#and historically we haven't gotten along very well

[fandomtrashbag]

Inktober 2023, Prompt 1: Dream

[ewingstan]

any strong opinions on amy dallon

Feel like answering this is the equivalent of inviting a vampire into my home.

If this is just asking how I personally feel about Amy Dallon the character: I'd say she's among the strongest characters wildbow has written. She was used exceptionally well throughout Worm; in her initial interactions with Taylor, her smugness and petty insults help convince the reader to doubt the use of hero/villain as absolute markers of moral standing. As it goes on, and we see more of Amy's home situation, it becomes more clear how much Amy's haughtiness towards the villains comes from her insecurity; a desperate attempt to differentiate herself from them so that she can feel more like she belongs with the Dallons. It humanizes the heroes—stopping Ward from becoming a simple palette swap story where all the heroes are ontologically evil and the villains are brave noble freedom fighters—while making the hero/villain conceptual framework seem all the more ridiculous and destructive.

Later, around the same time Taylor is talking to Sabah and Lily about how "hero" and "villain" are just labels that don't determine one's morality, Amy is having the same realization—and panicking about it, because it means that being a hero doesn't mean she can't be the horrible person she fears she is. Because while she's figure out that hero/villain doesn't necessarily have any metaphysical weight, she's still sure that good person/bad person are clear ontological categories. And if being a hero doesn't just mean you're a good person, then she might really be the person her parent's treatment of her implies she is. She might actually be in danger of acting on those troubling thoughts that surely no good person would have.

In terms of her Ward stuff, I haven't gotten to the big things people had problems with so I can't comment too much. I think Ward Amy is effective as a villain in Victoria's story, but all the plot points of her allying with Goddess and taking command of the prisoners make sense only for a character whose the villain of Victoria's story, and don't make sense for Amy as we saw her in Worm. These plot points are working off the "person who thinks in terms of good and evil and is convinced she's evil" thing without addressing how by the end stage of worm, we'd seen her attitude had changed and that she'd started to move towards seeing people as not being inherently anything. Moreover, the writing kind of reaffirms the belief that some people are just bad people. I might not have that critique if there was more framing like "Amy is behaving this way because she's been told by everyone that she's villainous and so is falling into the expected role," but that's not really a thing in Ward. Hell, its less of a thing than it was in Worm.

There are shitty things Ward Amy does that I can get behind and say "yeah Worm Amy would do that," like going along with Carol's reconciliation plan and then running after Victoria when she leaves. Sure, she wants to resolve that, that's consistent with the original motivation of the wretchening incident. But most of the Amy writing after that, nah. I'm sympathetic to the "That's a different character" claims for everything past arc nine or so. That's her Noelle clone or something palling around with Goddess. Have Amy step out of the plot after the Dot interlude and ride off into the sunset, and let WB do a compelling pathetic-yet-very hatable villain with some other character.

If this is about recent intra-fandom stuff:

You can point out how a character is described in kinda racist language, both to criticize the text and to analyze what the story is doing with that character. Don't see how that's controversial, not sure how that got turned into "you're saying she's black". Authors making a white character read as bad or degenerate by describing them as sharing traits with black/brown stereotypes is a pretty common trope historically, its worth noting it when it happens.

And while I can see why people could get inspired by some aspect of how Amy is made to feel like a degenerate, and run with it by depicting her as literally dirty/pest-ridden or writing her with more taboo kinks, I don't think such depictions are beyond criticism. I might defend some of them on the basis of alternate readings of the character. If you're doing something with it, using Amy to explore something you're really interested in—there's at least a discussion to be had, and maybe something interesting would come if it. But you can't meet an honest critique of the ideas in your work, or a claim that they make already bad parts of her original depiction worse, by saying "its just a joke." Its art about Amy, there's gonna be ideas and messaging that goes along with it, even without you meaning to put them in. Don't fight that, embrace it! We'll all be better shitposters if we consider our shitposts worthy of critique.

[missedditart]

Along with my Lackadaisy hyperfixation I've also become obsessed with under the devils moon by @libras-interactives. I absolutely love their ocs and can't wait to see more of them in the story. I made some fan designs of them and thought it couldn't hurt to share them. I had a lot of thoughts about their designs so anyone who is interested can read about that below. Also, English isn't my first language so please ignore any spelling mistakes and such.

Malwina

Malwina's design was really fun, also the first one I did. She is described as having black fur and hair and orange eyes. I knew if  I wasn't careful she could end up looking like Ivy, so I made her hair color brighter than her fur color and also made her hair curly/wavy. I also emphasized the eyes as they're often pointed out in the text as big and pumpkin-like. I wanted her to look curious but maybe a little unsettling if she stares at you too long. I also gave her soft shapes and rounded years since she is very friendly albeit a bit pushy.

Máire 

for Máire just mostly followed the description we get of her, calico, auburn hair and green eyes. The thing I had to think about for this drawing is what kind of clothing she would wear. I went between thinking she would prefer something stylish or something comfy. I'm not an expert on 1920s fashion so I mostly looked at old clothing catalogs to get a feel for the clothes she could wear. I settled on something more in between a comfy shirt with a stylish skirt. I based the tarot cards in her hand on Pamela Colman Smith’s designs. Also since she is wearing a shirt I couldn't show off the heart fur pattern on her chest but it's definitely there.

Sylvester

Sylvester doesn't have a very striking design but that's the point. For his facial structure i took some inspiration from Asa Sweet and Bobby Bastion from the comic but I also tried to make him stand out on his own. Other than that I kept close to the text, gray suit and graying fur. I was tempted to give him a colorful gaudy tie, maybe something his wife insisted he should wear. To make him more interesting but again he was supposed to be drab and unassuming. So I decided against it. (I still headcanon that his wife gives him gaudy ties and insists he wear them and he cant say no to her.)

Flynn

Flynn was the one I had the most ideas for but also the one I'm the least happy with the result of but might as well share it. We haven't gotten many physical descriptions of him and what we get is somewhat vague. I also haven't played all the backstories so there might be something there that I've missed. But from what we do get he is often described as odd eyed and two faced, this gives me the impression he has a chimera pattern. We haven't been given any specific color so I chose what I thought fit best. black and bluish gray to make him cold and dark looking, i gave him green as an accent color. I probably went a bit heavy on the devil shape language but it's fun so… I also wanted to color the tip of his shoes white or gray to make them look like goat hooves but they ended up looking too much like bowling shoes so I decided against it. He still has a hoof-like pattern on his shoes which probably isn't very historically accurate for 1920s men's shoes haha. And lastly his cane is only described as black and ivory but nothing specific on the shape. I figured giving it some interesting motif would be fun so I went with a snake. specifically a black mamba witch don't look dangerous until you get too close or they open their mouth. I'm sure a fitting metaphor could be made from that. My design for him will probably change if we get new info about him later in the story but so far this is how i imagine him.

[optimisticlucio]

Growing up Jewish means that, among other things, you get used to a passive but everpresent dread that the rest of the world will eventually want to see you dead. Passover is about that one time the Egyptians enslaved all of the Jews, and despite trying to kill us, we survived. Purim is about that one time a Persian minister tried to have us all killed, but we survived. Hannukah is about the time the Greeks destroyed our holy sites and tried to have us all killed, but we survived. Tisha Be'Av. Holocaust Remembrance Day. Tzom Gedalia. It's gotten to a point where we commonly joke about how 90% of our holidays are just "they tried to kill us, they didn't, let's eat."

If it was merely historical, that'd be one thing, but this sort of fear is far from merely being a story passed down by your elders. My great grandma's entire family was burned alive in the Pogroms. My uncles were beat up for speaking up about antisemitism. My brother was bullied relentlessly in school for being circumcised. "Generational Trauma" is the correct term to define this, but I do think it's important to highlight how every generation re-experienced this trauma. Luckily, I haven't experienced this sort of violence yet beyond some dickheads online, but I don't believe this'll stay the case for much longer.

I want to be clear that despite this all, I'm not pessimistic about my future as a Jew or of the Jewish People as a whole; I'm a hopeless idealist, whether it's about individual life choices or about broader political change in general. We've made it this far, I don't think we'll be taken out that easily, and we can certainly build a better world without having to hide in a gilded cage of our own making. But holy shit, have I heard some concerning things from people recently.

Antisemitism is no longer the Cain's Mark it used to be. Saying this I now realize that it never was this sort of mark it was made out to be, but atleast while I was growing up, it felt like it was atleast socially unacceptable to be openly against the Jews. In the past few years I've had to come to terms with the fact that even if this was the case, it very much no longer is, and the past few months had this process exacerbate significantly.

You guys have heard about the Houthis, right? Paramilitary organization in Yemen, not the official government but controls enough of the country that they function as the government, been blocking trade through the Red Sea as of the time of posting? Those guys. Their logo has "A Curse Upon the Jews" written in big red letters. There is no other way to read that sentence, it is very explicit. Seeing people cheering for this group openly on social media made me somewhat uneasy, both for the... well, the antisemitism, and also that this group is infamous for its blatant human rights violations, including but not limited to bringing back chattel slavery. So, I brought this up to people.

I was expecting some sort of shock, right? Even if they fundamentally believe blocking the red sea is good, that they'd readjust their position on the group itself. "I think it's a cool thing to do, but wow what assholes." I shouldn't have to explain why antisemitic slave owners are bad guys, right?

