#act-ception

[fanficmanic]

Oliver Stark, who is a British actor, playing an American firefighter, making fun of his boss using a fake British accent.

Holy mother of acting inception.

I bow to your greatness!

[anarchistclownery]

The motherfuckin puppet tried whisperin more violent shit in my motherfuckin mind again so I put the cage he’s in now in another cage.

[asnowperson]

Tanbi to Heroine - Literary classics adapted into shoujo manga

I want to talk about the book of my dreams: Mangaka! Sekai Bungaku - Tanbi to Heroine (マンガ化! 世界文学 耽美とヒロイン). It's a compilation of shoujo manga from the 1970s and 1980s which are adaptations of classics from world literature. Each manga has a little introduction about its artist, and the work it was adapted from. Thank you, our Tosho no Ie overlords.

It came out in 2022, and I'm so happy to own this book. After watching Aoi Bungaku and falling in love with what they did with Kokoro there, I've always wanted to see more anime/manga adaptations of literature. Seeing how authors/directors give the works their own interpretations while still staying faithful to the original work, and not trying to do a 1:1 adaptation can be great, as long as they don't jump the shark. Speaking of which, I even liked Gankutsuou despite the bizarre 3D space mecha fights because Edmond Dantès was still there. I can't get mad at it when the director gets the core of the work right.

Anyway, I want to present this awesome book and the manga collected in this volume!

Hagio Moto – Shiroi Tori ni Natta Shoujo (白い鳥になった少女)

Adapted from Andersen's The Girl Who Trod on A Loaf, and first published in Bessatsu Shoujo Comic 1972/12.

Hagio tells the story from the point of view of the girl who becomes a bird at the end of the tale, which is a very nice touch.

2. Mizuno Hideko – Cendrillon (サンドリヨン)

Adapted from Grimm Brothers' Cinderella, and first published in LaLa 1977/9 & 11.

With Mizuno's exquisite art, this Cinderella adaptation is the perfect fairy tale. On the first and last pages Hideko-tan breaks the fourth wall to give us information about the original work, and going "bruh, these are supposed to be tales for kids but some brutal stuff goes on in them. What's with all the mutilations and eye-gouging?!" It's adorable!

3. Maki Miyako – Hanakagerou (花陽炎)

Adapted from Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, and first published in Big Comic for Lady 1987/2.

This excerpt is taken from vol. 2 of Maki's Genji Monogatari adaptation, and depicts a scene that doesn't exist in the original work: Hikaru meeting Lady Fujitsubo for the first time. I must say that all that Genji Monogatari Japanese went over my head ;_;

4. Miuchi Suzue – Takekurabe (たけくらべ)

Adapted From Higuchi Ichiyou's Takekurabe, and first published in Hana to Yume 1977/1 & 2. This story is actually part of Miuchi's Glass Mask. In the manga, it was acted in the third act, “Kaze no Naka wo Iku.” Compiled in vol.s 3-4 Hana to Yume comics version, vol.s 2-3 of Hakusensha Bunko, and vol.s 3-4 of the digital ebook.

Conveying the subtleties of the character through the way Ayumi and Maya acts is quite ingenious. We get adaptation-ception with this one, and I loved it. It really made me want to read the book to get to know Midori better.

5. Sakata Keiko – Okisaki to Nemuri Hime (お妃と眠り姫)

Adapted from Charles Perrault's Sleeping Beauty, and first published in Comic Tom 1989/1.

I haven't read Sakata's works, but she always strikes me as being the odd one in the shoujo scene. And this manga just strengthened my conviction. Her adaptation of Sleeping Beauty focuses on the ogre mother of the Prince, and her loneliness. Which is another ingenious way of going about adapting a fairy tale from a completely point of view. Her funny-looking art and humor adds to it.

6. Fumizuki Kyouko – Shiroki Mori no Chi ni (白き森の地に)

You get this color image I found online, because scanning this gorgeous double spread was impossible. And it's in grayscale in the book.

Adapted from Louis Hémon's Maria Chapdelaine, and first published in Bessatsu Shoujo Friend 1977/3.

I had no idea about this story, but wow, Hémon sure lived a life... This story that takes place in Canada feels really comforting. I'm surprised this didn't get an anime adaptation. Sure, it's not long enough for one, but it'd make a perfect comfort shoujo. "Comfort shoujo" as in people dying and the protagonist growing up after being hit by misery and having to make life-altering choices. I can see why this was popular in Japan.

7. Yamagishi Ryouko – Rapunzel Rapunzel (ラプンツェル・ラプンツェル)

Feast your eyes on this color Rapunzel illustration from the Yamagishi artbook I have.

Adapted from Grimm Brothers's Rapunzel, and first published in Bessatsu Shoujo Friend 1974/6.

Queen Yamagishi does not disappoint: We go full psychological and read about how parents ruin childrens' lives by projecting their shortcomings in life onto them, and their twisted sense of "love" can be worse than a sorceress's curse. Prince charming therapy time, baby!

8. Sato Shio – Bijo to Yajuu (美女と野獣)

Adapted from Madame de Beumont's Beauty and the Beast, and first published in Papermoon Shoujo Manga Fantasy Shoujo Manga – 1001 Nights (5.11.1980).

This short yet poignant adaptation really brings out the love in the story. She distilled the tale, and left what touches your heart the most in these 8 pages.

This work was also originally published in full color, and it's so gorgeous that I bought the book it was first published in. I hope to have it within the month.

So yeah, if you need to gift something to your old-shoujo loving friend, you now know what to get :)

[vivitalks]

i can't stop thinking about lydia's role in the nightmare-ception nightmare stiles has at the very beginning of season 3b. it's fair to assume that the nogitsune is, on some level, pulling the strings on this matryoshka of a dreamscape, possibly because it doesn't yet have the strength to control stiles while he's awake, but even if it's not the nogitsune, lydia's presence and behavior make no sense.

she's in the part of stiles's dream where he thinks he's awake, and other than wish fulfillment, there's no real reason why she would be there. and while she seems like just another part of the dream - manifested by stiles's subconscious - the way she acts suggests more than that. her presence is the first thing to tip stiles off that something is wrong. he thinks he's awake, but if he's awake, then why is lydia in his bed? maybe lydia was not, actually, supposed to be part of this dream at all.

the moment stiles realizes this, his door creaks open, distracting him from lydia and drawing his attention to the door - specifically, the idea that someone could "get in" if the door is open. if we run with the likely theory that the nogitsune has already entered stiles's mind by this point, then this is stiles's subconscious understanding to a certain degree that he could be in danger, but not yet aware that he already is.

but lydia knows. from the second stiles moves toward the door, lydia does her best to persuade him not to. first she tries to dismiss it ("just go back to sleep", "don't worry about it") and then to challenge his reasoning ("what if someone comes in?" "like who?") but by the time he's reaching for the door, lydia is full-on begging. she's panicking. she knows that (1) stiles isn't going to close the door, but walk through it and (2) there is something through the door that is incredibly dangerous.

and i keep wondering: if the nogitsune was already there, and on some level, however small, controlling the dream, then why the hell was lydia there? her entire role was to counteract the nightmare. she did everything she could to prevent stiles from opening that door. how did the nogitsune benefit from that?

now. i know this is a far-fetched theory. but hear me out: the lydia in stiles's dream was the real lydia. stiles and lydia were in the same dream - they just didn't know it.

essentially what i'm saying is lydia "dreamwalked" into stiles's mind without meaning to. i know there is no canon basis for this being a thing that can happen, but play in the space with me for a minute:

lydia is specifically singled out for her clairvoyant ability to predict danger and death, though it is often presented to her in an abstract fashion

she has been known to sometimes have these visions while she's asleep

there is a door open in stiles's mind, meaning theoretically anything with the capacity to enter a mind could enter stiles's mind, whether intentional or not (and we know that at this point, lydia lacks the ability to control her powers)

there is a connection between stiles and lydia - a tether - that linked them in a supernatural capacity at least once before (with the ice baths)

given the other supernatural concessions of the show, it's not that much of a stretch to propose that lydia could have unwittingly entered stiles's dream, perceived it as her own, picked up on the threat to stiles, and been inclined to protect him from it, without knowing exactly what "it" was.

and before you say "banshees can only predict death, not any danger," that has generally held true for lydia...but with one notable exception, which happens later on in this season: she finds nogitsune!stiles unconscious in the parking garage, after the nogitsune slices his stomach open. he's not dead, and we know he's not dying because deaton says he seems to be healing. something about the connection that exists between lydia and stiles enables her to predict any kind of threat to him, not just the imminently fatal kind.

so: stiles has a nightmare where lydia is inexplicably there, the only part of the nightmare that isn't nightmarish. and at the same time, lydia has a dream that has all the makings of a banshee vision, and responds accordingly: by trying her best to protect her friend, pleading with him not to go near the door, because she can tell there's something bad behind the door. they had the same dream. they were both there. lydia, somehow, entered through the same open door the nogitsune used to get into stiles's mind, and, thinking the stiles in her dream was a premonition of danger coming to him, did her level best to keep him safe, unaware that this was the real stiles, and the danger was already here.

[1533-secrets-from-history]

Mistakes in the Magnificent Century part III

(title, ranks and traditions)

Some facts might be the same or very similar to the ones in previous parts,but they will be discussed from different angle.

1. Valide Sultan title

As I have spoken in the previous chapters, pre 1520 mothers of sultans were not sultans at all, they were titles as hatuns, though treated with utmost respect. In 1520 as Suleiman the Magnificent ascended the throne, he bestowed the title of Sultan to her mother Ayşe Hafsa, thus making her the first person in the ottoman history to become sultan from slavery. However, for Ayşe Hafsa being Sultan was not the same as the Valide Sultan that we know today. She was sultan yes, and she was the mother, so "Valide" was the proper address,from her children, as it was for every mother in the Ottoman empire, she was registered as "the mother of Sultan Suleiman", therefore in some sense, we can say she was not "Valide Sultan".

The first person,who actually made the "Valide sultan" a thing and officially registered herself was Nurbanu. So, the first Valide sultan with its full meaning was not Hafsa,but Nurbanu, who was registered as Valide Afife Nurbanu Sultan.

2. Haseki Sultan and Hürrem's marriage.

There were more than just several miscon- ceptions about the subject in the show.

First and foremost it was created specifically for Hürrem,so neither Hafsa nor Mahidevran have ever had the title. It also brought another mistake about Hafsa,that I will explain below,but now I will just make clearer how, when and why the status was created.

