#sad as I am that we'll never see this scene as filmed
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Thoughts on Ilsa Faust in DR. Spoilers.
Thinking about Ilsa Faust's fate in Dead Reckoning and director Christopher McQuarrie's comments about it in the Empire Podcast. As a fan of the franchise and with Ilsa being my favourite character, I feel like I had to write a little something based on the movie and his reason for it. A lot of fans are upset (including me) and I want to write something properly, not just the angry tweets and posts.
To start off, they wanted Ilsa to die already back when they were making TGM. And his reasoning seems to be that he didn't want Ilsa and Ethan to be romantic. Just that baffles me, if you don't want romance, how can you not just write a script where Ilsa and Ethan stay platonic? They handled it well in Rogue Nation and Fallout, you can see they care for each other deeply, but they don't act on it. We could have had Ilsa on the team, she could have gotten out of the game but was brought back in for some reason, she could have had literally any other story. But the fact that the only thing that seemed to come to mind if he didn't want to make them romantic was to kill her off seems very odd.
He also talked about wanting to work with Hayley Atwell for over ten years and this fact seems a little too convenient when thinking about why he had to kill Ilsa off. But we'll come back to Grace later.
He explains that they killed Ilsa off before they even knew the reason why. They killed off one of the most popular characters of this franchise without even having made up the reason behind it. We know that they work without a script, but making such a huge and impactful decision (he says he knew the fans would be upset) without even knowing why baffles me.
I also need to point out, I would have been fine if she had been given a decent, meaningful death. Yes, I would have been sad, but had it felt worthy it would have been one thing. With how they handled her death in this, I can't be sad. I am just mad. Frustrated. Confused.
Let's talk about Ilsa's storyline in this film. At the end of Fallout, she got out. In this film, she is disavowed for some unknown reason, and she is brought back into the game with the whole thing about the key. Kittridge says some weird comments about Ethan and Ilsa's relationship, that Ethan has saved Ilsa over and over when it is clearly the other way around. Let's go with this just being Kittridge getting it all wrong and not McQ but.. what do I know.
Ethan finds her in the desert and the whole scene is very rushed, they barely even talk, and.. she just hands him the key? What was Ilsa's plan? Ilsa's purpose? We don't know and we never find out (at least not in part one). Maybe there was more to it, more to Ilsa's story, we know they cut a lot of the movie, and we know for sure they cut at least two of Ilsa's scenes.
Then she just shows up in the van in Rome before they end up in Venice.
In Venice, we have Ilsa and Ethan hugging on a rooftop and holding hands on the gondola on their way to the party. For someone who claims that they didn't want Ilsa and Ethan to be romantic, I have a lot of questions. Especially since we also had the desert hug where she is literally on top of him. She is clearly a romantic interest, there's no questioning that. And to be honest, that is basically her only purpose in this movie.
Now things get a little messy because we arrive at the party. I have always been a fan of McQ's writing of female characters. He did absolutely fantastic in Rogue Nation, Fallout and Edge of Tomorrow. At the party, the villain gives Ethan the choice between Ilsa or Grace. One of them has to die.
Now, we know Ethan cares about Ilsa a lot, so the choice should be simple, her compared to this woman he just met who kept running away from him over and over and left him to die on a train track handcuffed to a car. The thing is, Ethan Hunt can't make that choice. He cares about each and every individual.
We've now arrived at the reason why Ilsa dies. And I cannot begin to express my distaste for the cliché writing of having a male character choose between two women, one who is a love interest and the other who is so obviously made out to be the new female lead (and potentially, a new love interest, Ethan/Grace share some suspiciously weird longing looks but the fans are divided if it is romantic or not).
Ilsa or Grace. Apparently, there can only be one woman on the team, which the previous films have shown us, too.
I just need to add that they're working against an all-knowing AI, so why isn't "the choice" between Luther or Benji? Ethan's two very best friends, two brilliant tech minds who must be a bigger threat to the entity as well?
In the end, it all comes back to that it's not people that Ethan loses - it's women. And there is only space for one brunette woman on that team.
So let's talk about the bridge scene. First of all, Grace has been running the entire movie, why would she suddenly stop running when there is a man literally trying to kill her?
Anyways, she holds him off surprisingly long considering she's just a thief and with how in the previous action sequences she kind of came off as a damsel in distress. Eventually, Gabriel knocks her down the stairs.
Enter Ilsa Faust. Highly capable spy, Ethan Hunt's equal, a woman who we know is lethal in hand-to-hand combat. We saw her take down Janik Vinter in a knife fight at the end of Rogue Nation and we saw her take down Solomon Lane in Fallout (tied to a bloody chair).
She even has the advantage of a sword compared to the villain who has a tiny knife. They fight. For some reason, Ilsa manages to get in way too close several times (watch the choreography for the RN knife fight - she's quick, get in, slash, get out, you can't linger in a knife fight) and she somehow doesn't seem to be able to hold off the old villain longer than Grace.
She gets stabbed in the chest. Ethan finds her dead on the bridge. In the next scene, Ethan looks sad on a rooftop for a few moments. Benji wipes a tear. They never talk about Ilsa again. It's underwhelming in every sense.
But what makes it worse, is the fact that in the next scene, the team asks Grace to join the team. Not going to get into the writing of that whole scene, but the thing is, they do it in a way that is basically "look what happened to Ilsa." and the things they say honestly make the team seem very cold-hearted considering Ilsa just died. And we know the team is not cold-hearted. Yes, there's a mission and they need to focus on the job, but they really didn't have to do it like that.
When I tell you I have a bad taste in my mouth, boy, do I mean it. Ilsa dies and in literally the next scene she is replaced by Grace.
Now comes the talk about her death which McQ describes as "very heroic". I'll admit, in one way, I get why he thinks it is a heroic death. Ilsa sacrificed herself to save someone else, that would be a worthy ending for someone who dedicated their whole life to saving the world, saving people.
What baffles me is how he doesn't see how poorly executed the whole ordeal was, which is what fans and a lot of critics are upset about (see list of articles criticizing it here: https://www.tumblr.com/rebeccalouisaferguson/723559978545414144/list-of-articles-criticizing-ilsa-fausts?source=share )
Is it fridging? In one way it is; Ilsa is Ethan's love interest and we know "the choice" between Ilsa and Grace happens because Ethan cares about her. McQ also mentioned it happening to up the stakes, so..
Yes, she also died because she decided to save Grace, but there's more than one reason for her death.
I feel like what also needs to be mentioned is that article with editor Eddie Hamilton who said they cut a "badass" line from Ilsa when she arrived at the bridge. They cut it because it lowered the audience's expectations for what they were about to see. "In the audience's mind, you know that Ilsa is going to kick some serious ass. She kicks a bit of ass, but not a lot. It's not a complete, devastating, ass-kicking, which you hope Ilsa is going to give at some point." They later removed this bit from the article because of backlash. We, the audience, know that Ilsa is better than and so do they.
We know they're doing damage control, a lot was cut from the delayed Empire part two podcast. Somehow, the more they talk about it, it gets worse.
I know this movie is only part one and there might be more explanations for all of this in part two. But with what we've seen in this film, they fumbled her death so badly that the one thing that would make sense is that it is all a trick and she comes back in part two. There are many theories on that, but I'm not going into details or speculating on that here.
A testament to how badly they executed her death is that people literally can't believe they'd fail her character this badly. McQ who we all thought was a brilliant writer. McQ who wrote one of the best female characters we've seen in years only to throw her out as if she was garbage. No matter what happens in part two, one thing is for sure.
Ilsa Faust deserved better.
#It's not just her death we're mad about#It's how poorly they handled it#Ugh#Ilsa Faust deserved better#Ilsa Faust#Mission Impossible#Dead Reckoning#Deac reckoning: Part one#Dead reckoning spoilers#Christopher McQuarrie#Rebecca Ferguson
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Here are my first thoughts after finally having watched the 2023 Christmas Special for the first time:
Positive:
Baby Mia is absolutely adorable and Alison and Mike are wonderful parents. They've grown and matured so much throughout the series and it's lovely to see that in the way they are with Mia and take care of her
and speaking of growth: I think it's lovely that in the end, the ghosts are ready to let Alison and Mike go. They've really come full circle from trying to get them to leave in the beginning to begging them to stay in series 5 and finally, to encouraging them to leave because that's what's best for Alison and Mike's family
I love that Alison looks like the tired, exhausted mum she is. These days, characters often look picture perfect in film and TV, no matter the situation, and Ghosts has always felt like a breath of fresh air because people are allowed to look normal. It's little things like Alison's yellow coat that she's worn throughout the show hanging by the door, her wearing Mike's flannels or having bags under her eyes that make it feel beautifully real down to Earth, and I'm glad the downsides of having a child didn't get glossed over
one of my favourite moments was the shrug Humphrey's body gave when everyone was looking for its head. That genuinely made me laugh because of course the body would not care whether the head would get exorcised or not
and omg, the exorcism scene was so well done! I love the music in the background (I so hope we'll get a soundtrack one day), the panic on Mike's face when he quite literally runs to warn Alison, the panic on Alison's face when she's faced with the possibility of losing the ghosts, the fear when she can't find them (which parallels 5x01) and finally the relief and smile when she hears their voices. That whole sequence was just perfect
I love that it's Thomas who says, "Because they just can't help being who they are," because it's not an excuse for his behaviour but an explanation - and a recurring theme for him. Right in the beginning of the show, he said, "We stay how we die," and I think for him, those words have proven to be true. He is heartbroken and he'll stay that way. He can't help that. He does not want Alison to go ("Why did I vote for this? I hate it.") but in the end he knows it's what's best for her and for himself, even if it breaks his broken heart a little more.
seeing Button House in all its glory in the end. It still being called Button House. Fanny and Humphrey's portraits on the wall (and the third one might be Kitty's?). Higham Suite (which was the thing that made me tear up because my first thought was that it's meant to honour Isabelle and I love that (although I realise it's probably meant to honour Kitty but I'm choosing to ignore that)). Thomas still complimenting Alison even though she's grown old and thus making a point that his affections for her were never just about her looks
Neutral:
I would have preferred if Alison and Mike had stayed at Button House because for me, the show has always been about family and I don't think they had to leave the ghosts behind to find their own way. BUT the way the Idiots wrote and executed it - with the ghosts encouraging them to leave, establishing that Alison and Mike regularly come back to the house and with details like Higham Suite that clearly show that Alison and Mike had the ghosts in mind when they made the contract for sale - makes it okay for me.
I'm a bit sad we did not get to see more of the ghosts interacting with baby Mia but what we saw - Pat and Cap especially - was very sweet
Negative:
the pacing. I am so sorry but I think they crammed too much into the episode. They either should have cut the exorcism storyline (as much as I loved it) or gone for a 60 minute special. There's just too much going on for 30 minutes, and too many time jumps (I wasn't a fan of them in the 2021 Christmas Special either) that sadly make the whole episode feel very rushed
and because it felt so rushed a lot of plots did not have the impact they were meant to have, at least not on me. Robin's feelings about Christmas for example.
also what was going on with Kitty and the baby at the beginning? Her being jealous is obviously not a new thing but the issue did not really get resolved, did it?
the latter also goes for Thomas's feelings for Alison which brings me to my biggest criticism of the whole show: he never got the character development he deserved (and, to an extent, neither did Fanny). The whole baby storyline would have been the perfect set up for him to move on from Alison (including discussions about different types of love and him realising that Alison does love him platonically and that that's enough) but it never happened. I feel like he was done dirty in that regard because every other character except him got to grow
I have probably missed a ton of moments - and I will rewatch the episode once I've rewatched series 5 - and likely repeated things here that others have said before. Since I had blocked all tags blocked when the Special aired I have no idea how the fandom's reaction to it was but if anyone still wants to talk about it, my asks are open.
