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beyond-far-horizons · 3 years

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hey, so enemies to lovers is my favorite troupe as well, but why its so difficult to find something good with this troupe?? latelly i am getting very disappointed with anything that says enemies to lovers, so do you have any recommendations, like books, fanfics, games? i am down for anything that has drama and good writing

WORD!

Okay I have very little time as I’m on a busy MA course but briefly -

I think the reason this trope is done badly is that it’s hard to get right. Also people’s mileage varies - we see this across fandoms all the time with what is seen ‘problematic’ and policed etc. That’s part of a much wider conversation. For me I just wish people had a more nuanced understanding a) that stories can influence society sociologically esp if the trends in the words of Pop Culture Detective as ‘pervasive and unquestioned’, but also b) many people know how to separate real life from fiction and not only is it great escapism to experience a range of different things, I’d argue in some ways to some folks it could be vital archetypally. In other words, I wish we could be a bit more forgiving of other POVs and more appreciating that what works for some doesn’t work for others in terms of enjoying Enemies to Lovers and villain-shipping specifically. For myself I adore a good Sexy Bad Guy, but in RL if I had a dude want to kidnap me and act that way without my consent I’d be like ‘f-off mate’ LOL.

But I digress...

Hard to recommend without knowing what fandoms/media you are into and what versions of Enemies to Lovers you like (sadly I don’t have time to go through this even though I’d love to). Enemies to Lovers can be two basically good people on different sides of a fight or it could be shipping the altruistic protag with the (sexy) villain. Is it slash or heterosexual? I think I saw you weren’t a fan of love triangles which is another major potential element of this dynamic.

I like a lot of different versions of this trope but one of the major things I personally enjoy is an empowered altruistic heroine with agency in a pairing with a Sexy Bad Guy, esp if there is also a Sexy Good Guy who is his rival/frenemy. Now I know you said you don’t like love triangles but to me it depends how it’s written. For me I hate the YA ‘boring best friend’ vs ‘douche bad boy’ with bland heroine defining her identity between them, instead of being on a journey of discovery about herself and her world which the love drama aids in. It’s also about how these things get resolved as well. For me several things I really enjoy is a) sexual tension between heroine and villain b) cat and mouse games whether via fights/chases/political intrigue or all of the above c)philosophical conversations about the nature of life and humanity - I need my heroine/hero to CHALLENGE the villain AND vice versa. I want them both to grow and develop as a consequence. d) I want BOTH sides to be tempted by the other and there to be major angst but the tension remains because both sides are strong characters with deep convictions - I loathe a heroine for example that just excuses her villain’s actions because he’s hot or he’s changed (without reflection or atonement) or something. I also nowadays don’t really enjoy the ‘I need you to make me into a better person’ - nah mate do that yourself - she/he can inspire you but it needs to come from within (I love this about Zuko from ATLA - he never needs Katara in this way although she clearly inspires him.) I need more than superficial stuff, I need deep reasons and emotional developments to justify their growing connection. THAT’S what’s interesting to me. Or if it is just the villain’s charisma I want to see the heroine deeply conflicted about that because it clashes with her powerful sense of self. This is why slow burn is also key for me (also great opportunities for UST and angst hehe). Unless of course you are just looking straight for some X rated stuff which...fair play...most of us have done it.

I’m not sure what you are looking in the trope but as for suggestions for the above dynamic some of the best fanfics I’ve ever read are ‘World Under Siege’ by @nofearofwaves (Loki and Jane Foster in Thor/MCU - slow burn - goes on to its sequel, canonverse set from the end of Thor/Avengers) and ‘The Cave’ by ‘Masksarehot’ -(Amon and Korra from Legend of Korra - fantastic conversations and very hot without being too porny.)

I also attempt to write a lot of Enemies to Lovers or containing that theme in some way. Fandoms - Naruto, One Piece, ASOIAF, DMC, ATLA, Harry Potter (my only slash pairing is young Dumbledore and Grindlevald but that is more friends/lovers as its the beginning of their connection) and Yu-gi-oh.

https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4317571/Girl-of-Blue-Fire

Some are finished, some are WIPs , some contain the fore-mentioned love triangles, some don’t. Obviously my best works are the later ones so you could check that out if you want and look at my faves??

Lastly in terms of some good canon stuff...like we’ve said it’s rare but I’ve heard good things about Children of Blood and Bone (i have it to read) whose canon enemies to lovers theme was inspired by Zutara in ATLA. Zutara also has some fantastic works but the canon story unfortunately short changed itself IMO. If I think of anything else I will add it...

Hope that helps and good luck!

Ps I’m also writing a TON of original SFF fiction centring on this theme - my latest has...wow...about 4/5 canon enemies to lovers pairings ( hetero, slash and fem!slash) with huge amounts of fanon potential so hopefully one day we will have more.

#enemies to lovers #frenemies #long post is long #vazio-empty #writing #villains #villain x heroine #heroine x villain #my writing #amorra #zutara #lokane

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deadaccount2000 · 4 years

Text

Shows that will probably unlock memories when mentioned or give you nostalgia:

And yes I watched all of these as a kid

Jane and The Dragon

Noonbori and The Super Seven

Jacob Twotwo

I can't remember the name but there were three kids, 1 pink/purple with pigtails, 1 yellow with a beanie and 3D glasses, and 1 blue who was short and wore a Hawaiian shirt, and I think it was called Milos Mysteries but it was freaky as shit and I loved it

Moana The Vampire

I also can't remember the name of this one but it was a white mouse with a badger for a friend and they were human sized

Bunny Maloney

YoGabaGaba

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood when it still aired

Dora

Anne of Greengables

Peep and The Big Wide World

Again I can't remember but there was a pink girl with ribbons as hair, a blue boy who used a bunch of shapes, and a green robot.

Yu-Gi-Oh

Samurai Jack

Digimon

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The Legend of Korra

Teen Titans

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Looney Toons

Scooby Doo: Where Are You

Dragon Tails

Kirby Buckets

Regular Show

The Haunted Hathaways

The Amazing World of Gumball

Adventure Time

Wizards of Waverly Place

American Dragon: Jake Long

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

The Suite Life: On Deck

Ant Farm

The Replacements

Grossology

Ms. Spider's Sunny Patch Friends

Bob the Builder

Pokemon

The Gummy Bears

Micky Mouse Club House

Goosebumps

The Haunting Hour

My Gym Partner is a Monkey

Pucca

The old animated X-men Series that started off with a kid making an eraser skateboard

Sabrina the Teenage Witch (several versions)

Little Einsteins

Artzooka

Phineas and Ferb

Drake and Josh

Blues Clues

Max and Ruby

Little Bill

Wild Kratts

Rugrats

Angelina Ballerina

Go, Diego, Go

Literally anything with sesame street puppets

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

CatDog

Ed, Edd, and Eddy

Maya and Miguel

Clifford

Carebears

Cyberchase

Lazy Town

Aurther

Jimmy Neutron

Caillou

Danny Phantom

Fairly Odd Parents

The Wild Thornberrys

The Electric Company

Codename: Kids Next Door

Dog with a Blog

Good Luck, Charlie

Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman

Martha Speaks

OG Ben Ten

ICarly

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Camp Lazlo

Chowder

Fish Hooks

Dexter's Laboratory

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

Johnny Bravo

Hey Arnold

Total Drama Island

My Life As A Teenage Robot

Mighty Bee

The Wiggles

The Doodlebops

Madeline

Jessie

Victorious

Shake It Up

Rocket Power

The X's

Power Puff Girls

Back At The Barnyard

Oswald

Franklin

Rubbadubbers

The Backyardigans

Again, do not remember but it was a band with a guy and girl in blue, a girl in pink, and a guy in red. The girl in blue had red hair and she was my favorite

Tak and The Power of JuJu

The Magic School Bus

Winx

Veggietales

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

Wow Wow Wubzzy

Pair of Kings

Code Lyoko

Anime that aired late on CN

Ni-Hao, Kai-Lan

Kick Buttowski: Suburban Devil

Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja

Pickle and Peanut

Lab Rats

Crash and Bernstein

The Bernstein Bears

Boyster

Camp Lakebottom

Doraemon

Doctor Who with David Tennant

Jem and The Holograms

Pound Puppies

And that's it for now. I'll update the list if I find anymore.

#long post #my post

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abundantchewtoys · 4 years

Text

Homestuck^2 re: Chapter 8 “A Daughter Astray”

So, I thought of something. John positively losing it at a silly picture and letting go of some pent up stress in the process. It reminds me of Dave's reaction in the Game Over timeline to his old pictures in his room.

I wonder if Harry Anderson will try to apologize to his father for the events next time they meet, only for John to let him know how proud he is of him, helping his friends like that. :P

Now, let's see what Rose and Kanaya were up to on the battlefield, while Vrissy was getting acquainted with Vriska.

I'm also wondering whether Vrissy will realize what a bad influence Vriska is, what a risk she is to her relationships with Tavros & Harry Anderson. And whether the thrill she brings outweighs those risks. Also, I wonder if Vrissy knows about her cerulean blood mindcontrol powers?

---

Page 192

Ah, first to the reactions about the astray SON.

Oh, brain ghost Dirk.

Huh, so I guess Jake's attempts at espionage weren't that succesful yet.

Who in heck is Jane talking about that abondoned her, though, in the context of her son being kidnapped. She can't really feel "betrayed" by the trolls opposing her, can she?

---

Page 193

Sooo... Were the kids followed to Roxy's place? Maybe that getaway car really WAS too obvious.

Also, heh, Earth C has its own author "Steven" King, and his book about clownkiller kids is soaring to new heights in the charts because of current events, heheh.

And there Jane goes, she HAS the delusions. Really, she's convinced herself of being right and now everything is the others' fault due to being wrong.

Why, she's even so far gone, she thinks that equivalent retribution is a thing a good leader would do...

You know, I was kind of theorizing the new teens & Vriska would play a session of Sburb to escape Earth C, but it was kind of always looking like a far out idea. A way for them to connect to the session on Deltritus, in the Meat path. But now... Yeah, I wonder if the rebellion's going to be in time to save them.

---

Page 194

CCOOOOOOOOL new theme here.

It reminds me of the split pages during the B2 kids time recovering from the Trickster Mode, with the 45° ==> arrows.

So, yeah, I was thinking Harry Anderson was cumbersome to type everytime, too. Glad Vriska and Vrissy have separately come to the same conclusion. :P

And heheheh, Vriska's presence is shining a light on the thing John was saying all along, that nothing really feels REAL about the Candy Earth C.

So it would almost seem as if the teens might actually leave and find a more "real" version of their parents or something. By playing Sburb. Though wouldn't they like, miss their adult guardians?

Still, cool to get some insight into Harry and Vrissy here. He's always seen an invisible border between the past achievements of his parents and their friends and their current situation. But Vriska is forcing him to acknowledge it's all more real and closer to home than he might be comfortable with.

Meanwhile Vrissy is going through the weird situation where she's jealous of anyone getting Vriska's attention.

And Tavros has shown to be a good supportive partner. Though I still don't really get how their kismesittude works in other ways. How does Vrissy get under his skin, for instance?

Also, it's hilarious to see how badly Harry misjudges his Dad, just like the previous generation once used to do. I really just want to hear John say how proud he is of him now, both for the emotional punch and the hilarious reaction Harry's going to have.

Also, good to see 23 years have done nothing to cool Roxy's affection for all things feline.

And it was cool to see Harry go in one conversation from John-esque "there's this scene in the beginning" to Dave-esque metaforgotten similes. Heredity at its finest.

Right, so, that reminds me. Harry is Dave and Rose's half-brother, let that sink in for a bit. And Tavros is genetically his uncle.

