#my brilliant friend has watched this show ONCE (1)

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

02/21/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Cast & Crew Sightings; Rhys Darby; Samba BTS; Vico Ortiz; Ruibo Qian; HowToHelp; Petition Embed; Queerties Last Day; IRL Outreach Assets; New Watch Parties; Visual Rep of SaveOFMD Effort; Fan Spotlight; Collages; OurFlagMeansBooze; Articles; Morale; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika;

Wow everyone, crazy day again. Day 2 of BTS Darbygeddon. I'm actually going to set a google calendar reminder for tomorrow between 1-2 in case Samba decides to drop another doozy on us. Hope you all had a good day. Here's the highlights-- there's more I would have liked to add but I need to get permission first, so I'll hopefully have them up tomorrow. As always, please let me know if I missed anything <3

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

= Rhys Darby =

Back again with another Cameo is Rhys for our lovely crewmate @Kellykat53 over on twitter! Thank you so much for sharing this with us Kelly, it's a lovely little inspirational video, definitely gives us plenty of Vitamin RD (as @scorpiostarseed would say). Check out the Cameo

= Saint Samba Schutte =

I've seen several people mention that Samba is a Saint (sorry not sure who started it to attribute it) so going forward, that will be his name. SO MANY BTS pictures and videos. My goodness. Has it even been a day since the last Merstede dump? It has, but damn, here we are with the BOYFRIEND video, and the nipple scratching, and oh look it's Buttons from the Cryptid Factor! As always, if you have access to instagram, please check out these posts on Samba and Rhys' posts/stories.

Videos on Tumblr:

Boyfriends - ty @blakbonnet!

Merstede - ty @kiwistede!

English Jacket - ty @kiwistede!

Cursed Jacket - ty @kiwistede!

Steard Nips - ty @kiwistede!

Rhysently Granted Reunion - ty @kiwistede!

= Vico Ortiz =

Vico voiced the new novel "The Diablo's Curse "by New York Times Best Seller Gabe Cole Novoa! I know some of you are huge Vico fans so wanted to mention it, you can purchase the audio book here. Src: Vico's IG

= Ruibo Qian =

Are you in New York? Our Pirate Queen will be at the #TonyKiserTheater NEXT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26 at 6:30PM for a one night only reading of On The Evolutionary Function of Shame, by D.A. Mindell - For more details visit here.

== How to Help ==

Hey all! We're adding some things to the daily task lists (and taking some off). Here they are!

= Petition Embed Code =

Looking to easily embed the petition link in your AO3 fic, or maybe your email? @sonnetforbonnet was kind enough to provide us with some embeds you can use! Please visit the repo for the codes!

= Last day for Queerties! =

Please remember to vote! Today's the last day!

Best TV Comedy

Best TV Performance

= IRL Outreach Assets =

== New Watch Parties Coming Up! ==

The Pirates! Watch Party! This is a family friendly movie so bring the kids! Or the adults-- or anyone you know, really, as long as it's not against their will! Sunday March 3rd, 3 PM EST, 12 PM PST, 8 PM GMT!

Watch Party Hashtags:

#OurPirateCaptain

#SaveOFMD

#AdoptOurCrew

== Visual Representation of Fandom Efforts to SOFMD ==

Remember our friends that had the in person Matelotage Processional? Well they're back with a funny video illustrating the fandom efforts of Save OFMD!

Fangirlfoto's Instagram Don't have instagram? See the video on the repo here.

＝＝ Fan Spotlight ＝＝

Thank you once again to @wndrngnomad on twitter for all their awesome collages dedicated to the Cast and Crew! Day 21: Calypso's Birthday! Perfectly timed considering the lovely Boyfriend themed BTS we got today! Catch-Up: Day 2: Madeleine Sami!

= Our Flag Means Booze! =

Our absolutely brilliant crew-mate @quiet-compassion over on tumblr has been designing OFMD Themed Drinks since the show was dropped by Max!  These not only have super fun and creative names you'll all recognise, but an amazing array of flavours too! If you're 21+ (in the US) or the appropriate age for drinking in your country, feel free to try them out! As always, please drink responsibly! Are you celebrating with Moonglow Manifesting? Why not try the "Moon Glow" cocktail for the end of the event! Want to see ALL their concoctions? Head on over to the repo, they're all there!

== Articles ==

17 Facts and Easter Eggs about OurFlagMeansDeath That will Get you On Board - 17 Fakten und Easter Eggs zu „Our Flag Means Death“, die dich ins Boot holen - ty @AddieH on twitter

Max: The 34 Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch

==Morale ==

Hey crew. I've been hearing some scuttlebutt around the deck that people are starting to worry again about whether or not s3 is going to happen. The love notes section is already pretty long so I'm not gonna go too crazy up here too -- instead I'm going to just point out that David Jenkins, while not active and posting things for us right now, is sneakily poking around in Samba and Rhys' BTS comments. He's still there, he's still watching, and I think he can tell we're all feeling the high from Samba's releases. Don't give up hope, these things take time. They're gonna get there. I'm gonna add the trends to this section today because I think it's important to see what we did today:

== Love Notes ==

Hey Lovelies. I know I've said it before, but it bares repeating since I know a lot of you are struggling right now.

Just a gentle reminder that if your brain is telling you that there's something wrong with you, or that you've done something wrong or embarrassing -- it's lying to you.

There's been so much dopamine from all the excitement lately with the BTS, that it has to come down at some point, and when it does, your brain will sometimes over-compensate and you start feeling maybe worse than you did before.

This is totally normal, it really is. Our brains are glorious complex pathways of unmeasurable brilliance, and yet a simple hormone change can make that same brain tell us that we're not enough, or we're not worthy.

I am here to remind you, you are so very much enough.

No matter what is happening in your life-- in your job, in your personal relationships, in your family, in your school, anywhere--

YOU ARE ENOUGH, EXACTLY HOW YOU ARE.

If you feel like you've failed, or you've let someone down, just know you are STILL enough. We all fail, it's how we learn.

We pick ourselves back up and we try again, and if we fail again--

We're STILL enough, and we are still worthy of love and comfort.

Eventually you will succeed. You will get there, and all the while while you work on it, YOU. ARE. ENOUGH.

I know it's so hard to see when you're feeling small, but I see you all every day, and I am awe-struck at your constant ability to band together and not only find love and support, but give it so freely and lovingly.

A simple @ to someone, alerting them to something they'd like

A love note in dms or on a tumblr post

A gif or picture or video brought to tumblr from some other platform so others can see them.

Writing a fic or drawing a picture.

A reblog with tags, goofy or not

Anon Asks showing people you support how they feel about a given topic

Liking a post.

These are all love notes. No matter how public or private, they're all there and they all add up eventually to form this wonderful community and you've been kicking ass at love.

I know we all look like we're having a good time, but a lot of us are struggling silently, and yet we're finding ways to reach out to one another and spread love to help us all get through. Love isn't always positivity, it can be commiseration, or frustration on behalf of someone. You all are finding the best ways to help your crew, and I'm so very proud of you.

You all are capable, creative, gifted, beautious piles of stardust smooshed together into one wonderfully unique package, and you are so very loved.

You are enough,

You are loved,

and THINGS WILL GET BETTER Lovelies.

Get some rest <3 You got this.

= Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika =

What can I say, I literally can't not include this Rhys gif today. It's physically impossible, please forgive me. Good fucking lord, I'm going to Costa Rica now. Also, sorry I tried to get a matching Taika gif, but I have run out of brain cells. Hopefully this one will suffice.

Rhys - Courtesy of @bizarrelittlemew

Taika - Courtesy of @studiomoon

#ofmd daily recap #ofmd daily recaps #daily ofmd recap #daily ofmd recaps #taika waititi #rhys darby #ofmd #our flag means death #vico ortiz #ruibo qian #save ofmd #saveofmd #save our flag means death #ofmd bts #samba schutte #saint samba schutte

[seeminglyranch87]

Taylor & Travis Timeline

December 2023 - part 1

December 1 - Taylor and Travis attend Christmas Party at a pop-up bar wearing matching Christmas sweaters featuring squirrels - or should we say "squirle"? IYKYK. (x) Kansas City

Twitter April 2011 - Travis

IG Halloween Oct. 2021 - Taylor

December 2 - Travis arrives ahead of Chiefs v Packers Game, Green Bay, WI

December 3 - Chiefs v Packers, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Defeated 19 - 27

Taylor attends the game bringing Brittany Mahomes & Lyndsay Bell with her on her jet. They return to KC immediately after the game.

December 5 - Taylor seen out for dinner with Jack Antonoff in NYC

December 6 - Taylor Swift is announced as TIME Person of the Year - 2023 (x) This is a brilliant article - go check it out!

Most recently, she’s been dating the NFL star Travis Kelce, as has been well documented when she attends his games. “I don’t know how they know what suite I’m in,” she says. “There’s a camera, like, a half-mile away, and you don’t know where it is, and you have no idea when the camera is putting you in the broadcast, so I don’t know if I’m being shown 17 times or once.” She is sensitive to the attention that’s put on her when she shows up. “I’m just there to support Travis,” she says. “I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads.”

I point out that it’s a net positive for the NFL to have a few Swifties watching. “Football is awesome, it turns out,” Swift says playfully. “I’ve been missing out my whole life.” (A game she attended in October was the most-watched Sunday show since the Super Bowl.)

“This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell,” she says. “We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other. By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple. I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.” The larger point, for her, is that there’s nothing to hide. “When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she says. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.”

Taylor attends the premiere of "Poor Things" in support of friend Emma Stone, Rockefeller Center, NYC. Taylor sat with Laura Dern, Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson

December 8 - Taylor seen out with Selena Gomez, Zöe Kravitz, Cara Delevingne, Anya Taylor-Joy in NYC

Go to December 2023 part 2

Return to the timeline

#squirle #squirrel #taylor swift #taylor and travis #travis kelce #87 and 89 #taylor swift and travis kelce #traylor #killatrav #seemingly ranch #timeline #87 + 13 = 100 #tayvis #taylor and travis timeline

[starwarsbean]

Love Against The Odds

Pairing: Tech x F! Reader.

Warnings: Fake Dating! Alternative Universe! Pretend Dating! Smut & Fluff! Sexual Tension! NSFW. 🫶

A/N: Hi everyone!!!! This is my first fanfiction! I decided I wanted to read more alternate universe of the bad batch. So, I took it into my own hands. This is a tech/reader series fanfic. If I make any mistakes please let me know. I hope you all enjoy reading. 18+! <3

Summary: Tech is a successful CEO of a technology company. His commitment to his work has given him success in his career. However, he is not interested in trying love. Tech neglecting the important parts of life. His brothers urge him to give it a shot, as they believe finding a romantic partner will make him happy. Tech comes up with a brilliant idea to fake date to trick his brothers.

Chapter 1

You were at your day job taking care of files you needed. You were a busy lawyer, handling multiple cases a day and juggling deadlines and meetings. You know how hardworking and organized, always striving to provide the best legal advice and representation for your clients. However, you were also valued having a good work-life balance, making time to make dinner every night and catch up on your favorite shows. Although you are focused on work, you also have a soft for romance. Reading different love novels and engaging in romance films. Your compassionate side, always making an effort to understand other people's perspectives and try to help them the best you could. You thought it’s been a while since you’ve been on a date. Remembering the last time you were out with your ex boyfriend Anakin Skywalker. He sure was a great boyfriend in the beginning. It just became to difficult when you both didn’t want to try. Both of you mutually breaking things off. The next time you go on a date it will definitely be a good time.

You decided to clear your mind back to work. You were working on a case, researching relevant laws and legal precedents, drafting briefs and petitions, and meeting with your client to discuss. You were making sure that deadlines were being met and that the case was progressing smoothly. Despite the intensity of your work, you felt fulfilled and satisfied with your role as a lawyer, enjoying the challenge of providing legal representation and helping people navigate tough situations. Realizing the time you see you have two messages from your two friends. Hera and Kanan texting you to meet them for dinner at a restaurant.

You were feeling tired but agreed to go anyway, wanting to make time for your friends and spend time socializing together. You text back saying you’ll meet them there. Before you leave the office you make sure your outfit looks decent. Your black office dress making your hips look amazing. Your breast cevlage revealing a bit. You take off your black flats and put on your black heels instead. You notice the time and hurry along. Thinking of how lucky Hera and Kanan are. They both have each other and are extremely in love. You watched them both fall in love in college. Reaching for the same textbook and their hands touching. Both of them locking eye contact with each other. It was like a scene from a romance movie. You hope one day you’re able to find a love like them.

You arrive at the restaurant. You squeal once you see them both. Hera pulling you into a hug and Kanan standing with his arms crossed. Pulling away from the hug, Kanan gives you a slight hug. Hera shakes her head at Kanan as you laugh.

“Guess somebody missed us?” Kanan said with a sly smile.

“Oh shut up! you know I always miss you both.” You say playfully rolling your eyes.

“Come on you two let’s eat. I’m starving.” Hera says walking into the restaurant.

You order your usual meal, enjoying the company of your friends. The conversation was catching up with work and spilling about the latest tv shows.

“So, Y/N has anyone caught your attention here at the restaurant?” Hera says with a smirk.

You look around the restaurant. The restaurant was filled with people your age but no one stood out to you. It was a crowd of people who just wanted a quick hook up. You turn your attention back to Hera and Kanan.

“Nope not a single person here. Nobody here is necessarily my type.” You say popping a piece of broccoli in your mouth.

“Oh Y/N you should go on a date soon! It’s been a while since you gone out. Have some fun.” Hera says looking at you.

Kanan looks at you both and laughs. Putting a piece of steak in his mouth.

“I do want to go out, but nobody here has caught my attention. If someone interesting comes to mind I’ll make a move.” You say with a smirk.

“There you go! Maybe next time you’ll get luckyyy.” Hera says laughing a bit.

“Mhmm maybe… I hope so.” You take a sip of your water while laughing a bit.

Kanan groans and shakes his head. Hera phone lights up and she rolls her eyes. Her smile drops as she texts back. Kanan looks at who Hera is messasging. He sighs and rolls his eyes. You notice the sense of annoyance.

“What happened? Is everything okay?” You ask worriedly.

“It’s just Heras boss. He’s always making her do last minute changes. Or if something isn’t perfect he makes her redo it. A pain in the ass I have to say.” Kanan says with annoyance in his voice.

“Yeah he’s a real pain the ass. He’s making my work harder, but I really want the promotion. He has high standards and high expectations of our work.” Hera says while typing a long email.

“That sounds pretty tough Hera. You can most definitely do it. Just try to keep a positive mindset on this.” You say taking a sip of your drink.

Kanan smiles at your kind response to his girlfriend and nods his head. He finishes his food and looks back at Hera who is still typing.

“Thank you Y/N. I appreciate you so much. In the email he’s asking so many questions about the dinner event I’m hosting at my place. He wants everything to be perfect.” Hera says.

“Is there a reason why” Kanan ask while raising an eyebrow.

“He just wants everything up to date. Which I understand but I have everything under control. He seriously needs to learn to trust his employees more.”

You remember how you had a boss like that. It was pretty difficult to do any work or have any sense of how to react to their control. Understandably a technology company must be hard to manage.

“Y/N are you free tomorrow night?” Hera puts her phone down and looks at you.

“Yeah, I am. Why?” You ask.

“Can you please come to my dinner event I’m hosting. I need your company and your support. I don’t know how I’ll manage being in the same room with so many people.” Hera says with pleading eyes.

“Hera, you can most definitely handle it. You’ll have me there.” Kanan says while grabbing her hand.

“I know but I really want Y/N to come. It’ll be fun. Please Y/N.” Hera says looking at you.

“Of course I’ll be there Hera.” You say.

Hera smiles at you agreeing to come to her dinner. Kanan smiles seeing Hera happy. You finish your dinner. Hera and Kanan paying the bill. You insist on paying the bill, but they beat you to it this time. You playfully roll your eyes.

“Have to be faster than that Y/N.” Kanan says with a sly smile

You laugh and shake your head. Hera grabs Kanan hand as you both walk outside the restaurant. Hera hugs you and thanks you for showing up for her tomorrow.

“I’ll be there Hera. I’ll make sure we’ll have some fun tomorrow.”

Hera tells you she will send you the details what time the dinner starts. You nod and wave bye to both of them. As you get home you pet one of your cats. Her name was Autumn. A pretty calico cat who most definitely spoiled. She purrs at your feet as you continue petting her. Making sure she has enough food and water. You eventually head to the shower and finish your routine. You lay in bed and get comfortable. Autumn comes in the room and sleeps at your feet. You smile falling asleep.

Thinking of how the dinner event was going to be like tomorrow.

#tech bad batch #the bad batch #tech x reader #tech x you #hunter bad batch #tbb tech #tbb crosshair #clone trooper crosshair #star wars #tbb wrecker #wrecker bad batch #clone trooper echo #tbb echo #smut #tbb fanfiction #fake dating #star wars fanfiction #tbb fanart #bad batch #bad batch fanfic #alternate universe #tbb hunter #star wars alternate universe #tech

[i-literally-cant-with-this]

Our Father Who Aren't In Heaven

A/N ::: This was a brilliant idea given to me by @darkstarlight82 I thank you so much for giving me a little slice of your beautiful mind. I hope I was able to do this justice. I enjoyed the little twist at the end. It was just too good not to do!

C/W ::: Handsy Pastor!Toji, thinks he really doing you a solid by doing these things for you, sorta self pleasuring/masturbating-adjacent, oral {m 2 f}, unprotected sex, playing dumb, abuse of power on both sides??

WC ::: 5124 I think

Our Father Who Aren't In Heaven

You sat in the back corner of church with your best friend. They were nearly asleep. Today's sermon was nothing to write home about. The only interesting parts about it were 1) You were finally 18 now and that meant you were old enough to partake in the adult aspects of church and 2) You're sure you felt Pastor Toji's eyes on you more than once. You like it when he looks at you. It makes you feel special.

The man, himself, was nothing short of miraculous. He was tall. So fucking tall that he dwarfed over your much shorter body. Sure, you weren't like the other girls in the congregation. The good Lord had graced you with tits and an ass. Curvy hips and plump thighs. And you were starting to feel more and more like your Pastor was noticing certain things about you. Though you weren't sure why. You've been coming to this damned place since you were 16 and you don't look much different now.

"Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. (1 Corinthians 13:8). What does this mean to you all? Hm? Do you agree with this assessment of love? Do you believe wholly that Jesus knows the right path to lead us to and will stop at nothing to get us there? Show of hands, but first everyone look down. Come onnn. I promise there won't be a rapture without all of you. Everyone just look down. Ok, show of hands, who here has had intercourse outside the sanctity of marriage?" Pastor Toji looked around at the room full of people. "My head is down, too. The good Lord is the only one who can see what's going on here, mm-k?"

The people lowered their heads and trusted their Pastor. Dumbasses.

You put your face down just a little. Just enough to make it look convincing. When you were sure everyone else was obeying the orders, you looked up. Surely, everyone had their heads down. All of them except for Pastor Toji. "Uhm, hey," you said to your best friend who was completely asleep now. "You fucking suck. You sleep more than anyone I know. Stupid sloth." You laughed. It caught the Pastor's attention.

Your immediate reaction was to dip your head down, but he was looking too. So why should you turn a blind eye if he wasn't.

There were more hands raised than you expected. The people you thought you knew turned out to be nothing short of filthy whores.

Pastor Toji was watching you look around the space. Finding humor in the look on your face. Your eyes met his and he licked the scar on the right side of his mouth, smiled at you and winked. The way his tongue smoothed over the corner of his mouth was sinful. He was ridiculously attractive for a man of his age. For a man of the cloth. Why would someone like him choose a life like this? You couldn't figure it out and you were too scared to ask him.

"Ok, hands down, heads up. How many of you raised your hands? No no! I'm only kidding. This concludes today's gathering. I will see you all very soon. Thank you for coming out today. May God bless each and every one of you." He said his goodbyes to everyone. Your family was the last to leave. Your mother was concerned that you've been isolating yourself lately. More so than usual, that is. You've been in your bedroom more and more lately. Doing "God knows what."

"Mom! Gosh! You're humiliating me right now! I'm 18. You never enjoyed time to yourself? Maybe I'm reading the bible. How do you know what I'm doing?" You tucked your hair behind your ears and tried to look away. If you could have, you'd have run out into traffic. But it wasn't moving very fast. It was still the Sunday crowd leaving. 5 mph. 7, on a good day.

Pastor Toji pulled your mother aside and was speaking with her for quite a while. The whole thing made you nervous. You didn't like how she was nodding and looking back at you. She was holding her right elbow with her left hand and her chin in her right. That is her thinking face.

"Can we go? Please, mom?" You began tugging on her sweater like a toddler.

"Excuse me, y/n. I'm ... I am talking to Pastor Toji. Now, go wait outside with your friend, ok? I'll be out in a few minutes." She turned back to him. "I apologize for my daughter's behavior. I told you ... she's not herself." He nodded sympathetically.

"Well, I'd be happy ... more than happy to help her in any way I am able to. Perhaps she and I can meet this evening to go over some psalms in the bible, mm?"

Your mother nodded excitedly. "Oh yes! Yes, Pastor. Thank you so much. I'll go tell her right now. You ... are just such a dear. God bless you."

You caught his smile as he watched your mother walk through the double wood doors and reach out for you. Something about it made you feel funny. Not good or bad funny. Like butterflies in your stomach funny. Excited? Were you excited about something?

// In The Car, On The Way Home //

"You will meet with him tonight, y/n. I already told him you'd be there. So, you will. Be there, I mean."

You rolled your eyes. "What the heck am I supposed to do with him? Let him braid my hair? Tell scary stories? Play truth or dare? He's a grown man. What does he think he could do that will help me, anyway? Pray the gay away? I told you. I'm not all the way gay, ma. I'm bi. So only half of me is broken in the eyes of God. The other half is fine."

