#Its from episode 137 if anyone wondered

[raspberrybluejeans]

ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME……. THE QUOTE “The man who sleeps with a machete is a fool every night but one” IS A JUSTIN MCELROY QUOTE? ORIGINATED IN MBMBAM? ARE YOU SERIOUS?

[katy-133]

Rick Prime Theories

Gonna dump some theories relating to our latest Rick and Morty arc villain here.

Time Crystals

(First pointed out in this other post.)

Beginning as early as season 1, C-137 is seen using crystallised xanthenite (also called "time crystals") throughout the series. The context he uses them in varies, but the overlapping connection appears to be that Rick uses time crystals to access alternate timelines.

Despite saying that he hates the concept of time travel, Rick still uses time crystals and ends up messing with time in the process. Not to go back in time, but to see alternate timelines or split timelines.

Examples include C-137 using time crystals to:

Access interdimensional cable.

Detecting that a dimension's timeline has split.

Trying to shoot an alternate timeline version of himself.

Leave phone messages for alternate timeline versions of himself.

Merging split timelines back into one (the time collars in the season 1 finale).

Merging Morty back together after he split himself multiple times from reloading "save points" he created using the remote Rick invented. Note that every time Morty "reloaded," he reappeared in a cloud of pink smoke.

Time crystals are always pink.

(Note: Depending on colour perception, some shots look more purple than pink, but for the sake of avoiding another "the dress was blue not gold" situation, I'll just be using the word pink for this discussion.)

According to time cops, time crystals are illegal to obtain, but that hasn't stopped Rick nor (it seems) other characters from using them to mess with time.

The Bovians dunk Jessica in a pink substance that crystalises her and turns her into "a time god," suspended in animation and able to witness eternity in the Narnia world. While it isn't named in the episode, it looks like the pink crystal was xanthenite (meaning, xanthenite is the pink liquid, and crystallised xanthenite is a time crystal).

(Side note: Not sure why the writers chose the name xanthenite. Xanthe is the name of a a water-nymph in Greek myth, but I couldn't find an obvious connection. If anyone knows, feel free to comment.)

Prime could possibly be using xanthenite to:

a) Keep himself ageless, suspended in time in a sense, but still able to walk around. This would explain why he doesn't look older than he looked 40 years ago in flashbacks.

b) Split himself but somehow keep all split versions of himself within one timeline. This would explain how he's able to exist in multiple places at once.

There's also similarities between Prime's dialogue when he offers portal travel to C-137 and Jessica's explanation to Morty of what happened to her while she was in the crystal:

Prime: "You think it's cool being the smartest man on Earth, but once we give you this technology, you become the smartest thing in every conceivable universe. The Infinite Rick. A god."

Jessica: "I had nothing but time. Endless time. At first, it was madness. Then enlightenment. Then madness again. But perhaps it was a gift. I could see the life of time. And as I watched the life of time in all its fleeting, terrible light, I wondered, had I lived? Was I just the object in another's story? Was that all I ever was? Could I be more? I had nothing but time and still no answer. Time without purpose is a prison. I have glimpsed into the mind of eternity. Perhaps the mind of God. And found nothing but silence. I think we should just be friends."

Both talk about endlessness (infinity and eternity) and have god comparisons. Both also end in a rejection (C-137 rejecting Prime's offer to help him achieve portal travel, and Jessica rejecting dating Morty).

Prime is possibly using time crystals to become "the Infinite Rick."

The Colour Pink

Related to the previous time crystal theory, Prime's attack on C-137's family involves a weapon with a pink explosion. This gives Prime a connection with the colour, which plants the an association between him and time alteration (as time crystals are the same colour).

The device C-137 uses to track down Prime's lair has a pink light:

Plus, Prime wears a jacket with a pink stripe along it. This jacket is unique to this version of Rick.

Prime is associated with time alteration through visual shorthand.

The Central Finite Curve

(Based on this previous post.)

Prime: "You think it's cool being the smartest man on Earth, but once we give you this technology, you become the smartest thing in every conceivable universe."

Note that he uses the word "we" in this talk with C-137. Who is he referring to? The Citadel?

For some reason, in Rick's backstory (the version that he shows to Morty in season 6), Rick went looking for (whom we can assume are) the initial founders of the Citadel of Ricks. We can assume this because the red string wall has the R logo that the Council of Ricks wear as badges.

So the timeline appears to be:

The concept of the Citadel is created, and Prime was one of the idea guys (if not the leader).

Prime offers portal travel to C-137, who rejects it. Prime then kills kid!Beth and Diane.

C-137 goes on a revenge quest to track down Prime by hunting down every member of (the precursor of) the Citadel of Ricks.

C-137 gives up trying to find Prime and decides to help the other Ricks (who later become the Council members) build the Citadel.

This leads to the creation of the Central Finite Curve, created through a machine built underneath the Citadel.

C-137 crashes his ship in Beth and Jerry's garage (hoping to find Prime there), causing Morty and Rick to meet.

Prime does not appear to be associated with the Citadel by the series' start, so at some stage, he abandoned the concept of building it.

This also means that Prime was not directly involved with the creation of the Curve.

The Central Finite Curve

The Central Finite Curve is a portion of the multiverse where Rick became a scientist smart enough to invent interdimensional travel.

It walls off the rest of the multiverse, making it no longer possible to travel beyond it.

Until Evil Morty creates the dimension rift to escape of out it.

This directly leads to to Solaricks episode, where Rick is able to meet Prime.

So potentially:

a) The Council of Ricks built the Curve to keep Prime out (so that C-137 would never be able to resume his revenge quest--which led to many Ricks being killed in the crossfire). Or,

b) The Curve was built to fence Prime in, preventing him from being able to escape any further than dimensions where a Rick exists.

The Central Finite Curve was possibly created to keep Prime trapped in or locked out.

[landscaping-your-mind]

Every Time Mirrors are Mentioned in Welcome to Night Vale

[Plain text: Every Time Mirrors are Mentioned in Welcome to Night Vale]

Why are you doing this to yourself? Because I'm abnormal, next question?

Abridged

Episodes featured: 11, 19A, 19B, 26, 27, 30, 33, 43, 67, 70B, 87, 106, 108, 116, 120, 122, 137, 143, 144, 148, 149, 150, 151, 160, 162, 164, 171, 175, 176, 196, 202, 209

Liveshows featured: "The Debate," "The Librarian," "The Investigators," "ALL HAIL."

CECIL: The City Council today issued a strong warning against the manufacture and sale of discount Bloodstones. They say that these Bloodstones of inferior design and construction have the potential to cause major accidents in even common, day-to-day chanting rituals. These accidents have included, in just the past few months, [...] the creation and subsequent obliteration of a mirror version of Night Vale, forcing all of us to watch our identical counterparts perish and thus confront the inevitability of our own futures. Anyone caught selling these Bloodstones will be put into the Dark Box, pending erasure from recorded history. The lesser charge of buying or possessing them, will be met with mere summary execution.

(Episode 11 - Wheat & Wheat By-Products)

CECIL: And now, a look at financial news. A fallow wheat field, grey sky, cut by black Vs of black birds. There is a child dragging a hatchet. His eyes cast down. His eyes tight. His eyes white and red and superfluous. He know not what he sees, but he knows what is there. A single black-wingéd beast, beak cracked, feathers rotting, alights roughly on the child's shoulder. They stop. The bird picks at the cartilage of the boy's ear, as if biting secrets into it. The boy groans, not unpleasantly. Heavy, slow clouds roll and rise, starkly contrasted against the flickering daguerreotype hills, which stoically keep the poisonous rains at bay. A sudden little river, partially walled by palsied shafts of grain, rolls by. The boy walks to it. He bends forward. His blank eyes stare into his reflection. Neither he nor his mirror knows the other is there. But the bird. The bird knows. The bird cackles. Or perhaps cries. Even the bird is uncertain. The boy takes a palm full of the dark water. Most of it runs out through his long, zig-zagging fingers. He licks the remainder from his dusty skin. A sound. Like thunder. Like drums. Like steps. The boy turns and hurls his hatchet behind him. The bird flies up and away. There is a hideous thump. The boy knows not what he has hit, but that it has been wounded. He waits for its retort. This has been financial news.

(Episode 19A - The Sandstorm)

KEVIN: This just in, Desert Bluffs: Mayor Pablo Mitchell has declared today Sandstorm Day. This massive sandstorm has already damaged several apartments and malls in the northwest part of town and it seems to be on course for even more costly wreckage. So Mayor Mitchell announced that we can all take today off of work. Today is a city-wide holiday. A second announcement, coming from a man that looked and dressed like the mayor said that we can make up some of our lost hours by teaming up with our doubles. The two joined together for an inspirational call to work together with these magical doppelgängers. Is this true Desert Bluffs? If so, what a blessed and wonderful event to bring us doubles of ourselves. I am stuck inside – doing a job I very much love, of course – but if I were you, I would run outside into the sandy afternoon air and try to meet your other. How exciting. So make friends with your mirrored colleague, Desert Bluffs! Think of what we could accomplish if there were two of all of us!

(Episode 19B - The Sandstorm)

FACELESS OLD WOMAN: I wish you could see me. Just cleaning and re-organizing. Making sense of the nonsense plants and muscles in your fridge. But you never look. If you would just glance left or right every so often, you'd see me. I'm right next to you, right now. I’m even in the mirrors. But you just stare at yourself. Staring only at your overripe potato of a face. I'm there in every mirror, if you could just look for me in the background behind you.

CECIL: Maybe you should try paying more attention when you're at home. Or better yet, destroy all of your mirrors. As my mother used to tell me: "Someone's going to kill you one day, Cecil, and it will involve a mirror. Mark my words, child." and then she would stare absently through my eyes until I giggled. I miss her so much. 

(Episode 26 - Faceless Old Woman)

CECIL: Monday will be the annual Bluegrass Festival held in the burned out shell that used to be Louie Blasko’s Music Shoppe before he lit it on fire and skipped town with the insurance money. Participants can huddle among the ashen remains, casting haunting looks at each other and sharing some of their favorite bluegrass dirges. Legend has it that if you look into a mirror and say absolutely nothing three times, Louie himself will appear and teach the crowd some simple, easy bluegrass licks before taking your soul back with him into the dark of the mirror.

(Episode 27 - First Date)

CECIL: McDonald’s wants to remind you that the most important meal of the day is Breakfast. So why would you let a morning go by without staring deeply into the mirror until you no longer recognize the face staring back at you, mimicking your every gesture, mocking your every movement.

(Episode 30 - Dana)

TEENAGE CECIL: My mom seems really proud of me too. She hid from me for three days, the longest ever! And she’s covered all the mirrors in my house. I’m not sure why, but I think it must be because of pride. Being proud does all sorts of things to a...person. Uh, sorry, got distracted. That weird movement is back. It’s closer now.

TEENAGE CECIL: Interning is going great! Mom is gone. Leonard is super nice to me. My brother is gone too. Family, right? I think I’m learning a lot at the station. All of the mirrors in my house are uncovered now. Not sure who did that. I’m standing in front of the hall mirror right now. Am I changed? Am I becoming an adult? I look more grown, I think, more professional. Leonard said if I work hard, maybe I’ll be a radio presenter myself some day. Leonard said he once was smaller too, but that he is larger now, that everything is larger, that everything in the universe is growing to towering sizes, but all at once, all in unison, so no one notices and it is all the same relative to itself. Leonard lolls his tongue out of his thick purple lips. Leonard hisses. Being an intern is great. That flickering movement is everywhere now. Especially looking in this mirror. I see the flickering movement and I know. I know it. I think the radio station is fun. I think the radio station is hidden. I think the radio station is like a dark planet, lit by no sun. I think, therefore I soon won’t be. I’m looking in a mirror. The mirror is not covered. The flickering movement is just behind me. I- [He screams. There is gurgling. A body falls to the floor. Tape hiss continues. The tape shuts off. End teenage voice]

CECIL: No matter! I’m taking the tape, just now and I’m [GRUNTS] crushing it into little pieces. None of us have to think about it again. I’ll just double check that the mirror in the station bathroom is covered as usual and then that will be that. Done. Forgotten. 

(Episode 33 - Cassette)

KEVIN: Well, what if I told you the smiling god was smiling more than ever. What if the smiling god had a smile so wide that you could see yourself in its mirrored teeth. And what if I told you that your gauzy reflection looked perfect. Just perfect.

(Episode 43 - Visitor)

CECIL: The City Council warned that the mess left from Leonard Burton’s death is likely to draw Street Cleaners and that we should all take shelter. Cover your mirrors. Shade your eyes. Stay indoors and mourn. Stay indoors and mourn.

(Episode 67 - [Best Of?])

CECIL QUOTING JANICE: "Uncle Cecil, I loved the opera so so much. Thanks for the tickets. I loved the part where the dragon flew out over the audience, like whoosh, and then it started fighting itself. The purple head started biting the other heads, and it was really funny. Then it flew away, out of the theater and there was a lot of fire. And I thought I saw an old lady with no face ran out too, and the mayor was saved, and Mr. Lee Marvin sang a beautiful song about all the animals we can see using mirrors, and then it was over and everyone cheered. Opera is cool. Mom said you were moving away. Why are you moving away, Uncle Cecil? Uncle Carlos says you don’t have to move if you don’t want to. Will you still come to my birthday party?"

(Episode 70B - Review)

CECIL: Item: Big Ricos Pizza is looking for a new cashier. Must have retail experience and be good at not talking if they know what’s good for them. No funny business. No secret wheat speakeasies. Why would you even bring that up? Who have you been talking to? To apply, look at yourself in the mirror for a long time, until your face no longer seems to be your own.

(Episode 87 - The Trial of Hiram McDaniels)

FACELESS OLD WOMAN: Yeah, she and I are best friends now. She's a lot of fun, really good poet. I gotta go. Steve Carlsberg is back home, and I want to stand behind him in the mirror when he bends down to wash his face. His shrieks are the funniest.

CECIL: I was so frightened, but still I looked into the washroom. He was standing in front of a mirror, looking right at himself. I never look into those things. Or at least I haven't in a long long time.  "I think the radio station is fun," he said. "I think the radio station is hidden. I think the radio station is like a dark planet, lit by no sun. I think, therefore I soon won’t be," he said.  I wanted to cry out to warn him. My mother told me to stay away from mirrors. And I knew he was in danger. I opened my mouth and tried to step into the room, but I could not speak, could not move forward.  "I’m looking in a mirror," he said.  "The mirror is not covered," he said. "Stop. Don't look into the mirror," I tried to say. But nothing came out of my mouth, only spit and inaudible wheeze. Tears stung my eyes. I waved frantically, trying to catch his attention. "The flickering movement is just behind me," he said. And then he looked right at me in the mirror. His eyes grew wide and wet. He said "I-. He said again "I-" and then he choked. Then he screamed. Then I screamed, only again no sound came out. He fell to the floor, and for a moment I remembered. I remembered blue lights and blood in my throat and a dark planet lit by no sun. And then I forgot it, or at least what it looked like, only that it was. Or never was. Or still is. His wallet was no longer in my studio. His...my driver’s license was no longer in my hand. My familiar teenage intern was no longer lying on the ground. The mirror he was looking into is now shattered into thousands of intersecting cracks like parched desert dirt. I approached the mirror, hoping to see a face I knew. A young man's face I just barely remember. But I only saw a multiplicity of me, a man divided, unrecognizably, under razor sharp lines. And behind me a glowing slash in the bathroom wall.

(Episode 106 - Filings)

CECIL: "Better not look in the mirror," Cal said as he nervously simulated the sound of laughter. A dribble of blood ran down his chin and onto his chest.

(Episode 108 - Cal)

CECIL: Sheriff Sam quietly grumbled this into their bathroom mirror before finally putting on makeup and facing their day.

(Episode 116 - Council Member Flynn, Part 3)

KEVIN: Jason and Falisha wanted their friends to know they were happy, so they began to practice smiling in the mirror, but even they couldn't see a change in their faces. Plus, mirrors were upsetting because of all the people who would gather behind them in the reflection but that weren't actually there when they turned around to face them.

KEVIN: Their long house was a long pit. And every single mirror in their home was gone, along with the ghastly figures who gathered in the reflections. 

(Episode 120 - All Smiles' Eve)

CECIL: Nazr did not see Barks Ennui. But he was not without his own troubles. He would find, some evenings, that when he looked in the mirror there were two of him. One of him sitting behind the other. He would stand and the second reflection would stand too. It would follow all of his movements from behind his primary reflection. This went on for days. Then, one night, he looked in the mirror and there was only one of him. He sighed, feeling some relief to the tension that had been with him so long as to become his new normal. And that is when, in the mirror, his second reflection stepped into the room, followed by Frances Donaldson. Nazr whirled. The room he was in was empty. He looked back in the mirror. There was his own face, terrified. And behind that, on the bed, there was himself again, with Frances. The two of them were kissing, passionately. He watched himself kiss. And then his reflection and the Frances in the mirror stopped kissing and looked up at him, with startled faces. They stayed frozen that way, and he stayed frozen too. After several moments, the mirror couple smiled. Their smiles got wider and wider, and then they were both dead, blood covered and sprawling at irregular angles. And then they were alive again and smiling at him. He shouted and stumbled back from the mirror. From then on, he took to covering his mirrors, and that worked for a few days, but then one day he came home to find himself in his bedroom, already sitting in front of the covered bedroom mirror. The him that was in his bedroom looked up at him who had just entered with wide eyes and a yawning mouth, and Nazr (who believed himself to be the real Nazr) turned and walked out his house. He checked into a motel and decided to stay there for awhile.

CECIL: Barks continued: “Everything’s gone strange since you started dating. You know what I’m talking about.” “Maybe,” Nazr said, thinking of the mirrors in his home. 

(Episode 122 - A Story of Love and Horror, Part 2: "Spire")

LAUREN: These shadows don't even have faces. We cannot discern their intentions or feelings. They move around in quick jerks and starts, flickering in and out of our vision, sometimes standing just behind us while slowly tilting their heads. And unless you're looking in a mirror, there's no way you can even see that. 

