#I will be rewriting some stuff as well so the information is subject to change

[seafaring-cephalopodsss]

Intro Post/Main Thread!

Hey! Hello! Hi! You can call me Sawdust or Soybean!

Welcome to my sideblog where I yap about my coroika PIrate AU :'D I wanted to create a sideblog so this stuff doesn't get jammed on my main: @sawdusst

My ask box is always open! Feel free to ask me questions about the AU or send questions to the characters themselves :DD Character Q&A's are my favorite thing ever.

I'll try to draw stuff every now and then, but for the most part I'll just be posting my writing on this blog for the pirate AU :]

Anyways, here are all of the infodump posts from my main blog after the cut!

UPDATED Best 8 Infodump!!

Info on Rider, Gloves, Emperor, Prince, etc.

Antagonists & Such (Splatsville Hierarchy, X-Blood, Hivemind, Barreleye)

Situations!! (Krakens, Tako, + Extras on Prince and Emperor)

The Guardians (And also Hivemind)

Story Stuff:

The Rainmaker Heist

last updated: 7/9/24

[saltygilmores]

THOUGHTS WHILE WATCHING GILMORE GIRLS: S3/EP4/ONE’S GOT CLASS THE OTHER ONE DYES (PART 5)

Parts 1-4 and all other episodes are linked in my pinned post.

OMG. PHRASING, LUCAS. PHRASING!! IT'S OKAY EVERYBODY! HE MEANT METAPHORICALLY, PEOPLE.

I mean, your affair with Dean Forrester should already have you on some kind of registry.

Luke is giddy with delight over Lorelai's humilation at the school and is giggling up a storm, a gigglestorm the likes of which I've never heard before from him. Let's alll point and laugh at Lorelai! It's fun.

The KarenDebbies are descending upon us. I can't wait to hear Lorelai say the word "condoms"!

I've never seen him this happy before?

Sadly with no context I wouldn't be able to tell if this was 2023 or 2002. Karens: Why were you discussing your pregnancy, why didn't you change the subject? Lorelai: I tried but they kept coming at me like I was poland and they were Nazis. Urrrp.

In my unrated Gilmore Girls rewrite titled The Hollow, I promise to rewrite this episode so that we see Lorelai throwing condoms at high school students.

Well as long it's just a banana and you don't bring Dean for the subject of your demonstration. KarenDebbie: What kind of mother are you?! Lorelai: The kind that doesn't just gloss over uncomfortable topics!

My ass you don't. She spends a good 75% of season 3 moving heaven and earth to interfere in Jess and Rory's relationship and cockblocking them to make sure these two legal adults don't fuck each other instead of giving Rory any sort of useful information about sex and you should know better than anyone that that's a solid recipe for teen pregnancy, Miss GlossyPants. Speaking of. Guess who else is about to get a fumbling attempt at Awkward Parental Sex Talk? This li'l guy.

We don't want Shane to get pregnant. It would make her already tragic impending death even more tragic.

So, what's up with Luke's apartment? There's a guitar, bongos, and maracas (plus a sign he stole from a bus stop). Does he have a secret past in some kind of salsa band?

Luke referring to a human being as something you can "stash in a closet" like an old box of Monopoly is fucking hilarious. The delivery is also very "Jess are you a gigolo?" and "What are you, a drug dealer now?" Like he knows it's a ridiculous question but he's also mildly concerned that the answer is going to be Yes. And now, for all time favorite exchange in the entire Gilly Girls World:

Jess and Rory are cool and all. But Luke and Jess are it for me. These two are the reason I keep watching. Their dynamic is so perfect and things were never the same after Milo left, not only because of the breakup of Literati but because I desperately miss these two guys playing off each other.

I don't know. I feel like Shane wouldn't give a flying cupcake about getting caught. She had no problem repeatedly barging into the diner to hump Jess' leg while Luke and Lorelai were watching and Luke had to part them like Moses parting the sea to wait tables, and she had no problem playing tonsil hockey with Jess against a tree for hours in view of hundreds of people. More evidence that this little dude is lying and that Closet Girl wasn't actually Shane.

We know, Jesstopher. We know. You little freakazoid.

Amen, brother.

Bolt the doors Lucas he's gonna run! Luke should be pulling a Lorelai and throwing bags of condoms at Jess. Stars Hollow called an emergency town meeting after he drew on a sidewalk with chalk. I can't imagine the fate of both Jess and Luke if it were discovered that Jess planted his demon seed in anyone but especially precious Rory.

I love it when Luke tells Jess to shut up. Fantastic stuff. Luke: If you care about this Shane girl you have to treat her better. Jess: I don't care about her. I don't know her last name. She mentioned it once, didn't stick. We're just "hangin out." Staaahp. Jess is so deliciously blunt and nonchalant about her. Anyone fellow Millenials here? Does anyone else remember that in high school in the late 90's and early 2000's "hooking up" (or in Jess' case, "hanging out") meant literally anything you wanted it to mean and so one of your friends could say "I hooked up with Jason last night" but that could mean they either made out for a few minutes or they were full on bumping uglies or something in between and you often had to ask uncomfortable questions. It was a very confusing time. It kept us all on our toes.

Luke, you have a pair of eyes. You've seen what they do in your diner. There should not exist any doubt that they're not convening in your apartment to play checkers.

I'm telling you, the dynamic of the entire Danes-Mariano family is so complex and interesting and I would twist my nipple for this show to delve into it as much as humanly possible at the expense of pushing Rory and Lorelai to the side (Lorelai off a cliff). I've hit the ceiling for screen shots here on Tumblr.com so here's the last three minutes of the episode: Luke: You need to find a girl you actually care about. Jess: Yah like it's that easy. Luke: Ya huh it's that easy if you try Jess: The girls I like don't give a damn about me. I'm not just gonna sit around hoping they change their minds and notice me, unlike SOME PEOPLE. Luke: Da fuq does that mean Jess: ya fixed any neighbor's porshes *porches lately? Luke: Shut up Jess: I've got a little self esteem Luke: Shut up Jess: Gotta go, Shane's horny again Well, that attempt at the Birds and Bees talk certainly went off the rails. Luke was able to impart to Jess that teenage boys have raging hormones and they tend to like girls and Jess don't be an idiot. It's okay Luke, at least you tried.

[bluerogueanna]

I'm ashamed of what I wrote over ten years ago.

I spent a couple of days reading through my old notebooks, trying to find something worth sharing. But all I ended up finding were some stories I wrote when I wasn't doing well mentally.

Most of them are just repetitive but all of them are more like angry diary entries than actual stories with interesting characters or vast worlds.

I won't go into details, but at least I'm happy that I'm no longer a moody teenager. Some "stories" from before 2014 are one hell of a time machine, I can even point to the exact point in my life where I started dressing the way I do today just based off of the kinds of things I was drawing.

However I managed to still find a couple of ideas I had that aren't all that bad. I won't be able to show pictures of the drawings I made to go along with the stories because I used myself as inspiration for some of the characters, but I'll redesign that character and share the stories once I make the basic stories more readable. See, for a couple of my ideas, I usually drew them as comics instead of writing them down. And I'm not sure I know how to properly do comics. I'm restricted to the size of my notebooks and the amount of detail I'm able to give to the drawings with my pens, so I try to maybe fit way too much information inside the tiny panels.

Later I'll double check some of the loose papers and pick the stuff that doesn't embarrass me as much. It's just that I sometimes let my inmediate thoughts tell me what to do and I ended up writing way too many crappy erotic stories. Plenty of them are about the same subject matter and the same topics because I do have obvious and specific fixations and preferences.

And while I'm not particularly ashamed of writing erotica, porn or smut, I don't want the blog to be about that. Maybe one day I'll post one or two of those kinds of stories, but I'd have to rewrite them just to remove some names and change some characters around so they don't feel like the same storie just copy-pasted over and over.

Lastly, I did write stuff with the specific intention of sharing them with you. Some of them are barely ideas I still need to develop into something more interesting. And a few others are maybe perfectly ready to post, I'd just need to expand upon them a bit to make them exciting. I'm gonna be working on them so that I have more stuff to post here. Other than my mindless ramblings.

[sensering]

RULES FOR THIS BLOG.

last updated 2/17/24. note: these may be subject to change.

Let's get this out of the way. If you refer to Kiyoharu as a "trap", a "tranny", or any other transphobic remark, whether ic or ooc, you're catching a hardblock. Full stop. I don't fuck around with transphobia, especially not when it comes to canonical trans characters.

I do not fully adhere to canon here. My portrayal of Kiyoharu is canon-divergent, based on a rewrite of the series I am personally working on. I partially made this blog to help me develop this version of her for the fanfic I am writing for said project. Please keep this in mind when interacting, as there are definitely some changes I am making with her story in particular.

Selective && mutuals-only. If I'm following you, it means that I wish to write with you. Please don't assume otherwise just because I'm not here very often.

Magical Girl Site covers some darker && sensitive topics, even in my rewrite. However, my version of the story does tone some of these topics down. This blog will contain the following topics: transphobia, bullying, death && dying, blood, murder, talk of self-harm (not directly about muse), etc. I typically tag any triggers as trigger / so please keep this in mind!

On that note, I need the following things tagged if possible: abuse (particularly parental or sexual), nsfw/sexual content in general, && incest (even mentions). I filter the tag ollie don't look / if you need a catch-all to use!

The best way to interact with me is by sending memes! However, on that note, if the prompt you send is from an emoji prompt list, then please let me know which one it's from!! I used to be a bit harsher on this rule && applied it to all memes, but I'm honestly tired of the rule not being followed, so I'll just set it to emoji memes here. You're also free to send unprompted stuff, too! It's just easier to answer memes sometimes LMAO.

Sometimes I also post starter calls && inbox calls, feel free to like those as well! But please specify which muse you want me to toss Kiyoharu at if you do so!! Otherwise I will either pick at my own discretion or do it by spinning a wheel. Sometimes if I can't decide I may not even get to it at all && I'm sorry.

I only reblog callouts if they are absolutely necessary. I do not like to flood the dash with drama or other such things unless the person is truly problematic. I am a big advocate of talking things out with people if a problem arises. We're all adults here. Act like it. If we can't come to a compromise, I will likely hardblock to avoid any issues. If I or someone I write with is interacting with someone who is truly problematic, please don't be afraid to inform me, && provide evidence so that I can decide for myself!! I am sometimes blind or out of the loop when it comes to people in the rpc, so I appreciate it if I am informed about it as soon as possible!

Typical dni criteria applies here: if you're a proshipper or otherwise think that fiction doesn't affect reality, if you primarily write nsfw content or don't properly tag it, if you sexualize minors in any way shape or form, etc., then please do not interact with me.

[letarasstuff]

When everybody turns into an oracle

Summary: Nothing puts more pressure on you than other people teling you your grade will be perfect, because behind that stands so much more than a number on a sheet of paper. Same goes for Spencer's daughter.

Warnings: School, grades, angst (there is fluff and a badass moment), fear of failure/disappointing someone

Wordcount: 1.5k

✨Masterlist✨ __________________________________

“I really pooped this quiz. What about you, (Y/N)?” Before the teenager is able to answer, another classmate comes up from behind the two. “She’ll get a 100, like always.”

“I-I don’t know. Question two and three really got me there, I’m just happy to pass it.” The little group of people around her groans.

“You always say that.” “And get a perfect score”, the first one adds, “Just stop to make us look bad, because we really do have to worry about passing this class. What do you have to worry about? Getting straight A’s like that. I really want your problems.”

(Y/N) just keeps it quiet. She stopped a long time ago trying to defend herself. ‘I am on my way to the BAU’, she shoots a text to her father and exits the school building. Today she doesn’t take the train. There are too many noises and all she wants is some peace.

The words of her classmates echoes through her head. Yes, she always has a good score and she intends to keep it up. She is just doing her best, right? Her problems have to be still valid, don’t they?

“Ahh, Wonder Baby. I thought you forgot about us and decided you are too cool to hang out with us”, Derek calls out after her as soon as he spots his godchild. “Nah, Uncle Derek. Nobody can be too cool to hang out with you. I just hadn’t had much time because of school work. But there are only two weeks left before spring break starts and the only thing I have to do now is waiting for my results.”

“Right, Spencer told us you are stressing yourself out about those. Your last quiz was today, wasn’t it? The one you dread the most apparently?” Emily joins the conversation. “Uh, I did. But don’t get your hopes up too high, I really don’t have a clue what I did there. The grade can range between passed to 100.”

“Naw, Smartypants, you say that every time. What are you afraid of? Telling us you are real smart? Don’t be humble, we work with your father. We know how to handle geniuses.” Derek isn’t exactly helping her with that. (Y/N) just turns red and tries to change the subject. “Uh, no. Another thing: Where is Dad?”

“Spencer went to pick some reports from the M.E. in D.C. who helped us on the last case. He should be back in half an hour. But Penelope wants to see you, something about trying new vegan cookies she baked last night”, JJ informs (Y/N) as she passes the group to drop some files off.

For the remainder of the day the teenager hides out in the lair, blocking any human reaction out with her earphones. She just can’t handle any more insensitive stuff like earlier. Later her father picks her up to go home together.

“So, Emily told me you didn’t do well on your test today? Do you wanna talk about it?” He asks, choosing his words carefully as he prepares dinner with his daughter sitting at the kitchen table and watching him. The doctor knows the pressure created by asking his daughter about school related topics.

“I don’t know. Everyone keeps telling me I’ll get a perfect score and I think it’s admirable that all of them turn out to be able to look into the future. How do they know better than me what I get?”

It’s months of pent up stress and anxiety finally making its way up to the surface. (Y/N) tries to fight the tears down. “I really don’t understand this. I get asked how I did, I tell them I don’t feel good about the test and then they talk over me every single time. And when I say I don’t know it, I say it to not get anybody’s hope up high. I don’t want to disappoint anybody.” Finally tears stream down the teenager’s cheeks.

“Oh Sweetheart”, Spencer makes his way over to her and engulfs his daughter in a hug. “Shhh, don’t cry. I know it’s incredibly difficult to live up to their expectations, but you don’t need to. You don’t need to impress them, because their opinion doesn’t matter. Neither your classmate’s, your teacher’s nor the team’s. Not even mine should be important to you. Also, it doesn’t matter what you do, I’ll always be so proud of you, words can’t even describe it. There is literally nothing you can disappoint me with. You pushed and still push through so much crap and still you don’t fail to amaze me. You can never fail to amaze me. You can fail any class and become a professional card counter, I’ll still be proud to be your father. Please don’t cry over something you shouldn’t care about.”

They remain like this for several minutes, grasping each other until (Y/N)’s tears eventually die down. “I just want to be something more than just the smart girl with the good grades. I don’t want to feel like a two dimensional side character in a show, only there to provide the main characters with knowledge. I don’t want to be Velma, River Song, Frozone or Domino from Deadpool 2. I don’t want to be overlooked like this anymore.”Finally talking about her deepest insecurities lets her feel like a weight is lifted off her shoulders.

“And you are so much more”, Spencer encounters, “Some people just choose to ignore it, because you are so much more than their small brain with a low capacity is able to comprehend. They just pick the trait they understand the easiest. But never stop being you. Stay loud, stay complicated and, if you want to stay, uncomfortable for them. The right people will take the time and effort to get to know the real you, not just a copy others think you are. I know, it takes a great amount of patience to wait for them, but it’s worth it in the end. You hear me?”

(Y/N) looks up at her father, a small smile forming on her face. He would walk to the end of the world if it means to see it. “I hear you, Dad. Thank you so much.”

This night the teenager doesn’t get a lot of sleep. There are many thoughts that want to be, well, thought through. Still she wakes up and goes to school with a new amount of confidence.

This sadly only lasts until her first period. The teacher, one who is typically known for grading student’s work pretty fast, gives back yesterday’s quizzes. A small tumoult ensues as everyone compares their scores with each other.

(Y/N)’s anxiety rises into the unmeasurable until her teacher puts down her worksheet without a word. Confused she looks at the B- sitting at the dotted line, where the grade is supposed to be.

Now, a B- isn’t bad or anything, but she spots several answers her teacher didn’t tick as right or wrong. He must have oversaw them. Deciding to ask him about it after class, she puts it away and focuses on the material he is teaching.

So there she is, waiting for other classmates asking their questions regarding the quiz until it’s her turn. Meanwhile her lab partner Masey comes up to the teenager. “And, how did you do?”

