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guardianspirits13 · 4 months

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Ok now for a list of things that I'm kind of iffy about or wish they had kept from the books. It's worth noting that I can't think of a single show exclusive scene they added that I did not like, and most of the changes were integrated flawlessly.

Starting out, the pacing. I'm hoping this gets better with time, especially given that the second episode has much more time to breathe. The whole first episode felt a little cramped, and some of the exposition felt a bit... exposition-y. I don' t think there is much they could have done to get around this though so I'm not gonna dwell on it.

As a fan of the series, I love how they introduced the structure and function of the PJO world with the intro, but I think the jump from "Percy sees things" to "everything is all real" felt a bit abrupt. I am curious what first time fans think about this, and again the first episode covers a lot more ground page-wise than ep 2.

Manchild Gabe... I am not sure how I feel about this. In the books he seemed downright threatening and even with Percy's 12yo bravado, he was still an intimidating figure. His bickering with Sally seemed more like your typical dysfunctional relationship than a power imbalance... both can be harmful in their own way, but I'm still undecided on how much giving Sally a bit more agency in her relationship with him effects the larger story. The whole "not all monsters look like monsters" thing works well in the books with Gabe, but I guess they were redirecting it to foreshadow Luke's betrayal? I'm not sure.

...which brings me to Sally. I was unsure about the casting, but she has earned her stay to me. I always imagined her as a bit more subdued, especially with the more intense iterations of Gabe. She's kind and gentle and has a rebellious streak, but as worried as she might be for Percy she hides it inside of herself. I think her being a bit more expressive as a character works in this setting though, especially since we aren't seeing her through Percy's kid colored lenses. She feels a bit less like the perfect, kind, and understanding mother Percy sees, and a bit more like a real-life single mother trying to keep some of that childhood wonder alive despite everything. She does seem younger than I would have expected, but that's a nitpick on my end. I think she is one character that I will always have a separate book/show counterpart for in my mind.

Ok. Now for Clarisse. Out of all the characters I was skeptic about, I think she's the only one who didn't win me over. This is a writing issue, nothing at all to do with the actress. She was characterized more as a 'queen bee' type mean girl than a bully who picks fights just to feel worthy of her father's approval. She would be better fit for a vindictive daughter of Aphrodite than a daughter of Ares. My mind might be changed in the future but we got most of her scenes in these first two episodes so I'm doubtful. The one moment that had potential was when Percy broke her spear, but the Clarisse I know would not back off just because there is an audience.

There was no hellhound... I was kinda looking forward to it, and it does emphasize that even camp isn't really safe for Percy and is a catalyst for both his quest and the idea that there is a traitor. I can kind of see why the cut it for thematic purposes so Percy feels safe for once in his life, but that's only if I squint.

The scene cuts. I know, I know they're supposed to mimic book chapters. I get it. But it just doesn't work for me, it feels like there's a lack of establishing shots and the black screen is long enough you think the tv is buffering. It's an interesting idea in concept, but the execution falls flat.

OH also as far as things that were missing- the 3 fates. I know this is in the show since it was in the trailers, but I'm curious as to where they're gonna put it now.

Anyways minor nitpicks aside these two episodes were an emotional roller coaster and absolute masterpieces of television cinema.

#pjo #percy series #pjo tv show #pjo tv spoilers #percy jackson and the olympians #pjo episode 1 #pjo episode 2 #pjo tv ep1 #pjo tv ep2 #pjo analysis #pjo meta #percy jackson #sally jackson #gabe ugliano #clarisse la rue #jess's thoughts

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koorminii · 10 months

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SHOW ME HOW | hwang hyunjin (m)

When you were young, you were friends with a neighborhood boy who liked the same things as you. Both of you were dirt poor, but it didn't seem to matter; as long as you had each other, there was always a make-believe adventure right around the corner. He grew up to be a star actor and, now that he's wealthy beyond imagination, seems to have forgotten where he came from. You haven't talked to him in years, but now he’s back, for reasons unknown to you, where you reconnect and reintroduce him to the life he left behind. (original prompt)

This is a little something I started writing last year, it’s actually the last thing I wrote and actually liked, before I seemed to forget how to. I’ve tried and tried to make it into something more but maybe it’s time for me to let go of it so I can let something new make it’s way in.

pairing: hyunjin x f!reader

genre: romance? very pg. childhood friends to strangers to one-sided enemies to lovers

word count: 1.5k

warnings: just feels; small towns, old friends, mentions of heartbreak, angsty, childhood friends to strangers (??) to one sided enemies (??), idk. a lot of secrecy.

missed u guys <3

p.s listen to it almost worked by tv girl for a better reading experience !

You never understood Hyunjin. Not after all those years when you were kids and especially not now. Not when you’d seen him cry every year on his birthday, not when he’d tried and failed to be friends with every newcomer in town, not when he’d stopped talking to you for days after you made fun of his dirt-caked sneakers (I’m sorry Hyunjin, I thought I’d earned that privilege!), and especially not when he’d left you, nineteen years old with not even a look back as he left to be something great while you were stuck being the younger version of your parents— a nobody.

You’d watched him grow up. You watched him mature from the young boy he was and into a man, and in turn he’d watched you as well. You were there when his voice deepened, when his mole started to fade— you were there when his eyebrows thickened and he lost all his baby fat. You were there when he had a huge growth spurt that left him hovering over you more often than not, even when you had always been the tallest. And in turn, he’d watched you. He was there when you decided to grow your hair out and also when you’d decided to cut it— he was there when you’d started to grow in your body and boys and girls started to take notice— he was there when you’d found something you loved, and he was there when your heart broke for the first time.

You were there to watch him bloom— standing by his side all the while as he did— knowing somewhere deep in your heart that he was meant for much more than the shoddy town you both had grown up in. It wasn’t horrible, no, you’d had a lot of fun growing up there. You never lacked fun, or something to do, or friends to make, but it wasn’t a place for flourishing.

It was a place where everyone knew everyone, where everyone went to the same spot to get alcohol, where everyone knew the best spot to get a fake ID; it was a place where the older generation couldn’t fathom why anyone would want a place in the city, where the docks still held old boats from the 70’s and the houses still held the same structure from years ago. It was a great town, one that held memories, but one that lacked growth.

You were there when Hyunjin flourished, when he grew so tall and bloomed so wide that he could no longer fit in your shoddy little town. When his wings spread so far that if he stayed he’d have to slouch a little— crouch down just to fit in. You were there when he found something he loved, when he found the one thing that made him happiest, when he found a dream to chase after.

You were there through his firsts— when he’d gotten his first job, his first rejection, when he’d gotten his first bad grade and his first perfect grade. You were there when the first argument with his parents turned into frequent ones. You were there during his drama lessons, during his practices, you were there when people would tell him he would never amount to anything— when people said he’d be a failure just like his parents— and you were also the one to stand up for him, throwing your first punch in his honor.

You never understood Hyunjin but you knew him. How he’d pick holes into his jeans when he was nervous, and dye his hair when he was really angry— how he’d sometimes just give you a hug, no warning and no words, just his warm embrace and for seemingly no reason at all, but you knew. You knew how he laughed when he was really happy, when he was being fake, when he laughed something small and sad. You knew what every twitch of his brows meant. You knew what he was trying to say when he’d look at you and his lips would quirk up for a split second— that was all you needed to know what he was trying to say without really saying it. You never understood your best friend, but you knew him. He was yours, and you were his. You didn’t need to understand because you knew. You were there.

You both liked to play the same video games, and every day after school you’d play before pulling out your homework. On the first day of school and every friday afterwards you’d both wear matching T-shirts— and whenever you’d manage to scrape up any money that was always what you spent it on. Something you both could match with. Weekends at the arcade in the next town over, going to the fair in the summer every single day until it closed for the year, swimming in the lake behind your house on the hottest summer days. Going to Mielle’s Diner like it was the best treat that your young minds could ever dream of. You both watched the same movies over and over again and would cry at the same exact parts. You’d read books together and yell at each other about them all the while, and watch whatever new drama was out — falling head over heels for the leads.

Now, the Hyunjin you see is a stranger. Twenty-six years to your twenty-four, he’s unrecognizable— in the way he dresses, in the way he talks, in the way he moves— even in the way he breathes. It’s clear that you no longer know Hwang Hyunjin from eight years ago. And of course that’s normal. After eight years you might not recognize what used to be your favorite song, or your childhood dog, your favorite TV show— if you hadn’t seen your parents in eight years you might not recognize them— but for you, someone who had always believed you and Hyunjin would be best friends forever— as childish as it was, looking at Hyunjin now feels like betrayal. Like heartbreak, one much worse than what made you stay all those years ago— it feels like coming home after a long day just to see your stuff thrown on the porch. It feels like going on a date expecting a proposal only to be broken up with. It feels like getting rejected from your dream school.

Seeing Hyunjin now isn’t familiar. You’ve seen him every once in a while on TV, in a magazine, in a cameo of your favorite show— but that wasn’t Hyunjin. Not your Hyunjin. That wasn’t the Hyunjin that used to throw rocks at your window and help you sneak out to go to karaoke. That wasn’t the Hyunjin that would always come to the diner where you worked and tip extra with the money he barely had. That wasn’t the Hyunjin that bought you your first pair of sneakers after fifteen years of hand-me-downs. That wasn’t the Hyunjin who’d rubbed your back and cried with you on the worst day of your life.

