#i kept remembering this scene so i just...had to

[hopeful-dawn]

I find it very interesting how incredibly sheltered Shadow is in the movie, not just compared to other versions of his character, but also to the other characters in the SCU. He doesn't talk a lot, so it's not overly obvious, but his flashback scenes were riddled with subtext. He's clearly an amnesiac when he first falls to earth, so he has literally no idea about... most things, and the military certainly wouldn't have seen fit to teach him about them.

Given the way they kept him locked up in a fluid-filled tube - despite him being awake, alert, seemingly uninjured, and still in his clothes -, and his own admission that they all seemed scared of him and thought he was dangerous, Shadow doesn't seem to have been treated like an actual person, much less a child. And given his reaction to Maria when she first interacted with him (i.e. confused and suspicious even after she was very playful and friendly towards him), she likely was the first person to show him actual kindness, too.

Which makes sense! In the games he was created for the express purpose of being able to cure Maria. She was there for him and cared for him from the start, and undoubtedly made sure he was being treated at least moderately well. And she would have had the leverage to do so, because they were on a civilian space colony where her grandfather, who loved her dearly, was the one spearheading the project. In the movies however, Shadow was an extremely powerful extraterrestrial of unspecified origin, with an unknown purpose for coming to Earth. During the Cold War. He was not a beloved creation; he was a potential threat who was being experimented on by the military.

There's no way that before Maria he'd have been given lessons in Earth cultural practices, or allowed to do things like watch movies or listen to music or even just roam freely throughout the base. They didn't trust him enough to. But without any memories of his own he'd have been easy enough to mold to their liking, so they did teach him how to fight, how to shoot a gun, how to ride a motorcycle, and how to harness his power, because they undoubtedly wanted to use him as a secret weapon against the Soviets and as a power source (why else would they keep him in a military base and store a bunch of containers filled with his highly explosive chaos energy? How else would he have learned how to ride a human motorcycle with such skill?). Weapons aren't people though, and potential threats don't get kindness, lest people get attached to them, and neither are taught anything they don't absolutely need to know to perform their functions.

So yeah. Poor kid was kept emotionally isolated and ignorant, until Maria came in and demanded better for him. Too bad that made her a liability to them, one they felt they had to get rid of after they decided that Shadow needed to be shelved until such a time that they could actually control him. Remember, they were aiming to shoot her, specifically. If they wanted to shoot Gerald or Shadow, they'd have done it at any point afterward. So even though it was an explosion that ultimately killed her, she was slated to die regardless. Gerald and Shadow were considered valuable; she was just a loose end who convinced Shadow he was a person and turned his loyalties from them to herself.

(Those kids never stood a chance. Even if they had escaped, they'd have been hunted down by the military, and she'd have been killed then instead while he was taken into custody. Their fates were sealed the second they stepped foot into that base. Shadow never would have been allowed to have a decent childhood, and Maria never could have treated Shadow as anything other than a fellow child and friend.)

And when he was brought out of stasis he had no time or inclination to fix any of that ignorance (because he was convinced he would die, along with the rest of the world). All of which puts him in a very disadvantageous spot by the end of the movie, because he's going to be so lost once he wakes back up on earth.

Does he know how to read in any language or how to do basic arithmetic? Does he know any geography or how to read a map? Does he know any first aid or wilderness survival skills? Since he wasn't created in a lab, does he need to eat and drink, and if so does he know what's safe for him to consume? These are all things he might need to know if he's going to try and survive on his own, and unfortunately he also almost certainly doesn't know how to use a computer or a telephone, which would be his main two ways of getting that kind of information if he can't outright ask anyone.

To take it even further, because of his amnesia, does Shadow even know that he's supposed to be a hedgehog?? Does he know what the chaos emeralds are, or that they're emeralds at all, or why he went god mode upon touching them? Does he know that Sonic survived after he passed out and fell to earth? And also, did literally anyone ever tell him Sonic's name??

[amysbookcorner]

My thoughts on the show’s adaptation of Claire getting shot:

After a few rewatches I am actually impressed with how they handled this storyline. This was one of my favorite storylines from the book because we rarely see Claire hurt or sick and it’s sort of a switch of Jamie and Claire’s typical roles.

As like most of this season, it did feel a little rushed with the time jumps, which do happen in the books. If they had more time I would have liked to see the parts with Jamie taking care of Claire right after her surgery and through her fever.

They managed to keep the most important scenes which I was pleasantly surprised by with the little time they had. I didn’t like that they rushed Leckie helping Claire in the show. While he isn’t able to do much in the books either it does explain that he stays until the bleeding slowed and he says that he would come back.

Jamie shouting out Leckie is from the books, but he says it in Gaelic. I’m sure the change to English was so everyone would know what he was saying, but it’s one of those things that I think that doesn’t really carry the same meaning when translated and would’ve made more sense if the kept it in Gaelic and just added subtitles.

I found it interesting that they left out Jamie being the first to ask for Denny in the show, but he was probably just in shock and wasn’t thinking straight.

One of the interesting changes the show made with the cheese is Claire tells Denny to make a poultice out of it. In the books she tells him to pack the wound with cheese. I’m no doctor so I have no idea which way would work if either. The show skipped over showing the actual surgery, but it’s not important to the overall story so I get it.

Jamie’s monologue about Claires blood loss is from the books, but it was his internal thoughts. The show leaves out him remembering Claire saying she thought about slitting her wrist when she thought he was dead. He decides that he wouldn’t do that because there are too many people who need him, but he believes that if he had to live without her that would be his purgatory.

I loved that the show included Jamie helping Claire when she had to use the chamber pot. It was such a vulnerable moment for her and I loved them bickering like the old married couple they are.

[tinydefector]

Behind the Scenes 3- DC

Tim Drake x Male reader

Word count: 2.6k

Warnings: none

Masterlist

Prev

Next

__________________

The group continued their tour of the nursery, with Sarah pointing out various plants and offering suggestions for what might fit Tim’s preferences or rather, Alfred’s preferences, since Tim was clearly here under protest. But as they moved from section to section, Tim couldn’t help but glance back toward the greenhouse every now and then. Y/N was still working, still humming softly to himself, completely unaware of the attention he’d drawn. For some reason. Tim didn't know why it rubbed him the wrong way, but it felt as if his detective scenes were screaming at him that something was amidst.

Alfred was practically glowing as he wandered through the nursery, carefully selecting plants with the enthusiasm of someone who had just discovered a new hobby. Tim, meanwhile, trailed behind, holding a few pots that Alfred had gleefully handed him, a resigned but amused expression on his face, he knew better than to argue with Alfred when he was in his element.

“Master Timothy,” Alfred said, examining a small flowering bush with a critical eye, “I believe this one would look stunning by the east-facing windows in the manor. Don’t you agree?” Tim sighed, shifting the weight of the pots in his arms. “Sure, Alfred. At this point, you could bring home a cactus and I’d agree.” Alfred looked over his shoulder, raising a brow. “Don’t tempt me, sir. I might just take you up on that.”

