#honestly kinda stuck on the surveillance thing‚ for i think obvious reasons

[unmakingandincorporeality]

I get the sentiment of this last comment but I think it's important to emphasize that the problem is not 'kids these days aren't doing the specific things I have happy memories of,' it's 'kids these days are going to form a generation that almost universally either had to recover from addiction as a child or have not recovered.

And like this post doesn't even touch on surveillance. There are kinds of play, that are necessary for learning and identity development, that only happen when the people doing it feel unobserved. As a 33 year old who internalized a sense of absolute surveillance as a child I cannot overstate how much it sucks having to learn how to feel alone as an adult. I still address my journal entries to hypothetical archivists.

Like no generation of children in modernity has not been systematically traumatized in new and exciting ways. It'd be really cool if we were making it better, but instead we're making it different. Maybe worse, because it doesn't seem like we're getting rid of the last generation's flavour of trauma either.

not to be all “think of the children” but the fact that companies can openly admit to using methods to intentionally form addictions in children and we’re not killing their ceos in the streets yet is astounding

[goindanswingin]

Les Amis Webshows - Reviews!

So! There’s been a whole two new Amis webshows premiering this January! However, I’ve noticed not that many people are actually talking about them! New content, and we’re not yelling??

So, I’ve decided to give short reviews on their debut pilot episodes, as well as the first episodes of some other Les Amis webshows (I probably missed so many, feel free to add more if you know of them!) in order to maybe spread the word about some cool creators online as well as give y’all a lil more content to consume that isn’t just grim BBC Les Mis discourse atm

(I’ve reviewed them in the order they premiered)

1. Stories From Les Amies

This is a vlog story of the les amis with all the genders purposefully changed! Now this one has an awful lot of content to make up its plot, having premiered in 2013 and wrapped up with an HOUR LENGTH FILM at the end of 2014, so there’s a hell of a lot to digest here! The Enjolras behind this is actually also the author of TextingEnjolras/EnjolrasRising so the plot does bear some resemblance to that also! (Another piece of content I’d highly recommend if you’ve not read yet).

But, to keep it fair, I’m going to stick with just the pilot episode! It’s set up like a big group skype call with our amis introducing themselves, where we are first introduced to their personalities, mostly led by Enjolras although Combeferre acts a beautifully sarcastic arbiter. The video quality isn’t excellent, but surprisingly, the audio quality is pretty great (for every character except Marius), with almost no background noise or fuzz.

Enjolras: All of us make up a society that we call the Friends of the ABC

Enjolras: *awkwardly nods and grins*

Enjolras: Which is actually a pun, because... ABC pronounced together sounds like the word abaissés, which means “lowly” or “abased...

Enjolras: So... it’s... it’s a pun.

I know I’m only reviewing pilot episodes to keep it fair, but I will say yes, the quality of the series absolutely does improve over time, and I would highly recommend giving it a go if you’ve never seen it before! You can find the whole series here.

2. Official Les Amis Vlog

Premiering at almost exactly the same time as number 2 on this list, the Les Amis Vlog is similar in terms of quality but different in style. This is as it says - a vlog channel, with divided playlists for each character in the Amis. Every character uploaded vlogs between 2013 and 2015 introducing themselves, answering questions, and making content on certain themes. 

This one took me by surprise - I was very much underwhelmed by the camera quality and lack of plot, but once I started watching, I realised why the Les Amis vlog doesn’t have plot - it’s because instead of making up political issues and action, they actually discuss real politics - in the pilot episode, Enjolras actually talks about a real news article from Reuters and then goes on into an impassioned rant on public surveillance  - it’s kind of amazing.

Enjolras: I mean, you wanna hide your face for whatever reason? Well, congratulations! You’re now a potential t*rror*st for having stood in the way of the observational machine!

Obviously this one is much more about the characters than it is any sort of plot like we��ll see in some of our later series, but... these characters are by far some of the most convincing Les Amis I’ve seen! Particularly Enjolars - wow. So if that sounds like your kinda thing, check it out here!

3. Vines de l'ABC

A multimedia webseries that ran from 2016-2018, but mostly confined to Vines, this one in essence is similar to the Les Amis Vlog in that it is more character driven than plot driven - the different characters were all cast and then separately uploaded Vines (and occasionally YouTube videos) as well as answering questions to the main blog.

