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#also montoya my beloved-
speremint · 1 month
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Requests from the Artists For Palestine stream! Thanks so much again @stil-lindigo for organizing this event, it was a lot of fun!
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nyapetaleijon · 8 months
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im such a sucker for thr Inigo Montoyas of the world. the guys who dedicate their entire lives to single minded bloody revenge and then one day achieve that revenge and dont know who they are afterwards. what do you do when your whole self has been dedicated to the memory of your loved ones and now youve laid them to rest? who are you on your own? where do you go next?
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i really love wyll and the way Theo plays him is very interesting to me like i do think to me at least wyll and his character is the No.1 thing that keeps my gameplay from being mundane cause and hear me out on this ( btw this is not going to dive into the whole thing with mizora because if i do we will be here all day and i will write a book instead of a post lol this is about Wyll about who he is separately form that)
any other media with a character that is a folk hero that kills monsters and is a legendary fighter has been written and played in a prideful way almost all of them are loud and proud and spew lines about heroism loudly and arrogantly. they provide their skills and blade for the pursuit of good in a " you are privileged to have me fight for you now that im here we will win because im here FEAR NOT YOU HAVE THE VALIANT KNIGHT OF ___ WITH YOU" type of thing
but wyll WYLL my beloved he is all of these things and he is strong and legendary and he knows it BUT he is not arrogant about it the way Theo acts his lines is genius because there is the self awareness of how strong he is but not a lick of loudness or that delusional grandeur there is he is almost... fun playfulness about it he is amused and always observing and taking in everything he lets the situation fill him up shaping him to it instead of him walking into a a situation and instantly filling it up with his presence. and this morning when i was getting ready i was racking my brain to find any other media that has the same type of feel of wyll the very strong character that knows it but is very chill and amused and calculating knows what he is here for and does it non nonchalantly almost instead of big and loud and it hit me
the princess bride!
westley and Montoya specifically and the rest of the gang!
Wyll is so princess bride coded like if we drop him into that movie he will fit right in and i think its the reason why i love him so much
Theo you absolute genius i adore you for this <3
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also like look at him like holly shit holly fuck holly hell holly everything oh MY GOD BRO OH MY GOOOD-
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romanarose · 1 month
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If You Wanna be Wild: Chapter 7
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Co-written with @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction my beloved Fen, who I could not do this without. Thank you for being my emotional sounding board, my dear friend, my wonderful cowriter and helpful beta reader. I adore you.
Javier Peña x Latina!sex worker!informant!Reader x Santiago Garcia
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Summary: Everything falls apart and evryone is alone.
Content and warnings for whole fic, not chapter by chapter unless something is added: Sex work, drug trade, some drug use/pressured used, sex workers and the mistreatment/stigma surrounding them specifically in the 70’s (my blog is sex worker positive) but ima put potential dub con depending how you look at it as a sex worker who works with dangerous men, some action surrounding reader and the guys and the drug trade, SMUT HEAVY, corruption kink (were corrupting santi here, he’s young, 25), no loss of virginity tho, threesomes, some slight m/m smut but that’s not the focus here, but as you know this blog is an lgbt blog so I’m always open to gay shit. Talk of war and some PTSD but I won't be going a whole lot into it. Covert/emotional incest in the past, Santi's mommy issues, m/m dynamics, internalized bi/homophobia
Reader speaks Spanish and has hair. I've decided Candy is just latina bc she's a sex worker in Colombia so this is what I'm doing. Reader also has curly hair and dark skin.
ADDITIONAL WARNINGS!:mentions of rape an violence, what happened to Helena, smut, repressed feelings, angst.
Almost everything was written by Fen <3
2.7k words
Support writers! Reblog and comment!
**************
There was no making up. There was no Javi bringing Santi food as an apology, there was no talking. 
When Santi walked into the office on Monday, he saw the fucking desks rearranged, Javier’s and Santi’s on other sides of the room instead of pushed face to face. Santi quickly rushed to the bathroom where he panic vomited and had an anxiety attack, resulting in him being 45 minutes late. Javi didn’t say anything about it.
Where Santi couldn’t eat, Javi couldn’t stop eating, munching down food and taking frequent trips to the vending machine. His doctor was going to kill him. Santi could barely function, even coming in late or leaving early which was a cardinal sin in his book. Still, none of it stopped him from seeing Candy. Occasionally Candy asked about him because all month Javi hadn’t been to see her either. Santi couldn’t get much answer either.
They worked, but mostly separately. Javi had even been trying to find somewhere else to work, but there weren’t exactly free rooms in the precinct. They talked occasionally but only about Lorea… making Santi desperately lonely. He had his family and he loved his tias, but they weren’t Javi. It was the day of the rally for the beatification of Laura Montoya, which forced them to be in close proximity as they dressed in plain clothes and scouted the area for any sign of the Lorea family. Not wanting to look too much like officers on alert, Santi tried making conversation, none of which was working with Javi, only getting few word answers. 
The boy was going to drive him absolutely batshit insane if he didn’t stop talking. It was bad enough he kept asking. ‘Should we get food’ or ‘it’s nice out today’, but his voice mixed with the crowds and noise and music and chatter or the rally, people shouting about whoever it was they were here for, politicians trying to stop them and constantly flashbacks of that night of the ball… Then Santi had to go and say 
“She misses you.”
“You mentioned her name one more fucking time and I’ll-”
“You’ll fucking what?” Santi snapped, his nerves had twisted, hardened suddenly by rage. 
His anger took Javi by surprise, he’d never heard him speak like that to anyone let alone him. 
Santi took his pause as indignation. “I mentioned Candy once. Once. And that’s only because you haven’t seen her, or called her or anything!” He hissed. “She’s worried about you actually, she-”
It was Javi’s turn to snap. 
He grabbed the younger man by the back of his collar and pulled him into a side alley, using his own momentum against him and slamming him up against the brick wall. 
Sant let out a little huff of air as his back collided, gritting his jaw as pain raced along his back. 
The action had been forceful, but not enough to cause discomfort for most people. However, a rough, uneven lump of mortar had poked oddly against the scar at the nape of his neck, sending a tingle down his back.
Javi rammed the heel of his hand into the wall next to Santi’s head, using his height to his full advantage as he leaned over him like he was interrogating a suspect instead of a colleague. A friend. 
Santi breathed hard, his frown pinching his eyebrows together, and Javi would say he even looked cute if he wasn’t so bloody annoying, so obsessed with getting under his skin. Unable to let anything go, constantly digging at him in his self-righteous attitude, just needing to push, and push, and push, and…
Cute. The thought caught him off guard. When had he started to think of Santiago as cute?
“What the fuck are you doing Peña?” He growled, puffing his chest out, but not pushing back. 
Javi shook his head slightly, trying to break his racing mind, trying to get back to reality. “Candy, look, you can’t just-”
“She’s an adult Javi, I can-”
“You’re going to get her killed!” His voice raised at the end, louder and more desperate than he had intended, with just the slightest waver. He hoped Santi didn’t hear it, but he probably did. Nothing got past him. “Do you understand?” Santi glared at him, the muscles in his jaw flexing. Those stupid large doe eyes looking painfully dark and enticing. “You’re flaunting her. Taking her to the ball and, and-”
Santi scoffed. “That’s none of your business, I asked her, I-”
“You’re gonna get her gutted and dumped on the side of the road!” Javier screamed, haunting flashbacks to Helena’s beaten and raped body, wrapping his coat around her and having to carry her out, not sure if she was dying or not. “You know how easy it would be for Lorea to do something? This isn’t even a put two and two together situation, Pope, it’s you waving a four right in his fucking face! And what do you think is gonna happen when he takes her, huh? When he beats her and rapes her an tortures her to get information on YOU!” 
Santi swallows, his face still hard, but that little bob of his Adam’s apple draws Javier’s eye, but he doesn't respond. Javier lowers his voice, fist still gripping Santi’s jacket.
“She’s not gonna give you up, she’s not gonna help them hurt you. She’s gonna end up dead. You’re gonna…” He closed his eyes for a moment, took a small breath. It was easier not to look at him, not to have to stare at his soft eyes and plump lips. “You’re gonna end up dead too, Pope. I can’t… I’ve seen it, okay?”  
Javier screwed up his face, opening his eyes so that he could look at Santi man to man. Implore him to see reason. 
“I’m not telling you to stop seeing her, I’m just saying.... I’ve seen shit happen to girls in her line of work. To officers like you that are still wet behind the ears to this kind of thing-” The second it was out of his mouth, he knew he’d made a mistake. 
“I’m not a fucking child, Peña.” Santi hissed, pressing forward and getting up in Javier’s face. “I know that’s what everyone at the station seems to think and all their little Virgin Maria mierda. I don’t care. I don’t give a fuck if all they see is that.” He pushes firmly on Javier’s chest, almost smacking as he punctuates his sentence. “But I thought you’d know better! I was black ops special agent, I spend years of my life in almost every goddamn continent doing retcon, assassinations, covert operations and rescuing women and children and getting SHOT! I’m not-”
“I’m not saying you’re a child-”
“You are! You are!” Santiago growls, smacking Javi’s chest repeatedly. He doesn’t care that he does sound like a child in that moment, arguing relentlessly on semantics. His emotions are bubbling over and muddying his head. “You’re saying that you know best. That your word is law. Despite all you do to endanger Candy!”
“I do n-”
“You do! You think you’re above it all, you’re just as bad, you pretend to care but you-”
“Shut your fucking mouth, Garcia!”
“Make me!”
He doesn’t think. 
There’s always times he doesn’t think. When he gets too lost in whatever emotion he’s letting overwhelm him. Sometimes rage. Sometimes guilt. Usually negative either way. That’s where Santi is a good partner, keeping a cool and level head while Javi plays bad cop.
Usually ends up with him throwing a punch, not a kiss. 
Santi knew ‘make me’ was childish. Knew it was playground nonsense reserved for kids still in single digits. But if everyone was going to keep calling him that, keep pretending that he wasn’t the only actual goddamned adult in the room then-
Then…
Javier’s lips on his steal his breath away, rob him of every thought that has ever run through his mind. And, for once, it’s blissfully quiet. The anxieties pushed away for the peace of a lover's kiss.
Javi presses closer, pushing Santiago further into the wall and cupping his face with his warm hand as he kisses him, body to body, warmth to warmth. Darting out his tongue to just trace Santi’s bottom lip and groans when he parts them immediately, no hesitation, and lets him lick into his mouth. 
The angle’s a little awkward, Javier’s body trapping Santi’s hand between their chests. But Santiago’s fingers curl into his shirt, pulling him closer as his kisses leave him breathless and desperate for more.
Javier’s leg bumps into his and Santi moves a step, moaning softly and then whining as his thigh presses against his half hard cock, a sharp spike of pleasure running up his spine and- 
His thoughts all come crashing down. What the fuck, what the fuck  was he doing? His mother’s voice rang in his head, screaming his name. 
He could get arrested for this, thrown in jail, worse. He was going to burn in hell.
Santi pulled back quickly, disentangling himself from Javier so quickly that both men nearly fell. He turned, not giving the older man a second look, and ran out of the alley into the crowded street. 
He didn’t even hear Javier call his name. 
*
“Are you okay, baby?” You asked, your naked body covering Santiago while giving him tender kisses, scooting yourself up and down his cock. You loved to tease him, get him whimpering and watch as all those troublesome thoughts left his pretty little head. He was too pretty to be so worried all the time.
He’d been stressed on and off about Javi, occasionally bringing it up, but you think he stopped when he realized it upset you. You were really good at pretending to care when old professors droned on and on about academic works or when men talked about themselves or complained about their wives and mothers again and again and again. You could’ve faked not being upset when Santi, but you didn’t fake anything with him. Javi’s absence hurt your feelings. You were worried about him, and you were angry at him for abandoning you and hurting Santi. For continuing to hurt his feelings. Bitch.
But honestly… you just miss him. A lot. It would take more than a poster to patch this, he’d have to make things right with Santi too, but you’d forgive him. You just wanted him back, and you wanted Santi happy again. He was already thin enough, and as your body slid up and down the sweaty length of him, you could feel he’d lost weight. 
Santi moaned loudly, gripping onto your hips as you bounced on his length, his eyes rolling back in his head as your heat engulfs him over and over. Pulling him deeper and deeper. 
The fat tip of his cock presses deliriously, perfectly rubbing over your walls with every slick slide. Stretching you so wonderfully like he was made for you. He was, he really, really was. Something was bothering him today, and he was finding solace in you. You were happy to give it to him. Pushing all other thoughts out of your head. 
He whines, babbling nonsensically with his eyes closed, “please, please, please,” He rocks up against you, letting his body override his brain as you fuck him into the mattress. “Please, gonna come, please, need you so much,” he gasps, almost sobbing from pleasure. 
You stroke his cheek and pick up your pace, even if he hasn’t said you could tell how close he was. The way his stomach muscles tense, how his eyes are screwed shut and head thrown back into the pillow, “it’s okay, it’s okay, you can come, give it all to me.”
He shakes his head rapidly, “no, please,” he moans, “need you, need mommy to come, please.” 
His whines change in pitch, the little sounds getting higher and higher as he reaches the point of no return. His mouth hangs open, his skin flushed and sweaty, and heat floods to your core. 
