#Satan's Storybook

[fatmagic]

[cimmerian-war-shrine]

[katboykirby]

OM storybook (featuring Satan) announced ♡

[anna-the-undertaker]

Hiii helloooo hiyaaa :3 really loved ur previous short🩷 whaddaya think about this: cottagecore themed MC? What if an MC has that vibe of a grandparent or an old storybook(like brambly hedge), is very caring and chill, likes to bake, enjoys nature and just feels like home

I loved the softness of this. It made me feel all warm inside just to write it.

Hearthbound

When the brothers first meet MC, they’re struck by their unusual presence. The Royals and the Angels are just as captivated by their charm and warm, nurturing personality. Unlike anyone they’ve ever encountered, MC exudes a serene energy that contrasts sharply with the chaos of the Devildom. Their clothes, always cozy and earth-toned, seem to belong more to a peaceful countryside than the underworld. They’re always wearing an apron, usually dusted with flour, and their hands are often busy kneading dough or tending to a small garden of herbs and flowers they’ve somehow managed to cultivate in the House of Lamentation.

Lucifer

Lucifer notices the change in the atmosphere first. The normally tense and foreboding air of the House of Lamentation has softened since MC’s arrival. He finds himself taking deeper breaths, as if trying to absorb the calming aura they bring. At first, he is perplexed by how someone so gentle could survive in the Devildom, but as he watches them bake a loaf of bread or brew a pot of tea, he begins to understand. The warmth of a fresh-baked pie and the comfort of MC’s presence have a way of disarming his stress, and though he doesn’t outwardly show it, he’s grateful. He’ll often find himself lingering in the kitchen, just to watch them move with such care and intention, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Mammon

Mammon is bewildered by MC’s nurturing ways. He’s used to adrenaline-pumping schemes and risky ventures, but with MC, everything slows down. They treat him with a kindness he’s unaccustomed to, knitting him warm scarves and offering him treats fresh from the oven. Mammon, at first, doesn’t know how to handle this kind of affection, but he quickly becomes addicted to the warmth MC brings. He’ll show up at their door at all hours, complaining about the cold or some imaginary ailment, just to be fussed over and spoiled. And when he smells fresh cookies, he’s the first to dart into the kitchen, hoping for a taste of whatever they’ve baked. There’s a particular chair in the kitchen he’s claimed as his own, and he’ll lounge there, watching them work with a contented grin.

Leviathan

Levi is awkward at first, unsure how to approach someone so different from what he’s used to. But when MC presents him with a hand-knitted blanket, soft and comforting, and bakes a cake decorated with his favorite anime characters, he’s smitten. He starts spending more time out of his room, drawn by the smell of MC’s cooking or the promise of a quiet conversation over tea. MC has a way of drawing him out of his shell, and he finds himself feeling more at ease in their presence than he has with anyone else. They remind him of the gentle characters in his favorite slice-of-life animes, and he treasures every moment they spend together.

Satan

Satan is fascinated by MC’s affinity for nature and the old-world charm they bring to the House. He’s captivated by the way they speak about the plants they’re growing, the herbal remedies they’re concocting, and the stories they tell that seem to come from another time. Satan often finds himself in the garden with them, discussing literature and nature, feeling a rare sense of peace. He admires the way they can make something beautiful out of nothing, turning even the most mundane moments into something special. When they bake, he’s often at their side, assisting with a calm enthusiasm that surprises even him. He feels a deep sense of connection with MC, as if they share an unspoken understanding of the world’s quieter joys.

Asmodeus

Asmo is enchanted by MC’s aesthetic. The softness of their demeanor, the care with which they tend to the house, and the simple beauty they bring to everything they touch—it’s all irresistible to him. He often sits with them as they bake, asking endless questions about the ingredients and marveling at the way they turn simple items into something extraordinary. Asmo loves the way MC makes everything feel cozy and inviting, and he’s constantly asking them to make little treats or craft small gifts that he can share with others. He finds their vibe to be the perfect counterbalance to his own flamboyant energy, and he delights in the way they make the house feel like a true home.

Beelzebub

Beel is immediately drawn to MC’s cooking. The scent of fresh bread or a pie cooling on the windowsill is enough to have him wandering into the kitchen, drawn by the promise of something delicious. MC quickly becomes his favorite person to hang out with, especially when they’re baking. Beel loves to watch them work, the way they move with such patience and care, and he’s always eager to taste-test whatever they’re making. But it’s more than just the food; he feels an undeniable sense of comfort in their presence, as if he’s finally found a place that feels like home. He’s protective of MC in a way that’s almost instinctual, always making sure they’re safe and well, and he never lets anyone disturb them when they’re in the kitchen.

Belphegor

Belphie is initially indifferent, preferring to spend his time napping in his usual spots. But MC’s presence slowly begins to permeate even his dreams. He finds himself seeking out the comfort they provide, often curling up on the couch where they’ve placed one of their handmade blankets. Belphie finds an odd sense of security in MC’s calm demeanor, and he starts to nap in the kitchen or the garden just to be near them. He’s drawn to their warmth and the way they make even the coldest days feel cozy. There’s something about the way MC creates a sense of family and belonging that resonates with him, and he finds himself relaxing in a way he hasn’t in a long time.

Diavolo

Diavolo is immediately fascinated by MC's ability to create an atmosphere of warmth and home in the Devildom. The future Demon King is used to grand events and the formalities of royal life, but MC’s simplicity and genuine kindness are a breath of fresh air for him. He finds himself drawn to the calm and peaceful energy that surrounds them, often seeking them out when he needs a break from his duties. He loves the way MC can make even the grandest castle feel like a cozy home, and he often invites them to the palace just to enjoy their company. He loves hearing about their life and experiences, finding their stories and outlook on life refreshing and grounding. He might even ask them to help him create a more welcoming atmosphere in the palace, valuing their input and enjoying the transformation they bring.

