishing the saw. He hands TK a couple of spare turnouts and kneels on the patient’s other side. “Couple of you need to cover him, and yourselves.”

TK doesn’t even have to ask before Carlos appears next to him, taking one of the turnouts from him. He smiles gratefully before arranging himself to provide maximum protection to all three of them as Judd starts working on the metal. The vibrations from the saw are unpleasant, and TK dreads to think what effect it’s having on the already unstable machinery, but it’s the only option they have to get their patient free.

Fortunately, everything seems to go off without a hitch, and soon the team are able to remove the metal. TK immediately gets to work, feeling for any damage. As he suspected, there’s a pretty large gash on the man’s leg which is bleeding badly, though thankfully it seems to have missed any arteries. He also seems to have a broken wrist, but he should heal.

TK quickly wraps his leg, then gets Carlos and Judd to help move him onto the spine board. It feels like, for once, the call has gone as smoothly as possible, and TK allows himself a breath of relief as they prep to get the guy outside to the ambulance.

Naturally, that’s when everything goes to hell.

The machine closest to them lets out a threatening groan and shudders before there’s a loud roar and it explodes. On instinct, TK folds himself over the patient as shrapnel rains down on them, and he sees Carlos doing the same in his periphery.

The downpour seems to last forever, but eventually it slows and comes to a stop. TK cautiously lifts his head, his heart pounding, and sags in relief as it seems that the worst is over.

They need to get out of here, now.

He stands, a brief stab of pain running through his back—probably because of his awkward position over the patient—and turns to Carlos, reaching to offer him a hand up.

Only to see Carlos’s face tight with agony, and then the cause—a jagged piece of shrapnel running right through his hand.

“Carlos,” TK breathes, horrified. Carlos looks up at him, his breathing carefully measured and his eyes wide, and TK drops back to his knees, reaching out for him. “It’s okay, I’ve got you, don’t worry.”

Carlos swallows and nods, his eyes squeezing tight. TK’s heart rate skyrockets, and he’s barely able to keep his cool as he signals to the others to get their first patient out of the warehouse.

“Cap, the team are bringing him out, but we have a problem.”

“Talk to me, Strand, what’s going on?”

“It—It’s Carlos.” TK breathes out shakily and takes a moment to steady himself before continuing, “It’s not serious, but some of the machinery broke apart and some shrapnel impaled his hand. I’ve got to stabilise the shard before we come out to you.”

“Alright, but hurry. I don’t want you guys in there for longer than necessary.”

“Copy.”

Stabilising the shrapnel with rolls of gauze and wrapping Carlos’s hand should be a matter of course—it’s an easy process that TK could probably do in his sleep. But this is Carlos, so his damn hands won’t stop shaking and he almost fumbles and drops his supplies.

He manages though, and soon he’s helping Carlos up, instructing him to hold his injured hand above his heart. Carlos sends him a wobbly smile, which ends up turning out to be more of a grimace, but it’s a comfort nonetheless. Things could have gone so much worse today; TK could have even lost him, and he would have never been able to—

But that’s not important. Carlos is okay, or he will be, and they still have plenty of time to figure out whatever this is between them.

Everything will be okay.

TK’s back and side twinge again as they make their way out, but he brushes it off, too focused on getting Carlos to the hospital as fast as possible. Tommy shakes her head as they make their way over, her eyebrows raised despite the concern clearly in her expression.

“Never a peaceful moment with you, Strand, is it?” she asks dryly, hissing as she inspects Carlos’s wound.

“In my defence, Cap,” he says, more at ease now that they’re safe, “it’s not me who’s injured this time.”

Tommy hums, then directs Carlos into the back of the rig, jumping in after him. “Get back here, TK. Nancy’s driving.”

She has a teasing look in her eyes that instantly makes TK suspicious, but he moves to comply, shrugging off his turnout coat as he does. The movement hurts, which is weird, but he thinks nothing of it.

At least, until Tommy’s eyes go wide and she stands from her seat, holding her hands out towards him. “TK, do not move,” she instructs, her eyes firmly fixed on his right side.

TK frowns, then follows her gaze down, and— Oh.

His grey undershirt is stained with blood, and it’s difficult to miss the large piece of metal sticking out of his side. He has no idea how he missed it, but now that he knows, the pain slams into him full force, causing him to stagger.

“Oh,” he gasps, eloquently.

Then, his legs buckle and the world goes black.

TK wakes up to a steady beeping sound, which only exacerbates his pounding headache. He groans, scrunching his face up, before slowly peeling his eyes open, almost slamming them shut again after getting an eyeful of obnoxiously bright fluorescents.

“You’re awake,” a voice says, sounding surprised, then the lights suddenly dim, the room lit by the gentle glow of a lamp. TK sighs in relief and shifts to look at his saviour.

It’s Carlos.

“You… You’re here,” TK states, confused. His gaze drifts down Carlos’s body and lands on the white bandages around his hand, the memories of the warehouse suddenly hitting him all at once. “Shit, you— How are you?”

Carlos shakes his head and comes to sit in the chair by TK’s bed. “I can’t believe you’re the one asking me that.”

“I’m a paramedic, it’s my job.”

“Not when you’re the one in the hospital bed,” Carlos counters, sighing. “If you must know, I’m fine. They gave me some pretty good drugs, so…” He shrugs, and TK can’t help but laugh, which proves to be a very bad idea.

His side lights up, an unnecessary reminder that TK is very much not on the good drugs, and he moans softly, slowly settling back in the bed. “I hate you,” he mumbles, eyes closed.

“You love me,” Carlos says, and TK’s heart seizes in his chest.

The silence after his words is deafening, so TK forces himself to crack his eyes open enough to look at him. Carlos is frozen in his chair, biting his lip hard, and he looks like he either wants to bolt or be swallowed by the earth.

TK thinks he should probably be feeling the same. They’ve been dancing around this issue for weeks now, and he’d thought he had it under control. That he could last that little bit longer until his one year was up; that he could ignore these feelings that have been steadily growing since he first laid eyes on Carlos.

It was a hopeless endeavour; he recognises that now. TK remembers the fear he felt when Carlos was injured back at the warehouse, the desperation for him to be better, and now with his own injury…

He could have lost this chance before he ever got it, and TK isn’t about to let it slip through his fingers now. He reaches out and takes Carlos’s good hand, startling him into meeting TK’s eyes.

“Yeah,” TK whispers, just loud enough for Carlos to hear him. “I think I do.”

The smile Carlos gives him lights up the room, and he doesn’t waste any time in leaning down to kiss TK. And it’s… It’s everything TK had hoped and imagined it would be and more. It’s soft and sweet and gentle and perfect, and he never wants it to end.

But end it does, though Carlos doesn’t go far. TK smiles at him, squeezing his hand with all the strength he can muster.

“That’s a yes, by the way,” he says.

Carlos frowns. “What?”

TK’s smile widens and he flicks his eyebrows at Carlos. “To dinner. Or were you not asking me out after all?”

Carlos huffs a laugh, and the look in his eyes when they lock back onto TK’s melts his heart and makes his entire chest ache. “Does Friday work for you?”

He nods, tugging Carlos down for another kiss. “It’s a date.”