---

Page 195

Hahahahahahahahah Oh yes.

Oh HELL yes.

I thought I might have actually been projecting this, but it's LITERALLY the first thing John says to Harry. And in all caps (cause shouting), just like Dad used for his notes. Perfection.

But, pfffffff, okay, just like the father in a comedy, he misinterpreted the events and thought Harry was trying to prank him, oh my god. He literally saw Gamzee's death as part of a prank or something, heeheeheeh.

"JOHN: now, harry anderson, i know that you and tavros haven't always gotten along. JOHN: but i am going to have to ask you to try and look out for him for the time being. JOHN: your uncle jake and i... well, i'll explain later. JOHN: let's just say that gamzee isn't the only family member jane is losing today. HARRY: dad... if you wanted me to KILL tavros, you only had to ask. TAVROS: (Um,,,) HARRY: couldn't resist."

I didn't really think pranks were Harry's shtick, but his sarcastic jab at Tavros' expense near the end proves me wrong. So John seems to be saying he's in cahoots with Jake, they're probably chatting covertly.

But actually, considering Jane's Dad is dead, John actually made a bit of a bad joke there, even if he probably doesn't know about Jane's Dad's death.

---

Page 196

Okay this? John being his son's partner in crime? This is great.

And eesh, I thought for a minute it was Karkat or an undercover troll outside, but it's a member of Jane's secret police.

So, Harry and his friends have to make a getaway before the drones arrive. Reminds me of how they came for Dirk in B2 Earth's future.

And yup, that bell tower is a real prominent place, isn't it? And for some reason... For some reason, it must be close by to Roxy's house. Even though, I'd wager she and Harry moved to live in the human kingdom, after Roxy sided with Jane. The school was a human school, for one. And the bell tower's part of the carapace kingdom! Huh.

Somehow, I think their distraction is going to be a bit bigger than Jade's "OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT *points*", but you never know. :P

---

Page 197

So majestic. They're most DEFINITELY not standing agape looking at the picture making the rounds.

You know, the fact that you don't SEE the hustle & bustle around them reminds me of Ed, Edd 'n Eddy, where no other people than the main cast were ever shown besides some silhouettes & limbs.

The fact that the Maryam-Lalondes are a beacon is so deliciously punderful. Light and Luminiscence. Also, actually, it's good to learn how they're in fact more of a symbol as well, through their union as troll and human.

---

Page 198

Oh my god they're freaking out, but as mature adults. Rose's hair is cut short, wow.

So they don't have eyes in the human kingdom. And Kanaya can't even savour the death of Gamzee now. Rose finds her Light powers lacking, but that's just because of the timeline they're in - though I suppose they must work some of the time for her to still rely on them.

So, I do wonder how Kanaya and Rose are going to cope with the fact that the one they're idolized in a sense, by naming her daughter after her, is now back in the flesh. They'll have to deal with the realities of a living, breathing, fucking-things-up Serket.

Hah, another new named troll. Alfonz, heheh. One of Nepeta's blood type, it seems.

I wonder if it's news from Karkat or John. The distraction might be under way, so that's why none of the kids are replying.

---

Page 199

Oooooh, Blaperile has a good point, this is probably Jade coming back from the reconnaissance, bearing Dave's dead body presumably. D:

... I wonder if they're going to pin this on the humans, for want of evidence to the contrary. Seems like a good way for things to start escalating even further.

Meanwhile, it appears Alfonz' quirk favors the A and Z.

Kanaya kind of looks like the Dolorosa now from behind.

---

Page 200

Seems like Jade was wearing an Iron Lass - ish outfit. Sorry Alfonz, you're about to be forcibly removed.

---

Page 201

Okay no, that isn't an armour. Her gloves' colour remind me of Grimbark Jade. And that commando outfit reminds me of an old sprite edit I made of a GI Jade, heheheheheheh.

---

Page 202

Wait, huh? I could have SWORN Dave would have been found right now. So, what does that... mean? Didn't Dave's ascension take place yet???

... It seems then that Jade was sent to retrieve Vrissy and the others, but she was too late?

Blaperile has a good theory - perhaps Jade was pulled away from her mission with Dave, and just texted him as she left, thinking he'd read her message shortly thereafter.

Crack theory: Jane's forces caught A Vriska, just not the one they were sent after. :P

---

Page 203

... WAIT WHAT???

WHO THE HECK IS---

Did Jade and Dave actually ADOPT a kid and called it Yiffy???

Please just be a dog, please just be a dog, please just be a dog.

... Unless it's a real punderized name for Vrissy. Ugh, god.

---

Page 204

Glad to see we are all in agreement with Rose and Kanaya here.

---

Page 205

Ah. Okay, so we're doing this again. Jumping back to Vriska when things are angling for an explanation. Sure. :P

Well, okay yeah, at least we know Yiffy isn't any of these kids then.

Vriska's looking bored. That's not good.

---

Page 206

Wow. Okay yeah, we're getting to some juicy bits here.

Harry desperately wants to reconnect with John. And he is sucking up his father's "BELIEF" in him like it's nobody's business. (Kind of a Jake thing to do.) Vrissy correctly assesses that John's advice wasn't great and that John is not being a good adult, but she's wrong that John is to blame for Tavros' hangups. Meanwhile we're getting some good black vibes from Tavros now, as he gets flustered at Vrissy using his baggage to win an argument. And on another note, Harry rescents Tavros' mom, but in the process has made Tavros out to be a snob or something, which he clearly isn't and which Vrissy calls him out on.

But Vriska couldn't care less about any of their shit. :P

---

Page 207

Ahahaahah. Okay, actually, Vriska is a lot better at assessing their situation than I'd thought she'd be. Didn't think she cared enough to notice some of this stuff.

Her calling out Harry on not being grateful for John is weird. Maybe she meant it as in - this planet is fucking pointless but John still loves you.

Hah, but her calling herself an adult - she's just as old as them.

Coooooooool, though. Harry's getting a strife specibus! Yeah, so, they all must have sylladices, but apparently no strife specibii.

I do wonder what in god's name he could weaponize from his room. Does he end up with Shoekind? Shoes seem at least like they could do some damage, better than scarves at least.

---

Page 208

OMG.

Actual Honest To God Chumhandles!!! Hahahahaahhaahahhah.

I guess it was because we're back in Act 1 shenanigans that it was finally time to reveal them? Awesome, Harry's the same's as Dave & Roxy, TG, and Vrissy has, of course, Vriska's.

So I suppose Tavros' chumhandle will contain a C. I don't remember Tavros Nitram's chumhandle of the top of my head, but that seems legit. Oops, no, adiosToreador, my bad.

So... Harry COULD end up with sewing equipment as his strife specibus, but that seems like a red herring. All those shoes are poking my eyes out.

---

Page 209

Yeah, them needles are way too small for a strife specibus.

Although scissors, hmmm, that could actually work and be interesting as he upgrades them!

Reading Vrissy and Harry arguing here, I'm reminded of Dave pestering John to apply something to his strife specibus.

---

Page 210

Oh hell yes, second person narration. :D

(Wonder what his sylladex modus is.)

---

Page 211

Oh hell yes, this list :D

---

Page 212

Awesome callback to John's first reaction on creating hammerkind.

Awesome to see the return of all this early-act vocabulary and imagery.

Hah! Harry was even about to say "you have a feeling it's going to be a long day", pffffff. Nice.

---

Page 213

Oh my god.

So I suppose this page was preceded with a break between updates, cause Vriska's feeling like she's been stuck here for a month.

I think Tavros already has a strifekind bought for him by Jane. And Vrissy definitely has one already too, since she apparently has all those weapons in her room.

Vriska's so confident she can just waltz out of here. Okay, with ALL the luck on her side, and her rocket boots, that might actually be true.

Blaperile theorizes the other kids will use HER as the distraction but have to strife against some Crocker Cops to get away. Maybe it'll be drones though. Of course, I wonder what he could do--- Hey, maybe there's actually a hedge scissors in the house! He could equip that! They have that nicely trimmed bush out in the front yard, so yeah, that could work!!!

---

Page 215

....

........

Yes I suppose there really was no way she was going to actually RELIEVE the situation.

She's appalled that the paradise she helped create didn't have the decency to be an actual paradise. I follow her way of thinking. But yeah, she's not being a mature adult about all this, that's for sure. Although it is true it's insane the people of Earth C actually believed in Gamzee. And from Vriska's perspective, there's no one that came closer to killing LE than she, so I'm not even really mad at her for believing it.

---

Page 217

Ooooooh boy. Now we'll see if she still has any luck on her side. That's a sniper homing in on her throat!

---

Page 218

Oh geez. That didn't seem like it graced her.

So yeah. Her god tier judgment.

Heroic because she was trying to be a saviour? Just because Just Vriska? Or neither because irrelevant Candy Earth C?

---

Page 219

Oooooh snap. It went through her shoulder.

And now she's REALLY had it. Oh snap.

Is this picture by the way showing on a computer screen? The way the top is coloured in a blueish hue... Jane is watching.

---

Page 220

Uhm...

This for another SBaHJ interlude?

No, really, she's not using her dice, so... What's a snap going to do?

---

Page 221

Ooooooh, RIGHT!!!!

Yeah, this would definitely get some people on her side, revealing herself as a god tier.

Also, it would serve as a good reminder to Jane that she can't just have a random sniper shoot her and think she'll stay dead.

---

Page 222

Oh hell yes. This works so well, describing this scene instead of showing it.

Vriska is absolutely terrifying when she cuts loose. At least she didn't kill anyone (that we know), not even in retribution. And because the kids were on her side, they shared in ALL THE LUCK, fortunately.

Right, so Tavros actually has more stamina than Harry, makes sense with Jake for a dad. And Vrissy is so enamored with Vriska's coolness, it's definitely going to become a Thing someone has to address at some point.

---

Page 223

There John is!

I didn't think the tower looked like it was built from lime, in my mind, actually. But yeah, I guess not EVERYTHING in the carapace kingdom can be coloured gold and/or purple, right?

---

Page 224

Hey, he has his god tier outfit back on! And Vriska's coming over to greet him!

... Is it me, or is the outfit grown too short, since I can see his waist? :P

---

Page 225

Okay, she actually likes seeing him again, under better (well, sort of) circumstances. Maybe it's the thrill she just went through.

Heheheh, but Adult John is a head higher than her.

---

Page 226

Ooooooh, awesome.

Glad to see John finding an actual way to bond with Harry!

He could've probably alchemized a bigger outfit, or magicked one, but having Harry redesign it is WAY better. So I guess his sprite is bigger now, but I wonder if the same is true for the other adults.

Also, yes, John is again very good at pointing out the obvious shenanigans of having two Vriskas could entail. He's always been good at making those connections. And cool to see how his inherent dweepiness has turned into being an embarrasment to his son, now that John himself is an adult. :P

Hah, so Rose & Kanaya are coming over - Vrissy's already feeling embarassed by getting fawned over. Though with Jade along, I hope we'll get to know about "Yiffy" - who's apparently held close to Jane.

---

Page 229

Hahahah, nice to have at last the 3 remaining B1 adults together.

So, Yiffy is something John doesn't know about and is being kept in the dark about. Weird... Like, I don't think it's like a polyamorous CANINE lover for Jade, right? Not sure what to think at this point.

And Kanaya is too busy fuzzing over Vrissy to comment on John's clothing.

---

Page 230

Hahahahah, the idea of Vrissy turning into a little hissy-fit goblin as her mothers try to clean her up is delightful.

And the others seem to want to keep John in the dark on some of the things about the war, but they really shouldn't. I'm very curious about the truth, but also, John would definitely be able to help.

... Wait a minute. Yiffy doesn't mean Roxy, does it???

