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ckret2 · 2 months ago

Note

This is an earnest question - it came up in one of my fics and I'm curious how other people interpreted it.

I know that the Westmore-Backupsmore dichotomy is supposed to be a joke. It's a kids show, the depth of Ford's disappointment and failure has to be made obvious in the span of a few seconds, and hyperbole is funny.

However, it has always pushed my suspension of disbelief that Ford was being evaluated for a place that was supposed to be in-universe Stanford University or something, and when he didn't immediately get a full-ride scholarship to one of the best universities in the country, his alternative was a place with such a poor reputation that it was literally marketed as a backup plan.

I've seen several explanations for this. I've seen it suggested that he was just too arrogant to apply for a wide variety of schools, and by the time he realized he couldn't do Westmore he was scrambling for the only place with a long application window. I've seen it suggested that Backupsmore was actually a pretty good school, and that its poor reputation was unearned and due to classism because it made an effort to cater to lower-income students. The one I personally went for is that his family was skeptical about his academic aspirations, and as a result Filbrick would only pay the application fees for a small handful of schools.

Do you have an explanation?

When the principal calls the family in to tell them that Ford's a genius and has a shot at getting into West Coast Tech, they're all surprised and thrilled—including Ford. This isn't a case of "I just won't bother applying anywhere but WCT." All evidence suggests he didn't apply to WCT at all... since it seems like he'd never even imagined going until then. It sounds like, until then, Ford's post graduation plans really were sailing around the world with Stan.

I think it's the complete opposite of arrogance: I think he didn't apply anywhere because he assumed college just wasn't in the cards for him.

His family's poor. His family's also Jewish, which probably wouldn't actually impact anything in Friendly Disney Channel Show For Children but in real life it would be a reason for a lot of colleges to quietly turn down his application in the 60s. His family probably also knew that Ford was smart, but unless someone else told them, none of them—Ford included—had enough of a basis of comparison for just HOW smart he was.

They probably thought, sure, Ford's a bright kid, but, HOW bright? Yeah, brightest in the school, but that could be a "big fish in a little pond" deal, this doesn't look like the preppiest high school. Bright enough to be accepted into the fanciest schools in the country? They're not sure—until he's told he has a shot at West Coast Tech. Bright enough for his education to be worth the strain on the family that paying for a college education would be? DEFINITELY not... until that education became worth potential millions.

Bright enough for him to apply to the in-universe equivalents of Harvard and Yale and Columbia and Brown etc? Why bother? West Coast Tech was only interested in him when he had an amazing science project, and lost interest when he didn't. His stellar grades clearly didn't matter to them without that science project. No point in applying to the other equivalent schools now.

Or, hell, maybe he did apply—and, without a big flashy in-your-face wow-worthy science project, all they saw was a poor kid who got good grades from a mediocre school. Unless a poor kid is something really special, a 1960s Ivy League college would rather accept middle-or-upper-class kids with equally good grades—those kids will actually pay their tuition fees.

Or maybe they even did accept him! ... But, didn't consider him quite impressive enough for scholarships, and were too expensive without them.

Sure, we know Ford was a super genius—but a college would need some kind of proof he was a super genius rather than just Really Smart, and he didn't have that proof.

He didn't even consider going to college until probably late in the school year (assuming their science fair was probably in the spring). Within a couple of days he suddenly had WCT offered ("you're worthy of the greatest schools in the country!") and snatched away ("nvm you're not worthy"). Now suddenly, possibly for the first time in his life, college is on the table, and he's been told that he could be REALLY successful if he goes to college... but, the big fancy colleges won't take him. What does he do now?

Backupsmore might have been the best school that 1) he thought would take him (or actually WOULD take him), 2) he could still apply to, and 3) his family thought they could afford.

#anonymous #ask #gravity falls #meta

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writing-for-marvel · 2 years ago

Text

Withdrawal

[He’s Hazardous To My Health Series]

Paramedic!Bucky Barnes x Resident!Fem!Reader

< < PART 2 | Series Masterlist | PART 4 > >

Summary: You wait for Bucky to call.

Warnings: strictly 18+ due to the AU, some angst and self doubt, references to sex, references to Bucky having a traumatic past

Word count: 2.8k

A/N: Will he call? Won’t he call? Let’s find out! Banners by @vase-of-lilies

Main Masterlist | Ask me anything! | Taglist | Library

Bucky stares down at his phone and sighs.

He wants to call you, genuinely, so why is dialling your number so difficult?

Perhaps it’s too soon, is what he tells himself. It hasn’t even been a full day since the end of your date, calling now probably makes him look desperate.

Should he message you? Tell you that he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about you all day? Ugh, no… that seems extremely forward for someone he’s only been on a single date with, regardless of if it’s the truth.

There’s never been anyone whom he’s connected with enough to warrant a second date, let alone have him promising to call. He’s completely out of his depth, drowning in a sea of anxiety and no one has taught him how to swim.

Bucky knows he’s overthinking, but you make it hard to think clearly. You have his brain short circuiting, reforming synapses so that all his thoughts are rerouted to the same thing: you.

Turning his phone off, he sets it down beside him. Just because he isn’t calling straight away, doesn’t mean he won’t at all. It’s probably better to wait and not seem super eager.

Or is that counterintuitive? If you enjoy someone’s company, should you let them know so you can see them again as soon as possible?

Fuck, why is this such a daunting task? He’s never had an issue with talking or flirting with anyone before, it seems to come naturally to him. And yet the thought that he’ll say the wrong thing, and fuck up whatever it is between the two of you is making his stomach churn with prickling nerves he’s never experienced before.

Perhaps he’ll find the courage to call tomorrow.

* * *

“You seem distracted, what’s on your mind?” The familiar voice from the driver's seat of the ambulance pulls Bucky from his daydream.

You, is what Bucky thinks. You are constantly on his mind. Him and his best friend Steve are half an hour into their shift and you have not left the forefront of his mind in that entire time.

It’s like he’s in a trance.

“There’s this girl from the hospital…” Bucky trails off, unsure how to articulate exactly how you’ve bewitched him since meeting not even a week ago.

The night before last wasn’t just another hookup. At least, not to him.

“I’m gonna need a little more information than that Buck, there’s been quite a few girls of yours, especially from the hospital.” Steve laughs, but Bucky’s chest tightens at the insinuation that you’re just another fling, even though Steve doesn’t know any better.

“Two nights ago we went on a date, it ended up back at her place.” This is probably not news to Steve - he’s heard many stories about Bucky’s one night stands which would have started exactly like this. But there is one huge difference this time around. “And then I told her I’d call.”

“You’re thinking about a second date with her? She must be something special.” Bucky chuckles under his breath. Yeah, you really are something special. So fucking special.

“She’s beautiful, intelligent, funny, witty. When she was treating that little girl from the train derailment she was so good with her, kind and patient. I don’t know how to describe it, we just click. I don’t think I’ve ever allowed myself to feel more than physical attraction for someone but with her it just happens, I can’t stop myself.”

He doesn’t want to admit it to himself, but Bucky’s already addicted to you. He’s only had one fix, but he’s already showing symptoms of withdrawal. Every second apart feels like an hour, craving your company and the rapture firing in every neuron of his body when you’re in his presence.

“Look at you actually falling for someone.” Steve teases, without even knowing the full extent of how enthralled Bucky is with you. “So when are you seeing her again?”

Silence fills the front seat of the ambulance when Bucky can’t answer the question.

“Bucky, you have to see her again! Listen to how you’re talking about her, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you actually speak about wanting to see someone again. You need to call her.” Steve stops at a red light and looks over to Bucky in the passenger seat. His best friend knows him better than perhaps he knows himself but doesn’t have the same obstacle with letting people in as Bucky does.

“That’s easier said than done.” Bucky can’t mask the dejected tone in his voice, and Steve recognises the crestfallen hang of his head, knowing exactly what he means without voicing it aloud.

“I know you've been through a lot in your life Buck, you’ve built walls up to prevent any more heartbreak…” Steve starts, but Bucky doesn’t need yet another reminder of his tragic backstory.

“Alright Mr I minored in psychology, I get your point. I’m damaged goods and don’t let people get close to me.”

“It’s just a second date, Buck, you aren’t asking for her hand in marriage. Just see where it goes.” Steve makes it sound so easy. Most people wouldn’t get so stressed about something they would consider as minor as a second date, yet Bucky feels like he’s about to expose the most intimate parts of his soul to someone for the first time.

“But I don’t want to hurt her. I know nothing about dating or being in a relationship.” Bucky pauses - the fact that he’s even considering something as substantial as a relationship with you punches him in the gut. He’s never wanted that with someone before. “And I don’t want to get hurt myself.” Because all Bucky has known is relationships breaking down. To him romantic relationships are synonymous with pain and he’s had enough of that for a lifetime.

“You’ll never know if you never try. I know you think letting someone in will lead to heartbreak, but what if it’s the opposite? What if by letting this person into your heart you finally find love and contentment?” Bucky has never allowed himself to imagine a life where that is a possibility - opening himself up to that prospect sounds like a recipe for more suffering. Besides, he’s been damaged goods for a long time, he’s sure there’s no one who would want to put up with him anyway.

“You really are a hopeless romantic.” Bucky comments, trying to avoid the questions Steve is raising, and divert the topic of their conversation.

“I want you to be happy, Buck. You’ve never afforded yourself that courtesy.”

Though his experience screams at him to run in the opposite direction, that this would be a horrible decision leading to further pain, Bucky finds it hard to believe someone as sweet and good-natured as yourself would ever hurt him intentionally. Even if there is only a slim chance that he doesn’t completely fuck this up, given Bucky cannot stop thinking about you, he supposes it’s worth a shot calling you.

“Well, maybe it’s finally time I do.” Bucky mutters under his breath.

* * *

You’ve been checking your phone periodically throughout the day to se if you have any new notifications from Bucky, but each time your phone lights up, a new wave of disappointment floods your chest.

You wonder if the notion of actually calling you, or simply messaging, has even crossed Bucky’s mind once since he left your place about 36 hours ago, or if he already knew it was an empty promise at the time he made it.

“Heard anything yet?” Wanda asks hopefully, but you shake your head in response. The first thing Wanda asked during your next shift together was how your date went with Bucky - between treating patients you described the picnic Bucky set up on the riverbank and (in slightly less detail) the euphoric night you shared when you made it back to your place.

“I’m stupid for actually believing he’s going to call, aren’t I?”

“…No.” Wanda offers after a brief hesitation which tells you more than the single word does. Sensing your regret in asking, she continues on. “Sweetie, only you know the connection you share, I can’t speak to that. If you feel like there’s something special there and he promised to call, then you have every right to believe him.”

