#can you tell i think about frasier a lot

[mcclintcock]

no one talks enough about how lilith leaving frasier for brian (then briefly niles in room service) is a (i suspect unintentional) perfect parallel to lilith leaving frasier for a man who will lie under her instead of over her bc frasier is obviously like a type a dominant personality and thats why they didnt work.

(this is contradicted by an episode that i swear to god exists but cant find any evidence but i swear it exists and is canon to me because its too embarrassing if this is something my subconscious fabricated. anyways the episode heavily that implies frasier is a bottom and calls lilith mommy in bed???? but still frasier likes to be dominant even if it's just in non-sexual contexts)

anyways a god, implied to be The Christian God, canonically exists in the frasier universe as of dont go breaking my heart and i have a lot of thoughts about biblical parallels in frasier

edit: first paragraph i meant that it has parallels to lilith leaving adam in genesis or whatever, idr anything from sunday school correct me if i'm wrong

[acourtofthought]

The reason I can’t get behind the concept of Elain rejecting or “severing” the bond is because there is no indication that Elain and Lucien would be a terrible match. I saw art on reddit (I know I know, stay away from there) of a defiant Elain using truth teller to cut the bond and so many people were excited about it. But it did nothing for me, not even close to empowerment.

The context of this world, and these relationships, does not make the bond an inherent issue of sexism or lack of agency. The poor matches were revealed to be ones dependent on maximizing power, not compatibility. Elain and Lucien are highly compatible—their personalities, likes, interests, reactions to adversity, etc. So the idea of her “severing” the bond seems inconsistent with not only SJM’s themes, but also Elain’s best interests as a character.

Nothing about Azriel, nothing we have been shown of their interactions, tell me that Elriel is compatible, let alone a better pairing than Elucien. I’m not blind, I saw potato steam and Az listening to her garden plans and following her laugh on solstice. But those moments never endeared me to the ship because none of them held weight. None of them made me think of how Elain/Az have been portrayed independently of one another, let alone with synergy. In fact, when I have cross examined I found contention—they are incompatible.

Say what you want about aesthetics and repeated storylines, at the end of the day Elriel is a poor match. And nothing has convinced me otherwise 🤷🏾‍♀️

🧼💖

HIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that looks weird with multiple i's and multiple exclamations but I was really excited to see you).

I also added a screenshot of your second anon so your messages could be viewed all together.

I could not agree with you more. We're definitely told that some bonds aren't a match but for every bond that was given as an example for why that was we can easily see that's not how Elain and Lucien are set up.

Rhys's father did not give his mother a choice, he instantly whisked her away and married her that evening. She wasn't given a chance to get to know him before being forced to decide what she wanted she was simply forced into it.

Lucien has done nothing but give Elain the space to do what she wants even if that meant returning to another man.

We also knew that Rhys's father was cold and vicious, two things we know that Lucien is not. His mother was soft and fiery (which sounds a lot like Elain). So if Rhys's father and mother were not a match, cold and vicious does not match with soft and fiery than it's safe to say that Lucien being the fathers polar opposite would be match for Elain's soft and fiery personality.

We also know that Tamlin's father was a tyrant and his mother refused to say a bad word against him. Again, Lucien is not a tyrant, not even close and we've already seen Elain stand up against people when she thinks they're wrong. So once more, Elain and Lucien do not match the qualities of another fated mates pair that was wrong for one another.

Like you said, everything about their personalities strongly suggest they're going to be amazing together. Elain can be stubborn for now, she can avoid her bond and Lucien, but there's little chance that won't change in future books. Sarah created too big a plot with their bond for them just walk up to one another after over a year of avoidance, after never having a real conversation and say, "best of luck to you!". There would have been absolutely no reason to introduce the bond in the first place if she wasn't going to explore it, even if it were to prove they weren't right for each other. But we know what will happen is that Elain will finally drop her guard and let herself see who Lucien is and there is no chance she's not falling for him. That's Sarah's m-fing Jamie Frasier right there and there's no way he's going to be anything less than perfection in Elain's eyes (as I imagine she already is in his).

To your point about Az, I was talking to someone about something similar the other day. There are a few cute moments between Elain and Az but they're never followed up by any possible foreshadowing to back the ship up. I.E. Sarah had Az give Elain TT but instead of expounding on that in the novella, giving us a scene where Elain asked for private dagger lessons (as she had Gwyn do), we instead had Sarah say, "Elain had pressed it into his hands as he had pressed it into hers and she did not look back". She also had Rhys say, "Elain is Elain but Nesta is....she's Illyrian." The author is literally telling us that Nesta fits in with the IC but Elain doesn't. Which continues on in SF where we're told she's bothered by cruelty and NC black sucks the life from her.

In contrast, we had the ACOWAR scene that has Elain saying she needs sunshine. Fast forward a few chapters and we have Feyre thinking how Helion is the sun personified. Fast forward a few chapters and we have the realization strike Feyre that Helion is Lucien's true father making Lucien the likely sole heir of Day. Meaning he will also be likened to the sun personified with sun in his veins all after his MATE said she needed sunshine. Follow all that up with the rose necklace (symbolic of Elain) which we're told needs held to the light in order to see it's true depth.

It's subtle, so easy to miss, but when you look at how Sarah lays out all these little clues it's brilliant and reads like a story when you put them together.

A cute quote here and there does not tell the full story of these characters, not when Sarah uses those crumbs to tell us a different story (just as she did with the Tamlin / Feyre / Rhysand setup). It was the crumbs that told the truth, not the in your face quotes like how Feyre wanted to bang Tamlin.

As always, thank you for your message, I hope you're well!!!

[hedgiwithapen]

DHD: Stargate, anyone(s) on SG1 gets telepathy. Hammond and/or Janet with telepathy also entirely acceptable.

