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riddle-rosethorns · 6 months

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TWST Horror Movie Headcanons

Summary: It's Halloween, and what better way to celebrate than a horror movie marathon! The only question is, can the Night Raven boys handle it?

Characters: All main NRC students Pairings: None (Rookvil if you squint) CWs: Very brief mentions of horror tropes and subgenres including gore, jumpscares, monsters, murder, torture, insects, aliens, robots, demons, and more.

A/N: Just a fun little thing to celebrate Halloween! If you want to hear more or are curious to know my justifications for the genre choices, feel free to shoot me an ask!

Heartslabyul

Riddle Rosehearts

Had never seen a horror movie before coming to Night Raven because of his strict and sheltered upbringing

Easily the loudest screamer out of all the boys and the most likely to knock the popcorn bowl onto the floor

Does alright with high-concept thrillers, but can't stomach anything too gory and is extremely sensitive to jumpscares

Favorite subgenre(s): Psychological thriller, gothic horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Splatter films, slasher films

Ace Trappola

Considers himself a casual horror fan, having seen plenty of scary movies at parties and on television thanks to his brother

Talks big game about being unshakable only to tense up at every scare and then try to laugh it off when questioned

Always easily startled for a solid 12 hours afterward and will jump out of his skin if anyone sneaks up behind him

Favorite subgenre(s): Slasher films

Least favorite subgenre(s): Gothic horror

Deuce Spade

Like Ace, has (unwillingly) seen a lot of horror movies at parties, but he used to pretend to like them to seem cool

Doesn't even try to hide the fact that he's scared because he knows it would still be obvious

Also like Ace, becomes extremely jumpy after the fact and has been known to throw punches at people who catch him off-guard

Favorite subgenre(s): Sci-fi horror, post-apocalyptic horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Home invasion films

Cater Diamond

An avid horror fan (despite what people may assume) and always stays up to date on the latest releases

Isn't usually affected by shocking visuals or jumpscares when watching alone, but will overplay his reactions when with a group

Cracks jokes during the most tense parts of the movie in order to keep himself from being haunted by them later

Favorite subgenre(s): Comedy-horror, camp horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Existential horror

Trey Clover

Doesn't really enjoy horror content, but will watch scary movies with other people if invited

Perceived as very stoic and unreactive, but his secret is that he stealthily takes his glasses off when things get too intense

One of the few boys to be relatively unaffected after the fact, if only because he typically never sees the entire movie

Favorite subgenre(s): Psychological thriller

Least favorite subgenre(s): Cannibal horror

Savanaclaw

Leona Kingscholar

Enjoys horror movies just as much as other movies, which is to say he'll take any excuse to sit in one place for as long as possible

Almost never responds to scares with anything more intense than a flick of his tail and a muttered, "Oh shit."

Teases the guys in his dorm that get freaked out by brushing them with his tail or sneaking up behind them

Favorite subgenre(s): Survival horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Gothic horror, arthouse horror

Ruggie Bucchi

Has mostly seen vintage horror movies because they're easier to find for free online or on television than new releases

Enjoys making fun of the hokey effects and stupid plot points of B movies but is easily caught off-guard by genuine scares

Able to brush off most horror clichés by convincing himself that he is resourceful enough to survive them

Favorite subgenre(s): Camp horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Psychological thriller

Jack Howl

Has been subjected to numerous werewolf movies throughout his life and has far more bad things to say about them than good

Startled by jumpscares involving loud noises, which will cause his ears to fold back and his tail to puff up

The one his friends will run to for protection after watching an especially scary flick due to both his physical and mental strength

Favorite subgenre(s): Natural horror, creature features (not involving werewolves)

Least favorite subgenre(s): Werewolf fiction

Octavinelle

Azul Ashengrotto

Fairly squeamish about most types of horror content but would never admit to it

Keeps a flawless poker face throughout the entire runtime of any scary movie despite being internally scared shitless

Always interrogates the Leech twins afterwards about how they would respond were a killer to infiltrate Octavinelle dorm

Favorite subgenre(s): Giallo films

Least favorite subgenre(s): Aquatic horror, cosmic horror

Jade Leech

Finds horror content to be a fascinating way to learn about human culture and its collective fears

Always pays rapt attention to the movie, nodding and saying "Interesting," when something especially gruesome happens

Sometimes he'll bring along a pencil and notepad and pretend to take notes on the killer's methods to fuck with his dormmates

Favorite subgenre(s): Natural horror, cosmic horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Zombie movies

Floyd Leech

Equally as interested in horror as his brother, mostly because he's impressed by all the murder methods humans can come up with

Laughs and claps like an excited child every time someone gets killed or otherwise dismembered on screen

Literally completely unbothered by all manner of violence and has zero issues falling asleep after a scary movie

Favorite subgenre(s): Splatter films, torture films

Least favorite subgenre(s): None (science has yet to discover a trend as to which movies Floyd will dislike)

Scarabia

Kalim Al-Asim

Isn't necessarily a die-hard horror fan, just enjoys having movie nights of all sorts with his friends and dormmates

Will startle at jumpscares but is always delighted to the point of giggling at being caught off-guard

The type to clap and say "That was fun!" as the credits roll while everyone around him sits in horrified silence

Favorite subgenre(s): Comedy-horror, camp horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Apocalyptic horror

Jamil Viper

Mostly indifferent to horror as a genre, will watch it if asked but doesn't really seek it out or avoid it

Isn't affected by most kinds of scares except the ones involving bugs, which will fuck him up irreparably for days

Quick to crack down on any students that try to scare each other after the screening is over, despite secretly finding it amusing

Favorite subgenre(s): Psychological thriller, mythological horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Natural horror (especially when bugs are involved)

Pomefiore

Vil Schoenheit

Being in film research club, he doesn't shy away from studying films of any genre, including horror

Will sometimes grip Rook's arm hard enough to bruise during especially tense scenes (Rook doesn't mind)

Able to maintain his composure by commenting on and critiquing the cinematography and special effects

Favorite subgenre(s): Arthouse horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Zombie movies, body horror

Rook Hunt

A general film appreciator, but finds the costuming and SFX makeup used in classic horror movies especially fascinating

Finds something to compliment about every killing, whether it's the acting, the creativity of the murderer's method, or otherwise

Often the unintentional source of scares in the dorm after a horror movie screening due to his naturally stealthy footsteps

Favorite subgenre(s): Found footage, arthouse horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): None (he finds beauté in every film he watches)

Epel Felmier

Initially gets into horror due to it being a "masculine" interest, but eventually comes to appreciate the complexities of the genre

Not easily affected by jumpscares, but when he is, he'll shout at the screen and cuss out whatever made him jump

Better at shaking off the creeping feeling of dread afterwards than most of his friends, or at least pretending like he is

Favorite subgenre(s): Folk horror, mythological horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Backwoods horror

Ignihyde

Idia Shroud

Simultaneously a huge horror fan and also a gigantic weenie who is convinced that creatures will manifest in his room at night

Nitpicks the clichés and inaccuracies in science-based horror to the point that it annoys his fellow viewers

Often stays up all night playing video games after watching a scary movie but proceeds to seek out horror content anyway

Favorite subgenre(s): Dark fantasy, sci-fi horror (only the ones about aliens)

Least favorite subgenre(s): Techno-horror

Ortho Shroud

Also a member of film research club and enjoys analyzing movies of all kinds to add to his databases

Doesn't experience fear in the same way other organic beings do, but simulates the typical responses in order to feel included

Likes asking Idia for new gear and upgrades inspired by his favorite horror villain designs (usually the cool robots)

Favorite subgenre(s): Techno-horror, sci-fi horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Slasher films

Diasomnia

Malleus Draconia

Mostly desensitized to horror content due to Lilia's fascination with it, but still enjoys the thrill when a film can surprise him

Doesn't typically react to scares, but there has been at least one instance where he has singed the pillow he was holding in shock

Demonic horror films are banned in Diasomnia because others seeing his shadow after a screening caused too much chaos

Favorite subgenre(s): Gothic horror, dark fantasy

Least favorite subgenre(s): Techno-horror

Lilia Vanrouge

Possibly the biggest horror buff in the entirety of Night Raven and claims to have seen every horror film ever made

Surprisingly quiet when watching scary movies with others so as not to spoil any of the scares

Enjoys pranking other students by spooking them after the movie, especially Silver and Sebek

Favorite subgenre(s): Camp horror, vampire films

Least favorite subgenre(s): None

Silver

Not really into movies since he usually falls asleep during them but is familiar with horror as a result of being raised by Lilia

Actually prefers movies with a lot of jumpscares and shock value because it's the only kind that can keep him awake

Accustomed to his father's attempts to scare him but will still jump and reach for his sword when startled

Favorite subgenre(s): Slasher films, natural horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Backwoods horror

Sebek Zigvolt

Despite being exposed to horror at a young age, still very easily frightened no matter how much he pretends not to be

Will put his arm out to shield others in response to scares only if Malleus is present at the screening, otherwise curls into a ball

Second loudest screamer out of all the boys, bested only by Riddle, which makes him a prime target for post-movie pranks

Favorite subgenre(s): Gothic horror

Least favorite subgenre(s): Techno-horror, sci-fi horror

138 notes · View notes

ludoka · 4 months

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So.... What would happen if SOMEONE decided to rewrite Freaky Fusion but eliminated the fusions, left the plot of the hybrids and the time travel plot?

Long text after the cut:

The fic would begin by introducing the hybrids and the students' reaction to them. Cleo and (I think it was her?) Draculaura would give the same comments as in the movie. But here the hybrids already established in the series would not be ignored. Lagoona would talk about how she herself is a hybrid. What's more, we could even add that she is the fruit of a freshwater Nymph and a sea monster.(I just made this up while writing. I have no idea if it's canon or not but I like it.) Your intervention in the conversation could leave the atmosphere a little tense. Frankie tries to lighten the mood by insisting her friends go to class.

In another part of the school, Deuce and Jackson are in the former's locker talking about the same topic. Or rather, Deuce is nervous and frustrated by how everyone is reacting to the hybrids. While Jackson doesn't care too much. He has already had his conflict with the students regarding what he is. You already know this is temporary until the novelty of the matter cools down. This resolution does not reassure the gorgon at all. In fact, it frustrates him enough to vocalize his concerns. The whole topic was really making him very uncomfortable. On a good day, he's already having trouble coping with the fact that he's a hybrid. This only makes you feel worse. To the point of being terrified that other monsters will know what he really is. Jackson tries to console him but the bell at the beginning of his first class forces them to cut the conversation short.

What they didn't know is that a certain gossiping ghost, who was collecting information for his blog, was listening to them.

