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gildedmuse · 3 years

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Hey, everyone.

So recently I've (predictably) very not well. Actually, whenever I don't post for long periods, just assume my body is trying to kill me. But I've gotten messages from three people asking if I. Okay, which is super sweet. I am actually trying to work on the next All Hearts, a really long ZoLaw post and two request fics, but mixing chronic kidney pain and capitalist society's mandate to work 40+ hours is not recommended.

But to prove I'm okay and still me, here is some Shanks antics with him being a total slut while Mihawk and Beckman just roll their eyes and go along with it. [Shout out to @jhaernyl who not only listens to me ramble about this stuff, but actively encourages it]. I also have many thoughts on the latest episodes and so many screenshots it's embarrassing. Hopefully, when I'm in less pain, I'll get around to actually posting those. Otherwise I just look like an insane person who literally takes by the second frame shots every time Zoro is on screen.

.... What is that? I look like that anyway? Fair.

Shanks Is A Bad Influence

It feels like Buggy and Shanks split up after Roger's death (the crew was told to, and they are the only ones who went to his execution) and I find it impossible to think Shanks didn't immediately set out and find a crew; like, pirating is the only thing this kid knows in life. This means two things:

He set out from East Blue. Also, he seemed at ease and familiar with the East so it's possible he spent like a year there getting everything together. Maybe he even played around in the other blues for a while before heading back to the Grand Line. I say this because his crew is from all over so either he found and recruited them in the Grand Line or visited various blues. Either way, I'm gonna say it took him about two years before getting a 'proper' start. In that case, he would have started out properly at the age of 17 and we know One Piece likes it's parallels.

That still puts Shanks at 17 to Benn Beckmen's 28. How the fuck did Shanks manage that? I'd call it grave robbing, but let's face it, the little tyke probably got up to some actual robbing of graves as well.

My point being everytime Shanks teases Mihawk about keeping this 19 year old kid on his personal island, mostly shirtless, Benn Beckmen just lifts an eyebrow.

Excuse me, captain, who had prefected the 'opps still don't have my sea legs' trip-and-fall into their first mates lap by the age of 17?

Shanks: Beckmen, you caught me! *Shamelessly nuzzles up* Thank goodness! I could be a devil's fruit user after all and - Ahh!

Benn: *Drops Shanks straight over the side of the ship into the water*

Shanks: *Sputtering* What what that!?

Benn: Checking to see if you had eaten a devil's fruit on us, Capatin.

Benn: You didn't.

Smart ass. But he can't resist Shanks forever. Shanks will wear him down eventually.

Next time Mihawk tracks him down for another match - because you know he gets bored way quicker than he'll ever admit and Shanks is at least amusing a challenge - Shanks makes a big deal out of how Mihawk follows him around, "accidentally" revealing they slept together, sighing about how it's so hard to resist him.

Benn Beckmen is just leaning against the side of the ship, sipping his booze.

Shanks: -and I can't stay for hours like last time!!

Mihawk: Are you quite done?

Shanks: *whispering* Does Benn look jealous?

Mihawk: He looks bored. Much like I am. Is this some strange attempt to get out of my challenge, Akagami?

Shanks: What? No, come on I told you I was game. But, hey, could you do me a favor? Maybe like try and kiss me or something? Like take a swing like your going to hit me but then stop shot and grab me by the waist instead.

Mihawk: .... Trickery is beneath you. Besides, you're absolute rubbish at it.

Shanks: Oh, come on, I would totally help you get laid if you asked!

Mihawk: .... *Sigh* I want a proper match afterwards.

Mihawk: *In a forced, monotone voice* After this I will take you to my lair and have my way with you, Akagami.

Mihawk: ... My lair? Really?

Shanks: *Holding up cue card with quickly scribbled line* What? That is how you talk.

Mihawk: I can't believe I wasted precious hours of light tracking you to this atrociously rural port.

Shanks: See? Now, read the next one.

Benn: Captain? If this is going to take all night, I am going to go join the rest of the men in the tavern.

Shanks: Huh? Wait! Benn! What if Miha really stabs me this time!?

Benn: *Salutes Shanks with his bottle* Sounds like that is his plan captain. Have a good 'challenge'.

Shanks: What? No... *Reaching out hand, like he might die if Benn leaves, looking completely devastated* Not even a little jealous...

Mihawk: You couldn't have thought that pantomime would actually work.

Shanks: Benny, don't leave me.... *Turns to Mihawk, immediately brightening* Oh, well, there's always tomorrow. Hey, Miha, guess whose free all night and horny as a pirate in the calm belt?

Mihawk: .... *Sigh* Very well.

Mihawk might as well get something for the trip he made. Although, he's reconsidering if the sex was actually worth the trouble after he ends up listening to Shanks worry half the night that Benn is shacking up with someone else (after a couple hours of rough and raw fucking, admittedly).

Is it the hat? He likes his captain's hat. Miha, you think his captain's hat is sexy, don't you?

Mihawk: It's utterly ridiculous.

Shanks: ....

Shanks: *Smile* Ahh, Miha, I knew you liked the hat!

Shanks: What do you old Northerns find sexy?

Mihawk: I am only four years older than you.

Mihawk: And silence.

Trying to convince Mihawk to go spy on Beckman for him. Shanks doesn't actually care if he does sleep with someone else, it's more that Beckman didn't immediately turn angry and jealous like Buggy would have that has him paranoid.

Mihawk is going to fuck this annoying red head again just to shut him up.

Mihawk: Maybe he doesn't like red haired boys who don't know when to be quiet?

The next morning Shanks is pacing among his poor crew that's gotten stuck listening to Shanks obsess about Beckman again. IS IT REALLY THE HAIR!?

It's not even a matter of Shanks's age (or obvious immaturity). I mean, Beckman got on board and stayed, didn't he? Beckman just enjoys watching Shanks try so hard to get his attention. Like Benn's attention isn't constantly on Shanks. He had to when his captain is always one step away from disaster.

He only left him with Mihawk because it was clear Dracule is not a real danger to Beckman's captain.

Except maybe insulting him to death. But Beckman is pretty sure Shanks can handle it. He's met Buggy. He's suspects Shanks LIKES it if anything.

It gets to the point where when they dock somewhere and see Mihawk waiting, or come back to the ship and spot his familiar silhouette, most of the crew goes off somewhere for another drink (sometimes the newer kids will stay to watch such an awesome fight, everyone else is like... Look, you'll have plenty of opportunities later. This is not a one off.)

Benn just takes a look around, nods to Mihawk (a silent signal for, "he's all yours, do with him as you please, if anything happens to him I will track you down and make sure your last few hours on this blue world are as painful as humanly possible") and heads off.

Oh, it's just the Hawk boy.

That's fine then.

Benn use to be a sailor on a trade ship between the North, East, West and Grand Line. He's seen it all.

They called him The Gun Slinger BEFORE he joined Shanks's crew and became a pirate.

So this young, broke ass kid from the streets of some near artic northern island trying to pass himself off as a Lower North rich type has a thing for his captain? Not really enough to keep Beckman up at night, no matter how good at swords he's supposed to be

Besides, he's pretty sure for the kid to keep tracking down Shanks, he must be bored out of his skull. He's not going to do anything to endanger their captain.

Not if Shanks is the only thing he can find to keep him entertained.

One day, Mihawk is going to be waiting on the dock when a bunch of Red Haired pirates are stumbling home, laughing and chattering amongst themselves (Shanks's crew always seems to be in a good mood). One of them will catch sight if Mihawk and walk by with a smile, patting him on the shoulder.

The captain's occupied. Seems likely he'll be 'occupied' for a good while, too.

Mihawk won't smile, but he will think "So you finally warmed him up to you, Akagami?" and snort lightly.

Poor Benn, though. Mihawk could never imagine being with someone so much younger than him. Shanks is only four years his junior and already it strains Mihawk to put up with his occasional moments of "youthful whimsy" (aka being an annoying, immature child)

"A young, cocky pirate with strangely colored bright hair"

Mihawk just putting that on his Not To Do List.

That lasted until Roronoa.

(Mihawk just looking at Zoro knowing this is bad news.)

Mihawk: *Takes list from Benn*

*Cross out, scribbles*

*Hands back to Benn*

Do Not Do:

- A young, cocky pirate with strangely colored bright hair a silly hat, who is overly dramatic and in any way, shape or form related to Gol D Rogers.

Ace: Hey what's up?

Mihawk: *Takes list from Benn*

Go ahead, Benn, laugh it up. Mihawk is aware he has a type. Young, pretty, and utterly insane.

After that night where Shanks was otherwise 'occupied', it's over six months before Mihawk sees his friend his rival again. He is, as expected, far too smug and proud looking.

Shanks: Oh, Miha, so sorry you came all this way, I'm-

Benn: Well, I'm off, captain.

Shanks: What!? But we, you, I... Benn, hessoeexyarentyouworriedforyourcaptain?

Benn: *patting Mihawk on the shoulder* Have fun with him. Don't forget to return him by noon tomorrow, we have a schedule. Oh, but if you can babysit him for at least four hours? That would be great.

Shanks: BABYSIT!?

Mihawk: I suppose I can be troubled to do so.

Shanks: TROUBLED!?