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batmansymbol · 3 years

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i am watching season 2 of A Discovery of Witches!! just finished episode 4... working through my (very mixed) thoughts in a general Plot Babble... spoilers up to end of ep 4 under the cut

firstly, wow, the 1590s sets/costumes look great. i guess the show must've had a budget increase because season 1 did well?? these dresses are beautiful!

but tbh, i'm feeling p disengaged from matthew & diana's storyline :( it seems clear that there was a load they had to adapt from the book, so this huge new cast of characters feels underdeveloped, even with 2 extra episodes this season.

eps 1-3 just feel like they're jumping frantically from plot thread to plot thread... we need room to breathe to work through the emotional consequences of some of these moments, but there's just no room.

it's not just a space problem, though. they seem to be trying to make every plot thread the most dramatic thing onscreen. every moment of every scene, the acting and the music and the writing are dialed all the way up, telling the viewer that This Scene Is What It's All About.

but not everything can be the most important thing!! they needed to pick what to prioritize. either 1) diana's training, 2) matthew's tortured religious/political past, 3) the seedy political underbelly of magical london, or 4) the human elements of Kit's friendship and the kid they basically adopt.

i mean, that's so much to take in. without focusing in on one thread, it winds up feeling like the first 3 episodes are a collection of B plots without an A plot holding them together.

imo diana's storyline should've been foregrounded way more. she's such an appealing main character and provided such a strong anchor for season 1... i miss feeling like it's her show first and foremost.

season 1 was a bit of a grab-bag, too, but the thing gluing it together was the romance. they obviously knew that was the heart of it and wrote accordingly. we cared about e.g. the congregation's machinations or gillian's jealousy because they had direct effects on the relationship between diana and matthew.

but in season 2, without a strong emotional throughline to consolidate all these scattered events, the characters just feel like they're reacting in the moment to the ebb and flow of each scene (now i'm angry! now i'm surprised!). but there's no real continuity, nothing that yet builds toward an arc for either matthew or diana.

the closest thing is this suggestion that matthew will be changed by the reminders of his troubled past. but honestly, the INSTANT they arrived in the past, he started acting all tumultuous and broody. it's not an arc if they just give him a character transplant. i want season 1 matthew back.

anyway, for me, what's holding it together is the fact that teresa palmer and matthew goode are two of the most attractive, watchable TV leads i've ever seen. whew

and i'm still very invested in the modern-day elements and characters! i loved episode 4, which felt like a major return to form. Marcus has become my surprise favorite, with his sweet romance subplot mixed with this modern murder element :D

i ... kind of wish the next episode wouldn't take us back to 1590

also gregg chillin continues to be the hottest person alive. i know domenico isn't really a main character but please put him in every scene just so i can look at him? please????

#a discovery of witches #this is why i can't pleasure-watch anything. it's just plot screaming in my head all the time

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tarlosprompts · 4 years

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Can I prompt a Judd helping calm Tk down after a rough call, and just having that brotherly fluff vibe?

Days Like These

Claimed by Red💋

Paramedic TK, Firefighter Carlos

Warnings: cursing, violence, minor character death, trauma, bombs, blood, past addiction, mention of guns, anxiety, beginnings of a panic attack

Notes: Let me know if I missed any warnings! (I think I got them all). Sorry for this taking so long and sorry if it’s not what you wanted. If you want me to rewrite it, just let me know!

Most days, TK loved walking into work. Being a paramedic made him happier than he’d been in a while. Being pushed by his father to take the exam was his best decision. Sure, he enjoyed the Adrenalin of the fires, but he had always wanted to help others more than just handing them off the medics. Now, he got the best of both worlds. If his dad needed his help on a fire, he would help but he also got to treat others. It was a win win for not only TK, but his father and the medics.

TK tended to spend more time with the paramedics than the firemen on calls, so his father had to take on another firefighter. That’s how TK met the most beautiful man in the world...Carlos Reyes. Carlos transferred in and, had TK not been reeling from Alex, TK would have asked the man out. Sadly, TK was apprehensive about starting another relationship, though that didn’t mean that TK didn’t take time to admire the lovely view Carlos Reyes gave.

Something about Reyes drew TK in. They became good friends and amazing partners when needed. Carlos knew an awful lot about treating patients meaning that he could help out when the medics were swamped and TK would be paired with Carlos when Owen needed his help on calls. Through that, they became best friends. They shared everything with one another...well, almost everything. TK most definitely wasn’t going to tell the man of his Texas sized crush on him...nor was he going to mention his past drug addiction...how would he even bring that up? Just as they’re talking about their last call, ‘yeah, by the way, I have a drug problem and I overdosed before the move down here.’ That was absolutely not happening.

TK was roused from his thoughts as the ambulance stopped. He followed Michelle and Gillian out of the vehicle, turning around in confusion. “Are we sure this is the right place,” he asked.

“This is what dispatch said. Gillain, call them and ask again,” Michelle stated. Gillian stopped walking, holding the radio between her hands as she spoke.

As TK and Michelle moved farther towards the abandoned warehouse, something felt off. “Michelle, we should wait in the ambo. This doesn’t feel right,” TK whispered.

“We still need to check it out, make sure that no one needs help.”

Gillian caught up, voice shaking slightly, “I can’t contact dispatch.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean no one is answering. I even tried calling, but we’re out of range. I have no signal.”

“‘Chelle, we should-”

Three red dots focused on the three paramedics’ chests. “Don’t move and you won’t be shot.”

_____________

TK was having a hard time reframing his situation. His therapist had suggested the idea of changing the way he looked at a situation in order to find the silver lining...he really couldn’t find the silver lining in having a bomb strapped to his chest. Nor could he find the silver lining in not being to help Gillian as she bled out in front of him. He couldn’t find the silver lining in not being able to help Michelle as the last of the bomb vest was strapped into place.

Being ushered towards the ambulance sent another wave of panic over him. They were probably going to transport them somewhere more public to have them take out more people. They wanted to make a statement. TK could feel himself shaking as the ambulance started moving. He could only watch as Michelle tried to check on Gillian before her head was thrown to the side by the butt of a gun one of the men held.

It wasn’t long before the ambulance stopped and the doors opened. Gillian was unceremoniously pulled from the ambulance and thrown to the ground, pulling shouts from bystanders. TK and Michelle were roughly pushed out of the ambulance and pulled into a building. It took a couple of minutes to realize they were at the dispatch center. While TK wasn’t one to hope for bad will on specific people, he certainly hoped Grace wasn’t working and that the men who were forcing their way through the center would suffer the most painful of deaths.

The gunshots shocked TK. It brought him back to the day he used the battering ram to get to a cardiac failure and a little boy pulled the trigger, hitting him. He flinched as the gunshots went off. He was placed directly across from Michelle, in the center of the dispatch hub. “Here’s how this is going to go,” the head of the group called. “Everyone does as I say, everyone goes home...even these two lovely paramedics. Anyone tries to be the hero...well, we’ll see if someone pulls the trigger faster than I press the button on one of these paramedic’s vests.”

The room was silent as they watched the man in the center of the room. “You, you, and you,” he called out, pointing to a couple of dispatchers, “on the phones. Follow what the three men behind you say and everyone stays alive.”

Hours passed and TK could do nothing but watch as the group got more anxious. Whatever they were planning wasn’t going to plan and that was going to end up in someone getting hurt. The head man cursed before walking towards TK, “you’re coming with me. Seems like your friends came looking for you,” he growled.

TK dug his feet into the ground. There was no way in hell he was going to let this man take him out for his father to see him strapped to a suicide vest. The punch that slammed his head to the right, split his lip and had him stumbling. He was practically dragged out of the dispatch center. The light assaulted his eyes and it took him a minute to adjust.

When his eyes adjusted, TK grimaced. His crew was there along with multiple APD members and front and center was his dad. Shit.

TK wanted to be anywhere but there in the moment. He wished that the men’s plan had all worked out and they had left...though if he was being honest, he knew that once their plan concluded, they would have killed all of them anyway. He’d heard them talking about ‘no witnesses’ and what not earlier. He paid no attention to the man talking to the officers and firemen standing around. He didn’t want to look at his father and crew, didn’t want to be in this situation at all.