Barbatos

Barbatos is perhaps the most subtly affected by MC’s presence. As someone who takes immense pride in his role and responsibilities, Barbatos is not easily swayed by emotions or attachments. However, MC’s quiet strength and nurturing nature do not go unnoticed by him. He admires their attention to detail, whether it’s in baking a perfect loaf of bread or tending to their small garden. Barbatos often finds himself silently watching as MC works, appreciating the care they put into everything they do. He might even join them in the kitchen from time to time, offering his assistance and sharing in the peacefulness of the moment. Their influence softens his strict demeanor, and he finds a rare sense of calm in their presence, something he hadn’t realized he was missing.

Simeon

Simeon is immediately charmed by MC’s gentle nature and the serene atmosphere they create. As an angel who appreciates beauty and harmony, Simeon finds great joy in MC’s cottagecore lifestyle. He often visits them to share tea and enjoy quiet conversations, finding solace in the simplicity and purity of their company. MC’s love for nature resonates deeply with Simeon, and they often bond over their shared appreciation for the natural world. He might bring them small gifts from the Celestial Realm, like a rare flower or a special blend of tea, wanting to share a piece of his world with them. Simeon feels a deep connection to MC, appreciating the way they bring light and warmth to the Devildom, and he often finds himself inspired to write about them in his stories.

Solomon

Solomon is intrigued by MC’s unique presence in the Devildom. As a human who has seen and experienced much, he’s not easily impressed, but there’s something about MC that fascinates him. Their lifestyle, their nurturing nature, and the way they’ve managed to make even the Devildom feel like home pique his curiosity. Solomon enjoys teasing MC, often challenging their calm demeanor with his playful antics, but he also deeply respects the peace they bring. He might ask them to share their recipes or engage them in discussions about herbal remedies and natural magic, valuing their knowledge and perspective. Solomon finds a certain comfort in MC’s presence, appreciating the balance they bring to the often chaotic world of the Devildom. Their relationship is a mix of playful banter and deep mutual respect, and Solomon finds himself looking forward to their time together.

Luke

Luke is immediately drawn to MC’s warmth and kindness. As the youngest and most innocent of the group, Luke quickly becomes attached to MC, viewing them almost like a parental figure. He loves spending time with them in the kitchen, helping them bake cookies or tend to their garden. Luke feels safe and loved in MC’s presence, and he often seeks them out when he’s feeling homesick or overwhelmed by the Devildom. MC’s nurturing nature brings out Luke’s protective instincts, and he often declares that he’ll keep them safe from any harm, despite his small stature. He’s deeply appreciative of the way MC treats him with such care and gentleness, and he often brings them little gifts or tries to help them with their tasks as a way of showing his gratitude.

In the end, they all come to realize that MC, with their cottagecore charm and nurturing ways, has filled their lives with a sense of warmth and love they hadn’t known they were missing. Each of them, in their own way, becomes attached to the feeling of home that MC brings, and they all find themselves seeking out the comfort of their presence, knowing that with MC around, even the darkest corners of the Devildom feel a little brighter.

[ifearzombies]

Special Moments With The Brothers

Lucifer:

     He won’t let you listen to his beloved cursed music to try and keep you safe, but he does love cuddling you on his bed in his room while you listen to classical music. He has a habit of slightly ‘conducting’ while listening, the both of you sipping wine while you enjoy the music and have some pillow talk. You chatter a bit about the chaos you and the other brothers have gotten up to the past week or about how Diavolo’s plan is going to bring peace to the three realms. It’s his chance to get comfort from you and also learn the lives of his brothers that they try to hide from him. He’s never mad about the chaos you tell him about, and he never brings it up anything you talk about to his brothers. He’s just so happy that you’re with him and his family and making everyone happy.

Mammon:

     Ninety percent of his schemes are not just to get money, but to spend time with you. They always end up with you two alone together and laughing and talking as you both fail at making some sort of DIY thing (jewelry, plushies, etc). Mammon will always keep the FIRST of any item you make. He has a whole section of his room dedicated to those items. And each one is a treasure to him. While you work you talk about anything and everything. You talk about the other brothers’ latest interests because you know Mammon will want to do something nice for each of them related to what you tell him. Every scheme ends with a mutual scolding from Lucifer, but neither of you mind when you’re cuddling and laughing about it all before Mammon goes and gives the money to witches for child support. (There is a devilgram that tells you that Mammon’s money and debt are all child support for a kid he rescued).

Leviathan:

     You two spend a lot of time watching anime and playing games. However Levi’s favorite moments are when you help him during a raid. You didn’t realize how intense raids in games actually were at first, but then Levi was going to do one and you wanted to watch. It took nearly a full 24 hours with no sleep and few breaks. And they didn’t even win. Levi began cursing himself and beating himself up over the loss. The next raid, you surprise him by saying you’ll help him. You learned enough from all his explanations that you can let him actually take bathroom breaks and eat and cover for him for a few minutes at a time. After the raid, you fall asleep cuddling and the following morning he showers you in gratitude and cries in happiness. Win or lose, you’re at his side. A true Henry! In thousands of years, none of his family had helped him with a raid before. His joy at your presence melts your heart and while you can’t show up for every raid, you do your best to support him.

Satan:

     He sits up against a bookshelf, you are leaning against his chest with a book in both your hands. There’s mugs of tea or coffee beside you and you’re both just enjoying the quiet and reading together. Satan loves these quiet moments because it’s just so calm. There’s no chaos, there’s no shenanigans, and his temper is placated by your warmth and heartbeat. Sometimes soft piano music is played, sometimes there’s a smuggled in cat in your laps. Your favorite moments are when he sings to you. His favorite moments are when you sing to him. It’s almost storybook. And he loves that you give him such moments.

Asmodeus:

     The bath is always the perfect temperature, the bubbles and soothing scents relaxing the two of you. Asmo is cuddling you, of course, and you take turns massaging and washing each other’s hair and bodies. He doesn’t even mind it doesn’t get sexy, just the fact you’re alone with him and letting him see all of you. You gossip about things going on at RAD and about Asmo’s latest party and new fashion going on. You also gossip about Mammon being a model a bit. You then brush and dry each other’s hair and and just pamper each other. You then fall asleep in his very comfortable bed with his arms around you.

