#i know i should be grateful the show wasn't canceled

[bluewlnteroses]

the ending to a six thousand years love story reduced to a ninety minute long episode is crazy

[ambermeh]

It's casual

Matt Sturniolo (friends with benefits so smut will be present)

Matt was thrusting into you softly as you were dazed from the amount of time the two of you had been fucking. His head tilted back slightly, as you were encased between his two arms, softly moaning from the pleasure. Your arms grabbing his biceps, tracing over his tattoos. His head leaned in to kiss you, while he moaned from you clenching around him, as he hit the spot that most men would never be able to, again and again.

'Does that feel good pretty girl, hmm?'

'yes- fuck matt feels so fucking good'

But while you where doing that, your mind had started to wonder. You usually blamed this on you becoming almost delirious from the pleasure, this was not the case. Your mind had always been somewhat distant while you two were fucking. Travelling back to when he had proposed the arrangement. That you were going to be friends with benefits, he hadn't said it that callously but you knew what it meant. It meant he lusted over you enough to want to have sex with you, needed to have sex with you, perhaps. But did not like you enough to commit to an actual relationship.

His excuses were that it would be difficult for him to have a relationship because of his career, and the other girls he had you thought in your head at the time.

Why did he not think it would be difficult for you? Constantly having to drive over to his, or cancel plans when he wanted you. You had become isolated, obsessed more likely, with him and the arrangement. To you it wasn't casual, as he had described your relationship, or whatever it was, to Nick and Chris, that you had overheard while you were trying to get some water. The only clothes you had were his top and some shorts. It made you pause. Think. About what you were doing.

You were adults, for fuck sake. Why could he not grow up and commit to a relationship. But as he said it 'wasn't the right time', for him. You had been friends for ages. Everyone knew that you liked him, even Chris and Nick. So you knew he had to know. Was it all a joke to him? A little game to see how far you would go to impress him and fulfil your childish fantasies of wanting to be loved. To him, this arrangement it was a means to an ends, surely. He couldn't actually love you, could he? But you were too blind to even think about that, when the guy you had almost loved was actually seeing you.

You felt loved.

No matter how superficial it was.

You had told your friends all this before. They joked about it. A lot. Them knowing how you and Matt would never actually be together. You knew this as well, because he had any girl on a platter for him.

You should be grateful that he even looks at you. Grateful that he wants to sleep with you. Right?

You shouldn't want to be loved. Kissed. Wanted for you, not just sexually. Showed off. Known.

But the thoughts dissipate as reality kicks back in.

His face scrunched up in pleasure, his cum filling you, but you still felt used. You enjoyed it, why couldn't that be enough? A stream of soft tears slowly trickled down your glistening skin.

You laid there.

'aw sweetheart, it felt that good, did it?' He taunted while he wiped the tears away gently, not knowing that it was a taunt. A real one. Because the pleasure was no longer there, it was dull. Like the rest of you. You nodded, almost obediently.

'are we done here then?' you asked, forcing a joking tone out.

'you can always stay for a bit, but I am going out a bit later'

'oh' you say dismissively, not wanting to know all the details.

'you always look so pretty after, like i'm not even kidding, you look so good. Your hair all messy and your skin gleaming.'

You give him a smile and thank him. Why would he say that? Were you just overanalysing everything?

Getting up to go, you mention that you know the way to the door. He gives you a quick peck and hug and says to text anytime with a smirk.

Tears or starting to form. All you have to do is go downstairs and get to your car. Then you can contemplate your stupid breakdown. Why now? Why did you not think how attached you would be? Of course it would just be sex.

Nearing the door, the tears had been finally allowed to spill.

The car only being a few steps.

'Y/N'

Matt?

no. It didn't sound like him.

You turned round, it was chris? What did he want to say?

His eyes now slits of confusion as he walked up to you.

'you're crying'

'well done, you want a medal?' Inwardly cringing at the frustration being let out on Chris, he's been nothing but supportive.

'Errm nope, just, well, you didn't come say bye like normal, thought I'd check you were okay'

'oh, yeah, no I'm fine thank you, bye then Chris' You looked at him with a forced smile and hugged him goodbye. He didn't pull back.

'you're obviously not, stupid, so what did Matt do this time?'

You pulled back. The question repeating in your head, what had he done? In fact, he was perfect, he didn't violate you, you agreed to this. You knew you weren't the only one and still went ahead with it.

'no attachments' he had said, you laughed. He had taken it because you knew you weren't going to, but you laughed because you already had.

'he's done nothing, it's just me being emotional, I don't think I can see him anymore Chris.

'what? You literally love him Y/N'

'And that's the problem'

part 2 is done :) part 3 part 4

I don't know how to feel about this one, I think I treated this one a bit too much like therapy, I'll be back to lovey-dovey ones now. Love you all!!!!

(THANK YOU @enchanthings for the divider)

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

When I get in my feelings about the cancelation (it still sucks! It still hurts to know we should be celebrating and anticipating and theorizing about season 3 right now!), I can at least be grateful that the people who made our show knew what they were doing and knew how to give us the softest landing possible, just in case.

I'm so grateful they wrapped things up the best they could at the end of s2. Were there unfinished character notes and plotlines? Of course there were! The story wasn't meant to end there! But we got to end with Ed and Stede in a good place, safe and happy and ready to start their life together. It's a beginning, not an ending, and they're both feeling better about their lives than ever before.

They're safe and happy and together, and that'll never be taken away from them. We'll always have that, no matter what!

[happysweetstuff]

ENTRY - 10/30/2024

(tw: sh,ed)

I finally used the gauze bandage I bought and took some from my mom's cabinet. I struggled to remove a makeshift bandage from my wound, using water to help. After cleaning the wounds with soap and water, I wrapped them with gauze and bandages. I wore my PE uniform instead of the proper one since I don’t have a spare. I hid the extra gauze, hoping my mom wouldn’t find it. When she called me for tea, I said I’d be late and explained why I was in my PE uniform.