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a scattered and overall supportive review of percy jackson season 1
let me just say first of all, it's extremely fun to be enthused about a tv show like this again. the adaptation isn't perfect, but it's a lot of fun, and you can tell there's plenty of heart and good intention behind what they're doing. i'm very much enjoying tuning in every couple of episodes and catching up -- and avoiding the relentless commentary of the internet while i do so lol.
but now it's time for MY commentary!! to preface, i was a huge fan of the books when i was younger, am a stalwart long-term advocate of the original five books as some of the best children's lit of our lifetime, but i also enjoyed the films a decade ago for what they were and think people (including cough rick cough) are way too harsh about them. justice for logan lerman. anyway
i'm not going to do like a play-by-play, but in summary, here are my takeaways from the first season -- what i thought worked, what did not, and things i'm optimistic about going into the future seasons.
the good
for an adaptation of the original series (which, to be fair, i have not reread in years), i felt this was honest and faithful. there were tweaks, obviously, but none that took me too out of it or felt irredeemable. there was a lot to like about this show, so i want to start right from the top with my highest highs.
the worldbuilding / production design. i absolutely loved getting to see how they imagined certain iconic characters, locations, and sequences from the books. it was so exciting to get to see camp halfblood for the first time on screen (at least, in this adaption) -- that moment in episode two definitely felt like a turning point where we picked up from the somewhat laggy pilot episode. i especially loved the design of mount olympus, aspects of the underworld (hades and his upside down castle were baller, though how did percy and grover get up there lol; and i absolutely loved the choice for asphodel and the ghosts being rooted like trees, i never would've thought of that myself but it was so chilling and unique... just wish i could see it better through the terrible lighting, but we'll come back to that), and of course, camp. even down to the small details, like the camp beads... it's just very cool to see it come to life.
the casting. i wasn't sure about some of the casting when the news was breaking, but i'm very happy to have been pleasantly surprised all around (and have majorly avoided people bitching about every single thing). there wasn't any role where i felt like someone was horribly miscast, and you could tell that everyone involved really wanted to be there and committed. i thought the casting of the gods was especially inspired at times. some of the highlights for me personally:
adam copeland as ares. i had no idea he was apparently a wrestler turned actor until my sister told me, but i thought he was absolutely spectacular. very charismatic, with just the right amount of cringefail that ares needed. i found him thoroughly enjoyable in all his scenes.
lance reddick as zeus. having just played horizon zero dawn recently, oh my lorde was this an inspired choice. he was absolutely brilliant. i'm so so sad about his passing, i don't know how they're going to recapture his performance, but i have faith now that they'll find a way.
timothy omundson as hephaestus. i love that they took a softer, more mad scientist approach to his role than like ugly basement blacksmith vibes... i just thought it was really refreshing. his scene with annabeth, where we got so much humanity from him in such a short span of time, was one of my favorite scenes of the season.
jason mantzoukas as dionysus. i mean. what else can be said. obvious choice, but he was so fun lol. i hope they give him more to do next season.
other standouts beyond the main youth cast for me were jay duplass as hades (his brief appearance in 107 was thoroughly enjoyable) and dior goodjohn as clarisse (she was by far the acting standout of the first couple episodes to me). also very happy to see jessica kennedy parker and sinclair from the 100 get work, lol.
walker as percy jackson. it was really wonderful watching walker grow as an actor even just through the first eight episodes. the difference from 101 to 108 is almost night and day. you can tell how much he cares about the project and percy as a character, and he upped his game with every episode. i cannot wait to see what he turns out in the coming seasons. to be fair, i thought all of the youth cast did a decent job, and i'm giving them a lot of leeway and room to grow since they are literally child actors -- it takes time to hone your craft, and im optimistic they're all going to do a great job as the series goes on. but walker was, definitively and thankfully as the protagonist, the standout.
charlie bushnell as luke. i was so excited when i heard he got cast because i loved him in diary of a future president, and he did not disappoint. i kind of wish he had more to do, but all of that was forgiven in the finale when he had his final confrontation with percy. oh, the acting popped off then -- i can't wait for him to get to chew up the scenery more in the coming seasons.
grover and percy's friendship. it was so sweet to see this come alive, and i thought walker and aryan had excellent natural chemistry together. they were so endearing, and i really believed their friendship basically from the start (them swapping their sandwich fillings is a tiny detail from the pilot that has stuck with me since; i just loved that choice so much). they definitely provided a lot of my favorite moments in the season, and i think evoked the most genuine "aw wow" moments from me.
percy's relationship with sally. since sally was, understandably, absent from the original novel, it was awesome to get the flashbacks here that allowed us to more deeply understand their bond. i thought walker and virginia did a great job with this, and the young actor who played little percy also did a surprisingly great job (he was actually one of the stronger youth actors in the pilot imo lol). you totally understood why percy was doing everything he was, because that mother-son bond felt believable. big shout-out to the absolutely baller line "i am sally jackson's son." one of the first writing moments where i was like oh snap!
the music. a good score really can't be understated, and this one did not disappoint. did just what it needed to do. i also loved the closing title sequence and the art direction there with the epic music -- just such a nice touch that i'm so glad they included.
some of the writing. i'll get more into some of my qualms with the writing below, but there were definitely some great moments that deserve their flowers. i thought they did a great job weaving in some early themes without being heavy-handed about it (percy having to define who he is for himself, mostly). there were some genuinely funny moments that made me laugh out loud, including "i am impertinent," annabeth's "i'm multitalented," and the entire exchange on the road side when the trio to ares are like no... we're fine... ahaha bye... oh and percy trying to drive the taxi out of the garage at the casino was absolutely hysterical.
pivotal scenes hitting their mark. when the show needed to deliver, i thought they really delivered. i absolutely loved the staging and acting in the final luke and percy confrontation -- the lighting of the fireworks was such a cinematic touch. percy's arrival at olympus and scene with zeus was also a big standout. i loved a lot of the st. louis arch episode, and thought the hephaestus golden chair sequence was really well done. overall, the episodes i thought were strongest were without a doubt 104, 105, and 108.
expansion where expansion was welcome. one of my favorite aspects of the series is how it's giving more nuance to the monsters and "villains" of the books. i loved that we got a little more motivation for alecto beyond evil -- that she clearly wanted to accomplish her own mission and retrieve the helm, whether out of loyalty or fear. i loved how medusa got much more depth and humanity, that we're sort of reexamining the fairness of how myths are told rather than just taking it all at face value. i'm really looking forward to seeing how that continues in the next seasons.
the decent
percy and annabeth. to be fair, i think my issue with this is more on the fan reaction than the show itself. i think the show is doing a decent, if somewhat awkwardly paced job, of building their friendship and offering small little hints of what could blossom in the future in classic youth awkward ways -- unexpected hugs, banter, etc. i think walker and leah are both doing a good job, and i look forward to seeing how it develops. but my god, people on the internet are really jumping the shark so hard here. i can't handle seeing more "uwu percy is in love" posts when it's like. y'all. THEY ARE 12. THEY JUST MET. LET THEM ORGANICALLY BECOME FRIENDS FIRST... i just hope the creators don't feed into that and also jump the shark. like yes, we all know where this is going, but can't we enjoy the actual journey to get there instead of forcing what isn't there yet? in any case, on the positive side, some of the moments between them i really enjoyed: the conversation on the train when grover was asleep, the hephaestus chair sequence, annabeth giving him her camp beads before going to olympus (that was a slay... that was a legendary slow burn start moment worth hyping up), the way percy smiled at her in their last scene... that's the good stuff. let's not rush through what we're getting folks. the water is fine.
lin manuel as hermes. here is the thing. i thought lin did a good job. i thought his casting was apt, and fun, and he did a great balance of hermes charisma and like, a darker edge. it's just... the thing about lin manuel is that he's lin manuel. and this is coming from someone who likes him, but it's like he shows up on screen and i'm just like. hey it's lin manuel. it's a bit of a "takes you out of the moment" stunt casting, but i'm not mad about it. i wouldn't call it a bad thing. hopefully it'll wear off (though i doubt it). i guess i'm just deciding that hermes is just lin manuel, which honestly, would kind of track.
the youth acting. mentioned this above, but again, some of that early delivery was rough. but i am giving a lot of grace, and i think they've already improved plenty in the first eight episodes. i felt the same way about shadowhunters back in the day when i thought kat mcnmara was hard to watch in season 1, but by season 3 she was my absolute favorite cast member and came so far. i have no doubt these kiddos will do the same. so very much looking forward to that.
the not so great
the pacing. this was definitely the weakest part of the story writing wise. it wasn't irredeemable, but it did hinder the first half of the show (which didn't lock in for me until about 104, when the stakes truly shot up at st. louis). and that also affected how dynamics and plot points were able to unravel. the biggest victim of this...
the luke reveal. from the start, i was worried about this. since luke was only really in episode 2, i had doubts about whether the reveal of his betrayal would be at all satisfying or earned. i don't know that i can speak on it for sure, since i knew what was going to happen as someone who read the books, but i still feel we should have gotten more of those luke-and-percy-bonding scenes and convos earlier in the series rather than tacked onto the finale as flashbacks. it worked there, but i think it could've been better. thankfully, all of that didn't hinder the delivery of the finale confrontation, which as i said, was a standout moment for me.
the fight scenes. with rare exception, i was pretty underwhelmed with many of the monster battles and confrontations this season. given that's such a huge gimmick of the novels, i hope they're able to revisit and polish up the pacing of these in the future... i just felt that scenes like the museum clash with dodds were so rushed and anticlimactic. or not even confrontations at all, like the scene with crusty. we got a bit more of this at the back half of the season, in the sword fights with ares and luke, but i wanted more of that epic feeling throughout. i'm hoping it's maybe just a budget concern and that it'll improve in the coming seasons -- especially as the bosses get bigger and the stakes get higher -- but i'm not sure i'm optimistic just yet.
some of the dialogue. it was... wooden, to say the least. i think the worst moments of this were when they were trying to force Kid Bants -- which just felt stilted in the earlier episodes -- and whenever they were explaining greek myths point blank to the audience. there were moments it worked, but many where it didn't, and i hope they flesh out how to better info dump in the future episodes. i didn't mind the change of having percy be more familiar with the myths and thus more aware, but they could afford to finesse how they relay that information to us in the audience without basically reading from wikipedia in percy's voice.
the ugly
oh my god i can't see. i can't SEE. this show went to the teen wolf academy of employing one lightbulb and it's actually criminal. there were so many scenes where i really wanted to see what was happening because the stakes were high or the scenery was so pivotal -- the entry into the underworld for the first time, the vastness of medusa's basement of stone, THE FIELDS OF ASPHODEL -- but the lighting was so god awful i legitimately couldn't see a thing. in asphodel i literally could barely see the trio's expressions, it was that bad / flat. the audience is smart, we understand it's dark out. we can suspend our disbelief so you can add some visibility to this thing. i was turning up my brightness constantly but it wouldn't go any higher. please, disney execs, rick, anyone -- GET ANOTHER LIGHTBULB. i'm losing key immersive aspects of the show to this and it's a bummer. when they were walking through waterland for the first time and annabeth was like "wow can you believe this craftsmanship" i was like i don't know, girl, I CAN'T SEE ANY OF IT. begging on my knees that they fix this next season.
well, that ended up longer than expected, but oh my gods it is so nice to be writing paragraphs about a tv show again. all in all, i'd say 7.5/10 from me in this first season. there's so much to be keen for here, and i'm really happy with how it's going so far.
friends and fellow demigods, what did we all think?
#percy jackson#pjo tv#pjo tv show#pjo series#pjo#idk what y'all are tagging with lol#maggie watches tv#maggie.txt
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I totally get your point on realistic queer media vs BL and I'm also super interested to see which way the eight sense leans. I agree it'll probably go more on the side of realistic queer media (whereas I think unintentional love story will fall more on the BL side). I will say that having watched just about every gay korean film and short film I could find over the span of a two week period when I had covid, they do seem to like angst but with happy endings. I can only think of a few that ended sadly. But unfortunately the ones that ended sadly ended VERY sadly. I guess we'll see! I also want to say I'm impressed with the acting and how full the scenes feel so far, like with background characters and stuff. This doesn't seem like there's a huge production budget but it seems bigger than a lot of KBLs and its used very well so far, it really feels like a kdrama and the cinematography is fantastic.
The framing of scenes and such is also clearly done really thoughtfully and has emphasized the actors' chemistry (which is so good). While some things might be a little obvious, it's also well done so far; like I love the shot of their legs walking on the beach where Ji Hyun stutters his steps to get back in perfect sync with Jae Won and the close up of their hands touching when he gives Jae Won the lighter. I like shows that have more small touches and details like that! Reminds me of Mr. Darcy's hand flex after helping Elizabeth into the carriage in pride and prejudice if you've ever seen the 2005 movie of that lol.