Beelzebub:

     You’re surprised that hanging out with Beel doesn’t just always include food at first. But then you see just how skilled he is. He plays Sax, he snowboards, surfs, and plays sports. But he also encourages you to work out. He NEVER expects you to keep up with his pace. You literally can’t. But once you’ve hit your limit, he gets to use YOU as a weight. Or as a spotter. Working out together helps you keep in shape but you also get to talk and hear about Beel’s training for RAD’s sport’s team and how the team’s doing. You also hear about the latest food that he’s decided he loves. Burgers are his favorite but his cravings, but sometimes he wants pancakes or steaks and potatoes or other various foods from the Devildom. You love hearing him talk about his day and cravings as you know JUST what to make when it’s your turn to cook.

Belphegor:

     There’s a lot of cuddle time, but your favorite times with Belphie are when you go stargazing. It’s always night in the Devildom so it’s not hard to find a good time to do it, but just sitting on the lawn on a blanket (half the time with Beel there too and eating snacks) and looking at the stars. Belphie will tell you about the different constellations as you look for shooting stars. Lucifer has found the two of you asleep on the lawn more than once as you stayed out too late to keep stargazing.

[loveselenade]

Madoka 1.5

Since I’m watching PMMM for the first time (with a lot of it spoiled due socmed lol), I figured it’d be fun to write my thoughts so far, 1.5 episodes in. It goes without saying, but don't send me any further spoilers, as this is only fun if I can manage to remain as ignorant as I am now.

Things I knew before hand:

-Kyubey is a bastard.

-It has Shinbo Akiyuki's artistic sensibilities all over it (reason I started watching, tho I'm unclear what exactly his involvement in this is lol). Also, Urobuchi Gen is the main writer for this lol

-Madoka dies.

-Madoka is the paragon of good.

-Lesbian Satan.

-Homura has catholic guilt??

-Someone's backstory involves a brother or something.

-Guns

-Time loop.

-Jewel seeds but evil (this only makes sense if you've watched Nanoha, sorry lol)

-Witches

-Madoka saved a cat

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--

-

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Illusory motion.

[image id: top view of a monochromatic, distorted staircase that looks like a spiral.]

An upwards climb or a downward spiral? The irregular curving of the stories and the pattern alternance sure makes it look like it's spiraling inward. As our lace curtain lifts so the play can begin, this is our first look at the kind of world that awaits us.

[image id: gif showing a close up to Madoka's legs and then a panoramic top view as she runs through a monochromatic hallway with a chessboard pattern]

I don’t have a lot to say about the witches’ labyrinths yet, but I’m always a sucker for dreamscapes (I loved them dearly in Flip Flappers, where they had the incredible work of Studio Pablo strengthening the storybook look), and I’m assuming the labyrinths symbolize something about the interiority or the difficulties the witch in question faced. I don’t have a lot to go by with the two labyrinths in episode one, but I did love the glimpse of the one we get in the opening sequence. I love the effect that it creates when alternating between panoramic shots or extreme close-ups to Madoka’s legs and back as she runs—respectively making her look too small against this overwhelming set piece or claustrophobically trapped in her impotence. As the camera moves along, there’s a sensation that the different patterns in the floors are moving. Because of the way we perceive depth via ascertaining the apparent parallelism or convergence of lines and value/color contrast, among other things, the pattern alternance in this monochrome set piece creates illusions of either motion or that each row is a step more elevated than the other. It’s a properly trippy place. I enjoy it. The straight white for the lighting and tiles creates an artificial and alienating atmosphere. The uniformity of its looks is disorienting. Is Madoka going the right way?  It’s really a fantastic introduction to the world of Madoka Magica.

The path you must follow has been prepared for you.

[image id: A green, flourescent exit sign is centered in the screen, hanging above a dark path framed by silver chain fence]

Despite the disorienting feeling, Madoka follows mostly straight paths and there's a clearly labeled, correct exit. This brings to mind the predetermined paths present in Revolutionary Girl Utena's imagery.

Additionally, I find the way Madoka’s run is boarded reminiscent to Utena’s chase after Anthy in Adolescence of Utena:

[image id: gif showing a panoramic view of of landscape shwoered in sunset lighting and red, square pillars towering over the space. Utena, looking tiny, runs further into the place.]

[Image id: gif showing a top down view of a long monochromatic corridor with chessboard pattern that Madoka, a mere pink dot in the screen, crosses running. The corridor is right in the middle of the screen and surrounded by different equally black and white mandalas that turn slightly.]

We get panoramic overhead shots emphasizing the disorienting, geometrical maze and the impotence of our heroines' tiny figure against them.

Before reaching their destination, they both cross a stairs-bridges of sorts; Utena, towards the dueling arena where Anthy waits for her to continue the dueling cycle with Utena as champion; Madoka, towards the foyer where she can find her exit to where Homura is struggling against another hopeless, fighting cycle, one which Madoka choses to perpetuate when making a contract with Kyubey…

[Image ids:

The image to the left shows shows a stich of two Adolescence of Utena's screenshots: the one on top showing Utena crossing a bridge; due the top down angle and the inclination of the bridge, the planks on the bridge look like stairwells. The image on the bottom shows Utena crossing the bridge against the creamy, pinkish sunset sky. The bridge railing is shown a black silhoutte in the foreground.

The image to the right is a stich of two monocrohmatic Madoka Magika episode one screenshots: the on the the top shows Madoka crossing a corridor, the foreground is dominated by abstract geometric shapes. The one on the bottom shows Madoka going up an ample stair well, and the surrounding walls have a similar geometric patterning.]

Absolute Reality.

[Image id: Predominantly black and white screenshot showing a dark tree on the foreground and black debri flyaing around. A little to the right of the middle line stands Madoka, with Kyubey sitting on top of some fallen pillar. The subtittles are Madoka's dialogue and read: "Can I really do something to help?"]