“...and if I don’t get what I want or if anyone tries to breach the building, Pretty Boy and his friend are going to blow up the dispatch center,” the man called.

“You don’t actually think that they’re going to listen to you, do you,” TK heard himself ask. He’d always had a big mouth, didn’t really like bullies. “You’re all the same. You think you’ll place some demands and maybe some of them get met, but really you’re just buying yourself time. They know you’re buying time and are preparing to move in. No one believes that once you’re done with your plan that you’ll let any of us live. You probably already plan to set these vests off once you’re through with whatever it is you’re doing.” TK expected the backlash. He definitely knew how to piss people off.

He could hear yelling from multiple people. He couldn’t make out the words as he was pulled back into the center. He was shoved to the floor in the middle of the dispatch work floor. His head bounced off the tile and TK barely bit back a groan of displeasure. Hands found his neck and TK jerked to try to move them. “You think you’re so smart? Before they even know what hit them, they’ll be going up in smoke because of you and your partner. You think that by talking like that, you gave them some insight to our plan? Because of you, we had more time to finish what needed to be done!”

TK coughed as the man let his throat go. “I think you’re bluffing,” TK gasped.

Michelle made a noise of protest as the man rounded and hit TK’s face. “You’re lucky I need you alive to keep your crew out from here. I hear that you’re that Captain’s son. He won’t let you come to any harm.”

_____________

It feels like forever before there’s more movement in the center. The men were wrapping up their plan. TK met Michelle’s eyes, they both nodded. They weren’t going down without a fight. Before they could get up, four doors busted open and flash bombs were going off.

TK covered his ears, eyes shutting to protect him from the bright flashes. Everything was muffled sounding. Opening his eyes and uncovering his ears, TK had to blink multiple times before he could make out what was going on in the room. S.W.A.T. had taken out the men and were escorting them out. The leader of the team was making his way towards Michelle and TK.

“I’m Captain Pack, I need you both to stay still while the bomb squad gets in here to get these vests off of you.”

TK nodded, his ears picking up a scuffle near one of the entrances, “that’s my son in there! Let me see my son!”

TK licked his lips. “Can you tell my dad that I’m fine? Tell him to let the bomb squad do their job and I’ll be out in a bit?”

“You’ve got it, Strand.”

_____________

TK hated hospitals. They reminded him of when he overdosed, having woken up in a hospital room with his dad crying and telling him that it was going to be okay. TK hated hospitals. He would tell the hospitals that he didn’t want narcotics when he was hurt and the workers would just give him looks like they could judge someone they don’t even know. TK fucking hated hospitals.

After the bomb squad had gotten rid of the vests, another team of paramedics had checked them out. He had seen his crew in the background as he had been loaded into an ambulance. He knew it was only a matter of time before they showed up. He was allowed to head home and had already texted his dad to let him know.

A soft knock on the door frame brought TK’s attention to it. Judd stood in the doorway , arms crossed, an unreadable look on his face. “Owen wanted to come get you, but we got a call out right after your text. Seemed like a big one. I offered to come get ya.”

TK nodded, slowly getting off the bed and grabbing his uniform shirt. It was silent as they walked to Judd’s truck. Gingerly, TK pulled himself into the truck and Judd shut the door behind him. TK knew that Judd wanted to talk as the man started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. TK, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to be dropped at home so that he could burrow under the covers of his bed and never come out again.

“You had a shit day,” Judd stated as he pulled up to a red light.

Not expecting the remark, a laugh bumbled out of TK’s mouth. “No shit,” he responded.

“Reyes was really worried about you.” Before TK could respond, Judd continued. “We all were. We knew Michelle would be fine, but you have a tendency to get yourself hurt and generally run your mouth off at people. And, let’s be honest, even when you’re not actively trying to piss someone off, you tend to get hurt anyway.”

TK glanced at Judd as he rolled forward as the light turned green. He could see the set in Judd’s jaw which told him how Judd was trying to keep his emotions in check. “To be fair, I don’t look for trouble...I just sometimes invoke the wrath of the trouble that has found me.”

A small chuckle passed Judd’s lips. “That’s a nice way of saying that you couldn’t shut your big mouth long enough to get out of there without your pretty face getting bruised and cut up.”

TK rolled his eyes, “it was like I couldn’t stop myself. He always turned so red when I talked back to him. I think part of me wanted to see how red I could get him, if he’d turn purple or something.” TK could feel the heaviness that had been on his chest starting to lift as he and Judd fell into their regular banter for the rest of the ride home. By the time they reached his house, TK didn’t feel jittery.

Spotting a familiar Camero in the driveway, TK felt a small smile grace his face. “Looks like Lover Boy wants to make sure you’re alright for himself,” Judd smirked.

TK could feel his face heat up. “We’re friends, Judd. Just like you and me. You wanted to make sure I was alright and he wants to do the same.”

Parking the truck, Judd turned to him. “We both know that’s some bullshit. I don’t see why you don’t make a move on him. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He looked like a kicked puppy today when everything happened. He wanted nothing more than to storm into the dispatch center and get you the hell out of there. That man cares about you, TK. You deserve someone that good, someone who thinks of you as the man who hung the moon.”

TK shook his head. “Carlos doesn’t like me like that, Judd. Why would he? He doesn’t even know how fucked up I am,” he mumbled.

TK wasn’t expecting the light slap to the back of his head. His eyes shot up to Judd’s, a frown firmly on his face. “You’re not fucked up. You’ve had some fucked up situations in your life that have shaped you into a strong, capable man, TK. Your past addiction doesn’t make you weaker, it makes you so fucking strong. You’re allowed to have reservations, but Carlos is gone for you, Brother. You love him, he loves you...take the chance and jump. He’ll catch you.”

TK studied Judd’s face, seeing nothing but the truth. He wiped his palms on his pants, licking his lips. “I’m blaming you when he laughs in my face.”

Before TK could exit the truck, Judd placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t lie to you about something like this, TK. Feel better soon, okay? Grace wants to have you over in a few days for dinner.”

TK nodded his head, letting himself out of the truck and waving Judd off. Turning towards his driveway, TK could see Carlos leaning against his vehicle. He walked slowly over to the man, feeling some of the heaviness from before return. He could feel the tears building up behind his eyelids and his throat closing from the stresses of the day.

As he got closer to Carlos, the man pushed himself off his car. TK didn’t give Carlos time to talk, he just dived in, burying his head in Carlos’ chest and winding his arms around the man’s middle. Immediately Carlos wrapped his arms around TK tightly but not tight enough to hurt the slightly smaller man. That’s when the floodgates opened and TK let himself cry knowing Carlos was going to catch him.

TK doesn’t know how long they stay in their embrace, but he almost instantly feels embarrassed. He backed out of the embrace, motioning towards the house and walking away from the man. Shakily, he unlocks the door, leaving it open for Carlos as he makes his way to the couch. “If you need to talk-”

“I-I don’t want,” TK blew out a breath, “I don’t want to talk...about it...I-there’s nothing to say. We were sent there by chance, we didn’t know it wasn’t an emergency. We were blindsided. We had to make sure there was no one that actually needed our help and even though I told Michelle that it didn’t feel right and we should leave, we had to check. There’s nothing to talk about, okay? They shot-they shot Gillian and wouldn’t let us help her and they strapped bombs to our chest and put us back in our ambulance. They threw Gillian on the street without letting us help her and they took us into the dispatch center and they threatened to use us to kill everyone in the center. They were brutish and I fucking hate bullies so I just had to tell him off like the little twat I am. I know it was stupid, okay?” TK took a shuddering breath in. All the anxiety from the day came rushing back. “And-and he dragged me out there and I saw you guys and I just kept thinking that I couldn’t put my dad through losing his son. I couldn’t make him watch me get blown up but I just kept antagonizing the man because I hated the idea of him. And I just-I kept thinking about you and my dad. I wanted to get back to you both because I love you both so much and the thought of hurting you kills me,” TK was breathing raggedly at this point. He’d just admitted to Carlos that he was in love with him.