It was almost definitely created in mid-1534 after the death of Ayşe Hafsa Sultan and was probably legalised by their marriage, which by some sources is mentioned to be in 1533. If this is right, then it would mean, Suleiman married Hürrem before he gave her the status of Haseki and the marriage only freed her,but the most common and for me the most logical version is that after the death of Hafsa Sultan, Suleiman married her and gave her the title.

The death of Hafsa Sultan is a crucial part in the story, nor because she had some kind of objection towards Hürrem or her promotion,but the legal status of Hürrem reached its peak of necessity after her death. As we know, Ayşe Hafsa was a trusted ally and Confidant of uprising Sultan, even during his time as shehzade, so during the campaigns, his mother was the supervisor of the capital and his family, so the sultan could go to war without worrying about what he was leaving behind. However, after Hafsa's death things changed, Süleiman lost beloved mother and most trustworthy person around him, he needed to act immediately,as the campaign was near. He needed someone,whom he could entrust Harem, Family and the capital. His children were little, Sisters(whom by the way he trusted very much) were all married and Hürrem did not have a proper rank. It is said that he also discussed the candidate of high ranking harem servants, one and most promoted one of whom, in my opinion, would have been Gulfem, but he finally found the best possible solution that would affect his empire for centuries. He married Hürrem, gave her the rank of Haseki Sultan and left her in charge of the Harem, Family and the empire.

Hürrem became the first Haseki sultan in history.

Misusage of the title did not and here and there, not only the status and function,but even relevance of achievement was changed here. In the very first episode, Nigar kalfa made it clear that giving birth to a son, was enough to achieve it however, originally only the chosen ones could become Hasekis until its relevance faded during Murad's reign and completely lost exclusivity during Ibrahim's.

Essentially, the original function of haseki sultan was filling the absence of Valide, therefore only Hürrem and Nurbanu can be considered as the "original Haseki Sultans". Later many women were given the status, however the show made it wrong. Mahidevran,Mahfiruz and Halime never held it, however Şevikar, referred as Şevikar hatun in the show, was actually Haseki Şevikar sultan, the fifth Haseki of Ibrahim, three of whom, Ayşe, Mahinerv and Saçbağli, were left out, which is kind of understandable, because they had no importance in plot, unlike Turhan, never became Valide,unlike Saliha Dilaşub and Muazzez and had no influence on Ibrahim,Unlike Şevikar and Humaşah.

Their social standing is also misportrayed in the show, where Haseki ranks below and bows to imperial princesses, while in real life it was the other way around.

3. Daughters of Ottoman Princesses

In the show, we met three daughters of the ottoman princesses: Esmahan,Huriçihan and Humaşah. They are referred to as Sultans,but in real life the daughters of imperial princesses were not called so,instead they had the title Hanimsultan and ranked even below the imperial consorts. The only exception to that was Humaşah, the daughter of Mihrimah Sultan, who received the title and prestige of the Sultan.

4. Harem Kalfa

In the show, they are just giving people the rank left and right. Nigar was already a high ranking, trusted servant of harem,but it turned out that she had only been there for 6 years. Fidan hatun was banished for attacking Sultan,but after a while she returned and became Kalfa, in Kösem melek hatun received rank out of the blue etc.

In real life, however, becoming kalfa was a long process. As we know,there were hundreds or even thousands of girls in the harem,but only a handful of them would become favourites,but what would happen to others? After ten years of being a harem resident some of them would have been transferred from harem and soon married off, some could by freedom, while others, usually the smartest and most responsible ones,would go to a special school that lasted two years, they would revive extensive training, both intellectual and physical, after that they could return in harem as teachers and overseers and if they were good enough they could promote.

There was actually quite a complicated hierarchy of harem servants,not only there were Kalfa's who had duty to supervise certain works like food or laundry(later even coffee),but there were administrative ranks, that they could achieve:

Mistress chief treasurer(Baş Hazinedar usta): she was head of the harem treasury.

Treasurers(Hazinedars): there were other hazinedars as well, who worked in harem treasury. Baş hazinedar usta was their direct superior.

Imperial Kalfa(Hünkar Kalfası): Personal kalfa of the padişah.

Lady stewardess(Kahya kadin/Kethüda Hatun): she ranked below imperial consorts,but her role raised during sultanate of women, when Gülfem and Çanfeda held the office, they were right hand women of Chief Harem managers(Hürrem and Nurbanu) therefore second in command of the Harem.

Senior Kalfa(Büyük Kalfa): Head of Kalfas, she was responsible for literally everything that was happening in the harem, sultans and şehzades treated her with respect and called "my kalfa" or "your grace"

Lady secretary: secretary of administrative organs of harem.

Junior kalfa( Küçük Kalfa): Senior kalfa was their direct superior. They had ranks within( second- ranking, third ranking, novice etc.) They were sometimes teachers and daily overseers.

Çanfeda for example entered the harem with Nurbanu, so in late 1530's or early 1540's. Nurbanu became favourite and went to Manisa, while Çanfeda remained in the old palace, in 1566 she was already a high ranking kalfa in the old palace, when Nurbanu called her. That would mean she was sent to train as kalfa in late 1540's or yearly 1550's, therefore she would have a decade or two to raise in ranks.

5. Princely harem.

In the magnificent century, prince usually gets his harem, whole in Topkapi palace, which is the lie through and through. They went even further and made up with the rule that the prince can not have a child with their concubine until they get their province to rule. Why would they be allowed to have concubines,but not having a child, when contraception is still unreliable.

Actually, their case was far more easier, princes would revive their sanjaks while still very young, their mothers, governesses and close servants would carefully choose their harem and leave the palace with their mother and full sisters. That also brought another mistake in the show. In the flashbacks, we can see Ayşe Hafsa and Hatice visiting Suleiman in Manisa, however Ayşe Hafsa along with Fatma and beyhan left for Manisa with Suleiman in 1512, while Hatice,being 4 years older than Suleiman, got married the same year.

6. Regency

They introduced Kösem's regency as something unheard of,while completely neglecting Handan and Halime.

Handan was the first woman ever to rule as regents in her son's stead. She appointed viziers, discussed political matters and built a trusted circle for her son.

Halime was not officially registered regent but due to the insanity of her son, paşas asked her to rule the state after the rebellion she herself organized.

Kösem's and Turhan's regency is well known, so I will not speak about it.

7. Kösem's wedding

Not exactly the mistake as it is not proven, but as the event is highly unlike, I'll just put it there.

In 1609 it is said that Ahmed had four children with two women,but neither of them were married to him. In the two latters, one form 1612 and other from 1616, the 1612 letter straight out mentions her as sultan's concubine, who he loves the most and in 1616 she is mentioned as juts Haseki,but nothing is said about the marriage( I am not adamant about him not marrying her,I am just saying that it's unlikely, however I admitt she might indeed was concubine in 1612 and after the death of Mahfiruz, Ahmed married her and raised her stipend),however early in Kösem's regency vencians questioned ottoman practice, that mother of sultan was honoured and even given the regency,despite not being married to his father. As we know in Venice and generaly in Europe, source of power for woman was her marriage and not just motherhood. That is a time, when it was "unrevealed" that ahemd married her before he died,(if that latter is to be believed than Kösem and Ahmed did not marry in 1613), now it was actually thought that it was false information used by Kösem to strengthen her position in the eye of Venice as they needed friendly relation with them. That is not widely accepted,but it can be strengthened by the fact that Vencians still did not believe it, so perhaps they knew for sure that it was lie?

8. The death of Halime sultan and Mustafa.

In the show Halime, like many others, is victim of making Kösem seem more powerful, while Mustafa was killed by Murad. In real life, Mustafa died of natural causes, probably because of epilepsy in 1539, he was buried in Hagia Sophia and the coffin was placed in a mosque built for him. Halime is buried next to him and no permission of reburial was asked or granted, therefore Halime was not killed by Kösem, she went to the old palace and lived a long life.

9. 1517-1540

I'll be honest, I don't remember much of those episodes, they were boring and monotonous for me, but what I remember is one part from Kösem's iconic " The state you are talking about is mine" speech. She mentioned that she took over the reins of the state from Ahmed 15 years before the event, well that is a huge lie. Though the show runners tried to make Kösem all powerful, the invincible mastermind behind every single breath people drew in the empire,but she was actually quite powerless from time to time and the period between 1617 and 1623 is one of such. She was still young and inexperienced that time and main powerhouses in the empire were Halime and Osman's faction and she was not the leading force during any of the rebellions, she was allie of Halime, who, according to many historians, had major influence that time and the great impact on Kösem. Some even go as far as claiming that she persuaded Osman to kill Mehmed, so Kösem would take her side.

In short, Kösem did not have reins of sultanate for 15 years,but only about 10.

As I said, I don't remember much about the episodes, but from what I remember, Kösem had something to do with Murad's death. I'll be short on this: that's a lie.

10. Coup of 1648

The show made Kösem something of a filicidal tyrant. However, In real life her tyrannical tendencies appeared only after the death of Ibrahim, which he had nothing to do with. The ones behind the incident were Turhan and her faction. Kösem indeed took part in the Ibrahim's dethronement for the good of everyone,but mainly because she had seen the mad sultan dethroned,but lived. Mustafa had a similar situation,he was dethroned and locked in kafe, while his mother was sent to the old palace, which Kösem was absolutely willing to do. However, Turhan made her move and had Ibrahim executed to get rid of opposition for good, or perhaps because of the old resentment. Things did not go exactly as she had planned though, Kösem became regent and visibly started to avenge Ibrahim's death, it became clear that she was not going to hand over any power to Turhan and after she started to oppose even went as far as attempted dethronement of Mehmed(however she was not going to kill him.)

Therefore the child killing monster the show made her become is straight out a lie. One of her sons died of natural causes and the other was killed by outer forces, that she tried to avenge.

[blooming-water-roses]

Uchihas and How They Experience Deep Love

Shameless headcanons bc we all know that no one loves like an Uchiha. (Exploration of how the deep, Uchiha-type love manifests for each individual).

(Read below cut)

Sasuke - Naruto

He begins to love him when they’re both children, when he senses that kinship between them that they’re both completely alone.

Naruto doesn’t see him pitifully like the rest of the village does. He just sees him as a rival, and Sasuke appreciates that. He gets to just be Sasuke, the talented, stuck-up genin with Naruto, not Sasuke, the lone survivor of the Uchiha Massacre.

