#because apparently responses like that makes it funnier

[electrozeistyking]

Imagine this. You've just returned to Corona after a good portion of time. The last time you've seen this one alchemist kid is when he rightfully snapped and then got sent to prison.

When you see him again, not only is he hanging out with the Saporians, but turns out he's blind! And the first thing he says to you is: "Long time, no see. Literally, I can't see anything anymore."

[cjgladback]

My mom requested fridge art from her daughters. And I'd already sketched one siren a bit after first seeing that one post, but that composition definitely will require the layers afforded by digital painting. So behold! A fire engine and its siren. Not too shabby for both my yellow and red markers giving up the ghost while I wasn't paying attention the last few years.

(This is the first time I've really seen how Tumblr size compression can murder a gif, but it wasn't at all helpful at the 540px width so click for quality.)

I did color in the wipers I'd forgotten and make the emblem on the door slightly more legible while editing my phone pic.

Image descriptions under the cut:

[ID: First image is a colorful drawing of a fire engine seen in three-quarters profile, driving toward camera left. On the roof of the truck's cab is a rough rock formation with a large mermaid lying on it, her tail draped down between the cab and trailer of the truck, her left arm pressing against the rocks, and her head held high while she speaks into a megaphone in her right hand. Her hair streams behind her toward a spiky word bubble with a zigzagged electronic tail that reads, "Get out th'way!" in all-caps. The headlights and amber light bar above the truck windshield are all on and the pavement and traffic lines below are represented with horizontal slashes of marker. The drawing is inked with even, thin black lines (a micron pen size 02) and colored with varied hatching with non-blending markers. On close inspection, the emblem on the fire engine's door reads "escucha las sirenas" in all-caps, Spanish for both "listen to the sirens" and "listen to the mermaids."

Second image is a gif of phone camera pictures showing six stages of the fire engine siren process and the final digital edit. First pencil sketch; second all but the lettering inked; third all but the lettering pencil marks erased; fourth inked word bubble with more emphatic italicized lettering; fifth the beginning layers of marker where the artist took a break with some yellow-orange, light red-orange, light blue, and periwinkle mostly over the truck cab; sixth the fully colored phone picture; and finally the edited shot with the white of the page and vibrancy of the colors restored as well as a coloring in the space around the door emblem with a brighter red for readable contrast. End ID]

[talleyuh]

just finished the bear season 3 and there is such a collective cognitive dissonance from everywhere from the writing of the show all the way to the social media marketing.

i know i’m biased because i particularly like syd and carmy together, but this season was strange but in different ways than the last season was strange.

not only does carmy take a backseat as a protagonist about halfway through, he and syd have hardly any scenes together, but i think the show almost suffers for it. this season was certainly funnier than the last, but the neil and ted fak got old and old fast. it certainly doesn’t help that even though carmy has a new arc every season, but he doesn’t take the lessons he should’ve learned into how he should act going forward. it’s stunting his growth and now that we have three seasons to compare to one another, it’s only more apparent.

we’ve already talked about how funny characters are stronger than comic relief characters and that’s essentially what the faks are. i really liked neil’s more vulnerable moments where he got to be taken seriously but it’s hard to take him seriously when all of his screen time is him doing stupid shit. also the hauntings thing? it really was not that funny.

also the show is making such an active attempt to rewrite its own history and i don’t understand why. so many little details that connect moments from the past and present to make up who the characters are and yet it’s kind of being thrown out the window.

claire being described as carmy’s peace threw me for a loop because he felt out of place in his own relationship. i think we all know the clip of carmy’s late s2 panic attack where thinking of claire and him together makes it worse but now we are given so many more scenes of when he was happy? what narrative are they trying to spin here? was carmy genuinely in love with claire or mostly disinterested, because it can’t be both.

even claire doesn’t seem interested in being with carmy at this point, and who can blame her?

her presence was just kind of weird to me, because she didn’t really interact with the rest of the cast until the 9th episode. i think her brief hospital scenes were to flesh her out more, but it’s really just creating vulnerabilities and revealing the seams. and because she’s never really been developed as much as everyone else in the series, we’re left with more questions. who was that in her bed? why was she never fired for insane medical malpractice? what is any of this for?

also a lot of the lighting this season has changed. i saw one user (can’t remember who but their post was super interesting) mention how much warmer and inviting the scenes with syd are as opposed to the coolness and almost detachment the scenes with claire were. except we see carmy in cool lighting a lot more this season.

i also wanted to add where carmy gets overwhelmed in the finale, thoughts of claire coming in with a violin sting like a horror movie doesn’t add to the narrative that they keep telling us. that’s another thing i noticed. they tell us how great claire was even though their time together hindered him being involved with his passions and his coworkers, but they retcon things and add scenes of them happy and have carmy tell us how amazing she is but they barely cared to show us.

a huge theme in this show is family and responsibility. and the scene where neil fak said claire could be the one to take care of carmy and vice versa really rubbed me the wrong way. first of all, i think it kind of supports the idea of codependency which isn’t great but i could be reaching. second, carmy isn’t really equipped to take care of anyone and i think the way he interacts with his coworkers when he’s frustrated is proof of that.

don’t get me wrong, i thought this season was amazing television, christopher storer is a brilliant writer and director, joanna calo really should helm more episodes bc ice chips was actually a perfect episode, and ayo getting the opportunity to direct tina’s episode was so amazing and i really hope i see her name in more directorial projects in the near future. but i think we’re getting a little lost in the plot here and losing sight of what the heart of the show is. the literal restaurant. and logically some of the decisions made don’t exactly hold up and i would hate to see this show fumble.

it can’t be a coincidence that so much of the show’s marketing is tied to carmy and syd and i think efforts to trick the audience are actually making the show suffer. or the increasingly less subtle decisions in the editing in the few scenes of them together? are you really gonna gaslight a whole audience for the sake of a misdirect?

[kryaaas]

Hello! Love your analysis on Jean, can you elaborate more on his ableism?

Oh boy, my favorite topic 

Jean at the end of the game makes a lot of ableist comments about Harry. The most obvious ones are about Harry’s addiction - *constantly* calling him a drunk at every chance he gets, and calling his previous attempts at recovery as “farce”.

Basically its “addiction/ relapse is one’s moral weakness” attitude that ignores the reality of the situation that recovery needs proper external support and health treatment, especially in the term of a long term use of both drugs and alcohol. Which it's clearly not something that RCM is willing or can provide

So Harry pretty much trapped in a eternal damnation where he needs substances to cope with his ruthless and taxing job but it also makes Harry more unstable and he needs to quit it but he can't quit because then how the fuck he is going to do his job and save people while experiencing bajillion side effects from withdrawal like pain, seizures, nausea, headaches so he relapses but that is also only further his ruining his body and mind and makes him dangerous to covers civilians and no fucking wonder Harry tells Jean that he wants to get worse because there is no way out for him out of this hell—

Khm. Where I was. Ah yes, Jean is really not trying to empathize with Harry or understand his circumstances. And this isn't even to say that Harry is not responsible for his actions or that Jean cant be angry but there is quite a difference between "calling out one's actions" and "shoving their addiction in their face all the time and reminding how irredeemable they are".

Another thing Jean loves to do is to dismiss Harry's amnesia and mental issues entirely. He doesn't miss a chance to discredit Harry wherever he can

When Trant is actually give an explanation to Harry's memory loss, Jean immediately dismisses them all - all in favour of his own narrative - that Harry is an insane psycho who somehow lies the entire with some kinda ulterior motives

"Teenage phyco" is so fucking funny btw... Jean really doesn't give less of a shit about 10 year difference or higher rank - he acts like some toxic mother who wants to kick her son out of the house for taking drugs xD  

What it makes funnier is that Jean clearly has some double standards when it comes to his own mental illness. Jean is “clinically depressed” while Harry is “insane”. Jean's mental illness is more "valid" because Jean "can keep his shit together" (apparently sitting in a wig and sungless and sulking is keeping his shit but. alright lol), unlike Harry whose disability makes him *disfunctional* (and obviously he doesnt deserve disability pension for this)

[fountainpenguin]

Scott, Gem, and Martyn Secret Life Ep 1 commentary:

"Geez Scott, why are you so creepy?" / "Everyone needs a hobby <3"

Crying at Scott booking it across the grass to break up Scar and Jimmy as fast as humanly possible and they just start huffing and grumbling.

Scott after running into Pearl, Cleo, Jimmy, and Martyn - "I've bumped into every single one of my exes already..."

slkdjf Skizz apparently cut himself saying "I just wanna cause problems" out of his own POV but Scott got it all on tape

Skizz staying within 10 blocks of Gem is even funnier from Scott's POV because he needs Gem to hold his hand while he follows Scott around a corner... The delicate balancing act of obeying Scott's come hither but also pulling Gem along.

The dead silent push in on Scott's face when he notices Gem inching her base away from his and he's dreading starting his "obnoxiously attach your base to someone else's" task over.

