#and then we can both learn something new!

[bluebelly-sun-serpentine]

The thing that always gets me about this is that it’s not even a new idea that just driving things to extinction because we don’t like them is bad for a lot of reasons, not least of which is that often these “annoying” things are an important source of food for better-loved species or an important control on other species who might otherwise throw the ecosystem in which we live out of balance.

Like, Silent Spring was written over half a century ago. The four pests campaign and its resulting famine happened over half a century ago. People think sparrows are cute now, but in 1958 a whole country was willing to kill so many of them that the insect populations they’d naturally been controlling ate all the crops this extermination campaign was supposed to be protecting, and 20-30 million people died as a result.

Somehow it feels like things we absolutely know to be true, through both careful scientific observation and also through common sense and intuition (no more bugs on the windshield, less birdsong, fewer fireflies in the summer, insect voices replaced by leaf blowers), don’t seem to break through to the general population and are actively being denied by the government. The roundup that agribusiness now once again has free license to spray everywhere (thanks to Trump) to kill “weeds” also destroys soil microbe communities and has been shown to make crops nutrient deficient, not to mention the literal downstream effects on aquatic communities and the effects on species who would otherwise feed on insects that no longer thrive in monocrops drowned in glyphosate. Even well-meaning individuals are so eager to think that there is some kind of exception to the rule and that they’ve found it - everyone else’s exterminatory urges are cruel and violent, but somehow ours are practical and rational and an impulse toward the common good.

It’s totally reasonable to be afraid of or grossed out by mosquitos. They carry and transmit diseases that have probably killed more people in history than all wars ever combined. It’s rational to react to them with fear and disgust, but it does not make sense to identify with that fear and disgust so strongly that you cannot process what people who spend all their time studying ecology (including disease ecology) and natural history will tell you, repeatedly, in many ways, about any species you’ve decided needs to be annihilated: this is a bad idea. If you cannot accept that on moral grounds accept it out of self interest. Your fear and disgust may be useful to some small degree; that does not make them righteous or your destructive impulses virtuous.

In any case you’ll have a much better time in life if you can temper those uncomfortable responses with curiosity and respect; things may annoy you but you can also have wonder as a consolation prize. My life got better when I started paying closer attention to invertebrates. My life gets better every time I learn something new about other ways of living. Let it make you grateful for human ingenuity, too. We have mosquito netting. Maybe spiders inspired us to weave. People have all sorts of strategies to keep bugs off their skin, and many of these strategies are very old and not particularly harmful to anyone or anything. Molds gave us penicillin. Things you think are scary or gross may save you.

[eufezco]

NEW OLD JOEL 𓂃 𓈒 ❀

old man!joel x younger!fem!reader

synopsis – after years on the road, you and joel finally settle in jackson and there's nothing you love more than coming back from work to your old man wearing those glasses.

smut. fluff

the last of us masterlist

after traveling what felt like the entire world following joel, you both finally decided to settle down in jackson. it was peaceful, a not so small community anymore where you could breathe again, where you could do more than just survive. eat three meals a day. sleep through the night without one eye open. and with all that peace came space, to feel, to think, to finally let yourself consider what had been quietly building between you and joel all this time.

he was reluctant at first. the age gap weighed on him more than it ever did on you. you’d never brought it up, never even seemed to notice it in the ways he did. but you two had lived too much together since you first started traveling with ellie. that kind of bond didn’t come easily. yet joel didn’t think he had the right to want something as soft, as tender, as the love you showed him. and jackson helped him with that. the town gave him the kind of peace he never thought he’d earn. and slowly, as the years passed, joel softened and started to accept the life he deserved and appreciate the little things.

the way you massaged his shoulders after a long day of work, the way he always made sure you were warm in the mornings when he had to leave early, how you'd wake up tucked beneath an extra blanket. you built a life together made up of shared breakfasts and quiet evenings walking through the snow-covered streets of jackson, of fixing things around the house side by side, of laughter in the kitchen when something burned, and the way he'd kiss your temple like it didn’t matter.

—hi, —you said coming into the house. joel looked up from where he was sitting at the table, glasses low on his nose, hands busy with something that needed to be fixed. his eyes softened the second he saw you.

—hey, darlin’, —he said, —you’re back early.

—yeah, the snow is getting worst, there wasn't much we could do in the garden, —you replied, shrugging off your coat and hanging it up by the door.

joel gave a small nod, eyes following your every move, —i figured, —he said, —how’s the ground looking? any chance we can save anything before the winter really sets in?

you sighed, taking a moment to pull off your gloves and slide them into your pocket. —a few plants are holding up, but it’s mostly the cold that’s making it tough. i’m thinking of giving it another shot in the spring, once everything starts to warm up.

joel hummed. you approached him and hugged him from behind, resting your chin on his shoulder. his hand, still holding the small tool, paused for a second before he gently placed it down, he took one of your hands in his, bringing it up to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles.

—how was your day? —you asked.

—good, busy. dina told me the cracked main lines are full of roots. should've checked them but i forgot, —he rubbed his hands over his face, clearly annoyed with himself. you could see how much he cared about getting things right, about showing that he was still capable, still useful. he picked the piece again and fidgeted with it.

—it's okay, you can get it done tomorrow. the main lines aren't going to move, —you reassured him, your voice gentle, as you smoothed your hand over his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath your palm.

—yeah, you’re right. tomorrow’s another day, —the therapy sessions were working, somehow, because never in your life would you have imagined the joel you first met would learn to take things slow.

you kissed his cheek, his beard tickling your lips, as your hand slid slowly over his chest. you couldn't help but smile at how lost he was in the task, not even seeming to notice the way you were touching him. you pressed a gentle kiss to the side of his neck, letting your lips pressed there for just a second before pulling back.

—joel, —you murmured. your fingers brushed against his before you gently took the small tool from him and set it on the table. you moved closer, slipping one knee over his lap, easing yourself down until you were straddling him. —are you planning on working all night?

joel's hands instinctively found your hips, steadying you, surprised but not willing to stop you. —was just about done here, —he said, —then i was gonna give you every bit of my attention. but i see you've got other plans for me.

you loved how he looked with the glasses low on his nose, made him look more domestic, but you gently slid them off, folding them and setting them on the table. his eyes followed the movement, then back up to yours, darker now but entirely focused.

—thought you liked those, —he murmured.

—i do, —you whispered, —but i'm afraid they might get in the way.

he hummed, his eyes fixed on your lips.

you unbuttoned the flannel he wore beneath his jacket. he watched you, barely breathing, his hands still resting on your hips but his thumbs began to trace soft circles through the fabric of your jeans. you sighed softly as the last button came undone, revealing his body. your hand moved over his chest, tracing the old, pale scars that marked his skin. your eyes moved lower, taking in the softness of his belly, the way he relaxed under your gaze instead of tensing. you bit your lower lip, what if you said this was the sexiest he has ever looked?

—i couldn't wait to get back home to you, —you brushed your nose against his, you hips started rolling against his own. joel swallowed, his hands flexed where they held you, fingers tightening just a little.

—yeah? —he asked, his voice low, a little gruff.

you nodded, and your lips finally met his in a kiss that felt like it had been waiting to happen all day. it was desperate, needy, but slow and passionate. your fingers sank into the soft, graying hair at the back of joel’s head, tugging gently, needing him closer. he groaned low in his throat, his hands working hungrily on the zipper of your jeans.

you lifted your hips from his so he could slid your jeans down your legs and immediately after, you straddled him again. as your fingers worked on the buckle of his belt and then unzipped his pants, joel's big hands cupped your ass, pushing you forward and encouraging you to grind against his crotch.

you whined, feeling the rough fabric of his jeans through the thin one of your panties. you pulled down his underwear, just enough for his cock to sprung free. you connected your lips with his again, his hands now on your cheeks as you lowered yourself just enough for his tip to go in. he let out a deep grunt straight from his chest, you let out all the air you had in your lungs in a moan.

you took all of him. joel let his head rest on your shoulder as his hands traveled down your body to your hips. he helped you move, at first just rocking your body back and forth against his. your lips, half parted pressed together, made it easier for your breaths to mingle. then, you lifted your body and then dropped back onto him. you wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed his lips while you repeated that same move again and again.