Headaches came with command, George knew well. Every time he’d been promoted, his wife had cooked a celebratory meal and upsized the bottle of aspirin in the medicine  cabinet. But it was largely metaphorical headaches he had to deal with, or headaches walking around in human bodies, like certain unnamed members of SGs 1, 3, and 5.  Mostly 1. Little frustrations, bigger frustrations, and concerns, and worries that were easier to label as a headache and move on. Being a little tired and overworked was part of the job of running the SGC, and it was worth a headache now and again to keep his family--his country--his planet-- safe. This headache, though, felt like his first ever hangover, back when he’d been young and stupid and unsupervised. “General?” Major Carter asked. He blinked at her, trying to recall what exactly her report had been about. Something about the trees on a planet--no, that wasn’t right. The bees? No…badgers? Badgers sounded right. He glanced at the written report to confirm. Badgers. Not any weirder than  sentient water that had taken out so many Russians a few weeks back. “Yes?” he asked. “You have a question, Major?” “Sir, not to be blunt but are you ok?” she asked, “He doesn’t look well. I guess I wouldn’t either, with all the fuss Senator Kimsey is kicking up, he’s got an awful lot on his plate.” “I would appreciate it, Major, if you didn’t refer to me in the third person,” he grit out, waving a hand at her obvious dismay.  “I’m fine, just a headache. You’re dismissed.” “Sir,” she acknowledged, though George could hear her muttering about oddness and doubting the headache ‘story.’ As if he was lying about the pounding in his head. It wasn’t like Cater, and George let himself wonder for a moment that Colonel O’Neill had rubbed off a little too much on his team. The headache lessened, some, as he read over the report in the quiet of his office. It worsened again when someone tapped at his door. “Come in,” he barked. The sooner he dealt with whatever emergency Dr. Frasier had uncovered, the sooner he could try to take a little catnap. “General Hammond,” Dr. Frasier smiled. “I was just speaking with Sam, and she expressed some concerns. Could you tell me a little about your symptoms? Headache? Migraine? Brain tumor?” “For heaven’s sake,” George said, feeling a little like Jack. “ I do not have a brain tumor.” “I see,” Dr. Frasier frowned. “I think Sam was right. Telepathy.” “Telepathy?” George squinted at her. “Dr. Frasier, I don’t want to question your judgment, but that seems a little far fetched.” “I’d agree with you,” she said. “If I’d said my suspicions out loud.” “Oh,” he said, and really, what else was there to say? Ah, right. “ How on earth did I…” “Could have been something brought back from that planet, something in the mind that resists our decontamination…of course, no one else seems to have come down with it. I’m sure Daniel will be eager to go back and find out. For now, as your doctor, I suggest you get lots of rest, and avoid crowds. He’s here practically around the clock, maybe it’s a good time to see--” “You think I should go home? Like this? Doctor, I have two very sweet granddaughters approaching middle school. The last thing I want to know is what’s in their heads.” She laughed. “Understandable. I’ll tell everyone to leave you be.” “No, wait,” he stopped her. “See if O’Neill and Harriman can be spared.” “Can I ask why?” George pulled out a deck of cards. “I want to see how far I can take this. Since I’m officially off duty per your orders and all.” “Get pictures,” Dr. Frasier laughed again. “We’re all going to want to see the look on Jack’s face. Good luck, sir.” 

[thinkingaboutbetterdays]

the perfect distraction. ( niles crane x reader )

gif belongs to me

You had many dresses in your closet at home and when Niles asked you to join him at a fundraiser, you believed it would be easy to find a dress to wear, but with every dress you showed, you thought his head would fall off from how hard he shook it.

"I've worn these lots of places and always get compliments." You told him, dumping the dress in the pile of rejections on the floor. "And I can remember each occasion half of these dresses ended on the floor."

Niles opened his mouth but quickly closed it, pursing his lips when he realized that he had no rebuttal - for now at least.

"You should go or you'll be late." You sent him a smile as he checked his watch, eyebrows rising when he noted the time.

Niles placed his hands on your arms, kissing your forehead. "Think about it?"

"I don't know..." You jested.

He tilted his head, an amused smile forming on his lips before he leaned in to kiss you goodbye. "See you later, my love."

You adjusted his tie as you pecked his lips, smiling as you said goodbye. Niles left the room and went to his study to collect his briefcase on his way out of the house while you looked at the pile of dresses, a sigh leaving your lips.

"I didn't realize I had so many!" You exclaimed, after telling the story to Roz and Frasier over coffee.

"And he didn't like any of them?" Roz asked.

You shook your head, taking a sip of coffee, turning when a hand rested on the back of your chair and sent your husband a smile. "Hey, I was just talking about you."

"Hi." He mirrored your smile, "About this morning?"

"Oh!" Roz snapped her fingers, "What about that gown you wore last year to the Seebee Awards? The mermaid dress?"

"It was put in storage. There weren't many chances to wear it afterward and it took up a lot of space in the closet. Oh, I loved that dress!" You turned to your husband when you noticed he was shaking his head. "Let me guess...you hate mermaids?"

Niles pursed his lips and you looked at your best friend for backup and when she agreed that it is a fabulous dress, you turned to your husband with a raised eyebrow.

"I do believe that's what's called the clincher. Shall we go?" He motioned over his brother's shoulder towards the road several feet away and you sighed as you stood up. While Niles would always be grateful that Roz decided to bring you to the coffee house on that particular Wednesday, the two still exchanged jabs now and then. Roz settled on glaring at the younger Crane as he held your jacket and you slipped your arms in the sleeves.

You bid your best friend and brother-in-law goodbye before leaving with your husband, waiting until you reached his car to ask the question you had been dying to ask all morning.

"What is it about the other dresses that you don't like?" You weren't angry with him, perhaps a little annoyed that you would likely spend hours fretting over a new dress but mostly curious.

"I didn't say I didn't like them," Niles replied, unlocking the car and opening your door. "I just find them distracting."

You tilted your head as you pondered what he meant, remembering your earlier comment about how each time you wore the dresses they ended up on the floor, and a smile formed on your lips.

"Are you saying I distract you?" You stepped closer until you were blocked by the car door.

"Every waking hour, thereafter you haunt my dreams."

A giggle left your lips, "We need to make a pit stop on the way to the boutique." You got into the car, looking at Niles as he held the door.

"Where?"

"Somewhere. Anywhere."

Niles caught onto your meaning and closed the door. Your smile grew as he got behind the wheel and drove off. You fully intended on finding a dress that would beat all the others you had worn. You wanted to turn heads at the fundraiser, but most of all you wanted to watch your husband struggle all night and return home to relieve all the pent up frustration he had been holding back all night.

[flyboy254cnchtv-blog]

So, I've been processing things over the past few days. I thought I knew my country, but I didn't. If anything, it proved me so wrong that I've been waking up nauseous, puking, forcing myself not to sob. I'm not one of the people most in danger, but the people I care about are. So I'm gonna go stream of consciousness, and please forgive me but I need to get this off my chest somewhere. For the love of all that's sacred, don't leave us. If you need to keep yourself or your loved ones safe, do it, do not feel like that's wrong. But you are needed. You are valued. You should not let those monsters in human flesh tell you your worth. I served in the Marine Corps, and in the service I learned. I learned about "the talk" every black family in America has to give their children for when they will, will, be stopped by a cop. I learned that so much of our military is made up of the children of those who came here searching for a better life. I learned that so many of my comrades are gay, lesbian, bi, and were better Marines that I could have ever hoped to be.

This freed me from the shell I'd been raised in. Whatever lies my Irish-Catholic parents tried to feed me didn't scan any longer. The only thing I learned to take from them is that immigrants, all immigrants, deserve to exist.

I will not call myself an ally, attempting to apply that appellation to oneself feels vapid and self-absolving. I will not get everything right, because I still have to learn a lot. But I know that for now, I will wake up, shake my boots off, and do what I can. Because my friends, my family, will need me to be as strong as I can.

This will not be easy. There will be moments where we will all ask if we can even go on. We can't lie to ourselves that somehow it will all work out. We need to get together, plan, and organize where and how we can. Our foes believe we are weak. Their mistake is that this is what they think of compassion, of morality, of simple decency.