The first “episode” is, as common for these webseries, a video of our Enjolras introducing Les Amis and his character, then being interrupted by a phone call. The quality is webcam quality, the sound pretty fuzzy, but I do think Dorian here makes a great Enjolras... more on that shortly! Overall, the quality of this first episode isn’t super relevant to the rest of the series though, because as is obvious by the name, it’s mostly comprised of amusing little vines.

*Tik Tok by Ke$ha plays*

Enjolras: Hello? Did you change my ring tone again? ...Again? Well, I mean, I'm trying to do the video... No, I mean, I'm actually in the middle of doing the video right now, you're on camera... No, no I don't know how to edit it out... I mean, does he have a concussion, or..? *sighs* ...How did I know he had a concussion.

Obviously vine is dead, but everything is available here - if this sounds like your kind of thing, definitely go check it out! There is TONS of content for your consumption here.

4. Barricade Boys

Next up is a comedy/parody show from NyxRising, an already established group of YouTube cosplayers who’ve made lots of similar shows previously. This means, for a start, that the production quality here is some of the best you’ll see - great audio and video quality, basic but good set design, great costumes.

Now, let’s make it clear: if you’re looking for a brick accurate show, this is not the one for you. It’s a pretty ludicrous parody, with an unbelievably arsehole Enjolras with no notion of personal space, a Grantaire with weird sideburns and a crush so obvious it’s hilarious, a Marius so dumb he thinks he’s joining a “lonely hearts club” and a Courfeyrac so OOC that I don’t even know where to begin. 

But god damn, did this make me laugh out loud a good few times.

Enjolras: You do you, Grantaire. Nobody else will.

This one has a couple episodes out already, and I’d highly recommend if you want some laughs! You can find it here.

5. The Downtrodden

Aaaand... onto our January debuts! I’m super excited to give a review of the pilot episode of Shadow of the Tor’s “The Downtrodden”! 

One thing that stuck out to me immediately is that this might be the most diverse cast yet - we have multiple POC, and also a trans Enjolras - in both cases, there’s no self-congratulatory back-patting, but it’s made very clear and very casual, and it’s wonderful. Another point worth mentioning is that our Enjolras is the same Enjolras seen in Vines de l’ABC - and as I mentioned, I think Dorian is great at the role.

The Downtrodden seems to be going for an enjoyable line between plotty and humorous, and so far I’m super excited to see where they take it. The audio and video quality is outstanding, though the cafe background noises could do with being toned down just a tiny bit (as there are occasionally character lines in the background that are a little drowned out), but overall it’s by far the most professional looking alongside Barricade Boys (which had to contend with far less characters!). One comment I will make, though nitpicky, is that unlike Barricade Boys, which moves extremely swiftly through its jokes, The Downtrodden is edited just a pace too slow in one or two scenes, meaning the comic timing falls a little off and the jokes don’t quite get the reaction they really deserve.

Grantaire: You get free coffee refills here if you’re part of a student group. I gotta make that loan last.

Cosette: Do you consider yourself a politically motivated person?

R: I barely even consider myself a person.

C: Oh. Are you alright?

R: Is anyone?

Surprisingly, one of my favourite characters in the pilot episode was Marius! I often find he’s overplayed to death, but in this he appears a little dim but genuinely charming, and he got some of the best laughs out of me. I’d be interested to know how well all the jokes landed with someone who isn’t a Brit, however, since I’m super sold on all these characters being British uni students (student poverty aesthetic and Oxfam shopping bags, goddamn!), and also love Courfeyrac for the same reason - he seems like your typical friendly but laddish uni type, which works perfectly for his character. Also, I own that mug he has.

One of the strongest points, and a very common issue I have with Les Amis webshows (and the 2012 movie NOT GONNA LIE), is losing track of who is supposed to be who - I had no such problem with The Downtrodden - everyone is introduced naturally, gets at LEAST a line or two, and is beautifully acted - go check out the pilot here!

6. The Les Amis Webshow

The last one on our list - the Les Amis Webshow premiered on the last day of January!

First impressions of this webshow are: the most enticing hook yet straight from the beginning, and some of the worst sound quality.

