#also showcasing my roomie Gore. hi Gore

[kissingcicero]

ok so yap incoming bc fuck this book, this movie, and the ghouls who used this man as a political pawn in his tragedy. (cw descriptions of suicide, ableism/sanism, Satanic Panic and homophobia.)

this is a made for tv movie (82) starring Tom Hanks in his debut. it's based off of a book written in 81 which was based itself on Satantic Panic, warnings of Reefer Madness, and a real life individual whose story was NOT THAT. it's a horrible book, misrepresenting a man who didn't deserve that to be his memory. it's a horrible movie, pushing the Satanic Panic and linking D&D to a non-existent crisis entirely manufactured by extremists.

James Dallas Eggbert the Third didn't commit suicide because of D&D. he was a closeted man living in a difficult era. he was severely depressed and using drugs to cope - yes, marijuana, but combined with coke and PCP that he made himself. he wasn't even psychotic. he was described as a genius. he went to college at 16, burnt out, dropped out, and worked in his father's store. he attempted suicide via OD in the universities tunnels. he also attempted with cyanide some days later. an entire year after his disappearance (his suicide attempts) he self inflicted a gunshot wound to his head. he was described as someone who frequently "wandered off to places unknown" (probably out buying drugs or supplies, using/making drugs and self isolating because he was mentally unwell.)

he was reported to be seen at a D&D convention happening the day after he went missing, but he was actually in hiding at his friend's house after the first failed OD. he was misconstrued for a story written by someone who didn't care. the entire link of him being associated with D&D was because a private detective found out he played while he was in school. he didn't believe he was his character, he was a suicidal person who CITED his PARENTS pressuring him as a reason for his attempts.

a remake of this would have to be entirely shredded and rebuilt. try consulting a dissociative or psychotic person. my take, as a schizotypal dissociative? the main character is in treatment. he doesn't go out much - but us sheltered/isolated folk still have social needs. he loves D&D. he spends his time wheeling around (damn right wheelchaired him) painting miniatures, making dioramas, building a table for his campaign. his caretaker hosts the sessions at his house. "it's the highlight of his week!" they say. "he's so excited to see you all!"

his friends don't mind that he takes it "too seriously." he's really good at the voices. his set pieces are so detailed because he cares. they don't mind that his house is accessible, stair lift, big bathroom, wide halls, short countertops. everyone brings themed snacks for whatever area of the campaign they left off in. sometimes he cancels last minute because he's not feeling well, but the group is sympathetic. he can't help it. hope he feels better. I know how much he loves doing this, so he must be feeling really poorly if he canceled, tell his caretaker to pass a message along that we care.

the conflict in the plot? a new person wants to join the crew. but our main character is schizotypal and he's paranoid. he takes a while to warm up to new people, and this new person has a lot of shit to unlearn in order to be someone he feels comfortable around. maybe they just don't get it, maybe they're just cracking shitty jokes, maybe they're deeply ableist in a irredeemable way. maybe they insist that it's weird that he takes this too seriously and that they play the game The Right Way and he's doing it Wrong and Weird. call him sanist words, crazy, schizo, total freak. feature some other characters calling them out on their ableism or sanism. telling them that it's not cool or explaining why those accommodations are necessary.

give the main character a scene talking about his experience with psychiatric abuse and institutionalization. maybe do a really cool (LOOKING) sequence in a ward where all of the staff look like monsters. (my experience!!) have it hit the audience that the maze is his mind, the monsters are those seeking to torment him. he plays D&D to work through his trauma. his characters represent things he wanted, a guide, a knowledgable kind innkeeper, a bard with beautiful tales to sing, a mentor, a protector in the form of a gallant knight, a mage with the power to repel monsters with a wave of a stave. (make them actualizations of his alters who want to partake in this game and are too uncomfortable to socialize in other more overt ways.) his stories are packed with tales of deep corruption, of the government at play setting the monsters upon people to control them, to make them infight and accuse each other of monstrosity, to distract them and prevent them from revolt.

