#foe: script reading

[fluentmoviequoter]

Please a Tim Bradford x shy!reader?

Since I’m Mexican American who grew up in the USA all my life and almost Halloween 🎃, please Lucy wants to record the shy!reader and her guy friends dressing up as Mario, Luigi and the reader dress as Yoshi while Tim watching the trio and Lucy recording them.

https://youtube.com/shorts/6XvvZw-YDU8?si=tiaHE_uCJfw-9GPK

This ended up being a blurb (set in the same universe as the Firefighters: Friend or Foe series but able to be read without that!). I hope that's okay and you enjoy it! 🤍

0.8k+ words of fluff with Tim x shy!fem!reader

The Pretty Dinosaur

“Good morning!” Lucy calls as she enters your workplace.

You look up from your notebook and furrow your brows when you see several bags hanging from her arm. There is confetti printed on them, and your shoulders automatically tense when she smiles and walks toward you.

“Where are the guys?” she inquires, leaning forward to look over your shoulder.

“Busy,” you answer quietly.

“Is that Lucy?!” one of the guys in question yells before he walks down the hallway. “Lucy!”

“Darry!” she replies, smiling as she fist-bumps him. “I need your help with something.” Turning toward you, she adds, “That means you, too.”

You shake your head, but Darry smiles at you and leans against your desk to distract you while Lucy enters the hallway to find Jay. She and Jay seem to enjoy testing the limits of your shyness more than anyone... except maybe Tim.

“Okay, listen,” Lucy demands as she returns.

You think you see her hand leaving Jay’s. Then she raps on the table and distracts you from your internal evaluation of their relationship.

“This,” she begins, reaching into the bag. “Is for you.”

Your eyes widen as she removes a Yoshi costume, a printed onesie with a hood and shorts, and then tosses it toward you. As you catch it against your chest, she passes Darry and Jay each a bag, winking at Jay before she steps back.

“I was shopping for Halloween decorations for my apartment and saw these. Put them on and we have to film some videos of you guys in them.”

“What even is Yoshi?” you mumble as you examine the costume.

“He’s a dragon,” Jay answers.

“No, bro, he’s a dinosaur,” Darry argues. “Hey, why does he get to be Mario?”

“Because he looks better in the mustache,” Lucy explains.

“You’d think so,” you whisper as you move your chair away from the desk.

Lucy’s eyes widen in surprise at your bold comment, but she waves her hands quickly, encouraging you to change.

“I have scripts!” she adds as you enter the restroom.

When you emerge in your Yoshi costume, Jay twirls the faux mustache beneath his nose and uses an Italian accent to say, “Yoshi! Welcome home!”

“She looks more like she’s in another place that’s four letters and starts with h,” Darry points out.

“C’mon, this is fun!” Lucy encourages, bouncing slightly. “I was thinking that you guys can film a few funny videos on your own and then I can give you the ideas I had.”

“Why?” you ask, holding your fingers together behind your back.

“Just for fun. I won’t post them, I promise. Now, get in your places. And… action!”

Lucy holds up her phone and smiles behind the screen as she records Jay walking into the frame.

“This red brings out my mustache, hey, Luigi?” he jokes in the same accent from before.

“Sure!” Darry agrees, walking behind Jay. “Except nobody’s ever seen a Dominican Mario.”

“He’s from Puerto Rico,” you point out, allowing Darry to push you to Jay’s side.

“My trusty sidekick is right!” he exclaims, placing his hand over your face when you open your mouth to argue that you are not his sidekick. “But it’s the same island!”

“No, it’s not,” you, Darry, and Lucy say together.

“Who’s the game named after?” Jay challenges.

“Who loses his girlfriend to an anthropomorphic turtle every week on date night?” Darry retorts.

“Did someone call the police?”

You turn quickly, disturbing the Yoshi hood over your head, and immediately drop your eyes when you see Tim leaning against your desk, watching the show in his patrol blues.

“I did,” you answer. "Don't worry, Bowser isn't involved this time."

Lucy begins laughing and ends the video as she bends forward and attempts to catch her breath. Jay lays a hand on her shoulder and continues to flirt with her as Darry tries to provoke him further. Meanwhile, you slowly approach Tim’s side with your eyes on your bare legs below the shorts of your costume.

“What are you?” Tim asks, and you can hear the smile in his voice.

“Yoshi,” you murmur, taking his hand to look at it rather than his face.

“Cute.”

“Lucy made me,” you add. “She wanted a funny video for Halloween.”

“I would’ve gotten you a better costume if I knew you wanted one.”

“I didn’t,” you explain as Lucy interjects, “You couldn’t have found better!”

“Maybe we should stop on the way home and I’ll find one you’ll enjoy looking at since you can’t seem to make eye contact today,” Tim whispers as he pulls you closer.

You whine and drop your forehead against his shoulder. He apologizes though he's aware that he’s pushing you but totally insincere.

“Can’t leave yet,” Jay calls. “Lucy isn’t done with us yet.”

“Maybe we should make one to explain why we’re all the wrong race for our characters,” Darry suggests.

“Ooh, yes!” Lucy agrees, raising her phone.

“Nobody messes with Puerto Rican Mario,” Jay purrs in his Italian accent.

“Help,” you whisper against Tim’s shoulder.

“After I hear the explanation of how a girl as pretty as you ended up dressed like a dragon.”

“Dinosaur!” Darry argues as you attempt to hold onto Tim’s hand to escape the camera and the reminder that your friends don’t care about you or how shy they’re making you.

[psychhound]

[ID: a banner for a TTRPG. there is a light tan background and large brown text that reads "the narrator paradox". smaller blue text beneath it reads "all you've ever been is a storyteller ... now the story is fighting against you". there are tilted blue and orange boxes behind the word paradox. end ID]

There is a way the story is meant to go. You have seen the future. The past and the present. You know the hero of this tale, and where they end up. You know why they go there and every ally and foe along the way. Every fleck of sand moved beneath their boot has been foretold and defined and the words that tell of it slip from your lips like the oldest of hymns …

So if that little bastard could just STOP going off script that would be really great. What do you MEAN the protagonist isn’t listening to you!? This is a STORY—don’t they know they’re in a STORY? They aren’t meant to have … have … AUTONOMY or whatever other silly thing has gotten in their head.

You need a raise. Not that the human concept of money influences your role as a narrator in any way. But, like … anything would be nice. A raise. A swift kick in the head. Maybe the undefinable concept of storytelling will talk about a union.

Sorry—they’ve done WHAT now? Okay, chat’s over. There’s a protagonist to wrangle. 

[ID: a lineart drawing of one open book and two closed books on a light tan background. end ID]

The Narrator Paradox is a one page solo-narrating game where you try to tell a story ... if your protagonist will let you. In it, you determine the five acts of your story based on an oracle, then make rolls for your plot beats to see if you can wrangle your protagonist into the prescribed narrative. If you can't, they defy you and take the story into their own hands. Wrestle the story into shape against a rebellious hero, or lose them forever and have to finish the story without them in it. 

What you'll need:

The Major Arcana from a tarot deck 

Two 6-sided dice

A coin 

The inspirations for the game include The Stanley Parable, The Princess Bride, and Stardust

Get the game now on itch!

[disneytva]

Dynamite Comics Sets New Darkwing Duck Series For February 2025

Writer Daniel Kibblesmith is now the terror that flaps in the night, as he’ll be taking over Dynamite’s Darkwing Duck in February, alongside artists Ted Brandt and Ro Stein… Plus “contributions” from original creator, Tad Stones.

“I am the writer who scripts in the night,” Kibblesmith said via press release provided to Comic Book Club. “I am (writing) Darkwing Duck. And I couldn’t feel luckier. Let’s get dangerous — and let’s get pre-ordered!”

The brand new monthly series will bring DD (not Daredevil) back to basics with a “fun approach” that seeks to “ask and answer all the essential questions about the beloved star. How did this avian exemplar develop his redoubtable reputation? What lessons did he learn in his earliest days of foe-foiling? His legion of fans, both within the story and reading these comics, as well as his adopted daughter, Gosalyn, want the lowdown on all these key questions. Darkwing is more than happy to revisit the highlights of his crime-busting career — though there can be no promise that these chronicles will not be embellished, organized, chronological, or verifiable in any way. But they will be a blast!” So yes, this is sort of a Darkwing Duck: Year One, by way of the hero maybe lying about a bunch of stuff.

“I was delighted with Dynamite bringing Darkwing Duck and family back to comics with three, count ‘em three, titles featuring his super pals and his ultimate nemesis, and then they dragged me into the craziness for a bunch of variant covers on this new series,” Stones said. “The stories and art I’ve seen have captured the comedy and adventure of the original series while bringing a fresh take on it all. Thrilled to be a part of it!”

DARKWING DUCK #1

(W) Daniel Kibblesmith (A) Ted Brandt, Ro Stein (CA) Tad Stones

He is the terror that flaps in the night! The fowl that felons most fear! A legend in his own time (and his own mind)! He is… DARKWING DUCK! But how did this avian exemplar develop his redoubtable reputation? What lessons did he learn in his early days of crime-busting and foe-foiling? His legion of fans (or, at least, his adopted daughter, Gosalyn) want to know – and DW is more than happy to tell her the whole (possibly embellished) story in this unauthorized (and unorganized) autobiography!

