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silverislander · 2 years

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man ok kind of obsessed w the way amanda overton talks abt writing fight scenes in that new bridging the rift episode! so i have thoughts about the vi/sevika fight

first off: i don't really think vi did that in order to win and kick sevika's ass. i think she's smarter than assuming she's just going to take her on no problem, and i think the reason is as simple as... that's kind of who she is what she does. we learn from her records (and the everything about her actually) that vi got into a LOT of fights in prison, but from arcane/context clues, it seems like when she starts it, it was always people associated with silco and his gang. vi beats up silco's crew. it's what she does.

i feel like that singleminded tunnel vision from stillwater is still super there (bc. when did she ever get downtime to heal it lol); she didn't get to have an identity for years in a literal sense. she didn't even get a name- just 516 or pink, which side note makes me Cry but anyways. she's not vi, not powder's sister or the leader/strength of her group. she's prisoner 516 who punched a man's eye out. she's the scary bitch down in the hole half the time. she's pink, who beats up silco's goons. that's all she had to define herself as for most of her formative years. this is what she is.

building on this, i think the meaning of the fight gets a lot clearer: this is vi trying to fight her past and all of its pain, and it's her beating herself up because of it. sevika isn't just a traitor that vi wants to fight, she's the idea of powder being taken away and it being all vi's fault (in her mind). she only ever did it out of that self-hatred and a need to somehow atone for that night anyway? vi goes up against her, already kind of knowing she won't win, knowing it's gonna fucking hurt, because she has to. it's like self harm (don't get me started on my hc of vi starting fights to punish herself-); she thinks she deserves to be hurt by her past just as much as she explicitly states she doesn't think she'll ever grow and move past what she did that night, how she wasn't enough for powder.

and it almost kills her. sevika is going to finish it and let her bleed out in an alley, that's pretty clear.

so then there's the best fucking part at the very end- caitlyn saves her, and that's the most obvious symbolism in this thing, and i fucking love it. she's even placed up above the fight and the lighter colours are behind her head like a halo- she's literally an avenging angel, it absolutely slaps!! but it's super clear what she represents in this scene, bc it's kind of what she always represents.

caitlyn is hope here. she always is- joining the enforcers to help the cities, solving a mystery nobody wants her to figure out that doesn't even affect her because it's the Right Thing To Do, later dreaming of a world where zaunites won't have to live the way they do and piltovans will make things fair again, and i absolutely love that about her- but here especially, because she's vi's hope for the future (their future!). vi is saved from her own self-hatred and pulled out of hurting herself via her own past by a force she doesn't expect or understand yet. things get better by themselves out of nowhere for her in a way they never have before, and maybe... that means that could happen again. she has hope now.

and then with this understanding, of course that's the turning point for their relationship, of course now vi can treat her as an equal ally (and maybe even more). vi has literally fucking seen the light and she's getting pulled right into it. here is a chance for things to get better: a girl she's supposed to hate who shouldn't give a damn who genuinely wants to help everyone she meets, including vi, despite all of her flaws and baggage.

and you get all of this in like... fifteen minutes or less, without directly saying any of it. fucking incredible.

#anyway shes SO right abt that writing advice omg i love it. scenes mean something!! as they fucking should!!!!!!!!#reminds me of the hunger games love triangle symbolizing katniss ability to find peace despite her past vs carrying that rage #and similarly ellie/dinas relationship breaking down as ellie feels grief consume her overpowering the love she still has left #its incredibly clever. god i love media and literature and reading comprehension (i am a Big Ol English Major Nerd)#arcane #vi #sevika #bridging the rift #levi.doc #hope this is at all readable its been stuck in my brain and i couldnt articulate it #tldr: vi is a moth but for not hating herself and also levi has a big lasbian crush on cait

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brf-rumortrackinganon · 5 months

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Here's the archived link.

It's an interesting article about the back-and-forth this week over Charles's birthday. Did the Sussexes really call? Did Charles really talk to them?

The backstory: Victoria Ward broke the story that the Sussexes called Charles for his birthday. She says that Harry called and they spoke, and Meghan hopped on the line for a bit to speak, and they separately sent Charles a video of Archie and Lili singing 'happy birthday.'

Some takeaways:

"The fact that the Palace does not deny there was a call means we can safely assume that there was indeed a conversation" -> Not exactly true:

The Palace never comments even if there was a call. Personal calls to the BRF falls under the palace's "we don't speak about their personal lives" mantra.

Charles denying that there was a call would be terrible PR. It's a better strategy to keep quiet and let him rack up some "good Pa" PR points.

Meghan's PR from 2016/2017 claimed she had all sorts of meetings and phone calls with the royals that the Palace never addressed. The Palace's silence complicitness was very much "let's not and say we did," which this whole mess reeks of.

Usually the more specific and detailed something is, the more likely it's a lie. If Harry's press release had been "I called Pa for his birthday" it would be much more believable. But "I called Pa for his birthday and we spoke and then Meghan talked to him and then we had our kids make a video for someone they've never met to sing 'happy birthday' and we sent it to him" is suspect.

"The King always finds it exasperating when the media focuses on what he would see as trivia rather than the important work that he does, and there is a multiplier effect when the distraction involves Harry - doubly so in a week when the King is bracing for the release of the final series of The Crown on Netflix this week, poring over the death of Princess Diana." -> Harry's gotta get that Netflix connection.

"The King and Queen worry that if stories about phone calls and private conversations make it into the public domain they will be accused of leaking to the press, even if it's obvious it didn't come from them." -> The palace isn't Victoria Ward's source, even though it looks like it.

"...[Meghan's] attempt to launch a lifestyle and wellness brand. Planned as a rival to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop empire, the launch had been heavily trailed for this autumn, but has now been put back to the other side of Christmas, at the earliest. The reason for the delay is unclear, but she has been given a rough ride by the US media of late and may want to wait until her approval ratings recover - something that a healed relationship with the Royal family would surely help." -> Meghan is Victoria Ward's source and:

She has no money (or backers) for the lifestyle and wellness brand.

She's banking on boosting her SEO with The Crown, Scobie's book, and Christmas-at-Sandringham-Reunion PR to make her the money she needs to launch the new brand.

She is expecting the public to take her side when Scobie's book is published.

