#(' WHY DIDN'T YOU INCLUDE 02 FROM THE START ')

[moonpetrichors-blog]

hiii! i love ur avatar writing and i was wondering if u could write something about neteyam x reader, where they're childhood best friends but then some na'vi guy start to show interest in the reader and neteyam gets all jealous and realize than maybe he's in love with them? idk if this make sense, english is not my first language, sorry :((

All Mine

Tags: Neteyam x Omaticaya!Reader, Aonung x Omaticaya!Reader (Only Slight), Fem!Reader, Childhood Friend Romance, Friends To Lovers, Jealousy, Anguished Declarations Of Love, Neteyam Loses His Cool For Once

Warnings: Neteyam Daydreaming About Punching Aonung LMAO

Neteyam was walking along the beach with his siblings when he spotted you, talking to the Olo'eyktan’s son. It had never crossed his mind before that you, his childhood best friend, would eventually find someone to romantically pursue. Was it wrong to realize he wanted you to himself, and not in the arms of another boy?

OMG IM SO OBSESSED W THIS IDEA!!! If theres one trope I love, its a jealous love interest 🤭 also, trust me when I say ur English is perfect!! Fun fact but English is also my second language and growing up I was ass at speaking it LMFAO so ur not alone 😭☠️

Yellow Hyacinth - Jealousy

* ˚ ✦ 1663 Words • Read below the cut

╭┈─────── ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-╰┈➤ ❝ [02/01/23] ❞  

It had been roughly a week since you arrived on the Awa'atlu village's shoreline. When you initially arrived, the Olo'eyktan's son harassed you relentlessly.

There were many things he liked to call you. Freak, weirdo, dimwit, you name it.

There was nothing freak-like about you, per se, but the fact that you were from the forest made you a target to Aonung's bullying. What skills could a woodland girl teach sea people? It was dreadful that you had to hide among them in the first place.

Technically, you had no obligation to go into hiding with the Metkayina clan, but you felt as if the Omaticaya had nothing left for you when your childhood best friend, Neteyam, informed you that he and his family needed to flee.

When Neteyam initially told you that he had to abandon your clan, including you, you wailed into his arms as if he had just perished. You couldn't bear the thought of not being with Neteyam, even if it meant compromising your clan's safety.

The truth is, you overreacted so harshly because you’ve had feelings for Neteyam for years now. You’ve always been unsure if he reciprocated, but there were moments between the both of you where he’d send mixed signals; you didn’t know what shifted or when, but there was just something between you both that felt like you were more than just friends.

And now he wouldn’t be able to stay and see how your relationship would unfurl.

Maybe you were foolish to persuade Jake Sully into bringing you along, but he eventually agreed (albeit reluctantly), since you and his son made each other happy. Neteyam was pleased when you told him you were departing with him.

So there you were, well acquainted with the Metkayina, and accompanied by your dearest friend. Aside from Aonung's pestering, you could put up with it since you knew Neteyam would safeguard you.

However, the more time that you spent with the sea people, the more you began to suspect that it was only you who had detected something between you and Neteyam. You stopped sending hints, even if he overlooked them unintentionally, as it stung too much to persevere.

Aonung eventually stopped attempting to harass you, and you even developed a pleasant friendship with him. Tonowari, his father, had him apologize for his poor behavior; after that, he was actually fairly delightful to converse with.

This was your life now.

...

Neteyam sauntered along the coast, followed by Kiri and Lo'ak. He couldn't take his mind off you; were you safe? Was Aonung bothering you yet again? His father had chided him that he didn't need to be at your side all hours of the day, but he didn't quite understand why his father was amused when he talked about how Neteyam behaved with you. You were his best friend, of course he’s worried!

Regardless, Jake instructed him to keep an eye on his siblings, so he didn't have much of a choice in abandoning them and running to your rescue. Not with Lo'ak prowling behind him in search of trouble.

Neteyam maintained his walk, thinking to himself that he was exceedingly fortunate that you had left the clan for him, and although he wouldn't say it, he was overjoyed.

What he wasn't so thrilled with was how he'd discovered you'd grown closer to that jackass Aonung. You could talk to anybody you pleased, and he knew you were far too pure-hearted to entirely dismiss the Olo'eyktan's son, but why did he feel so bitter whenever he saw you together?

Speak of the devil.

Kiri pointed you out, but when she saw who you were with, she shuddered. “Look, it’s Y/N! And... Aonung.” She deadpanned.

Neteyam was paying little heed to what his sister was saying. No, he was paying close attention to how you were giggling at whatever Aonung said.

What the fuck?

Lo’ak nudged his shoulder. “Bro?”

Lo'ak waved his hand in front of Neteyam's face, which he instantly swept aside. What exactly did Aonung say to make you laugh that hard? You only laugh when you're with him!

Neteyam was practically seething, his fists clenched into balls, as Kiri and Lo'ak snickered to each other out of his earshot. If Kiri didn't know any better, she'd suppose Neteyam was thinking about the finest ways to strangle a (what might as well be) merman.

And truly, he was.

Lo’ak held his fist to his mouth to stifle his laughs. “Dude, are you jealous?”

Kiri placed a hand on Lo’ak’s shoulder, and looked away with a smile plastered to her face. “He totally is.”

Neteyam’s rage was now being directed towards his siblings. “What? No I’m not! Why would I be jealous?”

Lo’ak was still chortling when he pointed behind Neteyam, motioning that he should probably look. He turned around indignantly, and saw that Aonung had a hand on your arm. He was close. Too close for his liking.

And that look. Anyone could see that Aonung was flirting with you. He was maintaining direct eye contact with you, narrowing his gaze. He appeared to be listening carefully to what you were saying, but his smirk paired with his eyes passing over your lips indicated otherwise.

Neteyam just wanted to pummel his stupid, blue face in.

Kiri and Lo'ak burst out laughing as they witnessed Neteyam storm over to where the two of you were. He aggressively inserted his own hand where Aonung's own had originally been, shoving your body into his own by the shoulder. The unexpected intrusion caught you off guard.

“Oh! Neteyam!”

You beamed at his arrival right away, but Aonung frowned. Before you could enquire what Neteyam was doing, he stared daggers into Aonung's head, and hauled you away from him by your bicep. Aonung remained there stunned, staring at your back as you walked away.

“What the hell?”

Kiri and Lo'ak tripped over themselves on their way over to Aonung, howling with laughter, and Lo'ak smacked his shoulder in amusement.

“Sorry cuz, you never stood a chance!”

Aonung’s cheeks darkened deeply. He was thoroughly mortified; he had no idea you were and Neteyam were like that! (You’re not.)

...

Neteyam began to lose confidence throughout the walk once he had pulled you much further away. While you shouted at him to let you go, he inwardly cursed at himself, wondering why he had just done that.

Does he like you?

Your vehement protests about how Neteyam was causing you pain eventually ceased falling on deaf ears. His rage vanished when he realized he'd been treating you like a ragdoll for the entire walk, and he immediately felt horrible. He let go of your arm and buried his face in his hands, ashamed that he had done such a thing to you in the first place.

You rubbed your sore arm, and nudged his shoulder gently. “What’s wrong?”

He looked way too upset, and you rarely saw him like this, if ever.

“Why was Aonung looking at you like that?”

That struck you with irritation. “Are you serious? That’s what this is about?”

His eyes darkened at your words. How could it not be?

You started to raise your voice. “You cannot be for real. You’re just my friend, why are you being so overprotective? If Aonung likes me, that’s my business! Not yours!”

Neteyam snatched your wrist again, evidently upset by what you just uttered. He didn’t know what he was saying anymore. “The only person that can look at you like that is me!”

You went quiet for a time, then realization dawned on your features. “Hold up... do you like me?”

Suddenly, Neteyam’s gaze softened, and he could no longer be furious with you. “How could I not?”

He released your wrist, unsure of what to say next. When he noticed your prolonged silence, Neteyam whirled around, prepared to walk back to his home and cry his frustrations out. He was fighting back tears already; what was the point of telling you this anyway?

You gripped his shoulder and forced him to swivel around and face you. Neteyam could not cover his face, and he felt humiliated because he didn't know why he was acting in this manner. Why was he weeping over a silly look?

He was caught by surprise when you cupped his face in your hands, and wiped the stray tears away. Your irritation had completely dissipated. “You have nothing to be worried about.”

He sniffled. “Why?”

“Because I’ve liked you since forever, but I didn’t think you liked me back. There were so many mixed signals, and you never picked up on my hints, either!”

Neteyam was taken aback. He was at a loss for words.

You rolled your eyes. “Just kiss me, you big idiot.”

Your hand that was on his shoulder was now suddenly imprisoned in his grip, and he jerked you towards his body, lips crashing into yours. He pressed against you with ardor, as if you'd vanish if he didn't embrace you like you were the last Na'vi on Pandora.

Your nimble fingers found purchase in his braids. His hands slithered around your waist, drawing you flush against him, effectively deepening the kiss. He needed you so near that he could only sense your lips against his. When you would try and pull away, his desperate kisses would follow.

You feared Neteyam had forgotten you needed to breathe, because you had to roughly pull his head back by his braids to eventually get him to halt his feverish actions. The minimal bit of pigment on your lips had now smeared, a mark left by Neteyam that claimed you as his. Who the hell taught him to kiss like that?

As you both merely stared at each other, stunned, Neteyam spoke through labored breaths. “All mine?”

“I’m all yours.”

Bonus!

Lo'ak sipped his fruity iced drink, having witnessed the entire exchange from a distance. He patted Aonung's back.

“You wish that was you, huh?”

Aonung punched him.

[vidavalor]

Perfectly Safe

Ok, I might have read one too many 'Aziraphale doesn't love Crowley because he wants him to be an angel'-type posts and I'm at risk of grinding my teeth into oblivion over here. This is short defense of why Aziraphale is tempted by the idea of being able to offer Crowley a way out of Hell and how that makes him pretty lovely, actually, and not villainous in any way.

In honor of @badaziraphaletakes, who is doing The Lord's Work out here. Lemme know how I did when you have a chance. 😇

Aziraphale being tempted by "The Metatron's" offer is not about him needing Crowley to be an angel. It's about the hell that Crowley has been living being tied to Hell for the last six thousand plus years.

Aziraphale does not need Crowley to become an angel again to love him. He already loves him. He does not think that Crowley is "lesser" because he's a demon. That's lunacy. Aziraphale is furious with God, whom he thinks made a mistake in casting Crowley to Hell because Crowley is lovely and Aziraphale thinks nothing less. Aziraphale loves Crowley so much that he actually just willingly accepted a scheme he didn't really 100% believe was true just because even if there was a .02% chance that it was real, he had to take it.

Aziraphale is tempted... quite. literally. tempted... into accepting an offer that includes the power to restore Crowley's angelic status because he believes that Crowley becoming an angel again is the only way that Crowley would ever be safe from Satan and Aziraphale will do anything to keep him safe.

Anything.

That angel will give up their life together on Earth. He will give up his own freedom and his own happiness and, largely, he and Crowley's ability to have a functioning relationship, to do the worst job imaginable for all of eternity if doing that job means that it gives him the power to protect Crowley in the one way for which he has always been powerless.

What do you think it's done to Aziraphale for it to have always been dangerous for them to be together all this time? Not just in the sense that they can't get caught or they could be killed but in the sense that because they can't get caught or they could be killed, they can't just live together easily and that actually would only partially solve the problem? Every time Crowley goes out the door, neither of them know what horrors await him on the outside.

Every. Single. Time. For thousands of years...

Aziraphale has always done everything he could to protect Crowley, as best as he could in whatever time they were in. He built the bookshop for Crowley. Yes, he wanted a place of his own and he came up with the bookshop embassy to con Heaven into letting him have material objects and a house but it was always really for both of them. It was to give Crowley a place to which he could escape from Hell. It was so that there was one place where demons and Satan couldn't find him because, out there in the world? Even in the places where Crowley was living? Crowley has never been safe from them.

One of the first scenes of Crowley in the series is him being attacked by Satan--while driving his car, a symbol of autonomy and control over himself-- while he was supposed to be having dinner with Aziraphale. This is basically the intro summary of their relationship that we are given at the start of the story and that carries through the rest of it in different scenes. If you were Aziraphale by 2.06 and thousand years deep into this hell you and Crowley had been living together, wouldn't you sign on the dotted line for even the slimmest-as-all-fuck, hope-and-a-prayer chance that you might be able to get the kind of power that could stop the love of your life from potentially being stalked, tormented, threatened or attacked any time he wasn't near you?

Imagine being head-over-heels in love with a person who is your best friend and your lover and your partner in life and he's safe with you, of course, but you can't be together all of the time because being together at all is risky and could kill you if you get caught but when he's not with you? He could be being raped on the side of the road by the literal fucking Devil because that's actually canonically happened before. What do you think it did to Aziraphale to feel like he was powerless to protect the person he loves for so long?

In Aziraphale's mind, he's been able to do little more than watch as Crowley suffered with no way to stop it.

Until the offer from "The Metatron":

Then, along comes a situation that seems way too good to be true-- and is. That it is, though, doesn't matter to Aziraphale much at this point. It's not remotely ideal and it's not on their terms but it's something... it's more than Aziraphale felt he had to offer Crowley before he was given it.

Aziraphale does not want power for power's sake; he doesn't want to run Heaven. He rejected that when it was all that was offered.

What tempted him was the power to protect Crowley.

It doesn't matter how unlikely it is that this is a genuine offer-- and Aziraphale does have doubts that it is genuine. This is the only offer that Aziraphale cannot refuse. He will never reject the possibility of freeing his partner from literal Hell because it would be freeing him from the mental, physical and emotional hell he's been going through for thousands of years.

That is how much Aziraphale loves Crowley.

How does Aziraphale fall? Well, Mr. Fell really actually fell long ago because he fell in love. He falls to Hell, though, when he cannot resist the temptation to take for himself the kind of power that he thinks would protect Crowley. He's tempted by the very devil that has been torturing them both and, worse, he knows he probably was, but it's still an offer he cannot ever refuse.

Aziraphale doesn't want Crowley to become an angel again because he can't love him if he's a demon; he wants Crowley to be an angel again because then he'd be safe from Satan. Then, he'd have a chance to heal more and be free. It's Aziraphale's unconditional love for Crowley that leads him to fall.

I think Aziraphale feels like he has nothing to offer Crowley if he can't protect him more than he already does. He has a lot of pain, anger and shame over a situation that isn't really within his control and that he'd kill to fix. No amount of Crowley's reassurance over the years has been able to fundamentally change how Aziraphale feels about this because both of them already do everything in their power to manage the situation as best as they can and, throughout all of this time, there has not ever been any way to fundamentally change it.

Don't think this angel hasn't thought long and hard about how he wants to marry that demon but he's not sure how he'd ever stand there and take a vow because, in his mind, a failure to protect him would be to break that vow. He doesn't actually think he's a good enough partner to Crowley as it is, let alone the husband to him he'd love to be. (Crowley very much begs to differ on that.)

That angel who gives his flaming sword and his money and time and his love to any being that needs what he can give them? The one that took Gabriel in and comforted Muriel and saved Job and Sitis' kids and gave Elspeth and Maggie a way out of despair?

That same angel has spent millennia unable to save his beloved partner from the worst horrors imaginable and that's how The Devil got this kind, pure-of-heart person-- the anger, shame, frustration and pain over thousands of years of telling himself that he's not good in general and he's definitely not good enough for Crowley.

Go right ahead and make him the bad guy if you want but know that his own negative thoughts about himself will out do yours any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Demon-haunted computers are back, baby

Catch me in Miami! I'll be at Books and Books in Coral Gables on Jan 22 at 8PM.

As a science fiction writer, I am professionally irritated by a lot of sf movies. Not only do those writers get paid a lot more than I do, they insist on including things like "self-destruct" buttons on the bridges of their starships.

Look, I get it. When the evil empire is closing in on your flagship with its secret transdimensional technology, it's important that you keep those secrets out of the emperor's hand. An irrevocable self-destruct switch there on the bridge gets the job done! (It has to be irrevocable, otherwise the baddies'll just swarm the bridge and toggle it off).

But c'mon. If there's a facility built into your spaceship that causes it to explode no matter what the people on the bridge do, that is also a pretty big security risk! What if the bad guy figures out how to hijack the measure that – by design – the people who depend on the spaceship as a matter of life and death can't detect or override?

I mean, sure, you can try to simplify that self-destruct system to make it easier to audit and assure yourself that it doesn't have any bugs in it, but remember Schneier's Law: anyone can design a security system that works so well that they themselves can't think of a flaw in it. That doesn't mean you've made a security system that works – only that you've made a security system that works on people stupider than you.

I know it's weird to be worried about realism in movies that pretend we will ever find a practical means to visit other star systems and shuttle back and forth between them (which we are very, very unlikely to do):

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/09/astrobezzle/#send-robots-instead

But this kind of foolishness galls me. It galls me even more when it happens in the real world of technology design, which is why I've spent the past quarter-century being very cross about Digital Rights Management in general, and trusted computing in particular.

It all starts in 2002, when a team from Microsoft visited our offices at EFF to tell us about this new thing they'd dreamed up called "trusted computing":

https://pluralistic.net/2020/12/05/trusting-trust/#thompsons-devil

The big idea was to stick a second computer inside your computer, a very secure little co-processor, that you couldn't access directly, let alone reprogram or interfere with. As far as this "trusted platform module" was concerned, you were the enemy. The "trust" in trusted computing was about other people being able to trust your computer, even if they didn't trust you.

So that little TPM would do all kinds of cute tricks. It could observe and produce a cryptographically signed manifest of the entire boot-chain of your computer, which was meant to be an unforgeable certificate attesting to which kind of computer you were running and what software you were running on it. That meant that programs on other computers could decide whether to talk to your computer based on whether they agreed with your choices about which code to run.

This process, called "remote attestation," is generally billed as a way to identify and block computers that have been compromised by malware, or to identify gamers who are running cheats and refuse to play with them. But inevitably it turns into a way to refuse service to computers that have privacy blockers turned on, or are running stream-ripping software, or whose owners are blocking ads:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/02/self-incrimination/#wei-bai-bai

After all, a system that treats the device's owner as an adversary is a natural ally for the owner's other, human adversaries. The rubric for treating the owner as an adversary focuses on the way that users can be fooled by bad people with bad programs. If your computer gets taken over by malicious software, that malware might intercept queries from your antivirus program and send it false data that lulls it into thinking your computer is fine, even as your private data is being plundered and your system is being used to launch malware attacks on others.

These separate, non-user-accessible, non-updateable secure systems serve a nubs of certainty, a remote fortress that observes and faithfully reports on the interior workings of your computer. This separate system can't be user-modifiable or field-updateable, because then malicious software could impersonate the user and disable the security chip.

It's true that compromised computers are a real and terrifying problem. Your computer is privy to your most intimate secrets and an attacker who can turn it against you can harm you in untold ways. But the widespread redesign of out computers to treat us as their enemies gives rise to a range of completely predictable and – I would argue – even worse harms. Building computers that treat their owners as untrusted parties is a system that works well, but fails badly.

