#but if you like that we're making a diverse story

[moiraimyths]

Before we call anon rude because let’s see it from their perspective, imagine getting an entire feast to eat. That can be pretty hard to start with so much that’s going on, but if they start with one thing they know they’ll like (aka one character they like) that can be the start for them leaping to other characters to finish the story and the bigger story. I struggle the same way to start book series if I don’t have at least one character that drives me to read it, it’s all about what can be the hook to push them through. Sounds like the anon is neurodivergent (just a guess) so they might genuinely not see it as rude and see it as a solution to even play the game to start with.

Btw absolutely adore the game, the complex and rich characters making them all so unique is amazing. The art is so pleasing to the eyes I love it!! I’m waiting for it all to get out at once so I don’t get too impatient. Shae however interests me the most, which routes will have the most lore for them? Will there be routes that give more lore in general based on decisions you make or do they all share the same amount? (I mean general lore not just Shae lore)

Apologies; we are not trying to accuse any asker of being rude! We are simply explaining our perspective as the developers / are trying to broadly encourage folks to dip their toes into other areas of the story outside of the main route(s) they're interested in, especially considering some routes will be made available sooner than others, and these other routes will likely contain additional scenes/lore of everyone's fave(s) regardless! We want to give each main cast member an equal amount of love (and lore) regardless of their overall popularity, so our goal is not to tut-tut anyone for having strong preferences for one character over the others, but rather to explain that you may be surprised by how much *more* you learn about your preferred characters in the other routes. That's all!

For Shae... Well, they were a foot soldier for one of the worst periods of the War. Lore wise, any other story that touches on the War will likely have content relevant to them and their experiences. ^^

[mxjackparker]

Working Guys: A Transmasculine Sex Worker Anthology is officially out today! We're published!

Those who've been watching this book through its creation may be tired of hearing me hype up all the contributors for this, but it's worth repeating. All of the 20 transmasculine sex workers in addition to myself who wrote about their experiences for this are amazing and have incredibly worthwhile stories to read.

"I genuinely think anyone who wants to talk or form an opinion about sex work needs to read this book, since it not only offers thoughts about transmasc people but also reflects about what sex work means in a society like ours and what reasons does someone have for engaging in it."

The book includes many kinds of sex workers, from those who sell sex in-person to professional dominants to Onlyfans creators. You can read the experiences of Felix Mufti, Dakota Nevaeh (18+), Eddy (18+), Sunan, Trip Richards (18+), Liam, Arc D, Julian Yang, Mister Saul (18+), Ron Beastly (18+), and many others!

"This is a diverse collection of work - from cutting analysis of the camming industry, statistics on violence against transmasculine sex workers, to personal stuff that reads like prose poetry. Care was taken to include minorities within the minority, especially people of color."

Such a huge proportion of transmasculine people have done some kind of sex work, yet awareness of this is low! As a sex worker myself who often struggles to be understood and has become frustrated with the lack of resources out there or things to read describing feelings and difficulties like my own, I'm so happy to have been able to put together this anthology. When I transitioned whilst selling sex and making porn, I'd have strongly appreciated a book like this.

"The "multiple texts" format is really easy to apprehend for people who's primary language is not english (like me, so sorry for the typos and such), compared to a huge essay in one block."

You can order a copy from most online book stores, or get an e-book here.

[cavegirlpoems]

A story from back when I played D&D. It might have been 3.5 or pathfinder or fantasycraft or one of that ilk. Might even have been 4e. It was like a decade ago.

So. Standard D&D. A party of bold adventurers of diverse origins and skillsets gets together to explore a perilous dungeon and stop a cartoonish baddy. The usual.

I end up building a fairly typical character for me. A goblin Rogue/Assassin. A stealth/melee build designed to get the drop on an enemy, do a bunch of rapid damage, and then fuck off.

She was lawful evil, and firmly in the team-fortress-two-sniper school of "You know who has a lot of feelings? Men what bludgeon their wives to death with a golf trophy. Professionals have standards." school of being a mercenary. I think I even did an aussie accent.

Anyway her schtick was that she'd noticed 'Adventurers' got to do as much violence as they wanted without social consequences, and she loved violence! So she was gonna do a stint as an adventurer, so once she was done she could go home with a big sack of gold to spend on booze and cake and hot girls. But right now she was on the job, so she was an extremely professional team player with a strict code of conduct. Always be honest with the team, follow the plan, don't mess things up for the team, split the loot evenly. Standards.

Verna was a horrible efficient little murder gremlin who was also proudly guild-certified. * * *

Now, another PC was a chaotic neutral gnome bard who was leaning hard on the 'gnomes are amusingly racist to goblins and kobolds and think this is funny and endearing' thing. He teased Verna a bunch about being green and ugly, which she studiously ignored because - remember - she had Professional Standards.

Anyway, there was a human NPC we met that she didn't like, saying he was a bit stupid and very annoying. Our gnome bard decided it would be very funny to use one of his enchantment spells to make Verna suddenly horny for him and watch what happened.

Verna sees the gnome who keeps fucking with her walk up, wave his hands and babble some arcane nonsense, and now she has weird funny feelings she can't explain. She does some thinking and concludes that she'll pay the human for a snog later, because right now this guy's just obviously cast a spell to mess with her mind, which was Not Okay. Of course, she had Professional Standards, so...

She walks up to our gnome friend and basically informs him: "Hi! I know you just did some magical brainwashing on me, and I am not going to tolerate this! However, because we're in a team together, and I don't want this to become a problem, I am going to very generously allow you to settle the matter with me. We will have a bout of single combat to first blood, and then whoever wins I will consider the matter settled and my honour satisfied, and you won't do that again, and we won't mention it. This is a very kind offer of mine, because I have Standards; where I come from the normal response would be to say nothing and strangle you in your sleep tonight."

And our gnome, who is a spellcaster not a combatant, looks at this and decides he doesn't want to get shown up by her, and basically tells her that if she doesn't like getting messed with she can go back to the goblin village, and laughs at her.

So. Shrug. Quickdraw as a free action. I get a surprise round. You're flat footed, so it's easy to hit and I get sneak attack damage. 3/4 of his health is gone. Initiative. He says he wants to say sorry. I respond that he can say that when it gets to his initiative count, but right now it's my action and he's still flat-footed and here's my big pile of d6s for sneak attack and oh dear I think that's him on -10 hp, so he's not going to get the chance.

* * *

Anyway this kicked off a massive shitstorm ooc about how I just kicked off PvP and murdered a PC for no reason and the game fell apart because the gnome's player genuinely didn't seem to understand that 'mind control' is a hostile action. This was in the bad old days before safety tools and I was playing in a fairly neckbeardy group, so 'a man makes a woman horny against her will to humiliate her and laughs about it' was apparently not a deal-breaker while 'the woman stabs him for it' was.

I still think I wasn't the bad guy in this scenario.

There is no point to this story I just wanted to share it.

[hexhomos]

Hullo jayvik lore champion, I have a question about Jayce's origins. Some write him as fully Piltie and some as an immigrant (which I assumed he was bc of the scene when he was a kid in Arcane) and I'm kind of confused about this point ???

there's no objective answer. Jayce's origins are vague and not set down by the Arcane writers, though he very clearly threads the story of an immigrant's child trying to 'make it big' in america the city of progress via the speedrails and pitfalls of academia.

I personally write jayce as an Ixtali 2nd generation immigrant; his mom isn't from piltover but his dad (or stepdad?) is.

"but why would people think this?" - Worldbuilding wise, Piltover takes a lot of inspiration from the british empire at its 'industrial peak'; which is to say, this is meant to be a white people stronghold, a colony built atop Zaun and its labor. Arcane avoids talking about this (and straight up hides characters created to embody this point, like the entire Ferros family- only mentioned in the show by name, as a clan that makes Mel bloodmoney) but i still think its relevant to point out how all the major piltovan characters of color that DO get elaborated on this show aren't exactly 'natives'. Caitlyn's lineage partly comes from Ionia. Mel is a Noxus empire transplant sent to prepare the city for her family's use. Jayce has the entire unspecified mountain crossing scene. This is partly riot's centrist mandate trying to change the subject so piltover seems #NotSoBad #Diversity in the optics scale, and partly because we're meant to draw a parallel between piltover and industrial america being painted as 'the land of opportunity' (the city of progress!)

if you think this is mixing up metaphors, yeah, it was the mid 2010's they were just blending up british and american influences bc white people will do that when its convenient to their self-aggrandizing mythos. It tends to happen a lot with Steampunk. take any complaints up with riotgames

[jesncin]

Caped Crusader, "Safe Diversity", and Catwoman

We're at a point where it's expected that a new incarnation of any story previously with a white-dominated cast would be reimagined with a "more diverse" cast. This can mean racebending them, genderbending them or making them queer, but for the purposes of this analysis we'll be focusing on racebends. Most of the time, executives will take the "safer" routes with diversifying their cast- pick a couple of unproblematic supporting characters to be incidentally "diverse this time". Other times, there might be "braver" takes where more prominent characters (perhaps even the main character) are racebent. This doesn't necessarily mean racebending prominent characters is an inherently better thing to do.

I've been more than critical of MAWS' portrayal of BIPOC characters but especially their Asian Lois before. Sometimes BIPOC representation is just a decorative palette-swap change for these shows. Caped Crusader however, is different. It's more complicated- but it's rooted in very similar problems. Unlike MAWS (though I can only speak for S1), CC is far more willing to take on political topics: classism, sexism, police corruption and brutality, even beauty standards in the entertainment industry! Yet, in choosing to portray these topics in their stylistically anachronistic 30s-40s set piece- it makes it so the show's reluctance to discuss race intersecting with any of these topics far more apparent.

(spoilers for all of Caped Crusader)

Take for instance, episode 2: "...And Be A Villain". The story is about Basil Karlo, a less than handsome actor who wishes his appearance wasn't holding him back from both love and playing roles saved for better looking people. He makes a deal with Jack Ellman, an experimental makeup artist who turns him into Clayface. This story is set in motion when Miss Yvonne Francis, a beautiful actress, goes missing. Miss Francis is a woman of color (brown skinned, unspecified) played by Lacey Chabert: a white actress. CC goes for a generally colorblind casting what with Stephie (a white girl) being voiced by Amari McCoy (a Black actress) but it always feels icky when a white actor voices a character of color. Prominent characters of color in CC are more accurately casted. However I do think animation should be wary of using their medium to get away with their show appearing more diverse than the actual talent behind it.

The episode's theme is pretty clear on how unfair the entertainment industry is in regards to who it prioritizes in leading roles. Basil is constantly emphasized as a tragically talented actor whose appearance is holding him back. "With your talent you should be a leading man, Basil." Yvonne says to Basil in a flashback. Meanwhile as Alfred is watching through movie clips featuring Yvonne and Basil together, he comments "while lovely to look at, Miss Francis is no Gloria Swanson." So Yvonne has the looks, but not the talent and still gets prestigious roles because that's showbiz. The only time this is weirdly inconsistent is when Yvonne calls out Basil/Clayface in the finale, saying:

"I don't believe your performance. You're chewing on scenery. Relying on makeup effects to enhance weak characterization. It's insincere, Basil. It's not real."

I honestly feel like this scene was just meant to quickly "subvert" Yvonne being a damsel in distress by having her call out Basil's acting. It's a moment that isn't reinforced by anything the episode set up. After all, according to Alfred, she's not as good an actor compared to Basil. That's supposed to be how they foil each other, so this moment feels unmotivated. Again, I get what they're going for, that Basil's performance ironically relies on his newfound appearance so much that even a bad actress like Yvonne can spot his meager acting. But it doesn't work when our protagonists were actually convinced by his imitation of others. She's still a damsel in distress character regardless of her having a bit of attitude when calling her captor out.

What I don't understand is: why make Yvonne a woman of color if this was the story you wanted to tell? It's not like they're paying homage to how her voice actress looks, after all. Why, in your story set in purposely anachronistic 30s-40s era noir, did the character who was meant to represent the epitome of "not talented but gets by the industry because of her conventional beauty and pretty privilege" a woman of color? We're missing the very obvious conversation here where Tinsel Town is a white industry with white biases to what it considers attractive. It doesn't matter how many attractive actors of color exist, they're still pigeon holed into stereotyped and often racist roles (especially back then), and have to work twice as hard to get the opportunities their white colleagues get. Why is Basil, a white man, the only one afforded a marginalized narrative when Yvonne is quite literally a woman of color right next to him? The episode is especially painful to sit through when Basil is afforded so much sympathy compared to Yvonne.

"He didn't have the right look. He didn't have the right face."

"The camera is kind to some, but cruel to others."

This is transparently a colorblind narrative. Yvonne is written and even casted as a white woman. The CC crew just decided she should be a WOC likely because "wouldn't it be neat if the beautiful actress in this story is POC" without thinking about how that would drastically change a narrative already critical of the showbiz industry based on appearances. It's not intersectional and flattens the narrative to being selective of the prejudices Tinsel Town has. This episode is a great example to what CC generally does with diversity. It's not afraid to be critical of society, but it gets oddly squeamish with discussing how race intersects with these topics- opting mostly for a palette-change type of representation.

It's not entirely fair to say CC doesn't ever touch on the topic of racism. It sort of does: if you read between the lines for why the mayor gives Jim Gordon his commissioner role, and more prominently with the Gentleman Ghost (a rich aristocrat ghost that steals from the poor, believing wealth is his right) being offended that his mansion is sold to Lucius Fox (saying "and you would sell it to rabble like this?")- racism is somewhat present in the world of CC. We see the women in this show experience misogyny, but it's ambiguous if any of their struggles are intersectional with that of race. But that's... just about it. Racism isn't discussed more than it is alluded to, whenever the writers decide it's relevant. Because of this, CC has a spectrum of hits and misses when it comes to integrating characters of color in their reimagined cast.

Here's how I would visualize that spectrum using canonized instances of Asian Lois Lane. I should emphasize that representation of people of color doesn't entail the narrative owing us "a racism arc" or what have you. This spectrum is more used to measure how much racial identity was integrated in the characterization of the character: whether that be cultural identity or history. Being a person of color isn't just "person who goes through racism".

