#Give ‘em the old razzle dazzle eh?

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Seeing the careers your classmates went into after high school is wild

[flannelepicurean]

A friend informed me of an Internetting that claimed that "trans men dress like old-timey radio announcers but from the future, somehow."

This led me to opine that "Andre 3000" and "Venture Bros. Character" are both extremely valid genders for trans men, asterisk it's okay to spend some time as guest star on a Supernatural, but gender is a ✨PERFORMANCE✨, fellas. Let's get out there and really give 'em the razzle-dazzle, eh?

(Yes, I know "trans man" is a gender already; I feel like we've earned the right to get bonkers, though.)

[zanderism]

the lurch festival is gonna be chaos but eh, we ball

nah you got this!!! give ‘em the old razzle dazzle

if anything the chaos would that would ensue would be enough for me to wanna be there even if i’m just a festival goer lmao

[lex-munro]

[Suicide Squad Scrap] Princess pt. 17

self-indulgent batjokes-flavored SS/BvS/JL, installment 17.  by this point, Ratcatcher has accepted Joker’s somewhat ambiguous gender identity and has decided they are platonic galpals.  chapter contains a barely-off-panel sex act.  TW:  dubious/coerced consent.

the piece as a whole is rated Mature for pervasive language, varying degrees of violence, use of controlled substances, sexual references, questionable ethics, and themes of mental illness.  set from Flag’s POV, with references to Birds of Prey, but not compliant with The Suicide Squad.

p.s. i’ve loved pretty much every version of Mercy Graves.  shoutout to underpaid henchwomen.

p.p.s. Mister J is genuinely more upset about his hair, just saying.  that’s where the bad behavior is coming from.

***

~All right, I’ve tapped a line to the admin server, so we’ll be able to pull a prison census and a map, as well as maybe some easy admin overrides.  Resuming my trip to the roof while Flag heads out to be Mister J’s backup.~

Flag sets about fully securing the unconscious guards.

~Overrides, eh?~ says Digger.  ~Anything for the front door?~

~No, Goomba, I fucking told you the door control is on the naked-ass roof of this building, where I will probably get shot to death if somebody sees me.  So!  I’m at the door now, Mister J—give ‘em the old razzle-dazzle.~

~Probably gonna end up cuffed, so I’ll leave my comm open,~ Joker tells them.  ~Here we go.~

A knock.

~Candygram!~

~Classic,~ Digger says with a chuckle.

A minor commotion.

~Four of you?  I charge extra for gang bangs.~

~Shut the fuck up!  Who are you?  How did you get here?~

~Now, now, no call for such aggression.~

~ Got the door,~ says Ratcatcher.

~Heh, open sesa—FUCKING HELL!  Jeezling Chrimbo holiday biscuit batter…~

“Report!” Flag snaps.  He finishes tying the last guard and heads for the door.

~Fucking close call, is all,~ grumbles Digger.  ~Doors started to close as soon as I crossed the threshold.  Got one sleeve stuck and a very good boomerang at a very precise angle keeping the door from crushing half my torso and skull.  Can’t even take a full breath.  I am at your fuckin’ mercy, Arcee.~

~Some kinda failsafe—I’m on it, Dicker.~

~Handcuffs, oh my.  That’s one of my kinks, boys.  Ooh, and manhandling!  Lucky me.~

Flag hits the door running.  “Backup on the way, Jay!”

~Pretty mouth on you, princess.  Whattaya say?  Gonna be a good little freak for Daddy?~

~Oh, I’m definitely a freak~ the Joker says.  ~But I’ve already got a Daddy.  Still, I fancy myself a talented cocksucker, and I haven’t been face-fucked in ages, so if you’re volunteering…~

“Jay, you don’t have to go that far,” Flag pants, bursting into the lookout building.

~Speaking as the person most likely to be shot to death if these fuckers happen to look out the window at the wrong time, go as far as it fucking takes!~ Ratcatcher snaps.

~As the person currently one boomerang away from being a human crepe if she gets shot, I second the motion!~ adds Digger.

~Yeah, princess?~ the thug leader says, sounding too interested.