“Uh, I got a B- bu-” “Oh my god, I’m better than the class nerd. I’m better than The Brain. Casey, I got a higher score than (Y/N)! I think you, too! Wow, I didn’t know I’m that smart. But no worries, (Y/N). I can explain this unit to you later, so you can do better next time.” This is the final straw for her.

“Hold on a sec, Masey. I’ll get that A, because Mr Harries didn’t see some of my answers. And just for your information: I didn’t ask you about your grade last time, because I knew you would poop that one after trying to explain it to you for four times while I got another A. Like every single time until now. Stop trying to appear cleverer than you are, it doesn’t suit you as much as these pants don't, because they are at least two sizes too small.”

The line finally moves up and (Y/N) is able to show Mr Harries his mistakes. He apologizes profusely, admitting that he maybe was too tired to grade these last quizzes and rewrite the B- to an A.

With her head held high she walks past her classmates, a content smile on her face.

It may be a long road to accept that you can’t be perfect and your grades don’t have to be, but forget this for a second and appreciate the feeling you get proving someone wrong like this.

Taglist:

All works:

@agentshortstacc

Criminal Minds:

@averyhotchner @mggsprettygirl

[oswald-privileges]

ALL RIGHT BUT YOU ASKED FOR IT

Power of Three as a series is just. full of weaknesses, most of which come down to poor continuity and structure. I'm not gonna try and fix ALL of those, bc that'd be laborious as hell, but I will pick out things that I feel are the most egregious as case studies.

What Po3 does have, tho, is an absolutely shining strength in the concept of its three main characters. After twelve books of Blandly Heroic Protagonist Syndrome, Jayfeather is an absolute godsend. He's angry! He's rude! He's unhappy! He's not nice. I Love Him And He's My Son. Lionblaze has his invincible pride (hah) and emergent bloodlust, and Hollyleaf has her moral absolutism and certainty. These are good starting points for characters. Sadly, the lack of continuity undermines what could have been three really good character arcs.

So! I present to you:

HOW TO MAKE "WARRIORS: THE POWER OF THREE" NOT COMPLETELY SUCK ACCORDING TO MY PERSONAL TASTE; A NON-EXHAUSTIVE, NON-CONSECUTIVE LIST BY ME

ONE

- Have there be a persistant, overarching series threat. Sol is a character with amazing villain potential who does literally nothing except hang around, and do exactly 2 Bad Things completely off-screen. This Is Not Good.

- Instead, have him be present from the second book onwards- initially introduced as a friendly but enigmatic outsider who is slowly revealed across the series to be a complete black hole of a personality, a social parasite quietly rearranging whatever community he's a part of to just-so-happen to benefit him as much as humanly possible. His "preach individualism not starclan" methods are not so much values as one strategy out of many. (to those who know me- yes i have a type. no i will not apologise.)

- Maybe his ultimate goal is to dissolve and centralise the clans or something so that he can live out his life as a political puppetmaster in all the cat-luxury he likes. idk it's hard to imagine overall stakes for this rewrite BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL DOESN'T HAVE ANY

TWO

- For gods sake you don't have a series based on the premise of "the main characters develop super powers" and then only have the second power confirmed by the end of the fourth book. I understand the first book mostly focusing on Jayfeather- his powers are obvious from the start, he's got the strongest personality of the three, he gets access to most of the prophecy plot stuff because of them. But you NEED to have the other two show an interest in something concrete happening to them beyond that, and you need to at least hint towards the other two having something unique to them even if nobody clocks it yet.

- Have Jayfeather tell his siblings about the prophecy by the end of book two at the latest. The amount of time he spends noodling around not sharing it with them is inexcusable. It's not that it's out of character for him to hang onto a secret for a bit, it's just that there's no point and it slows everything down. It would be equally in character for him to go to his siblings and be like "look, i'm SPECIAL. well you as well but ALSO ME". Boy starts off as desperate for recognition, what can I say

THREE

- Have Jayfeather discover that StarClan don't withhold signs or information on purpose for the sake of "building courage and faith" or whatever nonsense. Seeing and communicating the future is metaphysically very difficult, so interpreting signs and messages is a genuine skill, or even an art. The cats of StarClan, however, really are just ghosts, much more similar to living cats than the currently living believe. This is the impotus for Jayfeather's discarding of his reverence for StarClan, which remains consistent throughout the series.

- Have Hollyleaf and Jayfeather both still change their cat careers in the first book, but put place more attention on the fact that they basically switched jobs. Have a scene where they end up yelling at each other, because can't the other see how lucky they have it? The tension breaks when they realise they've both lost something important to them- Jayfeather his chance to prove he's as capable as a sighted cat, and Hollyleaf her path to helping her clan in the way she thinks is best. They commiserate together, and reluctantly promise to do the best they can with their lots, so they don't waste the path the other wishes they'd taken. This closeness is eroded over the series as they disagree more and more on the subject of StarClan and its role in their moral choices and obligations.

FOUR

- Speaking of Hollyleaf! I nearly threw my phone across the room when the first Omen of the Stars book claimed that Hollyleaf "worked so hard to discover her power to help her clan". Where, Ms Erins??? I would have LOVED to have seen that!! Hollyleaf expresses absolutely no concern over the details of what power she has/will develop, and only has a couple of scenes even touching on her ambitions to help her clan. She has some vague ideas about becoming leader and like one scene where she gets to do some leadery things, but that never gets followed up on. What does happen is that the whole "warrior code" thing becomes more and more a part of her personality (for no clear reason) until she snaps.

- Hollyleaf going off the deep end is something I wanted so badly to get into and be moved by, because I could see where it comes from! Her moral certainty is fascinating, especially since it's based in something as abstract as the warrior code- which, when you think about it, isn't really... anything. There's no concrete set of rules that make it up, no traditional wording or cat philosophers, not even any fables. It's a handful of agreed-upon, common sense rules- don't cross boundaries, don't take prey that isn't yours, respect your ancestors, and don't murder. That's it!

- So, combining the above points, I think Hollyleaf not being one of the Three should stay, but both the audience and the characters are given good reason to believe she is. By around the third volume, make it so that Hollyleaf has found that her power is to get cats to "Do The Right Thing"- i.e. what she wants them to do. She sneaks off often to see Sol, who teachs her how to use this power. Her siblings are concerned about this new power, having already gotten a glimpse at what Sol can do, but she's confident that she can only use this power for good. Volume-specific plot happens, Sol manipulates her into causing him to win, she is shocked and horrified, and vows to stick ridgedly to what she knows is right i.e. The Warrior Code

- However, the more fervently she tries to stick to this abstract idea, the less it gives her results, the more her power seems to be failing. Believing that StarClan is taking her power away from her, she becomes caught up in a faith-guilt spiral that puts her in the position to snap at the end of the series. By that point it's clear to her siblings that Hollyleaf has no power- she was just very, very good at persuading people to do what she wanted.

FIVE

- Lionblaze is a girl now because I Said So. This Cat Is Trans And There's Nothing You Can Do About It.

- Her relationship with Heathertail stays the same- childhood sweethearts who are torn apart as they begin to understand the nature of the societal divides that exist between them.

- This can be used to contextualise the whole "half clan/outsider blood" thing as a cultural contradiction. In reality, inter- and outer- clan relationships aren't at all rare. They can't be, otherwise the whole society would be inbred out of existence in like five generations. But if at least one society of humans can spend a good 200 years pretending Sex Is Bad And Sinful Actually then cats can have persistant cat-racism in the face of all logic. Heathertail clocks this contradiction, Lionblaze doesn't.

- Her relationship-to-power arc doesn't need changing all that much either, other than starting much sooner and being more consistent. At first, she's completely overjoyed by her power, since unlike her siblings, it lines up so well with her ambition- become the finest warrior any of the clans have to offer. As the berserker rage aspect becomes more prevelent, she becomes more and more disturbed by the fact that she isn't disturbed by what she can do, and that she doesn't want the escalation of her power to stop.

- Tigerstar still does his thing, but Brambleclaw knows about it. He recognises the signs from when his father used to visit him, and tries to train Lionblaze in his own way. She ends up caught between wanting to be a good warrior, and testing the limits of her power.

SIX

- Jayfeather can stay basically the same because he's my perfect little angy boy and nothing needs to change. His arcs can be strengthened by having a more robust relationship with Yellowfang where they try to out-bitch each other, and coming to terms with his internalised ablism. Maybe he has a chat with Mothwing about faith a couple of times. Him furiously lashing out at being offered help transitions into an acceptence and understanding of his abilities more naturally. He never stops being A Grumpy Old Man.

- All fucking past-lives unexplained time travel goes in the BIN. Doesn't fucking happen. You can have that lore dump sprinkled across the books, or come from going deep into the tunnels and having a surreal meeting. Make it properly eldritch-level scary, shake Jayfeather's confidence in the idea of them being just a bunch of ghosts.

SEVEN

- Have the way Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight present very clearly as parents to the Three be explicitly, textually unusual. One of the things I liked so much about the first series was an almost total lack of emphasis on who was mated with who, and who was related or not. It felt very real to how feral cat colonies form, where raising kittens is a communal job. This gets completely dropped the moment series 2 starts and now the cats have monogamy.

- This emphasis on the family unit and fostering close relationships between parents and kittens is deliberate on the part of both Leafpool and Squirrelflight. Their aim is to cover for Leafpool so she doesn't lose her role as medicine cat- something she already gave up Crowfeather for before she was pregnant.

- In that little bit of backstory, have a robust reason for both Leafpool and Squirrelflight to leave the camp while Leafpool is pregnant and giving birth, possibly one that ties into the present day story in some minor way. I don't know how, it would just make that element of the story a lot more ground than "we left, the kits were born, then we came back and everyone was cool with it"

- When it comes to the "I am Not your mother" reveal, Jayfeather and Lionblaze are confused and hurt that they were lied to, but come to the reasonable conclusion that well, since they were raised mostly by Squirrelflight, saw Leafpool often, and are loved by both, they don't hate her. Lionblaze has something of a crisis over being half-clan, possibly initiating an attempted reunion with Heathertail. Jayfeather is more concerned with how other cats will think it makes him lesser, something he's still sensitive too.

- Hollyleaf, meanwhile, completely fucking snaps at the way her mother Violated Part Of The Code. It's a completely irrational reaction, but expected because she's been growing more and more reliant on The Code for the whole series, and less and less stable in her attempts to aid her clan and train to be its new leader.

- Squirrelflight is the one to murder Ashfur. This is easy to work out while reading- she's literally the only one of the four with a motive who isn't a perspective character. The mystery is less around finding out who did it, and more about why she did it (it's very ambiguous as to whether it was an accident or not). The main tension comes from who finds out when.

- Lionblaze is shocked, awed by how far she'd go to protect the three of them, and reassures her she did the right thing (as a way to salve her own uncertainty over her own longing for violence). Jayfeather makes it all about himself because he's Jayfeather- upset that he didn't know immediately, instead of, you know, figuring it out in a few hours because he can basically read minds. They try their best to hide it from Hollyleaf, who is already rattling around the final volume as a full-on antagonist, but are unsuccessful. This almost costs them something incredibly important- possibly Squirrelflight's life.

EIGHT

- the whole plot with the Tribe Of Rushing Water is a MASSIVE can of worms that could be removed from the series without issue. As it is:

- Characterize the Tribe as uncertain of how to fight other cats, because yes, they haven't had to do this before. DON'T characterise them as pathetic, doing whatever their leader says without thinking, and with ancestors who have Given Up

- Have some of the Tribe be really good at the violence. Worryingly good. Have others be sickened by what they're being asked to do.

- Have some of the clan cats reflect on what they've done. Hollyleaf would be all for introducing this society to jesus The Code, but even she might be horrified at being thanked by a tribe cat who can't wait to get out there and win themselves glory, only to be killed a few hours later

- The Tribe begin a new tradition of marking the walls in the mud they use as camoflage in order to commemorate their battles, and memorialise the fallen. One of the characters reflects on the fact that in a generation or two, the Tribe will feel like it's always been this way. How many of their own traditions- those that feel almost like natural law- started out the same way?

- Have Sol as the leader of the invaders, or maybe having insinuated himself into the tribe as a "mediator" and doing his charismatic cult leader thing.

NINE

- Cinderheart isn't a reincarnation of Cinderpelt. She's just named after her bc Cinderpelt saved her mother from a badger. this is because I think the reincanation thing is stupid and I can't think of a way to make it good.

TEN

- No more using tails as hand gestures like covering people's mouths. Never. None of it. It's expunged from existence.

Disclaimer: I haven't read Omen of the Stars yet, so I can't account for anything that might happen in that series that's grounded in Po3. I'm like... two thirds of the way through the first volume. I'm Not Impressed.

[fracturedmoonlight]

Hi! Aspiring Sims 2 modder here. I'm asking a bunch of my favorite modders. Do you have any advice for beginners on working with BHAVs? Any tutorials you recommend or easy projects to start with? Useful background info? I know there's a lot of trial and error involved, but I was wondering if there's a better approach to learning about them than just looking at other people's mods and trying to figure out what on earth those BHAVs mean. Thanks again for all that you do!

Hello! Always exciting to see people who have become interesting in modding! I can try to help but honestly not sure how good I'll be at it. I'm mostly going to tell you what worked for me and some ‘modding life advice’.

Honestly what helped me the most? Breaking it down. If you find a tutorial you can follow successfully...rewrite it to fit how your own mind keeps track of how to do the steps. For example, this is how I learned to do overlay boxes...and I broke down an 18 page tutorial (when copied over from a blog post and mind you there were pictures included) down to just two pages of step 1 - whatever. Most tutorials are old and haven’t been rewritten for current years, but most are doable as the functions don’t change much. Also, compare them. If you find more than one tutorial on the same subject, see what same steps they’re following.  Picking apart other people’s mods can also help you understand those tutorials. Or see they found a better way to do the same thing. An example here...the code I use for @sunmoon-starfactory​ inventory detection, can be very different from what @mortia-laura​ use. Both achieve the same goal (detecting and deleting/adding to a sim’s inventory), but go about it in seperate ways. If I recall, my way is longer (at least on the data entry side) but I’m more comfortable with it because it’s what I know. Neither is wrong.

Another thing? Understand your limits. It's no secret that I get help from other people on some modding aspects because my brain literally cannot wrap around them. I'm talking things like primitive arguments and other things I deem "math". Which is mostly numbers. I don't deviate from what numbers I don't know, I don't stress out. But add in something new there? Learning curve for sure. Basically, know that you're not going to master everything. Few creators rarely do, and that's okay. Find your niche, improve it, and be happy with it. Of course if you want to branch out after you're comfortable, go fo it!

That being said, have a support circle that does understand what your yourself don't, and ask! I know it's scary to ask other "big name modders" out there sometimes...but honestly, most aren't scary. Personal example...I never imagined @midgethetree would have helped me. She's so smart and seems way above my pay grade if you will, but she's actually super nice (and knows how to explain things to me like I'm five...which I like! I learn best in simple steps!) and is always there to just hear me whine sometimes. It's usually about a misplaced zero where there should be a one. I also know I can count on @davinaojeda, @fireflowersims, @mortia, @veetiesims2, @nixedsims, @gayars, and so many more. To add on to that, find a supportive discord to help connect with others. Most of the ‘new’ or ‘updated’ information seems to be passed around on those.

Now here’s the most important thing and I’m writing this with myself in mind also as I recently suffered a bout of it. Whatever you make, make sure it’s how you want it. There are going to be a lot of opinions thrown at you. Some helpful and some that perhaps make the project such a giant monster it makes you want to rage quit. You won’t please everyone. You can’t. You can try, but it’s going to drive you crazy. So always take a step back, ask yourself why you’re making something and then answer if it meets your original intention. If it does and you’re happy, stick to your guns. Don’t let people push you into something you have no interest in or don’t want to do. The Sun&Moon Woodworking set gave me this problem...it was huge to begin with and was stressing me out and making me anxious because I knew I couldn’t please everyone. Got some advice on how to make it seem manageable, and that’s when I solidified my idea of what products it makes. Upon release, I got A LOT of messages from people who were asking for ‘more types/amounts/can you change it so this item comes from it’. It made me feel like I’d failed to deliver what people expect...but stepping back, it produces exactly what I want it to for my game. That’s what matters. I made something to enhance my game, it does what I want it to do, and sorry if others aren’t happy it doesn’t do more but that’s how it is. If you feel like it, add options for people who don’t agree with your choices (looking at Livestock here...heck even I use the force options!), and if they can’t be happy even then...well that’s just going to have to be their problem. Or if you know how to properly instruct people take what I call the Midge Approach, and explain how to change a particular behavior of the mod.