Yet, somehow, it is him. In the way he laughs, in the way he stands just a few inches taller than you, in the way his lips curve up and dimples form in a way you’d never seen before. It’s in the way he says “hey” and wraps you up in a hug like those eight years were really only eight seconds— as if he was just coming back from a week long vacation. It’s him in the way he brings warmth everywhere he goes, embracing you so tightly, so utterly comforting, that it feels like you’ve been rolled up inside a heated blanket on a cold, winter day. You’ve seen him every once in a while, on TV, in a magazine, and realized— that is him. It was him in an interview with dogs, cuddling and cooing at them for twenty minutes straight. It was him doing a tour of his home, books littered everywhere, canvases with the most intricate designs on his walls, it was him, when he still lit up at the sight of anything new— because those things don’t go away. Those old habits and interests that are ingrained so deep; so painfully deep, don’t just go away.

Seeing Hyunjin again is like finding a forgotten trinket in the back of your closet, like finding your favorite book or shirt after months— years, even— of thinking you’d lost it forever. It’s a sudden bout of nostalgia, a remembrance of something you used to love, something you cherished. But maybe the shirt doesn’t fit you anymore. Maybe the book doesn’t interest you. Seeing Hyunjin is like that— someone you used to love more than anyone; someone you used to cherish, but he’s a thing from the past, and eventually you’d always lose those items again. They’d lay in the darkness of the deepest corners of your closet, waiting for the chance to be found again or forgotten forever.

You don’t think seeing Hyunjin again is much different, except you’re the thing in the closet, and you’re fine with being forgotten.

It’s been eight years. You never understood Hyunjin, but you knew him. You knew each other better than anyone else could, but the Hyunjin you see today is a stranger. This is not the Hyunjin you know, and you hope he leaves as quickly as he came so your heart can’t be broken for a third time.

#hyunjin x reader #skz x reader #stray kids x reader #hwang hyunjin #hwang hyunjin x reader #stray kids imagines #stray kids drabbles #skz imagines #tysm for reading <3

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heliza24 · 11 months

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Love your blog and all your analysis!!

Many people didn't like S2 because Simon, according to them was just a tool to drive Wilhelm's story, a love interest only and didn't really have his own story. In particular, many are frustrated at the lack of narrative on the video's effect and Simon's subsequent trauma. Of course, everyone's allowed their opinions but seeing as you have experience in the world of writing and making tv magic, wanted to get your insight on this. Thanks, a S2 fan! 💜

Hi anon! Thanks for the question.

I’ve already written pretty extensively about Simon’s arc in season 2 and why I like it in this post. In short, I think he grows a lot in season 2, but his growth takes him towards emotional vulnerability and openness, which is not something we’re used to seeing in characters (especially not male ones).

I also don’t mind how they address Simon’s trauma in season 2. I’m going to approach this momentarily not as a writer, but as someone who has been in therapy for years. There are some traumas that have happened to me (like a serious car accident when I was a kid) that are very concrete, with a set beginning and end, and that began to affect me right away. (I had ptsd symptoms pretty immediately after that accident). But there are other traumas that feel like a series of small cuts instead of one big punch. It’s harder to decide where they begin and end, and their effects are more subtle. Sometimes it takes me years to even realize that they were traumatic and that they are still affecting me. (The medical trauma I’ve experienced as an adult over several years is like this). To me this is more what Simon is dealing with with the video. Once the video goes online, it’s not coming down. There’s no set end date, and Simon spends most of season 2 not even knowing who the perpetrator was. He’s in the kind of no-man’s land between the initial blow and coming to understand how the whole process has affected him. That being said, I do think we see some changes in him that reflect what he’s gone through. He seems to care a lot less about his academic classes than he did in season 1. He’s writing music in an attempt to process what he’s been through. And you could even see his attempt to have sex with Marcus as a trauma response. The last time he hooked up with someone his agency was taken from him. So it makes sense to me that he’s eager to have sex again but fully on his own terms, to partially erase that feeling of not being in control. I don’t know for sure if this will happen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more traditional ptsd symptoms from Simon in season 3. If there’s some sort of legal action against August that would signify a sort of “end” of the video trauma, and would also probably be re-traumatizing in a lot of ways. I also think interacting directly with the royal family might stir up some things as well.

Ok, now I’m going to totally switch gears and approach your question from a writing perspective. Let’s talk about story structure for a minute, specifically TV story structure. Most TV has an A plot and a B plot (and sometimes a C plot too). In old school cable procedurals, the A plot would be the mystery of the week, while the B plot would be about whatever was happening in the characters’ personal lives. If there was an overarching mystery or storyline that tied the whole season together, that would be the C plot. As you can guess by how they’re named, the A Plot would take up the most time and do the most to drive the episode forward. The B plot is next most important, etc. Once shows started to become more serialized in the age of streaming, the concept of A and B plots changed a little bit. Now the plots are divided by character and theme. The A plot will be headlined by the protagonist and will explore the main themes of the show. The B plot will be headlined by a secondary protagonist, who doesn’t have as much to do as the A plot lead, but is still answering a dramatic question that relates to the central themes of the show. A lot of times the primary and secondary protagonists’ actions influence each other, but they don’t share a ton of screen time. (If they did, their stories wouldn’t be separate.) You can think of the A and B plot protagonists as two sides of the same coin. They’re intricately connected, they’re exploring the same ideas, but they rarely come face to face, and they often represent different perspectives on the same themes. Black Sails is probably my favorite example of this. (I’m not as active in the Black Sails fandom as I am in the Young Royals fandom, but Black Sails is probably my all time favorite show and I absolutely love all the ungovernable pirates over in the Black Sails tag. Shout out to them). James Flint is the main protagonist and headliner of the A story, but Max is the secondary protagonist that headlines the B story. Both are struggling with the question of how to achieve and wield power in an unjust world, and their political maneuvers consistently influence each other’s plots. They share a lot of secondary characters across both of their plots, but they themselves never interact. So that’s one example, and if you look around at your favorite shows you’ll be able to find lots that adhere to this formula, including, I would say, Young Royals.

I think a lot of people are kind of subconsciously looking for this kind of structure, and have decided that Simon is the protagonist of the B plot. I understand this, because we all love Simon. He’s really well written and acted, his personality is so compelling, and his chemistry with Wilhelm is great. I spend a lot of time writing him in fic (I’m the writer of all the Simon content in Heart and Homeland) so I understand this impulse. But if you were looking for Simon to be anchoring the B plot in season 2, you might have been disappointed. Because in reality I don’t think he’s the secondary protagonist. I think Sara is.

Sara is set up as a foil to Wilhelm, the main protagonist, in so many ways. I always say that the driving dramatic question of Young Royals lives with Wilhelm, and it’s something along the lines of “should I conform and live the oppressive life that was designed for me, or rebel and find my own path to happiness?” Sara is wrestling with a similar question that’s kind of the inverse of this; for her settling into a prescribed role in the Hillerska class system initially seems like a relief. So maybe for her the dramatic question is something along the lines of “is the price of fitting in worth it? Will it lead to true happiness?” They feel so much like opposite sides of the same coin to me.

So Sara and Wilhelm are both trying to define themselves in relation to their families and also the class system. This comes up in the similarities of their family structure (they both feel very connected to their class position through their families; they both have complicated relationships with their mothers and bad to negligible relationships with their fathers; they both have a deep connection to their siblings) and in the relationships they choose to embark upon. They’re both navigating a very serious and complicated first love. They’re both dating across class (in the opposite direction, a perfect example of the “different views on the same theme” aspect of primary and secondary protagonists). They both have concerns about how and when their relationships become public, and by extension are both playing in the sandbox of themes around privacy and authenticity that define so much of the show.

Both have difficulty regulating and recognizing their emotions. Sara seems to exhibit alexithymia, a common aspect of autism that makes it hard to recognize one's own emotions. Wilhelm has been taught to repress his emotions, which he does well until he explodes (like when he got into the fight at the top of the series or when he yells at his mom on the phone). He’s also managing a lot of physical symptoms of anxiety.

Both also struggle with questions of justice and how to make things right. In the beginning of season 2, Wilhelm is initially determined to destroy August because he thinks August will never repent, but by the end of the season he’s starting to realize that this was the wrong technique. He realizes this largely because of Simon; he only puts down the gun and walks away from August because Simon does first. Sara makes the opposite journey: she starts by trusting that August will change and repent on his own, but then she is forced to confront the fact that this is not true, and that she needs to use the legal system to bring August to justice. She makes this realization largely because of Simon, and seeing the ways that she has hurt Simon, in the same scene with the gun.

The other big argument in support of Sara as the secondary protagonist of the show is that she and Wilhelm never directly interact. Their actions affect each other all the time, but they don’t share a scene together. They’re living on parallel but separate story tracks.

Simon is a crucial character in both Wilhelm and Sara’s stories, but the fact that he is close with both excludes him from being a protagonist of his own plot line. (I would say the same about August, who is a catalyst for both Wilhelm and Sara.) That doesn’t mean that Simon isn’t well written. He has a very compelling character arc, motivates much of the plot, and his relationship with Wilhelm forms the heart of the show. But I think the reason people were disappointed in his story in season 2 is that they were expecting something from him that the structure of the show doesn’t support.

