#i am now matthias age

[thisusedtobeafanpage]

wait hold on the crows are 16 to 17 years old????? HELP?????

[dimiclaudeblaigan]

just got to the stupid zaharas chapter and went through dimi and claude's conversation and my god

they really did not use a single quarter of a brain cell when putting that conversation into ag

"your issue is with the church, not with faerghus?" eh wot hootie tootie claude never had a problem with faerghus and hasn't been acting like it. makes it sound like they've been fighting each other (i.e. this is meant to fit gw but and they just copy/pasted the whole conversation bc it just makes no sense).

"we have nothing to gain by fighting you." yeah, you... haven't been and never said you were planning to.

"we could've been friends." and whhhhyyyy can't you? there is an entire zero bad blood between y'all and lorenz has already pretty much said this whole second half of the war thing has been proof of the friendship between the kingdom and alliance soooo...?

"had i joined with you" uh um but you literally did this has been ongoing for half the war now

additional funnies are claude just being so butthurt that dimitri is like this might endanger your life and claude is like aw shucks my life has been endangered since i was born i'm basically an endangered species!

also, dimitri saying it brings guilt to do the things claude would do bc he's been there. lel. claude had no guilt in gw tho (for killing rhea and all that shit).

but fr tho, it just seems like gw claude and dimi got warped into zaharas and the ag ones are just passed out in the normal world having the same yeehaw ass fever dream LIKE

this entire conversation legitimately makes worse than zero sense. i can only imagine how confused people were who played ag first and got this conversation bc it like, legitimately has no place in this route. this is like a fever dream on steroids that were laced with drugs.

i was lucky i was playing ag while simultaneously watching the other routes on youtube or i would have also been absolutely bonkers confused.

[lilisouless]

Wylan: i don’t like being called “Kaz’s son” , it’s just absurd.We are the same age,people your same age can’t be your parent figure-

Wylan: Kaz! I told you to not touch that! Don’t try to use the assassin eyes at me,i said no!

Wylan: I don’t see him like a father “ouch” why would we have “ouch” a relationship as such…

Wylan: Kaz! I am not giving you money! Stop poking me with that thing!

Jesper: eh-

Wylan: don’t you dare!

Wylan: ahem, like i was saying, i understand this is because my real dad is shitty and people wants the best for me but i don’t think the way is just taking the first guys showing decency-

Wylan: Kaz! What did I say about tripping Matthias? Apologize now!

Wylan: Hmm,besides I am not comfortable with infantilizing me or anyone, it’s a huge disservice-

Jesper: Wy! Kaz stole money from our safe box again!

Wylan: ugh! What are we gonna do with him?

Matthias: hey guys! I made a frame of macaroni-

Jesper: Not now Matthias!

[endlich-allein]

My goodness, time flies ! The 2024 tour is already over and Till is right when he says in the song 'Zeit' : "So perfekt ist der Moment / Doch weiter läuft die Zeit"

This year marks 30 years since Rammstein travelled the world with their powerful vocals, rousing music and majestic fire. This year, I've been following the band's adventures for 15 years. I've seen them perform in front of 9,000 people and in front of over 90,000 people. I've seen them in modest venues, in dusty fields and in prestigious stadiums. I've seen them in sweltering sunshine and freezing rain. I've seen them evolve, collectively and individually, and I've evolved with them. I saw them laugh and I laughed with them. I saw them cry and I cried with them. They've been with me for 15 years now, like a second family. They are the most constant thing in my life: family members have moved away, lovers have broken my heart, friends have turned their backs on me, acquaintances have left my life as quickly as they entered it… But they're still here.

This year I had the immense pleasure of seeing them on stage again, and as always, it was an absolute happiness. I'm so grateful to them for the joy they bring to their audience, for the 2h15 spend far away from daily worries, for the smiles on the lips, the stars in the eyes and the happy memories in the heads. I'm so grateful to them for my voice breaking from shouting out their names or the words to their songs, for the aches and pains caused by the headbangs, for the legaches from standing so much, for the tiredness of the sleepless nights. I'm so grateful to them for who they are, for their infectious energy, for their boundless generosity, for their determination and courage in the face of those who would silence them. They are, for me, an example of resilience.

"Wenn unsere Zeit gekommen ist / Dann ist es Zeit zu gehen / Aufhören wenn's am schönsten ist". It's the end of an era, a page has been turned, but the book is not yet finished. So thank you Rammstein, thank you Till, thank you Paul, thank you Flake, thank you Schneider, thank you Oliver, thank you Richard and see you soon... ❤️

Thank you to Héloise and Yolande from Abélard, who did not have the easiest part but who showed passion and determination. And who remind us that we should never say no when an opportunity presents itself to us. I wish them good luck in their careers and much love in their lives 💙

I'd also like to thanks again the crew, all those who work behind the scenes and without whom it would be impossible to carry out this tour. I know that some of them will be heading off on tour with Till this autumn, others have already left for other projects and others are enjoying a well-deserved holiday. I wish them all the best 💜

Thank you to the photographers and friends of the band, who immortalised our memories. Thank you to Jens Koch, Paul Harries, Olaf Heine, Matthias Matthies, Rob Lewis and Sebastian Feger 🩷

And finally, one last thank you. I'd like to thank all Rammstein fans. Those who were lucky enough to go to one or more of the band's concerts this year. Those who weren't so lucky but have enjoyed the content shared. Those who express their love for the band by singing, dancing, having fun, writing, drawing or covering their music. We come from different countries, or even different continents, we're of different ages, from different social backgrounds, but we're united by one thing : Rammstein. Thank you, everyone 🙏🏻

[naka-jiiii]

Obey Me! Original Lesson 81 Script [FANMADE]

A project a friend and I have been working on for a while. All characters other than Matthias and Saffron belong to NTT Solmare.

YouTube video here: Obey Me! Original Lesson 81 [FANMADE]

Artist for Matthias and Saffron: ti ★ (@sae.yr2997)

81-1

It’s been around a month since MC returned to the Devildom…

[Student Council Room]

Lucifer: Ah, there you are.

Lucifer: You must be wondering why I’ve called you here so suddenly.

Scenario 1

MC: I’m pretty busy.

Lucifer: This is part of your job as an officer now. There are more tasks than you may believe.

Scenario 2

MC: I would like to know.

Lucifer: And you will. Very soon.

End scenario

Lucifer: This has been a particular concern of ours as of recent…

Diavolo: Ah, I wouldn’t say that in such a negative tone. But you are correct, Lucifer.

Barbatos: I am afraid I have to agree.

??? 1: Now, now…you are all so serious. What’s with the atmosphere?

Raphael: It’s normal to be formal in these situations.

??? 2: Raph, you just rhymed.

Raphael: Oh…I suppose I did.

Diavolo: MC, we would like you to meet two of our newest exchange students.

??? 1: That feels good to be recognized. But I have a question: why is RAPHAEL here?

Raphael: Hey, Saffron said she was nervous to meet MC. I thought coming along might ease her a bit.

Lucifer: That loud one there is Matthias, a vampire. The one on Raphael’s back is Saffron…another angel and close to Luke’s age.

Scenario 1

MC: A vampire?

Matthias: As vampire as you can get! My, my, MC…you’re just as cute as I imagined!

Scenario 2

MC: An angel?

Saffron: Hi, MC. I heard lots about you from Raphael and Simeon and Luke.

End scenario

Barbatos: Ahem…as to respect the Young Master’s goal of bringing harmony, it of course does not only refer to the more common species of the three worlds.

Matthias: Are you saying I’m uncommon, Barbatos? Thank you!

Matthias: But I have lived in the Devildom my entire life. It’s not like I’m a reaper.

Barbatos: …And Saffron here is a lower ranking angel, being accompanied by Raphael.

Matthias: Hey…don’t ignore me.

Raphael: But don’t get the wrong idea. She claims she isn’t here to play.

Saffron: Uh…that’s what Luke told me to say. He said we gotta report back to Michael without no intrusions.

Raphael: You know you don’t always have to go by what people say to you, right? Luke may not admit it, but he’s taken a liking to life here.

Saffron: It’s okay! I want to help.

Matthias: How young and naive…

Raphael: You hush.

Lucifer: We expect you to welcome these two and keep an eye on them while they settle in. Unfortunately, it is likely that one of the two parties will be trouble. So do with that what you will.

Barbatos: …

Matthias: …Why are you all staring at me now? Shucks, you guys! You’re going to make me blush ♡

Barbatos: Unfortunately that was no compliment.

Diavolo: Well, aside from that…I take it that having new students will be an exciting and fun time. Be sure to make yourselves at home, Saffron and Matthias.

81-3

Two new exchange students…

Now it’s my job to watch them? Why? Surely Lucifer was overexaggerating the supervision they need…

[Hallway (RAD)]

Matthias: Boo!

Saffron: EEEK!

Matthias: Ahaha! You young ones are so easily spooked, huh? How fun!

Saffron: You aren’t being very nice.

Matthias: Oh, cheer up. You’ll live, I think. Or maybe angels really are more fragile than I thought? Unfortunate…

Saffron: Wha…wait, no! Angels are super duper strong! You don’t know what you’re saying.

Matthias: I’m sure I do. You’re so scared because angels are frail, right? But that’s okay!

Saffron: Hey…

Scenario 1

MC: What’s going on?

Matthias: Oh, hello, MC! I was here just introducing myself to Young Saffron. Isn’t she adorable?

Scenario 2

MC: You guys stop.

Matthias: Dear, me! MC, please don’t misunderstand. We were simply having a fun chat.

End scenario

Saffron: Don’t listen to this bad guy here! He scared me!

Matthias: Aww, you’re cute, huh? Kids and their made-up stories…

Saffron: I’m not lying. Lying is a sin, you know!

Saffron: And MC totally saw you, right?

Matthias: Don’t bring dear MC into this, silly.

MC: I did see. You should leave her alone

Matthias: …! W-Well, I…

Matthias: Truly, it was a mere playful intent. I meant no harm! Promise…

Saffron: I heard bad guys always lie.

Matthias: Oh, Young Saffron? Is that what you believe?

Saffron: It’s what I KNOW.

Matthias: Then you must be mistaking me with someone else. I, Matthias, a truly beautiful specimen, am not a bad guy.

Saffron: Hmph. You’re native to the Devildom, aren’t you? Why did you only come to RAD now?

Matthias: Wouldn’t you like to know?

Scenario 1

MC: I had the same question.

