#relive the dinosaur days
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#tumblr ads#mine#triceratops#ring#relive the dinosaur days#are they suggesting there are people out there who lived during the times of non avian dinosaurs?#and that those people might desire to live again at that time#with a dino ring
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daycare pt. 2
ellie williams x reader
description: ellie williams is forced to work at a daycare. in part two, she gets more comfortable with her new job and with you. 2.5k words
omg im so happy a lot of people liked the first one!!! i hope u guys like this one too. i love writing ab ellie and am open to any suggestions you may have!!
part one: https://www.tumblr.com/erooca/724971592933834752/daycare
ever since you met ellie, you started seeing her more around your campus. every once in a while, y’all would go study together or maybe grab a coffee, but she’s never invited you back to her dorm before, at least not until right now.
like the gentleman she is, she held the door open and you walked in, instantly getting hit with the scent of ellie. specifically a nice, light scent of tobacco vanilla, which felt very on point for the freckled girl.
her dorm was small, smaller than yours since she had one to herself, while you shared with roommates. all that was in here was a bed, a desk, a mini fridge, storage, and a door leading to a bathroom.
her back wall was filled with little sketches everywhere. you knew she liked to draw, but you had no idea it meant this much to her. you took in all the drawings, examining them one by one. you see sketches of horses, dinosaurs (no surprise there), sunsets and just a lot of landscapes in general, and you see a few of an older looking man. you assume it’s her father.
ellie is watching you nervously as you examine all her drawings. she was scared as shit that you were finally in her dorm, but she also had a tingling feeling in her heart because you were surrounded completely by her and only her at the moment. she could get used to this.
it had been two weeks since her first day at the daycare. for two whole weeks, her thoughts have been plagued by you. she was loving it. she loved spending a full eight hour shift with you. just to see you, she would even come in five or ten minutes early.
she wasn’t very secretive about her crush on you. she did a lot of things for you. if you went on break earlier than her, she’d pick you up something to eat and would forbid you from paying her back. she would also buy things you had mentioned you needed for the classroom. one time, she even brought you a candy bar since she noticed you weren’t as energetic as your usual self.
even after all these gracious gifts, you were oblivious. it drove ellie insane. she really didn’t want to have to confess it out loud to you. she was really hoping you’d just take the hint and ask her out yourself. ellie has a bit of a hard time with rejection and she can’t imagine pouring out her feelings to you just for you to tell her you didn’t feel the same about her.
“hey.. is this one of king’s drawings?” you said, pointing at a colorful and bright picture. it had two stick figures with a hell of a lot of scribbles.
“oh yeah, he said he drew it for me,” ellie smiled, reliving the memory. king had told her it was a drawing of her and him hanging out together. ellie asked if she could keep the drawing and of course king said yes.
“that’s so sweet,” you smiled brightly. you were so happy ellie already made a strong connection with one of the students. the best part about working with kids is seeing the way you influence them and make them better humans.
ellie nodded.
“so, did ya’ wanna order pizza and watch a movie?” ellie asked.
“that sounds like a perfect way to relax after a week of working.”
you guys settle onto ellie’s bed (since there’s no couch) watching a random movie on netflix waiting for the pizza.
it was a really good night. you wish you could spend every night like this.
the next monday, you were eagerly waiting for ellie to enter the classroom door. you were so excited to see her. you guys had such a great time on saturday, and you couldn’t wait to be in ellie’s presence again.
when the door opened, all the children screamed out ellie’s name, getting up to go give her a hug.
“ellie!! guess what my mom did this weekend!!” a blonde girl named charlie asked.
“i went to the park yesterday ellie!!” pippa told her.
“hey! hey! ellie!” another kid called for attention.
ellie laughed and listened to each of the kids one by one. it warmed your heart so much seeing your students gathered around ellie, telling her stories and giving her hugs. you felt like you could burst from the warmth that spread throughout your body.
when she was finished, she got up and locked eyes with you. she greeted you and that was when you noticed two starbucks cups in her hands. she sheepishly handed one of them out to you.
“ellie, you shouldn’t have done this,” you said, taking the cup from her even though it contradicted your words.
“gotta get a coffee for my favorite coworker,” her lips rose into a half smile.
you brought the drink up to your lips and sipped. you’ve had starbucks countless times, but this one tasted different. it tasted amazing and you know it’s because it was ellie who bought it for her. you thanked her.
the day continued on as usual. while you were outside, you watched as the kids ganged up on ellie to chase her and take her to “jail”. you watched her run, taking the game a little too seriously. it made you think how she’d probably survive a zombie apocalypse, if it ever happened.
she easily got cornered and king tugged her hand, leading her to the fence. some of the other kids did a locking motion, acting as though ellie was chained to the fence.
“don’t get out!!!” one of the boys, william, said.
you made your way over, innocently.
“how’s jail?” you ask.
“oh, ha ha,” she said sarcastically, then her eyes lit up, as if she had a great idea, “hey.. unlock me!” she said, glancing at her hands.
“you do realize you aren’t actually locked in, right?” you ask, laughing.
ellie scoffs. you follow through with her request anyway, motioning an unlocking gesture. then ellie bolted.
“HEY! they let ellie out! get both of them!” one of the kids yelled.
now both of you were running for your lives from a big group of three year olds.
once you guys came inside, you had lunch, and then nap time. when the kids woke up, you opted to do floor toys and just keep them all on the colorful alphabet rug.
you sat with the children, watching them build with the duplo legos. they were each having you look at what they made. you praised them each time, suggesting they add a different colored block or make it taller. soon, you felt a bit tired so you laid down onto the carpet.
this turned out to be a bad idea when half of your students rolled on top of you, leaving you no room to even move. all you could hear was the sounds of your three year olds giggling, as they tortured you.
you called out for help from ellie but was met with the response of laughter coming from her.
wow. your own friend. you thought up your revenge plan quickly, “everyone!!!” you shouted, catching their attentions, “go give ellie a kiss!!”
“what? no- no,” but it was too late. the kids ran up to her, giving her kisses on her arms and hands. a few even gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“payback,” you smirk at her, watching as she’s trying to control the kids now.
“oh you’re evil,” she responds, playfully narrowing her eyes at you.
the rest of the day went by fast, but this time ellie wasn’t leaving when you got down to less kids. maria had asked that you go through all the cleaning duties with her that are required for closing. you agreed, obviously excited to spend even more with her. you decided to wait until all the children were gone to start teaching it. it would allow you to give ellie your full focus.
all the kids were called to leave one by one and soon it was 6:00 and all the kids had went home. it was just ellie and you in the room. you could already feel the intense butterflies moving through you. god, your crush had gotten bad.
ignoring the feeling in your stomach that was so extreme it almost hurt, you showed ellie the closet.
“so we keep the vacuum and broom in here, and all of the cleaning chemicals. there’s bleach water, soapy water, floor spray, and a bathroom cleaner,” you explain to ellie.
you went inside to pull out the vacuum but with a mighty tug, the vacuum wouldn’t come loose. it was stuck in between the children’s mats. you said a naughty word but kept trying.
“here, let me help,” ellie said from outside the closet, stepping inside.
“wait! don’t let the door—“
click
“shut..”
“oh fuck. did i just lock us in here?” ellie asked, wide eyed as soon as she heard the click of the lock.
“uhh.. yeah. you did. it’s alright, i’m sure someone will find us soon,” you said, hopeful.
the closet wasn’t super tight, but it definitely wasn’t spacious. you were a little too close to ellie for comfort. you could already feel your heart racing. someone better find you guys soon, or you might have a heart attack.
“i’m gonna see if maybe i can like.. jam the door open,” you said, trying to switch spots with ellie so you were closer to the door. you couldn’t ignore the way your skin touched hers in an effort to get across.
you started wiggling the handle with all your might, trying to move it up, down, and side to side. it wasn’t budging.
“try moving it like this,” ellie had found her way right behind you. she rested her hand on the door handle where yours was. your pinkies overlapped and ellie started jiggling the handle too.
you looked to your side and noticed she had her other hand resting on the door, for support, to the right of your head. she was basically leaning over you, trapping you within her arms.
“yeah we’re not getting out of this any time soon,” ellie states, letting her hand rest on the door knob.
you finally turned around to face her and it both hit you how close you both had gotten. your back was against the door and she was right in front of you, only maybe a foot away.
ellie felt a dust of pink wash over her cheeks as she realized how close she was to you. she hadn’t meant to position you like this, but she wasn’t complaining.
ellie was keeping her eyes locked with yours and neither of you guys made an attempt to move. you could hear as her breath was moving more rigid.
it was becoming too much for you, and you glanced down, forcing your head to look at the ground. you tried to relax your heart that seemed as though it was clawing out of your chest.
a soft hand rose to the bottom of your chin, and pulled it upwards, forcing you to look back at ellie.
“don’t.” ellie whispered, not taking her eyes off of you.
you don’t think you’ve ever desired someone as much as you desired ellie right now. you were so close to grabbing her face, giving her as many kisses as she deserved, but instead you stood still, frozen under ellie’s dominant position.
ellie took the hand from your chin and moved it to gently tuck a wisp of hair behind your ear, “wanna see your pretty face…” she let her hand rest on her cheek.
your whole face turned a blushy color at her words. how was this girl you met only a few weeks ago making you sink into a puddle?
“ellie..” you breathed out, scanning her face, trying to decipher any thought she might have. from up this close, you could see how irregular her pattern of freckles were. how they were different shades of the same color. you could count them all from this position, and you happily would.
“can i please kiss you?” ellie asked, in almost a puppy dog voice.
you didn’t trust yourself with your voice right now (hell, you’d probably accidentally propose to her), so you gave a sweet nod.
she took a step closer to you, bodies mere inches from colliding, she watched your eyes and glanced to your lips.
“are you sure?” she asked, wanting to confirm that this is genuinely what you wanted. her eyes went back up to yours and she searched them.
instead of answering, you moved forward closing the gap. your soft lips met with her chapped ones. ellie made a noise of surprise at your sudden movement, but easily got comfortable, kissing you back.
she pulled back after a moment, but stayed close to your face.
“holy fuck,” she breathed out, trying to regain any sense of herself she had previously.
before you had a chance to say anything, she reconnected her lips with yours. she placed her hands on your hips, pulling you in closer. you crossed your hands around her neck. you don’t ever think you’ve felt this kind of rush before. all you knew was that you wanted ellie closer. you wanted to be surrounded by her completely. now that you’ve kissed her once, you don’t think you’ll ever be able to stop kissing her.
she slowly started kissing along your jawline, and then trailing her lips down your neck. you giggling at the sensation from the way it tickled your skin.
ellie liked the way your throat felt under her mouth. she continued to leave soft kisses all on you. you could feel your hunger for her grow stronger and stronger.
just then the door swung open, leaving you to fall on the ground, and ellie tumbling over you. you both groaned in pain.
maria stood in front of you two’s lying bodies. she cleared her throat awkwardly. it was obvious she saw what you guys were doing before you fell.
“i’m not gonna talk about what i just saw, but how many times have i told you not to let that door shut??” maria said, only acting angry to wash away the awkward feeling of walking in on her (basically) niece making out with one of her best workers.
