#definitely can and i will support you like my dad supported yours and we'll be the twin heroes etc etc

[yellow-dejavu]

When I saw Dark, I definitely expected characters like Hannah and Ulrich to be hated. I wasn't surprised when I saw comments disliking them on different websites, but I just didn't expect to see people celebrating that Hannah was murdered by her own child while her younger child was sleeping in the same room.

People can enjoy any moment they want while watching a show or movie, but I just don't get it. Hannah gets an amount of hate that no other character in the show gets, and it feels like a large part of the show's viewers ignore to even trying to understand her.

jonas literally says in the first episode:

“My father said good and evil are a question of perspective.”

I'm not saying her character didn't do bad things, but it's exhausting how that's the only thing people see about her and it's just like they're trying to erase the good she did or all the positive things she meant in certain characters' lives.

I was even more shocked to see how few comments put Hannah on the same level as Helene Albers. I just don't understand how anyone could think that Hannah is somehow comparable to an abusive parent.

Hannah with her kids:

When she saw her boy struggling to cope with his dad's dead, she supported her child and made sure he got the professional help he needed.

And when Jonas came back to town, she made sure he got his medications and therapy sessions with Peter.

Hannah was so worried when Jonas tells her he had a fight at the end of the first season.

In the same scene, he just wanted to comfort his mother by saying, "Don't worry, Mom. Everything will be fine, Mom." when he actually believed that he could save Mikkel and thus end his own existence.

As the months passed since her son's disappearance, Hannah was so devastated that she almost took her own life.

She didn't, because Stranger Jonas appeared.

Stranger Jonas has returned after years of living in the apocalypse, and he doesn't know what else to do when his plan fails. The only thing he can think of is to go to his mom and tell her the truth.

After the time young Jonas spent traveling with Claudia, the first thing he does when he finally returns home is look for his mom.

It was a long time before Hannah saw her son again.

But she went to see him immediately when a random old woman told her that she knew where her son was and that he needed her.

Hannah was heartbroken when she saw what had happened to her boy. In that moment she apologized, recognized her mistakes, and told him that she was there for him.

Young Adam looked scary, but Hannah loved him anyway, and baby Silja trusted him when he said, "I want to show you a secret. But we'll let your mom rest, okay?"

Hannah died when Silja was very young and she probably didn't remember much about her mom, but she still named her firstborn Hanno after her.

and that's just to mention some of the things I could remember about Hannah's relationship with her kids.

The last dialogue of the whole show:

"I always thought "Jonas" was a good name."

Hannah was a good mom and her kids absolutely loved her. It bothers me that some people want to take that away from her because they don’t like her.

It's really hard for me to understand how some viewers can watch a show like Dark and decide that they can see all the million gray areas that all these characters had, but with one particular character they reduce everything to black and white.

[accirax]

initial thoughts on DCAS episode 19

Emily has really been going full villain mode these past couple of episodes, huh? while I'm overall not a huge fan of how many women have been portrayed as rude/unreasonable as compared to their male counterparts, i do love an evil queen. i support women's wrongs.

oh, Gabby. how many people wish that were true. (very cute gabellie content as usual)

i wonder if this is a soft confirmation that we'll never see Gabby or Ellie compete again.

this is so important. also, Hunter, the heart is on Ally's pajamas, not her casual look with the jacket. unless he just drew that there because he loves Ally so much :D

glad that Tom can finally admit that he is a terrible liar. truly, the person Tom and Jake should blame is the hiring manager who hired Tom in the first place.

if you loved him this whole time then why did you lie to him about having another boyfriend, Tom? ,':/ (/lh) (i know that he was explaining in this scene that it's because he was afraid, i'm just saying that the extent of his fears is something that shouldn't be swept under the rug, and that i feel it wasn't properly set up enough in s1 or DCAS as a replacement. yes it was showcased in DCAS but we never got an explanation as to Tom's thought process between seasons that would change his mind to make him more fearful.)

*several people are typing*

we NEED to see jaiden teaching Miriam a tiktok dance.

this is your daily reminder to not take anything that's said in a greeting too seriously.

c'mon, Fiore, a true gen Alpha-er would know that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell without having to look it up. unless, oh god, is that too much of a gen-Z reference for gen Alpha to understand...?

HE'S SUCH A DAD I LOVE THEM

this was probably my favorite line of the episode.

this was a really cute detail! even though they were both the archetypal "old person" of their season, Connor is still, like, 20 years younger than Miriam. it totally make sense that she'd still call him kiddo! just, not grandkiddo.

literally even Ellie is rooting for them to finish this plotline already. or maybe she's just feeling guilty for separating them in the first place, and she's lowkey hoping that the damage wasn't that severe.

that's... that's a crime? you can't just burn people, even if they're terrible??? i guess that, given Riya attempting to kill Aiden and directly breaking Connor's leg further, the definition of what counts as a crime is pretty lax in this universe. unless it's about destroying the environment. thanks, Tom! (/j)

also, why is Yul's scar so damn low res?

MCDONALD'S ELLIE ISN'T CANON??? D:

i wonder if this season is going to end with Grett giving Ellie a job/helping Ellie get a job. i could see fitness influencer and fashion designer working together well, as long as Ellie is okay designing athleticwear.

on one hand, i don't like that we don't get to have the finalists pick the people that they're closest with help them in the finale. this feels rather random, and in terms of real-world fairness, having a finalist get stuck with terrible help isn't very fair (i cite Top Chef season 4 as my example). however, i do appreciate how Disventure Camp always mixes the endgame up. it's not very fair in a real-world perspective, but given that it isn't a real game i appreciate the variety.

i also think that this is a nice fix to really incentivize whoever is helping the finalist after (in-universe) we had two really unpopular finalists, Fiore and James, who struggled to get any help. it feels like a reasonable decision that the in-universe showrunners would make.

don't distract him during the finale, you fool!

the Romber strategy!!! wow, and it's even in the first All Stars season, too :D

THE YUL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS BACK ON?!?!?!?!

FIORE FINALE CONTENT! FIORE FINALE CONTENT!

ain't no way she's actually winning and of that $100K though, lol.

y'know, this might as well happen.

Riya and Yul really are perfect for each other (platonic) because every time that either of them gets a chance to either repent and be a good person or double down and keep relentlessly chasing their goals, they both always choose the latter. they're gonna get punished in the finale big time for sure... to the extent that Yul hasn't already been punished by getting that scar(?) to the face. like, seriously, that could be even more damage to his career.

once again, i missed the real Hunter so much :,)

while i love the roast here, does Fiore actually have anyone's respect...?

that's a wrap, folks! the most important character arc of the season is over!

[toriluvsnickwayne]

Getting Hooked

Chapter 2

Hook x reader

Getting Hooked Masterlist

Tyler’s POV :

I stood in the warehouse, my dad addressing the Lads and me. "We've got trouble with the Don Callis family. They're making moves, trying to muscle in on our territory."

Dante spoke up, "What kind of moves, Taz?

"They're poaching our guys, offering them more money and protection. And they're not afraid to use violence to get what they want." My dad's voice was firm, his eyes blazing with determination.

I clenched my fists, anger simmering. The Don Callis family had always been a thorn in our side, but this was a declaration of war. I thought back to the times they'd tried to intimidate us, the times they'd failed. But this was different. This was a direct challenge.

"We need to take care of this, and fast," my dad continued. "I want you all to keep your eyes and ears open. If you hear anything, report back to me. We'll handle this together, as a family." The Lads nodded, and we dispersed, each of us knowing our role in this upcoming conflict.

Y/N’s POV :

I stepped onto the stage, the music pulsating through my body. I lost myself in the rhythm, dancing and spinning to the cheers of the crowd. It was just another night at the club, but I loved the rush of adrenaline it gave me. I felt alive, free, and in control.

After my set, I made my way to the bar, greeting the regulars and new faces alike. Skye, my best friend and fellow dancer, joined me, and we chatted about our plans for the future. We talked about our dreams, our aspirations, and our fears. We supported each other, encouraged each other, and lifted each other up.

As the night wore on, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The crowd seemed rowdier than usual, the music louder, and the air thicker with tension. I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the music and the moment.

Time Skip

Tyler’s POV :

I slammed my fist on the table, frustration boiling over. Another lead had gone cold, another dead end in our investigation into the Don Callis family's plans. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were missing something, that there was a piece of the puzzle we couldn't quite see.

