#but first i need to recover

[tenrose]

This episode is a masterpiece. It’s obviously the best Machine’s POV episode. I love how the writers slowly showed us how the Machine works through the seasons, and how over time she really became a full character of her own and not just... a machine. We grow attached to her, but this episode is really the one I knew I would love her unconditionally. The flashbacks with Harold explaining why she’s making this decision today. She runs all the simulations she can, and delete every ones who have one her team members dying. To her all lives have the same value, that’s what Harold taught her and she listened and she learnt. She’s not a super efficient computer because she has access to all electronics devices to spy on, she’s very efficient because she knows what to do with the informations she get. We’ve seen multiple times flashbacks showing us that learning, and more specifically learning the value of human life is the central point Harold focused on to create Her. And damn did he made an absolute marvelous job. Harold is such a genius. So in the end she decides to pick the option were they all have about 2% of chances of survival. You’d think it’s a bad choice, but first of all she doesn’t have time to calculate billions of possibilities, and second she does pick the option that one, assure the success of Her plan, because if they’d die without even succeeding in what they’re supposed to do here in the first place, then what’s the point? Two, they all have equal chances of surival. Sure these chances are low, but she doesn’t prioritize one human life over another one, not even her own creator. And that’s why I love her so much.

But not only that, on a lighter note, she does know her team so well it’s amazing. Not lighter, but the fact that she knows all of them would sacrifice themselves in no time makes me want to throw myself into the void. But also how she guesses all their little talks, sassy remarks etc. The fact that she decide to lose precious seconds to save a freaking painting because she knows Harold would appreciate it 😩 And when she simplifies the simulation with simple descriptive responses for each characters, and it’s exactly the tone and type of responses they would use!!! Poetic cinema. Also hat off to the actors for acting this without bursting into laughter. Also when she makes Lionel kiss Root for no reason and you can see through the characters’ reactions that she, herself, is like “this doesn’t make any sense”. Honestly the whole thing looks like reading the scenario. You have the basis of what the writers chose for their characters. And let’s not forget that the Machine is Shoot number one shipper. They were literally no good reason for her to make that discussion between Root and Shaw in the simulation. What is the purpose to her calculation? There’s none. But she chose to incorporate it, because one: she has eyes and hears everywhere and she obviously can’t fucking miss the obvious, not to mention she probably had to deal with Root more than anyone else in the show, so she knows better than anyone else. Let’s not talk about the “Maybe someday”, this lesbian cannot stand that phrase anymore without wanting to throw myself over the window. Anyway, the Machine is like, they better be talking their feelings out or I will take matter in my own hands. Yet she did not betray Shaw’s characters and chose the appropriate response for her. Dismissing her feelings dfdfezeff

And then we’re back to reality. I remember when I first watched this episode I was so shocked the first time we see Finch dying before we understand it’s a simulation. Like I went completely unresponsive for at least five minutes trying to process what was happening. This time, the second the first simulation hit, I was already crying lmao and basically I watched the whole episode with tears in my eyes. Probably cause I knew what was going to happen, but seeing the Machine’s process, it really feels like she’s not just calculating, but she’s having a mental breakdwon calculating. Remember how in the flashback she was scared to make the first move in the chess game because she was afraid of making the wrong move? Yes. That’s what I’m telling when I say this show is absolutely insane. And when Shaw finally appears and you can see the percentage rising up, like first time I was like “YES YES YES” and this time I was like “NO”. Also the fact that Shaw has the queen role. The most powerful piece in chess, she can change the whole game, she can move the way other can’t, and she’s a very important piece to win the game, but that doesn’t mean she has to survive the whole game. But in that case, it wasn’t the Machine’s choice, it’s Shaw who came and chose to sacrifice herself to make sure everyone else would get out of here alive. And the fact that she admits having feeling to Root just like the Machine predicted, not by words but by kissing her... I need another full year to recover. Look, I know what happens to Shaw, I know it but it’s so well done. That’s how you write a great end for a character. Just like **** But yes it still makes me wants to lay on the ground. And I vividly taking lot of episodes before admitting it was not another simulation.