“it was my fault, maria. i let the door close,” ellie said, taking the blame. she stood up from the ground, and then held out a hand to you. you gladly took it and she pulled you up.
maria sighed in frustration, “don’t let it happen again, and get this room clean. we lock up in 15 minutes.”
as soon as she leaves the room, you erupt in giggles, thinking of how shocked maria’s face was. ellie joined your laughter, just now realizing how silly the situation had become.
knowing there wasn’t any time left to dilly-dally, you two sped cleaned the room.
you hoped the next couple days would be full of more closet kisses, more of those loving looks ellie had given you today, or even wishful touches throughout the hours.
unknown to your knowledge, ellie was planning on giving you every single one of those for the rest of her life.
#ellie williams#ellie williams fanfic#ellie williams x reader#ellie williams x you#ellie x y/n#ellie x reader#ellie x you#the last of us#tlou x reader#tlou2 ellie#ellie the last of us#tlou fic#tlou part 2#tlou fanfiction#ellie tlou#tlou 2 ellie#ellie x fem reader
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"Planet of Judgment" review
A novel from 1977, by Joe Haldeman. It begins with a rather generic "stranded on dinosaur planet" plot, but then the story becomes far more unhinged and entertaining. By the end, I was wondering what drugs was the author taking. So yeah, recommended novel, for sheer insanity.
As usual, Spock is gay.
Also, McCoy is probably gay too.
Spoilers under the cut:
The Enterprise arrives at a strange rogue planet, with its own artificial sun. Of course Kirk has to investigate the anomalous planet (aptly named "Anomaly"), and he lands there with some security guys in a shuttlecraft. The fact that the transporter doesn't work, should be hint enough that this planet is trouble.
They encounter giant beasts similar to dinosaurs. Also pterodactyls. And soon discover that the usual laws of physics don't apply as they should. Their phasers only work on stun, they have no communications, and the shuttlecraft is dead. So far, no redshirt has died, so the Enterprise sends another shuttlecraft with more redshirts just in case. At last, since it's obvious everyone is trapped on that planet, Spock decides to send three more shuttlecrafts with a ton of people (including himself, McCoy, Chapel and Uhura) so the party can begin.
The first part of the novel deals with the crew trying to survive in the wild environment. There's also two strange, stream-of-consciousness scenes to show Kirk and McCoy's dreams.
The crew spots some hominid creatures that they take for cavemen. Also, two redshirts finally die. One being half-eaten by a giant flower, in a surprisingly gory scene.
There's more body horror ahead, as one injured redshirt vanishes suddenly, and returns the next day significantly changed. He has no eyes, ears or nose, as if they had never been there in the first place, and hair is quickly covering his whole body. It's discovered then, that the supposed cavemen are actually a very advanced telepathic race, and have mutated the crewman into one of their own, to better communicate and study the humans. (By the way, the crewman is very happy with the changes.)
The aliens, called Arivne, only need the scientists (Spock, McCoy and three others) for their experiments, so everyone else is sent back to the Enterprise. Then, they force them to relive traumatic moments of their past, in order to learn things like "decision-making" or "betrayal", which their species, living in perfect unity, doesn't know.
There are interesting glimpses into Spock and McCoy's past, as part of these visions. Such as Spock being bullied by his human cousins as a child, or McCoy's divorce.
It's finally revealed that the Arivne are doing all this to prepare against the attack of other, insectoid aliens, that will soon invade the whole galaxy (McCoy describes one as an "ugly son of a bitch"). The aliens, called Irapina, are sending first three champions to test the waters. If Spock, McCoy and Kirk (who's been returned to the planet to not miss the fight) can defeat the three Irapina, they'll withdraw to invade another, less interesting place (like the Romulan Empire).
This is where things become really, really weird. As the battles against the Irapina take place inside hallucinations, that can nonetheless kill the loser (a bit as in "Spectre of the Gun"). Come to think of it, something similar happened in "Spock Must Die". These early novels truly loved their hallucinations...
We have McCoy battling the baby Irapina in a poker game, set in the Wild West. Which ends with McCoy decapitating the alien with a card. Yeah. Spock takes a math quiz on a sinking game board. Then Kirk fights in a naval battle against pirates, while Spock is busy inside a star, trying to make it go nova (Spock has practice with this, as earlier he had created a volcano by pushing to the surface from a planet's core).
Anyway, it's all gloriously crazy. Even though the ending seemed a bit rushed. There are also some seemingly abandoned plot threads. For example, the love triangle between a female scientist, another guy and a professor. I thought that these three characters would have more relevance later on, but eventually, nothing is done with them.
Spirk Meter: 7/10*. I was determined to give this novel a low rating, even a zero. After all, how slashy can it be if Kirk and Spock barely interact? It turns out, it can be fairly slashy...
For starters, the most traumatic experience in Spock's past that the Arivne could find, was his battle against Kirk in Amok Time and the thought he had killed him (the whole sequence is taken from Blish novelization, which is a rather lazy way to fill pages, if you ask me). Relieving the scene makes Spock cry actual tears.
Then, what is Spock's biggest worry while stranded on the planet? Being eaten by dinosaurs? Nah! The greatest danger for him is that Chapel would try to seduce him! Even though poor Chapel doesn't even interact with him in the whole novel, and has been nothing but professional. He goes as far as suggesting that McCoy seduces her, to get rid of Chapel himself (too bad for Spock, McCoy's gay too; more on this later).
So far, this isn't much. But then, near the ending, it's Spock's love for Kirk that saves the whole galaxy once more. During the final confrontation, the Irapina cheat at the game and merge the two hallucinations: Kirk battling on the pirate ship, and Spock creating a supernova. If Spock succeeds at his test, the heat from the nova will kill Kirk. Of course, he chooses to fail his test and die himself, so Kirk has a chance. He does it out of "logic, morality, and a vestige of an emotion he might deny: love" (direct quote).
The Irapina hadn't predicted such sacrifice in the name of love, so they declare the battle null, which gives Kirk and Spock another chance.
This is as far as Kirk and Spock are concerned. Now, what's the deal with McCoy?
For starters, during his dream sequence, he wonders about the fact that he has never been truly interested in a woman, not even his wife.
Later, Spock asks McCoy to explain sex and love to him, since he doesn't understand why Chapel is so interested in him. McCoy explains that women (and men) are attracted to power, which Spock has; intellect, which Spock has in spades; fairness, which is congenital for Spock (these are his words); and of course, that mysterious aura of strangeness, that is so very Spock's... And yeah, it doesn't seem AT ALL that McCoy has reflected a lot about Spock's appeal...
After this, Spock asks him to seduce Chapel himself. McCoy refuses as he doesn't see Chapel that way. Spock assures him that he won't ask him to do anything against his nature, to which McCoy becomes very defensive. There's a long passage then, where McCoy ponders about his reasons to prefer the other female scientist in the party (all very un-romantic, practical reasons) over Chapel. As well as the fact that, despite being familiar with the female body because of his work as a doctor, he kind of fails when it comes to women. Something that he can't confess to Spock, but has confided to Chapel; the reason why he can't see her as a lover, and why Chapel can't be attracted to him either. What does Chapel know?
It's also noteworthy, that this whole scene serves absolutely no purpose for the plot, since Chapel disappears from the story quite early and nothing happens between her and Spock.
Last but not least, during the re-enactment of McCoy's divorce, we learn that a major reason for his wife abandoning him is that she was sexually frustrated. And neither of them were happy in their marriage. McCoy doesn't take it so bad, joining Starfleet right afterwards...
So yeah, in my opinion, there's something about all this that screams "closeted homosexual".
*A 10 in this scale is the most obvious spirk moments in TOS. Think of the back massage, "You make me believe in miracles", or "Amok Time" for example.
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𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.
━━━━━━━☆☆━━━━━━━
[ prompt of course given by: @xstreetsx | comforting her through the depression of going through something traumatic ]
‣ spotify link. | the last of us masterlist.
‣ ellie williams x f! reader | The Last of Us | 986 words | mentions of depression, character death, tlou II spoilers
‣ it's a rainy, sleepy day today. comfort with ellie sounds good about now
All she knew was red.
Warm, thick pellets of red, dripping and seeping into the crevices of her skin. Her eyes. Her nose. Her mouth. All until she couldn’t breathe. The oxygen filtering into her lungs paused, suffocating her insides until a burst of heat rushed up towards her brain. Was she alive, or an essence of imagination?
The woman raised her armed hand again. And again. And again. And again. His face wasn’t the one she loved anymore. Where were his eyes? His nose? The smirk he adorned when she corrected him on a space fact? His beard, where’s his beard? Where is he?
The scream that ripped her apart splattered into the wooden beams that built the house she was trapped in. She screamed until she couldn’t process the pain of her vocal cords splitting. She screamed until her vision wavered, flashing lights of black and white blinding her pupils. She screamed until she couldn’t anymore, until her body finally weakened and let her rest.
Three days of bliss. For three days, she was gone to the world, tucked away in the safety of her dreams. Falling victim to her subconscious that tricked her sleeping brain with illustrations that Joel was still alive, strumming his guitar while she listened. Her dreams brought her back to her favorite birthday, the one where Joel had actually gifted her with a dinosaur. A rotting science museum, with a whole world of dino fossils towering strong and powerful as ever. She listened to that damn space cassette tape in the space pod, reliving the remarkable day humans went to the moon, one small step for man right in her eardrums.
Joel did that. Not Dina. Not Tommy. Joel. Her dad, her savior, her family.
..And he was gone the moment her heart reawakened.
The realization shot her like a brass bullet puncturing organs. She bled, bled, and bled. His gravestone mocked her where she stood. His name. ‘Joel Miller,’ embedded in stone, decorated with bouquets of sorrow. The knot in her brow furrowed deeper. These people didn’t know him like she did. Not a single soul here knew the bitter hell she and Joel went through to be alive. Even this gravestone, piece of trash. How dare a piece of stone represent the remarkable man Joel was with just a statement. Neither it or Jackson would grasp the intensity of a person that was Joel Miller. Except for her.
..Yet she couldn’t tear herself away from it. The damn stone held a grip on her like a mouse trap. She even spoke to it, telling the cement how much she missed it, and that the days had been getting harder, instead of easier. Fuck anyone who utters that shit.
She found it annoying how much she wept over the stone. It was her regular self now. Without tears, there was no Ellie Williams. Morning, afternoon, and evening. She wept for the man that made her feel safe, that gave her a home, that loved her. She’d never been so afraid before in her life.
But maybe…the days do get easier. Because somehow, in the path of grief, she found you in the middle.
A friend of hers since the day she arrived in Jackson. A friend throughout the triumphs, the pain, the hell. Ellie never let her guard down, but to you, she’d make an exception. That’s the kind of person you were. Sweet and care some, almost like home.
She’d shut out anyone left in her life since that day. Your lips frowned each time you passed by her house, the cold wind heightening from the mixture of agony and loss Ellie manifested into her world. You longed to see her, to give her some form of reassurance that she wasn’t alone, that you were here, but… maybe now’s not the time.
Or maybe it was. Maybe she needed you just as much as you needed to see her. You could confirm that with the sobs that seeped through the cracks in the wooden door, her voice aching with weighted torment. She’d been alone for too long. You should’ve came sooner, but you ignored any regretful thoughts as you knocked on the door.
