#6 introductions

[cirrus-grey]

Interesting detail: both Bonzo cases have been Category 1, Rank B. The only other CAT1RB case has been Needles.

[tanglepelt]

Dpxdc 180

Did Danny abuse the fact the GIW needed his parents tech. Yes of course. Danny not phantom seemed to be the trouble maker as of late. His parent threatened to withhold tech and blue prints from them if the GIW touched their kids.

Did he get caught breaking ember and boxy out of a government facility? yes. He expected the lecture he got.

The next jail break. It was not him. It was sam, Then the third. Also not him. That was Val… then it was Tucker. But not him.

The blame fell on him.

He did not expect to be shipped out of state. The GIW were happy to cover all costs. Even got him into a decent highschool. And had an apartment all arranged.

Gotham?

Not where he was expecting.

The assassination attempts. Also surprising.

Not so surprising. Tucker found out the GIW wanted to “silence” him. Offering a lot of money.

Of course his parents don’t listen. He is 15 perfectly fine to be all alone. Even if he is near some place with the nickname crime alley. Nope. He is just being dramatic. They tell him no one wants him dead.

[starstrike]

Mithrun's desire as an SA analogue

TW discussion of SA and detailed breakdown of aesthetics evoking SA. The way I discuss this is vivid in a way that may be triggering, though there is no discussion of actual sexual assault. Just survivor's responses to it.

People relate to Mithrun and see his condition as an analogue for a few different things, like brain injury or depression. And I think all of them are there. But I also see Mithrun's story as an SA analogue, and Ryoko Kui intentionally evokes those aesthetics. I think it's a part of Mithrun's character that a lot of people miss, but I very much consider it text. This is partially inspired by @heird99's post on what makes this scene so disturbing; so check out their post, too :)

So to start off with, the demon invades Mithrun's bed, specifically. There's even a canopy around it, which specifically evokes this idea of personal intrusion; the barrier is being pulled apart without consent or warning. The way the hand reaches towards Mithrun's body from outside of the panel division makes it almost look like the goat stroking over his body. It's an especially creepy visual detail; similarly, the goat's right hand parts into the side of the panel as well. It's literally like it's tearing the page apart; but gently. So gently.

Mithrun is in bed. It is his bed that the demon is intruding on. He's in a position of intimacy. The woman behind him is a facsimile of his "beloved" that he left behind; the woman who, in reality, chose Mithrun's brother. He is in bed with his fantasy lover, who is leaning over him. While this scene isn't explicitly sexual, it is intimate. And it is being invaded. The goat lifts Mithrun gently, who is confused, but not yet struggling.

The erotics of consumption and violence in Ryoko Kui's work(remember that the word 'erotic' can have many different meanings, please) are a... notable part of some of her illustrations. I would say she blurs the lines between all forms of desire: personal, sexual, gustatory and carnal, in her illustrations in order to emphasize the pure desire she wants to work with and evoke to serve her themes. Kui deploys sexual imagery in a lot of places in Dungeon Meshi, and this is one of them.

In this case, horrifically. The goat's assault begins with drooling, licking, and nuzzling. The goat could be enjoying and "playing with" its food. But it can also be interpreted as it "preparing" Mithrun with its tongue as it begins to literally breach Mithrun's body. The goat also invades directly through his clothing; that adds another level of disturbing to me. There's nothing Mithrun can do in this moment of violation. Mithrun is fighting, but he is fighting weakly, trying to grip on and push away when he has no ability or option to. All he can do is beg the goat to stop. And it doesn't care. This all evokes sexual assault.

The sixth panel demonstrates a somewhat sexual position, with Mithrun's thighs spread around the goat's hunched over body. In the next, the goat pulls and holds apart Mithrun's thighs as he nuzzles into him. The way the clothing bunches up looks a bit as if it has been pushed up. It has pinned Mithrun down onto the bed, into Mithrun's soft furs and pillows. It takes a place made to be supernaturally warm and comfortable, and violates it. It's utterly and intimately horrifying. To me, this sequence of positions directly evokes a rape scene. I think Kui did this very explicitly. These references to sexual invasion are part of what makes this scene so disturbing; albeit, to many viewers, subconsciously.

This is also the moment the goat takes Mithrun's eye. Other than this, the goat seems exceptionally strong, but also... gentle. It holds Mithrun's body tightly, but moves it around slowly. It doesn't need to hurt Mithrun physically. But in that moment, it takes Mithrun's eye. Blood seeps from a wound while an orifice that should not be pierced is penetrated. This moment, the ooze of blood in one place specifically, also evokes rape. That single bit of physical gore is a very powerful bit of imagery to me.

Finally; it is Mithrun's desire that is eaten. After his assault, Mithrun can find no pleasure in things that he once did. He is fully disassociated from his emotions. This is a common response to trauma, especially in the case of SA. It's not uncommon for people to never, or take a long time to, enjoy sex in the same way again; or at all. They might feel like their rapist has robbed them of a desire and pleasure they once had. I think this makes Mithrun's lack of desire a partial analogue for the trauma of sexual assault.