Perhaps you’re being foolish, you should know better than to hang your hopes on a man who is notorious for being a fuckboy, but you really thought Bucky was being genuine when he promised to contact you. That the blissful night you shared, and the waves of ecstasy which melded into a flood of pure pleasure, meant more than just a one night stand.

Or at least it did to you.

“Just because he’s never pursued more than a first date with other people in this hospital doesn’t mean he isn’t now, or isn’t with you. Sometimes it just takes the right person, that could be you.” You take some comfort in the sincerity of her tone, but the voice in the back of your mind reminds you of what Wanda alerted you to prior to your date: no one gets a second date with Bucky Barnes.

“You’ve changed from giving me no hope to giving me false hope, Wan.” You joke, trying to brush off the conversation and not reveal just how heartbroken you’ll be if Bucky ghosts you, even with Wanda warning about his ways.

Internally you remind yourself that it’s only been a day and a half and to not be too mad at him, yet. Perhaps he intends to call, but hasn’t gotten around to it, though you’re pretty sure you’re only telling yourself that to stop the perpetual ache in your chest rather than truly believing it.

“He promised he would call, that’s not false hope.” Wanda advises, shooting you a look of encouragement as you both complete paperwork for your respective patients.

At that moment, the doors to the ER swing open and none other than the paramedic you were just speaking about walks in wheeling a patient.

You hate how good he looks, long chestnut hair framing his face and those dazzling blue eyes you’ve dreamed about shine from all the way across the room. He’s unfairly attractive, and he walks into a room like he knows it too.

Him and his partner consult the head nurse of the ER, who, after examining her clipboard for a moment, points towards your direction, making your stomach flip.

Steel blue eyes meet yours and for a moment your entire world stands still. The sounds of the busy ER fade away and even the presence of Wanda beside you dissolves into non-existence when his eyes find you and a smile overtakes his features. That damn cheeky smile which makes your knees weak.

He truly is infuriatingly beautiful.

“Hey.” Is all you can think to say as they approach, a lump in your throat forming which would prevent you from voicing any more words if your brain could think of any other than how strapping and handsome he looks in his uniform.

“Hi.” Bucky responds softly with a dreamy smile, eyes lingering on yours for a long beat before turning away. How could someone who looks at you with such warmth not want to see you again?

You shake the thought from your mind as your focus on the patient, a young man with scared brown eyes. You can’t afford to be distracted right now, even if you desperately want to look back at him and revel in the fondness brimming in his eyes which was so apparent during your date.

After Bucky’s equally tall, broad and handsome paramedic partner gets you up to speed on the patient's history, you get to work on taking his vitals.

“Rogers, Barnes, give us some space to work, please.” Dr Strange requests and without the chance to say another word to each other, both paramedics disappear out the corner of your periphery.

What you don’t notice is Bucky’s soft gaze on you through the glass walls of the patient room as you start your work up, believing that he had simply got back in his ambulance and out into the field.

“That’s her?” Steve asks from beside Bucky. He knows full well it must be you, he’s never seen his best friend look so enamoured with a girl, nor lost for words as when he set eyes on you, but he wants Bucky to admit it aloud.

“Yep, that’s her.” Bucky says with a pride that if Steve didn’t know any better, would suggest that her meant his girl. Bucky answers without taking his eyes off you, the corners of mouth tugging into a smile. His best friend has it bad, and he doesn’t even realise.

Steve suspects if he doesn’t remind Bucky they have a shift to get back to, he’d happily watch you work for the rest of the day.

He allows Bucky a couple more minutes of that luxury before heading back to the ambulance, knowing his best friend well enough to realise before either Bucky or yourself do, just how significant Bucky’s feelings for you are.

* * *

Bucky steps out of the shower, the warm water having rinsed the hard days work off himself.

He knows he needs to call you. Waiting any longer, especially after seeing you today, even if it were only for a brief moment, would surely only indicate disinterest. That’s so far from how he feels about you, so he decides needs to take matters into his own hands and fulfil the promise he made two nights ago.

A fresh swarm of butterflies fills his stomach. He’s actually going to do this.

He just hopes you’re after more than just another hookup. Bucky’s used to being the one only interested in sex, but if the roles are reversed this time, it’ll be his exposed heart being ripped from his chest.

No, he can’t think like that. He’s finally giving himself a chance at happiness.

Bucky reminds himself that you asked him to promise to call after your date. It’s not just him that wants this, you want him to call.

With that thought, he pulls out his phone and quickly presses on your contact, so he doesn’t chicken out, and with a shaky hand holds his phone to his ear. Bucky’s heart beats in his throat as the first ring sounds, and then skips a beat altogether when the click of you answering fills his ears.

“Bucky, you called.” He can hear the smile in your voice through the line, but what makes his heart clench is the trace of surprise he can perceive, as if you truly hadn’t expected him to call.

“I did promise to.” He reminds you, but it doesn’t entirely eliminate the bitter shame bubbling in the pit of his stomach that even though he did in fact promise, you didn’t fully believe him.

“I’m happy you did. I had a really great time the other night.”

“So did I.” Those three simple words don’t sum up just how much Bucky wholeheartedly enjoyed every second he spent with you, regardless of if that were naked in your bed or getting to know you on a picnic blanket as the sun set across the horizon, but in his anxious state he can’t find words more poetic to express it. “And I’d love to do it again if you’re up for it.”

“Hmm, I’m gonna have to think about it.” He can tell by the light tone of your voice you’re joking, but he supposes he deserves waiting for an answer considering he made you wait for his call. “Of course I’d love to go on a second date with you James.”

The combination of your words and the fact that you punctuated the sentence with his true first name sends Bucky straight to heaven. Everything about you makes him completely weak in a way he has never experienced before. All of those walls Steve seems to think Bucky has built around himself don’t appear to exist with you, instead, you’ve come into his life as easily as walking through a front door with a welcome mat out front.

“I guess I’m going to have to outdo a picnic at sunset then.” He chuckles to himself, knowing that he’s never had this problem before, but realising it’s a good problem to have.

You continue to talk well into the night, forgetting what time it is, and that you both have early shifts in the morning. None of that matters when you’re so caught up in each other.

Bucky simply enjoys the sound of your voice, and how it soothes the remaining anxiety which was swirling in his chest before calling you. He certainly isn’t hanging up first, not when talking with you has been the best part of his day.

He’s chasing happiness. And he might just find it with you.

Part 4 > >

Be added to the series taglist here

He’s Hazardous To My Health [Paramedic!Bucky Barnes] Taglist: @lavenderpenumbra @crazyunsexycool @eralen @buckbuckyoongs @blackwidownat2814 @roschele @crayongirl-linz @ozwriterchick @desert-fern @misshale21 @chalesleclerc164 @rookthorne @janineb86 @emmabarnes @scarletbich @fallenlilangel99 @princezzjasmine @mdrovert @thebuckybarnesvault @doasyoudesireandlive @solitarioslilium @iamfandomwasted @tanyaspartak @netflixxgoddess @pop-rocks-818 @dumdidditydumdoo @missvelvetsstuff @marvelhoeland @thesadcatto-queen @kayden666 @amiimar @razor-blayde @katheryn1 @safew0rd @kentokaze @thewackywriter @lady-loki-barnes-djarin @badasswlthafatass @Vickie5446 @loveoldmenlikelana @00cmh @pointless-girl @honeyglee @nerdxacid @moonymagician @ashhsage @prettylittlepluviophile @otomefromtheheart @sjsmith56 @mandijo17 @lokidokieokie @oceansandblackhearts @rebeccapineapple @soorwellystan @excusememrbarnes @lofaewrites @snapcapquartet @wishingwell-2 @unaxv @aya-fay

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thewertsearch · 5 months ago

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Ask Comp 11/06

@ben-guy asked: […] Imagine the Greek god level drama that would have unfolded with those 12 drama machines if they all went God tier. Even if they all entered the human universe without the two teams fighting over who gets to rule it, there would be no ending the divides that would form for any and all reasons, from quadrants to rulership over Kanaya's new trolls. Kinda curious about your takes on all this, even if it will take a while for you to see this :]

That's exactly it. Vriska's assuming that having a more powerful team would be strictly beneficial - which is hilarious, coming from her.

Like - Vriska. What have you done with your God Tier powers, lately?

Did it benefit the team?

Anonymous asked: its really interesting how the first time vriska kills not out of necessity or due to any extenuating circumstances, she almost immediately regrets it

Yup.

I think it's beginning to dawn on Vriska that she has nothing to hide behind this time. She's stopped being forced to kill, and has graduated to choosing it. It's little wonder she's falling apart.

Anonymous asked: for what it's worth, i've always taken vriska's interpretation of sburb at face value. it's a setting, or a stage, moreso than a character or an organism

Sburb certainly feels like a narrative, which is closely tied to its coming-of-age themes. John isn't John in the game, he's a character called the Heir of Breath from Consort mythology, and it's predestined that he'll fulfil this narrative role - or else.

Sburb is a play. And if you mess up your lines, the stage will collapse underneath you.

@manorinthewoods asked: You know, during your original analysis of the Creation Myth reveal, you made a lot of notes about how the Denizen grist caches must have been comically large, or multiplicative, to allow the alchemisation of universes. Clearly there is no need for that, given the Genesis Frog, so… what is it for, do you think? ~LOSS (7/6/24)

This grist is confirmed to be for the Ultimate Alchemy, which I've been assuming is synonymous with the creation of the Genesis Frog. I guess Jade's currently creating the Frog without any Denizen Grist to speak of, but I assume it'll come into play later on.

My best guess? The frog has to literally eat the Denizen Hoards to grow into a full-sized universe.

Anonymous asked: I wanted to stop by and say your liveblogs are super interesting!! Back when I first read homestuck I didn’t really bother with analysis, just kinda screamed inchoherentoy at my friends, so actually seeing the narrative and char arcs broken down like this into understandable chunks of why might it be written this way, what is the char thinking, why are they thinking that, how does that play into what might happen - it’s super cool thank you for all this !! Anonymous asked: finally catched up with your liveblog, i have been a homestuck for like a semester and i am rlly happy to see someone go this in depth on a liveblog about it! Anyways! Whats the character you relate the most to, so far? - bralsra

Thank you very much!

It's funny. I've talked before about how I was never great at writing analytical essays in English class - but I'm essentially doing the same thing here, and I'm having a great time. I guess it's just more fun when it's a science fantasy webcomic and not, like, Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Who do I relate to the most, I wonder? To be honest, it's probably Kanaya, which probably isn't too surprising if you're a regular reader.

I've said things that are 90% similar to the shit she comes out with. She's so great.

@manorinthewoods asked: I'd like to hear your thoughts on each individual blood caste[…]. ~LOSS (7/6/24)

It's hard to generalize the blood castes, since we've only seen one example of each blood color thus far. Broadly speaking, we're aware that:

Lower bloods have more psychic power.

