#[this has been my TED talk]

[jq37]

Over the summer I was the artist in residence at a summer camp and every night we had a big night game. Wizard capture the flag or Vampires vs. Werewolves--Whatever the activities director came up with that day.

One day the activity was Greek Mythology murder mystery. All the counselors were gods or heroes and Achilles was the victim, killed by an arrow to the chest. The cause of death hadn't been announced for 2 seconds before kids started yelling, "That's wrong! Achilles can only be killed by his heel!" Not just the teens. Elementary school kids too. I'd read the game doc before and knew that was supposed to be the mid-game twist and they got there in seconds.

These kids were exactly the target audience for the Percy Jackson show and so tapped into all the lore. Like, I saw a ten year old walk by me and say to her friends, "OK, if Achilles is here, where's Patroclus?" I was a total Greek Mythology nerd at that age pre the series existing and I don't even think I knew who Patroclus was.

Anyway, my point to all this is there are several moments in this new adaptation where a character calls out a trap before they walk into it (like the Medusa's lair or the Lotus Casino) whereas in the book they just kinda walk in even though it seems like they should be a little more genre savvy. I don't think any of these characters are infallible/impossible to trick (even ones like Annabeth who are super smart) but I really get the sense that Rick and the writers were writing with kids like the ones at that camp in mind. Kids who would watch kids walk into an obvious Greek Mythology trap and think ok well I've read the Oddesey, so why haven't they? When Rick wrote the books it was a pre Percy Jackson world. But even my brother who hates to read at least read The Lightning Thief. I feel like they felt that if my brother was savvy to Medusa, they couldn't credibly claim that Annabeth who's been immersed in the culture since she was in single digits wouldn't also be on top of things. There's a sense of almost...audience management if that makes sense.

[accio-bagel]

Coming in hot with a Natty appreciation post ❤️

Wall of text below the cut

I love Natty. She's my brave, frustrating, badass girl, and while the writing for her storyline lacked somewhat in comparison to the other companions, much of the discourse I see around her is so negative - it has really been disappointing to see the kinds of things people say about her. She doesn't have to be your favorite. I'm not saying you have to love her. But you can actually prefer Sebastian and Poppy without disparaging Natsai. You can also critique her without resorting to making fun of her voice or accent. Give her a chance and consider her dialogue and her actions, and you might gain some more appreciation for her.

She is a peak Gryffindor and here are some reasons why I love her, including her flaws:

Friendly, kind, and empathetic: with her experience being the new student the previous year, she knows how scary it can be and she's quick to offer you a place to sit on your first day of class, then readily shares her book with you when she sees you don't have one. She even gives you advice during Summoners Court when you're playing against her, and isn't upset if you win. She tells you she was actually planning on asking you to Hogsmeade with her if you choose her as your guide. She wants you to feel welcomed right away and wants to get to know you.

Brave, powerful, and reckless: just like Sebastian, she jumps in to help you fight a troll without a second thought on her first day knowing you, and she's a strong duelist both in Crossed Wands and on your missions with her. She is ready and willing to gather evidence on her own while you go save a host of beasts from poachers the second she finds out a Hippogriff that means something to you is in danger. She sticks her nose into business she shouldn’t and doesn’t consider the reality of the dangers she’s getting herself into (a very Harry Potter trait.) But would you really rather have her be without flaw? Sounds boring. Ultimately she doesn’t ever let fear stop her from acting to protect others - don't forget she dives in front of the Cruciatus curse for you! She's a damn good friend to have by your side.

Proud and confident but can still be humble and open to change: she is happy to share some interesting information about Uagadou if you choose to ask her and she has pride in both her magical abilities and where she came from. She's confident in Summoner's Court but acknowledges afterward that it took her a while to gain that skill. She also admits she likes the drama of using a wand and she's grown to appreciate Hogwarts and Scotland (except in winter, which who can blame her? it's cold!)

Talented: to name just a few examples, she can cast wandless magic, Weasley calls her out as one of the best students in school, and let's not forget she's an animagus by age 15 - we know from the Harry Potter books that is no small feat and very few people actually achieve the ability.

Strong morals and ideals, stubbornly so: she is a pure heart and wants to take down the bad guys so nobody has to suffer the same way she did as a young girl. Can you really begrudge her youthful idealism? While her motivations are a bit muddy because she has no solid personal connection to Harlow or Rookwood, she is ultimately looking at the bigger picture and striving to make the world a better, safer place. Like Sebastian and Poppy, she won't let anyone talk her out of her ideals and remains undeterred in her belief that what she's doing is right, regardless of the dangers involved. While it shouldn't be up to two teenagers to clear out a criminal organization, in the end, she and you actually do get Harlow arrested finally, no thanks to the utterly useless Officer Singer, so Natty kinda had a point.

