#escape from the happy place

[bloodurged]

"know that, when I'm braver, it's 'cause I learned it from you."

[mlobsters]

If I ever get out of here, Q, know that when I'm braver it's 'cause I learned it from you.

happy pride ♥️

digital painting, 8 hours - drawing video here

[asofterhibou]

me in the year of our lord 2024 thinking about the magicians episode 4x05 escape from the happy place, laying my head down on the table and closing my eyes: s4 is about prisons and Eliot needs to escape from his prison but it's not a monster or a library jail cell or a desert it's the happy place it's the beautiful nothing it's the inside of his own head and all his failures and humiliation and the times he hurt people and was hurt and never wants to think about again but he does face them and he's brave and he gets out. he walks through the door. anyway I'm fine.

[fixated-on-something]

Ok so some thoughts that devastate me and I feel that I should share about escape from the happy place:

1- the basic outline of what Eliot has to confront is “the scariest moment in his life.” The moment where he was more horrified than he’d ever been. It wasn’t him killing his boyfriend. It wasn’t anything from his horribly tragic childhood. It wasn’t any of the times he actually died. It was that moment on the throne room’s steps.

2- of course it was hard to confront that moment baseline, but there’s one factor that wasn’t fully acknowledged but I feel is an undertone: he doesn’t know if Quentin is even alive. He’s running on the assumption that he is, but he doesn’t know. For all he knows, the monster killed all of them. But he still has to confront this moment that he regrets so intensely, in which he rejected the man he loves, with the whisper of a thought that maybe he’ll never see him again.

[eliotqueliot]

Chapters: 1/10 Fandom: The Magicians (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Quentin Coldwater/Eliot Waugh, Margo Hanson & Eliot Waugh, Quentin Coldwater & Julia Wicker Characters: Eliot Waugh, Quentin Coldwater, Julia Wicker, Margo Hanson, William "Penny" Adiyodi, 23rd Timeline William "Penny" Adiyodi, Henry Fogg, Alice Quinn (The Magicians), The Monster (The Magicians), Kady Orloff-Diaz Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon-Typical Behavior, References to Depression, Depression, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Possession, Episode: s04e05 Escape From the Happy Place, Imprisonment, Sex Magic, Physical Kids Cottage (The Magicians), Gods, Memory Magic, Studying, Repressed Memories, Communication, Peaches and Plums (The Magicians), Rewriting Season 4 after 4x5, There is no such thing as Season 5, And canon stops at 4x10 anyway, But this is so AU and gets more so as it goes along, Quentin Coldwater Lives, Queliot is Endgame, Memory Palace, Past Child Abuse Summary:

What if Eliot did a lot more from inside the Happy Place than take a greatest hits tour of his deepest regrets and speak to reality-Quentin only the one time?

What if Eliot kept putting himself through the wringer to get out to Quentin when he could, especially when Quentin needed him? And by practicing, could stay out for longer stretches of time?

What if the memory palace is actually the greatest study hall Eliot has ever known, and the enforced solitude with all his memories gives him the chance to level up into the master magician he was always meant to be?

Eliot sees Quentin struggling--with the Monster, with exhaustion and burnout, with depression--and he'll be damned if he doesn't do everything in his power to help. Especially since he feels responsible for it all.

4x9: Eliot to Penny-23: "This is a mind palace situation, and we don't have a lot of time, and I have some extremely major shit to tell you." Penny-23 to Quentin: "I saw Eliot in there. Alive. And poking around like a pro. The Monster, everything he can't remember. It's in there. All of it."

[cpmhew]

I went back to look at some of the texts I sent while watching The Magicians for the first time in September 2021. Apparently 4x05 was the first episode to make me cry. Little did I know I'd KEEP ON CRYING ABOUT IT for over a year and still with no end in sight!!!

[fixated-on-something]

UPDATE I FOUND IT!!!!

Can’t believe I got the quote right first try

Parallels: 4x10/4x05 - “I’ve got my Id, my lost innocence, and my guilt…”

[fumifooms]

What if we were both magic prodigies and it otherized us in different ways and we devoted ourselves to protecting a family member who has general other goals & priorities. What if we both did self-sacrifical devotion in opposite ways.

What if we were dark mirrors of each other and where I've grown overcontrolling you've grown complacent. What if, bought as a servant into a pretty loving home, ownership and control is what love looks like to me, and to you neglected and lonely growing up, love is gratefully taking any scraps of it you’re lent.

By belonging to someone, even if she comes back injured or fails at finding Delgal, she feels like she belongs and is cherished, by owning someone he feels safe in them not leaving him.

