#and now it’s in a landfill god knows where

[birds4hands3000]

I LOVE CERAMICS

[mjrtaurus]

I just realized a Modern AU Luffy would be more or less at the right age to have gone through a Minions phase as a kid.

Dragon would have had to sit through hearing those little chattering bouncy butter pats not just on the TV on accout of Luffy watching the Despicable Me films on repeat, but through all the various toys scattered all over the house. He'd get up for a drink of water at night and nearly have a heart attack from the ear-bleedingly loud "BANANA!" that resulted from him stepping on a Minions doll.

He considered giving Luffy's old Minions stuff to Bonney, but decided against it because Kuma is far too sweet of a man to be subjected to that. Actually, he's pretty sure donating them to any family would count as domestic terrorism, so Crocodile had Daz run them over and dump them in the nearest landfill.

It’s a testament to how damned annoying those things are for him to have them destroyed instead of donated. Dragon DESPISES things going to waste. He will mend plushes and fix up toys because he knows there are kids out there that deserve to have toys but are in a place where they can’t be afforded.

But those little yellow fuckers? Landfill. No parent needs that torture. No child needs that brainrot. He has to suffer through enough just from his dad’s Facebook page.

Thankfully Luffy has gone from those god-awful things to that lego series of anatomically correct (as possible) insects, and those are really cool actually. He got Luffy the Hercules Beetle one right away and they’re moving down the line until they get the whole set. He’s about halfway through assembling the praying mantis as we speak. After that, there’s the blue morpho butterfly.

The whole fixation on interlocking pieces has infected him, too, because now he’s learning how to use a 3D printer and thinking about getting a small one for his little garage workshop so he and Luffy can make some really cool stuff to put together. Dragon’s got his eye on a few designs for those little articulated- well, dragons- that look like they would make for some excellent stim toys.

Also might be looking into commissioning an artist for a 3D model of a deinosuchus skull for printing… for reasons…

[unheavenlycreatures]

Just in case anyone wanted to know what the fine print of this entire long contract says without wasting roughly one million hours of their precious time: i still have this cipher memorized, so, you're welcome. I took liberties re the punctuation, as all punctuation marks are the same symbol.

YOU ARE NOW TWENTY ONE GRAMS LIGHTER

THIS CONTRACT IS LEGAL AND BINDING. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO USE YOUR LIKENESS, FACE, VOICE AND SMALL TOWN PLUCK IN WHATEVER NEFARIOUS MANNER IS DEEMED NECESSARY.

SANS SOUL, YOUR SOULMATE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE YOU AND WILL WALK RIGHT PAST YOU ON A COLD AUTUMN DAY, NEVER MAKING EYE CONTACT, NEVER EVEN PROCESSING THAT YOU HAVE EYES AT ALL. NO AMOUNT OF INTERACTION WILL MOVE THEM TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN REMEMBER, IN FEELING, THE THOUSANDS OF LIFETIMES YOU HAVE ALREADY SPENT TOGETHER, EACH TIME CHOOSING WHATEVER FORM WOULD KEEP YOU CLOSEST LIKE OTTERS HOLDING HANDS IN A TUMULTUOUS RIVER. YOU WERE BIRDS, YOU WERE TREES WITH ROOTS ENTANGLED, DRINKING IN THE SUNLIGHT TOGETHER. WHEREVER WE GO NEXT, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE, I WILL ALWAYS BE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU--THAT'S DONE, BUDDY. CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE CHOSEN BILL INSTEAD.

MCDONALDS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PUT A GIANT YELLOW M ON YOUR TORSO AND FOREHEAD AND SEND YOU WALKING THROUGH A CROWDED TIMES SQUARE WHILE YOU SCREAM "THE FRIES! THE FRIES! THEY DON'T DEGRADE IN NATURE!!! IT'S AN IMMORTAL FOOD!!! THEY WILL BE IN THE LANDFILLS LONG LONG PAST OUR DEATHS!"

GOOD GOD. THE THINGS I'VE SEEN. ME? WHO AM I? OH I'M BILL'S PREVIOUS LAWYER. HE PUT MY SOUL INTO A QUILL PEN SO I CAN WRITE HIS LEGAL DOCUMENTS UNTIL THE SUN SNUFFS OUT LIKE A CANDLE IN THIS SICK UNIVERSE. I USED TO BE SO HOT. I WAS SO FINE. NOW I'M FINE PRINT.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, BILL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PUT YOUR SOUR SOUL INTO AN INANIMATE OBJECT, A STRANGE CREATURE, A CONCEPT, A SENTENCE, A TASTEFUL BUT RUSTIC MASON JAR WITH WILDFLOWERS IN IT. IF AT ANY POINT YOU WISH TO HAVE VISITATION RIGHTS WITH YOUR SOUL, YOU WILL BE SWIFTLY DENIED. UNLESS YOU HAD A COOL DAY PLANNED FOR THE BOTH OF YOU. THEN BILL MIGHT WANT TO COME ALONG.

BY SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT YOU FORFEIT ANY RIGHTS TO EATING SOUL FOOD. IT WILL TURN TO ASH IN YOUR MOUTH. A FITTING PUNISHMENT FOR A FOOL WHO SQUANDERED THE ONLY TRUE GIFT LIFE OWES YOU.

BILL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DRESS YOUR SOUL HOWEVER HE DEEMS NECESSARY. ESPECIALLY IF YOUR SOUL WAS A NERD BEFORE ACQUISITION, SOUL MAKEOVERRR!

YOUR SOUL MAY BECOME FRACTURED AND PLACED INTO DIFFERENT OBJECTS. THIS HAS NO PURPOSE AND WILL NOT RESURRECT YOU IF YOU DIE. SIGNEE HAS FORFEITED ALL RIGHTS TO ANY AFTERLIFE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: HEAVEN, HELL, PURGATORY, BIG CORNER, FLOW STATE, THE DREAM HOUSE, THE REINCARNATION PROCESSING CENTER, AXOLOTL'S TANK AND CONSEQUENCES HOLE. SIGNEE CAN NO LONGER BOARD THE SOUL TRAIN AND IS ADVISED TO DISCARD ALL BELLBOTTOMS. SIGNEE CAN NO LONGER HAVE A PUPPY AS A BEST FRIEND. THEY CAN SENSE WHAT IS GONE. CATS ARE INDIFFERENT.

SIGNEE MAY EXPERIENCE OCCASIONAL DEMON POSSESSIONS FROM HORCULUS THE RED, PLABUS THE MERCILESS, MORBUS SON OF MORTEM, PLAGA THE OOZING AND OTHER SUCH COMMON DEMONS ROAMING EARTH SEARCHING FOR WEAKENED, EMPTY VESSELS.

TIPS FOR RIPPING YOUR SOUL OUT AT HOME: WATCHING YOUTUBE COMMENTARY CHANNELS, ATTENDING AN EXTENDED FAMILY EVENT WITH AN OPEN BAR, USING GENERATIVE AI AND ASSERTING THAT YOU ARE CREATIVE, TURNING A BLIND EYE TO HUMAN SUFFERING, AMASSING MORE WEALTH THAN NEEDED, PURCHASING A BLUE CHECKMARK.

[evolutionsvoid]

So my coworker and I at work today were talking about the ever abundant shark horror movies, and how sharks get such a bad rap for doing so little actual harm. But of course, this led to the typical idea that other animals should get horror movies of their own, treated just like the monster sharks in these films. We rattled off a good variety of animals, both legit and humorous, that could work, but one of my suggestions was a wolverine. Unfortunately, my mind really liked that idea, and over the course of the 8 hour work day, proceeded to play the entire movie in my brain. Just non stop scenes that would come from the killer wolverine movie. All day.

"You have to call off the game and get these people out of here! There is a giant killer wolverine headed this way!"

"A killer wolverine? Yeah, right, there aren't any wolverines in Michigan!"

"There is now...." TITLE DROP!

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

"I don't understand, how did a wolverine even get here?"

"It got caught in one of the garbage trucks hauling waste from Canada to be dumped in our landfills, but this truck was illegally disposing of experimental steroids! It has been eating them during the entire trip here, and has undergone impossible growth!"

" How bad we talking?"

"A regular wolverine is about three feet long and stands over a foot tall at shoulder height, and that little fella can already chew through bone and frozen carcasses. This specimen, however, is now the size of grizzly bear...."

"Dear god...."

