#i KNOW its not mean spirited but god its what my brain does

[crabsdaily]

my favourite part of Array of Light is the final chorus where they switch from saying “I used to think I only had 2 states” to saying “YOU used to think you only had 2 states” bc I’m incapable of taking anything seriously so this is just the mental image that pops into my mind

[talonabraxas]

The life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ was physical representation of the crucifixion in the brain, this is a physiological and biological description of the teachings of The Bible.

"Jesus isn’t coming back a second time. The Christ is, and already has. What’s the difference? Jesus was the actual man (aka son of man) that lived 2000 years ago. Christ was the Consciousness (aka Son of God) that was expressing itself through Jesus telling people that “no one comes to the Father but through me” and “He who sees the Son sees the Father” when the masses thought he was referring to his body.

Now, how is the Christ coming back a second time or has already? The Christ is that aspect of the soul that some refer to as their Higher Self. It’s the part of you that’s a part of God (aka man is made in the image of God). God isn’t a man because He isn’t bound by any form. Yet it’s because He isn’t bound by form that gives Him the ability to assume ALL forms in creation. The Oneness that is God is expressing Himself through countless subjective experiences through each of His creation.

Since all of us have the Christ Consciousness laying dormant within all of us, in whom has it come back a second time, and how does all of humanity awaken it so it can express itself fully in all of mankind, rather than in just one person here and there?

Where/what is Christ in our body?

Jesus Christ was crucified at a place named “Calvary” which in the original Biblical language meant “skull”. In the human body there is a nerve known as “the tree of life”, it protrudes from the skull. It is this nerve, the Vagus Nerve, that “crucifies” meaning “Refines” or “Transforms the “Sacred Secretion” or “Christ Oil” into our Pineal gland, causing us to see God, face to face and receive the true anointing of the “Holy Spirit”.

Genesis 32:30

“Jacob named the place peneal(pineal)” because, he said “ I saw God face to face and lived to tell the story!”

This is a biological and physiological description of the journey made by Christ, the Christ Oil or Sacred Secretion throughout the body, and some practical instructions on how to honor it, raise it and exemplify it in order to be fully enlightened, just as God intended.

Christ was the living embodiment of Gods perfection, and Biblically, we are told that Christs Holy Spirit dwells Inside all of us, But what you may not know is how astoundingly literal Christ is inside our physical body. Colossians 1

26:29

“ This mystery had been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it is out in the open. God wanted everyone to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in Gods glory. Its that simple. That is the substance of our message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense, so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic, Christ! No more, no less, thats what I’m working so hard at, day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.”

The bible is clearly telling us of Gods glory and energy living in our body.

Lets apply Gods word to the science of our body.

1: The Claustrum

Inside the brain there is a thin, irregular sheet of neurons, that attach to the underside of the Neocortex in the center of the brain, known as the Claustrum.The Claustrum is the seat of all consciousness in the body. It is the physical bodies supply of “Life Energy” from God or Spirit. This “Life Energy” is referred to as many different things, “Esse” (Latin), “To Be” (English), “Luminiferous Aether”, “Source”, “Prana” etc. It is thought to be where the name “Santa Claus” originates from, because it brings life to the entire body.

2: The Secretion

Also known as Christ oil , Chrism, sacred Secretion.

As the orchestra of the brain, Cerebrum. The Claustrum signals the secretion of oil (Cerebral Spinal Fluid) into the Spine (Central Nervous System).

The New Testament tells us in John about this internal Christ oil or Sacred Secretion.

1 John

2:27

“As for you, the anointing (oil) which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you: but as his anointing teaches you about all things.”

3: Colossians

Colossians 1:26-29

“Know this glorious secret (from the word secrete) Inside and out.”

Colossians

1:27

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

This is interestingly referring to the cell adhesion molecule known as “Laminin” which, if you look at the pictures it is literally the shape of a cross. The Bible is telling us to understand God inside and outside. This means understanding the physiology of the body and the holy oil or secretion.

4: Christ

The word Christ/kristos in ancient Greek means “anointed” or “smeared with oil”, and this “Christ oil” or “Sacred Secretion” is Inside us, Teaching us everything from the inside out”. We must fully honor God in all our ways, as the Bible teaches. Then will we receive Gods blessings like we have never known before.

1 John

2-27

“As for you, the anointing (oil) which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you: but as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in him.”

5: The Milk and the Honey

The biblical milk and honey are produced by the Pineal gland and the Pituitary gland.

Numbers 14:8

“If the lord is pleased with us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us a land which flows with Milk and Honey.”

I believe it is important to Note: the “if” in, “If the lord is pleased with us”, that means: We have to please the Lord by following Christs teachings, also meaning we need to preserve the Christ oil or Sacred Secretion if we want to truly know God and reap the benefits.

6: About the Pineal gland

Biblically the Pineal gland is referred to as the place where Jacob met God.

Genesis 32:30

“Jacob named the place Peniel (Pineal) because he said, “I saw God face to face and lived to tell the story!”

Mathew 6:22

“The light of the body is the eye: therefore if thine eye be single (Pineal), thy whole body shall be full of light.”

The Pineal gland produces NN-Dimethyltryptamine(DMT) and golden Melatonin honey. It has more blood flow per cubic volume than any other organ. It is located in the center of the brain, behind and above the Pituitary gland. It is surrounded or bathed in Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is know for its male energy, Joseph. It i referred to as the “Yang” (of Yin and Yang). It is known as the Solar not lunar. It is the dominant source of the body’s “Melatonin”.

7: About Melatonin and DMT

It has a significant effect on mood, It effects the immune system, it effects Carcadian rhythms, quality and quantity of desired sleep, it is anti-aging and stress reducing because it suppresses Cortisol (the disease feeding stress hormone). It is a powerful antioxidant. DMT is a powerful psychedelic chemical which can produce vivid "projections" of mystical experiences involving euphoria and dynamic visual and auditory hallucinations. It is secreted by the body during high levels of excitement and Near-Death Experiences. It is also known as “The Spirit Molecule,” because people report feelings of separation from the body into spirit and loss of their ego. In the Bible these Secretions are called the living water.

John

7:38

“Streams of living water will flow within him.”

8: About the Pituitary gland

It Produces Oxytocin and Vasopressin which are white, Milk. It activates the Hypothalamus, which is know to aid the health and activation of the Pineal Gland. It is located Above the Sphenoid Sinus where CSF is secreted during high levels of excitement, and this sensation is linked to many spiritual experiences. It is known for its female energy, Mary. It is referred to as the “Yin” of Yin and Yang and it is known as the Lunar not Solar.

9: About Oxytocin and Vasopressin

They heighten feelings of trust, peace and empathy, Godlike feelings. They reduce feelings of fear, anxiety and aggression.

Proverbs

19:11

“The insight of a man certainly slows down his anger, and it is beauty on his part to overlook an offense.”

10: The Solar Plexus

The Christ oil or Sacred Secretion travels towards the Sacrum via the Solar Plexus. The Solar Plexus is where the Christ seed is born. This is known biblically as Bethlehem (house of breads). The Christ oil or Sacred Secretion enters the Solar Plexus, where it combines with the Holy Spirit (Esse, Source Energy, Luminiferous Aether or Prana etc), and that is how the seed is produced or born.

11: Getting the Christ Oil (seed) to the sacral pump without diminishing it.

It is important to know the Christ oil (seed) can be compromised, damaged and dissipated, if we do not preserve it and this is not what we want. In order to raise the Christ oil (seed), “Know God and see his face at Peniel (Pineal)”. We must “Love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls and minds.” To paraphrase Mathew 22:37 this means living for God and following his laws.

12: Preserving the oil- Gods Laws (The basics)

1- Be healthy and not gluttonous.

1 corinthians

6:20

“For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are Gods.”

2- Dont be lustful.

Psalm

101:3

“Ill not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do, i will have no part in it.”

3- Do not be greedy.

Proverbs

15:27

“A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit live and let live.”

4- Don’t be lazy.

Ecclesiastes

10:18

“Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.”

5- Don’t be quick to anger.

Proverbs

15:18

“Hot tempers start fights: A cool, calm spirit keeps the peace.”

6- Don’t be jealous or selfish.

James

3:16

“For where envy and self seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

7- Stop being prideful and boasting.

2 Chronicles

26:16

“His pride led to his downfall.”

13-14: About the Sacrum.

The Sacrum is a triangular bone in the lower back formed from fused vertebrae, and situated between the two hip bones of the pelvis. The english word “Sacrum” was introduced as a technical term in anatomy in the mid 18th century, As a shortening of the late Latin name Os Sacrum “sacred bone.” It is where surgeons perform a Lumbar puncture to extract samples of CSF. It is the location of the Sacral pump. The Sacral pump is a regular rhythmic motion between the Occipit in the throat and the Sacrum. It circulates CSF back up the Spinal Cord, through the Central Nervous System and into the brain. The Sacral pump is a key of the circulatory system, and its proper functioning is important for good physical, mental and emotional well-being.

15: 33 Vertebrae

From the Sacrum the Christ oil or Sacred Secretion/Aether, CSF and hormones starts its journey back up the Spinal Cord through the 33 Vertebrae. Lets look at the significance of the 33 Vertebrae in the Spinal Cord: Jesus Christ lived for 33 years. Jesus was crucified at 33 years of age. The divine name Elohim appears 33 times, in the book of Genesis. There are 33 Gods in the Vedic religion. 33 is a numerical representation of “The Star of David,” and also the numerical equivalent of AMEN:1+13+5+14+=33. An image of the virgin Mary from the 18th century, is know as “Virgin of the thirty-three” in Uruguay and it was consecrated by Pope John Paul 2 in the 1988. There are 33 degrees in freemasonry to achieve illumination And there are lots more.

16: Solar Plexus part 2

During the Christ oil or Sacred Secretions ascent up the Spinal Cord, the CSF goes back through the Solar Plexus. Solar Plexus is a complex network of nerves, located in the abdomen. It is emotionally linked with concerns over personal power, anger and distrust. It assist with the generation of metabolic energy and the Pancreas

Daniel

2:33

“The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breasts, and its arms of silver, and its belly and its thighs of bronze.” NOTE: The Christ oil is in the bronze or least value when it is in the belly/solar plexus, therefore it must be raised, to become gold, the highest value.

17: Next,

the Christ oil or Sacred Secretion ascends to he vicinity of the Heart, Sternum or Cardiac Plexus.

Proverbs

4:23

“Above all else guard your Heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Excessive production of the stress hormones Cortisol and Epinephrine can cause brain damage, and problems in all other parts of the body, therefore it is scientifically paramount for mental and physical health, to be peaceful, calm and forgiving. Just as the Bible suggests. NOTE:the “Everything you do” counts towards following, knowing and loving Christ, which will preserve the Christ oil. The Cardiac Plexus is a plexus of nerves situated at the base of the Heart that

Innervates the Heart. The Cardiac Plexus is divided into a superficial part, which lies in the concavity of the Aortic Arch, and a deep part between the Aortic Arch and the Trachea. It is emotionally linked with love. It assists the Thymus Gland, the Thymus serves a vital role in the, training and development of T-Lymphocytes/T-Cells, an extremely important type of White Blood cell.

18: Raising the Christ Oil further.