Impulse: "Scott, is my cottagecore-ing okay? :)" / Scott, sweating his pretty little head off as he speed-builds so Gem doesn't catch him in the act, not even turning around: "Yep- looks great!"

Gem, emotionally trudging across the map with Skizz and Scott hanging off her.

I appreciate Gem's commentary of "How much room does this man NEED??"

Gem watching Scott un-merge their bases: "Oh, thank you" / Scott: "What do you mean by that. Why is that a relief to you."

---

Impulse and Gem going over the cliff is funnier with the context that Gem's task was to convince someone to "take a leap of faith while also ensuring they take no damage."

Mental image of Gem begging Impulse to take a flying jump into the water while Impulse is grabbing her by the shoulders and trying to force her into a cherry wood boat because it's cherry wood it's amazing Gem come on slkdjf

Gem: "How much more iron do you need for a chestplate?" / Impulse, taking a moment to pretend to count: "... 8 :)"

Gem, addressing the viewers: "And Skizz follows me around for an uncomfortable period of time."

In Scott's POV, he's just watching unhappily from the distance as Gem starts taking down her wall, but in Gem's POV she actually asked him if she can move her base over and he's just like "Yeah... Yeah, you can if you want to :')" slkdfj

Underappreciated irony in Scott being the one to make a big deal about how clingy Skizz is when he's literally fusing his base's roof with Gem's

It's spawn egg-topia!!

Scott: "I'm making the executive decision to separate our cottages." slkdjf Scott recovers from being possessed by the spirit of clinginess and wakes up like "What HAPPENED last night?? What is this garbage??"

---

Holy cow Martyn dropping from 30 hearts to 12 within like 20 minutes.

lksdjf Martyn: "Let's see if there's any response in the chat to my Cover Me With Diamonds achievement :)" / Gem, Scott, and Impulse immediately triple enchant / Martyn: "Oh :'D"

??? Custom zombie spawner? Neat

He started at 30 and went down to 5.5 hearts?? Geez, dude.

It's funny because in Double Life, I didn't notice Martyn taking that much damage compared to anyone else, but I feel like now I understand why Cleo was so irritated with him lskdjf

Martyn at the start of this episode: "Ew I don't want cherry wood" / Martyn trying to complete his secret task: "Where is all the cherry wood??"

Martyn speedbuilding in panic and quiet, then Joel cracks a joke and Martyn laughs and you hear Bdubs offscreen going "You got Martyn with that one" <3

sdfklsjdf I like how Martyn's idea of copying Lizzie's house involved rushing over to hers and destroying her bed to match the fact that his copied house did not have a bed

Wheezing at Impulse being just 2 steps from pushing the success button but Martyn starts trash-talking cherry wood and Impulse immediately goes "Take that back, take that back right now!" with this guttural snarl and starts stomping towards him because he wasn't cured from his cherry wood obsession yet... Beautiful.

[f0point5]

The new fic was wonderful, I cant get enough of Em and Max I hope you never stop writing about them! That being said, I'm curious, would you write about one (or all four!) Times Max had to run around a city looking for Emelia?

Okay I’m sorry about how this turned out 🫣 I know in the fic it referenced that Max didn’t know there was a problem and only found out once she left but I am taking some artistic license with this being one of the four times! Don’t hate me 🫠

I did actually start a different one featuring Emilia’s dad so I may finish that one and we will get a funnier/more on brand instance of Emilia running away but…I hope you enjoy this one in the meantime!

✨Set in September 2021✨

They nicknamed her “The Bolter”

Max watches the sunrise in total, deafening silence. He thinks at some point he gets up to feed the cats. He thinks, but he isn’t sure. He’s so tired. His eyes are watering. It’s not tears. He can’t sleep. He wants to. He doesn’t want to. It doesn’t matter if he wants to, he can’t. He can’t sleep knowing you’re not home. He can’t sleep not knowing you’re safe.

He looks at his phone again. He has it on loud and on vibrate but he still checks. Still hopes.

Daniel: Did you hear from her?

Lando: She’s not answering me sorry

Clara Albizzi: You fucked up

That last one makes me feel sick. He did fuck up. He knew the second he’d said it. The way your face just fell and you couldn’t look at him. The way your shoulders hunched over.

You’re the reason she’s not here!

You hadn’t even packed a bag. Hadn’t even taken keys for a car. You’d just picked up the shoes that were lying in the hallway and left.

And he’d let you.

It had taken everything in him to stand still and let you leave, even as the fear set in. Fear that smelled like freshly cut grass and petrol. Fear that felt like crisp night air. Fear that looked like headlights in the dark.

The restraint had only last a few minutes.

You had blocked him, of course. So he’d called your friends. He’d ended up calling half of Monaco including more drivers than he ever spoke to regularly. Everyone denied hearing from you. He’d actually driven to Daniel’s to confirm his story that he wasn’t home. Max wondered more than once if you’d earned more loyalty from his colleagues than he had. Even if one of them was lying to him, at least you were safe.

But he couldn’t take the chance that you really hadn’t ended up at someone’s place. You didn’t have you bag with you, or even comfortable shoes. You couldn’t pay for a cab. It was that thought that had sent him to the Hotel de Paris. It was your favourite hotel in town, you even checked in for staycations sometimes. They would have your information, so you wouldn’t even need a credit card. The receptionist had refused to tell him if you were staying there - illegal, apparently - but something about his appearance must have incurred her sympathy, because she’d said that they hadn’t had any unexpected guests.

That had sent him to Sass Café. A long shot, because you didn’t usually self medicate alone, but he’d tried anyway. Fifty times he thought he’d seen you across the room as he’d weaved his way through the hoards of people. Normally he could spot you anywhere but when all he wanted was to see you he’d seen you everywhere.

By the time he’d got home, some time in the wee hours, Max could feel himself starting to shut down. As he’d called your name to no response and checked your room to find it empty, he could feel himself starting to get cold. He’d sat down on the couch, intending to think about what he was going to do next, but the thoughts had started to get away from him. The memories of the last twelve hours began to fold in on themselves, becoming smaller and squarer and so too did the feelings. The anger, the frustration, the panic, the disappointment, it all got more manageable, packing itself away in the corner in his mind that Max had so often found himself hiding in.

Even the fear had gone. The fear had gone somewhere around 5.30 am, when the darkness started to wane. As he sat on the couch and watched the sky go from black to blue to the colour of the dress you wore to Luka’s christening, his leg stopped shaking, his fists unclenched, and the tightness in his chest disappeared.

Finally, emotions had given way to a familiar and encompassing emptiness. Max just felt numb.

You’re the reason she’s not here!

What had he even been so angry about? He could almost laugh at himself. He hadn’t been angry. He’d been embarrassed. You’d told him you’d found underwear that wasn’t yours in the washing machine and he’d been so fucking embarrassed. And then he’d thought, what did he have to embarrassed about, and he decided in a split second it must be because you were judging him, and who were you to judge him when you were the reason he was fucking random girls in the first place. His relationship had ended because of you.

You’re the reason she’s not here!

Except you weren’t the reason. Not really. It had been Max’s choice and he knew that. Max needed you more than he’d wanted her and he had never once regretted that choice, although wherever you were, you probably thought he did.

He almost wishes he could feel all of it. Whatever it is that’s been forced under the surface because he can’t deal with it. He can’t feel anything. His eyes are sore and unfocused and they sting.

He drags a hand over his face. He should do something. Get flowers, or call the police, or…anything. But he doesn’t. His limbs don’t move. He just sits there…like he’s waiting for someone to pick him up.

You’ve got to come back.

Don’t worry, Max. They always come back. You’ll apologise. You’ll do better next time.

His eyes water again. This time it might be tears.

Somewhere behind him, one of the cats meows. Maybe he didn’t feed them after all.

“Max?”

At the sound of your voice, Max’s head turns so fast his neck hurts. He blinks furiously at the sight of you. For a second he thinks he’s imagining you.

“I brought strudel,” you say, holding up a small folded pastry box.

Max gets up before his he tells himself to. He wants to pull you into his arms, the urge to do it is the only thing he’s felt in hours, but stays still. You’re back, but that doesn’t mean he’s forgiven.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” he says. His voice sounds hoarse.

“Not everywhere, clearly,” you say with a shrug.

“I went to Sass, Daniel’s, I called Lando, Alex, Clara, Zita,” he says, as if trying to prove that he’d tried. “I went to the hotel to see if you were there. I’ve been around the whole city all night, I didn’t sleep,”

“Oh.”

You look a little sheepish, almost guilty, as you make your way to the kitchen. Max follows, too far behind for his liking but he’s still too scared to get closer.

He sits on one side of the island and you stand on the other. He really takes in your appearance now. Hair up, no make up. Wearing a pyjama shirt. Where the fuck did you get pyjamas? He doesn’t care. His eyes run over you one more time. He might never let you out of his sight again.

“Don’t scare me like that,” Max admonishes, though there is no strength behind his words.

“Don’t piss me off like that,” you retort, and there’s strength behind yours.