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

"Cancel the game?! Are you out of your mind?! The University of Michigan versus Michigan State University game is the biggest one of the year! Do you have any idea how much money we would lose?! This town depends on it!"

"Mr. Mayor, if you don't get all these people out of here now, then this game will indeed be a bloodbath!"

"Believe us, those Spartans sure don't want to meet this wolverine...

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

"I can't believe it slipped away! How could something that big escape?!"

"This creature is much smarter than we are giving it credit for, but not to worry, I was able to hit it with a tracking chip. With my equipment, we should be able to figure out where it is going!"

"A tracker chip, really? I thought that wouldn't work with its hide!"

"Yes, but the chips I use are better made.*

(*Better Made Potato Chips is a brand name founded in 1930 in Detroit, Michigan that makes potato chips, pork rinds and oh dear god what is wrong with me?!)

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

"Where's it headed to now? We can't lose it again!"

"My readings indicate it's heading north! And fast!"

"North? But there aren't any major cities in that direction. Isn't it after more food? There is nothing but small towns and trees up that way! Surely that isn't enough to satiate it!"

"Yes, but maybe it isn't after food. Maybe.....it's trying to go home..."

"Way up north? Like in Canada? Oh god, if it makes it to the wilderness up there, then we will never find it!"

"And if it starts breeding with the local wolverine populations..."

"Say goodbye to our position on the food chain...."

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

"It doesn't make sense, how does it plan to get out of here? This state is a peninsula, and its heading the wrong way!"

"Yeah, and even a creature of that strength and endurance could never make the entire swim from here to the upper peninsula. It would eventually tire out and drown!"

"I got a feeling it ain't that dumb, but how else does it plan to cross.....oh no....."

"What?"

"There is one place where it can walk across, and it ain't an ice bridge..."

"...The Mackinac Bridge...oh god...."

"Well, at least we know now where he is headed..."

[deadlyflames]

This is a playlist I made for a fic I'm working on to explore an au post 3x09 where Klaus actually reacts to the MFG recruiting Mikael to try to kill him. And things go down hill for everyone from there.

This is definitely a dark (kinda toxic) version of Klonnie, but I like dark ships ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Let Me Crawl Inside Your Veins

I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME - Choke ~ "if I could burn this town, I wouldn't hesitate to smile while you suffocate and die"

MILCK - Devil Devil ~ "to think I would ever settle for that devious dance between you and me"

Scissor Sisters - I Can’t Decide ~ "I can't decide whether you should live or die"

Melanie Martinez - Tag, You’re It ~ "little bit of poison in me, I can taste your skin in my teeth"

Shinedown - I Own You ~ "strip down, show me flesh and bone, cause now I own you"

Nicole Dollanganger - Dog Teeth ~ "you draw blood just to taste it, you hold bones just to break them"

Depeche Mode - Corrupt ~ "you'd be calling out my name, begging me to play my games"

Florence + The Machine - Seven Devils ~ "I've come to burn your kingdom down, and no fires and no lakes can put the fire out"

Sickick - Mind Games ~ "once I grip onto your mind and soul your brightness starts to dim"

Ellise - Nightmares ~ "so sick of thinking of all the things you need from me, who you think that I should be"

I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME - Bleed Magic ~ "to drain you, and bleed your magic out"

Blood Red Shoes - God Complex ~ "you left me high and you left me dry, then you fed me to the wolves"

Shayfer James - Villainous Thing ~ "cause youre a villainous thing, and I don't think anyone knows"

Digital Daggers - The Devil Within ~ "I'm gonna make you suffer, this hell you put me in, I'm underneath your skin, the devil within"

Muse - Undisclosed Desires ~ "I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart"

Valerie Broussard - A Little Wicked ~ "to that king I will bow, at least for now; one of these days a-comin', I'm gonna take that boy's crown"

Miike Snow - Genghis Khan ~ "but you can't be free, cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene"

Blue Foundation - Eyes on Fire ~ "and I'm not scared of your stolen power, see right through you any hour"

Rosenfeld - I Want To ~ "your on my mind, been there all night, I've been missing seeing my midnight queen"

renforshort - mind games ~ "taking up my headspace, sleeping in your brain, I swear this boy is deadly, he loves these silly games"

Air Traffic Controler - This Is Love ~ "you could kill me and you should, I'm an idiot for thinking this was anything but blood"

BANKS - Beggin For Thread ~ "strapped down to something that you don't understand, don't know what you were getting yourself into"

Three Days Grace - I Hate Everything About You ~ "I hate everything about you, why do I love you?"

Halsey - Hold Me Down ~ "I sold my soul to a three-piece and he told me I was holy, he's got me down on both knees, but it's the devil that's tryna hold me down"

The Bravery - Hatef - - k ~ "I will show no mercy for you, you had no mercy for me, the only thing that I ask, love me mercilessly"

Florence + The Machine - Howl ~ "drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart, my fingers claw your skin, try to tear my way in"

Troye Sivan - BITE ~ "you can coax the cold right out of me, drape me in your warmth"

Daughter - Landfill ~ "'cause this is torturous, electricity between both of us, and this is dangerous, 'cause I want you so much, but I hate your guts"

Super Pipo - I Wanna Be Your Slave ~ "I wanna make you quiet, I wanna make you nervous, I wanna set you free but I'm too fucking jealous"

girl in red - bad idea! ~ "you pushed me up against my wall, threw my clothes down on the floor, 'darling, are you ready for more?'"

Nine Inch Nails - Closer ~ "I wanna fuck you like an animal, my whole existence is flawed, you get me closer to God"

Halsey - Young God ~ "there's a light in the crack that's separating your thighs, and if you wanna go to heaven, you should fuck me tonight"

SIAMES - The Wolf ~ "out of my head, of my heart and my mind, 'cause I can feel how your flesh now is crying out for more"

Lana Del Ray - Once Upon a Dream ~ "yet I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem, but if I know you, I know what you'll do, you'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream"

Dutch Melrose - RUNRUNRUN ~ "run for your life, gonna tear out your heart, it'll always be mine, oh, there she go losing my head, say you'll love me to death"

Melanie Martinez - Toxic ~ "with a taste of your lips, I'm on a ride, you're toxic, I'm slippin' under, with a taste of a poison paradise, I'm addicted to you, don't you know that you're toxic?"

Aesthetic Perfection - Big Bad Wolf ~ "because, my dear, you look so good, you're good enough to eat, I'll never let you, once I have sunk in my teeth into you"

AURORA - A Dangerous Thing ~ "something about you is soft like an angel, and something inside you is violence and danger, I knew from the moment we met, you are a dangerous thing"

Reignwolf - I Want You ~ "I get the feeling that you just don't understand, I'm crying wolf and I'll always be your man"

BANKS - Waiting Game ~ "what if the way we started made it something cursed from the start? what if it only gets colder? would you still wrap me up and tell me that you think this was smart?"

The Brobecks - If You Like It Or Not ~ "oh my girl, just give me a chance, I don't want to explain, I just want to dance on the graves, on the graves of every girl that I knew before you, they're all dead to me too"

Zella Day - Shadow Preachers ~ "I close my eyes, just close the door, you want a minute, I'll give you more, maybe I don't want you either, we're both unsettled, nighttime creatures"

Neon Trees - Your Surrender ~ "I got close to your skin while you were sleeping, I taste the salt on your hands, I reached out to touch you, the morning light disarms you, won't you let me in?"