Higher bloods have more psychic resistance.

Highbloods appear to be physically stronger.

Kanaya's blood color is extremely rare, which implies that, contrary to my expectations, higher blood isn't always rarer than lower blood.

Beyond that, I can't say much more. Based on Karkat's position in the Trollian friend list, he was probably 'supposed' to have green blood, but I don't know if mutating out of the spectrum has actually changed his biology in any way.

He's not psychic, so we can at least assume he doesn't 'count' as being on the bottom of the hemospectrum.

@john-egbert-rose-lalonde asked: the searcherrrrrrrr

"why so discarded" - the drawer

Anonymous asked: Hey, since you like to experiment with stuff, what dl you think would happen if a Tier 2 Sprite prototyped itself into a Tier 1 Sprite?

Great question. I went in-depth into it during a previous ask - although I can imagine it's quite a rare occurrence. How often are two unprototyped Sprites on the same Land?

Anonymous asked: While I think a discord server is a good idea, I think it might be best for everyone if it's one where only you and those helping you with the blog can post anything. That might ruin the community aspect a little, but I feel like it'd be worth it to not get spoiled if you do ever make one. Feel free to completely ignore this- not exactly riveting things I'm sending here.

Right! Quick update on the Discord situation.

Initially, I was going to have Cat help me set it up, but she's been incredibly busy with her thesis lately. Plus, she hasn't really used the platform either, so we had no idea what we were doing. Might need to shelve the Discord server idea until later, or until it becomes necessary.

@krixwell asked: John Egbert when he's told the Earth is done for: John Egbert when his friend is his sister and his dad is his half-brother: John Egbert when he dies ignoble deaths at the hands of manipulators: John Egbert when Fruit Gushers are a Betty Crocker product: MENTAL BREAKDOWN

Dude's got his priorities straight.

@mhafanlol2000 asked: I’m taking an IT course next year, and I want a head start during this summer. Would you know any free beginner’s courses to any languages that would help in that department?

I'll always champion W3Schools as a great first port of call for tech self-learning. All the resources I've found there are well-put together, and let you test your code out in-browser.

As I mentioned to a previous asker, I'd recommend starting with the C language if you're genuinely interested in programming. It's a little harder to use than other, more high-level languages, but it'll teach you more about programming than they will. I'd liken it to learning to drive in manual, rather than automatic. You lose nothing, and acquire skills you wouldn't otherwise know about.

@caliquill submitted:

i'd like to briefly point out this tidbit of the first conversation eridan has with kanaya @krixwell asked: Gamzee to Equius, page 2221: "iF i CoUlD mAkE yOu SmIlE iT'd Be ThE bEsT fUcKiN mIrAcLe I eVeR dId PaRt Of." @dopplesgryndthloggle asked: I'm just gonna put this here: pg 2221 TC: WhAt CaN i Do To MaKe A bRoThEr FuCkIn ShApE hIs ShIt Up? TC: iF i CoUlD mAkE yOu SmIlE iT'd Be ThE bEsT fUcKiN mIrAcLe I eVeR dId PaRt Of. TC: hOnK hOnK hOnK! :o)

...this comic is going to go absolutely wild on a reread, isn't it?

Anonymous asked: oh god no, the clown got you :(

Thanks for the migraine, Gamzee!!

@5am-nztime asked: Insert the one millionth "The Heir of Void, Devoid of Air" joke you've probably gotten. I love dramatic irony

You're actually the only person who sent this one in - and I'm glad you did. It's kind of killing me.

Anonymous asked: a common interpretation is that equius smiles because he knows nepeta might find his body and he doesn't want her to think he died in pain :((

Shit, that's kind of devastating. That said, he had no reason to think Gamzee would leave his body where it was - but that said, he clearly wasn't thinking straight at the time.

Anonymous asked: fun little detail: the ==> leading to equius taking an arrow to the knee is replaced with an arrow, -->

He used to be a Sgrub Player like us :(

Anonymous asked: The idea that he somehow has the freakin' WARHAMMER OF ZILLYHOO in his jokerkind specibus but he STILL only brings out a low-tier pair of juggling clubs is somehow even more intimidating

Where did he even get the thing? When did he get it? Is this from before or after the Pen-Pal got their hands on it?

...if Gamzee is the Pen-Pal, I'm quitting the comic.

@morganwick asked: Well, as long as you don't know for sure whether Nepeta died, you could say… she's both alive and dead until she's observed? @ipunchvampires asked: By cutting away from Nepeta's fate, it's technically ambiguous right now whether she's alive or dead, since we cannot observe her. So you could say that she… heh heh, that she's Sch… she's Schröding…

....oh, god damn it.

Anonymous asked: I feel like there should be an intermission style counter. 4/12 Alien Children Murdered.

If you include Aradia and Vriska, the tally's up to seven. Murderstuck started a long time ago, it seems.

Anonymous asked: i would like to think equius says b100 like how boris johnson says blue in that one interview where he mentions the us brand new BLUE passports or whatever

I also think his voice suits Equius's character fairly well...

Anonymous asked: To be fair on the “overwhelmingly violent purplebloods” angle, Gamzee was stoned out of his mind basically 24/7 until they got to the meteor, so they probably would’ve thought it was a nonissue. […]

I suppose. But if everyone knows purplebloods are habitual murderers, I don't know why you'd ever let one into your friend group. There's always a possibility that one day, his slime delivery will be late, and he'll snap your neck for fun.

@wickedsick asked: You know, this would be the perfect spot for a paradox space intermission. You can read the fluffy comics to wash the taste of blood out of your mouth!

I thought about it - but in the end, I decided to liveblog the Paradox Space comics at the point in the comic where they were released.

Otherwise, Cat'd have to spoiler-check each comic with a fine-toothed comb, and I'd have to delay many of them anyway. Better to get them all out at once.

Anonymous asked: considering that eridan was on feeding duty for gl'bgolyb and had to kill lusii year round under apocaliptic threat im not surprised his response under pressure is to kill something

It really says a lot about the difference between him and Vriska, doesn't it? Vriska's reaction to killing Tavros was a full on existential crisis, but Eridan's first reaction to killing Feferi was to immediately kill again.

@witchoflight asked: hey sally i just wanna remind you of the conversation that dave and gamzee have, specifically about the line: "TC: My mInD'S NoT ThAt sHaRp nOw tHoUgH, iT'S BeEn aGeS SiNcE I HaD A GoOd pIe" gamzee hasn't had access to sopor for WEEKS, not since they entered the game. […]

Was he sober, though? He's still acting stoned, and using his original quirk, so if he did sober up, he must have immediately decided to pretend he didn't, and then arbitrarily reveal himself as sober later on.

To me, it feels like it just took a while for the slime's effects to fully fade. It might genuinely have taken a month for it all to leave his system.

@mimescantscream asked: Now that Gamzee has swiftly become the most important character, any thoughts on his transformation?

It's weirdly drastic, isn't it?

Like, if he was hiding this personality under sedatives this entire time, surely we should have seen some hint of it, in all the time we've known him. We've even been in his head, and he seemed like exactly who he appeared to be.

Was Gamzee unaware of this latent personality? Do we have a Jekyll and Hyde situation on our hands? He does say he's 'both' of his messiahs...

@elkian asked: You've now reached the point where I can (probably) say that the common fandom Exile match for Kanaya is Problem Sleuth, as he has the Vampire schema mode. (Plus a jade-green ultimate attack.)

Oh, I love that for her. We better be seeing Team Sleuth in some form before the end, even if it's just a cameo.

@krixwell asked: I think you're blaming the wrong chat program. Trollian is an advanced alien chat program powered by futuristic sci-fan shenanigans, with features specifically designed to allow the user to choose the timeframe at which they try to contact someone. Pesterchum, not so much. Pesterchum if anything is retro, with only the most barebones of 1-on-1 chat features, a status setting that barely changes anything unless you're rancorous, and a block feature that seemingly fails to recognize incoming Trollian connections from the same user at different times (possibly Trollian's fault). Even setting aside the frogskin barrier, it's a wonder the two programs can communicate at all. So when someone uses Pesterchum to contact a Trollian user whose timeline is entirely separate from their own, with no interface to pick a timeframe on, how exactly is either program supposed to know when to contact them?

I guess most of our nonlinear conversations have been Trollian-to-Pesterchum.

Karkat has tied himself into knots over memos, but that is admittedly a slightly different use case.

And can I just say, I love the concept of a 'frogskin barrier'. These two parties have been beaming messages from frog-to-frog this entire time, and the walls between their dimensions are literally made of skin.

@captorations asked: consider: this means that the sbahj joke that following kanaya's death was actually foreshadowing given the comic it's from

I can't fucking believe this.

Anonymous asked: tbh i'll never get over how the presumable FIRST THING kanaya did upon coming back to life was just. to wade through the horn pile to drink blood from a corpse.

Vriska's getting a little competition for Troll Of All Time!

@morganwick asked: I mean, technically Jade was already in the Fruity Rumpus Asshole Factory, it was just with two Karkats and Dave only made a brief appearance.

16-player fruity rumpus argument or we riot

Anonymous asked: do you think you'll liveblog tsg if you read it?

I wasn't planning on it, but if there's a lot of demand, I'll definitely think about it. If I was to liveblog any fanfic, it'd probably be that one, since it's a proper 'event fanfiction' from the author of TLT.

Anonymous asked: re: the ultimate riddle: karkat actually already explained it on page 1903. basically its just some more timeloop/alpha timeline predestination stuff

The sense I got was that there was a section of the conversation that we missed.

On Skaia, John begins a conversation with an early version of Karkat about the Ultimate Riddle, but the camera moves away before they really get into it. Then, on the Veil, an early Karkat shows up to continue a point he was making about the Riddle, implying that there's a section of this conversation that was deliberately obfuscated.

I initially thought that the Riddle was the mystery of Sburb itself - ie, what the point of the game is. I still think that's probably pretty close, but I do wish we got this full conversation, just in case.

Anonymous asked: “Scratch positioned [Vriska] as someone who will perpetuate a monumental, large-scale mistake, and I don't think there's anything she could do on the Veil that fits the bill.” When John was about to prototype jades sprite with a broken doll, Vriska made him fall asleep, and Becquerel jumped in the sprite instead, leading to Jack Noir becoming an unbeatable boss and destroying the trolls session. I think that could be the perpetuation of a large scale mistake.

Possibly. But as violent as Jack is, I don't think he's a huge threat to the rest of the multiverse.

He takes hours to rampage through a session, but there are presumably trillions of sessions out there in the multiverse. From a top-level perspective, he's not doing meaningful damage, and it's certainly within Vriska's comprehension.