The look you give him cuts like second place, and he looks away. He looks out to the balcony. The sky is cobalt now. What time is it?

“Did you mean it?” You whisper into the silence.

Max looks at you now. “No.”

“But-“

“No.” This time it’s an oath.

You shake your head as you open the pastry box. “Max, you obviously kind of meant it,” you say, turning to pick up two plates from the counter. “And I don’t blame you. I know I’m the reason you and-“

“You’re not the reason,” Max insists. “She’s the reason. She thought…she made that choice. And yeah, a part of me is still angry about it, and I cannot talk to her so I took it out on you. That wasn’t right and I’m sorry. I don’t know why I even- I’m sorry. It was my fault,”

Take responsibility. It’s your fault. You caused this to happen. If you don’t like the outcome then stop making people angry.

“I’m sorry,” he says again, quieter this time. Even to his own ear it sounds a little more desperate.

You stare at him, eyes narrow, like you’re trying to read him, and Max almost flinches under the scrutiny. Finally, your face softens, and you sigh. Something in your posture eases.

“Max, it’s okay,” you say gently. “People fight. I just felt like shit and you know how I get. You’re fight, I’m flight, remember? I was…anyway, it doesn’t matter. We’re okay, right?”

“Yeah,” Max says. “Of course.”

You don’t look like you believe him, but he’s telling the truth. If you’re okay, then he’s okay. If you’re there, then he’s okay. If you’re home then that’s where he wants to be.

You shuffle around the island with two plates of strudel, padding on bare feet towards the living room with Max in hot pursuit.

“Where did you go?” He asks, now noticing that not even your shorts are the ones you left in last night.

“The Maybourne,” you explain, settling on the corner of the couch, legs outstretched. “The concierge gave me some spa pjs,”

Max takes a seat next to you, further than normal but closer than he’s been to you in what feels like forever.

“I’ll pay you back for the room,” he says with a rueful smile.

“Yeah, I think you will,” you say haughtily, and Max forced himself to laugh. There must be something in his expression that tips you off, though, because your face falls. “I’m sorry I left,”

Please don’t ever do that again.

The words are on the tip of his tongue but he swallows them. He doesn’t ask. He can’t. He has no right to ask you that, because no one can ever promise not to leave and he can’t promise to be worth staying for.

“It’s not the first time,” Max says with a chuckle, nudging you with his elbow. “I’m used to it by now,”

You roll your eyes and turn on the tv, flipping through to find the Moto GP race as Max yawns. The buzz he felt at your return is wearing off and the exhaustion is creeping up on him. He doesn’t want to sleep yet, though. Not when you’re still in his periphery. It’s stupid, but some part of him needs to be consciously in your presence for a while.

“Max, you can go to bed, if you want. I know you didn’t sleep,”

“No,” he says, a bit too quickly. He imagines that he blushes when you notice. His cheeks certainly burn. “I’m just….I’m fine here.”

You reach over to pick up a pillow and lay it on your lap. “At least lie down,” you say, patting the pillow like you do to get one of the cats to sit on you. Max hesitates, but only for a moment, because he’d do just about anything you told him right now.

He settles his head on the pillow, eyes fixed on the tv. He used to do this with his mum, he remembers. The first night joke after being with his dad for months, she’d put on a movie and Max would lay his head in her lap while they watched. He doesn’t think he’s ever told you that.

Your hand running through his hair is like a little jolt of energy, somewhere above him he hears you giggle at the shiver that goes through him. You don’t stop, though, finger massaging his scalp. It quiets all of his nerve endings.

“You need a haircut,” you tell him. He knows what you’re doing, but he can’t bring himself to care. As long as it’s you doing it.

“Yeah,” Max agrees. It’s the last thing he says before he finally falls asleep.

[cuculine-nelipot]

One way in which OFMD exceeded expectations this season is the emphasis they placed on the need for personal growth, especially in the pursuit of relationships - all relationships, not just romantic . Buttons laid it all out for Ed, and then turned into a bird just to prove that it is possible if you believe enough. They repeatedly drew attention to Ed's and Stede's flaws, and why they need to work on them in order to become better people not only for each other, but for everyone around them

Lucius told Stede that he was selfish and self-centred, that despite his self-proclaimed love, respect, and kindness, his actions made him anything but. He and the other crew members told him that he was wilfully ignoring reality so that he could believe in the fantasy of Ed/Blackbeard that he had constructed for himself. These are all things that prevent him from being both the captain and the romantic partner he wants to be. The main thing he needs to do to change is listen actively. This has been true since season 1, when we saw him refusing to engage in an honest dialogue with Mary, and several times when he ignored his crew. However, throughout season 2 he is given ample opportunities to listen, to grow as a person, to become a better leader and partner, but he doesn't. At all. He tells Lucius that he can talk to him about his bad experiences, only to quickly tell him that it's too much, talk to Pete instead. He lets the crew vote as to whether Ed should be allowed to stay, only to invite him back shortly after they decide against. After much arguing, he begrudgingly accepts that the crew believes his red suit is cursed, but he does not get rid of the shirt. He agrees when Ed tells him that he needs their relationship to progress slowly, only to initiate sex with him soon after. When Ed expresses his anger about that, he does not understand, and he does not take responsibility. He murders Ned Low even though he knows how desperate Ed is to leave violence behind. In the final episode when everyone tells him that his plan is terrible, he does not listen and insists that they do it anyway, and Izzy dies because of it. He does not take responsibility for that either. In fact, throughout the season he happily comments on the fact that despite his staggering incompetence, things always seem to work out for him specifically, not acknowledging that the same is not true for anyone else. He has remained just as self-centred and self-serving as he was in the very beginning.

Ed too experiences a similar state of arrested development. His core motivation is still to be a different person, and like in the first season he swings from one persona to the next, never reconciling the disparate parts of himself. The closet he gets to reckoning with himself is when he admits that he does not think he is worthy or capable of being loved, but that he wishes he was. However after being "reborn" every attempt he makes to that end is at best superficial and half-hearted. When he addresses the crew he does not say he's sorry, and the only thing he does that could be framed as an attempt at reparations is when he gives them money to throw themselves a party. At that same party he (at Stede's encouragement) congratulates himself for dispelling the poison, disregarding the fact that it was the crew's idea, and the crew who put all the effort into it.

Like in season 1, each of his personas comes with a costume change. There's the kohl smeared face of the Kraken, the cleaner crisper Blackbeard, and the neutrals of Ed - a blank canvas. He does not know who Ed is yet, and he is prevented from finding out by his unwillingness to accept that he is the Kraken and Blackbeard, to sit alone with himself. Fang points this out to him, but instead of anything meaningful coming from it, we get two separate scenes of Ed thinking about being quiet, about being present. Just for a laugh. Because, like with Stede, it's funnier (apparently) for him to stay exactly the way he is.

So he does not grow, because despite the writers putting him in positions to do so, their idea of comedy is for him not to. His brief stint as a fisherman is shockingly reminiscent of the end of season 1, where he's so focused on being zen and chill and being a totally new person that he neglects the basic functions of his job. Unlike then, he does not have the excuse of being burnt out. There is no commentary on toxic masculinity here. It was just 'funnier' to show him being incompetent, and apparently the only way the writers could think to get him back to the main narrative. By which, of course, I mean Stede. Because despite it's ensemble cast and the seamlessly integrated character-driven storylines on season 1, this is the Stede Bonnet show, right?

In spite of his very real, and understandable frustration with Stede a) initiating sex despite his explicitly saying he wasn't ready and b) killing Ned Low right when he was trying to leave violence behind, he makes a beeline for him. He rows back to the Republic of Pirates, sees it on fire, and immediately thinks of Stede. Not the crew (because despite Izzy's quite frankly insane last words he has not done anything to build a relationship with them) and not either of the two men he's sailed with for years. Only Stede. For Stede all of his development (as little as it was) is undone. He kills some naval officers despite his previously established desire to avoid violence. he dives to retrieve his Blackbeard outfit, simultaneously completely undermining the significance of him tossing them in the first place, and of his swimming upward towards a new life.

In season 1 he left Blackbeard for Stede and in season 2 he reclaims him for the same reason. But that's not growth. That's not character development. In both instances he is simply being reinvented in the context someone else. He pursues Stede simply because Stede enables him to imagine that he is a different person, he becomes the version of himself that exists in Stede's mind. If this were real life, it would be an extremely unhealthy way to live. In terms of fictional media, it's just lazy writing. Putting him next to Stede is the easiest, least meaningful way for Ed to change. Despite insights into his interiority, he is not being written as a character with agency.

