#god this movie ........ i hate it 🙃

[joons]

In emphasizing that Ken needs to look past romantic love and search for satisfaction within, Barbie is of course also staking a claim about her own identity and value. In doing so, she’s joining with a broad trend in kid-friendly entertainment: we no longer make movies where a heroine’s destiny is to fall in love. If you look at Disney movies in particular, the classic storyline of the protagonist getting her man in the end has been pretty definitively retired. The last movie of theirs that could be said to hold romantic love as the fundamental goal of the protagonist is Tangled, and even that’s debatable. Frozen and its sequel very directly reject that story structure, while films like Moana and Raya and the Last Dragon are indifferent to it. And, you know, that’s all fine; there’s lots of different good stories out there. But I do think that the out-and-out abandonment of the notion that love is the noblest pursuit of human life says a lot about our cult of self-worship. Because once you’ve dropped the romantic ideal, that’s all our culture really has to offer. ... The individual problem is that telling people they are enough is a cruel thing to do, because they aren’t enough. None of us is enough. I don’t know you, personally, but I can still say with great confidence that you are not enough. If you go through life uncritically accepting the Instagram ideology that you can #manifest everything you deserve because you practice #self-care and are #valid, on a long enough time frame you’re going to end up alone and miserable and profoundly aware that the idea of total emotional self-sufficiency is a transparent lie. Human beings need other human beings. All of us. You might be inclined to lament that fact, and you’re entitled to if you want. But you don’t get to choose to be self-sufficient, any more than you can choose to not require oxygen or water. We’re all interconnected in these vast webs of social influence and causality, whether we want to be or not, and very very few of us can last for long without relying on other people. The connections that save us don’t have to be romantic, but they do have to be connections.

No One Is Kenough, Freddie deBoer

[roguetelepaths]

Smarter people than me have probably made this analysis, but I've been getting into Jesus Christ Superstar recently (1973 movie and 2012 arena tour) and I'm obsessed with how Not The Main Character Jesus is. For the first half of the musical, we see him predominantly through everyone else's idea of and reactions to him— he is loved and hated and worshipped and asked for things by all of these people, but he himself is mostly silent, and when he says anything at all, it's less like the words of a revered teacher and more like the outbursts of an aging teen heartthrob whose fanbase has started to get a little too entitled to his personal space.

He doesn't become a person, within the narrative, until Gethsemane— until all that external validation and adoration is stripped away, leaving only an interior perspective that we haven't seen until now. The outbursts that seemed egocentric and shallow before suddenly seem symptomatic of knowing one's fate and being unable to do shit about it.

I'm not Christian anymore, but I see a lot of parallels— probably intentional ones— to how the church I grew up in utterly refused to assign Jesus any kind of human emotion or interiority, even while harping on and on about how He Sacrificed For Us™™™. He was always pictured as enduring great physical suffering, without any emotional suffering at all— no abandonment, no resentment of his purpose, just calm contentment and knowledge that all was going according to plan. Which I understand, in a way. Depicting Jesus as being angry at God would be a slippery slope to 15-16 year old me feeling like I was allowed to be angry at God, and we can't have that. 🙃

[overtake]

Not to be weird but I feel like I got zapped when I read your hockey snippet, how didn't I know that this existed? It's literally been living my brain for hours and I've not been able to stop re-reading it since 🙃 clearly you can take the girl out of toronto but you can't take toronto out the girl because im a changed person now. No pressure ofc I mean this in non-prodding way but praying and willing you to put your snippets together. If you never come around to it then I'm glad (and changed) for what you've shared with world regardless 🙏🏻🙏🏻

This is SO sweet 🥹 I love you so much. Just for this, please have a bit more hockey au. There's a tiny snippet after a media bit (Surprise, this fic is multi-media! Writing the social media parts has been my fave part of the entire process)

@.MapleLeafs on TikTok: | December 12, 2023

[Players walk by a whiteboard on their way into the practice rink. They're stopped to answer the question written on it as they enter. The caption written over their heads reads: "Who don’t your Leafs want to sit next to on a flight?"]

ALEX ALBON: Easy one. Esteban Ocon. He’ll bite your head off if you make a single noise. I think he’d get mad if the plane was going down and you tried to warn him. LOGAN SARGEANT: Gasly or Ocon. I don’t know if it’s a French thing, but they both get really annoyed if you talk to them on a plane. PIERRE GASLY: Danny Ric. He is the loudest person I’ve ever met in my life. ESTEBAN OCON: Daniel Ricciardo. Sorry, Daniel. DANIEL RICCIARDO: Gasly. Max and I were just having a conversation and he rose up behind us and nearly bit our heads off for laughing. I don’t know why he keeps sitting near us. MAX VERSTAPPEN: I don’t really mind sitting next to anyone. I usually sit next to Daniel, and we have a good time. He keeps movies downloaded for us. They're often not very good, but that's sometimes more fun, you know? YUKI TSUNODA: Daniel. VALTERRI BOTTAS: Daniel Ricciardo. ZHOU GUANYU: Daniel. He is very nice and fun, but sometimes you just want to relax on a flight. MARCUS ERICCSON: Surely everyone except Max picked Daniel, right? FERNANDO ALONSO: I don’t want to sit next to anyone.

Mara (DR’s Reputation Era) @.mv33fan: Fernando Alonso: I hate this entire team The entire team: We hate Daniel and the French Max and Daniel: Ask again later. Our mouths are occupied with each other’s dicks.

________

Theoretically, Daniel knew that his and Max's pre-game ritual could end up on the broadcast. Butt taps and silly handshakes in the tunnel inevitably end up on team Instagram stories even if they don't air on TV. It was to be expected, particularly on a Saturday night game against Ottawa.

