#and i was like “OHHHHH YOURE A GENIUS ”

[coddda]

Everyone knows that Light and L matched each other's freak but I think their dynamic in the musical (the Japanese ver specifically) is underrated. Like it's not super different from canon but they just had this extra edge of Violence that we never quite saw from the more methodical and careful mindgames in canon death note and I think it's great. Like, yes, they did declare in canon that they will bring each other to justice, yes L says he wants to send Kira to his execution, but in the lyrics of the musical they both outright say multiple times that they just want to straight up Kill each other. It's direct the whole way through. There's more mutual contempt. This game is about nothing more than simply being the first one to Kill the Other (they actually use the word "殺し合い" (koroshiau) or "to kill each other" to describe their game (translated as "murderous ... game")).

(Sidenote but all those references about wanting to send each other to Hell?? Beautiful)

Yeah this is a battle of justice and ideals, yes that clash is a key part of their final confrontation at the end of the musical, but throughout their duets (or even songs like The Game Begins where they're singing by themselves) there's this near singleminded desire to just fucking End each other. It's fucking Raw and it's great.

Also THIS FUCKING SCENE?? THIS SCENE FROM SECRETS AND LIES. Iconic. Actually Insane. My jaw dropped. Light looks like a crazy bitch it's beautiful.

Um. Also. Obligatory Playing His Game (yknow the gay sex song) lines dump. It basically says everything I just said above in like 9 lines. You see what I mean right.

In canon they're playing a game of mental chess, trying to use everyone around them to finally catch the other as their end goal, but in the musical you really do feel like all they see is each other. They would probably beat each other to death with their fists if it came down to that. Idk they're just so excited and fired up about their little game in the musical and it's so unhinged and fun and special and I love it. It's like the writers for the musical decided to kick their murderous intent up a couple notches and the result is absolutely Beautiful.

I also think that the intensity of their rivalry in the beginning just makes the wind-down of The Way It Ends soo much better. It's such a good contrast to their previous duets where they try to sing over each other (Secrets and Lies & Stalemate) or with each other but basically at the top of their lungs (Playing His Game). It feels like there's both a quiet mutual understanding but also an underlying disappointment that the game is finally over. In canon, L's death Is instead the peak of their game, the moment he gets confirmation that Light is Kira is the exact same moment that he dies. In the jdrama it's almost sudden, how L dies, after the quiet moment has already passed. But in the musical L's death, ironically, Is the one quieter moment in their game. Their peak was the game itself. It was Secrets and Lies and Playing His Game. But the end of the game in the musical is not a victory, it's just (as L says) the end of everything they'd been wanting up until this point.

Uh. Fuck it. Clip from the Kenji Urai version because I just love his delivery here. His tone just goes so well with the silence and the sound of the clock ticking. You see what I mean right.

Their rivalry in the musical may have been more shortlived but like Damn they were really enjoying every second of it. They were truly insane about each other until the very end. (Like despite everything I just said about the ending it was still unhinged as fuck. Light Making L Shoot Him and then Making L Shoot Himself with L's Own Hand?? Holy shit man. What the fuck /pos)

Musical Light and L your game might've been shorter but you'll always be famous <33 Please never inflict what you had on anyone else ever please stay in hell forever thank you

[gorillaxyz]

people on death note tiktok are so stupid. i dont like that ship either because its extremely out of character NOT BECAUSE ITS TOXIC????, DIE

[calliesmemes]

YET ANOTHER ROUNDUP OF ASOLUTELY UNHINGED COMEDIC RELIEF

ASSORTED SENTENCE STARTERS FROM AROUND THE INTERNET, including quotes from Tumblr, Pinterest, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter), for when a muse wants to be a bit silly <333

CHANGE gendered words and in-universe phrases as needed.

SPECIFY muse for multimuses.

❛ I am not merely a clown; I’m the entire damn circus! ❜

❛ I will bite you if you continue this behavior. ❜

❛ Being a dramatic ass bitch isn’t a personality trait; it’s a lifestyle! ❜

❛ Trauma? Oh … you mean, my lore? ❜

❛ why must I cite sources? is it not enough to just say ‘trust me, bro’? ❜

❛ sorry for being a perfect sweetie and a genius it will likely happen again. ❜

❛ forget about touching grass; I need to touch WATER I NEED TO GO INTO THE OCEAN I NEED TO DIVE INTO THE SEA!!! ❜

❛ I’m attracted to men with muppet energy and no i will not be explaining. ❜

❛ you want me to make friends with people? the thing that killed julius caesar? ❜

❛ what’s your birthstone? mine is rock bottom. ❜

❛ I absolutely hate that I’m not bioluminescent. Pathetic. ❜

❛ ohhhhh my god i have got to stop mourning the past or whatever. ❜

❛ you expect me to act like a normal human being? I’m wearing a turtleneck! ❜

❛ i don’t struggle with same sex attraction I’m actually very good at it. ❜

❛ unfortunately i often find out without even getting the chance to fuck around. ❜

❛ I’m bisexual which means that I’m attracted to anybody who can defeat me in physical combat. ❜

❛ all anyone needs to know about me is that i’m a dumbass and i love women. ❜

❛ sorry but philosophers aren’t impressive i came up with stuff like that when i was 12. ❜

❛ I pay my own bills; I can cuss all I want! ❜

❛ I don’t have rizz; I have sad eyes and a weird presence. ❜

❛ my demons are chasing me and they’re doing the Naruto run. ❜

❛ honey we are ALL doomed by the narrative. it's not that serious. have some fun with it. ❜

❛ dating me is like interviewing a psych ward patient. ❜

❛ being a girl with very large brown eyes comes with great responsibility. ❜

❛ i’m autistic in ways that you can’t even begin to imagine. ❜

❛ being a loser may be a phase to you but its a lifestyle for me. ❜

❛ entering a magical portal in the woods would fix me. ❜

❛ I’m lonely but not in a hot mysterious way; more like in a pathetic way. ❜

❛ life is so unserious just say womp womp and move on! ❜

❛ you’re vibing? In this economy? ❜

❛ just because I’m small doesn’t mean I can’t kick your ass. ❜

❛ my primary motivators are fear, spite, and aesthetic longing. ❜

❛ sorry about the chaos; I needed attention. ❜

❛ WHAT IS UP GIRL you look foreboding and malicious! ❜

❛ baby i can be your problematic bi wife. ❜

❛ i don’t think any of you understand how important i am to the plot. ❜

❛ what if we are both red flags? what then? ❜

❛ any dream can be a prophetic dream if you’re willing to do some really weird shit. ❜

