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remingtonisleithal · 1 year

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I just think that what mcr did at the wwwy fest is beyond words, but I'm going to try anyway.

As a self proclaimed emo, I naturally feel nostalgia towards the 2000s emo culture, with the release of three cheers and the black parade albums, with fall out boy, with paramore, all of the songs with lyrics now written in our hearts being new. I feel incredibly nostalgic, but the interesting thing is that I'm nostalgic for an era I was barely alive to see. I'm a 2000s kid, I was less than a year old when three cheers was released. But I feel nostalgic towards it, I feel like things would have been better if I was born earlier to experience it.

But what MCR have done is they have said, to the media, to nostalgia, to the corporations bringing emo back for profit, not for sub-culture, is a big, total "FUCK YOU". And I think that's beautiful.

See, what my chemical romance is, and will always be, is something that you don't understand. That you can't quite grasp. Every time you think you know them, and decide who they are, they will do something so batshit to say "No. That's not us, we are whatever the fuck we want to be and we are proud of it." They did this in each era. They eyeshadow, they kissed each other, they wore all black, they wore bright colours and sang about a comic they made. They faked their fucking death.

So they wore their Revenge era outfits to the when we were young fest. This is already tongue in cheek, wearing something from when they were young to a nostalgia trip of a festival. But then adding in the prosthetics. Bringing you back to the present. Reminding yourself that that's not where you are anymore, the past cannot come back. And that's a good thing. Because they played all their hits, none of the niche stuff the mcrmy has a passion for. They didn't talk between songs and played the band they were supposed to be, pigeon-holed into for the longest time. So much so that it was killing them, it's why they split up. Because if they didn't, if they stayed the way they were told they were supposed to be, they would have ended up dead (evident by their outfits, particularly mikey, I haven't seen a single photo of his outfit and I heard that he was covered in blood, no prosthetics, which can be read into as something bad happening to him, leaving him to die young, which would have been the harsh reality if they pushed themselves into this).

My Chemical Romance has always and will always tell you who they are, which will always be the opposite of what people tell them to be. And right now, the media is making them into some sort of glorified revival band, but that's not it. They're just them. They don't want the fucking nostalgia to take them back to a place that nearly killed them. They never wanted to be pigeon-holed into being emo, even speaking out about hating the stereotype (which changed so much from what it was when they were growing up, it shifted into some kind of store-bought ripped jeaned teens with a passion for razor blades instead of angst souls surviving through music) and yet the same stereotype--which was once protested as being anti-religious, propaganda, a suicide cult and more--is being paraded around as a nostalgic gem to be worshipped. A trend. And you bet your ass that ray toro, mikey way, frank iero and gerard way are going to shit on all of that.

It was never about the money. The hits. The costumes. The crowds. It was about saving lives by being yourself, and looking into the past, reminiscing over how things were through the rose-tinted lens of time, isn't going to save anyone. It's going to leave you without anything in the present. You have to evolve. And bullshitting yourselves into being something you're not, or believing the grass was greener is only bullshitting yourself. It's not rebellion, it's suicide. The exact thing my chem is trying to stop. The haunting prosthetics serve as a reminder that while it's fun to revisit the past, you cannot stay that way. You have to carry on.

#mcr #wwwy #when we were young #my chemical romance #my chem #gerard way #ray toro #frank iero #mikey way #emo #music #wwwyf #revenge era #old man my chem #return era #fandom essay

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motownfiction · 10 months

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loon

Lucy sees a loon on the lake in early May, and she panics.

It’s about a week before her graduation with her master’s degree, and she’s preoccupied with thoughts of moving to the East Coast. She’s supposed to be there in three months. Her distant-ish relatives keep saying she’s going back home. That she lived in Connecticut until she was six, and being in New York would give her a great opportunity to explore the life she could have had back home. They don’t get it. The East Coast is all they’ve ever known and loved, and they can’t imagine anyone longing for anything else.

But they’ve never sat on the beach in front of a Great Lake before.

She feels peaceful and easy before the loon shows up. But as soon as she sees that bird, Lucy panics. She’s never been that fond of birds – probably why she eats so much chicken. Pigeons always scared the hell out of her, and forget those peacocks roaming around the Detroit Zoo. Back in second grade, when her class went on a field trip there, Lucy even made her mother chaperone so that someone could shield her from the peacocks.

The loon is a different story. It scares her more than any of the other birds ever have. She can’t remember the last time she saw a loon, and that makes her even more afraid. It’s rare Lucy forgets anything. If she can’t remember why she’d be so scared of a silly little bird on the lake, then what else is she forgetting about her own life?

“Oh, man,” Will says after she tells him about her worries. “You really don’t remember?”

“Obviously not, Will,” Lucy says. “If I did, do you think I’d be this freaked out?”

“It was a little while after you moved here, in first grade. We had that weird music teacher for a year, Ms. Manwell. In the first month of classes, you were supposed to memorize a song and sing it on your own. This ringing a bell?”

Lucy nods, but she wishes she could still block it out.

“You were smart,” she says. “You picked ‘The Farmer in the Dell.’”

“The cheese stood alone,” Will says, solemn for the joke. “And you … already an overachiever …”

“I picked ‘The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill.’ Which was inappropriate for a six-year-old child on more than one level. And I pulled a Steph Armstrong and fucked up the lyrics.”

“‘So Captain Marble zapped him right between the eyes.’”

Lucy feels herself turn red, almost twenty years later.

“I didn’t read comic books!” she says. “I didn’t know there was such a thing as Captain Marvel, much less that there ended up being two of them. God, I’m still humiliated.”

“You don’t have to be,” Will says.

“Yes, I do. That Ms. Manwell. She was horrible to me. Said I tried too hard, and trying too hard would never get me anywhere. That’s why I’m afraid of loons. She had that big loon brooch she wore every week in music class. Every week, I’d sit there and wonder how that big loon brooch would berate me that day. The first teacher who ever hated me.”

Will sighs. He threads his fingers through Lucy’s, and she smiles because he’s not looking.

“You’ve tried really hard,” he says. “And it’s gotten you everywhere. Look. It’s getting us all the way to New York. Just because of you. Just for you.”

Lucy turns around and tries not to cry.

“What if I’m afraid?” she asks. “What if I don’t know what I’m supposed to do once I’m there?”

“Then that’s good,” Will says. “It’ll give you more time to look around.”

Lucy thinks about that for a minute. She never looks around. She always wants to, always fantasizes about running through the fields and doing something she’s never done before, but work always pulls her back in. Work is where she feels comfortable. She’s not happy unless she’s trying too hard, just like Ms. Manwell warned her about. She sighs. She turns her head to see the loon again, just to see if she can look it in the eye without losing her breath.

But when she turns to face the water again, the loon is gone.

She thinks she knows what to do with that.

(part of @nosebleedclub june challenge -- day xvii! still behind, but at least it’s not egregious)

#drabble #writeblr #ch: lucy callaghan #ch: will o'connor #ship: c'est la vie say the old folks #year: 1991 #year: 1973

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nickelkeep · 1 year

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Get to Know Me Tag Game

Tagged by @cr-noble-writes, I’m trying to find the spoons to write and am instead doing tag games on Tumblr.

Nickname: Nickel or Nick. A few close people know the nickname of my birth name. Even fewer know my dead name. (Side note, it was so weird to hear Momma Nickel call me Nickel the other day. To her, I am full version of my birth name - minus the dead part - ALWAYS. I damn near fell out of my chair when she called me Nickel.)

Sign: Taurus

Last google search: have my last... several...

[[Alt Text: 8 Google Searches in the drop down. dream bell exchange ticket, vraska, 10 inch hero streaming, thyroglossal duct cyst, shrike lyrics, peracetic, brisk dragon paradise iced tea, kinkajou]]

Song stuck in head: at the moment, it’s Someone New by Hozier

Sleep: I got three-ish hours? I had a bad pain flare that woke me up and kept me up all night.

Dream job: Author.

Wearing: grey pj pants, black tank top, LORE sweatshirt of Bigfoot that says “I want to be where the people aren’t.”

Favorite song: either Savior by Rise Against or La Cienega by Sleeping Wolf

Favorite instrument: accordion

Aesthetic: Comfy Nerdcore.

Favorite authors: Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Gail Simone, Tom Taylor, Alan Moore, Terry Pratchett, Todd McFarlane, I just realized that most of my favorite authors are comic book writers...