Tears fogged TK’s vision as his breathing worsened. Hands were on his face soon after, words muffled in his ears. TK was spiraling. Lips touched his and TK caught his breath, tensing before quickly relaxing at the calm hands stroking his face. As the lips separated from his, he opened his eyes to see Carlos already looking at him. “I hope that was okay. It was the only way I could think to keep you from going into a panic attack. Our first kiss shouldn’t have been that, but I didn’t know what to do and-”

“Carlos,” TK’s voice was soft and ragged. “The only reason that wouldn’t be alright is if you didn’t mean it.”

Carlos rested his forehead against TK’s. “I meant it and so much more, Amore.”

“Promise?”

“Forever.”

#Anonymous #by red #writings by red #days like these #judson ryder #judd ryder #tk strand #tyler kennedy strand #tk strand x carlos reyes #tyler kennedy strand x carlos reyes #carlos reyes #carlos reyes x tk strand #carlos reyes x tyler kennedy strand #owen strand #michelle blake

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kindledspiritsbooks · 4 years

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My Month in Books: December 2019

The Queen of Nothing - Holly Black

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power. Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril. Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics. And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Moving forward and backward in time, Jacqueline Woodson's taut and powerful new novel uncovers the role that history and community have played in the experiences, decisions, and relationships of these families, and in the life of the new child. As the book opens in 2001, it is the evening of sixteen-year-old Melody's coming of age ceremony in her grandparents' Brooklyn brownstone. Watched lovingly by her relatives and friends, making her entrance to the music of Prince, she wears a special custom-made dress. But the event is not without poignancy. Sixteen years earlier, that very dress was measured and sewn for a different wearer: Melody's mother, for her own ceremony-- a celebration that ultimately never took place. Unfurling the history of Melody's parents and grandparents to show how they all arrived at this moment, Woodson considers not just their ambitions and successes but also the costs, the tolls they've paid for striving to overcome expectations and escape the pull of history. As it explores sexual desire and identity, ambition, gentrification, education, class and status, and the life-altering facts of parenthood, Red at the Bone most strikingly looks at the ways in which young people must so often make long-lasting decisions about their lives--even before they have begun to figure out who they are and what they want to be.

Katherine by Anya Seton

This classic romance novel tells the true story of the love affair that changed history—that of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the ancestors of most of the British royal family. Set in the vibrant 14th century of Chaucer and the Black Death, the story features knights fighting in battle, serfs struggling in poverty, and the magnificent Plantagenets—Edward III, the Black Prince, and Richard II—who ruled despotically over a court rotten with intrigue. Within this era of danger and romance, John of Gaunt, the king’s son, falls passionately in love with the already married Katherine. Their well-documented affair and love persist through decades of war, adultery, murder, loneliness, and redemption. This epic novel of conflict, cruelty, and untamable love has become a classic since its first publication in 1954.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice" of Kinnakee, Kansas. She survived—and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, the Kill Club—a secret secret society obsessed with notorious crimes—locates Libby and pumps her for details. They hope to discover proof that may free Ben. Libby hopes to turn a profit off her tragic history: She’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club—for a fee. As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started—on the run from a killer.

House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin A. Craig

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods. Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with? When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

A profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the bond between their children, a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, the daily intimacies of marriage, and the power of forgiveness. Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, two rookie cops in the NYPD, live next door to each other outside the city. What happens behind closed doors in both houses—the loneliness of Francis’s wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne—sets the stage for the explosive events to come. Ask Again, Yes is a deeply affecting exploration of the lifelong friendship and love that blossoms between Francis and Lena’s daughter, Kate, and Brian and Anne’s son, Peter. Luminous, heartbreaking, and redemptive, Ask Again, Yes reveals the way childhood memories change when viewed from the distance of adulthood—villains lose their menace and those who appeared innocent seem less so. Kate and Peter’s love story, while tested by echoes from the past, is marked by tenderness, generosity, and grace.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

All's faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author, Jen DeLuca. Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him? The faire is Simon's family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn't have time for Emily's lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she's in her revealing wench's costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they're portraying? This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can't seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.

Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen

Aisling is twenty-eight and she’s a complete ... Aisling. She lives at home in Ballygobbard (or Ballygobackwards, as some gas tickets call it) with her parents and commutes to her good job at PensionsPlus in Dublin.

Aisling goes out every Saturday night with her best friend Majella, who is a bit of a hames (she’s lost two phones already this year – Aisling has never lost a phone).

Aisling spends two nights a week at her boyfriend John’s. He’s from down home and was kiss number seventeen at her twenty-first.

But Aisling wants more. She wants the ring on her finger. She wants the hen with the willy straws. She wants out of her parents’ house, although she’d miss Mammy turning on the electric blanket like clockwork and Daddy taking her car 'out for a spin' and bringing it back full of petrol.

When a week in Tenerife with John doesn’t end with the expected engagement, Aisling calls a halt to things and soon she has surprised herself and everyone else by agreeing to move into a three-bed in Portobello with stylish Sadhbh from HR and her friend, the mysterious Elaine.

Newly single and relocated to the big city, life is about to change utterly for this wonderful, strong, surprising and funny girl, who just happens to be a complete Aisling.

Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen, the creators of the much-loved Aisling character and the popular Facebook page 'Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling', bring Aisling to life in their novel about the quintessential country girl in the big smoke.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Far beneath the surface of the earth, upon the shores of the Starless Sea, there is a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with stories. The entryways that lead to this sanctuary are often hidden, sometimes on forest floors, sometimes in private homes, sometimes in plain sight. But those who seek will find. Their doors have been waiting for them. Zachary Ezra Rawlins is searching for his door, though he does not know it. He follows a silent siren song, an inexplicable knowledge that he is meant for another place. When he discovers a mysterious book in the stacks of his campus library he begins to read, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, lost cities, and nameless acolytes. Suddenly a turn of the page brings Zachary to a story from his own childhood impossibly written in this book that is older than he is. A bee, a key, and a sword emblazoned on the book lead Zachary to two people who will change the course of his life: Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired painter, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances. These strangers guide Zachary through masquerade party dances and whispered back room stories to the headquarters of a secret society where doorknobs hang from ribbons, and finally through a door conjured from paint to the place he has always yearned for. Amid twisting tunnels filled with books, gilded ballrooms, and wine-dark shores Zachary falls into an intoxicating world soaked in romance and mystery. But a battle is raging over the fate of this place and though there are those who would willingly sacrifice everything to protect it, there are just as many intent on its destruction. As Zachary, Mirabel, and Dorian venture deeper into the space and its histories and myths, searching for answers and each other, a timeless love story unspools, casting a spell of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a Starless Sea.

