#and then 8 songs i have no actual evidence exist

[nat-20s]

retail workers hear christmas songs known by neither man nor beast

[justmy-account]

List of byler-gates

I’m just bored, but read it anyways, it’s fun

there sooo many of them, and i’m still pretty lazy so this isn’t perfect, but just let’s start

Mikhailgate

This is practically anti byler theory, but nvm

So, Dimitri has a son named Mikhail, which is russian version of name Michael, Mike

So, people were just saying that instead of Mike, Will will end up with Mikhail(who’s technically Mike bc of the name, yk)

I think everyone was just joking, oh, good ol’ times

and willloveinterestgate is the same

Lettergate/Pocketgate

These theories aren’t the same one, but it’s basically the same concept, ig

The basic thing is, that Mike wrote a letter to Will(singed Love, Mike)

In pocketgate, Mike has the letter saved in his triangle pocket, bc in st, characters many times has letters, that were important to them, in their left pocket(above the heart), for example Hopper and El(Hopper’s heart-to-heart), Jonathan(acceptance letter to college) etc.

And he would just take it out in the middle of confession or sth

+the triangle always points to Will like an arrow

Lettergate is just basically the same, ok, idk how to describe it differently 

Twelvegate

Not exactly a byler, but theory, that Will was number twelve in HNL, and that he’s El’s actual twin

And from that, there’s theory that Will has powers, but wasn’t n. 012

Okay, back to byler

This is same as rainbowgate i think

Flickergate

This theory is very lovely! after Will tells Mike that rolled seven in s1, the light behind them flickers

and since ud is frozen on nov6 83, when you signal sth from ud, it should appear at nov6 83-s1

this connects to electricgate(i dunno if sth like this exist, but just keep reading), the electricity~are friends electric~will possibly having electric powers

so mike and will could go together in s5 to ud on a mission or sth, and kiss in wheelers garage, and that would make the light flicker(i’m so good at explaining things, right😐)

will and mike going to ud together is predicted by mike and will sitting on upside down couch in last ep. of s4

Birthdaygate/Memorygate

Soo, remember how they forgot Will’s birthday? what if all wills memories, that people reminded him of in the shed are gone? his birthday, building castle byers, meeting mike… and that’s why mike says that his life started the day he found her, bc he doesn’t remember meeting Will

for me, it’s really weird, they couldn’t just forget Will’s birthday, no, this ain’t it

Kiss at lovers lake

I’m not sure if this has a different name, but it’s that their first kiss will be near lovers lake

evidence: patrick(the kid who died at lovers lake), had a nickname “berlin wall” or sth(we saw this in the school newspaper), and it was devided to four, same as hawkins

and song heroes is abt couple who lived at different sides of berlin wall, and idk, it just connects, okay?

when will painted the map of hawkins while he was possessed, mike was holding blue and yellow meter

Eightfifteengate

Context: will left the wheelers at 8:15 in s1

in s1e1, time mark 8:15 is literally the shot where will disappears in the shead

i think there’s a season 2 soundtrack called eight fifteen

tw: time fuckery: while will was recording on halloween night, the time says 8:04 while he’s recording mike saying “did you agreed with this?”, but when joyce rewatches it, it show 8:15(byler)

“ it’s 8:15, you’re late”

btw, clocks and watches from hiroshima are stuck at 8:15

aaanywaaay, there’s just too much 8:15 things, aaah(this is just a few)

what it has to do with byler?

well, 15-8=….(wait for it)….seven. a byler number. it was a seven!

also, “the first lie”, when murray says this to jancy, the time mark is… guess what, 8:15

there’s this theory with the songs “the first lie” and “the first i love you”, and it just connects 

Motelgate

theory, that after mike’s “love” confession to el, they went to a motel for sleep, and mike and will had to share a bed, and we could possibly see flashbacks of it in s5, and it would kinda explain the two day skip

Colorgate

blue and yellow meet in the west, i’m sure you know this one, and there’s sooo many evidence in this

mattduffersbasementgate

It’s too late for this to be true, but the duffers are(/were) holding every cast member that ships byler in their basement, lol

bloopergate

Bloopers from byler scenes, basically, for example “not when i was the spy, oh fuck”, basically Finn and Noah being all giggly, i guess

bloopergate implies to every blooper, but why not to mention it

curtaingate

Sth like, that when there’s some fight happening between characters, if curtains are open, it means they’re open with their feeling and opposite 

Example: milkvan make out scene-closed, but you don’t love me fight-opened

Bonus: „ but they like the curtain. people like us are just trying to look behind the curtain”(my very bad quotation of murray, yk what i mean)

Also, Suzie had blue and yellow curtains, and they were opened

And, “and i love her and i can’t lose her again”? Also curtains closed, like wtf, this fandom is crazy

piggybackgate

El knows abt Mike and Will. she saw how they act around each other, she’ve heard will saying “you’re the heart” to mike, saw that mike has Will’s painting now

New Coke Theory

basically, old coca colla is mileven, new coke is byler. it contains some of the old ingredients(mike), and new ones too(will). not everyone likes(bc its gay ship). and when you look at scenes with can of new coke, it’s many times symbolizing byler vs. milkvan

one of my favorite new coke theory examples is this: in s3, after el gets attacked by the flesh monster, she tries to crash a can(but she doesn’t have her powers, so she can’t). this is a can of new coke(byler) and she can’t crush that/destroy it. and in this scene, we get a flashback to the lab, where she crushes aka destroys regular coke(mileven)

phonegate

mike and will not calling each other, bc of joyce’s telemarketer job(he won’t stop whining abt it)

————

i miss all these little silly theories abt literally everything

i hope the byler tag will be like this once again

maybe we could start naming our new theories “gate”s again

for example: heartfeltgat, strangerwritersgate, snowkissgate or sth

anyway, byee

[fandomconsumesme]

Rambling as to make sense of DTAMHD, tw ed and klinsky reference, this is horrifically long but i promise i'm going somewhere with it

I gotta say, watching it the first time I was fairly disappointed (The acting and episode were great, just wasn't sure how I felt about it as a finale) But having spent time to process, i would say this does its job as a Dennis catharsis episode, particularly symbolically

Starting off, Dennis has been almost scarily normal this season, or about as normal as Dennis can be (catfishing your roommate into using xl anal beads), not creeping on women, not getting fed up with the gang all the time, working with them in a familial manner again. Shockingly, it seems he's doing pretty good, and growing into himself

Like at the beginning of the episode, he's actually going to a doctor and apparently everything looks normal. Either this doctor immediately needs to be disbarred, or Dennis has been doing better taking care of himself, an unheard of concept

4. Dennis has a desperate fear of getting old, willing to do anything to prove himself still valuable, something to be desired, both connected to his childhood abuse by Mrs. klinsky, a way of rationalizing that it was okay because Dennis is special, just more developed, and his tenuous relationship with his mother where he was the golden boy, but emotionally separated from her due to drug abuse.

5. Dennis' mind scenario thing starts right after the title sequence i think, and we pretty much immediately get his interpretation of the gang and how he sees them.

6. Charlie is childlike, confused over the concept of sea level, and Dennis has an almost patronizing view of him, not understanding how he's this way if they are so similar

7. Frank brings up the family style cooking, the point of the pressure cooker, but dennis and the gang are in two different places, and the only reason they called was the sea level thing. Dennis sees the gang as a family, but feels like an outsider

8. Dee is reasonable and kind, backing Dennis up, supporting his decision for a mental health day, but seems to lack understanding as to why Dennis is doing this, a fundamental disconnect

9. Mac is always in view, all of him, the focus of the call. Dennis stays watching him, even though he says nothing particularly relevant in the scene. The whole of him appearing also has interesting implications of Dennis knowing who mac is, but he can only get a picture of the other members of the gang for a few seconds at a time. Mac is his constant.

10. To continue that thread, the other members are always yanking the phone towards them, stopping Dennis from being able to interact with him, but Dennis always knows where he is.

11. Frank is an asshole, diminishing Dennis' problems, acting like they don't exist, and as a much smarter person noted here, dennis' watch starts beeping the moment he starts talking.

12. Mac is also patient, cautious of Dennis' boundaries and doing exactly what he has to to make dennis feel safe.

13. Dennis is insistent on it being his mental health day and none of them participating, but as becomes evident later, the day is miserable BECAUSE they aren't there to back him up and support him. Dennis tries to stay away because they make things complicated, but they make things complicated by causing him to have big feelings.

15. He also gets repeatedly annoyed by very little things, like downloading an app or not getting the precise tea he wanted, but then calms by blaming it on the system (system seems like such a familiar word in the context of dennis and his thoughts... I wonder what it could be referencing lol) So all of those little inconveniences that stop Dennis from doing what he wants, can in fact be attributed to the system. Not only does he acknowledge it's the system, but also that he isn't the only victim, that others suffer because of it.

16. The tsuma blares the song when he opens the door in the parking lot, and he's so focused on stifling it that he doesn't notice he's just made a mistake that will hurt him in the long run.

17. On the French dip, dee once again works in conjunction to Dennis, encouraging them not to eat it. Charlie is afraid of Dennis' wrath, but Mac wants for Dennis to come home and be happy. Mac tries to reassure dennis.

18. Overall an aggravating phone call, but the moment he turns it off there are almost reactionary consequences, a police car pulling him over.

19. Dennis comes up with his own metaphors for what he's going through in his mind, likening himself to a pressure cooker.