Right??

The sheer amount of people who responded with one justification or another for why it's actually totally fine blew my fucking mind. "Oh, it's not actually slavery, they're treated very well." "Well, they don't really mean they hate the Jews." "It's just a different cultural form of labor!" "Well, when you have a country like Israel oppressing your people-"

Yeah I think I should probably address the elephant in the room real quick. Israel, and its fascist-adjacent government, has nothing of relevance when someone brings up the issue of worldwide antisemitism. Antisemitism has been thriving for years now. If you open a map Yemen is nowhere near Israel. There's certainly a conversation to have about Israel's abhorrent treatment of palestineans in the west bank and gaza, no doubt, but, frankly speaking, that's not the goddamn conversation we're having right now, and I feel the need to specify this because I've had multiple people derail such conversations consistently. If your first response to someone talking about antisemitism is to bring up Israel, for the love of god reexamine your biases.

Antisemitism has been growing, a lot, and we're scared. According to polls, 7% of the US thinks that the holocaust did not happen, with these numbers increasing to 20% if you sort the results to only the 18-29 age group and 9% of Americans think it's acceptable to hold neo-nazi views. Trust me, I wish these numbers were flukes, but I have seen these same numbers in multiple polls by numerous sources in the past 5 years.

7% of the US is about 23.2 million people.

There are only 16.2 million Jews in the entire world.

You, do not, have to justify antisemitism, I fucking promise you.

[oneatlatime]

The Winter Solstice part 2: Avatar Roku

This episode opens with a complete cul de sac of a conversation. I guess it was for character development? We already know Sokka and Katara are ride or die, but I like the idea of Appa getting to express opinions and be understood and listened to.

My thanks to this guy for moving the plot along.

Zuko is back to being an asshole. And he was so much more interesting last episode.

Zuko is only 16? I thought he was at least mid-twenties. He's in charge of a whole ship at 16. That's an alarming notion.

You know I haven't even met this firelord guy yet but something tells me that Iroh is right and Zuko is giving him too much credit. I'm kind of impressed by how much of a shadow the firelord character is casting over the show without even being introduced yet.

I don't get Katara's point here. It's too dangerous is exactly the reason they're there? It's a killer line but I don't think it makes sense? Also what is with their faces here? Sokka's poor teeth.

This asshole. I was hoping he was a single episode character. He's so good at being a villain that he undermines Zuko as the main villain. Although judging by the reaction of the guy on the left, Zhao's villainy is not typical of fire nation military. He's unusually evil. Also since when is Zuko a traitor? And why does Zhao wear a toga outside of his armour?

Going above the cloud ceiling actually made it worse. Did not see that coming. I have no knowledge of meteorology or whatever the relevant science is, but if they're high enough up to be above the cloud ceiling, shouldn't it be getting hard to breathe?

How. You know it's a good thing that airbenders were all monkly before they disappeared because I think they're all secretly one man armies.

Zhao is a butt, but he's a clever butt. Zuko probably would know more, although in this instance I don't know that he does? Unless that villager he kicked through the door told him. Actually that's probably why Zuko was so close on their tail. So yeah, Zhao is a clever butt.

I know the feeling buddy.

I know that feeling too.

Sokka very solidly being relegated to comic relief in this episode.

Surely if the temple was abandoned it wouldn't be so well swept? Or lit?

Airbenders once again being a one man army.

I was about to point out that there was no way they could know where they were going, but the show beat me to it. Points for self-deprecation.

Avatars can bend magma? Would that be earth bending? Or firebending because of the heat? Or waterbending because it's liquid? Actually, can water bending bend all liquids, or only water based ones? Could waterbenders bend oil? Can anyone?

I know as little about vulcanology as I know about meteorology, but wouldn't it be kind of hot walking there?

This sage's speech here is really well done. Worldbuilding, plus one hundred years of historical context, plus real world consequences to both the Avatar's disappearance and the firelords who took advantage of it. Of course the avatar never appearing would have consequences. Things have gotten warped. Also interesting that the sage uses the word 'hope.' What were they hoping for the next Avatar to do? Were the sages originally against a fire nation war? Were they hoping the avatar would appear and defeat the fire lord who started the war before it really got started? Has this 'Aang defeats the firelord' plan been in place for 100 years?

Sokka not being relegated to comic relief after all! I'd love to know the context of Sokka's dad inventing fake firebending and then feeling the need to pass it on to his son too. A party trick? Actually that would be pretty tasteless (or pretty gallows humour) given that they're southern water tribe.

How is this bridge still standing. Also pretty.

Sokka and Katara proving that they share a brain. Both a good plan, and a good save. Seeing them bounce off each other is always fun.

Momo has the most adorable sneeze!

"What took you so long?" Never has a rebuke been delivered in a more friendly way.

What is with the stairs in this temple? First Zuko can sneak up unheard, then Zhao and a whole crew/platoon/brigade/whatever shows up without anyone noticing? Is this temple carpeted?

So Aang has a maximum of about seven months to learn three other elements to a high enough standard to be able to defeat the firelord and whatever armies he brings with him. No pressure.

BADASS!!!!! You guys are screwed!!!!!!

Lava bending! Magma bending? Badass bending!

Momo saves the day! Did not see that coming!

This whole sequence is so good.

Zhao does not see nuance. Kind of satisfying to see that all the Fire sages are royally screwed. That's frankly quite realistic. Remember in school when one kid misbehaved so the whole class had to miss recess? Same energy from Zhao. Makes sense too: dictatorial empires are not interested in mercy or fairness.

I love the lighting on Zuko's boat. Very yummy textures.

And just like the southern air temple, this one also makes the correct decision and ends on silence.

Credits tell me that one of the voices this episode was done by someone with the abominably badass name of Clement von Frankenstein.

Can you believe these two shots are from the same episode? So pretty.

Final thoughts

I honestly forgot that this was part two of a two part episode. It was pretty much 1000% standalone.

This episode is also good. I think I preferred part 1, because the fire nation in general does get on my nerves a little. Part 1 had Zuko and Iroh being alternatively stupid and badass, which was fun to see. But I'm finding increasingly that Zuko and Iroh are not at all representative of the fire nation in general, and the fire nation in general annoys me. This episode is still really good, and it set up a whole lot for the rest of the season, but it also had Zhao the butt, so points off for that.

Sokka fell hundreds, if not thousands, of feet and is totally fine with it to the point where it never gets brought up again. As Sokka, or as Sokka's sister, I would have had to lie down for a bit after that.

Seeing Aang and company with the addition of the fire sage work as a team is fun, and I like how much understated yet important work Appa and Momo had to do this episode. Appa got them there safely through a hail of flaming whatever-those-were, Momo played Aang's shadow behind the firebending door and retrieved Appa when the temple was sinking, and Appa got them out of there again. They would be so lost without Appa.

There really wasn't much Katara this episode. There wasn't much Sokka either.

How are Aang and friends going to get out past the fire nation blockade again? How is Zuko?

The fact that Zuko is only 16 is something I'm going to have to turn over in my head for a bit. Learning that rattled me. I would say at first that he doesn't feel 16, but looking back at previous episodes with the knowledge of his age, I'm going to have to reevaluate all those times I called him an ass. Maybe he was just being 16. It feels crazy to put a 16 year old on a globetrotting manhunt and in charge of a ship, but this is a world where the Kyoshi warrior ladies are led by a girl Sokka's age, and a pair of teenagers are escorting a child avatar across the world with no adult supervision. Some of this is cartoon logic - it's a kids' show, so the heroes will be viewers' ages or close on, but also, every time I catch myself wondering where the responsible adults are, I have to remind myself that the war ate them up. I thought before this episode (when I thought Zuko was older) that it was a reflection of the state of the war that the fire nation had adults fighting while the other nations were reduced to relying on children/teenagers, but finding out Zuko is a teenager too puts a whole different spin on that. Seems this war has been universally destructive.

Zhao was determined to arrest Zuko (again, why is Zuko a traitor suddenly? Is it because he won the duel thing?) but the (bad) fire sages didn't try to stop Zuko; in fact they worked under his command. So I'm guessing Zhao's opinion of Zuko isn't the fire nation's opinion of him? Actually, is there any indication that the fire sages knew who Zuko was when he showed up?

This episode had good fights, lots of pretty heavy plot stuff and exposition stuff, both for what's coming and for the past and present state of their world. Not much in the way of humour, which makes sense given the subject matter. This episode could have devolved into an infodump, but it didn't.

I'm happy to see how consistently this show is sticking to the idea of consequences that can't be handwaved. Avatar disappears leads to fire sages losing hope. Fire nation going to war leads to previously non-partisan group getting twisted into serving the nation, to the point where they become the enemy of their previous purpose, which can be done to them partially because they have lost hope. Related: that one fire sage did not have to go against his fellow sages and his order's bastardised purpose. He could have taken the easy path, especially since the fire sages' purpose was changed long before he was born, probably. That's some impressive strength of character, to be loyal to an idea that basically died out before you were born. Given Zhao's general nature, all of the fire sages would have been arrested at the end of the episode regardless of what happened because Zhao had to have someone to blame, but that one sage couldn't know that. He's had weeks to come to a clear-eyed decision to betray the corrupt principles of his whole order/career/role. And he does! Good for him.