Still, he didn’t exactly expect a whole montage. It's a nice little package, to be fair. It shows him and Max laughing next to each other in the tunnels and locker rooms before games, followed by their fingers interlocking in their usual drawn-out high five. Daniel prefers to fist bump the whole team and exit only before the goalies, but his routine with Max is always a bit of a production that holds up the line. It's only a surprise it hasn't been uploaded sooner.

After a game where Max scored two goals and Daniel threw his body in front of a rogue deflection and stopped the Sens from a late-third tie, the media naturally focuses on the montage. God forbid they talk about actual fucking hockey in the hockey interview.

“We call it tangled love,” he tells reporters in the press scrum after the game. “In honour of our artistic collision last game.”

It wasn’t a real collision. They’d just got tangled up together when things got chippy by the net. Their skates had collided and they'd taken each other out while trying to defend Esteban from some Habs players. It was all over social media, though, and Daniel knew they’d end up in some embarrassing NHL moments compilation.

They’d both laid on the ice, a little stunned and a lot stupid, before Daniel let out a giant laugh and broke the tension. Max had risen to his feet and tried to pull up Daniel, only for them both to fall right back down as if this was the first time they'd ever skated.

They’d actually been doing this little handshake all season, but reporters were always happy for a soundbite to latch onto and a joke they’d never let go. There's not much to work with in this league in the way of on-camera personality, so it’d probably be a story for the next week. The go-karting clips of the two of them were so popular than even Max mentioned he’d seen them on Reels, and he’d carefully curated his feed to show him anything but Leafs content.

Daniel can’t explain it, this warmth that makes him feel like he’s glowing from inside out all the time since the season started, but he knows he feels it most when he sees people write his name alongside Max’s like their togetherness is a given.

[musette22]

The Bucharest scene from CW showed up on my YouTube page and reminded me once more of how much marvel screwed up the reunion scene.

Steve and Bucky's reunion should have been soft and warm. Comfortable for both of them. Giving Bucky the time to understand that Steve will always love him no matter what and that he wouldn't be judged or punished for what he had while he was being tortured and controlled. Giving Steve the time to realise that the Bucky he believed in is still there. His Bucky, who loves him and who will stay away from him if it means keeping him safe. Instead we got a quick conversation followed by a fight and they were separated again.

What I wouldn't give a soft, heartfelt reunion that includes Bucky taking Steve to his favourite fruit market and cooking him his favourite Romanian dishes that he's learnt. Wondering if all this just temporary and Steve will eventually go back to America and realising that he's there to stay ❤

Oh my god, I could not agree with you more. I'm thankful for what that scene did give us, like the notebook which is so very incriminating in the best way, and Steve so desperately needing Bucky to remember him (and the guys did such a great job with what they had!) but other than that, it's just... not it.

It should have focused on the fact that this was the first time in so, so long that it was just the two of them in the same room, both of them in full control of their faculties. It should've given them the opportunity to remember and reconnect and reassure, something they both desperately needed. It should've given them more time, and it shouldn't have been rushed, and it shouldn't have ended, once again, in a fight. I understand that they had a whole lot of plot to fit into that movie and that that's why they rushed a lot of parts of it, but that could've been avoided by, you know, focusing on Steve's story, and not making it goddamn Avengers movie focusing heavily on Tony 🙄

Anyway, there's a reason I've only seen CW in its entirety once (maybe twice?), and it's because as a whole, considering what it seemed to set itself and us up for with the previous movie and aside from a few great scenes like the fight with Tony, it felt inadequate and disappointing. Especially knowing how much Steve and Bucky footage they apparently cut, once they realised how big Stucky was getting. Aahhh. Thanks I hate it 🙃

But anyway, what you're describing at the end there is wonderful and perfect (all the plums for Bucky! Steve going wherever Bucky's going!), and fortunately we have fanfiction and fanart to give us that, and everything else we (and they!) deserve ❤️

[paleandpetty]

Rules are to answer and tag some people you want to know better and/or catch up with. Thank you for tagging, @nildurumvolenti, you gorgeous ❣️

Favorite color: probably baby blue 🩵 but honestly all shades of blue

Last song: (god i love broken ep)

Current craving: movie night with him 😭 (i hate to be that person, but what can you do with a girl in her feelings 💖) upd: i actually love to be that person, you’ll have to deal with me

Coffee or Tea: COFFEE in all shapes and forms. Summer favorite is espresso tonic, but no day starts without a cup of black coffee.

Tagging @babybubblebaph2, @unhelllthy, @pisswizrd, @ogh0stf4c3, @oddly-wir3d, @cant-fly444 (no pressure guys, just want to know you better 🙃)

[hopefulwhisperswombat]

Disney wish:The overheated movie.

Over the past 5 months people ALL over the internet have been attacking this movie like it's some thing cursed upon humanity to the point of saying it is the "WORST Disney movie ever".

Even when I go to YouTube I am recommended a random hate video or short from YouTubers like for example: Korean comic,art at midnight, the mysterious mr enter,Brainless mastermind ect, talking sh!t about this God Damn movie (which is soo annoying don't get me started on the hate over at tiktok...)

Soo...I decided to watch the movie for myself to see why the people of the internet are acting like a bunch of five year olds not given their sweet candy...