First of all, there are the ways that trusted computing is designed to hurt you. The most reliable way to enshittify something is to supply it over a computer that runs programs you can't alter, and that rats you out to third parties if you run counter-programs that disenshittify the service you're using. That's how we get inkjet printers that refuse to use perfectly good third-party ink and cars that refuse to accept perfectly good engine repairs if they are performed by third-party mechanics:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

It's how we get cursed devices and appliances, from the juicer that won't squeeze third-party juice to the insulin pump that won't connect to a third-party continuous glucose monitor:

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/01/unauthorized-bread-a-near-future-tale-of-refugees-and-sinister-iot-appliances/

But trusted computing doesn't just create an opaque veil between your computer and the programs you use to inspect and control it. Trusted computing creates a no-go zone where programs can change their behavior based on whether they think they're being observed.

The most prominent example of this is Dieselgate, where auto manufacturers murdered hundreds of people by gimmicking their cars to emit illegal amount of NOX. Key to Dieselgate was a program that sought to determine whether it was being observed by regulators (it checked for the telltale signs of the standard test-suite) and changed its behavior to color within the lines.

Software that is seeking to harm the owner of the device that's running it must be able to detect when it is being run inside a simulation, a test-suite, a virtual machine, or any other hallucinatory virtual world. Just as Descartes couldn't know whether anything was real until he assured himself that he could trust his senses, malware is always questing to discover whether it is running in the real universe, or in a simulation created by a wicked god:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/07/28/descartes-was-an-optimist/#uh-oh

That's why mobile malware uses clever gambits like periodically checking for readings from your device's accelerometer, on the theory that a virtual mobile phone running on a security researcher's test bench won't have the fidelity to generate plausible jiggles to match the real data that comes from a phone in your pocket:

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/01/google-play-malware-used-phones-motion-sensors-to-conceal-itself/

Sometimes this backfires in absolutely delightful ways. When the Wannacry ransomware was holding the world hostage, the security researcher Marcus Hutchins noticed that its code made reference to a very weird website: iuqerfsodp9ifjaposdfjhgosurijfaewrwergwea.com. Hutchins stood up a website at that address and every Wannacry-infection in the world went instantly dormant:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/07/10/flintstone-delano-roosevelt/#the-matrix

It turns out that Wannacry's authors were using that ferkakte URL the same way that mobile malware authors were using accelerometer readings – to fulfill Descartes' imperative to distinguish the Matrix from reality. The malware authors knew that security researchers often ran malicious code inside sandboxes that answered every network query with fake data in hopes of eliciting responses that could be analyzed for weaknesses. So the Wannacry worm would periodically poll this nonexistent website and, if it got an answer, it would assume that it was being monitored by a security researcher and it would retreat to an encrypted blob, ceasing to operate lest it give intelligence to the enemy. When Hutchins put a webserver up at iuqerfsodp9ifjaposdfjhgosurijfaewrwergwea.com, every Wannacry instance in the world was instantly convinced that it was running on an enemy's simulator and withdrew into sulky hibernation.

The arms race to distinguish simulation from reality is critical and the stakes only get higher by the day. Malware abounds, even as our devices grow more intimately woven through our lives. We put our bodies into computers – cars, buildings – and computers inside our bodies. We absolutely want our computers to be able to faithfully convey what's going on inside them.

But we keep running as hard as we can in the opposite direction, leaning harder into secure computing models built on subsystems in our computers that treat us as the threat. Take UEFI, the ubiquitous security system that observes your computer's boot process, halting it if it sees something it doesn't approve of. On the one hand, this has made installing GNU/Linux and other alternative OSes vastly harder across a wide variety of devices. This means that when a vendor end-of-lifes a gadget, no one can make an alternative OS for it, so off the landfill it goes.

It doesn't help that UEFI – and other trusted computing modules – are covered by Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which makes it a felony to publish information that can bypass or weaken the system. The threat of a five-year prison sentence and a $500,000 fine means that UEFI and other trusted computing systems are understudied, leaving them festering with longstanding bugs:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/09/09/free-sample/#que-viva

Here's where it gets really bad. If an attacker can get inside UEFI, they can run malicious software that – by design – no program running on our computers can detect or block. That badware is running in "Ring -1" – a zone of privilege that overrides the operating system itself.

Here's the bad news: UEFI malware has already been detected in the wild:

https://securelist.com/cosmicstrand-uefi-firmware-rootkit/106973/

And here's the worst news: researchers have just identified another exploitable UEFI bug, dubbed Pixiefail:

https://blog.quarkslab.com/pixiefail-nine-vulnerabilities-in-tianocores-edk-ii-ipv6-network-stack.html

Writing in Ars Technica, Dan Goodin breaks down Pixiefail, describing how anyone on the same LAN as a vulnerable computer can infect its firmware:

https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/01/new-uefi-vulnerabilities-send-firmware-devs-across-an-entire-ecosystem-scrambling/

That vulnerability extends to computers in a data-center where the attacker has a cloud computing instance. PXE – the system that Pixiefail attacks – isn't widely used in home or office environments, but it's very common in data-centers.

Again, once a computer is exploited with Pixiefail, software running on that computer can't detect or delete the Pixiefail code. When the compromised computer is queried by the operating system, Pixiefail undetectably lies to the OS. "Hey, OS, does this drive have a file called 'pixiefail?'" "Nope." "Hey, OS, are you running a process called 'pixiefail?'" "Nope."

This is a self-destruct switch that's been compromised by the enemy, and which no one on the bridge can de-activate – by design. It's not the first time this has happened, and it won't be the last.

There are models for helping your computer bust out of the Matrix. Back in 2016, Edward Snowden and bunnie Huang prototyped and published source code and schematics for an "introspection engine":

https://assets.pubpub.org/aacpjrja/AgainstTheLaw-CounteringLawfulAbusesofDigitalSurveillance.pdf

This is a single-board computer that lives in an ultraslim shim that you slide between your iPhone's mainboard and its case, leaving a ribbon cable poking out of the SIM slot. This connects to a case that has its own OLED display. The board has leads that physically contact each of the network interfaces on the phone, conveying any data they transit to the screen so that you can observe the data your phone is sending without having to trust your phone.

(I liked this gadget so much that I included it as a major plot point in my 2020 novel Attack Surface, the third book in the Little Brother series):

https://craphound.com/attacksurface/

We don't have to cede control over our devices in order to secure them. Indeed, we can't ever secure them unless we can control them. Self-destruct switches don't belong on the bridge of your spaceship, and trusted computing modules don't belong in your devices.

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/17/descartes-delenda-est/#self-destruct-sequence-initiated

Image: Mike (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/stillwellmike/15676883261/

CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

[likeadevils]

1989 Timeline

This is a very long post that puts all the songs on 1989 in order of Taylor creating them. I’ve also included a few other songs she worked on while writing 1989 and quotes from Taylor and her collaborators talking about her process

Of all the albums in Taylor's discography, I think this is the one that improves the most when you listen to it in order. All of those things Taylor was talking about in the promo for this album-- how this is an album of her coming into her own, figuring out her values, learning to stand on her own two feet-- it all clicks into place. Listening to it in order has made me cry on more than one occasion, and it's also the thing that made me start this whole crazy process of figuring out the dates she wrote each song.

If you don't want to read the whole post, check out this playlist of the album in order or this playlist of her entire discography.

I’ve also added this color coded scale of how sure I am of the date: 

Confirmed: There is some type of official source for the date

Inferring: Nobody has officially said “This is when we wrote it,” but all available evidence points to that date

Speculation: This date is based on guesswork and is highly likely to change, or, all that is known is the general season.

Unknown: All that is known is the year (from the US Copyright Offices)

Without further ado...

Oct 6, 2012: Taylor seems to have been in a studio in London (Note: I have no idea where this photo comes from and I can not find a place that specifies if this is a music studio or radio interview.)

This Love: Oct 17, 2012 (Confirmed)

October 19, 2012: Taylor mentions wanting to work with Imogen Heap, prompting Imogen to get in touch with Taylor

Time Interview: Who’d be your dream collaboration, especially now that you’re taking more musical risks? Let me think. Imogen Heap! She’s amazing. Taylor: Someone asked me in an interview "Who would you like to work with?" and I said Imogen Heap. I get an email to my management, sent like "Imogen just saw that Taylor just said an interview that she would like to work together" She said "Why don't you come out to my studio." Imogen: I got a phone call [in 2014] saying Taylor Swift was in London, she'd love to work with me and the only date she could do (between 4 sold out 02 arenas!) was the day after we got back, Sunday. It was both unexpected and not at the same time as I'd heard Taylor was a fan a while back via this Time magazine piece but somehow didn't think it would actually happen.

Fall 2012: Taylor possibly writes a song with Harry Styles and Jacknife Lee (her producer for The Last Time)

“It was out of my field of expertise and interest, but I was intrigued and my girls were thrilled. Taylor was nice and very professional. She knew what she wanted and there was no fucking about. She was seeing Harry Styles at the time, so he came to Topanga on her recommendation. She wrote a few songs with him, and it was the same thing – quick. But this time it was more directed by the management and label. They were after something specific. I wanted more acoustic and gentle, almost Americana, and they wanted bombast. They got what they wanted, and that was the extent of my foray into teen-pop territory. It was fun.”

All You Had to Do Was Stay: Jan 10, 2013 (Confirmed)

Taylor is photographed outside Conway, and then tweets "Back in the studio. Uh oh..." Later, Taylor confirmed that she was recording All You Had To Do Was Stay. Taylor: I had a dream that my ex showed up at my door, knocked at my door, and I opened it up, and I was about ready to launch into the perfect thing to say [...], Instead, all that would come out of my mouth was that high-pitched chorus of people singing, 'Stay!'...and then you go to say something else, and it's just like 'Stay! Stay! Stay!' And I woke up, I was like 'Oh, that was mortifying. But that's kind of a cool vocal part.'

January 11, 2013: Taylor is photographed outside Conway again

How You Get The Girl: Jan 15, 2013 (Confirmed)

Taylor posts a picture of her playing a guitar in the studio, captioned "Somewhere in LA..". Later, Taylor confirmed that she was recording How You Get The Girl. Given what was going on in her personal life, she likely wrote this sometime in the fall/winter of 2012, but all we know for sure is the date she recorded it.

February 9, 2013: Tweets "Grammy rehearsals last night, studio today, who knows what tonight holds! (I do. Laying around watching TV and eating candy.)"

March 6, 2013: Taylor is photographed outside a studio in LA

March 23, 2013: Posts a picture of her playing guitar captioned "Pre show. Columbia, South Carolina"

I Wish You Would: May 28, 2013 (Inferring)

Taylor is photographed out for lunch in Rhode Island with Lena Dunham (and likely Jack Antonoff, who was Lena's boyfriend but not as famous at the time) on May 27 before leaving for her show in Phoenix, Arizona the next day Jack:  "We were hanging out at her house in Rhode Island and we were talking about John Hughes movies, and a lot of the music that inspired [them], and just this general culture of sound in that time period that was really larger-than-life in an anthemic, positive way. These songs could be at the end of films that were really, really beautiful and said a lot. That actually ended up being a song called 'I Wish You Would' which is going to be on her album. We first worked on that song together and realised we kind of have a good thing. Taylor: “This is a song I did with Jack Antonoff, and Jack is one of my friends and so we were hanging out and he pulled out his phone and goes "I made this amazing track the other day. It's so cool, I love these guitar sounds." And he played it for me and immediately I could hear this finished song in my head, and I just said "Please, please let me have that. Let me play with it, like send it to me" And so he sent it to me and I was on tour and this was me playing the track on my laptop recording me singing the vocal into my phone and it ended up being a song called "I Wish You Would", because Jack wrote back and said "I love that".”

June 7, 2013: At the CMA fest, Taylor is asked if she's started writing for her next album yet

“It's starting, all the anxiety is starting and when the anxiety starts, then the writing happens right afterward, usually. Um, so, yeah, I basically... I like to, I like to write for about two years before I'm finished with an album because I... at this point I kind of know that whenever I write in the first year is going to get thrown away, because, I'm going to like it, but it's going to sound a little bit like the last project I had, and the second year usually ends up sounding like the next project. So I think at this point, at this point I feel like staying the same is the easy way to go but it's not the way that I want to go, creatively. I think you need to challenge yourself, I think you need to change up your influences, I think you need to be inspired by different things that you've been inspired by before, and, uh, y'know, It's harder to call people you don't know, and it's harder to think of topics you haven't covered and think of new ways to say old emotions that everyone feels, but, that's the goal at this point."

June 20-21, 2013: Taylor and Selena Gomez hang out, and Taylor potentially writes Wildest Dreams.

July 15, 2013: Taylor gives a brief interview to Rolling Stone

“The floodgates just opened the last couple weeks,” she says of the songwriting process. “I’m getting to that point where I’m irritating to be around because I’ll be with you for half the conversation and then the second half of the conversation I’m clearly editing the second verse of whatever I’m writing in my head.” “I really loved collaborating [on Red],” she says. “You work with a lot of different people and you find the people you have this dream connection with in the studio. I know those people and I know the ones I want to go back to. But I also have a really long list of the people I admire and I would really love to go and contact. So that’s kind of where that is.” “I think that the idea of having a different approach to every single one of my albums is so exciting to me. I never want to make the same record twice. Why do it? What’s the point? It’s so overwhelming that when you’re starting a project there are such endless possibilities if you’re willing to evolve and experiment. If you’re willing to become a different version of yourself, you can really go anywhere with it. And that’s kind of where I am. The kind of the laboratory experimental stage of really catching onto a new thing that I’m liking.”

July 18, 2013: Taylor unfollows the three backup dancers that left her tour for Katy's, meaning Bad Blood was likely written sometime between July and November 2013.

Sweeter Than Fiction: Summer 2013 (Speculation)

Taylor wrote this one over email, and then it was recorded in New York (partially in Jack's living room, partially in an actual studio)

August 25, 2013: Taylor and Selena Gomez hang out at the VMAs, and Taylor potentially writes Wildest Dreams.

August 25, 2013: Taylor gives a brief interview on the VMAs red carpet

"But I think [songwriting is] about to start to kick into full gear. I'm about to go into the studio. It's about to get really intense."

Out Of The Woods: September 14 2013 (Inferring)

On September 14, Fun cancelled their show. Taylor was likely either flying to or from Charlottesville, where she had a show for the Red Tour. Jack: "When I did the track for Out of the Woods, which is a Taylor song that I'm really proud of, there was some issue at a venue and our show was canceled that night and I didn't have my stuff, I had left it on the bus, so I only had these old samples on what was on my laptop, and caught up that 'oh oh'' thing, and I only had one drum kit on there, and these dumb little things [sometimes turn into a great song]" Jack: "So 'Out Of The Woods' was the third thing we worked on together, and probably the easiest. I sent her the track for it, and she sent back a voice note with the verse and chorus in what felt like five seconds. And it was just perfect. It's eerie how similar it is to what the final product is." Taylor: "This is a track that Jack Antonoff sent me, and I was actually on a plane, I got it and I got on a plane and I'm listening to it, and I'm just like listening to it and mumbling melodies cause the song came to me immediately like, in full [...] I think what I should start by playing you, is when I got the track, what I sent him like an hour later, and it is, me.. um, me singing what came to me, which ended up being the finished version of the song, or at least really close to it."

September 20, 2013: In a brief interview with USA Today, Taylor says she plans to work on her next album between the next few legs of the Red Tour

"I’ll be in the studio, figuring out what comes next. I really like to take two years to make a record, and I’ve been writing and doing stuff for the last year. This is kind of the year that it goes into overdrive, and it’s all I think about and I become obsessive over it and I’m hard to talk to"

September 22, 2013: Taylor gives an interview to New York Magazine where she talks about her plans for TS5

These days, Swift is thinking a lot about her next record. While on the Red tour, she’d been writing songs and stockpiling ideas: reams of lyrics, thousands of voice memos in her iPhone [...] she plans to spend much of 2014 writing and recording the new album, a prospect she finds exhilarating and terrifying. “I worry about everything. Some days I wake up in a mind-set of, like, ‘Okay, it’s been a good run.’ By afternoon, I could have a change of mood and feel like anything is possible and I can’t wait to make this kind of music I’ve never made before. And then by evening, I could be terrified of the whole thing again. And then at night, I’ll write a song before bed.” Swift hopes to collaborate with new songwriters and producers. But she planned to begin, she said, by heading back into the studio with Max Martin and Shellback. “I want to go in with Max and Johan first, just to figure out what the bone structure of this record is going to be. “I have a lot of things to draw from emotionally at the moment. But I have to draw from them with a different perspective than on Red. I can’t say the same things over and over, you know? I mean, I think it’s just all the more important that I don’t ever allow myself to coast. At the same time, there’s a mistake that I see artists make when they’re on their fourth or fifth record, and they think innovation is more important than solid songwriting. The most terrible letdown as a listener for me is when I’m listening to a song and I see what they were trying to do. Like, where there’s a dance break that doesn’t make any sense, there’s a rap that shouldn’t be there, there’s like a beat change that’s, like, the coolest, hippest thing this six months—but it has nothing to do with the feeling, it has nothing to do with the emotion, it has nothing to do with the lyric. I never want to put things in songs just because that might make them popular, like, on the more rhythmic stations or in dance clubs. I really don’t want a compilation of sounds. I just need them to be songs.”

September 28-October 5, 2013: Taylor and Selena Gomez are in the same city, and Taylor potentially writes Wildest Dreams.

October 12, 2013: Taylor gives an interview to the Associated Press

Swift: I think the goal for the next album is to continue to change, and never change in the same way twice [...] How do I write these figurative diary entries in ways that I’ve never written them before and to a sonic backdrop that I’ve never explored before? It’s my fifth album, which is crazy to think about, but I think what I’m noticing about it so far is it’s definitely taking a different turn than anything I’ve done before. AP: You said recently you’ve been working on songs for the new album for about six months. What can you tell us about what you have planned? Swift: It’s too early to tell who are going to be my predominant collaborators, but I do know that my absolute dream collaborators were Shellback and Max Martin on the last project. I’ve never been so challenged as a songwriter. I’ve never learned so much. I’ve never just been so excited to show up to the studio every day, just because you never know what we’re going to put together. I’ll bring in ideas and they’ll take such a different turn than where I thought they were going to go, and that level of unexpected spontaneity is something that really thrills me in the process of making music. ... What if we did this? What if we made it weirder? What if we took it darker? I love people who have endless strange and exciting ideas about where music can go."