—fuck, yeah, just like that, —joel groaned in your ear.

you tried not to be so loud, you didn't want to attract anyone's attention or cause a scandal. but your cries and his moans eventually echoed on the walls of your living room every time you lifted yourself a bit more and then sucked his cock completely inside you again.

joel rose from the chair in one fluid motion, his strong hands holding your weight. with a sweep of his arm, tools and scraps went to the floor, forgotten. he laid you down on the now-cleared table, the wood cool against your back, contrast to the heat building between you as his cock never left your body.

—did so good for me, now let me take care of you, hm?

he grabbed your thighs with firm hands and guided your legs around his waist so he could go deeper. your heels pressed into his lower back as he leaned in closer, his forehead resting against yours. the table cracked with each one of his thrusts and you feared it might break, it wouldn't be the first time joel would need to ask his brother for help in repairing a piece of furniture that you had broken since your arrival in jackson.

one of his hands sneaked in between your bodies and found your clit, his fingers moving fast and with urgency as he felt how you were getting tighter and tighter. you closed your eyes shut, feeling a little dizzy from all the panting as your body jerked and squeezed his own between your legs as you came. after that, he didn't last much longer and released himself inside you.

you both stayed there for a few minute. joel rested on top of you and with your legs still around him, you welcomed the weight of his body pressing you down onto the table. you played with his hair as he finally looked at you. you showed him a little smile and he gave a quick kiss to your lips.

—my body's gonna hurt so much tomorrow from this.

you giggled, —i'll make sure to give you the best massage ever.

you showed him a little smile, and he gave you a quick kiss to your lips. but as you pulled away, both of you noticed the mess of tools and pieces scattered across the floor, the work joel had been focused on before everything had shifted between you.

—i'm afraid you're gonna have to start all over again.

—with that or with you?

[nerdygirlramblings]

lots happening folks. we're almost at the end, now. this one's a little longer than normal.

Despite the plan you had when your gods were here, now, watching your people respond to Fra's blessings, you know you cannot continue on the path you intended. Many of your people seem to trust the gods on blind faith, their miracles evidence enough of your people's blessing. The Elders, however, remain steadfast in their collective unease.

At night, you try to discuss it, but your gods already know. "We trust you will restore them, my queen," Jon murmurs into your hair, twining his naked legs with yours as you rest against Tav's chest. More and more often, when you see them at night - for you accept these are not truly dreams - they are all together. You also find yourself desiring to give them your body in these moments, not out of an obligatory sacrifice but because it is what you want for yourself. What you want from them.

Their trust in you to bring the others back gives you the courage to approach the Elders after the next full moon and ask for an altar for Lex. You explain his role as a messenger and how the people's prayers are better served with Lex's aid. Elder Stigr is outright suspicious of you, but the others are less so, though your place as a woman, seer or not, does not help you. They do, however, concede to your wish.

The night Lex's altar is completed, you dream of a tall man with hair like wheat and an open, inviting smile. He tells you to tell Vigi, one of the older farmers, to pay attention to how the flowers along the main path out of the village grow. You do not understand his message at first, but tell Vigi of your dream anyway. Vigi is like Elder Stigr and does not fully believe because he does not see.

A week after your dream of Lex, Vigi finds you tending the shrines and tells you he's figured out a way to get the crops to grow faster and stronger, something he could do only because of the dream you shared.

At night, your gods tell you how some villagers have set up small altars in their home. Si mentions how the village healer, Thone, has a shrine of his to which she prays twice a day: in the morning she asks Si to spare those whom she can save, and at night she thanks him for ending the suffering of those she could not help. Tav and Gaz boast of several farmers who have altars to them both, with frequent offerings and prayers for a good harvest. Even Jon comments on an Elder, he doesn't say which, who secretly prays to Jon to maintain the current peace.

One full moon goes by. Then another. A third. You request no new shrines. At night, conversation is on anything but the task your gods have set for you. Si shows you the land of the dead where souls are cared for, and those who suffered most are most tenderly watched. Jon shows you how, slowly, they are reclaiming their palace on Fjall Gothar. He delights especially in the throne room where one throne, larger and more ornate than the others, his, sits in a place of pride.

By the fourth full moon, you approach the Elders about the altars for Las and Wel, more than confident you will get what you ask. You've learned from your gods how to manipulate the hearts and minds of men grasping for power, and with this request you will put that knowledge to the test. Elder Stigr's wife, Unnr, whom he married after his first tragically passed in childbirth, along with the babe, is pregnant again, and this time it seems the child will survive until their birth. You know Stigr desires little as much as he is desperate for an heir. When you explain who Las and Wel protect, you watch the anger war with hope on Stigr's face. "Why have these twinned goddesses not been part of our prayers earlier?" Stigr snaps, voice laced with accusation.

"The tome I found, the one I used to beg help from the others only listed Jon, Tav, Gaz, and the god of death. Fra and Lex have come to me as we seem to need them. Perhaps this is the same with Las and Wel. Perhaps the gods feel Las and Wel can help us continue to thrive." Most of the Elders had nodded along as you spoke, having seen how interventions from the earlier gods seemed to come at the moment they were needed.

Elder Stigr must have felt the pull to do all he could to protect his wife and unborn child for his was the first voice to approve the new altar and, more surprisingly, even volunteered to help source the materials to build and shroud the altar. The night it is completed, you dream of several women. You recognize Thone and Unnr as well as the goddess Fra. With them are two women you know must be Las and Wel. Like Lex, Las has hair the color of grains and a strong, sturdy frame. Wel is her dark counterpoint: hair dark as night drapes down around a willowy build. The goddesses talk with Thone about how to care for Unnr, how to ensure she bears a healthy baby boy.

Members of your village have never been in your dreams before, so when morning comes, you stop in to see Thone. As you approach her house, she is bustling out, arms loaded with tinctures and remedies. "Oh!" she says, nearly bumping into. "I'm sorry. Did you need me? I must be off to see Unnr." Your confusion must show as Thone lowers her voice conspiratorially and leans to you, "I had a dream. Several women - they said they were goddesses though I had only heard of one, there is a shrine to her with the others I think - told me Unnr's baby would be stronger than the last few. That he would make it, but only with my help." She stands and finishes with, "I'm not like you and don't put much stock in my own dreams, but when I woke, I couldn't shake the feeling like I should do as the dream said."

You watched, dumbfounded, as Thone left her home for that of Elder Stigr. Your job was almost done. You were dually excited and terrified of what would happen when at last Ale and Rudi were restored. But that was a concern for another day. Instead, on your morning rounds, you made sure to leave extra offerings for your goddesses in thanks.

more

series masterlist | main masterlist

~~

taglist: @hidden-treasures21 @lostintransist @sirbonesly

[rollingeevee]

What did the minions first think of darling for both beast and ancient cookies

SORRY FOR THE ABSENCE! Been feeling not super amazing health wise so I took a small unannounced hiatus (sorry about that) and am still a lil iffy so will probs be slow for at least a couple more weeks ^^;

Now onto the answer!

For the minions we have so far (Cloud Haetae, Nutmeg Tiger, Candy Apple, Black Sapphire), I can say this

Cloud Haetae Cookie:

• I have a feeling they instantly became attached!

• Their master seems really fond of you, so that means they should adore you, right?

• Adoption time? Adoption time- aidhcj

• They are at your beck and call, more than happy to serve you in any way they can! Except for escape, of course. That would upset their master.

• They love being around you in general. Mystic Flour is not very outwardly affectionate, but you make up for that and give them plenty of attention.

Nutmeg Tiger Cookie

• I don’t see her liking you at first, perhaps seeing you as unworthy of The Great Destroyer. What ploy did you use to make him so infatuated with you?

• Burning Spice is quick to shut down any hostility she may have towards you. The only reason he didn’t crumble her right then and there was because you begged him not to.