I actually think Vriska's going to do something much worse than make Jack. If she contributes to the creation of Lord English, for example, she might be breaking something that can't be repaired.

Anonymous asked: Honestly its a little sad though right? That the troll kids are snapping and dying? Like yeah they were raised on a violent murder planet but also, they're all still 13 years old and have been without their means of Sleeping Naturally for a while (the sopor slime is how trolls usually get sleep) not being an apologist or anything but the murders could've been prevented with healthy moraillegences and good nights sleep.

Oh, it's horrific, that should go without saying. If the trolls had got some decent shuteye, it'd have kept them stable for at least slightly longer.

#asks #full liveblog #act 5.2

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luztoyeweek · 3 months ago

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LUZTOYE WEEK 2024 RECS - DAY FIVE

recced in chronological order of posting in the luztoye week collection.

for anymore in-depth recs on any fics below, send either an anonymous or not ask and i'll give more of my thoughts.

TRIP INTO LOVE BY SPINTERESTING (@spinteresting)

Joe's girlfriend breaks up with him a week before Bill's wedding. George suggests that they fake date to make her jealous. They trip into love.

rated e // 3.5k // modern/fake dating au // a wonderful fic with incredible details and a firm grip on characterization, along with being super sweet and fascinating.

ALDBOURNE NIGHTS BY CHERRYTART (@rosemaryandbrine)

He picks a sprig of fern from the hedgerow and twirls it between his fingers to the tune in his head. He hates being so fucking philosophical about this, like a dame in a railway pulp. He doesn't even have a cute little hat like they would. There's no point in being anything else, though. He and Joe are friends. It's a nice morning. He can, if he tries a little, see the funny side. george luz doesn't feel any kind of way about joe toye, or the girls he goes home with. no, really.

rated t // 7.4k // canon era // absolutely gorgeous and SUCH good writing, especially with period typical queerness and The Luztoye Relationship. also has absolutely stunning luz character work and is just overall absolutely beautiful <3

WHERE ARE YOU KNOW, ORPHEUS? BY GABBARONI (@ackackh)

By the time you found him tangled in the lily pads and finally dragged him onto the muddy beach, he’d gone still. Eyelids half-closed, mouth open. You look at his sternum, at the place where you tried to expel the water from his lungs. If he were alive it would bruise. He isn’t; it doesn’t. You’re there when it happens and you don’t save him. That’s the worst part. Or, the summer Joe dies, George walks into Hell.

rated t // 14.4k // orpheus and eurydice au // i cried more than i have for literally any other fic i've ever read, this is absolutely stunning with incredible mental imagery and absolutely beautiful prose.

KNUCKLES ON FLESH BY ANNIEBUGGIE (@luzlylovely)

The rules were simple; bare knuckles, the rounds continued until a man went down, breaks between rounds lasted thirty seconds, and the men fought as hard as the umpires and referee allowed. It's 1815 and Joe is an illegal boxer and George is an annoying spectator that's getting on his nerves. It's tense, it's sweaty, it's historical, it's for Luztoye week!

rated e // 5.7k // historical au // an incredibly regency-esq au with beautiful luztoye interactions and wonderful writing for both luz and toye and their growing warmth.

#luztoyeweek2024 #fic recs #band of brothers #luztoye #hbo war #george luz #joe toye #joseph toye

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queeenarii · 4 months ago

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Wash Day with nct 127

I don't rly write for the other 127 members other than Johnny and sometimes Yuta, Taeyong and Doyoung. So I ran out of cute ideas by the time I got to Johnny 😭😭

Taeil

Taeil didn't really know how to help you. He kind of just ar on the sidelines providing moral support. Anytime you forgot something (or if you have locs and you forgot the backing away for your ACV rinse) he was there to get it for you.

"Ah- I can to start the shower for you. Let the water heat up"

Johnny

Johnny had walked in from practice to you laying in the floor, your head deep in a pool of water. You explained to him that you were doing an ACV rise , and he asked if he could help in any way. He helped move the water through your hair, scubing your locs and scalp clean. After your shower he sat and kept you company as you out in your leave in conditioners and other things. He offers to do your nails as you sat under the dryer, after getting a retweet. Smiling up at you triumphantly when he was done.

"What... Are you doing? Oh can I help? "

"Are your arms tired, can I try?"

"Interlocking and palm rolling? Ive never heard of those before but okay"

Taeyong

Taeyong was extremely curious about your hair care regiment. He had tried some of your products in his hair but they didn't work. One day he approached you and asked what they did for your hair so he could try and understand them. He then began to do more research on his own, getting an in depth understanding of curlier hair products. When he would go overseas he would find different products that he thought might work for you. When y'all would get ready to go out together he'd spray your hair for you. If you have a fro or looser style he'd help you reach the back of it making sure no knots were present. If you had locks he would help you style the lm gently placing them in there correct position.

"I found this cream in the store here, it said it's good deo your hair type. I can get it if you'd like. "

"Let me, I see some areas that you missed"

Yuta

This wasn't yura first rodeo. In fact he knew it was wash day before you knew. He loved the subtle nonsexual intimacy that went into doing your hair. He educated him self on a number of products and styles that he thought you'd like. Hed realize when your conditionee was getting empty and would order you a new one. He felt it a small consolation for him being gone so much. H loved showing that he cared about you and your hair as much as you did. He really liked helping you grease your scalp, loving how refreshed you said it made you feel.

"I got someone of that oil you use"

"I heard that the formula changed in that cream, is it still working for you? "

"It's wash day tomorrow yeah? Can I help? We can watch the episode of that anime"

Doyoung

Doyoung knew how much this meant to you, the trust that you out into him to help with your hair. So he took his task very seriously. You asked him to help part your hair for a style you wanted to do. And boy was he good at it. He took his time, and constantly asked if he was hurting you. You don't know when he got so good at it. But your parts were crisp and clean ��🏾😌. When he was done hole announced it timidly, asking how well he did. When you told him he did great, his smile grew super big a slight blush forming on his cheeks.

"Is this okay?"

"Ah- that didn't hurt did it, I'm sorry"

"Hold on, i just need a bit more gel here and you'll be good"

Jaehyun

Your silly boy friend while happy to help couldn't help but entertain himself. You two were showering together (no funny business 👀) and you asked him to help shampoo and conditioner your hair. The shampooing started out nice. His fingers gently massaging your scalp. But the bubbles intices him. His fingers left from your scalp, and you turned around to see him trying to make a beard our of bubbles. You simply deadpaned him then you two started busting out loudly.

"What, you don't like my facial hair? "

Jungwoo

Jungwoo had entered your room asking what smelled so good, wondering if you had sweets. You reply no, much to his dismay, but instead directed him to your assortment of hair goods. The smell was inticing and Jungwoo wanted to know what each product was for. You patiently explained each peduct as you worked in into your hair. Jungwoo infront of you eyes wide with curiosity.

"Whats that one do?... Oh but why does it smell like apricots? "

Mark

Mark was nothing but dedicated. When you told him about your upcoming wash day he started to research different things that you might need. He offered to take you to the store and pick up any items you didn't have. You asked him to help you comb your hair through, and while he was nerverous at first, he eventually got into the groove of it. Picking up the task easily as he does most things.

"Yo what? I can try but Ive never done this before dude"

"I gotchu I gotchu, I think I get it now"

"Ooooh shit, nah this actually looks good yo"

Haechan

Haechan is a little menance. You had showed him the style you wanted, and of course he had things to say about it. He scoured the internet for a better hairstyle. And as much as you hate to admit it, the one he found was better. He watches the video that accompanied it intently. Helping you with the tricker sections. In the end he beamed proudly at you, coming and calling your cute.

"I think this style would be better, itll for your face more, and it would go cute with the outfit you showed me the other day"

"I was right! You look so cute, I did so good"

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every-single-day · 4 months ago

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Outsiders 6/2 Recap Yap!

Probably spoilers

- I quite literally cannot get over how INSANE the sound design and lighting design are. Like, I can’t even express my thoughts about it. I wish they could have gotten 5 of each of those Tony’s. Absolutely insane.

- idk if this is how it normally plays out, but Brody didn’t catch two-bit’s keys in Grease Got a Hold and started hitting the floor in anger I was crying

- I was not prepared for how FUNNY this show is !!!!! Every single joke lands and my god there are so many

- LIGHTING DESIGN IN GREAT EXPECTATIONS HNNNNNNNNNNG

- Pony and Johnny’s Danny Zuko ass walks when they go to sit with Cherri and Marcia took me OUTTTTTTT

- “I’m quite an artistic person actually.”

- WHY DID THEY VILLAINIZE DARRY SO HARD???? I know I just asked for Darry angst BUT I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT

- Darry still my favorite character idc

- it would be easier to count the actual similarities between the book and the musical than it would be to count the differences atp but y’know I’m not really mad about them. Adam Rapp ate.

- the only change I don’t like is that Pony doesn’t miss his curfew because he and Johnny fell asleep in the lot :( I feel like that’s a pretty essential scene for understanding the depth of their friendship / Johnny’s mental state

- Brody’s mic got FUCKED after the fountain scene he didn’t have full sound until his last 3 words in Run Run Brother

- THE FIGHT CHOREO?!?!?!?

- I see what Jason meant now when he said they changed everything to match the language of the rumble. Wow.

- they really went in on the whole “everything is Ponyboy’s fault” thing damn let my baby breathe

- the way it goes AHHHHH FIRE PONY JOHNNY DALLY NOOOOOO 🔥🔥 and then very abruptly to “Well I woke up this morning 😁” is kinda jarring ngl

- no Curtis brothers reunion 😠

- the applause after the rumble was CRAZY. 30 seconds of cheering and clapping in pitch black darkness.

- Cherri went to visit Johnny in the hospital??? The musical really saves her character I love that for her

- Joshua fucking Boone. I sat there unmoving (was I breathing?) for a solid 5 minutes after Little Brother. I didn’t know what to do.

- I didn’t cry???? Like at all???? I think I was, and lowkey still am, in a state of shock

- YO SODA IS SO FUNNY

- met the whole cast at SD 😀 (except Emma, Sky, and Renni they were out)

- I LOVE YOU BRENT COMER

- Brent’s sharpie ran out of ink and the lady next to me offered to give him hers and he went “😏 i meannnnn I’m not gonna say NO”

- told Jason Schmidt he changed my life when he dropped “chilling in the dressing room” and he started dying laughing and said it changed his life too

- I MADE JASON SCHMIDT LAUGH

- KWP’s teeth are so perfect but he actually terrifies me

- Josh and Rj are so so sweet

- I was the only person in my section who knew Rj (at least by name) and he was so honored and started asking about my day and stuff 😭 then I ran into him again after SD and we talked more and took a super cute pic ugh I love him

- Joshua Boone and I had a spiritual “only black people in the room” connection and when I tell yall we had a MOMENT !!!! I love that man

- I literally saw Brodington Grantifer. With my own two eyes. 10 feet away from me. We made eye contact for half a second. (And then he got manhandled because people are shit and don’t understand how to respect boundaries.)