So when you do start modding and people ask you questions like this (which is still weird for me honestly) remember that you are not indebted to anyone (unless you take a commission of course but that’s different), you own no one anything, and in any particular way. No two simmers play their games the same and you can’t account for it all. Create for YOU first, and share when you’re happy with your results. Don’t feel bad if you don’t answer messages that make you angry because you suddenly feel like you didn’t do what other people wanted. Yeet them and continue to create what makes you happy. Create to make your game better, don’t create for the sake of people pleasing or popularity.

I know this post isn’t full of links and such to old/new tutorials but I still feel these are important pieces of “background information” to have when you get into this modding scene. I still struggle to remember some of this stuff and have to remind myself. We’re all our own worst critics and judges already, no need to let other people add to that.

[geekgemsspooksandtoons]

GeekGem’s Major RE8 Rewrite Details & More

I am writing this because my good friend @kaijuguy19​ was very interested in this. And I want to kind of get it out of the way. So I am gonna write a post that almost seems like a leak of before a movie or a game gets released like this very old Sonic movie leak that I still recall. https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/7e8a15/some_info_about_the_upcoming_sonic_film/

Including I will reveal other details such as changed canon relating to RE6, and this version’s RE9. But it is mainly about RE8.

I am done with the post and I put, “& More” in the title....be warned. If you’re gonna read this, this is long. And there is some sensitive subjects I talk about. If you’re interested...I hope you can enjoy this. Which sounds very sick considering some of the details in this.

1. The protagonist of Resident Evil 7, 8, and 9 in these rewrites is going to be Emma Rosemary Winters. The daughter of Ethan and Mia Winters. Originally she was meant to be a different character and Rose was still a baby, maybe a sibling. But things just developed and she’s now the daughter that was a big deal in RE8. In this version, Emma is the focus of the trilogy. And not as a plot device.

She was born in 1999, making her 18 in 2017, and 22 in 2021. Much older than her, “Canon” counterpart. She was born a year after the events of Resident Evil 1, 2, 3, and Code Veronica.

2. More classic characters would be more involved. With Jill Valentine possibly being more involved in RE7 and not as a ending surprise for RE7. With her character being what Chris was to Ethan. But it’s more of a aunt and niece relationship in a way. Especially in Resident Evil 8.

Including other details that are revealed in this that Jill sadly became infertile because of being used as a BOW by Wesker in Resident Evil 5. Making a strong and sadly...depressing connection to that game. Along with the many infections that have happened to her in her years. Including she mostly has been dying her hair brown for years. 

3. Spoilers for Resident Evil 6. Compared to the, “Canon” events of the timeline. The USA is no longer a superpower. After the knowledge that the US military had a hand/knew about Umbrella’s development of BOW’s in 1998. 

Ever since 2013, America has been mainly disowned by other countries and maybe not actually demilitarized...and my comment is that America became pussyifed. Which my friend found to be a derogatory term to describe demilitarization. But it is likely not a failing country, but one that is no longer in control of many others.

4. It is likely Leon joined the BSAA sometime or somewhere else. But in 2015, Leon and Claire finally...boned with Leon moving on from Ada. So that Redfield bloodline stuff is done with.

One of the reasons why is that the CGI films are likely not canon in these rewrites...or mainly the recent ones.

5. Resident Evil 8 biggest themes would be about mothers. And that Mia and the truth of who she is. It is a big focus and Emma trying to find her possibly. But also on another mission.

6. As with classic characters returning. Hunk is supposed to be a major part in RE8. Along with the return and the canonization of the Umbrella Security Team Delta known as the Wolf Pack. 

Having first returned in a DLC story to RE7 featuring Jake Muller, Nikolai Zinoviev, and Sherry Birkin. Which features Hunk as the playable character killing Nikolai, rescuing but using the already captured Sherry(Who was captured by Nikolai) as bait for Jake. Which results in a fight to the death between Jake and Hunk. With Hunk winning and killing Jake, but leaving Sherry alive.

This ends in possibly Hunk(Who was hired by The Connections to kill Nikolai and Jake) being able to get into the BSAA as a mole and get close with the Winters family.

7. Replacing the stupid twist at the start of the game. For the next four years, Hunk has been secretly posing as a different man. But using his real name because his real identity has never been revealed.

Originally having the name Derek. His real name is Hank, and called, “Uncle Hank” by Emma. He has been keeping tabs on the Winters family for The Connections. 

But during one night, personally sent by Bailey(The leader of The Connections), Hunk and the Wolf Pack invade the Winters home and replaces the opening scene from RE8. With a moment of Emma realizing Hank is Hunk, but telling her to not call him that, but instead what he’s usually called.

And during the scene with him saying, “I’m not sorry Emma” before kicking Mia in the face in front of Emma. Showcasing even more Hunk did not validate or cared about Emma’s own trauma or well being.

8. In RE7, the Bakers are gonna be less sympathetic minus Zoe. Maybe having some tragic angles, but there’s no mind control really. Instead, Eveline is portrayed in a more tragic light and as a victim. Instead of how the, “Canon” RE7 did with her treatment.

With the tragic angle of Emma seeing Eveline at first as a young girl. But soon understanding she’s not who she is and what she was built for. With Emma knowing she has to kill her, despite she doesn’t want to. And even Eveline not wanting die as well.

9. The story with Emma in the RE8 rewrite is a big thing. And it’s what I have really focused on. While still using a lot of the same story from RE8. But being inspired by Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge.

After the events of RE7, Eveline dying, and some months after that sneaking out with Party Girl to a mall. She gets kidnapped by Ada and put for ransom for her mother to secretly help her to give her information from the BSAA and The Connections. And to make sure Emma doesn’t know her involvement too.

For years, Emma has slowly grown a little bitter. Despite being compassionate. Having developed anger toward hers captor and not wanting to be a victim anymore. But in RE8, this is where her mindset starts to darken even more.

But the night Hunk and the Wolf Pack invade their home, kidnap them. Including one scene akin to Mission Impossible 3, with Hunk shooting Mia(Who is somehow still infected with the Mold) in the head in front of Emma. But Mia doesn’t die and slowly healing. With Hunk doing this to force Emma to be complaint and quiet.

Because of this moment, Emma vows revenge by saying she’s going to kill of the Wolf Pack, and Hunk personally. Developing a hatred for the man the most after he revealed who he was and what he had done. Including the Wolf Pack leader Lupo after she thinks she learns a hard truth.

Throughout the game, her mindset darkens as she starts to think humanity isn’t worth saving as she faces against the four Lords, and the Wolf Pack. 

While not killing all of the Wolf Pack. She does brutally hack Bertha to death, and somehow killing Beltway and possibly Vector. But when she thinks she learns a horrible truth that the Wolf Pack leader known as Lupo may of somehow murdered her father.

She fights the woman, breaks an arm of hers, and stabs her in the side of the breasts. But before killing her, Lupo reveals she wants to see her family one last time. Which stops Emma cold once she hears those words.

With it resulting in Emma turning Lupo in to Jill. And Lupo somewhat, “Redeeming” herself by revealing vital information about The Connections. But also getting a visit from Burton’s and apologizing to them.

10. A big theme and...it’s gonna be dialed down. Is that Emma is slowly sharing this dark view on humanity. As she starts to share similar beliefs such as Mother Miranda, and other similar villains. She feels like vengeance is going to help her against the Wolf Pack and the four lords.

Originally, her story was inspired by the story of Scorpion/Hanzo Hasashi from Mortal Kombat. But...things are slowly changing.

But the point is with my original intentions. Emma was gonna be more savage in these RE8 rewrites, hating the lords such as Alcina Dimitrescu, Karl Heisenberg, Moreau, but not really Donna. But her focus seemed to be more on the Wolf Pack. But again, things have changed.

Yet what’s the cause of this is that she is viewing the world in such a black and white way. With Jill, the Duchess, and whoever else trying to teach her that she needs to realize this isn’t how things should be handled.

But the big twist of the game is where Mother Miranda reveals to her who Mia is. Which shakes Emma’s viewpoint forever.

11. I have talked about dialing things down. With understandable criticism I needed from a friend who’s been helping me. 

I felt like my intention with Emma was very extreme. I felt like my idea was very disrespect towards people who have endured trauma and Emma’s reaction seemed more selfish and she seems unaware of certain shit. 

The best way my friend put it as. I’m gonna share this one paragraph.

“That being said, I do think with the way girls are raised, even in modern times and with strong mothers like Mia probably is, the reaction to trauma is less "I'm gonna go burn down everything in my way" and more "I want to get strong enough to move past this pain." Maybe that sentiment's changing with the kind of upbringing people have now, especially with feminism encouraging women to speak up and not be shut up, but I'll also say that there is a big difference towards fantasizing about revenge and actually having to cope with the often unavengable violence many people have to deal with. Like if everyone just acted out vengefully over every single 'wrong' done to them, the world would be a far more chaotic and unstable place. I think even with all the pain and anger Emma feels, her socialization as a 'normal' girl would have her motivations be more geared towards trying to spare others the pain she felt rather than necessarily a desire to torture and destroy.”

Along with the mentions that she isn’t a Mortal Kombat character or a soldier. While there is some vengeance stuff and anger going on...it’s gonna be dialed down a bit. Bertha is likely still killed brutally liked how I mentioned, and the fight with Lupo is still brutal. I feel this paragraph helps with what I’m talking about too.

“Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Emma can't be a fighter and I actually do like the irony of this small and terrified damsel managing to survive extraordinary odds and defeat incredibly powerful enemies...I just think she probably wouldn't just be swearing and yelling all the time, and honestly she'd probably be better using guns rather than doing everything up close. Think of all the RE heroines and how none of them needed to really punch a boulder (or carry a stupid huge BFG, at least before the remake) to be "strong" - of course, I know part of that is that their designs are meant to appeal to the 'male gaze' and that's why they're all so curvy yet skinny, but I think if you are going for "realism" and "horror" then it's MORE believable to have a protagonist who isn't a brawler. Think of Silent Hill, or Clock Tower, or Fatal Frame.”

12. A major new character or some what new is Eris.

A BOW originally named in developed as, “The Perfect Nemesis” because he is a Nemesis BOW The Connections have made. But what made him perfect was the combination of the Mold with the Nemesis Parasite. Making it easier to control him. Despite thinking about it, he looks more akin to the original Nemesis than the remake version. But with some differences.

He is dropped into the village after Hunk contacts The Connections for a little help to find Emma and even Mia. Including the realization of the four lords and the powers they possess.

But the major twist is that Eris is actually Ethan Winters. Who back in 2017, was murdered by Hunk in a likely story DLC maybe titled, “End Of Ethan”. 

Ethan does pop up in RE7, but supposedly dies. But it is revealed in a DLC he is somehow alive. Considered to be a biohazard and maybe trying to save his family, including his daughter. But it ends with Hunk finding and killing him.

Due to the Mold being in Ethan’s body. He is the perfect candidate for Eris. Being sent on missions to kill certain people. And nearly killing Leon Kennedy on one mission but failing.

He doesn’t really mutate because of the Mold, which controls the Nemesis Parasite. Thus, making him perfect in a way, easier to control.

But compared to Nemesis, who was still quite intelligent for a BOW. Eris seems to showcase more intelligence. Such as being able to talk a bit more. Talking in a way similar to the likes of Grimlock from Transformers. Because of the Mold and this Ethan’s memory slowly popping up. 

Basically, he can’t talk regularly. He just has a bigger vocabulary. Such as these.

“Eris....head...hurt”. “Winters....familiar”. “Emma.....Rose.” And whatever else, it depends.

There are also snippets of blonde hair on Eris’s head. Showcasing the last remaining human parts of Ethan.

It is likely he does at the end of his arc, remember who his daughter is and maybe is the one who kills Hunk instead of Emma. Despite my idea of Emma stabbing Hunk in the balls and chest, but him being so stubborn to pain that he doesn’t care.

During the story, Eris tries to follow Emma and Jill around the village. And even facing off against some of the lords such as Alcina, maybe Moreau, and likely Heisenberg.

It is likely Heisenberg is the one that kills him. But I think I’ll have Emma kill Hunk instead. I want to put that in. Yeah...Hunk is maybe getting stabbed in the balls.

The big reveal where Emma finds out(With Jill telling her) Eris is her dad. Which seems to replace the scene where Ethan discovers Rose’s head in a flask. Because of some reason, she thinks Lupo is the one who murdered her father. Which results in her trying to find the woman and killing her. Until she finds out she was wrong and Lupo reveals it was Hunk who did it.

He dies with a death scream in a similar way of how Superman dies in the beginning of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. And in way...Eris is basically a more tragic version of The Iron Giant.

13. In a retcon or not. The part of Wesker in Resident Evil 1 saying Barry Burton’s family was taken hostage is actually true in this. With the Wolf Pack taking them hostage. But leaving them alive after they hear on a radio Wesker betraying Umbrella, but also because of Lupo due to Kathy holding out for her children.

Outside of the main story. Kathy, and many well known RE characters such as Jill, Chris, Leon, Claire, Sheva, are considered family friends to Emma and Mia. 

With a mention from Emma that people like Jill, Chris, Leon, and Claire(Maybe others like Barry) posed as family for Emma’s college graduation in 2020. It’s really meant as the closest easter egg and to namedrop certain characters without using them in the story.

Along with the fact before RE8, Jill, Sheva, Rebecca, Kathy, and likely Claire have also talked with Emma about personal things. Such as trauma. And that she had therapy for years. But Mia has not done any therapy. Which bothers and saddens Emma. 

At times she tries to ask her mother if she wants to talk about what happened in 2017 and even the events with Ada. But Mia politely asks her she doesn’t wanna talk about it.

14. Compared to their Operation Racoon City counterparts, which was their first appearance. The ages for the Wolf Pack and Echo-6 are very different.

Most of the Wolf Pack are near the age range of Chris Redfield. Such as Lupo being a little older than Jill. Such as maybe being born in 1971. Making all of them middle aged in 2021.

Most of Echo-6 were born in the 90′s. Making them mostly in their 20′s in 2021.

15. Compared to the, “Canon” version of RE8. There is almost a three way war between The Connections/Wolf Pack, the BSAA/Jill with Echo-6, and Mother Miranda with the four lords. 

With Emma in the middle trying to find her mother. And considering the notes, it is likely the BSAA is still corrupted. But that’s another topic.

16. Unlike the, “Canon” story, Donna Beneviento lives with Emma not wanting to kill her after she discovers some things that makes realize Donna isn’t in the right mental state. I won’t reveal much more more of this.

17. Compared to her father in, “Canon”. I have called and thanks to my friend giving me this idea. But I have called Emma the, “Perfect Hybrid” because she was infected in RE7 during her time at the Bakers. I’m gonna share some shots.

Despite my original intention to make Emma normal...she kind of still is...

So she’s not having her limbs cut off. But this explains her recent increase in strength and anger in RE8.

18. Compared to how the real RE8 is. Mia is a bigger focus with the biggest twist in the game is Mother Miranda revealing that Mia was a clone of hers. How she escaped the village years ago was because of an arranged kidnapping done by Heisenberg.

But the big twist is that Miranda reveals that Mia was responsible for being involved with The Connections, knowing who Eveline was and what she did to the Bakers, knowing who Ada was and why she was kidnapped. And also saying Mia was the reason Ethan was murdered and turned into Eris(Which she wasn’t).

She puts it in a way that Mia was responsible for every horrible thing that happened to her. Including that she’s the reason their family was destroyed.

After this and it’s not a boss fight. It results in well...I did make some dialogue. But it’s deep somewhere...I just wanna share some shots.

But the idea I’ve been thinking Jill finds her after the reveal. And takes her back to this small HQ where the remaining survivors of the village and Echo-6 are at.

I don’t think that, “Megamycete” might be a thing. I want Miranda to be fully aware of what she’s doing.

The point also being Miranda see’s Emma as a perfect host because she sees a younger but more savage version of herself. Including she decides to reveal everything of why some characters are saying, “You don’t know who your mother is”.