The first class is Dead Languages with Professor Rotter. Class is pretty boring today. Which causes some students to become distracted and murmur among themselves. Cleo is one of them and tries to talk to Deuce (who is more in the clouds than on earth)One of the topics he brings up is about hybrids, which he immediately realizes is the wrong topic to talk about. Since she sees how her boyfriend tenses very visibly. Which makes her remember that she's been on thin ice ever since she almost got her boyfriend's best friend killed just because of her pride. Said friends... It is also a hybrid. Cleo is seriously thinking about asking Frankie to sew her mouth shut so she doesn't screw up again. (I'm thinking about placing this after my own version of Ghoul Rules. I feel it is appropriate. It seems like he's been building up these nerves since before this day. It's more ✨ dramatic ✨)

The rest of the class passes without pain or glory. Only at the end does Rotter remind his students that in the last period of school they have to present their family tree work. (because I don't remember how the homework they were given in the movie was written)And he points out that Frankie will be the first to speak.

A stressed Deuce is the first to leave the classroom, closely followed by a worried Cleo. She is a couple of steps behind him. Thinking about how to talk about whatever is bothering the gorgon. Just when you think you've finally found the words, a mass notification from Spectra's blog catches your attention. She is about to ignore it but when she saw how the students began to stare in her direction, she decided to quickly check just in case. The title leaves her baffled. "Deuce Gorgon, the most handsome cool boy in school, is a hybrid?" That was the huge title that headed the blog. Cleo looks up with the mission of searching for answers but notices how terribly pale Deuce is while looking at his cell phone. She catches his attention. He looks at her scared. In fact, Deuce becomes hyper aware of his surroundings. He notices how everyone is looking at him and starting to whisper around him. This sends him into a spiral of panic and he ends up escaping the scene. It ends somewhere in the school, near the indoor pool. That's where Lagoona finds him. Deuce realizes that she is not alone. She is accompanied by Sirena von Boo and Neighthan Rot. When he asks about them, Lagoona tells him that she became friends with Sirena in their previous class. They saw him run out of the hallway and read the blog. Lagoona and Sirena went to look for him, they ran into Neightan and he joined the search. (mainly because Avea and Bonita were still in class)

This is where I cut the explanatory text and give the concise points of this particular plot:

The plot itself has the hybrids talking about feelings and experiences. Trying to help each other in all this sea of rumors and staring. Mainly by comforting Deuce and letting him open up to them.

There would be some scene with Draculaura and Clawd talking about their relationship. The topic of vampire biology would be touched upon a little. How they age and mature slower than other deadly monsters.

I would also have Deuce and Cleo talking about this matter.

Also the reaction of the students, encouraged in a negative way by Toralei, towards Deuce and his "deception".

In general: Lots of feelings, heavy conversations and ✨drama✨

Now you will ask yourself: Where is the time travel plot in all this? Good. Let's go back to the moment of Rotter pointing at Frankie.

After watching the teacher leave the classroom, Frankie lies down on his table and writhes in his misery. Robecca and Ghoulia who were by her side comfort her and ask her what's wrong. She explains that she has nothing useful to expose. His parents avoided the topic of family too much and gave him nothing to work with. So you're probably going to fail the class. Invisibilly appears (because he is another gossiper) and comments that he also goes through the same thing. His father isn't the most talkative when it comes to whatever turned him into a monster. Billy has a suspicion that it was an experiment gone wrong but he has no idea. He believes his father is looking to take the secret to the grave. Here Jackson Jekyll joins the conversation. (because in this school the concept of "private conversation" does not exist) Jackson comments that if there is a family that loves to keep secrets, it is the Jekyll family. It was easier for him to help Heath by putting together the family tree of his elemental family, than it was for Holt to find SOMETHING about his mother's family. They know that their great-grandfather is the one who started the whole Hyde thing but they don't know anything else. Not even what year his grandfather was born or how his great-grandfather Henry Jekyll and his great-grandmother met. It all seems like a big secret that no one should know about.

As he listens to them complain, Robecca has an idea. His father, before he disappeared, was a lover of science in general. He lived many years collecting information, meeting other scientists and doing his own experiments. She suggests they look for something in her father's workshop. Hopefully, they can find something regarding the Stein or Jekyll family. (Robecca apologizes to Billy for not being able to find a solution to his problem but he rejects her. He doesn't care much) Ghoulia was going to say something regarding work but after watching Deuce and Cleo leave the room, she decided that it was easier to help this group with their homework.

This is how Robecca, Frankie, Ghoulia, Billy and Jackson go to the Hexiciah Steam workshop.

While there, they don't find much. At least until Billy stumbles upon plans for a time machine. This draws the attention of the rest. Robecca takes a look at the plans and searches the workshop if there is something similar there. And, indeed, it was a large machine that was in the middle of the room. As they examine the machine, Billy comments that it would be great to test if the thing works and use it to do his homework. That makes them pause and contemplate the idea. The first to be against it is Ghoulia. She doesn't think it's very smart to mess with the timeline just for a school project. Frankie and Jackson support her. But Jackson also comments on how MAYBE if they didn't interact with anyone and were just there to watch, they wouldn't actually be doing anything. It also suggests it could be a good thing for Robecca. After all, it's the most direct way he can find clues to his father's whereabouts. This raises the robot's hopes. Ghoulia is still against it but after seeing her friends' hopeful looks, she decides that MAYBE it's not such a bad idea. As long as the necessary measures are taken. The girls and boys celebrate this beforehand and look for anything about the operation of the machine. They discover that for the machine to work and there to be a way to return, someone needs to be in the current era. Monitoring travelers through bracelets that serve as trackers and controls that allow them to travel by time and place. Ghoulia and Jackson note that there is a very specific way these bracelets work but decide to find out later. Since this was just a round trip to see if the machine worked in the first place. So with everything prepared Robecca, Frankie, Jackson and Billy get ready for the test trip. Ghoulia gives them the go-ahead and turns on the machine. The quartet enters the machine and goes to a year not too distant, just to try it out. More specifically 1950's New Salem.

In fact, the machine works! After watching a bit, the four try to go back to their time to tell the zombie. But can not. No matter how hard they try, the bracelets don't send them back to their time. In reality, it sends them randomly to other places and times. They panic a little (A LOT).

Currently, Ghoulia is worse. The disused machine was broken enough that it had imperfections that none of them noticed. So now the machine was causing fluctuations in time itself. Making time go slower or faster randomly. This is also causing beasts and animals from different places and times to appear today. Not to mention that, for some reason, his friends can't come back. So it's up to Ghoulia Yelps to fix the time machine, prevent the timeline from being destroyed, send the beasts and animals where they belong, and bring his friends back. It's... A pretty normal Monday, if Ghoulia is allowed to comment.

So this subplot has:

Jackson, Robecca, Billy and Frankie traveling through time. Uncovering family secrets and finding clues to the whereabouts of Hexiciah Steam.

To them trying to survive times that they only read about in books, saw in movies or paintings.

And Ghoulia saving the day behind the scenes.

Yes... A standard Monday.

If you made it this far, thanks for reading. I hope you have a happy new year and I wish you the best of luck in meeting your new year goals. 🎆❤️✨🎆

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persage · 1 year

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IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM- S. HARRINGTON

Roommate!AU

Summary: A Storm. A Balckout. Steve Harrington - who happens to be your favorite roommate- running back home to you. It leads to something you've never expected.

Words Count: 4k

Tags: Smut, Fluff. Fiends to lovers. Oral Sex, Penetrative sex. Porn with plot

You're not afraid of the dark, you've never been...it's just that you don't like it. At all. Since Will's disappearance in the night the shadows take on strange, scary shapes and you never know if there are real monsters or if it's just your fantasy, a distant memory. The dark makes you feel uncomfortable, so when you try to turn the lights on, flipping the switch for the umpteenth without any result, you sigh heavily. "Steve?" You call, your voice shaking, walking around in the dark looking for the cabinet at the entrance where Steve holds his flashlight. You risk tripping a couple of times, but you manage to get to the drawer just to discover that the flashlight is not where it should be. A memory crosses your mind.

He lent it to Dustin. Damn Henderson.

A flash lights up the room from the large window in the living room, followed by a bang powerful enough to make you jump. You cling to the piece of furniture with strength. The worst thunderstorm Howkins has seen in recent years rough on you and the light won't come back, It's definitely a power cut. Oh that's all you need. Perfect.

You're not so good moving in the dark of your house and you are just a little scared to be fair. "Steve?" You repeat, hoping to see your roommate appear sleepy from his room, but the silence within the walls of the house is a clear answer: you are alone. Even Robin is not at home, she is at Vicky's now.

In the middle of the living room you tremble, the rain is starting to come down even faster outside, pounding against the window frame that shakes violently as the wind slamms past it and even if you won't admit it you wonder where the heck Harrington is and you can only hope he isn't out in this weather. A bolt of lightning flashes through the sky again.

"Okay. Okay. It's fine. This is totally fine." Your repeat to yourself

You go into your room and take a blanket and a sweatshirt from Steve, the warmest you've ever seen. You've been asking him to land it to you for months but he never never let you so you decide to take advantage of the situation. After all, if he's not here to keep you company, his sweatshirt is a fair compromise. You let yourself fall on the sofa and even if you hate to admit it you wait for him, just in case Steve does make it home. You tremble, because even the heaters don't work, you curl up on yourself trying to cover as much as possible and you want to sleep, you really want to, but there is something very disturbing about being stuck in this empty house, in the dark, without Steve by your side. These are the moments when you realize how much this guy has taken on a greater role in your life and in your heart, what was once a stupid bully today is your roommate, your friend, the guy who you've fallen for slowly. The person you love. Of course by fighting alongside with him you have always had this attraction and this attention to the heroic Steve, almost unconscious, ready to sacrifice but it is the little things he does every day that makes him so easy to love: his limits, his defects, his weaknesses and his kindness. It's all about the way he pours water into your glass without you asking, or looses the lids of the jars for you so you don't need him to open them and you don't have to ask for help cause he knows you hate it, the way in which his shoulders sag under the weight of his demons when he's tired but despite this he finds the strength to pick you up and take you to bed when you fall asleep on the sofa. You love the fact that he makes you and Robin choose the Friday night movies and that he puts your clothes on the radiator to keep it warm in winter.

You love that he cares so much about the others.

Your head jerks up at the sound of a key turning in the lock and you are on feet running to your room, holding your bat and then back toward the door waiting for something but then you see him. Steve Harrington sets his bag on the floor as you let the bat drop in the mean time. You wrap your arms around him, realizing now how scared you really were without him. You bury your face into the crock between his neck and shoulders. He is sopping wet.

