#I like when shows actually know how to kill characters

[revelboo]

Hi Revel! Not a request or anything but I just wanted to send in an ask telling you how much I appreciate your works! There’s such variety to choose from and I’m constantly impressed with the storylines that you craft and everything you come up with! I love how much you’ve thought about each character and it really shows in your work. For example, you’ve gone into little bits here and there about how each of your Starscreams’ are different and you are just superb at showing it! (Your take on Armada Starscream is my absolute favorite!!) It’s really inspiring honestly and makes me want to get back into fanfiction again. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to checking your blog each day and seeing what you’ve been up to! Also your blog is so accessible! I cannot imagine all the links you have to put in and kept up with but I’m so grateful for it! Ah, sorry for the rambling but I hope life treats you well. :^] <3

Here’s a silly little photo for you! He is so little <3

Thank you! I’m glad you like my nonsense and go out there and write the things you love! 💕

Bee’s just a tiny bab.

Even If It Kills Me Pt 14

Armada Starscream x Reader

• Head lifting from where you’re idly drawing on his datapad, you go still at the smell of food. Actual, hot food not chips or cookies. And Runway chirps holding up a brown paper bag. Watching the other two try to seize it from him before Starscream huffs through his vents and picks you up to set down on the floor with the mini-cons. “How did you get fast food?” You ask as Runway pushes the bag in your hands and then drapes himself against your back when you sit crosslegged on the floor and open it, the other two creeping closer and openly curious.

• Wings lifting and falling as he retrieves an energon cube for himself and smaller ones for the mini-cons and joins you on the floor, he watches you remove little wrapped packages from the bag. “The mini-cons found it,” he says and you shoot him a look. “A human set it on an outdoor table in the park and Runway snatched it,” he admits with a grimace. You don’t look angry, though as you grab a fistful of little yellow sticks and shove them in your mouth, eyes closing. Watches Sonar and Jetstorm lean over to vent curiously, recoiling when you offer them a bit. “They can’t eat that. Unless you want them purging on you later.”

• “Thank you for taking care of me,” you whisper to the mini-cons and Runway affectionately butts his helm against you before seizing one of the mini energon cubes Starscream is holding out for them. Because you’ve been wanting real food rather than the junk food Star keeps bringing you. Know he’s trying his best, keeps stealing things for you and he’s been working on something lately in a corner of his habsuite, the paneling of the wall and floor pulled up over there. Not sure what he’s up to since he gets flustered when you ask, making you think it has to do with you.

• “I’ve told you that you don’t need to thank me or them for that,” he mutters before taking a deep drink. Aware of you grinning up at him before you turn your attention back on the food, eating much quicker than you normally do to make him feel guilty. Because he’s almost certain he’s doing a terrible job caring for you and you’re just too nice to say anything to him. You seem happier at least with him. When you have your nightmares and he remembers the bruises on your face when he’d found you, the resignation, he thinks about returning to that home he’d found you at. Wanting to find whoever scared you so bad you still can’t shake the fear. Knows he’ll likely never be able to get revenge on his tormentor, but he could remove yours from the face of this world. But if he does and you ever find out, you may not look at him the same way anymore and he can’t risk that. Wants you to keep smiling for him. To be worthy of your trust.

• “I know,” you say, looking up to find him frowning at nothing like he sometimes does. That little show and tell of scars was the most he’s let his guard down and had been enough to understand that he understands you, because he’s suffered at someone else’s hands, too. That he’s been through not exactly the same thing, but something similar enough and he’d not been completely broken by it helps you keep smiling for him. He’s gruff and awkward, but he’s kind. And you want to protect him and that kindness, because it means everything to you.

Previous

[murasaki-cha]

One thing that has always pissed me off is when people call the Enemies to Lovers troupe toxic romance and say it's abusive. Like I don't know what was advertised to you as enemies to lovers but babe that is so not what this trope it's about.

Now listen I'm a fantasy reader, so my normal level of enemies to lovers is "they have tried to kill each other at least once" or "they have definitely physically fist fought" at like the minimum. Anything below that is rivals to lovers to me. Just wanted to make it clear I'm not sugar coating anything here when it comes to my ships.

Enemies to lovers was never about the abuse or the fighting and the attempted murder, that's not what makes the trope.

Enemies to lovers was always about seeing the worst in each other first, being unafraid to show someone the ugliest part of yourselves and them still managing to fall in love with you. It's about realizing that the only person who has ever truly known you is the one person you cannot stand, it's about them being an outlet to each other the one person they are not afraid to be negative towards because that's your dynamic all the time.

This is also why people enjoy the fighting and the bickering between the enemies, because it's the one time when these characters are not holding anything back, they are unafraid of showing each other cruelty because why fear being disliked by someone who you already hate, that also hates you back?

It's about this chemistry these characters have, how they are somehow always pulled towards each other, how they can recognize each other in a crowded room immediately because they are annoyed by each other's presence obviously. It's about them always somehow ending up in a situation together even though the last thing they want is to be near each other.

They start noticing more about each other, they realize their habits, they know little stuff about them that almost no one else has ever noticed and maybe along the way they realize that maybe they're kind of different from what they thought at first and maybe they're not so different from each other.

It's about name calling turning into pet names, verbal sparing turning into old married couple type of bickering, going from dreading each others presence to searching for each other in a room, sneers turning into smirks, it's about keeping the same dynamic you had but making it more lighthearted, warmer.

And this is my personal opinion, but I truly believe there is no way to make a good enemies to lovers story without it also being a slowburn. It makes absolutely no sense why these characters that hated each other until now are suddenly falling in love so quickly. Enemies to lovers was never just Enemies -> Lovers, There needs to be some forced proximity thrown in there, a begrudgingly friendship, actual friendship, unexplained feelings, realization of feelings, secret pining because we barely became friends there is no way they would ever feel the same way, confession and by the end lovers. It just makes sense since they have a very complicated relationship and they need to grow as people and need to get used to familiar feelings first before actually getting together.

And this is what enemies to lovers is all about, these characters knowing every part of themselves, from the worst to the best, hiding nothing and being free around each other. It's about truly knowing every single piece of your partner's heart and soul, from their anger to their joy and loving them not just despite it, but especially for it.

[harpieisthecarpie]

looking at how Goro Akechi became a foil of Akira Kurusu thru their childhood (attachment styles)

(Content Warnings for discussing all the stuff in Akechi's childhood specifically, bad parenting, neglect, mental illness. Take care of urselves)

waking up to the tags @1derpu2 added on another post of mine about Akechi ("#I don't think I could survive in his position") had me thinking of a 15-16 year old Akechi, and how survival even feels to him.