If you’re interested in reading more about A/B/C plot structures I found this website really easy to understand. Also shout out to @bluedalahorse for talking to me about Wilhelm and Sara and helping me articulate what I was trying to say here.

Thanks again for the ask, anon and for the vote of confidence in my analysis! I really appreciate it. If anyone else has a Young Royals scene or question they want me to break down from a writing or cinematography perspective, my ask box is always open.

#young royals #my meta #ask box #writing break down #simon eriksson #wilhelm young royals #sara eriksson #prince wilhelm

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lunathebee · 2 years

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Pairing: Jake Lockley x fem!reader

Warning: fluff, Jake being a softie but only for you, no mention of Steven-Marc-Khonsu, basically anything from MK, he is just a cab driver here.

A/n: I enjoy writing fic with a 3 part/act(?) structure more than I thought (even if it is a bit exhausting) so I'm gonna give Jake some love too. There will be 3 parts based on three different songs, each dedicated to a phase in the love life of you and Jake. This is part 1!

Summary: One look at you and Jake knows you're his soulmate in this life.

Jake sat in his car after pulling up in a small alley, his eyes were tired and bloodshot. After letting out a long sigh, he began to search for his beloved alcohol flask in the drawer, among with candy wrappers and some wrinkly dollars.

Jake hates people, and he hates having people in his car even more. They might ruin the expensive leather seats he loves so much, but now look at him, not even bothered anymore. "What a life, being a cab driver" Jake thinks to himself while taking a sip of vodka from the flask.

As pathetic as it sounded, it was still a job and he had bills to pay at the end of the day. Jake decided to turn on the radio and let his shoulder relax to whatever it could offer him, maybe traffic news or even commentary of a football show. Jake needed a good rest and he couldn't do that without something playing in the background, it reminded him of how he used to let the TV play and sleep on the couch when he was a kid.

''Do you live in New York City

Or a couple towns away?''

To Jake's surprised, an angelic voice begin to sing, he waste no time moving around a bit to find the perfect position, ready to let the music lures him to sleep.

''Wherever you are, I'd jump in my car

Just to see you today

Will I meet you at a party?

Sit next to you on a plane?

Maybe I already know you and love you

But will fall in love some day''

That sentence stuck in Jake's mind. The thought of falling in love with someone kept him awake, unable to sleep.

Truth is, Jake has never known what love is, he has passed it aside because love can't get him a nice meal, or a full tank of gas. For Jake, love is something only rich people can afford, it comes with diamonds and jewelry, and all the shiny things that he could only dream of.

Truth is, Jake is too poor for love.

"Dear soulmate

Do you think of me? 'Cause I do"

'Soulmate, huh? It'd be nice to have one.' Jake thinks to himself, his eyelids getting heavier and heavier, until unknowingly, he has fallen asleep to the song in the background.

Ever since that day, the song has become something special in Jake's life. It helps him with his sleep and more importantly, it gives him the hope of having a soulmate in his already shitty life.

Being a traditional man, he made the song into a cassette and kept it safe under the secret drawer, only pulling it out when he needed to feel at peace or when he was alone. But today is different.

===☾︎ ☾︎ ☾︎===

"Could you put on some music while driving, sir? Thank you :)" Y/n asked the cab driver while getting into the car; she was slightly annoyed with the amount of newspapers scattered around the seat, but it's too late now and Y/n can't risk waiting for another cab alone.

While you're busy putting the newspaper aside to sit comfortably, Jake has been watching you from the rearview mirror with curiosity.

He expected a drunk girl from a party or an overworked guy who was simply too tired to take the bus home for his final ride of the day, but it appears to be... you. Jake doesn't know exactly what word he can choose to describe you, but somehow the smile on your face brings him comfort, just like the song he loves so much.

"Any song would be okay, yes?" Jake asked, eyes still focused on the road. He heard a quick "yes" behind him and that's all it took for Jake to pull out the cassette.

"Dear soulmate

Do you think of me? 'Cause I do

...

Will you make me butter toast?

Perhaps a morning roast

When I wake up and I'm sad?"

Once again, the melody he has heard a thousand times played. But the singer is not the only angelic voice Jake can hear now; he can hear your voice too. You're singing along to the song, not just any song, but his special one.

Jake wants to ask more about it, but he decided to keep his mouth shut. You seem really tired, and maybe asking about your singing would make the whole situation feel awkward.

In the blink of an eye, Jake has already driven you back to your home safely. You thanked him and even tipped him more than he asked for (which made Jake feel very thankful).

The story of how Jake has become a somewhat personal driver for Y/n is unknown, but whenever and wherever she needs him, he will be there. Y/n see Jake as a grumpy, overprotective guy, and in return, Jake sees Y/n as an innocent, needing to be protected girl.

The more they learn about each other, the closer they become, from strangers to friends, and finally... lovers.♡

#Spotify #marvel moon knight #moon knight x reader #moon knight fluff #moon knight imagine #jake lockley x y/n #marc spector #steven grant #jake lockley #moonkight #oscar isaac #marc spector x reader #steven grant x reader #marc spector x y/n #marc spector x you #jake lockley x reader

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mk-writes-stuff · 1 month

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WIP Questionnaire

Rules: answer as many (or as few) questions as you’d like!

Thanks @kaylinalexanderbooks and @illarian-rambling for the tags! This one seems like a lot of fun :)

What was the first part of your WIP that you created?

For the Seven Stations, I created Belladonna, Cassie (although her name was actually Cass for a bit) and the general concept of “stations floating in the void” all at once chilling at a bus stop going “I want to write space fantasy.” Belladonna and Cassie were created as “stuck-up noblewoman (actually being abused) and her rude (but actually not a bad sort) bodyguard who hate each other and are in lesbians about it.” The stations came about because I went “wow I don’t want to write about planets I just want to be on a ship” so I structured the world so I could just do that.

The Pirates’ Roost is a fanfiction so I started with that. I think the first independent thing I came up with was Amelia’s wife and Malcolm’s husbands. Then Malcolm’s tragic backstory (which slowly got worse, sorry Malcolm). Then Julian and Finley as the first major OCs.

If your story was a TV show, what would the intro song be?

The Seven Stations would probably call for a custom space-opera-esque orchestral piece. Somewhere between “ball music” and “Star Trek theme song.”

The Pirates’ Roost - well the theme song I currently have for it is Sea Shanty Medley by Home Free, but the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song would also suit well.

Who are your favourite characters you’ve made? Why?

Seven Stations it has to be Stellaris. He’s the world’s sweetest most awkward autistic nobleman who’s trying really really hard and still keeps screwing it up (relatable). I love writing him - he’s so blunt - and he’s always so earnest. For later books, Septimus and Shen are two of my other favourites, but I haven’t talked about them that much.

For the Pirates’ Roost, it’s Tatum. I love them. Tatum is probably the most dysfunctional individual on Ixalan who’s been through so much shit and keeps going through so much shit and everyone hates them. They’re trying really hard but every circumstance is stacked against them and also they’re dying, so it’s not going too great.

What other pieces of media do you think would share a fanbase for your story?

Hmmm this is a hard one. I feel like “fantasy space lesbians” might grab some of the Locked Tomb fans for Seven Stations but I know they’re pretty different outside of that. I’m not entirely sure yet?

The Pirates’ Roost is fanfiction so I’d hope some of the Magic: the Gathering fanbase would be interested :). Also the Our Flag Means Death fandom might get some interest because gay pirates

What has been your biggest struggle with your WIP?

Honestly, with the Seven Stations, mostly actually writing the thing. That and trying to keep the story aligned to an actual plot and not just meandering to do all the cool things and forgetting why I’m here. I think I’ve done a pretty good job :)

With the Pirates’ Roost, pinning down some of the characterization has been surprisingly hard. Malcolm was difficult to get consistent. Also figuring out how to post it in something readable - I still don’t know if I’ve achieved that.

Are there any animals in your story? Talk about them!

The Seven Stations have bees. That’s literally the only animal on the stations. They’re exclusively used for farming. They’re absolutely vital to the stations’ ecosystem but they are not plot relevant lol.

The Pirates’ Roost has a lot of animals - there’s a side arc about a kid who, among other things, really wants a pet dinosaur - but I have to focus on Francisco. Francisco is a very intelligent Ixalani Black parrot who was rescued from the hold of a smuggling ship by Malcolm. He’s basically Malcolm’s therapy animal - Malcolm lavishes affection and attention on Francisco as a way of coping with his own neglect and abuse over the years. He also inadvertently trains Francisco to spy for him by teaching him the question, “Who said that?” There is an incident where a deckhand cuts Francisco’s primaries and Malcolm sneaks into their room and shaves them bald, including their eyebrows.

How do your characters get around?

On the Seven Stations, within stations, they get around through walking and elevators. They travel between stations and ship cargo via shuttles. There is also a generation ship they encounter briefly but it quickly gets stranded.

In the Pirates’ Roost, other than walking (or flying if you’re Malcolm), it’s pretty much all ships. Sailing ships are the only practical long-distance travel. The Sun Empire rides dinosaurs sometimes though!

What part of your WIP are you working on right now?

