#But it's not something you should do

[pidayforpi]

Small Mouse in a Small Cage

Pinky never knew why Brain would like to take over the world.

He never needed to know, anyway.

He just knew that achievement would make Brain happy.

And he would do anything to make Brain happy.

That's all that mattered to Pinky.

"In this room, there is only you and me

Let us continue singing our song together

Anything in the outside world...I don't have to know about it

...If that's what you wish for"

[Mention of (major) Character Death]

For a genetically modified mouse, Pinky was quite naive.

Unlike others of his kind, such as Snowball or Julia, Pinky harboured no ill will on his mind, nor any idea of an "ill will" was.

He did not grow bitter of the cruel world he was so unluckily born into, nor develop thoughts of vengeance towards the merciless scientists who had experimented on him.

Even after all those electric shocks and drug injections, Pinky never lost that innocent heart of his.

Also retained was his ignorance to the world.

While the others were drafting equations and hypotheses in a computer, Pinky was doodling a sketch of himself on a piece of paper. While they were seeking to travel through waters and the sky, Pinky was more than happy to stay in his little cage. (And why was he still living in a cage, anyway?)

To him, there's no need to travel beyond his home. Everything of the outside world was already within his reach: The lights on the ceiling were the sun in the morning, the stars at night. The tall desks and tables were the mountains, and the huge bathtub the deep blue sea. Everything he needed was already with him.

As for company...Well, Pinky had one and one only, but that person alone meant everything to him.

That person was the whole world to Pinky.

From the moment Brain opened the cage door, Pinky felt his heart being opened as well. When Brain held his hand, it was as if Pinky was touched to his heart.

Pinky remembered that day as if it had just been yesterday. Brain grabbed him by the wrist, leading him away from the laboratory room and out of the building. The two rodents ran and ran, climbing through secret passages that Pinky hadn't even known existed, evading traps which he would have otherwise stepped right onto. They kept running away hand-in-hand, until they stepped out into the open field.

It was a grass field outside of the secret laboratory building, in the middle of a wilderness. The two fugitives lay on the grass field, their chests heaving heavily from their great escape just now. Pinky asked nothing, and Brain explained nothing. They were both too exhausted to talk. They only looked up at the night sky, listening to the surrounding ambience.

For the first time in his life, Pinky knew what the stars were like. For the first time in his life, Pinky learned what cricket chirps sounded like.

But more importantly...for the first time in his otherwise pathetic life, someone had done something nice for Pinky.

The cosmos and insects meant little to Pinky. What mattered that day was Brain. What mattered that night was feeling loved for the very first time.

Of course, if he had shared with anyone about how grateful he was for Brain's "rescue", almost everyone would tell Pinky he was only being taken advantage of. After all, why would Brain go through all the hassle of saving a mouse he didn't even know? Everyone knew Brain was much smarter than that, and the word "sympathy" didn't even exist in his mental dictionary.

Brain might have only wanted a fellow escapee in his jailbreak, or a scapegoat if he was caught. He might have only wanted a lackey in his future plots, or maybe even a guinea pig in his experiments. Others might never know what the cunning mouse was thinking, but everyone always assumed the worst when it came to Brain.

But not to Pinky, for the naive white mouse saw only the kindest in someone's heart, for the worst and the best.

And Brain was the kindest person Pinky had ever known.

"I called you 'father'

While you called me 'daughter'"

After a restful night, the two returned to the construct that was once their prison, only to find the entire building to be abandoned. Brain must have scared off the personnel with his...not-so-pleasant escape plan.

And so, the laboratory they had been so unfortunately accustomed to became their new home sweet home.

Even after becoming practically roommates, Pinky knew little about Brain. He never asked nor answered trivial questions. While Pinky told Brain literally everything about himself, the only things Brain told Pinky was his name, his ambition to take over the world, and how Pinky could help.

And Pinky just took what he was told as it-is, and became Brain's partner in "taking over the world", whatever that meant. Perhaps part of his compliance to something he didn't even know was because he was Pinky: He wasn't the brightest of mice, after all. But a bigger part was because that was Brain: The person who saved him, and showed him what it was like to be "loved".