Sarah, who had been helping Alfred navigate the nursery, chuckled as she placed another plant on a nearby cart. “You’ve got quite the eye, Alfred. Not everyone takes this much care in choosing plants.”

“Attention to detail is a skill I pride myself on,” Alfred replied, his tone light but sincere. “After all, these plants are going to be part of Wayne Manor. It’s only right to give them the consideration they deserve.” Tim rolled his eyes, a small grin tugging at his lips despite himself. “Yeah, because nothing says ‘home’ like another dozen plants taking over the manor.”

“Oh, come now, sir,” Alfred said, gesturing toward a particularly vibrant bottlebrush shrub. “Surely even you can appreciate the charm of this. Imagine it in full bloom, attracting bees and birds to the garden.” Tim blinked. “ i see that and think, hmm remember last time America decided to buy a large collection of trees, it's what resulted in there being so many Eucalyptus trees, and I know how flammable they are” Tim remarks but his eyes do catch onto a few small pots with spreader plants, mainly little flowers.

But even while he looked at the smaller plants, his eyes kept creeping back to Y/n, Sarah noticed “ Sometimes I think he's a druid.” She says with a smile, she knew well how much work Y/n put into the plants, testing new fertiliser mixes making sure plants were watered enough. She knew he had multiple notebooks with details in them over different plants.

Tim looked at her curiously. “A druid?” “Yeah,” Sarah said with a laugh. “That’s what the team around here calls him. He’s great with animals too. It’s like he’s got this natural connection to... well, nature itself.” Tim raised a brow, his mind immediately flashing to ‘Her’. It was probably nothing, just a coincidence. But Sarah’s praise, the way Y/N moved so effortlessly among the plants, and the strange sense of familiarity Tim couldn’t quite place. it was all starting to feel a little too reminiscent of Poison Ivy. He kept his suspicions to himself, though, offering Sarah a polite nod as she continued to talk.

---

Alfred’s enthusiasm led to quite the haul, and the cart was quickly filled with a variety of plants,

Correa Dusky Bells

Australian daisy

Violet kunzea

Ragged robin

Foxglove

Snake's head fritillary

American Bellflower

New Jersey Tea Redroot

Eastern Redbud.

Crimson-eyed Rose-mallow

Marshmallow Hibiscus

Royal Fern

These were just some of the newer things outside of a collection of Tea plants and herbs. As the cart grew fuller, Tim found himself holding yet another pot Alfred handed him. He sighed dramatically but couldn’t help the fond smile forming on his face.

“You’re really going all out, Alfred,” Tim said. “Of course,” Alfred replied, selecting a tray of Echinacea. “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it properly.” Tim shook his head in amusement, had he known Alfred enjoyed this he would have told the older man to do it more often, he seemed so in his element reading tags and debating on where the best place to place the plants would be. “Alright, Alfred,” Tim said, adjusting the pots in his arms. “Let’s get these plants home before you decide to buy out the entire nursery.”

“An excellent idea, sir,” Alfred replied with a smile. “Though I must say, there’s still time to pick up a cactus or two.” “Don’t push your luck,” Tim said with a chuckle, following Alfred and Sarah toward the office. Despite the lingering questions about Y/N, Tim couldn’t deny that the trip had been peaceful. For Alfred’s sake, it was worth it and he would happily do it again.

It didn’t take long to get the plants paid for and loaded into the car. Alfred was in high spirits, practically beaming as he helped the nursery staff carefully arrange the pots in the trunk and backseat.“Careful with that correa, please,” Alfred said, directing one of the workers as they secured the plants. “It’s quite delicate, and I’d hate for any of the petals or leaves to be damaged before we even get home.”

Tim stood off to the side,watching the scene with mild amusement. “You’re acting like you just adopted a dozen new kids, Alfred.” “Plants require care and attention, Master Timothy,” Alfred replied, his tone teasing but firm. “Much like a child, they thrive under the right conditions.”

“Right,” Tim said, rolling his eyes. “Except, you know, they don’t cry at 3 a.m. or need college tuition.” Alfred glanced over his shoulder, a sly smile tugging at his lips. “Perhaps not, but I do recall a certain young man who once managed to knock over an entire potted fern in the manor’s sitting room. Twice.”

Tim groaned. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?” “Not likely,” Alfred said with a smirk. Just as the last of the plants were loaded into the car, Sarah walked up to say goodbye. “You’ve got quite the haul here, Alfred. Your garden’s going to look amazing.”

“Thank you, Sarah,” Alfred said warmly, shaking her hand. “And thank you for your help today. It’s always a pleasure.” “Anytime,” Sarah said, waving them off as they climbed into the car. “Come back soon!”

As Alfred started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, Tim leaned back in his seat, finally feeling like the day was coming to a close. He glanced at the carefully arranged plants in the backseat and the small tray of cacti sitting on the center console.

“Wait a second,” Tim said, narrowing his eyes at the cacti. “What’s with those?” Alfred kept his gaze on the road, but his lips curled into a mischievous smile. “I thought they’d make a lovely addition to your room, sir.” “My room?” Tim asked, raising an eyebrow. “Alfred, I don’t even like plants.”

“Precisely,” Alfred replied with a faint chuckle. “That’s why I chose cacti. They require very little care, and they’re quite resilient. Perfect for someone who claims to have no time for gardening. Think of it as a lesson in time management, you only need to water them once every week and only a very small amount”

Tim stared at the tiny cacti, their spiky little bodies mocking him from their neat tray. “You got these just to tease me, didn’t you?” “Perhaps,” Alfred said innocently, though the sparkle in his eyes gave him away. Tim groaned, shaking his head but unable to suppress a small smile. “You’re lucky I like you, Alfred.”

“And you’re lucky I’m so fond of you, Master Timothy,” Alfred replied smoothly. The rest of the drive back to Wayne Manor was peaceful, the car filled with the faint scent of the different flowers. Alfred hummed quietly to himself as he drove, clearly pleased with the day’s acquisitions, while Tim scrolled absentmindedly on his phone, occasionally glancing at the cacti on the console.

For all his grumbling, Tim couldn’t deny that the trip had been worth it. Seeing Alfred so happy and getting a break from the chaos of corporate life made it all worthwhile. Even if he now had a few tiny cacti to look after.

When the car pulled up to the grand entrance of Wayne Manor, Tim immediately noticed his own car parked neatly in the driveway. He narrowed his eyes slightly, already piecing together the situation. “Alfred,” Tim started, a mix of suspicion and amusement in his tone, “did you have someone bring my car back while we were out?”

“Of course, Master Timothy,” Alfred replied smoothly as he shifted the car into park. “It wouldn’t do for you to be stranded here without a means of transportation.” Tim raised a brow. “Let me guess. It was Bruce, wasn’t it?” Alfred’s expression was neutral, but the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes gave him away. “I may have requested Master Bruce’s assistance, yes. He happened to be available.”