Now we have our ticking clock for the rest of the season. I loved what Roku said about how Aang will be able to learn the other bending styles because he's done it before. It establishes this permeability and connection between Aang and Roku, and maybe other avatars too. It kind of drives home that Aang isn't just a fun kid (although he absolutely is and I hope he never loses that), he's also something greater, bigger, older. He's like a cosmic entity, or a semi-divine being. And thank goodness he is such a goof, because a cosmic entity or a semi-divine being with unmatched and unmatchable skills and power that was also wrathful, or prideful, or any other negative quality, instead of a goofy happy peaceful kid would be apocalyptic.

That being said, this connection to Roku also goes kind of dark: how much of Aang is Aang? How much is an avatar an individual, as opposed to the sum of avatars that came before them? Can you separate the incarnation from the avatar? Will Aang ever get to belong to himself?

The fire sages are mostly quite old, and the last avatar was during their grandfathers' time. Is there anyone alive who remembers what it was like to live in a world where there is an avatar active? Bumi is very old, but he's Aang's age, so assuming becoming the avatar is something that happens when you're born or soon after, Bumi probably won't remember the last avatar. There was the old man from last episode that recognised Aang's airbender tattoos or clothes. Maybe he remembers the previous avatar? How closely do the last avatar dying and the air nomads getting wiped out coincide?

For that matter, even if Aang saves the world and gets reinstalled globally as the Avatar, does anyone know how to operate in a world where he's present? How do you address an avatar? Are you supposed to invite him to political events? Is he supposed to have a say in nations' internal conflicts? What is the avatar office and responsibilities in the human world? Is there even space for, or a need for, an avatar anymore, beyond the obvious 'defeat the fire nation' angle? What if, over the last century, people have taken over covering what were originally avatar responsibilities? Do those get given back to Aang? Are there any jobs that can only be performed by the avatar that have been left hanging for 100 years? How much clean up is Aang going to have to do? How many spirits like the black and white spirit from part 1 have been rampaging unpacified for a century? Are there whole swaths of the world made uninhabitable by unhappy spirits?

All the above questions could apply to a world that hasn't seen an airbender in a century too.

Also imagine how much it would have sucked being alive during the time when Aang originally should have appeared as the Avatar. Every new fire nation atrocity would have you thinking "surely this is the last straw that provokes the avatar into coming out into the open" and then, year after year, fire nation atrocity after fire nation atrocity, no one ever comes. I'd be so bitter.

The fire sage bringing up how long Aang has been gone made me think of something else: are Aang and Bumi the only people still living who know what it's like to live in peacetime? Everyone born in the last 100 years has been born into war. Forget about remembering how to live in a world with an avatar, or any airbenders, does anyone remember how to live in a world at peace?

Which makes it so fitting that it's Aang - one of two people who remember peace - that is being set up to defeat the firelord and if he does (rather, when he does - it's a kid's cartoon, the good guys are going to win somehow), it's going to be Aang, in his role as Avatar, who will be ideally placed to guide the world into transitioning to being at peace. I feel like it would be a different story if an avatar forged in war was being tasked with ending the war - for one, probably a much bloodier story. There's something quite poetic about one of the last people who remembers peace being the one destined to re-introduce/grant/give it to the rest of the world.

Looking back on what I wrote, I think I said more about random tangents that this episode made me think of than I said about the episode itself. Obviously it got me thinking. I guess that means it was good?

[alicentsultana]

Hi! Sorry if im bothering you again but i wanted to ask you two questions ,if you dont mind

1)What are your thoughts on Alys Rivers?

2)Since you see have watched the Tudors ,what are your overall thoughts about the show?

Anyway ,have a good day!

Hi! Sorry for taking so long!

1. Alys Rivers was made to contradict Aemond and his hate for bastards. I haven't read the books and I do not intend to, I do not know what the book says about her, so I follow what people have said about her only, she is a bastard, she's a witch, and I kind of feel like she will have this change of sides. I'm actually excited to see how her relationship with Aemond will progress, but I also want to know her personality, like she doesn't strike me as a badass witch (but I can be wrong), only this beautiful seer that maybe is kind enough, I mean, why Aemond would order to kill a bunch of people and let her alive? What did she said? How did she act? Aemond is very polite and is very well educated, what does this woman have/did that was different? So I don't believe she have a """""""great (strong, femme fatale) personality""""" otherwise she would clash with him. But this completely based on the voices in my head I feel like we will have a very different Alys Rivers. To support my claim, there is also the fact that he stated that he wouldn't mind marrying Helaena, while Aegon was complaining about it, so Alys could kind of fit in this type, which I don't look forward to, but again, only my speculations.

2. The tudors have a special place in my heart no matter how badly it represented the people of that time. I was in a very great six wives obsession at the time, so along with the show I watched lots of documentaries and read a lot of historical takes and opinions about that time period, so I never let the show and critical part mix. However, I believe they did a good job in representing some key events of the time, like Henry's despair over what he did to Anne, his feelings about Mary and Elizabeth, the change in character he had when he suffered the accident, that also happened in real life, how he must have felt when Jane died and like he got rid of three wives some way and it must have gotten to him.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is hot, Henry VIII was described as hot when he was younger because he was like athletic, redheaded viking and taller than most men so ambassadors were like 👁👄👁 about him, and he was perfect catholic Prince, he was Aragon and Castella son-in-law, and they captured this glorious beginning and his ups and downs till the end of his life.

Let's not talk about the clothes, even though I love it, I wish it was more accurate.

I really like also how they portrayed his love story with Anne, because we have his surviving letters to her and he would do teenager things like draw their first name initial letters together with arabesques and hearts, he redecorated his palace to have tiles and figures of this drawings, hearts and symbols to represent both of them, he move heaven and earth for her, and it was shown in the show. Though real life Anne was apparently more reluctant at the beginning, and more daring and witty when he couldn't get rid of Catherine. They had a deep love story and after that he wasn't as passionate and not as engaged in his relationship as he was with her, or not as devoted as he was about Jane who gave him his heir.

So overall is a good show, and I watched many times to kill time when I could. If you haven't watched, I believe it's worth it give it a try!

[pynkhues]

Hey!! This is for the film ask ,animation addition!! Because I love cartoons and these films, I feel are a bit underrated so I’m wondering if you seen them and what your thoughts were

Coraline

Hotel Transylvania

Monster House

Wendell & Wild

Monsters inc

9

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Robots

Sry this is a lot 😭 but I absolutely love hearing your thoughts on movies

Hey! Don't apologise, anon, I love getting asked about movies, haha, so thank you, and thank you for your lovely words! 😊

Coraline

never seen | want to see | the worst | bad | whatever | not my thing | good | great | favorite | masterpiece

Definitely an iconic work in both stop motion and in children's horror. I've been thinking quite a lot recently about how so many fairytales and folklore stories that were historically aimed at children shared tropes and tones with horror. That link is explored amazingly well in the documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched, which I highly recommend, but I do love that there are these genre staples still in children's storytelling that brings that back to the fore. Coraline (along with a few of the other movies you've asked about) is definitely one of them, and I think is one of the ones that does it the best. Just a really great film.

Hotel Transylvania

never seen | want to see | the worst | bad | whatever | not my thing | good | great | favorite | masterpiece

I haven't seen this one, but I grew up with a lot of the director's other work (particularly The Powerpuff GIrls and Samurai Jack), so it's been on my list for a while. Now that my nephews are in the target demographic for it too, I should definitely try and watch it with them!

Monster House

never seen | want to see | the worst | bad | whatever | not my thing | good | great | favorite | masterpiece

I've heard a lot of good things about this one, but for some reason, I've just never gotten around to it.

Wendell & Wild

never seen | want to see | the worst | bad | whatever | not my thing | good | great | favorite | masterpiece

You've picked so many movies I've never seen, anon! That's truly a feat these days, haha. I've been really keen to see this one since it came out though. It's such a good cast, and Henry Selick is a giant among men when it comes to animation directors. Coraline and Nightmare Before Christmas are obviously iconic, but I'm very partial to James and the Giant Peach too!

Monsters Inc

never seen | want to see | the worst | bad | whatever | not my thing | good | great | favorite | masterpiece

Easily one of Pixar's best. A lot of this works due to the worldbuilding and voicework chemistry between John Goodman and Billy Crystal, but the script is really strong too and that sequence with the doors is so original and innovative.

9

never seen | want to see | the worst | bad | whatever | not my thing | good | great | favorite | masterpiece

Oh man, I remember seeing this when it came out, but I don't think I remember much about it beyond having watched it, so I don't really want to rate it, haha. Mmm, I'm pretty sure I liked it? Might be one to rewatch though.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

never seen | want to see | the worst | bad | whatever | not my thing | good | great | favorite | masterpiece

I'm going to say never seen, because I haven't watched it in full, but I worked in a kids clothing store for three years when I was at university, and we had a little nook in the back of the store where kids could sit and watch movies. Head office would get us one (1) new movie a year, and this was the third one we got, so there are certain scenes I could probably recite, despite having never watched it, haha.

