#honestly I just want Oliver to use his accent | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tbcanary · 18 days

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haiii uhm. idk if anyone has asked this but what are some of your favorite character costumes/outfits :O

iggy i love and adore you and i love this question. hold on, i have to dig up some images.

okay. i dug up some images. so many, in fact, that i hit image limit on this post and had to trim some things down. let's go through it.

we're gonna just go ahead and start out with dinah lance, the light of my life. this whole post won't be sorted by character, but she's the one i have the most images of, so she gets her own section.

i know people really, really love the short-haired, less effeminate dinah we get in grell's 80s run. i'll get to her! but i'm going to start by saying that her looks in the green lantern/green arrow run are all-time. please consider, if you will, the most fashionable lady in the room:

(i can't include the house robe from snowbirds, but know that i spiritually do count it as part of this post. i hold it near and dear. for now, these two looks will do.)

her long black hair. her little white vest. the statement necklace for her date with ollie. and look, i would include ollie here too, because his outfits in this run are PEAK seventies dad energy, but i don't have the space and i like dinah more, so you get these.

then comes the 80s, when dinah is in her element. short black hair, noir vibes, wearing graphic tees for things like "seattle slugfest." (in longbow hunters, at least.)

she gets some cute looks in grell's run, obviously, but i'm partial to this little skirt and sleeveless denim button-up because it's so very unlike her. she was putting in the work to look cute, and i appreciate it. oliver, meanwhile, looks like fred from scooby doo.

the 1991 run is important because of her extremely high heeled boots with the BIG cuffs around the calves. i miss the cuffs. i wish they would return to me. but the actual panels i think about the most from this run are when she cuts her fishnet stockings and uses them to tie her hair back.

wh. who. i want to know which people in the writer's room decided that was a feasible option. i just want to talk. i can't imagine a less stable hairstyle to go karate-chop some yacht pirates. come on now. but also, she even ties them in a bow? i love her so much. what the fuck is happening.

she has a lot of good looks in birds of prey (1999), honestly, but none of the artists have EVER IN THEIR LIFE seen a woman's chest. not a one. i'm going to go ahead and stick to the two things i love: the fringed leather jacket (iconic) and the long-pants jumpsuit that they did instead of the fishnets.

i don't know WHY they got rid of the fishnets, honestly, but i like this turtleneck situation and the yellow accents. also her communicator necklace on full display <3 she also usually wears a motor jacket OVER the jumpsuit. slay!

(it's maybe a little sacrilegious to like the long pants costume, given that she is so well-known for the bodysuit and fishnets. but to be fair, even when they cut the legs off this suit, she still isn't wearing the stockings. her legs are naked. 0/10 what the HELL.)

sean izaakse deserves his own post and i would not be able to pick out a limited number of panels from his work on green arrow (2023) but i will say i love dinah's new costume, i love the texture on her jacket, and i love that she gets to have the little canary logo on the chest now.

i assume this was more of a birds of prey (2023) design and not izaakse's personal design, but i love how he draws her hair, and she's so short compared to everyone, and overall she just looks good. zero complaints here.

(actually, i do have a few complaints, they just aren't about dinah. one, lian's eyes should be brown. two, ollie should have KEPT HIS HORRIBLE MANBUN, THAT'S MY DAD. and three, mia's cape should still be yellow on the outside. otherwise, the art in this run is perfect.)

speaking of mia.

the art of green arrow (2001) is not like. my favorite art style ever in terms of aesthetics. but hester really, really sets the tone for a lot of these characters through his design choices. particularly mia, which makes a lot of sense given this is her introduction and he did a lot of the initial work with her character.

the thought put into her costuming. she's wearing baggy clothes to contrast with what she wore before she moved in with ollie, she has the hair up in a messy ponytail, etc etc. this mia is everything to me. and i love ollie, too. he looks like a cartoon dad from a nickelodeon show. which is exactly who he is, to me.

we're gonna detour from dc and into marvel for just a second but don't worry we'll come right back. i was really excited when kelly thompson and leo romero were announced for birds of prey (2023) because i really liked their work on hawkeye (2016). it's such a good style for kate bishop, in particular; it feels very youthful and the style just suits her. this is The Kate Bishop, to me, outside of the 2012 run.

(i also really, really like the way dinah is drawn in birds of prey (2023). she's small, she's compact, she looks like someone who's been doing gymnastics and karate her whole life. i could also fit her in my pocket! perfect!!!!)

but yeah okay i mentioned it so i also need to shout out hawkeye 2012. this comic's aesthetics were so fucking on point, and it is one of my favorite ones i've ever edited because it has such an INTENTIONAL color palette and use of graphics like the arrows and bullseyes.

like i know everyone talks about how good this run is but that's because it is LITERALLY that fucking good. the writing. the art. the characterization. ugh. life-changing.

anyway that's enough marvel (for now). back to my hovel. dc.

spiritworld (2023) was so fun. the art is so intentionally drawing on manga and i loved it from the first issue. you can feel the love put into the character design and the color work, and xanthe's cool bomber jacket and undercut is SO essential. this is the nonbinary rep we deserve.

shoutout to cass's look in this comic, too. i LOVE this costume for her. it moves in such a fun and exciting way when she's flipping around and moving through the air, it has a new silhouette, AND it STILL has the bat on the chest. perfect. everything to me. never change.

that being said, i DO have a favorite cass look, and it's these specific panels from batgirl (2000). the style in most of that comic is great, it's super funky and fun, but these were the panels i saw that ended up solidifying in my brain as "oh, that's cass."

also from batgirl (2000) though, i love the funky design choices because they give us things like PEAK takes on stephanie brown's spoiler costume. she's just a fucking blob to me. look at her.

steph has a lot of fun looks, to me, but my favorite will always be the era in like, issues 110-112 of robin (1993), where they gave her a bob cut and big :pleading: emoji eyes.

i do wish she'd had freckles at this time. i know they were a later addition, but i like them. they add character.

unrelated to AAAANY of that, i need to talk about poison ivy (2022). this run is stuuuuuunning. i've only pulled panels of pamela here because i LOVE the way her freak body horror is done, as well as the way her hair is drawn, but the scenery and the textures of this comic as a whole are insane.

even when the story isn't grabbing me, the art does. it's beautiful, it's unlike any other comic i'm reading right now, and it is one of the first comics i ever looked at that made me go, oh fuck, that's an ART piece. ykwim.

HOWEVER. if we're talking about comics that are just. art. through and through. there are a couple others i need to mention.

supergirl: woman of tomorrow is stunning. the colorwork, the hair texture, the EXPRESSIVENESS of the FACES. ugh. this comic made me cry, yeah, but it also made me stroke the pages lovingly because of the beautifully rendered colors.

i love that kara doesn't always look Pretty. i love that she gets bloody, and beat up, and she looks tired and sad and sick sometimes. i love that it is so beautiful and also you can see genuine hurt on kara's face. ugh. UGH. this comic!!!!

now for the indie shit lol. die (2020) is sooooo lovely. stephanie hans is ordinarily a cover artist, but she jumped onto this project to do pages, and my GOD is it beautiful. the character design, the colors, the expressions. it feels like a PAINTING and i want to EAT it.

there's a lot of body horror and gruesome stuff in here. but like, somehow, even that manages to look pretty? i love the painterly textures. i love how the tone influences the colors. it's all just stunning. i need to go reread this one right now, actually.

annnnnnnd! last one, i promise! it's time for THE FORGED (2023).

i love this comic. everyone in it is a lesbian with an atypical body type, half of them are wearing bondage gear, and it's all set in a space sci-fi setting with more lore than you can shake a stick at.

and on TOP of all of THAT. LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THE COLORS ARE.

there are a few honorable mentions i don't have room to include images of, so i'm gonna go off and list them now:

the wild west arc of exiles (2012) in that very painterly style

the scenery and background work in wonder woman: the hiketeia

the INCREDIBLY clean lines and sharp colorwork of dan mora in world's finest (2023)

the super sketchy and rough pencil-esque art in the back half of green arrow/black canary (especially mia! i love her!)

i am sorry but i enjoy the very sharp style of batgirls (2022). i don't necessarily endorse the writing or the story of the run, but i think the shapes are good. sorry. take me out back, i know.

young justice (1998) also has very cute cartoony art!! i haven't read much of it yet, but every time i see it, it makes me smile. which is the point, i think?

OKAY. PHEW. do you regret asking me yet, gobby. did you get what you came for. am i welcome to come yell at you about the forged (2023) and die (2020) until the day we both shed this mortal coil and depart for the great beyond.

that's it ily mwah thank you for the best question i've ever been asked <3333

#ask.tb #stainedglassgoblin #I HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING RANKING DINAH'S OUTFITS FOR LIKE FOUR DAYS. HOW DID YOU KNOW.#that's not what this is. this is a mess of a post. but dinah's sure in it a lot.#i may come back tomorrow with more images. only time will tell.

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real-odark · 2 months

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25apcsb enjoyers listen to me talk about(/kind of review it for you? except not really because i will never say anything bad about this production) my favorite production of the show!

ever.

MAD theater i LOVE YOU.

i saw their production live (the first time ive ever seen this show live or a production by this company) and it was AMAZING. this is my favorite cast for this show hands down and let me show you some stuff and why you should love them, too !!

(IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ME TALK ABOUT IT/WOULD RATHER SEE THE CAST, I HAVE PICTURES AND A VIDEO NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!!)

here are all of the spellers! arent they the cutest :3 they all portray their characters PERFECTLY, and im currently on a hunt to see all of them in more performances because WOW . i know the point of the show is for it to be obvious these arent preteens playing them but all three of the girls were so cute honestly id trust them if they said they were it was so good. im gonna talk about all of them too !;;

their leaf was obsessed with sonic (sporting a nice sonic cape), and had a very good dynamic with every character and audience member he interacted with ! he say by me when he was eliminated and we talked a bit, and met his actor after the show. ALSO, playing logainne's dad with his soda and being the soccer mom ever is 100% approved by me . the way he effortlessly exchanged between the two roles was . AH.

olive was PERFECT. i cried at the i love you song so bad her little pom poms and im just mhejkn, her fidgeting with the strings of her cat hoodie whenever she was nervous was a great detail just small things like that

CHIP. chip chip chip. boy scout of the year, and JESUS ON A SCOOTER. he was so sassy and his little shenanigans made this character so good hed bite his lip and do little faces like that all the time he never broke id trust this man with my life

barfee , so nerdy i cannot resist this guy. he looks like he smells like hamburger and you know what? perfect. meeting him afterwards, he said that his shoes (for magic foot) were glow up sketchers and both of them were supposed to glow but only ONE did (the other broke) a few nights before and what a champ because he just went with it and CHANGED THE FOOT HE WAS USING to match the one that glew. i wouldve had a breakdown but go richard brown. through the whole show his bad accent and wet dog looks intrigued me

marcy was literally perfection, she had ME stressin out for her. i was sitting by the actresses' grandma and she was so fond of her its so cute. her singing voice is AMAZING there is a clip online i know of its on the theatre's tiktok but to hear that in person when its the song that got me into the show was wow. i relate to her very much and she made this character so personal even with just being in bits and pieces of the show

and finally, logainne. god she was SO FUNNY. the interactions between her and her dads, as well as the other spellers, were hilarious but also so real feeling. her actress, taylor,'s dedication to this role really showed and it worked awesome in the character. her appearance and outfit is the BEST for logainne btw??? no ones talking bout that its so so her ...,

^ also since i mentioned leaf's water bottle, logainne had a pride one + barfee had a pokemon cup. i think olive had one but if she did it was in the bleachers so i couldn't see, but i love how all of their bottles (yes even something just SMALL LIKE THAT) represent their characters the details in this show are sjsjd

here is a picture with the adults too! ill talk abt those three next;;

rona. again, had me crying in the stands. she was adorable the whole show though, with her little quips and interchanges !! her + panch were so funny and also shes GORGEOUS?? but her soccer mom teacher type deal is exactly what i picture rona as.

panch reminded me very very much of ron swanson. he was so sarcastic and hes just such a big guy with all these kids it played off so well !! i love so many different interpretations of panch like twink panch and butch panch, but i think this burly panch with his soft, creepy side for rona was my favorite !

and now, lastly, mitch. HE KEPT BUSTING OUT AS THE SIDE CHARACTER WITH THE AMAZINF SINGING VOICE AND IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD EVERY TIME ??? mitch himself was so so awesome, the tattoos and drug apparell (i am struggling spelling that) fit so well. and also, he just looks so mitch mahoney doesnt he?? like. the character fits the actor so well id be shocked seeing anything else from them because mitch was the perfect role... again, his brief dynamic with all the kids is so goofy

the set;;

it was so cute and the details in the posters on the wall were so childish it made me giggle. they even advertised their theatre's next production, which will be urinetown!! they had seats ON the stage (which is where i sat, naturally), which i think makes for a fun and realistic effect !! when the spellers were eliminated, theyd sit there (they had reserved spots) :3

its evident that all of the cast members had very good relatioships and play off that REALLY well

a little photo dump of them!! on the MAD theatre social medias, they have more and clips of them, too!! id definitely reccomend checking them out because the show's closed :3

overall; i have so much love for this cast and MORE PEOPLE NEED TO AS WELL!!! so here you go ��😊

#25apcsb #rona lisa peretti #douglas panch #mitch mahoney #olive ostrovsky #logainne schwartzandgrubenierre #leaf coneybear #marcy park #william barfee #chip tolentino #jett talks (me)#musical theatre #theatre

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ashen-crest · 1 year

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Listen. Before my phone runs out of battery, I have to tell you about how I visited a small surf town in New Zealand and ran into Emry Karic.

Sort of.

So, my husband and I have a few hours to wander around this little town. It’s cute- lovely waterfront, lots of cafes and surf shops. There’s even a few art galleries scattered around. Overall, a very chill hippie town.

We stop for lunch, and while The Husband is in the restroom, I wander around the street. Turns out, there’s a bit of heaven right next to our restaurant: a tiny bakery/cafe nestled beside an equally tiny used bookstore.

Both are exactly how you want them to look. The bakery has somehow managed to fit an upright piano in between a mountain of baked goods, chocolates, and sandwiches, all piled on antique furniture in front of deep teal walls. The bookstore is even more cluttered- floor to ceiling shelves, a separate nook for fantasy and sci-fi. Both places are perfect.

But, me being me, I stop in and look around the bakery first. They have at least a dozen different hot cocoa flavors on the chalkboard- another point in this bakery’s favor- but no barista at the register, nor anywhere in the space. I turn to leave.

“Hello!”

I turn around and, for a brief instant, I’m looking directly at Emry Karic.

It’s just for a split second- truly only a glimpse of an olive green vest, white shirt, brown curly hair, and the brightest, most Emry smile I’ve ever seen in my whole life- but it was enough to make my brain sputter. It’s embarrassing, but I think I stopped breathing for half a second.

Now, upon second review- as the newcomer slides behind the counter and I try desperately to be Completely Normal About This- he’s not Emry, of course. He’s paler, he’s got facial hair, his vest is decidedly fleece (an odd choice in summer). But we need to circle back around to his smile, because Jesus Christ on a pogo stick. It’s one of those smiles that punches you in the face with how wide and beaming it is, while also looking genuine and effortless. It’s how I always imagined Emry smiling. It’s wonderful.

So, upon being struck by all this, I immediately leave the cafe.

I look for my husband. He’s not outside yet. I stand awkwardly on the sidewalk. Then wander around the bookstore for a bit. I go back onto the sidewalk. Still no husband.

Fine, I think. Fine fine fine. It’s a bakery. I can just go back in and order something from Smiling Coffee Man Who Is Not Emry Karic. That’s easy, right?

I go back in.

“You’re back!” he says, still smiling. Frankly, I’d have preferred not to be recognized, but it’s a tiny cafe and I was just here a few minutes ago and I’m wearing a very large backpack and honestly what can you do.

I go to the counter and stare at the hot and iced chocolate list. I wasn’t lying when I said there were a dozen options. I mumble something about trying to decide what to get and Smiling Coffee Man (hereby shortened to SCM) politely goes off and busies himself with, I don’t know, some kind of machine while I panic.

In my panic, which lasts either six seconds or six years, who knows, I choose the Gingerbread Ice Chocolate.

SCM (still smiling, I should note) asks a question in an accent I can’t place, but I vaguely hear the words “ice cream” and I say yes.

(This is a sound practice in any context. I am old and wise, so you can trust me on this.)

Anyway, I get my ice chocolate. It’s stupidly large. There’s whipped cream on top. There’s cinnamon ice cream in it. I’m delighted and intimidated and I immediately leave again.

Now here’s the end of the story, you may think. This is where she goes on her merry way and doesn’t bother SCM or herself any further.

And this is where you’re wrong, because upon meeting with my Husband, I inform him that Emry Karic is running that cafe and also I want to get some pressed paper for my friend simply because I am a Good Friend and no other reason.

(My husband is an incredibly patient man.)

And I do genuinely want the paper. Some local artist has made lovely little cards with ink drawings and hand-pressed flowers to sell at the front counter, and I missed my friend’s birthday and I know she’d love one.

So I go back in. Again.

Please note that it’s been about a half hour, maybe more, since my last visit, but SCM immediately throws both hands in the air and says with a big grin, “you’re back!”

(I scream internally. I am still screaming internally.)

Husband and I review the cards. I find the perfect one, if I do say so myself. I check out. SCM still has a big smile on his face. I try not to look at him while I’m processing my card payment. I glance up. He’s still smiling at me. It’s overwhelming.

I finally take the card and truly, for the last time, leave this poor man alone after single-handedly funding his cafe for the day.

I wish I had a more climactic ending for you, but I’m now on the other end of the country, far away from the surfing town, and off to new adventures. My only relief comes from the fact that I will never come across an Ambrose Beake in real life because he has blue hair and pointy ears.

But I hope that on your part, you see someone, whether it be a stranger or friend or lover, whose smile punches you in the face. And I mean that in the best way possible.

#I’m not even sure how to tag this #emry karic #?#the stray spirit #I suppose?

