#also the theories for this one is high key hilarious

[zabala0z]

Welcome back to “I’m listening to season 2 of The Magnus Archives and yeah it’s official, season 2 is currently my favorite season”

Surprisingly some tamer episodes. By tame, I mean I didn’t shriek and pause every 5 minutes. Though some characters popped up again which I was excited about like yay reoccurring characters!

MAG 48:

Not much to note. But Gerard Keay appearance! Or maybe appearance since the man didn’t give a name but come on, he had long black hair, that’s Gerard. I was pretty happy he helped out Andrea. Like it’s clear Gerard knows some stuff but he doesn’t use his knowledge to harm people, he uses it to help them and for that, I am so thankful there’s one character in confident in. Okay not confident. I don’t wanna say anything or God forbid, someone is going to die or get “replaced”

He also said she was marked, whatever that means. I’ll prob figure it out later

MAG 49: The Butchers Window

All Pryor wanted to do was to get that bag 🫡 Also Jared Hopworth appearance! Low key I forgot about him until the name Jared was mentioned and then I was like “oh that’s that weirdo from the bone turners tale”. I had to read over the transcripts from that to refresh my memory and man, he was a shithead from the beginning. Also I like the signs showing of him testing his power like on that deflated rat (which might’ve been his pet?? It was implied the rat looked like a pet so I’m assuming it was Jared) and maybe his mom. Also totally screwed up that he (presumably on my end) killed Sebastian. Like they were childhood friends man 💀

But I find it hilarious that he used his power to steal bones from other people and make himself as tall and buff as possible.

MAG 50: Foundations

Not much to note. I usually zone out more during the old timey statements but I got the general idea. Robert Smirke appeared again, I’m wondering what’s his deal. They say his buildings have a higher percentage of supernatural occurrences and he was rumored to have suspicious religious values so my theory is that he did some deal with something and now his buildings are just fucking like that. Also he said like “Balance, Equilibrium. The hardest thing for an architect to achieve. Symmetry is easy, but does not, in and of itself, result in balance. To stir, yada, yada” so this guy is already a little weird.

Also Tim congratulating Jon is the funniest thing ever wtf. “Don’t worry, I’m cool. 😏😏😏 good luck boss” like god. I mean supportive friend???? I guess??? 😭

MAG 51: High Pressure

God I hate the ocean. On another note, Simon Fairchild is back. When Jon said the case number, I had to go through the transcripts to figure out when he appeared before (thankful I understand the very confusing system) and he was in Freefall!

Anyways, looking back, this guy is definitely evil. This like 85 year old has evil schemes to make people go through an open area of sky or ocean like bro. In Freefall, the instructors name was Harriett Fairchild so I’m assuming she was in on it or like related to him. For gods sake, Simon said to Robert, “enjoy sky blue” like this man is a bastard. He knew what was happening. And he did say something to Antonia before he went down which I’m gonna assume “enjoy ocean blue” or shit like that. I hate him. And it’s definitely not because I hate being alone and open spaces.

Also another thing to note; fake Sasha. She’s been staring at that table. Jon described it as a fractal and she described it as a web. Both things that have been brought up a couple times in this podcast. I had to search up fractals to figure out what it was. That one guy I think in “Burned Out”, his dad was super obsessed with fractals. I don’t know how it ties into the plot but they do in some way. Also Gerard Keay made that eye painting that was described to get more intricate and minuscule which I think is a fractal?? Again, I have no idea.

Jon said “Sasha” has been going to a wax museum during her extra long lunch breaks. I got no theories why because what. Although it’s interesting because wax museums are replicants of real people most of the time and whatever that replaced Sasha is a replicant of a real person. So. Yeah no idea.

Anyways, I think that’s everything! They were some pretty calm episodes compared to the last couple ones which I’m grateful for

[spacexseven]

nikolai goes out of his way to find newspaper articles about sk reader and drops it somewhere in their place so they can wake up and see pages and pages and photos of all their victims and the crime scenes and the ridiculous theories some people have

A: TUNA, TUNA, YOU CAN'T JUST TYPE THIS AND GO!! Nikolai just has a whiteboard or a wall of newspaper articles now adoring his walls(maybe even the casino). Little cards and books collect pictures of past victims, vaguely familiar only because of the ever growing collection of abilities, instead of bookmarks. sticky notes attached to pre-record podcasts, videos, and cds of live television speaking of SK Reader’s acts. Lists of Forums that hunat after the ever so mysterious murders, all of which are hilariously wrong, or in the off chance, a little bit correct, that commentator seems to simply disappear…

SK having a morning routine and waking up to their own collection of notes, pictures, and smiley faces of their favorite ability user.

the time he watched them steal oguri's ability, he insisted on walking w them back to the train station because "haven't you heard? there's a serial killer targeting ability users right now. you shouldn't be walking around alone."

SHAUSBSBSH. I’m so normal about them. really. I can imagine Nikolai dressed as a police officer or maybe a salary man and from an outsider’s pov they just see a “worried” man and their companion walking together, too far away to hear their seemingly normal conversation: both of them commenting of corpses and the new abilities that SK reader has gained and the uses they have. the usual daily slice of life stuff.

But also, imagine: The heat of human contact of Nikolai’s hand brushing against SK Reader while they come down from their high of their recent kill (rip oguri man x2 because these two weirdos are doing their weird murder courtship thingy). The faint moonlight makes Nikolai seem almost ethereal, but there’s hunger in his eyes. The same hunger that SK Reader knows so well, after all, it’s the same hunger SK Reader always sees in their own eyes. The faint upward tugging of his lips makes the slight smile on his lips akin to ghastly, macabre snarl. He walks them back to the train station that always seems to connect and depart Nikolai from SK Reader. The conversation changes from the local show, yokohama politics, food, the corpses that seem to pile in alleyways and the abilities that grow under their heart skin. The growing hunger grows under SK Reader’s heart, but it’s different from before. They ignore it. (I lowkey believe this is probably the one of the first signs or the key moment SK Reader falls for Nikolai in their own weird way)

their first kill was some small time ability user; they didn't know about how their ability worked until this point

A pickpocket. A nameless ghost. Either way the idea that Nikolai grows to resent a stranger is delicious and laughable. (or maybe an unfortunate fool that grew curious about SK Reader and had terrible luck)

I like to think they're working their way into the heart of yokohama, where the ada and pm reside. Yokohama is known for having multiple active ability groups so it's where their later kills will be focused. ango, oda, hirotsu and akutagawa were tasked to find sk reader first, which is how they ended up being killed by sk reader. initially these names were near the bottom of their list, since they were planning on slowly infiltrating yokohama, and killing off prominent users would hardly let them work unnoticed

THEY HAVE A LITRLE LIST. Oh my beloved SK reader. They probably took their time to think it through and write each one, or maybe SK reader is simply impulsive. I love them either way.

Also Flawless? That’s so heartbreaking for Dazai. Oda gets sent after SK Reader or maybe he just happens upon them and feels a familiar feeling: Dazai and his own shadow, and Oda attempts to be a good person. Regardless it ends with his life taken, but imagine a survivor au with a different obsession aka Oda and the murder black comedy of roommate, SK Reader. SK reader probably traumatized Oda’s orphans and it would be pretty messed up if Dazai just found his best friend’s cooling corpse and in the corner a huddling group of weeping children. Or maybe SK Reader drew them away, no reasons for nuisances in their way. Oda is alone when he dies. Rehabilitation au with Oda, or maybe a slap in the face for Dazai if ADA decides to rehabilitate SK and he finds himself falling for the awful murder who took Oda’s life away. A toxic, awful, yandere fest because Dazai doesn’t mean to fall in love and most likely SK Reader is probably pining after Nikolai or Simply not interested because Dazai isn’t “fun” as his ability is.

i'm still working on sk reader's ability, but their ability allows them to take the ability of users they kill, so that's another main motivator. they kill for the ability they want to have. it probably started out as a survival thing, but now they just do it for the ability.

SK Reader’s ability is fascinating. I really adore how it weaves into their wants of collecting abilities and how maybe, in a kinder world, if they could copy abilities they “probably” wouldn’t kill people, but we love one awful serial killer.

it just looks like random murders to the public, though it appears to be done by the same person. a lot of ability users don't let others know about their abilities, so it's the special division and other ability user groups that figure out the murderer is only targeting ability users first

Ooh! maybe the first person they kill has an ability that gets information?? And SK just collects info by that, or they’re just a stalker and stalk after every lead of an ability.

uh no name yet bc im not creative enough for that haha

fair. I’m also v bad with names. :V

i think it'll be hard to write anything between ada and sk reader except for them wanting to throw them in jail bc dazai is obvs going to be very upset about oda's death, and fukuzawa wants to restore order to ability users in yokohama. sk reader is like. an irredeemable bad guy ㅠㅠ

I love an irredeemable bastard reader,and it be pretty fun if somebody out in the Stray dogs universe is delusional enough to believe that SK reader is misunderstood or “can be fixed” (thinking about delusional oda or maybe jouno, maybe fukuzawa 🤔). No, but like antagonism relationships are soo good.

pm, since mori sent his people after sk reader i don't think he'll be as upset as surprised. he might actually try to recruit sk reader or at least see what they're up to bc they killed many of his strong members already. i don't think the other mafioso will be too thrilled about meeting sk reader though…

Most PM members have someone or something that connects to an ability, so the idea of somebody hunting them to kill them or someone else for their ability immediately means SK reader is on their blacklist. Love that for them. Hunting dogs x SK reader is so fascinating. Jouno and SK reader would really make a good dynamic to work with. Sadistic protector from Jouno, but SK is more bloodthirsty for the idea instead of the act itself. SK reader doesn't seem to find the act of torture, but rather the process of the hunt, entertaining. but both cruel bastards either way.

i think for this au, the hunting dogs and doa make for the best in terms of characters to explore sk readers dynamics with so i can talk more about that later if you want ^-^ ( & adding this one too + ) man...im such a sucker for the villain x detective trope like yukito is literally haunting my dreams i am obsessed w the idea of him going after sk reade

YUKITO!!!!! Him falling for irredeemable bastard sk reader. Maybe it starts with him only connecting the murders by a “witness” (see nikolai or sk reader themself) and it spirals to a obsessive unhealthy chase of both prey and predator and rival with SK reader. (Ranpo can be aplied to this. For any ada member this is a blow to their heart and ego because falling for a murderous monster??? oh the horrors) - rambling again, but thank you again so much Tuna. I’m literally just writing notes about ideas spilling from this au. - 🦄

ahahhha wow this was Long thank you for such a detailed response :DD

nikolai hates that he doesn't know all your victims. is it curiousity or eome twisted form of jealousy, that there were so many others that got your attention before him? thing is, it's not publicly known exactly how many victims you have, and it's not something you tell anyone, either. that list of yours is also constantly on your person (he hasn't seen it, but the day he does, any jealousy dissipates immediately when his is the only name on the list). he sticks to obsessively researching you instead, saves any and all mention of you and your crimes, even has a personal, hidden, collection of things about the you that everyone else knew. a copy of your workplace id card, pictures of you from a friend's social media, anything he can get his hands on

ahhhh yes!!! he makes sure to silence any netizen who seems to understand youand your direction, and logs into forums to discuss you with others. not like any of these strangers had ever had the chance to witness you at work—so all their comments were just meaningless garbage.

along with newspaper clippings, nikolai leaves you print outs of people who support your actions, people who, after word gets around that your victims included mafioso and an ex-assassin, are more intrigued by you. it all irritates you, but if you ever show any amusement at what you read, nikolai would personally go to finish off whoever had your attention like that

(my poor baby oguri...will write some good bf stuff for him later)

oh...he's sick, turning up to a crime scene dressed as a police officer. he shines a flashlight at you and says "hands up!" in such a cheerful tone that it has your heart skipping a beat. and when you're walking back with him, whoever would suspect you just killed a man? nobody would think that nikolai was telling you that a friend of his worked with mushitaro oguri—so that's the user's name—before, or that you reply about not caring to learn about a dead man's name.

nobody sees how nikolai's wicked smile falters when you tell him you'd much rather look into his (still alive) ability user friend, and nobody hears him trying to distract you by asking about your ability.