"God Harrington you're soaking!" You pull away examining him. "Where were you?" You ask.

"With Dustin but then" He pauses looking at the bat on the floor "the storm, it got worse and I ran to you "

"There was no need" You reply in time as another rumble of thunder rolls through the sky outside, you look at the window and then Steve again. "I'm fine." You continue.

"Oh I see" He answers ironically looking at the bat.

"Please dry yourself, you're soaking the house. How did you get so wet? As if you had cycled this far" He remains silent, smiling guilty. "I don't believe it" You say.

"Broken car" He confirms "I borrowed Dustin's bike" Steve heads towards his room still smiling and laughing and you follow him, not wanting to be alone. "That's not funny! You could have been killed In this weather, that's so dangerous..." With light coming in from the street outside you can see the boy's silhouette. He shivers before peeling off his t-shirt and moving his hand to his belt and you mouth opens, something hot raises between you tights. In your stomach something that feels so good and unpleasant at the same time. You turn back giving him some privacy and yourself a break cause he is your friend, hopeless romantic Steve who is seearching for his perfect girl and has no interest in you. It's not good or respectful looking at him that way, thinking about your own hands undoing his pants, caressing what's underneath, kissing his toned chest.

Not. Good.

"I could never leave you here alone" He confesses, his voice low. "I'm afraid of you being there without protection and I know you are scared of the dark"

"I am not" You reply, turning back at him, thin voice. His jeans drop on the floor terribly slowly. "I'm... I'm not scared" You reply hitching your breath.

"Oh, yes y/n, of course" Steve, now - sadly- in a pair of pyjamas bottoms, moves past you out of his room and towards the kitchen. " The bat on the ground really proves it"

"It was just in case!" You state, crossing your arms on your chest

"You've tried to attack me with a bat y/n!"

"I thought you were a monster."

"Yes, the famous demodog who has the keys of our house, how is it possible that I've not thought about it?" Steve chuckles, shaking his head. "It's normal to be afraid after all the bad things we've seen" he explains, honestly, putting on a clean shirt and looking around for something. You jump as another crack of thunder makes the room practically shake. "But you are never afraid" you reply, hugging tighter in his sweatshirt. He still hasn't noticed you're wearing it. "I'm always afraid." Steve answers, moving closer to you. His expression blurs in the dark, you repeat to yourself that you are just imagining his gaze and you aren't sure if she could genuinely see the amusement on his face or you just know him well enough that you can actually imagine how it would be to be looked at by him in this way. As if he feels the same things as you, as if he too has thought the same wrong thoughts as you. "I came back because I was afraid of knowing you alone" He finishes. You stay silent. "You don't need to look so delighted about it." He says.

"Hey, I'm not delighted about anything." You reply, walking toward the sofa and you let yourself fall on it. Steve takes a flashlight out of his bag.

"You can keep it in your room if it helps you sleep" You shake your head

"I can't sleep with all this going on." You can go to bed, though, if you want. "

"And risking not to see your terrified eyes? Nhaa" Steve grabs the blanket from your hands, drops onto the sofa and spreads the blanket to cover both of you before wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you towards him. You lay your head against his chest, listening to the beating of his heart to help you calm down. Knowing he is there just breathing, living makes everything much less difficult and scary. "Thank you Harrington"

"Anytime Y/N, but don't ever steal my sweatshirt again."

You're not sure of when you've fallen asleep but you're vaguely aware of Steve's hand on your hips that almost makes you forget the chaos outside the window, the flooded city, the never-ending rain. In the morning his arms still hold you as if you are the most precious thing on earth, your back is against his bare chest and you don't even know when or why he has taken his shirt off, his warm breath on your neck. You turn to him, with delicacy, careful not to spoil the moment and you watch him as he dozes pleasantly, calm as you don't think you have ever seen him and as you would always like him to be. You vaguely realize that if Robin walks in now she would scream to the point that the whole town would hear her, she always pushed for you and Steve to be together after all, but the truth is that nothing ever happened between you two but a kiss, a few years ago, after somehow Steve managed to bring you back from Vecna's attack, but nothing after that. And now you are great friends, roommates and you don't want to ruin this stability. Not without the absolute certainty that Steve feels something important for you, something serious. Something similar to what you feel.

And that's why Robin's words are not enough for you. "He likes you y/n, he clearly, really does". Although it may be quite certain you want facts and as much as the little attention he has makes you feel appreciated, Steve is helpful with everyone he cares about and never gave you the idea that you could be anything more. So you have dated other people and he has done it too, yet, at least for you, something has never worked properly. One of your exes one day dared to enlighten you about the reasons why.

"Why don't you wanna marry me y/n?"

"I don't know ... Maybe I'm just not ready. We are so young, we have time."

He smiled and caressed you.. "I know why and you know it too" You shook your head. "Yes you know"

"Steve" You whispered.

You reach out to Steve's face and caress him gently, placing your fingertips on the warm skin of his full cheeks just as he begins to stretch and slowly wake up, you move your hand away quickly. Steve would come home in the flood for Robin too and he would sleep hugged with her too, or with Dustin or anyone else. He likes it . It doesn't mean anything. Despite trying move away, you are so close that you can count the small and barely visible freckles on his cheeks and the bump of his nose. He blinks a couple of times and then, as soon as he realizes where he is and with whom, he smiles holding you closer.

"Morning," he murmures.

"Hey," you say shyly returning his smile

"Mm" Still sleepy he pulls you towards him and nuzzles his nose in your hair, breathing you, kissing your head like your life depends on it. You stiff, and before you can properly respond he moves away as he suddenly realizes what he is doing, looking at you with a terrified expression. "Sorry. Sorry. I don't know what I was-"

"Steve... It's okay, really" You state, you quickly sit up before things get any more awkward and before your heart explodes. You feel it beating furiously in your chest at a frightening rhythm. Is it possibile to die like this?

"Look, it's still raining. It's terrible" You get up, scratching your neck agitated and you go to the kitchen to get a drink. "Do you want a glass of water?"You ask. He follows you nodding sleepily, his eyes still swollen, his lips red, his beloved hair sticking up at odd angles and you feel an incredible rush of affection for him. The fact that you smell him on you doesn't help. You smell like him and you love to do it. And out of control you just watch him and you can't stop. His biceps are more toned than usual, his chest is wide, the skin is perfect and smooth and soft and you can follow the path formed by his veins and you feel that so many years of resisting, finding a way to be immune to Steve Harrington, could be useless by this time. You want him so bad, you can feel desire growing in your stomach, something violent, rought and you feel like you're going to explode. Having spent the night lying next to him makes things suddenly seem different and so much harder to ignore.

"Y/n mhh, about before ..." He begins

"It was nothing." You reply, focusing very hard on the bottle of water you are holding.

"Was it?"

You turn around again and he is observing you, carefully, and has a look in his eyes that you haven't seen before, dedicated, full of emotion. You don't answer him and you have never been more afraid than this.

"Y/ n?"

Your gaze flickers from his eyes to his lips.

"I don't know what you're talking about." You voice is shaking. Oh God why is your voice shaking like a stupid teenager?

"I'm talking about ..." walks the meters that separate you quickly and then delicately grabs your face in his big and calloused hands - the hands of someone who had to learn to work, conquer things of life - then slowly let a hand slip over your shirt and squeeze it in a way that shakes you inside. And he smells of passion without violence, of desire and of fleshliness. Imperceptibly you move towards him, his grip tightens. "I'm talking about how ... I've wanted to do .. . How.."

"How what, Steve?" You don't even realize the tone your voice has taken, graver and hoarse and full of desire. A shiver shakes Steve's body.

"Like it's okay that I'm touching you." He whisperes.

"As if I want you too?" You ask, bringing your mouth close to his without touching it, just letting your breaths mix as the adrenaline of anticipation builds up in your chest and makes you feel a strange desire between your legs, the need for his warm hands on your body, in the most intimate parts.

"As if you haven't wanted anything else for a lifetime," he murmurs, looking you in the eye.

"It's kinda true. I've wanted it my all life" You confirm a moment before he just pulls you into one of the most intense kisses you've ever had. It's like he's pulling all the air from your lungs, as you wrap your hands in his soft hair and his hand holds your waist. It's a frantic kiss, filled with need and wait, pain and love. He looks at you. grinning before littering your neck with kisses, occasionally nipping and sucking in the sweet spot just behind your ear. You moan while you realize that he has lifted you on the kitchen counter and you cannot help but let go, arms around his neck as he tries to take his time with you He starts again gently kissing up your shoulder to the curve of your neck. He leaves soft little pecks behind your ear, an action that has you smiling in delight as his hands move slowly to your chest, under your shirt. "Take it off" Steve whispers, almost like an order. You nod and quickly take off your shirt as he fiddles with the bra with confidence and skill. As soon as he takes it off, his hands are immediately on your breasts, caressing your nipples with his thumbs while he lets his lips slide over your chest, up to your breasts and leaving wet kisses. His name escapes your lips like a prayer. "Steve" You reach out to him, between his thighs where his erect penis presses against his now too tight pants. He smiles and walks away slightly. "Slowly, softly" he says, locking your wrists and kissing you again. "Let me do it" When he puts his hand on your breast again and flicks the nipple slightly until your gasping and he's chuckling sweetly, It's like liquid fire runs through your veins. He knows exactly what to do to make you turn into a crumbling mess like he was born to pleasure you. His hands are all over you, pinching and massaging and fingertips gliding over sweet skin.

"Steve, baby, please..." You don't even know what you want from him. Hell, you can barely concentrate on anything but the long fingers that starts to wander down your stomach, walking their way on your skin, towards that sweet spot between your legs. He hushes you when his fingers toy with the elastic of your pants, and he presses a kiss to your neck, a hand running through your hair for a moment to settle you. "Shh don't worry." He waits for a minute for your breathing to calm down and your racing heartbeat to settle. You look up at him, brown eyes melting with love and pleasure and lust and he kisses you slowly, making it last while he lets your pants down and pulls your underwear aside.