Loving and emotional: she is emotionally open with you and isn't afraid to ask for support from a friend while she's suffering from grief and guilt about her father. She isn’t embarrassed to tell you that you’ve inspired her to stand up to power, or how much your friendship means to her. Despite her frustrations, she loves her mother deeply, and she misses her father with all her heart.

Rebellious and independent: similar to Garreth, she has a guardian whom she feels is suffocating her. She wants to roam freely in her animagus form and explore her new home on her own, but her mother is worried about her safety (fair) and the closer Professor Onai clings, the more it pushes Natty to act out. She wants to challenge the system which is allowing Rookwood to strut around Hogsmeade like he owns the place when he should be in prison, and takes matters into her own hands when the authorities fail to act. Nothing more punk and badass than fighting the man and getting shit done.

Pretty, cute, tall: really, seriously look at her! Big Brown EyesTM and lashes for days. Freckles! Need I go on? (I will anyway.) Her profile. That cute little curl in the front of her hair, and from the back her hairstyle looks like a flower. I also recently noticed she is slightly taller than the female MC (tall girls need more love in media) and I can imagine them and Poppy being a cute witch trio of different heights. I also think her awkward smiles are endearing.

Lovely, soothing voice: I find her voice to be very soft and personally, I could listen to her talk all day. Her VA, Jessica Hayles, put so much emotion into her lines, and did you know she also voices three other characters: Nellie Oggspire, Charlotte Morrison, and Hyacinth Olivier? I have huge respect for a VA who can do multiple accents and change their voice to be so distinct for each character that I would've had no idea if I hadn't looked it up.

If anyone actually read all of this just know that I appreciate you deeply

[nova-drawzz]

saw someone dissing on people with certain hcs and stuff about the outsiders and can i just say:

The block button exists.

If you don’t like a creator or stuff you literally can jsut.block and move on.

It’s that easy.

[impulsemuppet]

Since queerbaiting has lost all meaning, I am accusing What If of queerbaiting cause they promised me in the trailer a queer Loki tree and we only got to see said queer Loki tree for a second at the end of the season and I feel baited.

[bean-writes]

Okay. So here’s what I’ve been wondering (and then what I found):

Why did we all decide that this ♥️ represented a heart? I mean… it bears a little bit of resemblance to an actual heart 🫀, but not really enough for it to make sense to me…

So I looked it up.

The best working theory is that is comes from the shape of the Silphium plant’s seedpod.

The Silphium plant was the famous plant with contraceptive properties that the Greeks and Romans used as birth control so much that they literally used up the plant into extinction.

The symbol for love comes from a plant that was used to stop procreation and which ultimately became extinct from overuse.

I think you can take the moral of this story as “love conquers all”.

Or perhaps more fully: “love conquers all - love will take your ridiculous symbol of it, your attempt to stop it, and make you so f*ckbunny that you wipe out the very thing you tried to use to stop it".

In this Ted Talk, I will....

[somnas-writes]

I’m compelled to say this just because I’ve seen the take so many times and I feel like the point of ATSV was missed

Miguel is the antagonist, not the villain. 

SPOT is the villain.

[transgenderfivepebbles]

begging the projmoon fandom to be normal about gnc characters

[beauetjoile]

Things That Should Be Said In Lolita More Often

There are NO RULES in Lolita.

There aren't. None. Zero. Guidelines maybe, but rules? Nope.

Lolitas in Japan do not care and neither should you or anyone else.

Let's just take a look at ACTUAL lolita fashion in Japan using a search on a single blog @tokyo-fashion

Stuff on head. 7/8 have skirt. Few seem to have a petticoat, sometimes the ruffled skirt is just giving that vibe without having one. Some VERY vibrant makeup on a few. Bright red lipstick? *gasp* Above the knee skirts on most. Types of shoes are all over the place and none seem to be "lolita shoes" except maybe the BtSSB girl. I don't remember seeing her footwear.

Bonnet absolutely askew, giant tulle petticoat that is too long, random plushie belt and murdered teddy bear shoes with dark pink ribbons that color match NOTHING else in her ensemble. Perfection, no notes.

But is it lolita? YES

You could make arguments that it's lolita because it has the correct silhouette and blah blah but once you start taking things away from what is considered lolita, is it really? Once you start bending the rules, do the rules even matter anymore?

It's the dress? The THEME?! You can easily find a camo print, sulky fur cow-print dresses, bathroom toiletries, LAUNDRY SOAP PRINT for crissakes.

Were they ever rules to begin with?

Here's one of my fave rules that I absolutely HATE:

"NO CHEAP LACE!"

*stares at dress and bag*

*points*

And yet, she is BEAUTIFUL.