You brace yourself with your left hand on his leg behind you as you ride him, leaning back ever so slightly to change the angle just enough that he continuously hits perfectly inside, stretching you to your limit. 
Santi sobs, the position change sending a buzz up his spine, pressing on the thick length of his cock to a surprisingly maddening degree. His whole body pulsed, stealing the air from his lungs.
He bucks up once, his eyes fluttering open in surprise as he comes, his length pulsating. He empties himself deep inside you, his orgasm stretching onwards and overtaking every possible thought. 
You smile as you watch him, happy to see him so blissed out. You ride him throughout his high, trying to prolong his sensations as long as possible. He deserved it.
He sighs, shivering with aftershocks as he comes back to himself and looks up at you. You open your mouth to speak, the words on the tip of your tongue.
Santi grabs you by the hips, urging you up and off him and pulling your aching pussy onto his face. He lets out a small groan at the mess he made, his cum leaking out of your folds before he runs the tip of his tongue through them. 
You bite back a moan, grabbing onto his hair for stability as his mustache brushes against your clit.
His mouth feels like heaven as he lick and swirls around your clit, his movements soft but certain, quickly pushing you towards your peak.
Instinctively you buck your hips, grinding down on his mouth to chase your high. He rocks you against him, urging you tp move and fuck his eager tongue. 
“Santi…” you whine as you come hard against him, pulling fiercely on his hair. 
He continues licking, moaning against you as he drinks down every drop of your release. 
You breathe heavily, boneless for a moment before slowly moving away to lay down next to him. 
He pouts a little as you settle. “I wasn’t finished.” He smiles cheekily, your cum shining all over the bottom half of his face,
You giggle, and gently swat his arm and cuddle up next to him. Santi didn’t need instruction, scooting his back to your chest. In your arms, where he belonged. You loved being like this with him, but somehow it always felt like something was missing. You loved when Javi used to hold you, protecting you with a strong arm around your body, but again, you felt like something was missing, in your arms this time instead of around you.
You kiss the scar on his spine. “Good boy, Santito.”
It happened so fast. Santi teanses and you barely have a second to register how he turns to you, his eyes widen in panic, his skin turning ashen before he’s up, out of bed and pulling on his clothes so fast that it shouldn’t have been possible. What the fuck? Did you do something wrong?
“Santi?” you start, trying to keep your voice soft but unable to hide the fear that has overcome your words.Why is he leaving? What did you do wrong? Did you mess up things with Santi too, the one good thing left? You barely sit up before he’s shoving a handful of dollars at you, practically just throwing them in your direction and the bed. 
“Here.” His voice is quiet, distant. Like he’s not really there. A stark comparison to his panicked, edgy movements. He doesn’t even bother tying his shoes, simply shoving his feet inside them and stumbling towards the door.
“Wait, Sant-”
He slams the door on his way out. 
Leaving your bed cold, and you alone.
It was supposed to be sex, talking. Build a nice repour. That was it. You were good at it too, making old ugly men think you were infatuated, but yourself detached from even the most charming and attractive. Something happened with Javi and Santi, a line that became blurred, friendship and genuine attraction and care. Now they were gone. 
You hate yourself for how hard you cry.
***************
thank you so much to everyone whose stuck around while i sort my SHIT OUT (its never ending)
If you like me writing javi, i wrote a drable today too, and if you wanna see a totally insane version of santi, come to rooms on fire!
be sure to give @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction a follow, he's amazing and my everything. they are pumping out AMAZING works rn for the moon knight bingo.
I appriciate you all very very much, please let know your thoughts in the comment!!!
I know you've stuck around for this song, please drop a comment and say hiiiiii!!!!
follow @romana-updates for more!
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fantastic-nonsense · 2 months
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Hi! I was looking to see if you know of many comics with Batman's villains at the lead!? (Besides Harley and Selina, who've had multiple series and are pretty easy to find). Other than the "Joker" Novel and Penguin: Pain and prejudice, i couldn't find any. Any good suggestions for Joker, Ivy, Two-Face, or any other villian from the Batman universe?
the tldr is that Ivy has several, Two-Face has a handful, the al Ghuls have a couple, and everyone else has had a couple of single issues starring them.
In general, the Batman Arkham series functions as a Batman Rogues Gallery "Greatest Hits" collection. While most of the stories collected in these trades don't feature the rogues as a protagonist, they all explore the characters and their backstories/motivations and feature them in a starring role!
On principle, I generally refuse to recommend Joker comics. Clown man has enough stuff starring him and they're generally easy enough to find without me promoting him more than he already is. Also, to be honest with you I occasionally go out of my way to avoid stuff starring him because he's frankly bored me ever since DC decided to emphasize him as a psychopathic serial killer instead of a funny villain with a clown gimmick.
However, The Joker's Five-Way Revenge (Batman vol. 1 #251) is a fun read, Joker: The Man Who Laughs and Joker's Last Laugh are both good, and Batman: The War of Jokes and Riddles is decent as well. Another fun one that's a little out of the box is Superman: Emperor Joker.
Other than that...I generally recommend the following for Ivy:
Batman Arkham: Poison Ivy (basically an 'Ivy Greatest Hits' collection)
Batman: Poison Ivy (1997)
No Man's Land (yes, it's long. No, Ivy's not a 'lead'. yes, it's also ground zero for Ivy's redemption arc and features her in a major role)
Gotham City Sirens (2009)
Swamp Thing by Scott Snyder (specifically Vol. 2, Family Tree, and Vol. 3, Rotworld: The Green Kingdom)
Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death (2016)
Poison Ivy (2021) by G. Willow Wilson (curently ongoing)
Ivy also pops up in Ram V's Catwoman (2018) run and pretty consistently in Harley's solo books after 2015.
For Two-Face (my beloved), read Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Dark Victory (which function as a double feature). Then read any of the following:
Batman: Faces (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #28-30)
Batman: Two-Face (1995)
Batman Annual #14: "Eye of the Beholder"
Gotham Central, which has an extended Harvey-Renee Montoya subplot
Batman/Two-Face: "Crime and Punishment"
Batman/Two-Face: Face the Face (2006)
Two-Face: Year One (2008)
Batman and Robin (2011) 23.1: Two-Face
Detective Comics #1020-1022: “The Ugly Heart”
Two-Face: One Bad Day
And for a couple of stories that aren't Harvey-focused but feature him as a prominent antagonist...read Robin: Year One, A Lonely Place of Dying, and Batman: Prodigal.
For the al Ghuls, apart from the Batman Arkham collections you're primarily looking for Tales of the Demon, the Demon Trilogy (Birth of the Demon, Bride of the Demon, Son of the Demon), Batman: The Chalice, and Batman Annual #26 (the prologue to Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul, which is also fun). Two of Damian's Robin solos (Robin: Son of Batman (2015) and Robin (2021)) also prominently feature Talia. There are...certainly other options, if you want to read about the al Ghuls, but they're rarely well characterized in those (except Talia's LexCorp CEO arc; all hail Talia's Lexcorp CEO arc).
Clayface (the Basil Karlo version) prominently featured as a protagonist in Tynion's Detective Comics Rebirth (2016) run.
Everyone else...apart from stories where they're the prominent antagonist, there were several Villain takeover issues during the period of Batman and Robin (2011) when Damian was dead, Year of the Villain had a few issues focused on the Batman Rogues, and the One Bad Day series focuses each issue on a different Bat Rogue.
There are plenty of other stories centered on various members of Batman's Rogues Gallery, but hopefully this gives you a solid starting place!
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qualek · 1 year
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PRINCESS BRIDE AU CAST LIST HERE WE GO BOYS We'll start with the easy ones first and my reasonings of why- Buttercup -> Miles Edgeworth Stubborn, prideful, rude towards 'Westley' at first, dramatic, sarcastic, smart, related to Von Karma more than anyone else (I'll explain more in the Prince Humperdnik casting). Westley/Dread Pirate Robert -> Phoenix Wright/Shelly De Killer Resourceful, bluff (just... the whole scene with the cups and the poison is a very Phoenix move), devoted, selfless, brave, witty, stubborn, could survive something that would kill everyone else out of sheer will. ---- Tell me Phoenix wouldn't be the guy to say "As you wish" with all that tenderness and devotion to a guy who is objectively a jerk. --- Okay, supporting cast now! the sillies and the goofies- Inigo Montoya -> Diego Armando/Godot I have less of a personality analysis and more of a setting that makes sense, but bare with me. First off, well, he's the most likely to want to kill Phoenix and then help him later. Secondly, they both carry physical wounds that are related to a deep loss. Thirdly, he uses Godot for the whole time until "My name is Diego Armando. You killed my true love, prepare to die." Fourthly, Mia Fey was killed by someone with a heart-shaped pendant ;) Fezzik -> Dick Gumshoe Tall, strong, dumb man. Miracle Max and Valerie -> Mystic Maya and Pearl THEY ARE SILLY AND GOOFY AND MAGIC AND PEARL WOULD 100% PUSH MAYA TO HELP FOR TRUE LOVE TELL ME IM WRONG --- Now, we get to the assholes y a y :) Prince Humperdnik -> Manfred von Karma and Franziska von Karma In this AU, Prince Humperdnik is divided into Manfred Von Karma and Franziska Von Karma. Manfred is the current king and is trying to cause a war with the nation of Khura'in, like Humperdnik in the movie. However, he does not marry Miles himself and, instead, fiances him to his daughter Franziska (which neither are particularly happy about btw). He is the one who goes on the hunt and organizes the promises, torture, wedding, etc. Franziska is less involved and is forced to remain in the castle by her father. Count Ruden -> Dahlia Hawthorne She would want Mia dead 100% and would have no qualms about hurting Phoenix. Also, she is responsible of blinding Godot in Ace Attorney and in this. The Albino -> Iris Hawthorne She would help Dahlia but doesn't have the blood-thirst that she seems to possess. Vizzini -> Damon Gant I just want him to die. Also, he laughs a lot and thinks he's much smarter than he actually is. Also, also, everyone in the crew would be against a defense attorney, so it's in theme B) --- And, finally, in the real world, the beloved. The Grandson -> Trucy Gramarye She is my beloved, my dearest girl and she deserves a good story. Also, idk why, but she sounds like she would refuse a kissing story at first and then just get into it. The Grandfather -> Magnify Gramarye He is her actual grandpa and the character has a little mystical side that Magnify most certainly has.
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Clara Montoya: Autistic???
I've been getting back into AG for almost a year now. Josefina has always, always been my fave, since we were both nine years old.
I've been thinking about how I want her to have a counterpart in her time and location to actually interact with in period-appropriate ways. She never received a Best Friend doll, though :(
But really, her whole story is centered around her family anyway, and I've seen people talk about how 2005 GOTY Marisol Luna has been used to create Clara dolls. And yep, the resemblance is real.
So I have plans to get a Marisol and make her Clara. Although they may take a some months to come to fruition, considering all my other doll and fandom and plushie collection goals and IRL expenses 😔
But it's free to think about Clara's character and plan for what I want her collection to encompas.
The thing that strikes me most, looking at her now with the adult knowledge of being autistic myself- she REALLY seems like a character that one can headcanon as autistic with ease.
She's logical and practical and literal to a fault. She hates change and getting dirty and wants to keep everything organized. Sewing and embroidery are her special interests! She bonds with Tía Dolores through those interests! She clashes hard with Francisca, who just does not want to make the effort to understand her.
She has strong attachment to objects, to the extent that it becomes a huge part of the plot in "Josefina's Surprise." (The altar cloth, Niña.)
Niña is her comfort object, for fuck's sake!!!!! She manages to relinquish primary custody of Niña to Josefina, but ONLY after Tía Dolores managed to give her a new comfort object (Mamá's silver thimble.)
I mean, I think I need to closely reread all Josefina's series and acquire all short stories and the mysteries. What else is going on with dear Clara and her autism? Does she have sensory issues???
It goes without saying that Clara was never deliberately written as autistic, and of course in 1824 New Mexico, a word didn't exist for autism. But we autistics have always existed.
In terms of a potential collection- obviously Josefina's nightgown straight-up seems to be Clara's camisa and IDK how to feel about that. How can Josefina not have her nightgown??? 😭
One potential solution I've been thinking about is a similar nightgown for her but with a different neck ribbon. I can't sew, but it seems Etsy seller Magnoliawillows makes a similar nightgown with a blue ribbon which could be Josefina's new nightgown.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1325115163/josefina-montoya-style-night-shift
Also, I know her BeForever nightgown exists too. But I'm not as emotionally bonded to it, since it came after "my time" lmao. Maybe it would be nice if Clara and Josefina had summer and winter nightgowns 🤔
And I could get Josefina's BeForever bed for Clara! That's another reason why I want a Clara- to have a way to use more of Josefina's collection as I acquire it, especially the BeForever items.
And if AG could just get off their asses and GIVE JOSEFINA LITERALLY ANY COLLECTION AT ALL AGAIN, it would be great to buy whatever is (re-)released new and use it mostly for Clara, because that way I could have the beloved Pleasant Company versions of my memory yet also support Josefina's collection today.
