#beyond ''was in love with toby and still is''

[suddenrundown]

me reading one salt sea: oh my god connor go away

connor: *fucking dies*

me: oh no im--that’s not what i meant

[stclaretarot]

PAC ⭒ how will your future spouse show you love?

reminder that this is a general reading and messages found here may not apply to everyone. take what resonates, leave what doesn't, and don't force anything if it does not fit.

BOOK A READING WITH ME · LINKTREE · 18+ PATREON · TIPS ♡ tips, bookings, and feedback are highly appreciated!

GROUP ONE

cards pulled · queen of cups, four of pentacles, four of swords, four of wands, five of swords. 

channelled songs · no name no 5 by elliott smith. night away by taemin. sick, nervous & broke! by jpegmafia. 666 in luxaxa by backxwash. 

my dear group one  ♡ your future spouse may be a busy person with little time to themselves, let alone time for you. however, they never use this as an excuse. 

your future spouse may constantly be away from home, for some, as they are a trucker, or because they moved somewhere with better job opportunities.

however, to your future spouse, effort equals love and love equals effort, and so they will still do whatever they can to show you that they love you. in particular, they will write you long letters that they mail to you. or write you long paragraphs keeping you updated about their life and checking in with you about yours. or they may take the time when they have it to write you what is essentially a newsletter. 

they may also send you long voicenotes when they can, or make the effort to call you, even if only for a few minutes. 

GROUP TWO

cards pulled · the lovers, page of cups, ace of cups, five of pentacles, four of pentacles. 

channelled songs · fever by ateez. bolo by penomeco & ydg. lubie by lous and the yakuza. tender love by exo. 

my dear group two  ♡ your future spouse is the epitome of a romantic. they are just SO romantic. they are romantic to their very core, and is almost certainly the most romantic person that you have ever known, let alone ever been with. 

this may be overwhelming, and also too good to be true. 

they will dance with you, make you playlists, and go above and beyond to take you to all the best events and restaurants in town. this may be to an extreme, where they may not have a lot of self-control when it comes to spoiling you and romancing you. 

GROUP THREE

cards pulled · page of pentacles, queen of swords, ace of wands, three of cups, eight of cups.

channelled songs · man in the mirror - 2012 remaster by michael jackson. suddenly by nct 127. solange by tobi lou & glassface. diet coke by pusha t. 

my dear group three ♡ your future spouse  is practical and has a very level head on their shoulders. they are a careful and cautious person, who will show you love by extending this care to you -- especially in making sure that you are looked after financially. 

but, not just by providing for you, but by making sure that you are able to look after yourself financially. by making sure that you are independent, have financialy knowledge, and are able to look after yourself without them.

they will help you save money in the now so that you can look after and spoil yourself in the future. they will constantly be on the lookout for ways you can make more money. they will also make it a priority to be careful with your money so that you can travel, have nice holidays together, and experience all of lives luxuries.

GROUP FOUR

cards pulled · wheel of fortune, eight of cups, the hierophant, seven of cups, king of cups. 

channelled songs · love this by cosmo jarvis. rose parade by elliott smith. real you by twice. guitare et tambourin by dalida. 

my dear group four  ♡ your future spouse will show you love by being your biggest hypeman. they will hype you up and compliment you constantly. 

you may be somewhat or quite insecure, and so it may be a priority to your future spouse to let you know how beautiful and attractive you are. no, not only that, but how absolutely amazing and incredible you are. 

they will make sure that never a day goes by without complimenting you. they will make an effort to overcome your insecurities with you. for example, if you are insecure about your body and want to lose/gain weight, they will go on that journey with you, supoorting you all the way. or if you are insecure about your education, they will take full responsibility of your household and finances so that you can study full-time. 

nobody believes in you more than your future spouse. 

[stnkiconverse]

hai!!! may i request toby with a reader who has a Very obvious crush on him??? who always does stuff for him and acts sort of like a loyal dog?? not in a super intense way tho...

Tysm!! i love ur writing a lot. have a good day / night ^_^

Toby x Reader with an obvious crush!! (thx for liking my writing!!)

Reader’s Behavior:

1. Acts of Service:

- You’re always doing little things for Toby—bringing him snacks, tidying up his room, and making sure he has everything he needs for missions.

- He notices how you go out of your way to ensure he’s comfortable and well taken care of, often before he even realizes what he needs.

2. Loyalty and Support:

- You’re incredibly loyal, always there to listen to him vent about his frustrations or to provide a calming presence when his tics are particularly bad.

- Your unwavering support and loyalty don’t go unnoticed, and Toby secretly finds it comforting to have someone who’s always on his side.

3. Affectionate Gestures:

- You frequently give Toby small, affectionate gestures like patting his shoulder, offering a warm smile, or even playfully ruffling his hair.

- Although you’re careful not to overstep his boundaries, your affection is clear in every little action.

Toby’s Reaction:

4. Confusion and Denial:

- Initially, Toby is confused by your obvious crush. He’s not used to receiving such genuine affection and loyalty, so he tries to dismiss it as simple kindness.

- Despite his confusion, he finds himself looking forward to your presence and the little things you do for him.

5. Growing Awareness:

- Over time, Toby becomes more aware of your feelings. He starts to notice the way you look at him, the slight blush that creeps up your cheeks when he’s near, and the extra effort you put into making him happy.

- He begins to realize that your actions go beyond mere friendship, and it makes him both nervous and oddly happy.

6. Internal Struggle:

- Toby struggles with his own feelings in response to your obvious crush. He’s not sure if he deserves your affection or if he can handle being in a relationship given his past and his disorders.

- Despite his reservations, he can’t deny the warmth and comfort he feels when you’re around.

Developing Feelings:

7. Softening Up:

- Toby starts to soften towards you, allowing himself to be more open and vulnerable. He appreciates your loyalty and the genuine care you show him.

- He starts to reciprocate your affectionate gestures in small ways, like brushing his hand against yours or giving you a rare, genuine smile.

8. Protectiveness:

- Toby becomes increasingly protective of you, not wanting anyone or anything to hurt you. Your loyalty and affection make him feel responsible for your safety and happiness.

- He often finds himself going out of his way to ensure you’re safe, whether it’s accompanying you on errands or standing up for you when others are being harsh.

Realization and Acceptance:

9. Mutual Understanding:

- One day, Toby finally confronts his feelings and your obvious crush. He awkwardly admits that he’s noticed your affection and, despite his initial confusion, he’s grown to care for you deeply.

- You both have a heartfelt conversation about your feelings, and Toby admits that he’s scared but willing to give it a try because you make him feel seen and valued.

10. Growing Closer:

- After acknowledging your feelings for each other, you and Toby grow even closer. Your relationship evolves from one-sided crush to a mutual bond filled with affection and understanding.

- Toby still struggles with his past trauma, but with you by his side, he feels more capable of facing his demons. Your loyalty and love become his anchor, helping him navigate the complexities of his life.

Hope this was good enough!!

[cherri3berri3s]

I Got Law ┃Ticci Toby x Reader

Warning: possible relationship codependency + love/hate qualities

This is me testing the waters by experimenting with the poetic nature of my writing while trying to make it feel human.

Synopsis: You're awakened one morning to see your boyfriend shaken with doubt. What's on his mind? (Toby's Perspective)

Word Count: 1.1k + words Category: Hurt/Comfort (depending on how you view it)

Part II → "When Today Comes"

I can't seem to escape it.

The insufferable feeling that lies within me,

Each morning until I can feel no more.

Breathing in the scent of her skin, only to exhale in dread.