October 14, 2013: At the NSAI, Taylor talks about reinventing herself for different albums

"I’m making my 5th record now, so I think you have to change things up, you have to explore different corners of music as much as you can. Cause I really, it’s been a big goal of mine to never make two albums that sounded the same. I really want my fans to be able to be like "Oh that song? Clearly that's from the Fearless album", "No that one, that one was from Red" and so I’m in the process of doing that thing all over again for my 5th album and it’s amazing to be in the studio and to be songwriting again, and be honored for songwriting tonight"

Blank Space: October 26, 2013 (Inferring)

It looks like she’s wearing the same outfit in this behind the scenes footage and these candids Taylor: "I was going into write with Max Martin and Shellback, who are two of the primary collaborators on 1989, and I... was preparing all these things, and I, I think Blank Space was like the third thing I played them, and they just stopped and they were like "NO, this is the first thing we're working on today." [...] I had the idea for the chorus and I had the hook, but a lot of the verse was gibberish." Taylor (On what song took her the least amount of time to write): "Blank space, cause I'd written a lot of the lines down already in the year preceding the session"

October 29, 2013: Tweets "Sitting in the studio writing the next album (!!!!) and wanted to thank you for the American Music Award nominations!"

November 1 : While promoting Keds, Taylor is asked about her next album

"What I go through is going to be the story that I tell. I think lyrically, I always try to tell my fans exactly what’s happened to me in the last two years, and that’s the thing they can expect. Everything else, they won’t be able to expect. Having been in the studio with this one, I’m just like… oh, this is going to be fun"

Bad Blood: Fall 2013 (Speculation)

The backup dancer drama seems to have kicked off in mid-July. Given that it's produced by Max Martin and Shellback, and Taylor was in the studio with them pretty much non-stop from October-November, we can assume that it was recorded sometime in the Fall of 2013

New Romantics: Fall 2013 (Speculation)

Unfortunately, Taylor doesn't really talk about this song. Given that it's produced by Max Martin and Shellback, and Taylor was in the studio with them pretty much non-stop from October-November, we can assume that it was recorded sometime in the Fall of 2013

Wildest Dreams: Fall 2013 (Speculation)

Selena reportedly told a fan she was there when Taylor wrote this, and I've noted above all the times Selena could have been with Taylor in 2013 (Here's my personal ranking of how likely each date is). Given that it's produced by Max Martin and Shellback, and Taylor was in the studio with them pretty much non-stop from October-November, we can assume that it was recorded sometime in the Fall of 2013.

Wonderland: Fall 2013 (Speculation)

Another one Taylor just doesn't talk about all that often. Given that it's produced by Max Martin and Shellback, and Taylor was in the studio with them pretty much non-stop from October-November, we can assume that it was recorded sometime in the Fall of 2013

Nov 20, 2013: Taylor posted "While in the studio, I came to the realization that my bangs are long enough to use as a sleep mask on long flights. Then I remembered I don't ever use sleep masks on flights. So really, I just need a haircut"

November 25, 2013: Taylor and Scott Borchetta have a meeting to talk about her plans for TS5 and are both asked about the next album at the AMAs

Taylor: “We got a lot already. There are probably seven or eight [songs] that I know I want on the record. It’s really ahead of schedule for me. I’m just stoked because it’s already evolved into a new sound, and that’s all I wanted. And I would have taken two years to make that happen, but it just kind of happened naturally, so that’s all I could really ask for.” Scott Borchetta: "Well earlier today we got together and she played me seven new songs, and she’s just on fire. The level of desire and passion that she has just to keep getting better, she’s an artist that just really never wants to just say ‘Well okay this is good enough’. It’s always gotta be better. She’s in amazing creative place right now." By the end of November, Taylor had likely recorded This Love, All You Had To Do Was Stay, How You Get The Girl, I Wish You Would, Out Of The Woods, Blank Space, Bad Blood, New Romantics, Wildest Dreams, and Wonderland. That’s 10 songs total, 5 of which were likely recorded in the past two months, and 7 that had been made since Taylor and Jack had their conversation about 80s music in May.

Dec 21, 2013: Taylor briefly talks to Billboard about TS5

"I’m really loving collaboration right now [...] I see it as a bit of an apprenticeship. I want to be around people who love writing songs and have done it for years. Every time I’m in a studio I’m learning, like how to build a drum track, and getting a new perspective on things. It’s so thrilling to keep learning on your fifth album. As soon as [an album] comes out I’m figuring out what the next one will be. It’s gotten to the point where each one is a reinvention, which is what I like best. I like it when it sounds new and people don’t know where you’re going to go next."

Say Don't Go: Jan 1, 2014 (Confirmed)

Diane Warren: Warren, who typically writes on her own, says the two of them “sat down and wrote the song […] from scratch” during the last few days of 2013. She remembers being impressed with how specific Swift was with her lyricism and how considerate she was about how her fans might receive it. “She was very particular about how she said certain things. It was a really interesting experience. She gets her audience [...] She’s deeply aware of how her fans want to hear something. I can’t explain it, but that’s probably why she’s the biggest fucking star in the world.” Several days after writing the song together, they got into Warren’s office to record a demo, where Swift played it on her acoustic guitar. “We demoed it on New Year’s Day. And I’m a workaholic, and that’s fine for me,” she says. “But I remember being impressed that she did, too. Everybody’s on vacation, but she showed up.”

You Are In Love: Jan 2014 (Inferring)

This song is copyrighted for 2014. Taylor has said a few times that Clean, Shake It Off, and Style were the last songs written for the album, meaning You Are In Love was likely completed in January or early February. Given Taylor's busy schedule in late January and early February, I'd guess this was written at some point in early January. Furthermore, I'd guess it was sometime after the 9th, when she returned from looking at house in New York.

I Know Places: Jan 22, 2014 (Confirmed)

Taylor: "I sent this voice memo to Ryan Tedder because I'd always wanted to work with him, and finally we scheduled some studio time. So I always wanna be prepared, I wanted to send him the idea that I was working on before we went into the studio just in case he wrote back and said "I can't stand that, I wanna work on something else, think of something else" So I just sat down with the piano, put my phone on top of the piano and just kind of explained to him where I wanted to go with the song, how I saw the melody sitting in and we ended up recording the song the next day and it ended up being on the record called "I Know Places" So this was the voice memo that I sent to him the night before we ended up finishing the song"

Welcome To New York: Jan 23, 2014 (Confirmed)

Ryan Tedder: "I thought we were going to walk in and start something from scratch because that's what I was used to. Then she calls me and says, 'Is it cool if I already have an idea?' I said, 'Sure.' She said, 'I have this song, I'm obsessed with New York and I just moved there, I want to write an ode to New York because no one's done it in a long time.' And then she sent me a voice memo. She's like, 'I want it to sound like 1980s.' So the next day I brought in a Juno-106, which is a very 1980s keyboard and I literally programmed that entire song right in front of her. It was very much on the fly, and that song was done in about three hours. And I did the rest of the production I think later that week. I was in Switzerland on a tour bus, and I did four versions of 'Welcome to New York,' one of which I liked personally more, but the thing about artists is they become very obsessed with the demo. She was in love with the demo so no matter how hard I fought, she brought it back to the demo, so really what you hear is what I did on the first day."

January 26 2014: Dianne Warren says that she recently wrote a song with Taylor

"I worked with Taylor Swift on a great song [...] I'm excited about the [song] that we did, it's pretty cool Dianne in 2016: “I know [Swift] likes it, so hopefully it will see the light of day. I know she really likes the song. She didn’t want me to give it away, so hopefully that means she wants it.”

January 26 2014: Taylor loses Album of the Year at the Grammy's to Daft Punk. She tells a few different stories about what the rest of the night looked like for her-- in some she goes home alone, in some she has some friends over-- but in all of them, this is the night where she decides that she's gonna name the album 1989, and she's not going to let her label tell her to put any country songs on it.

Clean: Feb 9, 2014 (Confirmed)

According to Imogen Heap's blog post, Taylor had the first verse and chorus by the time they got into the studio, and then wrote the second verse and bridge during the session. Taylor's part was wrapped up in 9 hours, ending at 8pm, while Imogen stayed up until 4am because she didn't want to stop working on it. Taylor: ""Shake It Off" and "Clean" were the last two things we wrote for the record, so it shows you where I ended up mentally. “Clean” I wrote as I was walking out of Liberty in London. Someone I used to date— it hit me that I’d been in the same city as him for two weeks and I hadn’t thought about it. When it did hit me, it was like, ‘Oh, I hope he’s doing well’. And nothing else. [...] The first thought that came to my mind was – I’m finally clean." Imogen Heap: I was really writing the tiniest amount just to help her do what she does. I put some noises to [“Clean”], played various instruments on it, including drums, and anytime she expressed she liked something I was doing, I did it more. It was a really fun day. She recorded all her vocals [for “Clean”] during that one session. She did two takes, and the second take was it. We always thought she would probably re-record it, because we thought it can’t possibly be that easy. But after we lived with it for a few months, we felt it was great.

February 15, 2014: Taylor posts "It was a studio Valentines Day with Max and Johan!"

Shake It Off: Feb 15, 2014 (Confirmed)

Lover Diaries (From Feb 22): "This week I’ve been in the studio with Max and Johan every day and it has been the most creatively successful and fulfilling time. The first day, Johan just made a really up tempo drum beat because we decided we needed something UP and light. We worked at it for a few hours before I just started singing “shake it off, shake it off.” And then the best way I know how to describe it is that the chorus just fell out of the sky. It ended up being this song about doing your own thing even though haters are gonna hate, and you just have to dance to your own beat. We all went home and I wrote the first and second verses and brought them in the next day. We wrote this chanty cheer leader bridge that I absolutely LOVE. We spent all day doing vocals and the next day recording background vocals. I think it’ll end up being the first single and Max said it’s his favorite song he’s ever been a part of." Taylor: "The problem was, I had all these lyrics, and I didnt have, like... writing session was coming up and I'm just like "I'm not getting a melody, I'm dead, I don't know what I'm gonna do." The thought terrified me, so I just sorta sulked into the studio and I was like "Guys, I have like an idea but its like, lyric, but I... and I know the vibe I want-- I want it to start off and the second the song starts, I want it to be the song where like, if it's played at a wedding, and there's this one girl who hasn't danced all night at the reception, all her friends come over to her and there like "You have to dance, come on, you have to dance on this one!". That's what I wanted. So I was like "Shellback, can you just go to the drum kit and try to play that?" Taylor: "There's one thing that I've always said to Max, is like "I don't like horns" I just always had a thing about it, I was always like weirdly scared of it, or intimidated by horns, I don't know what it was? It's a weird, like, nerdy studio fear of mine. I was like "No, no horns!" and I don't.. I don't even know, I don't have a reason for it, I love songs that have horns on them, I was just like "I don't think I can pull off horns." Strange. But, he goes over to the mellotron and he starts playing this horn sound. I'm like "What are you doing. Don't do that." and he's like, "No, I think this is cool" and I'm like "No it's not cool, and where are your chorus chords, because, that, you're just playing three chords over and over again and I can't make a chorus out of them, why don't you go to like a chorus chord that starts off the chorus, where is the one, like why don't you go--" and then there was this moment, where I thought of the whole chorus, and it's over the chords that I had just told him are not "chorus chords", which is a ridiculous thing to say."

February 18, 2014: Taylor is photographed entering Conway Studios

Style: Feb 19, 2014 (Confirmed)

Niklas Ljungfelt (guitarist): I played on “Style,” a song I started with Ali Payami for ourselves. He was playing it for Max Martin at his studio; Taylor overheard it and loved it. She and Max wrote new lyrics. But I recorded the guitar on it before it was a Taylor song. It was an instrumental. I didn’t have a clue that Taylor would sing on it. The inspiration came from Daft Punk and funky electronic music. Taylor: I'm pretty sure after we finished this one I knew the record was done. Shake It Off and Style were the last two songs to be written for 1989.

March 2014: Taylor's interview with Glamour is published (likely conducted two months beforehand)

TS: Working on this album has been unbelievable [...] I'm already in love with it. It's so different. CL: What's the new sound? TS: On Red I did three songs with Max Martin Shellback [...] I think we'll be doing a lot more than three songs together on the next album [Laughs].

March 26, 2014: Taylor is photographed entering a music studio in New York

May 30, 2014: Taylor writes in her diary:

So a crazy story unfolded in the last 24 hours. Last night, I had this vivid dream where the photo I’d chosen for the album cover wasn’t good enough, intriguing enough, artful enough. It woke me up. I couldn’t shake it and it stayed with me all day. Because that nagging feeling I’d been pushing back for weeks was now confirmed in my gut … It wasn’t good enough. I went to the venue, mind racing, wondering if I’d have to do an entirely new photo shoot … I got to my dressing room with newer versions of the “cover.” I looked at it and felt nothing. The team pulled up this new scanned file of the Polaroids we had taken during the shoot. I saw within 10 seconds. The shot. The cover. It’s a Polaroid of me sitting against a beige wall with a blue seagull swear shirt on. You can see my red lips, but the photo cuts off my eyes. From some reason unknown to me, it’s the most intriguing photo I’ve seen. I think it’s the mystery of not seeing my eyes. Maybe it just looks effortlessly cool. The craziest moment came when something caught my eye. The cover photo is photo 13. I kid you not.

August 23, 2014: Taylor is photographed walking out of a studio in LA (Note: I can not find a place that specifies if this is a recording studio, dance, photography, radio, or television studio.)

Now That We Don't Talk: Summer 2014 (Speculation)

Seeing as Taylor said she didn't have time to figure out the production, I imagine this came fairly late in the process. Taylor has a habit of adding songs right up to the deadline-- with Folklore and Evermore, she added multiple songs a week before the album came out. The latest she added songs to albums while signed to Big Machine was September, though (both Forever & Always and So It Goes...), so I assume that's the absolute latest she could've added a song. Taylor: "Now That We Don’t Talk” is one of my favorite songs that was left behind, it was so hard to leave it behind, but I think we wrote it a little bit towards the end of the process and we couldn’t get the production right at the time. But we had tons of time to perfect the production this time and figure out what we wanted this song to sound like. I think it’s the shortest song I’ve ever had, but I think it packs a punch, I think it really goes in. For the short amount of time we have, I think it makes its point.

And that's all for this timeline! Check out my others:

TIMELINES: debut • fearless • speak now • red • 1989 • rep • lover • folklore • evermore • midnights PLAYLISTS: debut • fearless • speak now • red • 1989 • rep • lover • folklore • evermore • midnights • entire discography GENERAL: tag

[gyeomsweetgyeom]

[8:02 pm]

(cw: very brief and vague mention of reader being naked)

One of your favorite things about Jaemin was how affectionate he was. Without a doubt every morning you'd be greeted with a kiss placed on your cheek and every night you'd go to sleep with his lips pressed to your forehead. It was very rare that you'd leave the house and not have him touching you in some way, hand holding, hand in your pocket, arm around your shoulder- something.

There were times that occurred very rarely where the affection turned the slightest bit... clingy. You'd never tell him but not having your own personal space could be overwhelming. Today was one of those days where the only alone time you'd had all day was earlier in the morning when you were brushing your teeth.

Right now you were trying to extract yourself from Jaemin's arms to get in the shower, he was whining, "I can join you."

"I won't even be long and you're watching your show," you reasoned.

"Jaemin," you whined exasperatedly, "please, my love. It won't take longer than 15 minutes."

He mumbled something about that being too long and his arms dropped, he was preparing to get down and beg you not to leave his side, but you used that opportunity to run to the bathroom.

You took a relieved breath standing under the warm stream of water. You were washing your hair when all of a sudden you heard, "Aren't you almost out of shampoo? Should I add it to the list?"

You froze, eyes snapping open. You peeked out from behind the shower curtain, catching sight of Jaemin sitting on the toilet with his phone out. He looked up and smiled brightly at you, "Did you like this scent or do you want to go back to your usual? I really like this one, but I like the old one too."

You took a deep breath to calm your heightened feelings of annoyance, "Jaemin, can I please have my shower time to myself?"

You probably shouldn't have been surprised, the longer your relationship went, the less personal time you'd have. This wasn't the first time he had decided to join your shower time without actually joining you in the shower. Sometimes he would sit on the counter or the toilet and ask you about work or gossip with you. You usually wouldn't mind, but today you were hoping for a simple shower alone.

Jaemin cried, "Do you hate me?! Is that what it is?!"

You laughed out loud before you could stop yourself, "Jaemin, why would I hate you?"

His head peeks into the shower and his eyes meet yours immediately. He's not even phased with your body being completely bare in front of him, and you love it. "Well, you ran away from me and you're depriving me of my cuddle time."

You place your hands on your hips, and raise an eyebrow at him, "Your cuddle time has been going on for over 10 hours now just today. Yesterday was another 14 hours, and that's not even including when we were asleep. As much as I love you, I need space to myself sometimes."

Jaemin clutched his chest dramatically, "Oh my god, my heart has just been ripped out of my chest and stomped all over my a crowd of people."

"Can you leave me now?" You asked softly, not wanting to hurt his feelings.

"Of course, baby," he answered quickly. He leaned further into the shower and placed a kiss on your mouth, not even bothered by the fact that he was getting wet.

You heard the door open and then, "I'm actually glad you're showering. I didn't want to say anything, but you were starting to get a little stinky."

"Get out!" You yelled.

"I love you!"

[reilliane]

Septem ⊱⊰ Genshin!Various

PART 01 OF 02 [ PART TWO ]

✤ she/her - ✤ words: 8k

✤ An Academy built to hone and prepare gods-to-be and blessed mortals for the world beyond — isn't it a dream come true, when a blank Vision greets you in invitation?

✤ tighnari, al haitham, kaveh, zhongli, albedo, gorou, itto, ayato, xingqiu, childe, dottore, razor, cyno

Septem (VII) Academy, the grandest and most prestigious amongst all learning establishments.

Sitting at the center of the continent of Teyvat and surrounded by seven nations, it isn't merely praised for its grandiose edifice, but as well as its invaluable tutelage.

Only a handful are able to enter such a place; one's entry is advised when their ambition is recognized, and they are given a magical gift; a Vision.

One morning, you expected nothing out of the ordinary. You will wake up from your sleep, prepare yourself for the day, and head out to the cafe to make ends meet. Nothing special to it, you are a simple, magicless civilian trying to get by.

That is, until a flash of silver twinkles at your bedside and there lay, a blank Vision.

Initially, you did not know what to make of it. The morning it appeared, you carried on with your day, baking early to prepare the sweets and other delicacies that will be put on display.

Come eight o'clock, people will start flocking in, from late students rushing to get some bread on the go, to stressed out secretaries attempting to secure their bosses their daily caffeine. The revving of cars won't be heard as much until the clock strikes ten, and so the busy day continues.

You only remember that you received a Vision when you're closing up for the night, gawking at the sight of it on the counter when you remember leaving it at the bedside table.

Why would such a blessed gift appear, when you've little to no—as embarrassing as it is—grand dreams at all?

You grew up with your grandparents, who passed when you were eleven. The money they left behind is more than sufficient enough to cover the expenses until your hairs turn white, and you've been managing it well, secured for emergencies.

Life isn't bleak—but neither is it colorful. It's just there, and you are merely someone traversing past it.

You have a nice, large cafe that's pretty famous in town, so your occupation is practically set for life. But with the arrival of that invitation... well, you can't just throw it out even if you tried, and it'd be a waste of opportunity.

Perhaps it'd give you the additional colors you've been seeking. An extra chapter of adventure in your life. And thus, a decision has been reached.