The Christ oil then rises to the throat or more specifically the Vagus Nerve, also know as the Pneumo Vagus and the Pneumogastric Nerve. Here the Christ oil is crucified and put to death, but if we resist our low desires of carnal urges for 2.5 days (the same amount of time that Jesus was in the tomb, and the amount of time the moon stays in each sun sign) then the oil will be refined, transmuted and resurrected on the third day! This is when enlightenment, illumination and increase will engulf your Being, like nothing you have ever experienced before. You will have vision, power and insight, like you never knew possible. “There is something on the other side, of obedience that makes you say, why did i ever resist?”

19: About the Vagus Nerve

The Vagus Nerve is a Network of nerves, known as “The Tree of Life.” It descends from the Pineal and Pituitary glands. It is the 10th Cranial Nerve (CNX). It is the longest nerve of the Autonomic Involuntary Nervous System, in the human body.

Romans

12:2

“And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

NOTE: Fight every man made temptation that exists, while the Christ oil is being refined in the Vagus Nerve.

20: About the 2.5 days

It is the amount of time that Jesus was in the tomb, before being resurrected or increased in power. Jesus’s Holy Ghost went from being in one persons body, To being in every persons body. It is the amount of time the moon stays in each sun sign. The first day the Christ oil secretes, and this happens 12 times per year. The Optic Thalamus is 2.5 centimeters across.

Colossians

2:5

“For those I’m absent in the flesh, yet am i with you in the Spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”

21: The Resurrection

After 2.5 days the oil ascends to the “Pons”

The Pons is besides the Medulla Oblongata. The Pons is a major structure in the upper part of your Brainstem. It is involved in the control of breathing, communication between different parts of the brain, and sensations such as hearing, taste and balance. “Pons” means bridge in Latin. The Pons or bridge raises the preserved, refined and transmuted oil into the Optic Thalamus. Where new blood is produced, and dormant brain cells are reactivated and awakened in what is called “illumination.”

22: The significance of 7 in the Optic Thalamus

There are 7 stars in the Optic Thalamus, dimmed by the 7 deadly sins

Amos

5:8

“Seek him that maketh the 7 stars and Orion, and turn the shadow of death into morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and pour them out upon the face of the earth: (The Lord Light) is his name.”

People say that Astrology is an evil from the devil. How can this be true when the Bible literally tells us to follow the stars.

Genesis

1:14

“And let the stars be for signs.”

ELOHIM(God) is another word for 7

Mathew

6:5-13

“As above, So below.”

There are seven refractors of light. There are seven original senses in the ancient text: seeing, hearing, taste, feeling, smelling, intuition and telepathy. The Solar Plexus is the organ of intuition (Gut Feeling), Brain or Thalamus is the organ of Telepathy.

Mathew

18:22

“Seventy times seven” means unlimited forgiveness.

23: Enlightenment or the Baptizing of the Holy Spirit

The Greeks called the Thalamus the “Light of the World.” The word “Lord” also means light of the world. The Thalamus has two hemispheres just like the earth.

Mathew

6:5-13

“As above so below.”

The Thalamus is the Arc of the Covenant. Just see Google images.

When the Christ oil reaches the Optic Thalamus you will have vision, you will know what your purpose is, you will know what matters, you will feel incredible, Gods Christ Oil will give you enthusiasm, motivation, direction, focus, power, intuition, decisiveness, imagination, knowledge, understanding, peace, healing, acceptance and Love. The benefits are Divine beyond measure.

I encourage you all in raising your own Christ oil, and to reject low carnal urges so that you too can receive Gods true anointing and blessings. A world of awakened Christs is what this Planet needs for Salvation. The Anti-Christs regime will no longer be able to hold back the truth, as we collectively ascend to a higher state of consciousness. The chains of the past and false paradigm of the physical world will be lifted so that everyone can see the true nature of consciousness.

[sillygoofyqueer]

(@weirdocat83's tags to this post) LUNA. YOU HAVE SUMMONED ME. FGRGGRGHOHGROHGROGHROGH LET'S DO THIS.

Okay, so, I don't think it's going to be a reincarnation au in a sense, but, uh, the spirits of the swords search for what could be classed as a 'replacement' for their divine wielders? So, take Xin Mo for example. His previous wielder could be labelled as a god of war, one who craved bloodshed and spent most of their time on the battlefield - so, Xin Mo's spirit naturally searched for a more hostile soul that was similar to the god's soul, because it was easier for the spirit to...bond? with the soul compared to if the spirit had to edit itself to bond with a more peaceful soul. It found the link with Binghe's (Bingge's?) soul because the guy just wanted to be powerful, and it's easiest to gain power through bloodshed - meaning that Xin Mo's spirit could probably "edit" certain parts of Binghe to fit its basic needs (a lot less predatory than in canon), and then "edit" certain parts of itself so that the bond was less hard to maintain. This would be things like recognising and becoming more calm and less bloodthirsty than it can afford to be due to the fact that Binghe is likely to only be on the battlefield if it's necessary for power - unlike the divine wielder, who had battled for entertainment (not to say that Binghe doesn't revel in a good battle, whether due to Xin Mo's influence or just general satisfaction). I feel like the gods do still exist in the divine realm, but they're a lot quieter and aren't really worshipped by the vast majority anymore (think how secularisation has affected modern society), some even disappearing because they simply didn't have enough worshippers or drive to sustain themselves after the purging of their temples - their lives, if you will. Spiritual weapons still exist in the modern times (this is a modern au, in a sense), still wielded by only a choice few (often granting them immortality as long as they held a strong bond), so people know that gods existed at one point, but most believe that all gods did die in the purging. Obviously, part of why the Three Swords are so unique in their legend is because they require a sacrifice in order to be wielded (connected to how their gods had such strong bonds with their swords that they practically sealed themselves until they could find a worthy replacement), whereas most spiritual weapons merely require respect and devotion because their bonds weren't as wholly consuming as the Three Swords' - if that makes sense? Wei Wuxian's sword will be Suibian, I think. Mainly because there is always a lot of emphasis on Chenqing and, don't get me wrong, I love that little fuckin' flute but Suibian my beloved sword. We don't quite know how sword spirits work in MDZS, so I wanna give them some spotlight in this AU! They deserve it!! Suibian definitely had the most protective/familial bond with her previous owner and (I'm not going to blab about the circumstances or anything of Wei Wuxian finding Suibian but) when she hears such a desperate cry for help from what is practically a teen who obviously has no other support, she can't help it! She's always been the most fair of the Three Swords, but she's still picky when it comes to her owner - they must have good, honest intentions to wield her, and nobody ever does (there's always, even a subconscious, ulterior motive outside of protection. Well, kind of). It's hard to yap about without spilling about Wei Wuxian because I do want to write this and I'm not one to drop secrets before I've even got a first chapter drafted. I would yap about the red/black interactions but this post is already pretty big so- PLEASE ASK ME MORE QUESTIONS, IT'S HELPING ME WORLD BUILD AND I AM A FAN OF TALKING ABOUT MY BRAIN WORMS!!

[lelanida]

In light of the fact that the theory that Aurora is a Megabird has become popular in the fandom, I came to express my own opinion on this. I am not questioning that Aurora is a deity (this is obvious), I am only questioning that she is powerful enough to be a force that rotates the universe. And so let's figure it out in order:

1. ORBrora

Our brains all exploded when suddenly Aurora covered the Colosseum with her power and transported us to some other place. It also exploded for me, but when I put it back together by the middle of the song, I began to think about how she did it. And the game itself gave us the answer. Bubble.

The same bubble that she creates before the start of each song.

Her power is limited on the outside, but inside the orb built by her voice, she creates reality herself. So during "Runaway" she showed us the Isle of Dawn even before it became a desert, because this is how she saw it, and this is how it looked in the time of Alef. In fact, we did not leave the Colosseum, otherwise how can we explain that we never moved during the entire concert, although it would seem that we flew half the world. Aurora only takes our mind on a journey while the body remains in still.

Inside the bubble, she is god, and this smoothly takes us to the next argument.

2. Color theory.

Someday I will explain how such a distribution of colors goes into the roots of the lore, and explains the reason why the Storm started and why Skykids are powerless in front of it. But we have come to talk about Aurora and her divine origin.

Yellow is the color of light, the color of a Megabird. And everything that came from her has a yellow accent on it. Well:

What color is Aurora in her bubble?

Boom. Megabird.

What color is Aurora in reality?

Boom. Classic spirit.

What color is Aurora in its true form?

Bo-what?

Yellow is not completely gone. Only half. No other spirit has a yellow color (and a divine form). So Aurora stands above simple spirits. Even above the constellations guides. But then who the hell is she???

Here is my answer:

Aurora is a guide for us Skykids.

No, well, you judge for yourself.

1. The symbol of Aurora is golden wings. What does it mean? The symbol of the season always has a special connection with its participants. But no one except Aurora has wings.

And now remember where else we have seen similar wings.

Does it look similar? But that's not all.

2. Aurora can talk to us.

In all of history, only the Little Prince could talk to us. Because he's our friend. Does this mean that Aurora is also our friend. That's what it means. But what distinguishes her from Prince is that she seems to be able to understand us. She calls the Skykids to dialogue. And if she really understands our speech, then that makes her the ONLY character capable of it. It seems she has a special connection with the Skykids. She knows who we are, about our mission and how it will end. She has seen the Orbit and is able to rebuild it in her simulation. Moreover, it takes us to the real Orbit. She is the voice that greets us at the beginning of our journey and she also guides us to its end. She is our guide. It is not for nothing that we are told this phrase at the beginning of the game:

3. The essence of the Skykids.

Skykids are sensitive to sounds. They do not know how to write, read, draw, but they know musical notation from birth and are able to use various musical instruments. That's why we follow the ringing of the bells, and Aurora calls us with her voice (both in seasonal quests and at a concert). Skykids love music. And Aurora seems to know that.

And that we have:

Mega Bird is the patron saint of nature and animals.

Aurora is the mentor of the Skykids.

"But how is that? We can't have two gods of light!"

How not? How can it not be, my dear ones?! When in the season of Shattering we were confirmed that there were TWO MEMORIES on the side of the light!

It was right under our noses, and we didn't pay attention to it! And if you look at the trees of the essences of light from the season, you will notice that one of them is longer than the other. So one of the entities is more powerful.

That's my verdict. Aurora is not a Megabird, but an ally of Megabird. She also has a certain power, but she is weaker than the main god of light. And she's also a great singer. It's all. Thank you all for reading this.