"I've asked you not to talk about that stuff with me on Sunday, sweetie. One day is all I ask for. I thank you for listening to me."

// At Home, 15 Minutes Before Leaving To Meet Pastor Toji At Church //

"I have no idea {friends name}. Like, isn't it just a little bit odd that she's forcing me to go see a grown ass man about how I lock myself away sometimes? Who cares if I want to be alone!" You tried to blow off some steam to your friend before you drove down to the church.

// Getting Out Of Your Car, Walking Into Church //

"Yeah, well, she's got another thing comin' if she thinks I'm going to listen to a single word this old asshole has to say to me." You turned around and saw Pastor Toji standing on the steps of the church. "I gotta go, {friends name}. Yeah. Yep, he heard me say it. How'd you know? It is my luck, huh? I'll talk to you later. I'll let you know how it goes." You laughed as you hung up the phone.

You walked up the steps and stood in front of him just outside the doors. "Well?" You almost sounded like you were challenging him. "What's your grand plan to save me from myself? What did my mother put you up to?"

He laughed and headed inside. You tried to follow and keep up with him but his legs were so long that you were taking 2 and 3 steps for each one of his.

"Where's the fire?" You said, obviously irritated.

"S'down the hall. Come along, child. Follow me if you want to live!" He turned around, wide-eyed and put his hands up like he was pretending to be a ghost or something. It got you to crack a little smile.

"Well, I don't want to die. So I guess keep leading the way, Past---"

"Just call me Toji. Ok? I'm just Toji at the end of the day. I'm just a man under this cloth."

You blushed, ashamed of yourself for thinking the thoughts you were having about your Pastor. But who says that, anyway? 'I'm just a man under this cloth.' It wasn't necessary to phrase it like that.

"Ok, kid. Right in here." He held the door open for you and touched the small of your back when you walked by.

// Toji's Office //

"So. Baptism by fire? Y'down, Toji?" You sat back in the chair on the other side of the desk. Purposely folding your arms over your chest to create a cleavage line and put up an air of disinterest. Crossing your right leg over your left. Kicking it in the air flippantly.

"I'm down for whatever you want me to be down for, y/n. That's all there is to it." He pulled his collar down and undid the button at his throat. "What kind of Pastor am I if I can't be a good listener? Hm?" He leaned back in his chair, crossing his left ankle over his right knee.

"I don't think my mother would like it very much if I told you about my ... personal life."

"Personal life, huh? That's an interesting way to phrase it. But it's ok. I'm just here to talk. That's all." He pulled out a bottle of water from the mini fridge behind him and offered you one.

"No, I'm fine." You were starting to feel like he was baiting you into saying something you shouldn't.

"Suit yourself. So, you're having some trouble in paradise, huh? You've been cooped up in your room for a while. Your mom told me. What's up with that?"

You rolled your eyes. "She's exaggerating. I'm not ... I'm not always in my room. Just sometimes. And I don't know. I guess I just don't see the point in going out and doing things when I don't know if I'm doing them for the right reasons."

"What do you mean? What are you doing that you think you're not doing for the right reasons?"

"I just. I don't know. I don't like being around people, I guess. But then I feel like I should. Like, I should want to go out and drink and party and fu--- do other fun stuff. But I just don't care."

Toji choked on his water. "You're ... you're still ... pure? Yes, a virgin, right? I didn't know you had such a mouth on you, little one. Well, I guess I shouldn't say that. You are ... 18 now?"

Nodding your head, you blushed again. You weren't sure what you were doing. You knew you shouldn't have been having so much fun with your Pastor. But it felt good to screw around. To have fun. "Yeah, I am. A virgin. I'm not like the other girls in church, though. They're all boy crazy. I just ... I don't really like anyone like that. You know?"

He nodded, looking down at his feet. "You don't really like anyone like that, huh. I see. Ok. Well. You're different, y/n. And that's ok. You're not wrong for not wanting what they want. But, maybe you're not giving yourself enough credit. Maybe you could still enjoy someone's company without feeling like you have to give them anything in return."

You shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I'm just not interested in it."

"In sex or in people?"

"I guess I don't really care about people. Usually, I mean. I like girls ... and I like boys, too. What do you think of that?" You dared him to answer honestly.

"Well, I think that's ok, too. God made you that way. He made everyone feel some way. You can't help how you feel. If you're attracted to people, then you're attracted to people. It's not something you can control."

You nodded. "Yeah, I know. But it's different in church, you know? People talk and it sucks sometimes."

He sighed. "Yeah, I know. Is there ... anyone else ... around? You might be attracted to?"

You bit your lip. "No, not really. I've thought about it, but I don't think anyone is 'good' enough. I want someone who has the same morals as I do. You know? I want us to be on the same page." You didn't want to look at him. You didn't want to say too much more. You felt as if you were faking being too naive as it was. You didn't want to push it too far. Pastor Toji was a man of the cloth, yes. But you'd heard rumors about his life prior to making the vow to serve God.

He took the few steps that it was to stand behind you and he began to rub your shoulders with his large hands. "Is - is this ok, y/n? I just want to help you relax while you're here. You seemed so ... so, so stressed when you were talking with your mother. I wanted to get you here so it was just you and I. I thought you might, oh, I don't know. Open up for me? Per se." He chuckled. "Per se."

"Oh, um. Yeah, it's ok." You tried not to melt under his touch.

He kept rubbing circles into your shoulders with his strong thumbs and then running them up the back of your neck. You felt yourself getting hot. The tension building in your belly wasn't like anything you've ever felt before. Not like this, anyway. You began to shift in your seat a little bit.

"Oh. I'm sorry, y/n. That's a little too far. I shouldn't have done that. It's just that you're so tense and---"

You interrupted him, "NO. DON'T STOP! I mean, don't hafta stop if you don't wanna. It ... it feels good. You have … really strong hands." You made the mistake of looking up at him. His green eyes were half-lidded and dark now. He didn't look anything like he did earlier at the sermon. It was like night and day.

"You're a pretty little thing, aren't you? Your mother just wants you to be happy. She knows I can help you. That's why she asked me to meet with you. She didn't tell you why, though?"

You shook your head.

"Well, I can definitely help you with ... this. And whatever else you want my help with." He licked the scar that permanently kisses his lips and you saw him start to lean down toward you. "Do you want me to help you, y/n? Is that something you want?" His voice was low and sultry. Breathy, even. Your eyelashes fluttered at the feel of his exhalation on your face. He was close enough to ...

You nodded, slowly. He grabbed your chin and pulled you to your feet. "Good girl." He looked like he was going to kiss you. Like he was going to taste your mouth and tongue and ...

He stopped himself. "Are you sure you want this, y/n? I don't want to make you do anything you're not comfortable with. Not that I would ever do that, suggest you do something you're not wanting to do. Not in the house of God. I have an idea. Why don't you go and meet me in the confessional. I'll be there in about 10 minutes. But I want you to do something, I want you to think of me while you're sitting there ok? And I want you to touch yourself. I want you to think about me touching you. I just want you to get an idea of how good it could feel. Just ... should the day ever come when you're going to be with someone, you'll know what to expect. Ok? You don't want any ... any weird surprises, hm?"

You nodded again. "Ok, Pastor Toji." You're starting to see why your mother had you meet up with him. He was so charismatic. So full of shit. Genuinely able to act like he was looking out for you. He was helping you be ready for one of the most important experiences of your life.

You've got some experience touching yourself. You've cum a few times. But your fingers are so unsatisfactory to you. They're short. Thin. Your best friend has suggested you buy a toy to try and pleasure yourself. Well, they said to 'get yourself off.' You didn't care much for the phrasing, but nodded your head anyway.

You got to the door of the confessional and pulled it open to step inside. It was dark, save for the little bit of lighting coming through the cross hatched window on what would be Pastor Toji's side. Looking around the tiny room, you felt both like you were lost and like you were found.

The air was dense and hot. It was like an atmospheric hug.

A couple of minutes had passed before you remembered what Toji told you to do. "I want you to touch yourself. I want you to think about me touching you." His words resonate in your quickly beating heart.

He will be here soon. So you figured it'd be best if you got started doing what he asked you to do. You ran your hands over your breasts and down your stomach, over the fabric of your dress. You were sitting on the little bench that faced the window, your back against the wall. It felt good to have something behind you. It was like someone was holding you up. Keeping you steady.

You closed your eyes and kept feeling yourself over. Rubbing your thighs together to create a little friction. You wondered what it would feel like to have him touch you. Would he be gentle? Rough? Would he care about you or just about getting off?

"Y/n?"

You heard the door on the other side of the confessional open and Pastor Toji stepped in. You could only see the outline of him, but it was enough. It was all you needed.

"Oh. Hi." You whispered.

He laughed quietly. "Are you doing what I asked you to do? Did you start?"

"Yes. I was just thinking about you. And how you would touch me. And I don't know why you're doing this for me, but it means a lot. Preparing me for the day ... I mean. Th - thank you." You said as you bunched the fabric of your dress in your fists.

"Well, it's my pleasure. To help you out. You're a sweet girl, y/n. I want to make sure you're taken care of. So, may I see you?" He laughed softly, "I can't exactly help you from over here, can I?"

"No. No, I guess not. You can't." You stood up and turned to face the wall. You heard him get up and walk out of his side and head towards you.

He knocked twice on your booth and waited for you to tell him it was ok if he came in. "It's open."

He opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it behind him. He didn't turn around right away. He took a few deep breaths before he turned to you.

"Y/n, I want to touch you. Like I said, just to let you know what to expect when the time comes for you to be ... mm, romantically involved with someone, if you will?"

"I would like that. Very much. I'm not ... I haven't ... I haven't done anything. With anyone. I don't even know where to start or what to start with. I don't know what it's like. Please, Pastor Toji. I - I want you to teach me how to touch myself. An-and you." You rolled your eyes. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. That was so presumptuous of me. I shouldn't have asked you that." You started to cry. "I'm so stupid. I'm so stupid."

He shook his head. "No, you're not. You're not stupid. You're smart. And you're beautiful. Shh shh shh shh shhhh, noo, it's ok. It's ok. You're not stupid. Hey, look at me, y/n. Look at me." He wiped the tears from your cheeks.

You looked up at him through wet eyelashes. "I want to help you. That's all I want to do.”

You put your hand on top of his where it sat on your tear streaked face and nodded. "Re-really? You ... you won't think I'm bad for asking?"

He shook his head. "No. Not at all. Now, turn around and show me your beautiful body."

You did as he said and turned to face the wall.

"Good. Good. Now, y/n, I want you to lift up your dress for me. Just a little. Just enough for me to see what you've got going on down there, ok?"

"Ok." You pulled your dress up around your hips and heard him take a deep breath.

"That's it, baby. That's it." He touched the small of your back with his left hand and you jumped a little. "Shh, it's ok. It's ok. I won't hurt you, y/n. You can trust me."

"Ok. I - I know. I trust you." You felt his right hand slowly rub up the outside of your thigh. You could feel yourself getting wet. You've never been this wet so quickly before.

"Good girl. You're doing so well, y/n." He kept rubbing up and down your leg, slowly moving towards the apex of your thighs. "Can I touch you here, too?"

You nodded, "Yes, please. Touch me, Pastor Toji. I want you to touch me there, too. Everywhere."

He moved his hand up to your core and pressed his index and middle fingers against your clit. "How does that feel, baby? Are you ok?"

You nodded again. "It feels good. I want more."

"More, hm? Ok. Well, I guess I can't disappoint you then. What kind of a Pastor would I be if I let down one of my flock?" He laughed darkly at this question. "Mmm-hmm, ok. Ok." He slipped his fingers inside of you. It was such a strange feeling, his fingers probing around in you. So skilled. Like nothing you've ever experienced with yourself, or anyone else before. "Do you like this, y/n?"

"Oh, yes. Oh, yes." You gasped.

"Good. Very good." He began to move his fingers in and out of you. "This is how you'll fuck someone, baby girl. Or how someone will fuck you." He whispered into your ear. His chest was pressed to your back, your chest against the wall of the confessional. You had your left hand up higher on the wall and your right hand was snaking around behind you, so close to tugging on Pastor Toji's waistband. You could feel how hard he was as he pushed his cock into the fat of your ass.

You were grinding on his hand now. Rocking back and forth on his fingers. "I want you to cum, baby. Cum on my fingers. I want to feel you gush all over my hand. You think you can do that for me?"

"HmmPastorrrTojiii ... I don't, I don't think I can. Do you have something else that will make me feel this good, but ... but so I can ... come? You said? Hoh god, it feels so good, but I need more. I can't do it like this. Ple-please, Pastor, help me?"

"Cum, princess. C-u-m. Like, when you have an orgasm. You cum. It's ok. Not everyone knows the right wording at first. It's ok, I'll help you. I'll help you, shhh shh sh."

"But, but what do I need to do? Something else? A different ... something?" You were getting desperate. His fingers felt so good, but you didn't want to cum on his fingers alone.

"Here," he said, pulling his fingers out of you and turning you around. "Lift your dress up and over your head, ok? That's it, that's it. Good girl, you're so beautiful, y/n. Such a good girl." He took off his robe and hung it on the back of the door.

You looked down at his erection. It was massive. It was throbbing, even. You gasped. "I don't ... I don't think that's going to fit in me."

He laughed. "Oh, it will, princess. Don't you worry your pretty little head off. It'll fit like a glove. So good. So good and tight you won't even know why you were worried when I'm makin' you feel so good." He pulled your panties down to your knees and pushed your back up against the wall. He bent down on his knees and buried his face in your pussy. He licked and sucked and nipped at you. "This is how you'll eat someone out, baby girl. You'll make them cum so hard and they'll taste so sweet."

You felt yourself getting close to an orgasm again. He had you worked up so badly. "Pastor Toji, I'm ... I think ... gonna cum. Oh god, I'm gonna cum. I'm gonna cum so hard. Please, please, please. Give me something else, Pastor. I want to feel you inside of me." You pulled your hips back and you got off of his face. You’d be damned if he did it to you like this. 

He stopped and stood up, licking his lips.

You looked down at his cock and traced your fingertips over the tip. It was wet, the beads of precum trickled from his slit. Licking your fingers, you locked eyes with him.

"You ... you want it? You want this cock inside of you? You want me to fuck you, baby girl? Hmm?"

You nodded. "Please, Pastor. I want to feel you inside of me. I need it. I need you."

He put his fingers back into your pussy. "Well, you're not ready for me yet, sweetheart. Not yet. You need to be nice and wet for me. You're not quite there yet. But, don't worry. I can make you cum with my fingers again and then I'll fuck you. How's that sound?"

"Ok. Ok. Yeah, I'd like that." You said breathlessly.

"Good girl." He leaned forward and kissed your lips. "So good."

He fingered you until you came on his hand. Then he lifted you up and put your legs around his waist. "Are you ready for me, y/n? You ready to get fucked?"

You nodded. "Yes. Yes, please fuck me, Pastor. Please."

"Call me Toji, baby girl." He pushed his cock inside of you and you felt yourself stretch around him. He was so big. It felt like he was splitting you in half.

"Fuck, Toji. Oh my god, you're so big. You're so fucking big." You were scratching at his back, digging your nails into his flesh.

"Shh shh shh, that's it. That's it, princess. Take me all in. It's ok, I know, I know. You're ok. I know." He whispered into your ear.

He began to rock his hips back and forth, in and out of you. "That's it. That's it, princess. Fuck, you're so wet for me. You're so good for me, baby girl."

"I'm gonna cum, Toji. I'm gonna cum." You were rocking on his cock, pushing yourself further onto him. "Fuck ... fuck ... fuck me, please, Toji!" You came on his cock and he held you against the wall as he fucked you harder.

"That's it. That's it, baby girl. Cum for me. Cum for me. Cum all over me, fuck, oh yeah ..." He came inside of you, his hot cum shooting up inside of you. "F-f-fuck, y/n. Oh my god, you're so good. You're so tight. You're so fucking beautiful." He pulled out of you and set you back down on the floor. "Here, let me help you get your panties back on." He pulled them back up your legs and over your ass.

"What do I do now, Pastor Toji? Do I just leave your stuff inside of me?"

He stopped what he was doing for a moment and then looked up at you. "Oh, no. No, baby girl. You can just leave that alone. You will want to shower, y'know. Piss, too. You don't want to get a UTI or somethin'. But for the meantime, yeah. Just leave it there. S'not gonna hurt anything."

You nodded. "Ok. Well, does this mean we're a couple now? Does this mean, do you love me now?"

He laughed, "I don't know about all that, y/n. I don't know about that. But we'll see. We'll see where this goes. You're a sweet girl. But I don't know if I'd go that far. Y'know? Like, eesh. This was fun. But no. I don't love you. Not like that." He pulled up his pants and his robe. He kissed your cheek and sat down in the tiny, sex-scented room. "I'll walk you out, though. How's that sound?"

You nodded. "Ok." You put your dress back on and followed him out.

He didn't look at you or speak to you on the way to your car.

"Why won't you look at me or say anything, Toji?"

"It's Pastor, now. Only call me Pastor Toji ok?" He said, barely looking up at you.

"Ok. But why? What happened? You said you weren't going to love me. I get that. But you seemed like you wanted to spend more time with me. But now, it's like you don't want to be around me."

"I don't want you to get attached, y/n. You're not the only girl in church who needs my help. Ok? It's nothing personal. It's business. The lord’s business. That's all it is."

"Oh. Ok. I understand." You did understand. You understood that he was a bastard of a Pastor.

You laughed. "You really bought all that shit? C-u-m." You doubled over, slapping your knees as you laughed at him. "Why won't you look at me, Pastor? Wait, is it Pastor? Or Toji? I'm so confused. Hmm," you said in a fake little whine and pouted like your heart was being broken into a million pieces. "You're so pathetic, old man. Thanks though, Toji. Thanks for makin' me c-u-m so hard. Twice! Let me know who the other girls are you're 'helping', yeah? Maybe we can have a good old fashioned threesome and we can all just c-u-m all over each other, yeah?!" You winked at him. "Yeah, I saw that little slip up, Toji. And then you didn't even want me to call you Toji anymore. Hmm. Well, thanks for the lesson, Pastor. I'll see you next week. At the service. Where you'll be preaching about being a 'good Catholic boy'. Ha! Yeah right, Pastor. You're a fuckin' animal. I'll tell my mom you fixed me all up, real good. 2 times. Oh, they were amazing. I'll give you that. Nice cock, Pastor. Nice ... fuckin' ... cock."

He was standing there, his mouth agape as you got into your car and drove off, waving your arm out the window.

You smirked. "Such a dumbass, Pastor."

You pulled out your phone and texted your friend

"Hey! Wanna go to the movies tonight?"

They answered, "Sure! Which one?"

"I really don't fuckin' care. See you at the next one that plays!" 

Tags ::: @callm3senpaii @arlerts-angel @bakubunny @darkstarlight82

#father!toji #priest!toji #pastor!toji #toji fushiguro #jjk #jujutsu kaisen #toji smut #father toji #pastor toji #priest toji #toji fushiguro smut #jjk smut #jujutsu kaisen smut #toji x you #toji x reader #toji x y/n #toji fushiguro jjk #toji fushiguro jujutsu kaisen

[visualtaehyun]

Rules: List 10 of your comfort shows, then tag 10 people

Thanks for tagging me y'all @sorry-bonebag @twig-tea @rocketturtle4 ✨

My criteria for a comfort show are gonna be 1) any piece of media 2) that I've watched more than once and 3) that I will keep reaching for. That's it. I can't even explain what the common denominator is tbh?? It's just- the kinda movie or show that I need on DVD to easily put on again and quell the brain worms (yes, I physically own all but #4-#6).

1. My School President: What can I say, this show took me entirely by surprise! I started watching a few days before episode 4 aired - aka the pinky touch ✨ the conversation in the stairwell ✨ and the origin of Gem4th's fanclub name being Khun Nuu ✨ - and fell right in love with it. I love musical storytelling, I love coming of age stories, I love a good romance, and I love found family/friend group dynamics so this really hit the spot for me. I guess these apply to a bunch of my choices for this tag though haha

2. Cutie Pie: I've talked about this show in another tag game (as "A show people find bad but you will defend") and all of that still holds true so I won't repeat it here. I'll just add that this show introduced me to Nunew who's my favorite artist these days. :)

3. Love In The Air (Love Storm): Yup! The show that most people on here seem to recall as that extra horny one lol It's one of the first Thai QLs I watched along with as it aired, maybe even the first one. I started watching when episode 2 came out, I think? And I just loved the D/s-dynamic, lovable brat Rain, and these rookie actors so much that I not only went looking for the bts, cast reactions, and interviews but I even started following Twitter translators for the show and cast. This show (and ZeeNunew lol) was basically my introduction to how the Y industry works, what Thai fanclubs are like, and got me well and truly interested in learning Thai. I think I've seen it enough times to speak along by now cause I also used my familiarity with it to study Thai. And now that BossNoeul are finally getting a new show, I'm really looking forward to seeing them in new roles!

4. Not Me: It's simply brilliant. And it's so grounded! You know how lots of tops in Thai QLs are rich, a CEO, drive a supercar, and live in a gorgeous modern home with huge windows (and death stairs lmao)? I love that Not Me starts in a place of privilege but has White leave that behind pretty early on. Bangkok really is a city where you can constantly see the divide between rich and poor. So I appreciate this show even more after having been to Bangkok. Not Me's characters look unfiltered and real and that's how the entire show feels as well. I just love what P'Nuchy has given us here! Oh and +1 for White narrating his entire story, I just kinda love that in general (also enjoyed Kawi narrating Be My Favorite). The next two kinda fall into one category: shows I loved as a kid, remembered - found - rewatched as a teen, and still fondly remember.

5. Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne: This is a magical girl anime that I first would have seen on TV in 2001. In hindsight, this show's religious themes may have influenced me in my love for fictional faith and devotion. Just a thought, haha, totally don't have more than one dnd character who is majorly connected to divinity, faith, and devotion, even though I personally am agnostic...

6. The Weekenders: I routinely cite this as my favorite cartoon (and I watched- just- So Many as a kid omg). Since I watched this on German TV, I only know the German dub which was honestly really fun. If any Germans read this and have seen that show: Wirsing! The rest is movies all the way down!

7. Timeline: A 2003 movie with a bunch of well-known actors that arguably qualifies as a B movie because it flopped so hard at the box office. It's my trash though. I chose it at the video store, brought it home, loved it, and then proceeded to rent it like once a year lol! It's basically a bunch of archeologists and history nerds travelling back in time to the Hundred Years War to save their professor. It has my preferred time travel dynamic of Everything is fixed and whatever traces in time you leave were already there to begin with.

8. Inception: There's several Christopher Nolan movies I love but this one is just so grand and fun and maybe I also had a bit of a crush on Elliott Page back then 👉👈 I'm a born nerd so naturally teen-me used "Non je ne regrette rien" as my alarm for years lmao This category is basically just Disney & co. musicals lol

9. Mulan (1998): If you asked me to choose my favorite from the entire classic Disney musical line-up, it would always be this one. It's the queerest, of course I'd always choose it!

10. Anastasia: You know, I looked at my shelf full of cartoon musicals- no wait, High School Musical and Pitch Perfect are next to them, hm, wELL- at my movie musicals shelf and it came down to choosing between this one and The Swan Princess (1994). And this one just kinda won out because "Once Upon A December" is impeccable! And now I've got it stuck in my head 👍

Since it took me a few days to get back to it, this has clearly made the rounds already. Who to tag?? Uh-- @pharawee @airenyah @telomeke and whoever sees this and wants to do it of course!

#tag game #msp #cutie pie the series #lita #not me the series #ql musings #thai bl #bella and the blorbos

[hellolulu]

Honestly the brocolli arc has been one of my favourites for a very long time and, oh my god, I'm so so so so floored to see it finally animated. It was absolutely gorgeous, just,,, showstopping and brilliant. The way everything was shown and how the manga was interpreted in the episodes leading up to the confrontation were already incredible, but I'm shaking right now because what on EARTH were Bones eating while animating the fights inside the brocolli??????? (Probably broccoli) (hey google, how do you spell brokoly) (I'm going to vibespell it from now on)

Just,,, the way the brocly took moves from both Dimple and Mob's power-books was so COOL - the way it had so many colours and so much overwhelming POWER and the way it LOOMED during the goodbye scene (did you cry?? Because I was actually sobbing even though I literally knew it was coming, what did they PUT IN THIS SEASON) (probably brockli powder) and the way Dimple was so shiny at first in godmode but gradually got duller and duller... and I totally forgot how emotional that goodbye scene got like "you're a man" BRO tell him that when you're BOTH awake and oh the way that whole scene played out broke my HEART, only to be followed up with The Song again (I'm going to listen to it SO HARD right now, Exist I am so feral about you) and Shigeo telling everyone to go home :((((((( I'm so emotional,,,, he really threw his powers aside so he could talk to Dimple clearly and then directly because of that ended up being sent away for his own protection so Dimple could perform the ultimate sacrifice for his friend and waaah wahw ah I'm crying about this until next Wednesday because the next arc is good times for everyone and brings joy (unless they'll make it needlessly beautiful and emotional in which case I'll cry again) (but I'm crossing my fingers) (please mop I don't want to cry)

I'm just so sad why is a fart cloud learning to love one of the best arcs in anime ever 💔

The fight against his own self, and his subsequent destructive creation in the wake of realising he has a best friend, that he's one of the few people someone kind and good like Shigeo trusts (out loud!), and to have to throw away everything he just gained to save him is so s a d. But that's the nature of their friendship! That's the STORY. The way they repeat their dynamic so often, Dimple and Shigeo butting heads constantly but always coming to the aid of the other,,,,,, but it's only once they speak it out loud that they realise their friendship is something that special to them both,, I'm not going to be over it ever,,,, they are best friends :( Dimple ur a real one :(

This show vs being my #1 favourite anything until I die is so true and real. Mop cycle forever 🙏 Anyway thanks for listening to this incoherent ramble after just watching s3e6 💖 eat ur greens

#the next post will be a very funny joke #mp100 #mob psycho 100 #mp100spoilers #mob psycho 100 spoilers

[twelvegrimmyplace]

Nick Grimshaw looks back: ‘Rihanna, Kate, Naomi – Mum was never fazed by them. But she did lose it over Alan Titchmarsh’

The broadcaster and his mother recreate an old photo and recall their wild nights out together

Born in Oldham in 1984, Nick Grimshaw is a presenter best known for his time on BBC Radio 1, as well as his mischievous charm and A-list social circle. Starting his career as a runner for MTV, he went on to present T4, became a judge on the X Factor, hosted the Radio 1 Breakfast show and now has a culinary podcast, Dish. He lives with his fiance, the dancer Meshach Henry, in London with his two dogs. His memoir, Soft Lad, is out now.

Eileen

Nick always wanted to be the centre of attention, and was a very comical child. In that picture, he was probably eight, and it would have been Children In Need night. When that happened, my God, he made everyone sit down. He’d get you nuts, crisps and sweets, and you’d have to watch the whole lot. He’d get obsessed like that with everything – television, radio, music. There was a dog book fad, too. He knew off by heart every breed and he’d take it to church when we went to mass, hiding it inside the hymn book so nobody could see.

Nick’s talkative. It was like switching the light on in the morning, then it was all day, nonstop. He was known for it, and would get in trouble at school because of it. He knew from a young age that he wanted to get a job at Radio 1. He said: “That’s where I’m going to work” and his dad replied: “Mmm, you and a million other kids.” But Nick stuck by it.

As well as chatting, he was in a band, playing the cornet. It was terrible. When I’d get my friends round – there’s a group of nine of us, we call it Girls’ Night – Nick would worm his way in. The cornet would come out. Once or twice he’d say: “I don’t want you to look at me while I do it,” so he’d have his back to us. He was way out of tune and we’d be bursting not to laugh but his dad would say: “Brilliant! Fantastic!” He got thrown out of the band in the end and I had to try to talk them into letting him back in.

When he left home for university we thought we’d gone deaf because it was so quiet. His house was a dump. You’d wipe your feet when you came out – it was atrocious. Then he was off to London. He wouldn’t really tell me what was happening down there – he’d just say he was handing out flyers.

I didn’t see a lot of him back then, but sometimes he’d bring his friends up for Christmas. Nick asked if Amy Winehouse could come one year. I said: “Why?” He said: “Well, she’s got nowhere to go.” She didn’t come in the end, but I did speak to her when she rang the house phone.

Nick’s very thoughtful. Even more so as he’s got older. He’s grown up, and I now see him settled with Meshach, and they’re so lovely together. My friends all say I’m so lucky he wants to include me in everything he does. I’ve had some brilliant holidays with him, but when I visit him in London it’s always a bit full-on. I get there and he says: “Don’t worry, we’ll have a nice quiet weekend” but it never is. He’s bumping into people, or there’s a party and we’re not home until quarter to six the next morning. It’s exhausting, but I do think, you know what? While I’m fit and able to, I’m going to enjoy it.

Nick

That was the prime spot in our lounge. I was getting ready to watch the telly and cuddle with Eileen. The green mark on my hand was from painting – possibly a frog. My milk teeth hadn’t fallen out but my adult teeth started growing – so you can see a single fang in the picture. My family were like: “Oh that’s horrible! That’s so gross.” They used to call me Wolf Boy. How mean.

I was enjoying my life at this point. I loved primary school. It was in a bungalow, and it didn’t feel as if I was doing actual work, just running around seeing gerbils or a stray dog. We’d do skipping or play rounders or welly chucking. It was about this time that I got into Hardcore Ecstasy – a rave compilation that I loved. At secondary school I had friends but I was never in a clique or a gang, and I wonder if it’s because my reference points were off because of my older brother and sister’s influence. I was less excited about the Spice Girls because I was like: “Yeah, but have you heard the Slits?” Pretty annoying. I obviously also loved Girls’ Night.

I don’t know what it was about cities, but I always wanted to be somewhere bigger. I grew up in suburban Oldham and enjoyed the chaos of going to central Manchester. Once I realised I wanted to do radio, I knew I had to go to London. It seemed there was so much life for young people there versus being on my mum and dad’s watch, listening to wood pigeons and having a potato hash for tea. I wanted a racket.

I ended up meeting Mairead [Nash] and Tabitha [Denholm] from Queens of Noize when I was doing student radio. That night we went out together and didn’t come back for 24 hours. My friend Jenny dropped me off the next day at my parents’ and my dad was in the front garden. As the car pulled up he said: “Where the bloody hell have you been? Look at the bleeding state of you!” I looked straight ahead and said: “Drive on.” He chased me down the road with clippers and I hid at Jenny’s. London was such a big fast city, so the friends I made I bonded with quickly. When I was unemployed, me and Amy [Winehouse] would get drunk in the day in Camden, and Mairead and Tabitha really looked after me. Sadie [Frost], too.

When my dad died [in 2016], a family friend, Sarah, said to think of it as the start of a new sort of relationship with my mum. We could be adults together rather than mother and son. I was worried about her feeling alone after such a monumental change, but we ended up becoming good friends and she’d come out with me to parties, or we’d go away with Sadie’s family.

Mum was never fazed by any of my friends. Once I took her to a Stella McCartney fashion week dinner and everyone famous was there – Rihanna, Kate, Naomi. None of it bothered her, although it was good gossip for her when she got back home and could tell Girls’ Night how gorgeous they all were. That being said, she did lose it when she met Alan Titchmarsh. The night before, I’d taken her to DJ with me at one of [stylist and journalist] Katie Grand’s fashion parties and we ended up having a big night. I was so hungover the next day when we were supposed to go to the Chelsea flower show together, that we ended up getting drunk there to get over it. Then she saw Alan. She was like: Alan! Alan! Weak at the knees for Alan.

My mum has also been a victim of many pranks on the radio. Once Alan Carr called her and said he was a casting agent who wanted to know if she’d like to be Pauline Quirk’s mother in Broadchurch. Another time, I called and said I had all these demands for when I visited next: that I wanted a kilo of wheatgrass and an ostrich egg. It was so funny that we made a song on Radio 1 of my mum going “Wheatgrass?” over banging techno.

When I was younger, I’d call her when I needed something – and also because contractually you should ring your mum. Then I called her for pranks. Now I phone every day because I want to gossip or to hear her news. Even though I’ll keep taking her along to parties, my favourite thing is still staying at home watching telly with Eileen.

[source]

#lovely! #nick grimshaw #grimshaw fam #press #soft lad

[bag-for-life]

Semi-coherent self indulgent ramble about Edinburgh below, mostly because I forget things if I don’t record them somewhere - feel free to ignore…

- Within 10 minutes of getting off the train we spotted David O’Doherty, the first show we were seeing that night, I too loudly whispered ‘look, David O’Doherty, green bike helmet, oh my god’ and was instantly ashamed at having so little cool about that stuff although he either didn’t hear me or just convincingly acted that way - his show was fantastic, one of my favourites, I will always be excited to hear his ‘beefs’ song - shortly after the show while I was at the bar my friend saw him walk past with Josie Long, I was pretty relieved as I’m sure I would have started crying as I told her how much I loved her book

- Show 2: Frank Skinner, I wasn’t sure about this when we booked it, the audience demographic changed massively and it was a huge shift from lovely DO’D, he definitely flirted with some more ‘old school’ stuff about brexit but then moved away from the obvious jokes, enjoyable but not so much my thing, Russell Howard and David Baddiel were in the audience taking the comedian count up to 4

- Show 3: Simon Amstell was the last show of day 1 - very much a work in progress but enjoyed it, different again from the first 2 shows, we were talking to some people the next day who said they had seen him a few years ago and would never go again as he was so self involved, couldn’t argue with that so I suppose it comes down to if you like him in the first place?

- Day 2, show 1 was Daniel Kitson - just wonderful, he makes its look so easy, hard to talk about without going into the premise but so far removed from the work in progress show earlier in the year and I can’t wait to see it again once it’s ‘complete’

- Show 2: Tarot, another work in progress - I absolutely love them and was cackling like an idiot for the whole thing and can’t wait to see finished show, was accidentally too enthusiastic and got pulled into some very mild audience participation regarding Mr Blobby (and my brain just can’t do audience participation) pretty sure my response was shite but it didn’t even dent how much I loved it

- Show 3: Stuart Goldsmith - bang on the front row (at the side at least) good lord he has VERY twinkly eyes… also I think the first proper ‘themed’ show we saw, good but very strong competition based on earlier shows of the day

- Show 4: Last minute scarper to the next street over to see Stuart Laws, the first show where I hadn’t seen them before either live or on TV, great visual gag fairly early on. Really enjoyed it, more low quality audience participation from myself… decision taken not to sit on the front row again if I could help it

- Show 5: Nish Kumar was brilliant and I could have listened to him screaming about the government all night, also the loudest audience of the weekend and everyone in the room loved him. Ed Gamble was in the crowd and got some stick which was fun, it was billed as a work in progress but I wouldn’t have been surprised if it was unplanned and he just ranted for the whole hour

- Last show was an ‘All Stars’ show at the Udderbelly, booked mainly because we couldn’t get to see Chloe Petts’ main show - she was fantastic obviously - also loved Lara Ricote

- Day 3, show 1: Ed Gamble, brings out the mum vibes in me despite only being 5 years younger, I find myself thinking he’s a lovely young man, and so handsome too etc He was very funny despite the smell in the venue and the actual children in the crowd, have tickets for the tour next year and am hoping to see him walk onstage wearing his camping trousers

- Show 2: The same stinking venue (Hive 1) for Alison Spittle who took the step of spraying air freshener around the room, great segment where she made assumptions about people’s lives based on their favourite soups, the show was a last minute booking but fantastic

-Show 3: Paul Merton’s Impro Pals, we booked this based on our shared childhood love of watching him on Have I Got News For You, the friendly posh lady we sat next to told us she didn’t like it when comedy was political so we decided not mention how much we enjoyed Nish…it was fun but very ‘lite’ and we were ready to get shouted at by an angry Scottish man

- Show 4: Frankie Boyle, lots of shouting and calling people cunts, lots of his psychotic giggle, couple of what appeared to be walk outs but who knows really, he only heckled the blokes leaving the room which was interesting, took the Prince Andrew is a nonce joke count up by about 100 and loads of fun stuff about the royals which I enjoyed

- Show 5: Buffy Revamped - the only non-stand up show we saw but it was great fun, crowd was full of very enthusiastic people and some VERY drunk people but he handled them expertly

- Show 6: Ivo Graham - pretty chaotic and I’m not sure if it was because it started late or if that’s just the show/the man, regardless it was really fun and had a great audience participation angle that would have worked really really well if the show was extended over a couple of hours, still a great last show of the weekend

This was my first trip to Edinburgh and it was amazing, the bad stuff I had prepared for wasn’t as bad as expected (the crowds, the queuing etc) although it was obviously expensive and I doubt I could afford it every year, also it totally fried my brain so I’m spending the next week indoors and not talking to any other humans as much as possible

Disappointed not to have spotted a wild Watto and also guilty we couldn’t fit his show in, but I am going to see Search next month and have his book on pre-order so I hope that balances things out in the long-run (see also John Robins but with Howl later in the year and without the book) and I didn’t give up hope of a no more jockeys show until ludicrously late into the weekend

I think our comedian spotting skills were fairly poor - we also saw Paul Chowdry and Paul Williams (separately) out and about and then Amy Annette walking down the street with Nish and Ed after Nish’s show, but that’s it

Thus ends my ramble - pics of the stages etc on my equally ‘not of much interest to anyone but me’ shows I’ve been to blog @mylifeintickets

[ferociouslycreativemystery]

So I watched La Locker Room Aux Folles. Twice. Have an essay (cause how else is anyone supposed to process their feelings? talking to people? sounds fake but ok)

asafahfal😭🥰szdgd❤️sdfahl🙏🕺zdfgbzdgzgzdb🎉gs😭😭😭

THE FUCKING BUILD-UP TO THE MOMENT. THE EXECUTION OF IT. JUST THE EVERYTHING!!

So we have the first half of the episode, where tensions build through Isaac's ambiguous and continuing dismissal of Colin. Not knowing what it means allows for fear, and time amplifies that fear by letting each dubious action resonate, louder and louder. Now, we all know what this show is, and we think we know who Isaac is, so the fear may be reluctant to take root. Nevertheless it nags and nags, until you remember the little hints that this could go the wrong way: Isaac's homophobic comment in episode 3, Nate's betrayal of the team after feeling cheated, and doubt comes creeping in. You begin to wonder: could they really go there?

And then the loudest action hits: Isaac's offence at the use of a slur. From the moment he steps into the stands we know that his actions will force a crystallisation of his intent. Schrödinger's box is about to be opened; the midpoint is upon us.

Time for the locker room.

First: a long silence. Brilliant. I was on the edge of my seat. It gives us even more time and space to process, and infer, to feel every emotion fuelling the room: confusion, disappointment, worry, concern - fear. Who's gonna say something, and what will it be?

The unevenly balanced scales are threatening to topple, because out of everyone there, only three people truly know what's up. Given Isaac's behaviour up till now, we are only able to fully trust two of them to appreciate the real stakes at hand. Everyone is circling the bait, desperate to pull it down and find out what's on the other side, but only two people understand that the ramifications of the bite would run so much deeper.

We circle closer. Sam reveals the word that was used, and we're locked in on the subject. Not incidentally, not humorously as before, but seriously, directly, and with investment. This won't just be brushed off, or joked away. What happens now will be remembered, and what happens now holds weight.

The camera is on Colin. Everyone else is talking, but the camera is on Colin, because for all the time he's spent keeping his head down, the tide has finally gone out, and it has caught him between the seabed and the shallow surface. Any careless move, and he could break its surface tension.

Here, we reach turning point 1.

Isaac reveals the true source of his frustration, and the great tension hanging over the first half of the episode is resolved: he feels protective, and fears his previous inaction might have inadvertently caused hurt. Relief. One crisis is averted; he's not homophobic.

But this revelation soon begs another: what change has brought on this seemingly disproportionate reaction all of a sudden? Well, Isaac is too upset to give that answer. He leaves the befuddled team with two clues though: his best friend, Colin, and a hypothetical: "what if one of us is gay?"

The bait the team has been circling is now within touching distance. They go for Colin, "Do you know what that was about?", and he, paralysed by the proximity of the surface, dares only shake his head. Stay down. So the team follow their one lead and finally bite down.

Only, they choose the wrong hook.

They don't have all the pieces, so once they've laid the puzzle and find that one is missing, they fill the hole with the most immediately available, and also the wrong, person. Nevertheless their confusion is cleared, and the imminent danger is averted. Colin has the room to breathe easy again as the tide rolls back in, the surface floating further and further up, farther and farther away. But every tension is not resolved; the team's understanding is still not aligned with reality.

And Colin has seen through to the other side now, closer than he ever has before. Breaking through suddenly seems like a real possibility. Not just a distant fantasy, but something that could actually be done. Was almost done. What's more, the pieces have already been aligned, and all the team is talking about now is supporting the person in question. All he would have to do is step up and fill that precariously bridged gap, before the surface disappears from view again.

And he does. Of course he does, because this is his team.

Turning point 2 comes to pass, yet we don't get to see it happen. Because the words aren't important, it's about what comes after. And, (de)fences down for the first time, the only thing that invades that raw, newly exposed area of honesty is acceptance. It is so mundane, and so so significant, because what it means is support. The heavy weight Colin has carried along all alone for so long lands softly as a feather, because the hands that have hereunto been weighing it down further, unknowingly, can instead turn into helping ones.

And that is not the where this ends. Because again, the point was not the words, but neither is it the way they were received. We linger in this moment of acceptance, because the support is what matters. Now, my personal instinct in any such moment of anticipated sincerity is to cower away, because "having feelings about something obvious is cringe - how dare you care about something that isn't new and shiny and untainted by familiarity". So seeing Colin just stand there, letting the moment wash over him and allowing the others to fully see and continue seeing him, felt very impactful to me.

Another thing I love about the aftermath is that no obligations are pushed on Colin. He doesn't have to explain himself, he isn't scrutinised or made to apologise for having stayed closeted. He isn't mentioned to the media in regards to the incident.

Instead, the team and coaches close ranks around him. They take responsibility for managing their own actions and reactions, they handle Isaac and the press conference. Colin is allowed to set the pace, and the destination, and it is treated as a given that the team's role is to simply follow along and work together until they get there. He never has to defend himself, only explain his reasoning to his closest friend so that they can continue to understand each other. Because while yes, this is about Colin, Colin is also about the team. What matters is that they support each other.

The only thing I didn't quite connect with, and in fact made me feel slightly alienated (entirely personal - this is not a criticism of the episode, just a private reflection), was the "I was 99% sure you'd be fine with it, but the 1% scared the shit out of me" line. The possibility of rejection is obviously a pitch black shadow hanging over a huge number of queer people when coming out, and I am very fortunate to have never been in that position myself. But there are also more ways than flat out rejection that coming out can change a relationship - homophobia comes in many shapes and sizes.

I personally prefer stories that adress the less direct version, where there isn't an expectation of open hostility to coming out per se, but where ignorance and a lack of understanding might mean that any soft, honest, and vulnerable truths uncovered will end up squashed.