Draft 1/1.5 of book 1 of the Seven Station Chronicles! I always do one quick editing pass immediately after I finish a scene so drafts 1 and 1.5 kind of happen at the same time.

The Pirates’ Roost is on the backburner but I’m currently posting what I have! Hoping to post Tatum’s first focus short very soon for anyone who’s interested :)

What aspects of your WIP do you think will draw people in?

For the Seven Stations, I’m hoping the novelty of it being all on space stations will get some attention. Also I have a lot of representation in the series, so I’m hoping that’ll catch a few eyes. Besides that, we have enemies/annoyances to lovers, lots of space politics, and cool regency space aesthetics.

For the Pirates’ Roost, well - pirates! Also dinosaurs. Again, lots of representation. Found family, chaos adventures, the world’s most cinnamon roll protagonist, his grumpy but loving boyfriend, and his deeply deeply traumatized friend (whoops they’re all deeply traumatized actually).

What are your hopes for your WIP?

I want people to read and enjoy it! For both of them - I would absolutely love to get even a handful of excited fans, that would be the dream for me. Even for Seven Station, I think I’ll be going down the online self-publishing route but I’d hope to get a few really excited readers! I just want to share my creations with the world and have people like them :)

This was a fun game! @elsie-writes @vyuntspakhkite-l-darling @finickyfelix y’all want to try this one out? Questions are below:

What was the first part of your WIP that you created?

If your story was a TV show, what would the intro song be?

Who are your favourite characters you’ve made? Why?

What other pieces of media do you think would share a fanbase for your story?

What has been your biggest struggle with your WIP?

Are there any animals in your story? Talk about them!

How do your characters get around?

What part of your WIP are you working on right now?

What aspects of your WIP do you think will draw people in?

#writeblr #tag game #seven station chronicles #the pirates’ roost

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cbrownjc · 1 year

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Finally watched Mayfair Witches - and oh boy . . .

No spoilers, but if you really like this show, then please just skip this post. This is really just my opinion and not an attack on anyone who may enjoy the show.

* * * * *

So I just binged watched the first six episodes of Mayfair Witches finally.

And OMG, how do you make a story with witches and ghosts and a secret paranormal organization so boring!?

Because that is the ultimate problem with this show - it’s utterly boring. The storytelling, the direction, and the characters. They are all so, so boring.

I don’t want this show crossing over with Interview with the Vampire at all in its current state. Because I seriously think they would find a way to make all the characters from that show boring if they got their hands on them.

As I said, I watched the first six episodes and don’t know if I can muster up any desire to watch the final two. That’s how much I don’t care what happens.

The problem isn’t that the show changed things from the book. I was completely fine with the majority of changes the show made. It was how they wrote and executed those changes that is the main problem here.

And I want to place the majority of the blame on the writing here. IMO, the actors are all trying to make this work as best as they can. But there really is nothing that could be done to elevate this, because the main fault, as I said, lies with the writing.

Adapting the first book into a season-long story was probably an impossible task anyway. The majority of the book this season is based on, The Witching Hour, is the backstory of the main family line of the Mayfairs. It basically reads very much like a historical account, because that’s exactly what that major part of the book is.

And that backstory contains a lot of incest, and I mean a lot. We’re talking about how the Targaryens are tame when it comes to incest compared to the Mayfairs.

It’s only in the final 1/4 or so of the book that contains any current plot and big story movement and, even then, it ends on a cliffhanger.

So yeah, I don’t know what they are going to do to fix this in season 2, because IMO the only way to fix this is to go back to the drawing board and fix the whole structure of this adaptation. Because right now it just feels like someone crossed NCIS: New Orleans with The Secret Circle, and I don’t think that is what they were going for at all. (Or maybe they were, I don’t know).

Anyway, yeah. IMO a crossover at the moment isn’t going to work. Not just because of the elevated writing of one show compared to the other but, quite frankly, both shows don’t even feel like they are part of the same universe to me, even though they are supposed to be. IWTV feels operatic yet dreamlike in its presentation IMO. Whereas Mayfair Witches just feels like every other standard tv show that had a supernatural bent that gets canceled after one season. Kinda like The Secret Circle.

And I don’t feel wrong in thinking that if AMC didn’t own the rights to Mayfair Witches, that might have already been its fate as well by now.

* * * * *

Really? A bottle episode after the event with Carlotta and the fire? This was not only an episode that bored me but annoyed me too because I could just feel the writing thinking it was clever with the misdirects . . .

And don’t get me started on some of the things I know I would likely be confused about if I hadn’t read the book . . .

* * * * *

Seriously, I am not kidding when I say this show could find a way to make even Lestat boring. Because, IMO, it really, really could.

#Mayfair Witches #The Mayfair Witches #Interview with the Vampire #amc mw #amc iwtv #tv show #again sorry to anyone who likes this show #but *sigh*#and yeah everyone saying a Lestat/Rowan romance can't fix this?#they are 100% correct #again I am not kidding that this show could make all the IWTV characters boring #including Lestat #these two shows just don't even feel like they are in the same universe to me right now #and I seriously feel that comes down to not only the writing but the production

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chainofclovers · 5 months

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6, 11, 18 for ao3 wrapped! 🎁

Thanks, friend!

6. Favorite title you used

I struggle with titles!

"Lavender II" (Beard/Rebecca/Ted) because I had a lot of feelings about Beard naming his daughter in keeping with a sort of...conceptual lineage rather than a direct ancestor, and I felt happy when I realized I could play with that in the title, turning Lavender the kid into a sort of sequel of lavender the important herb in TV show Ted Lasso. (Edited to add: there was never any real danger that this story would've gone out the door with "Lavender Jr." as the title but...yeah. Oof.)

"The Second and Third Wives Club" (Barbara/Bex, Ted/Rebecca, love square, as you know since this was your fic lol). It's suuuuch an obvious movie allusion but it amused me a lot.

11. What work took you the longest to write?

In terms of sheer number of hours spent writing and editing, I think it's probably "they say an end can be a start" (Ted/Rebecca), the first fic I finished after s3. (And, re: question 6, even though this title is just a quote from a song lyric, I was very relieved when I landed on it because it felt like the right title for something about imagining the future while processing the end of s3.)

18. The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?

Possibly Ted, actually! He's my favorite character and I really love writing him, even now that he's gone and introduced a Major Location Complexity to any and all post-canon writings! But there's just a lot to balance with him, in terms of his humor, his presentation, figuring out how to reckon with how the narrative structure of s3 kinda detached him from the action (without necessarily making him seem that detached in moments when he was onscreen and in the action) and how to write about someone who was visibly undergoing a complicated thought process in a way that wasn't articulated because of the very nature of said thought process AND how to believably write a future in which those detached places get reconnected while still honoring why they needed to loosen in the first place. It's a lot to keep track of.

#waywardted #asks #ao3 wrapped ask meme 2023 #meme #hot dork club

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zimshan · 8 months

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august braindump: on the state of tv and heartstopper

the last year has been such a strange time for me and tv. i honestly cannot remember a time i watched less new tv shows. it’s not for lack of trying but every show/season i started, i was just dragging my heels to finish. some of that is because they’re older shows that aren’t as good as their earlier seasons. stranger things s4 took me an entire year to finish. the pacing was just wildly off to me, and that’s disappointing after the incredible structure of s1. some of that is because of subject matter. i haven’t been able to work myself up to watch outlander after the s5 finale because i just don’t have the mental bandwidth for a sexual trauma storyline. babylon berlin i stopped watching because they were threatening to kill another kid. i’ve noped out of so many shows because of the ratcheting stakes, something that i'm so so tired of seeing done just for the hell of it.

of all the shows, i probably watched the great s2 quickest because it was just so off the wall and the tone of s1 still fascinates me. but even that dragged and was partly guilt tripping to justify my hulu subscription, and i could never let my guard down because it was always going for the most outrageous grotesque thing. i’m stalled on s3 now that they’re killing off characters left and right.

i watched shadow and bone s2 like 15-20 minutes at a time in july because i just found it a snoozefest compared to s1. i legit just wanted to finish it to cross it off my list. how terrible is that? the moment i finished, i started the fame game, a bollywood show, literally because of one gifset on my dash. and watched that 4x faster than anything else i’ve seen all year. cementing my idea that the best of netflix is their international shows. but that shit was pretty dark too.

so beginning of august, i opened up netflix sleep deprived and looking for something to get my mind off my impossible deadline and fuel some writing inspiration. someone on my dash was recently talking about Heartstopper, and it reminded me i missed watching it last year when everyone was talking about it. so seeing it pop up on my netflix screen, i absentmindedly thought, "what the hell let’s see what the fuss is about" and started the first episode. and you know it did the impossible. it grabbed me from the first few frames, and i looked up 2 hours later like oh right sleep. and now i just want to analyze it like a bug. what the hell makes it work where others have failed?

the binging culture inherent to streaming tv is fascinating to me because i almost never do it. if there is one anti-binger out there, she is me. i miss the era of one episode a week on a certain night every day for years. my patience maxes out at 45 minutes every time. i think it’s terrible that shows need to be so bingeable millions of people have to watch an entire season in a weekend to get renewed. because even the best shows i can't commit to doing that for. where does anyone find the time or brainspace, idek.