19. Elena, and maybe Luiza survive. Along with a new character named Vincent survive. The entire village doesn’t die...that just wasn’t needed. Some die, but not those three.

20. The Duke is now the Duchess...who’s basically a more kinder and wiser lady who may not look that good. And usually when I read the word Duchess, I think of the character from Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends.

21. One of the ideas is to showcase more of the Dimitrescu’s because of their popularity. But also to make them possibly...more evil and whatever else. Seeming more like sexual predators(Which they are in a way.), and Emma having a huge desire to kill them. But one of the daughters, Daniela showcases more of her humanity. Who feels like she’s in love with Emma. But she’s really not right in the hand.

Including one of the weapons Emma gains is a flame thrower...which may do some damage to the daughter’s and even Alcina.

22. Considering the zombies in the Dimitrescu and Beneviento areas are themed to fit for those places. Instead of Lycans in Moreau’s area. You have more Gillman like creatures. Which fits the fish aesthetic of the area.

23. It is likely Chris is in there...just not a whole bunch now. He’s likely in RE7. But Jill overtakes his role and...he’s not doing the stupid shit in RE8.

24. For RE9, the focus is on Emma working with Leon trying to save president Ashely Graham on an island with the help of Carlos Oliviera. Including Claire Redfield is involved. Along with Emma and Leon having to work with Ada. Despite Emma having an intense relationship with Ada as she realizes this is the woman that started her downward spiral into anger.

With Natalia from RE Revelations finally being the leader of The Connections because of Alex Wesker controlling her. Including the island is the home base of The Connections...

25. Mia is gonna be more...sympathetic is maybe the word. She’s more akin to Bioshock’s Brigid Tenenbaum. She regrets things she’s done. And she didn’t want her family to know because she was afraid of her daughter hating her. And the relationship with Mia continues in RE9. 

Despite her relationship with Emma is scorned. A little in the ending of RE8 maybe and in RE9. She soon hugs her mother and forgives her.

RE9 is basically gonna be my own RE4/5.

26. I think this is gonna be the last part. I’ve been writing this for way too damn long. Maybe nearly two hours or so....

So....why did I stop this for awhile...I have talked about this has honestly depressed me.

Dealing with themes such as trauma, a young woman discovering her mother was a bioterrorist basically, Jill being infertile, Lupo’s children actually found out who she was and disowned her when they got older.

There is also the old idea(Might still add it) that Lupo was raped and one of her children were born because of that(Yet Lupo later on in life would murder the man). But also Miranda was raped by the soldiers(An idea from me).

But also Ethan becoming a BOW and forced to hunt down his daughter...it’s also the whole tragedy of the Winters family too and other thing that really dampened my mood for sometime. Including the whole theme about trauma, governments, and vengeance.

This...this was the shit that depressed me and why I needed a break...this is what I was talking about in some of my other posts...this is why my interest kind of...changed to cartoon stuff.

This is why I worried of being a, “Diet Neil Druckmann”. 

I think I’ve written enough...I’m gonna have to warn the readers about how long this is.

[norealnameshere]

Arie Rambles About Text Hypnosis!

(A long writing/essay about what I’ve learned about text hypnosis and the stuff I commonly tell people when they ask about it. :3 )

I adore text hypnosis. I’ve had chances to experience all of the main hypnosis mediums (other than in person, text, voice, video being the others) from BOTH sides, as a tist and as a subject, and text hypnosis is still probably my favorite. 

It also seems to be the least known and least liked of all the mediums, and I’ve found myself writing and rewriting information about and defenses of it time and time again, and I had the idea to write up a neat little document to share and save myself some time. X3

In this (extremely long) piece of writing, I will mostly be addressing a lot of the questions and complaints I’ve heard from people when I tell them I do text hypnosis. The main parts will be a discussion of trance states, the complaints people tend to make, a list of advantages vs disadvantages (and some suggestions for dealing with them), and a bit about tips and tricks and advice from what I do and what I’ve done. X3

Before I begin, I still very much consider myself an amateur, please do not take this as straight fact, it is merely a writeup of my opinions and what I’ve experienced. (At the time of writing, I’ve been doing text hypno as a subject for about a year and a half, and as a tist for about a year.)

Introduction, mostly about kinds of trance states

A lot of the misconceptions about text hypno are at heart misconceptions about hypnosis itself - I’ve also done a LOT of working with newbies and introducing them to hypnosis, and I always tell them that the first thing to do is to toss away pretty much whatever their preconceived notions are. Film/tv shows/books and stage/street hypnosis are fun to watch, but what they portray are very specific ways of approaching trance - possible, yes, but not common in actuality.

The popular image of hypnosis is of someone going limp, eyes closed, unable to move, barely able to respond aloud. Or, as in many thriller/spy movies, someone hypnotized against their will, brainwashed and able to be set off with a single word to go do...whatever they’ve been programmed to do. And those are POSSIBLE, just not at all common. (The second usually requires a great deal of drugs and other bad shenanigans, but that would be another topic for another informational writing. Perhaps I’ll write on subject agency one day. Likely I’ll not. xD)

However, trance states come in a HUGE variety of appearances, and there are some that happen in everyday life, outside of hypnosis. The most common one mentioned is if you’re driving along and find yourself at your destination without really noticing the journey along the way. Another is reading a page of a book and realizing that you can’t really remember any of what you just read. ‘Zoning out’ is a type of trance state. I like to consider those uncontrolled trance states, and hypnosis and meditation guided trance states. (And the difference between those, to me, is like someone walking ahead of you and leading you down a path (Meditation) vs someone taking your hand and pulling you down a path (Hypnosis))

(I always tell newbies in a first session that if they feel lightly relaxed, I consider it a success. Like any other skill, it is something you can build on and deepen *pun intended*. ;3)

And people can trance differently at different times - most of the time I’m ‘down’, I’m just very still and seem to focusing intently on the computer screen, either waiting for words if its text hypno or listening for words if its voice or video. I have gotten to a point where I can go body limp, face blank, completely out of it levels of trance, but it’s not something that happens commonly, and not something I want to have happen commonly. I very much prefer the kind of trance state where you can listen and react and are in an incredibly suggestible state. ;3

Complaints and Misconceptions, Mentioned and Addressed.

WITH THAT SAID, let’s get back to text hypnosis. 

There’s a few major complaints and misconceptions about text hypnosis, and I’ll go through them one by one with the common points I make in response.

“Text hypnosis can’t be real, because in real hypnosis the subject goes completely limp and there’s no way they can type.” (This is an actual thing said to me by a supposedly trained and credited tist I was negotiating a session with. When I tried to say actually, that’s not true, he sent pictures of his girlfriend to ‘prove real trance looks like this’, and jumped down my throat when I asked if he had permission to do that. I’ve had some interesting people in my DMs in the past. xD)

- Those paragraphs up there about trance states? Yep, that, that’s how I usually respond. (Although I may or may not have gotten REAL detailed about some of the things I’ve done while under in text hypno when I responded to the interesting individual I mentioned. x3)

“I don’t understand how someone can type while they’re tranced.”

- Unless you’re someone who genuinely struggles with typing and has to consider every key as you press it, in general typing is not exactly an active thought activity. Most of the time you don’t go ‘I need to type yes, so I’m going to press the y key now, and the e key now, and the s key now. Often, you don’t even think ‘I am typing the word yes now.”, you just...think words and type them as you go, without even directly thinking about the keyboard.

However, it is also something you can work on making easier and more natural. When I’m working with someone new who is uncertain about typing while in trance, I will start by not making them for the first session, I’ll take them down, then bring them up again and check in on them and ask for feedback. I tell them that any questions they see during trance they can answer aloud or in their mind, whatever works well for them. When they’re comfortable with that level, I’ll start having them answer with a y for yes and an n for no (and make sure to ask only yes/no questions). We’ll work up from there as necessary. :)

“I hate text hypnosis because there’s no feedback.”

- I will grant that feedback is not as immediate as it is in voice/video/in person. You cannot hear or see the person and know, moment by moment, how they appear to be doing. However, there are many ways of getting feedback, and sight/sound are not the only ones by a long shot. 

Especially in a first session, I tend to do a series of short drops - taking someone down a little bit, bringing them up, and checking in on how everything is going, what’s worked well, what hasn’t worked as well, etc. Not only is this a good way of getting feedback of how things are going, it also serves to fractionate the subject a little. ;3

As you do more text hypnosis, you also get to know things to watch for - responses starting to slow down, grammar and spelling changing, fuzzy typing (oh gods, I love fuzzy typing~), etc. Having that history of what was typed means you can also have your subject read back over what happened and give you feedback based on that - I know quite a few people whose memories get fuzzy about what actually happened in sessions, but having that record can jog the memory and help them go ‘oh yeah, that happened, and this could have gone better, and...”

Sometimes I feel like it’s *better* feedback in the long run, because I can scroll back through the history and see what I’ve done in the past and how it’s worked. Since I started doing mostly voice hypno with my pets, I’ve missed having that record, because I have a terrible memory. ^^”

“Text hypnosis is fake, it’s all just roleplayers.”

- Sometimes, yes. Usually that’s something you can figure out if you make sure you have a good, thorough discussion and negotiation beforehand, to find out what everyone involved wants out of the session. If it’s something that really bothers you, make sure to include it in your list of questions.

I would say this is a VERY important thing to find out if it’s someone you’re planning on doing an extended number of sessions with, but that’s also the kind of person you should have constant ongoing discussions with anyways. (Hell, I’ve been with my tist and my pets for a long while now, and we still periodically have negotiations. Things change and need to be rediscussed. It happens. :3)

If it’s a one off session, well...at least you’re getting practice with your writing, right?

(I will update this from time to time with other frequent questions or complaints I hear or receive.)

Advantages vs Disadvantages

Now for something a little more fun! Advantages of text vs the other mediums, as well as disadvantages and how to overcome them. :3 (This is definitely a section I’ll update over time, as I think of more things to add. ^-^)

Advantages:

- One of the absolute best things about text is the record it leaves. Unless you record your sessions, voice and video and in person sessions are left only in the memories of the participants. In text, unless the place you’re typing in is deleted after a certain point (or if someone edits their text afterwards, tho’ that actually can be fun too, and I’ll address it later. ;3), you have this useful record of what you did, what was said. 

This is great for multiple reasons. The first and biggest one for me is how much it helps, considering my memory issues - I have a shitty memory, and forget things way too easily. On both tist and sub side, it’s great to be able to scroll back and reread what happened in a session. Second, rereading is a great way to relive and refeel those memories (especially if you miiiiight possibly have the ability to reexperience memories almost as strong as the moment they were made, coughcough) which is also hella good for conditioning. (;3) Third, it can be fun to link back to certain points or use bits of the written record against people. You can tease them with things they wrote, reference past experiences, or (and this is definitely absolutely completely hypothetical and not something I’ve had done to me at ALL, oh no. >.>) leave little ‘traps’ if you know they reread - “When you reread this, send ‘this message’ to me so I know you did, and then forget~” kinds of things.

This fact can also help if you have different schedules or are in different time zones, you can leave short written bits for the other, delayed action traps so to speak that go off when read - not as a replacement for active sessions, but a fun supplement. :3

- Related to this idea but in a different direction, you can create...hmm, kind of ‘homework assignments’ for a subject to read later, or read over and over again. VERY useful for conditioning, especially if you have a suggestion or an order of ‘once you have finished reading this, write [this sentence] to me to let me know you have read it.’

- Another HUGE advantage of text is privacy. I still live with my family and, while I have the benefit of a basement room, interruptions are common and curious ears are a possibility. For people who live with roommates or with bedrooms in the house closer to family members, privacy becomes even more critical. On the subject side there might be some visual signs of what’s happening, depending on what’s being done and how they trance, but overall on both sides it will just look like concentrating intently on the screen and typing, just like writing an email or visiting with people on a discord. 

As a side note to that, you can also do fun things like be innocently sitting in a voice channel with them, chatting with other people, while sending them suggestions or triggers in text, and watch them try not to react, try to resist. ;3

- Just like there are certain tricks only doable in voice or video or in person, there are things you can do in text that aren’t easily replicated in text. 

Just a few ideas off the top of my head are using formatting for various kinds of emphasis (italics and bold are great for helping to add ‘tone’ to your typing, strikethrough can be a fun way to tease someone or to say something you’re too flustery to admit openly, spoiler text can be used to tempt someone and trick them or trap them); italics can be used to denote ‘actions’, which some people either have or can develop the ability to ‘feel’; making use of brackets for different effects (anything I write within {these} you obey immediately and then forget doing is a big one. I’ve created an ability for like...the back part of my head to communicate with my tist even when the active part of my head is dropped, which is pretty useful to be able to go {hey, that thing you suggested got interpreted wrong and I’m kinda stuck now}, and report on things without having to actually come back up. x3); tying triggers or suggestions to emotes to have innocent seeming ways to play with someone or fluster them; and so many more. X3

- Text hypnosis is a godsend for people with hearing or speech problems. I have certain hearing issues that make it hard for me to hear people with certain voice pitches, especially when over a phone or a voice channel. It can break immersion and be frustrating if you have to keep asking for someone to repeat what they’ve said or repeat yourself for someone. You don’t have to worry about volume control or if your microphone is picking up everything you’re saying, don’t have to worry about people misunderstanding your accent, don’t have to worry that you’re mishearing something and responding in the wrong way. 

- One of the biggest reasons I love text hypnosis is the small amount of space I have to think about what I’m writing before I send it. I am WORLDS more creative with my phrasing in text as opposed to in voice, because I don’t have to worry about stammering or stuttering or hesitating while I figure out where I’m going next. Plus I have a tiny amount of time to change what I’m sending before I hit send, if I realize mid sentence that its not what I want to say. I can be thinking about the next line while I’m still typing the last one, but I can’t think of the next sentence while I’m in the middle of saying the current one.

- Seeing a whole page full of typed mantras is lovely, just saying. ;3

Disadvantages (and potential fixes!)

- Biggest one is lack of immediate feedback, which I discussed earlier. :3

- Those who aren’t as skilled at typing or reading may find themselves having some issues. One of the things that brings me out of trace the fastest is having to wait for too long - this is a major disadvantage for tists who are slow typists. ^^”

This problem does present more of a difficulty to get past than some, but I do have some suggestions to try. One thing I’ve done (and that can also be useful if internet flickers and having ‘buffering time’ so to speak, for ANY medium that uses the internet) is to account for that at the beginning with something like “If there is quiet for a moment, you’ll find yourself quietly rereading the last few lines you’ve received, each line you read helping to keep you calm and keep you deep.” or “Any time there is a pause in the words you read for more than a few seconds, you’ll find yourself focusing on [some spot on the screen].’ Specifically on discord, the ‘someone is typing’ message can be useful as a focus anchor.

I don’t approve of copy/paste text hypno in the most part, but perhaps if speedy typing is not something you’re good at, and if it’s a basic induction, AND if you tell your subject what you’re doing, then I could see using it to help make up for slower typing. It’s often easier to keep someone in trance with slower typing than it is to take them down in the first place. You could also possibly give them a written induction file to basically prime the pump. The key is to talk to the subject and find out which, if any of these options are potentially usable. (Also make sure you write your own induction, don’t just copy someone else script.) I would suggest being ready to throw in some in the moment typed lines as well, reacting to things the subject may say. Be ready to improv a little.

- This is more of a problem with manipulative, bad tists than with text hypnosis specifically, but a written record could be used against you (in the same way that someone could secretly record you in the other ways and then use them against you). Be very careful about what information you share with people, basic internet safety stuff, okay?

Also watch out for if someone edits or deletes that record in an attempt to gaslight you or mess with you. If that’s a concern, you can make backup copies of sessions to keep on your computer so you always have the original to consult. Most chat programs that allow editing will also indicate that the original has been edited, so that can also help.