This is how I'd personally place the prominent characters of color in CC on my "spectrum of racebends" chart. Generally most of the characters of color (whether reimagined that way or were originally POC already) are fairly harmless in how they were integrated into CC's world, but none of the characters feel bespoke as a reimagining of the character and are interchangeable with their white counterparts. To quote cartoonist Juni Ba (in a discussion on CC):

"...stripping characters of color in these time period stories of any cultural, [a]esthetic or social signifiers that’d make them true to the groups being represented. Instead they dress, act and speak very western."

In my opinion, the only character that is an exception to this is Linton Midnite (or as he's popularly known as: "Papa Midnite"). Midnite is a character so interlinked with Haitian culture and mysticism that even CC couldn't erase that aspect of his identity (important note: historically, the portrayal of Midnite since his creation is riddled in racism, but that's not my place to discuss here). Midnite at most speaks with an accent, dresses more nonconformingly compared to the western standard dress of all the other characters, and practices occultish stuff (though I don't think there was anything culturally specific in that episode, please correct me otherwise if someone has more insight!). That's a lot more cultural representation than just about any other character of color in CC. Midnite can't be changed to a white character, his African identity is too interlinked with who he is.

There are a few characters I consider in poor taste to be POC- that being Arnold Flass, Yvonne Francis (who we've covered already), and Harley Quinn (who will be getting her own post, as her case is complicated). So let's talk about cops, then.

I tend to be indifferent about media choosing to diversify cop characters because it feels like choosing the most "respectable to society" role for a marginalized character to play. Cops uphold bigoted systems of power at the end of the day, so that's a very comfortable place to represent your marginalized characters. It's why we keep getting gay or lesbian cops, which Batman media absolutely perpetuates as well with Renee Montoya. It's hard to cheer for two women of color being allowed to date and kiss in public when one of them is a cop, y'know? But this doesn't mean re-imagining cop characters doesn't have narrative merit.

In regards to Jim Gordon being reimagined as a Black cop, I'm gonna refer to La'Ron Readus' video on "Fixing the Batman's Copaganda problem" where he goes into detail about the missed potential of Black!Jim Gordon from Reeves' The Batman (2022). Generally, I felt that opportunity was missed in CC as well. While I love that Barbara Gordon is in CC, nothing about her being a WOC is integrated into this version of her. It felt like if either character was white, the story wouldn't be that different. The bigger issue here is the choice to racebend Arnold Flass- a previously white, blonde, cunningly smart, and brutally corrupt cop.

CC follows some of this in their version of Arnold Flass- he's paired with Harvey Bullock (also a corrupt cop). While Bullock is the brawns of the duo, Flass is the smarts. He's cunning and even implied to be willing to frame Bullock if the worse comes to it. It isn't an inherently bad idea to racebend a corrupt white cop into a Black cop. If the writers want to tell a story about how the police force assimilates people of color into the system and forces them to be just as if not more brutal than their white counterparts, then by all means tell that story.

But that's not what CC gave us. By rarely acknowledging race, we don't get to have a conversation or themes surrounding that delicate intersection of identities. We just have "diverse Flass". Look at these panels from Year One for example, can you imagine how Flass' casual disrespect for Gordon by constantly calling him "Jimmy" could be re-contextualized with a race change? Unlike other characters who just feel like missed opportunities for not integrating race into their characterization, Flass is an elephant in the room. To not acknowledge his race in themes of police corruption and brutality is to white wash the narrative with diverse paint.

I personally think the stronger narrative decision would have been to racebend Bullock as Black instead of Flass. Flass could still be the conniving cop, but he encourages Black!Bullock to be the more "violent brute" who does the dirty work for him. It would put a newfound racial layer to how Flass considers Bullock disposable. Then we could have some kind of commentary on how the police force encourages a system of abuse that makes even fellow POC turn on each other. It'd also make it so a certain scene would be better in optics.

I have many criticisms for the scene where Batman holds a gun to Flass in the finale of CC. It's a narratively unmotivated (see my criticisms for CC's Two Face here for elaboration) and weak moment that relies on metatextual shock value to cover up how underdeveloped this take on Batman is. But it's also just very uncomfortable optics-wise. It's a common and valid criticism that Batman as a character can very easily fall into copaganda, with his status, goals, and collaboration with the police force. In many ways, Batman is often written to be committing his own kind of vigilante police brutality.

Caped Crusader wants to be a deconstruction of a Batman tied to power and hellbent on his mission to eliminate crime. But because CC occasionally omits race from its narrative, the scene where Batman holds a gun to a Black cop-a man stripped of his ability to fight back-just falls flat for me. There's no acknowledgement in this scene that Batman basically gets to be an anonymous cop, "warning shots" and all. Batman shoots at an unarmed Black man several times. It's meant to be shocking to us how Bruce is willing to stoop to such a level and indulge in gratuitous gun violence, but it honestly hits too close to real incidents where this is racially the case for me to enjoy the narrative point of this scene.

You know a character who would be perfect for calling out Batman's many privileges? Selina Kyle. Let's talk about Caped Crusader's biggest downgrade.

I've heard just about all the arguments in favor for CC's reimagining of Catwoman and none have convinced me that this was in any way a good take on the character. I see people saying that this Catwoman is a return to her golden age roots, and there's a lot of misconception surrounding that assumption. So bear with me as looking at Catwoman's history is necessary to discuss race and how a character evolves.

Catwoman debuted in the 1940s as a jewel thief who disguised herself as an old lady. She was just called "The Cat" and would not don her more feline appearance until later. True to the mystery woman femme fatale trope she was inspired by, her backstory was left unknown for a long time. 10 years later, in Batman #62 it is revealed that after a plane accident bonked her head, the now named Selina Kyle got amnesia and went on a crime spree. Giving her leeway to reform and be an ally to Batman. This would historically inform how Selina Kyle toed the line between good and evil as an anti-hero.

Her origin would be revisited in 1983, in the Brave and the Bold #197. Although not canon to the mainline universe, it is still a crucial development for her character's history. In this story, Selina reveals that she lied about having amnesia to get out of facing punishment. Her true story was that she entered a life of crime to escape an abusive relationship with a rich man. The only loss her husband understood was material loss, loss of property, so stealing was how Selina fought back.

This crucial re-examination of her character transformed her from shenanigans inducing femme fatale, to a marginalized fighter. Shortly later in 1987 in Batman Year One, Catwoman is reimagined as a street-hardened sex worker in poverty. She is inspired by the Batman to become a vigilante for her own goals and gets annoyed that she's assumed to be his sidekick.

The moment Catwoman became marginalized by power, was the point where she became worthy of solo-character status. She was not only a compelling foil to Batman-capable of going toe to toe with him and make him question his motives even though she did not share his privilege-she could lead her own adventures reflecting a side of Gotham Bruce Wayne's perspective doesn't. She actively makes the setting of Gotham stronger because of how she's evolved as a character.

Catwoman's character would continue to evolve, with some iterations reimagining her as a latina woman and others where she's canonically bisexual.

While Catwoman has been portrayed by Black actresses before, I want to focus on the most recent and prominent iteration of a race-swapped Catwoman. When Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022) featured Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, an explicitly biracial character within the text of the story, we see another step this character evolves. I think La'Ron Readus' video on "Why Race-Swapped Characters Are Not The Full Story" does a fantastic job of explaining why this is a narratively great race swap. To summarize (though I do encourage watching his video as he goes into depth about 2022 Batman's Jim Gordon as well among many other examples) and add analysis of my own: Selina being the byproduct of an Italian crime lord and a Black sex worker is a brilliant marriage of her original backstory (being connected to and abused by powerful men) and her modern backstory where she's poverty stricken (and tangentially related to a sex worker if we're talking about Batman Year One).

We understand why someone of her background would have an affinity for stray cats because of how she lost her mom at a young age, she is sympathetic to fellow people from the lower class, and explicitly calls out privileged white people- including Batman who attempted to over moralize Selina's partner as a sex worker.

"All anyone cares about in this place, are these white privileged assholes."

It's especially that last line that makes it so Selina's character isn't interchangeable with her white counterpart. She's a textually rich character to contrast Bruce in Batman 2022, and we can see how years of history and evolution has brought such an empathetic character to the screen. Interestingly, Readus feels that while 2022 Selina was an example of a race-swap that works, he believes it was great by coincidence, because of the miss that was Gordon's characterization in the same movie. I think with Reeves as a collaborator on Caped Crusader, that assumption was correct.

Selina in CC is back to being a rich socialite, but (unlike her Golden Age counterpart) she's not married into wealth- she's got generational wealth (with a dad serving jail time for tax evasion). Worse yet, she's taking what little remains of her money and spending it on superficially imitating the Batman to create her Catwoman persona. She even has her own reluctant Alfred, a Catmobile, the works. Selina steals things because. She likes shiny things. And is something of a kleptomaniac. Catwoman is instantly discovered to be Selina because of course she's not as good as Batman is with keeping a secret identity (another key difference from her Golden Age counterpart, whose backstory was shrouded in mystery for a decade).

It is laughable to me that CC touts that their version of Harley Quinn has an origin of her own outside of the Joker, only to turn around and make a Catwoman that is completely tied to copying a man as her origin (did they decide Harley's goofyness as a character needed to be replicated in Selina for some reason? In their supposed dark and edgy show?). What a strange choice to fixate on the part in Year One where Selina didn't like being mistaken for Batman's assistant despite being inspired by him and turn it into a quirky bit. It feels like such a regressive take that frames Selina as a sillier, whimsical version of Bruce that just spends money on a whim because women just aren't smart enough to know how to keep track of their money. They're too busy looking for shiny things to steal. The fact that both 2022 Batman and CC have a scene where Selina is looking through her many bills she's yet to pay is wild to me. How am I supposed to care for a Selina that has the expendable wealth to create a Catwoman costume, car, and gadgets, but delay paying her maid? One of these versions of Selina is far more sympathetic than the other.

Again, I get what CC is going for. Batman is characterized to be hellbent on catching criminals, Catwoman is supposed to serve as some kind of reflection of his obsession. They're both self destructive in their goals, but one is vengeance and the other is chasing thrills. But is that really as interesting a foil as having Catwoman be marginalized, just as skilled, and making Batman second guess himself? Is it a take that strengthens Gotham as a setting by shedding light on its lower class characters? Is it a take that makes her worth revisiting as a perpetual rogue and not a one off episode where's she's basically a shenanigans-inducing nuisance to Batman? Evolved takes on Catwoman have talked about her desire to seek thrills and paired it with how she dismantles power. So it's not like CC's take is particularly unique, it just lacks all the depth that usually surrounds Selina's thrill seeking.

In a show that is frankly desperate to make it so Bruce doesn't have a personal relationship to his rogues gallery because he's too busy being "A cold, remorseless avenger of evil, seemingly more machine than man. Forged in the fire of tragedy, every fiber of his being is dedicated to the eradication of crime." (according to promo) that's how we end up with Barbara as the foil and humanity to both Harvey Dent and Harley Quinn. How the show focuses on the police force more than Bruce. It feels especially pointed that Catwoman is characterized this way. When she doesn't contrast Bruce, she becomes less personal to him as a character that is poverty stricken but still matches up to him in skill. She can't challenge him or his worldview, he can't find her fascinating as an equal, all of their chemistry and intrigue is erased.

All this to say that of the characters revealed for CC, I was honestly surprised that Selina wasn't one of the many characters racebent. CC followed up on a Black Jim and Barbara Gordon, two characters that have been race swapped before in previous media. Most prominently! Harley is Asian in this iteration, something never done before. So why is it that Selina doesn't follow up on the many times she's been portrayed by Black actresses?

It's because it's an actual good racebend if written well. It wouldn't be a "safe" racebend because writing Selina this way means you'd have to acknowledge racism, and it would be much more noticeable if you didn't. There is no canonized version of Asian Lois Lane that parallels her relationship to Superman as an immigrant. But there is a version of Selina as a Black woman who directly calls out white people and is aware of systemic power. It's in something as prominent and mainstream as Matt Reeves' 2022 Batman. So instead it just reads as cowardice to me that CC couldn't follow up on this evolution of Selina.

Not only does it weaken Catwoman and Batman's relationship to regress Selina this way, but it actively weakens Gotham as a setting and the very themes of Caped Crusader. I personally think all the energy that went into Harley Quinn should have been shared with (or straight up gone to) Selina Kyle. Because unlike CC's take on Harley, the way Selina Kyle's marginalization intersects with race and queerness would have actually critiqued Gotham's class corruption effectively. As a Black queer woman, Selina would be among the most vulnerable people in Gotham. We don't have prominent characters in CC that truly reflect the lower class, there are these unnamed characters Harvey Dent sits next to on a train. There are some orphans with Batfam names. A proper Catwoman reimagining that takes advantage of her evolution would have filled this gap in their narrative.

But that's not how "safe diversity" works. CC would rather racebend and canonize the queerness of a character like their take on Harley Quinn. A WOC who gets to kiss a cop and call out powerful men, but not in a way that makes white people uncomfortable.

If I could edit the Sandman quote that "The great stories will always return to their original forms" for Superheroes, I'd say "The great stories will always return to their most resonant forms" because without iterations we don't get characters like the Kents, Alfred or Catwoman as we know her today. Classics are good to look to, but we like these characters because they evolve. In my opinion, none of CC's takes on these characters of color feel resonant. They're not definitive to the level of Mister Freeze's tragic love story in BTAS, among many standout narrative choices in BTAS that continue across media iterations.

In my opinion, CC isn't as thoroughly clumsy as MAWS is in regards to POC representation and race-swaps (all characters of color in MAWS get put in the left side of that chart I made. In the Sunken Place. Where they all Missed The Movement). However, I can't help but see Caped Crusader's take on the world of Gotham as nothing more than an anecdote in the evolution of Batman's story for the modern era. "It's BTAS but superficially more diverse and with less compelling narrative choices."