Favorite animal sounds: Pigeon Coos and Raven/Crow Caws

Last song: The Night We Met - Lord Huron

Last series: Assuming TV series? I finally watched the first episode of TLOU.

Random: I have no idea. Ask box is open if you have questions you want to ask.

Tagging: @petrichoravellichor, @maggiemaybe160, @locallysourcedstardust, and whoever else wants to do the thing

#Tag Game #about me #about nickel

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whetstonefires · 1 year

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Tag 9 People You Want to get to Know Better

tagged in by @karlyanalora hey

Currently Reading: I cannot read one book at a time anymore I cycle through a stack like a tiger in a cage. Currently re-reading The Last Graduate from the Scholomance trilogy, still working on Trees which is about trees, and a book of poems by Richard Thomas (like that's the title, i assume it's in the spirit of a Best Of collection), and my physical library book atm is The Spear Cuts Through Water.

Favorite Color: Forest green

Last Song: Like that I listened to? No idea. Got 'Holding Out For A Hero' doing the brain loop because of that male pornbot lyrics parody i reblogged this morning though.

Last Movie: Glass Onion

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Savory, though the others aren't bad.

Currently Working On: A bunch of fics, very slowly. That porn study I started a year ago developed enough plot elements that I'm wrestling with certain narrative transitions 50k in so it's been on hiatus since October. Also my 2020 nano novel i posted those character study ask game answers for last week.

Also I am knitting a sock. It will not be a good sock; I took none of the recommended steps to choose the right yarn and so forth, because you see the goal here is to learn to turn a heel and I don't learn as well if I'm worried about ruining something that Had Great Potential up to this point. Stupid problems require stupid solutions.

- Bonus -

A TF Character + Beast Mode combo you think would be awesome: I only understand this question enough to not understand it. My approach to Transformers has always been to know as little as possible about them so I can enjoy absolutely any decontextualized nonsense that gets slung my way.

A friend who has the exact opposite relationship with the franchise has however been doing a page-by-page breakdown of a particularly iconic and grimdark stretch of the comics run on discord recently, so now I know enough to not be able to enjoy Transformers in idiot mode anymore but not nearly enough to answer this kind of query.

hhhhhhh

@brawltogethernow @pavlovs-pigeon @audreycritter @cineresis @phantomchick @ramblebrambleamble @missoyashirou whose name i always read as misao, @wolffyluna and @wearethekat who recently sent me asks 😂 there that's 9

#hoc est meum #tag game

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ussitebooks · 2 years

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[Get] [Books] Young Mungo By Douglas Stuart

Get the best Books, Magazines & Comics in every genre including Action, Adventure, Anime, Manga, Children & Family, Classics, Comedies, Reference, Manuals, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Music, Romance, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Sports and many more.

Young Mungo

READ & DOWNLOAD Douglas Stuart book Young Mungo in PDF, EPub, Mobi, Kindle online. Free book, AudioBook, Reender Book Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart full book,full ebook full Download.

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BOOK DETAILS :

Author : Douglas Stuart

Title : Young Mungo

Get book ====> Young Mungo. Full supports all version of your device, includes PDF, ePub and Kindle version. All books format are mobile-friendly. Read and download online as many books as you like for personal use.

Growing up in a housing estate in Glasgow, Mungo and James are born under different stars--Mungo a Protestant and James a Catholic--and they should be sworn enemies if they're to be seen as men at all. Yet against all odds, they become best friends as they find a sanctuary in the pigeon dovecote that James has built for his prize racing birds. As they fall in love, they dream of finding somewhere they belong, while Mungo works hard to hide his true self from all those around him, especially from his big brother Hamish, a local gang leader with a brutal reputation to uphold. And when several months later Mungo's mother sends him on a fishing trip to a loch in Western Scotland with two strange men whose drunken banter belies murky pasts, he will need to summon all his inner strength and courage to try to get back to a place of safety, a place where he and James might still have a future.Imbuing the everyday world of its characters with rich lyricism and giving full voice to people

#bookish ,#kindleaddict ,#EpubForSale ,#bestbookreads ,#ebookworm ,#readyforit ,#downloadprint

By click link in above! wish you have good luck and enjoy reading your book.

(Works on PC, Ipad, Android, iOS, Tablet, MAC)

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pigeoncomics · 6 years

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Pigeon Comic 87 - Somebody Told Me

If you want to suggest particular pigeon art pieces, consider subscribing to the Pigeon Portrait tier on my Patreon. You can get icons too! By doing so, you can directly get your very own monthly request seen with your own eyes way faster (and with better quality) than the Tumblr ask box… asks. You also get sneak peeks of upcoming Pigeon Lyric comics!

#pigeon #comic #comics #pigeons #the killers #killers #somebody told me #birds #birb #birbs #funny #bird #music video #music comic #pigeon lyric #pigeon lyrics #pigeon lyric comic

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immaturityofthomasastruc · 3 years

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IOTA Reviews: Truth

Hey. Hey guys. Remember when I said I was feeling optimistic about this season? God, that was funny, wasn't it?

Let's just... Let's just get into the actual first episode of Miraculous Ladybug's fourth season: Truth.

We start off with Gabriel repairing the damaged Peacock Miraculous, which also restores Duusu's sanity, before he quickly gives it a test run by transforming with both it and the Butterfly Miraculous.

And good lord, the result looks atrocious. This is the design for the new and improved Hawkmoth? First off, the peacock feather eyepatch looks stupid. Is he trying to be the Phantom of the Opera? When Mayura had the same thing, it didn't completely cover her eye and matched her color scheme. It just doesn't match with this new design here. Other than the feather, the peacock aesthetic is barely visible here. The most we get is a peacock feather pattern on the back of his jacket. And then there's the popped collar and coattails, which only look more ridiculous than menacing. What made the original Hawkmoth design work was how sleek it was. It was simplistic, which reflected Gabriel's no-nonense personality. This just looks gaudy and unnecessary. How was this right after the amazing suit the animators gave Dragonbug?

So after Gabriel designs another stupid looking outfit, we cut to Marinette, who's still trying to figure out how the Miracle Ball works. She accidentally opens it, letting the Kwamis out, who wreak havoc on her room because Marinette suffering is going to be a big part of this episode. This just raises the question: Why can't Marinette simply order them back into the box like Su-Han did, or rather, is going to do? It's still not established what gives the Guardians authority over the Kwamis in the first place.

Two of the Kwamis accidentally start a video chat with her friends, leading to some more Unfunny Marinette Slapstick. But Alya thinks something's up with her friend.

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Has Marinette even told Alya she's already in a relationship? Like, at all? It feels like all Alya is there for now is to remind the audience that Marinette and Adrien are “meant to be”, even if they're both in relationships right now. It's either that, or teasing Marinette over her crush and doing nothing to help her anxiety.

Marinette accidentally ends the call, before Luka calls to thank her for the pictures of Adrien one of the Kwamis accidentally sent him. Yeah, even though he barely appears in this episode (barring his scenes at Cat Noir), they're going to talk about Adrien a lot. Marinette continues to stammer around Luka (once again making fun of people who have speech issues), but Luka, being the ray of sunshine in any abysmal episode he's in, is completely understanding of it. He also sets up a pretty funny joke.

Apparently, Marinette missed her last date with Luka yesterday to see a movie that was re-released, Crocodile Heart, that was actually Jagged Stone's first movie. I wonder if it's connected to Crocodile Dundee.

While walking to the movie, Luka and Marinette play a game finishing the lyrics of a Jagged Stone song, establishing the former as a huge fan of the rock star. Before we can actually get an on-screen kiss for Lukanette, Mr. Pigeon attacks yet again, because I guess he's the first villain Hawkmoth wants to use in his new form.

Cat Noir sneaks up on Ladybug, causing her to accidentally throw him off a building before catching him, chastising him for the stupid jokes, yet Ladybug has to apologize for missing patrol with her partner, who casually acknowledges her new status as Guardian before the two go and fight Mr. Pigeon.

By the time they defeat him, the movie ends as Marinette gets back, disappointing Luka. We then get a montage of Marinette bailing on Luka multiple times to stop Akumas and Sentimonsters. To his credit, Luka is seriously torn up by all the times Marinette leaves him, showing he isn't just a calm soul.

After Marinette gets back, Luka takes her underneath a bridge to listen to the echoing sound of the water. Luka says that he never knew his father, and he would always go here to relax whenever he got stressed. He uses this to segue into asking Marinette where she constantly disappears to. He doesn't pressure her or anything like Alya, and he even says that if she still loves Adrien, he'll understand. He only asks for the truth. Unfortunately, Marinette can't tell him the truth, which just breaks the poor boy's heart.