Matthias: Well, don’t get yourself too worried about it! I’ll explain, my dear ♡

Scenario 2

MC: Because he would scare the other angels?

Matthias: Isn’t that a bold assumption? How cute.

Saffron: It’s a likely assumption.

End scenario

Matthias: The truth is, I wanted to think I had so many fans that it would be too much of a hassle to have me here at the beginning of the year…but it turns out Barbatos needed me to eat a certain amount of rats at the Demon Lord’s Castle before he’d even think about letting me attend. He said, “The Royal Academy of Diavolo is not for horseplay. Perhaps it’d be wise to reconsider your wishes if you are unwilling to change your comportment, Matthias.”

Saffron: It sounds like he knows you pretty well. Also, that was a scarily accurate impression…

Matthias: We’re only the bestest of buddies!

Saffron: I meant the horseplay thing. I would know. I like horses.

Saffron: Why is he making you eat rats though?

Matthias: It’s not particularly an issue for me. I like the flavor of rat blood but I do prefer cow or pig blood if you guys were wondering!

Saffron: Not really…

Scenario 1

MC: What about you, Saffron?

Saffron: Me? Oh…it’s like I said before. I’m here to make reports.

Scenario 2

MC: Is Saffron really here to spy on the Devildom?

Saffron: …! That’s a weird way of putting it. It makes it sound like a bad thing.

Matthias: I think that would make Young Luke a spy, too!

End scenario

Saffron: When Simeon and Luke came back after the first exchange, I was less scared of the Devildom after hearing all the good stories they had to share.

Saffron: I was pretty hopeful after that. That maybe I could get to learn about the Devildom firsthand and maybe everyone here isn’t as bad as I used to think.

Saffron: Here I am now, though. But this vampire hasn’t really made me think any higher of this realm than before I got here…

Matthias: Wha—you brat!

Saffron: Sorry?

Matthias: Oh, uhm…I mean, there’s no need to say such things, young one. I can assure you the Devildom is full of lots of fun and you’re free to do whatever you want here! It’s less strict.

Saffron: Whatever I want? I don’t know if I should be trusting YOU to tell me…

Saffron: MC. Is he being honest?

Scenario 1

MC: He’s right about it being less strict, but there are still rules.

Saffron: I see. So I shouldn’t do whatever I want.

Scenario 2

MC: The Celestial Realm has way more rules.

Saffron: Really? But…that’s not a bad thing, is it?

Matthias: It totally is.

Saffron: I wasn’t asking you!

Scenario 3

MC: Nope. A total liar.

Matthias: Ouch… For someone as cute as you, you certainly are brutal, MC…

End scenario

Matthias: I don’t typically lie unless I have a reason to.

Matthias: And plus, it’s not always a bad thing.

Saffron: It is! It’s a sin!

Matthias: A sin it may be, but what if telling the truth got you in trouble, Young Saffron?

Saffron: W…well, then you deserve the punishment.

Matthias: Is that what you believe? Do you think that even the most honest people in the world deserve punishment?

Saffron: If they told the truth for a bad reason…then it must mean whatever they did was bad! So, yes!

Saffron: Wait, I don’t know now… Ugh. You’re making me confused!

Matthias: I’m only saying, young one. What if you had to lie to protect yourself or others? Would you tell the truth and potentially get someone hurt?

Saffron: …I don’t know what you’re saying. 

Matthias: Figures. How young and naive…

Saffron: I heard you the first time you said that!

81-6

[Classroom]

Satan: You seem awfully on edge today, MC.

Asmodeus: Aww…stress isn’t good for the baby sheep! What’s the matter, hmm?

Leviathan: …You have a gift for rubbing people the wrong way, Asmo.

Belphegor: I could guess it’s probably those new students. MC was put in charge of them for their first day, right?

Scenario 1

MC: They don’t seem to like each other.

Leviathan: Really? That sounds entertaining loool.

Beelzebub: But what if they broke out into a fight?

Mammon: Eh, just more entertainment for us!

Scenario 2

MC: It’s been tiring.

Satan: That’s unfortunate.

Belphegor: *sigh*...You’re always getting the tiresome jobs, aren’t you?

Satan: It’d be more evenly spread out among us if certain people actually did their work…

End scenario

Beelzebub: This is actually our first time meeting the new angel.

Leviathan: Yep. Heard she’s doing the same job as Luke but yaps a lot less LMAO.

Asmodeus: BUT they’re both equally as adorable, of course ♡

Mammon: But that ain’t the point. At least we don’t got two Fidos!

Belphegor: Matthias, on the other hand…

Satan: He’s a terror, simply put.

Belphegor: We had known about him for some time now. Apparently he broke into the Demon Lord’s Castle and was almost sent to the dungeon for an eternity.

Belphegor: He might give Mammon a run for his money when it comes to their schemes…

Mammon: Wha?! He ain’t takin’ ANY of my money!

Leviathan: You dummy. That isn’t what he meant lol.

Asmodeus: I can’t help but agree, though… Matthias truly has a talent.

Satan: Which, I assume even you don’t mean as a compliment, Asmo.

Asmodeus: Unfortunately…*sigh*

Beelzebub: But he tries to be nice. It just never usually works that way.

Mammon: Oh yeah, he’s totally obsessed with Beel.

Leviathan: TOTALLY LMAO! He’s like a mega fan!

Beelzebub: You think so?

Belphegor: Don’t listen to them, Beel…

Scenario 1

MC: Any advice you guys?

Satan: Well, the most I can say for now is that make sure they don’t kill each other.

Asmodeus: Yep! The new students have a long way ahead of them!

Scenario 2

MC: I’m already ready to go home.

Belphegor: Yeah, me, too.

Mammon: Same here.

Leviathan: Same…

End scenario

Satan: No matter whether the new exchanges get comfortable or not. 

Satan: MC still has to prepare them for next week’s “problem”. Just like the rest of us are preparing as well.

Leviathan: Riiiight. Next week we’re all getting assigned a room at RAD to decorate for the Ornament Contest.

Asmodeus: Oh, I already know how pretty my assigned room will be! Cute is never impossible when it comes to Asmo ♡

Mammon: Not everyone is gonna vote for cute! Ya gotta be cool with it!

Beelzebub: Or fill the room with a bunch of food so that everyone can eat while they’re voting.

Leviathan: That’s only something you would do, Beel. Lmao.

Ornament Contest? This is the first I’ve heard of it…

Belphegor: What’s with that look, MC? Don’t tell me you didn’t hear the news.

Mammon: I can tell what they’re thinkin’ just by that look on their face. It’s screamin, “Oh, no! What am I gonna do?!” Right?

Satan: In that case, it’d be best if you started planning as soon as possible… You’re an officer now, thus meaning everyone will have higher expectations of you.

Asmodeus: Calm down, Satan! Our poor sheep doesn’t need all this pressure.

It’s true that I’m feeling a bit pressured now…

But how will I help the new exchanges, too?

81-9

[Student Council Room]

Diavolo: Good morning, everyone!

Diavolo: As you may know, starting next week is the Ornament Contest, and each of you will be assigned a room at RAD to decorate to your liking. There will be three winners depending on who gets the most votes.

Diavolo: I know you all are preparing hard, but I have come to inform you that you will be put into groups for this contest.

Satan: Figures…

Asmodeus: *sigh*...

Mammon: Well…as long as I’m in MC’s group!

Leviathan: Hey! Nuh-uh! I’m totally gonna be with MC!

Belphegor: You guys are bold. Obviously I’ll be working with MC.

Lucifer: Shut up. All of you.

Lucifer: It frankly isn’t your choice, and you will be assigned a group without grievances.

Lucifer: *sigh* It is quite embarrassing that my own brothers do not fathom the idea of cooperation…

Satan: Look the other way when you say that.

Beelzebub: I don’t know. It sounds like he means all of us.

Barbatos: We have each group assigned for the council members by now, and everything is almost set in stone as a whole.

Barbatos: Lucifer and Belphegor, you two will be a group. And then we have Satan and Mammon—and Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Leviathan as a trio.

Belphegor: …Hmph.

Leviathan: Stuck with a normie extrovert…and Beel, too…

Asmodeus: Excuse me?

Mammon: Hey, wait! What about MC?! They should totally join MY group if they don’t got one!

Satan: I hate to agree with Mammon on anything, but he’s right. I thought every member had a team at this point.

Lucifer: MC is going to be working with Saffron and Matthias.

Leviathan: …!

Mammon: ?!

Lucifer: Don’t act so surprised… MC has been looking after them since yesterday. I don’t need those two going off the rails unsupervised just because they’re new.

Belphegor: Can’t say I didn’t see that coming, but…is it really okay to pair Saffron and Matthias together? Like, shouldn’t one of us take one of them and MC takes the other?

Lucifer: I already said you will all learn to cooperate. That does not mean just you boisterous six.

Leviathan: Yikes…good luck, MC. I’ll just be imagining all the time we didn’t spend working on this contest together… *sulk*

Barbatos: …

Barbatos: You will all be assigned your rooms first thing tomorrow. 

Barbatos: Already make sure to keep in mind what you may want to plan for the contest. It is usually best to discuss with your group confidentiality.

Mammon: Why?

Satan: So that no one steals our idea, idiot…

Mammon: WHAT’D YOU SAY?!

Satan: Do you really want me to repeat myself?

Belphegor: You probably wanna do something boring, right, Lucifer?

Lucifer: …I will not speak a word. And that was rude.

Belphegor: *yawn*...

Leviathan: …

Beelzebub: …

Asmodeus: …Oh, lighten up, you two! I can’t be the only one coming up with ideas here.

Leviathan: Yeah, well, you can be the leader… You’ll just think all my ideas are lame anyways.

Beelzebub: I’m hungry…

Asmodeus: Oh, for goodness sake, Beel!

Barbatos: Are you alright, MC? You’ve been rather quiet.

Scenario 1

MC: It’s hard to think with all this noise

Barbatos: I can understand that.

Barbatos: These brothers really are a handful, aren’t they?

Scenario 2

MC: I wonder how my group will do.

Barbatos: You needn’t worry about that too much. Try to relax your mind.

End scenario

Barbatos: …*sigh*

Barbatos: I do hope for you to watch over Matthias for me especially.

Barbatos: He hides many things he does not show on his face. Remember that.

81-11

[Cafeteria]

Mephistopheles: Never did I think more of you would show up. Or, maybe that was just wrong on my end. I SHOULD have known…

Saffron: …

Mephistopheles: Shy, are you? Or are you just intimidated by the demon species in general? Figures.

