#i could really talk about music and how both my parents played a role in my love for music- but my mom is the one who taught me

[blizzardfluffykpop]

Hey Honey! Happy Serotonin Sunday!

I hope that your day has been going well so far!

I am currently letting out a grateful side of relief because the power was able to finally come back on for my dad's house. I got the urge to do a happy dance and ended up pulling up Sing A Song by Earth wind & fire lol

I lovingly blame my dad for helping me have a good taste of music because he has been able to show me a wide variety and always encouraged me to keep an open mind when it comes to music and life

And since Earth wind & fire is one of his favorite groups, my dad also ended up pulling up the song and we basically had a long distance happy groove party! ❤️

I hope you are able to have a good day, love, as well as a fantastic week 💞 pretty please feel free to share something that's helping you smile. If its a little hard right now, I totally understand and it's okay.

(also I just realized I already shared mine so I sorry and hope it is okay :o :x ) pretty please take care!! Love you bunches!!

Happy Friday hun! Congratulations on getting through the week! I hope that your weekend is able to be relaxing and fun! Love you lots 💞 <prev ask>

I'm just gonna combine both because my weekend was packed too much for me to write on Friday night! Anyways! I hope your week went well too!

Omg?!?! Earth Wind & Fire!? Oh, I love their stuff!!! My mom is a big disco queen, so I grew up listening to them!! I'm so glad you got the urge to do a little happy dance!! Esp after the power went out- that must have been hard at your dad's house- And "Sing A Song" is just such a good one to dance too 🥺 I'm so glad your dad got you into good music~ And encouraged you to love and keep an open mind when it came to music and life! That's so cool! And aww I love that you two got to groove to that! That's so fun!! I'm so glad!!

I hope you have/had a good day!! And that monday is easy on you! (I had to wait til my migraine cleared to answer but I have something from Saturday to share about my mom and music!) And feel free to share about your day/do wtv on Serotoin Sundays! Wtv comes naturally is totally cool!!

Anyways~ I'll share mine here too~

I actually have a few- but on Saturday when my dad left for a car show- I kept singing "Monkberry Moon Delight" cause they were talking about mulberry bushes on the tv- and she didn't know the song- and I was confused cause her fav beatle is paul- and so I got to show her- And then I got to show her my favorite track currently by him which is "Kiss of Venus" featuring Dominic Fike. And she got to show me her favorite- "Figures of Eight" by him. She had seen him in '91 with my dad- and he got her that cd it's off of at the concert. And she used to play that song over and over and over on that little cd- bumping in her tiny car (a ford escort)- Make the poor car's windows rattle- and it's so cute because I grew to be just like her when my favorite songs play- I have em up- She raised me to enjoy music to the fullest-

And I had taken her to see Monsta x- and she told me- 'Paul and Monsta X are the only two concerts I thoroughly enjoyed myself at' and idk it was just endearing to me that she holds mx up to the height of Sir Paul McCartney hehe

Also, fun little rabbit hole cause I cannot resist myself: But if it wasn't for Changkyun getting me into Dominic Fike- three yrs ago almost (I just checked on my youtube history). I would never have had tiktok suggesting to me the "Babydoll" cover The Boyz did in January- (I had loved them before during different cbs but that was nothing in comparison to now). And thus, I get to connect it back to Paul Mccartney now~ because one day I was listening to a Fike song called "The Kiss of Venus," and I kept thinking "why does this sound like a beatle song??" and I checked and it was featuring Paulie~ And I gasped- so thus- in a way- The Boyz are one person away from the beatles hehe~ So, it all connects~ (Changkyun was the catalyst to an inevitable fall)

Anyways! Let's enjoy this week to have a good Serotonin Sunday!! We can do this! Take care! Love ya lots!

[starweaversguidetothehazbinhotel]

I love the idea of Alastor as Tiana and Lucifer as Naveen and Adam as Lawrence, but who is Charlotte - Rosie? And Most Importantly...who is Dr Facilier?

I mean, Husk/Keith David is RIGHT THERE, and I could very easily see Alastor ending up with his soul somehow after being turned into a frog by him, but if we're talking bad guys, with Adam already taken...Vox? Roo?

Honestly, these are really good points.

-

Voice actor-wise Husk playing Dr Facilier is PERFECT.

But character wise? I see him as more of a Louis. Only instead of being a scaredy-cat; he’s grumpy as hell. His refusal to help our protagonists comes more from a place of “ I’m not getting paid enough for this shit”.

And yeah, maybe he’s gave up on his dream of playing music because he’s a washed up drunk who gambled his life away…. Maybe he even owes a debt to Alastor in some way. But I have a hard time seeing him as evil and unhinged as he would need to be to play Dr Facilier.

-

I made a small post about what I think Vox should be. ⬇️

And while I do agree-he should be an antagonist…He’s shown himself to be less scary and more incompetent/comedic thus far in the HH series. So personally, I think it would be fun to keep him with the same kind of simp vibes. Coming off is more of an annoyance than a threat.

Now -possibly that could change- if he was willing to team up with Dr Facilier/Lawrence in exchange for ownership of Alastor…. That would be very on-brand for him.

-

As mentioned in another post- I see Dr Facilier as more of a Eve/Roo (possibly Lillith) type character. Someone dark, corrupt, with power and magic.

The story needs enough mystery around the character that it’s not going to feel OC with them playing the villain.

-

Mimzy and Rosie are both good candidates to play Lottie.

But she also has a manic energy that I just love and I think it would work well for our dear Nifty. Alastor has already shown a willingness to play dress-up with her. He’s the Roach King for a reason. I could see him putting up with a little extra silliness, making desserts and dressing up for the dear girl’s birthday.

Nifty would also be thrilled to kiss a bad-boy. And a prince that’s been kicked out of his own kingdom?… Very bad indeed.

Again though- this is just my preference.

You couldn’t go wrong with any of Al’s ladies. (It just depends on which facets of Lottie’s character an author would want to emphasize more…)

That being said-

Someone needs to play Mama Odie. And I think no one could be better for the part than Rosie.

Scolding Lucifer and trying sooooo hard to get Al to see that his might just be in love??

-

Now Charlie? Our beloved Princess of sunshine and rainbows?

Although having her play “Lottie” (aka Charlotte) would be a cute pun. It doesn’t feel right for her to vibe with Alastor more than her father. So after some thinking. I believe it would be more cohesive to the plot if she is with Lucifer from the very beginning.

When he gets disowned- naturally- as his child, she loses her royal status too. Although she didn’t take the loss as badly as he did. She was more upset that her mother stayed behind. (Even with her parents, divorce… she didn’t expect Lilith to choose to STAY in heaven.. ) Complicated family issues aside. Charlie excited to finally have some time to bond with her dad. (Another unexpected side-effect of her parents split)

They both get charmed by Dr Facilier. Both are turned into frogs. They escape together as a father/daughter duo.

But when it comes to getting the kiss? Well… Lucifer is not about to let his babygirl kiss some random smiling weirdo because of a mess he’s gotten them into by not being careful… No matter how handsome the freak might be…

At least..Not until he’s sure that it works…

So after trying (and failing) to woo what he believes is a prince with his “Good-old Morningstar Charm”; Lucifer then resorts to idle threats… then bribery.

Which is how Alastor ends up losing his first kiss to a frog.

[asexual-juliet]

hello! i saw your post from a while ago about race and casting in the musical, and i was wondering if you'd be willing to share some more thoughts on it? i'm working on my honors thesis and the idea seems really compelling :)

man i don’t even know what post this ask is about because i feel like i talk about this All The Time but of COURSE i will yap more! i mean just like on a basic level the Socs being cast as generally white/white-passing and the greasers being cast as multi-ethnic is such a fantastic choice that just adds another layer to the class dynamics of the story!! I absolutely adore the choice to only cast actors of color in the roles of Johnny and Dally and think it adds so so much to their characters <3 Dally being portrayed as a Black man is so intentional and adds something to the way he’s developed this tough-guy persona to avoid being hurt… and specifically Johnny being Native American is such a special choice in my opinion especially with the story taking place in Oklahoma and Johnny always having been described as darker-skinned… and also the way the greasers are able to show their race/heritage in their costumes is so so special… the embroidery on Sky’s jean jacket that represents his tribe, the Black power patches on Renni’s jean jacket, the sheer visibility of Daryl’s tattoo…