---

Page 232

Ahhh, things were turning up so dramatically... And then John goes and leaps to the most WRONG conclusion he could make. I mean, no offense to him of course, he's been kept out of the dark.

---

Page 234

I wow.

W---

Jezus H. Christ.

This does indeed read like a chapter in a bad fanfic. But it's real. Real as can be.

Jade and Rose have a daughter. That's... Wow. This I gotta process.

It feels as though the chapter is winding down, and with it, this little interlude on Earth C. What a day.

But yeah, Vrissy will definitely have some FEELINGS about this revelation.

... The fact that the name started as one-upmanship and stuck because of carapacian bureaucracy, and this was the reason for the secrecy of years. That's just wild.

Her name is a play on Pippy Longstocking of course. And long stockings are what Jade wore. Dear lord, this is insane. This really fucks up the family tree some more, too.

---

Page 235

Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff----

Yeah, the issue of Dave's absence kind of got sidetracked there.

So I wonder if Davebot actually had the decency to look Jade up before leaving.

---

Wow. Let's take some time to digest THIS whopper of a revelation.

Also: of course the 8th chapter would be full-on focusing on Vriska.

#homestuck #homestuck^2 #yiffy lalonde harley #liveblogging homestuck #vriska serket #harry egbert #harry anderson egbert #tavros crocker #vrissy ml #vriska maryam lalonde #john egbert #jade harley #rose lalonde #kanaya maryam #reaction

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seouledbysisi · 4 years

Text

New World

Chapter 12

Mia

Mia looked over the concept for Red Velvet’s new comeback. They wanted a lot of red and black in the styling. It was going to be a very girlie theme with lots of lace and floral prints. She took a deep breath “I can do this!” She spoke out loud to herself. Her first meeting with the girls seemed to go fine but after a week she felt like she was in some dimension of hell.

“I don’t like floral prints!” Seulgi expresses with an attitude. She stood staring at Mia as if she had stupid written on her forehead.

Mia looked up out frustration. “Whose the stylist here? Because last time I checked I am!”

“I’m just telling you what I’m not going to wear.” Seulgi shrugged.

Irene hit her arm to try and reign her in. “Stop, Seul!”

“I get paid to style, not you. If SM thought any of you were capable of styling yourself, I wouldn’t even be here. So do me a favor and stop complaining every second and making demands. I’m all for ideas but when you come across bitchy, that’s when I have an issue!” Mia stood. “I’m going to lunch and you’ll wear what I tell you to.” She walked out of the dance studio and headed downstairs to find the cafeteria. She hoped to God that Gianna was around somewhere.

Gianna

She stared at the hot bar. She didn’t know much about korean food at all. She was lost. She had been bringing her own food because she was a bit afraid to try the unknown. Today she would be forced to though because she was running late for work and didn’t have time to fix her own food. She sighed.

“Tteokbokki is really good if you like a bit of spice.” Someone told her from behind.

The voice wasn’t familiar. She immediately looked around. “Hey Kai!” She smiled.

“My English is not good but try tteokbokki. You’ll like it.” He smiled and patted her shoulder.

She nodded. “Okay I guess.” She grabbed the small bowl. She eyed the dish for a minute. She shrugged and grabbed a side salad as well and found a empty table. She hadn’t made any lasting connections yet so she was a loner especially when there was somewhat of a language barrier.

Mia slammed her tray down on the table in front of Gianna. “I’ve about had it with Seulgi!”

Gianna’s eyes widened. “Still not any better?”

“No and she won’t stop making demands. Everything I suggest she disagrees with.” Mia rolled her eyes. “Like I thank Johnny for the job but this is going to be the longest month ever. I really pray they reassign me.”

Gianna smiled as she stared at something behind Mia in the distance.

“Why the heck do you have that big goofy smile on your face when I just told you how bad my day has been?” Mia was starting to get upset because she felt as if Gianna had been clearly ignoring her.

“Your day is about to get better. I have a strong feeling!” She winked.

Mia raised an eyebrow. “I guess.” Suddenly hands were covering her eyes.

“Guess who?” A deep voice spoke.

Mia exhaled loudly. “I don’t know. I’m really not in the mood!” She was irritated.

Gianna smirked. “She’s in a pissy mood, Johnny. Excuse her behavior.”

Mia turned around to look directly in Johnny’s face. She immediately jumped up out of her seat to hug him. She squeezed him tight. When she realized what she was doing she quickly let go and smoothed her clothes down. “Sorry. It’s just been a while since I physically saw you. I know I shouldn’t be in your arms like that especially here. Don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.” She smiled awkwardly.

He raised an eyebrow. “What kind of wrong idea?” He chuckled.

“People might think we like each other or more so that I like you.” Her cheeks reddened. She was clearly embarrassed by her big mouth.

Johnny smirked and rubbed her arm. “Would that be a crime? I’m a cool guy, you’re a cool girl. I think we’d be pretty cool as a pair, right? Gianna what you think?”

Mia became even more embarrassed as her heart started pumping even more.

“The coolest pair!” Gianna agreed.

Seulgi walked into the cafeteria and grabbed a water bottle. What was even more shocking was that Taeyong was in conversation with her.

Gianna’s heart stopped for a moment.

Mia rolled her eyes. “Are they close?” She asked Johnny. Suddenly the only emotion she was feeling was a bit of anger.

“Uh not really. They were paired together for a performance one time and since then she kinda pops up on him sometimes.” Johnny answered as he eyed their interaction.

Gianna stuffed her mouth with a bite of salad. She was clearly stress eating.

“Hey Tae!” Johnny waved him over.

Gianna shook her head. “No! Why would you do that?!”

Johnny chuckled. “Why not? We’re all friends, right? Or am I missing something?”

Tae headed over. Seulgi followed.

“Yeah we’re friends.” Gianna spoke dryly and stared at her food.

Taeyong patted Mia’s shoulder. “What’s up?!”

“Nothing much just trying to get Seulgi and the other lovely ladies together for their comeback.” Mia winked in Seulgi’s direction.

Seulgi rolled her eyes.

“Oh so this is your new stylist?” Taeyong asked in their language.

Seulgi nodded.

“She’s good. Trust me.” Taeyong spoke English at that point and smiled.

“Thank you for having faith in me, Tae! Good friends like you are hard to find!” Mia continued to rub the fact that she knew Taeyong in Seulgi’s face.

Seulgi was becoming irritated. It was written all over her face. “How do you her?”

“She won a contest for our tour a couple months ago.” He stated plainly.

She began to laugh. “Oh so you’re a fan?” Seulgi picked.

Mia became frustrated.

“She is but she’s more than that too. We’re all friends.” Johnny admitted.

Mia smiled.

Seulgi rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Taeyong are you going to eat with me? I know you don’t want me to have to eat alone.” She whined.

Gianna stared at the woman. She felt jealousy rise up in her. She was praying that Tae didn’t agree. She didn’t even know why she cared, they hadn’t even spoke to one another since he’d been standing there in her presence. He simply had smiled a little.

“We have practice. Sorry Seulgi. I’ll see you later.” He said and left out the cafeteria.

Seulgi walked away to find a table.

“I have to go but if you’re not busy tonight I think the guys were talking about going bowling. Wanna go? Be my guest?” Johnny asked as he looked from Mia to Gianna.

Gianna smiled. “Mia, you should go!”

“I’m talking about you too Ms. antisocial!” Johnny nudged her.

“Oh. I figured you just meant her.” Gianna giggled.

Johnny pulled her into a side hug. “We’re all homies, okay?!”

Gianna simply nodded.

“So we going or nah?” Mia asked.

“Sure!”

Johnny began to walk away. “See you tonight! I’ll text you the addresss.”

Bowling Alley

Before walking into the building Gianna paused.

“What’s wrong?” Mia asked as she eyed her curiously.

She took a deep breath. “Do I look okay?”

Mia examined her outfit.

“Why wouldn’t you? You’re always cute!”

Gianna becam highly self conscious all of a sudden. She never felt this way. “You have to say that. Like seriously would you wear this?”

“I mean that sweater is actually mines, you just never gave it back!” Mia chuckled loudly.

Gianna looked down at the sweater. “Oh shit! I totally thought this was mines. I’ve had it so long!”

“It’s totally fine, Gi. You look cute!”

“You’re the fashionista, and I’m just plain Jane most times.” Gianna said as she eyed Mia’s outfit. She thought Mia was the most beautiful woman ever, she just didn’t compare at all.

Mia slapped her arm. “You’re sizing me up and silently judging yourself. Stop it! You’re beautiful. Now let’s go inside. They’re waiting on us.”

When they walked in the first person they heard was Haechan. He seemed to be the life of the party. Oddly there was a female standing beside him. She was gorgeous with thick, curly locs of hair. She clearly wasn’t korean.

“Who the hell is that?” Gianna asked.

Mia shrugged. “I have no idea but I wasn’t expecting other girls to be here. Like at all. I didn’t even know they could hang out with girls.”

The girls walked over to the group.

Haechan smiles big. “Ladies! Y’all ready to lose?”

Mia smirked. “Just a warning, I’m a pro.”

“Oh really?” Johnny smiled.

“Oh yeah! We played all the time while we were in college.” Mia explained.

Haechan snatched her close to him. “You’re on my team then. This is the winner’s circle.”

The girl standing next to him looked up from her phone and eyed where his hands were on Mia. She cleared her throat a little. “You’re going to get enough of getting in people’s personal space all the time.”

He pulled her into his side. “Stop being so moody!” He kissed her cheek.

“Stop! You know I don’t like that.” The girl whined with her lips pouty.

“Yeah cause you love it!” Haechan laughed and kissed her cheek again.

Gianna simply stared at their exchange. He seemed a bit too flirty with her. Could it be that he had a girlfriend and it just wasn’t open information? She didn’t know how to feel about this. He seemed happy but the girl seemed sort of stuck up or maybe just a bit stand-offish.

Mia was a bit confused. Out of all of them she didn’t expect for Haechan to have a girlfriend but by the way he just kissed this girl twice on the cheek they had to be dating! There was no doubt about it. “So Haechan has a girlfriend?”

Johnny chuckled. “They don’t put labels on it. They claim they’re just best friends but you seen the flirting. It happens all the time.”

“How did they meet?” Mia questioned some more.

“Believe it or not she’s a fan. But they met at a restaurant. She’s studying here in Korea for college but she’s from the states like us. She was our server.”

“So y’all just make it a thing to hang out with fans?” Gianna interceded.

“I know it sounds cliche but I’d much rather hang out with someone normal than be surrounded by workmates. When I’m not working I want to be around people that make me feel like I’m actually not working.” Johnny explained.

“Wow. I get it though. You want a normal life too.” Gianna spoke quietly. She eyed Taeyong who was sitting waiting on the teams to be called.

Johnny smiled. “We don’t just make it a habit but if a connection is made then who are we to shoot it down. It feels good for someone to treat us normal.”

Haechan and Jaehyun ended up being team leaders.

“How good are you?” Jaehyun asked Gianna.

Gianna shrugged. “I’m decent I guess.”

“She’s being modest. She’s the shit!” Mia answered.

“Well then I want you.” Jaehyun answered with a smile.

Gianna smiled. “So your big mouth just caused us to be on separate teams!” She told Mia out of frustration.

“You’ll survive. This will be fun.”

“But Taeyong is on my team too!” She rolled her eyes.

Mia winked. “Even more reason for you to be happy tonight!”

They bowled. The teams were neck at neck. The last round had finally came and it was between Taeyong and Doyoung to see who would win. Taeyong tossed his ball down the aisle. He squatted to watch it roll. The precision was damn near perfect. It hit right down the middle and all the pins fell over.