"Toning down criticism of the King and Queen in any briefings the Sussex camp have given to Scobie is in itself a kind of olive branch" -> Scobie's book is a hit job against William and Catherine.

Interesting how the Sussexes are now openly and publicly admitting to their collaboration with Scobie for Endgame...especially after going to such lengths to obscure their involvement in Finding Freedom.

#pr shenanigans #brf #theories #sussexes

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spaceintruderdetector · 8 months

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By 1981, when pre-production began on his film Videodrome, Cronenberg had accomplished a feat as unique as his own movies: although his stories dealt with the Cartesian Schism’s extremes, he had successfully bridged the Cartesian rift between the drive-in and the arthouse. His work sated gorehounds’ bloodlust, but within the context of wildly innovative concepts. Unlike many horror specialists’ works, Cronenberg’s films, to paraphrase Videodrome’s pornographer Masha, have a sensibility, and that is what makes them so dangerous. In Shivers (1975), he had shattered the tranquillity of antiseptic, ultra-modern housing. In Shivers, Rabid (1977), The Brood (1979), and Scanners (1981), he had reduced medicine, corporations, the family unit, and basic social order to chaos and savagery. Like Ballard’s novel High Rise, which Shivers echoes, Cronenberg focused on the physical and cosmic instability lurking just behind society’s comforting veneer, and, more disturbingly, how delicious that instability could become. In Videodrome, Cronenberg’s subject was the Media Age. Its protagonist, Max Renn, owner of a Toronto pirate UHF cable station that exists by supplying its viewers with highly sexual and violent programming, stumbles onto broadcasts of an apparently simulated snuff show, Videodrome. As Max probes into Videodrome’s origins, he and New Age radio psychologist Nicki Brand unwittingly become enmeshed in conspiracies reaching far beyond Max’s lowly ambitions.

full dvd booklet-

Arrow Films Booklets : Arrow Films : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

#videodrome #david cronenberg #cinema

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mrjadeleech · 5 months

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okay so somehow you have access to reach into our world through tumblr. does this mean you have access other parts of our internet and social media platforms?

how much have you seen?

Good day, dear anon.

There is a bit of a "rift" that is caused by this side of the "internet." I only know as much as I was told... Well, I suppose it would do no good to lie.

I have seen quite a number of things, of course. It is all the more fascinating, the more I look into this incredible bridge between Twisted Wonderland and your planet Earth. So fascinating, that I have an endless supply of laughter for the idiocy of your humans that I have witnessed.

I suppose I must be quite grateful that such stupidity is not constantly on display in this Twisted Wonderland.

#twst #twst asks #twst wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland #disney twst #twst jade #jade leech #mrjadeleech

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disorganizedkitten · 23 days

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A Study In Friendship Chapter 2

Miraculous Ladybug | 2019 | 2,133 | Ao3 | Prev | Masterlist | Next

Testing The Waters

Sabrina stared at her bedroom ceiling, going over yesterday again in her head.

Most days, she would already be on her feet, bouncing around her room to make completely sure she had finished all of her and Chloe's homework, found a good outfit, and was ready to spend an hour running errands.

But not today.

It felt really weird to have downtime.

Sabrina's phone had been going off incessantly all night, and was picking up steam to do so it again, but she hadn't picked it up. She wanted to edit her schedule, wanted to check on whether or not she could actually eat lunch with Marinette - Sabrina was still riding the high from having made such a good friend yesterday - but she knew that if she picked it up, she would get pulled back into Chloe's clutches.

It was how she lost last time.

And so she continued to stare at the ceiling, trying to quell her racing thoughts. Had Marinette gotten out okay last night? Would Nino hold a grudge? What was Chloe going to do when they saw each other? Sat by each other? And the traitorous thoughts wondering if Marinette had changed her mind overnight.

Chloe was probably still angry at Sabrina. And she would stay that way. Because Sabrina wasn’t going to grovel for forgiveness this time. She deserved better than to be treated as a servant.

Didn’t she?

She briefly entertained the idea of picking up her phone and blocking Chloe’s contracts on all medias, but that would take between fifteen minutes and half an hour, and there was no guarantee that she wouldn’t read something Chloe sent in the process.

Maybe she could ask her dad too. But then he might look into Chloe for harassment, and while Sabrina was still upset at Chloe and firm in her decision to sever ties, she didn’t want to go that far. Not to mention the Mayor might try to fire Dad if he tried to get Chloe in trouble.

Which nixed that option.

Speaking of Dad…. “Hey Deputy, when are you meeting up with your friend today?”

Oh. And there was that. He had worked late last night, so she hadn’t been able to tell him about the change. Well, there was her activity for the morning!

“Around lunchtime,” Sabrina replied, the joy in her voice only partially forced as she twisted to look at Roger. “Can we have breakfast together?”

“Of course! I’ll start an extra helping.” he ducked back out of her doorway, presumably headed to the kitchen.

Sabrina sat up at last, compartmentalizing her thoughts so that she could enjoy some time with her dad. Their schedules didn’t often overlap like this, she should make the best of it. Especially since her schedule was so much more relaxed than a normal relaxed schedule thismorning.

She walked over to her dresser, near silently, to pick out today’s accessory; she hovered over her usual white headband, before switching it out for a flower she had gotten from Marinette as a birthday present years ago. She’d never managed to give it away, even as she built a rift between herself and the other classmates at Chloe’s side.

She was really, really lucky Marinette had decided to become her friend. That was a lot of distance to bridge. And she would put in the needed work. They both deserved at least that.

Sabrina clipped it into her hair and headed out to enjoy breakfast with her Dad. A rare occurrence that might not be quite so rare anymore. It was a possibility that made her smile.

***

‘I’m planning on having Sabrina over for lunch too, is that okay with you?’ The message had gone out to three different numbers, all of which replied with some version of yes. Alya had been skeptical but proud of her for trying, Nino said he’d try it, and Adrien thought it was a good idea.

Which were the reactions Marinette had expected, mostly. She hadn’t expected Adrien to be quite this happy about it, but she would take it.

Hopefully the stutter wouldn’t be too bad today She needed to focus on bridging the gap between Sabrina and Nino. And Alya, but Alya hadn’t met nearly as much of the attacks from Chloe and Sabrina as Nino and Marinette had.

