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msclaritea · 12 days

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Takeaways From CinemaCon 2024: Not Enough Movies, Too Much Testosterone

Story by Sharon Waxman

• 1d • 5 min read

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 11: Dwayne Johnson speaks onstage at the Walt Disney Studios Presentation during CinemaCon 2024 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.© TheWrap

There's some good work coming up: Universal's "Wicked" at Christmas will be incredible. Disney's "Kingdom of Planet of the Apes," coming next month, looks otherworldly. Bong Joon-ho's "Mickey 17," in which Robert Pattinson keeps dying and getting cloned, from Warners, looks insane in the best possible way.

But the strike took its toll. The studios don't have the full complement of movies and there's no way around it: 2024 is going to be painful at the box office. The hope in the room (and there was some) is really about 2025 and 2026.

A week in Las Vegas at the annual CinemaCon gathering of movie exhibitors with midday cocktail parties at Nobu (thanks Lionsgate) didn't mask the fact that the coming eight months of movies will be scraped together after a brutal year.

"It will be painful for moviegoers who want something other than angry shoot-em-ups, ear-shattering sound tracks and constant horror. The slates of Warner Bros., Paramount and Lionsgate particularly screamed of unrelenting testosterone and a stream of fear, anger and retribution."

Chris Aronson, Paramount Domestic Distribution chief, at CinemaCon (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon)© Provided by TheWrap

"I've said it before: Is there no joy, no tenderness, no intimacy permitted as part of the moviegoing experience? Do we audiences ever get to dream? To feel awe and empathy in between the white-knuckle moments? Are Hollywood executives who greenlight the movies unfamiliar with ... y'know, kindness? Think about it please."

(Me: YES!)

Here are my CinemaCon takeaways.

1. Disney might have had the fewest movies, but it has the biggest winners, and had the best presentation. Several years ago, Disney -- at the top of its game and in the height of arrogance -- showed up to CinemaCon and presented a giant screen with a calendar of its upcoming releases. And that was it. This year, the studio tried a lot harder, presenting delightful chunks of footage from their slate -- including a stunning glimpse of "Apes" -- and onstage patter, with everyone from Marvel's Kevin Feige to the dapper distribution chief Tony Chambers dropping the F-bomb. It was liberating, honestly. Disney's strength lies in its array of brands that cater to audiences and taste across the board, and in a year like this one it showed: movies for kids with "Inside Out 2" and "Moana 2," the latter of which was presented by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson; a sensory, four-quadrant experience like "Apes"; and a fully hilarious foray into R-rated superhero fare with "Deadpool & Wolverine." Actually, it was refreshing to not be bombarded with classic Marvel superhero fare. The studio was smart to let the movies do the talking, and the exhibitors responded with cheers of appreciation.

2. New Line lives? The Warner Bros. slate presented by Mike DeLuca and Pam Abdy (maybe not professional moderators, but at least real humans) felt like nothing so much as New Line Cinema circa the 1990s, where DeLuca spent a decade of his career. The movies were heavy on genre -- violent action, horror and crime. So sure, "Furiosa" by George Miller with Anya Taylor-Joy, is a feast for all the senses. But by the time you got through "The Watchers" (horror), "Traps" (thriller), "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" (fantasy-horror) and Todd Phillips' follow-up to "Joker" -- "Folie a Deux" (I don't know what to call this thing, but it's mad creepy) -- the audience was begging for a reason to laugh or cry — anything but cower in fear. The movie on the Warner slate that got the strongest response from the CinemaCon audience was not made by Warner. It was the Sundance documentary "Super/Man," acquired by the studio. The trailer they showed about the courage of Christopher Reeve, the love of his wife and his devotion to his children, made everybody cry. Yeah, Hollywood, that's a thing.

3. "Where are the women?" That's what I scrawled in my notebook after the third consecutive studio presentation and the umpteenth cast with a half-dozen men and one single woman. (Actually, it was after Paramount's animated "Transformers One" and the studio's decades-later sequel of "Gladiator 2.") Not only weren't there movies to appeal specifically to a female audience, even the so-called "broad" appeal movies have overwhelmingly male casts and a token woman. "Gladiator II" has Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington ... and Connie Nielsen. "Transformers One" has Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry and a bunch more guys ... and Scarlett Johansson🙄. This absurd imbalance was supposed to have been addressed after the awakening of #MeToo, no? Women are half the population, and we like movies, too. But you'd never know it from these slates. Lionsgate was especially egregious in trotting out a full slate of movies that were a litany of violent combat, breaking bones, machetes and knives. Guy Ritchie and Eli Roth were in the mix, of course. Keanu Reaves was in four of the movies. One guy got stabbed in the eye. "Ballerina" stars a woman (Ana de Armas) but it's no less violent for that. I don't know what they're eating over there, but it feels like a diet of nails and rawhide.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the stars of "Wicked," at CinemaCon in Las Vegas (Credit: David Becker/WireImage)© Provided by TheWrap

4. Universal is riding high after its Best Picture win with "Oppenheimer" and a box office performance that defied expectations in 2023.

(Oppenheimer, THE FLOP, had to stay in theaters for FIVE MONTHS, to make its bank back! Dear God!)

And while the studio, blessedly, had a variety of films on its slate that suggested something other than just horror and violence (although they're going hard on the Blumhouse canon with sequels to "Five Nights at Freddy's" and "M3ghan"), that slate is undeniably thin. It's going to be a long wait until December, when the studio can unveil what appears to be a spectacular experience in "Wicked," starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the first of two films. Director Jon M. Chu said the production planted 8 million tulip bulbs to create the practical effect of fields of blooms in the movie. Universal cleverly gave every attendee at their presentation a tulip that lit up in the dark and created a magical, glowing effect in the auditorium.

5. Nepo-baby alert. I would have thought that Warner Bros. would be embarrassed to bring not one but TWO M. Night Shyamalan progeny out on stage to tease their new movies. There was 22-year-old Ishana with a twist on her dad's horror in the woods genre; and 27-year-old Saleka who sang live, which was probably not a great decision for "Trap," written and directed by M. Night. But then again, the studio is merely being paid a distribution fee for movies Shyamalan has financed himself.

Good luck to the box office, and see you next year, CinemaCon!

#CinemaCon 2024 #Disney Wins Out For Most Relatable Slate As rightwing Youtubers Scramble To Cover The Fuckups Of The Other Studios #I Will Not Be Spending Money On Lionsgate Paramount or Warner bros #No Thank You To The Scientology Backed Gay Gladiator II #Robert Pattinson Returns From Three Year Vacation For A SciFi #Where Are The Women?#Hollywood Is A Male Brothel #AMC Theaters #Women #Half The Population #Used As Mere Tokens In Film #Scarlett Johansson Doesn't Mind #She needs the work #Sorry Disney #No Forgiveness For The Rock After DELIBERATELY Fucking Up Black Adam Just To Help Warner Bros Kill The Superhero Genre #Why Are All Black British Actresses BALD?#Theory 1 The British Film Industry Is So Racist It's Easier To Cut Off Your Hair Then Deal With Indignities #Theory 2 The Asshole Queens Running The British Lavender Mafia Demand That Female Actresses Look Like Men

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natesmithcomedy · 1 year

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Huge country slate floor and black floor foyer photo with white walls

#Stunning country foyer image with a black floor and slate flooring. industrial #beach home #mid century modern sofa #modern farmhouse #family-friendly #scandinavia tan textured

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fakeyellow · 11 months

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✧ STORY

When you reunite with a costar in a drama you once filmed together as children, sparks are bound to fly.

15 years ago, you and Lee Seol were cast as the childhood versions of the lead characters of “The Red Sleeve.” The historical drama reached record-breaking ratings and launched the two of you to stardom, albeit on very different paths.

When a new director decides to remake the drama in an attempt to surpass the original, they request both you and Lee Seol to join the cast. With the both of you returning to your roots, expectations are high. There’s no way you can fail… right?

✧ MC

At the age of 25, you’ve already had a stunning career. Starting from your roles in historical dramas as a child to now starring in romantic comedies, you have become a household name, fondly known as the "Nation’s First Love." Your only quirk? The rumour that you’ve dated most of your previous co-stars.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Choose from three personas/personalities to start with (although this will not limit your choices in the story)

The Loveable Sweetheart (bubbly, charming)

The (pretend) Loveable Sweetheart (sarcastic, mischievous)

The Demure Actress (reserved, elegant)

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Note: The MC is not a blank slate and is gender-locked female. Given the setting of this story, the MC will need to have at least some Korean heritage.

✧ LOVE INTEREST

Lee Seol (gender selectable, f/m)

Lee is their last name and pronounced like the letter E.

At the age of 27, Lee Seol has built a name for themselves in the world of action and noir. They are the quintessential actor, renowned for their dedication to their craft, including performing their own stunts and often nailing scenes in just one take. With a flawless reputation to boot, it’s no wonder they’re one of the nation’s biggest stars.