~You said I had a pretty mouth, didn’t ya?  No gag reflex, either.  Ah-ah!~ Joker scolds with a little growl.  ~Hands off the ‘do.  Only Daddy gets to touch my hair.~

~Yeah, we’ll see who’s your Daddy, sweetie…~

~Ick,~ says Ratcatcher.  ~Men are so gross.  I’m almost done, max three more minutes.  Lie back and think of England.  Or…I’unno, Gotham, I guess.~

(~You know, not all men are like that.~ ~Did you seriously just fucking ‘not all men’ me?  Not all rats can chew your dick off in ten seconds or less—wanna chance that when I get down there?~)

Seven goddamn floors up, and the elevator has an ‘out of order’ sign hanging from it.  “Piece of shit broken elevator,” Flag huffs, and bursts into the stairwell.

~Best three minutes of your life, coming right up,~ Joker purrs, followed by a long, loud slurp.

~I feel like there should be a word for turned on, grossed-out, and terrified on account of being on the verge of getting literally crushed to death all at the same time,~ Digger grunts.  ~The stress will kill me if this damn thing don’t, Arcee, hurrythefuckup.~

~Eugh, think I’m gonna hurl,~ Ratcatcher groans over the loud noises of whichever-asshole-lookout having too much fun for a guy with metal teeth next to his junk.

~Almost to ya, Arcee,~ says Lawton.  ~And then anybody looking out here ain’t gonna see shit but a bullet.~

Flag hears another wet sound and a drawn-out moan and runs harder.

~Heh, whatcha gonna do now you’re a sloppy mess, princess?  Whatcha gonna tell your Daddy, huh?  What now?~  And the guy laughs mockingly.

Joker spits (not in the guy’s face, from the lack of reaction, but it’d serve the fucker right).

~In position,~ hisses Lawton.  ~Jay, you just say the word, and that piece of shit has frontal lobe air conditioning.~

~Hmmm, what now?~ Joker drawls with eerie calm.  ~What’s your name, big guy?~

“Coming up the stairs,” says Flag.  “Ready to breach on your signal.”

~Vince,~ the rapist says.

Joker makes an agreeable noise.  ~Well, Vinnie, now you’re all mine.  I’m gonna start by fuckin’ up your knee, and maybe breaking your nose.  The guy by the window’s going down next, and one of the guys by the door.  By then, I’ll be out of my cuffs, so I’ll drop Number Four with something heavy, like that lamp over there, probably before he can even raise his gun.  Then me ‘n you are gonna have some quality time together, Vinnie.~

~You delusional f—~

There’s a couple of meaty crunching noises, then laughter and a bullet through the window, so Flag rams the door and clotheslines the guy right next to it.

Joker swings the floor lamp at the last guy, hitting him precisely in the temple and dropping him like a sack of potatoes.

One guy is still writhing on the ground:  presumably Vince, and Flag is a hundred percent behind the idea of letting Joker do whatever the fuck he wants to the creep.

(~Got it!~ says Ratcatcher.  And, ~About fuckin’ time,~ coughs Digger.)

Joker unfastens the second handcuff and lets it drop, then smoothes a hand over his curls (tangled and mussed from being pulled, and for some reason, the idea turns Flag’s stomach worse than the noises before).  “Vinnie, Vinnie, Vinnie,” he tuts, then sighs.  “You were doing so well.  I like swallowing a little sausage now and then, but ya got greedy.”

~Anybody recording for posterity?~ Ratcatcher asks with a dark chuckle.

~I got you covered, Jay,~ Lawton says.  ~He tries anything, he’s gone.  You do whatever your bloodthirsty little heart desires, man.~

Joker flicks his butterfly knife out of his pocket and fidgets it open and shut a couple of times.  “I toldya, Vinnie:  only Daddy gets to touch my hair.  But you just had to have a yank.  If I hadn’t had such a good upbringing, I’d use this knife to do something real unladylike to ya,” he says, trailing the blade up the inside of Vince’s thigh.  “Instead, I’m gonna do you a favor:  I’m gonna make it so you can smiiiiile, ear to ear, every single day, happy as can be.”

Flag makes himself watch as Joker slides the knife in and jerks it back out twice to the sound of pained howls.  There’s lipstick on the guy’s fly.

Joker purrs happily and puts his knife away. “Much better!  Why so serious?” he asks, showing his three grinning tatts to the sobbing mess on the floor.  Then he wipes his left hand across to reveal his hateful scowl, lipstick smearing in a false half-grin.  “And the name’s Joker, you ungrateful fucking Philistine.  Can’t anybody fucking read anymore?”

“You need anything else here, Jay?” Flag offers.

Instead of answering, the clown switches his comm back from open and sweeps out of the room.  As he follows behind, Flag can see that Joker’s pants are riding lower than ever, showing an unfamiliar tattoo across his tailbone, just below the dimples.