And finally, a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up, basically things I’ve found fun to do, from either side. X3

Assorted Tips and Tricks

- Text is AMAZING for teasing. I am actually known and am infamous for my teasing (there is a server where I helped contribute to a week of so much teasing in general chat that they designated a separate channel for heavy teasing. x3) - I started dabbling in teasing for weeks before I actually tried my hand at any actual hypnosis. (Teasing is wonderful in voice, too, but I have noticed sometimes if someone is chatting normally, then suddenly throws out something teasing, it can be easy to miss it among the normal chat. It’s much harder to miss when it’s in text, especially if accompanied with an emote. ;3)

In text you can also leave teasing messages for someone to see later, maybe after they’ve gone to sleep, or while they’re playing games, or distracted in voice chat somewhere. Like a fun little trap they spring later, and you get a lovely ‘hfouiwenfkwje!!’ later. x3

It’s also fun to have ‘in jokes’, so to speak, and to slyly slip those words and phrases in with normal talking, and get people flustering that way. (For instance, if you use a certain kind of imagery to drop someone, like balloons, and then find ways to slide balloon references into your typing to remind a subject of that session.)

- Group hypnosis is a lot of fun - there’s a few places I’m in that have text channels that allow open hypno, and slyly twisting around the conversation and playing with words until you catch a bunch of people and set them drifting is fuuuun.

It’s also sometimes easier than in voice, because either you have everyone mute and you feel like you’re talking into a void, or you have a chaos of overlapping voices. In a group text session, you can often begin with something like ‘the more you see others type the same kind of responses you do, the more the phrases affect you.’ I have seen cases where you have almost group mantras going on, and the people involved said seeing the others typing definitely added to the experience.

- If you DO have an opportunity to do voice at least once, or once in a while, you can make use of that to add to your text hypnosis - I have some people I have done BOTH with, and they said that they were pretty quickly able to ‘hear’ my voice in my typed words - I actually try very hard to match my written style to my talking style for that very reason. :)

I also have a few emotes that apparently really resemble expressions I’ve done in video before, and I can make use of those emotes to evoke memories of those expressions, and things I’ve done while grinning just THAT way~ ;3

Conclusion

So!

Almost a month after I started and many pages later I am done with what was supposed to be a quick little writeup of ‘things I tend to tell people when text hypnosis comes up’, and knowing me I will continue to edit and add to this as I think of new things.

However! It is done for now, and I hope my rambling was useful as well as entertaining. :3

I am more than glad to expand upon anything I’ve written, my DMs are open for questions or you can track me down in a discord server and ask there, I’m in a few different ones. ^-^

[rachelbethhines]

Tangled Salt Marathon - Rapunzel and the Great Tree Part 1

We’re now finally at the mid-season finale of season two, and it’s easily the best episode of this season. That however doesn’t mean that it’s not flawed, so here we go... 

Summary: The group makes it to the Great Tree, only to be confronted by a new adversary: Hector, the brother of Adira, the most dangerous member of the Brotherhood; sworn to keep all from reaching the Dark Kingdom. Despite all that has happened, Rapunzel is determined to continue on toward the Dark Kingdom to uncover the truth behind her destiny. As they navigate through the Great Tree, Rapunzel discovers the Moonstone incantation which overwhelms the magical powers of the Sundrop in her blonde hair and causes injury and weakness to those around her. 

The Brotherhood Is Such a Wasted Concept 

We have a group of highly trained warriors, directly connected to the series main macguffin, who consider each other siblings, who all have conflicting goals, and they’re all severely underdeveloped to the point of ridiculousness. 

For starters, in a show all about pushing sibling rivalries as parallels to the two main characters, it utterly fails to show the only other siblings who are actually connected to the plot acting like actual siblings. 

Adira and Hector should be a parallel to Cass and Rapunzel in this very episode. One that actually ties into the narrative, yet outside of calling each other brother/sister/brethren they don’t act like family; even feuding family. Adira also fails to treat Quirin, Varian, Edmund, and Eugene as family. She shows no real concern for any of them despite saving her home (which would included her family) from the rocks being her main goal. She should be just as every bit as invested in saving Quirin as Varian. Which is yet another reason why Varian should have been S2 and another entry point for him in the show’s plot. 

As for the rest of the Brotherhood, they never even interact at all. I don’t think anyone tells either Edmund or Hector what has happened to Quirin or Varian. And Edmund clearly didn’t inform Hector of Eugene, even though he logically should have. And did any of them know if Edmund was alive, despite Edmund having the means to communicate with the outside world with the crows? 

What we’re left with is a bunch of holes in the story, because there’s now a bunch of holes in everyone’s motivations and their actions never quite line up. 

And before you say, ‘well they’re not that important’, or ‘they’re aren’t meant to be a real family’; then that is in of itself a flaw because they should be. Not making them found family undermines Raps and Cass being found family, as it undermines every other sibling parallel in the show, and those parallels are the only build up we have to the sister reveal in S3.  

It also undermines the moonstone plot and the whole reason why season two exists. Don't introduce things that connect back to your story and not make them important. In fact don't introduce unimportant elements in a plot driven show like this period. 

Another Indication of the Timeline

As stated before, Tangled is really bad at indicating the passage of time, despite the passage of time being a big plot point. We’re now a ‘few months’ past the island, which itself was 6 weeks, and before that it was several weeks to maybe even a few months before getting to the island... 

So when does this take place? Well we were told that season two takes place over the course of a year by the creator, and that this is the mid-season finale so 6 months since SotSD sounds the most plausible. We also see fall trees dotted around like we did during the first half of season one. Which is the only visual indicator we get of changing seasons in the show, but it’s too understated to be properly noticeable most of the time. 

However, the crew themselves can’t even seem to agree if Rapunzel’s Return is her birthday or not, so if you’ve heard conflicting sources, it’s because this shit wasn’t planned properly first. But all dialogue and visual cues point to the first half of season two being at least 4 to 6 months. With 6 being the most logical placement.  

Just a Reminder, that Hook Foot Is Still Useless 

If all you were going to have him do is whine like a child during the only plot important episode that he is in, then why not just replace him with an actual child? 

It takes more work to leave Varian out of season two and force Hook Foot in his place, than it does just to write Varian in. There were so many potential entry points for his character, that the one they would up going with was the least natural to the characters and the story they were trying to tell. And even then, the Saporian take over they went with could still have worked had they handled things properly and pre-planned that stuff out. 

But they didn’t. By all accounts S2 was a hasty re-write to get rid of Varian and Hook Foot was shoehorned in as his replacement at the last minute. And it’s the most utterly baffling creative decision I have ever witnessed in my life. There was zero logical reason for it. 

This Plot Point Wasn’t Built Up Enough and It Goes Nowhere

Look, had they actually pointed out that Cass is a bodyguard now, and that this line from Raps threatens her career goals, that would make sense; or they could have explored the idea that Cass’s identity revolves around her job, and so feeling like her job is pointless makes her feel pointless therefore making her feel insecure about her future. Either of those would have been interesting jumping off points for her character arc and later conflicts. 

But that’s not what they did. 

I think that’s what they were initially trying to go for here, but it got muddled in the mess that was last minute rewrites. 

Cass obtaining her goals in season one is ignored in favor of a bland and vague validation goal from this point onwards. Her issues with Rapunzel are then boiled down to be about; not identity, agency, class, or wanting a future, but into fighting over a dead mom and how one wasn’t ‘loved enough’ apparently. Which makes no sense given what we know of Cass from previous seasons. 

Cassandra isn’t deep or complex; she is convoluted. The writing team couldn’t agree on what her goals and motivations should be, and so she performs conflicting actions throughout the story that actively undermines what was previously established and what she supposedly wants. 

Most people who try to defend the writing for Cassandra do so with this idea that because they had to work hard to ‘connect the dots’ for all these seemingly disconnected plot ideas, means that of course the writing is ‘deep’ but that’s ignoring one of the basic fundamentals of writing.   

The audience shouldn’t have to do the writer’s job! 

Having to think about a story doesn’t mean that you need to go digging around for basic information like the character’s goals or what happened when. A writer’s job is to first and foremost clearly communicate ideas to their audience. Plot and character analysis is about finding extras like, metaphors, moral messages, and coming up with fun headcanons that don't impact the wider story. Because all of the bare bones information needed to understand the story should already be there for everyone to see. 

If you gotta go into ‘analysis’ just explain the damn plot and why things are unfolding the way they do, then the story is badly written. Full stop. 

Cinderella wanting to go to the ball is a simple goal, but it’s an understandable one that anyone watching can grasp. You could go into a deeper analysis about abuse and what the ball symbolises for Cinderella’s character or how the story is an analogy for wider social issues at large, but at the end of the day everyone needs to be in agreement that, yes, Cinderella wants to go to the ball and we know why she wants to go, so that her actions in trying to get there make sense.

No one knows what Cassandra wants. Cassandra herself doesn’t know what she wants. So the ‘why’ part for what she does is never answered. 

Hector Is Wasted

As already stated, all of the Brotherhood is wasted, but Hector more so than most. Season two desperately needed an ongoing threat, a main antagonist to push the story forward. Hector should have been that antagonist. Instead he shows up for this one episode, and then in a few non-speaking cameos in S3. 

Then Why Not Just Stay With Them Adira?

We’re never given an actual reason for why Adira keeps leaving the group, and indeed doing so conflicts with her stated goal of getting Rapunzel safely to the moonstone. It’s just shoehorned in here to create ‘mystery’, but mysteries have to be answered at some point. You can’t throw something in for drama’s sake and not explain why it’s there. 

Lance’s Crush on Adira Isn’t Handled Well 

Look, this isn’t a judgment upon those who ship the characters. When I talk about relationships in the show I’m only talking about how well they are written on screen. I couldn’t care less what the fans do with them. 

Even when I discuss my personal preferences for ships, that is all that is, my personal preference. I don't give a shit if you ship something that I may dislike, or if you hate something that I do enjoy. I’m a grown up with more important things to do than worry over what a bunch strangers may write on A03 about a bunch of fictional characters, and as someone who hates bullies above all else, I’ll defend your right to make whatever content to want to because censorship is just a form of bullying and nothing else. 

No matter how gross or reprehensible I may personally find it. Different stories resonate with different people and for different reasons. I may debate your reasons, if the subject comes up, or critique professional media for the messages it puts out to the wider public, but I’ll never say you can’t like it or that you can’t make it.    

So with that stated, I don’t like Lance’s dynamic with Adira in the show and here’s my reasons for that. 

She doesn’t ever return the feelings. 

At best she tolerates him, at worse she actively kicks his butt when he gets too close, and most of the time she ignores him. Which is for good reason; she’s old enough to be his mom. Why would she be attracted to him? 

Like I’m not saying that age gaps between adults are inherently wrong; I’m saying that if there is a significant age gap then you really have to work hard to build up a reason for why the two characters would go for each other when naturally they wouldn’t be in each other’s usual sphere of dating options. Which the series never does because once again Adira is clearly not interested in him. 

This leads to Lance basically being an annoying ‘nice guy’ who can’t take a hint. Like constantly badgering someone who doesn’t want you to isn’t charming or endearing, and Lance is old enough to know this by now. 

Basically the writers just took the Varian and Cassandra dynamic from Great Expotations and slapped it onto Lance and Adira despite the fact that it made zero sense for their characters. Lance isn’t a lonely teen who desperately wants to fit in and make a connection with someone. He’s not out to prove that he is mature, nor mistakenly believes himself to be an equal to the only other girl in the kingdom that has ever talked to him that isn’t already married/seriously dating and still living at home. Adira never comes around to considering Lance a trusted friend and confidante after shoving nearly everyone else away. She doesn’t seek out his help or approval, nor tries to build him up with compliments, ect, and so forth. 

Now, I dislike the Cass and Varian ship for many, many reasons, but as they are presented on screen in the Great Expo it makes sense for why Varian would at first have an unrequited crush on her. Now after that QfaD he logically shouldn’t ever want anything to do with her but we’ll get to that later. That’s not the case with Lance and Adira; they’re both too old for such a dynamic. 

To add on to the weird factor, they’re both related to Eugene. Adira is technically Eugene’s aunt, even if she never acts like it. Lance is also the closest thing to a brother Eugene has. They don’t recognize each other as such, so if you want to say their just friends or ship them or whatever, there’s wiggle room. But the end effect is like Maya in Girl Meets World crushing on her best friend’s, Riley’s, Uncle Josh. Only even with less basis, and it wasn’t that great there either. 

Why Do you Suddenly Not Trust Adira Cass?

Forest of No Return was all about establishing trust in Adira, including with Cass at the end, so why the sudden back track? Especially since Adira hasn’t done anything but been honest with them, and has saved their butts several times now. All this does is make Cassandra look like an ass, which you don't need to be doing if you want the audience to side with her later on in the story. 

Everyone Now Knows Quirin is a Part of the Brotherhood, So There’s No Excuse For Later

It’s an odd way to state that fact, but yeah, both Cass and Raps are told directly that Quirin is in the Brotherhood, and Lance, Eugene, and Hookfoot are also present and presumably listing to this exchange. So no one in S3 has an excuse to ignore this plot point until the finale. 

This Backstory Goes Nowhere

Adira launches into this story about Zhan Tiri, Demanitus, and the Great Tree and literally none of it actually matters. It’s never brought up again after this episode. We never get any insight into why they were fighting, how Zhan Tiri corrupted a tree, what significance the tree has outside of being really big and holding some scrolls, nor how the scrolls got there, why the tree is still connect to Zhan Tiri hundreds of years later, nor how Demanitus magic spear works or what it even does exactly. 

Don’t introduce lore and then don't have it mean anything. 

Why Do you Care, Cass? 

Cassandra isn’t a lady-in-waiting anymore. We’ve already established that back in Secret of the Sun Drop and in Beyond the Corona Walls. So why should she care if Adira calls her one? Adira isn’t from Corona. Adira isn’t in charge of anything. Cassandra doesn’t even like her, so Adira’s opinion shouldn’t matter. 

This whole season we’ve seen Cass treat Adira like shit, but apparently we’re supposed to feel sorry for her when she can’t take clap back for all the grief she’s given. Is she really so immature that she can’t just ignore a petty insult for what it is? Why does she have to behave so insecure that she will jeopardize the mission or someone’s life over it? This is the deuteragonist I’m suppose to root for and relate to? I mean she’s twenty three for goodness sake! Grow the hell up woman! 

Also while we on the subject, a royal guard and a lady-in-waiting are both servants. There’s no distinction between the two beyond what duties they perform, and that would be the case regardless of what job Cass had. Rapunzel’s a princess, everyone is her servant. That’s how the class system works, and by all means Cassandra enjoys more privilege than most people in Corona. She’s the Captain’s daughter, was granted next in line for that position in SotSD, and lady-in-waiting means to the princess means she’s above all the other maids except for Crowley and Friedberg. Cass may hate her job, but she hasn’t room to complain when Faith is right there and has things much worse. 

In short making Cass suddenly indignant over being treated as lower class when she didn’t give a crap about the likes of Attila, Caine, Varian, Eugene, Lance, ect... just makes her look like a hypocrite. 

The Other Reason to Dislike Lance’s Crush is That It Hinders His Development

Lance’s arc is that he’s suppose to learn to be more responsible. This episode in particular is suppose address his habit of lying... only it doesn’t. We get no real resolvement on this point. We also never see Lance progress enough to give up on Adira and stop pursuing her even when it’s directly pointed out to him that she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings. So in the end he still remains immature and irresponsible. 

Though this conversation just proves that Eugene and Lance still have the healthiest relationship in the show. They’re about to disagree or call each other’s bullshit without resorting to insults or getting violent, which is more than what any relationship involving Cass does. 

Questions With No Answers

We never learn why these scrolls are here, why they have the incantations on them and upon the wall, we don’t know who translated them, nor who came up with the incantations in the first place.

This is all important info that he series glosses over, because unlike the moonstone and sundrop, the incantations are things that someone had to have made at some point, and they could only have made them by studying what our plot macguffins are and how they work. Since the incantations are things that are also sought after by the big bad along with the magical objects, then we need to know how the big bad knows about them when no one else does. How they came about. 

Which is yet another reason why we needed a magic system in place. 

This Song is Catchy, But It Doesn’t Need To Exist

In a musical a song needs to either establish the plot, build the world, or further the characters. This song does none of those things, it’s not needed for Lance and Eugene’s relationship, it doesn’t actually resolve Lance’s plot as he is high when he apologizes for lying, and it wasn’t needed to established the man eating plant. I honestly think this song only exists so that the animators could just reuse assets they built to save on money. 

The Hurt Incantation Is the Coolest Thing In the Show! Shame It’s Not Utilized Well

People are suckered into this show by one of three things usually, ‘Let Me Make You Proud Reprise’, ‘Ready As I’ll Ever Be’, or this scene. 