Naruto pulls him out of his toxic need for vengeance from the time the Haku/Zabuza arc happens to when he sees Itachi again when he tries kidnapping Naruto. He works alongside Naruto as his comrade and friend, and believes that maybe he can be happy just like this in the village.

Then Itachi reminds him of his avenger goal and he’s fold he needs to kill Naruto to obtain new power, the way Itachi allegedly did to Shisui.

He leaves the village in search of new power because yes, he wants to beat Itachi but no, he doesn’t want to kill Naruto. He thinks he can get stronger another way.

This truly shows how deeply he loves Naruto—he’s willing to put him above his ultimate goal to kill Itachi by refusing to gain power by killing him.

And when he gets the opportunity to kill him, he doesn’t. Naruto is open and unconscious and he doesn’t kill him.

To Sasuke, Naruto is his biggest weakness, his Achilles heel, the one who he just can’t get rid of no matter how hard he tries.

Itachi - Sasuke & Sasuke - Itachi

Uchiha-love-ception

Because they’re both Uchiha & love each other insanely strongly I imagine their connection as an endless vortex of undying love

Itachi tried to die when he was around five years old because he couldn’t cope with the world’s darkness.

He didn’t understand what the point of anything was if one day everyone dies.

Until Sasuke was born.

Now, to Itachi, the world isn’t just death; it’s also birth.

Sasuke saved Itachi, and gave him something to fight for.

He wanted the world to be a better place so that Sasuke would never see what he had to see as a child of war.

And everything Itachi ever did (though many actions were questionable), was for Sasuke.

Sasuke was the only one he couldn’t kill on the night of the massacre, so he instead made his brother hate him to make him stronger.

He lived for eight years with declining health just so that Sasuke could get revenge and become a hero.

Even after death he tried protecting him from Madara/Tobi.

And Sasuke always held a degree of admiration for his brother, even if the memories were tainted.

He still loved Itachi to the very end, because killing him gave him the Mangekyō.

If he truly hated Itachi, killing him would have meant nothing.

He was just acting out of a broken heart, the pieces all still holding affection for his brother even despite himself.

The inner turmoil is what made him angrier. He hated Itachi but more than that, still loved him.

When he found out the truth, he made it his life’s mission to defend Itachi’s honor and protect the village as his dying wish.

He devotes his life to him even now.

Itachi - Shisui & Shisui - Itachi

Uchiha-love-ception pt 2

They are my Bonnie & Clyde

Itachi saved Shisui by giving him someone to care for and nurture

Shisui saved Itachi by showing him someone understands the complexity of his thoughts & feelings and shares them too

Itachi felt so alienated his whole life and then in comes Shisui who finally finally understands him just inherently

Idk about you but I long for someone to understand me that well, without ever needing to explain myself

I think Shisui understood Itachi better than Itachi understood himself

And for that, Shisui was Itachi’s home

Itachi looked up to him for all things; skills, technique, morals, and aspirations.

Whenever Shisui said anything, Itachi took it as the law.

There was no one he held as much respect for. Shisui made the impossible seem possible to Itachi. For him, he could do no wrong.

When he lost Shisui, he lost his North Star. This is evident in his awakening of the Mangekyō—there was no greater pain at that point in his life.

He made Shisui’s will his guiding force.

Shisui showed him that a true shinobi sacrifices, and he himself adopted that attitude.

“You must always remain calm. A worried expression just doesn’t suit you” — some of Shisui’s last words to Itachi, and from then on, Itachi hardly ever let his calm facade drop from his face. That was the law.

Itachi was just adorable to Shisui.

Everything he did, his thoughts, his determination, his will to get better—he admired it so much.

He wanted to keep Itachi away from the clan and village feud, which is why he tried using his powers without Itachi’s help.

He died with a smile on his face because he trusted Itachi implicitly, and knew he’d make the right choice.

He probably knew where things were headed, and was at peace with it.

Because he knew Itachi’s strength and will better than his own.

But it did break his heart to put Itachi through witnessing his death.

Obito - Kakashi & Rin

Loving Rin made Obito insane

Loving Kakashi made Obito hang onto his last shreds of sanity

Rin always believed in Obito when he himself didn’t. She was his pillar. For that he formed an unhealthy codependency on her.

So when he lost her, he lost his mind. He believed he couldn’t be anything worthwhile without her, and spiraled into something unrecognizable in her absence.

She became limerence to him, an unattainable dream.

Kakashi was the only one who remained constant in his life.

Kakashi brought out the last shreds of his former self.

Once Minato told Obito about Kakashi’s father, he understood immediately the cause of his actions.

He reached deep into Kakashi’s heart and told him what he needed to hear, that his father was truly a hero. Someone everyone else thought of as a disgrace, a sentiment Obito fearlessly challenged.

Because Obito never cared for his reputation. Sakumo cared too much. This difference is what drew Kakashi to Obito subconsciously.

While recuperating in Madara’s hideout, he thought equally of returning to Rin and Kakashi. Because, before they parted, he and Kakashi finally became friends.

Kakashi was in his dreams as well as Rin. They were both equally important to him.

Despite watching Rin die by Kakashi’s hand, when he went on his rampage, Obito didn’t lay a finger on Kakashi.

And he watched Kakashi live on by his grave all the time. He followed him around. He just couldn’t let go of him.

Because he wanted to be there for Kakashi through his suffering in some form.

And when they met again, Obito never ever days he hates Kakashi. He tries to entice him to support project Tsuki no Me, telling him that it’s okay, he doesn’t need to suffer anymore.

This shows Obito’s real motive for Infinite Tsukuyomi. Not to see Rin again, because the caster can’t be inside the jutsu.

But to give Kakashi an end to his suffering. To end all suffering, at his own expense.

He became Kakashi’s hero. Kakashi never gave up on him, and Obito never gave up on Kakashi either.

For him, love meant suffering greatly for the one he loves, going to great lengths to make them happy, even when the ends don’t justify the means.

He would happily become the villain in order to give his love peace.

Madara - Hashirama

Though he lost three brothers to war, when Madara met Hashirama he immediately trusted him, disregarding that he was a stranger.

They shared the same dream, just as Itachi and Shisui did. This brought them together, and this showed Madara that there was hope.

Turning his back on Hashirama awoke his Sharingan. He didn’t get them when any of his siblings died, but when he had to sever his friendship with the Senju. It put him through that much strife.

He never truly wanted to kill Hashirama. If he wanted to, he would have. Much like Sasuke couldn’t kill Naruto.

The peaceful time in the village together were his happiest days.

He named the Leaf village, and Hashirama kept the name despite its simplicity.

They would ignore responsibility to talk and be with each other. This annoyed Tobirama.

Madara’s heart broke when after being told he’d become Hokage, he overheard Hashirama accept a vote instead. He felt Hashirama hadn’t fought for his honor enough. He felt betrayed.

He showed Hashirama the stone tablet though no outsiders had ever seen it, and left because he wanted Hashirama to hurt as much as he did.

His love was so strong it turned into a deep hatred.

But not so deep that he could kill Hashirama.

Even when Hashirama killed him.

The only time he ever felt alive was when Hashirama was unleashing all of his fury onto him.

Because Madara equated love to hate, and feeling Hashirama’s animosity was the same as feeling his love.

Kagami - Tobirama

Admiration turned into unconditional love

Kagami being treated special by Tobirama probably went to his head a little

“I’m his favorite Uchiha and he makes exceptions for me what does that mean”

The second he got an inkling that Tobirama may feel some type of way for him he got tipped off the edge and fell hard

He awakened his Mangekyō when Tobirama sacrificed himself to the Kinkaku unit

Changed the way Tobirama thought about the Uchiha by proving not all fall victim to the Curse of Hatred (oh boy would I love to see how Tobirama acknowledges this play out)

I hc it as he probably was put in a situation between clan and village and chose the village in front of Tobirama (not as serious as Shisui & Itachi’s case but political of some sort maybe)

Tobirama then went “hmm this one is different”

Maybe Kagami saved Tobirama somehow?? And that’s what warranted his trust? Ugh I wanna know

Tobirama hand-picked Kagami and trusted him with his life, so it made Kagami feel important

Overwhelming protectiveness and responsibility constituted Kagami’s love for Tobirama

And since he had nothing left to protect after Tobirama (in his eyes), his spirit was broken, and a year later he succumbed to the war

Tobirama was his heart’s fire.

[coralinnii]

I have one essay report and a big work project left and I'll be stress-free...for like a week before classes start again. Instead of finishing those last responsibilities, I've been putting Cell Block Tango on repeat because Youtube algorithm decided I needed scary hot women murderers...and it's not wrong.

The product of that procrastination is now an AU of my Villain/ess AU, where the villain/ess!readers still ended up being villains. An AU-ception

I will start on my writing list eventually. This was just a stress relief

One villain/ess!reader doesn't get a verse cuz someone's gotta be Roxie. Also, I don't know Hungarian so I used my native language (which may also suck since I haven't practiced in years).

Seeing that this is a parody of Cell Block Tango, all the warnings for this cover are the same for the original song (violence, infidelity, etc) so read at your own risk.

~ Enjoy ~

Yawn

Seven

Squish

Uh-uh

Monstro

Schoenheit

And now, the six merry villains of the Twisted Wonderland Dungeons

In their rendition of the Story Book Tango

Monstro

Schoenheit

Yawn

Seven

Squish

Uh-uh

Monstro

Schoenheit

Yawn, seven, squish, uh-uh, Monstro, Schoenheit

Yawn, seven, squish, uh-uh, Monstro, Schoenheit

Yawn, seven, squish, uh-uh, Monstro, Schoenheit

He had it comin'

He had it comin'

He only had himself to blame

If you'd have been there

If you'd have seen it

I betcha you would have done the same

Yawn, seven, squish, uh-uh, Monstro, Schoenheit

Yawn, seven, squish, uh-uh, Monstro, Schoenheit

You know how people have these little habits that get you down?