7:40 a.m

I arrived at school confused by my busy classmates and checked my phone. I saw my advisor's message about wearing the proper uniform, but it was too late for me. I hadn’t checked my phone last night and missed a quiz reminder from my teacher, which panicked me. When the teacher came in and asked if we were ready, I thought, "Hell no!" She said the quiz would be easy, then returned with the test papers.

After taking the quiz, I'm pretty sure all of my answers were wrong, and to make sure, I went to check my notes, and yup, half or maybe even all of my answers were wrong, yay (⁠´⁠ε⁠｀⁠ ⁠) Oh, and there was also another teacher who went inside talking about something I don't remember because I didn't really listen. 

Second period started, and we had to change seats, which I dislike. Our teacher didn’t show up, so I checked my phone for any updates. She mentioned we should continue our performance task, writing a critique letter. Spoiler alert: I hadn’t started because I didn’t know how. I ended up watching TikTok instead. Then we had to change seats again for math in third period.

Our math professor came in and surprised us with a pre-test, which is basically a quiz that won’t affect our grades. I didn’t understand anything, it was all about business stuff that we hadn’t covered. I answered randomly, grateful for the multiple-choice options. We had to check our own papers, which seemed odd. I scored 11/25, which isn’t great, but at least it wasn't a zero. When the professor called out scores, I noticed he missed mine, so I told him. After he recorded my score, he left.

In fourth period, we had science, and since I was absent last week, our teacher gave us a recap on life. I took pictures to take notes later. My classmates were really annoying, asking childish and perverted questions. Just because the lesson was about life doesn’t mean it’s okay to be disrespectful to the teacher. Luckily, our teacher was laid-back and joked back, but if it were a stricter teacher, they’d be in big trouble. I just wish they’d keep those comments to themselves and talk about that stuff with friends, not in class.

Class ended, and while packing my bag, some classmates invited me to get requirements from our old school. I agreed, but we learned only one person needed to go, so I headed home instead. I ate while watching "Noli Me Tangere" on Netflix. I remembered my science teacher claimed that if someone doesn’t eat for over three days, they'll die, but I’ve fasted for four days before. To prove her wrong, I’m considering a longer fast to lose weight and might document it. I’ll keep you updated! ♡⁠(⁠>⁠ ⁠ਊ⁠ ⁠<⁠)⁠♡

I told my mom we’d wear Filipiniana outfits for a school event tomorrow, and she started getting ready. While I was watching a movie, she asked how many bracelets I made, and I initially thought she meant my scars, which surprised me when she touched my bracelets (⁠─⁠.⁠─⁠|⁠|⁠）After she went to get my outfit, I checked my phone and saw the event was canceled and moved to next week. My mom came back looking upset. The rented dress was cute, but I felt big in it after eating ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ I mentioned the cancellation, and she just said, "Okay."

My mom asked me to bake using the extra bananas we had before they rotted, so I rolled them up with Nutella in sliced bread and put them in the oven since we don’t have a microwave. I prefer the oven because it’s easier to clean. While waiting, I thought about buying tarot cards, though I don’t know much about them. I also checked out cosplays for Otakufest on January 18, 2025, which I’m excited for \⁠(⁠ϋ⁠)⁠/⁠♩ even if it’s still a while away. Once the banana Nutella rolls were done, my mom and I enjoyed them together.

At night, I went upstairs to write down my notes when my mom came in to say that only two baby hamsters were left, we started with six. Confused, I went downstairs and confirmed my mom's words. I suspected the mother hamster had eaten the other four (⁠・⁠o⁠・⁠) Using a plastic spoon, I checked to make sure they weren’t just hiding. I researched what to do and learned I should separate the mother, so I moved her to a different container. I also remembered I had taken some bandages from my mom's cabinet earlier. Thankfully, I finished my notes too.

[horsesarecreatures]

I just love her. <3 But this post is not going to be about Amba. Instead, I would just like to share my thoughts and perspectives on Shelby Dennis/ Milestone Equestrian/ Sdequus (and I apologize in advance to all the horseblrs who have been here a long time and are probably sick of such discussions - no judgement at all if you all scroll past this one). But the reason I'm bringing it up is I got some private messages the last time I posted a screenshot from the Milestone Equestrian's FB page showing the Olympic dressage champion Dalera's awful topline, and another calling out Horse & Hound for photoshopping the foam off a dressage horse's mouth. I didn't know about this until now because I live under a rock sometimes, but I've also been made aware that another horse blog has also expressed frustration at Shelby Dennis' stuff being re-shared here (and implied that I may have sent them an anon calling them a fucking moron because of it?).

Accordingly, I just want to put it out there that while I do follow her on FB and sometimes watch her youtube videos, I don't think she is a God, or that people should listen to everything she says without thinking critically about it. I also don't want people to think that I'm judging them or have absolutely no understanding of why they don't want to follow her. I truly, honestly, do see some of the criticisms. For example, I don't agree with keeping horses in pastures with barbed wire, and I don't think think its less risky than a horse getting cast in a stall. I've found no empirical evidence for that, and anecdotally speaking, some of the worst horse injuries I've seen were from them running into barbed wire. I also think her bitless & multibridles are a good idea, but they don't fit some of her horses well. Finally, I have a feeling the dam of her homebred might have been bred a little prematurely. To name a few.

But that said, she has admitted to being wrong about a bunch of things and has said that she is still evolving as a horse person, which we all are. There are things she posts about that I not only agree with but am grateful for because most people are too scared of the professional backlash they will receive if they call out certain people/practices. And while I don't think it's the one and only way to ethically train, I love clicker training and agree that the horse industry has been slower to adopt it compared to other animal training industries like seeing eye dogs. I also love the discussions about some of the systematic problems in the competition world that need to change (like ownership of certain venues, magazines, and ticket payment platforms by people like Andreas Helgstrand) before the amount of abuse will decrease.