The team began to scream.

He was in shock. He really wasn’t that great at bowling but he had won the game for them.

“No! No! We were supposed to win.” Haechan fell to his knees jokingly.

The curly haired girl reached her hand up to pull him up.

“No just leave me here to drown in my tears.” He fake cried.

She giggled a bit. “Get up! It’s not the end of the world.”

Mia stepped over to her. “I never asked but what’s your name?”

“Oh I’m Chae. And you are?” The girl answered.

“I’m Mia. I’m obviously new.”

The girl smiled a little. “It’s never a boring moment.”

“I see. Well it was nice to meet you.” Mia spoke and walked back over to Johnny.

Gianna sat with her leg crossed over the other. She was scrolling through Twitter as she noticed long slender legs standing in front of her. She looked up slowly. When she noticed the beauty of this perfect man, her heart began to pound.

“Can we talk? Privately.” Taeyong asked.

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hautegirl07 · 5 years

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More Songs I Loved in 2018

Ddaeng - BTS

Home - JBJ95

Treasure - Ateez

Artist - Soya

She’s in the rain - The Rose

Love Scenario - IKON

Wow Thing - Seulgi, SinB, Chung Ha, & Soyeon

I’m Not Afraid - Holland

Dance the night away - Twice

Bingle Bangle - AOA

Hann (alone) - (G)I-DLE

See sea - hyolyn

Sober (ft Ummet Ozcan) - HYO

Call Your Name - JBJ

Lullaby - Got7

Just Do It - BSS

One Shot, Two Shot - BoA

Oh My! - Seventeen

Siren - Sunmi

Killing Me - IKON

Goodbye Road - IKON

Shoot Me - Day6

Everyday - Winner

Boss - NCT U

Baby Don’t Stop - NCT U

Go - NCT Dream

Touch - NCT 127

Sugar Cake (ft Microdot) - COCO

Touch (ft Basick) - SoRi

Cherry On Top - The Unit

Countless - Shinee

Good Evening - Shinee

Our Page - Shinee

I want You - Shinee

The Hardest Part - Roy Kim

Only Then - Roy Kim

We Young - Chanyeol & Sehun

Sober - Suzy

It’s Okay - Raina

100% - Kisum

Idol - BTS

Horololo - EXO-CBX

Starry Night - Mamamoo

Egotistic - Mamamoo

Get It - Pristin V

Don’t Leave - Block B

Light - Wanna One

Honestly - Eric Nam

Whisper - VIXX LR

Easy (ft Sik-K) - Wheein

Travel - BOL4

Dejavu - Nu’est W

Here We Are - Ashley

Puzzle Moon - GWSN

Shinin’ - Jonghyun

Sunny Summer - GFriend

Ride on the Wind - KARD

Giddy Up - The Boyz

Dinner - Suho & Jang Jane

Days Without You - Davichi

Spotlight - VAV

Always You - Astro

Sunset - Kim Dong Han

Holiday (ft DPR Live) - Suzy

Now Or Never - SF9

Touch & Sketch - Leo

I’m Your Girl ? - Khan

Lil’ Touch - Girls’ Generation - Oh!GG

La Vie En Rose - IZ*ONE

YES or YES - Twice

Crush - Weki Meki

Forever Yours (ft Soyou) - Key

Not That Type - gugudan

You Look So Different - MXM

I Don’t Miss You - Eric Nam

Regular (English Version) - NCT 127

Simon Says - NCT 127

Hold It Down - Jun

Selfish (ft Seulgi) - Moonbyul

SOME (You’ll Be Mine) - Nature

Fiancé - Mino

Spring Breeze - Wanna One

Fanci - Girlkind

Help Me - Nu’est W

No Air - The Boyz

Wind Flower - MAMAMOO

Turn It On - Laboum

Miracle - Got7

Still (ft Luna) - NakJoon

Still Love You - Lee Hong Gi & Yoo Hwe Seung

Late Night - Loco & Gray

Whatcha Doin’ - Yesung & Chung Ha

RBB (Really Bad Boy) - Red Velvet

King - Got7

Sleep Mode - NakJoon

Bbibbi - IU

Ddu-du Ddu-du - BlackPink

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tocinephile · 2 years

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The Morning After...2022 Oscars Edition (aka WTF happened??)

Well... for anyone who didn't watch the Oscars last night, you missed a historic show, but in some ways that might also have been for the best too.

First off, can we agree we were all Nicole Kidman last night?

I typically provide a brief summary of the ceremony and then delve right into the winners, but this year only I'm going to separate this into two posts and start with my impressions of the show...

Before the start of the 94th Academy Awards there was much criticism about cutting out 8 awards from the live broadcast that they would then re-insert into the broadcast. What none of us realized was that's exactly what they meant, they took the announcement of the winner and the winner's acceptance speech for each category and played it during the live broadcast. I have no idea what this actually accomplished other than to shave 30 seconds off the winners walking on and off stage, and maybe giving folks longer washroom breaks without seeming rude during the live broadcast?

These awards were hosted by Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall, a very obvious but appropriate move by the Academy to give the spotlight to women and women of colour. Their jokes were safe and mercifully brief, save for Regina Hall's male objectification skit ending with her frisking Josh Brolin and Jason Momoa. I know some guys were a little uncomfortable with this, and while I agree it went on too long, the other part of me can't help but think "women have been objectified for several millennia, dudes can endure this for 10 minutes."

On more than one occasion I wondered if there wasn't too much Disney hype, between the performance of the not-nominated "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto, to a surprise BTS appearance where they talked about their love of Disney/Pixar before offhandedly introducing nominated film King Richard.

Plus there's an extended clip of Wanda Syke's visit to the new Academy museum. I'd like to visit there myself, but they didn't have to cut out 8 awards from the broadcast only to replace it with a thinly-veiled advertisement for their new tourist attraction. Buy commercial time like everyone else!

Then came the slap heard (seen) around the world. Chris Rock took the stage to introduce the Documentary Feature category, kicking it off with his usual funny-in-the-90's-but-now-largely-inappropriate humour. He first made a sexist joke about Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem that neither looked very amused by but feigned neutral looks for. Followed by a comparison of Jada Pinkett Smith's hair to GI Jane, Smith has spoken openly of her alopecia (a medical condition resulting in hair loss) and it is a painful topic for her. While Will Smith initially kept a smiling composure, Jada was not amused and rolled her eyes. Chris Rock continued to drive this joke home at Jada's expense and the next thing we see is Will getting up on stage to slap Chris Rock. Rock, to his credit, took the hit well and kept his calm. All audio was cut out in North American broadcasts at this point while Chris said "wow, Will Smith just slapped the shit out of me" and Will repeated twice "keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth" Rock acknowledged he would drop the joke, took a few moments to regain composure while some freaked out person behind the scenes quickly re-typed what was on the teleprompter, and Rock proceeded to hand out the best documentary feature award to Questlove's Summer of Soul.

Summer of Soul is a documentary about the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969, made entirely using existing and never seen before footage. It's a project of love, and I don't know if anyone heard a word of Questlove's acceptance speech (I know I didn't) because we were all so distracted by what just happened. I had to rewatch Questlove's emotional acceptance, you can find the video of his speech embedded in this Deadline article.

If you want to hear the arguments for and against Will Smith/Chris Rock, look no further than Twitter. To me it was a series of mis-steps and bad decisions on both their parts. My opinions are reserved for the Academy's decision to proceed as they did. Will is not asked to leave after hitting Chris Rock because it's almost certain he's about to win the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, his first Oscar. He does in fact win, and proceeds to use his acceptance speech to help justify his actions citing that "Love makes you do crazy things". He's just assaulted another man on live TV and they give him an award and all the mic time in the world after two other recipients (International Feature Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Costumer Designer Jenny Beavan) were practically shoo'ed off stage when their acceptance speeches went long. This is then followed by a standing ovation for Will.

There is so much that is wrong here, I don't know where to begin.

Let's state the obvious dangers of Will Smith's statement "Love makes you do crazy things" Every person who has suffered abuse will recognize this statement. The person making the statement needs help so that everyone they "love" doesn't wind up needing help because of them.

Then there's the fact he wasn't asked to leave. If you're in a bar and you hit a man disrespecting your woman, bouncers are going to ask you to leave. It doesn't matter if the dude you decked was a huge douche and everyone agrees, you're out because you threw the first punch. At film festivals, events, and even on public transit there are clear signs indicating zero tolerance for abuse and that includes physical assault. But if you're a millionaire celebrity at the Academy Awards, you can just take go take your seat, receive an award, have your say, and get a standing ovation. *mind blown* I think this also has the potential to set a very dangerous precedent.

If you weren't still too distracted by the time Lady Gaga and Liza Minnelli handed out the award for Best Picture, you will have caught an endearing exchange. After Lady Gaga patiently and gracefully helps Liza through their intro, as they cut away to the clips of the nominees, Gaga leans over to Liza and with their mics still hot, she whispers to Liza "I gotcha" and Liza responds with "I know".

So to recap the evening, we start with an awards show that's looking to streamline from it's running time of 3 hours and 19 minutes last year by not airing 8 of the awards during the live broadcast. They then poorly re-insert these awards shaving off no more than a few minutes, add in an extra musical performance, fan picks from social media, showcase about their museum, and all the time the Leading Actor needs to justify violence on air to wrap with a running time of 3 hours and 42 minutes. Way to shorten a show.

Did I miss any key moments? Would you rather I just have talked fashion? Let me know your thoughts about the 2022 Oscars!

#Oscars2022

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allyn211 · 2 years

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Coda for Chris, Will, or the Oscars?

Last night's Oscar ceremony should have been remembered for the history-making movie CODA.

Instead, it will be remembered for the poor behavior of two grown men who should know better but apparently don't.

CODA is the first Best Picture winner to be from a streaming service (Disney +), the first starring predominantly Deaf actors to win Best Picture, and the second Deaf actor, Troy Kotsur, to win an Academy Award. Kotsur won Best Supporting Actor. (The first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award was Marlee Matlin, who won Best Actress in 1986 for Children of a Lesser God.) CODA is an acronym for Child Of Deaf Adult. The movie tells the story of the one hearing member (played by Emilia Jones) of a Deaf family who attempts to help her family's fishing business.

The headlines could and should be talking about how CODA can give its audience a look into the world of the Deaf and of the challenges the Deaf and CODA's face. They could and should be celebrating that a film with predominately Deaf actors could get made, could get the attention of the Academy, and could win Best Picture.

Instead, regular media and social media are screaming about the altercation between Chris Rock and Will Smith.

Rock, on stage to present the award for Best Documentary, joked from the stage that Javier Bardem had the hardest job that night because both Bardem and his wife, Penelope Cruz, were both nominated for Oscars, and "if she loses, he can't win!" Bardem was nominated for Best Actor for his role in "Being the Ricardos," Cruz for Best Actress in "Parallel Mothers".

The audience laughed, and Rock quipped that Bardem was "praying that Will Smith wins!"

Then he said, "Jada, I love you. GI Jane II, can't wait to see it."

For anyone unaware, Demi Moore, who starred in 1997's "GI Jane," sported a shaved head for the movie.

Jada Pinkett Smith, who was at the Oscars sporting a bald head, didn't laugh along with the rest of the audience . . . which included her husband, Will Smith.

Who laughed at first.

And then who, a few seconds later, came onstage and slapped Chris Rock.

The following exchange happened: (transcription is mine from this video, posted by Guardian News on YouTube.) Rock: "Oh wow. Wow. Will Smith just smacked the [expletive] out of me."

(audience laughter)

Smith: "Keep my wife's name out of your [expletive] mouth!"

Rock: "Wow, dude."

Smith: "Yes."

