#and major props to the strong female characters
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Can antis like, keep away from Daenerys please?
I'm so tired of seeing people writing out crap that Daenerys will be the villain, Jon is better, she is mad, calling her Danielle, yada yada. Just say you don't like her (because she is ultimately better than your fave) and go.
I'm also tired of seeing people giving the Starks (especially Sansa) her traits. I've seen edits of people making Sansa a Targ, people talking about how she'll get Daenerys' dragons, that Jon will kill Dany for her, etc.
Just keep Daenerys' name out of your mouth if you hate her and can't stand that she is strong, independent, and has an amazing character arc. A majority of Daenerys fans don't like other asoiaf characters, but you hardly see any of them going on a tangent about how much they hate that character. Usually it's us Dany fans defending anti hate against Dany and also defending antis hate on Dany to prop up their own fave (mainly Sansa).
I heavily have a high disdain for show!Sansa (she's alright in the books, not my fave but she's much better compared to the garbage that is her show character). But I don't go out of my way to hate on her, diss her character, write pointless metas about her going "mad", "evil", or "dark". Nor do I see any other Dany fan doing so. We don't hate on Sansa to prop up Dany. We don't give Dany character traits of other characters/Sansa. We don't speculate about how she'll die or get killed or manipulated by another man. It's disgusting.
It's also disgusting seeing anti hate towards Arya. Arya is my second favorite female character in asoiaf. She isn't ugly, she isn't crazy or some violent murderer, she isn't going to be permanently warged into Nymeria and become Sansa's; nor is she going to become Sansa's assigned assassin to kill all her enemies while Sansa and Jon live in lala land. It's not going to happen.
It is so disgusting how a vast majority of Arya and Dany fans don't do half the things their antis/Sansa stans do, yet they go out of their way to bash these wonderful characters to prop up their own fave or to get them out of the way for Sansa or Jon (mainly Jon fans who bash Daenerys to prop Jon up and cheer Jon for killing her).
We can talk about our faves without bashing another character, making metas about them that don't even follow the text, and just being outright nasty.
Do better. Just keep away from Daenerys and Arya.
#daenerys targeryan#daenerys defence squad#daenerys stormborn#daenerys appreciation#daenerys targaryen#mother of dragons#pro daenerys targaryen#breaker of chains#khaleesi#team daenerys#arya stark#anti show sansa#anti sansa stans#anti jonsa#mad about Dany and Arya being better#keep their names out of your mouth if you hate them and move on#fandom discourse
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Hypergamy Is a Myth. Why "Leveling Up" Culture Should Not be Mixed with Hypergamy Tradwife.
Over the past few years I've been guilty of propping up and identifying with the hypergamous label. This was due to my belief at the time that the growing hypergamy online community had good intentions pertaining to the advancements of women's dating standards and therefore life. I saw how the levelling up community around me slowly but surely seemed to merge with the up-and-coming hypergamous online circles, which at the time I didn't question much and decided to go with their flow.
The idea of dating up, in theory, sounds very enticing, especially when we live in a society where straight women have very few decent options in terms of suitable mates, and where many women have had to go through traumatic situations with bottom of the barrel men in the past and who now want better for themselves.
On the surface, hypergamy sounds good. The issue for me began to arise after noticing people with ulterior agendas trying to weaponize the concept of hypergamy to sneak in female submission, negging, and overall brainwashing to strip women out of their personal agency and power in order to be "worthy" of being in a relationship with a wealthy man. "Never talk about your accomplishments, men don't care about them" "be quiet and dainty, expressing negative emotions is a masculine trait" "be highly agreeable and don't challenge your man, he's your head and leader" "being a domestic house wife is more fulfilling than being a career woman" "always be hyperaware of how the way you dress and express yourself comes across to men, you don't want to appear masculine!" "no man wants to be with an independent woman, being independent is masculine", among other onslaughts of misogynistic and sexist vitriol.
The sad part is that this sort of regressive content picked up a lot of esteem, especially among black "femininity" communities in places like YouTube and here on Tumblr since 2018, and in my opinion, paved the way for online incels and pick me to create this sub-culture that is based on the degradation of women and the expectations that we should go back to being second-class beings stripped our agency and humanity as used to happen decades and centuries ago, evident by the rise in podcasts and viral content of the sort in social media. It brought a novel movement that aimed for women to level up in their lives and grow as people to become saturated with content asking them to shrink themselves, to not take up too much space in order to not inconvenience the male ego.
The truth is that the vast majority of people marry within their social class. Rich men and educated men almost never marry women who are of lower social class and education, and this becomes particularly relevant with old-money individuals. Actual men of high value and class want their equivalent as a partner. The fantasy that a strong character, education, and professional achievements are not needed to attract quality men, and that they in fact might be counterproductive to it, is a lie from the pits of hell designed by misogynists to keep women dependent on men and to lower their personal agency. Any man that doesn't care for or feels threatened by your achievements is not a man you want to entertain.
The men that the women who refuse to chase a career or professional path date are almost never the kind of men they expected to attract based on the lies hypergamy has sold them, to begin with. So now they're stuck with an abusive partner that doesn't see or treat them like their equal and their options to rid themselves of that relationship are limited because they don't have the educational background or experience to stand on their own two feet. Is that really what want you for your life?.
If your goal is to date and marry a man of higher social status, you first need to raise above your own social status to put yourself in spaces where that potential partner could be and to seem desirable to them as well. This requires effort, nothing good in life comes easy (which is why the hypergamous wishful thinking is so popular among lazy and uneducated women, it makes them believe that they can easily have their lives solved with very little effort put on their part and at the expense of men).
We do not live in a Disney fantasy movie where prince charming will magically drop into your lap while you serve him as a waitress at a restaurant or while you watch videos online on how to be the best domestic wife. Instances of these sorts of scenarios are of one in a million. Levelling up should be always first about and for you, anything else that comes after you've bettered yourself is extra and that includes relationships. Levelling up should never be tainted by subjugation masqueraded as hypergamy, and hypergamy is largely a myth. The sooner you realize these things, the sooner you'll be able to call BS on the plethora of online propaganda spewed to keep you and other women dependent on men and you'll be able to raise above the brainwashing.
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PRELIMINARY ROUND - YU-GI-OH!
PROPAGANDA
Aki Izayoi/Akiza Izinski
1.) Famously built up as part of a protagonist group during the first and second season, complete with her own tragic backstory and several duels she got to participate in (very important in yugioh), only for a change in the lead writer (who, in some of his other works, literally admitted "he's not good at writing women") to occur after the second season, turning her from almost a main character into a literal "benchwarmer" for her duelling team (one of the outtro sequences in the later seasons literally refers to her as that). Fun things included such as: Had special powers in the earlier seasons which she struggled with and learned to control only to lose them for no reason in season 4; went from duelling several times to duelling literally twice during the entire 3rd, 4th, and 5th season, one of which was a tournament duel she lost embarrassingly despite being set up as a very capable duellist before; painstakingly learned a special form of duelling (card games on motorcycles) only to lose the only duel she partook in in this format; was briefly put into a coma (and lost her powers directly after) shortly before two of the male protags GAINED power upgrades; went from an acceptable amount of screentime to a background prop; also, despite being canonically sixteen, standard overly sexy outfit design with lots of cleavage (big tits because of course), a very short dress, and stockings with garters.
2.) She develops psychic powers when she is 8, accidentally injures her father since she can't control them yet. He calls her a monster, abuses and neglects her, and eventually sends her to a dueling boarding school rather than actually care for her. Other fear her and her powers so she suppresses them and never really learns how to control them. Eventually a cult called the Arcadia Movement recruits her because they want to exploit her powers for their own gain. In the first season she is introduced as a strong duelist with psychic powers, a rival on par with the male protagonist. She also nearly beats the protagonist in duel when they go head to head. She only starts to lose because she starts to open up emotionally about her past and fear of hurting others with her powers.
After this she joins the protags and is a love interest for the main character. They NEVER bring up and develop her backstory and stuff after this EVEN THOUGH this is such a good and interesting backstory. Even though she is introduced as a competent duelist, they reduce her to a benchwarmer on the team. THEY LITERALLY SAY SHE IS A BENCHWARMER IN THE SHOW!! She doesn't get to contribute to the plot, partake in important duels, or develop her character arc after the first season despite the fact she had so much potential.
Her character could EASILY have been used to explore trauma and exploitation, major themes already present in the show. But sadly they chose to only explore how those things impacted the male characters instead
3.) My poor girl. Her story starts off great, good set up, good characterization. She has psychic powers and her parents did not know how to help her. She ran away from home and joined a cult of people with similar powers. All normal character beats. The main character shows her the power of friendship and shows she has a connection to 4 other 'signers' who are suppose to protect against the season antagonist. She starts leaving the cult, talking to her parents again etc because she now knows there are prople who care for her. But thats where her development kind of ends. She learns the leader of the cult was manipulating her but she never really gets to confront him.
By the end of the season, she and the other female signer get sidelined because they doesn't have the core mechanic of the series, how to play a card game on a motorcycle. Instead they are replaced by a character who was not originally a signer but by the end became one cause he helped.
Season 2 and beyond is shows not much more than that. Except for she has a whole episode dedicated to learning how to ride a motorcycle. The biggest thing about that is we never really see anyone else in the series learn or be uncomfortable riding and while it's realistic, it's only her. And in that episode there was like a couple of guys trying to make her fail like? I guess it's part of the episode of learning and overcoming challenges but why intentionally introduce the misogyny now? I think there was maybe 2 other woman who rode motorcycles in this show which is an overall series problem.
She went from a main character to background as the rest of the story focuses around the main character and his 2 childhood friends for the rest of the series.
Ultimately her story is wasted potential, she started out with interesting character and development but there was no strong follow up. We never see her work through how the cult used her or how it affects her after a first confrontation. She was just left hanging like every other woman in yu-gi-oh. And don't get me started on the manga. Iirc she gets introduced at the end for plot reasons and nothing else.
