#when they're reviewing each other's work and they're just SHITTING ON IT????? wonderful

[hesbuckcompton-baby]

people who don't study history will simply never understand the joy of reading historian beef. there's nothing like it

#when they're reviewing each other's work and they're just SHITTING ON IT????? wonderful #when you can tell the historian HATES whichever historical figure(s) they're writing about? incredible #one thing we must remember is that historians are just academic gossipers xx #what is JSTOR for if not to read the DRAMA #reading an absolutely SCATCHING rebuttal of an article on New England migration and honestly??? having a wonderful time #sometimes the history student just jumps out #history

[minijenn]

Jen Tortures Herself With Every Dreamworks Animated Movie Ever: The Bad Guys

So this is yet another Dreamworks movie I've heard nothing but good things about but just never got around to watching for some reason or another. And now that I have watched it, all I can say is what the fuck how did I sleep on this absolute gem of a film for so long???? Its so good, ya'll, SO damn good! So let's get into all of the many reasons why!

The Bad Guys are a group of infamous criminals, made up of the cunning Snake, master of disguise Shark, loose-canon Piranha, hacker Tarantula, and the leader of the pack, Wolf. After getting caught attempting to pull of a daring heist, the Bad Guys pretend to work on going good to pull off an even greater heist... until Wolf begins to wonder if being good might not be so bad after all.

So let me just say, the plot here is brilliant. Like seriously, there were some twists and turns here (especially toward the end) that had me YELLING over how genuis they were. It's extremely tightly crafted, sharply written, and pulled together by an incredibly charming cast that you just love to watch. It's a thrilling ride from start to end and I was excited to see where it would go next with every new scene.

The characters, like I said, are really great! Wolf is a really well-developed lead who goes through a pretty compelling arc, same with Snake (seriously, the fakeout with him toward the end had me in awe, what a total pro) and a good deal of the drama in the film lies between those two. The other Bad Guys are a bit less in focus, but they're still really fun and all play off each other really well too. Also, Diane, the governor??? Holy shit ya'll? She's AMAZING. Not gonna spoil the twist involving her but let me just say she is so damn COOL like oh my god.

This movie does attempt a twist villain but like... idk Marmalade isn't really that much of a twist villain? From the moment he showed up I said to myself "oh, he's the villain isn't he?" and I was proven right, but like... the reveal of how he set the Bag Guys up from the very start was so clever that I couldn't even be upset about it. This tiny motherfucker played them up until the very end where he finally got his comeuppance. Good villain. Not the best, but still, pretty good.

The humor here is pretty fun, with some jokes that genuinely had me laughing out loud. Of course, it couldn't quite help itself with a few fart jokes here and there, which... ermmm aren't quite my up of tea. Still, it balances that humor out well with some pretty compelling drama and a lot of heart that really helps to engage you in the story they're telling here.

Also the animation??? Oh my GOD the way this movie looks is INSANE. Like, just the character designs alone are so fresh and interesting compared to what Dreamworks has done in the past. There's this overall stylization to this movie that's very sharp and unique, and it just makes it a feast for the eyes. The way the characters move too, very fast and snappy, as if they're 2-d characters instead of 3-d. Lots of exagerrated motions and facial expressions, it's all very silly, yes, but it works so well with the tone this movie is trying to pull off.

So yeah, I hella loved this one. I'm so mad at myself for not watching this when it first came out, because its such a joy ride from start to finish. So stylish, so witty, so engaging, and so fun! I had a great time with The Bad Guys, and if you haven't seen it yet, you should, because chances are, you will too.

Rating: 9/10

Verdict: IS THAT FUCKING KINGDOM HEARTS????

Previous Review (The Boss Baby: Family Business)

Next Review (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish)

#jen watches #dreamworks watch #jen tortures herself with every dreamworks animated movie #the bad guys #dreamworks

[zalrb]

ok so this is obviously on different levels but i remember in your review for tsitp you mentioned how belly and conrad wanna make some kind of “big” impact of off these moments of silence and just staring at each other, and how it falles flag bc they don’t have chemistry.

And even though it’s a completely different project and theme with like, arguably the greatest actor of all time starring in it, i did notice that a lot of phantom thread relied on scenes like them just staring at each other and not saying anything, and overall the idea of passion through an understated display, and i wondered what your take on it was? did it work for you in the movie? i felt like daniel day lewis was giving more than the girl but i also think that’s what it’s supposed to be like?

and sorry for comparing this in any way to belly and conrad lol, it’s very ridiculous as i write it but as i was watching the movie i kept thinking of that post you made 😂

Haha, no need to apologize, I get making the connection and do things like that myself a lot.

It's interesting that you use the word passion because I find Phantom Thread to be quite dispassionate, but I also find that with any of the PTA films I watch, there's an inherent distance, but what also makes Phantom Thread interesting I suppose is that the reveal is that they love each other while we spend the movie watching them try to control one another so that contextualizes the stares they have.

Like, if I'm watching Conrad and Belly, or a relationship like them, it's supposed to be cosmic and weighty and intense

it's supposed to be things unsaid, it's supposed to be history, it's supposed unfulfilled desire or desire deferred, it's supposed to be longing, it's supposed to be pining and aching and angst and heartbreak

which is why I was like, you need Ryissa this shit

you need to Bangel this shit

hell, you need to Ness this shit

even fucking Jackson and Lydia do this better because Lydia is in the emotion and Jackson isn't a wall

I should feel season 2 Chair angst watching you two

It's supposed to be urgent and palpable and heart-stopping and frustrating, like even if he's supposed to be stoic or playing things close to the chest, he should look raw

and if she's going to be drunk and messy and in her feels and spilling shit, then go there

and have them feed off each other but you need a specific kind of chemistry for all of this and for someone who has grown up on 90s and 00s and 2010s dramas,

Belly and Conrad were laughable.

And then with Phantom Thread, watching them stare at each other is more like an exercise, is watching how control shifts in their relationship, considering a major theme in this movie is control and power dynamics so the stares are posing questions: is she simply a muse that he will use and discard? Is she an object? Is it love? Will she succumb to his rules? Will she be suffocated by them? Who has the control in this moment, in this scene?

and that worked for me because I thought they executed that well. I don't think I was supposed to watch them and see passion simmering between them in those moments, I think the first time they meet, we're supposed to see that flirty, awkward kind of chemistry and when they're horrible to Barbara we're supposed to see how giddy they are together but I find that the passion is mostly directed outward, in food

in Alma's indignation over Barbara 'mistreating' Reynolds' work, in her literally poisoning him,

as opposed to their stares, which is a chess match.

[frostyreturns]

Frosty Ruins "Hailey's On It (2023)"

The evidence for the idea that much of todays entertainment is being written by ai is starting to pile up. There's so many of these shitty generic soulless cartoons now. The older I get the more I realize the old advice not to judge based on appearance was total bullshit. I can look at this show within 5 seconds and know it's going to be bad because it looks cancerously poorly drawn. It looks cheap and generic, you know when you are scrolling through a streaming service and you scroll past all these shitty looking cartoons that all look exactly the same and look so unbelievably unappealing that you wonder if there's even a single person on the planet who saw it and decided to click on it…it's one of those. It's like someone went to one of those ai art things and said give me a terrible looking cheap netflix childrens cartoon with ethnically ambiguously brown characters and it shat out ten thousand examples and they turned every single one into a show.

Then they gave the writing ai the prompt, write me a generic sanitized for all audiences childrens cartoon but fill it with progressive politics and sexualization. Then they write a brief one dimensional description of each character input the premise of the show and bam writing is done. I'm making a joke about how bad it is but it's so bad in the exact way I'm describing that what I'm saying is also completely plausible. I feel like i've reviewed this show before at least 3 times it's just so generic and shitty in all the same ways as every other cartoon being made in the last couple years.