So for me, while there is stuff she says/does that I disagree with, they don't outweigh the points that I do agree with. And I also think there have been some accusations about her that are a little unfair, one of them being that she is so arrogant she thinks she doesn't need to work with a trainer anymore. She made a video explaining that the dressage trainer she was working for said some very racist things in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and changed the way he treated her when he found out she was mixed race. If a local trainer is being racist towards you that's a very valid reason to distance yourself and do your own thing for a while. There was also the assertion that she dumped Donut, the dam of her warmblood, when it became clear that she wasn't a good a mother. From what I remember, it was a broodmare lease to begin with, and I've seen an update on Donut and she is doing well in a riding home.

While I overall understand and agree with many of the criticisms towards Shelby, to me they don't amount to cancelable offences. And I feel the same way about many other horse people with a social media presence like Denny Emmerson. I don't like that he has downplayed some of the bad effects of saddleseat riding, but at the end of the day I don't think he's a horse abuser himself, and for every post he makes that I disagree with there are 10 that I do like. Unlike someone like Rick Gore, who misinformation is constantly accompanied by misogynistic and racist comments.

Of course, I don't follow everyone on all platforms, and there could be some things that I am missing. I'm more than happy to have discussions with people who may disagree with things I've said here or have additional information to add, as long as there is mutual respect. For the time being, I'm not going to unfollow Shelby, and I may still share screenshots of things she's said that I also want to talk about because its just easier than re-writing it. This does not mean that I wholeheartedly-endorse everything else she says and does and think that you guys should be too.

[l0thcat]

I keep thinking about TBB and how it ended. Or the whole season i should say, the ending was pretty good with a few flaws ( in my opinion ).

And you know, I'm not surprised, as much as i LOVE this show, I'm used to cartoons getting shit. Its been going on for far too long.

Its Disney AND Netflix. And here is a list of shows that were doing good, got told mid season its getting canceled, and a rushed ending.

Amphibia

The Owl House

She Ra and The Princesses Of Power ( 2018 )

Centaurworld*

My Little Pony G4* and G5

Steven Universe*

OK KO lets be heroes.*

Star Trek Prodigy*

Kipo and the age of the wonderbeasts.

The Mandalorian ( i know its not a cartoon but it has the same vibes as TBB ).

And probably many more. It sucks, so bad, for animation. And I'm saying this because i fully believe Disney or whoever was going to cancel TBB if it already isn't. They just didn't want to announce that.

Other notes:

*Centaurworld ; Was meant to be an ADULT cartoon and very much has left overs from that, however Netflix decided it was too MLP-esc so they made it for kids instead which ended up just being a bunch of fart and butt jokes. And then got canceled anyways so everything had to rush and wrap up in season 2. Which SUCKS because it is so beautiful when it can be and has beautiful music.

*MLP G4 is not Netflix nor Disney and while it did get multiple seasons and an ending, it had new writers during, i don't know, s6 or s7. And things slowly went backwards. And the end felt rushed imo. It wasn't a bad one but it didn't feel.. satisfying.

*Steven Universe ; i love Steven Universe, it was canceled because the creator got an Sapphic wedding AND kiss scene on screen, on a kids cartoon. But they compromised by after the finale they would get a spin off and a movie. The finale is good. Whats rushed here to me, was the spin off. And again, this is not Disney or Netflix, but Cartoon Network.

OK KO and Star Trek prodigy are also not Disney or Netflix ( which apparently Netflix is trying to save Star Trek Prodigy ) but also kicked the bucket.

All this to say ; there is a huge problem within the animation area and I'm tired of CEOs or whoever forcing creators and writers to cancel or shorten their stories.

The Bad Batch s3 is no better in my opinion. I loved a lot of scenes of it and I'm grateful for a lot of it and I'm not honestly sure if this is Disney or Jennifer or someone else but it really hurts.

Here is why it bothers me:

I'll just get this one out of the way first. Tech. Tech COULD have been sacrificed. He COULD have died. In a way that was actually meaningful. Omega got captured anyway, she was probably going to whether Tech went home with them or not. His death IS sad and i DO see them trying to honor it, i do. But its bad to me because it really does feel like "gotta kill the autistic person". Its really annoying when shows try to have an autistic character and then mistreat them ( She Ra 2018 as well but Entrapta didn't die but she does get mistreated a lot ). Its annoying and hurtful. Especially with the writers and such teasing his fans so strongly. There was no reason to. Its not a spoiler.

The TALKS in between that we missed. Tech talking to Phee about Crosshair. Crosshair learning about Tech's Death from Omega. Omega talking to Emerie about her brothers. Crosshair coming back with Omega, we don't even see them just silently watching him walk into the ship. Its just nothing. I'm sure i am forgetting some because it happened, SO much during this season.

What happened to Cody. Like its fine if he's being saved for another series but then perhaps say that.

Creators do not have to be extremely secretive about everything. Fans who don't want spoilers don't go looking for it. I'm not implying they need to spoil the ENTIRE plot, but saying Tech is dead-dead is not something to be secretive about, An hour long finale is not something to be secretive about, etc.

The other Clone X's, while they are very very cool and supposed to mirror CF99... they weren't overly needed honestly. It felt so rushed. Like I'm not saying they needed to be someome either, they don't need to. But i wasn't fearful or full of impact when i saw them my genuine reaction was "this is too much now". It was like if they DID decide to put Darth Vader in it at last second. Like i fully believe Omega was supposed to be home with Crosshair for a little longer and help Echo and Rex with the clones. And then these new CX clones were supposed to show up in s4 and be the ones to get her again.

The fans.. would have wanted.. season 4?...... i don't know why its so bad to want that. And honestly atp, i don't get why its so bad to have plot filler. Its BAD for series that got canceled or shortened, but its not bad for a series that you want more of, because then you get more time with them or more lore if you're lucky.

It occured to me there was not one flash back. Not one about the past. The most was Omega talking about how she watched CF99 be made and that it implied shes older ( and is ) than them. Could you imagine the emotional impact on us and for Omega, watching her, watch them grow up. I don't think Rebels or TCW really had flash backs either but they usually did it in other ways.