This becomes especially obvious when we look at Izzy's dying words, and at David Jenkins own thoughts about their relationship. Jenkins says that Izzy fed Edward poison and ended up eating it too. Izzy says that he fed Edward darkness because he needed Blackbeard. There is exactly one instance where this is true. That one instance does not in anyway serve as evidence that Izzy was responsible for every violent thing Ed had ever done. Izzy was not responsible for Ed killing his dad, Izzy was not responsible for the joy Ed admitted he took in maiming people, and it certainly does not in anyway justify the violence Ed enacted on him. That one instance also does not change the fact that Ed very clearly had all the power in his and Izzy's relationship. He ignores Izzy continuously. His reaction to Izzy's anger is violence - he chokes him, he maims him. Izzy has no power. Ed chose violence - for a myriad of complex reasons, yes, but it was his choice. But the writers are framing it so that Ed is simply a puppet - he can either be filled with "Izzy's" poison, or Stede's "goodness." He has no agency, because it's too hard. It's too complicated. It would be too much for Ed to be a complex, morally flawed character who grows and changes for the better, and it would be so hard to write him having his happy rom-com story. So it's better to just simplify all that complexity, right? Forget the trauma Ed endured, forget the trauma he inflicted, forget his depression and his mania. Izzy fed him poison. Izzy made him Blackbeard. Let's just leave it at that. Except that's not the story they wrote, is it. If Izzy made him Blackbeard, fed Blackbeard, wanted Blackbeard, needed Blackbeard, then why does he almost never call him Blackbeard? Consistently, since episode 2, it's a constant stream of "Edward", "Ed" and "Eddie" and we're supposed to believe it was Blackbeard he was after? Speaking of Izzy, his arc is the cruelest of all. And no, I'm not salty that he died. I am beyond disappointed that he died in the arms of his abuser, that his last act was to not only absolve his abuser of all responsibility, but to take it on as his own, and that David Jenkins seems to think that this is a good end to his story.

At this juncture it's important to say that Izzy Hands is very clearly a victim of abuse - physical and emotional. It has however become abundantly clear David Jenkins and many fans of the show do not see it that way. Why? Is it because he's a man? Because he does not act like some preconceived notion of an abuse victim acts? Because it's possible that he "brought him on himself"? Is it really possible for anyone to bring that level of violence on themselves? He experiences the most growth of this season, yes, but as we've established the bar is very low, and he was not given the chance to flourish like it first seems. He does not remove himself from the abusive situation. He is confronted about it, he lashes out in panic, and he is consoled, but he still cannot admit to it. That one moment of care allows him to distance himself from Edward - just a little bit. It allows him to stop enabling Ed, and to stand up for the crew. Not himself, the crew. He is just as selfless and as blind to his own needs as ever.

When Edward shoots him in the leg he screams for death. When Edward confronts him again, he surrenders to the fact that he is not loved, or wanted, and he tries to kill himself. He does not survive for himself, or of his own volition. He survives because the crew makes him survive - they try to hide him, they cut off his festering leg, they make him a wooden one, they allow him to lean on them (physically and implicitly emotionally) for support. He begins to heal, but he does not fully get there. He still loves Edward. We see it in his desperation to know what Ed told Stede about him. We see it in the way he approaches Ed, hoping for a moment of his time. He never reckons with the fact of his own abuse. He tells himself a shark took his leg. His dying act is to apologise to his abuser, to blame himself. He lets Edward go not for his own sake, but Edwards'. He lets go of Edward, and he says he wants to die, just like he did when Edward shot him, just like he did when Edward talked to him after that. He hasn't healed. While Ed's and Stede's fatal flaw is their selfishness, Izzy's has always been his selflessness, and that is still true. He still loves the man who hurt him beyond comprehension, he still gives his life - takes away his guilt and gives him the family he earned for himself - so that man can be happy without him. He literally dies for Edward's sins. He is denied the opportunity to ever live for himself. He was given the beginnings of healing, a home and, a family; one party and a swan song.

[oliveden]

fyodor as an antagonist is cool and all but it's actually way funnier if he's not. like he's still just as creepy and says weird things that disturbs atsushi immensely but he's not trying to kill them.

nobody knows why he's here, except he's apparently best friends with dazai? do they live together? because tanizaki definitely saw them leave the agency together the other day.

apparently they're both in the same group of friends or something? which is just as weird because they all know dazai has committed murder and they're pretty sure that fyodor also has, and the thought of them having a friend group is. mildly horrifying.

(atsushi does not hear yosano whispering and they were roommates behind him, or ranpo's constant snickering. he would not get it even if he did hear.)

he's like that one uncle at the family reunion who you're pretty sure just got out of jail or something. he's got a weird look in his eyes that makes you wonder if he's dead inside or contemplating making someone else dead. you'd do something about it except he listened to you complain about some guy harassing you and in response he passed you a full bottle of alcohol and encouraged you to stab the guy.

fyodor would do that except in the calmest, most matter-of-fact voice you'd ever heard and you'd be like "oh, thank you, completely reasonable, yeah, wait what tHE FUCK-"

("you" in this case, is atsushi. of course.)

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

My uncle was a pillar in his community so even though he just died this morning, the city has already published a memorial to him and his life and now I'm sobbing over this shitty powerpoint some public servant made of photos of my uncle through the years and remembering what a goofball he was, how many people loved him, how much he MATTERED to the world in ways people will never know.

He revolutionized archival medium transfers to and from microfiche, and for three generations in that town he ran a shop that would restore and replicate lost media for anyone who needed it. He saved people's memories from entropy and remade them for modern record keeping tech. My uncle's inventions never made him any money because even when they made a big splash he'd hand over his patents without a second thought or a penny exchanged if someone told him they would make sure the inventions he made would help people [hey fun fact, a USA car manufacturing company that shall go unnamed has been sitting on the blueprints for a truck engine with chronilogically equivalent power output that runs on amonia and produces nothing but water as a byproduct since the 1970s, and when you grow up on stories like that across a dozen different industries, you become anti-capitalist real fuckin fast]. Once the secret service showed up at his mother's house when he was a middle schooler and Marion's first response was "Ronald what the FUCK did you do" and according to the very stern looking men at her front door, what he had done was use her gelatine recipe and baking trays to rig up an improvised photocopy machine AND STARTED PRINTING HIS OWN FUCKING MONEY and they would really appreciate it if he did not keep doing this.

This was not the last time federal law enforcement called upon my great grandmother because of her son's shenanigans, but it IS one of the funnier ones.

This was a man who could make a story out of anything, who could make a stranger feel seen and loved, and who always had a smile and a laugh for you no matter what he was going through.

And on top of it all the man was a stone cold hottie, look at this snazzy lookin motherfucker

Ron was the only man in the family for a long time (and now he has two sons, so they're around and they're clones of him the same way all the women in my family are clones of their fucking moms) so when I started T I downloaded a shitload of photos of him and brought them to my HRT prescriber and was like "yeah no you have to understand the this man is the family model for testosterone dominant systems and then on the other hand this man's sister's (my grandma) nickname was Jackie O because she was apparently "maybe even prettier than the First Lady" and these two stone cold prohibition era hotties spawned my entirely family line, so I **know** I'm gonna like how this turns out but I need to you tell me WILL I BE ABLE TO TO GROW THE FUCKING MOUSTACHE????????"

Yesterday was the last day of my Uncle Ron's life and it was also his birthday. He spent it surrounded by loved ones and reminiscing with his friends.

It was also the first day I looked in the mirror and saw the man's glorious moustache starting to grow in on my lip. It was gorgeous, and I can see his face looking back at me in the mirror more and more every day, more even than my own father.

Happy Birthday Uncle Ron. We're all gonna miss you so goddamn much.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Because it looks like you’re already losing it do you have any extra thoughts on his voice lines? Mystery Shop Translations has them!

[Referencing this post!]

Yes, I know Mystery Shop TLs has the deets 👀 I'm the one that requested Rollo's voice lines dhabydsbiosaivfbifsan

To avoid spoiling anyone that hasn't had the chance to read his voice lines yet, I'll place my thoughts on them below the cut.

First thing's first! It seems like Rollo will be staying at NRC for a short amount of time. It’s disrupting the daily routine he usually has, so I wonder how he’ll adapt…? Apparently, this is because he has come to study at NRC for a brief period. So maybe there's some kind of student exchange program meaning we may get other "special" students in the future...

Rollo sounds SO unhappy (but in an emotionally-repressed way) when he says he would prefer not to step foot onto NRC campus. TOO LATE BUDDY YOU'RE STUCK WITH US WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT 🤡

QDBIUBSOYFVQE8FO8EQEFANOQEUTQEP OKAY, HE STARTS OFF STRONG... Just another monologue about he's going to be the one to create a just world and punish evildoers, how NRC is a place where evildoers dwell and how he has to observe them carefully... The usual Rollo talking points 😭 His Groovy line references the Just Judge and really shows how big of an ego Rollo has???? Like he's going to impart upon you "proper virtuous behavior"... BRO, I DON'T WANNA HEAR THAT FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS PLANNING TO ENGULF THE WORLD IN FLOWERS THAT SUCK OUT ALL THE MAGIC

On the topic of "proper virtuous behavior", I like that we get subtle hints of Rollo actually pushing for this in his lines. It shows us that he actually does think he knows what's best for others and has very particular expectations for what is "good and just" behavior (even thinking that he leads by example). For example, Rollo advises that Yuu "fulfill their duty to their utmost", something which he also prides himself on. Additionally, he commands Grim in their Duo Magic to do as he says, to which of course Grim protests, saying that he doesn't want to be ordered around. Rollo also frowns on Idia's use of an electronic tablet as a substitute for attending classes in person, calling it "laziness beyond reproach".

