#buuuuut it may be debatable

[nube55]

Indeed, my friends

[blessedshortcake]

Woke up feelong miserable for no reason which should be fun because whenever i feel physically ill i get overly motivated to do things

Like i cant stand up straight without feeling lime im gonna pass out but i sure as hell wanna do the dishes and the laundry

[silversodas]

I Think There Are Actual Hints That Vox and Alastor Work Really Well Together or More Like They Have All They Need to Work Together

So we know that Vox and Alastor like to define each other by how their preferred medium is better, but what’s interesting is that’s just how they define each other, Alastor being an old fashioned radio and Vox being a sell out TV, but that’s not what they are, what they are is Audio and Video. We even see when one might have done better with the others help, like Alastor’s commercial that he did for the hotel

His Audio was fine enough, got your attention, but holy shit, the video was awkward at best, it makes you uncomfortable watching it. And it makes it even more awkward when you can tell Alastor is overcompensating with his voice. But what he did know was a little impressive, some people pointed out that he probably did the editing himself. I believe that these out of place skills such as summoning tech and knowing how it works are remnants of Vox. Just like How Vox is always Smiling when he needs to take control of a situation is remnants of Alastor

They probably learned these things from each other. As a matter of fact the way Alastor kept jumping from scene to scene in the commercial was similar to how Vox kept jumping from visual to visual in the beginning of stayed gone, going vary fast to keep attention. Speaking of which

Stayed Gone is an example where Vox is really strong in visuals, buuuuut probably needed a little help audio wise

Alastor knows how to lure you in with what you hear, Vox pulls you in with what you see, and yeah he snatches your attention right away and (like I said earlier) jumps from visual to visual and you can’t help but be transfixed

Buuuuutt that’s Vox’s problem, they are just watching, his audience can’t even grasp what the fuck he is trying to say because Vox is overcompensating with visuals, and it’s how Alastor verbally slaughtered him in stayed gone. Alastor is so charismatic and experienced with capturing an audience with his voice alone that Vox immediately loses his.

Because, just like how Audio can’t do all the work, neither can video, and one can’t overcompensate for the other, they need to flow together

But I have noticed this a while back, what made me think that they probably work really well together, or rather they have all they need to work together, is what @cringefailvox said about the different outfits that characters like Vox and Alastor wear during songs that have symbolism to it

Like how Vox always dresses as roles that are the leader or face of an organization Bishop/TV Chef/Captain. Roles that have power, but are at the whims of many people and need the approval of said people to stay in power

While Alastor is dressed in more subservient roles Nun/Busboy, roles that are essential to run the organization but often go unnoticed, but can pull the rug out from under said organization if they decide to leave. In other words, it might be symbolic that he is a support (until he decides to take it away)

So Vox being the front runner and presenter basically being everything you see (Which is ironic because Vox means The Voice) and Alastor providing support and stability (he honestly doesn’t do to bad with support, stability is up for debate though) is another way they, in theory, could make a good team.

But the team up would work just like audio and video unfortunately, video is not the most important part, but it’s the part that gets the most credit. while audio emphasis and supports video, it’s part goes unnoticed until it’s not there. And Alastor’s ego has an ass so fat it’s aw inspiring that he can fit it through the door, so that may have been ONE of the reasons he said no to joining Vox (not saying it’s the only reason or even main one)

Vox may even see the potential for exactly what their partnership could be and it’s a reason why he took it so personally when Alastor shot him down

And it’s just so interesting that Vox and Alastor act like forces that should be pitted against each other but their capabilities show that they would go together like peanut butter and chocolate (in theory)

[mewtwoandme]

Well, it's now March. I think it's safe to say I've officially come back from my art hiatus, considering I've been working on Part 3 of the baby arc for the last few days now lol. I've been making decent progress, still far from being completely sketched out, but I'm getting closer to the end. I've been debating on outlining and finishing up Part 2 and some Siv shenanigan wips I've left sitting around before the hiatus, just to move the arc along quicker. I might still do that, but as of now, my main focus is to see how much progress I can make with Part 3.

...I do feel the need to apologize. I know that due to IRL life stuff and other things, my plans to have this arc done have been heavily interfered with. But it's refreshing to know that yall are still hype for it and still ask about it now and then ^^ Though some of it is my fault too, Part 3 is turning out to be very LENGTHY, with currently 13 pages and 75+ panels in total....I did this to myself ^^; It's a bit too late to reconsider my life choices though. I'm already too deep into the thick of it to turn back now XD Due to how long this comic is, I may need to find a place to split it. So instead of the Baby Arc being only 4 chapters like I originally intended, it may end up being 5 but we'll see.

Also, going forward, as far as posting other art like shitposts or ask related works, that stuff still might be far and few in between while I'm working on the arc. Buuuuut, if there are certain days I get tired of sketching for the arc, I may shift my attention to short shitposts/ask art here and there to mix it up a little XD

She's not having a good time :(

[moss-covered-thoughts]

An out of order list of things I'm debating for my BatPham fic. Pls pls pls feel free to drop your thoughts, I have too many ideas to sort thru

PS to ppl following No Questions Asked-- may or may not contain spoilers! I literally have no idea yet! Don't look if you don't wanna know what could happen

- older/time skip Danny: short or long hair? Or same? I was originally thinking an undercut but I keep seeing ponytail Danny

- Jason half-ghost au: fire core? Is that the consensus? I kinda wanna change it up and do wind core or electricity core. I like the idea of storm motifs for him

- can't decide if I like dead in main (Jason/Danny) or dead tired (Tim/Danny) better but I'm leaning towards Jason cuz red hood is my fav bat. I don't know as much about Tim. Maybe I should just not do ships??? Dunno if it'd be better to stick with platonic stuff

- Jason and Bruce: reconciled??? I like the idea of him still working out his shit with Bruce/ not having a fluid dynamic yet. Lotsa angst potential. But maybe too complicated for a BatPham au that's already angsty as hell?

- punk Danny vs soft Danny: love love love the punk Danny stuff I've seen buuuuut of he like, gets adopted by Bruce a literal billionaire uhhh can see that being conflicting ahah. The other option is soft Danny, sweaters and warm tea and finding peace where he can kinda deal. But also on the other hand, anarchy

Hmhmgmgmgm that's all I got for now. It's almost 4am and my brains like oh??? Oh???? DPxDC???

[night-unfurls-its-splendour]

Susan Kay's 'Phantom' Read: Part IV (Nadir)

I always knew I'd have mixed feelings about this chunk of the book.

I feel like the issues with the rampant Orientalism and just generally how very wrong Kay is about so much of this have been sufficiently commented on by others, so I'm not going to spend a lot of real estate on that. I'm mainly going to focus on what bugs me personally.

Which is... well, several things

Where do I start?

I guess with "Nadir" himself. I don't know who "Nadir" is, but he's #NotMyDaroga. 'Why's that?' You may ask? Well because, in my opinion, he's only tangentially related to his source material. There's a lot here that checks the boxes: Daroga of Mazanderan, reluctant with many of his duties, simultaneously in awe of and terrified of Erik’s genius all of that's in there. Buuuuut

First of all, Kay took the most practical, likeable character in Leroux's work and made him whiny and annoying. All he does for the first five pages is complain. Within those five pages he also refers to himself as "regrettably squeamish". Nothing happens in the course of this episode to show him growing out of that, so how we get the, pragmatic badass who haunts the Paris opera house keeping Erik in check I have no idea (I also have no idea how this is gonna go later in the book).

Not only that but this in particular stuck out to me:

Some of the illusions were positively supernatural, and long before the show was at an end, I was quietly convinced that I stood in the presence of a genie, created from fire more than two thousand years before Adam. I noted uneasily that he was left handed. Every Moslem knows that the devil is left handed--it is for this reason that we always take care to spit to the left. My fingers felt instinctively for the amulets that hung at my neck, an outstretched hand made in silver and the dried eye of a sheep, killed at Mecca on the great day of sacrifice. Both were powerful protective agencies, and I had never felt more in need of their protection. I took care not to meet his gaze, for I already feared his evil eye.

This stands in sharp contrast to the Persian of Leroux:

If I had been a superstitious man or easily susceptible to weakness, I could not have failed to think that I had to do with a siren of some sort whose task was to trouble the voyager bold enough to travel on the waters of the lakeside house; but, thank God, I come from a country where the fantastic is so cherished that we know it to its depths, and in times past I myself have studied it extensively. Anyone who knows the magicians trade can excite the human imagination with a few simple tricks.

Of course you can make the argument that the Persian speaking here has known Erik for years now and is wise to his tricks, whereas Kay's "Nadir" is seeing them for the first time. But I'm sorry. I don't buy it. Leroux's Daroga, though amazed and awestruck by Erik's skills at illusion, never indicates that he has even been so fooled by them as to actually mistake him for more than what he is: a genius, certainly, but no genie.

Which leads me to wonder if Erik's magic tricks in this book aren't a little too fantastic. Granted Kay never leads us to believe that they really are supernatural, but she uses Erik's degree of genius as a bit of a shield to get away with not revealing the secrets to some truly fantastic tricks, while Leroux nearly always explains Erik's mechanisms (whether they would work to the level of efficacy Leroux describes its up for debate, but he at least does have explanations for them all.