[akajustmerry]

Hello! I've just found your podcast and listened into some older episodes. They helped me on my journey of understanding my sexuality, and formulate why some stories appear more sincere than others. Thank you two! In one episode that Aboriginal people are "like black people in Australia" (I hope I quote this correctly). If It's no hassle, I would be curious in understanding the social circumstnaces you are descrbing. Happily waiting for a new episode, and thank you very much for the fun and informative work!

hello there, thank you so much for listening to gayv club! I'm chuffed that you love the podcast (psst follow @gayvclubpodcast) 🥰

So, to answer your question, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Indigenous people to what the world calls "Australia". And we are Black people. We are Black people and were racialised as Black Indigenous people when British and European people colonised the land over 200 years ago. Aboriginal people were called Black throughout Australias white colonial history and so we also call ourselves Black.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country have been subjected to anti-Black violence and genocidal policies that include but aren't limited to slavery, deaths in custody, segregation, and apartheid. Not to mention forced child removal and assimilation policies intended to "breed the Black out" of our culture.

But we're still here! Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the oldest continuously practising culture in the world. Recent archaeological discoveries show Aboriginal people were baking bread even before the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. As a community, we've had our own Black power movements, music movements, and art movements too.

I'm generalising a lot because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are very diverse. We've got over 400 languages and nations, each with its own cultural rules. While many of us have lost our language and culture because of colonisation, there are many who haven't and many working to restore and preserve it.

One thing I will make very clear is that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples refer to ourselves as Black (sometimes without the C) regardless of what we look like. There are many Aboriginal people, like myself, who are pale skinned and still call ourselves Black and are accepted as such. This is because we do NOT adhere to blood quantum that colonisers try to put on us. Our connection to Blackness is about our connection to family and community, it is not *only* about how we look.

Hope this helps you understand a bit. I for one am very proud to be Blak. I'm very proud to be Aboriginal. If you want to learn more about Aboriginal culture and history, here's some resources:

[felassan]

July 15th Game Informer article on BioWare's companion design philosophy in DA:TV - cliff notes:

DA:TV wasn't made with the intention of making a sequel or 'the same again as DA:I'. They wanted to do something different

The companions are key to everything in DA:TV; the special centerpiece, load-bearing pillars. The studio uses the phrase "DA is about characters, not causes"

These are the most fully realized, complex, fleshed out & complicated companions from BioWare yet (and DA's best). They have stories of their own, and roles both in and out of combat. They are authentic and relatable

For the first time in the series, BioWare feels that they have purposefully and intentionally created great companions. In previous entries, they sort of 'stumbled' onto great companions

Rook goes on a journey with the companions, rather than how it felt in previous games where the companions are more like going on an adventure with the PC

The companions have complicated problems. We will explore how they think and feel, and help them through their problems. They participate in the game's dark parts and optimistic parts

Corinne: "They feel like my dear friends, and I absolutely adore them"

Corinne quote: "We've really moved into a place where you can have the highest of highs, and it can be colorful, it can be optimistic, but also, you can have the lowest of lows where it gets gritty, it gets painful, it gets quite dark. But throughout it all, there is a sense of optimism. And it creates this delightful throughline throughout the game." 

When creating DA:TV one of BW's principles was that the world exists even when you/Rook isn't around, with ancient conflicts, grudges and more going on. Rook kind of comes in in the middle of some of these plots

John quote: "For example – the Grey Wardens are an interesting faction but by themselves, they don't tell a story, but there are characters within that faction that do. And the same thing with other characters in the story. They represent these factions, they show the face of the other parts of Thedas and of the storytelling we really want to do, which, again, shows Thedas as this large, diverse living world that has things going on when you're not there. [...] Where can Rook come into [the companions'] stories, and what interesting ways can those stories develop not just based on themselves but also based on Rook's presence within them?"

Companions are the faces of their factions. Some, like Bellara, are the faces for an entire area of the world

BW hopes that the companions' visual design challenges and excites cosplayers. Matt Rhodes: "The previous art director had the mindset we should make things easier for [cosplayers], which I think is a misunderstanding of cosplayers. We've seen the kind of challenges they're willing to take on, and so we've gone for, in some cases, a level of complexity and detail"

Tevinter is an oppressive, totalitarian regime that has slavery. "If you’re not a mage in Tevinter, you are lower than dirt for a lot of people". A damaging regime has taken over Minrathous

The Shadow Dragons are a rebel faction that fight back against this Tevinter mage-ocracy (so does Neve)

Neve believes that good exists in Tevinter. She's there for the common people, and believes in fighting oppression and tyranny. She represents the voice of the streets and the common people. BW "wanted to have a character that showed not just what is Tevinter at the top, but what is the average person who lives in Tevinter"

Detective Neve is also about finding clues and ways through problems that aren't as action-focused as some of the other companions

The writer Wesley of Game Informer thinks that DA:TV is sure to be "multiple dozens of hours long"

In combat, companions have their own autonomy and behaviors. They pick their own targets

As their plots progress, they learn how to use their abilities more competently in battle. "It feels like we're all in it together"

In battle, strategy, progression and a sense of teamwork comes into play as the party's leader, Rook. "It is a game about creating this organic sense of teamwork."

Vulnerabilities can be used synergistically

Bellara can slow time

Harding has devastating attacks with 'knock down' effects

Corinne quote: "Now, there are more explicit synergies as well. We very much have intentional combos where your companions can play off each other, you can queue up abilities between them, and each of those abilities will go off and have their effect. But it results in this massive detonation where you get enhanced effects, debuff the entire battlefield, all because of planning and teamwork. What makes it really cool is you can introduce Rook into that equation as well. One of my favorite things to do is upgrade some of Harding's abilities so she will automatically use some of these abilities that normally I'd have to instruct her to do. And she'll actually set my character up to execute that combo that, again, has that detonation effect." 

Outside combat, companions have their own concerns, fears and distractions

Companions have their own personal spaces. They each have their own room in the Lighthouse. These sanctuaries become reflections of who they are. "The more time you spend with them, as the game develops as you work through their arc, their room and their personalities will evolve and flourish and become more complete as they trust you more and you understand them better."

The companions also develop romantically, sometimes with each other. Corinne: "There are moments in the game where two of our companions fell in love with each other and I had to make some pretty challenging choices as it related to the quest we're on. And it broke my heart, it absolutely did"

Get to know and learn about the companions in the Lighthouse. "It endears them to you in a way that I honestly haven't experienced before."

There are joy-filled moments and heart-breaking moments in the game wrt the companions

[source]

[incorrectbatfam]

Types of obnoxious batfam stans

Written by an obnoxious batfam stan

Not really a rant but something I've noticed over the years interacting in different spaces and I've decided to make your problem now.

Please note that I'm not saying there's any "right" way to be a fan because we all suck by virtue of being comic nerds, but there are certain kinds of batfamily fans that stick out to be in particular.

Anywho, here are 12 kinds of annoying batfam stans that you've probably run into and you better get a laugh out of it *points gun to your head*.

1) The Newbies Who Never Heard of Google

There's no shame in being new to something. It's a phase that we're all guaranteed to go through, whether we're 11 or 101. However, in this day and age, so many things can be easily googled that you don't need to shout every question you have into the VVorld VVide VVoid. If you need comic recs or a reading list, google it. If you wanna know a character's origin story, google it. If you need to know the color of Batman's underpants in a particular issue in 1965... well that's probably too specific for Google but Reddit will definitely have an answer.

2) The Middle School Authors

Before the 13-year-olds get up in my notes, I'm not saying everyone that age writes like this. Middle school is a state of mind. These fanfic writers usually stand out in a few ways.

They're oftentimes first-person POV or reader-insert. Give Y/N a break, she's tired.

The grammar is stunningly atrocious. I get if you're inexperienced or if you're writing in a second language, but we are in the prime era of autocorrect. If you need help, it's right there. Also, fuck c*nsoring b*d w*rds and fuck "unalive."

The characters do things that are out-of-character because the author is projecting their own personality. Bruce Wayne is a lot of things but he does not listen to the fucking Mountain Goats.

There's a lack of experience or research when it comes to certain topics. That's not how physics works. He can't walk that injury off. And that's definitely NOT how you do the horizontal hokey pokey.

3) The Neckbeards

Unfortunately, these basement-dwelling mouth-breathers tainted the image of what a comic fan is, though that's been changing recently. Still, we've all seen them. They gatekeep via pop quizzes, 'cause obviously you're not a real fan unless you know what page 10 of Batman #138 smells like. They give unsolicited commentary on people's cosplays, nitpicking the guys and being gross toward women. And heaven forbid the comics add a little diversity.

4) The Moviegoers

Nothing inherently wrong with getting into the fandom via the movies, nor is there anything wrong with sticking to that. I just feel like we're two different species of Galapagos finches, you know?

5) The Christopher Nolans

Separate from casual fans of the Nolan movies. I'm calling them the Christopher Nolans because these people have a tendency to reach for the grimdarkest thing possible. It's like they cannot fathom Batman having any other emotions besides punching and gargoyle brooding.

6) The Canon Purists

Wanna share a fun headcanon? NO, because Stephanie Brown never used cherry lip balm in the comics so therefore that must be the absolute truth. These people are a stickler for comic accuracy to the point where it's like... why bother interacting with the fandom in the first place? The worst part is when they're adamant on following a single continuity and refuse to consider anything else. This is comics we're talking about. Everything either has been or will be canon at some point.

7) The Fanon Worshippers

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the people who base their entire perception of the characters on something either they pulled out of their ass or that their mutual with 16 followers came up with, despite evidence directly contradicting it. I love WFA, but I feel like that's partially responsible for further perpetuating certain popular myths. Also, these fans tend to focus solely on the batfam/their ships. It's one thing to have some people in the foreground vs. background, but put some respect to Bart Allen's name you goddamn cheesecakes.

8) The Golden Age Dads

These guys aren't really obnoxious. I actually find it kind of cute how they think Jason Todd is still dead.

9) The Chronically Online

I have a rule of thumb when it comes to discourse: if it's not something I'd hear about at a bar, it's not worth my mental energy. Some people haven't gotten the memo, though.

These are either the well-intentioned but misinformed teenagers or grown-ass adults beefing with children because they don't have a life. They have takes that are oversimplified, rage-inducing, TikTok algorithm attention-grabbers that no one cares about in real life.

Don't get me wrong, we've got a bunch of issues in comics and fandom that are worth discussing. However, there comes a point where you're splitting hairs and need to go the fuck outside. I'm not gonna link the post 'cause I don't wanna call them and their 7 notes out, but the other week I saw someone saying Stephcass was a racist ship because something something colonialism parallel. You gotta be Elastigirl to have that kind of reach.

10) The Corporate Simps

I love comics. I appreciate the writers and artists. However, you will find my carcass in a ditch before you catch me licking the boots of DC/Warner Bros. Basically, these fans, fewer as they are, can't seem to fathom that their favorite franchise can (and does) put out some steaming motherfucking garbage.

11) The Hot Cosplayers

Not actually annoyed, I'm just a little jealous. Stop being hotter than me, please and thank you.

12) The One With A Punchline For Everything

Wait–

[edwin-paynes-bowtie]

You know, I've been mulling over how the streaming business model - specifically the @netflix business model - actively discourages the creation of diverse shows.

Netflix's idea that everything has to be a Big Hit caters to the concept that everything that's worth making should be mass-streamlined for the largest possible audience. That audience is, of course, going to fall into majority demographics - straight, cisgender, neurotypical, probably white (though I don't really feel comfortable speaking about that so much as a white person myself. If a PoC wants to add onto this post, I'll reblog it.)

Anything with queer representation is going to be heavily watered down or tailored to a cishet audience if we are to follow the Netflix business model to its natural conclusion. Shows like Dead Boy Detectives, Ratched, First Kill, Shadow and Bone, and Warrior Nun include nuanced stories about queer characters and their journeys, and the sad fact is that many cishet people simply don't even care to try to relate to these stories. They're overlooked in favour of straight-made, straight-majority shows like Bridgerton, Never Have I Ever, or Stranger Things. All three of these shows include a queer side character, but that character is either never fleshed out or made queer in the most perfunctory and performative way possible. Straight audiences still care to watch them for the straight characters. This leads to the cancelation of authentic queer shows because they don't "have the numbers" to be hits.

(Btw, I can say with confidence that Dead Boy Detectives at least did have the numbers needed to be a hit, and they're ever-growing. But walk with me and take Netflix's stupid ass claim at face value for a second.)

No shit queer shows are going to get canceled if you're basing everything on "hit" numbers.

According to the Williams Institute, 5.5% of US adults identify as LGBT. That's a pretty huge minority, which is surprising for most of us queer people who tend to hang out in groups like little queer magnets. But it's true. Even if half of the cishet population is happy enough to watch queer shows, that's still only 55.5% of people who are maybe going to watch. And we can't expect everyone to watch every Netflix show. That's unreasonable.

So, to summarize, you're going to only make hit shows? That means you're only catering to majority-audiences. That means that we are going to have NO diverse media that doesn't get the ax.

It also really sucks that Netflix seems to use Heartstopper (a great show!) as its "bbbut we're not homophobic" billboard. Like, okay! You have one cute little coming out show. And we love it! Doesn't make you an A++ Ally, though.

But what about other queer stories? Ones that aren't about queerness? Why can't we see ourselves as supernatural detectives or vampire debutantes or morally gray psychiatric nurses?

In the immortal words of one of the best, most complex queer characters ever to exist, "it's so fucking stupid it's unbelievable."

[nica-my-beloved]

Tropes In Ikemen Series Games That I Dislike

These are my opinion so no hate!

MC BEING SHY AND BLUSHING AT THE SLIGHTEST TEASING

Some times I find it cute, but other times I wish she would just tease the male leads back.

A lighthearted flirtatious teasing would be funny to watch.

TOO MUCH SEXUAL INTERACTIONS

I understand, it spices up the story but when the most random interaction suddenly turn into a hot making out session just turns me off.

Some times in some scenes, when the moment is right, the whole steamy scene does feel nice. But not all cases.

SUBMISSIVE MCs

I mean, it's fine. I just wish the MCs were more diverse. The Ikemen MCs are way too submissive for my good. They don't even TRY to resist the advances of male lead.

They are so much in love with the guy they met for 2 weeks that they are ready to let them sleep with her, which is awkward as hell.