You are valued. You are here. I want to see a world where you are able to be free, happy, and safe, no matter who you are. I posted earlier the quote from Bobby Sands. "Our revenge will be the laughter of our children." I do believe that. Because the woman I love says I'm the one she wants to bring up children with, and the only way that happens is if we cast down the false idol they have raised.

I still believe in the ideals in the Declaration of Independence. That the Constitution is a living document made to be changed, to be amended so that it can adapt to the times. I swore an oath, and I'm too damn stubborn to just accept that these terrors will persist. I'm not a leader, but I know how to follow orders. Point me in the right direction, and I'll do what I can.

Whoever reads this, you are not alone. You will never be anything less than human. The fact that your very existence, your happiness, fills them with such a rage is what I want to help you keep alive. If you're a person of color, if you're LGBT+, if you're a woman, know that there are still enough of us out there who want to help. Who want to know how. We got decked last Tuesday, but one slug to the jaw doesn't end the fight. This isn't Frasier vs Ali. This is Rocky vs Creed, and we're going all twelve. It'll be easier, and worth it, if we all go along together.

They think we're out, but already there are organizations, movements, local communities rebuilding and prepping. They are proud, and they have ripped their mask off now and brag of the evils they will inflict. We will use their words against them, and we will know that those who supported them have nowhere to hide. They wanted this, and they're going to get it. We need to be ready to get back to work after, whatever may come.

I hope you forgive me for what must seem like a ramble. I hope that you stick around, too. This fight is not, and will never be over until the last trace of their hate and propaganda is wiped from the face of the earth. Stay smart, stay resilient, and stay human. We will survive, and we will hear the laughter of the children before we know it.

[doveabovetheworld]

Greta Van Fleet as…

Holidays!!!

Josh;

We all know how bright and eye-catching Josh is so based off if that he is definitely New Years Eve (or pretty much anything with fireworks but New Years specifically). Josh is definitely the type of person to invite his whole family and his friends over on New Years and just party and get drunk with them. He’s such a loud and life living type of person I just think that he plans huge parties for New Years. He also thinks so positively about New Years thinking about how there is so much that he can do and that he can be around people he loves and cares about, including his fans. Josh is also the type of person to kiss you right when the ball drops and tell you how much he can’t wait to spend the new year with you. He would be cheering and running around the house hugging everyone letting them know how much he loves them. He would definitely take this holiday as a chance to give people presents (even though Christmas just passed but thats okay) and the chance for him to tell people how much he cares and loves them.

Jake;

Jake gives off huge Halloween vibes. He would love to buy bags and bags of candy to eat and hand out to kids around the neighborhood while he’s watching a horror or halloween themed movie like Hocus Pocus! I feel like his favorite halloween movie would probably be something like Corpse Bride or maybe even Friday the Thirteenth. Jake’s personality is very quiet but loud at the same time (if that makes sense?) and he is pretty chill which in my mind resonates with Halloween a lot. He also reminds me of black cats and he would love to do pumpkin carving one night sometime before Halloween. Jake is definitely one of those type of people to buy those fake skeletons and dress it up and put it on the porch of the house just to be funny. He also would want to dress up as a pirate (AKA Jack Sparrow), a knight, a cowboy, or even Oliver Reed! I feel like if you asked him to do a couples costume he’d say he wouldn’t really want to but says yes because he loves you but when you guys are actually getting the costume and dressing up, he’s super passionate about it and gets into character.

Sammy;

Sammy is super romantic and sweet which makes me think he’d be Valentines Day. When Valentines comes around, he would go all out with it like giving you silly gifts or taking you out to a super fancy restaurant and buying you your favorite treats! He would definitely add in some fun activities to do throughout the day and would spend so much money on you just because he thinks so highly of you. He is such a kind and loving person that you can’t help but smile because of him! He would take everything super serious on Valentines like he would have a whole day planned out just for you too. I think that he would attempt to make cookies or cupcakes or something like that and ultimately fail (almost burning down the house in the process) and he would go to the store and say he baked them himself but you know damn well he’s just trying to impress you but it’s still a cute act of kindness from him that you can’t help but smile.

Danny;

Danny is definitely Christmas. He is such a warm person so to be with him during winter and Christmas sounds so comforting. He would love to do all the things they do in the Hallmark Christmas romance movies (as well as binge watch them) and to be honest I would live for that cus that’s one of my guilty pleasures. But Danny would make you hot cocoa, take you ice skating, and play in the snow with him and whenever you get cold he would give you one of his warm sweaters. The way that he would buy ornaments that reminded him of you and tell you all about it as you two put them on the Frasier fir tree you have in your living room. The presents he would get you would be stuff like records you want, jewelry that has your guy’s initials, and even something as cute as a mini card he made just for you. The way he would be so proud and happy when you see the presents and light up is so unreal. He would honestly be the best person to spend Christmas with and no one can tell me otherwise.

Moodboards made by my bestie; @radyouthcherryblossom

[louisironson]

tv asks: Frasier, Seinfeld, MASH

all righty here we go!

Frasier

favorite character: niles and lilith are honestly tied, which is pretty impressive given that niles is in almost every episode and lilith shows up once a season max

funniest character: once again i have to give it to niles just because dhp’s sense of delivery and physical comedy is unmatched

best-looking character: ROZ AND LILITH don’t make me choose

3 favorite ships: niles/daphne forever obviouslyyyy, i can always go for roz/lilith, and just for fun frasier/cam winston they’re goofy

least favorite character: gertrude moon. let’s be honest daphne’s whole extended family. side note isn’t it wild that daphne’s dad is brian cox

least favorite ship: frasier/roz is just so boring to me. the show got it right they fuck once and go “huh nope never again”

reason why i watch it: i really do find it to be a smart and engaging show! it’s well-regarded for a reason and it’s because all of the writers very clearly were dedicated to their craft. shout out joe keenan ily joe keenan

why i started watching it: i like watching gay episodes of older shows and it turns out i really, really liked the matchmaker, and i just kept watching it, then ski lodge, then the doctor is out, and finally i said to myself “i should just be watching this whole show actually”. and i was right

Seinfeld

favorite character: i think i have to go with george on this one his specific brand of Being just rings so true. he sucks he’s doodoo and it’s very fun

funniest character: probably george again. he just hits my funny bone idk what to tell you

best-looking character: elaine! have you seen her.