I do hope they end it well. I haven't seen a lot of sad endings out of Korea but as they branch out and experiment with BL and queer stories... you never know what they're gonna do. We saw a lot more of that in some early Thai BL and it's coming back in their more experimental stuff and we know Taiwan and Japan are both just kind of... generally dangerous in those terms.
Honestly, for all that I can see the danger in The Eighth Sense, I think we'll get a happy ending. I think it's going to be painful and I wouldn't be surprised at a time jump... but I think the ending itself will give us something but I am also very open that I could be proven wrong.
I love the dynamics and the characters and the careful closeups and the reactions that feel natural and very queer. Oh, the queer waves coming off these boys and the way JaeWon and JiHyun just... pause around each other. There's a palpable change in their energy once they're together and when JaeWon insists his friends go back to the place he knew JiHyun worked? Yeah, that energy was gorgeous.
I am looking forward to this show with only the small hesitation of how much pain is coming out way for these boys, the popular boy in the closet and the loner who seems to basically be a closet, lonely and soft and unsure... oh, this is gonna ache.
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5, 14, 15, 18 for fanfic ask?
Aw thanks Carson! :D This got ramble-y, and I won't apologize.
5. What’s a fic idea you’ve had that you will never write?
Hm, there's the Holy Poly fic, but other than that...? Oh, okay I guess this is familiar to you and the people on discord, but recently I had this 1 am brainrot idea where Elphaba is dead, and Glinda is so distraught over it that she crafts an entire D&D map and embues it with magic, so they can both live there. Basically, Elphie doesn't realize they're in a simulation and that they might not even exist since they already died???
And while everybody in the discord was like "THAT'S FUCKED UP! WE'LL SUFFER! WRITE IT!" I had to explain... that I can't.
There's one (1) rule I follow and that's that a fic needs to have a cathartic ending. It can be sad or bittersweet, but I physically and emotionally cannot deal with an Elphaba who find outs that the person they love and care for the most is actively lying to them and has created a universe that isn't even real (!!!). Elphaba, fundamentally, would never ever trust Glinda after learning that. It would go beyond betrayal. It very much gave Glinda all the power and agency over Elphaba and it felt so nefarious and so wrong, that despite the chat hyping me up, I had to stick to my principles and refuse to ever touch the idea.
BUT. As you also know Carson, I did like certain aspects of that idea, so I let the idea sit in my brain for a bit and now that has turned into the multiverse fic, which I am excited about, has a far more expansive world than the other idea ever had, and does not consist that fucked up power balance.
TL;DR If I don't like a fic I let it marinate in my brain until the elements I like & do work find a place in a story I want to write and can envision.
14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?
I find adaptations fascinating and I love visual mediums, so for most of my fics I can think of something. But for now let's say Smoke Covers Your Radiating Heart.
It's an 80s AU so I can easily see it be turned into a cheesy & messy & iconic 80s movie, bops and all!
15. How do you come up with titles for your fics/chapters?
Fuck if I know, honestly. I do like my titles to reflect the fic, so I always try to get the main "theme" of the fic somewhere in there. Like Smoke Covers Your Radiating Heart; in itself the title reflects how Glinda and Elphaba have quite some trouble showing how they feel about each other. They're hiding (even though a bit of smoke is never going to hide goddamn radiation (!!!).
But simultaneously there's some silly word association going on. The smoke refers to the amount of smoking that is happening in the fic (and generally in that time period). Radiating was a reference to the Dutch history that I've interwoven in the fic and the anti nuclear weaponry protest that Elphaba organizes. The heart obviously reflects gelphie's love and the "covering" I already explained. Just shake the words in your hand for a lil bit and voila; Smoke Covers Your Radiating Heart.
18. What’s one of your favorite lines you’ve written in a fic?
Oh gosh, this is tough, because I don't really write memorable lines imo? I'm more focused on the scene and dialogue and if it blends together. Not whether I have the perfect sentence that's very quotable. But again, if I have to force myself and choose an answer, I really love this exchange from the Victorian one-shot:
“I don’t care,” Glinda breathed out shakingly. “I want to have and hold you, Elphie.”
“Then have me in your dreams, your thoughts, your fantasies. The only place our love is allowed. That’s where you’ll find me.”
Ask me a fanfic question
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i've got a little bit of writers block so enjoy some songs that remind me of soft spot: (bonus!!! i put little poems/lyric things in my notes on my ao3 that i haven't shown here so.... i'll also put that here too lmao)
Blood Soaked Cotton:
a lover? maybe | something tender, // anyway. but tender like | a bruise.
Lua - Bright Eyes
Do Me a Favour - Arctic Monkeys
Freaks - Surf Curse
Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge (i imagine something like this is playing in the bar scene)
Smoldering Butterflies:
when is a monster not a monster? // oh, when you love it.
Gravity- Sara Bareilles
All I Need - Radiohead
Loud - Rigby
The Emptiness had Always Been There:
nothing had changed. // i was the stupid one again. // i was the girl // who never understood // who she was to people
No Care - Daughter
Home - Daughter
Face First - Rigby
We'll Never Have Sex - Leith Ross
Until You:
you kiss the back of my legs // and i want to cry. // only the sun has come this close. // only the sun.
Epithelial - Crywolf, Echos
Cornflower Blue - Flower Face
Some Other Life:
do you still think you're a killer // or that you could be if you tried? // always thought // that you could do it // if you couldn't see their eyes // do you still wake up reaching // for an empty space? // do you start to miss your sadness // when it goes away? // do you wish your parents // gave you someone else's name? // do you scratch another line out // for the same mistakes?
The Wisp Sings - Winter Aid
Amen - Amber Run
Francis Forever- Mitski
Isobel - Flower Face
Death of Me 1:
i'd bleed for anything // if it held me the right way
ur so pretty - Wasia Project
(honestly this was such a filler chapter)
Death of Me 2:
is it wrong to fall in love // while waiting to die? // i just want to live // long enough for your eyes
Back To Black - Amy Winehouse (mostly just the vibes lmao)
In Limbo - Rigby
We're Just Making It Worse - Cameron Avery, Alexandra Savior (again the vibes)
Death of Me 3:
i really don't know // what i love you means // i think it means // don't leave me here alone
I Want You - Mitski
Dream a Little Dream - Ella Fitzgerald (i'm convinced spook and simon's first dance was to this song)
Worse than Death:
jesus can always reject his father // but he cannot escape // his mothers blood // he'll scream // and try to wash it off of his fingers // but he'll never escape what he's made up of
Exit Music (For A Film) - Remastered- Radiohead
Hard Times - Ethel Cain
Family Tree (Intro) - Ethel Cain
Honey and Milk 1:
i am the shape you made me // filth teaches filth
Honey and Milk - Flower Face (actually the inspiration for the title)
Honey and Milk 2:
i am coming home to you // with my own blood in my mouth // and i am coming home to you // if it's the last thing that i do
Dark Red - Steve Lacy
Inside Out - Duster
Everything You Touch 1:
it's a fitting punishment for a monster // to want something so much // to hold it in your arms // and know beyond a doubt // you will never deserve it
Unending - Lume
Kaleidoscope - Flower Face
Everything You Touch 2:
i wasn't beautiful anymore. // now i looked like what i was, // a raw wound
Baby Teeth - Flower Face
Mean - Nicole Dollanganger
August Underground - Ethel Cain
Everything You Touch 3:
i always wanted to die clean and pretty // but i'd be too busy // on working days // so i am relieved // that the turbulence wasn't forcasted // i couldn't have changed anyway
Last Words of a Shooting Star - Mitski
Ptolemaea - Ethel Cain
Strangers - Ethel Cain
i may or may not update this list or add on as i come out with more parts but i just needed to do something other than writing lmfao. would love to hear any ideas if you guys have songs! ethel cain is so spook coded btw i had to restrain myself from putting more of her songs in this lmao. anyway thanks for entertaining my meltdown <3
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hi!! im queso again, im going to send some stuff anout tpth if thats cool :))
- tag: "I promise this isn't as sad as it sounds" you lied to me
- i like how you describe the different climates in the different months!! im usually not a fan of weather descriptions to start a story but they were interesting :)
- the crushing hug!! gaghhh theyre so cute
- i absolutely loved everything from the point they reach the jackson-blofis house to the end of the dancing scene.. i had read the sneak peek of sally and grover dancing and that was what got me hooked and waiting for this fic!! may draw that some time
- i also remember the flip phone from the six sentence posts!! it's cool and cute despite the sadness of the situation
- WOAGH THEIR FIGHT... THAT'S JUST. SO WELL DONE!!! THE WHOLE SCENE!! i think that is where i found annabeth and grover the most in-character in the whole fic and other than the dance it's my favourite part of it. hands down a great moment. i'd quote some lines but they'd take over this ask
- the boxes!! THE RECEIPT. i fucking died.
- i honestly thought i was the only person who also thought grover's mother had left. i thought i was the only person who thought about him being an orphan in the first place
- the memory with percy.... the gughh EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT PART!!!!!
- "Just this once, he thinks, I’ll be selfish." i am deceased i am laying down on your front door user aknosde
- the receipt. is not inocuous at all.
- SALLY GIVES HIM THE KEYS AND. UGH. I KNOW BABY. IT'S HARD BUT WE'LL BE ALRIGHT. DO YOU WANT ME DEAD
- clarisse was a great choice for a character to play the role she plays in that point of the story i love clarisse and her and grover interacted very nicely
- he cared enough to try and try again. fucking hell
- ITS A CHANGE BUT ITS NOT A BAD ONE!!! YES!!! SHE'S GROWING AND LEARNING!!!!
- the percy and grover scene is so sweet and kinda sad but sweet and nice and they really know eachother and they have that stupid tiny disagreement but it's resolved so quickly... preserve MY heart bc it's dying with me
- THE PRINCESS DIARIES... THEYD DEFINITELY WATCH THOSE FILMS TOGETHER ALL THE TIME
- love this fic ive been waitin for it since september or so and AGH,, thank you !!!
oh my god of course thats okay!! this is such an amazing ask im gonna answer it point by point but that'll take a while so it's under the cut!
i put that tag in bc i wanted ppl to know it wasnt all sad!! (also mb bc i cant tell w my own writing after looking at it for so long)
im glad you liked the descriptions, usually they aren't my thing but the passage of time was really important in this one so i wanted it to be apparent!
crushing hug!! my bsf is really good at cracking backs and has several ways to do it through hugs and i thought annabeth would too
im glad you liked that scene. it was inspired by the entire whats going on album and the song dancing with your ghost by sasha sloan and i ended up really liking it too. also it does some pretty heavy lifting by setting the "norm" so you can see how things change, esp vis-a-vis sally, which is signified by grover taking over for annabeth in leading their dance (also your art is so cool if you did that i’d never shut up abt it)
flip phones!! they'll be showing up in my aie fics
im glad you liked the fight and found it in character!!! i felt it was super necessary for the story but also it was so much fun to write!! i love to see them all get angry!!!
packing up your friends' bedroom can be such a personal thing
the fact that grovers lost all his family!!!! and no one ever talks about it!!!!! 😡😫🧍♂️
the memory!! also very important to the story but it was also a chance for me to show percy being emotionally intelligent and deeply kind which are things i love him for <3
i think grover deserves to be selfish!!
i love sally jackson so much and while i dont think she's perfect i think she is very deeply good and she cares abt percy and his friends so much!! (also shout out to aftg for making me think abt the significance of keys 24/7)
i love clarisse i love her friendship with percy i love how mean she is and how much she cares ❤️ (also like ik annabeth isn’t a bitch in the books but she is assholeish towards rachel in botl when she’s concerned abt percy and i wanted something similar in this. so the target was drew. along w like,,, everyone else)
i never stop thinking about how percy didnt have any friends until grover and how percy was the first kid that grover treated as an actual friend, not a charge
annabeth is growing and learning!! she has so much growth even between tlo and moa!! the fact that she becomes comfortable saying ily is sooooo important to me and i decided that it was partially bc of grover
i wanted the final scene to wrap up the facets of percy that grover points out through the rest of the story and it was also important to me that we see that things aren't perfect once he gets back and that he and grover have points of contention just like grover had with annabeth. but also they've known each other forever and dont sweat the small stuff. thats real friendship <333
princess diaries!! like i said, i def think there are parallels between percy and mia and whether or not he and his friends realize it at this point i think its one of the reasons he likes watching it
im so glad it was worth the wait!!!