He would do anything for Brain, whatever it was.

"Because you worry about me who cannot walk

You filled the room with beautiful things for me"

The man-made laboratory soon became fit for two mouse-size residents. There were ladders and stairs to climb to higher places, and even elevators for both cargos and mice. Needless to say, all of the constructs were made by the shorter mouse, whose intelligence and creativity astonished Pinky to no end. Seeing Brain making impossibilities into possibilities always made Pinky admire him so much.

"A red glass

With a blue spoon inside

Along with a pair of yellow-framed mirrors"

When sunlight shone through the windows of the building - whether it be the noon sun, or the dusk twilight - it always illuminated their shared home in an amber sheen. Something as simple as natural light would already show Pinky the beauty of the world.

Such a beautiful scenery would always make Pinky want to sing and dance. If he was alone, he would just sing and dance to himself without a care in the world. That would already make him so calm and happy.

But what would make him the happiest mouse on Earth was when Brain was there. Pinky would offer him a hand and a silly grin, an unofficial invitation to be his dance partner. More often than not, the shorter mouse would be busy with his schemes.

But when, for some reasons, Brain accepted his hand, that would make Pinky feel over the moon. Every time their paws touched felt like the first time, when they had been escaping the facility they now called home. Even if it was just a 1-in-a-1000 chance, it was this rare occurrence that Pinky treasured the most. It was like a lottery, but how much money won from an actual one could not compare to Brain saying a simple, free "yes".

Brain would always be the one to lead, despite being the shorter of the duo. Perhaps the mastermind just didn't like being told what to do. Not that Pinky would care, though. As soon as Brain had said "yes" or nodded, Pinky wouldn't have any more requests.

Under the gentle sunlight, the two mice stood hand-in-hand, their snow white coat reflecting the glittering light. They would dance to Brain's selection of classical music, which would always be played when the mad scientist was working. None of the mice knew much about choreography: Brain had no time to explore such trivial knowledge, while Pinky had no interest to study at all. Still, they danced according to the smooth, soft rhythm, guided by nothing but their little thumping hearts.

At times when no music was available, Pinky would hum his own song. It would always be that one song, the melody of which he heard during his time still in captivity. There were lyrics to the song too, but Pinky could not quite remember. All he could sing was with simple vocalisations of different pitches, which were something taught to him as part of an experiment in learning (not that he knew what he was taught was called "solfège").

His singing voice was the only talent Pinky was proud of himself. Brain would never admit it, but Pinky's voice was something that would always bring a smile to his face. And Pinky noticed that. He knew he was too daft to help in formulating a plan, a formula or an equation. He knew he was too clumsy to assist in an expedition, an operation or a heist. All he could do was to cheer Brain up, with the only thing he was good at.

"In this room, there is only you and me

Let us continue singing our song together"

Every second of those moments felt like heaven on earth. Worries and fears melted away like chocolate in the sun, while sadness and despair washed away like seashells on the waterfront. In those moments, nothing in the world mattered. Just Pinky and the Brain, and that alone was everything to Pinky.

"Anything in the outside world...I don't have to know about it

If that's what you wish for"

Countless days had passed (or perhaps not a lot in reality, but very long in the eyes of a mouse). Brain had drafted and executed plans after plans, made inventions after inventions. The stack of scraped blueprints piled only higher, yet the goal of "taking over the world" seemed nowhere closer.

Brain started staying at the laboratory for longer and longer periods of time. Even if he did go out, it would be only for the preparation or execution of his plans. Afterwards, he would be back in his office, disappearing from the rest of the world.

Away from the working table, Pinky only watched. He could only watch, as Brain grew more elusive day by day. The sight of his partner so indulged in work had always made him feel swoony. Now, however, Pinky's heart was clouded in worry and helplessness.

And a deep feeling of guilt, too.