If you follow me it’s obvious that i think about this most often with reference to Ryo Kamibayashi covering four of the Soc boy tracks (Paul, Chet, Brill & Trip) because god this musical is so intentional with its casting in terms of race and the choice to have an Asian American man be the first visibly non-white actor to portray a Soc is so fascinating… like there is intrinsically SO much there about the myth of the model minority and like. something about how the west side of Tulsa as it is presented in this narrative as this seemingly all-american dream of suburbia and how that is affected by the presence of an Asian family… how that family is affected by their overwhelmingly white setting… the way that the rise of suburbia after World War II broadened the definition of whiteness to include Irish/Italian/Jewish/Catholic minorities so that it could stand even stronger in opposition to Blackness & where an Asian family would fit into that binary… and of course speaking of World War II, casting a Japanese American actor in any of the Soc boy roles sends the implicit message that this character’s parents were incarcerated in concentration camps by the American government a little over 20 years before The Outsiders takes place and raises the inherent question of how they got from there to this successful life on the rich white side of town. I also think it’s so purposeful that out of the three actors in the cast who have Asian heritage — Daryl Tofa is Filipino/Samoan and Jordan Chin is I think half-Chinese (not 100% sure but basing this off of his last name and the Hong Kong flag in his Instagram bio) — Ryo is both the one with the lightest skin and the only one who covers any of the Soc tracks. Something about the way his Soc character is an example of the myth of the model minority but then how that casting choice connects to all of the white-passing actors who portray Socs in the show — Victor, Henry, and Anna are Hispanic and Cameron is biracial. Cameron actually dropped some lore on a Soc Saturday a couple months ago about how his Soc boy character’s (white) mom fell in love with a (Black) greaser so she got sent out of Tulsa and he got adopted by his (white) grandparents… but then also there’s a bit in one of the Call Me Cherry vlogs where Henry is talking about his favorite costume details and mentions that when he’s playing a greaser he’s allowed to show his heritage through his costume (implying that when he plays a Soc he is not allowed to)… but just thinking about the way all of these nonwhite Soc characters have to stay so distant from their race/heritage because they are Socs… the way class and race are so intertwined even in just the casting of these roles…

this is long and messy and incoherent but if you are interested in more of these thoughts from me you can check my “japanese american paul holden” tag. thanks so much for the ask!!

[puella-ae]

———2025-05-29 11:01——— ... I want to say something Controversial but I'm not entirely sure what it is yet that sentence is so much funnier in context than I intended. I was reminded of a post I reblogged a little bit ago and I have half a thought about it but it feels kind of dangerous to get wrong And I'm not really in a #ramble mood yet

———13:31——— The spirits are telling me to so here we go

[[ITT: thinking too hard about these six words.]]

Online "littlespace" [age regression in general] is heavily dependent on its signifiers—diapers and pacifiers, cribs and nurseries and playrooms, and especially brands catering to infants and toddlers There's a lot of littlespace, so to speak, because it's easy to depict distinguished from adulthood Yes, there are feelings associated with it—simple comforts, thoughtless pleasure—but to a certain extent you can just sort of throw up those signifiers on a moodboard and viewers will add those feelings in themselves

I don't think middlespace [as in regression to later childhood, "tweenhood"] has those signifiers. Because that age is around the time where you start opting in to mainstream society, casting off those earlier attachments ["I don't like Elmo, that's for babies"] and looking for something new to call your own Media-wise, you start listening to music on the radio or getting songs from your friends, you start choosing what to watch on TV or whatever personal device you may have rather than sitting down and staring dead-eyed at whatever got put in front of you, you have the physical and mental capacity to play games or draw or write and interact with the world in doing so Socially/psychologically, you're developing an identity distinct from your parents[' image of you], taking cues from peers and role models, trying things on and going through phases

Late childhood/early adolescence is very much defined by [insufficiently] imitating adulthood Signifiers of middlespace are (signifiers of signifiers of adulthood)—which, done right [done wrong?], are just signifiers of adulthood in themselves, hard to distinguish from regular online behavior I posted this because this feels like middlespace. Tagging along on errands with your parents and feeling like you (could|should) be part of their world but you're just... not? That's tween-coded It's just not sold as such because so many people have that experience without being able to put the words to it

I think the best you can do is this art style/movement, and even then this really calls back to a specific moment in [cyber]space and time Middlespace looks+feels like kids playing at being mature, (pretending|assuming) they [we] know what they're doing, and making+being something special by having a foot in both camps This account gets that right. I think the difficulty is that getting that right means really digging into how you interact with your signifiers, what exactly they make you think and feel, not just the images or objects themselves

art is hard.

On this [[middlespace signifiers]], because it just popped into my mind: doesn't help that our world [that is, online American-adjacent secular society] doesn't really have visually-apparent rites of passage for childhood > adolescence the way it does for infancy > childhood and adolescence > early adulthood ABs and littles can make a lot of noise about nursing > potty-training > learning letters and numbers, and I'm sure better essays have been written on the societal fixation on learning to drive > senior year [prom especially] >= losing one's virginity I don't think people talk as much about, like, starting puberty [and/because I think people look at you kind of weirdly if you do.]

The exception there seems to be trans people starting HRT and embracing the idea of "second puberty" [even then, I don't know how common that is], and that obviously doesn't carry the same connotations even if the process is similar enough that you could imagine a lot of middlespace indulgence stemming from it …actually, wait, I think I mixed two different points there

I think, if the component feelings and experiences of puberty are taken as signifiers of tweenhood, then trans second-puberty could be another instance of (middlespace not recognized as such) [or at least the art and commentary surrounding it could make for good middlespace-posting.]

[ericksensensen]

Grace and how she's responsible for Rocio

I just wanted to share my thoughts on Grace and how I think she is most likely the one responsible for Rocio's disappearance and heavy mental decline (not entirely, but played a big role)

TW: S/A, Mental, physical and emotional abuse, suicidal ideals, suicide if you consider what Rocio did as it (techincally she didn't die, but the act should count) or at least an attemp, stalking, cannibalism, internalized and non internalized misogyny, homophobia

Ever since the Rabbit Hole video about Lacey I've been thinking that Grace is an important piece of how Rocio turned out

Deleted it, but I had the theory that Rocio had connected herself to the game so she could feel it, so then could be Lacey given how she projects onto her Following that I had the idea that Rocio died doing so, I didn't thought they would actually play with the idea that entering the game was possible, so I just assumed she had died and she was still rooting, connected to a computer with nobody finding her as she likely did it somewhere private and secret

However the start to Lacey Games made me change the outcome, it IS possible to enter the game and remain alive, it's possible to perfectly transfer your mind to the game

She transfered Charlie into the page, and she stated that is HER tech, she could've took it from Rocio, but so far we have the information that it's HERS

Rocio was definitely transfered to Lacey Games and she never took her out, but why exactly?

Rocio and Grace's friendship

I don't really think there was an actual friendship in there, and it was just them connecting thorough their love for girl games that made them do the page, given how little Grace cared about Rocio's mental health and how the latter never trusted her enough to tell her about her problems and how she altered the games with disturbing and secret endings

I feel like more than friends, they were just those kids that none talked to, and so they found something to bound and just decided to stick together; Rocio being a loner given her mental health issues and probably her sense of fashion (pretty dark, popular at the time online but outside it wasn't, at least in my country it was mocked), and Grace because of her personality as she doesn't seem to be very caring and is pretty self centered

Grace says that she had nothing to do with the games, either she's lying or she was just administrating the other parts of the page, uploading the fanarts and the music, the art style seems kinda darkish so I doubt she helped with any of that, I think that if she really didn't help in the productions of the games, it can tell a lot about her as a person I, however, do believe that she actually didn't know about the disturbing things implemented into the game

I think we all don't talk enough about how fucked that was actually, what Rocio did does count as some form of cyber abuse towards kids, the parents had all the right to complain about THAT and Grace to be upset, but her reactions to all the other events prove that she never cared about Rocio

So if what happened to Lacey is what happened to Rocio, that means she was sexually abused by her uncle who also killed her dog, and abused her in other ways too, I'm unsure if she killed him like Lacey did, mainly because of the different ways his corpse can appear in Pet shop and Dinner She was also likely stalked, but not chopped or eaten And Dinner doesn't necessarily have to say it was an actual dinner, but Rocio projecting how she feels about work in general

Did Grace knew this? Rocio didn't trust her, so she could only assume some stuff had happened to her, stuff that she never cared to look into

But before the parents found out about that, they were already complaining about a character, Jay, for being a Tomboy (and sapphic (implied)), and this plays a big role on when I think Rocio started to relapse into her trauma

I'd say this is what made Rocio spiral again You can put both of their names into the love metter and sayd error, which is weird considering that even putting the stalked or the uncle gives an actual reaction, I'm not sure if it implies what I think but Rocio MIGHT have liked Grace at some point, even if that isn't the case I state by the idea that Rocio herself was somewhere in the queer community (Same about Jay, all the girls actually, putting their names into the love meter, no matter what order, gives you an 100% saying girls love each other)