i know most of the coverage and reaction to the show seem to be about representation and i agree. but there’s something about the elements of Heartstopper that just work where other tv shows lately have faltered and i want to break it down for parts. because on paper it does seem so simple. some of it really is just basic storytelling in tv. those first three episodes are key and the pacing is excellent, every second counts and the acting, editing, and music really drive the show and keep it compelling. on rewatch, i can see how the addictive quality is very much in the editing, in the music, to keep it punchy so that you never think to stop watching. but it’s also in the white space, the moments they give to the lead actors to let a moment breathe. i've been beating this drum for decades now but this show gave so many good examples of it.

several 5-minute sequences caught me thinking god that so compelling why how. the one that stood out on rewatch is the texting sequence in 102 after nick’s interception of the assault scene. there’s zero dialogue but the editing, acting, and music work together to feel the weight of the moment and then lift up from there.

all these essentials combine with something unique like the animations as visual representations of emotions and attraction and create some kind of magical alchemy. it’s been a long time since i’ve thought about it but “lightning in a bottle” describes the best seasons of tv i’ve seen: where it feels like everyone on set, all the actors, every one of the crew, writers, directors, care about the story and are working on all cylinders to do their best job. in the age of streaming, this seems to be more rare than ever and learning about mini writing rooms during the WGA strike has helped to understand why. so has seeing those checks to send home the overall state of residuals in the streaming era. to do the best job people need to be paid fairly. full stop.

so i started Heartstopper and watched 4 episodes in the blink of an eye. the next day, 6; the last day 4. then i did a thing i almost never do anymore: i looked up the soundtrack. music has always been a driver for me, a tv show that nails a score or soundtrack is always gonna get under my skin more than one that doesn’t. it’s part of the necessary ingredients for a good show for me. all my forever tv loves, music plays a central role, music that defines and sets the tone for the show and then becomes forever married to it. you can create a list of the songs and play it back and see the show unfurl again in your mind. its my favorite way of revisiting a show without actually watching it, after a good vid that is. but it works best when the music is a dead lock for the scene or character and typically this is sound driven more than lyrically driven. this show uses a 2012 era style sound i already have a strong affinity for, i have multiple work playlists from the last decade to drive me through a deadline with Foster The People, Fitz and the Tantrums, et al.

but it also did a thing i haven't seen in a long while: the lyrics were used as an extension of the script for internal character POV. in the first episode alone you have the following lyrical-visual pairs: -i'll go anywhere you want to go on charlie getting ben's text to meet -i wanna get lovesick with you on nick watching charlie run and asking him to join the team -right before i'm swallowed by my mind and cursing at the sky on charlie out of place on the rugby field before nick pulls him in to the group -what's the point of looking at the view? cause every time i do i just see you on elle and tao missing each other -the world ends it's you and me/in my head if we can be together/maybe we'll live forever on nick tackling charlie and the leaves animations around them -i see the signs of a lifetime on nick getting charlie's thank you x text paired with the flowing bird animations roll to the credits

this is vidding happening here.

so i spent a good two days listening to the soundtrack and related albums as i got through my deadline. and then i started getting some more questions about the timeline on the story (the soundtrack is of a style popular circa 2012 that i associate with 8tracks playlists even though the actual songs are a bit later, 2015 onwards) and looked up the books the show was based on. i started Solitaire after seeing it was the author’s first book and wanting to read tori’s POV after the glimpses in the show got me thinking about her elder daughter role.

then i looked up the comics when i realized the timeline of Solitaire was a year later and wanted to fill in the gaps. and wow, i’m in awe of how much of the show was already here, how much detail went into the show to match certain frames. the comics are basically acting as storyboards for the show. i used to do the most basic storyboarding for vidding a lifetime ago. i’ve recently gotten the storyboarding itch again the last few months after watching some BTS docs on TCM about storyboard artists and remembering how fascinating and underappreciated the skill actually is. there's some beautiful storyboarding out there, but it doesn't have to be beautiful, it's just got to be functional. at its heart, it's about the frame, the shot, the visual that tells the story. and a lot of that is already done in the comics and translated straight to screen.

i’m inspired learning about alice oseman’s story as a young author, how she started and finished Solitaire before graduating high school, writing the story she wished she saw on the shelves. then how she was taken with her two secondary characters and started teaching herself how to draw to visualize and bring to life their own journeys. it’s such a great example of how storytelling takes on a life of its own and how you are not defined by only your current skillset. there are no boundaries on creativity and curiosity but the ones we self-impose on ourselves.

the last few years, i’ve been thinking a lot about why some works fail to resonate while others succeed, especially in regard to book to screen adaptation. it probably started with the absolute fail that was GOT S8 and rereading THG next to the films and grown from there with my TCM pandemic focus. obviously it’s a gamechanger when the author is the showrunner and that alone is rare. the whole nature of Heartstopper as a webcomic first and driven by subscribers and kickstarter donations is unique as well. alice has built up a passionate audience to create for that helped promote the show and that makes a lot of difference.

but the streaming element is an added issue. by the time i finished season 2, my one overriding thought was wow, imagine society if this had aired 20 years ago. i couldn't help but think of the kids this show could have helped, seeing such an sincere example of queer community on screen. but interrogating that further, i know it’s a silly thought. it wouldn’t have gotten made at all. in 2000, dawson's creek kicked up hate over one gay kiss that amounted to almost nothing. my best friend at 15 came out as gay and felt like he had to pirate QaF asap as the only piece of queer rep around but something far outside of our age group. this story is age appropriate for the age that needs it. in 2023, homophobic parents are waging wars on the school board and libraries in our area for carrying books with queer representation including those of oseman's. no network would greenlight 22 episodes of a queer tumblr webcomic. netflix gave the show 4 hours for its first season in the middle of the pandemic. it only gets made in the streaming era. it is a product of the times, even if the story originates 10 years earlier.

[]

the picture of queer community and lifting up and supporting others is essential for the age this is targeting. i know i'm 20 years older than that target and am mindful of that. this show is not for me. but it's been a while since i've watched a teen series, probably skam, which is a big outliner in teen shows. i think from my dash i assumed the show was going to be pure teen fluff but instead was surprised how much texture it has. the love story is the focus of the gifsets, but it does sell the show short imo. the world doesn’t ignore the dark parts---homophobic bullies, abusive partners and clueless parents, trauma and its long tail, anxiety and eating disorders, the ways love and community can uplift and support but not cure. reading Solitaire i can see where it’s coming from, a dark story that starts the verse. the darkness is there not ignored but part of the journey. its presence makes the light more powerful. but its best virtue is that despite its dark parts, it’s at heart a comforting story. and i think this is an overarching reason why it succeeds as a show. the comic does right by each character and in turn cares for the reader. so everyone working on it saw the story as a comfort themselves and did right by the story. that care shows on screen.

the way Solitaire ends is a thesis statement of sorts for the osemanverse: support and lift each other up, you’re not alone and stronger as a community. it matches skam's thesis, and heartstopper continues it. that reminder is a balm to these times. it's the ethos of organizing but it got lost in isolation of the last few years. its simplicity is part of its power. part of lightning in a bottle is timing. i know some people have lived with this story for years, but after 4 long plague years, its sincerity speaks to me. i can’t think of a reminder i needed more than this story at this time. sometimes you really do stumble on the right story right when you need it.

anyway, this verse has gotten in my brain now so fair warning. heartstopper/osemanverse posting ahead.

#heartstopper #ive been stuck in bugs grief narrative for too long #this is a balm to my soul #i love it but im also breaking it down for parts #my txt #RB off #2023 #sometimes youre just running on empty and dont even realize it til a fandom blindsides you #havent done a tv braindump in ages #this is why #long post #pulling together all of my tag thoughts into one post

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mercerislandbooks · 7 months

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50 Years of Island Books: Laurie Frankel

Laurie Frankel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of four novels. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Publisher’s Weekly, People Magazine, Lit Hub, The Sydney Morning Herald, and other publications. She is the recipient of the Washington State Book Award and the Endeavor Award. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty-five languages and been optioned for film and TV. A former college professor, she now writes full-time in Seattle, Washington where she lives with her family and makes good soup.

Miriam: Let's start with your first visit to Island Books. Where were you in your career then, and what stood out about the store?

Laurie: Which is also the answer to your question, I’m afraid. I can’t remember my first visit to IB which I actually think speaks to what a great bookstore it is: it feels like it’s always been there and always been a part of my world. Island Books is my favorite kind of bookstore which is to say big enough to have a wide selection, small enough that good, smart readers have culled and curated, with booksellers (said good, smart readers) who are warm and welcoming but also give you space to browse and get lost looking for what you want to read next, plus the children’s section of my (and my kid’s) dreams. I also adore a neighborhood bookstore, and IB is the best kind (since your neighborhood is an island). MI is the perfect size — big enough to have everything you need, close enough to get anywhere you need to go, but small enough to be a community — and it seems to me that Island Books mirrors that exactly.

Miriam: I agree with that description! That's nice that IB feels like it has always been a part of your world. Many of us feel that way. Let's get a little more personal now. Your Instagram is visual ecstasy for a soup lover. If you were making a soup to bring to one of Island Books' Cookbook Club meetings, what would it be? Are we comforting like chicken noodle soup? Good for your health like a carrot lentil? We accept recipes on this blog, fyi, in case you feel like sharing...