“..Ellie..? Can I come in?”
She couldn’t care about anyone else. She didn’t, and she never will again. Go away.
You knocked again. “Please, Ellie?”
“Go away.”
You wouldn’t be pushed away anymore. Twisting the knob, you found her curled on the frozen floor, shoulders quaking under her tears. Gently closing the door, you crouched down to her level carefully, leisurely placing your hand on hers. Her skin was freezing compared to your warm fingers, but she continued to ignore you. It was as if you didn’t exist in this gruesome world of hers.
“Ellie. It’s me, I’m here.”
“No..N-No, you’re not. Go away.”
You’d just have to enter her world yourself. Lowering your body to the ground, your cheek pressed against the harsh cold, your hand wrapped itself around hers. Knees bumping together, foreheads barely grazing, you stared into her eyelids tightly pressed together, tears dribbling down her cheek.
“You’re not alone anymore, Ellie.”
Her nose sniffled, yet she remained quiet.
“I..I know you miss him. But, you don’t have to be by yourself through this…Okay? D-Dina, and I, and everyone else. We love you so much.”
Your own words bit you back just as hard, threatening tears of your own to escape you. But when Ellie finally, finally, reopened her eyes to meet yours, your tears became worth it. Your lips upturned in a smile; I’m here.
Breaking apart her hand from yours, she laid her cooled palm against the crevice of your jaw, thumb rubbing the skin gently. You reciprocated the action, allowing her to bring you even closer. Your foreheads bumped together, her eyes closing now in solidarity. You were here, now. Here, with her. And you always will be.
᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃
#ellie williams x reader#the last of us#the last of us x reader#tlou#tlou part 2#tlou x reader#ellie the last of us#ellie x reader#ellie the last of us x reader#ellie tlou x reader#ellie williams x reader comfort#ellie williams x reader angst#angst#tlou angst#tlou x reader comfort#tlou x reader angst
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Modern with Powers AU + Ancient Rome AU
Like all the other kids, Willie has spent countless hours of his childhood trying to imagine what powers he might get when he finally turns 16. He really hopes they will be cooler than his stepdad's levitation powers, which, on a guy tall enough to reach the upper shelves without help, seem a bit wasted, if he's being honest. Not that he's ever that honest to Caleb's face.
Still, at least it's one of the bigger powers, not "being able to find the nearest snail when in need of a snail" or "pens never run out of ink but you never know which colour the ink will have."
But even though Willie's wildest dreams can run pretty wild, he never dared believe he would get one of the truly big ones. Until he wakes up in the middle of the Boston Tea Party on his sixteenth birthday.
It's a bit of a rocky start but once he gets a hang of his time travel powers, they're beyond cool. He can't influence anything so he doesn't have to worry about stepping on any toes and changing the trajectory of history. In fact, he rather appears to be a ghost whenever he visits the past and so do any objects he may carry while he pops back in time.
Which means skating has just become so much more fun because instead of breaking into popstars' empty pools in the present, he can instead skate through Ancient Rome.
Given his incorporeal form, he really has to be excused that he doesn't always pay too much attention to not running into things or people because he usually just runs through them.
Until he very much does run into someone.
A very annoyed, pink hoodied someone, who falters adorably as Willie helps him up from the pavement and stares at him with wide eyes and an open mouth.
With all the splendour and excitement of the past surrounding them, Willie finds himself very charmed with this unexpected present from the present. Because they do eventually figure out that they share the same present, which is helpful for falling in love.
And whenever Alex and he are not exploring all of what time has to offer--which is admittedly a lot because dinosaurs and pirates and pharaohs are very much on offer--Willie lives for those moments where they get asked how the two of them met.
It just never gets old to say: "We ran into each other in Ancient Rome."
Alex will roll his eyes but he also always smiles.
And Willie couldn't be happier. Until the day Caleb grudgingly admits that his levitation powers are indeed a bit lame compared to the awesomeness that is time travel.
Willie pops back to relive that moment a few times.
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idk what this is tbh just something
warnings: mentions of illness, death, etc. kinda a little sad
word count: 948
Memories
The small kitchen of your shared home had become a favorite of you and Bradley. It always smelt of cinnamon and apples, courtesy of the little wax melt stationed by the stove.
He loved it.
The smell had always reminded him of Carole.
She’d always been a baker. When he was little, three or four, he’d wake up to the smell of cinnamon rolls, or banana bread. Whatever it was, it was always something sweet. Baking with her was one of his fondest memories, or rather, watching her bake and then eating her creations.
On days when she baked in the morning, the smell would seep into his bedroom, efficiently waking him up before Carole had to, and little Bradley would bolt. It was funny to see such a small boy run down the stairs and just scarf down whatever she had made.
On days when she chose to bake a sweet treat for dinner, he’d sit at the counter talking to her about whatever his small mind could think of. Sometimes, these conversations got insanely creative. Sometimes he’d talk about his hopes and aspirations of becoming a great pilot. ‘Like Uncle Mav!’ he’d cheer, neglecting to mention his own father. Other times, he would talk about things like time travel, and dinosaurs.
After Goose died, the treats had slowed down a little bit. She still baked, trying to keep that little sense of familiarity left in her life.
When he was six, she had stopped altogether, but the smell lingered. The point is, Rooster thought of the smell fondly.
The small kitchen of your shared home was the resting place of Carole’s recipe cards. They were a little bit weathered, despite the years of dust they’d accumulated, but Bradley loved to reread them, even if he was a disaster in the kitchen, and his wife wasn’t much better.
When Carole had started to deteriorate, illness taking its toll on her body, she picked up a pen and some small notecards. She relived the days when all she would do was bake for hours.
She didn’t really forget the recipes, how could she? They were her lifeline when her husband was flying. Carole didn’t know what he was doing, so instead of pacing, she’d bake.
Now, here she was. Her hands were shaky, but it would have to do. She wrote on the notecards with care, every recipe she could think of was on a notecard. It made Carole sad, sad that she had to do this so soon with scribbled cursive, cursive that used to be neat and gorgeous.
That amazing cursive had definitely passed down to Bradley, so when he chose to write letters, you’d cherish it.
Those notecards lived in a small bin on the left side of a shelf in the cabinet closest to the fridge, and if Bradley was lucky, you’d attempt (and succeed) in making these recipes.
The small kitchen of your shared home had these feminine frilly curtains lining the windows. They were a bit old and loved, but certainly not retired.
They had been in Carole’s kitchen as long as Bradley could remember. She’d tell him about how she and Goose went to go pick out the fabric, and then she saw lace.
Goose couldn’t change her mind about it, so they bought the lace and she sat at the old sewing machine that was her grandmothers and sewed.
They were white, a little more stained now thanks to baby Bradley throwing food at it, but the curtains were still white. The curtains wouldn’t have been Roosters style at all, if not for Carole.
The familiarity of it all probably helped too.
The small kitchen of your shared home had a matching tablecloth. They were newer.
A few years before Carole died, she rediscovered the white fabric and the lace that she loved so much. She recoiled a little in shock because nowadays, she would have turned the other way.
Not that it was ugly, no, she hadn’t seen it in a while. Her old curtains had been there forever, and yet she still felt as though she hadn’t seen these materials.
So, she did one of her favorite things and sewed. A matching tablecloth. A tablecloth that should be much more stained than it was.
It’s stained in one spot, just barely, the seat where Carole used to eat. When she got older and shakier, she dropped more food than she used to.
By the end of it, she just didn’t have enough energy to clean the tablecloth, to scrub those stains out.
Most of all, Bradley loves dancing with you in the kitchen. It might not be physical, but it’s just as special to him.
Carole would be cooking, humming a small song to herself while Bradley sat at the couch watching television, or reading. Something to keep him entertained for god knows how long.
“Honey, I’m home!” Goose would call, his voice booming throughout the house. Bradley would run up to him to get a hug, but find him already in the kitchen, arms around Carole while they slow danced. Some days, there'd be music playing. Other days, they just sang their own little song..
He’d sit at the counter and watch for a little bit until something inevitably started burning and Carole would push him out of the kitchen.
“Nick! Stop distracting me.” she’d shout, trying to show as much authority as possible. Goose just laughed, carefully maneuvering around the counters and picking up Bradley on his way out.
It connects him to his parents, and Bradley loves that. It connects you to his parents, people he loved that you never had the pleasure of meeting. That’s what he loves.
#bradley bradshaw#bradley rooster bradshaw#rooster#bradley bradshaw x reader#rooster x reader#bradley rooster bradshaw x reader#bradley ‘rooster’ bradshaw x reader#bradley ‘rooster’ bradshaw#nick x carole#goose x carole#goose bradshaw x carole bradshaw#top gun fic#top gun maverick#top gun maverick fic
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time machine
do you ever wonder how cool a time machine would be? you could do so much things with it! you could go back and see the dinosaurs, go into the future and see all the latest technology, or even go back a few hours to cheat on a test.
you wanna know what i would do? i would go back, but not to change things. i would go back and relive the first time i ever saw you, that first time i felt butterflies like i never felt before, that first time i saw the twinkle in your eye. it all felt so magical to me, it really felt like i just saw the person that i wanted to be with forever.
i would also relive that first night that we talked. we were so kilig and nervous, im pretty sure we both didn't know what we were doing. i wasn't even sure if you liked me, but i knew that that would be the start of something i would never change.
i would go back and relive the first time we met up with each other, the first time i finally got to hold your hand, the first time i finally got to tell you i love you to your face. i was so in love that day, and it was really when i knew that i wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. everything about you on that day, from your smile, to your outift, to how red your cheeks were sitting beside me, was so mesmerizing and beautiful to me, and i wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
yes, theres a lot of things i would want to forgot or change in the past, but trust me, theres nothing i would want to change with what happened with you and i. i love how we are now, and i wouldn't change anything about our journey here if it meant that in the end we would end up happy together.
to put it simply, i wouldnt want a time machine to change some things, but to relive some things twice.
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i’ve been poking around the internet reading the original jurassic park screenplays for fun, and i’d like to make an official callout post for the jurassic park iii script for being EVEN MORE RUINOUS than what appears onscreen.
evidence beneath the cut, especially egregious moments bolded very dramatically by yours truly--
CHILD (O.S.)
RRRRROW! GRRRRRR!
WINDER TO REVEAL -
CHARLIE, a three-year old boy, plays in a sandbox with his favorite toy dinosaurs. ALAN GRANT squats next to him and watches with great delight.
ELLIE SATLER stands over them, an INFANT in her arms -- a picture of the perfect family.
GRANT Oh, actually, Charlie, those two are herbivores. They wouldn't be interested in fighting each other. But these... (picking up two other dinosaurs) See, these are carnivores. And this one here -- see its claws -- this one here uses its claws to gouge at the throat of its opponent…
As Grant demonstrates with some GRUNT and GROANS of his own, he only succeeds in frightening the boy.
ELLIE (interrupting) Uh, Alan?
GRANT Hmm?
ELLIE He's three. Why don't you wait till he's a little older?
GRANT Oh, right. (back to Charlie) Happy dinosaurs.
He bounces them along the sandbox edge.
