#☆;; muse relevant imagery

[invictarre-archive]

every so often I feel the need to remind people of these specific screenshots

[funkaliicious]

[castleclysm]

this gets its own post actually

[chubbycherubx]

muse profile—the martyr

sensitive and repressed.

➸ name: sebastian

➸ pronouns: he/him

➸ source: st sebastian by nicolas régnier. 1620.

➸ age: 404 years old

➸ bio: quiet and stubborn. he becomes easily lonely but finds it difficult to recognize his own emotions. he harbors a lot of internalized anger and catholic guilt towards himself for being gay which he doesn’t know how to sort out. he is very kind and dubiously forgiving (he doesn’t hold grudges, but he also doesn’t forget them). those arrows go where he goes. he could take them out but he doesn’t.

➸ favors: poetry, rosaries, crucifixes, read to him, conversations about roman history, taking out and/or putting in arrows.

[please-picturemeintheweeds]

Ooooh my god yes!! This is sooo beautifully written!! You’ve laid out soo much in this post, I want to come back to it again later, too…

I have been feeling all day like So High School is a really fundamental piece of this collection! It’s the giddy, defiant response to the psychological horror story that plays out over most of the record.

It’s a public Freudian excavation of herself. The relationship dramas, the trials of fame, the break up and the rebound are incidental in the much more legendary story about a woman’s descent into madness. She finds her agency along the way. She pulls herself out of hell using her own declarations of truth and her imagination as the rope. She lays out evidence in order to psychoanalyze herself and go back to where it all began. She discovers that the prophecy is not only about finding/losing love, but about her being the chosen one, Cassandra, forced by fate (or is it choice?) to shoulder the burden of speaking for scorned women. Where does fate meet free will, and how do other people’s choices alter the course of a life? What about when people violate you? And isn’t this just the cycle of life, destined to play out over and over again as we continue to grow and change until we die?

So, back to So High School- maybe she has had agency of her own fate all along, even if others didn’t respect it… maybe she can make a different choice NOW, without having to turn back the clock…. It’s a reclamation of the childhood/innocence/land/voice that was taken from her, and it’s a declaration that she is the captain of this ship!

The thing about her musings on her youth in this album is not just about the spending her “prime” years with someone who ultimately couldn’t give her what she thought they both wanted (family, but also in general sense the happiness you get when you’re young and your whole lives are ahead of you).

There’s SO much about her youth in general here, and how the demons of the past have raised and broken her. How each of these experiences have chipped away at her youth. This whole album is give me back my girlhood, it was mine first.

It’s all the things she’s talking about had are part of the same big trauma of the loss of that youth and innocence. It’s snakegate and how Kim K and her lackeys deliberately set out to destroy Taylor’s reputation for sport, which ripped out Taylor’s last few grasps of that young adulthood freedom without her consent. It’s mulling the price she’s paid for spending her entire youth in the spotlight and becoming a commodity instead of a person. It’s looking at a friend’s child and wishing she could protect them from the world the way she wishes she could have been had she known. It’s putting your trust in your first love who ripped the rug out from under you and your faith along with it. It’s spending your time pining for your younger days in the haze of unspeakable loss. It’s carving off parts of yourself as you grow up to make yourself palatable to your peers and your partners and as a result not knowing what parts of you are left. It’s revisiting a love from your past when you still had it all, and after the initial frenzy realizing its hollow. And yes, it’s pouring your heart and soul into a relationship you think is forever and with each passing year the light in the window flickering dimmer and dimmer, only to realize the light wasn’t coming from your home after all, and you may lose your chance to find it again before it’s too late and the dreams you so desperately cling to vanish for good.

And that’s what the end message I think ends up being in So High School: she’s reclaiming the land as it were. All these things that were taken from her and that she gave up are up for a redo. And it’s not rewriting the past, it’s coming to the realization that all those parts are still within her but so is the good. That the freedom she gave up when she released her first album is still found in the backseat of a boy’s car all these years later. That she’s older and wiser and battleworn but that doesn’t mean she can’t find that joy and lightness. “I feel so high school when I look at you” is kind of a loaded statement from someone who didn’t really get to go to high school (both actually and metaphorically). “Bittersweet sixteen suddenly” (love that wordplay btw) because again— she’s been through so much that the feelings of new love that make her giddy like a girl are tinged because she’s been here before and also never been here before because she was never that kid.

(There’s also a whole tangent there comparing Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince to So High School and how fraught the first is vs the lightness of this one.)

That’s why this isn’t just a breakup album. It’s why she dredges up 2016 and Jake and Aaron’s son and childhood and high school and any other number of things. Because she has spent her entire youth and adulthood grappling with the issues that came to roost in TTPD, and while this whole experience underscores that you can never know what’s going on with someone (least of all Taylor, a stranger to us all), I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that she has stressed how much healthier and whole she is now. That is why this whole album is a bloodletting, but it’s not just about a broken relationship. It’s about a whole belief system that has stolen girlhood from her and she’s determined to piece back together in the aftermath of the autopsy.

[just-a-ghost00]

Your next significant relationship - Who? When? Where?

Group 1 - Controler

Letters : N U Z E D M L K I O S Significant words/names/signs : SKZ, nudes, suki, soul, miso, sun, zen, Leo, kids, Nike, Mike, lion, Leon, noise, sound, Link, links, Dion, Zeus, Odin, Oden, onze (french for 11), douze (french for 12), uno, dos/due, dom, Muse, likes, silk, sold, DMs, solid, kudos, doki, slime, smile, Milo, miko

WHO ? - The Empress / STRENGTH / Herkimer diamond : power wash your energy This person is not what they seem. They may look harsh on the surface but deep down they are as fragile as Quartz. People may only judge them based on their looks and not who they are at there core. They are beautiful without a doubt. Extremely sensual and feminine. Their beauty feels ethereal. They are highly sensitive and spiritual. They could be a healer. The Herkimer diamond card mentions New York's Mohawk Valley where it can be found. So maybe this person is a New Yorker or they would like to travel to New York. With the strength card being related to fire, this person could have important fire placements in their chart (Leo, Sagittarius, Aries). They are powerful and determined. They know what they want and they won't back down no matter what you put them through. Though this person is affected by what people think of them, they would rather die than show it. They could have red hair. Their hair is rather long and straight. They like to wear bracelets. They are connected to the stars. They are grounded and protected by the universe. The Empress is also assiocated with Taurus. They present themselves as a woman. They feel close to their ancestors. It might be that there were warriors in their bloodline. Especially women. Their women ancestors were fierce in battle and they like to take after them and ask for their guidance. I'm feeling a strong connection to witches and shamans.