Charli XCX - enemy ~ "you’re the only one who knows the way I’m really feelin’, now it’s really clear to me, you could do a little damage, you could cut me deeper, maybe you’re my enemy"

Sleeping At Last - Dark Horse ~ "So you wanna play with magic, girl you should know what youre falling for, baby do you dare to do this"

Billie Eilish - ocean eyes ~ "I'm scared, I've never fallen from quite this high, falling into your ocean eyes"

The Neighbourhood - A Little Death ~ "I want you to touch me there, make me feel like I'm breathing, feel like I'm human"

Of Monsters and Men - Silhouettes ~ "a thousand silhouettes dancing on my chest, no matter where I sleep, you are haunting me"

Hozier - NFWMB ~ "give your heart and soul to charity, 'cause the rest of you, the best of you, honey, belongs to me"

Melanie Martinez - Carousel ~ "and it's all fun and games 'til somebody falls in love, but you already bought a ticket and there's no turning back now"

Muse - I Belong to You ~ "How much pain has cracked your soul? How much love would make you whole? You're my guiding lightning strike"

Billie Eilish - hostage ~ "let me crawl inside your veins, I'll build a wall, give you a ball and chain, it's not like me to be so mean, you're all I wanted, just let me hold you like a hostage"

BOBI ANDONOV, Son Lux - Smoke - Son Lux Remix ~ "now you got me where you want me cause I'm on the ropes, baby, don't make me rush, 'cause I only wanna save you slow and breathe you in like smoke"

Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams ~ "Nothing lasts forever, but this is gonna take me down, he's so tall and handsome as hell, he's so bad, but he does it so well"

The Civil Wars - Poison and Wine ~ "oh, your mouth is poison, your mouth is wine, you think your dreams are the same as mine, oh, I don't love you, but I always will"

Stateless - Bloodstream ~ "I think I might've inhaled you, I could feel you behind my eyes, you've gotten into my bloodstream, I could feel you flowing in me"

Beyoncé - Crazy In Love - Remix ~ "it's the way that you know what I thought I knew, it's the beat that my heart skips when I'm with you, but I still don't understand just how your love can do what no one else can"

Måneskin - FOR YOUR LOVE ~ "I wanna be a good man and see you smile, and I wanna swim between your thighs, I wanna fuck you 'til you scream and cry, I wanna hold you in my arms tonight"

Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love ~ "The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out, you've left me in the dark, no dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight in the shadow of your heart"

Fall Out Boy - The Last Of The Real Ones ~ "I am a collapsing star with tunnel vision, but only for you, my head is stripped just like a screw that’s been tightened too many times, when I think of you"

Paris Paloma - the fruits ~ "As you eat it up whole, my body and my blood, you've claimed it now, so come drink up"

Tamino - Persephone ~ "indeed, it's wrong to keep you near me, one could call me cruel and deceiving, but in your sacred air I am full of light, your loving arms are the true delight"

Halsey - Graveyard ~ "it's funny how the warning signs can feel like they're butterflies, 'cause I keep diggin' myself down deeper, I won't stop 'til I get where you are"

Tom Odell - Can’t Pretend ~ "oh, feel our bodies grow, and our souls they play, yeah love I hope you know how much my heart depends"

Lana Del Ray - Dark Paradise ~ "every time I close my eyes, it's like a dark paradise, no one compares to you, I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side"

Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine? ~ "satisfaction feels like a distant memory, and I can't help myself, all I wanna ever say is, 'Are you mine?'"

Avril Lavigne - I Fell In Love With The Devil ~ "got me playin' with fire, baby, hand me the lighter, tastes just like danger, chaotic anger"

Hozier - Sunlight ~ "I had been lost to you, sunlight, and flew like a moth to you, sunlight, oh, sunlight, oh, your love is sunlight"

Fleurie - Love and War ~ "broken pieces of the night, sing like hollow lullabies, you and I, always in disguises; lover, hunter, friend and enemy, you will always be every one of these"

Tamer - Beautiful Crime ~ "take what you need, say your goodbyes, I gave you everything and it's a beautiful crime"

The Crane Wives - Pretty Little Things ~ "but trust is now something I make people earn, so I'm not inclined to just give it away to a pair of blue eyes with some nice things to say"

alt-J - Breezeblocks ~ "please don't go, I'll eat you whole, I love you so, I love you so, I love you so"

Billie Eilish - Bored ~ "givin' you what you're beggin' for, givin' you what you say I need, I don't want any settled scores, I just want you to set me free"

Steve Lacy - Dark Red ~ "why I feel this way, I don't know, baby I think of her so much, it drives me crazy, I just don't want her to leave me"

Melanie Martinez - EVIL ~ "took me way too long to put this to bed, lovin' you was lethal, guess that makes me evil"

Set It Off - The Haunting ~ "no one will love you like I did, will touch you like I did, so good luck finding something better"

Olivia Rodrigo - Can’t Catch Me Now ~ "I'm in the trees, I'm in the breeze, my footsteps on the ground, you'll see my face in every place, but you can't catch me now"

Ramin Karimloo - You’ll Be Back ~ "when you're gone, I'll go mad, so don't throw away this thing we had, 'cause when push comes to shove, I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love"

Taylor Swift - my tears ricochet ~ "and I can go anywhere I want, anywhere I want, just not home, and you can aim for my heart, go for blood, but you would still miss me in your bones"

Arctic Monkeys - 505 ~ "when you look at me like that, my darlin', what did you expect? I'd probably still adore you with your hands around my neck, or I did last time I checked"

Olivia Rodrigo - vampire ~ "I see the parties and the diamonds sometimes when I close my eyes, six months of torture you sold as some forbidden paradise, I loved you truly, gotta laugh at the stupidity"

Taylor Swift, Bon Iver - exile~ "we always walked a very thin line, you didn't even hear me out (you didn't even hear me out), you never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)"

The Neighbourhood - Baby Came Home ~ "baby just came back around, told me she's leaving this town, said she needs time to explore, she said I can't love her no more"

Taylor Swift - Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve ~ "I can't let this go, I fight with you in my sleep, the wound won't close, I keep on waiting for a sign, I regret you all the time"

The xx - Fiction ~ "were we torn apart by the break of day? you're more than I can believe would ever come my way"

Paramore - Interlude: I’m Not Angry Anymore ~ "I'm not angry anymore, well, sometimes I am, I don't think badly of you, well, sometimes I do"

Black Math - Flesh and Bone ~ "this bleeding heart that's in my hands, I fell apart, I walk alone, beside myself, nowhere to go, my flesh and bone"

Penelope Scott - Feel Better ~ "of course I don't wanna feel better! can you fucking imagine?! no one's ever gonna love me like that again, I don't wanna get over it, I wanna rip the stars to shreds"

Coldplay - The Scientist ~ "come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry, you don't know how lovely you are, I had to find you, tell you I need you, tell you I set you apart"

Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out ~ "and it's hard to dance with the devil on your back, and given half the chance would I take any of it back? it's a fine romance, but it's left me so undone, it's always darkest before the dawn"

[straight-to-the-pain]

I don't know if anyone else in the whump community has read 'A Constellation of Vital Phenomena' by Anthony Marra but it is genuinely a really good book and also has some of the best depictions of torture and its aftermath that I have read in fiction.

I wanted to share some of my favourite quotes, hopefully without too many spoilers as it is out of context, but maybe skip this post if you don't want to know anything at all going in.

To give a brief summary, the book centres around the lives of people in Chechnya during the first and second war between the Russian government (Feds) and the separatist rebels. The main story focuses on a man (Akhmed) who is trying to save his neighbour's daughter from being killed by the Feds after her father is taken away in the middle of the night. He does this by taking her to a hospital where he then volunteers. One of the people in his village (Ramzan) becomes an informer for the Feds after being tortured, and this is explored in the excerpts below.

‘Information the Feds would torture them for was written here on the walls for all to see. It was well understood among the men that the Feds had as much sense as two bricks smashed together. It was also understood that pain, rather than information, was the true purpose of interrogation.'

'During his first detention in the landfill, in 1995, in the first war, he had refused to inform. They had wrestled down his trousers, shown him the bolt cutters, and still he had said no. Screaming, thrashing, with his manhood half severed, he had said no. He had done that, and now he was ready to start saying yes.'

'He would have confessed everything, but they didn't ask, weren't interested, threatened to cut out his tongue and put pliers to his teeth if he spoke one more fucking word. Electric wires were wound around his fingers. A car battery was drained into his bones. God might have been watching, but it wasn't God's finger on the battery switch. The interrogating officers didn't speak. Instead he was an instrument they played, performing a duet, and in their own way they conversed through his sobs. They both wore very shiny shoes. That was all he would remember.'

'He had trouble walking, He had forgotten torture could be so exhausting. The new interrogator, the one with less shiny shoes, held him upright, using his whole body as a crutch, and helped him walk. He carefully wiped Ramzan's forehead with a handkerchief before opening the door to the next room.'

'The interrogator with less shiny shoes crouched behind him. His hands were wet. Ramzan promised everything, and the interrogator, like the parent of a child too old to believe in ghosts, watched him with disappointment, his clear eyes saddened by Ramzan's sincerity. The interrogator took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, laid the live wires on Ramzan's chest and mapped the border of their shared humanity. Ramzan offered his soul. He begged to be enslaved. The known universe contracted to the limits of the cement floor, and on it, the interrogator was both man and deity, prophet and god. By ten o'clock the interrogator with less shiny shoes asked his first question. By eleven the electrical wires were unwound from Ramzan's fingers. By noon he was allowed to dress. By one he was on the FSB payroll. He kept thanking the interrogator with less shiny shoes.'