Robots

never seen | want to see | the worst | bad | whatever | not my thing | good | great | favorite | masterpiece

Imperfect, but underrated! It's a shame that Blue Sky Studios went so downhill so fast, because their first few releases - particularly Ice Age, Robots and Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! - all suggested real promise and an interesting change in tone / pace compared to other animation houses at the time. Alas - they were reduced too quickly to sequels even before Disney shuttered them.

Ask me about movies

[oaxleaf]

mag 127 - remains to be seen

once again i have trouble getting invested in the historical statements. especially since this one is kind of irrelevant to the larger plot. it's interesting enough, i guess, but as i've said before the old-timey language makes it hard for me personally connect with it

i think the post-statement is far more interesting, to be honest. i find jon and melanie's slow reconnecting a really interesting period. they don't really ever get friendly, not like we so briefly saw them act the second time she gave a statement, but they make massive improvements this season (which will just end up being crushed in the end, but shhhhh, let me dream)

meanwhile, basira is getting more frustrated and hostile with him. and yeah, it's fair that she doesn't want him to invade her mind, but i think the reason they've gotten along so well so far is because they haven't been in many situations where they're emotionally vulnerable, and pretty much none where basira has to open up. she's very closed off from her emotions, even to herself, so it makes sense that she in particular hates the idea of jon, with whom she's so far only been friendly with on a proffesional level, suddenly getting into her brain

the door metaphor is one of my favourites. it is straight-up the curse of knowledge, and it makes me think of the fact that whilst all of jon's choices have brought him here, now that he's conscious of them and their impact, they are far more detrimental to his well being

[ninacarstairss]

hello cece my beloved soulmate <3

it is that time, the time where i promised i would tell you about my slight break over these two weeks! i made a cup of tea for you to keep your hands warm while i tell you all about it <3

so firstly, the musical. so as you know, i went to see six the musical, and it was so good! it was a historical musical similar to hamilton, but it was about king henry viii's six wives and they were in a GIRL GROUP! the music was so good, and i have so much envy for how much stamina the performers had, considering there were only the six of them doing all the vocals and all the dancing with no break. it was almost like being at a concert! and i also got taken to this fine dining restaurant attached to the theatre beforehand and i had this really nice rigatoni dish and a mango sorbet (and an apple cider hehe). it was amazing :D

so i took this whole weekend off (friday-sunday) so i could travel and not worry for time. i celebrated one of my best friend's birthdays at a korean bbq place, and it was so good. i've never done it before and it has been on my bucket list for quite some time. i also had soju for the first time as well, it was this peach flavour and i almost forgot it was alcoholic (it was like three drinks in one LMAO) because it tastes exactly like peaches. my friend also really liked her gift (she discovered young royals, so i got her this young royals tote bag), so that made me happy :')

and then the big event of the weekend, i still haven't processed it has happened, but i went and saw rina sawayama in concert. RINA SAWAYAMA! she's actually a real person???? i did tear up seeing her, i will not lie. my throat is sore from singing every single word (i was so proud of myself). i'm sad that lots of my concert videos were ruined by people who are six foot tall and waited to be at the front. (i only got there two hours early and i was second row from the front.), but it was a spiritual experience nevertheless.

and the people there were so nice, it was almost homely. a guy said he loved my glasses (i bought these red elton john looking glasses just for the show) and i took them off while telling him about them, and then he was like "your eye makeup! shut the fuck up, i love it!" unfortunately, i lost him once we got into the venue and my eye makeup melted :'( we also had some people try and invite us out to go clubbing after, but i was so overwhelmed with seeing rina IN PERSON!!! and also i had red tear streaks down my face from my sweat reactivating my red water-activated eyeliner. plus, i don't think i would have gotten into the clubs with two shirts folded into my pockets...

anyways, enough about me! tell me how your day and your week has been, what you've been up to. has work been treating you well? have you been getting more rest? looking after yourself properly? i'm sending you a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead <3333

hiii nero my beloved soulmate!!! i’d missed you!! <3

aw how did you know?? my hands are super cold right now, i really need that cup of tea <3

no way!! NO WAY!!! the six wives of henry viii in a girl group??? i feel the need to see this musical now. honestly a girl group, and they were singing and dancing all the time?? i’m in love just hearing you talk about it!! it sounds like it was really amazing!!! and that rigatoni dish and mango sorbet also sound sooo good :D

A YOUNG ROYALS TOTE BAG?? 😻 i’m in love and i need one too now!!! i’m very glad your friend liked it but of course she would!!! also, i’ve never tried soju and now i really want to!! i’m really craving peaches and soju

YOU WENT TO SEE RINA??? HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?? nero i’m so happy for you!!! your love for rina sawayama is legendary and i can’t believe you saw her live!!! i really hate all those super tall people at concerts but i’m so happy you loved it and you sand every ingle word!!! you know it was a really great concert when you’ve got a sore throat for screaming along to the songs

and the people 🥺 god i love those concerts where the people are just like a family. it makes the whole atmosphere so much better. and those glasses must have looked so cool!!! also, i love water activated eyeliners, but they do not hold up well with sweat lol but it’s a concert so of course your make up would totally melt during it 😂 but the read tear streaks down your face must have looked so cool!!! and sorry but how exactly did you have two shirts folded into your pockets?? 😂

i’m so happy it was such a great weekend!! it really sounds like it was wonderful and i’m so happy you saw rina IN PERSON!!! i could listen to you talk about this musical and this concert for days!! and also the food :)

as for me, i have been getting a little more sleep, and i also got more time to catch up with some friends and relax!! i have two days off this week (finally) and last week i went to a birthday party with some friends from work that i barely manage to see out of the shop, and we had a lot of fun. we also ate a lot at the buffet of course :D and now i’m currently sitting on my bed, wrapped in a warm blanket with simba purring on my lap, and this is how i plan to spend my whole day off 😌

i’m hugging you back real tight and spinning you around to the music of rina sawayama <3

[dalekriz]

LOST SKARO BLOG #2: An explanation of Dalek rankings.

Hello, unfortunate humans who follow Riz's blog. I'm Dalek Sey. I'm here to explain Dalek positions, ranking, and how both of those tie into the genetics of a Dalek. This is defiantly an informative post intended for human consumption and not a passive-aggressive jab at 'Dalek' Delmaru who keeps getting their basics confused. I 'appreciate' 'Dalek' Delmaru's contributions to Lost Skaro and I do not consider them a 'worthless fucking water dog'. I am also defiantly not being forced to write this opening by Supreme Dalek Storm.

Dalek ranks are designated and identified by three simple concepts: Mark, Breed, and Augments. A Mark is a feature that can be easily or safely changed. An example of a Mark would be hair color and armor model. A Dalek's breed is the exact genetics a Dalek was cloned for. A Breed decides the physical characteristics of the organic body of the Dalek. And lastly, Augments. Augments are the mechanical bits fused to the Dalek while they are still developing in the cloning vat. Some can be modified, some cannot. examples of Augments would, of course, be an eyestalk, headlights, or additional limbs. I'll dive into each category in order of importance.

1. Breed.

A Dalek's Breed decides what branch of the empire a Dalek fits into. On the tree of Dalek breeds, there's the trunk, a now-unused Breed dubbed 'Armored Daleks'. Armored Daleks used to pilot travel machines before those became wildly impractical. Armored Daleks tend to be small, Supreme Dalek Storm (who's an Armored Dalek) is about the size of a larger main coon cat inside the armor. branching off from that, there are two main branches. Imperial and Renegade. both exist within the empire but historically haven't gotten along well. Whether or not the two branches are coexisting or not is a sign of how well the Dalek empire is doing, as we only start in-fighting when there are enough resources to justify it. The main physical difference is that Renegade Daleks tend to have a shorter, stockier build, and Imperial Daleks have a taller, sinewy build.

Both branches have three main offshoot branches, Battlefield, Matenence, and Science. The titles are fairly self-explanatory. There are a ton of other branches off of these three, and often these branches overlap.

So remember earlier when I said that Breed couldn't be changed? I lied. It can be changed, but only if the Dalek in question is less than two years old and is undergoing genetic alteration to a similar Breed. For an example of this practice, I'll use Dalek Biological Archives Riz as an example. Their genetics are an absolute fucking mess but she'll work. Riz's breed was originally an 'Ironside', which is a shotty mix of Armored Dalek and some Battlefield Breed. When their original mission was finished, Riz was six months old. Since she was still young and malleable, they were altered to line up closer to an Archivist. Which lands somewhere between 'Battlefield' and 'Science'.

2. Augments.

Augments are installed on a Dalek before birth. They also varied wildly. In general, a Dalek has energy diffusers (also known as headlights or earlights), an eyestalk and related brain modifications, and reinforced spinal plating. Imperial branch Daleks also have modified heels and extra facial plating.

Again, this varies wildly. Special Weapons Daleks don't have any external Augments, and the weirder ranks, like an Overseer, have dozens -- if not hundreds- of modifications. Changeing Augments depends on the Augment. When I left the Imperial fleet during the Imperial-Renegade war, I had some of my plating removed. the heel Augments had to stay, though. and there was some very dubious, very painful gene modding... back to the main topic.