20. He also has Dee and Mac decide not to call because they want him to have a successful mental health day and respect his boundaries, but frank continues to belittle

21. Along the lines of 16, "Dennis' true self is the tsuma" theory, he goes into a fit of rage when he can't communicate with his car. Dennis is comfortable in the car, but when he exits he puts on a mask, and now can't get back in.

22. The true DENNIS System,

D-Deliver me from this as in get me out of having to demonstrate value

E-Engage with human as in wanting a real connection rather than a physical one

N-Nancy(boy)/Neighbor/Nightmare/Never ending as in repeatedly nurturing dependence in a way that hurts him with the wrong people

N-NIGHTMARE/Never gonna help me as in even worse than the first n, and him knowing that it only hurts to neglect emotionally

I-Is this real as in the potential of something real with inspire hope

S- Somebody help me as in him wanting to escape the system

23. By my reckoning there are 3 people the ceo could symbolize, those being Frank, mac, or Dennis as a mask.

a. Frank because he is so oblivious, able to live a live of lounging at the beach, but it was his actions and neglect which have led to Dennis being trapped in his own prison. The frank is an older figure, and it makes sense for the diamond to be derived from his heart as he is his offspring in a sense. Dennis is reclaiming his sense of free will, taking back control so he can live a life that isn't predestined by his upbringing. The hand on the chest is trying to make frank understand, dennis still gets the pleasure of violent retribution though.

b. Mac is the one orchestrating the pressure cooking of the diamonds, explains the extreme homoeroticism of the scene. The systems have been created to protect himself from mac, mac is allowed to lounge because he has found peace with himself (MFHP) Dennis wants that for himself, and receives it from mac. Mac reaches out first, at the encouragement of dennis, but is pushed away so dennis can show his appreciation, upon which mac looks shocked. They clearly understand and have sympathy for one another. A love song is playing, and dennis takes mac's purest essence for himself, showing how intertwined they are. Mac is left unhurt because it was about the gesture, not the carnage.

C. Dennis as a mask, or what Dennis has made himself into to survive, lounges because he has been given control over the inner dennis. He has created all of the systems, and tsuma is his, made into a form that he can control for his own benefit. Dennis is his own worst enemy, and seeks to deconstruct this unfeeling being in order to find himself. He has a touching moment with himself, where mask dennis realizes that it is necessary that true dennis come to power. explains the homoeroticism because of narcissism, and ultimately true dennis decides the most humane thing he can do is leave behind mask dennis, killing him gently and taking his heart, condensing it into a diamond that symbolizes his innate goodness and incorporating it into true dennis.

I personally think it's a mixture of all three, but regardless this IS Dennis' catharsis. The motifs are there (crying, a powerful body of water) and dennis takes back control, actively choosing to be better. it's different, but it's still there.

24. In the end, when it's all revealed to be a glimpse into Dennis' mind and he's lowered his blood pressure, it's not because he's won per say. before the title, Dennis was keying up for some kind of angry meltdown, but he takes a moment and thinks better. i wouldn't say Dennis has had just one catharsis, but a million little ones in his mind since the season started, a million little choices to be kinder, more patient, better. He calms down and has found at least a temporary solution to his problem (The kratom doesn't hurt either) dennis has gotten so much better with interacting with others this season tbh, and to continue that to an extent would stop him from being the dennis we all know and love, sleazy and manipulative. And what he loves, what he knows will help him, is to be with the gang, his family. And he makes the choice to go to them too.

Remember, there is a structure. It will be fulfilled. (And if it isn't, at least we have FVR and Tends Bar)

[hero-israel]

I hear you on the song-and-dance with 'the disputed territories in the West Bank', but to some extent I kinda think the push back on the language choices used to describe Palestine are warranted. The West Bank WAS occupied. By Jordan, and then later by Israel FROM Jordan. And then Israel and Jordan made peace and agreed on their borders, and now the territories in the West Bank are disputed, not occupied. (but also, yeah, sure, end the occupation)

and Gaza is (was, current war notwithstanding) blockaded, not occupied, because a territory is considered occupied when it falls under “effective control of hostile foreign armed forces.” Traditionally, effective control requires three main components: the physical presence of a foreign military without consent; the inability of a local sovereign to exercise control because of foreign forces’ presence; and the imposition of occupying forces’ authority, and like, the only bit that can with any honesty be argued is 'imposition of Israeli authority' in terms of a moderately closed border and an import limitation. (like, yeah, borders be violence, why is cardamon on the prohibited substances list, BUT) you cannot honestly argue that the diagnostics of an occupation were present in Gaza. But us jews are so wily we can, unlike any other people in the world, enact an occupation without ANY OF THE DIAGNOSTIC INDICATORS, according to the EU, and the Red Cross, Amnesty, the African Union and several different UN organs. (in an inverse of the standard; rules for me but not for thee, fucking hypocrites)

Like, it's just frustrating, and I understand being Done and Tired about the attempts to get nuance into language, but also also, the WORDS MEAN THINGS GODAMMIT

(this Words Mean Things Rant brought to you by: Gaza can't be an enclave, godammit, it borders to both Egypt and Israel!)

To be clear - I will and do say that there was no occupation of Gaza after the pullout. Having a border fence between hostile neighbors is not an occupation. Even Hamas admitted publicly that the occupation was over. As you surely know, for the first 8 months after the pullout there was only a rather flimsy fence and no naval blockade at all, and it would have stayed that way if not for the Lost Causers.

In the West Bank, 90+% of the time it is just not a worthwhile argument to have. Especially when I think one of the best ways to show the falsehood of the "apartheid" accusation is how (as my pinned post says) there were no changes in the structure of the occupation itself and you can't just morph one into the other from being bored. When people try to relitigate 1948 and 1967 and "stealing from Palestinians," then I show them why those arguments were false at that point in time and get them to remember Jordan and Jordanians exist. But I feel like there is only so much needle-threading that we can ever expect people to sit still for, and in 2024 when the Israeli army really is dominating territory of people who don't like it and who live under military law instead of civilian law, it is much more an academic exercise than a home run. I don't want to sound like one of those guys who goes "ackshyually it's not pedophilia, it's ephebophilia".

It depressed me to realize that most people don't base their stances around legit evidence or consistent arguments. Nearly everything Jewish people can say to defend themselves against bias and prejudice boils down to "You're being inconsistent, you're treating us unlike other groups!" when just announcing that doesn't bring change. Life is not a college debate class, the heart is not a court of law, there is not actually a judge from a made-for-TV-movie who will listen to us and take our side and translate our accuracy into better lives. Most people don't even try to stick to consistency or principle, they just decide what they want and make up a reason after, and, as the quote says, they "indicate that the time for discussion has passed."

Jewish culture and literature and society famously revolves around dispute and interpretation and commentary. Our mindset, our epistemic interaction with reality, does not match that of the people who want to kill us. All we can do is argue but we cannot make them listen. Our ancestors in Spain and Germany certainly tried, and they were right, and it didn't matter. The sword is mightier than the pen and no one is actually afraid of us. When people say antisemitic things their "punishment" is getting a tour of a Holocaust museum. If our ancestors really had colonized the world and left billions of descendants to reap the rewards, maybe we could have our own version of the Mohammed cartoon approach and make people leave us alone.

[etrevil]

Do you mind if I ask your top 10 favorite characters (can be male or female) from all of the media that you loved (can be anime/manga, books, movies or tv series)? And why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....Thanks....

So sorry for the late answer!

1. Athanasia de Alger Obelia (Who Made Me A Princess)

First hyperfixation, the manhwa I saw from start to finish. Art is just absolutely beautiful and I've been attached from the very start. Her character arc surrounding her father, Claude, had me clutching my pearls and sobbing my eyes out.

2. Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs)

Strongest hyperfixation on the series yet. There's a certain feel I get whenever I see or read content about him. Do I relate to him? Concerningly. But it's the sort of connectedness I feel when reading what Odasaku thinks of Dazai and me agreeing and being called out half of the time lol. Lastly, he's just so pretty.

3. Chuuya Nakahara (Bungou Stray Dogs)

This man's backstory has me in a chokehold. He's gone through so much shit but, compared to other characters, he remains a "good" man. Such a complex character I can't get enough of tbh. Asagiri really paired the donut man and one of the most beautiful written characters together and I love it/pos. Lastly, also very pretty. Imagining him together with Dazai, whether platonic or romantic, is also a treat.

4. Wilbur Soot (dsmp, qsmp, general yt)

His content just, helped me get through quarantine. Also his songs are just bangers, and Lovejoy is one of my top favorite bands next to The Neighborhood.

5. Kim Dokja (Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint)

One of the first Korean novels I've ever read and finished. He is just such a well-done character, and ORV as a story in general should become a literary classic (in my humble opinion). The way he seeks comfort in a story and is willing to stay until its very end, I relate to that so much, and I just feel for this tragedy-surrounded man. I wish only the best for him and his company.

6. Cale Henituse (Trash of the Count's Family)

I remember reading the novel in its early stages and waking up for school, to then eat cereal and slowly finish reading what's been published in the dim light. Haven't touched the second book yet, but the first book was just, woah. Amazing. Rollercoaster ride. Our young lord really should start looking out for his health more, everyone's so worried.