“Right,” Tim muttered, shaking his head as he opened the car door. Alfred stepped out as well, walking around to the trunk to begin unloading the larger plants. But before Tim could offer to help, Alfred waved him off with a polite but firm look.

“Go on, sir, and do not forget your Cacti” Alfred said, reminding Tim to grab the small tray. “I’m sure you’ve had quite enough plants for one day. I’ll see to the rest.”

Tim hesitated for a moment, glancing at the tray in his hands and sighed. “You’re really not going to let me forget about these, are you?” “Not in the slightest,” Alfred replied with a slight smile. “Now, off you go. I’m sure Master Damien is lurking somewhere nearby, no doubt eager to interrogate you about your day.”

Tim rolled his eyes but couldn’t help a small grin as he turned toward the Manor. “Fine, fine. Thanks for the ride, Alfred.” “Anytime, Master Timothy.”

With that, Tim made his way inside, the cool interior of the Manor a welcome contrast to the warmth of the afternoon sun. He adjusted the tray in his hands as he walked through the main hall, already mentally preparing for whatever questions Damien might throw at him.

He didn’t have to wait long. As he rounded a corner into the living room, Damien was perched on one of the armchairs, a sketchbook balanced on his knee. He looked up the moment Tim walked in, his sharp green eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the sight of his older brother holding the small tray with a plant on it.

“You’re back,” Damien said, setting the sketchbook aside. “And... what’s that? A tiny plant?” Tim groaned internally, knowing exactly where this was going. “Yes, Damien. They’re cacti. Alfred’s idea.” A smirk tugged at the corners of Damien’s mouth as he stood, crossing his arms. “Alfred bought you plants? Why?”

“Because apparently I need to ‘brighten up my room’ or something,” Tim said, setting the tray down on the coffee table. “And because Alfred apparently has a sense of humor.” Damien stepped closer, inspecting the little cacti with a critical eye. “You? With plants? I give them a week before they’re dead.”

Tim glared at him. “They’re cacti, Damien. They barely need water. Even I can handle that.” “Mm,” Damien said, clearly unconvinced. He reached out and poked one of the tiny things with his finger. “Still, I can’t imagine you keeping these alive for long. You’re hardly the ‘nurturing’ type.”

Tim sighed, placing the plant down gently on the table before flopping onto the couch. “Why are you like this?” he groans while shooting a gallery at Damien “Because, unlike you, I actually have standards,” Damien replied smugly, sitting down across from him.

Tim shook his head, leaning back against the cushions. “You’re unbelievable.” “And yet, here I am,” Damien said with a shrug. He glanced at the tray again, his expression softening slightly. “...They’re not terrible, though. The succulents are well-formed, and the cacti look healthy. Alfred has good taste.”

“Gee, thanks,” Tim said dryly. Damien leaned back in his seat, his smirk returning. “So, what was this all about? Why were you out buying plants in the first place?” Tim sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Alfred wanted to pick out some new plants for the Manor, and I got dragged along for the ride. The entire trip was basically him having the time of his life while I held pots and tried not to lose my mind.”

Damien raised a brow. “And the cacti?” “Alfred’s parting gift,” Tim said with a wry smile. “I think he just wanted to mess with me.” Damien hummed softly, shaking his head. “Well, at least he didn’t make you carry home an entire garden. Though I’d pay good money to see you trying to take care of plants.”

Tim shot him a look. “Don’t you have something better to do?” “Not at the moment,” Damien said, clearly enjoying himself. Tim groaned, leaning his head back against the couch. “I should’ve stayed at the nursery.” Damien picks up his sketchbook again. “Maybe next time, you can bring me along. I’m far better suited to such endeavors.”

Tim didn’t bother replying, instead closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh. He’d survived the day, but between Alfred’s teasing and Damien’s relentless commentary, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever live it down. At least the cacti were quiet. For now.

Tim carried the tray up to his room, his mind still circling back to the day’s events. As much as he tried to brush it off, something about Y/N didn’t sit right with him. It wasn’t anything overt—no obvious signs of wrongdoing, no strange behavior, but Tim’s instincts were rarely wrong. And today, they were screaming at him that something was off.

Once inside his room, he placed the tray on his desk, staring at the tiny plants with a sigh. “Where the hell am I even supposed to put you guys?” He glanced around the room, mentally cataloging potential spots: his desk already had enough clutter, the windowsill barely got any sunlight, and there was no way he was putting them on the nightstand. After a moment, he shrugged and shoved the tray to the corner of the desk. “Good enough. You’ll survive or you won’t. Not my problem.”

With that settled, Tim grabbed his laptop and flopped onto the bed, his usual habit of multitasking kicking in. He opened his laptop, intending to catch up on emails or Wayne Enterprises reports, along with reading back over the information Dick had sent him over Riddler and his doings. In truth he was just happy to be back in his own domain if only until dinner time.

But one thought kept coming back to him, why did this Y/n remind him so much of Her. “Ivy,” Tim muttered under his breath, his fingers already flying across the keyboard as he started his search. He had never known her to be very social, she had made an exception for Harley Quinn, but even then they didn't socialise with a lot of other rogues keeping to themselves and their ‘territory’

He started with the basics: a quick search of Y/N’s full name, filtering through social media accounts, job listings, and anything else that might give him a clearer picture.

__________________

Slowly working on the next chapter outside of moving horses, I'll be hopeful doing another transformers fic update in the next few days.

[malinowaj]

selected figure skating

so, @almostlake said they wanted to watch and learn more about figure skating. i will take any excuse to talk about this wretched sport (the love-hate relationship is strong, okay), so i've put together a list of my favourite programs. the original list was about 45 programs, so this is significantly scaled down. however, i'm always happy to talk skating, so you can ask me my current olympic quad favourites or favourite element or whatever comes to mind.

this also serves as a sort of behind-the-scenes for hope and legacy, because obviously some of these programs have heavily influenced how i write about skating in that story.

i'd like to say i love all disciplines equally, but the heart wants what it wants and unfortunately it wants chaos in the form of men's figure skating. this'll be heavy on that, though i'm letting my roots as an ice dance enthusiast show.

note: i acknowledge that russia has been a majorly significant powerhouse in figure skating, and there are several programs from russian skaters that could be on this list. however, due to basically two reasons i stopped paying any attention to anything russian skating related in february 2022 and everything i've learned since has been against my will. there is one russian program on this list, but that's the extent i'm going to discuss russian skating. all other skating though, let's chat.

men

yuzuru hanyu: seimei, hope and legacy, origin and let me entertain you. look, it's no secret yuzu is my favourite skater of all time. he's a once in a lifetime skater and pretty much changed the way i watch, analyse and feel figure skating. to me, skating is all about storytelling and yuzu does it like no one else. i could've really picked any of his programs, because there isn't a single one i don't like. i've had the privilege of seeing him live three times and i still remember, years later, how my comment after the last time was "i don't know if i should laugh or cry, because how can someone be so good".