The parents were upset about Jay, they asked her to be removed and were calling her literal slurs over the way she was Rocio killed her off on a Jay solo game, the rest of her games were deleted and she started to show up in other games, but not in the same way

In Parlour we get the confirmation that Jay is death, Lacey laments her death, saying that if only she was more girly she wouldn't have died, a reference to both how she died doing skateboard and how she was killed off because of the parents I'd say this was also Rocio projecting onto both

Her family was abusive, it was 2004, there was a lot of misogyny and homophobia going around, her family most likely told her similar things (Her way to dress, not outright Tomboy, but I get the feel she was trying her best to be as maleish as possible while still looking like a girl to not get called out), and seeing people do the same to a character she loved-

Yeah she started to relapse hard, and altered the website harshly, Grace being uncaring didn't help, making her feel more alone and isolate herself, just falling deeper and deeper and starting to destroy herself again, coping in unhealthy ways and starting to be very suicidal (Dinner is the game that displays this the most, Lacey either had to go back home or she could kill herself, she decided the latter, showing how Rocio felt about this whole situation and the idea of living with her family again)

It was downhill from there, Grace knew about the complaints and about Jay's games being deleted, but she found out about her appearances in games like Parlour only after checking Pet shop (as she said, it was the first one she checked to see if it actually had disturbing imagery)

So Rocio was still on her blind spot, as she started to relapse her games started to get darker and darker, projecting more and more onto Lacey and making secret and horrible endings

Grace finally checked the games and found out that the parents where right, I assume she and Rocio had a fight over this and "parted ways" on 2010

Except that they didn't, even if she says so, because, as we know, Rocio is currently stuck into the games and Grace doesn't seem to want to take her out (neither Rocio seems like she wants her too)

Grace is uncaring about Rocio because the least interest she shows, the least she can be linked to her disappearance, if she has no idea what happened to her they can't pin any blame on her

Why did Grace trap Rocio into Lacey games?

If we assume that Rocio did it herself and Grace only found the tech to use it herself, then we can only blame on how she hasn't attempt to take Rocio out

But if she DID, in fact, create the tech herself, that makes her 100% responsible for Rocio And why would she did that? Why would she accept to put her in the game? To get rid of Rocio, to eliminate any evidence that she was ever associated to Yaniaso

After the fight or during the fight, Rocio could've asked her to put her in the game, begged her to, she felt like Lacey and wanted to be her because it was the only coping mechanism she seemed to know (along with self harm, probably), Grace didn't want to be linked with all of this, and put Grace into the machine The burning part doesn't suit right to me, I'm assuming something went wrong in the process and Rocio's actual body was almost destroyed, leaving her trapped into the digital realm, tho Grace doesn't seem to be interested in finding a way to let her out

I don't think she's our friend either, she obviously will try to leave Charlie trapped as well, she wants to get rid of every evidence after all

Basically, after relapsing and venting thorough the games, Rocio and Grace had a fight over this, instead of parting ways like Grace said, she trapped Rocio (or she trapped herself and Grace doesn't let her out) into the game, Grace doesn't want to be linked to Yaniaso so she isn't actively trying to help her out and will probably leave Charlie trapped as well

[salemshotspot]

please tell me your mankind + goldust + taker thoughts because i watched your amv and was interested and intrigued i wanna know how you perceive them in your mind

OMG I'VE BEEN WANTING SOMEONE TO ASK ME THIS FOR SO LONG! I'LL TRY MY BEST TO EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE [for a bit of context all the clips I'm going to be talking about are from 1996 + I have them saved if anyone wants to see a certain one!] So when mankind's debut was being teased he would always be alone in dark places talking about how he's a 'freak' both physically and emotionally [my favourite quote from these teasers is 'on the eight day God created mankind, why was he having such a bad day?'] and he later goes onto talk about how both of his parents grew to resent him due to either his anger [he says something about how his father thought he was too out of control and needed to be 'numbed'] or his deformity [he says his mum used to always wake him up so her friends could hear his music but once it stopped she started to resent him or something like that] and I believe that because of that not only does he have parental issues [like hell he frequently calls Goldust 'mommy' and says he's her little boy who needs to protect her] but further more I hc that he has a twisted kind of religious guilt which is why he's so 'crazy' [trying to destroy himself and possibly end up dead because God clearly made a mistake with him which you can either read as him trying to deform himself sm he's unrecognisable and therefore nothing like what God created him to be or you can read it as he feels if God couldn't love him then there's no point in living because he was created as pure evil and pure evil must be punished/cleansed from the world.

Now as I've stated before mankind sees Goldust as a mother figure and I think it's for two reasons; one, his own mother rejected him for being a 'freak' so he believes no 'normal' person could love him so he finds comfort in someone else who is, as Vince McMahon always puts it on commentary, 'a bizarre one' but also because Mankind's mum 'always woke him up for the music' which made him feel wanted, he clings to Goldust's theatrical nature as it reminds him of his mum [and side note, Goldust clearly takes on the role really well, there's footage of him literally in Mankind's boiler room, a place he feels safe and grounded, a place he calls his home being so tender with him, comforting him like every child wants their mother to do.]

Before I go onto The Undertaker, for context, in '96 the three men had a feud; from his debut Mankind always attacked The Undertaker and then when Goldust and The Undertaker began feuding Mankind would frequently come to his rescue [clearly closer with Goldust, playing into the stereotype of a 'mamas boy.']

I feel like there's two ways to view The Undertaker in this dynamic; one being as Goldust is a mother figure to Mankind he could view The Undertaker as a father figure [in his debut teasers there's light implications that Mankind's mother and father weren't on agreeable terms, especially when it came to how to raise Mankind so the conflict could remind him of that and as his mother was implied to be more tender, even if she was still rejecting him, he would be more inclined to 'protect' her and in turn protect Goldust from The Undertaker] but also you could argue his religious guilt could absolutely manifest in a hatred for The Undertaker because, as previously mentioned, I think that Mankind would be drawn to death and self-destruction as an attempt to either defy God or cleanse himself from the world and as The Undertaker is very much symbolic of death [he's literally 'the dead man'] he could be angry at death for refusing to take him and the closet he can get to attacking death realistically is via The Undertaker.

Also this is exclusive to the amv but I do hc Goldust and The Undertaker as a couple and the 'and your dearest fantasy is to grow a baby in me' was intended to be a way of saying that Mankind is a monster, a creature, he was never seen as a human even as a baby and deep down The Undertaker wishes he could start again and have a family with Goldust and have a baby rather than a creature. I'm sorry I'm weird and have weird little hcs but I really hope that made sense and I explained everything properly! If there's anything I didn't explain properly/anyone has any other questions about my hcs for *any wrestlers* please lmk [either via dming, commenting, asking etc] and I'll be more than happy to answer/re-word anything :)

[commsroom]

happy birthday! ive been meaning to ask for a while if you have any spare minkowski thoughts, just in general. if not, are there any other characters in w359 that you see as trans or queer?

thank you!! sorry for not getting to this one on my birthday; i've been trying to come up with some minkowski thoughts for you, but i'm not sure if they'll be new!! one of my favorite things about minkowski is how much she really, truly has "guilty pleasures" in the most typical sense. when emma sherr-ziarko said the track name "minkowski watching 50 shades of gray with a tub of ice cream and enjoying it nonironically" informed her perception of the character, etc. i love that. all of the best characters are self-contradicting in very real and human ways, and minkowski has a ton of that. her love of musical theater gives us such insight into her interior world; she treats so much of her life like these separate, practiced "roles" to play, as if there can be clear divisions between them.

minkowski is a great leader, but she's not a natural leader, and - in fact - everything that does ultimately make her a person worth following is completely at odds with how she tries to lead, or how she thinks it's supposed to be done. i think she was in a dozen different clubs in high school, but didn't really have friends. i think she could get really into historical reenactment (and i would love for eiffel, hera, and minkowski to go to a ren faire - i think they'd all enjoy that, but for very different reasons.) i think minkowski earnestly believes in the concept of a "cheat day" and marks when she allows herself to eat a whole bunch of ice cream on her calendar - this is horrifying to eiffel, but she finds it sincerely motivating. i think minkowski's interior decorating sense is at least 30% more "live, laugh, love" than anyone else around her would be able to take seriously. she's the kind of person who needs everything in her house properly labelled and put away in the same place every time. eiffel is the kind of person who leaves everything out, all over the place, and forgets it exists if someone puts it away. making them live together is hilarious. i think minkowski likes romcoms and hallmark christmas movies; she's easily moved by very sappy media, and very defensive / embarrassed about that. she's used to being mocked for her taste, and for how it goes against her image as a career military woman. i do not think hera would share her taste in movies at all, but minkowski + hera girls' night is very important to me.

what else... oh!! i've talked to my friend @hephaestuscrew a lot about minkowski's parents, and i agree with the assessment that they are probably... pretty laid back? like, the kind of people who encouraged her to be whatever she wanted to be - the pressure she puts on herself to make something of herself is the kind of person she is, and a message she got from the world at large more than her parents, i think. her dad's first name has an anglicized spelling as well, so i think there's something kind of... well, there's something that rings true about minkowski trying to hold onto these parts of her heritage that her parents aren't as concerned about. koudelka's a czech name; we don't know anything about him, but i wonder if maybe she made that connection with him at least partially because they were both american children of (at least one) eastern european parent(s) in paris. and her mother is french, she learned french before she learned english, but we don't really know if she spent time in france before that. there's a sense of displacement to that.