After securing the bakery with a fellow professional in the field the following morning, you set off towards the single gateway that bridges the nations to the distant Academy.

The Statue of the Seven is located at the city park, a place visited by many. You won't lie and say that you aren't feeling nervous at all. Plenty of eyes lay upon your figure, sparkling in interest as whispers grow louder.

It isn't a normal occurrence to see a student—or well, to-be-student—of the only magical academy, after all.

Vision gripped in one hand, you lay your palm upon the stone foundation of the Statue, unsure of the process of bridging- or is it called teleporting nowadays?

You just got the invitation yesterday and it didn't come with any user manual (obviously)! Not even a thorough search in their website helped, it only contained their schedule of events that includes the general public.

Students are just expected to head over to Septem and that's it! Oh, Celestia, what if it doesn't work? What if you actually needed to do something first? Perhaps you should call their admissions' office-

Hey, why didn't you do that?

Mumbling incoherent things under your breath, you move to substitute the Vision for your phone. At least, that was supposed to be the plan.

Before you are devoured by anxiousness that stems from overthinking and the tons of expectant looks on your person, a chorus of voices ring deep in your mind.

“𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝, 𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.”

The world turns white in a blink of an eye—and you are lulled to sleep.

You haven't had such a wonderful slumber all your life until then, it is like you've fallen onto a bed of clouds, cushioning both body and spirit.

Although the quietude of the world is superlative, you can almost hear soft strings that reverberate in harmony.

What breaks you free from sleep's lullaby are hushed whispers and the feeling of your consciousness returning. Drowsiness batted away with a few blinks, you come to wake and acknowledge the growing volume of utterances.

The first thing you notice is that you are floating with a glow that steadily begins to dissolve into gold dust the closer you reach the ground, where five cloaked figures await.

One of them steps forward to guide your descent, holding onto your arms and helping you stabilize yourself in case you wobble.

“No one expected a student to come in the middle of the year, so you missed the entrance ceremony. Nonetheless, welcome.” greets the woman bedecked in vermilion and gold.

An ethereal kind of aura envelops the room the moment she spoke. Silver hair billows around her, floating as they defy gravity, and her eyes bear the shiniest of golds. She sounds stern, but kind.

“Oh,” you quip, “I'm sorry... ?”

A snicker rings from the group of four that stands behind her and you tip your head, attempting to identify the source, but their hoods are pulled down to conceal their visage. Only their lips can be seen, some curled up whilst others are thinned into a line.

She merely lifts her brow, amused. “I am the Sustainer. And fret not, the apology isn't quite necessary, dear.”

You take the moment to observe your surroundings; a vast hall with columns of pews. The light that pores through the stained glass gives the impression that the gathering hall is modeled after the image of an imposing cathedral.

With a glance over your shoulder, you jump, seeing two enormous hand statues splayed open, directed skyward, as though to hold something between them. Is that where you appeared... ?

“Do you have your Vision with you?” surprised, you nod, a little embarrassed that you're this jittery.

The gift presents itself at your open hand, grey and blank, yet to be bestowed of its true power.

Nodding, the woman—Sustainer, as she introduced herself—guides you to step in front of the hand statues and points at the empty space between its palms.

“Let's get you sorted, then.” you lift your hand in offering and the Vision flies out of your hand, moving in between the statues. Rays of light start to coruscate through the large, stained glass behind them, as though being beckoned by the Vision.

The Sustainer glances behind her—towards the four, you presume.

“As unfortunate as it is, our Hearthleaders, or Archons, as you know them by, are incomplete. Three are presently dispatched for executive training, but do not worry,” she gives you a reassuring hum, “If you are ever sorted to their Hearths, then I will summon the Masters.”

You've yet to fully understand the abundance of terminologies the Academy has to offer, but you'll be honest and say that you're getting intrigued by the second.

“Now..”

Maybe going here was a good choice, after all!

“Ad Astra.”

To your astonishment, the rays flashed even brighter, they've become so blinding that you had to close your eyes. Only when it has dimmed to a considerable degree are you able to blink and adjust your sight, feeling an incomprehensible frisson in your chest.

Is this what magic feels like? You ponder in awe as the [c] light of your Vision beats at a steady rhythm, like a heart. It floats back down to your waiting hands.

“Septem Academy welcomes you, [Surname] [Name].”

The Sustainer smiles, golden eyes appearing even warmer than before as she beckons the four behind her to make way down the carpeted center of the gathering hall.

They do as she says, following shortly after you tail along.

“As you have just recently enrolled, the classes may be too advanced, so until you've caught up, you will stay at the Hearth and learn at your pace until it's fit for you to attend class in the campus. I will have the professors know and send in the syllabuses. Of course, you are free to enter the campus library to study if you so wish.”

Down an enclosed corridor that's only lit by torches with seven respective flame colors, you cannot help the wonder that blossoms inside.

Given the technological age, you expected the Academy to be more modern like most universities in Teyvat. Instead, it's rather antiquated in nature (like you're in a fantasy setting!), which is foreseeable, because Septem is in a league of its own.

Eventually, enormous double doors are reached at the end of the hall, opening on their own to reveal a brightly illuminated room.

It is circular and open spaced—a huge gazebo, if you will. In between each marble columns stand seven tall mirrors, each accented and arrayed accordingly.

A moment is needed for you to notice that beyond the place is the celestial body itself, the skies. Rolling clouds complement the azure canvas, touched with a ray of the sun.

You wonder if the eventide will be just as majestic.

“Now, unveil your Vision.”

A sense of nervousness and excitement causes your fingers to tremble in the slightest, unwrapping from the Vision that now thrums with life. The glow of white dies down, eventually marking out a detailed insignia that has your eyes widening.

The Sustainer lifts her hand, and with a voice that commands the heavens, announces.

“Ab intra—”

— Kaveh/Tighnari/Alhaitham

“Hearth Dendro!”

Flower petals bloom from nonexistence, falling as a gentle shower that commemorates the arrival of another student blessed with wisdom—governed by curio.

One petal lands on your palm and you gasp in awe. It is soft, probably the softest petal you've ever touched. It is as soft as the voice that comes to greet you next, a little girl whose viridescent eyes glimmer with content and mayhap even a sliver of excitement.

Though young, she exudes an aura of someone who has lived far longer than you have.

The Sustainer vanishes into red cubes, and the rest of the cloaked figures disappear through their respective mirrors after a bode of farewell and welcome.

“Hello,” the lone figure peels her hood away and gives a warm smile, “I'm Hearthleader Buer. I'm glad to have you with me.”

It's impossible not to smile in return.

“Same here! I'm a little nervous, but I hope I'll do fine.”

“That is normal,” she nods and begins to float off the ground to meet your level, “Every flower starts as a seed. You will grow and bloom eventually, so do not worry too much!”

It takes you everything not to coo at the adorable sight, aware that she is much, much older than you. Not to mention, she is an Archon, so even if she displays a really amicable atmosphere, you're extra chary not to overstep your boundaries and be disrespectful.

Nahida begins to move, floating towards the right. “We'll go to the hearth now. We don't have as much students as other hearths do, but it's still a lovely place.”

“I'm sure I will enjoy it,” you say as the two of you leave the gathering hall.

She leads you to a mirror accented with vines and flowers. The surface of the mirror swirls upon her touch. She smiles at you, hand extending out.

Wordlessly, you take her hand, and enter the mirror.

Hearth Dendro's dorm is beautiful and bright. Their own portal is behind a canopy of vines, so when you weave past them, the hearth greets you in all its splendor. White marble, lush green hues, and draping leaves adorn the enormous place. It's almost like living in a glasshouse.

Flowers with glowing pistils coil around banisters and ceilings, serving as a gentle light source for when night falls. It even has a grand botanical garden with a gazebo at its center!

The students of Hearth Dendro on the other hand, are... definitely driven. They all have their own sorts of objectives and are surprisingly not one for much chatter — save for a sweet girl named Collei, Hearthleader Buer herself, and this craftsman known as Kaveh.

They all seem rather busy, which apparently is an understatement, because they're almost never not busy. You later realize that they are inarguably the most studious students in Septum, specializing in all kinds of research. Still, they manage to give you a warm welcome in the garden.

When you ask them about the other Hearths, they appear less than eager to introduce those of Hydro's... you wonder why.

Although their schedules are packed full 'till the weekends, they always spare one special day in honor of your Archon, who they often refer to as Hearthleader Kusanali. It's a wonderful celebration, something akin to a birthday ceremony, and it's the best time to converse with your hearthmates out in the gardens.

“Hey, hey come take a look at this—isn't it wonderful? This will be built one day, so for now, it's a miniature version- Don't knock it off-!”

Kaveh is... unique, in the dorms. While the rest are definitely more mellow, he's a bit more unreserved. His gears are constantly being ground, more so when he's in the same room as Alhaitham.

He is just as eager and studious as they are, however, and that shows itself in the display of miniature structures he has in his room.

One can count on him to be less uptight, though he's not afraid to be strict when the situation calls for it—ah, and he's anonymously tasked with bringing entertainment onto the table, and boy does he do it well. Does it have something to do with his snark?

He is the first to greet you, actually, and takes up the responsibility of helping you through your studies to catch up—which would've seen full merit if he wasn't jesting, going off on a tangent each second, and shoving his phone in your face.

When he puts his mind to it, however, he can be a good tutor! Unfortunately, with him, you learn more about hearsay than actual lessons, so a different student decided to help you out.

“What do you think you're doing? That's clearly poisonous! Which hearth do you belong to, you lost lummox- oh, you're the new student.”

Tighnari is one of the best tutors there is, as far as you have experienced. Alhaitham sometimes gives off an almost condescending aura, and Kaveh teases you first before actually teaching anything.

Tighnari has a surprising amount of patience for someone who can be so sassy. You first met him not during your official welcome, but when you enter a greenhouse to peruse and study mushrooms out of curiosity.

Before you can even think of touching one, a hand has slapped yours, followed by a 'tut-tut!' and an unimpressed look from the student himself.

He acts like a brother figure slash mentor to sweet Collei. The first few times she excuses herself to hang out with you, he gives you the sternest and most threatening look ever! One that said, 'put yourselves in danger, and you're cleaning all our rooms'.

It wouldn't have been so bad if you know that everyone's room might as well rival a professor's messy office desk.

Under his austere personality, however, is a kind, understanding man. When you fell asleep in the library late in the night, studying, he carried you back to the hearth along with your reading materials.

If he's particularly busy himself, then he'd sit at the side with a steaming cup of tea prepared for you to drink the moment you wake up. His sense of responsibility has numerously led him to staying up late with you in an attempt to drill all the knowledge in your head.

Oftentimes, Alhaitham, the Master—the Archon's righthand—, just as busy, will join the late night studying.

“Haven't you already gone over this material? Oh, right, you've just enrolled... then, this isn't too complicated for you, is it?”

He can be such a pompous person and for what!? Nahida assures you that he isn't, though, and says that it's merely his way to drill in some well-needed vigor in you to be better. And you're bummed, because it's working. You can mumble stuff about him all you want but he'll still manage to hear you over his headset.

Admittedly, Alhaitham's expectant hums and stares are what led you to pull all-nighters. You're used to it for you've baked some nights away, but you may have forgotten the stress of being a student and not a baker. You often have to keep your emotions in check whenever speaking with him, all because of his blunt tongue.

One second, he can be scrutinizing your 'recklessness' for staying up late and you'd be resigned, then the next, he'll either be giving away a passing comment about your lack of sleep or forcing you to head back to the hearth. His concern—that he somehow masks as 'stating nothing but facts'—is sufficient enough to surprise you.

'What good will this do if you're half-asleep tomorrow?' he'll chide, but will grow quiet if he sees you nodding off. You'll wake up next morning with a study guide on your tabletop. Offering him your thanks will only a yield a nonchalant shrug, followed with a, 'Don't count on it next time'.

That was a lie. He still ended up giving study guides.

Your days in Hearth Dendro are certainly a bit taxing, but with it comes the comfort that your hearthmates are a single call away. For as driven as they are in their scholarly work, they are just as driven to lend a helping hand whenever it is so needed.

When there is nothing to do, everyone will lounge at the garden or the greenhouse, where stories are shared. You'd think that they won't have anything to share other than the contents of their thesis, but they can be surprisingly talkative about other things, too!

... And those 'other' things are gossip about other Hearths.

Kaveh argues that it's actually 'information', and both Nahida and Collei sound pretty engrossed each time, so you learn to go along with it.

Besides, who says it isn't amusing? As long as it doesn't involve you, of course. But with your recent enrollment, it cannot be helped that you are the talk of the town.

“This is the fourth time I try to enter our Hearth only to see another student attempting to go inside with the objective of seeing [Name]! It isn't a problem, but she's still learning at her pace here, she'll eventually go in the campus, why can't they be patient?” “Kaveh, keep your voice down. Perhaps if you weren't advertising her so much every time and posting unsolicited pictures, then they wouldn't be as inquisitive as they are now.” “Phah! At least I act like we have a new member, unlike someone who doesn't even seem to care. How rude of you to [Name]! And for the record, I do have permission!” “I applaud your ability to say such things when she's sitting right beside you.” “Hehe! Well, [Name]'s gotten pretty famous overnight for her sudden appearance. I'd say their interest is well-placed, don't you think so, Tighnari?” “Yes, Collei.. Also, this 'intruder' seems to be that hot-blooded doofus. Can it truly be-?” “Ah, the one from Hearth Geo with the faux horns, correct? He can be quite the determined one, that's for sure.” “Certainly, Hearthleader. Well, him and a few others... oh! Would you care for some sweets?”

— Zhongli/Itto/Gorou/Albedo

“Hearth Geo!”

Flaxen dust bursts from nonexistence, falling as a gentle shower that commemorates the arrival of another student blessed with fortitude—governed by order.

It reminds you of fairy dust, revitalizing your energy the second it falls upon your person. You feel refreshed, nervousness disappearing with a single exhale.

The Sustainer vanishes into red cubes, and the rest of the cloaked figures disappear through their respective mirrors after a bode of farewell and welcome.

The one left behind saunters with a delicate tug of the cloak's hood, unveiling eyes as gold as the dust that have now decorated the floor. They're mesmerizing to look at.

“Greetings, I am Hearthleader Morax, though you may simply refer to me by my other name, Zhongli. It is nice to meet you.”

Ah, his voice. It's the second thing that catches you off-guard. Wow, that's heavenly.

It's a little embarrassing to admit that you lagged behind in your response in favor of being bedazzled by the fine Archon before you, but he doesn't seem to mind at all.

“It's nice to meet you, too, Hearthleader!” that might've come off as too enthusiastic...

But he only chuckles, gesturing towards a crystalline-looking mirror dipped in gold. “Well then, let us be off. The others await your arrival.”

A floating abode. Hearth Geo's dorm is an abode in a floating abode, does that make sense? You're speechless when you first stepped down from the crystalline cave, which is their portal.

It's extravagant, but not over the top. Bedecked in auburn, gold, and silver, the whole hearth almost appears festive, with a hint of class. Zhongli explains that this complementing style comes from two refined ladies, Ningguang and Yunjin.

Draperies and banners line the walls, like a coat of arms. They aren't overly flamboyant either, well, save for that one statue of a dragon by the floating rock next to the main island.

Overall, it's a cozy looking place! If you stare longer at the conflagrant sky, you'd begin to think that it's in an eternal state of sunset, but it does dip into the evening; a time when levitating crystals of all sizes will start to glow.

Zhongli speaks highly of his hearthmates, often pitching in a good chuckle when he recounts an amusing shenanigan of theirs. They all sound so accommodating that you cannot help but be eager to see them.

Hearthleader wasn't lying when he said that they are waiting, gathered in the common room and more than ecstatic to welcome you with open arms—one man takes this literally. There is little time to react and absolutely zero time to register that you are being spun around.

“I can't believe we got another one! We're getting biiiiig! Hi there, freshblood, I'm the one and oni, oni sumo king, pride of oni, beetle gladiator-”

Arataki Itto, who scoops you into his arms and gives a heavy slap to your poor back. He means no harm, but you still stumbled at it, almost being floored if not for the calm blond man who catches you without batting an eye, as if used to it.

His usage of 'freshblood' is strange if not alarming, though you find out that it's just his way of referring to new people and to honor his ancestors. He's actually a noble guy who can't stand any kinds of prejudice. Meaning, he's got your back twenty-four-seven! He proudly declares that his strength isn't just for show! (Like a vigilante, though he ends up causing most of the trouble)

Itto is loud and some kind of a doofus, but he means well! ... If only his academics are just as well. He volunteered to tutor you, actually—and everyone but an amused Zhongli are shaking their heads behind him to signify that you should decline. Well, you didn't, what could go wrong?

Surprise, surprise, everything did. It's a wonder how he got to his current year, but you won't ask, no, you don't have the courage to anymore... so you can just listen to him lament about the 'brutes' in Hearth Electro as his attention deviates for the third time.

Itto invites you to this group chat called the Arataki Gang, filled with his friends and one mediator from the Hearth he's pouting about earlier. Buckle up for a loud time, he's bound to invite you along in his 'underground battles' which really is just for a beetle fight.

“Oh, hey! Is something the matter? Did you want to check out the place? I can show you around, no big deal! Let me just secure my equipment real quick.”

Sweet Gorou, your savior who saw you on the verge of passing out after getting back your results. Sweet, sweet Gorou who offered a tour around the humongous dorm to take your mind off of things, and because you still get lost in the halls.

He's adept with the heavy compound bow (guns, too!) and you often see him in a section of the dorm, particularly the archery range, honing his skills to perfection. He seems incapable of letting loose, always keeping a stern visage on, but with a few nudges and shoves he can be quite easygoing, too.

It's cute that he attempts to hold onto earnestness, though. You find out that it's because of his future as a General after he completes his studies, which is a story for another time, he assures it! Now, just- set your phone aside and let him teach you already!

Wakes up before everyone else and takes up the role of being everyone's alarm if they're sleeping in. With Noelle, the two of them are the greatest pair when it comes to keeping things in topnotch condition. There is no escaping his keen eye and sharp nose.

It's unnerving how he almost knows what you need at the right moment; ah, you're hiding from Itto? Hide there! Do you need to pick up the modules and guides from your professor? No biggie, he got 'em right here! Did you just say you want to unwind? Well, there's always video games available in the game room, he can be your player two!

“... I wondered who it was that's walking around the dorm at this hour in the night. You can't sleep, you say? Mm, if you wish, you can join me. Others say that being idle while with me makes them drowsy.”

You don't know what Albedo means, but that sounded.. sad. People get sleepy around him? How awful, he means nice, doesn't he? You should go and see for yourself! ... And oh, how correct those 'other people' are.

Albedo may be taciturn, but he does not evade giving answers when asked. Most of the time, he's either in the laboratory or the parlor, tinkering with chemicals or drawing in his sketchbook.

Again, you didn't know what he truly meant by 'people being drowsy around him' until you actually took him up on his offer at the famed witching hour; three in the morning. Merely sitting from afar and watching him work around the lab whilst delineating his process is more than enough for you to doze off.