(the bit about the moonlight and falling in love w nikolai gahhhh im sobbing so good. soo good.)

if only your ability didn't need you to kill...in that case, are you really to blame? such what-ifs only work in your favor, and if it comes to the point for a majority believes that you're needed alive, if only because you can be a wonderful weapon for the special division (much like how despite how his ability is considered the most dangerous, ayatsuji is kept alive and working), and the ada is given the work of keeping you alive and preventing you from harming others...then yes i can make a wonderful little thing w yan dazai (and ada) hehehe

or you know. dazai is losing himself in the desire to get revenge on the person who killed oda. but while trying to find you, somehow it turns into him learning more about you. somehow your evil existence turns into something addictive and alluring for him. who are you, really? dazai feels like he's the only one who knows. and you're the last connection between him and oda (since ango is gone too), so he's even more fixated on you. if you went after them, then why not him? everyone knows the infamous ability nullifier, right? cherry on top is if you blatantly tell him you have no use for his ability. i think it'd break him to the point where he completely loses himself

there is a network of ability users that if you know where to look, you can find. it's the easiest way to identify most of the ability users in an area. personally i like to think as an ability user, there's something about other ability users that catch your eye. maybe it's the way they look at other, regular people, maybe it's the way they move as though nothing can faze them. they tend to know other users too, so finding one can lead you down a whole other path of ability users waiting for you.

jouno w sk reader. bc of his backstory i think he can find it easier to relate? to you. he thinks you can be brought over to fight for justice instead. with an ability like that, you can go after many of the evildoing users out there, and you can keep their abilities. the hd would be happy to have you, but jouno makes this a...personal project. he doesn't involve them until he's sure you'll accept the offer to work w them

[mercerislandbooks]

Book Notes: Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher

I know we're still in August, but I’m starting to get that fall feeling. The few rainy days we had recently meant I wore shoes with SOCKS for Pete’s sake, all our high school bookstore friends are heading out to college, and the light is noticeably changing. The fall is also when I start thinking about all the mystery series I'm so woefully behind on.

Although contemporary mysteries aren't usually my thing, I will try one with low stakes, found family, and a Nancy Drew/Veronica Mars vibe -- a category Charlotte Illes is Not a Detective, plus the recent sequel, Charlotte Illes is Not a Teacher, fits nicely into.

Charlotte Illes was once a precocious child detective, but now, in her mid twenties, she’s living at home, unemployed, having no luck on the bisexual dating scene, and not sure what to do with her life. She is occasionally recognized as “Lottie Illes, child detective,” but after giving up her investigative side hustle in high school, she’s struggled to find direction. So when her brother’s girlfriend needs some help, Charlotte reluctantly makes an exception to her "retirement." She soon discovers that sleuthing as an adult is a little more complicated than the cases she used to take on in middle school, but all the same, her eye for detail and her determination (and her hilarious best friends, Lucy and Gabe) carry her through to uncovering the mystery.

After the series opener last year, Charlotte is back in Charlotte Illes is Not a Teacher. Still in need of employment, she takes work as a substitute teacher at the middle school she once attended and where her friend Lucy works as a 7th grade language arts teacher. But no sooner does Charlotte pick up the keys to her classroom than there’s a mystery waiting to be solved. Lucy's fellow teacher, Kim, has been receiving anonymous letters warning her to quit or else. When the correspondence elevates to threats to reveal the exotic dancing job Kim had in college, and extend to Kim’s aunt Jennifer, a member of the School Board up for re-election, Charlotte is persuaded to look into it. Between Charlotte, Lucy, and Gabe, clues are gathered, theories abound, and there might be a chase scene or two. All the while Charlotte tries to rein in her old (middle-school) instincts around detecting and figure out how a grown-up goes about solving cases. It’s a fun read with a low stakes mystery where no one dies. Plus the friendship between Charlotte, Lucy and Gabe is so endearing.

If you want to ease into the fall season, and take a nostalgic trip back to the days of lockers and classrooms and middle-school hijinks, pick up a copy of Charlotte Illes is Not a Teacher at Island Books!

-- Lori

[typewriter83]

FtW anon here again. One of these days I might reveal myself and drop a message 🤣 For now, however, I'll keep myself safe in my blanket of anonymity. Rest assured, you're not missing out, since my blog is about my other interests and has nothing in relation to JoelxEllie (and never will be since I don't love the romantic pairing enough to post about it haha, just a guilty pleasure where I enjoy the high-quality fics and find it an interesting concept). You're right, we do mesh as readers, considering the fact that I've already read both of the fics you recommended by CatrionaMac and CallMeShephard, and I loved them dearly— especially CallMeShephard's writing, which is the definition of soft, sweet Joellie and has a very natural progression. ❤️ Have you read 100 Steps?

And no, I don't write— which you probably figured out when I mentioned that I don't involve myself in the Joellie fanbase much and prefer to be a silent, lurking reader.

Also, the attraction to Tommy in FtW did throw me for a loop too— but I did spot it much earlier in the fic! It was kinda mentioned several times, as early as FtW2, but there were several segments in A Blanket Of Snow which made it really, really clear that Ellie has a thing for Tommy. ABOS was a major mindfuck though so I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't notice because you didn't read it thoroughly; it's a difficult piece to get through and I haven't read it all, just bits here and there out of curiosity.

I actually did know that Daniels wrote it for his now wife— must have slipped my mind since I kept saying in my other ask that it was his own interest and such 🤣 I, too, am a reader that lurks a lot and likes to read comments and author's notes. It is cute that he wrote such a detailed saga of stories for Michelle. Boy, he must love her a whole lot!

I never considered the ghost writer theory before, but it is super valid! There is a significant tonal shift in some areas which indicates that perhaps there was someone else involved in the writing process, most likely his wife as you said. That's a super interesting theory for sure— but I'm not too sure how likely it is. I'm curious as to what exactly stood out in A Home At The End Of the Road and made you think there was a ghost writer? If you could pinpoint any key moments, perhaps?

Yess, I have the same view of Joel and Ellie and the romance of it all! D&C was exactly what I had in mind when I was talking about your writing being softer in regards to their dynamic. I love them in that story, especially since Ellie is older in your stories. I'm a romantic at heart too, so I suppose that's why sometimes the sexual themes in FtW didn't sit right with me. Not because of the fact that it was sexual in itself (which did throw me a little since she was still 14, but that's a separate discussion), but because it wasn't as heartfelt as other Joellie stories that had those themes, and was moreso Joel agonising over how badly he wanted to bang her— I prefer a healthier dose of lovey dovey saccharine to accompany any explicit content, thanks! 🤣 I'm jesting all in good fun, of course, and not criticising Daniels. I find it kind of hilarious actually how versatile us fans are. Our yums come in all different shapes, sizes and flavours!

Good luck with the Boston QZ story! LOL, writing Joel being a meanie to Ellie must be hard since we just want him to get to the soft and sweet part already.

- Miss Undercover

Miss Undercover, I would never ask you to give up your anonymity. I mean, I hide behind a moniker, too. However, should you ever want to chat - that stays between you and me. I had someone tell me they created a new handle just so they could protect their name but have a conversation - whatever works, Mama will protect her cubs

Listen, we could write entire dissertations on the Joellie fandom. There are less than 500 stories in the tag on ao3, and yet there’s a wide variety of subject matter ranging from fluffy to depraved. And that’s good, that’s what fandom is about. But yes, I tend to stick to the softer, sweet side - unless it’s Pluums and she wants to write some 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ at a theme park, then that’s a bedtime story 🫣🫣

I have read “100 Steps” and I hope Shepard is doing well. He was writing pretty consistently in 2023, but has since stepped back. I would love to see how their story plays out, it’s an interesting concept and I’m here for the slow burn.

“Home at the End of the Road” (let’s call it Home from now on haha) is told in 4 parts: yesterday, today, tonight, and tomorrow. While it does remain consistent with Daniels’ attention to detail, there are a slew of characters introduced, almost leading me to believe there was more planned. Maybe I felt the shift because of Ellie’s attitude toward Joel, which tracks with her suspicions after SLC. The shift to Jackson felt like a whole different story, like it wasn’t part of the universe - but maybe that was the idea? Seeing as they’ll finally settled down? I’m not sure.

The smut - the lemon as he refers to it - was a shift too. Yes, I did catch Ellie’s mentions of Tommy in previous stories - ABOS was disturbing but very well written - haunting in that you were seeing the story through Ellie’s damaged psyche. Something shifted in the last story - and now you’re gonna make me sit down and read it again, because now I need examples, sheesh. I’m supposed to be the teacher here 😉 cubs putting me to work.

Daniels’ take on their inner monologues was definitely a different take than I would have. I’ve dipped my toes in writing a younger version of Ellie with Learning to Walk, and their inner monologues aren’t quite as depraved - but that’s also my take. For me, I don’t let Joel’s inner voice ever say what he wants, even to himself, because if he does, then it makes it real. Instead, he drives Ellie crazy with his grunting and groaning while doing pushups 🤭

I like writing Ellie as a little older in my AUs (24 in D&C and 25 in Am I the One) because it levels the power dynamics a little - he’s a lot older than her, but Ellie has some life experience before she meets him. Ellie already had a career and a life before she explores a life with Joel. In the canon divergent universes, Ellie is dependent on Joel - they’re co-dependent if we’re being honest - and it’s an entirely different power dynamic. Joel held a lot of power over Ellie in FtW, and she was so young through most of the story - I think the final chapter reflects a lot of that tonal shift too, but it’s also supposed to be 10 years later, so maybe he was just writing differently to reflect that. We’ll never know.

We can do a whole other dissertation on meanie Boston QZ smuggler Joel. This AU I’m someday gonna actually write - he tries so hard to be menacing to this girl (she’s 20 and fresh out of training FEDRA officer), but as always, she worms her way into his heart. 🤭

Thanks for coming back! My asks are always open for discussions!