(as for the other part, well... i'm not sure! obviously jacobi is gay, and i would generally agree lovelace and maxwell are as well. i think eiffel is technically bi, but he's straight culture bi. i think it would be difficult to get minkowski to really examine her sexuality. whatever kepler's sexuality is, i think he's done his best to close himself off from any sincere desire. my thoughts on hera's sexuality would require a whole other post, but obviously i read her as trans. there isn't really anyone else i think of as trans, but that's not to say it's impossible - they're mostly military or military-adjacent people born in the 70s and 80s; by and large i think they're coming to these topics of identity from a different perspective from those of us on tumblr dot com. but i think doug eiffel is one of the most cis characters i can imagine.)

[stereopticons]

Random but I'm curious! What are your favorite moments from Schitt’s Creek?

Thanks, anon. I hope you've got lots of time because there are just SO MANY.

In no particular order (i.e., in the order in which they occur to me):

The Grad Night kiss. Perfection, all around.

2. Speaking of kisses, the forehead/bicep kiss moment from Moira Rose. I think I've made it clear that I'm very weak for forehead kisses. (There are SO many good moments from that episode honestly).

3. The whole Open Mic through Olive Branch arc. It's my emotional support television arc lmao. I mean we go from this:

to this:

TO THIS:

Bookended by simply the best????

4. Speaking of the Barbecue -- the best friend moment with Stevie in the Jazzaguy

5. And also Start Spreading the News. I think the conversation that David and Stevie had on the car was SO IMPORTANT and I don't think it's something he could have had with Patrick. There are several fics about how things go horribly wrong when this conversation doesn't happen (my only quibble with this moment is that David would NEVER sit on Stevie's dirty ass car in white jeans)

6. Just like, the whole of the housewarming party. Amazing. Hilarious. but also Patrick (and David!! because that isn't talked about enough) getting to have all the queer high school experiences he never got to have!

7. All of Singles Week, but especially this conversation:

8. The whole Cabaret arc. I can (and HAVE) gone on extensive rants about how Moira knew what she was doing casting Patrick in a role that is nearly always played queer when he was auditioning for the "straight"/closeted character. What it MEANS for Patrick and Stevie both to get to play these roles. The impact of Patrick in the Cabaret finale given that David is both queer and Jewish??? I know these things are mostly only hinted at and only really if you know Cabaret but it's one of my very favorite musicals (NOT movies though, good god) and I have like, a lot of feelings about it? man, I should work on that community theatre au again

9. The end of Happy Anniversary

10. "Out................side." (getting railed)

I'm going to stop at 10 because I could go on until I've listed the whole series (minus Roadkill) and OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT MEET THE PARENTS??? Just like. The whole thing???

Anyway have these bonus moments that make me go HANNNDSSSSS

(I can't find the gif from the wedding I was looking for but BLESS THE GIF MAKERS)

Anyway I hope that's what you were looking for, anon, I have to post this now because I've already remembered like 19 more that I can't believe I didn't list

[omarera]

So so proud of Omar. I am so happy he is let in to new types of media. SvD and DN are the biggest national morning news papers in Sweden. He has been in evening papers and might be silly but I am glad he is covered in these papers. And now also Hellenius Hörna and Så mycket bättre. Thank You TV4. Now let’s hope national radio stations let his music in as well.

Here are some bits of the interview in SvD. It resembles his Sommarprat and nothing new for us really but a really nice interview with a nice tone in it and it will reach many households in Sweden that still has morning papers…

He talks about where he was a few years ago from the interview and I think it’s beautiful that he opens up about feeling lost, experimenting and on his journey to get to know himself and feel confident being who he is and that he also dares to vocalize his dreams. Remember that Jantelagen is strong in Sweden and vocalizing such big dreams is not usual. His journey continues!! I so want for him to reach his goals❤️

They start off with his FO&O and talk a out his bringing and his mom and dad and moving to Sweden.

One thing he hasn’t touched so much on before is how being known so young affected him:

“It was the sickest thing I've ever been through. It was both a kick and very scary to break through, especially when you were alone in town or going home on the bus. I was up in Stockholm and felt very watched. It was an emotional rollercoaster.”

He takes a deep breath.

“Every single person my age has known about me since I was 14 years old. It has been very intense and probably affected me in different ways. I've probably become more shy and stick mostly to my friends that I've had for many years.”

(We know he always pick stay home and that he is very close to his friends and has a circle of friends he feels safe with. And then about after FO&O)

“I released a few singles, but then the pandemic came and everything was put on hold. That's when it started.

Omar Rudberg puts one hand in his baggy leather jacket pocket and looks out through the Connection Hall in the Slaughterhouse area, where we met on a cool autumn afternoon.

“I was incredibly lost. Both in my professional role and in myself. I had no idea who I was or what I was going to be, what I liked and didn't like.

He set out on an experimental journey.

- I tried to find myself and started hanging out very intensively with friends. We hung out every day and became almost like a collective. It was incredibly fun and above all nice to see people who were in different ways.”

(I also liked this part where he talks about his creativity: )

“In the new homeland, the song and dance continued to be palpable, as did Omar's wild imagination. By the age of eight, it was so intense that his parents took him to a child psychologist.

- What they reacted to was that I didn't need toys. I could just enter another world, be chased by dinosaurs or have the worst action movie in my head. But I wasn't crazy, the child psychologist noted, just a child.

The creativity and musical gift can be traced to the grandmother and the mother. Early on, the latter ensured that Omar participated in talent competitions, often with success.

(And then more in creativity and using it to find yourself)

- My friends and I started trying different types of clothes. We played music and got dressed up. Some tried to put on makeup and nail polish. I really experimented. Those who are not in the know immediately think that a guy who wears make-up is gay or transgender - that bothers me. Make-up should not have to have an orientation, it should be for everyone. Now I wear black eyeliner when I feel like it without being ashamed.

Playing with the outside became a way to find home more in one's inner self, and the fact that Omar was named Best Dressed Man of the Year by the magazine Café this spring is something of a receipt for that.

- I have realized that I have to feel comfortable, stable and free with who I am if I am to be able to move forward in life. Clothes clearly play a role in that. They can also help me get into a certain character more easily.

(There is more text in YR and Karusell but he gets back to: )

“Although it is as an actor Omar has become known in recent years, it is the music he wants to focus on the most in the future. A few days ago, the new single Off my mind was released and tonight is the premiere of this year's So much better on TV4, where Omar is one of the participants.

Perhaps the participation will also be revenge for Omar as a solo artist.

- Yes, I hope people are reminded that I'm actually a singer at heart, it's music that I love the most. I'm looking forward to releasing an album eventually and especially to playing live.

A decade has passed since Omar Rudberg first broke through, when I ask what he thinks life will look like in another ten years, he first laughs at the thought of being 35. Then comes the answer:

- I want to have done the sickest gigs, have had several hits and be out on a world tour. I want to be in a Latin American TV series or movie and for my own company to be worth an incredible amount of money. I will not buy a Lamborghini, but a nice apartment for my mother so that she can be free as a bird. I want to give back everything I got from her.

He runs his hand through his slightly wavy hair and walks over to the mirror to get ready for the photo shoot.

- I would never have dared to have it this way a few years ago. Thankfully, I am much more confident in myself now.

You're not as lost anymore?

- No, I have grown a lot in recent years and now I feel stable enough to take myself forward in life. But I'm probably not quite there yet, the journey continues …

Translated bits from: Elin Liljero Eriksson - 23 oktober 2023 SvD Magazine.

[rebelrayne]

Can't believe I thought of The Wizard of freaking Oz first & not this one; really, it should be a crime!