I think it's hilarious and contemptible that Kay has, at numerous times in this book, dropped incredibly clunky and gratuitous clusters of architectural technical terms, just lists of them for no apparent reason except, I can only assume, to show off how much research she did on the subject; and then makes it so patently obvious that her cultural research is dubious, negligible, or entirely non-existent.

She goes to great lengths to paint Nadir as a devout Muslim, which is not something Leroux ever did, now that I think about it. I don't doubt that the Persian is, at least culturally, be he seems quite ambivalent to his religion, as a rule. It quite literally (as far as I can recall) never comes up. But Nadir is. Several times she has him exclaim "Allah" much in the way a Westerner would use "God" as an expletive. Not "Wallah" not even "By Allah" just "Allah".

"Allah, how I hated cats!"

And it's not only the things he says but the things he doesn't say that annoy me (though I'm a layman, and very much open to correction). Common Islamic phrases that could easily be used in any of the situations Nadir finds himself in are completely left by the wayside. There isn't even a single "Inshallah" in his entire narrative.

Another problem I have is that Kay's Daroga is a widower with a sick son. A very complex emotional relationship develops among Erik, Nadir, and Nadir's son, Reza, to whom Erik feels an affinity, as the boy is slowly crippled by a debilitating congenital disease. I have a problem with this because its all very... I call it the Michael Burnham effect. That is to say this is a very important and big emotional thing in The Persian's relationship with Erik and I don't believe that this wouldn't have come up in any of the Persian's narrative if it was actually the case. This is a liberty which Kay, in my opinion, shouldn't have taken. It affects Erik's entire relationship with The Persian in ways that strain my credulity. And it's part of the reason that Erik's character here is fully beginning to stray deeper into a musical-based version than the Leroux-version (which I have a problem with, as this book is ostensibly following Leroux's outline). She even goes to far as to have Erik acknowledge Nadir, with complete (if reluctant) sincerity, as his friend. And this pretty much confirms my suspicions of where "Erik and Daroga are friends" comes from. Whatever Erik and The Persian's odd relationship in the book is, I can't call it friendship with how frequently The Persian calls him "the monster".

Note don't get me wrong Erik and Daroga do definitely have a bizarre bond that is, I think, a kind of friendship. Daroga feels sympathy for Erik, and also responsibility for him. He is, in many, ways, more like an older brother than a friend. I could say so much on this subject but that's for another post.

But what I find really baffling and annoying about Erik and Nadir's "friendship" in this book is the drugs.

I can't express how repugnant I find this. I think it's an insult to both Erik and the Persian, the fact that Nadir HIMSELF GETS ERIK HOOKED ON OPIUM. WHY. And then she has the fucking nerve to lampshade with all the "Oh yes Opium's a terrible horrible deadly habit" Only to have Nadir turn right around and give Erik his fix. What the actual fuck.

But setting aside that Susan Kay actually said "I'm not just going to make Nadir annoying, I'm also going to make him an enabler!" Is the fact that... I just don't buy Erik doing drugs.

I know Erik is an artist, and artists throughout the ages have been associated with decadent habits like drugs and alcohol to soothe their tortured souls or broaden their minds to ever more fantastic plains blah blah blah.

But Erik is not an every day kind of character. Erik is notable in how uniquely he glories in his tribulations. Erik's music in particular is a manifestation of his pure emotions both good and bad, and I think for him to alter his moods with substances, to him, would sully the purity of his art, which he always characterizes as a spiritual, almost holy thing.

And here's another thing. Part of the reason Erik is doing opium in this book is, yes the horrors of his past, but also the terrible things he's doing in the present... which I do think Erik of Leroux did grow sick of what was demanded of him in Persia (he explicitly says he wanted to put it all behind him), but I don't think he probably felt... that bad about it? I dunno maybe that's just me.

Moving on.

I'll pause here to say that while I think Kay is a bit guilty of "de-fanging" Erik in this book, I genuinely do appreciate her emphasis on his affinity for the weak and broken, and his knack with animals.

So now I come to one of the things that made me look most askance at this section. Again, the conceit of this book (or at least what I was given to understand the conceit was) is that its filling in the blanks that Leroux left vague. And I don't really know if that was Susan Kay's intention, but it's certainly how the Phandom took it. Which is why it bugs me when there are things in here that either don't quite jive with canon or straight up contradict it.

Now in terms of the canon of Leroux's actual book, we're not sure exactly which Shah employed Erik. Leonard Wolf point out that Leroux mentions Erik "[fighting] the Emir" and posits that he is referring to the Afghani-Persian war of 1837. This would put Erik’s age in PotO at about 60, assuming he was very young at the time (in his teens). That would make Erik's patron Mohammad Shah Qajar.

However M. Grant Kellermeyer (and most others writing about this period in Erik’s life, including Susan Kay) favour the idea that Erik’s patron was Mohammed's son, Nasser al din Shah Qajar.

When Erik and the Persian talk about the "Rosy Hours of Mazanderan" they both make mention of the "Little Sultana", who is described by Leroux's narrator in the epilogue as "the Shah-in-Shah's favourite", whose boredom was the Shah's impetus for sending the Persian to find Erik in the first place, and whose delight in bloodthirsty spectacles of torture and execution allowed Erik's talents in those areas to develop into a finely honed art.

Now I would take "the Little Sultana" to mean one of the Shah's wives, concubines, daughters, or even a sister.

But Kay, for some inexplicable reason, chooses to interpret this capricious (and bloodthirsty) female figure--the Shah's favourite--as his... mother.

Now Nasser al din Shah's mother was Malek Jahan Khanom, who, true to Kay's portrayal was Regent of Persia for one month (September 5th - October 5th) in 1848. Also like Kay's "Khanum", Malek was a formidable and politically savvy woman, and definitely not an individual you would want to cross.

I can't dispute the idea of the Khanom being an incredibly powerful figure, and the type you would need and want to keep appeased (she is described by Kay as keeping her son firmly under her thumb), but I have to look at the fact that Kay read "The Little Sultana, the Shah's Favourite" and really said, "Right. That'll be his mom" and squint a little bit.

On top of this, the Khanum is characterized as having a sexual obsession with Erik, very similar to the way Duchess Josiana is aroused by Gwynplaine's facial deformity in Victor Hugo's The Man Who Laughs, and is first irritated, then enraged by Erik's constant indifference. This fact is not lost on the Shah.

I just don't know ya'll. It's...I just... I don't know about this.

M. Grant Kellermeyer speculates that the "Little Sultana" Leroux refers to, to be the seventh wife of Nasser al din Shah, Jeyran, whom he first took as a mistress in around 1850 following a chance encounter during which he apparently fell in love with her on sight. One story of their meeting even asserts that she was one of his mother's servants.

If that is the case it would be one reason why Malek and Jeyran stood locked for years in stark political opposition to each other.

Jeyran was herself formidable and enjoyed many masculine pursuits including hunting and shooting, and not even the Khanom was able to dissuade Nasser from conferring her the title of Forough ol-Saltaneh, or from naming her son the crown prince (though this decision was stuck in political hell for years because of Jeyran's lack of influential blood-lines).

She was his favourite wife until her early death in 1860 at the age of 29.

It's my opinion that Leroux's "Little Sultana" is a composite of Jeyran and her successor as the Shah's favourite, Anis al-Dalweh, who was even more formidable and politically savvy than Jeyran. She was the only one of the Shah's wives known to share his meals and the only one he suffered to publicly criticize him, and she took over Malek's duties as the head of the harem upon her death in 1873.

Masterpost

[hueynomure]

WIP Reblog Game

Thank you @coffeebanana for the tag! I'm not one for very long fics and/or starting posting plotty stuff if I don't already have most of the fic written out (too high of a chance of having to correct/retcon shit) so I'm adding fics that only live in my WIP folder lol

List the titles your top five priorities for WIP updates (link your fics for new readers!)

An upcoming scene, event, or detail in each fic that you’re looking forward to writing

Bonus: make a poll for your followers to vote on which top 5 WIP they are most excited to see an update on!

Then tag 10 writer friends!

WIP TITLES

Are Hexagon Square Dances a Thing?: Born as a LoveyWeek entry, I got stuck on the very last chapter fml

Uncovering, Unraveling (working title): Imagine Marinette had accidentally outed her Loveybug identity (as in Woven In) to Cat Walker in the (Un)Suited plotline... basically Farewell Gifts but make it smut lol

The Merits of Bagging a Hero (working title): Adrien and Marinette are invited at Alya's and Nino's place for their usual wine&dine night. Everything is going fine, Mari being flustered and Adrien being oblivious as usual - until Alya brings out the topic of hero-specific free passes and the two become inexplicably passionate about who would be the best hero lay between Ladybug and Chat Noir...