WHERE ? - 9 of swords / UNDERWORLD / Barite : get answers to your biggest questions. Places this person could be from or have been to at some point are : USA -> Nevada, Misouri, Georgia, Texas / China / India / Morocco / Mexico / Iran / Kazakhstan / Canada / Australia / Thailand / Nigeria / Peru / UK -> Scotland The 9 of swords card shows imagery of a woman lying down in the snow, with mountains in the background. So this person could live in a cold climate country/region. I'm thinking of the Alps, Himalaya, Caucasus, Alaska range. I'm thinking about Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Russia, Groenland, Iceland. Any city starting with a U or a B. Furthermore the character on the card has a dress with an important amount of stars on it, which reminded me of the European Union flag. In terms of the meeting, it could be through social media. The underworld card gives me a sense of mystery, of something being hidden. So it could be the dark web for some. Or on a website that keeps things hidden from people (i.e. content available only for subscribers or a private account). Also you could meet them in your dreams before you meet in 3D. Also, the underworld could be a metaphor for rave parties, clubs and so on. They could live or you could meet near an important building or monument.

WHEN ? - XXI The World / NATURE / Labradorite : protect your magic. The labradorite card mentions Aurora Borealis and the sign of Pisces. So Winter could be relevant, as well as the period from mid February to mid March. The number 21 could be relevent. So if we think in terms of dates it could be 02.21 or 03.21. The World speaks of cycles as well as the long term. So it could represent several years in terms of timing. When it comes to zodiac signs, The World is related to fixed signs. So Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius season could be relevant as well. Which means that you could meet them between mid April to mid May, mid July to mid August, mid October to mid November or mid January to mid February. The World could also represent a time of your life when you are traveling abroad. Again, the character depicted on the card has a lot of stars in their hair. So I'm thinking of the USA as well as the EU. As she is dressed in red, holds red roses and has horns on her head, I'm also being reminded of Spain. The nature card could talk about a time of your life when you are in the wild, connecting with nature, taking a break from the drama of big city life.

Group 2 - Phone

Letters : T E N N U L N O R I S Significant words/names/signs : tennis, Noris, Noe, Noel, runs, Euro, sun, tenor, soul, norns, nine, tunes, Sonne (Rammstein song), Uriel, notes, nuns, trio, route, routines, Riolu (pokémon name), Loire (region in France), Lorie, LOTR, rise, sonnet, soir (french word for evening), nuit (french for night), riots, Lise, lotus

WHO? - IV The Emporor / Sacred Sexuality / Sapphire : find your tranquil place. This person is very masculine and grounded. They could be a father and/or a leader, a mentor, an entrepreneur. The sign of Aries could be significant. They are incredibly determined and strong. Their sexual drive is high. They pay a lot of attention to their health and appearance. They have a lot of sex appeal. This person could be in the fashion industry or could even be that they get money from people watching their body (selling pictures of them, having access to private erotic content). They could have a bit of a bad temper. Piercings also seem significant. On the sacred sexuality card, there’s a full moon and roses. This tell me this person is a romantic and is more of a night owl. They have an important status. We’re talking about company owners, freelance artists, lawyers, head officers, doctors, headmasters of big schools, politicians and so on.

WHERE? - 6 of swords / MOVEMENT / Garnet : get into your depth. -> places they could be from or have gone to : Czekoslovakia, Kenya, Madagascar, India. The 6 of swords depicts a beautiful woman rowing a boat on a lake. Behind her is a white mountain. In her boat are two herons. So Africa seems significant, particularly Tanzania where Kilimandjaro can be found. I’m also thinking of the Mt Fuji in Japan, in Yamanashi. This person lives near an important body of water. Or you might meet them there. Another thing that is significant is movement. So you could meet them where you’re going on a trip, as you travel or relocate. You could meet them on a boat. Anyplace you want to create something (art, music, writing and so on). When looking at « get into your depth » this gives me the feeling you could meet this person in the 5D before meeting them in person, like through dreams or meditation.

WHEN? Queen of wands and VI The Lovers - DARE TO DREAM - Citrine : manifest your masterpiece. First of all I have to say, when I was shuffling the cards for the WHEN? the bells of the nearby Church started ringing. So this tells me when you're going to Church either for communion or for a wedding. Summer is significant, especially from mid June to mid July. I would even say the month of June is the most significant of the two. When you go after your dreams, you will meet this person. On the DARE TO DREAM card, you can see a diamond trapped in an eagle's claw. For some reasons it reminded me of metal and rock bands, of concerts and big events like the Superbowl. So maybe one of your dreams is to go watch your favorite band/artist live or to go to Hellfest or any big convention that is happening in Summer. If there are any French people here, I'm thinking of the Olympics happening this Summer in Paris. And also the Japan Expo convention. In terms of timing, I’d say in a few months.