"Hey, Lads," I said, turning to Dante and the others. "I need a break from this. Who's up for a night out at the club?"

Anthony raised an eyebrow. "Taz's club? The one with the...dancers?"

I nodded. "That's the one. I need to get my mind off this case, and maybe we can have some fun while we're at it."

The Lads exchanged looks, then nodded in agreement. "Sure. Let's go blow off some steam."

We made our way to the club, the music and lights enveloping us as we walked in. I was about to head to the bar when I saw Action, my friend, get knocked into by a girl rushing to get out of the way of a group of rowdy patrons.

Action stumbled back, laughing, as the girl apologized profusely. I watched, amused, as they exchanged a few words, and then she smiled and walked away. Action turned to me, grinning.

"Tyler, my man, I think I just got knocked into by an angel," he said, chuckling.

I raised an eyebrow. "An angel, huh? Well, she's definitely a vision."

Y/N’s POV :

I was rushing to get out of the way of a group of rowdy patrons when I bumped into a guy, spilling his drink all over the floor.

"Oh, sorry about that!" I exclaimed, as he looked up at me with a charming smile.

"It's okay, I'm just glad it wasn't a worse spill," he said, helping me clean up the mess.

I felt a flutter in my chest as our eyes met, and then he was gone, walking away with his friends. I watched as he joined a group of guys, including a tall, dark-haired one who caught my eye. I couldn't help but stare as they laughed and joked together.

Skye, came up to me, giggling. "Hey, Y/N, looks like you've got a new boyfriend!"

I blushed. "What are you talking about, Skye?"

She nodded towards the group of guys. "The one you just bumped into! He's cute, I'll give you that."

I laughed. "Yeah, he is. But honestly, it was his friend who really caught my eye."

Skye followed my gaze to the tall, dark-haired guy. "Oh, you mean Tyler? Taz's son? I can't believe you don't know who he is!"

I shrugged. "I've never seen him around before."

Skye raised an eyebrow. "Well, let me tell you, he's definitely seen around. He's got a reputation for catching a lot of girls' attention. Including some of the girls here at work."

I felt a surge of surprise. "Really?"

Skye nodded. "Yeah, really. So, good luck with that. You're going to need it."

“Thanks.” I reply dryly.

Authors note: Hey! I tried to make this chapter a bit longer but we finally got yn and Tyler to meet so I mean hey we’re getting somewhere right?😂

Also it might be a few days before I update this again currently in the car otw to get my cast cut off my right wrist so it’ll take me a lil to get adjusted but I’ll definitely have another part out by Thursday. Lots of love-Tori😘😘

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #4

... Angela has orange eyes. Interesting... It's a good thing that 8 years ago, I didn't set up my entire magical society to be obsessed with natural orange features like hair because it's the rarest color in the magical world, ahahaha...

Cosmo hung a picture of himself on their wall.

SHE HAS A CREATURE-HUNTER FOR A DAD? Oh no, oh no, oh no... Someone call Doombringer, Crocker, and Ed Leadly- They've got a new friend!

He didn't react to Cosmo and Wanda describing the features Crocker always names as fairy traits (wands, wings, floating crowns), so he probably doesn't know Crocker.

She's so cute...

Okay, I love that Cosmo and Wanda walk backwards while bouncing. They are still not used to being human.

CRYING, Wanda literally noped out with a farewell of "We probably won't be seeing you much." That is a woman who is not willing to get dragged out of retirement and back into creature-hunting threats. I'm very curious as to how they end up with Hazel.

Hey, Hazel's indoor rug is even cooler than the one in the hall.

POV, you usually would fly across the hall but you don't have your wings out right now.

She vaporized the door, doors are STILL for chumps!!

AND WE GET CEILING LIGHTS? They thought of everything!

... Enrichment Academy? Interesting...

Okay, I love how the building design, the hills, and Hazel's schoolmates still totally belong in FOP style:

Hey, that's the guy from the story bible preview! He's getting the skateboard noises; that's cute.

And baby, we're SO back!

Cosmo and Wanda think they slick:

Hazel introducing herself to the class as "liking french fries" is a mood.

"I have an older brother! He's my best friend. He's visiting today and it will totally make up for the fact that no one laughed at my rock joke." - Girl, you are dying inside.

(He's not gonna show and that's what'll push C and W into taking her in... isn't it?)

Oh, they have swirls on their ears like the OG style! Nice. Also, I love the thin, stretchy arms and tiny legs... This is nice.

Oh no.

Yeah, this kid looks stable. Please tell me he doesn't have orange hair. Haha, I'm in danger.

HE'S DALE'S KID??? Lemonade Dungeon Boy got himself a partner? Mr. Only Shows Up In One Episode unless he's the pixie godkid implied by Da Rules' page about pixies in the Musical but he's probably not, he's just always been my leading theory and it was in Season 2?

Ohhh, boy; writers did their homework. I support him and what I can only assume are well-adjusted social skills. And yay, that gives us a timeline.

If this kid were an animal, I don't think I'd let him eat out of my hand. He's ready for collateral damage.

Hazel has been so nice to everyone, not even outing Cosmo and Wanda to her dad, and she's already ready to yeet this kid into the trash because he's not good enough to recycle.

omg, we're getting introduced to the background characters? Yesssss...

Okay, I'm cracking up at Dev introducing the ASMR guy (Whisper) as "gives me the creeps, but I respect the hustle." I'm intrigued.

Whisper was my alt name for Whistle, so I'm glad I went with the latter!

I am saving every poster I ever see.

Love how we're getting to tour more of the building. We've got stairs! And mailboxes! ... Also, Cosmo and Wanda were not her bubble charms in disguise, but that's definitely where they're going.

I like how Hazel's parents did immediate damage control when she started reacting and made sure she was expressing a healthy response in front of Antony.

I'm obsessed with Hazel. She reminds me so much of Chloe. "Running away! Not in a bad way like on TV, but in a good way! 'cuz it's me and I know what I'm doing!" They would be friends. I wonder if we'll get to see adult Chloe.

omfg, Cosmo and Wanda saw "Child running away" and they're IMMEDIATELY gunning for this child. Sir/Ma'am, please get your minds retuned for this century. Do not steal the child.

SLDKJFSDF compilation of past episodes where Cosmo has gone to space after he says he wants to go to space. Looks like the "Spaced Out" saga AND - and I am shook -

THAT'S "TERRIBLE TWOSOME," Season 9! When he's reading jokes to Poof so he'll stop blocking the sun!

Sir/ma'am, where is your paperwork to take this child?

I'm glad I got a heads up that the writers confirmed the bus driver isn't actually Timmy; I can see how that would be confusing.

Stopping here so I can do a thing with my parents. Will return later!

[huckleberrykai]

husband Kai u say👀👀👀👀👀👀

Im half asleep too so pls don’t mind me not elaborating my thoughts 😭

But first: kai proposing to u. He tried to do something fancy with the help of the boys but turns out every time he tried to pop the question he’d just chicken out😭😭😭😭😭 and one day he came back from work super tired and decided to sleep at ur place, crushing down on the bed with you wanting some cuddles and when my boy is half asleep whining about taking a shower he mumbles something about getting married and you’re just like YES I DO

Ahem anyways soft husband kai who tries his best to make you a nice breakfast ALL THE TIME, not just in special dates or whatever. He’d bring breakfast in bed and feed u😠 (if u happen to be pregnant he’s be so soooooooo gentle with u, always patting ur belly while u eat ☹️)

Husband kai who looks like a giant golden retriever and always tries to make u happy and dad kai who feels so overwhelmed in a good way when u tell him ur pregnant ☹️☹️☹️ he’d do researches all the time, buy books to learn more about gentle parenting and buy those corny baby clothes to match with you guys 😭😭😭😭😭😭

FUCK GHIS IS SO CUTE HDJSKL

crying at ur proposal idea 😭 he'd almost propose on accident, whining into your shoulder cuddled up on the bed. he's still fully clothed fresh home from a long day of practice, and all he wants is a warm shower and cuddles - but he's so tired he can't carry his body over :(

"kai baby you've gotta shower."

"hmmmph,, don't wanna. 'm comfy."

his face is nestled into your chest now, delicate hands holding an iron grip on your waist keeping you close.