***

Sabrina got to school earlier than usual. She didn’t want to coincide with Chloe’s time of arrival, but Marinette didn’t have a set time to get to school, so Sabrina couldn’t plan for that. She just had to get there early and wait.

Which brought up where she would be waiting.

Logically, she knew that she had picked her seat earlier in the year, and should stick to it. But dread pooled in her stomach at the thought of sitting beside Chloe for hours every day now that they were no longer friends.

The main question was if Mme. Bustier would allow her to move, and if anyone would want her sitting beside them.

With Marinette as her only friend, and Alya sitting by Marinette, it was unlikely she would be greeted warmly. Although Ivan or Nathaniel might let her sit beside them and ignore her, which would be leagues better than having to still sit by Chloe. Plus, Marinette was right in front of them!

Yes, she would try that.

Sabrina skipped up the staircase, turning at the banister, almost colliding with someone.

“Morning Sabrina!”

She blinked at Nino, unsure of his sudden warmth towards her. “Morning?”

“Marinette said you’re joining us for lunch, any requests?”

“Not really.” Sabrina shook her head, still unsure. This was new. And it happened fast.

“Alright, see you then!” Nino waved and continued on his way, as though that was completely ordinary. It was.. nice, to not be treated like a demon or a bomb.

Were- were people really going to be that forgiving already? Sabrina tightened her grip on her bag in excitement.

Mme. Bustier was already seated at her desk when Sabrina entered the Classroom, so she got straight to arguing her case. She didn’t have Chloe to make the teacher bend to their will anymore, so she had to actually use her intellect. “Mme. Bustier, I’d like to switch seats. I know that it’s not time for the midsemester switch, and that you rarely do the midsemester switch anyways, but I would feel much better if I was sitting in the middle right row instead of up front where I was.”

Mme. Butsier looked towards the seats in question, where only Ivan was at the moment. “I don’t see a problem with you moving, but we will have to check with Ivan first, alright?”

“Alright!” Sabrina nodded, surprised at how easily Mme. Bustier had caved. She didn’t have to use most of her arguments! Which was good, all things considered. It would be obvious soon, but she needed a little while to mentally prepare before plainly announcing to everyone else that she was done being friends with Chloe.

They made their way up to Ivan’s desk, where Mme. Bustier asked his opinion on the switch. Ivan grunted noncommittally, but nodded. Sabrina sighed quietly. Two hurdles passed. “Thank you!” She slid onto the bench, pulling her bag up in front of her too.

Ivan grunted again, and this time Sabrina could almost make out words at the low volume.

Mme. Bustier had reached her desk again when Nino returned, headphones pulled up and an argument in the form of Kim and Alix following him. Sabrina scanned the classroom to pass time, seeing who else was there. Rose, Juleka, and Max, were already in their seats, and Mylene was at the edge of Rose and Juleka’s desk, happily chattering about a music show.

Sabrina hoped Marinette could get here soon. She wanted to talk like that, although she didn’t know what Marinette might want to talk about. Maybe fashion? Or flowers! Marinette liked those, right? And Sabrina knew plenty about flowers, Chloe had liked them too.

She crossed her arms, leaning her chin on them as she watched and waited for her best friend to come through the door. It would probably be a little while, Marinette lived really close, but almost always got to school second to last. Probably taking advantage of her proximity to the school to spend more time at home.

Sabrina should do that too. Time her trek to school so that she arrived just a little bit before Marinette did, and they could go in together like Sabrina and Chloe used to!

A hand slammed onto her desk, shaking her out of her thoughts. Sabrina focused on it, recognizing it as Chloe’s. She must have really zoned out, if she missed Chloe walking in.

“There you are! Did Dupain-Cheng steal your phone yesterday or something? I’ve been calling you for ages! That horrid Akuma attacked me again, and Ladybug and Chat Noir just destroyed my room! The only good thing that came of it was me featuring on Cesaire’s blog. I’m going to need so much retail therapy for this, and you have to come with me.”

Sabrina took a deep breath, and then looked straight at Chloe. This would be so much easier with Marinette to back her up, but she still had a backbone of her own and she would use it. “Take Jean-Claude with you. We’re not friends anymore, remember?”

Chloe scoffed. “Come on, you’re still on that? Dupain-Cheng was just upset about the work portioning. She’s so quarrelsome!”

“Marinette is super nice! She’s been a much better friend in the eighteen hours since she became my friend than you were all year.” Sabrina didn't mention the Akuma, but only barely. Her job wasn't to spy and reveal secrets anymore.

“You’re just being ridiculous, Sabrina!”

Sabrina opened her mouth to retort, tell her that No, she wasn’t being ridiculous, and Yes, she was actually done being Chloe’s friend now, but Ivan replied before she could.

“Chloe, she said no. Go sit down.”

Chloe huffed, “Fine. Sabrina, we’ll talk at lunch.” she spun around and stomped back down to their normal seats. Their old seats. Chloe’s seat, now.

Sabrina watched Chloe go, and once she was seated turned to Ivan. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “You’re welcome.”

Sabrina smiled, turning back to her bag, and then looking at the door again too. Perfect timing, just as Marinette and Adrien walked in and took their seats. Alya must have slipped in while Sabrina was zoning out too, as she was there to greet Marinette with a fist-bump.

“Hey Sabrina!” Marinette whispered, turning and smiling at her.

“Hi Marinette!” Sabrina waved back, her smile widening. “Everything went well last night?”

Marinette leaned to the side, tilting her head as she did so. “There was a minor hiccup,-” she shrugged, moving back to a normal sitting position. She was so expressive! “-but it all worked out, and Nath came out okay. He might be taking the day off school though.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Alya asked, twisting to join the conversation. “Even if I wasn’t suspended at the time of mine, I would have taken a day off.”

“Yeah.” Sabrina agreed. “It makes sense for Akumatization to be mentally and emotionally taxing, I don’t think anyone will fault him for it.” Except maybe Chloe. And yesterday, Sabrina herself. Like they had with Ivan. Oohhh. She might want to apologize for that.

But what if it was too late? Or her bringing it up just made him mad? They only sat by each other, maybe she should just leave it.