❛ my hobbies include being right, being gay, and being a hater. ❜

❛ i have a phd in Loving The Color Pink And Also Glitter. ❜

❛ being a menace to society is a full time job and I am dedicated. ❜

❛ my life has been a bouquet of oopsie daisies. ❜

❛ i survive on spite, anxiety, and blasphemy. ❜

❛ if you’re not obsessed with me, why would I wanna be with you? ❜

❛ the hottest thing a man can be is a little afraid of me. ❜

❛ my love language is being a hater. ❜

❛ i don’t get enough credit for acting far less insane than i actually am. ❜

❛ the A in my name stands for always right. ❜

❛ Jesus is my homeboy but God has a lot to answer for and I will continue to be rebellious until he does so. ❜

❛ I’ll see a man with long hair and then remember that I’m not above temptations of the flesh. ❜

❛ i’m going to be honest with you I’m not going to be honest with you. ❜

❛ stop asking me if I’m ok I’ll literally make out with you. ❜

❛ part of my masculine charm is that I’m literally insane. ❜

❛ are you sure those are demons bro? or are they consequences from the choices you made? ❜

❛ i do not identify as a boy or a girl. i identify as a nuisance, an irritant, a fool, and a problem. ❜

❛ praying on someone’s downfall isn’t enough i need to participate in it. ❜

❛ we all need to chill. i won’t do it first but it’s something i noticed. ❜

❛ not to sound like a Victorian woman suffering from hysteria but going to the sea would fix me. ❜

❛ the silly goose convention called; they asked if you could be their keynote speaker. ❜

❛ i deserve unrestricted access to old castles and old churches i want to know all the secrets. ❜

❛ doesn’t matter if you’re cringe or based we’re all just here to suffer. ❜

❛ I’m no longer comedic relief I’m now serious panic. ❜

❛ this is getting difficult to romanticize. ❜

❛ done healing my inner child. next up is my inner teen. her highness needs a sword. ❜

❛ i am God’s silliest experiment. ❜

❛ i’m very vulnerable right now if anyone wants to take advantage of me. ❜

❛ sorry i overshared do you still think im hot? ❜

❛ I can yap for days and still maintain my air of mystery. ❜

❛ good luck sending me mixed signals; I don’t even understand normal ones. ❜

❛ not all of your life decisions have to be smart. some can be purely for cinematic value. ❜

[normansnt]

The stupids and matchmaking.

(Huskerdus x platonic!reader,

Sir Pantious x reader)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yeah and than I said: well listen if you dont like the book dont take it but the bitch still wanted to buy it at this point just to spite me and- are you listening to me? Husk you there? You know this is a good drama story I ended up clogging that bitch" you continued saying while you turned around to see what Husk was looking at

"Ohhhhh so thats how it is" you smirked once you noticed the cat was staring at a particular spider.

"What-? What are you talking about?" Said Husker once he teared away his eyes from Angel.

"Uhuhuhhhhhh you have a cruuush" you said in a sing song voice

"Shut your mouth kid I have no crush on no one" denied Husk

"Of course of course we'll see" you smiled cheekily and left the bar.

"What is he up to" whispered husk to himself as he saw you walk away.

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

"Pssst"

Sir Pentious looked up from his work and looked around but didn't see anyone.

"Pssssssssssst"

He looked up again but still no one.

"PSSSSSSSSSSTT"

"Ok thisss isss getting ridiculous, who issss there?"

"In here Pen" you whispered from your hiding place from behind a plant.

He knew who that was, only one person called him that and the thought of that he started blushing. Sir Pentious might have little crush on you.

He looked around and finally spotted you.

"Oh...(Y/N), how lovely to see you we could perhaps-ahhh" he blabbered on blushing but he couldn't get his sentence out because you pulled him behind the plants close to you.

"Shhhhhh" you put your finger over your mouth.

Pentious was tomato red. You were literally holding him with your arm around his neck very close you your face. If he would turn his head to look at you, you two would kiss.

"Listen I need a helping hand in a plan I have will you help me?" You looked at him your noses almost touching.

Pentious could only nod. There was no way he could get out any words being this close to kissing you.

"YAAYY I fucking knew you were the one 'aight follow me" and with that you dragged him to your room.

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

"And so they fall in love happily ever after. Got it?"

You gave Pentious a whole presentation with drawings about your plan on how to get Angel and Husk together.

Pentious nodded again. This is not what he thought of as you guys's first date but, alas at least you guys will spend a lot of time together, which you already do but this was different Pentious hoped to get you to like him in this time.

The plan was easy.

You told Husk that you needed help with something on the roof. At this point he didn't even question it you say and do stupid shit all the time.

Than Pentious asked Angel to meet him on the roof at the same time you told Husk.

Than you guys locked them on the roof.

Truly a genius plan (note the sarcasm)

However that didn't really work since Husk just kicked down the door and they walked down the stairs.

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

"Well that didn't work out"

You commented when you saw them chatting happily in the lobby after you closed them on the roof.

"Did we forget to lock the door?" You asked looking at sir Pentios.

"No, Im almosssst one hundred precent sssure that we locked it"

"Oh, well that plan 0.2"

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

Which failed miserably just like the first.

Than 0.3, than 0.4 and all the other that came after till Angel and Husk sat you guys down.

"Ok what the hell has been going with ya?" Asked Angel looking at you and Pentious.

"I dont know what you mean" you said acting like nothing was going on.

"Aight kid listen, either tell us or no more drinks for a week." Husk took the harsher path.

You still didn't budge.

But Pentious did.

"We just wanted to get you guys to realize your love for each other and get together since you are made for each other" he bursted out.

"DUDE, we were good, we could have convinced them nothing's going on"

You said looking at Pentsious.

Angel and Husk looked at each other. Than bursted out laughing.

You and Pentious looked at them confused.

"What-whats going on?" You asked still confused lookang at Pentious who looked at you two.

"Haha...nothing, nothing its just...we are already going out" said Angel once he calmed down a bit.

"WHAT?" You and Pentious jumped up at the same time looking at them bewildered.

"WHY DIDNT YOU GUYS TELL ME?" You questioned two of your bestfriends.

"Well we wanted to wait and see if it would work before telling you guys" answered Angel again while looking at husk softly the cat holding his hand and smiling back at him.

"Well thats...thats...oh who cares I'm just so happy for you guys." You said while throwing yourself at the couple hugging them.