The jokes are so flat they almost don't even exist. The main character will be riding a bike and run into a bunch of stuff and go "oh you were telling me to avoid that stuff." Beyond that there are no jokes there's just out of place sarcasm. It's like they copied the form of humour but left out the joke...like there's a setup and a punchline but they don't go together or it will be punchline with no setup or context. Like Michael scott shouting that's what she said but without anyone saying anything that could be heard as being sexual.

The premise of the show is stupid it's that this girl makes a list of stuff she wants to do and by doing her list she saves the world, which she knows because a time traveller from the future where Serena Williams is president came back to tell her. Because we all know if brown girls just did what they wanted without anyone stopping them they would be able to do whatever they want and would save the world from climate change. At least when Rick from Rick and Morty can do almost anything it makes a little sense because he's spent his entire life inventing and learning how weird sci fi shit works Hailey is just a young girl who's magically a scientist action hero, mary sue to the max.

It's like if you took all the humour out of My Name is Earl added in all of the progressive horseshit, then took all the humour and sci fi philosophy out of rick and morty took out any comedic looking animation and combined them…then wrote out all the whites, straights and men. I didn't see a single white character and i think there was only the one guy.

This is a kids show with children there's no need for there to be any sexualization at all, there's stuff about two girls kissing and her first to do list item is to kiss her friend. Two kids kissing is not a huge deal but it's a little weird in the context, they have all these other characters pressuring her to do it including a little robot who explains the mechanics of kissing like they're introducing it to kids for the first time…it's just gross and it's weird that it was written into the show it seems so unnecesary. Like make out with your friend or the world is going to end…seems like the kind of weird excuse some manipulative predator would make up to convince a kid to go along with something sexual. At one point they go through one of those tunnel of love rides while a song urges them to "kiss their friends, just do it don't be shy" and of course all the heart symbols along the ride are the pedo small heart within a larger heart symbol.

Awful, absolutely no redeeming qualities, don't let your kids watch it. Other than my ai argument I can't see how something like this keeps getting made.

[unitedbydevils]

Match Review: Brentford 1-1 Manchester United

Usual service is resumed.

United are slow, unintelligent, lacking confidence... if this were an online, virtual game you'd have experts questioning whether Manchester United were experiencing internet lag because of how slow we were in response and in contrast to Brentford.

The first half started with the briefest spell of competitiveness... and then it fell apart in classic United style.

As per usual, the McTominay question appeared - can United play him AND Bruno in the same lineup? The thing is, I'd argue that question has been answered repeatedly and loudly - NO.

Was Casemiro fit enough to start? No, so that's fine, but was Mount?

Bruno is a gambler. He's incredibly creative but very wasteful. He's playing the odds, and this worked with the double pivot of Fred/McTominay whose skillsets complimented each other in work rate and recovery after the fact. Mainoo and McSauce do not work. Casemiro and Scotty do not work. Mount in instead will not work. The discipline and personal styles are not there to work.

McTominay is a specific type of 10, and it's about time we realised that - until the summer when we need to sell him because he doesn't want to play second fiddle to Bruno. Okay, you could sell Bruno, but then I'd be putting Mount or Amad at 10 soooooo sell sell sell. Ta.

Wan Bissaka at left back also sucks. Can't believe our medical team did ETH dirty with the "Malacia will be back soon" shit. We could have kept Reguilon, at least he is a LB. Fuck it, we should have kept Alvaro. He'd have been tearing it up by now. Or injured.

Andre Onana had a good game in goal, and has been in a solid vein of form in the last few weeks to be fair to him. It feels like despite United being gash, he's settling. Mainoo/Garna/Hojlund also were at least putting in a shift (yeah, it's that bad we're praising effort, we know).

Of course, some of the issues are, as Liam says, down to injuries. Again, I feel this might tally with the medical team assessment of players. It also might have to do with Ten Hag's training regimen, but being honest... we're not the fittest team in the league, even if we regularly look tired. Is that down to players who just can't hack it? Inappropriate training styles? Poor physio judgements about conditioning? A lot of questions that need answering quickly.

It really was an awful game though. United were dominated by Brentford and lucky not to be battered big time. At no point did it feel like we deserved a point, let alone three. We're a team SOMEHOW still chasing a Champions League spot, and yet we're struggling away at a mid-table side devoid of a win in 5-6 games.

In a similar way to the criticism Gareth Southgate is facing for not picking possession or counter-attack football, so too is Erik Ten Hag deserving criticism for his playstyle at United. We know the ETH way and how he lined Ajax up. We also know Erik said he couldn't play the Ajax way at United (wtf? then why are you here?).

United with their injuries, player shortcomings, and lack of suitability to Ten Hag's style... yeah, we probably can't play that way just yet. So then the question is why not change the tactics up? As we saw versus Liverpool, United's attack and defence is too divided. The middle isn't linking because Mainoo is 18 and not a solo pivot, McTominay cannot/will not do that, Bruno certainly won't, and Casemiro is getting too old/too rash to do it. It needs a Frenkie De Jong/Carrick type as a holder OR a Kante/Makelele to destroy. That comes in the summer you'd hope, because Mount - if he stays fit - is an 8 or 10. Not a 6.

United not having a style means the players don't know their style. They have to think, and guess what? They're shit at it. Very few braincells out there. No wonder teams are banging 20+ shots at us every fucking game. There's only so much pressing you can do, and while sometimes it's down to effort, it's also more down to intelligence and decision-making - United shouldn't have to run around like headless chickens. They should be the calibre of players to have the smarts to react and adapt. Mainoo is capable, and honestly with the amount of dipshittery going on I'd not be too angry about promoting more youth to bin off some of the seniors.

Aside Onana, the one glimmer of hope was a certain somebody getting his first United goal...

...but then minutes later we concede and draw the game we didn't even deserve a point from 🙃

Where does that leave us? Same place as before. Europe League spots despite looking wank. How we're ahead of teams I do not know. I just hope Martinez can start now and get back into rhythm, because he was shit today when we know - on form - how pivotal he is to United's good performances. Also buzzing for Mount, and hopefully he gets minutes ahead of Scotty the Friendly Ghost because we can't afford empty shirts. He bags a goal once in a while, cool, but he costs us so much more and i'm tired. I really am.

This iteration of United is not the one to return us to title contenders. If we win the FA Cup this year i'll drink my own piss I'm that confident we get bodied now or in the Final.

The saddest thing is how we can go from the jubilation of that manic FA Cup quarter final win over Liverpool - truly classic footballing drama - to miserable with a whimper of a 1-1 draw away at Brentford. Death by a thousand shots on goal.

#manchester united #man u #man united #man utd #manchester reds #erik ten hag #marcus rashford #brentford #bruno fernandes #scott mctominay #andre onana #kobbie mainoo #alejandro garnacho #rasmus højlund #mason mount #lisandro martinez #gareth southgate

[ladykyriaa]

MLB Awakening review, which btw, will DEFINITELY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Okay so first off, gonna start with the things that I undeniably ENJOYED.

1. Duh. The animation. Everything looks. HEAVENLY. I love how they used so many vast techniques of lightings for all kinds of things and situations. I especially love how glowy they made the kwamis and miraculous look. I also love how expressive the kids are. Even freaking gabriel holy shit.

2. The MUSICALS. Literally y'all can fight me on this. I know some people hate that it's a musical, but personally I've never had much problem with it. (Though season 5 is a whole other situation and I was a bit skeptical) but the movie being a musical honestly excited me. The only downside is that freaking Ce mur qui nous separe SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE.

