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myheadsgonenumb · 8 months

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Murder on the Hogwarts Express: ch 1

A Marauders' Era interactive murder mystery - read all the way down to vote in the poll and influence the next chapter

Chapter 1: Death by Chocolate

Steam billowed across the platform, creating a thick pea soup from inside of which cats yowled, owls hooted, people laughed and chattered and shouted, and the scarlet engine creaked and groaned - sending vibrations down its carriages, as it was readied for the long journey north.

Hidden inside the mist was a little huddle of four people: Mr and Mrs Potter, their son James and his best friend, Sirius Black, who was trying to look as inconspicuous as it is possible to look when you are almost seventeen and the school heartthrob. It wasn’t girls he was hiding from (though he did quite a bit of that during term time - mostly in the boys bogs, with Remus) it was his own estranged parents and younger brother, who he feared might loom up out of the swirling fog and snatch him back to the dark home he had run away from that summer. Or at least yell at him in public, which was exactly the sort of thing Walburga would do, would be super embarrassing and would siriusly damage his reputation as the cool, bad boy of Hogwarts.

‘Now Jimmy, you need to try and behave yourself this year,’ Mrs Potter was saying, fondly. ‘No getting into trouble.’

‘I don’t get into trouble!’

‘No letting trouble find you then!’

‘Well, I can’t help it if I have a knack for adventure.’

‘Blowing up the boys’ toilets is not having a “knack for adventure”,’ his mother said firmly - though her lips twitched as if she was fighting down a smile.

‘That was entirely a misunderstanding… I meant to blow up the girl’s toilets.’

‘And Sirius, dear…’

‘Yes, Mrs. Potter?’

‘Watch out.’

He screamed as he was suddenly pounced on from behind and wrestled to the floor. ‘There you are!’

Above his head he could hear James and his parents laughing, which probably meant it wasn’t Walburga he was tussling with. Light brown hair and hard muscles beneath a muggle t-shirt told him he was in fact struggling in the embrace of one Remus Lupin and he rather enthusiastically wrestled back, rolling over and over until a trunk whipped past them; its wheels missing them by mere inches.

‘Blimey, Pete - you nearly took my head off!’ Reluctantly, Sirius disentangled himself from Remus, and they clambered upright again - the fourth of their party had now arrived: Peter Pettigrew, small and plump and lugging a trunk nearly as big as he was.

A light breeze blew and - for just a moment - the clouds of steam parted and they could see further down the platform. A redheaded witch, already in her uniform and with a prefect’s badge pinned to her chest, was struggling to heave her trunk aboard the train. ‘I should help her,’ James said, starting towards her. But his friends hauled him back by his collar.

‘Don’t make a fool of yourself, Prongs.’

‘She’ll only hex you.’

‘I won’t bother her, I’ll just…’ he stopped talking as a tall wizard, too old to go to school but still young and irritatingly handsome, stepped towards the girl and doffed his hat to her. She stared at him for a moment, then nodded her head… and then the mist closed around them again, and James could see no more.

‘Who was that?’ he demanded. ‘Who was that total slick git, who is way too old for her, by the way, who just put the moves on Evans?’

‘Did he “put the moves” on her?’ Remus asked.

But before James could fire off a retort, the train gave a shrill, piercing, shriek and it was time for them to say their final goodbyes and climb onboard.

They stowed their luggage in the racks and then found themselves an empty compartment (James still grumbling about arsehole older wizards who had smooth hair and straight teeth and no reason to be on platform 9 3/4), where they hung out of the windows and waved at their parents until the train had moved away and pulled completely out of the station.

Then they settled in for the long ride up to the top of Scotland. Sirius took out his newspaper and turned to the crossword, sitting beside Remus so they could work on it together.

‘Hang on a minute,’ James said. ‘Have you seen the front cover of that?’

The two boys looked up in surprise, and then turned back to the front page to see what had caught James’ attention:

Death Eaters in Dumbledore’s Domain

The headline read.

The Dark Lord Believed to Have Sent Spies to Hogwarts.

Peter gave a squeak of fear. ‘How do they know that? They can’t know that…’

‘I bet the Dark Lord’s not the only one with spies,’ Remus said, scanning the article. ‘Someone will have risked their life to get this information.’

As the war raging in our little world grows ever more intense, and trust is in short supply on either side, it has been revealed to The Daily Prophet that the Dark Lord is taking the fight to Dumbledore, and has recruited spies he can plant inside Hogwarts itself.

Rumour has it he means to gather information from directly under Dumbledore’s nose and - if our source is correct - has formed a psychic link with his spies so he can communicate with them directly…

‘What do you think Dumbledore will do about that?’ James asked.

Sirius snorted, ‘Well, if it was me, I’d start by rounding up every Slytherin snot in the castle and let Filch use his thumb screws to interrogate them. It’s bound to be one of those slimeballs… speaking of…’

He trailed off, and his expression darkened into his deepest scowl as the door to their compartment slid open to reveal Mulciber and Avery, two of their fellow sixth years, though from Slytherin house, standing there wearing identical smug sneers on their ugly mugs and with wands drawn.

‘Aculeo’ white sparks flashed from the tip of Mulciber’s wand and hit James in the face, causing him to cry out in pain as the stinging jinx made his face turn red and swell up. Peter gave another squeak of fear and - before anyone could stop him - slid off his seat and bolted out of the compartment.

Remus and Sirius had jumped to their feet (James was lying on the seats, clutching his face and moaning, ‘He got me… he got me,’) their wands clutched in their fists.

‘Colaphusio!’

‘Glacio!’

‘Rictumsempra!’

(‘Oh mother of mercy, it stings!’)