[intertexts]

oh you wanna think about muse and trickster? yeah? it's been a while since I put a heartbreaking nhw post in your inbox <3 I know u love the prime dehumanization loss of bodily autonomy defenders. << im not even remotely trying to keep the acronym the same anymore. I've lost the plot. ANYWAY

briefly mentioned this before but because I loooove the aesthetic so much I think at least one important muse confrontation should happen in the tricksters city, specifically in the amusement park. make it like a fuckign scooby door episode everything is all abandoned and run down but as the wards are walking down a boardwalk or something all the lights flicker on and some distorted fuckign. carnival music starts playing and they find muse sitting in like. the rebar scaffolding or whatever in the ferris wheel. just like grinning chin in hands kicking his feet watching them. this image is so clear in my mind. some creep shit !!!! also its like when they first go to the spirit world to get tide back from.mal and end up in the amusement park. except ashe isn't with them this time

uhhhhhh also thinking about. downtime. when muse isn't out being destructive and causing chaos for funsies. like... does he have a bedroom????? does he eat does he sleep??? idfk !!!! I would assume he has to or else he'd fucking die but !!!! man the trickster is so far gone I don't think he even realizes his puppets are real people anymore. that's a fun little doll for him to play dressup with. literally never going 2 get the image of him braiding muses hair and like. putting makeup on him and dressing him in fancy little outfits out of my mind. making myself ILL. smile! good evening I'm gently placing the knife box in your in. << as I was going to type inbox I accidentally typed out inventory. yknow what I'm keeping it. knife box directly into your inventory. watch out they're RUSTY

GOD. THANKS FOR THE KNIFE BOX MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! knife box directly in my inventory!!! u know what this means is that now i can use them :3 <- has been drawing wards stuff abt this for the past two hours ^_^

this is so fucking good though yeahhh.... i love creepy carnival shit so much. he trickster probably Knows it's very over the top and horror movie creepy and just a little absurd. he's so fucking fun 2 think abt since he's literally always doing shit simply because it is funny to him. we can swing a trickster justification for anything probably. i bet he fucking saw traps people!! anyway. ashe isn't with them this time. except..... well. he kind of is. :(

I HAVE ALSO BEEN THINKING ABT DOWNTIME. FREQUENTLY. i guess. the answer to this is he lives however the trickster&co does. the image of him coming back in his fancy intricate little outfits to some disgusting nasty bloody industrial warehouse where they're posted up & always being this very jarring contrast to the gore and violence is really good. the image of him having a perfect doll bedroom and going through a fancy little routine half the nights when the trickster is in a good mood or feeling it & just. getting thrown on the bed & the door locked to pass out for a couple hours whenever he forgets or is busy is also really good. literally anything we do to muse makes me feel some kind of way man. i also have had the extremely vivid image of the trickster braiding his hair & chatting about all kinds of horrific things excited sleepover style to muse who is just. Visibly Not There in my head for so long. not even like he has to touch him, he could be making him do all these things for himself! he's literally controlling him! he just does it for fun!!!

anyway i think post-muse ashe should get to freak out very badly in a multitude of ways whenever anybody touches his hair. like i think he's touch-adverse in general (& miserable about it because he's also so touchstarved & his brain simply whites out in distress anytime anyone touches him because. literally the only person doing that was the trickster!!!!) but i think specifically his hair being messed with is a bad trigger for him. makes him freeze up n go nonverbal for hours. dakota knows that he's jumpy about touch but he still wants to do something for him & before the everything he loved them playing with his hair (its so long!! wibby & dakota think its so pretty!! virion's the only one who knows how to braid it because of his mom!! ashe melts into a puddle over it every time because nobody's ever done that for him before!) so he goes to just run fingers through it & ashe just. fullbody locks up and goes weird and still and silent & doesn't protest or fight back when dakota shakes his shoulder or smth and his eyes are distant and sort of dark and empty like virion's were most of the time when they first met him... maybe he wants to cut it a little bit just because he hates that it's been covered in The Ooze and he can't do anything with it without thinking about how the trickster would do the same thing but also he hates the idea of getting rid of the one thing abt himself that he really likes & is a little connection with both of his parents because of the trickster also, when he's already taken so much from him. (it does have to get gross and tangled and matted because he refuses to put it back or do anything to it for a while though. maybe virion helps him sort it out & it's slow and painstaking and miserable for both of them and they both feel better at the end of it.)

[deservedgrace]

part of what makes explaining evangelical cult stuff so difficult for me is that a lot of tactics are only as effective as they are because they work in tandem with other tactics, and it requires a lot of explaining and context that's hard to talk about in a way that's coherent lol

example: i'm going through a transcript of a sermon from the church i used to go to and one of the things they did was talk about confirmation bias. thing is, they gave the webster dictionary definition and went "that's super confusing so let me break it down for you" and gave other definitions and examples and ended up with an example that wasn't really of confirmation bias, it was basically just having positive associations with certain things. and then they talked about using "confirmation bias" to have positive association with things throughout your day to remind you of christ

and i think a lot of things are pretty obvious surface level issues, like landing at an insufficient definition and understanding of confirmation bias, not engaging with the term as its meant to be used, treating it like something you have to lean into in order to further your relationship with christ

but the preacher also made an effort to make it seem like this incomprehensible and convoluted concept, both in language ("you guys are like 'confirmation bias? what does that mean?'", "that didn't make sense either lol, okay let me try to give you an example") and intentionally giving confusing definitions and using examples that don't really fit what confirmation bias is

and i can't help but think that's not a coincidence when a frequent argument i see against evangelical christianity is pointing out the confirmation bias that's kind of embedded in the culture. i can't help but wonder if making it sound like a really difficult concept to grasp makes it easier for people to dismiss those arguments because "it's super complicated so they probably don't understand it." i can't help but wonder if equating confirmation bias with Positive Associations and Thing You Should Be Doing to Help Your Relationship with Christ will only make members think outsiders' criticisms of it is an attack from Satan trying to tempt them. i can't help but wonder if making it seem like something that's impossible to understand deters people from looking into it on their own. i can't help but wonder if the pastor was trying to send a message (even subconsciously) that "you couldn't possibly understand these things on your own, you need the church to do it for you"

but like, all of these things are only effective because outside/alternative beliefs are demonized. you're taught "worldly" people are evil and satanic. you're taught you're supposed to be dependent and obedient to god/the church. you're told not to "fall victim to worldly thinking". you're taught non-believers think they're smart and knowledgeable, but they're actually foolish and don't know anything

and those things are only effective because you're told the church has the absolute truth. you're told you can't question doctrine. you're taught that doubting is sinful and you falling into your human nature and risks your salvation. you're told outsiders are empty and broken and incapable of real happiness or peace or goodness or love. you're told that you're like that too, by nature, and the only reason you're not is because you're here

and these things maintain effectiveness by using music, prayer, meditation, speaking in tongues, etc to alter your mental state. encouraging fasting and sleep deprivation and otherwise denying your needs to induce emotional states. using hypnotic methods. claiming brain chemistry is the holy spirit

and like, in my case of growing up in it, it's as effective as it is because the church is shaping your morality, your reality, your thought process, your beliefs, your common sense, your critical thinking skills, all of it. because you're not allowed access to outside perspectives. because you're constantly emotionally dangled just above the flames of hell. because you have to listen to and trust the adults around you or else they'll drop you in. because even if they do that, you only have yourself to blame for being sinful

like, how do you explain all that? that it's never just that one thing?

[maxthesillyy]

You ever think about how Max and Rachel are character foils while also seeming more similar at times then Max and Chloe? (I am feeding Rachel/Max your brain rot.)

YES ACTUALLY I HAVE. THAT ACTUALLY CONTIANS ALL OF THE THOUGHST IVE EVER HAD ABOUT THEM EVER.

ON THE OUTSIDE THESE BITCHES ARE RHE EXACT OPPOSITE. BUT NUH UH LOOK CLOSER AND THEN THEYRE ACTUALLY TIED TOGETHER BY THE THREADS OF THE GODDAMN UNIVERSE?!?!?!!!!!

GOD KNOWS WHAT I’D GIVE TO MAKE RACHEL QUIT HER 24/7 NO BREAKS AND NO VACATION JOB OF HAUNTING THE NARRATIVE.

GIRL WHO HAUNTS THE NARRATIVE x GIRL WHO KILLED THE NARRATIVE (idk how to use that phrase)

OMG AND THEN THE FUCKING DOE(if you support that its rachel at least)?????????????? RACHEL JUST DROPS IN LIKE “Hey!!! <333 Take care of my babygirl(/j). ALSO KILL EVERYBODY IN THIS BITCH ASS TOWN FOR ME PLEASE?? Okay!! 😄😄🥰 Byeee love you— I MEAN WHATTT WHO SAAID THAT. BYE.” LIKEGRGRGGSGAHABSH

AND THEN EITHER RACHEL SHOWS UP AS MAX’S SPIRIT ANIMAL INSTEAD OF HER OWN (gay.) OR RACHEL AND MAX SHARE THE SAME SPIRIT ANIMAL (gay.)

((^^but again that is only if you think that rachel is the doe, BUT I LIKE TO BELIEVE IT, SO!!!!!!!!!!))

max here, basically: chloe do you think rachel would’ve wanted to kiss me IMMEAN WHAT OMG WHO SAID THAATTTTTT!?

EVEN IN A NONROMANTIC WAY MAX AND RACHEL’S CONNECTION-NONCONNECTION MAKES ME CRAZY INSANE

YOU EVER THINK MAX SEEES A DOE IN THE WOODS AND FREEZES. YOU EVER THINK MAX THINKS ABOUT IT FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. YOU EVER THINK 💥💥💥💥💥

I HAVE 100 PROBLEMS AND 27 OF THEM WOULD BE SOLVED IF MAX AND RACHEL MET. 

WELL. I MEAN. THE COMICS EXIST. BUT HONESTLY I DID NOT FUCK WITH HOW THEY PORTRAYED RACHEL NGL.

ON SURFACE LEVEL, AMBERFIELD IS JUST “dead girl who’s body she dug up X time traveler who never met her” ACTUALLY WAIT NO SCRATCH WHAT I WAS SAYING— THATS STILL INTERESTING.

almost all of the Scenarios™️ in my head recently have been “What if Max met Rachel” but each time a little too the left.

THE WEIRD THING ABOUT BRAINROT IS THAT ISTG I DO HAVE ACTUAL COHERENT THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS BUT THE BRAINROT CANCELS THEM ALL OUT. ANYWAYS IM GONNA STOP BRAINROTTING AND POST THIS NOW 👍👍

IN SUMMARY: GGRGRGSGSGSGGRGGRGRGRGGR *foaming at the mouth*GRRRRAAAGSGHFGDGGRGRHRFFRFGRGRGRGRRHEERGRGRGRGGR *clawing the walls* AAHAHGSGDGGSRGGRGRGAHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHH*bouncing off the walls*

[youling-the-ghost]

sfth incorrect quotes pt. 3 because I have no life :] (the link I used to generate these)

*obligatory "none of the shipping quotes are me actually shipping them"

AJ: Fruits that do not live up to their names; passionfruit, grapefruit, honeydew and dragonfruit. AJ: Fruits that do live up to their names? AJ: Orange.

Sam: Yo dumbass, get over here. AJ: Okay- Luke: *gleefully runs past* I’m coming! AJ, sadly: I thought...I was dumbass...

Sam: Do you take constructive criticism? Tom: Not without crying.

Tom: Luke, take out the trash. Luke: Sure. Sam, will you go out on a date with me? Luke: *seductively takes off glasses* Luke: Wow... Sam: *blushes* Haha...what? Luke: You're really fucking blurry. AJ: Why don't humans have a specific noise that means "there are bees here, let's leave immediately." Why are elephants more advanced than us. Tom: We do have a specific noise for it. It sounds like this: Tom: "There are bees here, let's leave immediately." Tom: Do you care if I take the skin off this Furby? Tom: I want to make him a god. Once he is free of his sinful flesh, he can begin a path towards enlightenment. He will take care of us. Tom: I also want to softhack his circuits. Luke: I literally could not care less but never say anything as frightening as that ever again. Tom: Here is my wall of inspirational people. AJ: Is that a picture of you? Tom: Yes, I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself.

Tom: Anyone else feel good when their brain releases a bunch of endorphins? Luke: Can't relate. AJ: Why would my brain release a bunch of dolphins? Sam: Hey, wanna help me commit arson? Tom: What the hell!? Sam: Oh, sorry, my bad. Sam, whispering: Wanna help me commit arson? Tom, whispering: Of course. What do you need? Luke: I’m scared that when you become rich and famous you’ll be embarrassed by me. Tom: Oh Luke, I’m already embarrassed by you.