"well... how about i get in with you? i can wash your hair for you. we'll be quick then we can get back in bed, i promise."

he looks up at you with the biggest sleepiest puppy dog eyes that are just filled with so much love for you.

"you mean it?"

"well i'm not letting you stink up my clean sheets," you tease.

he laughs along with you but the love in his eyes doesn't waver. "i love you so much. thank you." he smiles wide and sweetly. ".. should just wife you up right now." he mumbles.

"i'm down."

"w-what? you wanna marry me?" his eyes blow wide and he hugs you tighter, holding eye contact and squishing your sides.

"of course i do. i'm not dating you just for shits and giggles kai."

"no i mean.. i mean will you marry me? like seriously? like.. now?" his voice is nervous and shaking a little, tiredness seemingly gone.

"are you proposing right now?" you laugh, and when he nods adorably and his hair falls into his eyes you can't help but lean down and kiss his pouty lil lips :(

"there's a- there's a ring in my backpack!" he jumps up to route through the overnight bag that he brought to your apartment. "i couldn't find the right time but i-"

he didn't even need to finish the sentence before you're jumping up after him and kissing him again. "yes, i'll marry you! now come on, let's shower then you can put that ring on me, m'kay?"

EHUEHEUHEH THEN HUSBAND KAIII he's so soft :(

OH UR SO RIGHT ANONIE he lovessss to make sure you've eaten enough, even feeding you sometimes because you're his baby and you deserve to be fed and pampered <3 also thanku for supporting my tummy lover hyuka agenda bcs his hand is gLUEDDD to ur tummy at all times. he loves when you've just eaten together and cuddle on the couch so he can rub your nice full tummy - and he smiles when you let out a content sigh.

and kai doesn't cry a lot, if ever - but when you tell him you're pregnant with your first baby together.. oh he's BAWLING. hands on tummy intensifies x1000 which you didn't even think was possible. he's stressed but so so full of excitement and love <3

THE GENTLE PARENTING IS SO TRUE HE'S THE NUMBER ONE SOFT BOY !!!! and the matching outfits :(( he'd definitely already be planning Halloween outfits for the three of you and showing you the silliest ones !! he's also the kinda husband that wakes up at 3 in the morning because he thought of a possible name and just HAS to tell you or write it down. (he's not gonna wake you up, he knows better than to disrupt the sleep of his pretty pregnant wifey >.<)

also he's just obsessed with you when you're pregnant!! he's obsessed anyway but you just look so pretty and glowy carrying HIS baby he just feels so protective over you and your little bean :( seeing that ring on your finger and the bump of your tummy just reminds him of the love you share and how much he wants to protect and love you forever :(

man he's just the cutest husband n dad in the whole world he's lovely <3

[ohgodmyeyes]

Hi dad... im 20 and trans in the us and i have no idea what to do with myself... ive heard from family up in canada that things are also bad there... im just so scared how are you coping? i dont know what to do and dont really have anyone else to talk to in my family theyre all hardcore trump supporters. sorry for telling you all this i just dont know where else to turn... i hope youre well though despite everything happening right now

hey! ❤️ I'm almost 40 and definitely-not-cis, and I'm not sure what to do with myself either. we've got a jerk up here who's itching to call an election and try to form his very own ass-kissing Vichy knockoff just in time to roll out the red carpet for Leon Cocksucker and his new Führer; conservative premiers (provincial governors) have already been testing the waters re: health care and bodily autonomy; and at all levels of government, they're threatening to invalidate our charter rights via the abuse of a heretofore rarely-used mechanic intended solely for emergencies.

i genuinely believed that this was all going to turn out differently, but it hasn't, and facism spreads a lot like a cold. Canada likes to pretend to be cool but really we're just an annoying little sibling... which our collective behaviour tends to reflect, oftentimes not for the better.

by Canadian standards I'm kind of garbage, but by global standards my life is pretty charmed; i've known for a long time that it wasn't entirely sustainable, but i genuinely didn't believe I'd have the rug pulled out from under me quite like this. in retrospect i've been watching it happen my whole life, but the recent acceleration has been really — well, not surprising, but... it's been something.

anyway, i'm going on — what I really meant to say was "holy shit I'm sorry you're stuck with people like that" and "please focus on keeping yourself safe, because that has just become your primary obligation". not that it was a picnic before, but being trans just got a lot more difficult. it was supposed to "get better" — but frankly it hasn't; not meaningfully, and i'm horrified that we've let it get this bad.

not that it can't get better again — but we kind of all dropped the ball (i mean us oldish people especially), and now we have to pick up again. print out and save gay and trans stories; write down your own stories; research the past and preserve it for as long as it's available to you. strike a balance between being safe and being yourself, because while visibility just became more dangerous, it also just became that much more important.

months ago, i took my pride pin off of my bag; i hated doing it, but people are becoming increasingly abrasive, and (selfishly, certain caveats notwithstanding) I didn't want to attract any negative attention. i regret that decision now, for as much fuss as it might have spared me, and so i think I might consider putting it back on soon. maybe that will be part of coping; maybe it will help someone; maybe it will be ineffective or even harmful... but like you, I'm not sure what else to do right now. not in light of what's just happened.

things had already been a bit tough, and this isn't exactly helping, but knowing that i'm not alone in grieving what we've lost counts for something. i'm bad at people (VERY bad, like disability-cheque-bad), but none of us can afford to be an island anymore... so i actually can't thank you enough for reaching out. you've probably helped me more than I've helped you, but i hope there's something in this that resonates and makes you feel less alone anyway... because you're not, not at all, even though i'm sure it feels like it in the midst of that hellscape.

i'm going to go watch star wars now, maybe write something... but i'm still here.

someone smart once told me that if it isn't okay, then it just means it isn't over yet. i believe them. we'll make it because we have to; what other choice do we have?

[unscrupulousartist]

Kickstarter Update #2

Cross-posted from Kickstarter:

A few things I'm looking forward to in October...

Hullo, hullo! Welcome to Update #2.

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who's supported my campaign so far. :) This first week I was hit by an influx of spam marketers and questionable conversations that, while a shitty achievement badge in general, I was unprepared for emotionally; but each and every one of you has been a reminder that there are real people out there who want to support real art.

Speaking of supporting real art... there are some exciting things coming up in October that I'm looking forward to supporting in my life, and perhaps it'll be stuff you'd want to support, too.

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER 

October 15th—Confluence ft. Publishing Goblin | @publishinggoblin

Confluence is on my radar because of my low-key obsession with Publishing Goblin—'cause come on, how great of a name is that? I've supported previous Publishing Goblin projects and will likely support more of their projects in the future. Publishing Goblin brought me The Alleyman Tarot, will eventually bring me The Hot Housewife Tarot, and has been steadily working through several poetry projects. As a bit of a goblin myself, I've got a starry eyed vested interest in seeing another cool creative make art and succeed in this world; for it's art that makes the rest of it worth living.

Confluence has beautiful artwork, a trusted artist working with a diverse team, and is a perfect excuse to throw dice into trays and laugh with friends. Full disclosure: this is likely to be a nice little gift for my TTRPG loving step-son, and we'll see about bullying him into running a little campaign for me and his dad. 

October 22nd—A Fool's Errand by J Strautman | @strautmaskreplica & B Marsollier | @b-marsollier

In other TTRPG news, your friends and mine over at Planet Arcana have designed their own tarot-based system.  A Fool's Errand puts your party into the world of Planet Arcana, with it's lavish landscapes, brilliant beasts, and arcane insight. You don't need to be familiar with the podcast to enjoy the game; but if you're looking for an award-winning group of Canadians playing through a unique Tarot-Inspired universe, it's definitely worth a listen. 

Playtesting our own little calamity has been a highlight of my still-very-novice RPG experiences. I get to live out my piscean fantasties as an angry waterbreathing aquean composite, and weave a tale of prophet and mystery with some storytelling friends. We're only a few sessions into our campaign, but it promises to be a fun experience. 

Sometime in October, Probably���Refugium by Simon Roy | @simon-roy

And I would be remiss not to include my favourite comics on my list. Refugium is the third book in Simon Roy's Griz Grobus series, following the eponymous first book Griz Grobus and the second, Miramar. Simon's a fantastically detailed comic artist and works with a wonderful colourist, Sergey Nazarov, to bring this galaxy-spanning universe to life. It's already funded, but you can buy the backlog or support Simon on Patreon while you wait for whatever he makes next. I'm trying to be patient while I wait for my copy of Refugium to arrive—hopefully sometime this month.   