7. Han Sooyoung (Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint)

Her story arc of being an antagonist, to the third member of their trio, and [spoiler], was an absolute blast. Her character was written with such a personality she touched my heart with her spunk and gentle care towards her friends. What she's done for KDJ is absolutely what tore my heart out. She deserves so much. They all do. Speaks even more to me since I'm a writer. Love her with all my heart <3.

8. Achilles (Greek Mythos, the Song of Achilles)

He amuses me. His rage, his reactions, the slaughter he made across the battlefield, and the way he eventually died. The fact we have historical evidence from a vase that people back then saw him rolled up into a blanket burrito during his sulking period. That he sent out one of his "closest" men in his own armory and grew enraged (understatement) when he returned as a corpse. I just, love him. Words cannot explain how I hold him, and Patroclus, to a high regard in my heart.

9. Tallulah (qsmp)

Best egg child to ever exist. Second is Chayanne. The admin for this character just stole us from the very start. Deserves a thousand bamboo flutes.

10. Ayna and Ranonthean (Secret Lady)

Might be considered cheating but these two are a couple and the toxicity cannot exist without the other. The slow unfurling of how their love story that led to the actual FL and ML's current predicament (read the story it's so good) absolutely rocked my shit. Like, omfg their children. Her family. Fate itself. I wanna sock Fate in the face. They're in love, but their love cannot thrive in a place like that. At least not for long. And it shows; the chapter this image is from, side story 11, has me by the throat. Banana-nim's art just makes everything better. They're relatively good for each other, but because of the situations forced on them, shit happens. Doomed by the narrative indeed.

Special manhwa couple mentions:

Angela and Rayburn, "I Stan the Prince"

Penelope and Callisto, "Death is The Only Ending for the Villainess"

Ines and Carcel, "This Marriage was Bound to Fail Anyway"

Shuri and Nora, "Stepmother's Marchen"

Eris and Anakin, "Kill The Villainess"

Raeliana and Noah, "Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Manor"

[carefulfears]

Top 5 Scully moments! 💗

off the top of my head <3 you’re getting 8 sorry

(i left off triangle because we already talked about it today but in my heart it truly is top 3)

1/ clyde bruckman’s final repose

when the hotel scene opens on her sitting criss-cross on the bed with playing cards and you just hear her finish up explaining the plot of moby dick to bruckman and connecting it thematically to hamlet…i can hardly contain myself. she was EXPLAINING THE PLOT OF MOBY DICK to the psychic.

and then after all her talk, her shift is over, and before leaving she leans in close and sighs and asks, “alright. so how do i die?” shh don’t tell mulder she asked ❤️

(and his tender answer: “you don’t.” immortality in reciprocated kindness.)

2/ beyond the sea

giving up the chance to know what her father’s last message to her was, and saying that she already knows what he wanted to tell her.

“he was my father.”

she seemed so disappointed and confused in the beginning, when her mother gave that same response (“he was your father”) to her questions of if he was proud of her. it’s not enough evidence, that someone was a father, to really know the things she was doubting.

but in the end, when she tears up and whispers her answer, it’s clear. it’s not that he was a father, and therefore loved and was proud of his children, because that’s what fathers do. he was her father. and she knows how he felt and what he wanted to tell her because she knows him, and she knows the relationship that they had, and she knows how much he loved her.

it’s that kind of implicit understanding that sets her apart, both from mulder and in the world.

(additionally: bursting into boggs’ cell and screaming at him that if mulder dies she will gas him out of this life herself and no one will stop her. she is 5 feet 2 inches of ferocious love.)

3/ memento mori

her letter. god, i make fun of her for it but god does it say so much. she was dying and she was completely alone and she was in that bed every single day writing, writing to him. begging forgiveness, asking for grace, pleading to be seen.

she knows herself so intimately and so completely, and she knows the world she lives in so fully, and she loves it and she loves him so deeply.

she didn’t even want him to read it, it was enough just that it existed, that it was hers and it was real.

4/ detour + william

singing to mulder in the woods, and then years later singing that same song to their baby. she has memorized everything. every moment is so important, so worth passing along.

(“that’s the other thing you’ve given me, mulder, courage…and i hope that’s a gift i can pass on.”)

5/ irresistible

there’s something so resonant and intimate about her fear in this episode. both her lingering fear in the trauma of bearing witness to this kind of brutalization, but also her fear of vulnerability. the way she does everything right, she does everything that you’re supposed to do: she takes a step back, and goes where she’s more useful. she goes to therapy. she handles it herself, like the good captain’s daughter. like she says, it is her job to deal with these things.

she doesn’t just shut down and avoid it, she’s conscious; she’s trying to cope in the way that she’s comfortable.

and it still just isn’t enough. until that moment she says once more that she is fine, and mulder tips her chin so that she has to look at him. and she just breaks down sobbing the moment she sees his face, grabs onto him and weeps into his chest.

she has “always been the strong one,” she did not want him to know that this case was getting to her, but ultimately, there was no way to survive it without facing it.

(thinking of 23+ years later in a motel, the way she creeps into his room and says the case is really bothering her, ducks under his covers.)

6/ ghouli

when the windmill snowglobe, the one thing that she has from her son’s life, breaks outside the hospital. and the person she bumped into (who turns out to have actually been jackson in disguise) apologizes, and she just smiles sweetly and says, “no, it’s my fault. it’s okay.”

she has no idea how important that moment is, she has no idea that this stranger is secretly her baby, noticing the things she’s holding onto from him…and she’s so understanding and gracious in impossible circumstances anyway.

that’s what gives her (and mulder) that miracle moment in the end of the episode, of getting to see jackson. (that’s immortality in reciprocated kindness)

7/ fight the future

my absolute favorite favorite favorite moment of the movie: mulder and scully make it out of the vent. they’re both collapsed on the ground in antarctica. scully has just been revived after she stopped breathing, she’s passing out…and the spaceship comes out of the ice.

and mulder is looking up at the ship with the most joyful heart-melting grin and wonder, and he says “scully. you gotta see this.” (the exact same thing he said 5 years earlier on their second case)

and she whispers, “i see it.”

it’s so special.

and then, bless his heart, mulder’s recently-shot-in-the-head exhausted ass just fully passes out on the spot.

and she sits herself up and grabs him and pulls him over to her and just holds onto him. they’re alive, and she saw it, and she barely has anything left in her at all but she finds enough for both of them.

honorable mention: “shut up, mulder. i’m playing baseball.” <3 girls when they quietly beg the person they love to invest in something “on this planet” and they understand when that first step is being offered to them, they do not need it explained.

it’s so reminiscent of a moment that almost made this list, when mulder gives her the apollo 11 keychain for her birthday, and they’re interrupted before he can tell her why. and in the end, looking up at the stars, she tells him that she thinks she knows. she tells him that this novelty keychain is about “extraordinary moments” and history leaping forward and how you “must dare to dream” and how far perseverance and teamwork can take you but how “no one gets there alone” and remembering sacrifice and achievement.

and he’s just silently staring at her like…like she’s everything and she’s dying and it’s completely unimaginable. like he knows, in that moment.

she sees so much in him, without explanation.

[alexjcrowley]

I saw a TikTok of Cicero and Hortensius on the music of Non-Stop (I feel like just naming Hortensius is making this niche) as someone who hasn't really thought about Hamilton in...5 years now and I have realized many thing:

1) THAT USER WAS SO RIGHT, IT IS THEM

2) Cicero's existence answers the question: what if Alexander Hamilton was a looser? (yeah historically he comes before Hamilton but I don't care right now).

3) Mark Anthony is Jefferson.

Evidence:

"Where have you been?" "Mhhhh Par Egypt" "We have to win (against this kid Ottavianus)" "SO WHAT'D I MISS"

Come on Egypt (and Cleopatra) are his France

But he is the one who dressed like fake royalty (COME ON THE PHILIPPICAE, THE CABINET'S BATTLES ARE JUST THE PHILIPPICAE)

4) I don't care for the Greek God musical, give me a musical about Ancient Rome. Come on, it is just as controversial as a musical on founding fathers. And I do want to hear Cicero rapping the Catilinarian orations.

5) ALSO COME ON CATILINE OWNS THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS.

Bro staged a COUP D'ÉTAT to be in THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS.

5) Also do you know we could have "Dear Theodosia" and "It's quiet Uptown"? Cicero's daughter, Tullia, affectionately called Tulliola, died on him when she was still young. I could talk a lot about this and how for her death Cicero created a new word in latin (taken from greek, actually: apotheosis) but if I start now I'll be very emotional.

6) "The Caesar Administration"

7) I would pay real money to see Cicero being beaten repeatedly by every historical figure in Rome

8) Atticus is his John Laurens's but like waaaay more annoyed by Cicero. He is also very "Why do you write like you're running out of time". Cicero used to write Atticus 2 times a week and an ungodly amount of pages, I want Atticus's song on "maybe I chose a bad friend".

9) Atticus coward villain song in which he gives his and Cicero's personal letters to Mark Anthony because I am not over that yet. It could be a but like Burn, you know. We're still talking letters. But Atticus is the little shit here.

10) The whole first number with people talking about Hamilton, but there are actual quotations on Cicero by fellow romans and later historians.

11) "Bright young man. Yo, who the eff is this?" will always be more Cicero-coded than any other historical figure. AT 26 CICERO CHALLENGED BASICALLY THE GOVERNMENT TO DEFEND A KID WHO WAS BEING ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS OWN FATHER BY THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY KILLED HIS DAD SO THEY COULD TAKE HIS RICHES (I am oversimplifying a bit but what I said is essentially correct, reference is the Pro Roscio Amerino). And it was Cicero's first criminal law case. Fresh new kid from the block exposes dictatorship crimes. Nice.