I probably have more thoughts but those can be posted later when/if I remember them

#the outsiders #outsiders musical #outsiders broadway #spoilers

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galaxywrites · 3 months ago

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Personally I love my chaotic found family troupe. Can you describe each of them?

Hopefully I do this right and understood the ask anon 👍 My little ramble thoughts have also been put here for the kast.

Liu Kang ❪ 🔥 ❫ the new emperor of the dead. It was Liu Kang's idea for them to stay, and be the kind of people that the citizens of the Netherrealm would aspire to follow. He is still bitter over Raiden and the mistakes that led to all of them being killed, but it is more simmering now that Quan Chi's magic isn't amplifying it.

Kitana ❪ 💙 ❫ the empress of the dead and one of two new rulers of the Netherrealm. She spent a lot of time considering what kind of leader she wanted to be, and heavily relies on counsel to make any major decisions. However, she is protective of each and every person that is among her subjects. She's gotten into so many fights over defending her friends' honor, it's not even funny.

Jade ❪ �� ❫ Kitana’s right hand in decision making. She can usually be found sparring with Tomàš, though those two are usually found together. She and Tomàš have formed a bond almost akin to siblings, with her acting as an older sister to him most days. ... She makes a lot of staff/bo puns.

Nightwolf ❪ 🐺 ❫ the peace keeper of the group. The unofficial dad of this group of trauma bonded adults, some with more trauma then they have time to unpack. He has personally gotten them all a therapist because, dear god, do all of them need one. Some more than others. Wise advice is common to hear from him, and he's probably the third oldest of the group, other than Kitana and Jade, I imagine he would have been in his early to mid forties by the time he died.

Kabal ❪ 🪽 ❫ think of him as like, the news person in the Netherrealm. Kabal goes from city to city, town to town in the Netherrealm to spread the latest news due to his super speed. Due to the revenants still being technically dead, I don't think he needs his mask, but more so he wears it so he doesn't scare anyone.

Stryker ❪ 👮 ❫ Kurt usually goes to the nearest village and helps out the Netherrealmer children. He also helps out with farmers, and has taken an interest in how plant life grows in the Netherrealm. He always has something to talk Kabal's ear off when the man returns to the castle. [He's enjoying the domestic life.]

Tomàš ❪ 🩶 ❫ while he doesn't have an official role in terms of he isn't either of the rulers right hands, Tomàš can usually be found around Jade, Nightwolf, or Kitana, or on very rare occasions, making neck jokes with Kung Lao. But occasionally, he'll disappear into the depths of the Netherrealm to find and speak to the old members of the Lin Kuei. (He has even roped/bribed Bi-Han into doing odd jobs for the castle.) In the early days of the group trying to help the Netherrealm, Tomàš is very reserved as he actually doesn't know any of them that well, and the first person he opened up to was Jade. Also I just feel like he's a bit feral, so there's also that... ++ He has caught the attention of many Netherrealm inhabitants who recognize that he is an enenra. He's basically been dubbed as everyone's little brother at this point.

++ Enenra is also present here. But they are more so a background force apart of Tomàš' character. But I've written them as more of a protective force that only kicks in when Tomàš' life is in danger. Given the fact that Enenra was born/created from when Tomàš died as a child, I feel that they really only want what is best for Tomàš, and only takes over his body when they feel Tomàš needs their protection. If killing is necessary to protect the boy (he isn't a boy anymore), then so be it.

Kung Lao ❪ 👒 ❫ Liu Kang's right hand. Very rarely does he leave Liu Kang's side, but when he does, you can usually find him around the castle. Honestly? The only person that has since made it to Earthrealm to troll Raiden, and reassure Kung Jin that he and everyone else is doing fine. (He went back and ripped his family a new one for kicking Jin out, though.) Kung Lao.. has a terrible habit of making neck jokes and causing Smoke to laugh his ass off at them, because they were both killed in the same manner. It's funny for them, but Nightwolf is concerned.

There is also a little shipping in this au 🤏 but not much.

#mortal kombat #tomas vrbada #nightwolf #kitana #jade #liu kang #kung lao #kurtis stryker #kabal #freed revenants au #galaxywrites #ask answered

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kadextra · 4 months ago

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I ended up watching the ninjago dr s2p2 eps today bc I was scared of being spoiled (heck no I couldn’t last until october)

my thoughts below! warning lots of spoilers!

OVERALL? IT WAS GOOD. ENJOYABLE!

The final episode was the best I think, it was a great culmination of all the arcs and mysteries. seeing the elemental powers was cool as it usually is! personally I want to know more about that demon-y species (you know the one, I already forgot their name rip) they look so awesome

Jordana surprised me the most and I was super impressed with her character. Lloyd coming to terms with being a master felt good to see, I am proud of my boy. Ras is a great character as always, and Rox was interesting. WHAT is going on with Master Wu I need answers??? Roby and the relationship with him & Wyldfire was adorable too! it’s a funny contrast and they’re such dorks I laughed out loud at the “WyFi” nickname, of course the internet kid would think of that 😭

Now I’m gonna talk a bit more in depth about my least liked thing, and then my favorite thing

The Jay confrontation… decent. okay. felt a bit lacking to me. I wanted to see more of how he interacted with Ras’ crew :(( the lack of reaction showed from the ninja, who are seeing their friend after such a long time and On The Villain’s Side was kinda disappointing. especially when he pulled out the shatterspin. although Nya’s reaction and their interactions were the best!!! I loved her trying to get through to him, meanwhile he was being really cruel. her wanting to chase him down right afterwards too. and while I was sad Jay left as quick as he appeared and couldn’t cause more problems, I have to say I’m relieved the plot went like This instead of like… him instantly getting his memory back as soon as he saw them. that was my biggest fear ngl I would’ve been so upset 😭 happy with what we got in comparison! and I’m really glad Jay left while angrily holding a grudge!! hope he gets worse <3

As for my favorite- the Arin plotline. I’m glad our son got to do cool stuff even while not being a tournament participant, even better that it was cool detective stuff. I knew he’d get upset at Sora if he found out she lied to him, and yeah he did. more upset then I thought. watching him push her away hurt </3 I enjoyed the steady buildup of his realizations, reunion with his childhood friend Frack, his thoughts changing about Ras, (light in the dark & dark in the light) all of it leading to that major decision in the final episode. “I NEED HIM” had me jumping in my seat fr. I’m excited to see what will happen with them in the future

overall good. part one was stronger and better paced imo, but part two has left more interesting things open to develop. season 3 is looking to be really promising! the wait is going to be painful

I enjoyed this whole season and will be watching p2 again officially when october rolls around ofc, make sure you do too :3

#ninjago #ninjago spoilers #ninjago dragons rising spoilers #tdp s6… you’ll have to wait till tomorrow

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sillyandquiteawkward · 5 months ago

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I'm super late to the party but did you watch the fallout show? And what are your thoughts? I have a few little ones like:

How well they portrayed the BOS as a militant cult

The prewar stuff. First 7 minutes of the pilot episode had me so on edge

The video-gamey hyperviolence was gross, sure, accurately translated from game to cinema

me and ray have watched about half of it and we mystery science theater-ed it the whole way and heckled the fuck out of it. needless to say, not a big fan.

but thats so funny the first prewar segment i was so pissed off. the bombs dropping immediately right next to them was written so stupid. just took out any grounding in reality and grace i had just immediately. really did set the tone for the whole thing that it would not be for me. like. i thought the sole survivor and the vault 111 people seeing and getting blasted (yet remaining perfectly fine) as they went down was stupid too. this was just ten times worse bc it was SO focused on. GAH

not even mentioning they branded the black main character on screen for no reason, named the enclave scientist directly after a real life holocaust survivor (to the point it muddies his google results) and then carried his decapitated head around as the macguffin (bc they invented a disgusting prosthetic leg to be so cruel that he killed himself over it. way to go honoring a holocaust concentration camp survivor???), the uncaring anti-recovery view on ghoul/drug recovery and weird parallels they tried to equivilate it to turning feral and drug addicts having a point of no return, plus more im sure bc we hadnt even finished the series? lots of people have written more in depth posts about the weird n bad shit the fallout tv show decided to do for some reason.

that said, i did really like in broad strokes how they were characterizing maximus and his relationship with the bos and how power and expectation and cycles of abuse corrupt. but i also havent seen how his arc ends. however the writers view that the wasteland is just a suffering machine i think fails to consider that fallout doesnt have to just be about lets blow each other up with nukes and kill each other for fun. functioning society exists in this post post apocalyptic world and theres plenty of interesting stories to be told about THAT.

i havent played classic fallouts yet but when i learned about the narrative repercussion of the original bloody mess trait, i think it fundamentally changed my view on how modern fallouts idea of gore and savagery for just the spectacle. without saying anything about it. fallout nowadays feels like it rings hollow, but the tv show tended to ring with like. really weird things to say that i wish it didnt.

anyway yeah.

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teaandransacking · 2 years ago

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I'm a fan of yours on ao3 and I binged your The Devil All the Time series this week - so good OMFG - and your soft smut is immaculate.

Would you bless us with some Lucy/Lockwood first time smut including the Lockwood Pajamas (tm)?

First of all YOU HAVE READ THAT FIC? I feel like only about 10 people in the world read that, and I loved writing it. Thankyou.

Just for you, please enjoy some 5-ply soft, non explicit smut.

Let's pretend these characters are 18 or older, OK? OK.

except when we went from friends to this

Words: 2500 ~ Pairing: Anthony Lockwood x Lucy Carlyle ~ Content: super soft non explicit, dreamy first-time sex.

It all begins with a present from Flo.

Lockwood is confused at first. A hotel? He hasn’t been inside a hotel - the ones that are unhaunted, anyway - since he was a small boy in a boy size suit, eating afternoon tea with his parents on his birthday. The memory makes him feel funny, and he rubs his hand over his chest as he looks down at the shiny voucher, out of place against the cheap formica of the cafe tabletop.

Flo frowns. “I hope I didn’t overstep, Locky. It’s your birthday, after all, and I thought - well, you could take Lucy with you-”

He looks up at that, and a different sort of emotion makes his chest tight. Fantasy snapshots flit through his mind. Lucy, walking down the grand staircase of a fancy hotel, a cocktail dress flaring out from her hips. Lucy, covered up to her neck in bubbles in a fancy hotel bathtub.

He could give her that.

He traces his finger along the edge of the card. “How did you get this?”

