#I had this on my mind since last year

[blushouyo]

EGO DEATH

[getindumdums]

That awkward moment when you're SO FASHIONABLY LATE, you're late to NEXT year's competition.

The time continuum part of those dimensional coordinates are just really hard to pin down sometimes you know? @tmntaucompetition

Part 2 coming soon! …hopefully…

Prev , Next! (GASP!)

"Get in Dum-Dums, We're Going Vandalizing!" - Fic

[effen-draws]

These two:-))

Close-ups under cut:

[flutrberri]

[kimdokjakimdokjakimdokja]

[11syrups]

“You believe me like a god, I betray you like a man”

[mossattack]

varric is not a redhead anymore (the iron bull greatly disapproves)

[iridescentmirrorsgenshin]

Mandatory rant about kaveh’s 2023 birthday letter incoming!!

Kaveh and Alhaitham’s birthday message subject lines are seen to mirror the other through their usage of punctuation, as Alhaitham’s subject line reads as: “…” as opposed to Kaveh’s: ‘!!!’.

A sense of familiarity evoked in their current living situation emanates from these mirrorings and within this message. Kaveh writes about him bringing coffee beans “home” in order to try, and then follows this with: “we compared the taste of each, we decided that this was the best”. Through Kaveh’s explicit usage of the word “home”, it is evident that the “we” refers to him and Alhaitham. This description establishes a sense of domesticity, only to be achieved in a mutually agreed ‘home’ as opposed to a ‘house’.

It is relevant to reference Kaveh’s understanding of “home”, as in a place in which words are not necessary and link it to the idea of companionship being more important than understanding. The latter idea consists of supporting a person, regardless of the ability to empathise with and relate to their particular struggles, should be valued over attempting to be understood by people who are not willing to listen in order to understand - established by Kaveh’s mother within his hangout.

In this, Alhaitham is offered as a companion to Kaveh, where he cannot empathise with Kaveh’s artistic and idealistic struggles, but he is willing to listen to him over offering empty words which cannot solve Kaveh’s particular problems.

Kaveh’s understanding of “home” as a place in which people are at ease with each other and support another regardless, can be seen within his relationship with Alhaitham.

Kaveh and Alhaitham split the chores according to Alhaitham’s character stories; they both make attempts to decorate the house; presumably they eat dinner together, according to Alhaitham’s Story Quest where he excuses himself in order to have dinner, only to talk to Kaveh; the two can be seen to share a study; when ordering out, Kaveh orders extra for Alhaitham – a common enough occurrence for Alhaitham to be confident in relying on this; and for Kaveh’s birthday they try coffee beans together to determine the best ones to send onto Kaveh’s friends - Kaveh’s close friends who are also Alhaitham’s.

Rather than the “cold” and “lonely” house which Kaveh was left with after the passing of his father and departure of his mother, this conjures the image of warmth and familiarity. In this, it can be inferred that the two have created a home together.

(Update: For more analyses like this, the essay this is taken from is now uploaded! It can be accessed here and here as as a pdf <3)

[packleaderbriggan]

Monty Finch and Individuality

Does anyone else think that, after everything, Monty clung to any way he could feel in control of his own body?

Esther created him. She made him - his body, the very thing he was meant to feel secure in - for the sole purpose of seduction and bait for her trap. He truly was created to be a femme fatale, and his body was nothing more than a tool to further Esther's revenge on the boys and Crystal.

So, once everything is over, once he's finally found a home with Edwin, Charles, Crystal, and Niko (because they all made it out, fight me), what do you think he'd do in a desperate attempt to make his body his own?

People - and crows - are really good at mimicry. When they want to fit in, when they want to be accepted, to have a home, they try and change aspects of themselves to blend in with the crowd. They adopt what they feel is a unifying trait from the collective.