Saffron: …

Mephistopheles: …

Mephistopheles: I am only speaking from honesty. It’s not like I’m trying to scare you or anything.

Saffron: Do you…

Mephistopheles: Pardon?

Saffron: Do you…do you like horses?

Mephistopheles: …Horses? That was an unexpected response. But at least I know you can speak now.

Mephistopheles: But to answer your question, yes. I do in fact like horses.

Saffron: Really? You like horses?

Mephistopheles: I am not repeating myself.

Saffron: That’s super cool, Mister! I really like horses, too!

Mephistopheles: I…

Saffron: I think horses are super pretty and cute and…

Mephistopheles: Here.

Saffron: Huh? What’s this?

Mephistopheles: Come by the Newspaper Club room sometime. You might like it.

Saffron: Oh…thanks! I will!

Scenario 1

MC: Making friends already?

Saffron: Oh, MC!

Saffron: Do you think that was a friendly invite? He seemed sorta mad…

Scenario 2

MC: Well, that was nice of him.

Saffron: Oh, hey, MC!

Saffron: Is he normally not nice? Is that what you mean?

End scenario

Saffron: I want to make friends, but…demons are hard to approach.

Saffron: Not that I don’t like them or anything, though! They’re just…I guess it’s what that mister said, right? They’re intimidating…

Saffron: But I trust what Barbatos said…that mostly everyone is loyal to Diavolo.

Saffron: Mostly everyone…

Saffron: …

Saffron: …Anyway, did you come to talk to me?

. . .

Saffron: What? Really? Me, you, and the vampire mister got put into a group for a contest?

Saffron: That’s…well, I guess there’s no alternative, right? Is that the right word? Luke uses it sometimes.

Saffron: *sigh*...

Saffron: I’m not mad at you, okay? I know it wasn’t your choice. But that vampire mister really knows how to push all my buttons.

Saffron: Luke always said that the demons would be the pesky ones, and I didn’t even begin to think about vampires!

Saffron: I shouldn’t take it out on you.

Saffron: You know what? I’m gonna confront him about his badness! When I see him again, I’ll…I’ll tell him off for being mean. Trust me!

Scenario 1

MC: That’s right, Saffron! Put him in his place.

Saffron: …Hehe. Thanks!

Scenario 2

MC: But remember you still have to work with him eventually.

Saffron: Yeah, I know…but for now this is all I can do to stick up for myself.

End scenario

Saffron: Don’t worry, MC. I’ve got this!

81-14

[Common Room (RAD)]

Thirteen: Man…

Matthias: I haven’t even been here that long…

Thirteen: And you’re in detention? That sucks.

Matthias: Hey! You’re in detention, too!

Thirteen: But this isn’t my first time being in detention. You, however?

Matthias: Is that supposed to be… Wait, how OFTEN are you in here?

Thirteen: Dunno. Lost count.

Matthias: That’s actually…kind of a power move.

Thirteen: Cool? You think so?

Matthias: Duh! If I was in here everyday it’d be clear to me how much attention they’re giving me! Like, are you obsessed or what? Hehe!

Thirteen: What a weird way of thinking. But I like it!

Matthias: Thank you, thank you.

Thirteen: Thirteen, by the way.

Matthias: Thirteen? That feels familiar. But I’m Matthias!

Thirteen: Yeah, yeah, I know who you are. You’re one of the new ones. It’s nice to meet you.

Matthias: You, as well!

Scenario 1

MC: Matthias?

Matthias: What a wonderful surprise! Hello, MC!

Matthias: I suppose it is rather embarrassing for you to see me in such a place, huh? Hehe…

Scenario 2

MC: Why are you in detention?

Matthias: MC! You almost startled me, dear~

Matthias: I’m afraid if I told you I’d have to kill you afterwards…

Matthias: Just kidding! Ahaha, the look on your face!

End scenario

Matthias: I happened to steal some things from the garden, and unfortunately I was caught… They sent me here as punishment.

Thirteen: Geez, you’re bad...

Thirteen: Hey, MC. I heard you had to look after the new guys while they’re getting settled in.

Matthias: It’s the dream! Unless you’re that young angel.

Thirteen: Saffron? Does she not like you?

Matthias: Oh, please. Everybody likes me, dearest Thirteen!

Thirteen: Okay, calm down. We aren’t that close.

Matthias: It’s only an endearment.

MC: Actually, I came to tell Matthias that us three are working on the Ornament Contest together.

Matthias: Oh! Is that so?

Matthias: How fun! They chose me, the lovely Matthias, to be part of MC’s group. Saffron is lucky, too!

Thirteen: I got put with Luke and Raphael.

Thirteen: As long as I get to eat while we work. Luke makes good sweets.

Matthias: Luke? Hmm…I’ve only ever eaten things Barbatos makes. But if Luke is also a baker, I’m definitely going to ask him sometime!

Thirteen: But you can’t go stomping into Purgatory Hall demanding he bakes for you.

Matthias: Don’t worry! The lovely Matthias has a way with his words. I have a talent!

Thirteen: Ooh… I wanna see how that ends up playing out…

Scenario 1

MC: Are you picky?

Matthias: Hmm…I suppose you could put it that way. I’m a blood drinker, so it’s just sort of natural for me to prefer things that give me proper nutrition. The food you guys eat is not that pleasant.

Scenario 2

MC: Why do you only eat Barbatos’ sweets?

Matthias: He knows what I like. It’s hard for me to trust anyone else with my food, you know? But anything that isn’t sweet is a big no for me. Besides, I really only need blood or else I’m weak.

End scenario

Thirteen: Ahaha. You sound like a little kid!

Matthias: Eh? I am not quite sure how I’m meant to take that…so thank you!

81-17

[Garden]

Matthias: Hmm…we’ve been waiting for a while now.

Matthias: You don’t think Young Saffron bailed on us, do you?

Scenario 1

MC: I’m sure that’s not the case.

Matthias: Optimistic, I see. That’s a good mindset!

Scenario 2

MC: She’s probably just running a little late.

Matthias: Running late, huh? I didn’t think angels even understood the concept of that…

End scenario

Saffron: Sorry, you guys! I’m here!

Matthias: Oh, dear! Aren’t you all out of breath?

Saffron: Yeah, I ran…

Saffron: I’m super sorry. I just came back from the Newspaper Club room and I totally lost track of time!

Matthias: Hehe. Are you in the Newspaper Club, Young Saffron?

Saffron: Uhm…not yet, but I’m thinking about it.

Matthias: If you join you should totally write a story about me! I’ll even pay you.

Saffron: Really?! I mean…wait! No! I can’t be driven by money!

Saffron: And why would I even write a story about YOU anyways?! All this time you’ve been mean to me!

Matthias: All this time? It’s only the second day…

Saffron: Yeah! That says a lot, doesn’t it? I…

Saffron: Uhmmm…

Scenario 1

MC: You okay?

Saffron: …

Scenario 2

MC: Tell him what you want to say.

Saffron: …!

End scenario

Matthias: You’re awfully pale, aren’t you?

Saffron: …Never mind. It’s nothing.

It looks like Saffron’s still too scared to confront him…

Matthias: Ah. Well, then, I shall take your word for it.

Matthias: But never be shy to tell me anything! Hehe.

Saffron: …Sure.

. . .

Saffron: Now, if we set it up like this, we can make a lot more room for whatever we want to put in our room.

Matthias: That’s a bit of hopeful wishing. Keep in mind we don’t know which room is ours yet. It could be any size and shape.

Saffron: Are you even listening? I’m clearly saying this will be good and leaves options open for a lot of areas in RAD.

Matthias: Hm, I suppose I wasn’t listening then. Could you explain one more time?

Saffron: …

Scenario 1

MC: You should pay more attention, Matthias.

Matthias: Aw, you aren’t going to back me up, MC?

Saffron: Why would they?

Scenario 2

MC: Saffron, explain again.

Saffron: …Alright. Only because you asked and not the vampire mister. We have to set it up this way and it will give us more room to work.

Matthias: I have a name, you know…

End scenario

Matthias: I, in fact, also have my own ideas. Wouldn’t you two care to hear them?

Saffron: What is it?

Matthias: Well, I wanted to go for more of a scary theme! Like, wouldn’t it just catch people’s eyes? We’d be sure to scare everyone into their votes!

Saffron: That sounds…forceful.

Matthias: But you agree that it would work, yes?

Saffron: I don’t know. We gotta go with something that touches people’s hearts, I think. That’s how Simeon always words things.

Matthias: Ah, so something motivational, huh? 

Matthias: Well, you’d SO be motivated to run away if we had a scary room! Right?

Saffron: But that’s not a good thing!

Saffron: We gotta have people’s hearts and souls in it when they vote for us. Like, they really, really, want to! That’s what matters.

Matthias: Oh, Young Saffron…is that truly what you think? What’s important is that we win!

Saffron: I want to win, but…I also want everyone to actually like our room. It’s not worth winning if everyone feels forced into it.

Matthias: *sigh*...How young and—

Saffron: Naive! Are you going to say that every time? Do you really think that about me?

Saffron: Ugh! I’ve had it with you!

Matthias: Oh, my! Young Saffron, where are you going?

Matthias: …

Matthias: She’s gone. Was it something I said, do you reckon?

Scenario 1

MC: You were too harsh with her.

Matthias: Harsh? Me? I didn’t think…

Scenario 2

MC: You need to apologize to Saffron.

Matthias: Oh…you think so? But what did…

End scenario

Matthias: …

Matthias: I kind of had a feeling she was upset with me.

Matthias: I wasn’t going to admit it at first, but now that she’s gone…

Matthias: Yeah…maybe she really is hurt.

Matthias: I guess I should talk to her tomorrow, huh?

Matthias: And…I’ll apologize. *sigh*...

81-19

[Living Room (Purgatory Hall)]

Simeon: Hello, MC. I might have a hunch at what brings you here.

Raphael: Worried about Saffron, huh?

Raphael: I honestly wasn’t expecting her to come in crying right after school, but she’s feeling a bit better now.

Simeon: Correct, indeed. And I was about to meet with Mephistopheles for our room consultation…

Raphael: Ah, right. You got paired with him.

Scenario 1

MC: Where is she?

Raphael: She’s eating cake with Luke in the kitchen. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you went to go talk to her.

Scenario 2

MC: I want to talk to Saffron.

Raphael: Go ahead. She’s in the kitchen with Luke.

End scenario

. . .