She definitely would apologize to Nathaniel. And maybe Marinette. Her being rude along with Chloe caused it, and that then put her friend in danger.

“They better not,” Alya rolled her eyes.

“If anyone is going to be faulted it will be Hawkmoth. He's the only one who's actually at fault.” Marinette’s eyes hardened as she said it. Sabrina couldn’t blame her. Ever since Hawkmoth had made himself known, Ladybug had been working with the police to make sure Akuma victims were always protected from backlash and victim blaming. It didn't always work.

“Yeah.”

The bell rung then, effectively ending the conversation. Alya and Marinette turned back to the front, and Mylene scurried down to her seat.

“Alright class, settle down!” Mme. Bustier clapped, standing up and walking around to the front of her desk.

Sabrina flipped her bag open and pulled out her tablet, powering it on to see a screen full of notifications. She glanced over at the back of Chloe’s head, then to Marinette’s, right in front of her. Smiling sadly to herself, she tapped ‘Clear all’ and opened her notebook app and study guide. She would be okay. She had Marinette, and Chloe wouldn’t pull her back.

#miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain-cheng #sabrina raincomprix #old writing #Jaymeow writes #Crossposting spam #Red's The Color Of Your Heart #A Study in Friendship #ASiF

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bookgeekgrrl · 9 months

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My media this week (23-29 Jul 2023)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

🥰 The Rift (seapigeon) - 53K, modern college no powers AU - there's witchcraft and ghosts and curses and art student steve and science nerd bucky and it was all very good!

😍 Six Kids and a Winnebago series (Oddree13) - 91K, omegaverse Steddie - this series is a thoroughly delightful domestic omegaverse(lite) set post s4 - excellent characterizations, great sense of time/place & really fantastic music references

🥰 Longing and Belonging (enjambament) - 44K, geraskier - governess!Jaskier, lots of great family stuff with Ciri & Yen [reread, a definite fave]

😍 if I'm gonna get back to you someday (napricot) - 46K, post Endgame fixit with "a clusterfuck of Steves" from different multiverses - so many good emotions!

😊 Roommate Wanted (Lihhelsing, tinkerbclla) - 66K, modern Steddie roommates-to-lovers, part epistolary with a dash of identity porn

💖💖 +110K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

the premature awakening of Bucky Barnes [at the hands of stupid, sexy, Post-run Steve] (MaddieWritesStucky (Madeleine_Ward)) - MCU: stucky, 3K - modern no powers stucky, several months on in the relationship between stripper!Bucky & architecht Steve [reread]

Galatea (saltandbyrne) - Inception: Arthur/Eames, 16K - a very good and delightfully melancholic modern myth telling

Shelter Case (Coragyps) - Suits: Mike/Harvey, 7K - futuristic dark dystopian omegaverse [reread]

Let Me Keep You (LeeHan) - MCU: stucky, 4K - Steve's oral fixation PWP [reread]

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

D20: Adventuring Party - s1, e15-18

D20: A Crown of Candy - s5, e15-17

Good Omens - s2, e1-6

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

What Next: TBD Plus - Why Tech Lays Women Off First

⭐ Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Julia Gets Wise with Jane Fonda

Fire Island: The Tea - Thomás Matos

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1991: "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" by Geto Boys

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1993: "Hip Hop Hooray" by Naughty by Nature

Hot and Bothered - Live from Pemberley: The 2005 Movie (with Helen Zaltzman and Jenny Owen Youngs)

Re: Dracula - July 24: There Will be Some Trouble

Rachel Maddow Presents: Déjà News - Episode 6: “Hello America, this is Addis Ababa.”

50 MPH - 7 MPH / A Crash Course in Jan De Bont (with Bilge Ebiri)

⭐ Endless Thread - Best of Summer: The Loudest Sound

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Mapping the Gay Guides

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Spaces for Spies

Switched on Pop - Barbie and the plasticity of pop

Shedunnit - Cricket and Crime

Re: Dracula - July 26: Just Starting for Home

Ologies with Alie Ward - Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS) with Karen Munroe

Stuff The British Stole - The Fever Tree Hunt

The Waves Plus - How a Drag Queen Recreated the American Dream

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Knight’s Spider Web Farm

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Amazon Night Hikes

Our Opinions Are Correct - Encore Episode: We're in the wrong timeline, with Connie Willis and R.F. Kuang

99% Invisible #546 - The Country of the Blind

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1981: "Rapture" by Blondie

⭐ Decoder Ring Plus - A Brief History of Making Out

Twenty Thousand Hertz+ - Zelda: A Beep to the Past

Dear Prudence Plus - My Boyfriend Hid His Hobby From Me—Civil War Reenactments. Help!

⭐ Into It - Country Music’s Race Problem

What Next: TBD Plus - Washington vs. A.I.

Rivals: Music's Greatest Feuds - Robbie Robertson vs. Levon Helm: Broken Band

Re: Dracula - July 28: Four Days in Hell

Re: Dracula - July 29: Another Tragedy

Hit Parade Plus - The Bridge: Don’t Believe Me, Just Watch

⭐ Strong Songs - "Killing Me Softly With His Song," as sung by Lauryn Hill, Roberta Flack, & Lori Lieberman

Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! - WWDTM: Randall Park

Fire Island: The Tea - Bambi Sue: Dredging Up the Past

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Presenting The Who

People Just Wanna Have Fun [Kool & The Gang] {2023}

The Beach Boys Radio • Popular

"One Thing Leads To Another" [The Fixx] Radio

Dream Theater

Presenting Bruno Mars

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aurellya · 10 months

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I Love(d) You—And Still Do

❀ Tartali | Oneshot | Actors!AU, Fluff

Summary:

“Zhongli, tell me, why were you avoiding me back then?”

“I simply did not wish to cause your reputation harm. The media—”

“I couldn't care less about what the damn media says.” Childe scoffs, stepping forward and placing a hand on the rails of the bridge they’d stopped upon, caging the other in place, “Xiansheng, did you really think you could get rid of me that easily?”

Once had been enough. And if this Zhongli still loved him…

In the past, he’d let go of their love much too easily. Let outside words and even his own pride tear them apart and keep them separated on parallel paths that would never meet again.

Now, as fate grants them another chance, Childe knows his answer.