‘Greed didn’t motivate his informing, at least not primarily; primarily he informed by necessity, to survive, for his love and hate and above all awe of the power wielded by the interrogating officer with less shiny shoes.'

'That was his greatest fear. Could he stay silent? Could he withstand what awaited him? He told himself that his love for the girl should fortify him against any torture, but this, like so much of what he told himself, was a lie. After all, he was squeamish at the sight of blood, what would he say when lying in a puddle of his own? But he saw no other way. He would pray for the strength to stay silent, for a quick heart attack, and leave the rest to God.' (This is Akhmed POV)

'When they threatened to beat me, I said nothing, Akhmed. When they threatened to beat me, I said nothing. When they threatened to electrocute me, I said nothing. When they threatened to castrate me, I said nothing. I said nothing, Akhmed. Whatever you think of me, you remember that once I said nothing when a wiser man would have sung. And the interrogators, they couldn't believe it. They called in others to examine me. I was there on the floor, and above their faces were dark ovals silhouetted by the ceiling lights. They had beaten me hard and I couldn't hear right, but I kept saying no, with every breath I had. The main reason they let me go, the only reason they didn't shoot me right there was out of perverse respect, some sort of professional courtesy. But I wish they had shot me, Akhmed, because the good part of me died there, and all this, everything since, has been an afterlife I'm trying to escape.'

‘I knew what was coming. I knew it never stops. They put a shame inside you that goes on like a bridge with no end, the humiliation, the fucking humiliation of knowing that you are not a human being but a bundle of screaming nerve endings, that the torture goes on even when the physical hurt quietens. People treated me differently when I came back the first time.'

[mystic-poison]

✞SELFSHIPTOBER✞

Day 2: Blanket

~✞~ ~✞~ ~✞~ ~✞~

Characters: Kafka (Kaiju form) and Poison (me)

Relationship: Friends with Benefits

~✞~ ~✞~ ~✞~ ~✞~

This was not what she wanted to come home to after a long day at work. They knew about the kaiju attack, they knew it was near their neighborhood, but they prayed to the universe her house wasn't destroyed.

Just to their luck, it was.

Now, their home was just a pile of bricks. All their stuff was destroyed, they were tired and cold, they had nowhere to live and where the fuck was Kafka!?

"He had one job! All I asked him was to housesit while I was gone! I swear when I get my hands on that dino looking motherfuck-"

Poison stooped mid rant when they were wrapped in a fluffy soft blanket. The warmth of the blanket calmed the growing flame that was burning in their chest. They knew it wasn't Kafka's fault their house was just part of landfil now. But god they wish they told them before they got back home.

"You know I'm still mad at you." Poison turned around to face 6ft tall kaiju that stood behind them. They were so used to seeing Kafka in his kaiju form that it isn't alarming as much as it did before.

Kafka stood in silence, looking down at his sleep deprived 'friend' before getting on his knees and hugging their torso. "I'm sorry!"

Poison raised a brow, a little taken back by the sudden breakdown coming from Kafka. "W-What?"

"Please don't be mad! I wasn't going to message you but I didn't know how! How you do message your friend that their house was destroyed!"

"Kafka! What are you doing?! Someone will see you! Get off!"

"Please! Please don't me mad at me!"

"How are you crying!? Do kaiju's even have the glands to cry?!"

Poison tried to push him off them. He was, of course, heavy, so they weren't doing much damage. He also smelled of blood and corpses, and they didn't want to get that smell on their only pair of clothes.

"Okay! Alright! I'm not mad!" Poison sighed.

Kafka looked up at them "Really?"

"Yes really.." Poison sighed.

"Great! Cause I wouldn't know what to do if you ignored me for a week again"

"It wasn't it was two days."

"It felt like a week!"

Poison sighed as Kafka let go of them. They wrapped the blanket around them more before sitting on piece of what use to be their home. "So, what happened?"

"Normal kaiju attack. It happened 2 blocks down but most of the damaged happened on yours." Kafka sat next to them, the ground around him shaking a bit. "The old lady who lived across the street is safe"

With a sigh, Poison smiled a bit. "That's good. When I heard about the attack, I was more worried about her than anything."

"She gave me a made pie"

"What kind?"

"Apple"

"Was it good?"

Kafka sighed, but a laugh escaped him as well. "No"

"Told you."

"I didn't believe you, okay! I thought you said it was bad because you didn't like apple pie"

"Of course I like apple pie. Her's just.."

"Taste burnt?"

"You said it, not me"

Poison and Kafka shared a small laugh. They both knew the apple pie tasted terrible. But they both didn't have the guts to tell the old lady. So they always just powered through the terrible pie, washing it down with deer or sake.

The two continued to sit, looking at the rubble in front of them. They stared as if the look alone would rebuild it. A silence fell between them. But it was a comfortable silence. One they were used to by now. They were just enjoying each other's company. A kaiju and his sleep deprived 'friend'. The silence broke when droplets of rain started to fall. Poison looked up into the sky it started to rain. They used the blanket to shield their head.

"You have a place to live until further notice?" Kafka asked, breaking the silence.

"I guess I can stay with a friend. It will be a long train ride to and from work but, is something." Poison shrugged.

Silence took over again before Kafka spoke once more. He raised his hand, shielding Poison's head from the rain.

"You still have a spare uniform at my place. You can stay there if you want."

"Really?"

"Of course! It's not much but I'm a but closer to your job than your friend is."

Poison thought about it for a bit. It didn't seem too bad if an offer. Especially when they only had a few options to choose from. They sighed and smiled a bit.

"Alright. I'll take up the offer" They shrugged.

Kafka seemed to perk up once Poison agreed to stay at his place. With a swift movement, he picked them up in his arms.

"Kafka! What are you doing!? Put me doing! Someone will see us! Kafka!"

The kaiju laughed as he ran off with Poison in his arms. The motion was so fast the blanket flew off, being left behind at the rubble pile that was once a home.

~✞~ ~✞~ ~✞~ ~✞~

Selfshiptober promotes creator

Day 2 finished. I love this silly old man

- Poison ✞

[sakura-chandaneko]

Spoilers for the book of bill website :3

I don’t know if anyone has wasted their time doing it yet but I decoded the entirety of the fine print section of Bill Ciphers soul contract, its certainly something lol

This contract is legal and binding. we reserve the right to use your likeness, face, voice and small town pluck in whatever nefarious manner is deemed necessary. Sans(? I’ve checked this so many times cause it is def wrong T^T) soul, your soul mate will not recognize you and will walk right past you on a cold autumn day. Never making eye contact, not even processing that you have eyes at all. No amount of interaction will move them to a place where they can remember. In feeling, the thousands of lifetimes you have already spent together, each time choosing whatever form would keep you closest like otters holding hands in a tumultuous river. You were birds, you were trees with roots entangled, drinking in the sunlight together.. wherever we go next, whatever you choose, I will always be right there with you.. thats done, buddy, congratulations, you have chosen bill instead. McDonalds reserves the right to put a giant yellow M on your torso and forehead and send you walking through a crowded times Square while you scream "the fries! the fries! they don't degrade in nature!!! it's an immortal food!!! they will be in the landfills long past our deaths!" good god, the things I've seen. me? who am i? Oh i'm bill's previous lawyer. He put my soul into a quill pen so I can write his legal documents until the sun sniffs out like a candle in this sick universe. I used to be hot. I was so fine. Now I'm fine print. Speaking of which, bill reserves the right to put your soul into an inanimate object, a strange creature, a concept, a sentence, a tasteful but rustic mason jar with wildflowers in it. If at any point you wish to have visitation rights ditch(?) your soul. You will be swiftly denied, unless you had a cool day planned for the both of you. Then bill might want to come along. By signing this document you forfeit any rights to eating soup food, it will turn to ash in your mouth. A fitting punishment for a fool who squandered the only true gift life owes you. Bill reserves the right to dress your soul however he deems necessary, especially if your soul was a nerd before acquirement. Soulmakeoverrr! Your soul may become fractured and placed into different objects. This has no purpose and will not resurrect you if you die. Signee has forfeited all rights to any afterlife. Including but not limited to, heaven, hell, purgatory, big corner, flow state, the dream house, the reincarnation processing center, axolotl's tank and consequences hole. signee can no longer board the soul train and is advised to discard all bellbottoms. Signee can no longer have a puppy as a best friend. they can sense what is gone, cats are indifferent. signee may experience occasional demon possessions from horculs the red, plabos the merciless, morbus son of mortem, plaga the oozing and other such common demons earth searching for weakened, empty vessels, tips for ripping your soul out at home, watching YouTube commentary channels, attending an extended family event with an open bar, using generative ai asserting that you are creative, turning a blind eye to human suffering, amassing more wealth than needed, purchasing a blue checkmark

Most of the punctuation I guessed so this may not be the most accurate. As for the words with a question marks after it’s bc I was unsure if I decoded it correctly.