You were once close with Lee Seol but the years have drifted you two apart. Will you be able to grow close enough to once again see what’s under that perfect facade?

Note: There will be significantly different plot lines for each gender, reflecting the different lenses women are viewed with and the conservative nature of the entertainment industry.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Appearance: 6'2" (m) or 5'11” (f). Lean, athletic build with piercing black eyes and a prominent jawline. Silky black hair that falls just over their face (m) or just below their shoulders (f)

✧ FEATURES

Star in a historical Korean drama based on “The Red Sleeve"

Choose how you want to be portrayed to the public and track your reputation via news articles and netizen comments

Get involved in Dispatch dating reports, interviews, the filming of behind-the-scenes footage, and more~

🫰🫰🫰🫰🫰

✧ LINKS

Demo (Chapter 1 Part 1 added 8/1/23)

#interactive fiction #interactive novel #interactive story #choice game #twine game #promo post #interact-if #interactive game #interactive fiction wip #dating sim

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hometoursandotherstuff · 4 months

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Very different church conversion was done on this 1876 church in Ulster Park, New York. 4bds, 4ba, $2M.

As soon as you enter, you can tell that it will be different. I've never seen a church decorated in navy and black with antique farm implements.

Stairs lead up to a blue foyer with a terrazzo floor and a fancy carved door molding.

The foyer leads into a combination living room/kitchen. The living room has a new fireplace and it's a small cozy area.

There's a kitchen island and the modern kitchen itself extends farther back.

There's also a side entrance into the kitchen via a small stoop.

From this level is are ladder/stairs made from 2 old beams. The railing is a simple rope.

This leads up to a large open area with such dark walls that I thought they were charred, but it's just dark.

The stone walls are the same that we saw on the exterior. There's a dining area with an elaborate chandelier.

There is also a sitting area, a chopping block and a large round indoor firepit with an exhaust hood.

Looking down on the area, you can see sliding doors to a deck.

The deck is a large size and has 2 storage areas for logs that are used for the firepit.

Back indoors, stairs go up to a lofted bedroom.

This is the only bedroom that is open.

Bathroom #1 is small and done in classic white subway tiles.

The 2nd bedroom is larger and is the primary.

This bath has stone walls and a cool slanted slate sink.

The smallest bedroom works well as a child's room or guest space.

The largest bath has a stone sink, modern toilet & bidet, plus a shower and a vintage claw foot tub.

The 4th bedroom is a nice size.

Here, they built a platform that is used as a home office, and above is a loft stacked with lots of wood for the firepit.

There's another level that looks like a flex-space and it also has an industrial sink.

Two steps up is another area. I really don't know what you'd do with all these various areas.

This is the tower that is in front of the building and there's more firewood stored up here.

Spiral stairs go up the the uppermost part of the tower.

And, this is the view.

There's a .50 acre of property.

#church conversion #converted church #old house dreams #houses #house tours #home tour

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odinsblog · 9 months

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I was stunned to find the number of people in the tech industry who are all-in on the theory of scientific racism and eugenics. They've been out about that for years, though.

There's a sort of complex where this was the birth of, whether you want to call it the intellectual dark web, I think that was the moment there. They've sort of been radicalized gradually, as happens with these things, where they started with, like, Slate Star Codex was a really big key central point for them to gather and sort of say, well, we have to interrogate and question a lot of these (egalitarian) assumptions. They were very actively courted by the neo-reactionary movement.

So you have things like Peter Teal holding dinner parties with the founders of the movement, and sort of people who have explicitly endorsed slavery, explicitly endorsed disenfranchising women, and people of any non-male gender from being able to vote.

And I always resent it because I sound like a crazy person by just merely accurately describing what they have publicly said. I sound like a conspiracy theorist who's pinning up red strings on a cork board by literally being like, “This is a thing they said out loud, in public, multiple times.” And people are like, “There's no way.” And I'm like, I don't know what to tell you, but it's all out there. We have receipts for ten years.

They are way out there, and they have an explicit agenda of normalizing, really radical, really hateful agendas.

And for me, it's like, it's just a very simple thing.

It's like I have to care about my kid’s safety. I have to care about my friend's safety, I have to care about, you know, basic moral values that we used to agree on.

And that's the other thing too, is because I knew these people 10 and 20 years ago. Like the first blog that Marc Andreessen ever had, I set up. It was on a platform I helped build. So I know that there was a point in which, at least from the public visible face, this was once a reasonable person. And for them to embrace the sheer intellectual dishonesty, along with the hatred… the fact that they're just like, they don't care that they're lying because it's an effective tool to get what they want.

That stuff is… I don't know.

It really soured me on the traditional tech industry.

This is what their tech is for. The things they fund are meant to carry out their agenda.

Let me give you a clear example: To the people who believe in this extremist racist ideology, Elon Musk being willing to lose tens of billions of dollars in value of his own money, presumably, in Twitter, turning into “X,” is a principled person who puts his values ahead of the dollar. He is so committed to advancing this reactionary movement that he's willing to forego tens of billions of dollars of personal wealth in order to advance it.

And what rational people see as the destruction of Twitter is rather, the destruction of the ability for anybody to ever again make a Black Lives Matter hashtag, or to make a Me Too hashtag. And that is because he's not a dumb person. Like the thing that a lot of progressives and reasonable people want to just say, well, he's racist and evil, so he must be dumb.

He's not a dumb person.

Peter Thiel's not a dumb person.

So if we assume they're smart people who understand how systems work and have virtually unlimited resources, then why would they choose to do this?

Well, there must be a reason.

And there is a reason.

It's just one we don't like to confront.

Even more insidious is the fact that these tech moguls own huge companies with enormous influence, and wielding that kind of power over their employees creates a herd mentality within their workforces.

So if, for example, Facebook's board includes both Peter Thiel and Mark Andreessen. They don't have to give somebody an order to say what kind of content they want to promote on the newsfeed, on Facebook.

Everybody who works there knows this is who our bosses are. This is what we got to do, because they're smart. Everybody's smart, everybody's very reasonable.

And so you don't have to imagine, like I said, I don't have to be a conspiracy theorist that's putting up some red strings on a cork board to connect the dots and whatever. You're like, “Oh, I'm a midlevel product manager at a company. I'd like to make a name for myself and make the share price go up. And I know the boss's boss has been on every podcast in the world saying we need to promote more voices that are calling for ethnic cleansing,” okay?

Message received.

That's what a person who has no moral context would do. And there are a cohort of people in the technology industry that have come up entirely consuming media owned and created by these people, because they know the programming site Hacker News, which is owned by a venture capital firm and run by Paul Graham, is one of these guys.

They read blogs written explicitly by these guys. They consume it. They were on clubhouse. They're in a Discord chat with others that are sort of buying the stuff. They have a full wraparound media bubble. If they just read substacks and listen to the blog posts or read the blog posts from these folks, you can have what feels like an entire media diet shaped solely by this dialogue.

And this is why they're trying to own the media outlets and the distribution, like Twitter, alongside owning the platforms. And the fact that they can control more parts of society, right? The leverage of owning the distribution networks, the leverage of owning media outlets, the leverage of owning the platforms is very, very different, because we do have a lot of historical precedent.

If we go back 100 years ago and we say you're reeling from coming out of a pandemic, you are reeling from economic precarity and inequality at unprecedented levels, and you see the rise of, again, a direct parallel, virulent antisemitism. And you have things like the oil barons giving way to the Henry Fords of the world, the labor crackdown of the Pinkertons, Ford's embrace of, you know, to the point where he's pen pals with Hitler, and IBM building the technology.

The first person that ever asked me to do technology work for him was a neighbor of ours, and he had a tattoo on his wrist. And I was a little kid and didn't know what it meant. And I asked him what it was. It was his concentration camp tatoo. And what people don't realize is those are database entries in an IBM database.

And IBM's stance at the time was that they were neutral.

This is what technology does to enable the rise of fascism and victimization around the world. And we have a direct precedent less than 100 years ago, of how these technologies are used.

And I don't say that lightly.

I'm not saying we're there yet, but that is how you get there. And I would be surprised if the pattern doesn't play out in some ways, in terms of if you have tycoons of industry at a moment when the world is reckoning with massive social change, cultural change, along with recovering from things like economic destruction, inequality and pandemics… And you have rising military threats around the world.

That is exactly where we were a century ago.