"I...I want to touch...oh oh." You're cut off by your own moans, Steve fingers finding your folds amongst the wetness, dipping them slowly in and out of your pussy to see how far he can take you. In and out curving his fingers to touch your walls, spreading out as much as possible, to an extreme pleasure. "Oh please, y/n let me make you feel good" You're nodding as he speaks, and you open your legs wider so he can cup your pussy with his massive hand, making your body arch up into his. You can feel how hard he is in his briefs but he is so focused on your pleasure, his eyebrows furrowed and hair all over his forehead. You're so wet and the sounds that his fingers are making from between your legs are so sinful that you can't help but moan more. "Steve, oh, fuck, Steve!" He doesn't shuts you up, he gets harder and harder hearing you shout his name like it's the only religion you know. He feels your body shudder and you grow closer to the edge. He touches to your most sensitive spots and once again you're lurching up against him and gasping out loudly. He moves his body so that he can wrap his lips around one of your nipples, and then it's like you're racing towards the edge and he's not going to catch you this time. He's ripping your underwear off then, letting your legs move freely, and then he's not being gentle. He's done with taking things slow and suddenly Steve is touching you everywhere, and nowhere at the same time, hands moving so fast inside and on the outside that you can't keep track until you're shouting and he grabs you tight, sinking his middle and pointer finger back into you to bring you to the brink. You nearly faint once your orgasm hits, eyes rolling up and body going limp as the pleasure overwhelms you. You slump back against him and he just keeps kissing your skin, your neck, face, ears, collarbones. You're a hot and sweaty mess when you come back to the world fully and Steve chest is heaving against yours as he smiles down at you.

"Steve... I don't...it was." Steve laughs at that and holds you tight. "Good, I'm hoping?" You hold is hands and guide him to your room. "No over yet" You reply, coverong his face in kisses while push him on your bed

"y/n." You shush him, kissing him quickly and moving so that his arms are around your waist, nearly clinging to you when you start to press your hand firmer to his cock trapped in his briefs. "Fuck oh y/n." He moans, half laughing then he rolls you over, trapping you back into his grasp. "I want to taste you" You feel hotness pool in your stomach from only his words. "Do you want me to?" he asks.

"Please, Steve.. I want to touch you" you pant, clenching your hands into fists. He places a kiss on your inner thigh, so close to your core just to torture you, you are sure. "You will" You threw your head back in frustration, your fingers immediately sinking into his hair and gripping it roughly making him gasp, when he finally let go of your wrists in order to you push your thighs farther apart. He trails another line of kisses along your inner thigh meeting your gaze for a moment and you groan again in frustration. The sight of him- handsome, impossible Steve Harrington - between your thighs its a sinful heaven and not even in your imagination it was so perfect like its now. "please," you gasp, another kiss placed on the sensitive skin next to your core and then he presses a kiss against your clit. You gasp in pleasure as he openes his mouth to let his tongue explore your folds and lap up your juices.

Steve' s hands pushes your thighs even father apart when you absentmindedly tried to clench them together, arching your back at the feeling of having him suck harshly on your clit. Cries fall freely from your lips. You feel the need to touch him, you wanna touch him so bad as he devours you like a starved man. You don't wanna cum again, not like that so with and With an immense effort you walk away from him, who looks at you confused. "Not yet" You explain breathlessly. "Not yet " You repeat approaching him and undressing him in one fell swoop of his pants and boxers. He lets you do it, smiling sweetly, and you find yourself for the first time in front of his erect, big, rosy chock. So big that for a moment you fear you won't be able to hold up, not be enough for him. You make him lie down on the mattress slowly, placing your hands on his chest, pushing him so that he is caged between your legs. With one hand you go down towards his penis, pumping it slowly from the base, stroking the head with your thumb giving Steve a hoarse sound so erotic that for a moment you think you can come just listening to him. "Oh god you are so beautiful" He says. "You are" you reply, kissing her chest, her toned belly and then sinking her face into her crotch. Whatever a dream is made of, Steve Harrington is made of the same substance.

"Ride me y/n" He begs. "I want you to ride me" So you sink down on him, letting him fill you completely, groaning at the stretching you have to allow yourself a moment to adjust. Steve watches you as you move up and down, riding him as you push yourself to your second orgasm. He encourage you to keep moving, his eyes falling to the place where both of you connect in a perfect union, he can see your juices coating him and it is almost as erotic as to feel you all around him. He tries so control his instinct to fuck up into you, ha wants you to be in control for this, to be the one taking charge and so he bites his lip and tries to keep himself from changing the tables focusing on just you and on your perfect movements and it's long before Steve feels his own release fast approaching. As you move yourself up and down on him, fast then slow the fast again you feel the coil in your belly tightening and his own cock twitching against your walls and you slow down to try and stave off the orgasm just a bit longer however when you do, Steve twitches against your g-spot snapping the coil in half and you come with him, screaming his name. Placing your hands on his chest to support yourself, you feel yourself pulsing around him, trying to prevent the orgasm to wash over you slightly. You let yourself collapse next to him, without strength, and you pinch yourself on the arm. "What are you doing?" Steve asks breathlessly.

"I check that it's not a dream" He holds you close. "Do it to me too, you know, you're in my dreams all too often"

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jinxquickfoot · 6 months

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So I finished my Age of Ultron rewatch. It's been a couple of years since I last saw it, and here are some random thoughts I had on it:

Things I will maintain I like about this movie:

It has some of my favorite jokes in the MCU, and they're usually the little moments. The little nod of validation Rhodey makes after getting a laugh at his "Boom! You looking for this?" story. Clint telling Steve he's no match for Ultron and Steve replying with, "Thanks, Barton". Clint's "Yeah, you better run" after Pietro has long since disappeared with Wanda, there are loads of them.

I like Vision, Wanda and Pietro. Despite being secondary characters with not a huge amount of screen time, Wanda and Pietro feel like real people with real backstories, and Paul Bettany is wonderful the first time we see him as Vis.

It's the only movie we get to see the Original 6 hang out as friends.

I love that Fury randomly shows up in the middle and is like "let me make a sandwich while we discuss how not to let the world end also by the way hi Tony I really care about you"

Other casual appearances of other MCU characters, something that is so lacking Phase 4 onwards. Sam being at the party and Thor going to Selvig for help makes the world feel lived in.

RDJ's never dropped the ball as Tony but his performance really stuck out to me here, god he's good

Steve and Thor have multiple moments of teaming up and working together, what an underrated duo

Hulk vs Iron Man suit inside an Iron Man Suit fight

The Avengers do their best to evacuate Sokovia before Ultron attacks, which does not excuse the amount of damage caused there, but I do think is a plot point everyone forgets about (myself included)

And things that annoy me (skipping over the stuff everyone talks about like the Natasha/Bruce plot):

I hate how Joss Whedon writes Steve, both here and in Avengers. He only feels like Steve when he's being given jokes, otherwise he is so self-serious and stiff, the core of Steve is his heart and it is nowhere to be found in this movie

The movie spends so long setting up character arcs that feel promising and have no payoff. What is the point of Laura telling Clint the Avengers need him if he's going to retire at the end of the movie. Steve has several references to finding home in a way that doesn't go anywhere (Until Endgame, I guess). Don't get me started on Natasha.

It's trying so hard to have a theme but it never says anything unique. Bruce, Tony, Natasha and Vision all refer to themselves as monsters. Ultron decides that the Avengers are the bad guys. Steve has a speech all about proving they're not the monsters Ultron says they are. Based on WHAT? What is the message of this movie?? That the Avengers are better than the evil AI who wants to kill everyone?

(I half-feel there was a previous draft where Clint was their heart, or something, or he died and they were like whelp Phil Coulson 2.0 let's go avenge him, and the random pieces of that are still floating around the script with nowhere to go)

NO ONE is remotely concerned enough when their friends are getting hurt (maybe just the hurt/comfort lover in me, but still.) Natasha comes across as the only person who cares when Clint sustains a life-threatening injury. No one seems to be bothered that Natasha is being held captive by a psychotic supervillain. Tony shows more emotion over a fictional future where they die than when someone is actually in danger.

They really could have had a premise where they weren't allowed to access technology at all and could have gone retro with everything and they didn't and that just feels like a wasted opportunity. Clint and Natasha digging out old spy tech. Steve being like "Yes! This is familiar! I got this!" Tony making genius inventions out of tech from fifty years ago. Come on, it was right there.

#thanks for coming to my ted talk #age of ultron #mcu #marvel #avengers #thoughts

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heart-of-the-morningstar · 6 months

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I HAVE RETURNED FROM THE FNAF MOVIE AND I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS

✨ Non-spoiler section ✨

I had such a fun time with this movie! There were a ton of Easter eggs I caught and I’m sure there’s a few that I missed! My best advice for anyone wanting to see this movie is don’t take it super seriously, you’ll enjoy it more! The makers of this film weren’t lying when they said that they made this movie for the fans, I do feel like fans will enjoy this movie way more than a general audience and that’s perfectly fine! It’s campy at some parts and funnier than I thought it would be, but that’s what made it so fun! Now for the nitty-gritty…

❌ SPOILERS BELOW ❌

What I liked…

• First off, Matthew Patrick is a fucking LIAR! He does have a cameo in the movie, he says his iconic “That’s just a theory” line which was great! He’s a waiter at a diner, which leads me to my next point

• The diner was named “Sparky’s”, which I feel like only OG fans will get the reference. But for those of you who don’t know, back when FNAF 1 came out, there was a rumor of a secret/rare animatronic in the game called Sparky the Dog. There was a fake image floating around showing him standing in the door to parts and service. This was later confirmed to be fake. BUT! In the movie they also have a dog-looking animatronic in the parts and service room which absolutely took me out lol

• Acting was great! Everyone was fun to watch, Josh Hutcherson was a great lead as Mike and Piper Rubio was so sweet as Abby but I gotta give my props to Matthew Lillard towards the end of the movie, he looked like he was having so much fun being this unhinged monster! Speaking of…

• There is a spring lock scene!! It is real!! And God was it cathartic to watch! Obviously being PG-13, they couldn’t do blood and guts galore, but I think they managed to pull it off pretty well! Afton’s scene was definitely my favorite in the film hands down! And yes, he gets his “I always come back” line which put 5 years back on my life if I’m being honest lmao

• There is blood in this movie! Not a gratuitous amount, but it was enough for what they were going for I think! The kills of the people breaking to Freddy’s were more entertaining to watch than I thought! Especially Freddy’s kill…that caught me completely off guard lmao

• There aren’t too many jumpscares but that was fine with me! They do this repeat jumpscare with a little figurine of Balloon Boy like 3 times and I thought it was funny every time! They do a really good job with tension in this movie!

• The animatronics!!!! LOVED THEM!!!! They were so detailed and well designed, they were so fun to watch!! The Jim Henson company did an absolutely stellar job with the designs, I want to hug them 🥺

• So the story…I thought it was fine! They do stray from canon by making Vanessa Afton’s daughter in the movie instead of Mike being his son. They do confirm Afton was the one who kidnapped and killed Mike’s brother Garrett. The story is kind of left open ended as if they could continue the story (which I hope they do), but I think it leaves a more or less satisfying ending!