Luke: What, I can’t be in a bad mood? It’s like people think, “Oh, Luke is such a nice person, Luke is so happy-go-lucky! Luke can’t be in a bad mood!” Well, you know what? Luke CAN be in a bad mood. And right now, Luke IS be in a bad mood. Luke: The only thing I'm guilty of is being adorable...and also assault with a deadly weapon. Tom, seeing a banana on the car seat: What the FUCK?? Tom, buckling the banana up: Fucking buckle UP, it’s the LAW! AJ: Not to brag, but I can go into the Spirit Halloween without crying. Tom: I feel like I can be myself around you. AJ: You’re weird and quiet around me. Tom: Yes. AJ: *Reading a letter* Tom: Well, what does it say? AJ: It’s a confession letter. It turns out Sam killed my pet rock. Luke: I refuse to apologize for being weird or off-putting. That’s actually your problem. I’m having a fantastic time!

AJ: How long do you reckon it’ll be until Tom finally snaps and commits murder? Luke: I’ve been going through life assuming it’s already happened at some point and it’s just that no one was ever able to trace it back to him. Sam: You know my motto: carpe diem, carpe noctem, carpe coles. Tom: Seize the day, seize the night, what’s the last one? Sam: Seize the dick.

Luke: Watcha doin? Sam: Stealing my neighbour’s cat. Luke: Scandalous. Luke: Can I help?

AJ: Why's it called an oven when you of in the cold food and you of out hot eat the food? Sam: ...What??? Tom with a gun to Luke's head: What happens if I pull this trigger? Heaven? Luke: Bold of you to assume I'll go to Heaven.

Tom, at Starbucks: Can I get a venti vanilla latte with um, seven espresso shots. Luke, in line behind him: Jesus Christ, just do cocaine.

Luke: I’m this close to falling in love with Sam. Tom: Your fingertips are touching. Luke: Exactly.

Tom: You believe me? Luke: Tom, you’re the last good person on this planet. I‘d believe cartoon birds braided your hair this morning.

AJ: My head hurts. Sam: That’s your brain trying to comprehend its own stupidity. Tom: Ok so, apparently the "bad vibes" I've been feeling are actually severe psychological distress. Tom: What must it be like to live in your head? Are there happy ponies in there? It’s really something how utterly delusional your optimism is. If I didn’t hate you so much, I might even be impressed.

AJ: Huzzah! I got a heavily qualified and slightly sarcastic compliment from Tom! Sam: How petty can you get? Luke: I once edited a Wikipedia article to win an argument I was wrong about. Tom: I am going to cry. I’m going to cry until I can no longer physically cry anymore because all the water in my body is gone and I die from dehydration. Luke: Are you okay? AJ: Did you actually just ask him that? Like, you need that to be answered otherwise you won’t know? AJ: *spins around in chair ominously* I’ve been expecting y- *chair continues to spin* shit *tries to stop spinning* shit *tries to grab a table to stop spinning* sHIT *falls out of chair* Luke: So, you’ve finally arrived- Luke: Here to save prince- Luke: I’ve been waiting for this day- Luke: Stop skipping my dialogue- Luke: Seriously, stop- Luke: MOTHER FU- Tom: I need you to come meet me, and I need you to come alone. Luke: And I need you to be less vague and weird. Tom: Things will get better! The Squad: Tom: Okay, maybe they won’t. Tom: But they will be terrible in new and interesting ways!

Tom: *fast-forwards all the way through the movie* Sam: You can't just skip to the happy ending! Tom: I don't have time for their problems. Luke: Hey, quick question. How petty am I allowed to be?

Sam: Tom annoyed me today so I told them that I can’t wait to see what they have planned for our special day tomorrow. AJ: There is nothing special about tomorrow. Sam: But there is something special about watching the color leave their face as panic takes over. Tom: You know, Sam, when you generalize, you tell general...lies. Sam: ... Sam: Are you trying to teach me moral lessons through puns. Luke: Of course I have a lot of pent-up rage, you fool! I've been the same height since I was twelve!

Luke: Hey guys, what are your favorite kinds of pudding? Tom: Pudding deez nuts in your mouth? Is that what you were about to say? Do you gain joy from tricking your innocent cohorts? What if I actually wanted to tell you about my favorite pudding?

[funnywormz]

OUUGHHUIIIUIOO DIMPOLE

edit: image description written by @princess-of-purple-prose ! thank you!

[ID: An in-character interview with Dimple from Mob Psycho 100 on 4chan. It reads:

>Interview with Dimple

>Q1. What kind of person were you when you were alive?

A. I forgot... But since its me, I'm sure it was a hella sexy dude.

>Q2. It seems you can communicate with Reigen when you're possessing him. How is that different from others?

A. Who knows. It's probably because we have a shared purpose. Even when you're both sitting in a car, only one of you can use the steering wheel, right? So unless two people agree exactly on which direction they're going, the car's not going to move in the right direction with two people behind the steering wheel. Ordinary people aren't usually conscious when I'm possessing them. It's different for espers, though. Especially strong ones, who can't even possess.

>Q3. What do you feel like?

A. Wet, smooth, slippery. A bit cold, but that can be adjusted. But it's not like ordinary people can touch me to begin with.

>Q4. Why did you stay in the world after giving up on becoming a god?

A. I'm not sure either... Spirits are born from a purpose, like resentment or obsession. Only with strong desire can the spirit body be maintained. But maybe it's like what Mob said. People are just people. You don't have to exist for a reason, and it doesn't matter if you care about it or not. Why does that kid occasionally say something profound when he's dealing with something besides himself?

>Q5. Is there anyone you particularly enjoyed possessing? Anyone you want to try?

A. That old lady or whatever guarding Claw. People who have very little spiritual resistance will do whatever you want, so that feels nice. Being the cult leader of LOL was especially fun! One person that surprised me was the leader of the Body Improvement Club. It was like manipulating a giant robot! Someone I'd want to try... probably Hanazawa. If you give him to me, I'm sure I can take him from being the school idol to the least popular guy in school in a day.

>Q6. What do you do when Mob's at school?

A. I've been going to Spirits and Such more often because interesting things occasionally happen there. Besides that, sometimes I take a walk, watch TV, or I check out your house. (evil laughter) I'm kidding, of course.

A. He's always trying to play pranks and thinks he's got Mob fooled, which is pretty funny to watch. Or at least that's what I thought, but it turns out Mob is really just that gullible. Reigen's like that guy who keeps building shaky towers out of building blocks, and it should come as no surprise when they collapse. He's always using some weird and question means of maintaining it all, and sometimes I just want to poke him a little bit and make him fall. ...I have to repress that desire.

>Q8. If you could become a human and become Mob's friend, what would you do?

A. Become a human... Make friends... Travel, eat food, play sports. Anything would be good, but I'd just like to pass the time as usual. That's enough to make good memories. ...or actually, I think I'd like to do sumo! Even if I can't beat him in powers, I want to use my bodily strength and muscles to toss Mob around. Let him see how that feels like.

>Q9. What was your first impression of Mob? How about now?

A. I thought he was just a kid so I underestimated him. But instead he was scary as fuck. I pissed my pants, okay? I don't think I understand him as much now since he's grown up a lot. I wonder how he'll end up.

>Q10. How can someone see you? A. You need to think that seeing me is something completely natural. Once you can fool your brain, your perspective changes. This is something that you can train, but maybe something completely unexpected will happen. So it's dangerous and not recommended. The easy way is to just let me possess you. The important thing is just to break the common sense that forms your vision.

Q11. Can you eat ordinary food? Please tell me your favorite food!

A. I can still eat and drink, and I'll absorb the energy in the food. My favorite food? Beans and peanuts. That's cute? Yeah, that's right. Also alcohol. Beer has the best alcohol fragrance. You say I sound like your dad? Hmph, shut up.

>Q12. What's the first thing you remember?

A. The memory of my life is entirely gone... I can't remember at all. I feel like it should be like it is now. I stare at the sky a lot. There's some old memories from right after I became a spirit, probably in a cemetery. But I don't know if I have a tomb somewhere. It's all like a prior life to me, anyways. One day, will I forget about what's happening now, too...? Ugh, that sounds like something an ordinary living person would be worried about. Forget about it. End ID]

[genericpuff]

Okay I need someone to know there is an equally bad Hades x Persephone story (it might've been self published? But I'm not sure. I read it years ago as a gift from a friend).

But the basic premise of the story is very similar to a touch of darkness and lore Olympus. The names are changed slightly - Persephone is now Persy or something and hades is Hayden.

Persephone works at an accounting firm or something as a new hire and guess who the new business partner is that her company is trying to strike a deal with? Hades who's Uber rich and handsome. Only difference is for some reason Persephone has the power to make people tell her their deepest secrets so like for example when she was a kid people would confess creepy things to her - like her middle school teacher blatantly admitting to being a pedophile and she does nothing about it. (Granted it's like what would she do even magic powers aren't admissible in court but still). And there's a love triangle with some random human guy? Who is immune to her powers through sheer will power (and masturbation. Yes this is a plot point).

At some point Persephone travels Hayden's domain (which is somewhere in Asia like Shanghai for some reason and not Greece). I gave up at that point. There was lots of creepy things going on in the story a la "young new girl Persephone is constantly almost assaulted at every turn due to her irresistible beauty and people's need to tell her their secrets").

Worst book I've ever read. It's so bad I cannot for the life of me remember the title but it fashioned itself as a modern retelling of Hades and Persephone.

Could it have been The Cursed God? That's what I pulled up from a google search at least LMAO

Here's the summary:

"Hades is coming for me. But that doesn't mean he can have me . . . He says he knows me. Who I am. What I am. I'm pretty sure my boss Hayden is on some sort of weird power trip. He's sexy as hell, but has an arrogance that spells danger. I'm only serving drinks in his seedy strip club until I can afford my own flower shop. I just have to avoid the inexplicable pull between us in the meantime. Then he claims I'm Persephone and he's Hades, the God of the Underworld. He says I was taken from him and now he's here to awaken my spirit so he can take me back to the underworld. That his position in the underworld depends on it. Either he's crazy . . . or I'm a mythical goddess. A queen of the underworld. His Queen."

There was another one I found called Descent. And its summary is equally crazy:

"He was my savior once. Twice. Now he’s become my tormentor.

Hayden Montgomery was my best friend’s big brother. The last time I saw him was that Halloween night. The night he found me in the ruin of the chapel. The night he carried me home through a storm that was the omen warning us all of what would come.

That was five years ago. Now, he’s back. But he’s not the same man he was.

Once upon a time, I’d fantasized about our happily-ever-after. Once upon a time, I think I loved him.

But that was before he stood in the wreckage that is now my life and offered me the solution to my problems. And the cost? My body and my soul.

There’s something dark between Hayden and me. It binds us for better or for worse. Mostly worse. Like the moth to the flame, we can’t seem to resist the draw.

I just don’t know which of us is the moth and which the flame, but either way, we’re both going to get burned."

That last bit about the moth and flame is just- it's so delightfully Twilight "the lion fell in love with the lamb" vibes.

Anyways. Those are the two closest ones I could find that matched your description, but this has me learning that there are ... a LOT of 'modern' retellings of H x P that involve Persephone being an uwu babygirl and Hades being some wet rag abusive dickhead named Hayden. This is a sub-genre I didn't know existed and now I'm wishing I could just scrub my brain of it LOL

On the one hand, part of me now wants to believe that this issue goes deeper than Rachel, that Rachel is just yet another side effect of a bigger problem... but then I spot all the publication dates on these H x P "dark romance" books are from 2019 onwards. Obviously LO doesn't exist in a vacuum either, it's clear it took influences from works that existed before it, it's not the first "modern" retelling of Greek myth. But I can't help but feel a sense of dread that really makes me wonder just how much LO's existence has subsequently oversaturated the market with these "retellings" of a story that was originally a tragedy and meant to sympathize with the mothers whose daughters were forced into marriage, the same way 50 Shades and Twilight oversaturated the market with the "dark romance" genre itself, which is really just a dog whistle for abusive relationships at this point.