🫶🏻

[foggyconnoisseursalad]

Social Connection and Community

Series Online In the era of digital entertainment, series online have emerged as a groundbreaking trend, transforming the way we consume television shows. With just a few clicks, viewers can now access a vast library of series online, offering an unprecedented level of convenience and flexibility. In this article, we will explore the growing popularity of series online and the benefits they bring to viewers.

One of the key advantages of series online is the convenience they offer. Gone are the days of waiting for a specific time slot on television to catch your favorite show. With series online, viewers have the freedom to watch their preferred series anytime, anywhere. Whether it's on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, all you need is an internet connection to delve into the captivating world of your favorite shows.

Another significant aspect of series online is the incredible variety of content available. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu have revolutionized the television landscape by producing original series with high production values and compelling narratives. From gripping crime dramas to mind-bending science fiction, there is something to cater to every viewer's taste.

Furthermore, series online allow for greater flexibility in viewing habits. Binge-watching has become a popular trend, enabling viewers to watch multiple episodes of a series in one sitting. This newfound freedom allows for a more immersive and engaging experience, as viewers can fully immerse themselves in the storylines and character arcs without interruption.

Series online have also made television shows more accessible to a global audience. With the click of a button, viewers can explore series from different countries and cultures, broadening their horizons and exposing them to diverse storytelling. This accessibility promotes cultural exchange and understanding, transcending geographical boundaries.

Moreover, series online often offer cost-effective alternatives to traditional cable or satellite television subscriptions. Many streaming platforms offer affordable monthly subscription plans, allowing viewers to access a vast catalog of series at a fraction of the cost of a cable package. This affordability makes quality entertainment more accessible to a wider range of viewers.

Series online have fostered a vibrant community of passionate fans. Online forums, social media groups, and fan websites provide platforms for viewers to discuss and dissect their favorite series. This sense of community enhances the viewing experience, as fans can engage in meaningful conversations, share theories, and connect with like-minded individuals who share their enthusiasm for a particular series.

In conclusion, the rise of series online has revolutionized the way we consume television content. With their convenience, variety, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness, series online have transformed the entertainment industry. The ability to watch our favorite shows anytime, anywhere, has empowered viewers and enriched their viewing experience. So, whether you're a fan of gripping dramas, hilarious comedies, or thrilling sci-fi adventures, series online offer an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in the captivating world of television entertainment.

[sweetrupturedlight]

Why does waiting for a Saturday feel longer than waiting for a Wednesday did?

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The antitrust case against gig companies

Gig work companies like Uber and Doordash are committed to misclassifying their workers as contractors, which lets them escape employer obligations like a minimum wage, health care or worker’s comp (driving for Uber/Lyft is one of the most dangerous jobs in America).

These companies spent $225m to pass California’s Proposition 22, a ballot initiative that formalized worker misclassification, paving the way for all kinds of companies to convert employees to contractors at the stroke of a pen:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/05/manorialism-feudalism-cycle/#prop22

Hilariously, all that money was wasted. Prop 22 was unconstitutional (it usurped the California Assembly’s constitutionally mandated duty to establish universal worker’s comp), and it was (idiotically) drafted such that if any clause was struck the whole thing would go out the window:

https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2021-08-23/proposition-22-lyft-uber-decision-essential-california

But they’ll try again — they already are, in Massachusetts, where the same companies have already poured $100m into “the East Coast’s Prop 22”:

https://www.protocol.com/policy/gig-work-prop-22-fight-massachusetts

As venture capital ghoul Shawn Carolan bragged after Prop 22 passed, the point is to create a future in which all labor rights — for nurses, teachers, and all other workers — are incinerated, leaving behind a brittle residue that workers won’t be able to rely on:

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/what-proposition-22-now-makes-possible

Labor groups have (rightly) focused on strengthening labor rights so they can fend off these attacks. But in a superbly argued new article for the Law and Political Economy Project, Marshall Steinbaum points out another, devastating weapon to fight off gig companies: antitrust law:

https://lpeproject.org/blog/the-antitrust-case-against-gig-economy-labor-platforms/

When we think of antitrust law, we usually focus on the way dominant companies abuse their customers: raising prices, lowering quality, locking us in. But a neglected — and powerful — aspect of antitrust is its prohibition on “vertical restraint”: when a company seeks to control the business of its suppliers.

If we take gig companies at their word, their workers are all “independent contractors,” which means that if those companies take steps to block their “contractors” from working for rivals, or setting their own prices, or otherwise structure their supply chains, they violate antitrust law.

A key vertical restraint tact is “resale price maintenance,” which is a fancy term for setting the price that an independent contractor charges its customers. You know how Uber sets the price for a ride, and the driver has to like it or lump it? That’s resale price maintenance. If drivers can’t choose to offer lower prices, then consumers are deprived of the benefit of bargaining for a discount, and that’s illegal price-fixing.

Why would a driver offer a lower price? Maybe there’s an Uber competitor that takes a smaller cut of the fare, and the driver could say, “Hey, cancel this ride and rebook it on this other platform: you’ll pay less, and I’ll get paid more.” That’s how competitive markets are supposed to work, and by blocking that bargain, Uber creates “walled gardens with high prices, low pay, and little multi-homing or competition.”

Vertical restraint theory is very down on “Most-Favored Nation” (MFN) clauses, where a contractor has to promise not to offer their services to a rival at a lower price. That means that if a new platform pops up that offers a lower commission in exchange for a price cut (something that could result in a cheaper ride that the driver earns more on), the driver also has to offer a discount to Uber.

Resale price maintenance is “a super-charged version of an MFN,” with the platforms actually setting the price without having to go through the messy trouble of using contract to force the driver to offer their cheapest price to the platform.

Resale price maintenance is an existential issue for Uber and Lyft, since these companies are utterly dependent on “price discrimination.” That’s when a company uses an algorithm to analyze your misappropriated personal data to estimate how much you’d be willing to pay for a ride and charges accordingly. Famously, Uber jacks up the price if its app senses that you are about to run out of battery:

https://pocketnow.com/how-your-battery-percentage-can-influence-your-uber-ride-cost-report

But that’s just one tactic out of many (Uber got dinged by the DoJ for price-gouging people with disabilities on the grounds that they take longer to get in and out of cars). Price discrimination only works if you can’t shop somewhere else for an equivalent product — such as the same ride, in the same car, with the same driver, but via a different app.

If drivers and passengers can negotiate to use a different app to complete their transaction — that is, if Uber was forced not to engage in illegal resale price maintenance — price discrimination would be effectively impossible.

Beyond these obvious vertical restraints, Steinbaum reveals some of the more esoteric (but no less illegal) tactics that Uber and Lyft deploy. For example, Uber offers “bonuses” to drivers who take a certain number of rides, but also prices rides such that many of them are net money-losers for the driver. Without the bonus, drivers can’t earn a living wage. What’s more, if a driver turns down too many rides, Uber deprioritizes them when offering out new rides, which can make it impossible for them to meet quota and get the “bonus.”

That means that drivers have to both accept many rides, but also be very careful about which rides they take — putting them in an impossible (and illegal) bind. As Steinbaum writes, this system lets platforms “line up their workforce in advance, based on their forecasts of demand, without bidding against one another in the moment for drivers’ time.”

Just for an added layer of fuckery, the longer a driver stays on the platform, the lower the bonus gets — the platforms are betting that once a driver is hooked on working for them, they will be reluctant to leave, even if their pay drops. After all, once a driver is full-time, they’ll have invested in a dedicated vehicle and other expenses that make leaving more costly than staying.

The upshot of all this is that if the platforms are sincere in their claims that they should not be forced to obey labor law because their workers are contractors, then the platforms are in flagrant violation of antitrust law.

This isn’t a hypothetical interpretation of the law. Steinbaum cites many on-point precedents for treating the platforms’ tactics as violations of antitrust’s ban on vertical restraint.

The platforms have been incredibly imaginative in the ways that app-based labor controls let them control the workers they swear are independent contractors. For example, Uber allows some drivers an advance look at where a passenger wants to go and how much the driver will earn for the run — but they also impose a minimum acceptance quota on those drivers, which “defeats the entire purpose of seeing it in the first place.”

The platforms are fiercely committed to hiding workers wages from them. Doordash, for example, hides the amount of the “tip” offered by the customer (the only way for most Doordash runs to be profitable for drivers is if there’s a sufficiently large tip attached). Para offered drivers an app that analyzed job offers to reveal the full compensation. Doordash responded with a bad-faith smear campaign that falsely claimed that drivers could have their identities stolen if they used Para:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/08/tech-rights-are-workers-rights-doordash-edition

Platforms understand that they’ll lose customers if drivers aren’t willing to accept unprofitable jobs, which is why companies like Instacart tacitly collude with customers to facilitate “tip baiting,” which is when a customer dangles a high tip in advance of a delivery, then cancels the tip after the delivery is made:

https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/6/23013604/instacart-tip-baiting-protection-policy-refund

The irony, of course, is that all the gig companies are losing money — they’re all still burning investor capital while destroying workers lives, forcing beloved local restaurants into bankruptcy, and destroying public transit.

No wonder that these parasites are scrambling for ways to squeeze their workforce harder — and thus definitively crossing the line into illegal vertical restraint. As Steinbaum writes, gig workers get to decide which hours they work, “but once they do so, virtually every economically-significant aspect of the job is controlled and decided for them, and frequently against their interest.”

Steinbaum argues that we should open a second front in the war on these companies: antitrust complaints. Antitrust is actually a great vehicle for tackling these companies’ labor abuses, because when a company loses an antitrust case, it usually has to pay damages and suffer injunctions limiting its future activities.

In other words antitrust victories over gig companies wouldn’t just entitle workers to compensation for the wages the companies have stolen from them — it would also pave the way for requirements for the gig companies to facilitate interoperability, so workers and their customers could bargain to shift any transaction to the app that took the lowest commission and/or charged the lowest price. Given the scorching commissions that Uber and the other big guys charge (35–50%!) there’s plenty of room for bargains that would result in lower prices and higher pay.

This is actually the vision of Para, who want to create meta-apps for gig workers that allow them see, from moment to moment, which tasks will pay them the most money, turning the tables so that workers can play the platforms off against each other.

https://www.withpara.com/

It’s an American version of tuyul, the Indonesian gig-economy’s ubiquitous after-market apps that give workers more power over their jobs, providing higher wages and safer working conditions:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/02/21/contra-nihilismum/#the-street-finds-its-own-use-for-things

Like Para, tuyul apps aren’t officially supported — rather, they are example of adversarial interoperability or comom, where toolsmiths reverse-engineer a service in order to modify and improve it.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/10/adversarial-interoperability

Although Steinbaum doesn’t say so, one antitrust remedy that a regulator could seek in a vertical restraint case against a gig work platform is a binding promise not to attack adversarial interoperators using copyright, patent, cybersecurity or other laws. The combination of adversarial and mandatory interop makes for a strong and flexible guarantee of corporate good behavior:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/02/05/time-for-some-game-theory/#massholes Interop is the key to safeguarding worker rights in technologically mediated workplaces. With interop, workers can seize the means of computation, and change the apps so they work for them, not against them:

https://locusmag.com/2019/01/cory-doctorow-disruption-for-thee-but-not-for-me/

Of course, Steinbaum adds, if the platforms don’t want to do any of this, they have an easy way out: they can just admit that their workers are employees and extend all the labor rights they’re entitled to.