The Swallows by Lisa Lutz

What do you love? What do you hate? What do you want? It starts with this simple writing prompt from Alex Witt, Stonebridge Academy's new creative writing teacher. When the students' answers raise disturbing questions of their own, Ms. Witt knows there's more going on the school than the faculty wants to see. She soon learns about The Ten--the students at the top of the school's social hierarchy--as well as their connection to something called The Darkroom. Ms. Witt can't remain a passive observer. She finds the few girls who've started to question the school's "boys will be boys" attitude and incites a resistance that quickly becomes a movement. But just as it gains momentum, she also attracts the attention of an unknown enemy who knows a little too much about her--including what brought her to Stonebridge in the first place. Meanwhile, Gemma, a defiant senior, has been plotting her attack for years, waiting for the right moment. Shy loner Norman hates his role in the Darkroom, but can't find the courage to fight back until he makes an unlikely alliance. And then there's Finn Ford, an English teacher with a shady reputation who keeps one eye on his literary ambitions and one on Ms. Witt. As the school's secrets begin to trickle out, a boys-versus-girls skirmish turns into an all-out war, with deeply personal--and potentially fatal--consequences for everyone involved. Lisa Lutz's blistering, timely tale shows us what can happen when silence wins out over decency for too long--and why the scariest threat of all might be the idea that sooner or later, girls will be girls.

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thegottabe · 6 years

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*So I just finished season 11 of The X-files...*

I didn’t watch any of the revival episodes until recently (for several reasons, the simplest of which is that watching week to week is the worst and I feel much more frustrated by a bad episode if I have to wait a week for the next one), but since they announced they aren’t renewing the show for the time being, I felt like now was the time to rewatch the entire series, from beginning to end. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the new seasons, mainly because - as usually happens on the internet - the haters are the loudest when expressing their opinions and everything I saw about them was negative. However, after watching them for myself, I have to say I kind of loved them. Not the mythology episodes, mind you.

The whole conspiracy mythology should have been wrapped up and dropped a long time ago, long before season 9, let alone 10 and 11. The fact that Chris brought it back after all these years only to make it even more convoluted and silly was a terrible call. Really terrible. Not that it wasn’t a pleasure to see William B. Davis on my screen again, but CSM should never have come back. It made no sense whatsoever, considering the last time we saw him he got blown to smithereens. I mean, yeah, I know Chris has always said “no one on The X-Files is ever really dead” but the man took a freaking missile to the face. He was very dead and should have stayed that way. And don’t even get me started on how stupid Reyes’ storyline was. Besides not making any sense character-wise, it was badly written and well... just stupid. And the final episode was beyond ridiculous. Skinner, Scully, Mulder... these characters I have loved and carried with me for over 20 years deserved so much better. Especially Scully. It was devastating to watch, honestly. It certainly goes on my list of Worst Finales Ever of All Time. As I do with HIMYM and a few other shows, in future re-watches, I’ll pretend the last episode doesn’t exist. The last ten minutes, especially. That said, the rest of the revival episodes were super enjoyable to me. I was never bored, often amused and my love for Darin Morgan was rekindled immediately. He is brilliant. I only wish Vince Gilligan could have written as well. His episodes were always wonderful to watch. As for the little critiques, I know a lot of people really disliked Einstein and Miller, but I found them pretty entertaining myself. They’re no Scully and Mulder, but I enjoyed them and their bickering. I also loved seeing Mulder’s inevitable evolution into a Grumpy Old Man who hates new-fangled electronics and grumbles about “kids today.” And Gillian, as always, nailed all the emotional notes of Scully (after the first episode of season 10, anyway, which was rough for everyone). Nothing could possibly have saved the end of the season 11 finale, but if anything came close, it was David and Gillian’s acting. The lines were terrible, the plot was terrible and the overall episode was terrible, but despite that, the emotion felt real. They took one of the silliest, most overly-dramatic scenes written since the daytime soap Passions and managed to make it moving despite it’s idiocy. So yes, I have to say that overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the revival and I’m glad it happened. There were several times while watching I felt the same magic I felt as a kid watching the OS. Mulder and Scully’s bantering and bickering were as beautiful as ever and the poignant moments were just as bittersweet as they used to be. I went into it expecting to hate it and fell in love all over again instead, and that was a great experience. As far as Chris Carter goes, I’m not going to hate on him too much. Yes, I think his episodes were by far the least enjoyable and most frustrating, but - as long as I ignore that last episode - I can truly say he didn’t ruin the series for me at all. I’ve always had great respect for him as a show runner for several reasons, the first of which goes all the way back to season 2, when he flat-out refused to fire Gillian because of her pregnancy, despite pressure from the higher-ups. Not only was he excited for her, but he found a way to tie it into the show and created some very interesting plotlines as a result. Very few show-runners are so kind to pregnant actresses (see: faux-feminist Joss Whedon’s treatment of Charisma Carpenter). Beyond that, Chris Carter created in Scully one of the first well-rounded female characters I ever saw on television. She was tough yet vulnerable, kind yet assertive, sentimental yet reserved, scientific yet religious, ambitious yet maternal. Though she struggled between her love for Mulder and her loyalty to her own identity, she was never written as just a love interest or sacrificed on the altar of man-pain like so many other female leads. She felt like a real person I’d want to have lunch with. She was wonderful, and Chris Carter made that happen and I will always be appreciative of that. I also appreciate Chris because of his openness of mind to let other writers take the characters places he didn’t personally want them to go. He was always for a platonic relationship between Mulder and Scully, yet he still listened to feedback from both the actors and writers and let them do what they felt was right. That’s not a common thing. As a writer myself, I know how threatening it feels when someone takes characters you’ve created and feel you know so well and tries to convince you that you’re wrong about them. For Chris to allow his writers the freedom to do that really earns some respect for me, because that’s extremely hard to do. I’m not saying I’m happy with Chris. I’m furious, honestly. I was horrified at the end of the finale and I hated it. Scully’s attitude at the end shows that Chris, at best, has absolutely no understanding of how the female mind works when it comes to maternal feelings. Why he wanted so badly to screw those incredible characters he created over will be forever beyond me and I��m sad that it happened. But even so, his present choices, however horrible, aren’t enough to make me any less thankful for the joy he bought to my life by creating The X-files. For that, I’ll always respect him, though I can’t say I still trust him as a writer. I guess I’m just writing this because, overall, the revival was a positive experience for me. I got to spend several more enjoyable hours with characters I’ve loved all my life and I adored seeing the older versions of Scully and Mulder together. I got all kinds of new shippy moments that made me flail in fangirlish rapture :D Trivial critiques aside, most of the revival was just as fun to watch as the original series once was, and that’s something I truly treasure and didn’t expect at all. ♥

#the x-files #MSR #Dana Scully #Fox Mulder #Mulder x Scully #Chris Charter #Gillian Anderson #David Duchovny #my post

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nightmareonfilmstreet · 6 years

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[Recap] HBO’s SHARP OBJECTS Episode Two: Dirt

Sunday night’s airing of Dirt, the second episode of HBO’s tantalizing new miniseries Sharp Objects showed viewers that not only is there a lot to be unearthed in Wind Gap, but that all of its inhabitants, including our heroine Camille, have some dark secrets buried deep within themselves.

Sharp Objects Recap: Episode 2

If you have not yet watched Episode 1, Vanish, or Episode 2, Dirt, I suggest you hightail it back to the previous page as this is obviously going to include spoilers!

While Vanish fulfilled its purpose by laying down the important groundwork answering our main who, what, and where of the series’ plot line, Dirt really sets in the why intrigue.

Dirt introduces us to new characters, obvious potential murder suspects, and ups the ante on existing characters’ troubling idiosyncrasies. Like any good mystery, the more subjects exposed to the audience with as little exposition as possible, forces us unto to slip into Camille’s abused skin and hunt for the murderer along with her. Although this episode seems to move a little slower than Vanish, we have to keep in mind that every scene, every flashback, every character interaction, and every flash of a seemingly random word serves a purpose to this story’s ending.

“Dirt introduces us to new characters, obvious potential murder suspects, and ups the ante on existing characters’ troubling idiosyncrasies.”