• There’s a minor mid-credit scene with Cory Kenshin and a secret message at the very end of the credits. I couldn’t hear it well but it’s spelled-out letters exactly like the ones from the death minigames in FNAF 2

• Yes, The Living Tombstone’s FNAF song is in the end credits, I felt my soul leave my body 😭

Minor Negatives…

• The story is slow at the beginning, it takes a little bit for anything super interesting to take place

• There are some plot points that don’t get explained or resolved (which is par for the course for FNAF) but that leads me to believe that they want to make sequels which I am all here for

• The Aunt Jane character wasn’t super important, she was fine, but she was there just to serve as an antagonist to Mike for a whole 5 minutes of the movie, if that

• I wanted so much more Afton/Spring Bonnie time, it was too short for me but I am happy with what I got. Also, he didn’t wear any purple in the movie which I think is a crime 😂

• Kind of wish there was an R rated version of this movie even though FNAF isn’t known for being bloody and gory, but some parts felt a little tame

• Also please correct me if I’m wrong but, they didn’t use the Toreador March music at all?? If I missed it, please tell me but I was waiting to hear it and it never came from what I remember

Speculation…

• So the biggest plot issue for me was that they never explained Afton’s intentions for killing. I think fans of the games know why he’s killing, but the general audience won’t. I’m sure it has something to do with the saw blade machine that tries to stuff your head into Freddy’s head. But it wasn’t clear. Vanessa never gave us a straight answer either even though she was in on it from the beginning.

• Towards the beginning of the movie, Abby is shown to be talking to her “invisible friend”, this is before Mike is hired as Freddy’s security guard. Turns out that friend is the ghost kid who possess Golden Freddy/Fredbear (again, isn’t clear lol). I wanna know why that kid showed up before Mike and Abby even went to the location??

• I may be reading too much into this, but when Mike goes in to get a new job after being fired from his mall security guard job, he’s talking to “Steve” and Steve does something interesting. He’s berating him for his inability to hold down a job, the he looks at his name on the file and just goes “…Mike S…” and just, doesn’t finish saying his name. He looks at Mike really weird like he’s trying to find something, and then just completely changes the subject. IDK, I’ll probably have to watch it again, and I think it would be a stretch to go the “Mike Afton” route especially since they established Vanessa was his kid. But ya never know with FNAF 😂

• Also the secret message that was spelled out at the end of the credits. If any of y’all know what they spelled, please tell me because I could not figure it out! I would love to know what it said!

Conclusion…

I just had a blast with this movie! I wasn’t sure what to expect with this movie but I think Blumhouse and everyone who worked on this movie did an amazing job, you can tell they put so much heart and soul into this! I will patiently be awaiting the announcement of the next movie until then!

Rating - 8.5/10

#fnaf #fnaf movie #five nights at freddy's #five nights at freddy’s movie #fnaf spoilers #fnaf movie spoilers #five nights at freddy’s movie spoilers #five nights at freddy’s spoilers #spoilers #fnaf movie review

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thelampisaflashlight · 1 year

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Some simple headcanons, with a side of angst for your Friday night. Below the cut.

-Dew is really good at sewing, and used to repair the old ghoul uniforms before they got the money to buy new ones/were able to hire a professional to do it, but he still fixes the other ghouls’ clothes now and then if they ask.

He’s currently in the process of making a t-shirt quilt out of some of his old band tees as a little side project.

-Rain is not a great cook, but he does make the best fucking pancakes. They were the first thing he got to cook topside apart from scrambled eggs.

-Swiss likes being the little spoon, both because he loves cuddles, and because then he doesn’t feel like he’s trapping the other person there if they don’t want to be.

The only exceptions to this rule are when he’s laying face to face with the other person, or when he’s snuggling with Cumulus.

He enjoys holding her.

-Sunshine can do cartwheels, and is generally very good at gymnastics/balance related things, to the point that everyone is convinced she might be part goat.

-Cirrus and Dew have watched every Adam Sandler movie together, and basically have the plots of “Blended” and “Just Go With It” memorized for no reason at all, and parrot lines from “Little Nicky” at each other all the time.

-Aether is 100% ride or die, and has gotten into a LOT of fights despite everyone thinking he’s not a fighter, and he has not regretted a single one.

-Mountain is well versed in sign language, and has given all the other ghouls sign names, some are more creative than others, but Rain is obviously Rain, and Dew is simplified to just “D” or a repeated “Dee-Dee” when Mountain is referring to him in an affectionate way.

-Cumulus is friends with a couple of the sisters from the abbey, and goes out with them pretty regularly, and basically has them as a sort of separate friend group from the other ghouls.

Cirrus doesn’t really get along with them, not because of anything bad, but because she doesn’t want to feel... replaced.

-Dew can smell changes in people’s blood sugar levels well enough that he can tell when someone is experiencing hypoglycemia just by catching a whiff of their breath, and while he has explained, numerous times, what the scent is like to the other ghouls and even the siblings, none of them seem to have as firm of a grasp on it as he does.

-Rain can make sand, or, more accurately, he can channel his water magic to erode rocks and make sand.

Once, Rain and Dew teamed up to see if they could make glass this way, with Rain making sand and Dew heating it, and as it would turn out: Yes, yes they can.

Neither of them, however, are exactly good at sculpting though, so the results were a pathetic little glass snake, which they gave to Imperator on Mother’s Day because, “Sure, why the fuck not?”

...She kept it.

And, lastly;

-Mountain has a secret greenhouse and adjoining cabin in the woods where he grows his “experimental” plants.

He has yet to elaborate on what that means, or where this mystical place might be.

Many have wandered in vain.

Except for Dew and Swiss.

They found that place in under an hour on a summer’s afternoon, and were lowkey disappointed to find out Mountain wasn’t growing monster amounts of weed, and was actually researching rare plants.

Neither of them left though, and now Mountain has guinea pigs lab partners.

#Lamp rambles #shitghosting #nameless ghouls #ghost band #ghost bc #the band ghost #ghost band headcanons #nameless ghoul headcanons

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girlfriendsofthegalaxy · 3 months

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tuesday again 2/6/2024

some weeks it's really hard to come up with a snappy little bon mot to put here

listening

Barbarella, by a fuck of a lot of people. yes i DID watch this movie this week! this is the single catchiest theme song i have ever heard. i cannot link the actual opening credits scene bc tumblr will censor that shit SO fast. spotify

youtube

reading

Rebecca Roanhorse's Tread of Angels novella. this is an urban magic old west religious fantasy novella. VERY sangfielle friendsatthetable vibes, there's an old west mining town centered around the body of the demon Abbadon, which is being mined for its powerful properties. demons and angels have sort of interbred throughout the human population. there is some deeply nerdy catholic bullshit and i say that as someone who was in catholic school for fifteen years. actually let's just take Roanhorse's explanation

the setting and premise are not where the novella bites off way more than it can chew. the main character, a cardsharp, has a chanteuse sister being held accused of a murder and she's got 48hrs to prove her innocence. the time limit and general structure is good, and it uses its side characters wisely, there's just a fuck of a lot of them.

in general, this novella does not have the emotional room to make its emotional beats really count. for example, there was a second breakup with an ex after a night of passion that mostly just left me confused. more broadly, the main character has an oldest sister's selfsacrificing nature that has twisted into utter ruthlessness with regards to her sister, and i'm both impressed Roanhorse managed to convey that in so few pages and annoyed bc i really wanted to see more of that in way more detail. due to the nature of it being a novella, the series of escalating decisions she takes feel very jagged in their escalation. i hope that makes sense.

it's got really interesting ideas! i want to know more about the ideas! i wish this was a full book instead of a novella, so the ending hits a little better instead of a Well That Just Happened way. from this interview it seems Roanhorse also wanted it to be a full book, but it was sort of a "i need something short and sweet so i don't go insane while adapting my other book for TV" (which is very exciting!!!)

watching

really a bizarre set of films. extremely unemployed energy in this watchlist this week. largely composed of "what's on my letterboxed watchlist and also available for free on tubi, with brief forays into hulu"

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013, dir. Chow). loved the overall visual design of the antagonists and the monsters, did not overall love this movie. it is a solid martial arts showcase and the first twenty minutes with freshwater JAWS are the most tightly plotted. it kind of flounders (lol) after that. can't find a gif i like.

INU-OH (2021, dir. Yuasa) genuinely healed my heart a little i think. queer (complimentary, not queer in the western massachusetts housing coop way) feudal anime glam rock opera. i am sooooooo picky about bad dads in movies as a driving force but this really soothed my daddy issues. stuck the landing on both storytelling and visuals.

Barbarella (1968, dir. Vadim) WOW Jane Fonda was hot. this was both sillier and less porny than i was led to believe (if we ignore the softcore porn opening credits). however horny this movie was it was not brave enough to have some girl-on-girl action with barbarella and the evil empress, even though the evil empress never seems to actually learn her name and just calls her “pretty” or “pretty-pretty”. shoutout to the one fic on ao3 that rectifies this situation. certainly a piece of scifi history, i wish modern scifi was as brave with its theatrical set dressing, i think one viewing is good enough for me bc i cannot stop thinking about how all the women on set might have been treated.

john philip law popped up and i said out loud to my cat “hey i know him from cowboys”

Flower Drum Song (1961, dir. Koster) got conned into watching this by the hotvintagemen poll bc i wanted to see what james shigeta’s deal was, and if he did have a sort of ratpack sensibility as the propaganda described. he does! however this movie is unrelentingly awful. it is so so so slow. all of its comedy is racism-based. it feels like a three and a half hour two-VHS set instead of two hours. i like to think i have a stronger stomach for older media and am able to consider things as products of their times but this is my upper limit i think. one brief fleeting moment of cool production with this triple mirror effect

Dirty Dancing (1987, dir. Ardolino). we were trying to find something to watch on either peacock or hbo max, and when i said "oh i've never seen that" out loud my my best friend said "that's insane we're watching it". i did not hate this movie, but i feel like i missed some critical window of development in which i would have had to see this movie to really love it. i had sort of an abnormal high school experience and i am a smidge too old to relate to bildungsroman any more. but it was cute! it was fine! i think patrick swayze’s jawline could cut glass. this film was made after Roe v Wade (1973) and i feel like the backstreet abortion b-plot has done this interesting 180 from sort of a historical novelty to a real threat and terror again. fun!

that’s it for the watching section i promise

playing

im doing the thing where i play a game for ten minutes, put it down, and then pick it back up again, which is probably not terrific for the health of my elderly switch. but whatever. what have i been up to in breath of the wild?

not a ton of progress map-wise, but did make it up to zora’s domain.

i was planning on the camel being the first divine beast, to get that over with bc i had such a devil of a time in my last playthrough, but the thing about the desert is it’s really far away.