Benn: Thanks, Hawkeyes. I owe you.

Shanks: *Fake tears clinging to his lashes* You two are so mean!

No, don't feel bad for him. Shanks is just trying to guilt the two of them into bed at the same time, and they both know it.

Thanks no thanks, they're not into that. But Shanks can be pretty cute when he's trying so hard (Benn) and at least he's not as boring as everything else in this world (Mihawk) so they allow him to keep up the act

Shanks: *looking at Zoro's wanted poster over Mihawk's shoulder* But I feel like you'd gladly go to bed with him and his captain if he asked. That doesn't seem fair to me. You'd never go that far with me and Benn.

Mihawk: *Eyes Benn*

Mihawk: *DEAD. ONLY.*

Mihawk: I have my reasons.

They can and do agree on plenty of things, including reciprocally not being that attracted to each other.

Shanks: Sounds fake to me

Shanks: But guys!

Shanks: This isn't about you

He's gonna need you guys to drop the egos and focus on what HE wants. I.E., being in the middle of two sexy Northern men.

Honestly, so mean to poor Shanks!

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isagrimorie · 4 years

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Hi. I finally have a reliable way of watching classic who, so I'm trying out to work out a good approach. A long while ago, I put together a list of stories suggested by different people about good "definitive" stories for each Doctor. But I've been following you for a while now and you seem to have a pretty good understanding of Classic Who. So I thought I'd ask, whether you had any suggestions?

Hi sorry I’m just getting to you now! Awesome you’re getting into Classic Who, it reminds me that I need to get back into it… I’m not really an expert on Classic Who and I lost my Classic Who to watch because my old laptop died. This’ll teach me, honestly, to put notes on a cloud based note taking program rather than just the one living on the computer.

Here’s the list and some of my favorites. It’s not complete, so fairwarning! Also Classic Who goes by stories ranging from 4 episodes each to a whopping 12 episode.

First Doctor

An Unearthly Child (The first story where two teachers spy at a student’s home out of concern and in return the First Doctor kidnaps them and then strands them on prehistoric Earth where the Doctor tries to kill a caveman with a rock).

The Daleks - Second story where the Doctor lands them on Skaro, meets the Daleks for the first time. Skaro was a war ravaged, post-nuclear winter world where two kinds of races lived the Kaled and Thals.

The Edge of Destruction - The TARDIS almost kills the crew, the crew acts weird and Barbara Wright gives the Doctor one hell of a talking to, and the Doctor starts to shape up.

Marco Polo - I haven’t seen this!

Keys of Marinus - I haven’t seen this either

The Aztecs - Fabulous Barbara Wright where she shows how amazing she is. She’s allowed to be both right, wrong, and righteous. But also.. it’s Aztecs as portrayed by a 1960s show. Also, the Doctor accidentally gets engaged. Not the last time!

The Sensorites - The Time Team meats a psychic alien race.

The Planet of Giants - (sorry I haven’t seen this)

The Dalek Invasion of Earth - An awesome, post-apocalyptic London in the far future where the Daleks enslave Earth. Barbara is awesome and Susan makes her goodbye, and the Doctor leaves Susan with only ONE shoe.

The Rescue - Vicki, the new companion arrives. Something about the confrontation here between One and the threat reminds me of Thirteen.

The Romans - A really fun episode. A really fun and shippy episode for Barbara and Ian. Also… really traumatic! Also the Doctor may or may not have inspired the burning of Rome.

The Web Planet - I have to be honest I couldn’t finish this episode.

The Crusade

The Space Museum - Haven’t watched yet.

The Chase - A silly episode where the gang gets chased through time and space by a bunch of Daleks. Barbara and Ian leaves, and Steven the astronaut stumbles into the TARDIS

The Time Meddler - The first time another Time Lord (not yet called a Time Lord) is on the show. The Doctor and The Meddling Monk have fun chess shenanigans.

Galaxy 4

Mission to the Unknown - Prequel to the epic The Dalek’s Masterplan. Recently graduate students recreated this. The only episode on Doctor Who without the Doctor or the TARDIS.

youtube

The Mythmakers - Through audiobook in Audible. Vicki stays behind, and the Doctor, uh, might have help start the sacking of Troy.

The Dalek Masterplan - Real epic where we see how sly Daleks can be, with a huge array of characters. Again, I experienced this as an audiobook so I don’t know what this looks.

The Massacre at St Bartholomew’s Eve, The Ark, The Celestial Toymaker (yes the one namechecked recently). I haven’t seen these episodes yet!

The Gunfighters - A really fun episode where the Doctor, Steven, and Dodo ( a new Companion) in the Old West.

The War Machines - The Doctor comes back to 60s London where a sentient computer tries to takeover the world through hypnosis. Dodo leaves and two new companions, Ben and Polly arrive.

Unfortunately that’s the only First Doctor episodes I’ve watched

Second Doctor

The Tomb of the Cybermen - Supposedly the iconic episode. And where the Second Doctor has a really fantastic inspirational talk about keeping the people we love in our hearts. Unfortunately, probelmatic about race, and the first of the many times a black person dies in a Cyberman episode. It’s unfortunate because they already have so few black characters on the show but they almost always die when a Cyberman is around.

The Enemy of the World - The Second Doctor looks like a Dictator and there are shenanigans. Also there is an awesome woman character.

The Dominators - Fun episode with adorable robots.

The War Games - The EPIC ten episode last story for the Second Doctor. And the first time we all meet the other Time Lords and realize quickly they’re assholes of the highest order. And every subsequent appearance will only reinforce that.

Third Doctor

Spearhead from Space - The Third Doctor’s first adventure, and the first colored Doctor Who! We meet Doctor Liz Shaw and the rest of the UNIT team. The Brig is also reintroduced! (Um he was in an episode I hadn’t seen from Second Doctor era).

Dr Who and the Silurians - Really good episode and the ending, omg.

Ambassadors of Death - Also good but a bit bloated I think

Inferno - THE BEST. AND I MEAN THE BEST. The first official alternate universe episode and the Third Doctor struggles to save Earth. Also, unfortunately Dr. Liz Shaw’s last episode :(.

Season 2, Third Doctor

Terror of the Autons - The Master’s first appearance! And a weirdly floating Time Lord. Jo Grant appears!

The Mind of Evil - The Master tries to disrupt a peace conference with mind control, Jo Grant is awesome, and we find out the Master’s main fear is the Doctor laughing at him and proving he is more superior than the Master.

The Claws of Axos - Aliens come to Earth and try to scam Earth, the Master is behind it… and is in trouble too.

I hope that’s enough for the moment?

#doctor who #classic who #littleironi #answered!#long post

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ohhicas · 5 years

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I've only been into comics for a few years, but I've read enough of the old Flash stuff where I adore the classic incarnations of the Rogues. Honestly curious here: what's it like to be a fan of James Jesse back when he was retgonned around 10 years ago and see him brought back but now all mwahaha crazy evil? I'm way more used to Axel (and all that off-panel character development in Nu52, thanks DC) but even I find this kinda weird. Was James ever crazy evil in any arc?

^- me 90% of the time someone says James is coming back to recent media & it’s not a direct continuation of the comics prior to 2004

[ Warning: this is gonna get long and be full of a lot of assumptions. I can never form solid statements and things will get jumbled, because I suck at presenting things ]

[ this is my can of worms hill and you opened it so I’m dYING HERE ]

I mean, back in the earliest ages, no Rogue had a real personality to speak of? They were just “1960s Bad Guy in a different outfit” at the very start, with quirks! Like James having a thing for toys and nuclear powered flying tricycles. It wasn’t until that era ended that they started getting real distinct and into what a lot of ‘classic’ James fans loved and appreciated?

(I think at least, I’m just One Person here pretending like I even understand HALF of what the ‘classic’ fandom enjoyed. I’m wildly speculating just going off what fanworks I’ve seen produced.)

(I don’t have all my scans anymore but I’ll toss in scans when I have them)

But that’s when we started getting things like James actually having specified friendships with certain people

or clear distaste towards others, and when you could tell he was more of a wild card than the others. Or when he decided to fuck off and hang out in Hollywood with Blue Devil for a bit, even siding with Kid Devil to deck out Captain Boomerang.

Or when he decided to fuck off to Gotham, to mess with Catwoman by pretending he didn’t know who she was, but absolutely knew who she was because of how she walked and carried herself, but James being James was like “mmmmm long con, nope”

hey lil Cold, gimme all ur guns and don’t question why I’m in drag xoxo

Even then, he wasn’t shown to be vicious yet! He’d hopped around various places, was still considered A Rogue, A Criminal, and as far as any comic reader could tell by trying to count up how many civilians may have been crossfired at, he had no On Purpose deaths racked? Like, the only thing you could really argue was he may have made someone drive their car off a cliff once, but I’m like 98% sure they’re fine. He’s not a murderer, he’s just here for a laugh and a long-con for funsies because he know he can get away with it!