“Bartered for it, didn’t I. Amazing what you can get when you’ve got an… eclectic skill set like mine.”

Lockwood thinks it’s best he doesn’t ask any more questions about that.

“What about George?” he blurts out, wondering if the other young man will feel left out.

Flo smiles slowly. “You know I’ve never been entirely altruistic, Locky. If you and Lucy are out, well, I’ll have George and his ghormeh sabzi all to myself, won’t I?”

Oh. Lockwood looks down into his cup of tea, feeling a flush creep up his neck. “Right. And he’s…. Okay with it?”

“Would I have asked if he wasn’t?” She grins.

Thinking about the implications of her smile and her words too long makes Lockwood think of the time with the yoga, so he blinks the image away, sipping tea. “Thankyou,” he says eventually. “This is really kind. I appreciate it.”

Flo grins that cheshire cat grin again. “No, you don’t. But you will.”

He doesn’t rise to the bait, but tucks the gold-edged voucher away safely inside his coat.

He knows what Flo thinks is going to happen if he takes Lucy to the hotel. Maybe it will, and maybe it won’t, but what Lockwood wants most is just to be with her, uninterrupted time, where they can talk and cuddle and laugh and relax, without the threat of Visitors - or any other kind of unwanted guests.

Perhaps he’ll get the Do Not Disturb sign and hang it on the door as soon as they arrive.

If Lucy agrees to go, that is.

####

“The Connaught?” Lucy exclaims, almost knocking over her mug of tea. She grabs it just in time, so that only a few drops spill over the edge. Her eyes are wide with excitement, and Lockwood could just drown in them, wade into those clear depths and never look back, not for anything. “That’s the poshest hotel in England!”

“So you want to go, then?” He asks, nerves cramping his stomach. “With me, I mean.”

She gives him a funny look. “Who else would I want to go with?”

He reaches across the table, from his position opposite her, runs his index finger over the back of her hand. “I wanted to be sure.”

Lucy turns her hand over, palm upwards, and tangles their fingers together. “You are a bit of an idiot sometimes, you know that?”

Relief makes his shoulders slump, and he feels the grin spread across his face. “I am well aware.”

####

Dinner’s at eight, the desk clerk informs them, but it’s not included in their room rate.

“Not to worry,” Lucy murmurs as they head off towards the stairs with their room key, “I packed a picnic we can eat on the carpet.”

He loves her. If he wasn’t entirely sure of it before, he is now.

The room somehow manages to be cavernous but cosy. How that’s achieved, he has no idea, and right now, he can’t bring himself to care as he watches Lucy run for the huge bed and launch herself on to it. She bounces, laughing, and it’s been so long since he’s heard her laugh like that, carefree, and when she lands, her gaze finds him.

“Come on, then! You can’t come all the way here and not bounce on this bed.”

“It’s only Mayfair,” he points out, but the smile on his face is completely irrepressible. He feels like he has to add, “at least take off your shoes.”

Lucy laughs, but wiggles to the end of the bed and shucks off her boots. “Come on, Lockwood. Remove the stick from up your arse for once.”

She says it so fondly that he can’t be annoyed, even a little bit. Truth be told, he was a bit of a stick in the mud before her, before George.

He toes off his trainers and shoves them aside before walking to the bed. For a second he falters, wondering what to do. He would have known, once, before his entire family was taken from him, before-

Lucy grabs his hand and tugs him, and he falls on top of her, their bodies flush, and she looks up at him in surprise, her lips parted slightly, and it’s an invitation he simply can’t refuse. He settles his forearms either side of her head and then he touches his mouth to hers.

It starts off soft and sweet, like many of their kisses, mostly chaste, and then she slides a hand up into his hair and sighs into his mouth, and suddenly everything inside him is on fire.

“Lucy,” he groans, drawing back to look at her. Her lips are kiss-swollen and her titian hair is spread out over the crisp, snow-white bedsheets. He’s seen some of the finest art in the known world, and none of it, not a single painting, compares to having Lucy Carlyle warm and willing under him, her gaze lust-soft and her cheeks flushed.

She smooths his hair back from where it falls over his forehead. “I did really want to see you jump on the bed, but I think this is better.”

It’s very difficult to think when their bodies are so perfectly lined up, especially since he’s never been this close to her without interruption, but he concentrates and makes himself form a reply. “I’ll do a cartwheel over the bed later if it’ll make you laugh, but for now - wild horses couldn’t pull me away from this moment.”

“You can do a cartwheel?” she asks, her brows arching up, but his expression must be a reply all in itself, because she presses her lips closed and then frames his face between her hands. “I love it here, too. I’ve, er, been thinking for a while that it’d be nice to have some time together. Hard to relax when anyone might overhear.”

“Yeah. That’s not really my thing,” Lockwood agrees.

Mischief flits across Lucy’s beautiful face. “I’d like to find out what is your thing.” And she lets her body go soft under his, spreading her legs so he’s cradled right there and his brain completely short circuits at the sensation, even through their layers of clothes.

“Have mercy,” he manages to whisper.

“On the great Anthony bloody Lockwood? Never,” she whispers, but there’s gentleness in her voice. “How about a bath, first?”

That makes him immediately imagine her naked, and for another second he can’t form a single coherent thought.

Lucy shakes her head, laughs softly, but it’s a sweet laugh, a kind, warm one. He doesn’t protest when she rolls their bodies and then hops off him, standing and holding out her hand. “Come on. A proper bath, in a proper big bath tub, with fancy bubbles! I have never had fancy bubbles!”

Lockwood has to blink again to get the cogs in his brain to turn, and then he lets himself be led into what turns out to be a palatial bathroom. It’s all sleek marble floor tiles and travertine walls, and the claw foot tub rises from the floor, a porcelain leviathan, waiting to be filled, and all he can do is stand there and imagine Lucy in it, the water fanning out her hair, and her eyes closed, long lashes resting on her cheeks.

She turns on the taps, fits the plug in the circular hole, and then eyes him. “Clothes.”

He blinks at her. “Yes. I packed them.”

Lucy rolls her eyes. “We can’t get in the bath with clothes on, Lockwood.” She grins at him, and there she is, sarcastic as ever, and suddenly he feels at home again. “I’ll turn around if you like.”

Heat floods his face, and he starts to acquiesce, and then he realises, he doesn’t want her to turn around. He wants to feel her gaze on him as he undresses, and then he wants to see her peel her own layers away, and he wants to sink into the hot water with her, feel the silk of her skin and slide soapy hands over her-

And then he’s obviously dawdled too long, because Lucy crosses the space between them and starts unwinding his tie. He gazes down at her, at the overhead lights glinting off her gorgeous, silky red hair, and he drops a kiss on her forehead.

She looks up, a small smile on her lips, and continues with her ministrations until his tie lies limp around his neck, either side of the collar of his white shirt.

“I can do the rest,” he says softly.

She steps back, grinning, her eyes eating him up, and in that moment, he feels like he could take on the world, if only he could carry the light in her gaze with him always.

He discards the tie, unbuttons the shirt. He’s been shirtless in front of her before, for short periods - one memorable time when she couldn’t sleep and came to talk to him at midnight when he was already undressed - but never like this, with this superheated air between their bodies.

Lockwood shrugs the shirt off and it falls to the floor in a whisper of cotton. He doesn’t look at what he’s doing, only at her, and the naked want in her eyes could sustain him for days.

The metal buckle of his belt clinks loudly as he unbuckles it, stepping out of his trousers and pulling off his socks, and then he’s barefoot in the fancy, high-ceiling bathroom, wearing only black boxers, and for a moment, nerves shred his stomach, but then Lucy hooks a finger in the waistband of his underwear and pulls him close to kiss him, and his fears unravel into warm yearning. His arms go around her and he holds her as their mouths whisper over each other.

Then she draws back, smiling a little, and moves to turn off the taps. “Nice and full. Water’s going to get cold. Can’t waste it.”

He glances over at the veritable lake. No bubbles, but they’ve got all night. They can always have another bath later. He opens his mouth to tell her that it’s her turn to take off her clothes, but instead hears himself say, “Might I - can I - undress you?”

Her eyes spark. “Since you ask so nicely. Come here, then.”

Lockwood joins her by the rolltop side of the bath, his hands going to the hem of her jumper, fingers curling in the softness of it, and then she lifts her arms obligingly, and he gently tugs it off. It goes the way of his clothes, unmissed, and her tank top and jeans and socks follow, and then she stands, pale and perfect in her underwear, and the shape of her blows every one of his fantasies out of the water.

Lucy whispers, “I think we’re still wearing too many clothes for a bath,” and he grins at her, and they help each other with the last of their garments, and then climb into the tub, gazing at each other.

The bottle of body wash is glass, and scented with citrus and bergamot, and it’s silky-smooth when they wash each other with it, learning the angles and curves and lines and soft spaces of each other’s bodies. There’s no words, but there’s no need for any, not when they’re cocooned here together, warm and wet and safe and together.

The water is tepid, almost cold, when they leave the bath, and Lockwood wraps Lucy in a huge, soft bath towel, and then himself, and she laughs when they run to the bed together, snuggling under the covers until they’re warm again.

Lockwood isn’t sure who makes the first move - he’s pretty sure it’s Lucy, of course it is - but one moment they’re cuddling, talking softly, and then next moment, she’s straddling his hips, looking down at him with large, soft eyes, and being under her is bliss unlike any he’s ever experienced.

“I haven’t ever - that is…” he begins, settling his hands on her hips, wanting something, wanting everything, except to disappoint her. He couldn’t bear it.

She drops a kiss on his mouth. “I haven’t either, but I’m almost certain we’ll figure it out together.”

And they do, for the first time, and the pleasure is intense and overwhelming and so much more than he could ever have expected.

He learns what to do to make Lucy sigh his name, how to make her hands fist in the bedsheets, and he does it several more times, before they eventually remember that picnic, and they eat it wearing their pajamas, sat on the carpet, looking through the big picture window up at the stars.

“I wanted to give you something special,” Lockwood begins as they lie together, after midnight, curled up sleepily in the enormous bed. “I thought about you in a pretty dress, on the big grand staircase… having a fancy dinner…”

Lucy chuckles. “Is that what you think I want? Fancy dinners? Do I need to remind you about my feelings on horseradish?”

He grins into the dark room. “No, you don’t.” He sighs, kissing her hair. “I wanted it to be perfect.”

“Anthony Lockwood, you never know when to bloody shut up, do you? It is perfect.” She snuggles into it, slides a leg over his. “And if you really want to make up for the lack of fancy dinner, you can order breakfast in bed tomorrow.”