3 favorite ships: the idea of having “ships” for this show full of the worst people in the worst relationships is a little laughable but george/any man is funny enough for me to consider

least favorite character: this one’s tough because most of the annoying characters are one-offs and so you don’t have time to resent their presence; they’re purely functional. sometimes they lean a little hard with newman

least favorite ship: the inverse of george/any man, which is of course jerry/any woman. he doesn’t deserve any of them, and i’m including elaine

reason why i watch it: i love shows full of people who suck and seinfeld got that shit right in an era where we were supposed to like our tv leads a lot more. for a show that’s hailed as being “about nothing” it’s somehow both mundane and full of plots that you could not get anywhere else. every time i think about the junior mint i just go. what the fuck.

why i started watching it: seinfeld is my one of my dad’s special interests so i was indoctrinated young

M*A*S*H

favorite character: benjamin franklin “hawkeye” pierce has quickly worked his way into my heart

funniest character: hawkeye again but tbh honorable mention to frank because something about him is just so stupid and goofy and it’s really hitting me lately. aw nertz you know

best-looking character: what was the one episode with radar and like the nurse who liked bach. i seem to remember her being exactly my type lol. and margaret

3 favorite ships: hawkeye really does need to fuck men. for enrichment. hunnihawk is classic, as is piercintyre, and my eyes have been opened to hawkeye/sidney. i wish i could talk about more women but i don’t want margaret to have to deal with any of these men and i haven’t met helen whitfield yet so i can’t speak to her. and there are sadly not nearly as many women on this show. its biggest flaw i’d say

least favorite character: i really don’t have one in mind they all generally work very effectively. i suppose that i think flagg is less fun to hate than, say, frank, but they serve very different purposes so i don’t mind that i react to them differently—flagg is recurring, not a regular, so it’s right that he’s best in small doses. is this enough of an answer

least favorite ship: cannot get behind hawkeye/radar. that’s literally his aunt you guys

reason why i watch it: i feel like it’s boring that i keep answering “it’s a really good and compelling piece of television” but why do you watch tv shows. because they’re good and you like them. that and i do suppose i like to see how gay of a sentence hawkeye can say without being questioned. (CAPTAIN SODOM??)

why i started watching it: it’s a classic of all classics. i’ve been on a real 70s sitcom kick and for whatever reason i was watching ones that were far far worse than mash and i was like i could be watching mash. so i did

[gummybugg]

Crater City Detailed WIP Intro

=== ⋙ ᴄᴇɴꜱᴏʀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ ɪɴ ᴛᴀɢꜱ ⋘ ===

genre: sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, comedy, action/adventure

features: blood and gore sprinkled with haha-segments, 1st person shifting, unreliable narrators, mental illness, chaos vs order, robots, discussion of free will, and cults

=== ⋙ ʟᴏᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱᴍɪꜱꜱɪᴏɴ... ⋘ ===

Welcome to Crater City, one of Neo-civilization's most prosperous capitals in the country! Known for its beautiful, shifting emerald skies, top-of-the-line healthcare, and advancements in robotics, it's no wonder why many Americans call this city their home.

Here in Crater City, we understand that each citizen is unique in their own circumstances. That is why we offer Second Chance: a procedure developed and patented under renowned robotics engineer Dr. Melony String. When the world isn’t forgiving, remember that you still deserve a Second Chance.

Remember to forward any anomalies to your nearest police station and to social distance from those you suspect are irradiated.

We bid you safe travels, Dear Consumer!

=== ⋙ ᴇɴᴅ ᴛʀᴀɴꜱᴍɪꜱꜱɪᴏɴ ⋘ ===

Story Summary

In post-apocalyptic Crater City, Elijah is attacked by a group of military-grade bots one night, seemingly out of the blue. Once his best friend, Blair, finds out about the attack, he vows to do whatever it takes to avenge Elijah. Whatever it takes. Between the pair’s tumultuous relationship and the dark secrets that lurk around the city, it seems as though there is more to Elijah’s attack than everyone lets on.

Main Characters

Blair (he/him) 23, carjacker "uber" driver. Quit his job as a Computer Hardware Engineer because it was “too boring,” much to his boss’ dismay. Vows to do whatever it takes to avenge his best friend even if that involves getting his hands dirty. Impulsive, charismatic, wears his heart on his sleeve, can be quite vulgar, tends not to take things very seriously. Special ability: can talk someone’s ear off for hours at a time. Quote: “Oh, so you're mad at me because I wanted to avenge my best friend? Excuse me for thinking my best friend’d wanna help me dispose of the body!”

Elijah (he/him) 24, employee at an arcade, electronics store, and a fast food restaurant. After being kicked out of his home at 18, Elijah struggles to make ends meets, and is ultimately threatened to become repurposed after falling into overwhelming debt. Overthinker, blushes easily, non-confrontational, very resourceful, dresses more intimidating than he actually is. Special ability: can drink up to 7 energy drinks in one day. Quote: “Blair, you can't just tell a man—who's clearly out of it—to ‘suck it up’ because the world has already ended!”

Darcy (he/him) 40, mayor of Crater City. Notable for his schemes and cover-ups by media outlets; citizens either love him or hate him. Created specifically for the role to guide humanity out of a second dark age, Darcy will do whatever it takes to fulfill this role, stopping at nothing—or no one. Confident in his success, dramatic, pragmatic, highly intelligent, believes the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. Special ability: very convincing. Quote: “Oh, that struck a nerve? Once I take that toy away from you, I’ll scale you and gut you like a fish. Don’t test me, Blair.”

Frasier (he/him) 37, mayor’s receptionist & assistent. Has ties to very important people. Made an irresistible deal with Darcy that would allow Frasier a way to protect those he loves. Recruited due to his complicated ties to Darcy. Affable, chatty yet reserved, unpredictable, great bargainer, does not settle for less. Special ability: can draw out a lot of information from someone he just met. Quote: “Since it’s so difficult for you to wrap your mind around, let me spell it out for you: our relationship is no more than a business transaction. And I’d like to keep it that way, Darcy.”

Melony (she/her) 39, robotics engineer, founder of Second Chance. Once a little girl captivated by the limitless (yet dangerous) possibilities the now-illegal gene-therapy offered, now a renowned scientists who continues her search for solutions for people like her to have a second chance in the ever-evolving, post-apocalyptic world. Determined, wears lab coats for “the aesthetic,” free spirit, has many clones of herself lying around, often forgets there’s a Board of Ethics. Special ability: has found a way to disable her nerves so that she can experiment on herself. Quote: “You interrupted my breakfast this morning, so I’m going to interrupt your board meeting!”

Rose (she/her) 25, designer or perhaps marketing chief of Second Chance. Recruited due to her ties to Melony and her bold, daring ideas. Elijah’s childhood best friend. Spunky, very big personality, huge empath, competitive, risk-taker, has garnered a lot of respect. Special ability: can effectively translate Blair-isms into layman's terms. Quote: “This is a ludicrous idea! Let’s do it.”

...

🚗 Want to rot your brain with each sporadic Crater City post? Join the taglist! Maybe I'll finish this wip someday, who knows! (ask to be added/removed):

@writeouswriter @lyra-brie @digitalsatyr23 @talesfromtheunknowable @joswriting @mysticstarlightduck @savvyminnow

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And there may be more information to come in the future, so I will update this as I see fit!

[multifandomfix]

Frasier Crane Fluff Alphabet

A = Aroma (What do they smell like?)

Frasier smells of sage, pine and sherry.

B = Babe (What would they use as pet names? Do they use them a lot?)

He’s not one for overly cute or cliche pet names. He’s much more into the classics. Dear, darling, etc.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

He does like to cuddle, especially in the morning before the both of you have to get up. He loves having your head on his chest.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? What would they think about living together?)