The four wands whipped through the air, slashing back and forth so they were almost invisible, while the sparks crackled between them, lying heavy on the air.

‘Innortio!’ Avery stumbled as Sirius’s curse mirrored the problems of an inner ear infection and he lost his balance, but Mulciber cried ‘Praefocio!’ and suddenly Sirius was suffocating, choking on nothing.

‘Mutatioarbeus.’

Remus gave a cry as Avery’s hex transfigured his arm into a tree branch. His wand fell from the twigs and - with nothing left to do he swung his arboreal appendage at the Slytherins.

(‘If someone could just take pity and kill me - the pain!’)

‘Petrificus Totalus,’

‘Protego!’ Sirius’s well timed shield charm protected Remus from seizing up like a board and managed to knock the two Slytherins off their balance. They stumbled back and then - with a final ‘Colaphusio,’ which hit Remus like a punch to the face and caused his nose to erupt with blood, they backed out of the compartment.

‘Yeah - run back to your filthy Dark Lord,’ Sirius yelled after them. ‘Oh - Moony … let me see,’ he peered into Remus’s bleeding face and tutted. ‘This looks bad.’

‘I look bad,’ James told him, from where he was still lying across the seats, clutching his face. ‘I’ve been hit by a stinging jinx. I’m all swollen and hideous.’

‘You’re always hideous,’ Sirius said, absently. He tutted again. ‘This is a mess, Remus, come on - let’s go to the bathroom and get you cleaned up,’ and - without so much as a backward glance - he ushered Remus out and the door slid shut behind them.

James sat up and tutted. He gingerly touched his tender face with his fingertips, it felt all raw and puffy. He sniffed rather sadly, as it seemed no one cared about him.

The door slid open again and Pete sidled back inside and sat down. ‘Sorry I ran off like that.’

‘Yeah - it was rather cowardly of you. Still, I managed to see them off.’

‘Where are the other two?’

‘Bathroom. Remus got hurt.’

‘What happened to your face?’

‘...Nothing.’

They sat there in silence for a while. Slowly the stinging jinx wore off and James’ face returned to normal. Sirius and Remus had still not returned. ‘Where are they?’ James asked, tapping his fingers on his armrest impatiently. ‘They’ve been ages.’

The minutes trailed by. There was still no sign of the others.

‘Well, that’s it,’ James said at last, standing up and stretching. ‘I’m starving - I’m off to find the Trolley - want anything?’

‘Er… A cauldron cake and a licorice wand.’

‘Kay - tell the others where I am… If they ever deign to show up again.’ He left the compartment and made his way down the train, swaying as it lurched and rolled its way through the countryside.

He was surprised that he did not meet the Trolley Witch on his way down the train, and made it almost all the way down to the end without bumping into her. A little ahead of him, he heard a carriage door suddenly slam shut - but that was the only sign of life. The last compartment was in darkness, the door slightly ajar.

He tripped over something in the dim light and, frowning, bent down to pick it up. It was a squashed Chocolate Frog box. A few steps farther along and there was another - and then another.

This seemed very strange.

‘Hello?’ James called out, gathering the discarded boxes in his arms. ‘Did someone drop these?’ He staggered his way to the final compartment and pushed the door open. The lamps flared up, filling the space with light - and James froze in the doorway.

The trolley was inside the compartment, seemingly abandoned, piled high with cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties and jelly slugs. And then, lying on the floor, her eyes glassy as they stared unseeingly at the ceiling, was the Trolley Witch herself - stiff, still and completely dead.

The poll will be open for 24 hours. Thanks for reading and voting. Please consider reblogging so all your marauders loving mutuals can join in

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#marauders era #marauders #murder mystery #marauders fanfic #interactive fanfic #polls #Harry Potter #detective james potter #murder on the hogwarts express

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dreadfutures · 24 days

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Places Prompts for Writing My DAI-AU

Please copy and paste the whole line. Thank you!

Dragon Age: Awakening-Era

avaar crypt in Vigil’s Keep

Hero’s office in Vigil’s Keep

training grounds in Vigil’s Keep

bedroom in Vigil’s Keep

parapets in Vigil’s Keep

Morrigan's eluvian

Amaranthine streets

Elven ruins in Ferelden

Forest Campsites in Ferelden

Gwaren alienage

Gwaren teyrns hall

DAI: Haven

Dungeons (Haven)

chantry (Haven)

war table (Haven)

training grounds (Haven)

forge (Haven)

wilderness (Haven)

healers hut (Haven)

tavern (Haven)

tunnels (Haven)

temple of sacred ashes (Haven)

DAI: Hinterlands

witch woods (Hinterlands)

red lyrium tunnels (Hinterlands)

vallamar (Hinterlands)

the crossroads (Hinterlands)

the farms (Hinterlands)

Templar camp (Hinterlands)