#lucewood #locklyle #lockwood and co #tumblr request #lockwood and co fanfiction

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sweetmage · 2 years ago

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For writing DA2 Anders (this got long I'm sorry):

It's important to remember that with DA2 Anders, he's not just Anders. While I'm of the opinion that Justice should still be counted as a separate entity than Anders, they're in each other's brains, feeling each other's feelings, thinking each other's thoughts, essentially. Look at Awakening Anders and Justice's dialogue (when they're separated). Then look at DA2 Anders' dialogue - yes, it's very similar to how he is in Awakening, but there's one or two lines where Justice's manner of speaking leaks in: not using a contraction where Anders pre-merge may have, for example. See at the Bone Pit: "Generations of slaves died in that mine. I can still hear their cries for justice." It sounds like a very Justice remark to me.

Anders in DA2 is also a lot less likely to deflect with humour. He's not here to be likeable, he doesn't rely on being likeable for his own safety like he did in Awakening. If he's being funny or charming, that's all just him in DA2. This also means he's a lot more likely to be a petty, argumentative bitch. He's also not the most tactful person ever. With Justice, he feels safe enough to be an ass, he feels safe enough to have people dislike him. As a bit of a contrast to this, he's also fundamentally the kindest of the DA2 companions. He's a man of contradictions lmao. His sense of humour is also dorky as shit when it is used.

He also VERY rarely makes his points about mage rights personal to him. It's always about other mages, what he's SEEN happen rather than what has happened TO HIM. In Awakening, he mentions his time in solitary, he mentions that he was kicked in the head to wake him up - though he does brush off those experiences with jokes. In DA2, Anders never mentions what happened to him. He outright contradicts things he said in Awakening with Sebastian by saying that he was never beaten, and I personally put that up to him not wanting to be that vulnerable - it's about the cause, it's about the principle of the thing. I think to him, if he made it about abuses he was personally subject to it would diminish his arguments.

In terms of romance, he's all in, 100%, no holding back. He loved Karl, he tried to keep that love on the low down, and Karl still died because of it - ergo, Anders is sick of hiding. He's dramatic and devoted because he knows what it's like to lose someone and never be able to tell them how he really feels. While he will always put his cause before a partner, there's not much else that comes before them, if that makes sense. "You are the most important thing in my life - but some things are more important than my life" etc etc.

Last point - he's a still a slut. I say this with the utmost affection. While he's not outwardly hitting on other companions like he was in Awakening (he's busy, and I think his self esteem has taken a hit), he still throws innuendo around, and he obviously doesn't care if other people are there when he describes his damsel-in-distress kink to Hawke in depth in MoTA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! I would love to put a ring on this informative response and marry it. Some others have mentioned in the reblogs and elsewhere that they also struggle with writing him so hopefully this will be of use to them too! I will put my more specific thank you's under the cut since it's long ^^

The very first section is SUPER helpful! I think that certainly was part of what was tripping me up when I went to study certain scenes, especially those with heightened negative emotions (which are most relevant to my current WIP). My biggest struggle thus far has been nailing down his cadance, level of formality, what sort of words he tends to use, etc. and, as such, studying high-emotion scenes where Justice's style of speaking is more likely to emerge really muddied my ability to study him. Though I have seen clips and I know how Anders's story plays out in it, I haven't actually played Awakening yet (should be in a few days when I finish DAO!) but I don't mind the spoilers so I'll be sure to go ahead now and watch some more clips to nail down their respective voices! :D Honestly, I think doing so will solve at least 85% of my problems lol. Additionally, thank you especially for this portion too:

He also VERY rarely makes his points about mage rights personal to him.

That helped me solve another issue I didn't even realize I was having. I kind of subconsciously picked up on this I suppose (I never had him make it about himself or just the people he personally knows in my current WIP) but this helped me to go back and place extra emphasis on those lines which really helped build the mood and tone. The romance portion I feel lines up with a very big theme/conflict in my current WIP so it is so nice to have a reference written out like that that I can refer back to! :) And of course, his kinkiness will certainly find a place among my other fics lol 😌

Thank you again for taking the time to write this out for me! I have always struggled with subtext, analyzing characters, etc. Even when I pick up on things subconsciously I cannot for the life of me put words to them or identify them well enough to go and do further study/implement them elsewhere so having this all written out helps A TON! 💗

#lore and refs #dragon age #anders #dragon age 2

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tea-earl-grey · 8 months ago

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Re: your Disco S4 review:

but there was just a bit too much Therapy Talk for my liking. and to be clear, i don't mean too much Actual Therapy. i really respect the show for portraying therapy and trauma recovery in depth and just having cool main characters go to therapy because it's good and healthy is Very Cool. but i do think there are definitely scenes (particularly in the beginning of the show) that has dialogue fall into Therapy Talk where all the characters go around in a circle and coherently state their thoughts and emotions and then resolve their conflict.

I also have the same issue, I know the crew were heavily traumatized in season 1 and I love that we’re finally getting a Trek have Starfleet take mental health seriously.

But it’s how the writers execute the scene that’s the problem. I think you’re right on the money about them needing another pass at scenes like that.

I also think, most of the time the show literally stops the action for the characters to just talk. And I adore characters being in a room, just talking. But I think it’s because most of the time it’s because those scenes do two things at the same time. Or they usually have characters talk around it and be difficult.

In season 4, it seems the characters start their scene and they just over indulge too much, maybe a tighter edit would also work.

But also I think most modern shows have that problem where they use Therapy talk as a crutch for character development and relationships.

And again, I preface this that I do love having mental health taken seriously but I think there’s a way to do it where writer’s integrate it organically— one of the new shows I like from AppleTV— Shrinking, is literally all about it but it’s funny and heartbreaking and sweet. I think maybe it’s because the writers are also new to the concepts and think they have to fit everything to be relevant.

Hopefully, they worked out the kinks for season 5!

Yeah exactly. I love Disco but sometimes it feels like the writers just need to read their dialogue aloud to make some last revisions (and also put some nuance/unspoken things into the dialogue).

This!!!! I know fiction is never meant to accurately reflect reality and that there are always going to be weirdly timed conversations for the sake of narrative but Discovery in particular has SO MANY "stop and talk" scenes during Big Action and it drives me crazy when the plot just establishes a strict time limit to do something and then we spend three minutes for characters to have a heart to heart instead of just. Doing The Thing. I know the 90s era "walk and talks" were annoying to film but those downbeats of characters chatting while going from point A to point B is a great place to add small bits of characterization (and movement!) instead of standing still and monologuing.

Thanks for the rec, I've never heard of Shrinking but will have to check it out!

(putting a big tangential ramble about Disco's portrayal of mental health/therapy under a cut because yeesh it got long)

As someone who has been in therapy, has a psychology degree, and has written fiction that uses therapy sessions as a setting/framing device, I can say with a decent amount of confidence that the way therapy/mental health is utilized in Disco is neither super realistic nor using its full narrative potential. Imo we skipped a very interesting part of everyone's healing journeys between s3 and s4 where characters are actually struggling to articulate their problems or denying their issues. Particularly with Detmer who went from having severe PTSD flashbacks in s3 to talking about her feelings with total clarity in s4 when actual trauma recovery is nowhere near as quick or linear and usually requires making major lifestyle changes to actually heal and maintain that healing.

And also I take issue with the fact that all of the characters are growing and facing similar issues at the same time and pace. It ends up making a lot of awkward and redundant conversations between characters who aren't in conflict and are self-actualized enough that they state everything they mean. And when there is meaningful conflict, the characters seem to very quickly overcome their flaws and make up. It's like the opposite problem that a lot of sitcoms and soap operas run into when characters are so driven to conflict and secret-keeping. It is refreshing to have a show where everyone is committed to being their best selves (which is quite similar to tng in that regard) but it doesn't easily mesh with the sort of drama that Discovery seems interested in telling stories about. All of this is also probably why Book's narrative (and his relationship with Michael) was one of the best parts of s4 because it felt like the writers actually committed to realistic season-long conflict born out of trauma and loss that wasn't written off. And as a result I think David Ajala's acting was some of the best of the show because he was given so much depth. I really just wish that the other characters had something similar but Disco's style of hyper-serialization, shorter season orders, and a large cast of recurring characters just doesn't lend to realistically telling stories about trauma and recovery because we almost only see the action and not the characters living their ordinary lives.

And while 90s Trek certainly wasn't The Best at portraying mental health (the therapy it shows in tng is just. Wrong. And so many characters like B'Elanna and Janeway have their issues with depression forgotten about after an episode or two), portrayals of PTSD with characters like Kira, Seven, Neelix, Picard, and Sisko tend to be more interesting to me because those characters' journeys through healing aren't linear. And as always, more episodes and episodic television in general makes it so emotional moments really hit (like Picard's breakdown in Family after Best of Both Worlds, seeing Kira's trauma around her father's death in Ties of Blood and Water, or whenever Neelix, the usual comedic relief and lighthearted character, has to confront how his family was killed in a brutal genocide) whereas with a show like Discovery – there's constant character drama and confrontations and big emotional moments so the catharsis of someone having a breakthrough in their treatment is a bit undercut. For something like that to be memorable, there have to be unmemorable moments too which just isn't Disco's style. It's not inherently a bad thing, but it's not really to my tastes.

Even the other new Treks tend to be a bit more grounded with character dialogue and addressing mental health. My enjoyment of Lower Decks shot way up in s4 because her admitting that Sito's death drove her away from wanting to be an officer was such a huge moment of catharsis when Mariner usually avoids talking about her feelings with a six foot poll. SNW has both La'an, M'Benga, and Chapel dealing with PTSD and their moments of vulnerability and pain are better because SNW tries to balance the silliness and seriousness of Trek. Picard is probably the most similar in content/tone to Discovery and even there despite the serialization and awkward characterization moments, the characters all have consistent issues with trauma that affect them at different times and affect them despite self-improvement. And I think Picard sometimes dips into heavy-handed emotional conversations but it's not quite as much as Disco because oh boy these characters are good at avoiding their feelings.

To be clear, I do love Discovery and people blow the awkward writing/Therapy Talk problem WAY out of proportion to cover for the bigoted reasons some people vocally hate the show. Like this problem does annoy me but it is just one aspect of the show and I hope one that will be fixed (or at least less noticeable) for season 5.