He definitely wants to settle down at some point. Despite his divorce, he does long for that sort of intimacy and domesticity again.

E = Emotion (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Frasier shows his affection in any and all ways he can, but not so much that it overwhelms you. He’s pretty much a master at all five love languages and balances them all perfectly.

F = Flirt (How do they flirt? Are they smooth or awkward?)

He’s a pretty smooth flirt, though sometimes he’ll try too hard and spice up his vocabulary enough that the actual intent of his words are lost on you.

G = Gifts (Are they a gift giver? What kind of gifts do they give?)

He does give gifts, and great ones too. Typically he reserves them for special occasions, but occasionally he’ll just come home with a present for you behind his back.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

He does like hugs. To him they’re warm and comforting. He typically gives you a hug goodbye, accompanied with a kiss on the cheek.

I = I Love You (How fast do they say the L-word?)

At least four months in. He has to be sure he’s ready to say it and also fairly confident that you’re ready to hear it. He’ll plan a whole date for the day he’s going to tell you.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

He doesn’t get too jealous, typically. If it’s a friend or a rival of his that’s trying to flirt with you, he will get a little steamed and maybe, possibly cause a scene which he’ll have to apologize for later.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you?)

Frasier’s kisses tend to be very sweet and filled with romance. He’s fond of kissing your cheek and also your hand like the gentleman he is.

L = Little ones (How are they around children? Would they want some of their own?)

He’s fine with children, though sometimes a bit awkward when attempting to communicate with younger ones who may not always understand him. He’d definitely like to try again and be a better, more present, dad than he was/is to Freddy.

M = Meet (How did they meet you?)

He met you at Cafe Nervosa. You were ahead of him in line and were ordering the same thing he was going to, so he struck up a conversation and ended up asking you out.

N = Nurture (Are they good at taking care of you if you’re hurt/sick?)

Honestly, it’s one of his weaker points. He’ll order you soup from any restaurant in town and make sure you’re well stocked with supplies to keep you comfortable, but he really doesn’t love spending time around sick people.

O = Out (What’s a typical date night with them like?)

Typically dinner, maybe followed by some dancing, or a trip to the opera. There’s also a fair amount of events and galas he takes you to as his date.

P = Propose (When do you/they propose? How does the proposal go?)

He proposes after about a year and a half together. At this point he knows he’s serious about you, and decides it’s time he proved it. The proposal, though meticulously planned, was an utter disaster, but you still said yes at the end of the night anyway.

Q = Quirk (What small habit/feature/quirk do they have that you find especially endearing?)

You love his radio voice. He sometimes teases you about it, but it’s honestly so soothing and he sometimes uses it to lull you to sleep.

R = Routine (What does a typical day together look like? Routines, schedules, habits?)

You don’t tend to get ready with one another in the mornings, but the evenings will often see the two of you cooking together or going out, and spending some quality time together before bed.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you?)

He’s protective, sure, but not in any sort of dramatic sense. He’ll keep you out of the majority of his limelight if you’re not comfortable sharing it —and your relationship— so publicly.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, etc?)

He puts a good amount of time and effort into most things when it comes to you. He wants you to know he cares and that he’s lovingly put in an extra special touch just for you.

U = Unique (What’s something they’d only do for you?)

Frasier isn’t much for dirtying his hands, but if you wanted to take up something like gardening, he’d support you and join in when he can.

V = Vulnerable (How long does it take them to feel comfortable being vulnerable around you?)

Frasier might be a tad too comfortable being vulnerable around you. He likes to be a fairly open book and has a tendency on occasion to overshare.

W = Wardrobe (What would they wear to impress you?)

There’s hardly anything in Frasier’s closet that doesn’t impress. Yet seeing him dressed more casually is actually the thing that never fails to surprise you and make you smile.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

He loves playing games. Card games, board games, chess, etc and it’s even better if you can give him a run for his money while playing.

Y = You (What are some things they would like in a partner?)

Frasier wants someone who is open and honest, willing to communicate and not keep their feelings bottled up.

Z = Zzz (What are their sleep habits?)

He’s a pretty consistent sleeper, keeps a fairly regular sleep schedule when possible and does, occasionally snore a bit.

For @bell-of-indecision

Frasier Crane: @softmalldrifting

[alibrandi]

List 5 topics you can talk on for an hour without preparing any material.

a challenge from @ginevralinton

i um don’t have any topics that i consider myself an expert on (i have approximate knowledge of many things). anyway, here ya go!

oneirology: psychologists really spew a lot of shit about dream interpretation, fuck freud, dreams are cool, you shouldn’t rely on some quack (spiritualist or psychologist) for an interpretation, please listen to scientists and understand that your dreams are for your memory to process events & your imagination to go fuckin hogwild (if you’re lucky like me. sucks to be one of those people that has boring dreams or doesn’t remember them). but also damn isn’t it cool that there are some near universal symbols for hope (eg. birds) and fear (teeth falling out & other typical nightmare stuff). pls tell me about recurring symbols in your dreams. mine usually feature birds and travelling through a fantastical place.

disney’s frozen, and what a clusterfuck the entire production of it was: blame my 13 year old self for this but seriouslyyyy there was so much that got cut and rearranged and the concepts were way cooler and the world would be a better place if let it go had never been written, i’m not joking!!! there was gonna be a curse!!! the film was actually going to be about sisters!! AUGHHHHHH

frasier: hey did you know they made roz have a baby because executives thought she should “have a repercussion” (aka be punished) for sleeping around? isn’t that fucked up. did u know bulldog’s actor is gay? lilith is so hot & funny & human & im in love with her. did u know that one of the creators of the show died in 9/11, and that’s why they named the baby david? here’s my slideshow on why frasier’s should’ve ended up with lana. here’s why s4e6 “mixed doubles” is one of the finest pieces of sitcom television - i actually just deleted a whole paragraph bc i could talk about that episode alone, god i love it.

commedia dell’arte: harlequin <3 columbina <3 innamorata of various names <3 i’m not a big fan of pierrot but i understand the hype. more of an opinion piece on how the costumes & archetypes have been used throughout history (pre&post commedia) and why i think they remain semi popular.

making bread: less of a talking thing where i tell you what to do and more of a come into my kitchen, sit at the bench and let’s eat. i love you. use more water in the dough. yeah no we’ll put it in the fridge overnight. oh look at those bubbles. listen to that crack. maybe five more minutes in the oven. put some butter on that finished thing. and then we eat and sit quietly. this is something i like to do. usually lasts more than a single hour tho

tagging @cactus-bag @sleeeepy-demon @belladonnafey @retourne-toi-eurydice & anyone else that wants to.

P.S don’t reblog this from me pls i don’t like threads! i just like being tagged!

[nationmckinleyscorset]

Comments on reefer madness 1936:

The casting for the musical version is impeccably accurate

I'm confused as to why Jimmy is Mary's brother in this. I get she's with Bill instead but everyone looks so similar it's confusing.