Can you think of anything else exciting happening this month? Let me know. :) I always like finding new artists to swoon over. 

Stay Rested, Audrey

[rebuke-me]

i am going to go into depth about Jeremy and Michael's friendship solely based on one exchange from two player game so I am sorry.

SO. the line is question is the "you know that you are my favorite person, but that doesn't mean that I can't still dream." "is it really true I'm your favorite person?" "yeah, we're never not gonna be a team."

we'll start with jeremy first. michaels his favorite person. he's also, pretty canonically, his ONLY person. jeremy has no other friends. his dad is emotionally distant, his mother is physically distant. he has no siblings. Michael is the only person who talks to him in any friendly way. it's not intentional, but the isolation from other people can definitely lead to a person assuming that they're very close, even when it's not entirely the case.

Jeremy follows this reassurance up with a let down. the way he phrases it is interesting too. he doesn't just want other friends, he dreams about it. it's part of his subconscious. it's also something that michael definitely doesn't want to hear- otherwise, why would Jeremy phrase it like that? "I love you BUT I want more."

to derail from this for a little bit, I want to look at what has been established about their relationship so far. the things Michael mentions are things they BOTH like, and things that (other than the video games) are things that Jeremy has not mentioned previously. it's not a far stretch to imply that Jeremy likes movies (implications of joe pesci and rob deniro) but that isn't mentioned. jeremy never mentions liking roller skating, or his tattoo, and he keeps himself covered. Michael has, seemingly, supportive parents. (he also, as seen later, has other people he plays video games with, the world of Warcraft guy. which implies that video games aren't as sacred to him, but games are a whole separate lore idea I could make a separate post about tbh. but the point is he has other friends.) he's confident and loud and doesn't care about the bullying, because it doesn't affect him. he's proud of being a loser. and that pride blinds him a little to Jeremy's struggles with fitting in and caring about what others think of him.

which leads into Michaels response. "is it really true I'm your favorite person?" Michael ignores the "but" of jeremys statement. he ignores the fact that Jeremy dreams of more, latching onto what he knows. Jeremy cares about him, and that's enough for him. he's been brushing off Jeremy's insecurities, whether intentionally or not, for most of the show up to this point. he only really focuses on what he wants to hear. that Jeremy likes him, that he's the favorite, that he's the one who matters most. which is understandable. taking on the emotional baggage of realizing that your best friend wants more than just you is difficult for a teenager, but brushing it off at every opportunity is damaging.

which is why Jeremy goes along with it. "we're never not gonna be a team." he'll be the one to reassure Michael about the stability of their friendship. he's also, notably, not giving up on his dream, or implying that HE is Michaels favorite. his self esteem is too low at this point to admit that Michael needs him, specifically. because what he needs (or thinks he does) is to break away, but he still wants that safety to return to. he wants the team, the friendship, the favorite person.

but he is going to dream anyways. he's been dreaming his whole life- that's apparent in more than survive. placing himself in movies, in video games, making up rules and structure and scenarios in his mind. michael represents the one thing that can break through that dream, but he can never make it quite go away.

[fluffytheocelot]

Okay, I saw your screencap redraw, and as someone else who's *obsessed* with Carmen's parents, I had to take you up on that offer. So, consider this ask license to infodump your thoughts on them! :)

AGH ok so-

Carmen's parents have a LOT of potential narrative-wise, and I really hope one day we'll see more of them in canon. (Maybe comics like the showrunner talked about before?)

Like how in the world did they meet??? Cause idk i feel like Carlotta disappeared way too easily to have just been a civilian. I think she was a thief too, not VILE, she only steals when she needs to, for one reason or another.

this is getting long oops- under the cut!

I think they happened to be going after the same thing, at the same time, and hoo boy do they not get along lol. Turns out Carlotta (telling Dexter her name is Vera Cruz. He does not believe her) had agreed to steal the whatever-it-is in exchange for an under-the-radar trip somewhere else.

They make a deal: Dexter gets her there, and he gets to keep the prize. Yay, roadtrip!

Cue rivals-to-friends-to-lovers speedrun lmao

Some time passes after that (during which they continue to see each other) and many months later they discover oops they made a Carmen

Dexter begins making his much longer trips away from VILE (wanting to support his partner with their unborn kid as much as he can) and starts the process of leaving. When Carmen is born, his trips away get longer and VILE finally catches wind of what's happening, and you know the rest.

AHH ok headcanons about each:

Dexter

definitely shares a lot of personality traits with Carmen. Even just from what we saw during Shadowsan's flashback, they are so so similar :( The two combined chaos energies probably would've driven Carlotta up a wall lmao

woulda been a fantastic girl dad. this man would have sat thru tea parties and played barbies with little Carmen and LOVED IT

dad jokes. that is all.

probably also a very high energy/troublemaking kid, like Carmen

Seriously I picture him and Carmen being super close if he'd survived.

idk i think it'd be funny that this master thief that is 1/5th of the leadership of a massive and ancient crime organization is an absolute dorky dad lmao

bi

was gonna ask Carlotta to marry him after he escaped. but. well.. yk.

Was gonna pick Shadowsan to take his place on the faculty anyway

knows guitar, and probably would've taught carmen how to as well.

is it a universal dad thing to enjoy Jimmy Buffet music or is that just my dad??? Idk either way he vibes. Carlotta has a video of him softly strumming a guitar with baby Carmen in his lap and singing "Little Miss Magic" to her ;-;

also enjoys AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Guns n Roses, all that kinda stuff. Probably projecting my own dad a bit but oh well

As much as he'd hate he couldn't be there for Carmen when she was growing up, I think he'd be glad she at least had Shadowsan looking out for her :)

He would be so proud of everything Carmen has done and accomplished ;-;

Carlotta

its probably been said before, but Carlotta definitely started up the orphanage in Buenos Aires hoping Carmen would end up in it at some point.

Carmen inherited thief skills from both parents idc. Carlotta definitely gave Dexter a run for his money lol

looks a lot like carmen, but with green eyes instead of gray, and more brown hair than Carmen's red/auburn.

also the parent carmen got her freckles from (BC Carmen had em when she was little, and she spent a lot of time out in the sun!! I will die on the Carmen having faint freckles hill dangit!)

also bi. idk these two give bi4bi vibes.

more likely to get into a fistfight out of the two of them ("Carlotta, no!" "Carlotta YES" *cut to Dexter desperately trying to hold her back* "CARLOTTA PLEASE WE'RE TRYING NOT TO GET CAUGHT")

Upon reuniting with and getting to know Carmen, she's very much reminded of Dexter. She'd be all too happy to tell her stories of Dexter.

definitely also has a bit of a mischief streak too.

absolutely did NOT put up with Dexter's nonsense at first lol

was initially terrified of what Dexter would think when she told him they were gonna be parents, but was quickly reassured when the next time Dexter came back from VILE he had armloads of baby stuff from around the world.

Probably has a big extended family but after Dexter's death and Carmen disappears, she gets distant with them. After reuniting with Carmen though, accidentally runs into a family member with her and they're like "wait is that her?? She's alive??" and just like that Carmen has managed to acquire ANOTHER family lol.

Absolutely thrilled to learn Carmen wasn't alone all those years and immediately just adopts Zack, Ivy, and Player lol

Probably a little hesitant about Shadowsan at first, given that he was supposed to assassinate Dexter and did actually take her daughter to VILE, but eventually they're chill and he tells her stories of Black Sheep's antics. Meanwhile Carmen is in the background begging him not to lol.

I think once she got over her distrust of Shadowsan and got to know him, and sees how close he and Carmen are, she'd be glad that he was there for Carmen when Dexter couldn't be.

ARGHSH I have plans for them in many AUs lol. I'll get around to actually enacting em someday XD

[anjumzm]

Midsummer Night

A Legacy of Gods Fanfic

JerCes Daughter x LanMia Son

Chapter 12

Aanya Volkov

The moment I stepped out of Theo’s office, a rush of cool air washed over me. My heart pounded with a mix of borderline excitement and thrill, similar to that first illicit sip of alcohol as a teenager. I couldn’t quite put a finger on it, but I felt something different—a strange, unsettling feeling that I couldn't shake off.

Jasper was already waiting outside, his face creased with worry. “Aanya, did something happen? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, let’s get out of here. You can grill me for answers on our way back home.”