AND THEN WE GET A LITTLE OLDER, LITTLE DARKER

[ I’M PUTTING A CUT HERE CAUSE AFTER I THREW IT INTO DRAFTS, I REALIZED I GOT REALLY LONG, I’M SORRY IF MY LAYOUT SUCKS ASS FOR THIS. ]

little more 90s Hair. Little more 90s stereotypical “But what if EVERYONE WENT TO HELL” demon plots against Satanic Hockey Hair Neron. And James? still wasn’t evil? He was a little dismissive when everyone ELSE died sure but he still in the end turned around like “nghgng I’m THE ONLY ONE”, purposely got his ass down there, regretted it, and then beat Neron at his own game to save the entire fucking world. Because! He could! And he did it so well. STILL NOT EVIL, even when he had a chance right then and there to take over everything alongside Neron should he so desire. Like, two words, maybe some under the table BJs depending on how you feel about that pairing (I don’t), and bam. He would’ve bested nearly any other villain in the DCU save like, Satan himself. Or i guess one of those world destroyers. But we’ll get back around to those BOY HOWDY WE WILL GET AROUND TO THOSE.

So James! Saves! The world! Sorta! Later they fight Neron again and his kid he somehow had somewhere down the road (it sounds like I’m complaining, i’m not, I love Billy and Mindy both I just wish they showed up like… ever again?) and he sTILL SAVES EVERYONE.

Piper helps by their 90s ponytails combined.

Somewhere around here, because dates and timing aren’t my strong suit, he also goes and messes with Bart for a bit. It’s pretty much a Spy Vs Spy episode, but with less bloodshed.

ANYWAY IT’S AFTER THIS POINT THAT THINGS GET… where I think the majority of “James is a Low Rate Joker” comes from?

For some unknown goddamn reason, in between issues (James wasn’t a Super Frequent Rogue? He’d show up, sure, but in the huge run of the series he’d just kind of vanish for 20 issues at a time and you’d go “welp, guess he’s still alive”) James went super-cop? like, the FBI? For some reason? Hired James “I am a probably still wanted felon, a man who has escaped jail numerous times, probably never served a full sentence, known Trickster and liar” Jesse. to the FBI. And for so many issues it’s like he legit just. Did this. He threatens to shoot Piper who he was up until this very moment, considerably very close friends with (as far as comics would show Rogue/Rogue friendships), unwilling to help his friend clearly framed for murder of his parents and losing his mind by the day. Despite James talking Hart down a little on the whole ‘THE MAYOR IS ROSCOE ADN NOBODY BELIEVES MEEEEEEEE” thing.

Also he steals Digger’s dead ass corpse?

FBI James is a fucking enigma. Here he is standing up for Gay Rights even though Piper is like “mm maybe I should forgive my abuser??”

BUT. AFTER THIS? WE GET COUNTDOWN WHICH IS JUST. Countdown is. IT’s a problem. James’s personality is IMMEDIATELY HORRIBLY u-turned into “well we need SOMEONE to be the Bad Guy to Piper’s Good!” DESPITE. ALL THESE YEARS OF COMICS.This is the shit you’ll see people who don’t know better or just want a reason to hate the Trickster (despite being 100% okay for them to just say he’s annoying/they don’t like his tights/acrobats are stupid) reference. James is, suddenly, very abruptly, a homophobe. Like an “ew don’t touch me” level homophobe because I’m pretty sure DC snorts cocaine and threw a dart at a board for “how could they make these two fight” and landed on GAY RIGHTS IS TRENDING.

BUTSTILL IN THE FUCKING END OF ALL OF THIS?After so many issues of James being a complete fuckass prick?

springboards himself from his current job of being railroad face putty to catching bullets to make sure Piper wasn’t gonna die. Without knowing the proceedings of this entire plotline, James out of nowhere after so much gaybashing, still finds it in him to leap into the path of multiple bullets and save Piper. Because, yknow, he’s evil!

Later it’s shown he’s been working to take everyone down (y’know, like when he was in the FBI) and left Piper specific helpful notes to do it himself. Because Evil Bad Guy! Helping his gone-good friend! Take down bad guys!

DC I STILL HAVE SO MANY GODDMAN QUESTOINgsd

But yeah that’s. That’s where we last saw James. in 2007, dead, after saving Piper when he could have easily pulled a Joker and ripped HIM down to take hte bullets and etcetc, y’know. Something a Very Bad Person would’ve done, like the characterization we’ve seen now.

His ghost (easily argued as Piper’s own mental construction of James sassing him) sasses Hartley to even, in his mental state, saw off James’s hand so Piper doesn’t have to lug his weight around and has a fighting chance at living. And in the end, when Piper’s fighting the thing that can destroy the fucking world, it’s shown only Piper was the one who could save them? Because his flute, and his musical ability, and [enter DC comic science here]. You could argue this was James, once again, somehow knowing the long-con at play here, getting screwed over at EVERY turn, and sacrificing himself so they ‘good’ team had a fighting chance.You could also argue this is me losing my mind trying to make sense of the things they made James do. (my running argument is he was purposely a prick to push Piper away, so he could keep him safe)

Also Piper plays James a Swan Song of Queen as the final boss explodes and he’s fully prepared to die. So like. There’s that.

AND THATS BASICALLY THE COMICS? The main, ‘canon timeline’ comics. I’m missing a LOT of little things here and there, but I’m not missing anything like body counts, or murder attempts, beyond the old Silver Age “Bad guy of the week” things like trying to make Flash’s head explode, or you know. Other “nobody really has a personality, we just have quirks”.

MY NUMBER ONE GUESS TO WHERE THIS NEW PERSONALITY TREND COMES FROM?

Mark Hamil|’s OG run as him in the old live action show. That characterization was fun, for the time, and I even enjoyed it cause it was just that off the wall and you could tell it was what they used to decide he should be the Joker for the BATS Joker. Consider it a prototype (combined with all the previous comic jokers but that’s not for this long ass post)

And if it’d stayed there, that’d be it! That’s it! But then JLU came along, and they referenced the old show for their version of James with a sprinkling of early-era comics, and a lot of people loved and watched that show. That was their version of the Trickster, because it was their first meeting with him! And I can’t fault that! But that guy was clearly off his rocker and I’m sure if the JLU allowed a higher rating, it would’ve been even closer to the old TV show.

And both of THOSE were heavily, heavily referenced for the CW version, which as I’m at this point now means I need to slap my usual anti-CW tag onto things. I hate the CW James. There is so little comic in him it’s almost disgusting, and they ramped up so much of the Joker side of JLU & OGTV he might as well just be the Joker. It’s not a good representation of him at all. I have, also, only seen his first appearance episode, so maybe I’m wrong? But when you fuck up hard on the first run, why would I return for round 2?

So with ALL THIS–

REBOOT TIME. Whatever the newnew remake is calling itself.

At first! With how James was! In the first panel flash of him clearly behind the scenes tugging so many wires and lines, watching everything with a bucket of popcorn while pulling others to his side, sitting pretty in an old museum? warehouse? highlighted in purples and vintage toys, I was like “holy shit this it. This is My Boy, back from the goddamn limbo-dead. It’s him.” But then“taking over the city entirely” to do? What? Turn it into the world’s biggest Trickster themepark? Make everyone wear striped leggings and combat boots? Martial Law of murder if you don’t carry rubber chickens? This is already veering from anything major James has ever done. As it stands I can’t see the gag here. Its’ weirdly dark and edgy, and way too close to something we saw the 90s TV show Trickster do, in the episode where he basically took over the place. The previews show him being what I’m assuming a Judge, Jury, & Executioner joke– and unless this spins into a Clopin song and dance number and his little hand puppet crops up to slam the button on the guillotine, I’m not having it, DC.

They’re trying to tie him back into the CW, despite the writer saying he really enjoyed the Neron-era things with James (if I’m remembering the interview correctly). And it’s also why you may see me constantly saying “Well I sure as fuck hope Neron shows up” at anything new that’s released, to explain away all of… this.

This isn’t him. If they wanted a murderous Trickster, they should’ve just used Axel. The kid, canonly, tied explosives to stray dogs and homeless people. AXEL is the not-good Trickster, the murderous Trickster, the one you aren’t suppose to feel sorry for beyond being in way over his head due to his young age.

i think I somehow didn’t answer your question

TL;DR

it sucks? it’s also great because there’s a .5% chance that maybe they’ll do it right and won’t reference the fucking 90s noncomic media. But then they do. And all I can do is laugh and shrug like ‘welp I expected nothing’. But when they get it RIGHT it’s like christmas came early.

#anticwflash #james jesse #the trickster #god tumblr don't fuck this post up for me #Anonymous #remember when James made Mark and Digger BOTH run into a wall cause he looney tuned their asses with a black hole??

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ganymedesclock · 6 years

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So here's something I've noticed. Whenever Shiro's negative side is shown it's either very missable or played for laughs (keeping Lance in check, escorting Slav, etc). Now that things are getting more serious, Shiro's flaws are becoming more noticeable to both the audience and the Paladins. Do you think that this was intentional? A lot of people saw Shiro flawless like the Paladins did only to now yell "Clone!" for shallow and trivial reasons.

I would argue that all of the characters’ traits have been consistent from the start, but due to screentime and situations, some of them were less obvious than others. As we’re getting more time with them, we’re getting more situations that explore those different facets in greater detail.

A lot of qualities that are cited as uniquely beginning at s3e5 were consistently present throughout s1 and s2.