After the introduction - structured as Marius speaking to us from the future - the pilot episode actually centers around a random film student coming up to Marius and asking if they can film him. Is this Cosette? Will we ever find out? Who knows, but for some reason Marius just takes it in his stride and lets this person follow him around, in what I can’t decide is a very weird move, or a very Marius move.

Jehan: Are you wearing your lanyard?

Marius: Yeah. Why? That’s what it’s for.

Jehan: (laughing) You simple little freshman!

Marius: *long pause*

Also Marius: We’re gonna get along great!

The editing is actually fun and a few shots seem to be going for something quite adventurous - I just wish the audio quality were better.

I like Enjolras so far - he seems very confident in himself and a little bit of a rich boy, and I’m really interested to see what they do with Marius, since this is the only webshow so far where Marius has been front and center instead of Enjolras - in that snippet at the start, he seems very anxious and weary - it’s very Empty Chairs at Empty Tables! Overall, this has the most “plot-y” vibe to its initial episode so far, and reminds me a lot of Stories from Les Amies, honestly. I’m very excited to see what they do with it, and am also euphoric at a REGULAR UPLOAD SCHEDULE unlike the other two which are currently running - Barricade Boys and The Downtrodden. Keep up with it every Thursday here!

Thank you so much to @starberry-cupcake for helping me compile this list!

highlight reel: @/SFLA who the fuck makes a feature length movie oh my god, the sheer levels of gay in BB, Marius’ super poshboy accent in TD (sorry if thats just how u speak Ethan), and best of all the German flag taking centre stage in tLAW - the european cynic in me is desperate to know why its there and hopes that you didn’t just mix up French and German flags lmao

[randomfandomimagine]

Supernatural Mission (Kingsman Halloween Imagine)

Requested by anon:

I'd love literally anything merlin-related you write for a halloween kingsman imagine. mostly i just think about them being sent in on a mission that ends up being legit supernatural. the reader and merlin are the only ones legit worried. which, like, fam, scottish folklore is NUTS.

A/N: I know this is short, mainly like the other Halloween imagines I wrote. But I wasn’t too inspired for any of them and it wasn’t easy writing like 5 imagines in just a few days so I had to rush over them. I tried to make this one actually tense and kinda scary. Hope it’s any good! 

Although everyone celebrated Halloween on the 31st October, for us it was nothing different. That day was another regular day for us, and so we worked as usual.

Even if outside the building kids were running around dressed as ‘scary’ things and laughing and running. Going trick or treating and eating their candy.

Us, on the other hand, were doing spy stuff as Kingsman. And it was only Merlin and me there, we had to take on a mission.

“Merlin, do you read me?” I whispered, tapping the earpiece.

“I do, Y/N” His calm voice replied.

I adjusted my glasses and took a deep breath as I proceeded to approach the abandoned building that was my target. It was ominous, especially since it was already night and everything around it was quite spooky. Only the lively environment of the Halloween spirit kept me from getting jittery.

My heart began hammering against my chest. I was glad that Merlin couldn’t hear that.

“Are you there?” He asked me, as though he read my mind and reminded me of his surveillance.

“Yes, I’m going in” I arrived at the door and took ahold of the door handle.

I had no idea what I would find there, what my missions was, exactly. All I was told was that I needed to explore that place.

“Be careful” Merlin reminded me, and his calm voice at least reassured me.

He had my back, it couldn’t be as bad as I imagined. Especially if Merlin was my eyes and ears in that mission. He would cover me.

“Here goes nothing…” I inhaled a deep breath before pulling at the door and opening it.

I could feel it as I walked in, it was no ordinary mission. Arthur mentioned something about being a ‘Halloween’ related mission, but it was Harry’s opinion that honestly got me worried. He had said he had heard about that place before and it troubled him.

When I voiced my concern to Merlin he brushed it off, being quite skeptical. I hoped he still remembered my thoughts on the matter nonetheless.

There was complete silence that added on to the eerie ambiance that oddly surrounded that place. My boots echoed around the long corridor as the door shut behind me and shut off any outside sound.

I slightly jumped at the sound of the door slamming shut, probably because of the wind. I gulped loudly, trying to remain calm and brave.

“See anything?” Judging by his tone, Merlin was not bothered by any of this.

Granted, he wasn’t actually there with me and was sitting in a safe office away from where I was. Yet he wasn’t startled by the obvious ominous place.