I'm not like.. a good writer, so maybe writers on here will disagree and thats okay, I'm open to that.

TLDR: I'm tired of Cartoons kicking the bucket too soon for far too long. I feel like The Bad Batch s3 also had this treatment and it isn't fair to the fans.

[mad-doodle-disease]

source: various notes found scattered status: surprisingly neat

I FOUND IT. High Roller! From High Roller's High Roller! I've been to his shows before, I can't believe it took my this long to realize I was staring at High Roller! All this time, I was thinking he dropped off the face of the Earth, but he was with me this whole time!? Or, at least, half of him was with me, but now I got the other half in Dave. I couldn't remember the fact he was a fusion, not an amalgamate fusion, but a full blown healthy fusion! Those shows always seemed like a blur looking back on it, and I really had to focus in and do some deep thinking to remember the fusion part. Professor Pete and I had to put our big (mine was bigger though) brains together for it. Hell, right before William left, I asked him if he remembered "that old game show that got cancelled right before the infection hit" and asked him what he remembered of it, framing it as a "remember the good old times"-esque question. He started to cry though, weirdly enough. He's left by now, I thanked him for helping me transport Dave back here during his short stay.

Anyway, onto how I remembered. I found a news article. An article I had printed out because I figured it'd be important for the future (which it ended up being! I'm called "the Prethinker" for a reason, heh). The main article I printed the page out for wasn't the one I needed though, that one was just about a Cog going wild and attacking another Cog during a patrol... which I now know to obviously be Buck Ruffler. No no, what I'm looking at is the article directly below that, around half of it was printed out. "Popular game show 'High Roller's High Roller' unexpectedly CANCELLED amidst disease scare". And there he was, in an attached picture! The Cog that mysteriously took the place of Dave and Buck last night... High Roller. Now makes sense as to why it got canceled so suddenly, given one half of the duo that made up High Roller was infected early on. Also clears up as to why High Roller didn't do any interviews and only written one blog post before "dropping off the face of the Earth". That blog post was written by Dave!

The only question I have left now is: Why wasn't High Roller infected? I mean, I'm incredibly grateful he ISN'T infected. Given what I remember of the guy, if he was infected like his halves we would probably all be dead within the night. I do have vague memories of him performing "magic tricks", such as making Suits appear or disappear out of thin air, but I remember those just being just that. Tricks. Tricks of the light, optical illusions, not real magic. Besides, if it was real magic and he did have magic coursing through his veins, he should still be infected. From what I've heard, Ye Olde Toontowne is in total disrepair and the Toons there are FILLED with magic. In fact, their magical abilities made them WORSE OFF, as most of them ended up mutating or causing others to mutate while trying to defend themselves!

Why isn't High Roller infected!? He should be double infected, he should be a threat! I don't understand, and I hate it!

WHY ISN'T HE INFECTED!?

I need to figure this out. I need to. He could be the cure, for all we know. But if I'm gonna study him, I'm going to need him to constantly be around, not just around during the middle of the night when the two fuse to get some much need sleep.

note: handwriting gets noticeably more frantic and messy near the end place of origin: toontown central days into infection: month 0, day 25

NEXT

[xoxoemynn]

I'm glad you feel at least a teensy bit better after sleeping. I feel pretty out of it. I've had a few weeks of ups and downs that have left me pretty exhausted before this news.

I hope you don't mind me leaving a message here. I've never been part of the fandom community, just outside of it, so I'm not even really feeling the 'at least we still have each other' sentiment. Ofmd helped me revive my creativity after years of not creating anything when I used to do so much. I'm still slower at it than I used to be, but it's a start. It's something.

Ofmd gave me the strength to come out at work, to be myself in most parts of my life rather than just carefully cultivated moments. I've found strength I never knew I had. Ffs I'm doing diversity training information stuff now??

I feels good. Feels great. And I really don't think it was a long shot to think that a successful, critically acclaimed show would get rescued. (I did wonder if making it very clear how valuable it was made HBO have an insane asking price but I hope not)

And I know s2 ended neatly (thank god) but I was so on board with Jenkins' view of "the will-they-won't-they is the least interesting part of a romance". Because you never see the payoff! It's just oh they're together now, the end, and you don't get to experience the characters as a couple. The story was the development of Ed and Stede's relationship, and a 3rd part would have given us the full scope of that.. *sigh

Idk I guess I'm just at a bit of a loss. Feeling empty. I was already struggling posting my work, or thinking how to adjust how I do it, because I don't feel its good enough for this fandom (which in my very limited experience feels very clique-y? If you're not in with the cool kids then no one cares and I'm too old for this!) It's all a bit "what's the point" I guess. I expect it'll pass but aaa, man. Y’know. Rant over, thanks for reading ^^'

The deepest of sighs, the tightest of hugs.

I feel you. Starting work today with swollen eyes and a tired heart. It sucks. This all just really sucks. And yes, I'm so grateful we got the show at all, I'm so grateful for the cast/crew, I'm so grateful for this fandom and the friends I made along the way. But this show, that did EVERYTHING RIGHT, ended before its time. And there's no getting around that just really, really sucks.

You're right, I don't think it was ridiculous to believe our renewal efforts might be successful. Because it SHOULD have been! It was a beautiful show with a passionate fan base that was also viewed very favorably by critics. In any sane world, OFMD's renewal would have been a given. And it's not silly or stupid to hope for good things to happen in a world where so often good things don't. The solution to the world being a shit show isn't to just bow our heads and accept it. It's to keep hope alive because yes, it might turn out different this time! Beautiful things deserve to be cherished, and that's what we did and will continue to do with OFMD. OFMD wasn't canceled due to a lack of love. It was corporate greed, pure and simple, and unfortunately that's a really difficult evil to fight against. But we still gave it our all, and people and the industry took note. That's no small feat.

And the show did so much for all of us! I'm so happy it gave you the strength to come out at work and live more in your authentic self. That's huge! That's the power of good art. And that's something studio heads can never take into account while they plug figures into their calculators and huff and puff about the numbers not being there.