Poker Face: Loveybug AU, Cat Walker angst

Heart(s) on Her Sleeve: Companion piece for Poker Face, Loveybug's side of the angst

UPCOMING

Tbqh the biggest motivation for getting this done is getting it over with, which is probably why I've been having so much trouble tackling it lol. I'll just say that I initially intended it to end with platonic Mariwalker buuuuut there may be some smooching hehe

Turns out I'm a SUCKER for scenarios where Cat Walker learns Marinette is Loveybug lol I will have a lot of fun writing the surprise conversation (won't go too much into details bc spoilers) they'll have about his feelings... with Adrien still inside Marinette, both of them deliberately avoiding addressing the fact or doing anything at all abt it lol

This will be 200% crack and I will have SO MUCH FUN writing the most batshit stuff I can come up with. Alya, ever the shit-stirrer, figures out Adrien is Chat Noir halfway through the conversation and spends the rest of the fic basically eating popcorn and fanning that trashfire of a debate lol

Chat Noir is a necessary outlet for Adrien. When Cat Walker has to pick up Loveybug's slack, his energies and enthusiasm are slowly but surely drain until the only reason he dons his mask, the only reason he gets out of bed, is Loveybug's unrestrained and unconditional affection. This can't last - and yet, it's his duty to carry the weight and not let anything show. I'm gonna enjoy writing the pressure building >:3c

There's one phrase to describe Loveybug!Marinette: bracing for punishment. She's too raw with all the Loveybug intensity, she just CAN'T turn into Ladybug, so she just keeps pouring her heart out knowing that at some point, somehow, she will be horrifically punished for it. Just like with Kim. Just like every time she tried to confess to Adrien. But as a hero, the consequences of her mistakes could be... she doesn't want to think about it. She keeps her head low and prepares for the worst, dreading and longing the moment when she'll be forced to wear Loveybug's lovestruck smile again.

Anyone I would have thought to tag Kayla has already tagged, with the excellent exception of @asukiess, so I won't be tagging anybody else! Feel free to join in the fun and consider this a soft tag if you (yes YOU reading this rn) want to tho :3

[demonsfate]

I think what makes Jin interesting as a character is the fact that he possesses attributes that make him a good enough definition of an anti-hero, rather than just a tragic hero. His struggles throughout the story and his downfalls that display the darkness inside him, opposing to the good he carries inside as the protagonist (from T3 onwards minus T6 & T7) is adding up to that nicely. That's just my own impression of him though. A realistically flawed protagonist is still much better than a perfect protagonist with little to no flaws.

I think it would depend on people's definition of "antihero". Which, by the actual true definition, Jin is definitely an antihero. As antihero simply refers to any hero that lacks the conventional hero traits, which hhhuhhhhh... practically just translates to any hero that isn't perfect LMAO. If you peek at Wikipedia's "antihero" list - they literally lump Oscar the Grouch with Walter White. So yeah.

I never usually call Jin an "antihero" just because when I hear the word, my mind goes straight to characters like Venom, Magneto, or Harley Quinn... which I don't see Jin fitting the bill of those characters lol. Just how Kazuya is considered the antihero in the first Tekken - but for totally different reasons than you may see Jin as. Kazuya wanted to get rid of an evil (Heihachi) - buuuuut he wanted to do it for selfish reasons (out of his own trauma and own desire for power). Which, Jin did wanted to do similar for selfish reasons, as what kickstarted him wanting to kill Heihachi and Kazuya was betrayal and trauma as well. BUT, Jin also primarily had the world in mind, and people's well being - as he wanted to save the world from Heihachi and the devil gene.

Jin's biggest flaws (aside from being possessed by a devil - but we're talking about Jin's flaws on his own) was his antisocialness, his fury, suicidal tendencies, and his homicidal tendencies towards those who have wronged people and himself. Which, the latter is a question of morality that's been debated for ages. But if we look at many fictional heroes, usually killing, even for the greater good, is a no - no. Jin still, however, had a heart of gold. Despite being antisocial, Jin was still very supportive of other people; Jin may have been antisocial, but he wasn't cynical at all. Which is why I liked Jin's story a lot. Because he is a good man, and damn he tries to be a good man. But... he struggles with making the right choices. And I think a lot of us can relate with that. Because we're all not gonna be Superman in situations, we're often gonna struggle with making the right call because real life isn't so black and white when it comes to more complex situations. And like Jin, we're also gonna have flaws we have to work on, maybe like him - we lose our temper easily. Whatever. Jin's struggles and character was relatable (even tho some fail to see because he's not Overly Expressive) and it's why he doesn't work in T6. Because Jin crosses the line of being that Unconventional Hero, his actions became too antagonistic. And well... as I've explained many times before, just doesn't feel like Jin anymore in character.

So, yeah! I do agree even though I don't use the term often with Jin just because of the most popular examples associated with the term. But Jin is technically, indeed, an "antihero." It's why I loved Jin so much; his flaws were what made him interesting. He was a good man who may have been prone to mistakes compared to other Good People, and he doesn't always know what's the right thing to do. And plus as I call him many times on this blog, often a failboss! So, Jin always felt very realistic to me and I wish more people would see that, as well!

[larcenywrites]

feasibly, how long do u think tony could keep a relationship out of public eye?

Oooooh that could be up for debate, not just because he’s famous, but because Tony isn’t good at keeping certain types of secrets 😫

Before he’s iron man, you might actually have a better chance at having that secret kept from the public. It won’t be quite as hectic when you’re just going out on dates and such, but you never know who’s gonna show up to snap a picture… and it would definitely mean you couldn’t go to parties and such together :/ he wouldn’t be able to just leave you alone! And while there may not be in pesky journalist or anything there, obviously everyone else there would see and know, though they may not really talk about it 🤔 I’m sure they’re used to seeing plenty of people on Tony’s arm. Tony’s not one for social media, so it’s a super low chance you’d be caught in a picture or something. You could probably manage a good… month or two? Depending on how often you went out and to where.

But once he is iron man, and especially in the beginning, you’d have to just never be with him in most public spaces if you want it kept secret 🤧 everyone wants a picture with iron man! And also of iron man, even if they don’t approach. And people will look into anything iron man related, which is why random magazines will just have him walking down a sidewalk or something as if that’s real journalism 😭 you might have two weeks? If you’re lucky?

Buuuuut honestly, Tony wouldn’t really wanna hide it :(((( he wants to show you off!!! Share his world with you!!! Take you everywhere he’s ever been!!!! Go everywhere you’ve ever been!!!! Honestly he really wouldn’t understand why you’d even want to hide it, or care :((((

[hartshorn-and-isinglass]

There are disadvantages to packing light. Like being stuck in the crappiest laundromat in town on a warm, muggy afternoon. We're eating in at the hotel restaurant tonight because I'm going to have a meltdown if we have to go out to another loud restaurant, I desperately need a break from the extremely loud music and chatter.

So we've got three places on the final shortlist of possible homes. Place A: only a few decades old, lots of space, refinished basement, a/c and central heat, but located next to absolutely nothing but suburban sprawl and car-only. Place B: *quirky* Victorian, shockingly cheap, easily walkable to town center, ancient water heater, unfinished basement with dodgy amounts of moisture. Place C: large Colonial house divided into quadplex, unit will be totally newly remodeled, not super walkable to stuff but highly bike-able, chill landlords, buuuuut the remodeling may not be complete by the time we move although they swear it will, and MOSQUITOES. Nothing's going to be perfect, but we're going to have a long debate about what we want to prioritize. Any thoughts?

[amischiefofmuses]

I know getting this man to talk about himself will be like pulling teeth, buuuuut

Inquiring minds want to know, Nathan - what’s your love language? How does one work their way into your heart?

Ask Random Muse Questions || Always Accepting

-- ❝They don't.❞ It's a short and blunt answer, one offering no opportunity for further questioning - luckily a certain mercenary isn't all that content with that answer and he's here to rectify all that. Even Cable's pointed glare won't stop him. -- ❝What Nate means to say is that you gotta be persistent, gotta show you really want to be in his life.❞ -- ❝No.❞

-- ❝And even when he's being a grumpy-pants you can't let up, give him all your attention and affection. He's a big kitten if you catch him just at the right moment.❞ Nate has given up trying to debate this, a growl under his breath punctuating his frustration. He really doesn't enjoy people knowing anything at all about him, much less details about his affections that may or may not be true. -- ❝So I'd say his love languages are.. Physical touch, acts of service and words of affirmation.❞ Wade's continued tirade has his nose screwing up like he's smelling something rotten. ❝Tell him he's a good boy or that he's done a good job? Whoo boy, putty in your hands. He's desperate for a little-❞ A metal punch to the jaw finally shuts him up, sending him sprawling for a moment before that same hand has the back of his costume, dragging him away. That's enough of that.