It can be his soothing voice coupled with the clinks of lab equipment and the sounds of his laptop's pressed keys, either way, it's safe to say that whenever you can't sleep, you seek him out—and he has no problems whatsoever! You always wake up with a blanket and a horrible stiff neck, but the nearby beverage and his pleasant 'good morning' does not fail to lighten your day. That is, if you can ignore Gorou's horrified sermons about lack of sleep in the background.

There are times when you genuinely help him, though, because goodness he's incredibly smart. Your grades have been pulled out of the gutter because of him and you couldn't be more grateful. Ah, and he's- actually an exchange student!? He's from Aurum College? Wait, isn't that from Khaenri'ah?

“How are you faring? If you need any guidance with your classes, do not hesitate to approach any of us. Oh? You've nothing to do? Then, how about some osmanthus wine?”

Geo's Hearthleader, you did not expect him to be such a good listener and storyteller, what with the austere expression on his face all the time. You thought that, as someone who governs with order, he'd be a stickler for the rules, but he isn't!

He's pretty laidback, it almost seems like Ningguang—the Master—is holding most of the reigns. His affable attitude, however, is not an excuse for anyone to deviate from the rules. Itto has broken a pretty important one once and Zhongli's silent fumes are unable to be dissipated in weeks, or so Yunjin said.

Knowledgeable in nearly all fields, it once struck you as strange that he's yet to fully 'graduate'. You don't know how Archons' educations go, but you do know that it's important for every incarnation of theirs to undergo a certain number of years in Septem before fully embodying their role in their respective nations and replacing their predecessors.

It goes without saying that everyone in the Hearth looks up to him, always going for well-needed advice or sometimes to even just get a decent story. His mind is rich with history and knowledge, so no one minds at all when he starts speaking and doesn't stop until the sun has risen. It's the Hearth's take on a 'movie marathon', though it's more of a story than a movie.

There's no guarantee that everyone's still awake after he is finished—maybe except for you and Albedo, who may have gotten used to staying up late. Zhongli isn't content with the derailed sleeping schedule, but you both listened so well, how can he ever begin a scolding session?

Zhongli holds a special ceremony for everyone in the dorm to attend, one akin to a birthday party, called Descension. Only it celebrates the inauguration of the hearth itself from many, many years ago.

From Yunjin's performances to Itto's challenges, despite everyone's clear disparity in personalities, it is a day where Hearth Geo becomes more united than ever.

“That was an amazing performance, Yunjin... ! I've got goosebumps all over my skin!” “Oh, thank you! I had someone help me with the song, I wanted the best for today's Descension. I see that Hearthleader is just as pleased, it makes me happy.” “A performance as splendid as that deserves only praise. Indeed, it was wonderful.” “Hm... and the feast is excellent. Noelle has outdone herself again, say, come here, why don't you rest for a bit? Let Gorou and Itto be with their endeavors.” “If the Master deems it fit, then I shall gladly accept! Come, [Name], I want to taste the sweets you baked, too!” “Haaaah!? [Name] baked something and I didn't get first taste?! Ridiculous! Gimme, gimme that now-!” “Running down the stage like that won't bode well for you, Itto, calm yourself... though the excitement is understandable, it won't be good if you rush.” “Albedo is right, calm down- hey, look out for that-! Everyone get away, he's gonna crash!” “THAT CROISSANT IS MINE- WOAH!” CRASH! “...” “... How are the contingency funds for Itto's mishaps, Ningguang?”

— Ayato/Xingqiu/Childe/'Dottore'

“Hearth Hydro!”

Raindrops descend from nonexistence, falling as a gentle shower that commemorates the arrival of another student blessed with bourne—governed by excellence.

Surprisingly, they did not dampen your clothes, for they scatter into myriads of blue dust upon touch. Still, there lies a sensation akin to having resurfaced from a calm ocean.

The Sustainer later vanishes into red cubes after assuring that the corresponding Master has been summoned, and the rest of the cloaked figures disappear through their respective mirrors after a bode of farewell and welcome.

Maybe only at least half a minute has passed until the mirror to your left, one of silver and blue—it reminds you of the pretty stained glass in the hall a while ago—ripples, and out comes a man with a fixed smile.

He's handsome, though you can't help but be on edge. Are you overthinking things, or does something else enshroud that smile of his?

“A lovely afternoon, is it not? I am Kamisato Ayato, Master of Hearth Hydro. Will you give me the honor of welcoming you to our palace?”

Apprehension? Scrutiny, maybe?

You cannot be too sure, but he does seem kind, so you try not to over analyze. For all you know, it can just be the nervousness from before beginning to take over again.

Another thing that you pick up on, other than his ambiguous smile, is his air of elegance. You cannot see anything amiss, as though he embodies the word perfection itself. It's rather intimidating, for if he is like this, then what of your other hearthmates?

If his special power is mind reading, you'd like to shut down, because he's chuckling into his white sleeve that's free from creases. “Do not be so agitated, my lady, your Vision has sorted you well.”

Goodness heavens above, you hope he doesn't notice the pink of your cheeks!

“Shall we be off?”

Not relying on your voice to respond, you only take his arm that he raises for you to link your own with, and head into the mirror.

When he said that bit about welcoming you to the palace, you didn't expect it to be literal! Emerging from a swirl of blue portal located beyond an extravagant arch, you take in the sight of Hearth Hydro's dorm- if one can even call it that. This elegant monstrosity before you, is a palace. A mix of old and modern.

It isn't overly big and exaggerated, but it still is huge. The second you step in, water avatars of all forms can be seen, from jellyfishes to water clones. You would've ogled at the entire infrastructure if not for the Master tugging you along to the parlor.

Unsurprisingly, with a dorm as giant as the palaces in storybooks, it does not come as a surprise that it is able to cater to the personal whims of everyone that occupied it.

Other than the rooms one can be naturally found in a castle, there are training barracks, laboratories, and—is that an observatory at the top? It feels like going back in time. The only touch of modern tech such as televisions and other appliances is at a different side in the palace.

Under the eyes of your hearthmates, whose gazes zero in towards you upon the suspenseful entrance led by yours truly, you start to feel incredibly small. It doesn't need to be verbalized; how all of them emanate this air of majesty. (Save for that one gingerhead).

Fear not, however, for though nothing but excellence seems to exude off of their miens, they are far from being the cavalier students you feared they'd be. Some, most of the time.

“Comrade! Wanna get out of this stuffy palace? I haven't been to Liyue lately, would you want to- Huh? Haha! How? We sneak out, of course!”

Childe may be the 'black sheep' of the Hearth what with his torpor towards the axiomatic courtliness of his hearthmates—he practically is their opposite, brash and always seeking some form of chaos instead of grace—but he has his serious moments every now and then.

He spends most of the time at the training grounds, very rarely joining the others in their fancy tea time, not like they mind. The palace will definitely be much gloomier if he's not around, though, so they still invite him regardless of whether he attends it or not.

Septem Academy, much like any other schools, hosts competitions and events for the students—and Childe is the Hearth's savior, winning things left and right especially if it has something to do with combat. He thrives in it.

You find out that he gets along with almost everyone, though you aren't sure if it's genuine... but he's amicable, so is that really a problem? As long as he doesn't stab you in the back or anything, then there's nothing to raise your eyebrow at.

The number of times he has dragged you to sneak out of the palace to shirk duties—the Master never fails to punish both of you when he finds out—can no longer be counted. You said you'd regret it, but Childe is someone who knows how to enjoy life for what it is, so you still end up joining him in his made escapees. You even end up taking him to your cafe and he loves it!

“Careful, my lady, you wouldn't want to fall down those steps now, would you? Here, let me help you carry those to the library. Mm? Don't worry, I was headed there myself, anyway.”

Ah, another frequent escapee. Xingqiu upholds noble etiquette much like the rest, but astonishingly has his own side of mischief. You did not believe it at first when Childe said that he's pulled pranks with Xingqiu as his partner in crime... until you caught the latter in the act.

He has a way with words, too! He's the one responsible for swaying you to join Childe in your top secret mission to sneak out of the Hearth and the Academy (gate passes aren't allowed during exams week), covering for both your lives and sometimes joining in on the fun. Barbara caught the three of you one time and was torn between snitching or not. She didn't. Yelan did.

A sweet gentleman, but is efficient with the sword, as well. Other than his love for swordplay, you've caught his nose buried in books most of the time in the palace library.

It has become customary for the two of you to arrive at the library in the afternoon, just after lunch, to either read a good book or study. Of course, that includes dozing off together, be it all over the table or the plush loveseats by the fireplace.

You two will not wake up in time for supper—the cozy library might as well be a gigantic bedroom—so it is up to Mona to do the honors and take you away from dreamland. If they leave you be, you'll wake up at around eight. From then on you'd both either skip dinner or resume reading, eating a bunch of snacks that are available in the nearby pantry.

“If I have intimidated you in any way, it wasn't my intention to. To requite for it... oh, Septem will host an Overture Ball for the three Hearthleaders' return. May you accompany me as my partner?”

Ayato has a sound reason for his actions, apparently. Being the Head of a renowned family that's targeted one too many times, the need to ascertain and scrutinize strangers comes as second nature. He's like a cryptic prince, observant and shrewd.

Aside from that trait of his, he can be solicitous. He acts mostly for the benefit of many but is not afraid to throw in some risks, which makes him great and, at the same time, someone to be wary of. No one will want to be in his bad side... really, don't test his patience...

You're in his good graces, though, much like everyone else—so as long as you do not stray, you are guaranteed a wonderful stay at Septem Academy. He has connections, after all, and he's not afraid to use them! He also has an endearing sister that he tells you of, she belongs in Hearth Cryo.

With his finesse and early experience, it's no wonder that he ended up being the Master, too, so he's extra bus juggling responsibilities and academics at the same time. Not to mention, the duty of being Head of his own family.

His busy life thus keeps him away from most of your hearthmates unless the day calls for the usual tea time. You've taken it upon yourself to knock at his study and accompany him. He once even helped you with the subjects you're lagging on behind! From then, he sorta begins to expect you around him. He likes the company!

With the way he acts, if not for the Hydro Vision at his waist, you would've thought he belonged in Hearth Dendro. An opinion that made him squint at you very discreetly...

“. . .”

You aren't a hundred percent certain about it, but there might be another hearthmember who hasn't shown nor introduced himself. A passing blur of blue and white, that's what you see turning the corners at night.

When you asked Yelan about it, she says that even they are unsure about which hearth that student is officially affiliated with—and that's not even the student, but a 'copy'.

Childe has a lot to say on the matter, though, saying that the 'real person' is on leave, and the clone left behind merely liked to roam about this particular dorm.

'Dottore' is the code name, other than that, everything is enclosed in obscurity.... you wonder when you'll get to see him for yourself.

No one also said it outright, but you deduce that they're probably in some kind of rivalry with Hearth Dendro. You believe it pertains to your hearthmates' ability to keep up with them in terms of excellence... or perhaps it's a case of student's pride?

You've only seen students from that hearth a couple of times, but two men in it just clash with Ayato, Childe, and that one student on leave. It doesn't help that your hearthmates have this subtle air of smugness that they downplay... as if aiming to provoke in a passive manner.

And worse, their rivals are just as smug, if not prideful.

Nothing too harmful, though! At least, you hope... it's a good thing Barbara, Kokomi, Mona, and Candace are sweet mediators. (Yelan and Xingqiu seems to enjoy the little feud, though).

“Alhaitham sure knows how to press buttons, hm? He's twice as overbearing today and it's only because I lost an argument! Heh, can't say I'm not challenged, though.” “Who wouldn't feel triumphant if he's won against a renowned Harbinger? If you are just as invested in academics as you are in your combat skills, perhaps we could've won ourselves.” “Now, now, Master, comrade. You saved the latter half of the debate! I say we stood our ground well! Oh- this tea is actually tastes good!” “It sounds so exciting to be in the same class as you three! I wish I could've seen it for myself..” “Don't we have a free day tomorrow, Kokomi? We can sit in and watch their second debate with [Name]. We can even do a little cheer!” “I wish to join as well, I've no qualms that it'd be more interesting than taking up politics for the fourth time in a week... ah, my lady, here are the sugarcubes.” “Thank you. But isn't tomorrow's attendance for your class a requirement, Xingqiu?” “Ho! Lady Yelan, No such rule dictates that I've to stay for the entire class.” “And that is your excuse for cutting class? I see.” “I think you disappointed Candace, comrade.”

— Razor/Cyno

“Hearth Electro!”

Lightning and thunder roars from nonexistence, deafening with its echo that commemorates the arrival of another student blessed with ideals—governed by volition.

Its unexpected boom prompts you to jump, heart lurching along in shock and a bit of fear. Wow, that took your breath away... but right now, was that lightning violet? It's such a pretty color.

The Sustainer vanishes into red cubes, and the rest of the cloaked figures disappear through their respective mirrors after a bode of farewell and welcome.

The figure left behind is swift to introduce herself, pretty eyes and braided hair of violet unveiled. From the looks of it, she's strict, but her voice has a gentle lilt to it that quells your nerves.

“Greetings, [Name]. I'm Hearthleader Beelzebul. I noticed that you were caught off-guard by the thunder, are you by any chance, afraid of them?”

Oh no, was she disappointed? It's not like you're that afraid or anything!

Flustered, you shake your head, clarifying your surprise in earnest. “Oh, no, no! It just caught me off-guard, I wasn't expecting to hear it so suddenly when the weather isn't stormy at all.”

“Ah,” she has a pretty smile, “I'm relieved. As your Hearthleader, I wish only the best for you and your journey into mastering Electro.”

The heels of her shoes click against the floor, stopping only when she reaches a gilded mirror whose surface wheels into an abyssal portal of deep violets. A magical sight, like one of a fairytale's.

“The Hearth may bewilder you for a moment, but I've no doubt that you will get accustomed to how things are without difficulty.” she lets you step inside first and immediately, you are overwhelmed by a sense of catharsis—like the insecurities and fears rooted deep within have let go.

You are brought back to reality when a steady hand holds onto you, followed by a hearty laugh.

“That always happens to newcomers! It never gets old, does it, Hearthleader?”

It doesn't even seem to be remotely possible, but Septem Academy is a place of magic, so anything can be possible—and that includes the fact that you are on a flying warship, the portal, that is sailing through the clouds.

Hearth Electro might as well be a fairytale of its own, for it changes forms once a month, morphing into an image of the reality that each Hearthmember envisions.

The huge ship, to your amazement, already includes all sorts of rooms and necessities one would find in a more 'normal' dorm. As Beidou explained, 'sailing through the clouds' is basically the Hearth reshaping itself to fit the next image of reality, which ends up being a floating abode in the likeness of the buildings in the nation of Inazuma.

Everyone is more than willing to tell you the array of realities their mindblowing Hearth has to offer; from castles to even a temple-like dorm, it's thus normal to opine that Hearth Electro is one of a kind. All hearthmembers get a turn, so you can only wait in the coming months, thinking about how your envisioned reality will be shaped.

The Hearth's maverick kind of subsistence had a lot to do with the members that belong to it. All are vastly different from one another, united only by a singularity; the drive to embody their ideals. It might also be because you learned that they're all 'misfits' in their own ways, but you can't be the judge of that.

Hearthleader Beelzebul says that it is beyond convoluted to comprehend the nature of each element and what unites everyone blessed by it, so it's better to just let it be.

“For your help! Thank you. Means... a lot, to Razor. To Hearth, and to Lupical.”

Initially, when you met Razor, you thought that he's sort of aloof, unwilling to converse with anyone unless he finds it necessary. Turns out that he's just a little bashful and isn't much of a talker—it does not mean that he's unfriendly at all!

Lisa did the honors of introducing him to you and things went smoothly afterwards. Razor is a little weak on language-centered subjects, but fares well at the rest, more so at classes that recites the need for hunting and tracking down things. You do not know too much, but they say it's more of a specialized course that you can get into once you catch up to academics.

He likes to be in the kitchen if not in his room or outside, always making those cute hashbrowns in the shape of a paw. You didn't take him to be one who does well in culinary things (did he just mix whole pinecones in that!?) but that one dish he served—that made everyone nervous at first—actually tasted like heaven.

Apparently, before becoming a student, he was an orphan who tended to himself alongside a pack of wolves. It seemed impossible for this is a modern world! But then you recall that Hearth Electro quite literally is an oddity itself, so you don't question it. Besides, it's rude...

Razor gets along with everyone, more so with some of the students in Hearth Pyro. Whenever you're free from studies, you offer to cook or bake with him in the kitchen. It's always so endearing to whip something up with someone, after all.

Cyno, on the other hand... is intimidating... and he looks like he's choosing what kind of judgement to befall upon you when your eyes first met! Although Yae looked on in amusement at your fear and Sara assured that you shouldn't be wary of him, you can't help but grow even more anxious.

It has come to the point that you only managed to utter his name and go completely silent when he comes in the room, turning as white as paper and feeling as though you've committed a cardinal sin.

So imagine your utter bafflement when one night, as you are about to sleep, a knock came upon the door—and Cyno is there. The staring is only cut off when he spoke, and it's-

“What holds both days and students? Septem(ber). Because September is a month and Septem is the name of the Academy.”

Heavens above how could he say that with a straight face, was that a joke? That was a joke, wasn't it- you're about to laugh, wait- are you allowed to laugh!?

In the end, you couldn't help but burst out laughing, unable to tell whether it's because of his ability to look serious, or because of the joke itself. He looks surprised, but then all he does is blink, say good night, and saunter away as if he hasn't just dropped a joke that made Beidou guffaw next door.

It was easier being around Cyno afterwards. He isn't half bad at all—that is, as long as you do not break any of the Academy's rules or any of the Hearth's—you can't believe that all it took was an unusual 'confrontation' from the student himself.

Whenever Keqing and Kuki aren't around to help you understand a particularly complicated subject, he swings by to teach you—good heavens, he's smart as he is cunning. You end up dozing off whenever he does help, though... his voice is pleasant to listen to...

That is, if he's not speaking like he's going to condemn you for even having 'the audacity to nod off'! Because of this, he just sends you a link to his online study guides, and you both share!

Despite his sangfroid, however, there are times when he simply asks you to tell him if his newly constructed jokes are funny enough. If you told your past self that you'd end up being Cyno's 'joke evaluator', you would've laughed.

Being able to sit down and just talk with your hearthmates is more complicated than you imagined, and it's because of everyone's varying personalities. To work around this, your Hearthleader—or Ei, as Miko refers to—issues a duty upon everyone.

Each month, a student whose reality is currently the one shaped by the Hearth is responsible for hosting an event in which everyone will participate. There aren't any restrictions, so it can be tea parties, movie marathons, and even trips outside the Academy.

Fischl elaborately informs you that Hearth Electro prides itself in its 'get-togethers' solely because of the fact that the activities are different each time at the end of the month. You heard that they've gone to visit a literal ruins one time and got trapped in it for a week!