A great example of this is George's coming out arc in Feel Good (on Netflix), where the central issue isn't overt homophobia, but rather a pervasive careless and insincere attitude among her friends and family regarding anything emotional. It does result in homophobia, but not necessarily of the archetypal bombastic variety. I really enjoy exploring those nuances, of how prejudice feeds and feeds off of emotional cues and attitudes.

But I realise that this is not a story about an analogous situation to that, and that there is only so much nuance you can fit in a short scene at the end of an episode focusing on queer acceptance rather than the preceding fear of exclusion. And I can see that that line is an effective summary that's easily digestible to a wide audience, even if it does paint over some nuances. A single story cannot delve into every beat exactly according to your own wish list, unless you write it yourself - which is why I read, write and love fanfic. :)

(Oh and btw, Nate's arc was also great, mirroring Colin's in how he is finally letting the facade drop, acting on what he really values and cares about rather than trying to fit in and belong on other people's terms.)

Overall: an amazing episode with some really great moments - many of them all time favourites for me. Wonderful handling of the subject matter and masterful balancing of the tension with the resolution. They knew what they were doing, that's for sure. This is officially one of my favourite episodes in any series ever.

I'm so glad I found this show.

#I wrote this for me. but I'm sharing in case anyone else would like to read as well :) #this began as tags on a gifset #but I quickly realised these thoughts couldn't be contained in a mere 30 tags #yes it's basically just me recounting The Scene beat for beat #but I needed it out of my system okay #it's 1.5k words ish #maddie's writing tag #ted lasso #colin hughes

[casasupernovas]

Here it is. My commentary for 'Human Nature' and 'The Family of Blood'. Part 1.

Whew. I have been putting this off for a while because I have a lot to say. Lots of missed opportunities, questionable choices and more. Without further ado, here are my thoughts.

Let me preface this by actually saying what the story is, or was. This story is written by Paul Cornell, based off of his book of the same name from the 90s Virgin New Adventure's Doctor Who book series. After the show had been cancelled, it was this material amongst Big Finish that kept the fandom going. The story featured companion Bernice Summerfield and the Seventh Doctor and is basically the same plotline: the Doctor becomes a human teacher named John Smith in the early 20th century. Due to being a book, it's a lot more detailed and the villains are a lot more intense but that's the basics. I'd also like to note that despite Cornell's credit, showrunner Russell T Davies made it clear in 'The Writer's Tale' that he contributed/edited and signed off on stories for Series 3, even going so far as to not have his name on some, something he did not have a grudge over. So bear that in mind when I discuss some choices the episode makes.

So, off we go and in a pretty solid and gripping opening scene, we are thrown right into the middle of a pretty intense scenario featuring the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones. They are being chased by something and the Doctor has to make a pretty quick choice to throw them off. So, the Doctor chooses to so something that entirely depends on Martha. His life depends on Martha. Hands out the watch. I'm invested immediately. It then cuts off to a different scene where confusion. What. Where. How? The Doctor is speaking funny, saying he dreamed of being a traveller. Why is Martha dressed as his maid? Why is she calling him Smith? Why is she saying he's human. Why on earth are they in 1913. We the audience are left to ponder what the hell is going on as the credits roll to reveal the title: 'Human Nature'. One thing I do really like about this story is how it doesn't immediately answer questions, but trickles through, and uses flashbacks to weave it all together.

We learn pretty quickly that this isn't a conventional Doctor Who story, and for the first time in the series, the Doctor is largely absent for TWO episodes, which is quite a bold decision to make. But a great way to ensure that the audience understands his importance and want him back. I read somewhere that David Tennant was actually sick during the filming for this, which added another layer of the Doctor being gone, due to him being obviously less like himself and quieter, something observed by the crew.

So, this is not the Doctor, but John Smith, a history teacher, who notably in the only lesson we actually see him teach, tells the class about battle, combat, the Battle of Waterloo, 1815. Remember this episode is set in 1913, November 1913 to be exact.

I do remember wondering if Martha had also changed, but being convinced that it was a story where she was the only one who knew the truth, due to her being the one to dismiss John Smith's dreams and tell him he is human. And we see her once more, performing the role of a maid. Martha Jones. Brilliant Martha Jones is having to be a maid. In 1913. Wow. I wasn't mad at this at first, mainly because this just reinforced to me how deep in trouble the Doctor and Martha must have be in. The stakes are high. I had already realised he has changed into a human to avoid these advesaries, just not known why. Martha clearly wouldn't have had to do this without good reason. To be placed in such a hostile environment as we begin to see, only fortifies the idea that this is the most dangerous scenario the Doctor and Martha have faced.

We are also introduced to Jenny, Martha's only friend in 1913. People have spoke of the 'Doctorfication' of Martha Jones this season as she has to take the reigns multiple times in ways many companions never do. So, like the Doctor, she gets her own companion in Jenny. Jenny who points out Martha's Londoner accent and admires her boldness. Because she's clearly the first person to challenge the roles they both are placed in, as women but also as a black woman. Martha and Jenny is then patronised and talked down to by Baines and Hutchinson, two boys attending the school in the most snooty, pompous, blood boiling way possible.

One of the positives of this episode is how it does not shy away from calling out just how arrogant and downright vile the attidudes of the country could be, especially during this period of time in British History. Baines and Hutchinson were not born that way. We see later exactly what kind of education these two are getting. Hutchinson then makes a racist remark to Martha, comparing the colour of her skin to filth before laughing and leaving. Martha is clearly riled by it but chillingly and accurately says (more to herself than Jenny) after Jenny points out the bleak apparent truth that boys like that would be the leaders of the country, that that may not be the case, knowing in the next year, a whole generation would be killed in a bloody, unnecessary and tragic war.

It's at this point it's made crystal clear that Martha Jones knows. Whatever is going on here, why she is here, with the absent minded John Smith, who flits by, 'head's in the clouds' says Jenny, Martha is the one who is in the know. And knowing the war is coming and being in this environment has to be so emotionally draining, especially as she knows there is nothing she can do to stop it. Not that they would listen to her, according to Martha, Jenny and Mr Smith are the only people who show her kindess here. Which is interesting, because John Smith doesn't seem kind to Martha at all in these episodes. Just polite. There is a difference. Not once does he ever defend her from condescension from the staff. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

We are then introduced to a character that also was in the original book - Nurse Joan Redfern. In some typical cutesy/awkward banter between her and John, it's pretty clear what is going to happen in this episode. I remember literally saying out loud "NO!" When Joan said "we make quite a team." Because I knew that I was gonna get a love story and I didn't want it. Mainly because it would take time away from the main companion, Martha, something that happens far too frequently this season. In fact, Martha is not just mainly reduced to the woman pining on the outside, but the woman pining alone. Martha Jones is seperated from the Doctor for most of this season, no doubt to reflect his literal emotional distance but all this achieves is a isolated companion. Which, as a viewer who is always excited to see who the Doctor meets next and how they interact, is a huge disappointment. And kind of maddening. Especially as this new woman is a racist. The scene before literally told us bold faced that this school has racists in it. Baines does not call out Hutchinson for his comments but laughs with him. The school is clearly full of racially prejudiced people and no doubt the staff. Which includes this lady. So I immediately knew she was going to be one so I automatically didn't like her and certainly was not going to invest in whatever love story they were going to push. I've seen many people say making her 'complicated' by showing her accurate prejudice for the time period is a good thing because it makes for a complex chatacter reading. Which I only agree maybe 10% with. Because it's true. People are complex beings. We see with Joan in her first scene that she is capable of being empathetic, polite and helpful. But we are later confirmed that she's also a racist. And as a black person, I am quite frankly tired of having to give characters like this grace. Because that courtesy is never extended the opposite way. I've made up my mind and being a racist is a pretty good reason to not like someone. Anyway, during this scene John Smith falls backwards down the stairs.

Martha bursts in as Joan tends to his wounded head because of course she does and Joan pointedly reminds her of her position, saying it is rude to enter "a master's study without knocking." To which Martha hilariously, mockingly, knocks on the already open door and comes back in. As Martha queries what happened, John Smith looks away and mumbles that it wasn't that big a deal, probably embarassed because it only happened because he was flustered by Joan. Again, even though what Matron is saying is accurate for the attitude of the time, the person that Martha says is 'kind' to her doesn't exactly defend her from Joan's little rebukes. Doesn't say "it's okay it's only Martha." When she enters his study, doesn't say "she's just wants to make sure I'm okay" after Joan cuts Martha again after she asks if she's checked for a concussion. And most cutting of all, Martha can't even use her medical knowledge to help because Joan knows more than her. Yeah, 20th century Matron knows more than the 2007 medical student. It's not just because Joan is older, or because Martha is a servant either. I'm sure Martha wanted to scream in frustration. We are immediately shown just how difficult Martha's role here is. We know she's clearly looking out for the Doctor here, but how is she supposed to do that when she is looked down on by everyone, so much so her voice is not heeded as useful or needed but borderline impertinent.

John Smith changes the subject though, and tells Martha how he was telling Matron about his impossible dreams and we get another plot twist. The biggest indicator that the Doctor is an alien are his two hearts. So the shock when Matron confirms only one heart. The Doctor is indeed human. How? We don't know yet, but we know it's tied to the watch. In another hint, John Smith says he dreamt he was hiding.

We then get John Smith showing Matron the journal showcasing classic Doctor Who villains, old faces officially making the 8th Doctor canon and of course, a callback to Rose Tyler, the sixth direct mention this season in episode 8 oh joy. I made a post before about what a missed opportunity it was to not show Martha's page. It does exist. I don't wanna watch John and Joan go all 'ooh' over his apparent 'fiction'. I want a moment where Joan finds the journal by mistake or purpose and finds Martha's page, because the journal doesn't just show crazy things but John Smith's lingering fears that something is not quite right. They're not just dreams, they're nightmares too. And in Martha's page he is clearly simultaneously disturbed and intriged by her. It's also an intriguing peek into the residual thoughts the Doctor has on her. That he doesn't know her too well (who's fault is that?) and that she wants to help. This is never addressed in the show and the page is never shown. Once again, Martha's character takes a backseat.

It's not lost on me that in this racist period, even with a rewritten brain, Rose still gets a poignant emotional beat and Martha is left in the wings. Again. I'm tired of Martha getting the backseat in her own damn season. In 1913. An era where white people are supposed to be superior. Does this ever get addressed? No. It gets worse. And it's painfully clear that there were no black people in the writers room because the optics of this are crazy.

Martha is concerned by the book of course, they need to be HIDDEN. Can't very well stay lowkey if he's writing the sh*t down can they? I think it's also the first time Martha has seen the journal. It's probably the first time he's began to speak about it openly. Maybe he's only just begun to dream about his true self. We found out that they've been there for maybe a maximum of almost three months. This seems to be a new development, or maybe he has been writing all the time. So Martha tries to downplay it, lest Joan get too curious. But Joan rather alarmingly confirms to Martha that she knows something is wrong with him, "it's like he's left the kettle on." We also get the Doctor and Martha's cover story - she arrived with him and he got her a job as a maid, and they know each other because she used to work for the Smith family, he 'inherited' her. Yikes. And Joan, in a 'sorry not sorry' brusk manner says for her to back off essentially; "you sometimes seem a little familiar with him. Best remember your position." A loaded statement. Not just pointing out her being a maid. But a black one. Remember your place. He's not just a man but your superior.

Throughout most of this season, there definitely feels like there's a vendetta out against Martha. In her debut she's clever, brilliant, beautiful and confident. And for some odd reason, it feels like the show feels like that is wrong. So we need to pull her down a couple pegs. Have the Doctor aggressively reject her at the end of the episode. And in the next. Take her to the slums with drug addled versions of her human race. Then the Great Depression where we have remind the audience that she is only just a unrequited love interest. Separate her from him so they can't bond as a companion/Doctor duo. Have him dump her back home then return immediately because she is apparently something he can pick up and drop off like a doll whenever he fancies. Then, in the episode where we are supposed to get headway, we tear him away from her in the early 20th century.

Martha Jones is brilliant, but it sucks that she has to do so much alone.

I'm barely through the episode but this post is already too long, so this is part 1. Part 2 will be up soon!!!!!

#doctor who #martha jones #tenth doctor #10th doctor #tenmartha #joan redfern #baines #hutchinson #jenny #rocastle #tim latimer #doctor who commentary #dw analysis #paul cornell #russell t davies #90s doctor who #series 3 #rose tyler #8th doctor

[neufer]

Reread of The Hollow Boy!!

It took me a while to organize my thoughts, but here I am! You know the drill. I’ve finished rereading thb and have come to share my thoughts on the internet. 

1. Out of the whole series, I think this book gives some of my favorite descriptions of the trio.

- “[Lockwood] was a picture of poise and unconcern. It’s how I want to remember him, the way he was that night: with horrors up ahead and horrors at our back, and Lockwood standing in between them, calm and unafraid.” 

- “As always, peril suited [Lockwood].”

- “My name is Lucy Carlyle. I make a living destroying the risen spirits of the restless dead. I can throw a salt-bomb fifty yards from a standing start, and hold off three Specters with a broken rapier. I’m good with crowbars, magnesium flares, and candles. I walk alone into haunted rooms. I see ghosts, when I choose to look for them, and hear their voices, too.”

- “George, it had to be said, had been more of an acquired taste, being scruffy, acerbic, and renowned around London for his casual approach to the application of soap. But he was also intellectually honest, had boundless curiosity, and was a brilliant researcher whose insights kept us all alive. Plus -and this is the crucial point- he was ferociously loyal to his friends, who happened to be Lockwood and me.” 

- “We were a total mess. We’d been up all night. We smelled of ectoplasm, salt, and fear. We looked at one another, and grinned. Then we began laughing. . . But that was just it. We weren’t hopeless. We were good. We were the best. And we never fully realized it until it was too late.”

2. Some of my other favorite descriptions/descriptive moments:

-  “. . .Flo is the unwashed queen of the river. . .”

- “Superimposed upon it all, my face blurred in and out of view. I glimpsed the child I’d been when I first came down to London, and the operative I’d now become, a girl who spoke with ghosts. More than spoke: who knew their desires.”

- “There’s nothing like the onset of night to bring out the best in an agent, and for some of us the darker it is, the better. I’m talking visually here. Suddenly every embarrassing pimple is cloaked in shadow; jaws become firmer, waistlines sleeker. Unwashed faces become pale and interesting; the lankest of hair acquires a glamorous sheen. The rougher points of personalities recede too; thoughts turn to survival and to the job at hand. So it was with the ragtag band that Lockwood had assembled that evening. For once, as we stood beneath Aickmere’s tissue tree, our similarities outweighed our differences. Kipps and Lockwood, Kate Godwin and I -we were all made of the same stuff.”

3. The Lavender Lodge case has always been one of my favorite opening sections, because it shows the duality of Lockwood & Co:

- “Remember I said there was that moment of sweet precision, when we gelled perfectly as a team? Yeah, well, this wasn’t it. The rapier shot past, missing me by miles. It skidded halfway across the floor. The bottle struck Lockwood right in the center of his forehead, knocking him out the window.”

- “Lockwood, of course, could throw. I was already moving up the ladder. A small square object came spiraling straight up and over the central beam; down it came, landing right in my hand. Not even a fumble. Close by, George was slashing with his rapier, watching my back, carving coils asunder.”

4. A bit of personal info about me: I’m currently in college studying journalism and have a little bit of experience in the field. So reading the chapters that start with newspaper articles has been very enjoyable for me. For instance, I just know that the reporter who came up with the headline ‘Bed & Breakfast -And Murder!’ was absolutely delighted with themselves. I certainly would’ve been.

5. As always, I’d like to highlight the moments humor and sarcasm that stuck out to me most.

-  “Pass me the ladder, George.” George waved his hands above his head in panic. “Where from? Down my trousers?”

- “It’s angry!” I gasped, ducking under a grasping coil. “I got a connection with the ghost! It’s angry about something!” “You don’t say?” High above, George raised his knees to avoid the thrashing tentacles. “Your sensitivity is amazing, Luce. How I wish I had your Talent.”

- “Kipps was red-haired, scrawny, and pathetically self-satisfied. For a variety of reasons, possibly connected to the fact that we often said this to his face, he had long disliked us here at Lockwood & Co.”

- “Are you going to listen to him?” the skull said. “I wouldn’t listen to him. If you want to make psychic contact with a killer ghost, why not? I say, Go, girl!”

- “Barnes may be grumpy,” Lockwood said, “but when I show him your findings, he’ll act soon enough. He knows how good we are.” He winked at us. “Don’t worry. I know we have our differences, but there’s a lot of mutual respect there. If he hesitates, I’ll sweet-talk him. He won’t let us down. . . “That total and utter idiot,” Lockwood growled. “That mustachioed imbecile. That benighted, blinkered jobsworth. He’s a clown! A fraud! An oaf! I hate him.”

- ‘George was surveying the room. “Yeah, don’t think much of the displays,” he said. “Some of these mannequins are hideous. . . . Oh -it’s you, Quill. I thought you were an exhibit.”’ I actually laughed out loud.

- “How’s the party going? Holly Munro grooving away?” “She’s eating her walnut salad with reckless abandon, yes.”

6. I’d like to take this moment to thank Stroud for throwing us some repressed Locklyle bones to go along with all of the angst. 

- First, Lucy still wearing the silver necklace Lockwood gave her in tws and then using it during the Lavender Lodge case? Beautiful. I ate that shit up.

- “I smiled at him. There was a horror behind that door. I would see it in seconds. Yet my heart sang in my breast, to be standing beside Lockwood in that house. All was as it should be in the world.”

- Lucy makes such a habit of attributing her physical reactions to Lockwood to something else. “Lockwood, somewhere two floors above, would have a similar setup. I imagined him up there, standing alert and watchful in the dark. I felt a twist in my chest, pleasant and painful at the same time: probably indigestion from those stupid sandwiches.” 🤦‍♀️

- “I glanced at him -his eyes were bright, his face set, his long legs swinging beside mine. We were in step together, perfectly in sync. And in that moment the world around us dimmed and blurred. Tensions and disagreements fell away. Everything was simple. It was just us, together, chasing a giant helium balloon down a central London street. Everything was as it should be -back in it’s proper place. Perhaps Lockwood had had similar thoughts. He grinned at me; I grinned at him. A swell of joy rose in me. . .”

7. I wanted to talk about this next bit separately. It gets a little angsty, but trust me, there’s more to come. So, I think it’s safe to say that “Come off it. You know I’d die for you.” is one of the biggest lines throughout the whole series. I’ve found that it’s kind of hard for me to conclusively analyze it (perhaps that’s for the best). Over time, some of the discourse I’ve seen surrounding this particular line is that it played a key part in Lucy’s decision to leave, and it obviously doesn’t really display healthy behavior. I agree with this, but I think it’s also important to note a few things Lockwood says after that. Mainly, he talks about how he has to look out for Lucy because he can’t lose someone dear to him again. In my opinion, this is a very important moment for Lockwood, because it’s really the first time he opens up after showing Lucy and George Jessica’s room. He then goes on to say, “Under the anger and the sorrow, Lucy, I was just left feeling hollow. Because I should have been in the room. I should have been there for her. And it’s not going to happen again. Whatever the cost, as long as you’re in my company, be sure I’ll always be there for you.” And that’s the beauty and the tragedy of it, isn’t it? Because at the end of the day, Lockwood just wants to protect those that he loves. He just isn’t able to find the balance between loving someone by being with them and loving someone by being prepared to die for them.

8. While we’re on the topic of Lockwood, let’s take a second to appreciate some of the moments that made me go 😧🥰 at the same time.

- There’s of course saving Lucy from the ghost in the Wintergarden house. I’ve always loved the sentence, “Quite how Lockwood managed to leap so far, I never understood,” and for no real good reason, I just think it’s amazing. And the whole description of the moment as well, because you’re so in awe at Lockwood and so worried about him at the same time. 

- The whole parade fiasco is amazing too. First, he throws his rapier to knock a gun out of the one guy’s hand (taking a page out of Lucy’s book, perhaps?). Then, he saves Ms. Fittes from a bullet by diving in front of her, using a plastic unicorn as a shield. And then, there’s this!! “[Gale] turned away from the edge and, in the same deftly casual movement, his rapier flicked up and jabbed straight out at Lockwood’s side. The action was so quick I didn’t fully comprehend it; nor the way Lockwood’s arm shot down to block the sword tip with his rapier guard. . . It gave me a chance to see how close the sword had been to slicing cleanly beneath the ribs. It would have traveled into his lungs and pierced his heart.” ???? 

- Nearly forgot about this: “Lockwood threw his rapier away; he stepped out of the circle. I saw him stagger as the wind caught him; his coat billowed up and outward. With an effort he kept his feet, leaped across the edge of the hole. Then he was beside us, grinning that old grin.”

9. Oh, you thought we were done discussing Lockwood? You thought we weren’t going to take this opportunity to transition into a discussion about his tragic childhood? Sorry, you’re wrong. Listen, it’s not as if I forget about how tragic (there’s really no better word to describe it) his backstory is. It’s always there, just in the back of my mind, and then BAM! I think about it too much and I get so emotional. Let’s break it down:

- Let’s begin with the fact that he’s even able to tell George and Lucy so much when he shows them Jessica’s room. Yeah, later on Lucy realizes that he left out some stuff, but, telling them about how she loved the smell of lavender? And that’s what he keeps in her room? 😭 He’s also able to admit that he wants to talk about it, it’s just too painful.