I wonder what lies beneath mine, and why it leaves dead. 

"Toby?" her soft voice patiently called. Not bothering to race against the pattering of rain on the dull window sill. "Why are you standing in the corner, baby?"

Tired and unaware was her tone. Leaving me to turn and see the light that lay on her face. Kissing the shadows and soothing the creases, declaring her one among the clouds. 

It's early morning and yet, she looked beyond spectral. Hauntingly so.

"I was thinking," I say

"Well come here baby," her body turns to shift. Hands inviting me back to the bed. "Come think with me."

"That's tempting," a chuckle presses the air, escaping my lips in the cold dense room. My eyes flutter as hard as they can, to kill the feeling of the dream I feel stuck within. "But I think this is for me alone."

"Why?" she whispered. The warmth in her voice elevated against the calm of the room.

"Because it wants me," I remark lowly, mimicking her quiet sound. "It wants me to do really bad things."

"Like what?"

"I'm scared to say."

Her hand walks slowly over to caress her temple, massaging the stress from her eyes as it bats away sleep.

I'm sleepless too, and for both of us, I know I'm the reason. I can't help but rationalize with the sentiment, causing more delay in what I know is unredeemable.

"You can hate me y'know." The pupils of her eyes fall directly onto mine, digesting the words my lips had spilled " I want you to."

"And we both know I can't, so come back to bed my love." her voice ravenous and still all at once, feeding into the desires I've desperately wanted to keep at bay.

Each small step more massive in impact than the last. My throat choking on the words in a vacant effort to force them out. Taking my place at the edge of the bed, I couldn't bring myself to lay beside a woman this in love with me. My own rendition of subjective purity in contrast to my previous wrongdoings. 

A life worth taking.

"It's monstrous what I do," the words met with silence. My eyes watching the steadiness of her breathing, entranced by its movement in the white tank top she wore as her chest heaved relentlessly."And we both know I like it."

Resting into the souls of her sockets, my eyes stare. Breathless, and more mature than I've ever been, I continue, "And I know you like me, but what will that cost."

"My life," her eyes, soft and lonely gaze longingly at mine. Loving the mess that carried its burden on my shoulders. With a small nod, she spoke "I hope it does."

My head begins to shake, quickening in pace rather than facing denial. 

"I can't-"

"It's okay if you want to,"

"I couldn't."

"I won't be mad-"

"And that's why I can't do it!"

My voice becoming strict as it raised in sound. Demanding anything other than the fate I was bound to hear, the hurt I was bound to take.

She wants what she expects of me; lack of control and the underlying faith in destruction waiting to take its place. I see now that I'm not willing to be that, not to her.

" You're scared because you want us to be different," she said, her demeanor just as it had been before. "And you know we're not."

"But you have a chance baby,"

"There is no chance without you." she exasperates, a small smile finding home on her features. "It's cold my love, please lay with me."

I feel my muscles involuntarily twitch, blinking hard before my eyes lay focused. Unmoving from the corner of the room they've fallen on to avoid interaction. Smooth and gentle hands run over my skin. Even lighter kisses planted on my shoulder in protest. 

She doesn't see the spark that clicks, nor the cogs that turn with it. She doesn't hear what they say and can sleep peacefully not knowing it either. All of what she is, has the life and humanity I've come to lack. And I hate myself for taking as much of it as I have.

"You don't get it," I say. Her head rested on my cold shoulder as her grip tightens around my waist. "You don't fucking get it, do you." My eyes remained avoidant, twitching in anticipation with the growing intensity of the situation.

Her arms cradling me with the ever growing silence and rain traveling amongst our ears. My arm makes way for an itchy feeling of something wet, nimbly running down. Giving me the chance to smoothly glance over to catch the culprit. Her face void of any joyful expression. Expectant and apathetic as tears fall like crystals, bleeding from her eyes. My skin threatens to shudder, without a doubt effected by the lady beside me.

"I think…" I uttered, "I think I wanna turn myself in."

"Cause you think that's what you need?" she whispers. Our eyes unwavering and attentive to anything but eachother.

"Because I think I might hurt you next." I reply. Not bearing the burden of watching her tears fall, barely a sound to be uttered in the process. "I want to kill you. Eat a part of you; become a part of you." In one swift look, my eyes finally see hers. "and I'm gonna love it. Steadying my thoughts for what I'm bound to say next,

"I'm sick Y/n," Listening with much scrutiny, her tongue remains tied. “Sick people belong with other sick people," I claim, my hand runs along her face in a fast fashion. "I wanna do things to you, and I hope  you won't let me."

I continue, "But if I can't trust that you won't, that I won't, then there's only one place for me to go."

I feel cowardly, the laughable kind that deserves to be shared. Bastard enough to not want to die, stupid enough to ridicule the thought.

I can't beat the feeling that there's somewhere I should be, knowing she can't be there with me.

"Damn you Rogers," a peep comes from her mouth, dry and monotonous as I'd never heard it.

My hand reals her head towards my lips. Kissing away the damage as much as I could.

"Vogel, oh mein Vögelchen, ich schwöre." I silently cry, my grasp firmly on her head as I pull it to my chest.

"Es tut mir so leid-

So leid."

This is a quick upload before I release final parts ii + iii of "Bull in the Heather" the Ticci Toby x Reader series I have been working on and the Ben Drowned x Reader shit I've been meaning to throw out of the drafts.

You're free to reblog all you like!

© CHERRI3BERRI3S - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DO NOT COPY, PLAGIARIZE OR CLAIM MY WORK AS YOUR OWN

[solstice-system]

Thinking about how troll Jim would have to adjust to living as a troll and such

(I do not acknowledge the movie at all I’m a hater 😋)

This is basically going off of just trollhunters show canon after part 3

A big thing I think would be his love of cooking. It’s always been his way of showing love to his mom and friends, and now that he can’t properly taste human food without gagging, he can’t properly cook anymore. Blinky would have to teach him proper troll nutrition and Jim would probably feel embarrassed that he’s resorted to eating dish ware 😭

I feel like it’s not really acknowledged how not only can Jim no longer participate in human life and stuff, but people would also notice?? I imagine barbara would have to claim he went off to some boarding school on a scholarship in like the UK 😭 I can’t imagine that his classmates wouldn’t notice he’s gone tbh. Toby, Claire, and strickler probably have their hands full making excuses for Jim’s absence

On the topic of Jim not being able to go to school…. Can we acknowledge that bro is still like 16-17 💀 there’s no way that blinky would let him permanently halt his education! Blinky would read up on grade 12 textbooks and become Jim’s private tutor down in trollmarket. Jim would probably claim that being the trollhunter should take priority over algebra but Blinky (and Barbara) would INSIST that being a half troll is no excuse to become a high school dropout 😌

Strickler would definitely be a big help for Jim. Of course Jim can’t turn back into a human but Strickler still knows what it’s like to be stuck between the nature and worlds of a troll and human. He would talk with Jim through his new emotions and instincts and teach him how to cope with it. Neither Barbara nor blinky would really know how to help in this department because neither of them have had to be anything besides just a human or just a troll

At first Toby would think that Jim’s new form is really cool but he would quickly realize that it’s very hard on Jim and that his daily life with his best buddy isn’t necessarily over but it’ll never be the same. All of Jim’s friends probably have a absolutely butchered sleep schedule from trying to spend time with Jim after dark 💀

Barbara would spend a lot of time talking to strickler and blinky about their basically 3 way coparenting situation of a half troll 😭💞

Arrrghh would help Jim spar in the most pacifist way possible (holding out his hands for Jim to try and punch, be a moving target for Jim to try and catch, lightly roughhousing) since Blinky isn’t really trained in battle beyond teaching from the sidelines lol

[unsoundedcomic]

Whumptober 2024 - 04 - "Hallucinations"

The Frummagem clan owned a public house called The Midnight Cricket that was a restaurant that was a brothel that was a pawnbroker's that was a kennel that was a family manor. Patched and worn, these six buildings leaned one against the other with a cosy interdependence that in no way mirrored the treacherous relationships and throat-cuttery of the family within. Along its awnings and the dozen steeples of its roofs ran a tangle of rusted gutters and drains. They captured stormwater and bled it into great copper rain cisterns that stank like green mildew and bloated rats.