“Hearthleader, you're in charge of this month's get-together, aren't you? Do you have any plans?” “Yes, Keqing. I've thought of some things, but I'm unsure as to what will be preferred by most. Indulge me, everyone, how does attending a sweets buffet sound to you?” “My, Ei, aren't you just taking advantage of this event to satisfy your sweet tooth?” “Haha! Well I expected nothing less. Even if I would've liked some more active things to do, I sure don't mind sitting down and just taking a breather for once. Manning the wheel does take a lot outta me.” “Likewise. I'm not suited for idle matters, but as it is Hearthleader's choice, I respect it.” “Razor... same as Cyno and Beidou's reason.” “Fret not you cuties, actually, I was tasked by Ei to go fetch a gate pass for us all and I did see some sort of itinerary when I dropped it off in her room. And her laptop was open to some tourist spots. Right, Sara?” “Indeed. Other than a sweets buffet, I believe that Hearthleader has plenty of other things in mind.” “You're right about that. I checked the mora on hand and it does seem like we have more plans than eating cake.” “Hoho! The kind graces of our Hearthleader is most worthy of praise, surely, there is more to a sweet pinnacle of this month's celebration. I do wonder what awaits us all come the conclusion of the month to come! Kuki, how is our new outlander faring, will she be able to come?” “[Name] did really good, actually. She caught up well, I've no reason to believe that she'll be left behind to keep studying when she aced her exams.” “Wonderful. Then, after the sweets buffet, we shall explore the historical Chasm, or if you all prefer otherworldly locations, then Enkanomiya is also a destination.” “Haha, that's a good joke, Hearthleader!” “... But I'm not joking.”

A lot can happen in the span of five years.

Your life at Septem Academy may have just begun, but with the way things kicked off at a great start, you're relieved to say that maybe the adventure really is just beginning, as well.

Ah, but before all that, perhaps you first need to catch up on learning how to utilize your newfound [element].

a/n: i begin my notes by saying that the interpretation of each hearth/element's blessings, (aka solidity/valor/widsom/etcetc) are my personal take! hoyo doesn't confirm anything after all :')

also this was long! so i only added four hearths. now, septem i say has five years of schooling, with the fifth year being some kind of 'mastery' year in which the whole focus is on their vision. and the professors.. wELL i won't go into detail, but they're going to be those from Celestia, because again, Celestia is good here jahdkashdsa

everyone is human, only archons are, well, archons! for adjustments, however, there aren't any characters under 18, and no one above 23 either (except for archons lmao?? also, didn't include klee/diona and other child characters here)

hm, and i'll end my long long ramble here lmao, can't get it too long! part two will include the rest of the hearths!

@cherryflushz @e7t3 @scarlet-halos @lordbugs @nebulaera @annoying-and-upset @hanniejji @applepi1415 @tjjjrsj @azirajane @hey-comrade-hold-stil @limelightsuperhero @chloeloe @loptido @windyventi @nejibot @ganyuqrt @justrinnn @yasunamilk @alana5021 @coco-goat-milk @mininji @koi-chairowo

[putschki1969]

2024/02/19 Blog post by Wakana ふむふむの日2024を振り返ろう♪〜映画と衣装と肩の骨〜

❗This is Fan Club EXCLUSIVE content❗ ❗PERSONAL USE ONLY❗ ❗Do NOT SHARE on other sites❗ ❗Join her FAN CLUB! Check out my detailed TUTORIAL ❗

Looking Back At February 6 2024 ♪〜Movie, Dresses And Shoulder Bones〜

The other day, I went to see the movie "Golden Kamuy" with a friend 😊I received a special git at the cinema! A panel drawn by the original creator＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／ I was so happy because I didn't expect to get something like this! 😍 The girl I went with is a big fan of the original work, actually, she is such a hardcore fan that she and her husband have even gone on a proper pilgrimage to Abashiri which is a place from the manga. I also enjoyed the manga so I decided to go and watch the film with her! The visuals were so powerful and the music was so wonderful that (despite the fairly fantasy-like setting) I felt a strange sense of reality that made me cry many times... It was the first time I watched a movie at the cinema since ``The Boy and the Heron'', I had a lot of fun! 😆 (By the way, the girl who went with me was the same friend who went with me when I watched “The Boy and the Heron” for the second time♪) Being at the movie theater for the first time in a long while got me really excited, initially, I only wanted to get some oolong tea at the snack bar but then, I ended up with all of this😂 How did this happen? When I looked at the menu, I got really excited 🤣I got a large popcorn and a hot dog *laughs*

Hello, this is Wakana (0￣▽￣0)／

I couldn't finish the giant popcorn and had to take it home *laughs* I quietly stuffed my mouth with the hot dog before the film had even begun🤤 Even though I had told myself that it would be better to wait until the film was over to avoid getting tired...🥺 Such a fickle nature🥺(Thankfully the movie was so interesting that I didn't feel sleepy at any point)

Now, I would like to talk a little about my “Wakana 5th Anniversary “Prologue” ~Premium Online Live~” which was held on February 6th! Here I am together with Saku-chan who joined me on the piano 😊We also made sure to take a picture where we look a bit cool📸 With this premium online live I celebrated a milestone, the 5th anniversary of my solo debut. I wanted to start my celebrations together with everyone from my fan club! For some reason, those five years actually feel like a longer time... or rather, it feels like a lot more years have passed already. I included the entire “journey” from my solo debut up until now in the setlist!

M-01 Yureru Haru M-02 Tsubasa MC M-03 Ai no Hana M-04 Aki no Sakura (Acoustic ver.) MC M-05 Orange MC M-06 Haru wo Matsu (Kalafina) M-07 Shirushi MC M-08 Kinmokusei M-09 Flag MC M-10 magic moment MC M-11 Sono Saki e

There are songs from my 1st album "Wakana", my 2nd album "magic moment", my EP "Aki no Sakura" and my 3rd album "Sono Saki e"! I ended up cramming in as much as possible since I wanted to create a setlist that would allow me to look back on the past 5 years.😊 During my MCs I tried to express my feelings from each period, hopefully I was able to share some fresh thoughts with you.

I once again realized that the "chat" may be the best part of an online live performances! At live performances with an actual on-site audience it's not really possible to have a real conversation, but online, everyone can talk about all sorts of things. Of course, even if there are no words exchanged between us, I know that people are watching and supporting me but I always feel very relieved when people say a lot of things in the chat (*´- `) It's honestly so reassuring to know that everyone is watching and listening (^-^)

Despite all of that, my surprise lyric mishaps keep happening, whether it's been 5 years or 15 years, I will never get rid of those...😂Why? ? 😂 I could really feel everyone's surprise and kindness from the chat messages, it was a special sense of gratitude that I probably couldn't experience at a live performances with an on-site audience. Thank you again to everyone who watched and supported me! ! My 5th Anniversary celebrations have only just begun. At my upcoming band live on May 12th, I would like to have the time to reflect even more on the past five years ! Details will be posted soon! Please be patient a little while longer~･:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+

Lastly, I would like to post some pictures of my dress from February 6th 😆This is the same dress I wore on the cover of my 1st album "Wakana"♪ I also wore it during the encore for my ``VOICE'' tour, at that time, it was altered a bit so it would work better for a live performance 😍 I had my hair down, which is quite unusual for me ♡ The makeup artist also added some sparkling hairpins 😍

I always wonder why my shoulder bones are so prominent...🤣 I think it's a skeletal issue because I am pretty sure not everyone's shoulder looks like that, right? 😂 I don't have any particular pain or problems in this area but I always feel like there's just a lot of bone sticking out. I envy people with smoother shoulders🥺

Anyway, I'm glad I was able to fit into a dress from 5 years ago ･:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+ For some reason, that got me super excited! 😂😂 Easy peasy🤗 Yay!

So, that’s it for today! Until next time~ ☆( *'▽'*)/

＊＊＊Wakana＊＊＊

『Wakana 5th Anniversary Live』 Details Revealed

To commemorate the 5th Anniversary of Wakana’s solo debut, a special band live will be held for the first time in 3 years! Once again, Wakana will be joined by Satoshi Takebe to deliver a unique live performance together with other musicians. Please look forward to it!

Title: “Wakana 5th Anniversary Live (tentative)” Date: May 12, 2024 ◆1st Stage◆ Open 14:45 / Start 15:30 ◆2nd Stage◆ Open 18:15 / Start 19:00 Venue: I’M A SHOW (capacity: 398 seats) Starring: Wakana, Satoshi Takebe (Music Director/Piano), etc. 【Ticket price】 All seats reserved 8,500円 ※An additional 600円 drink fee will be charged at the venue

Advanced Ticket Lottery for BL Members

[Ticket Sales Service] SKIYAKI TICKET ※To apply, you will need to register your SC ID at "Botanical Land" and your SKIYAKI ID on the SKIYAKI TICKET site/app. Pre-registration is possible, so it is recommended to do this before the application period starts. Please note: The registration procedure includes a verfication via text message which apparently does not work for some overseas phone numbers. ※On the day of the event, present the screen displaying the QR code issued to the SKIYAKI TICKET app (no prints or screenshots permitted); Please note: To display the electronic ticket, a separate app is required

Quantity limit: Up to 2 tickets per person Payment method: Credit card/convenience store payment Ticketing method: Download the dedicated app to issue a QR code ticket Application period: February 21 to February 27 Announcement of Results: March 1~ Payment deadline: March 8

[sonkitty]

Crowley S2 Hair Post #1 Redone v2

(For reference: The Sideburns Scheme)

This post was last updated 04/02/2024.

Take it all in.

Treasure it for all that it is.

Because you will never see this hairstyle this clearly on Crowley ever again, not even from different angles...unless there's a treat waiting for us in season 3. But otherwise, no, that's all we get of this gorgeous, gorgeous shot.

...

Sideburn Check

Before we see Crowley pull that newspaper down, we are given a profile view of his right side of his face and can see his right sideburn. This sideburn looks short but is a little longer than the shortness we'll eventually see is the intended shortness after driving the car for a long enough time.

Let's take a look:

Wow, that is really hard to tell, but I'm still going to go with thinking it is little longer.

So, why is it a little longer in this human space that is the park?

Theoretically, it's a combination of factors that add up to Crowley making that newspaper his own personal door to manage his own personal space. I'll cover that more in the Earthly Objects section. It might also help that this human space is a more familiar one to him.

Two characters are going to show up, at different times, and there will be no interaction from him to them until he has deliberately pulled the newspaper down from his face. That is to say, he passes through his designated threshold to talk to them.

Once the newspaper goes down, we'll see the sideburns some more. They will look similar in length. It's hard to be sure due to the angles and expressions on his face.

...

Brighter Red Streak Check

In our initial view of Crowley, we can't see the streak. Once the newspaper goes down, it will become evident. That means we have to be suspicious of the fact that we didn't get to see it at the start of the scene because this story lies. Repeatedly. Something is amiss with its chronology. There is possibly a book somewhere in here and a lot of games messing with our heads.

There is a weird blocking and blurring thing happening all the time in GO2, and it's really overt in this scene. Basically, Crowley's right profile view from the side of the bench is going to just keep being blurry, so that we still can't really see the streak in those particular shots.

Otherwise, on the more clear front or other angled shots, it's more clear the brighter red streak is there.

Hairstyle Changes

Crowley's hairstyle changes frequently during GO2. It will even change in really subtle ways during scenes, such that I simply cannot catch every style. The style when Crowley pulls down the newspaper for the first time is actually something like in between the first shot we see with the profile view and then another shot after it when Shax arrives. You probably won't catch that if you aren't trying. I missed it when I was first studying this stuff some months ago.

Far more subtle, and admittedly iffy—I could just be seeing what I want to see—but to me, it looks like the initial right profile shot has a more obvious gradient. The hair towards the bottom matches his season 1 color better and gets brighter up until the top. The after-pushing-newspaper-down style has a gradient, but there is even less of the season 1 color on the bottom area, as if the hair itself is transforming into its new season 2 state. Here's a comparison view if you wish to decide for yourself:

Here's the original collection I made from this scene before realizing the first style at least is different:

Now with streaks indicators too:

So with all of the above in mind, I reached the following conclusions back when first trying to figure out the hair generally...

(1) Crowley's hair is now a brighter red than season 1, including season 1 present day and season 1 flashbacks.

(2) There is yet an even brighter, more saturated, streak of red hair above his left eye.

(3) His sideburns are longer than they were in season 1. At this point, we have no comparison to season 2 present day, but they are going to get both longer and shorter than what is seen here in this same episode.

(4) In this scene, the hair is lighter and more saturated on his left side; it is darker on his right side. For episode 1 at least, in my past notes, that was standard for most of it.

(5) I can't tell you what the top style is telling us about Crowley's mood, but it does seem to do that, at least sometimes. I'll point out if I think I notice it at times later.

(6) The left sideburn does not have as much hair as the right sideburn. Just as the color of the hair is lighter on the left, it seems the left sideburn is supposed to be "lighter" than the right through that way. That seems to be the more frequent way these things work, but it does sometimes switch.

...

Earthly Objects

For Earthly Objects, one of the reasons "earthly" is specified in the name of the game is touches can depend on how an object is used on Earth, instead of just limiting things to tangible objects and physical touches. For example, looking through a window is an earthly object touch because people look through windows to see things on Earth.

Next, I am going to talk about pockets, so this part is going to get ridiculous. You might want to skip down to the next "..." if my saying the newspaper is like a personal little door for Crowley was enough. My understanding of pockets is limited, but I'll share that limited understanding nonetheless.

Before we get to a lovely right profile view of Crowley, there's lens flare rainbow stuff!

Pockets love rainbows combined with Crowley. We can blame Elvis Presley and his song, "A Pocketful of Rainbows". The most noticeable and seemingly official rainbow, in my opinion, is the one right before Crowley himself appears in the cut. I have indeed, checked frame by frame, to see that technically it has not fully disappeared once Crowley himself is visible. It's really close though!

Okay, back to when we get a closer view of Crowley on his initial profile view.

Crowley has his back to the bench. He has his elbow on the arm rest. He has his line of sight directed at the newspaper as if reading it. Those are 3 possible earthly object touches right there. Crowley is holding the back of the newspaper with only two visible fingers. They are the index finger and the middle finger. Only the index finger is showing its tip. That's not enough to receive credit for touching the newspaper physically as an earthly object yet. He'll get that later, when he wants it done. The other two partly visible fingers on the front are probably significant as well.

For the record, I do not like talking about the pockets as frequently or to the extent that I do. I talk about them because I've noticed they are important. They irk me because they are the hardest part of these games for me, at the present moment. I am downright incapable of solving The Pocket Trick to my own satisfaction. A key mechanic in that Trick is the use of word play. Another is to use one's imagination.

One of the first things to know here about Crowley's super advanced play in Earthly Objects and pockets is that his tie strands are connected to his hands because they are his Tied Hands. It's actually really funny when it sinks in, but it does make the game so, so hard. These silly cute Tied Hands have thumbs. The thumbs are the tassels, so the tips of those tassels are the thumb tips.

Thumb tips matter for Door Mode.

Due to Crowley's posture, there is a pocket between his right arm and the bench itself. His right jacket sleeve is open enough that there is yet another evident pocket existing between his shirt sleeve and his jacket sleeve. This pocket is the key one of interest to me because the newspaper touches it. Even so, there is still another pocket formed between the newspaper, Crowley's right hand, and his clothing that the newspaper touches so long as a breeze isn't messing with it.

Those tassel tips I mentioned earlier...are on his pants. That's why I'm spending so much time on this part by the way. There's some metal thing sticking out that only ever sticks out here touching the vest. The belt is his Belt Head, which the vest does like to touch at other times. So, if this metal is somehow the buckle from the belt—since I can't see it being the tie or anything else, that's probably supposed to be its "tongue" while the other visible part of the snake on the belt is pocketed between the vest tips. Based on how the game plays itself, the Belt Head is helping the Tied Hands in ways beyond my comprehension, so Crowley can take advantage of pockets. What? Do they need belt assistance to be tied because he's sitting down and the watch is not on screen? Somewhere in here is Door Mode on the clothing, channeling its way through pocket imagination powers, so that all of the apparel can work together and give Crowley his newspaper door.

Apparently, this method requires the watch to not be visibly on screen for now. I really want to know what the watch's job is for silly pocket mechanics.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Check out the self-made pocket of hair since we have an active Belt Head messing with things:

Yeah, sure, could be nothing, but The Pocket Trick is really, really intentional about these types of things, and even though this scene is not one of the touches in The Pocket Trick, pockets are still relevant. I mainly suspect such things because of those tassel tips.

Even some of his hair is pocketing the collar of his jacket. The profile shot is so precise, none of the left part of his sunglasses can be seen.

While we're at it, Crowley's sitting really still. He'll be standing really still later in episode 6 with a more obvious pocket touch for The Door Trick. Said Trick is another big part of why I'm noting so much about the pockets by the way. It also has a self-made pocket of hair visible in the first cut.

Okay, that's enough about pockets. Finally! They'll be mentioned later but not to this extent.

...

During the scene after Shax shows up, Crowley's going to touch some mail. We'll see his shoes on the ground at one point. A notable earthly object touch is the first one he gets when Shax shows up after he pulls the newspaper down. He's going to see himself in the mirror. Crowley does not see the way humans see most of the time. He senses with his eyes. But a mirror's actual literal function on Earth is generally to look at yourself, or something of interest.

One of the ways Crowley can and does see is if someone—or something, is deliberately showing him an earthly object. So, by Shax holding the mirror and Crowley intentionally looking at it, with its general actual function, he theoretically sees himself.

That's helpful to him because based on his actions during the story, he doesn't sense that the sideburns themselves have changed length when they do, even if he's using them to manage his space. He checks by looking in the mirror if possible and necessary, notably in his car. Catching when he might be looking at all is harder than this one part of this one scene. He is quite subtle about it. This game wants people to look closely to catch these types of things as they play and interpret the story.

The cut between Crowley holding the newspaper in profile view and pushing it down has him holding the newspaper differently with his fingers. That could be a suspicious chronology edit or it could be Crowley testing/managing the bounds of his created space or both.

...

You can see some of the sky and dark parts of trees reflected in Crowley's sunglasses. I consider that significant because it's a clue among several others that great care is taken to what is and is not reflected in his sunglasses during this story. You can find out more about why I think that's important here: The Window Trick Visual Representation.

...

Story Commentary

I don't know what the stillness does, but I suspect it is relevant because of how still Crowley is near the end of episode 6 when standing by the door to the car. My overall guess has been that it helps Crowley be sensed or seen since humans often don't actually approach him with the exception of Nina later. However, one human approaches him here before Shax will later arrive.

Due to how I play these games, Crowley's seeming listlessness here actually strikes me as more of a strategic move than what it looks like on the surface. He has his saturated streak. He has his sideburns. He had his newspaper door. He's messing with pockets without even putting actual hands in pants pockets yet. There was a rainbow. This sneaky snake is up to a lot, and he's hiding the extent of what that is from Shax and whoever else is reading him in the story.

When Crowley leaves, he will pass by Shax with him in the background. He is blurred, and there's something gold around where he's holding the newspaper, that is presumably his bills. After he passes Shax, you can't see the presumed bills anymore. Due to the angle? In this story, I'm skeptical, but yeah, could be. Crowley's going to be conveniently obscured many times throughout the season.