12) Once again, I would pay actual money to see a song about Cicero writing the Pro Milone saying this is going to be his masterpiece and then being unable to recite it because the crowd is threatening to kill him. Just imagine Cicero with a song or without a song maybe reciting a few sentences on his own, a choir going something like "This is gonna the best oration ever" or "This is gonna be a masterpiece", "This is gonna go down in history as the best oration ever seen", you get the gist. And then he is in the square (well, the forum) and he is about about to start talking but you hear threats getting louder and louder, and a crowd with weapons, making noise with their feet (and swords!) and then Cicero just can't utter another word because he is too scared they'll kill him. His perfect oration, going to waste, not able to save his friend. Yeah I haven't got over this one either.

13) Cicero singing a song on how Augustus is going to save them. AH.

14) I think Cicero's Reynolds Pamphlet would be, you know, sentencing people to death without the provocatio ad populum (after Catiline's failed coup d'etat)

15) I already said that but Catiline villain song.

16) Funky neoteroi song. Can you imagine. Catullus and friends just following around Cicero to annoy him while he insults them.

17) Obligatory song on how Rome is changing and Republic is dead.

18) Is it a major event? No. But I would love to hear a take on what Caesar said to Cicero when they were walking all on their own after Caesar won on Pompeius. After Caesar won against Pompeius people were all expecting him in the Brindisi harbour and Cicero was dying inside because he had taken the wrong side. Again. So Caesar gets off the ship, Cicero thinks he is dead, but Caesar pardons him in front of everybody and then take him for a private walk, just them two. And sometimes instead of sleeping I think of what Caesar might have said to him.

19) I'd also need a general chorus to comment on how many bad decisions Cicero is taking.

20) song on Cicero trying to remain back his good reputation as he feels everything that he has ever known about Rome is changing and that's not his or Republican time anymore

21) angst Cicero song about holing himself up in his villa, writing philosophical dialogue because the time of politics and freedom is over

22) BAM LAST SURPRISE SONG THEY KILL HIM AND HE SINGS THE LAST SONG THAT MUSICALLY REPRISES ONE OF THE FIRST SONGS (maybe the Pro Roscio Amerino one during which he was so young and hopeful) BUT HE SINGS IT WHILE HE IS ALREADY DEAD ON THE ROSTRA LIKE THAT'S HIS SPIRIT SINGING

23) And then you see Rome become and empire with Ottavianus villanously declaring the Republic is no more

[tabinavi]

Kikuoland-Go-Round and Six Long Years 9-3-24

"Thank you very much stormy Houston, Texas!!!" i'm still shaken by what i experienced last night. i don't know. i look back on it like i just imagined it; like it never happened. i didn't feel it at that moment, but i believe i experienced the purest form of joy i will ever experience. i look back on the very few photos and videos i took (i'm not the phone out type), and i remember it all like a decade old memory. covered in rainwater, face red from all the adrenaline, the way the crowd was excited and music blaring. i wish to go back, like legitimately, RIGHT NOW! i got to the venue at 5PM, where doors opened for VIP at 6;30PM and rest an hour later. i paid for the VIP and meet and greet; $100 was not bad i believe!my family paid ~$250 for general admission each for Coldplay! anyways, i got in, got my merch, and claimed my spot next to the railing (lol). very quickly did it become evident that it was gonna be raining during the actual show. i feel bad for those who didn't bring a bag for their merch shirts and other goods. i took cover for a short while before i had to submit to the rain to secure my first row spot. we got hilariously videotaped of us in the rain, and countless other recordings of us on the railing, which i know i will be CLEARLY visible if they do surface. embarrassing! but also exciting! not much happened between waiting and the show start at 8 o'clock other than regretting not taking a picture with the life-sized Hoshi-kun (or -live, mascot history goes a lil crazy).

honestly, i would like to keep details about the show very minimal as i let it marinate in my memory. lots of jumping i'll say. Lots Of It. and for being at the railing, did it mess with the acoustics overall since i'm so close to the subwoofers? yes, but... but...

but i feel very strong about getting the best view, and i wasn't taking "decent" for Kikuo. For Coldplay, i got a pretty good spot in front of center stage, getting to see the band up close, but there were two other stages they performed on. anytime they moved to a stage away from mine, i hated it. i hate having to tiptoe and move my head constantly to catch just quick glimpses. i want the full picture, so it clings easier to my memory. during Kikuo's performance, being able to see him move around on stage and fiddle with his deck was like hitting the jackpot. i'm crazy. i've been crazy for this since the announcement. i'm glad everything all worked out, and i got the best possible experience i was looking for.

and for the meet and greet, i took the guitar pick i had been using for a couple years as a way to send it off and retire it. it felt special to have that item signed. i showed it and he audibly gasped assuming he was surprised to see a pick or something that small be signed.

funny ryo. this concert, to me, was a culmination of six years of kikuo. late 2018, maybe from september-december, i had found and upload of Red Ridinghood's Wolf. after that, it's black. how did i end up here, really? from unassuming song to manic fan? god only knows. but i reflect on years of listening, and Kikuo to me, is just the most unique sort of imagination. his songwriting and lyrics all give off the feeling that he's reminiscing on a past and future that doesn't exist. his influences of trance, edm, pop, and traditional folk music are very obvious, but he crafts an entirely new identity separated from those. each song is a different world, and i get sucked in every time.

thanks to Kikuo for all the memories, and the unforgettable concert i had the first of september. i seriously wish i can go back.

[gg-carboxylase]

This is from a media analysis standpoint, not a criticism of the actors. I love absolutely all the actors in Only Friends. They are legitimately all of my faves. Please, if you don't understand why media analysis exists, I'm not the blog for you.

I'm almost shocked that so far we have gotten filthier kisses from ForceBook and NeoMark. Almost.

And you know what? GOOD FOR FirstKhaotung for having boundaries and keeping to them if that's what was the cause. I'm good with that. Khaotung said it was hard to play / act that scene. (ref: Twitter Space 8/19 translation from FKT OFC, by @/_SB95X)

I had a mild suspicion that they would be the ones that wouldn't get super filthy and I think they will continue to be US weeknight TV appropriate.

The struggle with that scene is evident. There are 21 cuts in 36 seconds. That's... A lot. P'Jojo says that, "This couple gives a rock vibe so their sex scene was not that smooth." (ref: same Twitter space, same translation, same user.)

Now I love P'Jojo but that's an absolutely absurd explanation for these cuts. They aren't jump cuts like you'd get in a MV or similar sequence. They're trying to look smooth.

What I think is the explanation was put forward by my friend, the ever fabulous @crowie. Here is a screenshot of the fan translation of that same Space:

P'Jojo wasn't on set that day, and I'm not sure P'Ninew was either. Luckily, with everything being digital, you can film for 20 minutes of mess and cut the best parts together, which is what looks like might have been done with this. And that's a blessing. It's still a mess, and really, there's two camps here and it's fine if you like it!

Khaotung posted this photo on Twitter during the episode:

As predicted, First is absolutely about to combust. I also do not remember Khaotung's tattoo being that high, so those jeans might just be indecently low waisted.

Not a fan of the song they chose for them, but you can't win the soundtrack lottery all the time, either.

I saw someone on Twitter call their scene the hottest makeout scene in a BL ever and... Champs. It was good. You know what? Their scene in Our Skyy 2 might have actually been hotter. It definitely was not the hottest thing that's been put to digital media for BL.

Yes we love FirstKhaotung, but we can't let that get in front of what is actually going on, you know? We need to be impartial when we're doing analysis here.

YMMV, obviously. Feel free to tell me why it was the hottest thing with supporting evidence other than because.

[geffenrecords]

I still would like to see your stuff about diary of a wimpy kid. hand it over 🫴🏽

oh boy um. okay. so i hauvent posted abt them in a long time but i imagine if youve followed me for long enuf you remember....and boy theres a lot to sayhere

so the context is that like when i was like 14..me & my at the time best friend became just like. obsessed with the diary of a wimpy kid movies. and im dead serious we were obsessed with them. we watched them all the time and talked about them for hours. like im straight up we loved these movies. my only possible defense for what was up with me is that i was really anorexic haha so i was really weird in the head. but anyways, obviously mostly people only talk about those movies because they like rodrick and well looks around yeah. but also ☝️ we were retired glee kids. my friend had previously been the biggest fan of the warblers from glee (who altogether have maybe 8 minutes of screentime) and we were retired newsies fans. we were really cringey fandom kids still & we were really really good at loving total nothing background characters. so !

if you pay attention. in the first movie rodricks band consists of 1 redhead kid on guitar, some emo kid, and some other random guy. in rodrick rules/dog days, his band is two guys named ben and chris (plus bill in rodrick rules and some random kid they found for dog days). chris doesnt have any lines i dont think but he is there a lot in rodrick rules. i dont have any evidence but im like 79% sure he was definitely high during the filming. and if he wasnt hes really good at acting it. ben does have lines though :-) in rodrick rules he and rodrick drive rowley and greg home and discuss what song theyre going to perform at the talent show and he says "dude we'll get to go backstage" at the party scene.