#chipadequeso#asked + answered#fic: to preserve the heart#max.txt#ty for the ask sorry it took me so long to respond!!#long post
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Ok so guys I watched ride the cyclone and I had the idea of "what if Johnny made a movie adaptation of ride the cyclone" with keeping all of the original lines and songs and just casting first benrey Peter and Michael then asking Michael for more people to cast cause he couldn't think of anyone else from their friends and here it is:
Cast:
Johnny : Ricky
Peter : Karnack
Michael : Noel (only one willing to wear the Monique outfit)
Benrey : Jane doe/virgil (he's Jane cause he is great at being unsettling)
Vanessa : Constance
Jack : Mischa (mainly so the kiss scene wasn't so awkward)
Elizabeth : ocean
Ok so the first interaction with all of them Michael immediately said "damn a crossover episode am I right" due to the fact that his main two friend groups are sorta meeting. Vanessa is the only one that has musical theatre under their belt so she ended up helping everyone learn how to actually make it seem like a musical even though Michael and jack have the singing aspect down they struggled with the acting part (Michael struggled less). During filming while benrey had a lot of makeup on (to hide certain parts of his face) he kept scaring Michael because he wasn't used to benrey looking like that and entirely forgot it was even benrey under the makeup. Peter was picked to be Karnack because he could sound serious if he wanted to but also so that no one got too crazy on set (he's literally a father figure to Johnny benrey and Michael) Elizabeth accepted to do this because she was bored and had nothing else to do but ended up really enjoying the process. Johnny kept taking behind the scenes videos and a lot of the time either in the background or in front there would be a glimpse of Michael giving jack little kisses before going off to do something else. Gordon kenshi and MJ sometimes would visit the set to see their partners and half of the time jack, Vanessa, Elizabeth, and Michael would have to do a double take on kenshi because they work with a separate timeline version of him and forgot he existed in johnnys universe too.
Off camera Dialogue and bloopers that would happen:
Michael: not in my Bible baby bonsoir! *trips and falls*.......guys I swear I can walk in heels
Vanessa: you only wear heels
Peter: ok I'm going to make a rule for you guys real quick stop attempting to kiss your partners while filming when it's not the kiss scene
Michael: so that was clearly directed at me and I would just like to say that was-
Elizabeth: Michael do you want me to get mom and dad here
Michael: *sigh* no =[
Johnny: guys we need to quit laughing or we'll never get this movie done
Vanessa: I'm sorry that a lot of Noel's lines are the funniest things I've heard Michael say since I've worked with him
Michael: hey!
Vanessa: *during one scene* jack put your tits away!
Jack: girl my tits are supposed to be out rn
Benrey: oh miiicccchhhhhhaaaaaaeeeeeelllll!!!
Michael: AGH- FUCK YOU!
Johnny: you forgot it was benrey again didn't you
Michael: .... Yes
Benrey: hehe
Vanessa: wherever I go I'm the only normal human in the group so sad
Benrey: I used to be human!
Vanessa: jesus- where did you come from?????
Benrey: dunno
#goobie snoobery#the gang#the interdimentional mall#michael afton#jack kennedy#death swap elizabeth afton#vanessa fnaf#peter b parker#hlvrai benrey#johnny cage#ride the cyclone#my favorite line is “not in my bible baby bonsoir!”#i love noel in general#jane is my other favorite#johnny cage ride the cyclone movie adaptation
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21/3/24
happy late birthday hyunjin <3. i love him so much oh my god. not in that I'm in love with him; that's a very significant phrase that I don't think even I could throw around too easily, it's just that he is very important in my life in a way he could never know. he has taught me many things since I have known about skz, one being an appreciation for the things around us in this world. that's why I haven't written in a while; I've been appreciating the small things, and the big to be honest. just everything I love.
life feels perfect. i feel so content. school is going well; not perfect but not bad. i got my chem test back- grade 7. that's good. i moved up 4 grades since last year, so I'm headed for a high pass which I'm pleased about. 7 as my grade for art as well. that means a lot to me, though I'm not a big fan of my own art. at GCSE level I'm finding that what we are learning about is more to do with theory, so I am just copying other artists work at the moment, and studying shading and that stuff. i don't mind; it's important, but I want to figure out my own style too; I've never really had a distinct style. i want to make art when I am older; and my dream is for people to see it after I am gone and know that it is mine. i want to be known after I am dead; I don't even care if people know what I look like; that doesn't matter. i just want my name to be something.
my best friend is closer to me more than ever. i love her. if there is one person I truly love with my whole heart, it is her. she makes me smile so much, and we don't judge each other. i would do anything for her, I really would. anything to see her smile. i think she is my soulmate, not romantically obviously, but it is romantic in a way. we had a conversation about what would happen after we left the world, and she said that she didn't really think anything would change, if she passed. that made me really sad, and I told her that right away. i said, "I don't know what i'd do without you, really." I didn't go much more in depth because I don't know what else I could say to express how I love her so much. it is true. i don't know what I would do without her.
that was kind of sad, but happy in other ways. change of subject, I watched saltburn today. lmao. it was really fking weird. i loved the style; I could watch films like that for days, and the soundtrack was pretty good too. the plot was intense, actually I liked the plot, but I felt they could have moved it slower. they rushed to oliver being obsessed with felix too quickly; I think I would have liked to see it slower; that would have made it more believable. same with the ending, it wasn't believable. i liked the rest though (aside from the weird scenes obvs like wtf????).
anyway, like i said, life is good. i am reading the meiko kawakami book, about 1/4 through, and I capture the castle (I love this book sm) which I am close to finishing, which I don't like. i don't want it to end.
i have 30 minutes left of business proposal too. its alr. i think I prefer other stuff. i really want to watch the bear. I've probably said that already.
only 20 pages left of my journal...! i don't know whether I want to drag it out and take it with me on holiday in the easter holidays to visit my family, or start a new one before. we'll see.
x eva.
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So, About Evil Dead Rise,
I am begging Hollywood to let mainstream horror movies have sad & grim endings again. Let the final girl die. If ever there was a movie that should've done this, it's this one.
Now, that aside, this film did successfully keep me entertained for an hour and a half, and it was able to keep me slightly unnerved, so that's something. Whether or not it's enough is a matter of some debate.
One big strike this movie immediately has against it is the cabin in the woods opening scene. There was a lot of debate when the trailers came out about how this scene could fit into the story. Turns out the answer is it doesn't. The scene contributes nothing, is barely connected, and could've been cut without anyone noticing it was gone. A complete and utter waste of runtime. The one thing it attempts to do is give the audience a sucker-punch right at the beginning, and there were other better ways to do that. It also serves to try and give the film a sucker-punch ending, but since I don't know or care about any of the characters at that cabin this completely fails and, again, could've been better accomplished in other ways.
It feels like the writers were trying to have their cake and eat it too, by having our heroes survive but then use the separate unestablished and uncared for cabin in the woods characters to still give us something dark to chew on. If the film makers had just committed one way or the other, it would've had a much heavier impact.
It also really feels like the filmmakers just didn't know how to make an Evil Dead film. The reason the first two originals worked is they were relatively light on plot. They spent like 10 minutes at the beginning establishing characters and exposition, and everything after that was pure unadulterated horror. This film, on the other hand, follows the more conventional flow of going back and forth between exposition and action throughout the film, which if you ask me really does not serve horror movies well and definitely doesn't work here. Like we'll get some nice horrific tension building and then all the sudden, just when it's really getting good, the writers tear it all away by having the characters relax and do some more expositioning.
Not only does this not work well from a tension point of view, it also doesn't make all that much sense in-universe. In the original Evil Dead, the hero is never safe for a moment. The deadites always have some diabolically horrifying trick up their sleeve. The hero never gets a moments rest. Every time he thinks he's gotten rid of the deadites temporarily, they almost immediately throw something new at him. Here, however, the deadites conveniently play dead or forget about the assorted supernatual things they're capable of for extended periods of time whenever the plot demands our characters should rest.
I am once again asking horror movie writers to stop feeling beholden to conventional film/plot structure. It will not always work for you. Have some fun with it for christ sake.
Now there is still plenty to praise here. There's loads of nice juicy practical effects, and it seems like overall CGI is kept to a minimum. And with these delightfully realistic effects, we get some gore scenes that will really make you squirm. But of course, Evil Dead has never been about gore.
There are also some fun callbacks to the originals that I'm certain everyone will enjoy, including one scene that's fairly reminiscent of the famous laughing scene, although in this case it doesn't go quite far enough. I will say though, that was one of the scenes that legitimately scared me.
Ultimately, this film did successfully unnerved me, and though I think it could've been better, it is still relatively damn good. I do recommend seeing this in theaters. If I had less of a tolerance, I would've been terrified.
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Hey novel!!!! you are the most talented author on this site. Your portrayals of jamie and Dani are so deep and relatable and expand two wonderful characters into even more.
I know you are crazy busy and swamped with requests, but would you consider writing a one-shot about the famous deleted scene when jamie wakes up when dani tries to leave and convinces her to stay? (Or doesn’t, however you’d want to write it!)
Just a thought, I totally understand if you don’t have the time or are not feeling it!
The dream is the last straw.
There are moments in your life, Dani Clayton thinks--with a clarity that seems unfathomable for this late hour--you simply can’t turn away from. Or, more accurately, you could--but you wouldn’t be you anymore, turning back. You’d be something else. Something untenable.
The dream is one such moment. The certainty of it is one such awful, harrowing moment.
Jamie’s expression never changed. Never faltered. Never so much as twitched away from that quietly-expectant misery--and that trust, even as the hand closed around her throat. Even as she went under. The trust, more than anything, will haunt what time she has left.
Because Jamie does trust her. Always has. Always, Dani knows, will, even if it’s the worst thing for her.
Jamie will trust in Dani Clayton until it kills her, unless Dani does something about it first.
And so, when she wakes with her hand inches from Jamie’s throat--when she wakes with the tips of her fingers brushing the slow, steady thrum of Jamie’s pulse--she makes the choice. The hard call. She makes it like a woman, a thousand years ago, made a choice to turn away from a bad marriage before it could land. The way a woman, a hundred years ago, made a choice to turn toward an uncertain future born of a dark lake. She makes it with the calculated, unshakeable certainty that, every so often, you have to make this kind of choice. Because it’s essential. Because you couldn’t live with the person you’d be if you didn’t.
She moves slowly, counting every breath that leaves Jamie’s parted lips. Jamie, who sleeps so comfortably in this bed. Jamie, whose nightmares soothed themselves in the wake of Dani’s hands on her skin over the years. Jamie, who carries more than enough scars of her own without bearing Dani’s burdens, too.
She moves, sliding off of Jamie’s body, sliding off the mattress upon which they’ve had thirteen good years. Thirteen solid, loving, happy years. That isn’t nothing, she assures herself. That is so much more than the woman she’d been all those years ago, freshly freed and freshly haunted again in equal measure, had thought she deserved.
Thirteen years in this bed. Reading, talking, kissing, sleeping. Thirteen years. It isn’t enough. Nothing will ever be enough. But it’s not nothing, and Dani tells herself--with the solid assurance of the dream--she can make do. Thirteen years of Jamie’s accent wrapped lovingly around her name. Thirteen years of Jamie’s hands seeking hers out across the dinner table. Thirteen years of petty arguments resolved with tearful apology, or with giggly kisses, or with the steadiness of Jamie’s eyes meeting hers. Jamie nodding. Gold rings holding firm against the dark.
It’ll never be enough. And maybe Jamie won’t forgive her for this. But there are things a person can’t live with becoming--and even knowing how close she’s come tonight to brushing up against the shadows she’s been carrying for too long is...it’s...
Enough, she tells herself, knowing it’s a lie and a truth and a promise.
She doesn’t pack. What does a dead woman toss into a carry-on? There will be no final costume change, no coiffed hair or carefully-applied makeup. She’s more or less given up on all of it, anyway, exhaustion draining her dry even on the rare occasion the mirror doesn’t leer in her direction. Jamie doesn’t seem to mind. Jamie doesn’t seem to mind any of it.
I’ll feel everything for the both of us, she says, and she means it every single time. Means it the way Jamie can’t help. The way only Jamie has ever known how. It never, ever comes from a place of pretty words, with Jamie. Never comes from a should be this, a script without heart. Jamie can’t not say it. Jamie can’t not mean it.