Anadyne thought of those gutters, and those putrid cisterns, as she hung suspended in the black of Cutter's silver monster. No matter how her consciousness beat down on this blackness, the ghosts caging it in directed it through the same rusty red sluices. In a place outside the black, maybe, there was Knock or Toby or ma; but Anadyne was in the gutters; in the cistern. The merry music from the pub below was nothing to do with her. No one was coming from the other side of the ceiling to investigate the tears pattering against the roof.

In the nothing space, ghosts fretted and tore at themselves. Ana saw infants. Thousands and thousands of infants churning like embers from some unseen blaze.

The ghosts had been eels before, hadn't they? She remembered counting far too many eels beneath the Nevergreen, and worrying about that. Smoke eels were nothing to trouble oneself over - may as well jump at mice in the pantry - but one still never wanted to see too many at once.

Could be these babies were better. No flashing teeth. Only the saddest eyes and grasping, anemone digits. Ana reached towards one. Its too many fingers closed around her hand, stinging and hot. She pulled the whole bundle close, cradling it.

She'd never gone with a bloke long enough to speak of children, but the thought of having one or three some day seemed an inevitability. She'd helped bone-headed friends out at the brothel - especially once she started learning pymary on the sly - but had never fallen pregnant herself. Maybe she couldn't at all.

She certainly couldn't... now...?

No, no, the ghosts didn't care for a meander in that direction. Her mind reeled, and she squeezed the hot and sticky babe in her arms and thought... thought it wanted her to end it. She had that power, aye? She'd granted mercy to a dozen unwanteds, once.

But it was too late for mercy. These unwanteds were old enough to suffer, and they'd suffer forever. Nothing could end them.

Because they weren't babes at all.

Ana saw men and women around her of every sort, in every shape, boiling in their own cisterns of liquid hot flesh. They were stuck in the gutters too, as simple in their misery as babes squalling for a woman's arms. No one was coming to investigate them, either.

This can't be all there is for us, she thought. If this is hell, where is the palace of the gods?

"Beyond us," Cutter whispered at her temple, "We are the storm beating on their roof. We are the cause for their high walls."

Ana shook her head, furious. She held the phantom so tightly that it oozed and steamed through her fingers. Let's break them down, she snarled, Let's collapse the roof and bare all their posh and polish to the rain.

Cutter laughed, pleased, and Ana scraped the red from her chest and arms, flinging it into the void so the others could devour it. If they couldn't be ended then they would end everything else, and show them how miserable it was!

Ana felt the touch of a two-toe hand, somewhere, gnarled and dry and almost tender.

"Never say the gods don't love the Frummagems."

[uchihaharlot]

I didn't mean to break their hearts, I was just curious, srry!😭😭 (but Itachi's one was kinda funny-)

But anyway, now I'm wondering about how they would react if they found out that you can draw really cool and beautiful.

(I'm an artist, so😎)

Nonny 🥹🥹

That put me in an really good mood; lol. That was way too fun to write; maybe I can one day write a super angsty break up (but I love them too much!!!).

I love all artists 😭😭😭 Painters, writers — digital or paper. Anything that expresses the inner workings of someone’s mind and the fact that they can manifest it to reality is so so so beautiful. I hope I’ve secretly seen your art, I’d probably simp over it. Always simp over art. 😂😂🥹🥹

N/SFW; very cute Uchiha men adoring your artwork! 🥹🥹🥹 (ooc Madara??); Simpy Obito; …Scandalous Shisui; abnormally observant Itachi 😂 suggestive themes rolled out the further I got. For some reason, I just had to. (P.s. I should not be allowed to write when tired??? Half of this was done while my eyes rolled shut in bed).

Madara:

It’s not everyday that Madara is blown like a leaf in the wind. When you mentioned being a patron of the arts, he thought maybe the art of battle?? Didn’t expect your weapon to be a paint brush with some acrylic paint. Thought it was some weird jutsu infused shit.

And then you just had to go above and beyond and do a portrait of him for his birthday!!!!! It’s hung on the living room center wall so that it’s the first thing anyone sees! Honestly, this man is a brute, but your art envokes his softer side! A side that he hasn’t been in touch with for…well, a long time.

Makes sure that everyone and I mean, everyone, is aware of your talent! Still, he tries to find the side hussle in it, soliciting customers for you and all. 😭😭 Will trash talk the chalk art children make on the sidewalk, which ‘…that’s not nice, they’re children..’ you say. He shrugs, nobody is as good as you.

Obito:

Finds out and tries to ‘secretly’ commission you lmao. Makes it totally obvious too, his handwriting is shit and eveeeerrryyyyone knows who Tobi really is…. Plus how can you even begin without discussing what he wants done!! Duh, Obito! Unfortunately for him, you are more interested in drawing matters of the flesh. He’ll only show his chest, nothing more.

‘That’s fine.’ You shrug, and get to work. Obito, however, does not have the resolve to sit still! It’s frustrating to no end, but alas, after what seems an eternity— its done. Sort of. Still much to add, but the basics are there and you’ll work better when he’s not asking how does it look every twenty minutes.

Eventually you do finish this beautiful piece of him, and Obito cries. You made his scars tolerable and beautiful with your mind’s creativity, he feels less self conscious about them, only a little.

Shisui:

Is the least normal about it when he discovered your sketchbook — more like snatched and played keep away. Had to fight him for it, literally. Will ask you to paint/draw him naked…many times lol and you respectfully say no... Not that he likes people to see him naked (ok maybe a little?) but he secretly hopes it might happen one day. It would be a private thing for the two of you, cause he wants that ass.

And when you do cave to his whim, just to satiate him. He’s nervous lmao. Had this oh so macho man idea of rocking a hard on but Shisui simply maintains his usual semi. It’s nice though, you make sure it’s extremely detailed..as he asked for.

But, ‘(y/n)… this is chibbi!!!’ Lol, jokes on Shisui!! He didn’t say how to draw his pp.

Itachi:

Is the most normal about it. Though he still will praise you every time you finish a piece and show him, he is still massively impressed. How does your wrist not get tired? …maybe this is why your hand jobs are so good. 😈 Just watching you try a new technique (pointillism, which is my favorite style) makes his wrist hurt. Enjoys when you ask him for ideas! He has lots of them! Mostly…obscure and derelict landscapes though.

Would not be opposed to having his portrait done, but it’s really not his style. He is disciplined enough to sit still but doesn’t see the value in it. Not until the final product is revealed, does he truly understand how important this piece was. You’ve captured his personality in a new light.

[akanemnon]

I just stumbled across Twin Runes. It is a great story! Well crafted and it feels near enough to canon in both humor and tone while being your own thing. The major characters feel like real teenagers with lives and pasts beyond what we saw on screen and I love your art style. So thank you very much for posting.

