#''this isn't my fault so why do I feel like it is?''

[skreel-the-red-thing]

OKAY time for a review. I was… midly convinced by the sequel. In my opinion it’s a not so bad movie plagued by a not so good writing. I’m going to be vulgar at some point, don’t mind me that’s my way of coping. Let’s dive.

MIND THE SPOILERS OFC

What’s bad :

- Let’s adress the elephant in the room to get rid of it : « Nile can remove immortality » is bullshit. It's so stupid, it means that if by mistake she hurts Joe or Nicky in training then paf ! RIP gay people. I don’t buy it and I don’t think anybody here does. I understand they needed a threat for the gang, but why not just threaten them to lock them up in iron coffins, Quynh’s style ? Like, you established the worst fate for an immortal in  the first movie, why not use it again ?

- Speaking of Quynh. My girl is out of water with no trauma, speaking perfect english (language of those who locked her up. Mh.) and not insane ? Eh, a bit disappointing.

- No enough labrys in my opinion.

- Booker. Booker, Booker, Booker. He's my favorite character so I'm very pissed off *spit a bullet*. Ngl, I expected him to die and it didn't seem like such a bad idea. BUT THE EXECUTION WAS TERRIBLE. My man deserved so much better, he has almost no development, no redemption arc and he dies like shit, mostly out of selfishness: he knew Andy was as tired of life as he was, but he preferred to die and hand her the hot potato without asking her opinion. Erf. Also they both could have walked through that door, the “sacrifice” doesn't make any sense I'M GOING TO BREAK SOMETHING

- JoeNicky try not be captured challenge.

- Also Joe and Nicky had an argument at the beginning of the movie about Booker and Joe lying, and they made up while talking about something entirely different LIKE HELLO? The conflict isn't resolved here. It was cute tho, we like declaration and foreheads touch.

- HOWEVER. Nicky saying "ti amo" and Joe not responding ? DO YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THERAPY ?? Joe, when your husband says "ti amo", even if you feel guilty because you're lying to him, you say "ti amo" back.

- Do I need to point out what a flat character Discord is? I couldn't care less about her. Even pharma bro in the first film was more menacing.

- WHERE'S COPLEY? Like at the end, the guy might be dead, we don't know. Schrödinger's Copley.

- Tuah is... here. He has potential, but he's underdeveloped, so I don't have much to say. From my point of view, he's a bit of cannon fodder for the next film, to sacrifice his immortality to Quynh.

- Shall we talk about the dreams  stuff ? Well, it never really made any sense, either in the first film or in the comics. Like Nile dreams about Quyhn but Booker don’t ? Weird. And now ? Oh boy. Tuah dreaming about all the others but they don’t. And Discord ? Seriously, when you set up a mythology, you've got to make it logical, otherwise how are we suppose to write coherent fanfictions afterwards?

- I fucking HATE cliffhangers. Especially since  we've waited 5 years for this movie, and knowing Netflix's cancellation policy. At any point, Joe, Nicky, Nile and Tuah remain in a vacuum packing for eternity because we won't get a third movie.

NOW WHAT’S GOOD !

- Okay. I complain a lot, but I was super happy to see the sequel and to get to see again these characters that I love so much. I'm waiting for third movie to bring them all back to me. Yes, even you Booker. I'm delulu about him.

- I liked the vibe a lot ! It was less dark than the first movie, with more moments to breathe and appreciate the atmosphere between the characters. Special mention to the dinner scene after the first mission, I'm delighted to know that drunk Nicky snores like a boar.

- The film was more beautiful and colorful than the first one, and direction was better in my opinion, especially the fight scenes and choreography.

- NILE IS COOL! Her McGuffin role sucks, but it's not her fault, and besides that every time she was on screen I was like “damn, what a gigantic charisma she got!” . My girl is so stunning it hurts. Also the double spear ? Made for her.

- I still like Booker more than anything. I still like the fact that he jumped the second he had the opportunity to end himself. I just think it could have been handled better.

- « Has she spoken of me ? » « She never stopped. » MAYBE I DIED THERE.

- I'm relieved to finally have the answer to the question “If they cut off a limb, how does it heal?” and for that I thank Joe's thumb and Booker's head in the maze.

- I didn't get any sapphic kiss and that’s a shame, but the AndyQuynh relationship was cool anyway. Special mention to the whole reunion sequence, with Andy passing through the eras with the team in background, it was the most beautiful part of the movie.

- The soundtrack was better handled than in the first film. It doesn't look like much, but for me it was a major flaw, so I'm glad they've sorted it out.

IN CONCLUSION it was... okay. Now let's go another five years of waiting.

[werezmastarbucks]

12. horseradish behaviour

flowers over boys masterlist

in which oppa chokes you

word count: 2946

warnings: it's not harder daddy. it's more of a "imma mcquacking kill you because you piss me off so bad" type of choking. :( so tw

you admire the way the magnolia branch looks gilded, too, in the rich light from the lamps.

the room is specifically designed for the late audiences; in the sunlight the intricacies of the paintings aren't as obvious as now, the orange hopping light of the fire highlights the blood on tops of the mountains. it's a beautiful and eerie trick that the threat posed behind the king's back only becomes visible when it's night, that is to say, too late. the columns become blood-red. flowers in one corner you've managed to decorate look sacrificial. you get why he used to keep the shutters closed.

you turn as you hear the door slide closed, and see Yoongi, an inseparable continuation of the room. even though there's no stone, he produces echo as he steps forward once. his presence is in itself a loud sound, even though he is quiet. it's just the fiery persona of his simple black dragon robe and the hair that takes in the fire and becomes liquid gold.