—ANIL DASH shares his thoughts and experiences on Richard Hanania and rampant neo-fascism in Silicon Valley

#anil dash #richard hanania #peter thiel #elon musk #silicon valley #eugenics #fascism #twitter #white supremacy #antisemitism #racism #anti blackness #misogyny #transphobia #homophobia #conservatism #libertarianism #libertarians

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mixtape-racha · 8 months

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never be | bang chan

☆ part 1/8 of the 5 seconds of stray kids series ☆

words: 1.31k // warnings: slightly suggestive

“we should run away. start a new life away from this black-and-white town.”

the first time chan had suggested such a thing, you were curled up together in his bed, soft music playing in the background - but you never would've thought he was serious.

packing up the last box of belongings, you got a bit emotional looking at the blank slate that once was your childhood bedroom. it was crazy to think that in a few hours, you’d be on your way to your new home in a whole new city, hand-in-hand with your boyfriend. leaving the home you’d been in for the past 24 years was scary, but you genuinely couldn’t fathom anything better than being in your forever home with the love of your life.

you’d purposely arranged for chan, with the movers and moving van in tow, to come and collect your stuff while your parents were at work - you couldn’t bear to see them cry over it, and they definitely would; watching your only child leave home would do that to anyone. honestly, for a while your dad tried to talk you out of leaving. while he truly adored and approved of chan, he was so fiercely protective of you that you weren’t sure if he’d ever been fully comfortable with your moving out.

but regardless, you’d both saved and you’d worked multiple jobs all while going through college to get yourself to this point. you and chan had found the perfect two-bedroom apartment in daejeon and snatched it up the second you could. rent wasn’t going to be the cheapest you could’ve found, but you had both secured full-time jobs in the city, and now you both had degrees moving up in the industries of your careers would be easier. the apartment was gorgeous, and having a guest bedroom was perfect - you could have friends stay over, and maybe eventually it could be turned into a nursery for your future children (though that wasn’t in your immediate plans).

from the second a red-faced chan had asked you to be his girlfriend in the cafeteria in ninth grade, you knew you had bagged a keeper. he had always been so sweet and attentive to you, and you were thrilled to share so many firsts with him. first boyfriend, first date, first kiss, first time. now your first home could be added to the list. he truly was perfect in every sense of the word. you both went to a local college after high-school, so you didn’t have to travel and commit to long-distance which, in all honesty, you were thankful for. you loved chan, but long-distance may have been too hard for you to cope, after having him by your side for so many years.

while leaving your childhood city would be strange, you both knew it was time. it held so much comfort, and so many wonderful memories for you both, and would always be special to you. but, on the other hand, you knew that if you didn’t leave now, you would be stuck there forever. you adored your little black and white town, but venturing to the big city seemed only natural for the pair of you.

you indulged yourself a little longer, sat on your bedroom floor and reminiscing on everything you had experience in your childhood home. from the day you were born it had been your home, and although you would always be welcome by your parents to use it as a guest room when you visited, you couldn’t help the melancholy feeling in your bones.

before long, you heard a beep outside before a ding on your phone, quickly checking it to see that chan had arrived. smiling widely, you stood up, not even noticing you had been crying until you caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. you quickly wiped your eyes before rushing down the stairs and flinging the front door open, to be greeted with your love. chan was stood with a massive grin on his face, almost giddy from the excitement of moving in with you.

“hi, baby.” he breathed, pulling you in for a tight hug. “you ready to get this show on the road?”

“so ready, my love. forever and ever with you.” you grinned, linking your pinky with his own.

it was something that happened once, chan making you swear to look after him forever and ever with a pinkie promise after he came down really sick with the freshers’ flu a few weeks into your freshman year of college. from then, it just kind of became your thing. linked pinkies at any opportunity. ‘forever and ever’ being practically interchangeable with ‘i love you’. having a little quirk or tradition to call your own was nice, but then again, when it came to chan you were pretty biased.

you were both luckily able to stay out of the way while the movers filled the truck with your belongings, along with chan’s which were already there. you had found a relatively cheap couch and bed frame along with a mattress on a selling site, which had already been moved to the apartment the day before to save space in the moving truck. you had opted to keep your key to your parents’ house (with their permission) in the event of you coming to visit them, so once the truck was packed, you grabbed your handbag and locked the door to your childhood home, a wave of both relief and sorrow washing over you before you hopped into chan’s car to begin the journey to your forever.

the drive was nice - the roads were relatively clear and quiet, yours and chan’s playlist blaring from his car speakers as you watched the streets of your childhood town pass you by. chan was quite quiet during the drive too, you noticed half way through the journey - but he quickly assured you he was okay, just embracing the idea of starting adult life with you in your own home. you grasped onto his hand over the center console, having him close giving your body a shock to rid itself of the anxiety, instead filling you with an anxious adrenaline and excitement.

the next few hours flew by in a flash - the apartment having boxes scattered everywhere and tear-filled phone calls to your parents and all your friends. you both had a week before you started your jobs, purely so you could unpack and settle into your home, so you allowed yourselves to have a night to relax. chan ordered in takeaway, talking to the restaurant on the phone as you loaded up a movie on your laptop, not yet having sorted your tv and only just managing to get the wifi working.

you were surprised with how fast the food was delivered, barely halfway into the first movie of the night when a knock on the door rung out through the apartment. cha, of course, had refused to let you get up from your blanket cocoon on the couch, jogging over to the door with a smile and returning with his arms full of warm and delicious food for you to indulge in during the night. you couldn’t help but smile as you watched him dart around, digging through a box for cutlery. he just looked so perfect - grey sweatpants, and a tank top adorning his figure, his hair all ruffled up from your previous makeout session on the couch (he insisted that you had to ‘christen’ the couch on your first night in the apartment). he truly was a beautiful sight, and if this wasn’t what heaven looked like then you didn’t want to end up there.

the pair of you shared many giggles as you ate your food, various movies playing simply as background noise, reveling in the fact that you’d done it. you’d made it. you were in your forever home, with your forever love, starting your happily ever after. it was overwhelming, and exciting, and beautiful, and you weren’t sure anything could get better in that moment.

after all, you’d never be as young as you are now.

taglist: join taglist here @pretty-racha @chubbyanarkiss @taeriffic @mits-vi @chanssmiles @5kayzee @queen-klarissa @torixx80 @fawnpeaks @bangtanmix73 @savluvsmingi @boi-bi-ahaha @skz-streamer @hyunjiins @backintomykpopphaseagain @demetrisscarf

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darkficsyouneveraskedfor · 7 months

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Snake Eyes 5

Warnings: noncon, coercion, manipulation. Proceed with caution.

Note: thanks all for reading and I hope you’re excited for this one. All feedback is more than welcome and loved and appreciated. Reblogs are most helpful.

Part of The Club AU

The service industry is less than formal. There’s not much red tape in the hiring process and less administrative restraints. So, after a short video interview with Sif, you accept a job for the weekend. It’s not entirely your choice of venue, a yacht, but the pay even before gratuity is enough to convince you.

More peculiar about the job is that it’s not a single night. You’re slated to work through the weekend at breakfast, lunch and dinner. It beats handing out shots to tipsy coeds; these wealthy investors will have deeper pockets.

So much for being destitute all at the whim of that snake. It’s the nature of the business. Gigs don’t last long and when they do, you’re miserable. If it was up to you, you’d be working at one of the upscale cocktail bars in the downtown core but they rarely open up applications.

You pack a bag and take your time getting ready. There’s a dress code of course. All black, no pants. You know these sorts of events. They only hire women and their purpose is more than serving, they have to be nice to look at. Well, you can doll yourself up.

You put on a sleek halter blouses with a leather skirt. You’ll sweat your ass off but it’s what you got. You have just enough outfits to last you through two days. Oh, and some anti-nausea meds to counteract the sea sickness.

The job will reimburse you for the cost of the uber. You don’t think you’ve ever been to the dock. You weren’t a part of the college crowd with their party boats and aren’t generally a fan of being on the water. You tip the driver on your phone as you get out and look around.

There are two other girls in black hovering around. You approach them, assuming they're in the same boat as you. The pun barely worth thinking.

“Hey, um, are you meeting Sif?” You ask.

“You must be the new girl,” they look at you with their drawn on brows, “Tara,” the tall redhead introduces herself.

“Zadie,” the shorter woman with the spiral curls flicks her lashes derisively.

You offer your name in return, sensing their coolness. They’ve worked together a while, that means you’re the rookie, you have to prove yourself. That isn’t difficult, you have faith in your own skills.

“You’re pretty,” Tara preens, “love the gloss.”

“Thanks,” you accept the compliment.

“I could never pull that shade off,” she continues, “very harsh.”

You nod and force a smile. You’re sure that is only the beginning of your act. You shoulder your bag and turn on your heel listlessly. You’re not here to make friends.

“Girls,” Sif’s heels draw your attention as they click across the dock, “thank you for waiting. The captain was a bit late with his safety review. Ugh, so we have to hurry with set up. The investors will be arriving shortly. Can’t have you standing out here like a bunch of stray cats.”

“What happened to Katie?” Zadie asks as she steps forward first.

“She’s at her sister’s wedding,” Sif returns smoothly, “don’t worry, she’s vetted and very capable,” the dark haired woman gives you an appraising look, “you might learn a few things, Zee.”

Zadie rolls her eyes and Tara grins over her shoulder, trying to hide her amusement. You shrug and follow them towards the boarding ramp. Right, just don’t think about the water.