The rising foreign star and Liyue's most beloved meet, clash, and reunite—painted as rivals by the media, with few knowing their true relationship. And as they begin to spend more time together, memories of the past return, realisations are made, and feelings finally revealed as well as shamelessly confessed in public.

[Originally posted here on AO3]

Gods, he really should’ve checked the booking information again. Childe sighs as he rushes down the halls, boots clicking against the ground with each hurried step that he could only hope was taking him in the right direction. It had been, what, days since the interview? The darned event that had torn a rift between himself and the man he’d thought was a friend.

“So, Childe, how was working with Zhongli? Especially since this is one of your first big jobs in the industry.” The interviewer had asked all too innocently, looking between the two with a bright smile and microphone held out expectantly.

But Childe recognised the trap easily, having seen the headlines countless times, ridiculous as they are. ‘Childe and Zhongli, the Clash of New and Old’, ‘Snezhnaya’s Rising Star and Liyue’s Heartthrob—What’s Between Them?’.

It was almost comical watching the media struggle to choose between painting a picture of rivalry or something so much more. If only they knew…

“Zhongli-xiansheng is indeed deserving of his title as Liyue’s best.” The words had left his lips easily, a smile thrown in the mentioned man’s direction as he continued, “Yanwang Dijun is certainly a character to anticipate the appearance of, and I’m sure everyone will be satisfied with the performance.”

Yanwang Dijun, the Stonelord Sovereign. What a fitting title for the man who’d once been a god himself—in another life, that is. A god who was supposed to have been as steady as the earth he embodied.

“You flatter me, Tartaglia.” A familiar title, and one that stung . After all, it had been the very name called in their final moments together.

A farewell neither of them had wished for.

It’s almost funny, really. How they’d stood on seemingly opposing sides back then and continued to do so even now. First as a mortal harbinger and his god who’d lived longer than many could ever hope to, and now a rising newcomer and the well-versed veteran who had been considered his goal to overthrow the popularity of.

Polar opposites, ones that fate seemed to enjoy bringing together only to separate again and again. Just as Zhongli did that very day when a mask of indifference placed itself upon his face the moment the cameras turned off. Not a single text followed even as days, weeks even, passed by.

Had the companionship they’d built over the months of filming simply been a lie?

And of course Zhongli had to be the very person he was looking for in the maze of a hotel at the very moment, with Childe even making his way past the crowd that had set up camp at the main entrance hoping to catch even a glimpse of the man. Who would have expected that in his attempt to leave, he’d run into a horde of his own die-hards.

Another corner is turned, and another, and another. With each one, the sound of footsteps following and whispers of ‘ where did he go? ’ only grow louder.

Until, all of a sudden, Childe finds himself pulled into a room, barely having time to register the door creaking open before it is slammed shut once more—his back pressed against it. On reflex, he twists the arm of the one who had grabbed him and huffs as their positions are reversed and it is the other who is now pressed against the door.

“Who are y— Zhongli?” Golden eyes stare back at him, wide with surprise but otherwise calm. Almost too calm. But what else was he supposed to expect from Zhongli of all people?

Beautiful, perfect Zhongli who had barely even bat an eye as he’d fooled him those thousands of years ago. Acting as if nothing had changed even when so much had.

At least Zhongli had the sense to look almost sheepish as he cleared his throat, gaze shifting to stare at something far behind Childe. And it is then that Childe notices their position, notices Zhongli’s eyes meeting his own, face flushed and lips slightly parted… and especially notices the way he has Zhongli’s wrist held in his grasp, the other not making a move to break free. “My apologies… Ajax.”

“For what, helping me out?” Childe laughs, hand rubbing at the back of his neck as he stumbles back, suddenly conscious of the distance (or rather lack of it) between them.

When they’re this close, it’s hard to ignore the familiar scent of Zhongli’s perfume that drifts in the air around them—earthy, elegant, comforting. Just as it has always been. Thousands of years, multiple lives, and the other really hadn’t changed much at all….

“For the distance I’d put between us.”

The expression so blatantly painted on Zhongli’s face is much too familiar for comfort, bringing back memories of another time where they’d stood in the Northland Bank, Zhongli reaching for his wrist before pulling back in the final moment and allowing the door to close behind him.

Only on the boat back to Snezhnaya had it finally hit Childe, silent tears of regret and frustration whisked away by the wild ocean wind.

“Ah, that .” The words are tinged with the slightest hint of bitterness despite Childe’s best attempts. Whether it was for the past or the present, he did not know anymore. “Well, we’re supposed to be rivals , aren’t we?”

The rising foreign star disrupting the industry and Liyue’s most beloved star, it had been inevitable that such comparisons arose. That such a wall was put up between them before they even met that first day on set. Though said wall had been completely destroyed that first day they had lunch together, Zhongli’s beautiful laugh and the familiarity of the whole situation much too easily made their way back into his heart as always.

Oh what people would think if they knew the reality of the relationship between Zhongli and himself.

A strange expression crosses Zhongli’s face, soon replaced by the man’s usual mask of cool composure. “... Is that how you see it?”

There is a slight tremble to Zhongli’s voice. One he knows all too well. After all, that very tone had played in his dreams countless times before. “Is that how you see us, Tartaglia?”

“Well if it was, I wouldn’t be here offering you lunch, would I?”

And with that, he holds a hand out, flashing the most charming smile he could muster and watching the thoughts play through Zhongli’s mind in the way—eyes widening and lips parting the slightest bit, hands relaxing by his side as he looks away for just a moment.

“Our usual place?”

“You’ll see.” Childe winks back instead, free hand already turning the door’s knob. This time, Zhongli follows, hand held in his.

Read the full fic here on AO3~

Author's Notes:

Thank you for reading and feel free to say hi on Twitter [@mikarin_Z], or find my other fics on AO3 [aurellya]!

#tartali #タル鍾 #公钟 #fanfic #fluff #actor au #they are in love

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egoistafms · 5 months

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➷ ⸻ LUCIA HERNANDEZ-MARTINEZ

Lucia Hernandez picked up their key from the front desk 6 months ago. The thirty year old uses she/her pronouns and is a bottle service at Catch Me If You Can from Monterrey, Mexico. According to their apartment application, people have told them they look a lot like Melissa Barrera, and the character they identify with most is Rachel Green from Friends. Santa Moneda gives you a warm welcome, and we hope you enjoy your stay.

hi, hola, bonjour ! this is my baby lucia, she's kind of a trainwreck. there are slight mentions of dv and mental health issues below.

playlist.