3. The lines and comedic timing. Gotta say. Is top tier. The watermelon bit? Loved it.

4. The lore and worldbuilding, though a bit different. I actually loved it. (There are some downside but I'll write that later) up till the reveal everything is pretty well done I'd say. And y'all the interactions is to DIE FOR (and yes, i especially loved how they talked and argued like actual 14 y.o apparently people hate this a lot? So i just feel a bit compelled to add this one in. And as much as i love the show, most times it honestly feels like they'reolder than 14, which again isn't necessarily a bad thing but I remember being surprised when it was first revealed that they were actually 14). And did y'all see gabriel holy shit. That man would've won in season 2 if his powers in the movie were put on the show

5. And i love, how both the show and movie are separate existence to each other. The movie is definitely a cute little fanfic that i get to treat myself to watch to again and again.

6. Hot take, I actually don't mind the voice change as much as I though I would. Lou and elliot sound heavenly and I live them for that

Now that that's all said and done. I must say there are some things that I prefer in the show.

1. Mainly. How their powers work. Now i dont think i have much problem with hawkmoth and chat noir's powers. Cause honestly the movie was able to highlight how dangerous the power of destruction is. And how a miraculous fallen to the wrong hand could be something so devastating, two 14 yo teenagers just, realistically at least, would not have been able to defeat said villain.

But ladybug's powers however. Well. I mean does she even have one at this point? Cause in the show her power is lucky charm and she had to use her wit to defeat the akumas. In the movie however she could just. Idk jazz hands and things are fixed.

2. What the heck happened to plagg😭. Like. I mean it was funny. But seriously why the fart jokes. It was kind of unnacessary i think. Show! Plagg would've patted adrien in the back for standing up to his dad

3. You can argue on me with this one. But i honestly think Adrien's headphones hust became his character trait cause everytime he appears he always has them on💀 it's not something I hate, but it really got you wondering and again, just a bit unnecessary.

Edited and a bit of an afterthought, but as much as i love the reveal. I do feel like the Adrienette side isn't developed enough for them to readily declare that they're immediately in love with one another. And hey not to be that person screaming about loving only one side of them. But it's not even about that really. Just that we've barely seen their interactions. And the last time they talked, adrien just found out that Marinette owns a bakery. So uh. Yeah.

#ml awakening #also can yall stop with the comparison between the movie and show #they are two very different entities idk why its necessary to think one is better than the other #guys. you can like both. its really not a crime #miraculous ladybug

[toastess-with-the-mostess]

Let's Rewind! Toast watches Voltron: Defender of The Universe (1984)

Season 1, Episode 4: The Missing Key

Now I have a snack to get me through this episode so let's get started!

Haggar cat is kind of cute but in a decrepit way lol

oh right the boys are presumed dead Allura is crying once again, this time I get it she gets to cry

I'M SORRY, ARUS IS IN CONTACT WITH THE GARRISON?? AND THERE'S NO EXTRA HELP SENT TO THEM?? "If only they weren't so far away" YOU ARE LITERALLY A GALAXY WIDE ALLIANCE IM SURE YOU CAN SPARE MILITARY FORCES TO HELP ARUS

Not to say you shouldn't rely on Pidge, but Pidge shouldn't be the only chance left to protect the universe at this point

Oh poor Pidgey, he's stumbling all over the place trying to get back into the control room I know he's ok but ow my heart

Either an animation error or another scene being reused for this one, Pidge falls to the floor and the mice jump over him to get into a hole in the wall, as we see pidge he's in his civvies instead of his flight uniform

oh god now he's sobbing because he's worried about the rest of the team,, my heart cant take him being sad

NO PLEASE I'm GONNA CRY WITH HIM The boys are alive (obvs) and got into contact with Pidge, and now he has happy tears Also, the first thing Keith asked when he woke up was if Pidge was ok,, Keith is a single mother in the middle of a war

What a cutie, I'm protecting this kid with my whole life he deserves everything and has never done anything wrong ever

God more happy tears, I know he's happy, but I never want to see a tear on that face AGAIN unless it's from laughter damn it

"Pidge has a funny sense of humor" I'm so glad the team knows him well enough to know what pranks he plays found family and incredibly believable that they really care about each other

Can mice make holes through stone? Either way the space mice being able to do that through A COFFIN is insane

Not the mice doing a line dance for Allura, cute but funny svnosd I wonder if Allura has very small telepathy powers that let her talk to the mice specifically, magic is probably why the team was able to see Alfor in the first place too

The last key is found! Time to start up the final kitty cat!

Coran is being such a wishy-washy bitch like first you praise that voltron is finally coming back, but now you're like "we can't risk it!" yes you can shut up Coran

Is it weird that Keith's voice kind of reminds me of Sonic?

Black lion joins the pride! No difference to the rest of em other than the color really

NOT THE BATBEAST LITERALLY PUNTING RED LION SDINSVOI

Oh good I couldn't remember if the team could automatically form voltron or not, I'm glad they struggled a bit before they formed up They didn't say the whole interlocking preamble! But they did do it for formation at least

It seems like they were trying to add some GoLion references into the script, but it's not working out so well And there he is! The robot of the hour!

They're just standing there as voltron burns just to scare the robeast and it WORKED oh shit it's the big sword!

And thus begins the adventures of the voltron force! Standing in a very cool pose after defeating a robeast lol

Episode 4 end! Now we're getting into monster of the week territory, and will probably drop another episode review too

#voltron #voltron defender of the universe #voltron dotu #80s voltron #let's rewind! #toast talks #it's not really good at keeping my attention but this is also aimed for kids way younger than me #im very much not their target audience anymore

[softlyspector]

Hiii! Obnoxiously long rants anon back to rant about Over the Moon (possibly the part of Moon Struck I've reread the most). Before that though, allow me to congratulate you on getting a job interview!! Job hunting sucks so much, I am sending you all the good vibes and well wishes. May the Force be with you (reread Hard Landings the other night bc I had a really shit day and needed a comfort fic. I'm also making my way through the last jedi this week bc life is hectic and I haven't been able to sit and watch it all in one go unfortunately but every time I see a bit of it w Poe it makes me read Hard Landings all over again so that's why I felt compelled to have the Star Wars reference in there. Anyway, back to Over the Moon!!)

OKAY SO. The way you have written the Marc-Steven-Reader dynamic is so much fun. Like yes there's a lot of pining going on and it's sad how accurate it is to Marc's character he'd prevent himself from accepting love. But like also... on the other hand... beautiful men with big brown eyes being kinda grumpy will never not be funny to me (rest assured this sentiment will make a comeback when I review your Din stuff :) I just want to tenderly hopd Marc by his cheeks and tell him that he deserves comfort and happiness and softness and love. That was honestly the chief emotion I had for most of Moon Knight so to me you have captured something so vital from the source material but made it entirely your own. In my brain there's a standing ovation from a sold out, old-timey, beautiful theater for you. Hope you can hear the cheering.

Now I need to highlight just how much I ADORE the relationship between Steven and the reader. It's hard to pick a favourite part of their dynamic, but I think the reciprocity of their relationship ultimately takes the cake for me. I love how they both give each other compliments, they both provide each other with reassurance, the way it's so clear that they are both so invested and really want to make it work you know? There is romance, there is flirtation, but there is also so much mutual respect and admiration, it practically sings out at you through the screen. When Steven said “You are so many things to me, love. Bit brilliant of you, innit, to take up my whole world like that?” THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS. She got Gus a gift???? She buys him books? Becca STOP or I will cry RIGHT NOW. Also I don't know if this was on purpose but you showed that they have a blend of all the love languages in this chapter!!! Words of affirmation (plenty, and really wonderful ones), physical touch (them dancing makes me smile EVERY. TIME.), quality time (every date described in this chapter is something I want to experience pls @universe), gift giving (Steven saying the keychain is more from Gus... who is the queen of characterisation? Oh yeah, YOU ARE) and acts of service (technically I'm thinking about Marc here the way he walks her home all the time but Steven was ready to swoop in the moment she cried and imo that counts). This is a consistent feature of your writing that I love: I can always tell WHY characters love each other. The words you have them say, the things you make them NOT say but show through the actions, not only is it believable but it's heart-warming. I fall in love with them falling in love with each other!!!! I get why they are attracted to each other!!! I can see the way they keep the love alive!!! Lovely lovely lovelylovelylovelylovely.