In Shops: Feb 12, 2025

[softsan]

・⊹ 🎐 ˙ ̟!! NCT MASTERLIST

key: fluff 🤍 , angst 🖇️ , suggestive 🍶 , smut 🥛 , adult themes 🍚 , coming soon 📨 , in progress 🎧 , completed 📑 , requests 📁 .

✉️ ・ 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓 ・ ᝰ

˚ ☁️ ⊹ alphabet boy. — lee taeyong 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🥛 , 📨 , single dad au, ceo au synopsis - after a nasty breakup with your ex-boyfriend, you return back to the city you once called home. not quite ready to face your parent’s disapproval, you beg your brother jaehyun to keep the secret of your return and help you out by securing you a job. what you hadn’t foreseen to come was the all-consuming relationship that would form with your new boss taeyong… what more trouble could you possibly find yourself into? - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ champagne problems. — lee taeyong 10k ; 🖇️ , 🥛 , 🍚 , 📨 , gangster au synopsis - the night was young, your parents were merry. this engagement would prove fruitful for you family, only furthering their fortunes. however, the infamous gangster taeyong has other plans. can you resist  taeyong’s deadly allure? or will you fall helplessly for the for the enemy you should avoid? - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ twist of a pen. — lee taeyong 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 📨 , fantasy au synopsis - you were a novice scriptwriter who had just received your big break joining the writing team for the upcoming miniseries starring some of hollywood’s finest. taeyong was the heartthrob lead, cold and distant to everyone on set. one rainy evening, whilst writing, you accidentally fall asleep and find yourself transported to an alternative reality where you are the princess of the script you were writing, and taeyong is the villain that tries to kill you. - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ noir. — kim doyoung 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🥛 , 🍚 , 📨 , 1950′s setting, gangster au synopsis - you were a daunting figure, a true-born witch of the lunar coven. doyoung was a formidable foe, a gangster from the city east. both of you worked in societies’ shadows to expand your own personal objectives. however, it appears fate has entwined your paths together in more ways than one. What happens when you pair an impulsive witch with a ruthless gangster? chaos. - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ you're undeniable, love. — kim doyoung 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 🍚 , 📨 , medieval setting, fantasy au synopsis - you had promised the elders to keep a low profile. to do what you must to sell yourself as an ordinary being. once disguised as a maid, your lady who was betrothed to the merciless prince doyoung flees before her wedding ceremony, leaving her father with the impossible choice of finding a replacement to pose as his daughter in order not to offend the warring states. his replacement, most unfortunately, is you. however, will you survive alongside the lies, deceit and a husband the world has branded as a monster?  - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ mortem. — jung jaehyun 10k ; 🖇️ , 🥛 , 🍚, demon au synopsis - you were a struggling dropout who took a side job as a waitress at a maid café. not only were you financially supporting your high school sweetheart through law school, but you were also responsible for taking care of his elderly grandmother. despite your dedication to your boyfriend, he commits the ultimate betrayal, selling your soul to the underworld. desperate for your survival, you make an impossible choice…becoming a servant of a bloodthirsty demon, jaehyun. . - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ be my valentine. — mark lee 3.2k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 📑 , 1980's setting, best friend au synopsis - you’ve had a crush on your neighbour mark since you were a kid. one fateful valentines day dance you decide to confess your love. unfortunately, things go horribly wrong as a slew of misunderstandings occur. - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ hold me tight. — lee donghyuk 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 📨 , soulmate au synopsis - . - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ sugar cookie. — lee jeno 10k ; 🤍 , 🥛 , 📨 , slice of life, cafe au synopsis - life can be challenging. one of your daily challenges was trying to study in your brother’s cafe, in the presence of the cute barista boy, jeno. you knew you really should have gone elsewhere—you concentration fading by the second, but oh you couldn’t will yourself to leave, not after he flashed that smile of his in your direction. - read here.

˚ ☁️ ⊹ so called love. — na jaemin 10k ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 📨 , soulmate au synopsis - . - read here.

✉️ ・ 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 ・ ᝰ

˚ 🌨️ ⊹ mafia au. — nct 10k+ ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🥛 , 🍚 , 🎧 , mafia au synopsis - dive into the dark, devious, devilish mafia universe. where one rejoices in deadly past times, and indulges in all sorts of sin. - read here.

˚ 🌨️ ⊹ werewolf au. — nct 10k+ ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍶 , 🍚 , 🎧 , werewolf au synopsis - howl alongside the werewolf universe. come across the likes of moon beast, wolf bites, and other wicked and wild things. - read here.

˚ 🌨️ ⊹ hybrid au. — nct 127 10k+ ; 🤍 , 🖇️ , 🍚 , 🎧 , hybrid au synopsis - embrace the hybrid universe. overcome the greatest of differences and the hardest of challeges, for a reward most precious. - read here.

✉️ ・ 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐒 ・ ᝰ

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ taeyong. [5:43 am] [1:58 pm] [4:09 pm] [5:26 pm] [10:58 pm] [11:56 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ taeil. [3:54 pm] [6:35 pm] [9:15 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ johnny. [7:43 am] [2:26 pm] [3:43 pm] [5:38 pm] [8:23 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ yuta. [7:45 am] [8:55 am] [4:45 pm] [5:47 pm] [6:45 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ kun. [4:56 pm] [6:12 pm] [8:45 pm] [11:04 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ doyoung. [10:12 am] [3:14 am] [8:36 pm] [9:06 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ ten. [12:31 am] [6:13 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jaehyun. [3:12 am] [4:51 am] [8:56 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ winwin. [5:48 am] [11:03 am] [1:39 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jungwoo. [7:07 am] [7:43 am] [7:45 am] [5:28 pm] [7:21 pm] [11:58 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ mark. [8:12 am] [6:59 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ xiaojun. [6:02 am] [10:17 am] [4:43 pm] [5:34 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ hendery. [6:42 am] [8:54 am] [2:30 am] [6:08 am]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ renjun. [12:03 am] [10:01 am] [3:25 pm] [6:02 pm] [11:54 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jeno. [12:25 am] [10:12 am] [4:09 pm] [4:43 pm] [5:43 pm] [9:47 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ haechan. [11:15 am] [3:01 pm] [5:56 pm] [11:39 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jaemin. [12:20 am] [1:06 am] [8:45 am] [11:03 am] [4:58 pm] [6:14 pm] [7:34 pm]

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ yangyang. [2:32 am] [7:45 am] [9:18 am] [2:58 pm] [10:56 pm] 

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ chenle.

˚ 🌩️ ⊹ jisung.

© softsan - all rights reserved. please do not repost on any social media sites, translate, or modify any of my works.

[worflesbian]

Klingons & Racialisation - the Long Post

This post is an overview of the racial coding of the Klingons from their first appearance to the present day, illustrated by quotes from Trek writers, actors and crew members taken from the Memory Alpha article Depicting Klingons, with my own interjected summaries and explanations. It is by no means comprehensive (I likely missed some stuff), and does not offer critical analysis of the quotes provided, but nonetheless is intended to demonstrate irreproachably the open fact that Klingons have always been intentionally written and designed as non-white -- something that fandom consistently fails to take into account when perpetuating racist stereotypes and reiterating racist canon content. I recommend reading the whole article for a more in-depth understanding of the subject, as well as seeking out the existing writing of fans of colour. This post is primarily for reference purposes so I've tried to limit my own analysis and opinions, but I do post those in my Klingon tag as well as more general headcanons and worldbuilding and I'm happy to answer any (good faith) questions this post may raise.

As always, if I have overstepped in any way as a white fan in making this post, I am grateful to be informed and will make any required changes.

Content warning for outdated and offensive language under the cut.

The Original Series

"There is some suggestion that the Klingons represent a Cold Warrior's view of China in the 1960s – swarthy, brutally repressive." (Star Trek Magazine issue 153, p. 66) "And I think he was basing a lot of it on the kind of attitude of the Japanese in World War II...." ("Errand of Mercy" Starfleet Access, TOS Season 1 Blu-ray) The script of "Errand of Mercy" introduces the Klingon look by saying, "We see the Klingons are Orientals," "Spray my hair black, give me a kind of swamp creature green olivey mud reptilian make-up, and we'll borrow some stuff from Fu Manchu, and put a long moustache and eyebrows on me." ("The Sword of Colicos", Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Official Poster Magazine, No. 8) "I think the makeup was called 'Mexican #1 or #2.' That was the name of the original makeup foundation – they actually had kind of racist names at the time, like 'Negro #1' and 'Mexican #2' – which was the basis for the original Star Trek makeups." (Star Trek Magazine issue 172, p. 59) "In the original series, all they wore was a dark face and their black hair," Michael Westmore observed. ("Michael Westmore's Aliens: Season Two", DS9 Season 2 DVD special features) The Klingons' appearance changed within the original Star Trek series; although dark makeup and heavy eyebrows were the norm, the Klingons of "The Trouble with Tribbles" were much lighter-skinned and more Human-like in appearance.... He noticed that they are not only less like Mongol warriors by having less of a swarthy appearance but also by being slightly not as fierce... ("The Trouble with Tribbles" Starfleet Access, TOS Season 2 Blu-ray) "...they were meant to represent the Communist foes of the United States specifically during the Vietnam War, which was being controversially fought at that time. (Star Trek: The Original Series 365, p. 222) "...let us never set up a situation whereby those adversaries of ours [Klingons] give any indication of ever being anything but highly aggressive and self-seeking opponents." (These Are the Voyages: TOS Season Three)

Here it is explicitly stated that the Klingons were based on various Asian cultures, with the USSR also being mentioned heavily in the article. This influence and the use of "yellowface" is covered more comprehensively in this youtube video Klingons & The History Of Racial Coding. However, the video has some notable gaps which I hope to cover in this post.