Aoi Zaizen/Skye Zaizen
1.) she's presented as a really strong dueller and is really famous for it - a duelling idol - and everything. she proceeds to have pretty much no substantial wins which wouldn't hurt as much if not for the fact that one loss in particular is just infamous for how dirty it does her. like alright. duels take place in the air in cyberspace, you with me? and when she lost this one infamous duel she fell off her board and faceplanted into the ground which would kind of be like fine whatever i guess but it's SUCH a visceral faceplant. like. if you haven't seen it you should go find the clip cause man. it was so unnecessary… besides that she also gets brainwashed (par for the ygo girls course) and falls into a coma (also par for the course). before i move on though the fact that she doesn't really win any important duels is made even more frustrating by the fact that she used one of the best archetypes at the time then changed for a worse archetype for basically no reason. her character has a lot of interesting set up from the start that's just never properly delivered upon but they trick you into thinking she's receiving good character development by changing the design of her duel idol persona and like sure the designs may slap but that doesn't excuse that she doesn't really get the cohesive character development they're meant to signify. not really
2.) Although she is supposed to be a strong and popular duelist in canon, she loses almost every single duel horribly. One loss is particularly brutal as she falls from a large height directly onto her head and goes into a coma (again. yes this was the second time). She has the least amount of duel wins out of all the other Yugioh female leads, save for one who never dueled one on one.
3.) In the show, she plays a trickstar deck. In real life, this deck became known as one of THE most overpowered decks you could use. Literally so strong they had to nerf it. You'd think this kind of overpoweredness would reflect in the show. No. Her biggest win comes from basically an AI child, a minor antagonist.
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Hwang Hyunjin x Thick female reader
Word count: 7.1k
Synopsis: You're floating on cloud nine when you find out the sorority that lives to torment you has come under fire by Hyunjin's frat and the school. Of course the sisters blame you. Is what seemed to be a set up on your behalf actually karma and Pi's just desserts or did someone set this wheel in motion for you?
A/N: Wow. You guys this is it. The final part of the thick reader series. There have been times that I have been tired and frustrated and not pleased with my work but there have also been times that I've read paragraphs written out about how one of these stories touched someone, made someone feel seen, understood, that it was a story they could actually immerse themselves in because the main character had similar insecurities. Just, the good way way out weighed the bad is what I'm getting at. Anyway I'll stop rambling. I hope you all enjoy this final part, if you do please like, comment, reblog hit my ask box what ever. I love to hear from you all about these stories especially. As always warnings and smut below the cut!
Warnings: 18+ ONLY MDNI! Cursing and strong language, oral sex (m&f recieving), deep throating, unprotected piv sex (please use condoms), cream pie. I think that covers everything. If I missed something please let me know and I'll add it to the list. It's late I very well may have missed something.
The day after the party you woke up next to Hyunjin perfectly content. The Pi sisters may have won the majority of the battles during your time in university, but you clearly had won the war. Whether they knew it or not didn’t matter to you. You were happy laying there with Hyunjin and THAT was all that mattered to you. Being happy with in incredibly kind and gorgeous man is the best revenge you could ever hope for. You propped yourself up on an elbow resting your head on your hand and watched him sleep for a minute. He was so insanely beautiful. You started to trace your finger along the bridge of his nose gently. His nose twitched a bit, then he settled, still asleep. Your finger traced along his brow, down his nose again and then softly glided across his lips. He took a sharp breath in and jumped a little when he woke up, then he saw you and smiled with his eyes still half closed pulling you close and wrapping you in his arms again.
“I could really get used to waking up to that beautiful face. Good morning.” His voice was low and groggy from sleep still. You kissed his pouty lips.
“Good morning.” You giggled as he started to kiss your cheek and then down your neck and shoulder. You could feel his warm mouth leaving a trail of kisses and you let out a breathy moan when his teeth grazed your soft flesh. You could feel yourself getting more excited with every kiss and nibble. Even after the three times you had fucked the night before you wanted more of Hyunjin and him of you. Alas the whole reason you were even awake at that hour was because you had a class that day. So you had to pump the breaks.
“Hyunjin mmm Hyun...fuck.” You were having trouble forming words the more you felt his pillowy lips touch you, then his hands started to explore your soft body inching closer and closer to where you wanted him most.
Hyunjin-ah, I have... I havea classmmm... have... haveta get up.” You could feel his lips form a pout on your neck as his hands ceased their journey.
“You haaave to?” You laughed as he nuzzled closer locking his arms and legs around you.
“Unfortunately, it’s a very important class that I need to pass. Most of his testing is based on his lectures so you don’t go you don’t know.” Hyunjin huffed and loosened his grip on you. You kissed his nose.
“Thank you.” You started to get up and he pulled you down for one last passionate kiss.
“I’ll head out so you can get ready.” He got up and started getting dressed then walked over to you. He cupped your face and kissed you sweetly.
“Have a good class today beautiful. Text me later when you’re free?” You nodded smiling like an idiot but no more than Hyunjin was. At least the feeling was mutual.
“Bye Hyunjin.” He waved goodbye as he walked out of your room towards your front door. You quickly showered and got ready for class. Meanwhile Hyunjin was driving back home to take a shower and fall back into bed still wore out from your marathon the night before. Just when he was about to drift off to sleep Hyunjin’s fraternity brother, Jisung, knocked as he was coming in at the same time.
“Hwang? Where have you been all night? Have you heard?” Hyunjin looked up at Jisung through his sleepy eyes.
“I was... with a girl.” Jisung smirked.
“It’s not like you to hook up. Was it that girl with you at the party last night?” Hyunjin nodded.
“Yea and it wasn’t just a hook up.” Jisung nodded putting up his hands in defense.
“Got it got it chill. Any way did you guys leave before the shit hit the fan?” Hyunjin shrugged.
“We’ll I’m not sure was it before you and I delt with the douche bags or after Pi tried to humiliate my date?” Jisung looked shocked.
“Pi did what?!” Hyunjin sat up.
“Yea Riyah and Lynn I’m sure the others were in on it too. They told her my asking her out was just a joke between all of us. Add to that, you remember pool girl I told you about second year?” Jisung nodded.
“Yea that was y/n. They left her in the pool in the middle of the day.” Jisung ran his hand down his face.
“Naked.” He finished his sentence, he had remembered, Hyunjin nodded.
“Well, that’s really it for them then, the last strike.” Hyunjin was confused.
“What do you mean that’s it for them.” Jisung shrugged.
“Their sorority has been on probation with the school for allegations of hazing, harassment, and discrimination. They’re coming up for review to decide if they get to remain a sorority and to see if their affiliation with our house will continue or be revoked. You know Delta has a zero-tolerance policy for shit like that. So, with the probation, what happened last night, and what they did to your girl, that’s it.” Hyunjin suddenly realized he might have said too much and tried to back petal a little.
“I’m telling you right now dude, she won’t make a report or statement about it. She never did her freshman year, and she won’t now. What else did Pi do last night?” Jisung shook his head, Hyunjin could tell he was irritated by the thought alone.
“We saw a few girls leave upset and crying after being seen with some of the sisters. We asked the sisters what happened, and they said they didn’t know. One of the girls came back for her friend and when Chan saw her, he pulled her aside and asked if she was okay. Turns out the sorority sisters were telling some of the girls that we were throwing a ‘Pig Party’ and that’s why they had been invited. Needless to say, when Chan found out he was furious.” Hyunjin was shocked that they were so brazen to pull shit like that right under their noses.
“He kicked all the sisters out of the party, made an announcement apologizing for Pi and everyone went back to partying, but I knew it wouldn’t be the last of it. Sure enough posted on the bulletin this morning was notice of Pi’s review, Chan works fast. I don’t think it’s going to matter much if your girl makes a complaint or not. I’m pretty sure Chan’s already made up his mind on our end. Even if the school lets Pi slide their ties to our house are cut.” Hyunjin usually checked the board every time he came home but he hadn’t even looked at it when he came in, he had been so tired. Now he was wide awake trying to figure out how to tell you this was happening. He decided he needed to find you, tell you before you found out any other way. Things could look bad if he wasn’t the one to explain what was going on.
You, of course, were in your class listening to the most mind-numbing lecture trying not to think about Hyunjin and his lips and his body and his... You were pulled from your thoughts when one of the doors to the lecture hall opened. In walked two faces that you were not pleased to see. Riyah and Lynn. They made their way up to the professor, sweet expressions plastered on their perfectly contoured and highlighted faces.
“What can I do for you ladies, you’re interrupting my class.” They both eyed you and then focused back on your teacher.
“Sorry professor it’s actually an emergency and we need to escort y/n to the dean.” Your guts dropped. What the hell were they up to? The professor looked up at you.
“Go ahead Ms. y/l/n I’ll send an audio file of today's lecture just this once.” You hesitated. The teacher spoke up again when you didn’t make a move to leave with the girls.
“Well now, go on don’t leave the man waiting, I’m sure he’s quite busy.” You nodded, finally grabbing your things and bowing as you headed out the door with the other two girls close behind. You didn’t want to cause a scene in class, so you just left with them, but you weren’t an idiot; you weren’t going to just blindly go wherever they wanted you to. The first hall you came across you ducked down trying to get away from the sisters. Unfortunately, you chose one of the dead-end halls that lead back towards the custodian’s office and supply room. The girls followed you down the hall. Both of them approached you and shoved you against the wall. Lynn was in your face almost nose to nose.
“Listen up bitch, you’re fucking with the wrong house. Do you know who my father is?” You internally rolled your eyes. Of course, you did, everyone did, she made it known on a regular basis. It was also what kept her out of trouble most of the time. Evidently not this time and whatever was going on you were being blamed.
“You thought you could just tattle to Chan and that we wouldn’t take action? You’re going to retract your allegations or else the things you called torture will look like a cakewalk. Got it!?” Chan? Statement? What were they talking about? The sisters had heard that a girl they had been torturing told Chan about what they had been doing to her, that was why they were booted from the party and up for review. Lynn shoved you against the wall again hard just as Hyunjin was walking past. When he saw you, he stopped.
“What the fuck is going on here?” The girls instantly turned on their sweet faces feigning innocence, but Hyunjin wasn’t buying it. He was focused on your face which was downcast. Tears were collecting in your eyes threatening to spill over.
“You...” He was almost at a loss for words he was so furious.
“This is exactly why you’re coming up for review, shit like this.” Your head popped up when he said that. How did Hyunjin know already? He walked past the two girls and grabbed your hand leading you out of that hall. You walked out of the building and you both got in Hyunjin’s car and headed towards your apartment. When you got home you kicked your shoes off and immediately turned the kettle on for some tea. There was a tense silence hanging in the air. It had been there the whole car ride and the elevator ride up. Finally, you were the one who broke it.
“You knew about their review?” You looked upset still, Hyunjin wasn’t sure how to respond he did know but only because Jisung had just told him. To you his hesitation spoke volumes. You turned to him.