Now that you’re familiar with the peculiarity of words and what they mean to not only Camille, but to the message of the story, pay attention to each one as they’re carefully selected by Gillian Flynn herself as she shared in her latest interview with Vanity Fair. Flynn details the influence words have on Camille’s psyche, emotional levels, and her relationships with those around her. Like a slight poke to the hip, the words we see flash so suddenly in the strangest of places can have the most literal of meanings, but most are more than skin deep.

Communication between Camille and her father-figure editor Frank Curry strengthens. Him being her only toe dipped in her Chicago reality while her standing relationship with her mother is slowly beginning to unravel down the Wind Gap rabbit hole. With the second missing girl, Natalie Keene, now found dead and propped up like a doll missing all of her teeth due to some force and a good pair of sharp-edged pliers, Curry urges Camille to push her reporting forward, to get the details – a perfect line for a series’ second episode. Here is where our big red content train leaves the station. The foundation is poured, Natalie is found, and the moving parts are now in motion.

Unlike the novel, viewers are able to watch relationships among the secondary characters expand. Whether it be a pissing match between Chief Vickery and Detective Willis, a drunken Jackie O’Neill spewing useful nonsense to Camille, or the backhanded comments courtesy of Wind Gap’s less sensitive citizens like John Keene’s attention hungry girlfriend, Meredith.

A majority of Dirt focuses on the town’s adults and Camille, (much to her mother’s resistance) while attending Natalie’s funeral. Adora persists in fear of embarrassment due to her daughter’s proclivity toward reporting horrible, wicked things that unfortunately exist in the real world. The entire event is emotionally charging as we see Natalie’s mother gives a tearful memorial and her older brother John, so different from Natalie, torn apart over her death. Natalie is described as a “spitfire”, a “tomboy”, and a girl who loved to “explore”, having a lot to say when she believed in something. Sound familiar? It all resurrects harsh memories of Camille’s younger sister Marian’s untimely death and the neglect she received from her sterile mother once the ‘favorite’ passed away.

Following the service, the mourners gather at the Keene home for what could easily be mistaken for a neighborhood pot-luck. Here we meet Camille’s simple, shallow classmates like Katie Lacey, we get a deeper look into how much of an outcast Natalie truly was. We exploring her bedroom and belongings with Camille, and watch as community gossip begins the finger-pointing at who might have a possible motive to kill two young innocent girls. Natalie’s father, similarly to Ann’s has an alibi, yet comes off a little cold and defensive especially when Camille questions John’s whereabouts at the time of her disappearance.

Being the natural investigator she is, Camille turns her attention to Wind Gap’s youth for answers. She finds a compelling and eerie tale from a local boy, James Capisi, clearly born of a family of Have Nots in a town full of Haves. He is the last to see Natalie alive in the broad afternoon daylight in the park and when questioned by police he claims she was taken by a ‘woman in white’. Camille conjures up the image of a witchy woman in white silently beckoning the girl to follow her into the forest in a scene so out-of-place, it sent chills down my spine. We learn it is a bit of town folklore not to be taken seriously as James is a known storyteller spinning innocent lies to make up for his poor family life suffering at his mother’s debilitating illness. His penchant for pretend is written off quickly by a clueless, but desperate Vickery who is certain of only one thing – a man is responsible for the murders. While this situation rises and is quickly suffocated, Willis decides to test just how hard it would be to plug a tooth from a deceased pig’s head using domestic pliers.

“Camille conjures up the image of a witchy woman in white silently beckoning the girl to follow her into the forest..”

In Dirt, Camille’s struggle with self harm escalates as she toys with a sewing kit needle and temptation of the highest pressure. We can feel her internal battle being faced with bad memories, ‘friendly’ faces, and the emotional reminders of her own existence in Wind Gap. After coming to a semi you-show-me-yours-and-I’ll-show-you-mine understanding with Willis, she returns to her mother’s home to find an indifferent Alan, childlike Amma, and borderline neurotic Adora playing house, while building a replica one, in the sun room.

Amma, fashioned like an inappropriate American Girl doll throws a tantrum in the manner of a four-year old that Adora claims to be due to Ann and Natalie’s deaths. Camille and Adora begin to get into it, with Adora cradling and fawning over Amma like an infant while telling Camille she wished their relationship could be better, but it just is not. It’s a pretty harrowing scene bouncing dependability and emotional stability off of the women in the room like an out of control racquetball. Amma comments wearily that Camille “can be good”, she “wants to be good” while relishing in her mother’s attention. Camille, though concerned and alarmed by this behavior, turns her back to it by retreating to the solace of her sepia bedroom armed with a sewing needle against a smooth patch of skin below her navel.

No matter what she can mask from Curry or what Amma whimpers into Adora’s arms, things for Camille and Wind Gap are not good, they are far from it.

Analysis

Hopefully you’ve never had to experience a funeral or memorial for a well-known local who died a tragic death in a small town like Wind Gap. But if you have the nauseous musings of false modesty, distasteful gatherings, attention seeking strangers, and hushed judgments, they all may be rushing back to you upon viewing Dirt.

Thw second episode not only digs deep into Sharp Objects‘ characters, but it also sets the scene for a town that, for all intents and purposes, is a character within itself. The whodunnit mystery is more alive than ever and the list of suspects lengthens with each new scene. Who is to blame? The sad James Dean brother of Natalie? The eccentric drunk Jackie? One of the defensive, odd fathers? Alma and her rollerskating posse? The police chief in denial? The untrustworthy pariah, James Capisi? A supernatural ‘woman in white’? One of the Crellins? Have we even met the murderer yet? All is yet to be determined, but that would never keep the townsfolk from talking. Nothing ever does.

I want to save some insight into what living in a town that slightly resembles Wind Gap is like while being the ‘outcast’ myself. There is so much more to come from Sharp Objects that I can relate to and I’m sure so many viewers can as well. Of course, none of the social pressures I experience reach the intensity Flynn describes in Sharp Objects, but I do live in a small southern town and, from experience, it is easy to identify with Camille Preaker. Being a curvy, “edgy”, northern artsy lover of all things dark and spooky sometimes draws a fine line in the sand between me and the wholesome, fair, athletic, Christian girls and women I find myself surrounded by. Over time I have learned the ways of southern men and women, of judgments that can be passed by those less open-minded, and the hypocrisies many remain ignorant to all while ultimately loving and valuing myself.

When Camille tells Willis that when people in town say “Bless your heart” they really mean “F**k you” that is completely, albeit unspoken, truth. That common phrase can have a range of meanings from “poor thing” to “you are a legitimate moron and this is the only way I can say it to your face” and it comes in a variety of sympathetic tones and smiling expressions. Southern etiquette it sadly a psychosocial topic less explored.

Camille suffers that same atmosphere and in Dirt that juxtaposition and the creeping submergence Wind Gap possesses slowly comes to life. We are now fully aware that our leading lady is flawed and real just like me and you. Flynn and the show’s writers have created a modern world stuck in time where people, women especially, are expected to behave a certain way when others are looking. It maintains the ongoing theme that no matter how good we want to be, we’re always going to be a little bad no matter how many eyes are on us. Just because someone may be different or considered an outcast, like Camille, Ann and Natalie, the Capisi’s, and even John Keene, that does not make them any less valuable or important as an individual, a notion places like Wind Gap seem to keep buried. Camille makes mistakes, she relapses, she shuts off one minute and submits to her feelings the next and because of that we are just as vulnerable in this haunting ride through Wind Gap with her.

Why is all of this important?