- Also wanted to point out this line: “But that’s too much like dealing with an ordinary Visitor -and she’s not that, George, she’s not ordinary. She’s my sister. Even if she does come back, I couldn’t use iron on her.” *cries*

- For some reason, I SOBBED when I read the bolded quote that I already mentioned in #7. I’ve never cried while reading these books, so I have no idea why, but it just hit me so much harder this time around. Seriously, that whole scene where Lucy tells him she went into the room and what he says in response? I was NOT well. (Oh yeah, and his parents being his first ghosts??? Way to slip that in there, Stroud😭)

- SPEAKING OF WHICH, I think it was SO heartbreakingly genius of Stroud to have Lucy accidentally experience the traces of Jessica’s death. Because from that, we get this: “For whenever I looked at Lockwood, so cooly contained and self-assured, the memory of that desperate little voice came rushing back, and set me squirming in my seat. Nor could I forget the echo of that little boy’s violent grief, the fury that had instantly avenged his sister and -years later, in his every action- continued to avenger her.” Like, fuck😭.

- One last little note. I think out of the entire series, this book incorporates it’s title the best. Because, as mentioned in the book itself, not only is the Fetch posing as Lockwood a ‘hollow boy,’ but Lockwood himself is a hollow boy. That’s literary genius.

10. We’ll take a little break from the angst for now. There are a couple really sweet found-family moments in the beginning that I really love. First: “Yes, we were overworked; yes, we lived in partial squalor. Yes, we risked our lives almost every night. Yet I was very happy. Why? Three reasons: my colleagues, my new self-knowledge, and because of an opened door.” It’s just so adorable to me. And then second (we won’t acknowledge what happens after this just yet): “Happiness bloomed inside me. This was what it was all about. Portland Row was home. My real family was here.” ❤️❤️ 

11. Kind of along the same line, I want to highlight George for just a moment. Not only is he an absolute genius in this book (I mean, he figures out what ‘the best minds in DEPRAC’ can’t, and that is just simply iconic), but he also perfectly exemplifies being the ferociously loyal friend Lucy describes him as.

- He has such good instincts throughout the entire book, and is really the friend that Lucy needs him to be. For instance, when Lucy misunderstands him and thinks he’s talking about her dislike for Holly when really he’s talking about her connection with the ghost Little Tom, he immediately asks her about Holly. 

- He’s also just spot on, about pretty much all of Lucy’s problems. It’s pretty well recognized throughout the fandom that George knows everything, and this particular book shows that very well. Examples: “Were you feeling particularly abandoned or needy up there?” “Never good to bottle things up -is it, Lucy?”

- Then there’s of course this: “Leopold Winkman flipped his hat rakishly low across his eyes, spun on his shiny heel, and began to saunter away. His picture of serene progress was interrupted by George, who, whipping his rapier from his belt, stuck it diagonally between Leopold’s legs so that he tripped, lost his balance, and tumbled into a crowd. . .”

- And this (in regards to Lucy losing control of her Talent): “You mustn’t put too much emphasis on this. Things happen to all of us. I’m sure we can all support you going forward, and-” This in itself is just so ❤️, but it also made me really sad to think about what Lockwood says in tcs, which is George was pretty ‘cut up’ about Lucy leaving.

12. A few other things before we end with a discussion about all the drama.

- I really appreciate Kipps in this book. I can honestly say his character development is one of the best I’ve seen in any form of media, and I think we start to see a lot of it here. I sort of forget about the Kipps/Lockwood comparison that Stroud obviously alludes to, but it really shows in thb, like in this instance: “No matter what Barnes says, no one has a clue what’s going on in there. It’s a free-for-all, chaos every night, and it’s already cost me the life of one agent. It’s not going to cost me another. Nor do I want to sit quietly back, doing nothing. If you’ve got a worthwhile lead. I’ll work on it with you. That’s all.”

- Honestly, props to Lockwood for recognizing that the company was not ‘coping’ with being overworked. He could’ve handled hiring Holly and a lot of other stuff a lot better, but at least he was able to see that they needed help. Also, props to Holly for being like, ‘you know you guys can turn down clients, right?’ 

- While on a case by herself, Lucy says, “Slowly, insensibly, a malign atmosphere began to invade the room. . . Doubt rose in me; also anxiety and a strong feeling of self-loathing.” Good to know what I feel normally is what it feels like when a haunting starts. /j

13. And finally, the one pretty big thing I haven’t talked about. Yeah, that. So obviously, there’s a lot of tension, repressed feelings, miscommunication, and just overall drama in thb. While rereading it this time, I just kept thinking, ‘this is really complex.’ Lucy sort of addresses this: “The funny thing was, I still acknowledged the connection that Lockwood and I had made, the previous night, as we ran together side by side, and the rest of the world molded itself around us. It had been real, I didn’t doubt it. But what I did doubt was Lockwood’s ability to sustain that connection in any meaningful way.” I’ll elaborate more on that later. Right now, these are the moments that truly made my jaw drop and made me want to shrivel up in a hole:

- ‘“I saw him as he passed; he was running for his life. Don’t shrug at me like that! He was so desperate. We’ve got to feel sympathy for him.” That was a mistake -I knew it at once. A light in Lockwood’s eyes flicked out. His voice was cold. “Lucy, I don’t have sympathy for any of them.”’

- ‘“I’m just worried for [Holly’s] sake,” I said. “You felt the energy of the apparitions last night. She’s a novice at this. Look -she doesn’t even know how to attach a rapier to her belt. She nearly tripped over it then.” I allowed myself the smallest grin, saw Lockwood’s gaze on me, and looked away. “Well, you needn’t worry too much,” he said slowly, “because I’ll keep an eye on her. She can stand beside me in my circle. That’ll keep her safe. You’ll be alright, I know.”’

- ‘“I hope so,” Lockwood said, “or next time I’ll leave you behind.” “And what? Bring Holly Munro along instead?” He went all pale and silent then. “It’s up to me who I take and don’t take,” he said slowly, “but I sure as hell won’t bring anyone who jeopardizes the safety of other agents. If you want to spend the rest of the winter dealing with Cold Maidens and Stone Knockers on your own, just say the word.”’ *and that’s exactly what Lucy ends up doing💔*

- ‘“I’d like to make a final toast. We’ve all done well. But there’s one person who I feel should be thanked for their very special contribution.” [Lockwood’s] eyes met mine; I felt happiness run through me like syrup; even the tips of my toes felt warm and prickly. I was back in that moment during the chase. I hadn’t been mistaken. “Holly,” Lockwood went on. . .’ When I tell you this gets me every time. My stomach drops and I get such second-hand embarrassment.

- ‘“Lockwood asked me to come, didn’t he? It’s not my fault my Talent’s not as sharp as yours.” “Well, you could’ve always said no to Lockwood.” “Like you do?” She gave her trilling laugh.’ 😳

- ‘“But don’t pretend you’re so caring, Lucy Carlyle! I told you about what happened to me at Cotton Street, and you couldn’t have cared less!” “That’s not true! How dare you say that?” “Then why didn’t you show it, Lucy?” “Because. . . because the same bloody thing happened to me! I lost my team as well! They all died too! All right? It upset me!” “Well, I didn’t know that!” “Well, I didn’t ask you to know about it, did I? It’s my business!” “Like Lockwood’s past is your business too?”’ 😳

14. So yes, the complexity of the situation. The way I see it, it’s easy to see how both Lucy and Lockwood, and then Holly, are in the right and wrong at the same time. I’ll start with something that I always think of when I think of thb. So, I know that Lucy gets a notable amount of hate for how awful she is to Holly. And rightfully so; there are a ton of moments where Lucy’s inability to tolerate Holly is honestly annoying. However, I don’t think all of her behavior is unwarranted. Because listen, as someone who had like four good friends at the age of 15, I know how disorienting it is when someone new comes into the mix. That’s really the root of Lucy’s problems with Holly. Think about it. The last group of people she was really close with -her team under Jacobs- all died. She’s still able to form meaningful relationships with Lockwood and George, and doesn’t want it to change. She even voices her concerns, so yeah, it’s understandable why she’s upset. It doesn’t entirely excuse her actions, but, like I said, it’s complex. Which brings me to Lockwood. He (as well as Lucy) obviously has some very, very repressed feelings that he can’t even begin to work through. I think that’s important to note, as well as the past trauma he’s slowly working through. Something else I noticed: he’s really bossy when it comes to Lucy and her Talent in this book. I thought for a while about why that might be. He does mention at the end that her talent ‘makes her vulnerable’ and he ‘has to look out for her.’ So that definitely has something to do with it. But, I also think some of it might stem from the stress of wanting his company to be respected. Made me really glad I don’t have to worry about running a company while being an angsty teen. But, like with Lucy, that doesn’t excuse his actions. One last note, I think it’s so interesting how Lucy can go from describing working with Lockwood as the ‘rightful pattern of events,’ and having Lockwood’s voice being the one she wanted to hear ‘more than any other’ whilst below Aickmere’s, to leaving. It really puts the severity of the situation into perspective.

Whew, that was a lot. But, so is thb. I just have to say, despite all the conflict, I truly love this book. I always have. It took me so long to make this post that I’ve already read tcs, so maybe I’ll get that post up soon! I’m really looking forward to finishing this reread.

#lockwood and co #the hollow boy #lucy carlyle #anthony lockwood #george cubbins #The Skull #holly munro #jonathan stroud #angst #tension #repressed feelings #repressed englishman #this was so much

[popculturebuffet]

Top 25 Ed, Edd, N Eddy Episodes: Top 25 List of the Ed (Comissioned by Weirdkev27)

Hello all you happy Eds and happy late anniversary to one of the best showss Cartoon Network ever put out. A few weeks back Ed, Edd n Eddy hit it's 25th Anniversary.. which makes me feel old, but still proud.

For those less familiar, Ed Edd, N Eddy was a series by Danny Antonucci. Antonucci was a huge fan of cartoons of the 40's through 70's, the wobbly style and chaotic energy, and , basing it on people he knew from his children with two of the ed boys to himself with Rolf. He tried pitching it to Nick, but wisely didn't want to give up creative control, something cartoon network gave him, leading to 5 seasons and a movie of handrawn wonder. Yes i'm aware of the 1 technically 6th season episode, but like HBO Max I just lump that in with season 5.

For those less familiar with the show, a quick primer: Ed, Edd, N Eddy follows the titular ed boys: Imaginative cloudcukoolander dum dum brick house Ed, neurotic genius inventor voice of reason Edd, and scheming egotist jerkass Eddy. The three would reguarly try to pull "Scams" to get the kids quarter, a combination of buisnesses, out and out schemes to get money, and ocasinally buliding an ENTIRE CITY. Their targets were the other 6 kids and plank of wood inhabiting their Cul De Sac: Rich kid asshole treat him as the villian Kevin, nice girl and sorta love intrest Nazz, son of a shepard Rolf, Ed's abusive shouty sister Sarah, Sarah's best friend and sensitive kind boy Jimmy and the weird, wonderful Johnny and his best friend Plank. Typically the schemes would fail either due to Eddy's hubris, an unforseen thing or if the writer's were feeling a tad lazy, just having local bullies and sexual harassers the Kanker Sisters end the episode.

The series stuck to it's small cast, a handful of settings, yet used those for all they got, getting 4 seasons out of a nearly endless summer filled with fantastic slapstick comedy, nice adult nods sprinkled in there, and fluid and bouncy animation, with a 5th shifting the setting to school for a decent enough season that's barely on this list but wasn't too bad, ending in a finale movie.

So i'm honoring this fine series with it's 25 best episodes: once kevin pitched the idea and clinked the money in my jar, I went through the series, picked out my faviorites, narrowed it down to the 25, then rewatched ALL of them. I was stuck in bed with tubrculosis, what else was I going to do. I COULD have gone off memory, but it just felt right to rewatch them all and at 11 minutes an episode it was fesable. I am willing to do more lists on comission and will rewatch any episodes I put on said list if possible, but I have limits. Overall though it was remarkable how I not only had TROUBLE pairing it down to 25, but how awesome these episodes still were all these years later.

So these are the good, the great and the weird of Ed , Edd N Eddy across 5 seasons and celebrating 25 years, 25 scams and 25 cents. Join me under the cut.

25. Ed, Pass it On aka The One With Eddie's Brother Allgedlys Coming Back Home

Ed Pass It On.. is okay. The opening set piece is an all timer and rewatching these reminded me just how much this show loves it's opening set piece scams and how good it was at them. A restraunt is great and the way it derails being ed putting hhimself naked on one of those fancy serving tray things is brilliant. I didn't need to SEE a naked Ed, but that's half the joke.

The actual episode.. is less enjoyable than I remember. The idea of Eddy lying his big brother coming back is great and it has some nice foreshadowing for the big picture show, but joke wise it's just not funny watching everyone be terrified a serial domestic abuser is going to come back. it is intresting seeing how each character interacts with the idea and Sarah easily derail it, but it didn't hold up as well possibly due to SAID big picture show hammering home just how bad a person Eddy's brother is taking Kevin and Rolf's reactions from kinda funny to "Okay I see why jesus". Not a terrible one, just one that didn't age well.

24. Stop Look and Ed aka The No Rules One

The titles for this series.. aren't great. Some fit okay, but the chaotic title cards meant I didn't read them clearly half the time as a kid and their so generic. Thankfully the episodes are still good> This one's got a strong premise: Edd is , as you'd expect, neurotic about a keep off the grass sign, and Eddy and Ed defy it, then decide to break all the rules they can, leading to the neighborhood goign into chaos in hilarous ways with Rolf taking a break for once, Kevin destroying dishes and Sarah and Jimmy's ice cream mountain. We also get the iconic line "Save it and use it for ammo when I need to double d". Otherwise.. it's flimsier than I remembered, with Edd's solution being entirely assholish and eddy being a dick the whole time. It has enough memorable moments to land it here, with the jawbraker satilte, the off screne double d reveal, the ice cream mountain, it's just not the series best. That won't last long on this list thankfully.

23. An Ed Too Many aka Sarah gets a crush on Double D

Season 1 was a tad more relaxed than the seasons after, a bit more chill and that shows here. There's no scam in progress, our heroes just hit up Double D, try to make pizza then work on what the next scam will be while the conflict is simply Sarah getting a crush on Edd and stalking him.

That part could easily ruin the episode: Ed, Edd N Eddy has held up in a lot of ways, but it's use of the Kankers.. is not one of them ,being the embodiment of "HA HA THIS SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS FUNNY BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING TO A MAN. LAUGH LAUGH AT HOW UNCOMFORTABLE THIS IS LAUUUUGGGGHHHH".

So it's a plesant suprise that when it comes to this episode with Sarah.. they get it right. Sarah is obsessively following Double D around, but the episode makes it very clear in how she acts this episode she's a kid: She dosen't understand this isn't okay or Edd isn't intrested because she's.. well apparently 12 according to the middle school seasons but clearly supposed to be younger than that even in those seasons? This show is weird with ages.

Point is you get an innocence in Janynse Jaud's performance. She's just a kid following around the older boy she has a crush on and not understanding that him giving her a flower, entirely innocently, didn't make him his boyfriend but you understand why from her perspective she is. Not only that Sarah's entitlement as a character and tendency to not be told no , as anyone who does usually gets their teeth misplaced soon after, makes it clear WHY she doesn't get it and why Ed gently trying ot tell her to leave or eddy being.. eddy about it don't work. The episode dosen't make Sarah's behavior okay either, as it's clear Double D is massively uncomfortable, but it's on such a low scale, the worst we get being "hello trapped boyfriend" and her acts mostly being following him around, asking him to play and making paper art out of the paper used for their dinosaur.

The episode is low on jokes, but ones it has are great. We have that great shot of Ed and Eddy carrying edd, "Get Lost", an all time great joke of the series, and of course Jimmy's heartbroken reaction to everything, foaming at the mouth and trying to pick a fight with eddy in the most hilarious way possible while Eddy just boggles at it and has ed kidnap him. The ending solution, the two playing together is also really sweet. All in all a solid, shockingly wholesome episode.

22. Over Your Ed aka Cool Ed

Another season 1 episode and once again I like how relaxed it is: our heroes are simply running an "eno-g-drink" stand, a smaller hustle than normal, ed being ed and also extra smelly ruins it, so the eds decide to fancy him up and then profit off it. Simple plot. This one is here entirely for ed's transformation, a classic design from the fun wig to the neat jacket, and the fountain of nearly incomrephnisble 70's and 80's catchphrases. Cool ed is a delight and would easily get this episode higher. The problem is one MANY an episode have: Deus Ex Kanker. The writer's can't figure out how an episode ends, so the Kanker Sisters show up. There's less HARASSMENT in this one, so it's not as bad, but this one wreaks of them not knowing how to end the scheme and just letting the Kankers do it for them and it ends the episode on a sour note.

21. Laugh Ed Laugh aka Eddy looses his mind due to a Pandemic

Yeah this one aged well for obvious reasons, but even beyond the obvious parallels to the hellscape we all lived through, it's a well done character piece that shows why EDDY does this. Sure we know other reasons, greed, a need to live up to his brother, etc, but this one makes it clear he's addicted to it. He's given a chance to just hang with his best friends, let the storm pass.. but it's just not as fun. He can't play games like kick the can when there's no money in it, no thrill to it. He may get constantly frustrated at his constant losses... but this ep adds the subtext that that the possiblity of loss, the possiblity of not winning... is part of it. Eddy.. is a gambler. He lives for the thrill of the chase as much as the thrill of those quarters jingling in his jar. IT's why he ends up playing one of the oldest scams in the world with a bunch of squirrels for a prize he dosen't care about. He cares about the money.. but he needs the game too and goes mad without it. Tony Sampsons performance is also a large reason this one's here as it's one of his best. Truly great hilarious stuff. A solid episdoe that really cracks Eddy open as a character.

20. This Won't Hurt an Ed aka The Needle One

This is also the only one from Season 5. Now despite this I DO like Season 5's attempt's to do something new with the formula, putting the Ed's back to school and giving us new outfits for most of the cast that still echo their familiar ones. I particularly like Eddy's jacket. I also get why it dosen't work for some as the show still wasn't back to full speed despite this refresh, some of it's worse habits stuck, and the minimalist cast is a lot more noticable in a school setting, if still working for me. But I get why it wouldn't work for everyone.

That said it still gave us some classics and this is the best of them. It's also an episode that makes me feel bad for Kevin something hard given that he's an arrogant jerk. The episode does this well without really changing his character: he's still arrogant and he's largely nice to Jimmy at the moment because Jimmy's feeding his ego.. but you also get WHY the other kids are showering him for winning a sports ball as he has genuine charisma and is in a good enough mood to not be a sarcastic jerk to them, as he often tends to be.

The other half is Eddy. Eddy starts shit with Kevin this time not because Kevin disrespected him.. but because Kevin's getting all the attention. Eddy is genuinely in the wrong here and uses private medical information to torture Kevin with his fear of needles while also causing a panic in the school and making Double D's job as a nurse's assitant harder. Eddy... is a bad person a lot of the time and while he has a damn good reason WHY he's this way, it dosen't change the fact a lot of the time he's just a jerk for petty reasons.

The various torments are hilaroius but what gives the episode extra charm is the creepiness added as Kevin tries to avoid the eds as they stalk him. The short takes on a horror movie vibe. And again the episode dosen't forget Kevin is who he is: his response to the boys con being outed by Double D.. is to try and beat their heads in. But what clinches this one as a classic is Double D finding anothe rway around, one that remidns me of the aformentioned grounding episode... but instead of having kevin beat them.. he gives EDDY the shot to help Kevin with his own fear. A perfect payback ending to a damn fine episode.

19. Floss Your Ed aka OW TOOTH HURT

This is just a fun gag fest, plain and simple. The setup is simple: Ed's tooth is loose , Eddy puts a bounty on it to try and get that tooth fairy money and we get a lot of fantastic hyjinks from the rest of the kids as they try to get it loose from fishing lures to the fake jawbreaker above. It's a bit low thanks to it's ending not being as fun as everything else, but the payoff of Ed eating the teeth still works.

18. For The Ed By the Ed aka The Election One

A fitting one for this year, and not the last election episode i'll be going with. And what a concidence it's also between a blatant criminal who tries to steal an election and a plank of wood whose still a far better choice. Eerie.

This one's here partly because I really like election episodes, but mostly for it's murderer's row of jokes: We get things like the shovel, Eddy's over the top electionaring, Ed literally digging up dirt, and Eddy's blantant election fraud so obvious and ineveitble Edd already planned way ahead. Simple premise but damn if it ain't fun. It's also cathartic as hell to see Plank beat up the Kankers. He's got my vote.

17. Rent An Ed aka The Eds leave Johnny Homeless

This is another quick one to talk about: it's just gag after gag after gag as the Ed's destroy Jimmy's house then Johnny's. Plank telling them what they did, the design of Johnny stuck in a tree, Chez La Sweat, this one is just nonstop slapstick gold , concluding int he glorious delivery of "IS THAT THE SUPPORT BEAM TO THE HOUSE?!"

16. Dear Ed aka Johnny and Plank Break UP

This one thrives on a great concept, as do most great Ed Edd N Eddy Episodes: Johnny and Plank have a fight and while Jimmy takes the poor hunk of wood in, Eddy tries to captlize on Edd's well meaning attempts to find the kid a new best friend. What foils it is especially clever: it's not Eddy's usually impulsivness or greed, it's simply Johnny's imagination: Johnny gave Plank life, so they can't really contorl how he reacts to the other friends with a Traffic Cone being a perverted jerk and a Boot nearly killing him. Add in a fun as heck party with the whole neighborhood showing up and a wholesome ending with the boys dancing with Jimmy and you have one of my faivorite episodes.

15. Dueling Eds aka the Duel One

Okay some of these titles are pretty transparent, but you name an episode off the top of your head by title. Go on i'l wait.

Anyways, I love Rolf, easily tied with Johnny for my faviorite of the kids, so it's a shock only one of his episodes is on here, but damn does he make it count. The premise works well: It simply let's Eddy be his obnoxious self, disprespecting Rolf's culture then refusing to see he did anything wrong despite how obviously upset Rolf was and how obvious it is to anyone with two eyes that he was an insenstive little dickhead. Thus while Eddy goes through it this episode.. you don't remotely feel bad for him: He had every chance to apologize and even the cupcakes would've work but his stubborn refusal to admit he did anything wrong gets him beat. It's also aged remarkably well with many a person disrepscting people's personal cultures for being diffrent They all deserve a fish slap.

