#brain is starting to rot

[franken-loser]

So i started playing baldurs gate again after like 3 months and i hadn't seen the updated kiss animations and i went to kiss the character im romancing (astarion) and went WOAHHH HOLY SHIT cause I wasn't expecting the new animation AND NOW i watched a video of all the new animations and i realllyy really want to draw Victor and Henry inspired by some of them😦 CAUSE THEY'RE LITERALLY SO SWEET LIKE ☹️☹️☹️☹️

[o-wild-west-wind]

While I’m still a bit bummed that they didn’t go with a more book-aligned POC Fiyero for the Wicked movie, I’ve been thinking (heheh) about how his being white highlights the really interesting foil relationship between him and Glinda (and, in many ways, the audience yourself).

At its core, Wicked is a cautionary tale about propaganda, (literal) scapegoating, and what it means to uphold the status quo. The audience is watching through Glinda’s eyes—it is through her, arguably the most beautifully tragic character of the show, that we learn how lonely life becomes when you forfeit your values in favor of systemic power and likability (“No One Mourns the Wicked” is, in many ways, about HER).

Now, this is where Fiyero’s whiteness can get interesting—if you consider him and Glinda to share roughly equal footing at the beginning in terms of privilege/how much they have to lose (applying our real-world lens of race and power here, where whiteness is the apex), his storyline essentially represents what could have happened if Glinda had made the brave (and arguably wise and loving, if you’re picking up what I’m putting down 👀) choice to go with Elphaba and fight the good fight (this is also why I feel like a queer reading of G&E’s relationship is almost implicit to the story, but I digress).

As the POC/marginalized allegory, Elphaba has much less of a real choice in her curtain-pulled-back turning point. But Fiyero and Glinda—both representing privilege—get to choose. So in Act II, we see the consequences of both the choice to stay (Glinda) and to go (Fiyero). In Fiyero’s case, his ultimate rejection of his own power, privilege, and even beauty leads to immense physical loss—including his own body—but that is then compared to the loss of love, community, and identity that we see Glinda left with by the end. And this brings us to the question that the audience is left grappling with: in an unjust system where loss is inevitable (a.k.a. our own world, as the Wizard himself represents), which of these things are YOU more willing to give up?

It’s important that Glinda is an empathetic character because, in reality, most people are going to be Glindas (obvi this is nuanced among us Elphabas of marginalized identities, but I’d still argue that there’s some level of Glinda in us all)—and it’s important to be rattled by the end of the show when you realize that she is the one who has the sad ending. But it’s also so important that Fiyero is empathetic (which I’m SO glad this movie leaned into)—because he’s ultimately who Glinda—and thus we, as the audience—should have been.

And especially given the state of US politics right now…this is just all more relevant than ever.

[nanamin-nah-nanamine]

Imagine getting absolutely railed by Sukuna and Uraume being there kneeling down by your face and holding your hand. They’re just knelt by your side talking you through it, gently praising you and stroking your cheek as you’re ragdolled on Sukuna’s cock <3

They’d call you a good little pet for being so pliant for Lord Sukuna. Stroking your hair and never truly touching you directly, but they’d give you their fingers to suck on when you got too noisy. Seeming almost indifferent about it but the way their fingers were jammed down your throat told another story. The way that their other hand was occupied underneath their robes and their eyes were pinched a little bit in either concentration or pleasure…

[lotus-pear]

every time i think abt their canon height difference i want to eat drywall

[els-moonleaf]

‘And if my ears do not deceive me, she is indeed her father’s daughter.’

[nateezfics]

the way he’d let you wear his hat while you ride him, and call you his pretty little cow girl 🤎

“mmh, just like that,” hongjoong praised while he slumped further into the plush pillows beneath. “you ride me so fucking good.”

his words made you smile, and you rolled your hips over him appreciatively. you both resounded in a harmony of curses and moans. he was nestled so deep; with every grind of your hips his tip grazed the sweetest of spots inside you. you were putty in his hands already, but you were determined to keep riding him just the way he liked. “i’m your pretty little cowgirl, right?”

hongjoong chuckled while his hands tightened their grip at the curve of your ass. he picked you up and down, bouncing you on his cock. his thighs tensed and feet dug into the mattress, and he hoisted himself upwards to meet you every time you came down. you were a mess above him, mouth open in broken cries and your nails in his chest. and with your wild hair and his hat atop your head, you looked more beautiful than ever. “yeah, you are. my pretty little cowgirl.”

[forestofcryptids-art]

I’ll take anything you wanna give me, baby

[no-chair]

ahhhhm yeah,, Hades is a fun game lol

[thepriceofsurvival]

I know once you start looking at numbers in AFTG you can’t stop.