At some point in most, if not all, of our lives we feel misplaced or different from everyone around us and the effects of that stigma can vary. If we look close at these nuanced characters it is easy to see who belongs, who doesn’t, and who pretends to be. Sharp Objects is just beginning to set up a very interesting, relevant angle within this seemingly typical story of murder in a small town here in episode two – however, we’re not going to delve into that topic just yet.

We are left with our anti-heroine still believing the biggest threat that lies in Wind Gap is a faceless serial child murderer. She can do her best to endure her family’s oddities and should be able to repress her past traumas before they become more than silent thoughts so long as she remains good.

Oh, bless her heart.

We’ll see if she can put that sewing kit to deliberate use before things unravel beyond control next Sunday with Sharp Object’s third episode, Fix – on HBO.

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rate-out-of-10 · 7 years

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GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 REVIEW

In 2014 the MCU opened its arms to the lesser known (at the time) gang of heroes, the Guardians of the Galaxy. It was a head scratcher as to why, with the Avengers being the biggest thing in comic cinema ever, to launch a new film set so far away from everything happening in the MCU with a bunch of relatively unknown people. However, the risk paid off and Guardians of the Galaxy was a huge surprise hit. It surprised comic fans and casual movie-goers alike with its quick wit, lovable and unique characters, and its total embrace of its cheesy qualities. The best way to sum up the Guardians of the Galaxy is: 70s/80s rock & pop music laid over superheroes in space. It’s perfect, and let me tell you, Vol. 2 keeps that reputation going with ease.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Chris Pratt returns as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, and he’s as lovable as ever. He’s the perfect person to play this role. Vol. 2 gives Peter the chance to shine in some more dramatic elements with him meeting his father and learning the truth about his mother and his lineage. But even when faced with some lower, more dramatic parts, he’s still the wise-ass Star-Lord we’ve come to love. And that’s where the movie shines specifically; expanding some crucial parts for each character, while maintaining them. Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and her relationship with her sister Nebula (Karen Gillian) is a big sub-plot here and I absolutely enjoyed it. Tackling abuse is a touchy thing to do in film, especially when it’s in the midst of a more light-hearted feel, but the importance is not lost on it. The rivalry between the two is apparent and I liked learning why and how it came to be. I do wish, though, that I saw the rivalry grow with flashbacks to younger versions of the two, even just one; I am getting tired of dead-pan close ups of angry/sad people just retelling their traumatic backstories, no matter how affecting they might be. And while I’m talking about Nebula and Gamora, these two seemed to fall into the pit of being a little too over the top with their lines. Most delivered by Nebula felt off and a little too dramatic. However, upon a second viewing I felt more content with the lines. Another character that is fleshed out rather well is Yondu, the Ravager who took Peter as a child and somewhat raised him. We learn why he kept Peter instead of returning him to his father, where he came from (in yet another sad dead-pan retelling), and something that was a great addition, his relationship with Rocket. It was touching and hilarious and something new that we needed to see out of the two. Yondu being specifically talked of as being Peter’s father figure put a smile on my face. “You may be his boy, but he was never your daddy,” that lined healed me. Plus his Ravager funeral was a very touching moment, especially with Kraglin’s heartwarming reaction when he sees his fellow ravagers come to the funeral blast their fireworks for him. I teared up a little there. Bradley Cooper turns in another great performance, however his fake laughs were a bit too fake and they got me feeling some sort of uncomfortable way sometimes. Rocket proving himself to be a professional asshole, but in the light of him being a young Yondu, being overly-protective of himself spelled really well through the movie. Perhaps the most adored character in the first movie, Groot shines again and steals the show in his baby form. His childlike wonder is so nice to have, especially in a genre where it’s easy to fall into the trap of melodrama, and taking things too seriously (I’m looking at you DC’s cinematic universe). Baby Groot was unspeakably adorable, but boy am I excited for Angsty-Teen Groot. While there is some cheesy, melodrama in Vol. 2, there was plenty in the first too, it’s always evenly offset by its wittiness, or its outrageousness, and Baby Groot is that refreshing glass of water. With Groot, there’s Drax the Destroyer. The naïve, natural-born killer works against the melodrama as well and it works quite nicely. Although I was disappointed in him in some regards. Is it me, or did he not seem to do much? He only really fought in the beginning sequence but from there on he was just sort of there delivery some funny lines. I didn’t like him just solely there comedy, I wanted Drax to be destroying things as well, and I was let down in that regard. Kurt Russell as Ego was very cool as well. It’s hard to personify a being of that magnitude with such competence. Ego is also, by every meaning of the word, is a cheesy comic creation. I mean he’s a planet with a face. C’mon. But it is used very sparingly and tastefully to where you’re not completely overwhelmed by that cheesy comic book genre stuff. What I did appreciate a lot was that he didn’t feel like generic villain that we’ve seen a dozen times in the Marvel movies. He felt slightly more real, even as a celestial. Overall, each character, even the new ones, like Mantis (who is absolutely adorable, by the way. A little cinnamon roll to perfect for this world, too pure), all got the chance to shine and be fleshed out a bit more, and remain themselves, while also staying fun to watch.

I have to applaud the writers right off the bat. These folk have some balls doing what they did. They knew Guardians 1 had to be big and ridiculous and different to be the success it was, and they knew after that they had to go even bigger, and they did without looking back. It’s very commendable. It’s tough to make a worthy follow up to something that surprised everyone because everyone will naturally be expecting to be surprised by this one too. That’s not fair at all I think, this movie is a great sequel to the original, and is great in its own right. The film is a creation made of pure character. The story follows along the plot it does simply because the characters naturally turned it out. No plot point or happening felt too forced, they organic and that’s important to superhero films. They need to feel inhabited by heroes we can connect to, make them feel real, even when they’re clearly not. James Gunn and team continue to do a wonderful job creating characters and allowing them to be themselves. And I was totally happy with The Sovereign have the bad-guy spotlight for time, as Ego’s plot line built up. I was anxious to see The Living Planet, and I wasn’t disappointed. The film also has some amazing CG work and action sequences, with a bomb soundtrack as well, but that’s to be expected. In addition to its fun, Vol. 2 also has some really dark sequences, with some serious carnage thrown in as well. Some pieces feel overwhelming and have serious repercussions in the universe, some are just flat out morbid; but it works very well with the film, it grounds it I think. With all the weirdness and absurdity that happens with the Guardians, those darker, heavier bits are definitely welcome in my opinion. I’m excited to see the rumors of Adam Warlock be confirmed here. An introduction to the soul stone perhaps? There was no sign of any of the last Infinity Stones in this. Even still, this movie was a whole lot of fun, and there are things here that really get you excited for the future of the MCU when the cosmic parts collide with the Earth-based heroes. It’ll put things into perspective for the Avengers too. It’ll be very affecting to see Tony’s fears in Age of Ultron confirmed, Earth is “hopelessly outgunned”. And with Thor: Ragnarok looking like it’s going to begin building the bridge to the cosmic MCU, we’ll be seeing all these heroes together very soon, and that is very exciting. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 goes big and owns every part of it, without a doubt. I could have done without some of the clichés, as well as some too-cheesy dialogue, Drax just being there for comedic effect, as well as some jokes that carried on for too long, but they don’t hurt the film too much I’d say because they own the rest so damn well. The film is bold, smart, funny, and very heartfelt. My final rating for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is:

8.75/10. Explosive fun.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is just awesome. Simple as that. Marvel can do anything that they want.

#guardians of the galaxy #guardians of the galaxy vol 2 #gotg #gotg2 #review #movie review #film review #reviews #out of 10 #comics #movies #superheroes #peter quill #chris pratt #film #comedy #action #marvel #mcu

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yoosungshoodie · 7 years

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1-40

1: How long have you been playing Slbp?