She’s what’s tethering him do you see… And he’s the only thing giving her direction and purpose in her state. She needs a compass and he needs a support.

They’re both so out of it 😭 It’s the weirdly intense and unearned mutual trust and reliance on each other?? They’re each other’s weird little comfort codependent teddy bear. Or at least they were headed towards that before SHE DIED THEN HE DIED THEN THEY BOTH FORGOT ABOUT EACH OTHER AND NEVER MET EVER AGAIN. Though she’s also the guard attack hound keeping him safe… And vice versa he heals her and can rewrite her very being with just one wave of his hand. They’re both so so mentally and physically vulnerable both but they cling onto each other. They can’t perceive things accurately but despite it all someway somehow they stumble into something closer to resembling companionship just before they both die. Falin is just that kind and Thistle is just that lonely. Overworked. We both haven’t lived for ourselves in a very long time, haven’t we.

They both have a similar devotion to the people they love but again the difference is that Thistle starts overtsepping while Falin is self-effacing. The other difference between them is that people care about Falin <3 People have given up on Thistle long ago, and he has given people reasons to, while people refuse to give up on Falin. Yaad has a mini arc about it dw about it it’s ok he’s not all alone in the end 😭😭 He reached out for Marcille’s hand but they already all wanted to help him, they just had to be given the chance to, Yaad just had to be given the chance to, it’s okay I’m okay

Hey what if we learned to get in touch with our own identity and the world around us and living in the present again through being in the worst codependent situationship ever.

Falin and Thistle sitting in a tree, sucking on flowers together because they’re h-u-n-g-r-y 💕💕💕

I bet he’s only ever thought of flowers as useless ornaments. Weak weeds. But she shows him they’re tasty and useful and good and pretty in their own right too and deserve existing without proving their worth and waaa <33 Thistles…... Did you know thistles taste sweet if you remove the thorns and eat them?

"Even as a chimera, her kind nature remains" you can’t suppress her in the way that matters. You can’t soothe him in the way that matters. It’s doomed. You’re doomed. It’s all doomed. Save me.

[puppyeared]

if escape rooms as team building exercises became popular im not sure if id be more excited or terrified

[ominous-feychild]

✦ OC Questionnaire Tag 3 ✦

Thanks for the tag, @illarian-rambling!

Characters from Sun and Shadow: Freya, Crow, and Valyarus Characters from the Arcane Rifts: Gene, Tazin, and Mislav Featuring tAR's children at ages 15, 17, and 17! (Aka mid book 2.)

Questions: - Do you have a tell when you're lying? - What other media genre would you do the worst in? - Are you confident in yourself? from @the-letterbox-archives

Do you have a tell when you're lying?

Freya: Um... not that I know of? I'm not really in the habit of lying? (*remembers that she does, in fact, lie a lot... but mostly through omission of the truth!*) Haha... yeah! ... ugh, okay, um. If I had to guess... (*shifts uncomfortably in place*) it would probably be that I struggle in what to say? Though I kinda do that anyway? Ugh, I don't really know. (A/N: the easiest sign to tell that she's "lying" is that she avoids the subject completely. She'll change the subject or "get distracted". She also fidgets more, but that's something she does a lot anyways because she's awkward.)

Crow: Of course not! I don't lie anyway, so how would I find out? 😉🥰 (psst... Crow...) What? (You're supposed to basically be under truth serum for these Questionnaire posts...) Okay. And? 😘 (So you're telling me that you, a detective, have never told a lie once?) ... (See the issue there?) Nope! 😄 (A/N: WHELP! Uncooperative Crow understandably won't tell you, so I will. They're a very good liar, so it's hard to tell when they do. The best indicator is that they'll stumble slightly in their speech when almost saying something "they shouldn't" or they'll hesitate while trying to come up with a lie. The falters are always subtle though.)

Valyarus: (*snorts*) I would think not. Besides, I'm not in the habit of lying. There's too much magic that can force you into Truth-telling to be able to rely on it--no, best is operating in half-truths and implication. The best method of deception is allowing the one you wish to deceive to come up with the answers for themself. For example... (*slowly smirks, quirking an eyebrow*) I never said I don't lie just now... did I? (A/N: ahhh, our beloved douchebag faerie living up to his species's reputation. In other words: he's a fantastic "liar".)

Gene: I... don't know. I'd... like to think not. Maybe... maybe that I... (*takes a slow, deep breath, collecting himself*) ... I probably act more confident when I lie. I... I'm not confident. And probably don't... stutter as much. Or hesitate... So, speaking patterns? They--they change, I mean. My speaking patterns. When I lie.