It's nice to see mae in charge and not being abused however I feel like I have less reason to side with her so at the end when she flips she'll just flip rather than having any motivation.

it feels weird seeing people actually wearing normal clothing 💀

Just to note I'm watching the colourised version because I needed visuals or I zone out lol, I love the different coloured smoke.

This really lacks details in the musical, I know it's because this is "realistic" rather than camp but the pacing to this is worse than our first run through of frasier last December.

I will also say that I can see how some Storyline have been merged but its a lot less easy to follow.

Wild to think people genuinely thought weed does this to people.

It feels odd not seeing from "Bill" 's perspective when he's high. Yes his name is going in inverted commas because I refuse to accept this version of events (I'm just being picky, ignore me)

So is the woman in purple meant to be like Sally? Just (thankfully) without the burning babies and not so subtle racist Storylines?

I miss the days when Mary was in control. That sounds weird but from the way he's grabbing he's either going to try to or succeed in assaulting her and I'm not fucking happy about it.

Mae is unsettling me with how quiet she is.

I will say the old five and dime scenes are much more bearable, plus it features more which is interesting.

Ngl I was struggling to stay awake during the court scene.

Oh so RALPH killed Jack? And Blanche is alive?

This isn't reefer madness istg.

So I'm willing to bet mae in the musical is like a mishmash of Blanche and Mae since Blanche is the one who gets Bill out of prison?

Something to ponder: did Blanche think she was on the ground floor or could she just not handle the memory of what happened to Mary?

What a bollocks ending

Summary: not worth the watch, only put it on if you need a sleep aid, boring, slow paced, confusing, trashy ending, I will not be telling my children.

[amostexcellentblog]

I have this random little headcanon that Maverick's obsession with planes means he pretty much only watches movies and shows about airplanes and aviation. He doesn't even know he's doing it, he's just watching what interests him. So he's oblivious about a lot of pop culture, but has very strong opinions on anything that involves a plane.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Total ripoff, they give the plane top billing, but it's only in the first half hour! You know why they did that, don't you? Because they know nobody would want to watch a movie just called "Trains and Automobiles!"

Air Force One: Now that's a movie! The plane has the title all to itself and is in almost every scene. Plus, Harrison Ford is an actual pilot, usually they cast non-pilots in these roles and it just feels so condescending and inauthentic (Coyote: Ah yes, Pilotface, Hollywood's most shameful casting practice.) Maverick took Bradley to see it 5 times in theaters, and Ice another 4.

His favorite comedy is Airplane!, his favorite 70s disaster movie is Airport, his favorite sitcom is Wings, which drives Slider nuts because "that show takes place in the same continuity as Cheers and Frasier, two of the best sitcoms of all time. It's not even the best show in it's own shared universe, how can it be your favorite?"

Battle Hymn: Maverick watched it on TV at a foster home one day, he would've liked more flight scenes, but something about the swagger Rock Hudson has in his leather bomber jacket, so calm, cool, and confident, just captivates him. He's so effortlessly masculine yet warm and caring, risking everything to save the Korean war orphans, and as an orphan himself the idea of someone so handsome caring about an unwanted kid like him makes him feel strangely warm inside. Years later he will concede that this was his gay awakening, but he resents how after telling people this they always ask him did you know? Like he has a sixth sense for these things. He found out years later with the rest of the world.

A Matter of Life and Death: Not a lot of actual flying but the main character is RAF. He and Bradley stumble upon the fantasy film about a pilot who cheats death after his guardian angel fails to take him to heaven when it's his time, and then has to argue for his life before a court in heaven, to prolong his budding romance. They watch it together shortly after Carole dies, when they need to do something but don't feel like doing anything, so watching an old movie on TV makes sense. By the end, when the pilot's love interest tells the court she'll go in his place because she loves him, he's tearing up. Embarrassed, he glances at Bradley only to see he's crying too and he knows they're both thinking the same thing, that they'd gladly give their own lives if it meant Carole or Goose could be here again. They don't say anything, they just hold each other while they cry together, even after the movie is over.

[cubistemoji]

All of my comic recs from 2022 posted on WWAC and cobbled together in a single post- Jan 11

This was saved to my drafts in January and never posted, but here it is now because I stand by these recs!

Thieves by Lucie Bryon

Thieves is so, so pretty! I’ve been a fan of Lucie’s art for a while, and I was excited to see her use her talents for a full-length graphic novel. The limited color palette, off-white paper, and adorable art style create a dreamy, classy reading experience. It’s also a lovely story about partying, first love, the end of high school, and stealing stuff! Ella has a problem: it’s the day after a party at her crush’s house and her apartment is full of things that do not belong to her. Fortunately, Madeleine not only likes her back, she’s willing to help Ella secretly return all the stolen stuff to its rightful owners... and more. Ella, Madeleine and their friends all feel like such real, believable characters. I love how cheerful and extroverted Ella is and how well that contrasts with Madeleine’s more reserved nature. Thieves is funny, beautiful, and full of heart!

Love and Leashes by Winter

Love and Leashes is the only Webtoon I’ve read this year that made me laugh out loud at every single episode. Ji-u Jeong and Jihu Jeong, coworkers with similar names, enter an unusual arrangement in which Jihu, a submissive who’s been hiding his kinks from everyone around him his whole life, asks Ji-u to be his master. Ji-u, who’s cool and competent on the outside and shy on the inside, considers running away immediately, but instead decides to try this thing out for a bit and see if she likes it. Spoiler: she does! Despite the subject matter, the actual content of this Webtoon is fairly safe for work.

What really makes Love and Leashes stand out is the eccentric cast of characters surrounding the main couple, as well as the couple themselves. They care a lot about each other and prioritize clear communication, trying to figure out how to best make each other happy while not causing problems at work or with their friends and family. And boy, are their friends and family... a lot. Jihu has a group chat of fellow BDSM enthusiasts he met on a forum, Ji-u has a younger brother and work friends, Jihu’s high school friend owns a bar, and they all have so much going on. And whenever all of these people intersect, it is so, so funny. I don’t know how accurate the BDSM stuff is as depicted here, but the characters focus on consent, communication, and mutual enjoyment, and figuring out how to live in a way that makes them happiest.

I spent money on this comic! I can’t think of anything else I straight-up enjoyed, just had fun reading, as much as Love and Leashes this year. I’m going to tell my kids this was 50 Shades of Grey or however that meme goes.

Clown Corps by Joe Chouinard

If you’ve seen that Frasier meets Columbo comic going around on Twitter, you may not be surprised to learn the guy who drew it also does an ongoing webcomic about organized battle clowns. Clown Corps follows the adventures of reformed burglar turned reluctant clown college student Mary McBell and her clowning cohort as they work to stop a shadowy organization bent on destroying the entire Clown system. It’s hysterical, with great stylized action sequences, physical comedy and fourth-wall-bending humor, but also moments of surprising gravity as the characters grapple with the troubled pasts that brought them to clowning in the first place. The art improves quickly for a webcomic, and the characters are both silly and serious (one of the best fighters in the class can only kick ass when he’s asleep!) I caught up in a day and wished I could keep reading.