Laurie: I mean the good thing about carrot lentil soup is it’s also vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free…really whatever dietary restrictions your group has, lentil soup probably works around them. Also it’s super good for you. Mine has, in addition to lentils and carrots, piles and piles of kale. It’s my most-made soup by a mile, probably every other week at least in winter. All that said, it’s not very fancy, is it? So if I wanted to show off a little, I might do gumbo in the winter, gazpacho for summer.

And alas, I cook like I write: very by-the-seat-of-my-pants, no outlines, no recipes, lots of revisions/adding and adjusting till it sounds/tastes right.

Miriam: So you're a pantser. Well, what's that saying, "The way you do one thing is the way you do everything?" I'm thinking about your books now, mainly This is How it Always Is, which is a particular favorite of mine. Did you know how it would end when you began writing, or did that evolve as you wrote deeper into the story and the characters? That book felt well-structured, so I'm curious if you reverse-engineered it. How does a person become a good cook, anyway? (Asking for a friend, of course.)

Laurie: So first off, thank you much for your kind words about the books. They mean the world, truly.

Secondly, I think I’m not a pantser in all aspects of my life. I’m a planner when I travel, for example. I like to plan when I can. But I can’t when I’m writing (and, I suppose, needn’t when I’m cooking). If I could make an outline, I surely would. It would save a lot of time and lost words. I cut 250,000 words from This Is How It Always Is. If there had been a way to not write them in the first place, that definitely would have been the cheaper way.

All of which is to say, yes I reverse-engineered that book (and all my books). Or maybe less reverse-engineered and more looped. I wrote from the beginning to the end of that book a few hundred times, each time tweaking and improving by teeny bits then going back and fixing what those teeny tweaks broke, again and again and again until it worked. So it gets well structured by cutting away everything that’s not working and going back and planting what’s missing and then connecting up what’s left. I love it, but it’s not a process I would describe as linear.

Miriam: That's fascinating and an excellent process to think about in this space, as we explore how an indie bookstore comes to be, evolves, and endures. The entire literary community is constantly tweaking and improving little by little, all of us in our individual and communal ways. The bookstore is just an amplification of all the minds like yours contributing to the discourse.

Speaking of contributing, I understand you have a new novel coming in 2024. Would you tell us about it before signing off?

Laurie: Yes! Thank you for asking. The new book is called Family Family. Out 1/23/24. It’s about adoption—many different kinds of adoption, in fact—and Broadway and Hollywood and a movie star and a bunch of totally unrelated but actually sort of related kids and how a dream job is still a job and how large, strange, sprawling, non-traditional families are also after all just families. I hope everyone in the whole world will love it!

Miriam: It sounds wonderful and we are looking forward to sharing it with the world. Thanks so much for your time and thoughtfulness, Laurie. Come visit us soon!

To our store community, the next edition of 50 Years of Island Books is a double dose! I'll have Rachel Linden (Recipe for a Charmed Life is coming in 2024) share a special recipe that I've unofficially named "Rachel-Linden's-Take-a-Trip-to-Island-Books-Luscious-Lemon-Bars," and Martha Brockenbrough (her next nonfiction book for teens, Future Tense, will also hit shelves in 2024). As a Bellevue native, Martha says she has no memories of life without Island Books.

—Miriam

#miriam landis #island books #Laurie Frankel #This Is How It Always Is #50 years of Island Books

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loveoaths · 1 year

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writing log: 2021 + 2022

a recent conversation with a good friend made me realize: holy shit, i struggle to acknowledge my accomplishments, especially the creative ones. so i decided to start doing a yearly writing recap to log what work i've done, contextualize the environment i did that work in, and take a moment to just sit back and appreciate how i spent my year. this is the first time i'm doing this, so i'll be combining 2021 and 2022.

in 2021, i...

...got headfucked by illness, but kept writing.

this is not one of those "inspirational disability" things. long covid is the worst thing that's ever happened to me, physically and mentally, and that's saying something. i spent a solid two months not being able to walk, let alone think, and it took three more months for me to be able to read for longer than a few minutes at a time. at one point, my sixty-something year old mother had to hold me up so i could walk a lap around the block that i had been running months prior, and it was a super dark time. i am proud of myself for fighting for my health, advocating for humane treatment, and re-learning how to find solace and comfort and reprieve in reading and writing. i was recuperating in bed most of 2021 (when i wasn't struggling to keep my job lol) so i had a lot of time to come up with project ideas but zero stamina to finish them. i'm still not recovered, and have new chronic illnesses out the wazoo now, but i'm in a much better place these days.

...worked on 21 scripts.

includes new and old projects. my brain was scattered, but i tried.

...developed 12 new project premises.

some are good, others are dogshit. but who cares!

...finished 5 scripts.

three half-hour scripts, and two elevens. combined, that's almost two episodes of prestige television. i'm coming for your ass, tony gilroy!!!

...read 25 books.

comic books, ya novels, non-fiction, autobiographies, picture books; you name it, i read it. most of what i read went in one ear and out the other because of the covid brain damage, but i remember how soothing the act of reading a book while curled up with hot tea under a warm blanket was to my aching brain and body, and i'm glad i tried my best to read even if i knew i could barely understand. a third of this list is picture books and/or middle grade books and graphic novels because that's all i could handle at the beginning of the year. and you know what i found? a lot of those kids books are great, and heart-warming, and delightfully more nuanced than i had ever dreamed. the kids are gonna be alright.

...took 6 writing classes.

i'm glad i did this, but looking back on it this was kind of stupid. my brain was burdened by illness and my response was to... burden it more? for fun??? insane behavior. i highly recommend every course i took (chris amick's pilot development, multiple classes at writing pad, rad sechrist's project tv writing class, patricia villanuvella's 11-minute episode format class, and more) but i do not recommend taking them while your head is fucked. if anyone is interested in learning more about these courses, let me know!

...took on my first pitch project.

i was hired to help write and pitch a kids show, and learned a lot about the pitching process. mostly i learned that an upbeat attitude and a corny joke or two will go a long way. also, that the tv industry is an ouroboric cesspool constantly feeding on its own shit, but i digress.

...developed my first original show pitch.

it's uglier than sin but i love it. developing the pitch actually made me realize the concept is better as a novel series than a show, but i appreciate how much that process taught me about exploring format, structure, and the art of pitching.

...landed my first staff writing gig.

this was my proudest moment. in between numerous ER visits, doctor's appointments, health scares, housing issues, and more, i broke into the industry i love.

in 2022, i...

...was still pretty fucking sick, but doing better.

title says it all. despite losing my emotional support animal to leukemia, i hung in there. feels good.

...took on three writing mentees.

this is still the most shocking thing i did last year. i became a mentor to three fellow brown folks and i love them all dearly. i don't know if i'm a stellar mentor or anything, but i would do just about anything to help them reach their writing goals. i always thought i hated teaching, but it turns out i really enjoy working one-on-one with people as a guide rather than an instructor. my goal is to help all of my mentees break into their respective industries in the next two years.

...took three writing classes.

at this point i'm mostly taking these to meet people and learn new tips and tricks, but i still found them highly rewarding. plus, i realized i work best when i know someone expects to read what i've written the following week. nothing makes you keep a writing deadline like the pain of disappointing a peer! :D

...wrote 63,207 words for work.

i worked two staff writer gigs and seven freelance or contract gigs, and wrote more in a year than i ever have, ever. i know this number isn't high to prose writers, but a 25 page script is around 4,800 to 5,000 words. that's a lot of pages.

in total, i wrote around 22 scripts for work last year.

...wrote 50,018 words for original projects.

i only finished three scripts, and most definitely did not hit my goal of finishing my feature script, but i still finished. all three projects were complex, adult-oriented, and of personal significance to me, and it felt really good to finally finish them. i don't love all of them, honestly, but one of them got me my current manager and generated some buzz around my name that kept me employed, so i'm incredibly appreciative of the work i put into them, and the work they've given me in return.

...read 50 books.

this is my crowning achievement of 2022! i used to be an avid reader and then stopped out of nowhere for several years, but last year i fell back in love with reading, big time. i am proud to say that after a year of re-cultivating my reading comprehension and attention span, i can once again knock out a 300 page book in a day (with some assistance from my good ol' friend, hyperfixation). coaxing myself to just read five pages a day really helped me with some of the executive function issues of not wanting to pick up a book. if you're struggling with reading habits, i really recommend lowering your bar to entry. read for a minute, or read one page, or even just one paragraph. eventually the habit will reform and you'll be back to reading longer.

...wrote 51 loglines.

i struggled to come up with new, creative ideas in 2021, so this jump from 12 to 51 was startling, but highly satisfying. once i stopped worrying about whether the ideas were good, i was able to do more with the freeness that comes with happily being shit at something. and you know what? once i got the shit ideas out, i found a couple of really good ones at the bottom of the barrel.

...had a pretty alright year.

shit still went sideways, i was overworked and exhausted, and my personal life imploded, but looking back on it, i had a lot to be grateful for, and a lot of love and support in my corner, and i'm going to try to be mindful and thankful for the aforementioned as i push myself a teensy bit further in 2023.

...have a few goals for 2023.

they are:

work less, read more

write more indulgent stuff (gay porn, fic, all the nasty dark shit i like)

eat more veggies

do some fucking wrist exercises and get a desk pedaler because holy shit my joints are aging like MILK

thanks for reading.