Hawkmoth, now calling himself Shadowmoth, sends out an Akuma and an Amok for Luka at the same time, corrupting a guitar pick signed by Jagged Stone that Marinette gave him. And again, to Luka's credit, he fights back against Shadowmoth's influence at first, saying he trusts Marinette, but the temptation of knowing the truth is too good to pass up. He tells Marinette to run before being akumatized into Truth, assisted by the Sentimonster Pharro.

Truth's design is... pretty forgettable. The guitar pick being prominent around his neck is a nice touch, but it's just a generic black bodysuit with light blue highlights, and he has a third eye instead of a visible mouth. Pharro is also pretty boring, just a giant eye that freezes people in place so Truth can use his powers to make them tell the truth.

So Truth goes back to where everyone else was hanging out before he was akumatized and asks Alya to tell him the truth about Marinette.

Yeah, he's right, Alya. That's what you believe. We're supposed to treat Alya saying Marinette loves Adrien as an unbiased source. Truth asks Rose, Mylene, Tom, and Sabine what Marinette's secret is in this episode, and they all say she's in love with Adrien. That isn't actually the truth. It's like asking an atheist if there is a God. You know what they believe is the truth, but you don't know if that answer is actually the truth. Why not have them reveal other secrets about Marinette, giving the audience subtle character details? Like the writers could make someone say stuff like she still sleeps with a nightlight on, or that she secretly gets cookies from another bakery.

You know what also would have worked? Instead, have Truth catch Marinette before she transforms into Ladybug, ask who she actually loved, and then she'll blurt out Adrien's name, shocking both her and Luka. This could also make Ladybug's confidence in herself waver throughout the episode, wondering if she actually loved Luka at all. That would have been much better drama than what we're going to get instead.

Ladybug charges in to stop Truth, but is zapped by his truth ray, meaning she'll be forced to tell the truth when asked any question. Before she can admit her identity, Cat Noir saves her by retreating with her into the Seine, before reassuring Ladybug that he wouldn't force her to tell the truth by force. It's a nice bit that does show he respects Ladybug's secret, a far cry from his behavior in episodes like “Syren” and “Frozer”. Truth turns his attention to his mother Anarka, and asks who his father is.

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Yes. Seriously. This is happening. Luka's father is actually Jagged Stone. I have... mixed feelings regarding this development, but my biggest question is, well... they're doing this now? They couldn't save this for another episode? I mean, was focusing on Luka and Marinette's relationship (something that had been established since Season 2) not good enough of a plot for the writers? Why shoehorn in this plot development? Why not save this part as a teaser for a future episode? You know, have Luka walk home, and remember what he made his mother say as Truth, setting up an episode focusing on his relationship with Jagged Stone.

But no! Instead, we're just supposed to go along with the plot taking a detour. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't want Jagged Stone to appear in this episode.

Truth heads over to the hotel where Jagged Stone lives and asks him if he's actually his father, the latter admitting that Anarka was right. Truth naturally isn't happy.

Well, to be fair, it's still a better title than his first drafts, like “It's Not My Fault the Condom Broke”, or “Up Yours, I'm Not Paying the Child Support, Bitch”.

Honestly, I can get what the writers are going for, and I like the idea of them trying to give some depth to a character who was mostly used for comic relief in earlier episodes. The problem is, as much as they want to portray Jagged as regretful for walking out on his family, it still doesn't excuse him for never even bothering to check in on his children and their mother while writing a song about it. He doesn't even bother to give some money to the person he knocked up.

I'm not saying a conflicted relationship like this can't work in animation (a decent example being Steven Universe slowly growing to resent his mother for her time as Pink Diamond and believing his birth was an excuse for her to avoid responsibility), but you need to put more emotion into this. I don't come from a broken home, but if it turned out my dad was, let's say, “Weird Al” Yankovic, even if I enjoy his music, I wouldn't be happy that he decided to come back now of all times without so much as a “hello”.

Truth goes to Marinette's house/bakery, and starts looking for Marinette's diary to find out her secrets. It's almost like the minor plotline that he has a deadbeat dad was only there to eat up airtime. Ladybug is still affected by Truth's powers, and not long after she summons her Lucky Charm, Cat Noir is zapped too, so he starts asking questions that basically amount to complimenting certain qualities he and Ladybug have. When Ladybug asks him what he thinks about her being Guardian, Cat Noir says nothing's changed between them. It's a nice strategy, very reminiscent of when they had to talk in rhyme when fighting Frightengale. I'm also glad they aren't trying to play up Cat Noir not feeling as important immediately now that his partner has access to top secret information.

Cat Noir Cataclysms Pharro, but rather than destroying the Sentimonster, it causes it to go out of control, accidentally paralyzing Truth with some manipulation from her and Cat Noir. Ladybug then de-evilizes both the Akuma and Amok, defeating Truth.

Marinette struggles to find the words to explain things to Luka, but he says that he'll be waiting for her when she's ready. While walking back to his houseboat, Luka runs into Jagged Stone, who promises to write a song together with him. Because I guess Shadowmoth was kind enough of him to not erase that part of his memory. And of course, Luka just accepts this despite the fact that Jagged was absent from his entire life.

So according to this show, you shouldn't bother to give mean people a second chance, but it's okay to give your deadbeat dad a second chance without harboring any negative feelings? I'm sorry, but I just don't see the point of shoving in this subplot if you're barely going to do anything with it before coming to a resolution. If there was more detail put into it, like if Luka just angrily lashed out at Jagged for abandoning his mom, I would have been more open to it. But in the end, this major character revelation is nothing more than filler the episode doesn't need.

We cut to what I'm surprised doesn't happen at the end of every episode given how much crap she gets, Marinette crying in her bed, saying it's too dangerous to have a boyfriend thanks to Shadowmoth. One of the Kwamis apparently doesn't know what crying is, so Marinette asks them to give her a hug, and the showrunners really need to find another song to play at the end, because the upbeat song playing doesn't go with Marinette crying at all. Imagine if this song played at the end of Deep Space Nine's “In the Pale Moonlight” when Captain Sisko confessed to basically being an accessory to the murder of an alien ambassador. It'd be tonally jarring, wouldn't it?

Even the ending image doesn't feature Luka and Marinette together. Instead, he's hugging it out with Deadbeat Stone like everything's okay.

So yeah, that's how the episode ends. In case you couldn't tell, I thought it was awful.

Remember in my New York Special review, where I theorized that Astruc rewrote it to focus more on Adrienette to stop people from shipping Lukanette? I have another theory that I also want to be taken with a grain of salt. I think this episode might have also been rewritten a little to follow up on that. I mean, why else would Astruc spend two seasons building up Luka's relationship with Marinette only to rip it away the episode after they officially get together? It would also explain why it feels like there's two separate episodes going on with how shoehorned in Jagged Stone is.

But other than that, this episode managed to screw up the one thing I was actually looking forward to about this season, seeing Marinette together with Luka. Even if they were going to break up, I was hoping there would at least be a character arc for Marinette where she realizes what she truly wants in a relationship isn't with Luka, leading into a relationship with Adrien where she feels more confident in herself. I was at least hoping their relationship would last more than A SINGLE EPISODE.

In fact, remember that tweet Astruc made soon after the New York Special, defending Marinette and Adrien essentially cheating on Luka and Kagami respectively?

What exactly was so complicated about Season 4 when you're immediately going to break up a couple you spent two seasons building up? Astruc's predictions are about as accurate as Uri Geller.

And then there's the fact that all everyone talks about this episode is Adrien. Marinette's wall is covered with pictures of him, Alya thinks her friend's abnormal behavior is because Adrien's in the room with her, Luka somehow knows Marinette loves Adrien and is actually cool with it, and everyone else thinks that it's her biggest secret. How convenient is it that all of this happens when barring his scenes as Cat Noir, Adrien doesn't appear in this episode barring a five second cameo?

When I was writing this episode, I saw a tweet Astruc made addressing a question someone posed, asking why Adrien didn't get as much screentime in the recent Shanghai Special. He said that “history does not revolve around him”.

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For the love of God, writers, just give Marinette a plotline that doesn't revolve around her feelings for Adrien for once. People already started to get sick of it halfway through last season. Either have her confess and make the Love Square canon, or stop letting it dominate the main story for once. Why can't the writers just let her move on from Adrien for more than a single episode? Give her a goddamn break already.