I do hope you'll post your work, and share whatever you feel comfortable sharing. We really are of all skill levels here, and I've found genuine love of the show/its characters > the most technically well-written fic on the planet. I do hear what you say about it feeling cliquey, but for what it's worth, I also think it's very welcoming to newcomers? I realize that sounds like a contradiction. But I do think people have just kind of naturally formed little social circles of their friends and it can feel hard to break into, especially if you're an introvert like me. But I think if you start just getting in people's inboxes or reblogging with tags that show your personality/opinions/whatever, you'll start naturally forming those groups on your own. I'd also really recommend the OFMD Fic Club server if you're trying to get the courage to start posting your own work. It's a really supportive community there of people who've been posting for decades, as well as those who are just beginning to plan their very first fic.

Anyway, this is getting long and rambling so I'll end it here, but please know I'm sending you SO much love. It sucks right now but we'll get through it. And my DMs are open if you ever just want to chat. 💕

[payidaresque]

(un)happy anniversary to aziz being cancelled aka a year since i last felt truly excited about a piece of media. or anything at all for that matter.

ngl, i think that the show ended and part of my soul kinda died with it too. for some reason, not fully lnown to myself yet either, i can't look forward to any media and/or event anymore. not really. "curious" would be the correct word, and that's as far as i can get at this time, honestly. will i ever move on? no, probably not. am i being annoying? (for which i sincerely apologize — first and foremost — to my mutuals and the people i follow, because sometimes i can be.. a lot, and please know that you never, absolutely never should feel in any way oblgated to reblog anything i post. it's your blog, you own it, and you decide what other people should and should not see. and me posting so much is just a result of.... a very intense and profound love for the show, which i think, i personally didn't have enough time to express. please, remember that, and do not feel in anyway pressed — if i tagged you (and i always try to tag people according to their interests, or if i want to show that i was inpired by them) that is because i love seeing your tags in my activity feed very much!) yes, and i am very well aware of that but honestly? also don't care. kinda. anyway, enough of my pathetic rambling, lol. i made this post to let y'all know something very important —

and i know i said this numerous times before, but —

thank you.

thank you to everyone who watched the show, shared their thoughts, or expressed their interest in any way. and thank you to everyone who continues doing it now, a year later — know that i see you all, and i love you all 💜 and i will continue doing my thing (both on my main and over at @azizcentral) as long as there's a posibility that one more person will see this wonderful, deep, emotional, and magical story that's important to me on so many levels i can't even begin to tell you about. And i thank the cast, the crew, each and everyone who worked on the show to bring it to life. I am now and i will look forward to seeing what you do in the future, and i wish nothing but the best for all of you! And i know they won't see it, but i don't really care. THANK YOU for the gift you gave us. And i call it a gift because that's what it is to me — i met wonderful people thanks to the show, i build my own little community, and we're having fun, and i'll keep and cherish every minute of it. I may be mad that much of the show's potential was wasted due to some questionable choices certain people made (ahem looking at you angrily eda t*zcan and sh*wtv executives), i'm very grateful that i can return to the show anytime i want and experience emotions which, i'll be honest, none of the other shows (or media in general) gave me since.

and of course, this journey wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for my peeps @burningblake @rosehathawhey @thatsonehellofabird @theatricaldynamite — you rock and i'm so lucky to share it with you, you made it incredibly special ❤

and to all the people who started watching the show because of my edits, or consider watching it, and those who reblogged my aziz stuff even if it isn't your thing, and those who keep coming to the fandom – i am HONORED. When i started posting Aziz back in November '21, i couldn't even DREAM that it''ll become a thing for me to build a community around, or (can you imagine?) become my sort of a brand, not to mention that to think that people wil start watching it because of WHAT I DO. If we're honest, all i did was making gifs – YOU ALL made it work. made it A FANDOM. It's your reblogs, your messages, your tags. And i cannot thank you enough for that.

And to all my non-aziz followers — my sincerest apologies. believe me, i didn't mean to spam your dash like that, it's really out of my control, agdfgugfdu 🫠 this show rewired my brain chemistry forever and it cannot be undone. whatever the thing is you followed me for, and chose to stay despite my everyday madness — thank u so very much, and i hope you're enjoying it here ❤ As for me personally, i'm gonna continue sitting here quietly in my little corner and hope that someday, somehow, some way, the casts reunites, cause ngl. it will make me very, VERY happy. and bc a girl just gotta dream about somethin, ya know? (says the girl who literally spent an ENTIRE YEAR in denial and successfully continues being delusional still. well, we all have hobbies i guess 🤷🏻‍♀️)

As i said above, i'm not gonna stop. Because it brings me joy AND because well, show must go on (and also bc it's my only mission on this hellsite lmao), i am so very grateful for all your support (It is truly SO MUCH) and i am certain that we will do SO MANY wonderful things together ❤

peace ✌🏻✨

[sporksaber]

I hate when shows try to market to gen z, especially when it's with woke stuff or internet jokes. Because for one thing it dates it immidirntly, the jokes aren't going to be funny. And for another they always throw away the shows charming aspects to do it.

Clone high is a good example. I get that it's a pilot and it's a pitch and not a final product, but it doesn't have the charm of the original show at all. The 90s aspect was a huge draw and modernizing it felt forced. They leaned far too hard on the "they're cool bc they're uncool," trope. It's been done to death and isn't accurate either. Yes there's more room for non conventional people to be popular but there's reason for it. The new characters are just super annoying. And that joke lasting fir longer than 20 minutes is drop worthy.

The character bashing isn't done well. The focus on Abe was important to the original show and watching him fumble around isn't fun. He needs to have some redeeming qualities or he's just grating.

Jfk wouldn't have bothered me if the other characters didn't suck.

Joan getting along with people who share her interest is great. But those characters aren't funny or interesting. Her character is really bland without antics to straight man for.

It looked like they tried to make up for the lack of chaos with more gracious injury. It doesn't work.