[justanotherhh]

OKAY OKAY ALRIGHT ALRIGHT, with @creepysora adding some very good points!

so a post about some of the things that show him connecting to others, respecting others, and a bit about his code of conduct/honour. again, I'm not including pilot!alastor whose interactions especially with vaggie feel quite different

(EDIT: ohhh i do like a lot of text don't I. that got long)

beginning at the beginning:

the commercial. an early series of interactions with vaggie -- he doesn't take it seriously at first, but once he makes vaggie agree to not try to wrangle him into doing it again (which, yes, is a mini-deal moment, but also shows a very real side of alastor's feelings) he goes all-in, even making sure it gets a prime spot, before it's knocked off because of the breaking news

protecting the hotel against sir pentious and fixing the hole sir pentious made in the hotel -- notably, he doesn't kill pentious, which could partially be read as "it's beneath him to do so," but i want to get a little into that idea as well (in a bit)

on the note of "being beneath him," when he's ordered to get rid of the egg bois by vaggie and agrees to do so humanely -- and then brings them back. the second of these is slightly less a helpful deed on the surface, but i do see it as him going from being ok with destroying them (until vaggie says "humanely") to deciding they're worth being alive. he doesn't make use of them again, but he acknowledges their value and pays them back. I don't think he'd have enjoyed killing them anyway to be honest

compliments zestial and takes his side during the "angel killing debate." this doubly interesting considering zestial would absolutely have been there during alastor's rise to power, so they have History, but they're clearly chill -- he doesn't compliment all overlords, but he and zestial seem very cordial

didn't kill husk Back In The Day. this may become more mercenary with context, buuuuut i think there's a "liking" element to it too. something about husk's style perhaps, at the same time as not posing a "real" threat to his power and perhaps a certain enjoyment in putting him in his place. but crucially, didn't kill him

i think with niffty over and over again alastor is quite kind, and i hc/theorise that their relationship is partially a meeting of equals in temperament

tbh, as much as there's personal pride in the mix, going up against lucifer also feels like a form of protecting the spirit of the hotel, because lucifer is dismissive about the project, the place, and the people from the very first second. yes, alastor used to be that too, but that's kind of the point... he... maybe cares now... (and also lucifer is kind of a dick at this point)

protecting the hotel and mimzy against the mobsters. generally clearly seems to get nothing (?) out of his relationship with mimzy, while giving her a lot -- allows her to touch him more than most other characters (exception perhaps of rosie and niffty -- all of them + charlie have different kinds of touch relationships with him)

despite their closeness, tells mimzy to leave unless she genuinely wants to give redemption a shot, but isn't threatening about it at all, and lets her temper tantrum at him

takes charlie to rosie, which in and of itself is a helpful and thoughtful act -- even if, again, he does get something out of it, and im sure he wants to keep charlie alive also for deal reasons, but specifically bringing rosie into the picture... it's interesting that this comes as basically a freebie after already making a deal, and also like his showing her a part of town that he feels at home in does constitute a genuine sharing ("it's... surprisingly nice." "ISN'T IT THOUGH!")

his whole dynamic with rosie -- the ease of their interactions, the trust, the dance

gives charlie his mic... TWICE! this is such a big deal!!!! will think about this some more

generally goes from not believing in charlie to her face, to openly believing in her ability to do Things and inspire people. again again again, there's a mercenary something, but ALSO again, tied with what he says to mimzy, getting rosie involved, supporting charlie's mental wellbeing... he does like her and he's showing her that he likes her and values her. he didn't believe in this hotel and now he is going to bat for it, and for her -- he could have not and she'd still be relying on him

the conversation with niffty the night before the battle -- sincerely expressing delight at the hotel gang when they're not around to hear it ("it's been a surprising thrill it witness these wayward souls find connection. almost makes one sentimental ey niffty?" "I really like them alastor [...]" "an enjoyable collective to be around. I admit one could grow accustomed") + allowing niffty to "crown" him

fights in the battle and almost dies and RECOGNISES that all of these together would have added up to people thinking he was an altruist (gasp) LIKES charlie and the hotel gang and could have died for them and promptly has a mental breakdown over it, but... BUT... is there truth in this, otherwise why would it affect him so much? (also it's a song and songs are often about revealing hidden truths)

in the past, allowed a picture to be taken of himself and vox. i think this is a big deal, personally

A FURTHER BREAKDOWN

The singing: a lot of the singing in Hazbin is clearly diegetic, and generally songs in musicals often reveal character moments they might not share so readily outside of these, so just thinking about the way alastor sings in this story (not counting the pilot) --

stayed gone (rivalry with vox)

hell's greatest dad (rivalry with lucifer)

ready for this (duet and dance with rosie)

finale (breakdown)

finale (final collective song)

On the whole: alastor is introduced through his songs in terms of his antagonisms and it's not until the second-to-last episode that some of the singing he does presents a different side to him -- someone who works well with others (charlie and rosie), who takes on a backing role, who, yes, states an intention of "guiding" charlie, but also that he believes in her, and showing how he and rosie see eye to eye and work well together

the finale breakdown is basically what i was saying in point 14, that he recognises his reputation has changed, how he's perceived by especially the hotel, but also the wider world of hell is not as someone completely villainous and monstrous, but... altruistic... someone with friends? and it disturbs him... how much truth is there in the rumour? i'd say a little, personally, and his ongoing storyline will be that push-and-pull between how he thinks he wants to be perceived, and how the existence of the hotel is introducing him to new possibilities, and how scared he is of them

and then the very end! he comes back "and we're doing it with a smile!" gets warmly welcomed by most of the residents, and then joins in on the final harmony (sidenote: apparently one of amir talai's favourite moments was this shared moment, because it's the first time the whole cast of characters has come together... minus sir pentious of course)

And so! What do all these Moments mean?

Uh. speculation really, but let's take a look at some hypotheses

1. alastor doesn't kill people whom he doesn't genuinely dislike or feel some kind of disgust with, and especially doesn't seem to target those demonstrably weaker than him Just Because of Funsies. he seems to need a reason to

the egg bois as example (frank specifically) do prove themselves to him, so why would he go out of his way to kill them? what fun would there be in that, what sport, and also isn't that a somewhat cowardly/ungentlemanly thing to do. there's some kind of respect and sincerity in that decision, which is part of the tension over and over again with alastor -- that maybe his mask isn't that good in the end! that he has got morals, of some kind and isn't really as heartless as, say, the vees might be when faced with the same options. sure, he'll kill egg bois during battle, but that's different. he wouldn't kill them casually

he also doesn't kill sir pentious, not necessarily out of respect, but i like the idea that it ties in again to self-respect, and a code of conduct. he'll mock him, he'll humiliate him, but only if sir pentious starts it, and he's not genuinely trying to fuck him up (unlike, say, the mobsters who come for mimzy)

2. I also don't think alastor likes punching down -- that is, he humiliates sir pentious, but only because he keeps coming back, and he does initially make fun of the hotel, but not for very long (and i think we'll get some more context on his emotions coming into the hotel once we know what the deal with his deal is). I think part of his dislike of characters like vox and lucifer, is that they're privileged assholes towards people who don't have their kind of power. that is, lucifer immediately judges the residents of the hotel, alastor included, in ways that are casually unkind, and especially off to a mixed race guy from down south, and vox's whole Thing is how easy it is to punch down (heck, all the vees are like that)

husk is a bit of an odd one in this setup, and generally whatever's going on there presents a big ??? and possible hole in this theory, but that ties into how i read husk and the dynamic around mimzy and alastor's (human) flaws of acting out when feeling cornered, physically or emotionally, and this scene was way more emotional for alastor than he would like to admit

but yeah, i don't think alastor likes punching down. i don't think he gets anything out of it, i also think this idea will tie into the kind of people he used to kill as a human

3. alastor allows a certain amount of touch from some people in specific ways. with charlie it's often him touching her, starting in episode 6, but seeming more sincere in episode 7 -- hand on the shoulder, linking arms, kind of got a "gay uncle taking a favourite niece to the Strand to go shopping" sort of vibe to it

niffty crawls all over him, but she's sort of a creature in her demeanour. i hc that he's the most comfortable with her, because they do have a shared language of otherness and oddness that supersedes boundaries he may set with others

mimzy and alastor hug + she tugs him down casually -- i hc he acquiesces to this out of habit, and they've probably danced similarly to how he does with rosie. i think mimzy and rosie have similar kinds of physical closeness with alastor (until he draws a line in the sand with mimzy). notably, compared to how he reacts to sir pentious ripping off a piece of his coat, alastor doesn't react so strongly to mimzy poking him in the chest, although he's clearly angry, so he definitely allows some liberties with people he likes (see also shaking lucifer's cane rather than his hand and still wiping his hand on his suit afterwards)

4. alastor allows a certain amount of push-back and insult. there's mimzy of course, but there's also vaggie, whom i think he respects quite a bit actually, even if it's more subtle than with some of the other women. the whole back and forth with the commercial, considering how much alastor hates video (because of vox) and yet he still does that for her, he listens and obeys when she orders him to take the egg bois from the hotel, and she's also relatively happy to see him when he returns to the hotel in the finale. speaking of the commercial

5. acts of service -- alastor will acquiesce to certain things (touch, insult, argument, having his picture taken, making a video, letting charlie chatter about her romantic life even though He Does Not Care) if he respects someone, but I think his real Thing is being useful. he's useful to mimzy, he's useful to the hotel in numerous big and small ways, he's useful specifically to charlie, he's clearly been useful to rosie often, and i hc his inability to be really useful in the big fight is also part of his breakdown. yes, he overestimated his own abilities/hubris/"oh no what will people think, that im nice????" and i think baked into that is also... what is the point of him if he can't be useful?