"So, should we play matchmaker for you and Pentious now?" Asked back Husk smirking after you guys parted. Angel looked at you two as well smirking.

Of course the two of you got tomato red.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, well, well what d'ya know I POSTED AGAIN🫡

I will very likely write a part two for this because I love Sir Pentious so much he is an absolute sweetheart🥹🧡🧡🧡🧡

I hope you enjoyed your readings Ladies gentleman and other, good afternoon good evening and good night.🦖🧡

[changingplumbob]

Chatting about Dating Deanna - Reece Edition

At Devin's insistence Deanna has agreed to take a trip to Thrift Tea or whatever it's called to let Devin try find her some outfits for the show. Not being a shopper herself she's convinced her best friend Reece to come along since they have similar fashion tastes.

Reece: I just can't believe you're actually doing it

Deanna: Yeah well, you've found your person haven't you. You seem happy. I want in on that. But not with you and Samir because ew. Do you want to see the pictures from the first lot of applications

Reece: I would but... you know I only like guys. I would just say they're all cute and have nothing else to offer. Talk to me once you've met them

Deanna: Deal

Devin: Oh! Oh! What about this one???

Deanna: Devin it's a dress. Try again

Reece: But you've worn dresses before. Like at prom

Deanna: I will wear some dresses if she insists but they have to be the fashion style I like

Devin: Don't worry De I am on it. Oh Luna, what do you think of this one for you? Gorgeous and pink

Deanna: Devin and Norah have been working on challenges for the contestants and honestly I'm a bit scared with their brains. Like are the people there to woo me or play survivor?

Reece: Well yeah but whoever wins will have to put up with Devin

Devin: HEY! I heard that and I'm fabulous

Reece: I just mean you've got her and Artemisia and Joey, they'll need to be able to handle your family

Deanna: True

Reece: I've been thinking about my contribution

Deanna: Okay genius, dazzle me

Reece: Joey was mumbling something about not being able to call households households because of something watcher related and I thought... give them group names!

Deanna: What?

Reece: For when they're in the villa with you. And you can name them... after robots! Because you like building robots

Deanna: That is the most geek idea I have ever heard

Reece: Yeah well I'm a young adult now, I've embraced being a geek

Devin: Ohhhhh! What about this one?

Reece: That dress does actually look nice

Deanna: *sighs* Since I like the colour I suppose I'll try it on

Devin: YES! Okay Lu see if you can find some matching shoes

Deanna: But Reece there won't be enough robot names for all the rounds so think of some other names options please. Less geeky ones would be great, I am not a geek after all

Reece: Maybe not but you are a tech head

Devin: De come on! Dress up time

Deanna: You know if being trans was a decision and not a state of being I'd be tempted to say Devin's constant dress up games when we were kids made Emisia a girl

7 spots available!

Dating Deanna - Contestant List, Challenge Overview, Joey's Contestant Creation Walkthrough, F.A.Q, All In Guide

[book--wyrm]

Pengu Finale Liveblog ahhhhhh

Julian just absolutely brain blasting this old woman

Oh Rex is close enough to call her doll and make her breakfast he is not beating the deadbeat daddy allegation

OH NO DOES SHE KNOW OH MY GOD SHE KNOWS

NEVERMIND I WAS SO WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING SHE HAS KNOWN ALL ALONG

holy shit holy shit holy shit

okay so they did find the bodies eventually holy fuck hooooooly fuck

oh my god rex literally teaching francis how to manipulate oz and use him oh my god ohhhhh my god this is so much more of a betrayal than if francis had just hated him for what he'd done

she knew all along she knew all along and she used him and she

she

oz was right ahahahahah every relationship in his life is fuckign transactional because he KILLED THE ONLY TWO BOYS WHO TRULY LOVED HIM, AND KILLED HIS MOTHER'S LOVE WITH THEM

dude he has to kill his mother now

this is a psychological nuke the likes of which i think sofia could not possibly have ever imagined.

Francis's FACE oh my god.

Julian baby boy maybe Sofia should stand out of sight to not break immersion

God this is absolutely not how hypnotism works is it

IT'LL BE EASIER NOW YOU LITTLE PSYCHO

"I see you in ways other people don't" while she is ACTIVELY USING HIM

dude. dude. I just. It's always the same with Oz, isn't it. Sofia, Eve, his mom. He's the biggest bullshitter in Gotham, and he's so full of it he doesn't have a clue how to sniff it out

God they are both so horrific to each other. Just his horrible cycle of selfishness and toxicity what a twisted family they are

HELLO VIC I MISSED YOU

Oh rip lmao I guess the gangs know the bliss is all gone

Vic baby he's saying all the same stuff oz does, only he believes it, so he can't bullshit people to his side

Oh hey that dude on the other side of the walkie talkie lived!!

Man Oz and Sofia haven't been face to face since ep 4 hahahaha

BERTO MENTION. she hasn't used that name in a hot second

Oh my god Sofia literally using that bird nest metaphor ahahahh whoever that anon was in my inbox you are a genius

Man. Sofia literally just laying out all their horrible family drama in the worlds worst family therapy oh my god

Dude I've been saying for weeks now that Sofia's superpower is to completely shatter people with the truth and. ohhhhhh my god ohhhhhh my god ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Wait. Is Sofia going to give that cigar cutter in her cleavage to Francis to use on Oz. I think she should give it to her.

Uh. Nevermind

Wow Sofia really is leaning into this evil therapy thing what the fuck. girl.

God i desperately want her to be the girl-jonkler running the aslume at the end of this show please please please

Also Sofia, I think it was the left. I mean I'm sure she knows just so she can do the other one next, but. man. she is fuckin sadistic. im love....

Julian so enthusiastic about all of this hahaahah

I love Sofia like, almost framing this to them or possibly herself as a gift she is giving to Francis. Is this cope? Is this something she sincerely believes? Or is she just being cruel?

I ALREADY FUCKIN KNOW

It's my finger you spineless prick hahahaahha but that doesn't matter to him because its your love he wants it's your adoration your pride and what actually happens to you? Doesn't fucking matter.

I NEVER STOPPED HATING YOU

Sofia's face right then like. damn dude. god i love her

She had enough love for all of them and he soured every last drop of it. For them, for him, for the world.

Sofia really does know the value of just letting a drama play out.

Francis saying Sofia is right this ep, Sofia saying Francis was right last ep, damn.

Oz really is... the only character in this show chronically incapable of learning

Damn mama cobb strong enough to smash a bottle. I don't think even i could do that.