“I told you. I told you I didn’t want to retaliate. That I didn’t want to be Edmond in our story.” Hyunjin shook his head.
“No, I didn’t...” You shook your head.
“You told Chan, you told Chan and now they think I told him and are gunning for me even harder than before.” Hyunjin tried to get a handle on the situation.
“The review, I had-”
“I think you should leave. I... I need time to process things.” He was starting to panic. You misunderstood him completely.
“Bab-” You put up a hand and he stopped.
“Please... Hyunjin please.” You were tired and stressed. He didn’t want to add to it. He needed to give you the time you asked for. Hyunjin frowned and nodded. He walked over, kissed your cheek, and saw his way out without another word. It was so hard for you to do. You knew whatever Hyunjin told Chan, it was because he cared but he should have listened to your wishes. Not only that but now the sisters had a legitimate reason to target you. You decided you would go talk to Chan the next day. See if you could get yourself off Pi’s radar once and for all.
The next day after your classes you went to the Delta house and knocked. When Hyunjin opened the door, his eyes went wide with surprise.
“y/n! Oh my god I’m so glad you’re...” He reached out to pull you into a hug and you stopped him. You still were upset that he’d told Chan. Seeing the frown on his face you felt conflicted, you were upset but you weren’t trying to hurt him either, so you leaned in and kissed his cheek.
“I’m here to talk to Chan.” Hyunjin gave you a small smile and nodded.
“Of course, uh, I’ll let him know you’re here.” Hyunjin called up the stairs for Chan who came running down them not even two minutes later.
“Oh hi! You’re Hyunjin’s friend that I met at the party the other night, y/n right?” You nodded smiling at the outgoing man.
“Yes and the party is kind of the reason I’m here.” Chan’s face morphed into worry.
“Whatever Hyunjin told you Lynn did it wasn’t...what I mean is Pi isn...” You stopped. Chan looked confused and then what you were saying clicked.
“Oh God did Pi do something to you too?” It was your turn to be confused now.
“Wha-? I... Didn’t Hyunjin tell you?” Chan shook his head no and you turned to Hyunjin.
“I was trying to tell you yesterday; I had mentioned what happened to Jisung but they had already made the decision for the review. I told him you wouldn’t want to report anything. He said it wouldn’t matter, with or without your statement the wheels were already in motion, so he and I never told Chan about it.” You felt awful you had jumped to conclusions without even giving Hyunjin a chance to explain.
“Hyunjin... I’m, I’m so sorry.” He shook his head and hugged you.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You told me you needed time and then you heard me out. There’s nothing wrong with that.” You shook your head.
“I accused you of doing something you didn’t do...” He pressed his plush lips against yours and you blushed profusely since Chan, who was smirking, was still standing right there.
“There now all is forgiven.” You gave Hyunjin a serious look and he smiled back at you, his dimples popping out and his eyes morphing into little crescents.
“What? Kisses fix everything. Didn’t your mom ever kiss your boo boos?” You couldn’t help but smile. Chan cleared his throat reminding the two of you that he was still standing there.
“y/n? Why are you so adamant about not making a statement against Pi?” Chan asked and you explained your Count of Monte Cristo conversation you’d had with Hyunjin. He nodded.
“I agree completely but let me ask you this, would you feel the same about the situation if it were guys doing these things to someone? What if a girl was sexually harassed? If it’s another girl that makes it okay?” You shook your head.
“Well, no not in those scenarios of course not.” Chan shrugged his shoulders.
“What’s different about your scenario aside from the fact that you’re the victim?” You didn’t have a rebuttal and Chan looked at you knowingly.
“I’m not saying set them up or get even but there’s nothing wrong with telling someone with authority what’s going on when you’re being harassed, I don’t want them to be able to do this to anyone else, do you?” You shook your head.
“Then please, come to the review hearing tomorrow, stand up to them. That doesn’t make you Edmond in your story, it doesn’t.” You pressed your lips together still apprehensive.
“I’ll think about it Chan.” He smiled and nodded.
“That’s all I ask. I’m gonna go finish preparing for tomorrow. See you guys!” You waved goodbye to Chan as he ran back up the stairs. It was only you and Hyunjin left standing there.
“I’m sorr-” His lips silenced you. He pulled away and pressed his forehead to yours.
“Please don’t apologize. I understand why you thought what you did, it was why I was walking by when I saw you, Lynn, and Riyah. I knew how it might look, I tried to get to you first, but I guess Pi was faster.” You could hear the regret in his voice. You pressed your lips to his again, tilting your head and opening your mouth, allowing his tongue to tease you. He thread his fingers through your hair and deepened the kiss. He nibbled at your bottom lip and your whole body started to buzz in excitement. Just then three of Hyunjin’s frat brothers, Changbin, Jisung, and Minho, all of whom you met at the party the other night, came walking in.
“Oh shit. Uh sorry.” Changbin apologized for the group. Your face burned and Hyunjin excused the two of you.
“No problem guys, we were just about to head out. I’ll see you all later.” Hyunjin playfully slapped a couple of the guys on the back as he passed, then they all gave you a small bow and smiled as you followed. You nodded to them and hurried behind Hyunjin, still embarrassed being caught by them. When you both got outside Hyunjin turned to you.
“How’d you get here?”
“I rode the city bus, it’ll come by again her-” Hyunjin scoffed
“Yea I think not. I’ll take you home.” You smiled.
“You don’t have to.” He nodded.
“I know but I want to.” You smirked and cocked your eyebrow at him.
“I’ve got a lecture to listen to, no... distractions.” Hyunjin laughed and feigned offence.
“Yahh! What do you... that’s not why I offered thank you very much!” You smiled and kissed him.
“I know baby.” You turned and walked towards his car. Hyunjin did as he said he would and drove you home opting to kiss you goodbye in the car, at least that’s what he called the twenty-minute make out session you had. When you both were finally able to pry your lips off the other’s, you went inside and Hyunjin left. You had hunkered down at your desk and tried to focus on the lecture your professor had been kind enough to send you a copy of, but you kept thinking about all the things Pi had done to you over the years and the conversation you had with Chan. What he said made sense, it did, but it didn’t mean it was going to be an easy decision for you still. When you looked at the clock again it was passed midnight. So much for no distractions, you told yourself. You turned off your lecture and climbed into bed hoping to get some rest and have a clear mind to make your decision the next day.
It was the day of the review hearing and sleep had done nothing to help you make your decision. You still weren’t sure what to do. While you had a whole internal debate the upper-class men of Delta house, Chan, Minho, Changbin and Hyunjin all got ready to go to the hearing. Since they were the acting counsel of their house it was mandatory for them to be there because of Delta’s ties to Pi. Chan had a thick file of all the complaints and statements from other girls Pi had tormented all too scared to make a statement in person. Chan hoped you would come; it would be better for them to hear it straight from the source. Things went back and forth for quite a while, each statement Chan read off, Pi would have some excuse for. It was infuriating Chan because it was starting to look like they might just get away with all of it. Then the back set of double doors opened, and you walked in. Everyone’s head turned in your direction, Chan and Hyunjin’s faces lit up and the Pi girls looked angry but worried. As they should have been because you had decided not to let these girls hurt anyone else, you had decided to make a statement. The man sitting in the middle of the head table, who you knew to be the dean of the school addressed you.
“Young lady are you misplaced?” You shook your head.
“No sir I’m here to personally give my statement against the sorority Pi.” He pressed his lips together and looked at the Pi girls who no longer looked as confident. The dean motioned for you to step forward.
“Please proceed Ms.?” You bowed as you stepped forward
“y/l/n, y/n y/l/n.” He smiled at you.
“Please proceed Ms. y/l/n.” You thanked him. You had difficulty trying to figure out where to start. You looked over at Hyunjin who smiled brightly at you.
“My freshman year as rush week approached, I heard about the prestigious Pi. I was new here and wanted to make friends, so I rushed for Pi. Instead of building bonds of sisterhood like I was led to believe would be happening, I was forced to do a multitude of humiliating tasks to even be considered for entry. They did it to all the girls but for some reason they singled me out especially for the worst tasks. I withdrew my application to join after an embarrassing pool incident. Thankfully Mr. Hwang had come along and kindly helped me when I needed it.” The dean looked over at Hyunjin and he nodded confirming your story. You continued.
“Apparently, they weren’t pleased with my withdrawal, so they started targeting me wherever they saw me, at times seeking me out. They spread rumors about me having diseases, dumped things on me, cut my hair, pushed and tripped me every chance they got and so much more. I wasn’t even safe from them at my dorm and eventually had to move to off campus housing so that I wasn’t tormented constantly.” You started to get a little teary-eyed thinking back and realizing how much you had let them get away with. Chan was right this wasn’t revenge or getting even this was doing the right thing.
“Sir there are so many things I could stand here and list off that these ladies have done to me over the last three years, but I think you get the jist with the examples I’ve given.” He nodded in agreement.
“Thank you, Ms. y/l/n please have a seat and we’ll continue.” You went and sat by Hyunjin, he grabbed your hand and kissed the back of it. He was so proud of you for doing what you’d just done. The dean looked over at the Pi girls all of which were fidgeting and nervous. It wasn’t so easy to come up with an excuse when the accuser was right there to refute what they said.
“Would any of you ladies like to make a statement pertaining to Ms. y/l/n's accusations?” Lynn stood up quickly as if she were going to deny it or make an excuse, but she sat back down just as quickly. The dean nodded.
“I see. Well then it seems there is no other choice to make. Ladies of the sorority Pi, your house and sorority will be dissolved and any affiliation to the Delta fraternity will be revoked. You ladies have a month to get your affairs in order and find alternative housing.” The girls all looked shocked and angry.
“That’s not fair!” Lynn’s voice sounded over the mumbling of the others. The dean looked at her.
“Step forward young lady.” She did so.
“You had an opportunity to refute her allegations and did not, so that means the things she said, you did in fact do, yes?” Lynn stood there silently which was answer enough.
“What’s not fair is for a young lady just trying to get an education and make friends to be tormented by the very girls she tried befriending. Now considering you physically assaulted Ms. y/l/n we could also involve the police and have grounds for expulsion, so think the punishment is not only fair but rather lenient. Wouldn’t you say young lady?” Lynn quietly nodded.
“With that ladies and gentlemen, I do believe we can call this review done. Thank you everyone, you’re dismissed.” You all stood to leave and Hyunjin pulled you into a tight hug.
“I’m so proud of you.” When he let go you noticed Chan standing there behind you still. You turned to him and smiled.