[Kitchen (Purgatory Hall)]

Saffron: This cake is good, Luke!

Luke: You mean it?!

Saffron: I do!

Luke: Wow…thanks. I’m glad!

Luke: Hmm? Oh, MC! You scared me.

Saffron: MC?

Luke: I heard everything that happened, trust me! I can’t believe that vampire!

Saffron: Well…

Scenario 1

MC: How are you feeling?

Saffron: Better. Thanks for asking…

Scenario 2

MC: Matthias wants to apologize to you.

Saffron: …

Saffron: It won’t mean anything if he tries something like that again.

End scenario

Saffron: …

Saffron: I really don’t care if he says sorry or not. Or maybe I do.

Saffron: Ugh…I don’t know what to feel! I think that the vampire mister is wrong, but then why am I so upset?!

Luke: Saffron, it’s okay to be upset!

Luke: I’m upset too, to be honest…

Luke: And it would be nice of Matthias to apologize if he really meant it. You wouldn’t want him to apologize not from the heart, right?

Saffron: Yeah…I guess that’s right.

Saffron: *sigh*...I don’t get that guy. And it’s hard to stay not mad when he’s always making me so mad. I just want to decorate our room and have fun…

Luke: I guess we can only wait until tomorrow. Cheer up in the meantime, okay? Don’t let him get you down!

MC: You’re strong, Saffron.

Saffron: Really? You mean that?

Saffron: Hehe. Thank you. Makes me wish I was strong enough to actually tell him that he’s so mean to me.

Luke: You know…it’s possible that he knows. What if he’s just doing it because he knows you’ll react in the way he wants?

Saffron: But isn’t that what everyone does to you, Luke?

Luke: Wha, hey! This isn’t even about me.

Saffron: Hehe! I just did it to you!

Luke: W-Welll…I knew that!

Luke: Hmph. At least you’re feeling better now.

Luke: MC, do you want to try my cake? Saffron said it was good, so hopefully you’ll enjoy it!

Luke: Here, I’ll cut you a slice!

Scenario 1

MC: Thank you, Luke.

Luke: Of course!

Scenario 2

MC: What kind of cake?

Luke: Red velvet! I hope that’s okay…

End scenario

Saffron: I think Luke makes the best cakes ever.

Luke: Really? I-I mean! Thank you! Humbly, of course!

Saffron: Hehe…

81-A

[Hallway (RAD)]

Mephistopheles: …

Thirteen: You’re always standing and frowning.

Mephistopheles: …

Thirteen: Okay, then… I wasn’t looking for you anyway. I think Matthias already went home…

Mephistopheles: You’re interested in the new exchanges?

Thirteen: Matthias and I actually share a lot in common. Not that you would understand what that’s like.

Mephistopheles: Wh…are you implying that I can’t relate to anyone? The assumptions!

Thirteen: Okay, then spill.

Mephistopheles: Why do I have to tell you?

Thirteen: So that we know you're not bluffing.

Mephistopheles: Who’s “we”?! And that doesn’t mean I’m bluffing.

Mephistopheles: *sigh* I’m currently just hoping that I’ll be able to recruit a new member for the Newspaper Club. I think she was pretty amazed when she came by to see earlier.

Thirteen: Sounds boring, so I’ll leave you to that.

Thirteen: I gotta go schedule a time to meet up with Raphael and Luke.

Mephistopheles: Oh, right… Simeon said he would meet me today. I nearly forgot.

Thirteen: You should really stay on top of it.

Mephistopheles: I…that’s a LOT coming from you…!

81-C

[Hall (Demon Lord's Castle)]

Barbatos: I had a feeling you would be here already.

Matthias: Of course, Barb! I can’t have you missing me too much.

Barbatos: *sigh*...I could have sworn all the entrances were locked, though...

Matthias: Oh, yeah, they were. I came in through the floor.

Barbatos: Well…it’s actually convenient that you’re here now. I needed to discuss something important with you.

Matthias: Ooh, important, huh? You can tell me anything, Barbatos!

Barbatos: How I wish I could…ahem…

Barbatos: Anyway, it has come to my attention that Solomon will be coming back to the Devildom very soon. But since he’s coming during the middle of the Ornament Contest, he will not be participating.

Matthias: Wha…huh? THAT’S the important news?

Barbatos: It is important if you wish to prepare to keep your sanity, yes?

Matthias: I guess you were thinking about me by telling me, but…

Matthias: I wanted to come now because he wasn’t going to be here! That’s not fair.

Barbatos: You must compose yourself, Matthias. *sigh* I really do not understand the issue you have with him. You two are more similar than you may think.

Matthias: Don’t ever say that!

Barbatos: It was a simple observation. But I cannot change the fact that he is coming.

Matthias: Yeah, I know… Thanks for telling me, Barbatos.

Matthias: I’ll be sure to greet him with the biggest smiley face I have! Hehe…

Barbatos: Oh, dear…

[lemon-natalia]

Harrow the Ninth Reaction - Chapter 49

ORTUS NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE AN IMPROMPTU POETRY RECITAL 

and Harrow’s started reciting the Noniad despite the fact that she hates it! aww, goes to show Ortus does mean a lot to her, especially after their little bonding session a couple chapters ago

oooh and Abigail’s coming in clutch with some kind of spell 

they summoned the ghost of fucking Matthias Nonius!!!! guess it really is the time to give an impromptu poetry recital 

‘why am i speaking in meter’ omfg thats hilarious,  i didn’t even notice

imagine meeting the long-dead guy you wrote an epic fanfic about, Ortus might die again from sheer joy

‘Gideon [...] might have better appreciated the anonymous monster [...] she was a prodigious fighter’ i think its very cool that Harrow’s here watching the non-necromancy dream combat sequence, while Gideon’s off dealing with all the ancient necromancers and their weird dynamics. they’re both very out of their depth

i don’t have a lot to say about this combat other than go the Ninth!, Matthias Nonius is a sick fighter. guess i did get to find out more about him after all. now i want to know how the fuck Matthias Nonius originally died, it better have been old age because i don’t want to meet what/whoever could have taken this guy out

‘she had been, once again, so slow’ oh me fucking too, i just accepted that all of this just might as well happen. but there is a kind of weird dream logic to it all, where the rules are those of the mind 

‘plastered themselves in red whorls’ listen to me, book, listen, you gotta be less ambiguous and tell me if the hair is red from blood or its natural colour, because that is very much going to colour my perception of whats going on 👀 and if the Sleeper is the woman on the portrait that happened to look a lot like Gideon …

‘but i still don’t know why i’m talking in meter’ someone free this man

i kinda ship Ortus and Matthias ngl

and the Sleeper has a metal tag, kinda like a name tag but it says the word ‘awake’, like some kind of message to Harrow to wake up?

nooo Abby i don’t want to say bye to all of you ghosty guys again

and the whole ghost gang is gonna go help Gideon the First fight the RB! thats a fight i wish i could actually see on page. speaking of, poor Gid, he’s the only Lyctor apparently doing his actual job at the moment. he’s gonna be so fucking confused when a bunch of stabby ghost cavaliers show up to help him

Harrow is finally getting some therapy. from ghosts, but it'll have to do

oh no but now Harrow has a terrible choice to make. and like i know that accepting Gideon’s death is technically the right thing to do (and probably better for Harrow’s mental health) i also really really don’t want Gideon to die again

‘Jeannemary said to tell Gideon hi’ awww Jeannemary’s lil crush on Gideon is still alive and well, unlike either of them

‘actually i’ve got something to tell you’ ohhh some brand new and shiny information is apparently coming Harrow’s way. would love to know what it is without the dramatic cliffhanger 

[jh-newman-opn]

did the blessed Virgin Mary see the apostles martyred

A question that occurred to me during my daily rosary, and which I am now going to attempt to answer.

According to Hippolytus of Thebes, our blessed mother was assumed around the year 41AD. The 18thC mystic Catherine Emmerich says she was aged around 64 at the time of the Dormition (source: a vision), which would put the date between 45-49AD. Based on these two extremely accurate and definitely not questionable dates, I will now show how many of her children Our Lady had to watch die (while on earth). Edited upon being reminded from "she did not see this" to "she saw this from heaven", because. well. she did.

Jesus: 33AD. Obviously.

Judas: 33AD. She did not see this bc she was a bit busy with our boy JC but she was around and in the area.

James (the Greater) son of Zebedee: killed by Herod Agrippa in 44AD. Our Lady apparently bilocated to see him on his mission (ur mum could never) so maybe she did that for his death as well.

Andrew: Crucified on an X-shaped cross in Achaia (Greece) in the year 60-61AD. She saw this from heaven.

James (the Lesser) son of Alphaeus: stoned to death in the AD60s. She saw this from heaven.

Philip: Crucified upside down in Hierapolis in 62AD. She saw this from heaven.

Matthew: martyred in Ethiopia in 65AD. She saw this from heaven.

Matthias (replaced Judas): martyred in 65AD, either hacked to death or crucified. She saw this from heaven.

Peter: crucified upside down during the Neronian persecutions of 67-68AD. She saw this from heaven.

Paul: beheaded in Rome on the same day (BFF goals). She saw this from heaven.

Bartholomew/Nathaniel: skinned alive in Armenia in 72AD. She saw this from heaven.

(Doubting) Thomas: was in Persia and India (VERY funny story about this in the gnostic Gospel of Thomas) but was teleported back to Jerusalem three days after Our Lady's Dormition, and was there to see that her body had been assumed. He was later stabbed to death in India in 74AD. She saw this from heaven.

John: Probably died of natural causes at the end of the 1st century. He's winning. St Robert Bellarmine thinks his body was assumed into heaven so they even reunited on the same day (side note: John's conviction that he is Jesus's specialest little apostle is consistent with the favourite child syndrome he clearly also has from Our Lady, and this cannot have helped. Who is the greatest disciple? Doesn't matter, mummy loves John most). She saw this from heaven and then immediately they had a touching reunion :))))))

Simon the Zealot/Jude and Jude/Thaddeus: unknown but probably martyred together. We assume she saw this from heaven, because the alternative would make me sad.