🍸

The boat is a flurry. After you are shown your cramped cabin, leaving your bag on the bed, you are taken to the gala deck. There, you are acquainted with the bar and set to your prep. The familiarity of the work welcomes you in and your nerves calm even as the subtle swell of the water rocks the ship.

As you work in tandem with the other girls, the lights adjust and music begins to waft around the space. You look out at the tables, set and ready for diners. It seems a rather overdone event. You’re not sure if you had yacht money, you would waste it on these pompous displays. Maybe that’s why you don’t have any money.

The first investors begin to trickle in. You hear Sif’s voice rise above the building din as she beckons them in and shows them their seats. Some sort of auction for charity. Funny, how these things are always fundraisers…

As the crowd burgeons in, the first patrons of the night come by the bar. Tara elbows past you to take the lead. You let her. You know her type. They approach the job like a competition. No use playing that game.

“Miss, a drink,” you hear from your left. You turn to greet the man, his silty tone only registering once you face him. Loki smirks as he drapes his arm over the trim, “I believe you know my preference.”

You withhold a scowl. You don’t know how to respond. You can’t scream at him so you turn and begin to put together a dry martini. You feel him watching you. Of course, he’s one of them.

“Mr. Laufeyson,” Zadie comes up behind you, “nice to see you.”

“You too,” he says silkily.

“Hon, why don’t you let me take over for Mr. Laufeyson?” She offers as she touches your arm.

“She’s got it,” he shoos her with his fingers.

You present him the tall glass and meet his eye. He watches you with that imperious gloating grin. He reaches for it, sliding it closer with two fingers around the stem.

“Now I should be suitably bolstered to face my guests,” he declares. You squint at him, his guests? “Darling, should you require anything, you know you only need ask. I do take pride in accommodating my staff well.”

You blink, lips sealed and tight. His eyes rove up and down as he lifts his martini, “cheers.” He takes a sip and winks, before spinning on his heel and strutting off. You should’ve known it was all too easy.

#loki #dark loki #dark!loki #loki x reader #drabble #au #the club #series #snake eyes #avengers #mcu #marvel #thor

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popatochisssp · 7 months

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GAH!!! I’ve had this question on my mind for so long, but do the boys have any particular tastes when it comes to interior design? Minimal, eclectic, etc… whatever boys you want to choose! Thank you!!!

This was interesting, I had to go on a bit of adventure through interior décor styles because I’m not too familiar with all the terms, but I definitely had fun~

Forgive any misuse of interior design words below, I am not an expert! XD

(Featuring many images stolen from Google)

Sans (Undertale): Sort of a revival post-modernist, not quite as loud as the original post-modern look in terms of colors, but still a mix-and-match of shapes and materials, spacious areas, not afraid of décor or accenting a space with unique pieces that don’t perfectly coordinate with the others. Comfort and space over rigid adherence to an aesthetic.

Papyrus (Undertale): Memphis style designs really capture his imagination, lots of shapes and bold, bright colors, circles and checkerboards and zig-zags. It’s fun, he likes fun things! Abstractly-shaped furniture and weird objets d’art—could use some more stuff with cool flame-patterns, or maybe some spikes here and there, but he can experiment to get the right balance in there!

Sky (Underswap Sans): Into modern styles, mostly, he does like the minimalist look but absolutely goes in for strategic splashes of color to brighten things up. Sleek shapes and clean lines are great, but absolutely must be offset by some rich lively colors for an open, welcome feel, can’t let it feel too sterile.

Paps (Underswap Papyrus): Favors sort of a regence look, tends toward curving lines and intricate elegance in the little details. Chair arms that swirl, fleurs in the carving of a cabinet, decorative patterns and motifs to tie everything together as a cohesive whole. He finds the charming elegance comfortable and easy to settle into.

Jasper (Underfell Sans): Definitely more of an artisan/arts and crafts style kind of guy, cares less about the Look of things than he does the craftsmanship of it—he wants things to be well-made and able to stand up to consistent use, so most of what he favors are sturdy pieces and designs without ostentation or elaborate details. It may not be the prettiest, but it is homey and comfortable and ready to be actually lived in.

Pyre (Underfell Papyrus): Empire style, he is all about the ostentation and elaborate details, silk and velvet, ebony and gold, it has to be bold and artful and dramatic (just like he is). If something’s a little too plain and simple, he’ll pass on it or find a way to dress it up prettier.

Mal (Swapfell Sans): Contemporary design is more his thing, sleek lines and sharp angles, with a strong aesthetic preference for more industrial materials (glass, metal, marble, etc). Tends to avoid most color, sticking with black and white, and just a few decorative objects here and there to draw the eye. He likes the clean look over a more comfortable, lived-in one.

Rus (Swapfell Papyrus): Big fan of art nouveau, swirling lines and curving forms. Stained glass lamps, art, and windows are big hit with him, as well as wrought iron railings or table frames and the like. He likes colors and things that feel like they flow, mostly, and any intricate detail-work that catches the eye.

Slate (Horrortale Sans): Cottage style is more his speed, a little rustic and a lot cozy, with a special emphasis on plush furniture. He’s all about the comfort and the homey feel, nothing pristine that an accident or a bit of wear-and-tear will ruin quickly.

Papy (Horrortale Papyrus): More of an English country sort of guy, big on patterns and florals, but also into a bit of delicacy and charm—some more ornate accent chairs here, decorative curtains there, unique antiques and plants everywhere. Definitely cozy and comfortable but done in a very thoughtful and deliberate way.

Ash (Undergloom Sans): Clutterbitch—wait no, I mean maximalist. He likes having a lot of stuff and putting it on display, and bright colors (especially turquoise!) make him happy to look at, so he’s drawn to that kind of thing when customizing a space. Lots of knickknacks and prints related to his hobbies, maybe a novelty end table or two, shaped like a record or a cloud or something. A bit chaotic but he probably knows where everything in it is, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Yrus (Undergloom Papyrus): He goes for a bit of a modern farmhouse look, soft neutrals with warmer rustic touches. Likely to spruce it up a little further with some bright yellows and greens, but mostly in the accents—flowers, artwork, et cetera. Also likely to decorate with lots of candles and mason jars and anything he comes back with from the home goods store, because he is very passionate about the home goods store.

Brick (Horrorfell Sans): Tends toward Tuscan style, warm tones, wood and tile and wrought iron, sturdy and well-crafted furniture. Not opposed to some intricate designs here and there, but not that intricate, just enough to look a little nice. Maybe a bit nicer than the absolute basics, but he’s not trying to impress anybody, he just wants cozy and comfortable, and maybe he’s earned the right to a tiny bit of fance here and there, y’know?

King (Horrorfell Papyrus): Something of a traditionalist, with a strong appreciation for clean, elegant, and cohesive styles. The classics never go out of fashion—dark wood, damask patterns, ornate detailing, maybe some fine red drapery and a chandelier or two, but nothing too ostentatious. Less is more, but no need to go full minimalist to show your class, after all.

Merc (Horrorswap Sans): Definitely about the shabby chic, clean and simplistic styles but with a touch of wear or softness to keep it inviting. Not a sterile space that can’t be lived in, but still a bit neat and thoughtfully arranged!

Ell (Horrorswap Papyrus): More a fan of the urban look, exposed brick and beams but some softening elements incorporated too, like abstractly shaped furniture and décor, and lots of lighting. More minimalist than cluttered and probably not a huge fan of rugs, but he definitely wants a good balance between hard and rough, and soft and wavy aesthetics.

Pitch (Horrorswapfell Sans): He can’t actually see it, but tends to favor Mediterranean styles. He likes a lot of sunlight, open floor plans, and wide doorways, and he’s a little less picky about his furniture but anything with ornate designs and detailing that he can physically feel to appreciate is a bonus. Function over form, though, comfort and utility is always foremost in his consideration.

Nemo (Horrorswapfell Papyrus): Fond of mission style, slatted wooden furniture, simple and clean designs and only a couple accent colors that work well with them—autumnals are a favorite. Some nature-inspired touches like plants, artwork, and other accents to bring a little of the outdoors in, but not so much as to be cluttered.

Sunny (Gastertale Sans): Mid-century modern, for the most part, uniquely shaped items to stand as conversation pieces, but still primarily designed for utility. A little off-beat and retro, but still a homey and comfortable place to chill in.

Aster (Gastertale Papyrus): Big into art deco, metal and glass, geometric patterns and angular designs with bold, rich colors. He finds it to have a very fun and classy feel and likes things that make a statement—so he’s likely to incorporate a lot of centerpieces and décor wherever he can to draw the eye.

Spectr (Transcendtale Sans): Full-on industrial, brick and metal and hardwood, ideally with open and lofted spaces. It’s kind of what he’s gotten used to and gained an appreciation for along the way, so it may not be the most innately homey-feeling place, but he’s comfortable in it. Likely to accent the space with art—wall or sculpture—rather than rugs or blankets.