"night owl?" you suggest and step closer to the magnolia branch. suddenly you're shy about the unfinished work. he wasn't supposed to see it only 10% done. reading your movement, his eyes move up to the blood-pink small flowers that will look spring-like and ethereal tomorrow. now they look like an omen.

"i was walking to the chambers when i saw the light in my throne room. so late at night".

"moon isn't even half-way across the sky", you wave it away. Yoongi lifts up his chin a little and you are glad the abilities of him do not include reading minds in literal sense. cause you know that robe is hiding insanely strong shoulders and the muscular back that he could potentially theoretically hypothetically throw you on.

"are you liking the new job?"

"the pay is shit".

"i don't pay you anything".

"exactly".

you shift in place. a week ago you would've barged past him out of the room, because the saw is still lying under the magnolia tree, and a second branch needs to be cut down and brought here, and you start feeling tired already. his eyes never give you any break, and now his tongue joins them, going over his upper lip ponderously.

"you still have something of mine".

to busy yourself with something, you begin gathering small pieces of leaves and sticks from the floor.

"did you know", you croak, sitting yourself on the first step of the platform leading to the royal seat, "that magnolias are so ancient that they already existed at the time when dinosaurs strolled this planet?"

he looks relaxed. not spiteful. although calling him spiteful, even when he was angry, would be wrong. he looks like he isn't about to try to cut, or poke, something out of you. that's it. mildly curious, putting his hands behind his back. he took off the earrings already. but tail looks so neat, like he fixes the state of it every ten minutes.

"dinosaurs".

"i know it's not your fault but it's kinda embarrassing that i get to explain a word to you guys every other day. i mean", you point at his robe, "dragons".

"serpents?"

"yes. it was such a long time ago when magnolia genus appeared, that even bees didn't exist yet to pollinate them. beetles had to do it. that's why the magnolia petals are so meaty and sweet, you can eat them. practically it's fruit".

"the word that you said first sounds Greek. terrible... lizard".

you're seriously impressed. so much that at first you fail to see that he keeps taking steps forward to you.

"how many languages do you know?"

"how many do you know?" suggestive, deep voice. you narrow your eyes.

"you're not getting your knife back. quit sneaking up to me".

"once again you demonstrate knowledge of things far out of the scope of what someone like you should know".

"ugh, and who is..."

"and yet demonstrate the complete lack of understanding of the palace code".

"i know, i know", you pat yourself on the lower back, "i think we were past the informal conversation pearl clutching".

"standing - or sitting - in between the king and his seat is punishable".

you rub your face.

"let me guess. by death?"

"no", he smirks like he is so benevolent, "merely flogging".

your nose feels scratchy.

"i'll pass". this is not the time for innuendos. you almost bite your tongue literally. you want to keep some dignity. but Yoongi takes a step aside, looking around his throne room like he sees it for the first time. the way his tail tilts, it makes you think he's having fun. he steps to the window, curious like a cat, pretending again: he is playing nonchalance so well. what he fetches from a depression in the wall under the window makes you go wide in the eyes.

Joseon Yoongi is threatening you with his stick.

"did you find time to wonder", he utters, intentionally looking everywhere except at you, as you tense up on the first step, assessing the situation, calculating an escape plan.

"why i keep so lenient with you?"

"love at first sight?" you throw it out there, just in case. Yoongi doesn't seem to hear you. pale stick in his hand, twenty inches long, looks like it's going to break skin even through the dress.

"naturally one would think it's my guilt acting up, my consciousness, for killing your father. so, every time i see you, i am reminded of my cruelty for hanging an almost-innocent man".

you note that now he doesn't mess up the manner of murder. it doesn't matter to him anymore.

"that is, if you were really his daughter".

finally he looks at you. the stick points at you shortly, like he is the teacher and you need to start reciting a poem just about now.

"if you touch me with that, i will bite you", you warn him, "i've had just about enough of your senseless violence, including that time you hung my father".

Yoongi drops the act a little, grinning.

"i'm pretty sure he had a son".

"oh".

there are more things to think about, to ask him. but he motions with his funny stick:

"well, get up".

you plant yourself more firmly into the step.

"you will feel very bad after".

"i will feel peaceful".

your throat betrays you and contracts.

"no", you put a hand in between yourself and him with a finality.

"you're not spanking me with this thing. i mean it", your voice turns serious. it's all really fun, kinda hot, but really. being flogged is very painful. if someone so much as had given you a list of rules of this ridiculous palace, at least. sent you a heads up in excel or something. now you keep breaking the order you have no idea about. next thing you know, it's going to be forbidden to sneeze on full moon and the punishment will be Hoseok shaving your hair off.