um. anyways yeah. we made them into what was pretty much our own characters and gave them a whole story which is so long and. in all honesty i just forgot so much of i make shit up all the time for it when i do stuff with it now. but its silly and long and to sum it up -> ben works at office max in a mall (i dont think they have office max in malls) and rodrick keeps coming in to print/copy band posters. one night he breaks the machine so he and ben talk and rodrick asks him to join his band. he says yes, so ben and chris join the band which is rodrick and matt (emo kid from the first movie, who guess what doesnt say a single thing. he just stands there and claps at the sorry women scene) also the big joke with matt was that he works at chuck e cheese and hes the guy who wears the mouse costume and ben rodrick and chris all keep going there and pissing him off and eventually he gets mad and yells at them and thats how they all meet. i think thats what we created him for basically. ben is rhythm guitar/vocals, chris is bass, rodrick is drums, and matt is lead guitar. they break up at the end of highschool and reunite after dropping out of college and get world famous haha. just think like really annoying music kids in like 2007 who actually have a successful band...(their song is rodrick rules is good...i promise go look it up).

but ya. its unfortunately such a personal story to me atp that i cant let it go even though im not even friends with that person anymore. and also i dont really care. its funny & i draw them so much now and also. rodrick rules is such a good fucking movie. i dont care its definitely in my top ten favorites im deadass. whatevs.

other noteable things from this is kitty. whos my oc completely but shes chris' girlfriend and we made her up because the whole joke was she pegged him to paramore. hides my face this is just who we were at the time. but i draw her more with my own ocs than i do with chris her boyfriend who is the only reason she exists. i think thats all. im sorry this is so long but ive never actually explained the whole thing. theres so much more but i literally wont stop if i start. go thru the doawk tag on my blog 4 further explanation or ask me...i love talking about them please please.... bonus drawing of them i just did for this👍

[unrelaxing]

media list (26.02.2024 - 26.03.3024)

👂 Listened:

Albums:

Speak Now (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift (2023) [8/10, probably my favourite of her re-releases, Timeless and Electric Touch are amazing vault songs.]

Red (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift (2021) [7/10, I don't really love any of the vault songs in this except for the 10 minute version of All Too Well, and while I like the tune and vibe of I Bet You Think About Me, I find it lyrically awkward.]

D-Day by Agust D (2023) [5/10, musically I just don't vibe with Yoongi's solo stuff a lot of the time, so it always ends up being a very distant appreciation, and I'll be honest and say I probably wouldn't listen if I wasn't already a fan.]

Indigo by RM (2022) [8.5/10, really really solid album, though it couldn't quite overtake mono. for me in terms of how much I loved it - considering if I were to rate mono. it would absolutely be a 10/10.]

Podcasts:

Morbid Episodes: ⤷ EP 502: The Highgate Vampire ⤷ EP 503: The Torsaker Witch Trials ⤷ EP 541: The Unsolved Murder of Georgette Bauerdorf

📖 Read:

Articles:

The ATO is reviving old tax debts totalling billions, threatening some taxpayers with bankruptcy by Nassim Khadem from abc.net.au

Dissecting the Diabolical Documentary 'Mister Organ' with Filmmaker David Farrier by Lulu Dropo from The Advocate

How Michael Organ Weaponised the Family Court... and Sean Plunket by David Farrier from Webworm

Mystery in Japan as dangerous streptococcal infections soar to record levels by Justin McCurry from Guardian

China visit sees $105 billion iron ore exports on the brink by Jamie Seidel from news.com.au [I don't often remember to actually put any political articles on this list, but this remained open on my tabs for a while so it makes it.]

Too close for comfort: Aussie filmmaker’s accidental portrait of a psychopath by Karl Quinn from Sydney Morning Herald [As made obvious by this list, I do tend to watch something then immediately seek out more information - a lot of the time it just leads me to reddit threads, but other times I do find articles and read those.]

The Bible Says Jesus Was Real. What Other Proof Exists? by Christopher Klein from history.com

What is the historical evidence that Jesus Christ lived and died? by Dr. Simon Gathercole from Guardian [I was dragged to church by my other and it hit me that I'd never even tried to find proof on whether or not Jesus wasn't fiction, so I started reading what people had to say. tldr; no archeological proof, though people of Jesus' class at the time didn't tend to leave archeological proof of their existence, and it seems there are accounts of Jesus starting 30 years after his death from non-Christians, so. Probably a real guy. Whether or not he's actually the son of God is, of course, unable to be proven.]

Books:

Stalking Darkness by Lynn Flewelling [finished! Another 10/10.]

Pine by Francine Toon [dropped - couldn't continue this one anymore, it's slow and filled with details that had nothing to do with the actual mystery or the characters themselves - I think other people might have appreciated it for the way it allowed you to visualise the setting so vividly, but to me it was just incredibly boring.]

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen [in progress, told myself I'd read more classics and thought I'd start with one I was supposed to read in high school.]

Spy x Family vol. 1 [finished! 10/10. Immediately bought the 10 volumes out on Amazon after reading this because I enjoyed it so much. Loid Forger is a goldmine of a male character, the kind that's easy to fall for and to root for. Anya is sweet and funny and interesting, and Yor is just the icing on the cake of their dynamic.]

Spy x Family vol. 2 [finished! 10/10 - my goodreads rating system is going to be SKEWED after reading this manga.]

Spy x Family vol. 3 [finished! 8/10 mostly because I didn't love Yor's brother at all.]

📺 Watched:

Movies:

Dune: Part Two [8/10 - this really revitalised my love of going to the cinema! I've watched it twice, and I've made plans to see some other movies in theatre and it's really all because this was such an experience to see on the big screen. Highly recommend.]

YouTube:

The Deranged Arsonist Who Filmed Their Own Crime • Mystery Files from Watcher

The Perplexing Legend of Vermont's Sea Monster • Mystery Files from Watcher

True Crime Cases with Disturbing CCTV Evidence from Lazy Masquerade

Documentaries:

Our Planet II [This was gorgeous and informative and also eye-opening in how it shows you the direct impact of human carelessness on so many creatures, to the albatrosses choking on plastic and the walruses unable to find ice to leave its baby. At the same time, there's hope! There's humans helping crabs cross roads, and bridges being built for animals who've used the same paths for hundreds and possibly thousands of years.]

Life In Colour with David Attenborough

Worst Roommate Ever EP 1-2: [the first episode one was WILD, especially because I had no idea this was a true crime when I clicked on it, and so did not expect it was going to involve several dead bodies buried in a little old lady's backyard. I do feel like this was such an intriguing case that I had a hard time finishing the second episode, since it feels so much more ... dull in comparison, as terrible as that is to say about murders.]

David Farrier's Mister Organ [I'm a long-time fan of David Farrier, but didn't get a chance to watch this for a while. This one is a dark, dark tale that has nothing to do with murders. It's all psychological. I'm always amazed with how well Farrier can explore the darkness of humans without turning to the usual things we think of when we think of 'bad' people. I'd also recommend reading this article - which I'll also read on my read articles list - after watching this documentary, just so you know how insidious Michael Organ truly is.]

Into The Deep: The Submarine Murder Case [I don't give the things I watch ratings, but if I did, this would be a 10/10 - it's a unique experience to be able to see footage of how the people close to a murderer react as they realise the kind of person their friend is.]

[canyouhearthevoices]

ATEEZ Theory Tidbits Episode 14: HALATEEZ? TREASURETEEZ? THE WORLDTEEZ? FEVERTEEZ?

Aka, Casper struggling with the ATEEZ storyline.

You know, I like to say that TXT’s storyline has DID. And if TXT’s storyline has DID, ATEEZ themselves have DID. Although they were introduced to us in very normal terms through TREASURE, the arrival of Zero to One and HALA HALA changed that - there was an alternate version of ATEEZ, likely from a different universe/timeline, who seemed able to possess the original members. They were darker, self-destructive, and more than likely traumatised. When they appear, ‘original’ ATEEZ describe feeling like they’re going to explode, or fire imagery. And also going crazy.

And then FEVER happened. And we all thought that they were HALAteez, as they had been dubbed. But then there were suggestions that they weren’t. And then the same thing happened again with THE WORLD. So what in the name of Namjesus is going on? Only Hongjoong knows. And let’s be honest, even the people who seem sure of their interpretations of the storyline are probably completely wrong. Because ATEEZ are like that. And I’m not here to be certain about the storyline. I’m here to stare reaaaaaally hard at Hongjoong’s armband and talk about media history and the random things that noone else talks about. And that’s okay.

So, let’s talk about the four current versions of ATEEZ - who the hell are they? What are they about? Are there four versions? More? Who is HALAteez? Does HALAteez even exist? And what do I wish was the case?

All of that is below the line.

What I wish would happen

You know how in the Diary Film, they talked about the universe splitting in 8? I would absolutely love it (and think it would be interesting and poetic) if there were 8 versions of ATEEZ, one for each member/fragment of the universe. So, who is which one?

Well, to be honest I don’t know. The only one I would put down for certain is HALATEEZ being from Hongjoong’s section - they are what we all generally consider the actual original version of ATEEZ, thus it makes sense that they are the product of the Captain. They’re also the traumatised ones - remember ‘Precious,’ which most people consider the HALAteez version of ‘Treasure,’ where Hongjoong is left alone with the Treasure, the rest of the members dead. I mean, I could potentially go on. But I feel like it’s a natural conclusion to come to. Especially since HALAteez seem to communicate with Hongjoong the most, Hongjoong is the one who understands what’s going on in the storyline, and I am a big fan of the insane Hongjoong messing up the universe theory. 