Don't really have anything else to say to close out this post. It's just depressing and I desperately want us all to hurry the fuck up and outgrow it instead of dressing up the same abusive "relationships" with a new coat of paint every 5-10 years.

[rowanthestrange]

Someone have fun and play brain tennis with me. Brain squash it’s more dangerous and shouty and done in doubles. Stupid name for a solid idea for a sport. Hit things off walls with me until it gives us points. Just want to run things. Stream of consciousness it.

What are we doing with ‘Triad’? What are we doing with three?

First thought: the same thing we did last time with Chibs, this is a god trinity in three parts thing. Back then that was a physical Doctor, child Doctor, and spirit-projection Doctor.

Doctor as God. Fine. Got the Pantheon, haven’t shied away from it. Probably a mirror, we emphasised the Doctor recognising mirrors this time.

Second thought: Triplets? We’re talking about changeling children, does three rather than the usual two get us anything? We’re solving Ruby’s story this finale. Is she one of three? That’s what being a foundling means you have no idea of your family - we focus on parents but what about siblings? You could have whole maybe identical versions of yourself you don’t know, separated off? Maybe bringing them all together is a harbinger of The End, that’s what we did with the Maestro. Changeling girl, she should be magic. The trap was a triangle - the three together could be a trap.

But more importantly what would that hypothetical do with our “The Doctor literally recognised a character as a mirror in-universe pay attention” situation? What would it mean for the Doctor down the road?

First obvious equivalent that comes to mind - the Timeless Child baby Doctor was originally a trigeneration?

First thought - Stupid dogshit basics: The Doctor and the Master being bigenerations seems rational and neat and organic fine. And I mean we do three, we’ve done three before with them, we do the Doctor, Master, and Rani. Generally keep them together. Sure on paper it’s the most fandom history appropriate option sure, but probably literally impossible rights-wise and eh. Just eh. The idea of it is the psychic equivalent of a soggy digestive. Doesn’t feel good it feels too nerdy in a bad way. Not that my feelings matter, but it doesn’t feel like something Russell Tussell Davies would vibe with.

So who else would you have? You’re not going to be able to pull off a new OC idea for something so essential, I don’t think. I can’t think how you would anyway, and you’d really need the fandom to get on board with the idea.

Would Fourteen, Fifteen, but wayyyyy back the Master count? Bigeneration then bigeneration again is kind of three. But it was bi-generation cus they split in two, tri-generation would have to be split in three surely. It wouldn’t feel like three otherwise. And fuck me we can’t get Tennant for long work anyway.

The thing is the Doctor and Master (who’d makes sense, we know he’s coming back) are already so in balance. The Rani is more amoral selfish so manages to sort of fit in a place with them, but even then she’s villain material. Wonks it. What do you do outside that? You’d need a neutral I suppose. Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral, Chaotic Evil.

We ball and do Iris lol. Hey the Thoschei’s making it in/selfcesty anyway.

…Could you do normal? Like not a freak? Trigeneration implies by its nature the capacity for future regeneration though. …Or does it actually? We don’t know Fourteen can regenerate. Actually makes life harder if they can.

Wait that could work actually right?

Kid comes through portal. Human/Whatever Vinder and Bel are which seems basically the same/Not-thing that copies a humanoid/Whatever, kid comes through portal. Is altered by ‘the vortex’ (Radiation? Sentience? Who cares) like River was, which gives them the ability to regenerate. They fall hundreds of feet and probably do so immediately.

We know there’s a second boy, but the story never explains why he’s suddenly in it, the Master shows him and the accidental murder, but never explains who the kid is or why he’s there.

The fandom default is the other kid was probably the Master, and experimented on by Tecteun using the Child’s regeneration energy to start creating what we’d eventually know as the Time Lords. Frankenstein.

Perfectly logical that the kid could have been a bigenerate that didn’t have the ability to regenerate, but Tecteun’s experiment gave it to him.

The Doctor and Master being changelings for each other, obvious, again I definitely argue Chibs’s intent was the Division would just swap them over, it makes Martin!Doctor’s handholding-without-blinovitching and the Doctor!Master beating the Master!Doctor thing work nicely. And Rusty has wanted to carry on Chibs’s themes and work. So… what if originally there were three? Maybe one got saved? Save the baby, literally finish Chibs’s theme but in an unexpected way.

What if you said fuck the mirror? Maybe that’s literally just Ruby.

They act like siblings. Didn’t we say that from the start?

alright your serve.

Triad, three, go.

[yakool-foolio]

Okay, now on the other end of things

Morality wise, what about the NDA? Like they're the "good guys" in the story but who's the morally best and worst in your opinion? Also Kurumi as well if you want, because she kind of counts as am honorary NDA member ig?

Ooooooooh man this is a whole other can of worms, isn't it? Ranking the peacekeepers on their morality is much more cut n dry, but there's a whole lot more to think about when discussing the much more nuanced ethics each detective has. So to not devolve into too much chaos, I'll once again only be basing my ranking off of what is seen in canon in the game, so no talk of Number One Yuma (though that is definitely its own decisive topic, which will become evident soon). And as usual the list will go from best to worst, so we'll ease ourselves in before really diving into the nuance.

To start us off is the lovely Fubuki! Oh, you sweet summer child. The most morally sound out of all the detectives. Not a single bad bone in her body. She may be uneducated about many things in the world, but that doesn't stop her from being inherently kind and sweet, even with her unconventional compliments.

Next in line is Halara! I was honestly a little conflicted on whether they would be placed above or below Desuhiko, but I after some thinking, I believe Halara has the moral high ground. Obviously their stinginess and greed lowers their score, but the road is paved with good intentions. The reason they ask for so much money is so they can put it toward a program to help save cats! Even though they have trust issues with people, they care deeply about animals. And once they do gain some trust in human allies like Fubuki and Desuhiko, they say that their companionship is considered enough payment for the time being when partaking in casual investigations.

Climbing down to the next rung is Desuhiko. He's definitely got some issues with his ethics regarding his flirtatiousness. He is not afraid to flirt with any woman he meets and that is not good. Thankfully, he doesn't necessarily force any interaction and does back off when scolded or ignored enough, but that doesn't make his words any less uncomfortable. He needs to learn some self control or else he's gonna get a boot to the head.

Now here's where things get really interesting. Vivia takes third place in moral deviance. This is without going into the possible meanings of the teardrop tattoo, god forbid I bring up the idea of him murdering someone or being part of a gang; things would get much worse if I did. Even then, Vivia's overreaction to Yuma's determination to expose the truth definitely sits him firmly on the lower end of the ranking. He threatened to kill Yuma just so they could go back to living in blissful ignorance of Yakou's involvement in the case. He only resigned from his murderous intentions after hearing Yakou's spirit, calming him down and making him realize that he can't turn away from the truth and has to believe in his heart (kinda gay ngl). Vivia as a whole is harder to exactly pin down with his moral grayness regarding honesty, but ya can't really ignore the intention to slit someone's throat open, can ya?

And now we reach the actual murderer: heyo Yakou. Despite all the manipulation pulled by Yomi and Makoto, Yakou didn't have to kill Huesca. He did it for vengeance and atonement, leading all his detectives into the lion's den in order to execute his plan. Despite taking advantage of his allies, he undoubtedly had good intentions and is a very good soul overall. He wanted to bring justice to his wife who died because of an absolutely awful man and make up for not being able to save her. But murder is still murder, regardless of motive (I would say to put a pin in this, but I don't need to when the topic is coming up again right around the corner).

And here's the actual mass-murderer: Yuma! Now I know this may come as a shocker (or not depending on how much this game has been rotating in your brain like it has with mine), but Yuma is far from innocent, as much as we love to call him 'baby.' With the help of Shinigami, Yuma has killed many culprits. It can be argued that the very first reaping of Hitman Zilch doesn't fall under the same umbrella of awareness of his crime, but he still killed him! And afterward, Yuma made the decision to enter the labyrinth knowing that the culprits would die. He didn't have to use the labyrinths. It's especially egregious in chapter 3 when help was already on the way and would've put a stop to Dominic smashing Yuma to bits since they had the culprit with them! A death could've been avoided, but hindsight is not Yuma's Forte. And like I said, this isn't even talking about the corrupt fuckery of the WDO and what Yuma might've done as Number One.

[dark-elf-writes]

I think the nomus could def be monsters! If nothing else, the spirits of the dead lingering around it as they writhe and scream.

It would be interesting if Izuku realizes the bullets don’t do much, and that he needs to take a far more hands on approach. His father didn’t raise him, but he did train him. In a move made with practiced calculation, Izuku ducks around the nomu’s lumbering legs and sticks one of his daggers into its back. Then another. And then the first again. It doesn’t take long for him to force his way to the monsters shoulders even as too dark blood (old blood he knows. Uncirculated) slicks his hands and darkens his costume. He hangs on even as the nomu tries to rip him off, but it won’t be able to. Not from this position.

It’s easy to plunge his knives into the creatures brain. To carve out the exposed brain matter that’s more like a thing stitched together than a unified piece. Below him, a shudder runs through the nomu as it finally falls limp. With blood splattered across his face and gore on his hands, Izuku looks up to see the the spirits finally fade with looks that could be peace on their flickering features. Past them, the doors of the USJ finally burst open and the teachers come barreling in.

His position on top of the dead monster gives him a good vantage point he notes. He can see almost everything in the USJ. The prone mist villain with his metal collar cracked beside him from the force of a bullet. Shigaraki writhing in Eraseheads capture scarf desperately trying to dust the fabric even as the gaps where each of his thumbs should be stain it red. But what’s more is that he sees the flash of horror and comprehension in Snipes eyes as he rushes to Izuku’s side.

!!!!

It’s not until after when Izuku’s skin is pink and raw from scrubbing (being a hunter means getting covered in only God knows what more often than not, but that doesn’t mean Izuku has to like it.) and they’re sitting in a room with Snipe, Aizawa, Nezu, and a police officer in a hat and long coat as they go over the debrief.

“Why did you kill them, kid?” The officer asks.

“It wasn’t human, just made from part a of them,” a Izuku answers, eyes trained down at their hands and the near black dead blood still stubbornly clinging around their green painted nails Himiko had done the day before. They would have to ask her to do them again.

“Truth,” the officer says involuntarily, eyes widening as he takes in Izuku.

This child.

“How did you know?”

Izuku does look up then, red red eyes from the tears they would only let fall in the shower (where their dad could never see. Could never try to beat that last weakness out of them.) but their eyes land on Snipe’s unmasked face. Asking. Pleading.

“What the kid says can’t leave this room. Not to your superiors. Not to anyone. You hear me?” Snipe’s drawl is heavy on his tongue as he turns to each of them, glares them down until they nod. Nezu looks enthralled.

“I’m not quirkless. There are… monsters that most people can’t see that prey in humans. I can see them. Before UA I was taught how to kill them before they could kill humans.”

Aizawa straightens, having been handed the final piece to a puzzle that had been haunting him only to realize it was just a small part of something so much bigger.