DAI: Fallow Mire

Fallow Mire camp

Fallow Mire bog

Fallow Mire fort

DAI: Crestwood

Crestwood camp

Crestwood wyrm hole/Solas grove

Crestwood dwarven caverns

Crestwood New Crestwood

Crestwood fort

Crestwood Hawke's hideaway

Crestwood dragon nest

Crestwood red lyrium quarry

DAI: Storm Coast

Storm Coast beach

Storm Coast caves

Storm Coast dwarven port

Storm Coast blades of hessarion camp

Storm Coast dwarven caves

Storm Coast the woods

DAI: Emerald Graves

Emerald Graves refugee camp

Emerald Graves on the road

Emerald Graves Vallasdahlen

Emerald Graves elgarnans bastion

Emerald Graves knights tomb

Emerald Graves wolf statue camp

Emerald Graves haunted manor

Emerald Graves great bear

Emerald Graves red Templar camp

Emerald Graves venatori camp

Emerald Graves slaver caves

DAI: Exalted Plains

Exalted Plains camp

Exalted Plains Dalish camp

Exalted Plains scorched battlefield

Exalted Plains var Bellanaris

Exalted Plains the river

Exalted Plains Ghilannains grove

DAI: Emprise

Emprise occupied suledin

Emprise cleared out suledin

Emprise frozen river

DAI: Halamshiral

Halamshiral alienage

Halamshiral upper quarter

Halamshiral winter palace

DAI: Val Royeaux

Val Royeaux cafes

Val Royeaux curio shops

Val Royeaux alleys

Val Royeaux alienage

DAI: Western Approach

Western Approach oasis

Western Approach desert

Western Approach tainted lands

Western Approach occupied fort

Western Approach still ruins

Western Approach tevinter prison

Western Approach camp

DAI: Hissing Wastes

Hissing Wastes

DAI: arbor wilds

temple of mythal

well of sorrows

mythals altar

#prompts #dragon age fanfic #dragon age inquisition

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schwazombie · 1 year

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@modernmaenad you tagged me in a thing and it was IN MY DRAFTS OMG

Nickname: dd, dyllan, zombie

Height: 170cm. I think. I think it says 175 on my ID because I didn’t know and I was wearing shoes with the dude at the Ausländerbehörde measured me

Last thing I Googled: oh great question I have no clue. Oh. I looked up how to get an item in Fallen London. I know for a fact though the next thing I’ll google is a F-C temperature conversion because I’m about to make magic cookie bars

Song stuck in my head: currently Carol of the Bells but there’s a Moonspell song playing in the background I think not sure which one though yes songs can play in the background of other songs in my head it’s weird

Amount of followers: oh idk I think I finally broke 100 though

Dream job: I’m in my want to garden and hang out with my dog era

Wearing: jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. And funky socks!

A book/movie that summarizes you: you know I was going to say there isn’t one but Jim Henson’s The Labyrinth

Favorte song: why would you make me choose a favourite song I just want guys to yell at me in languages I don’t speak (yet)

Aesthetic: not sure I really have one. my gut reaction was bog witch but that’s more of a desire than an actuality

Favorite author: Brent Weeks. The Night Angel Trilogy was such a good debut and then bitch followed it up with The Lightbringer Series with that FUCKING PLOT TWIST. So good.

Random fact: ummmm what’s a fun random fact. Like about me or in general? Because in general my favourite random facts are random etymologies that live in my head rent free. A random fact about me personally is that I change my hair on the reg. Like... since I keep my hair short (usually less than an inch) I just bleach it and dye it random colours because it’ll get shaved off again within a month or two. Currently it’s dark pink & purple splatter but I also have lime green, blue green, bright blue, neon pink, & fluorescent yellow dye hanging out in my bathroom. The neon pink glows under UV light, as does the yellow and if you mix the yellow with a little green the green glows too!

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agentnico · 11 months

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The Little Mermaid (2023) Review

Not my usual choice for a cinema trip, however sometimes the fiancée has her pick, and to be fair with the kind of movies I force her to watch the least I can do is accommodate her interest in viewing fish loving.

Plot: The youngest of King Triton's daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land.

So it’s our annual Disney live-action remake time, and look, I have complained about Disney as a corporations many a times on this very same blog, so I won’t bog you down with my same repetitive rants. No, this was very much a treat for my fiancée, so we went to the cinema, I got her a Pick n’ Mix and a special limited edition Little Mermaid cup, and settled in to watch the movie. Straight off I can declare I am not the target audience for The Little Mermaid. I have no nostalgic connection to the original animated classic, nor am I big on Disney’s live-action remakes. But my fiancée seemed to really enjoy this new Little Mermaid and at the end of day that’s what matters to me. Sometimes it’s worth taking a backseat from critiquing in favour of making someone you love happy..... However, our date night is over so let’s actually talk about the movie!!

The Little Mermaid is fine. It’s a perfectly harmless fairy-tale reimagining with some decent under-water special effects, solid renditions of the classic songs as well as a couple of catchy new ones, and some notable cast performances. A lot of other reviews have mentioned this, but yes, Halle Bailey gives a star-making turn as the main mermaid Ariel. She perfectly encapsulates an individual that is a literal fish-out-of-water, as she observe in awe and interest the new world she finds herself in one she steps foot on human land, and there is a charming innocence to her performance. Also, what a voice! Of all the Disney live-action remakes this one definitely features the most classic old-school Disney princess vocals, with Bailey sounding as if she came straight from that era. At times she also sounded like Madonna in the 1996 musical film Evita, but you know, back then Madonna could have been classed as a princess of sorts also. Not now though. Boy has she gone downhill since then. Madonna, what have you turned yourself into.... But I digress - Halle Bailey makes for a fantastic Ariel. Additionally she shares great chemistry with Prince Eric played by Jonah Hauer-King, and their romance is believable and indeed very adorable. That being said when separated, Hauer-King gives a very bland and unmemorable performance, though that may be due to a lack of material given to him by the script. Melissa McCarthy is deliciously mischievous and sassy and makes for a great villain, and it’s nice to see McCarthy do something different for a change. Javier Bardem is alright as Ariel’s father - he’s acceptably grumpy and that’s all there is to say about him. You know who’s great though? The fricking crab! Daveed Diggs voices Sebastian and honestly he was hilarious. From his one-liners to his singing to the random close ups of his CGI crab face, everything to do with the crab was pure success. Loved the crab, wishes there was more of him. Hope we get a spin-off called The Little Crab Sebastian. I’d watch that! I’d watch that a lot!!