I think I want to explore that. (more under the break ;))

What do you think was going through Charles' mind when Monty timidly approached him one day, asking whether Charles would be okay if Monty got a piercing? Of course Charles would be okay with it; it's Monty’s body, he gets to decide what happens to it! What would he do when Monty looked away and explained that he didn't want Charles to feel like Monty was just copying him, trying to "steal his thing"? He would be so steadfast in his conviction as he reassured Monty that he would be more than happy if Monty copied him, flattered even, if Monty went forward with it, adopting a trait that Charles himself found so much joy and individuality in. He'd even show him some of the best tattoo parlors around where he could get his ears pierced, guiding him through the last-minute anxiety attack with gentle words and soft encouragement. And maybe something in his stomach would flip as Monty looked at his reflection and a bright, beaming smile spread over his entire face as he tilted his head this way and that to study the gleam of his new silver earring. Afterwards, when Charles would catch him in the office, deep in his own thoughts, fiddling absently with the small feather charm that now hung from his ear, he found it hard to remember what Monty had looked like before. It was as though his slight, bird-like form had been made to carry that tiny silver pendant, a badge of his newly found personhood.

What did Niko think when Monty showed up at hers and Crystal’s flat in London, a question tripping off his tongue before she could even say hello. Would she be excited as she led him to the salon, helping him settle on what color to dye his hair? Would she be happy that he's trying to feel more in control and present in his body? When he eventually settled on thin streaks of deep blue, red, and purple underneath his naturally dark hair, Niko would cheer and throw her arms around him, telling him how handsome he is when his confidence shines through his smile. As he shakes his head, each movement revealing a new combination of colored strands, she would gush about how the multi-colored waves of his hair gave him the same effect as the feathers of a crow. To herself, she would silently note that the specific array colors he had chosen were also representative of their friends- the red like Charles' favorite shirt; the blue for Edwin's characteristic uniform; the purple to match Crystal's hallmark royal attire. She would definitely rant to her girlfriend, bubbly and infectious, the moment she got home about how much Monty had grown in the few months that he'd been a part of their group.

What would Crystal say when he hesitantly asked where she got her charms and necklaces and accessories? As she took him to clothing stores and trinket shops around London, would she look on in contentment as he grew bolder and more in tune with his desires? As he snatched up the things that caught his eye - the shiniest pendants, charms, tassels, and gemstones - and tried on outfit after outfit, would Crystal’s small smile deepen into a grin, relishing in just how at home and present he was in his own judgments? As they hauled bag after bag up the stairs to the agency, and as she helped him set up his new wardrobe, would she sit back and observe as the boy flitted about his room, turning his trinkets in just the right way so the sun reflecting off of them made beams of bright light dance over the walls? Then, she would think back on Niko’s words and realize her girlfriend had been right- Monty Finch was becoming a person. He was stepping into his new life, coming into his own, savoring the feeling of freedom and expression and identity, beyond what Esther had molded him to be. And as she watched him, she couldn't help but think that he looked damn good while doing it- And not just because she had influenced his new sense of fashion.

How did the entries regarding Monty in Edwin's notebook adapt and adjust as he observed the changes in their newest agency member? Would he catch himself gazing for a moment too long at the bright smile on Monty's countenance as he spoke with Charles; distinguishing how Monty's nimble fingers, so suited for delicate spell work and material manipulation, tucked stray locks of his shoulder-length hair behind his ear as he read through the agency's vast collection of magical books; studying the way the dim illumination of the office made the light in Monty's dark eyes shimmer and dance as he listened intently to their newest client? Would Edwin's deceased heart stutter as a truly addictive laugh fell from Monty's lips at one of Edwin's sarcastic quips, and he found himself desiring nothing more than just one more glimpse of that lovely, beautiful, free sound? Would Edwin look on with a strange sense of satisfaction blooming in his chest as Monty snapped back at a rude client who had insulted Edwin, beating even Charles to the defense of the eldest detective, barbed words and a protective glint in his fiery, mahogany eyes? How would Edwin's notebook entries detail the evolution from taciturn and reticent to bright and communicative, the walls that Monty had built around himself falling away as he no longer felt the need to constantly protect himself? As Edwin observed this metamorphosis, dark clothes and hair giving way to irradiant jewelry and effulgent modifications reflecting the new, unrestrained confidence Monty seemed to have found in his body and in his life, he could not help but feel magnificently proud of the most recent addition to the Dead Boy Detective Agency.