Because arguably Akechi has been in survival mode since he was born. Even with a mother doing her best to provide, poverty fundamentally rewrites the brain especially at such a young age−

(Tangent: Akechi's dessert blog actually reminds me of Brennan Lee Mulligan during the d20 Misfits & Magic actual play discussing his character [Evan Kelmp, an unhoused orphaned kid] ordering from desserts at restaurants in order to maximize caloric intake for his money bc stuff on the dessert menu actually tends to contain the most calories– ANYWAYS)

–and he also can feel the underlying tension in how his mother is treated, how he himself is treated, how there is no support network for them. I can imagine that's part of the lure of an ensemble kid's show like Featherman: reliable companions who take your hand rather than slapping it away.

I've done a lot of reading into attachment styles and attachment trauma (bc it's interesting and also haha ;] trauma) and it is a really cool lens to view the differences between our two Wild Cards Akechi and Akira.

adding a reblog with an attachment theory rundown! actual discussion of akechu attachment stuff below cut

There is no better fit for Akechi than a Disorganized Attachment style after finding his sole caregiver and financial (his mother) dead by her own hand after years of her focus being split by the work she needed to do for them to afford survival, before being passed around by distant relatives who viewed him with contempt, if they acknowledged him at all.

The world treated him and his mother like vermin, so of course no one else is trustworthy, of course the people who take advantage are evil. Of course everyone takes advantage. Just like his father, who is the root of this whole horrible thing (the thing being Goro's life, the thing being Goro)

His mother left him violently, voluntarily (from his pov, suicide & mental illness are complicated), so he must be someone repulsive. Incapable of being loved. If he wants others to love him, and he must in order to get close enough to his father to kill, then he must be anything other than himself.

One of the symptoms of disorganized attachment and attachment trauma is the inability to regulate emotions, leading those with it to feel things with an intensity they can't control, soothe, or explain that can fluctuate between emotions rapidly.

And doesn't that markedly fit with a kid who has awoken such disparate personas that are both him? His entire relationship with the world (there must be justice but there is no such thing as justice) and his inner psyche does explain why he brings up Hegel. If you have both Loki and Robin Hood inside you, thesis and antithesis, then isn't it a comfort to know their existence somehow makes sense? That you are synthesis rather than just chaos and pain.

Meanwhile, from the little we hear about Akira's parents and how Persona 5 frames the adults around him, the Avoidant attachment style fits best. He is fiercely independent, with such a strong sense of identity despite with the masks he wears for others that he has the true Wild Card ability. He stands his ground with his morals, even when everyone around him is telling him his life would be easier if he gave up.

He has a strong internal moral center because he was never attached enough to his caregivers that they'd be able to influence his cognitive assimilation. Why trust someone's moral judgment when you can't even trust them with your vulnerability?

This is why Akira and Akechi are so fascinating as foils, as rivals, and as people who know each other better than anyone else could. Akechi walks around as a fake, appealing version of himself that Akira sees through clearly. And Akira likes the bitter, vicious, angry version of Akechi because it's honest. That is the underlying intensity of people he knows is hidden behind the masks adults are convinced are their faces. (Where's your rage? RISE RISE RISE)

Akira and Akechi match so well not because they have a hidden ugliness, but because they view the pleasant masks people wear to excuse or ignore injustice as what are truly ugly. And their difference lies in Akira's belief that there is good in people while Akechi's upbringing has him convinced that humanity is rotten to its roots.

And Akechi wants Akira's beating, caring heart between his teeth because there is still a lonely little child in his own chest who loves Featherman and just wanted a better life for his mom. And who won't fucking die, no matter how Akechi tears the world apart to match his perception of it.

Akechi has spent years trying to kill his heart, which has done nothing but soaked his masks in his own blood.

Akira looks Akechi in the eyes, straight through those masks, and steals his heart from off the chopping block. And he keeps it close even as Akechi turns the blade on him in a rage borne of fear.

They're gay as hell thanks for coming to my ted talk. might improve after work

[megamindsecretlair]

Writing Tip #7

Whewww.

Seven??? How yall let me get up to seven?? Lmfaooo. I am so overjoyed that my tips are helping. So I'm back with another one!

Keep in mind that you're in charge of your own media experience. I bring up many examples but this is not aimed at anyone. If you feel itchy, bring it up with your higher power, not me 😚

Today, we're learning the art of lingering. And how to identify where the "story" is so you have a more well-rounded fic. This is a long post, so forgive me!

Learn to Linger

This goes by many names. "Promise of the premise" is the most common in screenwriting and novel writing circles, but it's essentially the idea that first sparked this whole get down. A professor gets with his student, meeting the parents for the first time, or a Mafia boss runs across a helpless, sweet woman. Whatever it is, it typically goes in your summary to get people excited.

However, I am noticing that some of us promise one thing and then deliver something else. It isn't necessarily bad, I know we want to keep the mystery alive, but you have to respect your readers.

There comes a time when a writer has to decide if they want to tell a story or focus on a vibe. Do you want to have fun or do you want to explore this in a more professional way? Both are valid, both are good choices, but you cannot have it both ways.

If you want to have fun and do whatever you want, this tip isn't really for you. You're in charge of your own media experience and you will not hurt my feelings by bowing out now. Be honest with yourself 👏🏽

For those that want to level up, gather round, gather round 👏🏽

If you want to take this a bit more serious (does not have to mean you want to publish, only that you want to exercise this creative muscle), then we have to learn to linger.

There's nothing inherently wrong with being in a rush to write smut. This site will make us believe that we *have* to write smut to get engagement. This is false. If you like writing smut, great. If not, that's still great 👏🏽 but if the only thing you want to write is smut, you can do that too. 😉 and keep in mind that YOU can be the change you want to see. If you want more fluff, write it. 👏🏽

Smut is less about the actual act. Anyone can do that. Dick goes in vagina, both climax, boom the end. No muss, no fuss. But to tell a *story* with smut, it's about the build up, the anticipation, the banter, the teasing, and the lingering touches.

If you're promising a werewolf fic, I need to see some werewolf shenanigans. I need some lore, some world building, or some pack dynamics. If you're promising a fantasy, I need to see Terry casting spells and waving a wand around. If you're promising a wounded Terry fic who relies on the kindness of strangers, I need to see him getting patched up and building that bridge to the reader/OC.

If you're writing a professor/student fic, I need to see him being a teacher or at least wrestling with the fact that he's boning a student. Because while fantasy is nice, there would be real world consequences if they were discovered.

If you're writing a Mafia boss Terry fic, I need to see him do some Mafia shit. Order a hit on someone, kill someone himself, pay off the police to hide his activity, throw some monkey wrenches into his plans. But sorry, no woman worth her salt is gonna bust it open for a gangster if she's been a goody-two-shoes her entire life or *just* got out of an abusive relationship. No matter how damn pretty he is.

It is okay if all you wanna do is write smut. 👏🏽 It's okay if you want to make the character "out of character" and interpret how you see fit 👏🏽. It's also okay if you want to write original fiction with Aaron Pierre or Laz Alonso or John Boyega as the face claim. But if you're promising me Terry, I need to see Terry.

Develop some headcanons for your chosen character. Gather clues about their background from the movie or show they're from. But if you don't want to do that, be up front that this is out of character.