The Little Mermaid isn’t going to turn anyone’s heads or break any new ground in cinema or the fairy-tale genre. It is exactly what you’d expect from a Disney live-action remake, so if you enjoy those then you’ll find plenty of appeal in this one. Again, not my cup of tea, but I didn’t mind watching it and my fiancée was over the moon about it, so in that regard The Little Mermaid succeeds. Bloody love that crab though, I can’t even!

Overall score: 6/10

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cat-hesarose · 2 years

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alrighty so

my current hyperfixation is Sewing and Tailoring Things, and I think I have accumulated a sufficient stash and trial-and-error experience to take on one of the ten squillion ambitious ideas that propelled this hobby from the brain into the realm of practice HOWEVER

I Cannot Narrow Down to Save My Life so Any And All Input is Welcome and Appreciated

~ ideas in no particular order of difficulty or preference ~

-- Patchwork anachronistic version of a renaissance men’s doublet and pants, Frankensteined out of children’s patterned fabric and various mismatched trim

-- Genderqueer version of Morgana’s cool purple dress from BBC Merlin (turn swooshy skirt into swooshy pants)

-- Dirndl, but the bottom half is lederhosen instead of the traditional skirt and apron (might keep the apron)

-- Pirate outfit in orange and brown loosely based on Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet costume

-- Pirate outfit but bright red and maybe something Stede Bonnet would wear in OFMD season 2

-- a bunch of shirts and waistcoats/vests varying in inspiration from Regency to Prohibition Era, to mix and match and wear with jeans or whatever

-- Matching green cape and witch hat that wouldn’t be out of place in The Hobbit, Midsommar, or Angela Clayton’s youtube channel

-- Viking outift with spiders and bees embroidered all over it (I don’t know how to embroider yet)

-- Bog creature dressing gown for winter that has a tail coming out of the back

#help I am gay and mentally ill and struck with choice paralysis #sewblr #historybounding #bbc merlin #the hobbit #ofmd #midsommar #sewing #tailoring #pick a project #mutuals please interact #sewing ideas #project ideas #ADHD problems #hyperfixation #dilettante problems

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theesteemedladydebourgh · 2 years

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Ohhh a Horcrux AU 👀

this might be one of my favorite ideas i've ever come up with and it's so complicated and tbh the details are changing on me all the time, but it involves a secret magic forest, a canon-divergent war era jily who are sent by Dumbledore with no explanation to live in said forest, and a whole lot of adventure to do with fate, prophecy and the nature of magic. And a talking tree who is perpetually grumpy.

it's both quite dark and quite...light, because it is a war/adventure fic, but i've also taken nods from one of my favorite fantasy book series, which is the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. Basically, it's a bunch of very practical, sensible princesses, witches, warlocks and dragons who have fantastical adventures in a very sensible way. Yes, we will pack sandwiches for our quest! Yes, we will walk around the scary bog instead of charging right through it! Yes, the witch wears glasses because she can't see without them! Yes, the dragon likes cherries jubilee and reading Latin dictionaries.

anyways, this is a magical forest, so it's got some dark, it's got some light, and a few funny magic characters. And of course, how Voldemort's path towards Horcruxes could be shifted/changed, and how destroying them or finding them earlier would change things... 👀 or not change things.

but this fic could be a long way away, because i'd need ages to fully plan it out and figure out how magic works, how Horcruxes work, and how it all links together.

#ask #anon #horcrux hunting #i guess that's the tag this is going under since it doesn't have a title

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katiesmoak · 2 years

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did anyone else happen to read this lovely article before s6 aired?

Supergirl: 15 Things We Want to See in the Final Season

because i did, and i found myself agreeing with almost everything said there. now that we're a few short hours away from the finale, how about we take a look at how many of these 15 things were actually achieved throughout the course of s6?

1. A Focus on Kara

as the article says, "But at the end of the day, the name of the show is Supergirl, and it is Kara’s story. More than anything else, for Season 6 to be successful, it has to keep the focus on her journey and not get bogged down by too many other subplots."

*clears throat significantly in the general direction of a thousand and one macguffins and a nonsensical lex love interest plotline* yeahhhhh. not get bogged down by too many subplots. right.

also, i consistently feel like there's been a lack of true focus on kara this season. yeah, there have been moments that were fabulous, like that one conversation she and alex had about her phantom zone trauma. but on the whole, i felt like s6 tried to fit in too many plots in too short a time, and characters - kara, especially - suffered. not even her quitting catco was given the attention it deserved, and frankly, i just don't feel like there's been enough kara this season. and that's ridiculous.

to quote the article again - "Whatever else happens on Season 6, the heart of the story needs to be about Kara and who she has become since she first saved her sister on the show’s pilot." i feel like supergirl s6 has almost entirely failed in this regard, and i just can't see how they're going to tie up kara's increasingly complex arc in a satisfying way. *sigh* 2/10 for focus on kara.

2. A Bright Arrowverse Future for Nia

this is an interesting one, because as the article points out, "Nia is the character best situated to jump to another show, perhaps even becoming a regular on one of them. She has the most backstory left to reveal and depths left to explore."

all valid points, i feel! and i'd absolutely adore to see nia on another arrowverse show. as for the nia episode we got, i am actually pretty happy with her development and arc during. we could've had more nia, but you know what, what we got was great, all things considered. there's definitely more to be said about her, though, and i raise a glass to continuing nia's story! 7/10 for not as much nia as there could've been, but what we did get was incredible.