"you have a way out, of course", he suggests, "tell me who you really are".

"that won't do either".

you put your hand into the depths of the hanbok. had sewn another secret pocket last night. so that the fans of asking to return the knife can't retreive it from the outward one. blade is pressed to your throat now. you stand up, beginning a small semicircle, moving your feet very little and very slowly.

"i think killing yourself will hurt a little more than this", he murmurs like he isn't the raging psychopath here.

"at least it won't be humiliating".

"humiliation is the only path for you", Yoongi concludes.

"so far you've tried only threats. not a single normal conversation with your Majesty". you press the knife to your neck with no intention of slitting it, it's out of the question with the unfinished throne room. but you feel cornered. moreover, indignation rises in you again: stubborn. you've seemingly run out of aces. Yoongi makes it worse by flicking the stick. he once again somehow cuts the space between you; you're sure he stands too far away to reach, and yet you blink, and the tip of flexible twig burns your hand, and you let go of the blade in reflex. it falls on the floor with a metallic thud as you clutch your ALREADY HURT PALM.

"that's it, bro".

you charge at him. another stinging flick keeps you awake, like you are the tiger now; this stick in his hand works almost invisibly, so quick that you don't see it coming - and maybe you don't need to. squeezing your eyes together, you allow him to flick you again, thinking about only one thing. a great author from twentieth century, known as J.R.R. Tolkien, wrote a story once, about a beautiful and brave elf who never put away his luxuriant long hair. he was a tremendous warrior and a very intelligent being, however his loose hair was eventually his demise. the hair, just like ribbons, has the tendency to adhere to laws of physics even when the bearer seemingly doesn't. it means, when he moves, the long hair stays there for a second yet. another burning slap lands on your shoulder, and you grit your teeth, almost blind with rage. your hand extended, you jump at Yoongi and naturally he avoids you easily, but you do not aim for his ghost-like face. your healthy palm catches the very tip of the horsetail and you form a fist, falling to your knees with pain, and pulling him after you.

a strong hand gets into your hair, too, and you both crash on the floor. your other hand searches around for the damn stick and, miraculously, it's under your palm.

"you fuck-.." you mumble, out of breath. your clutch on his tail is stone-firm, you put all your might into that hold like your life depends on it. at the same time, the room spins: Yoongi's hand slides around your head and lands on your neck. he needs to decide what he wants to do, you think. he either lets go of the stick to unclasp your fingers from his hair. or of your throat. he goes with the first. the twig becomes vacant in your clutch, and you use it on his side, slapping him relentlessly, tugging on the tail, pressed into the floor. his shoulders cover you from the light, your own breath beating in your ears as you hit him repeatedly, releasing the frustration.

he is absolutely silent, his face stays almost unmoving, save for a scary smirk that makes the depths of your guts twirl in an impulse you don't even care to decipher. his knee on your stomach, heavy, knocks the breath out of you. as the stick lands on his ribs, there's a poor chance it does anything at all. the scars on his back that you witnessed today were from a sword, and perhaps that part of his body even has less sensitivity. his hand almost crashes your fist as he first squeezes it, and the pain makes you wanna scream out, but he is choking you. it's all kinds of messy. you release his hair but hold on to the stick, your feet beating but only reaching his legs every other time. Yoongi looks like he's about to smother the life out of you, giving you a direct ticket back home. the grasp of his big palm is so strong that your head starts going numb. you brace yourself, your tongue rolling around your mouth, trying to get a grasp of your mother language. you are way too used to the frustration by now, because death is an enthusiastic and unpredictable companion for a time traveller.

you aren't saved by a palace worker, curious about the noise. or by Jimin who's been hiding like a moth somewhere in the dark corner this whole time. Taehyung doesn't sneeze thunderously in the garden, shifting his attention. the king has mercy on you, his slow, focused eyes search something on your face, they look almost with tenderness, then his hands release you. the weakened left fist and the throat. he even lifts himself up like there's straps attached to his back, and he doesn't need to unbend knees. just stands up smoothly, and you can see the room again, lit by the fire lamps. you roll on your side, throat pulsating, cough stuck in there, the artery fighting for your life. the flogging stick is under you, your little prize that you're clenching onto. sounds like Yoongi picks up his knife and puts it away. then he steps to the wall. you try not to lose him from your field of view, but eyes tear up with exertion and you squeeze them shut to produce a long cough.

"once i get up..." you whisper, coarse, your hand in the air, "it's over for you. you better run".

Yoongi tilts his head forward and looks at his horse tail. studies the tip of it that you'd clutched, with his lower lip stuck out, then retrieves Jiyoung's scissors from the shelf you'd forgotten them on. you cannot believe your eyes. he cuts off several inches where your hand has been, then approaches the lamp and throws the hair in the open fire. it hisses for a second, salivating at his gift. you lift yourself off the floor, your left hand shaking with pain, and sit, then uncurl the fingers to check if they are broken. honestly pain makes it hard to tell. there's also a new red wound on your right palm, and the side starts hurting, but everything is dwarfed by the irrational sensation of sore arousal. it's hard to breathe, feels like the throat is crashed. Yoongi is still busy with his tail, trimming the tips and throwing the small invisible hairs into the fire. finally he graces you with a glance.