The offer that tempts Madoka into a contract is the promise of agency. She can’t stand the reality where there is nothing she can do, thus it's the promise she does actually have power to influence the narrative and help others and stop their suffering what Kyubey dangles in front of her. Madoka feels deeply moved by the pain of others and has a strong empathetic response that makes it very easy for her to be preyed upon by our resident ugly cat here. It’s detrimental to her. Maybe Homura has a point in reversing her wish to be the divine embodiment of Goodness. 

It’s then interesting that she expresses disappointment upon waking up not only in the premiere but in episode 02, as well. Her waking up animation might as well become bank during this introductory arc (I’m betting it does, can’t wait to be wrong). When confronted with the thought the world her senpai Mami introduced to her, one of great danger but also apparently fulfilling and actualizing, might be nothing but an illusion, Madoka expresses disappointment. Even though she has a happy, easygoing life full of friends and family that love her and that she loves in return, there is something else she is looking for.

Confronting your own humble plainness again.

[Image id: Screenshot of Madoka's room dimly lit. Madoka is drawn towards the bottom left edge, hunching and hugging her huge body plush with a beleagered expression.]

Appearances, facades.

Trained confidence. 

[Image id: Screenshot showing makeup labelled with numbers, as if to indicate the order of steps.]

Following Madoka’s "dream", we learn about her homelife anchored around her interactions with her mother as they talk about the love lives of the people around Madoka, contrasted to Madoka's own assertion that no one has an eye on her. Their whole bathroom conversation could be characterized as "girl talk": they go on about love and the need to maintain an appealing image as means to reach it. I could easily accuse this scene of being sexist (and it did rub me the wrong way initially), but the dialogue is naturalistic enough to paint a trusting, warm bond between mother and daughter; plus the repetition of the make-up motif in the second episode while interspersed with Mami's explanation draws attention to themes of appearance and desire.

A remark that can easily be taken as reinforcing gender essentialism lol

[Image id: Screenshot showing the sinks at the foreground barely visible at the bottom edge, with Madoka and her mother in front of them. Madoka is holding her red ribbons with her left hand hesitantly, while her mother has her hands over her hips, talkig matter-of-factly: "A woman's appearance is the one thing she can't afford to get looked down at."]

The contrast in the way mother and daughter carry themselves is apparent. When Madoka relays her reports about her homeroom teacher's love life, her more experienced mother offers keen observations about the possible state of the relationship. Where Madoka takes things at face value, her mother can see deeper. The same applies to the image they project to the world— where her mother has a set (numbered) method to achieve her ideal image, Madoka fumbles and fusses about her ribbon choice and not being seen as too much. The frame pan showcasing the end result has Madoka standing timidly with her hands folded over her lap and her back reflection shown in three different angles in the background mirrors, as if she's being thoroughly scrutinized. While her mother confidently observes her reflection in the mirror, Madoka shrinks at being observed.

[Image id: Screenshot showing Madoka in the middle with a dopey and hesitant expression and her arms drawn close. Her reflections are shown in the mirrors in the background.]

I can't say that Madoka’s self-confidence is worryingly low given what we’ve been presented with—while she lacks the self-assurance her mother possesses, she doesn’t seem particularly self-deprecating. While her affirmation that no one looks her way reflects that self-consciousness, Madoka doesn't further put herself down. Instead, it could simply be that she's a teenager only now discovering her identity, what she's comfortable with, what she wants and what place can she carve for herself in this world. Her mother advises her to train the image and behaviors of someone confident as a first step to grow more certain of herself. The scene places emphasis on the process of purposefully building the image you project, which becomes relevant as episode two's layouts play with a reflection motif around talks of desire. 

While thinking back on Kyubey’s proposal of granting them one wish in exchange of risking their lives, Madoka ponders about what she wants. Her waffling contrasts to her mother’s immediate, cutting  response concerning pragmatic concerns from her work life when Madoka echoes the question to her. Although, of course, her mother lacks the whole context that makes the decision heightened, Madoka’s roof talk with Kyubey and Sayaka reinforces that there isn’t anything she wishes for that strongly. Yet. 

Additionally, when Madoka proposes a bigger ambition to her mother (“Wouldn’t you rather become CEO yourself?”), the image her mother projects into the mirror changes drastically into a more fierce and dangerous look, complete with the repetition of her labeled make-up symbol. This ties a connection between the image people project and what they desire. And just like Madoka has a rather inhibited persona, so do her desires appear mild.

This takes us to Mami, their helpful senpai.

A slightly distorted image seen from below the glass table totally screams trustworthy.

[Image ID: Screenshot of Mami drawn in a low angle, showing her sitting with her legs neatly folded under her backside and her hands resting on her lap. Despite the sunset light filtering through the windows, she's very dimly lit. Most of her image, from the waist up, is shown slightly distorted as its filtered through the glass of the table. The table legs curve outwards and frame her the image in a strange way. The subtitles present her offer: "You should see for yourself what it's like to do battle with witches."]

Knowing the spoilers that Homura is trying to save Madoka from death via time loops and preventing her from forming a contract with Kyubey has an interesting effect— that is, it casts suspicion over other characters. Mami is the helpful senpai that shows up in the nick of time to save them from the witch, heals Kyubey, explains the situation to them and even promises to protect them from Homura at school. She also offers to show them the fieldwork so they can make up their mind about whether to become contracted! The earlier, careful portrayal around purposeful appearances and the reflection motif repeating during their talk can’t be coincidence. Clearly, she wants to be seen as someone who’s dependable, and whether this has more sinister implications or is stemming from personal wishes is unclear to me yet. Mami feels more like Kyubey’s sales associate than anything else. “You can come observe” it’s the pitch you give someone unsure whether to join a club so you can lure them further in. She’s encouraging them to take on a responsibility that can have rather grim outcomes, despite her early assertion that magical girls don’t necessarily work together to reap the rewards of fighting witches—a statement that further reinforces the narrative of Homura as an antagonistic force to our young heroines. Mami either is very upstanding and thinks it’s a duty they should take on since they were chosen or there is something deeply fishy going on here.