♡ ━━ BASICS

full name: lucia hernandez-martinez

birthdate: february 21, 1993

age: thirty

ethnicity: mexican

gender: cis woman ( she/her/hers )

orientation: pansexual

occupation: bottle service at catch me if you can

languages spoken: spanish ( specifically mexican spanish ), english

positives: free-spirited, amiable, optimistic, affectionate

negatives: impulsive, flighty, selfish, ditzy, sensitive

likes: shopping, partying, dancing, spicy foods, working out, bubble baths, matcha lattes, the smell of fresh flowers, social media, homeopathic remedies, flan, skincare, edibles.

dislikes: thunderstorms, telenovelas, responsibilities, country music, cold weather, confrontation, close-minded people.

inspo: rachel green from friends, karen smith from mean girls, cassie from euphoria, and kelly kapoor from the office.

♡ ━━ BACKGROUND

at the age of three, the hernandez-martinez family relocated from their little home in monterrey, mexico to the big city of los angeles, california. the family wasn’t well-off by any means, living in a run-down apartment barely getting by. her mother, rosana, became the owner of mi vida bar which didn’t earn them enough income as they hoped. her father, alejandro, picked up landscaping on top of helping out with the new family business.

lucia was the youngest of two. the most spoiled child and notably the favorite, which caused a rift in the relationship with her sister, valeria. her formative years were spent enrolled in dance recitals and beauty pageants. with her love of putting on a show, her mother always believed she’d be a shining star. this slowly began the battle of basing her self-worth solely on her appearance.

tw dv; despite the toll these activities had on her mental health, she was grateful for the little moments she was able to escape from the chaos of her household. said chaos only halted when a neighbor from their apartment complex phoned the police during a heated brawl. her father was arrested at the scene and then kept after findings of multiple other criminal offenses. all contact was severed with her father after the incident.

dynamics soon changed in the hernandez-martinez residence. valeria later felt the need to take on the caretaker role, eventually picking up a job to help their mother with rent. however, lucia always lived in her own carefree little bubble, believing her social status meant more than lending a hand. in fact, her egocentric personality made her both loved and hated by many. she squeezed her way into the popular clique in high school. often, she’d skip classes to smoke or shop with the money she had stolen from her mother. education wasn’t her forte, made evident by her below-average grades. her mother began to instill the belief in lucia that she’d never amount to anything. telling her that she’d have to find a rich partner if she wanted to make it successful in life.

due to the girl’s nasty habit of stealing, her mother sent her on her way after graduation. somehow she was able to convince valeria to help her on her feet. in typical lucia fashion, she burned that bridge by racking up thousands in credit card debt under her sister’s name. once again, she’d been sent off to fend for herself, becoming somewhat of a drifter. she’d connect with people only to use them for their money and a place to stay. she’d bleed them dry, then rinse and repeat. lucia wasn’t necessarily proud of her behavior, but she’d pin the blame on her mother. she couldn’t stomach being at fault for her own actions.

her last ex-boyfriend, juniper, caught wind of her schemes fairly early in their only three-month-long relationship. yet again, she’d racked up thousands in credit card debt under someone else’s name. after his findings, he threatened to sue her unless she paid him back in full. to avoid the consequences of her actions, she took what little money she had left and fled to valparaiso, chile in hopes of starting a new life.

♡ ━━ OTHER TIDBITS

believes herself to be an incredibly spiritual person. although she does not practice a certain religion, she has a belief in the universe and cosmic energies. typically, whenever she is undergoing a crisis, she prefers to find a local tarot card reader. if she feels her luck is particularly bad she reaches out to curanderos for spiritual cleansings.

prefers homeopathic remedies over western medicine. she’s always carrying around homeopathic treatments in her bag, along with edibles.

very obsessed with the moon and the stars. in fact, she is the type of person to stop a conversation to have you gazing up at the sky.

due to her dancing background, she picked up a love for it over the years. her absolute favorite is salsa and she is guaranteed to invite anyone out for salsa dancing.

very obsessed with music, though she doesn’t consider herself a singer, she has an amazing vocal range. she only ever shows off her pipes singing in the car or at karaoke nights if she’s had a few drinks in her system.

most would consider her to be social media obsessed. she doesn’t have a huge following, just a couple thousand spanning across every platform. she still will take the time to capture every moment for an aesthetically pleasing post on her feed.

her huge downfall is her spending habits. she finds an excuse to treat herself no matter the state of her bank account.

for a huge chunk of her life, she considered herself to an entrepreneur. often, she’d throw herself head first into business endeavors that never took off. one being a skincare line titled ’diosa’ which was funded by an ex.

she’s only worked one real job before making her move to chile. she was a bartender for almost two months at her mother’s bar. after showing up late numerous times or choosing not to show up to her shifts at all, she was promptly fired.

is super into fitness. she has a daily routine that consists of drinking a green juice, which is followed by her morning run. she also loves working out at the gym, even taking yoga classes whenever she can.

she is unsure of her stance on love. she loves the idea of committing to someone, but it also terrifies her. with no sense of who she truly is, she often morphs herself into whoever the person she's infatuated with wants her to be.

♡ ━━ WANTED CONNECTIONS

the not-so-typical ride-or-die friendship. where both muses are constantly causing chaos or pulling each other out of messes they've created for themselves. i'd love to play into her scheming side, possibly stringing your muse along to scam locals of free drinks from the bar or extra cash.

chaos typically follows lucia wherever she goes, or so she'd like to believe. she'd love a voice of reason. someone to turn to for advice whenever she's in disarray.

tapping into her spiritual side, someone who knows tarot that she pesters for assistance and free readings !

anyone lucia may have scammed in the past whether it be for a place to stay, financial gain, or even a social media presence.

co-workers ! she has a terrible work ethic, so they could either love her or hate her for it. definitely would love to have both sides of the spectrum.

enemies. she typically doesn't hold resentment toward people, so she'd more than likely try to win them over. this could fail or be a huge success !

work-out buddies ! someone she goes to the gym with or even comes along for her morning runs.

past friendships ! possibly fallen out due to lucia's flightiness or they've simply lost touch.

on-and-off-again relationship. commitment is a huge fear, which i'd love to play into. whenever things become a little too serious for lucia's liking, she tends to tap out. somehow they always fall back into each other.

always down for fwbs, frenemies, neighbors, and other sorts !