Cleopatra is supposed to be conniving. Her being put in place by people she never would have reflected could be funny. But instead she spends the whole episode scoffing and being an idiot. She should of bounced back quicker. She should of been allowed to keep her bitchy character.

This wasn't supposed to be a clone high rant but that's what's happening now.

The lack of Gandhi throws off the cadence (? Not the pacing but the delivery beats of the story) completely. The original plan before the og show was cancelled was to make him the clone of a comedian. I wish they'd done that, maybe setting it up immediately by someone calling out their names as they're dethawed. But I get that there were issues fir the company. They should have dealt with his absence better though. The jokes drag where he could have been.

I wish writers wouldn't try to write this made up version of modern teenagers. It does not make for good tv. I have heard that the story was mostly network dictated and the writers didn't have much control, though I don't know how true that is. I'm impulse writing this I only watched the pilot once when it originally leaked.

I was originally excited about clone high season two, but it looks like it's just going to be like every other adult animated show. Which makes me sad.

Edit: sudworth is still the best part. The shadowy figure replacement sucked tho.

Edit 2: i love joanfk and hope they keep them together. Also, if we get a clone of Nikola tesla beating the shit out of some capitalists I will forgive all of the shows faults. All of them.

[sophsun1]

I'm now going through Gale's IMDB page and I am feeling nostalgic to when I did the same thing years ago. Going through his acting credits has just been me going "I remember that, oh I forgot about that!" A few highlights being Desperate Housewives (never watched it but the name is iconic), Hellcats (I remember watching a few episodes when it was airing and my dumb self didn't put the pieces together), The Secret Circle (again never watched it but I remember hearing about it and being happy that Gale seemed to be a cast regular) and the Cafe Attitude short. Not only do I remember finding it funny but that one is nostalgic for me because that is when I really first started making gifs.

Hey!

We gifmaker's really do have a template huh?

Yeah, I've heard about many of the shows he's been in but I've never watched a lot of them, honestly I find it hard to watch stuff I'm actually interested in even now lmao, never mind someone's entire back catalogue ily gale but... no.

I know some of the projects he was in unfortunately got cancelled so it's a shame he wasn't on a few seasons of something so we could have that to enjoy and more people would get to see him outside of Brian Kinney. He seems to mostly be a theatre kid™️ these days which was his first love, good for him but not for us being able to see it!

It's funny what links you have to shows as a gifmaker that traumatic bond of how you suffered to perfect your art so to speak because of that hyperfixation, mine will forever be linked to britin and brian kinney as that's where I began my journey. Idk know whether I should be grateful or not 😅

[diaryoftheunidropout]

DAY 561

It's been a while! Today is September 15th 2024 and it's been 561 days since I dropped out. Quite unbelievable it's been so long, if you ask me.

The month of June went by incredibly fast. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and retrospectively, it's the greatest adventure of my life so far! I won't go into all the details because I'm editing my vlog at the moment and it already tells the story of that trip in a quite detailed way, but I would at least like to go over some bits of it, especially the emotional aspect of it.

I left Paris with a lot of anxieties around how it would all go, but as soon as I met up with my travel partner, my anxieties were eased. The start of the journey was EXTREMELY rough because of the camping and living conditions, which I wasn't used to. What hurt the most, I think, was realizing there were SO many more fans in Europe than I would have ever imagined. At the start of the tour, we'd never manage to be the first to camp, which I thought was absolutely insane and caught me so off guard, leaving me disappointed. I soon realized that me doing the entire tour wouldn't make me as "special" as I thought it would. For months before the trip, I'd been idealizing it all: I'd always be the first anyway, and it'd be easy to stand out because no one would be doing more or as much... But in fact, there were people doing as much, and I realized I really wasn't that "special" and it hurt. It hurt so badly at the beginning and I was questioning whether or not this was all worth it and I was TERRIFIED I'd only feel worse and worse. But you know, after about 3 days, I realized that I had gotten it all wrong. My illusions and daydreams had pushed me to believe the only reason that made this trip worth it was because their eyes would be on me. And OF COURSE that aspect was nice and it was true to some extent. I refuse to believe I didn't leave some kind of long-lasting impression on them during that tour (and even during the previous tour, apparently), and knowing that they SEE ME is important to me these days, even though I didn't even think it was a possibility just two years ago. But after a few days of feeling like shit I realized... Doing "the most" isn't what matters or isn't what SHOULD matter. What really matters is me going to these shows and having the fucking time of my life. And I did. I truly did.

Every day was a party. We were constantly on the move, constantly busy, constantly meeting new people, constantly excited about the next show. It was, as I had expected, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It wasn't as dreamy as the previous tour had been. In 2023, I had been on literal cloud 9 the whole time. This year, I sometimes struggled to find my balance between all the pain and hardships of camping and constantly being on the move and exhausted, and the pleasure and joy of seeing them and dancing and singing my heart our every night. But after just a few days I did and I was certain of what I was doing and that it was right.

It was very different to the 2023 tour, it was very different to what I had imagined in some aspects, but it was amazing and I'd do it again. Maybe differently (better) now that I have the knowledge and experience, but I'd do it again! I'm so grateful we never had any major issues while travelling. All went incredibly smoothly, except some minor problems that we were able to fix quickly. I was terrified of having to miss a show because of planes or trains or buses getting cancelled, or missing a connection, or something like that... But no! After all, we had VERY thoroughly planned everything and had backups and two pretty functional brains...

When I got home, though... Well, it was kind of what I had expected. Missing them big time, feeling down, having no motivation for anything... July and August slipped away in a matter of seconds. I just bedrotted those months away, unfortunately. September is pretty much the same so far, I'm afraid. Never too late though?

I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I started going to therapy again, I think in late May? At first I wasn't a big fan of my therapist but he turned out to have a way of working that was ok for me. When I came back from my trip, I kept on going to sessions every week and by the end of August they started feeling unhelpful. Except the last session before my therapist went on holidays. During that session, he made me realize that one of my biggest issues is that I hate myself and that's why I self-sabotage and lack confidence. I know it's crazy that, as self-aware as I am, I had never really realized it. But I do now, and I know the voice telling me I'm worthless isn't just sick, it's also evil. But a lot of days it's hard to tell it to shut up.