For all intents and purposes, Mami is a completely separate entity to our young heroines, not unlike Homura. She’s the one who’s a magical girl already, they’re the uninitiated. They sit on the same side of the table, opposite to her. This shot emphasizes their separation through the black leg of that foreground furniture.

There’s clearly a lot we don’t know about her.

[Image id: screenshot showing Mami's living room. There's sunset light still filtering in, but the room is mostly dimly lit. Mami is on the side of the wall, so she's in the shade. They're sitting at the table, Madoka and Sayaka together on the same side and visually opposite to Mami. The black legs of a furniture are shown in the foreground, creating a strong visual barrier between Mami and her juniors.]

Isn’t it just so fun how this reflection shot obscures her face? Like she’s covering it with her hands in sorrow. Seems charged that it coincides with her explanation about witches causing suicide and murder, does she know of someone who was a victim of them? OR better yet, someone who became One?

I know that magical girls become witches in this series, which also poses interesting possibilities…

[Image id: Screenshot showing Mami's lap with her hands resting on top of it as she sits in front of the table. Because of the top angle, the reflection of her face shows dimly on the glass table. Her face overlaps her hands. The subtitles read: Many of the inexplicable suivides and murders that occur..."]

Are my suspicions on Mami’s intentions totally off-mark? I have no idea, but it’s incredibly fun to doubt her  lol

Speaking of despair lore, I usually raise my eyebrow—think it’s full of shit— when there’s worldbuilding that links suicide and violence to supernatural entities; it’s a run-of-the-mill battle shonen explanation, Noragami also uses it with Ayakashi as amalgamation of negative feelings and energy from the people of the places they haunt. Now, this could still work on an allegorical sense of how oppressive environments lead to such emotional outcomes, since most stories don’t engage with the structural causes of such problems… It can be that, or end up attributing a metaphysical cause as the source of all darkness without even so much extending understanding and sympathy to the people who suffer from it. Where does Madoka Magica fall, I wonder…

Blessed fools.

A pained smile framed behind by bars, a surefire sign that someone isn’t totally trapped. 

[Image ID: Screenshot showing Sakaya's back with her face turned in profile towards the right. She's smiling ambigously and her right hand is holding to the white chain wall that dominates the background against the bright daylight sky. The subtittles read: "Well... Maybe the pair of us are just fools?"]

Given our young heroines lack of direction, ardent ambitions or anguishing desires, Sayaka muses that perhaps the fact they don’t have anything they’d die for is a sign they’re blessed fools. This rings true for Madoka. She’s a happy kid with a supportive family and friends. Despite her longing for something more—her own agency? confidence? Romantic love?—, there doesn’t seem to be anything that is making her actively miserable. Her mild adolescent ennui is not necessarily something pernicious and would’ve likely resolved itself as she experienced and tackled more challenges in her life with the guidance and support of her family. This whole business paints more ill-fated for her (and I mean, I know it is. What a tragedy, hers).

But is this true for Sayaka? This brief shot with its ominous red sky and its bedridden figure shrouded in darkness begs to differ… The fact she feels guilty over being chosen, thinking there’s people who’d make use of a miracle much better than them makes me think it’s rather someone she knows… Is this her motivation to get into Kyubey’s magical girl agency? I don’t have a lot to go by…

[Image ID: Screenshot representing a short-haired person in bed shown facing right . Most of the shapes are represented as black silhouttes, sans the translucent curtains and the ominous red sky framed by the window. The subtittles read "We've been so blessed.."]

Sayaka and homoeroticism.

Welcome back, Shinohara Wakaba. 

[Image id: Screenshot showing Madoka, Sayaka and their irrelevant friend Hitomi at the park. Sayaka is hugging a slouching Madoka from the back, saying "You must be my bride, Madoka!".]

The Girl Talk in episode one continues as we follow Madoka’s commute to school with her two friends: the blue one, the to-be Magical Girl, Sayaka and this one random girl that I'm surprised it's even there. The banter and physicality to Sayaka and Madoka’s interactions is fun and warm, selling their chemistry as friends. And near the end, Sayaka playfully proclaims Madoka must be with her, which immediately brought to mind Revolutionary Girl Utena’s Shinohara Wakaba's own ambiguous, very physically affectionate date-play with Utena. 

Rather than being a maiden in the sidelines, however, Sayaka is positioned as Madoka’s protector against Homura. Given Homura is fighting to be Madoka’s silent protector herself, this is unbelievably funny to me. When Madoka finds Homura's staring off-putting during P.E., she hides behind Sayaka. When Madoka— with Kyubey in her arms— is alone facing the inscrutable, darkness-shrouded, threatening Homura, the one who shows up to save her is Sayaka. When they're alone within the creepy labyrinth, Sayaka protectively embraces Madoka. When Madoka is worried that Homura might try to attack them at school, Sayaka offers to punch Homura. This antagonistic placing of Madoka's two protectors is hilarious, and I'm curious to see if the dynamic fizzles out as we delve into Sayaka's innermost wishes and struggles or if the tension will boil over into something interesting.

'Get behind me, Madoka! I got the fire extinguisher!' 

Such a hilarious way to break the tension.

[Image id: Screenshot showing Madoka and Sayaka in a dark parking lot, with most of the background shrouded in shadows. Sayaka is holding a fire extinguisher that she's shooting towards the left, and Madoka stands behind her, holding Kyubey.]

Even their sitting order in class positions Madoka behind Sayaka lmao Does Sayaka have a thing for Madoka or just a hero complex? 

[Image ID: Screenshot showing Madoka and Sayaka sitting in their classrooom. Sayaka is shown sitting a row in front of Madoka, a column to the left. Madoka is holding Kyubey in her arms. The subtittles read: "If she tries anything on you, I'll punch her lights out!"]