NOW AS FOR MY BOY MARC. Okay so one thing that I love is that the attack actually has mental consequences for Marc. In some TV shows these days I feel like traumatic things will happen but they're moved on from way too fast. But you maintained the guilt and how it would weigh on Marc so perfectly. Obviously no fic is obligated to be realistic but sometimes realism really helps a story and you letting the feeling of failure Marc would put on himself be realistic really pulled my heart strings just the right way. Also the way he starts opening up was also beautifully realistic. Steven nudges him, he sees the toll him avoiding the reader takes on her, he feels protective when he sees her crying, and slowly but surely he develops. It's the poetic cinema meme but make it fanfiction. I had to reeeeeally control myself bc I was again faced with the challenge of wanting to quote the entire fic back to you since I couldn't choose my favourite moment, but I just picked the part that stood out to me most in my latest reread: "“You didn’t go inside,” he says simply. “You aren’t home yet.”" GIRL. YOU ARE A PSYCHOLOGIST THE WAY YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR WAY INTO THIS FICTIONAL MAN’S BRAIN. Like it's such a perfect encapsulation of Marc. Driven by protectiveness and a sense of duty even as he deprives himself of the fruits of that protectiveness and duty. I can't even talk about the part where Marc comes to the performance it makes me so emotional. He's been into her the whole time. But he wanted to protect Steven. JUST STAB ME BECCA IT WOULD HURT LESS.

Also the thing about the cape being extended to make her a protective jacket that can take any form but weakens the suit???? Never in a million YEARS could I have come up w something like that. The creativity! The world building! The fact that not only do you have Steven and Marc's voices down, not only have you creater a consistent voice for the reader, you also got Konshu's voice down? It's giving talent, it's giving well-thought out storyline, it's giving A-list writer.

Last thing before I leave you? Love how the ending line is about how Marc looks at reader bc Oscar has such expressive eyes and I feel like I know EXACTLY which look you're talking about. Conclusion? I will never be normal about this fic. Gonna go make dinner and think about Marc going "That's my girl" now, good evening to you.

Hi! It's so interesting that your most reread part is Over the moon! And I'm very flattered that anytime you see Poe you think of Hard Landings! That's a special lil fic to me and I always wish I could write another longer fic for Poe but I've just never been able to finish anything. As always thank you for sending me such kind and detailed love <3

Like yes there's a lot of pining going on and it's sad how accurate it is to Marc's character he'd prevent himself from accepting love.

To me Marc is just such a burdened by love character. He loves so deeply about Layla and Steven that he's willing to sacrifice himself and their opinions of him for the sake of keeping them safe in his own ways. I'm glad this comes across in this fic and with this reader.

I ADORE the relationship between Steven and the reader. It's hard to pick a favourite part of their dynamic, but I think the reciprocity of their relationship ultimately takes the cake for me.

I so love this part of them too! Unlike Marc, Steven is so accepting of love. He loves to receive it and give it. But you're very right, Steven loves but he also respects and admires, even if its something he doesn't exactly get or understand, and the reader gives that right back to him.

In some TV shows these days I feel like traumatic things will happen but they're moved on from way too fast. But you maintained the guilt and how it would weigh on Marc so perfectly.

It wouldn't have felt true to Marc's character to just move on from something like that. He would dwell on it and think about it constantly being his fault it's really just part of who he is.

Like it's such a perfect encapsulation of Marc. Driven by protectiveness and a sense of duty even as he deprives himself of the fruits of that protectiveness and duty.

YES!! Yes, yes, yes. You get it. This is just who he is and I'm glad it came across in this fic.

It's giving talent, it's giving well-thought out storyline, it's giving A-list writer.

Stop, stop, stop!!!! I love you and I'm BLUSHING about this.

Once again, I'm so so so so beyond flattered you take the time to write all of this down and send it to me. I know I say it every time but you so deserve to hear it. <3

#bec talks #rant anon

[ineffably-human]

I still wonder if the Vampiric Council thing is a 'long game' kind of situation. Not necessarily to kill Nadja, or kill any of them, but to destabilize everyone and put them in exactly the situation they're in now.

The Theatre de Vampires comes to the States once every 5 years and it's a huge deal to be invited. They staged the entire evening's production around making an example of the Staten vamps before executing them. "If you kill 30-40 vampires it becomes more 'these are people who get shit done,'" okay, but Guillermo definitely already killed at least 30 vampires before he even showed up at the theater. Half the people on that In Memoriam video were because of Guillermo. And the Council doesn't believe a familiar could have been responsible, but they don't consider it could be just one or two members of the house either, everyone's getting the axe.

After the massacre, they don't target Nandor for lying and saying Guillermo was dead, or see Guillermo as his familiar alone. They still assume Guillermo acted on everyone's behalf. They say "congratulations, all four of you have been promoted," and specifically add "we'll be watching your progress." And yeah, okay, there is a power vacuum now. Maybe that makes sense (even though it puzzles the Guide from day one). If no one really important is alive in the area anyway, the Worldwide Council can put these apparently ruthless people to work and see what they'll do.

First order of business: the wraiths bring exactly one cloak to a freezing cold room and give it to Nadja, and only Nadja. (Cool foreshadowing if nothing else.)

Second order of business: There's only one throne in the room (a room that we've seen previously with no throne whatsoever). The group of known vampire killers have to decide who is going to sit on it as the strongest and most powerful member. This immediately whittles the Council down to two members who tentatively agree to share power.

Third order of business, do some 'shit work' collecting Council dues. Colin takes notes for a minute then wanders off. Nandor tries to negotiate, poorly. Nadja promptly murders another vampire purely on her own by tearing his heart out in front of everyone.

The Guide is there the entire time to 'help' them and is also in a perfect position to keep an eye on them and tell anyone in Europe about what's going on. She's also very interested in Guillermo, who gets out of familiar storage once and then no one really bothers to keep him away from the proceedings.

Fourth order of business: the Sire escapes and puts all vampirekind in danger (which everyone knows about because of the press conference). The fix for the Sire is the one good thing Nadja and Nandor do, and it's after things were resolved by a third party. Meanwhile they keep undoing each other's work in a seat of power they were never meant to share.

Interlude: Nandor is in a depression fugue where the Guide is encouraged to pretend that collecting Council dues is the most exciting and rewarding task ever. Nandor agrees to do it, comes home having some kind of breakdown, and disappears for a month, then he's in a cage for however long getting deprogrammed. It's not clear if they tell the Guide what happened but if not, that's maybe a month and change that Nadja spent actually accomplishing things on the Council because no one was holding her up.

Fifth order of business: Nandor and Nadja have mere hours to prep a delegation dinner, with the specific goal of the Worldwide Council reviewing their progress, because everyone's intrigued by how they've been co-leading. At this dinner meant to demonstrate their co-leadership, Nadja says she murdered Nandor because he was a threat to her power. Everyone insists on seeing the body, during which it's clear that no one thinks Nandor was anything special after he became undead.

When Nandor decides against slumber, the Guide and Donal Logue now knows he's alive, but does anyone else? Does the entire vampiric world still think Nandor is dead (and control of the vampire-slaying familiar has passed to Nadja)? Or has Nandor formally abdicated and everyone just accepts there's a time they were sitting in a room together groping his dick? In either case, Nadja is the only one invited to London for an extremely high-ranking position, because they've been watching her "for some time" and everyone in Europe is going on about her work specifically.

Her work where she killed a vampire, claimed she killed another vampire, and spent most of the time failing to get anything done. And of course we know Nadja is an absolute girlboss and deserves to be as feral and ruthless as she likes, but the Guide - the main Worldwide Council staff member with a view into what's going on - doesn't seem to think any better of her (or the whole group) now than she did before. She's shocked this has been offered.