“Sure, but…”

“I said, ‘On our way back home.’”

We walked to his McLaren, a sleek car that screamed power and speed. I asked, “Can I drive?”

“No way in hell. This is my baby, Aanya. No offense, but I don’t trust anyone but myself when it comes to driving it.” He hesitated for a moment, then tossed me the keys. “Only halfway to the house. I’ll take it from there.”

My face broke into a grin. I needed an outlet—anything to keep this strange energy at bay. Once buckled up, Jasper asked, “Before we move an inch, I want answers. What’s exactly going on? Heck, I’d believe unicorns exist, but not this. Theo is not capable of showcasing any emotions. Even if you do love him, he won’t be able to reciprocate. Trust me, everyone in our family knows this. Gina and Rebecca are skeptical too. Gina literally laughed out loud, thinking it’s a prank, while Rebecca threatened Theo with bodily harm if she finds out he’s forcing you. We can take him down as a team, if that’s the case. Or we could ask Grandpa Aiden. Since Rebecca is on our team, he’ll be on our team too, and the team with Grandpa’s support always wins.”

I wished I could ask Jasper for help, but the stakes were too high. My brother’s and my dad’s lives were on the line.

“As much as I’m touched by your gesture, it’s not necessary. I really like Theo. The only reason I wasn’t comfortable sharing this with you guys is because I didn’t know how to put it in front of you, especially Gina. But when he proposed last week and I said yes, I knew we’d have to come clean to our families. If you think your family’s skeptical, mine’s out for Theo’s blood. The only reason Dad and Aaron aren’t acting on their instincts is because Mom’s threatened to leave and live with Grandpa Xan in London. Even Caleb’s having a headache with all the drama that’s unfolded.”

“Gods, I wish you’d change your mind, but if you don’t and still want to marry that wanker, you’ll always have mine, Rebs’, and Mom’s support, no matter what. Aunt Mia has been ecstatic since Theo dropped the news. She’s the sweetest and kindest soul besides my Mom. You already know how lovely and kind Grandma Astrid and Grandma Elsa are. They’re already planning changes to Theo’s room to suit your tastes and as for my Dad, he's been your number one fan since you helped him gain points in Grandpa Adrian’s book. You know Aunt Ava even better than I do, she literally looks out for you as a daughter, but I'm not sure how she views your relationship with Theo at this point, given that she's well aware of Theo's...aloofness. And Aunt Ava's opinion would be Uncle Eli's opinion too. Guess we'll have to wait and find out"

He leaned back, closing his eyes. “Grandpa Aiden and Grandpa Levi will ask you questions, though. Don’t know how Uncle Landon sees your relationship, but it’d definitely be something for him to rub in your father’s face. The days to come will be tough.”

“Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll try my best to convince your and Theo’s grandpas that I mean no harm. Besides, you did say Aunt Mia and Aunt Anni are on my team, and by extension, so are Uncle Lan and Uncle Creigh. I’m sure Aunt Mia will handle Uncle Lan.”

“You sound like you already have all this planned.”

“You know me. I’m always prepared.”

“That you are.”

After a lot of bickering, gasps, and shouted directions from Jasper, we finally reached his and Caleb’s house. Jasper made an excuse and left, clearly avoiding a confrontation with Caleb. I saw Caleb standing at the door, arms crossed.

“I know you feel rebellious these days, but trust me, this is the worst time to act like a brat. This isn’t you, Aanya!”

“Just because, for the first time in my life, I’m trying to choose something for myself doesn’t make me a brat. Why is it so difficult for you all to just accept my wishes for once?”

“Oh, the choice where you willingly submit yourself to the Devil’s Spawn? Sue us for actually caring about your well-being!”

“I’m not a kid anymore! You, Dad, or Aaron don’t need to ‘protect’ me all the time. Have you ever thought about how tiring it gets, having your every move monitored and reported back? Or why am I only friends with Gina, Rebecca, Jess, Sierra, and Zoey, who all happen to be either my cousins or somehow related to Dad or Mum? Everyone literally thinks over and over before speaking to me, as if I’m made of glass! So I had to go out of my way and be absurd for once. And by God, am I loving it! At least Theo doesn’t pretend like all of you do!”

I said that in one breath, panic coursing through me. No... no, no, no. I couldn’t lose it, not after I’d been in control for so long.

Caleb sensed this and took my hands in his. “Aanya, Angel, look at me. Deep breaths.”

I breathed in and out, feeling calmer. Caleb held me through all of it, then rushed to the kitchen, returning with my meds and a water bottle. I took the meds and gulped down the water in one go.

“Aanya, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Knowing you, I’m sure you wouldn’t go through with your engagement without thinking it through. But you also need to know that Dad and Aaron are still super pissed. They will never agree to this.Not to mention Grandpa, I'm not sure if they broke the news to him, you know how protective he is. And me... I won’t stand by and watch my little baby sister throw herself into a pit of darkness. I don’t trust Theo King even a bit. He’ll have to work very hard to gain all of our trusts.”

“I understand and respect that, Cal. I know you’ve always been supportive of my decisions, but I’d appreciate it if you could trust me one more time. I promise I won’t let you down.”

I had to get back the book before the next Bratva meeting. I knew how crucial timings were in our world. One wrong move at the right time and we’d all be looking for shelter. I couldn’t risk my family’s legacy. I’d get back the Black Book no matter what. And once that’s done, I’ll sweep Theo King off his feet, so he knows no one messes with a Volkov—not even the Kings.

The next day, a parcel awaited me at my doorstep, containing an elegant dress, with a note attached.

"Will pick you up around 6 pm today. Hopefully, you’ll be ready till then. Your kingdom awaits their soon-to-be queen. Make sure you make quite an impression.

Your soon-to-be fiancé, ~Theodore King"

Oh, I'll make sure to leave a mark this time, Mr. King. Just you wait.

[parad-ice-lostandfound]

Things that come in my head as I play through Diasomnia's chapter (chp 38-55):

[Potential spoilers below darlings, proceed with caution!]

Am I ready for this? Hell no. Do I know I will regret everything? Yes. Am I still gonna try to finish everything in one day? Yep. Let's go!

Ortho??? Calling from RSA??? Is this Idia's dream? Malleus?! Cute to see him taking care of Drago but like the tiny details showing that its actually a dream? And Idia's catching on! Slowly but hey, progress is still progress! It's also nice to see how things could be different if og Ortho was still around.

Where are we? Why are there terrifying ghost like things on the windows? Is this Ramshackle dorm before it became, well, Ramshackle as we know it now? I am so confused now lol– Wait we're in Mickey's room?! How'd we get on the other side of the mirror? We're all having an out of body experience... I dunno how to feel about that tbh.

Silver! My baby's here! And we get to see his UM!

Have I ever told you guys how much I like Malleus' humming? Cause I like it very much. But anyways... we're in cyberspace now...? Oh Ortho! Ortho's awake! Poor baby's trying so hard to wake up his brother.

It's kinda scary seeing how powerful Malleus is. Like, to the point where he can force even Styx issued gear into shut down mode, he's seriously overpowered. Can't wait to see Idia continue the trend and become the hero in this tale, but there's a lot of heart ache we need to go through before we reach that point so, best of luck to all our poor hearts.

I wonder if there's any particular significance to the fact that the time is stopped at 9:18.

So we finally meet Idia's dad, huh? His helmet reminds me of Hades' Helm of Darkness. And we meet his mom as well. A lot of technical stuff and lore drop that went a bit over my head, but it's fine! We'll be fine!

Seems like eccentricity is the middle name of the Shroud family. Then again all geniuses are a bit eccentric. Poor idia, his mom definitely snooped through password protected folders. I would riot if my parents ever snooped through my laptop, so I can't wait for him to wake up and proceed to lose his shit over it lmao

Ortho's Cerberos gear and the two support droids are so cool! The little family moment is cute, but I hope this isn't a death flag for poor Ortho because I've seen too much of that trope– Now we're back with the Prefect! Ngl, Silver's kinda hot when he orders us around.

Dreams are a very tricky subject, so I don't blame Silver for not knowing much about how his UM works. That being said, I'm ready to learn a little more about Sebek, now that we're in his dream. I'm not his biggest fan atm, but... let's see. I'm hoping my perspective on him changes because he seems like a fun character to explore.