The show acknowledges the homoeroticism between the two in a tongue-in-cheek manner during their commute in episode 2, when their normie friend feels put off by the apparent intimacy of their silent (telepathic) communication:

"You've been staring so intently into each other's eyes… What on earth did you do after I left yesterday?!"

This girl is too homophobic to become a magical girl, smh. 

[Image ID: Screenshot showing Sayaka, Madoka and their friend Hitomi drawn in profile at the park. Sayaka and Madoka are positioned on the left side of the screen, with a tree in the background subtly serving as visual barrier between Madoka and Sayaka. Madoka is slouched and halfheartedly reaching to Hitomi. Hitomi is positioned on the right side of the screen, with her hand to her heart and running towards the left. Her dialogue reads: "Don't you see that it's a love that can never beeee?!"]

Madoka points out that their normie friend's remarks sound a lot like what Sayaka tells to her on a regular basis, lending credence to my Wakaba comparison lol This gag could simply be an acknowledgement of the charged homoeroticism present in the series, but it still amuses me so far a lot of it has circled around Sayaka and Madoka. 

Akemi Homura

Her soundless, despaired scream as she catches sight of Madoka with Kyubey was so cinematic ❤️

[Image id: gif showing a zoom out of Homura's face as she screams. She's resting on a tree branch that's represented as a black silhouette, with debris floating around represented in the same way.]

Speaking of homoeroticism, it's time to talk about Homura. I actually felt a little sad that I already know about her motivations because she's so incredibly off-putting, I'd have had a lot of fun speculating about the meaning of her actions, the way she's framed and the meticulous way her micro expressions are portrayed. However, it's not like there isn't still some room to have fun reading into them. She enters the picture via the classic transfer student trope. From her introduction alone, she creates an awkward atmosphere with the way the standoffish silence lingers due her laconicism. 

Despite her aloof demeanor, and in pure transfer-student fashion, Homura still stands out both in academics and physical feats (she even breaks the regional high jump record lol!); as such garners the attention of her peers. Nonetheless, she couldn't be more uninterested in them, as the one she can't keep her eyes off is Madoka. Her taciturn, blank-faced and cutting demeanor can paint her staring as downright aggressive. This is further reinforced by being color coded with the darkest values in the cast so far: black and purple are her signature colors, classic villain palette. 

Her conversation with Madoka as she rehashes the "could you show me where the infirmary is" routine is the big standout of hers in episode one —the tropey nature of this encounter makes it very easy to imagine how their first interactions went down the first time—. The low angle that emphasizes her head tilt and the accentuated shadows on her face and body make her look haughty and intimidating.

She's literally staring down Madoka lol Worth noting this same framing is repeated as she warns Madoka in a few minutes, complete with rotating animation for gravitas, contributing to Homura's bad vibes. 

[Image ID: Screenshot showing Homura's face and shoulders slightly turned to the right side of the screen. The right side of her face is heavily shadowed and so are her shoulders. She's looking down on the viewer. Her dialogue reads: "May I ask you to accompany me?"]

While one could think that the reason she approached Madoka was to issue her warning, I'm actually not that certain. It could be due the way her anguished reactions to being around Madoka make her look quite erratic as she tortures herself with these distorted echoes of her memories—but I also have to point out the abrupt way she brings the interaction to a halt, stomping and suddenly turning. The way she behaves through the whole interaction feels quite impulsive, which gave me the impression of Homura purposefully trying to recreate the past (whether out of indulgence or to torture herself, I'm not really sure).

It's really fun the way this obscured close-up to her profile hiding her eyes— making it difficult to parse her emotions— paired to how the next highlighted extreme close-ups have her clenching her teeth led credence to the "Homura is a hostile party" narrative. Personally, the timing is what gets me. She reacts deeply upset to the fact Madoka politely yet impersonally addresses her as "Akemi-san" lol This girl was in the trenches. 

[Image ID: Screenshot showing Homura's shadowed profile facing left. She is holding her face up, seemingly imperious and her mouth is tightly shut.]

The way the timing makes it seem like she's really pissed at Madoka’s remark that her name is weird + subsequent fumbling is very funny lol I wouldn't say she's not upset from it, but mostly in the "it's painful to be around you" way. 

[Image ID: Screenshot showing a extreme close up to Homura's clenched mouth, as she lowers her face. There's heavy shading on the left side of her face and lens flare coming from the right side of her face.]

There's a lot of natural verticals in the panels of their classrooms and the windows they transverse that create visual divisions between the two. I found it particularly noteworthy that while there's a natural sense of distance and awkwardness between the them, Homura is the one who accentuates it and fully brings herself to the other side of the threshold when she suddenly skips forward ahead from Madoka. The idea she's intentionally cultivating a distance between the two is very intriguing and appealing…

[Image ID: Screenshot showing Homura and Madoka facing left as they walk through the corridor with blue window panes. There's a particular wide vertical division in between Madoka and Homura, placed more or less in the middle of the screen. Homura is on the left side of the screen, but closer to the blue vertical division. Madoka is falling behind, with more white space between her and the middle.]

Their sitting order reinforces this idea, situating Homura all the way to the front, completely out of reach. 

[Image ID: Screenshot showing Homura sitting in the front row, looking back at Madoka's seat.]

They look fully at odds with each other thanks to the high contrast between the bright windows and the shaded frames. The dark values to their visual barriers fully bring out the tension brought by Homura's sudden halt-and-turn as she issues her warning. Homura is framed as thoroughly oppositional to Madoka, and she herself doesn't bother to correct any misunderstandings. It's pretty interesting she's fine with being vilified if it might grant her any slight chance to get what she wants.

[Image ID: screenshot showing Homura and Madoka drawn in a symmetrical composition, separated visually by the regular window panes. Homura is drawn towards the left edge of the screen, facing right and standing imperiously. Madoka is drawn on the right side of the screen, towards the edge as well, slightly slouched and in a timid pose. Subtittles show Madoka's dialogue: "Yes, really! I couldn't lie about that."]