Then, the sound of a CAR ENGINE turning off and a door SLAMMING is heard.
ELLIE That must be Mark. (calling out) Mark, we’re back here!
Ellie and Grant turn to see --
MARK DEGLER coming through the gate carrying a briefcase. He's their age, handsome but not annoyingly so [lol, what a description], with a friendly, balance demeanor.
He and Ellie kiss tenderly on the lips.
ELLIE (CONT'D) Good day?
MARK Keeping the world safe. (re: baby) Here, let me take her.
Ellie hands off the baby.
ELLIE Mark, this is Alan Grant.
MARK Nice to meet you, Alan. I've heard a lot about you.
The two men shake hands, and we now realize it is Grant who is the stranger in this household. Little Charlie runs to his father, showing his dinosaur.
CHARLIE Daddy, this is a herbabore.
Grant smiles uncomfortably, a third wheel.
***
WINDEN to a PARROT in a large cage. Grant is teasing the bird with a cookie, holding a it just out of reach.
GRANT What's my name? Come on, Jack, say it. Is my name Alan? Say my name.
The bird doesn't respond.
GRANT (CONT'D) He used to know me. [sob!!!!!]
ELLIE Sorry, Alan it's been six years.
Grant shrugs, gives Jack the cookie, and heads towards the table. The three adults are finishing their dessert and coffee. The The children have been out to bed.
An awkward moment of silence. Uncomfortable smiles. Then --
MARK More coffee?
ELLIE (relived) Yes. Great.
Mark stands and collects their cups.
ELLIE (CONT'D) So, Mark's working at the State Department now.
GRANT Really? (To Mark) What do you do there?
MARK (with mock bravado) I could tell you about it, but than I'd have to kill you.
GRANT Indeed.
Mark smiles, nodding. Then he goes into the kitchen. Another uncomfortable silence.
ELLIE So what are you working on now?
GRANT We have a new site in Montana. At least until the money runs out.
ELLIE Anything good?
GRANT Raptors, mostly.
ELLIE My favorite.
Grant leans forward, realizing Ellie's one of the few people he can talk to about this.
GRANT You remember the sounds they made?
ELLIE I try not to.
GRANT We've done cranial scans, and raptors actually had a quite sophisticated resonating chamber. I have a theory that their ability to vocalize is the key to their social intelligence. The way they can work together as a team.
ELLIE You think they could talk to each other?
GRANT To a degree we never imagined.
And from the cage in the corner of the room...
JACK Bullshit!
Both look back at the parrot. ELLIE smiles.
ELLIE You taught him that.
***
6 EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - NIGHT 6
Ellie and Grant head toward the rental car parked in the driveway.
ELLIE Good luck with the fund raising.
GRANT It was never easy, but before Jurassic Park, you could find money. Somewhere. Now fossils are out. Everyone wants to see a real live dinosaur.
ELLIE Times change Alan. But you're the still the best. I mean that.
GRANT The last of my breed.
A long moment passes between them as both consider where they've ended up.
GRANT (CONT'D) I'd better get going.
ELLIE Let me know if I can help, Alan. You’re bad about asking for help, but please ask me. Anything, anytime. [sob!!!!!!]
GRANT (deep down knowing he never will) Okay. Goodbye, Ellie.
ELLIE Goodbye, Alan.
Not sure what the right thing to do is, they finally end up with a friendly hug. They keep it short.
Grant gets in his car. Starts the ENGINE.
He's about to pull off when Ellie knocks on the window. He rolls it down.
ELLIE (CONT'D) When I met you, I thought that one day millions of years ago, all the dinosaurs became extinct. Wiped out. But you told me otherwise. When conditions changed, dinosaurs changed. They became other things. They evolved.
GRANT A well-accepted theory.
ELLIE (simply) Alan don't be afraid to evolve.
Grant hears her, but Ellie knows it didn't really get through. A forced half-smile, than Grant waves goodbye.
Ellie watches as he drives off.
***
ERIC The lady you called, how do you know she can help us?
GRANT She's the one person I could always count on. And she's saved me more times than she realizes. I owe her everything.
A long beat as they walk.
GRANT (CONT'D) It's strikes me now I never told her that.
ERIC You should.
GRANT You're right.
[oh my god, is that alan EVOLVING? does this movie end on the vague suggestion that alan is going to shoot his shot and try to bust up ellie’s marriage? ... i know probably not. but MAYBE. also, i’m really glad that the movie added the “god bless you, ellie” line w/ all the world’s love in it.]
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Some recent happies ☺️
10/7/23
✨ my friend brought me back some super cute pens (they’re erasable!?? I didn’t realize that until a few days of using them lol) from a recent trip she went on and it is sometimes the most simple, small things that mean the most. I LOVE the cat and dinosaur! The elephant and shark are amazing too! I have a soft spot for cats and Dino’s though haha
✨ picked up a new journal this past week too as I just finished my old journal I had throughout treatment!
✨ spent this past week decorating my work office for Halloween!! Howie the skeleton is a fan fave (I love him too!!) and so I got 15 mini little Howie skeletons and hid them around the office lol!
✨ getting back into running after almost a year off has been humbling.. but also so so great! I am doing a training plan atm and so today was a 5 mile run, and it was so nice! It’s still hot af.. but at least it’s looking like fall with the leaves changing 🤷🏻♀️
✨ came home and did 30 minutes of vinyasa yoga, then journaled for a while, and then lit my new candle I got from my friend for a gift a few weeks ago and omg it smells AMAZING!! Had that burning while friends was playing in the background while I did a big bedroom cleanup! Felt so so productive today!
✨ in an hour and a half I will leave to dog sit from 5:30- midnight. And that will be my day today!
✨ tomorrow I’m going to go on a short 2 mile shakeout, followed by some strength training and prob a peloton class. Then chill for the day before the week begins again 🙃
✨ super excited though bc next weekend i am reliving the eras tour at the movies lol! I’m going with my friend who I went to the concert with back in July so we are reliving the best concert ever haha! So stoked!
✨ I hope you’re all doing well! Happy Saturday! ����🏻
#me#life#personal#running#recovery#mental health#health#runblr#pets#ed recovery#work#friends#candles#self care#stress recovery
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dumping all my poetry about you
Down bad for you I have never been this down bad in my life ouch ouch ouch
——
You make me mourn the person I could never be. Smarter, wittier, more genuine. You make me wish I was better, make me hate myself, make me ashamed. You wouldn’t want any of those things.
I can’t write your name, can’t admit I have wanted you for months, can’t humble myself before the universe even in the anonymity of confession.
I knew you hated small talk but I was terrified of doing more, of somehow showing I was paying attention. God I loved you. God I love you.
It hurts that no one ever wants me. No one ever sees me like that. I hate being ugly. I hate it.
——
Folly folly.
My foolproof crush cure is to draw a frog skull in pen. To kill any unwanted love (I’m sorry I’m a burden) all I have to do is draw a frog skull in pen. You made be gotten rid of with a frog skull drawn in pen and then I can speak to you again.
He looks at me with that simple look that I’ve always dreamed of. He’s just happy to be looking at me. Last night he had looked so serious, and the pause had dragged forever (I think it was my last taste of heaven. Let me live there in the afterlife, suspended in hope like honey). But in the here and now his eyes make me feel there is more to me than the shallow layers I’m terrified of. He makes me forget being sixteen and drinking svedka and he makes me forget earlier today and feeling like a failure every time I clock into work. He makes me forget everything I loathe inside me and relive every word I’ve ever said to him. God, have I ever made someone look that happy, that relaxed? No. I haven’t.
He’s not looking at me. Not really.
I remember being young and knowing I was ugly and always would be. I remember thinking my only shot at being wanted was to be wanted by men who would violate me, my only outlet to be used. I remember how much it hurt to realize, and I don’t think it’s gotten any better. I’m just used to it now.
I want someone a little sad so I won’t be the only one who has to bare my soul.
——
They played a song from a show you asked me to watch
I didn’t finish it
History repeats
I’m scared that I don’t love the way I’m supposed to
It doesn’t fill me like it should
I just had a magic moment. It’s the only kind of magic left anymore, the kind that exists with a francium half-life.
I was listening to our song (the one you don’t know about) walking to my favorite spot on campus (you’ve never been there). I was thinking about not-you, about muffins and new jeans and a Master’s degree.
A wind hit.
The silvery underside of each leaf caught the light, with the rustling crescendo of concert confetti. That was it, really, but that’s all it needed to be. It shifted my skin just enough to let me breathe easier than the second before.
I wanted to tell you about it but what would I say? The tap finally turned on, flushing out the stagnant water that had been puddled in my ribs since September? Who wants to hear that?
———
It would’ve been easier if we had never been friends.
Because now, every night, every time I am not careful, I catch myself thinking of you. Wondering what you thought and what you think. Where are you? Did you lie as much as I fear? Was talking to me just another responsibility? And why?
“Why” has taken root more deeply in me than a child just learning about atoms, about dinosaurs, about gravity and the weather. “Why” perches inside the shell of my ear—I cannot hear you speak without hearing it too. “Why” spreads like fire, all my memories of you smoke-hazed. I knew I was too stupid, too young and too boring, to see the world as you did. To move through it as you did. Why did we end up in the same place at all?
There are fair and pretty distractions, a happy meal thrown into the backseat after school to stem the flow of questions with fries and cheap toys. There are the days when you don’t plague me so much. There is the life I have built while pretending you aren’t still laughing at something I said, giving me shockingly honest answers, sharing yourself. You are braver than I will ever fucking be.
——
I hate drinking from cans
And when a cloudy day is broken
I’ve never heard your voice on the phone,
Why does that bug me so much?
The sky sparkled with cast-out handfuls of stars,
like some god’s change purse split open on pavement.
can’t we skip
the getting-to-know-each-other part?
like I’m not tricking you
can I fight down, like before,
all the rusty bile?
I watch her in her perfect sun-blush dress
With a smile that would send the devil running to repent
I watch her like a peeping Tom and then
Run home to try and write down her secrets
I know it’s not much but it’s what I can cling to
A few fingertips bruised against the wall
——
I thought I heard rain but it was tires on dry asphalt
I thought I heard the song you loved
It’s easy to think in the clean space
We are young, working minimum-wage jobs and dressing like the magazines
I got blisters on purpose
See, I don’t mind how I scar and bleed, final-curtain red
Standing-ovation red
———
I circled your birthday on my calendar—no caption
I wonder if I’ll have any words to say when the morning comes
I’ve been watching you get older through other peoples’ photos
Home had been somewhere hovering on your periphery
Longing, longing
I drove past the Thai place and screamed until it vanished in the rear view
I wonder if it was a relief when I stopped calling
I’m hoping you booked a flight to that blackout hotel
Find yourself in the silence like you wanted to
The bit of you I got to share
Playing a game of cancel-plans chicken with my friends
I haven’t seen any of them in a while
But I’ve ruined my life in million ways, so maybe it’s better if they keep a distance.
———
There’s nothing like the empty I felt when I told you I was leaving
You threw down your hat
I knew you would be perfectly fine. Your love was just for my benefit
Like a salve, snake-oil sold in earnest
Wanting to be the one to fix it all. Even me
———
I miss you I miss you I miss you I miss you I miss you I. Miss you. I miss you I miss you I miss you I miss you I miss you I miss you I miss you I miss you.