I find it hilarious that Rollo is SO angry at Malleus that he describes even the general area that Malleus resides in and the mirror that leads there as "absolutely repulsive". HIS HATE BONER FOR MALLEUS WILL NEVER DIE... Even funnier when you realize Rollo is (relatively) neutral toward Azul and only slightly negative about Idia (the other two SSR boys responsible for his downfall). Rollo even expresses curiosity about the Mostro Lounge (and I fully intend to write a fic with this premise in mind, it's just TOO good to pass up)! Both Idia and Azul are referred to as “[first name]-kun” whereas Malleus is referred to vaguely (“that man”) or just has his full name shouted 😭

It's... surprisingly cute??? That he compliments the quality of Trein's lessons. I wish we had more of Rollo's thoughts in this regard, because I feel like he's keeping a lot of his more detailed thoughts locked away. (Notice also that he calls Trein by first-name basis, “Mozus-sensei”.)

Noble Bell College doesn't have dormitories, which makes sense. It is stated in canon to be a much smaller school than NRC, so I'd imagine the student population is also smaller and thus having multiple dormitories to accommodate them all wouldn't be necessary. Laughing at the fact that Rollo just casually dunks on Ramshackle's name though 😭 I MEAN, HE AIN'T WRONG... The place was a bit of a dump before the renovations...

It's really interesting that Rollo continues to express a preference for "relaxing" places; he comments that he loves the Mirror Chamber because it's quiet and he finds it charming. There's also the previously mentioned interest in Azul's cafe, as well as a remark about the knowledge that NRC's library has. It makes me think he can be quite contemplative, although perhaps he doesn't direct his energy toward the most positive emotions at times.

In spite of all of this, the voice lines also maintain a sort of "distance" to them, which I love. This is most obviously seen in the voice line where Rollo asks Yuu if they need something since they were acting overly familiar with him. Rollo indicates that he believes Yuu mistook him for someone else. He doesn't seem to have friends, nor desire them, even if they're of a non-mage persuasion like Yuu. There continues to be this lingering sense of uneasiness and distrust between him and his peers, even when others like Yuu, the gargoyles, his aide and vice president, make an effort to reach out to him. HE JUST WANTS TO EXPLODE PEOPLE WITH HIS MIND, THIS ICY NeUTRALiTY IS tHE NICEST THIS MAn CaN MUSTER/j It really suits Rollo's character to refuse to properly "integrate" with NRC. He's also very actively avoiding making certain decisions which would prompt him to return to the campus, like not checking out any library books even though he's truly entranced by the information the NRC Archives hold. It implies that Rollo is, to some extent, being held back from his full potential because of how he walls himself off from others. He thinks of his own NBC classmates as noisy and stupid, wishes to remove the gargoyles, actively tries to spend time alone as often as possible, and hates on the community goats (bro was about to send one FLYING but decided against it only because there were too many potential witnesses). He doesn’t open up to his own parents about his feelings ever since the fire and claims that others cannot understand how he feels. Rollo has isolated himself 💀

Even his level-up line (not in Mystery Shop TL's post, but I still want to bring it up) is not friendly at all. In fact, Rollo acts suspicious of Yuu's friendship and demands that they come clean about their "true intentions". He then says that if You is actually being genuine, that's actually more bothersome than if they had been deceptive to him all along. He pities them for their circumstances, yes (being a non-mage constantly having to deal with the shenanigans of the wicked mages around them), but that doesn't equate to friendship or feeling "close" with Yuu. Rollo does not allow others to get close, he does not know what friendship is and nor does he seemingly want it or care for it.

Rollo draws a very strong divide between himself and those he labels as "villains" , as well as literally everyone else he encounters. That is, ironically, muddying his relationships and potential for self-actualization when he sees himself as a “savior” of sorts for people.

Overall, I really enjoyed this set of voice lines! It gives us more of what we really love about Rollo's personality without spoiling the events of Glorious Masquerade for those who haven't read it yet. My only complaint would be that I'm getting greedy and want even more Rollo content now, just these voice lines alone isn't enough to sate me anymore/j 😂

[blueikeproductions]

Alright let’s not beat around the bush: the Pecharunt event was hacked into activation, people are playing it. Bulbapedia knows it, Serebii knows it, Game Freak knows it, you know it, let’s just get on with it.

Anyone expecting a more involved story with how the peach guy ties into Okidogi’s group will be bummed because it doesn’t do that. It’s basically an Ultra Beast plot straight out of the SuMo anime: an unknown Pokémon screws around by feeding people Mocchi which makes them do the chicken dance, and Ash and co have to shove it in a Beast Ball to get it to stop. (Funny enough the play through I watched used a Beast Ball). In context, Pecharunt doesn’t appear to be doing anything malevolent, making its connection to Okidogi’s crimes a bit questionable. I guess what I take away is it fed them thinking it was helping the trio, but the dim witted trio snapped and went to commit crimes, leaving Pecharunt to go “Oh SNAP! O:”

I imagine the intent was to have a goofy side story to lighten the mood after the Indigo Disk, but I dunno, it still doesn’t feel right, especially for what is, as of typing, the final entry in Scarlet and Violet’s game story.

Since it feels like a plot for Ash, I leaned hard into it on my end. After getting Shiny Terapagos, Team Rocket bonds with it and decides to go get some Mocchi to celebrate… Unfortunately they become possessed by Pecharunt, who reawakened around the same time as Okidogi’s group did. Unlike the games, this version is more openly malicious, and it seeks to take over Kitakami. Apparently in ancient times, Pecharunt was the one responsible for creating the war between the Four Treasures and the Loyal Three, pitting both against each other to see who would be best for its benefit. (As it happened, Lucius’ Six Heroes were also involved towards the end, and helped seal away Pecharunt and the Treasures in the temples Team Ash, Team Explorer and Team Rocket found the later in on Paldea.) In the modern day, when the Treasures were defeated once more, it proved to be Ash, Iono, Alfie, Team Rocket and the Loyal Three. Team Rocket succeeding in capturing Terapagos, the entity responsible for Terastalization, wound up being a huge bonus to Pecharunt.

Kieran, who didn’t drink the Kool-Aid, tries to warn Ash and the others, but Ash, Pikachu, and Iono get infected also, leaving Alfie, Kieran, Fezandipiti and Briar unaffected, and the only ones left who can stop Pecharunt’s army.

Can Alfie and the others stand up to the World Champion and Pecharunt’s onslaught?

Rather than the chicken dance, I thought it’d be funnier if Ash’s group instead referenced the dances from Overman King Gainer and Lucky Star.

[navnae]

(A little prompt idea and I got some help from @sarahmadisonxoxo ! Also I’ll write the other prompts when I have time!)

-

It was only a matter of time before the party decided that they were going to go on a Disneyland trip, it just made sense that eventually they’d do a huge group trip like this and it’s safe to say that they were all excited. The adults, the older teens, and the younger teens came together for this trip. Saving up everything they had to make it possible and a fun experience. All of them drove in separate cars to get everyone in one pace at the same time and once they did that’s when the shenanigans began. The adults parted ways and went ahead to get some drinks for themselves leaving majority of the kids together. Jonathan, Nancy and Argyle were walking around with Mike, Will, and Lucas exploring the different rides that seemed like the craziest ones. Robin and Vickie took Eleven and Max to the nearest store to do some shopping. They looked at all the cute Disney headbands and figurines that were just too adorable to not buy. Robin bought some Mickey ears for the girls, herself, and Vickie. She smirked to herself when she saw a pair of ears that had a rainbow on it and she thought they would fit Steve perfectly, she also thought it would be funnier to give them to him without telling him what they meant.

After their shopping trip they met up with group in passing. They bumped into Steve and Dustin who were jumping all over the place with excitement. So far they’ve been getting on several rides, eating loads of snacks, and running around like little kids. The girls laughed at how all over the place they were, their sugar rushes being more apparent as the day went on.

“You two look like idiots.” Max joked. The girls laughed at the goofy grins on their faces as they rolled their eyes.

“Sadly that’s not a new discovery.” Robin sighed as she put her hand in her hip. She figured since Steve was older he would at least consider acting like an adult once just for today.

“You’re just jealous because we finished ten churros in one sitting!” Dustin bragged he turned to Steve and gave him a high five. The girls weren’t impressed in the slightest but they couldn’t help but smile at the silliness in front of them.

“You really ate ten churros?” Eleven asked still skeptical of the amount that Dustin had told them. Both of them nodded their head.

“Ten.” Steve repeated with a wide smile feeling proud. All of them laughed in unison at the situation. As crazy as it sounded all of them knew that this wasn’t too far fetched for the crazy duo to do.