Image: EFF https://www.eff.org/files/banner_library/competition_banner.jpg

CC BY 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/

[47crayons]

so, you want to write a musician?

about me: i play viola and have experience in symphony orchestras, string orchestras, string quartets (+ a few other small ensembles), and solo performances. i've done some light composition, and have friends/family who play other instruments. while my musical history is extensive, by no means do i know everything or speak for everyone.

this guide will focus on classical music/how to portray classical musicians and things that aren't as easily researched.

quick overview of instruments in a typical symphony orchestra

upper strings (violin, viola), lower strings (cello, (double) bass; i've seen viola included here too, but it's more commonly classified as upper strings)

strings also technically includes harp and piano

woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon)

depending on instrumentation, they may also have piccolo, english horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon

saxophones are not traditionally in symphony orchestras due to it being a relative newer instrument! but this is changing because more contemporary composes are including sax parts

brass (trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, euphonium)

percussion (depends heavily on instrumentation, but common instruments are bass drum, timpani, snare, crash cymbal, xylophone, marimba)

some things you should research

where the hands are supposed to go!! i'd recommend you look at pictures of professionals in orchestra settings (ny phil, cso, berlin phil are all top tier). some musicians *coughs at yoyo ma* have less than perfect posture when they're performing solos (for the same reasons famous authors can break "rules")

necessary equipment including reeds, rockstops, different kinds of sticks/mallets, rosin, mouth pieces for whatever instrument you're writing

common misconceptions

loose/photocopied sheet music is not aesthetic—it's annoying and impossible to keep organized. folders and binders are fairly common especially when managing multiple ensembles.

original copies are often expensive and required to perform a piece (legally) for profit or otherwise (though i know a few people who have bent this rule)

not all performers are good composers (i myself have very little formal music theory training), but many composers have performance histories.

not all musicians can sing.

perfect pitch is both a blessing and a curse. notes can be slightly lower/higher but in tune with the context of the piece, which drives people with perfect pitch insane.

having perfect pitch does not guarantee someone will be a prodigy, and people don't need perfect pitch to be a talented musician.

drama in ensembles does exist, but it rarely gets in the way of rehearsal. same thing goes for good friends: if your characters have even a shred of common sense, they aren't going to be talking/messing around during rehearsal.

instruments (especially good ones) are extremely expensive. people very rarely store instruments on the wall or other displays for fear of falling.

instruments are very picky and require tuning every time. every time! it doesn't take long anyway. temperature and humidity can and will make instruments go out of tune or damage your instrument if not properly stored.

some people listen exclusively to classical music, but in my experience, that's definitely not the majority

like with anything, most musicians struggle with self doubt at one point or another.

musician culture

getting excited when we hear a piece we recognize

getting frustrated because we can't remember the name of the piece (after all, no lyrics to search)

being horrified when a non-musician actor is playing a musician. yes, we notice. yes, it's obvious.

if people are joking, it's likely to be about: violas (a quick search for "viola jokes" will tell you all you need to know) or trumpets (a reputation for being overly loud, playing and not)

putting stickers (places they toured, their orchestra, or just purely decorative) on cases is common, but not for everyone. same goes for pictures (of family, past concerts, or anything) on the inside.

scrambling for a pencil when the conductor says to mark something. pencils are a musicians best friend :D

asking (and forgetting) how to split double stops/two parts at the same time. sometimes one stand partner will play the top while the other plays the bottom, and sometimes this is split stand by stand.

this has NEVER resulted in a sexual top/bottom joke. please just. don't. also no g string jokes. it's just unrealistic.

awaiting the obligatory "it's one week before our concert, and you sound like this?!" lecture

not talking about music 100% of the time!!! they have lives outside of music (most of them, at least /j). especially to close friends, music is probably not going to be a conversation topic unless something is out of the ordinary (high stress, something funny from rehearsal, etc.)

bragging/talking about how often they practice is generally not welcomed. great, but other people don't need to hear it!

stages are hot and bright. there's no way a performer can see someone in the audience with the possible exception of the first row.

practicing

three words for you: love. hate. relationship.

slow practice (like really slow lots of people recommend half speed; good for focusing on the right notes, tone, phrasing, smooth transitions)

metronome practice (while playing, it's not annoying at all! it's helpful and requires a lot of focus; when NOT playing, it's annoying and loud because it needs to be heard over the playing)

drone practice (having a machine/website/another person play one note in the background; good for tuning and scales)

and too many more for me to detail

auditions

ensembles may have entrance auditions to determine who gets in and seating auditions to determine placement within the section.

adrenaline does not make us play better; it just makes us make mistakes. and then thinking about those mistakes causes more mistakes.

some instruments, especially those with less repertoire, have common excerpts that come up frequently (i can think of one in particular that i've played for three separate auditions this year).

stopping/starting over is not recommended ever, but if you do, it has to be 10x better. most audition judges aren't looking for perfection!! they want to see how your character can keep going after messing up.

sight reading (being given new music, having ~30 seconds to look at it, being asked to play) is never perfect. i don't care how talented your character is; if they think they nailed it, they aren't experienced enough to see all the phrasing/dynamics that they didn't incorporate. no one gets sight reading perfect!!!

perhaps most importantly, musicians are not all the same! they enjoy it for a number of different reasons and have diverse and interesting lives outside of music!!! more information about specific instrument groups under the cut :)

strings

callouses. with the exception of pianists, most string players (and especially professional ones) have callouses where they press down/pluck the strings. i also have one on my right thumb where i hold my bow. cellists and bassists might have them on their left thumb from playing higher notes in thumb position.

hickeys are also fairly common, though only some people get them. upper strings will get these by under their left jaw. cellists may have one from the wooden body resting on their sternum. some people (including hilary hahn and many many others) use a cloth for comfort and to prevent hickeys.

few people want a hickey, but it might suit a character who is constantly trying to prove themselves.

our fingers do not "glide" anywhere. you can get cuts/"string-burns" from pressing down too hard when shifting. cuts like those are the only reason someone's fingers will bleed, and it's rarer than you think.

upper strings are more prone to back/neck problems from the way they hold their instruments on one side. see also: shoulder pain.

finger cramps happen. they aren't too common, but most if not all strings have experienced at least one.

pianos require tuning every few years or else the chords will be out of tune. few pianists can tune their own instrument because of how complicated it is.

piano parts/accompaniments will have so. many. pages. a page turner may sit on the right of the pianist to turn the page.

woodwinds & brass

spit. so much spit. some instruments clean afterwards with a cloth; others have a spit valve which is as gross as it sounds.

proper embouchure, or how a musician uses the muscles in their face/lips, is tiring, and people actually get strong cheek muscles. they can also easily turn red, but it varies based on a person's facial complexion. see also: good lung capacity.

flute and piccolo are not dainty. piccolo requires as much air as a tuba. an old teacher of mine almost passed out playing piccolo when she was in college.

flutes and piccolos are high, but often not shrill depending on the level of the ensemble.

reeds last a few weeks (less if your character plays for hours a day) and can be expensive to buy.

keys and valves can get sticky especially on older instruments which can result in the wrong note or bad tone.

saxes, clarinets, flutes are more likely to "honk" on low notes.

oboes are more likely to feel "wispy" on high notes.

articulation comes from the tongue, especially for brass instruments, and conductors may ask for "tah" "pah" or "wah" sounds depending on the style of the piece.

percussion

callouses from the friction between hands and sticks/mallets.

there are so many types of sticks and mallets!!! make sure to take a look at what materials are good for what instruments/sounds.

cymbals, triangle, and bass drum are not easy to play, even though they look simple.

percussionists with the exception of timpani may play more than one instrument during a piece, and they're constantly moving around in the back during their rests.

percussion instruments are too expensive for most people to have everything they ever play. practice pads are very common in place of these instruments.

ability to play one instrument doesn't translate to different instruments. for example, many percussionists don't have experience playing set/drum set.

some of the things detailed here are heavily glossed over, so if you have any questions, i'd always be happy to talk about it with you; i may not have answers, but i will try to help as best i can!!!

since you read this far, have my favorite viola joke.

what's the difference between a violist and a large pizza?

a large pizza can feed a family of four :)

tagging some people who showed interest: @writing-is-a-martial-art @ashen-crest @kg-willie @owilder

[chrisevansluv]

LSA and their narcissism and total lack of self awareness... they're out for you & your blog because they couldn't find out where chris is (they even posted a pic of an AC appliance for reference). They started the day claiming you run a private thread over there and are kicking out ppl (how many threads do they need to NOT figure out anything about Chris's life?? Lol 70?? ) & Now they're claiming you're nuts bc you posted what an anon sent you about a dance school. Carly has given interviews about the theater scene in MA btw the resident troll over there mila / mute harassed his nephews, tagged them in comments calling CE a pedo. She used what they posted about Tara's ig, the follows, the like abd she made a video about it and is still bullying family members and friends. We all know you're bored, lsa aunties, because you can't bully CE's gf in case he has one but learn that you're the ones who need to go and STFU

PS- give no fucks about them and keep on being like this. A normal person

Other anons:

"Yup, for some weird reason they seem to love talking shit about me. Good for them// I really hope that you do not pay attention to this, because this is nonsense. You have a wonderful blog and you have the right to publish whatever you see fit. And they definitely need to first look at themselves and study their own publications full of shit. The problem is clearly not in your blog ❤️"

"It's hilarious that LSA is judging anyone. They are the worst at conspiracy theory shit and all the reaching they do on a regular basis. It's their fault that most of these rumours go on forever. Unbelievable that they would preach the moral high ground here."

"Sorry but stalking his family that hard that you know where Ethan and Stella are and in which dance school is just way too much…// And sorry mod but actually posting about it was not cool. It’s not one’s business. These are people living there normal life.😔"

***

Honestly, I know I shouldn't have posted that ask in the first place. When I got it, I was debating on whether to post it or not, and ended up posting it because it was answering to something else another anon was saying (and thought that by blocking details and key words nobody, or at least not as much people, would be able to tell where it was).

I also know some fonts on RT just used this as an excuse to jump at my throat and have a field time (when they know they've done way worse shit). As if they genuinely gave a shit about privacy, boundaries and his family after everything they've done and said the past months. They can go and argue with the wall or go spill their theories and hatred to one another.

*Tbh I don't even check those threads myself, because I know what a toxic place it was back in 2020 (and I'm not really curious on whether it got better or worse). I don't really care.