Group 3 - Mirror

First of all I want to say my coffee spilled as I did your reading. So either you or this person is super clumsy and/or coffee is significant in your relationship. Letters : E L I C O O E U J I A Y

Words/names/signs : Jay, Jey, Joy, Jolie, Julia, Julie, Jule, July, Lucy, cool, jail, Luc, Loïc, Alice, ciel (French for Sky), clue, juice, école (French for school), eco , CEO, Lucie, Lucia, Cloe

WHO? - XVII The Star / Ancestors / Obsidian : protect your soul. Aquarius comes in strongly for this reading. This person is an introvert. They are often seen as a daydreamer, someone that doesn’t care about earthly life. They look like their head is in the stars. Which, in some way is true. This person connects strongly with the Ethers. Social media seems to be important. They could be an influencer or have a certain amount of followers that they help. Think of tarot readings, raising awareness about certain subjects (mental health, disabilities, menstrual cycle, sexuality and so on). This person could be famous in some type of way or they are going to be at some point in their life. Overall they have a good reputation among their peers. They are valued for their work ethic and their deep insights. They are divinely protected. Family business comes to mind. They care about family a lot, especially the deceased ones. This person would be the type to seek out advice from their ancestors or try to honor them as much as they can. Scorpio is also a sign that seems relevant. I don’t know why but I thought of a surgeon. So maybe they have undergone an important surgery. Or they are very sharp. Because I definitely don’t feel this person is a surgeon. Well it could be, but honestly I feel more the energy of influencers and public speakers, like ambassadors of NGOs and stuff like that. Soft and caring, they feel and look rather feminine. Giving more than receiving. They love animals. They draw a lot of attention just from their presence. I think their aura is pretty strong and vibrant. Connected to nature, especially trees and plants.

WHERE? - 7 of pentacles / movement / Herkimer diamond You could meet at work, as you’re changing jobs or they are. During a break at work while you’re printing/scanning papers. In sacred spaces. New York. Somewhere in a lot of greenery like a park or a farm. As for places they could come from or have been to, we have : Norway, Ukraine, Arizona, China, Afghanistan, Herkimer county. If not these places, there could be farms where this person lives. Also they live in a place where there is a lot of activity, especially work wise. So this makes me think of hot spots like La Défense in Paris where a lot of businesses and political administrations can be found. Other places like that would be : Midtown New York, La City London, Marunouchi Tokyo, The Loop Chicago, Bankenviertel Frankfurt, Zuidas Amsterdam, Gangnam Seoul and so on.

WHEN? - 4 of swords / Death / Aquamarine : Keep your cool. You could meet on the fourth of a month, in April. At a time when you’ve lost your voice or when you are going Hermit mode, when you are sick or when you are mourning a loss. During a period of depression. During Scorpio season. In several weeks. Also it could be when someone or something pushes your buttons but you can’t express your frustration somehow. That could be anything really. Like queueing for registration in a building and someone is trying to take your spot. Or shopping at the mall and a customer is being super rude but since there are children around you can’t fully tell this person what you think of their attitude. Stuff like that.

[poetryforall]

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[watchmorecinema]

David Lynch died 2 weeks ago. I've been revisiting his catalogue as a result, and most recently I watched The Straight Story.

I first found Lynch as a young teenager. In one weekend I had seen Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive, plus a handful of his shorts like Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times). Over the next couple of weeks I watched all of Twin Peaks. By coincidence I had already seen The Elephant Man at school around the same time (I cannot for the life of me remember which class or why it was relevant).

But The Straight Story eluded me. It didn't seem weird in the way I was expecting from Lynch, so I assumed it was boring. In a sense I'm glad I did, because I would not have appreciated it without being an adult.

Lynch is known for being weird, but he's even more focused on being humanistic and relatable. All his works are about people with little quirks and backstories that make them completely unique, but then they have the same passion, emotions and experiences that you or I would have. Eraserhead is truly surreal, with a man in the moon, a woman in a radiator and a bunch of psychosexual imagery, but at its core it's about a man worried about fatherhood.

The Straight Story is about Alvin Straight. His brother is over 300 miles away and just had a stroke, but Alvin can't drive due to his poor vision. Instead he does what he can: drives a lawnmower the entire way, taking 6 weeks to do so. Everywhere he goes he meets people and muses about life, aging, hope and humanity. Nothing much happens over the course of the plot, instead choosing to focus on these human stories. It's a really sweet, hopeful film and probably the purest distillation of Lynch's essence. Strip away all the weirdness and surreal imagery from any of his films and you're left with a true love of humanity.

I'm excited to rewatch his other films. I haven't seen any of them (other than Mulholland Drive) since being a teenager and I'm excited to see them with fresh eyes and more life experience.

If you've never seen a Lynch film do yourself a favor and seek him out. You'll be glad you did.*

*Your mileage may vary if watching Dune.

[if-loki-was-a-fox]

having started watching Wild Life, my autistic ass is now trying to assign the wildcards to tma entities

the snails are easy, they're obviously hunt, but i'm not so sure about the others. the changing sizes in the first episode is kinda giving spiral? possibly flesh. and i think the food switching in the second one could be corruption? mainly based on the hunger/starvation/various poisoning effects

you're the only other person i've seen talk about both so uh. d'you have any thoughts?

- 🦴

(I have so many thoughts, this post is about to spiral so far out of control 'cus I love musing on stuff—)

I was actually thinking about this exactly while watching the latest episodes! The snails had initially struck me as corruption, being slimy little bug-adjacent creatures, but that's so purely aesthetic that the moment you see them in action it's just incredibly clear that they're just straight up The Hunt, as clear cut as it could possibly be tbh.

Maybe a bit of The End with the whole instant kill thing, the invincibility/immortality of the snails, and the kind of inevitability of the snails getting you eventually

The other two are definitely a lot harder

Session 2's gimmick of not being able to eat food / having to eat blocks, with it's themes of eating, kinda reminds me of a lot of Flesh statements in first thought tbh, but without any actual meat (and in fact, meat being the one thing they solidly can't eat) it just doesn't seem to follow through on more than a shallow level. Though maybe from the more fandom angle with the gore-ish-ness of teeth cracking on stone, and how bloody swallowing your own sword incorrectly would be, that kinda fits Flesh

Thinking on the actual energy of that gimmick as it played out in the videos, with the huge change and upset to normalcy that leads to catastrophic results and mass panic, I almost want to say it has some Extinction vibes, but without the "man made"/"we brought this upon ourselves" aspect I'm not sure it quite works out

The Corruption idea I don't think I would have thought of on my own, but it makes some sense too. The whole idea of food making you sick, or of all the other ill affects from just trying not to starve/die, the variety of ways you're almost guaranteed to get poisoned and hurt before you figure out something actually edible..