dicked around the dueling peaks stables for a while without managing to defeat that guardian and unlock that shrine. so it goes. i think i really need an actual guardian shield from one of the minor tests of strength shrines instead of a normie shield. this line and sidequest made me laugh— it wasn’t terribly hard to find this little cache but it was a tricky bit of gliding.

didn’t realize the horses don’t have that much vertical threat perception, just like real horses. this little band walked right under me and i failed to glide down and land perfectly on someone’s back, which did freak them all out.

i think my new favorite place in a game is this little grove clinging to the side of the dueling peaks. it felt very peaceful and cozy. nothing can get me up there and there’s more than enough room to make a little campfire and cook dinner and not roll off the mountain in a sleeping bag the middle of the night.

also fully kitted out my house bc i had a very successful mining expedition along dueling peaks. EXTREMELY forgiving and generous secondary opening area imo, thanks game

making

i started this glitch sampler pattern by tumblr's own mathysphere (not @'d bc this is a fuck of a long post) at the beginning of the pandemic, june 2020, while thinking "eh let's give this friends at the table counterweight thing a shot" got most of the way through both counterweight and this piece, put it down bc i was so annoyed with all the confetti stitches (random one-off stitches of colors that aren't anywhere near other stitches of the same color. i think i resorted to fraychek at several points in the rover square) and then put it down so long i had to throw it out during the great moth debacle, bc it was partly eaten.

here's what it will look like finished, and a link to buy the pattern

i think this time around i am a much better technical stitcher (the first crack at this i didn't know the loop method of starting, or pin stitches, or really any alternate endings except running the tail under the last few stitches). i usually stitch with three strands bc i like the look, but i think the loop method with three strands is overly fiddly. i have not picked up cross stitch since mmmm 2021, but any mistakes or unevenness in this will simply contribute to the glitch effect. i'm going to go back and backstitch the four "frames" and key portions of the sampler to highlight portions of the glitches (eg the yellow and blue centers of the spiral galaxy, the interior of the eclipse, perhaps add an antenna to the rover).

still not my tidiest back, but hey. it's going to sit in a frame and not have any sort of friction or extra force applied to it ever

i am really looking forward to framing this in a deep shadowbox, i have an idea about how to mat it with little melty cutouts for the drips at the bottom.

#tuesday again #tuesday again no problem

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deeply-unserious-fellow · 6 months

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Frozen genuinely works SO MUCH BETTER as a stage show then it does as a movie, probably because with musical's you have a lot more time to unpack everything, and Frozen is a VERY heavy story. Anna and Elsa's trauma is given so much more room to be explored in the musical because it doesn't need to be condensed for plot progression. We're allowed to just pause everything for like 3 minutes just to get a glimpse into what's going on in Elsa's mind, which I feel we really didn't get enough of in the original film. The extra time also gives them more of a chance to flesh out Anna and Kristoff's relationship, which, while I still think pairing them off at the end was unnecessary at BEST, does at least make them getting together make more sense then it does in the movie. They were also allowed to lean into the darker aspects of the story a lot more, since parents are less likely to take their kids to see a broadway show than they are to take them to a movie theater. The horror Elsa feels at the prospect of hurting people, or more specifically Anna, again is touched on so much more in depth in the musical. She also like, actively contemplates suicide that one time? "Do I kill the monster" - Elsa, in reference to herself. That would NOT have flown in the movie, I'll tell you that much. They're also allowed to be much hornier??? Which isn't necessarily a good thing, more neutral all things considered, but it is funny so I'll count that as a plus lmao.

Weirdly though, despite all the extra time, they did not take a minute to properly foreshadow Hans being the twist villain. Which you knew I had to bring it back to because complaining abt that fucking plot twist has been the only thing I've done in this fandom so far. In fact, I'd say the reveal is almost WORSE on stage, because they can't use all those camera angles that help build tension in the movie, and because the twist is so out-of-left-field there's literally no way to know it's coming unless you've already seen Frozen, which tbh I think the people that intially adapted the movie for broadway might've taken for granted. They took the time to give Hans his own solo number with TWO REPRISES, but don't take a moment to show the audience that he's actually the bad guy until the "if only there was someone who loved you" moment. Tbh it's kinda ironic, since the Hans plot twist is the #1 thing people tend to have a problem with in the original movie. My biggest issue with the Hans plot twist overall is that it really clutters the movie and just feels like a weird aside that distracts you from the actual. Plot. But since they have more room to work with it in the stage show, it didn't have to be that way! If they had revealed Hans' true intentions during, idk, maybe the end of the first Hans of the Southern Isles Reprise, it would've helped build tension in the later scene, because WE understand that Anna is in danger, but SHE doesn't. But alas, complaining about writing chocies you didn't like on the internet won't change them, so I am forced to look on the bright side. What is the bright side, you may ask?

RYAN MCCARTAN AS HANS THATS WHAT!!!!!!!

#also! shout out to the broadway version replacing First Time In Forever(reprise) with I Can't Lose You!!!#it's just the superior song tbh #frozen #frozen musical #broadway frozen #idk how to tag help #frozen elsa #frozen anna #why don't they have last names and if they do CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME!?!?!?!?#queen elsa #princess anna #kristoff bjorgman #hans of the southern isles #hans westergaard #late night ramblings #fronalysis #gal overanalyzes random shit

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nico-di-owgelo · 3 months

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What I don't understand is the need to have made Percy know all of the myths. It's unnecessary. A familiarity makes sense, he studied it in school, and having Sally tell him stories is sweet, but that doesn't mean he can't be confused? In the books he mentions he struggles with some myths and names because his dyslexia makes it hard*, some names can be similar but are completely different figures. It's also mentioned that the more a demigod knows about the mythical world the easier they are to find. Percy's ignorance makes sense, and is important for his safety (hence why he's lied to by Brunner and Grover about Mrs Dodds). When comparing the wide breadth of myths covered in the books, not knowing exactly who someone is makes more sense than immediately knowing exactly who and what is going on.

A main theme in the books is that intelligence comes in many different forms, especially because the protagonists are both neurodiverse in more than one way. Being book smart isn't the end all be all of intelligence and both Annabeth and Percy show how clever they are in different ways. Book Percy was never made to seem stupid because he didn't immediately know about the Lotus hotel or Procrustes for example. Even Annabeth was fooled by them. That's how the myths worked in the pjo verse, they're modernised and there's the mist it's perfectly fine for them to be tricked. Hell, in universe the monsters want them to be tricked, that's the point. Percy's intelligence and quick thinking are shown not via immediate fact retrieval, but through how he manages to manipulate the situation for the better. He's perceptive, and is good at figuring things out**. He's still incredibly intelligent, it's just shown in a different way.

One of the joys of the original series was learning about the myths alongside Percy. The mystery and the unique modernisations of the stories. So it's a bit of a slap in the face to have the show's narration behave like everyone would know what any myth, that it's so obvious they don't need to explain how or why the protagonists know exactly what's coming before it has a chance to. Again: I'm aware that Annabeth has been at camp for years, but there's a massive amount of myths to know and they have adapted to the modern day. They might not be immediately recognisable, or the mist might be too strong etc etc. Not knowing something doesn't mean you're dumb.

The show, however, doesn't give the kids chances to mess up. They know everything immediately, or far too quickly. There's no room for learning or acknowledging the complexities of the pjo-universe. Them recognising Medusa straight away, fine, she's a pretty well known myth, and Percy is named for Perseus, the familiarity makes sense. The lotus hotel, less so, it's not that well known of an aspect of the Odyssey, but they are looking for a god so being suspicious of their surroundings is fair enough I guess? (Though coincidences can be coincidences. The only similarity that the island and the hotel have is a lotus, a very common flower?) There are so many things that happen in the Odyssey that not specifically remembering this tale would've been fine. But Procrustes? Immediately? Really?

What purpose does it serve to have the kids know who they're facing straight away? To the plot. Considering that the myths are intertwined with the modern, it would make sense for them not to know things, or at least not immediately recognise them as monstrous/magical, because not everything is?

I don't know, I just feel like taking the opportunity to learn away from both the audience and the characters cheapens the story and makes it less interesting. (Representations of intelligence aside. Because if I talk about that I'm going to call someone Ableist and I don't want to get into that right now. I will say though that even the movie had more overt dyslexia and adhd rep so...)

Not only that, but narratively, it's not working. There are no stakes to the situations the kids get into, or there are but certainly not to the same degree. It's just. Odd.

All that to say that the decision is a weird one and one that doesn't serve the plot to boot. That is all.

Anyways have pictures of my copy of TLT for support, please ignore my dissertation tabs.

* / **

#pjo tv crit #I got into pjo bc I was neurodiverse and into myths and I still learnt about myths I didn't know ?? I'm just genuinely so confused by this #the show has made a lot of weird decisions #none of which I think serve the story on a base level #if they had changed it but it still worked narratively I don't think I would have cared as much but it genuinely doesn't work so..:

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exstasyplague · 8 months

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Just wanted to say, I have loved reading you jjk analysis while I hyperfix on the fandom. I have one question that I hope you can give me some answers to. Regarding Geto, do you believe that he's earned the title of special grade like Gojo and Yuki? I fully believe that he could reach a monster level like Gojo but I also think plot didn't let him grow more. Because people call him weak for losing against Toji (someone who also beat Gojo) and he wasn't at his prime yet bit then they also say Yuta was able to easily beat him and I think while the jjk 0 was good, it didn't utilize Suguru. Because it felt like he didn't do anything for the 10 years he defected and I think it's just because 0 was made so early on. Hope this isn't a bother, I just really like how in depth you are.

hiii. thank you for your kind words <33 it's time *cracks fingers* for a little...

Analysis on Suguru Geto's Powers

first of all. let's remember together what a special grade in jujutsu kaisen means~!

— a power so unpredictable that it's labeled as a calamity

— somebody powerful enough to overthrow a country on their own.

so far so clear? great.

let's also look a bit into what suguru's abilities are.

CURSE MANIPULATION

as the name implies, he can absord curses and manipulate them according to his needs/ desires, with no limit on how many at a time.

doubting him comes easy now that we know what gojo suguru's full strength is, but back in their highschool days they were called the strongest for a good reason: they were on par. on balance. gojo's birth caused cruses to go crazy and the one with the most efficient skill against curses was geto. he was so powerful in a way because gojo caused so many curses to exist, widening his range of possibilities. beautiful parallel imo.

MARTIAL ARTS

no secret that my man can throw hands. not only does he have good curses, he can also fight alongside them/use them as a distraction since unlike most shikigami users, he goes into full offensive mode. that poor old man was DONE. you've also seen how well he handles cursed weapons in jjk 0 and in general how high his battle iq is. geto was a menace.

he beat this dude so hard his literal life flashed before his eyes. and look at how casually he does that 😭 i can't. kenjaku ain't ever gonna excude this type of MAJESTY.

even if his fight against toji wasn't as flashy as gojo's, let's not forget that he actually did have a moment where he caught fushidaddy by surprise.

considering the fact that toji is literally a battle genius, that's very much something.