Shiro really takes poorly to feeling powerless, he always has. But people don’t seem to draw the connections between say, Shiro repeatedly pushing to trust Ulaz and the Blade in s2 to Shiro taking a near-identical stance with Lotor in s5. Once Lotor’s reasoning is good enough for him, Shiro is sure about this.

In s2, Shiro didn’t go behind the team’s back, but that can be chalked up entirely to the variable that he didn’t have to. Allura chose to go along with it, albeit cautiously and making it clear she wasn’t happy about it.

I’m pretty sure Shiro would’ve done the exact same thing he did in s5e4, in s2e3- rather than dropped the subject if Allura had refused to meet with Ulaz.

The difference is, most of the times this trait rears its head in s1 and s2, it’s seen as a positive or understandable thing that Shiro’s very stubborn. It’s what kept him alive during the missing year. If he yells at the Black Lion in s2e7, well, he was just scared for understandable reasons, he calms down and makes his remorse clear once he realizes Black is trying to tell him something.

But if Shiro yells at Lance and then apologizes to him in s5e3 and makes it clear going forwards he has newfound trust in what Lance is trying to tell him, that’s not treated the same way.

I think the situation is that something else is intersecting with the concept of clone theory.

I’ve said it before that clone theory is not really my cup of tea- but I think as a theory, it’s decently sound. We did see that other Shiro lying on the table during the one we’re followings’ escape. The empire would do it. The idea of implanting memories that Shiro didn’t actually experience, via his arm, was discussed back in s2e3.

It would give another purpose to Shiro’s design update- so that eventually if we’re dealing with both this character and the “original” Shiro, we’ll be able to tell them apart.

But I think that clone theory is often misused in that people change the metrics that they judge Shiro by based on if he’s before or after s3e5, when, even if you do take clone theory up here and assert they’re different characters...

I come back to s3e5 itself is lavishly set up as a situation to tell us a lot of things. If you take clone theory, this is the introduction of a new character, and this is what his debut episode tells us about him:

He has no idea what happened to him, is weakened and disoriented and, at first, seeing things that aren’t there. This leads him to be suspicious of his surroundings (asking the giant skeleton what killed it)

The empire is using him, but they don’t care about his survival. When he escapes, they remark that things are proceeding as expected, but he has an intense cluster of near-death instances that they don’t seem to be aware of or care about. The empire’s resources could have done so much better in planting their spy back with Voltron than tossing him to the wolves on an inhospitable ice planet when he’s in a bad state to take care of himself.

He specifically makes an honorable, empathetic choice, at a point where he has nothing to gain and nobody is watching him besides two people entirely at his mercy who he could easily kill with the fighting skills he exhibited earlier. If anything, his comment that he doesn’t expect the two rebels to listen to him and how ominous he seems in that scene would appear set up to make us expect he’s going to do something nasty to them. Instead, he surrenders.

This is reinforced in s4e1 when he’s able to reconnect with Black by asking for their trust, and in s5e3 when Lance explicitly tells Allura that Shiro- this Shiro, the one that’s with the team right now- is not her enemy.

I think what happens is that an odd expectation becomes attached to the idea of clone theory, in that people perceive “Ryou” (post-s2 Shiro) as a different person than “Real Shiro” (pre-s2 Shiro) and they perceive this difference unfavorably.

That Ryou is working against Real Shiro, that Real Shiro doesn’t like Ryou, that they wouldn’t agree or get along, even though the popular theory of s5e3 is that it was Real Shiro that called out to Lance.

Because Lance tells Ryou about it afterwards, thinking that it’s the same person who can clarify. And Ryou doesn’t remember that happening, but he pointedly doesn’t express this in a way that doesn’t frame Lance as wrong for perceiving him as doing something he doesn’t remember doing.

Ryou’s response basically comes across as “I don’t know anything about some other Shiro talking to you, but that has to have happened for a reason. You should listen to that other Shiro.”

Black Lion trusts Ryou. The paladins trust Ryou. When he starts acting off, everyone, including him, says that this is bad and unlike him. And so far? Their trust has been paid off. Haggar is using him to spy on others, but Ryou has also done many things to personally save and protect the other paladins, putting himself in danger to do so. He’s been fighting on the front lines to keep them safe. And we have yet to see the empire pull its punches, or act to preserve him, once.

So even if I don’t personally like clone theory, my response to it continues to be that I think the fandom’s wrong not for thinking Shiro might be a clone at this point, but I think the fandom’s wrong for assuming that Ryou is inherently untrustworthy and against the team.

And those assumptions are at the root, I think, of the perception of all of post-s2 Shiro’s behavior as less pleasant, ruder, nastier, more malicious when these same traits were here before in s1 and s2- they were just given the benefit of the doubt.

#voltron legendary defender #vld #Shiro #clone theory #readmore #Anonymous

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lifeisdabubbles-undersalmondean · 3 years

Text

La Pomme ~ Chapter 12

Pairing: Sam x OC (eventual Dean x OC and Dean x Castiel. And I mean eventual.)

Series summary: George is a casual French-Mistake-universe Supernatural fan living in no-COVID 2020, who's life is upended when she's suddenly launched between realities, two years into the boys' past (S13E22). What begins as an insane, immersive fan experience turns into more when Jack goes missing and George offers up her AU information to help track him down. Soon it's discovered that she and Sam may actually have history. But that's impossible, right?

Word Count: 5,500

Warnings: {smut, fluff, angst, show level violence, swearing, mentions of suicide} ***Detailed warnings will be tagged for specific chapters.

A/N: Following the events of my prequel Paradise and second story From My Eyes Off. Reading those first gives context but isn’t necessary to start this one.

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George was lounging in the warm bath water, trying to use breathing exercises to clear her mind and calm herself. It had been a long day, capping off a long almost-month inside the Supernatural Universe. There were so many questions she couldn't answer and she wished she could turn her brain off; focus on anything else.

"George?" She heard Dean's muffled call from the other side of the bathroom door. "You OK in there?"

"Yea," She answered quietly. "Just humiliated," She added with an eye roll.

"Don't sweat it," Came his unusually sympathetic reply. "We've all been there, or somewhere similar… or somewhere worse," He added off handedly, taking another bite of pie. It occurred to him suddenly that the two of them were alone and Dean had a thought. After a moment's hesitation, he swallowed his bite of pie and called timidly, "George?"

"Yea?" She responded curiously, her voice raised slightly to compensate for the sound barrier. There was such a long pause with no answer that she wondered if it had just been her imagination. As she was about to call out again, she heard him finally.

"Can I ask you something?" Came an inquiry so quiet she almost didn't hear it. He sounded uncharacteristically troubled and… nervous?

"Yea, sure," She answered gently.

"What do you know about Michael?"

"Michael who?" Came her quick, confused reply.

"The archangel? Asshole that's been wearing me as a suit the last few weeks?" She was suddenly reminded of the fact that she was living inside of a TV show and it stunned her into silence. "That Michael? Has he not been on the show or...?" The nervous huff in his reply shook her out of her stupor. She realized this must be a hard topic for him. Unfortunately, though, she didn't have any insight to give.

"Oh fuck, right, Michael," She swallowed and gathered her thoughts before replying with a sigh, "I'm sorry, Dean, I don't really know much. I hadn't started this season yet," She finished apologetically.

"Thanks," Came a sarcastic reply.

She frowned and defended, "Look, I have a life, dude! I get behind, I can't always tune in every Thursday! Trust me, no one is more sorry about that than me right now. Maybe if I had, I could have done something to prevent this insane situation." A heavy sigh dotted the end of her sentence pointedly. Then she had a strange, disconcerting thought:

Would you really have prevented this from happening if you had a choice?

The thought startled her and she guiltily refused to answer herself.

A welcome distraction for her was noticing the silence that followed her answer to Dean; George could tell he was still concerned. Reaching over and grabbing the door handle, she cracked it just enough to spy Dean sitting on the edge of the mattress, holding a take out box. He glanced at her almost imperceptibly and she could tell her eyes weren't exactly welcome, so she turned her head away but left the door open.

"Here's what I've heard/seen on accident," She started, pausing to think and then saying carefully, "He comes back somehow," She heard him bristle but kept going, "And you do something to trap him. Some kind of box… or maybe a walk-in freezer?" She was trying to organize the spoilers she'd seen and identify what was related to Michael and what wasn't. "I know that doesn't make a lot of sense and I'm sorry, but that's all I've got."

Dean sighed and shrugged, "It's alright, George. I'm just… feeling lost. Was hoping for some clues, but it's not on you to save my bacon." George gave a wry smile to the bath water and sat quietly for a moment.

Finally she turned her head to look at him and asked, "You want to know what I do know, Dean?"

Slowly, he turned to look at her with an intrigued eyebrow, "I don't know, do I?"

With an amused eye roll she spoke, "I know this--right now--this story line with alternate Michael? It's two seasons behind where you and your brother end up in my reality. And--at least as far as I remember--this alternate Michael isn't a starring role for very long."

Dean furrowed his eyebrows at her in consideration, "Meaning?"

She shrugged and offered, "Meaning, you figure this out. Like you always do. You will figure this out and you will beat Michael and be onto the next big bad, whomever that is. Which, don't even ask because I really have no idea. Haven't watched those seasons at all yet… I think there's one episode where you meet Scooby Doo?"

Dean smirked and rolled his eyes, telling her matter-of-factly, "We already did that."