3. Mark.

A mark can be changed literally whenever. that's why hair dye exists. At Lost Skaro, a Dalek's Mark tends to be set to their natural hair color to save on resources. In the empire, a Dalek's Mark is set to whatever their position has as the default Mark. Armor is also part of a Mark since it can easily be changed. Arguably the most significant part of a Mark is the ID. collar. All Daleks wear a collar. The collar has a set of tags on it, two for basic identification, and possibly more depending on the Dalek. There are warning tags, which are bright yellow and are given to Daleks with 'undesirable' behavior. I have a tag for violence towards other Daleks and a tag marking that I'm an asymptomatic carrier of the Movellen virus. Daleks will often only part with their collars when they die. It's a Dalek's identity.

As a little wind-down, I'll list everyone on the blog's breeds and tags.

Supreme Dalek Storm (tossed on because I mentioned them): Armored Dalek, camera-like eyestalk (on both mutant and armor), drives around in a fucking tank and has an unknown yellow tag.

Dalek Sey (me): Imperial-turned-Renegade Commander, fucked-up spinal augment and partially biological eyestalk, grey hair and two warning tags.

Dalek Cess: Imperial, white hair and no additional tags.

Dalek Riz: Armored-Renegade Battlefield mix, declawed, green hair and an infighting tag.

'Dalek' Delmaru: beast of unknown origin (some Imperial battlefield dog if I had to guess), slanted energy diffusers and no spinal plating, navy hair and no collar.

Hope this satiates your constant questioning Delmaru, since APPARENTLY, Riz isn't good enough for you. I'm taking a damn nap. - Dalek Sey.

[booksandabeer]

so this isn't on the fic rec asks sheet you posted but I was wondering if you're following any wips at the time? And if yes, do you have one your most excited about about updates?

(english isn't my first language so sorry for any mistakes)

Hello there, inquiring person! 

I do indeed follow some WIPs, let's do a little round-up of what comes to mind right now, shall we? 

(this is by no means a complete list of all the WIPs I follow and there are also quite a few that I haven't even gotten started on but I just *know* will be fantastic, but even I can't read everything all at once.)

Here we go:

the world on fire by burlesquecomposer | 54K, Ch 18/?, Mature

Author’s summary: Steve loves old vinyl records, doodles on his files, and cannot remember a time that he didn't serve the TVA. And that suits him just fine—that is, until stray variant Bucky Barnes, fresh out of HYDRA's grasp, drops into his time theater and makes Steve question everything he believes in.

I've rec'd this one before but I like it so much and I think that it is criminally underread, so I'm just gonna mention it here again. Please read this gem of a story. It's well written, has a super fun premise,  clever plotting, wonderful characterizations, and a firm grasp on the SteveBucky dynamic.

The Hand of a Devil by @tessabennet | 37K, Ch 13/30 Explicit | Part 3 in What I'm Looking For series

Author’s summary: While Steve is buried under Arctic ice, frozen in time, Bucky Barnes is alive; and he has been turned into a weapon by his enemies, living as the Fist of Hydra - the Winter Soldier. It is a half-life, and the years are long and full of pain, as the world keeps on changing. This is part three of the series, [...] it spans the years between 1945 and 2012, following Bucky during his time as the Winter Soldier, but also some other familiar faces along the way.

Can I interest you in 30 chapters (well, currently 13) of PAIN? It is very well-written pain, I promise! With lots of historical details, great mission chapters, lots of insights into the Soldier's and Bucky's mind (whenever he resurfaces), and a really interesting take on how the trigger words were implanted. I *think* this can be read without knowledge of the first two parts, but to get the whole experience and to really understand all the references (which is half the...umm...fun?): do yourself the favor and just start at the beginning.

The Last First Time by seapigeon | 55K, Ch 3/4, Explicit

Author’s summary: In which two men out of time decide to join forces to take down the worst version of the Time Variance Authority, and gain a lot more than just victory. [...] Part post-EG fix-it, part Loki journey of self-discovery, and part ‘Let Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes Be Happy’. Plus plenty of other things. 

I was a bit hesitant to read this at first since it also features Steve/Loki (and even a hint of  WWThreesome, but it’s really only a brief reference, and SteveBucky is very much endgame in this) and that’s usually just not something that I personally like to read. BUT I love and trust this author so I decided to give it a try anyway. And oh, I’m so glad I did. This story is not just an EG-Fix-it, it also improves immeasurably on parts of Loki, TFATWS, and even Wandavision. It is pretty much the smarter, kinder version of the MCU post-EG. 

And then we have two fics that haven’t been updated in a while, but they’re not abandoned (at least to my knowledge). I will literally drop everything and run to my laptop the very moment the next chapters of these get posted:

Let me go to the window by @743ish | 16K, Ch 3/?, Explicit | Part 4 in A Home Game series

Author’s summary: “He feels like he's been reading the whole day from a book, following each line with his finger, and now that they’re alone, in arm’s reach, with the deadbolt turned firmly on the door, he’s lost his place on the page. He doesn’t know how much he can do, how soon Bucky is willing to let him give in to this. How much longer Steve has to pretend he hasn’t been dying all day from wanting him.”

In 1952, Steve Rogers has begun to live again. Down the line, it's gonna cost him.

I guess I could categorize this as a Mid-century Shrunkyclunks AU? Steve still became Captain America in this universe, but he survived the war, and in 1952 he goes to a Baseball game and meets veteran Bucky Barnes, and things go from there. 

I guess you could read this part without the first three, but really why would you want to do this? Start at the beginning! The writing is exquisite & the characterizations are excellent, and on top of that you get an interesting exploration of how Steve would experience the political and social climate of post-war America in the 1950s and his role as a national symbol in it. I feel woefully incapable of conveying just how good this story is. It is so quiet and measured in a way, but also so full of capital-F Feelings. The author tagged this with ‘Intensely Requited Love’ and yes, that’s it. That’s exactly it.     

i will soar, then by @pinballbrain | 61K, Ch 8/9, Teen | Sam/Bucky!

Author’s summary:  Bucky Barnes gets a new therapist. But he's not the only one who needs to. aka Bucky gets his shit together and does right by Sam. 

A Post-TFATWS character study of Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson. Yes, it’s told from Bucky’s POV and it is Bucky-centric, but that doesn’t mean that Sam gets short shrift in this at all. He’s not treated as Bucky’s crutch or his therapist. Instead, they both grow, and learn from, and lean on each other, and it’s written with so much love and empathy for both characters--I honestly never want this to end! 

So there you have it, these are my recs for today. 

You can always send in more requests for recs or other questions if you feel so inclined!

[shadow13dickpistons]

It's still the 6th in this part of the world, which means it is still the wonderful @shinayashipper 's birthday! Red is so hard on herself all the time, but words cannot express what she means to the rivalshipping community. She is the kindest, most welcoming, most prolific presence there is. She is enthusiastic, encouraging, friendly - any rival-centric place I hang out, everyone talks about how much we love Red, and if I ever heard anyone say they DON'T love Red, I will be first in line to punch them in the dick.

But luckily, I've never heard that, because EVERYONE loves Red.

So I couldn't not offer SOMETHING for this historic day. She's in love with Wife!Yugi from "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," (as everyone is), and asked for a lil' summethin' from that. Enjoy below the cut, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RED!!!!

Mokuba watches Yugi while he sits backwards in her little chair, hands atop the back and chin resting on those. He's fascinated, observing her hold up different dresses in front of herself in the mirror. The blue? The red? "If you don't like either of those, why don't you just go shopping?"

"It's not a matter of not liking them, Mokuba. Besides, I can't buy a whole new outfit for every event."

He tilts his head to the side. "Why not?"

"Well," she hangs them both up on the armoire door and sits at her vanity once more. "It isn't thrift-"

"You get an allowance, don't you?"

"I like to send as much of that home as I can, but more importantly, one shouldn't become spoiled about these things. Moderation is the soul of virtue."

"Hm." He rolls his head on his neck and makes some passing attempt at studying, but he's never very interested in the book. "Doesn't make sense to me. Why marry a rich family if you don't spend the money?"

Yugi's fingers tangle on her lap. "I wish you wouldn't say things like that."

"Why not?"

"I just wish you wouldn't. Anyway," she puts away the jewelry she'd gotten out for comparison and joins him at her writing table. "There's certainly no point in thinking of shopping for anything, until I know if your brother will be available to accept the invitation."

"You can't go to a dance by yourself?"

"It's different when you're married," she waves at him, sighing over the beautiful, engraved invitation. "This isn't a public dance, it's a private party. It would be awkward to go by myself."

"I don't understand," Mokuba shakes his head. "What does Seto have to do with that? Weren't you invited to private parties before you were married?"

"Well, yes-" She gives a flustered huff. "Alright, tell me about a dance you've been to, and I'll explain what's different."

"I haven't been to a dance."

Yugi almost falls out of her chair. "What- never?" Mokuba shakes his head. "Well, I know you're a little young, but- never?"

"Never. I don't even really know how to dance."

"Oh goodness." Without waiting for further instruction, Yugi gets up, flips on the radio, and holds her hands out to him. "Alright. Come here."

Mokuba stares at her, face going pink. "I-I can't dance with you! What if I step on your feet?"