[19burstraat]

proving kaz is a tidemaker, even tho it's not canon and shouldn't be, but I'm gonna argue for it anyway

I already made this post ages ago and now this has been in my drafts for even longer, I just unearthed it... but I'm making it again, more in depth, bc I didn't hit on everything I wanted to last time. obviously this isn't canon bc the point of kaz is he's Just Some Guy and how that really really pisses off more powerful people, and I think that's definitely best, Kaz NEEDS to be otkazat'sya for his function in the story... but if you ever wanted to prove it in a fic, shit is EASY. (I am vaguely considering how it might work out in a fic. we'll see. I've done stuff that couldn't/I wouldn't want to be canon before with my jordie-lives fic, so...) I'll mostly talk in the context that he'd be a tidemaker bc I feel like that's the conclusion a lot of this comes to, but some of the points are more generalised.

obviously the basic argument everyone makes for this is that the reason kaz was able to get back to shore from reaper's barge is bc, subconsciously or not, as a tidemaker he could control the currents to help him, since that's one of the most basic tidemaker powers. in the harbour scene, he notices that the tide has moved to work against him, but it doesn't seem to prove much of a problem; he attributes it to his new will to survive, but... Well. Kaz is exceptionally good at withholding information, even in his own POV.

grisha not using their powers become ill or weaker; kaz isn't really physically ill but he has an element of the underfed and sallow about him that's generally attributed to living in the barrel.

kaz is also ESPECIALLY horrified by the state of mikka, the tidemaker under the influence of jurda parem at the start of SOC; this is attributed to his past trauma and his dislike for things he can't rationally explain, which, yeah, but he is thrown in a way we don't really see again for the rest of the series. he instantly thinks of jordie, and it's maybe the one time he succumbs to superstition in the whole series.

the obvious explanation for how kaz knew that coffee extract and paraffin hid the scent/evidence of grisha is that he's very clearly involved in smuggling (jesper mentions how coffee grounds were used when packing smuggled jurda shipments) but the second explanation,,, is that he uses them himself. he comes up with the solution with IMMENSE speed and he just like, has the coffee extract around. ok, sure, not that hard to get hold of, but still. and coffee gets mentioned in relation to him at least a few times, most noticeably the 'bitter coffee eyes' thing inej uses, which is amusingly romanticised, but also... inej why do you associate coffee w kaz... something you've noticed abt him?

(but then, you wonder why he didn't suggest this to jesper previously; the answer I'm sure he would give you is he did, when it was a problem. before that it wasn't a problem and jesper was doing fine at staying hidden on his own)

the gloves can also add to this one, since they presumably at least cover his wrists and therefore his pulse somewhat, though obviously that's not their main function.

recovers with startling speed from nearly drowning at the ice court; matthias has to get his breathing going again but he's almost immediately fine after. I know yk, heist fantasy book, gotta keep going, but still

kaz is almost completely correct about the methods, powers of, and appearances of the council of tides (one single thing, the method of hiding their faces, is wrong.) impressive, no...? he is also shockingly apathetic in the face of their threats; they fill his lungs up with water and he just coughs it up and then is like "lol" immediately after. this is funny no matter what the fact of the matter (major general of the idgaf war) but the fact his link to them is left hanging is also a thread that could be easy to pick up. I think it would be hilarious if he was secretly in the council, but I won't stretch it that far bc they clearly don't like him lmao, that would have to be a proper AU.

in the dregs, kaz has a corporalki (nina) and a materialki (jesper) but no etheralki. wouldn't it be prudent to recruit one, if he could find one? or maybe he doesn't need one. if he already has one around, for an emergency of emergencies... for a rainy day... (ha ha)

the way kaz's trauma is often described as manifesting, is with the rising of the harbour waters; so it's pretty reasonable to suggest that in suppressing that, he'd also, inadvertently or not, suppress any kind of tidemaker/etheralki impulse or power. possibly he can't even tell the difference between the two, or they're so tangled up he can't really separate them anymore, which is why he doesn't so much as even think to attempt to use it. still, if this was the case I think improvement with one would not necessarily improve the other, or vice versa. kaz hypothetically using grisha power he'd had suppressed would not magically make his touch aversion go away, I think that'd be weird, and I'd not want his PTSD to be passed off as solely being the sickness from not using grisha power, that's reductive as hell. but I can see them certainly being two things very much intertwined.

we don't know a lot about grisha who are native to kerch, but assumedly he'd not have had much cause to use it in his childhood, on a farm somewhere inland, so most, if not all, of his experience with using it would likely be irretrievably tied to ketterdam and jordie so no wonder he just wouldn't use it. I don't think he'd even see it as feasible. perhaps it would be a very very final resort, but he'd never let it get to that point, he'd always want to try something else first. and anyway, he'd not be trained.

the sankt vladimir story is also thematically quite close to Kaz; holding back the harbour waters until he's finally too exhausted and lets it drown him. I like this regardless of this analysis actually it's a good comparison. patron saint of the drowned and unlikely achievement....

even if kaz wasn't an otkazat'sya, after all that happened, I think he'd try very hard to pretend he was. it couldn't save jordie, therefore in his extreme as hell thinking around that entire thing, I imagine he'd reason it wasn't useful, that he could get on better without it, and, like jesper, think it was a liability.

this would add a wild layer to him being the one to have the jurda parem on him for almost all of crooked kingdom; it would make it feel like his plan z was to take it himself. certainly he'd sooner do that than let jesper take it.

and finally: thematically, it slays. like half of the imagery around kaz (and kanej) centres around water (think the bathroom scene, how he only washes in front of her, etc) and that plays into both of their trauma, plus religious imagery, all this... it's a fantastic bit of extra theming. it just doesn't really work with how his character operates.

basically I think you could DEFINITELY make it work and it'd be a killer fic but again it's one of those things, like jordie living, that I don't really want to be canon because it undermines something about kaz's character that I consider pretty critical; in this case, that kaz is not really endowed with any special power or circumstance, he's just bloody-minded and clever, but that's enough for him to pull off almost impossible jobs anyway.

[themanirealityshifter]

My Empyrean DR Script (that I will write on here, so that I actually finish it 😭)

Me

First Name: Sebastian

Middle Name: Fynn

Last Name: Riorson

Nickname(s): Seb; Sebby

Pronouns: He/Him

Species: Human

Age: 23

Description: Black hair (wolfcut)(I love wolfcuts, and I don’t care if it’s impractical, I MISS MY LONG HAIR); Olive skin (even though I’m as pale as the moon in my CR); Black eyes flecked with lighter brown; Lean, muscular body (I need to be in shape here or I will die, so luckily I’m in control of this and can script that I’m not a blob that lays on the couch every single day); Top and bottom surgery scars (you bet your ass I have those); Fully transitioned (love that testosterone); Huge black dragon relic covering my back; Rebellion relic covering my chest; Lots of scars all over my body

Positive Trait(s): Intelligent (I need to be able to not be a dipshit and die immediately); Clever (same thing); Good memory (say bye bye to all those days of dissociation and maladaptive daydreaming in my CR, now I will remember EVERYTHING there); Quiet (of course I’m quiet, have to keep up the mysterious act, plus I’m too overstimulated and socially awkward for this shit); Thoughtful (my mind is always stuffed); Nice (even though I’m quiet and don’t talk much, I am pretty nice when you talk to me first)

Negative Trait(s)(yes, I’m gonna script them, just to give myself some flavor): Trusting (making friends wise, always end up getting hurt or stabbed in the back, literally and figuratively)

Dragon Type: Black Morningstartail (I JUST LOVED TAIRN SO MUCH, I HAD TO MAKE THE DRAGON I’M BONDED TO A BLACK MORNINGSTARTAIL TOO)

Dragon Name: Aodhan (do we know how to pronounce his name here? no. will we script that we do know it? yes)

Signet Power(s): Time Manipulation (can go back in time) and Reality Manipulation (can make my imagination real life)

Weapon(s): Daggers and Swords (I love me some sharp things)

Parent(s): None (dead)(it’s literal canon that Xaden’s parents died[along with all the other parents that were part of the rebellion]so yeah)

Sibling(s): Xaden Riorson; Liam Mairi (adoptive brother)

Other Family Member(s): Brodhi Durran (cousin)

Best Friend(s): Xaden Riorson (I’m besties with my brother, I know, I can do that); Liam Mairi (same thing); Violet Sorrengail (I’m the one who ends up being the body guard for her, not Liam); Brodhi Durran (I love my family); Ridoc Gamlyn (I adore him, it’s gonna be interesting all the talks we will have [I am scared that most of them will be about sex he had or people that he likes, help me]); Heaton (I love my non-binary pals); Garrick Tavis

Friend(s): Imogen Cardulo (I love her hair); Rhiannon Matthias (bisexual queen, go girl)

Partner(s): None (I am single forever, thank the almighty gays)

Gender Identity: TransGuy

Romantic Orientation: Aromantic

Sexual Orientation: Asexual

Other Orientation(s): Ambiamorous; Panalterous; Panaesthetic

Extra Fact(s): Liam does not die (I was sobbing when it happened); Homework is effortless and easy always (I don’t want to work too hard or make it take up so much time); I am a skilled painter/artist (something to do when I’m not doing homework, have training, have secret rebellion meetings with Xaden and the rest, or guarding Violet); I wear ear plugs a lot of the time (because I’m overstimulated a lot, but I still manage); Probably have some anxiety and PTSD (not that I don’t have anxiety already and probably have some form of PTSD here-); I keep my head easily (no panicking for me, though, even though I know, realistically, that contrasts with the anxiety, but I want to live and also have my sparkle at the same time); I know how to pronounce Aodhan’s name perfectly; Garrick and Imogen are together (Imogen needs her love too); I cannot die; None of my best friends or friends can die; Xaden, Liam, and Brodhi cannot die

Specific Affirmations For This DR: “I am with Aodhan”; “I am Xaden’s brother”; “I am in Basgiath College”; “I am in my dorm room”; “I am training with Ridoc”

Safe Word/Phrase: “Put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up.” (don’t ask)

Me in this DR (Picrew Form):

Probably will add to this more. Maybe will post some individual scenarios for this DR.

[mariacallous]

As an ex-Soviet myself, I am baffled by the renewed global fascination with autocracy. According to Freedom House, 8 out of 10 people now live in a partly free or not free country. In the United States, surveys show that a substantial number of people would support authoritarian rule and do not consider the decline of democratic institutions a mortal threat. In China, Russia, and elsewhere, the winds of change seem to be blowing in the wrong direction.

Given this shift, HBO’s miniseries The Regime, whose finale aired on April 7, could not have been timelier. With Emmy Award-winning Kate Winslet and Succession’s Will Tracy at the helm, along with all the trappings of prestige television, The Regime was poised to explore some of the 21st century’s heftiest political questions: the allure of demagogues, the slide into unfreedom and tribalism, and the mechanisms a society can employ to reverse this slide.