Not sure if this has been asked before but how would your Kris react to going through the Photoshop Flowey fight, or worse: the God of Hyperdeath? And in the other direction how would your Frisk and Chara react to the Jevil or Spamtron fights?

Thank you so very much! This is the kinda thing I'm really trying to aim for the most. There is no way to match Toby's writing 1 for 1, but really want to do it justice. And especially the characters too. Thank you for enjoying it so far!

As for your other questions, I can't really go into the former, since that this spoilers for The Other Script. While these two versions of Kris are not exactly the same character, I feel like they would pretty much react the same way to these fights. And since that is a big story beat in The Other Script, I can't really go into it. But the other question is pretty much fair game. I feel like TR!Frisk wouldn't really understand what either of their deal is. Maybe Jevil moreso than Spamton... but still. They just deal with whatever is thrown at them, no questions asked. While TR!Chara would be really put off by them. But they'd most likely just get mad at Frisk for trying to engage with them in the first place. Constantly telling them it's a bad idea. Which leads into an "I told you so" moment. Especially if we'd put them in the place of Kris.

[that-one-creepy-hoe]

Are you still taking requests? If so, can I ask for some Ticci Toby and/or Ben headcanons? Particularly from a touch starved s/o that just likes to touch them- like play with their hair or their hands or just is generally very cuddly.

Toby and Ben with a touch starved S/O

Toby

Toby would be absolutely obsessed wth you

Hes extremely clingy by nature and cannot resist touching you at any given moment

Knowing that your the same way will have him melting in record time.

He finds you extremely adorable and will constantly tell you that

You guys will also end up having many date nights in where it typically ends in both of you cuddled up on the couch, you lying on top of him while you play with his hair, for him that the best kind of night

Toby cannot get enough of you and considers you the only good influence his life

Your touch alone can make him normal again.

He is not ashamed to admit that.

Expect to have lots of kisses and makeout seshes where you two are just wrapped up in each other.

Ben

Benny Boy is not as touch-starved as Toby but relishes in your touch.

He loves it when while he is playing games he'll sit in your lap and let you play with his hair

It relaxes him beyond belief

He tries to make you feel as loved as he does by always touching yo too

wether that is him cuddled up to you while he plays his games

Or if he just decides to give you some extra cozy cuddles at night

He does it without a second thought just because he cares for you so much

He does kiss you but his aren't as innocent as Toby's, his most definitely lead to something more occasionally.

Ben will also shower you in love while you two are having sex just because he feels comfortable enough to do so

[sixthsensewulf]

My top ten longforms

It's been a long time coming for this. . Here we go. .it's hard to rank them, so this is my top 10 in any order. . since yeah. .

10) Priscilla's Final Petal

I love a good horror style story. And all 4 of them shine. AJ as the loveable precious child Priscilla. Sam and Tom being chaotic entities towards each other with the stage craft debate and war.

9) Bus!

Yeah I know. . it's a weird one but I love this one. It's just soo wholesome in a way. Yes it went in a very unexpected direction. .

8) I killed the Mockingbird

Yeah it's a patron only one. Well apart from their Fringe run in 2024. But villain Sam, and the good old fashioned Tom and Luke child duo. But I love this one soo much.

7) A Detective Vs the Christmas Tree Bandits.

Again I love the Tom and Luke duo . I loved this story soo much. This story is beautiful, Sam being the father figure again to AJ. Donny being my favourite character of Luke's now.

6) She came from Beyond

Yes it's another Patron Play. But this one is pure SciFi. Sam is a robot, but reacting to Tom's character. Tom being the creepy space girl but also wholesome. She just wants to play.

5) Toby's Secret Pocket

Whats not to love about this one. The boys playing off/bullying each other. I still have no idea how they managed to pull together a story plot with them having fun with each other, by throwing each other under the Improv bus.

4) Divorces and Teddy Bears

Sam and AJ couple, Sam and AJ couple with challenges and broken hearts! I loved the duo of Tom and Luke being Krampus.

3) The Mystery of the Midnight Circus

SAM VILLAIN!!! But also Sherlock!Tom and Watson!Sam my beloved!

2) Strange Noises from the Hole in the Wall

Villain Tom! In all honesty I love this story soo much! Its very creepy.

1) Moist and Magical

Scottish play! I love their Scottish accents sol much. Child!Sam my beloved.. Jasper is honestly my favourite child character at this point

[krispdreemurr]

I don't think player-centric sexuality can be criticized without criticizing male-as-default. Even ostensibly gender-neutral protagonists will be treated as male if the writer setup a scenario that can only work if the protagonist is A) male and B) alienated from women the way a straight man would be. But even still, a lot of assumptions about the audience are built in. Things like gacha or harems having a majority of female characters to collect confessions from, with the minority of male characters being aloof and professional. 1/???

In Snowgrave we force Kris & Noelle into specifically ungendered roles. Noelle is the mage, the girl, soft & malleable - she's also the offense & the stoic one in the face of calamity. Kris is the knight, the human, the commander - they're also Noelle's support & the one who calls for help throughout the route. But I don't think "Snowgrave Kriselle is heterosexual" overrides that. Like, throughout the Weird Route we pigeonhole Kris & Noelle into a pair of functional but imbalanced & codependent roles, isolated from everyone else, and naturalize it through ideas of Love, Marriage, & responsibility. Is that not related?

look, I'm going to be direct about a doylist aspect here that I haven't wanted to bring up as strongly because I didn't want to just come off as snarky: I don't think toby fox, who I suspect accidentally stumbled into writing nb characters to begin with and who has been consistently kind of bad about it, is deliberately writing anything about male as default or the horrors of misgendering. further, i don't particularly want to keep reading people finding reasons to call Kris male in terms of story roles or whatever, because it feels bad and I think people are way too quick to go to male as default.

i do think a lot of what "default RPG protagonist" entails closely overlaps with a heterosexual male view of the world (god knows I've talked w people about the quiet lesbian amusement when a game has a character creator but still has all the women fawn over you), and I do think that has bled into deltarune's critique; toby fox writes a stock RPG romance gone wrong, and that involves the bashful healer girl (who is none of those things) and the strong-willed protagonist (who is none of those things). but i just think reading Kris' role in it as "male" isn't quite how I take it, beyond the background radiation of the world where anything neutral or null will lean male.

snowgrave brings in signifiers of marriage like the rings, and then has them treated as flat objects to be given for bonus affection and better stats. there's no actual bond formed between Noelle and Kris by them giving her a ring, and in fact one ring is traded for another even worse one the second that becomes possible. the relationship is reduced down to equipment and grinding and saying the correct things in the correct order. it's a critique of the flatness of relationships in video games first and foremost, and I think the ways it feels heterosexual are mainly just background radiation

[mythicalmyles]

I love your fics sm!!

Ticci Toby?? :D

Creep!Toby x stoner!partially mute!reader

Drug use/ bottom male reader/somno/noncon

Toby’s gaze was something that had alwys shaken you, his sunken dark eyes staring right through you. He always left you fidgeting in place, the urge to check over your shoulder overwhelming you. You felt like you were locked into a jungle, knowing a tiger was watching you but never knowing just where it was.

When Toby was taken out of school you hated the sigh of relief that had left you, he hadn’t ever done anything to you and you felt bad about the bullying he went through on a daily occurrence yet you couldn’t deny the overwhelming relief. You had been mildly concerned his harassers would turn their rage onto yourself, luckily due to your lack of speaking barely anyone even took notice of you. You blended into the background and no one ever gave you a second glance. Your black hoodie pulled up over your head, shielding you from the world as you listened to teachers droning on.