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bokettochild · 12 days

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Weekly check in with stardust

i have been creating a lot of stuff and im nearly done with my online science course and should be done by the end of this week!

the other week was eid and ur girlie made sweets, dressed up, visited a friend, and made Mario Lego B) I also got stickers for my laptop but that's unrelated lol

also we made bakhlawa and makrout they are literally my favorites lol, even the people at my friends party seemed to really like them too lol

apparently I look really good in olive green so that's like also a major win for me

the stickers are like vintage looking florals ones lol

btw I've been working so much on my four swords DND au, I'm not sure what to call It tho? I was thinking like "Four Keys" because the swords are literally keys to a secret realm or whatever

btw have u had any good recipes recently? Im fasting just because I can and rn I'm just thinking about food lol

i made a fajita tonight using colored peppers too lol

if u have any good recipes please tell me I love hoarding them

btw, I have one character left with enough space for an additional trauma/mental issue on my roster for the au so honestly just send me a few different ideas for them and I'll probably choose one lol

btw the dudes got the thickest Russian accent, is very brutally honest, soft and gruff, non nonsense and needs to adopt every small thing in sight or else he will die because this is how he's coping.

he was stuck in like an iceberg for like 200 years (there's a wholes Tory behind that) and then we he emerged (thats also a story) everyone he knew is kinda super dead because of the passage of time

*someone saying something stupid*

"Your voice, very ugly, please, do the shut up :] "

thats him in a nutshell^

also remember to do wrist and finger stretches for writers and artists

also I acquired a glass orb with glass art inside <3 o r b

also what's legend's irrational fear?

also I love legend being like, an actual good influence on wind in his own weird way

i want them to bond more, maybe do a whole stealing heist from some knights-

im not asking u t write it but I just wanted to share lol

i hope you've been doing well, u seem to be lol

also do u like wearing jewelry? and if so how often lol

Wow, that's a wall! (pos)

I'm glad you got to enjoy some nice food, time with friends, and dressing up! Also, it sounds like you're having a ton of fun creating recently! I am as well, but it's slow going as I'm working on a multi-chap that's very demanding about where and what is supposed to happen (I did this to myself but the results are fantastic!)

"Four Keys" sounds like it has great potential as a title! I like it! I also love the Russian accent. the character is giving slight Captain America vibes, but only for backstory, and I love the concept so much!

As for a irrational fear..... ma am I bad at those I rationalize anything so... maybe large empty spaces? Usually those are indicative of a boss fight in his mind, so just having one that isn't hiding some threat throws him way off. He's also insanely wary of any room with a tiled floor. Because >:)

I also love him and Wind! The fact that they're both on the younger side here but also both accustomed to being the person others look to gives great opportunities for them to bond and interact. Legend has a lot of experience to share but he's also not up on a pedestal like Time or Warriors is, so there's more opportunity for direct communication and less a need to impress. (I actually just finished writing something with them, as it happens!)

I'm honestly not the best baker in the world, or cook in general (I'm still building up my recipe book after leaving my parent's house) but I can share my mum's bread recipe! It's very good, for every day, or to make into rolls for the holidays and with nice meals!

Recipe makes 4 large loaves btw

Dissolve 2 packages of dried yeast into 4 cups of warm water.

In a separate bowl, mix 1/2 cup soft butter with 1/2 cup of honey (you can also add 1/4 cup of molasses for super dense rolls/loaves).

Once the honey-butter is combined, add the yeast water to the bowl

Scoop in 6 cups of whole wheat flour + 4 cups white flour.

Mix, knead, and set into greased bread-pans, or roll into balls on a cookie sheet.

Bake loaves for 35-40 min at 375 F, or rolls for 10-15 min at the same.

After you remove it from the oven, brush generously with butter before they cool, for extra flavor and to preserve moistness.

Hope this one makes you happy! It's great to use in sandwiches, serve with soup, or eat with jam, or alone!

#asks and answers #stardust my beloved

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blackswaneuroparedux · 10 months

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Anonymous asked: What do you think about John Oliver? (The British American comedian and talk show host.)

I honestly have no strong opinions about John Oliver only because I haven’t avidly watched all he’s done. What I have seen of his HBO show ‘Last Week Tonight’ left me lukewarm if not indifferent.

In England Oliver followed a well trodden path of most British comedian-satirists. He went through the Cambridge Footlights comedy club as a student at Cambridge - the seed bed of talent that included half of Monty Python, Douglas Adams, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Richard Ayoade, and other notable writers and actors. But after that he reached what I say the second tier of British comedy fame by doing comedy gigs at Edinburgh every year, appearing on lots of BBC light hearted satirical news panel shows, and then briefly a podcast for the Times. So not a stand out success story.

But I don’t really blame John Oliver for that. It’s just how the comedy culture is in the UK. There just isn't that much room in Britain for non-standup comedians. It’s a very small ecosystem. If you're a stand-up (and I suspect, if you're represented by Avalon, the big UK comedy agents), you can get on the panel shows, do one man comedy tours, and probably get a sitcom gig - and thus make a decent living. If you're not quite that sort of comedian, or more of a writer/character comedian, you either scrape a living from Radio 4 for writing gigs, or you look elsewhere.

America came to Oliver’s rescue. He only really got visibility when his run of the mill stand up routines caught the attention of the producers at John Stewart’s Daily Show where he started as a writer. And the rest is history as they say with his own weekly satirical news show on HBO ‘Last Week Tonight’.

I don’t think it’s controversial to say he’s still not really known back in the UK. He’s an American citizen now from what I gather and so I’m sure he’s not too bothered given his own glittering achievement in the US.

But how may I explain why I feel underwhelmed towards the comedy of John Oliver?

I was comparing notes about the differences between American and Brit humour with an American work colleague who was at Harvard and almost did stand up comedy as alternative career in NYC but bombed. He really liked Oliver and really liked his humour. I couldn’t understand it until it dawned on me that Oliver’s brand of humour isn’t really British per se but very Americanised. I find a lot of his humour revolves around shouting things in a state of exasperated disbelief. In effect Oliver has that British sarcasm which, in the British accent, comes across as authoritative to the American ear and therefore more humorous. But he also has that classic American shouting and gawping aspect which typifies American comedy styles.

I think that type of humour isn’t really British and doesn’t go down too well as I think Brits prefer humour that is either more surreal or dry but delivered with more restraint, at least when it comes to political humour. I suspect a lot of Americans see him as the token ‘funny British guy’. That plays very well to American audiences. But I doubt being British in-and-of-itself isn't as easy to add to your comic persona if you're performing to a Brit audience.

Not to get meta but I think Oliver wants to have his cake and eat it. I get the suspicion that his performance is a performative in the sense that he plays what he thinks Americans like about British humour but it’s utterly watered down to the American market - in other words as dull as dish water and not very risqué or edgy that Brits are used to - or were until the cancer of woke infecting British comedy, case in point the canceling of foul mouthed but funny Scottish black comedian Jerry Sadowitz from the Edinburgh Fringe festival).

Worse, Oliver comes across as too polished for a Brit audience - “All tits and no teeth” as one comedian writer friend of mine at the BBC told me once.

I think if you see enough of his own show ‘Last Week Tonight’ you can lift the Wizard’s curtain and see the simple formula played on repeat each week.

Leaving aside the low hanging fruit easy gags (e.g. against Trump and Republicans in general). I have no issue going after politicians - I loathe them all - but it’s just not funny. Going after corporates is also fine. But I don’t think it’s particularly informative most of the time and especially where he is liable to misunderstand or twist facts. Not surprisingly his views on gender affirming care for children (ie mutilation and sterilisation of pre-pubescent children) is predictable hot mess of sheer ignorance and virtue signalling.

It’s not so much a criticism but as much older friends have pointed out that in many ways he’s mimicing an iconic satirical news show from the 1960s, David Frost’s ‘That Was The Week That Was’ that first broadcasting in 1962 and was a satire hit charting and subverting the changing nature of British society and cultural life in the 1960s. It didn’t last long but what it did was explode a satire bomb under British society for decades to come. In many ways it paved the way for Monty Python and Private Eye (a satirical magazine that still is the bane of the British political, media, and arts establishment).

Oliver’s show doesn’t have the comic wit and charisma to pull off great satire.

For me the irksome problem with Oliver is that he’s consciously manufactured being a British guy playing at being an American version of a British guy doing comedy. So the way he acts just doesn’t seem quite right to Brits looking in. Something smells off even as he looks and sounds so sanitised.

His brand of satirical comedy of speaking truth to power schtick doesn’t work in the UK if only because it’s already been done very well (Stewart Lee) or done really bad (Nish Kumar).

Moreover BBC shows like the long running ‘Have I Got News For You’ would be our equivalent of the Daily Show but as a panel show. Over its twenty odd years it been really good or just averaging, but it ticks that box of British self-deprecating style of humour while also dishing out cutting barbs. But whatever Oliver does still doesn’t come close to what British satire does (or used to do).

Thanks for your question.

#question #ask #john oliver #satire #daily show #british comedy #comedy #british satire #american satire #culture #american comedy #HBO

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radley-writes · 1 year

Note

Hello there! Multiple things. First, you exist! You have a face! And a voice! Not just the author of a book and want to have read and the owner of a blog I read most every day! Wow! Wow wow wow! Wow! Is that too many wows? Probably. Moving on, the horrors looks like my cat (his name is Oliver and he is dense and grumpy and a guardian and I love him)! Next, we have pronunciations! I pronounce year like "yur," usually, but I sometimes get self-conscious about it. (continued)

I have to go to war with the entire state of Nevada now

I hope u understand

Multiple answers! Whether I exist or not remains a matter of hot debate, as I keep promising to show up to things in person and then forgetting about them. I am Schrodinger's author. Seguing from Schrodinger, The Horrors also exists in an in-between state, at once a chubby cuddle-cat and an eldritch monstrosity who feasts on fingers and my woeful tears. Please give Oliver a kiss on his leetle head for me? It's very important that he knows I love him <3

I love "Yur"! Accents and pronunciation are super interesting to me, and I'm always fascinated by how much variation there is across the world~ I also find it amusing that you, the American, say it as "Yur," as in 'shine yer shoes guvna', while I, the Brit, say it basically as 'yee-ha', despite being the furthest thing imaginable from a cowboy. Look at us, swapping stereotypes!

I'm glad I came up with a few novel ways to mispronounce Nevada. What was your favourite? I must admit, I'm a fan of Neevada! If you wake up one morning and every sign in your state has been graffitied to 'correct' the spelling in line with my terrible pronunciation, you know who's to blame. Thank you for telling me the actual pronunciation! If the one thing I take from today is that Nevada has a dad hidden in the middle of it, I'll be happy.