"Better mine than some girl you fancy. Up you get, Mokuba Kaiba." As if he suddenly has two left feet, Mokuba is reluctant and awkward getting up from his chair. His face is burning red, and he can barely seem to look at Yugi as he takes her hands. "Not quite, your right hand should be on my back, like this." Steam is about pouring out of his ears as she adjusts him. "Now, we won't do any formal steps, but after that, you just sort of bounce along to the rhythm." She begins to bounce slightly, smiling at him. "Just loosen up a little, that's it. Now when your right foot goes forward, my left will go back, and so on."

He has a very difficult time of it, and he does trod a little on her feet, always with hasty murmurs of apology. "It's fine. Try not to act so scared to death." The back and forth motion is getting easier, so she starts to turn them in a circle. "And then you just go around the room this way, and you'd get through just fine."

"B-but I wouldn't know what to do with a girl in my arms for an entire song!"

Yugi snorts. "You'll figure it out, believe me - by which I mean, it's the perfect opportunity to have a conversation, just between yourselves."

"Is that what you and Seto do when you dance? You talk?"

It's Yugi's turn to go a bit pink. "Some, yes."

"What els-"

The door between Yugi's room and that of her husband is thrown open. She stops, still in the brother's arms, a jaunty tune playing along on the radio. "Seto-" He actually came home tonight - and he looks like a storm cloud in a tweed jacket.

He does not acknowledge her. "Out, Mokuba."

"Seto, Yugi was teaching me how to da-"

"I said out." The young man looks hurt, letting Yugi go with a parting glance - before scurrying out her door to his own room down the hall. Seto locks it behind him. "Well, this is a pretty little picture I interrupted."

"I was teaching Mokuba to dance," she continues where he left off, fingers knitting together without anything else to do.

"I'll bet, and a few other things, too."

Yugi's brow furrows. "Such as what?"

"'Such as what,' don't play innocent little girl games with me, Yugi." He's ripped off his jacket and thrown it onto her bed with its white-and-pink coverlet. "What kinds of games do men and women play alone in a bedroom!"

"Given that Mokuba is a boy, and not a man, I would imagine that would eliminate those games as choices."

Seto only snorts. "Fifteen is old enough for plenty of people."

She hates this. She sits here all day, aching to see him, hoping he'll say they'll go to this dance, and it's his arms she'll be in - and then he comes home, and makes everything so horrible- "I think you'd better leave, Seto." Yugi turns toward her vanity. "I don't like talking to you like this, so I think we had better just go to bed."

She only just gets warning of his movement from her mirror, that fuming face suddenly behind her and his fingers digging into her arms. "It's a capitol idea, my wife - at least the bed part."

Yugi can only give half a scream as she's lifted up and almost slammed onto her bed. Seto is yanking his tie loose. "Seto! Stop it, what are you doing!"

"My matrimonial duties." He's so incensed, he's gotten his shirt off without undoing the cuffs. Yugi yells again when he grabs her by the ankle and drags her down the bed, his mouth crashing over hers. Seto swallows the sound and ravages her mouth, turning any noise to confused whimpers, leaving her breathless. He looks like he wants to say something else, some angry thing, but he can't, or can't decide what, so he only fumes as he strips off her dress.

"I don't like you like this," Yugi tries to wriggle away, but not very hard.

"You don't like me at all." He is plodding kisses up her neck, across her collar, hands spreading over every inch of skin he uncovers. "So what else is new?"

But that isn't true, not at all - it's him that's decided he doesn't like her, with his late nights in the office, the cold responses to her attempts at closeness. If she asks to spend time with him, she's needy and clingy and demanding; if she gives up and tries to keep busy by making friendships or improving his brother's cold life one iota, she's some kind of...of slattern, or-

"Yugi." He sounds breathless, feverish, as he pulls off her various stays and ties. Seto himself is only in shirtsleeves, but he's unfastened his trousers. He seems anxious to see her bare, but in too much of a hurry to undress himself. "He's a boy. Whatever you think someone younger could give you, he can't, I'll show you. It takes a man to truly, deeply satisfy a woman." He suddenly is kissing her there, and Yugi just about lifts off the bed. When his tongue isn't making tight circles around her clit, he pulls back, panting. "I make it good, don't I? Does anyone else?"

"Seto-" Her fingers are in his hair, tears at the corner of her eyes, shaking her head. "I-I wouldn't know- there isn't anyone else-"

"Yes..." He sounds desperate, fingers replacing his mouth and slipping within her. "Yes, because she wants to be a good wife. No one else gets to taste or to touch, do they?"

"Mm!" She shakes her head, biting her lower lip.

"You want me, don't you, Yugi, my sweet little girl?"

Her hands grip the sheets as if she might lift from the earth without them there to ground her. "Yes!" Her voice is sobbing.

There's a sound of parting fabric, his belt dropping to the floor- and suddenly Seto is above her and within her and all around her. His arms wrap her, and his mouth plods hungry kisses at her neck as he takes her - over and over and over again-

And she doesn't want it to stop, not now, not ever. Horrible as he is in these moments, she'd rather have her husband like this - than never at all.

The radio is playing love songs, she realizes now.

[vinceaddams]

obvs feel free to keep this private, but I got recommended the UFH channel by a friend of mine, haven't gotten around to watching anything from it. I trust your judgement on the content, but my friend considers it her main resource 🙃 of course, since you only watched a few videos you might not be able to answer this, but was there any specific really bad/unacademic approaches I should keep my eye out for that my friend might have adopted? we work on a historical festival together so im concern

(I was going to answer this privately but then it got really long and turned into a post I want to post.)

Oh dear! Well, It appears that the lady behind that channel only cares about the 20th century, so maaybe she’s got good stuff on the 20th century at least? I don’t know, but the 2 videos that I saw were so incredibly awful that I’m highly suspicious of all her stuff. 

The first bad thing about her channel is that her videos all have a one or two sentence caption and nothing else. (I clicked on a few more just to check) No sources listed, no links of any kind except to her merch store. I don’t recall her mentioning any particular sources for any of the things she said in the videos either, she just declared them very matter of factly. 

Good historians cite sources! Bernadette Banners’ video on the history of PPE has so many source links she ran out of room in the description box and had to put the rest of them on a page on her website.  (Oh poo, now I feel a bit bad because I love Karolina Zebrowska but she really needs to do better with leaving source links. But she does talk about doing research, talk in a more nuanced way, and doesn’t present herself as an expert or academic, unlike the UFH lady.)

Good historians also embrace nuance, and aren’t afraid to say “I don’t know” or “I was wrong”. Presenting things in a “this person did this one big thing, and then this happened, and that caused this” kind of way isn’t good because history is more like “all these things happened and as far as we can tell it appears to have influenced this, which was also connected to this other stuff that we don’t know all that much about”. History is foggy and complicated, no matter how much the general public wants it to be simple.

Her description of herself also seems a bit... misleading? In her about page on youtube it says “Amanda Hallay, a college professor specializing in fashion, costume, and cultural history.” but if you look at the CV linked on her website the only degrees she has are in creative writing and art history. I’m not saying a person can’t be really knowledgable about something without a degree, but her whole online presence is about being a “professor” who teaches this stuff so I find it weird.

And if the 1850′s-60s video is anything to go by, she presents things in a shockingly unprofessional way. She starts off by saying she thinks these fashions are ugly and ridiculous and that she has some “theories of her own” on them. @marzipanandminutiae has a post with a lot more about what was wrong with that video, and a few others I haven’t seen. She claims that hoop skirts were oppressive cages when in reality they were a liberating garment that allowed women to achieve full skirts without the heavy layered petticoats they wore previously. 

She posts a photo of a naked lady and says “Now lets start with a beautiful naked lady and cover her up with ugly and unflattering clothes. Now this sexy naked lady isn’t so sexy” I wish I was making this up but that’s almost word for word what she said. Along with a whole lot of untrue or exaggerated stuff about Victorian modesty. She says dresses with layered flounces were called “pagoda dresses”, which isn’t a term that anyone has ever used for those dresses. She says this is cut down from a longer video she uses for teaching class, and I find the thought of this being presented in a classroom quite appalling.

After spending about 95% of the video talking about womens fashion in an extremely condescending and disdainful tone of voice, she posts what appear to be the 5 biggest and most extreme examples of 19th century moustaches she could find, presenting them as if they were what every man looked like.

This part really grinds my gears, because she says “I haven’t said anything about menswear because there’s really not much to say.” She posts photos of suits from 5 different decades and says they’re basically all the same, and also basically the same as a modern suit. Excuse you, there is A LOT of difference between menswear of the 1850′s and the 1890′s. Yes the changes over the decades are more subtle, and the colours are often more subdued than in centuries past, but it is absolutely not (as she claims) “the century when men stopped doing fashion”.   I personally am not hugely interested in 19th century mens fashion, and can tentatively date things in the first few decades but after the middle of the century I can’t. But people who are interested and who study that era can tell the decades apart. Because they’re different. And there is SO MUCH to talk about! Suits for different levels of formality, accessories, waistcoats, sportswear, sleepwear, knitwear, swimsuits, loungewear, underwear, etc. are all extremely different from their modern equivalents. 

It’s perfectly fine to only study womens fashion if that’s what you’re interested in, but it is not okay to then declare that the history of mens fashion is worthless and nonexistent. Simply not being interested in a thing is no excuse for publicly shitting all over it. (I’ve seen people do this more than once. We already have so few men who do historical fashion stuff! Stop putting off newcomers who might be interested!!)