Pinky did everything he could to help. Anything that would lessen Brain's burden as much as possible: He kept the abode sparkly clean every day. He prepared all the meals from breakfast to dinner. He did every manual labour Brain told him to.

Still, Brain's smile never came back. That smile, so rare yet so precious, was truly gone.

And Pinky could do nothing about it. He hated that he could do nothing about it.

"The dark bedroom, and the scenery outside the window

Those are the entirety of world to me"

From a certain day onwards, Brain had never accepted Pinky's hand anymore. Pinky remembered so deeply, that one time, when he wanted to cheer Brain up with a small dance...his hand was slapped away. It couldn't have been Brain - Brain would never do such a thing - but there were only two mice in the room.

Pinky held his retracted hand, but it was his heart that hurt.

Their feelings became distant, as Brain began working alone a lot more often. When Brain went outside, he no longer brought Pinky along with him. He didn't say if it was out of concern or annoyance, but Pinky thought to himself the latter. It was because of his incompetence that Brain had to work alone, the poor mouse thought.

On days when Brain was out on an expedition, Pinky would stay behind, eagerly waiting for the return of the one he loved. His home never seemed so empty, although what was missing was only a single short mouse. His heart was working fine as ever, yet it seemed as if a hole had been punched through it.

"Although you are always gentle to me

You never tell me about the outside world"

When sunlight seeped through the windows now, not even the noon sun could purge the coldness in the room. Although the bright light illuminated all the fantastic constructs in the laboratory, such a beautiful painting would always be missing something. The music player spun no more, and the abode was a painful silence. Except for the clattering and clunking of machineries, which sounded like gossips and mockeries.

Sometimes, Brain would even be out overnight, much to the remaining mouse's worry. Pinky never doubted Brain's ability, yet the pitch black darkness outside sent his heart racing in anxiety.

And the cries of the crickets filled it with loneliness.

"The trinkets in the room laugh at me

'We are just the same thing'"

In those lonely nights, Pinky began to sing.

It would always be the same song, the same melody, but it sounded different with a sour heart. Under the veil of moonlight, the lone mouse danced and serenaded, to the one he loved. Even if his voice trembled, even if his eyes teared...He never stopped singing.

"Lu Li La Lu Li La, I sing this melody

As if the world outside cannot hear my voice"

Though so far away from his dear Brain, Pinky only hoped the night wind would carry his voice to the one he loved; or the gentle breeze would carry his song to the wishing star above, praying that his beloved one would come back safe and sound. After all, his singing was the only thing that could make Brain happy.

And he would do anything to make Brain happy.

"I will only sing for you

Because that's what I wish for"

In another lonely midnight, when Pinky had fallen asleep after singing his feelings to the moon and stars...his wish was granted.

Brain was there, right in front of his eyes, waking him up. It was much better than any sweet dreams he could have.

Pinky would love to give Brain a tight, affectionate embrace, congratulating him on his triumphant return.

But Brain didn't seem to have the time for that, otherwise he wouldn't have woken Pinky in the middle of the night.

Instead of his usual smugness, Pinky saw something he had never seen on Brain's face.

Fear...?

Brain yelled something to Pinky, but he couldn't remember clearly in his drowsy state.

"I heard from you about the word 'war'"

He also remember hearing some other unknown voices and noises, like angry shouting and hurried, heavy footsteps.

The normally cool laboratory felt somewhat hot, too. And a strange smell was getting stronger and stronger.

Without another word, Brain grabbed Pinky by the wrist, just like how he did when they first met. Pinky would have thought that had been a dream, if it wasn't for how real it felt. Brain frantically brought him to the nearest window, and struggled to open it even with the help of machinery.

Pinky was confused, so confused. Especially when the foreign noises kept getting louder, and the room kept warming up despite the cool night breeze. But he decided to keep silent. He trusted in Brain. He knew Brain would always make the right decision. Whatever the pickle might be, Brain would always come out victorious. He would always come home, safe and sound.

In a split second, shorter than Pinky could comprehend...The window was opened, and he was pushed out of the building.

He didn't have the chance to ask what. He didn't have the chance to ask why.