And last but not least - you can certainly ask me writing questions! And ramble about your life! And tell me Oliver facts (though I'm afraid I'll have to demand cat tax.... pleasepleaseplease show me his squishy little face)! My inbox is open!

I hope you enjoy my book! I'm honestly thrilled that you're excited for it. Hearing that means a lot!

I'm dropping the links below as a shameless self-promo, don't mind meeeeee

Tweet!

Goodreads page!

BUY MY BOOK HERE!

UK version here!

#radley rambles

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foreveralwaysanauthor · 1 year

Text

Scattered Screams (Part 2/12)

January 5, 2023

Kiss your loved ones goodbye for you may never see them again.

I had been in the meeting room once before - for Mick. Sadly, it hadn’t changed in the year since I had been there. Unlike most other districts, District 3 is known for being clean and sterile so potential germs and dust can’t ruin the tech we work with. Our homes, on the other hand, aren’t usually held to that standard; we would prefer comfort over cleanliness any day. It seems as though whoever designed the meeting rooms didn’t get that memo. The room is a cold white with accents of gray and silver here and there. One wall is a mirror that I suppose is there to make the room feel larger, but it only makes me feel more enclosed. The furniture in the room is minimal and plain; the chairs and couch are rigid and have very thin cushions, giving them an uncomfortable appearance that makes me feel like even the floor would be more comfortable.

There are no decorations on the walls - or any windows, for that matter - and, despite being practically untouched apart from meeting times every year, the room is free of dust. It smells of bleach and citrus - an awful combination that reeks of sterility. While it reminds me of the chemicals we use to clean the lab every night, the smell combined with the white, cold aesthetic the room possesses almost makes it feel like a hospital room, but far less comforting. Honestly, I probably would have preferred to be sitting in a hospital instead.

Despite wanting to see my family before leaving, I want nothing more than to leave the room and conduct our meetings somewhere else. I find a semi-comfortable spot on the couch while I wait for everyone to come, but the couch is stiff and it doesn't take long for me to move. Resorting to pacing the floor, I find myself feeling claustrophobic in the windowless box of a room. Thankfully, only a few minutes go by before the door opens and my first visitors are allowed in.

Unsurprisingly, my family is the first. My parents look furious, but it’s evident that they’ve been crying. Oliver and Abigail are quick to hug me, but Abby is too busy firing off questions and answering them herself to let Olly talk. “Are you scared?” she asks as she pulls away. “You don’t look it. Did you think this would happen?” I open my mouth to answer and she cuts me off, “I mean, you asked me not to volunteer, so I guess you must have. Is that why you asked me to not volunteer?”

This time, Oliver reaches over and covers her mouth before speaking, “Are you going to let her answer you, or are you just going to keep answering your own questions?”

Abby says a muffled apology and I offer everyone the chance to sit before quietly explaining, “Mick’s parents thought the reaping might be rigged after the stunt they pulled, but they said they would try to find a way to keep me out of it. I guess it didn’t work.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to us?” Mom asks.

“I only found out last night,” I sigh. “If I thought there was any way around it, I would’ve said something.”

My family sits in silence, taking in what I’ve said. It takes a while, but eventually, my dad sends me a small smile and says, “You seem to be handling this better than the rest of us are.”

A chuckle comes out as I agree, “Yeah, well, I guess I’ve had a bit more time to accept that this could happen.” I smile and say, “Somewhere deep down, I’m terrified. But I know that I have Riven on my side and he’s not afraid to beat up people who come near his friends. We also have two amazing mentors who can get us some great sponsors, so I’m not too worried.”

Oliver’s head falls onto my shoulder as he hugs me from the side. “What about Mick?” he asks softly. “What do we tell her?”

“I’m sure she already knows,” I sigh. After thinking for a moment, I add, “Wait a day or two for the Peacekeepers to leave before you go talk to her. That gives her time to calm down and process things. Ask her if she needs anything - food, water, someone to stay with her, things like that.”

Abby is quick to offer, “I could stay with her.”

“Or she could stay with us,” Mom offers, sharing a look with Dad who nods in agreement. “That way, nobody would question why an empty house in Victor’s Village has the lights on.”

It’s a good idea. Maybe she’ll decide to take my room. Mick is a sentimental sap, she’d probably blather on about how lovely it is to feel so close to me despite being physically far apart. “That’s smart,” I say with a nod. Taking my siblings' hands, I find myself commanding their attention as I say, “When she feels up to it, ask her to train you the way she trained me. It’s never too soon to start and you already have some experience. She’ll like that.”

“What if she doesn’t want to train us?” Oliver asks.

I shrug, “Then I’ll do it if I come back.”

“You’ll come back, Viv,” Dad says, almost as though he’s reassuring himself, not me. “You’re strong, smart, and fast. Your chances are high.”

As much as I want to believe him, I can’t bring myself to. The tributes from the Career districts are almost always bigger, stronger, and have years of training experience under their belts. I have an advantage when it comes to stealth and speed from years of running competitively in school and playing hide and seek with my siblings, but my strength lies in my knowledge, not my muscles. If it comes down to a fistfight, I have a little under a year of training and a slim chance of winning. However, to appease everyone in the room and not show them how I truly feel, I smile and say, “I’ll do my best to make it home.”

There’s nothing more to say as a Peacekeeper opens the door, telling us to wrap it up. My parents look distraught as we stand from our seats, but it’s Abby who grips me first, her arms tight around my ribcage and her boney chin digging into my shoulder. She’s not the overly affectionate type, preferring to give little, handmade gifts than spend five minutes cuddling on the couch, so her embrace surprises me. Oliver soon follows, taking my free side and bringing his arms around my shoulder and Abby’s back. Our parents bring us in, trapping us between them briefly before we are forced to separate. Before leaving, my mom and dad bring me into a final hug and press a kiss on either side of my head.

“We’ll see you as soon as you step off the train, pumpkin,” Dad assures me, running a hand over my hair as he steps away. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I say in return as he follows my siblings out of the room, leaving me with Mom.

Mom pulls her necklace from around her neck and latches it around mine. It has her and dad’s wedding rings dangling from it and the chain is on the thicker side, but I still worry about it breaking if I’m to wear it in the arena. Mom smiles, pulls me close, and says, “Take a weapon you’re good with in training, hoard food if you can, and make people like you before the Games begin. Find a way to come home to us.”

“I won’t let you down,” I mutter over her shoulder before she pulls back.

“You could never let me down,” she claims as she takes my face in her hands. “Just know that I love you and, regardless of what happens in the arena, that will never change.”

For the first time in a long time, I have to force myself to hold back tears. I swallow thickly and smile at my mom before saying, “I love you too.”

Mom takes my hand and squeezes it tightly before walking out of the room. Just like that, I’m alone again. I don’t have much time to be alone with my thoughts as my teammates from work come in. They’re a group you’d never see together if it weren’t for work uniting them. Mac lives in what we call the Dead Zone since there is practically no service out there and hardly anyone lives there. Acer looks like a Capitol citizen with his unnaturally red hair and expensive clothing, but his mom was a hair stylist from the Capitol who fell in love with a citizen from District 3 during a vacation, so that makes him half a citizen of the Capitol and intelligible for the Games. Della, my apprentice, is wheelchair-bound due to a condition she was born with, but that doesn’t stop her from being one of the best workers on our team.

Acer is younger than me by two days, which I jokingly hold over his head every chance I get, but for some reason, he doesn’t want to joke around today. Mac is the same age as Riven, but with six siblings to take care of, I’m not surprised when the first thing out of his mouth is an apology for not volunteering. Della’s normally calm expression is gone, replaced with a rage I had only ever seen directed at her computer when something doesn’t compute properly, but she manages a small smile as she gives me a box of sweets that her mom made. Her family gives something nice to every tribute, but it still feels like something special.

“Don’t worry about the lab while you’re gone,” Mac assures, as he helps Della lock her wheels in place. “Riven told us where he left his and Mick’s notes on how to run everything.”

I find myself nodding almost robotically. “That’s good. I’m sor-”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” Della commands, her dark brown, almost black, eyes pointing daggers my way. “You have no control over this shit.”

A voice on the other side of the door, presumably that of Della’s mother, squawks, “Della Pearl!”

Della’s eyes widen before she rolls them and replies, “Sorry, Amma!”

For the first time since he entered the room, Acer cracks a smile as he nudges the younger girl. “Next time, whisper.”

Mac smacks the back of Acer’s head, earning him a shocked glare from the redhead. Before the two of them can get into it, I let out a chuckle and shake my head, “I’m going to miss you guys.”

Their visit doesn’t last long, but I give them instructions on how to operate my computer and lab equipment and tell them how to find my stash of hidden snacks. Our time is up before I know it and our goodbyes are quick. Della’s mother peers into the room as she takes hold of Della’s wheelchair, waving goodbye to me and wishing me good luck as the door closes. I hear Mac and Acer try to help Della out as her mom tells her off in the hall, but it isn’t long before their voices fade into nothingness.

I doubt anybody else will come to visit me. My family and friends from work have come and gone. Della’s mom, one of the best bakers in the district, doesn’t visit since she had her daughter deliver the goods she would normally give the tributes. I don’t have a lot of friends since most of my time is spent in the lab or at home. The only other people who would probably visit me are Mick and her parents, but Mick can’t see me because of the numerous Peacekeepers that came from the Capitol during the night, and her parents are my mentors - I’ll see them on the train.