[taradactylshitposts]

in case anyone wants to know the fine print of the Bill soul contract:

You are now twenty one grams lighter

This contract is legal and binding, we reserve the right to use your likeness, face, voice and small town pluck in whatever nefarious manner is deemed necessary, sans soul. Your soulmate will not recognize you and will walk right past you on a cold autumn day, never making eye contact not even processing that you have eyes at all. No amount of interaction will move them to a place where they can remember, in feeling, the thousands of lifetimes you have already spent together, each time choosing whatever form would keep you closest like otters holding hands in a tumultuous river. You were birds. You were trees with roots entangled, drinking in the sunlight together. Wherever we go next, whatever you choose, I will always be right there with you. That’s done, buddy, congratulations, you have chosen Bill instead. Mcdonalds reserves the right to put a giant yellow M on your torso and forehead and send you walking through a crowded Times Square while you scream, the fries, they don’t degrade in nature! It’s an immortal food! They will be in the landfills long past our deaths! Good god, the things s I’ve seen, me, who am I, oh I’m bill’s previous lawyer, he put my soul into a quill pen so I can write his legal documents until the sun snuffs out like a candle in this sick universe, I used to be so hot, I was so fine, now I’m fine print, speaking of which, bill reserves the right to put your soul into an inanimate object, a strange creature, a concept, a sentence, a tasteful but rustic mason jar with wildflower in it, if at any point you wish to have visitation rights with your soul, you will be swiftly denied.  Unless you had a cool day planned for the both of you, then Bill might want to come along, by signing this document you forfeit any rights to eating soul food, it will turn to ash in your mouth, a fitting punishment for a fool who squandered the only true gift life owes you. Bill reserves the right to dress your soul however he deems necessary especially if your soul was a nerd before acquisition, soulmakeoverrr. Your soul may become fractured and placed into different objects, this has no purpose and will not resurrect you if you die. Signee has forfeited all rights to any afterlife, including but not limited to: heaven, hell, purgatory, big corner-flow state, the dream house, the reincarnation processing center, axolotl’s tank and consequences hole. Signee can no longer board the soul train and is advised to discard all bellbottoms, signee can no longer have a puppy as a best friend. They can sense what is gone, cats are indifferent, signee may experience occasional demon possessions from horculus the red, plebs the merciless, morbus son of mortem, plage the oozing and other such common demons roaming earth searching for weakened/empty vessels, tips for ripping your soul out at home, watching YouTube  commentary channels, attending an extended family event with an open bar, using generative AI and asserting that you are creating, turning a blind eye to human suffering, amassing more wealth then needed, purchasing a blue  checkmark.

[charles-simmons-fanfiction]

No Surprises by Radiohead is very Neil Perry coded and I want to talk about it in a little more detail, if you even care

"A heart that's full up like a landfill A job that slowly kills you Bruises that won't heal You look so tired, unhappy Bring down the government They don't, they don't speak for us"

That's the beginning of the song, and it's already very fitting. I can easily associate it with Neil having to become a doctor instead of fulfilling his dream ("a job that slowly kills you", in his case quite literally). Already in the firsts scenes of the movie we see that he has to give up things that made him happy to achieve his father's expectations of success ("you look so tired, unhappy").

The government part also makes me think of how strict Welton was, and how little freedom the boys had. "They don't speak for us" reminding me of the dead poets meetings, and how it was the moment where they could speak their minds and be true to themselves.

I'll take a quiet life A handshake of carbon monoxide And no alarms and no surprises No alarms and no surprises No alarms and no surprises Silent, silent

This part is known to be a metaphor for suicide, since carbon monoxide can be used for that. The quiet part also reminds of how silent his death was. There was no noise to "bring him back" from his thoughts, no loud laughs, nothing different.

This is my final fit My final bellyache with

These two lines specifically hit me very hard, and I can't quite word why. They just hurt me deeply, and I always hear them as a child (or someone as vulnerable as one) and their parent.

In a way, it goes perfectly well with the last fight Neil had with his dad. How his dad asks what he's feeling and all he can say is "nothing". Your parents are supposed to be the people who will always there for you no matter what, but that fight was the last fit Neil threw. He lowered his head, and gave up trying.

No alarms and no surprises No alarms and no surprises No alarms and no surprises, please

I often see people saying they interpret this song as someone who has a mundane life with no surprises and nothing interesting going on and hates that. Now, I do not know what was the meaning intended by the creators, but this is the lyrics that makes me disagree with that interpretation, simply because of that "please".

When I listen to this song I think about someone who desperately wants to be no alarms and no surprises for once. Someone who wishes life to pause for a while, to give him some time to breathe. No alarms waking you up to another full day, no bad surprises and stress. I don't think Neil would mind to never become a big actor, I don't think he wanted grandiosity in any way. He just wanted to act. To do something he loved, and be around people he loved. Both things that were taken away from him.

Such a pretty house And such a pretty garden

Everyone could look at Neil and see such a charming and content guy. He's full of life, he's passionate, he gets good grades, he laughs a lot. He genuinely seems to be doing fine, and he has all these opportunities and is so privileged (after all, he got all the chances his father didn't, right?).

Who would look at Neil Perry and think he would hold a gun to himself and shoot?

No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here) No alarms and no surprises (get me out of here) No alarms and no surprises, please (get me out of here)

He wanted a way out. He was 17 years old, he was being taken away from his friends, his parents wouldn't listen to him, he wouldn't be able to act again for god knows how long, he would never be able to look back at his first play without the grief that came with it. So Neil Perry desperately wanted a way out. And it would be nice to think that if he's somewhere, there's finally no alarms and no surprises, at least not the bad ones. Although that brings little to no comfort too. He's dead, and it should've never happened.

Well, the song ends here. If you've read all of this, you're as crazy as I am for writing it. Thanks, and take care.

[invisibleicewands]

Michael Sheen: 'It's so overwhelming, once you discover the truth'

How did you first get involved in the series?

I got involved in this project because I had a phone call from Dan and Lucy [Buried: The Last Witness presenters/producers Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor] out of the blue, asking me about my relationship with a man called Douglas Gowan.

I think, seven years previous to this phone call, I had gone down a rabbit hole, as many people do, on the internet where I had discovered this extraordinary story about this man and what he had been investigating over the years, since the sixties.

And I didn't know what to do with what I'd found out. And then suddenly I had somewhere to go with it.

And what was it about the story that particularly resonated with you?

It's a story that involves Wales [one of the first sites that Gowan investigated was a landfill near farmland in Llantrisant in the Rhondda Valley]. It's a story that has a fantastic dramatic narrative to it. It's a story that has conspiracies all around it. It's a story that just gets bigger and bigger and bigger.

It's a story about how poor communities can be exploited. And about how people who don't have a voice can be ignored, even when there are dangers. And it's a story about danger that is still there now presently, and that something needs to be done about it.

What was the most shocking thing that you discovered during this investigation?

I think the most shocking thing that has been uncovered has been the scale of the problems, and the scale of the potential dangers to people. Not just about this particular aspect of it but what this is connected to – the idea of 'forever chemicals', the idea of toxic chemicals that don't degrade. How prevalent and how much it is in our lives.

It's so overwhelming, once you start to discover the truth about this, that I can see why it makes people not do anything about it. Because it's too much, it's almost too much for our brain to take in. So that was the most shocking aspect of it for me.

And what would you like people to get out of the series?

The one thing I want people to take away from this is to say that this is going on and something needs to be done about it. Because there are people who are potentially in danger. A lot of people, a lot of communities. And someone needs to take responsibility for it and to do something about it. Please God, it's not a problem, but let's make sure that we're proving this to be the case.