Also this episode is just great in general. The visuals, with the slow motions effects, the close ups, all of it, it’s absolutely gorgeous and emphasize the whole drama of the episode. And Fortune Days. Damn that song. All picks on this show always fit so well. But this one fits particularly well. First of all it’s literally from a band called The Glitch Mob, which is already fitting enough for the Machine, but the song is structured like it’s restarting multiple times, like the Machine re evaluate her option. I don’t know who picked it but they deserve a raise just for that decision.

Anyway that was my love letter to this episode but also I want to die.

Sorry about the misspelling and shit, it’s 1am and I’m having thoughts.

[pangur-and-grim]

alright, this one's a little more silly

[sualne]

Old and new gifts.

(timeline)

[puppetmaster13u]

Meme Prompt 11

A three-way crossover this time

[akans-dead-at-sea]

It's alright

30 second timelapse:

[starry-bi-sky]

"Stillborn? No, no, still born." -- DPXDC AU

Based off a comment I saw where Bruce knew about Talia's pregnancy in the earlier comivs, and was ecstatic to be a father. So much so that Talia feared he'd give up being Batman for it, so when she gave birth she put the baby (Damian) on a doorstep and (seemingly) told Bruce that the baby was stillborn.

Instead of Damian, that baby was Danny! Meet Daniel Brown, the 14 year old foster kid whose been living with the Fenton family for the last two years. He's about two years older than Damian.

His last name, "Brown", was a generic surname given to him because the note he came with didn't have one on it. It just had the name "Danyal" on it, but albeit 'Daniel' was the one that had been put into the system for, I'll be totally frank here, racism reasons.

(I looked it up to make sure, and it's generally not permissible for foster parents to change the names of their foster kids even if it's a permanent residency, and for that reason Danny doesn't have the last name "Fenton".)

Danny's got ✨~issues!~✨ He's been through a handful of homes growing up, most of them terrible for a variety of reasons. Which has, as a result, left lasting scars. He's generally a very sweet kid, just very distrustful and jumpy. He's got the signs of a kid suffering from PTSD, and a handful of other issues including attachment and insomnia. His inferiority complex could rival Damian's, and that's going to make for an interesting mutual hatred for when they finally meet.

(something I'll get into later)

He still has the blanket he was found in. It's made of a very high quality material and is a beautiful emerald green with little golden thread accents, it's high quality as a result has Danny clinging onto a desperate hope that his bio family might be out there, and the only reason they gave him up was because of some outside factor. It's been taken a few times in old foster homes, and he's flipped out each time.

While he still calls Jack and Maddie by their names, he likes them well enough. The bar isn't that high though, and while they're some of the better foster parents he's had, "better" doesn't equal "safest". Their laboratory malpractice. Basically, C- Fenton Parents. They're negligent by virtue of being engrossed in their work, but they do care equally about Jazz and Danny. So he doesn't hold it against them that much.

He kinda prefers it that way, their loud affection is overwhelming and Danny doesn't know what to do with their attention, even if he craves it. It's a bit of a complicated situation.

They took in Danny because they genuinely wanted another child, but didn't want a big age gap between them and Jazz. It was actually Jack's idea to foster, and they discussed it with Jazz beforehand. She was all for the idea. Thus, a handful of weeks later, a ton of paperwork, and inspection later, and Daniel Brown entered their household with a trash bag in one hand and eyes like shards of stained glass.

His relationship with Jazz is kinda strained, but that's by virtue of her constant psychoanalyzing and helicoptering. Like with the parents, Danny's overwhelmed by the attention and also just, straight up doesn't like the fact that she's telling him that there's something wrong with him. He knows that, thank you. He pushes her away when she does this.

Other than that though? When Jazz isn't smothering him and is acting like an actual sibling and not a third parent, they're pretty close, and Danny really likes her. They've hung out a few times on their own volition, and Jazz showed him how to take better care of his long hair.

His school situation,, pretty similar to canon with the bullying, albeit with a few more instances of him blowing a fuse and lashing out against his attackers. He's a rather angry kid, but it's quiet. It builds up, piles on top of itself, until eventually, like a volcano, it erupts and burns everyone within radius.

Danny's got a fire core, not an ice core. Phantom's hair is made of white magma; thick and heavy, setting itself on fire when his anger runs hot. When he gets angry, his skin begins to char and split open to reveal pulsating lava underneath, and he crackles and pops like a raging forest fire.