And like a cork in a bottle I am undone. It’s your birthday today and everyone lucky enough to still be in your life is celebrating you, a privilege I will never have again. Damn you and your paradox, a smile that welcomes me, welcomes everyone—I could be anyone. Because when you had me alone you had me entirely and you didn’t even know.
There’s a fist in my stomach. Is anger always this blue?
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Unveiling the Nostalgia: 90s Cartoon Characters
When it comes to entertainment, cartoons play a significant role in our childhood memories. The animated world offers an escape from reality and a chance to explore our imagination, and cartoons are the perfect medium to do so. The 90s was a golden era for cartoon characters as they became an integral part of our daily routine. From our favorite Saturday morning shows to after-school cartoons, these animated characters hold a special place in our hearts. Let's revisit some of the most famous cartoon characters from the 90s and their iconic shows.
Dinosaur Cartoons – A Blast from the Past
For kids growing up in the 90s,kids show about dinosaurs cartoons were a must-watch. The idea of these giant creatures from the past walking around in the present day was fascinating. Shows like The Land Before Time, Dinosaurs, and Dino-Riders had us hooked, and we couldn't get enough of them. These shows not only entertained us but also taught us about science and history. The characters like Littlefoot, Earl Sinclair, and Questar were our heroes, and we all wanted to be like them.
Anime Romance – A Genre for All Ages
Anime has become increasingly popular worldwide , and the romance genre is a fan favorite. Love stories in anime are unique, and they tend to have a more profound impact on the audience than any other medium. The shows focus on the characters' emotions and their journey towards finding love, making it a relatable genre. One of the most famous anime love stories is Your Lie in April, which revolves around two prodigious musicians, Kaori and Kosei, and their journey towards finding love through their passion for music. Another popular anime is Toradora, which introduces us to the tsundere archetype. A tsundere is a character who is initially cold and aloof but opens up as the story progresses, making for a unique love story.
Famous Cartoon Characters – An Endless List
The 90s gave us some of the most famous cartoon characters, and their popularity continues to this day. Who can forget the iconic duo, Tom and Jerry, who have been entertaining us since 1940? Or the wacky family, The Simpsons, who have been on the air for over 30 years? Other 90s favorites include Spongebob Squarepants, The Powerpuff Girls, and Hey Arnold! These characters became household names and have left a significant impact on the animation industry.
Cartoon Dinosaur Shows – A Timeless Classic
Cartoon dinosaur shows have been around for decades, and they continue to captivate us. The shows take us back in time to the Jurassic period and introduce us to these fascinating creatures. One of the most popular dinosaur shows is Jurassic Park: The Animated Series, which takes place after the events of the first movie. Another classic is Denver: The Last Dinosaur, which features a dinosaur who becomes friends with a group of kids and embarks on exciting adventures with them.
Kids Show about Dinosaurs – Educating and Entertaining
Kids' shows about dinosaurs are an excellent way to teach children about science and history while entertaining them. These shows make learning fun and help children develop an interest in science. Dinosaur Train is a popular kids' show that teaches children about different dinosaur species and their habitats. The show follows Buddy, a young T-Rex, and his family as they embark on adventures through different time periods. Another popular show is The Magic School Bus, which focuses on a teacher who takes her class on exciting field trips to learn about science.
In conclusion, the 90s brought us some of the most iconic cartoon characters, and their influence on our childhood memories is undeniable. From dinosaur cartoons to anime romance, these shows have left a lasting impact on us. As we revisit these shows, we can relive the nostalgia of our childhood and appreciate the creativity and imagination that went into creating them. The world of animation has come a long way, but the 90s will always hold a special place in our hearts. If you want to know more about this topic, then click here: https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/cartoons.
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TAITO Milestones 2 launches August 31 worldwide
Gematsu Source
TAITO arcade games collection TAITO Milestones 2 will launch for Switch on August 31 worldwide, day and date with its Japanese release, publisher ININ Games announced.
Here is an overview of the collection, via ININ Games:
About
Relive the spirit of these action-packed classics, and reignite the flame of TAITO’s nostalgic gems in this thrilling new compilation.
The second instalment of TAITO Milestones will include celebrated games like The NewZealand Story, Darius II (three Screen Arcade Version), Metal Black, Kiki KaiKai, and many more!
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or exploring the classics for the first time, you can’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind compilation.
Get ready for a blast to the past—see the complete list of games included in TAITO Milestones 2!
Included Games
Ben Bero Beh (1984) – A fire broke out! Play as Dami-chan to extinguish the flawmes while dodging various obstacles to rescue Nao-chan! This title is jam-packed with wacky and unique characters that appear in later games– will you be able to recognize them all?
Darius II (3 Screen Arcade Version) (1989) – The mysterious, intelligent creatures, Belser, that once attacked the planet Darius have begun an attack on the solar system, and the Silver Hawk pilots must go to the rescue. Travel through the stars, across planets, and beyond in this beloved action-arcade shooter! This is the very first port of the special, 3 Screen Arcade Edition of Darius II!
Dinorex (1992) – Set in a world ruled by the Amazons, where humans and dinosaurs coexisted, this fighting game tells the story of the dino-tamers; young men who pit their tamed dinosaurs against each other in order to win the title of Dinorex, and the hand of the much sought-after Queen of Amazonia!
Gun Frontier (1990) – Set on the planet Gloria, this vertically-scrolling shooter follows the pilots of the aircraft, Desperado, as they confront the space pirates, Wild Lizard. Don’t miss out on the legendary soundtrack and the challenging, gun-themed bosses!
Kiki Kaikai (1986) – In Kiki KaiKai, precursor of the universally beloved Pocky & Rocky, you’ll play as Shinto shrine maiden Sayo-chan and fight against Yokai across the Japanese countryside to save the kidnapped seven gods of fortune!
The Legend of Kage (1985) – Taking place in Japan at the end of the Edo period, you play as the Iga Ninja Kage in his battle against Yukigusa Yoshiro and his demonic army to rescue the captured Princess Kiri. Backed with an energetic and unforgettable soundtrack, journey through forests, castle walls, and mansions in this action-adventure to save the day!
Liquid Kids (Mizubaku Adventure) (1990) – Flying in on a giant pelican, play as the young hero Hippopo’ and fight to protect the peaceful Hippo country, Woody Lake, from the evil of Fire Satan. Complete with colorful graphics, adorable characters, and loads of action, this platformer promises an enjoyable time.
Metal Black (1991) – Earth is on the verge of collapse due to invading alien forces, and this side-scrolling shooter sees you piloting the Black Fly fighter ship to take the battle to your enemies! Compete for the Newalone energy source with the invaders and defeat them with powerful laser weapons.
The NewZealand Story (1988) – Embark on an adventure to save Tiki’s lover Phee-phee, and his friends who have been kidnapped by the leopard seal. Strategize using the various balloons and weapons to complete the colorful mazes by defeating enemies and using balloons to float!
Solitary Fighter (1991) – In the early 1950s, fighters from all over the United States competed against each other for prizes, money, and the honor of being the “strongest.” Can the young fighter Bud take the No. 1 spot against all odds? In this updated version of “Violence Fight” choose from 6 playable characters instead of the original 4 and enjoy new features and gimmicks.
Watch a new trailer below.
Pre-Order Trailer
youtube
#Taito Milestones 2#Taito#KiKi KaiKai#Pocky and Rocky#The NewZealand Story#Darius#Ben Bero Beh#Dinorex#Gun Frontier#The Legend of Kage#Liquid Kids#Metal Black#Solitary Fighter#ININ Games#Gematsu
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Doctor Who 10 for 10 Part 8/10: Series 8
After Series 5 and 6 established a status quo for the Matt Smith era, Series 7 saw it being shaken up in numerous ways. With Peter Capaldi becoming the new Doctor following Smith’s departure, Series 8 would establish a new status quo in a darker, yet down-to-earth series compared to previous ones as the production team prepared to ride the waves from the 50th Anniversary. While there was no split series like there was in Series 6 and 7, the series wouldn’t start until August. Since fans had gotten used to this autumn start thanks to the split series, they didn’t seem to mind that the usual Doctor Who schedule for the year had been broken. In addition, the definition of “13 episodes” was changed to mean “12 episodes and a Christmas Special”, not that it was much of a problem for fans including myself.
Although 2014 was the year I intended to wind down and focus on my high school studies, various circumstances, such as the aftermath of the 50th Anniversary year, led to me deciding to keep the fires burning for another year, and so I decided to keep Doctor Who going in my personal project for two more series, the latter of which would “premiere” at the same time as the premiere of the BBC Series 8. So let’s jump into the retrospective for Series 8 and relive the experience of riding the wave from the 50th Anniversary just as the production team and fandom did.
1. The World Tour and live events
Peter Capaldi was revealed to the world as the Twelfth Doctor in a live event special hosted by Zoe Ball on 4 August 2013. Matt Smith did not participate in the live event, but he was interviewed for it along with a few other special guests. This would later be followed up with another live event special on 23 November following the broadcast of The Day of the Doctor, which infamously featured a crossover with the boy band One Direction (more like Louis and Niall), who were also doing their own live event, 1D Day, in Los Angeles to promote their new album, and were having technical difficulties that impacted their crossover with the Doctor Who event, not to mention the fact that despite Zoe Ball’s claims, they hadn’t watched The Day of the Doctor, let alone the series, so their clearly prepared questions were apparently inappropriate to the occasion.
Said event also featured actors who played Doctors and companions in the classic series and their treatment was regarded as disrespectful, particularly the infamous moment when Rick Edwards accidentally sat on Katy Manning and crudely tried to cover it up, which would probably be considered sexual assault in the post-#MeToo era.
After completing their filming on the series in August 2014, before the premiere of Series 8, Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat embarked on a world tour to promote the upcoming series in Cardiff, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro. I don’t recall the Chibnall era doing anything like this; heck, even Jodie Whittaker’s reveal in 2017 was just a minute-long minisode with a teaser that was just as long, and it was broadcast during Wimbledon. This shows that the Moffat era did better with marketing and promotion compared to the Chibnall era (the RTD era fitting in between them).
2. Humble returns
As is obvious, Jenna Coleman would reprise her role as Clara Oswald for Series 8, her character now a teacher at Coal Hill School to commemorate the 50th Anniversary. Peter Capaldi’s first episode, Deep Breath, also featured the return of the Paternoster Gang for what would be their final on-screen appearance. The Clockwork Droids make a return following their debut eight years prior in Series 2’s The Girl in the Fireplace, being assigned as the crew of a sister ship to the one that appeared in said episode, though the Doctor doesn’t seem to remember them.
The episode starts off with a female dinosaur in the middle of the Thames during the 1890s. The dinosaur coughs up the TARDIS, which had been swallowed by her when it crashed in prehistoric Earth. The Doctor and Clara came out of the TARDIS and the former was taken back to the Paternoster Gang’s home when he collapsed due to his post-regenerative trauma. Later that night, the Doctor hears the dinosaur in pain and heads outside to promise that he will take her home, only to see her spontaneously combust. Both the Doctor and the Paternoster Gang rush to the Thames, where the Doctor points out that the point, in regards to what the important question is they should be asking, isn’t actually who could have done this, let alone how; the point is actually if there have been any similar murders. The Doctor jumps into the Thames as he takes up the case, which leads the Paternoster Gang to do so as well.