[softguarnere]

Fic Writer Interview

Thank you for the tag @mercurygray!

How many works do you have on AO3?

Currently 6, but hopefully that number will go up over spring break

What's your total AO3 word count?

119,136

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Like A Girl (Like A Man) - Band of Brothers

Just A Kid - The Outsiders

Bear The Burden Alone - The Chronicles of Narnia

For Whatever We Lose - Band of Brothers

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes, absolutely! I share my writing because it allows me to connect with people who share my interests. If I'm not posting replies, it feels more like a one sided conversation, imo. Also, it seems the polite thing to do

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

It's about to be Like A Girl (Like A Man)! You'll see why soon >:)

What the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

On AO3, it's probably Bear The Burden Alone, but I try to keep the fics that I post here on Tumblr kinda upbeat with hopeful -- albeit open-ended -- endings.

Do you write crossovers?

Yeah! For Whatever We Lose is actually a crossover with The Pacific, and I'd love to do more crossovers in the future

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yep! I've deleted the comments, but some people were VERY ANGRY about the background Babe/Roe content in LAGLAM -- you know, despite the fact that the plot of the fic is driven by a queer woman's decision to cross-dress. Guess they had to draw the line somewhere, but the hypocrisy of it all makes me chuckle

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Kinda? I deleted most of it from the original LAGLAM drafts and instead just alluded to it, but things are going to be different in FWWL. Get ready for crappy ocean metaphors and religious imagery, babes!

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I hope not :( That would stink

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not to my knowledge

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, but I think it would be fun!

What's your all-time favorite ship?

Everlark! (said while frothing at the mouth because they make me go insane) I've been obsessed with them since I first read The Hunger Games at age 9. I could write you a whole novel about why I think they're perfect together, but I'll spare you the ramble (unless anyone wants it?)

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

Tears in my eyes when I tell you that it's probably the requests in my inbox. I keep telling myself that I'll get to them, but I've just felt unmotivated with all the stuff I've had going on in my personal life/at school. I really really do hope to get to them someday, though, because some of them will be really fun to write

What are your writing strengths?

I have no clue, lol. I tend to get compliments about how I describe settings, so I'm gonna say that!

What are your writing weaknesses?

My abuse of commas and italics.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Personally, I love doing it. Especially in a fic like LAGLAM, where even though most people don't speak the language I'm using (Cherokee), I feel like they can still see the importance to the characters and to the story. And I like tricking people into caring about Indigenous language preservation. My teachers told me that anything can be a vessel for carrying language on, and by God, I took that to heart

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Oh boy. I was in the fifth grade. I had won many writing competitions. Two classmates approached me and told me that they wished The Hunger Games had more post-Mockingjay Everlark content, and that since I was a good writer, they wanted me to write it. I was traded many cosmic brownies and other such snacks throughout the year for my services in providing my classmates with Everlark fics on pages of notebook paper that are probably crumpled up in a landfill by now. At the time, I had no idea I was writing fanfiction, but it was the start of my favorite hobby. Look at me now, baby!

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

I've always wanted to write for TURN: Washington's Spies but have never had the courage haha

What's your favorite fic you've written?

I have a couple of one-shots that I'm pretty pleased with, but currently I'm going to say LAGLAM because it's been so special to me <3

Tagging (but no pressure!): @almost-a-class-act @latibvles @footprintsinthesxnd @liebgotts-lovergirl

[demonitizedstuff]

And here's chapter one of "Sunsets and Moonrises"! I've been having a dry spell with writing, and the Aiko fic has been put in hold because of that.

Enjoy Though!

In the countryside and tall trees of the forest heads a 199X Paratec Connoisseur, driving to a town called Redwood Run, the driver is Bliss Ocean’s newly appointed Sergeant, Ashton Kikai. His fingers tap against the steering wheel as he drove.

His internal monologue churned as the ocean of pine ebbed and flowed with his trip.

“This is bullshit. I've come a long way from Crab, I made it here and here I am, at the top, and the Boss pairs me with a partner! I refuse to do what he said… it makes no sense. I don't even remember what he said about them, I was just told to meet them here… Redwood Run.. I don’t even know where that is.”

He exhales sharply as he runs through all the memories from his promotion ceremony, drinking in celebration, then the next day's assignment. God a hangover has never snapped away so fast. His words are still ringing in his ears.. that one quote that rings unfortunately true

"You both should rub off on one another and become better, polished versions of yourselves.”

It pisses Ashton off to no end.

“Become better? What did he mean by that? I've been training for years! I've done so much, climbed and climbed the ranks, this is a slap in the face!”, he thought out. He finally finds a shack and pulls up to it, getting out and walking out, out into the ghost town, staring at all of the ramshackle buildings, they all look built from scraps from a landfill. He continues to walk, his steps silent as he gets looks from the locals, you don't see someone pressed in tactical clothes, wearing a nice leather jacket lined with soft wool.

Another thought bursts into his head “Don't these people have anything better to do? Can't even walk through here in peace…”

He continues to walk towards the train station and the clock tower, he walks up and stares up, seeing a figure at the top, the sun did obscure them.

A familiar voice speaks up, “took your sweet time!”

Oh no…oh no no no, the boss must be a loon they did no-

The figure drops down, it's everyone's favorite cowboy!

“So, you're the new Sarge? It's nice to meet you.” Zora says.

“The feeling is not mutual. So you're my partner?” Ashton’s lip curled up at this, he feels like this was bad comedy.

Zora stops smiling as well, now looking at him with malice, “Yes, now I see why the big man put us together. It's because you’re a cocky son of a bitch.”

“I'm cocky? Says the one who failed her last mission! Weren't YOU the one who decided to coax an officer and the freak into a duel and got conned out of a priceless artifact because you're colorblind??” Ashton spat back, jabbing a finger at her.

Zora jabs a finger right back, “I do my missions the way I do them! I messed up because of that damn cop! How was I supposed to know she could summon towers that spit electricity!”

“You should have considered all avenues and eliminated the both of them! They can't mess with the mission if they're six feet underground!” Ashton spits this out, this has become a full argument at this point.

[get-your-fuckin-star-bitch]

So at the office, while he was away, Michael was basically considered to be a Threat™️ because everyone had wound up seeing or hearing about what had happened to Leitner. Elias being like “oh he just needs some time to work himself out” but in a weirdly sinister way does not help his case.

Jon eventually gets into his own bit of trouble because of the possibility that he could have been an accomplice, has to run away like he did in the original series.

Actually, Michael’s not fully considered a threat by anyone… not anyone who actually knows him, at least.

Melanie’s opinion? Yeah, he was a little weird when she gave her statement to him. Probably evil.

Tim? He’s not responding to anyone’s questions at the moment, and you can kindly fuck off. (Michael saved Sasha’s life with the worms, but he’s not gonna tell the police that he thinks Jon maybe did it instead with some weird mind controlling powers or something. They’ll think that it’s bullshit.)

Sasha’s… conflicted. He has been acting weird recently, but she’s not sure he’s actually evil, she’s actually pretty sure he’s just… stressed. People can change, though, so… she doesn’t really know what to think.

Jon’s. Um. Not there, but he’s SUPER sure the guy’s gone crazy and is killing people for sport.

Martin………………………………………………………….

“It’s… complicated? Probably.”

[CONTINUED BELOW oh you BET there’s more ehehehe]

Nikola, though… oh boy.

Two potential candidates. One of them’s rumored to not really know much of anything, and the other knows plenty. But while both have gotten strong, one of them’s going to be stronger.

Kicker’s that the potentially-stronger one probably won’t actually fit properly because he’s too tall. And he’s all twisted, so that won’t do at all.

So instead, she’s been talking to Jon about the gorilla skin, like in the original series.

Being a super creepy motherfucker and all that.

Y’know.

Anyway, Michael did not get anywhere near death, so Oliver didn’t have to go in and help out or anything, but… Elias has realized that michael keeps getting himself into situations where he nearly gets killed, and does not seem to handle them too well, so he’s experimenting and seeing if he can have Jon be a “backup archivist”, which i’m sure Nikola’s absolutely delighted by…

Still… Michael does get visited by some of the stranger’s gang eventually.

Just “checking in on our dear old archivist!”

(Michael does not feel comforted.)

(He is also not particularly thrilled.)