Meet Accessories/Outfit ideas- Josefina's PC red-ribbon nightgown as camisa, different rebozo, moccasins, extra pair of Josefina bloomers, indigo skirt (although it would be interesting to try and see if someone sells/would make a skirt closer to book illustrations... however, 1820s New Mexican sisters, even in a well-to-do family like Josefina's, definitely shared clothes. So it would make sense from that perspective).
She'd need a doll-size pair of scissors, which Tía Dolores gave her, of course. And I'd want her to have some kind of necklace, because all AG historicals did/do. I'd need to know more about necklaces from then, though... perhaps some kind of mílagro, or Saint Clara symbol/medal? I'd want her to have a little sewing & embroidery kit to hang on her belt, too.
One thing that would take a lot more work, yet would make an amazing story, would be to somehow find another little doll's-doll like Niña. I have a whole story idea where some kind of secret room somehow gets found (maybe at Abuelito and Abuelita's house in Santa Fe) and a long-forgotten doll from Mamá and Tía Dolores' childhood gets given to Clara 🥺
Another idea would be to assemble stuff to create a little shrine for Clara and Josefina to pray at (yes I got the idea from the Mini World image). Especially because it would have Mamá's colcha-embroidered altar cloth! And just in general, part of why I connected with Josefina so much growing up was that her family is Catholic, just like mine.
These days, obviously, I'm a grown up monbinary gay ex-TradCath (similar to ExVangelical) with religious trauma, but maybe making a doll Catholic shrine would be a way to deal with that in a more healthy manner...
Anyway I would love to talk about Clara and Josefina!!!! Josefina-lovers please interact!!!!
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eliza-makepeace · 1 year
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I'm still in the midst of the reread, but I haven't had time to comment on it for a while, so here it goes.
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Broody Murtagh is something that can actually be so personal. Boi has a long painful history w/ sword. Boi is not normal about it in front of people.
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Boi has anger management issues about said sword. Plus daddy issues. Also, Murtagh, beloved, I get where you're coming from, but out of all the people in the world, I don't think you're the one who can act judgy about others being connected in any way to Morzan.
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My poor little meow meow. I wonder how much he remembers of the moment Morzan gave him the scar. It seems he does, despite having been so young. I love how in The Fork, when Essie tells him about her own scar and how her father accidentally gave it to her, it looks like he's going back to his own experience. Maybe reevaluating it, maybe considering that, despite the kind of person Morzan was, he perhaps hadn't wanted to hurt him like that.
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Baby boy. BABY.
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Horsegirl!Murtagh my beloved. He's so proud of his horse, and it's so obvious he loves (human) Tornac so much. Good-humored Murtagh is also precious.
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Why can't he just be a weird 18yo who enjoys knowing about political intrigues????? He just loves the good ol' gossip.
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MY GOd this boy is traumatized.
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Happy Murtagh ilysm.
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He's just a proud older brother! I still find it a bit deus ex machina that eragon, with only a few months of training with brom can be murtagh's equal, considering he's been raised to be a swordsman. Also, Murtagh's giving a lot of Íñigo Montoya praising Westley vibes here lol.
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Jesus, Murtagh, you could've been a bit more sensitive about this. Poor Eragon doesn't even know what to say. I get that part of why Murtagh went after the Ra'zac and joined Eragon was because it was the only way he knew how to cope with Tornac's death, and because he's sort of trying not to deal with how much he misses him. But still. Dude. You could've just said "he passed away a while ago" and it wouldn't have sounded so brutal.
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the dilf poll: voter voices
the votes are in, and hakoda has emerged victorious! but i've been paying attention to a far more important measure of public opinion: the tags!
Hakoda has 19 mentions in tags, winning in this category as well. lots of #hakodasweep, which is funny bc i specifically engineered this poll to prevent sweeps. inigo montoya you keep using that word etc. but i love the energy.
#I’m sorry but Hakoda is THE dilf of the avatar world#in the whole franchise#fuck it you could include every adult man on this list and they will not beat Hakoda (@louisloulouie) #hakoda is the biggest dilf of all time#he is the sexiest man alive in the atla universe#PERIOD#I literally made a PowerPoint about this#I have CITATIONS (@themoons-ex) (i would like to see that powerpoint) #hakoda dilf supremacy (@truthsinwhispers) #mister watertribe chief himself (@sunset-diamond)
In a shocking/delightful upset, Piandao comes in a close second at 18 mentions. I'm going to give credit here to @bisexuallsokka - most of the piandao tags came from people who reblogged from her, and he went from 13% to 14% on the last day, coincidentally right after she reblogged the poll for a second time. he was my pick, so i very much appreciate your efforts and enthusiasm.
#where are all the people who botted the twitter poll we need you now 😩😩😩#piandao stay with me stay with me (@bisexuallsokka) #come on guys piandao could get it (@fearthevest) #you fucks need to go all in on Piandao right the fuck now#sorry… got a little heated there#but Piandao… my beloved (@stalksships) #piandao is so fucking hot (@kieran-rules-zara-drools)
Iroh has 6 mentions, and since he was in second - and very close at points - there were some #irohsweep tags. again i refer to inigo montoya.
#iroh could get it (@capitola) #okie i know its been yearrrs since i watched atla but who this other guy and why is he beating Iroh#oh.... i still vote Iroh but akxhsj;; apologies sir (@cozy-fish-crow) (these made me laugh thank you for sharing)
Bato has 4 mentions, 2 of which are about how hard it is to choose between him, Hakoda, and Piandao. fitting, considering that they're all Sokka's dads. also, he and Hakoda combined got exactly 50% of the vote. bakoda rights!
#BATO IS BEING SLEPT ON!!!!!!! (@matthew-mcjohncenahey) #bato my beloved (@unliikelylovers)
Ozai has 3 mentions, 2 of which are about how he shouldn't get votes. he is the only contestant to receive negative feedback, as he deserves.
#not ozai getting votes while arnook and tyro flounder in obscurity (@minimum-anenome) #who the fuck is voting ozai#i'm concerned about you (@forestberryteaplease)
(two more mentions have come in since the poll closed, but they don't count. you had your chance!)
Arnook and Tyro each have 2 mentions, all relating to them not getting votes.
#arnook having zero votes is crazy im sorry baby (@bisexuallsokka) #lmao RIP tyro tho (@lizardlicks)
The Mechanist managed to get 1% on the poll itself, but has no mentions in the tags. I suspect it's because he wasn't losing hard enough to merit comment (like Arnook and Tyro), but wasn't popular enough to have dedicated fans cheering for victory.
Bonus:
#d..does jee not appear more than once#I thought.. he did#nauuurrrrr jeeeeeee 😭 u were in my heart first but alas ill pick..#piandao why not (@gloomybirdie)
Jee is on the borderline, in the sense that I think people often write him as a father figure for Zuko in fics. It's a pretty logical extrapolation from him learning Zuko's backstory in canon, but it's not actually canon so I don't think he'd qualify. I'm also not sure he meets the two-episode criteria - he was probably in the background but I only really remember him in "The Storm".
I also definitely remember someone mentioning Chit Sang but they seem to have deleted their tag. Was it because I posted about how not all older men count? I meant it to be kind of jokingly serious, Committing To The Bit, but that's hard to convey online. I'm not actually offended, and lord knows I have no room to judge when it comes to liking minor characters. Plus Chit Sang probably DID co-parent teo & haru & the duke when he and hakoda escaped so it's also a borderline case.
thank you all for voting and sharing your opinions! this has been fun :)
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threewaysdivided · 1 year
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Deathly Weapons Writing Roundup 2022
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Total Wordcount: 83,458 Published Chapters: 19/45
New Chapters Released This Year
Ch19: Chapter 18: Black Gold
MISSION 1 High seas and high stakes!  Learning to work with a new Teammate always comes with challenges, but when eco-terrorists commandeer a deep-water oil rig, the pressure has never been greater.  With lives on the line and fingers twitching on triggers, will Phantom’s powers let them swim… or sink?
Wordcount: 21,176 Release Date: 25 Feb 2022 Concept Art Piece
Sure feels like a decade has passed between then and now but nope, this was only published in February. In which I kick off Act II proper by adding 25% to the total length of the story!
I’m really proud of how this one came out.  Black Gold is the first of a series of planned mission-episode chapters with semi-self-contained A-plots that feed into the larger Arc Plot of Act II.  We’ve got some brand new antagonists inspired by characters from the wider DC Comics catalogue, in an entirely original story.  With this one I tried hard to mimic the feel of a YJS1 TV-mission, and based on the comments it seems I swung pretty close to the mark.  I didn’t talk about it in the chapter notes, but I also sought out some sensitivity-writing advice for this one, as well as having a friend sens’-read a few key scenes, and I think it resulted in overall better handling of the civilian OCs.  It might have taken a while to put together it’s almost the size of a Deltora Quest book all on its own but I think the result was worth the wait.
(Fun fact: Act II is deliberately structured to emulate a TV episode experience so if I do it right you should be able to pick up any given mission-block and enjoy the A-plot as a standalone story.  Black Gold wouldn’t be a bad jumping on point if you wanted to try Deathly Weapons out without committing to the full 83K read.)
Roundup of other 2022 development for this story under the cut:
Overall Structure
Structure has now been fleshed out enough for me to formalise the breakdown of chapters. I also decided to write episode teasers for each mission-block, which you can find here.  Currently looking like it’ll be 45 chapters in total, but that may expand to 46 if Mission 9 turns out to need a 2-parter.
Former Mission 5 (Enemy Lines) and Mission 6 (In the Mists) have had their places swapped. In the Mists was a bit of a floating mission structurally, and it turned out to work better when placed before the China and Emeralds interlude.  Meanwhile, the character-chapter following Enemy Lines felt better once placed later.
Our much neglected but no less beloved sorceress Zatanna now has a mini character arc about ghost-magic, starting at Mission 3 and cropping up as a background thread throughout later chapters.  As a side bonus, it comes with some fun meta-implications for my headcanons about Nabu and Clockwork being petty work-rivals.
The memento-shelf has now become a recurring motif in Danny’s character journey.
A set of “story bible” documents have been fleshed out with more detailed character profiles, plot summaries and the overall scheme of the villains.
Act II: Mission 2
Drafted the first scenes for Chapter 19: Flashpoints.
The three key OCs for Chapter 19 have been developed.  The police officer has been swapped out for an investigative journalist.  The other two were somewhat less-anticipated additions but I quite like them in a spiteful sort of way.
Artemis’ chapter 19 scene now gets more in-depth character focus.
Chapter 20 remains already in detailed outline.
Chapter 21 is now in full detailed outline, with 2 scenes in rough draft since 2021.
Act II: Mission 3
Opening outline has seen more development, feat. cameo appearance from Detective Montoya.
Zatanna now gets a character-focus thread to do with expectations and her growth as a sorceress.
The Arc-clue and the souvenirs have been adjusted.  Zatanna now also gets to take something home.
Act II: Mission 4
More development to the opening scene.  Artemis now reads a thematically-relevant part of Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There rather than a generic magazine.
Added a continuation to Zatanna’s arc.  She gets to take home another souvenir.
The Kaldur-centric post-mission chapter (Il-Lit Ships) has seen more outline development.
The Sam-centric post-mission chapter (Withered Red Rose) has also seen more detailed outline development.
Act II: Mission 5
This is now In the Mists.
Conner now has a detailed character thread providing emotional beats.  Galagos, Gorillas and making fun of the Team’s mentors ensue.
Interlude: China and Emeralds
Added more details to the opening scene, feat. gymnastic calisthenics.
Conner and Superman now have a scene together.
Act II: Mission 6
This is now Enemy Lines.
The M’gann-focussed post-mission chapter (Humans) is now in full detailed outline.  Accompanying Meta on Martian Bigotry in the DW!verse was written up to better underpin the discussion of her experiences.
Act II: Mission 7
Added more detail to the post-mission reveal discussion, particularly Phantom and M’gann’s similar experiences.
Act III: Mission 9
Structural outline for the mission-chapter and character interactions have been developed in more detail.
Zatanna’s arc about ghost-magic continues.
The first of two Conner-centric post mission chapters (Alliances) is now in full detailed outline.
Act III: Mission 11
Detail development for the post-mission character-centric chapters, including Dick, Danny, Bruce and the Team.
Development of detailed outlines for the first of three epilogue scenes.
Other stuff
Art things: Deathly Weapons now has a new Banner-Style Fic Cover and Book-Style Fic Cover
Community: There is now a DW Discord.
Lovely gifts: I’ve said it before and I shall say it once more: endless thanks to the inimitable @doodly-doop​ for their wonderful gift art of Wally’s wall-slam manoeuvre from Chapter 18  and @cryxdraws​ for their art of Danny’s upgraded costume from Chapter 16.
And of course, thanks to you (whoever, wherever and whenever you may be) for joining me on this ride.
Here’s to a productive 2023.
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houseofzoey · 2 months
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Overall Thoughts on the House of Night Series
By my standards, this series failed in basically every way possible - except monetary success.
The characters are poorly developed, the majority of them fulfilling shallow archetypes or offensive stereotypes with minimal nuance or meaningful exploration. This is true even of major characters, particularly Damien, Stevie Rae, Shaunee, and even Aphrodite.