“You were right Chan standing up to them doesn’t make me Edmond, thank you for showing me that.” Chan nodded and smiled back.
“Hey, I just opened the door, you chose to walk through. We were dying until you came in so really, I should be thanking you.” You gave Chan a hug which surprised him but then he hugged you back chuckling. He turned to Hyunjin.
“You guys coming back to the house with us?” Hyunjin looked at you. It had been a stressful day you were ready to just relax. Hyunjin shook his head.
“No, I think I’m gonna get her home. I’ll see you guys later though.” Chan gave Hyunjin a high-five pulling him in for a hug, then him, Minho and Changbin all headed out. Hyunjin walked you to his car and opened the door smiling at you as you got in. He slid into the driver’s seat then both of you buckled up and headed towards your apartments. When you got there Hyunjin pulled in and parked.
“D-do...” Why were you so nervous to ask him to come up? Hyunjin grabbed your hand and took it in both of his. You looked up at him and when he smiled it relaxed you.
“Do you want to come upstairs?” His smile grew wider, and his dimples made an appearance again. He nodded.
“I’d love to.” Hyunjin got out, opened your door. He wrapped his arm around your waist as you walked into your apartment building. You were walking up to the elevator when you both saw the sweet old lady that lived up the hall from you standing and waiting. She saw you and Hyunjin approaching and smiled brightly at you.
“Well, it’s lovely to see the two of you again.” You smiled and Hyunjin bowed.
“It’s wonderful seeing you again too ma’am” He looked down and noticed some bags around the lady's feet.
“Are these your groceries? Here let me...” He started to grab the bags and she protested.
“Oh, now you don’t need to do that.” He shook his head.
“It’s no trouble we’re going the same direction besides my mom would have my hide if she saw me let a beautiful lady carry her own groceries.” The old lady playfully slapped his arm but allowed him to assist her with the bags. When the doors opened Hyunjin allowed you and the neighbor lady to get on first. You pressed the button to your floor and the doors closed. Hyunjin had insisted on dropping the bags in her kitchen, which he did. While he was setting the bags down the old lady leaned into your ear.
“Well, I do believe you’ve found yourself a keeper young lady.” You smiled and nodded.
“I do believe you’re correct ma’am.” You both started laughing as Hyunjin walked back towards the two of you.
“You two swapping gossip?” He said with a quirked eyebrow. You both continued laughing. You grabbed Hyunjin’s hand and pulled him towards the front door.
“Something like that. Have a good night, ma’am!” You called back to her as you pulled Hyunjin towards the hall. She waved you off and you closed the door before you and Hyunjin made your way down to your own apartment. You unlocked the door letting Hyunjin in first, you closed it behind you and suddenly Hyunjin felt arms wrapped around his midsection, your face and body pressed against his back. He rested his hands on your clasped hands in front of him. You took a deep breath and hummed a little.
“How are you so kind and so beautiful. It’s not fair.” You pouted and Hyunjin laughed.
“Easy, I learned from you.” You laughed now and Hyunjin turned around wrapping his arms around you.
“Really y/n you’re amazing you know? What you did today, standing up and telling that review panel what happened, preventing it from happening to anyone else. That took guts and I’m so insanely proud of you.” Hyunjin cupped your cheek and kissed you softly. He started to pull away, but you grabbed his face and held it in place as you deepened the kiss. Hyunjin pulled your soft body flush against his and your fingers wove through his hair as the kiss became more desperate by the second. Hyunjin’s lips only parted from yours when they started to trail down your neck. The way his full lips felt against your skin was exquisite. You gasped when he gently raked his teeth across your shoulder.
“Hyunjin...” You whined.
“Don’t tease me. Want you.” You claimed his lips again as you started to pull him towards your bedroom while unbuttoning the white shirt he’d worn especially for the review hearing.
“I won’t tease you baby.” Hyunjin pulled his shirt off then started to pull your dress up over your head, removing it and leaving you standing there in your white lace panties and bra. Hyunjin took in your figure, and you blushed as his eyes roamed your full body. You wanted to cover yourself but then Hyunjin licked his lips biting his bottom one between his teeth.
“Fuck you really are beautiful you know?” You shied away, and you shook your head no.
“Well, I'm gonna keep showing you until you do.” Hyunjin led you towards your bed and had you lay back then crawled on top of you placing chaste kisses here and there up your body. He pulled one of the cups of your bra down and took your nipple into his warm mouth, sucking and swirling his tongue around it. He pulled the other cup down and sucked on that nipple as well until it was hard and sensitive to the touch. Hyunjin pulled the straps of your bra down as you pulled your arms out so it was around your midsection and he worked his way down your body. He bit the cute bow on your panties and started to place soft kisses on the insides of your soft thighs each one closer and closer to where you ached for him to be. Hyunjin pulled your panties over your ass and down your legs, tossing them and then slid his tongue through your folds, savoring you before diving in and going at you like a starved man. You grabbed his hair gently.
“Ffffuck Hy-Hyunjin god that feels so good!” He hummed and doubled his efforts which had your hips canting up forcing Hyunjin to spread his big hand across your tummy.
“Hold still or I might just have to tie you up baby.” He chuckled but you clenched around nothing at his words. Hyunjin of course noticed.
“Oh? I’ll file that away for a future conversation for now I’m content to make you cum on my tongue.” Hyunjin started going down on you with fervor again and you did your best to keep your movement down to a minimum, squirming under his lips and tongue. You could feel the crescendo to your orgasm.
“Baby baby I... I’m gonna cum!” Hyunjin grabbed hold of your thick thighs, pulling you closer as he practically growled with excitement sending you teetering over the edge. His grip on you remained tight as he gave you sweet little kitten licks while you started to return to your body.
“So good, fuck you taste so good beautiful, think you can give me one more?” He didn’t wait for your answer before he started to gently suck on your clit then softly lick it. He had devoured you the last time, this time he was savoring you.
“Hyunjin-ahmmm oh my god yes! Fingers please f-fingers.” He hummed and slid two of his fingers inside you, pumping them slowly in and out. He came up for air.
“Let me take you there, let go for me baby, cum for me.” His fingers still slowly, gently, fucking you deep. He leaned back down and continued to savor every bit of you. Your first orgasm was a buildup this one hit you like a Mack truck. Hyunjin’s arms wrapped around your thighs preventing you from moving too much. You shuddered and your toes curled as he softly made out with your pussy then those sinfully plump lips made their way up your body leaving a fiery trail of goosebumps behind them.
“Fuck you are so gorgeous.” You laid there speechless, breathless, and flushed. He smiled and kissed your cheeks, once on each side.
“You still with me.” You giggled and shook your head letting out a big breath. You pulled him down into a passionate kiss as you worked at the button of his pants, reaching in and grabbing his cock. He closed his eyes and bit his lip as you started to gently stroke him in his pants.
“Who’s teasing now?” You smirked.
“Well then take them off.” You both laughed. Hyunjin got off you long enough to lose the pants and boxer briefs he’d had on before climbing on top of you again. You licked your palm and grabbed him more firmly this time, stroking him faster. Hyunjin buried his head in the crook of your neck.
“Feels so good y/n. Your fingers wrapped around my cock feel s-so good.” He kissed you and you hummed then whispered against his kiss swollen lips.
“I think my mouth would feel even better.” Hyunjin laughed but quickly stopped when you ran the tips of your fingers over his balls. He sucked in a quick breath as you started to fondle him. You whispered again this time against his ear.
“Lay back for me baby. Let me make you feel good now.” Hyunjin wanted to complain when you took your hand off him, but he knew it would soon be replaced by something that was going to feel a hundred times better than your hand. He rolled off you and sat with his back against the headboard. You crawled up between his legs and his cock got harder the closer you came to wrapping those sweet lips around him.
“Oh fuck, suck me beautiful, please!” You grabbed him again and started stroking him.
“You want me to suck on this?” Hyunjin nodded.
“Yes, please fuck.” You didn’t make him wait any longer. You took him in your mouth and started swirling your tongue around the tip. Hyunjin leaned his head back against the headboard.
“Yes, god yes.” He gripped your hair keeping it pulled up and away so he could see you taking his cock deeper and deeper. When the tip of his dick hit the back of your throat it made a wet sound and you gagged a little. You stroked his cock as you caught your breath.
“Does it feel good baby?” Hyunjin nodded aggressively.
“Fuck yes! Do you think you can deep throat it again baby?” You nodded, smiling a mischievous smile. You took him back into your mouth and immediately took him as far as you could gagging, your spit coating his cock, his hands gripping your hair, his hips wanting to move, wanting to thrust and fuck your throat. You gagged yourself with his dick more as you started to fondle him again and Hyunjin thought he might blow right there. You pulled off him again breathless, stroking him. Hyunjin pulled you up so you were straddling his thighs and started to kiss you, his fingertips tracing every inch of your body.
“Sit on my cock beautiful, ride me ‘til you cum sweet thing.” You bit your lip and nodded as Hyunjin lined his dick up with your entrance. You slowly slid down, taking him inch by inch, savoring the stretch you felt when Hyunjin was inside you. When your thick ass rested against his thighs you rolled your hips. You don’t know who moaned louder what you do know is it set Hyunjin off. He gripped your hips and made you grind against him. It was messy and raw, his cock stayed buried deep inside you as he pushed and pulled against your full hips making you ride him faster.
“Oh OHOH my god Hyunjin fuck! S-so d-deep ssso ddeep FUCK!” He worked you against him faster, your clit pressed firmly against his pelvic muscles sending you racing towards your third orgasm of the night. Your muscles all tensed, and you threw your head back as Hyunjin helped work you through your climax. As soon as your breathing evened somewhat, he leaned forward laying you back, your legs were now open and pressed into the mattress. Hyunjin held you down and rolled his hips as fucked you harder.
“God damn so fucking wet for me beautiful. So wet, feels so good.” You gripped Hyunjin’s hair and pulled him down into a bruising kiss as he continued to fuck you deeper, harder. You gently pulled on his hair pulling his head back enough to speak.
“Cum for me Hyunjin, fuck wanna feel you... God! Please!” Hyunjin held you close his forehead pressed against yours letting out little pants of breath before moaning as he came inside you.
“Oh god y/n, baby I’m coming, fuck!” Hyunjin rolled his hips into yours slower and softer as he filled you. He slumped down on top of you as he started to soften inside you. You grunted and nudged him laughing.