“Is that seriously a tiny bat-shaped tramp stamp?” Flag asks.

Joker just flashes a wordless grin over his shoulder.

Lawton meets them out front with the coat Flag abandoned earlier, and he helps Joker into it without being asked.

~My buddies found Turner,~ Ratcatcher informs them.  ~Yo, Dicker, you through yet?~

~Yeah.  I’m looking at the main comms relay, which looks to have itemized camera feeds.  Hold up, got a boomerang for this…~

The fire escape rattles, and Ratcatcher lands in a crouch beside them.  “They said Croc’s near the bottom, and Turner’s one floor up.  Thanks for keeping them off me Mister J—that was pretty boss of you.”  The tablet beeps, and she starts poking through the cameras.  “Good work, Human Crepe; I got visual on the target.  Bronze Tiger, the fuck kinda codename is that?  Sounds like a wrestling move…”

“Porn star,” Flag argues.

“Gaybar,” Joker asserts, to general agreement.  “Fuck, now I wanna own a gaybar called Bronze Tiger…”

“Elevator shaft?” says Lawton.

“Natch.  Not feeling energetic about ladders, though, so I vote for riding most of the way.”

“Arcee?” Flag prompts.

One of her ‘buddies’ climbs her and tells her something.  “Yep, the cellar door here connects to the tunnels where Human Crepe is rollin’ up; auxiliary freight elevator there can take us all the way down.”

In they go, down rusted stairs and into echoing tunnels.  A right turn, a left corner, a right corner, a pair of two-foot-thick thresholds that must’ve been the airlock that almost crushed Digger.  He’s just unplugging a little pocket computer from the comms relay box as they approach.

Another fifty feet, and there it is, clearly labeled ‘Auxiliary Freight Elevator,’ like a plot device in a cartoon.  Lawton helps Flag wrench open the rickety steel gate, and they’re on their way.

Ratcatcher starts humming Girl From Ipanema as they descend.  Lawton joins in.  And then Joker starts singing.

“And when she passes, I smile but she doesn’t see…”

“Doesn’t seeee,” Digger chimes in on cue.

Flag kind of hopes the elevator will crash and they’ll all die.

They peter off into blessed silence, and Flag has just enough time to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Fuck!” Joker yells, startling them.

“Jesus!” squawks Digger.  “What?”

“I chipped a goddamn nail…should’ve cut Vinnie’s balls off after all.”  Joker seethes for a moment, then reaches up to smooth down his hair again.  “Is my hair okay, at least?  Fuck, I feel ugly.”

“Aw, no, Mister J,” Ratcatcher tells him, daintily reaching up to fix a minor tangle.  “You’re so pretty.  Nobody else could pull off orange and purple like you do, ‘specially with green hair.  The Bat would still totally swoon if he saw you right now, chipped nail and all.”

Joker settles a little.  “I’m gonna shoot so many kneecaps when we get down there.”

“No, you’re not,” Flag admonishes.  “We’re trying to be sneaky.  No loud noises if we can avoid it.”

“Croc ain’t exactly subtle, either,” Digger says.

“Jones knows when to keep it low key.”

Lawton scoffs.  “The James Brown suit he was rocking the other day would be evidence to the contrary.”

“Not everybody can pull off a cravat like that.”

“I’m not saying he didn’t make it work; it just wasn’t low key.  Should maybe get Turner first.  What was the security like, Arcee?”

“Huh?  Kinda thin, but they don’t need numbers with those fancy LexCorp guns.  You know those things got a puke setting?  For ‘non-violent pacification.’  Yuck.  Heard that Mercy bitch was around, too; some kinda inspection that’s got the wardens here piddling like puppies.”

Lawton hums thoughtfully.  “Shitty tunnels with piped power, everybody on edge…  Who’s up for a haunted house?”

Flag sees the shape of a plan.  “We’ll stop early—Arcee will hit the lights while Jay plays diversion.  Lawton pops ‘em quiet as a…well, mouse.  If Luthor’s henchbitch is here, all the more reason to tread softly.”

Joker tilts his head.  “Never had a chance to meet her.  She’s that scary, huh?”

“She carries Kryptonite bullets and once beat the shit out of Deathstroke,” Flag explains.

“Hmmmm.”

“No.  Whatever you just thought, no.  I’m not explaining to the Bat how I let you get your ass handed to you by a megalomaniac’s sidekick.  We’re doing the haunted house thing.  You like scaring the piss outta people, right?”