So after watching the "WORST Disney movie ever" I came to a conclusion ....that.....i....LOVE this movie like it is not the best thing ever but it is very enjoyable and very fun I have to admit there where some gripes here and there like plot holes,some of the character's were underdeveloped,some of the lyrics were...interesting(like "watch out world here I are"💀...why?)but other than that it is still a fun movie with beautiful message and can I say a really✨ BEAUTIFUL✨ Artstyle (I am OBSESSED with the backgrounds and screenshots of this movie😭😭...)like everything looked like a moving,breathing lively painting and to the people online saying that the animation looks "cheap" or "unfinished" ...GET👏A👏LIFE👏

I also really liked the character Asha she is literally so beautiful (LOVE her braids and freckles) I also liked her personality yes even though she was "Quirky😜" BUT she was also very selfless ( like we haven't had a selfless character since freaking Esmeralda from Hunchback of Notre same which was 28 YEARS ago...) not only that she was caring as well and kind.

The star has to be one the best sidekicks Disney has ever made it is so cute and so sweet I love it soo much😍... I heard a while back about star in the original version being a humanoid star who was "Asha's love interest" which I didn't even care about,then...the next minute I be seeing animatics of starboy and asha singing at all cost which is kinda shocking to think that many where complaining about romance in films (especially in Disney) then a few years later people are now BEGGING Disney on there knees to make a new romance movie🙃.

I hope that in a few years or so (once the hate dies down)people will look back at this movie and say "HEY...that wasn't bad"

Also King magnifico is so HOT!!😩...(DADDY!!👁👅👁)

[johaerys-writes]

15 questions for 15 friends

I was tagged by my dear @elveny, thank you so much!! 💙

ARE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?: No! Well, yes, after a character in Greek mythology, but not after a parent or grandparent or anything like that.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?: Yesterday. I was reading the Iliad again for an anon ask and was going through the part where Achilles kills Hector and oooh that scene got hands 🥲 I cry a lot though, I'm a crier, and a lot of the time it's about patrochilles so it's par for the course really lol

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?: Nope.

WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY/HAVE YOU PLAYED?: I'm fairly active generally but I don't play sports at all because I don't like them. I tried several sports while in school before accepting that I simply don't like team sports and I'm not good at them, but I had much more fun with solo sports. I swam for several years somewhat competitively, and I also did track for a while. 

DO YOU USE SARCASM?: I think so? But usually only with people I'm very comfortable with, because I can never know what would go down well or not with a person I don’t know. 

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?: That’s hard to answer because I feel like it depends on the situation. Most of the time, it's body language and their general vibe. Meeting new people can be nerve wracking so I try to "read" them and act accordingly, if that makes sense? I don't want to step on any toes or say the wrong thing so figuring out what the other person's mood or interests might be usually helps. But that often means I miss out on other things on first encounter, like... their eyes or smile or something?? Lol idk man, socialising while on the spectrum is hard 🥲

WHAT'S YOUR EYE COLOUR?: Brown.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?: I think I'll pick scary movies because I do like horror and dark stuff and I don't care if the ending is happy or not as long the story is interesting. 

ANY TALENTS?: it took me so long to think of something for this and I honestly don't know? I'm assuming by 'talents' we mean something you're born with, not something you've worked hard at like some kind of craft, right? In that case, I think I have pretty good visual memory, especially when it comes to books and articles and such, or the written word in general. Oh and I'm weirdly good at orientation, I can usually find my way no matter where I am. Which isn't such a huge deal now in the era of google maps, but back when there was no gps it was a pretty useful skill to have haha. 

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?: Greece.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?: Writing, reading, gaming, crocheting, drawing, going to museums! I'm constantly on the look out for new exhibitions and stuff, it's my favourite thing in the world to do. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?: A darling and dastardly cat, aka my extension when I'm at home. 

HOW TALL ARE YOU?: 1,68m

FAVOURITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL?: Oh god I freaking hated school, absolutely hated it LOL I can't think of one thing I liked in it. I guess I only enjoyed the very last year of high school when I was preparing for the Panhellenic exams because like... it felt like there was finally some kind of purpose or reason to be there at all, even though there was a lot of pressure. I loved Ancient Greek, Latin, History and Philosophy. 

DREAM JOB?: I don't have one, I don’t dream of labour 🙃 I don't think there's any sort of job anyone could do in this capitalist hellscape we're all currently living in that would be enjoyable enough to make up for, well... living in a capitalist hellscape lol. If I could, I'd just go back to uni, probably. That was my happy place and I miss it. And I'd also write a bunch and read a bunch and take up all sorts of creative hobbies, and probably travel more. 

Tagging forth to a bit more than 15 friends lol sorry (and I know I'm forgetting ppl): @baejax-the-great @thiefylilelf @vimlos @mogwaei @gloriesunsung @aymayzing @cordelia---rose @knicknocknick @aristi-achaion @peachandfig @heypax @darlingpoppet @tevivinter @mary-aries @tragediegh @pikapeppa @figsandphiltatos always with love and without any pressure 💕

[ghostaddictgremlin]

Kamen Rider Gaim

Ep 36

The jacket is killing me. There was no need to still wear that thing. The back part is only rags

KAITO WHAT WAS YOUR FUCKING MISSION THERE😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I'm so sorry but my baby is trying to break free and is just used again by fondue*

Oh is Kaito evolving into a tree?

WHY DO WE HAVE ANOTHER GAY MOMENT BETWEEN ZACK AND GLASSES GUY?!

Is that a new jacket or are you still fucking tattered, my guy?