Corruption and Buried are also both fun to consider with the imagery of having to eat dirt and the like. Buried doesn't have any other relevance tho as far as I can think

Rhyme's suggested The Stranger, as it's solidly an example of the familiar being made unfamiliar, but most manifestations of The Stranger play very heavily on it being other people that are strange and weird, in my observations, so I'm not sure if it's quite right

Spiral also works well with the familiar being bad incomprehensible tho I think. The gimmick doesn't make them doubt reality, but it does rely a lot on them being confused and no longer being able to understand and rely on what should be such a basic backbone to reality (eating food makes you less hungry). A lot of the fear and panic on that session comes from that I think, the logic of world not working the way it should, which fits Spiral fairly well

Session 1 I honestly don't know about. The size changing mechanic didn't strike as much fear into everyone as the other two, which makes it a bit harder to categorize what fear it does cause

Maybe The Buried at times, because there were concerns about getting too big in spaces that were too small

Or The Vast, because of the whole "too big" idea in and of itself, and how getting too big could theoretically play into fear of heights (though it didn't much actually do so in the videos). It also had several incidents of falling to deaths, which is pretty fitting for The Vast. Vast feels like the most aesthetically fitting tho, with heights and sizes being pretty big things with it

Spiral and Flesh definitely make sense too though, playing off of the idea of your very self changing. Constantly shrinking and growing with only a certain level of control to it does kinda feel body-horror-ish, and the whole questioning if what even was changing and if their sizes were changing at the begining could also play into spiral ideas. The whole thing was a bit dream-like

Thinking about how the different fears can play into stuff is fun :]

[lordofthestrix]

What is your muse's Pokemon team?

Very well. Here is the thing. After an admittedly dreadful delay keeping this in my askbox, I will give it a try since it sounds like a fun challenge but it should be noted that I don't have any substantial knowledge concerning Pokemon. So this is basically me blindly exploring the corresponding wikia and hoping that placing some Tristan-related keywords in the search bar grants me any luck. The teams are apparently made of six members. (Yes. I had to search that first. Just so we are clear about my lack of expertise concerning the franchise) 1-Serperior.

This classy, slithering, giant-snake fellow, is allegedly literally based on french nobility. So I had good fortune with its existence. Not much to explain here. It says that "It can stop its opponents' movements with just a glare..." and that "They raise their heads to intimidate opponents but only give it their all when fighting a powerful opponent." and I suspect Tristan would approve that attitude. 2) Noctowl.

This will come as a surprising shock. I have been awfully silent on the issue since I began writing for my associated vampire but the forgotten truth of the matter is that...Tristan is linked to owl imagery sometimes. Beyond that? It says that "Its extremely soft wings make no sound in flight. It silently sneaks up on prey without being detected.", "If it flips its head upside down, it's a sign that it is engaged in very complex thinking." and "With eyes that can see in pitch-darkness, it never lets its prey escape. Some even call it the emperor of dark nights.” All classic owl but also Strix-related, secrecy, mastermind and domination allusions. Every member should have one of these birds of prey. 3) Haxorus.

Only the third one and I'm already struggling to find any relevant choices. So...The way I see it, this is a dinosaur with axes as part of his head. There is something inherently cool about that. I believe Tristan would agree with that assessment. Can I actually directly associate it with him in any way? Yes I can. We see Tristan hitting the mark at axe throwing during flashbacks. They are clearly a match. 4-Absol.

It appears that this peculiar looking beast is a controversial figure inside the universe. Some descriptions express: "Every time Absol appears before people, it is followed by a disaster such as an earthquake or a tidal wave. As a result, it came to be known as the disaster Pokémon." while others argue: "Absol has the ability to foretell the coming of natural disasters. As a result, it was mistaken as a doom-bringer." Two reasons why I think this is a suitable choice: 1) There is a certain constant duality about Tristan between "offering salvation" to his people while feeling perfectly comfortable dispensing plagues and wars upon the rest of the world to achieve their goals. While not misunderstood like this creature seemingly is, thematically both sides of the coin work. 2) Tristan would see the utility of a being capable of warning him of possible imminent dangers. The Ariane of the group, so to speak. 5-Chandelure.

Cursed candelabra. Why not? The descriptions reads "The spirits burned up in its ominous flame lose their way and wander this world forever." Darker than I assumed this franchise to be, I admit. But not everything about this choice is diabolical. Tristan would also like to have something to offer warmth with when the freezing winds intrude. Just...At a cautious not-burning-your-spirit-forever distance. So this appeals to both the monster and the gentleman. 6-Latios/Latias.

I was hunting for something related to family and these two appear to be brother and sister so...The red one for Aurora and the blue one for Tristan? This one is pending confirmation. I should consult with 𝔍𝔲𝔩𝔢𝔰 if Aurora would like to have the matching, jet-like...Bird? Dragon?

[7grandmel]

Rip of the week: 25/11/2024

Slope Dude

Season 4 Episode 2 Featured on: Summer-Colored Smiles ~ The SiIvaSummer All-Star Festival Collection

Ripped by eg_9371

You may notice it's been a while since the last post, as it was with the post before it, and so on. Truth be told, the switch to weekly posting came with its own set of issues for my flow of work; mainly, that I've gotten too damn ambitious in my writing for some of these posts. I'm incredibly happy with the end results of a lot of them and feel more confident in being able to wholeheartedly recommend reading any of my post-hiatus posts than I do a majority of my pre-hiatus posts...but it also means that I'm met with self-induced hurdles on how and what to write about. I can't just cover a rip that I just find funny and neat; It has to be historical, it has to be magnificent, it has to have immaculate pathos, has to tie into the SiIvaGunner spirit or whatever else I find myself waxing on about...

No, you know what? Screw it. I'm behind on my posts anyway. We're doing a simple goodie today. Writing the same day it's posted, of a rip I just keep returning to for a good laugh, with no strings attached. Old-school style. Slope Dude.