I may be alone and this is definitely a personal pet peeve, but if you're writing Fontaine from They Cloned Tyrone or Terry from Rebel Ridge, I want more of the *character*. No one is perfect. I'm not perfect. And my characterization may not be 100% the character, but I'd like to think that I at least have him about 85-90% right 🤭

Stories need a beginning, middle, and end. The possibilities are endless but be honest about what you're trying to achieve. If you just want to write about getting your rocks off with Terry, by all means 🙌🏽 you don't need all the extras on top. Just make it modern/slice of life and have at it 👏🏽

But if you want to tell a story and you want it to stay with people and you want to craft a connection between Terry and Reader/OC, then you're gonna have to do some extra work. You may have to research, you may have to outline, you may have to think of what the characters want and toss in obstacles preventing them from getting it.

Whatever it is, you can't get from point A (the beginning) to point Z (the smut) without some build up. Without setting the scene. Without *showing* how we got there. Because if you're promising Mechanic!Terry who *just* met Reader and in the next paragraph they're in the back fucking, just write them fucking. He ain't got to be a mechanic. He could be some random in a bar that Reader picked up. And that's still okay 👏🏽 I will read 100 variations on this theme if you're honest, but if you promise and then don't deliver, that's not respecting your readers.

The point is to have fun, first and foremost, but have fun crafting and telling a story. Not just popcorn smut porn. The payoff (the smut) will hit so much harder if you learn to linger and draw out the story.

I am not an expert 🙌🏽 but try it. See what happens. Stretch that beautiful, big brain you have 😚

If you liked this tip, let me know. Let me know what else I can cover. Find more about my process and more writing tips at Behind the Megadome.

[robotrules]

Thoughts on Fallout: New Vegas from a First Time Player

A (very) long stream of consciousness about how much I like this game:

So I put off playing any Fallout game for the longest time. Had Fallout 3 and Fallout: NV just rotting in my Steam library for literally 15 years, mainly because when I tried playing F:NV when it first came out, it kept crashing and I just gave up. Fast forward to December 2024 and my Youtube algorithm kept on showing me all the stupid shit people did in the games and I was thoroughly amused by all of that, because I too enjoy playing a chaos creature whenever games allow me to. Read that F:NV was the most beloved in the franchise and had a lot of freedom when it came to game choices. Great! Had a western sci-fi theme, a concept I really liked. I love retrofuturism and Westerns and the great expanse of the American Southwest, all wrapped up in a post-apocalyptic setting. But then I stumbled on a video of this guy and I was immediately sold:

I was smitten by Yes Man's voice and sense of humor and goofy face (Dave Foley's vocal performance can't be overstated. He made Yes Man very charming!).

And then I learned that you could actually work with this goofy robot as an actual partner* to take over New Vegas and let me tell you, I COULDN'T CLICK THE INSTALL BUTTON ANY FASTER (pretty sure you could hear a sonic boom coming from my house). AND THE GAME RAN THIS TIME! And thus, I began my odyssey into the Mojave Wasteland.

* Most media robots tend to be cute little sidekicks or antagonistic villains or just dumb enemies, so it was pretty refreshing to actually be able to work alongside a robot/AI as an equal of sorts. My courier is pretty respectful of Yes Man, so I like to think they become friends and co-rulers of the strip. :) (Although I did kinda kill him a few times out of curiosity. He said he'd make it up to me after I killed him and it made me feel bad. ;_; Sorry bb. )

And my first impression of the game? I love it! I was kind of bracing myself for some edgy humor (Like Borderlands) and I was pleasantly surprised that it had a a right balance of silly, serious, and dark when it needed to be. The roleplaying aspect is fun and I like how you can basically be whoever you want to be (with some great comebacks from the courier. When killing Mr. House, you can say "Yes Man needs you out of the way" and I was like "Yup, this game knows exactly what my motivations are" >:) ). The quests never seem to be a slog to me since they're tied to characters and their stories, so the motivation to help (or sow discord) is the main thing that drives me to want to explore and do everything in the game.

Also, non-feral ghouls are so fucking cute. I love their raspy voices and they seem to be (for the most part) nice. I always had a soft spot for creatures that are "othered" like monsters and aliens, and I view ghouls as stand-ins for communities that were medically ostracized (like leprosy and the Hibakusha), so yeah, very easy for me to like them. Also Raul is my absolute favorite, so there's that too. :) I like all the companions tbh. As fantastic as a world as the Fallout universe is, I like how grounded everyone is, just as real as anybody you'd meet out on the streets. And that they all have their own hopes and dreams that aren't centered around the player character. Raul is my favorite just because I love how he tells his story and Danny Trejo's voice is like a glass of warm milk to me (very soothing).

Oh! And obviously I love the robots too. I appreciate that robots seem to vary on their level of sentience (Protectrons vs. Mr. House's personal Securitrons) and the writers treated Victor and Yes Man with just as much care as they did their human characters (I wish Victor had a bigger role though! What a cutie-pie). I find it kind of poetic that it's a robot that saves your life and it's a robot that helps you make major decisions in-game (if you decide to go the Yes Man route). The Courier owes their life to Victor and Yes Man and has their life changed completely because of those two.

And of course I had to make Primm Slim sheriff (that cowboy getup and his little Yee-haw is too precious :') ). Basically, if I don't have to kill them, I am doing my run as a pro-robot and pro-mutant run. I love them too much.

Anyways, there ends my thoughts. I'm not finished yet (currently eliminating the side fractions for Yes Man. Bye-bye Brotherhood. :) ), but I'm looking forward to getting back in the game once I have more time. I think it might be my favorite game!

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Ellooo! Can I maybe request THH students aka the competitors of the killing game meeting pokemon Violet/scarlet trainer Y/n because a worm hole brought them in the killing game? Maybe they have some legendaries that help atleast make sure monokuma doesn’t pressure them all so maybe no killing? Maybe Y/n could offer they’re Pokémon as therapy animals and maybe hold “mock” Pokémon battles with the others by like giving them a Pokémon of theyres so they can try out battling! :3 I hope you have a nice January!

Thank you! Hope your January is good to you, too! For reference I'll leave the team vague (except for Mewtwo and Porygon Z for plot reasons), but they still have access to others they've captured in the Paldea/Kitakami/BB regions

I'll just do a few characters to help me ease back into writing the og Danganronpa series (which I haven't written for in like 5 years apparently????????)

............

General

You weren't sure why the wormhole ever opened to begin with.

Maybe there was still some instability within Area Zero despite the time machine being long gone, or perhaps something else decided to open up a pocket in the universe.

But regardless, it dropped you off inside of a school.

Not Naranja/Uva or BB Academy, but a much different school that had an ominous atmosphere hanging over it.

You quickly meet the other students there after being summoned to the gym, discovering that they all woke up here, too.

They didn't know anything about each other---nor did they know anything about Pokémon when one asked about your "Ultimate" (which you soon learn is your talent).

From what they understood, you tamed animals and made them fight other people's animals, which....seemed a little concerning.