Jamie can’t not trust her.
So Dani has to go.
Her hand is on the door, her head bent forward against the familiar wood. This door, through which Jamie walked so recently with that all-important piece of paper. This door, through which Dani walked so many years ago with a plant in her hands and a promise on her lips. This door. She’s stopped seeing it, hasn’t she? Juggling groceries, or mid-conversation, or pushing Jamie hard against it with a flare of passion. The door has become, like so many things, a standard piece of set dressing. Irrelevant, compared to the story. Forgettable, compared to the intricacies of the day.
And now, this final time, her hand on the knob--now she thinks, I will remember. This door. This apartment. The walk, made so many thousands of times, from the bedroom to the bathroom to the kitchen. The couch, where Jamie often dozes over a book with her legs sprawled in Dani’s lap. The rug, picked out together the first year living together. The photos on the wall, the postcards on the fridge, so many tiny memorials to the people they’ve grown into together.
I will remember, she thinks fiercely, all of it.
Foolish, to stop. Foolish, to give in to this moment of such human weakness. Such human fear. If she could only keep walking in a single, unbroken line--like she would, like the path taken up those stairs and into that wing over and over again--she’d have been on the street by now. She’d have been calling a car by now. She’d--
“You’re not even going to leave me a note?”
She closes her eyes. Presses her face harder against the door. The memories, she thinks, have snagged her as she should have expected. As memories always do. Hadn’t it been memory, keeping her with Eddie longer than she should have stayed? Hadn’t it been memory, keeping her in contact with a mother who had long unplugged? Memory, in the end, is as much a gravity well as a blessing. A treasure like love is so dangerously good at being multiple things at once.
A thing like need. A thing like fear.
A thing like I don’t want to go.
Jamie doesn’t sound angry, exactly. Her voice is ragged with sleep, and with something so quietly broken, Dani can’t stand to look at it. That sound, that unfamiliar tension, has been creeping into Jamie’s voice more and more lately. A sob unuttered. An unfamiliar desperation.
Jamie doesn’t do desperate. Jamie doesn’t do terror. Jamie is a solution with a grin, a pair of strong hands holding Dani steady when the world rocks around her without pause. Jamie is a foundation. A bedrock. A gloriously embedded series of roots, planted with hope, tended with care, turned from a pot into a home with time and effort and love.
Jamie is waiting now. Quiet. Not angry, exactly--but not forgiving, either. Hurt, Dani thinks, recognizing at last that utterly unfamiliar note. She’s hurt. I’ve never hurt her before.
She’s frustrated Jamie over the years, plenty of times. Upset her. Knocked up against exposed nerves she hadn’t known to look for. She’s made Jamie grumpy, even angry a few times--and Jamie’s done the same in return. Two people can’t share a single life without crossing boundaries from time to time. Without finding fragility under overturned stones. But it’s always been fixable. Always been so clear, where the repairs were needed to get them back on track again. They’d never gone to bed angry, not once in thirteen years, because you can’t promise tomorrow. You can’t promise a chance to make it right if you let it go too long.
You can’t promise.
Dani can’t promise.
“Not even going to answer?” That old Jamie grit, winding into the syllables, but the hand that brushes between her shoulder blades is soft. Jamie isn’t angry. Jamie is hurt. Jamie is scared. Jamie is half-asleep and so awake, and if Dani turns--if Dani looks now--
Tell her, some panicked part of her pipes up. Tell her what happened. What you almost did. What you’re going to become.
She won’t care, the more rational part replies. Jamie trusts her. Jamie wants to carry it all for her. Jamie will carry her until it tears her open to do it, and then she’ll keep going. Jamie, even with blood staining the carpet and heart hanging out of her chest, would never know how to stop.
Jamie would drown, if Dani let her. If Dani were coward enough, selfish enough, to let the fear win.
“Dani.” The way no one else has ever said her name, she thinks with eyes still scrunched shut. No one has ever formed those two syllables the way Jamie does. Like an oath. Like an I love you. Like an I’m listening. I’m here. I’m not going away.
“Dani,” she says again. “Come back to bed. Please.”
It’s the please, Dani thinks as she turns at last, as she takes in the sight of this woman with whom she wants only to share her life, that does it. The please, a word that feels too much like begging to suit their thirteen years of equilibrium. Jamie, especially, doesn’t beg. Jamie listens. Jamie understands. Jamie fixes. Jamie doesn’t plead, or demand, or insist.
Jamie, looking at her now with rumpled hair, in only a sleep shirt and a grim expression. Jamie, who’d sounded so shattered, saying those words. Come back to bed. Please. Like she knows already what Dani is doing. Like she knows already that there are things a person can’t come back from.
Tell her no, the rational side thinks. Tell her no. Tell her you love her. Tell her there’s nothing that matters even half as much as that, not even this moment. Tell her goodbye.
I don’t, Dani thinks with helpless misery, already reaching out a hand, want to go.
She’ll remember every step, later. Every step back to the bedroom. Every step with Jamie’s hand solid and soft in her own. The way Jamie walks with shoulders straight, with chin up, even as tired as she is. The way Jamie waits until she’s between the covers again before she’ll climb in, too.
The way Jamie holds her as she sobs. As they both lose the composure they’ve spent too long clinging to. The way the mattress shakes beneath them, her face pressed to Jamie’s neck, the thrum of Jamie’s pulse ragged against her lips.
She’ll remember it all, later. She needs to remember. Every step. Every kiss Jamie presses to her hair. Every stroke of Jamie’s hands down her back. She needs to remember it all.
You’re not even going to leave me a note?
She will. She will do that much, she promises herself, as Jamie’s tears slowly wane. As Jamie’s breath slowly evens out. As Jamie, confident that she has--once again, as she has so many times before--fixed the problem, lets sleep wash the fear away.
She’ll leave a note. She’ll try to get it all down, somehow. She’ll do her best.
But first. First, for a little while longer, she’ll stay. Jamie’s heartbeat is so familiar, a metronome of security beneath her head. Jamie’s breath is so familiar, a lullaby she’s been falling asleep to for almost fifteen years. Jamie, who makes a soft sound in her sleep and holds Dani all the closer, like she’s been doing for as long as anything has ever mattered.
Jamie, who may never forgive her, but who will certainly have to understand. Someday. Somehow. Jamie has understood it all, even when she shouldn’t have. Even when there was no rhyme or reason to it. Jamie is good at listening. Jamie is good at piecing it all together.
Jamie is so good.
She’ll leave a note. She’ll do that much. But not yet. Not quite.
Dani Clayton, folded in the embrace of the woman who loves her most, does not want to go.
#fanfiction#ficlet#the haunting of bly manor#the haunting of bly manor spoilers#dani x jamie#damie#sort of can't believe i've never actually written out this scene#for all the times it's been requested#think I always just found it a little too raw#but raw is my mood today anyway so...finally was time I guess#sad as I am that we'll never see this scene as filmed#I honestly wonder if my heart could take it
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Nyx for the ask meme
Nyx, you say, my favourite boy?! I hope you're ready for a looong answer, anon! XD
First impression: So literally the first thing we see of Nyx is him saving Pelna and another glaive with that freakin' awesome throat-cutting warp move! I was immediately drawn to him, because I am a sucker for characters who go all out to save everyone because they don't think their own life is worth taking care of. By the time he laughed and said that iconic line, I knew I was gonna love him.
Impression now: Well, Nyx is hands down my favourite ffxv character, so I guess that initial love went nowhere XD In all honesty, I don't think my impression of him has changed all that much, really. He's a good man, who loves his friends fiercely and would do anything for them, no matter the personal cost. He's reckless, yes, because he has no sense of his own self-worth and I love the way we get to see the cracks in his façade in KG, I really do. It's so painfully obvious he has this mask of confidence-bordering-on-arrogance but underneath that he's still a wreck from everything he's gone through - losing his home, his family, losing his friends... he's unspeakably sad, but I think that gives him so much more depth and feeling.
The scene with Luna especially, where he talks about Selena and we get to see all the vulnerable, sharp edges in him, that makes him feel so much more relatable than even Noctis, imo.
^^^^^^And this moment right here, when there's only his captain around to see him - look at his face! Nyx Ulric, Hero of the Kingsglaive is not here. This is Nyx, just Nyx, a guy who's lost everything - and then some - who almost watched his closest friend die and he isn't okay but hell if he lets anyone else see this side of him (except Luna) in the entire film! He doesn't even get close to this level of openness after he and Libertus find out about Crowe! Don't get me wrong, he's destroyed by losing her, but look:
Look at how he's keeping it together, whether for Libertus, or because he just can't bear being so vulnerable.
There's so much about him that's so relatable on so many levels.
(And getting slightly off-topic here, but I love that KG didn't shy away from including his ptsd and the flashbacks of Selena's voice and all that because it was such an effective way of getting across so much of the extra hidden depth of his character in a film that had very little time to focus on character development because of the overarching plot.)
Having said that, I still think there's a lot more raw potential for his character that never got used. Even just little things, like the fact that Ulric rough translates to 'ruler' - given the way other characters are named in ffxv, does that mean he was a big deal in Galahd? Is it just in reference to the fact that he's the one who takes charge when Drautos is conspicuously absent? Alas, we'll never know. But that's what fanfics are for, right?
Favourite moment: Oh, it'd have to be the rooftop scene with Luna. Specifically that moment when Luna asks to meet her would-have-been rescuer and Nyx just. Shakes his head ever so slightly. Looks away.
I don't know why, but there's something about that moment that gets me every time.
Idea for a story: Ah, so many. Too many, really. As you might know, I'm currently writing (and posting) Papa Pelna and His Little Hero, a fic where Nyx manages to get himself de-aged somehow (and is honestly just an excuse to explore Nyx's childhood and Pelna's dad skills - Pelna is a dad, okay? You will not change my mind XD) but I'm also in the early stages of another fic centred around child Nyx, which looks into whether or not he's a big deal, as I touched on earlier.
Unpopular opinion: Sometimes, Nyx gets annoyed by Libertus. Sometimes, he just needs some peace and some space, and Libertus can't always fathom that. They butt heads a lot for 'best friends' but they manage to resolve their differences without too many bruised feelings, and they've got each other's backs, always.
Favourite relationship: PromNyx. Hands down. This is my otp, I love them. I think they compliment each other so well. Prompto has boundless optimism where Nyx is more realistic, but they both have their insecurities and they'd understand each other and be able to soothe the other's hurts and fears. Yeah, definitely PromNyx, and CorNyx is a close second.
Favourite headcanon: There's something about Nyx that sets him apart, even from his Galahdian peers. He's important, in some way, to the prophecy. He's a key player in the events to come, not that he knows it.
That's it. That's the headcanon. And I have several takes on it already sitting in my WIP pile waiting for me to finish them XD
#ask#anonymous#send me asks#ask me things#ask me questions#ask me stuff#i will answer#literally anything#WhoStarLocked answers#anon ask#ask meme#final fantasy 15#ffxv#kingsglaive#nyx ulric#headcanon#my fic#my writing#WhoStarLocked writes#thank you anon#sory this turned into a character essay halfway through#i just have many feelings about nyx okay#libertus ostium#crowe altius#pelna khara
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Oxford to the Cotswolds
Chapter 23 - Always the Bridesmaid.
A/N: So here it is the LAST chapter of Always the Bridesmaid. I kinda feel sad but I know it’s not the end of H&L.Thanks so much @aussieez for proof reading. Thank you again to all those following this story and continue to follow it, you have no idea how much it means to me that you take the time to read.😘
I’m finalizing my tag list for this over the next few days, so again if you like to be tagged just let me know!
Read previous chapters HERE!
Warnings: Fluff & NSFW
Word Count: 2914
Pairings: Laila x Harry
Enjoy! 😘
A week later.
After their little spat, Harry decided maybe now was the time to take up his parents offer of using their cottage. They had their trip planned out, they would leave London on the Sunday morning stop at Oxford for a day or two and get to his parents' cottage on the Tuesday afternoon. "We are staying in an old prison that has been converted into a hotel?" Laila asks as they drove along the M40 "Yeah, I thought it was unusual and right up your street?" he takes his eyes off the road for a second to wink at her "You know the whole cops and robbers thing"
She rolls her eyes and laughs, "I'm guessing you're the criminal?" he smirks. "Nah, I'm a law abiding citizen, my love. You seem like the troublemaker here!" she laughs, "I've been looking up all the sites we need to visit while we are there"
He knew she wouldn't be able to visit a place without doing her research.