So they take out the lights and go for Turner first, Joker humming a little tune and skipping through the shadows like something out of The Shining.  The third guard they take down really does piss himself.

Nobody they take out has keys to the cells, which is very inconvenient.  Joker dances his way down the corridors, spectral in the shitty chartreuse emergency backup lighting, and glues himself to a door.

“He still intact?” Flag asks, assuming it’s their target.

“Hm?  Oh.  Yep.  Anybody got a set of  lockpicks?”

“You don’t?” Lawton asks, brows high on his forehead.

“Nah.  Always borrow ‘em.”

“Stand back, kids,” Ratcatcher says.  She cracks her knuckles and pulls out a metal file and a dental scraper from her coat pockets.

“Where the hell—” Flag starts to ask.  “Never mind, don’t wanna know.”

After about ninety seconds of little clicks and clinks and metallic scraping noises, the lock turns.  “Lucky those fit,” she comments.  “Real thing is a lot skinnier.”

Turner—codename Bronze Tiger—sits up with a yawn and says, “Do I know you?”  He’s handcuffed and dressed in a plain blue jumpsuit.

“Nope,” says Flag.  “You’re coming with us, though.  Any idea where they put your claws?”

“Guard station, next corridor over.  Little shits were playin’ with ‘em.”

“Arcee—”

“My buddies are already on it.  We taking Deadweight to get Croc, or we splitting up?”

Turner puffs up angrily.  “Deadweight my ass!  Uncuff me, and—”

“Not gonna happen,” scoffs Flag.  “Arcee, you ‘n Boomerang Boy take Gaybar back topside while me, Jay, and—where the hell’s Jay?”

They all look around, then look at Lawton.

“The hell y’all look at me for?  I ain’t the man’s babysitter.”

Overhead, the intercom crackles to life.

~Paging Mmmiss Mercy Graves,~ Joker purrs.  ~One of your wardens would like to register a complaint about his wwwork environment.~

~Please, please,~ somebody else simpers.  ~Please, don’t kill me.  W-what do you want?  Why are you smiling like that?  What are you—~  And the broadcast trails off into blood curdling screams that can’t quite drown out gleeful cackles.

“Oof, so much for low profile,” snorts Ratcatcher.  A pair of rats bring her some wicked looking armored gloves.

“Fuck,” Flag grumbles.  “Well, let’s go get the Twin Masters of Unsubtlety.”

They all pile back into the elevator (Digger shoves Turner along, probably mostly to use him as a human shield should the need arise) and ride it down one more floor.

Joker is unlocking a set of handcuffs from Croc’s wrists.  Beside them, a motionless guard has had his shirt ripped open and the words ‘Joker was here’ cut into the skin of his torso.  “Passed out partway through, real disappointing,” Joker says.  “Hasn’t even lost that much blood…what a baby.”

“We need to leave before Graves finds us,” Flag says firmly.

“Rrrgh, you’re so boring!” growls Joker, metal teeth gleaming.

“You compromise this mission and you will absolutely not get a visit from Daddy,” Flag retorts.

Joker subsides to a pout and sulks his way onto the elevator.

Flag is dumb enough to think they’re fine now—that they’ve gotten away with it.

Then the cage of the elevator rises past some very serious stiletto heels and an equally serious sidearm, and Flag shoves their precious cargo behind Croc as he and Lawton open fire through the grating.  Graves dodges while returning fire with something that melts red-hot holes into the floor and the rear wall of the elevator (“Shitshitshit!” “You’re on my fucking foot, Captain Bonobo!” “Singed my damn suit—now I’m mad.”).  She empties the mag just as the elevator floor passes her head—she licks her middle finger and points with it.

“Got my eye on you, clown,” she calls after them.

“Try two; you’re a shit shot!” Joker retorts.

.End.

[sugargliderowl]

Thoughts on Janus’ Playlist...

Some of my first-time-hearing reactions to Janus’ playlist (sorry for the rambling parts):

Black Hole Sun: It’s apparently about depression according to Genius? Like it’s kinda like yearning for the depression to be sucked into the “black hole sun”... The snake references and heaven and hell is definitely Janus. Also, it sounds old-timey like a jazz song, so that sets up the mood of the entire playlist. I don’t really get this... but this feels like a mood setter for the entire thing, unless it means something else. What do you guys think?