#smhqintro

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senseicowpoke · 7 months

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As I look back on my childhood, I have fond memories of large family gatherings, holiday traditions, and Sunday dinners that brought us all together. The bond we shared was unbreakable, and we could always count on each other for support and love. But as I grow older, I’ve started to notice a shift in not just my, but other families too. Aunts, uncles, and cousins are no longer as involved in each other's lives, and family gatherings become less frequent. It’s left me wondering, where did we go wrong?

I believe part of the issue lies in the fast-paced, technology-driven world we live in. With social media and smartphones, we are constantly connected to the outside world, but we may not be as connected to our own families. We are more consumed with scrolling through our newsfeeds and updating our status than spending quality time with our loved ones. Instead of having face-to-face conversations, we communicate through texts and emojis, which can lead to misunderstandings and lack of real connection. Or we rely on others or what the person is posting to get our information.

Here’s one of my unpopular opinions, but I stand by it. We encounter family conflicts or disagreements that can lead to strained relationships. Instead of addressing and resolving these issues, some family members choose to distance themselves, causing a rift within the family. I understand that sometimes family dynamics can be complicated, and it may not be easy to repair broken relationships. But it's essential to remember that family is important and worth fighting for.

So, what can we do to bring our families back together? I’m no professional, but I have an idea at least. First and foremost, we need to prioritize our family relationships. In a world that is constantly on the go, it's vital to make time for our loved ones. Put down your phones and have a real conversation. Plan family outings and get-togethers to create new memories and strengthen bonds. It's also essential to forgive and let go of grudges. Holding onto past conflicts will only hinder our ability to move forward and rebuild relationships.

Moreover, we need to foster open communication within our families. It's crucial to listen and understand each other's perspectives, even if we don't always agree. Instead of avoiding difficult conversations, we should address them in a respectful and constructive manner. This will help to avoid misunderstandings and strengthen our relationships. You may even learn something new, because not only the elders in your family are filled with wisdom and advice.

What I’m going to do is remember the values that my family have instilled in me. Kindness, empathy, and unconditional love for one another are what sets family apart from any other relationship in our lives. And I’m going to hold onto these values and pass them down to the next generation. Just because your family might not have done this, doesn’t mean you aren’t strong enough to break the cycle.

I believe that family is the backbone of society, and it's up to us to keep it strong. As we continue to navigate through this ever-changing world, try to not forget the importance of family. Work towards bridging the gaps and bringing our families back together. Remember, we are stronger together than we are apart. Thank you for reading, and I wish you and your family all the love and happiness.

#spilled thoughts #family #roots #journal #blog #introvert #growing up #relationships #healthy relationships #writerscommunity

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the-secret-library · 1 year

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The Percy Jackson Series

Starting off strong, we have the Percy Jackson series as one of the most exciting and inspiring depictions of queer characters. While the first series doesn't expand on explicitly queer characters, the theme of difference and community are central to the narrative. Percy, as well as all the other demigods, is ADHD and dyslexic, which isolates him from his peers due to his difficulty in school. It's not just these disabilities that differentiate him. It is also his godly heritage. He finds his community within Camp Half Blood, surrounded by people like him. This sense of community and connection between the demigods is essential to the series as it dictates their alliances and friendships.

Going into the second series, we are confronted with an entirely different group of demigods that descend from the roman counterparts of the greek gods. This presents an entirely different community and group of characters that directly conflict with the demigods of Camp Half Blood. There is one character who seems to bridge these two distinct groups, and that is Nico Di Angelo. Nico is a particularly interesting character as his descendants as a child of Hades distinguishes him from the other children in Camp Half Blood. He is different and isolated, more so due to the fact that he does not come from the same time as the other characters. Nico finds himself in limbo between worlds and expresses that through his connection to Camp Jupiter, the camp for roman demigods. As the series progresses, we see the rift created between Nico and the other characters. Nico does not try to connect with them any more than he has to, that is, until he is outed as gay to Jason Grace.

Nico is the very first explicitly queer character in the entire series. After his reveal as a queer character, more queer characters appear in the series, like Will Solace, Nico's boyfriend, and Alex Fierro, from the Magnus Chase series within the same universe. For those who grew up reading the series, these characters are some of the first we saw being explicitly queer in children's media. That's the most crucial aspect of these characters. They are queer characters in children's media.

I grew up on this series and connected very intensely to Nico and the other queer characters found in it. While Percy is not explicitly queer in the novels, his experience as a child that is inherently different from those around him resonated with so many of us and continues to do so.

Personal rating: 10/10. I think this is one of the best portrayals of queer characters in novels for pre-teens.

#the secret library #books and novels #queer characters #gay characters #bi characters #children's books #urban fantasy novels #Nico best boi

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arcanegifs · 2 months

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ARCANE: BRIDGING THE RIFT Part 1 - "I Only Dream in Risky" ↳ "Usually, I'm a fan of pure 3D. I find our style really interesting. It's more organic."

#arcane #arcaneedit #netflixedit #animationedit #fortiche #animation behind the scenes #arcane bridging the rift #jinx #powder #arcane lol #arcane league of legends #league of legends arcane #league of legends #media: bridging the rift #ughhh im so hyped for s2 i cant wait to get amazed with the new art and animation

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j0ystix · 2 years

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Oh who’s going to become the new master of time??🥺🥺🥺 MAY I PROPOSE~

Aeon

the power of time was originally lost so Aeon was powerless at first. he’s Acronix’s son (ok to bridge the hands of time season to this, let’s take it as Acronix and Krux returned but since this is the future generation and Krux is significant older than Acronix, he passed away. Since he didn’t have an offspring, Aeon will inherit both the time twins power once the power is found) Id like to say that there’s a time rift where someone was disturbing with the power of time and Acronix knew he had to send Aeon to claim what’s rightfully theirs. Perhaps Aeon will find and use both Acronix’s and Krux’s powers for like 1-2 seasons but it was later revealed that the powers were too overbearing for him. He had to give half of his power to someone else as the power of time requires two holder. So Aeon decided to keep Acronix’s power and give away Krux’s.