Gossip Girl: LITG edition - who is who?

I nominate either Hamish (mostly because it's funny to imagine, I want to see that man in everything), Erikah or Summer for the role as our gossip sneezer

Hi Saga! Thanks for the ask!

Yes, I loooooooove OG Gossip Girl and I have had a thought on it, though many people may not completely agree with my casting. No one is fully, exactly going to fit here but I tried to use the more affluent Islanders to cast it. I do have 'xoxo' in my drafts, but I doubt it'll ever see light of day. I put the other characters under the cut but left Blair and Serena visible. I don't think there's a perfect match for either and if I were to write this, Blair and Serena would both be OCs. Again, I don't think any Islander fully matches any of the GG characters but mostly because they're so ruthless at different times.

Blair Waldorf - Honestly, no one can match Blair. She is her own level and she's amazing, but if I absolutely had to cast her: Lexi. Lexi is so self-conscious and has a bit of low self-esteem. Though hers is her sister, Blair compares herself to Serena.

Serena Van Der Woodsen - Serena is so bubbly and captivates everyone. I would say Chelsea, but Chelsea is so much of a people pleaser that I don't think she would do a lot of the manipulating Serena did. Now it may be because I didn't do a female route in S8 but I could see Claudia being similar to Serena. She's sunshine and everyone loves her, but cross her and she won't let you forget that she could take that crown away from you before you could even comprehend.

Chuck Bass - Oh Chuck. Probably the best and worst lay of your life. Whoever could fit this super rich business guy with Daddy issues? Obviously this one is Hamish.

Dan Humphrey - Sadly, Dan is sneaky and the most manipulative of everyone and because he's a writer that wrote himself into the story...James. I hate it, too. Sorry.

Jenny Humphrey - This one was hard. I'm obviously going by personality here and not by how I have Dan casted so the Islander that fits Jenny the best and may spiral the way she did would be Jen. They both love fashion, a little edgy, have bite.

Nate Archibald - Again, I'm using affluent Islanders that would actually, possibly be apart of the UES (sorry Lewie you're not affluent). Nate is so boring to me and has no personality except for the fact that he's so perfect that he does no wrong and has this like, exceptional moral compass. He's always pushed by his parents to do things he's not really in favor of doing. Hmmm who else has that problem....Tom.

Georgina Sparks - Georgina is a whole ass mood. She's diabolical and is probably the smartest out of all of the UES. If I had to pick someone to be casted as Georgina, it would probably be Hannah. She flips a switch pretty quickly and doesn't seem to mind getting her hands dirty and pissing off that people she previously thought of as friends.

Carter Baizen - Sorry it's Eddie. I don't make the rules lmfao and I am a Carter apologist. I would have loved to see Serena end up with Carter in the end (yes, even over Nate).

Prince Louis - Youcef would so turn around and be a petty bitch. I do think Louis was actually a good guy but Blair played him the fool too many times for him to let that last one slide. Honestly? Justice for Louis because he was actually so good for Blair despite the little fit she pitched when he acted like he was just a driver on that date.

Lily - Oh come on! This one was so fucking easy. It's Juliet. I don't think I need to explain this one.

Rufus - This one was not easy. He talks about waffles a lot, but is also a good dad (okay, not always when it came to Jenny). Since he's really big into music...I don't know. I can't say Rocco, even though the hair is there, you know? Some part of me wants to say Max, but I don't know why. I think it's because I imagine that Max was similar to how Rufus was when he was young.

Eric Van Der Woodsen - I almost forgot Eric!!!!!! But he's just so special, I can't actually pick someone for him. Literally no Islander fits Eric, but I guess we can say Rohan or Tim. I just think Eric is so specific and the issues his character tackles are so important that you'd need an OC for him too.

Vanessa Abrams - In my GG x LITG universe, she doesn't exist. Bye.

[the-east-art]

Musing on JRPGS

Just like some stuff I've been thinking about. This will mostly talk about Tales of games that I've played and Final Fantasy VII (kind of reviews of these games?)

I'm putting it under the readmore because this will probably be long and rambly!

SO quick background. I love video games but I don't actually play a ton of them, I get busy with a lot of other stuff so while I have a passion for games I would never call myself an expert. Growing up my parents did not want us playing video games, and we only ever had consoles or games because of my rogue grandparents and uncle I believe. I grew up with a Gamecube with no memory cartridge, so games I played we always started over, or had to keep the GameCube on for weeks at a time. Eventually we got one, but that was in middle school.

Most of my experience with JRPGS has been in the last six years. I met a lovely friend with a passion for Tales of games and have slowly been making my way through the catalogue with them. (they're @mewnia and do awesome art!)

Anyways JRPGS! So I have noticed a couple main ideas that guide a JRPG. Most of them are defined by their lead characters story, the world building/magic system, the fighting system, and the cast of supporting characters. Different games are stronger or weaker in the various areas.

The Tales of series and the Final Fantasy series are like sister franchises to me. They both are a long line of titles, all mostly standalone, that deal with the same general magic concepts of spirits and stuff but play around with the rules these elements play by and the role they have in the story itself. My first JRPG was really Tales of Symphonia, and while I remember really loving it, I also played it way back in Middle School. I could talk about it, but not in a way that's analytical enough for this discussion. There is also kind of a classic JRPG mid game twist, where we discover that the world is not what we thought and reveal the 'true' plot of the game.

The Tales of series while not the most popular series in the west I really love the general design elements that they choose to go with. I feel like they're just stylized enough to stand out (with the exception of Arise, which makes me worry for the future of the franchise) and their designs walk an interesting line between complex and and just approachable enough for an artist.

Tales of Vesperia - This was the first one I played with my friend. The overall story isn't anything special in my opinion, but where this game really shines is the the side characters. This may be one of if not the best JRPG I've played so far that has the characters dynamics not only feel so good, but has each characters narrative arc integrate into the main story in such an intuitive way. Many JRPGs I've played will have the main plot basically come to a standstill in order to address the side characters stories. However each character in this game has a significant relevance to the main plot, and while circumstance brings them together, it's their choices that keeps them together. Because you connect so much with the characters, this game made me have some real emotions during its' various character twists (I'm looking at Raven here) Although this games mid game twist isn't anything crazy.

Tales of the Abyss - Boasting some of my favorite character designs, this games overall plot is definitely one of my faves. I think it does its' musical motif really well in the worldbuilding. The main character specifically has some of the best written progression and development over the course of the game, which does a good job at feeling real. Both this game and Vesperia has a relatively simple battle system, but I especially like how I feel like I'm really in control of how I play my character, and that I'm making choices in battles. Again I think most of the credit to this game goes to its' good world-building.

Tales of Xillia - This one boasts some of my least favorite character designs! congrats! I just felt like the designs are too complex and as a group not harmonious. When all the characters in Abyss stand together I was very happy. When all these characters stand together it looks like a mess. That being said the mid game plot twist in this game KICKS ASS. I LOVE IT. The issues in this game are one of my faves in the moral complexity, with lots of attention put towards how we prioritize certain people in our societies. I recall enjoying the fighting in this game too, and this is the first game I think I played with a really unique ability to customize your characters with little silly props. 10/10 all games should have this.

Xillia 2 - I will just touch on this one briefly. I have big love for the protag in this game, and it has good world building. I love alternate universes. Getting to see the paths the main characters took after the events of the first game is nice, although I would have appreciated a couple more new characters in the team. The affinity building dynamic was unique to this game and something I particularly enjoyed. Ludger is also very hot. there I said it.

Tales of Zestiria - This game is, uh, fine. Designs are fine. Character dynamics range from really good to just meh. The story is pretty vanilla, which I think is on purpose? Since its like a King Arthur retelling. I feel like this game has a really weird battle system where your attacks are judged by combo rather than direction button presses, which made me feel less in control of my characters fighting. However the magical girl merge mechanic in this game made up for it. Despite being such a vanilla story, I also found myself really confused a lot? Like the names and stuff for some reason were really hard to follow? But that's okay because this game sets the stage for....

Tales of Berseria - a prequel to Zestiria, but best played after it. The vanilla tone of Zestiria perfectly sets you up for the INCREDIBLE story of Berseria, where you play as not only a morally grey character, but in many ways an actual villain. The character dynamics in this game are really fun, as most characters are also leaning into the morally grey archetype, versus some of the characters that are kind of trapped with the group but are more archetypical good characters. It ends up really making you look at the story from a lot of different angles. The designs can be hit or miss in this game, ranging from awesome to 'I know you could do better'. The fighting in this game is one of my faves, requiring some real thought and the ability to have unique abilities taken from enemies spices things up a lot. This game is, without a doubt, a tragedy. And while by this point I was kind of tired of Tales of games never giving it's protags happy endings, I can't deny that this ideas was a theme throughout all the game and all the characters arcs.