(Episode 137 - The Mudstone Abyss, Part 3)

CECIL: That's not all. The fully immersive interactive theater segment is last. You will be blindfolded and placed in the back of a cargo truck. Hours later you will step off a wooden plank and be free to enter into the desert to try and find your way back home, just like the pioneers did it. You don't realize how the boardwalk is designed to be completely disorienting until this moment, when you step into the endless desert and look to all horizons and see only identical sagebrush and chaparral and nothingness, as if you've entered a mirrored funhouse made of only hot dirt.

(Episode 143 - Pioneer Days)

CECIL: Her final entry was on September 5 - “A man with a mirror for a face has come for me. He does not speak. Farewell.”

CECIL: On the anniversary of Eunomia's disappearance, an astronaut arrived in Night Vale. The early 19th Century villagers did not know what an astronaut was, so what they saw was a puffy silver humanoid with a mirror for a face. 

(Episode 144 - The Dreamer)

LEONARD BURTON: Let me describe to you the shape of Cecil Palmer. He is a line of leafless mesquite trees. He is a glass factory. He is golf ball-sized hail. He has a voice like distant highway traffic. He loves coffee and handshakes. He wears tight clothing and has never once worked with modeling clay. He covers mirrors with cloth and has an irrational fear of glowing lights beneath locked doors in dark hallways.  You cannot know any of this because Cecil is my vision, not yours. He is real, all the same. He is to be my replacement when I retire. But he does not exist. So I can never retire. I am your permanent host.

LEONARD BURTON: An emissary has arrived in town to lead the parade. The emissary is an astronaut, bloated white arms and a mirror for a face. The emissary walks slowly through our empty city streets. 

LEONARD BURTON: The parade of absent floats along empty streets led by a mirror-faced marshmallow of a grand marshall, approaches our radio station. I will enjoy getting to see the festivities up close and describing shapes out of the shapeless.

(Episode 148 - The Broadcaster)

CECIL: I work at a radio station and own a 14-speed bike. I have a one-bedroom apartment with a soaking tub, walk-in closet, carpet shredder, knife compiler, and a full-length mirror in the hallway. (It's an antique my mother handed down to me; she knows I love mirrors). 

CECIL: So the guy I was telling you about earlier, Carlos, has been texting me this whole show, saying he wants to see me again. [reading] Something something my timeline is still wrong.... I should have a sister named Abby… here’s a photo her with some kid…  my mother died.... I supposedly am afraid of mirrors.... He and I are actually married?

CECIL: Outside my window I see the emissary, their oblong mirrored face pressed against the glass, each hand raised to their head, to block out glare from the sun. 

CECIL: I can see myself in their reflective face. I... I do not like this. I do not like this at all. Please go. Please leave. I cannot. I... I am covering this window with a sheet. I do not like this mirror. I do not like it one bit. No. 

(Episode 149 - The General)

LEE MARVIN: On the highway out of town, the cars are stopped dead, their drivers caught glancing at their phones, or scratching their ears and thinking about what would finally make them happy, or looking in the mirror and trying to gauge whether the car behind them belongs to the Sheriff’s Secret Police. Farther out, over the mountains and to the coast, the waves are stopped mid fall, foam caught rising, water caught tumbling.

(Episode 150 - The Birthday of Lee Marvin)

CECIL: At the end of the night, Josh wrote his number on The Boy’s red plastic cup in Sharpie and walked home smiling, even though it was late and he had to get up early the next morning to retake his driving test for the fifth time. He was 18 and still without a license. Every time he had taken the test before, he got nervous and turned into a shape that was utterly unfit to drive. A rhinoceros. A warm hug from an old friend. A bookshelf filled with first edition Zadie Smiths. “Ooh, I haven’t read Swing Time yet,” Shoshannah from the DMV had said, plucking the book off of him before failing him for not having eyes with which to check his mirrors. 

(Episode 151 - Waterfall)

CECIL: ... [somber] and *that* is what I saw in the mirror that day, and why I do not like to go near mirrors ever. 

(Episode 160 - The Weather)

CECIL: What a healthy baby," they said from behind a bulletproof two-way mirror as they operated the robotic arms that carefully held the infant aloft. 

(Episode 162 - Alpha)

FACELESS OLD WOMAN: Also in the bathroom mirror you saw, crawling across the ceiling, a faceless old woman devouring what looked like a rat. You didn't need to worry about a rat infestation, Adi. It was a chipmunk. 

FACELESS OLD WOMAN: You can all thank me later. Because you all will be seeing me soon. I think that tonight is the night to let slip my secret. You will soon see me fumbling wet and gray from out of the bathroom mirror, or folded up strangely, loose skin and mashed bones, in the bottom drawer of your dresser, or you will see me scuttle along your walls, the hair hanging down from my faceless face, or you will look out your kitchen window and there will be someone standing in your driveway, and it will be me, and then there will be no one in your driveway and instead I will be next to you in the kitchen, faceless and so very very old. Won’t that be nice. 

(Episode 164 - The Faceless Old Woman (Live)

CECIL: Do you ever stare at yourself for so long in the mirror that you no longer understand what you look like? Is this the same effect as thinking about someone you miss so much that you forget the shape of their face? Why would you do that? Why would you refuse to maintain order? Are you refusing? Or are you a victim of your own mind? Do brain cells dictate souls? Is thought matter? Does thought matter? Who can say? Can the person looking back at you from the mirror tell you the answer? Just because you can see a person, does that mean that person exists?  Is it you you are looking at? Or is it someone else?

CECIL: Basically, why do I know I am me? How many times have I seen myself in the mirror? Is it bad that the answer is rarely? Shouldn’t we all be afraid of mirrors? Or is it just me? How many times, in a fit of dissociation, do we see someone else behind us? Are you, too, too afraid to turn around? Do you really want to challenge the veracity of your eyes? Do you think disbelief in death will make it disappear? Are awareness and manifestation one and the same? So, what did I see in the mirror today? Don’t we all see the same thing? Isn’t it a person who looks exactly like ourselves? And weren’t they making the same physical gestures? And behind that person, in the reflection, did you not also see, just over your shoulder, a pair of eyes? The curve of a head? And did you notice how that head was human in shape but maybe only a third the size?

CECIL: Who is behind you in the mirror? Or what is behind you? Should I speak in present or past tense? Is the face there? Or is the face gone now? Are you no longer at the mirror? Do you feel safer? Why do you assume that because you aren’t looking in the mirror right now that the tiny face and spiny digits are not still behind you?

CECIL: Are you thinking about it? Are you starting to forget exactly what it looks like? Do you want to go to the mirror again? Do you want to stare and stare at it until you can comprehend what it is?

CECIL: What if we went to the mirror together? If we don’t feel alone in our feelings, could we conquer our fears? Are we in agreement, you and I? What are you even looking at? Is your focus drifting to your shoulder? Can you not do that? Can you resist the urge? What will staring directly into your terror accomplish?

CECIL: When was the last time you saw your mother? It’s been since childhood, hasn’t it? Didn’t she warn you about mirrors? Didn’t she tell you they would be your demise? Or was that just a popular bedtime story?

CECIL: What did your mother tell you about swing sets? What did she say to you when you yelled to her for help? Did she lean over your sobbing face and ask you: “Why are you crying when you don’t even exist?” Did she tell you again about the mirror?

CECIL: Did you figure it out? Could you see past your own mental inventions? Who out there looked beyond the long, gape-jawed figure and its inexplicable whines? Did you see the table? There in the mirror image of your house, did you see the table? You hadn’t noticed the table before, had you?

CECIL: Why was the table only in the mirror? Why isn’t it real?

CECIL: What’s inside the drawer of the rickety table in the mirror? What other uncanny discoveries await you if you could just break through? Is it as simple as breaking through?

CECIL: Do you want to know what’s in the drawer below the table? Shouldn’t it be as easy to obtain as a lightweight, wool button up coat, all black? But nothing easy ever is, is it? How do you get to a table that’s right in front of you, but only visible in a mirror?

CECIL: Are you only concentrating on the table now? And you’re sure it only exists in the mirror? You double checked? Do you want to know what’s inside the drawer on the front of that table? Are you willing to break something? Are you willing to break the mirror, yes, but so much more? Are you willing to go to a place from which you cannot return? Are you willing to learn things you cannot unlearn? Do you have a hammer? Or if not, can you find something heavy that you can lift? Will you smash the mirror? Will you do it quickly? Why are you hesitating? Have you let your comfortability lapse into carelessness? Why did you take your eyes off the creature on your neck? Did you see the blood or feel the pain first? Is it tearing into your flesh? Is that why you’re screaming? Can you still break the mirror? Are you losing consciousness? Are you? Are you? Are you?

CECIL: If you look into the mirror you just smashed do you see that the creature is gone? Cool, right? But isn’t it strange that all about you on the floor are shards of the mirror you shattered, yet in front of you, the mirror remains, fully intact? Strange? Or scary? Wouldn’t you think that the mirror being simultaneously broken and unbroken is strange, while the fact that you have no reflection is scary? Is that true though? Do you have a reflection? Do you see yourself? On the floor of the mirror’s world? Is your body crumpled on the floor like a wet towel? Is your lower jaw hanging open because you died screaming, or because of gravity? Do you have a blanket of some sort? Why don’t you cover that mirror up? Why don’t you cover all the mirrors, in fact? While you are walking about your home, do you notice the antique table by the door, with its tarnished, yet ornate, brass bulb knob? Was that table always there? Did you enter the mirror world? Or were you always in the mirror world? What else is different around you?

CECIL: Now what? Will you cover the mirrors and sweep the floor and pretend it never happened? Will this prevent it from happening again? Are awareness and manifestation one and the same?

(Episode 171 - Go to the Mirror?)

MICHELLE: But there’s a new song I like. And it’s not cool like my other favorite songs. It’s not a song that fits the kind of image I like to project. When I put on my mirrored leggings, and my extra long jorts, and my really big hat, people expect something from me. They expect me to be on the cutting edge. They expect me to only be into bands that aren’t popular yet, or will never be popular, or that frankly don’t know how to play their instruments very well.

(Episode 175 - The October Monologues)

CECIL: While James is working on that, let’s get back to my favorite spooky Halloween stories. This one isn’t a story so much as a fun Halloween game: The Legend of Bloody Mary. According to the lore, if you turn off all the lights and stare into a mirror repeating “bloody mary” three times in a row, she will appear and tear your face off. I’ve never tried this, because I don’t own any mirrors, but my husband Carlos conducted this very experiment in his science lab. He said he darked the room and repeated the name and nothing happened for a long time. But then a figure of a woman appeared, silvery gray and shimmering. She approached Carlos slowly, her hollow white eyes never blinking.

(Episode 176 - The Autumn Specter)

SILAS: There’s something I don’t understand. She didn’t simply turn me into a cat. She could have made me her little furry domesticate. Truly toppled me. Instead, she put me in this body, far away, and gave me incredible powers. My fur is mostly needle-sharp quills. My skin, hard and scaly, almost armor-like. My eyes – I think there are 8 of them – allow me to see in a 360-degree clarity that nearly shatters my mind. I sometimes have wings or tentacles. How am I even a cat? Except, I am. I see my face here in the mirror, and I have pointy ears, and little white mitten feet, and a tail like an overused feather duster.

(Episode 196 - Silas the Thief, Part 2)

CECIL: We are each of us a hall of mirrors, exponentializing every little hurt until it overwhelms. 

CECIL: Stay tuned next for an old episode of Frasier. It’s the one where Frasier finds the doorway to the Other Seattle in his bathroom mirror. May it bring you some comfort. 

(Episode 202 - The Day After the Day)

CECIL: Whatever the Distant Prince keeps behind the Narrow Place has left me hollow and shambling. Less and less of me. This time quite literally. When I looked again, I did not have a nose. It is quite upsetting to see your own face but without a nose. Think about this now. Think about looking in the mirror and seeing your face, but the nose is gone. So you will understand why I vomited in the street. And this other me, he vomited too, for exactly the same amount of time, stopping precisely when I did.

(Episode 209 - The Black Coat)

CECIL: First, someone I’ve known my whole life, and you have too. It’s the Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home! Welcome! FACELESS OLD WOMAN: Hello. CECIL: And where are you? I can hear you, but I can’t see you. FACELESS OLD WOMAN: I’m behind you in a mirror, just over your shoulder in the distance. You’ll see slight movements in the dark. You’ll feel a single fingernail gently run across your cheek.

("The Debate")

FACELESS OLD WOMAN: I am less good at being seen, but I am working on that using a system of whistles and mirrors. CECIL: Huh. Mirrors.

CECIL: And since then, you have been appearing in frightened children’s mirrors to teach them the basics of music theory and some simple bluegrass licks before, uh, taking their souls with you into the dark of the mirror world. Is that right?

("The Librarian")

EARL HARLAN: Oh yes! Yes, I will wake up that morning, and I will stare at myself in the mirror repeating, “You can do this, Earl. You can do this, Earl. You can do this, Earl.” Until my reflection says, “You’re right.” And then we’ll brush each others’ teeth, and trim each others’ mustaches, and comb each others’ hair… CECIL: Awwww! EARL HARLAN: …and then step through the mirror and once again switch places in each others’ mirrored world for the day.

("The Investigators")

CECIL: Or you’ll be brushing your teeth and the Glow Cloud will just happen to pass by, and then you have to say all of that stuff with toothpaste in your mouth, you’re like [garbled] “All hail [unclear] cloud all hail the [unclear]”, [spits] and then you just end up with toothpaste all over your bathroom mirror.

JEFFREY: Yeah, yeah. Yeah turns out most people are afraid of what they are, so now I’m also terrified of mirrors and reflective surfaces, so…

("All Hail")

[procrastinatorproject]

I posted 1,878 times in 2022

48 posts created (3%)

1,830 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@tehriz

@regionalpancake

@thelaithlyworm

@jazzfic

@stra-tek

I tagged 1,875 of my posts in 2022

#star trek picard - 443 posts

#funny stuff - 442 posts

#cristobal rios - 152 posts

#star trek picard season 2 - 115 posts

#star trek - 110 posts

#picardpositivity - 98 posts

#i have such talented friends! - 90 posts

#picard season 2 spoilers - 85 posts

#cats - 76 posts

#tumblr - 75 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#and how else are you going to share bits of stories that you won't post for months or years if ever because finishing things is hard 🙈😅

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I spent quite some time yesterday yelling about Star Trek with the wonderful @regionalpancake and @curator-on-ao3, and I need to share their comedic genius with the world!

We were talking about how, if the Zhat Vash are so extremely opposed to synthetic life and any form of AI, could they possibly manage to hack the androids on Mars and to cause them to go rogue? To which Curator commented:

“I’m an iPhone user and I couldn’t hack an android!”

This was followed some time later by a discussion about how in recent Trek, there has been an increasing distinction between People Who Matter and Those Who Don’t. And how its encumbent upon the people who are less significant for the fate of the world to sacrifice themselves for the Important People.

With regards to this, Pancakes observed of Rose (from Dr Who), a character who thinks she is unimportant and whom the Doctor tells that There Are No Unimportant People:

“If she were a Star Trek character, Rose would have been cannon fodder.”

Curator: “You mean... canon fodder? :D”

I don’t know if these are funny to anyone but me, but I laughed so hard I had to go find my asthma spray. So I needed to share XD

59 notes - Posted July 30, 2022

#4

Holo-Tech Database

Over the last seven or so months, I have watched through every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s the first time I’ve seen the entire series, there were quite a few episodes in the later seasons I’d never seen before. Quite an enjoyable experience on the whole.

But because I’m me, of course I didn’t just watch TNG. Instead, I took notes every single time the holodeck or any other piece of holo-technology played a part in the plot, were the setting for even the briefest of scenes, or so much as got mentioned. Essentially, I’m building towards a database of every little scrap of canonical information about holo-technology that I can get my hand on. And this was a start.

I haven’t had the time or energy to look through all of my notes in detail. There is a lot of information in there already. Of course, I’ll only be able to draw any real conclusions once I add in all the data from DS9, Voyager, and PIC, (since I’m interested in the state of technology at the time La Sirena is in operation, because of course that’s what this is about), but it’ll be quite a while before I get there.

So, in lieu of any detailed analysis, here are some quick impressions of my first foray into holo-episode-tracking!

[Image ID: a table showing the number of total holo-episodes for TNG is 58, and breaking that number down for each season. Season 1 has 10 episodes, season 2 has 8, season 3 has 6, season 4 has 9, season 5 and 6 both have 8, and season 7 has 9 episodes. /end ID]

See the full post

65 notes - Posted January 27, 2022

#3

30 Days of Picard Postivity

With just over 30 days to go, the premiere of Star Trek: Picard season 2 (3rd March in the US, 4th March internationally) is fast approaching, and I for one cannot wait to get back into the world I fell in love with two years ago. Thirty days is quite some time, however, and even though new trailers and promo pics seem to be dropping daily, I felt like we could use something to tide us over until March.

After the long hiatus, I think this is the perfect time to revisit all the things we enjoyed about season 1. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has forgotten a lot of the details of those episodes, and who would love to see some of the wonderful characters, locations, and stories back on my dash. So, without further ado:

ProcrastinatorProject Proudly Presents:

30 Days of Picard Positivity

See the full post

70 notes - Posted February 1, 2022

#2

Massive Picard Season 2 Spoilers Ahead

So the latest episode of The Ready Room, the Star Trek recap show hosted by Wil Wheaton, had a preview of Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard. It's interviews with all of the main actors and they explain in some detail where they're characters are at at the beginning of season 2.

It puts a lot of shots from the trailers in perspective and I have a lot of thoughts that I want to share, but because this is a very, very explicit spoilery preview, I'm putting both the video and my initial reaction under the cut.

Anyone in the US (or with a decent VPN): You can find the full Ready Room episode on the Paramount+ youtube page, but I'm not going to link it here, because, youk know, tumblr 😋

See the full post

73 notes - Posted February 24, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I just had a realization about why Agnes Jurati’s story in Star Trek: Picard season 2 feels so wrong to me, and I am going to inflict it on all of you!