Based on this timeline rundown post, this scene could easily be out of order from the presented story. The sunlight and rainbow stuff is too confusing for me to understand in trying to figure out the time, but I think the idea this scene takes place out of order is a good, valid one. The basis from that post is the chimes I didn't notice on my own and wouldn't even know what they mean if I had noticed.

Not only that, in my watching the scene repeatedly to try and figure out what pocket mischief Crowley's up to next, I noticed the tie strands keep just swapping what side of the vest they are on in different cuts with no indication he moved to make them do that. It's not every cut, but it happens. He's a demon, so he could just do that because he wants to, of course.

The scene has ducks and some other birds. While some birds do appear when Crowley makes it rain in episode 3, animals are otherwise rather lacking in appearance once closer to Whickber Street and wherever Crowley parks his car when it's isolated.

The scene is nicely lit, thanks to the sunlight. We actually aren't going to see Crowley's hair this well lit for quite a bit of the story due to the other settings, especially the dimly lit bookshop.

That's it for this post. Way back when I started to track these things, I did have a tendency to update even these posts, so that could happen again, just FYI.

...

Past versions of this post:

Post #1 (meeting with Shax in St. James' Park)

Post #1 with mistake

...

Project inspired by these posts:

Crowley’s Sideburns & what do they mean?

Ok, I love this theory that it could be some sort ...

[intoloopin]

JJ knows his strengths and how to highlight them so even if he isn't that musically gifted he can still keep up! His upbringing didn't allow him to be anything but a little diva and I love that for him but I wonder how his personality fits into the group.

But your little character breakdown/plot posts are always good!

GIO.

I've been treating this ask like a very fancy bottle of wine, really waiting for the perfect moment to answer it in the most interesting way possible, and now that LOOPiN is FINALLY (!!!) free from New Wave Music and they officially have a new home, I believe a post dissecting how they used to work under Seo CEO's awful control is a must. And here I have the perfect little moment to ramble about it! Which I love!

So, the short answer to your questions is: J.J fits in very badly on a personal level, and most of the other guys consider him unmanageable to say the least, but! LOOPiN as a whole has been so desensitized to Jiahang's (annoying!) personality because, as long as they were under New Wave, they all knew that he was an untouchable constant; both because of his father's grip on the company stock, and because in mid 2021 J.J made the very strategic decision to take active part on backing LOOPiN financially, and he did so by paying for their dorm room accomodations and making that his sole responsability - which is why in some pieces set on their 'flop era' you can notice that their home is just waaaaay too fucking nice.

But yeah, with anyone who's not Minwoo (from late 2020 up until literally a week before he publicly retired from making music), Haegon (often enough) or Hanjae, Jiahang has had very big professional and personal feuds that still linger. It gets ugly sometimes guys, it really does.

Now! To the longer answer!

NEW WAVE MUSIC's LOOPiN & ITS HIDDEN HIERARCHY:

[❗] TWs: corporate abuse, medical neglect.

If in universe iNSYNCs or just people aware of them were to be consulted, they would say that the chain of command and order of company favoritism while LOOPiN were under New Wave Music (2017 - 2023) ended up as:

01. Minwoo; 02. Seungsoo; 03. Haruki; 04. O.z; 05. J.J; 06. Hanjae; 07. Gyujin; 08. Dylan; 09. Taesong; 10. Haegon.

*Former member Lee Beomseok is not included, but just so you know, he wouldn't crack the Top5.

Which, by looking at the graphic you can see it's pretty off! Let's dissect it!

(NOTE: The two white boxes around the Top4 symbolize leadership roles, and they obviously entail the Produce Line, but less obviously, in a ground right above it, stands Minwoo and J.J in a duo that we can informally call as 'LOOPiN's Crisis Management'.)

At the very top of the food chain, we have J.J: As mentioned above, and also said in posts in the past here and there, Jiahang's spot in LOOPiN was 100% bought by his father, but his privilege goes way beyond just sharing surnames with a major sponsor: J.J has an entire personal team of lawyers, a private stylist and his own manager/financial consultant, Han Qiong (39), which puts him miles ahead of everyone else who depended on New Wave's shady and unprepared staff team. Jiahang's influence is also very present in everything on LOOPiN's two last years under New Wave (which came as consequence of him being Minwoo's "apprentice"), but it's all very subtle, as he always hid behind Minwoo to not spoil his incompetent brat persona to CEO Seo Chanhyuk - many marketing stunts, a good parts of their visual identity and even some promoted songs were handpicked by him but signed off as Minwoo's decisions, and even the members don't know that. As of now, speaking of 2023-0T9-Rare-Rhythm-LOOPiN, only Taesong and Haruki are aware of their past almost co-leadership deal and know how frail J.J actually is with this start over on the career department. He has pretty much no idea how and what he should do next now that he doesn't have a clear advantage! A giant really fell!

Minwoo: Even before he took over the official leader position from Taesong in 2021, everyone working with LOOPiN behind the scenes knew Minwoo was the guy in charge: not only was he the frontman of the Produce Line, but not a single decision even outside the group's sound was made without consulting him, mostly because people felt like they should - his... passionate involvement, let's say, about every aspect of the group was very clear. He also kept riding the wave of his Boy Of The Week days as "the golden trainee", and the respect he build in the industry after butting heads with Chanhyuk and his brigade of shareholders to make LOOPiN creative independent, even though it did give everyone consequences - Seo CEO came to HATE his guts right after they debuted, and was a bitch about them just because Minwoo was always just as much of a bitch back. Him making Taesong the leader during their group debut despite Minwoo's obvious crave for that title was just as much of a move made to try to control them as it was petty, childish shit.

O.z: Wu Zhiming is not someone you can restrain, and New Wave Music came to learn that a beat too late; they also didn't know how to fully support him as a music producer, which O.z took no time to notice and start quietly networking his way into opportunities. Now, his music career outside of LOOPiN is the most stable - he's been the major producer and collaborator with Nico, an independent (and faceless!) singer that in universe has internet fame reaching the likes of Pinkpantheress, and he's definely the first member to reach stable international fame, even if it's a tad controversial. And that's something he did despite New Wave Music, and Zhiming has talked about it publicly with no fear, so everyone knows he's truly independent! You go, O.z!

Seungsoo: Seungsoo always has a hard time seeing the bigger picture, and with his career it was no different: he always assumed the Produce Line was an equal triad and even that he was Minwoo's second hand man (which, LMAO. NO!), and he constantly failed to see everyone always respected him the less. But he was and is a group producer, he did have a voice and some control of LOOPiN as a brand, and that automatically puts him above a lot of the members. Seungsoo is also very popular with the public, known as a sweet talker and charming guy, and his music is very sought after for girl groups and female soloists. He was not doing the worst.

Gyujin: Gyujin, the newest loop dude of them all, stands right in the middle. He joined LOOPiN at a crazy time, but he is flexible by nature and he worked himself into the public's good graces very quickly, all on his own; it barely took him 7 months to be iNSYNC's new darling dearest, which did give some brownie points with Seo CEO at the time. Gyujin is also very familiar with the entertainment industry, which barely changed in the years he spend retired from child acting, so he knew from the get go what to watch out for. His contract signing took 3 weeks because he kept going for legal tweaks, something that immediately set off warning sirens inside Seo CEO's head, but at that point, Gyujin was all he had to try to set off the fire of Beomseok's departure - and many other accusations! If he had more time inside the company, Gyujin could definely pull a J.J and find something to use to his advantage against Chanhyuk, because if there's one thing he'll always do, is find an angle.

Hanjae: As soon as Sangwon got out of the picture as LOOPiN's manager in early 2022, Hanjae found himself in a very interesting position, that being his elevation from someone that was literally hidden for two years inside their own group to a hotshot debutee actor - fully backed by Chanhyuk, who was so fucking tired of LOOPiN having collective fame at this point. As we know, Hanjae's crush on Haruki was old and a well known fact inside New Wave, and it ended up causing his professional downfall; Sangwon mismanaged him on porpouse in LOOPiN's early years to not only punish him for his feelings, but also just to torment Haruki. Recently, Seo CEO has committed the big mistake of trying to convince Hanjae to sell his exclusive contract to an acting agency on New Wave's last days, and despite Hanjae double crossing him and immediately telling everyone about the company's hidden fate back in January so they could prepare for it, Chanhyuk still planted a lot of doubt on Hanjae's mind about his Idol future, and that will be at play very soon, thanks to 'Kick It' winning the comeback poll! So stay tunned!;

Taesong: As said on the Minwoo section, Taesong's role as LOOPiN's leader was given to him because Seo CEO needed someone in charge to be under his thumb, and Taesong filled that role okay enough for as long as he could - Minwoo's very harsh criticism of his every move plus everyone's lack of respect of the sentimental way he used to run things eventually got to him mentally. He had many hiatuses in his career, and with each new one came more of a lack of interest from New Wave Music in him as a way of income. If it wasn't for his own volution and need to get better, Taesong wouldn't be the vocal powerhouse he is now - he payed for his own vocal coaches, all non affiliate with the company! By the time he returned from his most serious and longest hiatus in early 2021, making the (not so willing) decision to give out the leader position to Minwoo, all without notifying Seo CEO first, made him public enemy number #2, and it definitely showed on his sudden erasure of schedules.

Haegon: From pretty much day one, Haegon was not taken seriously by anyone inside New Wave Music as an Idol or person, specially in Seo Chanhyuk's eyes: his very unsettling attachment to former member Beomseok paired with his short temper painted him as a kid unwilling to grow up, and when Beomseok left and Haegon put up a whole dissapearing stunt for a week (he had to be fake announced to be put on hiatus!), any slight interest or patience Seo Chanhyuk had for him died. Dare I say, Seo CEO saw Haegon as his biggest signing mistakes, when you take into consideration that "he wasn't even good enough to make the main vocalist stay" - his own words! So Haegon was not encouraged to train beyond his habilities or given any sort of solo schedules. Haegon himself felt the company's disbelief in him in his bones, too, and found it hard to try.

Haruki: Despite being made the public face of LOOPiN from 2021 and onwards, and eventually starting as a model with a lot of company apparent support (big highlight on apparent), Haruki was not the target of favoritism in the slightest; it was the very opposite. None of the investment made by New Wave towards Haruki was genuine, made to be long term or took what he wanted to do as an artist into consideration. It was just Seo CEO buying his silence about his horrible involvement with Sangwon without explicitly saying to Haruki that he was buying his silence. Haruki also never had freedom of movement from the moment he became a Week Boy, and even small decisions he had the impression of being made without Sangwon's involvement over the years always ended up with his involvement despite his demands for the contrary, because Seo CEO did not care or respect him, ever. (Which is in my humble opinion one of his worst crimes: knowing and doing nothing for a share price. Fuck that man, honestly, fuck him.)

And in the lowest of lows, Dylan: In the old blog I had a piece that was fully narrated by Chihoon, and in it we caught a glimpse of the situation with his private contract under New Wave Music and by extension, Blockberry Creative; how his trainee dept was thrice everyone's size because he lost a private defamation lawsuit against both companies back when he was on Boy Of The Week, plus one claiming neglect from Seo CEO directly. Dylan's contract as a whole was barely legal and made by a lawyer that was at the time Seo CEO's wife-to-be (🥴), and the disparity definely showed as LOOPiN went on. Mind you: his first ever solo project (given how he did not promote his debut track 'Monster' or 'Teenager' with LOOPiN Look(a)Like due to an hospitalization), was his rebellion album released in 2022, and that obviously had no company support. Dylan also was on the down low obligated to see a 'company psychiatrist', something that is exclusive to him and was as shady as it fucking sounds - a lot of his growing paranoia as his career goes on it's not only caused by the things he becomes a witness to, but also the bad intentioned changes made in his medication.

[octuscle]

Roman holiday

Max had been given a tour of Germany by his German-born grandmother as a graduation present. He flew to Frankfurt and was to travel from there through the Rhine Valley to Cologne. From there it went on to Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden and to Munich. At the end, a week of skiing in the Austrian Alps was planned.

Max liked the first stop, Frankfurt, very much. Thanks to the generosity of his grandmother, he stayed in an excellent hotel. And after the first evening, he had made friends with the handsome bartender. Max had once been quite athletic, but during his studies, sports had suffered. So it did him good to be able to flirt despite his belly.

Two days before leaving for Cologne, Max went over his travel plans again at the bar. He barely understood a word of German, and he didn't really understand the confirmation of the hotel located directly on the Rhine. He held out his cell phone to the bartender and asked if he could explain to him what was in the booking confirmation and, above all, why the nights were so insanely expensive. Max was paying more than double what he usually had to pay on his tour of Germany. "Guy, are you seriously asking me that?" the bartender replied. "I thought you were going to Cologne specifically for Carnival. Very different from New Orleans or Rio, but the biggest party Germany. And your hotel booking includes admission to one of the hottest costume balls." The bartender pulled out his cell phone and showed Max a few photos from his last trip to Cologne Carnival. "I'm really jealous. There are some really hot lads in town that weekend. You're going to have your fun. Do you have a costume yet?" Max replied in the negative and the bartender played with his cell phone a bit. "Here, what do you think of this? Roman Legionnaire. Cologne is a Roman foundation, so that fits. And you'll look hot in that costume!".

The price was really reasonable, Max accepted and the bartender ordered directly with delivery to Max's Cologne hotel.

When Max arrived at his Cologne hotel on Saturday afternoon, there was already a party atmosphere. The foyer was decorated and hardly a guest was walking around without a costume. Max checked in and was informed that his package was already in his room and that the costume ball would start at 7:11 pm. "Strange time," Max thought to himself. But this was a weird town, too. Max moved into his room, unpacked his suitcase and then opened the package. Shit, that wasn't the costume he ordered. This one looked more elaborate. But it also showed much more skin. Too much skin for Max's taste. Max tried to combine the costume with a t-shirt, but that looked even goofier. Well, thanks to the helmet, no one would be able to recognize him. And he wouldn't be at the party for long anyway.

At 7:30 p.m. Max put on the cape and headed for the elevator. In the hotel hallway, he was met by several other guests in a party mood. Almost everyone stared at him or turned to look at him. In front of the elevator, the stares of the other guests made him almost uncomfortable. Then the elevator doors opened. And Max stared at his reflection. He was no longer Max. He was Maximus!

What a party…! It was 02:00 in the morning and Max needed a cigarette. His transformation had been complete for a long time. He had gained several more pounds of muscle. And his costume had also changed. Instead of plastic, it was now made of high-quality leather. And his cape was no longer made of polyester but of a heavy loden fabric. Max stepped in front of the hotel, where hundreds of people were smoking and drinking. He took off his heavy metal helmet and asked the muscular Viking next to him if he could have a cigarette. "A kiss first, Centurion," was the reply. The crowd roared as Roman and barbarian stuck their tongues deep down each other's throats. Carnival had just begun. And promised to be a lot more fun.

@axeegliter, always a pleasure to accept your challenges!

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

James Acaster stood in for John Robins, alongside Elis James, for a couple of radio episodes in February 2018, while John off touring The Darkness of Robins, and of course James was very good. There were lots of funny bits, everyone should go listen to the episodes of you want to hear James Acaster actually be funny, it's episodes 208 and 209 of the Radio X years. However, I had three things I wanted to comment on that have nothing to do with the actual jokes.

1) They discussed whether James Acaster is ginger, which I appreciate, because that has always confused me. Or at least, it's confused me since I first got on Tumblr, which was not long after I first saw Taskmaster, and saw the blond boy from season 7 referred to as a ginger. I've never brought it up because I just thought I guess i'm not very good at identifying hair colours, but I always found it strange. Which is why I pleased that, during this radio episode, they mentioned the idea of James Acaster being ginger, and James said that people call him ginger sometimes, but he's always thought he was blond. I am pleased that, at least, I am not the only one who's found this confusing.

But then, I watched the first nine seasons of Taskmaster before going on Tumblr and thought of Alex Horne as having brown hair, and then I saw people call him ginger on here, and I went back and looked at pictures of him, and yes, he's definitely ginger, I just didn't notice. I think I sometimes just don't notice when people are ginger. But I've looked at James Acaster again and I still don't think he is. Also, I'm now remembering that in early episodes of The Last Leg they used to call Josh Widdicombe ginger, and he's less ginger and more purely blond than anyone mentioned in this post so far, including Elis James.

I mean, I do see the colour red. The first time I watched Mock the Week I got that Frankie Boyle has red hair. But I do not understand how people look at James Acaster and see ginger. Glad that's been addressed and he's on my side.

2) Elis James and James Acaster dedicated some of the episode to making fun of John Robins for being on a tour with his highly emotional stand-up hour, featuring what Elis enjoys calling "the cynical inclusion of emotional heft" (citing an Edinburgh review that praised the "emotional heft", but the word cynical was added by Elis). This is fair enough, I happen to like a good stand-up hour with some emotional heft, I think something can be curated for the speaker's personal benefit while also being grounded in genuine emotional weight and I think The Darkness of Robins is one of many examples of that, but also, I'm aware that there's something inherently cynical in turning emotional heft into a project for monetary profit and awards. No problem with Elis making jokes about that. I've heard Elis James' stand-up routines, it is definitely internally consistent for him to make fun of other people for doing comedy with meaningful emotional subject matter. Absolutely nothing in Elis' catalogue makes him a hypocrite for mocking that. However, it was pretty amusing to listen to James Acaster make fun of something for doing that. Especially as this was just a couple of months before James started performing the earliest WIPs of Cold Lasagne, a show at least partly inspired by a breakup he had, I think, the same week as John Robins' breakup that formed the basis of Darkness of Robins. James Acaster may have just been annoyed that someone else got there first and won a Perrier Award for it, before he thought to do a show about that.

3) In honour of James Acaster back on Radio X, they did one more Classic Scrape.

After I heard this bit, I looked up when Comedy Unleashed started, it was, in fact, February 2018. So I'm pleased about this. According to Nish Kumar recently, James Acaster thinks it's going a bit far to yell at Jimmy Carr at a comedy festival just for appearing on Jordan Peterson's podcast. And maybe James is right, even though Nish has my eternal respect for being a person who didn't listen to reason on that. So I enjoy hearing a story in which James Acaster is the one picking a fight over people doing shitty things. Some people are all right.

[duhragonball]

Neon Genesis Evangelion 09

Okay, okay! I'll tell you all about it. You might want to sit down first. This will take a few minutes...

Last time, Asuka arrived in Japan to serve as the latest Eva pilot. She's already the most popular girl in school, and for some reason Suzuharu and Big Rigg Mahoney have started taking photos of her and selling them to her admirers. Well, the reason is money, obviously. That, and just being little shits.

Asuka seems to revel in the attention, but only because she feels entitled to it. She finds the other pilot, Rei, and introduces herself. Rei isn't particularly impressed.

Asuka wants to be friends, and Rei asks why, then says she'll do it if ordered by their superiors at NERV. Cold.