Alright so, Final Fantasy VII

So, because I have played so many Tales of games, it is with the eyes of a tales of player that I analyzed Final Fantasy when I finally played it a month or so ago. Final Fantasy VII was an archetype game, defining a genre. That means that it is both very good, and also very lacking in the quality of life additions that we take for granted in more current games. So I won't belabor you with those critiques, just know that they're there. The designs in this game are good! very different from the Tales of series that I know, these character designs are a little more grungy looking, but overall I think the team looks good all stranding together and in the world, which is what matters the most. The magic system is something very unique, with the idea that the lifeblood of the world is also the knowledge of the past, and the materia system is simple enough for a beginner but also complex enough that if you should choose you can really dig your teeth into it. I personally really love the story of this game, both as it played with trials of the main cast, and the political power of Shirna in the face of the apocalypse. I think it's particularly telling and realistic that even in such a circumstance, the government will attempt to fight both the apocalypse AND the main cast rather than uniting. Character arcs are VERY hit or miss. We have some arcs that incorporate perfectly into the main story such as Aerith's, some that are only there to support the main characters (Tifa), some that stop the main plot in order to be pursued off to the side (Red XIII, Barret, Yuffie), and some that are barely there is at all (Cait Sith and Vincent). Luckily we have the remake in the form of future hope that some of these characters will get the spotlight and attention I feel they need.

Anyway uh if you read this all thanks! Mostly I wanted to get some of my thoughts down so I wouldn't forget it. IDK if I'll ever make a JRPG of my own, but I do really love JRPGS. I find the large cast to always be very fun, and the different ways that the games build up a world around similar building blocks to make unique stories is really interesting. Sometimes these worlds are the main focus, and sometimes they are just a beautiful backdrop for the plot.

[mensahjacq]

The Legend That Was Lost Too Soon

I honestly am not a huge fan of Tupac. I do acknowledge that he is a legend in rap and hip/hop history but his music has never been anything I’d personally listen to. He still should be given his credit as one of the most influential artists of all time. However, he starred in one of my favorite movies from the 90s, which is why I dedicated this blog post to him.

Overview

Tupac Amaru Shakur, often referred to by his stage names Makaveli and 2Pac is regarded by many as one of the greatest rappers of all time in terms of success and influence. Shakur has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians. Shakur's music has been recognized for tackling many of the modern socioeconomic challenges that inner cities face. Shakur was born in New York City to parents who were both political activists and Black Panther Party members. 

Controversies

Tupac’s legacy was not all sunshine and rainbows. He was arrested and sent to jail multiple times, and actually faced prison time at one point. 

He faced a trial in 1994 for alleged sexual assault of a fan. He and members of his entourage were charged with sexual abuse of a woman named Ayanna Jackson. Throughout the court procedures, the late rapper maintained that the encounter was consensual, and he even pled his case to the public by discussing it on The Arsenio Hall Show. He ended up being sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5 years. After serving eleven months of his sentence, he was released from prison on an appeal financed by Marion "Suge" Knight. 

An article by CBC, written by the CBC Radio, talks about how Tupac did not only release music with a societal conscious message. Shakur shifted away from positive and affirming political music and toward more profitable, but controversial, music when trends began to change. 

Acting Career

Tupac was a master of many cards, as he didn’t stick to just making music. He also pursued an acting career. One of his most famous appearances was in the movie Juice in 1992. This is one of my favorite 90s movies of all time! Tupac played the role of Bishop in the film. The plot foes like Bishop gets a taste of power with the possession of a firearm, he turns into a merciless killing machine who his closest friends no longer recognize. It really is a hood classic and introduced me to how talented Tupac was.

Tupac also starred in the film Poetic Justice in 1993. He played the character Lucky and had an on-screen romantic partner. This role showed how versatile Tupac’s acting style was and how he could truly fit into any role presented to him.

Accomplishments

Before he unfortunately passed away, Tupac made a huge mark on society and had an ongoing list of successes and accomplishments.

Tupac sold over 75 million records worldwide. Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

One of his most well-known songs, "Changes," addresses issues affecting society. The song reuses phrases from "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto," which was recorded in 1992, and samples Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 1986 smash song "The Way It Is." Tupac had experienced growing up with concerns of poverty, classism, and racial segregation, all of which were addressed in the 1986 song.  Tupac addressed racism, drugs, war, violence, and police brutality in his verses.

Rappers' attitudes about movies have altered since Tupac's breakthrough film, Juice. Bishop, a confused young guy who betrays his friends and grows into a ruthless murderer, was played by him. The film not only illustrates what it was like to live in Harlem in the 1990s, but it was also the first time a rapper gave a truly excellent dramatic performance.

Tragedy

He was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 7, 1996, at 11:15 p.m. The incident occurred while the vehicle in which he was driving was stopped at a red light. Four shots from a.40-caliber Glock were fired at Shakur. Six days later, he died as a result of his injuries. 

Just recently, Duane "Keefe D" Davis was apprehended on September 29, 2023, a whole 27 years later, after having been charged by a grand jury for the first-degree murder of Tupac Shakur.

This made me happy because society went all these years without knowing who killed such a legend in the making, and now it seems justice has finally been served.

citations used:

[nonbigalmari]

[This is a therapy ordered video transcript of my time at my mom and her boyfriend's Thanksgiving party, written in third person because that's easier.]

[The camera is facing a room full of people, Mari the one holding the camera drops to the floor. Making only the peoples legs visible.]

M: [Whispered.] Jesus christ why are there so many fucking people.

[The camera jolts as Mari looks around, moving their hand as they do. After a while they stop, loud music is heard in the background as people start dancing.]

M: Fucking hell, I wish I could just leave. [Whispered.] I swear if Sarah or Ness are here.

[Mari looks around again, the camera again following their movement. After a while they spot someone wearing a light purple shirt sitting in a corner, they begin slowly moving towards the figure. Noticeably having short brown hair and blue eyes.]

M: Hi… Uh… I'm Mari?

[The man jumps, before hiding his face in embarrassment.]

?: Jesus Christ, you scared me… Sorry about that. Hi.

M: Uh… What's your name? I uh, told you mine. I think.

Jer: Uh. Jeremy. Hi.

[He reaches out for a handshake, then puts his hand back down.]

Jer: Nevermind, too formal. Uh… hi.

M: Hi, can I sit against the wall with you?

Jer: Sure… I mean, I don’t know anyone here, so it’s not like the spot’s taken.

M: Cool, and uh… Ignore the phone? Therapist asked me to record potentially stressful moments so.

[Jeremy nods.]

Jer: Ah, makes sense. My therapist used to try to get me to do that, but I kept forgetting.

M: Yeah uh… Yeah.

[Mari moves over to the wall, the camera now again facing the rest of the party.]

M: Funny story, only reason I'm here is because my mom's boyfriend bribed me.

[Jeremy laughs.]

Jer: I’m here for the food, honestly. I didn’t really have any plans, so… here I am.

[He thinks for a second.]

Jer: Oh, also, did you want a drink? I meant to bring one out to my friend, but she didn’t want it, so…

M: Sure. Uh wait, is it alcoholic? I only drink alcohol on some occasions.

[Jeremy raises an eyebrow.]

Jer: You look awfully young to be drinking. But no, it’s not, it’s a can of Dr Pepper.

[He offers it to them.]

Jer: Careful, also, I dropped it a bit ago.

M: Oh cool.

[The camera shakes as Mari grabs the can of soda.]

M: Also uh yeah. I'm only 21.

Jer: Oh, my bad. I thought you were under the age for stuff like that.

[He pauses for a second.]

Jer: … So…

[He doesn’t know what to say.]

M: You like video games?

[Jeremy’s eyes light up.]

Jer: Shit, man, do I! What kind do you like?

M: I mean, Role playing games are fun, and I also play some wrestling games too… Besides that I don't really own a lot of games. Hard to afford them.

Jer: That’s fair, I only have some because my parents got them for me a while back. They’re pretty messed up now because of how old they are. But personally, I’m a fan of uh… I like horror a lot actually. And uh… apart from that, I don’t play much. Other than, like, Minecraft.

M: You hear about that beta testing gig? Opening up next month? I hate to sound like every person in town but like… We're talking about games so.

Jer: I did! I’m actually considering trying that out, since like… it’s Freddy’s related, I think. That place always seemed weird, so I was curious.

M: Wasn't there a location that burnt down here in town a while ago?