"cunt", you croak.

"you sound like one of those lizards you spoke about", his mouth twitches. he is mocking you, chin up, the whole damage he sustained just burned in the lamp behind him. he really isn't won over as easily as the others, huh. he'll be so much work. the other boys just accepted you almost immediately. Seokjin simply went, eh, little sister. Jungkook heard you cheer for him once and went all in. Jimin probably doesn't have a mean bone in his body. Hoseok was like, medium level. Taehyung is up there with Jimin. but this character. this is the mad king. the Agust D emperor. the only thing Yoongi about him is his attachment to his boys, whether he even realizes it or not. you click your tongue, even the roof of your mouth hurts.

"i'm taking a day off tomorrow", you whisper, can't go higher because the voice simply doesn't return.

"take two", he allows, gently, "think about the epithets you're going to use to tell me the whole truth".

"is that what's it about?" you demand huskily. it hurts to speak. you push yourself against the floor and stand up, fixing the hair with the hurt hand. one ribbon is missing from your braids and you look around on the floor for it.

"of course. also, basic respect, but i am growing sceptical about that".

"respect is earned", you mutter, your eyes scanning the wooden floor. hand going through the hair mindlessly. "not demanded. not pulled out like bones through punishment".

"clearly you still haven't got a taste of this century".

your eyes dart to him. ribbon is forgotten. it all gets very clear and very serious very fast. even a portion of your voice returns.

"what did you say?"

"i go very easy on you", he adds, a rumble akin to the fire crackling while eating his 'contaminated' hair.

you skip the last part, still stuck on the century. it's Jimin's work, no doubt. you gently rub your throat in a comforting gesture.

"i can't give you what you want".

it's you begging him to back off. you know he won't. has no reason to. if he were someone else, any other person and not one of the boys, you'd simply laugh it off. stab him in the side.

the subjects who learn the truth are terminated. simple rule number two.

but you know you will get yourself stuck here. you know you want to be here. and you also know the loop cannot be spoken about. you know your time traveller integrity has never been tested like that before.

"you will", he confirms gently. you don't like how understanding he is all of a sudden, so calm. almost smiling. almost the :]. his soft cheeks look kind. you flip him off and he must know it's something rude, even if he doesn't understand the gesture. then you leave the throne room, abandoning the scissors in his hands, the knife, the ribbon somewhere on the floor. you have properly lost this round, you think. limping, hand on the throat. only the pale stick left in your hand. as you leave the palace through the gate, you throw it away with a feeling, cursing under your breath. night birds chirp in the trees and the moon is so close and beautiful, round and clear. you think, if Min-ssi oma so much as approaches your futon in the morning, you're going to put your fist through her old, mean skull.

taglist: @cerulean1riz , @kiki-zb , @mar-lo-pap , @ashyiiy , @enfppuff , @coolpeanutskeletonpersona , @jajabro

[1tbls]

(NOTE: unfinished post that is probably going to remain so, but i liked the thoughts here so i wanted to publish this from my drafts finally. not gonna edit or polish, haven't touched this in half a year, enjoy ♥️)

some thoughts about jean vs. kim as narrative contrasts, through their self-comparisons to harry.... and what their approaches to harry tell us about their class consciousness.

this post is 9 paragraphs long. please clap.

So. Jean compares himself to Harry, and he doesn't seem to understand why neither he nor Harry can get better. While Harry is the focus of his ire, he draws a comparison between them by calling them both garbage. He calls his own 7-year depression a medical anomaly, despite the fact that depression isn't really something you can cure, and not exactly a mystery given their socioeconomic circumstances. If he's dismissive of his own 7 years of suffering, of course he's derisive about Harry's disability and mental illness. He sees Harry fail over and over, and he frames it as deliberate. As though Harry just isn't trying hard enough, just doesn't want to be a healthy, functioning member of society. If Jean's inability to get better is a personal failing, Harry's inability is that 100 times. Any time Harry is sick or relapses or struggles, it's just another personal failing Jean sees reflected that he should deride him for.... How else will he change? Why can't he just overcome himself?

I think there's this fear/hatred of their similarities because Jean doesn't want that to be his inescapable future, doesn't want to think he could be crushed under capitalism the same way (one) (two). So he refuses to look at their issues within that context, and instead frames them as perplexing anomalies. "Why can't Harry and I get better despite the fact we live in poverty and are addicted to drugs just to function in our job that sees us brutalizing other human beings daily? A mystery! I am going to ascribe this as an inherent failure in both our persons and fuel my hatred of us both." He sneers at Trant even suggesting that Harry's (/their) struggles are reinforced by the system they are trapped within.

When Jean expresses views like "no one gets married in Revachol" or being frustrated with sensitivity training... He's clearly bitter about the state of society, but his comments seem more targeted towards personal, moral degradation, rather than injustice or inequality under the Moralintern. I think Jean being 10 years younger might contribute to this. He's only ever lived in a world run by the MI, and perhaps he can't imagine anything besides their benevolence. It's the RCM and the MI who brought the about the wealth and stability of the '30s, after all. It's not the same anymore. It's too late for us. He's garbage, Harry's garbage, everyone's garbage.