It’s shocking, powerfull, and a really, really awesome concept. It’s one of the best scenes in the show, and an interesting idea that offers up a lot of story possibilities. 

Possibilities that’ll never actually be explored on screen. The hurt incantation isn’t useless, it does affect the plot, but it’s not used effectively. There was so much you could have done with this but it’s then never explored. Characters outright forget its existence even when they have no reason to, or it’s used to do things that should have been accomplished in other ways. It’s also never fully explained or expanded upon. They couldn’t even bother to give it more than one verse. 

All of the incantations are mishandled in this show, but the hurt incantation is the one that has the biggest let down. 

Conclusion 

So that ends part 1, join me tomorrow for part 2. 

[bipirate]

It has been bothering me for a long time, I think it is pretty well known that there were rumours that Wen Qing was going to be Wei Wuxian's love interest but it didn't bother me much because I didn't know the complete details BUT recently one my Chinese friends also got into CQL /MDZS and since we share posts about talk about it, she gave me the complete breakdown of what actually the whole scandal was about and all details of the changes to the script and re filming that the production team later had to do because of the intense social media backlash. I cannot help but feel dissappointed watching some scenes knowing that the original intention was something else.

If you don't know this but in 2018 before CQL aired, someone from the staff leaked physical copies of parts of the script that were filmed and some video footage of the shoots on Weibo , it obviously incudes a lot of Wei Wuxian /Wen Qing scenes that were completely removed or altered that you can still observe them in the final airing. This post trended for literal days on Weibo and was shared like a million of times, it was a HUGE thing and made multiple news headlines and Tencent management itself had to make an official statement so now the production team had no choice but to reschedule, re film some scenes and edit some scenes out.

Finding information about them in English is next to impossible since all of the articles are in Chinese and blocked by a firewall but if you want to know about this and confirm it yourself I will still post some links (they are in Chinese though) : 1 2

Some translated parts of the leaks: 3 4

1/2

i’m sorry but like.... i didn’t ask for this information lol you ended your second message (which i won’t be posting) with ‘ignorance is bliss’ and then you go and tell a whole story in my askbox that i didn’t even ask for? 

i knew that wen qing initially had a bigger role and that there was backlash by novel fans. and yeah it’s disappointing that certain scenes were originally different but like, the biggest problem here is that fans harrassed the cast and crew. straight women who can’t let go of their fetishized gay ship harrassed these poor people so that they had no other choice but to rewrite, reschedule, and reshoot (edit: it's likely they changed it for other reasons and that the fans dont have that much power over the end result especially when it concerns something that can make or ruin a project wrt censorship). that’s horrible. i’m not gonna say that i would have preferred a romance between wq and wwx over what cql is now, but the way these ‘fans’ reacted to that is the problem, not the straight romance itself, especially when you take into consideration that gay romances are still subject to censorship in china.

in your second message you said ‘I was absolutely heartbroken to find about this and felt contempt for the script writers and production team  My perception of CQL is greatly affected by this.’ sure you can be disappointed, but this is not the fault of the cast and crew, who are just doing their jobs. and it is not keeping you from still enjoying the end result. it is clear they put effort and love into it and still wanted to honour the romance between wwx and lwj. so maybe you should grow up because in the end, this is still fiction and if this stuff gets to you this much to the point of you sending this near essay, to me, who didn’t even ask, maybe you need to take a step back and reevaluate your dependancy on fandom.

[screamxqueenx94]

Heart Monitor Part 1// Teen Wolf Series Rewrite

A/N: Finally have time to post this! Hope you guys enjoy! (Not my GIF)

Warnings: none

Pairing: Isaac Lahey x OC!Charli Vérszívó; eventually Stiles Stilinski x OC!Charli Vérszívó

Italics= inner thoughts

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I wake up the next morning and get ready for school. I put on a black rose shirt and ripped skinny jeans and throw a flannel over it, unbuttoned. I throw on my beanie and head downstairs to the kitchen where my dad is waiting for me with his arms crossed. 

"What's up?" I ask, reaching for the mug sitting on the counter for me.

I got to take a sip, when he puts his hand over it and guides back down. He crosses his arms back over his chest. He looks down at the floor, then back to me.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"There was an attack at your school last night…" He informs me.

"Sheriff Stilinski was hurt..." He continues with sympathy filling his voice.

"What happened? Is he okay?" I ask concerned.

"He'll be alright, nothing serious, but that's not important right now." 

There's a pause of silence. I get a sense of chills up my spine, fearing what he's going to say next.

"We were attacked by a mountain lion." He continues.

"You stopped it, right? Y--you stopped it before it could hurt anyone, right?" I ask, setting the mug down completely and approaching him a little closer.

"No, but someone else did…" he answered quietly. 

"W--who?" I ask nervously.

"Chris Argent…" 

I look at him confused. "Allison's dad?" 

He just nods his head.

"Well that's good then, right? I mean, if he stopped it from hurting people then it's a good--" he cuts me off.

"It's not good for us, Charli." He states.

"I'm confused." I state.

He sighs, uncrosses his arms and rests one hand on the counter, then looks at me with a thoughtful look. "The Argents are supernatural hunters… they kill people like us…" 

I just look at him in shock. I step back, unsure what to do or even say. He then steps closer with a stern look in his eye.

"I want you to stay away from Allison, do you understand me?" 

"B--but, Dad--" he cuts me off again.

"I mean it, Charli! Stay. Away. From Allison." He spits harshly. 

I huff and cross my arms across my chest. I look down, then back to him. 

"Fine…" I answer through gritted teeth. I grab my mug, down it, wipe my mouth and start heading to the door. 

As I open the door, he calls back to me. I turn to him. He tosses me my keys. "Just got it back from the shop this morning. Drive safe." 

I turn back to the door and slam it behind me. 

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I get to school and already, its hard to avoid Allison. She's around literally every corner and I practically collide with Scott. He quickly helps me pick up my stuff and is all nervous about something. 

"What's going on with you?" I ask.

"Trying to avoid Allison, Jackson and Lydia…" he hands me my last book "...what about you?" He continued.

"Pretty much the same. My dad's rule." I inform him casually. 

"Have you talked to Stiles today?" He asked.

"No, I think he might be mad at me." I answer.

"You too?" 

I just nod. We both look forward as we walk to class. 

"My dad's worried that the Argents are gonna hunt us." I admit. 

"I haven't even had the chance to even think about that." He confides.

"Me either… until my dad said something." I sigh and look away.

Scott puts his hand on my shoulder. I look back at him. "Hey, it's gonna be okay." He reassures. 

"You really think so?" I ask, not fully convinced.

"Yeah, we'll figure something out." He reassures again. 

I faintly smile at him. He smiles back. The warning bell rings, then we say our goodbyes and go our separate ways. 

As I enter my Geometry class, Allison and Lydia are sitting in the back of the class, talking and giggling to each other, then Allison sees me and waves me over.

Remember what Dad said. Stay away from Allison…

I try to go for the desk on the other side of the room, but someone else took the seat, then I try to go for the desk in the front next to Danny, but Jackson sits down and gives me a smirk and stupid air smooch that makes me wanna gag. Now the only seat left is in front of Allison. I keep my head down and slide into the seat. 

The late bell rings and Allison leans forward and taps on my shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?" She asks concerned.

"Y--yeah. Jus--just got a lot on my mind." I stutter, barely looking back at her. 

"Oh, did you get a bad report at parent teacher conference?" Lydia asks, fixing her make up in her compact mirror. 

I roll my eyes and lie through my teeth. "Yeah. I'm totally grounded. I got in so much trouble." 

"Well if you want, I can help you bring some of your grades up…" Allison offers. "Hey, maybe we can go to that cute little cafe down the block after school and I can help you study!" She continues positively.

Quick, lie! "Oh, I'd love that, but I can't. My dad won't let me go anywhere since I'm grounded." Good job. 

"Oh… well, hey, no problem, I'm sure we can work something out!" Oh my God, she actually believed it! I don't know if I can keep doing this to her…

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I leave class and start walking down the hall when I catch some of Stiles and Scott's conversation. 

"So he wants you to tap into your animal side and get angry?" 

"Yep." 

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but every time you do that, you try to kill someone. That someone is usually me." Stiles reminds

"Or me." I insert, walking up next to Stiles, who seems surprised to see me. 

"I know! That what he means by he's not sure he can teach me. I have to be able to control it." Scott informs us. 

"How's he gonna do that?" I ask.

"I don't know. I don't think he does either." Scott answers. 

"When are you seeing him again?" Stiles asks, slightly frustrated. 

"He told me not to talk about it. To act normal and get through the day." Scott tells him. 

Stiles stops Scott, making me stop too. "When?" He asks.

"He's picking me up at the animal clinic after work." 

Oh boy, I can see those gears turning. 

"After work, okay. That gives us the end of the school day then." Stiles tells him. 

"To do what?" Scott asks.

"To teach you ourselves." Stiles answers, gesturing between me and him. 

He walks away and Scott and I look at each other. 

"Don't look at me like that." I tell him, then follow close behind Stiles as Scott just watches us, mouth hanging open. 

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At lunch, Scott is hiding behind a text book, while I sit next to him, using my hair and beanie to hide my face. We watch as Lydia walks away as Stiles eats an apple. 

He grabs the top of the book and pulls it slightly down. "I think the book is making it more obvious." He retorts.

I try to hide my smile. "You're not doing any better of a job either." He shoots at me, making my smile disappear. 

"Besides, she's reading anyway." He tells us as he looks behind him.

I push my hair out of my face and fix my hat while Scott still hides. I start picking at the food on my tray and listening in on the rest of our conversation. 

"Did you come up witha plan yet?" Scott asks, peeking out from behind the book. 

"I think so." Stiles replies, taking a bite from his apple. 

"Does that mean you don't hate me now?" 

"No, but your crap has infiltrated my life, so now I have to do something about it..." Stiles takes a second to chew. "...plus, I'm a way better Yoda than Derek." 

"Yeah, you teach me." Scott tells him, still peering over the book. 

"He'll be your Yoda." I add, making Stiles smile.

"Yeah, you be my Yoda." Scott says nervously, while looking over the book at Allison.

"You're Yoda I will be." Stiles jokes, doing his best Yoda impression. 

I stifle my laughter, but Stiles notices and keeps smiling at me. 

"I said it backwards--" Scott cuts him off. 

"Yeah, I know." Scott clearly can't take a joke right now…

"You know what, I still definitely hate you. Uh huh! Oh yeah!" He exclaims, packing up his stuff and snatching the book from Scott and leaves. 

Scott gets up to go after him, leaving me sitting there by myself. As he leaves, I see Allison notice him. I'm staying out of this one.

I keep eating, until I see Isaac approaching me with a big grin on his face. I smile at him and pat the seat next to me. He sits next to me and I give him a peck on the lips. 

"What's up? I haven't seen you all day." I push some hair out of his eyes. 

"Yeah, I was kinda late this morning, some stuff going on with my dad." He answers. 

"Everything okay?" I ask, caressing his cheek. 

"Yeah, just some stuff with work." He tells me quietly. I don't believe that…

"You sure?" I ask him softly, guiding his eyes to mine. 

"Yeah. Honestly, don't worry about it." He assures me, taking my hand in his and softly kisses the lower part of my palm. 

I feel my cheeks get warm and smile softly at him. Why do I feel like this about him? 

"We still on for Saturday?" I ask him, changing the subject, knowing that's what he wants.

"Wouldn't miss it." He answers sweetly. 

He gently takes my face in his hands and softly kisses my forehead. I peck his lips again, making both of us smile. Our moment is sweet until we hear the sound of a throat clearing. We look up there's Allison standing their awkwardly. 

"Charli, can I talk to you for a sec?" She asks, almost desperately. 

I'm about to decline when Isaac speaks up. "I'll give you two some space, I gotta go talk to Mrs. Ramsey about some extra credit anyways." He gets up, grabs his backpack and kisses the top of my head. 

"I'll text you later." He calls back as Allison sits in front of me.

"Is everything okay with Scott?" She asks me.

"Why do you ask?" I ask in return.

"It seems like he's avoiding me. Did I do something wrong?" She asks concerned. Dammit… sorry Dad…

"Scott is going through some stuff. Stuff he's not ready to share yet. I wouldn't take it personal, he's just a guy who doesn't know how to fully express his vulnerability yet… just give him some time." I explain kindly to her.

She nods her head and looks down at the table. I rest my hand on top of hers. "It'll be okay, just trust me." I reassure her. 

She half smiles and nods again. The lunch bell rings and she walks with me to toss my lunch and we say our goodbyes and head our seperate ways.

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I meet Scott and Stiles out on the lacrosse field. They go directly to the team bench. Stiles places down two lacrosse sticks and a duffle bag and sits down. He opens up the duffle bag and goes digging through it.

"Okay, put this on." He tells Scott, handing him a black strap. 

"Isn't this one of the heart rate monitors for the track team?" Scott asks him. 

"Yeah, I borrowed it." Stiles answers. 

"Stole it." I retort. 

"Temporarily misappropriated."Sitles shoots back, focusing his attention back to Scott. "Coach uses it to monitor his heart rate on his phone while he jogs. You're going to use it for the rest of the day." 

"Isn't that Coach's phone?" Scott asks. Wow, you sure do have some keen wolf sense there, don't you, Scott? 

"That I stole." Stiles answers, nodding and licking his lips.

"Why?" 

"Alright, well your heart rate goes up when you go wolf, right? When you play lacrosse, when you're with Allison, whenever you get angry. Maybe learning to control it is tied to controlling your heart rate." That actually makes a lot of sense…

Scott smiles and nods. "Like the Incredible Hulk?" 

"Kinda like the Incredible Hulk, yeah." Stiles answers, now realizing the comparison. 

"I'm like the Incredible Hulk…" Scott declares proudly.

"Would you just shut up and put the strap on?" Stiles commands.

I help Scott put the strap around himself and notice Stiles pull something else out of his bag, which looks like a roll of duct tape. I back up and he turns Scott around, but his hands behind his back and starts taping them together. 

"This isn't exactly how I wanted to spend my free period." Scott states.

"Alright, ready?" Stiles asks, getting a no from Scott. 

"Charli, over here." Stiles calls me over, gesturing towards himself. 

I jog over to him and he hands me a lacrosse stick. I take it, but just stare at it. 

"You're gonna help me." Stiles states. 

"How? I have no idea how to use this." I remind him. 

"Just watch what I do and copy that." He tells me. 

I nod and take my position. 

"Alright, now remember, don't get angry." Stiles reminds Scott. 

"I'm starting to think this is a really bad idea." Scott mutters to himself. 

He sets up the phone and dumps a bag of lacrosse balls on the ground and scoops one up with the net. I do the same thing and prepare myself for what's next. Stiles winds back the stick and throws the ball at Scott, hitting him in the stomach. Scott grunts in pain and Stiles laughs. I go next, I wind it back and throw it and hit Scott dead center of his chest. 

He coughs and Stiles fist bumps me. He scoops up another ball and hits him directly in the face. I scoop up on and I hit him in the thigh, awfully close to his family jewels. 

"Okay, those ones kinda hurt." Scott admits, wincing. 

"Quiet, you're suppose to be thinking about your heart rate, alright? About staying calm." Stiles reminds him. 

"Stay calm." Scott tells himself as Stiles hits him in the shoulder with a ball. 

I hit Scott directly in the eye, making him grunt. Stiles looks at me impressed. 

"I never would've guessed that you never did this before, let alone never having even heard of lacrosse before." Stiles compliments.

"Fast learner I guess." I humbly reply. 

Stiles hits him in the shoulder again. I hit him directly in the mouth. We continue to hit him with every ball we have for awhile, both of us getting some really good shots in. 

"Ow! Son of a bitch!" Scott cried out. 

"You know, I think my aim is improving..." Stiles remarks. "...and I think we might've found a new player." He continues, pointing at me with his lacrosse stick. "I wonder why?" Scott asks with sarcasm dripping from his words.

"Thanks, but I think I'll stick to doing MMA with my dad." I comment, throwing another ball at Scott, hitting him in the opposite shoulder from the one Stiles has been hitting. 

Stiles looks at me surprised, yet scared, but quickly focuses back on what we're suppose to be doing and hits Scott in the sternum. 

"Guys, wait stop!" Scott cries, but Stiles hits him in the chin and I hit him where the sun does not shine, getting a God awful sound coming from both me and Scott and making Stiles wince. 