To my surprise, though, the door opens once more and Bissette Cabel, the mayor’s daughter, steps in. She smirks at my look of confusion and sits on the far end of the couch, facing me. Her almost white blonde hair is slicked back in a neat bun at the crown of her skull and her red, velvet dress stands out against the white furniture like a drop of blood in the snow. Bissette and I have rarely spoken due to her being selectively mute, but we’ve spent enough time together to consider ourselves friends. She and her father visited us after Mick’s death in last year’s Hunger Games was announced and she spent a few hours sitting with me, listening to me ramble and offering whatever comfort she could. Since her father told her, Bissette is one of the few people who know that Mick is alive.

Bissette takes my hand and shakes her head as she softly tells me, “It was rigged.”

“I was warned it might be,” I say with a nod.

“Sorry,” she says.

“Don’t be,” I tell her, hoping my small smile is enough to reassure her that I’m fine. “You couldn’t do anything.”

This time, her icy blue eyes find mine and she takes on a serious tone, “I could have volunteered.”

As true as her statement is, I couldn’t imagine Bissette volunteering. It wouldn’t be the first time a mayor’s child entered the Games, but where she has no formal training, no connection to any previously reaped tributes, and the social skills of a flea, her chances of winning the Games would be slim to none. At least I had a mild chance. Ultimately, I decide to say, “I wouldn’t have wanted you to.”

She shrugs and looks away, but the lingering thought that she wanted to volunteer is enough for me. Bissette’s gaze returns to mine as she speaks, “What do I say?” She’s being careful with her words, knowing the Peacekeepers are outside, possibly listening through the thin walls. Her tentative nod to the bracelet on my wrist that Mick had worn in the arena and the faintest raise of her eyebrow tell me exactly what words cannot. What does she say to Mick when she visits her later on?

“Whatever you think is best,” I offer with a shrug. “I’m sure there will be a lot of emotions to sift through, but I’m sure your presence will be enough.”

Bissette nods hesitantly. The idea of going up to a person who had been in the arena and trying to comfort them must be a scary thought, especially for someone who hardly ever spoke to anyone at all. “I’ll try my best,” she says finally as she pushes herself off the couch.

I follow in standing as she reaches up and pulls one of the bejeweled sticks from her bun. She eyes me for a moment before stepping onto one of the couch cushions and directing me to turn with my back to her. Her fingers are cold and quick as she takes the top section of my hair, twists it around the stick, and tucks it into a small knot, leaving the rest of my hair around my shoulders. When I turn to face her again, she’s smiling down at me. Bissette leans down, locks her arms around my shoulders, and sways me side-to-side before stepping down from the couch.

She gives a solitary nod and says, “It suits you.”

We both know that I won’t be able to wear it in the Games as it can be considered a weapon, but there’s a chance I could wear it for the parade or my interview with Caesar Flickerman. Bissette doesn’t seem to care what I do with it, just so long as I have it. I’ll keep it with me for as long as I can. Maybe, before the Games, I could give it to Mick’s parents for safekeeping. When the Peacekeeper tells her that time is up, Bissette nods once and turns to me, presses a quick kiss to my cheek, and whispers, “Give ‘em hell, Viv.”

I give her a final nod and watch her leave the room, the door sliding shut behind her. I’m left alone for a few minutes, but soon the door opens and I’m brought back into the hall. Riven greets me and we are paraded through the hallways until we reach the fire exit at the back of the building. The sun scalds my eyes as we step outside and Riven has to walk me to the car that’s waiting for us as I’m too busy rubbing my eyes behind my glasses. Riven allows me to get into the car before him and, on the way to the train station, he begins telling me about who all visited him.

“The three dipshits came over while your parents saw you,” he says with a shake of his head, “They came in all guns blazing, going off about how the reaping was rigged until I told them to just sit and talk with me like nothing was going on.”

“Did that work?” I ask, knowing full well how they acted when they were with me.

“Not really,” Riven chuckles. “That half-pint of yours looked ready to rip someone’s head off, but they toned it down a bit.”

I find myself smiling at the thought. “I saw Bissette,” I told him after a brief silence. At his questioning look, I point at my hair and add, “She gave me one of her fancy hair sticks and said to do our best.”

Riven hums, “I’m surprised she said anything. She’s always been quiet as a church mouse.”

We talk for a while about the people who came to see us, but it doesn’t take long before the car is pulling to a stop under the concrete dome that protects the underground train station. I’ve been to the station a few times to help load up deliveries for Districts 5 and 6, but I’ve never been a passenger. We can’t see the trains from the parking zone, we’ll have to go down the long ramp into the underground tunnel where the trains arrive. The lights down there are bright like LED strips and change color depending on circumstance and what district the train is heading for. Usually, a large sign hanging from the ceiling tells us exactly where the train is heading and when it will be leaving just in case someone is colorblind and can’t tell, but most people just rely on the light system. For instance, red or green lights signify incoming and outgoing trains respectively. I had only ever seen the train heading for Districts 5 and 6, turning the color of the lights orange and pale yellow respectively, but this time, the lights are gold for the Capitol and they pulse in and out like a heartbeat. I had never seen it like that before.

When we reach the train, we’re directed to stand and smile for the cameras, letting random photographers take as many pictures of us as they want. Riven keeps his arm around my shoulders as we wait for them to finish, but he makes it a point to quietly crack jokes in my ear so the photographers get genuine smiles and laughter out of both of us. Eventually, we’re allowed inside the train where we find Mick’s parents, Mack and Brady, already waiting. Mack is quick to pull me into a hug, apologizing over and over for not being able to keep me out of the Games, but I assure her that I’ve come to terms with it already. “You shouldn’t have to come to terms with anything, Vivien,” she tells me in a hushed voice, brushing strands of hair from my face as she holds me close. “We thought we had it handled.”

“‘Handled’?” Riven asks.

I feel Mrs. Birch stiffen, almost as though she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Moving away from her just enough for her to see me, I assure her, “It’s alright. He’s a good guy.”

Riven eyes us curiously before asking, “Is this about the reaping being rigged?”

“Do you think it was?” Brady questions.

“Hell yeah,” is Riven’s response. He shakes his head and huffs, “There’s no way they’d reap a pair of siblings unless that family put in for a shitload of tesserae. Viv only had - what? Three or four entries at most? No way it wasn’t rigged.”

Mack slowly nods, releasing me from her grasp and taking her husband’s hand. “We should tell them.”

He nods, sharing a small smile with his wife before gesturing for us to follow them. They lead us into the living room area of the train which far contrasts that of the meeting room I’d been in earlier. The couches are plush and I could find myself crashing on them easily - to hell with the bed that I was supposed to stay in. Decorations, paintings, and bowls of fruit made the place feel like what I assumed the mayor’s house would be like on the inside. Even Mayor Cabel and his family couldn’t ride the train anywhere, though, so I knew this had to either be some kind of Hunger-Games-only type of thing or something for Capitol people to use for fun. Heh… Whoever could afford to ride on this train for fun must’ve been some kind of ultra-rich snob.

Once we’re seated, Mr. Birch begins, “We had a feeling that, after last year’s Games, the Capitol would try to pull something with the reaping.”

“Why?” Riven asks.

I know why. If the Capitol felt outwitted by three teenagers - technically two teens and one twelve-year-old - they would do anything to take that power back again. What better way than to go back over the previous year’s reaping and reap the people who had been volunteered for? They wanted it to hurt Mick and Miles in case they were still alive, hiding out somewhere. I have to wonder if Miles’ younger brothers were alright. I had spoken to them numerous times after Mick returned to District 3. In a way, I suppose I consider them my friends. It’s only natural that I’m worried about them.

Mack replies, “The Capitol is full of grown men and women who have superiority complexes. They were outsmarted by a twelve-year-old who liked to hide in air ducts.”

“Why does that affect our district?” Riven asks. “The kid was from Six.”

“She and the guy she went into the arena with teamed up with Mick,” I answered. “If the Capitol had even the slightest notion that something could have been planned between the three of them, that puts a target on both Six and Three.”

Riven nods slowly, taking in the information before sighing, “Makes sense, I guess. Did they do anything to the people from Six?”

Mick’s parents shrug and tell us that they aren’t sure, but they say nothing more as the train door opens, letting Halo in before sliding shut again. “Oh, good,” Halo says cheerfully, dropping her luggage to the floor, “you’re already here.”

Before anyone can say anything, the bullet train pulls out of the station, sending the unsuspecting escort to the floor with her luggage. I try my best not to laugh as the precariously pinned wig on Halo’s head slides to the carpet in a golden lump, but one look in Riven’s direction has me coughing to hide my snickers. On the other hand, my auburn-haired companion lets his laughter be known as soon as our gazes meet. By the time we’ve pulled ourselves together, Halo has taken her shoes off and made it to her feet again, hastily adjusting her wig as they send a disapproving look in our direction.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize, trying my hardest not to let out a laugh of any kind.

Riven shakes his head with a snort, “I’m not! That was fucking funny.”

“Well, I’m glad someone thinks so,” Halo huffs, stepping into the living area and dropping into the nearest seat available. I send a swift kick to Riven’s shin under the table, giving him a pleading look when he glares my way. His apology to Halo is half-hearted and meaningless, but she accepts it all the same. Almost instantly, our escort straightens in her chair, tossing glittering strands of hair over her shoulder with a proud smile. “You two should take some time to explore your quarters before we watch the other reapings. Get comfortable, relax a bit.”