Since December of 2016, I think? Maybe late November? I remember playing it during a family trip and I was really put off due to everything looking so confusing at first.

2: What made you decide to download it?

People on Tumblr that I followed began playing about it and posting about it, so I was curious to see what the hype was all about. I had also been winded from a very, very dramatic breakup from a turbulent relationship, so I needed something to help myself get my head out of that space and move on.

3: Who’s route did you play first?

Of course… Oda Nobunaga. I don’t know if it’s because he was the first option that popped up when you get to choose or if he just looked all fiery and red, but I was into it. He turned out to easily be one of my favorites.

4: Favorite route?

God… I don’t know if I can decide between Kojuro or Nobunaga, even if I can’t remember either of their routes super well. I know everyone already talks about this, but I really liked MC in Kojuro’s route and I liked how confusing Kojuro could be at times, as well as endearing. I haven’t played all the routes so maybe this will change, but Kojuro and his whole “precious girl” and the whole plot seemed really interesting.

5: Least favorite route?

I’m not sure if I have one yet, and again I haven’t played all of them yet, but all I know is that Shingen’s route didn’t particularly leave much of an impression on me, but I really did enjoy his divine ending and it moved me a lot. His route itself however, just didn’t seem to leave much of a mark on me.

6: Favorite lord?

For overall, Kojuro. He’s steadfast and charming and everything I know I’d want for myself if that kind of person really existed. He’s my dreamboat boy, and I like his messy room and his Bontenmaru obsession. I think his relationship with the MC is the most evolved out of them all, and is really cute and mature and understanding. Also, jealous Kojuro makes me want to kiss his face all over.

7: Least favorite lord?

I can’t… I don’t have one… I love them all…

8: Favorite female character?

Umeko. I’d go gay for her. I haven’t played Saizo’s route yet but his sister? Sheeeeesh. She is so fine.

9: Favorite retainer?

Toramatsu Toramatsu Toramatsu Toramatsu. He is my small boyfriend and he looks so cute… I need his route. He just seems so right for MC and I mean it may not be the most dramatic route, but it would sure be a damn cute one. Plus, the way his eyes light up in battle makes me giggle. He’s so cute, who could say no to that brown hair and brown eyes?!

10: Favorite side character?

I didn’t want to say Toramatsu because I already said Toramatsu, but Toramatsu. Let me be with my boyfriend.

11: Best villain?

Nobunaga in Shingen’s route. I’ve seen previews of Ieyasu as a villain as well but I really like Nobunaga as a villain because I’ve seen it myself. He’s a powerful one and he’s ruthless, and I love me some villains. He’s driven, and even Shingen notes that he acts as if he needs to take the world on his shoulders. He’s a villain with purpose, not just a cardboard cutout villain who’s got no real purpose. Nobunaga in Shingen’s route makes me so damn happy, especially when he says that line about him being the only one who can achieve unification. He’s got a reason for being the villain and he knows it, and Shingen’s death wasn’t just because Nobunaga was dicking around and decided to play with the Tiger for the shits and giggles.

12: Worst Villain?

I can’t remember any specific villains but I hate villains who don’t have a real purpose or a shitty one that isn’t really worth all the trouble for. This reminds me of a Gillian Flynn (a favorite author of mine) quote that’s about female villains when she was talking about her novel Sharp Objects (a favorite book of mine), but I think this applies to villains in general as well.

“I particularly mourn the lack of female villains — good, potent female villains. Not ill-tempered women who scheme about landing good men and better shoes (as if we had nothing more interesting to war over), not chilly WASP mothers (emotionally distant isn’t necessarily evil), not soapy vixens (merely bitchy doesn’t qualify either). I’m talking violent, wicked women. Scary women. Don’t tell me you don’t know some.”

Actually, writing this now, I’m really thinking of Masamune’s mother in his route. She kind of bugged me, mostly because Voltage could have emphasized anything that would drive her: her loyalty to her own clan, maybe focus more so on Date Terumune’s death, her brother. Instead, they chose to make the main point of her villainess (not a word, I know) none other than the fact that she hates Masamune for having heterochromatic eyes. That, is the basis of her hatred and then Date Terumune’s death is the cherry on top. Like, really? I would’ve really wished they’d focus more on that than the preconceived notion of “Yes, she hates her son mainly because he has a blue eye.” Not the worst villain but Voltage just has poor portrayal of her.

13: Do you play the event stories?

Yes. So much. And I go for the courtier’s prize so that means drawing blood.

14: If so, who’s event story do you read the most often?

Kojuro’s and Nobunaga’s are always first if it’s available.

15: Do you buy any of the epilogues?

Only of my favorites, and if I deem them to be worth it. I have mostly Nobunaga’s.

16: How many pearls do you have as of now?

Haha, I have six. I’m crying. I spent most of it on the epilogues.

17: Did you ever buy any pearls?

Answered here.

18: Do you ever participate in any of the Battle Events?

Yes!

19: If so, do you usually pick East or West?

Whoever has my bias… Or if I could choose, the losing side. I want that warrior’s grace pearl.

20: How many routes have you completed?

Nobunaga, Masamune, Kojuro, Shingen… so four. I think. After Ieyasu’s, five.

21: Do you usually choose the Divine or the Noble ending?

Divine because I stress over picking the right answers.

22: Have you ever replayed a character’s route just to get both endings?

Not yet. I want to for Kojuro and Nobunaga.

23: Do you play the game every single day or do you play once in awhile?

Every single day. I check on average about every 3-4 hours.

24: Is there any character that you want a route for?

TORAMATSU. LET ME BE WITH MY BOYFRIEND @VOLTAGE.

Sorry. You had my riled up a little.

25: Any character you don’t want a route for, but everybody else does?

I don’t know a lick about Nobuyuki. But everyone wants his route.

26: Do you ever fall for another character when you’re playing a route?

…. T O R A M A T S U.

27: Do you like or hate the MC?

Not really fond of her. I know Voltage has to make her as plain as sketch paper for the sake of ~relatability~ but I’ve never been super fond of really innocent protagonists unless they learn something in the end too. Her being a cook is cool though, I stress bake so.

28: Favorite pair?(Example: Nobunaga and Mitsuhide, Saizo and Yukimura)

me, with a boom mic: THE DATE COUSINS.

29: Did any scene make you laugh out loud?

Answered here!

30: Favorite interaction between two characters?

Answered here!

31: Funniest character?

Answered here!

32: Did any scene make you cry?

I don’t cry. I don’t think I remember one exactly, but Shingen’s divine end epilogue left me teary eyed.

33: Character with the most tragic backstory?

I spoiled myself with Mitsunari’s backstory and he takes the cake. Sorry, bud.

34: Character that you relate to the most?

Answered here!

35: Favorite CG?

Any CG with Kojuro’s sweet face in it.

36: Favorite event so far?

That one smutty one that was going on when I first joined and never participated in because I was too busy being confused with the interface.

37: Do you like when the events contain sexual scenes or no?

I like them, even though I have the sexual experience of a brick.

38: Favorite ship?(Romantic/Platonic)

Me and Kojuro. Saizo and Yukimura are adorable from what I’ve seen in their ES.

39: Which character would you be best friends with?

I’d work really well with Nobunaga just because we’re both petulant brats who complain over everything and will fight everyone at all times. He looks like a down af motherfucker who’s fun to be around. My hair used to be red too!

40: Which character would you ship yourself with?

Kojuro, my best-case-scenario if-my-life-was-a-fairytale go to guy. What a good man. I want him for Christmas.

#r shitposts #kisses ur forehead #thanks anon #i'll make you castella #Anonymous

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