“Not really…” I let my eyes wander around, finding the building to be surprisingly empty. No furniture either, only empty rooms. “Nothing catches my eye”

“All this mission is strange” Merlin knew that Arthur just wanted me to investigate the place he had heard about so many times, yet something was definitely off.

“And you can’t feel this creepy aura” I shuddered, wondering what the hell was going on.

It felt like something could jump at me at any moment, so I rested my hand close to the gun in my belt.

I told myself that the presence I felt in that place was product of my imagination, just a consequence of my fear. But it wasn’t a human presence, and neither was it natural.

Everything about that place screamt supernatural.

“I have a bad feeling about this” Merlin mumbled, which wasn’t good.

As Kingsman, we allowed our instinct to take over sometimes. And if his instinct also told him something was wrong, it must have been because it was.

I stopped walking when the light over my head flickered. It had been on when I came in, yet all of a sudden it was failing.

I couldn’t contain myself as I squeaked in scare when it turned off all of a sudden, leaving me in complete darkness.

“Y/N?!” Merlin exclaimed in concern. “Y/N, can you hear me?”

I made a pause to take a few deep breaths and slow my racing heart before I replied.

“I’m here” My voice quivered, however.

I was never this scared during missions, even those in which I had to overcome some of my fears like heights. This was something completely different.

“I can’t see anything, what happened?”

“The lights turned off, Merlin, I can’t see anything either”

“You don’t have nocturne mode in the glasses, do you?”

“Nope…” I sighed in annoyance, really wishing they did.

How would we know that we would need them? The place was supposed to be perfectly well lit!

I was about to take another step, to keep on exploring, when something made me stop. I didn’t even have the time to take my phone out to use the flashlight.

“Merlin…” I whispered, wondering whether he heard it too.

Then a growl sounded somewhere in front of me. A guttural noise that seemed to come out of an animal, perhaps a wolf. But that, judging by its power, came from a very big wolf. Far too big to be a regular wolf.

I took my gun out and shot blindly in front of me, but the sound didn’t stop. It only intensified, as though it was getting bigger.

Or closer…

BAM!

A loud sound, of something heavily banging against something. As though a beast had lunged at its prey just to find an obstacle in the way.

“Merlin…!” I said, louder this time.

“What the hell is going on there?” He exclaimed, and I heard the sound of aggressive typing as I assumed my partner was trying to gather some information.

Then a sound that I couldn’t describe made me shudder again. I couldn’t tell what it was, because it sounded like nothing I had heard before.

All I knew was that it was coming closer. And closer. And closer.

My instinct then took over as my legs started moving without my consent. I didn’t’ think, I just acted. I turned around and quickly headed for the exit, not ready to stand there to face whatever it was.

To let it kill me.

“What the fuck was that?!” Merlin shouted as another horrible angry noise arrived to my ears.

This time it was a mixture between a growl and a moan. I had enough.

I threw myself to the door and pulled at it. It was stuck.

“NO!” A terror unlike any other before clutched to my stomach like an iron claw.

It was nothing compared to my Kingsman initiation, to other terrifying missions. This was irrational, harrowing.

“Y/N, are you alright?!”

“No, I’m not! Did you hear that?!”

“Well, get out of there!”

“I can’t! The door!”

“Kick it!”

Thankfully, Merlin remained calm enough to be the voice of reason and remind me that I was a trained Kingsman. I kicked the door as hard as I could and it finally opened.

The sound was getting closer behind me, I cringed as I waited for it to attack me. For something to hold me by the nape and pull me back, to attack me while my back was turned.

But I managed to get out of there before it could. I gasped as I closer the door behind me, the sound of my heart throbbing against my ears.

Even though the other sound, that supernatural growl, was forever etched in my mind.

“Y/N? Say something!” Merlin urged me worriedly.

“I made it out, I’m not going in again” I choked out.

“Hold on, I’ll get you” At least he seemed as freaked out as I was, I wasn’t the only one. “Stay right there, I will arrive in a moment”

Perhaps it was that I was in shock, but before I knew Merlin had arrived to pick me up.

His eyes were laced with fear and confusion as he positioned himself in front of me. We didn’t speak about the strange experience we just shared. We blamed it on Halloween and pretended like it never happened.

Instead of speaking up, he did something I would have never expected him to do. He hugged me to comfort me.