We started with a house of four they believed were responsible for the slaughter of dozens and dozens of vampires via the familiar they all control. We're down to one vampire who has proven she'll keep killing and rule without mercy. Her husband is no threat. The energy vampire is dead. Nandor the Relentless is either believed dead or has abdicated after choosing to be humiliated. The familiar, the actual threat to vampirekind, is either known to be leaving with Nandor or is not expected in England with Nadja and Laszlo.

Tl;dr maybe the writers decided this was the funnier option with more possibilities, and that's the reason they went with the Council plot this season. But I think it's possible this whole thing was designed to break the house apart from the beginning, either turning them against each other or just exposing who is an actual threat to Worldwide Council power. Nadja is either going into a trap by accepting the position, or she's going to be kicked upstairs to a spot where they can keep an eye on her and make sure her ambitions aren't going to put anyone with real power in danger. Nothing about what she's done in the last year would make them think she's anything but a liability.

But they don't know Guillermo is going with her. Laszlo seems like the one who understands best out of any of them that the world of vampires is strange, sometimes cruel, and highly dangerous. He's not really a fighter. Maybe he did exactly what's needed by sending a bodyguard.

#wwdits #what we do in the shadows #nadja of antipaxos #i am a meta gremlin

[anunvalidcritic]

Justice League: Snyder Cut

(DISCLAIMER: MY OPINION IS MY OWN AND CAN BE DEEMED INVALID TO THOSE WHO DON’T CARE FOR IT.)

Oh, the time has come my friends! Now, I originally did a review on Batman V.S. Superman and I didn’t care for it, so I deleted it. But before I start, I would like y’all to read this statement made by @verified-villain-fxcker - You can click HERE to read it. As I stated in my repost, I couldn’t have said it better. May Autumn Snyder continue to rest in peace. Let’s get started!

It’s been so long since I’ve made a post I can’t even remember how I do this LOL.

CLARK is outta there to say the least...

WONDER WOMAN and LOIS look flabbergasted, as they should... BRUCE as well.

Talk about a shock-wave scream 

All jokes aside, the hate that LEX has towards SUPERMAN is just to much energy to be giving to another person..

THESE BITCHIES ARE READY

why are they letting a minority approach the fucking the cube?!?!

*insert travel montage scene here*

                      Part 1 - “Don’t count on it, Batman.”

BRUCE knows damn well he’s talking to AQUAMAN. Let’s move this shit along lol

“Oh Gotham? How’s that shit hole?” - AQUAMAN

Ik these bitchies aren’t singing rofl

I’d sniff anything wore by Jason Momoa too.

“Maybe a man who broods in a cave isn’t cut out to be a recruiter.” - ALFRED

TALK YO SHIT ALFRED!!!!

AMY ADAMS can literally take my heart, step on it, throw it in a river and I still wouldn’t be mad. 

Here comes the lovely WONDER WOMAN!

broooo her hands were moving like Donnie Yen in Ip Man!

Fucked that entire ceiling up

Ofc the one who tried to touch it would make the stupid statement. 

STEPPENWOLF is really wildin’ out

Don’t look back! I hate it when they look back!!

These are some strong as women!

                             PART 2 - “The Age of Heroes”

“It’s toxic, that’s good.” - STEPPENWOLF

I can only imagine that this is how toxic people think. 

this dude really just threw that lil demon fella like it was nothin’ lmao

You know you're working at a job for too long when you say this is the first time in a while that they're going home early smdh

Now that shit was pretty lit....

SILAS thinkin’ shit I better check on my son. 

“You know a lot about monsters, don’t you? Especially how to make them.” - CYBORG

If that isn’t teen angst, then I don’t know wtf is lmao

Seeing Gal in this tomb makes me want to re-watch Wonder Woman 1 all over again!

DARKSEID ol’ trifflin’ ass

plopped him down like he was dirty laundry

God bless Willem Dafoe, this man is a fuckin’ legend!

“This world is divided. They’re a primitive species. Unevolved and at war with one another. Too separate to be one.” - STEPPENWOLF

DeSaad kinda looks like Doctor Doom in the Fantasic Four reboot lmao

GREEN LATERNS!!!!!!!!!!!! OH SHIT!!!!!!!!

we really need a Green Lantern Corps moving...

ZEUS + ARES = A Dynamic Duo When They Aren’t Being Dicks To Each Other

You know I feel bad for man because all they did was bury that shit in the ground rofl

                  Part 3 - “Beloved Mother, Beloved Son”

BARRY + IRIS = Love at First Sight 

The burger can’t be that good like damn. 

Bro the detail on his fucking shoes and the glass!!

ROFL PLEASE TELL ME HE TOOK THE HOTDOG FOR HIS DOG!?!? 

damn did the car really need to explode...

lol BARRY must really need the job lol

... I would’ve just played dead after he threw me against that rock...

Man of Steel probably has one of the best soundtracks not just for a superhero movie but just in general

Americans love their football!

I have this love-hate relationship with CYBORG being in the JL and not with the TITANS you know since he’s a kid, but he’s a college student in this one. 

Thank God DIANA spoke with VICTOR instead of BRUCE because I honestly don’t think he would’ve gotten him on board.

Everyone can literally zigzag zoom across this planet at undeniable speed except for BATMAN lol

Come on, VIC, help the lady out.

You know honestly, BARRY has a pretty cool pad for someone who's trying to get by paying for a Criminal Justice Degree. 

“A very attractive Jewish boy. Who drinks milk, I don’t drink milk.” - BARRY

“Fuck the World.” - CYBORG

dang Ik DIANA has every right to grieve over STEVE, but damn that man has her whipped!

“You’re looking at the hottest thing on Earth. The exact same thing I said to my prom date. She dumped me anyway.” - RYAN CHOI

Why does MERA have an accent in this but not in AQUAMAN?? (ik the answer)

DAAAYYUUUMMMN MERA TURNED INTO A WHOLE BLOOD BENDER!

                               PART 4 - “Change Machine”

CYBORG just glided over silently

STEPPENWOLF + WONDER WOMAN = EPIC FIGHT SCENE

Seeing BARRY move like that to stop the debris and to ping DIANA’S sword really is amazing..

But he should not be screaming like that LOL

How do you not remember the planet that’s habitants almost killed you?? Because if that was me, I wouldn’t have forgotten that shit at all!

 Would've held a big ass grudge until I could go back. 

“I know we’re all thinking the same thing right now. Who’s gonna say it? I’m not gonna say it.” - BARRY

WOOOAAHHH J’ONN JONES?! (forgot about that)

 “There are six, not five. There is no us without him.” - BRUCE

Damn, no faith at all 

                         PART 5 - “ALL The King’s Horses”

ICONIC DIALOGUE

BARRY - “Wonder Woman. What do you think, man? You think she’d go for a younger guy?”

VICTOR - “She’s 5,000 years old, Barry. Every guy is a younger guy.”

I would’ve kept swippin’ that ID like a cashier at Wal-Mart swippin’ a debit card.

They're movin’ a little too slow for me. Ik they’ve never been on the ship before, but I would’ve been zoomin’ through that entire ship just to hurry and get the job done. 

NOT THE PREGNANCY TEST

Damn, they couldn’t have at least picked up the photo??

The foreshadowing was spectacular! It will always amaze me. 

I’m sure Allstate will cover that person’s car...

Just when LOIS was about to move on. 

CLARK grabbed DIANA like miss me with that Rafiki shit.

I would’ve come back to my senses too after looking at Amy Adams. 

AQUAMAN + THE FLASH = A CONUNDRUM

DR. SILAS takin’ one for the team

                              PART 6 - “Something Darker”

As crazy as radiation is, it’s quite an amazing spectacle.

I wish this Justice League movie could’ve held off until we got some other heroes such as the Green Lanterns, Hawkgirl, and many others. 

Our generation was truly blessed to have an incredible actor as SUPERMAN, and we are not putting him to use!