Post-TOS (movies)

The Star Trek III portrayal of Klingons took inspiration from Japanese history. "Harve [Bennett] had the notion that the Klingons were like Samurai warriors," explained linguist Marc Okrand. (Star Trek: Communicator issue 114, p. 27) Robert Fletcher agreed with Bennett, later saying of the Klingons, "I always liked to think of them as authoritarian, almost feudal, like Japan had been." (The Making of the Trek Films, UK 3rd ed., p. 52) Regarding the make-up, Michael Westmore observed, "Until now, Klingons were brown. Some had a bony ridge running down the middle of their foreheads, long black wigs and facial hair." (Star Trek: The Next Generation Makeup FX Journal, p. 28) "I thought it was an ideal way for us to have our closure too, because the Klingons for us have always been the Communist Block, the Evil Empire. It just made sense to do that story." (The Making of the Trek Films, UK 3rd ed., p. 100) "Gene was really bothered by the Klingons in VI [....] [They] were, in his words, 'too civilized, too decent, too much of the good guys in the story.' [....] [The Klingon detente] was not the way Gene would have handled it. He would have reversed it, he would have had the Klingons being the ones who couldn't handle the peace, with the Federation saying, 'Come on, let's try and work this out.'" (Star Trek Movie Memories, hardback ed., p. 289) "The story never explored the Klingon culture the way I'd hoped it would [....] I was hoping for greater insight into the Klingons." (I Am Spock) Nimoy hoped, in specific, that the movie would provide some important insight into why the Klingons had "always been so angry, such nasty, vicious murderers." Nimoy wanted the insightful knowledge to be an intellectually transformational force, changing the thinking of Kirk and the audience. (Star Trek Movie Memories, hardback ed., pp. 287-288) In an interview in the DS9 Season 7 DVD, Robert O'Reilly observed that a long-running joke among actors who have played Klingons is that they do not want to appear in the Star Trek films as, he believes, the only purpose of a Klingon in one of the films was to be killed off.

Although these last three quotes may not seem relevant, I believe they highlight an important facet of the racialisation of the Klingons. It reads as though Gene Roddenberry was against depicting the Klingons in a more sympathetic light than the Federation, and considering that the Klingons are intended to be non-white, refusing to give depth or motive to their anger in favour of keeping them "nasty, vicious murderers" comes across as fairly racist, especially when these kind of reductive and harmful stereotypes could've been challenged as Nimoy suggests. The treatment of Klingons as disposable villains is also concerning in this context.

The Next Generation

African-American actors were often cast as Klingons in TNG and subsequent Star Trek productions. This practice wasn't racially motivated but was instead carried out because it lessened makeup time, as the performers already had a brown complexion without having to have their skin painted that color. (Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: TNG, Part 2: Launch, TNG Season 1 Blu-ray) Tony Todd, who portrayed the recurring Klingon character Kurn, stated, "I don't look at the Klingons necessarily as African-Americans, but it's about tapping into something–they're certainly an alienated people, so maybe that's why African-American actors can identify with those characters. But that doesn't mean it's exclusive to them." (Star Trek: Communicator issue 116, p. 54) Michael Westmore actually changed the Klingon facial design in numerous ways, though. He stated, "I added a Shakespearean style of facial hair and a forehead bone structure based on dinosaur vertebrae and I was able to modify motion picture Klingons for television." (Star Trek: Aliens & Artifacts, p. 59) In "A Matter Of Honor", the Klingons were intended to be used to shed some light on a common social problem prevalent at the time of the episode's making. This was, namely, what it was like to be the only person of either white or black skin coloration while surrounded by people of the other color. The Klingons were selected to illustrate this theme as a spin on the usual arrangement of a predominantly Human crew serving aboard the Enterprise-D alongside Worf. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 176) Two historical societies, the Samurai and Vikings, served as other inspirations, Moore perceiving about Klingon culture, "There was the calm, elegant reserve associated with the Samurai but there was the 'party-down' like the Vikings." (Star Trek: Communicator issue 114, p. 58) "I stopped thinking of the Klingons as the Cold War adversary," he explained. "I didn't think it fit [....] The place where the Russians were when I was doing the Klingon shows just wasn't as relevant any more." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 19, pp. 64-65) "The Klingons are not evil, tyrannical pirates bent only on pillage and plunder. They have a strict, almost unyielding code of ethics and honor and take their responsibilities as rulers seriously." Following a description of the Klingon homeworld, the memo continued by saying, "Klingon society could most closely be compared to that of Sparta or feudal Japan." ("Sins of the Father" audio commentary, TNG Season 3 Blu-ray) Having recently seen the film Malcolm X, he imagined the Klingons in the "Birthright" duology as metaphors for black people. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 274; Star Trek: Communicator issue 105, p. 16) "There's a certain way you have to carry yourself. You have to really be able to project the violence and the anger [....] All you have to do is think of the Spartans. They say, 'They'd rather have you come home dead on your shield than come home a coward.' [18]

This is where I feel the video essay previously mentioned falls short -- in the next gen era, Klingons are now explicitly black-coded. While some Asian cultural influences are still cited, they learn more towards the historical and are intermixed with other historical European influences (Spartans, Vikings, Shakespeare) rather than being fueled by contemporary prejudices towards the political enemies of the US as they were in the TOS era.

Deep Space Nine

Fields also generally based the Klingon group on American Western prototypes from the film The Magnificent Seven or, to a lesser extent, Japanese prototypes from The Magnificent Seven's movie source material, Seven Samurai. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (pp. 131-132)) "So, the hair [...] was permed. So, it had more of a curl instead of the straight type look, and by perming it, they were able to kind of give them larger, bigger hair, so it was more like a mane." ("Michael Westmore's Aliens: Season Two", DS9 Season 2 DVD special features) "I don't know how you could equate Klingons with what's going on in the world today," he admitted. "I think the intention was to make them like samurai. That hairdo they gave them is very much a samurai hairdo. A lot of the fight sequences, the moves with the bat'telh, are very much taken out of the Asian martial arts [....] It's very romantic you know, these three old guys, the Klingon over-the-hill gang." (The Official Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Magazine issue 15, pp. 17-18) "It was different for them to get into this makeup, because [...] [the makeup was more elaborate and] the beards were bigger, and they were greyer, and they had curls to them, and the moustaches, they had the Fu Manchu look to them. So, they weren't used to sitting that long to be a Klingon." ("Michael Westmore's Aliens: Season Two", DS9 Season 2 DVD special features) For recreating some old-style Klingons in "Trials and Tribble-ations", the Klingon-playing actors had to be made up with the same swarthy, shiny brown makeup as used in the original series. (The Magic of Tribbles: The Making of Trials and Tribble-ations) ...he had them unite in song, thinking this was "just the kind of thing that Klingons do" because they are, in his opinion, similar to Vikings. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (p. 449)) "I always saw the Klingons as a combination of Japanese Samurai who haven't had their morning coffee (or tea!) and African Zulu warriors." [25]

In DS9 the only inspirations cited seem to be historical, once again leaning towards feudal Japan and the Vikings. Interestingly although the Klingons here are predominantly dark-skinned, I don't think that J.G. Hertzler, who is white, had his skin significantly darkened to play Martok (at least, not compared to the obvious brown makeup worn by other white actors playing Klingons). Having a white actor play a Klingon without dark makeup could've set a precedent decreasing the use of such practices later on, but no one seems to have picked up on it.

Enterprise

The Klingons of ENT: "Sleeping Dogs" were based on the crew of the Russian submarine Kursk. "For me," said Dekker, "the point was to acknowledge the Klingons as 'people' – to find them in a clear position of distress [....] The idea to 'humanize' their plight was mine, and it wasn't anything I thought about as far as canon. It just seemed right." (Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection, issue 41, pp. 10-12) In the final draft script of "Affliction", the altered Klingons were initially referred to as "fierce-looking aliens" and were further described thus; "The aliens have a swarthy complexion, and dark facial hair... they could easily be mistaken for Humans. We'll eventually learn these are Klinqons... but their cranial ridges have disappeared."

At this point in time it seems the Klingons had essentially done a 180 from one-dimensional villains to sympathetic fan favourites, while still retaining the skin-darkening aspect of their makeup and "barbaric" characterisation. Although this is not mentioned in the article's section on the Abrams films, the images provided do demonstrate a level of skin darkening for the Klingons' brief appearance in Into Darkness.