*clears throat.*

anyway.

the destructible power of his curses is also insane. he killed a whole village like it was just play time, no advanced plotting needed. you can say whatever you want, but being able to act on a whim like that... this absolute freedom of choice only comes from strength.

tell me that shit's not scary af.

and let's not forget that he got deemed so dangerous by the jjk society that he got put on par with a curse and even in the jjk 0 movie 'he had to be exorcised'. you know how in the manga they talk about saving riko and how because they're the strongest it doesn't matter what aftermaths they get? yeah. that's the perks of having power, the perks of being 'the most powerful'.

geto wasn't in hiding mode after his silly spree— he was easy to find at his temple and he was sentenced to death on sight yet in 10 years no fkin sorcerer was able to kill him.

they fr knew his whereabouts.

gege also shows him in his full splendid strength through his art.

geto was more than powerful— he was a low-key beast.

his only holdback was the world in which he lived, all the anguish and misery it brought him. he started doubting himself. he started losing faith in himself as human and a sorcerer and so he sought other paths through which he could find meaning, dooming himself beyond salvation. (his cursed technique is so shitty he can't live without giving it a meaning and clinging onto a meaning, let's not forget that manga panels about the awful taste and everything).

mentally he reached stagnation and from that point...he was meant to die.

that doesn't make him weak. he definitely deserved his title and definitely was the strongest along with gojo. hope this helped

#jujutsu kaisen #gojo satoru #geto suguru #jjk analysis #jjk manga #jjk 0 #power scaling #jujutsu kaisen analysis #jjk anime #jjk geto #cursed energy #CT #curse manipulation #geto suguru analysis #geto analysis #suguru

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theboarsbride · 1 year

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ok sorry in advance for bothering you, feel free to tell me to get lost, but i was wondering if you, the resident expert, have any monster romance recs that aren’t way too. nsfw i guess? maybe it’s just me but i’m having a hard time finding any. like i’m more interested in the slow burn and the romance but the genre seems to be mainly fast paced erotica and i just can’t get into it

OOh!!! No need to be sorry, I'm always happy to answer stuff like this and talk about (cleaner) monster romances!! I'm honored you'd consider me an expert, though! 🥺💛I feel like I don't actually talk about monster romances all that much!

But I agree that it can be hard to find a monster romance that isn't erotica. Not that erotica isn't good, I just like seeing slow burn romances, too!

I wish I could provide a longer list, but here's what I got so far! (and if anyone finds this and wants to add onto this list, feel free to do so in comments, tags, reblogs, etc)

I will provide links/titles to these stories, say the genre(s), provide a short synopsis in my own words, and then say why I recommend it below the cut!

Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis | sci-fi, alternate history, conspiracy fiction, action/adventure

"An alternate history novel set in 2008 where whistleblower Nils Ortega leaks information to the public that the US government is secretly harboring extraterrestrial refugees. Cora Sabino, Nils' daughter, finds herself developing a connection with one of these aliens after inadvertently becoming the sole communication between humans and aliens."

This series is fucking great!! Admittedly, the monster/alien romance take more of a backseat to the larger plot, and mostly focuses on themes surrounding humanity, human rights, language, trauma, etc. Ellis does such a great job at writing characters that are just so... human, and deep. There is so much complexity and nuance that goes into this series, and just... it's so good! Definitely recommend if you're more into the super slow burns, alien romances, alien action movies like Michael Bay's Transformers series or Independence Day.

"The Courtship of Mr. Lyon" and "The Tiger's Bride" in The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter | Gothic, feminist fiction, fairytale retelling, horror, anthology

"'The Courtship of Mr. Lyon' follows the romance between Beauty and Beast after Beauty's father takes one of the lion-faced Beast's white roses while taking shelter following a car accident; in 'The Tiger's Bride' a young woman is sent to live with a mysterious masked man after her father gambles her away in a game of cards."

Honestly this book, though a collection of short stories, is one of my all-time favorite books! Carter's writing style is so, so gorgeous and lyrical, and she provides such fantastic, dark, moody, gory, horrific feminist fairytales. Her story "The Bloody Chamber" is also worth checking out! Honestly, this whole book is great!

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast and Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley | Fantasy, romance, fairytale retelling

"Classic Beauty and the Beast retellings."

Despite both being BATB retellings by the same author, both are so, so good in their own ways! While Beauty is way more classic and straightforward in its retelling, the characters are so endearing, the fantasy world is enchanting, and the writing is so *chefs kiss*. Rose Daughter is much the same, only slightly more adult in its tone and writing style - and its ending!

The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus | Romance, historical

"A mute janitor working in a high-security government facility falls in love with an amphibious creature."

Yeah, yeah, this is basically the novelized version of the movie lmao. I've not read the whole novel itself, but it's not half-bad!! It's decent enough - though I still feel like the movie to be better. Still worth checking out, I think!

Frankenstein's Monster by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe | Historical

"A sequel, of sorts, to Mary Shelley's classic novel. What becomes of Frankenstein's monster after Frankenstein dies? Where does he go, left to wander the earth?"

Not really a romance, per say, but there are SOME elements of romance! Mostly, this book follows Frankenstein's monster following the OG novel, who he all meets, and it is very much a character study on the monster! It's super fascinating, but its writing style is super similar to Mary Shelley's, so this very much reads like a classic novel. Honestly, I love how O'Keefe was able to mimic Shelley's style so well! But, again, romance is way more lowkey and this is more of a character study than anything else. Definitely reccomend if you loved the OG Shelley novel!

Beauty and the Beast by Megan Kearny | Webcomic, romance, fantasy, fairytale retelling

"A retelling of Beauty and the Beast."

Beautifully illustrated and wonderfully told, this comic is just SO GOOD!! It very much has the same vibes as Robin McKinley's novels, and is steeped in a cozy fantasy atmosphere! The characters are so loveable, the story intriguing, and just AAAUUGGGHHH SO GORGEOUS!!

Netvor: Beauty and the Beast by @rosesnwater | Fantasy, romance, fairytale retelling

"Aceline Capet swears to slay the monster Netvor that lurks in the forest surrounding her village - and ends up becoming entrenched in the world of magic and monsters and Fae."

LEGIT JUST UGH!!!!!!!! THIS NOVEL IS SO FUCKING GOOD!! Legit this is one of my all-time favorite reads from this year! If you love fantasy featuring actual, lore-accurate faeries and super intriguing slow burn romance with endearing characters, please please PLEASE check this out!!!!!!! I SWEAR YOU WONT BE DISSAPOINTED!! Definitely recommend if you love fantasy movies like Legend, Labyrinth, Thumbelina, Howl's Moving Castle, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, etc. or books like Naomi Novik's Uprooted, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Robin McKinley's work, etc.! It also currently being rewritten as a(n equally beautiful) webcomic that should definitely be checked out as well!

That Which We Call Beast by @raph-fangirl | Historical fiction, romance, fairytale retelling

"A young woman is seeking marriage, and comes into contact with a mysterious bachelor that hides himself from her behind a veil."

Basically if Jane Austen wrote Beauty and the Beast! Definitely a well-written slow burn! It's not completed yet, but with what's available to read it's legit so beautiful!! The prose is so well-crafted, and it legit feels as though I'm reading an Austen novel! Definitely recommend if you love films like the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice!

Then uhhhh not to toot my own horn but if you wanna read a Victorian Era Gothic romance-horror BATB retelling with a pathetic meow-meow of a monster I offer my story The Monster and the Butterfly- 🤲🥺

These are all the recs I have for now! Again, if there are any you'd like to add, whether they be published, a friend's online work, or your own work!! I hope these are helpful and satisfactory enough for ya!

Again, I love talking about monster romances, thank you so so much for this ask!!!! 🥺💛

#jojo rambles #jojo reads #monster romance #monster lover #monster romance books #monster boyfriend #monster x human #human x monster #book recs #book recommendations #bookblr

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thenightling · 4 days

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My review of Asylum's Monster Mash: How Asylum managed to do what Univeral Studios Dark Universe could not

Last night I watched the new Asylum mockbuster, Monster Mash. What is Asylum? And What is a Mockbuster? A Mockbuster is a low budget knock-off movie of a film that is either already a blcokbuster hit or anticipated to be a hit. When Pacific Rim came out Asylum released a Mockbuster called Atlantic Rim. When Dracula 2000 came out, Dracula 3000 aired on The Scifi Channel. When Morbius came out, Asylum made Dracula: The Original Living Vampire. Sometimes the connection to the blockbuster they were "inspired by" is very slim. Asylum was founded twenty-five-years-ago to make mockbusters of high budget, blockbuster, and mainstream scifi and horror films. A lot of Asylum's creations have been released on Syfy (Formerly the Scifi Channel) as Syfy original movies. Most Asylum movies are either made-for-TV or direct to DVD / Blu Ray / Streaming. One season of the Netflix incarnation of Mystery Science Theatre were all Asylum mockbusters. This year there was a highly anticipated vampire movie called Abigail. The plot was about the daughter of a crime boss (heavily implied to be Dracula all along). The daughter gets kidnapped and it turns out her kidnappers are actually her intended victims. So Asylum released their own Mockbuster called Monster Mash and managed to release it two weeks before Abigail came out.

And what a treat this Monster Mash was! It was so delightfully corny! So wonderfully bad. I actually loved it. This was a so-bad-it's-good movie. There are other films called Monster Mash, including a semi-Juke Box musical. This is the only one from 2024. I think I liked Asylum's Monster Mash more than the 2012 Dario Argento's Dracula, which until now, was my favorite campy, bad Dracula movie. My nickname for Dario Argento's Dracula is Mantis Drac because Dracula transforms into a giant female preying Mantis at one point with very low quality CG effects. In Monster Mash, Dracula's daughter is kidnapped by Boris (A rather simple minded but sweet hearted Frankenstein monster) serving the evil Dr. Frankenstein, who wants to use Dracula's daughter as bait to lure out Dracula. Dr. Frankenstein is dying and wants to transfer his consciousness to a new monster, an utterly indestructible monster- supposedly. Dr. Frankenstein wants to use the parts of all the classic monsters including blood from Dracula, skin from The invisible Man, the heart of Rameses The Mummy, and the limbs of an immortal werewolf. Werewolves in traditional folklore, and the original Universal monster movies actually were immortal except when it came to silver.