As far as the other ones?

I like FEVER as Yeosang - he’s the one who is arguably the main character of the segment - a contender for the author of ‘Dear Diary,’ and with a continued story throughout the series, from INCEPTION to Deja Vu, The Real, and Turbulence. Not to mention how he was highlighted in that era - got a lot of ending fairies and centre time in ending poses. 

TREASURE - I’m thinking Yunho, Mingi or Jongho - Jongho is the maknae and thus by default is considered more innocent than the others. TREASURE is the era where the group is new to the world - thus why it is the era we were introduced to them in. They are discovering things like the Guardians, HALAteez, other universes, and more. Jongho by default would match this description. But I like more evidence than just age. And if I had to pick someone else, it would probably be Yunho or even Mingi. Both Yunho and Mingi have roles in the storyline based on directing the other members towards their goal - while YUnho is ‘pointing’, Mingi is the one who keeps the pace. TREASURE was about travelling a lot, both literally and metaphorically, and they are the members who best represent this. There could be arguments for either, although, with how hard Mingi was pushed as a rapper and an intimidating, cool member, and how he had centre parts in songs like ‘WAVE,’ he probably has more evidence in his favour.

THE WORLD - well, I’m feeling a pretty solid Seonghwa. We were introduced to THE WORLD after the end of FEVER through the transitional single ‘Don’t Stop,’ which showed Seonghwa leading the group in Hongjoong’s absence. Although we haven’t had much THE WORLD era content, Seonghwa has been highlighted in the storyline - both in ‘Guerrilla’ and ‘Halazia’ through the styling and cinematography. He literally starts ‘Halazia’ with Hongjoong and gets multiple killing points in the choreographies of both songs, including directing the group in ‘Halazia,’ and being the one in the MV to get arguably the coolest and most memorable set. Not to mention he’s the one who has the Jesus allegory - a literal leader and saviour? Sure, ‘Halazia’ and the Spin off album aren’t an actual part of THE WORLD - that’s why it’s a spin off. But I would consider it a peripheral part of the THE WORLD era, the same was I would consider Don’t Stop the bridge between FEVER and THE WORLD, and ‘Dreamers’ part of FEVER. So yes, we have indeed been seeing a lot of First Mate Hwa lately.

Interesting things about the above;

This would also suggest that Yeosang and Yunho’s dimensions are connected, as Hongjoong has said that FEVER and TREASURE are in the same universe. Although goodness knows where he/KQ are going with that.

Hongjoong says we only have less than half of the storyline released, so this fits the idea that there will be 8 versions of ATEEZ, one for each member. First, we know that the number 8 is hugely important to the group. It is also highly likely that each album series follows a different version of the group, so makes sense that we’ve seen four of eight, and thus a bit less than half of the storyline.

And now that I’ve looked through all of this and come up with Hongjoong, Yeosang, Yunho, and Seonghwa as potential candidates, I wonder - if they are going in rough age order?

I mean, goodness knows where ATEEZ are actually going with their storyline, but it’s interesting to look at.

So, what do we know about each of the groups so far?

TREASURETEEZ

Aka what most of us consider the ‘original’ ATEEZ, although they probably aren’t, chronologically.

Introduced in; ‘Pirate King’ and ‘Treasure.’

Key tracks; ‘Intro: Long Journey,’ ‘Outro: Long Journey,’ ‘WAVE,’ ‘Say My Name,’ ‘WONDERLAND,’ ‘ILLUSION,’ ‘UTOPIA,’ Answer,’ ‘Treasure,’ etc.

Characteristics; Sand, the flying pirate ship, friendship, the phases of the moon, dreams and illusions, utopia, time travel, phases of the moon, water and fire, wonderland, Peter Pan/Alice in Wonderland/other classics, the Treasure, good vs evil, names and ATINY etc.

Summary; It’s ‘Pirates of the Carribean’ but mixed with both fairy tales and old, deeply disturbing, Gothic media. Pretty much summarises ATEEZ’s storyline as a whole.

TREASURETEEZ are, as I said, what most people consider the ‘original,’ since they were the version of the group we were introduced to first. But that’s the only reason. Actually, in the storyline, it seems that TREASURETEEZ come in only in the middle, or towards the end. They seem more ‘bland’ than the other versions, mostly out of necessity of introducing the fandom slowly to the complexities of ATEEZ’s storyline. But they do have their own unique aspects. For instance - the flying pirate ship, which has only been seen in ‘Don’t Stop’ since the TREASURE era. Or the idea of the search for the Treasure, which has been an underlying theme of the whole story, but which was especially key to TREASURETEEZ. Additionally, their concepts of travelling (shown through the many locations of their MVs), fantasy, and utopia/illusions/dreams, while important to the other groups, were far more heavily emphasised for TREASURETEEZ. Partially due to their originality and being the first, they remain super iconic and laid the groundwork for the other groups to follow. But honestly, we haven’t really heard from them in at least a year, so it’s interesting but also kind of sad to think about them now...

HALATEEZ

Introduced in; ‘HALA HALA.’

Main/key songs; arguable, but I would say ‘Desire,’ ‘From,’ ‘Precious,’ ‘HALA HALA,’ and ‘Answer: Ode to Joy.’

Actual name: Suicide Squad

Characteristics: Black pirates, the fedoras, chains etc (the Gothic pirate outfit that is mandatory ATEEZ concert atire), masks, gloves, the box, conflict with the Guardians, showing up and helping the other versions of ATEEZ, explosions, fire, insanity, self-destruction and harm, the Cromer, illusions and dreams, chaos and imprisonment, etc

Summary: They are literally Mr Hyde, but... weirder.

HALATEEZ, as they have been (incorrectly) dubbed were introduced as Jekyll-and-Hyde-type villains for TREASURETEEZ in their second comeback. They showed up randomly, seemingly caused a whole bunch of conflict and killed some people, and skedaddled again. We saw glimpses of them in ‘ILLUSION’ and ‘WONDERLAND,’ in different forms, and they returned in full in ‘Answer’ to seemingly make a truce with TREASURETEEZ and to help them fight the Guardians. Since then, we have seen them in all ATEEZ eras and in most albums/releases, especially alongside the Guardians. They are mentioned continually in the Diary entries and have appeared in other media like the FEVER eXtended edition and the Diary Film. In FEVER, we see them a few times, mostly in ‘Deja Vu,’ as the Guardians also seem to be chasing versions of ATEEZ across time and space (cue Dr Who theme). They even show up in THE WORLD, both being mentioned as a kay aspect of the world but also being characterised as some long-gone Jesus-type saviours who have literal shrines in their honour, and where the ATEEZ of THE WORLD are turning into a new version of the Black Pirates on their journey to free the world from oppression. 

They have also been seen helping every different version of ATEEZ - KINGDOM was a great way for them to demonstrate this - we saw HALATEEZ helping the ATEEZ in WONDERLAND, Awakening of Summer, and Answer: Ode to Joy, where they sacrificed themselves to help that version of ATEEZ (possibly FEVERTEEZ???) defeat the Guardians. 

So, it’s a pretty easy conclusion to come to to say that HALATEEZ are arguably the most important version of ATEEZ - another reason to associate them with Hongjoong.

FEVERTEEZ

Introduced in; INCEPTION

Main/key tracks; ‘Dear Diary,’ ‘INCEPTION,’ ‘THANXX,’ ‘Deja Vu,’ ‘Eternal Sunshine,’ ‘Turbulence,’ ‘The Real,’ etc

Characteristics; boyhood, dystopia, coming of age, grunge, graffiti, day of the dead imagery, fire and water, dreams, memory loss, inspiration from movies, mad max (maybe maybe not), gloves, etc

Summary; Everyone is sad, especially Yeosang, and the world may or may not be real.

FEVER was an interesting era. I’m still not entirely sure how or why we decided it, but we collectively, as a fandom, decided that FEVER is a prequel to TREASURE. I think a lot of this came from the Diary Film, which shows the origin of the members in their world, and shows Hongjoong being given the Cromer - since the group have the Cromer in TREASURE, them being given it would obvously come before. It also came with the idea that FEVERTEEZ were HALATEEZ - this is also an obvious conclusion - ‘fever’ was a word often used to describe the feeling the members had when they were being taken over by HALATEEZ, and FEVERTEEZ and HALATEEZ have many common themes, such as dystopia, 1984 inspirations, associations with fire, using gloves and  masks, etc etc. But looking at the storyline as it is now, I don’t think this is the case. For starters, HALATEEZ (mostly Hongjoong) actually show up in FEVER - which either suggests time travel (admittedly a key part of the storyline), or that they are different people. It’s more of a ‘ohh look at Hongjoong being the subtle villain of the story’ than it is a circular section of a cyclical storyline. I think we as a fandom have perhaps just gone a little far with how nonlinear ATEEZ’s storyline is. To be fair, I may be completely wrong, but we can at least agree that the storyline is so nonlinear that ATINY have gone a bit crazy and just run with it.