Tazin: (*snarls*) I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about, you got me? I--I-- (*struggling to lie because of the whole "these questions are answered under basically-truth serum" thing*) FINE! I don't fucking lie because I can't, okay? I avoid the subject! Or I just--I don't know, I just fucking lie??? How am I supposed to fucking know if I have a "tell"??? Don't you think I'd fucking fix it if I knew??? (A/N: he gets avoidant of the subject and/or highly aggressive to dissuade the asker from continuing at the moment... or generally asking again.)

Mislav: Um... this is a weird question?... I guess I don't really--(*remembers he lies literally all the time*)--lie... (*lets out a slow, pained sigh, running his hands back through his hair in frustration*) I don't know? I just--try my best to bullshit it? Try to make people feel better, or avoid giving them the information they want? I don't know??? (A/N: best indication is that he answers too quickly. He usually practices/rehearses his lies before it comes time to actually tell them. Otherwise (if he didn't expect to have to lie/doesn't have one prepared), he freezes up, stutters, and smiles/jokes too much as he tries "appeasing" or distracting the questioner.)

What other media genre would you do the worst in?

(we're going to be implanting Forbidden Knowledge of our Real World genres and whatnot for them to be able to best answer this!)

Freya: The horror genre. (*shudders*) I cannot deal with scary stuff, okay? I think I would be the first to die. I'd scream, or cry, and break down--probably try hitting the monster or whatever over the head with a chair when it turns the corner and, well... that never goes well in those sorts of things, does it?

Crow: Fairy tales. I'd either be the "lesson"--"don't do this or look what happens to you! You'll become Crow!"--or I'd be whatever the horrifying monster or villain is. I mean... (*laughs awkwardly, looking away and rubbing their shoulder feathers*) when you're me... you get used to knowing you're what's wrong with the world. (*beat. They realize what they've just said--*) I mean, romance. I'd probably annoy my love interest to death. 😎

Valyarus: (*fake gags, then with disgust:*) Romance. My only "biological" child was through magic, and I would not step foot near anyone with that sort of intention. I don't understand how others do. Much less why my daughter is so interested in Freya. They just met! (note: he's aroace and is equally disgusted with romance and sex. Also, yes, I know that's not how all aroace people are. I have plenty of other characters everywhere else in the spectrum. This is just where Valyarus is.)

Gene: Um... probably romance. I...'m not interested in it... not really. Be-besides with Mislav, I mean... and I... I don't even know why he likes me? 😅😓 ... people think I'm creepy. They don't say it--not to my face--but I know they think it. And I... I struggle to talk with people a lot. I try to say one thing, but they think I mean another?... I don't understand why. It's hard. And I--... I don't think I'd do well in that kind of story.

Tazin: The kinda thing where I'd have to teach. I don't have that kind of fucking patience, are you fucking kidding me? I think I'd explode on them. Maybe even literally. (*He pauses, considering it... and grins darkly*) Actually, wait--I take it back. I want to try. (I want to tag in and say traditional horror/thriller. I think the degree to which he'd freak out or curse out the monster would be comical and/or break the immersion, haha.)

Mislav: I would not be able to participate in a talk show or be in the news. A talk show? (*scoff*) Regardless of the subject, it wouldn't take long for me to be driven mad by their endless talking and pretending they know everything. The news? Even worse. I think I'd snap their mic in half. And only because I'd be struggling not to snap other things. <.< (read: necks, limbs, etc.)

Are you confident in yourself?

Freya: Ha... no, not really. I act like I am, but... y'know, it's just that--an act.

Crow: What's not to be confident about? I'm the greatest, I've never made a mistake in my life, and every decision I make is the best one I possibly can! 😘

Valyarus: (*poised on a grand chair; sipping tea elegantly with one hand while the other hangs over the side of the armrest. A nail file magically hangs in the air and is filing his nails while he sips tea*) Hm? What did you say? Oh. (*chuckles*) Of course I'm confident in myself. My abilities, my character, my decisions--everything. 😉💅

Gene: Depends what you mean by "myself"... (*goes quiet, looks away, and debates*) ... I... I try my best to make the right decisions. The best ones... that I possibly can. I--as hard as it is to not question them, it's--it's not good to worry about past decisions. I do my best, and that's--that's all I can do. So... (*takes a deep breath, collecting his thoughts*) I'm not confident, but I try to be.