Kim compares himself to Harry, sees Harry's struggles, and... He isn't perfect at first either! Initially, he almost refuses to acknowledge Harry's amnesia and withdrawal, but he does try to meet Harry with understanding. In your very first conversation with Kim, you can tell him that you're not really a cop, and his response is to tell you that he feels that way sometimes, too (but there's still a job to do, officer). Perhaps Kim is understanding to a fault, at times. He understands why other cops take bribes, to survive. When you find speed in Klaasje's bathroom, he's curious about it, to the point of considering using it himself. Kim understands why people do these things, because it's a fucking hard life out there.

Now, something that sets Kim apart from Jean, is that Kim is intimately familiar with the fact that his circumstances go beyond him as individual. He is constantly faced with the context of anti-Seolite racism, and how it colors others' view of him. He started from one of the harshest beginnings, with both parents dead and growing up an impoverished, bullied orphan. I think this is where so much of his kindness comes from, empathy gained from his own obstacles he has had to struggle through.

Yet, Kim still thinks that if he can prove himself as an individual, that will somehow exempt him. He's desperate to be such a good cop and Vacholiere that it eclipses that fact that he is Seolite, a binoclard, a poor little orphan, the many things that have isolated him. Like Jean, there's this fallacial logic on individual versus system, but here seems to be more learned helplessness rather than reactionary self-hatred (though Kim has that too, with the internalized racism). Kim doesn't like to have opinions on "facts" like the MI, so perhaps his logic is something like "You can't change 'facts' (the overwhelming power of the system), but you can change yourself." Fixing the system seems insurmountable, like asking the laws of physics themselves to change. All he believes in is the RCM, where he can bring his little grain of sand to the anthill every day, where it's swept over by a boot heel every evening.

Kim is at a point of consciousness where he is empathetic of the actions others take to survive in their flawed system, but paralyzed to take that logic any farther. Now, others have written excellent analysis about how partnering with and loving Harry is going to radicalize Kim. He looks between himself and Harry, and if this white, Double-Yefreitor, fucking detective god can be thrown to the gutter.... Will Kim and his hard work ever actually matter to the RCM or to Revachol? Honestly, I can imagine Kim going through a period of depression and apathy after this disillusionment with the RCM, because if changing yourself/individual action doesn't help, and changing the system is impossible, what can you even do?

And that comes to Kim's other obstacle towards radicalization... Being deeply lonely and isolated. He's always been cast as the outsider, and he's created this guarded and curated persona in reaction. The man has no class consciousness/solidarity for exactly the same reason. He's had so few allies in his life, how can he imagine power in solidarity? How can he imagine it when it has not been offered to him? Of course he can only turn to individual action, which will always be meager and demoralizing before the weight of the world's problems.

Despite Jean and Kim's differing approaches towards Harry and society at large, I think they make the same fundamental mistake... Focus on individual actions or failings invariably loops back into hatred, for others and yourself. I think Harry's friendship and respect is a step towards healing this for Kim, but I'm not sure it's the salve for the part of him that will still think "Ah, he sees beyond the fact that I'm a bino Seolite!" I don't think Kim can truly believe in opposing the MI and capitalism, until he stops thinking of himself as something to be overcome.

Bibliography of posts linked here, as well as posts that influenced this one <3 Thank u for your beautiful thoughts, mwah mwah:

Linked:

@renmorris (one) (two)

@convoloutedinjoke (one)

me <3

Inspiration:

@lastwave (one) (two)

@smokedgastropod (one)

@kryaaas (one)

[nicetrybuster]

hii, can you do headcanons about ignoring luffy after an argument? thank youuu💘

THANK YOUUU!! We, yes WE love monkey D Luffy

Silent voice

Yes the title was a reference so what?

- he thought you were bad when you were just mad, but he couldn't handle you to THIS level!!

- he was internally panicking.

- he tried everything (he just gave you food) and to no avail!

- he even offered you to sleep on HIM

- which was rare

-AND YOU STILL IGNORED HIM?

-this was hell for this Man, and no I'm not talking figuratively. Real actual hell.

- like he was supposed to atone his sins for his awful mistake that he can't remember.

-but he would give you space, he's a respectful guy

- then he realized that there isn't space to give if you KEEP ON IGNORING HIM

- Luffy's emotionally intelligent on so many levels, that when you do something as childish as "I won't talk to you cuz I'm mad" he just simply can't process it!

-in fact, he would forget the whole reason your mad

-making him confused. Then the confusion would turn into panicking, then the panicking would turn into sadness

- and we ALLLL know your bitch ass wouldn't ignore him for that long...

-or would you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Confusion

-he couldn't remember why! He paced back and forth, focused on your facial expression and did EVERYTHING and he still couldn't understand

-he tried talking to you but.. you ignored him

-he couldn't talk to someone else because he respects your privacy

-and worst of all? YOU DIDN'T LET HIM INTO YOUR ROOM.

- he wasn't too upset, If he just figures it out, then you'll be okay!..

oh WOOOOW your just a bundle of sunshine aren't you??

ignoring the most amazing man to ever grace anyone's eyeballs? Smh 🙄

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. panicking

So you let it get THIS bad.. then what?