My mom has a situationship. Or boyfriend. I don't really know what they are and I also don't really want to know. All I know is that whenever they're together my mom basically ignores me. So that's every weekend, pretty much. She has expressed some regret over it because she knows it breaks my heart, but the way she apologized let me understand that, while she was kind of sorry, it would happen again for her own good. And it did. It's weirdly painful and comforting to know she has someone else to rely on these days. Makes me think that if I were to die, she'd have a reason to keep on going without me, so it's a bit of a weight off my shoulders.

The other day, I started panicking when I realized almost nothing around me were belongings I had when my dad was still alive. It was a strange feeling, how so much changes in so little time. There are periods of my life where I can't actually tell if he was still alive or not. Like, to me it's so obvious he knows I love Good Omens and Heartstopper and that I was a Worldwide Girl, but these are all things that came into my life or happened AFTER his death. I'm sure he knows, though. He's still around. But that time of my life with him feels like several lifetimes ago that are starting to feel like more of a dream, and less of a reality. This Sunday morning when I woke up, I thought of how it's been several years since I last sat at our living room table for Sunday lunch with my parents. There was a day I sat there for the last time, not knowing it would be the last ever.

I'm not even 20 yet and I already feel so nostalgic for the past. I'm terrified of growing old because I feel like time and my whole life are slipping away through my fingers like sand and there's nothing I can do to stop it or slow it down. I close my eyes in May and wake up in September and I'm like "WHERE did all that time go? And why is my life changing so much and also not at all?"

I feel so stuck. I want a way out of this. By this, I mean this situation where I don't work, rely on my family's generosity for money, and live in constant fear I won't have enough money to see my favorite band again. Money is the one thought that lives in my mind obsessively. Everything eventually revolves around money, because all of my distractions (collecting merchandise, going to concerts or events, travelling...) rely on MONEY.

Please dear Universe, let me have money, lots of them. I can't handle all this worry. I just want to live a sweet life...

[loveletterstomyselfandtoher]

040924

my birthday is finally approaching. i wait all year for this day to come, to celebrate myself, to feel extra love from those near me, to be grateful to get to live for long.

i thought about my plans for that day, i know for sure i will spend all morning on a date with myself with a side questing of recollecting as much free stuff as i can. because i know i deserve it, and a few little treats could never hurt.

after it, i thought of my ideal birthday party idea. go bowling and then to dinner. but i already tried that last year and most of my friends failed to come, and so, i dropped everything and went to have a simple dinner at my usual restaurant with my two best friends, the only real ones that did show up. i had fun, of course. and all the missed attendees had a reason to not come, but it still hurt me nonetheless.

and i just know, that this year, despite having more friends to invite over, i will only end up with more drop outs than last year. two of them will be out of the city, and that i understand. along with one that doesn't live here so might not be able to come either. but two of my dear friends have something come up half of the time we meet, and i don't think this time will be any different. the other one i do want to hope will come, but since we haven't been friends for long i'm not sure if they will ever decide to join or not. i do consider them a good friend, but we've only known each other for a year or so, and so even if i've already assumed we will be long life friends (or until they leave me, because i will never have the heart to leave someone i love) like i usually do, they might still think otherwise.

i know the kid i was once would be crying in happiness, knowing i plan to invite over 10 friends to my birthday, all who i love very much and consider close. i wish to hope for a time like this. however, it feels bittersweet. i think back at my friend's birthday a few weeks ago, one of the two that cancels plans last minute, we were ten in total counting them. but i would say, that probably only have of them were 'real friends' and the rest were acquaintances and family. i think i was the closest to my friend from that gathering, along with and older friend of them who wasn't able to come in the end. my friend even saved a seat so i would seat directly next to them and we shared a meal together. and i prepared them i surprise i know meant a lot and made them happy, that was all i wanted.

but now i can't help but think how despite barely seeking to meet people, they were able to fill an entire table to celebrate their birthday. and i, who every day i try to be more open and approachable, to form more friendships and create true strong bonds, i will have a half empty table on my own solar return. there's nothing i can do about it. how is that fair?

doesn't matter how much i try. how much i sacrifice about other, they just take it for granted. i guess because for them it's easy yet i'm an bound by chains i don't have the key of. perhaps that's the reason behind why in the end i'm only left with those who truly see me. but i mourn the trust i had offer to the others.

i feel i give love everywhere i am, because i never got that. and yet, it is not enough? do i give it to willingly? do i forgive too much? am i too loyal? should i become more critical? more cautious to who i choose to love? but i can't do that. i spend all my childhood with a wall i was forced to construct. i feel like finally, one year ago, i was able to completely destroy it for once. to become my true self. i am like this. i'm open. i'm trustful. i'm free. i can't go back to the corner in which i once hid in darkness, too afraid of the world. i refuse too. i have so much love to give it spills from my fingers, i can feel it in the shape of my bones, i can see it in the beauty that surrounds me. and i am not ashamed of it. i will never be.

i should see it from other perspective. maybe i won't receive back all the love i give, not in the same form. but i have people that will give it to me. that know how important these things are to me. and they will always be there. i know they will. perhaps it's for the better. that in the day that matters the most, i am only with the people how see the real me. so i don't have to outperform myself and simply be. safe and loved.

i can count these people with only one one hand. but i don't really need anything more than that. it is enough to occupy a table. and where is the point? to have more people who love you but barely know you? how is that different from having people love the projection of you they've make in their heads instead of the one standing in front of them? only a few people in this world can have that honor. and that skill. as it is something only one can choose to do, out of love. to see someone with all of what they are, their victories and losses, and stay through everything. i am so lucky that i got to meet them so early, that i got to grow up with them for at least as far as i can remember. that i will grow old with them too. i don't need anything more.

but there is someone else coming in. she will be one of those special ones too, i knew it the moment i saw her. i feel it every time we talk. but for her, i hope i will give her my heart instead. i pray that i will.

i am not sure if she will be here for my birthday, it's still too early. but i know eventually, i won't ever doubt that again.

then, it will five special people at my birthday table. such a beautiful number. and with me, it will be six of us. we will be even.

but one day, i promise, i will host a big birthday party at my own house, a home i will built by myself like everything good i have in my life. i will filled the room with people i hold dear. not only for myself, but for the little me who never got that. and there will be a cake for every year i missed before knowing real love for the first time. but there will be not wished to be made, because the only one that little girl could've had would already be in front of her.