Like, Leona

Leona, he liked to sigh when he's sleepy

No, not sigh, yawn

So I walk into our room this one day

And I'm really irritated

And I'm looking for a little bit o' sympathy

And there's Leona, lyin' on the bed, on his lazy ass and sighing

No, not sighing

Yawning

So, I said to him, I said "You yawn near me one more time"

And he did

So I took the rifle from our armory

And I fired two warning shots

Into his head

He had it comin'

He had it comin'

He only had himself to blame

If you'd have been there

If you'd have heard it

I betcha you would have done the same

I met Malleus from Briar Valley about two years ago

And he told me he was single

And we hit it off right away

So, we started meeting together

He'd go to his castle, he'd come back to me

I'd give him a rose, we'd have dinner

And then I found out

"Single" he told me

Single, my ass

Not only was he meant for some girl

Oh no, he was one of 7 suitors

One of those harems, you know?

So that night when he came home from his castle

I gave him a rose, as usual

You know, some guys just can't hold their poison thorns

He had it comin' (yawn, seven, squish, uh-uh, Monstro, Schoenheit)

He had it comin'

He took a flower (yawn, seven, squish, uh-uh, Monstro, Schoenheit)

In its prime

And then he used it (yawn)

And he abused it (seven)

It was a murder (squish)

But not a crime

(Uh-uh, Monstro, Schoenheit)

So I'm standing in the kitchen

Tasting some cherry tarts for a party (uh-uh)

Minding my own business (Monstro)

In storms my husband Riddle in a furious rage (Schoenheit)

"You been breaking the rules!," he says (yawn)

He was crazy (seven)

And he kept on screamin' (uh-uh)

"You been breaking the rules!"

And then he ran into his scepter 

He ran into his scepter 42 times

If you'd have been there

If you'd have seen it

I betcha you would have done the same!

Kenapa aku di sini?

Mereka kata pencintaku menolong aku dan membunuh Tunku Kalim bersama-sama

Bukan! Aku tak bersalah

Kenapa negara Scalding Sands lihat aku seorang pembunuh? 

Aku menjelaskan kepada polis tapi mereka tak faham

Yeah, but did you do it?

Uh-uh, not guilty!

My partner, Azul and I had these businesses

And the tweels, Jade and Floyd traveled round with us (he only had himself to blame)

Now, for the last day in our business trip (if you'd have been there)

We opened twenty businesses in a row

Food, suits, rings, tea, dresses, lounges, night brothels (if you'd have been there)

Show acts, theaters

One right after the other (if you'd have seen it)

So this one night before we leave, we're down at the Monstro Lounge (I betcha)

The four of us, boozin' (you would have done the same)

Havin' a few laughs

And we ran out of ice

So I go out to get some (he had it comin')

I come back, checked the stores

And there's Azul and the tweels (he had it comin')

In business seventeen (he took a flower)

The brothel

Well, I was in such a state of shock

I completely blacked out, I can't remember a thing

It wasn't until later

When I was washing the blood off my hands

I even knew they were dead

They had it comin' (they had it comin')

They had it comin' (they had it comin')

They had it comin' all along (they had it comin' all along)

I didn't do it (she didn't do it)

But if I'd done it (but if she'd done it)

How could you tell me that I was wrong?

They had it comin' (they had it comin')

They had it comin' (they had it comin')

They had it comin' all along (they took a flower in its prime)

I didn't do it (and then they used it)

But if I'd done it

How could you tell me that I was wrong?

I admired Vil Schoenheit

More than I can possibly say (he had it comin')

He was a real beautiful guy

A masterpiece, a queen

But he was always trying to find his fairest self (he only had himself to blame)

He'd go out every night looking for that self

And on the way

He found Rook (if you'd have been there)

Epel

Neige and the dwarfs (if you'd have seen it)

I guess you could say we broke up

Because of different perspectives (I betcha you would have done the same)

He sees himself as the fairest of them all

And I saw him as was

The dirty bum, bum, bum, bum, bum

The dirty bum, bum, bum, bum, bum

They had it comin' (they had it comin')

They had it comin' (they had it comin')

They had it comin' all along (they had it comin' all along)

'Cause if they used us ('cause if they used us)

And they abused us (and they abused us)

How could you tell us that we were wrong?

He had it comin' (he had it comin')

He had it comin' (he had it comin')

He only had himself to blame (he only had himself to blame)

If you'd have been there (if you'd have been there)

If you'd have seen it (if you'd have seen it)

I betcha you would have done the same

You yawn near me one more time! Single my ass

42 times! Negara Scalding Sands lihatku

Business seventeen, the brothel

Different perspectives

Yawn

Seven

Squish

Uh-uh

Monstro

Schoenheit

[fangaminghell]

pkmn interactions are rlly fun. Sometimes u get so far w a team u gotta create their own team dynamic and their own story. Even ships. Beau and Xenon get together mid-story and Bonnie and Clyde also have smth non-platonic going on there. Dynamite and Clementine (Cinccino) are also together. It’s oc ception -JJ

SO REAL!!!!

I so that a LOT with my oc teams. It's harder to do that in fangame teams bc I generally have A Lot of pokemon,and thus don't usually have the energy to give personality and thought into each and every one of them. However I think of all my ocs, I think the Rejuv trio has pokemon with the most defined personalities.

Imani: There's sooooo much i wanna talk about given her main team but hnnnnnng it'll be so long and I'll go insane. So I'm forcing myself to focus on June and Sunflower ( I mean there's gonna be mentions of others but it's mostly through said pokemon's perspective)

June ( Primarina, Male) is the leader of Imani's whole box, with Mira ( Nidoqueen) being his second in command. He's very much like Imani, someone who's bubbly, cheerful and always an optimist! Though upon evolving he became much more of a calming presence, and was really shining as a leader ( not that he wasn't before lol, just that fully evolving made him feel more sure of his ability to lead). Him and Mira have this " older brother, big sister" vibe towards the rest of the group, ESPECIALLY with Sunflower and Autumn ( Leafeon, male). His leadership has gotten the ire of Opal ( Milotic, male), and the two would often go back and forth a lot....though if you were to ask Mira, she would say something shifted in their arguments. They're softer, and tend to enjoy each other's company more. Either they don't realize what's shifting or don't want to realize it. Either way their relationship is getting a bit better day by day so! That's a plus, right?

Sunflower( Chandelure, female) is the youngest of the team! Well. If you want to be technical, she is older than all of them, but mentally and physically she's the youngest and acts like it. Ever since she was caught she had wanted nothing more than to explore everything and anything. Her curiosity tends to get her in trouble. A lot of trouble. And it doesn't help that she doesn't exactly have a filter so she's pretty blunt. But her team loves her so it's fine. As a mentioned before, June and Mira are like older siblings to her ( June miiiiiight tetter in fatherly figure), and she adoooores them. Whenever they're genuinely upset over something she did she gets so upset at herself. She just wanna help! Next to them, though, is Autumn, who is both her partner in crime, and also her biggest victim. I think Autumn is older than her, but only by a bit. Both of them are the youngest of their teams and thus, both tend to stick to each other. If you consider Sunflower pestering Autumn when he's brooding ( " I'm NOT brooding !" ) sticking together. They do care about each other though. Autumn is usually the one that tags along with Sunflower whenever she wanders off - mostly to make sure she doesn't get into any serious trouble. But also bc they do get into shenanigans together and it's fun! Despite his " I'm too cool for this" attitude ( me realizing he's basically a young teen compared to everyone else hgvhvgvgvcg), he's very protective of those he loves, including his little sister Sunflower... something that Sunflower never fails to point out! He always gets embarrassed about it when it's mentioned hvcfsghufhgdvd.

Flynn: Hopefully this will be shorter this time! Like Imani, I'm choosing two, but really these two are kinda Flynn's aces/ signature pokemon.

Sakura ( Meganium, male) was Flynn's first pokemon. Atm, how they met is kinda being rewritten since Flynn as a whole is getting a slight rework. Before, it was a starter pokemon given to her by the Blakeory's ( Flynn's parents had something going on with them - and no they weren't rich, this was very much a dept thing). But recently, upon realizing Flynn wouldn't have been born and raised in GDC ( she would be younger if she did), I think she met her Chikorita as an abandoned pokemon in Oblitus town ( she's from Oblitus Town btw). He would have been her first patient....and they've been attached ever since! Flynn is a very very shy person and Sakura....is not. He's much bolder than she is and isn't afraid to get defensive on her behalf. Even when he evolved, he never was afraid to confront things, and even pushing Flynn to get out of her comfort zone now and again. As for the relationship with his team it's. Nooooot as indepth as Imani's, sadly. I can say that he gets along with June very well, and probably picked fights with Opal on his behalf ( yes, it would be a losing battle both in terms of type weaknesses and Sakura being a more support/ defensive pokemon, but that's not gonna stop him lol). I think Sakura and June have a similar sibling esc relationship that Imani and Flynn has ( J: Oh I don't want to be mean... S: Don't worry, I do. J: Sakura!)Sakura kinda gives me the impression that you either vibe with him or you don't. He doesn't hold it against you if you don't as long as you're civil about it. He's very loyal, and isn't above confrontation as you've seen before. But he isn't foolhardy either.

Horis ( Hydregion, male) is kinda the start of Flynn collecting more pokemon. He's not the second she had, that's her Audino, but he's definitely the third. No he's not related to Dylan. Maybe. We'll see. The two met in the hospital, Horis being a Dieno that wouldn't let anyone near it despite its need for treatment. Flynn, by some miracle, was able to worm her way into his heart and he's been following her around ever since. Once a guarded dragon is now a big ol puppy. Loves Flynn, loves it when she pets him, loves it when she baby talks him, loves making her happy!!! I think that protectiveness has made it hard for him to get along with other pokemon though, especially as Flynn started expanding her team. He may be. A smidge jealous. Just a smidge. But I think he's overall a pleasure to be around. Very excitable, and while it will take a while for him to get used to anyone, he likes playing with others. Sometimes he forgets he's bigger than he used to be though lol. Sakura and him definitely had a bit of a rocky start. Sakura was concerned for Flynn's safety after what he's heard and Horis was privy to anyone who wasn't Flynn. Much to Flynn's pleasure, they gradually got along better as time went on ( specifically bc the girl got wrapped up in Plot and the both of them could agree that Flynn's wellbeing was more important than any distrust they had).