The final section of the article is incomplete, meaning I don't have a lot of information for Discovery's redesign of the Klingons. The sources I can find cite ancient civilisations such as the Byzantines as well as Islamic architecture as inspiration for the set design, with a baroque influence on the costumes. I have heard rumours that the crew of Discovery have cited North African cultures as their inspiration for the Klingons but I can't currently find a source for this. Despite the lack of direct quotes, it's visibly clear that the Klingon makeup is still darkening the skin of white actors, although this time also to non-human blue and purple colours, as well as altering certain features in a racialised way. To elaborate: Mary Chieffo, who plays L'Rell on Discovery, is white and has a very thin nose and small lips, but in costume these are broadened in a way that seems imitative of African ethnic features.

As of the making of this post (early August 2023) I haven't seen any of Strange New Worlds, but from some cursory research its latest episode (Subspace Rhapsody) seems to have put a white actor (Bruce Horak) in brown makeup to play a Klingon. I am deeply disappointed that on a television set in 2023 people can still be darkening an actors skin like this without questioning the racial implications of what they're doing.

Thank you for reading to the end of this post. Please feel free to link to it if you found it useful enough to cite in another context. I would like to reiterate that I am white and while this is an issue I care deeply about it is not one I have an emic understanding of, and if anything I've said here is inappropriate I would be very grateful to be made aware.

[mused-like-roses]

~ 1,000 followers ~

// Due to the length, it'll be under a read-more

I remember starting my RPing journey back in... 2014-2015 on this little place called Miiverse. It was the most inconvenient place to start RPing, but we all had to start somewhere. and boy did I had to start somewhere; I didn't know much on the whole RPing shtick, using mostly the script style of RPing (e.g. Ruby: dialogue *actions*), threads didn't go anywhere much, and Miiverse had the problem of rarely having RPers thanks to it's "30 posts a day" limit. I hung around for almost a good year I believe until it was time for Miiverse to slowly die out and close it's door.

It was around it's dying years I stumbled further into the internet's other corners. Places like Deviantart and whatnot... and then there was this little place called Tumblr. My curiosity piqued due to knowing a really really REALLY old mutual back on Miiverse and to an extent Deviantart. My start was awfully ROUGH. I didn't know anything about Tumblr and how it rolled; icons, PFPs, writing, etc. I didn't even start RPing until like... around 2016-2017 maybe? It was slightly better than MV, but it was still a bumpy ride. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't have fun learning the ropes.

My start in the platform was rough to say the least; icons weren't used all that much, I didn't really get all semi-lit - literate like I am today, hell I didn't know jack about trimming my posts! but it didn't stop me from trucking on. I slowly but surely learned the ropes, made a small group of friends, met my first love slowly turned toxic bitch of an ex-GF on here, it was going slow but smoothly. Then around the '17 - '18 period, I started fresh with all the experience in hand. Said years rolled around and I slowly transitioned over to Discord as well, making another slew of friends over there as well.

And that was when things kicked off; I was RPing like it was a casual past time of mine, made many of friends, many of foes, but most importantly I was having fun. And then 2022 came around... my self-promo came to be, and I locked in to take my hobby more serious. Now look at how it started vs. how it's going: I started out knowing nothing about RPing, I ended with years of experience under my belt and many mutuals, and with many mutuals eventually came 1,000 followers. I never thought I'd get this far into my life, let alone the RPC, but here we are. And it wouldn't have been possible without some close mutuals I know and like to give a shout-out to:

@astral-multiverse ~ I'm getting the elephant out of the room with the one I've been by their side the most since day one. What started with small interactions here and there slowly turned into full blown long-term RPs broken up by smaller RPs. We made so many ships with your OC (whom I'll say it before and say it again, is one of my faves in the RPC), and OOC you're a blessed bean that I can go to anytime for anything be it nerding out for venting. Thank you so much for being by my side 'til death does us apart, and here's to many more RPs.

@the-expatriate ~ Much like Astral above, we had tiny interactions here and there. But good gracious you are one of the most blessed muns I've had the pleasures of interacting with. Your OC is AMAZING, we were like twins nerding out about music and similar tastes in games/shows, but most importantly you knew me so well with my Autism and was always there to speak to me when needed. I gotta give you the same amount of thanks for being around this long, couldn't have done it without you.

@grayfxce ~ You are literally the SMG4 of the RPC. What started out as a silly concept of roleplaying as the titular anon soon turned into something huge; you fleshed Gray out into an OC that would fit in any place, anywhere. And boy did we nerd out about similar tastes and shitposted like there was no tomorrow! You're one of the many whose company I've enjoyed greatly, and I hope to RP with you again.

@historias-multorum ~ One of my more recent mutuals I had stumbled across after being followed by them... I made the best call I could ever make when I followed back and started interacting. Your portrayals are spot-on, and you're so understanding and to the point in and out of RPing. And shipping with you is always a treat, especially Sasuten! Thank you for being by my side, I greatly appreciate RPing and speaking with you and hope to continue this train.

@musecheerios ~ Also another recent mutual I've began to interact with, and also another call that I've made that was worth it. Our interactions have been amazing so far, both IC and OOC. You're the literal definition of "Soft Baby Hell" and will not take shit with anyone, something I can appreciate in a mun. Talking with you has been amazing, and I hope to interact more with you!

Honorable mentions for muns I've interacted with and/or yearn to interact with more: @on-dragons-wings, @divinityunleashed, @chronicparagon, @whiskeysmulti, @reddawnmultimuse, @dragvnsovl, @mz-pixie (also an old mutual of mine!), @hxroic-wxlls-rxborn, @samayo-tamashi, @wildxcardrebel, @flamesignite

Thank you all so much for being stuck with this anxiety-induce otaku of a mun, and here's to many more with you guys.

~ May your heart be your guiding key ~

[sgiandubh]

Hi!

Fitness Anon here…

On Friday S posted the „Hotel Highball“ video which was obviously recorded in Scotland, not in the US. 

So now „Miss I know it all“ aka Marple rushed to readjust her guessing game and sources about S’s whereabouts. Until the occurrence of this video she claimed he was still in L.A., but now she tells her audience he is back since Thursday… . Because she knows and has proof and facts. Sure? 🤔 It took only a video posted by the „ King of latergrams“ to doubt her own predictions? Is she so easy to unsettle? 

Hopefully right now these are better sources than the ones she claimed to have to indicate what S was up to this weekend and why he couldn’t attend the Con in Birmingham weeks ago. 

But she always keeps it vague so that she can adjust depending on the actual outcome so that it fits into her made-up storyline. 

So, grab your 🍿 and wait what’s up in her  crystal ball next. Perhaps she will also find answers there to the still unresolved question of his IG unfollows and his hair length in order to be able to place the recording of his latest booze video more precisely in time.

Dear, poor (returning) Fitness Anon,

You must have the patience of an angel and put up with me being awfully, rudely late, here. However, and one more time: all of the above, and then some more.

Key quote being: 'But she always keeps it vague so that she can adjust depending on the actual outcome so that it fits into her made-up storyline.'

The beauty of your submission is shining through, here. You sent this to me a week ago (and I do humbly apologize, it's been crazy and yes, life-changing, down here) and yet nothing fundamentally changed, on that page. Same old, same old, not even different. BS presented as factoids, calumny and libel (different things, but they cover it all) towards people that are perceived as personal foes. In my book, to despise someone is to ignore someone, not to actively ill wish on them. Yet the person (a he? a she? doubt is allowed) never got that memo and keeps on victimizing themselves.

At the end of the day, that page reads like an umpteenth season of The Young and The Restless: you can miss I don't know how many episodes, you'll always find your way back to a stalling script.

So, dear Fitness Anon, cue in another round of obsessive talking in circles about S, mendacity on top (Ashley Anon was evidence enough of that and I have to say I was a bit surprised). This, and copying even my mannerisms - hence my complete disdain.

PS: Despina Vandi Anon, you have been waiting for a very long time and I hope you could forgive me for that. This week's audio will be for you. But now, onwards to some cookery. I always found it supremely relaxing for the brain.

[infinite-hearts-333]

THE BEAST.

Oura Thorn’s powers are based of a character from a movie, but unfortunately that movie is King Kong Skull Island, so expect scary thing. If your not a fan of death, cannibalism, yummy digestive facts and good scary CGI, i wouldn’t recommend reading the part called “THE INSPIRATION” and skip right to “WHAT IS THE BEAST?”.

The space rider au belongs to @onyxonline

THE INSPIRATION.

Alright! Oura Thorn’s power is based of two entities, the SkullCrawler from King Kong, for body, strength and speed, and Jörmungandr, the world serpent for purpose.