[jlf23tumble]

I’m bored and in need of a laugh so I’m begging you to be messy and drop the name of the bonkers blog. nonsense tags on an unrelated post where the first letter of each word spells it out will also work 😎

anon two: lol what kind of wild theories are you seeing out there?? and who's calling olivia a whore?? 👀👀👀

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

Lumping these two together, same answer! I meant to answer anon one last night and fell asleep, whoops, but if you want the most bonkers take, this is the place for you! (That's my fave post of theirs, but oof, some other gems, too, if you keep scrollin'.) I wish it was satire--it's kind of low- AND high-key hilarious, and the way it tries to tie every single decision of Harry's that this person hates to someone else, thereby absolving him and removing every single bit of his own agency, yet it STILL manages to find some time to shit on all the women involved, it's almost brilliant in its own way. But alas, Jesus wept....this person is definitely convinced they cracked the code, wake up sheeple! Honestly, the biggest whore here is Jeff, when you think about it, but yeah, this post is directly riffing off another post that did some numbers because it "joked" about how Olivia was a whore who was also fucking Jeff, one of the clues being Jeff promoted (!!!) the DWD teaser in his socials but not Harry's grammy win (???). It's a lot, I'm telling you!

[crusherthedoctor]

Sonic Heroes: Sweet or Shite? - Part 1: SILVER

There are some heroes I like. And there are some heroes I don’t like. But why do I feel about them the way I do? That’s where this comes in.

This is a series in which I go into slightly more detail about my thoughts on the heroes in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and why I think they either work well, or fall flat (or somewhere in-between). I’ll be giving my stance on their designs, their personalities, and what they had to show for themselves over the course of time. Two things to keep in mind:

1. These reviews will be focusing mainly on game portrayals. Though alternate media will occasionally be mentioned, it'll be for the sake of adding onto a point if a portrayal is similar enough, or to compare and contrast if a portrayal is different enough.

2. These are just my own personal thoughts. Whether you agree or disagree, feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions! I don’t bite. :>

Anyhow, for today’s installment, I decided to challenge myself by starting off with a complicated one. Born from the future, and never content to stay put in said future, it's the saviour whose debut came from the most unfortunate game... Silver the Hedgehog.

The Gist: Once upon a time, in the distant future, there was an idealistic young hedgehog named Silver, gifted with the power of telekinesis for reasons unknown. With his amazing potential, he was truly destined for a wonderful, prosperous li-just kidding, it was shit.

“All two of us.”

For as long as he knew, the world was forever plagued by Iblis, the terrible Flames of Disaster. Cities stood in ruin, flames stood high, the floor was lava... it was a bitter life to be certain, all thanks to Iblis. Not even defeating the titular creature did much good, since it would simply come back to be a shitty boss fight another day. What was he - and his friend, Blaze, a character we definitely never saw before and definitely didn't have a completely different backstory before - to do?

Trust the first person he sees, of course. Even if they look like they might be related to the same Flames of Disaster that he fights so constantly.

If he had eyelids, he'd be winking at the camera.

This mysterious fellow, Mephiles the Dark, informed Silver that if he were to wipe out Iblis for real, he would need to take a trip into the past, and eliminate the root of the problem... Sonic the Hedgehog? That was what Mephiles claimed, yes. What was his proof? There was no proof.

That was good enough for Silver.

Oh look, it's Fleetway Sonic.

After an elaborate series of events, which should sound exciting but really isn't because it was just Silver going “Iblis Trigger grrr” in varying tones of voice, he was finally able to corner the blue hedgehog... twice! And despite having less fighting know-how than the hero who saved the world plenty of times, he effortlessly came close to killing the blue hedgehog... twice!

This looks like a jobbing for...

Why twice? The first time was halted by Sonic's friend Amy Rose, who Silver had met beforehand after she mistook him for Sonic, an understandable mistake that even the keenest of eyes would be forgiven for making.

The second time was also interrupted, this time by Shadow the Hedgehog. There's only room for one controversial non-blue male hedgehog in this franchise, sonny boy. Actually, his reasons were more benevolent than that: he wanted to show Silver the truth about what was going on, by time travelling to the incident that gave birth to Iblis. Why was one able to to this, so long as more than one Chaos Emerald was present? No one knew.

That was good enough for Silver.

“I challenge you to a dumb-off.”

As it turned out, Iblis was one half of a sun god called Solaris, the other half being the aforementioned Mephiles. The Duke of Soleanna wanted to reunite with his late wife by harnessing Solaris' power, which succeeded from a certain point of view since he's dead now too. The resulting blunder split Solaris into two halves. One half was all brawn, with little capacity for intelligence. The other half was Iblis.

Understanding the error of his ways, and after making peace with Sonic, Silver went back to the future to try something different, which consisted of doing the same thing he always did. Luckily for him, the script decided it would work this time, albeit at the cost of Blaze sacrificing herself... Maybe? Sort of? It’s not entirely clear what happened to her, and it’s not like this was the last we ever saw of her.

~La laaaaaa, la laaaaaa, la laaaaaa, heading to a better game, la laaaaaa~

But ohhhhh nooooo, turns out THAT didn't solve anything either! In the present, Sonic was killed by Mephiles, after the latter realised he should probably do that already if he wanted to make any progress at all with his plan. This incident led to Iblis being brought into the present, and they fused to become the omnipotent Solaris once more. Such power... such divinity... such devastation...

Actually, he was really easy. The antlion from Underground Zone was harder.

Manchild robots - 1, god of time - 0.

With their super forms in tow, Silver, Shadow, and the revived Sonic joined forces to defeat Solaris, with Sonic in particular going the extra step in retconning Solaris out of existence entirely. Since time itself reset, meaning Iblis was no longer a memory, Silver's timeline was given a second chance. What was he to look forward to in this new, promising future?

Shit.

The Design: Let's take a closer look at Silver's appearance, shall we?

Or rather, a certain thing that's wrong with it.

He's holding up fifteen fingers.

Yes, you all know what I'm pointing to: the hairstyle. Let it be known that I'm very aware of the intention behind this design choice. It's supposed to be based on the Japanese Red Maple Leaf, which holds a lot of relevant symbolism for Silver's character. This is a fine idea in theory, and I can respect the intent and the creativity.

But here's the thing: If it looks like a ganja leaf, people are going to say it looks like a ganja leaf. I know some fans will gnash their teeth at me saying this, but the fact of the matter is that intentions and ideas, no matter how good they may be on paper, don't always translate well into the final product. Unleashed Secret Rings Black Knight Sonic '06 in general is certainly no stranger to showcasing examples of that, and Silver's hairstyle is no exception. There are ways to incorporate symbolism in a character’s design without making them look like meme bait in the process, and no amount of “umm ackshually” will change that, I'm afraid.

That said, there's another reason why I'm staying clean of Silver marijuana: it doesn't work for a hedgehog character. With the other hedgehogs, their hairstyles are simple and get the point across: Sonic's goes without saying, Shadow's is more angular to befit a slightly rougher hero, and Amy's is a cute bob cut of sorts. But Silver? Even without the ganja, you've still got the two tentacles making up the back of his head.

I'd rather not be reminded of hentai quills, thanks.

“I thought Crusher-san would like it :’(”

I do find it hilarious that they went through numerous designs for Silver, and this was what they chose to go with. Some of his prototype designs may have fared better had any of them been used instead... but we didn't end up with any of those ones. We ended up with this one, therefore I'm judging this one.

But don’t worry, it’s not all bad with Silver...

The Personality: As far as actual character goes, Silver's personality is as straightfoward as most characters in the series, yet it's no less interesting, because it took a while for it to fully evolve to what it currently is. The seeds of his character - a good-natured yet awkward and rather insecure kind of guy, who doesn't fully understand how the present time works - have always been there, but it was often downplayed in earlier titles due to him being hungry for Iblis Trigger blood... or being an arsehole for no reason.

Although to be fair, everyone in Rivals is an arsehole for no reason.

Eventually though, after the writers gave him a Snickers, these traits got more opportunity to shine. Mostly in side media admittedly, but it's been noted in the games as well. With no Iblis to angst over, he's proven to be a surprisingly bubbly chap, who just wants to know how you're all doing, fellow anthro kids. And whereas his naivety was previously used for intended tragedy to benefit the evil plan of a guy who thought taking the -istoph- out of Mephistopheles would make him inconspicuous, now it's been used for a bunch of low-key contexts that do a much better job at endearing him to the player.

Finally, something I can relate to.

Hell, he even seems to have learned from the Mephiles incident, as he was quick to make it clear to the next shadowy deep-voiced anthro with demonic eyes he met that he wasn't gonna fall for any of them fibs no more, ya hear?

“YouTube and Twitter don’t count.”

All in all, it works well enough, in my opinion. His personality does pave the way for some funny and wholesome moments, and since they’re no longer trying to build him up like he’s Shadow 2.0, he's nowhere near as much of a tool as he was before. So I guess you could say... I like it?

Does this mean I can say that I like the character as a whole then, design and '06-induced idiocy aside?

Well, not quite...

The Execution: This is where the complication part comes into play. We know now that I like his personality, not so much his design, but that's only the half of it. It would be more accurate to say that I like his personality... and dislike everything else.

Aside from that, obviously.

For starters, the creation process for his character and story was summed up with, in their own words, “Think Trunks from Dragon Ball Z”. So he comes off as rather lazy and uninspired. Now I'm not expecting my Sonic characters to be 100% unique, there's always going to be similarities to other franchises no matter what you do, even if subconsciously or by complete coincidence. Taking inspiration in itself is no big deal at all.

But... was that it? Copying a DBZ character to such a blatant extent? Was there no other thought put into it?

Naturally, this ties into an overarching problem: the franchise's mid-00's habit of trying way too hard to be the anthro Dragon Ball Z. Sonic has had DBZ influences since the early days, with the Chaos Emeralds and Super Sonic, but it didn't assimilate itself into every waking aspect of his universe. It was merely an additional flavor that added to the complete package, in the same way that a Death Star with a moustache didn't mean the franchise was suddenly Star Wars the Hedgehog.

But come the turn of the millenium, nearly every main title in the series ended with Super Sonic and/or Super Shadow saving the day, while everyone else either stood around being useless, or only helping in ways that no one actually cares about. Including the in-universe President apparently, since only Sonic and Shadow were featured in the photo on his desk.

Amy smiled. “I guess the rest of us can go fuck ourselves, huh?”

This reached its peak with - of course - Sonic '06, with Silver in particular being an obvious result of this then-ongoing trend. And yes, it would be unfair to use him as a scapegoat, considering it was already a problem long before he turned up. But moreso than even Shadow, it's an era that Silver is forever a relic of, for better or for worse.

But it doesn't stop there. Since Silver is considered a mainstay character, his gimmick of being from the future also creates problems of its own, because in order for him to make further appearances, he keeps turning up for little explained reason, and thus he suffers the Deadly Six problem of being shoved into places where he doesn't belong, for fanservice's own sake. Take Sonic Colours DS for example, where he went back in time JUST to check out Eggman's theme park... Okay...?

On one hand, I’d visit it too, since it's made by Eggman. On the other hand, I’d stay clear of it, since it's made by Eggman.

And when there IS a justification with more weight to it? It's just recycling the '06 routine of trying to avert his ruined future, which isn't much better. The cause may differ depending on the story, but if his future is a permanent shitehole for one reason or another, he might as well cut out the middle man and stay in the present altogether, since that's where his friends are anyway. But they seem intent on not doing that, despite the future schtick being a noose around his neck at this point.