Why is melon man such a cutie patootie with Kouta I can't do this

ALSO CHANGE THE FUCKING JACKET OR SKIP IT ALTOGETHER

Also like you may have tried your best but you didn't raise him quite well

Melon man's side burns are doing things to me that I will neither explore nor explain

Yeah, that's... that's correct. Like really no shame but one of the reasons for Micchi's downfall is definitely melon man

Oh I actually fucking love that so much

"You are my shadow. You are every mistake I've made." "If I'm your shadow... then I... can't be real until you're gone!" "That's right." THAT LINE JUST HIT SO MUCH OUT OF NOWHERE

CAN THE MUSIC IM THE BACKGROUND PLS CHILL I AM FUCKING DYING OVER HERE

"He dances to pieces without even needing my prodding. He's the finest toy." AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

JQBZIWBZIBWJZBQJZBQJSBQJSBQJSBJSJSJHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

BROKEN SUITS I REPEAT BROKEN SUITS

Why did he die in gay sprinkles?

Lowkey was melon man made for me. He died without dying then revealed he is not dead only to die again without how I assume dying

* for the love of God, I had to google. I cannot remember her name to save my life. Fondue is Redue

Ep 37

Why are Gaim filler episodes so random?����

I can't take another fever dream😭😭

Kaito is just having a drug trip or something

This is worse than Hakaider😂😂😭😭😭

I CAN'T DO THIS

Where the fuck are you running to, Kouta?

He looks so silly😭😭

And that's why you shouldn't take drugs, kids

Why's he gay like Evolto and why is the apple suit so cool???

Ep 38

Omf I love Micchi's close ups of the eyes. He looks so dead inside

Oh god, Micchi is full on loosing his mind. At least in his vision melon man has a new suit. And Fondue is just like... enjoying Micchi's insanity

HWBZJABZJA HAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHY IS MICCHI'S ACTOR SO GOOD

No Fondue, I don't think he's broken. I think he's totally fine

For a moment I thought Dr. Stylish is wearing a skirt and I was feeling things

I love him so much

I love his summer outfit, it looks so stupid

Btw Micchi, don't you want to go look for Rat and the girl?

You're so uncomfortable Micchi, oh my goodness

PEKOOOOOOOOOOOO

Defuq is going on with Micchi's strength?

Ep 39

I love savage melon man vision

Kqbskqbykqbdks Dr. Stylish is so skrunkly I aIdvqkqbdlbd

I would kiss him just so he shuts the fuck up

THAT WAS SO DESERVED PLS PUNCH DR. STYLISH IN THE FACE MORE OFTEN

I love that after every inconvenience, Dr. Stylish makes sure to dust of his shirt

The fruit is speaking to him!!

Ep 40

Wdym there wasn't an elevator before? Who build it in a few days???

Wait, is that another Build set? What is that? The hurricane scenes set?

"The snake tempted you with power and you took it, didn't you?" Hqvsjabsjq I blame Sleep Token on my fascination with Eden

Yeah, he's turning inves but lmaoo ever seen Build in suits past their power?

Oh welp, guess Kouta's gonna die

So we now wait the next 7 episodes for Kouta to die hated?

Jqbzjqbsjqbsj yes, Kaito, the solution is to just kick it😂😂😂

The way they mirror it with Yuuya and Hase🙃

No Fondue. You're hated bc you suck

Couldn't they have chosen ANY other angle. LITERALLY

Dr. Stylish is just having a lil movie night. Good for him. Treat yourself, princess

It was obvious but still like... for 40 episodes you were trying to tell us he's wrong and now he's right???😭

[severussnapeconfessions]

thnk god for anon option - i've never read the Harry Potter books and my knowledge of Snape's character comes from the movies only. But since the 1st movie came out, i've had a feeling that Snape was a good guy when harry said "Snape was trying to save me'"

He certainly had his heart and his mind on the right place, even if his actions sometimes stirred into a different direction. That is why I love him - deeply flawed.

I have also watched a handful of movies or series without reading the books and enjoyed them anyway. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if you are feeling incomplete for not having read the books, consider going to a local library and give them a chance. You will enjoy deep-diving into the characters and understand their subtleties. Some people adore a certain character on the books and hate the way they were portrayed on screen. Or even discover two identities to the same character - book vs movie - and love them both.

You also have fanfiction but I will refrain for suggesting it any further because it is a point of no return 😂

"Snape was trying to save me?" also got me suspicious 🙃

[thedarkestgreys]

tagged by both @stannisfactions and @theangrypomeranian 🖤🖤 thank you friends!

How many works do you have on AO3?

67 but something new is popping up for halloween

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

so it says 976,114 but 266,429 of those words are from @baratheonbrotherspresent group written co-op fics

3. What fandoms do you write for?

primarily Fexi/Euphoria right now. but i've also written fics for ASOIAF/GoT, Eternals, Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, and Teen Wolf over the last near decade.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

your violent overnight rush (fexi) stages (jonsa) and i'll do anything you say (if you say it with your hands) (drukkari) slow hands (drukkari) and then a fic that i currently have hidden 😅

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

always! even if it's a quick TYSM FOR READING. i always appreciate when readers take the time to leave a comment, and i want to show my love back.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

i don't think i've written anything with an angsty ending tbh. yes, lots of angst in various fics, but i'm a happy ending girlie through and through.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

as stated above, im a happy ending girlie. but maybe my heart's gone double time if i had to choose.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

i haven't in a long time, but in the past yeah. like drove me away from a ship and shut down my interest in writing for like a solid year. it wasn't even about the writing, it was about the plot (a Sweet Home Alabama AU) and the comments were unnecessary (go read the wiki on the movie yall its not hard) and it just sucked lol. that was a hot minute ago though. we're good now.