junhwan cha: fate of the clockmaker/clock and dagger. i've never fallen for a skater as fast as i did for jun when i saw this program. i'd seen him around, of course, but this program was so perfect for him. the mood, the storytelling, the step sequence, the final spin.

deniss vasiljevs: romeo and juliet. a few years back i didn't watch that much skating because of life. then back in 2022 i actually sat down to watch euros and deniss, someone whose skating i've loved for years, did this. he doesn't just skate, he creates art and definitely makes me feel a lot when watching him. also, hands down the best spins in current men's skating. (also my reference program for simon's free skate.)

matteo rizzo: talking to the moon/that's what i like. is this matteo's best program? maybe not. (even i'm partial to his two men in love.) but this performance. the moment after his last spin and the step sequence. i saw this live and it was LOUD. he brought the arena alive like no one else and sadly this video doesn't quite capture it. depending on where in the world you are, i'd say get a VPN and watch the video on ISU's channel, with his reaction and bows, because that sort of gives you an idea how much we all loved this, and how much this meant for him. every time i write simon's step sequence, this moment is what i think about. out of everything i've ever seen live, that might be my favourite figure skating moment.

jason brown: sinnerman. jason has so many good programs, but i think this captures so well all his strengths, and is wonderfully different too.

jeremy abbott: exogenesis. an absolutely exquisite skater who sadly never quite kept it together under pressure. easily his best program, it has so much feeling to it.

stephane lambiel: wilhelm tell. could've been any of his programs, because i just want everyone to see what the bestest of best spins look like. (nowadays coaching deniss vasiljevs, which explains his spins.)

daisuke takahashi: bachelorette and blues for klook. i remember sitting on my grandma's uncomfortable leather couch with my mouth open when i saw bachelorette, because you're telling me skating can be like this too? dai's skating skills are to die for and he knew how to sell a story too.

women

carolina kostner: bolero. look, i hate bolero. it's possibly the worst figure skating music choice one can make. but i've watched caro's bolero more times than i can count, because it's incredible. there are so many of her programs i could've picked, but for the aforementioned reason this is notable. skating skills, spins, interpretation. god, i love her.

satoko miyahara: song for the little sparrow. program so good there's a guy doing a tribute to it. satton is easily one of the best and overall most well-rounded skaters of recent years, with spins to die for, and i'm so sad she never got to shine like she deserved. and i adore her recent show numbers.

akiko suzuki: O. the way she embodies the music is pure magic. this program should be the benchmark for all aspiring skaters, and it sure is my favourite women's program of all time.

pairs

wenjing sui/cong han: rain, in your black eyes. THE pairs program of all time. it's so effortless, it's so difficult, and it's so stunning. every time i watch it i go "oh, it's over already" when the finish, because they capture your attention and suck you in with this program so that you wish it would last at least three times as long as it does. also, my reference program for wille and stella.

aliona savchenko/robin szolkowy: pina. they have so many good programs, but i remember watching this in awe because it was different from what they'd done before. and the risk for a pairs team to do a dance-themed program, i think they were the only ones who could pull it off.

tatiana volozoshar/maxim trankov: masquerade waltz. the chemistry, the technique. i got to see this live at art on ice almost right after they won at the sochi olympics and it was magical. the height of their twists and throws was something unbelievable. my other reference program for wille and stella.

ice dance

tessa virtue/scott moir: moulin rouge. there's a thing that goes along the lines of 'someone who's seen one ice dance program will say v/m's moulin rouge is the best of all time. someone who's seen 100 programs will say it's some obscure original dance from a pair that was together for two seasons. and someone who's seen 1000 programs will say v/m's moulin rouge is the best of all time.' that's how good it is. the timing of the twizzles is my favourite thing in the world. i also love their farrucas. you want to watch amazing ice dance, you watch tessa and scott. (and then weep because they don't do ice dance like this anymore.)

meryl davis/charlie white: bollywood. the 2010 olympics original dance competition was definitely one for the books. this stood out with its originality, with it's attention to detail and it'll always be one of my favourites. (i'm going to start a petition to bring back original dance.)

sinead kerr/john kerr: scottish dance. i loved the kerrs, so much. they did so many things no one else did, especially when it came to lifts. and this one is legendary for john's kilt alone. (original dance i miss you so.)

kana muramoto/daisuke takahashi: soran bushi. yes, the same daisuke takahashi that appeared in men's. he ended his career in ice dance and this program is the best thing they did. the music choice, the details of the choreography, the way they perform.

kaitlin hawayek/jean-luc baker: with or without you. the best rhythm dance we never saw in competition last season. such an original take on the 80s theme, and an absolutely perfect fit for them. the skating skills are among the best, and there is so much emotion. if there was justice in the world, they'd have been USA's top pair after beijing, but sadly there isn't. i sometimes watch this when i want to cry, because it'll make me shed tears every single time.

ignore any and all typos, but please tell me if the links don't work. (i'm typing this after a 6-day workweek on too little sleep.)

finding skating videos, especially if you want a specific performance, is needle in a haystack stuff these days. the best way to get into skating is to watch it, preferably a lot, to find what works for you and who you like. the skating ISU channel has a lot of videos from recent seasons, and apart from the olympics does all major competitions live. depending on where you are in the world, you might need a VPN. (setting it to the netherlands works pretty much always.)

and if you ever get the chance, go watch skating live. it's the best, i promise.

[mapleandgingeroatmeal]

OK so I just talked to Loop again after figuring out that the Head Housemaiden had kept a tally of the town’s wishes in her office. WHAT a scene. Loop figured out just like I did that Siffrin’s emotional state, specifically strong feelings of hopelessness, is what causes them to loop those other times. Then we did a weird reset loop after they asked Sif if anything about that Head Housemaiden conversation made them feel hopeless…

I remember wayyy back at the start of this game theorizing that Sif was looping because on a subconscious level they really agreed with The King about the beauty and joy of that moment, and didn’t want to ever be separated from the only family they could remember. I dismissed that after it was so clear how upset not beating the king made them, but now I’m wondering if maybe I was right after all. That all this is stemming from Siffrin’s emotion hangups and has been a self-inflicted ordeal all along to some extent? It IS still true that they very stubbornly act as if they need to say the lines the same every time, and that they can’t bring themselves to speak to everyone about the loops.

[numberonesnarkfan]

wrote up a scene I've had in my head for months about Sawyer's childhood. Actually quite proud of how it turned out.

(CW for animal death)

Harley rarely smiled. 

Harley wasn’t happy.

But sometimes he was content for a moment, and that was close enough for him.

Sometimes he was unreachably manic. That was close enough for him.

Harley was eight years old. The little wooden house on the hill was his fourth foster home. Nobody ever kept him for long. They were polite, but he knew what they were thinking. If it wasn’t his general demeanour, it was little ‘incidents’ that got him put back into the orphanage.