PapAIrus (Transcendtale Papyrus): He’s a minimalist. He doesn’t actually have a physical body most of the time, so his taste in decorating a space tends to prioritize aesthetic over what it would be like to actually live in it. Still, he is fond of aesthetics so he’s sure to pick out at least a few interesting and attractive centerpieces—light fixtures, table décor, an accent pillow, something—to make it a little prettier.

Xanth (Ascendswap Sans): Sort of an eclectic/boho thing going on, lots of color and design and pretty much anything fun that catches his eye-socket. He’s very into crystals and wall hangings and art (or plants!) that can be strung up to dangle from the ceiling, so any space he’s involved in decorating is bound to look a little messy, but it’s comfortable and fun so it works out in the end!

Piper (Ascendswap Papyrus): Give him that Hollywood glam, glossy high-shine surfaces—glass, gold, mirrors—mixed with soft velvets and satins. Mostly black and white but with a prominent accent color or two to really make the eleganza pop, he’s decorating to impress and show off his taste in design.

Carmine (Underfell Fruition Sans): Ends up falling into a bit of a steampunk style in terms of décor, lots of metal and lighting, plenty of stuffed shelves, and clockwork junk and tools lying around. He certainly has nothing against brass and leather either so y’know, if that’s what you wanna call it, there it is.

Tank (Underfell Fruition Papyrus): Country house design is more his speed, very fond of gingham and natural light and an overall homey feel. It’s not what he’s used to, per se, but that’s kind of…better. He likes light and open spaces, big tables for activities and soft furniture for sitting, but nothing so clean and new that it doesn’t feel like it’s meant to be used.

Vi (Swapfell Fruition Sans): International/modernist is mostly what he goes for, emphasis on steel and glass and concrete, and sharp minimalist lines. If he’s going to splurge on any patterns or color, it’ll only be in a few select pieces, nothing too outrageous.

Hunter (Swapfell Fruition Papyrus): He prefers a bit of a rustic look to things, with a high preference for natural materials, like stone and wood. Lofts are cool, as are sturdy shelving and exposed beams, but he’s especially into a good view, so if there’s high windows or just a lot of them, he’ll be happy.

Kohl (Descendtale Sans): Tends toward a dark romance style, deep rich (but of course, dark) colors, soft lighting, and graceful, sometimes ornate lines. Not one to overclutter with décor and accents, mostly simplistic, but a few items here and there—quilts and dried flowers and overstuffed pillows.

Bram (Descendtale Papyrus): Whimsigoth, a fondness for the ornate and intricate and elegant, but a tendency towards eclectic amounts of décor—wall hangings, candles, bones, and books all artfully arranged. Very into patterned furniture with texture, from the pattern being either pressed or stitched into the fabric. A little messy at first glance but he’s actually very deliberate with his arrangements for the most balanced look.

#anonymous #headcanons #undertale #underswap #underfell #swapfell/fellswap #horrortale #undergloom #horrorfell #horrorswap #horrorswapfell #gastertale #transcendtale #ascendswap #underfell fruition #swapfell fruition #descendtale

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videogamesincolor · 9 months

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When Black gamers booted up the shooter-RPG hybrid Outriders last April, only four of the 24 hairstyle options for characters could conceivably be considered a Black hairstyle. Even worse, all of them fell under the tired tropes of minifros and dreads. And even those were pretty atrocious: Textures were wrong, and patterns looked scraggily and unkempt. Then again, just a handful of years ago, programmers modeled afros on cauliflowers.

“Black hair has been bad forever in games—from the worst box braids to the raggediest of dreads to even messing up naturals at this point,” said Kahlief Adams, host of the Spawn on Me podcast, which highlights people of color in the gaming industry. “Like, you’ll see a character and think, ‘Sure, you got a close fade, but I don’t know where your hairline is fam.’”

#videogamesincolor #character design #video game design #black characters #spawn on me #black hair

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catdotjpeg · 2 months

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About a thousand protesters converged on Hollywood on Sunday ahead of the Academy Awards ceremony to call for an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Their presence frustrated Oscars organizers and traffic control. Shortly before the ceremony was set to begin at 4 p.m., dozens of black vans carrying attendees stood at a standstill on Highland Avenue. “Go, go, go!” one organizer yelled as he frantically waved at cars to move through the intersection at Sunset Boulevard and Highland near the Dolby Theatre, where the ceremony was set to start. Some Oscar-goers ditched their cars and walked toward the venue. By the time the ceremony began, police had cleared access routes. Three hours earlier, demonstrators began gathering by the hundreds at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Ivar Avenue, about a mile east of the theater on Hollywood Boulevard.

The demonstrators then spilled out to Sunset Boulevard, waving Palestinian flags and occupying the eastbound side of the street. “Let’s shut it down!” protesters chanted as they swarmed Sunset. The crowd began moving westward on the boulevard, led by a white van with half a dozen people on top chanting into a microphone and megaphone. About 40 police officers in riot gear stood vigilant at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue, one block west of the approaching crowd. “Free free Palestine!” the crowd chanted to a drumbeat — waving posters showing a movie slate painted in black, white, green and red, the colors of the Palestinian flag — with a message addressed to the Oscar audience: “While you’re watching, bombs are dropping.” Demonstrators also gathered earlier around the Hollywood Boulevard exit off the 101 Freeway and at the intersection of Sunset and Vine. Still others rallied on La Brea and Franklin avenues, near the Dolby Theatre, waving signs saying “Cease-fire now.”

[...]

Miguel Camnitzer, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace of Los Angeles, said he recently joined the pro-Palestinian cause. The grandson of Jews who fled Germany during the Holocaust, the 44-year-old said he could not stand by while Palestinians are killed. “I just can’t sit home today watching an awards show when a genocide is going on in the name of my people and with a previous genocide having happened to my people,” he said. “I was raised believing it’s a collective responsibility from preventing that from anyone else.” For Sarah Jacobus, a mentor for young writers, protesting the Israel-Hamas war is more about getting food, water and other necessities to her mentees, some of whom are in Rafah in southern Gaza. “They’re hanging on for dear life,” Jacobus, 72, said. “Two are in Rafah, one in a tent with his family and another in a room with about 50 people.” She said one of her mentees needs diapers for his 2-month-old, but “what they need more than anything is freedom.” Joining the demonstration on Sunset, several members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television Radio Artists showed their support for Palestinians and a cease-fire, holding a large SAG-AFTRA poster at the front of the crowd. One of the protesters was a 35-year-old actress whose aunt and uncle are sheltering in a church in Gaza, she said. She requested anonymity for fear of retaliation against her family in Gaza and herself in the entertainment industry. “Hollywood is complicit,” she said, as she marched west toward the Dolby Theatre with the crowd. “There is this racist ideology running rampant inside [SAG], and there is no punishment for it.”

-- From "1,000 Gaza protesters rally in Hollywood ahead of Oscars, blocking traffic" by Ashley Ahn for Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar 2024

#palestine #gaza #los angeles #california #hollywood #rafah

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felassan · 9 months

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Electronic Arts Q1 2024 Earnings Conference Call (August 1st)

This happened today and Dragon Age was mentioned in the opening Prepared Remarks section of the call (emphasis mine):

"To do more extraordinary things for our people, players and communities, our teams are building the strongest pipeline in the history of EA to drive multi-year growth. Over the next few years, we will launch numerous experiences that grow and deepen the fandom of our legendary IP. Our multi-year targeted investments toward our biggest opportunities include global titles like blockbuster storytelling from Dragon Age, incredible skateboarding gameplay and social connection from skate, and a revival of EA SPORTS College Football that celebrates the action, culture and tradition of the sport like never before. We’re also hard at work on a new experience from The Sims that will transform what players can do with creativity, a sprawling action adventure Iron Man game, a reimagination of Battlefield as a truly connected ecosystem, and the expansion of the Apex Legends universe across platforms, geographies, and modalities of play. The most recent reveal of our Black Panther project — set in a massive, explorable universe — marks the latest chapter in EA’s collaboration with The Walt Disney Company and the Marvel Games team."

[source and full Prepared Remarks transcript]

Dragon Age was then mentioned during the Q&A section of the call (emphasis mine):

Q: "Last quarter it was noted that players were concentrating their spend on major franchises. Just wanted to see first if there was any update to that? And then, Andrew, in your commentary you highlighted a goal for Apex as an experience across platforms, I'm assuming that includes mobile as well, so can you speak to how you envision potentially relaunching that title on phones and how the approach could differ to the prior game? Thank you." A: "Yeah, so let me touch on the first part. I do think we continue to see big titles getting bigger, and live services getting bigger, and certainly as a company with a broad portfolio of large-scale IP and large-scale live services, we believe that we will be long-term beneficiaries of that trend. You know, that doesn't mean that we won't build smaller titles over the course of time. There are these incredible stories that we believe should be told in the context of entertainment. We are focusing our investment so that we can build a cost-base around those that's appropriate, but we're also really getting behind our biggest opportunities, and as we've talked about, our strategy and building these experiences that entertain massive online communities. Our expectation is that will be a large scale growth driver for us. But, you know, when thought about the right way, games like, you know, Dragon Age, and Jedi, can tell truly blockbuster stories and really break into that top category of games. I think what we see today is the mid-tier and lower games that, you know, maybe did pretty well through Covid because people had a lot of spare time - they're the part of the industry that really aren't doing and performing as well. And as we think about our future, you should expect that we'll continue to focus our investments and our energy and our resources against these big opportunities because we do believe that is where the industry is trending."