Spoilers for the entirety of season 2 ahead! CW: Mention of depression, PTSD, anxiety, and emotional manipulation

Also: CW long post

(NB: I’m going to completely disregard the discrepancy in Agnes’s character between seasons 1 and 2. I think when you take Agnes’s story and development from the first season into account, her “arc” in season 2 falls apart completely. But for the sake of this argument, I’m going to meet the season 2 writers on their terms. I’m going to ignore the character of season 1 Agnes, and instead will simply look at season 2′s Jurati to explain why I think the story the writers gave her falls flat.)

I was taking notes for a way-too-long essay about my problems with PIC season 2 (which I may or may not write eventually), and I was trying to put into words why it always irks me when people say merging with the Borg Queen was a satisfying end to Jurati’s arc.

What I was never able to put my finger on until now is that when the Borg Queen and Jurati merge at the end of episode 9, that’s not actually the culmination of Jurati’s arc. It’s the Queen’s.

See the full post

74 notes - Posted May 20, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[bella-donna418]

I’m gonna get attacked lol

fiOfficially sacrificing my dignity for this.

Also this check this out because it’s basically everything I say here lol and no, I’m not after credit—but I want to state some of my opinions/thoughts where I’ll use that tweet as my reference.

~~~

Let’s get this done with.

So I was actually rereading the manga all over again, especially the arcs where season 4 that consists of 16? episodes won’t be able to cover.

Will be talking about 122, 137 and 138 (since I’ll be setting them as my reference points for the manga panels)

I love to ask myself questions, but I came upon myself asking;

“What does Ymir want?”

Yes I know that she does want freedom, but thing is;

“What does she really want?”

So imma do a take on this.

(I’m not as big brain as anyone lol srsly I’m already failing at school—but here I am)

~~~

In my POV, what I think she wants is what life is.

Like what does life bring? Why is living life important?

It’s as if she’s asking;

“What do they mean when they say, “Live your life to the fullest?”

In her timeline, growing up in a nature with cruelty and selfishness becoming a norm for people, she starts to slowly see that life is cheap and it could easily be thrown away as long as someone with enough power could do so.

Loving was impossible in such nature.

But one thing seemed to have an impact on her.

A couple kissing, showing their love for each other.

This quite changed her perspective about life, regarding love or feelings for someone.

It was possible.

That no matter how cruel this world is, love will show the beauty of itself.

Because of course, when reading love stories or watching romantic movies we’d see it as beautiful (not all of us, I mean I, myself, find them cringy lol jkjk)

For her, even if it’s just a plain couple kissing, it was big enough to let her know that such thing exists no matter the nature of the world—whether cruel or not.

But let’s take a look at her backstory where she had quite the opposite of what she wants where she waited 2000 years for someone or some people to show her.

1. Freedom (What is its value?)

They said she was “free”, but it turns out it wasn’t freedom at all. She was only used as a tool for people to practice hunting. She was still a slave, a tool to be used for something.

2. Purpose/Meaning of life (Why were we all born?)

In this one, in her times after she got her titan powers, used as a tool for war to crush Marley, she became pregnant and bore the king’s child.

This is why when Maria (assuming it is because it looks like it) was born, she didn’t smile.

She’s probably wondering, “Whats the purpose of being born? To grow up and multiply? To have something to keep living for? Then die?”

Where this was also said by Zeke to Armin:

But I also wonder what Kenny meant by here:

The “something” he said must be what purpose is.

Maybe for Ymir, the reason why she kept going must be because she kept following King Fritz’ orders in order to try to live.

Even when King Fritz was gone, she continued following orders from descendants that were from the bloodline of royal blood (Fritz/Reiss is basically the same thing)

(Ok I just love Kenny lol)

3. Love (What is unconditional love?)

Something King Fritz never showed to her.

She was only a concubine, a low-class for him.

Not his wife—not even a queen to rule by his side.

(Pic also connected to no. 2 lol)

For him, she was still a slave.

Not someone to share mutual feelings with.

Also connecting this no. 2, the king said, “Rise. Work. That is why you were born.” which is clearly her PURPOSE for him and which became her mindset.

(Gurl even she got that titan power, she could never defy him)

~~~

For 2000 years, she must’ve been seeking for the true meaning behind the 3 I have mentioned, why she longed for someone to show them.

For her to see or even experience it herself.

Even watching and knowing what it is will do for her.

Which now brings me to EMA, what they’ve done to show her the meaning of the three.

1. Freedom

My favorite guy, Eren Freedom Yeager—

Anyway, of course the one to show the meaning of freedom will be Eren (too obvious man)

But how did he show it?

Looking back to 122, he clearly said these which made Ymir finally make her first ever choice out of free will.

No she doesn’t want to end this world nor does Eren want to (don’t take their words and actions literally)

“You’re no slave.”

She wasn’t a slave out of her choice, it was their system from before that brought her to being one.

“You’re no god.”

When she got her titan powers, it’s as if she was a walking goddess who had a choice to crush Marley out of the Eldian king’s prayers or something.

Basically if you prayed and prayed (depends on any religion if you do this, BUT for me, this is what I do lol) you’ll get your wish.

And his wish was to crush Marley using her power.

Which she clearly did making her look like a goddess or something in the range.

“You’re just a person.”

Now this.

This is when Ymir finally got what she also longed for, someone to treat her as a human, not a tool to win wars, not to be a tool to use to bear the king’s children.

What was something Eren gave her to have be described as “showing her what freedom is���?

Eren gave her the right to choose whether to stay or end it all.

Knowing Ymir would still need an order to do so (idk I assume it again lol), Eren decided to order her to have her own free will and decide for herself. (Violet Evergarden intensifies)

And of course, since she was asked and given the right to choose, she picked the one where she feels like a better choice—end it all.

“You must have been waiting all this time. Waiting 2000 years just for someone.”

Yes, Eren. She’s been waiting 2000 years for you to show her what the value of freedom is and what it is like to decide on your own instead of following orders.

Her reaction to it.

It was a reaction of being glad that finally, after years of waiting, someone finally understood her and treated her as a human—someone who doesn’t see her as a tool to do something—not a fodder.

She finally understood the value of freedom, what it’s importance to life is.

So she could choose things she’ll regret the least or what she thinks is the right call in a situation.

2. Purpose/Meaning of life, what makes it beautiful?

In this one, let’s recall 137.

Armin and Zeke’s conversation.

So while Armin and Zeke while talking to each other about what is life’s purpose and all those stuff—I’m assuming Ymir was listening to their conversation.

And maybe it wasn’t only Zeke who realized this, but Ymir as well.

That even if times could be cruel and you’d rather be doing the same thing, as long as it makes you happy, you’d still find yourself smiling despite being hurt by the world.

Since I assumed Ymir was listening to this, she finally understood that even something as simple and meaningless to others, as long as it meant something for you, it deserves to be cherished even if it were simple and boring to the eyes of others.

She finally understood another thing that makes life beautiful.

It’s the memories you made and cherished that could be your strength to move on and how life deserves to be seen all throughout—even if the world despises you.

That you set the purpose of your life, not others, because you have the freedom to do so.

She might’ve not experienced this, but at least she heard it from someone who did and what their thoughts about it were.

3. Love

And then this.

Something that she also wanted to see for herself.

She wanted to know if it was indeed possible to love in this cruel world.

If you can still love someone who decided to let you go to become a monster for others.

And with a simple act such as “kissing” (ignore the fact it’s a severed head gfdi), it made her believe that through life, you could find someone to share mutual feelings with, to love someone.

And how it’s not easy to live life without someone to love.

Because a loved one is your source of strength.

Your motivation to anything.

And this exactly made her smile.

She saw it herself, unconditional love.

Even if they became a monster—or is a monster—as long as you love them, you’d be able to forgive them and show them that for you, they’re a human.

~~~

Let’s see what Ymir did after getting things she have longed for.

So since Eren showed her what it’s like to decide for your own, she helped him by lending her power to him.

For Armin, he showed/told her that life itself has a meaning and purpose and that is yours to decide what it would be, and the beauty of the memories you cherished.

Therefore, she helped him by letting past titan shifters fight with them in order to stop the rumbling.

But what would she do for Mikasa? Since she’s smiling, I assume it was because she finally completed the puzzle she’s been trying to solve ever since.

And it was about what life truly is and why people were born in the first place.