But before you could explain any further, Monokuma shows up to announce the killing game.

Immediately, you take it upon yourself to defeat him, so you send out Mewtwo to destroy the bear--who self-destructs in response, but fortunately they're able to put up a psychic shield in time as he reprimands you for attacking the headmaster.

Your Legendary's appearance shocks every student there, realizing that these "animals" of yours actually possess magic and are 100% not of this world.

Whatever any of them believed before was thrown out the window.

Given your unexpected arrival (and the fact you were pretty much untouchable thanks to your team), Monokuma won't be able to enforce the killing game as much as he liked to--although he thinks someone's gonna eventually kill somebody.

While the gate couldn't be breached, you and the other students try to accept living within the school, certain there was another way out.

He still tries handing out the first motive, only for your Porygon-Z to corrupt every video so that nobody felt pressured to kill.

But while everybody was at first wary of you and your powerful Pokémon team, they've grown to trust you, even considering you a leader.

You have no idea how to return to your world, so you might as well stay here and form friendships with these people.

Makoto

He was the first student you met...and the first to make you realize something was incredibly different about this school.

But after you saved everyone in the gym from having to worry about killing, he became more curious about you and your team.

Since nobody knew about Pokémon battling, you decide to pass the time by become a teacher to all who were willing to learn!

Makoto was first in line, of course.

You still had access to your PC, and after getting it hooked up to the computer system (with help from Chihiro), you lend him an Eevee for practice, bringing out one of your fighting 'mons to teach him about type advantages.

"So I just...give them a command, and they'll listen?"

"Yep. That's all! I'll let you try first."

On the sidelines, Monokuma vouched to have the loser get executed--but ofc nobody listens to him.

Makoto genuinely enjoyed the mock battle, as his luck allowed him to land several critical hits on your Pokémon.

Afterwards, you introduce him to a Shiny Eevee, and during your free time, he's surprised to hear about your harrowing tales of shiny hunting.

"Your talent would work pretty well where I come from," you remark. "Because these guys are super rare to find in the wild."

"That's pretty cool. So what's your strategy? Do you camp out for a few days in the wilderness or...?"

"No. I kinda just run around until I find one. But sometimes, I'll be getting chased by some angry Pokémon who don't like me being on their turf...and in my panic, I'll stumble across a shiny."

"Hahaha..I can picture that happening to me with my kind of luck." He chuckles, now unable to get the image of you running from an angry Eevee mob out of his head.

Ishimaru

Despite witnessing your Mewtwo's heroic act in the gym, Taka still sees them as an animal that shouldn't be walking around inside a school, feeling obligated to enforce that rule when he catches you two going to get snacks.

"Excuse me, but pets are NEVER allowed inside the cafeteria!!"

"I thought I already explained that they're not a "pet", Ishimaru." You and Mewtwo stare at the prefect. "At my school, we're allowed to have our Pokémon out as long as they're not a distraction."

"Well...this is a different school in case you haven't noticed! So different rules apply here! Now please put your Mewtwo back in that little contraption-"

"A pokeball?"

"Yes! The poke-ball!"

"....and who are you gonna tell if I don't?" You grin smugly, watching him draw a blank. "Surely not Monokuma, who's been keeping us hostage here, right?"

Taka freezes up, but after remembering that you basically stopped a potential murder from taking place...he relents and stops bothering you about keeping your Pokémon away (though he's still not happy about it).

He was appalled at your suggestion of having "violent" battles in the gym--to which you reassure him nothing's gonna get destroyed, as they're only mock battles.

He watches a few, nervous whenever the Pokémon on either side faint or take heavy damage.

Then one day (post-sauna), he stops by your room and asks if he could try it for himself, admitting that he's been taking notes on the sidelines and wants to be tested.

He was craving new knowledge and decided that if Pokemon was the only "study" available, he'll accept it.

Delighted, you let him train with a Charcadet. You haven't decided what armor to give them yet, but they were still quite strong with their bold nature.

The two immediately get along and battle quite well, although when Taka loses, he feels terrible and tries going over what he could have messed up on.

You remind him that battling was supposed to be fun, but you give him an A+ for having the same passion and vigor as an experienced trainer--which lifts his spirits.

You decide to let him keep Charcadet for the time being, noticing how they've been picking up his attitude, discouraging other Pokemon from causing trouble or mischief within the school.

Mondo

After learning about his Ultimate, you just knew you had to show off a Shiny Cyclizar that you've caught.

But he takes one look at them.....and laughs.

"No way, you're telling me people can ride that wimpy little lizard????"

"...yes. And this "wimp" can actually reach up to speeds 70 MPH. They've been around for longer than you, I, and your precious motorcycle have been alive." You remark, which makes the biker shut up for the moment.

He wishes he could have his motorcycle just to race you and prove himself better, but he takes your word for it after you climb on Cyclizar's back and run a lap around the gym.

If you have a Miraidon, his jealousy would be shot to the maximum because your motorcycle-lizard is not only 100% robot but they can shoot electricity AND fly????

That's so badass it should be illegal.

If you have a Koraidon, he might have a brief confrontation with them after they assume their Apex form, believing he was threatening you.

Luckily, you quickly recalled them before he could even try throwing a punch.

But since battling interested him, you let him practice with that same Shiny Cyclizar...only for him to discover that they won't listen to any of his commands.

You intended to teach him a lesson about respecting Pokémon, since he hasn't apologized for insulting them--but he didn't understand and thought you were lying about the moves you taught them.

But eventually, you get it through his thick skull and he yells out an apology, which Cyclizar seems to accept as they use Scale Shot-

Only for to miss your Pokémon all five times, making him fume as you mention accuracy as another aspect of battling.

Least to say....Mondo is extremely competitive and acted like a sore loser when you, a champion-ranked trainer, beat him.

But he got over it eventually, and you let him keep the Cyclizar, who did forgive him and gladly kept him company.

Aoi

While you were talking about the different Pokémon types, of course the Ultimate Swimmer would be most interested in the water types.

So you let her browse your PC for some time.

Lapras and (surprisingly) Aqua Breed Tauros piqued her curiosity, asking you if she could train with them since you also mentioned having done double-battles.

Funny enough, those two had natures that subverted her expectations: the gentle-looking Lapras was rash and aggressive with their attacks, while the scary-looking Aqua Tauros was so timid they were outcasted from their herd.

Once they come out of the PC and Aoi gets to know them--they're basically her Pokémon forever now. Sorry.

She absolutely LOVES that they can join her in the pool! Even if Lapras can't swim around much, they still enjoy the water.

And Aqua Tauros' body fat allows them to float around without fear of sinking.

If you were to tell her that Lapras' species was nearly hunted to extinction, she'd prob tear up, but you'd then reassure her there's a lot of protection laws and their population has grown in abundance since.

When it comes time for the double battle, you send out some strong electric types of your own, just to see how well she'd do in the face of type disadvantages.

You didn't realize how closely Aoi bonded with Aqua Tauros until you used an attack that was normally a OHKO--only to see them still standing, having "toughened it out".