Pyramid Game by Dalgonyak

I am so obsessed with the Webtoon Pyramid Game right now it is unreal. I made a Youtube video about it. I drew fanart for it. It’s SO GOOD and NO ONE UNDERSTANDS.

Pyramid Game, by Dalgonyak, is a comic about gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing all at once. Suji is the new kid at an elite private school and it turns out her new class has a complicated hierarchical system of bullying, created by the richest and most powerful teenage girl in Korea specifically to get back at the nicest girl in the world who slighted her in some way the readers haven’t learned yet. It’s SO MUCH. It’s got some very messy homoerotic subtext (and text!) It’s got the most toxic friendships I’ve ever seen in a Webtoon. It’s got really appealing character designs and a fun and interesting protagonist who takes no bullshit from anyone ever and is going to beat the billionaire at her own game. Eventually. I believe in her!

I like Pyramid Game because I love this kind of mean girl drama; it’s got all the fun parts of a political intrigue story with none of the confusing world building to go with it. The bullying the girls take part in is creative, high-energy and visceral, but what really makes this comic so hard to put down is how keenly observed every character is, how real and complex and distinct they all feel, even the minor players in this game that act more like pawns for the leads to take turns pushing around. … Maybe I will write a full review about this comic someday.

Suji Seong could beat L in Death Note but Light Yagami could not survive a day in “The Happy Class” of Love High.

What Happens Next by Max Graves

I am at all times thinking about What Happens Next by Max Graves. It’s a pretty dark comic about what happens when some terminally online Tumblr tweens… have to deal with the aftermath of committing a gruesome murder, years after the fact. What I find really fascinating about this comic (besides the fact that I can never remember the title D:) is how accurately it portrays every detail of this hyperspecific internet community I remember so vividly from my own teenage years, and the kinds of people that participated in those spaces. It really captures… something. I don’t know. It does make me want to know What Happens Next.

Black and White: Tough Love at the Office by Sal Jiang

Do you think all yuri manga is too soft and sweet and schoolgirl-ish? You should check out Black and White by Sal Jiang, a workplace lesbian comic that I hesitate to call a romance, given how the two leads resolve their sexual tension by hatefucking in the conference room. Not appropriate for all ages, this yuri. The rivalry between Shirakawa and Kuroda crackles with chemistry, and Jiang draws the two of them fighting and having sex with a specificity that makes the whole thing feel grounded, rather than the ethereal above-it-all purity older yuri comics often have. I also like how they’re both good at their jobs and have good relationships with their coworkers, who see them as reliable and helpful and sweet. The contrast between their public personas and how they beat each other up in private makes Black and White impossible to put down.

Drip Drip by Paru Itagaki

I think Paru Itagaki should be allowed to draw whatever she wants forever. Drip Drip (which I discussed in a past Pubwatch) is incredibly weird, gross, and horny, much like her acclaimed longform series BEASTARS. But it’s also extremely interesting, and definitely a comic I will never forget reading. Drip Drip is about a woman so sensitive to germs that she gets a nosebleed every time she touches anything that isn’t 100% sterilized. She wants to find love and have sex, but every time she tries, her nosebleed scares men off and ruins the mood. When she finally finds a guy she thinks she can be with, it turns out he has dark secrets of his own. The single-volume story follows several of her attempts to rid herself of her curse, with a bonus unrelated one-shot about Santa Claus thrown in at the end.

Itagaki’s imagery and unusual choices of environments and locations make her comics very memorable: I haven’t reread this since October and I can still see the splash pages in my head like I’d read it yesterday. Itagaki and Tatsuki Fujimoto (of Chainsaw Man and Look Back fame) kind of occupy the same space in my head in their commitment to their singular, very specific vision. A kind of boldness I wish I were capable of.

[the-one-where-casey-watches-tv]

Abbott Elementary episode 2.16 "Teacher Conference"

Quinta has said she’s not trying to reinvent the wheel with this show, Janine and Gregory in particular, and I think she’s proving that she doesn’t need to. Abbott is cozy and cute and laugh out loud funny, all precisely due to the sense of familiarity that it evokes. I can go into every episode knowing that everyone will be kind to each other, live happily ever after, and maybe even score some new glue sticks.

            I’ll come back around to everyone else, but let’s get right to it: the kiss! Gregory is my favorite character, but to be honest I don’t think I would actually enjoy being friends with either him or Janine. But Abbott walks the fine line of character personalities that I wouldn’t want to encounter in real life, but that I love to see on my TV. They’re great characters for a will-they/won’t-they because they’re both so intensely innocent that the smallest hints of sexuality have me like “woo! Get it!”. The two of them grinding in the club was one of those moments, and so was Janine grabbing Gregory by the lanyard (lol) for another kiss.

            It was inevitable that they would chalk that up to a mistake and try to get back to business, but I almost wish they wouldn’t. Janine is still dating Maurice and of course she wouldn’t cheat on him, but at this point I feel ready to see them together. Which is why I was kind of surprised to see that the question everyone seems to be asking this week is if Abbott jumped the shark with the kiss, if it happened too soon.

            I say no, but maybe the skepticism of others means they’re right to at least not have Janine and Gregory leaping into a whole relationship right now (though who knows what next week holds). Regardless, I think it brings up an interesting conversation about audience involvement with story.

            I read a lot about story structure, and as a writer I’m extremely wary of books that are so specific with their breakdown of story structure that they can tell you the exact page every piece of action needs to occur on. I think structure is really important- it can almost always explain why something worked or didn’t work- but I see it like musical notes. There are a finite number of notes, and rules to be followed when writing and playing music, but is there a way to put them together that hasn’t been done yet? There better be, or a lot of people are out of a job.

            Part of new and innovative storytelling is, of course, the creativity of the storyteller, but it’s also an awareness of the audience’s own grasp of story. Fight Club, in its time, was doing something brand new. Watching it now, though, I find it to be a kind of exhausting three hours. We just don’t need to go that slow anymore; we’re an audience who’s already been taught all the clues to look for, and we can keep up just fine.

I’ve written before about Frasier- Niles and Daphne’s will-they/won’t-they went on for about eight years. Abbott isn’t reinventing the wheel, and, as viewers, this isn’t our first rodeo with a sitcom romance. I would be tearing my hair out if I was going to have to wait another six years for this kiss, the one everyone knew was coming by episode 3, if not the pilot. This is one of those times where we can slide our hand across the piano keys and get there a little quicker.

But Abbott Elementary is more than just Janine and Gregory! And I would like to talk about Jacob, who I actually find myself thinking about a lot when this show comes up. I’m not gonna say he’s not corny, but he is definitely a really great friend to Janine. They’re platonically perfect for each other, and the two of them jumping up and down about this conference, while I’m sure it would annoy me to witness for real, made me smile.