3. Brainy and Nia Reunited

as the article says, "Brainy and Dreamer are one of the most charming couples in the Arrowverse. And now, with the show coming to an end, it’s time to get these two beautiful nerds back together." amen to that.

and it took, oh, almost an entire season to confirm it, but hey, we got some domestic brainia! anddddd impending breakup, i swear to god, i will cry. but anyway. technically they were reunited. 9/10 for sheer domestic adorableness and superb emotional acting, even though i'm wiping away tears here.

4. A Strong Ending for Dansen

this is the one (1) place where i will give s6 full marks - because, hello, superhero battle couple wives! hello, azie's incredible episode! hello, soulmates with the same proposal plan! hello, WEDDING! and hello esme!! i honestly couldn't have wished for a better dansen ending, and once again i will be crying at the wedding, but tears of joy for my beautiful babies this time. 10/10

5. Lots of Screen Time for Kara and Lena

*makes angry grumbling noises* yEaH. that would've been perfect, right? but we had how many episodes where kara and lena weren't ever on screen at the same time? *grumbling intensifies*

but, i am ready to admit that we had a few pretty lovely supercorp scenes in the latest few episodes. whether or not you're a fan of the witch!lena storyline, it has highlighted the trust, respect and love between kara and lena in quite a beautiful way. still!! there really could've been more, es-freaking-specially in the 6x12-era where they literally never shared a screen. sIGH.

and c'mon they COULD'VE GIVEN US ROMANTIC SUPERCORP IT WOULD'VE BEEN SO PERFECT - anyway. 6/10 for some great scenes, but downgraded bc not enough of them at all.

6. Cat Grant Cameo

as the article says, "This one is the longest of long shots, but nothing would be more exciting than an appearance by Cat Grant herself." ahhhhh! i could not agree more! seeing cat again would be the actual best.

while, like the article says, "It’s doubtful that the show creators will be able to work out an in the flesh appearance from Flockhart, but it doesn’t seem right to end the show without seeing Kara’s first mentor one more time. Even a video call or TV appearance would work to give us a chance to say a proper goodbye to the one and only Ms. Grant." once again, just - yes. perfectly said. i don't think it's very likely, but i'd go out of my mind with delight if it happened. 1/10 for complete lack of buildup to a cat cameo, but if she's there, i will be ecstatic to raise it to a 10/10.

7. An Update on James

it's all too true that "James was a character that Supergirl always struggled to find good stories for." however, i'm quite in agreement that it'd be great, and nicely full-circle, to check in with james again. and we know we're seeing him again at the wedding (yay!) so let's give a nice 7/10 for that.

8. Keep it Simple

oh dear sweet merciful heavens - supergirl writers' room, this article has totally called you out. "Supergirl tends to take on multiple complicated storylines during the course of a season, particularly when it comes to its villains. Sometimes that results in exciting and unique stories, but other times it makes for a convoluted season that pushes character development to the side."

aHEM. i think everyone in the fandom, more or less, has had a little bit of a rant about this, so i'm just going to make significant hand gestures in lex and nyxly's general direction. man.

"There is too much to wrap up on Season 6, too many characters’ stories to serve, to let that happen this season." very, very true! and yet, overcomplicating plotlines at the expense of character development is exactly what did happen. *deep sigh* 2/10

9. The Return of M’gann

would've undoubtedly been awesome, but i actually do love the j'onn-as-a-grandfather arc that was set up. *sniffles* him and esme are just so SWEET together!

but, uh, 0/10 for no m'gann whatsoever, i guess. unless the finale really really surprises us? but i doubt it. and actually, i stand by the danvers family as a meaningful and sweet ending for j'onn.

10. An Episode with Eliza

ayyyy, we're getting this! or, at least, kinda. eliza is in a still from the wedding, and she's kissing esme's forehead. ultra bonus points for cuteness! though a bit of a downgrade bc we totally could've had more eliza. still. 6/10.

11. No Love Interest for Kara

the article makes a really interesting point when it suggests, "One thing Kara does not need this season is a love interest." now, personally, i'm passionately advocating for supercorp canon - even just a hint. but! ending a show about a female superheroine and not forcing a boyfriend onto her is a powerful statement, and one i can totally get behind.

besides, family and hope has always been a core focus of supergirl, and having kara end the series without a love interest is a lovely way to embrace that, i think. kara's happy ending is her family, and the people she cares about being happy. that really could be beautiful.

and i'm so glad the article shares my views on kara/william - "Let's not pretend that there is any chemistry between Kara and William." gosh... there really wasn't. and the fact that the writers didn't force kara/william onto us this season is something i will eternally be grateful for. i'm not the biggest fan of how much screentime william had (to me, it felt unearned) but um... rest in peace, i guess. yikes.

all in all, the series actually does seem to be gearing up for canon kara-without-a-love-interest. i don't think there's been enough focus on the importance of family and friendship to kara particularly, but i am just so happy that no romantic plot was forced down our throats. overall, i'm giving 7/10 here.

12. One Last Scene with Barry

ahhhhh, this would be another dream come true! i personally have a giant soft spot for kara and barry's bond, "perhaps the purest friendship in the Arrowverse," as the article notes. awww, they always just make me beam so much when they share a screen, and seeing them together one last time would be an absolute gift.

i don't think it's very likely, because, yeah, there hasn't been any hint or build-up towards it. but, hey! alex did attend barry and iris' wedding, so there's a chance he'll return the favour. let's go with 4/10 because i'm trying to be as hopeful as both kara and barry here.