"No shit?! That already happened?" When he nodded in confirmation George 'ughed' loudly, rolling her eyes, "Damnit, that must have been one of the ones I just watched. What was it like?! Was Shaggy really high? Was Daphne really hot? Was Scooby just adorable?!"

Dean chuckled and answered, "Uh, yes, hell yes, and duh! It's Scooby Doo! Of course he's adorable!"

"Was it weird to be animated?"

He shrugged a little, "Eh, kin-"

She cut him off with a gasp, "Wait! Was all of you animated, like.. did you have all your-"

He shook his head and proclaimed, "That's none of your business!"

"Sorry!" George apologized defensively, then begged, "Tell me you and Daphne-"

"George!" Dean admonished with feigned offense, "I don't kiss and tell."

She scoffed and guessed, "Struck out, huh?"

Dean frowned and simply said, "Her and Fred are an item. I didn't want to break that up," to which George laughed in disbelief.

"Yea, I got it. I think things are starting to come back to me now," George teased him and he shrugged in defeat, unable to deny the fact that he definitely struck out with Daphne. When her laughter died away, she looked at him again and said, "I'm sorry I can't be more of a help. I know, I know, it's not my job to save you but that doesn't mean I enjoy not being able to." They were quiet again for a minute and she sighed, "If I could just call Ryan."

"Who's he?"

"She is my Winchester Wiki," She explained very matter of factly and Dean stared at her with an annoyed expression. With a smile she continued, "She's my friend and she's also a fan of the show; Got me back into it later in life and, well lets just say, she pays closer attention than I do. She'd be able to help you with this whole Michael problem without breaking a sweat. Oh and she's gorgeous," George tossed on and Dean raised a curious eyebrow. She caught his curious expression and asked, "You don't happen to have a phone with trans-universal long distance coverage by chance?"

Dean snorted and shook his head in bemused defeat, "Not on me." He was frustrated that she didn't have more insight on Michael, though somewhat comforted by the fact that-at least in her reality-he wasn't dead yet. That was something, he guessed.

"So," George smirked at him, glee in her eyes, "American's Next Top Model, hmm?"

"What, are you surprised? A house full of attractive models?" Dean gave her an obvious expression.

She shark-mouthed understandably and nodded, "Fair point. Allison cycle 12? Ooof. Hello!"

Dean considered her assessment for a moment, then nodded agreeably but offered, "Mercedes, cycle 2."

George had to remember who that was for a minute but then nodded emphatically, "Yes! Gorgeous and she was good. She ended up top three, right?"

They compared notes for a few minutes, until he finished the last bite of pie in the container he was holding. Then he whipped out his phone and muttered in her direction, "Finish your bath. I'm gonna text Sam for more towels."

When Sam got the text he snagged a pile from a housekeeping cart on their way back to George's room. They had also stopped by the car and brought up a few bags, per his request. Dean carefully handed George the towels through the bathroom door, so as to not accidentally see any bits, and then turned to Sam for a room update.

"Bad news: no adjoining rooms. The best I could do was five doors down. Even more bad news: only one queen bed." Sam held up the room key with a feigned wince. "But listen, I don't think we should leave George alone, so I'll just crash on the floor in here and you can take the room."

"Wow, what a sacrifice," Dean chuckled knowingly at his brother and snatched the key from him. "Shouldn't we have Cas handle it, though?"

"No, why?" Sam protested a little too fast.

"Because he doesn't need sleep. He can keep an eye on the little deserter. Make sure she doesn't do it again?"

Sam frowned, "She's not going to. And if she does, I think I can handle it. How is she supposed to get any sleep with Cas staring at her all night?"

"I don't stare at people when they sleep," Cas interrupted. With a huff he clarified, "I stare at the wall."

Dean looked at the offended angel and shrugged, "It's not that bad. He's quiet. Honestly, it's kind of comforting when you think about it." There was an awkward pause and Dean added, "Sometimes he'll sing for you if you ask nice-"

"Dean," Castiel admonished him for sharing something so intimate. Cas only did that for him.

Sam looked between the two of their sheepish faces and then assured sarcastically, "Yea, a singing angel staring at the wall in the dark. Totally not creepy."

George came out of the bathroom wrapped in the clean towels from Dean. She was now looking a little sheepish as well, "Hey, sorry about earlier. All of it. I jus-"

"Ah, ah, ah!" Dean held up a hand to her. "Save it for the morning. You can spill your guts over breakfast. We couldn't get adjoining rooms, so Cas and I will be just down the hall; Sam will stay with you tonight. On the floor," He said pointedly with a 'behave' look toward Sam, who rolled his eyes in irritation. George nodded, barely listening, and let out a tired sigh.

Then she had a startling thought and groaned, "Shit. I'm going to have to put those crusty clothes back on."

Dean grinned proudly, "You're not the only one with surprise gifts." He took the bags that Sam and Cas had retrieved from the car and set them down on the wooden table.

"What's this?" She asked, grabbing one of the handles and peeking into the bag where she spotted the Friends logo hoodie she'd picked out at Target. "My clothes? My deodorant?! Oh Dean! Thank you so much! I would kiss you but you have pie like… all over your face, but thank you!" As she dug into the bags to search for the PJs, Dean looked questioningly at Sam and Cas who nodded in confirmation.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Dean grumbled, moving over to the sink to wipe his face. Sam shrugged in feigned innocence, laughing internally at his idiot brother.

"How did you get all the clothes I picked?" She asked, impressed.

"We got lucky; Sam happened to hear one of the employees complaining about a nutty woman who'd run from the store like a bat outta hell and abandoned all her stuff," Dean gave her a pointed stare.

She looked first at Sam, and then Cas and Dean, with immense gratitude, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Her spirits had been lifted a little. The fresh underwear alone was going to make her feel a thousand times better.

"They mentioned they'd already put back one or two items when we asked about it, so hopefully we got the right replacements." Sam warned her.

"I don't care! I can apply deodorant and brush my teeth; I'm sure I can put together at least one clean outfit with what's here! So I'm hap-" She suddenly stopped and froze, having discovered a strange item in one of the bags. "Wha?" In one swift motion she pulled out a pale pink lace bodysuit and held it up for them to see. With an annoyed, yet curious expression she looked at Dean and asked, "Someone care to explain this?"

Dean held his hands up in innocence and Sam inspected the garment in confusion.

"It looked nice on the mannequin and the Target associate who helped me pick it out said it was bold, yet feminine. Perfect for the new woman in my life," Castiel happily explained, sounding as though he was reciting someone else's words.

George blushed a bit, looking at Sam and Dean like 'is he for real?', unsure how to respond. Both men shrugged unhelpfully, avoiding eye contact with the item she was still holding, and remained quiet. Cas seemed so proud, she didn't want to ruin it.

Finally, she stuttered out, "Wow. OK, well… thanks. Very thoughtful of you, Castiel…"

"If you wanted to provide me with your exact measurements, the sales associate offered to help me pick out a 'matching bra and panty se'-"

"OK, why don't we quit while we're ahead, eh Buddy?" Dean grabbed up four of the remaining takeout boxes and motioned for Cas to do the same. He then reached for the pink, lacey material in George's hand, jokingly trying to take it from her.

She swatted him with it and held it out of his reach, "Hey! You're the old woman in his life."

He couldn't help but laugh in response, though he shook his head in annoyance, and then headed out the door with the angel in tow, "See you crazy kids in the morning!"

When they left George looked at Sam curiously, "Is it wrong that I kind of want to give Cas 'my measurements' and then watch him try to pick out lingerie?"

Sam smirked in amusement but nodded, "Yes."

"Oh, you're no fun," George chuckled and tossed the teddy back into the bag.

"Perhaps the wrong audience?" He suggested with a chuckle.

"Yea, that's fair," She agreed. While she rifled through the bags and grabbed out some black PJ pants, a light blue, short sleeved t-shirt, and a pair of underwear, Sam watched her quietly. To say he was relieved to find her safe and unharmed was an understatement. He'd also been thrilled by her admission that she liked it here, but, like Cas, he was curious what it meant. And what it could mean for him.

Does she like it enough to stay maybe? He cursed at himself for even thinking it.

"Uh, George?" He finally pushed through the nerves and forced himself to speak.

"Hmm?" She responded curiously, not looking up from her bags just yet.

He tried to adopt a nonchalant, yet comforting tone and asked, "When you were saying earlier that you felt… comfortable here? Like you belong? What did you mean?"

Pausing her rummaging, she glanced over at him, caught off guard by the question. Truthfully, she didn't know if she could answer it. She was quiet for a long time, trying to decide how deep she wanted to get into this.

Finally, she turned to him and said, "Back home I… I've always had this strange, out of place feeling. Major dysphoria my whole life and kinda irritatingly painful too, like... full body restless leg syndrome. I've always imagined it similar to how a trans individual might experience feeling like they were born in the wrong body, ya know?" Sam made a noise of confirmation and she continued, "Except, my body is fine--well, it's not the cause of this problem anyway," they chuckled together.