I haven't decided yet on how he meets the batfam -- i've got two ideas but they're both in opposition to each other, and drastically alter how the rest of the plot goes. But I do know that him and Damian hate each other in the beginning. And it has nothing to do with inheritance or "being the blood son" -- although their blood relation absolutely plays the major role in their disdain for each other.

Simply put, they're jealous of each other for the same thing: thinking that the other was wanted.

Damian hates Danny because, unlike Damian, Bruce knew about Danny since conception and wanted him from the moment he heard about him. He had a whole nursery set up, and still does. He never took it down -- just locked the door. Damian was thrust upon Bruce without warning, and he feels like he forced himself into the family. And while on some level Damian knows and understands that Bruce wants him and loves him as much as his other children, that doubt and feeling of inferiority still remains. He looks at Danny and sees him with what Damian always feels he needs reaffirmed.

Meanwhile, Danny hates Damian because he looks at him and sees him with everything Danny's ever wanted. He hates him because Damian grew up knowing both of their parents, with one of them for most of his life, and then moved over to the other. There was never a moment where Damian was (seemingly) left to doubt his place within the family. Damian was raised with the very same woman who left Danny on a doorstep, with no clue to his identity beyond a little green blanket and a note with only a first name. Damian was wanted everywhere, and Danny was wanted nowhere. Damian is Danny's replacement in his eyes.

(It's the little revelation that Damian grew up with their mother that elevates Danny from being quietly envious of Damian to downright despising him. What did Damian do, that Danny didn't? He could live with Damian living with Bruce -- Bruce didn't know Danny was even alive. But him living with their mom? Are you fucking kidding him?)

Damian never outright attacks Danny physically, but it's not like he hides that he didn't like Danny. Meanwhile, Danny, in all his repressive anger, quietly despised him from a distance until finally one wrong snide side-comment has him blowing up and it becomes a screaming match. They're both just enough similar to each other that when they look at each other they really just see a mirror.

They'll work it out together, eventually. But it'll be ugly and cruel and explosive, and they'll start mending the bridge to become brothers in more than just blood relation in the end.

But yeah, stillborn Danny has... a lot going for him.

[naturecalls111]

WIP!!! Stealing glances amidst victory celebrations in Suna….

[tapakah0]

Home after 13 (14) days of animation competition

[mobius-m-mobius]

It's a pretty cool name.

Loki + the progression of saying Mobius' name for @percheduphere

[navree]

Incorrect, the fact that Biden has dropped out and a candidate with history of supporting medicare for all and being more receptive to a ceasefire in the I/P conflict has made me go from "I cannot morally support the Democratic nominee" to "I am voting for the Democratic nominee despite the fact she isn't perfect in every respect." I'm really happy this played out. The Dems for the most part abandoned the old Obama platform and it feels like its possible an actual progressive agenda could come to pass in my lifetime.

Kamala 2024!

If you weren't going to vote Democratic in this election before Biden dropped out you're a dorkass loser who does not care about any of the issues you're yammering about here and also a fundamentally bad person, and I hope you get run over by a bus.

But you got one thing right in all of this gibberish, Kamala 2024.

[baby-yongbok]

[uncanny-tranny]

Anger is such a normal part of recovery, and I wish it were normalized. I think it is genuinely harmful to depict recovery as this era of your life that only sets you free and makes you euphoric, and there will never again be a cloud in the sky because you have Ultimately Healed.

It's the fucking opposite sometimes. Recovery can feel violent, because the things you are recovering from are often (though not always) violent. It is so common to feel white-hot rage, grief, catharsis, elation, numbness - in essence, a whole host of emotions that aren't pretty, or aren't simple little categories to be neatly boxed and sorted and understood by the "normals."

Those recovering: Your emotions are real, and they aren't bad. You aren't a bad person for how you are processing and healing. You, however, aren't alone. You are doing so fucking well, no matter what it is you are healing from or for. I genuinely hope you can be proud of that.

[sonnynewts]

bets for thorin hitting his head on that fuckin lamp

[slayedpoet]

@merypetross on X

[happyk44]

percy needs to be haunted by bianca's ghost more

[liauditore]

[asmr boyfriend voice] woof woof bark bark