Or juvy.

Sometimes the orphanage just didn’t have enough room.

Harley had never felt safe around people, even as a child. They did terrible things to him - the adults, the children. The guilty, the innocent. Didn’t matter. There was something blackened and rotten inside him, he knew. It made him unsafe from the world.

Animals, in comparison, were kind. They bit him not because of that confusing mass, but just because they were scared. He’d prefer to be bitten by a dog: he’d know he’d done something wrong and how to fix it. Humans bit him because he was scared.

He was only a boy. 

He wished death didn’t exist. He felt angry when he saw mothers and their daughters. Perfectly matched sets, so pure.

The orphanage nuns told him that the goat fled into the forest when its family was sacrificed, taking all of the world’s sin with it. He felt like a goat sometimes. Lamb to the slaughter.

He felt like a goat in the forest.

The forest was nice.

It was quiet, calm. No screaming or crying, no laughing or grabbing. Just him and the trees and Daisy.

Daisy was a Jack Russel Terrier. She bit him when she was scared. She licked him kindly when she was sorry. He trusted her. 

They played games with sticks and rocks. Harley sometimes waded into the pond until the water was up to his chest to catch newts and frogs. Daisy snuffled around at the edge of the water. She trusted him. 

Harley watched Daisy chase animals in the undergrowth. “That’s what Jack Russels do,” the foster lady had told him, “they’re bred to kill things smaller than themselves. Daisy’s great at catching rats.”

Mice and rats and snakes.

She trusted him.

He trusted her.

She wasn’t human.

But neither was he.

Harley remembered a summer night.

He remembered it for a long time.

It was half past eight at night. 

“I might just have to foster fail with you, boy.” His foster mother had told him while cooking dinner, “You’re so clever, you’d fit right into our family. When my husband comes back from overseas, he’d love to meet you.”

Cautiously, he’d smiled. 

There was a noise from the front porch. Daisy was barking at a raccoon again. He’d have to bring her inside. She’d try to fight anything.

Harley put on his summer evening coat and stepped outside. He remembered how it felt to reach up and grab the handle. He’d been so proud that he was tall enough. 

He didn’t see a raccoon. He saw a snake that darted quickly away into the foliage.

Daisy lay on her back. Her mouth opened. Her mouth closed. Her mouth opened. Her mouth closed. Her eyes stared. 

Harley heard no sound, no breath, no barking. He didn’t know what was happening. How could he?

He stood and stared.

Her mouth opened. Her mouth closed. Her mouth opened. Her mouth closed.

She went still.

What just happened?

He laughed.

“Daisy’s being silly!” he called back into the house. He mimicked her mouth movements. He thought it looked like a fish. It was funny. He was only a boy.

He sat down next to her and rubbed her belly. She felt different. 

Harley knew what dead things looked like. He’d seen dead lizards, dead bugs, dead kids. Daisy looked too much like a dead thing. 

He hit her. He kicked her. Bite me, he’d thought, Get up and bark at me. 

She didn’t.

He stood and stared. Her body slowly stiffened.

He heard creaking. His foster mother was on the second floor. 

Harley ran back into the house. Back into the kitchen.

Harley reached up over the countertop.

She had been dicing tomatoes. He pulled the knife down.

He walked solemnly back outside. His eyes felt wet, and they burned.

Harley stood over the dog.

It wasn’t Daisy anymore. Daisy was dead. Daisy didn’t exist.

Tears fell and soaked into her fur. 

Harley raised the blade and cut.

He struggled to saw a line down her middle. His arms were barely strong enough, even gripping the knife with both hands, cutting towards himself. He opened the hole. 

He saw her organs. They were still. 

He reached inside. It was still warm. 

He cried.

He didn’t understand.

How could he?

He was only a boy.

He trusted her.

Harley flinched.

He only realised why a few seconds later. There’d been a scream.

The foster lady was standing in the doorway.

She stared at the boy, arm deep inside her precious girl. The knife sat beside him. She’d only left it unattended for a moment.

She wondered what he’d been doing to Daisy out there in the woods, if he could kill her in cold blood right here.

He didn’t understand.

He was only a boy.

He trusted her. 

How could he?

The blood wasn’t washed off until he was at the police station. 

He might hurt the other kids, they said. He’d go to juvy this time.

He didn’t understand. How could he?

He was only a boy.

He’d only been a boy.

[specialinterestshows]

Try to enjoy some downtime in this latest chapter of my Rhea Ripley x lady!reader fic, Absolute Smokeshow.

Warnings for this section: Cannabis (weed), dirty talk, jealousy, blood, crying

-

Absolute Smokeshow (Part 84 of ?): Ring My Bell

One morning, you awoke ravenous to the most delicious smells; you wondered for a second if you had somehow fallen asleep in the kitchen, before sitting up and opening your eyes.

“Breakfast in bed?” you asked, more out of surprise than anything. “You spoil me.”

“I thought you could use it,” Marisol grinned as you eagerly grabbed a bit of food from one of the overflowing dishes on the tray she held on her lap. “Besides, I don’t have work tonight.”

The moment you took a bite, your eyes rolled back in your head at the taste before grabbing more.

“Want to come with me to a friend’s show?” Mari asked.

“Sure,” you replied after a bit more chewing. “What kind of show?”

“Remember that indie wrestling scene I mentioned?” She gauged your reaction as she continued. “A friend says they need more engagement, so I promised I would go support them.”

Now it wasn’t just your breakfast you needed to chew over before answering. It was already enough feeling guilty for not spending every spare moment looking for another source of income, but going out in public to a wrestling event?

Seeing your hesitation, she gently set her hand on your thigh. “No pressure.”

After a moment more of consideration - pitting logic against your anxiety - you took a deep breath.

“I’ll go with you,” you agreed, “On two conditions.”

-

“Eres tan linda,” Mari reassured you, watching the way you kept fidgeting with the curls of the wig you were borrowing from her - condition one of your attendance being help with a disguise. Mari had also been kind enough to do your makeup in a way that made you look a bit less like yourself.

“Thank you. Do you have the-“ you began nervously, before she pulled condition two out of her bra to show you: a cigarette carton whose original contents had been replaced with beautifully-rolled joints.

Letting out a sigh of relief, you started scouting for a good smoking spot. After looking across the sparse array of parked cars, a nice, out-of-the-way alley materialized in your periphery; you pointed it out to your companion before venturing together toward the space.

Checking your phone as Mari started off the joint, you felt your face heating up when you read Rhea’s reply to the selfie of you in your disguise:

“Looks like Mami’s going to have to start dressing you up before she ruins you, doll. Suits you”

With the little black heart at the end, you read it in the sultry voice she used in bed and a thrill went up your spine. You typed your thanks, hitting send as the lit joint was handed to you.

“So how do you feel about PDA?” Mari asked as you slowly exhaled your first hit.