"Where do you need to visit then?" she smiles at the fact he asked "So, there is the obvious Bridge of Sighs, which is kind of a copy of the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Carfax tower the views of Oxford, from there are supposed to be amazing, Martyr's Cross which is a cross they have in the road where two Anglican bishops and the Archbishop of Canterbury were burned, oh and there is a Harry Potter tour around the University as some scenes were filmed there and Oxford Castle which is right next door to our prison hotel!"
"Sounds like a couple of days of learning!" he laughs at her "NOT just learning! There is a bar with magical cocktails, ones in test tubes, with fire and even smoke!" she's excited.
Harry doesn't know it, but Laila is a bit of a history buff, if she goes somewhere new she will research the hell out of it. Not long after they moved to London Laila was still adjusting to life in the city, Ezra could see his granddaughter struggling, so he planned a day out with her.
They stood on platform 5 at Harrow and Wealdstone Station "Grandad, where are we going?" she asked him "You will see when we get there!" he smiles at her. The train ride wasn't long. Fifty minutes later they pulled into Bletchley Station "Grandad, why are we here?" he chuckled "And I thought you knew everything about World War 2!" he winks at her, but it doesn't click until 10 minutes later when they were standing outside Bletchley Park.
Laila's eyes are wide "Oh my god!! This....this is where Alan Turing cracked the enigma machine!!" she squealed with excitement before hugging him. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she's beaming, she takes his hand and drags him through the doors.
This was one thing he and his granddaughter had in common, was their interest in World War 2. They spent hours looking around the huts where it all happened. He never saw her face light up so much as she looked around at the artefacts. They had a look around Station X (National Radio Centre) and when they finally reached the Mansion Laila was overjoyed "Grandad, just think all those people that helped crack the code have been in this very room...no house!!"
They spend hours looking around, before grabbing something to eat at hut 4 "Grandad, just think this is where they would get lunch or even dinner!" she looks around the hut "Laila, just think while they were here no one knew! They had to lie about working here, they couldn't tell anyone even family members. They had to take a vow of silence" he said.
This rang true, as years later Max was building an annex for a couple at the end of their garden and when he got talking to the Nan, whom the annex was being built for she told him how her mum worked at Bletchley Park and had to take a vow of silence which she kept until the park reopened as a museum in 1994.
When it was time to go home Laila couldn't thank him enough for taking her there "Just don't tell your brothers!" she laughs, "I've taken the Bletchley Park vow of silence!"
They finally arrived, Harry pulls into a parking space outside the hotel and a valet comes over Harry hands him the keys and they head in with their cases. They check in; "you will be on the fifth floor in room 135, so take the lift to the right once you go through those doors. Here is your room key and enjoy your stay!" she smiles. "I'm sure we will!" Harry grins at her before they make their way to their room.
"Did you ever watch the TV show Bad Girls?" Laila asks him as the lift takes them to the fifth floor. "I did! Izzy made me watch it with her. That woman that played Yvonne plays Shirley from Eastenders now, doesn't she?" she laughs, "I thought you don't watch it?" she nudges him as the doors open "I don't but when you put it on what am I supposed to do?" he winks.
"129...130...4 more rooms to go," she calls behind her. "Actually 5 more my love," he laughs, she turns to look at him "No! You don't include our room!" she protests. "I think you do," he laughs at her. "NO! No, you don't," he doesn't argue with her.
They dump their bags and head out to look around the city "Oh, they have a Harry Potter tour" Laila's tone is ecstatic, Harry sighs "Don't you want to do it?" she asks "If you want to we will do it" her eyes scan his face "Did the kids in school use to take the piss out of you in school because you had the same name?" she asks, he laughs, "No, if anything they used to call me...oh what was his fat mate called?"
"Crabbe?" she looks at him. "Yeah, that's the one," he offers a weak smile, she runs her fingers through his hair before her arms cling around his neck "Well, who's laughing now? I bet a lot of the girls and boys that bullied you regret it now! You are handsome, fit, funny and you are mine" she winks, he can't help smiling at her "And I have a drop dead gorgeous girlfriend" he says making her blush.
"We'll do something else," she smiles at him and kisses his lips "No, we'll do the tour if you want to!" she looks how long the tour is "2 hours, argh, I'd rather be doing some kinda cardio" he looks at her confused and she laughs, "use your imagination, you are a personal trainer" she winks. He quickly gets the hint "Right, what do we need to look at before I drag you back to the hotel?" he grins at her.
Later.
After dinner, they had back up to their room, "I'm going for a shower" Laila winks at him "OK, I'll grab one after you," she smirks "I was thinking more along the lines of you joining me," she doesn't have to ask him twice, he picks her up and she wraps her legs around his waist as he walks them to the bathroom.
After their shower, Laila notices the chocolate on the bed as she's drying herself. "Oh wow! They're shaped like handcuffs!" she giggles "Hmmm.....that reminds me," he wanders over to his case in just his towel and pulls out a pair of metal handcuffs. "And what do you intend to do with those Mr. Taylor?" she bites her lip "Oh, maybe make an arrest," he winks at her, she notices his arousal through the towel "Oh, on what grounds?" she asks.
"Hmmm....for being stubborn and sarcastic, but also gorgeous, funny, adorable and extremely impossible not to fall in love with" he stands in front of her, pulling off her towel until it drops to the floor. He cups her face, his thumb runs over her lips before capturing them with his, he lifts her arms above her head and his hands run up her arms before he suddenly cuffs her hands.
She smirks against his lips "Oh, PC Taylor, what do I have to do to get you to uncuff me?" his kiss becomes more intense. She drops her hands, so they are wrapped around his neck, he moves them until the backs of her knees hit the bed. They fall onto it with Harry landing on top of her "Well, Miss. Carelli, I think you can convince me somehow" his fingers finds her core.
She hisses at the contact, his other hand comes up and pins her arms above her head as he found her slick petals. "I thought I was the one who had to.....oh shit...convince you to free me," she can barely get her words out, his lips find her pulse line "How exactly are you planning on doing that?" he smirks against her neck.
"Stand up and I'll show you," he does as she says, she sits up and pulls off his towel. Grasping him, she works her hand along him a few times before her mouth follows the same path, he groans as his hips thrust forward in need. Her pillowy lips work along his hardened member, he grunts as her jaw slacks, taking him in further "Fuck...." he mutters.
He rocks his hips back and forth as her tongue runs along the ridges of his cock, he grips a fistful of her hair. His head fell back as he groans, "That's...it gorgeous! Fuck...". She hums against him and her pace moves faster. His knees bucks, her apex is throbbing as she feels him nearing the edge "Laila....I'm...gonna....fuck!" he jerks as he hits his climax and he groans.
She releases him from her mouth and looks up at him. "Are you going to uncuff me now?" she asks as she's sat on her feet, he looks down at her with a grin. He lifts her up and throws her onto the bed, making her giggle "Hey, you said would take these off!" he has a mischievous grin on his face. "Well, Miss. Carelli! I prefer to have you like this, sorry." he captures her lips.
"That's not fair......." she protests, but she soon cuts off as he moves down her body to her centre, his hands grasp the back of both her thighs. His tongue moves apart her folds "Oh Harry!" she moves her arms to run her fingers through his hair. He pulls away, lifts her arms above her head again and kisses her lips "Keep them there!" he tells her before moving back to her core.
Her breathing hitches, he sucks against her clit, making her cry out "Ohhh"
A little later.
His legs are entwined with hers beneath the sheets, she's cuddled up against him as her head rests on his chest "When we get back do you think we should look at properties?" she lifts up and places her hand against his chest stroking his chest hair, looking up to him. He smirks at her, "definitely!" he strokes her hair away from her face "What if we have a look online now?" she stares into his ocean blue eyes and bites her lip waiting for his response.
He reaches for his phone "Let's have a look," he loads up and scrolls through the properties. "What are we going for?" he asks "Somewhere with gates, private drive and pool," she laughs, he digs his fingers into her ribs and she tries to wiggle away "Ahhhh! Harry! Stop!!" his phone is discarded, he cups her face and claims her lips.
His body covers hers and he takes her against.
The next day.
They are back in the car on the way to Harry's parents cottage in Wyck Rissington, Gloucestershire.
Along the way they find a supermarket and grab a few essentials before they continued their drive. They arrive at the cottage 10 minutes later "Aww wow! This is cute!" she smiles as they get out the car. "And it's ours for the next few days" he winks at her.
They head inside, "wow, look at those beams!" she points up at the ceiling. "Have you been here before?" she looks to Harry. "Nah, Mum and Dad haven't let any of us use it...well until now" he winks.
Once they bring in their bags inside, he takes her hand and they have a look around when Harry spots a hot tub outside "Oh, what do we have here?" he nods as he opens the door "I didn't bring a swimsuit!" he has a devilish grin. "Who said anything about swimsuits?" she bit her lip and shook her head at him.
Harry runs Laila a bubble bath with candles around the tub and told her to relax while he cooked dinner. The water was warm against her skin as she sinks into the bathtub, a minute or so later there is a knock on the bathroom door before Harry wanders in with a glass of wine "Here you go, my love," she smiles up at him as she takes the glass "Thank you! So, what's for dinner?"
He leans over kisses her nose and winks "You'll find out when it's on the table. Now enjoy." He leaves her to it.
34 minutes later.
Laila walks into the bedroom and Harry has laid out a dress grey dress on the bed for her to wear. She smiles and starts to get dressed, underneath she puts on some lacy lingerie she had brought for the trip. When she's dressed, she goes in search for Harry, as soon as she saw him, she blushes but can't help but laugh.
"Harry!! What are you doing?" he's stood in the kitchen in just an apron and his boxers, he looks up at her and grins. "You've heard of the Naked Chef right?" he winks. "But he isn't actually naked!" she laughs at him. "I'm not either! I was thinking about it but I thought that would be unsanitary. I see you're wearing the dress I picked out for you." She makes her way over to him.
"Yeah, but the view would be...very sexy," she squeezes his behind "What's for dinner?" she looks around him on the kitchen side "Ah, ah, ah go and sit down," he moves, so she can't see, she sighs, "Fine!" Laila pulls out her phone and sends a picture she took earlier.
Laila looks over to Harry, biting her lip and he catches her checking him out. "You realise I'm not dinner right?" He says. She looks up catching his eye, "might not be dinner, but there is always dessert!" She winks twirling her hair. He chuckles turning back to cooking.
She puts down her phone as he comes over with 2 plates, placing them on table. "Ooo spaghetti and meatballs!" he pours them more wine, Laila twirls her fork collecting the spaghetti "Did you ever see the film The Lady and the Tramp?" she looks over to him. "I have. Mila made me watch it once." He laughs. "Do think we can do a Lady and the Tramp kiss?" she hold up a a string of spaghetti and he chuckles "We can try. Let me put it in my mouth first" Laila cracks and can't help but laugh "OH MY GOD!!"
"Come on, let's give it ago!" He takes the end of the spaghetti and lifts the other side to Laila, she takes it in her mouth and begins to get closer to Harry until their lips are just above each other's. He brushes his lips lightly over hers before pulling away. "Come on, eat up" he smiles at her and she rolls her eyes at him.
After dinner, he takes their plates. "I'll wash them up," she offers. "You can or I can put them in the dishwasher," he jokes, "Actually, you load the dishwasher. I'm going to start up the hot tub!" she gets up from the table "Already done, my love!" he winks at her. "Oh OK!" she stands and lets her dress fall off her shoulders until it's a puddle on the floor.
He looks her up and down. "I didn't bring a swimsuit, but this will do?" say asks as she makes her way to the back door. His eyes never leave hers, she grins, knowing she had him hook, line and sinker. He quickly closes the dish washer and chases after her, she squeals running from him and towards the door.
@lem-20 @aussieez @secretaryunpaid @irisofpurple @khoicesbyk @txemrn @gloriousalmondvoiddreamer @tea-me-kah @casualpostqueen @beautifuluknownvoid @wombatsxkookaburras
Their moans fill the night sky, both are blissfully happy.