9. Do you write smut? If so what kind?

hahahaha do i write smut???? i have an internal checklist of all the smutty things i haven't written yet that i want to give a go, so you could say that. (note: daddy kink is off the list and never to be seen from me again)

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

i do not! but i like to write a lot of AU's of different media.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

as far as i know of, no i haven't.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

i've had some offers in the past to have things translated back in the GoT days but i never gave the okay on it simply because it was a fic i never completed (ya girl used to get in over her head)

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

technically the BBP fics are cowritten but we all did our own chapters following a basic outline of plot/storylines and worked around what other authors were posting. it was chaos and hilarious and the most fun i've ever had

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

to write for? i'd have to say it's fexi, they unlocked a new level in my brain as an author. shout out to my favorite non-canon little crackship that could podrya though - i'll love you forever. to read? this is like asking someone to pick their favorite child. i've read so many incredible fics across a ton of different fandoms. but god i guess the ones i still seek out frequently is dasey and dramione. wouldn't say i have a favorite though?

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

i really want to finish but the wolves came and went and i think i'm sitting on at least two chapters completed for it right now lol someday i'll sit down and finish writing the whole thing and get it posted.

16. What are your writing strengths?

plotting. world building. exposition. keeping characters in character. i've been told i'm good at writing big emotions too?

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

i've improved greatly but i still struggle with dialogue. 🙃

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

okay so. when i was writing slow hands as i got further into the story i really started describing the actual sign language being used by makkari and druig. hours of watching asl videos to pick out different words or phrases to translate. it was fun and it was hard work and i ended up with a whole new appreciation for asl. but it also felt important to really dig into describing the asl and i'm glad i did it.

19. First fandom you wrote for? ... and i'm still bitter about the cancelled reboot.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

taking yvor out of the equation: my fexi warm bodies zombie au sharing different heartbeats mostly i go back and read it and go "wait i wrote this?" because i don't do zombies at all lol. i'm just very proud of it.

tagging: @sarahcakes613 @muserepeats @calculated2stagger @iwantthemtostay and @idontneedtobeforgiven

[tarabyte3]

I've been in deep denial for a few weeks, but whew boy does summer seasonal depression have me deep in its clutches.

So have some David Robey memes because those always cheer me up a little.

More mental health shit behind the cut

The really frustrating part of depression is being unable to do the things you know you enjoy and will make you feel better. I want to write or paint. Or work on Halloween decor crafts and my home improvement projects, but all I can muster the mental energy to do is sleep and stare at the wall. I also can't go hiking for dopamine because it's been miserably hot (100°+) and humid. And all of my weekends are full of family and social obligations (and with my family—particularly my mother—that's a fun extra layer of stress 🙃 it's giving me pre-anxiety).

Rewatching Andy movies, thinking about the blorbos, and working out with my trainer are basically the only things keeping the last cobweb thin, fragile thread of my sanity intact while I hope life doesn't come at me with a broom.

I feel like those "Hang in there" posters if instead of a kitten grabbing a rope, it's a raccoon trying to get out of a dumpster. And also it's 103° inside the dumpster.

I feel like an ant under god's magnifying glass, and baby it's high noon.

When the first real fall day finally hits, the serotonin rush alone is going have me running a marathon. Or cranking out 20k words of fic. (Pls be that last one, I hate running 🙏)

Don't worry, I will get through this. I know I will. It's just going to suck and I'm going to complain the whole time. ✌️

[away-ward]

from pen.d's goodreads qna:

Lottie asked Penelope Douglas:

Hi Pen! I just wondered is there any chance you will write a bonus scene for Aydin and Alex? I’d love to have seen more of them (their wedding night particularly haha), Aydin was such an interesting character. Also, what is the gift Damon received from Christiane in Fire Night? Damon is my favourite character of yours, I loved every tidbit we get about him and will miss reading about him. Thanks :)

Penelope Douglas Hi, Lorrie! Always possible!  And Christiane gave Damon and journal--the left page is for the parent to fill out and the right is for the child. Like "List your top 10 favorite movies" It's a way for parents and children to learn about each other, communicate, etc. She's filled it out for most of Damon's life, and she finally passed it on to him.  Thanks for the question!

-

oh? so they're actually not done with this series? 🙃 aydin and alex 😶🔫 just k-word me already. No bcs why tf will it be aydinalex, kaibanks and willemmy's fans have been asking extra since forever but there were so little? but aydin and alex could be possible? i thought they said so many times before that they were SOOOOOOO fucking done with this series and the books, and hoped that fans will move on and be happy, didnt want to change anything blablabla, emory was heavily disliked yadayadayada, but they just kept on firing shit up, AND include these two imbecile ass characters that were hated by many, in everything? 😤😕

sometimes i wonder where they even got their insights? Like who did they even listen to when they said their readers hated emory and love alex more? Beta readers? Pendragon FB fan group? PR lists? Publishers? Editors? Because they're definitely not coming fom the majority of their fans everywhere else. It's like they have a secret society of feedback givers that we dont know about and kept on putting content that we never asked for because they listened to that unknown society, and again was surprised when their content got so many backlash! And they never owned up to anything too!! God! We at least could've gotten a bonus of emmy being pregnant or some shit, or how will is faring with his college degree, or some more domestic willemmy things, but ughhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! This? pd's just so full of shit 😓

ahhhh, I see. I had to check goodreads to see when they posted it.

My understanding is that PD will always leave the door open to write a scene here or there, but they have no plans (read: intentions) to continue the series or pick up with their children.

As for the Alex bit, you best believe that PD is all too happy to write about her, Rika, and Damon. It's confirmed that Damon is their favorite.

But look at this from their website:

"As an adolescent, I was quiet, shy, and afraid. No mistakes could be made, because people would hate me or I’d be alone. So rather than run, I walked. Rather than climb, I kept my feet on the ground. And rather than say “yes,” I always said “no.” And as a result, I didn’t live.

And I still felt disposable, fearful, and alone.

What would they say about me when I was gone? Would I have regrets? Every day that I didn’t blaze a trail swallowed me up.