“I mean that sounds fun but don’t you think that’s a little pricey.” Vickie questioned while directing it mostly towards Steve. He only shrugged in response.

“Nothing is pricey when you’re having fun.” Steve said happily and patted Dustin’s shoulder. The girls smiled at the cute moment between them. It was truly amazing to see their friendship going strong after so many years. Robin took a quick look at her watch and it was getting close to the time that they all agreed on to meet back at the car.

“Alright, it’s getting close to the time that we promised Hopper to meet back up. We’re going to wander a little bit more before then, make sure to be back on time.” Robin warned Steve as she longed her finger at him.

“Sure thing.” Steve nodded his head and both parties parted ways. Before they could get far Robin grabbed his arm stopping him in his tracks. Steve looked at her with confusion.

“I almost forgot,” She took the Mickey ears she bought before and put them on Steve’s head. The rainbow bow sparkled in the sunlight because of the glitter, as silly as Steve looked with them on no one could deny how cute he looked in them especially with his confused expression. Robin laughed when she took a step back to look at Steve’s new look. “Sweet, they suit you.” She teased before walking away.

“That was weird.” Steve mumbled to himself, he never really understood anything Robin did but that worked because she could say the same for him. Despite being confused he kept the ears on, hey he might as well embrace them.

Him and Dustin continued to explore the park a little more before it was time for them to leave. After a few minutes of just walking around and nothing was really jumping out to them. Dustin’s eyes widen when he saw a short line for a roller coaster ride, with a wide grin he turned to Steve and pointed at the ride.

“Let’s get on that one!” Dustin yelled before he started running toward the ride. Steve didn’t expect to blink and see Dustin already ahead of him. He shook his head then took off running right after him.

Dustin was running so fast that he couldn’t even hear Steve calling out for him to slow down. In a flash Dustin was colliding with another person making both of them hit the ground hard. Steve witnessed the entire thing and his face started to heat up from embarrassment. Once he made it to both of them he took in the entire sight, laying beside Dustin was a guy in a Captain Hook costume and his curly hair was sprawled hot while he laid on the ground groaning. Steve felt obligated to reach his hand out and help him up since he already made the guy’s day a mess. As he reached his hand out Dustin reached for it at the same time, with a quick swat Steve moved his hand away.

“Not for you I told you to slow down. I’m so sorry about that.” Steve said when he turned his attention towards the man. He hesitated at first as he looked at Steve then his hand before taking it and lifting himself up. He stood up to dust his clothes off, the look of embarrassment and anger was in his as he looked around to see if anybody saw. Confirming that no one did he looked directly at Dustin and Steve with an intense gaze.

“There’s no running allowed around the park. Someone can get seriously hurt like that and I advise you to take note of that rule.” The man was direct and focused mostly on Steve when he said it.

“It won’t happen again I promise.” Steve said softly. He slapped Dustin’s shoulder hard earning an “ow” from him and that made the man laugh slightly. “Are you sure you’re ok? You don’t need to see anyone right?”

“Ah don’t worry about it man, I’ve had my fair share of bruises so that was nothing really.” He playfully dusted off his shoulder as if to say he was perfectly untouched. Both of them laughed at the joke while Dustin stood there awkwardly wanting this to end before the line started to get long.

“Still I’m genuinely sorry… Eddie?” Steve said unsure as he read Eddie’s name tag. Eddie chuckled then nodded his head.

“Like I said before I told you you’re good man stop stressing over it. It’s just another day on the job for me.” Eddie reassured Steve with a smile. Both of them blushed as they stood in silence looking at each other and trying to avoid eye contact. Eddie was the one to speak up again after a few seconds. “Nice ears.”

“Oh! Well thanks. My friend put these on me and I think I look kind of dumb with them.” Steve touched the Mickey ears on his head almost forgetting that they were there. Eddie immediately noticed the rainbow on them and felt a little bit bold, those were the pride ears that they were starting to sell. He genuinely liked them and so many people were able to express themselves at the park. Which lead Eddie to believe that Steve was doing the same thing, Eddie took a chance once he saw it presented to him.

“You don’t look dumb with them on in the slightest if anything they add to your cuteness in my opinion.” Eddie said casually. Steve’s face turned into a darker shade of red at the unexpected compliment from Eddie. Dustin rubbed his forehead as he listens to the entire thing.

“Think so? You don’t think they’ll scare anybody away.” Steve said jokingly. Eddie shook his head as he smiled.

“I’m still standing here aren’t I?” Eddie’s voice lowered a bit as he asked the question. Steve had to fight the urge to look away and blush like an idiot. The attention Eddie was giving was coming at him so fast that he didn’t know how to react.

“I’ve heard enough can we get on the ride now?” Dustin said annoyed with the both of them. That made Steve blush harder sone he realized Dustin heard everything. Eddie scratched the back of his neck feeling slightly embarrassed.

“Right. I should let you two be in your way, I’ll be right here all day if you guys need anything.” Eddie smiled at the both of them. He hated that he couldn’t give his phone number to Steve due to policy but he hoped Steve took the hint.

“Sure thing.” Steve smiled back before him and Dustin started to walk away. They got a few steps away from Eddie when the conversation about what just happened was brought up.

“God you two were gross back there.” Dustin fake gagged while holding his stomach. Steve raised a brow not understanding what he meant.

“What are you talking about?” Steve asked. He had no idea what Dustin was going on about.

“Come on Steve, it was obvious he was hitting on you.” Dustin explained. Steve blushed when he thought back on the previous conversation and it did seem like that was the case. He shook his head trying to get rid of those thoughts.

“I highly doubt that besides why would he?” Steve couldn’t grasp all of this at once because nothing was making sense. Dustin rolled his eye and eventually they were going to get stuck one day.

“You’re literally wearing the pride Mickey Mouse ears.” Dustin points at the ears on top of Steve’s head, the rainbow boy still sparkling from the sunlight shining on them. Steve’s fell open in shock.

“Robin!” Steve whisper yelled. Dustin started to laugh at Steve’s scrunched you face. They both made it to the ride and luckily the line wasn’t too long so they could easily slip onto the ride. Steve took a quick glance behind him and saw Eddie in the distance talking to a little boy and waving his plastic hook in the kids face making him laugh. The interaction made Steve smile immediately because it was the cutest thing. He got on the ride feeling giddy about talking to Eddie and he couldn’t deny that he was kind of interested even though he would yell at Robin later for it, he’d also thank her as well.

[sometimesiwanna-disappear]

I'm not done thinking about the apparent Sanji/Mr Pink parallel because now that I Know that's his inspiration, at least initially, Sanji as a whole becomes 100x funnier.

It makes it pretty clear Oda became enamored of the Vibes of Reservoir Dogs and wanted to create his own suave, determined solo professional criminal to play around with in his story. The look and style also played into it, but if i may defend the physical Look for a second, Oda himself comments that the actual physicality of Steve Buscemi isn't the main inspiration for his character- it was a vibe he hoped the audience picked up on. (There's a reason many audience members assumed he was a Leonardo DiCaprio. I much prefer THIS as an inspiration over Romeo- this character that apparently Tarantino himself was determined to play before he heard Buscemi read for it and realized it had to be him, according to Imdb.)

Anyway, this serves to corobborate my gut feeling of Sanji being a character who's been plucked up from a different genre entirely and plopped into a silly pirate show.

However, i had the feeling it was more than just mafia aesthetics, code names, & smoking that inspired/influenced this character.

......so I rewatched Reservoir Dogs just to do a quick analysis & just jot down some similarities that stick out to me (&some differences).

First thing that sticks out as a difference on the surface is Pink's refusal to tip. His inconsideration is something that seems like it'd be inconceivable to Sanji, but the core of the conflict reveals a similarity rather than a difference. In the opening scene Buscemi's character refuses to pitch in a dollar because he doesn't believe in tipping culture (first of all. King.) He blames the establishment for not paying the waitresses enough and calmly states that he won't play the game the system expects him to play. Everyone else at the table argues with him and tries to convince him to pitch in his dollar for the tip (including the complete psychopath who's about an hour away from trying to light a cop on fire) but Pink's ideals are more important to him than peer pressure. Until he is told to put a dollar in on behalf of the gentleman (the Boss) who paid for breakfast, he doesn't do it.

The trait I think appealed to Oda here (and that appeals to the viewer in general) is the type of character who is incredibly ideal-driven. While Sanji's extremely compassionate and his policies come from both his idealization, experience with women (read: lack thereof) and his respect for food, that which brings/maintains human life -- Buscemi's character's ideals are extremely practical. He doesn't like to kill people, but he recognizes the need to - he doesn't want to kill "real people", but cops are okay. It's interesting to see a character stick to his guns as much as Buscemi's character does, in this scene and the remainder of the film. Mr. Pink is a true professional. While Sanji is driven very, very much by compassion, this practicality is actually a trait he exhibits as well. He knows not to trust untrustworthy people. He's aware when his ideals are going to get him into a lot of trouble. He knows when to get the fuck out of a situation. Mr. Pink is the only reasonable person in Reservoir Dogs, escaping, stashing the diamonds, trying to convince the others to escape while they can. Sanji is often the responsible person making uncomfortable calls for the people he's decided to protect- the most unfortunate (cough. And common) of which being his extreme willingness to toss his life on the line if it means his loved ones get five extra minutes.