Oh my god no wonder she said "they look at me like i'm not even theirs" because in her mind, she let their murderer go free

also is oz gonna hulk out that she's showing love to an imaginary jack and benny when oz has just seen her hate?

Oh is she just dying right now

Julian doing the get down mr president

MR DETECTIVE YOU DIPSHIT

Sofia baby you did great okay you already hurt Oz please just go to italy with your boy toy

Wow is he not getting this fucking stab looked at

EW EW EW EW

Yeah sure sure. Sofia stabbed you. Sure. Sure.

Oh noooo. Vic... baby.... he is such a believer in Oz's stupid self serving bullshit. He is so good. And pure. And he speaks from the heart and. And Oz acts like this is something Vic rehearsed

And they laugh about it but Vic doesn't understand. He doesn't understand that Oz isn't giving him advice on how to most effectively show people the fire you hold in your heart—he's teaching him the art of smoke and mirrors. how to con and grift and bullshit until even you don't know what's true and real

Christ. Vic is so fucking dead

She'd never look at me again unless i get this done.

Oz knowing now that this love is transactional. And fine. He'll make that transaction, he'll take down sofia and then maybe his mom will pretend again that she doesn't hate him, doesn't want him dead

it's not going to work, of course. it can't because this show is about him becoming the penguin. and it can't, because even that transaction was always a lie Francis told herself

I don't think she could ever have loved Oz even if he'd gotten her into a penthouse at age 20. I think she lied to herself to survive living with him, because what was the alternative? Losing all three of her boys?

AHAHAHAHAHAH SOFIA LITERALLY PICKING UP OZ'S GOLD SUMMIT MEMBERS i have to say. I did not anticipate this at ALL

damn girlie really is just gonna dip to go to italy or wherever

sofia really is just setting up the funniest game of capture the flag imaginable while cramming like seven olives in her mouth

i dont' say this often. i desire her carnally.

The gun in the glove compartment surely that will not come back later

Oz originally checking his image in the reflection of the car vs asking Vic now, treating this kid as his reflection

Damn. Is Link really going to fall for Oz's shit again after that truck of cigs thing? Or is this just a ploy to get Oz into the right place for Sofia to pick him up?

Actually maybe that's what loses Vic, that Link betrayed him, and Oz expected it. Idk we shall see

Penguin planning to run for mayor in a couple movies?

Oh Oz is totally gonna send sofia to arkham ahahaha poor baby

Oh my god I thought Sofia was gonna claim credit for Sal's death, not that Oz would give it up himself

I cannot tell you guys how fucking tempting it is to skip right to the end of this episode to see if i'm right you guys

Wow Oz really eyeing that Mayor's office

Is he going to kill Bella and frame Sofia. Is he gonna kill bella and THAT is what turns Vic on him.

oh my god LINK

HAHAHAH I WAS SO RIGHT SHE IS BURNING DOWN FALCONE MANOR

oh god that's the watch Sofia gave him for his birthday FUCK YOU CARMINE

Sofia really is gonna fucking screw over EVERYONE hahaha THREE CIGS BABY

oh god she is so hot i love her you self actualize through arson baybeeeeeeee

that shot of her throwing the cig like a dart is so much oh my god

babygirl i love you

you deserve the world

but yeah she is going into the cold according to the needle drop. definitely going back to arkham

... what's in the trunk. i don't think it's normal luggage. is it more bombs

there is still 20 mins left. i am afraid

This is clearly a trap for someone i just don't know who. Where is vic

I'm so afraid this is the last we get to see of Sofia.

She knows. She always has such a nose for bullshit lmao. Also fuck you Link you gotta know Oz is gonna stab you in the back.

I do think it's promising that Julian has not been seen all day tho. What is he doing.

I love this. I love that Oz and Sofia finally get this one moment to be truly honest with each other.

Well. At the very least, Oz gets to be honest with Sofia. idk that he knows how to be honest with himself anymore.

Why does this look like a chemical factory. I know it's not happening but it'd be so funny for Sofia to become the joker right now.

just dunk her in the goop

Man. Is he actually going to shoot her. Police pls come and save my girl. Cannot believe that's what I'm begging for now.

oh my god

yeah i called it but. Man. This is so painful to watch. also i think my julian prayers are not going to be answered it did not look like Sofia had planned any of this

okay i'm normal about sofia being arrested now.

Okay. I'm normal.

I'm back to not being normal francis and vic and oz all in one place this is all gonna blow up emotionally

Is francis in a coma. is she totally brain dead oh my god.

oh man she really is never going to say she loves him hahaha

she let jack and benny's murderer go and it never got her anything

is he gonna kill her now.

TELL ME YOU'RE PROUD OF ME oz you fuckin

he's so fucking delusional jesus putting her hand on his head

dude. is Vic actually gonna live through this episode

holy fuck

did not call that in the least

well. i was right about the pyrrhic victory for Oz

"All kinds of things" shut the fuck up.

God. I cannot believe Vic is living through this show. Admittedly as the kind of guy that his parents would have been ashamed of, but.

Wait. No no

don't

don't do it

no nondfonfodnfodnfodfn

please dont

pelase dont

oz don't you dare

nONONNNONONONONONONONONONONONO

PLEASE DOJNT DO IT NOW PLEAE

NO NO HE IS THEO NLY ONE WHO HAS SEEN THE WEAKNESS AND HUMAN IN YOU

OZ YOU

OZ

NO

WITH YOUR HANDS???? WITH YOUR FUCKIGN HANDS???? I THOUGHT HE WOUDL PULL A GUN AT LEAST YOU FUCKING

ODSOFANDFONSODNOSDAGNOGNIOAGDSASGJDISGNAGLNFGOSANFOSDO

SANO

NON NO NONONONO

VIC

vic. vic. vic barely lived a month longer than his family

all that good heart and he just. enabled a monster to rise to power. to make gotham worse

HE'S MUGGING HIM

YOU PIECE OF SHIT YOU PIECE OF FUCKING SHIT YOU BASTARD YOU

i

i

and the water takes him too.

JULIAN

oH MY GOD I WAS RIGHT AHHAAHHAHAHA

JULIAN

I WAS RIGHT ABOUT SOFIA GETTING MARRIAGE PROPOSALS HAHAHAHAHAH

SELINA KYLE???????? HELLO??????????????

bro.... oh my god..... this is....