I once again have to ask: what was the point of building up a relationship between Luka and Marinette since Season 2, if you're just going to break them up the second they get together? Why make a big deal about Marinette's conflicted feelings for both Adrien and Luka if you're just going to ignore her feelings for the latter in favor of the former? And remember, chronologically, this was right after the end of Chloe's “damnation arc”, another plotline that had been built up since Season 2 only to be aborted in favor of “sUbVeRtInG tHe AuDiEnCe'S eXpEcTaTiOnS”. It feels like the writers are trying to punish people for getting emotionally invested in any storyline that doesn't relate to the holy pairing that is the Love Square.

This episode is just frustrating to watch. Part of me knew Marinette and Luka were going to break up, but I didn't think it would be this bad, and it would be so soon. I'm glad they're on somewhat good terms, and I liked the buildup to Luka realizing Marinette might not trust him, but the timing of this episode is what baffles me the most. Is it any wonder I think Astruc may have rewritten this episode?

If any Lukanette shippers need to recover, I'd recommend checking out @mc-lukanette. They have some wholesome one-shots and fix-it fics for some of the weaker episodes of the series. In fact, she already wrote a fix-it to this abysmal episode that’s so much better than what we got.

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ninwrites · 3 years

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a memory of love's refrain

Pairing: Joe/Nicky

Summary: a snapshot of an evening spent in a small Brooklyn apartment // circa 1940's

Joe trudges up the long staircase, his boots heavy against the wrought metal. He’d bargained with Nicky about the cost of four flights of stairs against the beautiful view it awarded when they had first decided to move to Brooklyn, because Nicky had been convinced it would be better for them to stay somewhere closer to the ground, as it would award them a quicker escape. Joe had hushed him, insisting the view would be worth it, and that upon the rare chance such a getaway would be required, he’d personally carry Nicky out to save time.

Of course, no view could compare to that which greets him when he steps past the threshold, already unlacing his boots before the door has even shut behind him. Joe could spot Nicky in a sea of thousands, could find him by the guide of his soul with his eyes closed; it is not quite so difficult to see him here, bustling about their small kitchen. Nicky likes to put a record on while he prepares food, and the music is magical and mournful, the lyrics winding around the room, echoed by his low humming. The air is filled with the sharp scent of peppers and garlic, the melody punctuated by the rhythmic grind of a porcelain pestle and mortar, which Joe had made as an anniversary gift for Nicky some time before, though neither could quite remember what exactly they were celebrating.

“Take a photo, habibi, it will last longer.” .

Joe laughs softly, absentmindedly wiping any excess grease from his hands on his denim overalls as he crosses their small apartment. “No image could ever capture your ethereal beauty, tesoro mio, the camera would shatter in my very hands, struck down by divine intervention.”

Nicky turns, his back leant against the countertop. There’s a smudge of red paste across his cheek that Joe follows with his thumb, nipping at the pad even as the bright scent of chili tickles his nose. “Angelo,” he whispers, reverent. Nicky is leaning into his touch before Joe has noticed that he’d moved, hands caressing each side of Nicky’s face with a grace reserved for holy things.

“You’re making Ojja,” Joe hums, pressing warm kisses to every plane of Nicky’s face that he can reach. “Oh, angelo, it is not just your face that the heavens carved from marble, it is your very heart.”

“Incurable,” Nicky mutters, hooking his thumbs in the back pockets of Joe’s overalls. “It has been a long week. I do not know about you, but I am missing our family greatly, and this is as close as I can think to having them here with us.”

“Love is that which makes a home, and your food is almost as sweet with it as you are.” Joe rests his forehead against Nicky’s, which is good as saying ‘I miss them too’.

“I always enjoy watching Booker’s face redden as he pretends the spices do not affect his delicate French sensibilities.” Nicky says, nonchalantly. Joe barks out a laugh, rough and warm.

“Mon amour,” Joe teases. “You’ll just have to make it for them when they return.”

Booker and Andy were both in Europe anticipating the repercussions of war, and Joe and Nicky were in America, as it was groundwork which often brought the more reliable information. They had created a lovely little home in a brick apartment near a dockyard where Joe played engineer, while Nicky established a presence in the neighbourhood, occasionally taking up work bagging at the local grocers a few blocks away to maintain appearances. They were bachelors, both orphaned at a young age, living together to save money - and it was working. No one batted an eyelid. The truth didn’t matter. History taught that people never stayed discontent in their circumstances for long, and they could feel conflict upon the horizon like the electricity of an oncoming storm.

Joe pulls back, pressing a kiss to Nicky’s hairline. “I am the luckiest man in the world.” He swipes his pinky along the ridge of the mortar, touching the tip to Nicky’s tongue. “Do you taste that?”

“Tastes like harissa.” Nicky points out.

Joe shakes his head, kissing the corner of Nicky’s mouth, chasing the heat. “That is joy, vita mia, that is life and love.”

“If I had known you would have returned so hungry, I would have packed you an extra sandwich.” Nicky pulls Joe in until their hips are pressed flush. “The ojja will not take long to cook. I was hoping to have a dance before dinner but perhaps we should eat while the sun is still high.”

“I would eat your food, stone-cold and seasoned with gravel, if it meant I could share the meal with you by my side.” Joe curls his hand against the newly shaved nape of Nicky’s neck. “A dance does sound quite lovely, though.”

“Then it is agreed.” Nicky presses a quick kiss to Joe’s cheek, the skin beneath warm and flushed. “What shall we dance to first? Any preferences?”

Nicky walks over to the gramophone, his hand curled around Joe’s without thought. The gramophone stands on a small table next to the window, on the sill of which sits a pot that is filled with whichever flower Joe had most recently procured for Nicky. The other day he had brought home roses from a local florist, which had cost a few dollars and gotten him a nice ribbing from the boys down the docks for being sweet on his mystery woman. It was all worth it for the shine in Nicky’s eyes when he brought them close to his face and took in their sweet scent, for the way he had whispered thank you against Joe’s mouth and the tender care in which he watered them each morning. When the flowers crumble, Joe will make potpourri of them, and their apartment will linger with the memory of the petals even as a new flower, a dahlia perhaps if he can find one that suits, takes pride in the sunlight.

“Something romantic,” Joe says, as though there is ever any other option.

Nicky hums, his focus on the small stack of records leant against the wall. Joe slips an arm around Nicky’s waist, his chin hooked over Nicky’s shoulder, pressing an idle kiss to his collarbone. Nicky has folded the sleeves of his linen shirt up to his elbows, his forearms warmed by the August sun and dusted with golden hairs. If he weren’t so preoccupied, Joe would have kissed from his elbow down to the pulse point of his wrist and across each finger tip.

The gramophone crackles as the needle spins, and then cheerful, warm jazz fills the room, carrying the voice of Annette Hanshaw: “you have a great way, an up-to-date way, of telling me you love me, it gives me such a thrill, I know it always will.”

Joe hums, taking a step back only to offer his right hand to Nicky, his left folded behind his back as he bows his head. “Nicolò.”

Nicky smiles, a tender and private thing, for Joe’s eyes only. “Yusuf.” The curve of his palm is a perfect fit against Joe’s open hand.

Joe presses a warm kiss against the ridges of Nicky’s knuckles. “It would be the greatest honour of my life to dance with you around our kitchen on this fine evening.”

Outside the window, a pigeon coos. Nicky’s head tilts. “While I feel it necessary to point out that I did ask you first, if I recall correctly, you professed the very exact thing last night.”

Joe, undeterred, draws on Nicky’s hand to bring him closer. “Then, perhaps you would do me the honour twice? You know, they invented music for lovers.”

Nicky’s eyebrows creep up, the corner of his mouth drawn up into a sly smile. “Yusuf, I’m not sure there is anything in existence which you don’t believe was invented for lovers. Everything from the moon, to a simple loaf of bread, to the game of chess.”

Joe undoes the top two buttons of Nicky’s shirt, leaving the front of his chest exposed, his collarbone protruding like a hawk’s wing. “Everything that I am, that I do, is borne from love.” He slips his hand beneath Nicky’s shirt, palm pressed over his heart. “Who would I be without it? Who would I be if I had not fallen for my beautiful enemy?”

Joe makes a pointed noise in the back of his throat, shaking his head just enough that his curls, when he ducks his head to press a kiss against Nicky’s sternum, brush against the underside of Nicky’s chin. “Every day that I wake up next to you is a good day, for I get to live it in your shadow.”