(Especially when she casually mentions not being able to use his skin in particular, because it “just wouldn’t fit right………….! You understand… don’t you, archivist?”)

He tries to burn her with the spiderweb lighter.

No wonder Jude Perry liked him a lot- (he’s actually now tried to set two things on fire because they were bothering him- but I haven’t posted the part where he yeets a lighter at the other thing yet lol-you’ll see)

Obviously, it’s ineffective… but it lights up her face for a moment before miraculously snapping shut upon hitting the floor.

Or… where her face should be.

Michael screams, his friend finally gets the lights working, and Nikola is gone.

…Fun!

OH HEY WAIT WHAT

OKAY SO

If Michael gets this tape! (Which he definitely would, cause he would have completely missed everything.)

Obviously with a few edits!! But!!!!!!! That shit would just.

Like a goddamn jagged-edged sword getting shoved STRAIGHT through his torso, GOD that stupid bit of commentary would hurt so BAD-

Jesus, Elias, stop trying to make your archivist feel like a disposable paper bag that somehow managed to make it out of the landfill, the hell are you doing, man????

Michael’d probably just try and mirror-jump to Jude Perry or something and be like “hey, my boss is a sick bastard and I hate him, want to help?”

Not sure if I’m /j or /srs, but Martin might be on board lol

Michael’s having more and more trouble with the whole… mirror-hallway trap thing. Although, like with canon, he probably ends up figuring out a way to drag out the whole process of victims slowly kinda going nuts so that he doesn’t actually have to kill anyone, he can just… “bother someone” in order to keep things going.

Which actually winds up working better than the “drive em mad and then whoop there they go” method.

He doesn’t like how it feels, cause it’s basically making a bunch of people go through what Ryan went through, but he tries diffusing the messing-with across more than one victim in order to make it not be as horrible for each of them.

Oh, and on top of that, he still has to get statements.

Does Jon send him the statements he gets (and his own notes on them) after he’s done with them, so that they’re both on the same page with things? (And does it work..?)

And if so, does he get to hear the “dust to dust” one, finally?

*Sound of Michael nearly popping a stress ball open with one hand*

(>:(((( Bruh Gertrude what the fuck)

AND HEARING HIS OWN VOICE ON THE TAPE…

Just rewinding and playing it over and over again. Just to hear it.

It hurts to know that his voice doesn’t quite sound the same.

He’s lost the stutter that he hated so much. He almost misses it.

Might actually mumble the words a little, in a half-hopeful attempt at getting his voice to sound like it did back then again. It works, for a moment or two, and in that little sliver of time, he feels like… himself again. Like Michael.

But he can’t hold it for long.

Still… it was there.

He was… there, somewhere. He wasn’t completely gone… so maybe there was still hope.

(HhhgfhhHhhHHHHHH I wanna hug him so badddddddddddddd aaaaaaaaaa 🫠)

Anyway, so Jon gets taken by Orsinov-

And the only reason Michael doesn’t pick up every time Elias tries to call him to tell him to get Jon is cause he’s got Elias’s number registered in his phone as “old sod” and just sits there pressing “decline” every time the phone starts ringing with that name.

It’s very fun to do.

However, eventually Martin’s the one who calls him, sounding a little bit panicked, and explains what’s going on, and Michael feels like an asshole, rushes out the door- (“hello good morning I’ve got to go get Jonathan out of situations he keeps getting in don’t kill me don’t get killed please don’t leave things on voicemail if they’re important, lesson learned, ohgosh bye-”)

So the Michael appears! No doom threat, just Michael apologizing for being “so incredibly late” and being like “oh good lord these are creepy oh sh- you’ve got a gag on- I’m very sorry-”

And he notices that Jon’s…. Looking at him, like… he wants to ask something, but doesn’t know if he should.

Michael… forces a smile, getting the feeling — based on the last tape he’d gotten from jon — that he knows what he wants to ask about. “Can we… t…t-“ oh, of course- and just at the moment he’d rather it not be an issue, here it was, again, in the way of him getting his words across. “It- I- We don’t- there isn’t much… much time to share… stories.”

“She won’t be back for-“

“I just don’t want to.”

He didn’t mean it to come out sounding so snappy, and winced a little at his own voice. “She…she’s just… a bit of a hard subject, as of right now…”

Jon looks a little bit… desperate, though, and it occurs to him that he most likely hasn’t been able to get any new statements in days.

If he were to go through the mirrors… he might not be able to keep himself together in there. Or he might get lost, or…

“Ask me.”

Jon blinks, looking a bit confused. “Didn’t you say you-“

“Yes, I know. It doesn’t feel good, but if you don’t-“ he takes a deep breath, and sighs heavily. “Please. Just… this once. And it’s all… good.”

…”What was she like?”

Oh, that question hurts.

A string of expressions pass across his face as he tries to think of the words for the things Jon wants to pull out of him. Needs him to let out.

“…different… she- she told me a lie.

I thought I knew… why she was who she was. Why I was… her… assistant.

I- but i didn’t. Really. She was cold… and… I just fell for it.

He takes another deep breath and sighs, but… no, it… isn’t done, is it.

It all spills out, like blood gushing from a deep, arterial wound.

He tries to twist it, to lessen the tearing sensation that the eye gives as it drags the information out of him, but it just… happens. The words aren’t quite his to control.

The Sannikov trip is the most painful to feel.

Once, it might have been a tale told in horror, of the near-death experience of his mentor, the old woman who fell over the side of a ship in the middle of a storm. About how he almost went insane, but that could have been a dream, and she had been saved, and then they had gone home again.

He told Jon all of this story, the statement riddled with sarcasm and frustration, and hurt.

And then he told… a different story.

The one he’d had in that vision, or dream, or nightmare- whatever it had been.

He told the eye what it already knew, and — in a way — begged it to answer him, instead. Tell him if he had just been… a pebble to be kicked into a trap so that it could be made safe to pass through.

He explained his fear that Gertrude had, in fact, killed one of her old assistants, a woman named Emma Harvey. She’d burned her alive.

And then he recounted his terror upon waking up in the office that one horrible night, when the doors had not been the right doors, and had nearly taken him and swallowed him and taken him apart.

How the fire had roared around him.

The rest of the story, Jon already knew, and so his talking should have ended there.

But he mentioned something he didn’t want to.

About how much Jon had reminded him of her, when they’d first met.

And with this revelation, the story ended.

At once, Michael slid to the floor, his whole body drained of energy, fighting to keep itself together.

It was not a moment too soon.

A door had opened behind him. A horribly familiar one, and as it loomed over Jon’s bound form and Michael’s barely stable one, a voice floated through the room, coming from the figure standing at its threshold.

“That was a very, very stupid thing to do, archivist.”

[creepylittlelady]

How did the Operator and Charles meet?[PUPPET STRINGS LORE DUMP]

Hello! Sorry I haven't posted an AU related post in a while, my mental health's been in a slump and I've just been so tired recently lmao.

Anyways! I wanted to create this post since I realised that I've barely touched upon this topic, even though It's a pretty important piece of lore in my AU (in my opinion!). Thank you for all the notes and followers, I appreciate it a lot!

Okay, so without further ado...

How did this happen?

Now, the Operator meeting Charles and turning him into its 'Puppet' or 'Vessel' of sorts is one of THE key events to happen in my AU. It serves as the catalyst for everything that happens after that point, directly or indirectly.

The Operator, and by default the cult forming has SORT of its own post, even though it's more of a prose than an actual comprehensive explanation.

Here it is anyway!:

(Sorry, I don't know how to make hyperlinks yet, I'm still a rookie lol)

One thing to note is that whilst the Operator is the most 'powerful' character in my AU, he's not actually that powerful by God standards. Whilst at times Gods CAN perform miracles and interact with the mortal plane of thought, the Operator could not. Although it could appear appear to those who truly needed it and act out peoples wishes, its ability to do this was incredibly unstable.

After a while, it figured out that it needed a something, or rather SOMEONE to act as its buffer between it and its followers, to gain more faith. So, around the later 1800s, it began to look for a Vessel for it to live inside.

So, a little bit of world building in my AU, but supernatural possession can only occur in my AU is the soul is 'open'. When demonic or any form of possession occurs, the demon, or whatever supernatural creature, physically ENTERS into the mortal's soul. The soul only 'opens' if the human is close to death or is extremely distressed in one way or another. Traumatised or sickly people are must easier than a mentally stable, healthy person.