The fact that her online presence is so closed off is also highly unusual. Comments are turned off for her videos, and the only social media link she has is to a private facebook group. (There is also a link to a fb page, but it appears to have been deleted.) Turning off comments is of course the personal choice of the one posting the videos, but the fashion history side of youtube usually tends towards pretty decent comment threads, and people often have nice little discussions and learn stuff in them. Here it looks like she doesn’t want discussion, doesn’t want to be contradicted or asked for sources, doesn’t want to learn new things.

I had never even heard of this channel until I saw @marzipanandminutiae mention it, nor have I ever heard any of the many historical costumers/youtubers I follow mention it, yet somehow it has 55k followers? I don’t know the demographics that watch it (especially not with the comments turned off!) but I’d wager that videos like the 1850′s-60′s one I suffered through are mainly watched by people who like hearing things trash talked, rather than people who actually want to learn about fashion history. The same sort of people who loved that Beau Brummell twitter thread, which was also full of lies and unsourced garbage. People like to believe the past was way worse and grosser than it was because it makes them feel like we’re smarter and better now.

Lastly, the whole premise of the channel is just bad. Calling any one thing “The Ultimate Fashion History” is a bad idea. Her channel trailer says “Youtube’s number one channel for original fashion history content” “we’ve got it all, fifty thousand years of fashion history”. You can’t have one channel that’s the ultimate resource for ALL of fashion history! It’s a huge, HUGE subject, and even if she did do actual good research she’d barely be able to scratch the surface of fifty thousand years. That’s like saying one channel is the ultimate source for all of science, or all of music, or all of cooking. No one thing can come close to covering all of it. I will deign to admit that she’s at least right to call it “original”, because she has some very original lies I haven’t found anywhere else. 

Most people who study fashion history/historical sewing have one or several eras they like best and find most interesting, perhaps with occasional jaunts into other eras. This way we can focus and get a much better understanding of the eras that we find most interesting, rather than just a vague notion of everything. 

For example: I’m most interested in 18th century menswear, and so far have mainly researched and sewn 1785-95 stuff, and more recently some 1730′s. I usually focus on fashionable civilian clothing, so I don’t know as much about working class clothes, and next to nothing about military and other occupational dress. Even with this narrow area of interest, which I’ve been obsessed with for many years, I still have so much to learn! I could never make anything claiming to be the ultimate source for 18th century menswear, because I’m just one person focusing on some aspects, and there are other people out there who research other aspects of it and their work is just as important. It’s all so big and so much, even if you narrow it down to one era.

Amanda Hallay is basically holding up a bucket of saltwater and calling it the ocean.

I haven’t watched any of her 20th century videos, so maybe they’re better than the older ones I watched. I don’t know. (But even if they’re actually good they still don’t have source links.) Edit: okay, nope, turns out they’re just as bad! They appear to make up the vast majority of her videos, so if she’s most interested in the 20th century then maybe she should just... make her channel more clearly 20th century focused instead of trying to paint it as a channel for all eras?

TL;DR, the main bad things about that channel are:

Lying and making ridiculous claims, not citing ANY sources. Spouting easily debunked myths.

Stating things matter of factly without any nuance, even though history is foggy and complicated.

Being extremely judgemental about historical fashions and talking about how much she hates them and thinks they’re ugly, which really isn’t appropriate for a fashion history teacher. You can hear the disgust in her voice and it’s awful and I hate it.

Comments turned off on all her videos, leaving no way to communicate or have public discussions. Unknowing viewers are left to accept her statements as fact without any outside opinions.

Claiming one channel is the ultimate channel for an incalculably enormous subject. Says it covers 50,000 years of fashion history when it’s mostly just the 20th century.

I would like to add that I am not what I would consider an expert either, and have no formal education in fashion history beyond the one college class that was part of my 2 year sewing course. I have learned mainly from books and the internet, and as I said earlier I still have a huge amount to learn. I’m sure a more knowledgable historian could put things better than I have. 

But I’m confident in stating that primary sources are needed to back up a claim! Sometimes even widely accepted beliefs turn out to be entirely unfounded myths, like that one about doctors using vibrators to treat “hysteria”. Total nonsense someone made up in 1999.

Wow this post got way longer than intended. Anyways, yes, I do not like condescending slideshow lady.

[loveforbooksandcoffee]

Heroine

Remember this is all just an opinion, if I don't really like it, that's okay! I still recommend you to try any of the books I review. :)

Warning! This talks about drug use, hence the name Heroine. Along with the death of characters. If you aren't comfortable with the topic then please don't read this!

Also recently, I finished a book called "Heroine" by Mindy McGinnis. The book is around 400 pages long or so, but I finished this in about 2 days. That's how interested I was in it! Before we get into the details, here is the summary:

"When a car crash sidelines Mickey just before softball season, she has to find a way to hold on to her spot as the catcher for a team expected to make a historic tournament run. Behind the plate is the only place she's ever felt comfortable, and the painkillers she's been prescribed can help her get there. The pills do more than take away pain; they make her feel good. With a new circle of friends - fellow injured athletes, others with just time to kill - Mickey finds peaceful acceptance, and people with whom words come easily, even if it is just the pills loosening her tongue. But as the pressure to be Mickey Catalan heightens, her need increases, and it becomes less about pain and more about want, something that could send her spiraling out of control."

Now, if you haven't gotten the idea about what this book is about so far, it's about drug use. It provides a very realistic perspective on addicts and how easy it can be to be addicted. Mickey is a prime example of that when she was in a car wreck and she started to take medication for the pain. This book truly got me sucked into it, all of the characters had very realistic personalities. This is such a big epidemic today.

Let's get into more details, Mickey struggles with a lot throughout. The car wreck, her father leaving their family, then now the use of drugs. One thing I liked was the fact she had a reaction that a normal person would most likely have, justification. She tries to justify the use of it and it proceeded to get worse. It started out from oxy all the way up to heroin. There wasn't a point where I felt like it was lacking or anything, it kept pace the whole time. But even with it focusing on one character, you got to see so much of every single character, even if they were minor.

The ending did feel a tiny bit rushed, suddenly her family finds out about her addiction and that's when her friends pass due to the use of drugs, she enters rehab, and finally gets her life back on track. I truly highly recommend this to anyone, I have addicts in my family so this gave me a better understanding of possibly what their thought process is.

I recommend this to anyone who likes suspense, I rate this 5/5 stars. This is honestly one of the best books I've read in a while. I was able to find this in my school library as well.

You can find this in your local library, book store, or here online.

Check out my other book review and my sims challenges! Thanks and have a great morning/day/night!

- Wishlist

- Game Reviews

- Book Reviews

- Sim Challenges

"Every atom of your flesh is dear to me as my own: In pain and sickness it would still be dear" -Charlotte Brontë, 'Jane Eyre'

[sirthisisa-wendys]

Hola holaaaaa, mi querida Wendy!

Cómo estuvo tu día? Espero que muy bien!

I've started to pay a look and organise the recipes. Hopefully, by Saturday evening, I'll have already shared ones with you. Also, I'm thinking about a surprise for you!

So, about the art gallery you live near to, what is it like? What is the new exhibition going to be like? And, do you have a garden where you are currently living?

My ideal pizza is the one with a lot of onion and mushrooms on it! I really love topping my food with mushrooms 🤤🤤🤤

If you ever have the possibility of trying lemon pie ice-cream just do it (insert Shia Labeouf's meme here).

I've never tried blackberries. I don't know if we produce them here (I mean, there surely has to be some farms that do that but they surely are expensive too 😖😣).

I tried raspberries once. Actually, one of my favourite vodka flavours is raspberries 😝🤤! Their taste reminds me of chewing gum! Do you drink alcohol?

I'm really sorry that your Cancun trip didn't go the way you wanted to! But I really hope you can go there! My aunt, uncle and cousins were planning on going there this November. I don't know if their plan is still standing, though!

Again, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR IS BLUE. It's mine too!!!! But I haven't think about the exactly blue I like. I should check that out! By the way, your favourite blue is really cute! 💙 I also like green a lottttt!

Between jazz and classical, I'd choose jazz, although I have little to none knowledge about both of them. I only know what I listen from movies or series and that's all. But, if you have suggestions, I'll happy to listen!

I'm a coffee person. Definitely! However, I don't mind at all to try different tea flavours! I sometimes drink strawberry tea and peach tea. I once tried jasmine tea and it was really good! Here, we have something call mate (now that I know how to use hyperlinks I'll be using them a lot 😝). It's a traditional drink! I really like it and we tend to drink it at any time with anyone! If you have the chance, you should try. But I must warn you, it's sometimes really bitter.

What about you? Same questions you asked me + what animes/mangas have you watched/read so far? Any recommendations?

El más grande abrazo de oso para ti 🥰🤗

♠️V♠️

P.s: I checked that picrew thing out of curiosity and I ended up changing my avatar! It a really nice app! Also, I love your new avatar! It looks really cute and cool 🖤

Wow, I really had to eat something before I replied to my besto friend (bad wendy, bad)

I AM EXCITED ABOUT THESE RECIPES! And a surprise? FOR ME?

*wendy.exe has stopped working*

But seriously, I'm so thankful for you. You're very sweet to share anything with me; I'm so excited to see what you send for me to make!