“You’re heavy, come on, ugh, off!” He laughed as you struggled but then climbed off you and rested beside you in the bed, eyes already heavy. You pushed his hair out of his face and kissed his forehead.
“I’m gonna shower.” He nodded eyes completely closed now.
“Okay baby. I’ll go next.” You smiled and chuckled to yourself knowing as soon as the door clicked closed, he would be out for the count. You washed up and the hot water felt good on your body. After you were all cleaned up and dry you threw on a night gown and climbed into bed with Hyunjin who, as you suspected, was sleeping deeply. He’d rolled to his back and had one arm draped over his eyes. You curled up close to him and, even asleep, as soon as he felt your body next to him he pulled you in close and spooned you. He took a deep breath of your freshly washed and dried hair and squeezed you a little tighter, your soft body pressed firmly against his and he mumbled something.
“Hmm? What did you say?” You turned your head a little so you could hear him better. You didn’t think he had woken up.
“Strawberries,” You laughed he was definitely still asleep. He kept mumbling about strawberries until you turned in his arms and placed a soft kiss to his pouty lips. He smiled softly, took a deep breath and seemed to settle. You nuzzled in close to his chest and closed your eyes, just as content if not more than the last time you had been there.
You were pacing the living room of you and Hyunjin’s shared apartment. You were back and forth on how you would tell him, or if you should even tell him. Eventually he was gonna figure it out. Still, it would be best to hear it from you rather than just springing things on him. You were nervous. You didn’t think he’d be angry, but you never thought to ask about his opinion on the matter either. When Hyunjin got home you greeted him by the door which was unusual.
“Hey baby, miss me?” He chuckled and kissed your cheek as you nervously laughed along.
“I always miss you.” He nodded in agreement.
“I always miss you too baby.” He softly kissed your lips.
“Uh Jinnie... I uh... well there’s something I need to talk to you about...” Hyunjin only noticed then that you were antsy and the use of the pet name was usually to soften an incoming blow.
“Okay baby... iiis everything okay?” You nodded heading into the living room and Hyunjin followed.
“I think it would be best if you sat down.” That made Hyunjin incredibly nervous.
“Are you sure everything is okay?” You nodded again.
“Mmhmm yea.” He scoffed as he sat down.
“That was not convincing, what’s wrong?” You shook your head as you sat next to him.
“Really baby it’s not a big deal, I just...” You held his hands and looked at him seriously.
“Look just... if you decided you don’t want it, that’s okay. We’ll figure it out if that’s what you want.” Hyunjin was so confused, want what?! Were you saying what he thought you were saying?! You stood up again still holding his hands.
“Close your eyes and hold your hands out here.” You pulled his hands in front of him palms up and he held them there. He looked at you for a minute, nervous and unsure of what was happening, then closed his eyes. You walked away a minute then came back. When you walked up to him, he held his breath. He still had his eyes closed. He was expecting a little piece of plastic telling him he was going to be a dad but suddenly Hyunjin felt fluff in his hands, he opened his eyes and looked down to find a tiny puppy. He let out a huge sigh of relief and put his hand over his heart.
“Oh thank god!” You scrunched your eyebrows and Hyunjin noticed your confusion. He chuckled a little as he pet and cooed at the puppy.
“I thought you were about to tell me you were pregnant.” Your scrunched up face turned into a frown.
“And that would have upset you, if I was pregnant?” You could feel tears pricking your eyes. Hyunjin stood up setting the puppy down on the couch and holding your face in his hands.
“I would have been surprised, scared, but never upset. I’m happy where we are right now and later when we’re ready I’ll be thrilled to find out you're carrying our baby. For now, how about we raise this puppy you brought home.” You sniffled and laughed wiping the tears from your eyes and shook your head.
“He doesn’t have a name I thought we could come up with one together.” You both thought and finally a name came to Hyunjin.
“How about Edmond, we could call him Eddie for short?” You smiled ear to ear.
@acciocriativity @caroline-ds-world @chansynie @ughbehavior @jquellen27 @hyunelixies @fixation-dump @lachinitaaaaa @rinrinndou @bangchans-angel @laylasbunbunny @owo-manii-uwu @armystay89 @b00dyguts @purplenimsicle
“Edmond it is.”
Please do not repost or translate any of my works. My blog and stories are NSFW and 18+ ONLY! Minors, ageless, and blank blogs will be blocked!
#stray kids smut#skz smut#hwang hyunjin smut#hyunjin smut#skz317cb97 thick reader series pt 2#skz317cb97 thick reader series#skz317cb97#cal 🖤
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Female Reader x Rooster
Time: Post-Top gun: Maverick
Y/n Blackwood - L/n, daughter of Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood. Y/n took a strong interest in planes from a young age. Knowing her father was an esteemed pilot drew her even further into the navy. Quickly, she became one of the best solo pilots and graduating at the top of her class at Top Gun.
Her next mission? Return to Top Gun, Face certain death, romantic interests, and finally, her thought-to-be-dead, father.
This book contains strong language and sexual content that may be sensitive readers under the age of 18
This story was originally posted on Wattpad, follow me on there for faster updates. I have published a non-binary version of this story published there for those who do not identify as female or use she/her pronouns. It will follow the exact same story line.
Link to Wattpad Account
Link to the Non-Binary version
Disclaimers
I do not own the top gun characters. My writing is not a direct reflection of how the company wishes to portray their franchise.
I understand that both Tom cruise and Kelly McGillis both present ethnically white. Their relationship is essential to the story. However, I will be including skin color as a customization to the readers character. Inclusivity is important to me and I apologize for any disappointment or discomfort that it may cause the reader.
Master list
Pilot
Cherry red, 1968, Ford Mustang Fastback Shelby GT 500.
My moms most prized possession.
For a while I remember it just being me and my mom. When my mom was pregnant, My dad died in a horrible plane accident, leaving just the two of us girls getting into heaps of trouble together. My earliest memories are being babysat by my moms coworkers while she was busy inside the capitol doing important work.
Because I didn't see my mom much, I constantly held on to a stuffed grey wolf. The animal never left my hands. I would prop it up on the table when eating and play with it outside. It had become a major comfort mechanism in my early childhood days.
A man I had never met before came to greet my mom one day, asking if he could watch me for a couple hours. He said he had to practice because he had a baby on the way. I remember feeling the stiff and grainy material of the clothes the man wore as I complained about the heat outside. When my eyes adjusted to the sun, there it was; An F-14.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, I completely forgot that toy existed. I dropped it to the ground and wriggled from the man's arms in a full on sprint towards the plane.
He crawled up into the cockpit with me in his lap and let me control the planes joystick. I remember feeling overjoyed by the feeling of being inside of that closed and tight space. I knew in my gut it's where I belonged.
My mother was furious, of course, that her friend had taken me outside without her knowing. But seeing the smile on my face as I wiggled around the joystick and the large helmet fell in front of my eyes, her mind quickly changed. My mom picked up my toy wolf and brought it to the plane. She always explained the interaction between her and the man as such a turning moment in my life as well as hers.
"She's a natural, Charlotte. Just wait 'till she's old enough to fly one."
"I haven't seen this stuffed animal leave her hands in so long, it's such a nice sight."
The man flipped me around to face him, lifting me into the air to make me pretend that I was flying. I erupted with giggles, sticking my arms out like the airplane.
"Well let me be the first to give her a call sign then." The man said.
My mom laughed. "Call sign? What could iceman possibly want to call my daughter?"
"Wolf. It's already been decided. I'll help her be the best pilot in the program. She'll even pass me in the top gun records." He spoke as though it were a long lost dream of his, to teach. But Iceman was moving up in scansion, he didn't have time to do so.
"You'd do that for me and my girl?"
"Of course, Charlie. Anything for you."
In high school I played all four years of volleyball as well as two years in middle school. In addition to that I also took strength training classes where I lifted weights and worked out with all the other boys sports. There were a couple girls from my team in my class, but none of them pushed me as hard as the boys did.
I mostly focused on upper body. Arms, chest, back, core, all to prepare me for one faithful day junior year. The day that the recruiting scouts for the army came it set up their pull up bar.
They offered a free T-shirt to any student who could do over 10 pull-ups. I stood in a line of boys, confident and ready. I got up to the bar, looking up at its height. I got up on the stool and grasped the bar firmly. 10 pull-ups came easily to me. From behind i could hear some of my friends in my weights class cheering me on. I made it to 27 before I finally gave up.
I was frustrated with myself that I couldn't make it to 30, but seeing the smiles on the recruitment officers faces made that disappointment completely disappeared. A few weeks later, a recruitment package showed up in my mailbox. My mom and I were elated. I know I know, they probably send them to every kid who puts their name and address down for the pull-up challenge but it still felt good.
My senior year I enlisted the day that I turned 18. I was ecstatic for the dream to actually become a reality. I graduated high school with honors cords, sports cords, and a military service cord.
I quickly went into the Navy, completing the required boot camps and trainings in order to become an officer. In between my few years of training, my mom got married to a man named Harold L/n, but we called him Harrie. I liked him a lot, he was extremely supportive and proud of me and every step I took to becoming a pilot. To show my appreciation, I hyphenated my name to be Blackwood-L/n.
I got accepted into the Naval Air Forces program quickly and began my training to learn to fly the fighter jets I remember being obsessed with as a small child. By my senior year in high school I knew the book inside and out, so I was the know-it-all of my class. This caused some tension between the other students and myself, so I was mostly a lone wolf.
I excelled quickly, passing every other student with flying colors. Flying jets is what I was born to do, I could feel it in my bones.
I completed the air academy and got deployed on a few missions, proving even more what an exceptional pilot and essential asset I was for the Navy.
One day I got called into my commanders office. He informed me that I had been selected to the Top Gun flight school. This was the moment I had dreamed of for my entire life, and now it was finally happening. There was a brief few month period where I could visit home before being shipped out to the school.
My mom and I spent that entire time finding the best instructors from around there world to teach me how to be the best pilot I could be. There was one man in particular I wanted, but my mom said they had too much history, It would never happen.
I looked up to Pete "Maverick" Mitchell for most of my time in the Navy. I admired his skill and his ego. No matter how many rules he broke or how badly they wanted to get rid of him, the Navy wouldn't let him go. And despite his efforts, he refused to die.
Even without the training of the legendary Maverick, I was successful. I mastered nearly every single skill that was required to fly a plane. Along with all the guts and glory it took to not get killed.