Much as Aphrodite is beloved by haters and fans alike for her hardships and ability to actually tell off Zoey on occasion, she's ultimately just the lovable bitch/mean-girl-turned-best-friend trope and sees little thoughtful development. We're told that she changes, such as when she declares that she doesn't want to be like her mother and opts not to mix Xanax and wine - but then she's back to the same "substance abuse for laughs" shtick in the next book. Aphrodite's only actual, consistent change is that she stops hating Zoey and considers her a close friend. But otherwise? She's still a quintessential mean girl. She insults people for how they dress, looks down on the poor, bickers and picks fights with everyone, and - oh yeah - is racist, ableist, and queerphobic. Because it's "funny".
Personally? I think Aphrodite is one of the most despisable characters in the series, specifically because a) she has all the makings of a great character with huge potential for complexity and development, b) we're told she goes through incredible growth and change without really being shown it, and c) she's a raging bigot and that's meant to be funny/charming.
I've talked at length about how Zoey, Kalona, and Neferet are giant disappointments as characters, so I won't harp on that here. The main takeaway is that P.C. Cast doesn't know how to establish interesting, nuanced characters, and she certainly has no idea how to develop the cardboard cutouts she does introduce.
It doesn't help that this series has so many characters. A lot of them introduced once and then promptly forgotten. Remember Hannah Honeyyeager? Red? Montoya? Ant? Enyo? Sappho? Kaci Crump? Yeah, I don't blame you if you can't recall more than one detail about any of these characters - if you can even remember anything about them at all.
I can understand wanting to make the series feel well-populated, seeing as it is set in a school in a major city. But there are ways to do that without it feeling like the author just picks fifteen names out of a hat at the beginning of each book and throws them into the text at random intervals. The end result is that the HoN doesn't feel well-populated; it feels cluttered.
The overabundance of meaningless characters leads to other problems, too. Namely... well, names. One great example of this is Shaunee Cole having a thing for Cole Clifton. That's ridiculous, especially because no one ever comments on it, despite this being the exact sort of oddity that these characters would banter about for at least a page. P.C. Cast just didn’t notice she did that. There's plenty of other examples of identical or extremely similar names throughout the series, such as:
Zoey's brother Kevin and Detective Kevin Marx
Erik and Erin
Neferet the person and Nefertiti the cat
Shaylin and Shaunee
Drew (human) and Drew (fledgling)
Kaci Crump, Cassie Kramme, Casey Young, and Kacie Lockwood (from the Other World spinoff)
Even Damien and Darius are a bit close. The author mixed up their names in narration at one point, and it was never caught during the editing process.
(It's also worth noting that P.C. and Kristin have stated that, if the HoN TV show ever comes to fruition, Shaunee and Erin's names will be changed to Monique and Misty.* Monique is already the name of a Priestess working under Damien at the NYHoN in Loved.)
This is only made more absurd when you remember that every single fledgling and vampyre - all these people who got Marked as teenagers - have complete freedom to change their name to whatever they want. Why are there three fledglings named some variation of Cassie (only Casey is human)? Where are all the kids naming themselves Destiny and Ebony and Serendipity? Why aren't more kids named after their favourite celebrities or characters? You're telling me not a single teenage boy named himself Mike Hawk? Where are the kids who gave themselves four middle names because it sounds fancy, or who made their initials into an acronym?
The number of characters who did something like this is very small: Aphrodite, Jack Twist, James Stark, Venus, and Thor are the only ones I can immediately think of. Frankly, that's absurd.
I know exactly why it's Iike that, though. PC Cast isn't thinking about world-building and internal logic when she names her characters. Instead, she regularly names her characters after real people she knows. Here is a non-exhaustive list of such names:
Shaunee Cole
Erin Bates
Damien Maslin (specifically the last name)
Seoras
Cassie Kramme**
Chera Kimiko
Adam Paluka
Mr. Shaddox
Bryan "Dragon" Lankford
Anastasia Lankford
(On a somewhat related note, both P.C. and Kristin both have multiple self-inserts throughout the original and spinoff series. For P.C., it's Sgiach and Tina. For Kristin, it's Zoey and Kacie. This is mostly harmless - except Tina. Tina is literary brown face, because the white author made her self-insert indigenous, specifically Creek. Otherwise, these self-inserts just end up glorified and coddled.)
This kind of offhandedness and carelessness with world-building plagues the series. It's why historical figures are casually mentioned to be vampyres with no thought to how that would actually impact history. It's why the author says, "yeah, all the best actors and singers are vampyres" but then never considers how different media would look if all the most famous entertainers were nocturnal and allergic to the sun. It's why only a handful of countries have large vampyre populations and many of them (such as Italy and Greece) are known to be incredibly sunny and have long days and long summers, while places like Canada are far less populated despite vampyres being minimally affected by the cold. It's why there's 25 HoNs in the world, seven of which are in the US, while only three are in Asia, one is in Africa, and there are none mentioned in Russia or South America. It's why there's only one HoN in Canada despite it being an enormous country that is difficult to travel because of terrain (mountains, wetlands, tundra), weather, and sheer size.
And the thing is, I can excuse Rule of Cool world-building, or world-building that is shallow/poorly thought out. But the execution and context matter. All throughout the text, there's this very clear vibe that the author thinks she has built this incredibly rich, detailed world that is well-researched and grounded in reality while still being fantastical. In reality, the world-building is about as deep and sturdy as a list of bullet points on a wet napkin: It's not detailed, half of it is unintelligible, and it's gonna fall apart if you put even the slightest pressure on it.
I think a great demonstration of both poorly thought out world-building and poorly developed characters is Nyx. She is a loving goddess who prizes free will and thus operates under the principle of non-interference - but she spent eons gaslighting Kalona and all of vampyre society; regularly pops in to give special powers, helpful hints, or immediate solutions to specific fledglings/vampyres if she likes them enough; openly plays favourites; and gives fledglings extremely cruel, painful, or confusing gifts with no explanation as to why said gifts work the way they do. Why is Stark able to accidentally kill someone because of a metaphor he didn't intend to use? Why do visions cause Aphrodite's eyes to bleed? It's also fundamentally unclear what she wants at numerous points throughout the series.
Much of Neferet's descent into evil and success in committing horrific atrocities comes down to the fact that a) Nyx decided that this was the situation in which she wasn't going to give Zoey or anyone else clear warnings or visions about specifically what Neferet was doing, and b) she refused to rescind any of Neferet's gifts, even when she was using them to hurt people and create undead abominations, and had completely turned her back on Nyx in favour of Darkness.
(This is only compounded by the events of the Other World spinoff, wherein Nyx responds to OG Neferet's crimes by erasing her soul from existence so she can never reincarnate or be resurrected. So, I guess she can interfere where she sees fit? She also reduces Other Neferet and a bunch of her soldiers to children so they can have a second chance [horrifying], and causes a bunch of people to instantly complete the Change - including Other Lynette, who was a human. That seems like a lot of very direct interference.)
I also need to acknowledge how absolutely nonsensical the plot of this series is. Like, even just looking at the (intended) core premise of each book, it's all over the place.
Marked: Zoey is Marked and must learn to navigate her new life as a fledgling, which includes discovering she is the Chosen One and ousting mean girl Aphrodite from her position as glorified Student Council President.
Betrayed: Neferet is acting suspicious, which includes accusing Aphrodite of lying about her visions, and being connected to undead fledglings Zoey has spotted around campus.
Chosen: Zoey must heal undead Stevie Rae while also juggling three boyfriends and lying to her friends about all of it.
Untamed: Creepy ravens are all over campus. Aphrodite gets a vision that reveals these are Raven Mockers and Neferet intends to free Kalona from his earthly prison.
Hunted: Kalona and Neferet have brainwashed pretty much everyone at the Tulsa HoN. Zoey and co. need to figure out how to break the spell or get rid of them.
Tempted: After being banished from Tulsa and unable to continue their reign over the HoN, Kalona and Neferet tell the High Council that they are Erebus and Nyx incarnate, and thus Neferet should be the new High Priestess of all vampyres. Zoey goes to the High Council to say they're lying.
Burned: Zoey is shattered in the Otherworld and everyone is trying to save her.
Awakened: Neferet murders Jack so Zoey will stop frolicking on the Isle of Skye and return to Tulsa. Once Zoey returns, Neferet pretends she's a good guy and asks for her forgiveness.
Destined: Zoey's mother had been ritually sacrificed by Neferet to create a living weapon, so Zoey and co. perform a reveal ritual to show how Zoey's mother was murdered.
Hidden: After being shunned by the High Council, Neferet kidnaps Zoey's grandma as vengeance. Neferet is also working a smear campaign against the HoN on local news, which Zoey and co. counteract by doing an interview badmouthing Neferet and announcing an open house on campus.
Revealed: Neferet murders the mayor outside the gates of the HoN, so the school is on lockdown until they can prove that no one living/working there killed him. The Seer Stone is making Zoey increasingly short-tempered and violent.
Redeemed: Neferet takes over a fancy hotel and declares all the hostages her worshippers. Zoey and co. need to figure out how to use Old Magick to stop an immortal without it making Zoey go mad.
Does any of that seem like a logical progression/escalation of events? This isn't even touching on all the random boy drama, abandoned subplots, or nonsensical digressions that only serve to pad the text.
What the author seemingly intended to craft was a Chosen One coming-of-age narrative about a young girl who always felt out of place finding belonging at the HoN while navigating romantic relationships, learning to be a leader, and joining the battle against Darkness.
What we got was a spoiled, selfish brat who complains about every privilege and inconvenience that falls into her lap, who refuses to do anything hard or unpleasant to the point that she repeatedly cheats and leads on her boyfriends, who never takes initiative, and who largely has her problems solved by her subservient friends or a literal goddess.
But it shouldn't be surprising that the plot is all over the place and fails to fulfill the intended themes/messages of the series, because information about P.C. Cast's writing process for the series is also quite inconsistent. Originally, the series was only meant to be a trilogy, but got picked up for more books. However, in a Reddit AMA***, Kristin Cast claims:
We plotted out the story arch, and it naturally ended with twelve books. We also had a per book word count we had to follow, which is why our books aren't as long as other YA novels. However, I don't think anything was rushed. It was all planned from the beginning, and was executed amazingly!
But in several interviews (can only find a couple**** because they were audio/video, not text), P.C. Cast has referenced going rogue - meaning she deviated from the outline. Stark was meant to be Stevie Rae's love interest, Rephaim was supposed to die when Stevie Rae found him, etc. These represent HUGE alterations to the plot, so obviously the whole plot couldn't have been planned from the beginning, nor could everything be executed as intended.
P.C. Cast has also stated that she hates outlining, but Kristin makes her do a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline when they actually co-write. When P.C. writes solo, she knows the beginning, the end, and a bunch of pieces in the middle, and then figures it out from there (which sounds like a plantser style). Given that Kristin wasn't involved in the planning process - she didn't even look at the outlines of the original series because, as an editor, she wanted completely fresh eyes for the text - she couldn't have been the one pushing for a thorough outline of the whole series before P.C. began writing.
And that's not even getting into the fact that P.C. has stated the series was originally planned as a trilogy, which is evident from how the first three books were written. She couldn't have planned a twelve book series because she had no reason to assume she would be able to publish more than three books.
I wish I had a more satisfying conclusion to offer here, but... that's kind of the problem with talking about this series. The problems both span so wide and run so deep that it feels impossible to actually cover everything. I've made tens of thousands of posts - including in-depth analyses of plot, character, world-building, and writing - for every single book in this series, and I still feel like I haven't covered everything.
*Discussed here, around 17:00
**Google searches show this is a real person who attended the same school PC taught at
***Reddit AMA
****PC Cast interview, q&a
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enbeemagical · 1 year
Text
TSATS teasers again :3 last of the year! It's a long one tho
so remember how Loki went poof?
needless to say, Aaravos is worried
and looking for them
Loki is incredibly unconcerned
and somewhat put out
Aaravos is still worried and searching
Terry my beloved <3
Terrance, not Terrestrius
Aaravos learns about the Avengers from a probably underpaid cashier in London
Hi Wanda
she is Romani and Jewish here, as she's meant to be <3
Going from London to New York is easy when you can teleport
Loki wants to know why Tony calls them Reindeer Games, so it's movie night now
until Aary comes in guns blazing and runes ready
oh my goodness poor Avengers XD so panicky
Xadia doesn't have hot cocoa yet
Hawkeye has questions
Loki has answers
Aaravos has kisses
"As am who now?" <- I like this line shfjf
Loki: Thanos can track infinity stones
Aaravos: WE ARE OUT OF HERE RIGHT TF NOW
Loki: please darling relax he's way far away
Aaravos: :( *okay* but at the FIRST SIGN of him...
Twilight Sparkle XD
PETER my beloved
CHEESY *throws pillow at Aaravos* CORNY
*yeets pillow at Loki also* CHEESYYYYY
Natasha decided Loki is not a threat. Aaravos's response: kill murder kill death am I banned from tiktok yet
Chanukiyah :D
Hanukkah x Christmas x Yule equals fun for everyone here and also Aaravos has no idea what any of this is supposed to be like
Happy Janice
mistletoe
is not Loki's favorite tradition
Storytime
Hunting time! *blows horn*
wait whoops not yet first two more partygoers and an explanation
and then threats time
and bragging time
and NOW it's hunting time
Magic fight!