SkullCrawlers were my main source of bodily anatomy guide for the Beast. A massive, horrific bulky beast built like a tank and filled with an unstoppable desire to kill. This creature was intelligent, fast and ruthless. Not to mention metal as hell. The stomach acid in this thing was strong enough that the Skullcrawler eats someone, whole, and then regurgitates the bones thirty minutes later! That’s some strong ass acid. It is described by the Gojipedia that :

“Skullcrawlers are subterranean pack-hunting predators with insatiable appetites that are the results of their heightened metabolisms. Because of this, it is suggested that male and female Skullcrawlers will almost always devour each other after mating. They are highly aggressive, as well as incredibly persistent in pursuing their prey.”

And trust me if you haven’t see the movie, you do NOT wanna end up alone with even one of these freaks.

Jörmungandr is a creature of Norse mythology, also known as the Midgard Serpent or World serpent, and is an unfathomably large sea serpent or worm who dwells in the world sea, encircling the Earth (Midgard) and biting his own tail, an example of an ouroboros. In some scripts and stories- Jörmungandr is described as a Lindworm, which is a subspecies of dragon. Jörmungandr was the middle child of Loki, the Norse trickster god and the giant Angrboða. It was foretold that Odin took Loki’s children and removed them from Asgard. For Jörmungandr, they were tossed into the great ocean that encircles Midgard. There, in the ocean, the serpent grew so large that it could surround earth and grasp its own tail. Jörmungandr and Thor, the Norse thunder god, have a on-going feud and see each other as arch foes. During Ragnarök, Jörmungandr and Thor are foretold to fight each other to the death.

As recounted in Snorri's Gylfaginning:

“The sea will flood and the serpent will thrash onto the land. It will advance, spraying poison to fill the air and water, beside Fenrir, whose eyes and nostrils blaze with fire and whose gape touches the earth and the sky. They will join the sons of Muspell to confront the gods on the plain of Vigrid. Here is where the last meeting between the serpent and Thor is predicted to occur. He will eventually kill Jörmungandr but will fall dead after walking nine paces, having been poisoned by the serpent's deadly venom.”

It is said when Jörmungandr releases its tail is one of the signs of the beginning of Ragnarök (the final battle of the world, or the ‘end of the world as we know it’).

WHAT IS THE BEAST?

The Beast is a bipedal Lindworm with only two frontal limbs and a long thick tail for balance. It is covered in thick armoured plates, with jutting spines down the length of its neck, and the back of its head / cheeks, like Thorn does. Equiped with thick horns and a thicker skull, it can about ram down anything in its path with enough momentum. It is thin and nimble, and tanks a lot more than it looks like it can, using the large muscles in its arms and tail to be able to move fast, or catch prey. Its maw is filled with forward facing teeth, like a canine, but its throat and back of its mouth is filled with backwards facing spines, to grip prey and prevent escaping. Its tongue is long and flexible, capable of snagging someone and dragging them straight into their toothy demise.

The Beast only forces it’s presence when it senses an extreme unbalance in the world around it, forcing itself into control to eradicate any ‘pests’ or ‘weeds’ that would corrupt the survival of the world they are on. Although, just like Jörmungandr, eradicating the pest, also means the ‘end of the world’- destroying large amounts of civilisations, and killing many innocents in the process. Luckily, for Thorn, that hasn’t happened, yet. It is an animal- when it is in control there will be no reaching Oura Thorn, they are good as dead until the Beast has calmed- whether that means tearing the entire base apart to find the lack of balance or not.

However, not is all sorrow and death the minute the Beast is free. Like the World Serpent, there are times where the beast can exist and be calm. Though, usually, it will let Oura Thorn continue with their life by then, and fall back into slumber deep within them. Were a rider to disturb the beast before it slept, it would continue to exist, and often take the time to hunt, or look for a new problem for it to fix, ignoring the little critters around it. (Although, there may be a chance that though Oura Thorn, it may recognise you)

CAN IT BE STOPPED??

In terms of wounding the Beast- it’ll be hard, as a creature designed to force balance to any world.

The beast can’t swim very well, the heavily density of its muscles and bones make it sink and therefore, drowning it. Killing it would be hard in terms of combat, with its armoured scales. Its underbelly is less armoured and the skin along it’s neck where it’s spines emerge are a weak point but good luck getting close enough to touch it. And despite its brutal animalistic behaviour, this creature is smart. Tricking it with poison or having it swallow grenades ain’t gonna work here, just like with the Skullcrawlers. The best bet to killing this thing is having its arms and tail pinned, so it can no longer get away, and then hacking at it.

Keep in mind- if you’re not doing anything bad, and stay away from it, it shouldn’t actively seek out space riders to harm. If you get hurt, you’re in the way, lol.

WELL, IF SPACE RIDERS ARE GOOD, WHY DID IT APPEAR IN THE DOCKS?

Excellent question, figurative person!

Now, I’ve covered how the Beast works, if you’d like, go back to the OG post and see if you can figure out why you think Thorn lost control at the docks.

Ready? Alright. So the Beast only takes the reins when it senses ‘unbalance nature’ around it. Obviously it wasn’t the other staff, not the mail, but the cultists that were mailed to the base. But Infinite! They’re just Critters! Why would that upset the beast?

Another excellent question! The Cultist themselves, didn’t upset the Beast- but rather, the red smoke that they were breathing in.

That is the ‘unbalanced nature’ that has caused thorn to struggle to control themselves and keep the beast contained- the red smoke. And well understood with Onyx’s upload on Z’s planet- that stuff destroyed the entire world!! There is a specific reason that the red smoke is such a massive trigger for the Beast, but that would spoil a plot point I’m holding onto that I’ve been subtly hinting at. So you’ll all know laterrrr ~

WILL THORN BE EVER ABLE TO CONTROL THE BEAST?

No, unfortunately that will never be a reality for Ouřa Thorn :<

I love Thorn very much, but I find overly ‘op’ characters to be too unrealistic in my opinion. Thorn will never be able to control the Beast, or gain any other powers than that. The closest thing to ‘control’ Thorn will ever achieve is being so overwhelmed with one, or a mix of emotions, that it influences the Beast’s actions slightly. This can be seen in the dock accident, were instead of being careless and destroying everything, and probably eating the cultists, The Beast was influenced by Ouřa Thorn’s only two thoughts- to protect the other workers, and to ensure no one got hurt.

Thankfully, those two thoughts were just enough in comparison to the tiny amount of red smoke to keep a full rage at bay, keeping everyone safe.

(However! We do get to watch the Rangers + other critters do there damn best to try help Thorn tame it lol)

WHERE DID IT COME FROM??

There are records of other critters that had Oura Thorn’s power, old talismans and rock craving dating back to eons. Little is understood as to how it started, or why. Some are convinced it’s because of the prototype- the damage that he has caused with the red smoke has awoke a primal magic that is more dangerous than anyone knows.

[emilicorail]

[Genshin Impact] Who was Coppelius and what are his masterpieces ?

Finally ! It is time for me to talk about THIS GUY. Before getting into theories and speculations (because this game never ceases to surprise us with its absurdly huge lore and foreshadowing) it would be a great thing to start with the beginning and by this I mean : Who is he ?

Coppelius was a musician and playwright that lived in Fontaine around 500 years prior to the game's events, before the cataclysm. Almost nothing is known of his life before becoming what we could consider the most famous artist of the nation, but a well hidden element can help us imagine how his childhood was. In Dwight Lasker’s office, located in the ruins of the Institute of Natural Philosophy, we can find this little paragraph at the beginning of his Ancient Notes :

“...Though it's a shame, we'll have to miss it. I was looking forward to Coppelius’ new work. Ever since he was a child, he's always been incredibly talented…”

We can understand that Dwight Lasker knew Coppelius as a child, which could mean that he was also an orphan that grew up in the Narzissenkreuz Institute in the same time period, along with Basil Elton, Karl Ingold and Emanuel Guillotin. (If only there was more information about that !)

Coppelius had a troupe and we learned through the instrument maker Giovanni, Patrono of the Pascale Family at Petrichor, that the family’s ancestors used to be the luthiers who tuned the troupe’s instruments. But who knows if they traveled to other nations ? Talking about Petrichor, this is where we can find one of his descendants : Goldoni. This woman also aims to be recognized as a great playwright. Please go talk to her, she's saying very interesting things !

Now let's see some of Coppelius’ plays, starting with “Golden Hyperborea”. This one depicts the story of a homesick flower (a Lumidouce Bell, referred to as “Weeping Crystal”) who wanders in the freezing lands of the north, which suggests : Snezhnaya. This is where its beauty is made eternal by the icy winds. It is important to note that for Fontainians this flower is said to represent parting and the wish for reunion…

If we follow the critics of his time, this play perfectly aligns with the author's obsessions. It was said that Coppelius gave a great importance to eternal beauty and eternal love, an obsession that can be found in every line of his last works, which also includes “Clockwork Coppelia”.

"There is no absolute good or evil, only absolute beauty and ugliness. And that which makes beauty is eternal love…”

–Coppelius’ words, given to us by Goldoni.

If you are familiar with the lore, the second one will probably remind you of something, this is “Parsifal”. This play is about the eponymous elusive thief from Mondstadt’s old history, and of course the Blue-Eyed Spear Witch. This story inspired two other famous and very special artists from Fontaine : Parsifal the great and her assistant Josephine, they lived around 500 years ago, like the author.