I'm so happy.........

sofia smiling... sofia finding a new family member....

nvm i am so glad my original theories were wrong this is way better than anything i could have hoped for

oh my god

ohhhhh my god he actually is keeping his mom in a vegetative state.... exactly what she begged him not to do.......

she knows.... she knows... some part of her is aware in there ahahahahah

you should have let Rex kill him all those years ago

oh my god EVE???? EVE GIRL GET OUT BEFORE HE KILLS YOU TOO

oh no please tell me he never learned what happened with sofia and eve

hes literally just calling her ma. fuck me. mayeb that means eve is safe for now

NOT THE BATSIGNAL

[tournament-of-ninjago]

ROUND 4 (SEMIFINALS):

ohhhhh crap the entire semifinals is ninja vs another ninja

anyway keep reading for propaganda!

ZANE:

he’s a triple threat! he’s cute! he’s smart! and he can kick! your! ass!

he’s an absolute genius though like most of the time he’s the one who stops his buddies (the ninja!) from doing stupid things and also he’s always the one to come up with the most logical solution (even though the ninja don’t always listen to him) and i feel like he isn’t given enough credit for this :(

also! he is very much the sweetest kindest purest nindroid (or person) you will ever find in ninjago like HOW MANY TIMES has he sacrificed himself for the sake of his friends? and he is THE! ICE! NINJA! how cool is that (pun intended)

NYA:

She is THE girlboss!! You don’t get to call her “the girl ninja”, you don’t get to underestimate her, because if you do it’s a grave mistake and the last one you’ll ever make. Nya is the master of water, and the former Samurai X. even though she was the last one to join the team, she’s just as good as the rest of the ninja, sometimes even better. Aaand she’s an absolute genius.

[compressedrage]

*busts down door* AVA 11 IS OUT AND I AM IN SHAMBLES

SPOILERS BELOW

there is so much in this episode, and I have to try and stay calm enough to talk about it, okay here we go–

3d AvA 1 flashback. Heck yes. AND THEN– Victim actually getting tortured for MONTHS, getting killed and then brought back over and over...

AND HE BUILT A ROCKET. HE'S SO SMART.

The rocket sequence was delightful, and is a genius way to show the ✨world building✨

The idea that once an animation is uploaded (to wherever I assume, but mostly to Newgrounds it seems) it immediately manifests in the Outernet. And there seem to be little communities of similar sticks! thats so fun!

and Vic. ohhhhh Victim. He flinches when interacted with because he's literally only known violence. Even worse, it's been violence with no way to fight back.

Him hallucinating cursors broke my heart, this poor guy. He tries to move on but it haunts him.

MITSI. WHAT A GIRL. I wasn't too sure about her at first, but she is wonderful. Her taking care of Victim when he falls asleep killed me. I'm dead now. She's so sweet.

AND THEY BUILT ROCKET CORP TOGETHER. IT WAS THEIR BRAINCHILD. AND THEY DID IT WITH THE TOOLS VICTIM STOLE FROM ALAN'S PC. IT ALL COMES TOGETHER–

Agent caught me by surprise, but I am so happy. I'm glad Victim wasn't, and isn't, completely alone.

Newgrounds, man. I audibly gasped when I realized what was happening. that actually such a good way to do it– you disintegrate if your animation gets damaged.

MY BOYS ARE BACK. AND THEY'RE CAUSING DESTRUCTION.

I also made a Noise when Purple's family showed up. incredible.

Poor Agent. I didn't expect to care about him even more, but like. He was there. He tried to save Mitsi and couldn't. The guilt.

And guys. Victim's revenge room at the end. Hoo boy he was going through it. (will be looking closely at all those papers later) (because omg all the things could be hiding in there)

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

I definitely missed some things, but this all I wanted to talk about off the top of my head.

Am I disappointed that the entire episode was a flashback and we didn't actually progress the plot? Yes, a little bit. However, this was a very good episode that hurt me deeply /pos, and it will serve as important context as the story progresses.

[reigningm4x]

I've been reading all of the hot maxiel smut lately as they show up on my feed and I realized that I rarely find filthy lestappen smut. Like most of the lestappen fics are cute and sweet but I need the disgustingly explicit ones. Please give me some recs if you have them, the dirtier the better..

ohhhhh i gotchu!! here is horny smutty lestappen fic rec list:

what i go to school for - Charles really needs a better grade in his Biology class. He's willing to do anything for it.

too good to deny it - Max has a Surprise™ for Charles undress me to the naked truth - Charles and Max celebrate post-Austria 2022) room 309 - Max sits on Hüllkenberg's lap during a press conference. Charles is decidedly Not Normal about it. All 3 by @stvrmhondss a lestappen smut genius.

long live - The childhood best friends to lovers fairy-tale-soulmates fic that nobody asked for. Charles has been in love with Max since he was seven years old. By @fabbyf1 who is also a lestappen smut genius. I'd recommend the warming verse and it's our paradise (and all the other published fics lol)

an unconventional surprise - Pierre walks in on Charles and Max and is suddenly rather intrigued about how it would feel to bottom for the first time.

want it good want it all - When Max puts the disc into the cartridge of his PS4 he isn’t sure what to expect.

like fire and powder by @grandprix-ao3 - “He told me that some Alphas, they submit. He said that submissive Alphas like to be fucked. Like girls. Like Omegas. Fuck them enough, and they will become one. You can make them your bitch.”

[nono-uwu]

HI OKAY I got hyperfocused playing WuWa so I completley forgot there's a new ons chapter 🧍‍♂️ anyways inital thoughts lessgoo

Spoilers ahead for chapter 137 duh

- KRUL LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOO (I was right. I'm a fucking genius)

- Ferid that is fucking terrifying oh my fucking god that panel will haunt me in my sleep

- Ferid chomper hand lmaoooo

- Oh, there's Guren and Mahiru

- ohhhhh so the bat thing IS Krul's weapon, that is actually pretty neat

- THE MAGICAL GIRL TRANSFORMATION??? Is it a little silly? Yeah. But is it also fucking awesome? Hell yeah.