.... Something about the way he calls us human just pisses me off lmao. But we will be keeping an open mind. I will come to love you Sebek (yes it is a threat)

I feel terrible for Silver. Imagine looking at people you've known your entire life, two of them people you look up to and one you've trained alongside, and seeing strangers. Strangers who live in a fairy tale, who want you to join them and live happily ever after, sacrificing your freedom and responsibilities of the real world for an ideal ending. Who wouldn't want to take that chance? Making the choice to go against them, for their own good, is the most difficult thing to do in this situation. Raising your weapon against the one you trained your whole life to protect, fighting against someone who was once your comrade-in-arms.... it's terribly heartbreaking. But, hey, at least we got Sebek to wake up.

EHY IS MALLEUS SO FUCKING OP DIFVDHDGDJSVDVDJD B DHFDUSJDHS?!?!?!?!?

We... we're in Lilia's dream now.... brb, gotta get some tissues and get ready for emotional damage–

It's nice to see Silver taking the lead and being the dependable one. Also, General Lilia!! Been waiting for him since I got spoilers back when I was stuck in Ignihyde's book. I love how his hair transitions from being long and having red streaks to short and cute with pink streaks. Long hair is often associated, at least in my culture, with maturity and a sense of responsibility, while short hair is more fun and child-like. Similarly, red is an intense colour, while pink could technically be seen as a softer, gentler cousin to it. It shows Lilia's change from a warrior to caregiver and I think it's really neat. I just wish he could have seen him in a more adult-like form in the past.

[fallendomino99]

Alrighty... So... This is continued from my last post... This is whatever Mikey was doing when Donnie was freaking out, etc., etc. Idk. Here it is.

Mikey couldn't sleep. His brain was racing with a million different thoughts and ideas. See, the awful part about being Mikey was that your brain didn't shut up. Ever. And currently (or lately) it's been hard enough to do ANYTHING. And he hates it. He just wants to MOVE. And it's 1 AM. Great.

"When motivation strikes... I guess," Mikey shrugs to himself and rolls out of his hammock. His feet carry him through the lair. Leo's probably still up. Raph and Dad are definitely sleeping. Donnie... Eh. It's hit or miss.

"Alright. Kitchen. What do we have planned, brain?" Mikey mumbles and looks around his destination. He sighs and goes to dig out ingredients. But he seems to dip, just, no longer actively participating in his own body.

"What?!" He looks around, uncomfortabley aware that his body is moving on its own.

"Hey... Little me?" Mikey whips around. A starry atmosphere appears behind him.

"What is this?" Mikey asks the voice, definitely freaking out. Retreating into his shell won't help if he can't.... He looks down at himself. "Omigosh, I'm dreaming. I- I'm sleep walking...?" His body is still there but it's... glittery? Ghosty?

"Nope, afraid not," the voice calls out from just behind him. He whips around again and stumbles back, falling on his butt. His eyes go as wide as they can, cause when he looks up, he sees... an older version of himself.

"What's goin' on? Why are you.... You're me?" The older version laughs softly and offers his hand.

"Yeah. I could sense something amiss. It seems... something is still weighing on you." Mikey accepts the help and zeros in on the fact that his older self is floating.

"Casey said you could fly..." Mikey mumbles, rubbing his eyes. Older Angelo hums and opens his arms. Mikey freezes, and then everything explodes. He barrels into Angelo's arms sobbing.

"You've been so strong. You're brothers have all gotten better. But you're hiding."

"My arms..." Mikey chokes out. Angelo sighs and hugs his younger self tighter.

"Yeah... your arms. But also up here," Angelo taps the side of Mikey's head. "You've got time. Healing takes time. And it takes help from everyone who cares about you."

"I wish I could just move on," Mikey tries to breathe deeper, "but, but it's like, intrusive thoughts? Like, what if I could go back and stop all of it..."

"Then you'd join me here, with the other Hamato's..." Mikey jolts back. "Your brothers would miss you. I don't think they'd survive it." Angelo gives a small, pained smile.

"So, so I just have to, to heal.... and it will take... time." Mikey says slowly. Angelo nods and takes Mikey's hands.

"And support. Ya know, we've been keeping an eye on all of you. And we'll always be around. You have the power to have a chat once in a while." Mikey nods, mystified.

"Just try to slow down a little. Go have a cookie with your brothers."

"What?"

"Just go, I'm always around to talk," Angelo says as he nudges Mikey out of the starry atmosphere. Mikey pulls against his grip a little. Angelo turns to look at him, smiling.

"Promise?" Angelo just laughs fondly, and it makes Mikey smile.

...

Mikey opens his eyes. He looks around. He's standing at the counter, surrounded by multiple cooling racks of various cookies. He's holding a spoon that's covered in batter from the bowl in front of him.

"Burnin' the midnight oil, Mikester?" Mikey jumps in surprise. Leo trails into the kitchen with Donnie following behind him closely. Mikey zeros in on tear streaks on Donnie's face, his hands shaking under the big sleeves of Raph's old.... Oh.

"Want a cookie?" Mikey asks, making space at the counter for his brothers to join him on the stools. They gladly accept.

[nicejewishcharactershowdown]

Nice Jewish Character Showdown 2023 - Round Two Eliminations

Another round has passed, one I'd liken to a bloodbath, and we're down to 8 competitors in the race for the NJCS 2023 title. Before the quarterfinal votes go live, let's check in with those disqualified contestants and discuss what makes them such Nice Jewish Characters.

Match One Elimination: Cristina Yang, Grey's Anatomy Probably the most well-known Asian Jew in television, Cristina Yang is canonically Jewish, thanks to her step-father who raised her in it (her mother converted). Grey's has a weird relationship with Judaism, like a lot of medical dramas, but it definitely gets points for the rare and definitely appreciated look at how diverse the Jewish population is.

Match Two Elimination: Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof It's the quintessential Jewish musical, it's one of the main reasons we've seen a shtetl-core resurgence, it's Fiddler! It was definitely the match-up of the dads this time around, and as much as I love this man, his success rate in reference to loving and supporting his daughters is, well... not a perfect score. Thank you Sholem Aleichem for the original stories, thank you Chaim Topol for your iconic portrayal in the movie, alongside Zero Mostel, Leonard Nimoy (yes, Nimoy played Tevye for a bit!), Alfred Molina, Harvey Fierstein, Danny Burstein, and many, many more. Nothing truly hits like being a Jew in the diaspora and watching Fiddler. Still bummed I haven't had a chance to see Yiddler, the Yiddish remount. (Oh, and Fiddler tends to be free on Youtube, so if you haven't seen it before -- or want to revisit Anatevka, treat yourself!)

Match Three Elimination: Rebecca Bunch, Crazy Ex Girlfriend *hits top of a car* this baby can fit so many song titles from CEXG in it When looking for representation, it can often feel like no one else is singing your song. Sure, there are the characters whose Judaism is restricted to reminding you that we've suffered, or who become props for some Christmas Special. But then we get a gem in the rough, a girl in love, a Jewish American Princess who moves across the country to follow a former summer camp crush. Crazy Ex Girlfriend was a rarity, and the four season run blessed us with a lot of quality television, and something even rarer -- a multidimensional Jewish lead. If you haven't had a chance to meet Rebecca, the entire show is available to stream on Netflix. And yes, when I realized how much she was losing this round, this song was on loop in my brain. Apologies to Rachel Bloom and the rest of the CEXG team, I seriously thought you'd sweep this thing. What a twisted fate.

Match Four Elimination: Lily Moscovitz, The Princess Diaries Oh, Lily, I think the internet misunderstands you more often than not these days. But to ignore your Jewishness is an absolute faux pas, whether you're looking at the movies or the much more blatantly Jewish representation you get in the books. Seriously though, I can think of at least a handful of Jewish girls I grew up with who remind me of the headstrong public access host. Side note -- to all the girlies who grew up hating their curly hair because of the nightmare of a makeover Mia got, I'm right there with you, and we'll get through this together. Honestly, I think there's something to be said about Jew-coding's relationship with makeover scenes, but we don't have the time for that right now.

Match Five Elimination: Francine Frensky, Arthur I've mentioned before how I grew up on public access television, so is it any surprise when I say that Francine was (probably) the first time I saw myself on television? Even if it didn't come up a lot outside of holiday episodes (at least in the seasons that aired when I watched), Francine's Judaism felt recognizable. Plus, if you told her she was just token representation, she'd probably sock you in the face. Oh, and something I found while researching -- THE GOLEM IS A PLOT POINT IN A HALLOWEEN EPISODE?! Seriously, props to PBS.