You were coming upto your last week of class, spending your 18th with your uncles and cousins testing your tolerance. Your tired eyes shifted around the room, boredom etched onto your face.

The bell rang and you quickly made your exit from the class, barley stopping to hear the teacher bidding everyone goodbye.

The finally slap of your feet on the stairs exiting the school was almost euphoric, finally close to finishing everything and being freed from the constraints of daily classes. You decided to take a more scenic route this time, the forest that encompassed your town was starting to change due to autumn making its way in.

The cold bit at your nose and cheeks but you pushed on, a slight smile tugging at your lips as you breached the forest line within minutes. The smell of weed and cigarettes filled the air as students rushed to get their after class fixes. Your lip tugged up as you began a light sprint, intent of getting your own fix after being overloaded with information all day.

The silence of the forest never bothered you, you supposed it was due to your own nature. Despite the shivers beginning to wrack your body you felt happy and at peace, listening to the birds chirping as they traveled from tree to tree.

After an hour of walking you finally made it to your little cave, as far as you were aware it had a lack of presence and it was sheltered. It was perfect for you.

You shook as you rolled up your joint, excitement filling you as you sparked up and took your first inhale. It was almost orgasmic how it instantly relaxed your body, your tight shoulders finally dropping from your ears.

Despite the cave being pretty sheltered it was still pretty cold, you could feel your knees knocking together as you shook. Your eyes shifted around seeing scattered wood, pursing your lips before quickly standing up. Your body creaked with protest as you stood up, wincing before quickly collecting up the wood. You dropped it all down into the middle of the cave, closer to the entrance hoping the air would carry out the smoke.

You light it up and sighed happily as warmth began filling the cave. You grosned as tou sar against the hard wall, you continued your smoke as heat finally began filling your body.

You finished your joint and stubbed it out, you could feel your eyes starting to flutter closed as you relaxed yourself back. You knew your parents wouldn’t be too bothered as they were currently away, you could do as you pleasure for the next week. It didn’t take long for darkness to cloud your vision as you passed out.

Toby let out a grunt as he swung his hatchet at branches that got in his way, annoyance flowing through his veins as he made his way to his hide out. His recent victim had fought back, almost taking Toby out. Toby had underestimated his victim and he was beyond pissed. Despite completing his task the time it had taken had only served to rile him up more.

His footsteps were heavy as he made his way towards his cave, the smell of smoke had him pausing outside the entrance and smirking. He couldn’t believe his luck, he couldn’t hear voices but the darkening night was at least on his side. If they weren’t here they were close. Toby’s demeanour changed as he crept further into the cave, eyes hunting for any signs of movement. Despite his body twitching he managed to venture further into the cave.

Tobys mind froze for a moment before psychotic glee filled his body, his eyes almost doubling in size. He certainly was lucky today. He had forgotten all about you the day he disappeared, the memories of you now flashing through his mind. His cock throbbed as his dirtier memories of you flew through his brain, his favourite was watching you change.

He wasted no time in sliding down infront of you, biting his lip as he watched you sleep peacefully. Completely unsuspecting, that was his favourite part. You hadn’t grown much since hed last seen you, yet he now almost dwarfed you. He had a lot more muscles then you, it made his cock throb harder thinking about how easily it would be to overpower you.

His hand grabbed your ass, pulling you onto your stomach. Toby swallowed hard, he almost felt drunk. He tried to be as gentle as he could as he pulled your sweats down your ass, Toby had to fight the urge to slap his hand down onto your ass. Instead he grabbed your ass and jiggled the flesh, groaning as he watched your ass bounce. His fingers were rough as he began circling your hole, a whimper leaving your body as you halfheartedly wriggled in your sleep.

Toby couldnt wait to hear what other sounds he could pull out of you, he looked down at your face smushed against the floor. Images of your face twisting into pleasure as he slammed his cock into you shot into his head, Toby could feel drool beginning to pool in his mouth as he thought about what he could do to you.

Toby spread your ass apart, leaning forward and spitting into your hole. Toby smirked as he watched your body wriggle, pushing his free hand towards your face and slipping two digits into your parted lips. Toby smirked as he felt drool pool into his fingers, his lack of patience had him slipping the digits out after playing with your mouth for a few moments. Toby’s dark eyes never left your face as he began pushing one of his digits in, you let out a squeaked whine as your body subconsciously tried to move away from the intrusion.

Once toby had buried his finger into the knuckle he paused for a moment, waiting for your face to stop furrowing up. Once you relaxed he slowly pulled his finger out, before pushing it back in. Your deep breathing turned Toby on further, he wondered what you’d look like when you woke up with his cock buried deep inside of you.

Toby kept fingering you until he felt you loosen up, spitting into your hole again as he began pushing a second into you. He froze as you choked out a whine, eyes flickering before relaxing back against the ground. “That’s right pretty boy, you love my fingers don’t you?” Toby’s voice was husky as he whispered to himself.

Toby didn’t know how much longer he could last without slamming his cock into your guts, his eyes eating up every time your face twitched. He pulled his fingers out and pulled your hip up, moving you onto your back. Toby rested your thighs ontop of his, his hands moving your jumper up. His calloused fingers rubbed your nipples, your entire body twitching in his hands as he began toying with your buds. Toby relished in the sound of your breathing picking up, but he stopped himself. He ran his hands back down your body, quick to slide two digits back into your hole. His palm was flat against your stomach, eyeing you up as he began scissoring and twisting his fingers. You whined and rocked back onto the digits, your body reacting on instinct as his fingers brushed your prostate.

Toby pulled his fingers out, pulling your thighs upto his shoulders. His large rough hands pulled your ass apart, his cock brushing against your tight ring. Toby manoeuvred you so he could grab his cock, pressing it against your tight hole. He was surprised his rough treatment hadn’t roused you, he almost wondered if his cock would even wake you.

He leaned over you, almost pressing your thighs to his chest. He guided his cock into you, having to use force to push his head into you.

Your eyes shot open, a scream almost tearing from you lips as you felt something thick slide into your ass. A hand slapped over your mouth, tears falling from your eyes as you whimpered and whined into a rough hand. You looked wide eyed into familiar dark brown eyes, fear flooding you as you realised what was happening.

Your body shook as you were roughly pounded into, the hand from your mouth moved to wrap into your hair. He kept a tight grip as he pushed his tongue into your mouth, swallowing up every cry and moan as his cock slammed into your prostate.

His tongue was quick and dominating in your mouth, his tongue running against your tongue and the roof of you mouth. It almost felt like he wanted every part of you to know him, his free hand running over your stomach. You could feel him pushing your stomach down, the feeling unbelievable as his cock pressed into your stomach.

Toby pulled away from you, grinning like a maniac. “Thats it bab-baby, take my c-cock like a good boy. Tha-thats it.” Toby praised, grabbing your thighs and pressing them against you. He watched your eyes rolling into the back of your skull as he fucked you as hard as he could. He almost sounded like he was growling above you, you knew fighting him was hopeless. Your legs were practically touching your ears and all your hands could do was ball up as your body was overwhelmed with pleasure and pain.

His cock felt too big, your insides aching as he dove as deep as he could into you. His cock stretched you out more then your own fingers could have ever and it was too much, your body twitched as he railed into you. His hand let your leg drop against his shoulder, wrapping around your throat. Toby smirked at the panic on your face as he choked you.