The next morning, the Doctor stumbles into an alley, wondering and ranting to a nearby tramp why he has the face he has. He then notices a newspaper with an article about spontaneous combustion and takes the tramp’s coat in exchange for his favourite watch. Meanwhile, Clara sees a notice addressed to the “Impossible Girl” in a newspaper and deduces that the Doctor wants to meet her at Mancini’s Family Restaurant. Clara heads there and is met by the Doctor, who had also noticed the notice, but didn’t place it himself. As they argue over who could have placed the notice, the Doctor and Clara were brought down to the Clockwork Droids’ ship, where they saw the Half-Face Man recharging itself; the Clockwork Droids had been harvesting the flesh and organs from humans as they rotted and combusted the bodies to hide the evidence of mutilation.
As the Doctor and Clara are separated, Clara gets the idea to hold her breath so that the Droids won’t notice her breathing, but she eventually passes out and is brought in front of the Half-Face Man. By using her experiences from her first days as a teacher, Clara manages to elicit information about the Droids’ intentions to reach the Promised Land before the Doctor rejoins her, having changed his clothes. The Doctor questions the Half-Face Man as to why he put the message in the newspaper to bring him and Clara to the restaurant, only to realise that he didn’t do it.
The Paternoster Gang are summoned to fight the Droids in the ship. The Half-Face Man heads back up to the restaurant, which is actually an escape pod, with the Doctor following. As the Doctor confronts the Half-Face Man, convincing him that there is no Promised Land and that he has replaced every single part of himself to the point where there is no trace of his original self. Down in the ship, the Paternoster Gang and Clara struggle against the other Droids until Clara tells them all to hold their breaths. Despite their best efforts (and Vastra sharing her oxygen with Jenny by way of a kiss), they are unable to hold on further when Vastra stops Strax from killing himself. It is then that all the Droids suddenly deactivate, the Half-Face Man being impaled on top of a clock tower. Whether the Doctor pushed him or the Half-Face Man jumped is open to interpretation, though if I had to say, I would have to say that the Doctor drove the Half-Face Man to jump, giving us a glimpse of the darker Doctor and darker storylines the Capaldi era had to offer.
Clara heads back to the present day with the Doctor, now with the mystery of the woman in the shop brought to the forefront from the notice in the newspaper as the Doctor surmises that there is a woman who is very keen that they stay together. Clara gets a call from the Eleventh Doctor, calling her from Trenzalore just before his regeneration finished, to tell her that his new incarnation will need her more than she can imagine.
Meanwhile, the Half-Face Man finds himself in a garden, where he is met by Missy, who tells him that he has made it to the Promised Land. More on her later.
Deep Breath is an extended episode that manages to bridge the Capaldi era with the Smith era while still giving fans a glimpse of the darker storyline to come. Matt Smith’s cameo was filmed towards the end of the filming for The Time of the Doctor, solidifying the episode’s status as a bridging episode between the two eras. Like The Day of the Doctor before it, Deep Breath also received a cinematic release, coupled with a Paternoster Gang prequel that was really Strax describing the previous Doctors; the Doctor Who Extra instalment for the episode (to replace Doctor Who Confidential); and for UK screenings on 23 August 2014, there was also a live Q&A hosted by Zoe Ball.
3. The Capaldi title sequence
The title sequence for the Capaldi era episodes was designed by Billy Hanshaw, aka billydakiduk on YouTube. He was scouted by Steven Moffat after seeing his original concept title sequence from September 2013 and decided to refine the idea for the new title sequence. The final product was a complete subversion of the usual Time Vortex sequence as the camera goes through some clockwork, a spiral of Roman clock face numbers and through some circling planets. Whatever “Time Vortex” was shown towards the end was not shown at any point in the Capaldi era - even the Time Vortex used in Twice Upon A Time was completely different. The titles also showed the Doctor’s eyes in a throwback to his debut cameo instead of his face as was done during Series 7 Part 2.
Some episodes saw variations to the opening sequence, such as Before the Flood having a rock version of the theme, Heaven Sent only having Peter Capaldi being credited, or the 2014 and 2015 Christmas Specials having Chrismassy flairs to them; this was omitted for the 2016 and 2017 Christmas Specials.
For some reason, the production team managed to screw up the consistency of the title sequence; at least 10 of the Capaldi era’s 40 episodes had titles that were out of sync with the theme music, most notoriously seen in Face the Raven that had the titles run five seconds ahead of the music. At the same time, fans also noticed inconsistencies in the formatting of the episode title and writer credits, which is honestly baffling as I wonder if no template was used or if no quality control was taken.
For the Series 8 and 9 of Doctor Who in my personal project, I opted to use two of NeonVisual’s title sequences from 2013 which were clearly inspired from the Series 7 Part 2 title sequence. Do you think they would have worked better had the BBC hired NeonVisual instead? Feel free to let me know.
4. A Good Dalek
Into the Dalek has the Doctor discover a Dalek that had turned good. In going inside the Dalek’s casing in an attempt to repair it, during which it was discovered that the Dalek turning good was caused by damage to his power source, the Doctor accidentally reverted Rusty, the name he gave the Dalek, to its original programming.
The Doctor is seemingly proven right that there can be no such thing as a good Dalek, but Clara convinces him that this isn’t what they learnt, and so the Doctor has Clara and the rest of the crew find the memory that made the Dalek turn good which he goes face-to-eye with Rusty. In doing so, Rusty managed to tap into the Doctor’s hatred for the Daleks, causing him to turn on the Daleks and unwittingly save the crew of the Aristotle. This disappoints the Doctor as this outcome was not what he was trying to get Rusty to see.
This episode starts a story arc where the Doctor begins to question whether he is a good man after everything he has been through following the Time War. It may seem a bit hard to tell given the Doctor’s abrasiveness throughout the series, but the Doctor manages to work it out for himself in the end.
5. The mysteries that befall us
Listen is a surreal episode that asks whether people are truly alone when they are alone while also setting up some mysteries that are left answered. After coming home from a disastrous date with Danny Pink (we’ll talk about him next), Clara is picked up by the Doctor, who immediately begins to explore his hypotheses with her, that at one point, everyone has dreamt about someone grabbing their ankle from under the bed while they are alone in their bedrooms. The Doctor connects Clara to the TARDIS telepathic circuits and tries to get her to focus on the time she had the dream, only to end up at a children’s home in mid-90’s Gloucester.
At the children’s home, eerie things happen to the night manager, which is revealed to have been the Doctor stealing his coffee, and Clara meets a boy named Rupert Pink, which she deduces is actually a younger Danny. During this encounter, a figure emerges under the blanket of Rupert’s bed and the Doctor gets the idea to have Rupert and Clara turn their backs to it, allowing it to leave without revealing itself to them. The Doctor poses a theory that it could have been one of Rupert’s friends playing a prank on him, or it actually isn’t. Some fans pose a theory that it was a Floof, a monster with uncanny hiding abilities that cause mischief, from one of Steven Moffat’s short stories written in 2006, but Moffat claims that he doesn’t remember writing it. I choose to believe there actually was a creature under there because for it to actually just be one of Rupert’s friends would be anti-climatic. After Clara puts some toy soldiers under Rupert’s bed to guard him, with one of the soldiers not having a gun which Rupert calls Dan the soldier man, the Doctor then wipes Rupert’s brain of the encounter, leaving him with a dream about him becoming Dan the soldier man.
Clara has the Doctor return her to her date with Danny, but is then called away by a spaceman, which leads Danny to leave. Clara follows the spaceman into the TARDIS and the spaceman is revealed to be Colonel Orson Pink from a hundred years in the future; strangely, Orson doesn’t have any old family photographs of Clara. The Doctor had activated the TARDIS telepathic circuits and it brought him to where Orson was at the end of the universe when he was only supposed to go a week into the future; he was stranded there for six months. When the Doctor travels back to the end of the universe, he and Clara discover that Orson was apparently being threatened by unknown creatures, given how he had to remind himself not to open the door to the capsule. Clara discovers that Orson has a toy of Dan the soldier man, with him saying that it is a family heirloom passed down for good luck.
The Doctor decides to wait for whatever is lurking outside the capsule at night; when strange things begin happening, the Doctor has Clara go back into the TARDIS while he uses his sonic screwdriver to unlock the door. When the air shell is breached, causing all the air to be sucked out and potentially the Doctor with it, Orson rescues the Doctor and brings him back to the TARDIS before Clara uses the telepathic circuits to leave.
The TARDIS lands in a barn and Clara heads out. She sees a crying child under a blanket in a bed, but is forced to hide under it when two people come into the barn. Through their conversation, Clara realises that she has gone back to Gallifrey during the Doctor’s childhood. Once the two people leave, the Doctor regains consciousness inside the TARDIS. The boy, the child Doctor, hears the Doctor and gets up, only for Clara to grab his ankle, resulting in her creating the nightmare the Doctor was investigating in the first place. Clara tells the child Doctor about how fear is a superpower and how he will return to the barn on a day when he will be very afraid, referring to the day when the War Doctor arrived at the barn to detonate the Moment. After leaving Dan the soldier man to stand guard under the child Doctor’s bed, Clara returns to the TARDIS and has the Doctor promise her to never find out where they just were before returning Orson back to his time and taking Clara home.
We’ve theorised who the monster was in Rupert’s bed, so who was the monster apparently terrorising Orson at the end of the universe? My theory for what the planet is, based on other people’s theories and what we would see later on, is that it is a dying Gallifrey at the end of everything. As for the monsters? A Big Finish audio speculates that it was River Song and Jack Harkness playing a prank on Orson and that the planet he was on was actually Gallifrey, but personally, it could be another Floof for all I care.
Listen may be an unsatisfying episode in terms of mystery, but it is still kind of satisfying in that it gives the Doctor good character development while also giving Clara another chance to be the Impossible Girl. The Doctor and Clara heading into Danny’s past as Rupert might have brought up some bad vibes I got from the Impossible Girl arc, but they only went to one point and the Doctor scrambled Rupert’s mind at the end, so it’s kind of okay where that’s concerned. Admittedly, the Doctor’s character development in this episode lost its poignancy when the Timeless Child revelation came out, but it’s still an alright episode nonetheless.
6. PE
This section is funnily ironic to me because at high school, I actually had a teacher (or two) who taught PE and maths.
Series 8 introduces a new love interest for Clara in the name of Danny Pink, played by Samuel Anderson, to divert Clara’s focus from the Doctor and to make the Twelfth Doctor less of a romantic compared to previous incarnations during the revived series. Danny was a soldier in the army who served as a sergeant in the Middle East before leaving after having a “bad day”. He became a maths teacher at Coal Hill School and set up the Coal Hill Cadets to teach students the disciplines and morals of a soldier. Danny was introduced to Clara and after some awkwardness and “family stuff”, they go on their first date in Listen, which goes about as well as you would expect. In trying to hide her travels with the Doctor, Danny got defensive and asked Clara to tell the truth before having enough and deciding to leave. However, Clara reconciles with Danny at the end of the episode.