Match Six Elimination: Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller's Day Off Finding good representation in any 80's movie is going to be an uphill battle, considering well. The 80's-ness of it all. So when looking for a good Jewish character, it's much easier to default back to the transitive property of Jewish media (art made by Jews being Jewish by way of their perspective being translated into the text). Since Matthew Broderick, Ferris himself, is Jewish, who's to say the most beloved delinquent of his era isn't too? Plus, he's a stock standard rebel against restrictive institutions. Listen, I have the original Footloose on my coded Jewish representation Letterboxd list, I have no room to judge. *Points to Ferris* That's a NJB right there.

Match Seven Elimination: Truman Burbank, The Truman Show Speaking of my coded Jewish representation Letterboxd list, this movie SCREAMS Judaism to me. Come on -- it's so critical of Christianity that it almost falls backwards into Judaism. Free will in spite of a higher power? Disagreeing with authority so much that you flee your home, your world, your reality? Helps that his hometown is so heavily designed after post-war 50's suburbia, which has its own relationship with being Jewish. So is Truman Jewish? I think he can be -- watch the movie and make the call for yourself. It's a classic for a reason, and I won't rob you of the experience.

Match Eight Elimination: Wall-E, Wall-E Wall-E, my robot blorbo, the most Guy of any Pixar protagonist -- what makes him Jewish? He loves Barbra Streisand, collects tcotchkes, and is relentlessly working to make the world better, even if he's the only one still doing it (tikkun olam has NEVER seen a cuter mascot).

[confusedfoam]

I am very concerned about this plot thru line that Normal desperately wants to help and is also a complete failure at it. Just some of his greatest hits (though he definitely wasn't the only one involved in some of these fuck ups)

thought he could fix hermie, actually opened the door for him to get horribly physically scarred and having the identity crisis of the century

Going to try and save his dad and uncle and ending up on the complete opposite end of an intense ethical debate

Definitely made Pepperoni Tony's marriage way worse before. not that it mattered in the end ig

Bringing Brad back to life only for him to be a miserable shell who resents every moment spent on earth

and the latest, trusts link to help him resolve the love anchor with empathy only to get the rug out from under him Again

So. Yeah time and time again Normal tried to do the empathic thing, tries to help people, and just Can't. And I'm very worried (read: excited but sad for him) about the direction this is setting for the rest of the season specifically as it relates to Normal and the Doodler.

It's growing increasingly likely that Normal fails to help it. I don't know what's going to actually happen, I don't think the cast knows what's going to actually happen, as long as Anthony was telling the truth about it being a dice roll. But either he fails or he nearly does we'll have to wait and see. Whatever happens I think this particular part of Normal's story (These are actually all themes of the podcast at large but i am going to mostly focus on normal and the doodler here barbecue otherwise this would be extra obnoxiously long.) touches on a few things.

-Agency

For Normal, so many of these failures (especially the anchor related ones) result after his agency and control of the situation has superseded. Pepperoni Tony's death was entirely outside of his control. he trusted his friends to help him with the anchors and they violate that trust and act in direct opposition to his interests while he is powerless to stop them.

The Doodler too, in spite of being a eldritch god of massive power, is lacking agency. It was hauled into reality without it's consent, was an unwilling passenger of the Oak family for generations, hell it's own summoning at the end of season one was not a result of its own actions. Other people's desire to use it's power or to prove their worth against it etc etc paved the way for all of that. It didn't tell the twins the prophecy. It didn't tell Lark who the Unsung Hero was.

-Projecting, the limits of support, and putting your own mask on first., whatever you want to call it.

There is this idea that you have to get your shit together before you're ready to help other people, and its true to a degree but its also not how life works. You have to be willing and able to keep working on yourself with the support of other people while also supporting them to do the same. I think one of the chronic problems of 90% of the cast is they are fucking up this balance one way or another. Normal's problem is layered. He really believes that its either one or the other and it you cant help yourself and someone else at the same time. So hes using it as an excuse to say Nope hes good actually he's done his growing his mask is totally all the way on and its time to Help People. because his family is selfless and self-sacrificial to the point it swings back around and is selfish again. He can't help anyone effectively because its a two way street and he's closed his side down.

-Cycles

small scale cycles, in the repeated breaking for Normal's trust. (Of intra-party trust in general which I could go off about some other time.) His trust in his father and his uncle has been under fire from pretty much every angle. Every time Normal trusts his friends they screw him over.

the obvious cycle of the burden of the Doodler in the Oak family, Normal and Lark both sitting on the throne. I mean what more can I say. And my personal favorite. The cycle of reaching out and failing. It haunts the Oak family. Hildy reached out to her son as he got lost to the call of power and failed. Barry reached out to try and mold Henry into his shape and failed. Henry tried to reach out to everyone around him and continuously came up short and his sons turned out all the worse for it. Sparrow reaches out to express his overbearing concern with his son and blunders it entirely. Normal reaches out to his friends and the slap his hand away, he reaches out to The Doodler and is steadily falling short of actually helping it in any meaningful way.

.

.

But Uhhh anyway those were some disjointed thoughts that needed to get out of my head after the end of last episode. Not all of them make total sense but thats what happens when you brain dump across two sessions and type things in no particular order. These fucking kids man. These fucking kids.

[bunbeeplays]

The Lemon Legacy: Generation 1, Chapter 118 - Not So Zen

We're back at Sparadise, a location we haven't seen in quite some time, for a family friendly yoga session.

Wiki is very excited to see her old clients. One of them is a four-star celebrity now too! She's definitely going to promote that on her professional Simstagram page.

Gemma is very excited to see her uncle Moses and pibling Drew!

Gemma: Pibs, pibs!

Drew: I heard ya the first time, kid, come here. Oof, you're getting so big!

Gemma does yoga with her mommy and daddy at home sometimes but she's excited to take a class with Drew and Moses too!

Moses: I can't believe it's been so long. Our last session was before you and Xander were even engaged!

Ophelia: Life gets in the way sometimes. You'll know all about that pretty soon. I can't believe you and Ian are gonna be dads!

Moses: How do you think I feel?

Moses: Just a few more days until we can finally bring her home. You think my dad beard will be ready by then?

Ophelia: I think it took Xander a little longer than a couple of days.

Moses: Ian works with gym bros, maybe they have some hair growth supplements I can take.

Ophelia: Moses, facial hair isn't going to make you a better parent. You're going to do great, and you've got a big support system if you need help. Just focus on enjoying your family leave, and your little girl.

Her fake dad will be a real dad in a few days. How exciting!

Gemma: Uncle Moses is gonna have a baby! His belly's gonna get REAL big and a baby'll pop out!

Drew: I don't think that's happening, Gem.

Gemma: Oh, then Uncle Ian's gonna have the baby!

He technically could, but trans reproductive health is a discussion for another day.

Xander's busy getting Lulu settled in, who thanks him for his hard work by blowing a kiss. She's never done that before!

Ophelia: That'll be you and your little girl soon.

Moses: Don't you dare make me cry before yoga, Lemon.

While the two hug, Drew sighs.

Drew: Getting married, having kids? They're getting old on me. Good thing I'll never be old, right, squirt?

Gemma: Yeah! You're only like 50.

Drew: Gee, thanks.

Everybody (including Some Guy) get onto their mats and ready for the class to start. Lulu's really enjoying the calm music that's playing. Gemma just loves any excuse she can get to move around.

The gang has gotten pretty good at yoga! Not experts by any means, but good form all around. Gemma's killing it the most, though.

Gemma: You takin' a nap, Momma?

Ophelia's about to explain what corpse's pose is when she hears the flicker of a camera. Our old friend is back!

Ophelia has had it!

Ophelia: Are you seriously taking photos of my children? I keep them off social media for a reason!

Willy: Yeah, that's why getting pics of them is a good scoop!

Ophelia: Delete those photos now!

Willy: Or else what? You're in public, you can't stop me!

Something in Ophelia snaps.

Ophelia: Leave my children alone, you creep!

Before she knows it, she starts swinging at Willy Weiner, paparazzi scum. She's getting into her very first fight!

Gemma picked an excellent time to go toddle off to use the potty. Nothing to see here, kiddo!