Homura's dead-eyed ominous warning vs Mami's personable, smiling offer of support, fight!  But this is truly why I can't trust Mami lol Should you really be tacitly encouraging them, Yellow Senpai? A cutting warning really seems more befitting here…

[Image ID: Extreme close up to Homura's blank left eye with the right side of her face being heavily shaded. The subtittles read: "Because if you do, you will end up losing all of those things.]  

Odd ends. 

There's a lot of small gestures that really bring out charm to the interactions and feelings, but if I pointed out absolutely everything, I'd never finish this lol 

There's one thing from the Madoka-wakes-up Bank I do want to point out, though: the odd feeling Madoka’s head turn with the hard shading gives me. Now, I know it's a Shaft™ thing, I've watched another TV series directed by Shinbo that was produced there and I've heard of it. But I still find the timing peculiar— after the opening sequence with her running to the rooftop in episode one and the brief recap with Mami's transformation in the second, just before she wakes up. Of course, this reinforces that sense of being at the verge of waking up from an odd dream, which Madoka fully believes, but it can also get a sense of deja vu. Typically, one would assume that Madoka’s run towards the rooftop is a glimpse to an event that will happen later down the line. But given the nature of this being a time loop and Homura's insistence on preventing Madoka’s death via preventing her contract altogether, which it's implied to happen in that sequence, I don't think there isn't any reason to think that it's not something that didn't already happen. If this ends up being the case, I'm curious how that'd affect further loops.

Tell me your secrets, you pink little one. 

[Screenshot showing a extreme close up to Madoka's eyes facing towards the left. Her face is drawn almost facing front, leaning towards the right. There's heavy shading on her face and a black background.]

Expectations for the rest of the introductory arc:

-Second half of episode 2 will end in a cliffhanger that'll destabilize routine while they fight a new witch. 

-Said cliffhanger will involve Mami (I HOPE IT DOES). I'm suspicious of her and hope she does something terrible, but I think it's equally, if not more, likely that something terrible happens to Her lol

-🤷🏻‍♂️

Hmm that's it. I'm not very good at imagining scenarios lol 

I'm also half-expecting to be wrong about nothing making Madoka miserable, mostly because I've been obsessing over Takamachi Nanoha, another seemingly well-loved, normal kid who turned out to have Important Baggage lol

[queenofthearchipelago]

I feel like generally this fandom tends to forget that Christian mythology and angelology is this massive thing that isn't cohesive when literally all belief systems are put together. Good Omens needs to be viewable and understandable to your everyday viewer. Like of course Crowley wasn't going to be Lucifer, the public generally knows (as is in the bible) that Lucifer was Satan's angel name. Honestly, if you go too deep into the lore, the higher the odds are of the theory not working out. And don't even get me started on the other half of the fandom that doesn't look into the lore at all and seems to think the book of life is some sort of storybook of everyone's life that you can edit

[moon-spirit-yue]

Remember when I said I wouldn’t be making a Once upon a time au? Well I lied. I’ll only be covering the first season, maybe second if I feel up to it, cause seven seasons is a lil too much BUT it’s happening. (I have too many fic ideas.) Take this skit as an introduction:

Henry, talking to Raya about his storybook: so. How do you feel about that girl over there? *points to Namaari*

Raya: I hope both sides of her pillow are warm, why do you ask?

Henry: oh, I asked because she’s Namaari. And since you’re Raya in the book, you two are, ya know!

Raya, frowning: hey man, I totally think it’s awesome that I’m the main protagonist of an apocalyptic universe according to this book, but I’m gonna need you to give me a better girlfriend. I don’t like that one

Henry: that’s okay! You guys didn’t like each other at first in the book either

Raya: for good reason I’m sure

Henry: yeah, Namaari totally did you dirty in the book, but she makes up for it!

Raya: maybe when the spawn of satan over there can make up for what she did, we can discuss this again. Until then, I want a better girlfriend

Henry: do you even remember what she did to cross you oh so terribly?

Raya, very much affected by the curse and genuinely can not remember why she hates Namaari: if you keep up the sass I’m not getting you ice cream after our study session

Henry, pouting: fine. Have it your way. Even you can’t stop the inevitable

Raya, snorting: if she’s inevitable, I will certainly try stopping it. I think we should wrap it up, Gold usually comes by this cafe in like an hour and I do not want to deal with him today. Acting like I’ve never paid rent a day in my life when I’m always a week early. Minimum

Henry: I still can’t believe he made you pay your half of the rent in the middle of your class

Raya, rolling her eyes: yeah, Professor Spine was not happy about that. I just wish I knew what I did to piss him off so bad

Henry: I’m telling you, he’s upset because you never struck a deal with him! He’s got no power over you and it kills him

Raya, smiling and ruffling his hair: you best believe that old reptile has no power over me. Let’s go get you that ice cream I promised you, yeah?

Henry: yes!

Raya: *passing by Namaari’s table and flipping her off discreetly so that Henry doesn’t see*

Namaari: *immediately flips her off in return while also making sure Henry doesn’t see*

Raya, internally: *thank god this storybook thing is just his ten year old mind at work. God I’d kill myself if she was my girlfriend*

[fullycollapsible]

This is a bit silly, but I made sort of a Welcome Home TMA AU- I don’t have much of a plot, but I have the alignments!

Wally- The Eye! Pretty self explanatory lol- always watching, imagery in which there are too many eyes (TM), and (depending on how you interpret the secret tapes) he’s keeping quite the eye on the neighborhood!

Frank- The Web! I’m a bit crazy about the idea that Frank is working against Wally, and the level of low-key and sneaky he would have to be to succeed in this is very web-coded to me! It also fits with Frank’s canon need for control over his life and obsession with rules and routines, and it keeps his connection with bugs! I was imagining that the Corruption almost got him, but he had to make a deal with the web under dire circumstances

Howdy- The Corruption! I initially just thought about him being a literal bug, Corruption!Howdy also makes me think of the fact that he sprouted from an (implied to be rotting?) apple core- like the holes and being eaten through by caterpillars and rot and stuff!