[source: call audio webcast]

There were no further mentions of Dragon Age, Mass Effect or BioWare during the call.

Here is the latest Existing Live Services & FY24 Title Slate (announced titles), from the call's supporting documents -

[source]

The next EA earnings conference call - for Q2 2024 - is on November 1st 2023 at 2pm PT.

[source]

lastly, when the full transcript of this call becomes available I'll post the link/add it to this post. ^^

Edit: Here is a transcript of the full call.

#dragon age: dreadwolf #dragon age 4 #the dread wolf rises #da4 #dragon age #bioware #video games #mass effect #next mass effect #covid mention #long post #longpost

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toxiclizardwrites · 3 months

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Snippet Sunday Monday (Again)

I was tagged by a few people, I believe @fangbangerghoul, @silurisanguine, and maybe others, if I forgot you I'm sorry! Thank you for the tags <3 Below is a excerpt from Chapter 11 of Love and Rage. Kind of been a slow burn because it's just exposition to lead up to the heavier parts that are coming up in the next few chapters. The full work can be found on AO3.

On to the excerpt!

The office for Gerendyne Industries was just up the stairs to the right of the Astral Lounge, and it was there that Toxic met with her target, Ji Ninshina, the secretary. It didn't take much prompting to get him to spill the dirt on his boss, and how she's protecting a Breyson Bayu, the brother of the man who has a thumb on the city of Neon---Benjamin Bayu. Ji even unlocked the safe for Toxic that contained the audio slate she needed to confront Ayumi, saving her a digipick. Armed with this information, she immediately headed to Ebbside.

Euphorika was an interesting establishment in Neon that's opulence rivalled even the Astral Lounge. Toxic tugged at the bottom of her tight black dress, smoothing out the fabric before entering the establishment. She wasn't used to wearing these kinds of clothes, the little black dress that was just long enough and hugged her curves with ruching at the front and black heels, because she found them uncomfortable and restrictive, but given the situation it was necessary.

The inside of Euphorika seemed underwhelming at first, just a small entrance area with what looked like a reception desk at the back. It was clear there would be an entrance fee, but Toxic could be very persuasive when she needed to be.

The receptionist was friendly at first, until Toxic asked about Ayumi, then her demeanour changed from friendly to protective. A bit of persuasion and $4,000 credits later, Toxic found herself in the VIP section of Euphorika, standing in front of Ayumi herself.

#starfield fanfiction #starfield #crimson fleet #coemancer #bethesda #toxiclizardwrites #starfield delgado

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cassieuncaged · 9 months

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OC: Nyx Biography Part 1: Black Dragon Ties

Name: Rachel Rogers (legally redacted)/Nyx (codename)

Age: 33

Gender: Female

Affiliation: The Black Dragon (formerly), Special Forces

———————————————

Appearance

———————————————

Skin Color: Alabaster, fair

Hair Style: long, it hangs halfway down her back

Hair Color: naturally blonde but dyed it half black and half white.

Eye Color: aquamarine. Wears red, black, and purple contacts

Body Shape:

Has an athletic, slim build with broad shoulders

Height: 5’7

Clothing: goth core, wears either black jeans or leather pants, a matching leather jacket, fingerless gloves, fishnet and mesh shirt beneath a goth rock tshirt (Bauhaus, Joy Division, etc,), and Doc Martens. Also wears a studded mask that covers the bottom half of her face.

Misc.: has an eyebrow piercing, a septum piercing, as well several on either ear (lobe, tragus, industrial). Wears heavy makeup, Smokey eyeshadow and purple lipstick

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Powers and Abilities

———————————————

Nyx doesn’t posses any supernatural powers. However, she practice karate and judo since was a teenager as well as Krav Maga. She is agile, quick, and elusive as a ghost.

Her weapons include a Sig MPX K with a silencer as well as a throwing knife occasionally as well using her Ducati to literally run over her competition.

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Personality

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Likes

Playing video games

Moshing at metal concerts

Pepperoni pizza

Rodents and reptiles

Getting tattoos and piercings

Dislikes

Kano

Being bossed around

Her job as a hired gun

Big crowds

Personality Traits

Clever

Adaptable

Independent

Fear(s)

That everything in her life was meaningless and that she’s only a killing machine with no other prospects

Those she cares about dying because of her

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Backstory

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Born Rachel Rogers on June 6th 1990, Rogers was the first born to Jill and Michael. Her early years were filled comfort and stability fueled by loving parents.

However, Michael was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly after the birth of their second child, Noah. The family spent a lot of times in and out of hospitals until Michael passed away.

Rachel was devastated and became averse to hospitals because of the experience. She was quiet as a child and spent most of her time playing old computer adventure games or reading about Greek mythology. Jill had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet and often left Rachel in charge. She became very protective of Noah and even defended him when he got bullied at school.

Because of this, she began practicing karate and judo and became very proficient in both. She received average grades in high school and enlisted in the military after she graduated from high school. This was in attempt to make money and help her mother with financial stability with government granted stipends.

It was then that she discovered how agile she was as well as naturally proficient with firearms. She moved to special ops. She was discharged from active duty after three years and struggled to readjust to the world around her.

Rachel began running with underground crime syndicates as a hired gun. However, her job put her family’s lives at risk. After meeting Kano in Los Angeles, he offers her a blank slate under the condition she works for him, no questions asked.

Desperate to start over, she accepts the offer of tabula rasa and begins to work with the Black Dragon clan under the moniker Nyx.

template

#oc: nyx #mortal kombat #mortal kombat oc #long post #mortal kombat 11 #mk nyx

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animesimp93 · 7 months

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Chaoter 2 of Placebo

“So what makes you think you stand out from the rest of the applicants I have on my desk?”

I stared at the tiny woman sitting across from me. Even though she looked incredibly fragile, she was one of the most intimidating people I had ever met. I had gone through plenty of interviews before and not once has someone left me this nervous.

I quietly cleared my throat and refocused my attention directly on her. “Miss Park, I know you more than likely have plenty of other people you can choose from. And where some of them might have a working history geared more towards your liking, I feel like someone who hasn’t been tainted by any sort of industry will be a better outlook when it comes to working for a company like yours. They have no biases or previous judgements to go off of and are the equivalent of a blank slate.”

She raised an eyebrow and quickly jotted down some notes on her notebook. After every single answer she would repeat this same exact process. I couldn’t tell if she was writing down what I had said or just her thoughts on it. Regardless it didn’t help calm my nerves any less.

She clicked her pen and laid it flat on the table before pulling her elbows up to the table. “Let me be up front with you Miss Y/N, I like you.”

I felt the air catch in my throat as I tried to not let my emotions show on my face. Thankfully the black mask I was wearing hid most of it but my eyes have always been what give me away. “You like me?” I asked, my voice cracking instantly.

“I do. I like your honesty. You know, every other person I have asked that same question to has told me just about the same thing, and it’s always about how they themselves are a great person because of x amount of reasons. I’m looking at it from a company aspect and that’s not the answer I want. I want to know how they’ll better my company. Now, your answer was different. It was genuine, and I like that.” She leaned back in her chair and opened the top drawer of her desk. She pulled a small packet out and slid it across the table at me. “You do realize everything you do for and at this company is strictly confidential. Regardless of your status here, you share nothing with anyone outside of me and those higher up than me. Do I make myself clear?”

I looked down at the packet she had slid in front of me and felt my heart flip when I saw it was a consent form of employment. I glanced back up at her and noticed her expression had softened ever so slightly. “I’m sorry I’m just slightly confused. Do I have the job?”

She nodded and clicked her pen once more, sliding it on top of the packet of paperwork. “If you want it,” she said matter of factly.

“Of course I want it! I accept! But, I guess I’m just confused as to why?”

She crossed her slender arms in front of her chest and leaned back in her chair. “There’s something about you that I trust already. I don’t feel like you’re here to get close to my many idols. I feel like you’re legitimately here to work, to better yourself, and do that for a company you already have a lot of pride in.”