Back on Lagplane, I mused a bit about the novelty of memes that leave us almost as quickly as they arrive, the consequences of the intensely rapid meme economy born from modern social media. It was a lot of waffling to justify writing about a flamboyant Andrew Tate impersonator, but it's hardly as if these trend-based jokes are a new occurrence on SiIva. I'm reminded of how 2016 saw a handful of rips poking fun at then-notorious online figure Keemstar, for instance – but perhaps stranger than these, are when jokes on SiIva crop up without any recent relevancy, are incredibly prominent for the length of a season or so, and then fade away just as suddenly as they appeared. Unlike Stuck Inside of FEEL SO FINE STUCK INSIDE fame, unlike the Mad Mew Mew Becoming Uncanny rips, unlike so many other jokes on the channel...the appearance of Game Dude on SiIvaGunner throughout Season 4 felt as if it came out of nowhere, made even stranger by just how limited its presence felt. We got a handful of rips, a bunch of appearances in medley rips, a cameo in a lore video, and then the tune was out just as quickly as it had entered. No relevancy, no big explosive tie to the themes or intent of Season 4 Episodes 1 or 2 in particular; just a silly theme with a handful of rippers who decided to play around with it.

Part of me wonders, akin to rips like old town ribbon race, just how much of the appeal of the joke here becomes lost without whollistic knowledge of its lore. The tale of Game Dude is one of the internet's many bizarre sidequests, long overdue for a YouTube video essay a la HBomberGuy's body of work to truly bring it all to light, yet for now still remaining obscure enough to only be spread in whispers between those who know. It was the kind of thing I myself was given the "privilege" of uncovering on my own terms after first watching a Game Grumps episode built entirely on indirectly mocking him and growing all-too-curious about what he's up to; one of many Angry Video Nerd Clones trying and failing ever so badly at being funny playing bad video games, Game Dude's last legacy online would be to be known as the guy who fled his home state when called to court over stalking his ex-girlfriend. It gives the imagery of a bumbling, somewhat pathetic figure, someone who tried and failed to find online fame through poor mimicry and wound up unable to take proper responsibility for themselves. Like the aforementioned Lagplane, it adds just that extra aura to the theme song attached to the character, the original intro to his theme songs; once a song with the levity focused on the games and show now feels as if its mocking the very person making the videos themselves. Indeed, few things are as certain as life, death, and the Nostalgia Critic effect.

All that is to say, that I get a lot of amusement from the Game Dude theme, and of all its handful of rips focusing exclusively on it I think eg_9371 hit the nail right on the head with Slope Dude. There's no gimmicks, twists or turns; its as simple as a melodyswap/arrangement rip can be, an Outertale or Jesus of the Underground that trades in the pathos and nostalgia for a complete commitment to the silliness of the bit. Slope from Super Mario RPG, like much of the game's soundtrack, already has such a bombastically silly tone to it; the buildup to the main melody finally kicking in at 0:14 in particular sells the joke so much harder, a marching band drum roll all to introduce the fucking Game Dude theme. The instrumentation feels absolutely perfect for the tune and is matched equally as perfectly by the context said tune appears in in the game, running after Booster up a slope midway through the game. The hummability of the melody, the context of Game Dude's situation and the silliness of the sound means the jokes write themselves; as one commenter says, "He is the Game Dude // He is so rude // He flees the country // when his court date is due".

As per expected of eg_9371 and his ripping prowess, Slope Dude is about as pitch perfect as it could be, an idea pursued to its logical endpoint much like Forest of Tears or dong music. Regardless of scale or time invested, the rip ends up being enjoyable in such a simple way, applying the perfect amount of levity applicable to such an absurd figure of YouTube's past. It's likely a lot of SiIva viewers completely forgot that Game Dude was at one small point considered a reoccurring meme on the channel, and he never quite got anywhere past his introduction the same way something like the similar-in-spirit Minecraft With Gadget of Season 2 got with Become as Gadget. Yet the small handful of rips featuring him were still there, all condensed all into Season 4 Episode 2 in particular; and though he's likely to remain forgotten by most fans, I'll remain a loyal Game Dude – and Slope Dude – fan until nobody else remains.

[invictarre-archive]

time for this again :)))))))))

#☆;; answered#☆;; in character#☆;; out of character#☆;; inbox memes#☆;; musings & aesthetics#☆;; dash commentary#☆;; dash games#☆;; headcanons#☆;; muse relevant imagery#☆;; dyn. ree / skullkxd#☆;; dyn. guzma / onlyheartaches#☆;; dyn. dani / jocundcompany#☆;; dyn. allister / ghxsthide#☆;; dyn. james / spikemuthtoothfairy

and probably loads of others I'm missing

[funkaliicious]

for all my lovely darling followers unfamiliar with ghost trick... check out cabanela's debut appearance

[castleclysm]

hate that he says this with a little :) face

[allabout-blog]

Corinne Day: A Visionary of Raw Reality in Fashion

Corinne Day’s name resonates as a trailblazer in the anti-fashion movement. Her raw, unpolished photography shattered the glamour-laden norms of the 1980s, redefining the way fashion is captured and perceived. Through her work, Day unveiled a world that was both beautiful and flawed, proving that authenticity could eclipse the allure of perfection.

The Journey to Authenticity

Day’s foray into fashion was as unconventional as her photography. A high school dropout turned catalog model, she stumbled into the world of photography after meeting her future partner, Mark Szaszy, in the mid-1980s. Teaching herself the craft, Day began documenting her friends with a candidness that set her apart from her contemporaries.

Her breakthrough came in 1990 with The Third Summer of Love, an editorial for The Face featuring a young Kate Moss laughing on a beach. The shoot was casual, spontaneous, and refreshingly unfiltered—a stark departure from the polished artifice dominating fashion spreads at the time. This editorial not only launched Day’s career but also cemented her as the unofficial documentarian of the anti-fashion ethos.

Collaboration and Controversy

Day’s synergy with stylist Melanie Ward and muse Kate Moss defined her most iconic works. Together, they created editorials like England’s Dreaming and Under Exposed, capturing a vulnerability that was rare in fashion imagery. Yet, this rawness sparked controversy. The hauntingly natural photos of Moss in Under Exposed, for instance, became central to the “heroin chic” debate, with critics accusing Day of glorifying unhealthy ideals.