- well he doesn't eat his usual snacks anymore (SHAME ON YOU)

- he's too focused on you and how to fix.. well everything!

- but how do you fix something that won't communicate with you?

- this will be difficult..

- he was practically pulling his hair out! Is this what being stressed feels like? CUZ IT FEELS LIKE SHIT

- this man has NEVERRR experienced this kind of torture..

- he tried SO HARD

-...He was banging on your door.. and nothing

- he screamed his lungs out.. nothing!

- he drew a picture of you two together.. NOTHING!?

WHAT?? I WOULD CRY IF SOMEONE DID THIS FOR ME

WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY DO TO GET YOU LIKE THIS? DID HE STEAL YOUR BALLS!?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3. Sadness

(I'm shaking my head at you behind the screen btw)

- he was in his own bed.. the bed he thought he would barely use

- clutching his hat and "I'm 14 and this is deep" type facial expression

- but as far as he knew? It was his fault 😔

- he slumps out of his room, thinking about YOU... SIGGGGGHHHH

-he eats.. thinking about you.. UGGGGHHHHH

- when you forgave him,

-mood change.

-Like.. IMMEDIATELY

- and you still don't know the PAIN he had to go through

(YOU ALMOST MADE HIM EMO YOU FIEND)

He probably wouldn't do this but TO ME HE WOULD >:D

The image is fan service

[skeletonwithaskinsuit]

Okay, I'm startin' to like her.

More importantly, I'm starting to GET her.

Some people may wonder why I said I dislike Ragatha. The truth is "dislike" is a strong word for my feelings about her, I was mainly neutral for her. I just think that we currently don't know that many actually likeable traits about her yet.

I mean, yes, she's a nice person, but is niceness what makes a person likeable? I'd like to explore that concept with Ragatha more.

(It's been awhile since watching the former episodes for me, so take with a grain of salt)

My only criticism of Ragatha was that she has a lot to learn, which isn't really a bad thing, it's a normal part of a persons life. She had some behavior and habits that, although may not be her fault, can be considered unhealthy.

Her one show of behavior that particularly rubbed me the wrong way was her reaction to Pomni and Jax bonding together.

But her reaction can be read in multiple different ways, so it's hard to judge her based on this one incident. Could it be out of concern for Pomni? Hatred for Jax? Jealousy? Maybe all three? There are many different emotions that she could be feeling. She could be concerned that Pomni is getting too close to Jax, and that his unhealthy behavior will end up hurting her, or that it may even start to rub off on her. She could just be sour towards Jax, and upset that after Ragatha's argument with him, Pomni still laughs and hangs out with him. But let's talk more about the third option, Jealousy. We know very little about Ragatha, but we do know one thing

Her need to be liked.

Ragatha is kind and caring and she has shown it to Pomni multiple times, and yet one of the rare moments Pomni seems to enjoy her time in the circus is with Jax, the person Ragatha has confirmed she hates.

This deeply troubles Ragatha.

Despite all of Ragatha's efforts, Pomni (at least just in Ragatha's mind) appears to like Jax's company more than her's. She is a people pleaser, she does everything she can to be nice, to be a friend, to be liked, but she failed.

Why does her niceness fail to get Pomni to like her? I think I can answer with something I find helpful in my own friendships.

Reassurance Vs. Understanding

Two different forms of company someone can provide. Ragatha uses the former quite often. It's not all that bad. Look on the brightside. Everything is okay. This is her usual form of comfort. Though reassurance is needed in some situations, it isn't what Pomni needs. Pomni needs someone to understand, someone to say "Yes, this does suck, and we have no idea if it will get better, but I understand what you're feeling, and I'm here." While Jax doesn't necessarily provide that verbally, he still brings what Pomni may need with his actions. He's relatable, he doesn't pretend it's all okay while still finding ways to bring a light hearted tone to the situation through comedic relief. He's not an optimist, he's not going to tell Pomni it's going to be okay, but he's there, and he knows what Pomni is going through.

Is Jax a better person than Ragatha? Not by a long shot. Is he more likeable than Ragatha? Um, maybe. But whether or not the answer is yes, Ragatha may be getting the idea that he is, and that thought terrifies her. It shows her that no matter how much she tries, how nice she is, how much better she is, she still won't be liked.

One of the cast will abstract, I can almost guarantee it, and when that happens, I think the most interesting possibility would be Ragatha. It would show her mask of stability has slipped.

As for the possibility that she was concerned for Pomni, whether or not she's right to be is to be determined. On one hand, Pomni and Jax may really need the company they supply for each other. On the other hand, Ragatha may know more than we do, there may be a potential danger. Perhaps Ribbit's abstraction wasn't the only reason Jax seemed so upset when Ragatha accidentally brought it up? Maybe he also had something to do with their abstraction?

I'm may be reaching. Honestly for someone who said we don't know anything about Ragatha yet I sure am making a lot of assumptions about her. But I still stand by my first claim that we don't know enough about her to make judgments.

Ragatha DESERVES to have more to her, she deserves a full character. We're only in the early phases of understanding her, and I'd like to understand her more.