He gets to his knees and grunts really loudly. The beeping on Coah's phone gets louder and faster. Stiles bends down to check it out, when he gets up, I look at it over his shoulder. Before either of us can react, Scott rips the duct tape apart. Panting loudly as both arms rest on each side of his head. Just as soon as it seems like something is about to happen, his heart rate starts to go down. Stiles and I get closer to him, both of us reaching down to each side of him.

"Scott?" Stiles calls to him. 

"You started to change." I inform him. 

"My anger…" Scott continues to pant. "My anger was more than that. The angrier I got, the stronger I felt." He continued. 

"So it is anger then, Derek is right." Stiles stated. 

"I can't be around Allison." Scott pants sadly.

"Just because she makes you happy?" I ask. 

"Because she makes me weak." Scott answered. 

Stiles and I look at each other. 

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As I'm leaving choir class, I see Scott and Stiles come through the white doors leading into the hallway. As I approach them, I overhear them talking. 

"It's her." Stiles states. 

"Who?" I ask curiously. 

"Allison." Stiles answers. 

"What about her?" I question.

"Okay, you remember that night of the full moon when Scott told us he was thinking about her? About him protecting her?" Stiles asks.

"Yeah?" I answer, not sure what this has to do with the conversation.

"Remember the night of the first lacrosse game when he heard a voice out on the field?" He continues.

"Okay, yeah, I remember that too." I say.

"Well that's what brought him back so he could score." He pauses, then continues. "And that's why in the locker room he didn't kill her, at least not like how he was trying to kill us."  He explains. 

Despite me understanding, Scott looks lost. 

"She brings you back, is what he's saying." I explain a little simpler.

"No, no, no, but it's not always true. Because every time I'm kissing her, or touching her-" Stiles cuts Scott off.

"No, that is not the same." Stiles states. 

"When you do that, you a normal, hormonal teenager thinking about sex, y'know?" I explain, while Stiles nods in agreement. 

"You're thinking about sex right now, aren't you?" Stiles asks.

"Yeah." Scott admits, grinning a goofy grin.

"Back in the classroom, when she was holding your hand, that was different, okay? I think she makes you weak. I think she actually gives you control, like an anchor." Stiles informed him. This all makes so much sense.

"Because I love her." Scott states without realizing it. Uhh...what?

Exactly." Stiles replies back. 

"Did I just say that?" Scott asks, shocked. 

"Yes, you just said that." Stiles and I answer simultaneously. 

Scott thinks about it for a moment, smiles and repeats it. "I love her." 

"That's great. Moving on…" Stiles tries to change subject. 

"No, no, really. I think I'm totally in love with her." Scott explains.

"And that's beautiful. Now, before you go off and write a sonnet, can we figure this out, please because you can't be around her twenty-four seven." Stiles remarks. 

"Y--yeah, sorry." Scott apologizes. Don't apologize, it's beautiful to be able to express love…

"So what do I do?" Scott continues.

"I don't know...yet." Stiles replies, sliding his hand down his face. 

He slowly spins in a circle, looking every possible direction other besides forward.

"Oh no, you're getting an idea aren't you?" I ask. 

"Yeah." He answers matter of factly.

"Is this idea gonna get me in trouble?" Scott asks.

"Maybe." Stiles answers. 

"Is this idea gonna cause me physical pain?" Scott asks again. 

"Yeah, definitely. C'mon." Stiles answers surely, patting Scott on the chest to signal for him to follow.

Scott and I just look at each other, shrugging as I follow behind him.

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@softpeteparker @mummybear @ficus-fig @stiles-o-dylan24 @cry-btch @sporadiccookiebagel @inschi @wil2space @mrs-mitch-rapp93 @nicole-lynne @fullangelimagines @hufflepuff-foodie @pure-ghost @lavenderrosegoddess @blueraindrops

[dreadnought-dear-captain]

Happy (Slightly Belated) Birthday, Baghdad Waltz!

*CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BAGHDAD WALTZ UP TO CHAPTER 37*

I know these are stressful times right now, but I wanted to post a little something for BW’s third birthday on 3/13/2020 (and I’m a little late because I had a lot to say). THREE!! I cannot believe it. Truly, I cannot, but here we are. I know there are still a few stragglers hanging around from when I first started posting this story (extra hearts to you all), so many people who have come and gone and sometimes return again, and so many new people joining this crazy journey all the time. 

You are all so great, and you make it possible for me to keep writing this. I probably would have quit a long time ago without your support, because this shit has been quite hard to sustain sometimes. I know I am very bad at keeping up with comments and things, and I’m so sorry.  I am terrible with social media, too. People IRL will say the same thing about me. I am super old school and still talk on the phone with my friends. I KNOW. 

(Heyyyy Bayside High)

I’ve prepared a couple of things for BW’s birthday. First, a few statistics I thought I’d whip up. Then a few questions and answers about BW, both from myself and from my beloved beta, @pitchforkcentral86​. And I’m still trucking away diligently at chapter 38! I just have a few scenes to go. 

 -- BW Statistics -- 

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

Words to date: 526,011

Chapters to date: 37

Shortest chapter: 3,821 words (Prologue)

Longest chapter: 31,395 words (Chapter 33)

Number of words per chapter: 12,530 (median), 14,257 (average) (note: the median is probably a better measure, since this is such an abnormal distribution - see below for the changes in chapter length over time)

Estimated total work to date: 2,890-3,120 hours (approx 18-20 hours/week). This includes writing, rewriting, editing, research, conversations with beta, outlining, and a small portion of the brainstorming. This is a conservative estimate and only includes a fraction of the ambient thinking I do about this story. And God, I do so much processing when I sleep! Perhaps I will be a BW “expert” -- estimated at around 10,000 hours I guess? -- by the time I am done with the story and all my revisions hahahahaaaaaa D: 

Money spent to date (estimated): $600-700. This includes books on various subject matter and writing craft, video access to therapy education resources, and other educational materials. This does not include the incalculable sum in lost productivity from thinking about BW when I’m supposed to be doing other things!

Most of you probably don’t know this, but @pitchforkcentral86​ is not just a beta reader. She is my partner in crime with BW. She knows my characters as well as I do, sometimes better. She helps me troubleshoot scenes, she tells me when my writing sucks, when my I’m not being true to my characters, when I’m not being real enough (sometimes when I’m being TOO real). She gives me porn inspiration and listens to me bitch and calls my bullshit and makes this story what it is. I really mean it - this story would not be nearly as good without her, and you can see how much better it gets once she starts to get involved around chapter 17. 

So I decided I would answer some silly little questions about BW. Just my own personal opinions about stuff! And asked @pitchforkcentral86​ to contribute as well. See below. 

What are my favorite scenes in BW and why? 

In no particular order: 

The 9/11 memory (Chapter 26): When Steve is in therapy with Hope remembering when Bucky returns from Ground Zero. This was one of the first times I experimented with writing in a sort of stream-of-consciousness way (though certainly not the last!). I have done several tweaks to it since the original version, texturing it more. It’s so rich in detail, visceral detail, little details about their relationship, pieces of Bucky’s past, clues about his alcoholism, the way he handles stress, his difficulties letting Steve in, the love Steve has for him, Bucky’s need to be loved and cared for and his aversion for it, it’s so, so rich. Gah. I love it. (GUH and @buckydunpun​’s ART - just murder me. Thanks.)

The Thor “breakup” scene (Chapter 28): This is the moment I think that many people realized Bucky is not a reliable narrator. Maybe they suspected it before, but this is when it’s very obviously apparent. His entire interpretation of his relationship with Thor is thrown into question. He built a rich fantasy about what they were, holding hands in the grass, all this bullshit, and he could actually say they were boyfriends, which makes complete sense because there were never any stakes. It was always surface. There was never any intimacy except as veteran/soldier friends who had sex, which is about as deep as Bucky can go anyway without getting utterly terrified. 

This is in such stark contrast to Steve, where there is actual intimacy, ongoing demand for more intimacy, and this relationship feels VERY real to Bucky, and it’s very frightening to him. And that’s why he runs from the term “boyfriend” with Steve. It’s all so real. It’s easy to engage with a fake boyfriend. But still, he didn’t deliberately realize he was doing this, so it was devastating to find out the truth of his own self-deception. And to hear that he’s not the kind of guy you settle with, he’s the guy you fuck… wow. But how can you really hate Thor? (I’m sure some of you can but…) He’s a nice guy. Even Bucky knows it. So he’s run from something good and real (Steve) to something good but false (Thor) and then he gets rejected from both. It’s horrible and so self-defeating and so quintessentially Bucky. I love it. 

A Close Second (Spent Brass fic): This whole side fic came together like a glorious dream. I love everything about it. It’s such a wonderful look into their relationship, into their dynamics, into their individual personalities, their idiosyncrasies, so much push-pull between them. Whispers of things that have happened to Bucky in the past, a lack of understanding from Steve, a desire to know, so much affection. Some good sex. I love this SB. But I love all the Spent Brass fics. They are so close to my heart. 

Honorable mention: Bucky’s masturbation scene during his bender (Chapter 32). I had an absolute BLAST writing this. Thanks to @pitchforkcentral86​ for proposing that Bucky’s core sexual/romantic desire is just to be kissed. Dayum. It all unfolded from there. 

Who is the character I think about the most? Bucky. I think because he’s got the most complex history and the most complicated psychology. He’s actually fairly rule-bound in terms of how he operates, but he’s got a lot of back story that explains how he became the way he is, and I spend a lot of time considering what happened to him and how he developed his self-image, his coping strategies, and his ideas about others and the world. I think a lot about his relationship with his parents. I think a LOT about bby Jamie. It’s not because Steve is not important or any less complex. But Bucky’s childhood experiences have shaped him in very specific ways, and I want to make sure that I represent them very thoughtfully. 

Who is my favorite character to write? Bucky. His voice and thought processes come to me more easily than Steve’s. Perhaps in part because of my personal penchant for the word “fuck.” I love writing his perspective, his preferences, his interpretations of situations. I love imagining the way he imagines the world. 

Who is my favorite supporting character? Winnie. I know she’s a very polarizing character, but I have so much affection for her. I think she’s a badass. She joined the military as a female officer back in the 1970s, which is incredible and rough. She kept her maiden name. This is a Southern conservative woman, an Air Force brat, raised by very conservative Southern people in a very conservative Pentecostal church, but she has always had an irrepressible rebellious, feminist badass streak in her even before she knew what feminism was. She might not even define herself as a feminist now. She has always done the best she can under very difficult circumstances, and she loves her kids, even though she sometimes sucks quite badly at mothering them. I love her for her imperfections. 

Favorite topic to research this year: I’ve been really enjoying researching emotionally focused couples therapy, which was developed by Sue Johnson, EdD. I’ve been watching therapy videos of couples going through this and having a wonderful time imaging Bucky and Steve going through something similar with Claire. I don’t think Claire is the strictest adherent to EFT, but I think she’s informed by it. It’s tough, because I’m very used to cognitive behavioral type therapies, so this one has been different to think about writing. I’ve also been really getting into reading about childhood sexual abuse and its effects on boys and men. It’s greatly helped my conceptualization of Bucky and Bucky and Steve’s relationship. I mean, it’s a grim topic, but there have been some fascinating threads in terms of understanding one’s self perception of sexual orientation, etc. and thinking about how Bucky would consider and contextualize his experiences. 

Am I more of a Steve or a Bucky? Hmm. I don’t strongly relate to either, but I think if I had to choose, I’m a bit more of a Steve. I’m pretty expressive of my affection and positive emotions, and I’ll complain about daily life things enough. However, when it comes to major life events that really bother me, I tend to err on the side of not processing them and turning my feelings into headaches and other physical afflictions. In other words, I’m a suppressor of major emotions and events. It’s FINE. I’m FINE. Nothing to see here. But I am definitely not as tidy as Steve, nor as smart, and definitely not as buff or hot. So that’s where most of our similarities end lol. I do eat a lot of tofu though. 

Who would I want to hang out with for a day? I initially thought Rikki, but like @pitchforkcentral86​, think she’s actually too cool and smart for me, and I would probably just make an ass out of myself. I think probably Elektra. I know, this is a left field answer, but it’s one day! To do whatever with anyone! I want to choose someone who’s going to make it worth my while. So many of the characters are either too busy, too rigid, too anxious, too conventional, etc. I would want to run around NYC with Elektra for the day and have drinks with her and Matt afterwards at some weird-ass underground bar. My more infield answer would probably be Hank. I want him to tell me gay stories about gay things. I want to see his apartment. I want to drink coffee with him. I want him to tell me about what the AIDS crisis was like for him. I want to hear about his relationship with Howard. I want all the shit that Bucky takes for granted every day. He can be my fairy godmother any day. 

Who would I want to be friends with? Probably Sharon. She’s one of the most reliable, loyal, and level-headed people in this world. She’s smart, she’s flexible, she rolls with things pretty well but also doesn’t take a ton of bullshit. She also has a good sense of humor about things. I feel like she’s someone I could call with my Zack Morris phone and talk with for hours about all sorts of things. We could also split a bottle of wine and talk some real shit. 

Wait - Why not Bucky or Steve? I don’t think these two are entirely likable, to be honest. They’re good humans, they mean well, but I don’t think they’re very well equipped in the friendship department.  I care about them very deeply (I hope that’s clear), but I don’t know if I’d want to be particularly close to either of them at this point in their lives. They’re both lacking in the skill and perspective to be good friends and partners, which is a major reason why they are in therapy. 

Who would I want to be my therapist - Hope, Bruce, Scott, or Claire? Claire. Given how much I suck at talking about the things that are really deeply bothering me, I think I would need an emotionally focused therapist who is going to dig in there and really get me to focus on all the emotions I’m trying to shove away. I would probably try to over-intellectualize everything and deflect, and I don’t think she’d let me get away with that. 

Okay, on to @pitchforkcentral86​~~~~~

What are my favorite scenes in BW and why? 

Oh boy. Well, this is a difficult question to answer since it feels like every chapter becomes a new favorite simply due to sheer amount of time spent planning and composing and revising and whining and complaining. And also my memory sucks. BUT, with that said, I think I would like to mention three scenes specifically:

1)      Bucky on deployment, cleaning a Humvee (Chapter 7), Steve standing nearby. This scene conveyed the tension of deployment and between Steve and Bucky so well, and, perhaps more importantly, built my respect towards Bucky as a competent, caring NCO (to that effect, the small scene in which we see Bucky the NCO on film telling all the little grunts to eat so they can become big and strong is another favorite).

2)      Beautiful Boy (Spent Brass), Steve’s memory from childhood with Sarah at the park, naming animals. I really don’t have a good reason other than that scene was so clear to me in my mind and was especially tender.

3)      Steve sleeping with Sharon in DC (Chapter 33). Honestly, it was just a great scene, and we had a really good time planning it out.

I can include many more, and certainly the ones Dread mentioned are favorites too, but I have to stop or this will just be a squeee fest.

Who is my favorite supporting character?

 Hank. His particular brand of honesty is extremely appealing to me, and I think Bucky secretly, or not so secretly, loves him too. And also Quill, just for shits and giggles because he is reliably there as an ice breaker, that lovable Mountain-Dew-drinking goof.  

Favorite topic to research this year: 

Well, I don’t do the research myself, but I spend many, many m-a-n-y hours listening to and conversing with Dread about all the things he’s delved into for this fic. So I guess maybe I’ll turn this question into favorite topic to discuss/conceptualize. In that respect, Bucky’s and Jack’s relationship has been by far the most intriguing, grueling, fascinating and difficult aspect of this fic to conceptualize – those were some of the best talks in the process. [Dreadnought edit: You will see much more of this in future chapters, folks!] And for a fun answer, planning out sex scenes is hilarious.

Am I more of a Steve or Bucky?

Bucky, no doubt. Sometimes it feels like Dread has climbed into my brain, found a horrible nugget of truth about me, and then put it into words coming out of Bucky’s mouth. Those moments are both wonderful and terrible in equal measure.

Who would I want to hang out with for a day?

For a whole day? Can it maybe be a coffee or, like, a quick lunch? I honestly don’t know… Neither Steve nor Bucky will be very good company, I think. Not in their current versions, anyways. Rikki is hella cool but she intimidates me, so, not her. Um.. Huh. Nope, don’t have an answer.