So already we've got a very interesting core. A character who's extremely stubborn about his beliefs, somebody somebody who's likely to hold his tongue in an unsure situation.

Mr. Pink also has a ridiculous sense of pride. This is a great scene, the codenames bit, especially with how much of a fight he puts up before eventually accepting it and acting like he doesn't really care to save face. Lol

This is a great humanizing trait for an otherwise cool and collected character. It's entertaining to us to see somebody act like a petulant child, especially in a full suit. There's a disconnect. Grown men planning a heist can be pretty damn immature. This is a side to Sanji that I particularly love, because it's something he really should be above. Sanji has pride in his appearance; he needs things to be just so. He keeps himself very clean, aside from the smoking. Usopp will yell a bit if you embarass him; Zoro will pout; Sanji is just as likely to kick you in the face about it lmao. As long as you're a man, of course.

At the end of the day, Shonen writers love to write what they think is entertaining and cool. A guy who fights with three swords. A man made of rubber. Anyways , here are some totally unrelated clips/images next to each other.

At the climax of the film, the dramatic end of the movie, all the remaining surviving teammates are pointing guns at one another and fighting amongst themselves, tensions running high. What is Mr. Pink's decision?

It really does remind me of the conflict in Water 7 with Usopp. Throughout the entire movie, Buscemi's character is the one trying to keep the peace. Even when he recognizes there was a rat on the team and suspects Mr. Orange, he backs down at the demand of Mr. White regardless of his own suspicions, just to keep the peace. He was the first to finger the true culprit! If Pink had been more emotionally invested in his team, rather than a cold-hearted businessman, he might've done more in the end than hide under the steps and run out with the rocks, only to be arrested when the car wouldn't start. Totally tragic and unforseen. It had just been working not 10 minutes before- if not for that, I feel pretty confident Mr. Pink would've been the only survivor and he would've gotten away with the money. If only he'd taken the money and run much earlier, like he had Said he wanted to, instead of sticking around to wait for the teammates and listening to Mr White.

(Psst. A few pages after this, he kicks the shit out of Luffy for beginning to tell a member of the team to fuck off and screams at him for letting his temper take over lest he say something he regrets..... hm.)

Sanji is known (esp. Pre timeskip) for running off and doing solo missions. He offers Mr. Prince as his alias in Alabasta. He plans ahead more than any other character, even in the midst of battle he's planning the next move and is more often than not the final reason the Strawhats survive a LOT of encounters. Sanji is also incredibly emotional though he acts cool and collected, and he's often annoyed with himself for being so easily swayed by the people around him. For heavens sakes he couldn't bring himself to leave Baratie without being bullied out of the building (read: reassured that he was allowed to go and his found family would pretend they wouldn't miss him so Sanji wouldn't have to feel so guilty).

So what do we have? Well, we don't have the essence of Mr. Prince in Mr. Pink. I have a strong feeling that his powerful compassion came along with the decision for him being a cook. Mr. Pink may have had enough decency not to want to kill "real people", but he did shoot some folks & tossed a woman out of her car window. You can't make a Shonen supporting character out of that (unless they're Nami). Whether you hate it or not, Sanji's love of women softens his edges off and makes him unthreatening to the audience, just like Zoro's sense of direction (and occasional goofiness) gives his edgelord Chad energy a break.

Oda didn't just lift a Tarantino character and call it a day. Look, I have my criticisms about how Oda writes sometimes, but one thing I admire is his scientific approach to character. The man hasn't written a damn character I dislike. He's mastered the moe gap lol, and he knows exactly what to add to a character to make the audience care about them (or truly despise them). And, hell, as a writer, i can relate HARD to falling in love with a different story in the middle of writing my own and having to resist the urge to drop my fave into my own story, lol, so more power to Oda that he was able to do it and create a character that grew into himself and created a unique identity over time.

So this is why this whole thing is so funny to me. Sanji's role was dreamed up for and because of those solo missions we love so much. That seems to be the inspiring factor. His being the most compassionate Strawhat simply came along with the decision to center his ideals around something simpler and more Shonen audience friendly than whether or not people should be tipped-- people need to be fed, food is precious and not to be wasted, and those who cannot protect themselves must be protected. (No matter how much he rambles about women specifically, his actions speak louder than words.) While Sanji's aesthetics were inspired by Tarantino, Sanji himself became a character that transcends the cool smoking sunglasses guy who's visually appealing and became an iconic love-cook with a temper and a flair for dramatics. That's the reason I and many others love him so much- not because of one particular element of his character, but how they all fit together.

What a fascinating blend of characteristics. Thanks for nailing that audition, Steve Buscemi.

[delicatebluebirdruins]

The screaming staircase reread

notes made whilst reading my paperback copy of the book

also the foreward where Stroud talks about the show and his first image of the story has me feeling so many things (I love this bookmark so much)

16th October 2024

3 I love the opening

4 Lockwood’s sillyness

5 “I spied a movement: something shifting in the halls black depths”

6 “all the usuals emotions featured” glad that the law states part was give to Lockwood in the show

9 “when entering the house…” I love this bit and the house description and “halls, landings and staircases are the arteries and airways of any building”

Bright death-glow, the landing on top feeling would never come across on screen “then we find ourselves a ghost”

15 ‘It’s the simple things that matter most”

16 “already checked everything back in the office’ did you though?

17 “lamplight glimmered darkly in his flop of hair” and “irony is cleverer”

17th October 2024

19 Harry Crisp

20 “she felt as if something was looking for her, that it knew she was there, but couldn’t find her…”

23 “a nail being hammered into wood” love the implications for this because how would Annie know the process of what Fairfax did to conceal his crime?

27 “scary things with your eyes” don’t blame George

29 “I saw a girl sanding there”

31 I love the terms being explained even though we have a glossary

33 Lucy’s sing song voice

37 Iron to the face.

40 “It’s my responsibility”/ “to make bad decisions?” Lmao “Sun coming out, Lockwood’s glare softened to a grin”-> what tipped you off that Mr Hope was a geologist?

47 knocked the filings

51 “She was prettier than me”… “she looked to be like the kind of girl I’d always instinctively disliked” internalised misogyny Ding! Ding!

53 description of body

55 “would you call that even the slightest bit controlled? Nope I would not”

18th October 2024

57 the locket! I love this description

60 “sooty grin”… “suspended together between heat and cold”

66 Highgate Terror and the Mud Lane Phantom

68 the terror of the abuse not being finished with death… seven girls? Lucy is baby

72 Penny Nolan + pretty field of flowers

73 mustard coloured jackets and first sunrise corporation

74 Fittes Manual for Ghost-hunters; all sisters apart from Mary left home; advancement and ambitions; all her team died as “Jacob began to lose his nerve” (you know in the show they changed the name to Moorgate Mill? Real place in Wessex apparently)

80 “more accurate” piss off and an update on what happened to the mill and leaving for London

19th October 2024

84 corner shop my love

87 Umbrellas, walking sticks and rapiers

88 Lockwood smile, green and white spotted handkerchief “Almost here”

90 Murton Colliery Horror

92 “when he smiled at me, a warm light seemed to suffuse the room”

97-98 blessed scene- did the Skull first and the three (good, bad and indifferent) at the same time

100 “don’t care wave”

104 attic and more books

106 I love this bit in the show with the gag of Lucy pushing the lid and revealing the insult (It would have been funnier if George called Lockwood out on the time change or cases messed up)

108 Joe and Esmeralda (their namesakes Marissa’s ghosts) we can have them in the show it would just be them getting repaired

110 Uncle Lockwood- Hey Kensal Green!

112 I love Lucy talking about Lockwood and complaining about George

115 “Walking into darkness with Lockwood at my side”

119 dismissing his grandchild Lockwood’s pointed questions (spiders attracted cats repelled)

124 Clever Lucy wish we could have seen this scene in the show

128 love Cameron delivering this line in the show “you’d think…” love the talk about George

Part three the Necklace

133 “like dragon scales”

135 I wish this scene was in the show. Lockwood talking to Lucy and telling her they're going to the hospital. Alas we might have got it if Netlflix wasn't allergic to anything more than eight episodes (or the episodes were longer)

138 “adrenalin in the ambulance and stopped the rot”

140 Lucy don’t be dense hate this scene

143 how big a reward? Is it still applicable?

146 I am so glad this storm cleared

20th October 2024

153 “Barnes liked the rules more than most”… “inexpressibly old”

156 four weeks to two in the show and Barnes dissmissal of other cultures (so really upping the stakes in the show)

158 “it’s easily started by grotesque shapes” George!