Series 2 - Chapter 1
#atb#Always The Bridesmaid#final chapter#original writing#harry x laila#oxford#oxford castle#oxford martyr#oxford university#malmaison oxford#Original Work#original character#original story#@pixie 88 original
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I saw Shang-Chi yesterday, here are my thoughts.
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
Good fight choreography, excellent variety of terrain made for unique and interesting fights.
The film's villain is a mixture of the Mandarin, Zheng Zu, and some original characterization. Treating him as a failed adaptation seems like it would be a disservice to the character we did get. That being said, I am a little sad that we'll never get a proper adaptation of The Mandarin, as he's one of my favorite comic book villains.
I'm going to claim partial credit for my Iron Fist prediction. No, the woman in green and yellow from the trailer is not an Iron Fist, she's just a mystical warrior from a hidden city powered by the heart of a dragon.
I really liked the giant dragon squid monster at the end. Really cool design for an eldritch abomination.
I'm super happy they didn't force Shang-Chi and Katy together. It would've felt awkward and out of place. Them staying friends was a good choice.
Post credit scene says that the Rings aren't in any known mystical codex, aren't vibranium or any other kind of super-science that Bruce can identify, and aren't any kind of alien tech that Carol has ever seen before. I'm thinking they might be Celestial, as a tie in to Eternals?
Speaking of Carol, Yay Carol! Was pleasantly surprised to see her in the post credits. The way she dipped out of the meeting was pretty funny.
"The Ten Rings Will Return" was not the "will return" message I was expecting. Though as soon as they said Xialing was dismantling their father's operation I thought to myself "no she isn't." #girlboss
I wonder if Wenwu, General Dreykov, and Alexander Pierce ever had meetings where they discussed how they were going to manipulate world events from the shadows.
Oh! One more thing: I'm surprised they didn't explicitly reference the yin-yang when talking about how Shang-Chi is a mixture of both his parents and how he needs to find balance within himself. Like, it's classical taoist symbology and they were right there...
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Electronic - AOL Webchat, 07/30/96 (Bernard and Johnny answering fan questions in a chat using the same handle, I've made minor edits for clarity purposes - archive link in full here)
Max Warner [AOL Webchat host/moderator] : We'll be starting in just a few minutes. We are having some minor technical difficulties.
Max Warner: Johnny and Bernard will be using the screen name Elctrnic.
Max Warner: Just a couple more minutes.... we swear!
Max Warner: We're here with Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner of ELECTRONIC.
Elctrnic: Hello From Bernard & Johnny
Max Warner: Here we go! after a few of those [Online host] Bringing together mainstays of two of the most influential bands of the last 15 years Bernard Sumner of New Order and Johnny Marr of The Smiths. The music of Electronic has exceeded even the high expectations that such a creative partnership undoubtedly engenders.
Max Warner: From Nexland: Question: Barney, Johnny Can U tell me the Story with George Michael. Where Did U meet Him???? it's funny because i saw a picture of Peter Hook with Barry White. That is Cool
Elctrnic: He was cutting his new record at the same studio we were in, hes a nice guy actually
Max Warner: From Embody123: Question: Bernie, what's the nicest thing about working with Marr (Marr: Vice Versa)?
Elctrnic: Johnny never calls me Bernie
Max Warner: From NewOrder3: Question: I would like to know whether any concerts will be scheduled in 1996 and who is the author of the paragraphs in the CD of "raise the pressure"
Elctrnic: At the moment were looking for the right musicians,we'd like to see everybody.
Elctrnic: Bernard wrote the text inside the album$
Max Warner: From SeanJorda: Question: Will either of you be doing any production work in the near future? Barney: I just listened to your SHARK VEGAS, TECHNOTRONIC, and BEAT CLUB tracks today.
Elctrnic: You really know your stuff. I would like to concentrate on Electronic $
Max Warner: From BigBoy666: Question: What do _you_ listen to?
Elctrnic: We mostly listen to European dance music and older good rock stuff, Stones 2000 Light Years, Bowie/Eno Be My Wife$
Max Warner: From APinto65: Question: How did it happen that Neil Tennant did not join up with you on this CD? It's still is fabulous, but I was just curious?
Elctrnic: Electronic is Johnny and Benard.Neil is a guest artist,Johnny is on the new P.S.Bs album
Elctrnic: On this album Karl Bartos from Kraftwek is the guest
Max Warner: From Nexland: Question: Barney, Johnny How are u Tonight???
Elctrnic: Really Groovy
Max Warner: From SeanJorda: Question: How did you guys like TRAINSPOTTING, and Barney- did you like the use of TEMPTATION in the film?
Elctrnic: Its a great film, it opens friday in the U.S. I was proud to be associated with it
Max Warner: From AJ Wells: Question: Hey Barney... how is the jogging coming along? Any Olympic hopes?
Elctrnic: Im meeting up with Ben Johnsons dealer tonight so I should be o.k
Max Warner: From Embody123: Question: Marr: what do you think of MOJO magazine's listing you in the top 25 greatest guitar players of all time?
Elctrnic: Whos this Hendrix bloke ?
Max Warner: From LLabo2909: Question: Johnny, will you ever be joining Morrissey for a reunion tour with the Smiths. Please say yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elctrnic: Sure Boris, do you see any quiffs about?
Max Warner : From AJ Wells: Question: Barney... what ever happened to Section 25? Or Shark Vegas? Or Stexx? Or 52 Street?
Elctrnic: All in mental institutions I think, honestly!
Max Warner: From BBMountai: Question: I've heard that Johnny's been websurfing lately and was wondering if Bernard has also? And what do you both think of the web sites fans create about you?
Elctrnic: Johnny's quite into the web.We intend to make our sites more personal and as informative as possible.we're into it
Max Warner: From Jester000: Question: Johnny I was wondering what gave you hte idea for the whales used in "last night I dreamt...." thanks, glenn
Elctrnic: Bernards getting his browser together when he gets back to U.K
Max Warner: From Embody123: Question: How long did the new album take?
Elctrnic: The sound is actually a protest march sound effect slowed right down.Angry unemplyed.
Max Warner: From PULPTALEN: Question: What is the most succesful song in your career?
Elctrnic: The new album took two years to make but it only feels like one year and eleven months
Max Warner: From Annabel50: Question: hows life in the fast world?
Elctrnic: Slow
Elctrnic: How soon is Monday
Max Warner: From CADS1: Question: are you guys in nyc
Elctrnic: Yes
Max Warner: From Cphel: Question: Bernard- Is New Order no more? Johnny and Bernard-Why no PSB involvement?
Elctrnic: Not quite suree abot that one. P.S.Bs were guests.
Max Warner: From NEXLAND: Question: Do u feel any pressure with an new album??????
Elctrnic: I hope thats not a joke ,
Max Warner: From Femboheme: Question: I love, actually worship the new album. I also love the b-sides, do you have any good instrumentals on any upcomming singles for us?
Elctrnic: Were gonna do some new stuff soon. Were really glad you like the new Album,Thanks.
Max Warner : From CanadaBil: Question: You guys have had awesome careers!! I've been a fan of both since day one. Bernie, is it true that you (New Order) own a bar on one of the islands off the coast of Spain? I'd like to go. Thanks!!
Elctrnic: We dont own a bar in Spain, well not that I know of anyway.We recorded Technique in Ibiza/Spain
Max Warner: From Jcorker: Question: Bernard-Any relation to Sting?
Elctrnic: Hes my great Grandfather actually!
Max Warner: From KCleary: Question: Your music style is not necessarily the most accessible or popular in today's music scene when compared with what's on the charts - i.e. grunge, hard rock. Do you see that as a positive Question or negative when you go into the studio and/or when you tour?
Elctrnic: There should always be a place for someone who is different
Max Warner: From CADS1: Question: at the end of get the message what are you saying
Elctrnic: I am saying "Living on peanuts ain't my scene,shame that word rhymes with mean"
Max Warner: From FBrowniii: Question: do you guys care what radio thinks of your eclectic mix of styles? (we won't tell the record company execs :)
Elctrnic: No
Max Warner: From Femboheme: Question: Who writes the lyrics, who music? Is it a mix or is there a majority-one does more of one thing than the other?
Elctrnic: We both write the music and Bernard writes the Lyrics
Max Warner: From NewOrder3: Question: to Bernard: what do you think of the compilation: Tribute to Joy Division ? are you flattered ?
Elctrnic: I was touched by the gesture
Max Warner : From LLabo2909: Question: Johnny as usual you have great taste in music. is it true that you went guitar shopping with Noel from Oasis? the best band in the world!
Elctrnic: Yeah I did,but in future Noel can take his cheque book
Max Warner: From Lucozade: Question: heard you're both insatiable gossips. any new dish?
Elctrnic: O.K , Prince Charles is Ice T,s lover!, it's true!
Max Warner: From Bridge bo: Question: would you guys consider yourselves closer to christians or zen budhists??
Elctrnic: Were from The Church Of The "Not To Bothered"
Max Warner: We're running out of time... 2 more Questions.
Max Warner : From HammoFam: Question: How do you compare the bands of the 90's w/the bands of the 80's? Honestly, do you miss the 80's?
Elctrnic: We both really miss Flok Of Seagulls and Wang Chung! it's really sad
Max Warner: AND here's the last Question, from SJacobs62: Question: what is your favorite band?
Elctrnic: We dont really have one favourite band.Were going now,thanks to everybody whos supported us in the past and hopefully well be in touch one way or other soon. Take care
Elctrnic: from Johnny and Bernard
Max Warner: Bernard and Johnny, thanks for coming.
Elctrnic: Cheers!
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Sanditon Season 2: all the news & my thoughts
So, we're getting not one but two new seasons of Sanditon! After a year of tremendous effort on behalf of the Sanditon sisterhood who kept the fandom alive, we'll be looking at a new season. Although I think the biggest thank you probably goes out to Bridgerton, which showed that romance, regency, a diverse cast and butts are a perfect mix to lure audiences.
I want to take this moment to reflect on what I think we'll win, what we'll lose and what we can expect in the future.
1. No Sidlotte HEA
This is probably the most heartbreaking salty news we could get. But I know Theo James, he likes new projects. And after divergent's disaster, I can't blame the boy for not wanting to hang onto another franchise. As a fanfic writer, although mainly an Esther/Babington one, I broke my head for over a year on how to get Sidlotte together. I had to imagine the grandest schemes to get them together. Tom needed 10 000 pounds in less than a month. Even Babington was probably not worth that much. That's over 6 million in today's money if adjusted to inflation. Regency era's England's top 1-2% made that in a full a year, and most of that is probably in assets and investments. And they don't just get to keep that money, most used a good chunk of it to keep their estates running and to pay their staff. Anyone know someone who has a casual 6 million lying around?
There's only two realistic solutions: either have Eliza die: which would be cruel and take years (unless you kill her in childbirth 9 months in), or create a grand scheme that would take months and see Sidney, Crowe and Babington actively work hard on their 'business' while in the meantime Charlotte, Lady Denham and Lady Susan get everyone including the prince regent to come to Sanditon. I kind of accepted they would have a hard time getting out of that plot twist. It was likely that Sidlotte could not be endgame.
Personally, I never felt a strong connection to Sidlotte, and had hoped that Charlotte, like Jane Bennet, would go to London with Lady Susan to recover from her heartbreak, and I kind of hoped James Stringer would eventually go down there for his apprenticeship, where a sort of Captain Wentworth-like situation would come to exist where he is a young man trying to make something of himself. I know Charlotte didn't love him. But I also knew that Charlotte wanted adventure and perhaps needed to grow as a person. But in the new season she'll probably be a bit jaded, closed off, and depressed. And will probably need a softer more available man. Growing up goes with swinging to extremes. She was an open optimist at the beginning, and eventually turned to the opposite, not letting her emotions shine through and being very guarded (@miss-holly-goes-lightly did a wonderful post on this). Adulthood is finding a good balance again.
So while I am saddened, because this brings along a long set of questions like: "Does Sanditon still take place in Sanditon then?" "Where will Sidney live, will he then live in London with his wife?" "Why doesn't he come help his brother the next season or visit his family, as we know Tom will make a mess of things" The show will have to answer these questions in a believable manner.
2. No Beaufort twins
Mollie Holder said on her instagram that the Beauforts wouldn't be returning. This leads to quite a few questions like: where will Georgiana stay then? What will be happening to Mrs. Griffiths? Will Georgiana be her sole ward while the Beaufort's absence is explained as them having married or having become governesses?