Manifesting my answer would be on ch.139 of what she’d do for Mikasa.

~~~

Goodbye my dignity I did something so dumb I’m embarrassed.

[violet-t-9]

Check in on my (not very realistic) wish list for episode 137

1. Sheepleb interactions, I don’t care with whom - I need sheepleb my beloved to interact with people for reasons. I know the sheep-shifting may only last for 1 minutes but that’s 10 rounds, surely enough to get some sweet RP in.

YES Cad grab the sheep yes YASHA SCRATCH THAT BELLY sheepleb interactions my beloved. Jester yes make sheepleb move his cute little ears I love y’all. YES SHEEPLEB chew on Yasha’s coat. I never knew I would love a sheep but I do now apparently. Yasha continuing to pet sheepleb and continuing to hold Caleb after he shifts back I love her so much-

2. Caleb or Beau accidentally and telepathically speak to people by thinking too loudly. I can’t wait for their reactions, it will be hilarious.

Well, Caleb did so but more deliberately, and it was more enlightening than hilarious lol.

3. Beau and Caleb discover the third function of their eyes (if dark vision is included in true sight, then they are missing one feature).

Nope, the eyes were used against them again to expose their locations, but haven’t ever been used for mind control yet, so I’m okay with that.

4. Beau and Caleb do not gain any new eyes (pretty please, come on).

I mean they have bigger problems but yeah I got what I wanted!

5. Wait no it’s the astral sea there is no wild magic effect anymore :( but can they at least encounter some unique astral sea creatures, features or something as fun as Aeorian wild magic.

Well... That was a lot of astral sea creatures. More precisely creepy meaty enemies. I think it was fun! In a horrifying way, but fun.

6. Someone mentions Yussa and discuss the probability of saving him (honestly though I don’t know how that’s going to work).

Jester mentioned Yussa pretty soon but I think they are a bit... preoccupied to save anyone at the moment, oops.

7. Getting closer to the city and discovering more of its nature/power/how to stop it.

Wow that city description is cool oh boy I got chills from the empty city suddenly bustling with people. Also that Caleb telepathy experiment is so creepy and terrifying. Is the city alive?! With flesh and teeth?! EuughhHHh. Timorei the terrified rebel/Fear they first met (who seemed to be on Lucien’s side), with Elatis and Luctus opposing him? The Aether crux??! Ira/Wrath who acted in a sort of beast-like way and seemed antagonistic towards Mirumus and Gaudius?? It’s good to know the Somnovem are in fact far from one mind - their opinions seem pretty divided. Aether crux might be the way to go, couldn’t they just destroy all the Somnovem, since they want M9 to kill some of them anyways? Does the entire city function like a living body?

8. Beau and Yasha continue to flirt even in the astral sea and travel side-by-side or physically interact.

Twin initiative 21 yeah let’s go- wait when I said physical interaction I didn’t mean it like that come on!! Stop hitting each other. Also Yasha’s small “I love you but” aww. It was still a little bit flirty somehow lol loved it. ALSO the air kiss was so cute I can’t with these two and their awesome PDA. They also searched the building together!

9. Jester really doting on Artagan/Sprinkle like she never did before.

I mean, she paid him way more attention that’s for sure :D

10. Jester and Fjord have a longer one-on-one conversation or fight like a badass battle couple that they are.

Hey they were both great in combat and explored together! 

11. Obligatory wish for Essek’s fancy dunamancy or magical items (Bonus: we get to see one of those high-damage AOE offensive spells that he couldn’t cast).

AYY LIGHTNING BOLT HYPE! It was sort of an AOE too! Loved his flair as always. It’s not dunamancy technically but I’m counting it because cool purple-black spell.

12. Obligatory wish for Caleb’s polymorph spell (sheepleb was perfect, GIVE ME MORE).

Nope, but the sheepleb we got was awesome. 

13. Tiny Veth interactions with party members (Bonus: with Fjord, or sheepleb).

Nope, the effect probably didn’t last long? Or they just forgot about tiny Veth lol.

14. The party members try to reach Molly through Lucien and Lucien reacting more to things that they say.

They didn’t catch up to Lucien at all, but I have a feeling that they will next episode.

15. They catch up to Lucien and Cree somehow and manage to stop them from returning the city to the world (or at least start the combat).

Combat was started at the end of the episode with Cree! They did catch up to Cree! This is going in the right direction at least.

16. Successful divine intervention from Cad or Jester.

At least Cad and Jester both tried! They weren’t successful, but still.

17. Yasha decides to brute force through a problem and succeeds like the true Barbarian that she is.

I mean, all the combat is brute-force and Yasha did eliminate one of the flesh horror monsters with her cool holy avenger swing!

18. Someone pushes the big red button and derails them.

Nope! They’ve been focused and on task and that’s good! 

19. The wizards and their complicated whatever it is being addressed or developed more.

Not Caleb smirking at Essek using fire bolt then proceeding to use one himself and get a natural 20 I- that was so cool?? What?? Have I mentioned that I love those wizards because I love them. They also float the fastest of course.

20. Heroes’ feast/short rest or a long rest that they well deserve (Bonus: they have great rolls on the HP).

Nope, but I mean they probably need one soon.

21. Obligatory wish for Essek’s room in the tower.

Yeah nah this one is just a permanent feature on the wish list don’t mind it.

22. Oblitagory wish for Cad being a MVP in and out of combat.

Cad turned Caleb back (baaaaaaye sheepleb I love you), healed the group and discovered a lot about how the city worked, including using decompose. 

23. Veth being thirsty for Davexian still, or for whatever other Astral sea creature they are going to meet.

“Want to do some apple picking?” LMAO I’m not gonna count that of course but it was funny.

24. Obligatory wish for everyone to remain relatively happy and alive by the end of the episode except Lucien and Cree (they can perish, but now I kinda want Lucien to not die since he had some strange reactions), and the episode ends on a terrifying cliffhanger as always.

Score: 12/24

Welp, that took a turn. I did not expect so much Eldritch horror and expected way more humour (which in hindsight was unwise considering how the story is going lol), but honestly I’m not complaining one bit. Matt’s voice acting and everybody’s performance are top notch and the world-building is just *chef’s kiss*, terrifying or not. 

Bonus:

The subtitles said “bleating” when everybody yelled before the opening theme I’m dead lmao also “some a bit sheepish”, courtesy pun of the DM.

“I mean... *bleats*” hahahah I love sheepleb so much

Poor Essek had to start the combat on low HP, sadness. To be fair, our wonderful DM was busy playing many characters and giving beautiful expositions and the players were busy being captivated by all that! 

“When in Aeor” Fjord lmao making his face into a big red eyeball, as one does.

Torrent of Teeth ughhhhhAHH what an attack name

Caleb casting Widogast’s Web of Fire was the hottest thing I’ve seen, no pun intended - it was hotttt.

[femslashfantasies]

I posted 1,079 times in 2021

93 posts created (9%)

986 posts reblogged (91%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 10.6 posts.

I added 332 tags in 2021

#batwoman - 93 posts

#wildmoore - 59 posts

#ryan wilder - 38 posts

#sophie moore - 25 posts

#supercorp - 23 posts

#wandavision - 22 posts

#supergirl - 22 posts

#wandavision spoilers - 18 posts

#rwby - 17 posts

#black widow - 15 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#where are my fellow sane supercorps who are totally fine accepting that its not canon because canon is not the end all be all of shipping

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

The Batwoman writers put more effort into this one episode than they did into the entire season 1. I really love it.

429 notes • Posted 2021-01-18 01:44:30 GMT

#4

The fact that there's only one hetero relationship on Batwoman whereas there's 5 sapphic ones (whether canon, unrequited or otherwise) is very pleasing to me.

447 notes • Posted 2021-03-22 03:19:43 GMT

#3

I've hated the CW For years but what Ruby Rose is saying about them makes me hate them 100 times more. And I absolutely believe her. No wonder Melissa is so happy to leave that shit hole.

I'll be the first person to say I was never a fan of Ruby's acting and I was upset when I thought they quit especially since they nor anyone else was willing to give a straight answer as to why.

But hearing all of this that she and the crew were going through is so upsetting but not surprising. And I don't mean to be the "always bring race into it" girl but if this is how Ruby as a white person was treated, imagine how much all the black stars and crew have had to deal with. The fact that they had to create their own support group because the network probably didn't give a shit about all the racism they experienced from so called fans. I just hope they're all safe.

523 notes • Posted 2021-10-20 17:23:52 GMT

#2

Batwoman is the only show I can think of that has two sapphic ships running at the same time.

It's the only show in CW I know of that currently features two black female love interests.

It's the only show where the sapphic couples get treated the same and sometimes better than the straight couples.

Rip to other CW shows but this one's different.

694 notes • Posted 2021-11-11 05:17:01 GMT

#1

Lucy Flawless at it again

1054 notes • Posted 2021-01-08 03:25:52 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[dndeed]

Crit Role Miniature Rollout: C2E137

With Andrew Harshman

An archive and review of the minis used on CR.

Is anyone else worried about how incredibly dangerous a blood cleric could be when the fight takes place in a city made of flesh and blood? I'm very eager to see what terrain (if any) is used to represent the organic nature of the building they’re in. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before we can discuss next episode, we need to first discuss this episode.

But before that, lemme say a few good words about the good ol’, grand ol’, mighty fine ol’ folks at Mats by Mars. They make great mats, such as the cobblestone Bustling City Tabletop Wargaming Play Mat. Whether you’re looking to purchase this cityscape design or any other terrainscape, I encourage you to proceed directly to matsbymars.com and use my code DNDEED0621 for 10% off your entire MBM order.

The city is alive, the city is expanding, living in the city can be demanding, it’s time for Crit Role Miniature Rollout Campaign 2 Episode 137!

The List

Mats by Mars Bustling City Tabletop Wargaming Play Mat

Monster Fight Club Verdent Forest Double-sided Neoprene Area Template

Dwarven Forge City Builder System

Dwarven Forge Wicked City Smuggler’s Wagon

Dwarven Forge Wicked City Pheasant Fountain

Dwarven Forge Wicked City Stalls

Dwarven Forge Wicked City Crate & Barrel

Dwarven Forge Dungeons of Doom Large Curved Daises

Dwarven Forge Caverns Deep Dreadhollow Forest Tree

EnderToys Greek Ruined Buildings Bundle 3D Printed Terrain

Mantic Games Terrain Crate Dungeon Debris Crates

Mantic Games Terrain Crate Orrery

Miniature Building Authority Witt House

Miniature Building Authority Corner House with Turret

Hirst Arts Stone Arch Wall Mold #88

Mage Knight Artifacts Set 2

Steamforged Mighty Nein Miniatures

Resin Printed Veth Model (not publicly available)

Eldritch Foundry Essek Painted by Iron Tusk Painting

Axe N Shield Single Flyer Risers - Clear Mithril

LITKO Flying Figure Stands

Monster Menagerie 3 #024 Gibbering Mouther

Waterdeep Dragon Heist #010 Mirt

Waterdeep Dragon Heist #006a Merchant

Deathknell #25 Voice of Battle

Pathfinder Battles Iconic Heroes Set 8 Rivani Human Psychic

Reaper Miniatures Barkeep

Ruins of Lastwall #020 Razmir Priest

Unknown Archway

The Terrain

Handsome looking Mats by Mars mat right here! The Bustling City mat, like all MBM mats, does an absolutely brilliant job of tying this whole layout together. A tidy, uniform design with virtually no perceivable tiling repetition. 

A lot of returning elements, including modular Dwarven Forge City Builder structures and Miniature Building Authority buildings (the likes of which we’ve not seen since the Xhorhas arc some ~80 episodes or so ago). The tower is a newcomer, a 3D printed, modular tower by EnderToys. Looks very nice indeed.

This next topic would fit into the category of Mini-Based Conspiracy Theory. I haven’t worked out all the details of this crackpot theory. But here’s the general gist: this very specific Mage Knight Artifact statue piece showed up this episode in the streets of Cognouza and also appeared under the Cathedral of the Dawnfather in Episode 86 as well as inside the Icozrin Steelworks in Episodes 59/60. Generally, when I see a terrain model reused, I try not to make a habit of overanalyzing it. But this particular model is just so specific. Like why use this mini instead of a generic statue? It has a very alien, eldritch sort of design, I wonder if there is some significance to its presence in three separate Campaign 2 locations.

EDIT: Nevermind, I rewatched Episode 86 and the Mage Knight Artifact statue is expressly described as being a statue of the Dawnfather. Yeesh, the cathedral sculptors really phoned this one in.

The Monsters

Resident of Cognouza Waterdeep Dragon Heist #010 Mirt Mini photo sourced from minisgallery.com

So this is Mirt the moneylender. Maybe he shoulda invested some of that cash in a better paint job. Not great. But the the model is very colorful, so that’s fun. And the pose is to my liking. As far as generic background pedestrian NPC minis go, this one is decent. 

Resident of Cognouza Waterdeep Dragon Heist #006a Merchant Mini photo sourced from minisgallery.com

Another decent NPC model. This Merchant has a cool costume design. He has some nice accessories, a couple coin purses and a scroll. What kind of a merchant do you reckon he is, a scroll seller? A paper proprietor? A sheet slinger? A papyrus peddler? Lots of truly riveting backstory possibilities for this mini merchant.

Cognouza Flesh Horrors Monster Menagerie 3 #024 Gibbering Mouther Mini photo sourced from minisgallery.com

John Carpenter eat your heart out! On second thought, scratch that. This miniature suffers from subpar sculpt detail and rather unexciting paint. Looks good enough at a distance though. Though not especially relevant to the visual quality of the figure, I feel compelled to mention how wildly overpriced this Thing is (approximately $10 at the time of posting). Forget body horror, it’s this pricing that’s horrifying! I can’t imagine what sinister free market forces are responsible for this. Yikes.

Closing Thoughts and Predictions

I am predicting some blood creature summonings and/or the animation of the terrain itself. Will I be right? Will I be wrong? One thing’s for sure, this Cree battle is gonna get bloody! See ya next sesh!

#critroleminiaturerollout

[aion-rsa]

The Rick and Morty Season 5 Finale Explains…Well, Just About Everything

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This article contains spoilers for Rick and Morty season 5 episode 10.

Rick and Morty is fighting a losing battle with its own canon. 

The show has demonstrated time and time again that it prefers crafting episodic, self-contained stories to fully realize the potential of playing in a massive sci-fi sandbox. Like Rick Sanchez himself, the writers of the show understand that infinite universes (and a hefty 70-episode order from Adult Swim) means that a concept as earthbound as “story” will soon become pointless.

Viewers, however, have never felt that way. Despite being presented with the promise of infinite creation, many Rick and Morty fans just want to follow the story of the world’s smartest, yet most damaged man, and his happy-go-lucky grandson. It’s all quite ironic. Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon has spent much of his career advocating for the elemental power of storytelling, even crafting a “story circle” that is now a feature of many writers’ rooms (and probably the Marvel Cinematic Universe). But now the one time a Harmon writers’ room wants to have some non-serialized fun, fans crave structure more than ever.

And fans finally get that structure in the Rick and Morty season 5 finale “Rickmurai Jack.” Several writers promised before the season that this batch of Rick and Morty episodes would be more canon-focused than years’ past. Sure enough, this finale explains…just about everything in the Rick and Morty canon! You can tell it’s all canon too because Rick loudly proclaims it over and over again with lines like: 

Rick: “The Citadel runs on canon.”

Morty: “We’ve been through a lot and he doesn’t like…” Rick: “Serialized drama.”

Rick “You wanna jump the shark? You wanna know my stupid crybaby backstory, then knock yourself out.”

Morty: “Woah, dead wife.” Rick: “Yeah, now everyone can shut up about it.”

Rick and Morty fans finally get just about every bit of canon they’ve been clamoring for from “Rickmurai Jack.” And in case you missed any of it, we will explain it all. Because that’s what we do.

What Is Rick’s Origin Story?

Rick Sanchez is clearly ashamed of his origin story. We finally find out why in this episode because it’s all so…human. Yes, as the series has long intimated (first in season 3’s premiere and then again in season 5 episode 8), the beginning of Rick’s multiverse-jumping saga begins with “sad about dead wife.”

Once upon a time, an evil (or probably just normal) Rick dropped into Rick C-137’s timeline to invite him along on multiversal adventures. When C-137 declined, the asshole Rick dropped a bomb into his garage killing his wife Diane and daughter Beth. Despondent, C-137 built his first rudimentary portal gun and traveled every possible timeline and dimension looking for revenge. In the process, he killed thousands upon thousands of his fellow Ricks but never found the Rick he was looking for.

Eventually, Rick grew tired of all the bloodshed and founded the Citadel of Ricks so that all the Ricks could live in relative peace. He then traveled to a timeline with a new Beth and settled in for a lifetime of adventures with his little buddy Morty.

What is The Central Finite Curve?

The Citadel of Ricks wasn’t the only thing that Rick C-137 and his fellow Ricks created. Have you ever wondered how, in an infinite set of universes, Rick Sanchez just so happens to be the smartest creature in each one? If the universe were really infinite, then wouldn’t there be dimensions where a Morty, a Jerry, a Beth, or even some random beetle was the smartest creature alive?

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

It turns out that the Ricks wanted to make sure there was no Genius Jerry universe. They’ve walled off their own set of realities from all the other realities. Using a concept known as the “Central Finite Curve” they’ve been able to isolate only the universes in which Ricks are the smartest creatures to use as their own Rick playgrounds. How did Doofus Rick sneak in then? That’s anyone’s guess.

What is Evil Morty’s Whole Deal?

Evil Morty makes his triumphant return in this episode. First introduced as a one-off joke all the way back in season 1, Evil Morty has now become arguably the most mysterious and important figure in the Rick and Morty canon. 

Previously we saw Evil Morty elevated to the position of President of the Citadel and now we see why he wanted the job. Evil Morty wants to break free from the Ricks’ Central Finite Curve. He no longer wants to live in a set of curated universes where Rick Sanchez will always win. Ultimately he gets what he wants as the final moments of this episode find him entering into a new set of dimensions, 2001 or Interstellar-style. 

Evil Morty scores his biggest win of the series yet but it’s still unclear where the little guy even comes from. Is it possible that he hails from a different dimension of smart Mortys to begin with? Maybe. But we think it’s more likely that Rick and Morty is operating under Jurassic Park rules: life finds a way. The Ricks tried to create a walled-in universe where beings like Doofus Rick or Evil Morty aren’t possible. Unfortunately for them, infinite universes aren’t so easily tamed. 

How Cool is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Going to Be?

So cool. This may seem like a weird digression but keep in mind that the writer of this finale, Jeff Loveness, is also penning the next Ant-Man and the Wasp movie that will find Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror making his MCU film debut (after previously popping up in Loki).

In fact, this was Loveness’s last episode on Rick and Morty before heading off to Marvel-land. 

Came back to write the Rick and Morty season finale. Airs Tonight. It is about the burning of the world and the lies we tell the people we love because we are afraid.

— Jeff Loveness (@JeffLoveness) September 5, 2021

What Has Mr. Poopybutthole Been Up To?

After becoming a fan favorite (and sustaining a near-fatal gunshot wound) in season 2, Mr. Poopybutthole has retreated to the background of the Rick and Morty world. Now he operates as an Oatu-like Watcher, dispassionately viewing the events of Rick and Morty from his couch, sometimes wistfully wishing these mortals could see what fools they be.

Mr. Poopybutthole’s monologue at the end of this episode is particularly haunting. Here is the script page in its entirety courtesy of Loveness’s Twitter account.

Learn from him. pic.twitter.com/lHaPQ5ZTkh

— Jeff Loveness (@JeffLoveness) September 6, 2021

“We don’t have as much time as we think. We never do. Oooowee.”