Two episodes later in The Caretaker, Clara is shown struggling to balance her real life with her Doctor life and things go from bad to worse for her when the Doctor decides to go deep cover at Coal Hill as a caretaker in order to track down a Skovox Blitzer. When the Doctor is introduced to Danny, the Doctor immediately assumes he is a PE teacher based on his history as a soldier. The Doctor then sees Clara with another teacher named Adrian and is happy for her, assuming that Adrian is the boyfriend Clara has been talking about due to the resemblance to his previous incarnation.
That night, as the Doctor lays a trap for the Skovox Blitzer and prepares to lure it in, Danny sees the chronodyne generators placed around the school and moves them, resulting in the Skovox Blitzer being transported two days forward instead of billions of years. Danny discovers Clara’s familiarity with the Doctor and Clara tells him about her adventures with the Doctor.
On parents’ evening, Clara uses an invisibility watch to sneak Danny onto the TARDIS, but the Doctor is able to detect him, which results in the two having an argument during which Danny calls the Doctor an officer in contrast to him being a former soldier. Later, during the interviews, the Skovox Blitzer returns and the Doctor has Clara distract it while he gets a contingency plan ready. Clara manages to lure it to where the Doctor is; the Doctor impersonates its superior and tries to get it to shut itself down, but he forgot to enter the final input code and the Skovox Blitzer begins to self-destruct. It is then that Danny comes in, using the invisibility watch to buy the Doctor a few more seconds. The Doctor successfully gets the Skovox Blitzer to shut down before setting it adrift in space.
Looking back, I have mixed feelings about Danny. His demands for Clara to tell him the truth about her travels with the Doctor kind of seem controlling, particularly since they hadn’t been dating for long, but I kind of like how he calls out the soldier-officer dynamic with the Doctor, in that the officers push their soldiers and make them stronger until they find themselves doing things they never thought they would have to do. In the end, there really isn’t much to Danny other than he was a soldier who left on a bad day and the Doctor doesn’t respect him because he doesn’t respect soldiers. I really think Moffat could have done more with Danny because it felt like the only reason he was there was so we could have a “love triangle” of sorts.
On a side note, The Caretaker would be Gareth Roberts’ final work on the series. The transphobia thing wouldn’t come until three years later (so your opinions regarding it, whether you agree or disagree with him on the whole thing, are irrelevant to this paragraph), but apparently Roberts came into conflict with the production team on set, then made public comments denigrating Moffat and Capaldi, thus he was not rehired for future series. This probably might be a rumour so you don’t have to take it that seriously.
7. Coal Hill School
Following its return in The Day of the Doctor for the 50th Anniversary, Coal Hill School plays a significant role in Series 8, further showing that Capaldi’s first series as the Doctor is a more down-to-earth one. Clara is now a teacher at the school, where it and its students are shown prominently at various points throughout the series.
Coal Hill School was first shown in An Unearthly Child as the school where the Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan Foreman, attended and her teachers, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, taught science and history respectively. The school would not return again until Remembrance of the Daleks in 1988 for the 25th Anniversary season. Sadly, Coal Hill School would only make a brief appearance at the start of Series 9 before it was never shown or mentioned again.
In October 2016, a spinoff named Class premiered on BBC Three (which had become a streaming-exclusive channel by then) which prominently featured Coal Hill School and was written by Patrick Ness. The school was shown to be renovated since its last appearance at the start of Series 9. The Doctor also made a short appearance in the spinoff’s first episode and there were rumours that the 2016 Christmas Special was to be a crossover, but it ultimately never eventuated and Class was never renewed for another series.
To restate my own words from my review of Village of the Angels, I felt that the series was okay, but if it wasn’t cancelled, I probably would have liked it more. Personally, the “renovation” of Coal Hill School was a waste of time given what transpired and there is no way a whole school can be rebuilt in under a year without significant interruptions. I’ve seen individual buildings being built during my time in school, but not every building. The finale also teased something epic involving the Weeping Angels, but we never get to see what happened due to the cancellation of the series. Frankly, it’d be better if we just pretended that the series never existed and Coal Hill School was never renovated.
I know Class premiered between Series 9 and 10, but I thought I’d talk about it now and get it over with so I don’t have to later.
8. Out of line?
Midway through the series, the Doctor and Clara have a falling out because of something the Doctor did. While I didn’t think much of it when I first watched it, I would have to argue that after rewatching it recently, the Doctor was being out of line.
Kill the Moon begins with Clara asking the Doctor to tell Courtney Woods that she is special after he told her that she wasn’t, which leads to the Doctor offering to make Courtney the first woman on the moon. The three of them head to the moon in 2049 where they find a hundred nuclear bombs in a recycled space shuttle. It is then that they realise that they are actually on their way to the moon and upon landing, they are met by a crew led by Captain Lundvik, who have come to destroy the moon as its increased mass is causing chaos on Earth with high tides everywhere at once and satellites being whacked out of orbit.
As the group investigates, the Doctor learns that the moon is actually an egg for some creature and that it is about to hatch, which is causing the moon to gain mass. Lundvik is intent on killing it, but Clara and Courtney are against killing it. It is at this point that the Doctor decides to leave and let the three remaining females make the decision that will decide the future of humanity, which angers Clara. When ground control makes contact with the three, Clara decides to make a broadcast to humanity, giving them 45 minutes to decide if they should kill the creature or let it live. Humanity votes to kill the creature, but just at the last moment, Clara defies public opinion and stops the detonation. It is then that the Doctor returns to pick them up and take them back to Earth, where they see the creature hatching and laying a new egg.
Once Lundvik and Courtney have left the TARDIS, Clara becomes angry at the Doctor because she had to make a pivotal decision for humanity’s future and the Doctor knew what would happen, yet still lied to her and left her to decide. And honestly, I kind of have to agree with Clara berating the Doctor at the end, because Earth might as well be his home if he spends so much time there and his actual home planet is destroyed. Also, as crass as he may be, it’s not in the Doctor’s nature to run away in a crisis involving an entire planet. Pompeii may be one city and its destruction a fixed point in time, but this is the future we are talking about and it’s not just one city, it’s an entire planet he spends a lot of time on, so the least the Doctor could do was be there for Clara and guide her to make the right decision.
Clara meets with Danny and she tells him what happened, but Danny tells her to finish things with the Doctor when she is no longer angry with him. The Doctor and Clara decide to have one last hurrah and we move onto Mummy on the Orient Express, a double-banked companion-lite episode produced alongside the Doctor-lite episode Flatline, which would premiere the following week.
Running off a throwaway line from the end of The Big Bang, the Doctor and Clara board a space train known as the Orient Express, or rather a replica of it. As some people are killed by a mummy that only they could see, giving them 66 seconds before they would die, the Doctor is separated from Clara, who is with a passenger named Maisie, and learns that the train is a front for an investigation into the mummy, known as the Foretold, led by an evil computer known as Gus. Several more people die as the Doctor tries to work out what the Foretold is, then when Maisie was the next person to be targeted, Clara reunites with the Doctor and he tells her that Gus had tried to lure him onto the TARDIS before, meaning that he lied to her again and that he made her lie to get Maisie to where the Doctor was.
The Foretold appears to Maisie and the Doctor uses some equipment to make himself the target instead. In the ensuing 66 seconds, the Doctor manages to deduce that the Foretold is actually an ancient soldier, wounded in battle and augmented with equipment that wouldn’t let him die until the war was over. At the end of the 66 seconds, the Doctor surrenders to the Foretold. Everyone is suddenly able to see it as it disintegrates into dust. With the mystery now solved, Gus removes the air from the train, but the Doctor uses the Foretold’s teleporter to teleport everyone away, however when he tried to hack Gus from the TARDIS to find out who was behind it, it triggered a failsafe that blew up the train.
In the end, Clara gains a better understanding of the Doctor and decides to lie to Danny about leaving him while also deciding to stay with the Doctor. This is the turning point where Clara is pushed to become more like the Doctor, with Flatline forcing Clara to essentially be him when the TARDIS gets shrunken with the Doctor still inside. It’s an okay resolution to their conflict, but I don’t think it should have happened in the first place.
9. What is death?
Teasers of Missy and the Nethersphere, also known as the Promised Land, are scattered throughout the series. When I started watching the series, I was expecting at least one character to die in every episode and be sent to the Neversphere, but I suppose doing that would give away the mystery.
In Dark Water, Clara calls Danny in an attempt to tell him the truth about her travels with the Doctor before he gets to her flat. While Clara complains about the way Danny says “I love you” to her, Danny is hit by a car or a milk float driven by Missy (according to extended media) and dies. Clara appears apathetic to Danny’s death, but in truth, she is absolutely distraught, which leads her to use a sleep patch on the Doctor. Landing the TARDIS next to a volcano, Clara tries to blackmail the Doctor into saving Danny by throwing a key away every time he says no to her. She then suddenly throws the rest of the keys away, leaving her with one of the seven keys left. After throwing the last key away, Clara is overcome by the impact of what she did when the Doctor reveals that they are still in the TARDIS, having worked out what Clara was doing and using the sleep patch back on her. The Doctor, having seen how far Clara would go to be with Danny, agrees to help find him and they are led to the 3W Institute.
Meanwhile, Danny is brought to the Nethersphere where he is greeted by Seb, an AI interface created by Missy. Upon arrival, there was a request to meet him from someone, namely a boy he accidentally killed during his time as a soldier in Afghanistan which led to him leaving the army. Danny meets the boy and tries to apologise, but he runs away. Soon, Danny gets a call from Clara, who was put into contact with him from the outside. Clara, on the Doctor’s advice, tries to make sure that the Danny she is speaking to is real by having him say something only he could say, but when he keeps telling her “I love you” in a manner unsatisfactory to Clara, she ends the call.
The Doctor discovers that the Nethersphere is actually a Gallifreyan matrix data slice, that 3W is actually a front for converting dead bodies into Cybermen, and that Missy is actually the Master in a new female incarnation. Danny is given the choice to delete his emotions, but the sight of the boy behind him leads him to refuse.
Continuing with Death in Heaven, 91 Cybermen are assembled outside St Paul’s Cathedral and people are taking pictures with them when Kate Stewart, Osgood and UNIT show up. Suddenly, the Cybermen fly into the sky and hover above a British city before self-destructing and spreading Cyber-pollen into the graveyards and morgues, converting the dead into Cybermen. The Doctor and Missy are brought onboard Boat One, where the Doctor is appointed President of Earth in accordance with incursion protocols. As the Doctor discusses what is happening with the UNIT forces, Missy kills Osgood and summons the Cybermen to Boat One. After revealing that she was the woman in the shop who brought the Doctor and Clara together, then kept them together by putting the notice in the newspaper, Missy sends Kate flying out of Boat One before teleporting away. The Doctor hangs on for dear life but he ends up falling out as well until he uses his TARDIS key to summon it to him.