I turn to Riven and shrug at his questioning glance. We stand and allow our mentors to show us down the hall. Riven’s room is the first one we come to and he’s quick to flop onto his mattress, muttering about his wildest dreams. When I teasingly ask him if he’s enjoying himself, Riven flips me the bird, something I’m quite used to seeing from him. Ultimately, Mick’s parents tell me to leave Riven to his own devices and I’m brought into another compartment that’s just for me. The room looks just like Riven’s, only mirrored. The only thing that remains the same is the bed in the center of the back wall. Off of the bedroom are two doors, one leading to a rather extravagant bathroom and the other a dressing room full of clothes and a vanity full of makeup and hair tools, some of which I had only ever seen during my sleepovers at the Birch family’s house in Victors' Village.

Instead of leaving me to explore, Mick’s parents ask if they could talk with me and, once I agree, they take a seat on the end of the bed I’m supposed to sleep on during our journey. “We thought we had the reaping handled,” Mr. Birch tells me, his apology silent, but noticeable. “We had talked it over with the people in charge of the reaping and your papers were supposed to be set aside.”

“It doesn’t really matter now,” I reply as I take a seat on a small, fluffy ottoman. “We had a feeling something like this could happen and it did. Now, I just have to try to make it out alive.”

Mick’s mom takes my hand in hers and squeezes it. “We’ll find a way to get you out of the arena.”

Without a second thought, I shake my head. “If you pull something like last year’s stunt, they’ll take it out on my siblings next year since they’re not safe from the reaping. I need to make it out alive, without any meddling. If I don’t, the twins will be in the line of fire.”

The couple finds each other’s eyes and seems to come to an agreement without saying a word. Mick’s dad turns to me and smiles as he says, “We thought you might say something like that.”

“You did?” I ask.

Mrs. Birch nods. “You’re selfless when it comes to those you love. While we waited for the two of you to get to the train, Brady and I came up with some ideas for your story.”

My confusion must be evident as Brady adds, “For the interviews and, perhaps, even for the Games themselves.”

I sigh, “Can’t I just play the distraught oldest sibling? It’s not technically a lie.”

“That was Miles’ shtick last year,” Mick’s mom claims. “You need something original.”

“We had thought of the friends-turned-lovers thing with you and Riven,” Mr. Birch states, but my disgusted expression must have told him the ‘Fuck no,’ that I desperately wanted to say. He chuckles, “It was quickly dismissed after we saw you two joking around outside the train. Besides, with him being eighteen, it wouldn't have made the Capitol too happy.”

While I felt a wave of relief crash over me, the idea that I would still have to play up some made-up storyline for the cameras was… concerning to say the least. Even though I preferred to stay honest, sometimes brutally so, I could lie when needed, but I was awful at hiding my expressions. Ask anyone. Whatever idea they wanted me to work with, it needed to be good. Hesitantly, I ask, “What did you decide on?”

With a heavy sigh, Mrs. Birch shakes her head and says, “Sadly, we haven’t. It won’t be as easy as telling Mick to play up the ‘victor’s child’ routine.”

Mick’s dad nods as he adds, “You need a storyline that will make people love you and make them want you to stay alive in the arena.”

Oh, is that all? I can barely make people like me back in District 3, how am I supposed to make the snobby people of the Capitol like me? “How, exactly, am I supposed to do that?”

“We’ll find a way,” Mick’s mom says with a smile that, for some reason, actually feels comforting. Before I can question either of them, they stand from the bed and head for the door. “For now, get washed up, relax, and we’ll let you know when it’s time to eat, alright?”

All I can manage is a hum and a nod before they open the door and slide it shut once they're outside. After some contemplation, I find myself sitting in the little dressing room, playing with makeup I never knew existed. I don’t want to think about all of the work I’ll have to put into making a good appearance for the Capitol. It’s going to take a lot more than the few days of training that I have to make me seem like anything more than the geeky lab technician that I am, but regardless of what Mick’s parents decide on, I’m willing to try.

I play around with the makeup, using what little I know from Mick’s teachings to put different creams and powders on my face without looking like something that my siblings would bring home from art class in kindergarten. Eventually, the makeup is washed away after just a few minutes in the shower. The water sears my skin, but it’s relaxing in a twisted sort of way. It’s almost like the calm before the storm, I guess. In the morning, we’ll arrive at the Remake Center. Despite the heat and steam that surround me, I shiver at the thought. I can feel it coming in the distance - being stripped naked in front of complete strangers, my hair being pulled from every follicle the prep team can find, someone intensely scrubbing until my skin turns red, the atrocious parade costume I’ll be either glued or shoved into, and the high-heeled shoes I’ll be lucky if I can stand in. Mick told me it was torture, regardless of how graceful she made it look.

Once I’m out of the shower and dressed in some silky pajamas that I find in the dressing room, I find myself staring at my reflection in what could possibly be the largest mirror I’ve ever seen. Even without the Capitol’s influence, I feel as though I don’t look like myself. The long, flowy hair that looks surprisingly frizz-less, the soft skin that feels nothing like my own, and the silk pajamas that I’ll probably regret wearing when I begin sliding around in the huge bed I’m supposed to stay in. The only thing that keeps me feeling like myself is my glasses. Mick’s gift sits atop the bridge of my nose, the purple frames shimmering in the fluorescent lights that encase the mirror. I only took them off to shower since I never brought the case with me. Seeing them on my face is nice - almost like I have a piece of Mick with me. I grin at my reflection for a moment before sighing and reaching for the light switch.

“Don’t turn the light off,” I hear a girl’s voice say in my ear.

Looking behind me through the mirror, I find nobody has entered the room. Pulling the door to the bedroom open, I find nobody there either. Seeing that I’m alone, I press a hand to my forehead and mutter, “I’m losing my mind.”

“You’re not going crazy, Viv,” the voice says. “Try not to react, but listen to my voice. You know who I am.” As much as I hate to admit it, it takes me a while to register who it is, but when it does, my eyes widen. I would know her voice anywhere. “There it is,” Mick chuckles.

“H-How is this-?”

“I can see through the star rivets on your glasses,” she explains. “You hear me through the pieces behind your ears. I worked on those glasses for months, but I didn’t want to use them unless I thought it was necessary.”

“You didn’t watch me take a shower, did you?” I ask in a whisper.

Mick snorts, “Of course not. I watched everything from the reaping until you headed for the bathroom. After that, nothing. I just had the audio on.”

She probably heard my shitty renditions of the songs I’d had stuck in my head while I was washing up. I’m not overly embarrassed at the idea since it’s not like she hadn’t heard my awful singing at least a million times during our sleepovers or at work. I nod and ask, “What happens now?”

I hear Mick sigh as she says, “For now, try to relax. Eat with my parents and Riven, watch the other reapings, and get as much sleep as you can. I’ll be with you through it all and I’m here if you need me.”

It isn’t hard for a smile to work its way onto my face. Mick is probably in the basement or her bedroom, watching me through one of the many monitors her family owns, but I can’t see her the same way. “I wish I could see you. I never got to say goodbye.”

“You’re not saying goodbye,” she declares firmly. “You’re going to get out of the arena one way or another.”

“Alive or in a bodybag?” I offer jokingly.

I can almost picture Mick’s exasperated look as she firmly says, “Vivien, I’m serious.”

“So am I,” I argue lightly. “Those are my options. There are no escape routes this time. I either make it out of the arena as a victor or I leave it by hovercraft and get delivered to District Three in a body bag.”

“It won’t come to that,” she says. I almost find myself believing her. “We’ll get you out before it ever comes to that.”

I open my mouth to say something, but am interrupted by a voice calling from the door leading out of my quarters, “Vivien?” It’s Mick’s dad. “Time to eat, honey.”

“Be right out, Mr. Birch,” I call in return.

Mick snorts, “You can call him Brady, you know. He’s not going to tear your head off.” I’m quick to shake my head and refuse her suggestion. I could never call either of her parents by their first names. At least not to their faces. It just felt wrong. “Suit yourself. Remember, if I say anything to you, act normal. They don’t need to know just yet.”

I nod to my reflection and say a simple, “Talk to you later, then,” before heading out of the bathroom. The trip down to the dining compartment is quick and quiet with no chat from Mick, but she makes her presence known when she laughs as my silk pants cause me to nearly slide out of the chair I perch myself in. Eventually, the table-wide giggle session ends and I sit cross-legged in the chair as the food is brought out for us. Since I’m fairly used to having meals with Mick’s family and the people at work, chatter comes naturally between the four of us, but Halo doesn’t seem to mind being left out of it. To my surprise, she watches on with a smile and eats her food in silence until she feels the need to speak.

With all the talk distracting us, the meal passes by quickly. To everyone’s dismay, the time to watch the other reapings comes as soon as the plates and trays of food are taken away. Halo guides us to another compartment where we’ll watch the reruns. Along the way, Mick tells me to focus on our “friendship districts” more than anything, so I make a mental note to watch for our import and export districts - 5 and 6. Every district has at least one other that they trade vital things with. District 5 sends us supply lists and schematics for new upgrades they’re working on so that we can help with the coding and building of, well, whatever it is that they need. District 6, however, is not only closer to us geographically, but also socially, in a way. We send them tech for the vehicles they make and, in return, they give us vehicles for public use such as trolleys and buses for the further reaches of the district so the people living there can get places easier. Regardless of how we treat each other in the Games, Districts 5 and 6 have always been somewhat friendly with us and vice versa.

District 1 has two volunteers - a boy who looks ready to tear people's throats out with his teeth and a girl named Jade with dark green hair and an arrogant smirk on her face. The next district, to no surprise, has two volunteers who, if Halo’s words are correct, are both named after a type of stone. Our district’s reaping is nothing to watch a second time if you ask me, but the commentators are quick to fawn over the hug I share with Oliver. One of them is particularly upset when Riven volunteers, but their opinion quickly changes when Riven hugs me and we turn to the crowd with bright smiles. Mick’s parents are quick to compliment Riven’s actions and Mick echoes a similar notion, telling me that it makes both of us look good as a team already. The commentators spout off about our incredible love for our district for a while before the reaping switches over to District 4.