The post The Rick and Morty Season 5 Finale Explains…Well, Just About Everything appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[smallestclowninthecircus]

Season 4 notes

Ep 121: mmmm tape recorder turning on without them knowing goes brrr. AAAhjhdsjfhjdf "do you mind if i call you jon" its like "can i call you elias?" is this the dream guy with the tendrils? who wants to bet the boat is captained by peter lukas? big man if it killed yall how are you still here. oh boy the tape is doin that thing. who do we think it is? did he wake up? hmm. ep 122: lol jon. 6 months!?!? bruh quit movin big man. he just Knows things sometimes you know how it is. nah b/c i can relate to feeling like other ppl/ things arent real, thats the biggest mood BUT i think it is kinda pretentious to entertain the idea that youre the only Real person. If you dont see a body dont believe it. i'll hold out hope for a bit. theres not a new archivist is there? surely i wouldve heard about that. oh god peter what changes did you make. ep 123: web development. hope its about spiders. she blames him. bruh why. if they hadnt done anything the world would've ended piss off melanie. why are ppl acting like he chose to be in a coma for 6 months. we know this they just appear. no longer "head archivist of the magnus institute, london" now he's just "the archivist" covered in spiders? cuz ik the spider has to do with controlling what youre doing and all this stuff but i cant think of how this connects to that. ep 124: ugh vertigo. is michael crew an old man? oooh. fairchild. how did he know it was martin? hmm. GRR I LOST MY NOTES AGAIN. FROM EPISODE 125 - part of 131. ep 131: bruh he's so hard to understand big man ur voice is so low. Jared Hotworth. the boneturner. "the ones i helped find their proper bodies" name a better top surgeon? our favorite trans ally? ep 132: woo field trip into the coffin! static lol. he says "chill out im just poppin in for a quick recall mission" is the rib thing actually gonna work? bruh it feels so odd and contrived but he's an odd man with some odd powers so idk. rip that archivist ayyy statement time. voices? recordings? are those tape recorders? was it the tape recorders? did they pull him back? i hope so b/c if the rib thing actually worked im gonna be so disappointed. ep 133: predicting the lonely? tundra. like the lukases. hmm. sanikova! like sanikov land. so its the hunt? i suppose? yeah. so daisy's clearly rejecting the hunt, which makes sense cuz she doesnt seem to like the entities that much. wait so are we just not gonna talk abt all the tapes playing on the ground?? no? ep 134: not an archival assistant anymore? Adelard Decker (or however you spell it) i recognize that name. 15th power. i was right there are 15. the extinction? im trying to remember what ive heard. oooh spooky. no i gotta be real i dont understand this fear but i'll believe you that its a thing. ew lukas is so squealy. lukas can turn invisible? oh boy. oooh martin put the tape recorders there. lol lukas is worried he's gonna be an avatar of the eye. ep 135: yoo its the third Daedalus statement! maxwell rayner (reiner? reigner?) i dont know who that is but ik its somebody. is he the cult leader guy? church of the divine host? 4 people?? what? did they kidnap somebody and keep them up there?? oh dear jon are you dying? did he try to See or Know or whatever? why does everyone call basira detective lol. ep 136: he was the one from the spider movie that ate ppl right? the special effects artist? is it annabelle cane? "its a joke jon" lol. hmm they wanted to record the therapy session with melanie? i wonder who that is. i almost wanna guess annabelle cane but im not sure. ep 137: this is the one! he went to the other place and read the war statement but it wasnt the one she took. not the music again. sounds like the slaughter. who the heck is eric lol. "the watcher's crown" like the crown of eyes we saw in the piccrew ep 138: oh boy Robert Smirk time. is that elias? as unhelpful as usual. if new powers can be "born" can others die out? did jonah magnus wear the watchers crown? maybe they were born from our fear or maybe our fears were born from them. ceaseless watcher does ceaselessly watch so. idk what you want

big man. yeah jonah for sure did something. ep 139: agnes!! lol that one dude threw off all their plans thats so funny. BUT this does tell us something. the tree in the backyard of the hilltop house? not made by her. it going down didnt kill agnes. im guessing gertrude tied agnes to the house using the tree? u good jon? cuz every time you try to Know smth intentionally it seems like it causes you great pain. how come he can do it accidentally with no problem but the second he wants to know smth of plot relevance he gets a headache or whatever ep 140: lol pagan exultation. classic. "oh thats my rib" lmaoo. ppl are always so mad at jon and his Eye powers except when it benefits them. they're like "oh you shouldnt do that its not right" and then all of a sudden they want to know something and its all "oh cmon jon its the only way" ep 142: oh god jon what did you do. its interesting she's giving her statement in the way that they do when jon Asks. did he see her in the Coffin? and so he's following her? ok cmon jon you're supposed to let them come to you. lmao ikr martin. "start to hear the blood" "suure." lmao ep 143: lol that awkward moment when gertrude is already dead. big J if you die im gonna kill you. bruh. ayo helen? i guess it worked? ep 144: lol this reminds me of that one edgar allan poe story where he kills the old dude with the weird eye. spooky music stuff. lol thats my favorite symptom of a heart attack its hilarious. so its smth abt the location probably? bro i feel like you should write down the numbers idk. 162830165049 564846474827. seems like the distortion? like the kinda thing that causes you to go crazy because of the numbers. oh boy is it the extinction again. bro what?? im?? his dad just died and he's like eh. martin dont be mean. he's being all lonely again. big man ur pushing ppl away. oh god its fucking squealy boy. ep 145: that almost sounds like breekon/hope... Arthur? agnes. aah was he from the lightless flame cult. a tree. lol he's just ranting rn. hehehe fuck landlords amirite. yay someone tells jon outright to go to therapy. now do it big man. ep 146: oh great! the distortion! i'm making a spiral themed building in mc right now! jon maybe accept you did a bad? nah this goes back to what i said before. they're fine with him compelling ppl when its convenient for them but otherwise its "no jon you cant, youre a monster jon" the tapes didnt turn on. i spose that means its not important? i agree with daisy, this seems unecessarily dangerous. ep 147: is that a tape? the first tape? well that went better than i expected tbh. BAHAKJASHDJKF she did the "can i call you jon" like nikola says "elias, can i call you elias?" damn annabelle is such a girlboss. oh! the one thing from the picrew. its been a while since ive connected smth to that. lol all the other avatars always talk abt their patron so lovingly and the jon just. absolutely hates the eye. ep 148: lol thats the most elias thing. "i just like the way it sounds" ep 149: did he disappear? bruhh. ur lonely powers are popping off i guess. oops i accidentally deleted my notes for 150 - 152 ep 153: thats the cult right? yeah. it doesnt sound like the church of the divine host? idk. if it is the church of the divine host then they worship the dark right? so is the eleventh the dark star or wtvr? it almost sounds like the corruption b/c of the oil or grease or whatever. oh dear what happened. oh its the hunters. theyre so annyoing. not an "it" he has a name. he's a person. is this a page from the skin book? ep 154: oh shit this is gerry's dad! oh shit he quit! oh dear god. jon don't you do it. haha martin. yeahhhh... is he gonna tell the others? cuz you know theyre gonna get mad if he doesnt. oh also picrew connection! the bandages over the eyes? yeah thats this im guessing. ep 155: oh good he told them. oh my god what did you do. lol i have no mouth and i must scream. nah you get none of my sympathy you're straight up murdering ppl. its like the desolation, destroying lives to sustain your own. ok but taking their statements doesnt

kill them. oh... bye melanie. ep 156: lmao imagine if the tape recorder spoke back. oh boy decker! i swear we got a statement from him already. oh god mirrors scary. They're gonna eat the body arent they. Yup... sounds like the flesh or the slaughter, but I'm not sure. Could be the extinction for sure. Smth at the center! Like Helen mentioned. God Peter you dick. Ep 157: peter's just so :/ another decker statement i see. a statement about the corruption? hmm. maybe its not abt the corruption. the extinction. lol pandemics. topical. John Amherst. helen? lol i can hear admiral purring in the background. oh cmon helen dont be like that. im trying real hard to like you but you make it so difficult. ep 158: did they fucking free the stranger? im gonna lose it. you absolute dumbass. im sorry who is that? jonah magnus? my guy. peter. you absolute dickhead. that's elias. (im p sure i had this spoiled for me that elias is jonah) oh dear this is her death. god peter you prick. i hope this is a pop off martin moment and not a "martin you idiot" moment. i hope the hunters kill the stranger entity. or she kills them. furry daisy pop off! yeah fuck you peter martin can make his own decisions. you know that clip from Twisted where jafar says "ok what the fuck was that" martin D: ok like i know its gonna work but still D: D: ep 159: peter you bitchboy. because if im alone i cant hurt anyone else. imnotgonnacryimnotgonnacryimnotgonnacry do it do it do it do it. pop off jon. ok its a pretty good idea for a ritual i gotta be honest. she didnt even have to blow it up lol. oh dear that was certainly a noise. "he gets you" did he not have jon already? he's back! our boy is back! awwww thats so cute. ep 160: oh right this is the thing in the safe house. i love him. "obviously im going to tell you if i see any good cows" martin my beloved <3 :)) oh boy who is this. fuckin. people. jonah you dick. gahh. you can tell he's trying to resist so hard lol. ohh. hehe keep an *eye* on him. altho if the extinction is a real thing he needs to be marked by that right? lol he sounds so intense im sorry- i want martin to just burst in and be like "look at this cow i saw!" its so dramatic and for why.

[finding-fallen-stars]

YGO Questionnaire Part 2 Electric Boogaloo

So, my gf/bf @howaboutalittlehelpneos tagged me to do this again a... good long while ago, and I had wanted to wait until I'd finished my GX rewatch before trying this again. But ouch oof I accidentally also got through all of 5Ds again before getting to this lol

But the 5Ds rewatch definitely reshaped a lot of my thoughts, so... cracks knuckles. This won't be spoiler free, fair warning~

Favorite Series: ugh the formatting killed my original essay on this but okay GX and 5Ds are pretty tied in my book, now-- I love them equally, but in different ways! GX fulfills my love for subversive coming-of-age stories with a heartwarming, humorous, and also soulcrushing touch, and I love how each season brings a new story and new characters-- it's like reading installments of a novel series, and I think the formatting works wonders for it as a whole. It has some absolutely phenomenal character writing, too-- even the characters I dislike are ones I can appreciate for what they introduce to the story! And honestly, not enough people give the first two seasons of GX the credit it deserves: they're half the charm, really. How are you going to feel the full impact of the heartbreaking content in seasons 3 and 4 if you aren't properly attached to the characters?

But on 5Ds's side of things... it fulfills my love for stories with time loops, found family, human nature, and of course, love and death and how they intertwine. I love how the leading characters are just a bunch of broken kids from broken circumstances who all find a home with each other, and of course, how it highlights class disparity and how fucked up the prison/"justice" systems are. Yea, sure, maybe it underwent executive meddling and all, but I genuinely love it for what it is and I wish more people appreciated it... my only problem with 5Ds is the untwist with Z-ONE and then the ending s m h I adore it overall and I could go off for a long while on it. Overall, these are my two instinctive recommendations for anyone getting into Yugioh!

(look at these boys they're so important) Favorite Protagonist: Oh, believe me, absolutely nothing has changed here-- Yusei Fudo is and always will be my favorite protagonist, and my rewatch only solidified that.

I just... love him so much? He's seen so much hell in his life and carries so much guilt on his shoulders, but he still has room in his heart to believe in others and to believe that anyone can defy fate and find hope even at rock bottom. I love that he's initially introduced as this quiet, brooding figure when he really just turns out to be a huge softie who wears his heart on his sleeve half the time and wants to bring about change for Satellite and its people. Plus I just really love that his greatest flaw is something that would ordinarily be a positive trait-- he's Overly self-sacrificial, to the point where he's basically setting himself on fire to keep others warm, and that's not really framed as something Heroic

Just... he makes me so happy. I have two Yusei charms that I ordinarily keep on my keys (one was a gift from Zenzen) and they're a constant source of serotonin for me. He's Peak comfort character for me. Best protag in my book Favorite Rival: Same deal here-- still Manjoume!

look at him he's so important

While he spends a lot of the anime getting the good old damsel in distress treatment (getting suckered into a cult, getting knocked into a coma, becoming a zombie, getting fucking Killed, etc), I still think his character arc is really well-written overall and I only appreciated it even more when I watched GX again. I love the fact that he's got a soft heart he buries beneath the edgy facade, and that he's simultaneously really sharp and also kind of dense lol. He's just a fun character and watching how he evolves from episode one to episode one hundred eighty is such a satisfying journey.

Plus, props to him for being such a versatile duelist-- 50 wins in a row is HARD as is, let alone with a deck full of cards he just found laying around in the Arctic. Three ace monsters, three different archetypes... he's a really good duelist and I'm proud of him for it

Oh, but honestly, I don't really dislike any of the rivals-- I'm neutral towards Revolver and Reiji, but the remaining four (Kaiba, Manjoume, Jack, and Shark) compel me. yes I accidentally wound up liking Jack Atlas shhh Favorite BFF: Honestly, I really like most of the characters who fit this archetype-- Joey, Crow, Gongenzaka, Soulburner... I still lean a little bit more towards Joey, but I really appreciate all four of them. I'm gonna say Joey again, just because I find his evolution as a character the most compelling, but I appreciate the other three a lot. Soulburner has the best design though Favorite GFF: Oh absolutely still Aki, but I honestly... really love most female Yugioh characters? I'm assuming this is lead girls only, but like. I'm dumb and gay and I love Girls so this is naturally the most difficult one for me to answer lol

Aki just resonates with me the most because she's the prime example of how trauma doesn't always manifest in palatable ways-- when we first meet her, she's angry and lashes out at anyone and anything just because she wants the world to suffer in the same ways she's suffered, and then... we get to watch her grow from that, once she's free from Divine and able to heal the way she needs to heal. I know the second half of 5Ds didn't give her character the attention it deserved, but I'm still proud of her for winding up on the path she did-- seeing her channel her power and energy into wanting to heal and help others was just so good and was one of the few things I really Loved about the 5Ds ending.

oh, but like. Asuka Tenjoin and Aoi Zaizen are very close seconds for me!!! Aki just has a vice grip on my heart Favorite Villain: Okay, it's still technically Vector-- I think he's the most entertaining, well-written, and effective villain out of all of the ones we've seen so far, but... I also want to add Takuma Saiou and then all of Yliaster as honorable mentions?

As someone fond of tarot myself, I was naturally pretty intrigued by Saiou the first time I watched GX, but my attachment to him only grew the second time around where I actually got the chance to understand his character better. Plus, like... the visuals with him are fucking astounding and he's always so interesting to watch.

As for Yliaster, I just... really love how the big bad of 5Ds turned out to just essentially be a broken man desperate to save anyone and anything and three robotic reconstructions of the friends he'd lost. I still think the untwist with Z-ONE was stupid and I much prefer the idea of him and Yusei being the same person, but I'm still compelled by the other three-- well. Paradox less so, because we don't get a lot of Paradox lore, but. Aporia and Antinomy for sure.

ugh Yugioh has some damn good villains

Favorite Card: now that I actually play the TCG game...

Stardust is always going to be my favorite of all cards because it checks every box for me (my favorite YGO character's ace monster, space theme, what more could I want), but Aromaseraphy Rosemary has really become one of my aces in my best TCG deck! I'm still mastering irl plays, but I'm happy with my progress and I love my plant gang...

Favorite Episode: alright, here's where there's actually been a Lot of change, so...

Season 0: Episode 16: "Turnabout by a Hair's Breadth - The White-Robed Crisis" -- The more I think about this one, the more I love it; there's a... lot of corruption in the medical industry, and I've seen a lot of it firsthand, so just. Seeing a corrupt doctor get what he deserved at the end was cathartic, in a way? Plus, a Jounouchi-centric episode is always a good time.

Duel Monsters: Episodes 96-97: "Darkness vs. Darkness/One Turn Kill" -- this hasn't changed, I still love seeing Marik and Bakura bitch at each other for two whole episodes LMAO

GX: Episode 152: "Activate Super-Fusion! Rainbow Neos" -- This one hasn't changed and it likely never will-- I take so much pride in seeing Judai push forward, past the fear and guilt he's carrying, all to save Johan... it's cathartic and I never get sick of watching it.

5Ds: sweats. still all of Crash Town, but also episodes 137-147-- the Ark Cradle is one of my favorite parts of 5Ds and one of my favorite YGO arcs period, and even though each duel is a fucking gut punch, I love the emotional intensity and weight in each episode... It hurts but in a mostly good way

Zexal: Episode 143: "The Aloof Duelist 'Nasch': The Destined Final Duel" -- this one hasn't changed! Still hurts, still love it, I still weep over Ryouga Shark Kamishiro on a daily basis

Arc-V: Episodes 81-82: "Our Respective Battlefields/The Ultimate Falcon VS The Black-Feathered Thunder" -- Okay, honestly, this was hard because I... genuinely. really don't like Arc-V very much at all lol (it's just not my cup of tea, but more power to those who do like it!), but I thought this duel was a lot of fun! Shun is my absolute favorite from Arc-V and I really like the friendship he struck up with Crow a lot, so here we are

VRAINS (so far): Episode 25-26: "Virus Deck Operation/Three Draws Leading to Hope" -- honestly I am so biased because I just really love Blue Angel and I loved seeing her get a well-deserved victory like this lol. I'm not done with VRAINS, so this is probably gonna change, but anytime Blue Angel or Soulburner are on screen, I'm happy

Favorite Decks to Use: Aromages will always have my heart, but I adore Cyber Angels too! I'm building my Trickstar deck, my Synchron/Stardust deck (just waiting on Dawn of Majesty...), and my Magician Girls deck, too! Fusion, Ritual, Synchro, XYZ, Pendulum, or Link?: Synchros my beloved... but also Ritual Years in fandom: I've been here for just a little over one year now! and I wuv it... I'm never looking back Who am I tagging: no one I'm too shy

[snowbreeze64]

i call this one: proof i’m going insane

anyways here’s a list of all times webs/and or spiders have been mentioned in 167 episodes of the magnus archives bc i haven’t listened to 168 yet.

spoilers through tma episode 167 because, yeah

UP TO DATE THROUGH EPISODE 167

CONFIRMED WEBISODES (Rusty Quill Youtube Playlist)

#8 Burned Out *

#16 Arachnophobia

#56 Children of the Night

#59 Recluse *

#67 Burning Desire *

#69 (nice) Thought for the Day

#81 A Guest For Mr. Spider

#100 I Guess You Had To Be There

#110 Creature Feature

#114 Cracked Foundation *

#123 Web Development

#136 The Puppeteer

#147 The Weaver

#167 Curiosity

* = Hill Top Road Related

And now, to channel my S2 Jon energy, which is also just BDG

ALL MENTIONS OF SPIDERS AND/OR WEBS IN NON-WEBISODES

#3 Across the Street - the Table is introduced

#9 A Father’s Love - “As far as I was concerned, the sturdy wooden structure was just the home of spiders’ nests and the rusted garden tools my parents would use once a year to attack the overgrown wilderness that was our back garden.” (Julia Montauk about their shed)

#11 Dreamer - “Looking down I could see a web of dark tendrils criss-crossing the streets and crawling up the buildings.” (Oliver Banks about the death tendril things)

#12 First Aid - Hill Top Road relation (Diego Molina)

#19 Confession/#20 Desecrated Host - Hill Top Road related

#22 Colony - Martin investigates Carlos Vittery’s house, finds lots of spiderwebs.

#32 Hive - “Was it the spiders? There were webs in the corners, around the entryway into the attic. I would watch them scurry and disappear in between the wooden boards. ‘Where are you going, little spiders?’ I would think. ‘What are you seeing in the dark? Is it food? Prey? Predators?’ I wondered if it was the spiders that made the gentle buzzing song. It was not. Webs have a song as well, of course, but it is not the song of the hive.” (Jane Prentiss)