All he saw was Brain standing on the window sill, getting further and further away from him.

Were those tears in his eyes? Why was he so sad? Why wasn't he coming along?

And...

"Why is the room on fire?"

Those were Pinky's last thoughts, before the small mouse hit the grass field below.

----------------------

"So...this is Pinky and the Brain's lab...?"

"And home..."

"And 'was', I guess..."

"Yes...sadly."

Turning the knob of a burnt door, the Warner Siblings and Chairman Plotz entered their mice friends' abode.

Former abode, now in ruins.

Even though none of them voiced out their feelings - not even the talkative Yakko or the straightforward Wakko - all undoubtedly felt a heavy sense of dread.

"It's...all burnt down..."

Dot inspected her surroundings, the sorrowful emotion in her heart unconsciously being muttered out. She remembered Pinky having invited her (and her brothers) to the lab: It was a marvellous design then, much better than the interior and exterior of the water tower combined. It was almost like a tourist attraction, albeit being a legitimate working and living space.

Now, however, Dot not only mourned the destruction of an aesthetic, but also the loss of someone important. The tourist attraction was destroyed, along with the tour guide. One thing could be repaired, the other could not.

"H-how did this happen, Mister Plotz...?"

Wakko held the hand of his elder brother, his speech demeanour being unusually polite. He could still recognise the remnant of the dining area, where Pinky had once challenged him to an eating contest.

"Yea...How could this happen...?"

Yakko added, although his eyes were focused on the ruined office section. Unlike his siblings, he bonded with Brain more, whom he looked up to as a teacher-figure. How else would he know about the countries of the world? That megalomaniac mouse was more than happy to share the places he wished to conquer.

Chairman Plotz had been hesitant to break the news to three children, but they deserved to know. If there's anyone who absolutely deserved to know, it would be the Warners. They were already the last to be informed, yet had been the closest to the two mice.

"I...I hate to say this, but..."

Thaddeus Plotz was never good with words, and now was even harder.

"...It was an inevitable outcome. No one could have predicted this, but everyone could have seen that happening someday."

He chose his words carefully, trying not to hurt the children more than necessarily.

"Brain had made too many enemies...His ambition in world domination clashed with so much of the others. His plans and schemes angered and frightened so many."

"And when you have enemies...vengeance is something you have coming for you."

"Brain...He had it coming. It had just been a matter of time."

"I'm sorry, kids..."

Chairman Plotz looked away from the three siblings, who were understandably silent. His heart was still conflicted about telling them the cold truth.

Yakko was the first to take in the news.

"But...but what about Pinky...? He...he couldn't have had it coming, too?"

Not the innocent, friendly Pinky. This made it even harder for Plotz to explain.

Luckily, he didn't have to, when a soft singing voice was heard all of a sudden. Everyone turned to the source of the sound, but no one could believe their eyes nor ears.

The mouse in question was sitting on the window sill, carefully camouflaged in the white background until now. His short legs were dangling outside, while his long tail was hanging inside.

It was the same song, the same melody. But he finally remembered how the lyrics go.

"Found in the burnt-down mansion"

The Warners slowly approached the window, tears forming in their eyes.

On the window sill...

"Were the body of the lonely man"

"And a charred clockwork doll"

(22-11-2022 ~ 26-3-2023)

----------------------

So, uh, this is something...

First of all, this is my first time writing about your favourite mouse boyfriends, and I immediately killed off one of them. So...yeah.

Secondly, this was actually quite an "impulse idea". Aside from writing about a new production, you can see I started in November of last year...and almost immediately paused. I blame exam, stress and exam stress.

I only resumed writing in this March, after I finished the Ducktales piece (which had also been an impulse idea but I did it in one go at least). I would say...80% of the story content was written in (the second half of) this month.

Also, after this piece, I plan to finish my WIPs first before starting any new productions (they have been WIPs since 2020 omg). All of them are long stories. And plan, so if I fail to adhere to myself please don't use this against me orz.