The last of the Career districts reaps a dipshit who nearly stumbles off the stage in what even the commentators assume is a drunken stupor and a redheaded chick who, despite being my age, volunteers for a tall, muscular girl who could’ve easily broken the redhead’s twiggy body in half. District 5 reaps a pair that seem ready for whatever the Games throw their way - sixteen-year-olds Volt and Elektra. Their thick, coily hair and similarly pointed noses make the tributes look almost like siblings, but their last names determine they aren’t related in any way. We all seem to agree that they’re too cocky for our tastes.

District 6 comes on screen soon after, reaping a girl named Lotus Cooper and a boy I actually recognize - Royce Murphy. His older brother had been in the Games with Mick last year and, to my knowledge, his younger brother was still alive and eligible for the reaping. Royce says something to a blonde boy who refuses to let go of him - presumably his younger brother - and takes to the stage like a man on a mission. He was certainly… something. He has curly brown hair that, unlike my little sister’s, seemed well taken care of, a pair of intense, caramel eyes that seemed to tell everyone exactly what he was thinking, and a certain air about him that just oozed hatred for the Hunger Games and all of the people supporting it.

Needless to say, I like him already. It doesn’t hurt that he is fairly attractive as well. He could probably get a lot of sponsors just on looks alone. I suppose it helps that he is close with the victors who are now his mentors. The group of victors on the stage look horrified at the prospect of him being reaped and they cut the cameras from the trio of angry victors before they get the chance to show how they really feel. The commentators are quick to mention how both Royce and I had been reaped before, but have no volunteers to help us this year. They seem to like that a lot. I suppose they aren’t wrong; it seems like the two of us have a lot in common. We both have connections to our mentors, we both have a certain level of contempt for the Capitol, and we both have been reaped before. It doesn’t take much for Mick’s parents to bring up the idea of befriending him.

Riven shrugs when I ask him what he thinks of the idea. “It’s up to you, Pip. I’m just tagging along for the ride.”

He seems so nonchalant about the whole thing, something I could never achieve. Glancing at the screen, I eye the potential ally for a moment before slowly nodding. “It could work.”

“Good,” Mrs. Birch says with an almost relieved smile. “We’ll talk it over with his mentors, then.”

As I relax back into the couch cushions and the program moves onto District 7, Mick tells me, “If he’s anything like his brother, Royce will be a great teammate for you. The Capitol loved our enemies-to-friends storyline in the Games, so I’m sure that, whatever you come up with, will be just as entertaining for them.”

I chuckle softly, attempting to appear interested in the commentators' spiels, but I wasn’t paying much attention to it at all. As the reapings go on, only a few tributes stand out, but none of them seem to grab our attention as much as the boy from 6.

Once the show is over and the anthem is done playing, Halo rises from the couch, turns to Mick’s parents, and asks, “It seems as though we have good odds this year, wouldn’t you agree?”

They nod, but it’s Brady who says, “It does seem that way.”

Mack smiles as she speaks, “They’re certainly better than last year.”

Halo claps her hands together with a beaming smile and takes one of mine and Riven’s hands, staring at us with wide, excited eyes. “One of you could be the tribute to bring a victory back to District Three; isn’t that exciting?”

“Exhilarating,” Riven comments with a smirk.

“Thrilling,” I say, attempting a proud smile.

Halo lets out a high-pitched squeal before dropping our hands and scurrying off, declaring she was heading off to her room to prepare for tomorrow. As soon as the compartment door is closed behind her, a collective sigh passes through the room. Her optimism was welcoming, but it was exhausting to spend much time with her and the unrelenting perkiness she emanated. Eventually, Mick’s parents wish us a good night and head for their rooms, Riven and I following not long after. Instead of stopping at his quarters, Riven walks me to mine.

Before heading into my room, I turn to Riven and ask, “What did you mean earlier?” At his confused expression, I elaborate, “About ‘only tagging along for the ride.’”

He shrugs, an everpresent grin on his face as he says, “I’m only here to help you get as far in the Games as I can. You can choose what you want to do, whoever you want to team up with, who you want me to hurt; it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re safe, everything is fine by me.”

His answer bothers me. There’s a certain loyalty in his words, a determination in his tone, and an eerie calm in his eyes that just doesn’t sit right. Riven could win the Games if he put his heart into it. Our friendship has always been strong, unwavering, almost sibling-like, but I figured with all of that, he wouldn’t want us to stay close in the arena. “Why? Don’t you want to win?”

Riven leans against the wall and shakes his head, “Not really. I don’t want the Capitol’s cameras up my ass for the rest of my life.”

My stomach churns at the idea of him dying in the arena. He wasn’t normally the type of person to give up easily. Why was he allowing defeat now, of all times? “Don’t you want to go home?”

Riven’s answer is simple, but heartwrenching all the same, “You have two little siblings who need you, your parents need you, and Mick needs someone to keep her mentally stable in that damp-ass basement of hers, but I have no biological family left to need me around. Besides, the rest of the team can manage if they have at least one of us there still.”

“I don’t understand.” At least, I hope I’m misunderstanding his words.

“I have no real reason to go back home,” Riven claims as though it’s plain to see, “but you do. You have people who need you back in Three, I don’t. Nobody needs me enough for me to be worried about dying in the Games. There aren’t a lot of people in my life who would miss me if I died.”

“I would.”

Riven smiles and places a hand on my shoulder. “I know you would - you and the team. You guys are the closest thing I have to a family. It’s because you’re like my family that I’m doing this. I’m protecting my sister.”

I had spent countless hours training with Riven in the lab, learning his coding methods and trying to get to his level of intellect. Over time, our little group had become the only family Riven knew. My parents had invited him over for meals many times since I started working with him. He was a part of my family now. My eyes burn at the thought of him being so ready to throw away his life in the arena, especially if he was only doing it for me.

As though he senses my rising emotions, Riven reaches up and flicks my forehead the way he would if I was too wrapped up in work to hear what someone had said. “No tears, Pip.”

“But-”

“No ‘but’s,” he interrupts with a grin. “This is just what family does.” Riven wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to him briefly before letting go. His smile gives me no room to argue and I’m left with so much I want to say, but can’t. Instead of arguing with him and forcing him to listen to what I had to say - a fruitless effort - I wish him a good night and quietly enter my room, his words still echoing in my head. Mick tries to comfort me once I’m alone, but I end up telling her I was tired and taking the glasses off to let myself process things. Staring at the intricate patterns on the ceiling above my bed and trying my best not to cry at the idea of losing one of my best friends is difficult, but his words repeat over and over in my mind. Many people from other districts wouldn’t sacrifice themselves for others, sometimes not even their family members. But, like Riven said, this is just what family does… right?

#Scattered Screams #Vivien #Riven

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katbrando · 1 year

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[ questions from this post ]

101-110 - FUTURE

🌟 Are you engaged/would you get engaged? Describe/Show a picture of your ring. we aren't.. not yet anyway :))) we've been together for less than a year and it feels really early to make that move but i think we both definitely think about it anyway.. i feel like he'd be the one to propose and i'm sure he'd plan something big and special

🌟 Are you married/would you get married? Describe/Show the aesthetic of your wedding. nope, and i'm not sure! personally i'm not the biggest fan of marriage, specifically the whole performative ceremony thing ?? in theory it's very cute but the idea of being in front of people while i'm saying my vows and talking so intimately to him is Scary to me.. but if we get married then i would want it to be a very small gathering of just close friends/family, not really fancy at all.

🌟 What does your ideal home look like together? eclectic, warm, cozy, lots of neutral shades with pops of color thrown in, accent walls with vintage wood paneling, healthy and thriving plants everywhere, LOTS of natural sunlight, it's tidy but still full of little knick knacks that we've collected over the years.. there's a constant feeling of comfort and safety, it smells Amazing all the time despite the pets, several polaroids that we've taken are lining the shelves in frames, little sticky-note love notes are still hanging around in various hiding places either because they've been forgotten or we don't like to throw them away, there's always a record playing in the living room.. it's literally perfect

🌟 Do you have/want kids? If not, would you have/want pets? we do Not want kids LOL... we do, however, have/want pets! currently we have just his bearded dragon but we'd love to get a cat, and maybe a couple geckos and a snake 🥺 we love animals so so so much

🌟 If you have/want kids or pets, how would you name them? diego's beardie is lovingly named anguirus, i've already told him that if/when we get a cat its name will be oliver.. we don't know on the others, we figure a name will present itself to us eventually when we get a new pet

🌟 If you could give advice to yourselves when you started, what would you say to each other? get over yourselves HFKLDSHGDS.. for me: calm down, trust your heart this time, let him in and allow yourself to fall for him because the faster you do the quicker you'll be in his arms 🥰 and for him: go easy, don't overwhelm her with your desires, be Patient and Understanding, things will turn out just fine

🌟 What do you look forward to the most in the future of this relationship? as of right now (december 1st '22) i'm looking forward to new years :)) also our birthdays, though his is pretty far away LOL.. basically i guess i'm excited to go through special days of the year with him

🌟 How long do you think you’ll be together? How long do you want to be together? ✨forever✨ ... who knows! i like to think we're in it for the long haul, it's extremely rare that i develop feelings for someone so there's definitely something very special and long-lasting here