And, as Edwin would discover, the Cat King had been correct about one thing: The second kiss was definitely better than the first. The familiar warmth of Charles had not yet faded from his lips before Monty was turning from the younger ghost, one hand rising to smooth over Edwin's jaw... And then they were entwined, breathless, gasping laughs flowing from all three as they kissed and touched and explored, enveloping each other with such utter love and complete devotion that Edwin could not help but wipe away a tear as they lay together afterward. The echos of their pleasure, their adoration, their tenderness amazed him, leaving him completely enraptured at the sight before him.

Edwin had thought that there was no one in his life or his afterlife that he could love as much as Charles Rowland. However, as he lay there, gazing at Charles' fingers rubbing at Monty's silver earring, so much gentle fondness in his eyes, Edwin could not resist pressing one more kiss to Monty's beautifully colored hair, his hands brushing away the dark strands from his sleeping face as he dozed on Charles' chest.

Monty had grown so much from their first, deceptive, maliciously planned meeting. He had changed, evolved, adapted, blossoming into a creature of fervent love, of loyal devotion, of steadfast adulation. The anxiety and prey-instinct he had been shaped in paled in comparison to the boundless confidence he exuded now.

And Edwin Payne would love every part of Monty Finch, just as easily as he loved Charles Rowland- His affection for the two boys he now rested beside in the warm afterglow, skin pressed against skin, tranquil palms resting delicately on exposed chests and bare waists, adoration coursing through long-dead hearts, came as effortlessly as breathing.

[hobbithoes]

billion trillion ancient wips from my old ipad 😵‍💫

[vargaslovinghours]

Happy Vargas Day! Stop saying 100%

They are truly Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-ing it up around the Institute ♥ The role(s) was made for them!

Doctor meme!Edgar is here to assist! Scriabin is also here, to make quips at Edgar’s expense, equally important

He’s swooning! Catch him! Hold him in your weak noodle big strong arms!

Not an MD. Maybe. The text on his certificate is blurry, it must’ve been printed weirdly. It’s totally legit, don’t bother checking, just trust him

[flovoid]

floyd’s little record store: ECO OF EGO

[rustedleopard]

Hate to be a Debbie Downer but I don't think Chujin would like Ben 10 (or at least not be openly obsessed with it).

I feel like if you told him the premise of the show (A 10-year old human boy gains the power to turn into 10 aliens (which are kinda sorta monsters) and he fights other aliens with this ability), he'd scoff and say "This show is an appeal to humanity's naturally violent tendencies!" and "They're indoctrinating children! Humans find the idea of child soldiers entertaining!" and "This show discriminates against monstrous beings!" and all of these other dramatized nit-picks about it, despite the fact that it's a fictional cartoon whose target demographic is tween boys.

(I just think that all monsters should take human media a bit too seriously in one way or another. IDK if he would actually believe that a human could turn into a bunch of aliens with a wrist watch, but I do think he'd take the premise of "a child fights fantastical battles against aliens" too literally. Kinda like those parents who think their kid playing a video game where you kill fictional monsters is "corrupting the youth.")

Now, if you put an episode of Ben 10 on the TV, I do think he'd stop whatever he's doing to stand behind the couch, arms crossed/in his pockets in that "I am interested in what's going on on the TV but not enough to commit to actually sitting down" sorta way. He'd probably scoff and roll his eyes whenever Ben does something stupid because Ben is a 10 year-old and this boosts his ego a bit because "ha, I'm way smarter than this kid, I could see how that action would go wrong from a mile away. If this is how humans are on the Surface, I'd easily be able to crush them. Especially with my serum and Axis." But the split second you catch him in the act of watching, he pretends that he was looking for something in the room and then walks out.

[jackfrostimposter]

genuinely why is there so much misinformation about the guardians of childhood book series?

[mcaelius]

when they let me make my pro caelio musical you'll all be sorry

[al-mayriti]

idk if it's because my mum worked in a tv magazine or what but all the media wars and backstabbing and stuff happening behind the cameras is so so interesting to me

[getosugurusbangs]

i miss you like i miss summer