Mithrun's desire for revenge was, supposedly, all that remained. Anger at his assaulter, anger at every being that was like it; though, perhaps not anger. Devotion, in a way. To his cause. I don't know. But the immediate desire to seek revenge is another response to SA. But on to Mithrun's true feelings on the matter.

This is... So incredibly tragic. Mithrun feels used up. Like his best parts have been taken away. Like he's being... tossed aside. This certainly parallels the way assault victims can feel after being left by an abuser. Or the way assault victims feel they might be "ruined" forever for other partners. These are common sentiments for survivors to carry, and need to overcome. In the text, it's almost like Mithrun feels the only being who can desire him is a demon who might "finish devouring" him. That that's his only use. It's worth noting that Mithrun trusted the demon. Mithrun's world was built by the demon, and Mithrun, in that way, was cared for by the demon. I think this reinforces Mithrun's place as a victim.

There's also something to be said about Mithrun as a victim of his own possessive romantic and sexual desire. The mirror shows him his beloved just dining with his brother, and it infuriates him. He doesn't know if the vision is real, nor if she has really chosen his brother as a romantic partner. The goat then creates a whole fantasy world where she loves him. As Mithrun's dungeon deteriorates, she is the only person that continues to exist. Mithrun continues to have control over her. And that is the strongest desire the demon is eating, isn't it? There's something interesting there, but I don't know what to say about it.

In conclusion, I think Mithrun's story is an explicit analogue for sexual assault-- though, certainly, among other things! The way the scene plays out and is composed explicitly references sexual violation and invasion of the body. His condition mirrors common trauma responses to sexual violence. And, at the end, he finally realizes he can recover.

Let's end on a happy Mithrun, after taking the first step on his journey to recovery :) You aren't vegetable scraps Mithrun. But even if you were-- every single thing in this world has value. Even vegetable scraps.

[autisticaradiamegido]

day 147

psychically induced chronic illness squad

[lilpuffyart]

More roommate AU (ig that name will do for now lmao) doodles while working on this AU's comic (hopefully it'll be out by next month yippiee)

[companion-showdown]

Who had the worst time aboard the TARDIS?

TOURNAMENT MASTERPOST

[technically-human]

“In many ways it was an act of affection by the end. An embrace. A cuddle, even! Ha! Yes, let’s call it a cuddle.”

Needles!

[formosusiniquis]

Modern au Eddie gets brought in to do a special dm/dnd episode of um actually with Brennan and Matt. Steve is there behind the scenes because they don't go anywhere without each other and he also wants to meet Emily -- he likes her chaotic player energy, one guess to why. He's hanging in the back of the studio quietly watching production, just hanging out and watching Eddie banter with people who are as obsessed with his thing as him and can match his intensity even if it's at different energy tones. Eddie and Brennan would be an unstoppable force and unmovable object I can just tell.

A question comes up about 1e or something, they deliberately made the questions strange and finicky cause they knew who they were having on and really the show isn't people getting answers if you wanted that you'd watch jeopardy. The show is nerds getting pissed and argumentative about the things they like. No one gets the answer, though they go to the fact checker booth a couple times over it. No one gets it except for Steve, who has listened to every loved one he has talk about this game for the last forever. Steve who has adhd/autism brain and it holds onto strange factoids and weird snippets of longer conversations that he has forgotten. Things like Erica and Dustin arguing about the validity of gender limiters on player stats. The cast have already danced around the answer, and the set has been so relaxed and lively he doesn't stop to think about why he shouldn't call out from behind the camera "um, actually." Cause they can always cut him out, he isn't even mic'd.

He does immediately regret speaking up. Not because he isn't right. He always knew he was right. But Steve learned a long time ago that him being right isn't always worth the scene that it then causes. Like now, Eddie is perched on the furniture like a gargoyle on a church roof, "I get that point right? That's my husband, what's his is mine." They'll never get invited anywhere ever again.

So he is surprised when the email arrives in his influencer inbox; but politely turns down the invitation to play in the next season of Dimension 20. And not just because Eddie is seething next to him when he gets the invitation.

[taxesguy]

I too, am a fan of our local sharp citizen

[eeveekitti]

shoutout to this video its like the number one reason i sat down, bought, and played rain world

[cirrus-grey]

I love all the Needles designs I've seen, but personally I think he looks like a normal guy, just... sparkly. Hundreds of little points of metal glinting in the light...

From a distance you think your eyes are playing tricks on you. From up close, you think he's wearing body glitter. It's not until you're really close that you see the truth, and realize you've made a huge mistake.

[you-are-my-neverland]

GODHOOD >> A COMIC SANS INTRODUCTION

welcome to the wip that's been eating my brain for more than six months. i recently started draft one, and having the time to explore writeblr more inspired me to do one of these! image description can be found in the alt text (hopefully it looks ok).

i have no official taglist yet, but if anyone is interested, please just let me know. all interaction is appreciated.

[guhit]

NEEDLE GUY! :D

[unfortunatelyevent]

at first meeting celia I thought "ohh I think Alice and celia will fuck" and THEN after the ending I'm like "Alice and celia are DEF gonna fuck and this will be so messy"

[savachpencil]

I wanted to draw him since i saw him, now i have done. Bro i need more of him 😭😭😭 hope he gets to be in other games or DLCs since he's involved with Caine and Menéndez.