Most of his plays show his interest for history, the next one is “The Saga of Aurelius” that we can read about in the “Silvershower Heartstrings” weapon.

People are unsure about Aurelius' existence, mostly believing that he was invented, just like Ajax (Really?) but in reality, he was one of the four Harmosts of Remuria. Through time, the uncertainty explains why there are a lot of variations for the Harmost’s story. As for the script Coppelius wrote, Aurelius was “a hero as glorious as gold, who conquered countless traitorous nations and cities for Fontaine”.

Some of the other interpretations of the story say that Aurelius and his troops went to the Pine Forest (Dryas Woods) where the protagonist met a young maiden : Dryastis. Some say that she saved him from his foes and took his hand, asking him to take away the conflict and sorrow from this land. And others, that she gave him her bow only for him to get killed by traitors later. Or even, that Aurelius’ passion for Dryastis was so strong that he pursued her in the forest and that she fled to the riverbank, weeping to her pure-water mother, the ruler of the Many Waters. The divinity took pity on her fate, and turned her into a pine tree to escape.

Another play, “Masque of the great”, is mentioned by Goldoni but we don't have any information yet. I first thought it might be about the story told in “the fall of the faded castle” because of its references to “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe but we know a Great historical figure who wore a mask : Remus.

There's more of his works that we don't know about yet, or some already named plays which are not clearly attributed to him in-game.

But his greatest, most interesting and famous play is the last one that could not be performed to completion, “Clockwork Coppelia”. You can partially read this one in the “Flowing Purity” weapon !

The character Coppelius, whose name is the same as the playwright, created an automaton : Coppelia. Because he committed an unclarified sin he was chased and his plan was finally exposed to the marechaussee. He bids farewell to Coppelia before his punishment, asking her to sing for him one last time. But she does not want to sing of this sin and inevitable punishment, she says that everything he pursues is illusory, as hollow as stage scenery.

Later in the play, Coppelia is traveling with a young man named Nathaniel. She explains to him why she travels, that she is searching for her creator even if she believes him to be dead. The clockwork lady says that all sin will be forgotten once her rusted gears return to the same ash as Coppelius’ bones. Nathaniel asks Coppelia what she exactly plans to do, she reveals that her heart was stained by the same sin during this journey. What we know of the incomplete play ends with Coppelia wondering how her tortured heart could even find peace.

The first and last representation of this play coincides with its author's death. When Coppelius presented “Clockwork Coppelia” at the theater it was interrupted during the first intermission because of the Cataclysm. Only few spectators survived the destruction of the opera theater and it is only through them that some parts of Coppelia’s story are still known.

After five hundred years, this unfinished tragedy can be seen come to life as the Icewind Suite, the duo of automatons inspired by the play.

According to Maillardet, the researcher from FRIKEE who built them, the idea first came from the director Bossuet. But honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he stole this idea from someone else because it already happened…Since he was forced to resign from his role as a director, Maillardet took over the project. However, this engineer wanted to achieve something different by creating the Artificed Dancers, it gradually strayed from the first idea and became this world Boss we now know.

Maillardet also adds his bits of story from what he understands of it, about “how Coppelius was defeated in a war against temptation, and was thus punished” and how Coppelia, in her love, nearly died of grief and set on a journey to save her imprisoned creator. But he also says that no matter the drama, it must end in a lovers’ dance.

[domnorian]

Hello again! I hope you are doing well. Honestly keep falling in love with how you thoughtfully handle the DC mythos, and after going through Kon and Match's tags again, it got the wheels turning about Match and it lead to this ramblely train of thought/theory on him aging, his lack of empathy and his relationship with Kon:

While Match doesn't have empathy in the traditional sense, he does kind of care about those who help/care for him. For example, he watches out for Thad because Thad has watched out for him; he may be reluctant to hurt Mercy since she trained him, etc. As long as that person doesn't hurt or betray him, he's willing to care for them. It's hard to do because he only understands emotions and caring more as a concept than as something he fully experiences, but for those that watch out for him, he's willing to try.

However, as he grows older, this becomes harder to do since he's having a harder time keeping his sanity and remembering who's friend or foe. So as he reaches adulthood, he's alone, isolated, and caged by his mind, which is ironic considering how brilliant it is when he's thinking clearly. Speaking of thinking clearly, I think when he has those moments of clarity, he reflects on his life and realizes that considering how his condition is screwing him over, that he wasted his time on his feud with Kon. He may want to find to bury the hatchet, if not for the fact that Kon was the first person to actually care about him and give him genuine affection, just so he is able to live in some sort of peace with whatever time he has left. But between so many years of bad blood and his declining heath, he doesn't really know what to do about it. So he's just kind of stuck in this awkward state of sort of leaving Kon alone but not being upfront with why, leading to some shenanigans due to some confused suspicion. Will he actually figure out how to make peace with Kon? Who knows but at the process will be interesting.

What do you think of this theory? Does it hold any water?

And I'm sorry for this being...well, a lot and how ramblely it kind of is. The wheels got turning and it didn't stop until this was done. Anyway thank you for everything that you've done and for reading this. Have a great day/night!

Ok. This is... exactly how I envisionned it... but put into the right words since I haven't reached a scene with Match yet in my script. It's like you peered directly into my brain.

It's fascinating how much you connected yourself (or we connected) to my view without knowing much about what I had planned. I think it's awesome since its proof that my stuff is logical enough... and wow. I lack to words to describe how touched I am by this. I think I'm gonna cry of happiness now.

[lucyav13]

Dimentio

A more deep investigation about this emblematic character.

His name is a pun on "dementia" and "dimension". Like Mario and Mimi, he can flip between dimensions, but he can also manipulate them (an ability he shares with Merloo).

A theory says that the surviving son of the pixl inventor is his ancestor.

In the english version, Tippi seems to inmediatly recognize Dimentio upon encountering first. However, in the original Japanese script, her reaction is more ambiguous, afirmaning that Dimentio is one of the Count's minions.

Dimentio originally intended for Dimension D to multiply his power by 256. Upon winning the battle against him, the player character claims that the dimension made them more powerful as well, leaving everyone's stats unchanged relative to each other. This may be a homage to 8-bit storage capacity: 8-bit integers have 256 possible values, so adding 256 (although not multiplying by it) will overflow the integer and result in no net change.

 The void is absent from the background of this dimension.

According to Carson, Dimentio approached the Count on his own, wishing to join him. While he was turned down once, he was hired after Bleck read about someone having a similar role in the Dark Prognosticus...

My theory: Dimentio is impure. But not the son of Blumiere or Timapni. The tribe of darkness knew the power and monstrosity of the impures thanks to him. As the tribe saw how dangerous it was and the consequences it would bring, he was left forgotten along with his parents. Maybe that's why he's an impure. For this reason, Timpani, in one of his many visits, was able to see him and his family being thrown out of the tribe. Since he has floating hands and teleportation powers, just like the Count Bleck.

But his mask doesn't let us see how he really is...

Aditional information:

Catch Card: 195

HP Max: 80

Attack: 4

Defense:

Score: 8000

Card Description: Dimentio is Count Bleck's dimension-bending mercenary. The question is, do psycho jesters get good benefits?

Tattle: That's Dimentio... A magician who works for Count Bleck... He's like an evil clown... He'll use many magic tricks, including making doubles of himself... It's hard to get a read on this suspicious character...

Quotes:

"And so I arrive, like a sudden windstorm at a kindergarten picnic!"

"Ah ha ha. Finally, you arrive!"

"Yes, yes, no one likes the icky stuff... Yessss... A perfect world... Sounds magical!..."

"It would be so very DULL if your journey ended so easily... Instead, it ends with...magic!"

"It is truly enchanting to finally meet my hapless victims."

"You must be Bowser. I knew the moment I saw the flailing nubbins you call arms."

"Well met, lady. Your beauty is as refreshing as a slap to the face on a crisp winter day!"

"At last, the hero... I know of you from the festival of hair that dances upon your lip!"

"Now we must duel, like two gleaming banjos on a moonlit stoop!"

"Can you pierce this...illusion?"

"Your blows are like miniature jackhammers wielded by tiny, angry road workers!"

"The next time we meet, you will feast on a deadly eight-course meal!"

"I am not violent by nature, you know. I'd prefer to settle this peacefully, in fact."

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Again, for dramatic effect! AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA."

"You've proven to be worthy foes in the past, so I'm not going to make it easy."

"I'm saying that you no longer have value to me, so I'm ending your games."

"And so I strike, like an unseen dodgeball at an echoing gymnasium!"

"Ciao!"

The above text is from the Super Mario Wiki and is available under a Creative Commons license. Attribution must be provided through a list of authors or a link back to the original article. Source: https://www.mariowiki.com/Dimentio

(A:N) If you want to share any theory that you have had, let me know in the comments and I will rate your theory in a part of this book. Bye!