The duel itself also climbs it up here with the striking colors and some good gags like Rolf wanting eddy to fight back even though really this fight is one sided and Eddy has been trying. We also get a rare kevin compuance, as he tapes the fight, clearly is only into it because Eddy's getting beat.. and clearly gets beaten up afterwords. Also Ed becomes an eel. That sure did happen. I also love the guys eagerness to walk on Rolf's face. What a guy.

14. Look Into My Eds aka the Hypno Wheel One

Look into my heads is a weird one. As you might have noticed from the other season one eps on this list, Season 1 , like most season 1s, experimented a bit, trying to figure out the show's rhythm, having a more relaxed tone in places. The show hadn't quite settled into it's scam of the week format (with the ocasional breaks to keep it from getting stale of course).

So we get this episode where hypnotism is outright real and a lot of fun transformations , paticuarlly monkey Kevin and frog sarah. It's just some fun nonsenes. It's only real issue and what keeps it this down low despite such great animation and physical comedy .. is the Kankers. Their barely on this list for a reason, and while the ending isn't AS bad as usual, their use still feels like they had no ending thought up when they came up with the hynowheel. The reason it dosen't completely derail the ep is it is at least CLEVER why their resitant and the hair gag is hilarious. So a unique ep that could've been better, but still is solid and memorable thanks to it's designs and comedy.

13. Dawn of the Eds aka The Space Ranger One

Dawn of the eds is another season 1 experiment and one I wish they'd done more of: it's just a chill hangout episode outside the usual premise where the guys collect money for jawbreakers, plan to sneak into a movie then spend the day roleplaying in the junk yard. It's just pure fun to watch the kids have so much fun dressing up junk, hanging out in an old van and playing spaceman, and the ending of them throwing shit at sarah and jimmy and leaving for dinner while dragging ed away is a perfect capper. It's not joke dense like later entries on this list, but it's just so much fun and nice break from the pattern the show would fall into later.

12. Avast Ye Eds aka the Steel Pedal Guitar One

Another vibes episode.. at least for the first half and one of my faviorite scams of the series: The ed's simply take Johnny and Jimmy boating which fits first, the former loving adventure and the later being a perfect foil for how dinky the boat is with his fussy nature and seasickness. It also has that steel pedal guitar bit, from how much Edd hates the thing to how GOOD he is at it while being utterly bored. It's one of the series best and elviates this episode by itself but even without it it's still a lot of chill fun on a boat.

Then the Kanker's show up.. and the episode gets even better. Yeah, probably the only time anyone's ever said that but unlike other examples of their inclusion in season 1 they feel more part of the plot: of course they'd do this and the pirate thing helps esclate it giving us great stuff like "kick my feet faster", johhnny's badass sail ripping, and walking plank. I"m shocked they got that obvious joke out of the way so soon and wouldn't be suprised if they entirely wrote an episdoea round getting there. The usual sexual harassment keeps this classic down a few pegs, but it's still one of my go to episodes for a reason.

11. X Marks the ed aka ATTACK THE WIG.

LIke the last entry on this list, X Marks the Ed gets a lot of mileage out of having one of the series best gags, in this case my personal faviorite ATTACK THE WIG, from it's randomness, to Ed's tender reveal of "wigs scare me double d" as well as how it takes the easy solution to this dillema out of the plot.

X Marks in general is just funny. Yes Eddy probably dosen't deserve his suffering even with his giant pile of horrible deeds before this, but while the Zit on his head isn't his fault, his making it bigger by poking at it is. And the antics the kids get up to, from Johnny running a scam himself to the expertly crafted photo bit, is great. Rolf is also in top form here, happy to help, treating making the cure like a cooking show and somehow srhinking eddy while running away from his actions. X Marks the ed is just pure laughs the whole way through and sometimes that's all you need to make a good episode of this show.

10. They Call him Mr Ed aka Up

This was one of my faviorites as a kid (as most of this list is really, they held up well) , and for good reason: the simple idea of Eddy building a company dedicated to going up with no actual goal this time is genius. It's very clear his understanding of buisness is what tweens would be, with him just thinking it's about board rooms, hiring people and going UP. The sheer amount of up puns is mindboggling as it is incredible and I salute them keeping this schitck up. Everyone fits into the corprate setting really well: Eddy as the corrupt ceo, Edd as the Smithers, Johnny int he mail room, Nazz as receptionist given her people skills, Jimmy as the style person, Rolf on security with his strength. Though I don't think had the fight got on Kevin would've lived much longer. It also uses kevin well to derail the scheme: it's a tricky arct finding a way to end it that isn't TOO ashoolish, and Kevin simply wanting to talk to Nazz, not respecting the game their playing and leading to Eddy tipping his hand on not paying anyone is perfect, as is Ed's elevator runner paying off in such a surreal way.

This episode is truly in the up-er echelon and a perfect way to start UP the top 10.

9. Fa-La-La-La-Ed aka the first Christmas One

This one gets to the top 10 on sentiment: it's a genuinely heartfelt christmas episode... even as eddy keeps reminding us "it's July!". Remember that for July this year. It's just so nice to see Ed's delusion it's christmas lead to the kids deciding "fuck it let's go ahead and celebrate christmas" and just enjoy themselves. It has good gags too including the caroling and the piggy bank scam, as well as the whole idea of piggy bank day, but it gets here entirley just by being sweet and with Ed being at easily his kindest and most selfless.

8. One + One = Ed aka the Really Fucking Weird One We All Love

This one was a shoe in for a list the second it was pitched to me. It's one of both the msot memorable episodes and the funniest and now having learned more about animation than I did as a kid, gags like Eddy going into the background or taking away Jimmy's line are even better. It's also hard not to love Jimmy's comeback later "don't spill me!" or the three headed Rolf. An episode simply about learning things work sharply swerves into an absurdist masterpiece, and I love every second of it. It plays with the animation, breaks every rule and has a damn good time doing it. It's certainly the show's weirdest episode.. but it's also certainly one of it's best.

7. Urban Ed aka Edtropolis

This is one I loved as a kid and I was delighed, again like most of these, that it held up REALLY well.

The setting is what makes this episode both such a classic and such a nice break from the usual: While Eddy's still trying to milk money building an entire, fun looking city of cardboard for it while introducing various city scams, from beginin stuff like shopping or shoe shines to a tatoo parlor the episode finds a LOT of fun stuff to do with an urban setting. This thing is crammed with joke after joke from the anvil gag to the boy with the snake on it's face, and once again threads the needle just right; Eddy's punished.. but given he hit johnny up for money earlier and built the city LARGELY just to make money off people, I can't feel too bad. The opening scam is also one of the series best. Just try to confuse them into money. I'm shocked it didn't work.

6. Robbin Ed aka the Superhero Episode

Look I love superheroes. I'm not shy about that so this one always had a place in my heart. But it's a dang fun superhero episode and what I hold up as one of the gold standards for "one of the cast becomes a superhero" episodes. It helps it has a unique hook to it compared to most: it's not our main characters becoming masked vigiliaintes, but Jonny, whose upbeat nature, kindness and already shown bits of heroisim (See the pirate episode from before) make him a perfect fit, with Plank being a natural sidekick.

It also puts Eddy in the perfectly fitting role of supervillian. He's already a crook, has ego issues and gets pissed off easily: have Jonny ENTIRELY JUSITFIABLY wreck his latest and most scammy scam (selling people a device they only had one of and filling the boxes with nothing), and Professor Scam is born. The rest of the episode is Eddy just.. perfectly sinking into the role, from his hilariously dumb setup scheme which made me laugh at a butt joke for a change, to his scam ray to that all timer gag of his getaway bike floating away without him, it's a perfect 60's batman style showdown, and Ed turning face at the end is the perfect way to resolve it. Robbin Ed is a good time and stands out for good reason.

5. See No Ed aka The One Without the Eds

See No Ed is a clever inversion of Laugh Ed Laugh: We've had an episode without the other kids, seen how the Ed's deal with that. I'm amazed it took till season 4 to get to this given they did the inverse so early on but it was worth the wait.

It also neatly shows the stages the kids go through: their curious, then throw a party not having to deal with Eddy's shit for a day, then are genuinely worreid and finally go to a scam WITHOUT the ed's there to opperate it which still goes well. It's all logical but also creates a sense of intrigue as to WHERE they are.

Helping this is Kevin, the lead of the episode and given how much Kevin can be a jerk, putting an episode on his shovel chin is a risk.. but it pays off here. Just as the other kids absence rattled Eddy, Kevin finds he's off ballance without his nemisis. He assumes the absence has to be s cam, that the eds ar ewaiting for him, devolves into parnoia. It lays bear what Kevin is: a bully that needs a target to fuel his massive ego, the same way eddy needs to pull scams, win or loose, to stroke his own ego: Eddy scams because it get shim money and makes him feel sharper than the sharpies. In turn Kevin hutns eddy so viciosuly because hunting Eddy and whaling on him gives him something.

Something that dosen't come up often but this episode makes clear is that Kevin's place among the kids.. is fragile. He's postiioned himself as the alpha dog, the big boy, the one others respect.. but his closest friends are the ones nice to everyone: Rolf and Nazz are just unbelievably Kind. And Even Nazz gets annoyed by him at times and is the one most likely to call him out and Rolf likely woudln't be as close if he knew half of what Kevin said. Kevin needs Eddy because Eddy's presence assures he won't become just like him: an outcast whose ego, selfishness and need for attention isolate him from everyone else. Kevin falls apart because he can't accept the eds aren't some boogey man to make him feel better and their absence isn't some scheme and it's glorious to see.

4. The Day the Ed Stood Still aka He's a Literal Monster

The Day the Ed Stood still is another format bender, and a clever one as it's a bait and switch: it starts with your standard cold open scam, Ed decides he wants to be a ,onster, Edd wants to help because he's a kind soul and Eddy does because he can sell this.

Then.. things go off the rails in the best way possible. This one asks what happens when two of the ed's biggest assets, Edd's inventivness and Ed's unstoppable strength, ran rampant: Double D builds Ed the perfect monster suit.. and Ed BECOMES the monster and a nightmarish force Double D desperatley tries to stop while Eddy encourages because he's a sick bastard. IT's one of the few times he's not punished for being the worst.

What follows isa fun tense monster movie as Ed slowly picks off the neighborhood. The deisgn on the monster is awesome and the slow reveal of it is brilliant, as is Ed making his layer in his basment with chewed up chunky puffs. Gross AND horrifying. The ending, with Eddy naturally having a bunker ready under his bed and Ed going wild to not let him get away THAT easy with his actions, is a lot of fun.

3. Once Bitten, Twice Ed aka The Never Ending Scam

This one is helped by having the series best cold open. Easily. It's not even a contest: Baron O Beef Dip is just pure comedy gold, from how Shoddy the prank is, to using Ed's iconic little monster pal, to fo course ED EATING HIS MATTRESS, not to mention the fact this isn't the first time, and ending on "devour the non belivier and Eddy having to get eddy to CALL HIM OFF CALL HIM OFF. This alone would get the episode on this list.

The rest though is also excellent and while a bit overshadowed by the opening set piece, still slaps with a simple concept: Eddy has a scam he won't let go of and instead keeps lazily rehashing while the kids get tired of it and by the end aren't falling for it. Eddy uses a random object, lures them in, it's a hunt, Rolf tries to participate witha blunt object, Johnny objects. Rinse, repeate, comedy gold. I also found a joke I didn't get as a kid that i loved here, Great Nano's kidney stone. The fact Rolf has that and the fact Nazz is the only one to go "wait waht". It's brilliant. Replacing that later wtih Kevin just.. giving hi ma hammer, this time KNOWING it's ed is also good. This one takes a concept and runs with it and unlike Eddy dose'nt run it into the ground. It's a perfect eddy plot too: he's so prideful that of COURSE there'd be that one scam he thought was great and refuses to admit was halfbaked from the start. Of course. This one never quite ends but it certainly leaves us on a high.. and a toilet for some reason.

2. Little Ed Blue aka BIG TROUBBBLEEEEEE

We all remember this one: Ed gets upset, chaose ensues. What I noticed more on rewatch though is two key things that made this epiosde good: it's densely packed with jokes and ahs a well done plot: the opening with the theater is genuinely nice: the movie is entertaining, we get the steel pedal guitar again, a clear seal of quality, and the food fight is wholesome: it starts as a fight btu the kids just have fun and Eddy gets an honest day's profit.

The main event though is one of the ages: ed is upset, kicks everyone out and gives sarah her just deserts for a change. And what works is that Ed.. just wants to be alone> He's dealing with a pebble, he's having a crappy day and the episode only keeps going because Edd, misguidedly, want's to cheer up his best friend instead of letting him just have a poopy mood, especially since outside of the theater thing, he's not harming anyone> He just sits on a stump moping and only gets agressive when Edd and Eddy won't leave him alone. The worst he does is hurt Edd's feelings.. but he tells him to go away. They don't listen, so what happens next is on them.

It allows the episodes slapstick to be hilarous as Eddy is his usual self, not wanting ot help because he dosen't care and screaming at edd or othe rhalf assed things. Hence the glorious shit he gets done to him from Ed making a toy breathe fire, to the comic book face to my faviorite him being turned into a bat to bean kevin after both are dicks to ed, it all feels deserved> it also makes johnny solving it work: Jonny did nothing wrong, and thus is the one who actually fixes ed.. with planks help. It's a masterful episode with Matt Hill's best performance by far.

Shoo Ed aka Annoying Johnny

Many an episode on this list is good.. but at the end of the day one was #1 in my heart for years as I didn't realize till getting screencaps a year or two back a LOT of my faviorite gags were int his one episode and even amnong all these rewatches, only one king of the cul de sac could be crowned.

I like Jonny a lot as a character, inconsitent spelling of his name here or not, with plank also being great. His innocense, his weird sidekick, but this is the peak of his moutnain. Johnny is unteitonally a pest to kevin, and Eddy weaponizes it for his own means. The result is the funniest episode of the show and the best version of it's standard formula.

Johnny's the star here with his unteiotnal annoyance, the glorious purple suit, and Paul David Grove's great enthusasim. But everyone gets a chance to shine: Double D's growing bafflement with this and eventaul freakout with "i glued a block of wood to johnny's foot", eddy at his scammiest and hammiest as he enjoys this, and Ed .. well he glued a block of wood to johnny's foot. We get so many great jokes from Eddy and Kevin's argument, to "I glued a block of wood to johnny's foot", the suddne ye haw, provoke our creation, Rolf natually loving new johnny "What does that mean I ask you" and of course

So many great lines and performances I could spend all day listing them but I won't. It also , like most eps here, avoids the usual pitfall of the series: The ed's punishment is proportionate, trapped by the monster they created and eddy's own cheapness. A fitting end to the series best episode.

Thanks for reading Ed boys.

#ed edd n eddy #cartoon network #ed #edd #eddy #jonny 2 x4 #sarah #plank #jimmy #nazz #rolf #kevin

[clownqueenofprom]

Pantheon AU things, Part II

You know what I noticed about the og show?

THAT THE VILLAINS WERE SUPER OVERHYPED AND UNDERUSED.

I’m talking specifically about Lady Bone Demon and Macaque. My babies were some of the most badass characters in their first run, but then you’re- you’re just gonna have them get WIPED LIKE A DIRTY TABLE

“The Samadhi Fire is the only way to defeat the Lady Bone Demon!” BABE WHAT

YOU JUST WENT STRAIGHT IN, NO PLAN, NO WEAPON, JUST WAS ABOUT TO STRAIGHT MURK HER

And don’t even get me started on macaque, like bro was such a good villain in his first two episodes, with all the needless theatrics only meant to screw with MK and all. But then in season 3 they’re like “oh no he’s actually not such a bad guy let’s make him way weaker than he was in his debut episode”

My guy has omnipotent control over shadows. He can sink into them with no problem. He can fly, and even if he couldn’t, he can turn into a bird.

Pray tell, HOW did he get knocked off into a freakin PITCH DARK HOLE, WHEN LITERALLY EVERYONE ELSE ON BOARD, WHO, MIND YOU WERE JUST ABOUT READY TO KNEEL OVER, WERE ABLE TO KEEP CATCH ONTO SOMETHING AND KEEP THEIR HOLD???

So yeah in the Pantheon AU (and the “AU where everything is exactly the same but the lady bone demon destroys everyone with facts and logic”) I would like to avoid ruining them like that.

SO YES, I will be using both LBD and Macaque to their full potential, they deserve it, Macaque was goated in season 1 and 2, season 3 macaque…. 😐

He’s nah

Azure Lion Demon, Lady Bone Demon and Macaque? About to be the ILLEST power trio. Watch out, Monkey King 😎

Also LBD, even without me crediting her in full is more powerful in this au bc she doesn’t have to worry about destroying her host’s body because she’s not using one, just her own body.

500 years later, after a lot of plotting and stealing power, Lady Bone Demon says that they can finally enact… the plan 😼

To draw the Monkey King out of hiding, Lady Bone Demon uses her brilliant gaslight gatekeep girlboss skills to manipulate the Demon Bull Family.

She uses her mystical levitation whiz or whatever that is to lift the staff bc I saw her do it like it wasn’t nothing once

And BOOM DBK is free and has an spooky advisor who is definitely plotting something, also becoming best friends with Princess Iron Fan because YES

AWE AND HER BEING A SASSY AUNT TO RED SON, OH NO I LOVE THEM

Ok change of plans because I’m a wimp Demon Bull Family joins the pantheon. Azure lion would like that anyway bc DBK used to be in gang.

except for red son who doesn’t want the world to blow up

Of course Azure Lion, Lady Bone Demon and Macaque are still the main trio 🥰

OOH FAMILY DRAMA I AM ON A ROLL

#lmk azure lion #lmk lady bone demon #lady bone demon #lego monkie kid #pantheon au #lmk macaque #six eared macaque #alternate universe #canon divergent au

[hils79]

2023 Dramas Watched

I watched a lot of dramas last year, but not as many as I did in 2022. It was mostly a good bunch, which is generally why my to watch list is mostly things people have recommended to me (or I've seen gifs on Tumblr that look revlevant to my interests.

I'll put the list under a cut. It's mostly for my reference anyway

1. Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama - My housemate wanted to watch this because Michael Sheen is in it. I don't even have that excuse, although it's always nice to see him in things. IDK I wasn't obsessively following the court case when it happened, but my boss kept giving us updates because she found it highly entertaining. I think it was just something silly to focus on to distract us all from the shit that's going on in the world. Anyway, the cast were great and it was highly entertaining. I don't think we were supposed to laugh as much as we did but it was kind of ridiculous.

2. Ghost Doctor - This is one I've been group watching with friends over the past few months. It was a lot of fun. A rather silly concept (brilliant surgeon is in a coma after an accident and haunts the hospital where his body is) with a surprising amount of heart to it. I enjoyed it.

3. Dragon Age: Absolution - I loved this! I don't know how well this would stand up if you haven't played the games. It's mostly a stand alone story with a few nods to previous canon. I, however, have played the games and they are pretty much my favourite game franchsise. So, yep, this was great. Very much in the vein of the games. Everyone is gay and it's delightful.

4. The Eclipse - This was okay. It was in a similar vein as Not Me in terms of being a BL drama about social justice, but it lacked the maturity and tight storyline that Not Me had. The two main leads were both excellent it just lost its way a bit towards the end. Still very enjoyable.

5. Welcome to Chippendales - Honestly this show wasn't even on my radar until Jacqui was looking for something to watch and saw it on Disney+. She told me she'd watched a documentary about the founder of Chippendales a while back and gave me a brief synopsis. It was such a wild story that I had to watch this. It was really good! The cast did a phenomenal job

6. About Youth - I'd had this recced to me a while back so when my Saturday group watch gang suggested we watch it I was all in. It was great! Incredibly sweet, occasionally heartbreaking. We all really enjoyed it.

7. Hotel del Luna - I enjoyed this a lot even though I cried WAY more than I was expecting to. I thought it was going to be a wacky comedy about ghosts, and there are lots of funny bits, but there's also a lot about death, grief and making peace with your life. I think I cried at least once in just about every episode. Do rec though. It was good.

8. Roommates of Poongduck 304 - This is one I started group watching before Christmas with some friends and never got around to finishing. It was cute. Nothing amazing, and not one I'd particularly want to watch again but it was fine.

9. Choco Milk Shake - I did enjoy this. It was very cute and funny in places. It was also WAY sadder than I was expecting and I ended up crying a lot. I wish they'd spent a little more time explaining the mechanics of everything (basic premise is a guy's childhood dog and cat come back in human form because he's lonely) and the ending was a little bittersweet. But overall I think I did enjoy it.

10. The Blood of Youth - I absolutely loved this! It had a lot of of the classic wuxia tropes in it, but an interesting enough story that I was hooked. The cast were great, the characters all had fantastic chemistry. I definitely want to check out some of the other dramas the lead has done because he was great.

11. Until We Meet Again - This has been on my to watch list more or less since I started watching East Asian dramas back in 2020. I've been avoiding it because it deals with some quite heavy topics (the premise is two male lovers in the 80s take their own lives because their fathers disapprove of their relationship and in present day they meet again having been reincarnated into two students at the same college) but I'm glad I bit the bullet and finally watched it. It was very sweet, and was all about healing and forgiveness. I liked it a lot. I think Not Me still holds the top spot for my favourite Thai drama but this is a close second

12. The Guest - I really wasn't sure about this one when I watch the first episode. I don't mind TV horror generally but the first episode was a lot and I had to mute it a couple of times because it was freaking me out. Luckily they toned it down a fair amount after that and the rest of it was fantastic! Really enjoyed it. Definitely one of the better dramas that I've watched this year so far. If you're looking for a k-drama that's in the same vein as The Exorcist/The Omen/Supernatural then you'll like this one.