im interested in how he rationalises this, how much is conscious or not, how much he tells himself all of this is for a greater cause (himself) and how much he genuinely wants to help because he likes to be helpful, and i think that's one of the big future tensions in his character -- when does the mask slip, can he explain it away as not really caring, will he try to make sure nobody sees him care? but whether he sees it as purely acts of quid pro quo or as part of a long game, at least some degree of his acts of service contain elements of sincerity

6. also alastor compliments people. he compliments zestial, he compliments rosie, he compliments charlie, he compliments niffty, he compliments mimzy, technically he compliments everyone in the hotel at once with his "wayward souls" speech (although not to their faces). he's also fond of casual "dears" and "darlings" (haven't checked how many of those + others, but have noticed a few of them)

So while alastor isn't big into traditionally accepted modes of human connection -- love, sex, casual touches -- he has ways of showing respect, care, connection, politeness, morals, and even kindness

compliments, compromise, acts of service, and protecting seem to be more in his wheelhouse

In future I'd be interested to see:

whether he'd try to make himself useful in other ways to characters (vaggie and angel interest me especially, since i think they have a lot in common with alastor in various ways, but all the characters really)

what his background with vox (and potentially val) is and how that plays into his general relationships with men

what kind of people he killed as a human, his relationship with his mother, and how his life all potentially plays into his general relationships with men

whether he'll bond with cherri bomb too, now she's at the hotel, and continue the trend of his being closer with women than with men

what kinds of touch he'll allow (or not allow) in future -- whether men will start being included on the list or adamantly not

how rosie will continue to fit into the picture, as someone who knows a lot about alastor that he doesn't know about himself, and how that "not knowing" echoes his own narrative about who he is, not just in terms of queerness, but queerness as insight into a humanity (one of my favourite tropes, so rare in aroaceness as to be practically unheard of)

background on his relationships with husk and niffty

whether he'll continue to want to front as heartless and monstrous and those walls coming down will have an equal and terrible reaction out of Fear of being perceived as... a human soul

IN CONCLUSION:

one of the big things about alastor that was interesting while making this list is the continuous question: what is sincere and what is for own gain? and what is both? and does alastor himself know the difference, or ever acknowledge his own sincerity? considering his mental breakdown over almost dying for the hotel, the idea that he's not simply a ruthless killer and monster is one that i think fills him with dread. he wants to be perceived as these things because it keeps him safe, keeps him powerful (which is the same as safe), but despite that, there are cracks -- vague enough that one can umm and ahh about how much one thing or another can be counted as genuine, but the cracks... they're there

is it enough that he "lets" the egg bois live? that he shows preference for some people over others? what are his relationships with husk and niffty going to say about how he relates to others? who was vox to him? who was mimzy? how will his sexuality and romantic orientation play into the wider themes of humanising him? what will charlie become to him? the rest of the hotel?

I'd argue there's a good deal more sincerity to alastor than his own character would admit, and it's especially hard to pinpoint, because so much of it is tied to things that are also partially done in order to attain something. and alastor is such an unreliable narrator to his own experiences, that the idea that he'd genuinely care -- even as he admitted it eeeever so slightly in the final episode to niffty -- would make him incredibly uncomfortable, because it would be weakness, it would be... well, human, in the same way that admitting that things trigger his boundaries (and that he feels potentially vulnerable quite easily) humanises him. and being human is being weak, and being weak is being powerless, and being powerless is the worst thing you can be, in the world and in hell

what would it look like if he were free to admit the things that do connect him to others and free to admit the ways in which he's either comfortable or uncomfortable around others? if he were perceived as a human being and not as a monster?

in conclusion about the feral deer man: get domesticated! (partially)

i've done a few posts on alastor being aroace -- what kind of potentials exist because of being aroace, what kind of semiotics already exist in the show and what more could be added, alastor and aroace loneliness and one on alastor and touch

a lot of this explores how alastor in some ways is set apart from the other main characters on the show, because he's different (and not because he likes murder and mayhem, plenty of people on the show enjoy that, after all - if anything that's a relatively normative trait in hell), but because of how he views people, society, relationships, and how he's incredibly afraid of being seen as vulnerable in a very specific way, so there's a mix of walls he's put up to protect himself and also just... who he is, and what he values

anyway, should do a post on the opposite thing to the ways alastor (deliberately, and due to the society around him) is at a distance from others, instead write something about alastor and closeness, alastor and how he shows respect, alastor and how he shows he enjoys others' company, alastor and connection, alastor and how he (potentially) cares, that looks into what he's shown so far on the show

things to think about, although it's early days in the story yet and i wonder if i should wait until s2 drops for more data

[slashersins-abandoned]

build-a-bear date

jason voorhees

this boy will dead ass put on his best clothes , his gloves , a hat , a face mask , sunglasses , and come to build a bear with you . he may not speak but fuck he is so excited to do this with you , and you look so fucking happy and excited . he will without a doubt do everything with such dedication and seriousness during the heart ceremony that the bear builder is a bit nervous . he gets his build a bear soft , barely stuffed so that it falls over when it’s sitting . he picks out an outfit similar to his , a bit sad there is no mask or little machete . he’s having so much fun and you can tell . and oh god , there’s little kids who can’t quite reach things and he is helping them , and somehow there are now two kids sitting on either side of him helping him make his birth certificate for his new stuffed animal and jason is just so happy and enjoying himself despite the fact that the children’s mothers look slightly terrified . he ends up naming his bear mr fluffington due to the help of the children who decided jason was their new best friend . the cashier takes a picture of you on the polaroid and jason is very happy with it . he may or may not make a small machete for mr fluffington so he can gaurd the cabin .

michael myers

somehow you got michael maskless and dressed in normal people clothes and inside of a mall . he’s intimidating , hair pulled back into a messy bun , face full of stubble , blue eyes cutting into everything and everyone . he doesn’t seem to care , picking his build a bear after staring at them . his bear is completely over stuffed and hard as a rock . he doesn’t move . doesn’t sing . barely holds the heart before dropping it onto the back instead of stuffing it in and watching it fall to the floor . the bear builder tries to pick it up , but michael steps on it , basically telling them to sew the bear up without it . after wards he takes the heart and pockets it . he doesn’t care what the bear wears . the bear has a black shirt and some jeans and that’s it , the clothes barely fit , and it is almost impossible to put them on . when he names it , he just sits at the computer and stares . he names it “no” . later that night , you find “no” stabbed , half of it’s stuffing on the floor leaving a trail to his body . michael is on the floor sewing the heart back inside of it .

brahms heelshire

you have to get one of those do it at home yourself build a bear maker kits shipped to you , but you try and give brahms the full experience . it actually scratches an itch of indulge on a childish activity that he didn’t know he had . and the fact that the bear that comes in the kit is rather small , makes him happy . he gives his bear to doll brahms . making it was fun , you taking on the role of peppy bear builder . he thought it was cute . his bear is medium full , and he wanted it dressed in a suit . his name is bearington the third . when you asked if he wanted to help you make your bear he lit up , using his adult voice and treating you like a child . he made you do a million and one things during your heart ceremony and you couldn’t help but laugh at how silly he was . all in all it was a super cute fun time and now bearington and doll brahms are never apart .

thomas hewit

you can’t really bring him to build a bear as i don’t think they existed in the time period he lives in , buuuuut you can make him one . you have him pick out a fabric he likes , not giving him any clue as to why . you ask him how soft he likes things . he tells you like his pillow . a little on the firm side . you make a little heart and you have him do a little ceremony with it to put his love in it . he humors you but looks at you with a raised brow as if you’re the silliest person he’s ever met . you ask him what his favorite outfit is and make him pick out more fabrics to get a clothes set out . when you present him with the bear he is shocked . he tries not to tear up . tries not to cry , but he’s so so so happy . he keeps it on his dresser and when he gets out of bed before you , he will put it in your arms so you won’t miss him .

jesse cromeans

jesse walks in like he owns the place . the prettiest most expensive bear is his . only the most fancy suit ( he will later order a suit from some fancy designer for his bear ) . he does the heart ceremony , smiling at you the entire time and bumping your hip with his . he promises that he’ll get a chrome heart to put inside of the bear later . and you best bet that jesse gets everything . sun glasses , boots , socks , underwear , roller skates , back pack . his bear is spoiled to shit . you’re is too , and you almost wanna laugh at the look on the other customer’s faces when the price rings up . jesse was being so showoffy that he forgot to get a birth certificate or name his bear .

bubba saywer

much like with tommy you can’t really bring bubba to build a bear . but unlike tommy , you already know all of bubba’s favorites . you know he loves textures , so the body , each limb , the head , and the tail are all different fabrics . different sensations so he can have those little stimming moments . you know he likes things extra soft , so that’s how you fill it up . during the heart ceremony you have bubba do so many cute little things and he is more than happy to bounce around and babble . then you have him close his eyes and sew the heart in . when he opens them his eyes light up . and when he feels over the bear he is in utter heaven . it becomes his stress reliever and cuddle buddy . and you’re so happy he finds so much comfort in it . bubba will be giving you so many kisses as a thank you .