Instead, The Regime provides only vague winks to the tendencies of the world’s strongmen that fail to rise to the level of serious critique or analysis, deployed with a naivete that feels distinctly American.

Winslet stars as Elena Vernham, a middle-aged chancellor of an unnamed fictitious country in Central Europe who is obsessed with the black mold she believes is invading her palace. To fight it, she summons Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a hunky army corporal from a province that grows sugar beets. Prior to his arrival at the palace, Herbert was thrust into the national limelight for his role in gunning down 12 protesters at one of the country’s cobalt mines, earning him a gruesome nickname: “The Butcher.”

Elena and Herbert quickly develop a Beauty and the Beast kind of attraction (postmodern, of course, with no clarity about who is the beast—capricious and delusional Elena or self-loathing, bullied-turned-bully Herbert). After a brief falling out, resolved by Herbert saving Elena from an assassin, the two begin to rule the palace through a Rasputin-style combination of hysterics and nativism.

For the next five episodes, we follow Herbert’s zigzagging ascent through Elena’s wobbling realm, from a walking humidity monitor to a trusted political advisor and lover. Herbert witnesses, engages in, or directs various antics that, according to the show’s description, depict a “modern authoritarian regime as it unravels.” Scenes include cabinet meetings that Elena conducts from an ice-filled tub and bizarre conversations with her dead father, preserved in a glass coffin in the palace’s basement. Herbert, a man of rural origins, caters to Elena’s paranoia by cleansing the palace’s supposedly poisonous air with the steam from boiled potatoes (a folk remedy popular in my Soviet childhood).

Of course, no leader can outrun geopolitics. The country’s rich cobalt reserves attract international interest, and after chasing out a deal that would have given the United States mining rights on the cheap, Elena cozies up to China, promising it a free trade deal and a cut of the mining profits. Together, Elena and Herbert then navigate their way through the illegal annexation of a sovereign neighbor, a half-baked flirtation with nationalization and land reform, and the sting of Western economic sanctions.

All this chaotic politicking unfolds against Elena’s droning on about love, which she constantly either bestows on or demands from her people. Ever the shrewd economist, Elena proclaims, “The American beast and its client states try to strangle us, but petty sanctions will always fail because our love cannot be sanctioned.” Having shipped her subservient, poetry-loving French husband, Nicky (Guillaume Gallienne), to Swiss exile, Elena, who has regained her sex drive, passionately makes up for lost time with Herbert—and fails to notice the unrest growing among her populace over the country’s economic downturn and crude handling of protests.

By the final episode—spoilers ahead—it seems that Elena’s ruling model is no match for revolution. She is chased out of the palace and must run for her life through a land it’s clear she knows nothing about, despite the “special connection” she often claims to have with its people. For once, someone in this world other than Herbert has managed to outmaneuver her delusions. But soon enough, Elena bends the knee to the very oligarchs she once vilified. A would-be coup is undone with the snap of a U.S.-backed finger.

“What was that all about?” Nicky asks his wife at the end of the show. He is offered no conclusive answer—and neither is the audience.

Tracy, who created the show, has compared The Regime to a dark fairy tale, which may explain Elena’s look—a cross between an aging Sleeping Beauty and Madonna’s Evita—and the glass coffin. One could also see it as a love story, in which two broken individuals find a semblance of happiness by tormenting each other in their own make-believe reality. It may even be a dark comedy, as HBO describes it, if one can have comedy without a single funny joke. (Her cabinet member’s quip, “His profits are fucked like a spring donkey,” is certainly rude, but rudeness isn’t necessarily funny.)

One thing the show isn’t is satire. For that to be true, it would actually have to satirize something. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels derided the rigid mores of 18th-century England. Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin poked fun at the brutality and hypocrisy of Joseph Stalin’s flunkies in the postwar Soviet Union. Making Elena’s regime a pastiche of autocracies was a fatal choice because those regimes are products of their unique, often brutal environments. Because the show nods to a little bit of everything, it takes aim at nothing.

Instead of real people, The Regime offers us walking cliches: a delusional woman with hot flashes and daddy issues; cowering and corrupt ministers; greedy Americans pining for other nations’ resources; the dull, kerchiefed masses who look like props recycled from last century’s movie sets. It’s not that we can’t care for bad people. We did for the Roys in Succession because they were nuanced characters, at once tragic and funny, with clear agendas that drove the plot. But The Regime’s characters feel generic, simply dropped into the set, stirring no feelings from the viewer, sympathetic or otherwise. The only character with an identifiable interest is the U.S. senator, Judith Holt (Martha Plimpton), who just wants the country’s cobalt. The rest merely float through the episodes, as though searching for a good scene to act out but coming up blank.

This is a shame because the show has no lack of talent. Winslet does her best with the material she is given, but there isn’t much she can do with lines such as, “I like a bit of spice. Spice is nice,” in reference to Herbert’s “spicy” dreams. She has no real antagonists, no articulated desires, and no emotions. Viewers are left to blink at the screen, admiring her outfits and waiting for something substantive to happen.

Schoenaerts, who plays Herbert, is more plausible, if cliched: a tortured warrior prepared to kill—and die—for love. Andrea Riseborough, playing Agnes, the palace manager, is less lucky. Having shined as Stalin’s daughter in The Death of Stalin, here she is reduced to a brittle, peacoat-wearing loyalist who has an unexplained co-parenting arrangement with Elena and yields her maternal rights the moment Elena demands it. Her epileptic son doesn’t seem to mind, as long as he gets new toys. Hugh Grant as Edward Keplinger, the country’s imprisoned opposition leader, is charming, but his cameo feels like a checkmark on the celebrity cast list. With his carpeted cell, steady supply of sausages, and access to the prison’s keys, Grant’s performance lacks the gravitas that the suffering of real imprisoned political figures, including the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, deserves.

And then there is Mr. Laskin (Danny Webb), the head of Elena’s security service. In real dictatorships, the requirements of this job are gruesome and attract rather monstrous personalities—think Lavrentiy Beria of the Soviet Union or Heinrich Himmler of Nazi Germany, both of whom orchestrated horrendous mass murders. Yet in The Regime, Laskin speaks politely about his duty to his country and that he “believes in a principle, the legal transition of power.” Unlike in a real dictatorial regime, we see no blood on his hands. There’s a difference between a temporary suspension of disbelief, which viewers will happily grant, and constantly being asked to accept improbable things.

Herein lies The Regime’s fundamental problem: It fumbles what seems to be the primary point of the show—the portrayal of autocracy. The issue with autocrats is not that they’re narcissists who force others to listen to their off-key singing, as Elena does at seemingly every banquet and celebration she can, but that they are ready to sacrifice millions of people to their delusions. Their subjects, including their inner circle, live in constant fear because the autocrat’s government and law enforcement apparatuses are weaponized and can be turned against them at any moment.

But there is no fear in Elena’s kingdom. Her out-of-grace oligarch is not dispossessed and jailed but simply ordered to clean up chairs at a press conference. Her ministers plot for her downfall in a downstairs bar before mockingly denying her a seat on the rescue helicopter. The rebels take the palace in a span of an episode. (If only real dictators were toppled that easily!) The Regime makes Elena look stupid and pathetic. We do not flee from her in terror; we shrug her off.

Despite her European aesthetics, the portrayal of Elena as a ruler reflects an undeniably American attitude toward autocracy. Even after four years of a Donald Trump presidency, many Americans still don’t take his threats seriously, unable to believe that his cartoonish personality and ineptitude could translate into a real assault on their democratic rights and liberties. With the memory of World War II fading away, others may simply underestimate the difference between living in a free society and living under tyranny.

At some level, plenty of Americans may even hanker for a strongman because he offers simple solutions to complex problems, blind to the fact that—like Elena—he is animated not by public service but by his own vanity, enrichment, and survival and occasionally those of his cronies.

As a creative project, The Regime is free to be whatever it wants to be—a fairy tale, a dark comedy, a saga of human vices. But any serious work of art must be about something, some pressing aspect of human existence, and should be evaluated on those terms. What, then, is The Regime’s message? That love is an exchange of perversions? That the United States is a colonizer propping up authoritarian regimes because it wants their assets? That nothing ever changes and we should resign ourselves to endless inevitable iterations of the narcissist-in-chief?

Cynicism doesn’t win battles—or make for very good television. Perhaps HBO’s next meditation on authoritarianism will give us substance on the topic rather than winks.

[carica-ficus]

"Harrow the Ninth"

21/02/2024

Reading progress: 507/507 (100%)

Read through since last update: 157

Didn't think I'd cram the last part into one post, but here we are anyway. These last 150ish pages were... All over the place. In a good way!

Final notes:

Oh, there she is!!! Talk about a monster under the bed.

Ok, but how casual is that scene? I know something like that was coming (I've seen some fanart, but knew too little to know who it was about, just that Harrow and Ianthe would be peeking under the bed), but it's just so normal. I like it. Kinda eerie because it's not presented as scary.

Of course Ianthe didn't see it. Don't worry Harrow, I believe you.

Yeah, ok. It makes sense that Ortus was just fulfilling other to kill Harrow. His reasoning for it just wasn't strong enough. "You're a liability." Just like everyone else.

Oho! Here we go! Epiparodos! (Whatever that means.)

NUNLET??? 🥺🥺 That's such a cute word.

Ok, the lobotomy. Right. Also saw a fanart spoiler for it, totally forgot it was coming. I thought it was gonna happen later on? In any case. Ok. Yup. This happened.

Harrow NOVA. There we go. The other Harrow finally revealed by her full name. Though I applaud Muir, I haven't even noticed we never got her last name. Gorgeous and genius writing, through and through.

HAHAHAHAHAHA love how Harrow did the typical "I am small. Therefore, I will be a quick and murderous machine" but Muir decided to break up the cliché by saying she discovered that at the ripe age of 5. Man, I love this book. And I love Harrow as a character.

"What's that, you egg?"

Dying. 😂

Ok, gotta say, chapter 40 lost me.

I think... I got it? I might need to read the remaining pages for all of this to settle down, but this is much less complicated that I thought it would be.

What is the meaning of love if not sacrificing every single memory of a person in order to save them? 😭

Of course, it was not a dream. That would be too easy. The bubbles make perfect sense.

I know I said Ortus was annoying when quoting the Noniad, but I really like him as a character. And by that I mean how Muir has given him more depth and allowed him to grow. Which also made the scene where he hugs Harrow so impactful. 🖤

Ok, the Ortus thing was unexpected. And I'm excited to learn what it's all about.