• She felt a lil indebted to you afterwards, and given how quickly fierce and angered Burning Spice became over a small glare your way, she knew you were here to stay

• She tried to make it up to The Great Destroyer and you by offering to train you and help you become stronger, something you accepted and that Burning Spice approved of

• Tho she’s a lil gung ho when it comes to fighting and serving the Great Destroyer, her company is the closest thing you can consider to normal in your new life as the recipient of Burning Spice’s bite

Candy Apple Cookie

• Oh boy she hated you at first. Technically still does

• She adores Shadow Milk and has always desired his attention, and here you are with just stealing it away without any effort?! UGH!

• Shadow Milk is quick to notice her attitude,, but leaves it be. A test to see if she’s smart enough to obey his desires and leave you alone.

• A test she fails.

• She had never been punished as severely as when she tried to bring harm to you. She was lucky Shadow Milk didn’t crumble her. Her only saving grace was how much you seemed to like her and tried to get along with her. One of the few tethers keeping you compliant for the moment.

• This did not get rid of her jealousy, but it did pacify her. She tolerates you at most.

Black Sapphire Cookie

• Black Sapphire is a follower of Shadow Milk above all else. If Shadow Milk says you are to remain in the Spire, that is where you are to be. If Shadow Milk wants you attached at his hip, Black Sapphire will do his best to ensure you remain there.

• He’s not necessarily fond of you per se- not any more than he needs to be at least.

• Shadow Milk trusts Black Sapphire around you much more than he does Candy Apple, and allows Black Sapphire to get physically close to you and attend to you when he himself cannot, but he’s a fickle contradiction. He allows the close proximity but gets grumbly about it later. You can’t win with this guy ughhhhh

• Anything his Lord Shadow Milk wants, he gets. Shall he attend to you while Shadow Milk is busy? Of course! Oh- he needs to leave- ok-

• Unlike Candy Apple, Black Sapphire is fully aware of what you are. He’s been around longer, knows what that mark on you means, what that possessive attitude entails. I feel when Black Sapphire was younger, he might have been bratty with one of or perhaps Shadow Milk’s very first bitten, something he quickly learned was a no no, much like Candy Apple.

• And as much as Candy Apple annoys him, she’s still his sister, and he does his brotherly duties to make sure she doesn’t do anything too stupid and get herself killed by their master

[sideblog-usernametaken]

(Don't know how I missed this until just now)

Adding a Read More here because this is going to be long and spoilery:

1) Stampede isn't a prequel it's a reimagining of Trigun.

It's certainly not a prequel to either version of the original cannons because it merges the Fifth Moon and July incidents. Plus it rearranges when characters meet, completely alters backstories, creates new characters, and changes the fates of others. There is no world where the events of Stampede take place in the same universe as the manga or '98 anime.

It's not a prequel to Stargaze either because that's not how prequels work. A prequel is something written after a established work that takes place before the events of the original. A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel. Wicked is a prequel. Stampede and Stargaze are set in the same chronological order as they were made in, so by definition Stampede can't be a prequel.

"Prologue" is arguably correct, but when a prologue ends up being 1/2 to 1/3rd of the full work (Depending on if Stargaze gets 12 episodes or 24) then it's just the story. And even if Stampede does qualify as a prologue, that doesn't mean it can't be judged as it is right now.

2) Stampede has substantial character development it's just different from the original Trigun.

I know this section is nitpicky but I genuinely loathe how "It's a prequel!" or "It's a prologue!" is used to deflect genuine criticism of the series and how it stands as an adaptation. Prequels can have problems, prologues can have problems, but that doesn't matter because those aren't really what Stampede is. Stampede is the first Season of a Two Season show, which means his characterization in Stampede is about half the characterization the show is going to give him.

Over the course of Stampede we find out that Vash feels incredibly guilty about the Big Fall as well as all the lives he couldn't save after. He basically tries to starve himself to death once he makes contact with people in the immediate wake of the Big Fall. We find out that that's because he apparently gave Knives the codes he needed and Knives gaslit him into thinking that makes him an intentional accomplice (Which by the way, dumb plot point. There is no reason to keep those codes away from Knives but still let Vash access them. They could've gone for basically anything else around the Big Fall as a source of guilt like being unable to convince Rem to get in the escape pod or not recognizing that Knives was unstable etc.) which makes him feel responsible for all the suffering on No Man's land.

On top of that, he also has an inferiority complex because he can't get his Plant abilities to activate the same way that Knives can. So he can't try to materially make up for the Big Fall by producing something and he still needs to consume precious resources to survive, which makes him feel worse than useless. He feels alienated from both Plants and humanity because he's not a human and he can't do what Plants are supposed to do.

His arc over the course of Stampede is learning that he isn't at fault for what his brother chooses to do and that he has inherent value beyond his potential use as a battery. After the Big Fall, once he discovers he can help Plants in a way humans can't (Which also helps the humans he believes he stranded) he realizes he's not a waste of resources. He breaks out of Knives weird mind control thing at the end of the season and fights him as an equal instead of rolling over to let himself be used.

This is a developed character.

Again, Stampede is not necessarily a bad anime it's just not a good adaptation of the source material. This is essentially a different character who could've had their own original IP instead of using Trigun as a set dressing.

Vash, in both versions of the original, was shown very early on to be wearing a metaphorical mask. We didn't get to see what was under the mask, but we knew it was there. In the manga one of the first things he does is shoot a guy in the face ~5 times with a toy gun faster than anyone else can react or even process what he did. This carries the implicit threat of "I can do that with a real gun so don't try me" which someone else in the scene verbalizes. One. Of. Vash's. First. Gags. Is. Threatening. Someone. And he does it twice in the '98 episode that adapted that chapter.

The problem isn't that Vash is an undeveloped or underdeveloped character in Stampede, the problem is that this characterization is directly contributing to people simply ignoring the most interesting parts of his character in the originals. The '98 anime makes significant changes with its adaptation as well, but it still remains true to his characterization revolving around his relationship to pacifism instead of his relationship to guilt. Like, he still has guilt but it's not the main part of his character.

Meanwhile in Stampede's first episode Vash gets tied up multiple times and doesn't resist when someone after him, and only after him, decides to beat him up. The only time he takes direct action is when the town is at risk. This is a character who's so overwhelmed with guilt they don't care about their own wellbeing. This characterization is closer to original Vash after the Fifth Moon incident than it is to his attitude before July. And it's important to note that that characterization only lasts for about a chapter or two because he's trying to escape his past to have some sense of normality and have people not be scared senseless by him. It was another mask.

3) Whatever Stargaze does it cannot fix the problems that Stampede has as an adaptation.

(Side note: Trigun Maximum shows that Vash has been putting on a mask to put others at ease since he was a child [before the Big Fall] and that he has always hidden his true emotions until he hits a breaking point [when he tries to commit suicide to spite Rem and when he tries to kill her after she stops him from doing that]. In '98 they show us exactly when pacifism became an active choice for him in that version [he almost kills Knives with a rock after the Big Fall but stops himself] and the moment he decides that sometimes non-lethal violence is necessary to save lives [he shoots Knives in the leg when he finds out he hasn't given up on his "kill all the humans so make a Plant paradise" ideas]. We don't really get anything comparable to these moments in Stampede because it is about guilt instead of pacifism.)

Honestly, for a long time I figured I'd reserve judgment on Stampede until Season 2 came out. After all it's a reimagining so maybe Stargaze would make up for Stampede's faults. But then it occured to me that it doesn't really matter what Stargaze does:

They decide to continue focusing on guilt -> The same problem about Vash's character being so dramatically changed is still there.

They decide to adapt Trigun Maximum as closely to the original as they can despite how much they changed and how much time they have -> Why dramatically alter Vash's character for such a large chunk of the series if the plan is to go back to the original cannon for the last act?

They decide to move past Vash's guilt but don't focus on pacifism -> Then that's still diverging from the original principles of his character.

Stargaze does center on pacifism again but goes a different direction than the manga or '98 -> Why weren't those elements incorporated into Stampede?