And yet here is another post about it.

The number 5 is consistent in especially TSC. Small things, like tries to get up when Jean wakes up at Abby’s and tries to run, five numbers programmed into Jean’s new phone, five Trojans at the first meet/party at the house.

And bigger things, too:

Kevin was 9 when he came to Evermore, Jean was 14 (5 year difference)

Jean fought Riko with blood and teeth for 5 months until he didn’t have the strength.

Jean stayed at Evermore for 5 years.

Jean and Kevin’s numbers add up to 5.

“Five volunteers to break him in, Zane’s betrayal to destroy him, and one promise that kept him alive despite it all.”

And, of course:

A cool evening breeze. Rainbows. Open roads. Teammates.

Friends?

Five reasons to stay.

[actuallyjustabiscuit]

Jax’s behavior is legit pretty fascinating

Yes it’s time I ramble about the purple twink.

Fast Food Masquerade did something crazy in that it actually got me to start empathizing with the asshole because Jax’s visible frustration throughout this adventure was too real.

And in fact, it’s why I think Jax was acting so “different” towards the latter half of the episode.

This adventure was Too. Damn. Real.

Now, Jax’s character is actually really simple. He even sums up his whole schtick in the pilot.

“I’m fine with doing whatever, as long as I get to see funny things happen to people.”

Then in a hilarious bit of instant karma, promptly gets hit in the face with a gloink

The “-who aren’t me” part of that self description pretty much goes without saying.

Immediately after this happens, Jax’s little laidback exterior gets so rattled that he suddenly feels the need to take control and starts assigning tasks to everyone. And his casual attitude only returns once he feels like he’s not in any position for ridicule, by redirecting the potential for ridicule onto others. This is his defense mechanism.

Jax needs to feel in control, so he deliberately controls whatever situation he’s in to get the results he wants.

Something that I’ve always appreciated about Jax from a meta perspective is that he’s a character who actively moves the story forward, usually because he wants to satisfy his urge to create chaos.

And that’s the main thing about Jax, he’s really destructive.

Like…almost pointlessly destructive.

But, y’know what? It makes sense. Because he’s in a video game.

Where else can you be as needlessly and excessively chaotic than in a game where you can do pretty much anything because nothing is real?

Jax can hurt whoever and wreck whatever because if he’s living by video game logic, then there are no lasting consequences to his actions.

Jax even goes so far as to refer to Pomni, and by extension the other trapped humans, as a “character” in the pilot. Which goes to show how little he wants to consider them as people.

You can’t really hurt a character. And if used correctly, a character can be entertaining.

And that’s all Jax really wants out of his new life in the Circus, entertainment. Because the worst thing you can be while stuck in a game is be bored.

But of course, even in games, your actions have certain consequences that are just unavoidable.

And Episode 4 really beat Jax’s yellow teeth in with that not-so-fun little reminder. Because this bit right here

Pretty much was the precedent for how bad Jax was gonna get it this time.

And it all starts with Gangle absolutely refusing to let his usual bullshit slide by personally making sure that there will be consequences.

This is the first crack in Jax’s mask, he’s visibly concerned and annoyed that he no longer is allowed to be himself lest he risks getting punished. And even more baffling is that for the first time, Gangle asserts her power over him. She actually does something about his behavior, ripping the wind right out of his sails. Not only that but she continually enforces her authority, making it harder on him to get the upper hand again.

Now his interaction with Zooble is really interesting, because it’s the first time we see him at his most normal.

I don’t think he’s trying to tease them here, I feel like he’s genuinely curious about Zooble’s way of “playing” the game, because remember, it’s been a long time since they’ve been on an adventure together, if at all. Zooble’s excuse of wanting to avoid punishment makes sense because they witnessed first hand that Caine’s unstable personality is capable of some legitimate danger.

Of course, Jax believes that there isn’t any real risk involved. The only immediate menace to him and his current desire to just get through the day, is Gangle and her new mask.

At this point he’s not trying to be destructive or disruptive. He’s fully apathetic, because being forced to act like a minimum wage salary employee is not fun in the slightest. He can’t make things fun for himself, so he refuses to participate entirely.

As the clock mocks him with every slow tick, his mask chips more and more.

Jax isn’t saying this to be calculatingly rude or hurtful, he’s not doing this to upset Gangle. He’s being sincere, which is why he’s not smiling.

Because Gangle is much easier to push around and go along with whatever he wants her to do when she’s in Tragedy mode. She’s more “fun” that way.

In other words, he really hates this new dynamic they’ve got going on.

But this little comment, just makes things even worse for him because now Gangle goes from enforcing her authority to straight up abusing it by letting herself abuse him for a change.