- he’s a chad with a RBF but is quite unintentionally funny

- the comedic relief

- mixed of traditional and modern; technology failed him way too many times but he just can’t get enough of it

- probably posted his postal code on social media

- has cried and mop over a girl he met on tinder once

- MODERN FEMINIST! PROTECTOR OF WOMEN!

- super updated of global news. would out of nowhere say “did you know that this is happening on the other side of the world?”

- geographical rock nerd (Acronix is embarassed of this)

- ambitious, he’s a good student and has a good work life balance. he has a path set to become a doctor but that was disrupted when he had to ascend the role of the Master Of Time

- Gets along with Zen very well

- was a side character until the time rift occurred which would probably be in the late seasons

- no sense of fashion whatsoever

- still deciding on who he should give half his power to.. was thinking of a lover or a best friend

#time twins #ninjago #ninjago next gen #krux and acronix #hands of time #ninjago headcanons #ninjago fanfiction

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danwhobrowses · 2 years

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House of the Dragon - Eps 1&2 Thoughts and Review

Fire cannot kill a dragon, and yet we can afford to be burned twice.

In Spite of the bitter taste of Game of Thrones' finale, I like many others have plunged myself into House of the Dragon with tempered expectation of the prequel. Now that the first two episodes are out - and totally not because I forgot to do a standalone one for episode 1 - I'm gonna start giving my blind thoughts on the matter.

To be clear, I'm not super familiar with this story, I know it's covered in a book and other reactors inform me that the book has two unreliable accounts (a Maester and a Court Jester) and this is a 'how it really happened' version for the tv version rather than the book version - so there are some changes and age ups - but otherwise I am blind to the direction it's going, so here's my thoughts on it.

Spoilers for the first two episodes of course, and a bit of Game of Thrones too, give them a watch first if you don't want some plot points ruined for you

So this is a good start, I think I am still a bit hesitant to go fully into it but I am liking what I'm seeing so far.

The first episode was good but I must admit I found myself more unsettled than entertained, purely because of the graphic C-Section scene and the presence of pus, I mean I never wanted to see it with the Jorah greyscale scene and I didn't want it here either, same with the sound of choking babies, it was perhaps too uncomfortable. I think the dragon CGI looked a bit wonky at times, it could be the gold on Syrax is just not great for CGI (I'm sure we all recall The Witcher's golden dragon) or perhaps the smoothness of its scales. I do feel 50/50 on the frequent need to reference Game of Thrones even though it's a prequel, on one hand I get it because it bridges the gap but on the other hand if this show is a prequel by over a century it's a little too on the nose.

Episode 2 was a lot better, but I think it suffered a narrative flaw of 'character a does not talk to character b' when it came to Viscerys announcing his marriage to Alicent, he made no effort to even discuss with Rhaenyra his intent to wed her best friend, which will inevitably start the rift between them showed in the trailers. It also doesn't make Viscerys look any better to go against his better counsel and alienating one of his strongest allies because Laena Velayron is 12, especially when Alicent is apparently around 15. The time jump is a little abrupt, though I feel that we may have more to come.

I will praise heavily the attention to detail when it comes to costuming, something the GoT universe hadn't ever had a problem with thriving on, but I will say that sometimes it does look like the helmets don't fit as well as they should. Then again, this could be an intentional design flaw since this is considered a more peaceful period of Westeros.

I like the characters so far, mostly at the least. So far the star of the show is Matt Smith's Daemon Targaryen, the sociopath prince who has become social media's latest beloved bastard, both cunning and childish he fits a balance of being a villain but also one who still cares about his family. Rhaenyra and Alicent's younger actors have done really well, as has Rhys Ifans' Otto Hightower. Paddy Considine has been really good as the grieving king Viscerys I, completing subverting the descendant of his namesake we're familiar with by appearing at the least as a fair King and a decent person put under a lot of pressure by traditions. Sian Brooke did very well as Queen Aemma, given how she would be the first major casualty of the show, it is a shame we won't get more of her. Episode 2 got to showcase Eve Best's Rhaenys (George making it really easy to second guess every Targaryen's name and spelling) and Steve Toussaint's Corlys a bit more but we still need more of them, same for Graham McTavish's Ser Harrold and Fabien Frankel's Criston Cole, who have simply looked formidable among the crowd. We are yet to have a slew of charismatic characters equal to Tyrion, Tywin, Cersei, Ned, Arya, Bronn, Littlefinger, The Hound and Varys, but we can give it time.

Story-wise, I wish we had more time with Rhaenyra and Alicent before their rift, they established their friendship well but it probably would've hit deeper if we had more time with them, I understand the time jump but we could've had a bit more in between. While I don't think Daemon's a good guy, or that he'd be the worst king (more that he'd be a ruthless one), I do agree with him that the Small Counsel are trying to manipulate Viscerys for their own gains, seen most blatantly by Otto and Corlys throwing their daughters at him. Daemon being rescinded as an heir is grief-driven, especially since we never see him say it, but Daemon's reaction to it as detailed in Episode 2 doesn't do him any favours towards making it seem unfair. Viscerys as I pointed out is a good guy, but he seriously needs to work on his communication, from not telling Aemma his choice to let her die to try and save his son, to not discussing his marriage decisions with anyone or even trying to prepare his daughter for the throne, there is a difference between 'You will learn' and 'Let me teach you'. Alicent seems sweet, for now at least Arya and Daenerys once seemed sweet too, she is in a tough spot that makes me sympathise with her, I don't sympathise with Corlys as much, Viscerys should have married his daughter (or at least sought another way to merge their houses) but his own reaction going straight to Daemon proves that his ambitions are greater than his loyalty.

Of the two episodes I think my favourite scenes so far have been the jousting tournament - both for its visual spectacle but also as a strong introduction to Cole to what I guess will set up a feud between the two - and Viscerys confronting Daemon from Episode 1, and the Dragonstone standoff from Episode 2, not in that order though. The show has promise but since we're still in 'setup' we'll see on the next episode if it can up the ante.

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