So I decided I wouldn’t be invisible or waste another second. I left home, went to college, and traveled. I took trains from Atsugi to Tokyo all by myself. I jumped Hiji Falls when others joked I wouldn’t do it. (I did it twice.) I climbed Mt. Fuji, and I moved to New Orleans for graduate school without knowing a single person in the city. I did what I dreamed, and I was a lot happier.

I don’t worry so much anymore, and I don’t let others’ opinions hold me back.

Be yourself, and OWN it. You know what that means? Be loud and proud. Nurture who you are and good things will come. Most importantly, your happiness."

Sounds a little like Rika's character arc, no?

And in Corrupt, Alex was everything Rika wasn't; bold, sexual, loud and proud. Since Corrupt was a stand alone, I think the relationship between Rika and Alex is special to PD. There's something about Rika, Alex, and Damon that has a tight hold on PD, so we should always expect that if we're getting new content, it will strongly feature one of them.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of readers who hate Emory and love Alex. I wish neither character was hated and that there wasn't competition in the fandom over them. That's so exhausting. I wish PD had planned on writing a series from the start, so that they balanced all these characters better. I wish they enjoyed writing about Kai and Will, and Banks and Emory, as much as they enjoyed writing about Rika and Damon. I wish that they didn't listen to fans so much - there're those that enjoy Alex and those who don't. They're always going to get contradictory requests over her.

Just be happy willemmy was clearly always endgame and nothing changed that for them. Not even all the fans that were rooting for Alex. And be happy that the less PD touches willemmy, the more we can imagine our own scenarios for them.

Sorry for the disappointing q&a. PD's q&a's are always... interesting to me.

Thanks for the message!!

KO

[starjxsung]

hi hi baby!! how are you?

i saw that you got ateez tickets!!! how exciting!! did you end up getting vip?👀👀👀

spirited away and howl’s moving castle are my absolute most comforting ghibli movies. buuuut i think my fav is probably princess mononoke, i just think it’s sooooo beautiful and sad. but i love them all so much (except earwig, we don’t claim her). i can literally talk about studio ghibli for hours nonstop.

i hope thinking of me when you see baku is a good thing for you bc that’s so sweet😭 we need more baku representation. i went to hot topic today and saw a wallet that had kuromi and him<3 the revolution is starting

ahhhh i didn’t know you got a bbokari & han quokka <3 we love that for you! i really want to get one of each eventually. but i really want a han quokka or dwaekki next. i love the fact that you crochet clothes for them😭

the situation with your professor too, like wtf bro. i hate professors that don’t have an ounce of empathy. they forget they’re freaking human too. i really don’t like that, in my case it really sucks because she’s a literal licensed psychologist. so she should AT LEAST as a part of her competencies comprehend that people have personal problems. she also gave us the hardest time yesterday for the work that none of us submitted (that was due at the start of the semester) because we didn’t send it in. when she was the one that didn’t open or even publish it so we could submit it. she said it must’ve been a problem with the platform (we also use the platform for our courses and it can be messy but it doesn’t just remove content just because). like, she couldn’t even admit that it was her own error too. like honestly, i hate this whole ego trip that professors live in. like, what possesses them. but yeah, whatever, she’s one of the main directors of the program so imma have like a million other courses with her so i can’t really be an asshole to her too or she’ll try to fail me probs <3

anyways bb thanks for your support! i really appreciate it so much! thanks for always giving us a safe space here. i’m feeling better now and a bit more hopeful. i love you and appreciate you, pls know that im always here for you too<3

(and fuck ch*rlie p*th <3, i feel bad for skz bc i love them but im not supporting this featuring at all either. they just get thee worst collabs like tommy hilfiger is such a shitty brand, coca cola sucks and now this bish. they can’t catch a break)

i love you darling! i hope you’re well and taking care of yourself <3

-🐈‍⬛

HI BABYYYYY ATEEZ TICKETS SECUREDDDDD I’m going to Oakland and then flying to LA the same week to see them again!!!! And then I leave a week later for lollapalooza LMFAOAOOFFJFJ IT IS GOING TO BE A HECTICCCCC WEEK BUT IM SOOOOO EXCITED 🫶

Princess Mononoke is a fucking masterpiece oh my got and the SOUNDTRACK…….. probably one of the best scores I’ve ever listened to 😭 ALSO EARWIG HOLY FUCKKKK I block that movie out of my memory because it’s so bad 😭 what were they thinking!!!! I kept thinking it was gonna go somewhere and it just never did and then it just ended HWELLOPPPO IT’S SO FUNNY NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT ??!:?:?:? 😭

I love my skzoos !!!! I’ll send pics when I crochet them more clothes (in several months bc I’m lazy🫶)

Professors LOOOOOVE to sit on their high horse and act like they want you to succeed and then pull the most out of pocket shit ever that’s a literal recipe for failure. And then they wonder why so many people fail their class 😀 absolutely insane that a licensed psychologist wouldn’t think mental health to be a legitimate issue, but I digress! Professors are always right and everything they do is correct! They certainly know how to use online platforms for work submission too! 🙃 WILD. I hope she doesn’t pull that shit again and I’m so sorry you have to deal with her for more courses ☹️ I’m rooting for you so hard and you’re always welcome to shit talk her on here WE HATE BAD PROFESSORS ON BLOGGGG™️ 🫶🫶🫶

Oh my god finally someone else who also hates Tommy Hilfiger RAHHHH their founder is apparently super racist too ???? And their clothes are somehow unnecessarily expensive for being so boring and colorless. Idol fashion has gotten so boring I miss when idols would wear weird and colorful streetwear fashion 😭

I LOVE YOU BBYYYYY it’s almost the end of the week hang in there my love !!!! 🫶💓💕💗💞💖💘

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Talking about Ryan Gosling. Does Ryan have some good movies? I've just have watched 3 of his movies so far.