VERY PURE HEARTED MCs

I don't mind again, but they are not relatable at all. And I've already mentioned in one of my posts that MCs are not meant to be relatable. They are just tools that the writers use for spoon-feeding the stories to the players (because they think we're too dumb to understand the character's personality or intentions). But that doesn't mean I don't want variety.

There are so many different personalities, yet why are the MCs always so kind, so hardworking, so pure, so timid. Some times I dream about an MC who is lazy, foodie, loves shopping, doesn't like studying, doesn't care about what people say about her, doesn't like talking to people, doesn't even try to get along with people who treats her like shit, likes anime and has wallpapers of shirtless Sylus on her laptop, never follows rules......am I describing myself? Yep!

MCs don't have to hold a gun or kill someone or be the Queen of the Underworld. She can still be cool wearing pajamas and sunglasses, dancing on top of her bed at Shinee's Ring Ding Dong (I still love that song!)

THE USUAL CLICHES

Including random people coming inside the room (without knocking ofc), sees MC and a male lead in bed (fully clothed, or not doesn't matter) and still thinking that they slept together. Also MC wasting time and energy to clear up their 'misunderstanding'.

MC's promising that she will never fall in love but breaks her promise. She had one job!

MCs......*holding back puke* teaching male leads turru love *cringe 101*

Similar personality male leads. For example: Kurama, Silvio, Jude. Arthur, Sueharu, Nokto, Nica. I need more variety.

One month time period bullshit! It doesn't matter when at the end MCs are leaving their world to join the male lead (who they know only for a month). Maybe give like a 6 months or an year. Then I'll believe you.

I don't like the killing trope, where the male leads openly saying 'I'll kill you someday'. It triggers me and I don't really find it romantic in any sense.

Always MCs falling in love first and not the male lead. I understand that we play from the MC's perspective, but I really want to know how it feels when the male lead fall in love with MC first. It could be interesting.

Male leads leaving/breaking-up with MCs for her own happiness is also bullshit. I'm tired of seeing this over and over again and it annoys me. The male leads would always be like 'MC, you're not suppose to be in this world. You deserve happiness blah blah blah...' I don't like this because at the end, they eventually change their minds and decides to accept her. If they wanted her then why let go of her? So annoying. I just want a male lead, who is like 'I don't care if my world is shitty, I love MC and I want to be with her! I'll always make her happy and protect her!'

[lucabyte]

thinking about the very specific reading of isat i had during act 3 for the most part

anyway yeah ill ramble here about this. since it actually explains my headcanons for what the disappearing island wish was

disclaimer: taken as a whole this is way too allegorical for what i'd consider a holistic reading of isat, but it was part of my running theories at the time.

anyway my guess for the real-world equivalent of the island ended up being French Polynesia by the end of the game. I had initially thrown a dart at siffrin being greek wrt europe, sisyphus allusion, enjoyment of plays and seafairing-- but the moment that little guy started getting real weird about stars and specified they were from an island i switched my guess to him being polynesian. And then that reading only really strengthened from there (and i was pretty close, tbf!)

but yeah during act 3, especially the king plotline, i started thinking about the themes of cultural erasure + lack of identity that the game has and how that plays wrt vaugarde's extremely welcoming and diverse nature.

reading far too much into it but it made me wonder if they are the results of a fallen empire of some kind. somewhere that gathered people from across the globe (as empires are known to do) before dissolving into what seems to be a localised theocracy of some kind?

like. vaugarde is basically the Good End for an empire. Fully demilitarised (they barely have use for police to the point where the defenders are surprised by burglaries, and almost CERTAINLY have zero army), extremely diverse, not caring where one comes from.

(either that or they've been a socialist utopia like, forever? and thus just aquired migrants perpetually... but ka bue is characterised as harsher by odile in a lot of respects so one can assume its not that the whole planet is Niceys All The Time.)

this lines up pretty well with the um. Whole France Thing. Boy do they own a lot of islands still that they maybe shouldn't. Also lines up with bonnie's word-of-god french creole dialect. So Vaugarde as the welcoming, ideal form of former-colonialiser-nation is like. one i vibe with if we're gonna read too hard into the worldbuilding as presented.

Anyway all this to say I did for a time wonder if the Northern Island wish was 'For The Island To Be Safe'. Assuming this world to have any level of inter-country conflict-- Wish craft is powerful stuff, and a singular island might not be able to defend itself against those seeking to take it by force. Hiding the island from the world would protect it.

... though that felt like an unusually cruel read. The implication that cloistering away like that is a 'valid' strategy for a culture to be safe (albeit with the splash damage of hurting any diaspora).

Plus, wish craft is superbly powerful, with evidently its use on the island only becoming more widespread after it was discovered how to make it work Consistently.

(i work here under the assumption that Siffrin's growing cloak is imbued with wish craft, assumedly the same as the king's armour? Since there's no way that was created at that scale...)

So it almost makes more sense, to me, for the wish to be to 'Protect The World (universe) From Us' or to 'Keep The Universe Safe'.

Wish craft being so second nature to the Islanders (See: Siffrin, favour tree), that a wish that breaks the universe is almost inevitable were the knowledge to become widespread and ingrained.

This too is an oddly cruel read, that a culture's rituals can be dangerous to that degree, but ... ? Dunno. Like I said, reading it as hard allegory makes it fall apart somewhat. Symbols can mean many different things at once until you flatten them for direct analysis like this. I don't think it's quite so 1-to-1, and it's honestly slightly too 'no story only lore' for my tastes, so I did push a lot of this stuff out of my analytical mind once I started getting to the back and of act 3 and into act 4.

Anyway. Not the most coherent explanation in the world, but still some thoughts I had mid-game that i figure i should put somewhere at least, even if I don't think they are really what the game is going for.

As a bonus, the discussions on what the island wish were in this context also lead my friend @samhainian to speculation on the colour wish that i really enjoy. Which is....

The wish that removed colour from humans perception of the world being something along the lines of:

"I wish the world was simpler"

ergo, removing colour as an invocation of Nuiance VS Black and White Morality. The world is simpler, easier to understand.

I think it's a fun headcanon! I like it.

Well anyway. A work is more than the sum of its parts and dissecting something so sloppily as this often does it a disservice. So don't take my theorising as anything more than a general rundown of where my head was at mid-game before i had all the pieces. The emotional core of the story is far more where it's at for ISAT sooooo. [Shrugs and scampers away]

[hana-no-seiiki]

Can you write something about yaoshi?thou their design is very pretty (⁠●⁠’⁠3⁠)⁠♡⁠(⁠ε⁠`⁠●⁠)

Let's say we're their fav human/god

I hope this makes sense

We don’t know much about the Aeons yet, so don’t expect this to be an accurate representation of what Yaoshi acts like. I’ll give ya two versions (human and aeon reader).

(YANDERE?) YAOSHI x READER (ft. Other Aeons)

warnings: ddne, mind break, power imbalance, massive age gap & infantilization(for the human section), yandere themes in general, somnophillia.

note: from what i read in yaoshi’s lore what i wrote feels like something the canon character would do hence the question mark

status: unedited

STORY ONE : TO LIVE IN ABUNDANCE | Doctor ! Reader

I.

Yaoshi could not fathom why one would not wish for eternal life. Life was the most beautiful thing in existence. Wondrous, with a diversity one could not begin to imagine. Yet, there exists people who desire for existence to come to a halt, many who wish for their teachings and gifts to end.

You were one of those people.

Despite your occupation as a doctor, you believed that every patient had a right to choose their destiny. Whether it be to continue fighting for their lives or to die peacefully in their death beds, who were you to decide what happens to them? You were only the nurturer and provider. Even the best doctor in their field has to let go of a patient when it came down to it. For life is only beautiful, meaningful when it has to diminish one day.

And in spite of your beliefs, Yaoshi decided to bless you to join him in his path.

Your world was shaken.

Why were you of all people chosen by this Aeon?

Sure, you were fully dedicated to career. But if anything, your views were more aligned to the Archer Lord of Fate. You have had many Mara strucken, the victims of Yaoshi’s ‘gifts’, pass away before your very eyes. Beasts who have long lost their minds and ability to choose what future they’ll follow. If you had a choice, without a heartbeat

Several millenia pass with you never aging. Generals that ruled come and go.

And now, because of their so-called kindness, you were banished from Xianzhou. Your home. Thrusted into the embrace of space and void,

and none other than the Aeon that doomed you.

“Child. You have come home at last.”

II.

If you were born into a different culture, perhaps a planet that worshipped the Aeon before you, maybe then you would be elated with your current happenstance.

But this was not the case unfortunately.

You spend around a decade filled with hatred and anger. Hurling the most venomous words and even attempting to harm their being. Of course, none of your actions do anything to help your situation.

A century was spent trying to convince them to let you go, to rescind their blessing and leave you to live your life as a mortal.

They refused, stating that it would saddened them to lose you.

It gets close to another century with how long you spent in tears. For the loss of your loved ones that had left you to go to the afterlife. For the situation you were forced into. As you cried and cried, all Yaoshi could do was embrace you using their many arms. It was a peculiar feeling at first but unfortunately became comforting soon enough.

And after all that you finally gave in.

Yaoshi did not seem surprised at all. In fact what awaited your complete acceptance was a gentle smile. One akin to a parent seeing their child come back home after running away in a fit.

“We can finally begin the preparations.”

“For what?” Your voice, hoarse and abused by your depressed barely came out.

“For our wedding.”

iii.

You were used to their multi-armed touches, their inhuman way of showing affection towards you. But nothing could prepare you for the consummation.

You don’t remember anything. Throughout the whole process you were extremely disassociated to the point of being catatonic.

This, this was your life now. Stuck to a god as a human who has far outlived their expiration date. Slowly yet surely your mind corroded.

And even as your body was littered with the golden allure of ginkgo leaves, your freedom never came.

Yaoshi did end up releasing you from their grasp to roam the cosmos freely. People from all over the universe called you the Golden Wanderer, or the Sanctus Medicus Saint.

But what was the point?

Even with your endless fame and immortality. You were a dead man walking.

Waiting, hoping, that one day someone would grant you mercy a god of life and everything beautiful in it could not.

STORY TWO : TO DIE IN THE LIGHT | AEON OF DREAMS - IMAGINARY ELEMENT ! READER

i.

In the time humanity and civilizations began to rise. You were created within the womb of the universe representing a concept. Dreams. Though you most presided over preferable ones, you were known to give unending nightmares to those that slighted you and your domain.

In the grand scheme of Aeons, you were neutral. Never straying from the unbiased perspective of a god. Those that worshipped and favored you get rewarded, those that dirtied your name were punished.

For that you were often looked down upon by your fellow gods, seen as indecisive with your head literally and figuratively stuck in the clouds.

Yaoshi used to be one of them. They had a difficult time understanding how one could live without ever peeling their eyes to the grandiose aesthetics of the world.

They soon began to fall in love with your fair — beautiful and impartial — self.

And if those mara-struck beings were anything to go off of . . .

Their infatuation spelt your doom.

ii.

There you were. Your form shone brilliantly under the light of the moons and stars that seemed to dangle above you.

Even a god snored, and snored you did. But to Yaoshi this hoarse sound was music. No, even more than that.

It was a reminder that throughout the eons, you two are alive. Together. Breathing.

Yaoshi visited your slumbering body frequently to the point that it became a risk. That Lan would sometimes stand guard over you in case they would come, or have the Xianzhou oversee your vicinity. Not many mortals can hold up against the Aeon however, and if it meant having to go against their path in order to see you — the choice was obvious.

Their stays mostly consisted of performing lullabies and poetry of how both your and their followers adored your seemingly romantic partnership, to your blissfully unaware body.

At least that’s what they thought.

iii.

Contrary to popular belief, your most devoted of followers do not eternally sleep. Nor do the majority spend a lot of their sleeping. In order to spread your name, a lot chose to stay awake. Because if there was anything your true followers loved more than a good nap it was you.

As such, not known to many people or gods, you had a vast network of knowledge. A lot of what people learn and experience appear in dreams, and once the more fantastical ones were taken off the list, you were left with a near infinite amount of information.

Humans have also mastered a way of communion with you.

Case in point, you had long known about Yaoshi’s visits. You were the one that asked Lan to aid you. Breaking your self imposed rule of impartiality.

But all is for naught.

Misinformation had spread far too wide and the delusions Yaoshi infected the world with overpowered your truth.

Their acquisition of you was as tranquil and hurdle free as it could be.

While you were caged by Yaoshi, another Aeon swore to bring you back.

Ending life and therefore your deeply unconscious state. A state which they saw as involuntary. A cage infinitely worse than the Aeon of Harmony kept you in.

And the first Stellaron was born.

a/n: i imagine human reader, especially post yaoshi adoption, to be like a lifesteal-tank sort of abundance character. only ever healing(mostly themself) if they attack/hurt the enemy, which would go against what yaoshi wants. i might draw a design for them actually. the type that if you build well, won’t ever die. but any battle with them would take a really long time since their damage is pp in comparison to other characters at the very least.

[link to the design/drawing here if i ever finish it]

[here’s a link to another aeon related fic]

i wanted to include both versions here before i uploaded this even if the first one is so long cause i just know im never gonna write a part two if ever lol. and yes, the aeon in the last bit is nanook.

want more hsr fics/have an idea for one? send me an ask or submission ❤️

©️ hana.no.seiiki - yun | 2023

[armoredisopod]

Arknights Thank You Celebration 2024 PVs

New Operators

Figurino, 5* Merchant Specialist

I have a lot to learn, and right now, i'd like to start by making a new suit.

Crownslayer, 6* Welfare Executor Specialist

"Crownslayer", that's the name we're familiar with, let's keep it.

Vulpisfoglia, 6* Pioneer Vanguard

I appreciate the acknowledgement. But you know this means in the future the people who are hunting me for bounty will come to Rhodes Island first. Will that be fine?

Lappland the Decadenza, 6* Limited Mech-Accord Caster

Is this your way of trying to get me to settle down, or do you also think this game needs more excitement...

I just can't guess you, no wonder i like your trust in me!