But first. The Sleeper.

UGH! I love how considerate Gideon is with Harrow's body. Sure, she's a little awkward in it and puts out a dirty joke or two, but she's just trying to be respectful and useful. Also the way she's so worried over any and all her injuries, even though she knows they'll all heal? So fucking cute.

Protesilaus took Dulcinea in his care when she fell ill. That's so cute. 🥺

Oh, hell yes! Gideon stepped the fuck up. Time for Ianthe to meet her fucking match.

(I love how protective Gideon is ggghhhgghggh)

Man, I missed Gideon so much.

MATTHIAS NONIUS!!!!!!! :O

(Such a cool scene!!!!!)

You know what? After everything that happened, my reaction to finding out Gideon is God's daughter was just "Ok. Cool."

Cue John's corny dad joke. Love it.

Also I wouldn't have guessed they were related based on their eyes. Sure, John's eyes were mentioned multiple times, but they're silver and Gideon's are gold, so I wouldn't have put two and two together just by that. But! It fits. It's foreshadowed. It works. So yeah. Sure. Love it.

I knew it! I knew that he had a cavalier! I knew that he was a Lyctor! Hell yeah!

So much stuff happens at the end. I just kept on reading, without spending much time on commentating. I needed to know what happens and tbh, I have no idea what I just read. But that's okay! It was fun!

Ok, all in all, the book was spectacular. I liked it even more than I did Gideon. I liked how Muir handled Harrow's grief. I liked the reveals, the mysteries, the tension and the stakes. I liked the characters and I liked how Abigail got a lot more page time. I didn't even care about her in the first book, but now I really like her. I liked Ortus too!

Now, I'm still confused... About a few things. Primarily Harrow Nona. So I'll have to read an explanation or teo about it (or you can comment on the post if you'd like to help me out). Did... Harrow Nonangesimus kept watch and narrated over what Nona was doing? As in, she was dissociating from her body after the lobotomy and experiencing everything from a distance? Or was that all Gideon? Because I feel like it wasn't. Gideon's narration style is totally different and clearly comes out at the very end, but idk. I feel like I'm missing something here or that I'm not grasping something ridiculously simple.

Anyway, I'll be reading a little more about it, but yeah. "Harrow" is done, so I'll have to get my hands on Nona! In the meantime I'll be writing out my review. 🖤

[egittae]

"I'll tell you just as I told Dimitri, there is no time in the kingdom more joyous than this. Even in the wake of your passing, people still celebrate you as much as circumstances will allow." He wasn't immune to it either, the Duscurian wine bottles that were offered, honored, and shared with the dead renewed vigor each year, renewed resolve for the coming ones. "It was actually a set."

It made little sense to say it outright, perhaps it would've been better to let them find out on their own but it wasn't as though the details of such made themselves evident. "Yours is a bit hardier but likewise, the smith said the engravings were an absolute pain but, it should hold to you decent enough should you need to use it." The wine sat easily next to the bed while the sword laid across the pillow and Matthias hummed out as he leaned back. "How old would that make you now? About fifty right?" Sometimes he truly forgot just how young Lambert had been. Not that it would've been any better were he older but...there was much to be said about what might have happened...what splendors might have come to pass if he was even allowed to get older. "Happy birthday, your majesty, my dear friend." "I'd offer to find a river to dunk you into but I think an evening with wine of this quality is practically the same thing."

What an odd feeling, this was.

A date he had partially forgotten- not only because of his amnesia, but because a part of himself failed to acknowledge it as his own birth date. After all, if he wasn’t yet his true self, then this wasn’t quite his birthday, was it? It belonged to a man still lost to time, someone other than him. But alas, if he was to return to his true self he’d have to embrace all of it, even the parts he still struggled with fitting into and was slowly working his way through.

While the wines were appreciated, it was the sword that held Lambert’s attention the most- hands immediately reaching for it to closely inspect the blade and every little detail it had to offer as the corners of his lips pulled into a smile. “Well, I may at least find comfort in the fact my birth date remains a day the people can celebrate, rather than one to be spent mourning.” With eyes still studying the weapon, he sighed softly. A set…cute. “It is a formidable blade regardless, my friend. I am confident that it will be a good partner for any upcoming battles.” A cavalier he may be, but a sword on one’s hip was always welcome.

The mention of his age had Lambert look around for a moment, thinking.

“I suppose yes, fifty. If…you are to consider the years I spent gone, that is.” He locked eyes with his own reflection in the mirror near his bed. “Otherwise, I might as well be forty-six, instead.” Lambert then blinked away, chuckling to himself. “That would make for quite the birthday cake, would it not? A four candle difference, give or take.” After all, it wasn’t like he aged in those years spent dead, be it physically or mentally. It was an odd limbo not even Lambert knew how to navigate through.

Should he even consider the day he woke up on that glade as a new birthday? Not that he remembered the exact date, but that could very well be just as relevant. It was all in all, a messy situation. One he’d unfurl in the future.

Lambert broke into a laugh, patting Matthias on the back firmly. “Oh, you cheeky bastard. We did not even start to drink and you already considered the possibility of me ending up in a river? I might have to throw you there myself if that is the case. Come now, let me see if your tolerance is still as pitiful as my brain is willing to remember!” Sure, Lambert wouldn’t handle such exquisite wine so recklessly- but nothing was stopping them from hopping to a regular tavern later to prove their respective points.

With cheeks rosy from laughter, he looked at the other man fondly. Familiar, as if there wasn’t a gap of half a decade of death between them. “Thank you, Matthias. It is good to spend a day like this again, by your side.”

[lilisouless]

Okay lets go

A reminder, this is just for fun and content, an exploration, something that doesn't matter. I don't want anyone to go and take screenshots and sending them to twitter going "this person doesn't agree with the canon couples!" "Lilisouless? more like lilibrainless!" and using my dear layer against me. This is purely experimental and if i catch any of you use this for real discourse i swear-!

Also i am sorry but i can't find the friends tiktok, there´s a similar one but i think it´s not the same. If someone gets it, let me know.

Okay, so lets see ships alternatives for the crows if they weren't with their canon LI

This wasn't exactly personal taste (you´ll understand when you read it) if it was personal taste and my multiship likeness it would be Nina/Inej, Kaz/Matthias, Wylan/Kuwei and Jesper with a self insert named Lulu. And obviously each partner options are on the case they don't have romantic feelings for their canon partner.

I did this thinking on story alternatives. Spoiler: there´s only one crow x crow pairing and most of them are crack ships. Now let´s star:

Nina, i name her first because this may be dissapointing: I think it should still be Hanne, technically cheating but i can take her old friend Nestor as a dead lover and Hanne as the eventual endgame. The difference being she actually encounters Hanne at the Ice Court then the Nik Duology happens.

Matthias: Saying Kaz is tempting, but i will actually say: Alys. She is is about the crows age after all. My reasoning was that she still has a personality extroverted enought to provide a fun constrast, matches Matthias´s gentlemany manners, i could see her being like "hey, you sound like one of the kidnappers, the one that rubbed my feet" and having a small lived romance., or he may as well even get to live here.

Wylan: Kuwei honestly, i see Wylan being nice to him until they sort of start being annoying to each other, then developing a frienship eventually when they bond over being lonely and the loss of their fathers (metaphorically with Wylan)

The next ones are on cancellable land, just remember this is purely an experiment.

Inej: if you are wondering why i didn't write Nina despite being a very Ninej enthusiast, well the think is that they´d be too perfect, beautiful but if i want the slowburn and something to build a main couple energry, i think Jesper would be a better fit. In canon, Inej was Jesper´s person before Wylan came, as much as he was besties with Bollinger and close to Kaz, she always was his best friend. Jesper also always respected her. Now their individual struggles could give a decent subplot, Jesper not feeling he is good enought to her so he wouldn't bother to pursuing but still supporting her, Inej being the only person who tries to understand him, to me they are better with someone inside the group that with an outsider.

Kaz: So Kaz is the one i decided won't be in a wholesome romantic storyline, that can only happen with Inej. No, i am not saying Imogen, she is fine as an ex, and i think (no joking i mean it) Matthias is not a bad option honestly, like helnik´s hostility without the fluff. But the actual proposal i have is this: Saskia. Or whatever her real name could be. You see, lets say she is another member of the crew, a spy for Rollins, maybe Kaz knows, maybe he doesn't, she may regret whagt happened to Jordie but doesn't know how to confess, maybe she didn't even know what she was doing since she was a child and wants revenge for whatever Kaz did to her, the posibilities are a lot enought to go crazy with the possible dynamic. Would probably not have a happy ending but would make an interesting story.

I would like to hear what alternatives people would give instead. Pure fanfic and au talk here, wheter if i agree or disagree.

[quartzhearted]

great tree moon, year xx.

[ SECOND CORRESPONDENCE W. KINGDOM OF BRODIA. ]

Hi, honey,

It's been a little bit since my last letter---and let me tell you, there sure have been some new things here at the monastery. I swear it wasn't that long since I last talked to you, but maybe it has been? Time's a hell of a thing, ain't it.

A handful of moons ago, it was almost like some kind of mass exodus; a bunch of people disappeared, then came back after some time passed. Apparently it's a normal thing, but... it's really strange? I remember seeing something-or-other around the monastery asking for participants, I think... I don't know. It's all a little hazy. Apparently I could have gone, but there was too much to do and I decided against it. Lots of people came back with real bad sunburns.

I've got a pal, Lambert---he's the guy that consensually punched me, remember him?---and he'd gone off to wherever it was. He came back a completely different person. I'm talking new look, new attitude, new lease on life. I really wonder what happened to him over there, but I haven't had the chance to ask him yet. Baby, if you met Lambert, I know the two of you would catch on like a wildfire. He's fantastic!

Speaking of pals, I've made a few more since I last talked to you. One of my favorites is this guy named Matthias---I mean, guy's like an alternate me! He's huge, got short, orange hair, axe guy, and he's a mean fighter. When we first met, we did it the warrior's way. Ended in a tie, and that's while he had a problem with his leg! He's a lot more deadpan-looking than Lambert is, but he's his own brand of feisty. I hope I get to talk to him more; I think we've got some things in common.

There's a new wind blowing at the monastery right about now, and lots of people are getting involved. Heading out on missions, picking up odd jobs, or getting hired for real jobs, and that's just a few things off the top of my head. Hell, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so I picked up a job. It was... well, there'll be some instant portraits in here. You can figure it out from those. Damn near gave Diamant a heart attack.