13. Overworking Man - This was a genuinely pleasant surprise. I watched it because the lead is one of my tomb show actors and I had pretty low expectations. I was expecting some sort of cringe sitcom in the same vein as The Office. What I got was a bonkers little web drama full of queer subtext where there's actual character development and life lessons. I really enjoyed it!

14. Midnight Museum - This was a very odd little drama. It was made by GMM who makes a lot of my favourite BL dramas. This one is not a BL, but it uses all of the BL tropes. The two male leads keep talking about how they want to be together forever and they keep risking their lives to save each other. I guess as bros? It starts off as a horror drama (premise is a barista ends up getting a job at a museum that houses cursed objects, which then get stolen, and they have to recover them all) but then halfway through it turns into this weird religious cult thing where they examine the nature of free will vs God's plan. I think I enjoyed it? But it was definitely a bit weird.

15. Cupid's Last Wish - I've been group watching this with some friends over the past couple of months. I enjoyed both leads in A Tale of 1000 Stars which I watched last year. They were good in this too but the story didn't hit quite as hard. It was fine but the ending felt rushed and anticlimactic

16. Sell Your Haunted House - This was really fun. It reminded me a bit of Buffy just in terms of general vibes and ass-kicking female lead. There were some genuinely surprising plot twists and I had a blast watching it

17. Ghost Host, Ghost House - This had a nice twist to it that I didn't figure out until I was partway through. It was cute and interesting.

18. Stupid Boys, Stupid Love - This was cute. I haven't watched much Vietnamese TV and this was very diverse even for a BL drama. There were gay boys, gay girls, height differences (the tall biker girl and her small nerd boyfriend were my favourites), butch women, femme women, bisexuals. The characters were young and, as the title suggests, pretty stupid. But overall it was cute and fun and it was only an hour long in total

19. A League of Nobleman - This was fun. It was quite silly, buckets of queer subtext and some political intrigue thrown in for good measure. It wasn't particularly deep or heavy going but I enjoyed it a lot.

20. Between Us - This is a spinoff/sequel to Until We Meet again. It was very sweet, and I enjoyed my favourite character from UWMA being the main role in this. Didn't quite have the same emotional impact as UWMA but I very much enjoyed it

21. Reset - Finished this while I was at the treehouse last month. It was one we had been group watching and it was nice to get to finish it in person. It was an interesting drama. A lot of unexpected twists which I liked, and a timeloop story is always fun

22. Our Dining Table - Absolutely one of my favourite things that I have watched this year. It was so sweet and soft. Usually I'm not a fan of kidfic but this was really lovely and the kid in question was adorable

23. Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 - I was a bit dubious when I heard they were doing a sequel to Tale of the Nine-Tailed but it was perfect. Time travel shenanigans, an awesome woman with a huge sword, brotherly bonding, an OT3 polycule. I had a great time.

24. The Eighth Sense - I liked parts of it. The main couple were cute, the two best friends were awesome. I did not care for the unnecessarily bitchy ex-girlfriend and her best friend who was equally awful. It went a little two hard on the 'everyone must have a happy ending' idea so a bunch of characters ended up getting apologised to who really didn't deserve it

25. Popular Indie Creator Nekoyashiki is Making His Yearning for Approval Worse - This was kind of weird, but also really fun. Everyone was so extra and dramatic but that just tied into the comic themes. I actually really enjoyed it.

26. The King's Avatar - This one got recommended to me literally years ago. Right back when I first started watching Chinese dramas and asked for recs. I definitely should have watched it sooner I absolutely adored it. Like I want to write fic levels of adored it. It had such a good group of characters, found family feels all over the place and was just generally soft and lovely.

27. My School President - A very sweet high school BL drama. I wasn't massively emotionally invtested in it but I enjoyed it

28. Love Tractor - Absolutely adorable! It's just very soft and I enjoyed this so much I watched it a second time so I could show it to one of my friends

29. The Director Who Buys Me Dinner - Got to love a drama where the premise is 'if we don't date you will die'. It was funny, but also kind of heavy with one of the protagonists being immortal and the the other being a reincarnation of his dead lover.

30. Oh No! Here Comes Trouble - I don't watch a lot of Taiwanese dramas but this was fantastic! Really funny, also really tragic, and full of really interesting folklore. I loved it!

31. Mysterious Lotus Casebook - Hands down one of my favourite dramas of this year. I keep toying with wanting to write fic for it but I haven't quite got there yet. I loved the cast, I loved the story. I was wonderful.

32. Moonlight Chicken - I really enjoyed that this was a BL drama about actual adults instead of the usual ones about high school or college students. I'd seen the two leads in a couple of other dramas and I really enjoyed them in this too

33. Goblin - This is one of those dramas that gets recommended to me all the time so I finally sat down and watched it. I enjoyed it, but probably not my favourite. I think the whole 'immortal being falls in love with high school student' would have resonated with me more in my Buffy fandom days.

34. Cross Fire - Apparently this year is the year I watch all the esports dramas. This was nothing at all like what I expected. It had loads of twists that I didn't see coming and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

35. Our Flag Means Death S2 - Loved it. Just what I wanted from a second series. No notes.

36. Good Omens S2 - It was fine. I enjoyed it. It's not one of those dramas that I go feral for but the two leads are fun and it had some nice surprises.

37. He's Coming to Me - A very sweet BL that doesn't entirely resolve the fact that one of the protagonists is dead but it's left with an openly hopeful ending.

38. Stay By My Side - Another sweet ghost related story but both protagonists are alive in this one. One of them can hear ghosts, and the voices only go away if he touches his roommate. Feelings happen. It's adorable.

39. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon - I think I expected to enjoy this more than I did, but I think my disatisfaction comes from me wanting the drama to be resolved with an OT3. Instead there was just a lot of queer baiting where the two men almost kissed but they were drunk so no homo.

40. Fairyland Lovers - I was way more invested in the side couple than I was in the main storyline. The main couple really didn't interest me at all even though one of them was Bai Yu.

#hils watches #dramas 2023

[evebestt]

Hi! alright? First I would like to say that I love reading all your fics. They're all amazing! Could you write some fic about a relationship between the reader and Farah where reader is a teacher and has a daughter and that daughter loves Farah's company and that makes the reader incredibly even more in love with Farah. Given this situation, she makes a surprise or something for Farah, I'm not sure... I don't know what else to say, sorry! I hope you understand hahahaha Thank you for your attention!

Hi hon! Thank you so so much for this prompt, I am absolutely enamored with it. I’ve always been such a sucker for kid fics, and then one with Farah too? Absolutely feral over it

I will say though, this one got long — as I haven’t done a kid fic for Farah yet I went a lot little overboard, both in length and the sheer amount of fluff in it. So if that’s right up your alley, then enjoy 🖤

Read here on AO3 or below. As always, send me an ask or a message to submit a prompt

Mothers and Daughter (1/3)

It had been love at first sight for Farah and Lucy.

You’d realized you needed a new job only weeks after your darling baby had been born, when your current job tried to wheedle you into cutting your maternity leave by almost half. After that particular meeting had ended, you called up your friend who worked at Alfea and asked (as she’d tried to recruit you before) if there were still any positions available.

Lucky for you, there were, and even luckier, you were hired on quickly by one Headmistress Dowling.

She’d been accommodating about your schedule once you told her you had a newborn, and so even though you were barely working part time (with an agreement to bump up to full time when your daughter was older), you were still given a faculty suite and full benefits, as well as free tuition for Lucy should you still be employed at Alfea at that time.

You got along nicely with the rest of the staff and quickly gained a good repertoire with your students, so when your three month review with Farah came around, you felt very confident it would go well.

Until the woman who was supposed to babysit Lucy that day called and canceled, leaving you with no other option than to bring her with you to your very important meeting with Farah Dowling.

Little did you know just how that would change everything.

You opted to carry her in your arms, knowing you could soothe her easier should she become fussy, and with one last silent plea that this go smoothly, you stepped up to Farah’s office.

“I’m sorry, Farah,” you said after you’d knocked quietly on her door jam. “Our meeting has been booked for weeks, but my friend who was supposed to babysit had something come up. I know it’s unprofessional of me to bring her with me, but—”

“Nonsense,” she interrupted, waving her hand to dismiss your apologies as she stood from her desk. “You’re a mother, I would never hold that against you.” 

Surprise and relief flowed through you at her nonchalance, leaving you a bit numb as you stepped into her office, Farah closing the door behind you. When she faced you again, she smiled softly down at Lucy, asleep in your arms. “May I see?”

You nodded, always happy to show off your girl. You slowly adjusted Lucy so that her face could be seen, and then watched in awe as Farah’s face relaxed into a brilliant smile, any lines or tension in her face draining away in a moment.

“She’s precious,” she murmured, and reached out almost on instinct to brush the back of her finger over Lucy’s cheek, lighter than a feather.

Lucy opened her eyes, despite the light touch, and you braced yourself for the cries of a baby cranky from being woken, but to your amazement she was quiet, staring up at Farah as she blinked somewhat owlishly.

Farah hadn’t asked, and yet you felt that it was right. You shifted her in your arms to hold her out to Farah, and she accepted without a word, carefully taking her into her arms and settling her onto her shoulder. 

She gave a low, cooing hum when Lucy continued to stare up at her. “Hello, little one,” she murmured, rubbing her fingertips in slow circles along Lucy’s back.

You watched them in awe for a minute, smiling to yourself when Farah began to gently sway. “She’s going through a phase where she gets a bit fussy when someone she doesn’t know holds her,” you told her, still staring in amazement. “She must be enamored with you.”

Farah chuckled lightly, still gazing at Lucy as though she was unable to take her eyes off her. “I do believe the feeling is mutual, little one.” She stared a moment longer, and then managed to glance up at you. “What is her name? I don’t think I know.”

“Lucy. Or, Lucille is her full name, but I mostly call her Lucy.”

“Lucille,” Farah murmured, reaching up to brush her finger over her cheek again. “A beautiful name for a sweet girl.”

She swayed and hummed for a few moments longer, and then shook her head a bit, chuckling. “As much as I believe I could stand here with her for the rest of the day, I suppose we should get to our meeting.”

You laughed and held your arms out for Lucy. “It is hard to get work done when there’s a baby around.”

“Oh, I do agree,” Farah said on a laugh before she handed Lucy back to you, but not before she cupped the back of her head one last time with such tenderness that it made your heart swell in sudden affection for her.

The meeting went well, though Lucy squirmed so much to get a look at Farah that you had to turn her to face Farah halfway through, something that made her laugh and lose her train of thought.

You both rose when it ended, and Farah came around her desk to shake your hand. Lucy still stared at her, so Farah ran her thumb down her cheek as a sort of goodbye before she looked back at you. “You said you had a sudden cancellation for your childcare today, yes?”

You gave a regretful nod. “Yes, unfortunately.”

“Does that happen often?”

You felt your heart jump into your throat, wondering if this would be the courteous yet firm request to make sure that didn’t happen again. “Uhm, no, I wouldn’t say often, but on occasion it does.”

She smiled kindly at you, shaking her head as she held out a comforting hand. “I don’t mean to worry you, no, I’m not upset that it does. Just…” an odd, sort of bashful look came over her features for a moment, and then she continued. “Just that I don’t want worry or stress about care for your little one to ever be a problem for you. So, should that happen again and you need a replacement, you’re always welcome to ask me.”

You nearly felt your jaw drop. “I—really?”

She nodded, and a bit of that bashful look came back again. “I wouldn’t mind watching her. I can’t always guarantee that I’ll be available, but if I am, I’m more than willing.”

You were still more than stunned by such a generous offer from the Headmistress of the school, but you managed to nod at her. “That’s—thank you, Farah, that’s a really wonderful offer. I might need that some day.”

Her features melted into a smile, and she gave you a nod. “Good. Don’t be afraid to ask.”

For the rest of the day, you thought about Farah. At first just about her offer, but soon your thoughts strayed into how good she’d been with Lucy, and then eventually (and more embarrassingly), they strayed into how good she looked, not just with Lucy but on her own, too, with her fine, regal structure and her small but gentle smile.

And by the end of the day, no matter what you did, your heart did a double beat every time you thought of Farah Dowling.

~~~~~~~~~

The next month went by as smoothly as it could when you worked with teenagers, and every day you found yourself more and more grateful that you’d decided to come to Alfea.

And then came the day when your babysitter had canceled two hours before you had to teach a class, your backup babysitter unable to make it, and none of your friends available for that hour.

Twenty minutes before the start, you finally started considering your option of Farah Dowling.

She had offered, and had seemed entirely sincere and willing. But that had been over a month ago, and you hadn’t really talked to her since, except for staff meetings and the occasional small talk in the hallway. Not to mention there was still a chance that she wouldn’t be able to, and there was still the little problem of the flutter your heart did every time you thought of her.

But it was either that or take Lucy to class with you, and while you weren’t against that in principle, you did have a fair number of fire fairies on your roster. Not that you didn’t trust them, but you had seen teenage magic in action before, and would rather not take the chance.

So with ten minutes to spare, you gathered up Lucy and her bag and started for Farah’s office.

Her door was open and she was at her desk — a good sign, so you stepped up and knocked on the door frame.

She looked up and smiled at you, which widened when she saw Lucy asleep in the carrier you held. “Someone’s tired — what can I help you with?”

“Ah, well,” you took a step into her office and gestured down to Lucy. “I have a class to teach in ten minutes and my babysitter canceled today. No one else has been able to cover, so if you’re not too busy, I was going to take you up on your offer. If you’re not, though, that’s alright—”

“I’m free,” Farah said simply, cutting off all of your placations. “I’m happy to watch her.”

The tension you hadn’t realized you’d been holding left you in a sigh, and you gave her a grateful smile. “Thank you so much, that’s such a huge help right now.”

She smiled, standing from her desk to come around and get a closer look at Lucy. “I have to admit I’m not entirely selfless in my offer — I think I could stare at her all day.”

You laughed. “And now you understand the plight of a working mother.”

You held the carrier out for Farah to take, and then set the bag down on her guest chair. “She’s been fed and changed, so she should just sleep through the hour, but if you need anything it’s in this bag. And as my boss you probably don’t want to hear this, but should anything happen I have no qualms about canceling my class in the middle if you need me here.”

Farah laughed and shook her head as she glanced between you and Lucy. “I would never hold that against you when it comes to your daughter. But we’ll be alright, and we’ll be right here when you’re done.”

You nodded, and swallowed past the familiar lump in your throat that came every time you had to leave her. “Okay, I’ll be back soon,” you said to Lucy as much to Farah, and then turned to leave, looking back one last time to see Farah staring fondly down at Lucy.

Your class went blissfully smooth, and though you knew Lucy was in good, safe hands, you couldn’t stop yourself from hurrying back to Farah’s office when the hour was up. And though you were going fast enough to nearly run straight inside, the sight you found had you stopping in your tracks.

Farah stood with her back to you in the middle of her office, Lucy fast asleep on her shoulder as she slowly rocked side to side, one hand cradling her close and the other holding the file she skimmed. You thought you heard her hum under her breath, a slow tune you could only catch snatches of, and that sent your heart fluttering in your chest, affection and warmth swelling in your chest until you thought it might burst.

You might have made a noise, for Farah turned suddenly, smiling reassuringly when she saw you at the door. “She’s alright, she was just a bit fussy in her seat. Just needed to be held, that’s all.”

You laughed, steadying yourself from another wave of affection with a hand on the door jam. “She’s quite happy right there.”

Farah chuckled too and looked down at Lucy, still asleep. “She is, isn’t she? I’ve never seen a baby so clearly just want to be held, nothing else. To wake up from sleep and not need food or a change, but just to have someone hold her while she falls back asleep.”

“She is a little cuddler.” You took one last moment to commit the scene before you to memory before you gently took Lucy from Farah, settling her comfortably into the carrier before you took the bag Farah handed you.

“I just wanted to thank you again for watching her.” When Farah tried to wave off your gratitude, you pushed on. “No, really. You’ve been so kind to me — to us, since the minute I arrived, and now with babysitting today, you’ve truly gone above and beyond what any other boss would do.”

The skin high on her cheekbones flushed lightly in pleasure, and the sight of it made you grin. “So as a thank you, can I make you dinner some night?”

~~~~~~~~~

You decided on that Friday, which luckily gave you some time to clean up your suite and go to the store. That didn’t mean you had to spend much of Friday after your class cleaning up the mess that had somehow accumulated between then and now, but you appreciated the theoretical head start.

Just before Farah was due to arrive, you did one last look through your suite, pleased that everything had managed to stay mostly tidy. With that, you picked up Lucy from her blanket on the floor and tucked the blanket away, then went about your sweep, murmuring to her along the way.

“I think we’re right on track here — the pasta’s almost done, and— oh, sweetie.” You looked down when you felt wetness on the front of your shirt to see Lucy spit up, staining your shirt and a bit of your hair. You cooed over her for a moment, reassuring yourself it was just a bit of upset stomach and not something worse, and then debated whether you should just use one of the kitchen towels to clean up or risk the time to go back and change.

And then came the knock at the door.

“Damn,” you muttered. Looked at the clock — six on the dot, of course she was punctual, and then down at Lucy. “I gotta hand it to you kid, you have impeccable timing.”

Resigned, you turned to the door and opened it to Farah, giving her a sheepish smile when her eyes first widened in surprise and then crinkled in sympathy at the sight. “Hi, Farah — I’m sorry, a bit of a situation came up just as you knocked. Uhm,” you looked behind you, took a step back, then looked back at her, flustered. “Come in, come in of course, I won’t make you wait out there.”

You waved her in as you shifted Lucy more securely in your arms. “Is everything alright?” she asked, looking concerned, and that same flutter you’d felt in her office rose up again.

“Yes, she’s alright, just unfortunate timing. Please, make yourself at home, there’s glasses and various drinks in the kitchen. I just need a few minutes to clean us both up.”

“If you’d like,” she said before you could turn away, “rather, if you’re alright with it, I can clean up Lucille so you can wash up.”

You paused, amazed that she’d offered. “I—really?”

She nodded, giving you a small smile. “I don’t mind. Just show me where the nursery is.”

Still a bit stunned, you showed her down the hall. “Her onesies are in here,” you said, opening the top drawer of a small, lilac dresser, “and wipes are over here by the table. I think that should be all you need? But if you can’t find anything just holler, my room’s right next door.”

“I think we’ll be alright,” she reassured, and held her arms out for Lucy when you shifted her. 

She held her so easily, like she’d been doing it since the minute she was born, that you had to stop and marvel at it, watching Farah smile when Lucy reached out to grab at her necklace. She looked at you then, smile still in place, and nodded towards the door. “Go change. We’ll be alright.”

So you did, as quickly as you could, first rinsing out your hair and restyling as best you could before stripping out of your blouse. You told yourself you chose your new shirt because it was the first one in your closet and not because it was a bit more low cut than the old one, but whatever the reason, it looked good when you pulled it on. You gave yourself one last once over, and satisfied, you went back to the nursery.

You found Farah bent over the changing table, Lucy — now in a giraffe onesie — on her back and babbling while Farah rubbed her belly. She spoke in a slightly higher pitch, what you figured was her baby voice, but she seemed to hold a complete conversation with Lucy, which made you bite back a laugh.

“She likes that,” you said after you’d watched them for a minute. “She’s very relaxed.”

Farah looked at you and smiled, then picked up Lucy and walked over to you. “When the children were this young, I know rubbing their bellies helped when they were sick.”

“It helps her, too,” you said nodding, and took Lucy from her arms when Farah shifted. “The children, do you mean…?”

“Sam, Terra, and Sky. I didn’t see much of Sam and Sky when they were this age, but when Terra was born,” an odd, melancholic look crossed her face, but she shook her head as though to clear it before you could study it. “Things changed, then. I ended up helping to take care of her much more than the others.”

You wondered what had changed, but didn’t want to push it, and instead said, “I knew you had to get your skills from somewhere. You’re amazing with her.”

She grinned then, a look you were realizing was rare for her, and gazed down at Lucy. “She’s also a very agreeable baby. I’ve rarely seen one happier than her.”

“Not with everyone,” you said before you could stop yourself. When Farah looked up at you curiously, you continued. “She’s happy, yeah, but not quite like this.” When Farah’s eyes softened and she looked back down at Lucy, your heart swelled. “I said it before, but it bears repeating: she’s enamored with you.”

Farah didn’t have to say anything — the gentle caress she gave to Lucy’s head said it all.

Before your eyes could well, you hoisted Lucy further into your arms. “Come on; if I haven’t completely ruined the pasta, dinner will be ready soon. Then I’ll feed her and put her down, and then we can open a bottle of wine.”

The pasta was only slightly overcooked and the chicken wasn’t burned, so you considered that a success, especially as you got to watch Farah bounce Lucy in her arms while you put dinner on the table. An even greater success was when Lucy ate easily and went down without a fuss, and when you came back to the kitchen, Farah had just piled the dishes in the sink, then turned and asked where your wine glasses were.

Your conversation flowed easily, even without a child at the center of it, and for that you were grateful. Lucy was your world, but sometimes it felt like people had to struggle to fit around what your life had become, and at times you felt guilty for that. But with Farah, it all just fit; everything from babysitting to the conversation you could hold over a glass of wine, it all felt perfect, and you realized that having her here left you feeling more content than you had in years.

“It’s nice having someone around,” you murmured at a lull in the conversation, then blinked, realizing you’d said that out loud. You hadn’t had wine in more than a year and it had gone straight to your head. “I mean, that is, it’s not that I don’t have anyone, I do.” 