In hindsight, maybe this was a hint to how the rest of the arc would turn out.

And then there's his dynamic with a certain purple cat... No, not Big. The other one.

“I’m here, by the way.”

Simply put: I don't like this dynamic. At all. Or rather, I don't like how they keep milking it. Blaze's backstory was radically changed to justify her presence in Silver's future, and it really shows, since she barely even shows up half the time, as if the developers themselves forgot she was in the game. But her backstory has since been restored to her original alternate dimension interpretation, so hanging around with the grey hedgehog is all good now, right?

To be brutally honest, I probably wouldn't care for this dynamic regardless. But I would be more willing to tolerate it, and I'd refrain from groaning every time they're seen together... if they weren't intent on playing it up so much in spite of '06 being wiped out, sometimes with a bit of commentary involving their thoughts and memories, which only succeeds at making things more confusing. If Blaze is around, Silver will be nearby, and if he's not at first, he will be soon enough. This franchise does have a problem in general with restricting who's allowed to interact with who (I personally believe Sonic Heroes may have led to this, or at least it accelerated it), but I'd argue it's at its most insufferable here, with Blaze's potential and her entire world taking a backseat to being the sidekick of Ganja Man.

And you might say “Well, it's part of the franchise now, so you'll just have to accept it”. To which I ask: Have you accepted Two Worlds? Have you accepted Solo Sonica? Have you accepted Sonic's friends not doing much as of late?

Yeah. That's what I thought. “It’s just how it is” doesn’t mean you can’t criticise it.

Meanwhile, Marine is lucky enough to get so much as a shout out.

So yeah, I have quite an extensive list of grievances involving poor Silver. But... very little of it has to do with him, right? They're all indirect problems that he just so happens to be linked to, as opposed to someone like Chris Thorndyke, who is genuinely a shit character through and through. This is more comparable to Tails being bitchy in Lost World, or Amy being manipulative in Chronicles, or Sonic being a smug dumbass in IDW, or Shadow not wearing a Hawaiian shirt in Boom. Frustrating, regrettable, but not really the character's own fault.

Yet even after all that, there's one last kick in the teeth... How do you fix all this? And how do you fix it when he's since gained a sizable fandom, many of whom like him for these very attributes? If you leave it as it is, you're stuck with this big, awkward mess that everyone pretends to ignore. If you try to do something about it, you'll get complaints about disrespecting the True Silver Spirit, and you’ll get questions about why you didn't create a new character instead... And if you did use a new character for the sake of a clean slate, THEN you'd get complaints about not using Silver.

It's a tough call to be sure, and it's such a shame because like I said, I do appreciate his personality, so I can't say he's bad outright. But with all this... clutter, I can only put him in the average category. So, in he goes.

Crusher Gives Silver a: Thumbs Sideways!

Well, I'm glad this one's out of the way. Putting my thoughts into words with Silver was harder than it should have been. I do slightly regret starting this series off on a rather downer note, but rest assured, it's a lot more positive from this point onwards, since while I have higher praise for some heroes more than others, the hero characters as a whole fare a lot better than the majority of villains not named Eggman.

I guess you could say that I hope to show why Sonic's friends aren't as shitty as the haters would suggest. ;)

[weekendwarriorblog]

MOONFALL Review: Master of Disaster Roland Emmerich Has Done It Again

You always know you’re in for a special kind of treat whenever you sit down for a Roland Emmerich movie. While the general concept of Moonfall might seem to be one of his sillier ideas, there’s also some interesting science fact (sort of) amid the fiction, which I’ll get to much further down this review, while still trying to avoid spoilers.

First, we get a 2011 prologue of Patrick Wilson and Halle Berry’s astronauts Brian Harper and Jocinda Fowler on a mission to repair a satellite above the moon when their space shuttle is struck by a torrent of debris coming from the moon. They barely survive, but Harper is discredited over the incident, despite having landed the shuttle safely. Fast forward ten years and John Bradley’s astrologist Dr. KC Houseman is working as a janitor at the UCal-Irvine, but he uses that job to acquire some data that can confirm his theory that the moon has been shifting out of orbit. Now in a high-ranking position at NASA, Fowler learns about this at the same time, so she has to call upon Harper to help her save the world by returning to space in a now-decommissioned space shuttle.

This should probably be pretty evident, but you’re not going into see a Roland Emmerich expecting high art – expect for Anonymous, which is still one of my favorite movies of his – but he’s just so good at creating movies that are entertaining escapist fare that, at times, might make you ponder what it might be like if something devastating happens to the earth. And yet, Moonfall actually features some of Emmerich’s most-rounded characters, ones you’re just as interested in as the storyline, with none of the actors taking things so seriously, they’re not above a quip or two here or there.

I’ve long been a fan of Patrick Wilson and Berry is quite good as one of the three key characters, but I think my biggest surprise was John Bradley (who some might know as Samwell from Game of Thrones), who not only instills humor into the movie with his character but also some genuine emotion with his relationship with his dementia-stricken mother, and as the film’s unlikeliest hero.

Then again, there are also more than a few of the hilarious Emmerich “escape scenes” where people are able to outrun an enormous, seemingly impossible to avoid catastrophe. In this case, one of the funnier ones is when Harper, Fowler and Houseman manage to get the space shuttle Endeavour off the launch pad as an enormous “Gravity wave” bears down on them. No, I have no idea if a “gravity wave” is a thing or not. That’s for Neil deGrasse Tyson to ascertain.

Another running subplot involves Harper’s son estranged Sonny (Charlie Plummer) on a side mission to help get Jocinda’s young son to a government safe haven in Colorado along with her Chinese exchange student governess Michelle (Kelly Yu). Michael Peña, who plays the jerk of a husband husband for Harper’s ex-wife, appears the most in this section of the film but doesn’t add as much humor as we know he can from the Ant-Man movies. Blink and you’ll miss Donald Sutherland, who just appears in a single scene.

Granted, there are aspects to the film that will remind some of the (in my opinion) far better Greenland from 2020, which was clearly inspired by Emmerich’s earlier films only with generally better filmmaking and characterization. Moonfall never loses track of the fact that people going to see the movie will want to see some epic-scale destruction, and of course, Emmerich delivers, destroying New York City (again), but in a waythat allows for a funny sight gag or two. (L.A. gets its fair share of destruction as well, so no one can say Emmerich is playing coastal favorites.)

I do want to get into a little bit of SPOILER territory here, though I’ll try to remain somewhat vague. Are you ready? For a long time, Emmerich was developing a movie called Singularity for Sony Pictures, and I have to assume that some of those ideas became Moonfall, since the reason the moon is out of orbit and heading towards earth involves a MUCH BIGGER idea involving nanobots and A.I. and other science fiction tropes we might have seen in the work of Frank Herbert or Isaac Asimov. Emmerich puts his own personal twist on it, implementing these big ideas in his own inimitable VFX-heavy fashion. I worry some might not like where the movie goes in its last act, which is a shame, since that’s straight-up science fiction world building and where it both diverges and merges with some of Emmerich’s past work.

I’m not expecting critics to suddenly give Emmerich a fair shake, but Moonfall is far better than both 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow, since it feels like more work was put into developing relatable characters despite the over-the-top craziness frequently on display.

In many ways, Moonfall isn’t just another Roland Emmerich disaster flick – it’s more like Roland Emmerich’s answer to 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Rating: 7.5/10

[plasticnightmaredoll]

How about that WandaVision finale?

I have been MCU trash pretty much since 2008's "Iron Man," and it's currently a great time to be MCU trash. "WandaVision" is one of the few series that not only kept me coming back week after week, but actually amounted to much more than just a gimmicky twist (I'm looking at you, "Behind Her Eyes." Seriously, that show is soap opera drivel with a shocking double twist as its only captivating trait...and the double twist wasn't handled very well anyway)

In the end "WandaVision" was about overcoming grief and accepting reality.

Spoilers ahead!

The "WandaVision" finale was quite good overall, but there were a few disappointments. I'll address the latter first:

We never found out who was in witness protection. At the beginning of the series, Jimmy Woo stated there was someone trapped in West View who was in the witness protection program, and it seemed like it would be a key subplot but ultimately, it didn't lead anywhere. Perhaps it wasn't meant to be seen as anything more than some...random bit of information, but it is odd that they put such a specific detail into the story in the first place if it wasn't going to lead anywhere. Then again, supposedly we may get more questions answered in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," so this subplot may not have been wasted after all.

There were so many theories floating around hinting at who the true villain was behind the scenes, including Mephisto, Nightmare, Grim Reaper, and Chthon. All seemed like valid enemy choices, especially Mephisto as many clues appeared to lead to him, and Grim Reaper due to his helmet making an appearance in the opening credits of episode two. However, there wasn't a big baddie hiding in the shadows, and Agatha Harkness and Tyler Hayward were the only villains. Then again, that doesn't mean there isn't an ultimate villain lurking out there who could appear in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," but it kind of sucks we have to wait until 2022 to find out.

I wanted White Vision to go to Wanda and get together with her since Hex Vision restored his memories. But White Vision just flew off and wasn't seen again for the rest of the episode. I guess he needed time to process all the memories that had just flooded his high advanced robot mind, which is understandable because it was a lot to take in. I would have liked to see him make another appearance in the episode, though, even if it was at the very end with Wanda in her secluded cabin. I just want them to be happy together, ok?

Evan Peters wasn't actually Quicksilver/Peter Maximoff from the "X-Men" movies but someone named Ralph Bohner. This must be the Ralph Agatha referred to numerous times throughout the series but was never shown (not until the later episodes, that is). It does seem a bit weird -- off-putting, really -- that Evan wasn't Quicksilver from an alternate timeline. It would have made sense, and would have been a nice sampling of the "Multiverse of Madness," but in the end, he was just...Ralph. I honestly, don't get it, though: Why choose Evan Peters for such a random role when he was Quicksilver in the "X-Men" movies, and we are getting into the Multiverse part of the MCU storyline? Also, what happened to him in the end? After Monica freed him from Agatha's magic, we never saw him again. So....? What gives?

Although this is more of a personal gripe than anything, I was seriously hoping Doctor Strange would appear in the finale, even if it was in a post-credits scene. It would have been an excellent lead in for "Multiverse of Madness," and I just really love Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of the character. But again, this isn't really a flaw with the "WandaVision" series and is more of a pet peeve.

Also another peeve: What happened to Señor Scratchy?

I can't even say that there was a lot to be disappointed in with the finale, though. The lack of an "ultimate big bad meanie" isn't so bad. The series was more focused on Wanda running from her grief, having it smother her, and then earning her acceptance. Agatha and Hayward were sufficient as "true villains" of the series.

The only big issues are Evan Peters being a random dude named Ralph, and the weird subplot of a missing witness that ended up leading nowhere (for now?)

There was plenty of good in the "WandaVision" finale!

Wanda finally donning a scarlet outfit and crow reminiscent of what she wears in the comics was totally bad ass. It looked fantastic, and it shows she's now understanding herself and her powers much more. She isn't naïve about any of it, and is ready to learn how to control and enhance her abilities. Initially, she didn't want to be seen as a witch but ultimately, it is her destiny, and she chose to accept it without fear.