2 new operators to the voucher shop

Contrail, 4* 巡空者 (Air Patrol) Specialist

Philae, 5* 本源铁卫 (Primal Protector) Defender

Operator Outfits Update

Total of 6 new outfits, 2 new additions for the Cambrian brand, 1 new addition for the Epoque brand, 2 new additions for the Test Collection brand and 1 new addition for the 0011/Tempest brand

Cambrian

At the Warm Velvet Corner - Warmy

Travel Freely - Sussurro (Login Event)

Epoque

Il Segreto Della Notte - Texas the Omertosa (21 OP)

Test Collection

Allmind As One - Executor the Ex Foedere (24 OP)

The city lights up. I can sense everyone's presence, and everyone's absence. We are together——— as one "Laterano".

Diversity Oneness - Virtuosa (24 OP)

Please stay, Sankta. Please tell me, is the Laterano of now a place that is connected to the rest of the land?

0011/Tempest

Ignis Fatuus - Lessing

Lessing's outfit will be up for sale during Zwillingstürme im Herbst Retrospect

Announced outfit reruns

Young Branch - Muelsyse

Red Countess - Skadi the Corrupting Heart

Operator Modules Update

All the new operators (except the red cert shop ops) being part of branches with modules immediately get their modules

FUN-X module base effect increases the starting damage of Lappland the Decadenza's drones to 35% of her ATK

SOL-X module base effect gives Vulpisfoglia +8% ATK and DEF when blocking

EXE-X module base effect makes it so retreating Crownslayer refunds 80% of her current DP Cost

MER-X module base effect reduces the DP drained by Figurino's trait effect

Ritualist Supporter branch gets 1 module type

Lessing gets his second module

DRE-Y module base effect allows Lessing to survive a single fatal blow, healing back to full and gaining +30 ASPD at the cost of -60% Max HP, this effect only activates once per deployment

Angelina and Rosmontis get Integrated Strategies specialized modules

These modules' effects are unknown at the time of writing

Events and Stories

I Portatori Dei Velluti, a Siracusa side story event

Put on your masks and dresses, the show is about to begin in the streets.

Come on, don't be boring - you're probably the least "Carnival" of the bunch!

Stronghold Protocol, limited time autobattler gamemode, opens during the third week of I Portatori Dei Velluti

Zwillingstürme im Herbst Retrospect, scheduled after I Portatori Dei Velluti

Operator Archives update for Lessing, Jieyun, Schwarz, Sora, Totter and Vigil

Misc Stuff

New QoL changes

Added the ability to have preset base loadouts that you can easily swap between

Added the ability to instantly send every exhausted operator into dormitories with one button

Max Sanity cap increased by +45

Refilling sanity using Originite Prime will refill 135 sanity regardless of level/max cap

Added the ability to instantly move to required lower materials when crafting and a button to move back the higher tier material that required it

Mountain, Kafka and Pinecone added to recruitment

Bagpipe's [Queen, No.1] outfit will be available in the certs shop to players that don't have it

Livestream Stuff

Showcased Lappland the Decadenza, a hyper offensive 6* Mech-Accord Caster with potent self buffs and powerful debuffs

First talent makes her stronger the longer she stays on the field, getting the following buffs in order: increased drone damage cap, ability to inflict Silence, gains more drones

Second talent increases the initial SP of all [Siracusa] operators when she's in the squad

Skill 1 has a passive effect that immediately gives her an additional drone, when the skill activates she gains ATK, releases her drones to attack enemies and her drones will attack idling enemies anywhere on the field

Skill 2 expands her attack range, increases her ATK, gives her more drones and releases her drones to attack enemies randomly within range, her drones have a chance to inflict Panic

Skill 3 increases her ATK and gives her more drones, then releases special drones that actively seek out and hunt enemies, the special drones inflict Panic upon reaching a target and locks onto them; enemies near the drones will have decreased movement speed and take Arts damage every second

Showcased Vulpisfoglia, a 6* Pioneer Vanguard with a strong battlefield presence

First talent makes her attacks deal additional Arts damage for a few seconds after the first time hitting them

Second talent increases the natural DP regeneration by a small amount and lets her recover HP when she hasn't taken damage for a few seconds

Skill 1 is a power strike skill that makes her next attack deal Arts damage and generate some DP, this skill can store charges

Skill 2 lets her immediately deal Arts damage in an area in front of her, Slows the hit enemies and generates some DP. If the enemies were already under the effects of Slow they will be Stunned instead, this skill can store charges

Skill 3 immediately generates DP, expands her attack range, increases her ATK, gives a massive decaying ASPD boost, allows her to attack enemies equal to block count and each attack briefly Stuns the hit enemies. If she defeats any enemy during the skill she will gain Camouflage at the end of the skill that lasts until the next skill activation

Showcased Crownslayer, a 6* Executor Specialist with a unique disruptive kit

First talent sprays a smokescreen on the 8 surrounding tiles around her during skill duration, reducing the Physical and Arts Hit Rate of ground enemies in those tiles

Second talent lets her deal increased Physical damage to enemies that have not landed a hit on her

Skill 1 gives her increased ATK and some amount of Physical and Arts Dodge

Skill 2 stops her from attacking upon deployment, makes her less likely to be attacked and increases the amount of Physical and Arts Hit Rate the smokescreen decreases, when skill ends she will deal a certain % of ATK as Physical damage to all enemies within range

Skill 3 increases her first talent range, gives her Invisibility and sets her Block Count to 0, every few seconds she will appear to attack an enemy within the talent range dealing a certain % of ATK as Physical damage and Stunning them for a few seconds

Showcased the event mechanic, a fireworks machine that will apply effects on a number of tiles around it when activated

While the machine is active, operators on those tiles will take periodic damage and cannot be healed but will not have their HP go below 1, enemies on those tiles will take constant damage

Players can additionally customize which tiles will be affected by the fireworks machine and have it apply additional bonus effects in the event menu

Showcased Contrail, an experimental 4* of a neat new branch 巡空者 (Air Patrol), a Specialist branch that consists of operators that have 2 Block Count and utilizes the new status "Takeoff"

Takeoff: Does not block ground enemies and will not be attacked by ground enemies, can block aerial enemies

S1 makes her takeoff immediately upon deployment, expands her attack range, increases her ATK and gives her some Physical Dodge

S2 makes her takeoff when activated, expands her attack range, increases her ATK, lets her attack 2 targets at once and is able to attack an additional aerial enemy and her attacks inflict Slow to aerial enemies

Showed footage of the new base loadouts feature

Work rooms and Dormitories are now in separate tabs

You can set up to 3 loadouts for each individual room and press a button to immediately swap out exhausted operators, there is also a button to immediately do this in every room all at once

Showed the button that immediately sends all exhausted operators into the dorms

Teased even more base QoL features planned for the next Sui sibling event update

Expanded the Reception Room and added the ability to decorate it

Added activity rooms, operators assigned to this room can be manually controlled and move around the base

Announced the ability to register your birthday, players will receive gift furniture on their set birthday and operators have special birthday voicelines

Announced the ability to have a list of rotating assistant operators that change every day

Announced the ability to make loadouts for the main menu background/UI theme/assistant operators for quick switching

SSS will get a skip feature, uses the same PRTS Proxy Cards used for annihilation skip

The older SSS maps will become playable again

Stronghold Protocol, limited time autobattler gamemode

In the gamemode the player will have to prepare their squad and operators before each battle, the player can hire additional operators and have multiple copies of them deployed or combined into a higher tier of that operator

Players can hire reserve operators should they lack usable units and also hire up to 8 friend support operators

Teased the next event involving Thorns and the history of alchemy in Iberia

Announced some kind of mini game collection "Poly Vision Museum"

Announced the second expansion update for IS#5

A 5th ending exploring the story of an alternate universe Amiya

The ability to share seeds of runs you completed to other players, completing a seeded run will not unlock higher difficulty/new relics/etc

Max difficulty increased beyond 15

New starting squads

New collectibles and thoughts (IS5 gimmick items)

Teased Arknights anime season 3 [RISE FROM EMBER]

Announced U-Official mini series

Announced Ambience Synesthesia 2025: Best Song Award, the song lineup featured in the concert will be decided via community polling

INVESTIGATED TERRA lore video covering the history and development of Originium on Terra and the technology that sprouted from it narrated by Kal'tsit

[phantomrose96]

"Okay but we're all totally recommending Gideon the Ninth to our male friends, right? Because can we TALK about what good male character representation Gideon the Ninth has?? Because it's literally so so good.

First off there's Palamedes, who's witty and smart and sarcastic and he literally solves like half the plot. Literally the plot would not have worked without him. And he's regularly shown to be smarter than even Harrow. And best of all, no one ever questions him or belittles him for being a man. Literally everyone treats him like an equal, even the women who see him as an enemy.

Then there's Isaac, who really feels like a real teenager he's so fleshed out. He's got a lot of personality and angst and big emotions, and the author literally never once sexualizes him. Like you know she gets it. Then Magnus is literally so nurturing and wholesome, he's like a genius inversion of the usual Strong Man trope. Literally God HIMSELF is a man.

It's really refreshing how much you can tell the author is a staunch meninist, just from the way the narrative respects all the men across the board. The only time a woman belittles a man is when Ianthe belittles Naberius, but she does that to everyone so it's not sexist. Plus Naberius is a bad ass. He literally beats Gideon in a duel. In fact the only male characters who feel like "bad" male rep are maybe the eighth house, cuz they're both kinda stereotypical male personalities... but when you consider there are 4 or maybe even 5 other prominent men in the story, it stops being "bad male stereotype" and just becomes "good male diversity :)". I really wish more authors felt brave enough to include 4 or even 5 prominent male characters, who all MATTER to the story.

Like I think that's what gets me? It was like every male character mattered. All the main character women wouldn't have gotten to where they did if not for the men who were playing SUPER important secondary roles to them? And those men weren't just there for love interests either, except kinda Palamedes whose whole motivation was the two women he's in love with, but it's REALLY done well! He literally has full autonomy of his choices the whole time and when he steers the trajectory of his whole life for the women he's in love with, it's genuinely so human and heartfelt.

But yeah it's like they were all HUMANS. It was so refreshing how easy it was to empathize with them? It wasn't like "they were men", it was like "the author knows these characters are humans, and they are men too". Idk how to explain it but it makes me really feel like I can understand men better when I usually think they're such a mystery or just really shallow in books :). I just think men should know books like this exist and that they know authors like Tamsyn Muir are out there and they get it :)."

[wenclairfamily]

"Wednesday's Acceptance"

A Brand New Wednesday Addams Tale

"You enjoying digging up all the fake dead bodies I hid around the yard for you?"

"While the exhilaration of unearthing decaying flesh would have been more preferable… your birthday gift to me this year is indeed well appreciated."

*************************

*Cover Artwork by @emeriart

Links to the Full Story: Wattpad, Archive Of Our Own, Fanfiction.net

-Or just click keep reading to see the full story immediately!

*************************

*Many Years Ago:

In the Addams Family mansion: a five year old Wednesday Addams was sitting in a black night gown next to her father Gomez, who was reading a book to her. As Gomez held the book in front of Wednesday, he had a big smile on his face as he said, "And then the wolf ate Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother, and he lived happily ever after. The End! So... did you like that bed time story my little storm cloud?" A smiling Wednesday then said, "Oh yes father. It was such a wonderfully violent story. But... I still see there are more pages after the last one you read. Why is that?" Gomez looked a little nervous as he said, "Well... maybe we'll talk about what eventually happened to the poor hungry wolf when you're older."

Suddenly Wednesday's mother: Morticia walked into the bedroom and said, "Oh Wednesday. For your birthday party next week, are there any friends from school you want to invite over?" Then an excited Wednesday said, "Oh yes. I want to invite everyone from class here. I can't wait to show them around our house that's so nice and gloomy." Gomez however looked surprised as he said, "You want to invite your WHOLE class here my little death trap? Wouldn't you rather just spend your whole party throwing knives at me and your Uncle Fester, or try to poison your brother?" Then an excited Wednesday said, "Oh, no. I want to show all my classmates my guillotine, and my pet spider and scorpion." Before Gomez could say anything else, Morticia stepped forward as she happily said, "If that's what you want for your party Wednesday, that's what we'll do. Now good night my deadly daughter. Have sweet homicidal filled dreams tonight."

Gomez then stood up as he and Morticia stepped out of Wednesday's bedroom. Once they closed the door to the bedroom, a concerned Gomez said, "Tish, are you sure inviting all of Wednesday's classmates here is a good idea? I'm concerned they might be becoming a bad influence on her. They all wear clothes filled with so much... color. You know many people in my family have an allergic reaction when exposed to too many bright colors. What if Wednesday has inherited that gene?" Morticia however kept a calm demeanor as she said, "Nonsense Gomez. We live in a diverse world, and we must teach our children to be tolerant of other people, no matter how disturbingly bright their clothing is."

Gomez however still looked worried as he said, "You know I was never keen on sending our children to public school. They were doing so well in their voodoo doll making skills with Grandmama back when we only educated them here at home. I mean what's the point in having children if we're just supposed to send them away from us five days a week!? Plus, if little Wednesday starts spending too much with those unusual technicolor looking children at her school, pretty soon she'll be joining the girl scouts, adopting cute little puppies, or even worse... going to pop star music concerts!" Morticia chuckled a bit, and then calmly said, "Oh Gomez, you're just over-reacting. Like our little Wednesday would ever go to some pop star music concert filled with bright lights and loud noises..."

*The Future:

An adult Wednesday Addams stood with an angry glare as she was amongst many spectators at a crowded music concert. Standing next to Wednesday were her teenage daughters: Harmony and Ana as they excitedly and loudly sang, "Oh, I leave quite an impression! Five feet to be exact! You're wonderin' why half his clothes went missing! My body's where they're at!" Then Wednesday turned her head, and began to walk away as she angerly said, "I'm leaving." Then Ana suddenly grabbed Wednesday as she said, "Come on mother. The Sabrina Carpenter concert just got started!" Then an excited Harmony screamed, "Ooo! Here comes the chorus!" Then together with the singer on stage, both Harmony and Ana loudly screamed/sang: "Heard you're back together, and if that's true: you'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you!" Wednesday meanwhile kept a straight face, as she angerly said, "When you both told me I was being brought to a place where there would be lots of screaming and shrieking, this isn't what I had in mind."