Toby could see you were about to come when you tightened up around his cock, mouth dropping open as your eyes rolled back. Toby stopped choking you once you flopped against the floor, pulling out of you and shoving you back onto your stomach. You sobbed as your nipples scraped against the caves cold floor, sensitivity ringing throughout your body in your afterglow.

You barley had time to react before Toby lifted your hips up and sliding his cock back into you. A loud yelp left you as his cock rubbed against your prostate with every trust. It almost felt like he was getting deeper, panicked cried flowing from your mouth as he pulled you back into his thrusts. The pain had worn down since your orgasm, but the feeling of another building up so soon had your body fighting. Toby chuckled as you squirmed and tried to escape him, voice increasing in pitch as he hunted another orgasm from you.

Toby grabbed your arms, pressing them against your back and using a hand to keep them to your back. All you could do was whine as your chest was pushed against the cold floor, Toby baring a lot of weight onto you. You flopped against the floor, sobbing and moaning as Toby pinned you down. You let yourself go, crying out as another orgasm was ripped from you. Toby growled as you tightened around his cock, biting his lip as he kept fucking you through his own orgasm. You could feel hot liquid being pumped into you, Toby making sure to cum as deep inside of you as he could.

All you could do once you were done was flop against the floor and shake while you took deep breaths, reeling from having your virginity roughly taken. Your lips quivered as Toby locked eyes with you, his dark eyes swirling with things that had you freezing in place. He pushed your lips together, his hands wrapping around your neck to keep you still as his tongue dove into your mouth.

[demonbarbers]

so high rn so sorry if this doesn’t make any sense i’m just so emotional about josh and annaleigh and this production so i’m gonna ramble a bit about what i love about it and them. ok. enjoy.

the thing about sweeney todd is that it’s mean. it’s a mean show. it ends on the cruel irony of 2 officers bursting in on toby slitting sweeney’s throat, surrounded by 2 other bodies and one in the oven; on johanna watching her father die holding her mother and not even knowing it. everyone is an abuser or abused, and there is no hope or redemption to be found. and it fucking rules! it just rules. it’s so fun to indulge in our basest pleasures for nearly 3 hours, delicately served to us by one of the greatest composers who’s ever lived.

and every major production takes the bile and cruelty inherent to the material and runs away with it. like- just look at this swedish production from 2006, directed by vernon mound. or the last time it was on broadway, directed by john doyle:

productions tend go smaller and nastier, more intimate, in keeping with the spirit of how sondheim originally conceived the piece. (side note: i LOVE when they do that. my ideal sweeney has buckets of blood and visera right in your face)

the original production of sweeney was MASSIVE, but that came from hal prince. hal couldn’t really get an emotional foothold on the material until he found within sweeney an extended metaphor for capitalism and the industrial revolution; people literally eating people and the machine of capitalism grinding everyone up. revivals also tend to seize on the brechtian class elements, like this absolutely gorgeous korean production from 2019 directed by eric schaeffer:

sondheim, meanwhile, always objected to readings of sweeney as brechtian- it was all a farce to him, just a good, nasty time at the theatre. he approached it as a horror fan who wanted to write some fucked up stuff, which is maybe now some of the best art is created. but hal made it into epic theatre.

(if u don’t know what epic theatre is or what brechtian means google will explain it better to u than my ridiculously stoned ass can rn but im just focusing on one aspect of it rn: the distancing effect. basically, emotionally distancing the audience from the characters and the material so that everyone is engaging with the work on an intellectual level as opposed to an emotional one)

obc sweeney is an alienating show. it’s so fun and brutal and deeply felt, but these characters are grotesque. they’re cartoonish in their cruelty. just look at their makeup! john doyle also embraces the distancing effect; his revival is actor-muso, so we’re pretty aware at all times we’re watching a show. it’s all so cold, and the only warmth to be found is in the humor. and it rules. it’s nasty. i love it. this is the show i fell in love with.

all these things have become inherent to sweeney over time, all teased out of the greatest broadway show to ever exist; visceral horror, cruelty, coldness, and class commentary.

but this revival is just.. it’s warm! it’s lush! it’s romantic! and i don’t mean that in the sense of lovett and sweeney (tho this is the warmest they’ve ever been towards each other in any major production i’ve seen). i mean that it gestures at and plays with romanticism.

my biggest critique of this production is, in doing away with the brechtian elements (sondheim just cheered), it also does away with overt class commentary. it’s all still there in the text- turpin is a corrupt judge, beadle is effectively a sheriff, sweeney and lovett are working class, the beggar woman is homeless- but as a director tommy kail seems… uninterested in any biting political commentary, to put it generously lmfao. and i hate so much how little of it there is to be found in this revival, bc you can still Do It without invoking brecht. but i’ve long made my peace with that. i wanna talk about what i love.

and what i really love and what kept me returning to it (beyond the fact that it’s sondheim, and it’s sweeney, and josh groban is so stupid fucking hot) is how human everyone is. the entire production, from the ground up, is built around taking these characters and their pain seriously.

the ensemble all have incredibly period accurate costumes, unique to each character they’ve crafted (fun fact even the swings have their own unique costume that’s only seen when they perform). gone is toby as a mentally disabled man child with an oedipal fixation on lovett. in gaten’s hands he’s a young teenager, aging out of being a cute urchin and just looking for a mother. in daniel’s hands he’s beaten down young man with a limp and a genuine love for lovett.

ruthie’s beggar woman has developed DID after a brutal rape and the trauma of institutionalization and homelessness. she’s not played for laughs, even if sometimes the audience chuckles, and she makes u feel guilty if you ever did laugh at her situation. daniel yearwood leans so far into anthony as a sweet guy completely unaware of the story he’s actually in to the point of comedy. maria is just a revelation as johanna, all nerve and tension and bloody nails from years of self-harm. it’s easy to lean into johanna as a princess track, but ~crazy~. and maria plays jo as mentally ill and traumatized from years of incesteous abuse, but it’s not a pastiche or a praody of it. jo feels human in a way i’ve never seen her depicted before. i love it. maria bilbao u have my heart forever for this.

and then josh and annaleigh…. ugh!!! annaleigh really captures the avarice at the heart of lovett, but still brings in enough genuine moments of humanity and compassion that you find yourself (like sweeney and toby) endeared to her. lovett is always cruel and can only love through manipulation, but annaleigh’s lovett is a woman who makes small concessions. bit by bit, piece by piece, she erodes whatever goodness she had inside her until nothing but her desire for sweeney is left. she’s a woman who’s used seduction to get her way, and it’s easy to envision that when lucy returned from turpin’s, she shamed her for “giving it away” without getting benjamin back. she’s a monster! and yet, when she dreams of a better life, you feel it. when she holds toby in her arms and cried at her perfect little life unraveling, you feel it. annaleigh makes you laugh so hard she gets under your skin and stays there, exactly how lovett seduces sweeney in ALP. and there it is- identification! the complete opposite of alienation. we’re in it with them.

and then there’s josh and his sweeney… i really feel like his sweeney is undervalued. annaleigh steals the show. she won the drama desk for a reason. it’s a legendary performance. but josh…. man. i just. i keep returning to josh’s open wound of a sweeney over and over again. i think he’s probably had this take bouncing around in his head for years. they smartly leaned away from sweeney as this embodiment of rage and physical menace, which surprised a lot of people. but instead leaned into sweeney’s grief in a way i haven’t seen any major production do. josh’s sweeney feels like a man who was put on this earth to be a father and a husband. there’s a buried sweetness to him and you can still see benjamin barker in him until the very end. i keep calling him “kendall roy sweeney” bc it’s the closest way i can covey to other ppl what josh is doing here. he’s all big sad eyes and suicidal ideation, tragedy and twitchy hands. he’s so deeply pathetic he just endears himself to you. i want sweeney to succeed more than ever before. even though he spends all of act 2 killing people and being a shit father and thus killing benjamin barker, i still find myself wanting him and lovett to get away with it. and when the reveal comes, and even worse the betrayal hits- that this woman who he let into his life and body and who, in some odd way, became a friend, lied to him this entire time- it hits like never before for me.

i just love it all so much. i’m so happy it exists, so happy this revival does something so new! sondheim has said sweeney todd is a show about obsession, and it is. this revival supposes: what is the difference between love and obsession? what if the two look the same?

i think often of this quote from luca guadagnino’s suspiria (a masterpiece btw): “Love and manipulation, they share houses very often. They are frequent bedfellows.”

to me, that’s this revival in a nutshell- the thin line between love and obsession, and all the blood spilled in between.