Xander: Can you tell what's going on?

Moses: They pop out every once in a while but it's hard to make heads or tails of it.

Xander: I just need to figure out if he's winning so I can know if I'm getting in my first fight today too.

Ophelia and Willy pop up for a moment to slap each other.

Ophelia: Look at him, everyone, he's hitting a woman! What a pig!

Willy: You literally started this!

Ophelia, level 10 fitness queen, rocks Willy's shit.

Ophelia: If you know what's good for you, stay away from my family! The Watcher's deleted Sims for getting in the way of a screenshot, don't think they won't delete you!

She can't stand weaselly little rascals like him!

They continue to watch Ophelia berate this dirtbag.

Xander: Is it weird that I'm finding all of this hot?

Moses: It's weird that you're telling me you do.

Willy slinks off in shame. I don't think we'll be seeing him anytime soon.

Ophelia may be stinky but she's feeling victorious!

Drew: Way to wreck that guy, O! I never knew you had such a mean hook!

Ophelia: I don't know what came over me.

Drew: Those mama bear instincts kicked in, that's what!

Luckily, Gemma spent most of the fight in the bathroom and Lulu somehow slept through it.

Xander approaches and she thinks he'll be upset she put herself in danger like that.

Ophelia: Xander, I'm sorry, I-

Xander kisses her deeply. It's hard to keep things passionate with two little kids sometimes but the adrenaline was definitely doing something for them both.

Xander: Can you guys watch the girls? We have to go… hit the showers.

Moses: I have a feeling you're going to do whatever it is you're going to do no matter what I say. In fact, I'm pretty sure you're both too horned up to even be listening to me.

Ophelia: Great, thanks.

Hey, Ophelia needs a shower anyway. Might as well multitask!

No, they don't make any babies in the shower, although that would be pretty on-brand for them. These two love conceiving children anyplace but their own home.

The rest of the day is pretty normal, at least for them.

Gemma: Mommy, Daddy, Lulu's stinky!

Xander looks like he caught a whiff before he had to be told, but thanks for looking out, Gemma.

Ophelia: You're on diaper duty today, babe.

Xander: Why me?

Ophelia: Remember in the shower… I did that thing you like me to do. Y'know, the thing I usually only do on special occasions. You owe me.

Xander: You make a compelling case. You really were raised by lawyers, huh?

Xander: Alright, come here, stinkbug.

Ophelia doesn't consider herself a violent person, but she doesn't regret her actions today for a second. She'll protect her precious little family with everything she's got, even if it means breaking some pap's nose.

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

What to Do When SH Doesn’t Remember Details?

Men in Kilt season 2 was filmed in New Zealand 🇳🇿 between January and February 2022, and in Sam's memories of “Waypoints”, months later same year, he supposedly “wrote” the book (or was its ghostwriter 🤔 ) Sam mentioned his father, saying, “I have few memories of my dad, he left when I was 18 months old. I didn’t connect with him again until I was an adult.” Well, it’s not typical for people to have clear and detailed memories as early as 18 months.

But now, in Men in Kilt 2 this season, Sam is seen exploring New Zealand culture and in episode two, he learns about Māori tattoos and even has one drawn by the artist who created the design, which is supposed to represent his life in Sam's arm, he spoke on his father repeatedly with a different version Sam says: “My dad left when I was very young. Three years old. So, I didn't know him at all”

In "Waypoints," he described his father's absence and then how he got to know him much later. A turn of events after Heughan and her brother met his father in 2013, her father was ill with leukaemia and passed away from the disease. Sam and his brother were not present at his father's funeral. Sam was in his mid-thirties and didn't meet his father when he was in his mid-twenties, as he says.

This shows that challenging him to walk the West Highland Way for his book 📕 “Waypoints” didn't help him accept himself. This is important to mention, he not only can't clearly remember what he said before, but his few memories of him are like traces in the recycle bin that are restored when he wants to tell us another story, a way of not dealing with anxiety or pressure to perform. We'll wait for the sequel to his Clanlands New Zealand book and find the wee lads photo when he admitted that he “didn't know" his father's name growing up.

But, the proof that he knew his father’s name is on his birth certificate. If the natural parents are married or in a civil union, both must have their names registered. And Sam carries his father’s name. He may be confused and want to say that his father's name was not mentioned when he was growing up, which was not necessary, due to the circumstances, but it is different to say that he did not know his father’s name growing up because that detail would be incorrect.

Perhaps he had a trauma growing up without a father? But millions of children live without a father at home. He would not be the first nor the last. If he had a traumatic childhood, he needs professional help (not from his fans or his friends in the entertainment media) and does not change a private and personal part of his memory every time, wanting pity.

Some people who suffer from (C) PTSD or dissociative disorders (all from trauma) want your sympathy or pampering, special treatment, fear of being 'ignored', or “isolated”. But SH must stop turning a delicate and intimate situation in his life in front of the cameras into a drama that inspires pity, as a way of supporting him.

People confuse, this is not surprising, he already did it in a public forum when he promoted his book, it is not courage or vulnerability to talk about his most intimate things before the camera, he decided to speak without discretion, and it is not innermost because his beliefs and convictions change according to the moment.

Have you ever wondered how his elder brother feels if he also grew up without his father?

#MiK2 #Waypoints #MeninKilts #Starz

@shinycomputerqueen @scdenmark Yeah! Sam has been telling different versions since Clanlands 1. He also mentioned that he sparked an emotional reunion with his estranged father when revealed that he first met his father as an adult while he was on his deathbed. How can anyone explain this unique version? This was published in Scotland.

At its essence, this saying tells us it's alright to lie, omit the facts, or twist the plot for the sake of a good story. This is definitely an appropriate quote for SH.

@supermassivetragedy Regarding your observations, you hear him say... “three years” (not a few years) He is an inconsistent, unpredictable man, he does not behave in the same way every time a similar situation occurs. Regardless of the reason, it can be frustrating to hear the same stories with different, inconsistent movements. SH is a narcissist supported by fans and friends, who think he is “special” and try to make him superior and he buys it. However, there may be other underlying psychological factors that contribute to this behaviour, such as a need for validation or a desire to establish a sense of identity or belonging.

Parents do not abandon their children. Here the father left for some reason unknown to us and apparently also for SH. There can be many reasons why a parent left, but I doubt it’s because of the child. (he or his brother)

In your observation ..” perhaps his mother didn’t want her children to know their father”… I can understand that the mother does not want her husband in her life perhaps the partner never kept his promises or fulfilled their part of the deal, who knows? but these are not valid situations for a mother to remove a child from his father’s life.

It’s not about the birth certificate. It’s about a child who didn’t have help at home to recognise and remember the name of his father. Sam frequented primary school when was a child. In Scotland when you send your child to school you need the original birth certificate to enrol your child in a nursery or school. The school knew his father’s name, and They didn't have to hide that from a child, that's natural.

@shoutlandish As a fan, you are emotional and that affects your logical reasoning: the evidence is in front of you, and you can't admit that he has a problem. I don't know which celebrity you mean. SH is not considered a celebrity, that's for his fan club and friends. He is not a so-called “A-list” celebrity. I consider you to be mistaken. Few things in life cannot be taken lightly because there are no small accomplishments, and making mistakes can be expensive.

He can't bring up a situation he wrote about before and then change the facts. He has memory lapses in which he cannot recall certain events or information about himself. This was a situation part of his personal life history, not an illusion of his life choices, these are not stories from a storyteller that fans feel they should treat with humour, like everything related to SH.

As you said, the image of Sam does not fit, because he has not convinced or persuaded everyone, and what he says after this, nobody will care. That's sad, Thank you for visiting my blog 💙

@marglyns People have different opinions. The point is that differences of opinion don't always lead to fruitful discussions with SH fans. This often leads to heated one-sided arguments and results in difficult emotions, which I don't have towards SH. They are not the same. People have the right to have opinions and thoughts of their own without eagerly waiting for the approval of anyone from the SH fan club.

Opinions are not altered or painted, just to console some and not upset them, because his obsessive fans don't accept that he makes mistakes. He does good things but tarnishes them with his mistakes because he never received the proper training.

If you don't accept feedback, that's your problem, not mine. Just don't suffocate or force them to accept their inconsistencies. You have the right to disagree, just as I have the right to express mine on my blog. As I said before My blog my rules, Thanks for your visit 💙