Ana then giggled, and said, "Come on mother. Everyone loves Sabrina Carpenter! She is my free pass!" Then a confused looking Harmony said, "Wait Ana. I thought you only preferred guys... and ghosts." Then Ana casually said, "Yeah, but... look at her! Even the straightest straight girl would go gay for Sabrina!" Then Wednesday reluctantly said, "She did indeed have quite the twisted sense of humor when we met during..." Then Harmony suddenly grabbed Wednesday out of excitement as she said, "Hold on mother! You met Sabrina Carpenter!? WHERE!? WHEN!?" Then Wednesday suddenly looked a bit nervous as she said, "I... well..." Then with a silly tone to her voice, Ana said, "Ooo. Are you gonna tell us that was you who kissed her in that Taste music video, and not Jenna Ortega?!"

Ana and Harmony laughed hard for a moment... but then the two noticed Wednesday was looking much more uncomfortable now, and starting to blush. Then with a very excited smile: Harmony said, "Oh my God! Was that actually you in that video!? Now the dark twisted tones of that music video make so much sense, and it explains where you disappeared off to last summer!" Then Ana began to clap her hands as she said, "Ha, ha! This is epic! Does mom know about this!?" Then Wednesday began to look very uncomfortable as she said, "Any special high paying tasks that I reluctantly agree to take on to pay for both of your college education expenses are made completely transparent with your mom... and also arranged by her... unfortunately. Now if you excuse me... I need a break from this hormonal driven insanity."

Then as Wednesday walked out of the concert, Ana turned her head and said, "Hold on. Where's Stormageddon the Conqueror? He was chilling right near me." Then Harmony pointed to the stage as she excitedly said, "Look!" Then on the concert stage: Sabrina Carpenter stopped singing as she said, "Oh, hey. Where did this cat come from?" Then Ana's cat appeared walking across the stage, and stopped right near Sabrina Carpenter's feet as he innocently said, "Rowr." Then Sabrina Carpenter picked up Ana's cat as she said, "Aww. You're a cute little guy. Wanna come back to my place tonight and have some fun?" Then Ana's cat looked very excited as he happily said, "Rowr!" Meanwhile, in the crowd: an impressed Ana said, "Dang Stormageddon the Conqueror, you are the ultimate playah!"

Meanwhile, Wednesday was walking out of the concert and slowly looking more relaxed as she distanced herself from the loud noises. However, just as Wednesday began to look more comfortable, her eyes caught a poster hanging on a nearby wall. The poster featured a blonde adult man in a suit smiling, with large words underneath his face that said: Vote Dalton Davis for Governor: The Man Who Will Cast Out the Outcasts. Horror and anger went across Wednesday's face as she took in the image of the poster. Then Wednesday quickly pulled the poster off the wall, tore it into many pieces, and then stormed away.

*Many Years Ago:

Young six year old Wednesday Addams was leading a group of children her age around her bedroom as she said, "And over here is my collection of Marie Antoinette dolls." Then one little girl in the group asked, "Why do all your dolls have no heads?" Then a smiling Wednesday said, "Because they all got their heads cut off in the French Revolution." Then suddenly a large pig walked into the bedroom. Many of the children looked surprised, as one boy asked, "What's that pig doing here!?" Then a sweet sounding Wednesday said, "Oh. That's me and my brother's 'Piggy Bank'. That little guy there eats up all our money, so we can use it later." Then one little girl in the group asked, "How do you get your coins back after feeding them to him?" Then little Wednesday, in a matter of fact way, simply said, "When Gradmama makes bacon sandwiches. Discovering coins as you're biting into them is so much fun."

Then one young blonde boy looked annoyed as he said, "Come on. You said there was gonna be a piñata with goodies in it at this party. Lets see it." Then Wednesday smiled as she said, "Don't worry Dalton. That's the next thing I was going to show you. Follow me." Wednesday then led the group of children into a dark empty room with only a spider shaped piñata hanging from the ceiling. The little boy Dalton looked excited as he said, "Now that's what I'm talking about! Bring on the goodies!" Wednesday then picked up a bat, as the living hand: Thing appeared. Thing quickly crawled up Wednesday's back as it held a blind fold between two of his fingers. Wednesday then put the blind fold over her eyes as Thing tied the blind fold behind her. Once she was completely blind folded, a smiling Wednesday said, "Thank you Thing."

Wednesday then began to use her bat to hit the piñata hard. As Wednesday kept whacking at the spider shaped piñata, all of the young children began to look excited as they yelled, "Candy! Candy! Candy!" However as Wednesday broke open the piñata, suddenly a swarm of spiders burst out of it. All of the children screamed as they began to run out of the room. However only Dalton stopped for a moment, as he angrily looked back at Wednesday while yelling, "You're a dirty rotten freak Wednesday! You and all you stinking outcasts should just go back to the mud-hole you belong in!" Then Dalton and the other kids ran out of the room, while a young Wednesday (who had spiders crawling all over her body) just stood looking very confused.

Morticia then walked into the room looking curious as she said, "I heard screaming, so I thought the party was going well. However... I don't see any of your friends. Where did they go?" Wednesday stood looking very confused as she said, "When I surprised them with spiders, they all ran away. Why is that mother?" A sympathetic Morticia then embraced Wednesday, hugging her closely as she said, "Oh, Wednesday... some people just don't appreciate a beautiful gift when it's given to them." Then as Wednesday looked at Morticia's face, she said, "Dalton said... I was a dirty rotten freak that belongs in a mud-hole. Is that true mother?" As Morticia looked at Wednesday with loving eyes, she warmly said, "Oh Wednesday. You're not a dirty rotten freak that belongs in a mud-hole... You're a dirty rotten gothic princess that rules all mud-holes." Wednesday began to smile as she hugged Morticia while saying, "Thank you mother."

*The Future:

An adult Wednesday sat next to Enid and other Nevermore Academy teachers at a staff meeting. As a female Nevermore Academy administrator stood before the teachers, she said, "And that concludes all our major talking points for this meeting. Oh, we have a group of new teachers starting this week. We're providing them large lunches every day around noon, so be sure to pop on by to the training room and introduce yourselves." A concerned and confused Wednesday then raised one eyebrow as she said, "Would you care to explain why we are giving brand new teachers extravagant meals every day during their week of training?" The school administrator looked a bit confused herself as she said, "It's just... a nice thing to do Mrs. Addams. It helps motivate our new staff to be their best."

Wednesday however began to look angry, and spoke in a harsh tone as she said, "How does rewarding teachers before they've done any real work make sense? New staff members shouldn't be given five star meals for just existing. They've gone from unemployment to getting a paycheck. That's the only reward they should be receiving, and nothing more. New staff members deserve the least ideal parking spaces, the smallest offices in the building to work from, being tasked with the most difficult to teach students, and should receive no perks whatsoever, which includes free meals. Staff members in any establishment should earn any type of special treatment or lavish benefits. If you create an environment where people are treated like they're special just for existing in the world, you're enabling them to do whatever they see fit; including harming whoever they see fit! Then the next thing you know, they'll be getting away with murder and be allowed to run for governor!"

Everyone in the room then began to look at Wednesday with confused looks on their faces. Wednesday then began to surprisingly look embarrassed and humiliated, as she stood up and said, "Excuse me." Wednesday then began to quickly walk out of the room, as Enid had a concerned look on her face.

*Many Years Ago:

Young six year old Wednesday Addams was walking down a sidewalk near an ice cream shop while holding a leash that was attached to her pet scorpion. As Wednesday walked, she looked down at her pet scorpion and smiled as she said, "Come on Nero. Just around the corner is a nice colony of ants you can subjugate over." Then suddenly Dalton and several other boys on bikes started to ride near Wednesday. As the boys looked at Wednesday, Dalton stopped on his bike as he said, "What kind of girl walks a scorpion?" The other boys snickered as they got off their bikes. Quickly, two of the boys grabbed Wednesday by the shoulders and arms and pushed her against a wall. As Wednesday was forced to let go of her leash, she said, "Oh no. Don't let Nero wander into the street. She's just a baby."

Dalton laughed as he said, "You call that scorpion a 'she'? That's an 'it'. Scorpions are just freaky little monsters; just like you Addams!" Then as the scorpion walked onto the road, a scared Wednesday said, "No. She's more than my pet. She's like a daughter to me. Don't let a car hit her." As Dalton and one of his friends got on their bikes, Dalton smirked while saying, "Oh, we'll make sure a 'car' doesn't hit it." Then Dalton and his friend rode their bikes towards the scorpion. Wednesday struggled to get free from the two boys that were pinning her against a wall, as she yelled, "NERO!" Then Dalton and his friend rode their bikes over the scorpion, instantly killing it.

The other two boys let go of Wednesday, as a horrified Wednesday fell to the ground with tears in her eyes. Dalton and his friends then rode off on their bikes laughing. Looking desperate, Wednesday jumped up and ran over to a nearby male police officer walking around the corner. Wednesday immediately pulled on the police officer's sleeve and said, "Officer! I need to report a murder!" The police officer looked puzzled as he said, "What? Who committed a murder!?" As her heart was racing, little Wednesday said, "It was Dalton Davis!" The police officer had a major look of disbelief go across his face as he said, "The governor's son? I doubt that. Who do you think he murdered?" Then Wednesday pointed to the remains of her pet scorpion on the road as she said, "My pet scorpion Nero!"

The police officer then chuckled as he said, "Oh, boys will be boys. Listen sweetie, you only cry 'murder' if a real person is killed. Also, don't be accusing the governor's son of wrong doing. You don't wanna get yourself in any trouble now." The police officer then smiled as he walked away. Little Wednesday meanwhile looked completely devastated as she walked towards the remains of her pet scorpion on the road. Wednesday then fell to her knees as tears were coming from her eyes. Wednesday closed her eyes, and then titled her head back as she shrieked in agony.

*The Future:

A crescent shaped moon shined in the early night sky, as an adult Wednesday walked into the back yard of her home looking frustrated. She then stepped into a partially dug up grave with a shovel. As Wednesday began to dig up the dirt from the grave using the shovel, she also began to slowly take deep breaths in and out. As time passed, the longer Wednesday digged, the calmer she started to become. As Wednesday's digging continued, Enid silently walked into the yard and moved towards Wednesday. As Wednesday continued to take deep breaths in and out while digging up the grave, Enid calmly sat on the grass near Wednesday and began to look at her phone for a moment. Then Enid slowly turned her head to look at Wednesday, while Wednesday slowly turned her head to look at Enid. With a warm sound to her voice, Enid said, "You enjoying digging up all the fake dead bodies I hid around the yard for you?" In the private setting of their yard, Wednesday showed her gratitude to her wife by presenting Enid a genuine small smile on her face as she said, "While the exhilaration of unearthing decaying flesh would have been more preferable... your birthday gift to me this year is indeed well appreciated."

As Wednesday went back to digging her hole, Enid put her phone away as she said, "You wanna talk about what's bothering you?" Wednesday then tilted her head down as she bitterly said, "Dalton Davis." Enid looked confused as she said, "The guy running for governor? What about him?" Then Wednesday began to dig deep into the dirt around her as she said, "The problem with him... is that he is the one that killed Nero when I was six years old." Enid's eyes widened with shock as she said, "Oh my God! Your pet scorpion? I... I had no idea you had history with him that far back." Then as Wednesday began to dig the dirt around her more quickly, she clenched the shovel tight as she said, "Indeed I did. Not only has he been bullying and spouting out hate speech towards outcasts my whole life, but he's been allowed to get away with murdering innocent pets and countless other crimes against the outcast community just because his father was a long time governor. Now that hateful bigot is about to become a governor himself, and get away with who knows how many more untold crimes. I just..."

Then suddenly Wednesday froze, as her hands began to shake, and a few tears began to come from her eyes. As the tears began to form in Wednesday's eyes, she kept her head turned away from Enid's gaze so that Enid couldn't see her tears. Enid then jumped into the hole Wednesday was digging in, stood behind Wednesday (without looking at her face), and then immediately hugged Wednesday from behind. Enid closed her eyes and hugged Wednesday lovingly, while Wednesday simply remained still as she closed her eyes as well. Then after a long moment, Wednesday wiped away her tears. Soon, Enid stepped away as Wednesday began to shovel at the ground again. However Wednesday quickly saw she had reached the coffin beneath her. As Wednesday opened up the coffin, a smirking Enid said, "So... wanna relieve some stress and make out in the coffin for awhile?" Wednesday then turned to look right into Enid's eyes as she said, "That... would be splendid."

*Many Years Ago:

Fifteen year old Wednesday Addams was being led into Nancy Reagan High School by her brother Pugsley. As Pugsley walked close to his sister, he made a little smile as he said, "It's so nice that you got transferred here Wednesday. We finally get to be at the same school again." Wednesday however kept a straight deadpan face as she said, "Considering I've tortured students at all of the other public schools in the county that you didn't already demolish with your explosives, it was inevitable." Then suddenly a teenage Dalton and his friends walked over to the two, as a smiling Dalton said, "Yo 'Pigsley'. Who's this? Is it your new girlfriend, or the owner of the farm you live on?" As Dalton's friends laughed, Pugsley looked annoyed but also scared as he said, "This is my sister." Suddenly Dalton's eyes widened with a smile on his face as he said, "Whoa! Yo guys! It's the freak girl! Remember her? Little Wednesday Addams is all grown up! Hey, you guys remember how this freak girl invited us to her crack house when we were kids, and how she used to have a pet scorpion? Man, that was so much fun when we ran over that thing back in the day."

Then Dalton and his friends began to laugh as they walked away. Wednesday suddenly looked very angry as she began to pull a concealed sword out of her umbrella while saying, "Excuse me Pugsley. This will only take two minutes." Then Pugsley looking scared, stopped Wednesday by grabbing her arm as he said, "Wait Wednesday. Dalton's dad is the governor. That means that anyone that messes with him or hurts him at school will get into super serious trouble, like going straight to jail, and I don't wanna see you go to jail Wednesday. No one else tortures me in the electric chair as good as you do." Wednesday looked very frustrated for a moment, but then relaxed slightly as she said, "Very well. Dalton shall be excused from my wrath... for now."