Stargaze cannot change how Stampede handled Vash (Or literally any of the other characters from the original, trust me I could make 20 page paper on this if I expanded beyong just Vash) so it's irrelevant to the discussion.

See what bugs me about the babygirl-ification of Vash is because the whole reason he was cool as a character to me was because he acted silly and rakeish and was such a pacifist to the point of being ridiculous-- but he also was capable of great violence. Of anger. The fascade would slip at times and show the lonely, sad man beneath. But it also showed the rage. The power. As capable of destruction as Knives himself.

He isn't a "uwu baby". He is a weapon of mass destruction who chooses love. Who chooses peace.

[tenaciousarbiterpoetry]

Freaking out about the Skeletour show in Glasgow

Peacefield is a Banger

I got so excited that they were playing Majesty that I didn't immediately notice he was FUCKING FLYING. My sister was like omg flying and I was like omg Majesty and then we were both like OMG HIS MAJESTY!!!! I had joked before about him flying with the sparkly wings (which didn't make an appearance) and then he was doing a fucking defying gravity!!!!!

The new stage is phenomenal, it just keeps getting BIGGER. first the curtain with giant rips in then the new stage with stone plinths for the ghouls and lights everywhere including under the drum riser. Then the stony walls fell down to reveal the usual stained glass windows and then the stone archways fell down and nearly took out Mountain. Then it was revealed that it was actually a massive LED screen and the stained glass windows shattered and were rebuilt and shattered again. They mixed the live camera feed with animations and sometimes lyrics on the screen it was epic!

Phantom did crowd work (into pinnacle I think) as he was having a lot of fun getting us to cheer for him and clap along to the right beat.

I started noticing the double kick drum during Ritual and after. I don't know enough about drums to say what was different it just was more idk (I can't remember when he talked about having that on the new album, maybe I'm just having the hallucinations he said we would have during Spirit)

The costumes are gorgeous!!! The sparkles really work, especially on the camera feed. I adore the skeleton cassock with the spine down the back, I wanted him to sing the whole song facing upstage so I could see it properly!!! The cornette/mitre hat started to slip sideways mid song and he did a sneaky little reach with his hand the feel what was up then left the stage between songs and returned sans hat. Tbh I preferred it a little lopsided but you do you mate. And now we know why the full vestments have such impractical skirts, you don't need to walk gracefully if you are floating above the drum riser.

We were in the gods so we couldn't fully appreciate the GIANT MOVING truss grucifix of moving lights but she's a work of art. We could see the labels in the trucks as we left and they had a whole truck just for floor lights (the under drum riser lights are gorgeous) and they had at least 3 trucks just more for lights. No idea how to pack a giant moving truss of moving lights into a truck but I imagine they have a system. Also at least 3 trucks for set and one just for fascia.

There were several moments of total darkness (well as much as safely would allow) and that was atmospheric and spooky. (Like we were waiting in the night?)

Fucking cowbell ghoul is back for Umbra did not see that coming

Lost my shit when they started playing Umbra I've been waiting fucking months to hear more than the opening bars!! I cannot wait to hear it again properly (it's only 9 days not that I'm counting)

Hearing everyone belting Lachryma, Satanized and The Future is a Foreign Land was something else, and the emotions in The Darkness at the Heart of my Love and He Is !!!!!!!!

Monstrance Clock is back too I didn't see that coming either and I'm so happy!!!! And the little smirk he did when he got to say "conclusively, I give you Monstrance Clock" for the second time in YEARS, knowing we were about to lose our collective shit, was yet another wonder of no mask papa. And we did lose our shit. And the lyrics up on the screens kept us all singing after they left the stage!! I've wanted to experience that moment since I found Ghost and learned they didn't play it anymore, but now we do!!!!

We got sad about it ending and he was like "you can go out and tell everyone about the amazing time that you had. Or at least you can tell everyone about the amazing time that I had"

He really didn't talk that much, though we did get the encore speech. "Do you not know how this works? How this works is we stop playing, and then you leave."

He got his I/we/they/him mixed up which is always funny like "back at the assembly where we, no they, well I suppose I'm part of it now so we, and I thought, no they thought-"

There was a delay letting people in and my theatre brain wants to know what technical issue stopped them opening the house?? Was he stuck in the air?? Was the moving grucifix of moving lights refusing to move?? Did the LED screen decide not today satan ??

He name dropped The Cathouse but didn't know if it was still running and then was like "I know a lot about the past, but I don't know much about the future" and then straight into The Future is a Foreign Land. Musical theatre levels of speech into song and he said "this is a song my dad used to sing to me" and they changed it to 2034 (I had wondered if they were going to change it to 2025 and have a new rhyme but that works)

And I can't remember the transition into Kiss the Go Goat but it was also musical theatre levels of speech into song

[isnt-that-wizardd]

my brain has decided for absolutely no start thinking about other languages that the pitt characters speak, so here are my random headcanons with little to no explanation:

- we all know Princess is a polyglot and she regularly curses out the doctors in every one of her six languages

- Abbot speaks Arabic and/or Farsi, and he's got enough Spanish to get by working in the ED

- Robby took time to learn medical phrases in common languages like Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese but doesn't actually speak any of them

- Langdon speaks fluent Spanish, something that often comes as a surprise to all his coworkers, especially new med students

- Santos speaks Spanish and Tagalog, both fluently, and she has been added to the gossip circle with Princess and Perlah

- Whitaker grew up in rural Nebraska so he only speaks English but he starts picking up random phrases (read: swear words) from Santos in Spanish and Tagalog, which Perlah and Princess find absolutely hilarious because his pronunciation SUCKS

- Collins and McKay do not speak a second language, but that doesn't stop either of them from being one of the first people who make connections with a non-English-speaking patient anyway, so whoever does speak the language they need really only ends up being an interpreter

- Mohan used to be fluent in Hindi since her parents immigrated from India, but she lost most of it as she grew up so now she only knows basic phrases and such

- Javadi very easily COULD learn any language she wants but she was under too much pressure during school with everything that came with being a genius/prodigy, so she never actually took the time to learn a second language

- Dana and Mel are both similar to Robby where they know some phrases and can usually get by pretty well, but haven't ever actually learned a second language. for both of them, most of what they know has just been picked up over time or out of necessity

[screechingdefendorpuppy-blog]

My dearest Sevika....

You hum along to the song playing softly on the radio as you get ready. Both you and Sevika had been invited to Isha's six grade graduation. I twill be the first time you go out together since her return so you were both excited and nervous for this.

You straighten your blouse as you take a last look in the mirror. Leaving the ensuite bathroom you see Sevika sat down on her side of the bed. You smile at first till you notice the sag on her shoulders. She hasn't noticed you yet so you slowly walk over to her and sit next to her. You stay silent knowing that she will tell you what is going on when she is ready.

"It wont fit..." she whisper. That's when you notice her wedding band in her right hand. Her gaze on her left prosthetic arm. It has been a journey since her release from the hospital. From physical therapy, actual therapy, and the difficulties to get used to her new reality.

You lift your hand and start to rub her back and lean on her shoulder. "Maybe you can wear it on your right hand." you suggest not thinking much about it, just wanting to give her a simple solution. Once her hand clenches around her ring you know it was the wrong thing to say.

"It's not the same." she says, anger evident in her voice. Though the anger was never directed at you. It saddens you to hear it. As you open your mouth to respond she abruptly gets up.

"We have to go or we'll be late." she says as she leaves the bedroom.

You stay put for a bit thinking to yourself that you could've handled that better. As you get up, you remember a conversation you had with Jinx a few years ago, when you had first met her. You smile and make a mental note to ask her a few questions.

________

"Almost there Sevi, just a few more steps." you excitedly tell her as you guide her. A bandana adorns her face to cover her eyes. Ever since that day you found her saddened about her wedding band, you had talked to Jinx, done some research and booked an appointment.

Maybe the appointment was jumping the gun a bit but you had wanted to help Sevika with this. To help her feel loved and seen. It had been eating at you that your response had not helped. Though Sevika didn't hold it against you, she actually ended up talking to you about it later that night.