"It's more… my whole being was wrong somehow, like I didn't belong. Anywhere. I had trouble connecting with people and making friends; even my own family seemed so different from me. I felt like I was on a different wavelength than other people, and not in a snooty, I'm-better-than-anybody way but like a sad, I-have-hardly-any-friends-because-I-can't-relate way, so it sucked. Hard. My family wasn't much help; though they tried to help by testing me for every 'disorder' you could think of. Nada. I was just… inexplicably different and no one could explain why. I could barely explain what I was feeling. They--my parents--were surprisingly relieved when I came out after college. For them, my 'struggle with the fact that I liked boys and girls throughout my childhood' explained everything away so perfectly, that they wrote it off right then and there. But it never had to do with that; my sexuality was nothing I ever struggled with, I just didn't feel like I needed to tell them. And since I'm still queer in this reality..." She trailed off her point, allowing him to fill in the blanks, with a chuckle.

Sam nodded with a sympathetic smile, clearly reading on her face how painful her experience had been. Gently he asked, "And now, being here, i-in this reality, you feel...?"

Her head tilted to the side and, looking at him wide-eyed, she sighed deeply, "Now? God, now, I feel… normal? Or, at least what I can only assume normal people feel like." Suddenly her voice was heavy with deep emotional relief, "I don't know how to explain it… and I don't know why, maybe I don't even care why, but I feel so good for the first time in forever. Emotionally, spiritually, physically... The constant restless buzzing is mercifully just gone. Sometimes I think I feel it again--that terrible, agonizing discomfort--and my heart skips a beat. But then my brain registers that it really is gone and I still feel good! And that feeling is almost better than the best sex I've ever had."

Sam shark-mouthed in surprised appreciation and teased kindly, "So, I guess you did know how to explain it?"

George let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding with a chuckle and nodded, "Yea, I guess so. Honestly, I'm a little scared to go back," A few tears that had welled up as she was proselytizing spilled down her cheeks uncontrollably and she reached up to wipe them away, blushing lightly.

As George contemplated her admission in the silence, the guilt she felt over leaving them earlier was back. Why the hell did she leave if she'd felt so damn good here? She also felt like a stupid, impulsive child running away from the only people who seemed to care about her, at least insofar as they didn't want her to die. She felt especially guilty that Sam had stuck his neck out for her with Dean and she'd basically stomped on it.

Sam stood awkwardly, watching her with an empathetic grimace. He nearly leapt over to comfort her but… Christ, was this situation complicated. Maybe if things were different, maybe if she wasn't safer in her old reality, maybe if they hadn't handcuffed her to a chair and interrogated her, maybe if she hadn't spent the last few hours crying through an existential crisis, maybe if he wasn't terrified she would push him away in disgust? Maybe if she wasn't practically naked right now... maybe then he wouldn't feel so torn about walking over and wrapping her up into a bear hug.

After a moment of nervously wringing her fingers, George met his eyes and took a deep breath, apologizing, "I'm sorry I ran, Sam. I don't even really know why I-"

"Hey, you don't have to explain anything to me," Sam shook his head definitively, taking a few small steps toward her, now within arms reach. "I understand what you're going through-sort of, and you know, in reverse but still-I get it. Don't worry about it," He reached over and took her hand, squeezing it, "I'm just happy I found you."

At his touch, her heart skipped a beat and she felt her whole body flush, goosebumps forming on her skin. The sincerity in his voice and the look in his eyes nearly made her physically swoon. Was that an admission of something or just a subtextless statement of forgiveness? Staring into his eyes made her feel like she was on the downswing of the world's tallest roller coaster. She had to force herself to break eye contact before she could breathe again. He squeezed her hand once more before slowly letting go and as he did she had a realization.

"Thank you." Mustering up a smile through her butterflies, she clumsily grabbed the clothing she needed. "Anyway, I'm suddenly very, very aware of the fact that I'm naked-oh and have been since the three of you got here," She realized, blushing again. Jesus, I took a bath with Dean Winchester in the next room. Her legs felt like jelly as she tried to remain cool, calm, collect, walking toward the bathroom, "Uh, so, I should probably go put some clothes on, now."

Sam nodded understandingly and said with an earnest expression, "Hopefully not on my account." When George froze mid step and jerked her head towards him, burning red from head to toe, he faltered, "Er-uh-I just meant, you don't need to feel uncomfortable naaak-err-without-I mean you aren't making me uncomfortable while-without… clothes." George was relaxed by his shy, adorable stuttering, although at this point 'shy' surprised her. He'd been just as bold back at the bunker, more than once. He sighed and gave her a meek smile, "Uh, somehow this sounded less creepy in my head."

With a chuckle she put him out of his misery, "Relax, Ravenclaw, I understand. It's not on your account, it's on mine," She assured him, to which he nodded thankfully, a relieved expression on his face. She turned back to the door of the bathroom, pushing it open and stepping in.

When she exited the bathroom again, now fully clothed, the only light in the room was now the small, soft light above the bed. At first, the room seemed empty and George wondered if she'd scared Sam away with all her emotions. She was about to call out for him when she finally noticed a pair of big old feet sticking out from along the side of the bed near the window.

"Sam? What are you doing?" She walked over and found him lying on the ground on top of one solitary blanket.

"Just relaxing." He shrugged boyishly.

"On the floor?"

He clarified, "On my bed."

"Sorry, this tissue paper is supposed to be your bed?" She asked for clarification.

"Standard issue motel comforter. And, yea, it's perfect," He reached down on his side and pulled the right side of the blanket over himself. "See, you just fold the top over and it becomes a mattress and a blanket in one!" He seemed genuinely pleased about his makeshift accommodations, as though he was sharing a trade secret with her.

"Wow," she tried to sound impressed, "clever." She hopped onto the bed above him complimenting a bit sarcastically, "Quite the boy scout, aren't you?"

His head jerked up to look at her. There it was again. Another line direct from his dream falling familiarly from her lips. Hearing the pet name conjured images in his mind of the dream woman saying it. It felt identical.

But, how? That dream wasn't real. It was just Gabriel. George is a different woman, it's just a coin-

"Hey, can I ask you something?" George cut into his internal panicking with a soft voice suddenly.

"Yep?" He tried to seem nonchalant.

"Well… OK, I'm just going to say this because fuck it, I have nothing to lose at this point," She wasn't looking at him but sensed his nervous curiosity right away. Ignoring her own butterflies, she said, "Seems to me that the Sam I met at the bunker would have committed to that earlier 'unintended' innuendo." She raised a sideways brow at him, checking out of the corner of her eye to make sure he understood what she was referencing. When she could tell he did, she finally turned her head to meet his eyes and with a shy smile asked, "So, what gives?"

Sam considered her question for a minute; he wasn't sure where to start. Finally he folded his hands in his lap and shrugged sadly, "Actually, uh-about that, I feel like I owe you an apology."

Oooh, that doesn't sound good, George tried to hide her grimace. Her stomach started twisting in painful knots. What's that you were saying about nothing to lose?

"Por que?" She was trying to stave off a cold sweat.

"For… Well, I guess, how about handcuffing you to a chair and interrogating you for starters? For allowing you to be sexually assaulted by a demon? For letting you risk your life to come with us on this hunt? For hitting on you when you were obviously going through a difficult time? Take your pick."

She let out a breath of surprised relief and smiled curiously, "Oh… well in that case, let me just say: one, your brother was the one who handcuffed me to the chair--and it was understandable. Two, it's not your responsibility to protect me from the likes of Tim. He wasn't the first creep and he won't be the last." He seemed thoroughly unsatisfied by that response, so she tried to lighten it up by continuing, "And three, you didn't let me come on the hunt. Clearly I strong armed you." A tiny snort of amusement emitted from him and she smirked, then added curiously, "And, lastly, just to be clear… you were hitting on me?"

He huffed in humiliation, running his hand over his face, unable to look at her, "God, I feel like a real jackass." A blackhole was growing in the pit of his stomach. "Your world was literally turned upside down and you needed help not--not some weird, bunker dwelling asshole making advances."

"Uh, Sam," At first George laughed; the absurdity of the hottest man on television apologizing for hitting on her struck her funny bone. However, when it registered just how sober the tone of his voice was, the reality of the situation hit her again like a ton of bricks. She realized that part of her was still anticipating Jared to break at some point and reveal all of this had been an elaborate set up. It hadn't occurred to her yet that, for Sam, this was all real. His sincerity touched her.

She swallowed down the rest of her laughter, along with her typical smartass response, and smiled kindly, "Thank you for the apology and I appreciate the thought, I really do, but it's not necessary. You had no idea, considering I lied to you--which I'm also sorry about if I haven't already said that." That last part came out quickly upon realizing she might not have apologized yet. He gave her a kind smile and waved her off gently, so she continued, "So, please don't feel guilty. And I'll let you know if your advances are ever unwanted. Promise."

The deja vu hit him again so hard it knocked the wind out of him. His eyes snapped up to meet hers from his spot on the floor. A blush creeped across her cheeks as he stared curiously. She was back on the roller coaster, butterflies tumbling in her gut, but forced herself to keep eye contact, allowing him to conduct his search. She wasn't sure what he was so determinedly looking for but she hoped he was finding it.

A mix of emotions wrestled within him at the moment. Though he knew logically it made no sense, he was having a harder and harder time denying that he knew this woman, intimately--in every sense of the word. But, how?! And, holy shit, was she saying what he hoped she was saying? He could feel his hopes skyrocketing while he struggled to hold them down in self-preservation.