The second and final post-credits scene with Wanda making tea in her secret cabin in the mountains was interesting to say the least. Physical(?) Wanda was doing daily task while her astral projection -- which featured her in her costume -- was studying the book of dark spells (or "Book of the Damned," as Agatha called it). This is a funny nod to 2016's "Doctor Strange" considering Doctor Strange's physical form would sleep while his astral form would study magic. The difference, though, is Wanda is reading from the Book of the Damned, which can't be a good thing. Also, it almost indicates she has two personalities: Wanda Maximoff and Scarlet Witch, and I like that idea. She may have to wrestle with herself internally in the near future.

I was so glad that White Vision was able to regain his memories of his past -- and true? -- self thanks to Hex Vision. I hope White Vision will go to Wanda and reunite with her, but I'm not sure when that will happen. Paul Bettany isn't listed in the cast for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" so...I'm really confused. White Vision still exists and is somewhere but...where? When? How? The cast list for "Multiverse of Madness" is very short, though, and Paul's upcoming films and series list ends in 2020 so...maybe it's meant to be a secret? The movie isn't due out until next year so it COULD be the case. Otherwise, it seems like a huge oversight on the MCU's part to just forget about White Vision. It would be a pleasant surprise if he shows up in "Multiverse of Madness" to help Wanda from doing bad things, losing control, or whatever?

Scarlet Witch is supposedly stronger than the Sorcerer Supreme, which is kind of awesome but kind of troubling because Doctor Strange may not have the best time in "Multiverse of Madness" is he is to confront her. This is why I hold on to the theory that White Vision may appear in the movie to aid Doctor Strange by calming Wanda down. Either way, knowing she is so powerful and at the same time, a very emotional person, hints at an epic fight in the near future.

I really liked how Wanda tricked Agatha into stealing her chaos magic. I was wondering why Wanda was missing with some of her chaos magic spheres, but assumed she was just growing tired and weak and was losing focus. Then it's revealed that she wasn't missing her shots -- she was placing large runes on the Hex's walls to prevent Agatha from using her magic. Then this allowed Wanda to take back her powers and steal some of Agatha's, which, in turn, made her accept her role as the Scarlet Witch. Agatha is punished by being trapped as nosy neighbor Agnes in West View, but I don't think it's the last we'll see of her.

I'm glad Wanda was able to finally accept Vision's death as that was what had caused all this mess in the first place. Despite what she did, she was a sympathetic "villain," if you can even consider her one. She was overwhelmed by grief and found a way to cope...she just happened to drag a small town into her world. Oops.

Monica's powers continuing to evolve was amazing, like how she managed to stop the bullets Hayward attempted to fire at Billy and Tommy. I really like Monica's character and the actress, Teyonah Parris, is very talented, so I'm excited to see more of her in Phase Four.

While it was expected, it was ultimately the right decision to let the people of West View go free. Even if they still resent Wanda for trapping them previously, they are given the chance to return to their normal lives without any harm done to them (well, maybe some mental and emotional trauma but, hey, who doesn't deal with these things in life, right?)

Some things I want to make note of:

Paul Bettany is a fucking troll and I love it! He had hinted at a surprise cameo later in the "WandaVision" series, which would involve working with an actor he's always wanted to work with. This caused a lot of speculation as to who it would be, although, Benedict Cumberbatch was the top choice since Doctor Strange and Vision never had screen time together, and Benedict is a great actor (then again, so is Paul, although, he's underrated, I think). Then there were rumors of Al Pacino being the surprise cameo since he was a major influence on Paul, and there were theories Al would show up as a secret villain like Nightmare. Turns out the secret surprise cameo was Paul Bettany himself since he played both Hex Vision and White Vision, and the two did fight for a bit before having a philosophical chat which led to White Vision regaining his memories. So, yeah, Paul Bettany is Troll of the Year. I guess I was initially disappointed that the big reveal wasn't really a big reveal, but I quickly realized how hilarious it was that Paul played us all so well. He's probably laughing his ass off right now at everyone's "WTFFF?" reactions.

I know Elizabeth Olsen was criticized for her poor Russian accent, but I think she's a very good actress and love her portrayal of Wanda. I mean, accents can be a bitch to master, I get it, and sometimes, I think if the performance is still impressive, we can learn to be unbothered if the accent is off.

I noticed that Chiwetel Ejiofor is returning as Karl Mordo in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," so perhaps he will be the main villain or a secondary villain? He has to be a villain since he is hunting down sorcerers to take their powers. Maybe he wants to take Wanda's powers, too? I mean, she's a sorcerer of sorts, so...maybe that is going to be a plot point? Although, Mordo is probably way out of his depth against her but we shall see.

I kind of still want Mephisto or Nightmare to appear in Phase Four since they have been hyped so much due to clues in "WandaVision." I don't think Wanda will be the big baddie for Phase Four, I just don't see it. Also, I don't see Mordo as being the big baddie, either. Both are very single-minded in their goals, and yeah, Thanos was, too, but he dragged the entire universe into his insane and devastating goal. I don't think Wanda or Mordo have such grand and deadly intentions. Wanda just wants her kids back and Mordo wants to get rid of sorcerers as...revenge against the Ancient One's "betrayal?" I don't know...but I don't think he wants to take over the universe. I never read the comics, though, so I could be wrong.

In the second post-credits scene of the "WandaVision" finale," we see Wanda's astral self studying dark magic from the Book of the Damned, and Billy and Tommy suddenly call out to her. I am guessing she could have been studying spells to see if there was anything that could bring them back since, unlike Vision, they were a creation unique to her from the start. Vision was initially a new, more powerful, more durable body for Ultron, then he was given Jarvis' AI and became, uh, the Vision, so, he never "belonged" to her. Getting her kids back, however, may prove to be a problem for the universe because it could lead to multiverse madness. I'm so funny, I know.

As disappointing as it was for Evan Peters to presumably be some dude named Ralph Bohner and not the "X-Men" movieverse Quicksilver/Peter Maximoff, maybe it makes sense when you really think about it. Marvel owns the rights to the X-Men now because Disney owns Marvel and Disney purchased the rights through their merger with 21st Century Fox. Marvel plans to reboot the X-Men with "The Mutants" movie sometime soon, and that means characters will be recast. They kind of have to because the current cast's movie series has hit a dead end with "Apocalypse" and "Dark Phoenix" proving to be underwhelming. I do wonder how Marvel will breathe fresh life into the X-Men in the movieverse because I feel like there is X-Men fatigue right now? Or maybe it's just me. I've grown disappointed with the franchise and am sort of annoyed at a reboot because it may be too soon. But, hey, hopefully I'm proven wrong!

Marvel also has rights to the Fantastic Four, which means we may actually finally get a good Fantastic Four movie! Three attempts have been made so far (yes, three), and they all failed to impress with the last attempt being an embarrassment. I mean, it was a disaster as nearly everyone hated how boring and bland and choppy it was, and that is reflected in its pitiful earnings. On a budge of $120-155 million, the 2015 "Fantastic Four" movie only grossed $167.9 million globally. OOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFF.

Phew, that was a huge post, but got all my thoughts out. Considering how shitty things have been since the abomination of 2020 was born, and with little hope for things to improve anytime soon (I have my own problems as well, which aren't going away anytime soon, either, hahaha T__T), it's refreshing to have some stuff to be happy about. Some people hate the MCU, some people have lost interest, and some people may just be indifferent, but I'm definitely and MCU fan and it makes me feel excited and giddy, two things I don't experience often anymore :\

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or in a reblog, but no hate and no "cancel culture" talk. I want to keep this post positive.

[sou-ver-2-0]

How do you think the fallout from the Sou fight between the dolls and the remaining participants will play out? I mean, Q-taro just went on about how they're done sacrificing each other and then Keiji goes and tries to kill Midori, possibly putting the dolls at risk. I personally think/hope that the tensions are very high on Sou route, at least compared to Kanna route, where they might be able to smoot things over a bit.

This is a good question and I’m happy that you asked me, though it is a difficult one. My honest answer is that there are so many variables at play with the dummies that their arcs could go in so many directions. For example, it’s already possible for Anzu and Hayasaka to die in 3-1A. How much will the story change depending on that? I’m excited to learn more about these characters, so I don’t like to speculate about them dying so quickly, but that’s already happening!

With that said!

I agree with you that the Sou/Kanna choice feels like the most pivotal break in the game, and I love to speculate about the effects of that choice. How will Sara, Keiji, Shin, and Kanna behave differently in these routes with regards to the dummies? I’m hesitant to theorize too much, but I will share with you how I would write the fallout if I was writing a fanfiction.

I’m basing my thoughts on my earlier analysis that I think it was logical to push Fake Reko and emotional to spare her. In other words, I think it is logical to prioritize the humans’ wellbeing over the dolls, and it is emotional to treat the dolls as the humans’ equals.

First of all, if I was writing this, I would ensure Keiji’s survival from his current coffin problem, and I would keep him as the most “difficult” character for the dummies. Keiji is the most logical character and the voice of reason. Yes, he just had an emotional outburst in his confrontation with Midori, but I think he could justify this outburst as since the humans are tasked with killing Midori anyway. Keiji is the best at rationalizing. If we want to focus on the “greater good” of saving as many humans as possible, we need to rationalize that we need to kill Midori and leave the other dolls to die. If anyone is going to point out this harsh truth, shouldn’t it be Keiji?

If literally anyone else points this out, it would be a huge, dramatic turning point for them, while with Keiji it would be in line with how he’s always behaved. I would resist having anyone else point this out and keep my focus on Keiji, and I would treat this as a potential turning point for him. Perhaps he will come out of this arc by learning to change his harshly logical mindset, or perhaps he will double-down on it.

In contrast, I would write Shin and Kanna as more sympathetic to the dummies, who are vulnerable underdogs much like them. I hesitate to make Shin too nice since he is an antagonist after all, but I still want to believe that, in his heart of hearts, he would empathize with the dummies. (Since it’s me, I would indulge myself and give Shin some melodramatic speeches about how Keiji and Logic Sara are filthy hypocrites who don’t actually care about saving anyone but themselves. He’s a talkative antagonist and he Has Opinions about strong and weak people that he Must Share.) 

In my Fake Reko analysis that I mentioned earlier, I pulled screenshots of how both Shin and Kanna react emotionally to the idea of Fake Reko dying, and they both affirm her humanity. I think it would be really cool if those early reactions could foreshadow them both trying to affirm the humanity of these new dolls!

So that sets the stage for conflict within our group. I would write Logic Sara as more inclined to side with Keiji, whether the Player wants her to or not. And I would write Emotion Sara as someone who would side with Kanna.

I would treat this as a big shining moment for Kanna to grow as a person who realizes her voice has value. She has internalized the loving messages that both Kugie and Shin tried to impart to her. Kanna wants to save everyone’s lives, and she also doesn’t want Keiji to damage his soul any further by continually rationalizing that they need to sacrifice people to survive.

Hinako is a key player here. Personally, I am most excited for what the story does with Hinako, due to her connections with my favorite characters.