I grabbed the pen and moved the paperwork closer to me. “All of that is true…I just—“

“Do you want the damn job or not?” The slight hostility behind her voice made me jump ever so slightly in my seat as I quickly started signing my name by the many highlighted areas. “Good choice,” she said proudly as she made sure I signed and initialed everywhere I needed to. I slid it back across the desk to her as she got up and walked around towards me. “Now let me make one thing clear. You’re an intern here. However, you can easily move up if you show enough potential. We pay our interns here but it’s the minimum wage our company offers. You want a higher salary? Prove your worth to me. As an intern, you will do anything and everything anyone asks if you. Given if it’s beyond a reasonable doubt, illegal, or violates any and all of our procedures, then you will clearly deny those requests. Requests can come from management such as myself, your fellow employees, and even the idols themselves.”

“The idols?”

She smiled as she stuck her hand out towards me. “Yes, even the idols. To be blunt with you once more, you might wind up working close to some of them. They’ve been known to pick an intern and use them as their personal assistants before in the past. That would be a considerable promotion that does happen regularly here.” I grabbed her hand as she firmly shook mine, her grip rivaling that of an average woman of her size. “Y/N, welcome to JYP Entertainment.”

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I had worked at JYP for at least two weeks before I had my first encounter with an idol, and that idol was none other than Christopher Bang that night in the practice room. Since then I couldn’t help but be even more nervous every time I came into work. So far I love the job but the only issue is the hours are all over the place. Today I was told to come in around 4:00 PM as I’m supposed to help with a shopping order.

Being an intern has definitely proved what being someone’s errand girl is. I’ve gotten so many coffee and dry cleaning orders since my first day working that the people working at those places know me by name. I didn’t mind it though. Having to run errands like this gave me a chance to see just a little bit more of Seoul. I’ve only lived here a couple months and I have been too nervous to venture too far away from my small apartment.

I scanned my badge at the front desk as I waved at the security guard. I don’t know much about him other than his name is Jin and he’s one of the nicest employees here.

“Late night again Y/N?” He asked cheerfully as I stopped by his desk.

I nodded and adjusted my lanyard back around my neck. “It sure is. But today is kind of different. I’m apparently going shopping?”

He looked at his watch and smiled. “Ah it is Friday. He usually always makes a market run on Friday nights.”

“Who does?” I asked even more curious to know who I might be with tonight.

His smile widened as he waved his hand at me. “I don’t want to say in case I’m wrong. I’ve been wrong several times in my life before. Hence why I’ve divorced three women.”

We laughed quietly at his little joke together as I looked down the hall. “Now don’t be saying that Jin. You just haven’t found the right one yet!”

He looked down and shook his head. “Yeah maybe. You better get going. Don’t want my friend to get in trouble with the boss lady.”

We both waved as I quickly ran down towards the elevator. I couldn’t help but let my mind race as I tried to imagine who I was going to be helping tonight. I watched as the number slowly ticked down on the elevator screen. “It’s just shopping. You’ll probably be with another intern.”

The door dinged as I walked into the elevator. My head still down I didn’t notice anyone inside until I felt my body collide with another person. “I’m so sorry!” I said loudly as I looked up. My entire train of thought was frozen as I saw not only my boss but—

“Felix?!” I half yelled before quieting myself down.

The blonde headed man brushed his shirt off but immediately drew his attention to me. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry I shouldn’t have been right in front of the door.”

“Don’t mind her Felix. I’m sure she’s fine. It’s perfect timing though that we run into you here Y/N.” Miss Park hit the button to keep the elevator door open as she motioned for me to step back out into the hallway. “You’re helping Felix shop.”

“M-me?!” I said, the shock still evident in my voice. As she stepped out of the elevator she motioned for us to follow her down the hallway. “I don’t believe I stuttered,” she said matter of factly. She led us to a small room and shut the door once Felix and I were both inside. “Y/N, this is a big step for you and I trust you will do it well.”

Felix motioned for me to sit down as he took the seat next to me. “What is this big step ma’am,” I asked, my voice mellowing out even though inside I was still shaking.

She walked around and grabbed a bottle of water out of the small fridge, handing one to Felix and myself which was unusual for her to offer me anything. “We’ll wait just a couple more minutes. He should be here shortly.”

I tried to look at Felix without making it obvious but he quickly broke that barrier between us. “So you’re Y/N that I’ve heard so much about, huh?”

I looked over at him and felt my whole heart stop at his smile. I’ve seen it millions of times in videos and pictures but seeing it in person was a whole different feeling. “Y-yes…I mean…I think so? Wait, you’ve heard of me?” There’s the crack in my voice again.

Felix chuckled, his deep voice reverberating in his chest even as he laughed. “If you’re the one from the practice room then yeah, it’s you.”

“Practice room?” I asked looking between him and Miss Park. “What do you mean by that?”

There was a slight knock on the door before I heard it open. “Sorry I’m late, we got held up in a little bit of traffic.”

No way…there’s no way!

“That’s typical for a Friday evening. Don’t worry, we just got here moments ago,” Miss Park said, her entire demeanor happy now. I couldn’t blame her though not when she’s talking to him.

I heard the shuffling of a bag being dropped to the floor and the sound of footsteps coming towards me. I kept my head slightly down, I didn’t want to ruin anything by looking up too quickly. I saw a hand pull out the chair on the opposite side of me, the all too familiar silver chained bracelet hanging loosely around the wrist. I watched as the rest of him came into view behind my bangs. He moved closer towards me and gently tapped on the table in front of me. “Hey you,” he said in the sweetest of tones.

I glanced up and sure enough, there he was once again, Christopher Bang.

I felt my heart beat faster than it ever had before. He had smiled at me the other night in the practice room but this smile was something different. There was something much more familiar feeling to it. Almost as if we both knew each other and had for years and years.

“Let me cut to the chase now that he’s here. Y/N, Christopher, would like you to work with them. As per any idols request if they want someone specific to work with them, we grant them that wish.”

I looked at her in the same way I did weeks ago when she first offered me the job. “Miss Park, I’m…I'm honored but might I ask why? I’ve only been here a couple weeks?”

She glanced towards Chris who quickly turned back towards me in his seat. “I have heard about you from some of the other people here. You yourself just said you have only been here for a short while but you’ve made enough of an impact that we, Stray Kids, have heard about you. That is something we haven’t seen this early on.”

I felt like my ears were hearing one thing and my brain comprehending another. I looked back over towards Felix who you could tell was agreeing with Chris. I was too nervous to look at Chris for too long and looked back at my boss. “But surely there’s already someone that helps you guys, right?”

She shook her head and leaned up against the table. “There was, but unfortunately they had to be let go. That was almost two months ago and Stray Kids have been doing all the extra things by themselves. Things like shopping.” She looked at the three of us and then focused back on me. “Chris has never personally requested someone before. I wouldn’t be offering this to you this early on had he not said anything. Now, don’t take that as I would never promote you. It’s just never happened this quickly before.” She smiled and her whole demeanor softened in front of me for the first time ever. “If I had any doubt in my mind about your ability to pull this off, I wouldn’t proceed with it.”

I felt a knot grow in my stomach. They, Stray Kids, were the reason I came here. Not to be in their business or bother them, but to just work with them. Even if it meant delivering them coffee and doing their chores, I wanted the opportunity to meet the people who truly changed my life for the better.

“Do you accept the job?” Felix asked as he leaned up on the table by his elbows.

I quickly nodded as my voice raised higher than it should have in front of all of them. “Of course I do!”

Felix smiled brightly and Chris bounced happily in his chair. They both seemed delighted with this decision and that made me feel even more nervous.

“Excellent, now I hate to run out so quickly but I have a dinner to get to. Y/N meet me in my office Monday at 10 and we’ll update your agreement. From now on I’m still one of your bosses but I’m no longer your direct boss.”

“Oh?” I asked and cocked my head to the side. “Who is then?”

I felt a sudden warm presence next to me as I looked over and Chris had moved his chair closer to me. “I am.” The smile on his face could bring me back to life at that moment in time. “And don’t worry, I’d like to think I’m nicer than Miss Park.” He looked over her way and winked, they clearly had a strong working relationship and that meant they had a lot of trust in one another. I knew she meant it when she said she was going off of his judgment when it came to this decision.

She smiled once more, said her goodbyes, and walked out the door. Felix stood up and extended his hand out to me. “Ready to go?” He asked, that smile still not leaving his face.

“Wait, where are you going?” Chris asked as he looked at the two of us. It seemed like his eyes locked on to the fact that for a brief moment, Felix and I held hands. Surely that was just my imagination though.

“Shopping. We are completely out of food at our dorm.”

Chris picked his bag up and slung it around his shoulders. “Well let me come too. We’re out of a bunch of things and the three of us will knock this trip out in no time.” He looked directly at me and cocked his head slightly to the side. “That is if you’re fine with me crashing your little adventure.”

That knot in my stomach became more evident as I stood there just basking in the fact that once again I was talking to him. “I…uh…” I shook my head and heard the both of them laugh softly. “I don’t mind! The more the merrier!” I quickly turned around and headed towards the door. “Shall we go?” I needed out of this room immediately before I collapse on the floor.

Chris nodded as he and Felix proceeded to follow me. “Ren is out front still. I told him not to leave unless I texted him otherwise.”