Nicky’s hands cradle Joe’s face, as though he is holding something precious, a great treasure worth revering.

“Yusuf.” Nicky tips his forehead against Joe’s, his lips brushing against the bridge of Joe’s nose.

He’d broken it the second day of their acquaintance, swung his arm wide with a force so great it sent Joe sprawling to the floor. Joe had laughed through bloody hands, his lips and teeth stained bright red. It was the first sign of fire that he’d ever seen in Nicky, and that same spark flickers behind Nicky’s eyes now.

“You have never been in my shadow.” Nicky whispers. “You have always been my sun.”

He draws Joe in for a deep kiss, stepping back and trusting that Joe will follow, and he always does - he’d once walked to the ends of the earth across burning sand without even knowing Nicky’s name. The rest is easy.

“If music was made for lovers as you so profess, then we must dance to it.” Nicky whispers against Joe’s cheek, letting his arms rest on Joe’s shoulders, his hands hooked loosely behind his neck.

They sway, from one side to the other, and it’s less a dance and more the flow of the record rising from within them, their bodies moving in time with the echo of their hearts. Joe clutches at Nicky’s elbow, fingers caught in the linen, soft against his worn touch. His other hand slips around to press against the small of Nicky’s back, at the bottom of his spine, where Joe had once run him through with a scimitar.

The gramophone skips, Nat King Cole’s rich voice filling the room. Nicky tips his head, his eyes half-lidded. Joe hums along, soothing his hand up Nicky’s arm and around his shoulder, his fingers tapping along the ridge of Nicky’s spine. Nicky hides his smile against the cut of Joe’s jaw, pressing a kiss to his pulse point, letting the warmth of Joe’s skin radiate around him, the scent of saltwater from the docks mixing with the orange notes of his cologne, at once familiar and calming.

“Would you sing for me, Nicolò?” Joe asks, his hands tracing secrets and lines against Nicky’s back. Nicky doesn’t protest about how his voice isn’t that great, because he knows it would be a waste of time, and besides that, he doesn’t mind.

“The melody haunts my reverie and I am once again with you,” His voice is low, and it cracks on some of the words, but he can feel Joe’s smile against his ear, knows his eyes are closed. He insists it helps him hear better. “When our love was new and each kiss an inspiration.”

Joe peppers the line of Nicky’s neck with half-open kisses, peeling the collar of his shirt back as far as he can, across his shoulder and down his chest, his breath ghosting across Nicky’s skin in huffs of heated air.

“But that was long ago,” Nicky’s voice drops to a whisper. “And now my consolation is in the stardust of a song.”

The sun has already begun to sink into the horizon. Nicky pulls back, admiring the way the sunlight casts Joe’s profile in shadows, caught in his air, reflecting off the gold in his eyes.

They’ll have to eat by candlelight tonight. Joe will love it.

#the old guard #nicolo di genova #yusuf al kaysani #immortal husbands #tog #kaysanova #nicky x joe #joe x nicky #yusuf x nicolo #nicolo x yusuf #joenicky #the old guard fic #tog fanfic #tog fic #ninwrites #my writing

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finalcuts · 2 years

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SPOTIFY WRAPPED - send me a number 1-100 and I’ll write you a starter based on the song.

51 - Pigeon by Ca.vet.own - based off the lyric “Fuzzy feelin' and I miss you.”

@abysstared

Colin’s been checking his cellphone periodically for the last hour, watching as the clock ticked by an agonizing few minutes every time he did. The heaviness of sleep in his eyes is getting brutal to fight against, he has to comically slap his cheek multiple times to make sure he stays alert and awake for when Connor gets home. How long had it been this time? A month? Colin doesn’t particularly like to keep track of the days, dwelling on it made the ache of missing him worse.

He’s slipping into the softness of the pillow when he hears the rattle of the front door being opened. Colin bolts awake with a surge of adrenaline and makes his way out into the living room, doing his best not to trip on his journey there. As soon as his boyfriend is in his sights his chest buzzes with a familiar fuzzy, warm sensation and he throws his arms around him, pulling him flush against his body with a tired, but happy hum. “ Welcome home, sweetheart. “ He murmurs against Connor’s shoulder, practically smiling from ear to ear.

#abysstared #𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 { 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 }#[ had to change the number slightly because i didnt have any ideas for 52 dgbfjhdbg ]#[ have some soft bois ]

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tofallinlovewithshadows · 3 years

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Liveblog — St. Paul, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, 1999

Thank you to @theelliottsmiths for the recommendation!

Ah, is this the infamous drunk show? I suppose we’ll find out

WARNING: It’s a lot of me thirsting after Till. But I gotta be me, right?

Spiel mit mir

God, I love “Spiel mit mir” a little more every time I hear it.

The burning drum opening is the level of extra I have come to expect in my relatively short relationship with Rammstein.

Why do I love pigeon-toed Till so much? Such a masculine man, such child-like behavior—oh, there he is sucking his thumb again.

Watching Schneider drum is a sight to behold. That is all.

Tier

Aww, I always feel so proud of Till when he interacts with the audience. As someone who got a C in her public speaking class in college, I empathize with the stage fright.

I see you bobbing your head there, Oli.

Is Reesh wearing that coat or is the coat wearing him? Hard to tell.

Oh, Flake, when you dance, you remind me of one of those toy birds whose only function is to dip their heads in the water.

Intermission as I watch the Bachelor. Trust me, I’d rather be liveblogging this concert, but I’m in a group chat with my friends and it’s a complicated situation lol

Bestrafe mich

Okay, but that “OHHH” at the beginning did something to me.

I’m fairly vanilla, but there’s something about Till whipping himself?? I felt it for the first time when I watched the Rosenrot video and making of??

Fuck, his body. So nice. So foine. I love Chumby Till, but Ripped Till is gorgeous as well.

Sorry to be so thirsty...

Weisses Fleisch

The sparkler shoes. I would cause mass destruction if I ever dared wear those.

FLEISCH FLEISCH FLEISCH

Honestly, being at a Rammstein concert would be a hell of a way to find out you have epilepsy.

Schneider’s hips and Flake’s legs. That is all.

Sehnsucht

Yet another song that I enjoy the more I hear it.

Till standing still onstage always makes me feel like he’s mid-panic attack and I just

Is it the lighting/quality of the video or is Oli (supposed to look like he’s) covered in blood?

Not complaining, but why do Paul and Oli swap places onstage? Is this song more bass-heavy than I’ve ever noticed?

I love this bridge with the clapping; it makes me happy for reasons I cannot articulate.

Fuck, he just wrecked that microphone.

Asche zu Asche

It makes me happy when Richard and Paul stand in the middle of the stage and riff :’)

I can’t say this is one of my favorite songs, but I appreciate its energy.

FLAKE IS BREAKING IT DOWN AT THE KEYBOARD FUCK I LOVE HIM WHAT A CHARACTER

Yeeees, spotlight on Oli. So underrated. I see you, Lars.

Why was I surprised to see the mic-stands on fire??? There has never been anything to lead me to believe that something like that wouldn’t happen?

Ooh, the slow-down of the drums. I am a fan.

Seemann

Okay, this is one of my favorites. I absolutely love the softer side of Rammstein. Also, way before I even knew what the lyrics meant, this song made me want to cry. And I rarely cry over music. I did two years of German in high school and I vaguely knew what the line “mit Tränen im Gesicht” and it just

It me

It me mit Tränen im Gesicht

Okay, I feel like some people are not fans of the Slow Hammer, but I am a fan of Till’s back, and it highlights it, so I’ll take all the Slow Hammer I can get.

“HELLOOOO”

God, this song is fucking beautiful.

Was not expecting the🎵La-la-lalaaa🎵 but I am here for it.

Stripped (intro)

Let me see Till stripped

So sad this was cut short, it’s one of my favorites.

Someone’s string broke, correct? A shame.

Du riechst so gut

Another one of my controversial “not favorites” I’M SORRY

I keep thinking Flake and Schneider have 16-pack abs, but it’s just their outfits.

Why does this sound so off to me? Is it because they’re shit-faced or am I just tired after watching the Bachelor? There is no reason that show needs to be TWO HOURS LONG, but I digress.

Flake’s doing his toy-bird dance again lol how does one have so little rhythm, yet is such a compelling dancer?

Oh no, fucked-up guitar. Can’t blame the Bachelor on that one.

And the spotlight shines on Richard’s torso. As it should. Fuck, he has a lovely chest.