#discovery #my posts #asks #i need to drag my “Seven goes to therapy” fic out of my convoluted AU because therapy sessions are such a good framing device to get into a #character's head but you have to use it right! nuance! show don't tell!#therapy is a good way to jump start growth and unpacking trauma but irl you have to be an active participant #and in fiction your character has to actively confront their issues instead of just time skipping to a month later when they're fine becaus #of one conversation they had #this is a pet peeve of mine

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gayleviticus · 6 months ago

Text

assorted thoughts on the two new doctor who episodes (spoilers below)

space babies

Weird concept but I think it worked. i dont think the token political allegory had a ton of depth but the stuff about stories is interesting enough i feel like i need to think abt it a little bit

my biggest issue is it feels like the doctor and ruby do a very jarring 180 on sparing the bogeyman at the end. like, i think in some ways it was predictable, but it happens so abruptly after they show zero concern for the bogeyman even knowing the truth of its origins I was super confused. like, i was just content to dismiss it as literally a pile of snot and not a living being.

ironically given the pro-choice vibes in the episode, this actually reminded me a little of kill the moon, where the episode doesn't spend any time actually fleshing out what the Bogeyman is, whether it has consciousness, its degree of sentience etc, the characters just decide killing is bad.

since this episode doesnt try to make a moral dilemma of it it feels less bad than kill the moon (altho I think unfair moral dilemma is a very deliberate choice on KtM's part to make you empathise w Clara aginst the Doctor) but I think it makes the 180 more baffling given the episode seems so uninterested in the Bogeyman as an actual being? if that makes sense?

the devil's chord

to be honest, while it was a fun watch at the time, this felt like an episode that ran out of ideas midway and the more I think about it the more I sour on it. at least scripting wise - i do think this was a very strong episode presentation wise!

Based on this and the Giggle I genuinely don't think RTD knows how to write godlike adversary; both these stories generally collapse into just 'godlike enemy hams it up and does goofy things while the doctor tries random stufff to save the day.' Like, as soon as Maestro turned up it felt as if the thread of narrative logic snapped and it just became a random events plot. And I felt the same with the Toymaker.

I think the issue is that these episodes overplay the power differential so much the Doctor doesn't have any kind of plan - but because these godlike entities like to toy w their victims it means neither the protagonist or antagonist are really driving the plot? i think the fact Maestro read as hammy rather than threatening also didn't help.

I also think these episodes don't set up clear enough rules. If you're going to have godlike aliens with gimmicks confronting the Doctor, the obvious appeal is that it's a story about manipulating the rules of the game to come out on top. It's like dealing with the Fey - or even Weeping Angels; the tension is in figuring out how to rules lawyer the godlike alien out of existence. But instead too much is made of the Doctor not knowing the rules and not attempting to discover the rules and it becomes boring. And if you take that aspect away what actually is the appeal of Doctor vs godlike alien?

They should have played devil went down to georgia during the music battle smh

The Beatles saving the day felt cheap, but it would have been incredibly cheap if they weren't real life people. Like can you imagine any other Doctor Who episode where one-off characters dismissed in the first 10 minutes save the day?

ngl while the ending song was fun and not lyrically terrible... it did feel like the lyrics were ironically the same kind of thing as the bad songs they were lampooning at the start of like, just perfunctorily rhyming random things together? idk. i guess it wasn't as pedestrian but i found it a bit funny

both

i feel like these episodes had a bit more of a return to a kind of procedural investigation format of Doctor Who - characters turn up to a new location and slowly have to piece together what's going on, the rules. which we also had previously in Wild Blue Yonder tbf, but i think it's interesting.

I like how there were moments where Ruby takes charge and says something a bit Doctorly - like when they enter the recording studio in devil's chord she says something like "Right, let's go!" and leads the way. It's a small touch but it just subtly chips away at the dynamic where the Doctor is always In Charge yknow?

Space Babies riffing on End of the World and Devil's Chord riffing on Pyramids of Mars for exposition scenes is perfectly justifiable (esp in the latter case given Pyramids of Mars is like 50 years old now), but I did definitely feel w those scenes that I'd seen it all before? Like, it's one thing to reuse a tropey scene because it's an efficient way of moving the story along, but I felt w both those scenes as soon as I knew what was going on I'd seen it all before. Nothing new. I could go to the toilet for a couple minutes

The magical realism is interesting (the handling of godlike beings aside) but i especially like the ideas of memories, songs hidden in Ruby's soul, and the snow appearing - that's very cool!

#doctor who #doctor who spoilers #fifteenth doctor #fifteenth doctor spoilers #rtd2

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michelleelizabethtanner · 1 year ago

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Do you think Beth really believed Rio was coming after them after the truck thing in 1.09? I always just assumed she was jumping to conclusions and was so far out of her depth ("He looked at me funny"), but was there something else to it? Did she really want to take him down deep down?

Hi Anon! Thank you for the ask! Idk if I have a super good answer though. I’ve always considered this scene more based on the mistakes Rio made in underestimating Beth’s reaction. IDK why I haven’t thought more in-depth about why she behaved the way she did.

Unless I’m misremembering, everything in that episode showed her anger, and none of her actions around Rio signified fear. I don’t think she was even jumping to conclusions about what he might do to them. I think she was just mad. Yet another man putting her in her place, taking away her power and her financial “security” because he decided her life for her. So she retaliated. Her “we’re good people” excuse was just a cover to get her girls on board. It’s the line she uses all the time to manipulate people (including Rio.) “I’m a good person. I’m a mother. I eat at P. F. Chang’s.”

The fact that this woman can never think through the consequences of her choices surrounding Rio truly astounds me. She cannot be so stupid to blindly lash out and expect nothing to happen to her. I’ve been kind of thinking about this irritating aspect of her behavior. The ways in which she hurts Rio over and over, even once she sees the actual hurt on him, she doesn’t stop. Contrast that with how she enables Dean over and over, who has a proven track record of lying to her and actively harming her. So it makes so little sense why she would lash out, even contrary to her own wellbeing, in this particular situation. She couldn’t have expected that he would be imprisoned forever just because she gave up some laundering details. So what then? Was it a cry for his attention? A cry to be seen? It’s gotta be. Her nihilistic tendencies come through so strong around Rio. He brings it out in her. So it’s like she doesn’t even care what happens to her, as long as he keeps looking at her, as long as she’s feeling that power he makes her feel.

Which brings us back to what was so polarizing about Beth to so many viewers — she’s selfish af. She doesn’t want to be. She’s torn. She keeps thinking if she just does one more shitty thing to Rio, she will prove her goodness to the universe. Prove that she’s worthy of having a husband who’s faithful, and children who don’t struggle with emotional disorders, and friends who choose her even over their own husbands. This woman has been abandoned and scarred so deeply in her formative years that she’s absolutely desperate to matter and to be chosen. (Kinda like someone else we know.) But Rio seems to be her one “safe space” to be herself. “Just being myself.” And while that may sound romantic (and it IS), it’s also toxic af because for her to be “herself” she has to all the time behave abusively (ugh, I hate that word because it isn’t quite accurate to their dynamic but idk what other thing to call it… maybe retaliatory?) toward Rio. He feeds the monster that she hides from others. He isn’t a “good person” so it’s fine for her to take her trauma out on him. And he keeps coming back for more. And he keeps wanting her despite it. It’s that good old cycle of abuse, continually perpetuated. They find so much warped validation in each other they can’t quit.

Anyway, I went off on a tangent. Sorry about that! These asks are so helpful in getting me back into a Brio state of mind. Reminds me how I love analyzing them. 😊 Makes me wanna not work and write Brio stories (that I’ve been stagnant on for like 2 months now 😩)

#gg 1.09 #what you and I had is done #over #go home Elizabeth #people who are afraid their crime boyfriend might hurt them don’t throw keys in his face #asks #brio psychoanalysis #headcanon #nbc good girls #brio

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cult-of-the-eye · 1 year ago

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I watched Maja Ma today and I do this as some form of self inflicted hurt/comfort cause I love me some desi queer people but also AHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGAHHSJSJS

I originally thought the son was gonna be supportive of the mum cause he was from America and maybe more exposed to queer people and accepting attitudes?? Boy was I wrong! I was also surprised that they revealed it so early in the movie and then I realised it was gonna be a forced outing trope and I was SO STRESSED.

I would kill for Pallavi she's wonderful spectacular amazing so sweet and she's such a compelling character!! The trope of queer people planning to run away from their not accepting community but then one staying is definitely a problematic one but also one that I am an absolute sucker for. THE ANGST!!! THE DRAMA!! THE DESPERATION!!! THE HOPE!!! THE FACT THAT YOU WANT TO HATE PALLAVI FOR BREAKING JANAKA'S HEART BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHY SHE DID IT!!! THE DESPERATE WANT TO FIT IN AND BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!!! Also she's Madhuri Dixit!!! She literally played her so well she CARRIED the whole movie!!

Every other person in the movie annoyed the fuck out of me. I understand that they were supposed to be flawed but jesus Christ I wanted to punch them through the screen. (Apart from maybe the husband he was so funny I loved pallavis reactions to him trying to be romantic she really was like ??????? and also obviously liked Janaka and the fiancée was an absolutely wonderful person she deserves the world and can do way better than fucking bitchass dickface Tejas.) I genuinely started screaming at the son for trying to fucking convert his mum???! Violently as well?????! Your own mother????? I was ready to DICK PUNCH through the screen let me tell you. I hated the daughter so much. Obviously I get that we're supposed to get annoyed at her but god damn bitch was insane!! Loved it when that one queer person was like yeah her and her straight privilege and borrowed outrage can go fuck right off trying to fucking force her mum out of the closet in an extremely traditional society I was like GO OFF KING. TELL IT LIKE IT IS.

And obviously it's asking a bit much from a Bollywood movie to adhere to western views and language used about queer people and I'm taking what I can get really but god damn I hated the way she went about things and I hated that she was portrayed as an angry feminist gender studies person who's making trouble, like Jesus Christ we've had enough of that we don't want the one accepting person to be portrayed like their insane for accepting them??? I don't know what the purpose of her character was supposed to be?? I guess that line about her being more of a social worker than a daughter sums it up

Honestly girl ate with those speeches!!! I loved the bit where she was like yeah I failed the lie detector test cause they were asking the wrong questions. If they'd asked if she ever had fallen in love with a girl, then she'd gladly fail I was literally kicking my feet giggling at this!!

Yeah the way they resolved the conflict was a little bit childish but I got my comfort and I'm glad it wasn't queer sadness!! It was super interesting seeing this type of story from the mother's point of view, cause usually it's the kid coming out and facing these things and I think it added a really nice level of depth and angst about womanhood and being queer in a traditional Indian society. I loved how it had the quintessential Bollywood dance and song scenes I thought they were lovely!! I especially loved the last shot of pallavi and Janaka dancing together in the middle of the circle with the pulsing lights I thought that was so beautiful!!

Honestly overall this movie was messy and did make me want to scream more times than I thought was intended but the cute parts were really cute and pallavi's depth and character and Madhuri Dixit made it a whole lot better!! 6.8/10

#maja ma #madhuri dixit #desi queer #movie review #spoilers #obviously #queer movies #lgbtq #its my little everyones out of the house guilty pleasure #i need to watch badhaai ho as well

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