billy loomis & stu matcher

it’s pure chaos . they’re messing with the kids , putting things out of their reach , debating on what animal or bear to get . but they are the most creative . billy gets a bear , stu gets a bunny . billy gets his stuffed medium full , stu barely makes his stuffed at all . stu over exaggerates every fucking heart thing , billy just smirks and makes everything filthy despite the gasps of mothers around you . billy dresses his bear up like a bad ass punk , stu give it a dress and tries to make a thong for it . billy names his bich fuker and stu names his fuking bich . you don’t know how you made it out of the store without being kicked out but somehow you do . later , at lunch , both of them disapear only to suddenly see the stuffed animals pop over the table as they give you a weird stuffed animal porno scene that you try not to die laughing over .

vincet sinclair

surprisingly , vincent will go into town with you for this venture . and even more surprising , he will go maskless . his long locks will cover the damaged half of his face , and he might look just a bit annoyed with how crowded it is in the store and how loud it is . he’s used to peace and quiet and metal music . he spends a long time deciding on a stuffed animal , even if he doesn’t think that he’ll put it up anywhere . he tries and does convince you to only get one to share . you’ll both build it together . he choses two and lets you get the choice in which one to get . he does the heart ceremony with you , giving a soft look to you , amused at how much fun you’re having , memorizing the way you look so he can sketch it later . you both decide to try and dress up in cozy clothes , a sweater and pants and socks . you name the bear vincent jr and vincent shakes his head , looking at you amused and presses a kiss to your temple .

bo sinclair

bo is annoyed as fuck to be there and is glaring at the kids , calling them brats and ankle bitters . he doesn’t act like he cares , and much like vincent just wants to get one . he isn’t made of fucking money . though he does get pissy when you don’t pick the bear with golden curl fur and you end up changing it with hitting his chest with a limp bear hand . he talks down to the bear builder because at first it’s too soft , then it’s too fucking hard , and then there’s too much stuffing taken out . you end up tipping the poor girl when his back is turned . he almost fucking faints when he sees how expensive everything is for clothes so you only get one white shirt . you then convince him to get a pair of socks because that’s what bo wears when he’s being lazy . he names it ankle bitter . a few days after you get the bear you can’t find it and you think it might have been thrown away , and then you see it in bo’s garage on a top shelf holding a wrench .

lester sinclair

lester has a lot of fun . once he makes it inside he gets pumped and asks if he can give his to jonesy . you both decide that your gonna get on each for her . lester gets her a bunny because of how much jonesy loves them . its absolutely adorable . the bear builder has and issue understanding lester’s slurred country talk , and it makes you want to laugh so hard because it’s obvious they’re from out of state . you end up just doing your best to translate and only laugh harder when lester starts laying it on thicker for a laugh . the bear ends up between limp and medium , a good fluff for a cuddle and chew toy . he dresses the bunny up as you , saying that it’s good for jonesy to have a little version of her daddy’s love . and you can’t help but think lester is fucking cute . he doesn’t name the bunny . later , after you decide to eat in the mall , lester says he’ll be back and goes to the bathroom . when he comes back he hands you a little bear that is dressed up like him and tells you that he wanted to make you something to hug on to when you missed him too much .

jacob goodnight

jacob is nervous , overwhelmed . you go during a school day in the morning so no one is really around . he doesn’t what to do or what to chose , but decides on one that has eyes that can be removed , you understand that he has a bit of an issue so you promise that you’ll put pretty patches over the eyes when you get home , he’s very relieved by this . now , your boy is usually pouty or neutral looking , but watch him light up and smile during the heart ceremony . he takes everything to heart and is so happy . his bear is medium fluff with most of the fluff in his tummy . he takes his time cleaning it , and picks out a very basic outfit . just a plain shirt and shorts . he names it jacob , after himself and wants you to hold it , thinking that you look so cute with two soft stuffed animals in your arms . later , he’ll try to make matching cross necklaces for both your bears . he also wants to come back and make a bear each for all his dogs .

martin ( 1977 )

this shy boy is extremely excited and nervous at the same time . he’ll be quiet , glancing towards you and back at his bear , one that is pure white . he does the heart ceremony , shy as hell about it , whispering the words and such . but the further into the store the more he comes out of his shell . he smiles and stands close , looking at clothes and wanting your bears to match . they both end up looking cute and fancy , his a girl he names angel , and he tells you it reminds him of you . he keeps it in his room , often looking at it when he thinks and misses you .

carrie white

this girl is excited , eyes bright and smile wide and sweet . she picks out something soft and pink and colorful . she doesn’t want her bear to be plain , no she wants her to be beautiful and stand out . you can’t help it . you put your own bear away so you can spend all the money spoiling this happy girl you have . she does everything with gusto , even doing it with some shy kids . she’s so lost in the moment that it’s wonderful , she really needed this . her bear is so soft , nearly limp , and dressed in a pretty yellow sundress with ribbons on her ears . she names it sunshine .

[slashersins]

Ok so, one of the best dates (in my opinion) is going to build a bear and each getting a bear! Like picking em out together n doing the little heart ceremony (and also putting scents in I love the scentss) putting the hearts in each others bears bc love~ picking out their clothes together, naming em, then afterwards grabbing something to eat! (Taking a picture together n setting it as your lockscreen) its wonderful and you get a bear to remind you of your partner!! 10/10!! -Scooby

jason voorhees 

this boy will dead ass put on his best clothes , his gloves , a hat , a face mask , sunglasses , and come to build a bear with you . he may not speak but fuck he is so excited to do this with you , and you look so fucking happy and excited . he will without a doubt do everything with such dedication and seriousness during the heart ceremony that the bear builder is a bit nervous . he gets his build a bear soft , barely stuffed so that it falls over when it’s sitting . he picks out an outfit similar to his , a bit sad there is no mask or little machete . he’s having so much fun and you can tell . and oh god , there’s little kids who can’t quite reach things and he is helping them , and somehow there are now two kids sitting on either side of him helping him make his birth certificate for his new stuffed animal and jason is just so happy and enjoying himself despite the fact that the children’s mothers look slightly terrified . he ends up naming his bear mr fluffington due to the help of the children who decided jason was their new best friend . the cashier takes a picture of you on the polaroid and jason is very happy with it . he may or may not make a small machete for mr fluffington so he can gaurd the cabin . 

michael myers 

somehow you got michael maskless and dressed in normal people clothes and inside of a mall . he’s intimidating , hair pulled back into a messy bun , face full of stubble , blue eyes cutting into everything and everyone . he doesn’t seem to care , picking his build a bear after staring at them . his bear is completely over stuffed and hard as a rock . he doesn’t move . doesn’t sing . barely holds the heart before dropping it onto the back instead of stuffing it in and watching it fall to the floor . the bear builder tries to pick it up , but michael steps on it , basically telling them to sew the bear up without it . after wards he takes the heart and pockets it . he doesn’t care what the bear wears . the bear has a black shirt and some jeans and that’s it , the clothes barely fit , and it is almost impossible to put them on . when he names it , he just sits at the computer and stares . he names it “no” . later that night , you find “no” stabbed , half of it’s stuffing on the floor leaving a trail to his body . michael is on the floor sewing the heart back inside of it . 

brahms heelshire 

you have to get one of those do it at home yourself build a bear maker kits shipped to you , but you try and give brahms the full experience . it actually scratches an itch of indulge on a childish activity that he didn’t know he had . and the fact that the bear that comes in the kit is rather small , makes him happy . he gives his bear to doll brahms . making it was fun , you taking on the role of peppy bear builder . he thought it was cute . his bear is medium full , and he wanted it dressed in a suit . his name is bearington the third . when you asked if he wanted to help you make your bear he lit up , using his adult voice and treating you like a child . he made you do a million and one things during your heart ceremony and you couldn’t help but laugh at how silly he was . all in all it was a super cute fun time and now bearington and doll brahms are never apart . 

thomas hewit 

you can’t really bring him to build a bear as i don’t think they existed in the time period he lives in , buuuuut you can make him one . you have him pick out a fabric he likes , not giving him any clue as to why . you ask him how soft he likes things . he tells you like his pillow . a little on the firm side . you make a little heart and you have him do a little ceremony with it to put his love in it . he humors you but looks at you with a raised brow as if you’re the silliest person he’s ever met . you ask him what his favorite outfit is and make him pick out more fabrics to get a clothes set out . when you present him with the bear he is shocked . he tries not to tear up . tries not to cry , but he’s so so so happy . he keeps it on his dresser and when he gets out of bed before you , he will put it in your arms so you won’t miss him . 

jesse cromeans 

jesse walks in like he owns the place . the prettiest most expensive bear is his . only the most fancy suit ( he will later order a suit from some fancy designer for his bear ) . he does the heart ceremony , smiling at you the entire time and bumping your hip with his . he promises that he’ll get a chrome heart to put inside of the bear later . and you best bet that jesse gets everything . sun glasses , boots , socks , underwear , roller skates , back pack . his bear is spoiled to shit . you’re is too , and you almost wanna laugh at the look on the other customer’s faces when the price rings up . jesse was being so showoffy that he forgot to get a birth certificate or name his bear . 