“The… Nomu,” The use the word one of the villains had hurled at them like a knife. ‘You killed my nomu,’ shrieked over and over again even as he writhed in coils of capture weapon. “The people that it once was… they were suffering. It hurt them. I set them free.”

They frown when a memory nearly lost in the hazy of the end of the fight clicking sharply into focus. “The mist villain is one too but… different. It… there’s a boy with blue hair missing one of his eyes that follows him. He was screaming… he tried to help Mr Aizawa.”

That made all three UA staff members freeze. A horrible realization dawning whether they wanted it to or not.

“A boy?” Aizawa chokes out.

Izuku nods. “He was wearing a jacket like an old school pilot with a pair of goggles around his neck. His hair looked like it was standing on end but not like it was static but like—“

“A cloud,” Aizawa finishes the thought, gray and looking more than a little untethered. Without another word he stands and leaves the room.

Izuku wonders if it would have been kinder not to tell them at all.

[coinandcandle]

Coin's UPG: What is Magic?

As the title says, this is my upg, my unverified personal gnosis. I'm posting this because I want to spark discussion on the topic or even just spark your interest. Beginner witches are welcome to read! But idk how beginner-friendly this post is gunna be...

Edit: I suppose this also could fall into "magical theory" but still take this as my own opinion rather than a set in stone thing.

What is Magic?

I feel like what most people refer to as “magic” is like a substance. People talk about space and time as a fabric, and I think magic is comparable to that, though it strikes me more as a viscous liquid. Something a bit more fluid than fabric but still not quite as thin as air. Almost like a gel perhaps? It honestly looks to me (in my brain of course) like the gif I've added above. Now, I don't think people can feel this substance on a physical level, but to some degree, we can feel it on a metaphysical level.

Except I don’t think I’d call this substance magic, I would prefer to call it “substance” (a little on the nose) or something like “aether”, to borrow a term from antiquity. Magic, to me, is like an equation rather than the substance that fuels magical workings.

I think often in metaphors and similies as they help me explain myself. It’s hard to use one here but this is what I came up with:

To think of it like a painting, aether is the medium, the paint. Energy is an ingredient in the paint. Your intention is the plan for the painting. The physical components of your spell (wand, herbs, vessel, etc) are the different types of tools (paint brushes), each one used in a different way but they all falls under the same overall purpose.

Magic is adding it all together. The finished painting is the result of the magic.

All of these moving parts together form “witchcraft”.

So what does magic do and how does it work?

So...“things” (events, scenarios, odds, movement, rest, lots of things are things!) are happening everywhere all of the time and “things” won’t stop happening for a while. Working magic is similar to pushing or nudging these “things” in our favor. This can be done by casting spells, enchanting, divining, and praying or petitioning spirits, entities, and gods for example. Everyone’s definition of what is considered "working magic” is different and I don’t have a concrete list myself, tbh. I just know that, to me, working magic is influencing the world around you on a metaphysical level. For example:

You want to get a new job?

Physically you would go on a job searching website, update your resume, show up to interviews, etc.

Metaphysically you could cast a spell to send job opportunities your way, wear an amulet to make your interviews stick out in the mind of the interviewers, or write a sigil to increase the chances of your resume standing out to name a few.

My upg is bound to change over time but as of right now this is how I find myself explaining "magic". Let me know if you'd like for me to expand on anything in this post.

How would you explain what magic is? &lt;:

List of terms for clarification:

Aether: Aether here is used to refer to the "substance" that is magic rather than its Greek meaning or its meaning as a classical element. For now, it's the term I use as a placeholder unless I find something that sticks better for me.

Energy: Similar to the literal definition "a fundamental entity of nature that is transferred between parts of a system in the production of physical change within the system and usually regarded as the capacity for doing work" (MW) but, like, make it magical.

Intention: Essentially the desire, the thing that makes you want to actually work the magic at hand.

Magic: The equation of several factors or the sum total of the moving parts involved in magical workings.

Metaphysical: I use metaphysical as a way of talking about things that are beyond the physical, some people use terms like magical, spiritual, supernatural, immaterial, mystical, incorporeal, and more. To me, metaphysical makes more sense because it’s not the opposite of physical but it’s not quite physical either. Metaphysical pretty much means “beyond/after the physical”.

"Things": In this post, "things" are events, objects, beings, or otherwise the workings of the physical and metaphysical universe.

[historia-vitae-magistras]

Okay, so in order to accurately read my review: first imagine a good 15 minutes of incoherent screaming/babbling/gesticulating while I tried to calm my brain down enough to explain why it was reacting like that.

Then imagine me carefully selecting "the best lines" only to realize I'd "selected" a good 90% of the fic.

Now:

"He was quiet and still for a moment, and Matthew thought that particular enough to frown.

"'What's the matter?'

"'I forgot my question.' Jack gave a sheepish grin. 'Sorry.'"

I love them, your honor. Poor Matt's just trying to sleep off a migraine, but Jack Has A Question and will be satisfied... oh, nope, he forgot. And "Jack sitting still is weird enough that something's wrong" is just... it's this little touch of knowing his brother, and also the lead in to "he forgot his very important question," and I love it.

"'Where's Father?'

"'Drunk,' Zee chirped, and Matthew startled. She had appeared in the doorway without him even hearing when the swish of her skirts should have been as loud enough to alert him, but he really was out of it. Oh God, were both of them on the same mission? He sat up. Jack could be distracted but Zee? She was a bloodhound. And she never forgot anything."

Again, I love them. Zee's matter of fact statement (Arthur, quit getting drunk in front of your weans), and "oh shit, I can't get out of this if she's on the case." The little juxtaposition between his reaction to both of their appearances and how he thinks of them... I love it, I love it so much.

"'Oh, right! That's what I wanted to ask. Olly's head.' said Jack. 'The one that Father says he keeps up on the mantle in that fancy box,' He pointed at the carved mahogany box on the mantel, etched with what he'd bet was Uncle Rhys spell work, but they didn't talk about that."

Okay, so to insert my own question, because Jack and I are kindred spirits in that regard: if the skull was in a glass case before the house was Jack-proofed, does that mean the box was made recently? Did the previous display include any spell work, or was there a reason to add it for the box specifically? Either "it's been warded since the day it came off" or "it was added well over a century later" would be fascinating looks into Arthur's mindset around the thing. Also, the image of Arthur asking his big brother to help him with magic... I'm so obsessed with the moments when, even at the height of the Empire, Arthur leans on his brothers.

"She lifted her chin and stared right back. 'You've seen it. So if it isn't in the box, show us the box.'"

This is such a small thing - I loved Matt trying to lie to get out of it and immediately getting outsmarted by Zee. Do not lie to the small child, Matt, she can best you.

"Arthur had made him look at it. Back then, before the house had been Jack-proofed, it had been displayed behind glass. The horrible shrunken skull with tight, parchment-mummified skin and a grinning jaw that wiggled when the display cloche over its base moved at all. It was a French flag over his land back then. Arthur had only closed one hand over his neck and made him look. The implication had been clear. That's where you'll end up, too, my boy, if you're not careful."

Aaaaaaand I am immediately snapped out of the cute sibling interaction and into the fucked-up-ness of their "family" and its existence. I just... fuck. Arthur deciding to threaten the small child under his care, and Matt understanding the threat... And the way you worded it absolutely drives the terror and the... power? Control? home. I can see it happening and feel the emotional tension between Matt and Arthur in that moment. And you did it in three sentences.

"At home… the head is powerful." She said carefully, as if translating a concept she'd never spoken about into English was difficult. Perhaps it was. Matthew didn't know what to say to that.

Once again crying over Zee. She's part English, sure, and in many ways the most like Arthur - but there's this whole other side to her that she can't talk about or represent the way she wants. Something about this bit is really driving home what she, Jack, and Matt are and the inherent fucked-up-ness of their existence.

"'Then why's Father got it?', Zee asked. They drew nearer, and Matthew stood, pulling them with him, needing out of that room, away from that box and its half-forgotten contents. He walked them to the door, remembering a day when he had been the problem, the opponent, the obstacle in father's way.

"'Because he made father his enemy.'"

[Cue my brain bursting into flames trying to process the emotions]

It's a lot. Like, Zee and Jack are just after "ooh, the creepy skull!" (with some cultural hesitation on Zee's part), but Matt's thinking about "the skull the man who calls himself our father used to communicate that I need to watch my step or I WILL be removed from the equation." But at the same time - sure it hasn't been said to the other two because they've been under the English flag since birth (well... legally), but they live under that same threat. The dichotomy of them being kids after something creepy their dad has, but also colonial holdings asking about the proof that the empire is vindictive and will end an enemy no matter where he finds it... it's doing things to my brain.

This fic was both extremely entertaining and gave me a LOT to think about, thank you so much for sharing it!

My brain just screams joy at me for like two days straight every time you comment I can't even express how happy it makes me. Everything I'm trying to do comes through to someone and it... it works???? A miracle. And god, yeah, Arthur in all likelihood wouldn't have hurt Matt because generally children are the one thing that can stay his hand in most contexts but if he'd been an obstacle threatening Alfred in a way that Arthur could tangibly see, it would have been done. He's generally more interested in protecting his children even before he properly claims them but they are possessions before they're people in so, so very many ways. Collected like the stuffed birds and the contents of the green house. Zee is trying so hard to articulate these concepts that have no English translation, unite these aspects of her that are utterly at odds and Jack's still young enough his questions don't have bitter unsatisfying answers yet and Matt already knows what they'll grow up to understand someday. There's just so much bullshit that lives in my brain and I'm so happy it got out on paper!

Okay, so to insert my own question, because Jack and I are kindred spirits in that regard: if the skull was in a glass case before the house was Jack-proofed, does that mean the box was made recently? Did the previous display include any spell work, or was there a reason to add it for the box specifically?

So this is something I'm kind of adding into established works because I audited a course on the history of magic and folklore to make a reference collection for those students to use and I got drop kicked back into my teenage pagan phase so now the hard core realism I've always liked sticking too is more and more turning into a very annoying attempt at magical realism I am so sorry lmao.

So I actually had 3 versions of the Cromwell head. One where it was as somewhat recorded in history. Just dried out, spooky, and sitting on the mantel. The second was that Arthur actually fused Cromwell's soul in there and actually talked to the thing sometimes. But that felt weird so I went with the third. That the skull, as was often thought of skulls through early European history acts as a kind of conduit. Arthur needs it because of all his siblings I think might actually be the weakest in whatever kind of magical ability there may be, I haven't decided how far I want to go in that direction. But being the youngest, he learned the least from their mother and didn't much care to learn much later. So the spell-work he did on the glass and cloche started wearing off about a century or so after Cromwell lost his head. It was keeping in the bad vibes from Cromwell's skull and keeping out the curious (like Jack) so Alasdair made a box and Rhys enchanted the thing to contain Cromwell and keep the curious (Jack) out. When the weans got older and Arthur no longer has servants and what not it just sits on the mantel. Zee puts an elf hat and fairy lights on it at Christmas and bunny eared headband at Easter just for maximum disrespect.

Rhys really just put so much overtime in when the kids are young, carving and enchanting various hex traps and witch boxes to keep shit contained. Wales and Scotland were among the first victims of English imperialism but also certainly participated it in it. So while Arthur quite literally probably has skeletons in the closet, they all are a part of this fucked up imperial mess.