----------------------

[Back to the actual story]

Another song fic featuring another song, this time showing my otaku side. Not sure if you may know this one. Or, may at least know the musician.

The song is "Miniature Garden Girl" (箱庭の少女) by Mothy/Akuno-P, "sung" by Hatsune Miku. The (translated) lyrics are the sentences "in quotations and italics".

If you have been a Vocaloid fan since ancient times, you probably will have at least heard about Mothy and/or some of his songs. Some of them are really classics in the Vocaloid history.

This song was one of my favourites from like >10 years ago when I was a somewhat passionate Vocaloid fan. It was quite hard to find a calming Vocaloid track, so this one stuck out to me (also I was a fan of Mothy's productions at that time). The song itself isn't nearly as famous as Mothy's other works (Daughter/Servant of Evil, anyone? Regret Message?), but it is still one of my favourites to this day.

Obviously the quality sounds pretty subpar nowadays. I believe the Vocaloid software used was still more or less a prototype. Mothy actually remastered the song a few years ago, with a more modern Miku voice bank. I will link both versions below.

https://youtu.be/2q1HqQEc4OY

https://youtu.be/DCdLi6z_jmg

[phantomrose96]

I think we should have a turn of phrase for "I'm not in the right, but I AM annoyed with this situation, so I just need to go bitch to a friend about this before I suck it up and go do the right thing" because more and more I'm finding this is a critical element of functional adulthood.

[prouvaireafterdark]

listen I know it's heartbreaking that Claudia dies and it's understandable to wish she didn't, but let's please not accuse the writers of fridging her. to do so is a fundamental misunderstanding of the story and is frankly insulting to the intelligence and skill of the writers of the show.

Claudia's death, and the overwhelming grief and regret her parents experience because of it, is quite literally the point of the entire story. she dies because Anne's daughter Michele died of leukemia when she was five years old and there was nothing she or her husband could do to prevent it.

writing IWTV was how Anne coped with the unimaginable loss of a parent losing her child. she created a story about a little girl that could not die and then killed her anyway. Claudia's death is a senseless, unavoidable tragedy, just like Michele's was. the grief that haunts Louis and Lestat for the rest of their lives is the same grief that haunted Anne and her husband.

so when you're accusing people of killing Claudia off to benefit a story about two men, please remember that in real life sometimes parents lose their children. please remember Michele Rice.

she's the reason Claudia exists.

she's also the reason Claudia cannot be saved.

[sophies-junkyard]

I’m in the South. I’ve got ears to the ground. Republicans are SWEATING at the prospect of Kamala being nominated. They’re not sure Trump can beat her.

Let’s prove them right.

[inkskinned]

the thing is that they're so fascinated by sex, they love sex, they can't imagine a world without sex - they need sex to sell things, they need sex to be part of their personality, they need sex to prove their power - but they hate sex. they are disgusted by it.

sex is the only thing that holds their attention, and it is also the thing that can never be discussed directly.

you can't tell a child the normal names for parts of their body, that's sexual in nature, because the body isn't a body, it's a vessel of sex. it doesn't matter that it's been proven in studies (over and over) that kids need to know the names of their genitals; that they internalize sexual shame at a very young age and know it's 'dirty' to have a body; that it overwhelmingly protects children for them to have the correct words to communicate with. what matters is that they're sexual organs. what matters is that it freaks them out to think about kids having body parts - which only exist in the context of sex.

it's gross to talk about a period or how to check for cancer in a testicle or breast. that is nasty, illicit. there will be no pain meds for harsh medical procedures, just because they feature a cervix.

but they will put out an ad of you scantily-clad. you will sell their cars for them, because you have abs, a body. you will drip sex. you will ooze it, like a goo. like you were put on this planet to secrete wealth into their open palms.

they will hit you with that same palm. it will be disgusting that you like leather or leashes, but they will put their movie characters in leather and latex. it will be wrong of you to want sexual freedom, but they will mark their success in the number of people they bed.