Oh, hey, remember Kaji? That asshole from the previous episode? The one who ditched the others and delivered that mysterious package to Gendo Ikari? Well, he's staying at the base for some reason. He seems to want to re-start his romance with Misato, but that doesn't stop him from just groping Ritsuko like they've been married for a year. Fuck Kaji, is what I'm trying to say.

Moving on, the real story of this episode is another Angel attack. This is the seventh one overall, and the fifth we've seen since the series started. Like the fifth Angel, this one is headed straight for the NERV base, but they're still reeling from that battle, so they can't afford to let it get that close. Instead, Misato deploys Units 01 and 02 to the shoreline, where they'll intercept the Angel as it makes landfall. If they can double-team the thing, they should be able to overwhelm it before it gets a chance to do anything.

That's the plan, anyway, but Asuka has her own plan, since she wants to make a big debut in Unit 02. She jumps into the surf and cuts the angel in half. Good job, except...

It splits into two monsters and continues attacking. Whoops!

We skip ahead to some time after the battle, but the photos tell the story. NERV was completely humiliated, because they had to call the UN for support. The UN dropped an "N2 mine" on the Angel to halt its advance. This is the same weapon used on the Third Angel from Episode 1. I should note that it didn't work at all in Episode 1, so I don't understand why it helps now. Each new Angel seems to be more powerful than the last, and this one defeated two Evas, which is unprecedented.

The UN's attack managed to burn off 28% of its mass, which temporarily incapacitated it, but it's only a matter of time before it regenerates and picks up where it left off. Okay, I guess that's fair, since the Third Angel needed to regenerate after getting N2'ed, but it didn't take very long. This one needs about a week.

Being, you know, literal children, Asuka and Shinji fail to learn anything from this debacle. Asuka defied orders and went into business for herself, but Shinji just stood there and watched like a dope. Maybe if he had taken some initiative and supported her play, they might have been able to make something work, but he always does as he's told. And this is a problem, because the two of them will have to fight the Angel all over again when it recovers, so they need to be on the same page.

I don't know why Kaji's even in this briefing. He observes that the UN strike bought them time to regroup, and "you can't ask for more than that," which is the stupidest thing anyone says in this conference, which includes bickering from literal children. Yes, Kaji, we can ask for more than this. The whole point of this meeting is to ask the Eva pilots to get their shit together and win the battle in a single engagement.

Another entry in my Kaji Sucks file: I hate this shot of him talking to Asuka. I hate that stupid look on his stupid face, I hate how Asuka has a crush on his useless ass. I hate his clip-on tie, which might be an animation error but it looks stupid either way. In this moment I'm rooting for the Angel to destroy the NERV base just to ensure he dies along with everyone else.

Kaji does have a suggestion to get the kids ready for the rematch, but he can't just say it in the meeting, he has to write it down on a computer file and give it to Ritsuko to give it to Misato, because fuck this guy.

Later, Shinji comes home to Misato's apartment and finds Asuka has moved in. She claims that she's taking Shinji's place, although she'd rather live with Kaji. I'm sure he'd love that too. Kaji is the worst.

Asuka gripes about how small the place is and wonders why all the doors in Japan have no locks, and then Misato shows up to explain that the Japanese way is to "consider the priorities and needs of others before one's own." Right, no other culture ever thought of that before Japan came along, Misato. And what does that have to do with the doors not having locks? If that made any sense, then why does the front door have a lock?

So what is the point of all this? Well, Misato explains that this was Kaji's idea: Shinji and Asuka will spend the next six days living together and doing everything in unison, in order to practice synchronizing their attacks when they face the Angel in six days. They both hate this idea, but there's no time for anything else.

This does not go well, mostly because Asuka is too proud to go along with it. This exercise with the Twister/DDR game is a failure, so Misato asks Rei to give it a try and she syncs up perfectly with Shinji's movements. So why not just have Rei and Shinji tag up for the battle? I mean, they worked well together a while back? It's a proven formula. Rei's Eva doesn't have weapons, but I'm pretty sure they can reconfigure 02 for Rei quickly enough.

So it's the Fusion Reborn plot, but with Asuka in the Vegeta role. She can either fight alongside Shinji, or she can ride the pine. This makes her upset, and her dumb friend tells Shinji to go talk to her because "he made her cry", but by the time he catches up with her she's already worked this out. She'll do the training.

And there's a training montage, and they succeed! I don't quite understand how this tranlates to Eva piloting, but at least they can stand to work together, which has to be an improvement.

Maybe it works a little too well. They sleep in separate rooms, of course, but one night Asuka gets up to use the toilet, then plops down in the wrong futon. There's a tense moment where Shinji's worried that his cassette player will wake her up, but it doesn't. She just lays there and murmurs the word "mama". He almost kisses her, but then he thinks better of it and sleeps on the floor.

Lips in anime are the worst. They always draw these characters with teeny-tiny mouths, which isn't a huge problem until they try to do a scene like this, where Shinji stares at a closeup of Asuka's lips, which look ridiculous because it's so badly misproportioned. He's trying to move in closer to kiss her except their heads are so weird that the pose ends up looking awkward.

I guess it doesn't matter, since he bails out at the last second, bitterly muttering that Asuka is "just a child". I'm not sure how to interpret that, but whatever.

Speaking of awkward kissing, Kaji makes out with Misato in the elevator. When they get to her floor, she steps out and tells him this is a mistake, and he replies with some bullshit about her words saying "no", but her lips saying "yes". Fuck this guy.

Later, she confides in Ritsuko that their relationship, which ended eight years ago, was "the biggest blemish" on her life. I'm curious to see why that would be, but that probably won't get paid off for a while.

Anyway, the big fight happens, and Shinji and Asuka execute the plan perfectly. This time they let the Angel come to them, but they cut their power cables and fight with the one minute of battery life they have. They cut the thing in half like before, then whale on the two halves before finally doing this double divekick move to destroy the Angel's core to end the battle.

The resulting explosion does leave the Evas in an undignified pose, but a win is a win.

This dude is embarrassed, but I didn't see him do a damn thing the whole time. He doesn't even have a name. I mean, they put his bio in the DVD extra features, but why should I care what they call him if they never say his name in the show? He usually just stands behind Gendo and tries to look important. Well fuck him. I'm calling him Clownshoes from now on.

And that's it. I guess this episode was good enough, but I'm not sure about the dynamic Asuka adds to the cast. She's at least active, which is more than I can say for Rei or Shinji, but a lot of time is spent just getting Asuka to do simple teamwork like "cooperating" or "facing reality". Even the NERV staff are getting frustrated about having to work with children, even though the Evangelion program seems to depend upon it for some reason.

In the end, that's just what the show is about, so I can't complain that it nails the depiction of putting children behind the wheel of a super-weapon. It's either a power fantasy or a nightmare, depending on your point of view, and this show tackles that pretty damn well.

[sweetbuckybarnes]

The Eras Tour: 02. Plane Ride

Pairings: Colin Bridgerton + Penelope Featherington, Anthony + Kate Bridgerton

Polin Masterlist | Series Masterlist

May 3, 2023

London Heathrow Airport

Penelope looked around the terminal of the airport, where they had been waiting for their direct flight to Nashville, Tennessee.

Eloise and Violet were both reading books whilst sitting in very uncomfortable chairs.

Benedict was standing by the window looking out at the planes with Gregory.

Penelope had not taken her eyes off the departure board.

"Are you ever going to take your eyes off the board?" Asked Colin when he popped his head onto her shoulder.

She shook her head, not saying a word.

"We'll get on the plane soon, just do a little bit of reading, before you know it, we'll be getting on the plane."

Penelope read a few more chapters of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and like Colin said - before she even realised, they were being called for their plane to Nashville.

"Pen, that's us," he pulled her out of her little bubble. "It's time to board."

After Colin graduated from university, he started travelling the world (at the moment, that's all he was limited to - if he could, he would travel across the Milky Way). He would send Penelope postcards from wherever he was staying, sometimes he even sent her letters which included photographs he'd taken and printed off somehow (she still didn't know how).

However, compared to the dozens of times Colin had been on a plane, this was the first time Penelope had been on a plane.

She looked up at Colin, large terrified eyes staring up at him. "Hey, Pen, it's going to be ok."

"If you say so," she takes his hand, and the head towards the gate.

Their tickets were scanned and found themselves on a little bus that is going to take them to their plane.

Colin kept hold of Penelope's hand, only to make sure he didn't lose her in the crowd. That is what he told himself... "I've got you, Pen. Don't worry."

Eloise and Violet had somehow managed to find a seat, with Gregory and Hyacinth sitting in the row in front. But, from where Eloise was sitting, she could very clearly see that her older brother Colin was holding Penelope's hand!

"Why are Colin and Penelope holding hands?" She asked her mother.

Violet looked over at the pair, a subtle smile growing on her face. They were so much like her and Edmund, it melted her heart. She had seen for years how Penelope looked at Colin, and from where she was sitting - it almost seemed like Colin was starting to reciprocate her feelings.

But, most likely if Eloise found out, she would throw a massive fit over it, and send them future back.

"He's looking after her," she tells her second-born daughter. "You know how Penelope has never been on a plane before, he's making sure she doesn't get lost in the crowd."

Eloise grumbled a little under her breath and turned to look out of the window, as the huge American Airlines plane was getting closer.

"Are you ready, Pen?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

[ask-court-genshin]

Which university, huh?

Navina pondered over it for a while. They needed to be careful, but with their lack of memory… They can't exactly be certain if they'll be able to.

That, and the staring from three guys is getting to them. Internally.

Jeez, just pick something! Anything!

"… I think I prefer Amurta," they said, nodding at the three. "I'm sure the other universities are amazing in their own right, but I prefer Amurta over them."

Healing will be very useful, even if I know absolutely nothing about this world. Maybe it can help me when I get back to Fontaine and get more intel on what I'm working with.

"Why are you asking me which university I prefer?" they asked, this time looking genuinely confused.

Is it even necessary for them to know which university I like?

«Tighnari: +20 Points»

Tighnari: There it is, our debate has finally ended. Congratulations, Amurta. Yay.

You hesitantly asked what debate it was.

Cyno: The six of us– including the absentees: Al Haitham, “Kuni”, and Aether– started college in the same year before we are now known in our respective occupations. In those 4-5 years in the Akademiya, we were tallying points on who had the best university in the Akademiya both by objective facts and quick surveys fron people with authority.

Aether?!

Lumine's missing brother?!

Kaveh: And you're the only brave one to end that long argument. But... Why is it kinda anticlimactic...? I mean, compare that to how we use to bet on literally anything just to earn those points before.

Cyno: You all had to rule out Sport Leagues because no one wins against Spantamad in any field. Even chess.

Kaveh: Okay, you know you don't have to brag about THAT chess part again, right???

Tighnari and Cyno laughed. Based on that alone, you had a feeling Kaveh was the chess representative in his batch of alumni.

You asked them why your opinions counts.

Tighnari: Um, I don't know, maybe look at your badge?

The hydro vision in your person glowed.

Cyno: In all these years, you're the only courtier who gave their two cents on this discussion.

Tighnari: Hmm. Royal courtiers are usually so tight-lipped.

Cyno: Remember when Kuni tried to bribe Courtier Ayato to vote for any of the Big Six?

Kaveh: ... You meant “threatened” right?

Cyno: Hmm.

The three went silent.

Tighnari: So, Navina– I think I owe you a favor.

The dean leaned in, his elbows on the table as he stared at you with his full attention.

Tighnari: How about this– if you are as lost as you say, I'll have a luxurious condominium located in the middle of all the unis in your name for the time being– a week at best.

You tried to give your thanks–

Tighnari: But, you see, these rooms are expensive. College in general is expensive unless you're stupid smart enough to get a scholarship or enroll in Kshahrewar–

Kaveh: Aww, thanks.

Tighnari: –where broke people who are forced to study engineering and architecture for free go.

Kaveh: I retract my statement.

Tighnari: So here's my deal: I'll pay for this crazy expensive condominium and it's yours forever, but: you have to study and pass a Gremory License Exam.

Cyno: ...

Cyno: Hold that thought, Nari, are you–

Tighnari: Yes.

The three went silent again. When you tried to ask what it was about, they didn't reply.

Tighnari: I need more elemental-talented people in my beck and call.

Tighnari: Don't worry, I won't force an answer out of you. You have till tomorrow to give me a reply.

Tighnari: Until then, the exit to the garden is actually just behind Kaveh– just follow your left and you'll be out of the maze.

Tighnari: See you soon, Navina.

Current Route: Common route

Tighnari Status: 23/50

Cyno Status: 02/50

Kaveh Status: 00/50

[scarl3ttjpg]

Back to Square One (02)

CW: Slight angst, discussion of death + grieving

Clyde and I sat at a table, enjoying our breakfasts. I sighed happily. It felt like it had been so long since we last had the opportunity to spend time with our dad like this. When mom died, it tore us apart. It was rough on everyone. Clyde blamed himself for so long. Dad blamed Clyde for everything too, which in turn led to some of that resentment seeping off toward me as well. I... Well, I kind of just shut down for a while after it happened. It wasn't until Clyde convinced his friends to let me join in their little game that I started feeling okay again... I didn't expect to have much fun playing with them, but those became some of my fondest memories over a decade later.

Anyways, having breakfast as a family, even if it's just from a greasy fast food place that probably failed their last health inspection... It felt like before all that happened. I knew that as a family, we may never heal completely no matter how much time may pass. But I couldn't help but smile at the melancholic nostalgia. When I glanced over to my brother, I could sense that he felt the same under his hunger. He was devouring his food as if he had been starved for days. The man was going absolutely beast mode on his Egg McMuffin.

My relaxation was interrupted, though, when I heard a screeching voice that I longed so badly to forget. My gaze shifted, slowly and cautiously, over to the order kiosk, hoping with every fiber of my being that my ears were wrong. My fears were unfortunately confirmed when I saw the man I hadn't had to think about in years, since he destroyed my reputation and all but turned me into a social pariah.

Before he had the chance to look over, I abruptly stood and walked swiftly to the restroom. Clyde opened his mouth to question my sudden movement, but quickly closed it again once he saw why.

As the door swung closed behind me, I slid down against the wall. I pulled out my phone, hands shaking with a mixture of rage and anxiety. I immediately texted Clyde, just to make sure he understood the cause of my commotion.

I set my phone down in my lap and rested my head in my hands. I took a few deep breaths before standing to pace from wall to wall. Did he see me? Does he even recognize me? I would hope he recognizes me after he tried to ruin my life... Does he even remember how badly he fucked me over? I stopped at the sink and splashed some cold water on my face and dried my hands on my jeans. I needed to stay calm if I was to go back out there at any point. He of all people can not see how much he got into my head without saying a single word to me. After a moment of calmness, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out to see my brother had texted a group chat including myself and the few people who never stopped trusting me as a person.

I slid my phone back into my pocket as I took one last deep breath. I put on a smile and stepped back into the dining room and took my seat next to my brother. Conveniently, the devil himself and his mother found a seat where he could have full view of us.

"What took you so long in there," my dad began. "You know what, I don't want to know. Are you two done eating? I, for one, have a job I need to get to. You should both try it sometime."

"I'm done. Clyde can eat his hashbrown in the car. Let's go," I stated much to the objection of my brother. I was already on my feet ready to head out the door. I waited for my dad and brother to pass by me and out of the restaurant. Against my better judgement, I looked at Cartman for just a moment. I flashed him a smug grin and waved. Once I saw his stare turn cold, I turned and walked out to the car.

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[shihalyfie]

What do you think the Dark Seed is/does? I maintain that while it pulled together parts of Ken’s psyche and didn’t create anything that wasn’t already there, Ken wouldn’t have become the Kaiser if not for it and Oikawa’s influence. Otherwise, why have those plot points at all?

(Sorry if this comes across as hostile. It’s just that I feel like there’s a part of fandom that’s reacted to people woobifying Ken and separating him from the Kaiser by taking the opposite - and to me, equally irritating - extreme by ignoring the Dark Seed and Oikawa’s role entirely. Not to say you’re doing that, but it’s kind of a sore point, for lack of a better word?)

No, no, I completely understand where you're coming from.

I think the writing around the Dark Seed was deliberately vague (especially since it generally serves as a metaphor for depression and other relevant issues, which are rarely clear-cut in themselves in terms of where they come from and what effects they have), but personally I think the biggest hints come from (and I know people are going to go "of all things!" at me for this) the scenes with Ken and Noriko kicking small animals.

It puts a serious nail in the idea that the only reason Ken was having a tantrum in the Digital World was that he didn't see the Digimon as living things, because he clearly had no issue just kicking a puppy for doing nothing but be a minor annoyance.

This is far enough in the range of headcanon that I don't generally include it on my analysis without the preface that it's a headcanon, but personally my impression of the Dark Seed is that it does only one very simple and yet very powerful thing: it numbs the host's ability to feel compassion, empathy, or sympathy.

I think if Ken had never been hit with the Dark Seed, he'd probably have never even entertained the idea that Digimon aren't living beings or perhaps even cared (I like to cite the classic cases of people generally wanting to be nice to video game characters or the Roomba even if they know they're not actually alive). But with that sense of compassion blotted out, and with encouragement from Oikawa to continue seeing it as a "game", he started venting out all of his negativity with less care about how it hurt or impacted others, like the Digimon, or the kids, or his own parents. So my impression of the Dark Seed’s role in this is that it tried to induce Ken to believe nothing mattered anyway and he should feel free to do whatever he wanted, with Oikawa’s email only solidifying that idea further for him and claiming that the Digital World would “free his mind” with no consequences.

And to push the headcanon even further, I don't actually think it makes anyone "inherently" smarter or good at sports or whatnot per se, but because even their sense of compassion towards themselves is dulled too, they push themselves to study harder and perform harder at the cost of their own mental and physical health, which only makes their mental state worse. Ken is all but said to be a perfectly smart and talented kid even without the Dark Seed in play, and it's most likely those abilities simply weren't recognized beforehand, but after Osamu's death and all of the factors pushing Ken to "replace" him, he pushed himself to the absolute limit he could handle and crumbled under the pressure.

So under this reading, the Kaiser persona does come entirely from traits and tendencies Ken would have had already, but at the same time I also agree that it's unlikely he would have gone that far if he hadn't been pushed that deeply into it by the Dark Seed and Oikawa's "encouragement". It's also in line with Ken's statement that the best way to counteract its effects is simply to understand and recognize the love around you. This would mean that Ken dropping the persona in 02 episode 21 comes from, simply, his better nature winning out because no matter how far the Dark Seed tried to get him to stop caring, he couldn't stop caring, especially with incontrovertible evidence that Digimon are alive and he's causing them all terror and pain en masse. Osamu and Wormmon recognized that kindness in him before any of this all happened.

...Which also would mean that, ironically, Oikawa's choice of Ken as the Kaiser was possibly one of the worst he could pick for his purposes, because under such circumstances, Ken's better nature was strong enough that it was able to overturn its effects with only that little of a push. And if it had been someone who actually was self-serving and condescending even before getting stuck with the Seed, I think it would have been much worse. So it was arguably a very fortunate thing for the world that the one to become the Kaiser was someone able to fight it off like Ken did, and not someone else.