Du hast

Okay. I know. “It’S oVeRrAtEd AnD oVeRpLaYeD.” But I could not give less of a fuck???

It’s overplayed because it’s fucking catchy? And it’s a lot of people’s gateway into Rammstein, and I think people should let people enjoy it.

Anyway

I love when Till laughs :’)

The reverberating phone cracks me up and I’m not sure why?

Till spitting up that water like a fucking whale and its blowhole.

Lol what is Oli doing? Whatever he wants? I love it. And I love him.

Bück dich

Don’t be mad at me, but I like the Woo-Machine part better than the actual song

Woo-w-woo, indeed

Oh, there’s Flake on the leash.

Are Flake’s legs even real?

Oli’s over there looking like he just climbed out of some radioactive waste and is going to be a comic book villain.

Okay, yes, simulated anal sex, but Till’s little wiggle to distribute the “semen” was adorable.

Aaaand Oli’s getting a drink. Gotta stay hydrated??

Engel (cut)

I absolutely love Engel. It’s one of my “let me listen to this on-repeat for ????” songs

Sad that it’s a bit chopped up :’(

Till directing the fire always entertains me.

YES SPARKLER DRUMSTICKS

I fucking LOVE how extra these boys are. Like, I know it’s because they know a lot of their fanbase doesn’t speak German and it’s for entertainment purposes. Honestly, I feel, as an American who only speaks English, the music can stand on its own. But the spectacle is still MUCH appreciated.

I’m not sure if that last bit made any sense, but we’re running with it.

I love Flake’s extended outtro. (Is that a word? And is it the right one? I’m running on fumes at this point.)

Rammstein

This song gives me so much nostalgia, but I honestly don’t remember the first time I heard it?? I just remember knowing it.

Watching Till stand there in that coat with his arms out makes mine HURT.

The way the coat lit up made me happy in a way I cannot explain.

Yes bb show it OFF

Those drums. Simple, but effective.

In my limited experience, I feel like this a song that Till is pretty hit-or-miss on live. I think this is a hit. But what do I know?

This is the first time I’ve ever noticed/paid attention to the harmonies on this song.

Aww, Paul and Richard are doing the riff thing again, I just love it.

OLI and the giant stomps. God, I love him. And I just realized he’s wearing short-shorts???

Also, not hating Paul’s hair?

Laichzeit

Loving Paul and Schneider’s head-banging.

Also, Till looks zoned out? Drunk?? Panicked???

🎵AUUUGENNNN🎵

This is usually one I skip over when I’m listening on my phone, but I’m super digging Flake’s contribution tonight.

Till ululating was not something I thought I would ever hear??

Yes, Flake, earning that spotlight.

This auditorium must reek of sweat and fuel at this point.

But mostly sweat.

Ssssssllllloooowwwww eeeeeennnnddd

Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen?

Ah, one of many songs where they chant their own name.

I’m trying REAL HARD not to say that Till can set my bed on fire whenever he wants.

I love this song, but the Doom noises just

Richard, I adore you, but I am not a fan of the bell-bottoms. I know it was a different time. But please.

Till’s ruffled hair is...lovely.

Is this the show they played before that elevator clip?

Aww, the sparklers. I don’t think it’s supposed to be as cute as I find it??

Paul is adorable.

Fuck yeeees, I love when the flamethrowers get brought out.

Especially when used so phallically. I see you, Till.

“We love you. Thank you.” I LOVE YOU TOO AND YOU’RE WELCOME.

Well, it happened. I have no regrets and if you made it this far, then I hope you have none either.

#rammstein #liveblog #1999 #till lindemann #richard kruspe #paul landers #christoph schneider #flake lorenz #oliver riedel #baby rammstein #I feel like I need to apologize?#love me

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talesfromthenorsesmouth · 4 years

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AFTER-HOURS

A short flashback comic for my Riddler PI AU, in which both Edward and Vicki are engaging in a little extra-curricular work in their different spheres.

Done mainly to write a little character interaction before the main story and get an idea of their initial relationship, also just because I liked the idea. Notes under the cut:

Pg1- Panel 3: working at a newspaper means lots of access to newsprint! although he also uses other papers as a source because he doesn’t want to be traced. he should also be wearing gloves, but I’ll let him off because he is only a baby at this so far. Panel 4: Edward is humming ‘Oh You Pretty Things’ because a) Bowie fan, b) there’s some meaningful lyrics in there he might latch on to, because he does that. The shadows on his eyes are meant to suggest his Riddler mask, but... it’s anyone’s guess if it’s that obvious without me saying...

Pg2- I just like the idea of Edward trying to casually sprawl across the desk to try and conceal what he’s doing. Edward isn’t a journalist himself, so doesn’t have a desk, just a corner of a supply cupboard that’s covered in newspaper clippings of his favourite crosswords- sadly I only realised this when I was halfway through planning this out. Well, Vicki lets him use her desk, because she’s nice like that.

Pg3- Vicki has a chip on her shoulder, but I don’t really blame her, she’s an investigative journalist dammit let her investigate. These two bond a lot over not being taken seriously by the rest of the staff on the Gazette, they each have a finely tuned routine of impressions of everyone, they are both little shits who know absolutely everything and you can’t tell them Nothing.

Pg4- This is my favourite page for no real reason, particularly Panel 3, for the expressions and Edward puffing up his little pigeon chest at the idea he might have to do something vaguely unpleasant in the name of a Story. I’m sure he’ll get over that soon.

Anyway i love my horrible children and nothing bad ever happens to them in the future, the end.

#riddler #riddler pi #comic #flashback #vicki vale #edward nygma #i just like writing them hanging out #being friends #with stupid hair #i think vicki's is worse than edward's actually i mean what is happening?#however she has just been going through garbage so i forgive her #vicki is not afraid to get her hands dirty for a story

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goodluckdetective · 3 years

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Fic Writer Interview

Tagged by the lovely @secretlystephaniebrown

Name: Everyone calls me Iz

Fandoms: I’m all over the place, but I have spent time in RVB, Overwatch and DC comics. Currently dipping my toe into some more TMA ideas.

where you post: A03 or bust but I also crosspost here.

most popular one-shot: (by kudos)

Like the River:

(Overwatch, Mchanzo)

Dragon Spirits don’t trust just anyone.

McCree never expected for them to ever trust him.

Or how McCree gained some trust, won a shootout, almost caught the flu, and proceeded to be the most handsome damsel in distress Overwatch has ever seen.

most popular multi-chap: (also by kudos)

Playing Possum:

(Overwatch, Mchanzo)

When Jesse McCree's bounty doubles, Jesse has a plan: stay low and don't die.

Waking up with his funeral on the front page of the newspaper, it becomes clear he failed step one.

Or Overwatch has a problem with fake funerals.

favorite story you’ve written so far:

It will always be “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” No contest. I have a favorite fic child and it’s this one. However, the grimmons fic “We Will All Go Together When We Go” is the second in line.

The Devil Went Down to Georgia:

(Overwatch, Mchanzo)

Fifteen years ago, Jesse McCree made a deal at a crossroads for someone’s life.

Now, the creature has come to collect.

fic you were nervous to post:

Probably my latest because I haven’t posted anything in an ERA. It was like getting on an old bike.

Smile, You’re Trending

(TMA, JonMartin)

During an encounter with another Avatar of the Eye, Jon faces his past, Martin takes a turn at playing Kill Bill and Basira has a second look at the monster she’s determined to see.

For three people associated with the Eye, they could all use some perspective.

Contains spoilers for 179 but not 179 centric.

how do you choose your titles:

God, only knows. Song lyrics are a good go to, but sometimes I just grab a line from the fic or something I think is witty and hope for the best.

Do you outline?

Not in the traditional sense as I generally don’t do multi chapter works. What I usually have is a skeleton outline which is a list of scenes and dialogue I want to include in a piece. Not everything from the list is used, but it is a roadmap to points I want to hit.

In progress/upcoming:

I’m combining these as I don’t really do multi chapter works. Sorted by fandom with no promises to finish any of them.

Letters to Nowhere (SPN, Destiel, bg Sileen): AU finale to Supernatural where Sam texts Cas as they work to free him from the empty and learns some stuff along the way.

Two Weddings and a Funeral (SPN, Sileen, Destiel): Series Code canon compliant Supernatural fic where Cas visits Sam on Earth when he is still alive. Featuring Cas as an angelic carrier pigeon, Eileen as the inside woman, and Dean trying not to abuse his boyfriends angelic powers for celestial email.