13. Alex and J’onn Bonding

ahhh, this is basically a continuation of my not enough time for character development rant. we got some, but it just wasn't enough for me!! especially in the final season, i would've liked a whole lot more of their "heartfelt and meaningful" scenes, as the article suggests.

i will grant that esme as j'onn's granddaughter wakes up all the most beautiful emotions inside me. actually, everything about the esme arc makes me happy, and to me, it definitely counts as a "conclusion worthy of the beautiful bond that we’ve watched grow since Season 1."

so overall, i'm going with 5/10 for not enough scenes, but the scoring is raised from what it would've been by the pure ray of sunshine that is bby esme.

14. The Danvers Sisters Being a Priority

and i repeat again - not!! enough!! time!! for!! character!! development!! yes, we actually did get a few stunning scenes right after kara's return from the phantom zone. but then that was just?? abandoned?? and we saw way too little of the danvers sisters in the second half of s6 for my liking.

bonus points for the development of the gorgeous aunt/niece bond between kara and esme, though! and for the lovely, supportive moments we did get. we're ignoring that fight, because as the article notes, "The Danvers sisters are and have always been the heart and soul of Supergirl. The show is at its best when it remembers that."

my fingers are crossed for a final true beauty of a danvers sisters scene at the wedding/at least somewhere else in the finale. so overall, let's give alex and kara this season a balanced 6/10, with a hopeful leaning towards a 7 or 8 depending on what the finale delivers for us.

15. A Happy Ending

the article puts it very nicely when it states, "Not every ending has to be a happy ending, but Supergirl’s ending does. Supergirl is a show about hope and idealism, and an ending that is not aspirational or optimistic undermines everything the series has championed during its run. We tune into Supergirl to lift our spirits and maybe even chase away a little bit of our pessimism. That’s where the show started, and that is exactly the feeling we should have when it ends."

i honestly couldn't agree more. supergirl needs its happy ending, and i am almost entirely convinced that we will get it. whether or not we'll like it is a whole other question, and i'll come back and rate the success of said happy ending after seeing the finale.

but yeah! that's it, folks - my bit of stalling before i settle in to watch this finale. whatever happens, i know already that it's going to be a whole ride. and i'll probably cry. i kinda can't believe that supergirl is really over?? because much as i love to hate on the writing of this show, its characters will always hold an incredibly special spot in my heart. so as i sit down to do this thing tonight, all my fingers are crossed for a happy, good and satisfying ending.

see you at the finale, supergirl fam. ❤️

#supergirl #supergirl finale #supergirl 6x19 #supergirl 6x20 #supergirl meta #supergirl analysis #*cries into my tea* i can't believe it's really OVER #best of luck and biggest of hugs for everyone going into watching this tonight!!!

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shortskirtsandsarcasm · 3 years

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My Best Reads of 2020 (Part 2)

In mid-2020 I made a blog post of the best books I read in the year up until then, and now it is time for part 2 of my best 2020 reads. My final book count was 201, and you can find the full list of titles here and here as well as any statistics you want here. The titles in this post will appear in alphabetical order.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

This was a re-read for me. I read this series for the first time in middle school when I was 12/13 and was absolutely enamored of the real and fantasy settings in Victorian London. It was the first young adult thing I read, with the possible exception of Twilight (deep regret) and Meg Cabot’s The Boy Next Door (time for a re-read). I was worried that the story and characters would not hold up, reading it as an adult (like Twilight!) but I regret my doubts. It was just as perfect as I remembered.

Gemma Doyle is a sarcastic sixteen-year-old eager to grow up in a harsh world for women but has not thought much about what “growing up” will mean (both in the real world and in the fantasy world she discovers) until her mother dies suddenly and mysteriously and she is spirited from India where she has spent most of her life, to England to attend a stuffy girls’ boarding school, where she makes unlikely friends with the most popular girls and a poor outcast.

Even though she lives in the Victorian era and also a magical universe, many of her teenage experiences are very relatable. Friends, boys, romance, her relationship with her parents, and dealing with addiction, abuse, and The Patriarchy™. I am excited to re-read the rest of the series this year.

I will also take this opportunity to shout-out Bray’s other series, The Diviners! The fourth book came out this year and I loved it, just like I have loved every single other book Libba Bray has ever written. Maybe when I am done with my Gemma Doyle Trilogy series re-read I will re-read all of the Diviners books (especially because they have Gemma Doyle Easter eggs). I will make sure to rave about them to you all over again.

Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi

My first graphic novel! I saw the movie when it came out in 2011 in an arthouse theater in NorCal and I have not been able to find it online anywhere since then. Please let me know if you find it somewhere.

This 84-page book is a sad and beautiful tale of Nasser Ali Khan who has decided to take to his bed and wait for death since his beloved violin has been destroyed. There is a main timeline and flashbacks throughout Nasser’s history showing how his violin became his reason to live, and how it got destroyed.

Where the movie has many hilariously funny moments, the book does not. It is purely devastating. The artwork is gorgeous and evocative and even though the story is sad, in my mind it does not bog the reader down in sadness.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Reading this memoir was extremely tough, but of course important and worth it. Miller’s recollection of her assault and the physical and emotional toll it took on her is devastating to read, especially as it parallels many scenarios other women have found themselves in. Despite the dark subject matter, it was encouraging to see Miller’s resilience and healing process.

I immediately followed this book with She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, also an important book on rape and sexual assault and therefore also dark. I would absolutely recommend this book as well, but learn from my mistake and read at least one light fun thing in between them.

Scenes of a Graphic Nature by Caroline O’Donoghue

I have already reviewed this year (which you can find here) so I will only say that I loved it when I read it, but more importantly, it has stuck with me. I have thought about this book at least once a week since I have read it. I have thought about Satan, the dog a lot, but most of all I have thought of Charlie and Laura’s evolving friendship.