Tazin: (*snarls*) Of course I'm confident. I've gotten this far, haven't I? (*and slowly starting to smirk instead--*) I mean, look at me. (*leans back and gestures at himself with both hands*) I used to live on the streets with Gene. Now I have a girlfriend. People used to be terrified at my name--and they still would be if I didn't have to stop with the whole "Svarog" thing. (*oops, snarls again and leans in close; threateningly*) Look, I don't care what anyone else says, but Gene wasn't the only reason we were successful! He wouldn't have gotten anywhere without my strength, got it!?!? (Is actually less confident than he thinks he is--overcompensates for that by having convinced himself that he's the greatest. Hm... wonder if that fits the diagnosis criteria for anything?)

Mislav: Ha... not at all. (*swallows and looks down at his hands, fighting back tears*) I... one of these days, this curse is going to take over me. Will I even know when it does? Or will it be slow enough that I never even recognize that I've changed? I... (*looks back up at asker*) I worry, one of these days, I'll only know it when I've done something I can't come back from...

Your questions: - Same as the ones I answered!

Tagging (with no pressure) @yourpenpaldee @honeybewrites @fantasy-things-and-such @wyked-ao3 @the-golden-comet

@paeliae-occasionally @ath3alin @mysticstarlightduck @the-letterbox-archives + open tags!

Divider from @cafekitsune

[thasorns-moved]

But from what I’ve seen, he already tries and works so hard. - Cause he has you who always spoils him, that’s why he’s like this. — Parents about Waan

Working is not fun. If you have the chance to live your life, then do it. Work is not going anywhere. You should let it go sometimes. — Waan to Win

I’m not gonna stop you, if you wanna help. But I just don’t want you to give up on your dreams. Don’t want anybody to force you to do this and that. — Win to Wiew

Dad! In case you didn’t know, Waan was gone all night because he was dealing with the issues at the resort. I promised Hia Win that when I grew up, we’ll help each other to run the resort. But now, I wish it could go bankrupt. I’m also curious, if you don’t have that stupid hotel would you gonna be the old dad we used to have? — Wiew to his father

[coyotecavaleri]

My least favorite part about posting incorrect magicians quotes and stuff magicians related is reading half the reblogs that are like “I should rlly start watching it again I never got past season 2 :)” with the most amount of horror knowing nothing I can say will prevent the terrors of season 4

[mlobsters]

supernatural s7e10 death's door (w. sera gamble) / the magicians s4e5 escape from the happy place (w. mike moore, showrunners sera gamble & john mcnamara)

No, deep like… crap you do not want to think about. So you bury it. You shove other crap over it and you don't go there ever. The one you seek though is difficult to find, it’s hidden well, even from you, it hides in the place you think of least because… you don’t wish to. Why? Because it’s so terrible.

[quadrantadvisor]

Alright, my Amazing Digital Circus hot-off-the-presses theory is that there is no escape. They're stuck in there forever because there's no where else for them to go.

We see the computer that houses the circus, and the headset that Pomni describes having worn before showing up there. Conspicuously missing is the actual body of Pomni. Or anyone else, for that matter. The implication SEEMS to be that this machine houses the entire circus, rather than this being an online experience hosted on a server. What I'm saying is this seems like less of a Sword Art Online experience and more of a Soma one. I think that headset takes a brain scan of whoever wears it and downloads a digital version of their consciousness.

It makes the reveal of the sheer number of people who have "abstracted" and completely lost themselves make more sense to me. You'd think the authorities would hear about it if a ton of people went missing, or went insane, or went completely brain-dead while wearing these headsets. But if the people out in the real world are completely fine and continue living their normal lives, then who cares about the endless suffering of their digital counterparts?

It also makes the entire concept of a consciousness abstracting make more sense to me if characters are coded onto the machine rather than hosted by an actual living brain. A character who "goes insane" and has corruptions and aberrations in their code could start glitching like that.

So yeah that's my hot take. An exit can't take them anywhere because there's nowhere else to go. There is only circus.

[oculusxcaro]

While Khare wasn't exactly considered a 'success' by PROMETHEUS, there are times where her body does function according to plan. One of these are enhanced capabilities, particularly in regards to improved jumping thanks to the frog DNA inserted into her genetic sequence. One time when walking to Pauli's, Khare was startled by a group of young thugs calling out and running after her. When met by a dead-end, she jumped straight up and on top of the building, losing the group but ended up arriving late to work as she struggled to find a way down after getting on top of a (very) high roof.

[epicswagdivorceguy1]

LUSAWICKE VISIONS IN MY MINDDD theyre so sad and tragic