Turns out that her cheerful mood and encouragement have given the bull the confidence they needed.

Sakura

After watching your battle with Aoi, Sakura steps in and asks if she could see the Pokémon you have available.

You decide to show her the fighting types, and she immediately takes an interest in Urshifu, who you've had since your trip to Galar's Isle of Armor.

They remind her so much of her dojo, and felt inspired when you told her about the journey their previous evolution (Kubfu) went on to help them achieve their current form, whether it's Single or Rapid Strike Style.

The Legendary wants to learn more about her fighting styles--so the pair have a friendly sparring match with each other.

You worried about Urshifu hurting her with their move set, but they fortunately restrain from using anything dark/water/fighting-related powers.

That's a form of self-control you've never seen before in a Pokémon, but you're relieved (and impressed) when Sakura yields with only a few scratches.

Although she vowed to never lose to a human opponent, this doesn't count as Urshifu isn't exactly human.

You then introduce her to the Tyrogue line you've caught in the canyon biome (Tyrogue, Hitmonlee, Hitmontop, and Hitmonchan), and they're collectively awestruck after seeing her rematch Urshifu, wanting to learn her ways.

So she ends up being a teacher to them, and it's quite adorable seeing them all training together in a way that not just strengthens Sakura's own mind and body, but also theirs, too.

She's not too keen on using them to battle, as she sees them as their own individual who should have the choice to battle if they want.

But because you assured her they wanted to, she agrees and uses Urshifu while you sent out Iron Valiant, a fighter from the future--and despite the type disadvantage, she actually won and thoroughly shocked you.

[fandom-puzzle-peaces]

CREATIVE PROMPTS LIST: CURSES

As we know, LCF/TCF has curses in it. We heard about them and how good a certain ex-priestess is at slinging ‘em around. However, we have never actually seen one used throughout the entirety of the novel so far except for the White Star's reincarnation thing and the Crossman one (the first of which I count more as a divine punishment and the second being completely fake as it was more of a word of warning). So I made some up!

Here is a list of curses, both silly and very much not silly, for those who need a little creative juice. None of them are designed to kill and for the serious list they will be put in descending order of how painful/effective they are. So the ones at the bottom are the absolute worst to get hit with in my opinion.

I will be honest in stating that a good chunk of these I made up with a certain character in mind (cough Cale cough), and it might be a little obvious. But you can use them on whoever, just have fun and I wanna see what ya'll come up with. ENJOY!

Silly:

Curse of No Filter

Like the Curse of Unveiling, but with thoughts instead of emotions. The afflicted will be compelled to literally speak their direct thoughts whenever they speak (does not make them compelled to do the act of speaking, but when they do…oh boy).

Do you like dissing people in your head? Better be prepared to get slapped or worse. Do you like swearing in your head, but not verbally? Get ready to start swearing up a storm. How about internal screaming? Better get earplugs cause you will be loud and your vocal chords shall be missed.

Curse of Babble

Like the tower of Babel, the afflicted will switch to be able to only understand either an actual other existing language no one else knows or a made up one. They can only speak, write and understand anything in that new language. Everything else is just gibberish to them.

I imagine they speak Sim

Curse of the Damsel

Get ready to embrace your inner Disney Princess cause the afflicted will feel compelled to sing and frolic through the fields dramatically and somehow befriend all manner of the small and fluffy.

Whether their singing and dancing are any good is up for debate

And of course, you can’t forget being kidnapped on an almost daily basis

Curse of Shrimp

The afflicted will suddenly get minisculed and start seeing shrimp colors

Curse of Worm

The afflicted gets turned into a “worm on a string”

The epitome of “would you still love me if I was a worm?”

Ultimate Curse

It’s a bottle of glitter you can throw at another and curse them with eternal sparkly-ness and humiliation. It will never leave.

Now here are the angst ones

Very much NOT silly:

Curse of Conveyance

The afflicted will be cursed with a sickness that will not fade unless the conditions are met. The conditions being that the afflicted and the caretakers must communicate effectively with each other. The afflicted must be honest with their condition throughout the effects of the curse so the caretakers can provide needed support. The caretakers must also listen and be transparent with the afflicted on what they think is needed.

is meant to help facilitate trust and camaraderie between both parties involved through effective communication, so whether it is actually a curse or not is up for debate. It is believed it was created as a way to help mend relationships

Curse will only fade after proper communication has been achieved and kept up for 2 days

in other words, you will learn to talk with each other and you will like it!

Curse of Unveiling

The afflicted will have any-and-all emotional control stripped away from them. So, if the afflicted is a person who is usually calm and composed or repressed, they will start showing their emotions regardless of how hard they try to control themselves in the moment.

Lasts for a week

Curse of Wretchedness

The afflicted will suddenly have any-and-all past events they remember that caused them pain to be drawn forward and they will not only emotionally, but physically feel the pain they cause. So, if their history is particularly traumatic, it will hurt like nothing they have ever felt before

Believed to have been created as a form of torture

The only reason this curse isn’t rated higher is because it only lasts an hour

Curse of No Rest

The afflicted will be cursed with the inability to sleep. No amount of laying down, closing eyes, or taking any other form of rest will give any relief. The afflicted will slowly but surely be drawn down by an exhaustion that cannot be fixed while the curse remains. They cannot die via exhaustion, for the curse will not let them. However, they can get to the point just before then and they will be kept right at that precipice of almost too much until the curse is broken

Curse must be broken to be removed, or it will stay for the rest of the afflicted existence

Not even in death can they escape from this curse, hence the name

Curse of Isolation

The afflicted will slowly but surely lose all their senses starting with smell, then taste, hearing, sight, and finally touch. Once all senses have been removed, the afflicted will be unable to perceive anything outside of their own thoughts; total isolation from the world outside their own mind.

Curse must be broken to be removed, or it will stay for the rest of the afflicted’s life

For those who aren’t sure how to work with touch being removed, think of your foot falling asleep. I have tested it before on myself cause I was curious, but my foot literally couldn’t feel anything when I touched it. Not even pressure, and I pressed down kinda hard. So no sense of pain or pressure or even where it could be in relation to the rest of your body or surroundings. Now imagine that but full body in conjunction with having lost the rest of your senses. That’ll be terrifying.

For a bit of extra oomph if ya’ll want you can also make it to where, when the appropriate sense is lost, the afflicted can no longer perceive anything extraneous such as Ancient Powers, Elementals, mind speak, or even the Divine. That option is up to you guys.

[vrischlatt]

I DO NOT LIKE WILBUR. I may not like shubble either, but here the thing even if i dont like her...

Im not a fucking wilbur supporter.

Wilbur is a shitty person, and the fact it took Shleby, a person whos had a LOT of holes poked into her story, but probably still was abused in the same way Wilbur abused everyone around him, ESPECIALLY TOMMY AND QUACKITY.