bubba saywer 

much like with tommy you can’t really bring bubba to build a bear . but unlike tommy , you already know all of bubba’s favorites . you know he loves textures , so the body , each limb , the head , and the tail are all different fabrics . different sensations so he can have those little stimming moments . you know he likes things extra soft , so that’s how you fill it up . during the heart ceremony you have bubba do so many cute little things and he is more than happy to bounce around and babble . then you have him close his eyes and sew the heart in . when he opens them his eyes light up . and when he feels over the bear he is in utter heaven . it becomes his stress reliever and cuddle buddy . and you’re so happy he finds so much comfort in it . bubba will be giving you so many kisses as a thank you .

billy loomis & stu matcher 

it’s pure chaos . they’re messing with the kids , putting things out of their reach , debating on what animal or bear to get . but they are the most creative . billy gets a bear , stu gets a bunny . billy gets his stuffed medium full , stu barely makes his stuffed at all . stu over exaggerates every fucking heart thing , billy just smirks and makes everything filthy despite the gasps of mothers around you . billy dresses his bear up like a bad ass punk , stu give it a dress and tries to make a thong for it . billy names his bich fuker and stu names his fuking bich . you don’t know how you made it out of the store without being kicked out but somehow you do . later , at lunch , both of them disapear only to suddenly see the stuffed animals pop over the table as they give you a weird stuffed animal porno scene that you try not to die laughing over . 

vincet sinclair 

surprisingly , vincent will go into town with you for this venture . and even more surprising , he will go maskless . his long locks will cover the damaged half of his face , and he might look just a bit annoyed with how crowded it is in the store and how loud it is . he’s used to peace and quiet and metal music . he spends a long time deciding on a stuffed animal , even if he doesn’t think that he’ll put it up anywhere . he tries and does convince you to only get one to share . you’ll both build it together . he choses two and lets you get the choice in which one to get . he does the heart ceremony with you , giving a soft look to you , amused at how much fun you’re having , memorizing the way you look so he can sketch it later . you both decide to try and dress up in cozy clothes , a sweater and pants and socks . you name the bear vincent jr and vincent shakes his head , looking at you amused and presses a kiss to your temple . 

bo sinclair 

bo is annoyed as fuck to be there and is glaring at the kids , calling them brats and ankle bitters . he doesn’t act like he cares , and much like vincent just wants to get one . he isn’t made of fucking money . though he does get pissy when you don’t pick the bear with golden curl fur and you end up changing it with hitting his chest with a limp bear hand . he talks down to the bear builder because at first it’s too soft , then it’s too fucking hard , and then there’s too much stuffing taken out . you end up tipping the poor girl when his back is turned . he almost fucking faints when he sees how expensive everything is for clothes so you only get one white shirt . you then convince him to get a pair of socks because that’s what bo wears when he’s being lazy . he names it ankle bitter . a few days after you get the bear you can’t find it and you think it might have been thrown away , and then you see it in bo’s garage on a top shelf holding a wrench . 

lester sinclair 

lester has a lot of fun . once he makes it inside he gets pumped and asks if he can give his to jonesy . you both decide that your gonna get on each for her . lester gets her a bunny because of how much jonesy loves them . its absolutely adorable . the bear builder has and issue understanding lester’s slurred country talk , and it makes you want to laugh so hard because it’s obvious they’re from out of state . you end up just doing your best to translate and only laugh harder when lester starts laying it on thicker for a laugh . the bear ends up between limp and medium , a good fluff for a cuddle and chew toy . he dresses the bunny up as you , saying that it’s good for jonesy to have a little version of her daddy’s love . and you can’t help but think lester is fucking cute . he doesn’t name the bunny . later , after you decide to eat in the mall , lester says he’ll be back and goes to the bathroom . when he comes back he hands you a little bear that is dressed up like him and tells you that he wanted to make you something to hug on to when you missed him too much . 

jacob goodnight 

jacob is nervous , overwhelmed . you go during a school day in the morning so no one is really around . he doesn’t what to do or what to chose , but decides on one that has eyes that can be removed , you understand that he has a bit of an issue so you promise that you’ll put pretty patches over the eyes when you get home , he’s very relieved by this . now , your boy is usually pouty or neutral looking , but watch him light up and smile during the heart ceremony . he takes everything to heart and is so happy . his bear is medium fluff with most of the fluff in his tummy . he takes his time cleaning it , and picks out a very basic outfit . just a plain shirt and shorts . he names it jacob , after himself and wants you to hold it , thinking that you look so cute with two soft stuffed animals in your arms . later , he’ll try to make matching cross necklaces for both your bears . he also wants to come back and make a bear each for all his dogs . 

martin ( 1977 ) 

this shy boy is extremely excited and nervous at the same time . he’ll be quiet , glancing towards you and back at his bear , one that is pure white . he does the heart ceremony , shy as hell about it , whispering the words and such . but the further into the store the more he comes out of his shell . he smiles and stands close , looking at clothes and wanting your bears to match . they both end up looking cute and fancy , his a girl he names angel , and he tells you it reminds him of you . he keeps it in his room , often looking at it when he thinks and misses you . 

carrie white

this girl is excited , eyes bright and smile wide and sweet . she picks out something soft and pink and colorful . she doesn’t want her bear to be plain , no she wants her to be beautiful and stand out . you can’t help it . you put your own bear away so you can spend all the money spoiling this happy girl you have . she does everything with gusto , even doing it with some shy kids . she’s so lost in the moment that it’s wonderful , she really needed this . her bear is so soft , nearly limp , and dressed in a pretty yellow sundress with ribbons on her ears . she names it sunshine . 

[scrambleddragonegg]

Ummm ypu said send an ask so write some bkdk angst pls?

So I have 2 of these that I just never responded to????? I am SO sorry! my mental health has been shit recently. buuuuut here's the story! I hope I did a good job!

~

Katsuki wakes up slowly, his eyes stinging as the light hits his pupils. As soon as it registers where he is, his mind goes to Deku.

DEKU!

“Bakugo! You’re awake! I’ll go get the nurse and-” Sero starts, but Katsuki is already standing up, pulling off the oxygen mask and yanking the IVs out of his arm. There’s no time. His mind won’t stop replaying scenes of Deku dying, bleeding out alone on the ground. He needs to see him. Now.

“Whoa, Bakugo! You should get back in bed! You’re not fully healed yet!”

Katsuki doesn’t so much as flinch when Sero grabs his arm and tries to guide him back to the hospital bed.

“Soy Sauce, if you don’t get out of my way right now, I will blast you through this wall.” Maybe it’s his tone, or maybe it’s the look Katsuki gives him, but Sero releases Katsuki without much more of an arguement.

“He’s awake!”

“Bakugo!”

“Blasty!”

“Oh, I’m so relieved!”

There’s quite the commotion when he slams the door open. His classmates were waiting outside for him to wake up. He might even be greatful if Deku weren’t the only thing on his mind.

“Yeah, yeah. I get it, okay?! I’m up! Where’s Deku?!”

The hall goes silent and Katsuki feels his stomach drop. No. NO! He’s not- He can’t be-

“He hasn’t woken up yet. He practically destroyed himself out there and-” Uraraka starts. Katsuki tunes her out, feeling air fill his lungs before he realizes he even stopped breathing in the first place.

“At the end of the hall.” Tsuyu summarizes, seeing Katsuki about to lose it. He mentally thanks her, only audibly grunting in response before he pushes past everyone and sprints down the hallway.

As he enters the room, Katsuki sees All Might sitting in the chair next to the nerd’s bed. The room is silent except for the faint beeping of the heart monitor and Deku’s labored breathing. He sounds like he’s fighting for every breath, and that’s with the oxygen mask.

It’s calm. Eerily calm.

“How long has it been?” Katsuki asks. All Might turns around sharply, somehow having not noticed that Katsuki entered the room.

“Young Bakugo! Shouldn’t you be in-”

“How. Long. Has. It. Been?” He doesn’t have time for this shit.

“Three days.” All Might finally answers. He opens his mouth to tell Katsuki to go back to bed, but the explosive blonde silences him with a glare that may even rival his mother’s. Katsuki eventually pulls over another chair, sitting on the other side of the bed from All Might, eyes scanning Deku’s face for any sign of pain or discomfort.

He looks so peaceful. Almost too peaceful. Almost like he’s-

“Young Bakugo, I need you to look at me.” All Might’s voice is suddenly very close. Looking away from Deku, Katsuki can see that the man is now standing right next to him. When did he get up?

“He’s alive, Young Bakugo. He’s going to be okay. He’s just asleep right now. Young Midoriya’s body is resting so that it may heal.” Katsuki glares at the retired pro, but its then that he realizes that he feels very weak. He hates feeling weak.. He tries to move his hands, but they shake so horribly that he decides resting them on his lap is a better decision. He can’t breathe. Katsuki stands up, hands popping.

"That little SHIT!" He's going to kill the nerd when he wakes up. He deserves it after putting them all through this much worry. If only he didn't destroy himself like he always fucking does.