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Psycho Analysis: Jareth

(WARNING! This analysis contains THE BABE!)

(What babe?)

(The babe with the power!)

(What power?)

(The power of voodoo!)

(Who do?)

(You do!)

(Do what?)

(Remind me of the babe! Oh, also there’s SPOILERS!)

Many years ago I launched my official movie review series for obscure and cult movies, Michael After Midnight. As David Bowie’s death was fresh at the time, I decided to honor him by making the very first review that of one of his greatest cinematic performances. And now, to celebrate Psycho Analysis finally coming back from its nebulous hiatus, we’re gonna take a look at that performance.

Jareth the Goblin King, the ruler of the titular labyrinth and a tricky fairy who sets the plot in motion with the kidnapping of the little Toby after our main character Sarah wishes to be rid of him… He’s one of the most delightfully delicious 80s villains imaginable. But what exactly is there to him that makes him so appealing? Is it just the fact he’s played by a young, hot David Bowie? Or is there a little more to him than just that?

Motivation/Goals: Jareth’s motives operate on fae/dream logic most of the time. The way he acts, the way he goes about things, operates on a morality that is alien to you or I but likely seems fair and just to a being like him. Kidnapping a baby? Well, he was asked to do so! Sending poor Sarah on a gauntlet through the labyrinth? Well, it’s to test her mettle! Of course, over time he shifts gears a bit due to… falling in love with Sarah. Yeah. This grown-ass fairy is crushing on a teenage girl. It’s no wonder Robert Eggers is rumored to be remaking Labyrinth; considering his pedophilic stalker portrayal of Orlok that has somehow still managed to amass an army of horny fangirls, he’d be able to pull off a Jareth the likes of which we’ve never seen!

Performance: Sting. Prince. Mick Jagger. Michael Jackson. All these stars were considered for the role, and all of them could have brough something interesting to Jareth. We know from Dune that Sting looks good in ridiculous outfits, so he wouldn’t be opposed to baring his bulge; Mick Jagger was a solid actor, as can be surmised from the film Performance; Prince was some sort of fae being to begin with, meaning he wouldn’t have to try too hard to pull off the haughty egomania of Jareth; and MJ would have been able to bring the delightful joy of awkward implications in the future since the entire film is all about Jareth trying to get freaky with a kid and, well…

But with all that said, none of them could have delivered the kind of performance Bowie did. I think with him being such an utterly bizarre and unique performer for his time, he had the exact right persona to portray a fruity fairy king, and his sex god status certainly helped sell this as well. It’s genuinely hard to imagine any of those other guys being able to pull off the right amount of sensual allure and genuine menace Bowie is able to bring to nearly every scene. There’s a reason this is one of his definitive roles; it’s one of the best villain performances in all of 80s fantasy.

Final Fate: Sarah overcomes his labyrinth, and even though he’s David Bowie in the 80s and he’s sung a dozen villain songs, kidnapping a baby puts him beyond the pale for Sarah. After reciting her poem and finishing up with the reaffirmation that Jareth has no power over her, he seems to gracefully accept defeat and allow her to treutn home for a dance party ending with all of the friends she made along the way (and also the Fierys for some fucking reason). In the form of an owl, Jareth flies away from the window into the night. Yeah, I got no fucking clue.

I will say this: It’s actually rather admirable that, despite his god-like powers, his love for Sarah was genuine enough that after completely and fully rejecting him he was still enough of a man to let her go. I think a lot of guys could learn a thing or two from him.

Evilness: This is the most debatable facet of Jareth. Exactly how evil is he, anyway? He does kidnap a baby, sure, but it’s exactly what Sarah asked for. Whether you believe the movie is all just a dream or that it’s real and Jareth is a member of the Fair Folk, this logic is sound for beings of such illogical nature. But then you have the fact he’s openly falling in love with a prepubescent girl which is, uh… not a good look. There’s also his treatment of Hoggle, which is douchey even for a fairy. If you ask me, all of Jareth’s actions put him at a 5.5/10 in terms of evilness; he’s bordering on darker territory, but I’m willing to give a little bit of leeway since he’s playing by fae rules.

Best Scene: Do I really need to say it?

Best Quote: While of course the entirety of the song “Magic Dance” is fantastic, it’s the opening bit of the song that is one of the most quotable and iconic pieces of dialogue in the film. I’m sure you could guess the whole “You remind me of the babe” bit is my favorite quotation of his based on the gag at the start of this analysis.

Of course, there’s also his truly incredible quote where he channels his inner “balding principal turned underwear-themed superhero”: “Nothing, tra la la?”

Final Thoughts & Score: I fucking love Jareth. He’s easily one of my favorite villains of all time, and might even be one of the greatest characters Jim Henson ever created. No, I’m not kidding. The evil David Bowie fairy is on par with Kermit in my mind.

Of course, a lot of what makes me love him is Bowie’s charismatic portrayal. Just the way he enunciates things, the way he reads off the silly dialogue, his multiple songs, the way he plays with his balls (or at least the way he allowed the professional ball man to hold up his arm to play with the balls in such a way that it looked like Bowie did it). And it’s not just the charisma, sexual and otherwise, that makes this performance good; it’s the depth, his role as an anti-villainous trickster mentor who is maybe just trying to teach Sarah a lesson by putting her through the wringer in typical fairy fashion

Of course, there’s also his truly uncomfortable romantic desire for Sarah. It’s not really subtext, especially by the end, though it’s at least played subtly and doesn’t go into uncomfortable directions (Bowie apparently refused to kiss the 16 year old Connelly, which is pretty based). I think the thing here is that Bowie is just so fun and charismatic that it is incredibly easy to overlook Jareth being a creep… which is almost a commentary on how rock stars can get away with disturbing behavior due to their own charisma and talents. Obviously it’s not intentional, but it is an interesting way to look at things.

I think the thing with Jareth is that it’s really easy to just write him off as a villain popular due to being played by David Bowie and looking very sexy but—at least for me—I think a core part of his appeal is how much he leaves you to chew on. I mean, there are so many ways you can read him; he can be a stealth mentor teaching Srah a lesson, a genuine stalker with a crush who becomes sickly obsessed with a teenager, a rowdy jackass who just likes to torment Sarah for his amusement, some combination of all of the above… 10/10 is the only score I could give a character who is so fun, entertaining, and open to interpretation. He manages to have genuine style and charisma combined with utterly absurd, cheesy, and ridiculous fantasy camp... Jareth is truly a villain for the ages.

Alright, enough showing restraint. Look at his fucking bulge:

Those costume designers must’ve been the horniest motherfuckers of all time.