A huge yawn broke out on her face, ruining the moment and snapping Sam out of his stupor.

"Whoa, Jesus," She laughed a bit, surprised by the force of the yawn.

"Time for bed?" Sam tried to mask his disappointment at the disruption. She nodded agreeably.

"Listen, could you at least take a pillow, please? One pillow? For me?" Pulling the sheets back, so she could climb in, she yanked a pillow out and tossed it over the edge of the bed. She heard it land with an audible POOMPF right on his face. "Oops," she said with a snicker, reaching over to turn off the lamp on the table while he adjusted the pillow behind his head.

Sliding up under the covers, she settled down on her back. The deafening silence in the room allowed her mind to wander freely while she stared up at the ceiling. After a moment she rolled onto her side and peeked over the edge of the bed, surprised to find Sam's beautiful hazel eyes staring intensely back at her in the dark.

She whispered, "Sam?"

"Yeah?" Came a soft, low rumble, as he continued to stare back.

"How did you find me?" She wondered.

"Uh…" He turned away from her quickly and shifted nervously. He felt compelled to be honest with her; luckily the shroud of darkness made him bolder than he would have been in the harsh light of day. "We tracked you through the cab company mostly. Lost your trail at the diner and then… I'm not really sure. We were driving around and when I saw the sign for the motel I… uh, just had a strong feeling that you were here?"

"...uh huh." His answer surprised her. So much so, that she had to break eye contact and lay back down. She stared at the ceiling in shock.

What did that mean?

Though even as she asked herself the question, she had a feeling that she already knew. It was a feeling that didn't exactly put her at ease; raising more questions than it answered. She mulled it over for a few moments, before deciding she was too tired to pull at that thread.

She finally shrugged a little and said, "Good instincts?"

"Yeah… that must be it," He trailed off, having a nearly identical conversation with himself, and they fell silent again.

"Sam?" She said, choking back a nervous laughter. When she heard him respond with a curious grunt she hesitated. Finally, she blurted in a quiet, definitive whisper, "Samgirl. No question." When she could hear the smile behind another, practically silent--as though he was trying to hide it--grunt of confirmation she smiled wide, adding quickly, "And just so you know, that is the first and last time you will ever hear me utter that silly term of my own volition."

"Understood," He murmured in a teasingly serious tone, making her laugh quietly.

With another big yawn, she forced herself to stop engaging. Before rolling over, she tossed over her shoulder, "And don't tell Dean. He'll be devastated and we have a job to do." The sound of his joyful chuckling was the last thing she heard before sleep overtook her.

#sam winchester x original female character #sam winchester x original character #sam winchester fanfic #sam winchester #sam winchester fanfiction #supernatural fanfiction #supernatural #supernatural fanfic #spn fanfic series #spn fanfiction

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agent-85 · 7 years

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Hello Jane! :)

(2) good storytelling ? There is no sense of balance in the story. (s2) To appreciate the ups and downs, you actually have to have both! like a roller coaster! This year its a endless downhill. And worse, the story is more and more driven (progresses) by action and plot twist and mostly for shock value... its the level 0 of storytelling and sense of rhythm. All that bring deus ex machina and plot holes and adding bullshit storylines like love triangle doesn't help (roboMay, Aida) (s3 flaws).

(3) Action and twist must serve the story and not leading it, it’s nonsense. Most of the writers in Ao3 like you, understand and deal better with all those basics writing principles. WTH? As for the flaws of s4 itself, they wanted to deal with very serious themes and used harsh imageries to do it, why not? but not only they were only used as plot device, but they were also mistreated and not resolved in any way. And worse, they don't acknowledge anything. You already know it hurt me a lot. :(

(4)I've seen people taking time for excuse, seriously? Like any other job they are accountable of what they do and how they use their time. It's bad writing. When you chose to write arcs it means that in everyone of them, you have a beginning, a middle and a end, and an opening for something else. But resolution doesn't just kill the bad guy, which basically all the finale did and GR, nothing else... bad writing again. And that ridiculous ending and cliffhanger... As for FS nothing, the void,

(5) no discussion, no meaningful interactions, no smiles, no relationship status. Complete nonsense! All of their build up, pumped up storylines fell flat at the end and the wins were for someone else (daisy, radcliffe, GR) and back to being support character. What did Jemma do at the end? she didn't save Fitz, she just killed a fake dad and shoot an unwoundable Aida... And all the tease around them with their forever love for nothing, its cool to say it but show it, and not just them telling

(6)other people that they love each other. WTF!? FS season without FS in it Bravo! -- Not even a tiny pay off... I have no illusion it would change because I'm sure they don't know how to write them out of angst, and if they are apart again. No thank you. Sorry Jane i talked a lot but i'm really not hyped in any way by s5, I loved my fun spy show with FS as main interest. ^^ Now it's the shadow of it. Anyway thank you Jane for being always amazing! Love you very much

Hey there!

I have to admit, I was disappointed and underwhelmed by the finale, too. GR felt like a deus ex machina, FS was not resolved, and the whole thing was so rushed that I didn’t really care much that they were in space. They crammed too much in for there to be any time for the emotional impact to be felt. Becoming GR, really, was enough of a twist that they didn’t need to add going into space. And actually, if I had to pick between the two twists, I would have just done going into space. Tricking AIDA seemed like a flimsy reason for becoming GR.

(Really, the only thing I can think of is that they were picked up and sent into space BECAUSE he’s the new GR, and that somehow makes him a part of this war Robbie was talking about. Either way, it was too much in too little time. There had to have been a better way to structure that.)

BUT, I will say that it’s hard to compare a network TV show to any other form of media, ESPECIALLY fanfiction. When I write, the story is exactly the length it needs to be, I can involve any character and plot lines I like, and I can literally take years to finish it if I want to. Network TV is different. ABC tells them how many episodes they get and when the episodes will air. They couldn’t add a 23rd episode even if they wanted to, they had to involve ALL the characters because of the actors’ contracts (which is why the birthday video happens in 4722 Hours; they had to get Clark and Chloe in there somehow), and they had to work around things like commercial breaks. Network TV is a very complicated thing with a lot of factors going into it that I, luckily, do not have to deal with as a writer. So when people say they didn’t have time, it’s true that they had a limited amount of time. Could they have made a better use of their time? Certainly. But we must acknowledge that they have limitations we don’t have.

The real mistake they made, I think, was that they spent too much time in the Framework and not enough time in the aftermath. They had a big story, and due to the restrictions ABC gave them, they only had seven episodes in which to tell it. In my opinion, the only way to fit everything in was to make the story a little smaller, and they didn’t want to do that, so we have what we have. A lot of the things they added in were the “rewards” they promised the fans, namely, the return of favorite characters. Maybe you didn’t care for them, but they were the fun parts of this arc that helped add to the balance.

Of course, I think they focused too much on Evil Fitz and his relationship with AIDA for it to be truly balanced. That’s where all the pain came from, in my experience at least—they went too far showing how EVIL Fitz could be without showing a proper resolution. This is a problem with the greater MCU in general, though—it’s usually all pain, little gain. They need to learn how to tone down the pain or increase the resolution if they truly want to give their fans a satisfying ending.

Unfortunately, I don’t think they see it that way. Jemma shooting AIDA was supposed to be part of the resolution of Jemma’s arc, but I would have happily traded it for a chance for FitzSimmons to finish their conversation, because that’s what we really needed for a resolution. We actually had PLENTY of FitzSimmons love in this arc. Jemma declared her love more openly and boldly than we’ve ever seen her, and Fitz declared his love for her at great risk. You know what we were missing? Them declaring their love to EACH OTHER. Them being TOGETHER after they spent so long being torn apart! And you know, I don’t know if we needed a full conversation. We needed Jemma’s Amen, surely, and then Fitz reaching for her hand in the diner. They had enough time for that. All he had to do was reach for her hand, and for them to share a look and a smile. That would have told us, at least, where they were and where they were going. Elizabeth and Iain are good enough to make that mean more than ten minutes of conversation. But they didn’t add it in because they thought the love declarations and the hug were enough.

So really, the best way to look at it is as of the hug WAS their resolution. Jemma heard his love confession, she gave Fitz the support he needed, and then they apparently resumed their relationship. It’s a big blank to fill in, but I think that’s what they meant to portray.

Anyway, I understand missing the fun spy show with FS! I feel that way, too. Sometimes I feel like we’ve been cheated because we were hooked with a ship that was always together, and now they’re NEVER together. I wish they would bring back some of the humor and togetherness. They do have their more cheerful moments, like when Trip came back, but I definitely think we could use a lot more of the fun we fell in love with. All we can do is send our feedback and hope they listen.