Had shared how the fact that she couldn't wear her wedding ring and feel it felt wrong to her. That it felt like something was missing. You had tried to apologize to her but she had stopped you. Telling you that she knows you wont always have the answers. Hell she doesn't expect you to have them. That night you both had promised each other to firstly be an anchor to each other and then try for a solution together.

That was last week, and though you hadn't told her about the appointment you had made. You had mention to her how in other cultures they use different ways to symbolize marriage other than wearing wedding rings.

She had been non the wiser about your comments. You had always like learning about other cultures and other topics. Always reading about them, watching documentaries, and researching things that catch your interest. So she did not think twice that you had been looking into it.

Now though there is a lil hint of suspicion in her mind. Especially after you had blind folded her instead of letting her drive like she normally did when you were together.

" Babe, I am one step away from yelling 'Help I have been kidnapped'"

You roll your eyes as you continue to the front door of the establishment. Once in front you take a big exhale and turn to face Sevika.

"Ok, you can look now." You tell her

"Finally." she chuckles as she removes the bandana. It takes her a moment to adjust to the sudden brightness. Then she looks up at the place she was standing in front of.

A Tattoo Parlor.

You can she the question before she voices it.

"So, I have been thinking about your ring and how you are not able to wear it anymore at least not the way it is meant to be worn." you start.

Sevika opens her mouth but you stop her. " I know it has been bothering you and I know our therapist said that I cant fix everything for you. But I can try to at least make some alternatives towards a new normal." You look down at your wedding ring and remove it.

"You are not able to wear your wedding ring. So I wont wear mine." She goes to talk but once again you stop her. "Only if you are ok with what I am proposing."

"In other cultures there is different ways to signify marriage or your devotion to someone., Some with bracelets, others with necklaces and tattoos." You pause to gage her reaction. She stay silent trying to come up with an answer.

So you panic "It's just that I thought, that if you cant wear a ring. then what else could you use to show that you are married and well at first I had thought of a necklace but you are that big of a fan of jewelry and well that also ruled out a bracelet and then I thought piercings! But like which on you know cuz there is a nose ring that signifies marriage but I work with kids andmmm-" her lips crash into yours

"You're rambling sweetheart." she tells you against your lips.

"Yeah well I haven't been this nervous since we went on our first date." you whisper still a bit dazed from the kiss and her proximity.

She chuckles as she glances back up at the parlor. " A tattoo huh" she says her hands still cupping your face. You nod, "I just thought it was more like you and well it would be something that would be unique just for the two of us."

"And you are willing to get one?" she asks as she lets go of your face to grab ahold to your waist. "You are afraid of needles."

" For you I will do anything Sev. That's a promise I will always keep." you tell her "Even if it means dealing with needles." you whisper solemnly making her laugh.

She sobers up and looks at you. She is about to ask you once more till she sees it. The love and determination you have to do this for her. She smiles and lifts her right hand to move a strand of hair from your face.

"Ok" she says "Lets do it."

A big smile blooms on your face as you grab her prosthetic hand and start dragging her inside.

Tag list: @archangeldyke-all , @ghosting-y0u , @sumisamente , @chezze-its , @yeetsugadaichi , @user-ladiesman217 , @caralynlane , @iwannadeletemyself , @wee-bitch , @megamultifandomtrashposts , @abbyandersonsarmsweat , @sevikabrainrotenthusiast , @sevikasleftbicep , @caterpilla-in-a-hat , @h2pinky , @vintagelotus345 , @kay-khronicals , @loofat

[muletia]

You have infected my brain with merformers I AM NOT NORMAL FOR THIS AU. I have never given a single flying feather about AU's really, like they're cool, but I've never been overly invested in any, they just ain't my thing. And now suddenly merformer au is all I can think of, I need it injected into my veins asap

I have guppies on the brain so imagine, after you turn into a mermaid and have started to adjust to your life underwater, while baby guppies adjust to swimming pretty quick for the first few hours after birth they're pretty defenceless, it's like watching a new born giraffe learning it has legs. So mama mermaid stays with the babies for the first few hours after birth in the den/nest, and with the birth of a guppy, this causes an increase in their protective instincts. No other mermaid may approach the den, even their mate. Female mermaids will hiss, growl, snap and even smack at any mermaid that gets too close to the den and their newborn guppies

I imagine with you since you'd be a human that turned into a mermaid, the motherly instincts hit with the force of a semi truck since you're still adjusting to everything. You go from a loving, relaxed mate to a feral hissing creeture who glares at everything while cuddling your guppy/guppies

Imagine Optimus, sucessfully building a relationship with you, courting you, building a family with you, only to then be reminded that he can't even see his new baby until you say so. Optimus being alone for so many years forgetting that females of his species are very aggressive when protecting their babies when their first born, so he peers into the den all starry eyed at the sight of a chirping baby, only to have you act like a feral, hissing cat and smack his faceplate seven times before he retreats with a whimper

Additionally, Bee and Smockscreen also whimper like kicked puppies when you smack them, they know it's your motherly instincts but they're still upset cuz wifey is mad :( Bulkhead is also sad, but I can see him largely keeping his distance anyway because he'd be a nervous first time dad. Breakdown thinks it's funny, your angry swats feel like nothing but he's on guard duty for you so keeps his distance from the den anyway. I can sooo see Knockout as the type to be like "Pft they're not that bad Breakdown-" and then he promptly gets slugged across the jaw by your tail cuz he got too close for your liking

Ratchet I can see as the ONLY one who doesn't get smacked cuz he knows from the get go you're going to be territorial and protective of the baby, only gets close to offer you fish

I am not normal about this AU too, lmao. I totally didn’t expect my original ideas to hit so hard with you guys but here we are, and I’m having the time of my life.

Oh nooo, they’re all so pitiful. But ngl, it’s absolutely hilarious.

Let me add something too: Starscream would be offended. What do you mean you won’t allow him, the sire of your offspring, into your nest? Why are you hissing and growling at him? He responds in kind, and for a solid moment you both look like two puffed-up, angry cats, until Star gets smacked across the face and suddenly realizes your maternal instincts are not a joke. He retreats, grumbling under his breath that he better get to see his guppies soon.

I think Megatron would also quickly learn to stay out of your way for a while. But there’s no way he wouldn’t at least try to get a glimpse of the little ones. After a couple of attempts (and faceplate smacks), he’ll respond with a low growl of his own. He’ll wait, but his patience isn’t eternal. Sooner or later, he will want to see the hatchlings, and if he has to use force to make it happen, he will

[nquesoxlies]

https://www.tumblr.com/nquesoxlies/780567152604463104/let-people-be-upset-about-their-favorite?source=share

tbh there's also something a loooot of ppl need to learn calling "setting realistic expectations." i personally wouldn't want eddie back without an on-screen conversation between him and CHRIS about what CHRIS wants, otherwise his entire plot in texas would feel kinda moot with a throwaway "yeah chris is fine with coming back to LA :)" since this plot was big enough for eddie to drop everything to go finally make things right with his son. i didn't expect for him to show up for the two-parter. meanwhile, everyone i saw who was momentarily disappointed bc no tommy was like "ah well, we know we're almost definitely getting him next episode bc of leaks" and went on to enjoy the episode as a whole

its genuinely fine to go "aw no eddie? :(" its Not fine to review bomb an episode and repeatedly bitch about the director not putting ur favorite man in the episode when it makes 0 sense for him to come back so quickly and without showing us that he IS still working on being a better dad to chris. hell, go write fanfic about it where eddie IS back instead of review bombing!!! that's probably a way more fun use of time than review bombing!!!

honestly, these fans make me dislike eddie more and more ngl which isn't even the actor or the writers faults at all. if he leaves the show then it's not going to impact me that much unless his ending is fully unsatisfying, and that'll be more of a "cmon, writers, you knew this was where this was going, do better." i have never watched the show only for eddie like these people have. came into the show expecting to love madney + henren and ended up very emotionally invested in bathena while enjoying buck and eddie as well. i'm on the same page as a lot of ppl who have been here longer than i have been: we love the entire show rather than just eddie. honestly, i think half of these people don't even like buck. i already know most of them don't give a shit about the rest of the show from insulting ravi over him distracting buck with tommy to turning josh into the "number 1 b*ddie cheerleader" to ignoring henren unless they can use them as a "gotcha!!! you don't actually care about queer rep!!!" like.