“I’m not opposed,” you replied, handing the joint back. “Why? Is this when I find out the local indie wrestling scene has some weird tradition where the audience make out instead of cheering or something?”

“I just wanted to make sure I asked ahead of time,” she laughed, giving you a confused look as she licked her thumb and passed it along the side of the paper that was burning too quickly.

“Hey, once I went to this slam poetry thing and they snapped instead of applauding,” you explained defensively. “Anything is possible.”

“Pues, now that I think about it, maybe we should make out instead of cheering,” Mari said, barely containing her amusement, “Just in case.”

-

Looking at the photo of her disguised girlfriend and seeing a bit of Marisol’s crimson red hair in the background, Rhea felt restless. She was alone in her hotel room, Dominik having gone on a date with JD (he refused to call it a date, but it was going to be just the two of them getting to know each other over dinner.) Rhea did her best to send an appropriately complimentary message in response to her girlfriend, sighing as she hit “send.” She didn’t expect to hear much from either of her partners until tomorrow; neither one of them needed her tonight.

The ache in her chest drove Rhea to scroll through her contacts, trying to make plans to keep herself from fixating on any number of things her loves might be doing with other people. A few names stood out to her more than the others as she skimmed her phone’s address book:

Finn Balor. Probably having the night of his life now that Damian doesn’t have to worry about JD.

Shayna Baszler. They hadn’t really gotten along in their NXT days, but maybe now that Rhea had come out… but that was a long shot.

Cathy Kelley. Rhea smirked as she recalled her night with Cathy, but her smile faltered as soon as reporter’s confession came back to her: “That was the first time I came with someone else.” If she was going to spend the night with Cathy again, there was a fair chance the brunette might get too attached.

Liv Morgan. Not much of an option, given that the last time Rhea saw her, Liv was being taken to medical, courtesy of Rhea’s own brutality.

Groaning, Rhea threw her phone onto the bed nearby and ran her fingers through her hair, elbows resting on her legs. Why was this so difficult? Why couldn’t she just be happy for her partners and enjoy a night to herself?

As she stared at the hotel TV’s remote, contemplating whether she should order room service and cozy up with a movie or just walk over to the bar down the street, she heard a knock at her door. It was soft, and Rhea initially thought it may have just been someone walking past, luggage knocking against her door as they ambled down the hall.

A louder knock followed after a few moments, undeniable this time. Rhea stood up immediately, mind racing wondering who might be on the other side. By the time she was standing at the door, her fists were clenched, muscles reflexively preparing for a confrontation. Peering through the peephole, Rhea was surprised to see a familiar, nervous-looking blonde.

“Um, R-Rhea?” The muffled voice sounded tearful, as if each syllable was trying to hold back a sob. “Are you there?”

“One sec,” Rhea said, standing down from her defensive position as she quickly unlocked and opened the door.

Dried blood in her hair, knees scuffed, and one heel broken, the trembling woman standing in the doorway had mascara running down her cheeks, eyes glistening with the threat of more tears as she looked up at the Eradicator.

Without a word, Thea Hail threw her arms around a confused Rhea, breaking down into loud sobs.

[end part eighty-two]

-

Tag list (thank you!)

@babybatlover , @girlofpink , @kagome2909 , @jackiesnats , @wiccanpriestess , @falloutboy-lover , @aut0luminescence , @riverina69 , @itsrheasgirl , @1-800-sinister , @ripleylove , @teganc , @wwefan2002

[cabinetofquriosities]

Definitely something I wish more writers would remember when they write her. I love how the show didn’t soften this. The whole sequence of her killing witches with Nicholas was extremely disturbing and they didn’t shy away from the fact that she was a serial killer. (I wish there were gifs of these scenes) They also still had her not feeling much remorse for any of the witches who died on the road. Love this analysis. It really shows why her character is so compelling.

I also love how they show the “antisocial” bit of the condition. Her lack of meaningful empathy and trauma of being rejected by her community at a young age led her to fear covens, thereby leading her to target them. It was a foregone conclusion to her that they would eventually betray her anyway, which was a sentiment she shared with her son. She loved him fiercely, but also had no qualms with turning him into a lure for her victims. She essentially destroyed any sense of right and wrong in him. He was so used to it that he would just chill outside playing with animals while listening to women begging his mother to stop. There is no doubt that he would have grown up to be a similar type of sociopath barring any other interference in his life. Given that Rio was his other parent, he wouldn’t get much of a humanizing influence from her either. In fact, he is a pretty terrible person in the comics who betrays her and acts as brutally as her.

The lack of social influence on Agatha is also shown whenever she starts to feel accepted by others. She seems genuinely uncomfortable with it and fearful since her closest people literally tried to execute her as a child. So, she either tries to push them away beforehand or turn on them the moment they seem to confirm her fears of rejection. It’s most apparent when she is by the fire with the coven. They are laughing and bonding, even including her while sharing stories. She looks awkward, nervous, but also grateful at the fleeting feeling of acceptance.

Beyond that, she was cared for by the town of Westview while she was debilitated by Wanda’s spell. They made sure she was fed and kept busy by playing along with her delusions. It was an incredibly sweet gesture done by the community. Instead of feeling grateful for the selfless kindness shown to her, Agatha was hostile toward everyone the moment she regained her senses. Anyone who has known a sociopath has felt the sting of not receiving any gratitude no matter how much they did for them.

One of those people who helped was Sharon Davis. She was a sweet woman who cared about her. Agatha not only fails to thank her, but then goes on to use her by bringing her to a summoning under false circumstances, knowing she would die. During the trial, Agatha all but ignored the trauma that Sharon reacted to when she was hallucinating Wanda. She then trued to leave her behind in the flood, but only came back for her when she knew they needed her later. Once she does die, Agatha doesn’t even care enough to remember her name. This woman who cared for her and trusted her is dead essentially by her hand and she shrugs it off.

She also seems to get off on using other people’s pain as a joke. From mocking Jenn during the unbinding ritual, to being extremely callous to Wanda when watching her memories, to full on scaring the life out of Billy as a ghost, she loves making people upset. It’s entertaining to her.

As far as Rio goes, she is deeply in love with her. However, it is a selfish love (much like Villanelle in Killing Eve) where she doesn’t care about how she affects her. She rejects her the moment she feels betrayed. Why does she feel betrayed? Because Rio was unable to keep the universe at bay for longer than six years. Rio broke every rule she stood for knowing she would lose Agatha either way. Agatha weaponized her love the moment it was advantageous to her by promising that she would hate her forever if she did something that she couldn’t stop. It was also clear that Rio was the parent of their son as well. So, she disregarded Rio’s grief and laid the blame on the very person who gifted her with his existence. She only took Rio back when she came to her own conclusions about his death that it wasn’t anyone’s fault. We also saw the effect of her anger at Rio with how Rio essentially lost her mind over the centuries. Also, you cannot convince me the two didn’t see each other during the years between Nicky’s death and her obtaining the Darkhold. She references the Daughters of Liberty as a story Rio was there for. This would have been at least twenty five years later. She would have seen Rio’s decline (if not actively contribute to it with emotional abuse).