- okay, it's actually a good move on Kagami part to have Ferid's asspull not be that much an asspull. Like if Mahiru and Guren weren't there she would have kicked his ass even without the magical girl transformation

- shout out to Krul for keeping that a secret for.... how long has Ferid known her? Yeah, for that long at least

- Almost lethal amounts of hopium that Krul will somehow pull the still conscious vampires out of Ferid (so Crowley, Chess n Horn) to be like "I saved your lives, now you gotta do what I tell you"

- woah, Kagami really said guremahi - mikayuu parallels time el oh el (gurenshin found dead in a ditch. It has been for the past many years /this is a joke i actually like gurenshin more than guremahi)

- Krul is not taking anyone's shit and that is so iconic of her AND she looks absolutley gorgeous while doing it

- okay, I doubt Guren will die just like that but it would be really funny to me specifically

[hajihiko]

YEAH. YEAH THAT COMIC MAKES ME INSANE youre brain is literally so big. i know its only three panels but it gave me so many brain worms it launched basically the main basis for how i view the dynamic between the two of them now. junko went ‘ohhhhh okay he thinks hes a bad person and will never be any different from that. oh this will be easy!’ and then it was. when you talked about how you thought them being ‘video-brainwashed’ was dumb and not interesting i was like ‘YKNOW WHAT IT IS DUMB AND UNINTERESTING’ and it being just. manipulation and actual cult-like tactics of bringing people in. has sooooo much more implications for all of them further down the line. its good

slaps the top of fuyuhiko’s head. this boy can fit so many self loathing/destructive/deprecating/etc etc habits in him. pretty remarkable how much actually given how small he— [i am taken out by a sniper]

(~aed is totally fine i love that 🌺)

I will fight to the gd death for Junko Was Actually A Manipulative Genius and the SDR2 Cast Was Uniquely Suited For Being Exploited narrative. BC I love it. Fuyuhiko (and Akane, and Hajime, and Impostor, and Peko, and Mikan, and Nagito ok you see??) all had some super serious baggage, but none of them had the resources to want to resist her NEVERMIND I'm about to go on a tangent againnnn

ANYWAY. We love a self destructive short king

[percyaugod]

Ohhhhh wait a minute is Splinter in Pleakley’s role? Either way, this is awesome! Thank you for your service! What will happen next, I wonder?

@reesespiecesofart

Yep. ^ ^ Was in the extra notes of the first post of the AU. I originally had Huginn and Muninn, but since I remembered Jumba and Pleakley getting married in the one episode of the show, I couldn't help myself. XD

Also, your guess is as good as mine. : D As far as plot goes that's about as far as I got settled. I had a couple ideas, but never fully developed them.

A. Draxum captures Mikey and Leo on their way to school. After not coming home on time and no call Raph and Donnie get worried and look for them. Donnie, suspicious of what's going on, sends Raph searching in the wrong direction.

Donnie finds them, and Splinter who tried stopping Draxum, is locked in a cage. Donnie lets himself be captured in return for Leo and Mikey being released.

Donnie and Splinter eventually work together to escape to escape. Splinter praises Donnie for some quick thinking. Donnie doesn't know why but he likes the praise very much, more of that.

They come back to the House seeing the other three practically preparing for war to get Donnie back. Wait a minute. Those are Donnie's weapons! They were in his secret lab! >:(

They're happy to get Donnie back, but confused by the strange man he brought back. It's awkward at first with Splinter in their house, but Donnie seems oddly attached so they don't think they can get rid of him.

Raph is oddly thankful for the man when he sees how well he can wrangle the others, even Donnie. However, he's not sure how he feels about Splinter trying to give and teach them to use weapons. Sure it would be nice if they knew how to defend themselves, especially after already being kidnapped, but those swords look sharp.

B. Draxum tells the hidden city police and uses them against Raph since they're his teammates and he won't want to hurt them. Saying Donnie is holding Raph's little brothers hostage so he won't tell them he's there. He uses the traps as evidence.

They immediately search the house trying to get Raph and the others out to keep them safe. Everything is so loud, bright, and sudden that no one knows what's going on. Especially not Donnie who was relaxing with his antennas up and was stunned by the sudden input.

This allows Draxum to grab Donnie's antennas so he goes limp. Only Donnie's eyes glared up at him. Draxum letting the officers know he has it so they think it's secured.

Before Draxum can get away Leo gets on the way. Donnie is whining and twitching weakly, fighting the instinct to go limp because his brother is in danger.

Draxum and Leo are arguing, Leo threatening Draxum. Leo throws something at Draxum that Draxum easily bats away. It was a distraction and Leo is going for a direct attack.

Draxum throws Leo hard enough there's an audible crack sound before Leo goes limp on the ground.

Donnie stares at Leo's unmoving form, feeling agony like never before. Something deep inside aches and he wants it gone.

In his desperation, Donnie finally moves. He yanks himself away from Draxum, ripping off his antennas in the process. Everything is more muted except for the pain. It's hard to hear, see, or even think.

Donnie just starts lashing out in his confusion. There is no joy in the chaos and devastation, only a misguided attempt to ease his own suffering.

Donnie only pauses when he feels something wet hit his face. Then he feels it again along with the muffled sound of a spray bottle and pained breathing.

Then a familiar voice in the fog. "I'm pretty sure you got everything but the guy you were after. Some genius you are."

Oh. Donnie knows that voice. That voice that triggers equal amounts of fondness and annoyance. Donnie curls around the warmth and listens to the heartbeat. Still going. Good.

Meanwhile, Leo is trying to bite back a shout of pain because he is pretty sure he has a broken rib and Donnie is currently squeezing him. He loves the guy, but Donnie is a lot stronger than he looks. Leo looks at the stumps where Donnie's antennas used to be. Man, he really messed himself up.

C. Draxum: Please come back so we can conquer the cosmos.

Donnie: The offer is tempting, but I can't. Raph said no slaughter.

Draxum: Then I refuse to leave.

Donnie: Mikey! Villain to rehabilitate!

Mikey: Yay, new father figure! : D

Draxum getting Dragged away: I am not!

Splinter who has to watch Draxum and can't leave without him: …I'm going to die on this planet, aren't I?

Leo patting his back: Probably.

That's it. That's what I got.

[earlgreytea68]

Hello there! I hope you don't mind me bothering you, but I was just pondering a line from GINASFS:

"It's a strange way of saying that I know I'm supposed to love you"

At first, I took it to be a purely romantic line, that Pete feels he was always destined to be with the person in every universe, and that it was only a matter of time until they found each other. But then again, it also feels like it's sort of talking about a relationship built purely out of obligation. Everyone thinks we're supposed to be together, so I guess I have no choice but to stay with this person, even if it makes me unhappy.

Maybe a bit of both?

You're way more eloquent than I am when it comes to analyzing FOB lyrics, so if you'd be willing, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Okay, I am always saying that Pete Wentz is a genius with packing simple words with multiple meanings, like, every time you turn around you uncover a new meaning to what he's saying, I totally get why Patrick says he's still discovering them even years later. He is seriously SO GOOD at this and he's got SUCH a light touch, like, it's hard to do and he really does make it look so easy (doing something so hard, etc.) and I think that's why he seldom gets the credit for how smart he is as a writer, because he's SO good at it that it's easy to dismiss it as an accident, a mistake, unintentional, he didn't see all those meanings, he didn't mean to do that, he just happened into it.