Currently Untitled (Hades, Canon Ships): Where Patroclus is Zagreus tutor instead of Achilles.

Prometheus Made This Look Easy (Ace Attorney, Miles/Phoenix): Where Phoenix literally can’t die and that shockingly changes very little about his court room strategy.

TMA reincarnation thing (Canon Ships): Where everyone gets a second shot and tries really hard not to fuck it up this time/fix their past mistakes.

Untitled (TMA, JonMartin): Speculative Post Series where Jon is studying for his librarian degree and has a conversation with a man listening to old tapes that he will not remember later.

Prompts?

You can always ask but you’re not likely to get a fill.

upcoming work you’re most excited about:

Probably the SPN codas because there is a great need and once I’m done with them I can go back to not caring about Supernatural again like God intended.

I shall tag @nitewrighter if you want to get in on this.

#iz writes #ask meme

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kmalexander · 3 years

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My Reading List for 2020

It’s no secret 2020 has been a challenging year. While upon reflection, I found it to be surprisingly full, like many of us, I still spent the majority of my time at home. One benefit of our new socially-distant stay-at-home culture was the amount of reading I managed to accomplish. Just like previous years, I’ve compiled a list of the books I’ve read over the last three hundred and sixty-six days, and as always, I want to share them with everyone.

This year was hit-or-miss for me reading-wise. There were books I loved and many books I ended up loathing. I found books I know I will re-read and proselytize, but they were often mirrored by other books I hate-read. I also found myself reading a few histories for pleasure, not something I normally do, and I dipped into science fiction much more than in previous years. Audiobooks (

) used to be the mainstay of my daily commute, and this year they became the soundtrack to housework. Not a bad tradeoff. Oh, and as always, I beta-read a couple of great books, and I’m excited to see where those go in the future.

This list correlates with my Goodreads 2020 Reading Challenge, but it always includes a few extra since Goodreads doesn’t let me count beta reading, and I don’t list comics or short stories or poetry (new this year!) over there. Remember, this is all strictly reading for pleasure—I typically forgo listing any research/history books I’ve read for a project as I read those differently than I do fiction. This list is always enormous, so l skip reviews except for my favorites in each category. However, I’d invite you to follow me on Goodreads, where I occasionally leave other reviews.

New for this year: with a few exceptions, most links now go to IndieBound instead of Amazon—2020 has been rough on small businesses, and now more than ever, be sure to support your local bookstore. When possible, I am now linking to each author’s personal website—if you’re on the list and I didn’t find your website, please let me know about it. (I won’t link to social media, sorry.)

Novels & Novellas

Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #1) by Tamsyn Muir

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

Prosper’s Demon by K.J. Parker

The Crimson Campaign (The Powder Mage Trilogy #2)

by Brian McClellan

Jade War (Green Bone Saga #2) by Fonda Lee

Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries #2) by Martha Wells

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland

by Patrick Radden Keefe

The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War

by Joanne B. Freeman

They Mostly Come Out at Night (Yarnsworld, #1) (Link goes to Amazon) by Benedict Patrick

Frank on a Gun-Boat by Harry Castlemon

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington, #1) by David Weber

The Reign of the Kingfisher

by T.J. Martinson

RADIO by J. Rushing

Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1) by William Gibson

The Fireman

by Joe Hill

The Cipher by Kathe Koja

The Mist by Stephen King

Control Point (Shadow Ops #1) by Myke Cole

Blood Standard (Isaiah Coleridge #1) by Laird Barron

City of Miracles (The Divine Cities #3) by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Iron Ship (The Gates of the World #1) by K.M. McKinley

Vita Nostra (Metamorphosis Cycle #1)

by Sergey & Marina Dyachenko

Thieftaker (The Thieftaker Chronicles #1) by D. B. Jackson

BETA READING (Literature) by REDACTED

Circe by Madeline Miller

Terrier (The Legend of Beka Cooper #1) by Tamora Pierce

Red Storm Rising

…. again. by Tom Clancy

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Clutter: An Untidy History by Jennifer Howard

The Half Killed by Quenby Olson

The Toll by Cherie Priest

Jurassic Park …again. by Michael Crichton

Seveneves

by Neil Stephenson

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones

In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson

Foundation (Foundation #1) by Issac Asimov

Consider Phlebas (Culture #1)

by Iain M. Banks

BETA READING (Historical Horror) by REDACTED

The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper

Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen

Metro 2033

by Dmitry Glukhovsky

Favorite Novel of 2020

In the Valley of the Sun

by Andy Davidson

This sun-baked vampire horror set in Texas unexpectedly became a new favorite. A surprisingly tense, character-focused narrative. Brutal. Anguished. Tormented. Bloody. Lyrical in ways that remind me of Cormac McCarthy without the weight. It’s not shy of confronting the cracked ugliness of humanity and finding the beauty between the fissures. Davidson is an incredible writer, and I immediately purchased his more recent novel after finishing In the Valley of the Sun. We need more horror like this.

Favorite Novel Runners-up of 2020

RADIO

by J. Rushing

A jazz-infused, opium-soaked, historical fantasy that explodes from the opening chapter and never relents until its final pages. A thoroughly fresh debut that’s unlike anything I’ve read before. Rushing brings his unique, well-researched world of 1920s Paris to life with a captivating voice. Don’t expect a saccharine overly-romantic version of Paris; this is a stained, broken, and bloody place—a welcome addition to modern fantasy literature. Jim’s a friend of mine, so be sure to read my interview with him.

City of Miracles

by Robert Jackson Bennett

In recent years, the Divine Cities have become one of my favorite urban fantasy series, mostly for its fresh approach to the genre, atypical characters, and serious exploration of themes oft-ignored within mainstream fantasy. With City of Miracles, Bennett wrapped up the trilogy with a heartbreaking yet thoroughly satisfying ending. This story is a bit tighter and more focused than the previous two while wrapping up various loose ends rather nicely. It’s rare to find a final book in a series that resonates with me as much as City of Miracles did—it’s easily my favorite book in the trilogy.

Honorable Mentions of 2020

I started doing Honorable Mentions in 2018 so I could highlight some of the other standout novels from my year of reading. Below you’ll find many more excellent books, I’ve listed them in order of reading.

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse A unique southwestern approach to post-apocalyptic urban fantasy.

Prosper’s Demon by K. J. Parker A subversive fantasy with a fresh voice and plenty of twists. Nice quick read.

The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan An excellent sequel, one of the best examples of massive and complex military operations in fantasy.

The Field of Blood by Joanne B. Freeman Phenomenal nonfiction detailing the history of violence in Congress leading up to the U.S. Civil War.

The Cipher by Kathe Koja Deeply unsettling transgressive horror that felt far too familiar. Visceral and enthralling.

Blood Standard by Laird Barron A dark crime/P.I. novel with a heart and a sense of humor. I will be reading more in this series.

The Iron Ship by K.M. McKinley Thoroughly fresh fantasy—huge world, great characters, interesting plot, unique setting. Nearly made my runner up list.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones Disturbing modern horror built around the experiences of first-nation people and the rural poor.

Clutter: An Untidy History by Jennifer Howard The history of stuff told from an all-too-relatable personal experience. Ended up buying a few copies for my family.

Seveneves by Neil Stephenson The moon is destroyed, and humanity only has a short amount of time to survive.

The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper Unique cosmic horror that explores gender identity, relationships, and poverty with a fresh perspective.

Short Stories

An Inhabitant of Carcosa …again. by Ambrose Bierce

And Now His Lordship is Laughing by Shiv Ramdas

How the Trick is Done by A.C. Wise

The Yellow Sign …again. by Robert W. Chambers

Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography on the Cannibal Women of Ratnabar Island by Nibedita Sen

Give the Family My Love by A. T. Greenblatt

The Dead, In Their Uncontrollable Power by Karen Osborne

The Masque of the Red Death …again. by Edgar Allen Poe

The Repairer of Reputations …again. by Robert W. Chambers

Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu

Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar

Tideline by Elizabeth Bear

Favorite Short Stories of 2020

The Dead, In Their Uncontrollable Power

by Karen Osborne

Generation ship! Class struggle! Religious ritual! Rebellion! Murder! Control! The complexity told within this genre-mashup was astounding. Such a rich world crafted in a way that feels effortless while maintaining a rich narrative was impressive. It’s no secret I’m drawn to stories that are hard to pigeon-hole into a specific genre, and that is fully represented here. Well worth a read.