Rock: "It was a GI Jane joke."

Smith: "Keep my wife's name out of your [expletive] mouth!"

Rock: "I'm going to, okay? Oh -- oh, okay."

(audience goes silent at that point.)

Smith: "That was the, uh, greatest night in the history of television."

(audience laughs).

Rock: "Okay."

I did not know until today that Jada Pinkett Smith has alopecia, an autoimmune disorder which causes a person's hair to fall out. She went public with it in 2018. That was the reason she was there at the Oscars with her bald head. While checking my facts for this blog entry, I saw her quote: "Me and this alopecia are going to be friends."

She is bald and beautiful. (Me, I would probably be shopping for every wig I could find.)

Will Smith did win Best Actor for his role in "King Richard", the story of Venus and Serena Williams' rise to fame on the tennis court. He tearfully said that "love makes you do crazy things" in his acceptance speech, but offered no apology to Chris Rock.

Rock, as of this writing, has declined to press charges.

I'm sitting here, right now, trying to figure out what I can, or should, say to all of this. I stopped watching the Oscars several years ago, although I'm still curious about who won what. Several years ago, the theme of the Oscars was, "Let's go back to the movies!" I said in response: Hollywood, we'll go back to the movies when you give us decent movies to go back to!

Hollywood has had its share of decent movies with great actors and actresses, writers, and story lines.

But last night, we all got a glimpse of the ugliness that goes on behind the scenes.

This isn't the first feud/fight between actors or actresses in Hollywood history. It won't be the last. But if memory serves me correct, it's the first time such ugliness has spilled onto the stage on the night that Hollywood has picked to honor itself.

And these are the people we're supposed to look to as role models?

So, instead of what could be a healthy discussion about the challenges of Deaf people and their hearing children, what could have been an opportunity for a man to speak of his beautiful wife, we're now seeing the back and forth of, "It was staged!" "Chris Rock was out of line!" "No, he's a comedian!" "People have to put up with jokes." "Can't people take a joke anymore?" "Will was a real man, he got right up there and defended his wife's honor!" "Will should have settled it outside with Chris after the show!" "Will should have apologized to Chris in his acceptance speech!" Maybe there will be a decent, healthy discussion about alopecia and the toll it takes on its sufferers.

Maybe, although I doubt it, there will be a decent, healthy discussion about how men should handle their anger in face of an insult, especially when it involves their wife or significant other.

Maybe, there will be a decent, healthy discussion about the Deaf community and the challenges that Deaf and hearing members of the same family face.

Forgive my cynicism, but I doubt it. Decent, healthy discussion went out the window about a decade ago and it's taken a steady downhill plunge since.

Last night should have been about CODA.

Last night could have been about CODAs.

Instead, last night could have seen the coda of Chris Rock's career, Will Smith's career, and the Oscars as we know them.

Just my .04, adjusted for inflation.

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acaseforpencils · 6 years

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Sam Gross.

A couple of years ago, I was eating lunch with Sam and a bunch of the usual Pergola crowd, and we were talking about interviews. I hadn’t started A Case for Pencils at that time, but I had been thinking about how to go about it. Sam told me that the thing about interviews is that they are basically finished before they start, because the interviewer already knows how they are going to portray you, even before they talk to you. With that in mind, when I finally got around to creating this blog, I decided to go with a survey format. I wanted to do right by cartoonists, and allow them to be the funny, kind, and articulate people that they are, without my bungling things up! Ironically, this interview was done over the phone, so I hope I did right by Sam!

I recommend listening to the below audio clip of our phone call, wherein Sam talks about the difference between drawing funny and funny drawing, before you read this interview, because he is an inimitable storyteller, and I want you to be able to read it in his voice. —Jane Mattimoe

youtube

From L to R: Sam Gross, Jane Mattimoe (me/A Case for Pencils), Mort Gerberg, Sidney Harris. The original photo (on the photographed ipad) was taken by Sam’s daughter, Michelle, at Pergola des Artistes in 2016.

Sam: I always wanted to be a cartoonist, and at age six I drew what was possibly a cartoon, on my desk. My first grade teacher was Mrs Levy, and I guess she was my first editor, because she had my mother come in with Kirkman industrial soap, and we had to erase my cartoon from the desk. So, I knew what I wanted to do at a very early age.

Jane: You're lucky.

Sam: Yes, I am. I am very lucky. My wife was a vocational guidance counselor —she's retired now. She didn't have to do too much with me.

Jane: I read somewhere that you started cartooning in 1962. Was it actually earlier than that?

Sam: I was drawing before that, and I had one cartoon that was published in Saturday Review in 1953 when I was still in college. I was doing stuff for the school newspaper— actually very little because Morty Gerberg had a lot on that, and I finally got two weeks in when he was off on something or the other... Morty and I went to the same school, CCNY Baruch... I would say professionally, it was a little bit earlier [than 1962]. I was drawing and getting published in Europe, in France and in Germany, prior to that. We were there in ‘60-61. I began in earnest back here in 1962. That's when I started earning an income on it.

Actually, the first year I earned $985 in change, and my big client was actually— and I wasn't doing any drawing... I was coming up ideas— but a greeting card company in Brooklyn called Charmcraft. So, then of course, after the first year I did better.

Jane: You were in the military, right? I know George [Booth] got his start in Leatherneck. Did you do anything like that?

Sam: Oh yeah, as a matter of fact, in the military I was doing cartoons for the HAC Post—Headquarters Area Command — which, I was stationed in Heidelberg, but the newspaper was in Mannheim... and from that I did a book, Cartoons for the GI, which sold very, very well. I was getting statements every month, and I was making more than my Commanding Officer, which pissed him off tremendously. Yeah, I forgot about that book.

Jane: I remember you told me that someone in the military told you that you'd never be able to get a job.

Sam: Yeah, that was my Commanding Officer. He didn't recommend me for the Good Conduct Medal. He said to me— I was leaving the army by that time—and he said, “Nobody's ever going to hire you. You'll never have a job.” And he was right.

Actually, I did work in a legitimate job for six months... and I also...I guess I got a legitimate paycheck at work, you know, like I would have to file a W2 for... When I was first with that job, which actually was as an accountant, and then the other one was—which you can’t call full employed— which was when I was teaching at Pratt three semesters. I would get a paycheck there, but other than that, it’s been freelancing.

Jane: Wow! So let's see, you’ve been published everywhere of note, written a lot of books, and you were also the cartoon editor of The National Lampoon...

Sam: I was, yeah.

Jane: Did your time as a cartoon editor affect your process as a cartoonist? I mean, did it change how you viewed cartooning?

Sam: No. When you’re a cartoon editor, the only way it affects it is the audience and the direction the magazine is going. I also was cartoon editor at Smoke magazine, and for a very brief time, Parents magazine. Now I’m not gonna go to Parents magazine and try to get a National Lampoon cartoon in there. The only way it’s affected me is by basically the market of the magazine—not the quality of drawing or the writing—but basically I had in mind the readership of these particular magazines.

My well-worn copy of one of Sam’s classic cartoon collections.

Jane: What tools do you use to make your cartoons?

Sam: I use two old Rapidograph pens, a two and a half and a one. They’re color coded— blue and brown. I actually don't think it’s very important what your tools are as long as you’re doing this thing. I know a number of young cartoonists think that there’s something magical in a particular tool, whatever it is. You work with what you’re comfortable in.

On one occasion, and this was at Saturday Evening Post, a young kid wanted the secret for how to do this thing. He thought the secret was embedded in your tools, so he asked around, “What paper do you use? What pens do you use?” So he asked this guy, John Elcik, who was a cartoonist at the AP, Associated Press, and he asked him, “What kind of ink do you use?” And John answered with a very straight face, “Higgens Gag Ink,” and nobody corrected him because this kid was a real noodge. So it’s a running gag now, with “Higgens Gag Ink,” because it’s so ridiculous to get involved in the tools of this thing. You do what works. And you let go what doesn’t work. Brian Savage, who was living across the street from me on 3rd avenue was drawing with brush and lamp black, and he said “Oh you have to try it!” I tried it, and I was miserable. After a day and a half I figured, this ain’t for me. There are people who instead of working with a pen, they work with a brush. I can’t work with a brush.

I’m working with these busted Rapidographs because they are drafting pens, basically. I’ve learned how to put pressure... alleviate pressure...so I can vary the line with this thing. What I have done since Rapidograph has discontinued this line of pens, and they now have cartridge pens, is... there’s this guy in Pennsylvania... Connecticut rather, who deals in antique pens, and I got enough points and enough pens... cartridges that hold the points... I guess to last me for the rest of my life. I did it just in case they decided to change the pens, which they did.

Jane: I’ve talked to so many cartoonists who are mourning the loss of this Rapidograph pen, Like Marisa [Acocella] goes on Ebay to search for them.

Sam: I’m going to see Marisa tomorrow, and I’ll let her know about this guy.

Sam: I was in Paris, and I wasn’t taking my Rapidographs, because I don’t know where and how I have to clean these things, so I went into this art supply store, and they had a sale on Staedtler pens, and I asked the lady there—because France, and pretty much Europe, is not known for fantastic sales on art supplies— so I asked, “Why is Staedtler being so good to me?” and she said, of course, “Because they’re discontinuing these pens.” I use these pens...they’re waterproof, and they’ve got various points. They’re not as comfortable, but basically if I’m in Europe, I’m not doing any finishes, so I can use them for sketches. If I sell something over there, and they want something immediately finished, I would have to sit down and do it with a Staedtler pen.

Art supplies are diminishing because of the computer. Pretty much every art supplies store in New York is gone. There are plenty of places with art supplies departments, like Staples. The place I go now, on Madison Avenue, it used to be an art supplies and stationary store, and the guy moved over to Lexington Avenue, and he basically had the same thing...and also a printing business...he’s sort of limping along, and I make sure I go in and buy stuff there just to keep him in business, for godsakes!

Jane: You know, running this blog has really driven home that, like you said earlier, there isn’t a magic tool. I’ve interviewed dozens and dozens of people, and everyone has different tools that they prefer. So I agree, it’s just whatever you’re comfortable with...

Sam: You know, I’m not very good with color...Doctor Seuss was not very good with color...among other people— same with Shel Silverstein— they had it added mechanically, and you can see that in the Dr. Seuss books and The Giving Tree. Occasionally, I have to conquer my disabilities— because I'm doing greeting cards or whatever —to work with color. So with that, I guess I use the cheapest watercolors for working this stuff. I also know my limitations on this stuff... and my brushes are for wash and half tones... probably kinda beat up, but they do the job.

Jane: You take a while to do each cartoon, right? You do a lot of cartoons per week, and your cartoons look deceptively simple, but I know you really think about where each line goes. I remember that you gave me some of the best advice I've ever gotten for cartooning, which was was that you told me to draw funny, and I think what you meant was to make sure every line help propel the joke, rather than wasting space with superfluous details. Did I interpret that right?

Sam: Well, there's a difference between drawing funny and funny drawing. Usually a lot of people who can draw very well— really good artists— when they go into cartooning they’re doing funny drawing rather than drawing funny. Because they—I don’t know—in other words they exaggerate the nose...which possibly is not pertinent to this particular cartoon. They’re making funny drawing. Drawing funny is...George Booth draws funny, Bill Woodman draws funny… people say that I draw funny. I guess I do, in a way, but not as funny as their drawing. Sergio Aragonés draws funny... and I take— sometimes, which I'm doing now— I take two three weeks to do a drawing...just looking at it, and deciding… I don't consider myself a great artist, or even that much of a good artist, but what I consider myself is a really good gag man, a really good person that can tell a joke, that's what I do. You know, I'm weak in perspective, I can't draw a horse to save myself...but a lot of other people can't also— I’m in good company with horses, or lack of ability to draw horses. But I can tell a joke... and it takes a lot of work to do that.