Ive had people tell me theres a lot of suspicious patturns of behevoir in the dynamic of Tommy and Wilbur that scream heyyyy Tommy, especially when he was a minor should NOT be left alone with this Wilbur guy! The extents of which we will NEVER know, because while its easy for Tommy to dunk on Dream, he could NEVER dunk on Wilbur.

Shelby was a wake up call for Tommy. Tommy probably needs to go to serious fucking therapy after stepping back and reexamining his dynamic with Wilbur. Because the abuse is subtle and incased DEEPLY into Tommy's psyche. His humor is of im better than you, im richer than you, woman arent funny, drugs, is EXTRMELY influenced by Wilbur's own "humor" and shitty behvoir, which people are quick to call out, but conviently ignore when Tommy does it.

Its too the point that early showings of the how to be a millionaire had hints that Wilbur was ACTUALLY meant to be refrenced in the show, by name, but the drama dropped and he probably was hastily written out of it, implying the show was based off his quote book, which he co wrote with wilbur he makes an appearence in the book but it was his book first and formost.

Like that one clip for example, of Wilbur barking at Tommy to shut up, and instead of protesting or cracking a joke like he would do with ANYONE ELSE, he... shuts up. Uncharacteristically, shuts up. Apparently further context was he may or may not be talking about something he and Wilbur did, and Wilbur refused to let Tommy spill the beans on what happened and NO ONE TO THIS DAY KNOWS WHAT HE WAS GONNA SAY BUT HIM AND WILBUR.

Also obviously the smashing the hand with the foot, and he was oddly harsher if not out righr crueler when he didnt think he was on live stream with Tommy, changing his tune when he realized thousands of people were watching him.

Its got a lot people wondering what hes like off camera honestly and KNOWS hes off camera.

Its so bad its lead me to believe Wilbur... wasnt roleplaying in the skilled actor who plays a facade way, but was playing as a self insert, as himself, and could avertly be more open about who he was by playing it off as a character.

Speaking of him as a roleplayer he was NOT good to his fellow CCs as roleplayers, and was nortious for trying to force ideas on them- sich as fundys character being a girl because he wanted a daughter irl apparently that was the reason i guess so he forced fundy to be his kid for some reason and to be his daughter, which Fundy wanted very little part in, hence where him being trans orginal came from, it was him trying to met part way with Wilbur, and even protested to having his character be a minor.

Which yknow, some of the fandom FUCKING IGNORED.

Hes also done similar to Quackity, plus some. Hes honestly an ass friend to Quackity. And i feel so fucking bad for Quackity.

Also if he cant be the one writing the lore, or cant control other peoples lore he generally looses interest. See point: as DSMp continued and more CCs took control of their stories, he kinda either left and generally stopped streaming or gave his character generally less to do.

Also he generally refused to the show up for Karl's side series, a series even SCHLATT who killed off his character showed up for. So. Yeah. Also on QSMP? Basically abandoned it, even after Quackity lore baited him to join SO HARD MAN. I honestly do NOT like Tallulah and hot take dont think she should ever been added and is a mistake on Quackity's part. She was ALWAYS doomed to have been abandoned by wilbur and everyone should have seen it coming. I hold no sympathy for those who genuinely thought he was ever coming back.

Sorry not sorry, minus Quackity. Im sorry to him because unlike fans he was personally affected by this, even if i seem fit to critize him for it, i do so gently and knly hold sympathy for him on this matter. No one else. Minus the egg who yknow played the egg, and got played by Wilbur. Even if i dont like the egg, being in that situation where you have to be the bait to get wilbur with his self centered short ass attention span fucking ass is NOT a fun postion to be in. Your fucked from the start and they didnt even seem to realize it until too late either.

Wilbur is just generally a bitch, and im glas i never joined the fandom for Lmanberg. I joined for Las Nevadas, for the eggpire for Manberg, not jokeass over here.

And look, im not here to bash on his music. I like his music and i do not give two shits if you still listen to his music. Either through him directly or from someone else reuploading his works or a remix of it or whatever. Look i get it, his music is like the one redeeming thing about it, even if its not a good enough of redeemingly quality to ignore and forgive all the fucking assholary this man gets up to.

Hes EXTRMELY dickish, and whether or not you believe shleby or not should not subtract or distract you from the fucking fsct hes NEVER a good person, hes just a likable person who is good at charming people.

Worst still is hes probably actually happy all of this happened because he doesnt have put up a facade and "deal" with people he clearly has no respecr for and never did, and treat them like accommodations he has to put up and he ignores as his own convience.

[synergysilhouette]

Plotting out "Shadow Spirit" (Disney movie)

Make sure to check out the summary for this and my other stories in my post about the second part of the Resurgence Era. As usual, I may come to edit this later. (And disclaimer: this post is a quick creation that is not the result of years like an actual film would be, and thus may not match the storytelling/music that properly reflects the culture.)

Background

Thanks to the success of "Yaksha," Disney is interested in making another story influenced by Southeast Asia, and eventually a project is proposed based on the puppet theater seen in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Inviting Adele Lim back following her work as a co-writer on "Raya and the Last Dragon," she in turn reaches out to Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, who wrote the film "Joy Ride," which Lim directed, to write the script (I know that's probably not how it works, but ignore the inaccuracy, lol) and Fawn Veerasuthorn serves as head of story. Despite having a director of Malaysian descent and two major crew members involved in the story being of Thai descent, Disney eventually opts to focus the story on Indonesian culture, specifically Javanese. Given that Indonesia is a largely Islamic culture and Islamophobia is a touchy subject in the western world, the team worked to portray Islamic-Indonesian culture as respectfully and accurately as possible (within the constraints of entertainment), though it has been stated that significant influence was taken from the Majapahit era, which was dominated by Hinduism and Buddhism. And while the team brainstormed having a female lead, they wanted to show that a team o women didn't automatically have to be writing a female-driven story (though there were still strong female characters), and opted to make a story with a male lead. Disney hired James Newton Howard once more to conduct the score, with Helen Park and Max Vernon hired to do the songs. Originally, the film had themes of colorism, but test audiences gave mixed feedback on the execution of it, and the subject was dropped. Dallas Liu and Mark-Paul Gosselaar were reportedly the desired characters for the lead, but Gosselaar ended up voicing his father.

Plot

When the world was first created, the divine one created humans in two sets, one to work in the sun, while the other worked at night. However, one day, those who worked at night became envious of those who worked in the day, and a war struck out, creating an eclipse when the counterparts fought. The divine one sided with the sun workers, and defeated the night workers, killing them and reincarnating them as shadows of the sun workers, and the sun workers took the nights off. Centuries later, a darkness covers the land, leading the country to become reliant on fires and artifical light. When a young man discovers a bit of sunlight, he brings it to the kingdom, but it is so strong that it revives the shadows, who go to war with the humans. When the Emperor asks for someone to find a way to end the impending war peacefully, the young man steps forward. But how can you battle someone who knows you inside and out?

Characters

(As usual, this is not a comprehensive list of characters by any stretch of the imagination, but the main players you need to know, in a bare bones format. As such, the songs also reflect this list, likely only making songs for the characters provided. The images below would serve as inspiration for the characters' designs and/or personalities.)