I arrived at Top Gun, introducing myself to all the people I would be beating. One man in particular, constantly got under my skin. Jake "hangman"Seresin. We butt heads more than any sibling or spouse could have. We were constantly one-upping each other. He did 200 push-ups, I did 201. If I got up early to get some practice in, the next morning he was up earlier. It was a constant battle, but I was always just a couple points ahead.
Halfway through my time at the program, I got a devastating message. My mother had cancer, stage 4. I was dismissed from the program but promised a second chance and was invited back. I rushed home as quickly as possible. My step-father was a wreck, he hadn't stopped sobbing for days on end. He had hardly done anything around the house to keep up. I told him not to worry, that I was there. I kept up with the house chores and eventually hired a maid to help us.
While I was cleaning I found an old box and inside of it was my Wolf stuffed animal I had as a child. It was beaten up and in need of a wash, but it made me smile. I visited her, the wolf in hand. Seeing my mom in the hospital, so weak and tired, it hurt me more than I can explain.
"Hey momma, somebody wants to see you." I handed her the toy and her face lit up, laughing for the first time in a while.
"I haven't seen him in forever, oh thank you y/n."
I visited her every chance I got, unfortunately her condition only got worse.
One Sunday afternoon I brought her lunch, her favorite food from our favorite restaurant. She stopped me before I could set up the food and handed me a small red envelope.
"When you go back to top gun, if you see Pete- um, Maverick, please give him this. Do not open it. You will know when the time is right."
I was confused, but I knew better than to question my mother.
Then the time came, the hospital had informed us that my mother had passed peacefully in her sleep one night. It took my step-father and I a long time to process and cope with what had happened. Our grief was heavy those couple of weeks after her death, and then her funeral. We kept it small, just close family. Iceman made an appearance, wishing my family well.
"Are you coming back to Top Gun?" He asked. "I've got a spot open for you, whenever you're ready."
"Really? You don't need to keep a spot open for me."
"For Charlie's daughter, anything. Besides, Top Gun needs another graduate who was almost as good as me." He told me with a playful wink.
That's exactly what had happened. The next year I rejoined Top Gun and graduated first in my class. I was now considered one of the top pilots in the United States.
I had heard about the famous stealth mission in 2020 that Maverick led as well as other top gun graduates. I was upset I wasn't invited to participate. I called Iceman to complain but he told me the first person that they wanted was me, but I was unavailable. Earlier that year the navy had deployed me overseas, the lack of invitation made more sense now. The navy needed me elsewhere.
Unfortunately, that was the last phone call I had with him before he passed. I was unable to attend the funeral. Devastated, I mourned his death of a father figure and friend from many miles away.
And here we are, 2021 and 32 years old. I rumbled into San Diego in my Cherry Red Mustang Hatchback ready to return to Top Gun for a classified assignment. All I have to say is, the other recruits better watch out, they've never been prey for a wolf.
Next Chapter
#top gun smut#top gun movie#top gun fic#top gun fanfiction#bradley bradshaw smut#bradley bradshaw#rooster bradshaw fic#rooster bradshaw#rooster x y/n#rooster x reader#rooster fanfic#pete mitchell#fanboy top gun#hangman top gun#jake seresin#bradley rooster bradshaw#bradley bradshaw fluff#bradley bradshaw fic#bradley bradshaw fanfiction#bradley bradshaw angst#bradley bradshaw x y/n#bradley bradshaw x oc#bradley bradshaw x reader#bradley bradshaw x female reader#bradley bradhsaw x you#bradley bradshaw fanfic#top gun rooster#rooster top gun#bradley bradshaw imagine#bradley bradshaw drabble
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Book Review: Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Recommended by @sailforvalinor for the 2024 Book Rec Exchange
Premise: When she was a child, Echo Alkaev tried to save a white wolf from a bear trap, but when it escaped, it slashed her face with its claws and scarred her terribly. Ashamed of her scars and the way everyone stares at her and whispers about her, Echo tries to be content with living out her days simply helping her father with his bookstore, hiding away from the world. But then one winter her father goes missing, and she finds him lying half-dead in the snowy forest. The very same wolf who wounded her appears before them, offering to save her father's life--if she will agree to live with him in his house for a year. She agrees, and goes to live with a talking wolf in a magical house filled with impossibilities. And there is one more rule she must follow: At night, she must sleep in the same room as the wolf, but she must never light the lamp and look at his face.
Quote that should have been on the back of the book: "'The power to save him is in your grasp,' said the wolf. 'Choose. Come with me now--or let your father die.'"
Thoughts: So basically this is like Beauty and the Beast + Cupid & Psyche + a whole bunch of other myths/fairy tales...in Russia! With wolves! And lots of books! I loved it right away, because I'm an absolute sucker for anything related to Beauty and the Beast, and I love wolves. I can guarantee that if I read this when I was a teenager, I would have been absolutely feral about it. And even now, I still had a great time with it! It really captures that fairy tale feel, with inexplicable, impossible magic like the book-mirrors and old curses that can only be broken with the power of love. I think because of that, the book kept on making me think of Diana Wynne Jones and Studio Ghibli.
I have to admit, I got so wrapped up in the Beauty and the Beast parallels through the majority of the book that I almost forgot the Cupid and Psyche elements! But then those elements came in at the last minute, suddenly changing the whole trajectory of the book and going in a direction I wasn't expecting (and changing the very style in which it was written!). But that's the way of some fairy tales too, and I loved all the plot twists. There were several moments in Part Two that were seriously epic, and I even ended up crying at the end - which I was not expecting to do!
One negative thing I'll say is that the book felt strangely...unedited? Or like it needed one more proofreading pass, at least. I found a frankly embarrassing amount of typos for a published book, sometimes as much as one or two words that were missing entirely. There were also a couple moments where a character would more or less repeat what had been said right before, without acknowledgement that it had already been said. It just felt like Meyer had written a second draft of the scene and forgotten to remove the first-draft stuff. Nothing story-breaking or too confusing, but it got rather distracting at times. Maybe I just got the first edition and a later edition would iron out those wrinkles?
But on the plus side, I have to give Joanna Ruth Meyer mad props for writing a truly excellent Actually Strong Female Character. Her strength of will and the things she's willing to endure for love were truly inspiring. She didn't have to learn how to use flashy magic or wield a sword to demonstrate her strength (though she does learn quite a lot about magic and does some fencing). She loves books and music, she longs to be beautiful and to just settle down comfortably with a family who loves her. She's basically the opposite of the annoying "girlboss" trope...and yet she is so strong. She would walk to the ends of the earth, endure excruciating pain, and never let go of the people she loves, because her strength comes from her compassion and love. I absolutely adore that. We need more stories like this one.
#book thoughts#book rec exchange 2024#echo north#joanna ruth meyer#thanks val!#'it was me' 'it was always you' a;ldkjfs;dklfjdkljfdslkfj T^T
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On the subject of the Girl!Law episode, I actually find Toeis changes to be really... interesting.
Like... in the Manga Law seemed to be the least affected by the transformation. There's enough wiggle-room to claim he only wasted energy on curing it because it was throwing his crew off. Meanwhile, in the anime, he shirks his duties to pout at the wall for five minutes.
Also: big difference between Shachi and Penguin squeeing over Law before vs after they're transformed. Being distrected from an enemy attack by your captain being so cute, is different from being distracted from ogling your friend because that same thing making you ogle him is actually distressing when it happens to you. One lightens the mood, the other turns it into body horror.
At least we get background ikkaku to give us Sapphic vibes, but it's just... not as fun?
It would've been great if Law had to track down Chopper for a cure though. Especially if *Sanji* had the cure from the HRT recipes.
Oda shoulda' just left em like that imo. Or just Law. I think it would have been a great narrative choice. It's a controversial subject having any character have their sex changed against their will, especially when you begin to question what that change says about gender and trans rep in media, but I've always felt like most of Law's major character ark was resolved already in Dressrosa, and then capstoned later in Wano with the Luffy/Kid/Law alliance against Kaido. Having him instead explore his gender, now that he's had his resolution re: Corazon's death, would have been a super interesting direction to take. For example: Seeing how other character's regard for him would have changed now that he's in a 'female' body, how Law's own toxic masculinity has affected his ability to have relationships/friendships, among other possible ideas.
That's not even to bring up the mad props I'd give to Oda, who's usually on my shitlist for not drinking his respect women juice, even though he sometimes accidentally writes great women and trans characters. Making a fan favourite character who is that strong permanently 'female' yet harbour exactly the same strength as before would just be a power move. idk. That throw-away line they had in the anime where he said his body was weaker was utter bs. The whole scene just came off as distasteful fanservice.
TLDR: it was already a cheap gag, the anime made it worse, but that gag had potential to be so much more. not just for law's character but for oda's rep with writing non cis-men.
Not surprised but still disappointed.
#if you have something more to add please do!#i'd love to read a fic about this actually#also dont even get me started on sanji dfjhdfhjdfkhd#i could go on forever#jules talks#one piece#trafalgar law
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Nancy, do you think that there was a wittiness, an irony and a strong personality on female characters on old films? I don't know, I have the impression that at some point female characters were reduced to props for the male characters. I'm not saying that racism, misoginy weren't a thing back them and that women weren't objectified, they were, but I don't know something seemed different, if that makes any sense? As if it got way worse through the years?
Just going to say it plainly: Hollywood had better writers in its Golden Age.
Dorothy Parker wrote movies. Steinbeck, Faulkner, and Fitzgerald also all wrote screenplays. (Fitzgerald wrote one of the early drafts of Gone with the Wind.) But just the depth of talent in the writing departments of the major studios at the time was mind boggling.
Plus, the types of movies at the time were character driven, not special effects or action spectaculars. We've lost that these days, except in tv series. In character driven projects, the female characters are usually just as important as the male characters.
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Queen Card
“Obsessed by fairytales, we spend our lives searching for a door and a lost kingdom of peace.”
Character Information
Japanese: クィーン カード
Romaji: Kuīn Kādo
MC Name: Queen Card
Gender: female
Pronouns: she/her
Age: 23
Birthday: October 26
Star sign: Scorpio
Blood type: O
Occupation: stage magician, detective
Division: Minato
Team: R.I.P Märchen
Height: 175 cm (5’9) / 181 cm with heels (5’11)
Weight: 48 kg (105 lb.)