*The Future:

An adult Wednesday sat in her office at Nevermore Academy as she was looking at her laptop. On the laptop screen, a video was playing of adult Dalton who was standing in front of a crowd as he proclaimed, "Currently, we are having tax dollars being used to fund outcast healthcare. Tell me, do you want your tax dollars to be used to help sharpen a werewolf's claws or a vampire's teeth so they can attack your children? If elected, I will dismantle our state's Outcast Healthcare Act, and put control of the people's government back in the hands of true people!" Wednesday then angerly shut her laptop closed as rage filled her eyes.

Suddenly Enid stepped into the office as she said, "Guess what Wens-babe! I got a surprise for you. I just got the school administrators to approve for us to take a two week vacation starting right now!" Wednesday looked very surprised as she said, "You planned a vacation without telling me?" Enid then walked around the room, stood behind Wednesday, and then began to rub Wednesday's shoulders as she said, "I know we both agreed it's important for us to make plans like this together... but I really felt like you needed a break. I mean... you have been getting more stressed than usual." Wednesday then kept a serious deadpan look to her face as she said, "Enid, I have no need to go on an impromptu vacation right now. I am perfectly capable of dealing with the current level of stressful factors in my life."

Then suddenly both Wednesday and Enid heard the sound of an explosion. After a moment, Ana suddenly ran in the office covered in smoke. Ana coughed for a few seconds, and then said, "Sorry. That was my bad. Although you can't blame me for playing with active plutonium if the Mafia Mice from Minnesota are just gonna make it so easy to steal from." Then suddenly the loud sound of laser fire could be heard in the hallway. Ana glanced into the hallway, and then loudly yelled, "Aah! The Puppy Posse from Poland is trying to steal the secret formula we made! Quick Stormageddon the Conqueror, activate the candy canes!" Then Ana ran into the hallway, as the sound of loud puppies could be heard mixed with laser fire. Wednesday then immediately turned her head to look right at Enid as she said, "Now I'm ready to take a vacation."

*The Future:

Fifteen year old Wednesday Addams was walking through the main hallway of Nancy Reagan High School. Wednesday soon reached her locker, and upon opening it: she immediately saw Pugsley inside her locker tied up, with an apple stuffed in his mouth. Pugsley quickly fell to the ground. Wednesday then got down on her knees, pulled the apple out of Pugsley's mouth, and immediately said, "I want names." A scared looking Pugsley was on the verge of tears as he said, "I don't know who they were. Honest. It happened so fast." Wednesday then began to untie Pugsley as she said, "Pugsley, emotion equals weakness. Pull yourself together... now!"

However Wednesday's concentration stopped as she immediately had a vision from minutes ago featuring Dalton and his friends attacking Pugsley, and pushing him into the locker. As soon as Wednesday's vision finished, she saw a worried Pugsley looking up at her as he asked, "Are you okay?" Wednesday was silent for a moment... but then in a matter of fact tone said, "Leave this to me." A worried Pugsley then tried to sit up as he said, "Wednesday, what are you going to do?" Wednesday then looked straight at Pugsley, and with a calm deadpan face she said, "What I do best." Then Wednesday walked over to a nearby payphone that was still working in the school. Pugsley soon was able to stand up, and walked over near Wednesday so he could listen in on what she was about to say.

Wednesday immediately dialed a number, and soon heard a voice on the other line say, "Joe's Pet Store." With a deadly direct tone to her voice, Wednesday immediately said, "If you don't wish for your wife to find the pictures I took of you and your secret mistress at the Motel 6 last week, you will make a special delivery to the back door of the Nancy Reagan High School swimming pool within the next half hour." As Pugsley listened in on the conversation, he said, "Wednesday, are you sure you wanna do this?" Wednesday then glanced back at Pugsley, and with a practical tone to her voice she said, "Of course. The school swimming pool has the best acoustics in the building to enjoy the echoes of screaming." Then Wednesday focused back on her phone call as she said, "Now then Joe, here is what I want to see inside two bags that I'll be holding in less than 30 minutes..."

*The Future:

An adult Wednesday angerly walked into the lobby of an old hotel made mostly out of wood, where a young female adult was standing behind the counter. The young adult woman was looking at her phone, barely making eye contact with Wednesday as she said, "Are you checking out?" Then an angry looking Wednesday said, "Yes, with a refund; for this entire building is infested with insects all over the floors and walls." The young adult woman then took a good look at Wednesday as she said, "Why would you care? I thought outcasts like you enjoyed that kind of thing?" While Wednesday maintained a calm composure to most of her body, her face showed great frustration as she said, "That may be the case for me, but my wife has a great aversion towards them. Considering we have only been here for less than an hour, I demand a refund immediately."

The young adult woman turned her head away slightly, and went back to looking at her phone while saying, "You'll have to call the manager when she comes in tomorrow for that." Then Wednesday banged her hands on the counter as she said, "You introduced yourself as the manager when we first arrived. Now provide our refund now." The young adult woman still kept her eyes on her phone as she said, "Well, you gotta call Booking dot com for the refund." Then Wednesday leaned her face forward as she bitterly said, "You are the hotel manager. You are the only one that can provide a refund; not the booking agency!" The young adult woman still looked at her phone as she said, "Sorry. You have to call Booking dot com."

Wednesday began to breathe deeply as she held out her phone, and began to scroll through many photos showing insects all over the walls and floor of a hotel room. As Wednesday held the phone right near the young woman's face, she said, "Can you honestly say that these photos I took of the insect infested hotel room that me and my wife were assigned to are acceptable!?" The young adult woman was still looking at her phone as she simply said, "There are no insects in this hotel." Then Wednesday loudly pointed to her phone screen as she said, "They are literally in the pictures I took!" The young adult only barely looked at Wednesday for a second as she said, "There are no insects in this hotel."

Then Wednesday banged the counter with a fist, and then loudly said, "Give us the refund we deserve, or face the life threatening consequences of crossing one of the Addams lineage!" The young adult woman finally looked directly at Wednesday as she said, "Don't threaten me you freaking outcast! It's your kind that are taking all the good jobs from us hard working normal people! Once all the smart guys that wanna get rid of you outcasts win in the election, me and all us normal people will finally get to have good jobs and be rich! Also, I don't care if you attack me! If you do, you'll just be thrown in outcast jail where you belong!" Wednesday's breathing began to increase, as she angerly said, "If you believe putting people in power who unite their followers through hatred and fear of others shall make your life better: you are the one that is casting yourself out from reality! As for having you face life threatening consequences... I won't have to lift a finger..."

Suddenly the building began to shake. The young adult woman started to look scared as she said, "What's going on!?" Wednesday however stood very calmly as she said, "Perhaps if you weren't so busy looking at your phone, you would've already noticed." The young adult woman turned her head and saw millions of termites eating through the wooden walls of the hotel. The young adult woman screamed as she said, "Ahh! This place is infested!" Then Wednesday made a small smirk as she sarcastically said, "Well how can that be? You stated multiple times there are no insects in this hotel; which certainly means that a sanitary establishment of such high quality would've certainly used the proper types of insect repellents that ward off common bugs, carpenter ants, and mutant super powered termites that can eat through wood at one hundred thousand times the speed of their more common brethren."

As the room shook, the young adult woman dropped her phone as Wednesday began to casually walk out of the hotel. The young adult woman then turned her head as she said, "Where did my phone drop? Where is it? Where did it go!?" Then suddenly the wooden roof broke apart and began to fall down on the young adult woman. Then seconds after Wednesday left the building, the entire hotel came crashing down on the young adult woman as she screamed in pain.

Wednesday soon approached a black car that Enid was sitting in. Wednesday soon sat in the passenger's seat as she calmly said, "We will have to find sleeping accommodations elsewhere." Enid smirked as she said, "Well, I guess that lady had it coming considering the thousands of 1 star reviews that place had." Wednesday then turned to look directly at Enid as she said, "Wait. If you knew this hotel had such terrible ratings, then why did we come here?" Enid made a warm smile as she said, "Because you haven't been in the best mood lately, and I know torturing someone always livens your spirits." Wednesday then looked directly into Enid's eyes, and with gratitude she said, "Thank you Enid... although... sadly, torture hasn't always proven effective at improving my mood..."

*Many Years Ago:

Fifteen year old Wednesday Addams sat in a court room on the witness stand. She was sitting near an older male judge, while facing an older man who was standing near Dalton (who was sitting in a complete body cast). On the other side of the room watching her from afar was Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, and Lurch. The older man then stepped up as he said, "Your honor, as this state's governor: I must make it clear why I am taking time out of my busy schedule to take a short term return to my old career as an attorney. It is to ensure that the individual who nearly murdered my son face justice. But rather than explain and spell out all of the details as to what happened... I believe the school's security camera footage will do that on it's own quite nicely."

On a nearby television screen: security camera footage began to play of Wednesday walking into the high school swimming pool room. As many male teenagers were practicing their water polo skills in the pool, Wednesday approached the waters' edge. One of Dalton's friends noticed Wednesday nearby and said, "Yo Dalton, look. Pigsley's sister." Dalton then turned to look at Wednesday as he said, "Hey freak. This is a closed practice." Then Wednesday with a straight deadpan face said, "The only person who gets to torture my brother is me."

Then Wednesday suddenly revealed what she had just been hiding behind her back... two bags full of very hungry looking piranhas. Fear suddenly entered the eyes of Dalton and his friends as they immediately began swimming to the edge of the pool. Wednesday then immediately dropped the bags into the pool, and the school of piranha instantly swam at top speed towards the teenage boys. The sound of panic, whistles blowing, and teenagers swimming at top speed filled the large room, while a small smirk began to appear on Wednesday's face. Then within seconds: the sound of Dalton screaming could be heard as blood began to fill the pool, while Wednesday's face quickly began to show a large smile filled with incredible joy.

Back in the court room: the video footage stopped playing. Dalton's father then turned to look at Wednesday as he said, "So Miss Addams... what do you have to say to the inhumane actions you did against my son!?" The older judge then turned to look at Wednesday as he said, "Miss Addams, I don't usually do this, but I will remind you that you have the right to not have to answer such vague and indirect questions that could further incriminate yourself." Then Wednesday calmly said, "No. I wish to answer." Then Wednesday looked directly at Dalton's father with angry glaring eyes as she said, "I did what I had to governor, because you and your son's legacy of hate filled bigotry has lasted far too long. Someone had to end the lineage at some point." Meanwhile in a corner of the room: Gomez and Morticia held hands as Morticia said, "Oh my. Wednesday is likely going to jail for attempted murder." Gomez began to shed a few tears as he said, "I know Tish... and I've never been so proud of her."

*The Future:

An adult Wednesday sat in the passenger's seat of Enid's car looking out the window silently, while Enid was driving. As she drove, Enid took a few quick silent glances at Wednesday. Eventually Enid opened her mouth and said, "You doing okay there?" Wednesday glanced at Enid as she said, "Indeed, I am. There are simply many matters dwelling in my mind that I am finding difficulty losing focus on." Enid made a little sigh, and then said, "Yeah, I hear ya. A lot has changed in our family recently. We're no longer running a company we invested years into, Harmony is already attending college with Megan, and Ana is now dating a ghost... and that fact alone wakes me up at times with so many questions on how that is supposed to even work." Then Wednesday calmly said, "On the contrary, I am quite pleased with Ana's choice of mate. She's found someone that will have the ability to haunt her through spectral manifestations and affect her through dark supernatural means for the rest of her life. It's actually the most romantic thing I've ever heard of." Enid made a little smile as she said, "Okay then. So... what is on your mind?"

As Wednesday began to look out the car window again, she simply said, "Well... as much as I have great confidence in how well our children will evolve for the better in time... I have little confidence in the rest of the world evolving for the better as that happens. Ever since Dalton led his moronic followers in killing Nero when I was a child, I am constantly reminded that I live in a world that rejects myself and my family, and wishes for none of us to exist in it. It's not that I mind that on a basic level... in fact, in many ways I enjoy it. However, it's the fact that cruelty towards innocents and unjust hatred never stops continuing to grow in the world at large that bothers me. Despite all we've done to improve the quality of life for those in our community, despite how much time I spend teaching by example to others how to be strong, despite the fact that we've literally saved the Earth multiple times now... the world at large still treats me with the same level of disrespect I received on that fateful day of my childhood when the world didn't care about the loss of my pet... or the loss of my innocence... and while I can cope with continuing to experience that myself... at times I cannot cope with the fact that my children and the innocent at large must reside in this decaying reality we are forced to endure." Wednesday then sat completely silent as Enid (who was also silent) had a uncertain look on her face.

However, after a long moment passed, Enid finally spoke up as she said, "Wednesday, the world does indeed have a problem with hatred spreading. The fact that more and more leaders, including more leaders in government now, are uniting people based on unjust hatred, lies, and fear towards others is unforgivable. I mean, I get that everyone has different dreams and goals in life, and sometimes those come in conflict with the dreams and goals of others. However using lies and hate in an attempt to build the foundation of a seemingly better world is only causing the foundation of the future to be built from rot. But with all that being said... the power of love and acceptance is also spreading as well. As much as it feels like the haters are winning at times, history has always shown that people who unite others towards the goals of peace and making a better life for all: always have the much more longer lasting impact. We just have to believe that with every act of love we show to people, ever act of compassion, and every time we show strength in how we defend others and fight for justice: we are making the world a better place." Wednesday looked at Enid for a moment... and then looked back out the car window as she said, "A noble sentiment... however, my own personal history has shown that those filled with deep unjust hatred always seem to prevail..."

*Many Years Ago:

Fifteen year old Wednesday Addams sat in a small conference room facing Dalton's father, while Dalton (who was wearing a full body cast that covered everything but his head) was sitting in a wheelchair nearby. Dalton's father was chuckling as he said, "So let me get this straight Miss Addams. Not only have you, a teenage girl, chosen to represent yourself in court... but now you think you can make a deal with me? I'll have you know young lady, back when I was a prosecutor: I made deals with no one!" Then Wednesday kept a calm deadpan face as she said, "There's a first time for everything." Then Wednesday snapped her fingers twice. Suddenly the living hand: Thing quickly came into the room, and tossed a folder into Wednesday's hands. Dalton's father looked surprised at the sight of Thing, while a very calm Wednesday said, "Thank you Thing."