JONATHAN sounds like President Biden lol

Alright, team?! Break!

AQUAMAN is totally enjoying this fight. He rode that Parademon like a surfboard.

AQUAMAN + CYBORG + FLASH = *THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN*

I swear every scene that WONDER WOMAN enters into does not fail to include the “Ancient Lamentation Music”. 

VICTOR hurry up and say “one” god damnnit!!

SUPERMAN COLD!!!!

Somebody needs to put this fight on WorldStar

BARRY = HE’S A RUNNA HE’S A TRACK STAHHHHARRR!!!

THAT WAS FUCKING IMMACULATE

The Unity  = The Three Bitchies

I bet DARKSEID will remember that shit now

                        EPILOGUE - “A Father Twice Over”

VICTOR = A Final Requiem

LOL VULKO and MERA look stressed tf out!

“Uh, I have too much to live for. And more important things to do.” - LEX

A cocky motherfucker LMAO

Alright, we’re back in this type of dream sequence. 

“Who have you ever loved?” - MERA

Uh, bitch his parents, Robin tf?!

Thank you, JOKER, for stating the facts for Ms. Fish-stick

 Oh shit, they let LOIS die, goddamn it!

HARLEY’S DEAD TOO?!?!?!

BRUCE LOOK SICK AF!!!

Well, the dream is over once again...

I just don’t see how people can live with all those fuckin’ windows. 

“Oh, and some have called me The Martian Manhunter.” - J’ONN

Alright...

________

Yes, the movie was long but what needed to be expressed was. As we already the Snyder Cut wasn’t supposed to be seen because a father simply wanted to grieve the death of his child. I’ll once again reiterate what @verified-villain-fxcker you don't have to like the film but at least give it the benefit of the doubt from its predecessor. For me, I did enjoy watching his version, but let’s be honest what he who shall not be named did was just fucked up. 

#RIP Autumn Snyder #Justice League snyder cut #zack snyder #cyborg #the flash #batman #aquaman #superman #Wonder Woman #hbo max #lois lane #amy adams #ray fisher #ezra miller #ben affleck #jason momoa #henry cavill #gal gadot #dcu #dc comics #jk simmons #Alfred Pennyworth #jeremy irons #lex luther #jesse eisenberg #jared leto #the joker #dc

[echo-three-one]

Whatever It Takes

Now safely headed home and rescued the hostages, Soap discovers something from the four corners of the infirmary. It's basically a chapter that happened inside the infirmary. Yeah.

Previous Chapter : Alex - Dé jàvu

Chapter 5 to another story made by Ray (echo-three-one) Comments and Reviews appreciated! I hope you enjoy! Love you all ❤️

"Reunited"

John 'Soap' MacTavish

Task Force 141

Task Force 141 Base - Infirmary

Soap grunted at the initial moment he felt consciousness. The faint tune of the radio started to fill his ears followed by soft hushes from within the room.

If I lay here… If I just lay here…

Sharp pain struck his abdomen as he tried to get up, making him wince ang grunt loud enough that the two ladies beside him noticed. He shot a pained glare at them and breathed heavily.

"Look who finally decided to get up." The pale brunette greeted him with a soft smile. This was Samantha, the Daughter of America's Head of Defense, she really looked different from her photos from the briefing and Soap thought maybe it's the continuous days of being unconscious draining her out.

"Hm." Soap muttered as he laid back on his bed. He wasn't strong enough to fully get up yet and it frustrated him that he let out a heavy sigh. He rolled his eyes to France who was giggled beside him. Guess she found his misery satisfying.

"What's funny?" he finally gave in and asked.

"Oh nothing. It's just no matter how fast we ran the bullets will always be faster, huh?" she joked, but there was a hint of grief on her tone, something Soap knew and realized just then. It was unfair, it was the harsh reality. They were both considered fit for those conditions but they were the ones who sustained most injuries.

"Heh." Soap chuckled and leaned to face Maxine. She had a few stitches on her forehead an bandages wrapped most of her arm. Her smile was warm and welcoming, but Soap knew what's hidden underneath. Samantha wore the same smile but hers was just happy to be away from her captors.

"So I assume your British, like the rest of the people here?" Samantha asked Soap.

"What made you ask that?" He replied, curious as to her assumptions.

"You sound different than the doctors and nurses around here. I was just curious." She replied almost intimidated.

"Don't mind him, Samantha. He's just grumpy he got injured because he thinks he's so good at everything." France mocked and they both giggled.

"So you two got something going on? I may have lost my memory but not my senses." She winked. France fell silent and Soap immediately replied.

"It's Scottish, Maam and no. We do not have something. If anything it's rivals. She wants to be better than me."

"Oh. I knew that accent stands out among the others!" she mused. Soap turned his attention to the glass window as Alex and General Shepherd passed by discussing something. Samantha caught up with his behavior and looked as well.

"Shit!" She cursed, loud enough to get the two's attention.

"What's wrong?" France asked, holding her arm.

"That guy… his face… looked familiar." she whispered, her hands covered her hands almost scared. 

"Oh him? General Shepherd. Basically our boss. Why, you met him?" France replied calmly.

"No.. those arm tattooes. I swear I saw those before… they're very familiar." she spoke softly. Soap and France turned to each other and nodded, agreeing not to force her too much on remembering things.

"Arm tattoes are the new thing now. I could get one myself anytime you know." Soap informed, trying to divert attention.

"Really? It won't look good on you. You got noodle arms." France retorted, mocking the Scotsman. This seemed to work as Samantha turned to them and laughed.

"You two are the worst liars." she giggled. Soap didn't mind this but he was glad that Samantha was okay.

Time passed by and Soap continued conversing to the two ladies, sharing thoughts and ideas on each other. For someone who's memory had been played with, Samantha recalls quite well. Her descriptions were very detailed up to the last dot. Soap wondered why this was the case and decided to consult Alex when he had the chance.

When it comes to talking, the girls really took their time, they were discussing a lot of things and Soap wasn't able to catch up with them.

"So, Why France? Is it because of the city?" Samantha asked. Soap gulped as he knew it would be asked to him next.

"It's actually short for Francine." She smiled, Soap just stared at her. 

"What about you, tough guy?" Samantha asked as MacTavish snapped back to reality.

"Got beef with someone back at the parachute regiment. Threw a bar of soap straight into his eye." he muttered, almost embarrassed.

"Quite the marksman…" France mused jokingly.

"Oh, bug off. Bet you can't do it square in the eye at a far distance." he boasted, finally getting up.

"I could try. Why don't you stand there so we can test it out." she retorted and Soap just rolled his eyes at her, convincing himself that arguing with her is a waste of time.

The doors slowly opened and a short blonde girl on a wheelchair was being pushed by a nurse. Everyone turned their heads towards the door and Soap noticed France's soft sobs.

"Maxine… I finally found you." she cried. Maxine just sat still, her eyes were open but it felt like she was looking at the vast nothingness.

"She's still recovering her memory lapses. She could hear you and see you but while her brain is still repairing itself, you couldn't expect any response from her." The nurse added and set her on the bed beside Samantha's.

"Sleep restores most minor brain damages we have. So I advise you to do it as well." the nurse patted Samantha and she nodded as the nurse made it's way out.

"How do you know her?" Soap asked, breaking the silence that occured since Maxine entered.

"She's my roommate." Samantha replied in unison to France's "She's my sister."

The girls turned to each other and started crying. Soap just sat there in awe, knowing nothing about calming the situation down.

"I'm sorry I dragged her into this." Samantha sniffled, wanting to hug France.

"You don't have to… It's not your fault." France replied.

~

The rest of the squad arrived when they were permitted to visit the infirmary, except for Price, who was busy about another upcoming move from Nero. In a small room, on a huge circle like formation. Alex was by the door, crossing his arms and staring momentarily at Samantha and turning back to the squad when she turns to him. Soap was aware they had a past mission together but something happened that made him act that way, another reason why he wanted to talk to him.