#35 Old Passages - “I have the vaguest memories: flashes of a pile of paper, completely covered in cobweb…” (Harold Silvana about the tunnels)

#36 Taken Ill - “Just a sort of spider web design on the front.” (Jon about his lighter)

#37 Burnt Offering - Hill Top Road related

#38 Lost and Found - Jon attacks a spider and somehow makes a hole in the wall, and now there are worms

#39 Infestation - “No, no… it’s just that whatever web these statements have caught you in, well, I’m there too. We all are, I think.” (Martin)

#40 Human Remains - “Yes. She was sat in a wooden chair in the middle of the room. No worms. No cobwebs. Just… an old corpse.” (Martin about Gertrude’s corpse) (Does the sudden absence of spiders count as spiders?)

#43 Section 31 - “The most I could get out of her was that she was originally sectioned for something she referred to as “spider husks”.” (Basira about Daisy getting sectioned)

#44 Tightrope - “Why did she begin recording them? And why stop? If she’d been doing so right up until her death, she would’ve likely gotten through much of the archive, and… moreover I wouldn’t have had to find this tape player tucked away in the storage room, covered in dust and cobwebs.” (Jon about the tape player) (it’s covered in cobwebs! Suspicious! What do you mean old things get covered in cobwebs naturally?)

#46 Literary Heights - “I did go down there to see if I could find anything, but it seems much as it did last time. The only difference now is… all the spiderwebs. They seem to have spread down there. I think I saw some of the larger specimens actually eating the remains of the worms.” (Jon about the tunnels under the archives)

#51 High Pressure - “No… No, it isn’t. I’ve always seen it more like a web?” (Not!Sasha about the Table)

#63 The End of the Tunnel - “We’ve had something of a spectrum from him and his ilk: cobwebs entombing, difficulty in navigation, and now a violent, murderous dark.” (Jon about Robert Smirke)

#65 Binary - “Statement of Tessa Winters, regarding a strange computer program she downloaded from the Deep Web three months ago.” (What? It’s a web!)

#67 Burning Desire - “I looked up and noticed within the corner of the room, where there had been a spider’s web this morning, there was just a faint wisp of smoke.” and “Another held a bag that seemed to be full of candles, while a third had a clear plastic container filled with hundreds of tiny spiders.” (Jack Barnabas about his date with Agnes and the people in front of her flat) (this was already listed in webisodes but i just thought it was interesting)

#68 The Tale of a Field Hospital - “There were a couple of spiders, so I changed routes and found, I think it’s a gas main.” (Jon about exploring the tunnels) (also that gas main *eyes eyes eyes*)

#78 Distant Cousin - “Wrapped around it were thick strands of what I think was spider’s web, stretching back into the table, which I now saw pulsed along its carved channels with a sickly light.” (Laurence Moore about Adelard Dekker trapping the Not!Them in the table) and “Hollow. Just cobwebs and dust.” (Jon, breaking the table)

#79 Hide and Seek - “Of course the table was binding it. The table is webs and spiders. Spiders are something else. They don’t help each other, they oppose, they… they weaken. It was caught in a web, and I…” (Jon about the table...and perhaps Beholding something about the entities?)

#87 The Uncanny Valley - Jude Perry working with the Stranger, so Hill Top Road related?

#89 Twice as Bright - Statement of Jude Perry, Hill Top Road related

#90 Body Builder - “As you’d expect, most of the listings just pointed me towards the their websites, but I spotted a small, square ad box in the lower left corner.” (Ross Davenport, about finding his new gym) (yes i KNOW this is a stretch but the word website has the word web in it so…)

#91 The Coming Storm - “One lighter, gold, spiderweb design.” (Daisy going through Jon’s stuff)

#111 Family Business - Jon and Gerry discuss the entities, including the Web

#112 Thrill of the Chase - “We all met through one of those meetup websites, I-I forget which one.” (Lisa Carmel, about Murder Club) (listen it’s a WEBSITE so it has the word WEB in it and besides THE SPIDERS CONTROL THE WORLD WIDE WEB)

#114 Cracked Foundation - “It was warmer down there, warmer every step, and I found myself brushing cobwebs from my face as I got further down, until at last there I was - stood in the cellar of Hill Top Road.” (Anya Villette about Hill Top Road)

#117 Testament - “I know, I know it’s not exactly intricate, but it felt good leaving my own little web. Oh, oh, Christ, I hope John doesn’t actually listen to these. “Good lord, is Martin becoming some sort of spider person?” No, John, it’s an expression, chill out!” (Martin about his plan.) (also, I’ve been called out by Martin.)

#118 The Masquerade - “DAISY: Shut. Up. It’s just cobwebs. ARCHIVIST: There’s no such thing as just cobwebs.” (Jon walking into some cobwebs while planting C4) (also he’s RIGHT, DAISY)

#121 Far Away - “Just a second of them webbed over the face of a drunk old man stumbling into his car.” (Oliver about seeing the death tendrils in the waking world) and “Honestly, I’m still not exactly sure why I’m here. But you know better than anyone how the spiders can get into your head. Easier to just do what she asks.” (Oliver about why he’s visiting Jon)

#135 Civilian Casualties - “In the last week I’ve seen two different people wearing symbols for the People’s Church of the Divine Host, and it’s rare I go anywhere without cobwebs, anymore.” (Jon about the Institute being watched)

#128 Heavy Goods - “We had some luggage, once, a thrumming silk-wrapped thing of the spider, hiding away in an old steamer trunk.” and “The Spider’s always an easy job, no fuss, no complications, everything planned and prepared. It knows too much to truly be a stranger, but hides its knowing well enough to endure.” (Breekon about his and Hope’s deliveries)

#130 Meat - “I found this tape tucked in a corner of my desk drawer (sigh) covered in cobwebs. I suppose subtlety has gone out the window a bit, and the question is now simply… how much I trust the Spider to have my best interests at heart.” (Jon about the statement he just played. Also the Spider giving him the idea to use a flesh-anchor???)

#134 Time of Revelation - “There are two powers that, to my knowledge, have never attempted to fully manifest. Never had followers set them up for a ritual. Mother of Puppets, and Terminus. The Web and the End. The Web, I’ve never really been sure about. If I were to guess, I would say it actually prefers the world as is: playing everyone against each other. And so on.” (Peter Lukas about the entities)

#137 Nemesis - “Still, the anticlimax is fascinating. I can only assume they were supposed to be bombed at the height of the ritual - maybe by Japanese aircraft, maybe Allied, maybe both. I wonder what stopped it. A Japanese radar filled with spiderwebs, a US destroyer finding itself suddenly alone in the open ocean? Heh. We’ll probably never know.” (Gertrude about the Slaughter’s failed dance party)

#139 Chosen - Statement about Agnes, Hill Top Road related

#145 Infectious Doubts - “Ah. That’s a fair enough question. It was the Web. I didn’t know it at the time, of course, and I would call it an accident, but it never is, with them. It’s only after the fact that you can see all the subtle manipulations.” (Gertrude about the ritual binding her and Agnes)

#146 Threshold - “There is something wrong with Hill Top Road. You know it as well as I do. Some strange scar on reality at the center of - whatever it is that the Spider is spinning.” (Helen about Hill Top Road) and “What a delightful thought. (short pause) I don’t believe so, no. But the Spider’s strings are subtle, so I suppose it’s not impossible. Why?” (Helen about being controlled by the web to eat Marcus McKenzie (door guy)) Also throughout this episode Jon is wondering whether Annabelle is controlling him

#148 Extended Surveillance - “Or that we were being stalked by some freaky spider woman? Don’t tell me you didn’t know about that.” (Basira while beating up Elias) “Look, look - I’ve been doing this a long time now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about the Web, it’s that it plays its own game. All you can really do is hope it doesn’t get in the way of whatever your plan is. Because the Spider usually wins.” (Elias about the Web)

#150 Cul-de-Sac - “The Lonely is possibly the most insidious of the powers, I believe. Certainly it is the one that most delights and having you do its work for it, even the spiders seem to have a hard time matching it for sheer seductiveness.” (Jon about the Lonely). Also during this episode he and Melanie argue about whether her therapist is Web.

#157 Rotten Core - “Or Annabelle Cane is trying to manipulate me into thinking it’s one of the other scenarios. Previously, the spiders have made their presence clear when they’ve sent me… hints… but I can’t take that for granted.” (Jon about the Adelard statement left on his desk) (hey wait a minute if the statements refuse to record digitally how did Adelard send his on an e-mail-)

#160 The Eye Opens - “I’ll admit, my options were somewhat limited, but My God, when you came to me already marked by the Web, I knew it had to be you. I even held out some small hope you had been sent by the Spider as some sort of implicit blessing on the whole project, and, do you know what, I think it was.” (Douchard about Jon)

#163 In the Trenches - Annabelle calls Martin, Martin doesn’t pick up

#164 The Sick Village - “That’s - weird; I - I know the Web was wrapped around that phone, but, but I can’t - see her. A, At all.” (Jon about Annabelle)

#166 The Worms - Annabelle calls Martin to neg him over the phone.

Why did I spend over an hour doing this? Hell if I know. Am I any closer to finding out what the spiders want? Nope. So they’ve been helping Jon figure stuff out and got him appointed to the Institute in the first place, presumably so Elias would carry out his ritual, but why if they’ve never attempted a ritual before? They can’t be happy being ruled over by the Eye. What does Annabelle want with Martin? What the hell is going on at Hill Top Road?? WHAT IS UP WITH JON’S LIGHTER?????

[cinderellaahhh]

FIND TEAM NAMES

MENU

🏐🏐🏐🏐Funny Volleyball Team Names

1. Hit For Brains – Definitely not the smartest team out there.

2. Size Matters – Only if you’re short... or small, even.

3. Beavis and Bumphead – After Beavis and Butthead.

4. Ball Busters – The ball won’t be the same shape after playing this team.

5. Phantom Balls – Now you see them, now you don’t.

6. Setsaholics Anonymous – They’re going to sets you up.

7. Block Magic – After the South Park episode Cock Magic.

8. ACME Roofing – There won’t be a roof for long when you play this team.

9. Balls In Your Face – That’s got to be painful.

10. Safe Sets – How sets should be.

11. Practice Safe Sets – Practice every

day.

12. Where’s My Beaches At? – At the

beach?

13. How I Set Your Mother – Do tell.

14. The Dirty Half Dozen – Nice and filthy.

15. Hit Head – Why score points when you

can reduce your rivals’ brain cells?

16. Sand Eaters – They have a habit of

falling over.

17. Donald Bump – Bumping away

ignorantly of the rest of the world.

18. Nine Inch Males – So small?

19. Heads In The Sand – Stay away from

danger!

20. Good Volley Ms. Molly – Why thank

you!

21. Clever Beaches – Get ready to be

outsmarted.

22. Sand In The Vaseline – I’m sure

they’re having a great time at the

beach.

23. The Fighting Amish – Playing the old-

fashioned way.

24. Ball Bangers – Hitting balls a little too

hard.

25. Bros And Hoes – For a mixed team.

26. Public Sets Offenders – They’re not

allowed near certain places.

27. The Blair Hits Project – Getting

beaten by them is like a horror movie.

28. Ball Whisperers – They’ll get that ball

to go anywhere they want.

29. Setsy Time – After Borat’s

catchphrase.

30. Natural Disasters – It’s totally normal

for this team to lose.

31. Kinky Sets – The best kind of sets.

32. Men In Speedos – They make

everyone at the beach feel awkward.

33. Net Servers – For a techie crowd.

34. Touch And Go – Win some, lose some.

35. Caution! Low Roof! – About to leap

into space!

36. Wild Sets – These guys are passionate

about sets.

37. This Won’t Take Long – Beating their

rivals in seconds... or are they the ones

who get beaten?

38. The Joy Of Sets – Gotta love good

sets.

39. Set ‘Em Hussein – After Saddam

Hussein.

40. Spike Me Hard, Baby – It’s the only

way it should be done.

41. Setting Ducks – They have no idea

what they’re doing here.

42. Will Work For Sets – Nothing wrong

with that.

43. We Need Sets – We all do!

44. Hits Don’t Lie – After My Hips Don’t

Lie by Shakira.

45. Kiss My Ace – With pleasure.

46. Thongs And Dongs – Another perfect

name for a mixed team.

47. All Net – A team with no chance of

scoring.

48. The Blazing Sunburns – You’ll spot

this team a mile away.

49. Team Ibuprofen – They may be a little

sickly.

50. A Case Of The Hits – The only illness

that’s guaranteed to help you win.

51. Chicks With Digs – Why can’t chicks

have digs?

52. Trump’s Wall – Non–existent then?

53. Sonova Beach – Say it fast...

54. Sets With A Stranger – Players, 100%.

55. I’ve Seen Better Digging In A

Graveyard – Ouch!

56. Sand Castles – They might get a little

distracted.

57. We Showed Up – To what? To lose?

58. Chewblocka – After Chewbacca from

Star Wars.

59. Itsy Bitsy Spikers – Too cute to be

taken seriously.

60. Drunk, Stupid and Clumsy – And

honest.

61. Spiky Nips – For a girls’ team that’s got

that perfect spike.

62. Full Of Hits – They talk a lot of crap.

63. The Powerpuff Girls – Great for a girl

team made of three.

64. Setsy And We Know It – And so does

everyone else.

65. Unprotected Sets – Not advisable.

66. Big Swinging Ds And Ts – Another

name for a mixed team.

67. Go Sets Yourself – Just not on the

beach.

68. Johan Sebastian Block – Composing

a win!

69. Scared Hitless – Is what the other

team will be!

70. Death Volley – Wordplay on Death

Valley.

71. Hit And Miss – Haven’t quite got the

hang of this game yet have you guys?

72. 2 Legit 2 Hit – Well at least you have a

reason...

73. One Hit Wonders – Will score and it

will be amazing, but only once.

74. We Like Big Balls – Big balls are more

fun.

75. You’ve Been Served – Will be in court

right after this game.

76. We Dig 4-Play – Looking for another

team that also enjoys a bit of 4-play.

77. Vertically Challenged – For a team of

shorties.

78. Salad Tossers – Good at throwing

things around.

79. Sand Slingers – Why play fairly and

lose when you could play dirty and win?

80. Not In The Face! – These team will

definitely get hit hard in the face.

81. Setsy Ladies – All the guys on the

beach are looking at them.

82. Bumping Uglies – Not the most

handsome team in the world.

83. Interracial Sets – For a team made up

of people of different racial

backgrounds.

84. Here For The Exercise – Not the most

athletic team.

85. That’s What She Sets – Wordplay on

the phrase ‘that’s what she said’.

86. Smack Your Balls – Painful.

87. Butt Sets – Kinky.

88. If Pigs Could Fly – A team of fat guys

who can jump amazingly high for their

size.

89. Wild Wings – Wordplay on the song

Wild Thing by The Troggs.

90. Sets On The Beach – A dream come

true.

91. Sloppy Sets – They need a bit of

practice.

92. Just The Tip – They’re gentle.

93. Ain’t That A Beach – It certainly is.

94. Six Packs – Great stomachs or a pack

of six beers?

95. Court Jesters – More interested in

making the audience laugh than

winning.

96. Couch Potatoes – They really get this

much exercise.

97. Sets Pistols – After the band The Sex

Pistols.

98. We’re All HIV Positive – And proud.

99. Blue Balls – You guys all need to get to

a doctor immediately.

100. Red Hot Silly Peppers – Another

bunch of comedians.

Cool Volleyball Team Names

A cool team deserves a cool name, the following are cool volleyball team names you can call your team.

101. The Tidal Waves – Invading the entire beach.

102. SWAT Team – Swatting that ball out of the way.

103. Score More – Than the other team.

104. Mission Unblockable – No ball gets

past them.

105. Cobra Kai – After the martial arts team

in The Karate Kid.

106. Atomic Block – Blasting that ball away!

107. Shaken, Not Stirred – Just like 007.

108. We Always Get Up – When this team

gets knocked down, they’re quick to get

back on their feet.

109. Big Digs And Hot Passes – You know

what to expect.

110. Arm And Hammer – For a tough team.

111. In Your Face – Winning and damn proud.

112. Bump It Up – That ball will never touch the ground.

113. Net Domination – The other team will never even get it past the net.

114. Soaring At The Net – Where they play best.

115. Air Force One – After the US presidents private jet.

116. In Motion – They can’t stop moving.

117. On Your Knees – The other team will

be...

118. That Hurt? – It probably did if it came

from this team.

119. Spin Doctors – They always think

they’re winning, even when they’re not.

120. On Fire – Just unstoppable.

121. Spider Chicks – They can reach

anything.

122. Net Results – Scoring at the net.

123. Killer Serves – The other team will be

flabbergasted.

124. Sabretooth Spikers – Aggressive

spikes, to say the least.

125. Pure Energy – The other team won’t

know where you get it from.

126. Attack Pack – They play like animals.

127. Hanging Loose – The most relaxed

volleyball team you’ll ever meet.

128. Prime Time Players – A team that’s

playing in its prime.

129. Gung-Ho – Ready for just about

anything.

130. Block Or Bleed – The other team will

be too afraid to do anything.

131. Bump, Set, Dismember – After they

beat you, they’ll cut you up.

132. Hit Me – If you dare.

133. Lightning Strike – When they hit that

ball they light up the sky.

134. Planet Volleywood – So good they

should be famous.

135. It’s Gotta Be Da Shoes – Nope, they

just play amazingly.

136. Now Serving – So get ready to lose.

137. Bumping Maniacs – Addicted to

bumping.

138. Elite Volleyball – The absolute best.

139. Set To Kill – The other team.

140. Sonic Boom – You can hear them

hitting that ball from space.

141. I’d Hit That – You really should.

142. Death At The Net – There isn’t a worse

way to die.

143. The Wall – No balls get past them.

144. Volley Girls – Girls who own this game.

145. The Lost Boys – Unruly savages.

146. Extreme Volleyball – Volleyball isn’t

supposed to be a leisurely sport, it

should be hardcore.

147. EZ Pass – Making the other team look

like amateurs.

148. That’s Some Serve – You bet it is!

149. Sand People – After the fictional

characters in Star Wars.

150. Hit-men – Hired to assassinate the

other team.

151. See Ya – Wouldn’t wanna be ya!

152. Block You Like A Hurricane – After

the song “Rock You like a Hurricane” by

The Scorpions.

153. Game On – Yeah, winning is great, but

these guys just love playing.

154. Court Hogs – Loving the game so

much, they won’t let anyone else on the

court.

155. Volley Vipers – They’ve got a bite

that’ll kill.

156. High–Performance Volleyball – Don’t

even think about playing this team

unless you’re in the same league.

157. Air Traffic Control – Spectators can be

forgiven for thinking that ball was a

plane.

158. Speedy Spikers – Fast and very spiky.

159. Flight Fight – Known to hit balls in mid-

air.

160. Team World Class – Should really be

playing in the Olympics.

161. Net Ninjas – Assassinating that ball

whenever it gets to the net.

162. Net Assets – They’re owning the

game.

163. White Lightning – Striking out the

other team.

164. The Challengers – They make the

other team want to play better.

165. Volleyball Above All – It is a way of

life.

166. All Set At The Net – Can’t pass this

defense.

167. It’s A Hard Bump Life – It is.

168. The WildCats – The most vicious team

you’ll play against.

169. Vision Quest – Playing to reach a

higher power.

170. Monster Spikes – Those are some mean spikes

#volleyball

[daresplaining]

Personally speaking, S1 of Iron Fist didn't live up to my expectations but I am still invested in these characters and their stories and find myself optimistic for next season. With the little bits of casting news coming out + the fact they begin filming this week, what are your hopes and dreams for Iron Fist S2?

    Oh man, where to begin? We adored the first season, and it hit many of our personal requirements, but yes, there’s certainly room for improvement, and we’re excited to see how the new showrunner builds on the foundation laid down by Scott Buck and his team. Here are a few of our hopes and dreams for Season 2:

    Reflecting back, Season 1 was unusually… corporate for an Iron Fist story. And that’s fine– Danny’s time at Rand Enterprises further emphasized the culture shock and fish-out-of-water-ness so vital to his narrative upon returning from K’un-Lun. It also allowed the Meachums to get significant screentime– something they’ve always lacked in the comics. And of course, Danny’s introductory arc had to take place in New York. But having now played around in that world for a while, we’re hoping Season 2 shifts its focus to K’un-Lun. It’s a complex setting that we love in the comics and which requires further, in-depth exploration in the show. Plus, it would make perfect sense plot-wise, as Danny needs to return to figure out what happened to K’un-Lun and how to fix it, and also to continue his training if possible. The Defenders teased the mystery of whether or not it was actually destroyed: It seemed to be when Danny and Colleen returned at the end of IF Season 1, and in The Defenders the Hand continually claimed this was the case in order to rattle Danny… but the five fingers also talked obsessively about returning “home”, implying that there is something there to return to. Danny needs to go back himself to uncover the real story.