@ BoBs: do YOU? because every time there's queer rep that threatens ur fanon ship, u actively get homophobic about it down to, what, 600? of you PROUDLY admitting you would commit a hate crime to make your stupid ship canon--including both real men and fictional characters like josh and tommy in your "i'd hate crime for them teehee!" bullshit.

idk queso its just wild to me how often i also see the "eddie diaz pretty pretty princess who wants to paint his nails!!!" like. painting ur nails isnt gendered, the fuck? BoBs see anyone gender non-conforming and goes "wow, inherent sign of queerness, i am very smart :)" while feeding directly into toxic masculinity with the idea that if you don't adhere strictly to what's deemed masculine, then clearly you're queer. even if you say you're straight and know you're attracted to women and only women, you're gay because you (checks notes) have emotions and cry over your friends and did ballroom dancing when you were younger.

anyway if im being petty then i kinda hope that eddie leaves to focus fully on chris and making a life for the two of them in el paso and ravi takes his place on the team so that we get indian rep permanently on the show for a bit! i think he could bring some new life into the team (regardless of whether the show goes on for one season or more) and it'd be nice to see buck in a mentor position to him. plus i'd love to see his dynamic with the rest of the team <3 i am still available to play his love interest who is there for a single episode before being relegated to one-off mentions <3 /hj

Yes to alllllll of this, Annie!!!

What's ironic to me, based on something you mentioned, is the nail painting. They want sooooo hard for RG to actually be gay yet an actor who does paint his nails (for self-harm reasons) they call a slur and tell him to die.

Like???? Wtf are we doing???

(I know your ask is about the characters but that shit will always rub me the wrong way about Ryan stans)

[moonshynecybin]

What would happen if Marc woke up in a world where sepang never happened...

ooh the classic what would happen if you got everything you wanted scenario… idk i think we could do a time travel sitch, where he gets his ass dumped into his 2013 body and has to set about preventing one of the more` significant little tragedies of his life, but that would also count on marc having the emotional intelligence to think he did ANYTHING wrong in his relationship with vale, and i don’t think he can do that quite yet lol… maybe it has to be a story where he realizes that he couldve handled things differently? in that clip from his recent interview, he talks about how when he was younger he would go flat out every training session but he doesnt feel the need to do so nowww, so maybe hes processing that sort of internal shift while also looking at vale from the perspective of an injured, post-honda marc who has personal knowledge of how hard it is ego-wise to mount a comeback... maybe this inspires some empathy w vale (he's looking at him and realizing THAT vale is only 4 years older than him and hes like. hm...) and the fic ends up being a character study on baby marc vs marc now PLUS actually internalizing all of the lessons he thinks he’s learned… i don’t wanna make this sound like sepang is marc’s fault lol like to be clear i don’t think he did anything WRONG per se, he was just marc level abrasive in ways that specifically rubbed against vale’s tender bits, but i also think that if he handled vale with more care than perhaps some parts of this could have been avoided ! so maybe older marc's presence removes the ranch nasty and the assen nasty (“marc is only my friend when he wins”) and gets vale out of the 'well clearly marc is sabotaging me' mindset. and then at some point marc has to like. TELL vale about all this after sepang has technically passed and vale. perhaps does not handle that well in conjunction w his title loss anyways BUT this version is closer to marc and its a different sort of less public sexy mess....

OR it could be marc gets sent to an alternate reality of 2025 where sepang maybe doesnt happen, but him and vale still kinda implode a little less dramatically and marc is like well this IS what i wanted but it feels hollow as fuck lol. no new, frothing vitriol between them really, like vale will shake his hand and do the same kinda stuff he does w jlo or whatever (vale shows up to the paddock and takes a pic w marc to get reposted on socials bc the press ask and marc is like ??? bc he has never been a somewhat neutral topic to vale before ever in his LIFE… unsure how to deal w the rivalry treatment that jlo or casey or sete get handed. little does he know vale is still insane, he just has less cause to go nuclear lol) butttt marc still had to leave hrc, still alienated from the academy, still breaks his arm… like realizing that sepang isnt this huge axis that the bad things in his life kinda spin on.... and maybe he sets about interrogating all the ways they would’ve broken up even without the heightened melodrama of the sepang race… starts hanging out w vale even though that’s something they Don’t Do Now and vale is surprised but likes it (and is also. still somehow DEEPLY hurt by how everything went down maybe just less specifically delusional/paranoid to cope in conjunction w title loss. idk maybe he won 2015 here and marc was injured for the back half of the season and they both feel weird about kinda drifting apart)... this fic would have lots of fear from them both about the other leaving, the injury stuff, the age stuff--- all the reasons why sepang happened that they never delt with, just without the actual sepang… and i think it could be sweet idk i like it when they’re fucked up but they spend time w each other and it’s like oh it’s you… of course it’s you…. its always been you

[trulydeep]

We worked with G again yesterday, first on technique and then on sections of the new choreography. Although it's less exciting, I love how improving our basic technique enhances the choreography significantly. I also love the new choreo but felt somewhat inept performing it for her, having just learned it two days ago.

G is a wonderful teacher, and I am always impressed by her. In fact, I was the one who first noticed her while Q and I were dancing in another city two years ago, and I suggested that he should reach out to her. However, as much as I appreciate G, I genuinely believe that the regular, toe-to-toe, patient work that Q does with me is the reason for the growth in my dancing.

I am gradually learning to feel Q’s hands on me and to sense his body's movements more with each dance. Building trust takes time and familiarity for me. Dancing is a conversation between partners, and I need to feel a sense of interpersonal connection to be less intimidated and more relaxed. Spending more time talking and interacting with him lately, just like we used to, has really helped.

My journey with Q has been both interesting and exciting, but it has also been stressful at times due to X's behavior towards me. X is, sadly, never going to be better. Her personality disorder is not one that can be successfully treated. I’ve been reflecting on whether or not the enjoyment I get outweighs the stress enough for me to continue but haven't fully decided. Q is such an amazing person who inspires me both in and out of dance. I don’t want to give up on something that has truly made me feel alive, now that I finally feel like I’m dancing.✨ TBC…

April 2025

[delilahsturniolo]

⟡ ݁₊ welcome to the end of the world! (please leave your sanity at the door.)

𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 . . . four friends: nick, matt, chris, and you—find themselves stuck together at the end of the world, trying to survive a zombie apocalypse with nothing but their wits, a questionable supply of snacks, and zero emotional maturity. you’re just trying to stay alive without losing your mind—or falling for someone on the team.

𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 . . . just some violence, nothing really

CHAPTER FIVE: FLARE GUNS

read other parts here!

it’s weird, how fast things can shift.

one minute, you’re kissing matt with blood on your collarbone and adrenaline in your throat. the next, you’re climbing six flights of stairs in an abandoned apartment complex that smells like mold, rot, and regret, wondering if it’s physically possible to die from being emotionally overwhelmed and undead at the same time. nick leads the way, flashlight in one hand, crossbow in the other. he’s muttering under his breath about poor architectural design and how this place “looks like it was condemned before the zombies even showed up.”

chris is behind him, holding lieutenant whiskers like a baby and pointing dramatically at every open door like he’s in a horror movie. “if a ghost shows up, i’m suing.”

“there are no ghosts,” nick says.

“and yet i feel haunted.”

you and matt bring up the rear. well. you’re trying to focus on walking and not on how warm his hand was against your waist earlier. or how he kissed you like he wasn’t entirely sure the world would still be around tomorrow. or how you kissed him back like it didn’t matter. because now you have bigger problems.

nick said the building might be good for shelter. it’s got height, decent barricade potential, and a roof where you could maybe send a signal. maybe. it also has broken windows, weird noises, and a very unsettling stain on the third floor wall that no one wants to talk about. “okay,” nick says as you reach the top level, shining his flashlight around the open hallway. “roof access is just past that creepy-ass stairwell. if there are any zombies up here, they’re probably—”

crash.

something slams behind you. hard.

you spin around and hear the sharp, ugly snarl of something very, very undead.