[selfixsworld]

I´m bored...

so i´ll give some ideas for quirks for BNHA DRs or OC:

Script Template: @/mx.levias on TikTok — linktree (NOT MY SCRIPT)

PSYLOCKE:

Powers MASTERLIST

Quirk Inspired By: Psylocke (Marvel Comics - X-Men)

¦ ⌈Quirk Type⌉ ⩵ Emitter

APPLICATIONS:

Psionics

Psychic Energy Manipulation

Telepathy

Empathy

Mind Control

Enhanced Conditions

Psychic Shield

Danger Detection

Mind Reading

Ergokinetic Combat

Psychic Construct

Psychic Attacks

Special Moves:

| ���Puppet Master⌟ ⋯ Temporarily takes control of an enemy’s actions, turning them into an unwitting ally.

| ⌜Astral Construct⌟ ⋯ Creates solid constructs from psychic energy, such as weapons, barriers, or even temporary allies.

| ⌜Mental Blast⌟ ⋯ Unleashes a focused blast of psychic energy to incapacitate or disorient opponents.

| ⌜Thoughts Unveiled⌟ ⋯ Reads the thoughts of enemies to anticipate their moves and strategies.

Backlash:

Psychic Shield

Weakness: Maintaining a psychic shield requires constant focus and energy. Prolonged attacks can weaken the shield and eventually break through.

Psionics

Weakness: Overuse can lead to severe mental fatigue, headaches, or even unconsciousness. Strong mental barriers or psychic-resistant foes can nullify its effectiveness.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Romances to Love All Year Round

🦇 Good morning, my beloved bookish bats. We're halfway through pride month, but there are still so many amazing queer books to read! To celebrate that love is love mentality, here are 78 queer romance novels you can add to your tbr! Don't forget to #readqueerallyear, and that none of us are free until all of us are free. 💜

❤️ Delilah Green Doesn’t Care - Ashley Herring Blake 🧡 Skye Falling - Mia McKenzie 💛 The Breakup Lists - Adib Khorram 💚 Prince of the Palisades - Julian Winters 💙 Solomon’s Crown - Natasha Siegel 💜 The Borrow a Boyfriend Club - Page Powars

❤️ Full Shift - Jennifer Dugan 🧡 A Shore Thing - Joanna Lowell 💛 Showmance - Chad Beguelin 💚 Exes & Foes - Amanda Woody 💙 Full Disclosure - Camryn Garrett 💜 When You Were Everything - Ashley Woodfolk

❤️ Playing the Palace - Paul Rudnick 🧡 I’m So (Not) Over You - Kosoko Jackson 💛 When Katie Met Cassidy - Camille Perri 💚 Captive Prince - C. S. Pacat 💙 The Lovers - Rebekah Faubion 💜 That Summer Feeling - Bridget Morrissey

❤️ Wild Things - Laura Kay 🧡 Experienced - Kate Young 💛 Lose You to Find Me - Erik J. Brown 💚 The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School - Sonora Reyes 💙 Nate Plus One - Kevin van Whye 💜 Countries of Origin - Javier Fuentes

❤️ The Passing Playbook - Isaac Fitzsimons 🧡 But How Are You, Really - Ella Dawson 💛 Looking for a Sign - Susie Dumond 💚 The Prospects - KT Hoffman 💙 Last Night at the Telegraph Club - Malinda Lo 💜 Malice - Heather Walter

❤️ You Should See Me in a Crown - Leah Johnson 🧡 Let’s Talk about Love - Claire Kann 💛 Bonds of Brass - Emily Skrutskie 💚 Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places - Claire Kann 💙 The Stars and the Blackness Between Them - Junauda Petrus 💜 In Charm’s Way - Lana Harper

❤️ Everything Leads to You - Nina LaCour 🧡 Marriage of a Thousand Lies - SJ Sindu 💛 I Think I Love You - Auriane Desombre 💚 Lavash at First Sight - Taleen Voskuni 💙 The Bump - Sidney Karger 💜 The Disenchantment - Celia Bell

❤️ The Dos and Donuts of Love - Adiba Jaigirdar 🧡 Riley Weaver Needs A Date To The Gaybutante Ball - Jason June 💛 Epically Earnest - Molly Horan 💚 Out of the Blue - Jason June 💙 Flip the Script - Lyla Lee 💜 Imogen, Obviously - Becky Albertalli

❤️ Café Con Lychee - Emery Lee 🧡 A Little Bit Country - Brian D. Kennedy 💛 Late to the Party - Kelly Quindlen 💚 The Key to You and Me - Jaye Robin Brown 💙 What If It’s Us - Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera 💜 The Falling in Love Montage - Ciara Smyth

❤️ The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre - Robin Talley 🧡 Meet Cute Diary - Emery Lee 💛 Love & Other Natural Disasters - Misa Sugiura 💚 Date Me, Bryson Keller - Kevin van Whye 💙 Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster - Andrea Mosqueda 💜 Pumpkin by Julie Murphy

❤️ She Gets the Girl by Rachel Lippincott - Alyson Derrick 🧡 Home Field Advantage - Dahlia Adler 💛 The (Un)Popular Vote - Jasper Sanchez 💚 Melt With You - Jennifer Dugan 💙 Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler 💜 Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating - Adiba Jaigirdar

❤️ I Kissed Shara Wheeler - Casey McQuiston 🧡 Jay’s Gay Agenda - Jason June 💛 Triple Sec - TJ Alexander 💚 Finally Fitz - Marisa Kanter 💙 I’ll Be the One - Lyla Lee 💜 This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story - Kacen Callender

❤️ May the Best Man Win - ZR Ellor 🧡 One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston 💛 Late Bloomer - Mazey Eddings 💚 The Fiancee Farce - Alexandria Bellefleur 💙 Stars Collide - Rachel Lacey 💜 Truly, Madly, Deeply - Alexandria Bellefleur

[blackjackkent]

Letter prompts - any or all!

Minsc to Hector

Lae'zel to Gale

Rion to Karlach

Shadowheart to Isobel and Aylin

Nine Fingers to Jaheira

(Letter fic prompts!)

TY as always for the prompts, friend! <3 Sorry it took a bit to get them done, but I did all of them bc I loved the ideas so much. XD

-----

(Minsc to Hector - a note scribbled on a crumpled piece of parchment with one corner slightly chewed off. Left on Hector's bedside table in the Elfsong, three hours before dawn on the cold, rainy morning before the battle with the Netherbrain.)

My friend! 

Do not fear to find Minsc’s bunk empty when you wake; know that I have gone ahead to clear the path! The sewers that stand between us and our wrinkly foe are well known to Minsc and Boo, and we shall see to it that they are well-scrubbed of evil that might hinder us in our final journey. A fine tale it would make for us to travel towards a battle for the world's fate and be delayed by a passing bandit!

Should we have no further time to speak before all is chaos, Boo wishes you to know you have been a fine companion, a hero to rank high among all those he has traveled with. And Minsc would say the same, though Minsc does not juggle words with Boo’s skill. 

Boo and I have traveled across many years in an instant, and much has changed. We did not think to find a company with which we could feel heroes again, not least after Minsc was made a puppet of the Absolute’s worm.  With Jaheira, with you, Minsc has remembered what it is to be alive, to fight for goodness, and this city's every shadow trembles to know it. 

Though evil brings the brain, Hector and his friends shall bring the brawn! And Minsc is proud to be among them!

(signed with the letter M and a very small pawprint in ink)

-----

(Lae'zel to Gale - a note carved in the spiraling gith script into a large flat rock, lacking the fine materials of true githyanki slate, written in camp deep in the Underdark.)

When you can read this, you may consider yourself a true scholar worthy of the secrets of githyanki magic. Until then, cease your inane questioning of matters far beyond your appreciation; my time is better spent in recuperation than in the education of overambitious istik.

A note is attached to the rock, written in Common in careful, precise handwriting: Ever so sorry to disappoint you, my dear sa’varsh, but my inane questioning shall continue unabated. I do, however, thank you for the opportunity to reacquaint myself with Comprehend Languages! I so rarely get a chance to turn that one out for a bit of exercise.

Below these words on the note is scribbled a considerably less meticulous tir’su spiral scrawled in ink: That is *not* what I meant, and you know it, kainyank.

-----

(Rion to Karlach - a note sent by standard post to the Elfsong, several days after the party's visit to Elerrathin's Home.)

Karlach,

You're kidding me - you're Pluck Cliffgate's kid? I carried messages for him now and again; he talked about you plenty, and I did see you once, maybe seven years old, darting all over the Wide like a little hurricane. Small world, I guess. Odd to think that I’m more or less the same and you’ve shot up to be taller than I am. Elf blood’s a funny thing.

I know you’re hoping for exciting stories about growing up with the High Harper but the truth is I don’t have much to offer. She wasn’t any kind of “heroic adventurer” to me - she was just Mother, and she never much liked to talk about the past, not even about my father. I heard more about her from bards in taverns than I ever heard from her own mouth - and some of it I wish I could scrub back out of my brain. 

You ever hear a bawdy called “The Harper’s Head”? Yeah, now imagine that was your mum they were singing about. Awful.

She was good to us, though, in her own way. I know you saw me bite her head off and her bite mine right back; that’s just how we’ve always been. But she saw to it I grew up strong, that I knew how to fight, and how to keep my head down when the time called for it. Harper things, mostly, even though I don’t think she ever wanted me to be one. 