#Meta of Agent 85 #AoS criticism #Laurent #I think?#Tell me if I'm wrong #Anons of Agent 85 #Answers of Agent 85

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kenzie-no-mc · 7 years

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i don't really use tumblr for current stuff with rwby so with that post about the narrative shifts i was confused. would you explain it, or maybe link to stuff? i love rwby but i've also gotten really put off by 'tells story as episode' trips and the whole ignoring the younger huntresses and stuff

basically rwby’s story has gotten too big for its britches, they’re trying to cover so much in such a short amount of time and it’s really not going very well

it’s hard to feel any connections to any characters at this point in the series because so much is happening. the scope is just too broad - the four main girls each have their own story right now, plus Salem and her villains, plus Oscar, plus Qrow, it’s too much.

and i personally feel like the balance is way off, there’s so much exposition all at once in big chunks, with no comedy or action to break it up, plus the exposition we’re getting is stuff the audience already knows and its only purpose in the show is to catch RNJR up to the audience.

i used this comparison when chatting with @gavingruchy yesterday about it: remember in volume 1, when they got launched into the forest and it followed all the separate pairs before they hooked back up for the final fight? when pyrrha unlocked jaune’s aura and talked about it, it wasn’t just them standing in a copse of trees and talking. it was their voices talking over a scene of ren fighting the snake grimm and showing how he uses his aura to deflect attacks. we were given a visual representation to back up pyrrha’s words. that’s a good example of a productive way to deliver exposition.

another good example, and one closer to the problem i’m gonna talk about below, is the story of the four maidens. they released that as a stand alone WoR right before it became relevant in the show, so that way when it was brought up the audience could have an OH moment and the show wouldn’t come to a grinding halt. it was just “you know the story of the four maidens? turns out it’s true!” that’s pretty cool.

this week, with Qrow sitting at the fire and the show literally turning into a WoR so he could tell the story? it felt horrible. i was bored. they could have done it like either of the above examples and they chose to just stop everything for storytime.

show us a spar between Taiyang and Yang, or a fight between Blake and Sun because she’s all pissed at him for spying again and she takes out her anger on him that way instead of slapping him. replace the Schnee WoR with one about the light man and the dark man. (the schnee WoR wasn’t needed, we got the context in the episode immediately following when Weiss reminds her father he married into the name.)

and then, by removing the chunk of side story, you have more time left for things like, idk, ruby getting FUCKING PISSED AT QROW instead of going “well, i trust you i guess but you’re kind of a dick.” come on, she’s 15 years old and she’s discovering her favorite uncle is keeping things from her to protect her. why is she cool with it????

it’s too big. it’s too much. it feels like they’re hurrying through shit so that the finale can be “and everyone reunited at haven the end”. i wish they would have focused on two of the girls for volume 4, had them reunite at the end of the volume and have one of the girls go “hey, where the fuck did you two come from??” and then volume 5 could focus on the other two girls and end in the same place. would have allowed us the time to feel connected to any of these people instead of just confused as so much shit is thrown at the fans and hoping some of it sticks.

having said all that, i do intend to keep watching, i really enjoy the show and i do like a lot of the stuff that’s going on. i just wish the scope was a little narrower so i feel a little more connected. i know there are fans out there going “i’m only watching because it was monty’s baby and i’m sooooo disappointed but ugh i’m committed” but i’m not one of those.

you gotta remember that this is still a small project in the grand scheme of things. it’s a labor of love for RT and if you take the time to compare the first 3 volumes to this one, it’s shocking how far the series has come, and it’s that progress that makes me excited to keep watching the show. come on, remember shadow people? and have you seen how the cats have emotional ears now?! that’s pretty badass.

#huntsmen and huntresses #Anonymous #ask

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emmerdalesweden · 6 years

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Emmerdale stars Ryan Hawley and Danny Miller tease Robert and Aaron's wedding in joint interview

It's finally here!

The wait is nearly over! Emmerdale supercouple Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle will be tying the knot in this Friday's episode (October 5) – and this time it's official, legal and not in a grotty garage.

Digital Spy was invited onto set for the filming of the episode (how lucky were we?) and caught up with Ryan Hawley and Danny Miller, who play Robert and Aaron, for their thoughts on the highly-anticipated scenes.

When you read the script for the wedding, was it everything you'd hoped for?

Ryan: "It very much feels like a full stop. It's the most definitive thing I think I've ever read in Emmerdale, which is really nice. It puts an end to the questions of: 'Are they a couple? Are they married? Are they not married? Is it legal? Is it not legal?'

"No-one's going to prison, it's over, it's done, they are married now."

Do you ever worry that if Robron are too stable, the show will stop writing for you?

Ryan: "It's very possible, but there's storylines other than romantic storylines. There's lots of things that Robert and Aaron have got into in the past, in terms of the schemes they've carried out over the years. We'll just have to wait and see."

Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle's wedding day arrives in Emmerdale

How does this compare to their garage wedding from last time?

Danny: "It feels much more like a wedding, with all the family there. After everything that's happened with Chas and Paddy, they're not just doing it for themselves, they're doing it for the whole family in a way. They want to make their marriage official, but also make it a family event. It very much feels like a community coming together."

Ryan: "It's outside the village hall as well. Rather than it being in the garage, it's for everyone to see. It's the centre of the village, there's loads of cast members there, the decoration is a lot more thought out and classy. I think one of the actual things they say in the script is that it's a million times more classy than the last time.

"In terms of the stage directions as well as how it looked, it should be a lot more of an occasion and celebratory than maybe two guys in the garage getting married hastily because one of them is going away to prison!"

Maxine Alderton has written the wedding and she's known for penning some of Robron's biggest episodes. Are there touches in there that the hardcore fans will really appreciate?

Ryan: "I think it's very much appealing to the people that are Robron fans. I think it's very much written for them. I really hope that they enjoy it, because it's one of the very few occasions in the show where you get to see two people genuinely happy. It's an episode where it's just happiness – two people getting married and that's it.

"Maxine knows the relationship of the two characters better than anyone anywhere, and I think she knows how to write for the Robron fans very well. Hopefully it's a success."

It's quite unusual for a soap wedding to go to plan, but do you think people need a feel-good TV event like this?

Danny: "We've always said, 'Would it be boring if it was just a straightforward wedding with no drama?' You kind of think maybe it would be, but realistically they've been through so much that there's not really a lot left, bar a helicopter crashing!"

Ryan: "Been there, done that!"

Danny: "It means a lot more to them and I think it's nice to have a bit of happiness and joy."

Robron proposal – Robert Sugden, Aaron Dingle, Emmerdale.

What will the story be for Robron moving forwards?

Ryan: "To be honest with you, I don't really know long term. That's always been my personal preference – I don't really want to concentrate too far on what's happening in the future, I'd rather just do what I'm doing right now.

"There's a lot of stuff to get through in a block of soap scripts. What's nice at the end of this episode is that they ride off onto their honeymoon and I think we're actually not in the next block because we're away on holiday."

You could have got a nice jolly holiday out of that!

Ryan: "We could have got a spin off! That long-lost spin off that was talked about all those years ago, that never happened!"

Danny: "Yeah, the DVD in shops for Christmas!"

Ryan: "Bottom of the bargain bucket!"

How does it feel to have new producers in charge?

Danny: "I think I've been in for long enough now to see producers come and go. Laura Shaw and Kate Brooks have got a specific route that they want to take with the show. I think each person comes in and adds a little bit, with different character groups and different storylines. For us down on the floor it never necessarily changes, but it's good that we get to have different people having their influence on the show and implementing their ideas into it."

Ryan: "I think the show needs it, doesn't it? There are 330 episodes a year, so it needs people to come in every now and then. It's different minds and different ideas. There's always, like Danny says, a new take on it and new character groups come in, or other character groups get used more or less. It's quite nice."

Chas Dingle and Paddy Kirk at the hospital with baby Grace in Emmerdale

Does Aaron question whether it's right to have the wedding so soon after Grace's death?

Danny: "Yeah, it feels too raw for them to be able to just do it there and then. But Chas pushes it through as a, 'No, we're doing this and we need it for our family'. Aaron knows in the back of his mind during the ceremony that it's difficult for his mum, but it still goes ahead. It's touching, but it's also nice that they're both doing it for their family.

"I think it's very much a band aid for that problem, especially with Chas and Paddy. They are happy for Aaron, even if at the back of their minds they're hurting."

Do you think we've seen the last of Robert's more duplicitous nature?

Ryan: "It certainly feels like that for me. That's not really written as much now. I guess I'll have to wait and see over the next few blocks or the next year. I certainly see him as a more morally centred guy now. The function of the character is more him being in a family unit with Liv, Aaron and Seb.

"That side of Robert being duplicitous and out to get what he wants, is not really there any more. Personally I liked that side of the character, but I'm happy to be whatever is written for me."

With episodes like these, do you ever feel under pressure to please the vocal fanbase?

Ryan: "I think we just go with it, don't we? It is what it is."

Danny: "To a certain degree as well, it's not within our control. We can only do what's written on the paper, the directors are there to do the rest of it, but there are a lot of well-known references to the couple in this wedding episode and I think the fans will be pleased that they do get the nod of the cap.

"But we just like to keep it 110% like we do on everything, whether we see them at home having a cup of tea or at a big wedding. They're just a genuine couple, they're just best mates, in a relationship and that's what we play."

Ryan: "The strongest relationship is when it's two people you can relate to, rather than an ideal romantic pairing. It's more relatable when it's two people with all of their flaws, rather than a fantasy."

How do you feel about so many of your scenes becoming gifs and YouTube clips?

Ryan: "I wish I knew how to make those things myself – WhatsApp would be very entertaining!"

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.

Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle's wedding day arrives in Emmerdale.

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