Favorite Short Story Runners-up

Paper Menagerie

by Ken Liu

This heartbreaking story about magical origami, cultural identity, and family was the first piece of fiction to win a Hugo, a Nebula, and a World Fantasy Award. And after reading it, it was easy to see why. Touching and reflective. A masterwork of speculative short fiction.

Graphic Novels

Preacher: Book One by Garth Ennis (Author) & Steve Dillon (Artist)

Saga, Vol. 8 by Brian K. Vaughan (Author) & Fiona Staples (Artist)

Preacher: Book Two by Garth Ennis (Author) & Steve Dillon (Artist)

Once & Future, Vol. 1 by Kieron Gillen (Author), Tamra Bonvillain (Artist), & Dan Mora (Artist)

American Vampire, Vol. 2 by Scott Snyder (Author) & Rafael Albuquerque (Artist)

Paper Girls, Vol. 2 by Brian K. Vaughan (Author), Cliff Chiang (Artist)

Preacher: Book Three by Garth Ennis (Author) & Steve Dillon (Artist)

Die, Vol. 2 by Kieron Gillen (Author) & Stephanie Hans (Artist)

Favorite Graphic Novel of 2020:

Preacher: Book One

by Garth Ennis (Author) & Steve Dillon (Artist)

I didn’t expect to like Preacher. I bounced off the series hard when I was younger, writing off Ennis as a “blasphemous shock jock” and nothing more. But revisiting it as a middle-aged adult revealed a different sort of comic. The offensive transgressive material is still there, but beneath it is something much more—a book with more heart and humanity than one would be able to judge by its surface and laced with merciless satire that still rings relevant twenty-five years later.

Favorite Graphic Novel Runner-up of 2020:

Paper Girls, Volume 2

by Brian K. Vaughan (Author), Cliff Chiang (Artist)

Volume 1 nearly made my runner-up list last year. On the surface, it’s a time-jumping story about a group of friends caught in the middle of a future war. But beneath those sci-fi trappings, there is so much more here. It’s a book about being a kid and the expectations therein, complications with friendship, and the complexities of growing up. The characters are fantastic, and the story moves along at a clip, making it impossible to put the trade down. I’m ready for volume 3.

Poems

So this year, I’m including some of the poems I read in 2020. I hinted at doing this last year. But this is really a trial run. In reality, I read more poems than listed below, but I didn’t do an outstanding job keeping track of them. Because this is the first time for poetry on this list, I’m going to skip picking a favorite. Hopefully, I’ll be back on track next year.

Small Kindnesses by Danusha Laméris

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendel Berry

Beneath the Sweater and the Skin by Jeannette Encinias

The Woods by Melanie Batista

I Confess by Alison Luterman

The Waste Land …again. by T. S. Eliot

Near a Raven by Mike Keith

Insha’Allah by Danusha Laméris

We Lived Happily During the War …again. by Ilya Kaminsky

Christmas Greetings to Felis …again by H. P. Lovecraft …again.

Passing Solstice by Ken Hada

Winter Solstice by Hilda Morley

Childhood Memory from the Old Victorian House on Warner by Beth Cato

Raw With Love by Charles Bukowski

So that’s my reading list for 2020. It’s been an interesting year in reading for me. As promised, we now have a poetry section, and I hope to expand that in the future. There are some great poems there, so be sure to explore them further. Despite my ups and downs, I’m overall quite happy with the books, stories, graphic novels, and poetry I read over the last twelve months. They were excellent distractions from the chaos of the year, and it was refreshing to lose myself in other worlds. 2020 will be behind us soon, and I am looking forward to the worlds I’ll discover in 2021.

How about you? What were the standout books, graphic novels, short stories, or poems you read this year? I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment and let me know!

Are you looking for a good book? Want to see my reading lists from previous years? Check any of the links below and see what I was reading in the bygone days of old.

• 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 •

Next year, why not join me? Goodreads does a reading challenge every year, and I am an active participant. First, follow me on Goodreads (leave me a review while you’re there), and once the New Year arrives, participate in the Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2020.

Want to stay in touch with me? Sign up for Dead Drop, my rare and elusive newsletter. Subscribers get news, previews, and notices on my books before anyone else delivered directly to their inbox. I work hard to make sure it’s not spammy and full of interesting and relevant information. SIGN UP TODAY →

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thenightling · 4 years

Text

If my friends were birds

Over on discord some friends and I had a very silly conversation about what sort of birds we’d be and here’s what we came up with. I have added to this list for those who were not on Discord but may want to know what birds I’d pick for them. :-P

@everthewildeone got Magpie because she loves shiny objects. It was Loki’s chosen bird form in Marvel comics. And they are part of the crow / raven family. They’re also very “talketive” when they see friends. That “i’m a crow” meme is actually more suited to magpies, specifically.

She also gets domesticated turkey. Loves to eat but a surprisingly picky eater.

And seagull since you love the beach.

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Our friend Jen AKA Art (though she isn’t on Tumblr) gets the Dracula Parrot AKA Pesquet’s Parrot.

She likes to play villains. Her hair is red. She loves the color red. Her characters can be intimidating. And it’s a rare bird with some beautiful coloring (art).

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Me: North American Raven. There’s a Gothic mystique to ravens from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem to Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Ravens have a fixed place in Gothic horror and literature. There’s even one in Disney’s Haunted Mansion rides and is Maleficent’s familiar. And in nature ravens often make friends with the wolves.

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@endlessemptynight She gets a barn owl. She loves Labyrinth. She’s wise. And she’s nocturnal. And I think they’re very pretty birds.

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@treebrooke79 gets a swan. Beautiful and elegant yet can be surprisingly aggressive. Also often found near Boston, which is where she is. They also can hiss like a vampire in a cheesy movie. :-P

Or even a Rooster since you protect a flock (your role players) and you’re far too alert at weird hours.

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@lamb90 gets crow. Likes to hang out in large groups, does not like to be alone. Likes shiny objects and string. (She makes beaded bracelets).

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@sorry-for-the-chocolate gets pigeon. She loves to eat. Is secretly part of the dove family (mellow for the most part and more likable than people expect). And she’ll shit on your car if you piss her off.

And also a goose for the Unnamed Goose game.

Because I know you would do that if you were a goose.

______________________

@americanparamedic You get The Great horned owl. You also get an owl because I mostly see you at night. You seem calm and wise and you like to ask questions “Who” And you keep me me company through the night. There’s something reassuring about your questions.

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Our friend Sarah (who doesn’t have a Tumblr account) gets a Starling because she can be accidentally self-destructive. :-P (She’s accident prone.) And I also know she loves stars and the name means “One from the stars.”

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Our friend Teddy gets the American bald Eagle because his favorite comic book character is Captain America and that’s the national bird of America.

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@iknowwheremytowelis In honor of Douglas Adams I give you Sirocco, the rare, endangered Kakapo, who just REALLY wants to mate with humans. Is that so wrong? :-P

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@winterbirdybuddy Based on your screen name and since I usually see you on at night, and you seem wise, you also get an owl. You get a snowy owl.

@artwinsdraws Turtle doves. Two turtle doves, since you’re a pair and you’re always together. Also I think they’re kind of cute.

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@darya-droid I give you three birds.

First a peacock for your David Bowie content.

Perhaps an orange flamingo.

Third (and fourth) the famous mated gay swan couple from Boston.

_____________________________ @missghostlymoonshadow I give you the Eastern Blue bird. Small, sweet, would probably end up one of the characters in Over the Garden Wall. :-P

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@vagaryhexxx, you get a hawk because you’re always watching and observing.

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@deathlyendless You get a black swan. Elegant, beautiful, and an unexpected omen of Death, like the friendly Death of The Endless.

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@wyvernseeker You get a ren. I’m not sure why. You just are.

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Our friend Say (who doesn’t have a Tumblr account) gets a Blue Tit. 1. Because the baby version is fluffy and she loves fluffy things. And 2. It’s just fun to say.

She also gets the humming bird for being very active, small, and loves sweet things.

_____________________________________ @good-times-bad-food You get an orange parrot partly for David Bowie and partly for the Firies (fire gang) form Labyrinth where your URL song lyric comes from.

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@bazpik You get a Blue jay since I already gave the Eastern Bluebird to another.

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@watertribe-enya You are of the “water tribe” so I had to pick a bird for you that swims. You get the Emperor penguin.

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@thesaramonster You get the Dodo because you always make me laugh.

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This is all in good fun. If anyone wants me to add them to this list, just let me know.

#Birds #Weirdness

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