I am so excited for Caroline O’Donoghue’s newest book, All Our Hidden Gifts, out this year and I was bitterly disappointed to hear that the release date has been pushed back until July (though understandably). For more on my love of my fellow Caroline, you can read my original review of Scenes of a Graphic Nature.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

I find myself comparing every other book about a young woman finding her way in the world to this book. It made me uncomfortable and self-reflective, and it was highly entertaining at the same time. You can read my original review here.

Reid’s writing style is exceptionally readable and funny in places. This was an amazing debut and I hope Reid publishes a new book soon for my greedy bookworm soul.

The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker

I have very recently extolled the virtues of The Golem and the Djinni, but here I am again, recommending this delightful tale. The central friendship is relatable, yet unlikely and unprecedented (at least in all the literature I have read) and the prose is atmospheric and transportive. I am a huge fan of magical realism, and this story satisfied my cravings.

Something I did not mention in my previous review is the deftly written descriptive prose. My favorites were the scenes of Chava working in the bakery, focusing on kneading bread dough and shaping pastries. Chava’s inner monologue while dealing with customers and their private thoughts and desires was also a touch I appreciated. Maybe I have not read enough books with a mind-reader protagonist, but Chava’s type of clairvoyance felt fresh to me.

The Witches are Coming by Lindy West

Lindy West is a gift. I listened to the audiobook, which she reads herself, and was absolutely crying with laughter. Her writing style is accessible and her analogies are perfect. I wish I had her talent to distill the world’s cruel injustices so deftly and accurately.

My favorite essay was “Ted Bundy is not Hot, Are You High?” As much as I love the true crime genre, I do have a gripe with the thirst people seem to have for Bundy. Why? First of all, he looks like an average man from the ’70s who is off-duty from his day-job making balloon animals at the county fair. Second, anyone who perpetrates vicious and brazen gendered violence is immediately not attractive. West expresses this much better than I ever could, and with the added bonus of humor.

For more media on the [American] fascination with white men serial killers, I would recommend the podcast You’re Wrong About, specifically the episodes on “alpha males,” Kitty Genovese, and Jeffrey Dahmer.

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hermajestymelonlord · 4 years

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TLOK Book 2 First Impressions

- Bolin still a himbo (himbolin if you will)

- Jinora is THE It Girl

- Korra just does stuff without thinking about any consequences

- Varrick is a neutral evil king

- All of my assumptions about Bumi were correct

- They really broke up Makorra huh.

- Still a disgusting lack of ATLA-era, especially considering 1) Aang was a terrible father and he’s the only one who gets screen time, and 2) there was a WHOLE WAR in the Southern Water Tribe and you’re telling me Katara was just... chilling in the healing tent the whole time???, and 3) General Iroh literally said to Korra “Go talk to the Firelord, my grandfather and mother are always friends of the Avatar” and then she just DOESN’T, and 4) we only see Sokka in flashbacks and they’re the same flashbacks every time, and 5) Bog Witch Toph is out there somewhere

- Lin Beifong is still running the show

- Mako... *chef’s kiss* *slap* perfect idiot

- Asami felt Not As Relevant which is unfair to her

- the twins from the Northern Water Tribe were just a redesign of Mai but from another nation and less cool and sexy overall

#tlok #tlok spoilers #makorra

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vampire-himbos-of-santa-perdita · 4 years

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A punk music novel research masterlist...

Here are all the artists referenced in my girl punk novel, Heaven’s Tiny Daggers!

Gerard Way: Finn (lead singer of HTD) shares Gerard’s origin story of being in art school in New York when she decided to start HTD.

Frank Iero: Davina, rhythm guitarist for HTD comes from a long line of musicians, just like the rhythm guitarist for My Chemical Romance. Penny, HTD’s lead guitarist also shares Frank’s erratic stage presence and general penchant for Trouble.

Mikey Way: Davina’s the first to leave La Bellemort after the hauntings prove too much for her, just like Mikey had to leave the Paramour not long after arriving to work on The Black Parade. Grace and Aster Maddox are also siblings in a band together, like the Way brothers.

Ray Toro: Davina’s got Ray’s calm, sensible demeanor as the mom friend in HTD. She’s also got Ray’s sick fro.

Lynz: Grace has a penchant for the Mindless Self Indulgence bassist’s famous backbends while on stage. Finn and Aster get married on the last day of tour for their third album, just like Lindsey and Gerard Way.

The Used: Aster was so impressed with HTD, he had to bring them on the Crossroad Burials’ European Tour, and then Warped Tour, just like The Used did for MCR. Finn and Aster become inseparable, just like Gerard Way and Bert McCracken.

Hayley Williams: Grace shares Hayley’s origin story of signing a record deal at 15, refusing to become a solo popstar, and instead insisting on fronting a band. Finn Begby is also aesthetically closest to After Laughter-era Hayley.

Panic! At the Disco: Precocious 16 year old Cat Dammit! formed The Dammit Dolls from her Las Vegas circus troupe. While Panic! At the Disco was never a literal circus troupe, the imagery plays out in their music video for “I Write Sins”. The Dammit Dolls’ first album is also set in a cabaret, like A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out. Cricket and Clover was Panic!’s lost album they wrote in a secluded cabin the woods, which they ultimately scrapped due to the band members wanting to go in different directions. The alleged cabin fever that hit them is also present in the bands’ time at La Bellemort. They mention at one point getting so crazed, they set instruments on fire. Cat has her bouts of arson during her time at La Bellemort.

Fall Out Boy: The Resurrectionists are another literal take on FOB’s repeated imagery. The concept of resurrection and immortality plays out in many of FOB’s songs, and necromancer, Noah Carver doesn’t just sing about it...