Sukarno--A proud hero, Sukarno volunteers to save the empire from the shadows, even though he has no idea how. Physically fit and with an affinity for the arcane, Sukarno is somewhat cocky and arrogant due to his gifts, believing that he must simply kill the shadows as one kills a person. But this is a complex problem, especially since some of the shadows inhabit the bodies of humans, and their faith points out (something that most people ignore, forget, or don't quite interpret the same way), these shadows are their twins, and thus living creatures themselves. This only complicates things further when Sukarno's own shadow comes alive, but unlike many others, is a friend and ally to him rather than an enemy.

Kirana--A young maiden who is a dhewekan, or a person born without a shadow. Given the rising possibility of war, she grew up under much suspicion, with some suspecting that she is simply a shadow inhabiting a human's body. She is shy and softspoken, and Sukarno thus finds her a good person to join him on his journey, wanting to use her not-often-used charms and skill at political tact. Unlike Sukarno, Kirana is much wiser and in tune with the natural world. Maybe that's why she has a pet panther...

Ananto--The political advisor to the emperor (of course he is), he studied occult arts in order to control the sentient shadows, leading to the world's darkness. He experimented for years, resulting in many kidnappings and deaths, even harming the emperor when attempting to control him via his shadow, leading to him deciding that war was the easier route to go. He serves as a messenger for Sukarno's process and the emperor's wishes, though he often recites it from memory, and has recently decided that he should deliver the "Emperor's" wishes to Sukarno personally. You can always tell he's near by the hiss of his pet blue krait.

Songs

Sundial--The origins of the sun and shadow workers, and the message of the tale being how people have duality, and that no one knows their true self until faced with a significant challenge. Told by shadow puppetry (and the ending possibly does the same, similar to Disney's storybook openings/endings and "Beauty and the Beast" doing stained glass)

Reward--Sukarno witnesses the shadows attacking his village, and ventures to the emperor to see what can be done. However, the emperor is sickly and unable to provide aid, nevermind being at a loss for this supernatural threat, so he requests the aid of a hero, promising him half the kingdom. Sukarno accepts, even as fear and doubt flood his mind, overwhelmed by greed and pride.

I Don't Remember You--Kirana begins to notice something of a change with Sukarno, noting that he begins to show a more goofy personality akin to the personality he attributed to his shadow. Defensive, Sukarno counters that she is equally suspicious for lacking a shadow, and the duo come into conflict over the lack of trust.

Who Can Say--Ananto, who originally seemed to just be a well-meaning but overbearing adviser, is revealed to be a schemer for the throne, often misconstruing the emperor and Sukarno's messages to each other. When Sukarno reveals to the emperor about his shadow twin, Ananto claims that Sukarno has become possessed and is to be put to death, all without the emperor's knowledge.

Miss Me--Sukarno contemplates the life he would've lived if his shadow, who he calls Yangan from the Javanese "wewayangan" or "shadow," and he contemplates his possible future once the war is stopped. Will Yangan no longer be able to communicate with him, and will he realize his feelings for Kirana. It's a trio song, and it's heavily believed that this was originally a solo for Yangan implying he's Sukarno's miscarried twin, but was scrapped for being too dark of a concept.

Reward (Reprise)--With the shadows restored as humans, Sukarno allows for Yangan to take the credit for the solution, as well as their more politically savvy friend who can help the country adjust to their population doubling, deciding to take time to relax, and possibly propose to Kirana.

[rex-goes-silly]

first relisten of tma season 1 goes so hard omg (wife don't read this, its spoilers for you still)

all these statements i initially brushed off because i was too enthralled in the prentiss arc, who i forgot half of and didn't care to analyze and didn't really make sense and only listened to to get to the juicy character interactions, i can only now realize how much they were connected. you can tell exactly when jon starts becoming the archivist, you can tell when johnny had the fears set in place, all the fear talk, all the obvious hints at how it all worked and... it completely flew over my head until now. like wdym the weird tunnels with the goth guy that i didn't really understand where a physical embodiment of smirks 13???? wymd jane explicitly spoke about the corruption AND the beholding as we know it in her statement?? wdym someone actually held a ritual to kill gertrude in the woods and when she did die the dark also had a big moment??? wdym trevor and julia where the weird guys at the nursing home???? i forgot about ALL of this. it took me three seasons to grasp at what was going on and who was who, and missed out on so much.

and dont even get me started on constantly being aware of what the statements mean. how jon gradually acts them out more and more, how they affected who told them. how the repetitive wording and similar descriptions are just the eye's way of making them describe what happened. how they "casually" relate to whats happens in the previous one, showing up at just the right time. god I'm insane about this

[pinepickled]

I don't hate Scott. I think he is an interesting character on occasion (like when the narrative challenges his ideals) and I wouldn't bother watching the show if I didn't find him funny.

But also, you're just wrong. Malia thought correctly that Scott wouldn't support her. Teen Wolf in the buildup to the series finale shows several times that Scott 1. Knows what she's doing, so idk why you say "when he found out he helped her" because he knew at least 10 episodes before he helped, 2. That he disapproves of her path and thinks she's getting too much blood on her hands, and 3. Only helps when it's clear she's not going to take another path and the desert wolf will not spare her, which btw is another lesson in hypocrisy for Scott.

Scott doesn't want killing to be an answer at all. Like I said in that post you didn't read, there are several instances of justified self defense killing that happen in the series, and whether Scott holds the person accountable seems to rely only on how much he likes them. When the two werewolves from Satomi's pack kill a hunter to survive, again I'm repeating myself because you didn't read, Scott harshly criticizes them and ostracized them for what they did, claiming they took innocent lives just because their eyes turned blue- a phenomenon impossible to reliably track on who is considered innocent and guilty, by the way. Not even to mention that Deucalion and Ethan together killed so many damn people, and yet Scott let him walk free as well as Gerard, but Theo had to go for doing objectively less heinous shit than the lot of them.

That's what I'm trying to point out to you, but I guess you're a Scott stan so you can't take any criticism of your precious baby. He doesn't have a consistent moral compas on who gets redeemed for killing and who doesn't. Just vibes. And again, he never has to make that decision himself. You bring up not wanting to be the monster Monroe sees him as in 6B? Then why did he try to get Peter and Deucalion to kill her for him? In a way the writing specifically acknowledges? Why does Scott bring up that he knows he is failing to take responsibility for the dirty work his ideals need? Is it somehow better that he gets other people to kill instead of himself?

More importantly, how many people does Monroe need to kill, how many lives do her and her gang need to destroy, until Scott pulling the metaphorical trigger is justified to himself? Apparently she's killed enough to put Peter on her path, just not Scott himself.

You say it yourself: *think*. He doesn't want to be the monster Monroe *thinks* he is. Why is he concerned with what a genocidal maniac thinks? To protect his own psyche, like op originally said, so thank you for showing you do actually understand the point. He cannot accept that to keep his pack from literally being wiped off the map, he might have to seem like a monster to like 2 people.