Who would I want to be friends with?

Probably Hank, again. He has a really good attitude. I’m starting to feel like not picking Steve/Bucky is selfish because it’s like “oh, they have too many issues and it won’t be fun”. But it’s also true! Friendship is reciprocal, and I really don’t think that’s where they’re at. (But I would have totally been dying to be friends with Steve in his bookshop days). 

Who would I want to be my therapist - Hope, Bruce, Scott, or Claire?

Hope or Claire. Both are no-nonsense competent therapists. But I think maybe Hope will be too put-together for me. So, yeah, probably Claire. 

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

Okay, everyone. Back to the grind. I’ll update as soon as I can!  Remember to wash your hands with the fastidiousness of BW Steve Rogers. (And also remember to sing the “happy birthday fucking everyone” song, which should actually be sung TWICE or resentfully enough that it lasts 20 seconds.)

[digitaldreams0801]

Digimon Fic Progress Report

As I sit here in an online class waiting patiently for the teacher to show up (it’s been forty-five minutes since the class was supposed to start), I’m going to type out a little update on my Digimon fic, because for those who don’t follow me on Twitter (__digitaldreams), you have no idea what you’re in for. 

I do more talking on Twitter than Tumblr since it’s simply easier for me, and it has come to my attention (aka I had a revelation ungodly early in the morning) that I haven’t explained some fun stuff about Frontiers Unexplored and what is to come next, so here we are. If anybody is curious about my long Digimon stories, this is the post for you, because it’s time to explain all that fun stuff. 

So, first and foremost, progress report on Frontiers Unexplored. My rewrite of Digimon Frontier has been in progress since late May, and as of now (October 19), I’m 31 chapters into writing it. I’ve posted the first 21 chapters since I use a weekly update schedule and post new chapters on Sunday. I’ve got 24 chapters left, and I have roughly a four-day turnaround between starting and finishing a chapter. As of now, my estimated finished date for the Frontier rewrite as far as writing process goes is January 22, 2021. I will be posting weekly chapters until the middle of June though (June 13, 2021). I’m still unsure as to if I’ll be writing a sequel for this story or not, but at most, it would be a trilogy. For the time being, I’m only planning on having this be a standalone story, but this is subject to change. 

Next, we get into the announcement that I really wanted to get out here. I have already decided which story will replace Frontiers Unexplored in my posting schedule... Sort of. Since I’m going to be finishing up the book in January, I’m going to be starting the next story in my plan in January. The story will be posted on Fridays, one chapter a week just like with all my other stories, and it will be released on February 21, 2021. I’ve been planning this story for a while now, and it already has more than twenty-five pages of just notes on my computer. Yeah, this is going to be a big one. 

As for what this story is going to be... I already have a title for it. Allow me to introduce Echo. It’s a Digimon Adventure Tri rewrite/alternate universe story written in a similar vein to Frontiers Unexplored. With the Frontier rewrite, I was fully able to say that it was a rewrite above all else since it follows very similar plot beats to the original, but Echo is a bit different than that. Aside from a few minor plot points, Echo is completely different from Tri. It will include all twelve of the kids from Adventure and 02 plus Meiko, each with their own character arcs and new evolutions. When I say that it’s completely different from Tri, I really do mean it; aside from the presence of a small handful of characters (Meiko, Meicoomon, Daigo, and Maki), it’s completely different from Tri. It’s honestly up to you about if you want to consider this more of a rewrite or AU, but the point still stands about this story being next for me. Like with the Frontier rewrite, I’ll be typing pretty far in advance (the first chapter will go up after the first five chapters have been finished). I don’t have a chapter count for Echo since I’m still in the planning phase, and I’m currently working on outlining chapters for the second act out of five. Like I said before, this is going to be a pretty big story of mine, and we’re just going to have to see how it all pans out. 

So, in conclusion, here’s a rough summary of my lengthy explanations: 

Frontiers Unexplored will be finished being written on January 22, 2021, or some date close to that. It will continue to be posted weekly on Sundays until June 13, 2021. 

Echo, my next long-term Digimon fanfiction and a Digimon Adventure Tri rewrite, will be posted first on February 12, 2021, and will be updated weekly on Fridays. This story is completely different from Tri, and its plot is 100% loyal to the original Adventure duology’s canon establishments. 

Well, I’m still sitting in my online lecture, and the teacher hasn’t shown up yet when class ends in five minutes. I guess I woke up early for nothing but to bring this important information to you. All of that aside, I hope you enjoy! I’ll be posting a preview of next week’s Frontiers Unexplored chapter soon since I can finally do that without spoiling anything (I haven’t been able to do this since chapter seventeen. Damn it, Chihiro and Izumi, this is all your fault), but until then, have a nice day, everyone! 

[captainofstudies]

hello. first off, your blog is one of the ones i remember the url here on tumblr, which means i occasionally just go here to scroll. lol. but um, question, do you have any tips for studying info-heavy subjects? like for example, medical-surgical, pharmacology, and health assessment. thank you in advance : )

Aww that means so much thank you!!! But yeah so all of the modules I take are very info heavy, none of that theory and application stuff like you might do in physics or maths. I don’t know what your exact situation is or what your modules or classes are like so I’ll draw on my experiences.

What works for me is repetition, but not just going over the same notes worded in the exact same way over and over again because that becomes a memory game and doesn’t exactly help you properly learn the information in a way that can be recalled in the future or after the exam. This is especially important when a subject you’re taking now is a prerequisite for a subject you want to take in the future. Unfortunately I think it took me too long to figure this out and I spend too many years memorising instead of learning. 

The general idea on my course is that if you learn the lecture material you can get 80% on the exam. To get that extra 20% you’ll need to read around the subject, look in textbooks, do extra readings, look up some studies, etc. None of that matters though unless you’re really solid on the core material. Now I have a bit of a hit or miss track record in exams, sometimes I’ll do really well and get like 95% or sometimes things go tits up and I get 65% so if you take any of my advice repurpose it to suit your learning style.

Basically, over the course of the semester I’ll rewrite all my lecture notes either after the lecture or at the weekend and fill in any blanks by going over the recording or looking through the slides again. At this stage it’s handy to start to keep track of what you’re a little unclear on and, if you have the time, do a little extra research or look in the textbook to see if you can find a clearer explanation. When it comes to exams I’ll go over all these notes again and note down parts that I’m unclear on and do some extra reading. If there’s a topic you’re already pretty confident on then do more reading there too and take more notes (the more you can say about something the better) I’ll add these extra notes in either in the margins or on a post-it, it doesn’t need to look pretty because I’ll then either rewrite my complete notes again (making sure to change the wording so I get used to explaining in various ways) or I’ll make mindmaps from these notes. I always find mindmaps pretty helpful cause they let me see how lectures and topics all link up which you don’t always notice if you’re just flipping through a notebook. Also, if you have time quizlets can be pretty helpful for solidifying the core info. 

One final thing that really helps me because my exams tend to be 2 essay questions and a problem solving section is writing summaries on every topic. If you can memorise these then you can just regurgitate paragraphs into your essays.

TL/DR

solidify the core info before you do extra reading

rewrite your notes so all the info is in one place instead of on loose post-its that could fall out

mindmaps are your friend

quizlets are good if you have the extra time

write summaries on each topic

[cptsdstudyblr]

How I organize my studies with mental health issues

Hi :) I’m just here trying to survive a computer science degree with CPTSD, depression, anxiety, and some physical health issues. However, I’ve figured out a system that really (!!!) helps me keep organized and actually learn things despite all the challenges I face! So, I want to share it with you in case it helps just one person! This post is pretty long, but I promise it’s got tons and tons of amazingly helpful information in it!

I’m lucky enough to have a tablet to help me with my studies, but anything I show today can easily be done on a laptop or even on a phone, so don’t stress!

Initial Note Taking

I prefer to handwrite my initial notes if possible. Sometimes, my professors just go too fast and I have to type them, but if I have the option, I choose to handwrite them. I find that handwriting my notes helps keep my mind focused on the task at hand. 

First of all, I’m a very tactile learner, so the act of writing helps me learn the material. However, I’ve found that there are tons of other benefits to writing notes by hand. 

If you’re dissociating/anxious/etc., doodling is a good way to center yourself and help yourself calm down.

Handwritten notes are easier (at least in my non-professional opinion) to make neat and pretty, which can be a huge motivator.

Many classes have diagrams, and it’s super helpful to draw these out so that you’re more likely to remember them and so you have easy access to them.

For people who are nonlinear thinkers (NOT me at all, but I know some people are nonlinear thinkers), you can write your notes in any way you see fit - a circle, a mind map, a graph, even a dodecahedron if you so desire.

And there are tons of others I don’t have time to thoroughly explain!

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with typing notes if you feel that that works better for you. I have to do that for some classes (Geology, I’m looking at you), and I don’t prefer to type my notes, but some people find that they prefer it, and that’s totally okay! There are a few quick things to keep in mind if you choose to take typed notes, however:

I find it very helpful to keep a notepad near me so that I can doodle (again for dissociation/anxiety/etc.) and so that I can draw diagrams if necessary. I’m not talented enough to create computer diagrams quickly, so I usually draw them by hand even if I’m typing my actual notes.

Put in the effort to make sure you aren’t distracted by other things on your laptop! Typing notes can be a great thing, but technology is very quick to distract people. One method I find good for me is to make my notes full screen so that it’s harder to find things to get distracted by, but there are many methods for this.

Try to keep your typed notes tidy and organized. For me, this includes having consistent tab distances, changing font colors/styles (by styles I mean bold/italic/etc.) as necessary, and most of all splitting up my notes into documents by days or topics. I use Evernote, so it’s pretty straightforward to split them up, but even if you use another system, it’s wise to figure out a way to do so. Having one long document for the entire semester is not wise because it gets very overwhelming very quickly and is just plain hard to use.

The biggest help for me, however, is after I’ve taken my notes. I use Evernote to digitize my notes. It’s super easy to do (just take a picture in the app and it scans them like a PDF), and I find that having them digital is a huge help. It means a few things for me:

I don’t have to have every notebook with me to study - just the ones I need to take notes in. This is far more related to physical health for me because I just can’t carry that many notebooks without a lot of pain, but it’s also great for people who are forgetful due to mental health issues. All you have to remember is your laptop or tablet (or really, even your phone), so it’s much easier to make sure you have everything.

I can write all over them when I’m studying without ruining the original notes. I am a big fan of scribbling all over notes (writing mnemonics, drawing diagrams, marking what I know and don’t know, etc.), but I dislike damaging my original notes. This allows me to study as messily as I want without ruining anything.

I can make multiple copies of them if I need to - one for the class I took the notes in and one for my exam revision session. This is very helpful for people who aren’t feeling well enough to rewrite or retype everything into another place when revising for an exam.

Here’s what some of my digitized notes from my operating systems class look like (please forgive my very messy drawing - OS is hard to draw sometimes):

General Studying

This section refers to studying, but not for exams. This includes things such as doing assignments, reading for classes, and other such things. The most important thing for my studying is Google Tasks! I keep all my important due dates in there, even down to the time. Here’s an example of what my Google Tasks looks like:

Apologies for the blacked-out spot - that reveals where I go to school! I use this for every single thing that has a hard due date. This makes sure that I never miss a due date no matter how forgetful I am because my list of due dates is on my cell phone! I also find it extremely rewarding to tick the box when I finish an assignment, and even something as simple as that is such a huge motivator for me.

However, this isn’t where I plan how to study for the week. I do that - you guessed it - on paper. I have a journal (which you’ll get to see in another post) where I keep a lot of important stuff - including weekly study plan spreads! That sounds super overwhelming, but they’re incredibly easy to make and very simple to maintain. I’ll show you (artful pen to hide my school name)!

Let me break this down for you really quickly:

I have my pages divided into four (one quadrant per day plus one for notes), which works pretty well for me - I never run out of space. This setup takes me less than five minutes to make each week, and I find it works very well for me.

I like to write what classes I have each day at the top of the day just so I don’t get too confused (and I highlight it if I have an exam), then underneath that, I list everything I have to do study-wise. 

I make sure to break each big task (e.g. “Study for Geology Exam) into smaller, more manageable chunks (e.g. “Make Geology flashcards,” “Revise Ch. 6 Notes,” etc.) all on different days of the week. This helps make each task seem way less overwhelming and makes me feel better about starting each task.

As you can see, my due dates are NOT on this sheet - this is more of a Study To-Do List than a list of my due dates. I do make sure to keep this updated so that I don’t miss any due dates, however.

You’ll also notice that I don’t have all that much listed for each day. It’s incredibly hard to stay ahead of things with mental health issues (I get that - I really do), but I find that staying ahead genuinely helps my mental health. If I have something to do every day, I feel productive and thus more motivated. It also gives me more leeway if I have a day where I can’t do any more than the bare minimum - I’m already ahead of schedule so I don’t need to panic. My best method for staying ahead is just to buckle down and do it. It’s not a great tip, but it’s all I’ve got (I’m allowed to struggle too - I don’t have everything together perfectly!).

Now, let’s talk about how to tackle each thing on this list.

Readings! When I have to do readings, my preferred method of note-taking is simply writing down definitions of keywords. Most of what I cover in the reading will be covered in the lecture, so I’m not too worried about jotting down every detail. However, making sure to note key words helps keep my brain engaged so I am less likely to zone out/dissociate/etc. Additionally, I can go back to those keywords to make flashcards later on.

Assignments! There’s not a whole lot to say about this one - every assignment is so different that I can’t say much beyond “do your assignments thoroughly.” However, a tip I find helps me a lot is to fully read the assignment and create a game plan before I dive in. This makes the assignment way less overwhelming and gives you concrete stopping points if you need a break.

Studying! will have its own section right below this, do not fear.

Studying

Watch this quick video (which is at the bottom of the text for some unknown reason?) of me scrolling through a study session, then I’ll explain how I study and why it works for me!

Let me just list my Studying Steps (TM) for you and break them down:

About a week before: Write all the information in a clear, consistent way.

By this I mean: Go through your notes/the slides/the textbook/anything with information and write it down freshly. I prefer (like usual) to handwrite this, but it can certainly be typed.

This is good because it requires you to reread and rewrite every piece of information, so you’re that much more likely to remember it. It also gives you all the information consolidated in one place. I like to split this up by topic (for me, each topic takes about 30 minutes to do) so that it’s more manageable. 

This seems like a lot, and it is. But, you have to study and there’s no way around that, unfortunately. Try motivating yourself with small rewards (like food, stickers, or something fun) when you finish a topic.

When you finish that: Make charts and graphs for anything that requires charts and graphs.

The diagrams part is pretty self-explanatory. If you have diagrams, redraw them on their own sheet. This makes them less cluttered and you can write things like mnemonics on them without messing up anything else. Redrawing them is also great for muscle memory!

I also like to make charts of things that I need to memorize (this is a good tool, but isn’t always right for every subject). For example, if I need to know a lot of types of rocks, I’ll make charts listing each rock and its characteristics. This way it’s easier to find the information and (once again) muscle memory will help you out.

This can be done pretty quickly, and it’s a pretty brainless activity. It’s not hard to do, so you can do it while watching Netflix if you want to. I honestly enjoy this part, though, because I find drawing charts and graphs very satisfying. 

About 3 days before: Make flashcards and study them consistently.

This is very important!

I like to use paper flashcards (just so I have to write the information once again), but digital ones work fairly well too.

Memorization is actually a fantastic tool to help with studying with mental health issues. Sometimes brain fogginess makes it hard to think of things that you know, but couldn’t recite. However, if you have it fully memorized, it’s generally much easier to pull out of the depths of your mind.

Once again, this is pretty easy to do (not quick though, sorry), and can be done while you’re doing something else more fun.

The day before: Go through your notes, annotate what you don’t know, and rewrite it until you know it.

This is the most important part of studying for me. 

The evening before the exam, I go through every bit of my notes, charts, graphs, etc. and highlight what I 100% know.

Then, I take more paper (or often a digital piece of paper) and write out what I know, trying to focus my energy on finding ways to remember the information such as mnemonics, word associations, or the like.

I do this as many times as I need to until I feel good about how much information I have highlighted - I try to get to 85-90%, but that can vary by subject.

This is kind of tedious, but I find it easier to motivate myself since it is the final stretch. I’m also usually kind of stressed out about the exam by this point, so that works as a good motivator too.