#writing update.#writing update 2021 + 2022.#long post.

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rockycute223 · 2 years

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#JusticeforWildGrinders

Do you remember the TV show Wild Grinders?

It's this old Nicktoon created by skateboarder Rob Dyrdek, in case you didn't know. It's no longer on TV, or anywhere else for that matter... You can only see it on Amazon Prime Video or this kid's streaming site called Kidoodle.tv, as far as I know. I used to really enjoy that show when I was younger, but I'm aware that not everyone does. I believe it is still only me and a few other users who watch and enjoy it.

I decided to watch this show again a few months ago, and it's still pretty good; however, there are some things I want to say about it.

Let me begin by discussing the characters.

The designs were rather simplistic, with only their stereotypical personalities serving as inspiration. The art style was most likely influenced by The Nutshack, a way worse show! When it came to the personalities, the characters were somewhat bland and one-note. We learn about their backstories and certain facts about them in some episodes, but we don't learn much about their personalities.

Then there's the humor. The jokes weren't the best, but I thought some of them were funny. They were also a little odd and nasty, especially when it came to Meaty (Rob's dog) farting. I don't really watch any of Rob's other shows, so I'm not sure whether this is his sense of humor or what.

I was reading some reviews on the Internet Movie Database, and one person complained that the show didn't do a good job of portraying skateboarding. I'm not familiar with skateboarding, but this one is. He said that, in addition to doing several actual tricks, they also performed the physically impossible. This could be because Rob is the crew's only skater.

I'd also like to point out that the Flash animation in this show is probably some of the worst I've ever seen. I'm not anti-Flash; in fact, I enjoy Flash animation. It is the people who use it. But, as Mr. Enter once said, “Good writing can save bad animation, but bad writing can never be saved by good animation.” And I believe the same thing.

To make this show better, instead of random events, they could have given the storyline more structure. I would also suggest giving the characters more personality, including backstories and more unique designs. They should've also hired more full-time skaters for the crew so that they could be better educated on skating. They invited some other skaters to guest star, and they could have definitely asked them for skating tips. I also wish the show kept Jackknife and Emo Crys' previous voices and characteristics. I'm not a fan of Jackknife's southern American-sounding voice, but I don't mind Emo Crys'. Finally, the animators should have taken more training on how to use Flash more effectively. Apart from my ranting, this show had the potential to be amazing if Rob and the rest of the crew put more effort into it.

#wild grinders #this show deserves more love #justice for wild grinders #nickelodeon #nicktoons #flash animation #justice #2012 #this show deserves better #skateboarding #mr enter #internet movie database #rob dyrdek

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storm-in-a-tea-cup0 · 1 year

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15 questions | 15 people

Tagged by the shining human that is @coulson-is-an-avenger

1. Are you named after anyone? Yes. I was named after my great-grandmother, as were some other women in my family, tho I'm the only one who got it as a first name.

2. When was the last time you cried? Monday afternoon around 16:30.

3. Do you have any kids? Not yet, no. I have a niece who I see as a daughter, though. I'm even in my older brother's will as "her guardian" in case of his passing, so yeah! Oh God, I did not mean "not yet" because my brother is dying, no. I mean, he is cuz he is alive and life is the way to death, but I meant I'm structuring my life to have them in the future.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Yep. Thankfully my friends do as well, but my mom wants to kill me cuz she has a hard time identifying when I am being sarcastic so I try not to be.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people? That's very relative, but if I had to pick something it would be how they look at me. I've known the cruelty of men, so you could say I notice how kind their eyes are or not when they look at me.

6. What are the color of your eyes? A deep brown but not one so deep that you can't distinguish my pupils from the iris. A friend who does woodwork said they are the color of Sapelli Mahogany after being stained?

7. Scary movies or happy endings? I am not someone who watches movies frequently, I much prefer tv shows, but when I do, it's to warm my heart so happy endings, yes.

8. Any special talents? Does cooking count? I've never cooked something that tasted bad. And I don't mean "never" as a hyperbole. Been trying spices and herbs since very early in life so I'm a pretty darn good chef, thank you very much.

9. Where were you born? Araguaína - TO, Brazil.

10. What are your hobbies? Gaming, baking, and reading. I /occasionally/ write, but I don't think frequently enough to classify it as a hobby 🤔

11. Do you have any pets? Yes, two 7 years-old cats. And my brother's daschund per "he is the official family pet" reasons.

12. What sports do you play/have you played? I was a swimmer for 13 years, then I did some jazz for 3 years yes, rhythmless me, I know. It was the only Phys Ed class with AC on, that's why, and lastly some pole dancing. Would like to resume it, it's beyond fun, but that is for when I have money to spare aka not now.

13. How tall are you? 4'11" or 1.51m

14. Favourite subject in school? Portuguese, without a doubt. IB English Lit comes as a close second and Physics in third.

15. Dream job? Heiress to a massive fortune. Something that would involve public speaking and damage control. A Political job, pretty much.

Tagging @beneath-the-willow-tree @lavenderfables @thepinkcatlady @babyitsacrime @orangesnakesanddogs @cloverywands @avatar-the-last-chicken-nugget @holdyourghost @soulofthesunset @madnessofmen @nerdangels @methaim I really don't think I know or wish to know people beyond these? But like,,,@ anyone who sees and wants to do this?

#milie.txt #quizzes #answered

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loaded-fries18 · 2 years

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My thoughts 💭:Flimsy execution, Improper writing, homage media

Movie: Turning Red 🔴🐼

Oh Boy, okay

As much as I really love this movie and I’m glad other people love and relate to it, it’s very flawed and I don’t wanna look over the clashes. Again I love it and it’s what I like to call “An homage, Anime Pixar movie” I commend the Director lady (Domee Shi I forgot when I out in notes) and her team for attempting a feature length film that tackles something new but it’s still a bit of bugs.

Story

The Story itself is very dead on and very text book Pre-teen story in a Live action movie (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Judy Moody and the not bummer summer, Ramona and Beezus, Alexander and the terrible horrible no good very bad day, I could go on) that’s why I feel like everyone loves it mostly through it’s “relatability” and such. So it’s a very fast pace movie with not much merit and it’s structured poorly like a half assed written tv show movie.

Animation

I love the animation, it’s very cutesy in inspiration to studio Ghibli, (hence the wide teeth shots and wide overly expressive moments) and with being a 3d movie it’s beautiful from characters to the backgrounds and motions. But again what do you expect from Pixar when the animation hypnotizes the eyes every time.

Themes/Undertones

In my personal opinion from watching the movie for the 50th time, the themes are very very unrealistic when it come to puberty, it’s a spectrum. Some people who go through puberty and it really quick. Some people may have bad puberty. I thought I was dying when I went through puberty so I don’t relate in that way that it was suppose to. The movie plays the stereotype of puberty, Angsty attitude, overly Horny, unrealistic rebellion, and reliance on friendships. Also I wanted to mention the weird and disturbing undertone the movie displays, with the message that a female becomes a furry angry beast when emotional, a savage animal monster when upset and she becomes a human or normal if she is calm and collective. I get the fact that everyone has a wild side and you should not be ashamed but it’s not written that way like Mei is the ONLY person that is weird or with this. It feels like a poorly written superpower.

Comedy

I don’t have much to say about the comedy of the movie, it is very silly and corny so it is on point for what they were trying to portray and “cringe” I suppose. I wouldn’t say being a preteen is necessarily cringy but it depends on how you experience it.

Characters

The first time upon viewing I didn’t have much to go off when thinking about the characters but know here is what I think about them after the 1000th time watching.

Mei

Mei’s characters is very enjoyable for the first half of the film. Her personality is well established as being “nerdy” and “boy crazy” and had a proper balance between family and friends relationships on her life. I think it would’ve been really nice to see more depth to her character besides Family, friends, and boys, such as her aspirations for her personal future, where she wants to see herself when older and having that clash with her mother as well as her friends a little bit it wouldn’t phase them and they remain bestest friends. After she received the panda I noticed that she developed a very nasty and very unlikable attitude, as well as a very bad temper problem.(Don’t tell me about no puberty gives you attitude because again puberty=spectrum) Also she becomes a bit arrogant with her powers and her sneakiness which is never a good thing. Also, I see that Mei, doesn’t seem like her own person but rather a follower of her friends as well as being okay with people liking her because she can turn into a Red Panda which is kind of a sad character growth but it’s fine. The one thing that kinda pisses me off more is that Mei hardly ever gets in trouble for ANYTHING she does, she essentially gets to rebel with no consequences for her actions or her words whatsoever. The Kaiju battle was really the only real time she got in trouble for defying her momma from the ritual and pushing her back to go to the concert.

Miriam

Miriam was like the “soapbox” friend. She’s always the one to say something very preachy and overly friendly and emotionally moving to Mei alway to be the one to comfort her at any moment. When Miriam talks it feels like Priya and Abby aren’t even there, she always calls the shots for everyone and I feel like you can just delete the other two girls and you wouldn’t change the movie. The only thing I like is that she tried to warn Mei about her momma.

Priya

I love Priya, I love her Napoleon Dynamite energy but like a said she doesn’t have much character dimension to her like the other girls and she feels very invisible to Miriam which I really don’t like.