In truth, Day’s work was a rebellion against the glossy deceptions of the fashion industry. Having endured the pressures of modeling, she sought to document her subjects as they were, not as they were made to appear. Her images forced audiences to confront the reality behind the fantasy—a discomfort many were unprepared for.

A Legacy Beyond Fashion

The tension between her unvarnished perspective and the industry’s glossy expectations eventually led Day to withdraw from fashion. During this period, she turned inward, documenting her battle with cancer in her photo book Diary. These images are a poignant testament to her resilience and commitment to capturing life as it is, not as we wish it to be.

Day’s eventual return to fashion, spurred by stylist Panos Yiapanis, saw her merge her raw aesthetic with a more refined approach. Her 2001 photograph of Moss in a Rick Owens leather jacket for French Vogue became a pivotal moment in fashion history, propelling Owens to global recognition.

The Enduring Relevance of Corinne Day

Corinne Day’s work remains a beacon of authenticity in an era where digital retouching often reigns supreme. Her photographs remind us of the beauty in imperfection and the power of vulnerability. She exposed the humanity beneath the surface, challenging the fashion world to reckon with its own constructs.

For today’s creatives, Day’s legacy is a call to embrace the messy, the real, and the honest. Her images continue to inspire, proving that in a world of curated perfection, raw reality will always find its audience.

-made with love 4 u.

[1nm8translations]

edN Lyrics Translation & Song and MV Analysis

This time, I dive deeper into the themes and symbolism in the lyrics of edN and the imagery used in the MV. The analysis is based on my own translation. Includes spoilers for the 1Nm8 lore revealed so far, also after the release of FATE.

Please find edN by 1Nm8 and its official MV here.

As this analysis is being written after the release of SHOWDOWN and S∀G∀, I will make references to it where I believe it’s relevant or that something in the MV or the song is foreshadowing. You can find my analysis of S∀G∀ here.

As always, this analysis is subjective and you’re free to agree, disagree, or agree only with parts of it and have your own interpretations! I simply like making these and sharing them in hope my musings will be interesting to other fans. 

Keep in mind my translation includes some liberties in wording where I could tweak something for rhythm and rhyme, but the meaning should not be affected. I explained my choices in the analysis. Without further ado, let’s discuss edN and it’s:

General themes:

At least some songs from FATE and RAGE are directed at the opposing group (for example, Hit em up is a clear diss at VISTY, and License to Kill has a reference to the conflict between Iori and Hancho as the extension of his history with Zen), and edN can also be interpreted as a message from 1Nm8 to TCW, at least in some parts.

I think some of the verses are directed at each other, and the chorus seems to be a message to Alter Trigger, though.

edN is mostly about 1Nm8’s goal and mission, with the strongest religious references out of their first three songs. However, there is a darker undertone to it.

Finally, I think edN shows contrast between the members the most from their songs so far.

Imagery

There’s a lot of white in the MV. First, it’s a part of the religious imagery - together with pillars, windows and arches reminiscent of a church. White stands for what’s pure, correct and holy.

However, white can also be a reference to the Alter Trigger facility Itsuki and Rokuta were kept at. The facility, in turn, is a symbol for what they’re fighting against. See the irony? I believe it may be intentional, showing them as two sides of a coin, and how easily righteousness can be corrupted - like at the beginning of the MV.

Finally, the white may be a reference to 1Nm8’s slogan of “Return to blank”, destruction to a blank slate to build again.

Then, the imagery in each of the members verses could be interpreted as their unique ways of “rebuilding”. It shows the contrasts between the members but also how they complete each other.

Kei is surrounded by floating broken parts, which means initiates the destruction. He’s the one who has formulated their plan and recruited the others. However, also contributes the ideas and ideals, which is shown by the floating models.

Meanwhile, the background in Itsuki’s verses features spirals, harmonious shapes and regular, flowing movement. 

I believe that it shows how he contributes calm and structure. Notice how even the typography in his verses is the most neat and orderly (at least in the beginning), in comparison to Kei’s warying fonts and sizes and quickly moving text, or Rokuta’s floating letters. It appears as if Itsuki was typing the words on a keyboard.

The “typing” might even be a reference to Itsuki seeing himself as a “memory recording machine”. 

However, one of 1nm8translation's followers, sugarstar-rabbits interpreted this differently (sharing with permission): that Itsuki typing out his lyrics gave it a cute personal touch. I think that is a good way to look at it too; you could see it as Itsuki being able to communicate better through music.

Finally, Rokuta is the most playful, with what looks like huge building blocks and floating round letters that remind me of a children’s show. While Kei can go to extremes and Itsuki gets cold and uncompromising, Rokuta brings in the warmth. He may use metaphors that are a bit childish, but he's the best at actually appealing to emotions and emotional needs.

Translation and Analysis

Aiight, Okay listen, Okay listen

目を覚ま

せ 時は刻む

キミを導く It's my mission

静かに秘めたambition

Aiight, Okay listen, Okay listen

Open your eyes, the clock is ticking

To lead you is my mission

The quietly hidden away ambition

Just as in the voice drama, Kei declares that he sees changing people’s views of Phantometal is his mission - implied as a mission from God by the imagery. The clock Kei is sitting in front of looks like a clock from a church tower. It also means he’s high up - literally and figuratively “above” the misguided people.

“Quietly hidden away ambition” might refer to Kei having hidden plans related to his objective or, possibly, the way he didn’t go public about Phantometal until Paradox Live gave him the opportunity.

古いシステム全部投げ捨て

躊躇なく壊す and reset

感じないか？

溢れ出した勘違いは

悪しき害さ

Do it right, huh

Throw the old system away

Don’t hesitate, break it and reset

Don’t you feel it?

Misunderstandings slipping out of control

Are an evil influence

Do it right, huh

“溢れ出した勘違いは” literally means “The misunderstandings that overflowed”, like water from a container, but “going out of control” conveys the meaning better in my opinion. The misunderstanding would be rappers thinking that Phantom lives and Phantometal are something good for them - the way TCW refuse to give up on it because of the belief they bring each other and people together with their music.