It Seemed the Better Way: The strings? CHILLS. Leonard Cohen’s voice reminds me of Hades in Hadestown. “Sounded like the truth, seemed the better way... but it’s not the truth today” is just his motto is what I’m seeing. And then the “I better hold my tongue, I better take my place...” part feels like resignation to me. It’s either Janus is trying to help, but that didn’t work so he resigns to become the “villain” of the light sides. It could allude to the dark sides as a whole: they are all trying to help Thomas in their ways, but because being themselves doesn’t work, they need the villain, spooky facade.

Anywhere: Ooh, I’m seeing a vintage vibe from all of this... Back to the song. “It’s a beautiful / If you’ve been lied to” is a good callback to the whole “society is built on lies” from SvS from Jay Dee. “Let this be a call to arms / At the changing of the avante garde / Nothing in this world... is beautiful.” Is Janus a pessimist? If so, he’s a good juxtaposition to Patton, the optimist. Also, the vocals remind me of like a really old timey radio, semi-haunted... my instincts say that it feels like the singer is like Harrison Bergeron (Kurt Vonnegut; do read it; it’s a good short story) trying to tell the truth about this world that people think is a good place.

Talking at the Same Time: Someone please draw Janus as like a 1920s gentleman character swaggering... wait I can. This song reminds me of “Why don’t you do right” by Jessica Rabbit on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” Jazz or blues? Either one. This song is really depressing? I don’t know why, but there is that feel of everything is hopeless. Pessimistic, again. “A tiny boy... made a sword from a stick and a gun from his hand” reminds me of Roman in a way? But then again, the “we bailed out all the millionaires / they’ve got the fruit / We’ve got the rind” doesn’t remind me of Roman.

all the good girls go to hell: “MY LUCIFER IS LOOONELYY”... sorry I love this song. Anyways, the lyrics really speak to Janus just because of the whole duality and Christian metaphors. Also, J is the side who would definitely “want the Devil on her team”. We love the whole duality motif. I just *chef’s kiss x3*.

Denial: OH MY GOSH THE SVS REDUX... J was denial. HE WAS DENIAL. “Just don’t shut your eyes closed / Not until I get it off my chest” is basically the blindfold metaphor that happened throughout SvS, so would this be the message he wants to send to Thomas and Patton... or maybe the entire light sides. “Have you turned a corner? / Do you think of leaving me behind?” Dark side acceptance arc? Also, “I know you’re looking for direction... I know where you wanna go / Oh I do, but do you?” is to Roman and Thomas for the callback because he knew they wanted to go “so bad.”

(click for more analysis and summary!)

Trust in Me: Of course, snek boi, I knew this could be something you’ll put in. But do we trust you? So this is his suave villainy song. This again shows how Bananaconda child operates; he wants Thomas to trust him and be selfish but excessively. That’s why balance is necessary for all of the sides!

Razzle Dazzle: *gasp* MUSICAL SONGS NOW? YASSS. Definition is “noisy, showy, and exciting activity and display designed to attract and impress,” so the whole facade of being fancy to hide the insecurities and “bad” parts. Sounds like someone we know (*cough* ROMAN *cough*). “What if your hinges all are rusting / What if, in fact, you’re just disgusting? / Razzle dazzle ‘em and they’ll never catch wise” is just a jab and a stab at Roman. Or maybe it’s him. He’s also the dramatic one. If so, we have angst arriving.

When the Chips are Down: HADESTOWN OH MY YES! STRINGS! AAAAA! Does Janus give me Fate vibes in a way? Yes, definitely. “Nobody’s righteous / Nobody’s proud / Nobody’s innocent / Now that the chips are down” Holy CRAPP. It’s the perfect response to Patton’s “Nobody’s perfect... except for Thomas, he loves his friends!” in SvS. Now that the “chips are down,” Thomas should take after himself... after all, the Fates were telling Eurydice to look after herself. Sounds like what Janus said to Thomas after the Redux.

Mandy Goes to Med School: Oh. Um. This sounds like the whole jazz/20′s theme. This song’s apparently about abortion? I’m kinda confused, so feel free to add on! But it’s quite the bop, just listening to it. Maybe the whole thought that society makes laws based on a false conception? Help.

I Put A Spell On You: Janus definitely goes to jazz clubs. “I can’t stand it ���cause you put me down” and “I tell ya I ain’t lyin’” and “Because you’re mine” makes the whole villainesque feel. I don’t know where this was from, but this stands out to me just because it was on the “Friends on the Other Side Mashup”. 