they will crow that it's inappropriate for children so there will be no lessons on how to properly apply a condom, even to teens. it's teaching them the wrong things. no lessons on the diversity of sexual organ growth, none on how to obtain consent properly, none on how to recognize when you feel unsafe in your body. if you are a teenager, you have probably already been sexualized at some point in your life. you will have seen someone also-your-age who is splashed across a tv screen or a magazine or married to someone three times your age. you will watch people pull their hair into pigtails so they look like you. so that they can be sexy because of youth. one of the most common pornography searches involves newly-18 young women. girls. the words "barely legal," a hiss of glass sand over your skin.

barely legal. there are bills in place that will not allow people to feel safe in their own bodies. there are people working so hard to punish any person for having sex in a way that isn't god-fearing and submissive. heteronormative. the sex has to be at their feet, on your knees, your eyes wet. when was the first time you saw another person crying in pornography and thought - okay but for real. she looks super unhappy. later, when you are unhappy, you will close your eyes and ignore the feeling and act the role you have been taught to keep playing. they will punish the sex workers, remove the places they can practice their trade safely. they will then make casual jokes about how they sexually harass their nanny.

and they love sex but they hate that you're having sex. you need to have their ornamental, perfunctory, dispassionate sex. so you can't kiss your girlfriend in the bible belt because it is gross to have sex with someone of the same gender. so you can't get your tubes tied in new england because you might change your mind. so you can't admit you were sexually assaulted because real men don't get hurt, you should be grateful. you cannot handle your own body, you cannot handle the risks involved, let other people decide that for you. you aren't ready yet.

but they need you to have sex because you need to have kids. at 15, you are old enough to parent. you are not old enough to hear the word fuck too many times on television.

they are horrified by sex and they never stop talking about it, thinking about it, making everything unnecessarily preverted. the saying - a thief thinks everyone steals. they stand up at their podiums and they look out at the crowd and they sign a bill into place that makes sexwork even more unsafe and they stand up and smile and sign a bill that makes gender-affirming care illegal and they get up and they shrug their shoulders and write don't say gay and they get up, and they make the world about sex, but this horrible, plastic vision of it that they have. this wretched, emotionless thing that holds so much weight it's staggering. they put their whole spine behind it and they push and they say it's normal!

this horrible world they live in. disgusted and also obsessed.

[tizzymcwizzy]

ive got it

[kathaynesart]

REPLICA PLAYLIST

MUSIC UNDER CUT

I have been receiving requests for any songs that inspired Replica, so here, have my personal playlist. Sorry it’s not Spotify/Soundcloud but they don’t have some of these songs available so uh… guess you’re stuck with YouTube vids. For fun I'll include my personal titles for them (which might give a few hints of what to expect in the future/end).

Replica Main Theme - “Die for You” by Grabbitz Like Father Like Son Like Brother (Omega and Shelldon) - "As Above So Below" by Alistair Lindsay Mikey's Theme / The 1st Vision - "Suzume no Tojimari" by Nanoka Hara Military (Mad) Dogs / Central Park Colony - "Imperium" by Madeon Shanghai - "Icarus" by Madeon Boom Goes the Donnie-mite (Mikey/Donnie vs the Sweeper) - "The Red Zone" by Mitsuoto Suzuki The Day the Sky Bled Red - "7 Seconds Till the End" by Nobuo Uematsu Going Out Like a Boss (Raph and Leo) - "Agape" by Nicholas Britell Remembering the Right Way (Mikey and Leo) - "The Souls of Many" - by Alistair Lindsay Mystic Hands / The 2nd Vision - "Am I Dreaming" by Metro Boomin x A$AP Book 2 Trailer - "Sea Dragon" by Covet 7 Years Later - "Iron" by Woodkid Leo's Theme / Attack on the Labor Camp - "Ego Death" by Polyphia Omega's Theme - "Touch" by Daft Punk Flat Lines (Omega Alone) - "Die Toteninsel Emptiness" by 1000 Eyes Spear - "Monsters" by Tommee Profitt Final Protocol - "The Kraken" by Katie Dey Rise / Epilogue - "Close in the Distance" by Masayoshi Soken & Tom Mills

I will admit, it's a little embarrassing since you can easily see the patterns of what I've been listening to for the past year or two. I swear I listen to more than just videogame OSTs, these songs just jive well with the story and I often find lyrics distracting when brainstorming scenes. Regardless, the music I listen to is such an important part of my creative process and some of these songs really defined the scenes I now have locked in my head. So I figured it was only fair to give them the credit they're due.