Arrow: .....maybe this will be shorter? Only one bc I'm losing steam aaaaaaaaah-

Firecracker ( Charizard, male) - Arguably the oldest of everyone I mentioned here, same as Arrow. Despite this and the scars that he has, he's genuinely a softy. Likes looking out for others, a great sparring partner and an amazing flying buddy. He's a sweetheart! He's known his team for a loooong time, with only a few recent additions I think. Him, Jester ( Gliscor, female) and Sunny ( Helioptile, male) go waaaaaay back to Arrow's youth, and are three peas in a pod. Not as bashful as Jester but not as outgoing as Sunny. A good balance and thus, is easy to talk too! I think the other younger pokemon look up to him ( something he gets bashful about hgbfgbnjfdfhj).

And that's it! God this was long. It reminded me I should think about my ocs pokemon to pokemon dynamic more. Imani's team is really fruitful in that regard but I feel like the others are lacking so. Yeah! Something to keep in mind.

[idealisticrealism]

TCL 3x10 thoughts

The main things: 

The ep starts immediately after last ep, then goes to the next morning and takes place over just one day. Nadia also says it’s been ‘an eventful few weeks’ since she made the deal to buy the house (which was in 3x01, so the entire season has taken place over around 3 weeks)

One of my favourite things about this series, and about Thony specifically, is that she’s not only an unintentional angel of death for the people around her, but also for criminal empires?? Literally this show is full of seasoned criminals who thrived for years in the darkest parts of the Vegas underworld, and then they encounter Thony, and boom! Down they go. Hayak. Cortes. Kamdar. (Even Arman, in a slightly different way). And now it looks like Sin Cara is next… honestly the Feds should be falling at her feet in gratitude haha 

Lol at Thony and Fi’s little bit of theatre for Jeremy as they set up their own little ‘sting’ for him. Thony actually nearly breaking and laughing at Fi’s ranting for a second was so cute, because while this is a serious situation, it is a bit bizarre to think that this is what their life has become. And this scene was so worth it just to get to watch two skilled actors having to pretend to be bad at acting… moments like this are always fun, like a kind of act-ception haha. Ngl it’s a good thing that Thony confronts Jeremy by the end of the episode though, bc I doubt it would have taken much longer for him to notice something was up, with all the dramatic conversations happening right in front of his bugs while and other conversations were hushed under the cover of super loud TV/music. Not to mention the suspiciously intentional-looking plumbing emergencies lol (seriously Thony?? A hammer??? lol).  To be fair though, Fi’s acting did improve a lot by the end, with their clever little ploy to make Jeremy think Thony was on her way to kill Nadia. That entire sequence was done well– even though anyone who has been watching the show for more than like a week would know that Thony would never kill Nadia (at least while literally any other option existed), it was still enjoyable to experience the ‘suspense’ that the creative team set up regarding Nadia’s fate. I just hope that she can make it through the finale… 

Honestly I love the deliberate continued theme in this show of Thony being caught between worlds, and the constant push and pull of ‘good vs evil’ and ‘power vs vulnerability’. It’s why, despite all her efforts, she can never quite escape the criminal world, and she can never quite escape the hold of the FBI either. And they’re often tied up together, too– to protect herself or someone she cares about from one, she reaches out to the other. In late s1, Arman helped protect her from the FBI by agreeing to be an informant, and in turn she was part of the plan to protect him from both the FBI and Hayak. In S2, she agrees to inform for the FBI again in order to protect Arman and keep him out of prison. And now, she’s making that same deal– and risking her own safety– but for Nadia this time. To me, though, I think that she’s reached a kind of ‘fool me once’ situation with the FBI, and though she says she’s going to help then take down Sin Cara, I think she is actually going to be following her own agenda, and using the ties she has to both the cartel and the FBI to manipulate them into taking each other out, and leaving her being the only one left standing. And god I hope that’s where things are headed bc I would be so here for it.

I really wish we’d been able to see a lot more of Thony and Nadia’s relationship this season, because it’s so compelling and complex and I’ve loved every moment they’ve shared so far. Nadia’s “oh no” at seeing Thony walking into the club was hilarious; they haven’t seen each other in the week or so since the wake, but Thony showing up at the club looking deathly serious is never a good sign. I loved that they were immediately like ‘ok bye Jorge the grownups need to talk’ tho lol– he may have formed connections with both of them, but he hasn’t gotten to this level of club membership yet. Thony’s first question to Nadia (“Did you cut a deal with the feds?”) felt like an interesting tie-in to the events of earlier eps, given that it was exactly what Nadia asked her at the wake– tbh these two must feel like they’re on a merry-go-round or something, and it’s all because they just haven’t been completely open with one another!!! But finally, here, they’re starting to be, even if it’s too goddamn late now (*adele voice* we could have had it aaaaaalll). But anyway ughhhh “All I wanted was to find Arman, like you. I wanted to protect him.” Honestly Nadia acknowledging/accepting Thony’s genuine love of Arman has been one of the parts of this season that I have appreciated the most. These two women are bonded by that love, which is why Thony telling Nadia she should have come to her is such a punch in the gut, because you can see her pain and regret, her utter dismay at the fact that her preoccupation with her own family (getting Fi and Chris back, preventing Luca from being taken away) led her to overlook what was going on with Nadia– aka with Arman’s family– and now she has let down the only other person Arman truly loved. And I think she went to La Habana fully intending to warn her, but then it became clear that Nadia wouldn’t listen to her even if she did try to pose the fake-death plan (“You always think you know everything. But you don’t”), and would’ve almost certainly tried to run instead, endangering both of them. So instead Thony tries once more to talk Ramona out of it (unsuccessfully, of course), and ugh when she says she wants to take care of Nadia herself “For Arman” and she squeezes her eyes shut as she says his name… the grief of losing him is still so goddamn fresh and now she’s terrified she’s going to fail him by not being able to save Nadia in time. But that’s the thing about Thony– she never gives up on the people she loves. And because of Arman, that group includes Nadia. 

Nadia’s reaction to Thony striding straight into her house (literally how does Thony even know where that is?) is so funny bc she doesn’t even get angry, it’s just like mild exasperation as she tries to convince Thony to leave. That is, until her brain catches up and suddenly she just stops and says “What’s happening?” because she knows Thony, knows that she wouldn’t actually barge in like this without a damn serious reason. When Thony tells her the danger she’s in, she believes her immediately (ugh her panic was hard to watch) and immediately begs for Thony to help– because while they may have a complex relationship, she knows that Thony is the only person she has left who actually cares what happens to her, and she also knows that Thony is clever and capable and holds a surprising amount of power, and often does manage to fix things even when a situation seems impossible. Which is exactly what Thony does next– and while I wish that Thony had explained to Nadia about what she was going to do, so Nadia didn’t have to have those brief moments of terror and betrayal before she lost consciousness, I get that it had to be written this way or it would have spoiled the twist. But oh man, even though I knew  Thony wouldn’t kill her and that she was going to be fine, the relief at seeing her wake up on that couch was still so damn real, phew. Eva did an amazing job with Nadia’s emotions on waking up, from utter confusion to a mix of relief, gratitude and anger. The scene between her and Thony in Jeremy’s lair felt like it was cut off midway through, which I guess means that they’re going to pick up exactly where they left off in the finale next week, like this was actually a 3-part finale rather than a 2 parter, and I can’t wait to see more of the Nadia/Thony dynamic next week.

And given my love for both Nadia and Thony, gotta say I do love how much Ramona herself has shown genuine admiration for both women, for their competence, intelligence, determination, fortitude, their coolness under pressure, and their desire for power. (Like in her conversation with Ramona, Thony would always deny that desire, but tbh people who want a simple family life do not become cardiac surgeons. Much like being a cartel leader, it’s a profession that provides money, prestige, authority, and a near-godlike ability over life and death– ergo, power). Anyway, Ramona’s entire art collection, her life, is centred around women with those traits, and tbh in another life I think these three incredible women could have become an unbeatable team that ruled Vegas together. Ramona saw that possibility and tried to make it happen, only for both of them to reject her, and now… well, I think we are heading for a ‘this town ain’t big enough for the both of us’ situation, and lbr it’s going to be Thony that’s the one left standing

Honestly I love that I have written a bunch of words already for this ep, and it’s all been about women– that’s one of the true gifts of this show, how much it focuses on women and their stories and their relationships. In the earlier seasons it was mostly just focused around Thony and Fi’s characters, but after the loss of Adan, and having a female villain for a change (two if you count Russo), the focus on women has definitely expanded and been even more apparent this season. I’m sad that it’s looking unlikely that Ramona or my baby Nadia will return next season, because they deserved to have more of their story told. Still, I’m clinging to the hope that Nadia may somehow return, and I’ll get more of the amazing Thony & Nadia dynamic that we all deserve

Anyway I guess I could talk about a boy now– though given that he is literally surrounded by women in his life, Jorge is an honorary girl to me lol. It was cute to see him so excited about all the hotel stuff, from his big spiel to Nadia to all the proposal materials in his office– looks like he’s finally found his own path, not just the one Ramona chose for him. (Though holy shit it’s so messed up that the corporate world is literally the best place to hide illegal activity, wow). I found it hilarious that when Jorge was trying to sell Nadia on the hotel idea and saying all this stuff about how she’ll be the face of it etc, the picture very clearly shows he’s planning to call it ‘JS hotel’ lol. So she’s the face but it’s named after you?? Hmmm. Also geez he laid it on a little thick with the flattery there, but I guess it worked, because you could see how smitten she was with the hotel idea. And I can understand how some people might interpret that as her being smitten with him, but I genuinely don’t think so. First of all, she lost the man she loved literally like a week and a half ago; there’s no way that she has even the slightest inclination to look at anyone romantically right now. Plus, the show has already established that she’s incredibly good at reading people. She knows he’s trying to manipulate her in order to access her money, but in her life, that’s just a demonstration of good business skills. She sees what working with him can give her, and she wants it. In S1 she says to Arman “What do we own? Nothing”-- I think it’s hugely important to her character to actually be in possession of something big, to be the owner, not just the manager, to remove herself as far from the powerless girl from the Argentinian slums as she can. Anyway I love that one of his arguments is that she’ll be ‘set for life’ if they do this… because apparently already having 50 million dollars isn’t being set for life??? Man, what a world they live in haha. Anyway with it seeming unlikely that Nadia will be around next season, I wonder if the hotel will still somehow happen in S4? Maybe somehow Thony gets involved with it, though I don’t really see her wanting any part in something like that… tbh my main concern is that we might not get to see the La Habana set next season :(

Seeing Jeremy’s reaction to being burned was so satisfying. Not so clever now, are you, buddy?? Got outsmarted by a civilian just like Garrett did, and now you’ll be working with her, just like Garrett… but unlike Garrrett, she has zero regard or sense of obligation toward you, and so you may think she’s gonna work with you and follow your orders, but think again. She’s just going to bide her time until she has you right where she wants you, and then she will completely fuck you over, because you betrayed her family and took the man she loves, and that’s what you deserve. Be grateful if you walk out of all of this alive. 