[eclecticcfangirll]

my favorite things/moments from red white and royal blue

so basically like the whole book but bear with me 

“they’re saying you got your asshole bleached” “that one is true” “i thought so”

the fact that june and nora are so clearly fucking but we have the most unreliable, oblivious, self-centered narrator ever (affectionate) so its never actually put into the books

“a strawberry-blond, whip-smart democrat with high heels, an unapologetic drawl, and a little biracial family”

june’s plane reading material like what is she on

nora calling alex out for crushing on henry right off the bat. literally on page 10. sis knows whats up lmao

“maybe it is technically a rivalry. whatever.” enemies to lovers is winning

the ENTIRE viscount convo at the wedding please😭😭

“its cute how you think everything is about you” “it should be honestly” “thats the spirit” 

the double meaning when alex is thinking about how his fingernails were too stubby to pick out the staples in the pic of henry because his hands weren’t “like a girl’s” 

“he’s too perfect. alex wants to poke it.” 

“sorry i’m not obsessed with you like everyone else. that must be confusing for you” “you know what? i think you are” iconic

ellen reading the word “cake-tastrophy” with audible distain

alex seeing the paper that says “agreement of terms” and being like “um”

“so you can hate the heir to the throne all you want, write mean poems about him in your diary, but the minute you see a camera, you act like the sun shines out of his dick, and you make it convincing” (ive had this memorized since the first time i read it lmaoo its ingrained in my brain forever)

“have you met henry? how am i supposed to do that? he has the personality of a cabbage”

what the fuck is competitive yachting 

“does he get one of these for me?” “yep. and for the record, making it was one of the most depressing moments of my career” 

“okay. ill do it. but i wont have any fun” “ god i hope not”

alex thinking his type of love story is more shakespearean and then june saying his and henrys situation is shakespearean

“who does that? who names a dog david? he sounds like a tax attorney. like a dog tax attorney. drink.”

the image of baby alex trying to force an orca wrangler into early retirement because of “inhumane whale practices” 

alex’s internal dialogue about shaan (and luna for that matter. god hes so bisexual)

i know henry planned that riding practice so he could come around the corner all bathed in the sunset on a white horse in perfect riding clothes

“haven’t decided yet, but astonishingly, it will not be based on you. remember how we sometimes talk about things that are not about you?” “yeah, weirdly”

“’sorry. er. i was just. cornettos.’ he gestures vaguely toward the refrigerator, as if hes just said something of any meaning”

every time alex refers to henry with any sort of royal title

alex almost missing the question when on a literal talk show bc hes too busy admiring how hot henry is in his sweater and button down (relatable)

alex always describing henry and his eyes with words like fresh and soft and blue 

alex being into politics because he genuinely cares about people 🥺 it really is the better timeline

“you know, we have got to stop ending up like this”

“you’re not the prince of me?” “bloody hell”

alex bucking his hips up into henrys 😭 i just know henry almost blacked out lmao

“i cannot believe even mortal peril will not prevent you from being the way you are” yeah 

the way they know each other so well without even knowing each other (henrys above comment^, alex calling him out for not being who he is, the entire closet convo and them both just instinctively getting things once they actually stop and breathe for a second)

“wow, youre wrong” the most alex thing ever

i need to be inside cash’s brain to see what he sees when he opens the closet door and they’re just laying side by side on the floor, blinded by the sudden light

“no booty calls” *literally uses it for booty calls*

bitch mcconnell 

the way alex describes every attractive man he encounters in vivid detail, practically drooling over all these men, and thinks hes straight

luna immediately trying to get alex to admit hes gay for henry lmao

“you wound me” “you exhaust me” “i enchant you” “ill call security” 

all the random emotions alex finds to explain the hot flashes from hot guys doing hot things 

“alex you need other friends. friends who arent in congress” “i have friends! i have june and nora” “yes, your sister and a girl who is also a supercomputer” 

“but we were ever so careful, dear” 

alex being comfortable around henry not caring what henry thinks and being “as weird and manic as he wants” 

“i dont know who you think you’re kidding, you hufflepuff-ass bitch”

shaan has a “motorbike”

“like a dickensian street urchin” pls

henry describing like everything about sailing and alex saying “cool” eight hours later 😭😭

everything about pez

alex canonically watches videos of justin trudeau speaking french and thinks hes straight 

“he would really appreciate it if henry would stop proving him wrong”

“you are the thistle in the tender and sensitive arse crack of my life” “thanks!” 

“tell shaan i say hi and i miss that sweet sweet ass xoxoxo” “i will not”

the entire part of the Great Turkey Calamity. im not even gonna be specific with this one. the whole part. from the part with alex and ellen talking all the way to the texts aboout henrys dad being a babe. everything in between those. its too good to even make a list. how does she come up with this shit. its so good. 

“henry’s got his candy cane jim jams on” 

“he just doesnt often get told hes good enough” THE SIGNIFICANCE

junes reaction to finding out alex was talking to henry about family shit and then comparing it to a love story

alex freaking out about henry being on the guest list and nora going “this is interesting” i love her

alex with his lowercase letters and henry with his perfect grammar

them going from texting every couple of days to answering each other within seconds

alex saying henrys voice is “like very expensive velvet, something moneyed and lush and fluid all at once” 

alex throwing his head back and laughing and henry grinning at him is just so them

the hips convo and “watch me” *gulps down champagne* “i am”

the whole get low scene oh my god the imagery is so good 

“you absolutely must know i did not” and alex and nora being horrified henry hasnt experienced this specific experience

forever obsessed with nora and alex being ridiculously smart little nerds but both still being absolutely chaotic young adults who grind up on each other and kiss for fun and start rumors that theyre fucking. the character depth is delicious

“are they too drunk to communicate in english?”

“one, henrys lips are soft”

their first kiss is the equivalent of literal butterflies and cartoon hearts fluttering around and their second kiss is like the height of passion. we love it

“but he thinks about henry, and, oh” asjhkdfbdkbfkjsdfb

alex and nora are the exact people who would have a marriage of convenience planned out

the entire nora/alex bisexual talk lmaooo 

“still waters, deep dicking” 

“you’ve been, like, draco malfoy obsessed with henry for years-do not interrupt me-”

nora knowing henry is gay but in that way that gays just know and alex being like what???? because somehow this never clicked for him

nora and alex both being bi but reacting to it in exact opposite ways 

“the class is ethical issues in international relations. he really has got to stop taking classes so painfully relevant to his life”

alex seeing henry on a date in the magazine and spending a very short time being angry before his common sense and trust for henry and noras words all work together and then his realization and then him immediately being sad for them instead. and then him being like lmao im not straight

imagine youre liam and youre on a date with your bf and the guy you did gay stuff with in high school who is now the fsotus calls you out of the blue and asks about said gay stuff because hes having a sexuality crisis and then he apologizes 😭😭😭 liam is so funny too

“its alex. yeah, him” 

alex seeing henry in his suit and his immediate thought is how much he wants to rip it off

“oh,” henry says, like an idiot. 

“looking like the goddamn james bond offspring that he is”

“shut up, shut all the way up, oh my god”

i mean, the red room. dinner, hamilton, hot and heavy, god save the queen, yk

all of the inner dialogue from this entire scene lmao so aggressive

“he wants to follow the sound down his throat”

“hes unsure of the dress code for inviting your sworn-enemy-turned-fake-best-friend to your room to have sex with you, especially when that room is in the white house, and especially when that person is a guy, and especially when that guy is a prince of england” this sentence should just be the entire blurb honestly. hidden gem. 

“hes done research. he has diagrams. he can do this.”

“his stomach does some embarrassing acrobatics he plans to never tell anyone about ever”

“henry is tall and gorgeous, half royalty, half movie star, red wine lingering on his lips”

im sorry but if someone took my elbow and kissed me while smiling and simultaneously shut and locked my bedroom door i would simply pass out

“he can practically feel the wind in his hair. its ridiculous.”

“so, like, fuck the moors” 

alex “we’re still whatever we were before just, you know, with blowjobs” claremont-diaz being all “you went out with a girl” right off the bat lmao

“alex’s frenetic energy and henrys aching sureness” 

the descriptions

alex being obsessed with the little curve of henrys waist and his hand being there and that being his proper “god i love men” moment

“devastating”

when alex says wait and henry immediately stops and alex like reassures him oh my god

“hi” “hello” “im gonna take your pants off now” “yes, good, carry on”

im laughing so hard at henry being in love with him for so long and he finally kisses him and alex hurtles through a sexuality crisis and then is like “alright lets go fuck” 

“fucking eyelashes”

“alex is living for it, watching henry come undone, letting him be whatever he needs to be while alone with alex behind a locked door”

the part about the fruit basket like 1) lmao fruit and 2) i love that hes not weird about henry having experience like yes 

imagining henry copying alex saying “freaking out” aghh

“for fuck’s sake man, you just had my dick in your mouth, you can kiss me good night”

alex is so in love lmao

henry laughing <3

“it should not provoke anything visceral, carnal, or bodice-ripping in nature in him at all”

“you look...sweaty” “im gonna go uh. say hi to henry”

“enjoy your summit with the english delegation”

“fifteen days removed from henry swearing at the ceiling of alex’s bedroom and unsure of how to proceed” 

“what in the rich-white-people-sex-dungeon-hell?”

“he whips a thick leather strap off a hook on the wall and alex almost blacks out”

alex’s verbal reaction to the polo attire and henry trying to keep up

“henry is swearing up a storm, which is still disarmingly sexy”

“that shithole? not if i can help it” “oi! thats disrespect of the crown, that is. insubordination. ive thrown men in the dungeons for less” “hey, dont threaten me with a good time” ok london boy

the way henrys name in all the emails is different words that fit hrh

actually all the different names they use in all the emails overall

“and its all so fucking french”

“alex has to admit: henry really has a solid handle on his personal brand” 

“but perfect stoic prince charming laughs when he comes, and texts alex at weird hours of the night: youre a mad, spiteful, unmitigated demon, and im gonna kiss you until you forget how to talk. and alex is kind of obsessed with it.”

“and alex is drunk and fucking transported, feeling every moment of twenty-two years and not a single day older, some kind of hedonistic youth of history. birthday head from another country’s prince will do that”

“and alex’s heart goes so fucking weird that he has to put his head in his hands for a full minute. (but, like, its fine. its not a whole thing)”

“for the record, i agree with you, but also, tell me more” 

never seen a book bring up such a natural build up to a love of gay history and how important it is

“hes starting to understand what swelled in his chest when he reads about stonewall, why he ached over..” YES. THATS IT. THATS THE FEELING!!!!!!!

“i will chop my own tit off”

“i will staple your dick to the inside of your leg if it keeps it in your pants”

alex knowing when henry is in his moods and wanting to help

“baby”

the phone call where henry spills about his family and then alex spills about his past and then about both of their previous dating experience and mental health and gahhh

“two parentheses enclosing 3700 miles”

“i miss you” “i miss you too”

the way it ropes in how alex missing dinner with june brought up past shit for her

june finally snapping and them talking about henry

“you have so much in you, its almost impossible to match it. but hes your match, dumbass” ahhHHHHHHHHHH

“hes like some kind of billionaire, genius, manic-pixie-dream philanthropist.” yep thats pez

the facetime when pez and henry are in the car and alex feeling better because henry looks well rested and the goofy banter

llwynywermod does NOT sound like it should. idk what it should sound like but not like it does. 

henry using his royal accounts money for specifically charity yes

“hes always wanted to be a person with a legacy in this world. henry is undoubtably, determinedly that. its a little intoxicating.”