The movie has minimum gore and suspense (except perhaps where Dracula almost kills his daughter's slave girl). It's tame enough where I think it could work for a child's first introduction to the classic monsters in a horror setting. (You know, outside of cartoons like Hotel Transylvania). I liked it a lot. For an Asylum film there was limited low-quality CG except once Dr. Frankenstein's creation came to life. That's when Asylum brought it its trademark low quality SFX.

The movie was not just a mockbuster of Abigail. It also felt like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen but with the classic monsters. There were aspects that reminded me of House of Frankenstein. Dracula's daughter even had wanted a cure for her vampiric condition, like in the Universal monster movie, Dracula's daughter. There are a lot of nice, subtle, homages to classic monster movies. You realize pretty fast that the classic monsters are the heroes of the story (even though Dracula does occasionally snack on a hapless damsel). And I found myself delighted through the corny cheese. THIS is what Universal studios should have give us with their promised Dark Universe. THIS was a classic monsters version of Avengers and with the campy cheese of an asylum mockbuster it was actually fun. It was charming. I usually have difficulty sitting through an Asylum mockbister, let alone want to watch it again. This one I would happily watch again. It was fun. It was cheesy, good, fun. I liked it. I liked it a lot. Honestly, the actor who played Dracula was so much fun in this, Asylum doesn't deserve him. He deserves to be in something better but man, he made the movie. It was the sort of corny movie you might imagine Peter Vincent from the 1985 Fright Night starring in. Much like a classic Hammer Horror movie you can't quite tell what country it's set in or even what time period. There's almost a fairytale-like quality to it. An agelessness that is nostalgic and also refreshing.

This is, hands down, my favorite Asylum Mockbuster. Honestly, I loved it. If I had kids I'd have probably used it as their first horror film exposure to the classic movie monsters, not too scary, yet also well paced and the characters are likable. It was cheesy, corny, fun. I want to see more monster movies like this. THIS is the sort of film Universal Studios Dark Universe should have produced for us. Somehow Asylum managed to give us what Universal should have. It's rare that I say something like this but Universal Studios take note. The low budget mockbuster did what you wanted to but could not. I liked this so much I want Asylum to make a whole franchise out of it or even a TV series. I'd watch the Hell out of Dracula and his team of monsters trying to be the heroes. This was some damn good brain candy. My harshest complaints are that I prefer articulate and intelligent Frankenstein monsters like in Mary Shelley's novel but as this creature was named Boris he's obviously a homage to the zeitgeist Universal Studios tropey idea of the Frankenstein Monster. Also there's an odd moment where Dracula's daughter (named Elisabeta as a nod to the Bram Stoker's Dracula movie) comments about how she can read minds (with the aid of psychometry) but Dracula cannot read minds. I find this particularly odd since psychic abilities are some of his more common powers, even in films where they forget his ability to turn into Bat, wolf, and mist. Other than these petty details I loved this movie. It was very bad but very fun, a deliciously cheesy monster movie.

#Monster Mash #Asylum #Asylum films #Asylum pictures #Asylum movies #Asylum 2024 #Dracula #Frankenstein #The Invisible Man #Griffin #The Mummy

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likecrapthroughagoose · 27 days

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Godzilla x Kong gets... probably a 7.5 or 8 out of 10 from me. I liked it a lot, but the last act felt like it was rushing (which should never be the case for a 2+ hour movie). The action was really good though and the visual effects, while dwarfed by Minus One, were excellent.

Spoiler-y opinions below:

Okay so- Kong's portions of the movie were actually really strong. Granted, I'm easily amused by anything that involves monkeys falling down a lot. But in all seriousness, you can tell they had the most story ideas for Kong. His fights are good, the monsters his arc introduces are cool, and the way they've aged his design is also pretty nifty. You will believe a gorilla can be daddy.

That said, the strength of Kong's part of the movie brings me to my main complaint. The other two focal points, Godzilla and the human cast really didn't feel like they had as much to do. Less so for the human cast, which I'll get to in a moment, but it kinda felt like Godzilla was sidelined.

Weirdly, that isn't to say he wasn't in the movie. Godzilla's scenes are almost as plentiful as Kong's, if not equally so. The movie, to its credit, does a pretty good job of giving everyone equal-ish screentime, so Godzilla does get plenty of scenes. The problem is that most of them are just him going from point A to point B to point C and so forth.

In fairness, Goji's scenes are at least entertaining. He gets some superb city destruction and the best fights in the movie (and it has plenty) are his. Though speaking of fights, I am disappointed that we didn't get to see any new-old monsters. Scylla is a cool enough design on its own that I don't mind it, but Tiamat is similar enough to Manda that I felt like SOME acknowledgement could be made. I mean shoot, just have them be called Titanus Ebirah and Titanus Manda on the computer radar thingie they keep cutting to. Problem solved.

At least we get Godzilla sleeping in the Colosseum like a cat. It's a cheap pop, but I'm still here for it.

The human story is decent, if nothing special. The only returning cast are Rebecca Hall, Kaylee Hottle, and Brian Tyree Henry. Dan Stevens joins them as... I guess Kong's veterinarian for lack of a better word, rounding out the quartet of focal characters. I don't know if I enjoyed his character or if he annoyed me. Hottle and Hall deliver more of the "constantly mildly uncomfortable deaf girl who just wishes everyone would leave her pet gorilla alone and her overprotective adopted mother" stuff. It was fine in the last movie, it's fine here. Henry's conspiracy theorist character is... less irksome than he could have been. While in the previous film he was a surprising amount of depth for the archetype he was portraying, here he's firmly in the comic relief role. It never quite veers into annoying, but there are parts where it does leave you going, "okay, but why does he need to be here?" He at least makes it out better than Stevens, who may be the world's first example of a token white guy.

All that said, the human plot was actually kinda working for me. The whole "lost civilization deep within the hollow earth that harnesses mysterious natural powers and also worships/summons Mothra" thing felt like a really fun tribute to the kind of story you'd see in the classic Showa Era films without being anachronistic.

As much as I complain, there was something I noticed beyond the movie itself that made me happy. The theater was packed, which is great to see, but more than that there was a ton of kids in there, right around the same age I was when I was first getting into Godzilla. The same age I was when I got picked on for liking it. I couldn't help but look around the theater after the movie and feel vindicated. I was right, this shit is cool as fuck. Suck my ass, Samuel from fifth grade.

Anyway yeah it's fun. Worth seeing.

#godzilla #godzilla x kong #godzilla x kong: the new empire #kong #movie review #ramble #kaiju

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tiredspacedragon · 5 months

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BIONICLE Retrospective

2002: The Bohrok Swarms

Part 1.4: What Lurks Below

*ahem*

Anyway.

What I'm learning as I go through these comics is that, unlike the novels, which are written to be satisfying reads on their own, the Bionicle comics are not meant to be looked at in isolation, one issue at a time. At least not when they are portraying the events of the main story.

See, exactly what the comics cover is never consistent. Some years, the comics stick closely to the main beats of that year's story. They'll cover all the main battles and important scenes from the books or movies, they'll have much of the same dialogue, and so on, like a visual summary of the year. But other times, the comics stray away from the main plot to tell unique stories not found anywhere else, and in my opinion that's when they're at their best. That's why I liked To Trap a Tahnok so much, while I feel I have to come down hard on What Lurks Below.

To be fair, these comics are the first depiction of the events in the Bohrok Nest. The story they tell is not adapted from any other media, it was written for this medium. So it is, technically, an original story. So maybe what I'm really getting at is that the comics aren't the ideal medium for conveying the central plot in general. There's just not enough space to pace everything properly.

Case in point, this issue has really big Part 1 Energy. It doesn't feel complete. There's no clear narrative arc to it, it's just a series of "and thens." The Toa escape the lava by passing through an illusory wall, and then Tahu joins them by blowing up the Tahnok nest he was trapped in, and then they fall into the chamber the Krana are meant to be placed in, and then that opens then door to the Exo-Toa armour, and then the battle with the Bahrag starts.

Now, it's worth noting that this kind of narrative structure is not inherently bad. In fact, it's a structure often used in myths and epic poetry. Ancient stories, particularly ones that would have been transmitted orally, of gods and heroes and monsters, didn't always have clear causal storylines, often they were just series of adventures, sometimes with clear morals, sometimes not. And given how Bionicle itself is often portrayed as a legend, this kind of structure does seem somewhat appropriate.

And if that was the point, I would say it's actually rather clever. But I don't think it is, because if it was, more of the comics would be like this, rather than just this issue. No, what I think happened here was just a case of janky pacing. This issue could have just been about the Toa's journey through the tunnels, and left the discovery of the Exo-Toa and the confrontation with the Bahrag for the next issue. Or, it could have saved time and skipped the tunnel segment completely to focus on the main conflict. As is, it's all setup and no payoff, which is what I mean by Part 1 Energy. It feels more like the first half of the issue that follows it, and less like its own entity.

On the other hand, I do suspect that's actually intentional. The point is to build suspense and keep readers excited for the next issue. And fair play to Greg, as an issue of a bi-monthly comic, I have to commend What Lurks Below for doing its job well. But as an instalment of a story, a chapter in the tale of the Bohrok invasion, I have to say it does not hold up so well upon revisiting.

Now to stop being a major downer for a moment, stepping away from the big picture and looking at the little things shows that What Lurks Below does have merit to it. We have the first appearance of Makuta's belief-based illusions, which, while they go unexplained here, have always been a plot device/mechanic I've found fascinating.

And we get some good character moments from the Toa as well. Lewa saying "There's nothing [Pohatu] and Onua can't bring down," is unbearably sweet, that unshakeable faith in his brothers only feeling more powerful in light of Lewa's own current vulnerability. Not to mention the display of cleverness from Lewa in figuring out the illusion, and from Tahu in using his power to heat the air and cause an explosion, blowing himself out of the Tahnok nest he'd been sealed in last issue. I think that moment where he explains what he did, his speech notably slowed, is the first time, and one of the only times, we've actually seen Tahu visibly weakened and exhausted. So points for expanding the Toa's characters.

...Unfortunately, looking at the little things also means seeing the little downsides, and there's plenty to nitpick here. Why is there lava out of nowhere, and where did it come from? Why are all 48 Krana required to open the doors to the Exo-Toa, which are supposed to be a failsafe? What are Cahdok and Gahdok even doing in separate rooms when they're nigh invincible together, especially since they've been together every other time we've seen them anyway? And, what stuck out to me most, why is Gali the narrator of this issue? Her specific perspective doesn't add anything to the story, and actually gets dropped around halfway through the comic anyway. It's just...odd. This whole issue is a series of odd decisions. Some understandable, some not.

Anyway, on to Part 2!

Next up: The End of the Toa?

#bionicle #bionicle retrospective #what lurks below

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