Other stuff:

Omg Fi going for the baseball bat to take out the smoke alarm. Someone has issues with impulsivity haha. Tbh her and Thony’s entire relationship is just the two of them taking turns holding each other back from doing something stupid and I love it

Ugh seeing Nadia standing all alone in that huge empty house, talking about how it’s time to put the past behind her and have a fresh start… and then later saying to Jorge that she just wants to be free… and then Thony telling her at the end that she’s free and she tells Thony that she took her whole life form her… ugh stop giving me stressful foreshadowing here writers. If Nadia has to go, write her out by having her run away into the sunset with her millions. Don’t make me watch her die twice!!!!!!!!!

I didn't initially remember seeing Ramona and Russo cross paths at La habana, but @gsue74 reminded me that they glimpse each other across the club the first time Ramona goes there, and Ramona noticed the way Nadia reacted to her arrival. Well done of the writers to plant that in 3x04 to come back up now. Anyway I do enjoy Russo’s sassiness though. It was never super obvious before bc she was always having to play the serious one keeping Garrett in line, but I think I see why they got along lol

Oh boy the agent that scared Violeta really fucked up lol, like maybe don’t piss off a super powerful cartel leader??? Dude’s gonna be feeding the fishes in the Hoover Dam in no time lol

 I love that the proposed hotel site is completely in the middle of nowhere, like too bad if the guests want to visit any other part of Vegas haha. Though I guess that might be entire point, to make it like a one-stop shop so guests will spend all their time and money in the one place lol

JD is such a cutie. Loved him taking advantage of a free weekday to bring thoughtful gifts for his bae. Lol at Fi shutting him up with a kiss– she really needs to go somewhere private and tell him everything though, bc he needs to know so he doesn’t inadvertently screw things up for them again. 

I really felt for Fi when she found the immigrant worker house empty– this show is always full of painful near-misses in terms of timing, but at least in this case there’s still the hope that Thony will be able to use her sway over Jorge to find Camila and Gisele

Anyway ugh the promo for the finale looks so good… Nadia at Thony’s house, wearing borrowed clothes while Thony makes a plan to get her her money back… Jorge apparently being there too and helping them… Thony in a fancy dress, shooting a gun… it might be Ramona’s assassin guy that she shoots (one of the clips looks like he could be fighting with Jeremy) but man it would be cool if it was actually Ramona or Jeremy that she shoots, and honestly I’m so down for either of those options. Maybe she even does it to protect one of them from the other– like maybe she shoots Ramona to save Jeremy, which would mean she’d probably get pardoned by the FBI for everything. Or she shoots Jeremy to save Ramona, making Ramona extremely grateful, and as a result Ramona makes sure the shooting never ties back to her, and brings her into Sin Cara in a position of power…. Either way it’s going to make for an interesting S4!  

[fanficmanic]

I just finished watching 8x08, and I have so many feelings.

So. Many. Mixed. Feelings!

Fair warning - long post ahead.

For one, I re-blogged a post sometime after 8x01 or 02 aired, I can't really remember, about the parallel's between Eddie's first season on the show and this one. With the insane amount of presence that Ryan has had so far in promoting the season so far, I've had this bad feeling at the pit of my stomach that this would be his last season. Now, hear me out, I don't think today's episode was his last (the masses would riot if it is), BUT, they have left the room wide open for it to happen fully by the end of the season.

Two, the level of act-ception this show is doing is hilarious! You have 3 of the most talented actors out there (I'm looking at you Oliver, Ryan, and Kenny) act so badly that if it wasn't so funny I'd die of second-hand embarrassment. Who ever said that this show was serious is sadly mistaken.

Three, Buck's reaction on the couch after finding out Eddie has a realtor interview for houses in El Paso. I've read so many comments and posts, and again, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I want this to be the start of Buck's realization of his feelings for Eddie, but on the other hand, if it is, it feels like almost anti-climatic! This was the fall finale (granted, I don't have much experience with those) but shouldn't it end with more of a cliffhanger? (Promo for March's 2-part return is not included in this rhetorical question)

Now, what do I want to see happen (I know the chances of it actually happening is slim-to-zero but I'm saying it anyway)?

For the Eddie-Chris story, I want Eddie to go to El Paso, scream at his parents and say something along the lines of "you feel so guilty about taking my childhood away that you're overcompensating with my son and giving him the childhood that I should've had". Moreover, I don't think Eddie ever badmouthed his parents in front of Chris because: 1. he's a great dad who would never jeopardize Chris's relationship with his grandparents (proven by the fact that Chris felt safe enough to call them when shit hit the fan), and 2. Eddie rarely (if ever) expresses his feelings to anyone (but Buck), so him showing his true feelings about his parents in front of Chris is virtually impossible. So, when Eddie shows up at El Paso and screams at his parents (I want it to happen in front of Chris but without Eddie knowing that Chris is there), Chris will feel like he's just his grandparent's second chance at being good parents and will want to have nothing to do with them. Also, I want Chris to freak out when he finds out that Eddie is looking to buy a house in El Paso because it was never his plan to stay there forever.

If Tim and Co. use this story line to have Eddie leave the 118 and LA, I want him and Chris to decide on a fresh start by going to Hawaii. Dum dum dum: Enter 9-1-1 Hawaii where they follow the lives of members of the 366 fire house who are having to cope with a new captain that just transferred over from LA.

For Buck, my beautiful beautiful Buck. First of all, I bow to the beautiful portrayal that Oliver Stark does with his face alone. He's so expressive when he wants to and being able to show such a wide range of emotion without saying a single word is otherworldly. (This is not saying that the others aren't great actors, I just have a stupid crush on Oliver Stark and I'm self-indulging here).

Anyway, back to what I was saying. The scene between Buck flipping over the tablet, Eddie explaining things, and Buck going to take a seat on the couch with the camera focusing on his face while Eddie wasn't looking wasn't longer than 2-3 minutes at best (could've been longer - seemed too short for my liking to be honest. These two haven't had enough screen time together this season IMHO). However, within just those few minutes, Buck went from panicking about wanting to call Tommy, to skeptical about why Eddie flipped the tablet, to playful about what Eddie must be hiding (like only a best friend would), to shock at hearing Eddie's explanation, to supportive of his best friend's decision (because he knows that Eddie must be dying on the inside at being so far away from Christopher), to panicking again at the possibility of losing his best friend. Buck spirals so easily on a good day. Today? It's a terrible, horrible, no good day and for Buck to be able to put a lid on his emotions so he can be fully supportive of Eddie says a lot! I also think that THIS is what will throw Buck back into his fuckboy phase, and NOT the breakup with Tommy.

Don't get me wrong, I hated how they ended things between Buck and Tommy (the struggles of being a multi-shipper), but in the grand scheme of things, who would have a more profound effect on Buck? Tommy leaving, or Eddie leaving? How about both of them leaving, making him spiral on his own?

Anyway, like I said in a previous post, this is my first time having to go through a fall/holidays hiatus. I don't celebrate Christmas - so I don't have that option to keep my minds off of things. This leaves my mind to wander on its own, which can be a very scary thing. I know that I already planning so many stories (as if I don't have enough ideas in my 9-1-1 folder), but I also know that I'll probably re-watch the show and dissect it with a fine-tooth comb, which will probably results in more story ideas.

I'm also really looking forward to all of the fanfiction that will come out during the coming 3 months.

Right now? This is exactly how I feel.

👇👇👇👇

[cyberpunkonline]

The Greatest Cyberpunk Heists of All Time

In the edgy world of cyberpunk, where the neon-lit streets are as sharp as the wit of its anti-heroes, heists are the ultimate rebellion. These audacious acts of theft aren't just about getting rich; they're about flipping off the corporate bigwigs, outsmarting the system, and dancing on the edge of chaos in a world where power, technology, and grit collide.

Introduction

Picture this: a futuristic cityscape bathed in neon, where hackers, rebels, and renegades navigate through digital labyrinths and dystopian nightmares. Heists, my friend, are the lifeblood of cyberpunk. They embody the spirit of those brave enough to say "screw the rules," infiltrate high-security systems, and snatch the ungrabbable, all while wielding some slick, cutting-edge tech.

"Neuromancer" Heist

In William Gibson's "Neuromancer," Case, a washed-up hacker, gets hired for the ultimate heist—a plunge into cyberspace itself. This caper involves infiltrating the Tessier-Ashpool conglomerate's super-secure AI, Wintermute. It's hacking on steroids, with Case plugged into cyberspace via a neural implant. The chase between the hackers and corporate goons showcases the thrill of cyberpunk's obsession with corporate power and high-tech wizardry.

"Inception" Heist

Christopher Nolan's "Inception" takes heists and cranks them up to eleven by diving into the subconscious. Dom Cobb's team uses mind-bending gadgets to infiltrate dreams, stealing the juiciest secrets. Dream within a dream? More like heist-ception! The layers of dreams become a playground for mind-blowing technology, where reality is as fluid as a hacker's code.

"Blade Runner" Data Heist

Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" throws a data heist into the mix of neo-noir, cyberpunk goodness. Roy Batty and his rogue replicants aim to steal data to extend their short lifespans. It's a desperate gambit, touching on themes of AI, identity, and morality. The heist's deeper message is that it's not just about swiping stuff; it's about challenging the very essence of existence in a cyberpunk world.

"Snow Crash" Mafia Heist

Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" mixes hacker culture with mafia drama. Hiro Protagonist and YT embark on a rollercoaster of heists, espionage, and a nasty drug called Snow Crash. With the Metaverse, a virtual playground, and Snow Crash, a linguistic virus, this tale blurs the line between reality and the digital realm, driving home cyberpunk's obsession with the interconnectedness of both.

"Heat" Bank Heist

Michael Mann's "Heat," though not your typical cyberpunk flick, explores heists with gritty realism. Neil McCauley's crew executes heists with military precision, showcasing high-tech gadgets, surveillance gear, and some serious firepower. It's a nod to cyberpunk's love-hate relationship with technology—the same tools used for control can set you free.