But, removing FEVERTEEZ from HALATEEZ, what do we know about them? They seem to live in a semi-dystopian world (like the world of THE WORLD, but less drastic), and have a big concept of rebelling against society. Their storyline is explicitly inspired by a host of Korean, English, and American movies, such as Inception and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Their view of their world seems to become more sober/less idealistic over time, going from relatively normal but a tiny bit off in INCEPTION and THANXX, to on fire in Fireworks, to a 1984-espque world in ‘Deja Vu’ and a tragic loss of self in ‘Turbulence.’ This connects to the dream state that they experience, which, speaking of - the duality of water and fire is associated with this - water as a symbol of the dream state and fire as the real world. This can be applied to the rest of the storyline, as we know the group is in a dream in ‘WAVE,’ where we see a lot of water, but in WONDERLAND and Don’t Stop, where they are awake, we see fire. This also further connects to utopia, as utopia is associated with water, but water for ATEEZ is a dream, just as the utopia isn’t real. Whereas fire is hellish and chaotic, but also associated here with the real world - showing the actual, horrific nature of the world they live in.

However, FEVER era also introduced the Diary versions of the albums, which, interestingly, seemingly discuss the world of THE WORLD. The fact that they are associated with FEVERTEEZ through the virtue of literally being part of their albums suggests that the ATEEZ of THE WORLD and FEVERTEEZ are the same - they even have the same hideout and same events of the Guardians invading the hideout. But Hongjoong also says that these two albums come from different universes, which suggests that they are different groups... so why did the FEVER albums discuss the events of THE WORLD? What is going on? Are they parallels of each other but in slightly different versions of reality where THE WORLD has gone even further into the 1984 world?

Anyway, until we have more content of THE WORLD and I have done a more thorough analysis of the Diaries, we can only really assume that they are separate but similar groups, and that, by virtue of contributing mostly to the following era, FEVER is a very interesting but generally lower quantity of contribution to the storyline.

THE WORLD...TEEZ?

Omg I hate calling them THE WORLDTEEZ. Can we call them 1984-teez or something?

Introduced in; arguable - ‘Don’t Stop,’ ‘Awakening of Summer,’ or ‘Guerrilla,’ depending on your opinion of the storyline.

Key tracks; Awakening of Summer, Guerrilla, Sector 1, Propaganda, Halazia (maybe) etc

Characteristics; Literally 1984, human rights, oppression, suppression and rebellion, technology, human nature, etc

Summary; I don’t think they can be described in a better way than ‘literally 1984.’

The most recent version of ATEEZ to be revealed. They exist in a world where the government has decided that the best way to develop humanity further is to get rid of all emotions, art, and music. There is still some legend of the Black Pirates, who literally have a shrine to them. Anyway, let’s just say that. although we don’t know a huge amount yet, we do know that ATEEZ are fighting against the loss of creativity in this world and may or may not be pushing for a world of anarchy. This is also a world that may or may not be the origin of the Guardians, but is certainly one they are present in. 

Conclusions

So what the hell is going on? We as a fandom seem obsessed with HALATEEZ. Every time a new album series comes out, we seem obsessed with the idea of them being HALATEEZ - Treasureteez clearly just had DID. But then FEVERTEEZ clearly WERE HALATEEZ. But wait, the ATEEZ from THE WORLD have more similar concepts and worlds to HALATEEZ than the other previous versions. So, it must be them.... right?

Well, yes and no. Because I am indeed, firmly of the opinion that HALATEEZ are the main characters of the storyline, yet will only ever remain in the background. We saw this especially on KINGDOM - the members of HALATEEZ were seen helping the other versions of ATEEZ but were never the centre of attention. 

So, what’s even the point? Why am I bothering running this blog? What is life, death, why do we even exist?

I guess we just have to wait and see. This is less of a theory post than laying out the facts that we have - although, as expected with ATEEZ, these details are all up to interpretation. But I do think I have a decent case for the 8 universes-8 versions of ATEEZ theory (although the circular reasoning of it being based on my own pet theories may be a bit dodgy).

[cheetostorydump]

Ashlyn's Funeral Requests

”First of all, hi Milo, Dakota, Cavendish, or whoever is reading this. If you ARE reading this, it’s either because you found it in my room and got curious or concerned, or I finally managed to kick the bucket.”

“If the latter- unless one of you guys, like, murdered me with a chainsaw, or something- let me be the first to confirm; it is not your fault.” "I know you three- I’m looking at you, Dakota- are going to blame yourselves for my untimely demise. Are you the ones who pulled the trigger? No. (Well, hopefully not) it’s the fault of whoever did pull the trigger. Not you.” "Take it from an expert, boys- death just kind of happens, and it really sucks when it does, but I’m okay. I’m freaking free now! Unless I did something really stupid, I should, theoretically, be in Heaven. the place where literally nothing bad can happen. I can stop being an anxious, traumatized wreck all the time! Woot woot!”

”Now, let’s get down to business. I’m hoping and praying you guys find this before the funeral, because I do, in fact, have last wishes.”

“firstly, DO NOT CREMATE ME. I WILL HAUNT YOU FROM THE AFTERLIFE IF YOU CREMATE ME. I want people to randomly find my bones in their backyard one day because they built their house on a graveyard. It would be so freaking funny.”

“secondly, the funeral is open invite. I want any disaster survivors, or families of victims who remember me to be able to come if they want to. Post it online if you can. Milo, I don’t care what Murphy’s law does, you’re freaking coming to my funeral even if you explode my grave, and I will smack you from beyond the grave if you don’t come.”

“I’m aware I don’t have a lot of pictures of me. HOWEVER the internet does! There’s a website cataloguing evidence of my existence throughout time, made by historians and fans, which I apparently have? It’s called “HistoryHasIt’sEyesOnAsh.com”. Yes, the website name is a Hamilton reference, and I applaud them for it. I have an account on there, the password to which is riiiight here-“

she write her username and password below

“post the funeral invite there, too. You can also get a bunch of photos and videos for the inevitable funeral slideshow there. There’s even some really old ones!”

“thirdly, play “American Pie” at the funeral. I actually have a funeral playlist on my phone. American pie is in there several times. I DO NOT CARE if people complain. You do not skip songs, you do not remove songs. You will sit there and listen to all 8 minutes as many times as I so please.”

“fourthly, that historical site MANAGED TO FIND MY LAST NAME! It’s ‘Chance’! Ironic, right? Well, even if that’s my real last name, please put “Murphy-Chance” as my last name.”

”lastly, I know I don’t really say it to anyone but Milo, but you two deserve it after all you’ve done for me. Cavendish and Dakota, I love you. You rescued me from 7 years of living hell, and basically became my parents when I had nobody else. You went above and beyond for a random, cynical teenager who drove you up the wall, sometimes purely for kicks and giggles. As far as I’m concerned, you two are my dads, and I love you. Thank you for everything. All of you. Milo, too. Thank you for being my family.”

“I’m not going to tell you not to cry. I’m not going to tell you not to feel broken inside, or lost, or like a wet pancake. That’s normal. That’s healthy. That’s grieving, something I’ve been refusing to let myself do for years, for fear it would be the final straw that broke my camel brain’s back. Please, let yourselves cry.”

“I know Dakota’s the one more likely to do it, since Cavendish is a stick in the mud- but it’s okay if you don’t go back in time to prevent whatever killed me. I’m okay.” “I ran out of things to say, so I’ll end it like this-“

”My name is Ashlyn, and against all odds, I was here.”

[pleb-the-original]

Day 8: Tuttle Bottoms Monster

(So this is another one I had no idea existed before now. The thing was, as soon as I read the description of it, the anteater snout part immediately made me think of a capelobo. So, why not lean into that? I already did one story about how a monster can be misinterpreted into becoming a cryptid, so why not another? I did not mean for this to become a theme.)

Final Submission for My Contribution to the Cryptid Immigration Project:After weeks of research, tracking down sources, and even an interview I finally have all the information that I feel is required to close this case. When I first received the package that contained my initial resources I was confused. Quite frankly my first thought when I heard the name “Cryptid Immigration” was a bigfoot getting harassed by an employee of ICE. Then when I actually read the contents of what I was assigned to do I knew this was my opportunity to finally pursue a project I’ve had in the back of my mind for a long time. A long time ago back when I initially applied to join this program, I remember checking a book out from the library about cryptid cases that still had unknown origins to the wider community. One that stood out to me the most was the case of the Tuttle Bottoms Monster. A bigfoot like creature with a snout akin to an anteater. That had stuck in the back of my mind for a long time where I had a slight inclination as to what could have spawned such a beast. Once I got this package however, I was determined to see if my hypothesis was correct. As you can see with my provided evidence and testimonies, it indeed was. I am now confident in confirming the fact that the initial Tuttle Bottoms Monster sighting was that of a capelobo; just like me before I died and became a Cursed. I knew the moment I heard about that snout that it couldn’t be anything less than another fellow who had taken on the curse. The problem was determining how the transformation could have occurred. In order to transform properly when it is time, one must not only repeat the rhyme of the jungle as you get lost in its leaves but also let yourself be consumed by the foliage. But Illinois has no jungles, so how could he have taken on the jungle’s gift? That’s when I came across some pertinent clues. The first was the records of an older Brazilian man who had moved to Illinois a few months before the incident. This normally would not have been important if it weren’t for the fact that I also found a very strange police report about the house he lived in. He went missing and when the police entered his home, it was transformed into a jungle. Trees and bushes straight from the heart of the Amazon grew from his walls and floors, with him of course nowhere to be found. After that, I was able to track down the man since he also died and became a Cursed. He told me that he also wanted to walk the ways of the verdant, but that he felt like he couldn’t make it back home in time to transform. The reason why he was in Illinois was because he wanted to be there to see his son grow up. However his practices meant that the voice of the jungle still called to him and that he still had to obey. It sang him the song of old which was the key to growing the environment and completing the transformation. It was honestly a little sad to hear. As a fellow walker of the moss and ferns, I know how hard it is to avoid the call once you hear it. But that is in the past now, for him and for me. This clearly shows another case on how the migration of people who have magical curses, specifically immigration, can cause the creation of new cryptids due to the removal of their cultural context. This concludes my report. 