If you take a look at his filmography, I'd say he's done pretty well for himself. Like, that's not a list to be ashamed of.

I watched Lars and the Real Girl a few days ago and it was devastating. He gave such a good performance, I was surprised he hadn't won more for that. I think it was one of his best actually.

Others that I've seen are Half Nelson, The Notebook, Blue Valentine (another really good role), Drive (a real turning point in his career), Crazy, Stupid Love (I realized he was funny with this one), The Ides of March, Only God Forgives (the films he did with Refn changed his image as an actor), The Big Short, The Nice Guys (incredibly funny, him and Russell Crowe make such a good pair), La La Land (I hated this movie at that time and I was annoyed by both him and Emma Stone 🙃, changed my mind since then), Blade Runner 2049, First Man and lastly, Barbie.

Wow, I did really watch a lot of films with Gosling without realizing!

[papirouge]

There’s something about every alpha masculinity account that screams “fed” to me. I really think these account are fake and ran by the fbi to monitor men online and who would be likely to commit mass violence. Other times it’s bots.

But really, look at how they cry about how men are gods on earth for women to forcibly worship them (idolatry God will strike down every man who calls himself the lord) and the need to protect children from leftist but will welcome Kevin spacey and man who preyed upon children openly all because they don’t believe in “cancel culture” unless it’s them. This is such a insidious agenda happening and it requires a lot of attention from Christians to avoid this.

That's an interesting theory

I also heart the one saying that the incel movement was incepted by old scrote trying to make younger men look as stupid & insane as possible so that women of their age be repulsed by them and instead consider dating older men on the basis they won't be as unhinged. It would make sense if older redpiller weren't as much demented as the younger ones. And it's not like they were good concealing their "opinions" those scrote are unable to have a normam conversation with a women not involving sex, breeding, female's "role" or some other redpill bs

These old scrote are much more cunning and calculating than they will admit. Andrew Tate proudly admits he has no issue lying and deceptive tactics with the girls he's trafficking so why his fans think he wouldn't do the same to them? 🤔

Now to come back to your theory, I definitely think the redpill movement is indeed a psy-op to divide society. What irks me so bad is that so called 'free thinker' media wil have no issue seeing this when it comes to race, and call the BLM movement "divisive" and breeding hate among society, but will say absolutely nothing about redpiller and their visceral hate against women. I'm thinking about Vigilant Citizen especially.. it's been a while I realized dude was shady but I realized he was definitely full of shit when he made an entire article to dunk on Barbie and its feminist propaganda that will destroy society🙄 (btw I didn't forget he never approved my comment on that article calling him out lmao Mind you, he's one of those whiny people asking for more fReEdoM oF sPeEch/truthers are cEnsOreD, but is unable to apply that freedom of speech on his own website🤡). Meanwhile he has yet to address the redpill movement and the well documented femicide attacks/shootings perpetuated by men who explicitly expressed their hatred against women. Is that enough to finally call the redpiller/mra movement "divisive" too?

VC loves making articles pointing out the occult symbolism anywhere he can, so...why didn't he say shit about Andrew Tate Russian guru who happens to be a black warlock? Or Tate xitter handle being COBRA Tate? If you look into it, dude has whole thing going on with snakes... What about his weird triangular hand symbol too. VC would've a field day making an article developing the theory that Tate is actually a plant seeking to breed chaos and gender wars - it would have made a lot of sense bc there's a lot of shady shit going on with Tate and how he's being wk'ed by the Conservative right when he's a British pimp living in Romania. Also wasn't his dad CIA? Reaaal shady shit going on... But VC won't cover that shit bc he's of his bias.. but don't worry he'll make a 567th article about celebrities hiding one eye and the awful LBGT+ propaganda because lf *checks notes* rainbow on a note book🙃

You'd think the way these people talk about feminism women were out there turning society upside down, hounding & harassing men....but nope. IDK for being so dangerous & radical, feminists seem to be very quiet 🤔 there's a reason those men have to look into movies and video games to claim oppression. The so called oppression they get from women doesn't translate IRL.

[aadagio]

Speak Now TV First Impressions

I do this thing with every new Taylor release where I go through the album, track by track, listening to one song at a time via the YouTube lyric videos and then pausing for a few minutes to jot down my initial thoughts and first impressions. I started doing it with Lover back in 2019, and I've done it with every album since.

I usually just post these as a thread on Twitter, but since I'm back being active on Tumblr again, I thought I'd also share here. I did listen to Speak Now TV out of order, with the Vault tracks first, so I'm just going to list everything in the exact order I played it below:

Electric Touch: I got chills all over my arms. All I kept thinking was, "This would have been KILLER to listen to in high school!" I did feel that Patrick's voice felt subdued by the production here, which wasn't my favorite, but the way he and Taylor sing "to-o-ou-ouch" together and their alternating vocals on the bridge are fantastic. Also excited to have a new Taylor Time! I want to see this one performed live SO badly.

When Emma Falls In Love: Still not 100% sure how I feel about this one yet. Probably the least exciting one from the Vault, for me personally. I absolutely love the line “like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town” though.

I Can See You: So sultry and sexy. I loved it immediately. I got strong 60s spy movie vibes. I also really want to know who this is about? I know what it makes me think of (April/May 2013), but what about Taylor??

Castles Crumbling: Oh my GOD. Possibly one of my favorite TS collabs of all time??? The way Hayley and Taylor’s voices harmonize with one another is hypnotic. This felt so ghostly and morbid, like a sister to Haunted and even a forefather to Nothing New? Biggest stand out to me so far.