Conclusion

In the world of cyberpunk, heists are more than just heart-pounding thrillers; they're the ultimate middle finger to the system. These capers remind us that even in the darkest dystopias, there's a glimmer of hope. It's the belief that with a touch of genius, a dose of tech, and a dash of audacity, we can defy the status quo and rewrite the rules in a world ruled by shadows and neon. Cyberpunk heists are a celebration of the renegades who dare to flip the bird at the establishment and rewrite the code of an unjust reality.

- Raz

[pesterloglog]

Nepeta Leijon, Equius Zahhak

Act 5, page 2162

arsenicCatnip [AC] began trolling centaursTesticle [CT]

AC: :33 < *ac twitches her friendly whiskers at ct*

CT: D --> Hi

AC: :33 < *ct purrplexes over where he put that important wrench that he n33ded for building a fancy robot or something*

AC: :33 < *he says, now where did that silly old wrench go??*

CT: D --> 100k

CT: D --> What are you e%pecting to accomplish with this

AC: :33 < *but oh look! ct p33ks around the corner to find that a very playful kitty has stolen the robot wrench and is now kicking it vigorously with her hind legs!*

CT: D --> This is f001ishness upon one hundred thousand prior, equally unsolicited f001ishnesses

CT: D --> You'll stop now

AC: XOO < rawwrrrrr

AC: :33 < youre so lame!

CT: D --> I'm not

CT: D --> I'm fine

AC: :33 < no! lame

CT: D --> No I'm not

AC: :33 < lame

CT: D --> No

AC: :33 < youve never played a fun purrtend game with me ever even once!

AC: :33 < even karkat does it sometimes, even if he does mean it in a grumpy and insincere way

AC: :33 < but at least its still fun!

CT: D --> Yuck

CT: D --> Don't pol100t my incoming data stream with his name, or any sort of e%cremental language you pick up from his ilk

AC: :33 < i s33 right through your stupid act, who are you trying to kid!

AC: :33 < look how you go out of your way to use words that have x's in them so that you can use your silly purrcent signs

AC: :33 < or use these absurd words that you can shoehorn a '100' into, even if its not strictly replacing 'loo'!!!

AC: :33 < you are so transpurrent

AC: :33 < i can tell you like to play games, d33p down you are a guy who likes to play games!

AC: :33 < i can smell a guy who likes to play games from so fur away with this nose, you have no idea X33

CT: D --> If you're 100king for a 100phole through which you may e%tract concessions from me, you'll have to 100k elsewhere

AC: :33 < s33! what the hell???

CT: D --> Nepeta, what did I say about that awful language

CT: D --> I won't stand for it, and you'll stop

AC: :33 < oops

AC: :33 < sorry :((

CT: D --> Your fraternization with the base classes have 100sened your morals, can't you see this

AC: :33 < no! i dont care, they are fun

AC: :33 < and i dont know anything about classes or bases or blood color, it doesn't matter!

AC: :33 < what does gr33n blood even mean! it doesnt mean anything to me and it shouldnt mean anything to anyone else!

CT: D --> Well, green b100d is ok, but it's not great

CT: D --> But that's why you're lucky to have me to 100k out for you

CT: D --> Because you don't know better, and you can't fight the role the mother had in store for you

AC: :33 < rawrgh, you are such a hypurrcrite!

AC: :33 < you pretend to be so high and mighty but i know you're not and i know you like games

AC: :33 < look at that silly little bow and arrow you always type!

AC: :33 < its always there, you never furget

AC: :33 < why would you do that if it wasnt a playful fun thing, i am so on to you!

CT: D --> My bow and arrow are highly dignified symbols

AC: :33 < lol! bs!!!

CT: D --> Archery is among the highest and most e%ceptional crafts, held in tremendous regard by the most a100f classes for centuries

AC: :33 < you suck at archery

CT: D --> No

AC: :33 < yes

CT: D --> No

AC: :33 < yes

CT: D --> No I don't

AC: :33 < yessssss yes yes yes

AC: :33 < have you ever even successfully fired an arrow?

AC: :33 < like actually got one to leave the bow??

CT: D --> I think

CT: D --> We need to stop talking about archery

AC: :33 < nuh uh

CT: D --> Yes

AC: :33 < no

CT: D --> We will stop talking about archery

CT: D --> The topic is making me

CT: D --> Sweat

AC: :33 < eww

AC: :33 < youre so gross

CT: D --> No, you're the one who e%ercises distasteful practices

AC: :33 < nooo, thats you

AC: :33 < everyone knows youre a weirdo and a cr33p!

AC: :33 < thats why youre lucky to have me to k33p an eye on you

AC: :33 < no one else can stand you!

CT: D --> You e%terminate beautiful, innocent creatures by the hundreds

CT: D --> I can't condone such wretched behavior

CT: D --> Beasts are meant to be 100ked upon with adoration

AC: :33 < but

AC: :33 < i eat them!

AC: :33 < i dont kill anything i dont eat, that would be mean

CT: D --> I guess that's basically acceptable in principle, but I still find it a bit unsavory

AC: :33 < well i think YOUR habits are unsavory!

CT: D --> No they're not

AC: :33 < yuh HUH

CT: D --> You're wrong about me, Nepeta

CT: D --> I do like to play games

CT: D --> But they must be e%tremely important games with very high stakes

CT: D --> Not the kind played by trans100cent green wigglers who let 100se an e%cremental surge hard in their wiggler-bottom diaperstubs

CT: D --> As it happens I have arranged to play just such a game tonight

CT: D --> Aradia and I have a private engagement to be co-leaders of the b100 team

AC: :33 < oh yeah??

AC: :33 < *well just by purrchance it happens that ac has a private and sneaky engagement to play this game as well!*

AC: :33 < *and by a purrsnickety twist of fate, she will be on the R33D TEAM, with her other great friends who like to play their childish diaperpoop games!!!!*

AC: :33 < :PP

CT: D --> Absolutely not

AC: :33 < absolutely :PP

CT: D --> I forbid this

CT: D --> You will take your position on the b100 team with me

AC: :33 < yeah right! i will take my purrsition into this funny pounce ball and tackle you!

CT: D --> That's nonsense, you're nowhere even remotely within my pro%imity that would be necessary to e%ecute such a maneuver

AC: :33 < *ac rolls her eyes almost as hard as she is rolling around in this really interesting smell*

CT: D --> The thought of you fraternizing with and abetting those stink-b100ded h001igans strikes me as scandal beyond measure

CT: D --> I'm afraid you're too delicate to withstand that sort of corruption

CT: D --> It's forbidden

AC: :33 < nuh uuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhh

CT: D --> Yes

CT: D --> You won't

AC: :33 < no

AC: :33 < i will

CT: D --> You won't

AC: :33 < you cant stop me!

CT: D --> I am telling you not to

CT: D --> And you will be on my team

CT: D --> That's final

AC: XPO < bllllraaaaaawwwwwlllllrrrrghgghghgh

CT: D --> Quiet

AC: :33 < why do you do this, why are you so confurdent about your stupid commands?

AC: :33 < dont you know you cant ACTUALLY tell me what to do??

AC: :33 < its not like you even have any special mind pawers or telepurrthy or anything!

CT: D --> No

CT: D --> I do not

CT: D --> And yet

CT: D --> You will do as I say

AC: :33 < yes well we will just s33 about that!

CT: D --> Yes we will

CT: D --> You will join me on my team shortly

CT: D --> Stand by for further instru%ion

AC: :33 < hisssssssss!

CT: D --> You're angry, and I appreciate that

CT: D --> But it doesn't matter

CT: D --> Di%ussion over

AC: :33 < :((

[onceuponalegendbg]

Forgot to mention this but I have to give it up to Karen and Waruna’s VAs (Lizzie Freeman and Suzie Yeung) for their performance during the … well, the performance.

Genuinely some great acting acting… act-ception.

[starseedfxofficial]

Quarterly Head and Shoulders: The Hidden Formula Every Trader Should Know Trading can feel like a rollercoaster: one moment you’re on top of the world, and the next, you’re staring at a chart wondering why your carefully planned trade looks like the aftermath of a bad karaoke night. If you've ever questioned the true potential of the head and shoulders pattern, especially when paired with quarterly trends, buckle up because this article is your VIP pass to game-changing insights. Let’s dive into the advanced world of quarterly head and shoulders patterns, where ninja tactics, hidden opportunities, and a sprinkle of humor collide to give you an edge. Why Most Traders Get it Wrong with Head and Shoulders Patterns Here’s a fun fact: spotting a head and shoulders pattern doesn’t automatically make you a market wizard. Many traders treat it like that "life hack" video where the hack works only in theory. The truth? Context is king. Imagine wearing sunglasses indoors because it worked so well outside—it’s the same idea. Traders often forget to analyze the quarterly context of this pattern. Quarterly trends, driven by earnings reports, fiscal policies, and seasonality, dictate whether the pattern spells "profit jackpot" or "false breakout heartbreak." The Quarterly Connection: Why Timing is Everything A head and shoulders pattern in isolation is like a cake without frosting—it’s missing something critical. Quarterly trends act as the frosting, providing the broader narrative. Here’s why: - Seasonality Trends Major market players adjust their portfolios quarterly. This means you can anticipate shifts based on how markets behave during earnings seasons or fiscal adjustments. For example, Q1 often reflects optimism post-holiday spending, while Q4 leans on pre-year-end sell-offs. - Volume Tells the Story Volume spikes or fades during these quarterly windows can signal whether the head and shoulders pattern is likely to fulfill its promise or leave you stranded. Look for volume confirmation—it's the pattern's way of whispering, "I'm legit." - Institutional Strategies Institutions often rebalance portfolios quarterly, creating predictable patterns in the market. Understanding these can help you position yourself strategically, riding their coattails like a savvy hitchhiker. Game-Changing Ninja Tactics for Quarterly Head and Shoulders 1. The Fibonacci Overlay Think Fibonacci retracements are old news? Think again. Overlay Fibonacci levels on quarterly charts to spot where the head and shoulders neckline aligns with key retracement zones. This combo can pinpoint high-probability entries that most traders miss. 2. The RSI Divergence Play Pair the head and shoulders pattern with RSI divergence on a quarterly timeframe. If RSI shows a reversal while the pattern is forming, it’s like finding a $20 bill in your jeans pocket—unexpected and delightful. 3. Volume Weighted Analysis Use volume-weighted average price (VWAP) to confirm breakout or breakdown points. If the neckline breaks with strong volume above the VWAP, it’s time to lock and load. 4. Hidden Shoulders within Shoulders Advanced traders look for smaller head and shoulders patterns within the quarterly chart’s larger pattern. It’s a pattern-ception strategy that amplifies precision when entering trades. But Here’s Where the Real Magic Happens... Let’s talk entry timing, the bane of every trader’s existence. Using quarterly head and shoulders patterns effectively boils down to three things: - Patience – Wait for neckline confirmation with a solid close. No peeking! - Risk Management – Place stop-losses slightly above the right shoulder for bearish patterns or below the shoulder for bullish reversals. - Profit Targets – Use the height of the head to calculate a projected target, but always watch for key resistance or support zones. A Real-World Case Study: The EUR/USD Quarterly Pivot In Q2 of 2023, EUR/USD formed a classic head and shoulders pattern on its quarterly chart. However, many traders failed to notice the hidden volume divergence and RSI confirming a reversal. Those who spotted these signs entered at the neckline break and capitalized on a swift 400-pip drop—an easy win for the observant few. Avoiding Common Pitfalls - Myth: "The pattern guarantees success." Truth: Without proper confirmation, it’s as risky as texting while driving. - Myth: "The bigger the pattern, the better." Truth: Sometimes, simplicity wins. Focus on clean, well-formed patterns. Wrapping It Up: Your Quarterly Edge The quarterly head and shoulders pattern isn’t just another tool—it’s a strategy powerhouse when used with advanced techniques. To recap: - Align patterns with quarterly trends and volume. - Leverage tools like Fibonacci, RSI, and VWAP for precision. - Avoid rookie mistakes by waiting for confirmation and setting proper stop-losses. As a final takeaway, remember: trading isn’t about predicting the future—it’s about stacking the odds in your favor. And now you’ve got the tools to do just that. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