But yeah, that's my take.

I dislike Ragatha (currently), but I do not hate her. She is not any more flawed then the rest of the cast. Also, we BARELY know her, there's still time for there to be more to her than toxic positivity. She hasn't had time to become a multidimensional character because there's only 5 EPISODES.

Also, in the case of Jax Vs. Ragatha, and why Jax strangely receives more sympathy, I have this to say.

Their characters in Ep5 both develope, but in opposite ways. In the beginning of the show, Ragatha is the shown as positive one, and Jax as the negative one. In Ep5, they are shown in different angles, Jax by receiving positive and sympathetic traits, and Ragatha receiving negative ones. They are both balanced characters, but because their development is shown in opposite directions, they have opposite responses.

Also, internalized misogyny.

[lightfromthelostland]

Okay, so I totally see your point in elaborating on the sexism comment. I genuinely am not sure if it was your post I saw initially but this discussion is fascinating so I'm here for it anyway. I also definitely take your point about Jack doing the bare minimum. I think that's what he's been doing his entire life, and yes, that's probably why his parents are disappointed in him. (Carter's battle to become a doctor definitely ironically contributed to his desirability as an heir, and I think I mentioned that in my initial post) It is still an enormous slight against him that his parents (specifically his mother) bypassed him entirely in the inheritance. It's also interesting in that it demonstrates that basically all the Carter family money is in one enormous pile somewhere. I know that there are tax benefits to that, because as I understand it, if it's in a trust the money doesn't actually belong to any one person and therefore the family doesn't have to pay inheritance taxes when it passes from person to person because technically it isn't - all that's changing hands is *control* of the money. (not a tax expert, that's just my understanding of how that works) It does raise the question of what the rest of the family does after Carter pours all the money into the Carter Center. I think there is some mention of individual trust funds, maybe, at some point, but still, Jack was not the only one living off the family money.

I definitely agree that the Carters are somewhat modeled after the Kennedys! I mean, their sons are even named Robert and John, and both Truman and Carter are the names of presidents, even if Jimmy Carter was pretty darn recent at the time of the show and wouldn't have the same historical impact. And by that standard, they definitely wouldn't have made Barbara or any of the other girls the heir, which is why I kind of glossed over her initially (see: Rosemary Kennedy, who also has some bearing on the way they treat Chase, putting him in a very expensive home and then basically ignoring his existence). I didn't consider John's name in the light of the mother's family naming tradition, which I was somewhat aware of, but that at least makes sense!

Of course, John's level of presence has an impact on his involvement in all the decision making and such, but it still raises so many questions about how the Carter family interacts with each other. Like, according to the family tree you provided, Carter has a blood uncle! What's his deal? Why is he completely absent also? There's so much boiling under the surface and I desperately want to know about all of it.

Gamma and Eleanor's relationship is also fascinating to me, because I think that's actually where the sexism of expectations shines the brightest in some ways. Like, yes, they clearly despise each other and I think some of that is because Gamma loves John so much. She clearly knows that Eleanor has hurt John and she's mad about it. But also, it can't be primarily Jack's fault. Eleanor must be the one to blame for the situation. And part of that is that Jack is her son, so even if she's disappointed in him she wants to believe the best of him. But I think there's also this internalized deal where Gamma is thinking that *she* would never have been as weak as Eleanor has been, and that is a failing as both a woman and a mother. I think that's how Gamma would characterize it, anyway. Also Eleanor coming back to the house after Jack left her (and yes, him trying to put all the blame for the divorce on John while phrasing it like he's giving him the *credit* is a deeply weird and uncomfortable interaction) feels like her trying to stake a claim. Like, I'm still in this family, this is still my family house, you can't make me leave, even if I hate every second of being here. But then she does leave anyway, because that's what she's best at.

I have diverged a lot from the point, but I also spend so much time thinking about the Carter family dynamics and pretending I know how rich people work.

Okay, everyone, I went down the The Pitt to ER pipeline rabbit hole and I Need to talk about the Carter Family Dynamics and specifically the elements raised by Chase Carter. I'm gonna be calling Carter John even though it's weird because everyone in this post is a Carter, haha.

Firstly, the situation with Carter's parents is a lot. His mom's multi-episode arc clearly shows that she basically got trapped in the moment that Bobby died, and she seems to resent the fact that John didn't get stuck there too. "You were exactly where you've been my entire life - you were somewhere else" is brutal but apparently factually accurate if his parents couldn't be bothered to come see him for three weeks after he was literally almost murdered by a patient. Like, my parents have way fewer resources to work with and they would be there in absolute minimum amount of travel time were something like that to happen to me. I did see some comment the other day about it being sexist that John is more willing to forgive his dad's screwups than his mom's but, friends, "she was disappointed in you as a father and as a man" is a hell of a thing to say to your father about his recently deceased mother, if you have forgiven that man for his absentee parenting. I think the continued contact with his dad was more a feature of his father making a decision to at least try to change and continuing to show up, while his mother continued to do what she (they) had always done before, which is hiding from the feelings.