I hope my birthday wasn't too quiet. I assume it'd have turned into a day of mourning, given how things went with Alexand... but I'd much rather people drink and be merry like they always did. I was finally able to take Alcryst out to drink, and Diamant took me out to drink. And that's not even mentioning all of the neat gifts I got; this dragon squirt Nils gave me a dragon warrior charm! And Lambert gave me a sword. A really nice sword! I think I'll hang the charm off of it... but then it might break. So what should I do? You were always good about practical customization, so do you have any ideas?

A girl I've never seen before gave me a stone for my birthday. It was pyrite, so she has to be from Brodia, right? Because why else would she give something like that to me...?

Also, Lapis said something interesting to me when she gave me her present. Something about being newly-included in people that are worried about my health and somesuch. Very weird.

That's probably enough yapping from me for one letter. Like I mentioned, I've put in some instant portraits again---me in uniform, me working at my other job, Diamant is there in one of them, and a few random ones of people I've met. Being here has really helped me talk to people my age and people not my age. It's a real blessing.

I think about you every morning, afternoon, and night, my dearest. Even if you still don't believe this is real... that's all right with me. All I worry about is if you're healthy and happy. Hopefully Diamant and Alcryst have been writing you as well, but if they haven't, I swear that I've never seen them shining brighter or living healthier. They're doing just fine, and so am I.

Write me soon, sapphire. Even if it's just one word, it's one word from my loveliest gemstone.

Signed,

Morion, Professor of Axe, Sword, and Authority at the Officers Academy

[scarabjewels]

Jack and the Cuckoo-clock heart: I Truly Think The Movie “Fixed” The Book

I was around 13 to 15 when I first came across a 360p movie on a pirated DVD filled with random animated movies the vendors could download, and it was this goth punk aesthetic 3d movie entitled "Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart". It was the most visually bizarre media I watched in a long time. It was hauntingly beautiful, it reminded me of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," specifically the White Queen's kingdom. I loved it so much that I fell into a research phase all about it. Matthias is a fucking lucky author, literally a vocalist of a band then they get to make a movie out of it and make music. I still rewatch it and love to consume video reactions and essays about it in YouTube, such as BionicPig and RosMo.

I originally intended to write this movie about its similarity to classic but tragic love stories like "Romeo and Juliet" and "Cyrano". But then I decided to read the book and the stark contrast of it should be WRITTEN.

I will be writing 3 parts:

1) The differences of the book and the movie,

2) what they kept and made better,

and 3) things I observed that aren't talked about enough

I just finished the book in one sitting right as I am writing this. I have to say, I was not prepared how adult it was.

**MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD **

PART 1: THE DIFFERENCES

Let's start with major observations and comparisons.

Book: Jack mentioning Acacia’s name leading into a lost of temper with a fight with Joe makes sense

Movie: Jack and Joe’s fight starting from a postcard was way too immature for their age at the time

Coincidentally, they apparently have the same birthday in the movie and Miss Acacia send Joe a postcard. Jack stumbled across it one day, and gets into a petty fit before ultimately getting into a fight with Joe. It is exactly what I see 14 year olds doing honestly, but ultimately it did not make sense

In the book, Joe (movie as well) warns Jack to not mention as so much utter Miss Acacia’s name. After years of pent-up anger, Jack decides to mention her name, and then a brawl starts. Now that’s a fight that makes sense, and you can still see teenagers doing exactly that.

Book: Joe and Acacia were past lovers. Joe replaces Jack's job as a Frightener at the Ghost Train, and Joe uses their past to taunt Jack.

Movie: Joe and Acacia are seemingly old friends. While Joe sets out to destroy Jack's image, he unkowingly serves as a messenger of vital information.

Joe's intention in both media are the same, to destroy Jack's reputation and win Miss Acacia’s heart. In the book, he tells her about the injury (just that) and she confront Jack about this. In the book, Jack stumbles on his words first before dumping everything that happened. They get into an argument, with Acacia falling silent as he explains everything. They said their I-love-yous before separating. Acacia is clearly confused at the truth, which is why she fell silent as she left, on the contrary to her very fiery personality (it's ×10 in the books, added with extreme stubbornness too). Joe told him the next morning about how she came to him crying and that they hugged and kissed like they once did before, provoking Jack to charge at him. Believing his lies that Acacia in fact had some sort of little affair with Joe, his jealousy continues to sever his and Acacia’s relationship after another confronting argument about Joe's supposed truth.

In the movie, this issue was fixed, at least I found it an issue. Instead of taunting with lies, Joe manipulates the truth a little differently, with a suprisingly huge amount of truth, too. He told her that Jack’s handicap, his heart, it dangerous to the detriment of others and himself, as he is capable of injuring anyone when he goes out of control. He points at his eye patched eye as proof. He tells her about the three rules that Jack must follow in order to stay alive. This makes Acacia’s argument actually have substance instead of just an act of violence. She couldn't bear the thought of him dying, so she pushed him away, telling him not to love her. The injury also came up in the argument, which Jack replies quickly, as opposed in the book. He explains it concisely, saying that it was an accident and that he did not want that to happen, all the while rebutting each of Acacia’s accusatory questions. That's what really solved the issue in the book. There were actual stakes as to why the argument was happening, and Jack was standing up for himself, even at the person he loved. He apologizes more in the movie than in the books, and Acacia is a lot more kinder.

I was really losing it when I read the chapters of them arguing in the book. No one was apologizing. Literally none. Acacia didn't exactly listen to Jack, she was trapped with him believing his “lies” and had a hard time seeing what the actual truth was, which leads me to the next difference.

Book: Acacia truly believed that his clock heart was a joke, even when Jack showed her how it worked (and it lead to them …doing it), until the very end

Movie: Acacia was sold the moment he let her explore his clock heart and he trusted his key to her.

As I said, she found it hard to believe him, with what Joe told him. But, in the movies, she did actually hear him out, keenly at that, and it hurt her that she couldn't be with him because it might potentially kill him. At least in the movie, her yells of telling him to stop that actually accounts to something, as in telling him to stop getting angry or else he'll hurt himself more.

Book: (Maybe it more of an opinion?) I don't think Jack and Acacia were in love. It was too heavily sexual and secretive, and the things they share about themselves just lead to more sexual escapades than actual bonding. They strive on heated moments too fast and too often. Acacia had commitment issues from the start to the end.

Movie: They really feel like two teens falling in love. They share sweeter moments, emotionally sharing, have trouble with setting boundaries and communicating like any teenager, and actually ENJOY EACH OTHERS COMPANY.

Book Jack and Acacia were just incompatible. As far as I could see, it was not the kind of love Jack wanted. He endured the bare minimum because it would mean that he could keep seeing the girl he pursued and dreamt of for so long that he was blinded to who she was and how she treated him. She loved him, but she really failed to really be in an actual relationship with him. I understand that some people value their privacy, but when you are kept secret and essentially treated like a convenience, that's not a suitable relationship of love, much less respect. She did not respect his beliefs. She was volatile in reaction, and I personally believe that Joe did not lie about her having a little affair with him. She never really claimed that it did not happen, only telling Jack ��you really think I'd go back to him”. In the end, she really did. So, I don't think Joe was lying. To be fair, Jack did put her on a high pedestal, too high in fact. He worshipped her. She was basically not human to him. It was already such a failure that I think their ending in the book made sense. He also admits this near the epilogue, that he wanted it to work out so much, that it just didn’t. Acacia wanted to supposedly "keep away from gossip," but that changed when she married Joe in the book, whom she is openly affectionate even when she admitted to still be in love with Jack. The minute Jack came back, despite her feelings, she also left him without saying anything, as well as Joe. She...was a red flag, well all of them were. However, it was clear she found commitments hard, leading Jack (unaware of his identity) on when he came, even when she was married and was also in love with another man. She might have her reasons, but she also left Joe in the end.

In the movie, Acacia was significantly a better character, with some flaws from her book counterpart. She was honest about being attracted to Jack, yet she chose to honor her feelings for her first love. She was clear with him, up front even. Jack confessed eventually and answered her question with honesty. They have chemistry, and as soon as he confessed, she started to open up to him, and he did as well. Their exchange is really good and very plausible as two teens in love. A good definition of young love, if anything, they were simultaneously more mature but still impulsive than in the book, ironically the reason why they are compatible in the movie. Their argument had an element of out of love (for themselves and each other). Their ending was that their love was really meant to be their best one yet. Jack's life was worthwhile, despite it being short. A beautiful illustration of “it's better to have loved and lost, than not have loved at all”. But he loved and won, in my opinion.

Book: Jack's clock heart was a placebo, representing Madeleine's attachment to him, wanting to protect him even when she knew he was strong enough to live without her or the clock.

Movie: Jack's clock heart was an actual device that kept him alive and more than just Madeleine's attachment to him.

This was so disappointing in the book. I was upset. I wasn't upset that Acacia and Jack didn't end up together, I was upset that what she was telling him the whole time was TRUE. I was at Jack's side until the nurse told him everything. I felt so betrayed. His family betrayed him basically. It hurt me that Madeleine had that unhealthy attachment to him, she could've let him live a normal life. That was painful.

The movie gave us an alternative plot, which I HEAVILY prefer. Jack actually couldn't live normally at all. He was a genuine handicapped person. The stakes were REAL. The ending was sad, but it had the perfect build up, that it was worthwhile. Madeleine didn't betray him, and she died trying to protect him.

Edit: The two parts are out now!

[thrwne]

Before season 3 started I was really excited because i really liked the first two season & it reminded me a little bit of Skam. Also i was really excited to see where they will go with the ending of season 2, but now i am truly disappointed… I knew that this season would be tough and everything, but not like this. The only thing happening right now is drama (sometimes really unnecessary) & partying & Felix just being a dick. And yes, the characters are all have an age about 15/16 & they are making mistakes but by now it’s just to much. Erik doesn’t make sense to me, Felix is continuing to be a dick so I don’t feel sorry for him at all & Matthias is just suffering…And a development of characters is not really happening or it’s doesn’t feel like it’s happening.

I really hope the rest of season 3 & season 4 is going to be better, because this show has a lot of potential & it would be very sad if they would waste all of this.

I have hopes season 4 will be better anon ❤️

The Rykter writers are simultaneously doing too much and too little this season. Rykter in the hands of someone like Julie Andem would've been amazing, she understands writing nuanced characters and creating character driven stories