Evil Night Together: Ominous, and then jazzy. Jay Dee’s flirting skills go to the max. This also gives the villain vibe by the lyrics referencing things that Remus would be fond about. Also, “Who’s gonna make you a hero” seems to be directed to Roman like he did in SvS. This is a very seductive song with really dark undertones about crime. Janus, that slimy snek boi is a lawful neutral to evil. 

Dont’ Tell Mama: Cabaret... a classic musical, eh? “Hush up, don’t tell mama / Shush up, don’t tell mama” goes to Janus’ power to silence people. “If you had a secret, you bet I would keep it / I would never tell on you...” Janus is definitely the one about lies and secrets, so that goes to that.

You’re a Cad: “What’s the point pretending that you could be a better man? / Just give in, since you always end up right back where you began” “You’re a rascal and a rogue, a villain and a crook” is the other sides viewing him, and “Still I tug at your line, I’m a fish on your hook” and “I should be better, but I’m worse” is hinting at some Janus angst. I think it’s going to be something about trust

As Far as I Can See: JANUS ANGST TRUCKING IN ON TO YA: “Nobody loves me / As far as I can tell.” Or even “Nobody’s listening as far as I can tell / And when I’m crying out / Nobody cries back for me.” Haha... I’m totally fine (*sobbing*). Also, the “we’re all going down / all down the staircase aboard” either hints at the Redux statement of pushing people off staircases... or maybe Virgil who went down the staircase and left the dark sides. Gosh, I thought this was gonna be a hype song by the beat, but I stand corrected.

Criminal: Oh, so the angst continues. Great. Totally great. This somehow links back to the bloopers of Thomas, as J, saying “I’m not bad; I’m just drawn that way.” This is peak sarcasm in a way, but I don’t really know. “I’ve done wrong and I wanna suffer for my sins / I’ve come to you cause I need guidance to be true / And I just don’t know where I can begin”... is this from Thomas to Janus or the other way? If it’s from Thomas, Janus is kinda mad and is using as much sass as he wants. If it’s from Janus, it’s either he’s lying or he genuinely wants a redemption arc like Virgil did... but in a not so righteous way with “And I need to be redeemed / To the one I’ve sinned against / Because he’s all I ever knew of love.” I don’t really know, but this is such a bop.

Change: “I’ve been thinking it’s just someone else’s job to care / Who am I to sympathize when no one gives a d-” and “” Wow. Janus has his similarities with Logan. He wants to be listened to the sides. I mean, there is a reason why he impersonates the light sides: to be listened without bias. “Change is a powerful thing / I feel it coming in me” foreshadows some good stuff with Janus! YES! Also, “Maybe by the time this song is done / I’ll be able / To be honest” and the rest of the lyrics just hit me like a truck? It hurts the soul in a way. Change is inevitable is the message, so would that mean Janus could have an upgrade? I mean, the change started when SvS Redux happened with him coming out and being accepted by the light sides, so maybe, maybe things will change from there in a good way.

Devil In The Details: “A house of cards / A supple heart / Is not a place to dwell”.... Patton? Oh no. “But know there’s no backing out / This is gonna be reality / You can never dream it out” is going to his reputation and relations with the sides and Thomas? He seemed to have hesitated to say his name and let his reputation down since that would change everything that he has known over the years. Would this mean the dark and light side thing will break in later episodes? Maybe. “I put the past into the ground / I saw the future as a cloud / If there’s still time to turn around / I’m going to” is a big oof. And then... “I am the first one I deceive / If I can make myself believe / The rest is easy” comes in. Is Janus lying to himself? He’s the manifestation of deceit, but is he also doing that to himself? Or it could be to Thomas. But then again...

Come Little Children: Spooky. Nice. This feels like a lullaby. “It must be this way / To weary of life and deceptions / Rest now my children...” and then “The time’s come to play / Here in my garden of shadows” make me think that Janus thinks that this life is quite... painful. I am not too sure about this, tell me what y’all think!

Into The Unknown: Oh it’s not that one. It’s the one from Over The Garden Wall (the animation if I remember it right). I don’t know why, but I saw Come Little Children and connected that to Into the Unknown as words, so that was cool. “Dancing in a swirl / Of golden memories / The loveliest lies / Of all” refers to nostalgia. This song is about nostalgia. Wait. OH WAIT. Patton’s room is all about that... so would that mean nostalgia is also part of Jay Dee too because of the mood around it that is distorted by emotions? That’s something really cool to think about. One more: “If dreams can’t come true / Then why not pretend?” I feel like this points to Virgil in a way because his dream is complete acceptance, but Janus knows V was a dark side, so maybe he’s hinting at Virgil pretending to compensate for the fact that he is a dark side.