Except nobody happens into so much poetry so consistently.

(and it's true he cultivates the impression by always being so "aw shucks does this even make any sense I have no idea what they're about" about his own lyrics)

ANYWAY. That introduction is my way of saying that yessssss, this is one of my favorite examples of how brilliant Pete is at saying two things at once (or more than two even).

Like, it's funny, this is like a Rorshach test, I always read the line as: "I know I'm SUPPOSED to love you, so I guess I'll pretend that I do," like, to me this is a line all about, tbh, not fitting into a heteronormative role, knowing that you're SUPPOSED to love this other person but it doesn't feel right. And it was only later that I realized the reading that you had first: Ohhhhh, it could also be I'm supposed to love you, like, you're my destiny.

And I just love so much that it works perfectly on both levels at the same time, like, this song is about what you think it's about, basically, and that is just such genius of Pete Wentz packing in those layers. I think you can listen to G.I.N.A.S.F.S. and think, "Oh, this is about a guy falling in love with a girl who's his destiny, how sweet," like, certainly that would be the reading of the guy who wrote the Fall Out Boy autobiography.

Or you could listen to G.I.N.A.S.F.S. and be like, Oh, this is about a guy who's in love with his best friend and actually can't get himself to fit into the expectations of the world at large. He's SUPPOSED (expected) to love the girl. But, wait, he's SUPPOSED (destined) to love the guy. IT'S BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. IT'S JUST SO SMART THIS WAY hahahaha. I will just cherish this reading for all time because it's just so good. And the ambiguity is in the entire song. There is literally nothing in that song that would lead you to believe in any way that it's about a heterosexual relationship. To be fair, there's also nothing that flashes it's about a homosexual relationship (other than maybe the title being a hint tbh). But Pete's songs are always like that. They're only about heterosexual relationships if that's what you bring to them, because he usually writes too ambiguously for that (or Patrick adds a hetero detail in). He walks through the house in your shoes -- that's a line that actually makes more sense if you think the song is addressed to a guy, because probably he's not the same size foot as a woman, although maybe.

But anyway: yeah. That line is honestly everything.

[imaginespazzi]

PARRRRTTTT SEVEN REACCTTTIONNS

- nivi u angel bby thank you so much for the update!!! i always look forward to monday updates (west coast girly u did it with hours to spare) BUT REMEMBER don’t over work yourself over getting us updates!!! ily!!!

- my goal for the chapter is to stay far away from cliffs because i seem to always threaten them!

- stop paige’s little mini panic then relief when azzi and stephie are still there 😭😭 sweet girl went through it:(

- “and maybe this is how i become whole again.” oh hey it’s me, remember before i started reading i said i would stay clear of the cliffs? yeah well, fuck that! find me a cliff because i died dead. screaming, crying, throwing up. NIVI u are my evil genius but please please just protect her heart PLEASE.

- okay paige just left the bed if she leaves the house without speaking to azzi and stephie u might finally get some tears out of my eyes! i rlly don’t think she would but…

- stop poor drew 😢drew being annoyed with paige switching teams?!? im nervous for drew and azzi reunion.

- going to be honest i don’t really interact with azzis brothers stuff anywhere so i don’t know anything abt Tallulah but she seems so sweet in your fic ❤️‍🔥

- stop the fudds missing paige and talking about her😭😭 im on the floor next to the cliff bleeding out

- stop tim and paige mean so much to me

- stop paige legit tripping over her feet at the sight of stephie upset MY HEART

- STEPHIE ASKING PAIGE TO PROMISE SHE WILL NEVER LEAVE 😭😭 im scared

- I PROMISE ILL TRY TO STAY. fuck i’m scared

- god. your writing is a masterpiece. this whole situation is damaging my soul. i don’t hold it again azzi, im fully convinced she has her reasoning that were VAILD but oh my god i feel so bad for paige (this is not me saying that azzi didn’t go through shit too) but my poor bby is terrified i feel so bad ☹️

- stop stephie really is a mini azzi 🥹🥹

- love.

- kill

- me

- now

- let’s go back to me at the bottom of the cliff bleeding out, my pulse is barley there now.

- STWAAAPPPP paige spoils stephie it’s so cute

- YOUR DAUGHTER 🥹🥹🥹🥹

- i can’t tell if that helped or made my pulse worse

- hey so my baby fever is still here and killing me.

- “ONLY FOR YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER.” my pulse just gave out, flatlined, not breathing, dead 🤗 thank you so much.

- YES PAIGE YOU ARE SAFE WITH AZZI.

- JANNNNNAAA MY GIRRLL

- Aunty Chérie you say? hmm i can just smell paige’s jealousy

- “you’re supposed to be holding me and i’m supposed to be holding you; it was meant to be us.” hey so i somehow just died even more😁

- okay here is the thing, i feel for olivia i do. the situation most have been hurtful to her however, CUNT CUNT CUNT DONT U DARE EVEN THINK A NEGATIVE THOUGHT AGAINST THE AMAZING, PERFECT, GORGEOUS, SMART, TALENTED, LOVELY, AZZI FUDD. her and her passive aggressive comments can leave.

- OHHHHH AZZI FUDD, YOU ATE HER UP SHE MAY BE 5th BEST BUT MY GOD AREBU NUMBER ONE BY MILLLLLLLES.

- “if it was azzi” paige babe let’s fast forward to that divorce.

- also paige going on tik tok spirals abt azzi while her wife is in the same room is just WILD and kinda sad almost makes me feel bad for mrs. cunt (my sympathy for her evaporated the second when opened her mouth around azzi 🤬🤬)

- the whole last section. omg. i know i already died then came back to life but i am not FLINGING myself back off the cliff 😁

- GODDDD NIVI u talented, talented women i cant believe how you always are able to amaze me with your writing.

- i’m gonna be honest it’s 2am for me i started reading at 10 and i just finished. i kept having to take breaks because i was screaming, no tears though!

- chapter was 100,000/10

- QUESTIONS FOR NEXT CHAPTER:

- OKAY so ms french girl whose name i can’t remember at the moment is no longer playing with the valkyries… are we gonna get like flashbacks of azzi and her in future chapters?