Meanwhile, Clara poses as the Doctor in an attempt to evade the Cybermen, furthering her character development as a mirror of the Doctor. The episode also goes so far as to have the title sequence feature Jenna Coleman’s name before Peter Capaldi’s and also feature Clara’s eyes instead of the Doctor’s. However, the now-converted Danny manages to call out her lies and take her away. Clara is taken to a graveyard where Danny reveals his face to her and asks her to turn on the emotional inhibitor. After Clara fails to get the Doctor to come and help her, the Doctor arrives and tries to stop Clara. He then asks Danny if he can access the Cyber hive mind to find out what Missy’s plan is, but in an effort to prove his point about the Doctor being an officer, Danny explains that he can’t see much because he needs the emotional inhibitor on to do so. The Doctor gives the sonic screwdriver to Clara so she can do it and when she does, Danny tells the Doctor that Missy is planning to use the Cyber-pollen to convert all of humanity.
Missy arrives and tells the Doctor that the Cyberarmy she created is a gift for him. The Doctor tells Missy that he doesn’t need an army but she insists that he does. Recalling some of his past adventures, the Doctor begins to realise that he is not a good man, nor a bad man, a hero, a president or an officer, but an idiot with a box and a screwdriver. In addition, Danny’s love for Clara stopped him from hurting her after his emotional inhibitor was turned on. The Doctor lets Danny take control of the Cyberarmy and after a speech that to me, sounds a little off at the end due to the pitch of Danny’s voice, he and all the other Cybermen fly into the sky and self-destruct, destroying the Cyber-pollen.
A defeated Missy tells the Doctor the current location of Gallifrey, claiming that it has been restored to its original location. Clara prepares to shoot Missy, but the Doctor offers to do it himself to stop Clara from doing so. It is then that Missy is shot by a remaining Cyberman, who saved Kate from falling out of Boat One. The Doctor learns that that Cyberman was actually Kate’s father, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, and he salutes the Cyberbrig before he flies into the sky.
Two weeks later, Clara hears Danny in the night and finds a portal to the Nethersphere in her hallway. With the Nethersphere collapsing and the portal only having enough power for one person to go through, Danny sends the boy from earlier through it, asking Clara to find his parents. Another two weeks later, the Doctor meets with Clara and deduces that Clara and Danny are back together when that was actually not the case. He then tells Clara that he found Gallifrey when he actually didn’t after going to the coordinates that Missy gave him. Clara decides to believe the lie about her and Danny as the Doctor decides to part ways with her.
The Series 8 finale was good, but I don’t think it and the whole series lived up to expectations. I thought the dead people who we saw in the Nethersphere scenes would return in the finale and that the finale would have something much deeper than dead people being converted into Cybermen. The return of the Master as Missy was another highlight of the story and it marked the first on-screen instance of a male Time Lord regenerating into a female incarnation, which meant that the next mystery was to find out how the Saxon Master regenerated into Missy. Paying tribute to the Brigadier by making him a Cyberman I found meh, but I can see why people didn’t like it. If you want an alternative, remember that Osgood wasn’t the only person in that room whose appearance got copied by a Zygon.
And speaking of Osgood, I’ve always contended that the Zygon Osgood was the one who Missy killed in this story. The Zygon two-parter in Series 9 would keep the answer ambiguous by purposefully obscuring it, with even Osgood’s actress, Ingrid Oliver, keeping her take on the question a secret. Then in 2019, a Big Finish audio confirmed that it was actually the Zygon Osgood who was killed by Missy, putting the question to bed in a manner that ended up being logical.
10. Every Christmas is Last Christmas
In the 2014 Christmas Special, Last Christmas, the Doctor reunites with Clara as they investigate a polar base in the North Pole. They encounter Shona trying to distract herself from the Sleepers before they are attacked by Dream Crabs. Following this, Santa and his elves came in to convince everyone that they are dying in a dream and that they need to wake up. The Doctor also deduces that the Dream Crabs can create dreams within dreams and so, he helps everyone get out of each layer until Santa comes back with his sleigh to take them out of the final layer when they are confronted by more Sleepers, which are actually the parts of their mind that have succumbed to the Dream Crabs.
When the Doctor wakes up, he hurries to save Clara from her Dream Crab, only to find that she is 62 years older than when they last parted. As they pull a Christmas cracker, just as they did before in The Time of the Doctor, Santa appears, meaning that this scene was another dream layer. The Doctor and Clara wake up for real and Clara is relieved to see that she is young. The Doctor invites Clara to travel with him again and she quickly accepts, ending the special. Apparently, Jenna Coleman intended to leave Doctor Who at the end of Series 8, but she enjoyed working with Capaldi so much that she decided to do the 2014 Christmas Special before leaving. During the World Tour, Capaldi (and Moffat) managed to convince Coleman to stay on for another year; she informed Steven Moffat of this following the readthrough of Last Christmas and plans on a replacement companion, possibly Shona, were abandoned and the ending was slightly changed thanks to Moffat preparing for such a scenario.
Last Christmas is an alright Christmas Special. It has the Doctor and Clara admit that they lied to each other on their final meeting before they get a second chance together on the TARDIS. Danny also returns as a construct of Clara’s dream to conclude his character arc and to admit that he only saved the world for Clara. The one thing I didn’t like was Nick Frost playing a sardonic Santa when the common stereotype is that he is supposed to be jolly (which is called out by the Doctor in the special). I think it would have worked better if Santa was played by Seth MacFarlane using his Carter Pewterschmidt voice.
Series 8, like the series before it, is another mixed bag. I came into each episode expecting this thing or that thing to happen, only for it to not happen or a completely different thing to happen altogether. The Doctor and Clara have deeper dynamics and character development than they did and the inclusion of Coal Hill School was an alright extension of the 50th Anniversary.
Up until the last instalment, I’ve used Clever Dick Films’ Doctor Who Review videos as one of my research references, but at the time of writing this instalment, he hasn’t done his retrospective on the Capaldi era and I don’t expect it to come out for some time, but I’m sure I have enough opinions or story summary fillers to make it through the last parts of this series. Stay tuned for Part 9 as we continue riding the wave from the 50th Anniversary with my 10 takes on Series 9.
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Chaerin Eun got isekaied into a romance novel, but a zombie outbreak disrupted the course of the story. Now, she is forced to relive the same day over and over everytime she dies... but it would be way easier to figure a way out if she hadn't lost all her memories from just before the isekaiment took place. Jinsu on the other hand signed up for a youtuber gathering on a desert island and certainly didn't expect to lose an arm to a mutating virus that got onto him when he escaped dinosaurs in a secret facility.
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SONGS TO WRITE YUJI: whether it be melodies that give you inspiration for your muse or songs that get you into the writing mood — pick 10 songs you find that give you the urge, the drive, or the creativity to write your muse !!
▶ WAIT A MINUTE - Willow Smith
Some things don't work, Some things are bound to be. Some things, they hurt. And they tear apart me. But I broke my word, and you were bound to see. And I cried at the curb. When you first said, "Oel ngati kameie"
▶ Running up that Hill - Kate Bush
And if I only could, I'd make a deal with God, And I'd get him to swap our places. I'd be runnin' up that road, Be runnin' up that hill. With no problems. Say, if I only could
▶ About Damn Time - Lizzo
It's bad bitch o'clock, yeah, it's thick-thirty. I've been through a lot but I'm still flirty (okay). Is everybody back up in the buildin'? It's been a minute, tell me how you're healin', 'Cause I'm about to get into my feelings. How you feelin'? How you feel right now? In a minute I'ma need a sentimental, Man or woman to pump me up. Feeling fussy, walkin' in my Balenci-ussy's, Tryna bring out the fabulous, 'Cause I give a fuck way too much, I'ma need like two shots in my cup. One to get up, one to get down. Mm, that's how I feel right now
▶ Blue & Grey - BTS.
Where is my angel, 하루의 끝을 드리운. Someone come and save me, please, 지친 하루의 한숨뿐사람들은 다 행복한가 봐, Can you look at me? 'Cause I am blue and grey. 거울에 비친 눈물의 의미는, 웃음에 감춰진 나의 색깔 blue and grey
Where is my angel? The end of a tiring day. ‘ Someone come and save me please ’ , Is overshadowed by a sigh. I guess everyone's happy, Can you look at me? 'Cause I am blue and grey. The tears reflected in the mirror mean. My colors hid in the smile, blue and grey
▶ Never Go Back - Evanescence
Everything is so dark, And I know there's something wrong. But I can't turn the light on, In that split second change. When you knew we couldn't hold on. I realized I lived to love you Save yourself, Don't look back. Tearing us apart until it's all gone. The only world I've ever known Sleeps beneath the waves. But I remember
▶ Last Dinosaur - The Pillows
そんなに見ないで, ピントずらしたくらいでいい. 裸みたいな気分. 浮き足立った未来に不満でも, 目を覚ましていたい悲しみを全部引き受けたって大丈夫. 手加減なんていらない. どこでだ. て誰の前でだって. ただ自分でいたい
Don't look at me like that, I'd rather your focus slid away. I feel like I'm naked. I'm unsatisfied with the future that has become restless, But I want to wake up, I'm okay accepting all this sadness, I don't need you to go easy on me or anything. I just want to be myself, No matter where I am and who I'm with
▶ i love you - Billie Eilish
Maybe won't you take it back? Say you were tryna make me laugh. And nothin' has to change today, You didn't mean to say, "I love you". I love you and I don't want to. Ooh The smile that you gave me. Even when you felt like dyin'. We fall apart as it gets dark. I'm in your arms in Central Park. There's nothin' you could do or say, I can't escape the way I love you. I don't want to, but I love you
▶ All I Wanted - Paramore
I think I'll pace my apartment a few times, And fall asleep on the couch. And wake up early to black and white reruns That escape from my mouth. I could follow you to the beginning, Just to relive the start. Maybe then we'd remember to slow down, at all of our favorite parts. All I wanted was you.
▶ The Ghost Of You - My Chemical Romance
At the end of the world, Or the last thing I see. You are never coming home, never coming home. Never coming home, never coming home. And all the things that you never ever told me, And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me, Never coming home, never coming home. Could I? Should I? And all the wounds that are ever gonna scar me. For all the ghosts that are never gonna
▶ Ending Scene - I.U.
외로웠던 만큼, 너를 너보다 사랑해줄 사람 꼭 만났으면 해 내가 아니라서 미안해. 주는 게 쉽지가 않아그런 말은 하지 마 제발, 그 말이 더 아픈 거 알잖아, 사랑해줄 거라며 다 뭐야, 어떤 맘을 준 건지 끝내 모를.
" As much as you were lonely, I really hope you meet someone Who will love you more than you do. I’m sorry that's not me. It’s not easy to give ". Don’t say those words, please. You know those words hurt me even more. You said you would love me, so what is this. You don’t know what kind of heart you gave me,
tagged by: @autopsyd thank youuuuu ~
tagging: @chameleoniism, @malxshrine, @shadowden, @thuganomxcs, @deathleads , @ichigokurosaki
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HAPPY DINOSAUR DAY!!!
Today we celebrate those large, extinct reptiles: dinosaurs. Scientists believe they first appeared about 245 million years ago, at the beginning of the Middle Triassic Epoch, and existed for about 180 million years, going extinct about 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Dinosaur Day is celebrated on May 15 and June 1 by people young and old to relive their most fascinating dinosaur fantasies.
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