Foolish One: Everything about this, down to the title, feels like a direct attack. There was absolutely a point in my life (in 2010, no less) when I would have played this CONSTANTLY. Maybe I should still do that now 🙃

Timeless: I started sobbing as soon as the first chorus hit. I recognized Marjorie in the lyric video thumbnail and knew that this one would probably make me emotional, but I wasn't expecting just how quickly it would reduce me to tears. My boyfriend overheard me crying and came out to the living room to hug me. Completely devastated me, but I love it. An even bigger stand out than CC!

I had to take a break to collect myself, and iced some cookies I made to celebrate the album release. My biggest thought with the Vault tracks was just, "Damn, I wish these had been out in the world back in 2010 because I really could have used them in high school." At least they’re here now though.

Superman: Listened while icing cookies because I knew that it would be the last song in my listen-through otherwise, and I didn't want to end the session on a sour note, because I do NOT like Taylor's intended subject on this song, or the person I used to personally associate it with when I was younger. It’s a good song! Just not one I gravitate toward anymore.

Mine: I immediately noticed the lack of earnestness, youth and twang in her voice on this recording. I don’t know why, but it was hard to get past. I just know this song SO well after all these years, and this version felt almost jarringly different.

Sparks Fly: This was better. Still not the same as the original, but a better mix of old and new, in my opinion. Also loved the inclusion of the Speak Now World Tour footage in the lyric video.

Back To December: Another one where I just know it so well that I can notice every single difference. Some of the vocal inflections were not my fave, but overall it’s another good mix of old and new. (Also I hope Taylor Lautner is having an incredible day, as he deserves.)

Speak Now: Right out of the gate, I hated her vocals on this one, which crushed me. This song was one I had been looking forward to hearing the most. As I kept listening, I was trying to reserve my judgement, but by the end I had to accept that I just do not like this version. The lack of youthful exuberance in her voice was extremely noticeable, and I felt that was to the detriment of the song. I'm so upset to say I don't like this one.

Dear John: Who else up wanting back their girlhood? Vocally, this was beautiful. This one transcends time, and actually hurts more to hear sung at 32. You can feel how her voice has changed from utter sadness to bitter anger. I loved how she completely capitalized, "OVER YOUR SAD EMPTY TOWN" in the lyric video.

Mean: THANK GOD THE TWANG IS BACK!!!!! If ever there was a song we needed it on, it was this one!! (Please can we keep this energy for Debut TV????? 🙏🏼)

The Story of Us: The whole time I was just thinking, "Okay!!!! Yes!!!!!" Vocally, this is exactly what I was hoping for. Killed it.

Never Grow Up: Had me sobbing again. I remember listening to this for the first time at 17 and thinking, “Is this going to be life one day?” and now I’m 30 and my friends have kids and I’m in my grown up apartment and it IS all so much colder than I thought it would be. This is another one that hurts more to hear sung at 32 than at 19. I feel like I can remember my whole life when I listen to it, which just makes the tears come harder. I had to stop and grab tissues from my room and hug my boyfriend for a bit before coming back to finish the album.

Enchanted: PERFECTION. So good. I adored the lyric video transition from her Speak Now World Tour performance of the song into her singing it at The Eras Tour.

Better Than Revenge: NO. Nope. I could write a dissertation at this point about why I think the lyric change was a massive, massive mistake, but y’all already know. This was NOT the move at all and it will never hit as well as the original. I'm so disappointed.

Innocent: So good. Again, another one that hits different with age, especially hearing her sing, “Thirty-two and still growing up now.” I was remembering watching her perform it live at the VMAs for the first time as I was listening. Such a special moment that KW then came out and absolutely ruined with Runaway. I still firmly believe that this song is way, way too good for the person it’s about.

Haunted: Right off the bat all I could think was, "Uhhhhh what the FUCK happened to the production here????" That new echo-y layering effect is NOT IT and ruined the song for me.

Last Kiss: Immediately noticed different, sharper instrumentation with the harp, and I did not like it. Vocally it just didn't hit the same either. Instead of deeply sad, it just feels sort of lifeless. I probably put too much stock into this one because it means so much to me, but even still. I fully gave up on expecting the shaky breath to get a repeat feature because I just don’t think you can recreate something like that, but damn. This version just does not feel right to me and I’m sad about it.

Long Live: Tears AGAIN, this song always always gets me. This version is perfection, another timeless one. I think they made the right move by having the lyric video be comprised completely of footage of Taylor performing it on the Speak Now World Tour.

Ours: This was my absolute favorite song on the album back in the day. I always loved how you could hear the smile in her voice as she sang, and unfortunately I didn’t really feel that at all on this version. At least we still had the giggle toward the end! Overall I think it’s still solid, just not the same, and that was disappointing.

My final thoughts after just one listen-through feel so up and down, which I was not expecting at all! I feel so conflicted and disappointed.

With Fearless TV, it took me a little bit to come around fully to the vocal changes. You just can't recapture that same youthful earnestness that she was singing with as a teenager. But when I got the vinyl in the mail and put it on, I don't know, something just finally clicked for me, and now I love it.

With Red TV, I was fully on board from the jump, and I consider the TV to be the definitive version of the album. But with Speak Now, it's nowhere close. I feel like half the original songs I really loved the new versions of, and half were huge let downs. That makes me so sad to say.

I know it's only been one listen, and if there's anything I've learned from tracking my first impressions over the past 5 years, it's that my opinions will absolutely morph and change as time goes on and I listen more and more. I just never expected to feel disappointment like this.