(that was not gonna happen except we got a comment. those matter!)
(and now we have two of them)
Celestiale and what may or may not be underage drinking. Depends on your universe, I suppose
Vis!
Siblings :D
PRESENT TIME
I love present time
for multiple reasons
aieeeeeeeeee *flappy hands from cute*
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@alls-fair-in-pride-and-prejudice @shiniestcrow @perlelas @iabandonedmybois @13-secret-poems @worstloki @awesomecass2000 @indigo--montoya @flyingbooks42 @otakumultimuse-hiddlewhore @panromantic-frog1
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Don Giovanni (Met, 1990): Reactions, Part I
about time i liveblogged don giovanni on this here account
@leporellian​
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F MURRAY ABRAHAM MY ABSOLUTE BELOVED
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those opening chords are the GOAT
(really, as i have already stated, the overture in general is the GOAT. but james l*vine is very much NOT the GOAT even tho those chords were PERFECTION.)
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okay but for real it’s so cool to watch the set come into place
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FERRUCCIO FURLANETTO AND LEPORELLO MY BELOVEDS
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surely there is something significant in us hearing from leporello first 👀
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GET HIS ASS DONNA ANNA (also carol vaness my beloved)
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fuck any production that tries to make this “consensual” (and bravo to this production for NOT doing that)
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goated opera dad
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it’s all he does the whole opera
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STUNNING cape
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fuck youuuuuuuuuuuu
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poor leporello
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three low-voiced greats, this sublime music, likely the greatest opening scene in opera, what more could you want?
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bitch
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this line makes me HOWL every time
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GO OFF LEPORELLO
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too late :(
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oh no oh honey
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BITCH HER FATHER WAS JUST MURDERED
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honestly i wanna see the version where donna anna inigo montoya’s don giovanni’s ass
“but savannah that goes against traditional gender roles in western societies” and THAT is the point here!!!! the men [ottavio] are so ineffective and like enforcing their little buddy clubs and norms but then the women [anna] cannot fight for themselves!!!
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yeah and then you’re gonna do NOTHING
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which does not exist
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EXACTLY
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just gonna leave this here
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KARITA MATTILA AND DONNA ELVIRA MY ABSOLUTE BELOVEDS
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once again: elvira is not crazy!!! she’s like helena in a midsummer night’s dream, chasing after the man who ruined her life and caused her to violate the societal norms in hope of respectability!!! and there’s lots of other complicated feelings there too!!!
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ICONIC
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LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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this moment right here is *chef’s kiss*
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ONCE AGAIN: GET HIS ASS DONNA ELVIRA
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something something anna/elvira inside/outside society compare and contrast
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me trying to explain anything without writing it down first
also: bye bye you little coward
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EXACTLY. he isn’t worth worrying about but elvira has her rights anyway
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CATALOGUE ARIA TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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HER FACE 😂😭
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all bow to the one true king
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oh this is a BOP (also pretty set)
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DAWN UPSHAW AND ZERLINA MY BELOVEDS
(seriously this cast is so GOATed)
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don giovanni: here i am to cause problems on purpose
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oh come on leporello (more accurately: come on director)
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what a dick
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unrelated but samuel ramey: consummate musician and actor, like even in the way he taps the hilt exactly with the harpsichord chords
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masetto pls calm down
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WHICH YOU ARE NOT
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she says “NO I DON’T WANT TO”
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i love this duet but in light of her LITERALLY just saying no…😬
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no no no no noooooooooooo
anyway this is being stupid so rest of act one will be on a different post
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romanarose · 3 months
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If You Wanna Be Wild: Chapter 6
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Co-written with @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction my beloved Fen, who I could not do this without. Thank you for being my emotional sounding board, my dear friend, my wonderful cowriter and helpful beta reader. I adore you.
Javier Peña x Latina!sex worker!informant!Reader x Santiago Garcia
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Summary: Santi takes Candy out, and Javier gets jealous, but still he defends them both. Drama erupts, and Santi finds something out about himself.
Content and warnings for whole fic, not chapter by chapter unless something is added: Sex work, drug trade, some drug use/pressured used, sex workers and the mistreatment/stigma surrounding them specifically in the 70’s (my blog is sex worker positive) but ima put potential dub con depending how you look at it as a sex worker who works with dangerous men, some action surrounding reader and the guys and the drug trade, SMUT HEAVY, corruption kink (were corrupting santi here, he’s young, 25), no loss of virginity tho, threesomes, some slight m/m smut but that’s not the focus here, but as you know this blog is an lgbt blog so I’m always open to gay shit. Talk of war and some PTSD but I won't be going a whole lot into it. Covert/emotional incest in the past, Santi's mommy issues, m/m dynamics, internalized bi/homophobia
For the record, this is a fic that takes place in the drug trade and deals with the darker side of humanity, so anything from Narco's and Triple Frontier is liable to be discussed or mentioned here. This is your warning. This is not a dark fic nor is it centered around dark themes like Leather and Lace or Sunshine Starlight Sweetheart Brightside, but they are open to be talked about.
Reader has a nick name: Candy. Not her real name just what she goes by on her profession. Much of the inspo for this and for the title came from the Bruce Springsteen song “Candy’s room” so check it out for the vibes.
Reader speaks Spanish and has hair. I've decided Candy is just latina bc she's a sex worker in Colombia so this is what I'm doing. Reader also has curly hair and dark skin.
ADDITIONAL WARNINGS!: Santi's panicy trauma response. Santi's mommy issues in full swing. Javier is jealous, lots of arguments. Cumming untouched, titty sucking. We're in for it boys!
THE SMUT WAS 100% WRITTEN BY THE AMAZING @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction i knew i needed mommy kink and he was the one to go to. If you like subby men, Fen, my dearest cowritter, writes great fics esp with Steven Grant <3 What Fen said when they wrote it "Yoooooo, what am I writing Romana? Madness? I think so."
6.7 words (I'm so fucking sorry okay A LOT WAS HAPPENING)
A/N Since I am apparently an incomprehensible writer, please know that the smut scene in the last chapter was not a threesome, it's Javi fingering Candy and Candy flashing back to her giving Santi a reach around handjob. I wanted to compare and contrast the way the two pairs care for and pleasure each other. but it came across as a threesome :(
Support writers! Reblog and comment!
***************
Santiago didn’t know why he was so nervous.
“What we need is to get out into the actual field!” Javier exclaimed, setting his mug down loud enough to make Santi jump. “Sorry, Garcia.” He muttered, wiping a bit of spilled coffee with his sleeve.
Santiago rolled his shoulders, reaching back to rub his spine over the scar. The surgery saved his life, but damn did it hurt. “S’alright. Listen, I had an idea, but I don’t know if it’s going to be anything. It does get us out of the office next week.”
“I’ll take it, what do you have, Pope.”
Santi smiled. “Well, the nickname is fitting. It’s a rally for the beatification of Laura Montoya.”
A smile quirked up on Javier’s grumpy face. Unbuckling his belt after a second round of stress donuts, Javi kicked his legs up on his desk. “Of course you would know that.”
“My tia invited me.” He shoved Javi’s boots off, then wiped his hands on his pants. “We know what his family looks like now, maybe they will be there? It’s something.”
Javier agreed, it was something. Tracking Lorea had not gone as well as Escabar had. Not that that was a flawless mission itself, but at least it had traction. Martin Lorea was far less public.
The pair settled into an easy rhythm of planning the event. Santiago would have to avoid his tia’s, he thought. That may be hard, considering he had 4 and several cousins who will likely be attending the event. Colombia doesn’t have a canonized saint yet, and she was recognized as venerable so her potential beautification was a big deal for Colombia. Still, he couldn’t be recognized at the rally, his family would want to talk and talk and talk and ask why he didn’t have girlfriend and talk and ask who Javier was, and Tia Lupe would ask him if he had a ‘modern arrangement’ with Javier which would make Santi sick to his stomach with anxiety and- fuck he felt like the donut he stole from Javi was coming back up.
“Gotta go, be right back.”
“I’ll be timing you.” Javier kicked his legs back up on his desk and closed his eyes.
Over the toilet, Santi dry heaved, unsure if he was really going to puke or just felt like it. What the hell was it with Javier these days that made him so anxious? Things had been going well, their friendship repaired in the months since Javier caught him and Candy together. Other than Frankie, who would always be his number one, Javi was his best friend. He’d die for him the way he’d have died for Will, Frank or Ben… but there was something more. Since the day they met, Santiago wanted nothing more than Javier’s approval, he strived for it… maybe it was that he saw Javi as a father figure, almost 15 years older than him… that wasn’t right either. He couldn’t place it until earlier this week.
The DEA ball was coming up, Javier had asked Santi if he wanted to carpool since they both didn’t have dates and lived near-by… to which Santi said he actually had a date. She was a surprise. So was the fact Javier wanted to go.
The “Oh” that had fallen out of his mouth though Santiago off. It sounded disappointed. Santi couldn’t stand Javier disappointed in him. That’s when the thought happened. ‘I wish we could just go together’ Not arrive together. Go together. As a couple. His first thought was no, that’s illegal. His second thought was no, he’d go to hell. His third was him mami, god rest her soul, would roll over in her grave.
He shook the thoughts away, but ever since then he began noticing the way he stared at Javi, the way his body buzzed with any incidental touch… He had to shove it down.
Certainly, Javier was open-minded, but he would to spend as much time as he did with him if he was gay, right? He wouldn’t incite Santi over for futball games on the tv, he wouldn’t take him with him to get lunch… he wouldn’t even want to work with him. It would all be over.
That’s what made Santi sick.
That, and the anxiety over who his secret date was.
*
You didn’t know why you were so goddamn nervous.
You had to admit, you were very surprised when Santiago showed up for his regularly scheduled appointment, flowers in hand, asking you to join him at the ball.
“Santi… sweetie… I don’t know…”
His large eyes looked nervous. “It’s a job! I’ll pay you, I’m not expecting anything free! And I I know what you’re gonna say, I don’t care about Javi freaking out. Imean, if you care I don’t wanna pressure you of course! I’m not trying to come between you guys, but I doubt he’ll even show. He hates these things.”
“It’s not that I’m worried about…” You take the flowers, thanking him genuinely, and walking to your kitchen. Santiago anxiously paced your walls, trailing his hands over your posters. “Sweetheart, I know we have a good time, but I am a prostitute, you know this.”
“I swear, I don’t have any notions about us being in love… I just want you there.”
Placing the flowers in the vase, you turn to look at him. “I just… well…” You hesitate, unsure how to not freak the poor kid out. “oh my god, there's no polite way to say this, but, Javier is far from the only DEA agent I’ve slept with. Hell, I slept with the janitor once.”
“Mario’s a cool guy, I don’t blame you.”
“What I’m saying is,” She sighed out her words. “You’re a sweet young man, and I know you’re a lot younger than most of the guys there. I don’t want to cause you any trouble-”
“Candy-”
“And I know I’ll cause you trouble if I’m there. They are going to make fun of you for bringing a hooker to a ball.”
He shook his head. “I don’t care. There’s no one else I want there with me but you, and I don’t care what Javier says, or any of them for that matter.”
You smile softly at the young man. He was earnest, but although you believed he didn’t care about the other guys at the precinct, you didn’t believe him for one second about Javi. Santiago worshiped the ground Javier walked on, it was clear by the way he talked about his partner.
“If you really don’t care, then yes, I’d love to go.”
His youthful face lit up. “Really?!”
“Yes” You giggle. “It sounds like a great night.”
Santiago ran to you, making you squeal as he threw you over his shoulder. “I’m gonna make you cum so many fucking times on my face, Candy, you don’t even know.”
You had to admit you were a little nervous. A lot nervous. He said he didn't think Javier would be there, but you weren’t sure, and hadn’t had a chance to try and prod him for information. You’d asked around, and Javi had been spending several nights with Gabby. This was not unusual, he was known to bounce around women, but he always came back to you. Today, though, it made you jealous as all hell. Santiago made you nervous too.
You wanted to at least make a good impression for him, so you went out and bought a brand new evening gown for the occasion, something classy, showing the curves but not your tits. Your big Farrah Faucet curls that usually accompanied a night with Lorea and his men were dialed down more to a simple look, your make-up more natural that a night on the town with high rollers would see. Still you were beautiful and you knew it. Just less like a hooker.
*
Javier didn’t know why he was so fucking nervous. He never went to these stupid things, much preferring to spend a night undressed with his cock buried between a pretty woman’s legs than stuff himself into a suit that had only gotten tighter in recent years. But, Pope was gonna be there, he was gonna be dressed up in some overdone suite, Javi just knew it. And his stupid curls would be slicked back and inevitably a few would pop out and he’d spend the night trying to keep them back but they would want to be wild and he’d eventually mess with his hair too much and it’d be all every-which-way and, and, and…
So maybe he was late. So maybe he was a little tipsy. Maybe he had been taking pulls of a flask in the back of a taxi but there was coke baggie and a cum stain on the seat so was it really the worst the car had seen? He pulled up to the dance in his too-tight suit, stumbling out a bit, and attempted to find his way inside. He didn’t really want to see Santi dancing with a girl, but if he didn’t show, Santi would worry, and Javi didn’t like Santi worrying.