It’s crazy how Jax’s main concern here is making sure this torture scene is just between them. He really hates being humiliated, more so than getting physically hurt.

The man has some serious issues, but c’mon we already knew that.

So Jax is finally getting a taste of his own medicine and it completely emasculates him. To the point where he just defaults to doing whatever Gangle tells him to do just to avoid feeling like that again. Now the mask is fully stripped off, he’s openly exasperated and powerless. On top of that he has no real impulse to ridicule or ruffle anyone’s feathers anymore, because for the first time in probably a long while, he’s even more miserable than everyone else.

And what does misery love?

Company

As someone who’s worked in retail for a while, nothing helps keep you sane more than having a little of bit of camaraderie when struggling to survive in corporate hell.

Something that really stood out to me in this episode is the limited use in background music, especially when in Spudsy’s, where you either get muzak to sell the ambiance of a public eatery or silence with the occasional machinery noise.

And yeah, that’d be enough to make shit as immersive as possible. It’s not a coincidence that the restaurant looks like a McDonald’s when Gooseworx even said it was directly modeled after it. It’s uncanny, how real this setup feels.

Uncomfortably uncanny.Jax seething at the clock is a relatable struggle.

The mask immediately comes back on once Jax no longer has any obligation to stick around.

But Jax can’t even enjoy his freedom. His day is officially over, but the sting of the experience still lingers. The adventure wasn’t just boring or frustrating, it was humbling, in every terrible way. This wasn’t a game, it was real life.

And I think the last kick in the teeth was this license plate waiting for him in the parking lot (Why did Caine make them drive “home”? That’s just extra)

One is the loneliest number

Jax doesn’t hide the fact that he’s an asshole, he’s almost proud of it. He practically relishes getting a rise out of everyone. He is well aware that nobody likes him, but I think this where he starts realizing that it actually bothers him.

Everyone has talked about that very brief moment where Jax’s expression changed towards the end of Candy Carrier Chaos, when Ragatha was talking about Kaufmo’s funeral and we get to see him actually get sad for a change, before immediately shaking it off and stomping away in irritation.

Jax showed no concern over Kaufmo’s abstraction in the pilot, so why would he feel sad about it in that moment? Does he secretly care about his fellow humans and just doesn’t want to admit it?

Maybe. But personally, I think the others choosing to morn those who’ve abstracted like they’re dead makes him seriously uncomfortable. Because it serves as a reminder that even in this world, there are still major consequences when some things aren’t taken seriously.

Jax doesn’t want to consider real life consequences. None of them even look like real people, so why should he bother treating everyone like real people?

So when he sees everyone else getting closer and being good to each other, it’s annoying and weird. The idea that they need to look out for one another feels pathetic. Treating abstraction seriously means it’s a real danger, and that would mean that he’s also susceptible to experiencing it one day.

And when you’ve built up a reputation over making everyone miserable, who’s gonna wanna remember you?

In a show that’s clearly all about building relationships, Jax’s destructive behavior is really gonna cost him.

[gusucloud]

The Double (2024) 

Duke Su's royal entry lives in my mind rent free

[shockpinkrosary]

HELLO??? SPRINGTRAP NATION???

[wu-wakfu-undertale]

petition to rewrite s1 or 2 so that yugo gets to do the Portal thing

[feminetomboy]

The fucking poetic cinema of q!Jaiden saying "All I have is right here", and if you watch from her POV, you only see the house of memories she built for herself, without knowing that q!Roier is standing few meters from her, looking after her and making sure she is safe. Babygirl you are so right, it IS all right here. Even if you can't see it.

[queeny-v]

My favorite prosecutor siblings

[sing-me-under]

I drew these like three weeks apart, hence the minor design differences. Anyway, the blue power suit is based on this design by goozeghost. I love Booster’s short-lived asymmetrical power suit, and the blue suits Rani so well.

Regarding the two different designs:

Rain arrives in like the late 2040s-early 50s in a time sphere while wearing the relatively unaltered Goldstar suit and a Booster Gold(TM) cropped bomber jacked and unabashedly pretends to have no idea who Booster Gold is. This is her initial appearance.

Then, I have this very specific scenario written down where Rani gets an updated power suit. As Booster’s daughter, she’s inevitably getting dragged into time travel shenanigans. One notable moment is coming across and helping a mid-20 y/o Rip Hunter and his time master (1990) friends (specifically Jack Soo, who created the original Goldstar suit). Jack recognizes the suit and is introduced to Rani as Rip older’s sister. This whole event was some sort of major shift in Rani’s character and the dramatic change in suit design reflects that etc etc etc.