Barnaby- The Stranger! Called a clown both by himself and Frank, he certainly has the clown aesthetic! He also just is generally performative and relates to the circus! Plus, in the “Look! Wally exclaimed. I made a dog!” picture, the idea that he’s being ‘created’ rather than born and made as a puppet! The idea of being created from something that is very not human is stranger-coded

Julie- The Spiral! Her games are all about chaos and she generally doesn’t care about rules, guidelines, or even obeying the laws of nature! We also have the idea of her being a “rainbow monster” tied with the fact that some Spiral avatars are considered monsters and are often a wild array of colors! Makes me think about the slinky she’s shown playing with!

Poppy- The End! This is mostly because End avatars like Oliver Banks are generally pretty helpful, and the line “this moment feels exactly like the moment you are going to die.” Poppy is really anxious and paranoid, and sort of begins to spiral waiting for a disaster that she’ll never see coming

Sally- Sally is a bit complicated- I imagined she was born Desolation (A literal star made out of fire, her backstory is literally satan’s backstory so she has ties to religion) , but balanced it out by becoming a Stranger by choice!

Eddie- Eddie was super hard for me to figure out, but I eventually decided on the Buried! There’s a lot of imagery of him carrying heavy things, and the storybook centered around him involves him just lifting neighbors left and right lol- but I’ve also seen the buried (in fan works) tied to the pressure placed on someone by expectations and duties, and Eddie is. A people pleaser.

EXTRA:

Home- The Web! Ties to architecture, often depicted controlling or manipulating Wally by the fandom! Also, the goop under Home in the new update almost looks like a spiderweb towards the back! Also puppetry of course lol

Thank you for listening to my mad ramblings <3

[fatmagic]

[beevean]

If there was going to be another sonic storybook game, what would you want it to be based off of?

The Ancient Greek mythology is by far the most popular opinion, and I agree. You can't go wrong with some nice Ancient Greek aesthetic.

Personally I think it would also be dope to see the Divine Comedy :P I would like if they included more than just the Inferno, but admittedly, the Purgatory is not as visually interesting and the Paradise would be a little heavy.

Anyway, they would need to censor some of the gore (and remove all the political jabs lol), but as a location Dante's Inferno is iconic for a reason. Imagine Sonic fighting Satan, this three faced monster stuck in a frozen lake because his powerful wings keep freezing the water!

[thedurvin]

God what a lineup

Folksy children’s educational storybooks that people forget how conservative it was

A TTRPG that was the chief target of Satanic conspiracy theories being investigated by federal authorities

Pro wrestlers getting into stupid cartoon sitcom hijinks

The Wuzzles aren’t widely remembered but it was so cutesy and fluffy it makes Care Bears look like Metalocalypse

No idea what Young Astronauts was

The Muppets were a groundbreaking effort to make puppetry appeal to adults, so here’s a cartoon version for kids

Also Charlie Brown is there. How do you even explain Charlie Brown, something so iconic and good yet bland? Like imagine if Woody Allen made a kids show

1985 CBS Saturday Morning Cartoons

[parallel-selfs]

What Milady gifted everyone (not all gifts, just some)

Barbatos

Forest pattern handkerchief

Electric mixer

Tea blend she mixed

Teacup

Glass figurine of two snakes

Painting of his favorite scenery

Diavolo

Painting of his favorite scenery

Painting of flower field

Fire pattern handkerchief

Keychain she designed

Commissioned chess set

Hellfire rose tie pin

Simeon

Pressed flower bookmark

Glass doe figurine

Favorite novel

Medium deer squishmallow

Tea set

Painting of his favorite scenery

Solomon

Glass cat figurine

Keychain she designed

Painting of northern lights

Small bat squishmallow

Luke

Star and Moon matching bracelets

Medium dog squishmallow

Coloring book and color pencils

Painting of his favorite scenery

Matching dog brooches

Pressed flower bookmark

Belphie

Pisces mug

Big cow squishmallow

Painting of starlit night sky

Starry sweater

Beel

Pisces keychain

Protein shaker w/ an image she designed

Burger bag charm

Painting of his favorite scenery

Favorite novel

Asmo

Painting of his favorite scenery

Matching strawberry dress

Bag charm she designed

Rose pressed hand mirror

Princess charm bracelet

Satan

Painting of his favorite scenery

Cat printed pajamas

Handmade storybook

Pressed flower bookmark

Pretty coffee mug

Levi

Painting of underwear castle

Favorite comic book series

Board game

Favorite figure

Concert ticket

Mammon

Diamond necklace

Painting of his favorite scenery

Plane ticket

Matching outfit

Keychain she designed

A card that reads "I believe in you"

Lucifer

Padlock necklace

Painting of Lilith

A "No" button

Peacock feather necktie

The Demon's Banquet fountain pen

Collective Gift

Painting of the brothers, Lilith and herself having a picnic (House of Lamentation)

Painting of chaos colors w/ her in the center (Purgatory Hall)

Book of her personal recipes (House of Lamentation)

Painting of the three realms (Demon Lord's Castle)

[scarfmilk]

I am pretty sure my nabor might think I'm in a cult or something. So some contexted they are old and old people don't understand dungeons and dragons so yeah. I was Ealing to school as I do every weekday when my nabor says I and I was listening to my music headphones on so I just pulled them off not trying to seem rude and said hi. He tried to like start a conversation but I was gonna be late to being early so I was trying to walk away at the same time. He out of nowhere was like "you're tall do you play basketball?" And I don't like sports so I told him so and he looked so confused that someone wouldn't like sports. "What do you do for fun then?" He responded still visibly confused, and I was not willing to say that I dwell in my basement all day online so

"dnd" I said

"Oh" *nervous laugh*

Realize old people still think it's tied to satanism caused the 80s. I tried to explain it like it was fun. "Yeah it's like a storybook and you pick someone to tell the story and you pretend to be a character and do whatever you want!" He just stopped talking after I mentions dnd and only nervously laughed until I left! Ahhhhhhhh!

[iamcinema]

Satan's Storybook (1985)