Javier hoped she was nice. A nice girl because he was a nice young man. Someone to take care of him in some ways, to let him care for her in others… Javi knew he could take care of Sant. He had when he was sick, hadn’t he? Therein lied the reason Javi was drunk. The burn of the liquor was to press down the feeling he couldn’t ignore sober. He wanted Santiago.
“Buenas noche, amigos. ¿Has visto Santiago?”
Javi asked as he stumbled on a few men from the DEA chattering in a corner
One of the men, Freddy, chuckled, taking a sip of his beer. “Oh, you haven't seen him yet?”
This caused all the men to laugh, but Javier didn’t get the joke. He got the feeling whatever it was, they were laughing at Santi. Javier knew Santi hadn’t really clicked with the men. He was too straight laced, too honest… too good.
“The fuck does that mean?” Javier asked with an obvious bit of bite. Santiago was his to protect.
“Young Garcia came here with a whore on his arm.” Another man, Josue, with a patchy mustache he should just call it quits on attempting to grow replies. “Wonder if he knows what she is, or if he’s going to wake up to a nasty bill in the morning.”
The group laughs, and Javier feels panic rising inside him. No. No way. Santiago couldn’t possibly be that stupid, could he? He was the smartest man Javier knew. He’d never risk her like this… 
Freddy continued when he saw Javi’s confused look. “Yeah, Pena, thats what I thought too!” He said with a laugh that Javier knew was not the good natured ribbing he gave Santi. “You know Candy?”
“Uh, yeah, sounds familiar.” The room was spinning, lights and smoke and colors starting to blur.
“The whore on 7th that lets you play rough? Yeah, her.”
Javier snapped to attention again. “What did you just say?”
“Yeah, I can’t believe it either!” He turns to another man Javier doesn’t have it in him to focus on. “I bet Virgin Maria thinks he’s in love.”
Grabbing him by the shoulder, Javier turned Freddy to him. “What the fuck did you say about Garcia?”
“Relaje, Pena. You call him Pope, different name, same meaning.”
But it wasn’t. Santi was Javi’s friend, Javier cared about him. Javier called him Pope to his face and if he thought it upset him, Javi wouldn’t do it. Freddy and the guys were calling him Virgin Maria behind his back, intending on being assholes. It was meant to hurt, it wasn’t true (Santi wasn’t a virgin even before Candy), it was meant to make a mockery of his good nature, his religion, and his morals. The effeminate name was meant to mock his slight build and stature as well as his passive nature. None of them knew the Santiago that Javier knew. They didn’t know the intelligent, compassionate, incredibly capable young former special opes agent who had saved his life multiple times and had given more break throughs on Lorea than he could could.
“Tell me again what you said about Candy.”
*
Despite the fact everyone was staring at them, you had never seen Santi so happy, so relaxed. He had a few drinks and for his small body it probably left him feeling warm and content. You had opted to stay mostly sober, only drinking one glass of white wine from the open bar; Santiago’s generous and soft smile to the bartender only endeared him to you more. 
He was so much fun like this. You loved the time you spent with him in bed, that was fun too, but you’d also come to genuinely enjoy the moments where he wasn’t making you orgasm on his lips again and again. You genuinely cared when you asked him about his day, and had made a mental note of all the names he mentioned at the precinct that were causing him problems that you recognized. You weren’t sure how without outting him, but you’d figure out some way to fuck with them. One who was a massive dick to him, Freddy, was also a massive dick to you too.
Santi was indulging in a cupcake, telling a story of his friend Benny hitting on a woman only to realize her husband was standing next to her.
“It took me, his brother Will, Fish and Redfly to break the fight up. He still won’t go in that neighborhood anymore!” Santi giggles, taking a bite of the vanilla.
You laugh along; he’s an entertaining story teller. “Did he learn his lesson?”
“No! No! That’s the best part!” Santi said as he waved his hands excitedly. “He immediately, and I mean as soon as we cleaned the blood off his face, went and hit on another girl! And you wanna know the worst part?”
“It worked?”
“It work- how did you know that?”
“Women are easy, Santi.” Swaying to the music, you set his cupcake down. He has frosting on his upper lip, just under where his mustache sat.. “We love our men bloodied.” You pull him in close, eyeing his upper lip for the frosting, but he looks like he’s going for a kiss, and who are you to deny such a handsome man?
“Even when they lose?” He speaks, voice soft and sultry. Santi’s eye flick to your lips, his own push pillows parting to receive you.
“Especially when they lose.” You close the gap, taking his lips in yours and licking your tongue over his sugar-covered upper lip, brushing over his mustache. Sweet, just like him. Your sweet man. 
For a moment, you are lost in him, the sounds of the Jim Croce floating in the air.
'Cause every time I tried to tell you
The words just came out wrong
So I'll have to say I love you in a song’
*
CRASH!
Immediately, at the sound of excitement, Santiago is in front of you, guarding your body with his. He doesn’t move, thinking clearly and assessing the situation; looking for where the danger is at and where the best exit points may be. Keep Candy safe. Keep Candy safe. His only goal was her, keep her away from any narcos, terrorists, freedom fighters or drunken men that might be causing a stir. When the center of the commotion was coming from the north, Santiago took Candy’s hand and began to take her to one of the south exits, a lesser used one with less potential for a second assailant, when he felt her tug away.
“JAVI!” She shouts, running towards the danger in high heels, rust colored skirt fluttering just as her flowy sleeves did.
“CANDY!” Running after her, he catches up with ease without the hindrance of heels. Santi tries to stop her, not wanting her near the drunken brawl, but she is on a single minded mission. Javier was under Freddy, who Santiago did not like, and getting the shit beat out of him. If he had a second more, if his focus wasn’t so on Candy, he would have beat her too it… but Candy was quicker
Santiago watches in surprise as she lifts her skirt, pulling a knife out of her garter, getting behind Freddy and gripping his hair hard, knife to his throat.
Everything was a deadly calm, everyone saying so, so still to not disturb the crazy woman with a knife. When Santi looked to Javier to check if he was okay, he saw Javi looking up at her with his big brown eyes, clearly fucking enamored.
“Freddy, get off of him before I tell everyone the weird shit you’re into.”
The next few minuets were a blur. As soon as Freddy was off Javier and Candy’s knife was off him, he was a big man again and the group began arguing. Santiago couldn’t quite pick up what it was about except “KEEP HIS NAME OUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!” From Javi.
They were all three escorted out by security; weapons weren’t allowed at the ball.
Outside the doors, a second argument erupted.
Candy tried to approach Javier. “Javi, baby, are you-” But as her hands reached for his swollen face, the older agent stepped back and turned his attention to his mentee. “Are you fucking stupid, Garcia?!”
Santi and Candy both are taken aback by this, but it’s Candy that speaks first. “Don’t talk to him like that!” 
Javier’s anger is turned back to her. “And you! You should know better than this! Than coming here!”
She rolls her eyes. “Javi. It’s literally a part of my job, I’m an escort.”
“FOR DRUG DEALERS!” Javier shouts, throwing his hands in the air and stumbling back. “Not for YOU!”
“So what, he’s too good for me to take out? Dirty whore like me belongs in dirty nightclubs and dirty crackhouses?”
“Oh for fucks sake THATS NOT WHAT I MEANT!”
Instinctively, Santi places himself slightly in front of Candy. “Tone it down, Pena.”
His icy glare turns condescending as a short, drunk, sardonic laugh escapes him. “HA! Do you think you’re in love, Santiago? Do you think you’ll be the magical man that can ‘save her’? That’s not how this works! You aren’t supposed to be bringing prostitutes to government functions, you absolute IDIOT! And you’re especially not supposed to bring HER!”
“ENOUGH!” Candy shouts at him, eyes flashing in anger. “You don’t get to tell him what he can and can’t do, Javi! And you certainly do not have possession over me! I am not yours! Just because we fuck does not mean you own me, and you don’t get to decide who I sleep with. Like you said, I am a prostitute, one of SEVERAL you frequent, so I wouldn’t be getting too high and mighty about being careful when everyone knows Helena nearly died working for you! I am not yours!”
Javier scoffs. “Oh, and he is? You think he’s your little lover boy, someone to play pretend that you are having a normal relationship with? He’s a scared child, he’s terrified of intimacy and thinks a finger in the ass will send him to hell!”
“Javier, fucking stop it right now.”
“He can’t protect you! He can’t take care of you!”
“Oh, and you can?”
“YES!”
Javier’s shouted words hung in the air, dripping with anger and venom. Santi simply watches, watches them like a scared child watching his parents fight, wishing it would just fucking stop, but it won’t. Not between them. Javier doesn’t back down and Candy isn’t scared of him.
Then, Candy starts to laugh. It’s short little laughs at first but grows louder. “Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME JAVI!” She laughs once more before shaking her head, tugging a bit at her hair as she walks a short circle. Candy shook her head, suddenly calm. “Thunder only happens when it’s raining, players only love you when they’re playing.”
Javi blinked, his voice now noticeably slurred. “What the actual fuck was that.”
Santi stepped up, sliding an arm around Candy’s waist. If she said what she wanted to say, he wanted to guide her away from Javier before he could be more hurtful to her. “It’s from Fleetwood Mac, Javi. You’d know that if you cared enough about her to look into her interests.”
Candy turned to him then, surprised, her soft eyes looking towards him; the hint of a smile on her face.
Javier, however, looked bewildered. “Her interests?You. Are not. DATING HER!”
“I still care about her!” Santiago defended himself. “Just because I’m not a sad slut who can’t emotionally attach to anyone anymore doesn’t mean I treat her like she’s not a person!”
Javier looked like he was about to speak, then shook his head. “This is fucking insane. This is not a Hollywood movie, there is no happy ending here, FUCK YOU GUYS and FUCK THE GODDAMN PRESINCT”
With that, Javier stormed off, angrily mumbling about one thing or another and his broad form shrunk down the street.
It was then Santi felt her begin to shake. Thinking quick, he took off his sports coat and wrapped it around her. “Hey, hey bebita,¿Estás bien?”
“Si” She shook her head a bit, then turned to him with an irritated look “He just really pisses me off sometimes, you know?”
Santi chuckled. “I know. He’s an asshole, let’s not worry about him, okay?” He wrapped his arms around her, and Candy allowed herself to sink into him. Santiago felt her relax, laying her head on him. He was angry, so fucking angry at Javier for the things he said to Candy, the way he spoke to her, it was hurting with jaw with how much he was clenching it… but it was clear Candy was upset too. His feelings didn’t matter, her’s did. He needed to be her man, be her strength, so he pushed his feelings aside.
Through the doors of the ballroom they could still here the live music playing, and he felt Candy gasp as The Eagle’s hit song, Peaceful Easy Feeling, began.
“I love this song…” She whispered, beginning to sway to the music. The stars were out, shining on her. It felt like they shined for her alone.
‘I like the way your sparkling earrings lay
Against your skin, it's so brown’
“I know.” Santi whispered against her skin. “I asked them to play it.” He sang the next line into her skin.
‘Y quiero dormir contigo en el desierto esta noche
Con mil millones de estrellas alrededor’
Candy took her head off him to look into his eyes. Fuck, she was pretty. So so pretty. He wanted her with him all the time, even though he knew it wasn’t possible. He wasn’t in love. Santi wasn’t sure he was capable of romantic love, honestly. He wasn’t sure he was capable of a love that was safe. But whatever he had with Candy right now it was good.
“You requested this song for me?”
‘'Cause I gotta peaceful easy feeling
And I know you won't let me down
'Cause I'm already standing
On the ground’
“Of course I did… wanted to make sure there was music you liked.” Santiago stroked her hair, careful to not mess it up, just enough to feel her. He began to dance with her in earnest.
“You’re the sweetest man I’ve ever met, you know that?”
“And I found out a long time ago
What a woman can do to your soul
Ah, but she can't take you anyway
You don't already know how to go”
Santiago twirled her, making Candy giggle. 
“You listen to Fleetwood Mac?” She asked him through her laughs.
‘And I gotta peaceful easy feeling
And I know you won't let me down
'Cause I'm already standing
On the ground’
He shrugged. “I didn’t until I saw you had three albums, a Fleetwood Mac poster AND a Stevie Nicks poster.”
“So you… just decided to listen?”
“They're clearly important to you.”
He sings to her once again in Spanish
‘Tengo este presentimiento de que te conozco
Como amante y como amiga’
Candy whispers in his ear. “I enjoy our time together. I hope you know that. I do consider you a lover and a friend, Santiago.”
‘But this voice keeps whispering
In my other ear, tells me
I may never see you again’
Santiago believed her, but the ever-presant anxiety inside him told him this was temperary. Don’t feel safe, don’t feel comfortable. You are expendable. You are only loved as long as you are useful. You are only loved as long as you are perfect and good and right all the time. You can never mess up. If you do, WHEN you do, she’ll walk away just like Javi did. Still, he shakes these thoughts off and tries to focus on her. Focus on Candy. 
‘Porque tengo un sentimiento tranquilo y pacifico
Y se que decepcionarás
Porque ya estoy parado
En el suelo’
As the song ended, Santi dipped a giggling Candy down low, admiring the way the dress flowed over her beautiful body.