the end? he doesn't need to be institutionalized (institutionalization is more often than not abuse. it's done for sane people's benefit. proper at home care should be featured here.) he doesn't need to change or stop being delusional or invested. he isn't a terribly sad tragic Trapped In His Own Mind guy. his mind is full of joy and comfort and he retreats when he needs to. the maze of his brain is a never ending puzzle to solve, and that's a source of glee. the new person is in the wrong here. they apologize. maybe put in a heartwarming scene where he shows them his diorama room and they feel bad for making fun of him "that this is his whole life" because it is, but that's not sad or pitiful because it brings him joy. if you want my full CripMadPunk take? KICK THEM OUT. you want to come to our friend's super dedicated campaign but you call him a schizo? go home. his friends stick up for him and tell the new person they're not welcome if they can't see their friend as a human being. end with all the characters sitting down to play. "So we sat down to play, like we always did" as opposed to the "So we sat down to play, one last time" line in the 82 film.

make the character sympathetic, but not trauma porn or misrepresentational. make ableism the main horror. call it Mazes and Monsters, and have the monster be ableism.

I e said before that a remake of Mazes And Monsters that like wasn't shitty and ableist could actually be like really good and now having finally seen it I can say that Bender's Game is like almost but not quite what I wanted.

[streamdotpng]

Hi stream ! A little drabble for t&t please ? Maybe Enid bringing a fresh kill to Wednesday ? Like a courting gift but Wednesday doesn't understand what it has to do with her. (As you said, culture clashes, so the meaning flies over her head). Or if you don't like it, whatever you you to write.

wussap lost, ty for the request :)

There's one thing Enid knows that Wednesday would appreciate and that was bodies. No, its not a human, Enid wasn't that down bad.

Anyways, it just came into mind when Enid was lounging around the room and saw the taxidermy kit that Mr and Mrs Addams gave for Wed's birthday. She can vaguely remember how Willa mentioned wanting a live one and well...

It just reminded her that she could give something to showcase her appreciation. If it also showcases just how good of a hunter she is, then that's just a bonus.

Enid should really feel bad, considering that she wasn't even going to eat them but simply use their dead carcass as decoration but the means justify the end.

She shakes her head, Romulus would be proud of her mentality.

Enid knocked on the door, rolling on the back of her feet as she waited for her roomie to open the door.

She could feel the bottom of the box slowly turning damp, probably the blood when she accidentally sunk her nails a little deeper than she should. She winced, she really could've gone back out and grab a much better one but there was a balance in the wild.

Enid knows better than to needlessly kill and she hopes that Wednesday still likes the effort.

(but if Wednesday were to ask for it.. its not so needless now is it?)

"Enid," Wednesday greets, her head is a lil tilted, a silent question. Enid just smiles, noting the jacket around the shorter girl's body.

"Wens," Enid replies back, "i got you gift!"

Wednesday steps back and Enid skips along, trailing like a well trained mutt. How amusing, she notes. The fact that Wednesday doesn't know what Enid is willing to do for her.

"What is this for? My birthday isn't until next year, Enid."

"I know! just wanted to showcase my appreciation." The reply has Wednesday stilling before she nods.

"Thank you then."

Enid had to stop herself from flashing her teeth, omygod Wednesday can be so cute at times. Just the way she paused, its like the tumbling on your feet in Wen language.

"Is it another snood?" Wednesday asked, gesturing at the box as Enid snaps back to attention. "Black nail polish?" a pause as her brows furrowed and Enid knows that the blood must've gotten strong enough the mortal could smell it.

"Nooooo~" Enid trails and she fully smiles now, knowing the lil tint of red staining her teeth is obvious as she passes it over. "Its something better."

Wednesday looks all the more confused before taking it, a flicker of recognition in her eyes when her hand sunk a lil bit more than it should.

With careful hands, she opens it to the fresh dead corpses of squirrels.

"You killed them..?" she utters, dragging her eyes up to meet the shining of Enid's. "I thought you detest gore."

Enid shrugs. "I can do anything for you."