Summary:

Janus’ aesthetic would be a 1920-40 vintage theme with jazz on the background, strings and piano used ominous effect, and being flashy and dramatic. He wants to be listened to the other sides, so he puts up different disguises (like to Pat and Lo), which includes his villain facade he put on for the past maybe 2 or 3 years. He strongly believes that society is built on lies, and like in SvS, he doesn’t want Thomas to be disadvantaged in the said society. He loves the whole duality and juxtapositions (I mean, his name is Janus for a good reason) because he embraces them both. He jabs at several sides for them faking themselves to hide their true feelings, but then again, he might also be lying to himself. He knows that change is inevitable after the whole name reveal, and we know that his acceptance arc is going to come. It could be about trust and facing the reality... just my thoughts. In other words, this playlist gave me a bunch of reasons on why Janus is a great morally gray character.

FEEL FREE TO ADD ON! I LOVE SHARING THOUGHTS! Especially with analysis, more people means more thoughts and new ideas and theories. Thank you! 

[rp-meme-central]

We Happy Few - Lightbearer DLC - sentence starters

1. “I’d leg it if I were you, _____. I need you all in one piece today.” 

2. “I can’t remember last night. My head���s all foggy.” 

3. “I can’t let _____ find me covered in blood, when I don’t even know whose it is!” 

4. “There has to be a perfectly innocent reason why a ______ might wake up covered in blood and not remember.” 

5. “Too many people know me here! Basically, everyone.” 

6. “After all these years, you haven’t found a new hobby?” 

7. “What are you doing in my house? We didn’t get married again, did we?” 

8. “Those pills made me small!” 

9. “You’re a cheater! You only like _____ who don’t know the real you!” 

10. “All right. You went home, you’re refreshed. Remember last night now?” 

11. “______ say(s) that you just pretend to be bad, but I say that what a _____ pretends to be is what he/she/they is/are underneath.” 

12. “That ought to keep _____ busy for a while. You know, after all this is over, maybe I should become an actor.” 

13. “You don’t really expect a bottomless pit in a first-class hotel.” 

14. “I snuck into your room. I guess I fell asleep waiting for you.” 

15. “Doesn’t it make you nervous to have so many eyes upon you, ______?” 

16. “They’re watching me! I knew it!” 

17. “Maybe I’ll quit some other, less stressful day.” 

18. “I’d never do anything actually heinous... would I?” 

19. “You! You were downstairs. I am upstairs, aren’t I? My head’s a little foggy.” 

20. “I knew it! You never help anyone but yourself! You’re a scoundrel and a fraud, ______! And... and... you look silly in ______!” 

21. “No, no, no, no! I don’t want to remember! I don’t want to remember!” 

22. “Tell me I didn’t do this!” 

23. “My days of telling you what you want to hear are over.” 

24. “Maybe I’m possessed! Wait, did I ever make a deal with the Devil?” 

25. “Then I really am a killer! I’ve got to hide myself away so I don’t hurt anyone else!” 

26. “My drugs made me a monster! Or... maybe I really am a monster.” 

27. “I’m dangerous! I’m bad! I’m pure evil!” 

28. “You’re right. I can’t hide from this, can I? I’ve got to turn myself in.” 

29. “Am I... in Hell?” 

30. “I know why I’m here. I killed _____, didn’t I?” 

31. “Please, don’t torment me for all eternity! I don’t even remember!” 

32. “You don’t remember? I must say, I’m disappointed. I did my best work to impress you.” 

33. “You really won’t be my friend? Then you can be my next trophy.” 

34. “Ta-da! Bet you didn’t know that I’m a magician. Give ‘em the old razzle-dazzle, eh?”

35. “You killed my ______! And ______! For what? For bloody notoriety?!”

36. “Avenge me, ______! Turn it up to eleven!” 