Felix clicked his tongue and slid his phone back down in his pocket as we all three headed out into the hallway. “Ah so we have the suburban. Wonderful! That means we’ll have plenty of space for all the snacks!”

“I take it Ren is a driver?” I asked, still trying not to focus too much on Chris and more so on the path that led outside.

He nodded and continued to look straight ahead. “Indeed. He’s the one that mainly drives just us places. He’s very nice, I’m sure you’ll enjoy his company.”

I slowed my pace ever so slightly as I felt like I was walking in front of them. He led us outside to an all blacked out vehicle as he waved at the driver. You couldn’t tell anyone was even in the car with how dark the windows were.

I headed towards the front door and felt a hand grab my arm. I looked down and could already tell it was his hand. “Where are you going? You’re sitting in the back with me.”

“What!?” I half screamed and instantly slapped my hand against my mouth. He chuckled and flashed that cute little dimple of his as he smiled wider. “Felix prefers to sit in the front. Unless you would feel more comfortable up front I can have you guys switch.”

Felix stopped and waited for my answer. “No I’m…fine! Perfectly okay with that!” I could only imagine how crazy I sounded out loud because in my head I was cringing at my actions.

“Sweet!” Felix proceeded to open the door and slide in the passenger seat. Before I had the chance to open the back door, Chris quickly opened it for me. I looked back at him and felt my whole body fill with butterflies. “After you,” he said politely.

I slowly got in as he waited to shut the door until I was entirely seated in my chair. He quickly ran around and got in on the other side next to me. After looking down to make sure I had fastened my seatbelt he nodded to the man in the driver's seat. “Alright Ren, we’re ready.” The man nodded and gently put the car in drive.

I could still feel my heartbeat racing behind my chest and prayed it wasn’t as loud to everyone else as it was in my own ears. I kept my eyes focused out the window and tried to distract myself. I have a bad tendency of making no verbal sense whenever I’m nervous and to say I’m nervous right now would be the biggest understatement of the century.

Felix turned around in his seat and glanced back at us. “You okay?” He asked, looking at me as best as he could. I nodded and tried to keep as straight of a face as I could as I smiled at him. He clearly saw through it though and shook his head. “That look tells me otherwise. You know,” he nodded his head over at Chris and raised his eyebrow. “He talked very highly of you.”

I felt the burning feeling of red creep back up into my cheeks as I felt them both looking at me now. I moved around slightly in my seat, adjusting the seat belt to create any sort of distraction for myself. “I don’t really understand why though,” I said quietly, semi hoping neither of them would hear me.

I glanced over and noticed Chris lean back farther in his seat as he placed both hands behind his head, a very relaxed look set on his face. “You have every right to question that. I only talked with you once and it was for a very brief time.” He looked over at me and set my whole heart ablaze as that small dimple peeked out once more at me. “We’ve been looking for someone to help us out since our last guy left, and the idea of having a woman’s touch around the place is nice. Plus you’re very well organized and I appreciate that.”

“Organized?”

He nodded and slid his hands out from behind his head as he settled them in his lap. “Yeah, organized. That night after I walked out to answer the phone I noticed all your things sitting right outside the door. You had them lined up by size and even color. I’m sure you’re well aware but organization is a big thing for me.”

“Are you talking about my cleaning supplies?”

Both the boys chuckled as my voice cracked when I asked the question. I felt like I was making a complete fool of myself but yet they both seemed completely fine with everything happening. “That was cute!” Felix said through his happy smile once he stopped giggling.

Chris pulled his hat off and slid his hand back through his hair. I slightly pouted my cheeks out and felt myself start to finally relax. “I’m glad you find me cute,” I said, joining in on their little spurts of giggling.

“I definitely made the right decision,” Chris said as he locked eyes with me and nodded his head.

We felt the car come to a gentle stop as we had made it to the market Felix wanted to go to. “I’ll stay out here but you three take your time,” Ren said as he looked back at Chris and I from the rear view mirror.

We all three unbuckled our seatbelts and got out of the car. Chris had slid his hat and mask back on as Felix lifted his hood up over his head and secured his own face mask as well. I always knew they had to slightly hide themselves but seeing them like this made my heart twinge in a sharp pain.

I followed suit and put my mask on as well as we headed towards the entrance. Ren had pulled away once we started heading inside and I noticed he went and parked under a shade tree. I looked over at Chris and raised my voice so he’d be able to hear me. “He’s very nice.”

He looked over past my head and glanced in Ren’s direction. “Yeah he’s a good guy. He’s been with us for a long time. You’ll see him quite regularly I’m sure.”

We walked inside and my eyes couldn’t choose what to focus on. I had passed this market several times but never actually came inside as I had always heard it was more expensive on a lot of the items. Felix grabbed a small cart and headed back towards Chris and I. “Will your stuff fit in here too or do you need your own cart?” He asked, looking over at Chris.

He pulled his phone out and looked at the list of things he needed. “Nah, I think we should be good. I need quite a bit but nothing too bulky or anything like that.”

With a nod of his head we ventured farther into the store. The three of us talked and joked as we got the things we needed on both of their lists. Seeing them interact with one another was something I had always enjoyed, but seeing them without cameras on them was a new experience for me. They were so much more laid back and could easily be themselves. It made me happy knowing that I would get to experience this from here on out.

“Oh awesome they finally got it back in!” Chris ran down the aisle and stopped when he made it to the middle section. He grabbed two small cases of soda and happily ran back to us. “The ginger ale I love! They finally have it back!”

Felix squealed and hopped up and down. “I love to cook with that! Grab another case for me if you don’t mind. I don’t want to take yours if I’m using them for cooking.”

Chris slid his hand down on his hip and cocked his head to the side. “Well I wasn’t planning on sharing anyways!” He pulled his mask down and stuck his tongue out before smiling and running back down to grab another case.

“You just have to ignore him sometimes. He truly is five when he wants to be.”

I laughed at the mention of the running joke and watched as he once again carried the case of ginger ale back to us. Even with his mask up I could tell he was grinning from ear to ear underneath it. He set the case in the top part of the cart and looked at his phone once more. “Alright I’m all set. What about you?”

“I was done four aisles ago,” Felix said and started pushing the cart. “Let’s check out.”

We made it up to the checkout lines and I couldn’t help but look around us. Surprisingly no one had said anything or stopped them while we shopped and I was honestly waiting for it to happen. “Are you curious about it?” I felt him brush up against me as we waited for our turn. I nodded, already knowing what he was referring to. “For the most part if we don’t draw attention to ourselves, we’re fine. But this market is really good even if we are recognized, the people are all very respectful.”

“Does it happen often? You guys being recognized, I mean?” I asked my mind racing with the worst case scenarios.

Felix turned and leaned back against the cart as we still were too far away from the belt to start loading our items. “Every day it happens, but like Chris said, there are places where it’s better and some where it’s worse. Seoul has so many idols around it though that a lot of the locals are used to it. They treat us just like any other person.”

“Mhmm, it’s worse when we’re not in Seoul. That’s when we try to be extra cautious.” Chris nodded his head to let Felix know it was our turn and we all three started putting the items up on the belt.

He walked up to the cashier and greeted her happily. “How are you doing today Felix? I was waiting for you to stop in.”

The two started talking and I wiggled my finger for Chris to drop down so I could whisper to him. “She just called him Felix…does she know him?”

I could tell he was smiling once again as he shook his head. “Of course she does. This market knows all of us and are always incredibly kind. Felix and Lee Know do a lot of the shopping so they’re the two everyone knows. But we’re all kind of a packaged deal, so if you know one, you know us all.”

After a couple minutes they finished paying and we started to bag everything up. “Thanks for bringing me. I know it was just a market trip but I actually had fun.” I said and heard them both chuckle happily. They seemed to have a surprisingly fun time as well.

We walked outside and I noticed the sun was starting to set, the sky painted a cotton candy pink. “Of course you’re welcome to come with us. You’ll be joining us for practically everything!” Felix said as he hopped along behind the cart.

“No more caffeine tonight Felix. You’re too hyper as it is.” The tone in Chris’s voice reminded me just why he’s so great at being a leader. It wasn’t a mean tone by any means, but one a father would definitely use on his child.

Felix looked back over his shoulder and pulled his mask down. “Yes daddy.”

He immediately started running with the cart and Chris took off after him. “I told you to stop calling me that!”

I couldn’t help but laugh once again at them. It still feels like I was having an incredibly vivid dream. Regardless if it was some sort of dream, I hadn’t felt this happy in a very long time.

“Hey, you coming?!” Felix yelled back at me and waved his hands. I didn’t even realize just how far ahead they had made it. “Coming!” I yelled and ran towards them, both their faces lit up with the happiest of smiles.

If those smiles was a sight I was going to be seeing every single day, I never, ever want to be woken up from this dream.

#skz #skz smut #bang chan smut #chan smut #bang chan #fanfic #placebo

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