🌟 Do you think you’ll continue to self-ship with them for a while? y e s LOL i anticipate it going on for a while, i had a previous f/o that i essentially self-shipped with for around 5 or 6 years (the self-ship community was not as open and visible back then as it is now) and he was not nearly as fleshed out as diego is in my mind now.. honestly this is The Most i've ever felt for a fictional character 🥺 he is so stinkin special to me

🌟 In real life, are they someone you wish would be your partner? YEAH HFDJKSGS 100% no question.. i love him dearly

#dinokat #modern au #nooooooo i'm out of questions 😔 on the hunt for ask games now /j #or just lists of questions i'll answer on my own without being asked HFDSKJ bc this has been my nightly self-care

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countlessimagines · 2 years

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Hi!! Could I have a male Stranger Things ship pls? Thank you so much in advance! 💖

✓ Personality: Feisty & compassionate. I try to always be friendly & warm until given a reason not to be— then I’m a total hellcat lol bc I’m v protective of those I care about. I have a pretty snarky sense of humor which is pretty much a reflex for me at this point lol. I’m an open book & I try to be honest abt everything but still remain tactful (you catch more flies w/ honey, after all). I can be cynical sometimes but it’s just a defense mechanism so I don’t get hurt. It takes me a bit to trust but when I do, you become family to me. Don't be fooled by the sweet Valley Girl accent; I cuss like a sailor. 😆 I come off as bubbly & social but I'm actually super introverted & usually end up retreating eventually to recharge. I'm a complete night owl too lol. I desperately want a break from the monotony of everyday life & I crave adventure, romance, & new experiences. I'm generally a v intense/sensitive person, very all or nothing lol. Life isn't worth living without passion imo.

✓ Looks: I’m a 23 year old mixed race Latina w/ long dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, pale olive skin w/ a light dusting of freckles across my nose, cheeks, & forehead. My nails are always painted bc I tend to bite them otherwise (anxiety & PTSD thing). My face tag is "Merp"! I have a v naturally curvy hourglass figure & I love dressing to accentuate it, but people always underestimate me bc of it.

My friends say that I'm the personification of the Subversive Bimbo trope (like Ty Lee from "Avatar", Cher from “Clueless”, Elle from "Legally Blonde", Daphne from "Scooby Doo", Rachel from "Animorphs" etc) bc ppl see me & assume I'm a ditz bc of the way I look & the way my voice sounds (I have a Valley Girl accent 😬) but I'm actually very capable & use their underestimation to my advantage. Ppl think they know me but I’m way more than a pretty face & curves; most ppl just don’t care to look any deeper. 😕

✓ Romance: I’m a hopeless romantic who’s a sucker for romantic gestures & loves PDA; I love when my S/O is proud to be w/ me & honestly, I love romance in general. Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” is my favorite play bc of the enduring love against all odds depicted in it. I’ve survived several abusive relationships which unfortunately left me with severe PTSD— but despite being more guarded, I still look for the good in ppl, no matter what.

A lot of guys have superficial interest in me for the way I look but I want a true, undying, wholly-dedicated fairytale love not just a passing fling. I'd trade being "the Babe of Hawkins High" for the love of one person w/o a second thought. When I fall, I fall really hard. I love that instant chemistry when you have a real connection w/ someone special. I want someone strong enough to protect me but also, someone who I can protect. We could protect each other! 🥰 My goal in the future is to find the love of my life, get married & have a family w/ them, our kids, a house full of pets, a life full of romantic adventures, the whole 9 yards.

A date to me can be anything from going on random drives w/o a destination (just adventuring w/ the radio playing 🥰) to a dinner date at a nice restaurant or staying in w/ some takeout & a good movie. Being w/ the person I love is the best part to me.

Tho I’m secretly dying of nervousness on the inside, I apparently seem v confident w/ guys? I’ve tried to wingman for my friends before bc I’m not afraid to introduce myself or slip someone a phone number, but the guys just become interested in me instead & I feel RLLY bad abt that so I usually just stick to giving my friends advice instead 😅

When I'm dating someone, we tend to go at it like rabbits, if you know what I mean lol. I have a v high drive & I love the intoxicating passion + connection that comes w/ so we tend to have difficulty keeping our hands off each other. 🤭

✓ Interests: Singing, listening to music, musical theatre, astrology, literature (especially Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet 🥰), pretty aesthetics, getting my nails done, cuddles, petting animals, staying up late watching psych/true crime documentaries or stand-up, writing, going on drives, shopping/thrift shopping, anything that helps me escape.

✓ Strengths: I’m RLLY good w/ animals, like freakishly good. Animals of all kinds, wild & tame, just seem to gravitate towards me; my friends call it "the Disney Princess Effect'' 🙈

Intuitive nature— I’ve been told I have a gentle, healing aura. Random ppl just seem to just open up to me for some reason & I’m good at telling when ppl are hiding smth.

My intelligence & stubbornness make a great pair bc when I’m convinced of smth, I will fight till the end for it, even if nobody else believes in what I’m fighting for.

Self-preservation— my PTSD keeps me on edge a lot but on the bright side, it means I’m primed for survival. Those instincts keep me & those I care abt out of harm’s way.

Charm— I can generally talk my way out of trouble pretty well.

Healing Factor— I heal crazy fast which is nice lol & would be super helpful in the Stranger Things universe lol. My friends joke that I’m a lesser-known, missing member of The X-Men 😆

My protectiveness— I can go 0 to 100 real quick if it's on behalf of someone or smth I care abt, but I also know when it’s smartest to just let it go & get them back for it later.

✓ Weaknesses: My loyalty— My S/O is my Achilles Heel; I would do anything for them, go to Hell & back in a heartbeat, no matter the cost. I apologize to bugs I have to kill but I would rip someone to shreds w/ no mercy if they laid a hand on my S/O.

Iced coffee— I don’t smoke weed or drink alcohol anymore but I’m a major caffeine addict & I need my iced coffee every day or I stg, it’s like my Personal Battery dies.

Body image & self-confidence— I come off confident but I’ve actually always been super insecure abt the way I look; I’ve just gotten better at hiding it. I tend to be my own worst critic.

My anger— I am smol but I will fight. Some ppl get calm & cold when they’re angry; I burn hot, especially when it’s smth I care abt & sometimes, that clouds my judgment.

I tend to be jumpy bc of my PTSD & anxiety so my S/O would need to be someone able to handle that. I do better when I have someone to hold my hand & reassure me. 🥰

✓ Weapon: In the Stranger Things universe, my weapon would probably be a Ka-Bar: an all-purpose hunting knife that can also work in combat or survival settings. You just never know when it might come in handy & I feel best when I’m prepared.

✓ Miscellaneous: I'm an INFP, double Capricorn w/ a Libra Ascendant, enneagram 6w5, & a Slytherdor whose Patronus is a swan bc although ppl seem to highly value my appearance, the depth of my love is what I'm most proud of & I can become fearsome if the ones I love are threatened. 🦢

Thank you so much again!! 💖

STEVE HARRINGTON

#ship request #ships #stranger things #ship #ship requests #stranger things request #stranger things ship request #steve harrington

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thursdaygxrls · 2 years

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stranger things ship pairing for @bartons-never-miss !

description

Hi!! Could I have a male Stranger Things ship pls? Thank you so much in advance! 💖

✓ Personality: Feisty & compassionate. I try to always be friendly & warm until given a reason not to be— then I’m a total hellcat lol bc I’m v protective of those I care about. I have a pretty snarky sense of humor which is pretty much a reflex for me at this point lol. I’m an open book & I try to be honest abt everything but still remain tactful (you catch more flies w/ honey, after all). I can be cynical sometimes but it’s just a defense mechanism so I don’t get hurt. It takes me a bit to trust but when I do, you become family to me. Don't be fooled by the sweet Valley Girl accent; I cuss like a sailor. 😆 I come off as bubbly & social but I'm actually super introverted & usually end up retreating eventually to cuddle with my dog & recharge. I'm a complete night owl too lol. I desperately want a break from the monotony of everyday life & I crave adventure, romance, & new experiences. I'm generally a v intense/sensitive person, very all or nothing lol. Life isn't worth living without passion imo.

My friends say that I'm the personification of the Subversive Bimbo trope (like Ty Lee from ATLA or Daisy from Dukes of Hazzard) bc ppl see me & assume I'm a ditz bc of the way I look & the way my voice sounds (I have a Valley Girl accent 😬) but I'm actually very capable & use their underestimation to my advantage. Ppl think they know me but I’m way more than a pretty face & curves; most ppl just don’t care to look any deeper. 😕

A lot of guys have superficial interest in me for the way I look but I want a true, undying, wholly-dedicated fairytale love not just a passing fling. I'd trade being "the Hottie of Hawkins High" for the love of one person w/o a second thought. When I fall, I fall really hard. I love that instant chemistry when you have a real connection w/ someone special. I want someone strong enough to protect me but also, someone who I can protect. We could protect each other! 🥰 My goal in the future is to find the love of my life, get married & have a family w/ them, our kids, a house full of pets, a life full of romantic adventures, the whole 9 yards.

✓ Interests: Singing, listening to music, musical theatre (I’ve been performing in my school’s musicals since I was in junior high so I’d probably be known for that at Hawkins too lol), astrology, literature (especially Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet 🥰), pretty aesthetics, getting my nails done, cuddles, petting animals, staying up late watching psych/true crime documentaries or stand-up, writing, going on drives, shopping/thrift shopping, anything that helps me escape.

✓ Strengths:

I’m RLLY good w/ animals, like freakishly good w/ them. Animals of all kinds, wild & tame, just seem to gravitate towards me & listen to me; my friends call it "the Disney Princess Effect'' 🙈 I wonder if it would work on Demodogs too..🤔