Jer: Yeah, and if I’m right, there was even one before that that burnt down. Weird shit, I’m telling you. Some people are saying it’s haunted and stuff too.

M: I don't believe in a lot of that stuff, honestly seems like connecting threads that aren't there. But it is what it is, I'm gonna try out just for the money.

Jer: Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if that place was haunted, but I get where you’re coming from. I’m also doing it for the money, ha!

M: Yeah, my uh… My mom is actually paying so I don't get kicked out of my apartment currently so…

Jer: That’s fair, my friend and I are both working to try to deal with the apartment situation, but we’re behind a couple payments… But shh, don’t tell anyone.

[Jeremy makes a shushing noise, bringing his finger over his lips, trying to hide a playful grin.]

M: Don't worry bro, I won't tell.

Jer: Thanks, you’re a real one. So… do you know like… any of the people in this room?

M: I mean, my mom and her boyfriend. I think some of my old high-school friends are here. Hence why I'm in a disguise. Blue hair instead of red, uh… Actually wearing makeup outside my house.

Jer: That makes sense. Bad memories and stuff, or…?

M: Yeah uh… Less anything they did just, very traumatic things tied to them y'know?

Jer: Ah, I get that. Oh–

M: Wha-

[Mari turns around, the camera following suit.]

[Jeremy is looking to his side, and downwards.]

M: [Whispered.] IS THAT A FUCKIN’ KID?

Jer: Yes, and they’re looking at me.

[The child seen tugging on Jeremy's shirt, has medium length brown hair that looks as if it hasn't been brushed in days, they are wearing a dirty red hoodie, with multiple scrapes on their face and hands.]

?: Pizza?

M: Wha-

[Jeremy glances over at the pizza table, then back at the kid.]

Jer: Uh… Over there?

[The child looks towards the pizza table, then looks back at Jeremy. Their green eyes start to water. When they speak again their tone is finally picked up, they seem sad. As if in pain.]

?: I do not like the adults, they scare me.

Jer: Oh, uh…

[Jeremy seems to be thinking about something really difficult, based on tone.]

M: Do you need a distraction?

[Mari sounds severely annoyed.]

Jer: I can help. I know exactly what I must do.

M: Do you. Want a. Fuckin’ distraction.

Jer: Watch your language, that’s a kid. But yes.

M: Ugh, this is going to suck more than if I had to fight seven evil exes.

Jer: For a good cause. I’ll owe you.

M: Ok, Ready. I'm going to run on that stage and go ham on the drums. This has to be timed perfectly.

Jer: I’ve got this, give me a second.

[Mari throws the phone in the kids direction, when the camera readjusts Jeremy's back is now visible.]

[Jeremy pulls out his phone, sends a quick message, then nods at Mari.]

Jer: Ready.

M: Ok. When I start counting you run to the table got it?

Jer: I’ve got it.

M: Cool. Kid film this.

?: Sure.

[Mari ducks down and begins sprinting out of frame. After a few seconds microphone static is heard.]

M: [Over a microphone.] Um ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!

[Jeremy scoops up the kid and runs to the pizza table, grabbing a box and, as quickly as possible, sprinting out through the front door of the house.]

S: [From inside the house.] THAT GUY JUST STOLE A KID AND A PIZZA WHILE MARI DISTRACTED US WITH MEGALOVANIA!

?: Should we wait on the person who owns this phone-

[Behind them, the sound of a door being kicked open and someone being chased.]

M: CAR CAR GET IN A CAR!

Jer: GOT IT. GOT IT.

[Jeremy runs in the direction of a white car. It looks a bit old, but he swings the door open anyway.]

Jer: EVERYONE IN.

?: WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO THIS TIME?

Jer: JUST GO. JUST GO.

M: OPEN THE FUCKIN’ DOOR! DIPSHIT!

Jer: I’M CARRYING A KID, ASSHAT.

[The kid crawls over and opens the door out of frame, passing the phone back to Mari as multiple people shout.]

M: DRIVE!

?: ON IT, BUT I SWEAR TO GOD–

[The car speeds off, leaving the crowd behind.]

M: Hi, I'm Mari… Who are you?

Jen: I’m Jenny. A very pissed off Jenny.

Jer: Listen, I–

Jen: Shut.

M: In his defense, he stole the pizza for a homeless… I think homeless at least kid.

?: Yes.

[The woman driving, apparently named Jenny, looks at the kid through the rear view mirror.]

Jen: … Oh, that’s… Okay, that makes more sense.

Jer: See? I’m not a delinquent.

[Jenny raises her eyebrows.]

Jer: … Not a delinquent for no reason.

Jen: That works.

M: I mean… I burnt a mall down on accident once so.

Jen: I’m sorry??

[Jenny almost looks back at Mari, but tries to keep her eyes on the road.]

Jen: I’ll need that story in a bit.

M: Do you use tumblr? I can like… Send it to you.

Jen: Yeah, how could you tell? Just the energy, or the nerdy soundtracks playing right now?

M: Lucky guess.

Jer: The soundtracks.

Jen: Shut up, you.

[There’s a moment of silence.]

Jen: So, based on… everything in this situation, it’s probably obvious I’m not entirely used to being a getaway driver, Jeremy.

Jer: Listen.

M: Yo kid want a free wig.

?: Wha-

M: Cool, catch.

[The sound of something shuffling, and then being thrown into the kids lap.]

Jen: Speaking of the kid, do you have a name, sweetheart?

[Jenny looks at the kid again through the rear view mirror.]

Sp: S- Sparrow… I think? Yeah, Sparrow… Or… Hm, nevermind.

[Jenny pauses for a second.]

Jen: That’s a lovely name… Um. So… Sparrow, do you have anywhere you’re staying, or…?

Sp: The um… The back of the pizza hut.

[Jenny thinks again for a moment.]

Jen: … Do you need anything?

Sp: A roof would be nice.

Jer: Well, that’s… I mean, you may be able to stay with us for a couple nights?

Jen: I think that’s possible… And you too, Mari. If you need.

M: Meh I have my house, I just can't let anyone in for a few days.

Sp: My mom's boyfriend won't let me back in the house, I don't know why. He also kept calling me um… Hm, a name that… Seems familiar. Dunno why though.

Jen: Ah, that’s… You can stay with us for a while, Sparrow. We don’t have a lot, but it’s hopefully better than behind a Pizza Hut.

Sp: They give me free leftovers sometimes.

M: Hey uh… Do you need some new clothes? If uh… Jenny doesn't mind stopping, uh… I'll buy you some.

Sp: Um… Ms Jenny?

Jen: Oh, no need! I do stuff like that all the time for cosplays and stuff, I’m sure I could make something for you, if you want, Sparrow…

Sp: COSPLAYS! WOW! I uh… Sorry, I've seen those before… Never met someone who did that stuff though.

Jen: I have for the past few years, in my spare time…

Jer: Yeah, for Homest-

Jen: SHUT.

Jer: Yes ma’am.

M: What.

[Mari can be heard looking for something.]

M: I FORGOT MY FUCKIN’ CHICKEN STRIPS.

Jen: I’m sorry, you meant to just… bring them on your escape?

M: My mom's boyfriend bribed me to come to his dumb party with 300 bucks and a bag of chicken strips.

Jer: Well, we can bribe you not to tell the cops about anything that has happened here with McDonald’s.

M: You realize if I told the cops, I'd get in trouble too right?

Jer: Just give me an excuse here.

Jen: Fine, we can stop at McDonald’s.

Jer: Hell yeah.

Sp: Hell yeah?

[Jeremy reaches back to fistbump Sparrow.]

Jer: Hell. Yeah.

M: How old are you anyway?

Sp: Thirteen.

Jer: Oh, so you can curse. My bad. Damn, what is with me and thinking everyone’s younger than they are today?

Jen: How old am I?

Jer: Well-

Jen: Answer carefully.

M: Wuh oh-

[Jeremy looks like he’s actually nervous, while Jenny is trying not to laugh.]

Jer: … 23?

Jen: … You pass for now. I’m 24, loser.

Jer: I’m the loser?

Jen: Yeah. Loser.

M: Hey, you're only 3 years older than me.

Jen: Hey, you’re only 3 years younger than me.

Jer: Hey, we’re only 3 turns away from the apartment.

Jen: Shut.

Sp: I am confused.

M: I should probably turn off the video huh? I'm alright to transcribe this and post it right? Tumblr people are cool.

Jen: I mean, as long as none of our, like… super personal information is in there, which it shouldn’t be, so sure!

M: Cool. Uh I'm going to end this now.

[End transcript.]

[cvntyvvitch]

I don't think cis people will ever be enlightened. or maybe just like, non queer people I mean. but I am trans so I guess it just kinda falls into this perspective for me, maybe non queer people can be enlightened but it's just not common or something, maybe idk but let me explain.