3. Who remains aboard
Rose Williams is definitely on board. It's also pretty certain Tom will be there again. Lady Denham is also likely to return. The child actors and their parents were willing, but worried about their increasing age a few months back. Old Stringer said he'd have loved to be part of Sanditon again and to see it continue, but he's well... dead on the show so he won't return. So who will join Charlotte?
Leo Sutter might not return. He plays an important role in the next spin-off of vikings. Vikings has a new season each year. On top of that he's currently busy recording Gateway 6. We don't know how long that might take. And perhaps by the time filming ends he's required for the next season of the Walhalla series. Leo Sutter is a rising star, he might not even have the time to return. Especially for two seasons. At his age and point in his career, he needs to cement his name, or he'll remain b-list while he has a-list potential. So he might have to give up Sanditon for his career. It's sad, I'd love a Stringer/Charlotte future where they both grow to being suitable for each other while becoming people confident in their own abilities. But in the end, I would be alright with it, as Charlotte didn't express immediate interest in him. Writing him out would also be fairly easy, they could just write that despite thinking he had to stay home after his father's death, he went to London in the end under Charlotte's encouragement. Perhaps he could then come back for a guest appearance.
Crystal Clarke will reprise her role as Georgiana. Clarke has, since Sanditon, spoken out about the sometimes tone-deaf director and scriptwriters. She had to step in a few times to make sure Georgiana was done justice. She also said she hoped Georgiana, if the show was continued, would get the space to breathe and be independent, instead of playing a minor role as token black friend of Charlotte while under the control of Sidney. It will be complex to have her return without involving Sidney, as his character will have to be written out. I imagine this can be done with a timejump, but the timejump would have to be 4 years to make Georgiana 'of age' as she is 17 in the show. They'll probably place her under someone's care while saying Sidney is "still her guardian, but away". Georgiana is, in my opinion, an essential part of Sanditon. Bridgerton showed the world wanted to see diverse faces. Austen wrote a black character as a wealthy and desirable woman. They simply have to do more with her in the future. Clarke will reprise her role, this time with black writers to do justice to her character. I'm excited to see what will be done.
The actor who plays Arthur, Turlough Convery, is a good actor and mostly in period pieces. However he's never overly in demand, and usually stays with shows for multiple seasons. I think he's quite willing to come back and it means Georgiana would have a friend. I also hope they delve into his character, especially after his "I don't think i'll ever get married".
Matthew Needham and Mark Stanley, Crowe and Babington, are Sidney's best friends. It will be hard to have them come back without them explaining why Sidney is never with them. But I believe they would work well as a duo: the drunk and the one braincell are a fun dynamic. Both are not much in demand, despite that I quite like them as actors. So we might see them returning. Their return would also be vital for the return of a few other characters:
Their return would also be vital for the return of a few other characters:
Charlotte Spencer's Esther Denham is married to Babington. Without Babington returning, how can Esther? And vice versa. Their storyline was also the main romance for me and a big part of the last few episodes. They kinda need to return. Babington is also Sanditon's access point to high society. To cash in on Bridgerton's success they should search that royal connection. Babington is friends with the Prince Regent. On top of that he has the most money. If he hosts a party and Charlotte is invited, this is where they get those grand-bridgertonesque scenes.
Lily Sacofsky's Clara had a romantic subplot with Crowe. In their final unaired scene they went to London together. She could return. However, the chances are quite slim. Clara is in London, and Sanditon takes place in Sanditon. Unless Lady Susan takes Charlotte to London for a while and she meets Clara and Edward there, cooking up a plan to get back at Esther and Lady Denham.
4. Predictions
There's no words to describe the popularity of Bridgerton, so this WILL influence Sanditon. I predict: more sex, more scandal, and even more ahistorically modern ideas and characters, multiple female characters and multiple male characters that each get screentime and their separate storylines and developments like in bridgerton, instead of just Charlotte's pov we follow. Glamorous scenes. And more POC.
The season will start with a timejump in all likeliness (as it is easier so they don't have to focus too much on her grieving). Charlotte will catch us up with what has happened while perhaps narrating over some letters she's written to georgiana and lady susan. She'll return to Sanditon during a summer. Sanditon will have been partially rebuilt with Eliza's money, and many activities will be planned. Sanditon will be in some kind of trouble. Charlotte will still be a planner. Her being very actively involved in things and having a vision was one of the most alluring parts of her character. In the books there was a rival town Tom hated. That might be a bit tricky to adapt so they could introduce some local competition for attention around Sanditon. A local duke hosting parties could overshadow tom's events. Or the social season in London could lure everyone there instead of to Sanditon. Charlotte will try to help Tom with this while getting reacquainted with everyone still in Sanditon, and hearing about the reasons why Sidney/Esther/Stringer/The Beauforts (to be seen) aren't in the show anymore. She'll also rebuild her relationship with Georgiana.
Then one day for an event Charlotte will invite Lady Susan, who will invite her to the London season to get over her heartache à la Jane Bennet. Charlotte will join Lady Susan to lure a crowd to Sanditon. There, she'll be confronted with some of her demons of the past season. Perhaps a pregnant Eliza Campion makes an appearance to rub it in Charlotte's face. In Sense & Sensibility Margaret discovered Willoughby's relationship in a most shocking manner in an almost public setting. Sanditon likes to nod at all Austen books so this could be a nod at that book when Charlotte discovers unpleasant news in a public manner. Charlotte will congratulate her and wish them happiness, and afterwards either a girlpower moment could happen with Lady Susan or Georgiana supporting her, or a love moment. Mrs Campion has tried to talk Charlotte down in front of people in the past, if she did it again, a new love interest could step in at that time to compliment her and then take her off for a dance. That could be an emotional moment for her, as she realized her feelings for Sidney in London during a dance the last time around as well. And she could have her cinderella moment by excusing herself and running off after the dance, uncertain of her feelings. She'll have some grand balls, might be harrassed by a man and risk a scandal, or try and prevent Georgiana from ruin during a scandal.
At the last moment she'll succeed in her goal and lure a crowd to Sanditon's events that will put Sanditon on the map. Either the local competitive duke, or someone from London will be impressed with her, but she won't be ready to marry yet. I trust that by the end of the second season, she'll finally have a realisation that she's quite happy with how she's living her life and how good her work is, and that she has finally stopped feeling sad. So the second season will stop with her atop a cliff, letting go of the traumatic loss she suffered on that same cliff a season before. By the end of the season, one or two love interests will be set up for the last season.
So the nudity and big romance will have to come from elsewhere. Georgiana will get more agency and action in the next seasons. She could be trying to tempt Charlotte in joining her adventures as a single wealthy independent woman. She might even leave to find her place in the world via boat, returning to where she was last truly happy: Antigua. The second season could maybe end with Charlotte overlooking Georgiana's boat leaving from the previously mentioned clifftop. Another option is Georgiana falling in love with a local man and taken an interest in the town. Financially speaking, Georgiana could be the only one able to save Sanditon. But I don't think she owes the town anything. Another option is the writers focus on Georgiana navigating her relationship with Otis, who might be back home for a holiday after navy duty. We could also see some political debates à la Poldark S5 about freedom, servitude, independence and so on. The first plan for Georgiana doesn't even have to exclude the second, she could decide to sail away with Otis to find their place in the world. In any case: race shall not be brushed under the carpet and Georgiana will kick some shins on her way to her happy ending. In Jane Austen, we have rarely seen a woman who tried to elope, or escape her guardian, get a happy ending. Georgiana Darcy, Eliza Williams, Eliza's mother, ... they're all tragic tales of women falling for bad guys who try to steal their virtue or take their money. And in the end they always become dependent on men again. I hope in Sanditon Georgiana will learn and grow herself, instead of being coddled by men. A lot could be done.
Esther and Babington could be a very cool insert if the actors join. They can really connect the high society to Sanditon. They could host balls, invest in Sanditon or drive the London plot. But they can also be an emotional backbone to the show. Esther married Babington, but she wasn't in love yet. I'm not a fan of the edward/Esther angle. After all he did, I rather she hated him with burning passion and never spoke to him again. But he could try to blackmail her and ruin her reputation in London. Perhaps become some kind of Lord Whistledown. With Charlotte coming to Esther's aid. Esther's plotline could be about learning to trust people and open her heart again. Perhaps she could have a conflict with Babington about him wanting a family and she still being uneasy with marriage, let alone children. Maybe they could have a fight, with one of them going to London. In their separation they might realize they love each other. And then the other comes back home from London with Charlotte and they fix everything. Another route is them having a fight, Esther going to confront Edward or Clara about their blackmailing or maneouvring. Babington thinks it's because she doesn't love him, but actually it's because she loves Babington and wants to be rid of her past. But she gets into an accident and Babington only realizes the truth later on, leading to a happy ending.
Other things I'd love to see: Mary finally growing a backbone and telling Tom to either be open about his affairs and finances or be gone. Arthur and Diana growing a backbone and telling their brother he's a fuck up. Charlotte realizing Tom is stupid. Lady Denham appointing Charlotte or Arthur to head of Sanditon after showing their worth an entire season. Tom being repentant. Diana getting over her fears. Arthur getting a love interest. Crowe being in Sanditon, I just love him. Kisses. Healthy love interests that aren't broody and traumatized and in need of fixing by women. Jane Austen's men need to do their growing ON THEIR OWN. And then they earn their brides.
5. What we'll lose
- A Sidlotte ending: once the new season comes out, Sidlotte is no longer headcanon.
- A happy Esther/Babington ending: they married and looked happy, despite Esther's rushed turn around. If they're in the new season, their marriage won't be perfect. They'll have conflicts, just for plot. Whatever headcanons we had for them will probably be falsified. We might come to dislike them or their relationship. I've seen almost all my ships crumble to dust on the rocks of multiple seasons dragging out relationships and piling on conflict just to keep it interesting.
- A part of what made Sanditon Sanditon: we'll lose many faces we've come to love. And the dynamics and relationships will therefore change a lot.
- Fanfics become dated: I know it is the problem of every fandom, but it's one I regret all the same. Part of why I love Austen fandoms is the fact that the books are written. The characters and relationships won't change. With 2 new seasons coming, all fanfics out there will become dated. The millions of hours authors put into Sidlotte fics will perhaps become barely read when Charlotte gets new love interests. All the headcanons I and many others wrote down for Sidlotte, Esther/Babington, Charlotte/Stringer, will officially become silly fantheories. I've been there a couple of times before that shows changed the entire course and personality of certain characters and then you can't help but feel exhausted and sometimes annoyed because these are your babies and you had dreams for them, and the writers took them in directions that sometimes don't do them justice. But it's canon so you gotta accept it. Sometimes fantasy is nicer than a writer toying around with storylines and characters just to create drama. And I'll have to write my characters in a new way that fits the characters based on the info from the new seasons. I might fall out of love with them. Ah, the burden of being a shipper weighs heavy.
- Perhaps we still lose a HEA: Season one ended with a happy babington/Esther and an unhappy Charlotte who learned a lot, and a Sanditon that was saved. Although Sanditon has been extended for two seasons it's possible that if the ratings for S2 aren't good they may still cancel the third season. If they don't learn from their mistakes and end season 2 on another cliffhanger even Esther's relationship and sanditon may be at stake. If they're getting 2 seasons they will also not marry or engage charlotte in the second, meaning Charlotte will still be single by the end of the series if they cancel season 3. The whole reason we wanted more seasons was for charlotte to have a HEA. So I'm really fearful that she'll be put in another hard spot. They at least need to get her happy by the end of S2.
6. What we'll gain
- More sanditon content
- More regency era content and images and music which is always lovely
- Seeing our favourites again
- Hopefully we get to see new challenges and romance and humor and tense moments and scandal and drama that will be fun to watch
- A Georgiana story arc: a black woman in a realistic historical setting living her life, being wealthy, and England just having to Deal With It. And as cherry on top she'll be written by black writers.
- Happy endings (hopefully)
- New hot men! This is a guarantee
- Perhaps LGBTQ+ representation with Arthur
- Frustration at Tom's antics (guaranteed)
- Maybe some interactions with Charlotte's siblings
- Esther Babington content
- New material to write fanfics and metas about
- Over 8 hours of viewing pleasure
#sanditon#sanditon season 2#sanditon season 3#sceptical fanalyses#sanditon predictions#charlotte heywood#esther denham
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