I will continue to add to this playlist, and will note in comic updates when one of these songs is applicable!

[auden-dahn]

"D-Don't worry about me! Focus on helping the little one, okay?" 🌠 panel redraw of @laikascomet

[paintedcrows]

It is imperative to me that Bill and Stan do torrid Duchess Approves roleplay and argue about character motivations

[annabelle--cane]

okay here's a concept: vampirism but it doesn't change the way blood smells or tastes to you at all. you know that you're hungry, you know that this is what you need, but the sensation is still that of biting down on salty skin and flesh and muscle. your teeth aren't so razor sharp that they piece skin like tissue paper, you have to apply force with your jaw and deliberately rip a hole into someone. blood tastes like blood, hot mouthfuls of it pouring down your throat, and if you don't manage to keep it down then you'll just have to repeat this whole process again almost immediately. vampirism that is simply really not pleasant and makes you feel as animalistic and unclean as possible.

[heartorbit]

figure skating set right now please. thanks

[w1lmuttart]

To make a mend

[roydeezed]

One thing for those who have watched The Boy and The Heron or will watch it. The Japanese title for it is How Do You Live? And Miyazaki stated he was leaving it for his grandson, saying, "Grandpa is moving onto the next world soon but he is leaving behind this film".

The deaths of contemporaries and friends such as Satoshi Kon and Isao Takahata and also the expected successor of Yoshifumi Kondo were things that have always weighed heavily on the back of Miyazaki's mind.

He recognizes the industry and the occupation for how soul crushing it was, grinding up either the spirit or the physical body of those who work in it. He loves and hates the industry he stands on the peak of and fully recognizes how it will probably be the death of him. And he knows it'll leave him unable to say a lot of things to his Grandson.

So How Do You Live? is a lesson. For his grandson. For himself. For his two sons. And probably for anyone else willing to pay attention.

Hayao Miyazaki is a flawed man that makes things so important to so many people. And I think more than any other film of his, in this you get to pull back the curtain a bit and see him at work. And what should be this giant unblemished titan can be seen for what he is, a sad old man who had higher hopes for himself and has even higher hopes for the people he makes his work for.

It's a beautiful thing to see another's humanity in their work. To look past the artifice and glam of commercialized art and find humans behind it. And humans willing to show their humanity and mortality is even rarer. And something to be celebrated. So when you watch it. Or if you've watched it already. Understand that this film is Miyazaki kneeling down, weary after years of weaving dreams and making mistakes, reaching out and saying to you that he hopes you can do better. It's an old man who's made all the mistakes of the world passing it on to you, hoping you do better, and making sure you know it's okay if you don't.

How do you Live? By making mistakes. By messing up. But still moving forward. And still reaching out.

[jakeperalta]

the taylor swift ai porn issue is such a bleak reminder of how inescapable the horrors of misogyny are. like obviously there's the talk of sort of "celebrity problems" like treatment by the tabloids etc, but beyond that there's just the constant heinous shit that women seemingly cannot escape no matter what. it doesn't matter that she (as well as other female celebrities) is extremely rich and famous and successful and has basically as much privilege and power as it is possible for any person to have, ultimately that's still not enough to escape the revenge porn and sexual assault and stalking and harassment. like there is literally no level of power a woman can have that puts her out of reach of all the men who hate women and want to control and humiliate and subjugate us in any way they can.

[bacchuschucklefuck]

they licensed his ass

my finished piece of the FWMS (official name definitely 100%) thing we started a few days ago! I had fun I hope folks had and/or continue to have fun with the sketch as well.

[umblrspectrum]

i got lazy in the second panel