感情的なるなまずthinking

悪いがもうアラームが鳴るringing

遊びならまたにしてくれ

俺達には時間などない全然

Don’t get emotional, thinking should come first

I’m sorry, but the alarm is already ringing

If you want to play around, do it another day

We don’t have any more time left

I think this is one of the parts of the song that is adressed to TCW, based on the confrontation between Kei, Itsuki and Naoakira and Yohei. In the drama track, Itsuki admitted he can't comprehend the emotional response to their plea and their attachment to Phantom Lives.

This verse gets a completely different ring to it after the SHOWDOWN drama track. There, we see that using Phantometal has adverse effects other than just trap reactions on Rokuta, and based on this verse, it likely affects Itsuki badly in some unusual way as well. Despite this, both Itsuki and Rokuta are determined to further Kei’s ideals.

It makes it even more ominous that Itsuki’s wording here doesn’t promise that they would be here later for the “playing around” - it’s more like he’s saying “don’t waste our limited time”.

In my translation I switched “later” for “another day” for the sake of the rhyme.

繋ぐ点と点を線で

I can see clearly like a レントゲン

Yeah, no pain no gain

Back to the 原点

消し去る幻影

Like connecting the dots with a line 

I can see clearly like an X-ray

Yeah, no pain no gain

Back to the Origin

To obliterate the Phantom

The first two lines could be a reference to Itsuki’s abilities, but in the context of edN and the message of the song, I think it's more that he sees the truth behind Paradox Live and Phantometal.

This verse can also be seen as a flash forward to SHOWDOWN. “No pain no gain” is a cliche phrase, but in Itsuki’s and Rokuta’s situation it gains a more specific meaning - without suffering from Phantometal, they can’t accomplish their goal. If they stop out of concern for themselves, or Kei tries to stop them, they will fail.

Notice the black and white contrast. "Obliterate" is in black while "Phantom is in white. It's as if the MV was asking us "is this really the right thing to do?"

Yeah, History is

In the making

We're gonna be

The 1Nm8 King

なんどでもまたbreaking

The fight to try

Yeah, History is

In the making

We're gonna be

The 1Nm8 King

No matter many times, once again breaking

The fight to try

I find it interesting that Rokuta is the one who sings this part first (Kei repeats it later with the same lyrics). It shows how, despite his kindness and easygoing personality, he's just as commited to 1Nm8's goals.

ユルセナイ

そう思わないか？

覚悟を決めろ

地獄から手招きしてるピエロ

It’s unforgiveable,

Don’t you think?

So prepare for the worst

From hell, a pierrot beckons

I believe this part of the chorus adresses Alter Trigger - it's a declaration of war. The "unforgiveable" deeds would be of course their experimentation on the two and the damage the organization inflicted on many others - and continuing to pull strings bedind the scenes.

The phrase 覚悟を決めろ is often used in anime where a character or group challenges their opponent to a fight. It's like saying "prepare to get your ass kicked".

The 'pierrot' is fascinating because there's a few ways to interpret who it is supposed to be. The pierrot went from a sad fool in comedia dell'arte to a symbol of unpriviledged, opressed and misunderstood people in modern culture. Some artists, like Schoenberg, also used the pierrot's painted face as a symbol of hiding one's feelings and opinions.

Who is the pierrot in edN? I think it's either Ryu - Zero, or Kei. Ryu seems like an obvious choice. His cryptic speech and antics conceal sharp observational skills and the ability to see through people. He is also one of the worst affected by Alter Trigger's experiments.

On the other hand, Kei is the one who takes an active role in fighting for the victims of Alter Trigger and Phantometal. However, his arguments are dismissed by most, and he's seen as an unreasonable "fool".

The imagery in this verse shows Kei's silhouette going down a massive flight of stairs all alone - which may reflect that he has no support. He's stepping from the outside into a building which seems to be full of darkness. The only light is shining in from the outside.

Kei once tried to move away from Phantom Lives and even quit music, after he learned what Phantometal research has done to Rokuta, but he is voluntarily walking back into "hell" of Paradox Live for the sake of his mission of ending it once and for all. He "beckons" Itsuki and Rokuta who decide to follow him.

雑音(ノイズ)が付きまとうのさ

Everywhere we go

歪んだ世界から

今すぐ抜け出そう

We’re haunted by noise

Everywhere we go

As soon as we can

Let’s escape this twisted world

The 'noise' doesn't just mean loud sounds, but it can refer to interference or static, or even gossip or irresponsible criticism [1]. The 'noise' would be people trying to get in the way of 1Nm8's plans.

美しい破壊の音色 儚い

悪魔の声に耳を貸さない

恐れる必要はない

No sacrifice

僕たちが導く paradise

The melody of destruction is beautiful yet fleeting

Don’t lend your ear to the whisper of the devil

There’s no need to fear,

There will be no sacrifice

In the paradise we lead you to

This is another part that I feel is adressed to TCW. The lyrics acknowledge that Phantom Lives have their appeal, and may even be beautiful, but it's the devil speaking. 1Nm8's ideal world wouldn't require anyone to risk their health or life for music, hence "no sacrifice".

However, would it really be "paradise"? The sudden switch from white to black here feels ominous. While on the white background, the members have their eyes closed, as if dreaming, while when they open their eyes, the mood changes dramatically. It might be showing the contrast between their 'dream' and the reality of it or what they're doing to achieve it.

If you look closely, there is a round light behind them in both frames (in the second one, it's just very faint). It reminds me of an angel's halo, or perhaps a lamp from a lab.

High, ほら手を取って

連れてくよロケットでトップへ

空は高いけどまぁどうせ

オレとキミが楽しけりゃdon't care

High up, come, take my hand

I’ll take you to the top on a rocket

The sky is so far, but it’s no matter

As long as we enjoy ourselves, I don’t care

I've heard the phrase "the sky is far (lit. high up)" in several Japanese songs. It's a metaphor that refers to your dreams and goals seeming very far away and difficult, or even impossible to reach, like the sky above us.