Abby

One of THE BEST friends, and Pixar characters of ALL TIME. From her crackhead energy, her facial expressions, and even voice range and just chef’s kiss. But once again no character dimension.

Mrs. Lee

First watch she was just the typical Asian Tiger/copter mom, then I thought about the relationship I now have with my mother and I grown to love the mom. I realized that she noticed the relationship between her and Mei changing and she was scared. She was worried for her and she parented the only way she knew how and Mei didn’t understand that at all. Parenting is a spectrum and no one knows how to truly do it correctly and mental damage can sadly be a result which was an end product or Mrs. Lee and her mother. Not to mention that she is very very funny. I would say the only thing that really made me mad with the mom was that she cock blocked Mei from RoBaire at the concert.

Mr.Lee

Best Dad… end of story

Nana Wu/ The Aunties

The aunties reminds me so much of my own aunts. Sweet, Sassy, and snarky. I also love their panda designs. I don’t have a lot on the grandma she again only wanted the best the way she knew how and again it failed tremendously.

Nana Sun Yee

She’s the real MVP for her family fending off the bandits and giving her the panda wish and she was never judgmental for anyone who got rid of the panda power, and she thanked Mei for keeping the panda wish.

The Panda Herself

The red panda I feel is a very basic idea for a metaphor. I feel they should have either have the panda already be established in Mei’s life and she hid it from society because she knew people wouldn’t approve and then after hiding for so long she didn’t care how people thought about her and she is happy with her true self. That’s how I thought the movie was gonna go, but it wasn’t and that’s fine. The design for the panda is cute, very Totoro and Cat Bus like but it’s still very boring. I think they should have used the design they used for Sun Yee’s story. Also the Powers execution is very flimsy and frustrating as well, the whole spiel of the panda ability is “the ability to transform into a powerful mystical beast, through any intense emotion” which they kept the whole idea until towards the middle and the end of the movie where Mei is poofing at will making continuity go down the toilet. It should have been A ‘Panda Power at will’ or B ‘Emotional Panda Power’

In the end, cute Homage Film, 2nd favorite movie of 2022, a feature movie that a Asian North American woman wanted to write and came from her heart and I respect that, but it is not perfect and that’s alright 👍🏽

#turning red #disney pixar #disney #pixar movies #pixar #disney plus #unpopular thoughts #unpopular opinion #analysis #explore

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dangerliesbeforeyou · 2 years

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ok so now i've had some time to process sanditon series 2, i realise that one of my biggest issues with it (& a lot of other films/tv shows that have come out recently) is the way the characters aren't really treated like individuals, but rather just as ways in which to move the plot forward...

the characters in sandition are irrational in their motivations, which makes for an exhausting watching experience because you're constantly trying to second guess why characters are doing what they're doing... and i think the most annoying example of this is colbourne (charlotte's new love interest after the show hilarious killed off her last one, which i'm not complaining about cos sidney fucking sucked imo). he's an interesting enough character, jaded by the loss of his wife and withdrawn from society. he's also kinda got that 90s film trope of 'working dad who doesn't have time to play with his kids' going on which i actually really liked & thought was handled reasonably well (though, a lot of his development in this happened off screen), but my issues come down to how they write his relationship w/ charlotte...

almost immediately after he's rude to her he realises he made a mistake, apologises, and she becomes a governess for his kids. and then it happens again, and again, and again and... there's no real way of knowing WHY he constantly flip flops between being nice to charlotte and being cruel to her... and i think that fundamentally this comes down to the writers wanting to create drama, but forgetting that it doesn't make sense for any person to act like that...

even characters that have a lot of emotional shit going on have consistency in their motivations, even if that consistency IS inconsistent emotions lol, but there's never a point when you feel like this guy is allowed to have believable emotions because the plot needs him to be aloof again so ... he's aloof again i guess???

and the most annoying this is that charlotte is our main character, but it honestly feels like the writers are determined to just... not give her a happy ending because they'd rather have a dramatic cliff-hanger or something???

and like, colbourne isn't the only one guilty of having just really poorly written character moments... tom parker's whole thing this series is 'he's bad at making decisions, doesn't listen to his brother, lies to his wife and gets them into debt' which, like, is the exact same issues he had in the first series lol. and rather than the writers letting him grow this series, he was forced to be incompetent because that's what the plot called for... and i think this COULD have been interesting, since they set up the whole 'tom doesn't respect arthur's opinion' thing early in the series and it could have lead nicely into a satisfying arc for tom AND arthur... (there are a lot of other examples in this series too, btw, but i think you get the picture lol...)

and it's not like i expect cheesy romantic period dramas to have flawless character studies or whatnot, but given how much jane austen devoted her craft to writing the most memorable and interesting characters that are still beloved today, it's frustrating that the writers of sanditon seem unable to honour this at all...

(a side note, i think that this series also amplifies my problems with recent period dramas (& other romantic dramas) thinking all non-verbal communication like hand brushing, eye contact, dancing, kissing, etc is objectively better than solid communication... this kinda thing only works in CONJUNCTION with characters talking to each other... it's why i really loved esther and babington's story in the first series! there wasn't a whole tonne of it, unfortunately, and it did feel a lil rushed, but the writers made sure to include moments of looks/touches, as well as having both characters talk to each other and laugh with one another, which helps make their whole dynamic more believable...

i kinda wish sanditon followed more of a bridgerton structure (which, yes, i know, the first series of sanditon came out before the first series of bridgerton shhh) in having a different focus character for each series... series 1 would have been perfect as an esther focused series, showcasing her toxic relationship with her brother, her lack of self worth because of that, and allowed for us to have more time with her and babington because they're so CUTE lol!! and i think series 2 would have been good as a charlotte focused series since she really came more into her own this series (as much as the writers let her though smh...)... & this would have lead nicely into series 3 following georgiana as a main character to find her mother & also gain her independence away from dickheads who try to control her... but alas they didn't do this, so we're stuck with a bit of a mess lol...)

#not gonna get into my issues with what they did with esther's character this series cos oh BOY it makes me annoyed lol...#but funnily enough as much as i was frustrated a lot by this series... i did like it more than series 1 #cos at least sidney wasnt there being annoying lol #(i'm sorry if u liked him he just really fucking annoyed me lol)#sanditon #sanditon season 2 #rant #sanditon just kinda feels like the writers have no idea what they're doing so it comes across as chaotic lol...#which like bitch i GET it ... writing is hard #but idk i just wish it was better u know lol?#also: STOP HAVING THE WOMEN RUN AROUND TOWN WITH THEIR HAIR DOWN IT'S JUST NOT REGENCY I'M BEGGING YOU LPEASE

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fanficwriter284 · 2 years

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Chuck's Backstory

If I was given the structure that DOn used to make the Chucky Tv series the I guess this is how I would go about it. This for the most isn't canon in my AU. Yes in my AU they meet as kids in school. And not of the Flash Back when they met as adults that's just lazy writing Anyways... Shall we...

Ok. So after seeing the Chucky Tv series... I don't know how many times. I gotta get this off my chest. I thought it was an interesting approach to Chucky's whole Character and what makes him a villain. But........... Why tho. Honestly, I think we all knew Charles was always Fucked up in the head. The way Don could have made this work with all the fans who thought he grew up in an abusive home was by having him being abused by his father and he just lacks remorse or empathy towards anything and everyone. Except for this one girl who actually seemed to give a damn about him. They become best friends forming a bond and blah blah blah. Later they probably meet Eddie and hang out idk. Then it matches up to how in the films he shows emotion towards Tiffany and Tiffany ONLY. For example "Rome wasn't built in a day scene and Chucky trying to comfort Tiffany" Or when he stabs her and hesitates and stops and looks down at his knife only to be him with a shovel by Jesse. I'm pretty sure when he was probably younger he killed animals just cuz why not. Probably rabbits, cats, or birds. When he was younger he probably cried when he was beaten but as he got older (9-10) he was only fueled by rage causing him to snap and kill his father and be sent to the boy's foster home. Yes, he would kill the janitor but probably make it look like an accident he ain't stupid. He's actually really intelligent. The only reason he goes wild as a doll is because... He's a doll. Who in the right mind would ever blame a doll for murder? Anyway... About that weird Flash back about them meeting as adults kinda weirded me out. Chucky didn't seem like himself. If he really had to keep this scene in why not make a reunite?

*Chucky about to stab Tiffany*

"Chucky"

This catches him off guard since Tiffany's only ever called in that name.

"Charles What's taking so long? STAB THE BITCH ALREADY!"

"WOULD YOU SHUT UP!"

Turns his attention back towards Tiffany puzzled.

"Tiff? Is it really you?"

"Aww Sweetface you remembered me?"

"WHAT THE HELL? SWEETFACE?"

Chucky turns over to the annoying blonde.

"Didn't I tell you to keep your fuckin mouth shut?"

*Chucky proceeds to slit her throat*

He turns over to Tiffany

"Lookin good doll"

"Not so bad yourself Sweetface"

They passionately kiss each other.

SHOULD I CONTINUE THIS IDK???????? Oh BTW, I'm currently working on Chucky reacting with his family to his first film if anybody was wondering. It should be out soon. :)

#childs play #chucky #chucky x tiffany #chuckyxtiffany #tiffany valentine #charles lee ray #raysforever #glen and glenda #chiffany

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