Pete Wentz: Noah Carver has a knack for seeing potential in new artists. Pete has a habit of discovering fresh up and comers for his record label, Fueled by Ramen. Noah and Davina strike up an immediate close friendship during Warped Tour, just like Mikey Way and Pete Wentz.

Green Day: The Dammit Dolls’ album written in La Bellemort is lost in a fire, similar to the album that would’ve preceded American Idiot, which was lost in a burglary. As a result, both bands chose to go in a much different, political direction.

Frank Iero Andthe Patience: A character is caught in a horrific car crash, just like Frank’s band in 2016.

Vince Neil: The fatal car crash is also inspired by the lead singer of Motley Crue, who was arrested for killing his passenger, the drummer for Hanoi Rocks, while driving under the influence.

Nikki Sixx: Aster was declared dead for 15 minutes before coming back to life, just like Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue.

Led Zeppelin: Grace gets put in a mental institution for attacking Aster. Aster later writes a song for her while she’s recovering, reminiscent of “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb,” about Syd Barrett’s suffering from schizophrenia.

Florence Welch: Helene Saturnine is one half of the “Florence & Hozier are Hades and Persephone” meme brought to life. ...only she’s a demon. She also performs astride a hanging moon, like Florence’s “Cosmic Love” tour.

Hozier: Haigh is the other half of the Florence & Hozier meme ....only he’s an angel (and a bog witch). He and Helene spend a lot of time doing dark rituals in churches to solidify their love for one another.

Lady Gaga: La Comtesse shares Gaga’s flare for drama and fashion. She also performs a similar bloody death scene during the VMAs as Gaga’s “Paparazzi” performance to call out the brutal hounding of the media.

Avril Lavigne: Maeve Kennedy shares Avril’s skater punk style and falls victim to a literal take on the “Avril Lavigne is Dead” conspiracy, coming back as a mindless pop-punk princess drone.

Ian Curtis: Aster shares Ian’s manic depressive state and epileptic seizures.

Joy Division: Grace was made to sign her record contract in blood, just like the members of Joy Division did for Factory Records. She and Aster are both also from Manchester.

Kurt Cobain: Aster goes through a grunge phase during his solo tour where he sings broodily with his guitar in knit cardigans like Kurt’s.

The New York Dolls: Someone’s body is found stiffened into a U-shape in rigor mortis after curling up under a table during a drug overdose, just like Johnny Thunders.

New Order: Co-owners of Manchester night club, The Hacienda. Aster takes Grace there (to see them play?) for her 15th birthday.

The Dead Boys: In 1978, Johnny Blitz was hospitalized after being stabbed in a knife fight. CBCBs hosted a Blitz Benefit to raise money for his medical bills. Grace and Aster’s parents show up at this event.

The Misfits: The bands sneak out for a midnight stroll through a New Orleans cemetery and get chased down by the police for trespassing, like The Misfits, who were arrested while searching for Marie Laveau’s grave.

The White Stripes: The Crossroad Burials eventually consists of Grace on drums and Aster on lead vocals, like Meg and Jack White.

#heaven's tiny daggers #sophie writes #girl punk novel #emo problems #punk rock #I was gonna say yes I know Gaga's not punk #but I take it back #she's punk AF #maybe at some point I'll do a masterlist of my reading materials for this one #though I feel that one's gonna be more extensive #with biopics AND reference books AND albums #half of which I haven't even delved into yet #but have this for now

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honey-whiskeys · 4 years

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a lil studyblr intro.

hey fellas! call me thea (she/her). i’ve been lurking around the dark academia community for a hot minute and it inspired me to finally try and get my life together because the only thing that can make me want to do something is the aesthetic. i’m v excited to learn more about the community and make some friends as i go along!

some facts:

i’m 16 and a junior in high school (grade 11)

i’m slytherin/montague/istp

american dumb feral bastard gay

i’m taking ap lang, us history, and physics this year, plus a double period of arts and french at a junior college

english is my second language—i learnt it from my dad who learnt it from a british teacher, so i spell things the british way out of habit. i don’t have a british accent but he does

this quarantine really do be throwing my study habits off their rhythm. street smarts

interests:

anything ancient/classic lit! i’m only getting started but please talk to me about sappho, homer, shakespeare, poe, wilde, and literally any others who strike your fancy. give or ask for recommendations, etc—my ask box is always open!

the dark academia aesthetic, as you may be able to tell. yes i have read the secret history and i think it’s quite good but i don’t have many thoughts on it that haven’t been expressed by people far more eloquent than i. books are really pretty ok

historical fashion! i’m currently in the midst of recreating one of edith cushing’s outfits from crimson peak so you can expect to see some of that. i have too many favourite eras but the late victorian and early edwardian periods are the most prominent.

classical history and culture! i was one of those mythology nerds as a kid and i’m still really into the ancients. catch me trying to learn latin and not being able to keep up. if you send me history memes i’d be most grateful

some other things that aren’t academic: i’m one of those bog witch hozier stans, i do martial arts, i play violin, i have a crackhead music taste, marvel is hella cool, i speak indonesian but weirdly. literally please talk to me about anything bc this social life empty. yeet

goals:

use this blog to keep track of my habits and keep me focused and motivated to study

read more and write about what i read!! actually form opinions on things that are more than “achilles bottoms.” also post thoughts on whatever i’m reading as a way to process and hopefully discuss it

make some heckin friends. if you’re likewise trash for the aesthetic (tm) hmu

and i think that’s it! again, feel free to talk to me about literally anything.

#man idk how to end these things #header photo and blog header are mine #studyblr #studyblr introduction #studyblr intro post #aesthetic #dark academia #mine

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