However, Rokuta isn't going to be bothered by it! It's too far? Let's make a rocket!

At first, I took this verse as an encouragement directed at 1Nm8's listeners, but now, after listening to the SHOWDOWN drama, I think it might actually be meant for Itsuki. I loved how he cheered Itsuki on and looked out for him before they met Kei. It gave more depth to their relationship, and showed it's not just Itsuki taking care of Rokuta, but a give and take.

えーなんで悲しい顔してんの？

悪夢みたいな世界でも

キミにあげるよチケット

そして見届けようジ・エンド

Why are you making a sad face?

Even if this world seems like a nightmare

I will give you a ticket out of here

And see it through till the end

I added "out of here" to the "I will give you a ticket" line because I feel like it's strongly implied by context of the verse and the whole song, like in "Let's escape this twisted world" in the chorus.

Like I mentioned at the start, Rokuta is the one who notices things like sadness and hopelessness and offers comforting words, which is difficult for the other two.

I think this verse is also for Itsuki. It reminds me of how Rokuta immediately noticed Itsuki was in a bad shape after they left the facility, overwhelmed by the outside world.

However, the imagery for the line "And see it through till the end" seems strange to me. It was the basis for my theory about Rokuta's memory loss, which you can read here.

The screen splits into 7 or 8 parts (if you count the one mostly off screen) and both Rokuta's image AND the words are repeated. It's as if the promise itself was repeated many times in the past - which could be because Rokuta kept forgetting it.

運命でも偶然でも一緒

具現化する描いたvision

重点置く重低音は基礎

痛言した数千のdecision

No matter if it was by chance or fate

To embody the vision pictured in our minds

The emphasis from the heavy bass serves as a foundation

For thousands of harsh decisions

I see this verse as Itsuki describing his role in 1Nm8 and his relationship with Kei. In SHOWDOWN, Itsuki says he feels 1Nm8 meeting and Kei's power working on him and Rokuta is fate.

1Nm8 is meant to realize Kei's vision, and he is the one making the "harsh decisions". 低音, bass, can also be translated as "low voice", and Itsuki's voice is the lowest of the three. I interpret this verse as Itsuki declaring he's rapping to support Kei's cause.

正確なリズムに旋律

I'mma show you how

唯一無二テクニック

着実に蝕むtoxic

They need the dope shit

Precise rhythm and melody

I’mma show you how

With one-of-a-kind technique

Steadily eaten away by the toxic

They need the dope shit

The “toxic” is obviously the Phantometal. means "to affect adversely; to spoil; to ruin; to undermine; to gnaw at (one's heart, body, etc.); to eat into; to destroy" [2], which accurately describes the Metal's effects.

Yeah, History is

In the making

We're gonna be

The 1Nm8 King

なんどでもまたbreaking

The fight to try

Yeah, History is

In the making

We're gonna be

The 1Nm8 King

No matter many times, once again breaking

The fight to try

Kei sings the same pre-chorus Rokuta does for the first half of the song, interestingly, with the same background imagery. I think it's meant to show their connection, and maybe hint at Rokuta's identity as Kei's missing brother (back when FATE released, we didn't know for sure).

(Chorus repeats)

必要ならば手に入れる

手っ取り早く we show and prove

無駄な工程はすべて省き

計画通り成し遂げる

Anything we need, we can obtain

Quick and easy, We show and prove

Eliminate all unnecessary steps

Proceed according to the plan

胸躍る事everyday

夢中でもっともっと大気圏まで

宙を舞ったらplay back again

With you, you, you そんなplan

My heart pounds in joy everyday

In a daze, I get closer to the atmosphere

If it flutters down in the wind, play back again

With you, you, you, that’s the plan

While Itsuki's verse is pretty straightforward, reiterating his methods and ambition, Rokuta's is more metaphoric.

I talked about it in my memory loss theory too, but 舞う can mean "whirl in the wind, flutter about, swirl, fly, circle", for example, like cherry blossoms falling. I think here it refers to Rokuta's memories, which scatter once he overused Phantometal again.

Notice that similarly to "See it through to the end", here "You" is repeated. I interpret the lines as Rokuta saying if he ends up losing his memories once more, he wants to "play back" - start over with 1Nm8.

悲しい結末は用意していない

君に正しい世界を見せる

これが道標さ

さぁ行こう

I'm not preparing a sad ending

I will show you what the world should be

This is a signpost

So, let's go

The literal translation of the second line of this verse would be "I will show you a correct (righteous, lawful) world".

This typography in this verse gives it a lot of urgency, and the way the characters rapidly flicker during the lines "This is a signpost / So, let's go" is sinister. It feels like Kei is close to the edge.

What comes next is even more sinister, however.

The chorus repeats again, but muffled, with a gray, staticky filter put over it. The moment where Kei is only partly visible through the kanji for 覚悟 (resolution, preparedness) but without his face now looks legitimately scary.

I found this part of the song unsettling ever since I first saw it, but I still can't quite put a finger on it. The filter makes me think of a feeling of shock after hearing or experiencing something that really rattles you, or numbness from too much pain. It might also evoke the feeling of muted "unrealness" when you are having a nightmare.

Do you have any other ideas? While I can't be sure what this means for Kei and 1Nm8 yet, I can tell it's nothing good.

Then, the second half of the chorus plays as normal, and the MV ends with the members in the same scenery we saw at the beginning. But can we still look at it the same way?

Final thoughts

Based on the muted filter, other symbolism and imagery in the MV: the double meaning of white, the black and white contrast, as well as Kei 'walking into hell' I'd say an important theme in edN is "becoming evil to fight evil" and the dangers of it. It's presented mostly visually, but I think it compliments the atmosphere in the drama track for FATE, especially the latter half. I want to make my own translation of it; I will link it here when it's completed.

Please don't take this analysis wrong! I'm a huge 1Nm8 fan and I voted for them both times. I think the element of darkness makes them more interesting.

Not that I am not worried, however ｡ﾟ(ﾟ＾ωﾟ)ﾟ｡