I have had this particular post sitting in my drafts for years from this blog. Because it's inspiration.

No cheap lace? I take that as a challenge.

My point is, wear whatever the frick you want to wear. If someone tells you it's not right, give them the middle finger and proudly be a lolita your way.

[dungeons-and-dorics]

Edgin Darvis Praise Kink Edgin Darvis Praise Kink Edgin Darvis Praise Kink Edgin Darvis Praise Kink Edgin Darvis Praise Kink

[wiltingdecay]

julian and portia's mam was probably so fucking pretty

[thor-is-trans-and-pan-he-told-me]

I like on how every MGR boss's theme connects with their story or the overall themes of their character.

Here are some examples.

Bladewolf's theme is about how he is forced to fight and longs for his own freedom.But he takes matter into his own paws(felt weird saying hands instead of paws),and decides to live his own life on his terms,and breaks free of the chains and restrictions that held back him previously.

Despite the pain and the mental scars left on him,he has a life of his own.One in which he doesn't have to be afraid.One in which he is completely in control of the choices he makes.He is his own master now.

Mistral's theme is about how she was a stranger who for as long as she can remember,only considers the battlefield her home.Yet she lacks an identity,a purpose and a cause to die for.

And she is a essentially a stranger to purpose.But now she's found a place where she belongs,a place in which she's given a cause and a purpose to die for.No longer a stranger.

Sam's theme is about how,in the pursuit of justice and vengeance,he lost himself.He is not the man he once was,he is a man who has been broken and destroyed.

He is nothing but a tool for Desperado,a tool that only knows how to kill.Yet despite it all,he doesn't know why.Why does he fight?If he doesn't know why,then he should stop right?That's the thing,he can't.He can't stop because it's the only thing he knows.

He feels as if he has to,even though he doesn't know why he fights in the first place.He can't take back the things he did,because he did it for justice and honour.But by the time,he owns up to his mistakes,its too late.He's too far gone.

[talentforlying]

none of the muses on my hellblazer multi are linked to the canon of my constantine portrayal, but i think that i am going to bring my ellie's canon divergence over here (summary post) in regards to hellblazer #104 & its ramifications in 125-128, bc that still does not sit well with me and i will be annoying about it forever. john constantine respects chantinelle in this house, even if they did still betray each other in the end; they simply have too much history for him to be so pointlessly goddamn cruel when he knows full well that she would probably have agreed to a trade of some kind instead.

[melonthesprigatito]

My Favourite Characters to Play as in Lego The Incredibles, but in Animal Crossing (Free Downloadable Custom Designs)

Voyd:

Blazestone (yes, I prefer the canon blue supersuit, apparently that's a controversial issue)

Stratogale

Psycwave

Stormicide

[pennyroks77]

hey you! do you like ghost stories? do you know what makes ghost stories even better? when you thrift them!

it really adds to the spooky experience, and it's affordable!

I really like authors like Katie Alender and K.R Alexander! guess how I found out about their work? by thrifting ghost stories!

seriously! buy the scholastic middle school paperbacks. buy the works by obscure authors. secondhand books are the coolest thing and usually cost <$5.

bought and read a book you didn't like? good! read books that you don't like! get out of your comfort zone! "oh, what do I do with this book that I own but don't like" there's plenty of stuff you can do. give it to a friend. sell it. donate it. better yet, turn it into blackout poetry to enhance the spooky feel. (hint: don't use a sharpie because they bleed and don't last very long. use paint or a regular black marker instead.)

build up a big collection of ghost stories if you like them! they also look super cool on your shelf!

[the-critic-god-of-books]

a word to the tumbloes

stop wasting your time with “i wish someone would write this” or “i wish someone would make a game about this” you can write go write it.it doesn’t have to be good it can be shit if you don’t plan on publishing it you can just write what ever.wanna make a game a blahaj is only 30$ buy one give to a trans girl she is now obligated to make you a game.never in human history has the resources need to create been so easy to get your hands on go out there make some shit

and bird make a conlang

[go-to-the-mirror]

I understand wanting your blorbo to have Done No Wrong and be perfectly innocent and good, so you never have to think about the implications of your favourite character having done horrible things, with the justification not erasing it.

You want your blorbo to be good. You don't want to think about the bad stuff they've done. I get that. But taking away the whole essence of the character, removing the elements of them that make them interesting, removing the point of them entirely, isn't good.

I should say "it's fine, everyone has their own interpretations," and sure, do what you want with your interpretations, but if you want my opinions, no, it's not fine, it's bloody irritating.

You take this fantastic character, where half of their point is "moral complexity, am I right?" and reduce them down to where they're no longer that character. You know, you can love something that isn't perfect. You should start loving something that isn't perfect. Or maybe make an OC, because I've muted so many people on AO3 it's unreal.