[newtonian-tragedy]

Here's a full 30-minute playthrough of The Discovery of Robert Hooke: A Microscopic Adventure. You can try it yourself through the Legends of Learning website but it requires an account. The most expedient way to access the game is by signing up as a teacher and adding it as an assignment. Keep in mind that it runs on WebGL and therefore isn't supported by mobile devices.

Review under cut:

So, even though this just your basic education game commissioned by some guy on Fiverr for a website that uses some questionable assets (the avatars resembled reskinned Animal Crossing characters, and you're assigned a companion that is basically a Pokėmon ripoff) this is obviously my special interest and I just wanted to take a moment to discuss this delightfully bizarre little addition to Hookedom.

The game is described thusly:

Hmm. "Graced", you say? I doubt it was intentional, but I really appreciate that subtle choice of words.

Also yes, our Bobert literally magically shrinks down to a microscopic size after using what is beginning to sound like a cursed object that doesn't even belong in his lab to begin with.

A very small act of defiance against his rival. You love to see it.

The main summary states that it wants us to "join Robert Hooke in his great adventure through the cellular world discovering and classifying different types of cells, facing and overcoming amazing challenges, and becoming the most famous and adventurous scientist of the century" which sounds great until you find yourself asking "which century"?

Because, first of all, this raises an immediate red flag:

After pondering the smallness of a cork in the opening cutscene, or hero begins rummaging through some chests stuff with books so that he can locate a microscope with which to examine the object.

He then finds not his own microscope, but one from 300 years into the future. For some reason, he doesn't question this. Then again, he also has several portraits of 19th century scientists around his room.

Anyway, upon peering into the microscope, Hooke is immediately isekai'd away into a strange world, which is strange to think had existed on his little piece of cork all along.

(Take note of what he is wearing while he is being shrunk down—this will be important later on.)

From here, Hooke encounters a humanoid worker who is oblivious to the fact that an alien just landed at his feet, and instructs him to collect some scientific samples in a psychedelic-looking platformer environment.

The gameplay is pretty brief and basic. There are a couple of obstacles that try to crush you, but there are zero damage penalties because there's no health bar in this stage. Which is good, because I was accidentally crushed twice in a row, and thankfully nothing came of it.

When he is finished, he enters the Experiment Room and is instructed to use yet another microscope to examine and classify several samples based on whether they are unicellular or multicellular organisms.

And no, please don't ask me how any of that works if everything is already supposed to be microscopic to begin with. That's like some kind of micro-ception that I can't even begin to wrap my head around.

Next, we get to the lengthiest segment, in which Hooke is instructed to construct three different types of cells in a factory-like setting, where each part and its function is described.

I dunno, man. Should he even be entrusted with that kind of power? Then again, imagine the look on Newton's face if he knew that his rival was tampering in God's domain. Why, he'd die of jealousy!

The final segment is the Chaos Room, in which you basically just sort four different organisms into their respective areas based on cell functions.

You can actually lose health here, so you know that shit's about to get real when the health bar appears on the screen.

On my first playthrough, I lost a life when I was unexpectedly struck by cannon fire whilst carrying "Grandma" to the "Animal Eukaryote Zone" where she rightfully belongs. Yes, you read that correctly.

Speaking of Grandma, I'm not sure how comfortable I am with the implication that she may contain sperm.

For this path I was scared of falling, so I pussed out and took the easy route. Don't you dare judge me.

Immediately following this harrowing exercise where it feels like everything wants you dead when you're just trying to learn science, we are alerted of a very literal virus alert.

I am ashamed to admit that the combination of the text-to-speech narrator and the cheesy alarm sound effect actually triggered a flashback of those noisy pop-up ads from the 90s that was so convincing that I actually shit a brick for a split second, thinking this game injected some kind of malware into my laptop.

But alas, there was nothing to fear, for our hero Robert is here to save the day—with the power of soap bubbles.

Here you basically just smash the space bar, keeping the wave of respawning goobers at bay until either the time expires (50 seconds or so) our you reach a certain number of kills (the minimum for me was 132). Not sure which one comes first.

As bland as the gameplay is, you have to admit that the image of Hooke manning a turret on the bed of a moving truck is one of the most badass things ever. I might be a little biased because I draw him equipped with a pair of pistols, but now I'm more convinced than ever that this man was made to wield firearms.

Alas, once the viral menace is eliminated, Hooke has little time to participate in the (semi-nude?) festivities that follow, for he soon finds himself quickly un-isekai'd away just as quickly as he had arrived.

Remember when I said to pay attention to his outfit?

Opening cutscene? Pants. Gameplay? Pants. The ending, however?

That's right. Bottomless disco, baby. For whatever reason, the normally modest Hooke decides to abandon all inhibition and engage in the decadent customs of this apparently Sodom and Gomorrah-esque society.

Perhaps it is this very display of degeneracy that makes the mysterious Powers that Be decide that enough is enough, and Hooke is beamed up in a sudden one-man rapture.

He is returned home safely, but no less nakey (and probably traumatized for life).

Come to think, many reports of alien abductions turn out the same way. 🤔

So what are your thoughts?

My personal conspiracy theory: Newton sent the cursed 1965 microscope in the hopes that his rival would meet a gruesome end in another dimension, only to withdraw him once he saw his victim having too much fun indulging in his sexual vices.

Anyway, that concludes my autistic take. If you made it this far, thanks for reading.

[interactivefmpyear1oliverwood]

Neil Blevins is a talented artist with strong visions of our far future. In his book about Megastructures(which these pieces were for) covers the possibilities of large scale constructions, ranging from atlantic homeworlds to AI and ships powered by the sun, and is built around it. I am particularly interested in these designs because I am honestly starving for exploration on this planet we are on, and I would love to be in a megastructure as opposed to a rock, well technically some are on the rock, but those ones could be in a megastructure, megastructures on megastructures, megastructure-ception.

I'll cover each of them by the order I put the images of them on

World-house Roof - to put simply, it's a type of terraforming megastructure that aids in the pressurising of the atmosphere of a planet to a breathable state, allowing for us to inhabit it. The roof acts as a membrane for the planet, being a wide, thin, strong and flexible roof that is transparent, allowing sunlight to enter without the atmosphere escaping. it'd be 1km above the surface of the planet and would be held up artificially with towers, or by the atmosphere. This also works on Asteroids, moons, and other things, except for stars and black holes, because there is no surface, only total annihilation :p.

Undersea Habitat - self explanatory, but is structurally different from many of it's previous iterations. instead of it being a big dome, they'd be a tower of sorts that houses individual modules where people have the basic necessities of life. It would start off as a way for scientists to make short-term visits underwater, but later iterations could house cities. The reason it's built that way is because the modules are isolated from each other, allowing for easier repairs.

Krasnikov Tube - the description Neil has for this one on his Artstation is rather vague, but it's simply a permanent space warp device that allows ships to traverse through them near lightspeed, and then use the space warp tube again to go back home, basically a big laser of warped space time.

Matrioshka Brain - Named after the Matrioshka doll for it's multiple layers, it is a Dyson Sphere(megastructure that encompasses the sun and absorbs energy from it) that powers a supercomputer, the description is pretty long so I'll just post what Neil said: "A Matrioshka Brain would involve nesting several Dyson Spheres inside one another. The innermost Dyson Sphere would collect power directly from the sun, then use that power to run the computer, and in the process give off waste heat. That heat would be absorbed by the second Dyson Sphere, which would use it to power its own supercomputer. The waste heat from the second sphere would be captured by the third, etc. Each sphere would receive less and less power as the waste heat decreased as it worked its way out from the star. In an ideal situation, the final outermost Dyson Sphere would be close to the temperature of interstellar space, which would mean you had used all of the sun’s energy without any waste. The computer could be used for any number of purposes, such as simulating universes or storing trillions of emulated human brains. The computer could be a single giant computer, in which case you’d have to worry about lag transmitting data between the layers, or you could use a series of separate computers, one per shell." - Neil Blevins

Yeah, quite a mouthful, but at the end he says they can be used for simulating artificial universes or storing emulated human brains, and the different layers of the megastructure could house individual supercomputers to prevent lag.(This could be a big plot point in my story, since it's about an AI Empire)

Star Lifter - Removes mass from a star for resources and to preserve the star, or preventing a supernova, or to simply make the star dimmer. (To me it kind of looks like a spaceship powered by a star, and I think that is an interesting idea in of itself)

Space Farm - Very self-explanatory, these megastructures is built for food production, and can be constructed and adjusted in many different ways to support various types of delicious foods. Most of the harvesting will be automated, but can also have humans looking after the crops too.