She is Keiji’s dummy partner. With Hinako, Keiji has a second chance to help a little girl, since he previously voted to kill Kanna. He also has a chance to double-down on his harsh views that we need to kill these girls for the greater good. I would write Keiji as redeeming himself in the Emotion Route, and becoming a darker person in the Logic Route.

Hinako parallels Kanna as a depressed middle school girl. I would love to see Kanna befriend Hinako and teach her the same loving lessons she learned from Kugie, Shin, and Emotion Sara. Hinako is a cynical weak person who expects to be used, which is most similar to Shin’s old cynical attitude. Wouldn’t it be lovely for Kanna to help Hinako like how Shin was able to help Kanna? I couldn’t resist that if I was writing!

However, I’m most excited about the potential for a Shin-Hinako alliance! Since Shin would see similarities between Hinako and Kanna, and he could grow protective of her in spite of himself, and I just think it would be really really cute, okay? Anyway, I am all in for that theory that Shin and Hinako should team up to try to kill Keiji, because I think that would be exciting and dramatic and honestly hilarious. So that’s what I would write! But I would make them fail, and Keiji kills Hinako instead, and Shin comes out of this arc feeling even more self-righteous and hating Keiji and Logic Sara even more. Muahaha.

(If I was writing a redemption arc for Shin though! I’d make his feelings reach Sara, and they could come to another emotional understanding, and maybe they could forgive each other. I don’t expect that to happen in canon, but it is nice to think about.)

Anyway, that’s how I would write the fallout! But it could turn out completely different!! There’s literally so much that I can’t anticipate, and I’m trying to brace myself that many of my ideas will probably turn out to be wrong. We’ll have to wait and see!

[marvellfashion]

So, another Hellfire Club fashion post, but this time about the Shaw family and adjacent characters. Now, Sebastian is an interesting character (terrible guy, terrible, but a better CHARACTER than he gets credit for in my biased opinion) but he does not have a good fashion history. Like. At all. It's honestly almost worse than his villainy. But you know who DOES have style? His son Shinobi. Sadly created during the 90s when it was acceptable to name Japanese characters things like Shinobi (and Lady Mandarin, and Kamikaze, YES REALLY) Shinobi Shaw has had some LOOKS. Like his father he's made some very bold choices and isn't afraid of color (Sebastian wore HOT PINK through most of the 80s, and once combined it with lilac and orange in the same look, it was hideous but I applaud his courage) but UNLIKE his father, who really should stick to business suits in neutrals, Shin has made it work! Okay sometimes he hasn't either but I love him anyway. While Shaw was all about pink in the 80s, Shin was all about purple in the 90s, whether it was blatant

Or something small, like a vest

This is from a trading card, and honestly I love it? Yes, the huge arm gauntlets and epaulets are PATENTLY RIDICULOUS but Shinobi is extra and I love how it is just the PEAK of how he keeps trying to channel the 80s New Romantic fashion that he was a decade late for. Seriously, the other Hellfire Men are dressing like it's the 1880s, but I think Shin is actually going for the 1980s, just the Adam & the Ants type 80s were people were taking inspo from the 1880s. If that makes sense.

I don't actually know what to call this AT ALL except he seems working very hard to draw attention to his ass and...that tracks for him. He can do "normal" business/upscale fashion well too, of course

This was his first appearence and it was in...'91? The 90s, anyway, and the cut of his suit was VERY on-trend for that era. The 90s mens suits were very baggy.

And check out his bowler hat (with a purple band!) and his fancy cane here! My fave though is this. I can't decide if it's FABULOUS or RIDICULOUS but it is FLAMBOYANT and honestly the most "Shinobi" look to me Look at this. LOOK AT THIS. He has on a big violet pirate coat with contrasting lilac lapels and gold embroidery, a big deep red-pink blouse, and LAVENDAR PINSTRIPED PANTS. This is the exact level of Shinobi Being Extra that defines Shinobi. And, let's talk about the person on the left? Because she NEEDS to be talked about.

So this absolute beauty is Mindmeld. She's Shinobi's bodyguard/mercenary in one issue of X-Force in the 90s and she is short-lived but ICONIC. She's very cool, very tough, implied to be transgender (which would make her the first mutant to be written as trans, not counting stuff like shapeshifters and aliens, but trans like real people are trans), and like look at this LOOK? She's like channeling MAD military glam/army surplus chic with BLING here. I love the suspenders, and her piles of bracelets, and that style of gloves. I really think she should be brought back and updated. The jodhpur pants with extra buttons are like, they're not hot now, but that's another thing I think was high-fashion in her time? Another little-known Hellfire lady is Lourdes Chantel. Like a lot of bad guys, Sebastian has a dead fiancee from before he became a villain. Unlike a lot of bad guys, he doesn't whine all the time and announce it to everyone (and I appreciate that) so maybe that's why most people don't know her, but though she only appeared in two issues, Lourdes had SOME LOOKS.

Lo

Look at this QUEEN. She was from Barcelona, so she's rocking this very traditional Spanish look with a mantilla, which is what you call that style of black veil. And that's gorgeous already but I just love her EARRINGS and her BLACK LACE GLOVES like I don't know how a woman who clearly loved style could also love Sebastian Shaw. Speaking of that, I hope Lourdes stays dead, actually, she doesn't need to see what he became after her death. RIP baby. To Sebastian himself, he does not have a lot of good looks, fashion-wise or in general, but something I think is worth mentioning is that the few times he's dressing like a NORMAL PERSON in the 80s and it's NOT a business suit, it's a sweater, and I love that. Like, look how NORMAL he looks in that cable-knit turtleneck and shearling coat? Dude clearly liked soft warm textures and given he grew up in deep poverty during Pittsburgh winters (he was born in Pittsburgh) I get that. You'll also notice that Senator Kelly is in both of these. The blonde woman? Senator Kelly's wife, Sharon. Sharon used to work at the Hellfire Club as a waitress, so during Kelly's meeting with Shaw, she decided to surprise him by showing up as HIS waitress in her old uniform. I low-key think she was trying to facilate a threeway because like...she's saying she wanted to "please" Kelly....and she's doing it RIGHT IN FRONT OF SHAW (who found the whole thing HILARIOUS, which I love)....girrrrrl. And I include this to mention that Sharon Kelly is ALSO A QUEEN

Look at her. Started at the bottom and now she's here. You get that Kelly money, girl. Unfortunately, that did not save her---she ends up dying shortly after this, having gotten caught in the crossfire of an X-Men battle, and that's what started Senator Kelly thinking seriously about the whole "mutants are dangerous" thing. ....also what drove him into the waiting burly arms of Sebastian Shaw who also knows what it is to lose a wife, but that's just MY twisted fan theory. Anyway, I know this was big, but these characters are all connected and I thought submitting them all together would flow well as a sort of story, plus some of them really need to be better-known!

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Shinobi! We love a flamboyant man! 💁🏻‍♀️ don’t you think in that second image it kind of looks like a weird Torero outfit?! Like the shoulders and the jacket and like the accent on his waist, it gives me that vibe!

Mindmeld that is one ICONIC LOOK! I mean crop top with those pants AND suspenders!!! And we can’t forget the jewels!!! She looks fantastic

Lourdes it’s such a shame that we don’t have the spanish look in better quality because it’s wonderful! And Sebastian well the man is living his own fantasy let’s leave it at that 😂

[ill-be-istj-if-no-one-else-is]

How do you think INTP being the most intelligent stereotype even came to be? every INTP I’ve met is quite literally Not Great. Or maybe why Ti is seen as one of the top functions to have in terms of intelligence rather...?

As per usual, I blame Keirsey, who was an INTP and who had, shall we say, an INTP’s eye for seeing intelligence in others. The bias in his descriptions is both palpable and hilarious. I believe we can also blame the term “the rationals” for the NTs on him, so like, this is what we’re working with.

There are examples of very smart INTPs (Einstein probably was one) and I’ve know some smart INTPs but yeah on average they’re...average (this is not an insult, most people of most types are average), and I don’t know your type but as an ISTJ this brings up all my seven-kinds-of-smart/”okay so you’re a genius but can you submit your work by the deadline” feelings. I’d rather work with someone who’s smart but not brilliant, but who actually makes progress on their ideas.

I think that’s the key: my personal take is that intuitive leaps are indeed responsible for a certain amount of genius ideas. Making previously unheard of connections is the sort of thing that when you get it right, gets you called a genius. On the other hand, it also leads to things like Einstein rejecting quantum theory, and the average INTP is not discovering relativity. Meanwhile a sensor is possibly less likely to come up with a groundbreaking new theory out of nowhere (this doesn’t mean they can’t be geniuses, I just suspect sensors are more geniuses of persistence) but also is probably going to be far more observant and make fewer complete mistakes. The highs and lows of an INTP are I suspect much more extreme than those of, say, an ISTJ, and if you happen to catch a low, or even a middle, you’re not going to be impressed.

As for Ti: I joke around a lot about Ti being the worst function and like, it’s probably my least favorite to work with (hang out with, fine, work with, please give me some goddamn Te or at least high Fe) but I suspect the stereotype comes from a certain “absent-minded professor” idea of genius (which is a very narrow definition of genius but I do know extremely smart people who fit that mold) and there’s probably some overlap with enneagram 5 as well. I haven’t gone off on this for a while (also I just woke up and am only half a coffee cup in, sorry for how incoherent this is) but I feel there’s a real problem on the internet and typology Tumblr that confuses reading a lot of random Wikipedia articles with being a smart person. A certain amount of curiosity is an important element of being smart, but you know what’s invaluable? Knowing what you don’t know. You know what else is valuable? Seeing your work through even when it sucks. Curiosity and even insight are only the first parts and a lot of average high Ti users and 5s stall out there. I mean you can have the greatest idea on earth, but we call Einstein a genius because he also proved that he was right and did the work.

Part of why I am also pretty unimpressed with internet INTPs who scream about how smart they are is they always bring up loving quantum physics but have, well, read the random Wikipedia articles and that’s it and sure, the concepts are pretty great but can you do the math, and can you apply it in ways where it’s actually useful, or do you want to sit in an armchair and be like “wow, quantum physics, man”? Because that’s not genius, that’s just liking things, and you can like things but it doesn’t make you smarter to spend your time liking quantum physics vs. liking prime time soap operas or baseball. You have to do the work too, not just enjoy the fun concepts.

I should note after this giant ramble: I don’t know why people got on the idea that reading Wikipedia articles makes you smart (it doesn’t make you dumb, but thinking this alone will make you smart is pretty dumb), and this is a much bigger question than MBTI. I suspect it has to do with a pop-culture idea of intelligence, that winning on Jeopardy=intelligence rather than knowing a lot of random things. It’s why science PhDs on TV shows always know like 17 scattered fields instead of you know, acting like someone who dedicated five years in their 20s to studying a single highly specific thing and writing a couple hundred pages on it. The INTP stereotype looks the part but there’s nothing below the surface; actual INTPs (and high Ti users, and 5s) can be extremely intelligent people but there are also definitely plenty who just know some trivia and are loud and insufferable about it.