I think that 99% of people will go through life, never knowing who they actually are as a person. so many people I meet get so bogged down by the minutia of life, that they never really see the point of it. and like "the point?" you may ask? there is that ever nagging seemingly unknowable question of what is the meaning of life? and people always act like it is this big complicated thing that you can't really answer because it is so complex. but I think there is an answer, a fairly simple one;

the point of your life is to make it a good one.

"but where is the purpose?!" "where is the fulfilling great cause!"

why do you need that? ask yourself, do you think your life needs to have great purpose because of some internal drive, or because that is what everyone tells you? if your idea of a good and fulfilling life is accomplishing some feat, more power to you. but at the end of the day your main goal there is to have what you consider "a good life".

I think a lot of people are fed these ideas of what it means to have a "good life"; have a noble career, start a family, do something great.

I think this is steeped both in consumerism, (be productive, make more workers/consumers, make yourself valuable to other people) but also that in order for you to have a good and fulfilling life, it has to be a life that other people would admire, that they would think was worthwhile, that you fit within their expectations, played the game how it is supposed to be played, and won.

it's just capitalism and gender roles all the way down baybeee

stay in line, do what you are supposed to do, if you don't, you will make people disappointed and bring shame upon your family. people get so indoctrinated into this thinking that I think they never even consider what they want out of life. maybe they think they do, but usually they are still molding that idea in a way that fits within these preset expectations.

when you are trans you throw those expectations out the window. you have taken the radical step to say "naw, I'm not doing that shit, I'm going to do what makes me happy, not what makes you happy."

this scares people, they don't understand how you could break so far away from those expectations and risk all that shame and discomfort that comes with being different from other people. but when you realize that what other people think about you doesn't mean shit and you can stop worrying about it, it is no longer a driving force in your life. in one of my support groups, someone was talking about how they felt so sad because it seemed like life was so pointless.

you are right, life is pointless.

so are videogames, and music, and getting really high and having gay sex, but all that sure is a lot of fun!

I don't think anyone is 100% cis or 100% straight. I think they are deluding themselves so that they can fit within the established norms, so that they don't risk being ostracized. and so until they can realize that what they are doing is not for them, it is for other people, and that doing things for other people does not advance your goal of having a good life, they will never self actualize and will never get as much out of life as I will.

my goal is to make my life as good as possible, to have as many unique experiences as I can. I'm at an all you can eat buffet, why the fuck would I just keep eating plate after plate of salad. if you are cis and straight and are spending your precious life toiling away to make some billionaire richer in the hopes that one day you can have a family and a big house and hope that that will bring you the fulfilment you have been looking for because that's what your parents told you you are supposed to do, I am sorry. that is sad, and such a waste of potential.

as for me, I'm gonna learn as much as I can, I'm going to discover as much about myself as I can. I am going to try and many experiences as I can. I am going to love as many people as I can, and I'm sure as shit going to fuck as many people as I can.

each day is an opportunity to do something new and interesting, why choose to do the same shit you did yesterday.

be gay, do crime, and stop being so damn boring. you are capable of so much more.

[hieuthong]

ENTRY 9

nostalgia

While I was working my usual shift for my part-time job, I happened to overhear one of the parents talking to the main admin about their kid's choir trip to Bali for the international choir festival, if I’m not mistaken. Coincidentally, the choir academy they sent their kids to is the one I attended back then. While they were conversing over this topic, it made me realize how much I missed it, the friends that I made along the way, traveling together to perform, and the endless training for competitions and concerts. All that holds such significant memories within me, I would say it is one of my core memories. Every now and then, I would think back on the times when my weekend would be spent at the choir academy practicing with my members. I remember back in primary school, my school friends would ask me to hang out on weekends, but I always couldn’t make it because I had choir practice on both days. Me now would’ve felt semi left out because I couldn’t go with them, but at that time I didn’t care much because I really enjoyed my time in the academy.

I was 9 when I first joined the academy. My aunt introduced my mom to it and she brought me there to give it a try. I ended up staying until 2020. The reason why I left was because of MCO, I wasn’t the only one who left during that period, a few of my closest friends left too. It was a tough decision for me since I sort of grew up there, so it was hard for me to leave. Honestly, if it weren’t for MCO, I would still be at the academy. When I first joined I was enrolled in the elementary level where most of the kids are around the same age, then by the end of the year they told my mom I could audition for the “Concert Choir” which basically is a group that represents the academy for competitions and choir exchanges. I passed the audition and got in but only after the first half of 2014 because they were already training for the 2014 World Choir Games in Latvia. By the end of 2014, I was also part of that group. My time there was spent well, it gave me many opportunities and new experiences. The first time I traveled with them was in 2015 to Sarawak and in 2016, we went to Melbourne. I was fortunate enough to be able to experience these. My mom for some reason was quite at ease to let me travel alone at such a young age. Not only did I get to travel, but I also got a chance to perform with the orchestra a few times which was quite fun. During the 2017 SEA Games, our academy was chosen to do a recording for it, it was a great experience.

Every year we would have at least two performances, a smaller one for the first half of the year and a grand one for year-end. Usually, for the smaller performance, it’ll only be for the specific level you’re in while the annual year-end concert is joined with all the levels. There were many memories made there but one of the most memorable concerts was the last one I participated in the children’s choir before I graduated and moved to the youth choir. That year for the annual concert, we performed a musical and I got to play one of the roles. Fortunately enough, most of my close friends were the same age as me so we were able to enter youth choir together. Although we were still together, it still upsets me that we’re leaving the children’s choir. I remember clearly trying to hold my tears back during the encore stage, but I couldn’t help it and just bawled my eyes out. Thank god I wasn’t the only one who cried.

Something that upsets me a lot is that I no longer talk to my choir friends. Ever since we stopped attending classes, we just lost contact. We would go out once in a while but after MCO, we completely stopped talking. Hopefully, someday in the future we can reconnect with each other. The years I spent there undoubtedly played a significant role in my life. The memories made during that time will remain carved in my heart, unforgettable even as I grow older.

[superkooku]

That'd be so good !

Here are my own ideas

Since Disney princesses often have animal sidekicks. For Ariadne I'd have rather something wild. Either a snake (because why not ?)

Or a leopard (bonus point if Minos offered it to her and it doesn't come from Dionysus 😂). So it's like a Rajah to her Jasmine.

In a more tragic way, the "talking to animals" thing could be used for her and Asterius 😭. Imagine if she's the only one who manages to communicate with him. Or the only one who wants to.

Scenes with her and her family in the beginning. That'd be both cute and heartwrenching.

Disney princesses often lose at least one parent and family members. But what if it was metaphorical ?

What if Ariadne metaphorically loses Pasiphae, who's become a shell of herself. Or she lost Minos, that is devoured by resentment and shame and throws his rage on Athenians. And her brothers, one who died and another who got stuck in the labyrinth.

A character arc about finding your own path and healing

This prince is scarier than the Disney ones lmao 🤣. Ok seriously, considering Zeus is the king of the gods, and that Dionysus comes from the theban royal family, he'd definitely be considered a prince.

Classical love at first sight trope

Yk how Mulan is also a warrior ? We could have that here as well. Considering Ariadne fought with the maenads against Perseus.

Also, a musical with the god of theater in it is way too obvious to be missed. I mean, come on !!!

Ik it isn't Disney, but I can't not mention my favorite movie. I picture that one scene of Howl's moving castle with these two.

This one :

Like Ariadne being initially surprised (and still heartbroken) but then enjoying the company of this magical (godly) man who tries to lighten up her sorrow.

There isn't any villain in the story (mythology's usually more complex than that), so I can see it taking a more psychological aspect. We get to know Ariadne and the crazy world around her. Maybe Minos as the antagonist, that kinda haunts her even in his absence ? Or Hera if there's more Dionysus stuff.

Theseus isn't really "antagonist material" tbf. Though he'd definitely play an important role.

And, one important point : ARIADNE SHOULD BE ACTIVE IN HER OWN STORY, NOT A SPECTATOR (glaring at a certain retelling)

What do you think ?

Ariadne is the equivalent of a Disney princess but the world isn't ready for that;

Actual princess

Cursed family

Smart and kindhearted

"prince that comes to save the day"

Gets heartbroken

Later has a happily ever after marrying a god

Imagine Ariadne singing about what she wants in life to leave or to break the cycle of bloodshed.

Or singing dramatically when Theseus abandoned her on Naxos, animals, nymphs and satyrs slowly approaching her to hear her sorrows then Dionysus appears and they sing a duet.