You tried to backtrack while Farah looked amused, which almost made it worse. “But it’s different that just having a friend around — not to say that you’re not a friend, you are, at least I assume you are, but even when I’m here you still help with Lucy — not to say my friends don’t help with Lucy, they do, but it’s different—” 

You finally managed to shut your mouth before you said anything else embarrassing could come out, but you felt like the flush on your cheeks would be there permanently, especially when you thought you saw Farah stifle a laugh out of the corner of your eye. But then she reached out and covered your hand with hers, her thumb slowly stroking along the back of your wrist.

“I think I understand what you mean.”

Your head shot up at her words, and the look you saw in her eyes made your chest swell — there was affection, warmth, attraction, interest in her eyes, everything that you knew was mirrored in your own.

“I’m happy to be around, in whatever capacity you should need or want,” she murmured, her thumb still stroking your wrist. “Lucille is a darling, and I enjoy looking after her. And I’m rather fond of your company, too.”

Her words were light, but what she was offering, the sincerity of her feelings, made your heart melt. Before you could doubt yourself, you took her hand between both of yours and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles, lingering there for as long as you could. When you opened your eyes, her gaze was warm and soft, and something passed between you — a tentative wish, a tender hope, a promise, true and sincere.

And so Farah, slowly but surely, became a fixture in both of your lives. She hadn’t been there for Lucy’s first word, but had been there for her first steps, a wobbly walk towards you as she clung to Farah’s fingers while you’d both cheered and laughed. She’d been there through ear infections and fevers, helping to rock, soothe, and comfort, and the first time your little girl had uttered a jumbled “Farah”, you thought she just might cry.

Though you couldn’t deny your feelings for Farah, nor hers for you, you were reluctant to give into them fully. She’d become such an integral part of Lucy’s life, and should something go wrong between the two of you, what would happen? And what kind of mother would you be if you were nursing a broken heart? It all scared you too much to think about, and so you did your best to keep yours and Farah’s relationship platonic as the months went by.

And then one day, after a week of grading midterms and nursing Lucy through a nasty cold, you came home with plans to cook a small dinner for you, Lucy, and Farah (as she ate dinner with you more often than not), and then go straight to bed.

You hadn’t meant to fall asleep on the couch — just meant to sit and rest for a minute. But your eyelids were too heavy, and your body too sore, and within a minute, you were out.

But instead of waking to a burning stove and a crying child, you woke to dinner neatly wrapped in the fridge, Lucy bathed and tucked into bed, and the mountain of laundry, which you’d been ignoring for some time, clean on the ottoman in front of you, half of it folded by the woman who sat across from you.

You blinked blearily, trying to gauge the time while Farah folded another shirt. “You did laundry?” you said, and cleared your throat when it came out a rasp.

She smiled at you, placing the shirt on the pile before picking up another one. “You’ve had a stressful week. I figured it was the least I could do while I watched Lucille.”

This woman, you thought as you swallowed past the lump in your throat, this utterly perfect woman.

She’d come expecting dinner, and instead had stepped up and taken care of everything while she let you rest. Emotion swelled in your chest, but this time you couldn’t just ignore it, couldn’t just let it go by with nothing more than a meaningful look.

Standing from your spot, you skirted the ottoman to sit next to Farah, merely taking the shirt from her hands, and when she gave you a curious look, you cupped her cheek and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

She returned it just as softly, but when you parted your lips for her she deepened it suddenly, a warm hand coming to your waist and pulling you closer. You twined your arms around her neck, pouring everything you felt into the kiss, hoping she’d feel what you felt, that she’d understand a piece of your heart belonged to her, even if it had taken so long.

And she did. In what you thought may have been your own personal miracle, she did.

~~~~~~~~~

“Farah!” Lucy, two years old now, yelled as she toddled over to her desk. The woman in question looked up from her writing and smiled, standing to scoop her up into her arms.

“Hello sweetheart,” she said, her smile growing when Lucy threw her arms around her neck. “And hello to you, too.” She turned to you then, and you greeted her with a small kiss on the corner of her mouth.

“We’re a little early, but someone really wanted to see you.”

“Is that so?” Farah asked, and chuckled when Lucy nodded. “Well, how lucky am I, then?”

You grinned, then shouldered the bag you carried. “I have a couple classes back to back and then some meetings — you’re sure you’re alright to watch her for a few hours?”

She nodded. “Of course. I have a light day today.”

“Alright, then,” you leaned in and pressed a kiss to Lucy’s cheek, “bye, pumpkin.” You turned and pressed a kiss to Farah’s cheek, too. “I’ll see you later.”

Your classes went well, and while the meetings seemed to drag on, they were somewhat productive, and they’d given you the chance to talk to a few of your friends. But nevertheless, you were ready to get back to Lucy, and didn’t linger any longer than you needed to by the time they were done.

Farah was still writing at her desk by the time you returned, but the room seemed suspiciously absent of any signs of a toddler, making you frown and look around. “Where’s Lucy?”

She glanced up at you and nodded to the floor beside her, and you came around her desk to see Lucy sitting on the floor half underneath Farah’s desk, crayons and paper strewn all around her.

“Well, look at you!” you exclaimed, cocking one hip on the desk as she looked up at you, waving briefly before returning to her picture, and you smiled before turning your attention to Farah.

“Who knew Farah Dowling had crayons and paper in her office?”

“The children spent many hours here with their crafts when they were young, I had to be prepared.” she explained as though it was a tactical decision, but then she cracked a smile. “It’s almost a tradition at this point for a child to spend their afternoon coloring at my feet,” she said with a hint of pride, laying a hand affectionately on the top of Lucy’s head.

“Be as that may, and as sweet as that is, it’s been a long time since those kids were young,” you teased her gently, wanting to draw out what you suspected was the truth.

“Well, I may have replenished my stock of crayons and paper when you and I became closer.”

There it is, you thought, and had to stop yourself from swooning at the thought of Farah Dowling buying crayons for your daughter. “I ever tell you you’re perfect?”

“Never,” she said in a faux serious tone, making you laugh and lean down to press a quick kiss to her lips.

“Well, then, you’re pretty perfect,” you murmured, and you felt her smile against your lips.

Straightening, you looked down at Lucy. “Can you start cleaning up the crayons, kiddo?” you asked, and before you could say anything else, Lucy was turning to Farah with stars in her eyes, pulling on the hem of her skirt.

“Do magic, do magic! Please?”

You thought to stop her and insist she help clean up her mess, but the joy and excitement on her face was too infectious to stop, and she had Farah wrapped around her finger, anyway — there was nothing you could say to stop Farah from showing off.

With a barely contained smile, Farah’s eyes began to glow and she raised her hand in a graceful wave. The crayons scattered around the floor were sent floating into the air where they circled Lucy twice, much to her delight, before nearly settling themselves back into their box — organized perfectly by color.

Lucy giggled and clapped, making Farah chuckle, and you took another moment to admire the scene before you nodded at Lucy. “What do you say to Farah?”

“Thank you Farah.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” she responded warmly, and your heart fluttered the same way it had nearly two years ago.

You helped Lucy gather up her pictures before giving them to her to carry, then looked at Farah again. “I’ll see you tonight?”

She nodded. “I’ll be back by dinner.”

With that, you hoisted Lucy into your arms, and giving Farah one last kiss, started for home, Lucy waving bye the whole way out the door.

~~~~~~~~~

More nights than not, now, with Lucy’s third birthday just around the corner, you and Farah slept in the same bed. You admitted that you slept better with her around, and when you’d told her such, she’d simply smiled, then packed a bag and filled the drawer and closet you’d cleared out for her. So when you woke to find her side of the bed empty and the sheets nearly cool to the touch, you pulled on a robe and went in search of her.

In the hallway, you heard Farah’s low voice murmuring in the living room, and you crept over to the corner to peer in. 

And the love that swelled up at the sight was staggering.

She sat in the plush rocking chair you’d had since the day Lucy was born, the little girl curled up snugly on her lap. She rocked slowly, one hand gently running through Lucy’s curls, and though the girl’s voice was calm and quiet now, you could see the tear stains on her cheeks, her nose still red and runny from crying.

“It was scary,” you heard Lucy whisper, and Farah made a soft noise of sympathy.

“It sounds like it,” she murmured. “But do you know the thing about nightmares?” When Lucy shook her head against Farah’s shoulder, she continued. “They’re not real. They’re always scary in the moment, but when you wake up, you always see that they’re not real, and then you can think about all the nice things in the world—”

“Like horses and cupcakes?” Lucy interrupted, and Farah smiled down at her.

“Yes, like horses, and cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles, and how much your mama loves you, and how much I love you too.”

Tears pricked at your eyes but you blinked them away, not wanting to miss a moment. Lucy rubbed her face against Farah’s shoulder, burrowing closer, and Farah pulled her in, pressing a kiss to her head before her hand resumed its slow, gentle caress through her hair.

You lost yourself in just watching Farah rock, your little girl cradled safely in her arms. But even from there you could see her eyes getting heavy, her fingers losing their grip on the front of Farah’s robe, and she saw it too. Gathering her close, she slowly stood, murmuring something soft to Lucy when she stirred.

She saw you when she stepped towards the hallway, giving you a small smile over Lucy’s head. She murmured something to her again, and then Lucy opened her eyes, looking in the direction Farah nodded.

“Mama,” she cried, reaching out for you, and you took her into your arms, holding her close.

“Did you have a bad dream?” you asked her quietly, and she nodded into your shoulder. “Did Farah make you feel better?” She nodded again, and you pressed a kiss to the top of her head, rubbing her back. “Good.”

Lucy still clung tight to you, and so you took a moment to just hold her, swaying gently as you stepped closer to Farah, smiling when she reached out to rub her back with you.

“Are you ready to go back to your bed?”

Lucy made a noise that wasn’t quite agreement, but not quite refusal either, and you and Farah smiled at each other. “Well,” you started, and with an unspoken agreement you and Farah took a step towards her room. “Why don’t Farah and I tuck you in, and then you can decide?”

And so you did — Farah on one side, you on the other as you pulled the blankets up to her chin, murmuring words of love and wishes for sweet dreams. She was half asleep by the time you pressed a kiss to her forehead, and full asleep by the time Farah smoothed her hair back with a sweet smile, leaving you both to tiptoe towards her door, turning out all the lights except for the small lamp on her bedside. When you turned at the door to look back at her, you both paused just to stare at her, this little girl you both loved just so, and you were reminded for the millionth time just how lucky you were that Farah loved your girl, and that Lucy loved her too.

Wanting to memorize this woman beside you, you turned your attention to her, looking at her just in time to see her eyes fade from white back to dark, and you smiled, cocking your head in question. “What was that?”

It was hard to tell in the dim light, but you thought you saw her flush as she glanced from you back to Lucy. “I planted a good dream for her.”

Your smile widened, and you reached down to tangle your fingers with hers. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Though I can, I don’t make a habit of manipulating any part of a person’s mind. But… this seemed like a good exception.”

“I think so too.” You leaned into her and pressed a slow kiss to her cheek, nuzzling her with your nose. “You’re so good with her.”

She turned her head to bump her nose with yours affectionately. “I’m glad you think so.”

“I do, and I don’t just think, I know.” You wrapped your arms around her neck, resting your forehead on her shoulder. You’re as much her mama as I am, you thought.

And began to wonder just how you could show her that was true.

~~~~~~~~~

You woke to the quiet alarm you’d set, and quickly turned it off before it could wake Farah. When she didn’t stir, the excitement that had been brewing all week flooded through your chest, though it was tinged with a touch of nerves. It was hard to believe the plan you’d had ready for weeks was finally coming to fruition — and should it all come together, be one of the best decisions you’d ever made.

But Farah’s birthday was to start with you and Lucy making her breakfast, and that wouldn’t happen if you didn’t get out of bed.

It was still dark outside, the downside of the winter months, but you pulled yourself up to sit on the edge of the bed, grabbing your robe from the bedpost against the chill. But just as you’d tied the belt around your waist, you heard Farah stir behind you, and you turned to see her blink her eyes open.

It was astounding, sometimes, the love you felt for her — bleary eyed and bare faced, her hair long and loose, and she was the most beautiful woman you’d seen.

“Happy birthday, honey,” you murmured, and leaned down to press a kiss to her brow. “You should go back to sleep.”

She shook her head and stretched her arms above her head. “I can get up with you.”

Damn, you thought, and shook your head back at her. “No, just stay here.” 

She furrowed her brows in confusion at your insistence, and taking pity on her, you pressed another kiss to her forehead. “Don’t tell anyone, but we’re making you a birthday breakfast.”

Her face suddenly brightened with a smile. “Are you now?”

“Mhm,” you hummed, and couldn’t help smiling back at her. “And it’s a surprise, so pretend you’re asleep when we come and get you.”

“I think I can do that.” 

You gave her another kiss, but before you could stand, she grabbed your arm and pulled you back in, this time pressing a soft kiss to your lips. “I love you.”

Three simple words and you were undone. “I love you, too. Now go back to sleep.”

And grinning at each other, you crept out the door and towards Lucy’s room.

To your surprise, she was awake when you peeked in the door, and sat up bouncing when she saw you. “You said you’d get me when it was time but you were forever — are we gonna make b’eakfast?”

You stifled a laugh and nodded. “Yes, we are, for Farah’s birthday. But remember, we have to be quiet,” you said, putting a finger to your lips, and smiled when Lucy mimed you.

You were as quiet as you could be, which wasn’t terribly when a three year old was involved, but you couldn’t care less, not when you had your determined little helper — cracking eggs, dumping ingredients, and helping you to stir, she took her jobs very seriously.

Finally, when everything was ready and you’d set the table, you took Lucy’s hand and led her towards your bedroom. When you looked in, Farah was on her side facing you, and you bent down to whisper to Lucy. “Can you go wake her up?”

She nodded determinedly, and you watched her crawl up the bed, having to stifle a laugh at the way she draped herself over Farah, who made a valiant effort of pretending to be asleep.

“Farah,” Lucy whispered loudly, gently prodding at her cheek, and Farah cracked an eye, looking at Lucy before glancing over to you.

“There seems to be a possum on my shoulder.”

Lucy giggled, poking at her shoulder. “I’m not a poss’m!”

“No?” Farah asked, suddenly rolling as she scooped the girl up into her arms, her giggles only getting louder. “Then what’re you doing perched on me?”

“We made you b’eakfast!”

Farah gasped theatrically, and you thought your heart might burst. “You did? Why, how thoughtful! But what’s the occasion?”

“It’s your birthday!” she nearly shouted, throwing her arms in the air, and both you and Farah laughed.

“Well, it is indeed. Should we go have breakfast, then?”

Lucy cheered and scrambled off the bed, waiting impatiently as Farah rose. She’d barely tugged on a robe before Lucy grabbed her hand with both of hers, tugging her towards the kitchen. “Come on, come on!”

You were proud of the spread you’d made, but that pride only grew when you saw Farah’s face light up, studying it all with a look of awe. “All of this just for my birthday?”

“Only the best, darling,” you told her, and punctuated it with a kiss on her cheek.

You guided her to sit in her chair, where Lucy promptly crawled into her lap, pointing at the stack of pancakes you uncovered. “Mama cooked them, but I put the b’ueberries in, and, and I made the faces.”

“You did?” Lucy gave a proud nod of her head, and Farah smiled at her. “Well, you did a very good job, they look delicious. Will you share them with me?”

Breakfast was marvelous, not only for the food, but because it was the slow, lazy kind of morning with your family you rarely got to have, and you were going to relish it. Cups of tea sipped over a full plate of breakfast, your daughter and the woman you loved by your side, and nothing to worry about except for whether you should have another slice of toast or not. It was moments like these you knew you would cherish forever, and moments that told you the present you planned to give to Farah was absolutely right.

And you couldn’t wait any longer. As breakfast wound down, you reached out to wipe a bit of jam off of Lucy’s chin. “Why don’t you go get your present for Farah, pumpkin?”

“Okay!” She dashed off, and Farah gave you an amused look.

“I get presents?”

“Of course you do,” you told her, tapping her chin similarly as you had Lucy’s. “It’s your birthday, after all.”

The sound of little feet heralded Lucy’s return, and she crawled into Farah’s lap again before very seriously handing her a folded piece of paper. “I made you a picture.”

Farah melted as she unfolded it, giving Lucy an adoring look. “You did?”

Lucy nodded, then pointed to the figures she’d drawn one by one. “That’s you, that’s me, and that’s mama.”

You’d come to stand behind her chair as Lucy had given her the drawing, and now you bent down, wrapping your arms around her shoulders to give your present to her. “It’s a picture of her and her mamas.”

Farah snapped her head around to look at you, and after a moment her eyes widened in realization of what you were offering. “Really?”

You nodded, the same excitement and nerves from that morning bubbling up again. “If that’s something you would want,” you nodded again, unable to stop the smile spreading across your mouth, “I’m okay with it, and so is Lucy.”

“I…” she trailed off, at a loss for words, and then slowly she began to smile. “Really?”

You nodded again, sniffing as you felt a lump form in your throat, laughter of pure joy bubbling up next to it. “Will you be her mum with me?”

Farah let out a little laugh, her eyes bright with unshed tears as she nodded once, twice, then looked down at Lucy, who’d become preoccupied during all the talk. “Would it be alright if I was one of your mamas?”

“Yeah,” Lucy said, somewhat distractedly as she picked at the hem of her shirt, and then she looked up at Farah and grinned, suddenly wrapping her arms around her neck.

Farah let out a watery chuckle as she hugged her back, lingering a minute before she reached out a hand for you, pulling you closer, one arm still around Lucy. “This is… I—I can’t even begin to tell you.”

“I think I know what you mean,” you murmured, cupping her cheek, and realized she’d said those same words to you so long ago. “You’ve been her mama for a long time, Farah. You’ve been there for me and her since I first came here, and she’s been in love with you since the moment she met you — you’re our family, and you always will be. It was time we made that official.”

Tears fell over her eyelashes, and you tenderly wiped them away, feeling your own prick your eyes. It was more than just the title you knew, though that in and of itself was a momentous gift. It was the significance of it, though, of what it meant to your family, and what it meant for you and her. It was a promise, one guaranteed to last forever — it was an offering of life and love, thick and thin, good or bad, of unity and partnership and parentship.

It was a vow of ‘always’, of love and family for the rest of your days.

No matter what that might bring.

#if you saw a plot hole no you didn’t #also Farah’s a Capricorn change my mind #farah dowling #farah dowling x reader #ftws #fate the winx saga #eve best #i tried to take this in so many different directions it’s a bit of a mess 🙈 #but uhh if you look past that it’s still cute? #ftws fanfic

[kartoffelblume]

I made a quiz with personalised thai bl recommendations! :)

List of possible results in order of personal preference below the cut:

1. Not me

Brilliant. Show stopping. Spectacular.

Exept for the typical product placement this is perfect, especially plot and character wise. My personal favorite, has almost no harmful clichees and actually a lot of Information about thailands political landscape.

2. The Eclipse

The tensioonnn! Akk and Ayan are both portrayed beautifully and were the main selling point of the show for me (as well as probably my favorite bl couple so far) , even if the side couple also had a sweet story.

The plot is a little (very) messy (especially towards the end) but the romance is done really well and the show is overall a fun watch!

3. My school president

At the time of writing this the show is not yet finished - still a lot of fun to watch. The characters and romance is great!

Didn't like the 'lets just make a few of the characters reaaallly dumb for fun' trope but it's easily ignored and the characters are otherwise really good.

Definite recommendation!

4. Bad buddy

Actually good execution of the typical college rivals. The romeo and juliet feud was a bit annoying to me but starts making at least a little more sense as the story progresses. The romance and acting is done really well and they actually avoided a lot of typical clichees and instead even explained a few of them.

Was definetly a fun watch even if I personally thought the last episode didn't really add anything to the story and was more confusing than anything else...

5. Kinnporsche

Spicy Mafia - definitely a fun watch even if their method of running a Mafia clan does not seem particularily effective. (Who needs money, this is soley about bodeyguards and maybe power)

Also some stockholm syndrome and some taking advantage (but at least they don't act as if everything is alright and normal there, still - warning!) and the tragic death of several pets.

Porsche is a complete idiot at the beginning but after a couple of episodes the learning effect finally sets in.

Still, I had lots of fun watching this so enjoy!

6. He's coming to me

One of the oldest bls on the list. Was lighthearted and super sad at the same time but has some phenomenal acting, an actual coming out scene (!!) and gets you actually feeling for the characters.

I personally found it hilarious at times and it has some actual plot!

7. Manner of death

A bl with ploot! Even if it's quite messy sometimes.... Also, characters that are not supposed to be teenagers! It's not supposed to be a comedy for once! A lot of great selling points.

This show was fun, even if for some reason I lost interest towards the end?

8. Ingredients

Very simple show that was still a surprisingly good watch. The episodes are really short so it's great for in between but still a slow burn at the same time!

Loved the development of their relationship over the time!

9. 2gether + Still 2gether

Fake dating? Check!

Slowburn? Check!

Teach people to not take a no for a no? Check!

Harmful stereotypes? Check!

A couple that you first desperatly want together but once they are want back as friends? Yup!

Was it still fun to watch? Absolutely!

This show is not my first recomondation but it's surprisingly fun to watch, even if I got super annoyed at the general consesus of the characters to just... Not stop persuing someone if they are told no???

The show sells us drugging someone or starting fake relationships as resonable responses to unwanted suitors instead of just... Getting rid of them because you tell them no??

So be warned, but enjoy!

#thai bl #bl series #Will probably add to this #I´m pretty new to this as well so I includet everything I watched and didn´t hate #So if you have recommondations for me go for it :) #Sorry in advace for tagging stuff #Not me #The eclipse #my school president #bad buddy #kinnporsche #He´scoming to me #Manner of death #Ingredients #2gether