Also, it's very morally ironic that Scott thinks in "good vs bad" "monster vs human" so much because it betrays how egotistical he is. His ideology, like I said in that post you didn't read, demands that he believe there are shades of gray, but he outright rejects that notion again and again. Notice that not once in teen wolf does he ever call an immoral human a monster: only immoral shapeshifters. That doesn't betray something to you?

Some musings about Scott's morality (probably not very common and a little controversial)

Scott McCall’s adherence to his no-kill rule can be seen as both a moral stance and a psychological defense mechanism, shaped by his own fears, insecurities, and desire to preserve his innocence. At its core, Scott’s refusal to kill, even when faced with situations that may arguably call for it, reflects a deeper internal struggle to maintain a clear sense of right and wrong. However, this rigid adherence to his ideals, especially when it leads to others suffering, reveals underlying contradictions in his character.

Scott's moral code is largely centered on protecting his own sense of innocence and moral purity. By clinging to the no-kill rule, he avoids the emotional burden of directly taking a life, even if it means allowing harm to befall others. Psychologically, this allows Scott to protect his self-image as a "good" person. His reluctance to engage in lethal violence can be seen as a defense against the guilt and moral ambiguity that would come with making more ruthless choices.

In the case of the Kanima, Scott's refusal to kill Jackson despite the clear threat he posed to others shows how his need to maintain his moral boundaries outweighs the immediate threat to those around him. His insistence on finding non-lethal solutions, while noble, reflects an almost selfish prioritization of his internal morality over the safety of others.

There’s also an aspect of moral superiority in Scott’s unwavering no-kill stance. He often positions himself as the moral compass of the group, but this also gives him a sense of control over situations. By dictating that no one should kill, Scott maintains his leadership position and moral authority. However, this control is built on a framework that isn’t always flexible or responsive to the nuanced, dangerous situations he faces. His rigid moral stance can put others at risk, as seen when lives are endangered by the Kanima’s rampage while Scott focuses on preserving Jackson’s life.

Scott's no-kill rule can be seen as a form of psychological conflict avoidance. Killing someone would force him to confront the darker aspects of his role as a supernatural leader and protector. By adhering strictly to his rule, Scott avoids the internal conflict that would come from crossing that line. In a way, Scott’s reluctance to kill is an avoidance mechanism that keeps him from fully engaging with the morally complex world he inhabits, allowing him to maintain a black-and-white view of morality.

While Scott views his refusal to kill as a form of self-sacrifice, it can often lead to the sacrifice of others instead. In situations like the Kanima case, where innocent lives are at stake, Scott’s refusal to make the hard choice arguably protects his own conscience more than it protects the people he’s responsible for. This can be seen as an attempt to shield himself from the psychological toll of killing, while others bear the physical consequences of his inaction. It’s a form of indirect selfishness—by preserving his own sense of moral integrity, he unintentionally places the burden of suffering on others.

Scott’s no-kill rule is a complex and flawed psychological mechanism. While it is rooted in a genuine desire to be morally upright, it often causes harm by preventing him from making hard but necessary choices. His strict adherence to this rule can be seen as a defense against guilt, moral ambiguity, and the loss of his own innocence, but it also exposes him as someone who prioritizes his internal morality over the safety and well-being of those he is meant to protect. In this way, Scott's idealism becomes a form of moral tunnel vision, where the desire to remain "good" leads to greater harm for those around him.

[crwbannwen]

Below is a rant about how much I love how Walter Pensive is written.

So we all know fridging, right? When a character (usually a woman important to the usually male MC) is murdered to spur some motivation and revenge plot for the MC. It’s bad; it reduces a character to a plot device and merely support for another; and since it’s often gendered, it’s quite sexist. It’s killing not just the character but their agency.

But there is no reason why killing a character to snap another one into gear ends up diminishing the dead character so much. People are just fridging badly.

And Walter Pensive proves this. He is so fridged that it somehow strengthens his character. A wife dying and motivating her husband tells me nothing about her because of course she mattered to her husband. Someone dying and motivating multiple communities of people and bringing together even people who’d never met him and had just heard of him? That tells me so much about him.

And it’s not that they’re just avenging him, they’re getting justice against someone who’d been terrorising all of them. They’re following his lead, not avenging him. And afterwards he is honoured with Pensive day, so it’s just amazingly written.

Also he’s the man who named the Hallowoods, his legacy extends so much beyond someone’s revenge spurred murder spree.

[egophiliac]

just thinking about hair and faces

[bitchthefuck1]

you know what, I actually will talk about this because it's bothering me. The issue with focussing so heavily on syd and carmy's potential for a romantic relationship isn't that there's something inherently unintellectual about romance or whatever, it's that a lot of people seem incapable of doing that without immediately flattening the story and ignoring or intentionally misreading any and all nuance for the sake of that romance. Every scene suddenly becomes about how it impacts their relationship, every analysis is done through a romantic lens, every frame or line of dialogue becomes about finding some easter egg or hint that "proves" these people should start dating. Their dynamic is absolutely a fundamental part of this show, but if you can only see it as a will-they-won't-they, you miss so much of what the story is actually trying to say with these two.

There are good versions of this story where their relationship is romantic and there are good versions of this story where it isn't, but as soon as you decide them being together is "the point," you lose the ability to actually judge the story for what it is, not what you want it to be.

[transmascutena]

thinking about how akio sees his younger self in utena and wondering if there's any fondness there. doesn't change the horror of what he does to her obviously but i do wonder

[cinerins]

The thing that pisses me off the most about the inhibitor chip retcon is that they act as if Order 66 is the primary directive while attributing the rest to a vague ✨️Mindcontrol✨️ obedience. The way TCW introduced the whole deal with Tup immediately trying to kill any Jedi in sight when his chip malfunctions was so incredibly stupid to me.

How does a "malfunction" like that even work? Why would it specifically trigger that response and not also any of the other contingency orders, like, I don't know, the one that has them blowing up an entire planet or arresting everyone in the room.

Yes, the clones' main purpose was as an effectively cruel way to kill 99.9% of germs Jedi but that was... hardly all of it. They're an intrinsic part of the imperial machine; there's a reason so many orders exist and that reason is control. If Palpatine only wanted to get rid of the Jedi, he could've just invested in assassins or a nuke, but that wasn't the point.

It's meant to be systematic. It's about how easily a democracy can slip into fascism simply by taking one step after another. That's why I personally preferred the idea of the clones being indoctrinated into following these orders; they were quite literally made and raised to think that way. They serve as the deliberate template that would help shape the galaxy in a way where soon enough willing participants would continue to take their place.

Pushing all of that off on a conventional mindcontrol chip just feels cheap and undermines the whole idea of how anyone could end up thinking that way. How despite all of their individuality and differences, at large, the clones still follow the same orders, the same expectations. And how much more meaningful it is when you question it and consciously choose to break away from it. To fight it.