    Along these same lines– Danny needs to win something! He has achieved minor victories– most notably, taking Harold down without actually killing him himself– but he has not yet been allowed a major triumph. He managed to reassert his identity as Danny Rand in New York, but that’s not ultimately the side of his identity that needed affirmation, it was a reactionary struggle, was solved more by Joy than by Danny, and it didn’t really help him in the long run. The revelations of his parents’ murders and his motives for leaving K’un-Lun were thrust upon him by Gao– and the further trauma and pain this triggered is not what we’d call success. And we griped in this post about how he wasn’t even allowed the victory of taking down the Hand in The Defenders– a victory that by rights belonged to him and Colleen far more than to Jessica, Luke, or even Matt. He needs something big in Season 2. After all this fighting and all of these losses, his character arc demands it. Preferably, this win will be tied into the conclusion of his identity quest– in which he finally proves himself and comes into his own as the Iron Fist.

    This next wish ties into our desire for K’un-Lun development: we want further clarification of the role, status, and history of the Iron Fist in this universe. This would be majorly helpful for viewers who haven’t read the comics (we loved all the sidelong references to the mythos in Season 1, but we could imagine new fans being confused), but also for us. For example: we loved the contrast between Danny’s description of becoming the Iron Fist (he earned it through hard work and dedication), and Davos’s view of the situation (Danny was randomly chosen), because it perfectly summarizes the roots of their discord. But who is actually being honest? What is the process in this universe? (I mean… we’re assuming Danny is being honest. But we still want clarification.) Also, the worldbuilding surrounding the Iron Fist/Immortal Weapons in the comics is so cool that we’d kill to see it translated into the show. Danny says in IF episode 2 that he is the latest in a long line of Iron Fists. Bakuto has video footage of Orson Randall. And the sealed door protecting the dragon bones under Manhattan was set up by freakin’ Wu Ao-Shi. We need to hear more about previous Iron Fists, not only because they’re awesome, but also to provide some context for Danny as Iron Fist. He can’t exist in a vacuum– it would be helpful, both for his own character/identity development, and also for viewers (particularly those newer to the mythos) for him to learn more about his predecessors and how they handled the job.  

    And on that subject… we would murder a dude to get Orson in Season 2. They de-aged him a bit by setting his tenure as Iron Fist during the 1940s instead of World War I, and it would be entirely believable for him to still be hanging around via events similar to those in the comics (though probably minus Wendell, sadly). We want Orson because he’s a fantastic character, and also because Danny needs someone like him right now. He needs a mentor– and we’re not sure he’s going to have access to Lei Kung. At the very least, the gateway to K’un-Lun (or what’s left of it?) has presumably closed by this point, so he’ll need to find some other way back. Introducing Orson toward the beginning of the season would give Danny someone who could provide him training and guidance while on Earth, and would also set up the possibility of the Randall Gate existing in this universe– thus giving him a way into K’un-Lun. Also, Danny and Orson’s dynamic is priceless. Win/win/win. We’re clinging to the possibility that this mysterious person imprisoned in the Hand compound:

    …could be Orson.

    That said, we also want Lei Kung. We’re both massive Lei Kung fans, and were disappointed by how he was portrayed in Season 1. He was one-note and out-of-character, and we long to see this rectified by giving him a significant presence in Season 2 and digging deeper into his complicated relationships with Danny and Davos. 

    We’re also really excited to possibly see Danny expand his abilities and power up– either via acquiring the Book of the Iron Fist or just through more training. He’s a weak Weapon at the moment, just as he was in the comics pre-Immortal Iron Fist, and seeing his powers grow and develop would be awesome. Also, the various assorted powers granted by the chi of Shou-Lao are a lot of fun and would enhance the show’s already-cool fight scenes. He needs to use his healing some more, for one (we were really frustrated he didn’t use it in Defenders!), and we’re rooting for some “Lightning from God” goodness:

Thunderbolts (2006) #137 by Andy Diggle, Pop Mahn, Carlos Rodriguez, et al.

…or possibly this thing:

Immortal Iron Fist #17 by Duane Swierczynski, Travel Foreman, and Matt Milla

   We also want to learn more about this version of Colleen. Her backstory received less development than anyone else’s in Season 1, and so we’d like to see it explored further. Her childhood, her training in Japan, her time with the Hand, and her relationship with her father all remain vague and mysterious, and we’re not sure if this was a deliberate decision to allow for surprises later, or just lazy writing. Either way, we want to learn more about the details of Colleen’s past and get deeper into her head. It’s possible that this character exploration will be facilitated via her developing friendship with Misty– about which we are damn pumped.

   We also can’t wait for Misty and Danny to actually maybe… have a conversation? Anything? We’re so eager for them to interact that we made a post celebrating their half-second’s-worth of eye contact in The Defenders. We’re still a little disappointed that Danny and Colleen’s wonderful friendship in the comics was turned into the obligatory male lead/female lead romance, but it’s a nice, well-constructed romance all things considered, and we’re not demanding that they break up solely to allow Misty and Danny to date. Really, any meaningful interactions between Misty and Danny would be amazing, and we’re hoping for them to finally, finally get some bonding time in Iron Fist Season 2 (if not in Luke Cage Season 2– which is also a possibility!)

    And of course, we require at least one solid appearance by Luke. At least. But you already knew that.

   We also want Madame Gao back! We had all kinds of theories about who she might actually be, but even if– as The Defenders suggested– she’s just a Hand person with no exciting secret identity, she’s still a delightful character who was a great addition to Season 1. We’re expecting the Hand to be back in some capacity, if only because Danny never got to defeat them and so still has unfinished business/revenge to settle with them (dammit, Defenders…), but we’d be very happy to have Gao stick around afterward as a long-term solo antagonist. Her irreverent personality and dynamic with Danny is endlessly fun, and we’d love to learn more about her past. And hey, if Matt and Elektra survived the Midland Circle collapse, so could she, dammit.     

   This is less of a hope and more of a certainty, but we’re massively excited to see further exploration of the evolving Danny/Davos/Joy dynamic. We were hugely impressed by the way Danny and Davos’s relationship was crafted in Season 1, and thought the personal element the show added to their discord, which has always been missing in the comics thanks to the generation gap, made their falling-out extremely compelling. We’re eager to see how Davos’s revenge quest is handled, and to see their relationship continue to evolve. We are also still freaking out about the fact that they’re doing the wild Davos/Joy team-up from the comics, and can’t wait to see how that plays out. We love 616 Joy’s revenge quest, and so we’re hoping to get further insight into MCU Joy’s shifting opinion of Danny– the suddenness of which was a weak point in her narrative arc in Season 1. The clash of these three characters is going to be an emotional sucker punch, and we want it right now.

   And lastly: they need to give Danny his costume! Any costume! Let him have a costume! Come on! Our prediction (and hope) is that this will tie into returning to K’un-Lun. It’s a uniform, after all, and maybe once he completes his identity quest and symbolically proves himself, he will acquire the Iron Fist outfit. As far as which costume they might use– we’re not picky. We shamelessly adore his original giant collar and v-neck look, but we doubt they’ll go for that. (At the very least, we appreciate the little nods made to it– particularly in The Defenders, where most of his outfits have collars and shirts are unzipped way down.) If it indeed turns out to be an official uniform, we could see them adapting his Immortal Iron Fist costume, which is simple yet striking and would look good in live action:  

    If it ends up being something he puts together himself (not our preference, but a possibility) we could see them taking inspiration from his current costume, which was already referenced by his tracksuit at the end of The Defenders:

    Or possibly even integrating his Ultimates-verse look:

    Either way, we’re not too picky at this point. As long as it has the right general look and is aesthetically pleasing we’ll be happy. We do require the mask, the symbol (if his chest is covered), the dangly bits, and the slippers, of course, but the rest is negotiable. Also, as we recently mentioned regarding the Netflix DD costume, we hope they’re not afraid to use bright colors.   

    So, to summarize: we are super excited for Season 2, and all the potential it holds. It can’t come fast enough for us.

[lockdownuk]

Lockdown Diary Part 5

A personal account during the lockdown in the UK due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

23/03/2020 8:30pm Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, gives a live address to the nation to, effectively, put the country on lockdown to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus strain, Covid-19.

Many of us have been self-isolating for days but this latest development within the UK in reaction to the pandemic feels very serious and very scary. I decided to keep a simple diary and where better but online.

Day 121: I received a call today about an interesting job with a firm called Liquibox - they need someone to source all the apps used by a company they’ve just bought and then decide how to incorporate them into their IT standards - not disimiliar to app testing at RS for Y2K. Another 17k+ steps today although when I ventured out on my second walk, I quickly had to wolf down some jelly beans! Didn’t stop me doing 8km. I WhatsApp’d Karen today to see what Dan’s doing for his 30th. He’s off to France. Just that brief comminique serves to remind me that it’s been about 3 weeks since anyone (apart from Dad & Rita) has asked after me without it being an after thought (even then the question’s been posed less than half a dozen times). It feels awfully lonely! I guess, somehow, I’ve made my own bed.....

Day 122: I have an interview for the Liquibox job. It’s a MS Teams one with the recruiter, in two day’s time (Friday) at 9am. I had haggis for tea, with loads of veg. A really nice change!

Day 123: Badge contacted me via Messenger to ask how I was. First person to do so, as a forethought in at least three weeks. Good ol’ Badge. Been mostly preparing for tomorrow’s interview today so not quite as far, walking wise, just 14k steps! Spoke with dad today, he’s OK as usual. Also spoke with Karen via WhatsApp (asking about whether I have to wash brand new bedding - any excuse to contact, really) and then saw her gardening - the front garden at 10, Ashton Road does look really good!

Day 124: Typing on day 125. Online interview with Bigred recruitment for the role at Liquibox. It went well but, as always, who knows? I didn’t gear back from DSM about my (other) interviews as they promised. Just reaffirms my rule, after every conversation re: job hunting, forget about it. In fact, I saw the job advertised again (but, this time, MCSE is a requirement), I sent Karen a message to see if, maybe, she fancied a few beers. Her reply was a little sad, she’s feeling very down and is worried about Dan and how he is coping with life after splitting with Grace. Coincidentally I saw Dan today. It was great bumping into him and I am going to make more of an effort to keep in touch. Usual Friday night for me. Lots of beers, pizza, films (Lucy and The Big Short) and a fucking late night! Day 125: As I type, I am knackered. 15 km today. Dad called while I was on my first walk, to see if I’d heard from DSM. I told him no but, also, that I wasn’t that bothered.

Day 126: More epic walking and am going to have a beer tonight - I have a hankering despite it being Sunday. I watched Moneyball last night. Flipping good. 2011 it was made. Fucking 9 years ago! Rick and Vic got engaged today!

Day 127: I am typing this on day 128. I got up late for a weekday - beers last night did the trick. If I drink, I am never in bed before 4am! I still managed an 8 mile walk! Received a call while walking from the Bigred recruitment chap about the Liquibox job - it was a no.

Day 128: Normal day - lots of walking. I have started watching ‘Good Girls’ on Netflix. Pretty good.

Day 129: Typing on day 130. I had to be up for the plumber coming round so I was up and showered by 8:30am. What this means is I managed three walks today (over 13 miles). I am also developing a rather odd pain in my right lower abdomen (not disimilar to the appendictis feeling earlier in ld) and a movement-restricting pain in my upper right arm - I and sincerely hoping it’s not the shoulder. I really do not want another frozen one. So, I didn’t manage a last set of push-ups after the last walk.

Day130: Typing this on day 131 (there’s a pattern emerging here). Went shopping at Asda - £106! I only went for a few things FFS! Had a few beers round Karen’s and continued when I got home at 10:30pm-ish.

Day 131: I am typing this at 3pm. I have been up for two hours and done fuck all. Just watch the last episode of Friends - so that’s the end of that 5-6 month binge session. I realise that I had seen pretty much every episode before but not that last one so Ross and Rach finally getting together was a nice surpise. David Schwimmer is the fucking star of that show - how many times did I pause and rewind comedy clips of him. He is fucking hilarious in Friends. After toast and coffee and energy drink, I finally feel up to a walk even though Alexa has just informed me its 32 degrees C!

Day 132: Very late one last night (4:15am) but up about midday. Long, long walk (11km) including a long chat with dad. As I type this the FA Cup is just finishing. So weird the final in August at Wembley with no crowd.

Day 133: I have done jack shit today. I’ve tweaked my ankle. I did watch the British Grand Prix and viewed TikTok way too much.

Day 134: My ankle still feels like there’s an issue but I went ahead and did a 9km walk and usual stair climb. It’s felt study enough but I need to be careful. After sitting for a while, I can feel it tweak when first walk on it. I saw El today and he was mentioning the pub visits he’s had since ld relaxed, and who with. It reminded me that, since I won’t go out until I can be sure it’s safe, I should get used to a long, lonely time. It has put me in a very somber mood. I am feeling very isolated.

Day 135: Town Hall at RCI to which furloughed staff were invited. It was all about the rebranding including the new business ‘Panorama’ and the new RCI brand. It was all very positive. I still wonder, though, what is going tp happen about furloghed staff now RCI haev to contribute to the Government retention scheme (since 1st August. Today is the 4th) but today was never going to be about that. The positivity plus the ‘no news is good news’ has put me in a little better frame of mind than yesterdya, but not much. Two long walks today even though the right ankle still twinges every now and then. Also, this pain I am having in my right arm is not getting any better. It doesn’t stop me doing anything but is painful if I have to reach up over shoulder height. I’m meant to be on the radio tomorrow (see Day 120)...it’s a strange feeling of anticipation!

Day 136: Well, I was on the radio, Shaun Keavney’s ‘Small Claims Court’ feature on his BBC Radio 6 Music day time show. It was fun! It is interesting, the process I went through before appearing (see main blog). It’s such a big thing for me (or, I guess, anyone who is asked to appear) but, in a flash, it’s over and the moment is resigned to obscurity. It means so little to absolutely everyone apart from me!

Day 137: Video chatted with Dan (30th birthday) - he went to Brighton and was on it when I spoke with him (before midday!), sat in a ‘noncey restaurant’ as he put it. He’s gone with Jonah and his girlfriend. I do hope he makes the best of the day. I rang dad today as well (Thursday is Rita’s family stuff day so it’s a good time to call dad). He was his usual self, unfazed and healthy. It’s really rather reassuring talking to him. It’s really hot and humid today so both walks have resulted in a lot of sweat! I have just arranged to go and have a drink up Foggy’s tomorrow evening before he wanders over the pub. I can’t wait, I’m so bloody lonely!

Day 138: Typing this on day 139. I had a great evening at Foggy’s. Great food (bbq) and great company. Home by half past midnight, in bed before 2am so an early night for me on a Friday but a bloody good night.

Day 139: Up at midday-ish. Lazy day. My arm is a major concern now. I think it is a frozen shoulder but, I think I should lay off the press-ups for a day or two, just to see if they are the cause.

Day 140: Similar day to yesterday...lazy and no press-ups.

Day 141: I went to bed at @3:30am last night, wtf! Up at 10:00am so not bad. Watched a film called The Assistant. It’s a strange one - fuck all happens yet i really liked it! Karen WhatsApp’d - she wants me, her and Dan to have a meal for his 30th. That’s great, but she suggested going out - I just wonder if people really do have a grasp that the pandemic is still happening! However, and in mitigation, she also suggested a meal round hers which I (obvs) plumped for. It is a very nice gesture and invitiation - means a lot.

Day 142: My arm seems to be getting better by not doing press-ups. I am on track to complete 1,000,000 steps by around the end of the month, so 2 instead of 3! Because it’s so blooming hot right now, I have taken a walk in the evening (8-9pm ish) which has allowed me to take some pics of stunning skyscapes, as I’ve decided to call them. Started to watch the American version of the office. It’s OK.

Day 143: I have been having pain again in my abdomen (see day 28) so I contacted the surgery and ended up in a video conference with Dr. Powell. Turns out it is most likely constipation! Movical it is then! Seriously fucking hot today (this week).

Day 144: Typing on day 145. Went round Karen’s and had a meal with her and Dan one week after his 30th. It was good. Dan left by 8pm and I left at 9pm but carried on drinking at home while watching Netflix comedy specials of John Mulaney live (fucking funny). So, a late, drunken midweek night hence not penning this diary on the day!

Day 145: Up at midday, shopping at Tesco’s and Asda, very late walk 9:15pm by the time I got home - it was too dark to see the cowpats by the river! Today, the two semifinals in the world snooker were both classics; Kyren Wilson beat Anthony McGill 17-16, Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Mark Selby by the same score. The snooker is weird with no audience - those two scorelines deserved some people there to witness them, amazing snooker!

Day 146: Day 147 as I type - completely forgot to make the entry. I went to bed at nearly 6am but was up at noon. Walked over 11 km! Watched Zodiac, drank late (again!)

Day 147: day 147 and also the day of the world snooker final which was rather a damp squib; Ronnie whooped Kyren Wilson 18-8. I received notice yesterday that I’m being charged with the speeding offence on 23rd April. Bollocks.

Day 148: No amazing interludes to report today. Day 149: Same as yesterday...walking mainly. 17,000 today, 244k for the month.

Day 150: Foggy’s birthday. I am just about to go to his for a quick beer before he goes to the pub. At the moment I have a chilli on the go and have cracked open a can. It’s all happening!

[teenwolfpotential]

Season 4 Sterek: Scenes & Dialogue

Purpose: To identify and catalog all the direct and indirect Sterek interactions in season 4 of Teen Wolf.

Notes:

“Stiles Talking” or “Derek Talking” indicate only one person is present in the scene while the other is talked about or referenced with an image

if not labeled that, a scene incudes Stiles and Derek directly interacting

names for each scene are how the scenes are tagged on my blog, if a scene has a “/” it’s because there are tags relating to different parts of the scene

“…” indicates a scene jump or unrelated dialogue that’s been cut out

() have been added to clarify unheard actions in a scene that affect the dialogue or to clarify the presence/awareness of Derek or Stiles throughout the scene

dialogue source is http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewforum.php?f=137, episodes were watched to clarify in some cases

Ep 1: The Dark Moon

Stiles Talking: Poor Conversationalist

Lydia: We're here for Derek Hale. 

Araya: Is that so? 

Lydia: We know you have him. We've heard you can be bought. 

Stiles: It's 50,000 for Derek.

...

Araya: Grief and loss, mija. I wonder why, when you and your friends have suffered so much loss, you would risk it again for someone like Derek Hale. 

Stiles: 'Cause we don't like to lose.

...

Stiles: Aaaa... Come on. Just give us Derek. You don't want him anyway. Haven't you noticed what a downer he is? No sense of humor, poor conversationalist. Just come on, take the money. 