He's a dork, but I was happy to see him making some other friends outside of the Abbott crew, and to see him appreciated for who he is. I actually thought this storyline was going to take it a step further: he and the teacher from Addington hit it off so well that I thought she was going to mistake their chemistry for flirting and try to kiss him.

Maybe they didn’t want to step on the toes of The Kiss of this episode, but thinking that was going to happen made me realize that I actually would like to see that happen. I love every glimpse we get into the pureness of Jacob’s heart (the way he stood up for Janine when she was out sick was sooo sweet), and I bet him letting this girl down easy would have been a really cute moment. It’s also not too often that we get to see Jacob in his element where he’s actually popular among the people around him.

I hope this isn’t the last we see of that dynamic. Addington is just a couple blocks away, after all, maybe there’s an arc to be seen where the Addington teachers try to poach Jacob. Now that I’m thinking about it, there would be a lot there with Melissa’s sister and Barbara’s surely hurt feelings of not being the desired teacher. I can already feel my heart growing like the Grinch at everyone wanting to prove to Jacob that he’s valued at Abbott.

Well if that happens, you heard it here first folks! And what do you think, was the kiss too soon? Do you still think Fight Club is the right length? Let me know!

[mysteriouslyme221b]

I've always wanted to FEEL loved.

I SAW love for the first time in a movie. It was The Mummy, 1999, The movie was released the same year I was born.

My mom says I watched it everyday for years. I was just so curious about love. How, Brandon Frasier loved Rachel Weisz.

The first time I ever felt love was the first memory I have of my father. Of seeing him. I was no more than 4 and He loved me, hugged me.

He was in a green jumpsuit, I didn't mind it. Green is now my new favorite color.

As he lifted me to get apples from a tree, I never saw the barbed wire just a few feet higher.

I never felt higher.

The second time I ever felt loved was at church. I was no more than 8 but I remember my pastor telling my mother I had been dedicated to the lord, that he stepped in for my father until my father could be there.

I, in that moment, had two fathers that claimed me before God, and twice the love. My mother felt the love, and she cried.

The first time I ever saw my mom cry was at the hospital when my sister was stabbed. Her bf said he loved her and maybe she believed him but the love I felt never caused scars.

She is still scared.

The first time I ever felt scarred was when my father noticed my weight. I never thought about it until I was 16, but then I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I know he ment no harm. But I still have the scars of that love.

The second scar love gave was from church. I loved church, but when I didn't want to love a man and wanted to only to belong to God

I was rebuked for my blasphemy. I was wipped in my honesty. I was chastised for my love.

That night when everyone ate in the fellowship hall, I sat out in the parking lot and I cried. The tears stung my wounds.

I was crying to God, seeking His mercy, begging for His love, longing for His touch…. But silence.

So I kept looking.

The devil convinced me a man was God. It wasn't hard, when all the love I've ever known came from the sons of Adam. I am just a daughter of eve. I don't know better, I am distracted by his green jumpsu-- I mean garden.

He touched me, he loved me…

I never once considered how easy it is for sinners to lie.

I am a sinner now. But a prodigal son in your eyes I would to anything to belong to those eyes!

Who else has your eyes?

I had faith in you when you said those girls were arc angels that had to be by your side.

When I asked why you would leave me alone. You reminded me that some prayers needed to be answered in person,

And who was I to question God's divine will?!

When I asked why the sight of me brought hatred to your face you would smile or more like grimace and stay silent.

Silence…

It was the first time I learned my voice didn't matter. That my tears could fill desserts and you would still scream for water

I've never felt unwanted.

I looked to the earth to find solace in the green landscape squinting until it became a green jumpsuit. Until my tears blur the sight and all I see are apples.

I wonder if you see them too? Or can you only see the barbed wire?

[beeblackburn]

Top 5 media with trans rep/themes?

Thank you, @xserpx!

Truth be told, this question is actually trickier than you think, because I haven’t read/watched that much medias with explicitly trans rep/themes, I own a lot, but haven’t read them quite yet, and the better stuff I’ve read is sequestered in my writing server via snippets and tidbits from others... or indie/self-published publications and patreons... and, uh, not to oversell my stuff, but my own writing KOFF KOFF.

To be clear, I do have enough to give a list, but given what I’ve heard of Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin (can you believe I bought that damn book six times?) and Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt, this list is liable to change after checking out at least the former.

But without further ado...

Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier and Val Wise - Look, I promise I love pain and violence and self-loathing and feeling like your skin’s a stranger to you, but this was done by a trans writer and artist team and it damn shows. As a whole, it really sings in how the trans experience feels like acceptance in your support network is conditional on how well you act. How well you don’t rock the boat, how well you perform to your preferred gender, and how unstable and insecure you can still be, despite all that and more. It doesn’t wallow in those thorns too long, but in terms of trans rep and theme? It’s my favorite, and it doesn’t hurt that I love the art. 

Tangerine, directed by Sean Baker - If the above was the more optimistic take of trans childhood, this is the poignant, if still playful, reality behind a decent chunk of adult trans womanhood, done with a cheap budget, but with verisimilitude intended. It doesn’t pull punches on how shitty trans sex workers are treated, how they’re objectified and abused, but it still allows them agency and personhood in how they go about the tangle of their professions and personal lives. And, more importantly, it doesn’t pull punches of how fellow trans people can hurt each other through their flaws and bad choices... but doesn’t surrender that they can still offer solidarity when the going gets really tough from systemic transphobia.

A Grisly Communion by N.J. Barna - If the first above was trans experience as childhood joy and love, the second was grounded street-walking reality, this is transcendental body horror. It’s a story that understands following our commonplace religious institutions can give you some degree of safety... but it can’t give you peace of mind, nor body. That the (fat) trans experience is conditional on being useful, on not taking up so much space for threadbare tolerance, and it’ll never be enough, given that fatness intersects upon the transness of it all. So, when unusual idols of worship are offered... we take them, because they, at least, would pay respect to our bodies and grant us the power to be on the other side of being meat from judging eyes.

Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku - I really wish this wasn’t cancelled before its time. This manga deserves at least a year’s worth of chapters, being an unconventional look into high school adolescence through a trans man’s pen, and a trans boy’s eyes as he navigates through being closeted in Japanese school culture and masculinity, his love life, and especially his daily choices of fashion, and how he eventually tries to gain more friends and allies through opening himself up... with plenty of teeth in how trans privacy must be respected for their safety, and how influencer culture intersects with gender performance and the need for online cache, with no easy answers there.

Realm of the Elderlings - What Hobb lacks a bit in the full understanding of transgression in the trans experience or culture as a whole, she makes up for in allowing a messiness in individual characterization and having one of the best gender nonconforming characters in all of fantasy. I’m not as crazy about the Fool as some fans, but he’s eminently quotable, layered, complex and messy as hell, and when he talks about love and yearning, such concept of malleable bodies, and how he transgresses cultures with utter confidence in his presentation, it’s enough to make one’s heart swell and ache at how there are not more characters like him in fantasy, for when he speaks of such experiences, it feels like he touches a part of you that transcends the physical.