Ghost and Roach sat by the sofa, finally addressing his raccon story to the group.

"And so there I was by the dumpster. Spreading my arms establishing dominance toward him." Gary narrated, spreading his arms like that of his story.

"It's all over now Rocky Raccoon. I have you cornered. Now give me back my watch! I yelled and you know what happens next? The raccoon actually dropped my watch and scurried back to the forest! Isn't that amazing!" Gary continued adding sound effects and ambiance in the story. He was always the jolly one in the group. He turned to the girls who were laughing along Roach's story while Ghost and Alex forced themselves not to chuckle.

"What's the value of that watch?" Samantha asked.

"Oh about a few hundred British pounds." 

"No no. The sentimental value. The memories it holds. Why is it important to you?" She corrected. Soap caught Alex staring at her intently, his fists were gripping some sort of pendant.

"My mother gave it to me when I left home and joined the force. She said time is golden and I have to enjoy every second of it." he replied showing his watch to the group.

"Aww.. Roach.." France sniffed and Soap rolled his eyes. It wasn't that sad. He thought.

"Well, your Mum's right." Ghost patted Roach's back and he smiled.

The PA Systems rang again and alerted their little group. It announced about another briefing with the exception of those injured and Alex. Ghost and Roach bid their goodbyes at the remaining people, and they waved back except for Maxine who was still asleep.

As soon as the door closed the atmosphere began to shift as Alex slowly walks toward Samantha. Soap and France quietly trailed their eyes at the event and observed intently.

"You!" Samantha finally yelled and slapped Alex as soon as he was reachable.

"Ow! What gives!" he hissed in pain, rubbing his red cheeks.

"You were that creep I met by my apartment! What are you doing here!" she grabbed a pillow and gestured to hit the man. France tried to calm her.

"That's Alex. One of our allies." She whispered softly.

"Alex? Hmmm. Yeah. He looked like that creep who chased me to the supermarket. But that creep had longer hair and complete legs." she noted, calming herself down and lowering his weapon.

"That was actually me. Samantha." he muttered. Soap and France sat quietly as the drama began to unfold.

"You dropped this. That's why I chased you to give it back." Alex handed her a golden pendant. Samantha quickly recognized the thing and held it tight. 

"Daddy's gift." she sighed.

"You dropped it when you were walking home." Alex added and looked down on the floor.

"Thanks, Alex. I'm sorry if I slapped you." She smiled at him and Alex stared back. It was quite long and France whispered to Soap that "things are heating up'. Do these two have some history or something? Like Romantically? Cause, I can sense it." 

Soap shrugged her idea and looked back at Alex who was now leaving.

"It's okay, Maam. Afterall, I'm just nothing but a complete stranger to you." he smiled and closed the door shut, leaving the four of them in silence.

Next Chapter : A Walk to Remember

#yeouch #horRAYfic #alex echo 3 1 #john soap mactavish #john price #simon ghost riley #gary roach sanderson #codmw #codmwfic

[cannibalistic-vampirefag]

Bread on 'Throne of Glass'

Book By Sarah J. Maas

Before anyone says anything, here are my qualifications to criticize the book:

I am a reader, that means I can have opinions about books I read

I am a writer

I am no book critic, of course, and this is also my first ✨book review✨, and I am open to polite discussion if anyone actually reads this and has something to say about it. The review is gonna be a list type of thing because I add as I get further into the book.

Let's get into the review.

Okay, so, I currently am at chapter 7 and so far I am enjoying the read. It's not the most exciting thing I've ever read but it's okay. My first issue comes here: chapter 7, page 41, these two specific paragraphs:

Slaves staggered down the gangplank of a merchant ship. A mix of conquered nations bound together, each of them had the hollow, raging faces she'd seen so many times before. Most of the slaves were prisoners of war—rebels who survived the butchering blocks and endless lines of Adarlan's armies. Some were probably people who had been caught or accused of trying to practice magic. But others were just ordinary folk, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now that she noticed, there ere countless chained slaves working the docks, lifting and sweating, holding parasols and pouring water, eyes at the ground or at the sky—never on what was before them.

She wanted to leap from her horse and run to them, or to simply scream that she wasn't part of this prince's court, that she had no hand in bringing them there, chained and starved and beaten, that she had worked and bled with them , with their families and friends—she was not like these monsters that destroyed everything. That she had done something, nearly two years ago, when she had freed almost two hundred slaves from the Pirate Lord. Even that, though, still wasn't enough.

These are the only two paragraphs about slaves in the whole chapter. The thing that stuck out to me is that Caelena never says anything about wanting to free those people. The paragraphs don't go like "She wished she could get off her horse and run to them, to break their chains and let them go free, so they could have their lives like people, treated with basic human decency and respect, not like animals.", she never says anything on the lines of that. It goes more like "She wanted to get off her horse to remind these people that she wasn't a rich kidTM".

Let me repeat: she doesn't say anything about caring for these people, she just wants to make herself feel better. It's like when White AlliesTM go like: "No, I'm not racist, I posted the black square on Instagram last year! Oh, you're asking about sharing petitions and information about how to help POCs on my platform, making sure people are educated? That's too much."

Even the part about her freeing two hundred slaves put there like that makes it look like she is doing everything literally only to make herself feel better.

Look, I'm not saying that Chaol and Dorian are in love, I'm just saying that if you view their relationship as romantic it makes everything more interesting. The intimacy, Dorian saying he's be alone if it weren't for Chaol because he feels different from everyone else, the teasing regarding Caelena... oh, they both have a female love interest later on? You fool, you absolute fool. They're both bisexual and polyamorous.

Finally finished reading! I enjoyed the book. My point of view was very biased when I started reading it, as it had been formed only by reading Antis posts (which I'm not saying are inherently wrong, but I had started thinking that all the books were gonna be complete utter shit because of the bad things I read—mea culpa, it was stupid, I know.

The plot was entrataining, even if pretty basic for a YA fantasy, I liked reading about the Tests, but the "evil force" plot was kinda meh to me. Like, it goes like:

Caelena: mh, I wonder who might be the person doing all this evil stuff and taking the champion's power. It must be Nehemia, my best friend here, definitly not Cain who would gain a lot by taking other's strength while also eliminating completion, the same Cain who has been acting weird and suspicious lately and who also has been weirly gaining a lot of muscles with no explanation.

Caelena wasn't so bad, I didn't particularly like her but she could be pleasant in some scenes, even if really annoying in others. Her motivation is very simple: not go back to the slave camp, a very understandable reason that worked. The whole "Wyrdmark on her forhead" thingy is probably gonna turn into her being the Chosen One of the Big Cool Prophecy to beat the Big Bad Evil, but okay I guess :/

Dorian was cool, I guess. I liked the scenes with him in it and he was pleasant, so a good 8/10 for him? I don't really have a lot to say about him.