Now, I’m not saying Rio wasn’t toxic as well. She reveled in Agatha’s murderous tendencies and loved her in an intensely obsessive manner, having a sense of ownership over her (i.e. if I can’t have you, no one will). That is why the two are a perfect match in most ways.

All in all, Agatha is a textbook sociopath and I hope future movies and shows with her don’t try to redeem her or change that fact in any way.

Is Agatha Harkness a sociopath?

I wanted to make this post ever since I finished Agatha All Along, specifically after Agatha was referred to as a “sociopath” in the series. Now, “sociopath” is not an actual diagnosis and most of the time, what people refer to when it comes to sociopathy and psychopathy is actually anti-social personality disorder (ASPD). In this post, I’ll attempt to “diagnose” Agatha with ASPD and see if she fits the criteria for a diagnosis.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional, I’m only “diagnosing” Agatha because she’s a fictional character. Do not attempt to do the same for any real person. This post isn’t meant to stigmatize any real person with that condition, this is simply a character study. None of what I’m writing should be used in a real-life context. 

1) Failure to obey laws and norms by engaging in behavior which results in criminal arrest, or would warrant criminal arrest

Agatha is quite literally a serial killer. She has been luring witches to their early graves for centuries. We don't know exactly how many people she has killed, but her body count is definitely quite large. I don't think she was ever arrested for her crimes but it definitely warrants a criminal arrest. If it wasn't for Wanda trapping her in the Agnes persona at the end of WandaVision, she would have most likely been arrested, especially since she attempted to kill multiple S.W.O.R.D. soldiers. 

2) Deceitfulness, indicated by continuously lying, using aliases, or conning others for personal gain and pleasure.

This one is a given. Her primary means to steal magic was through a con. She deceived and manipulated unsuspecting witches who trusted her with the intent of stealing their magic and killing them. And even before that, she used her own son to lure witches and do the same. She does it primarily for profit, to get more magic, but she does seem to genuinely enjoy deceiving others and gaining pleasure out of it.

In both WV and AAA she was lying, deceiving and manipulating the rest of the cast from the very beginning for her own benefit. She infiltrated Wanda’s hex and posed as her nosy neighbour “Agnes”, graining Wanda's trust with the intent of stealing her magic from the start. She did it primarily for profit but there was also some enjoyment for her when she revealed the truth to Wanda, so much so that she created her own intro song. She was enjoying putting up a show almost as much as getting Wanda's magic.

This pattern of behaviors is seen throughout AAA too, especially upon rewatch. On your first watch, you might not notice but after rewatching a second time fully knowing the end, you can notice how much Agatha has been lying the entire time. Not only did she lie about the road and always intended to murder the cover in her basement, but when the hex road appeared she kept the lie that she went to the road before going. One could say that she had to keep the lie going because she never intended for the road to appear, so those weren’t lies she intended to tell, but at the same time, we can see how easily she can lie and deceive others. She knew all along that Billy created the road and that said road was deadly, yet made no attempt at stopping him. She knew people would die but she kept the lie going because she hoped that she could get back her powers at the end. So she lied, deceived and manipulated the group the entire time for her own gain.

3) Exhibiting impulsivity or failing to plan ahead.

Agatha is someone who likes to be in control, and does give off the illusion of being in control. But the truth is, she isn’t as much in control as she thinks she is, and is quite impulsive. Lots of her shortcomings are a direct consequence of an impulsive decision (fuck around and find out). Being impulsive doesn’t mean she can’t make elaborate schemes, because she sure does. But a lot of those are made impulsively. She sensed Wanda’s magic and decided to join her hex without knowing exactly how Wanda’s magic worked. She even started messing with her without knowing how Wanda’s magic would respond. Then in AAA we see more of her impulsive nature. She doesn’t think through whenever she makes a decision and ends up needing to improvise in order to compensate for her reckless decisions. She told Lilia about how her ability to steal magic worked, she picked a bound witch to be part of her coven, as well as a non-magical woman. The only one in the group that seemed to have the ability to blast was Alice. Not the greatest group if she needed to steal as much magic as possible. On the road, she made a lot of impulsive decisions that were quite reckless, like attempting to break the window and throwing her wine glass during the first trial, suggesting to summon another green witch, pretending to be possessed by Sharon, or messing with the tarot cards. There’s also the way she provoked Billy right after he nearly killed her. Those were all decisions she took without thinking about the consequences, out of impulsivity. But she’s not only impulsive when it comes to being reckless with others’ safety. She was also shown to be impulsive when it comes to helping some of her coven members. When Rio first emerged from Sharon’s grave, Agatha’s first instinct was to get in front of the coven as if she wanted to protect them. When Billy got thrown into the window, Agatha rushed to go check on him, or when Lilia was about to get impaled she jumped to push her out of the sword’s trajectory. 

4) Irritability and aggressiveness, indicated by repeatedly getting into fights or physically assaulting others.

Once again, this one is a given. Agatha is easily irritated and very aggressive, she’s quick to anger, losing her patience and snapping at people. She had no issue hurting Wanda when she had her captive in her basement, slamming her against the wall when she got irritated with her. I’d argue that the mass murdering she did over centuries also count as frequent assaults. She’s also quick to engage in physical fights with Rio (although those are mutual on both sides), and there was a moment at the end of episode 3 where Agatha randomly kicked Jen when she was already down after they all went through the water slide. 

5) Reckless behaviors that disregard the safety of others.

Agatha did not care how her actions affected the resident of Westview when she was purposefully messing around with the hex. She did not care either on the road. She knew from the beginning that it was a hex and even after seeing they could actually die in the trials, she made no attempt to try telling the others the road was fake. She could have tried to let Billy know he made the road but she didn’t. Because she didn’t care if some of them might die. She had no concern for their safety. She endangered the coven in the first trial by trying to break the window and by refusing to drink the wine. She did so too in the third trial by pretending to be possessed, making the group lose precious time. Same with the fourth trial by messing with the tarot cards and not stopping even when the swords were dangerous dropping on both her and Billy. 

6) A pattern of irresponsibility

This is probably the only criteria I’m not sure would apply. There are instances of Agatha being irresponsible, but I don’t think we have seen enough of her personal life to establish a pattern. So until further notice, I’ll consider this criteria doesn’t particularly fit. 

7) Lack of remorse after hurting or mistreating another person.

Agatha does not seem to have any remorse for all the people she murdered. She may have some remorse regarding her original coven, including her mother, but that was a much younger Agatha. The Agatha we know now does not seem to feel bad for the people she had killed for centuries. It’s even something she will be really flippant about whenever she talks about how many people she has killed.