Hair color: violet, periwinkle, lilac
Eye color: rose red
V/A: Yū Shimamura
Rap voice: Ailee
Stage actor: Snow Kong
Appearance
Queen Card is a slim yet curvy young woman who is of above-average height and has snow-white skin. She covers her rose-red eyes with a silver blind mask she built herself, which shape is reminiscent to that of petals. She has wavy hip-length hair that gradients from violet to periwinkle and lilac. She takes small sections from the sides of her hair and pins them back.
She wears a black bustier with two types of sleeves: balloon sleeves and elbow-length sleeves with extended hems. Her full dress has gold embellishments along her bust, midriff, and she wears a hip piece that separates her bustier from an ankle-length asymmetrical skirt. She accessorizes with long, black gloves with a finger loop that hooks around the middle finger and a gold ring for each loop, gold anklets, and a silver thread earring with a sword-shaped charm on her left ear. She completes her look with a black and gold thigh-high boots and a black cloak held together with gold beads.
Personality
Queen Card is a regal, theatrical, confident, proud, and somewhat of an eccentric character who presents herself as a queen-like persona who stands above the crowd. Her mannerisms are refined and her spoiled nature emphasizes this due to her aspiring to be like European royalty. She speaks with formal Japanese at all times, even with people she’s close to. She is described to be incredibly charismatic and alluring on stage, captivating the audience with her fantastical flair. While she is idolized onstage by her audience, her employees (and at times, even her own teammates) find her haughtiness to be overbearing and irritating, though they know her it is rightfully placed and they still look up to her.
She has a strong presence, but also holds back on any chain of reasoning for detective cases, never revealing her logic or only giving cryptic hints until the very end, when she can explain all of her theories and deductions. Queen Card is willing to break laws in order to solve a case, such as lying to the police, hiding evidence, or breaking into private homes and properties.
Because of her immense understanding of the human brain and emotions, despite her level of self-importance, she is incredibly empathetic for victims and her allies. She showcases mischievousness and kindness towards her allies, in her own unconventional way.
Abilities
Her rap ability, Open Book, allows her to force her opponents to relive memories or intensify their emotions after cold-reading them.
Trivia
Queen Card is ambidextrous.
She likes apples, bicycle cards, and fairytales while she dislikes loud noises, strong smells, and mundanity.
Her favorite food is quiche while her least favorite food is anything in the mollusk family.
The inspiration behind Queen Card’s name is that the Queen Card, in several card games, is a major card to avoid taking, with each queen taken inflicting a penalty on the player.
She takes great pride in the fact that she builds all of her stage and magic props herself.
It is revealed that in the 2022 birthday event, Queen Card often invites her employees to dinner after her shows as gratitude for their hard work.
#hypnosis mic#hypnosis mic oc#hypmic#hypmic oc#hypnosis mic arb#hypmic arb#minato division#r.i.p märchen#Queen Card#character profile
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I was super-excited to see that the best Spider-Man movie was getting a sequel, and that they were going all-out on the multiverse. Because what really set Into the Spider-Verse apart was not just its outstanding story, but the way it told it, using unique animation style to not only play with the notion that it’s a comic book adaptation, but that it’s a story featuring multiple dimensions with different feels to them.
Miles is back! It’s been a year since his last adventure, and he misses his multiversal friends. He’s trying to figure out his direction in life when Gwen comes and visits, revealing that she has been recruited to an elite group of Spider-People from all over the Spider-Verse dedicated to protecting all realities. When a new villain of Miles’s, the Spot, leaks into the Spider-Verse, Miles follows and discovers the Spider Society, a specific rule of life for Spider-People across the multiverse that brings him into conflict with the Society’s leader, Spider-Man 2099–Miguel O’Hara.
An idea which is far from tested: I think animation is the best way to tell a multiverse story. A lot of live-action attempts to depict the multiverse don’t really do much, aesthetically, with different universes. The Flash television series did try for a little bit, but as the multiverse kept expanding, they mostly gave up with obvious visual differences. Not so here! Each universe has a different animation style, design, color palette, and musical choices, and it all stands out more because it’s animated.
[I suppose Multiverse of Madness does do some ‘Different universes look different’ thing, but those changes are really weird, bizarre things like garish colors and outer architecture in the city, rather than just…. stylistic differences. It didn’t work as well for me.]
Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman is given quite a bit more focus in this story. She has a story in the first movie, but this one has a much more developed subplot about Gwen. The opening of the movie is actually about Gwen, which makes a nice change of pace because we don’t have the female character exist only to prop up the male lead–something still frustratingly common in modern Hollywood.
Miles is still the main character, and he has an incredibly strong story for the film. There’s a subtext about how his attempts to find acceptance with the other Spider-People mirrors the fan reaction to the character’s introduction to the comics (and many other characters to many other fandoms!). The last movie emphasized that anyone can be Spider-Man; this movie helps to cement that Miles, specifically, has every right to be Spider-Man, and have his own place among the greatest versions of the character.
I suspect that in the crowds of Spider-People, different audience members will pick favorites. I was surprised, for instance, about how much I got attached to Spider-Punk? He’s loads of fun, though like Miles himself, I had some trouble understanding what he’s saying when he first appears on screen.
Truthfully, it’s downright INCREDIBLE how many different iterations of Spider-Man make it into the movie. When Sony released the trailers, different news sites had articles and slideshows displaying how so many of the Spider-People appearing in those shots were actually drawn from different comics, shows, and games. While most of them don’t have major roles in the film itself, that they’re THERE, and the makers of the film knew about them at all, is incredibly impressive.
I do have the issue though about their inclusion, though. Part of what sets up the conflict of the movie is how Miles differs with what he’s willing to go along with as part of what it means to be Spider-Man. While it’s a great story point, it does seem off that all of these versions of Spider-Man are also fine with Miguel O’Hara’s vision of how things should be done. It IS for the good of the multiverse, to be fair, but that Miguel can call all of them to attack Miles and they just do it without question doesn’t feel quite right for what we know of Spider-Man.
The Spot is a strange choice for a villain for the movie. Not only is he not a particularly well-known comic character, he’s very silly through most of his appearances in the film. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad villain though, and despite being humorous for a lot of his screen time, it’s clear that no one taking him seriously is part of what motivates him to become more of a monster. He’s a joke villain, and it infuriates him, especially because he’s so connected to Miles’s story.
Something that you need to be aware of when watching the movie! This is a cliffhanger. Across the Spider-Verse was originally going to carry the subtitle ‘Part One’, and while the next film (expected for release next year, don’t fret!) has been re-titled Beyond the Spider-Verse, it’s still a two-part film. If you were like me, you might spend a large portion of the movie wondering if THIS was the dramatic moment that would be the point where the movie cuts off for the sequel. And that can get kind of annoying.
[Also there’s no after credits scene.]
This movie is fantastic, but it’s also weirdly complex, and I strongly suspect that I should view it two or three more times to begin to get everything about it. It’s a film that certainly lends itself well to discussion and analysis. Although I don’t think it’s as good as the first movie, that’s more because it’s the first part of a story rather than a standalone installment. When the sequel drops next year, we’ll have at least slightly different ideas about THIS movie, but given the quality of the film, I eagerly anticipate all the things we’ll see and learn, and we can see how they all stack up against each other.
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oh heey! Can I just gush about *your* Alcina for a minute because honestly i love her, it's definitely one of my favorite versions of her 🥰 shes kinda become default Alcina for me lmao. I've actually been re-reading The Long Journey Home and still love how hot and cold she is, a little crazy sometimes and so mean for a good chunk of the story, but you've given her a lot of nuance while still keeping her core character traits and general mysteriousness intact. its kinda hard to do that so major props for it! If I may ask, what do you love most about this character and what made you want to write her?
I swear I wasn't fishing for compliments, lol
Thank you! Again, I really appreciate your support. And I am working on the next chapter. It's just going slower than expected. Again.
It's so funny thinking back to the first trailer and the Maiden demo. I started looking up fanart and stuff for fun. I genuinely thought it was super funny that there was this huge hype around the tall tiddy vampire. Even now I cannot say when exactly it wasn't just shits and giggles anymore.
I read "Nothing fucks with my baby (except me)" and it ticked all the right boxes. It had sarcasm. It had drama. It had sexual longing. It had sugar mama vibes without being kinky. And it was released before the game was even out.
While reading that story I realised I was making up my own scenarios and eventually there was one scene that I knew I had to write. So that's how that started.
Then Nothing fucks was deleted after some huge fandom drama and remained unfinished. It left kind of an empty space. That fic was huge. It had like 11k kudos? I still sometimes miss the daughters of that story. Like in my own story they were OCs, of course. It wasn't perfectly written or anything but it delivered exactly what everyone was craving at the time, and I don't think that anyone has managed to fill that bit of empty space fully.
So here we are. All this combined with my strong need to reinterpret female characters who I think have been subjected to a grave injustice by their inventors made me want to write for Alcina Dimitrescu. That's what fanfiction has always been for me: filling a space that was left out before, undoing an injustice, correcting canon, and to heal heartaches left by the original plot.
By the way, I still haven't written the scene I had in my head when writing The Long Journey Home. I don't even think it fits the characters anymore. Oh well.
That was a fun ask, thank you.
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Man, it just occurred to me that we may never get a character like Rey again. I know some might disagree with me but I honestly believe she is one of the best Star Wars characters of all time; not just within the world and lore of the series but for a SW film in general.
We’re talking about a character, a strong female protagonist that little girls can look up to. Someone who is kind, capable and brave yet flawed. And yet she is an excellent role model for any child. A character who shows that she does not need to depend on anyone to survive or succeed. Her actress is equally kind, and a wholesome person who lends such genuine warmth to the role.
We’re talking about a young adult woman in a major franchise who is not once sexualized or objectified by the male gaze through her outfit or her actions. NOT. ONCE. And while it’s pretty damn sad how low the bar is, I still give Disney/Lucasfilm props for learning from their previous mistakes (Gold Bikini Leia *shudder*) and giving their heroine outfits that are not only practical, but make sense from a story perspective.
We’re talking about a character who is extremely resilient and pure-hearted, but still has moments of anger, weakness and fear. She can see the good in others, even when no one else can see it (Ben), but she’s also not afraid to confront her friends or even her idols if something’s not right (Luke). A character who came from the worst of beginnings but chose to use her power for good.
I feel like I could write a whole ass academic essay on this shit (and maybe I will) but basically what I’m trying to say is that Rey was/is a fantastic, amazing character and I am so sad that we might never see her again. It’s possible Daisy Ridley might return to the role one day, but until then...I’m just gonna sit here and think about how much I love Rey.