“Hey Candy, they aren’t gonna let us back in there, wanna hop some shitty bars?”
“I’d like nothing more, Santiago.”
*
Back at his apartment, Candy and Santi giggled their way into his bedroom. A slightly tipsy Santi flopped down on his bed, sighing out a declaration that this was the best night of his life. When he opens his eyes again, he sees you smiling at him. He thinks that he wants to see you in his home more often.
“You look really pretty in that dress, you know that?” Santi says with a love-sick smile plastered all over his face. 
You can’t help but smile back, unable to hamper the little laugh that lightens your chest. He was a bit more tipsy than you’d thought. 
He pouts a little, being overly dramatic on purpose as he leans up on his elbows, his left leg half hanging off the bed as you stand watching him. 
“Don’t laugh.” He pulls a face that has the opposite effect. 
You don’t give him the chance to retort again and poke his foot with your index finger, while you school your face into a mock disapproving scowl. “Shoes on in bed?” You tut, expecting another pout and tease back from him, a shrug and a chorus of ‘Well it’s my bed, I can do whatever I want.’ 
But instead, his eyes widened a little, a small dusting of light pink blossoming over his brown cheeks and nose and highlighting his faint freckles. “S-sorry.” He mumbles quickly, scrabbling up into a sitting position to undo his laces. He’s pulled off one shoe and dropped it carefully to the floor before you even have a chance to register what he’s doing. 
“Hey, hey,” you sit down next to him, your thigh touching his, and stroke your left hand through his curls. They’re a little stiffer than usual from the product he used for the occasion; it hasn’t stopped more than a few rough strands from breaking free though. 
Santi leans into your touch instantly, instinctively closing his eyes and sighing, a weight lifting from his ribs. You wouldn’t be surprised if he started purring. 
“You okay?” You whisper, continuing to run your fingers softly through his hair. 
He nods and hums an affirmative. 
You’re about to ask again, unable to stop yourself from double-checking his well-being. That seed of affection for Santi that first settled in your heart weeks ago has now grown and rooted into your chest, its vines and leaves twisted around your rib cage, seeking out your love like sunlight. 
Just as the words form on your tongue you notice the not-so-subtle bulge in his trousers and bite back a smile. 
Ah.
Not distress. Not panic. Nothing like that at all. Not right now, anyway.
Santi can’t see your expression with his eyes closed. He’s shifted closer, his temple gently against your shoulder as you stroke his hair. He sighs happily, almost dreamily. 
It’s nice to see him like this, relaxed into your touch. He too often seems anxious, worried, worrying about his military friends, worried about Javi, worried about his family although those details remain vague. He’s mentioned his sisters lives in the US, Atlanta she thought, his tia’s he saw so often here, and every now and then a brief mention of his mom but only in passing. You place a soft kiss on his forehead, leaving a faint lipstick stain on his skin and he presses closer to you, nuzzling into the nape of your neck. 
Languidly you run your free hand up his thigh, just tracing your fingers over his crotch before you squeeze. 
The sharp, low moan that escapes his lips is more than worth it, though the gasped word that tumbles out is a bit of a surprise. 
“Mommy,” 
He freezes instantly, his eyes going wide and teeth audibly snapping shut. In less than a second he’s racking his brain, trying to work out how, why, where did that word come from? What deep, dark recess of his mind forced that word to the surface? Something was wrong with him. Something fundamentally wrong with him, deep down in the recesses of his brain. He was fucked up. He was going to hell.
Maybe you hadn’t heard it. Maybe you wouldn’t notice it. But already Santi knew those hopes were a lost cause. The way your hand had tightened momentarily in his hair the second it slipped past his tongue. He’d had a drink, a few drinks- although they’d mostly worn off throughout the night- that was a good enough excuse right? Oh god. What must you think? What would you-
“You’re my good boy, aren’t you?” Your voice was low and sweet, a caress to his very soul and he shivered in spite of himself, moaning again and squeezing his eyes shut as you stroked his painfully hard cock. 
He nodded his head rapidly, not wanting to disappoint you. He’d be good, he’d be so fucking good for you. His breath hot on your neck as he pressed closer, angling his body completely towards you with a soft whimper. 
You continued stroking him for a moment longer, pressing the heel of your palm firmly against his thick base before you unzipped his fly and flicked open his trouser buttons. You always loved this, loved how needy he got, how desperate for you.
Santi groaned loudly, his lips against your neck, half muffling his words against your skin as he squirmed into your touch. 
“Hmm?” You halted your actions teasingly, waiting for him to repeat himself. 
The small sob and bob of his throat nearly broke your resolve, but he pulled his face away from you a fraction to speak. 
“Mommy, please,” he whispered. 
You couldn’t help yourself, it wasn’t like it was the first man to call you ‘mommy’ in bed, but there was something about sweet, innocent Santi who had blushed his way through your first encounter not that long ago speaking that world that set your blood ablaze. 
“Please what?” You teased. 
He squirmed again, bucking helplessly against your hand. “Please?”
“You’re gonna have to use a few more words than that pretty boy, or I won’t be able to help you.”
Santi let out an anguished sigh, pressing his face into your neck once more.
Quickly, you moved your hand away from his weeping cock and firmly pinched his chin between your fingers, pulling him back ever so slightly so that you could look into his dark brown eyes as you title his face up. 
“If you don’t speak, Mommy won’t be able to help you.” 
Santi audibly moaned, his eyes rolling back for a split second before he shut them tight. His dick twitched uncontrollably. 
“Yes, please, sorry, I’ll be good, I’ll be a good boy.” His words were all rushed together and there was a hazy look to his gaze when he opened his eyes again, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. 
You petted his hair gently. “I know you will be, Mommy’s got you, sweetheart.”
He whimpered, rubbing his thighs together with every word. 
“Now, tell me what you want.” 
“Can I,” he swallowed again, placing his hand on the zip of your dress, “can I undo this?” 
That wasn’t what you expected him to say, and you raised an eyebrow at him lazily as you smiled and nodded. 
Santi let out a little nervous breath before hastily undoing the dress and carefully slipping it off your shoulders and down to your waist. You weren’t wearing a bra.
He held his breath as he gazed at your chest, his left hand hovering just above your skin as he stared with reverence. As if he hadn’t seen you semi-naked many, many times before. 
You stroked his hair again. “You’re such a good buy, aren’t you? Asking for what you need?” You say softly, just to gently break him out of his trance. You did enjoy teasing him, but never for very long. He always listened, always did as he was told, and you were happy to reward him
He nods quickly, never taking his eyes off your breasts. The tip of his tongue pokes out and wets his bottom lip. 
Ever so slowly he leans forward, placing a light, sweet kiss to your lips, the corner of your mouth, your cheek, before trailing down to your neck and collarbone. His kisses get messier, wetter, more urgent the further down he goes and you don’t expect him to pause, panting against your skin. 
He looks up at you with large eyes that send a shudder of heat through your core. “Can I kiss your breasts… mommy?” He adds the name shyly, looking down momentarily so that his eyelashes flutter against his cheeks. 
You keep stroking his hair as you nod, hooking your fingers around the nape of his neck and guiding him towards your chest. He takes the small movement and runs with it instantly, surging forward and covering your breasts in desperate, wet kisses. Switching back and forth between them constantly as if he simply had to lavish each with the exact same amount of attention. He moans as he lightly bites and sucks, his hands digging into your skin as he holds onto you for dear life. 
You press him closer, urging him on by digging your fingers into his curls and scratching your nails along his scalp. He rewards you with another muffled groan, the vibrations reverberating along your skin and sending a shiver of pleasure down your spine. 
Santi pushes closer, the force nearly knocking you onto your back as he latches onto your left nipple. You brace your right hand on the bed behind you so that you can keep your balance. 
“Such a good boy Santi.” You whisper and he whines, looking up at you once with lazy, lust-blown eyes as he keeps his mouth against you. He sucks demandingly, the sensation almost bordering on too much, but still somehow not enough, and swirls his tongue around your nipple before lapping at it and starting the process all over again. His hips are bucking desperately, but he doesn’t dare ask for attention. He knows you’ll take care of him. You always will.
He sighs, shifting, simultaneously trying to get something and not knowing what he wants at the same time. 
You know what he needs though. 
You coo at him, soothing and sweet as you pull in closer into your arms, cradling his head as you gently ease him into your lap. He moans so loudly, the sound quickly becoming a whine in his throat as you embrace him.
For a few seconds, he seems to relax into you, all the stress of the day and previous weeks and months draining from his soul and bones as he gently sucks. But then he starts to squirm, his thighs shaking and stomach muscles tensing. He pulls his mouth off of you with a pop and low, desperate groan. His eyes shut tight and eyebrows knitted together as he whines and presses his forehead against your skin.
“Gonna cum.” At the very back of his mind he has a sense that he should be embarrassed, embarrassed that he’s this far gone and going to cum practically untouched. But he can’t fight the pleasure as it bubbles up his spine, doesn’t want to. 
“You can cum Santi,” you whisper in his ear. “You’re such a good boy, cum for Mommy.” 
He shakes his head, unsure why, tears at the very corners of his eyes, “please.”
“It’s okay,” you soothe, holding him tight and kissing his temple. “I’m here.” 
He moans loudly, latching back onto your breast and sucking for all he’s worth.
“Mommy’s here.” 
He groans again, pulling away a fraction to get his words out. His voice is breath and high. “Want Mommy to cum.” 
The pleading in his voice spikes at the throbbing arousal in your core. “Santi, it’s okay-”
His whine is muffled against your chest as he reaches down, sliding his hands between your legs to caress your body the way he knows you like. You’d taught him exactly how you want to be touched, exactly how you touch yourself. He was an eager learner.
“Santi,” you manage to breathe out through his messy desperate kisses. 
“Mommy needs to cum now please,” he murmurs, his speech slurred against your tongue, 
Your breath catches, thighs squirming as he strokes you, the movements soft but sure. It only takes an embarrassingly short time before you’re moaning into his mouth and tensing as your release overtakes you in a rush. 
When it’s clear you’ve cum, he tenses, his orgasm following through him and bursting behind his eyes. His cock throbs as he empties himself into his pants. You smile softly at his face as his forehead pinches in bliss, your hand still stroking his hair. 
There’s a pause, a small moment of quiet just before he sighs deeply, feeling weak and boneless. And then he looks up at you with his dark, dark eyes. The softness, the relief, the adoration… the sleepiness. 
“So good, Santiago… you’re so good. My perfect boy…”
Santi sighs against your skin, relishing in the tender moment as you play with his hair. “Was that weird?” He mumbles into your skin.
“Noooo, no not at all. It’s very common, actually.”
He looks up at you through heavy lids and suspicious eyes. “Really?”
“Oooooh yeah.” You chuckle. “More often than you think. I’m not here to judge anyone.”
He doesn’t seem convinced, but he seems to relax. “Okay. Yeah. Okay.”
You opt to not talk about it anymore, at least for the time being. He’s so tired right now, coming hard and untouched, and you decide it’s time to put him to bed. By the time you lay him from your lap to his pillow, he’s half asleep, so you opt with minimal dress. Gentle, you unbutton his shirt and slowly, carefully slide his shirt off. When you take off his trousers and underwear fully, you replace them with sweats. You think he’s asleep, breathing slowly and eyes closed. He looks positively angelic. When your getting ready to zip up your dress again, and make your exit, you hear his voice once more.
“Stay the night?”
You sigh. “Santi, I dunno if that’s a good idea…”
His eyes open slightly, just enough so you can see him. “Please, I’ll pay you whatever you want, I just don’t want tonight to end…”
He looks so vulnerable in this moment… and you don’t want this night to end either. Rules be damned. Santi was different. Santi was better. Santi was good. And you?  You deserved some damn good.
“Don’t pay me, I’ll stay.”
Santiago sits up ever so slightly. “No, no Candy this is your job. I don’t expect free-”
“It’s not free, honey.” You begin to strip down, Santi’s sleepy eyes drifting down your naked body, staring at the knife at your garter. “We’re going to sleep, just like I would at home. And tomorrow, you’ll make me breakfast. Sound like a fair trade?” The truth was, sleeping with Santi, actually sleeping with Santi, sounded wonderful. You didn’t want it to feel like a transaction. 
So, you slip into his clothes. You wear a tee shirt and sweats and climb into his bed where you think he’s actually asleep this time. He snores lightly. He sleeps on his stomach, so you rub his back. He feels nice. 
You want better for him. You want him to have a stable life, a loving wife who wasn’t a whore, kids if he wanted them, his family and friends surrounding him. He should have to live in danger, work a dangerous job. He should be allowed to be happy. It wasn’t a life you could give him, you knew… but you could imagine.
You kiss the scar on his spine.
******************
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for reading!!!!
If you're still hear, please drop a lil HI! It's 12 pm here, inching towards 1 but i promised to put this out so i will!!!
Everyone PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLOUSE FOR FEN FOR THE SMUT IN THE COMMENTS AND REBLOGS SO I CAN MAKE SURE THEY SEE ALL THE LOVE
I hope everyone is saying as safe as they can be in these temps, my heart goes out to all those struggling but especially those in war zones, poverty, homelessness, or in areas that were previously never this cold and thus unprepared for a harsh winter. I know us northerners joke about how cold we get, but I know its different when your infrastructure isnt equipped to take this on.