“yall do school weird”

june and nora drooling over pez LMAO “i want to put my fingers in his mouth” 

cash wearing a feather boa yes

dont stop me now. all of it. 

bea and alex and knowing how rare it is

god i can feel the joy

“bisexuality is truly a rich and complex tapestry” *june shoves napkin in his mouth*

“o captain my captain” “have you got talking points”

alex is literally drunk but he sees henry get nervous and immediately switches into Concerned Boyfriend Mode

travel size lube

f i n g e r s 

so much love

i know henry saw his love mirrored right back at him in alex’s eyes and knew he had to make a joke 

“theres something so incredibly intimate about sitting on the bed they wrecked the night before, the only one who watches him create Prince Henry of Wales for the day.”

“hes got a suspicion all these feelings are why he held off on fucking henry for so long”

“so this is the gang now, huh?”

“how is a man to get anything done knowing alex claremont-diaz is out there on the loose? i am driven to distraction.”

“o fathers of my bloodline. o ye kings of olde. take this crown from me, bury me in my ancestral soil. if only you had known the mighty work of thine loins would be undone by a gay heir who likes it when american boys with chin dimples are mean to him” please

i love alex going back to henrys emails when he is upset

“utah ugly, christian ugly, ugliness couched in dog whistles and toothy white smiles”

“not every white supremacist is a meth head in bumfuck mississippi- there are plenty of them at duke or upenn on daddys money” BLESS

“as if alex, first son of the united states, is unfamiliar with how campaigns work”

the text thread with henry alex june and nora lmao so chaotic

“1. tf is this? arent there poor people in your country? 2. ive already been in the royal box” “you are a delinquent and a plague. please come?”

“don’t worry, i dont think they can detect the thick air of horn-town betwixt you two from the lawn”

“all mischievous smiles and swooping cheekbones”

henry touching two fingers to the back of alex’s elbow mm

philip and henry are the equivalent of a strict parent and rebellious child. “oh you hate alex being in the box? we’re gonna go fuck in a supply closet then. fuck you”

the way henry got right up in his space but didnt kiss him im-

“just so we’re clear, im about to have sex with you in this storage closet to spite your family. like, thats whats happening?” “right” “awesome, fuckin love doing things out of spite” 

“and it should be- it should be funny. it should be hot, stupid, ridiculous, obscene, another wild sexual adventure to add to the list. and it is but...it shouldn’t also feel like last time, like alex might die if it ever stops”

“you’re brave. i could use some of that”

woman at her toilet

obsessed with alex and henry both having so much knowledge to share with each other 

“and alex’s heart doesn’t spread itself out in his chest, and he doesn’t have to grip the edge of the settee to steady himself. because thats what he would do if he were here in this palace to fall in love with henry”

“i see you more than i see clean underwear”

“if shes not giving it to you, im not giving it to you. shes much nicer than me”

“there’s this way henry has of listening to the erratic stream of consciousness that pours out of alex’s mouth and answering with the clearest, crystallized truth that alex has been trying to arrive at all along”

“oh fuck me” “blurgh” “fucking shit. goddammit ass fucker” “what” “jesus tits”

the mental image of this entire scene but especially “henry flies out of bed too. he truly is a picture, wearing an expression of bewildered panic and absolutely nothing else” 

“get in there” “quite” “yes we can unpack the ironic symbolism later”

“zahra is standing there with her thermos and a look on her face that says she did not get a masters degree to babysit a fully grown adult”

“it is, alex thinks half hysterically, a very solid visual pun”

“do i even wants you to explain what the fuck is happening here? literally how is he even here, like, physically or geographically, and why- no nope.”

“oh my god i thought you were getting into international relations or something” “i mean technically-” “if you finish that sentence, im gonna spend tonight in jail”

“youre literally putting your dick in the leader of a foreign state, who is a man, at the biggest political event before the election, in a hotel full of reporters, in a city full of cameras, in a race close enough to fucking hinge on some bullshit like this, like a manifestation of my fucking stress dreams, and youre asking me not to tell the president about it?” “um. yeah?”

“would it make any difference if i told you not to see him again” “no”

“ask me if im afraid of the crown”

“exploring your sexuality: healthy, but does it have to be with the prince of england?”

“history huh? bet we could make some”

“the phrase ‘see attached bibliography’ is the single sexiest thing you have ever written to me”

“should i tell you that when we’re apart, your body comes back to me in dreams? that when i sleep, i see you, the dip of your waist, the freckle above your hip, and when i wake up in the morning, it feels like ive just been with you, the phantom touch of your hand on the back of my neck fresh and not imagined? that i can feel your skin against mine, and it makes every bone in my body ache? that, for a few moments, i can hold my breath and be back there with you, in a dream, in a thousand rooms, nowhere at all?

“ill let you look at one boob. the good one” “theyre both good”

“theres a combination of girl sounds from the back seat”

“hi love’ he hears henry say quietly, privately, right into the hair above his ear, and alex’s breath forgets how to do anything but laugh helplessly”

imagining henry grinning in the passenger seat and bopping his head to the music aghhgndksk

“lbj was obsessed with his own dick. he called it jumbo and would whip it out all the time. like in front of colleagues, reporters, anybody” “american politics. truly fascinating” “you wanna talk, henry the VIII?”

“a little appreciation for the patron saint of gender-neutral bathrooms in california? little shit”

“and alex is. well, alex is so in love he could die”

“-maybe even with the apron still on-”

“i didnt realize this was a jazz brunch”

the skinny dipping is so cute before it goes wrong

“hes spent too much of his life talking, talking, talking to not know the signs when someone doesnt want to hear him anymore”

“henry you motherfucker! henry, you piece of shit, get your ass down here”

“alex’s heart is going to fall out of his ass. henry looks unimpressed”

“really nice. fucking ghost me for a week, make me stand in the rain like a brown john cusack, and now you wont even talk to me. im really just having a great fucking time here. i can see why all yall had to marry your fucking cousins”

“seriously’ he says, helpless and indignant”

obtuse fucking asshole

“i fucking love you, okay?”

“i never imagined you would love me back” 

“what do you want? “i want you-” “then fucking have me”

THE LIVES WE WANT-- THEYRE NOT THAT DIFFERENT. NOT IN THE WAYS THAT MATTER. YOU WANT TO TAKE WHAT YOU WERE GIVEN AND LEAVE THE WORLD BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT. SO DO I. WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THAT TOGETHER”

“tell me youre done with me. ill get back on the plane. thats it. and you can live here in your tower and be miserable forever, write a whole book of sad fucking poems about it. whatever. just say it” “fuck you”

“hes in stupid, unbearable love, and henry loves him too, and at least for one night it matters, even if they both have to pretend to forget in the morning”

“dont miss it this time. hes too important”

the copy of le monde

“thats not good enough for me”

“i honestly have never thought i deserved to choose. but you treat me like i do”

“what about you’ he says, as if he doesnt know-”

“diaz, you insane, hopeless, romantic little shit. it had better be forever. be safe”

prince consort road

i need someone to love my rambling like alex loves henrys rambling

everything about james I because i was obsessed before this book but now i really really am

“oh yeah. the top list of reasons to love you goes brain, then dick, then imminent status as a revolutionary gay icon” “you are quite literally queen victorias worst nightmare” 

bringing up david and jonathan yes ma’am

can i please slow dance in this room please its all im asking

“two homes side by side”

“hey, have i told you lately that youre brave” afTER HENRY SAYING HE COULD USE SOME OF HIS BRAVERY AGHHHHH 

“it is, indeed, bullshit”

“what is it american politicians say?- thoughts and prayers”

“and im there, using up your shampoo and making you come to the grocery store with me”

“here lies prince henry of wales. he died as he lived: avoiding plans and sucking cock”

“because im not like the rest of the men in this family, beginning with the fact that i am very deeply gay, philip”

the rooms the rooms henry putting the bad memories in the rooms and then the vase THE WATERLOO VASE BECAUSE ITS TOO BIG FOR THE PALACE AND NOWHERE IN THE PALACE COULD HOLD HIS FEELINGS FOR ALEX AHHHHH

“happy and animated and so alive, a person living in dimensions i couldnt access”

“i thought, this is the most incredible thing i have ever seen and i better keep it a safe distance away from me. i thought, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire”

“and then, inexplicably, you had the absolute audacity to love me back. can you believe it?”

“you love so much bigger than yourself”

henry being a beautiful writer and alex being a list maker is everything. play to your strengths i guess

speaking of lists: THE LIST THE LIST THE LIST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

alex realizing how he brushed him off in attempts to make him feel better and how he accidentally hurt him too and acknowledging that and apologizing. we love a healthy relationship

“im calling you as soon as i send this, but i know you like to have these things written down” yes

“did you get engaged?” “*shrugs* i had the weekend off” 

zahra calling alex princess 😭😭

“oh fuck my ass” more great zahra content

alex being strong for henry in the car and calming him down instead of making it about himself when hes freaked and disgusted (and kinda violent) too 🥺

“you’re it okay? im never gonna love anybody else in the world like i love you. so, i promise you, one day we’ll be able to just be, and fuck everyone else”

“you do realize youre talking to a united states senator” “yeah, big fucking man”

the way alex tells raf is so intense and so them

“topography on the map of you, a world im still charting”

“your spine’s a ridge id die climbing”

“give yourself away sometimes sweetheart. theres so much of you”

“ik this is a sad part but “you horny little miscreant”

“what did you do?” what did he do?

“gay defcon five”

alex reacting to the leak decimates me every time its so heartbreaking but its written so well

“do you feel forever about him?” “yeah, i do” “then fuck it”

zahra pulls through frfr with the plan to go to london

“listen up you fuck” so affectionate

“i will personally make your balls into fucking earrings. i will scorched earth your entire motherfucking life”

“she pauses, presumably to listen to him agree because alex cant imagine him doing anything else”

“sweet and posh and shaky and confused”

“sweetheart”

actually just the entire phone call. the whole thing. true love

zahra and alex have such a fantastic dynamic

bea was fr finna hit philip with a guitar

when they see each other after the leak😭 dont talk to me

the description of grief when youre young and how it changes you is so perfect and concise and beautifully worded and it makes me cry

“i love him, with all that, because of all that. on purpose. i love him on purpose”

“six feet of boy curled around kicked in ribs and a recalcitrant heart”

“alex’s ears are ringing”

the way she pointed out that philip said “if youre gay” i never even noticed this but people do this!! all the time!! irl! its so demeaning

“fuck off, philip, i love him” w his chin stuck out <3

“we’ll take the raping and the pillaging and the colonizing, we’ll scrub it up nice and neat in a museum, but oh, no, youre a bloody poof? thats beyond our sense of decorum” get his ass!!!!

“you can take your legacy and your decorum and you can shove it up your fucking arse, philip. im done” GET HIS ASS!!!!!!

*buttons jacket* “for what its worth, that is the bravest son of a bitch ive ever met” 

“we banged it out last night”

gotta hand it to catherine, she chose a hell of a time to come back to life

“the princess who ran away with james bond”

“ive been gay as a maypole since the day i came out of mum, philip”

“in the silence that follows, alex has to bite down very hard on his tongue to suppress the urge to laugh hysterically”

alex “we could still do that” claremont-diaz

“i dont care for that tone at all” put him in his place catherine!

page 354= the page i finally started sobbing the first time i read it

seriously how is everyone in the better timeline not sobbing into their hands seeing these rallies

“wouldn’t i mum? wouldn’t you like to find out” ajshdjfbshjbfskbf

“ya know, i think all that cocaine i did must have really done a number in my reflexes” LMAO

never tell me the odds

“dc dykes on bikes chase protestors” yes ma’am

to be continued