Then Wednesday opened up the folder, and showed several photos of Dalton kicking and punching students at school, along with pictures of Dalton pushing Pugsley into a locker. The eyes of Dalton's father widened, as a deadpan Wednesday said, "You're not the only one who has access the school's security camera footage. I have on tape more than fifty examples of Dalton harassing students at school without facing any consequences throughout the last year. I also had my 'handy assistant' here get copies of every 'generous check' you sent to the school over the last six months; the date of each check timed right around each occasion Dalton was caught on camera harming other students. Now then, you may the keys to my future Mister Davis. However if all this information I have here was to be leaked to the media, I would find myself with the keys to ending your political career permanently. So the only question is... do you value the rule of law, or your desire to maintain power more?"

Dalton's father sat angerly for a long moment... and then he finally said, "I can have all the felonies dropped, but you'll have to at least go to court mandated therapy. I can't just let you go completely free after everything the judge saw. However the one thing I won't negotiate on is: you never attend another school within sixty miles of this town again. In fact, unless you're coming to and from your parents' home, it's probably best if you never show your face anywhere in this town ever again." Wednesday kept a simple composure as she said, "Believe me when I say, I don't wish to see anyone in this town if possible for the rest of my days either. Your terms are acceptable.

Suddenly the door to the room opened, and Gomez and Morticia stuck their faces into the room, while Gomez asked, "How is everything going my little death trap?" Wednesday then stood up as she said, "We have reached an appropriate settlement. However I will need to be transferred to a new school far away from this dreadful town." Morticia and Gomez glanced at one another, as a smiling Morticia said, "I think we have some ideas." Then Pugsley suddenly walked into the room carrying a fish bowl full of piranhas as he said, "Are you going to jail Wednesday!?" Upon seeing the bowl of piranhas, Dalton's father stepped back fearfully as he said, "What are you doing with those!?" Then Pugsley, in a matter of fact tone, simply said, "These are my new emotional support animals. My sister gave them to me."

Meanwhile Wednesday got her belongings together as she simply said, "Come on. Lets go back to the court room." However as everyone else began to leave, an angry Dalton looked at Wednesday as he said, "You may have gotten out of jail Wednesday, but I still got what I wanted. I got another freaking outcast out of this town. Just make sure you don't trip on your slimy self while heading on the road out of town... because if you do, maybe someone will be decent enough to run over YOU." Wednesday's eyes widened as she looked at Dalton with great hatred in her eyes... and then after a long moment of silence, Wednesday slowly left the room.

*The Future:

An adult Wednesday was sitting in the passenger seat of Enid's car as Enid was driving. However as Wednesday looked out the window, she began to look a bit confused as she said, "Hold on. End, where are we?" Enid smirked as she said, "You should start learning how to use Google Maps Wens-babe. Although I'm guessing you're starting to realize that we've just entered a pretty familiar area... Westfield, New Jersey!" Wednesday's eyes widened with surprise as she said, "You've taken me to my childhood hometown!? I told you I had no interest in visiting my parents during our vacation." As Enid kept driving, she smirked as she said, "We're not going to your parents' place. We're going to check out downtown Westfield. We never went down there during all the times we've visited your parents before." Wednesday began to looked annoyed as she said, "I... what... when did... errrr."

Enid looked at Wednesday with concern as she said, "What's wrong Wens?" Wednesday sighed, and then said, "It's just... I haven't been to downtown Westfield since... the day Nero died. While I did go to a community center on the outskirts of town every Halloween for years, and would often spend many days around the cemetery at the edge of town... I've completely avoided going downtown since I was six. Even when I would go to and from my parents' house, I always made sure I traveled on a route that avoided going through town. There are simply too many painful memories there... and too many hateful and bigoted people that would prefer I never return." As Enid continued to drive, she simply said, "Well, I think it would be nice if you confronted your past Wednesday. Okay now, lets see. We're going past your parents' place on Cemetery Lane, and now we're turning onto Elm Street and heading towards downtown Westfield."

As Enid continued driving, Wednesday looked out the car window and saw the familiar sights of a town she had almost forgotten. However Enid started to slow the car down as a heavy amount of traffic was ahead of her at an intersection. Enid then parked the car on the side of the road, as Wednesday said, "Do you know why such heavy traffic is ahead of us?" Enid made a little smile as she said, "Hmm. Lets go see what's going on." Enid then led Wednesday to a nearby blocked off street where a large crowd of people were gathered. Suddenly Wednesday's eyes widened as she stood surprised at the sight of a large sign ahead of her that said: Addams Fest.

Suddenly, both Wednesday and Enid saw standing in the midst of the crowd was Gomez, Morticia, Harmony, and Ana. Ana then waved as she said, "There they are! Hey mother! Hey mom! Over here!" As Wednesday and Enid approached the four, a happy Gomez said, "There's my little storm cloud and her horrific wife! I'm so glad you two got my letter about this event." Wednesday however looked confused as she said, "What letter? What's going on here?" Enid smirked as she said, "I may have known about a little event happening that I didn't share with you..."

Suddenly a tall slender man in a suit approached Wednesday as he said, "Mrs. Addams, what an honor it is to meet you. I'm Mayor Charles, and might I say: thank you so much for being here. You are certainly our most honored guest on this historic day." Wednesday continued to look confused as she said, "Why would that be?" Morticia stepped towards Wednesday as she said, "Well, didn't you know Wednesday? Thanks to the best selling books based on your life, and the television program it inspired: Westfield has become quite the tourist destination now, bringing much commerce to the community. Combined with the fact that your father has donated and invested in so many small businesses in town over the years: popular opinion demanded that the town create a special day designed to celebrate our family."

Mayor Charles smiled as he said, "Indeed. The cemetery you used to spend many days at, and even the school swimming pool that you unleashed piranhas into are historical landmarks now. We're also using this event to spotlight the history of all notable outcasts that have lived in this area at one time or another, most notably the many witches that have lived in Westfield over the centuries, thanks to our new Outcast Museum that has just recently finished construction."

As Wednesday continued to look confused she said, "I don't understand what's happening here. This is the very town that wanted nothing to do with me." Then Enid held Wednesday's hand, and smiled as she said, "Well, it would seem that your hometown has actually changed for the better Wednesday, and it looks like your actions actually helped make that happen." Then Harmony put a hand on Wednesday's shoulder as she said, "You never needed to torture anyone mother to take away unjust hate and bigotry from the world. You just had to be yourself."

Then Ana grabbed Wednesday by the arm, and said, "Come on mother. You need to check out the town lake. They have a model there of Grandpa and Grandma's house, and they also have this cool rose garden right near it. They even made sure that every rose in the garden has had its' petals cut off. The town decided to call it the Nero Memorial Flower Garden." Wednesday's eyes suddenly widened as it looked like just a small amount of emotion and tears were beginning to form on her face. Suddenly Enid pulled Wednesday away as she said, "Come on Wens-babe. We have a festival to check out!" Then Wednesday and her family walked off into the festival dedicated to them...

THE END

...

Epilogue:

An adult Dalton stood before a large crowd of people as he said, "As your newly elected governor, I promise you that this fine state will finally be made a wonderful safe place for all true people again. Thank you!" A smiling Dalton then walked away from the crowd and into a building. Dalton walked down a hallway by himself, as he approached his new office. Dalton then opened the door to his office... and suddenly stopped in his tracks, standing wide eyed as he saw Wednesday Addams sitting at his desk. Fury and anger entered Dalton's face as he said, "Wednesday Addams! What the hell are you doing in my office!?" Wednesday then raised one eyebrow as she said, "Is that any way to speak to your 2pm appointment?" Dalton looked confused as he said, "You're the person my secretary set me up with that claimed to have important outcast related issues to speak about?"

Wednesday then stood up as she said, "Indeed. I also wish to speak to you about the expectations of your beginning term in office." Dalton then stepped towards Wednesday as he said, "Listen to me you psychopath! The era of outcast loving propaganda is over. The grown ups have finally taken control of the government, and your days are numbered! Face it Wednesday. You lost, and no pool of piranhas are gonna stop me this time." Wednesday then stepped towards Dalton, and glared directly at his face while saying, "On the contrary, I know exactly how your term in office is going to affect me; because I spent my entire childhood experiencing it. You and your supporters will harass me, spread lies about me, treat me like I don't deserve to exist, and try to fill my soul with endless darkness. However... my soul has been filled with darkness nearly my entire life. I've mastered living in a dark cruel world. You however Dalton, have no idea of what one such as yourself is about to experience."

An angry Dalton then made a fist as he said, "I know what this office gives me. Power over you demonic outcasts." Wednesday then began to very slowly circle an angry Dalton like a predatory animal, and with a determined face: Wednesday said, "You think gaining public office will gain you real power and control? Having control over one single branch of the government does not give you full control of people's minds. You will spend the next four years in complete misery; due to the fact that nothing you do can change the beliefs of those who oppose you, no matter how much hate and lies you spread. In addition, your endless tirade of hatred will never leave you feeling fulfilled enough, and your endless stream of misinformation will forever put you at odds with countless people questioning how your claims don't match reality, which you unfortunately still have to live in. You see Dalton... I don't have to torture you anymore. You got into politics. You're just torturing yourself now." Then Wednesday turned her back on Dalton and left the room.

Dalton stood where he was angry for a moment... until his female secretary, a reporter, and a camera man walked into the room. The secretary smiled as she said, "Your first TV interview as governor is ready sir." Dalton smiled as he said, "Thank you. Finally, a conversation that will be pleasant." However before anyone could sit down, the reporter glanced at a fish tank sitting in the corner of the room as she said, "Ooo. What a fascinating fish tank you got here. What's in there?" Dalton looked confused as he said, "Hold on. That fish tank wasn't in this office this morning." The secretary smiled as she said, "Oh. Those were delivered an hour ago as a gift to the governor. They're a rare breed of piranha that are now an endangered species." Dalton suddenly looked scared as he said, "Wait a minute. I..." The reporter however interrupted Dalton with a smile as they said, "Good to see you care about endangered species governor. Most people aren't as kind and thoughtful as you." Dalton then began to looked very annoyed, but tried to keep a smile on as he said, "Well... I just saw those creatures... and begrudgingly had to accept they were here to stay..."

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*THE NEXT NEW CHAPTER IS COMING IN TWO WEEKS! STAYED TUNED...

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Trivia:

-Addams Fest is a real celebration held in Westfield, New Jersey every October. The town in actuality is the hometown where Addams Family creator: Charles Addams grew up. While "Cemetery Lane" is a fictional street name that does not exist in Westfield; the other street mentioned in this chapter: "Elm Street" is actually the real life street where Charles Addams' childhood home, elementary school, and high school were located. A road that intersects with that street is where much of the outdoor Addams Fest activities do occur. While the daytime festival is more of a generic Halloween festival with activities mostly aimed at children, the town does indeed have many Addams Family related decorations and art around town every October.

-The "photographs" near the end of the chapter feature AI created images of the Wenclair Family mixed with REAL photos from Addams Fest 2024. The characters are AI generated, but the backgrounds and art work are 100 percent real.

-Some of Gomez' dialogue early in this chapter is similar to some of his dialogue from the first episode of the original 1964 Addams Family TV series: "The Addams Family Goes to School".

-The Sabrina Carpenter music video that's mentioned in this story is a real music video that actually did feature actress Jenna Ortega in it.

-The family pig featured briefly in one of the flashbacks of this story was originally featured in two episodes of the original Addams Family TV show: "Fester's Punctured Romance", and "Morticia Joins the Ladies League".

-Several moments from the flashbacks in this chapter are lifted directly from Wednesday Episode 1: "Wednesday's Child is Full of Woe", and from Chapter 25 of this series: "Aftermath".

-The plot point of Wednesday getting her piranhas from a pet store owner that she blackmailed (and the reason why she chose to attack Dalton in the swimming pool) was lifted from the Wednesday Season 1 novelization.

-Wednesday, Enid, and Harmony all reference in this chapter Ana's new ghostly boyfriend: Gerard. The three women were first made aware of Ana's relationship with Gerard at the end of the previous story in this series - Chapter 70: "A Girl and a Ghost".

-The idea of Pugsley getting at least one of the piranhas Wednesday used on Dalton to keep as a pet was lifted from the "I Am Wednesday" children's book.

-And finally... while working on this story: famous YouTube sensation: "Fake Ortega" made a reaction video to the Wenclair Family of this series, that can be seen here.

[nyaskitten]

I feel like all the people saying Lego probably would not care enough to get a diverse cast for the ninja forget that, even if mostly just for sales, Lego HAS been trying to diversify itself, lmao.

While a horrific failure, Piece By Piece, the latest Lego movie, still made like a Bunch of new skin tones and pieces specifically for the purpose of being more inclusive. They got Snoop fucking Dogg as a Lego...

With Monkie Kid, Lego has like a large team devoted specifically to cultural accuracy, because of how revered the story they're basing their theme on is, and how important some of these guys are as religious figures.

Literally with Dragons Rising at some point they switched Arin from a white kid witth freckles to a black kid, and made the conscience choice to switch Euphrasia's intended race, lmao.

While these are specifically Lego minifigures and thus easier, you cannot possibly convince me Lego "just doesn't care" about being inclusive lol. Again, even if it's just performative or to drive up toy sales (sans that first example) they still are Doing it and are Aware of it, so truly, sincerely, I'm gonna say for (HOPEFULLY) the last time, there is no way in hell we're getting an all white cast.

I get that they dropped the ball heavy and hard w/ Ninjago because they couldn't be bothered to do cultural accuracy, but fun fact! Writers and executive's opinions, viewpoints, and ideas change after 13+ years! Do I think the racist elements will be Fully gone? No. There's a guy named Wu in a heavily Chinese-inspired series, ffs. Do I think they're gonna make all the ninja white, or get untalented celebrity actors? ALSO NO!!! I think there'll be like a big name celeb or two, but they're not gonna oversaturate the film with that.

Also I don't take arguments on this specific post I'm plugging my ears and running away lalalalalala