[meadow-dusk]

I've been wanting for a while to write up a post of my favorite connections between CSNY & Led Zeppelin, because there are quite a few, and more of us seem to have traversed this pipeline or are about to (plus of course, I would just love to see these fandoms converge!). Every time members come together to play benefits or tributes, you get a very strong sense of their mutual respect for one another, and this is something that's existed throughout their shared history in transforming from struggling or fairly successful musicians of the 1960s to absolute giants of their respective genres in the early '70s. So, in no order of their actual significance, here's my personal top five! Add more if you've got em!

5. The Band of Joy covers "For What It's Worth" (1968)

Even before they found their ways into the 1970's iterations of their respective bands, Zeppelin and CSNY were already crossing each others' wavelengths. Robert Plant was famously enamored with the west coast rock sound and the psychedelic / roots blend of California bands like the Buffalo Springfield. The Springfield's singular top-ten hit was the Stephen Stills composition "For What It's Worth," penned in response to police violence breaking out after teenagers violated and protested a new curfew imposed on the streets of LA. Plant, along with bandmate John Bonham and the rest of the Band of Joy, recorded their own interpretation of the song, loud, gritty, and, while only occasionally featuring the correct lyrics, charming all the same. Zeppelin, when fully formed, would go on to weave the song seamlessly into their epic medleys during live performances of classics like "Communication Breakdown" and "Whole Lotta Love."

4. Musical Influences Slip In

In 1970, Led Zeppelin were reaching new heights in their creative game, aided by their excursions to secluded locales to write and record. Here, they created much of Led Zeppelin III and IV, and influences were pouring in from everywhere. The old blues standards were, of course, still fair game, but LZ III opened a door to experimentation with folk. While the lead-in track “Immigrant Song” is as “Hammer of the Gods” as it gets (is this the first time we hear this phrase?), by the time it relaxes into “Friends” you might think you’d somehow mistakenly set the needle down on CSNY’s Deja Vu, which opens with a nearly identical driving guitar, and had been released only 8 months prior. But my personal favorite connection is the languid "Down by the Seaside," written in this period but shelved until 1975's Physical Graffiti. Many have noted that the title is similar to Neil Young’s “Down by the River” (which, by the way, would be my Led Zeppelin “dream cover” 😍), but the entire work sounds like an homage to Neil. The lyrics are full of natural imagery and hippie counterculture sentiments, Robert’s vocal stylings mirror Neil’s so closely, and even the underwater guitar effects sound like something you’d hear on Neil’s 1974 record On the Beach. Which brings us to...

3. Led Zeppelin at CSNY's performance at Wembley Stadium (14 September 1974)

To cap off their three-month international summer tour, CSNY played to a crowd of ~70,000 in London's Wembley Stadium, a venue Zep had played a few years prior. CSNY famously disbanded again soon after the event, but the group were in congenial spirits immediately after and clearly pleased to wrap up what was a very successful, if not necessarily financially lucrative, tour. Stories from this show are easy to stumble upon, and thankfully we have photographic evidence some of the best parts. Not only did Robert attend the performance with wife Maureen, but afterwards, when CSNY retired to a party at a local restaurant, they were joined onstage by Jimmy Page and John Bonham for a short jam session featuring some of the bluesier tunes from Neil Young's On the Beach album. Their reactions say it all.

2. Neil Young performs with Led Zeppelin during their mutual induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (12 January 1995)

The evening could have been totally uncomfortable for Zeppelin (mostly due to John Paul Jones' absolutely perfect but ballsy acceptance speech remark following his exclusion from the earlier Page & Plant reunion), but the drama was pushed aside for the nine minutes that the group shared the stage with Neil Young, a member of the same class of inductees. The performance isn't without flaw, but that's not really important. (On what other occasion do we get to see Robert play a guitar solo?) While Jimmy holds down the powerful, rhythmic riff, Neil gets a chance to try to match wits with a guitarist compared to whom he considered himself merely "a hack." In his biography, Neil admitted that he walked away from the experience so inspired that he wanted to convince Zeppelin to reform just to make an album with them...oh, what might have been! Instead, he wrote the song "Downtown" to capture the experience of attending one of their shows, featuring the lyrics "Led Zeppelin on stage / there's a mirror ball twirling and a note from Page / like a water-washed diamond in a river of sin."

1. Robert Plant quotes CSNY classics during their "How Many More Times" medley at the Albert Hall (09 January 1970)

This is probably not the biggest literal connection, but it's still my favorite just because of how cool it is. Just days before this show (on 06 January), CSNY had played at the same venue, and (according to some sources) at least a few members of Zeppelin were attendees. The famous acoustic sets Zep later wove into their shows are rumored to have been partially inspired by what they witnessed at this event: a moment to slow down, pull out the stools and have a seat, encourage quiet consideration, refocus the attention to a simplified delivery of music. Prior to this restructuring, Led Zeppelin were always experimenting with the dynamics of "light and shade," almost like a jam band on a tight leash. The band were closely attuned to what one another were doing and ready to shift gears instantly in response to one another's cues, but everyone had freedom within that structure, and it's what made their live performances so fascinating.

Not uncommonly, couplets from old blues tunes or new music found their way into the lyrical ramblings that floated above the glorious Hammer of the Gods sound. On this occasion, the lyrics from the earlier CSNY show must have been floating around in Robert's mind. In the evening's absolutely epic 20-minute version of "How Many More Times," he quotes not only Neil's "Down by the River" but also the lesser-known Buffalo Springfield tune "On the Way Home," regularly performed by CSNY with stripped down instrumentation and glistening harmonies. Both songs are mandatory listening, as far as I'm concerned, but this medley is the gift that keeps on giving!

Bonus! Here's some random images I found while writing this post. They're mostly of Neil but...you know what you're getting with me.

[agwic]

just watched the 9 hour rosatrice video(at 2x speed, I'm not THAT insane) and it was actually really good. in the same way erika's theories are good. in fact, for a large portion of the video, I had deep blue jeer playing in the background because it really felt like another insane theory by erika. but also parts of it were genuinely good! like he makes a very good point near the end about how even if he's wrong, it's good that he made the video because alternate explanations make the story more interesting(I even have a mostly joking alternate explanation of my own which I may make into a fan-forgery at some point). and, especially with the guy who made it no longer believing the theory, and the manga's release confirming sayoshiya(which sounds so much better than shkanon), I feel like it can be seen as a very good piece of umineko fanfiction from the perspective of an erika-like character(the guy was even a youtube atheist from what I can tell, which erika would also be if she existed in 2015). so yeah, if you really liked episode 5, I would highly recommend watching the 9 hour rosatrice video.

anyways some of my favorite bits of the theory are two core points, which are that if sayoshiya were the case, the entire ushiromiya family would have to be unimaginably stupid, and that if sayoshiya were the case, the red truth wouldn't actually be that powerful. and yes, both of these are true. rudolf, krauss, gohda, and rosa are unimaginably stupid, there is no denying that. and kyrie and natsuhi, despite their incredibly competence, are both incredibly loyal to an unimaginably stupid person in their husbands, plus kinzo in the case of natsuhi. and like the red truth is obviously not nearly as powerful as it seems, which is the core point needed to understand nanjo's murder in episode 3, as well as the final red truth of episode 6(though honestly rosatrice guy provides a very interesting counter-explanation to this one, which is also not particularly faithful to the red truth but I think it's cool when stuff has multiple meanings like that). not to mention episode 8, which outright denies red truths.

now as for the theory itself it comes dangerously close to claiming rosa is good actually, and also has a very uncharitable interpretation of george's character, and obviously can't work because it relies on the falsehood of the blatantly true sayoshiya, but otherwise was very cool. like, for a mystery-style solution to umineko, I doubt you could get a better solution, since the canon solution(kyrie and rudolf, thwarted by eva) isn't very satisfying from a mystery perspective, and sayoshiyatrice(once again, sounds way better than shkanontrice) flies in the face of mystery conventions by design, and my alternate theory is a joke on the level of erika's theory for episode 5 and the evidence for it is mainly "there's no evidence against it and it'd be really funny if it was true". and honestly I think it's pretty fun to poke the holes in the counterpoints to sayoshiyatrice, other than the counterpoints to sayoshiya, since the counterpoints to sayoshiya are basically just "I don't think this is very realistic and also look at these red truths".

also the video makes use of the best song in umineko, ALIVE, which automatically makes it the best piece of umineko fan content I've read/watched since neither wanderlust nor purgatory use ALIVE. (this is a joke wanderlust and purgatory are both very very good, I would also recommend them, far more than the rosatrice video because they are good for the reasons they actually intend to be good. wanderlust can be found here and purgatory can be found here. the only reasons I never made posts detailing my opinions on them was that they don't really go beyond "yeah they're good for reasons which are very obvious if you've read them". so I guess this post can serve as a post recommending those two as well.)