The art gallery nearby is pretty amazing. It's four stories filled with art from all over the world, and stories that go along with historical art. They recently installed a bunch of figures from India, and my favorite is of the goddess Kali Ma, who is the Hindu goddess of Time, Creation, Destruction, and Power. I am a huge fan of her in general because her effigy is her standing on her consort, Shiva, who is calm and trying to prevent the world from earthquaking into oblivion with his body because of her victory dance (long story). Her story is pretty neat, too.

ANYWAYS (started ranting there), I don't have a garden where I stay, but there are plenty of parks and things nearby. I have two plants: a bamboo shoot named Luna and a regular house plant named Aethelwulf. They're surviving, which is really nice.

I LOVE MUSHROOMS! I especially love them in omelets. They're so DELICIOUS! But I don't drink. The last time I had anything to drink was in February of 2020. I've been off the sauce since then because I make stupid choices when I decide to drink to get drunk. I also get really bad headaches that aren't hangover-related.

And you like blue and green?? Any specific shade of green??? I am so enthused that your favorite color is blue, too!

I do have some suggestions for classical music: Chopin, Camille Saint-Saens, and Tchaikovsky are some of my favorites. The Nutcracker Suite (Tchaikovsky), The Swan and The Aquarium (Saint-Saens), and all of Chopin's Nocturnes are what I tend to lean towards. OH! and I couldn't leave out Gymnopédie No. 1-3 by Erik Satie. I always feel some sense of nostalgia when I listen to them.

Jazz music? Dianne Schuur's "New York State of Mind" and lofi music are my favorites.

I've never had mate, but I will keep my eyes peeled when I go to the local Latinx market in a few weeks! That sounds like something I would really enjoy. I'm a coffee and tea person, so anything from black tea to green tea to a macchiato is my go-to's. I also love this tea that only comes out once a year in stores. It's called Comfort and Joy by the Republic of Tea. I love it so much that two years ago, I hoarded SEVEN tins of it. I am now down to one tin. *cue the sad music*

Anime and Manga... Well, Jujutsu Kaisen, Prince of Tennis, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, Platinum Garden... Ouran Host Club, Bleach... That's all I've really gotten into in the past years. I'm trying to get into Haikyuu! and My Hero Academia, but I'm also soooooo busy. So maybe I'll watch those during the summer.

This is getting long, but I hope you find something you like. I love you, besto friendo!

Wendy

PS: SO GLAD YOU LOVE PICREW! It's so much fun, and whenever I get tagged, I try to do them because they always look so cuteeeeee!

[eclipsing-maestro]

Meet the character - Vitale Maestro

(Shes mute so parenthesis meaning shes speaking in handsigns)

► Name ➔   …… ( Just call me V )

► Are you single ➔ …. ( Nope, happily married )

► Are you happy ➔  …. ( I’m calm...I think )

► Are you angry? ➔ …. ( Some temper here and there )

► Are your parents still married ➔ …. ( Yep, slowly recovering from being apart due to rescuing my little brother from running away )

NINE FACTS

► Birth Place ➔ …. ( Though my life exists in another universe not of this one, Caelum Isle...now abandoned was where we “Maestros” reside, hiding out beliefs and existence, somewhere in the First. Nobody knows it exists, but I know where, unless you wish to adventure within the Empty but I already pointed a checkpoint and can get there with a snap of a finger)

► Hair Color ➔ …. ( Jet black....usually some white highlights depending on my powers after affects)

► Eye Color ➔  …. ( I have pure ghost white eyes, not to mention black sclera...my eyes weren't always like this, but until I started to embrace my true self, my true power, it'll remain this way forever, no turning back into having normal eyes again. My eye sight how it is? well, theres lots of things I can see with and through it, but there are some flaws where things look very artificial...divisional. But, y’know, its nice )

► Birthday ➔ ….. ( Dece-...err... 16th Sun of the....6th Umbral Moon...still trying to get accustomed to Hydaelyns calendar haha ) 

► Mood ➔  ….. ( Kind of blank, sometimes tired but very focused when it comes to doing a mission )

► Gender ➔ ….. ( I’m a boy..... just kidding, I’m a female, but I do get mistaken as a male from time to time, cant blame my tomboy personality )

► Summer or winter ➔ …. ( Winter, I’m not too accustomed to the heat of Summer )

► Morning or afternoon ➔ ….. ( Both, but mostly I like the mornings )

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

► Are you in love ➔ ( well...I do.... I grew up with him so he was a childhood friend...its like he could read my mind and feelings but he understood and accept every piece of me, even my own flaws. He’s saved me many times, though after my childhood I haven't seen him ever since...we both have had a rough life but when we reunited, we were at odds at first, but decided to fix our friendship again. He was my first bestfriend, my first love...and always will be. People get confused if he and I are even in a relationship, cus no matter what we always acted like childhood best friends, pulling pranks, acting like goofballs and jokers, and even fight side by side when we are out of on missions. Hes my partner in crime but hes well....more than that)

► Do you believe in love at first sight ➔ ( Well.... not much of something I believe in, but there are times where things just click later on)

► Who ended your last relationship ➔ ( Never had a relationship ended, still with my childhood friend....or technically childhood crush, and we both are still in love with each other til this day )

► Have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ ( Had some old friends who did to me, so I had return the favor.... )

► Are you afraid of commitments ➔ ….. 

► Have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ (Well I did hug my husband.... when I woke up in the morning and he was brushing his teeth and....okay next question please!!)

► Have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ ( Not interested )

► Have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ …. ( Yeah, not to mention I shattered my mind until I went genocidally insane....but thats all in the past... just making amends now )

SIX CHOICES

► Love or lust ➔ ( Mainly love....I mean...sometimes you can get crazy when you're in love....right?)

► Lemonade or iced tea ➔ ( Definitely both! )

► Cats or Dogs ➔ ( I love them both, but I'm more of a dog person )

► A few best friends or many regular friends ➔ ( A few best friends....one or two would suffice )

► Wild night out or romantic night in ➔ ( Would mostly like a romantic night in, it just has such a serenity to it, but sometimes some Wild nights out are fun too, going to some clubs, getting drinks, maybe an arcade or an amusement park )

► Day or night ➔ ( Mostly night time )

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

► Been caught sneaking out ➔ ( When I was a kid, yep, mom would want to kill me haha.... not literally, its just a joke...haha )

► Fallen down/up the stairs ➔ ( Sometime.... okay yeah a lot haha )

► Wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ ( back then....I do, and it did hurt, and it hurt others if I lose myself... )

► Wanted to disappear ➔ ( Invisibility magic, I'm down for that! besides the joke, it crossed my mind a lot )

FOUR PREFERENCES

► Smile or eyes ➔ ( The eyes.... cus there's more in it then what we know )

► Shorter or Taller ➔ ( I have no preference in that )

► Intelligence or Attraction ➔ ( I would say intelligence... attraction doesn’t mean shi-...errr… matter to me. I think whats on the inside is more attractive than whats on the outside, and even intelligence can be attractive.... which is why i fell in love with Jaydes….whos my husband and childhood friend, if I didn't mention his name in the previous questions I mean...) 

► Hook-up or Relationship ➔ ( Is that even a question? Of course a Relationship, why would I do a hook-up?.... I prefer romance and loyalty over anything... anything just to wake up in the next morning, next to the one I love, and knowing that I am loved )

FAMILY

► Do you and your family get along ➔ ( Only my parents, my uncle, and most of my siblings....we all had our... fall outs in the past, but we did our best to bury the hatchets as time goes by....some of them I’m still trying to recover with.... my dumbass brother I still have a bit of my fall-outs with, and another one I never met... but shes somewhere out there.... another story my mothers family despises me to the core because she fell in love with my father, who is from a bloodline, the Katsuo, the my mothers bloodline, the Shiranuis, still bearing historic grudges against each other, even if that hatred subsided, some Shiranui’s out there still believe that hatred is neverending, leaving them a bad reputation to our world) 

► Would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ ( If you ever looked deep into my eyes, you'll probably know that I have )

► Have you ever ran away from home ➔ ( I did....it was a big mistake... all i wanted was to start my life anew but I... abandoned my family who still loved me, even Jaydes….and....sorry I should stop talking about this.. )

► Have you ever gotten kicked out? ➔ ( Well, in Family wise, not really )

FRIENDS

► Do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ ( A bunch...but only those who weren't really real friends. though Hate is a strong term, I lived my life of hatred and wrath, so I'm trying my best to find my inner peace and maintain it )

► Do you consider all of your friends good friends? ➔ ( Those who are true and real, I would consider them very good friends.... but its kinda hard to open but im doing my best to be real to them...hopefully they'll be real to me too..)

► Who is your best friend ➔ ( In Hydaelyn, two good friends, and another from a far off universe, different from mines too. The ones in Hydaelyn, they are both from the Steppe, funny thing is we almost look alike but even with my differences they're still around with me. )

► Who knows everything about you ➔ ( Not much, I just remain a deep mystery but its no big deal to me, I enjoy being an unknown, its very comforting )

Tagged by: @lareine-kira <3 thanks for the tagsss! :3

Tagging: @alun-ura @wolforya @cfasura07 and YOUUUUU \^-^/ if you want to I mean