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The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) Review
Before we start, serious question - WTF is a banshee??!
Plot: On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Pádraic is devastated when his buddy Colm suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. With help from his sister and a troubled young islander, Pádraic sets out to repair the damaged relationship by any means necessary. However, as Colm's resolve only strengthens, he soon delivers an ultimatum that leads to shocking consequences.
Slowly but surely the awards season has begun, and right off the gate we have a strong contender with The Banshees of Inisherin, which is a mouthful of a title, though that is acknowledged in the film by one character, who observes that it sounds interesting with all the ‘sh’s. And he is not wrong! Also, I have now learnt the meaning of ‘banshee’, it means a female spirit whose wailing warns of a death in a house. So yep, that’s some casual foreshadowing in the title. However I’m not here to review film titles, I’m here to talk about the motion pictures themselves! So, this one reunites the entire main team of In Bruges, which was a 2008 crime comedy about two hitmen hiding out in a town in Belgium after a crime gone wrong. Those two hitmen were played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, and they now return in The Banshees playing very different characters, though not losing any of the chemistry that made this duo pairing work in the first place.
Martin McDonagh who wrote and directed In Bruges is also back and at the helm, and even though the cast of this film are all great and we shall get to them, the real star here is McDonagh who brings his absolute A-game from both the fantastically written screenplay and direction. It’s nice to see McDonagh back in this more smaller scale indie-like medium, as for a while he was taken away by big Hollywood projects such as Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and though those were enjoyable, I did find them a bit overstuffed and messy. McDonagh comes from a theatrical background as a playwright, so naturally in his experience he works better in simplicity. In Bruges was located in one small town with a very simple premise, and that worked wonderfully. He’s also directed a short film (also starring Gleeson) called Six Shooter which is actually on YouTube now which I’d say is very worth your time. And again - small scale and set mainly on a train. So with The Banshees McDonagh once more returns to his roots so to speak, by setting the scene on this remote tiny Irish island where a very small population live, so much so that everyone knows everyone. Irish Civil War is raging on in the mainland, however all is quiet on the western front so to speak, as this island is separated from all the bloodshed with only some gunshots heard in the distance, creating this very isolated and lonely feel, with the latter playing a major ongoing theme throughout the movie. So what could possibly go wrong in the island of peace and harmony?
Before anything else lets address the island itself. The Irish landscapes are absolutely gorgeous and the cinematography takes full advantage of this natural beauty. Like this is an wonderfully pretty looking movie. Throughout all the farce and madness, the camera never shies away from showing off the green plains, the bright blue skies, the rocky cliffs, the various animals running about. Speaking of the animals, there are some really adorable ones here, especially a pony and a dog that literally pull at your heartstrings. As a whole though the film really makes the island of Inisherin feel like a character in itself. So props to McDonagh and the cinematographer Ben Davis for really honing in on those photographic landscapes.
That being said, besides the landscapes the narrative itself features little to no beauty. This is actually a really dark tale - a tragedy of male friendship gone sour. You really do feel sorry for Farrell’s Pádraic, as he is “one of life’s good guys”, and witnessing him descend into madness starting from being hurt, sad and confused when his friend all of a sudden doesn’t want to be friends with him no more, it is indeed tragic. What’s worse is both men have good points as to why one wants to get the friendship back and why the other wants it to end. Gleeson’s Colm is depressed by a sense of time slipping away, and determined to do something creative with whatever years he has left. As such he’s ridding himself of the “aimless chatting” of “a limited man”. Whilst Pádraic, well, the guy just wants his friend back, you know? That’s all he wants. Naturally both of them are very extreme in their decisions, with Colm especially being very blunt and at times shocking with his choices, but that again is a comment of the stubbornness of men. So much so that Pádraic doesn’t even notice the loneliness and sadness of his smarter sister Siobhán (played by Kerry Condon), or his dismissal of the town fool Dominic (Barry Keoghan) as the island’s premier dullard (an assessment that is tragically untrue) mirrors his own mistreatment by Colm – an unjust hierarchy of hurt.
That being said, through all this darkness this movie is f****** funny!! It’s hilarious from the lines of dialogue to the character expressions, this movie is one if the not the funniest movies of this year. There are plenty quotable laugh-out-loud moments, ranging from oddball comedy to satire. And here is also where the cast absolutely excell. Colin Farrell’s facial expressions throughout this movie, as he tries yet fails to process why his friend isn’t his friend anymore are nothing short of hysterical. Brendan Gleeson as Colm, though the less flashier role and relies on him being more stoic and calm, still results in humour through the sheer fact of how much this guy does not care. And the things he ends up doing throughout the movie are done so non-chalantly, when others would be horrified and traumatised. Kerry Condon is also powerful as the only real voice of reason in the movie, as she speaks on behalf of the audience as she exclaims “you can’t just stop being friends with someone! It’s not nice!”. But the real scene stealer is Barry Keoghan as the ‘foolish’ Dominic, who is very eccentric in his movements, but also has this endearing quality to him that he asks or says things very honestly without reading the room, and its funny of course but also you do feel sorry for the chap. He really gets the brunt of it all so to speak. Also all the other cast of characters you meet on this island all to provide moments of amusement and humour.
Overall The Banshees of Inisherin balances its dark themes with absurdism so-so well, and the cast are all at the top of their game, the cinematography is sublime, the writing is on a whole ‘nother level. Equally hilarious yet tragic, I honestly find it difficult to find a fault in this one. Even the ending that really dials up on the dark madness feels deserved and the only direction for these characters to go, especially with the Irish folklore and myths behind it. Immensely enjoyed this one. Naturally after my viewing I had to head to the nearby pub and have a pint of Guinness. Seemed only right.
Overall score: 9/10
#the banshees of inisherin#martin mcdonagh#colin farrell#brendan gleeson#barry keoghan#kerry condon#pat shortt#gary lydon#david pearse#comedy#drama#absurd#movie#film#movie reviews#film reviews#2022#2022 in film#2022 films#the banshees of inisherin review#banshee#ireland#friendship#ben davis#film4#searchlight#irish civil war#irish folklore#indie#hilarious
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Rachel for the Glee ask
Send me a Glee character and I’ll tell you my top 2 endgame ships, my top 3 friendships, and my top 3 crackships!
2 Endgame Ships
Finchel and...nothing else. I mean she loved him and she'd never love anyone else the way she loved Finn. So it either would have been him or nothing for her imo. I mean sure she could move on with her life and marry someone else, which she did, but it just wouldn't have been the same for her.
Top 3 Friendships
Pezberry: Pezberry are super entertaining together and she had such great chemistry with her. I like to imagine they end up being great friends/rivals when they get older and it's hilarious even though it drives everyone around them insane. The moments when Santana is protective of Rachel like when she found out about the pregnancy scare are really touching.
Tinchel: Tina and Rachel were almost like the same person in many ways. There are definitely some major parallels between them. Tina was also really kind to her in Props. It would have been nice to see Rachel having a close female friend for once who she didn't argue with and didn't bully her.
Will and Rachel: Mr. Schue always believed in Rachel and there were some major similarities between them. He was like a fatherly figure to her.
Bonus: Pieberry (Brittany and Rachel are hilarious together), Rachcedes, and Cherry (Mike and Rachel)
My Top 3 Crackships
Tbh it feels wrong to ship Rachel with anyone else. I'm basic when it comes to Rachel ships lol. She just has this very strong personality like Santana and both of them really only were into one person.
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I’ve been reading the Locke Lamora/Gentlemen Bastard series, and like-
the first one I tore through, I really really enjoyed it, but I had some criticisms about how it handled its female character (or lack thereof…) and felt like the world-building of this as a world without sexism did not succeed. Like the author seemed to have an extremely shallow understanding of what sexism actually is, so his attempts to write a world without sexism fell really flat. It's not enough to just be like yeah women are allowed to have jobs! (honestly I could go so much more into detail on why I felt like this aspect of the story failed. maybe another post.)
The second book I thought was way better (altho still flawed) w/ regards to female characters - but was also an overall less enjoyable read. the pacing was really uneven, the worldbuilding wasn't as good (Tal Verrar is just like Camorr 2.0, and what is the author's fixation on cities with multiple/major waterways. very weird.), and it was just less compelling and entertaining...but was still totally readable!
I'm reading the third one now and it’s like. All the worst traits of the previous two combined. Way more sexism (Locke says the word "bitch" like every other page, and that's the least of it! Let's not even get into the fact that he's basically stalking Sabetha and we're apparently supposed to think that's romantic!) and also far less entertaining/compelling. I’m honestly struggling to get through it! It seems ridiculous to DNF on the third and final book in the series but I’m straight up NOT enjoying it! I can only read for like ten minute increments before I get bored and/or pissed off. What happened here!
esp with regards to the sexism, I’m so baffled! The prior books were clearly trying to not be sexist. I didn’t think they succeeded, but props for trying, and again the second book had a lot of improvements over the first, even if Ezri getting fridged was disappointing. So why is this book so much worse, both with regards to the setting being more sexist, and the actual story/characters being more sexist? What the fuck happened here? I’m so disappointed.
I'm reading goodreads reviews while I write this post and several reviews comment are like "Oh the plot is more boring in this one but the characterization and dialogue are are really great!" But I've been sitting here thinking that the characterization and the dialogue are really weak in this book, so, yikes! if those are supposed to be the strong points??? ppl keep being like ohhh the dialogue is SO witty, but like a) I personally don't feel like locke swearing at ppl and describing weird sex acts or talking about excrement is particularly witty, and b) I keep feeling like the characters are just quipping rather than having Conversations. and don't get me wrong, I love quips, I'm a quippy person, I know a lot of ppl are anti-quip these days but I'm not one. but damn it can go too far and feel forced and artificial, and I think this book suffers from that. esp when, again, the quips are not very good quips but instead mostly just ppl being vulgar. and the characterization is just so flat.
(it's not that being vulgar is wrong you understand, but it doesn't replace cleverness. an insult is not inherently clever or amusing just because it references an obscene sex act. you can be obscene and clever, but obscenity is not inherently clever.)
and also apparently this isn't the last book, but is setting up a fourth book....
so yeah I don't think I can do this. I gotta DNF this book. the only reason i was considering pushing through was to finish the series out, and if there's a whole additional book, and each book has been increasingly low quality so far, then yeah I'm not interested anymore. so disappointing considering how much I loved the first book. such is life, I guess :(
#squirrel posting#reading things#feel free to read just me ranting about a book that disappointed me lol
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