Jane: Some people say either you’re funny or you’re not, but do you think people can improve their ability to tell a good joke?

Sam: Yeah I could see it over the years. Stuff that I did In 1969, when I began with The New Yorker, and getting in jokes...and drawing... to now, you know if I just go back in my files to 1969, I guess the initial reaction would be to hold my head and go, “Oh my God!”, but I've developed from there, and I realize that's where I was in 1969. And there are people, without my saying any names, that have been drawing the same way for 20-30 years, and to me it's amazing that they can do whatever they did 20 years ago, not that I would want that. You know, I’m very happy that I’ve advanced to the point where my drawings are totally different than I did in 1969, and before that between ‘63 and ‘69... and actually, up until ‘73 or so, when I was doing a lot of gags... writing for Charles Addams...he worked with gag men. I realized—George Price was actually walking around with my wife at a gallery of his stuff, and he was showing [her] various drawings there. And at that particular time, I was somewhat appalled that my idols were using gag men— one of them of course being Charles Addams—and [Price] turned to my wife and said, “you know, I’m not really involved with gags—I’m involved with furniture,” and it really gelled, and then I realized with Charles Addams, he was involved with mood and architecture, and some of these other guys that were buying gags, they weren’t very involved in germinating the idea, but once they had the idea, they could then work with it, and then come out with something really, really good. So some cartoonists are just different. You know there’s one cartoonist that can draw anything, but for the most part he uses set gags

Jane: So I was looking at your Wikipedia, and it says in 2012 you had a total of 27,592 cartoons. What’s the tally now?

Sam: 31,577.

Jane: Wow!

Sam: Well what I do is I throw out a lot of gags. I’ve probably thrown out over 5000 gags. You throw out gags cause they’re obsolete. Let’s say the gag —the idea— involves a rotary telephone, which there aren’t any rotary telephones anymore! Or a phone booth, of which there are very few. I think there were two left in New York City on West End Avenue. There was an article in The Times on that. So you throw this stuff out, you throw out stuff that’s obsolete. Including, let’s say five years from now, if I had a gag on Trump, or if I had a gag on McCain… you throw out a gag or idea if it’s lousy, “Oh my god, what was I thinking about?!” Out of 31,500 gags or so, I have duplicates, “Oh my God I did that one, there it is again,” so I throw that out. This keeps me sharp, otherwise I would probably need a larger studio… Yeah, 5000 gags takes up a lot of space.

Jane: Wait so you throw away cartoons? Actual physical drawings that you’ve done?

Sam: Yeah! And there are other drawings, by the way, in my books...and I look at this thing, and it’s my gag, it’s my idea, and I don’t get it. I don’t know where my head was when this thing was germinating in my mind. I have no idea, and I look at this thing and go “huh?!” I just get rid of it.

Jane: So you’re not like Mort who has a storage facility with thousands of cartoons…

Sam: No, no—I’m not gonna have a storage facility. I have a studio down the block from where I am. And actually, since I own it, and I’m paying maintenance on it, I’m probably not paying much more than he’s paying on his storage facility, wherever the heck that is.

Jane: I used to store my cartoons in a stack under my bed in my old apartment, and the mice let me know what they thought of my work by sh-tting all over it.

Sam: That’s another thing by the way, with piles—there’s one cartoonist I know, his system, as far as cartoons are concerned, one pile is horizontals, the other pile is verticals. That’s his system. And what I tell some of these young people at The New Yorker, which you’re aware of, because you were one of them, is to control the volume of this. And one way is to number them on the back, and then every one of them is an inventory number. Otherwise, when stuff goes out to Whoopie magazine or something, you know that you’ve sent this stuff out. Now you push scan and send it out, but you sent out 2831, 3743, with 16000… and you know which cartoons were sent out without having to describe them.

Now what I don’t do, which people think I should do, and I’m possibly gonna have to, is scan these things and put them on a disc or whatever. I really don’t want to do that now, because I don’t want to get into the nitty gritty, and of course I’m gonna have to hire somebody. I’d rather just sit down, draw, and create. And I’ve got this system well enough that if you need something—let’s say it’s a men’s magazine—I go to my “Men’s Magazine” folder, and I pull something out. If you need something for natural history—let’s say turtles — I can pull out something on turtles. As a matter of fact, I had a request a while back for dental cartoons, and I thought I never had that many, and I went into “medical,” and I had enough there to open a full file on dental.

I keep it loose, but not very loose. There is a control. I can go into something, and pull it out,or get it... at worst I think it can take twenty minutes. But there’s a method to this madness.

Jane: So this blog is supposed to be an educational resource for aspiring cartoonists and artists, and I was wondering if you had any advice that you wish you’d been told when you were first starting out, or that you think they should know...

Sam: Yeah, which is something you probably have experienced. There’s no love in this. I tell people, especially these young kids up at The New Yorker... sooner or later, The New Yorker is going to break your heart if you’re going to put all of your effort there. There’s no love there— I don’t love The New Yorker, and The New Yorker doesn’t love me. I’ve had, on many, many occasions... what usually has happened,or actually, what has happened, is that the market that I’m dealing with changes editors, and all of a sudden I’m out, and somebody else is in. I had this happen at Harvard Business Review, and the art director was a guy named John O’Connor, and I was selling to him for... I guess seventeen years, and the magazine was faculty run, which meant that it was run by crazies, because there were faculty wars involved, and those people were thrown in, people were thrown out, and people were in limbo, and John was able to survive for seventeen years, until he finally he became a casualty of the faculty wars there, and somebody else took over, and then I was selling sporadically, rather than the way I was selling before. Then later, I got a letter in the mail, hard copy, and they were informing me that they were buying all rights now. So I wrote them a letter back, or posted it by email, I don’t remember, “Please be advised that all the cartoons that you bought prior to this are my property. And if you get any reprint requests, please forward them to me.”

That’s the other thing by the way. And that’s rights. If you own the stuff, it’ll work for you. And I’m not saying every one of them will, but we call these cartoons that grow us money, we call them evergreens. The champion evergreen for me is the frog legs cartoons. I don’t have to say anything more. Everyone knows that one. The other one is the snail cartoon. “I know she’s a tape dispenser, but I love her.” The reason that these cartoons are paying me money— the frog legs cartoon is 47 years old, much older than you— the reason that these cartoons are generating money is because I own them.

I had a friend of mine who was selling to Mad magazine, and he got very involved, and he was selling there for years and years and years… and one day he walked in there, and they told him he was too derivative, whatever the hell that means, and that they were no longer buying from him.

Jane: That’s terrible!

Sam: Well, this happens. He was lamenting to me, “Thirty-five years! Thirty-five years, and I’ve got nothing.” You gotta be very careful with where you’re selling. I was stuffing an envelope in 1977 for Playboy, and all of a sudden this light bulb went off, and I said, “Hey wait a minute! They’re paying three hundred and fifty dollars, but buying all rights,” and I said, “I can’t make any money on them. I’m gonna get the three hundred and fifty dollars, and that’s it.”

If I had sold all rights on that frog legs cartoon, which came out in December 1970, they bought it for one hundred dollars, and that’s what I would have made on it. One hundred dollars—that’s it. Now, this thing has made thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars. I had a lithograph, which I think I made fifteen thousand on—just on the lithograph.

That’s the other thing— all my cartoons are inventoried and posted in an index, and when a cartoon makes money, for whatever reason, I post it, to the nearest dollar, how much money this cartoon has made. And for the frogs leg cartoon, and the tape dispenser cartoon, I had to add a page with all the action that went on with it.

It’s very very important for you to retain your rights, cause otherwise you’re not gonna last. There are just so many variables going. I just sold the frog legs cartoon to a movie company, and they just came out with a movie about The National Lampoon on Netflix. It’s a prop. I think it’s hanging on a wall that somebody walks by. And I billed them $150 for it.

Sam: Hello?

Jane: Oh, sorry, I was just listening!

Sam: So again, rights are very important. Ownership is very important. If you feel like, “Well, I’ll do it just once or twice,..I need the money... I’m desperate,” they feed on you. Basically, their attitude towards you is that you’re the shmuckartist—that’s one word-—shmuckartist, and they take advantage of you. Usually, I just had it recently again, when this woman said to me— and I won’t say what the market was—“We only have the best interest at heart.” When somebody tells you that, they’re trying to screw you. The same thing when they begin the conversation with “You gotta understand,” that’s another rotten deal they want you to go into, okay? I did this cartoon, actually it almost happened to me that way, where you walk into an office, and there’s this guy behind the desk, and every chair in the office is occupied, so you can’t sit down, so you’re standing in front, and there are guys there ( and in this particular case it was all guys)… and I got a cartoon out of it that was in The New Yorker. Basically, you’re supposed to stand at the desk and pull on your forelock and hunch over. I did this gag, with this big corner office,with the big desk, and there’s four- five guys sitting in chairs, and the guy behind the desk… and this poor shlump is standing in front of the desk, and the guy behind the desk is saying, “Work with us, we’re trying to screw you!” I got a gag out of it, finally after these many years, because this happened when I was selling to girly magazines, back in the ‘60s, and sometimes something germinates after 50 years.

Jane: So you’re saying if someone has to tell you that they’re being nice to you, they probably aren’t?

Sam: Well, probably not. Look at it this way, this is a person at Condé Nast— not at the magazine, but dealing with another department —my feeling is, if she’s telling me, “We only have the best interest at heart,” this is not true, because being employed by Condé Nast, she’s gotta have Condé Nast’s interest at heart ahead of mine, because if she doesn’t, she’s gonna get fired. So of course, it’s bullshit.

Jane: I remember you would tell me and other cartoonists to be like a street rat. Could you explain that a little?

Sam: Yeah, well, you should figure out where else you’re gonna survive with this thing. For instance, I guess this was the 1980’s, when William Shawn was under tremendous pressure to resign, which it took a while... For some reason, he didn’t take a shine to me, and I couldn’t sell him for a period of 14 months, but I was up there every week, running cartoons through, and then selling to Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, National Lampoon... Basically, I was running this stuff through The New Yorker, and knowing, knowing, that this thing is not going anywhere at The New Yorker. However, I have this stuff, I’m setting it up through The New Yorker… having this stuff now salable for other magazines. It looks pretty good— “Hey let’s go to Cosmo. Let’s go to… I guess at that time, True magazine.” So yeah, you gotta be a street rat. People come up to The New Yorker— “What are you gonna do with this next?” and they go, “I dunno!” Well if you don’t know, you’re not gonna survive.

Jane: Can I tell you a story about the first time I went into The New Yorker?

Sam: Sure!

Jane: It was when they were still at 4 Times Square, and I was scared to death, but I remember specifically that you were extremely welcoming, and made me feel like it was okay that I was there...and you invited me to Pergola [des Artistes] with all of the other guys, and you even drew a map for how to get there, which I later hung up on my wall... I just wanted to say, thank you for making me feel like it was alright for me to be there.

Sam: Of course it was alright for you to be there!

Jane: A lot of times as a young woman, especially in comedy, you don’t get welcomed at all, so it really meant a lot—from you, especially.

Sam: It’s such a tough business, that to be a hard-on in this business is disgusting, for want of a worse word. You try to make it easier for anybody and everybody, because I didn’t know what your work was like—you were there, which was important to you.

Jane: Yeah, and you were just nice regardless, and that says a lot about you as a person.