She taught me how to take no shit, too. Her mistake, because now I don’t take hers either. But I think she’d rather that than otherwise.

After a while, the other kids just started drifting in - first for a meal here or there, then a bed, then before you knew it, this was their home. Another one in the pack. It’s strange, really. I always knew deep down - even when I was a kid who didn’t have words for it yet, just knew it was confusing and it hurt - that part of her really wanted to be back on the road, not tied down with us in this mess of a city. But somehow every time one of us moved out, she’d found another to bring in, almost like clockwork.

I think she’s been looking for something, all this time. But I don’t think she knows what it is, any more than I do, or what she’d do with it if she found it. 

Not an exciting story, like all the tales you’ve heard. But it’s truth; I can tell you that much.

It probably won’t surprise you that I haven’t had a message from her since you left. But you can tell her I’m off to the refugee camp in the morning. We’ll hold our end of things, and see they’re taken care of. Take care of that bloody brain, and maybe I’ll find a better story to tell when you’re done.

Rion

-----

(Shadowheart to Aylin (and Isobel by proxy); several conjoined messages by a series of Sending spells, dispatched from somewhere on the edge of Waterdeep) 

> Aylin… your mother's house is beautiful. I never imagined such a place. It's… foolish, perhaps, but I wanted to let you know I've seen it. 

> I still carry the spear with me. Once dark, now light. Like me. Still surprised you didn't crack us both across your knee like Lorroakan. 

> You gave me a second chance. I hadn't earned it; I wanted to kill you. The great difference between Shar and Selune. Cruelty versus mercy. 

> A lot’s happened since then. I found my parents. Shar's last joke at my expense. You were right about everything. That I had to act.

> So I'm free now. Of all of it. One day I will think of a way to repay you both for your kindness. Your wisdom. 

> I don't know what plans call you now, but should you travel near Waterdeep in the next fortnight-- OW! Yes, yes, I'll tell her, calm--

[a slight pause] 

> Please also tell Isobel that Buddy says hello. The morsels she used to slip him in camp have purchased her a permanent owlbear friend. 

-----

(Nine-Fingers to Jaheira - a note left in a dead drop at Danthelon’s in the middle of the night.)

Jaheira. You’ve GOT to call off the Rashemaar. He’s driving us all insane trying to teach us the good path; on all the gods, either I’m going to beat the hells out of him or someone else will. I don’t care what you do - take him on an adventure, lock him in the cellar, turn him into a statue again, hold the hamster for ransom. But something. Fuck’s sake.

He listens to you. Starting to think you’re the only one he does listen to. Like a pup with one master. It’d be cute if it wasn’t so infuriating.

We all want the same thing - this city safe and strong. But he’s got to learn that we don’t all go about it the same way, or sooner or later there’s going to be trouble.

Astele NF

[bwoahtastic]

Seb making his directorial debut and he has a vision for the way he wants it to go. The studio keeps sending him audition tapes for the omega lead role but none of them are right. Seb goes through thousands of audition tapes before he gets to Nico's and right away it's like fireworks in his brain. Nico is so perfect for the role, this crazy mix of sweet and sultry and intelligent and icy and vulnerable all at once. Seb calls Nico in for an in person audition and a chemistry read and he's even better in person. Once Seb has seen Nico he doesn't want to see anyone else for the role because he knows that Nico is the one. But the studio doesn't want Nico, he's spent most of his career in supporting roles as the pretty young arm candy and he isn't the kind of draw that they were hoping for, plus he's just had a baby, so they tell Seb to choose someone else. Seb argues for Nico for weeks, refusing to do the movie without him and eventually he manages to wear down the execs to let him cast Nico.

Nico is so appreciative when he finds out how hard Seb fought for him. This is his first serious role and he wants to do it justice both for himself and for Seb. He takes so many careful notes of the script and shyly asks to speak to Seb to discuss it, which he of course agrees to. Acting and storytelling is a craft that they share and both care about immensely. Seb is so impressed with Nico's dedication to the role, and feels so at ease talking about the deeper meaning and symbolism of the film.

And then he sees him with little Maxy and just falls completely for Nico. He sees how much care and attention and love Nico devotes to Max, even as he's juggling work, and all he wants to do is make Nico's life easier and better, and they prove to be such a good team, on and off the camera

9h plss yes! Seb watching a million audition tapes and even declining on some pretty big names which the studio isn't happy with. Nico's agent allowed hik to send a tape because Nico has been saying he wanted more serious roles and the agent assumed Nico would stopped asking if they tried and failed for this role that is way too advanced for Nico in his opinion.

But seb sees the tape one night and it all just clicks seeing Nico. He is the exact crazy mix of vulnerable and icy, pretty but also incredibly intelligent and it is perfect for what seb envisioned! The studio is against it tho, Nico is hardly a big name and only ever plays dumb armcandy. He could never play this right. Ans besides, he just had a pup and probably cant commit to the filming and when they say he probably also will not look good on camera, too fat anf worn after having the pup, Seb sees red and cheqs them out for it. Seb argues and threatens until he is allowed to have nico come in for an in person read. And not even the studio people can say no when they see what a good fit Nico is and what a good chemistry they have!

Nico being so in awe when he learns how hard seb fought to have him get this role and he is honoured, wanting to do it justice so so bad! He goes toctalk to seb about he story and script until late at night, bringing maxy so he can hold his pup and also take breaks to nurse him and pls the tiny cutie is so sweet and seb is so nice with the little one!

They work so well together on and off camera and Nico is very protective of Maxy but has no problem with Seb watching Maxy, trusts him fully!

Also their roles having an on screen kiss? Or maybe even a sex scene too👀 and its a lot ofocurse. Seb makes sure to have the best intimacy coaches, values it a lot but it's still intense foe both of them. The kiss already leaves both blushing after 'cut' is called and Nico isna little shy arkunf Seb after. For the sex scene they are both nervous (pls Seb placing nicos hand on his chest so he can feel seb's heart is beating like crazy too!) And sure it's fake and they are wearing these weird garments but it's still a lot of skin on skin and nico smells a lot like seb after and he doesn't want to shower and lose it...

[howtofightwrite]

In real sword fight, kicking the sword to the enemies is just plain impossible right?

No, it's completely possible, it's just a terrible idea.

So, there's a practical stunt, where one performer picks up their opponent's discarded weapon and tosses it to them with their foot. That is completely doable. It's a popular, and fairly easy, stunt to perform. The actual motions could easily be executed during a fight by a skilled duelist, though, you wouldn't want to do that.

You also probably wouldn't want to throw a sword to an ally mid-fight, since there is a risk of them missing the incoming weapon, and being hit by a flying sword, or catching it poorly and injuring themselves. Cuts to the hand and fingers are really nasty in a fight, and something you'd want to avoid if at all possible, but if it's a choice between a risked injury, or death, you might decide to take the risk.

Passing a weapon to someone who is actively trying to kill you is not an appealing option for, what I hope are, obvious reasons. In case they're not: Your foe is trying to kill you. You just gave them a weapon that will help them kill you. This is a bad thing. Things were better when you had all weapons and they had none. Don't kick their sword to them, pick it up and kill them with it. You're both there for the same reason; just get it over with; kill them before someone gets seriously hurt.

This is a fairly common element in duels where the hero returns their enemy's weapon to them after they've been disarmed. It's supposed to illustrate how noble and principled they are, however, in a serious fight (which these almost always are), it's a show of dangerous naivete. If you've ever read something to the effect of, “why is good so dumb!?” this is an excellent example of the behavior which provokes that question.

In a formal dueling environment, or during training, this kind of maneuver starts to become less self-destructive. If this is, “a proper duel,” and killing an unarmed foe would be grossly inappropriate (and criminal), then yes, kicking their sword to them becomes a reasonable middle ground between handing them the weapon and resorting to murder. Especially because the risk of hand injuries turns into a boon rather than flaw. (Actually, flipping the script a little and having the villain return the hero's sword this way, specifically with the intent of letting them catch the blade, is a dick move with reasonable deniability.) Of course, in a proper duel it would probably be better form to hand the fallen weapon to the seconds, let them shuffle it between them, and return it to the other duelist by hand.

In a training environment, particularly with non-sharpened blades, a teacher could easily kick the weapon back to their student to maintain tempo. It's a little unusual, but not that out there, and learning to safely catch a blade without suffering injury isn't the worst trick to have up your sleeve. You'll probably never need it, but there's no downside to being able to catch a thrown weapon by reflex.

It should also go without saying that simply kicking it across the floor is another option. In my experience, kicked weapons don't tend to travel quite as far as you think they would. Obviously, if you practice kicking weapons around, this isn't going to be a problem, but why would you practice that?

This whole scenario tends to be a bit contrived, one of the participants in a duel is disarmed, by some means. This exists to extend the sequence and, in theory, let the characters express themselves a bit, but that expression suffers from this being a fairly rote sequence, rather than behavior that is unique to that character.

So, can it be done? Yeah, it's absolutely doable, however, in serious combat, it is a really bad idea.

-Starke

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