- this may be dumb but if the olympics were 2028 next ones were, 2032 and its 2033 right? so did the other olympics pass? are we gonna learn more about that? did azzi and paige win gold? IM SO CURIOUS!!!!

- okay that’s all i got i think…sorry for yapping so much!

oh also i kept dying but it’s def gonna keep happening tbh

-🤩🤩

HI MY LOVEEEEEE <3

- You're literally the most precious soul ever and lowkey I really needed to hear that cause I do mayhaps stress just a little bit about updating so thank you :)

- I like that you said you were going to stay away from cliffs and then managed to get through exactly one bullet without jumping off a cliff...

- I lowkey don't know a lot about Tallulah either because I only really have second-hand knowledge of the lives so I'm just lowkey molding her into what works for the plot I guess? But I'm sure she's lovely irl too!

- Circumstance truly is a bitch because I think they're both pretty scared of things beyond their control being an obstacle again

- Baby you really went through it for a couple of paragraphs there huh?

- Listen if I have to suffer through baby fever, you're all suffering with me like I keep having to remind myself that a college dorm is not appropriate for a baby bassinet

- MRS CUNT made me cackle out loud

- Omg not 4 hours babes lmao but I'm glad I still haven't brought you to tears!

- Hmmm I lowkey don't think there will be flashbacks of Clémence like that because her and Azzi's past isn't quite as integral as their present (opposite of Olivia in a sense I guess)

- The next Olympics were in fact 2032...I wonder what happened? I wonder if we'll find out?

Never apologize for yapping, it makes me so happy to hear everyone's thoughts!

[decaydanceredacted]

OH SO WERE TALKING ABOUT ITS WARMER IN THE BASEMENT

gabes comment on the lyrics on genius is like ‘liking a girl so much that you tie her up and keep her in your basement so you don’t have to share her with the world’ which…. possessive gabe. esp as this was around the era when he said he’d never found the clit… he’s so selfishselfishselfish you can’t HAVE HER

ohhhhh and puppy gabe

him just thrusting up into you lying down behind you going so fast and uncaring like a dog humping the couch and you can’t do anything about it tied up with his dirty underwear in your mouth and tears down your face and he’s just panting in your ear and its to dry and it hurts and he isn’t making you feel good but he doesn’t care it’s not a thought in his head. you’re the best little flashlight he’s ever had. he won’t let anyone else even look at you. your HIS. god and him coming in and talking all friendly and kind to you while like chaining you up or feeding you because your hands are tied or choking you until you pass out because sometimes he likes to fuck you while your out and just so pliable and easy. you feel so much better like that, your brain isn’t there to stop you from getting wet or your cunt from relaxing. sometimes you wake up in the middle and and panic because you can’t remember what’s going on or where you are and suddenly it all hits you all at once again. maybe he makes you stay naked all the time or he dresses you up in pretty lingerie. anyway eventually you get stockholm syndrome and you just wanna be his perfect little kitty forever. you never want him to leave you, you’re so scared whenever he’s not in eyesight because he’s convinced you that the world is so dangerous and you’re just a little kitten, you need him to keep you safe.

i’m insane sorry that was meant to b like normalsauce relationship possessive gabe but then i… unnormalsauced xoxo

-spiral anon

.

[sincerely-sofie]

Ruby anon again! I’m glad that I haven’t been interrupting your creative process or intervening at all. I can’t wait to see what you do with Ruby and her siblings!

The siblings, btw, were a piece of work for me to write and develop until I decided to peace out on really doing anything with them. The only two things I remember about them really are:

• They’re bounty hunters and their parents did the same thing to them that they’re doing with Ruby. They’re repeating behavior taught to them and they legitimately think they’re helping Ruby. I scrapped that idea quickly because I felt like that could push out the problematic “the abused become abusers” message and that it could possibly make the siblings sympathetic, and I did not want to make them sympathetic in even the slightest way. Anything I had involving the backstory of Ruby’s siblings and/or what happened to their parents was just tossed out after that.

• I thought about the siblings having opposite personalities and looks: one is more loud and aggressive and the other is more quiet and passive aggressive. One is shiny while the other is not. One is the physical abuser while the other is the emotional abuser. Despite their personalities contrasting, they get along well with each other. I wanted it to symbolize that abuse can look different, but it’s still abuse and can often come with other forms of it. I was still on the fence about that idea because I wasn’t sure if I liked it.

I hope you can write the siblings better than I ever could. I can’t wait to see more of your work! It’s amazing! I hope you have a good night. ^^

OHHHHH MY WORD I CAN’T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW AMAZING THESE NOTES ARE AND HOW EXCITED I AM TO INCORPORATE THEM

I love the idea of the siblings embodying different forms of abuse and the significance of how their differences ultimately play off each other in a way that they get along swimmingly. That’s a brilliantly layered piece of storytelling, you’re a genius! And thank you for the compliment, you’re super sweet :>

Real quick, an important thing to note about the possible problematic message that “the abused become abusers”— it’s a heartbreaking fact that many cases of abuse are generational in origin. The documented fact that domestic abusers are frequently victims of corporal punishment is one of the most devastating examples of this. To write a couple of characters who reflect this fact doesn’t automatically push out the idea that the abused become abusers— heck, it could be written as an important insight into the devastating effects of abuse and how it impacts its victims, and how breaking the chain of abuse is even more significant than its already seen.

Just because you write a reason for a character to be a horrible person doesn’t mean they’re automatically sympathetic, or even that they’re sympathetic in a bad way. Villains people can relate to are very powerful from a writing perspective because they make the reader stop, stare into the abyss, and see it staring back at them. A sympathetic or “understandable” villain who is still clearly villainous is terrifying compared to one that’s cartoonish pure evil. I can’t think of anyone who wants to blow up the universe, but I can think of a good few people who are xenophobic to the point of dehumanizing even themselves through their hatred. An origin story isn’t always an excuse. Sometimes it’s nothing more than an explanation— a cautionary tale that says “this could be you, so watch yourself.”

The fact that this is a possible backstory for Ruby and her older siblings is very relevant to Twig’s character in particular. I haven’t talked about Twig’s aunt Rue or mother Rowan’s backstories very much, but Rue was very similar to Twig while growing up— and Twig resembles Rue as a child more than she does her own mother. In a piece I haven’t finished yet, there’s a flashback that reveals the lighter that featured so heavily in the abuse Twig suffered is printed with her grandfather’s initials. Ruby and Twig could talk for hours, I think, about the torrential emotions that come from knowing your tormentor was a victim as well.