[kastillia]

lots of things have happened

all the npcs were telling me i had the electric trial up next, but half the pokes on my team were weak to electric so uh.....oops

i took out my mud horse from the box! and renamed her matilda!

i also caught a female salandit (back on akala island when i was getting that leafeon) so i took some time to train her bc apparently only female salandits evolve

i also ran into a lady who lost 8 of her stuffuls! excuse me while i dodge all of these trainers to find this lady her bear friends

excellent! they have all returned to their owner! :>

ok time to fight these trainers and these annoying fearows that keep darting out of the trees

...........omg it's them it's the boys......there they are..........harassing the bus stop sign............i love them

ok back to the library!

oh! professor oak! he's here again! he......wants to see a dex entry on the alolan persian......well sure i guess give me a sec

i see lillie on the second floor! i also see a girl with a :3 face staring at us

acerola! she's adorable

this is a nice poem about lunala i can't wait until i have my moon bat

ok bye lillie, bye acerola! i'm gonna go see about that electric trial

but first! where does this path lead

oh it's a garbage plant

oh no......a battle............i wasn't expecting this...........

oh no now his son wants to battle me too..........

oh! oh that was sweet

i helped them have a bonding moment

who is this old man. battle poses??? he taught me the elegant style but the screen went black and i didn't see a gosh darn thing

ok bye

?????

professor oak????? i just saw you in the library what ar--

oh he's gone

????????????

ok back to the bus stop! now i have to fight the boys for real

gnfdhsjkfdj nice to know that the bus stop is heavy thanks guys

hi kukui what's up

ooooh so alola doesn't have an elite four? o:

they do have four islands and a kahuna for each one though so that's kind of the same thing.............ok maybe not really

alright! all aboard the exeggcutor express!

"you want to battle? sorry, my brother and i don't waste time on weak trainers"

wow rude

where are these other trainers at so i can kick their butt and come back to kick yours too O:<

OH MY GOD IT'S A DITTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO caught it :3c

OH MY GOD SALANDIT EVOLVED.....................gonna take a detour back to akala to rename her

ok i have returned with razz

............as in razzle dazzle the salazzle

eh? EH???

ok sorry

ONWARDS

HEY VETERAN DUDE I JUST BEAT EVERYONE HERE LET'S GO I'M GONNA KICK YOUR--

THAT'S AN ABSOL!!!!!!!

i have made a mistake this guy is kicking my ass sTOP GETTING THOSE CRITICAL HITS

I HAVE THE LEVEL AND TYPE ADVANTAGE HOW IS THIS HAPPENING............

ok i got him

elise only has like 20hp left but i got him

NURSE JOY OR WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS IN-GAME PLS HEAL MY POKES thank

there is a guy standing at the door

hello

oh it's a fight

the fight is over

oh he's not the captain?

sophocles?? the festival plaza guy???

oh it is!

oh....summon the totem pokemon.....right now??? right here??? in this lab???

oops there go the lights

OH IT'S AN AUDIO QUIZ

OH I DON'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION......I PLAY HALF OF THE GAME WITHOUT AUDIO........

OH NO I GOT IT WRONG AND SOPHOCLES GOT ELECTROCUTED I'M SO SORRY

HECK I CHOSE THE SECOND WRONG ANSWER

omg that guy calls him soffy that's adorable

OH IT'S A POKEMON WHAT IS IT.......

that's a grubbin

i can't use ground type moves against a bug......go on razz, roast em

SECOND POKE

that's a charjabug

might as well be the bug trial what is this nonsense

what are these cutscenes is the totem poke catching the bus to the lab what is this

that's another charjabug....

OH LOOK THE TOTEM POKE IS ANOTHER BUG AND IT'S FLYING

i didn't need to take matilda out of the box at all

the lights are back! trial complete!

thanks for that electrium z-crystal that.....idk i don't really need it right now

oh the other guy got me a steel z-crystal too! that's pretty neat!

oops professor kukui left his battle royal mask behind

i'm glad i'm not the only one who knows his "secret identity"

alright back to the garden

ayyyy the boys are back!

oH MY GOD IT'S HIM!

GUZMA! HE'S HERE!!!!!!!

jeez professor, give me some warning before you pit me up against team skull's big boss

but sure i'll fight him

oh he saw my z-ring and got....mad? maybe?? i am unclear

i beat him and now he's actually mad oops

well the barricade is not longer barricaded!

so, onwards! to uhh...route 12??? it's a dirt mountain

there are.......rock path things......i don't think i can walk o--

oh it's that girl and her mud horse!

OH SHE GAVE ME A MUD HORSE MOUNT FOR MY PAGER

i can run over the rocks! neat

"i am the kahuna of route 12!" pfffffffft

PFFFFFFFFFFT

shut up