He wants to throw something, break something, even blow something up. Deku needs to wake up now.

"Young Bakugo-" "Shut up, Skeletor." Katsuki snaps. He leans over Izuku’s unconscious body, seeing the nerd looking too pale.

"Deku, wake up."

"Deku."

"Wake. Up. Nerd."

Katsuki feels tears form in his eyes. he can't cry, not now. Not in front of All Might. Just as tears are about to fall, Izuku’s breathing picks up.

"Deku...?" His chest heaves and his heart monitor skyrockets. It's beating way too fast.

Then, it suddenly slows.

Katsuki knows that's not good.

"FUCK! Deku wake up, you have to wake up! This isn't fucking funny anymore Shitty Nerd!" He's shaking the green haired boy, trying anything he can think of to wake him up. Suddenly, he's shoved aside and pulled out of the room as doctors and nurses flood the room.

"DEKU!" Katsuki screams.

"Keep him with us!"

"He's not responding!"

"We're losing him!"

Everything stops. His vision swims as his breathing turns rapid. He knows he's shaking, crying even, but he doesn't care. They're losing him. They're losing Deku. His chest feels like it's caving in as he stumbles into a nearby wall, unable to keep himself balanced. His hands fly to his head, yanking his hair as he stresses over his childhood friend's condition.

"Kacchan!" Deku calls, tripping over his own two feet to get to get to the blonde as quickly as possible.

"Deku, you stupid nerd!" The elated green eyes flicker with sadness for a brief moment. Katsuki almost misses it.

"You've got to stop tripping over yourself when we become heroes!" Izuku squeales with joy.

"I won't fall, Kacchan! I'll be standing right next to you!"

As the memory fades, Katsuki hears the heart monitor flatline.

No!

"DEKU YOU FUCKING IDIOT YOU BETTER SURVIVE THIS SHIT!" He screams, tears falling rapidly.

"Clear!"

He wants to push through all of them, to see Deku before the world finally takes him.

"Clear!"

Katsuki flinches. Izuku’s heart isn't starting. They’re losing him, they're losing Deku. He can't focus, and begins to feel light-headed. He can't lose Deku. Not after he finally got him back. Not when he hasn't made up for every shitty thing he's done to him. Not when-

"We've got a pulse!"

Katsuki collapses, falling to his hands and knees as a loud sob wracks through his body. The stress is too much for his already injured body, however, so he quickly blacks out.

When he wakes up again, Izuku is gone. Not dead, but he left. He ran away. Katsuki holds the letter addressed to him tightly, debating blowing it up here and now. Whatever the nerd wrote in here... He can tell him himself. He's not going to open the letter. He won't except Izuku’s disappearance. He can't. It'll be like losing him all over again. Izuku can't do this on his own. He just can't. He wants to draw the battle away from everyone, but at what cost? Himself? Bullshit.

Bull. Shit.

[ellynneversweet]

Curious English person here. Is republicanism common in Australia? I'm wondering as it sure doesn't feel common where I live. Especially with Labour desperately trying to prove it can do patriotism in order to make its self electable.

‘Lol what’s a political opinion, sounds wanky’ — old Australian proverb.

This gets long, because I can’t leave well enough alone. Short summary of what you probably wanted to know first, and then some history.

Theoretically, a republic of Australia (especially post-Elizabeth II) is generally understood to have the support of the majority of the population. Our last Prime Minister was and is a vocal supporter of a Republic who led the pro-republic campaign in the 1999 referendum, but didn’t bring it up again in the course of his term, and the Prime Minister before him (same party) re-established knighthoods so he could give Prince Phillip an extra title, so there’s a spectrum. In practice a republic of Australia is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future, because it would take a lot of money and work to bring about, and would be largely a symbolic gesture rather than a practical one. Actually getting rid of the royals would require a referendum and constitutional amendment, and that’s not on the political table for a variety of reasons.

The general Australian opinion of the Windsor family can be summed up as follows: the Queen is a nice old grandma (depends how recently she’s been seen with Andrew), and it would be cruel to fire her in her twilight years; Charles is a useless tosser whom no one likes, although his wife is funny (depends on whether there’s a Diana retrospective trending on Netflix); the Cambridges seem stylish and wholesomely functional and are about as interesting as pro tennis players; ten years ago it was a quasi-serious joke that Harry would make a good Governor General, because he knows How To Drink Beer And Talk Shit Like An Australian, but then someone realised we’d have to pay him a bigger salary than the usual parade of retired lawyers and army officers and now it’s not funny. They get crowds when they do a tour, and the unofficial tourism advertising of having some pint-sized royal maul a wallaby at a petting zoo is considered a fair return on the cost of security when they travel here, which is the only time they cost Australia anything.

To give you some more detail:

The first thing that needs to be clarified is that that Parliament and Monarch of the United Kingdom have no official legislative power over the Commonwealth of Australia, and haven’t since 1986. The Monarch of Australia is, technically, legally seperate from the Monarch of Canada, the Monarch of New Zealand, and the Monarch of that other place off the coast of France, although by some weird coincidence all those seperate executive persons reside in the body of some old English woman. That’s bullshit, I hear you say, and, yeah that’s true, but consider this: she doesn’t actually do all those jobs. Functionally, the Head of State of Australia is an entirely different unelected executive, the Govenor General, and the office of the Governor General is careful to preserve their public position of political neutrality and independence.

There’s a bit of history here. The federation do Australia as a country happened in 1901, but between then and roughly 1930 the Colonial Office of the British government had considerable legal sway if they chose to use it, and the GG was appointed on their advice. The Australian National identity of the pre-WWII period was very much that of proud (white) sons of empire etc etc, but in 1930 the Australian Prime Minister insists on ‘advising’ the king on the next GG, and the next year the Statute of Westminster 1931 is passed, which establishes the legislative independence of, among other countries, Australia (but, because Australia is a federation of states, there is still some doubt about who has the power to do what exactly at which level of government).

Onward to 1975 and The Dismissal. Gough Whitlam of the Labor Party is the Prime Minister, and, the left having been out of power for some time, is moving quickly to institute a bunch of social reforms (RIP, sir, thanks for introducing public health care and treating the aboriginal population with a modicum of decency). The right-leaning Liberal party is seething over this, and, because they control the Senate, block supply for expenditure in an attempt to force an election in the House Of Reps. Whitlam counters with an election for the Senate and goes to the Governor General for his approval, because elections are called by the PM with the authorisation of the GG. The GG informs Whitlam that he has been dismissed as the PM, and the GG has invited the leader of the opposition to be acting PM instead. This is TECHNICALLY something the GG can do as the queen’s representative, but it’s against the spirit of democracy. It becomes a huge scandal the periodically bubbles along for years, and the reason this is relevent to the question of republicanism in Australia is the Palace Letters — correspondence between the GG and the Queen/their various offices and staff. The Queen claimed that these letters were private or personal correspondence, and thus not able to be released as a matter of public record, which caused a lot of speculation as to whether Whitlam had been dismissed on the orders of the Queen. This went on for years, and last year they were released. Long story short, the Queen did not explicitly know or authorise the dismissal, but there’s a lot of ‘theoretically, if’ in the letters, and it certainly seems like the Queen and her office were keeping closer tabs on Australian politics than was thought at the time. There’s also a conspiracy theory that the CIA staged the dismissal because Whitlam was making overtures to China, buuuuut if that’s the case then no evidence has come to light. In any case, no one wants that sort of scandal, and there are efforts made to distance the role of the GG from that of the monarch, and both from any practical power.

Onward again to 1986, the Australia Act 1986 is passed in both Australia and the UK, confirming that Australia is legislatively independent from the UK, and that the Queen of Australia is a legally distinct position from the Queen of the UK (see: James VI and I, etc). This is very similar to the 1931 Statute, but clarified that this independence exists on a state level as well as a federal level, in order to prevent states from appealing to the UK to overrule the federal government (as with Western Australia’s attempted succession in 1933).

Onward again and most recently: the 1999 Republic Referendum, aka my earliest political opinion. Labor proposed a referendum in honour of the centenary of federation. The Prime Minister in power was a Liberal (you may remember them as the party who stole the government in the dismissal). There was A LOT of debate over how, in the event of Australia becoming a republic, we would resolve the issue of the powers of the executive. Would we have an American style presidency (the Clinton impeachment was happening around this this time, FYI) or something more like the supposedly-detached monarchy represented by the GG? The proposal that eventually went to the people was a president appointed by the Prime Minister + 2/3rds of both the Senate and the House of Reps, who could be dismissed by the PM. This was a fairly unpopular take for a bunch of different reasons, not least because it managed to give the Head of State an implied mandate without actually being elected, and it was defeated by 54.4%. So, no Republic, and unfortunately, for those of us who do favour revisiting the question, it’s mostly seen as either unimportant or settled, or both. Whomp-whomp.

For my part, if we’re getting a referendum any time soon, I’d prefer it to be on section 44 of the constitution, which bars people with (potential) foreign allegiances from standing for election, which is frankly ridiculous in a country where nearly 30% of the population was born overseas and something like half the population potentially has at least dual citizenship.