“we’ve got company!” chris shouts.

from two different directions, they come—four, five, maybe six of them. fast, hungry, and cornering you in the narrow hall.

“go!” matt yells, shoving you toward the stairwell. “get to the roof!”

you all bolt. the hallway groans under your weight. lieutenant whiskers screeches. someone (nick) yells something about “tactical retreating,” which is code for run, run, run. you reach the roof access door and find—it’s locked. of course. because the universe thinks you haven’t suffered enough today.

“matt, help me break it!” you shout.

you both slam into it, again and again. the wood groans. zombies are closer now, hands clawing around the corner. finally—crack. the door bursts open. you all spill onto the roof, slamming it shut behind you. nick jams it with a pipe he found god-knows-where.

panting. sweating. not dead.

yet.

the roof is wide, open, and—bad news—totally exposed. worse news: you’re out of food, almost out of water, and surrounded on all sides by zombies. the only advantage you have is height, and that doesn’t count for much when your enemies don’t get tired and you do. “okay,” nick says between gulps of air. “what did we learn?”

“that this building sucks,” you say.

“that locked doors are the real villains,” chris adds.

lieutenant whiskers meows in agreement.

“we have to signal someone,” matt says, scanning the sky. “there’s a flare gun in my bag.” you raise an eyebrow. “you’ve had a flare gun this whole time?”

“i was saving it for an emergency.”

you gesture wildly. “what do you call this?”

“…fair.”

he pulls it out, aims it high, and fires. the flare streaks across the sky in a burst of red light. it’s beautiful and loud and dramatic—and now everything within ten miles knows exactly where you are. the moment the light fades, the groaning below gets louder.

“maybe that was a mistake,” you say.

“definitely a mistake,” nick mutters.

“hey, if anyone’s watching, they’ll come,” matt says, not sounding fully convinced. you move to the edge of the roof and stare out at the city. it’s quiet for now. broken and burning in places, but still somehow alive. matt steps beside you, arms crossed. “you okay?” he asks. you nod slowly. “just tired of almost dying. kind of hoped today would be the one day we didn’t do that.”

“same.”

you glance over at him, eyes catching for a beat too long. there’s something unspoken again—tension, electricity, something. but then—another crash. a louder one. you all turn.

the pipe holding the roof door shut just snapped.

the door creaks.

they’re coming.

and this time?

you might not all make it off this roof.

© delilahsturniolo

[sphacelating]

what i have tried to point out consistently is that the way andrew and ashley react emotionally, how they respond to changes in their relationship, what they feel towards each other and then the mentality through which they justify their shitty actions— subconsciously but also consciously— are fundamentally extremely similar.

if you think of them both as blank slates as children, they were squeezed into different distressing and horrible positions but they were certainly shaped in the same environment. their personalities and psychological wiring developed in the same situations and under the same roof. what makes ashley easy to perceive as worse is that we see her in a position in their codependency that andrew has never been put in before, being the older brother, and ashley being the younger sibling.

he grows up first.

as he’s watching ashley from a wholly different perspective, ashley’s perspective for the very first time, as she goes through growth and experiences he already has, he starts acting and responding to the resulting unwanted changes just like her. ashley’s response to him leaving childhood behind for adulthood, independence and freedom, has always seemed insane and inappropriate to him. it’s been incomprehensible— and so, always painfully unfair. he even attributes it to some desire in her to ruin his life out of spite, and as the years go by, this makes him resent her as deeply as he loves her.

however, he’s slowly forced to recognize that he is indeed just like her. as much as he’d vehemently try to deny this, if he was in her exact shoes, he sure as hell would have acted and responded the same way. he can’t empathize with her on a level required for him to actually put himself in ashley’s shoes, but when he does get a taste of what ashley has always felt, he crashes out internally, then externally when he can no longer effectively bottle it up. he navigates this mental and emotional clusterfuck that is brand new to him, and he becomes more and more hypocritical— if you pay close enough attention to his actual intentions and what he thinks and feels under his cracking andrew “normal” graves illusion, that is. if you focus exclusively on the ways he and ashley behave differently, he’ll successfully convince you otherwise.

but as ashley grows apart from him, he goes from quietly imploding, something ashley has never learned how to do, to finally exploding instead, dropping his facade, and he starts treating her very fucking wrong in ways that become less and less subtle, and more and more abusive, aggressive, manipulative and controlling.

[friday411]

🍿 The 🍿 Long 🍿 Good 🍿 Rerun!🍿

Friday's 🔍 Top 10 25 26 Sherlockian Limericks!

"Elementary my dear Watson". Is not in a story – not one " My dear Watson", yes " Elementary" much less But all in one go? It's not done!

-=< ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ >=-

There once was a genius from London Whose cranium was really uncommon. When he learned something new For each factoid and clue He deleted an old, then moved on… -=<+>=- The police asked "Holmes, what should we do? He said "Look to the dog for your clue." "But he didn't do squat." "That's the curious part." And with that, Sherlock stumped the whole crew.

Bobby: Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention? Holmes: To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time. Bobby: The dog did nothing in the night-time. Holmes: That was the curious incident.

-=<+>=- At crime scenes, Holmes' in his element. Police he finds an impediment. He's far more effective Than their "great" detectives. So he's earned the right to be arrogant.

-=<+>=-

To Holmes, every case was solvable "Once you reject the impossible Sometimes - strange as it seems Logic dictates that means You must accept the improbable."

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - SH

-=<+>=-

Holmes' methods are tested and true Wringing the facts out of each clue. "Don't jump to conclusions, They're often illusions." The truth will be known when he's through.

-=<+>=-

"Lestrade – why do you come to me last? I'd've gotten here sooner if you'd asked. Now the trail has gone cold." (He continued to scold.) "Compared to me, your men are outclassed." -=+=- "You don't understand my position Calling you up is an admission We've failed at our jobs!" (He practically sobs) "Crime-stopping is our only mission…"

-=<+>=- Mrs Hudson, the Baker Street saint Is a model of poise and restraint Two-twenty-one B Is a horror to see So she often has cause for complaint!

-=<+>=-

The truth be told, poor Mrs Hudson Found herself endlessly cussin' It's not that her tenants Were late with their rent, it's The shooting of walls and destruction.

-=<+>=-

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Why send Henry and I to the hall If you think he's in danger at all? We need you now Holmes, There are too many unknowns. You might Sir Henry's death then forestal! -=+=- Why Watson you are the only man Who I can trust to follow my plan. Keep our client alive For me till I arrive. If any can save him then you can! -=+=- The Baskerville curse is a hellhound And a terrible devil unbound But both dog and master Will suffer disaster O ne was shot on the moor, and one drowned.

-=<+>=-

Sir Arthur at Sherlock was peeved A plot to kill Holmes he conceived But then resurrected His brilliant detective Since too many fans were aggrieved!

-=<+>=-

"Holmes! Where have you been all this time? Were you just out fighting crime? I thought you were dead Though you'd only fled So why did you leave me behind?" -=+=- "Watson, I must apologize! I only left you to disguise I was tracking the men Who would kill you and then Made every one meet their demise."

-=<+>=- “You know,” said Holmes, “I have a brother.” “But surely there can’t be another?” “ I assure you there is, If you give him a quiz You’ll quickly find out that he’s smarter.”

-=<+>=- The Irregulars don't get their due (Despite all the spying they do) Holmes' little laddies Track down the baddies And are loyal to him through and through.