[yellowocaballero]

⭐ utopia, but any other fic will do if you already got a lot of asks about it!

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨💫⭐💫⭐💫⭐💫⭐🌟🌟🌟🌞🌞🌞🌞🌠🌠🌠🌠🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌃🌃🌃🌉🌉🌉💖💖💖🇦🇺🇱🇷🇸🇧🇻🇪🇻🇳🇺🇸 heres some more stars so u talk more

This is so sweet I'm dying. I'm deceased. Killed. Rambling it is.

“I get why Sasuke-teme had to leave Konoha, Tobi-sensei. He has to keep walking forward with his precious people, and all the bad people in Konoha just bring out the teme in him. Even if I don’t like it…” Naruto’s expression fell, but resolution rose strongly in him too. “But there’s people in Konoha I just can’t abandon. That means I can’t abandon Konoha, and I can’t give up on it. Somebody has to stay and make it better. I won’t run away. I’ll give Konoha a second chance, and me and my friends are going to make it into a place as great as Sakuragakure. I’ll make Konoha into a place that Sasuke-teme can come home to.” Naruto nodded firmly, implacable. “Kakashi-sensei feels the same way. Konoha’s our home. You and Sasuke-teme really hate Konoha, but Kakashi-sensei and I are going to make it into a home you can like again! So you guys can come visit us! Okay?”

Naruto doesn't have a huge role in this story. Of course, he's also the most important character. Everything in the story turned on his fulcrum - on the actions that he hadn't taken yet, born from the resolve of a man who was still a boy. He saved the day, not through his own actions, but through the ripple effect that his actions had on the world and the people within it. He also has no idea. He also can't read.

Naruto Uzumaki is not particularly interested in a utopia. He's not interested in much beyond ramen and becoming the Hokage and Sasuke. He's not interested in the weight of someone's sins and their potential for redemption, despite being ninja Jesus. I think Naruto only cares about if you want to be a good dude - and if you don't want to be a good dude today, if you'll want to be a good dude tomorrow.

Both Naruto and Sasuke were hurt badly by Konoha. It was important that Sasuke leave Konoha - that he be able to leave the world that hurt him, and find a happier new home. But it was important that Naruto stay too - that there was somebody who was willing to take his crap world by the horns and fix what already exists, to make his world a better place. I think both types of people are necessary, and that the ability to make the choice is necessary too. You can't create a better world by playing by the rules of a broken system, but you can't create a better world by giving up on it either.

I think while reading Naruto you have to kinda go, 'damn bitch stop trying to over perform just to earn the right to exist, their acceptance will always be conditional'. You can't Hokage people into loving you. But you can't create a better world by sticking a bunch of orphans in a tree, either. To me, Naruto is the necessary person who wants to fix what he has.

Obito does not understand that. He's convinced that he understands the gospel of Naruto very well. He does not. At all. He willfully misinterprets it, because it doesn't reinforce what Obito needs to believe. It doesn't let him feel what he wants to feel.

If he did understand it, he would realize something extremely obvious: that Naruto had been able to save Obito because of Naruto's own suffering, not despite it. Obito hypothesizes that suffering creates bad people, but Naruto utilized his own suffering as a tool for empathy and compassion. By Obito's own reasoning, Naruto is a 'dirty person' who wouldn't belong in the own utopia that he inspired. He's trying to build a heaven that Ninja Jesus wouldn't be welcome in. It's a massive logical flaw that Obito knows exists and blatantly ignores.

Why does Obito ignore this? Because it undermines his whole nihlistic, absolutist, deterimistic worldview, mostly. But also because that would imply that people with narrative parallels to Naruto might, hypothetically, deserve to be saved, and would have a place in Utopia. And, like, ya know, can't have that.

[anonymousboxcar]

TTTE Headcanons: Engines’ TV Habits

This is pretty goofy, but I’m thinking about what sorts of TV the engines might watch if they had a TV or a streaming device in their sheds. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far!

—————————————

Henry loves nature shows, of course. In addition, after his fireman lamented his spilt hot cocoa, he wanted to understand why humans care so much about food. This led him to cooking shows, which he found very relaxing. He likes to watch raw, disparate ingredients become something beautiful and complete.

Edward goes for mysteries — lighter, cozier shows like Midsomer Murders, Rosemary & Thyme, and Murder, She Wrote. He’s also a fan of Granada Studios’ 1984 Sherlock Holmes. It tickles the same part of him that enjoys ghost stories, giving him a slight thrill alongside a pleasing mind-teaser.

Gordon watches the news every morning and evening. He likes to feel up-to-date on important events, expounding on them to his colleagues. Any program about opera and orchestral performances also appeals to him. There’s some snobbery involved, but he does enjoy hearing and learning about musical genres.

James likes game and talent shows, often shouting answers and opinions at the TV. He’s so attuned to these shows’ editing that he’ll guess a season winner, set up a betting pool, and rake in all the favors after the finale with a smug grin. (Gordon and Henry only keep placing bets because they want to show him up someday.)

All three big engines indulge in the guilty pleasure of soap operas. They think nobody else knows about this. Pip and Emma “obliviously” intrude on their watch parties to make them squirm.

Thomas and Percy watch ghost hunting shows together. They scoff at the idea of ghosts, accuse each other of being ‘fraidy-cats, and huddle close in fear as an episode progresses. They also watch late-night airings of schlocky films with Toby, whose sly commentary cracks them all up.

On his own, Thomas watches motorsport broadcasts. Bertie hooked him on it not long after they started racing each other. He’s a fan of some F1 drivers and their cars, often comparing notes with Bertie in serious (and sometimes heated) discussions.

Percy has a soft spot for period dramas. He’ll laugh at historical inaccuracies, get invested in all the characters, and ponder common tropes. He’s not afraid to ask about the servants who have to endure the wealthy protagonists’ dramatics.

Toby doesn’t watch much TV outside of what he sees with Thomas and Percy. However, he and Henrietta are partial to some late-night talk shows. If the show’s interviewing someone they’re interested in, or if they think the host is funny, they’ll give an episode a try.

Duck adores How It’s Made. It’s very satisfying for him to watch a bunch of moving parts at work, slotting pieces into their rightful places to assemble something. Other nights, he watches travel shows. They explore locations all around the world, scratching his itch to see what’s beyond his horizon.

Donald watches stand-up comedy specials, going for a good laugh at the end of the day to decompress. Ever since Duck “gifted” him Dilly, he also watches nature programs and shows about training/caring for pets. (He and Dilly are working on some tricks.)

Oliver picks sci-fi shows, with Star Trek and Doctor Who as his favorites. He’s drawn in by the pulpy adventures, moral dilemmas, and complex protagonists. It all makes him feel better about himself: you can mess up on an astronomical scale, but still be capable of good things. You don’t have to be a perfect hero to be a good person.

Douglas enjoys shows about antiques and vintage items — things in the vein of Antique Roadshow, or American Pickers. He’s a sucker for knickknacks that meant something to someone, for all the stories behind each one, and for their loving restorations.

Bill and Ben think fitness shows are hysterical. They’re forever amused by the odd ways the instructors contort their bodies. But they also scheme for their crews to watch these shows, hoping they’ll participate and stay healthy for years to come.

Daisy’ll watch any program about fashion or body art (tattoos, piercings, etc). Being so attentive to her swerves, she’s curious about the ways that humans adorn themselves. She’ll sometimes take inspiration from what she sees, but she’ll always argue that fashion is an art form, pointing to these shows for examples.

——————————————

What are your guys’ thoughts/headcanons? I’d love to hear them!