But. That thing John says to his dad comes after his grandmother skips right over his dad - and any other relatives who might have a claim - and leaves the entirety of the Carter family fortune (and the ancestral home) in John's control. Which brings me to my main point, which is - the Carter Family Dynamics are real weird, and nothing makes that clearer than the introduction of Chase Carter.

So. The Carter Family is super rich and they have a lot of built-in expectations with that, as rich people often do. For this reason, John has received a great deal of disapproval for his pursuit of a career in medicine, which is bizarre from the perspective of us normal people, for whom a doctor in the family would be something to be proud of. He gets cut off from the family money for a while because he wants to continue to pursue it without them holding anything over his head. His grandmother repeatedly tries to talk him out of it. Chase says he's pretty much the only family member with a career outside of the family holdings, and as such, he's something of the black sheep of the family - or is he?

When Chase shows up, he makes it very clear that John is the Anointed One. He's the one that John Carter Sr. has always wanted to take over when the time comes. And apparently, this is still the case despite his medicine based rebellion. And that's weird for a number of reasons.

Firstly, let's talk about the rest of the Carter family. As previously mentioned, John's dad is very much alive. Logically, he would be the first choice to take over, you'd think. But beyond that, John had an older brother. He has at least one cousin (Douglas) that we know for absolutely certain is older than him, and personally, I interpreted Chase as being older as well, though not by much. He also, maybe, has an older sister who we never met and who may or may not exist. (As far as I can remember from my binge watch, the only mention of her is when he tells Benton that his parents are visiting her for Thanksgiving, prior to Benton inviting him to his family dinner. My personal headcanon is that she doesn't actually exist and he was just covering the fact that his parents couldn't be bothered to be around for the holidays.) In a family dynasty like this, the older boys would seem like the prime candidates, and yet.

Also, this is a good time to talk about how these older boys make John's name kind of weird. Even if you ignore Chase and Douglas as not being in the Main Line, Bobby still exists! Why is the second born son the one that got The Third-ed? I saw something in a fic speculating that the choice was an attempt to curry favor by John's parents, which would make some sense, but also implies the presence of significant dysfunction in the family even before John was born, let alone before Bobby died. I have questions!

SO. It is strange that John would be the Chosen Grandson, purely from a dynastic standpoint. Now, on the other hand, I love John Truman Carter III with my whole heart, and he demonstrates throughout the show that he is a) very smart b) very capable of setting a difficult goal and following through on it even the face of opposition (ironic that this trait that makes him a desirable heir is Also the reason that they're frustrated with him) and c) able to turn on the social graces and charm the general public in the specific way that the family wants. I can see how they would focus on him based on personality but there is still his dad! Who even the younger generation (as spoken through Chase) is ignoring as a stepping stone at best and a non-candidate at worst for inheriting Head of the Family status.

And that's not even getting into the way John seems to have simply supplanted his father in his grandparents' affections. John has a room in the house and feels comfortable adding a home gym without discussing it with his grandmother. John is the one who has a giant portrait of him hanging in the foyer (yes I know from a Doylesian perspective this is for the giggles of Anna and Carol stumbling across it, but like, that painting is canonically there). John's parents stay in a hotel rather than at the house when they're in town for Senior's funeral. John is the one who handles Gamma's home care after her accident, and the one who goes for a drive with her after Senior's funeral, and the one she leaves all the money to. He's the one being recruited to hand out checks at benefits even though he still hasn't given up his day job. There's a lot going on!

Anyway, clearly I have a lot of feelings about this, TLDR: Carter family dynamics are seriously whack.

Please discuss.

[iamthepulta]

i did it u_u

[mars-ipan]

there's always more fucking shit to do

[arctic-hands]

My parents make better friends than they ever did spouses and like that was painfully obvious to me at age ten to the point I was pleading with god during my christian years by saying "I know divorce is a sin but I'll take the punishment if you let them divorce" but for whatever fucking reason they thought it was better for me to wait until I was eighteen to split and then they marvel at how all my romantic options just end up being friends and how lonely I am romantically

[thebluebygracieabrams]

.

[revvnant]

i sit and stew on a post so potent about the victim blaming that goes on in wider fandom headcanons about these characters that goes unnoticed because it's never overt or even intentional and i eat my hands because it's the jumpscare games for kids with their parents' credit cards.

[thingsmethinks]

Chat, what are the thoughts on Lando's statement about texting with Max and sorting this out

[dbphantom]

you know if you guys voted for stretch armstrong i probably would have shut up a lot sooner tonight

[okidenshi]

Sometimes i thinks bout how my gen x parents took doctors telling them that that the anti-depressants worked by heling 'balance chemicals' in my brain so that it helped me be more happy or whatever as like... these meds will ALTER MY ENTIRE PERSONALITY AND THEY DAUGHTER THEY LOVE MAY BE GOOONEEEE OOOO~~~"

Not that they're horribly anti-med really, but as a young teen they would always be like "but... what if the meds are changing you :((" like. girl. isn't that the goal here almost-

[izzy-b-hands]

My doctor messaging me at 12:30 in the morning to tell me she wants to do a telehealth visit abt the side effects I'm having with my new Lamotrigine dose (including worse insomnia than my usual insomnia, as u may have guessed lmao) is. something.