-=<+>=-

The Solitary Cyclist

"My dear Watson, you've wasted your time. You've missed your opportunity prime. You don't know how to spy You weren't close to the guy. We must nab him, or there'll be a crime. - =+=- "Holmes, did I really do that bad? What strategy should I have had?" "Though you didn't need grub, You'd go down to the pub And bought all the secrets they had." -=+=- (Holmes goes down to the pub and comes back bloody) "Oh Holmes, what kind of fight did you start? Those cuts on your knuckles must smart." "They're proof of outfoxing Our foe with my boxing. The other man went home in a cart!" -=<+>=-

Irene Adler is ever so fetching To a man they all say she's bewitching Wit like a razor Nothing can faze her So pity the poor prince that she's ditching!

-=<+>=-

For Holmes there was one woman only But not for matrimony holy Irene, nee Adler, Dueled him with valor So is Holmes in love? Not remotely!

-=<+>=-

"Holmes how can you risk psychosis? The risks you run are enormous! Morphine and cocaine Will both rot your brain. The damage that's done is atrocious!" -=+=- "Dear Watson, have you not noticed? My eyes are bright and in focus My cravings' been erased Because I have a case. Y ou've made the wrong diagnosis!"

-=<+>=- Eventually there comes a time When retirement sounds so sublime There are many unknowns Crime goes on without Holmes But – can Holmes go on without crime?

[pikkissis]

Okay, I have a handful of little head canons just... scattered about, as... there's not a lot of source material to solidify them... I just have fun. HOWEVER. Throughout these head canons, I've noticed a pattern... and, it's got me theorizing.

I'm calling this theory the EAR theory, because... what else would I call it...It has all to do with the Captains’ ears!

What is the purpose of their designs? Why is it so important that they’re different among characters?

Do they have any correlation to their home planets? Why else would the developers differentiate these features if not to reveal SOMETHING about these characters simply by their ears?

To start, Pikmin 2. We’re familiar with Olimar, but now, we're introduced to others of his kind! Now, the introduction of the first game alone gives us exciting visuals of a foreign planet - Olimar’s home planet. We see its own planetary system, then to be shown his planet's sandy, and somewhat... barren landscape. This introduction is imperative to understanding these new characters, as we soon learn about Olimar’s coworkers! We're given the first impression of these little guys, but it’s not merely an impression of their personalities that's important; it's their physical traits! In comparison to Olimar, both Louie and the President are similar in their features - their closed eyes (which open large and wide upon exaggerated expression), their large and round noses, and their ears. With this, we can assume this is common on planet Hocotate and a majority of its population would share these traits. The differences, however, of their physique and countenance cause little disturbance to this pattern, such as the unique models of Louie and the President; Louie, in height and the shape of his head, as well as the President with his larger physique and chubby face to match. Nevertheless, there is one thing that goes unchanged, and it's their ears! This pattern establishes their ears as a key Hocotation feature.

Moving onwards, we're introduced to another planet in Pikmin 3: Planet Koppai! We're given more context of a new home planet for a new peoples: Koppaites. The narrative treats the player to the economical failures at play on the surface of this planet, and although we aren't given the same ground-level visuals from Pikmin 2, we're given more context to a considerably more advanced civilization! This information not only prepares its player for the mission, but, tells the story of their Captains! They rebooted the original three Koppaites, known as Alph, Brittany, and Charlie, but... I’ll go ahead and use Yorke, Nelle, and Don’s models from Pikmin 4. From first glance, they’re similar in stature to our previous Captains; however, they stand out with more lively expressions, smaller noses, and... considerably more hair... but not only that, we’re given a new pair of ears! They're shorter and more rounded, and almost...mousier. Now, alike to our previous Captains in the variety of their appearances- their ears have gone unchanged. Now, I will be nitpicky and point out that... Don's ears are stubbier... nevertheless, it shares a striking resemblance to his fellow Koppaites.

This detail is important... keep this in your pocket... we've seen this twice, already.

Moving onto our Rescue Corps! Now, Pikmin 4 opens up its story by rewriting Pikmin 1 - setting up this mission to rescue Olimar as if he had never escaped PNF-404. But, we don’t delve too much into a new home planet, of sorts. Rather, we find that the player's home planet is Karut; as well as that, we discover our fellow officers are from a variety of other planets, as well. We’re not given too much information about these planets, though, other than planet Giya and its history through Captain Shepherd's predecessors. Moreover, we're given a larger cast of characters paired with an abundance of physical traits; however, unlike the previous two games, we find that not all of the officers of the Rescue Corps share... the same... ears. Upon rescuing more and more of the officers, it’s established they’re from different planets.

Okay, this… makes sense...their ears are different based on their corresponding home planet. Correct?

WRONG!

With a look to the example provided, reinstating our previous beloved pattern... This would lead one to assume that Captain Shepherd, Russ, and Yonny were from the same planet. Rather, Yonny’s home planet is planet Ohri!

...As is Dingo’s. Yet, only Dingo stands out in comparison... as, his ear is designed differently than Yonny's!

Comparably, we can observe similarities shared between Lisa/Pom (I'm exampling her model as, I argue, she is the canon Captain) and the S.S Shepherd’s pilot, Bernard. Now, we’ve established that Pom’s home planet is Karut; so, this would reasonably lead one to assume that her ear is unique to the peoples of Karut. This is an exciting feat, as she is our new Captain... based on previous patterns, we should expect to learn more about her and her home planet...

inHALES, UNTIL THE CONCEPT IS OBLITERATED BY THE CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION, because, no matter how you design your officer - they're ALL from Karut? YOU'RE JOKING ME. but Put THIS in your pocket, too. exhale

...That is until we look at our beloved pilot. These two are similar in stature: yes; In height: sure; but… let’s see… I spy with my little eye, their EARS! But, Bernard is from an entirely different planet!

QUÉ??!?!?

INHALEEESS... but we're not done here, oh no, last, but certainly not least...  we’re left with Collin.

THIS LITTLE FREAK OF NATURE. 

No, remember that first thing I said to put in your pocket? PULL IT OUT.

Yes, he has a larger physique, his build is discernible with his unique facial features and ALL, but keep in mind, in LIKENESS to The President and Don! Now,... do we remember what we're talking about here... Collin’s I.D. badge reveals to us that his home planet is planet Giya. However, he shares LITTLE RESEMBLANCE to his FELLOW GIYANS. His ears DIDN'T EVEN TRY. Unlike Don's, for example, let me narrate it… they we're like, okay... squash... we're complimenting this character's design and not distracting from it by being proportionately smaller - but, still... we're Koppaite ears, and we're obvious about it. MEANWHILE, Collin's ears? These girls… are literally… doing their own thing. Like, excuse me? You are NOT from planet Giya - you may be a citizen, at MOST, but your ears tell me an ENTIRELY different story if we were to apply any semblance of pattern recognition. 

Now, that SECOND thing I told you to put in your pocket, too - There are two characters out of the Rescue Corps you cannot replicate in the character customization. Guess. Who. They. Are.

Captain Shepherd and Collin. Why? They are entirely unique designs of their OWN! There’s significance in their character - but, if not significance alone, at least a richly developed design. So, there was a purpose in their designs and how they were set apart from one another. Why, then, are they from the same planet if there wasn't something special about their designs?

I have my hopes that there were... possible... plans for design development for the crew, but, with the end product… This is what we were left with; nevertheless, it's a detail that reveals that, in some way, there was something more!

Okay!

Theory aside... I based a head canon on these observations.

SO......... Iooking into the long list of planets of Pikmin 4, I was curious about the significance of their names. With a quick little search, according to the Pikmin Wiki, it’s noted that they’re often creative depictions of Nintendo…shenanigans… for example, one planet is named from  “the site of a previous Nintendo headquarters,” as well as another being  “from the abbreviation for Nintendo of America” (PikminWiki). Without a lot of knowledge of Nintendo history, I felt it was simple enough to find and try a few street names that were adjacent to Nintendo headquarters in Kyoto. There was one street name which had “koji” before the suffix... so, I designed a little home planet for Collin, naming it planet Kojia. I thought this one was short and sweet, and suitable for his cute, little ears.

Why didn’t I choose from the long list of planets?

I CONSIDERED THIS. Albeit, last second, but, I did… I found a few castaways similar to Collin’s model, but, again, the inconsistencies stirred in me a perfectionist’s rage… ok, bye.

God Bless!