160 now people cancelled the cases… did she?

165 “I messed up and disaster followed”

168 ghost-fog is so cool and Annie is so creepy here

172 “the smiley giraffe” 173 George is so funny

180 "maybe I just wanted to save something of her, so she wouldn't be completely lost..."

183 "this necklace is more significant to Annabel Ward than her own bodily remains..."

185 wanting to save Annie... how hot was the Sheen Road fire?

191 Lockwood requests and asks her to connect with Annie's memory

195 "marks of their profession and status"

200 here here George "I say it's a crime to refuse free food"

201 Gibbet hill?

203 Lockwood's wolf like smile

205 the moment that sparked a number of questions all boiled down to did Kipps know Jessica and like her? (personally I think they were friends)

207 Love this bit "almost got it Kipps" wish we got to Jack Bandeira jump around a bit in the show

209 a note of when this begins again Hugo Blake is 100% guilty

216 I want a mint

218 "doesn't really add anything" LOCKWOOD WHAT

219 Lockwood's aesthetically long coat hindering him again

21st October

222 casually threatening children

225 "she was so radiant it was like the other-light was already on her"

232 potential murderer

237 "this was our house, our home"

240 I like the change in the show "can I offer you some tea" intruder using the ghosts as distractions and weapons

255 Compliments on ghost-wards

258 ingratiation with the trio

265 missing boy of the Fittes team :(

271 George and Lucy team up

273 Lucy's scary eyes

278 "obviously guilty" HOW? (I really want to know Lockwood's thought process as it so obvious that he was suspecting Fairfax quite early on)

282 the Skull? "talking quietly in the next room" (when Lucy is showing Annabel the group* picture) I wonder how this story would have changed if the Skull was heard by Lucy earlier on? how many more insults would we get?... as I was typing this up I came to ask myself am I the Skull? when reading this book? and the answer might very well be yes

*good idea she should have got a copy and cut it up and just showed the other people one by one see what happens

284 worried Lockwood is my favourite

287 *sarcasm* I wonder who else is in the picture

22nd October 2024

289 Lmao Lucy

291 dear Cousin Throckmorton (i had the exact same reaction the first time I read the book)

292 ululation is a word I forgot the meaning of (and all I could think looking at it is Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds)... I love a map... blackface of course the crimes Fairfax has commited is varied for sure

294 "not really relevant" but isn't it though? not a thought in this girls head honestly

302 "Lucy's terribly jaded"

309 "the house was just the gate"

313 Lockwood's customer service voice must be great. It has to be.

315 another puzzle piece

320 "we worked together" a well you say? well, well, well

324 Lockwood talking about what type of man Fairfax is "a dreadful one isn't it obvious?" to me? Yes both times I've read the book and even without watching the show first. George and Lucy however? not so sure it is

23rd October 2024

328 disconcertingly bright death-glows

332 "I didn't like it's face"

334 clever George

337 Lockwood not believing in the Screaming Staircase

345 hello smell of blood

347 more bright death-glows

348 "It looks like blood, it smells like it. it'll do as blood for me" (I like the show altering this line a little bit to make it run better)

353 lmao Lockwood "You're a girl aren't you meant to be more sensitive"

362 those poor cats- hey Lucy does have a brain it just took a minute to catch up

365 poor little boy "his other-light lit nothing but himself"

368 I love this converstation and Lucy being pleasant about it

372 "Lockwood was too good a leader to ignore so strong a warning"

377 "it had come from the locket... A burst of energy" Aw Annie is trying to help

378 Lockwood "No Lucy, that's not the way it's going to be"

385 funny George... don't worry Lucy will slap Lockwood you just have to wait a bit

386 Castle Sherbourne? 388 Lockwood noticing the smoke

389 Fairfax a self made man my aunt fanny

393 "Don't give me that. You had no idea" George might have actually and just didn't share it like Lockwood did

394 "she was an actor too... she'd had a promising acting career, but had given it up because of... something or other"

400 Lockwood is cool, calm and collected

402 "feel free to shoot the girl' Lockwood said something, but I didn't hear what" okay what did Lockwood say?

406 "pretentious, self-regarding sort of fellow"

407 "Will Fairfax" the acting name but Will Fairfax ever grow up?

409 "passion between them" concealment and performance of secret relationships...

412 Forgot? Good for Annie though

413 Clever Lockwood sending a message to Barnes (also why did DEPRAC show up in the show?)

415 Grebe seeing and recognising the silver glass and going "uh oh"

421 Starkins being spooked by DEPRAC is so funny

424 Barnes is so great "in keeping with tradition, Inspector Barnes managed to remain deeply annoyed with us while grudgingly congratulating us on a job well done."

425 Lockwood defending his choices and the "fullest most radiant smile" is so great

427 prep school nice (have fun kids)

428 Sad "His name was Sam McCarthy. For the record, he'd been twelve years old." (I do love the show for having Penelope approached and thanked the trio personally and having them attend the funeral as well)

431 party time hello "harp"

433 "we met each others eyes, smiled, and looked away"

435 I LOVE Lucy telling Lockwood about the Mill Incident

437 I giggle quite a bit at Lucy going "I don't need lights" and immediatly trips over a box

439 Lucy has no time for your nonsense

440 Lockwoods laugh and how well Lucy knows him "He'd thrown his head back, I could tell"

[sunflowersandcherryblossoms]

Me: *Mentions an idea previously discussed on Tumblr about the connection between the Shiba Clan and Squad Zero*

My older son: *"Yes And..." my dumb shit...*

Because I was talking about how the transportation used by Squad Zero is the exact same as Kukaku's Flower Crane Cannon.

There was this headcanon that I really like that the Shiba Clan became one of the Great Noble Houses because of that specific contribution to the Royal Realm and Squad Zero way before the Reio's mutilation. (He was already the Soul King before Ichibei — And the Tsunayashiro Head — gave the idea to mutilate the Reio because they were afraid to lose their own power to him, I guess...)

So my son goes like:

"What if they'd started as the original Royal Guards?"

You know... Before Squad Zero starts being formed to the way we know them now...?

It makes sense that the Head of the Shiba Clan was the only one to oppose the mutilation and try to offer another way to keep the Worlds separated.

It also starts making sense that it was so easy to banish and pretty much destroy the Shiba Clan if, as another theory put it, the Shiba Clan was the only ones who tried to repeatedly try to find one amongst them worthy to become the vessel for the Reio's powers and therefore release him from that "existence"...

Let's say Ichibei held a grudge and took the opportunity to influence the outcome of events and take out the Shiba Clan almost completely...

But still, they need them. They need Kukaku and, even though the she keeps moving her house, apparently Squad Zero knows exactly where to find them to send the Tenchūren back to the Royal Realm.

Of course, because we always cannot stay on one topic... Or one aspect of the topic, I then was like:

"Hey! By the way... Have you seen Senjumaru's face?"

At first he was like:

"Her hair style kind of looks like Shinji's..."

Me: "No... Look at the face and the eyes..."

And that's when he arrived at the same conclusion I had...

Senjumaru kind of has the Kuchiki Resting Bitch Face™...

So,of course, I presented my dumb idea:

"What if she was a member of the Kuchiki Clan?"

My son: "Is that why she was the one who didn't kill herself? Because the Historian amongst the Squad Zero needs to survive to tell the story?"

Me:

I mean... Sure... It's really grasping at straws, but...

Putting it in the context of my Sunflowers And Cherry Blossoms series, it becomes even funnier...

Senjumaru was in the 12th squad — Maybe a Kuchiki...

Hikifune was in the 12th squad — The creator of the Ginkon and (in my series) the one who helped Sojun and Kaori create Byakuya through the Reishi Input Pod. A kind of Godmother figure for him.

And Byakuya fucking hates the 12th squad, mainly because of the complete lack of morals from Mayuri...

It's hilarious, actually.

There was also that thing about the Squad Zero's crest in one of the cour 2 scenes, which showed symbols for each element, and Senjumaru's needle and thread heavily evoked the Kuchiki Clan's figures of the cranes they have on their crest.

(I cannot find the picture of that Squad Zero crest... Anyways...)

I just find it interesting that there could be a possibility of Squad Zero, in its inception, having personal connections to the Great Noble Houses.

Ichibei could even be a part of that mysterious, elusive Other House we know nothing about.

My son also mentioned the hands Kukaku used to have "adorning" her house.

"Oh, like the chopped off arms of the Reio?"

And it reminded me that the Shihoin Clan became a kind of Guards Of The Heavens and the "arms" of the Reio.

Imagine if they'd taken over said responsibility directly from the Shiba Clan after their initial falling out with Ichibei?

Just you know... Random thoughts...

[syscultureis]

plural culture is having a headmate who is a fictive from a media you havent (fully) consumed (yet) but apparently every other headmate does because you were a trauma holder with very little knowledge on what everyone likes.

what makes it even funnier is that her source is a spoiler character so sometimes when i talk to her someone else would yell "spoilers alert" as a response

.