Araya: Severo? Show them how the Calaveras negotiate.

Stiles Talking: Derek Texts

Stiles: Ok, so how long has it been? 

Scott: Weeks. He hasn't gotten back to any of my texts. 

Stiles: Has Derek ever returned your texts? 

Scott: Once. Definitely once. But this time it felt different. So I went to the loft. The alarm was on. Everything looked okay. But then I found these. So I sent a picture of it to Deaton. He said that it's the mark of a family of hunters based out of Mexico. The Calaveras. 

Lydia: What would they want with Derek? 

Stiles: You don't think they killed him, do you? 

Scott: I... I don't know. That's why you're here.

...

Stiles: Lydia, what? Is he dead? 

Lydia: No. But I'm not sure he's alive either. 

Scott: What does that mean? 

Lydia: I don't know. There's something not right. I just... I don't know. 

Stiles: So if the Calaveras have him, how do we find them? 

Scott: Mexico.

Stiles Talking: Kate’s Impossible

Kira: But if the Calaveras don't know where Derek is, that means they didn't take him from the loft. Right? 

Stiles: Maybe he left on his own. 

Scott: Maybe someone else got to him.

...

Scott: Kate. 

Stiles: That's impossible. It's impossible. That can't be what he said. 

Malia: Why? Who... who's Kate? 

Stiles: She's a hunter. An Argent.

...

Stiles: So what now? 

Scott: She thinks she knows where we can find Derek. 

Malia: She gonna tell us where? 

Scott: Uh, actually, she's giving us a guide.

Stiles Talking: Kate Killed His Family

Malia: Okay, I'll ask. Who's Kate Argent? 

Kira: Uh, I'd like to know, too. 

Stiles: Well, we were at her funeral. So, I'd like to know how she got out of a casket that was buried six feet underground. 

Scott: She was never in it. 

Lydia: She was Allison's aunt. And a total sociopath. 

Kira: You don't have to talk about it now if you don't want to. 

Malia: Um, yes, he does. 

Scott: Yeah, she's right. You guys should know. You need to know. 

Stiles: All right. Kate was the one who set the fire that killed most of Derek's family.

Scott: Some of them survived, like Cora, and Peter. 

Lydia: A very angry Peter.

Scott: Yeah, he's the one who bit and turned me. 

Lydia: And the one who finally caught up to Kate and killed her.

Stiles: And we saw her buried. 

Scott: No. We saw a casket, remember? She wasn't in it. The Calaveras heard that Kate had been killed by an Alpha's claws. They wanted to make sure she was really dead. Her body was healing. More and more, as she got closer to a full moon. She was coming back. So they switched out the bodies. If a hunter is bit, they have to take their own life before they change. The Calaveras, they treat the code like law. They make it their responsibility to enforce it. 

Stiles Talking: Someone Find Derek

Braeden: What happened? 

Stiles: I don't know. It felt like we hit something. 

Braeden: Scott, we need to get there by night. It's too dangerous otherwise. 

Stiles: Go. 

Scott: Not without you. 

Stiles: Dude, someone needs to find Derek. We'll figure something out. We always do. Just go.

Scott: Okay

Young Derek

Malia: Is that him? Is that Derek? 

Stiles: Uh, sort of.

Ep 2: 117

So Not Ok With This

Deaton: Wow. 

Stiles: Wow? Wow as in, "I've seen this before and I know exactly what to do," kind of wow? 'Cause that's the kind of wow we were hoping for. 

Deaton: I think you might be overestimating my abilities. 

Lydia: He's cold. Really cold. 

Scott: Do you think this is permanent? 

Deaton: I'm not sure a medical diagnosis is even adequate. This is well beyond my experience. 

Stiles: So what do we do with him? 

Deaton: Until he wakes up. Probably not much. It might be best to leave him with me. He'll be safe here. 

Stiles: You mean from Kate? 

Deaton: If she's alive and she is what you say she is, she won't be able to walk past that gate. 

Lydia: Why would she want do this to him? 

Deaton: Knowing Kate, it's probably for a reason that won't be any good for anyone but her.

Stiles: And bad for everyone else. 

Deaton: You guys should probably go home. He doesn't look to be in any danger. So maybe the rest of you should get some sleep? It is a school night... And you all need to start taking care of your own lives again. 

Scott: Someone should stay with you. 

Lydia: I'll stay. My grades are fine... despite missing a few classes. 

Stiles: I'm so not okay with this. 

Lydia: Guys, go. 

Stiles: No. 

Scott: Text us if anything happens. 

Stiles: Nope, still not okay with it. Not going anywhere. All right, just 'cause you're stronger...

Stiles Talking: No Memory

Deaton: I don't think he's just younger in body. I think he's younger in his mind too. 

Lydia: He didn't recognize either of us. And he looked like he was scared out of his mind. 

Stiles: So if you're a teenage werewolf and you're scared, where do you go? 

Scott: A wolf goes back to its den. But Derek lives in a loft. 

Stiles: Not when he was a teenager. 

Lydia: The Hale House? 

Deaton: He wouldn't remember the fire. It wouldn't have happened yet. 

Lydia: Hold on. Say you do manage to catch up to him? What are you going to say to him? That his whole family is dead? 

Scott: I guess I'm going to have to. 

Lydia: Oh... Good luck with that. 

Stiles: She's probably right. Maybe you shouldn't. You know, at least until we figure out how to get him back to normal. 

Scott: I can't lie to him. 

Stiles: Okay, I'll do it. 

Scott: I don't think any of us can. Remember, he can hear a heartbeat rising. When we find him, we tell him the truth. 

Deaton: If he gets to the house first, you won't have to.

Stiles Talking: Time Traveling

Sheriff: I'll handle this. I want you to be honest with me. Absolutely and completely honest. Have you been time traveling? 

Stiles: Hang on, what? 

Sheriff: Because if time traveling is real, you know what? I'm done. I'm out. You're going to be driving me to Eichen House. 

Scott: We found him like that. 

Sheriff: Where? Swimming in the fountain of youth? 

Stiles: No. We found him buried in a tomb of wolfsbane in an Aztec temple in Mexico underneath a church in the middle of a town that was destroyed by an earthquake.

Where’s My Family

Derek: Why would I go anywhere with you? 

Scott: There was an accident. You lost some memory, but we can help you get it back. 

Derek: How much memory? 

Scott: A lot. But you can trust us. 

Derek: You're an Alpha. Okay, who are you? And who is he? Who are you? 

Stiles: Oh, we're the guys keeping you out of jail. 

Scott: Let us help you. 

Derek: No. 

Stiles: Okay, dude, you almost tore apart two cops back there. You need to listen to us. And that starts with no fangs, no claws, no wolf man. You got that? 

Derek: I'm fine as long as it's not on a full moon. 

Scott: You still have trouble with the full moon? 

Derek: I said I'm fine. 

Stiles: All right, you coming with us or not? 

Derek: You want me to trust you? Where's my family? 

Scott: There was a fire. And... They're not here anymore. They're fine. Just had to move out of Beacon Hills. And we're going to take you to them as soon as we figure out how to get your memories back.

Stiles Talking: Ass is Fine

Scott: I shouldn't have done that. I lied my ass off. 

Stiles: Hey, your ass is fine. You saved him a ton of unnecessary pain. We'll figure this out in a day or two, he goes back to being old Derek, everyone's happy. Except for Derek, who's never happy. 

Scott: It's just another person that we're lying to. I always feel like it's always been better when we tell the truth. With Lydia, my mom, your dad. 

Stiles: Yeah, but that is Derek Hale in there. He may be a kid right now, but he's still Derek Hale. 

Scott: All right. Take him to my house and don't let him out of your sight.

Stiles: And where are you going? 

Scott: I'm going to go talk to the guy we should have gone to before. 

Stiles: Uh... Yeah, I hate that guy.

My Cousin Miguel (Young Derek) / Spanish

Stiles: We're going to wait here for Scott. We're going to sit quietly. We're not going to call or talk to anyone. 

Derek: Do I talk to you? 

Stiles: No. 

Derek: Fine. 

Stiles: Good. 

Derek: Who's going to talk to him? 

Stiles: Ah! Are you getting taller?

 Agent Mccall: What are you guys doing here? 

Derek: We're waiting for Scott. 

Agent Mccall: Yeah, so am I. We're supposed to have dinner. I brought extra. You guys hungry? 

Derek: Yeah. 

Stiles: No. We're not hungry. 

Derek: No, I'm starving. 

Stiles: Neither of us are hungry. Thanks, though. 

Agent Mccall: Okay, well if you're not hungry, Stiles, your friend can still eat with us. What's your name? 

Stiles: Miguel. My cousin Miguel. From Mexico. So... 

Agent Mccall: (SPEAKING SPANISH) 

Stiles: Oh my God. 

Derek: (SPEAKING SPANISH)

Agent Mccall: Fantastic. Egg roll? 

Derek: Hell, yeah.

...

Agent Mccall: So, uh, Miguel. What did you say your last name was again? 

Stiles: Oh, it's Juarez. Cinqua... Tiago. 

Agent Mccall: That's a mouthful. How do you spell that? 

Stiles: Phonetically. 

Derek: Mr. McCall, you're an FBI agent? 

Stiles: He's low level. Very low level. He doesn't even have a voice. 

Derek: So do you investigate murders? 

Agent Mccall: Sometimes. When it's a federal crime. 

Derek: What about fires? 

Stiles: Oh my God, I wonder where Scott is. Shouldn't Scott be here by now? We should call Scott. 

Agent Mccall: What kind of fires are you talking about?

Derek: Do you know anything about the Hale family?

Wall Scene Redux

Stiles: Okay, I didn't lie. I omitted certain truths. Vital truths now that I think about it. 

Derek: I don't want to talk to you. I want to talk to the Alpha. I'll talk to Scott. 

Stiles: Okay. I'm going to go get him. My phone's downstairs. Going to call him real quick. You stay here, just don't move, okay? Don't move. Don't... I thought you...

Stiles Talking: Out the Window

Stiles: No, he's in your bedroom, he'll be totally fine. To be honest, I'm starting to miss the old Derek. So, if you actually think that Kate's coming to find him... You might be right.

Ep 3: Muted

Stiles Talking (maybe?): Muted Board 

Stiles: Okay... I promised I'd help you study. Then we can go back to that. Lots of that. Like, so much... What's with all the highlighters anyway? 

Malia: Green is for the things I understand. Yellow, is for "I'm working on it," and... Red means I have no clue. I am mostly using red.

(Malia explains her highlighter system ending with red, Stiles looks at his half-dismantled crime board that has his similar colored thread system, a picture of Derek is the most visible with red thread, Stiles turns forward again and smiles for a moment, he turns to kiss Malia)

Ep 4: The Benefactor

Stiles Talking: Stealing Lines

Stiles: Liam, hey! Scott: We need to talk. 

Liam: No, you need to back the hell up, okay? Both of you. 

Scott: Can you just listen for one second. Please? Liam... We're brothers now. 

Liam: What? 

Stiles: Oh, God. That's... 

Liam: What are you talking about? We just met and you bit me. 

Scott: The bite... The bite is a gift. 

Stiles: Scott, stop. Please stop. You, you, we're trying to help you, you little runt.

Ep 5: I.E.D.

Stiles Talking: Murder Review

Stiles: So, the Walcott's were the first. At least the first that we know about. Four murders. Sean, his brother, and their parents. They were killed by a professional assassin called The Mute. Weapon of choice, a military tomahawk. But then The Mute was killed by Peter Hale after he tried to blow up Derek with a Claymore mine. Next was Demarco. He delivered a keg to the party at Lydia's lake house. And got decapitated outside his car.

...

Stiles: And then last night, 23-year-old Carrie Hudson. 

Scott: It's a dead pool. A hit list of supernatural creatures. This is only part of it. The rest still has to be decoded.

Ep 6: Orphaned

Werewolf Strength

Stiles: What the hell is happening to this kid? 

Deaton: He's been poisoned by a rare wolfsbane. I need to make an incision and you need to hold him as still as possible. 

Stiles: Hey, Derek, how about a little werewolf strength? 

Derek: Yeah, I'm not the only one here with werewolf strength. 

Deaton: If you can't hold him still, the incision might kill him. 

Stiles: Derek, he's slipping. I don't think I can hold him. Ah! 

Peter: I guess I still have a little werewolf strength myself. 

Derek: Yeah, maybe more than a little. 

Stiles: Hey, Doc, I don't think he's breathing. Is he okay?

Deaton: I think he'll be fine, but probably out for a while. 

Stiles: Guys, can you hear that? I think he's saying something. 

Brett: The sun... The moon... The truth... The sun... The moon... The truth... 

Deaton: Three things cannot long be hidden. The sun, the moon, and the truth. It's Buddhist.

Peter: Satomi

Derek Talking: Hyperactive Spaz

Malia: Maybe we need to try something different. Maybe we need to think like Stiles. 

Derek: Like a hyperactive spaz? 

Malia: Like a detective. If they're really Buddhists, then maybe instead of asking where werewolves hide, we should be asking... 

Derek: Where would Buddhists hide. When Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree, he looked to the east for enlightenment. 

Malia: Is there some kind of eastern point in Beacon Hills? Derek: Yeah. At Lookout Point.

Stiles Talking: Deadpool Key

Stiles: Okay, well, we know one thing. Both of the first two keys, Allison and Aiden, they're both names of the dead. Right? 

Lydia: But we've already tried every other dead person's name we could think of. And if you haven't noticed, there were a lot of tries. 

Stiles: Yeah, I noticed. You okay? 

Lydia: The only other Banshee I've ever met. And I think I might have just drove her over the edge. 

Stiles: Lydia, it wasn't your fault. I was there, too. And you're probably not the only... Hold on. Banshees predict death. Right? So what if the third key is someone who isn't dead... 

Lydia: But will be... Call Parrish. We need to call Parrish.

Ep 7: Weaponized

Stiles Talking: Peter’s Money

Stiles: It's half a million dollars. Scott. What are you going to do, just slide it under your mattress? 

Scott: I have to talk to Derek. The money's his. 

Stiles: You mean his and Peter's. 

Scott: What does that mean? 

Stiles: It means maybe we should proceed with caution. 

Scott: You don't think we should tell Derek? 

Stiles: No. No. No, of course we have to tell him. I'm just... I'm just saying, some of that money's Peter's, right? 

Scott: Yeah. 

Stiles: Right? Peter. Homicidal killer? Remember? You want to give $500,000 to him. 

Scott: So we should give Derek his money back. But not Peter? 

Stiles: I didn't say that. 

Scott: Stiles, what are you saying?

Stiles Talking: Satomi’s Pack

Malia: We found Satomi's pack. Derek and I. But they're dead. 

Scott: All of them? 

Malia: All the ones we found. 

Stiles: Then where's Derek?

Derek Talking: School Quarantine

Derek: What's that? 

Melissa: Naloxone. We need to wake her up. 

Derek: I thought you said she needed to rest. 

Melissa: That was before I found out the CDC just put the high school under quarantine with Scott and Stiles still in there.

Melissa: Braeden, look at me. You were shot, but you're in the hospital now and you're fine. Do you understand? Good. Okay. Last night you were in the woods and you came across another pack? Do you know what happened to them? 

Derek: I told you, they were poisoned. 

Braeden: No. No, they were infected. It was a virus designed to kill werewolves. It did. It killed them all.

...

Derek: I have to get to the school.

Satomi: What about the others at Lookout Point?

Ep 8: Time of Death

Stiles Talking: Evidence Board

Stiles: Hey. Where have you been? 

Malia: Talking to Peter. 

Stiles: Okay. You think that's a good idea?

Malia: If he can help me find my mother, I don't think I care. 

Stiles: You might be related to him, but you're not like him. 

Malia: Maybe I am. That night I caused the car crash... 

Stiles: You mean when you were out-of-control on the full moon. 

Malia: There's a part I didn't tell you about. Right before we got in the car, my mother... My adoptive mother, I guess... We got into a huge fight. I don't even remember what it was about, but... I remember what I said. 

Stiles: Malia. 

Malia: I said, "I wish you were all dead." 

Stiles: Killing doesn't run in a family. 

Malia: Maybe it does in mine.

(Malia puts the deadpool sheet with Derek’s name as the key up on the murder board with red tape before leaving, Stiles stares at the board with the camera zooming towards Derek’s name on the sheet)

Ep 10: Monstrous

Derek Talking (Scott talking to Derek): Stopping Deadpool

Braeden: Scott, you heard anything from Stiles or Lydia yet? 

Scott: Lydia's still talking to Meredith. Stiles and Malia are headed to the lake house. They're trying to stop it. 

Brett: What if there is no stopping it? What if it doesn't end until we're all dead? 

Derek: Then let's send a message. Let's make something perfectly clear to anyone with a copy of that list. It doesn't matter if they're professional assassins, hunters, or an amateur who just picked up a gun. Anyone who thinks they can hunt and kill us for money, is gonna be put on another list. Our list. They get to be a name on our dead pool.

Ep 11: A Promise to the Dead

Date Kidnap

Stiles: What the hell happened? 

Derek: It was supposed to be a date. 

Sheriff: They were both here? 

Braeden: And they're both gone.

Ep 12: Smoke and Mirrors

We Really Bringing Him

Derek: We really bringing him? 

Stiles: We really bringing him? 

Peter: We're bringing everyone that we can. And considering Scott and Kira were taken the night before a full moon, we should probably get going. 

Malia: What's that mean? 

Peter: If Kate took Scott back to the same temple that she took Derek, how do we know she's not planning to do the same thing to him? 

Liam: What, she wants to make him younger? 

Derek: Or take him back to when he wasn't a werewolf. 

Peter: A werewolf can't steal a true Alpha's power. But maybe a Nagual jaguar, with the power of Tezcatlipoca behind her... Maybe she can. So, if everyone is sufficiently freaked out, I say we get going. 

Stiles: We can't. Not without Lydia. 

...

Derek: What's she doing at the school anyway? 

Malia: We got Kira's sword, but we need something with a stronger scent. Lydia went to get a jacket out of her locker. 

Stiles: Nothing. 

Braeden: If she has a car, she can catch up to us. 

Peter: That's a good point. We'll call from the road. 

Stiles: No. What if something happened? What if she's in trouble? 

Peter: Fine. You stay, you find her. We're gonna go on without you. 

Liam: I could call Mason. He has a study group at school. Maybe he could look for her. 

Stiles: All right. Fine. I need to be back there with Derek and Liam. I've got some experience dealing with out of control teen wolves. You'll be okay riding with Peter? 

Malia: He is my father.  Maybe we could do some bonding. 

Stiles: No. No bonding. Play the radio, play it loud. 

Peter: Remember what we're dealing with. It's not just Kate, it's Berserkers. You might see human eyes behind those skulls. Do not assume that there's any humanity left. Oh. This little one is terrified of them, aren't you? Don't worry, my friend. It is that fear that will keep you alive. A reminder to everyone. You do not fight Berserkers to survive, you fight to kill.

Mexico Van

Derek: All good? Okay. I brought something to help you. This has been with my family for centuries. It's a very powerful, supernatural talisman. We use it to teach Betas how to control themselves on a full moon. 

Stiles: Yes, it's powerful. Very powerful.

...

Liam: Whatever you’re gonna teach me, I think you better start.

... 

Derek: Liam, you with me? We have a mantra that we use. You repeat it, you focus on the words. It's like meditating. You say the words until you feel control coming back to you. 

Liam: Okay. Okay, okay! What are the words?

Derek: Okay, look at the triskelion. See the symbol? I have a tattoo on my back, it's the same thing. Each spiral means something. 

Stiles: Alpha, Beta, Omega. 

Derek: It represents the idea that we can always rise to one and fall back to another. Betas can become Alphas. 

Stiles: Alphas can become Betas. 

Liam: Can Alphas become Omegas? 

Derek: All you have to do is say the three words. And with each one, you tell yourself you're getting calmer, more in control. Go ahead. 

Liam: Alpha, Beta... 

Derek: Slower. 

Liam: Alpha... Beta... Omega... Alpha... Beta... Omega... 

Derek: Good. Say it again. Remember, every time you say the words, you're getting calmer. 

Liam: Alpha, Beta... Omega. 

Derek: Say it again. 

Stiles: Derek, I don't think the powerful talisman of self control is working. 

Derek: Liam, say it again! Liam! 

Braeden: Derek? 

Stiles: I think we're gonna need to go a little faster. 

Derek: Keep going!  Liam! Liam... 

Braeden: We're almost there.

...

Stiles: Focus!  I really don't think Alpha, Beta, Omega is resonating with him. 

Derek: You know any other mantras? 

Stiles: Yeah. I do. Liam, Liam. What three things cannot long be hidden? Liam! Liam, look at me. What three things cannot long be hidden?  What three things?

Liam: The sun... the moon... the truth. 

Stiles: That's it. Say it again. 

Liam: The sun... the moon... the truth. 

Braeden: Derek? 

Derek: We're okay. 

Liam: The sun... the moon... the truth.

...

Liam: I can't believe I did it. For a minute there, I thought I was gonna tear the two of you apart. 

Stiles: Yeah. That would've made for an awkward ride home. So, thanks. 

Derek: Think you can bring the same level of control and strength inside La Iglesia? 

Stiles: Alright, we might actually be able to do this.

Save Him

Peter: How bad is it?

Derek: I'm fine, I'm fine. Just get to Scott. Just find him. 

Derek: We'll be right behind you. Go. Go! 

Derek: Hey, hey, save him.

Goodbye for Now

(Stiles comes up to join Scott, all of Malia, Liam, Scott, and Kira end up looking at Stiles almost at the same time with no dialogue, the scene cuts to Derek nodding at Scott and leaving with no wide shot to show if anyone else is still standing there)