She didn’t feel remorse when Sharon died either. Agatha might not have directly killed her, she is still responsible for her death by recruiting her into the coven. And it’s not like Agatha didn’t intend from the start to put Sharon in harm’s way. If her initial intention was to kill the coven, it’s very likely she would have killed Sharon too, or Sharon would have been killed by the Salem Seven. Billy may be indirectly responsible for Sharon’s death because he created the road, he was not aware of that nor did he intend for this to happen. Agatha on the other hand always intended for Sharon to die and did not feel bad when she actually did die. She acted extremely callous after Sharon’s death and never bothered to learn her name, even forgetting who she was later on.

And it’s not just about murder. She didn’t feel bad when she got Alice fired, nor did she feel bad when she learned she was the person who got Jen bound for a hundred years. She didn’t feel bad either about attempting to kill the coven from the beginning and had no qualms about using them to get to the end of the road even if it meant sacrificing them.

The coven’s members aren’t the only people who suffer because of Agatha’s actions. If we go back to WandaVision, Agatha orchestrated Sparky’s death. And she seemed pretty proud about causing a dog to die. It may have been revealed in AAA that Ralph poisoned the dog, but it was under Agatha’s order. He was under her magical control, so the blame is entirely on her. She did not feel bad at all for killing a dog. Speaking of Ralph, as much as his character is played for laughs, what she did to him was also pretty atrocious. She took control of his life, stole his house, and forced him to commit awful acts, causing psychological damage to him to the point he is completely paranoid now. It’s unlikely Agatha knows how Ralph ended up after what she did to him, I highly doubt she’d feel an ounce of remorse for that. 

Now, lack of remorse does not mean lack of regrets. Agatha does not feel bad for hurting others and how her actions affected them, but she does have regrets. She does feel bad if her actions negatively affect her, like personal loss or missed opportunity. She did seem to feel regret about killing Alice, but I don’t think she felt remorse. She did not feel bad for Alice, she felt bad because of the consequences she had to face after. She did not intend to kill Alice at that time, and now she has lost any potential trust she could gain from the coven. Not only that, we know Agatha became a ghost because she couldn’t face Nicky in the afterlife, so the regret might also be that she thought her son had seen her kill Alice. I don’t think she felt remorse for what she did to Jen either. When Jen did the unbinding ritual, getting told over and over that she “holds nothing” worked on Agatha possibly because deep down, Agatha knew it was true. She no longer has her son, she has no magic, and she has driven away Rio. She did hold nothing anymore. 

Having ASPD does not mean Agatha is incapable of love, or caring about others. She undoubtedly loved and cared about her son. So much so that she developed a soft spot for Billy because he reminded her of Nicky. She loved Rio too. Same for her pet rabbit. Unlike popular belief, lack of empathy is not a criteria for ASPD. It does usually result in low empathy, and that can vary from person to person. Agatha probably has little to no empathy for most people except the rare people she does manage to bond with. You can see it as a selective empathy for those she did love and care about, which included Nicky, Rio, Señor Scratchy and later possibly Billy.

If Agatha does have ASPD, how did it start? Even if sometimes genetics can play a role in developing that personality disorder, you aren’t born with it. Most of the time, it’s caused by the environment, mostly trauma experienced as a child. We know Agatha’s mother hated her. She thought she was born evil. She, with her coven, attempted to have her executed when Agatha was only 18. I do believe the accusations made at her were mostly true. She probably did steal knowledge and practiced dark magic. But Agatha did beg her coven to teach her, so I think it’s very likely that since her mother thought she was born evil, she didn’t allow Agatha to properly learn magic. If Agatha wasn’t taught magic and had this power she couldn’t control (siphoning), it’s not surprising that she would have to steal knowledge in order to learn. Agatha learned from a young age to break the rules in order to get what she wants or needs. And without proper guidance, it’s reasonable to think she might have practiced dark magic.

So yes, even if the accusations were true, her coven and mother are not blameless. Agatha is the way she is because of how she was raised, how she was treated as a child and growing up, and what she had to do in order to learn magic. She never had a healthy support system growing up, there was no possibility for therapy at that time, she was a witch living in the worst era for her kind, and she couldn’t even rely on her fellow witches to protect herself. After accidentally killing her original coven (including her own mother), which was definitely a traumatic event for her regardless if it was self-defence, she kept doing what she did so far to survive; steal, lie, deceive, kill. All the antisocial traits she exhibits as an adult are learned behaviours. Of course, it does not justify her crimes and horrific actions she later committed, but it does explain why she is that way. She wasn’t born evil, she became evil. She’s the product of her environment, experiences, circumstances and era.

[skitskatdacat63]

Every time I read Fernando cursing in fic, I can only think about this clip and then my brain short-circuits

[bericas]

we spent what was left of our serotonin to chew on our cheeks and stare at the moon said she knows she lived through it to get to this moment ate a sleeve of saltines on my floor, and i knew then— i will do anything you want me to. i will do anything for you i will do anything, i will do anything whatever you want me to do, i will do.

[shrekshugebadussy]

started playing The Arcana again bcuz i forgot it was a thing and i never finished it (only got halfway thru Asra’s route) & i got very curious about Lucio’s route since he’s practically the dead one & how that would work and let me tell you when that motherfucker opened his mouth… yeah i knew i was in trouble 🙃

[papercutsmp3]

bro is inquisitive

[the-acid-pear]

Something I adore about T-Bag is how subtle but consistent his character development is because as the seasons go on and he spends more time out of the jail (or, in other, worse jails) the more of his worst traits and beliefs he kinda let's go. Which is what makes me passionate about him he really has it in him to improve, to change. By the intro of season 5 he was literally just living alone in a swamp or something and didn't even want anything to do with Michael.

Like it's not that it happens from morning to noon it's just that there's less and less opportunities for him to repeat his problems to the point he just stops doing it altogether willingly it's just really neat. I just enjoy it.

[panticwritten]

I'm putting my soul on the line with this one but Bones of Black Marrow by oxfordRoulette. It's one of those fics that I knew it was a terrible porn with plot fic going into it but like. The plot is intense. 'Supernatural being will genuinely love you and will still wring you out and smother you until you die and you cant even be mad because its in the nature of the being' all wrapped up in House of Leaves level of editing and formatting. i asked for this i asked for this i asked for this over and over and flashes of fear when you see what the thing is doing to you and when its all over can you forgive it? for all the things it has done in the past just because it wants to be better in the future just for you all for you?

we were banned from talking about it in a discord server because it kept dominating the nsfw channel's conversation. i was disappointed because i just wanted to talk about the overarching themes. the formatting changed the way i think about storytelling and the way the plot distills changed the way i think about writing relationships and the essence of choice in a story

fuck it everyone tell me about one fanfic which has changed your brain chemistry

[hideouspumpkin]

Watched the lying detective and I have nothing to say how the tables have turned

[skitskatdacat63]

Everyone in The Talented Mr Ripley is just the physical embodiment of a Leyendecker painting(including the homoerotica!!)