After killing several people after ripping its way into their souls, the Operator realised that not only did it need someone younger (preferrably child age), but someone who was on the verge or death or someone who had faced a lot of pain and suffering, so it set out to find such a mortal.

Several children began to go missing from slumhouses, orphanages, factories, and hospitals. They'd all be found dead just days later, scattered in a random landfill site or in public areas. Their cause of death was almost always undetermined.

Since they were children that 'wouldn't be missed', the missing cases went without much public fanfare. As they went without any public attention, the Operator and the followers of the Third Eye (the main cult it operated) continued to take children and even take children that wandered too close.

However, none of them could handle it, and every child or teenager ended up instantly dead or in extreme physical pain before being executed by the followers themselvses.

This is where Charles comes in.

You see, Charles' soul was very much 'open' as he was maybe a few weeks away from death, the closest any child had ever been. I wouldn't say he had trauma at the time, but he definitely wasn't having that much of an easy time, considering he didn't really know human interaction nor affection of any kind.

Whether it was fate or purposeful meddling from the Operator, nobody knows. However, the day that Charles came into the forest, so close to death that his soul was gaping wide open, he was sacrificed to the Operator and didn't die.

Throughout the years, the Operator basically lived in Charles' body as his vessel, which caused him a lot of physical and mental pain. However, the Operator become so dependent on his soul that if Charles ever died the Operator would die too.

The day that Charles attempted to hang himself, the Operator, in a final attempt to save the both of them, created a new body for the both of them to reside in, a horrid combination of both Charles' human traits and the Operator's non human traits.

That, is how the Operator met Charles.

(This kinda sounds like nonsense, so if you have any questions, then feel free to ask!)

[gay-sin]

crocheting yarn is praying to god

i have spent a good amount of my free time lately thinking about yarn. i won a bid on ebay and bought some white mohair from a seller in florida for a great price. today i spent a very long time trying to get to a yarn store in cambridge. i had a lot of transit complications and had to walk a long time in the rain. i got there with my jeans and belongings soaked. my phone is in rice at the moment. it was worth it though because the store was amazing. it had so many kinds of quality yarns. i went around feeling them all for what must have been an hour. i tried to intuit what worsted vs woolen yarn was. there are so many things i don't know about yarn. all of the plastic yarns were very cheap. some wool yarn was cheap but the cheap wool felt very scratchy. i wanted soft yarn. i got two balls of 100% merino wool in bubble gum and rococo pink. i think i will make leg warmers with them. i'm not sure yet. i spent a long time feeling the alpaca yarn. i let myself splurge and get a $20 skein of 100% alpaca yarn in a muted blue color. the tag said that the yarn was "non-mulesed" which i read as non-molested. turns out mulesing is "a painful procedure that involves cutting crescent-shaped flaps of skin from around a lamb's breech and tail using sharp shears designed specifically for this purpose." i looked up photos but i don't recommend that you do.

as an artist, there are always so many factors to consider when choosing materials. i have always preferred trash/found materials as they are the most affordable. there is so much that ends up in landfills so why not use these things to make art? i love the poetics of things that were thrown aside being given new life. i've always preferred thrifting clothing, yarn, fabric. but what i have realized with yarn, though, is that it is very hard to find quality yarn like that. most yarn is mixed with acrylic or polyester. before i took a class on fibers in the spring, i had no idea what my clothes were really made of. now i think about it a lot. i'm trying to train my senses to decipher these things. i had no idea that clothes could even be made out of plastic and now the thought that most clothes are made with plastic really disturbs me. if you can't tell if yarn is plastic, you can burn it and tell by the smell. i'm becoming a detective, trying to find the imposters in a world where the plastic version is so goddamn convincing. it makes me uneasy. it feels very metaphorical.

in my fiber arts class, we read chapters of books written by anni albers. she was an artist that co-founded the black mountain college. i want to go back and dive deeply into these things that i only had the time to skim in school. i wanted to reread this article we had to read of hers from class. it is called "tactile sensibilities" but i needed an institution login to read the whole thing. i hate academia.... i could access the first page though and it had the main points. i wanted to use them to discuss yarn. so here are a couple quotes...

"No wonder a faculty that is so largely unemployed in our daily plodding and bustling is degenerating. Our materials come to us already ground and chipped and crushed and powdered and mixed and sliced, so that only the finale in the long sequence of operations from matter to product is left to us: we merely toast the bread." "We touch things to assure ourselves of reality. We touch the objects of our love. We touch the things we form. Our tactile experiences are elemental. If we reduce their range, as we do when we reduce the necessity to form things ourselves, we grow lopsided."

i spent a long time wanting to make pointless art, just art for the sake of art. i still do sometimes but i have been very invested in fiber arts. they are the opposite of pointless art. it is so practical, ancient, useful. i have found a deep love for it that grounds me in ways i didn't even know that i needed so badly. i think there are so many things about the way we live now in such an industrialized, hyper-individualist plastic world that we are completely unaware the harms of.

i am very interested in religion and ritual and i love how this intersects with fiber arts for me. crocheting feels like a prayer. it feels like healing. i don't really like to crochet with plastic because it feels like it cuts me off from the cycle of it all. yesterday i started my day by crocheting for a long time before work. it put me in a beautiful mood and i felt patient and at ease all day. i have been needing that. i've been in such a bad mood for awhile, so tense, always in a rush. the yarn was wool and it sorta looked like the yarn that i had spun when i tried to spin yarn. it was thicker in some spots than others, making it feel real. i could imagine someone spinning it. spinning is such a beautiful process and i respect it so much. i hated it because it was so hard. it requires so much balance. i love the look of a spinning wheel. it reminds me of fairytales. i guess that just shows how far we have come from doing these things with our hands.... but anyways, i could imagine the sheep that grew the wool, the person that sheared the sheep. the yarn was probably spun by a machine, not a person, but i like to imagine it was spun on a wheel by a person. then, i crochet with the yarn. my crocheting is not a work of individual artistic genius, but the finishing step in a long process of labor and art, across time, species, places on earth. i'm employing techniques used for such a long time before me by so many wise and beautiful human beings. techniques i didn't invent and that i am still a humble beginner at. i make things that i can feel, touch, use, give. they can be used to keep me or those i love warmer in the winter, to hold my things, to make me feel more like myself. then, the things i make with these fibers can be reused or reworked when i no longer use them. when they fall apart, they can be reabsorbed into the earth, maybe they will become soil that will grow grass, that will be eaten by a sheep that will grow wool... the process continues. i am a small participant. that is a prayer to me. that is god to me.

this is what we lose when we don't make things with our hands, when we don't know where things come from. these are the skills that are deemed frivolous and inessential, not fast enough to turn profit. i think that these things are legitimately essential to being a person. most of fiber arts is historically women's work, based in traditions of indigenous people. it is not taken seriously in this culture and it is a shame because i really think that this is having grave consequences on everyone's wellbeing.

i was talking to my roommate's dad about how he had a maid when he lived in africa. he paid her very little but he said that it was still more than the norm. he said she could go get an education and "better herself" to get more money like him. it was a long conversation and there are so many layers to that mentality that are fuckedddd. but i just really don't understand how people actually believe that doing busy work for a corporation on a computer all day does anything of importance or requires any real intelligence at all. how is that "bettering yourself"? to alienate yourself even from your own space, never even touching the things you live with except to use them and toss them wherever for someone else to clean up?? the countless skills that come with cleaning are baffling to me. i have so much respect for cleaners. i am always learning the importance of cleaning and trying to do it well. i am naturally terrible at it and am currently trying my best to be better. to me, an office job is the place most void of intelligence. it's not at all the sort of intelligence that really matters to being alive or understanding what that means. whatever.

anyways, i made a bunny hat last weekend and i haven't been able to stop wearing it. it makes me so happy. i am very content with the idea of it getting colder because i will stay inside and crochet things. i will get to wear silly hats. i have been wearing the hat to work and the kids love it. people on the streets smile at me more. lots of people compliment me on it. for some reason, it makes me feel more like myself. maybe i'm a little bit of a furry. i made it with acrylic yarn because i had bought some awhile ago but i still really like it. maybe i will make one out of mohair. i want one with bigger ears. i want a collection of animal/monster hatwear.

here is a photo of me in the bunny hat and a drawing that one of the kids drew of me in the hat. i let the little girl that drew the picture try on the hat. it was so big on her little head. she is 5 and i love her very much.