So tell me friends
Did Javier have a reason to be mad at Santi?
Or was he overreacting?
TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ARGUEMENT AND YOUR THOTS ON OUR DEAR SANTI
@runa-falls @lunar-ghoulie @campingwiththecharmings @whatthefishh @persephone-girl @criticalarchitecture @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog @beelzebeth87 @pimosworld @millerscoffee @heareball @thatwonderouswoman @poolb @meveispunk @lovable-liar @millllenniawrites @read-and-wip @missdictatorme @the-fox-den @milkymoon2483 @k-ra @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @rosellacwrites @legendary-pink-dot @dreamingofbucky @englandsgray @starsthatwatch @fairlyang @alwaysmicado @theywhowriteandknowthings @casa-boiardi @lostfleurs @ninebluehearts @puglover12 @sub-aro @laiisleiite @itspdameronthings @heareball @comfortlessjoy @csarab615 @calaveramangonda @bit-dodgy-innit @stevngrant @kirsteng42 @mrsjavierp @nanfafnan @lovable-liar @axshadows @cookielovesbook-akie @reallyrallyauthor @solar-fics @criticalarchitecture
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fabulousairpirate · 2 years
Text
Guess who’s back on their bullshit
Its me, I am. I am here to bring you… My American Girl dnd au alignments! Me and @whencartoonsruletheworld (also known as @americangirlstar ) collaborated on this a few years back, and for some reason it just clicked in my head that I should post it. Without further ado, here we go.
Name: Kaya’aton’my
Class: Druid Ranger
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Weapon: Throwing Knives, Duel Axes
Major Strengths: Constitution and Charisma
Minor Strengths: Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Nature and Survival
Animal Companion(s): Talto the dog, and Steps-High the horse
Inventory: Arrowhead, Magpie Feather, Flint 2x, Crudely Drawn Map, Wooden Swan Carving, Bone Dagger
Name: Felicity Merriman
Class: Bard Ranger
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Weapon: Old Faithful (Broadsword)
Major Strengths: Dexterity and Intelligence
Minor Strengths: Animal Handling, Athletics, Performance, Perception
Animal Companion: Penny the horse
Inventory: Lute, Coin Purse (50g), Lucky Horseshoe, Sonnet, Embroidered Handkerchief, Beloved’s Ring
Name: Elizabeth Cole
Class: Sorcerer
Alignment: Neutral Good
Weapon: Magic Tome
Major Strengths: Charisma and Dexterity
Minor Strengths: Deception, Insight, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand
Animal Companion:
Inventory: Small Sewing Kit, Pearl Necklace, Handheld Mirror, Coin Purse (60g), Small Notebook (for love-letter writing), Quills
Name: Caroline Abbott
Class: Pirate
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Weapon: Devil’s Hand (Curved Sword)
Major Strengths: Dexterity and Constitution
Minor Strengths: Intimidation, Perception, Deception, Survival
Animal Companion: Inkblot the cat
Inventory: Navigation Compass, Coin Purse (100g), Boot Polish, Little Bell, Ship In A Bottle, Map of The Stars
Name: Maria Joséfina Montoya
Class: Monk Bard
Alignment: Neutral Good
Weapon: Baston Magico
Major Strengths: Intelligence and Wisdom
Minor Strengths: Arcana, History, Medicine, Religion
Inventory: Healing Herbs, Golden Cross, Handful of Coins (10g), Mama’s Seeds, Fire Salt, Crushed Marigold
Name: Marie-Grace Gardner
Class: Cleric Bard
Alignment: Neutral Good
Weapon: Bâton de Talon
Major Strengths: Constitution and Charisma
Minor Strengths: Medicine, Performance, Religion, Insight
Animal Companion: Argos the dog
Inventory: Golden Locket, Healing Herbs, Sapphire Promise Ring, Dragon Scales, Small Dagger, Lyre
Name: Cécile Rey
Class: Bard (Poet)
Alignment: True Neutral
Weapon: Rapier
Major Strengths: Charisma and Wisdom
Minor Strengths: Deception, Perception, Performance, Slight of Hand
Animal Companion: Cochon the parrot
Inventory: Notebook, Pecans, Jeweled Mask, Opal Ring, Satin Gloves, Unfinished Poem
Name: Kirsten Larson
Class: Druid Barbarian
Alignment: Neutral Good (so sweet)
Weapon: Stor Yxa (Great Axe)
Major Strengths: Strength and Constitution
Minor Strengths: Athletics, Nature, Religion, Survival
Animal Companion(s): Missy the cat and Svartin the horse
Inventory: Amber Heart, Arrowhead, Bear Claw Necklace, Jar of Honey, Wooden Bird Carving, Red Candle
Name: Aduke “Addy” Walker
Class: Paladin
Alignment: Lawful Good
Weapon: Freedom Bringer (sword)
Major Strengths: Intelligence and Wisdom
Minor Strengths: Athletics, Insight, Persuasion, Survival
Animal Companion: Sunny the canary
Inventory: Letter from Home, Cowrie Necklace, Brass Ring from Sarah, Ribbon, Lantern, “An Explorers’ Anthology of Ancient Runes”
Name: Samantha Parkington
Class: Paladin
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Weapon: Lady Lydia’s Sword
Major Strengths: Intelligence and Charisma
Minor Strengths: History, Insight, Perception, Persuasion
Inventory: Wrapped Sweets, Jeweled Dagger, Embroidered Handkerchief, Locket, “A Simple Bard’s Song Guide”, “Accounts of Magic vol. 3”
Name: Nellie “Nel” O’Malley
Class: Fighter
Alignment: Neutral Good
Weapon: Sledgehammer
Major Strengths: Strength and Wisdom
Minor Strengths: History, Medicine, Persuasion, Religion
Inventory: Silver Cross, Hand Wraps, Tool Belt, Antique Watch, Da’s Pipe, Mam’s Ring
Name: Rebecca Rubin
Class: Bard
Alignment: True Neutral
Weapon: Magic
Major Strengths: Dexterity and Intelligence
Minor Strengths: Arcana, Acrobatics, Performance, Religion
Inventory: Golden Star, Wooden Top, Magic Tome, Pan Flute, Quill, Loose Scrolls
Name: Kit Kittredge
Class: Thief Rogue
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Weapon: Duel-Wielding Short Swords
Major Strengths: Dexterity and Charisma
Minor Strengths: Deception, Investigation, Persuasion, Stealth
Animal Companion: Grace the dog
Inventory: Pocket Knife, Navigation Compass, Binoculars, Fingerless Gloves, Coin Purse (60g), Notebook and Quill
Name: Ruthie Smithens
Class: Thief Fighter
Alignment: Neutral Good
Weapon: Twin Daggers
Major Strengths: Charisma and Wisdom
Minor Strengths: Acrobatics, Investigation, Performance, Persuasion
Inventory: “The Complete Book of Faeries”, Tiara, Lockpick x5, Love Letter, Maple Sweets, Golden Star Necklace
Name: Alice Nanea Mitchell
Class: Monk
Alignment: True Neutral
Weapon: Bo Staff
Major Strengths: Dexterity and Constitution
Minor Strengths: Athletics, History, Intimidation, Performance
Animal Companion: Mele the dog
Inventory: Five-Shell Necklace, Small Gourd, Lute, Fishing Pole, Spellbook, Emergency Sewing Kit
Name: Molly McIntire
Class: Adventurer
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Weapon: Shellshock (Mace)
Major Strengths: Charisma and Constitution
Minor Strengths: Medicine, Deception, Investigation, Slight of Hand
Animal Companion: Bennett the dog
Inventory: “Tales from Tír na nOg”, Locket, Lantern, Cooking Kit, Coin Purse (30g), Eyeglasses
Name: Emily Bennett
Class: Cleric Fighter
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Weapon: Magic
Major Strengths: Intelligence and Wisdom
Minor Strengths: Arcana, History, Nature, Religion
Animal Companion: Yank the dog
Inventory: Salt Pellets, Knight’s Tags, Sacrificial (?) Dagger, “Charms for Dullards”, Book of Pressed Flowers, Potions Kit
Name: Maryellen Larkin
Class: Alchemist
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Weapon: Magic, Miniature Bombs
Major Strengths: Dexterity and Intelligence
Minor Strengths: History, Performance, Persuasion, Alchemy
Animal Companion: Scooter the Dog
Inventory: Thick Gloves, Quill, Playing Cards, Glass Vials, Mapbook, Emergency Dagger
Name: Melody Ellison
Class: Bard
Alignment: Lawful Good
Weapon: Lance
Major Strengths: Wisdom and Charisma
Minor Strengths: Insight, Nature, Performance, Persuasion
Animal Companion: Bo the Dog
Inventory: Songbook, Bag of Seeds, Binoculars, Refillable Vial, Ribbons, Hand Trowel, “A Simple Bard’s Song Guide vol 2”
Name: Julie Albright
Class: Monk
Alignment: Neutral Good
Weapon: Fists and Magic
Major Strengths: Strength and Dexterity
Minor Strengths: Athletics, Arcana, Perception, Performance
Animal Companion: Nutmeg the Rabbit
Inventory: Hand Wraps, Strange Necklace, Rabbit Food, Fingerless Gloves, Handmade Scarf, Neckerchief
Name: Ivy Ling
Class: Mage Healer
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Weapon: Bo Staff
Major Strengths: Dexterity and Intelligence
Minor Strengths: Acrobatics, Arcana, Insight, Medicine
Animal Companion: ?
Inventory: Red Envelope, Dragon’s Eye, “A Study of Dragons”, Healing Herbs, Magic Tome, Eyeglasses
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"Free thinkers at seventeen!"
Dead Poets Society - Grant Montoya
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Security and conformity, or insecurity and the chance to prove all you're worth?
Within many, there lies an urgency; gnawing desperation to do something great before we can't anymore. If one never comes to this realization, then it'll be years more of tearing across the dotted line.
In the 1989 film Dead Poets Society, we get to see what happens when an unorthodox English teacher Mr. Keating (Robin Williams) helps a class of young students lift the veil off of this very subject, and we the audience must decide: Was this for the better, or for the worse?
I was able to find what hit me the hardest in this movie after my long-awaited rewatch. It was a scene where one of the more reserved students, Todd Anderson, was called up to do an impromptu poetry exercise with Mr. Keating after informing him that he didn't do his poetry homework assignment:
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I thought this was a brilliant display of the director's use of "show don't tell," as such Todd's poetic rambling is raw and believable. Afterward, I felt sympathy with the character because I too feel as though my voice, literally and figuratively, is weaker than my peers. Dead Poets Society boasts a number of these scenes, and this if nothing else is worthy of applause.
It's interesting to see the rating this film received from renowned film critic Roger Ebert, who has a website where he along with many co-writers reviews various movies. Although he found this movie special enough to review himself, the 2/4 score he gave it doesn't give it much merit.
"The society was founded by Keating when he was an undergraduate, but in its reincarnate form it never generates any sense of mystery, rebellion or daring. The society's meetings have been badly written and are dramatically shapeless, featuring a dance line to Lindsay's "The Congo" and various attempts to impress girls with random lines of poetry." - Roger Ebert
I would argue that the tone of Elbert's assessment is more on the level of a snob's wishlist of things or ideas that could have been. Nonetheless, I guess that a more sophisticated person might find the movie to be lacking compared to other works with similar themes.
Beyond the reviews of the critics which are mostly mixed, there lays an abundance of high audience ratings. A user by the name of 'peterwixongb' of IMDb said the following with a 10/10 score:
"Dead Poets Society has got to be one of the best-written films I have ever seen. The way the writers are able to control your emotion is insane."
The themes and underlying message of the movie are pretty clear and universal; something to the tune of "seize the day and live on your own terms." But the unconventional aspects are apparent in how the movie shows this idea. This is most noticeable (spoiler ahead) at the most emotional moments i.e. when Neil commits suicide, Keating's unhappy ending, etc.
Nonetheless, Dead Poets Society did phenomenally well at the box office for a 1/1 lesser-known adaptation, and it also stars the beloved actor/comedian Robin Williams, so we're definitely looking at a mainstream movie.
I feel that the producers of the film did try and appeal to the masses by implementing all of the things that people like to see in cinema. There were bouts of comedy, a love affair, dramatic music, and relaxed cinematography. The story was linear, and despite a few instances of symbolism, there weren't many loose ends or odd artistic choices.
Honestly, as much as I like this movie, I think that there is a lot that could have been left out. Half of the character interactions felt dry of anything progressing the story, and there may have been too many ideas without enough divulgence. Mr. Keating's character was outspoken but at the same time, it would have been nice to see what he truly thought of the rest of the character's actions, especially towards the end.
More than anything, I would love to see how this teacher would respond to a class that has no initial interest in any of his antics or preachings. Maybe this has been done before.
This movie came from a book as previously mentioned, and as such, I doubt that the release date of the movie was planned in alignment with a certain social agenda or contemporary event at the time. There is nothing of which I've found that even slightly contributes to the premise of the movie.
Anyone who is still looking for their identity in a world that demands conformity would highly benefit from watching this.
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