I liked Chaol. That's it. 7/10

Nehemia is amazing, intelligent, friendly, kind, sweet, smart, a good person, a healer, a queen, caring, brave, strong, beautiful, a fighter, the closer thing to a Saint that the book has, I would literally die for her, simply perfect. 10/10

Nox my beloved <3

Again, Dorian and Chaol should be boyfriends. I'm temped to write a fanfic from their point of view where they deal with Caelena as boyfriends. Chaol being jealous? Who is he jealous for, Caelena or Dorian? def both. And in the end they all get together in a good poly relationship because yes <3

Nehemia deserves a girlfriend. SJM, make Nehemia get a gf >:( (I know that she probably dies in the next books, but still)

That's it I suppose. Overall I'd rate it a 7/10 or a 8/10

#throne of glass #sarah j maas #sjmass #caelena sardothien #chaol westfall #dorian havilliard #chaol x dorian #vampireposting

[jooniely]

i really want to know wth mxtx was smoking when she wrote svsss ,the premise was cool the first chapters were adorable and funny so how come it became soooooooo horrible, bingqiu is one of the worst toxic relationships ever, like it makes no fucking sense, one instance SQQ call LB a child the next they're in true love uwu ,The power inbalance is soo jarring ,LB literary never listens to a word SQQ says, hurts him,balantly disrespects SQQ friends ,coherce SQQ and guilt trip him into loving him, and leaving everyone he knows for him, what Binghe needs is a restraining order, and life long therapy and fix his daddy issues, but it seems that the majority of danmeis idea of love is toxic abusive relationships ,i am not against the ship , from the way the fans talked about Bingqiu i was looking forward to see their love blossom and them making up in a healthy way, but god was i dissapointed , like at least make it believable ,give them time to talk about their feelings ,clear the misunderstandings ,heal the wounds ,not whatever the hell that rape scene was about ,so is mxtx trying to tell us that raping the man you love with their consent "whatever the fuck this is supposed to mean " tormenting hurting and making them bleed ,is more important than them having a heart to heart conversation about the fuck ups they commited ,and showing how much they cherish each other , the fans will tell you that NO it's a deconstruction of the papapa to save the world trope ,like wtf is that even supposed to mean ,she deconstruct it by using the same awful shit

Anyway svsss was good at first and then it spiraled to complete nonsense ,it felt like mxtx just wanted to get it over with and move on, sooo much lost potentiel ,i recommend reading well written fix it fanfictions to get over the atrocity of canon, there are plenty of good liushen and qijiu fics out there

And sorry that i rambled a lot and for my bad english, i am just super dissapointed ,this wasn't what i signed up for when i read the many positive reviews

Hey anon let's be friends lol. I agree with everything here. You can clearly tell this was mxtx's first novel. Someone said they wrote it when they were in high school? So maybe it was also cuz they were young that it had some not so great things.

I finished the novel this morning and I was still NOT a fan. That scene was written in a way to make it seem like it was not sexjal assault but it clearly was. Binghe wasn't even mentally present and was not able to give consent and was terrified of what he did. This is the first time I saw the old binghe from the past come out. Shizun didn't give consent either. He basically just accepted his fate. You're right, how is it deconstructing a trope if you're gonna write the trope? And I think a lot of readers don't realize that this entire scene didn't need to happen. It was some bullshit reason that the author fully knew was bullshit. You have to wait for the special item to load? That's never happened, if it loaded right when shizun asked for it, then there would have not been that assault scene.

A lot of ppl use in universe reasons to explain why some things needed to be done but I'm here wondering why the author needed to add these things. At least let your characters suffer the consequences? Consequences for actions don't always mean getting hurt physically after making a wrong decision. It means after so much trauma, both binghe and shizun would barely be mentally functioning. Shizun's thoughts should have been a mess because this is his student but he also raised him and now that student is obsessed with him. One dream he meets old binghe and literally gets his limbs ripped then the next second sees baby binghe and he's okay after it. Even when he sees older binghe there's no residual fear.

With binghe being a psycho, and it being his sword that was poisoning his mind, why didn't someone immediately try to destroy the sword? Then when binghe is getting his therapy we could have explored the love between them.

As it stands I still don't see the love. I don't wanna read the extras to see whatever love that will develop there because those are extras. That shit should have been in the main book. But whatever I gave it a skim and literally already we got another assault scene. And old binghe wants shizun all of a sudden? The same one you repeatedly tortured?? Why???

Tbh old binghe and old shizun would probably get along well if shizun hadn't been abusive towards him cuz they were both psychos.

Shen yuan essentially looked like he just accepted whatever fate he had. Not once did I feel like he realized this world was his life now and not still some book, he's no longer and outsider. And also to just leave everything? It doesn't seem like to us but he spent years with his sect and qingge and qi ge. Oh my god the connection between old qingqiu and his child hood "friend" that should have been focused on more because in those few scenes we got so much material. So much emotional and complex scenes. I really hope there's a fic that explores this thread.

Anyways I still think their relationship is toxic. I know a lot of ppl still enjoy it and I'm okay with that as long as they know it's fictional. Some ppl are okay with toxic things as long as it's fictional but no matter what some say, it's scientifically proven that fiction affects reality. So as long as things stay fictional and ppl aren't looking at them and thinking this is okay or healthy then I have no issue. Not everyone will agree and understand each other so each side should stay on their own with one hating and the other loving, on their own.

I also ended up ranting lol. If u wanna talk more u can send another ask or just message me I don't mind! If u have read mxtx other works I would love to talk about them as well! Also you're English is perfect!

[namivaguese]

Routines

Here’s what my typical day looks like: I wake up at whatever (I have an amazing body clock that automatically wakes up somewhere between 7-10); then drink a glass of water; then I take either a shower or just brush my teeth and wash my face, depending on how dirty I feel that morning; then I do my skincare; then I eat breakfast and take my morning caffeine of choice—most days it’s matcha or black coffee; then I clean my desk, put on a nice album, and get to work. Very recently, I try to squeeze in exercising right before showers, but as someone who's a complete stranger to physical activities, it still takes a while to get used to.

If you go to the military academy or just someone who is very organized and disciplined in general, morning routines like these are probably a breeze. But if you know me, you know I'm a very disorganized and overall chaotic person. For the most of my life, I just rawdog the fuck out my days and pray for the best. Routines are something I've only been able to try out because of the pandemic, and even then it takes me months to get used to. No, my routine's not a million dollar routine or anything, but it's quick and it helps to kick off my day. And that's what my life these days have been about: getting back on track. Fortunately, as a middle class young adult living in the comfort of my parents' home, this is a rather easy thing to do.

Other than getting back on track so I can do more work and therefore have more value in this capitalist society, at its core, routines has helped me in a deeper way: giving something I finally have control over.

I've learned the bitter truth over the past few years: no matter how hard we try, there's always something we have absolutely no control over. And if you're someone who cares so much about outcomes, not getting the results you expected despite already trying your best can crush you. Work and achievements-wise, I've been there too much to the point I became desensitized. But daily life-wise, not having control over something makes me feel...powerless.

Let's talk about loneliness, something us young adults know all too well.

See, I'm on my final semester of college (if I can finish my thesis by June...now this bitch is something I do have control over) right now, and I only have one class to take: my thesis, which isn't a class per se. As much as I love not having to attend classes and write weekly reviews and make group presentations, not attending classes makes me feel excruciatingly lonely. Back then, there's this certain camaraderie—a feeling that we always have each others' back no matter what—between me and the people from my batch in pursuing this degree. Now I don't even know how my friends are doing unless I text them, and I feel inclined to text them because I know they're busy with work and their own thing. And when I do text them, it would take them approximately 2 hours-2 days to respond. Oh, don't even get me started on how hard it is to have a meetup with friends...our schedules hardly ever match. The cherry on top is that it's not even our fault! It's how work in the capitalism system not only alienates us from our work, it also alienates us from the people around us...fafifu wasweswos.

See, even this shit is hard for me, an Introvert™. Damn, I can't imagine how hard this is for extroverts and social butterflies.

Which is why routines helps to not only enjoy, but appreciate my own company. I might not have control over how lonely I feel that day, or whether or not my friend can respond to my sudden 3 am sadness, but at least I have control over what time I choose to wake up that day. Or what kind of caffeinated beverage I choose to take that day. Or how much time I'll spend working on my thesis that day. Or what kind of album I'll listen that morning before lunch.

Now, how do I feel right now, you ask? I regret drinking coffee because I'm on my second day of period right now (for those non-uterus having people wondering, caffeine worsens period cramps), but I enjoy writing this while belting the entire News of The World album by Queen from my heart. At the very least, I don't feel alone.

Bottom line is, do what you need to cope with loneliness. I choose my morning routine.

#nami's 2022 writing project #amwriting #diary #writeblr