Sam: Well, thank you. I went through my first first showing, it was at Saturday Evening Post, and I still remember Henry Boltinoff, a cartoonist there, had a sign-in list, so you signed in, and I was behind George Wolfe, and I sat down, and I was so scared. I didn’t ask “Who is George Wolfe?” I just sat there, and Henry Boltinoff walked up to me and said, “Hi I’m Henry Boltinoff,” and I said, “Hi I’m Sam Gross,” and he said, “You’re after that elderly gentleman there—ugly old gentleman there” (they were good friends), “that’s George Wolfe.” So you know, after that, I showed up again—street rat—I showed up every week. I never was a really big seller at Saturday Evening Post. And I got in my studio… I think it was Sidney Harris, no it wasn’t Sidney, it was Art Pottier…. he had taken two signup lists, he kept them, and he sent me two photocopies. Very interesting who was on there, including a couple New Yorker cartoonists. One of them was Alan Dunn, which was a big surprise, because he was a big star at the New Yorker. He at one point had sold more cartoons than anybody else, like 1200 cartoons. But, you know, there’s never a reason for being a putz.

The map Sam drew for me, in case the other cartoonists left for lunch while I was showing my cartoons.

Jane: Is there anything else you wanna say to aspiring cartoonists?

Sam: Again, I guess one thing is the business is changing. The whole publishing business is changing. You’re going up to publishers now, like The New Yorker, and there’s a desert of cubicles. There’s new technology going— for instance, now, I’m involved with cartoon festivals… in the old days, being two weeks ago [laughs] no, more than that... you would have had to send in an original. You would have to pack it, you would have to insure it, you’d have to worry about it coming back. Now you scan and send, and you don’t have to worry about any of this stuff, and this stuff is hangable, and people wanna buy it—they can buy the original. If people wanna buy prints, which is what I prefer, they’ll buy prints...and even submitting to magazines now, The New Yorker, which I”ll do tomorrow, is scan and send. I basically don’t have to go in. Usually I do go in, because one, it breaks up the week... and I have lunch with cohorts. It’s changing, and what it’s changing into I don’t know, but I am aware of it. Listen, there are very few magazines that I’m dealing with now. A lot of people I’m dealing with, in a way, are kinda desperate with what’s going on. It’s going on for them also— it’s going on for us and it’s going on for them, these monumental changes. My only advice on this is to be aware of it. I can’t give you advice for how to act upon it. I guess that’s it!

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221bfakerstreet · 6 years

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Okay, but thinking about gender-bent Harringrove... I can’t decide if Billie would have super long, frizzy, unruly hair or short, cropped hair. Because I could see her loving the length, but also short hair would be a “fuck you” to Neil.

I HAVE ALSO GIVEN THIS ENTIRELY TOO MUCH THOUGHT AH HA HA 😅But, ok. I definitely see her having long hair, mostly because I kind of hc Billy/Billie's mom as a once-hippie who fell in love with the wrong dude and had a baby too young, and one of the things that reminds her of her mother is the long, curly, blonde hair she inherited from her. Like she keeps an old photo of her mom when she was younger where she's wearing a fringed vest and throwing up a peace sign, and her hair is wavy and shining in the California sun and wearing her hair that way makes her feel like she could be standing right there on the beach with her mom.On the flip side! I can ALSO absolutely see Billie cutting her hair as a big ole "fuck you" to Neil and his prescribed notions of how she should dress/act as a girl. But I only see that happening once they move to Hawkins. Like maybe he says something shitty about her "dressing like a boy" or even (especially) telling her that she looks just like her mother, and it freaks her out bc WOW Neil used to abuse her mother, too, and NO THANK YOU. So she just goes full GI Jane and shaves it all off, bc she's Billie Hargrove and she is fluent in exactly one language: Fuck You™.

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eddycurrents · 7 years

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For the week of 28 August 2017

Just one comic stood out as a favourite for me this week; Generations: The Archers - Hawkeye & Hawkeye by Kelly Thompson & Stefano Raffaele. Published by Marvel.

Like the previous Generations one-shots, this follows the formula of a modern day hero sent back in time (or wherever) to interact with their predecessor. Also like the previous one-shots, there’s no explanation as to why or how that’s happening, which is a detriment to the overall plot, but here it’s easy to look past.

The main plot of the issue hinges on a straight-forward enough contest of champions to see the “best marksman alive”, with other characters being drawn to a mysterious island...mysteriously. It’s simple, but it allows Kelly Thompson to do what’s best about this issue and that’s character development. It also helps that there’s a good amount of humour throughout the issue that keeps the dialogue zipping along.

One of the editorial points of the Generations exercise is for modern heroes to learn or be influenced by something from the past (or whenever) heroes and Thompson delivers that in spades with the conversations between Kate and Clint. The mentor/student dynamic is mirrored in the revelation of who’s behind the contest and there’s a nice moment of revelation for Kate.

It’s also really nice to see Stefano Raffaele around again. Especially on a Hawkeye story, since I have fond memories of his art on an earlier Hawkeye series he did with Fabian Nicieza. His work is brighter and cleaner here than then, but it’s no less impressive. There are some very nice panoramas and establishing shots amid strong character work throughout the book, aided by a brighter colour palette from Digikore.

Thompson and Leonardo Romero’s Hawkeye series starring Kate is easily one of my favourite books from Marvel right now, deftly mixing humour, character development, intriguing plotlines, and drop-dead gorgeous artwork and page layouts that remind me of some of the highlights from Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye, while still having its own distinct voice and purpose. This Generations one-shot is a natural extension of that, essentially being Hawkeye #9.1, or maybe #12.1 since this story is supposed to continue (kind of) in #13. This one really feels essential if you’re reading the ongoing Hawkeye series.

Quick Bits:

Black Magick #7 largely keeps the numerous plates spinning, advancing the various bits in smaller degrees. All of it brought together by some truly gorgeous art by Nicola Scott & Chiara Arena.

| Published by Image

Faith & The Future Force #2 ups the stakes a few times as Timewalker, Ank, Faith, and friends continue to travel through time to try to stop an “evil robot”. It’s still not clear exactly when the present of the series takes place (I’m guessing before Harbinger Renegade #5, but definitely after the end of the Faith ongoing series), especially since other characters are plucked out of different time frames, and we’re still not given any exposition on exactly who this evil robot is and what he’s doing other than messing with time (erasing Adolf Hitler was apparently one of the first things, eliminating the Civil War another), but it’s still entertaining to see them continually throw larger and larger groups at it with reckless abandon. It’s a fun way to “kill the Valiant universe” without actually killing the Valiant universe.

| Published by Valiant

Jean Grey #6 is the first of two X-dips into magic and the supernatural this week, with young Jean turning to Doctor Strange for help in her trip of self-discovery and preparation for the oncoming Phoenix. We also get to see which “spirit” has been dogging Jean since the first issue. Maybe. I say “maybe” because since the first issue Dennis Hopeless has largely been setting up the possibility that things might not be 100% real. And maybe Jean is just crazy. That’s unlikely, but it’s still possible.

This issue also features some excellent guest art from Paul Davidson. His depictions of the astral plane and trips through the life and times of adult Jean Grey are worth the price of the book alone. It would be nice to see him get some regular work again.

| Published by Marvel

Lady Killer 2 #5 is wow. That’s all I can really say. This is one hell of an explosive end to the series. Joëlle Jones delivers another stunning issue. Do yourself a favour and buy both this series and the first volume. You won’t be disappointed.

| Published by Dark Horse

Optimus Prime #10 gets another of IDW’s Hasbroverse titles up to speed for the First Strike “crossover” that is already underway. That several of the other titles are also still out of sync is a similar problem that Revolution had. The stories are usually very good, but shipping late and out of order ruins momentum and important story beats. Read in a vacuum, though, the individual titles are still excellent and this issue of Optimus Prime is no different.

| Published by IDW

Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers #2, like the first issue, is fun. I was never a fan of the TV shows, but have been greatly enjoying what BOOM! has been doing with the license in comics. Ryan Parrott delivers on a mix of humour, character development, and action, all while Dan Mora continues to show that he should really be one of comics’ breakout talents.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Spawn #277 continues what is shaping up to be one of the most inventive and compelling runs on the title. The team of Darragh Savage and Jason Shawn Alexander have brought an atmosphere of dread and horror to Spawn that I don’t think I’ve seen since the Hellspawn series. I’m really liking this.

| Published by Image

Spider-Gwen #23 is kind of an odd place for a Mary Janes interlude just as the Predators story-arc was hitting a critical point. It’s a decent story by guest creator, Hannah Blumenreich, but it makes me kind of hate MJ. The art is great, though.

| Published by Marvel

Star Wars: Jedi of the Republic - Mace Windu #1 reminds you that you need more Denys Cowan in your life. His art here is a little more restrained than I’m used to, but it still shines throughout this first issue. There’s also some nice humour peppered throughout the script by Matt Owens that lightens the mood for this otherwise action-packed debut.

| Published by Marvel

Uncanny Avengers #26, excluding the Generations one-shots, is one of the first post-Secret Empire stories without said branding to deal with the fallout. It also gives a first step to an idea as to where Jim Zub may be going with the book as he makes it his own, bringing Scarlet Witch back into the fold for the first time since I think Rick Remender’s run, a kind of redemptive arc, but I had thought that a lot of the animosity between her and Rogue had been stitched up. Apparently not. Like the ruins of Avengers Mansion their still camping out in, it gives a sense of rebuilding for the team.

It’s also nice to see Zub reunited with one of his Thunderbolts compatriots, Sean Izaakse. I liked his art there and thought it was a shame he only did a couple of issues.

| Published by Marvel

Vampirella #6 extends Paul Cornell’s run on the series by the first of a two-issue arc. It also sees Andy Belanger of Southern Cross take over art chores, which in itself should make the comic an instant purchase. It’s an interesting trip through Vampi’s psyche personified through dream with some really, really nice artwork.

| Published by Dynamite

X-Men Blue #10 is the second of the X-dips into magic and the supernatural this week, as Beast hooks up with the Goblin Queen again. It also brings yet another alternate X-Men team to the title, since the original five and dimension-displaced, mind-wiped mutants from the Ultimate universe aren’t enough. To his credit, though, Cullen Bunn is really making this work. I’m not as keen on another rehash of the Jean/Scott romance plot, with an added Wolverine stand-in for a love triangle, for what seems like the millionth time. Bunn is very good with the characterizations, but seriously I think this plot has been done to death.

| Published by Marvel

Other Highlights: Animosity #9, Bankshot #3, Black Panther #17, Black Panther & The Crew #6, BPRD: Devil You Know #2, Crosswind #3, Deadly Class #30, Deadpool #35, Doctor Strange & The Sorcerers Supreme #11, Dungeons & Dragons: Frost Giant’s Fury #5, Ghostbusters 101 #6, GI Joe #8, The Normals #4, Paklis #4, Planetoid: Praxis #6, Rapture #4, Ringside #11, Saga #46, Star Wars #35, Thanos #10, There’s Nothing There #4, TMNT: Dimension X #5, Victor LaValle’s Destroyer #4

Recommend Collections: Archie - Vol. 4, Bullseye: Colombian Connection, Copperhead - Vol.3, Jupiter’s Legacy - Vol. 2, Magdalena: Reformation, Old Guard - Vol. 1: Opening Fire, The Other Side - Special Edition, Providence - Act 3

d. emerson eddy is unsure what he made anyone do and might like to apologize for it, maybe, but he doesn’t know what it was. Was it the slightly charred red peppers?

#This Week in Comics #Generations: The Archers #Kelly Thompson #Stefano Raffaele

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hurricane-jenn · 7 years

Text

Bullet Proof- Chapter 8

Hey guys, here is chapter 8. I have now planned out how this fic is gonna end. I have thought about having other multi-chapter fics in this universe and some dabbles. I might do that if people are interested. As always thanks to @jordan202 for the support and taking time out of her busy life every week to proof read this!

Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

“So Detective Hunt, what are your plans today?”

Owen smiled at Amelia’s suggestive question. Her arms were still around his neck and they were inches apart. “Well Dr. Shepherd, I was planning on making the beautiful woman standing in my bedroom breakfast, and then spend the day getting to know all about her. How does that sound to you?”

“It sounds perfect,” she replied inching her head towards his.

He closed the gap between them and captured her lips in a kiss. She opened her mouth allowing him entrance and their tongues battled for control. His hands found their way towards her waist and he pulled her closer, leaving no space between them. Her hands threaded through his hair and he let out a low moan when she rocked her hips against him. One of his hands on her waist roamed upwards and under her top. They both felt a shiver when his hand touched her skin. Amelia’s hands grabbed the collar of his shirt using it to pull him closer. Owen’s hands grabbed the hem of her shirt and he was in the process of pulling it off when a sound broke them out of their trance. It was her cell phone, they both groaned, their moment being ruined.

“Ignore it,” he whispered into her hair. Thankfully she listened to him and resumed their kiss. Unfortunately they were interrupted again by a vibration coming from Owen’s pocket.

“Is that a phone in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” Amelia joked.

Owen laughed and grabbed his phone out of his pocket. “Crap,” he sighed. “There’s been a break in the case, I have to go in. You should probably check yours,” he said nodding at where her phone was sitting. As if it knew she was paying attention now, her phone began to ring again.

She crossed the room to grab her phone, looking back at Owen she placed her finger in front of her lips indicating that he should stay silent.

“Hello?”

“Morning Boss! Did you manage to get some sleep?” the chipper voice of her assistant Stephanie greeted her. She was so perky that Owen could hear her part of the conversation on the other side of the room.

“Uhhh yep,” Amelia replied. “Slept like a baby.”

Owen smirked and Amelia glared at him indicating he needed to remain silent. He ignored her and busied himself with finding clothes for the day.

“Well good that you got some sleep cuz we have a break in the case, and it’s a doozy,” her assistant continued. “Another body was found in the building this morning, but this time our guy got sloppy. There is a sign of a struggle, probably DNA everywhere. I’m in the car on the way, want me to swing by and grab you?”

“No!” Amelia exclaimed causing Owen to look over at her startled. She waved him off and turned her attention back to her assistant “No, I mean I’m not at home. I met a friend for breakfast,” she lied. “I’ll just leave from here and meet you there.” Her assistant seemed to buy that response, and ended the phone conversation.

“Breakfast with a friend huh?” he teased her. “Do you kiss all your friends like that?”

“Shut up,” she replied slapping him playfully. “What was I supposed to say? Oh I’m not home because I spent the night at Detective Hunt’s, see you at the crime scene?”

“You do have a point, we might not want to tell them all just yet.”

She nodded in agreement, “You know the SPD gossip mill, and the ME’s office is just as bad. It might be good to keep this to ourselves for a while. Is that okay?”

“I think you’re right,” he said squeezing her hand. “Let’s figure out what this is before we bring the rest of the SPD into this. Now we better get going, I can drop you at your car on the way so we don’t show up together if you want.”

Amelia had completely forgotten that her car was still at the courthouse, but that was the least of her problems. “Owen, I can’t go to the crime scene dressed like this,” she gestured down to the sweatpants and shirt he had lent her last night. “And I can’t very well put on my outfit from last night. I told Steph I was out for breakfast with a friend, no woman wears a dress and stilettos out to breakfast with someone who is just a friend.”

Owen chuckled but when he saw how concerned she was he tried to reassure her. “Okay, it’s fine, just borrow and outfit from Teddy, she won’t mind.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, she won’t mind. She used to lend clothes to my sister all the time.”

Amelia sensed there was a story there but she didn’t pry. That must have been the woman she saw in the photo Owen had in his room.

Owen led Amelia down the hall showing her to Teddy’s room. “She’s still not home yet so just go ahead and take whatever you need. Her bathroom is attached, I’m sure she has any of the girly products you need.”

Amelia sensed he was embarrassed about having just said that so she decided to tease him. “Oh perfect. I could really use a tampon right now.”

Owen’s face turned bright red and he looked down at the floor.

“I’m only kidding,” she giggled. “Go get dressed, I’ll be out in a sec.”

Closing the door behind herself she suddenly felt weird being in Teddy’s room alone. She glanced around getting a feel for the room. It was definitely not what she would have expected Teddy’s room to look like. Then again she really didn’t know Teddy all that well. People in the ME’s office often jokingly referred to Teddy as GI Jane. She used to be in the army, she was tough, she was strong, often it seemed like she was just one of the guys. Amelia was surprised to see that Teddy had incredible decorating sense. The walls were beige, with all the furniture being a deep brown, and the decorations being shades of red. There was no clutter, everything in that room seemed to be placed there on purpose to complete the décor. In fact, Amelia noticed that all decorative pieces were placed in groups of 3s, something Amelia had remembered from some reality TV decorating show. This woman knew what she was doing.

Crossing over to the closet, Amelia began eying Teddy’s clothes. She had good tasted, and many of the pieces Amelia would have purchased herself. She was pleased to note that they were the same size. She grabbed a pair of jeans and a black flowy top; she could make that work with the blazer she wore last night. Pulling the top over her head she checked herself in the mirror. Wow this shirt looked great on her. She did not have the same luck when she pulled on the jeans. Though she and Teddy may have had the same sized waist, they most definitely were not the same height. When she pulled the jeans on they covered her feet and dragged on the floor. She settled for rolling the legs up to reveal her feet. Walking into Teddy’s bathroom she splashed some water on her face and borrowed a few products to clean herself up and apply a small amount makeup. Now her only problem was shoes, she was sure Teddy’s feet were much larger than her own. And after trying on a few pairs, she determined she was right. She finally found a pair of flats buried at the back of the closet that must have been too small for Teddy. They were still a little big on her but she would have to make them work. Giving herself a once over in the mirror she deemed herself good enough to go out. She really hoped Teddy was okay with all this.

Exiting the room she found Owen in the kitchen pouring coffee into travel mugs. He looked up and smiled when he saw her. “Well Doctor Shepherd, how do you manage to make borrowed clothes look so good,” he said kissing her on the cheek.

She blushed, surprised by his action. “Thanks, you sure Teddy will be okay with this?”

“Yes I’m sure,” he replied. “Now come on, I poured us some coffee. Though I wanted to be able to make breakfast for you we don’t have time for that.” He handed her a coffee mug and a piece of toast. “Let’s go.”

They hopped into Owen’s truck and they drove to the courthouse to grab Amelia’s car. They drove in silence most of the way, which would usually make Amelia uncomfortable, but with Owen it was nice. After a few minutes she felt his hand graze her thigh. She reached down and laced her fingers with his.

As they approached the courthouse Amelia broke the silence. “Alright Owen, when we get to this crime scene we have to be professional. No letting on that we just spent the morning making out like teenagers.”

Owen chuckled at the blunt way she phrased it. “So I shouldn’t cop a feel in front of all the cops? How else will I mark my territory?”

“Very funny,” she replied clearly not amused. “Remember, you agreed to keep this quiet. That means when we get to this crime scene we are nothing more than colleagues. We are civil and polite, but nothing more.”

“Yes ma’am,” Owen replied pulling in beside her car.

“Good solider,” she joked. She unbuckled her seat belt and reached for the door handle. Before she could open it Owen grabbed her arm. She looked back at him confused, but before she could protest he leaned in and fused his lips to hers. Amelia was shocked, but quickly responded with her lips. This kiss became heated very fast and Amelia knew she had to pull away before they were both late.

Owen smirked knowing he had taken her by surprise. “Good bye Dr. Shepherd, it’s been a pleasure working with you.”

Amelia laughed to as she got out of his truck. “You too Detective Hunt, see you at the scene.” She closed the door and got into her own car, waiting for him to pull away before following him.

Pulling into the crime scene Amelia cursed herself for talking the same route as Owen, now they were arriving at the exact same time. But they were both also very late, so she really could not have afforded to take a slower route.

Exiting her car she caught Owen’s eye. He nodded in her direction, “Dr. Shepherd, nice seeing you again.”

“You too Detective Hunt,” she replied pleasantly trying desperately to stop thinking about that kiss they shared in his truck on the way here.

They walked over to where everyone else was standing just outside the same office building they had been to just the day before.

“What do we have?” Amelia asked walking up to Steph.

“Our man here works for the same company as our victim from yesterday. Same MO, he was shot in the back, however the bullet seems to have missed all vital organs. Probably how he was able to fight back.”

“So how did he get down here?” Owen asked joining the conversation.

“Well judging by the scene upstairs he fought back and there was quite a struggle. Our attacker must have been quite strong, because he was thrown out the window.”

“How is that possible?” Amelia asked.

“Aren’t these types of buildings supposed to have stronger glass on windows to prevent this?” Owen added finishing her thought.

“Yes they are supposed to,” came Teddy’s voice from behind them. “The company cheeped out on the windows in this building, something our attacker must have known.”

Owen and Amelia both looked at Teddy surprised to see her there since she had not come home the night before, and even more surprised to see her wearing the same dress and heels from the night before.

“Nice dress Ted, but a little formal for a crime scene don’t you think?” Owen teased.

Teddy rolled her eyes at Owen turning her attention to Amelia. “Doctor Shepherd, that’s a lovely top, it looks so good on you.” She gave Owen and Amelia a knowing smirk before heading back inside the building.

The pair stood there stunned for a minute before Owen spoke up. “Do you think she knows?”

Amelia rolled her eyes at his stupid question. “Yes Owen, I would say that she knows. So much for keeping it to ourselves,” she stormed away from him into the office building.

Owen chased after her not caring what it looked like to the others. When he entered the building he saw Amelia stepping onto the elevator. Quickening his pace he jumped on before the doors closed. He immediately pushed the emergency stop button.

“Owen what are you doing?” she said startled by his appearance.

“Amelia calm down,” he reassured her. “Teddy won’t say anything. Did you really think she wouldn’t notice that you’re wearing her clothes? Besides she’s my roommate, she’ll catch on at some point. Don’t worry; she won’t say anything, because she knows we know she didn’t come home last night.”

Amelia had to admit he had a point. “I’m sorry,” she sighed. “I’m not mad, it’s just that this is so new and I want us to have time to figure it out and be in it together without everyone else giving their opinion.”

“I get that, I want that too. All I’m saying is you don’t need to worry about Teddy, it’ll be okay.”

He reached over putting his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. She came willingly into his embrace and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

“You know I have a tendency for crazy outbursts. You sure you want to sign up for this?”

“Amelia I’m in this with you, even if that means signing up for whatever crazy things you may do. I’m in.”

She pulled her head back so she could look at him properly. She saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. Leaning in she captured his lips in a kiss, trying to convey to him that she too was in it. Deepening the kiss, Owen backed her up until her back was pressed firmly against the wall of the elevator.

“Owen we are at work, we can’t do this now,” she protested.

He silenced her by kissing her again, his hands ghosting under her breasts. She moaned in approval when she felt his hands on her chest. He pressed into her, crowding her against the wall. She grabbed the hem of his shirt tugging it over his head. She let her hands roam is broad shoulders, and travel across his chest.

Suddenly a voice came over the speaker causing them to spring apart. “Uhhh guys,” Amelia immediately recognized Henry’s voice. “You know there are cameras in here right?”

#omelia #Owen Hunt #amelia shepherd #teddy altman #henry burton #tenry #grey's anatomy #omelia fics #omeliafics #omelia fanfiction #greys anatomy #my fan fics #Bullet Proof

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