[libraryofcirclaria]

15 February 1287

Library of Circlaria

Third Level Society: First Version

Story Eight: Jeo Brock

I thought last night was complicated. Now I don't know what to think.

I had just gotten back from my afternoon class, meaning I was done for the week. And yes, Cabotton University opened classes on Monday. They had cancelled last Thursday and Friday when the attacks happened, but then resumed everything this week.

I got back and saw that Rose Anne had sent me another ticker message. She explained to me that starting next Monday, she would be leaving to go to another part of the country, although she was not allowed to disclose where. She told me she was grateful for my cooperation and then invited me to the Slack for a final goodbye conversation. That was easy enough, because even though everything is under martial law and curfews, Cabotton students have free travel within the Campus.

So we ate, mostly in silence. But we did talk. She asked me about how I first got started in dymensional planes altogether. That, of course, involves a large portion of my childhood. She also pointed out the small "toys" I had in my bedroom.

I guess they could be considered "toys" in a sense. I have hovering around my bedroom a collection of model airplanes, boats, automobiles, and buildings, all made of quick-matter with the use of lightfire. I actually made some of them when I was a child...illegally. Yes, I used lightfire crafting when I was underage. I eventually asked my parents at the time...I think I was twelve or thirteen...and they had told me to stop, but they let me keep the "toys." When I became of age and got my spellcrafter license, I resumed making these refined models. And it's been a hobby since.

I told her this. She asked to have a last look at them in my room. I obliged and let her come into my bedroom again. On the way there, we passed by Valian, who gave me a side glance. But I didn't give a damn. We went on our way. And I showed her the models in my room.

"You're just so smart and handsome, you know that?" she said while looking at one of my knickknacks.

"Shall we kiss?" I said, kind of jokingly.

And suddenly she kissed me.

I won't lie. I did enjoy it. I wasn't expecting it, but I realized at that moment that the feelings of attraction I had were mutual. "If only she wasn't leaving now..." I began to think, when suddenly she said something that even now I don't know how to process.

"I should not have done that," she said. "I'm actually married...ten years this month, in fact."

I was shocked. Stunned. But then she reassured me that it was not what it seemed. Apparently her husband, Josh Mahathy, had to relocate to West Terredon a few years back. He's part of the same line of work she is. And they had been seeing each other once, maybe twice, per year since then. When they found out that their work was pulling them away from each other, they signed a sort of "pact" with each other to make their marriage a mutually "open marriage."

Rose Anne then explained to me that before she met Josh, she had a sort of romantic lifestyle where she would be seeing multiple partners, many of whom would be seeing multiple partners of their own. They were all aware of each other, and they were consenting. But everything changed when she met Josh Mahathy. He had been raised to believe in monogamy. She decided, at the age of 26 at that time, to surrender her multiple-partner lifestyle and marry Josh. It was traditional. It was monogamous.

"It seemed as if my life had turned a new chapter," Rose Anne said to me.

And then, about two years into their marriage, Mr. Mahathy was assigned to a very peculiar task in the Mount Carris Perimeter. He immersed himself into their progressive-humanist culture, and got romantically involved with multiple partners himself.

This was part of the assignment, but he apparently started to develop a genuine connection with two of them. He had a bit of an emotional breakdown and confessed this to Rose Anne, stating the he would promise to seek counseling from a professional. After a long time of thinking, though, Rose Anne forgave him, though, and said that she was still willing to pursue this lifestyle again.

And thus they formed the "open marriage pact." Rose Anne and Josh are primary partners in marriage, but they both consent to the other seeing one or multiple other partners.

Three years later, so five years ago now, Josh Mahathy was assigned to West Terredon, where he has been on assignment since. He has apparently been seeing another partner while Rose Anne was seeking out a partner of her own. She told me that she had been interested in one other individual in the past but that he had never returned the favor.

"So yes," Rose Anne said. "I should have told you before we kissed. I understand this may be new to you. And if you're not comfortable being in a dynamic like this, I understand. But in the meantime, give this some thought."

<- 14 February 1287 <- || -> 17 February 1287 ->

[theducks-111]

God relationships are difficult. I recently got a boyfriend. He is sweet and caring and pretty much the whole package. This is my first proper relationship so I don't exactly know what I'm doing. I'm someone who always looks for the rules in everything. What are the rules for sitting in class? Are my hands on or under the desk? What face should I be making? How far sat in my seat should I be? And since I don't know the "rules" of a relationship I find myself pulling from books. "Oh the main character communicated like this during an argument and it worked well I suppose that's how you are supposed to", " they always watch the videos they are sent and try to be interested in what their partners is interested in so I should always stop what I'm doing to look at what he sends me, then he will know I truly care". Now I have since figured out that there aren't rules to being in a relationship. Everything is quite nuanced to be honest. I wasn't prepared for that and in my struggle I seem to have hurt my boyfriend. How, I honestly don't know but I just know he is upset with me. I don't think he is that great of a communicater so when I express things in the way the books have told me I should he feels targeted and says stuff like I like the idea of having a boyfriend more than I actually like him. Now that fucking stings. I am an attention seeker in every way shape and form. He prefers his space. So while I immediately respond to any message he sends me, he might take hours to respond or possibly not respond to the message at all, just asking a question of his own. I am really trying to work with that and make sure that I'm telling myself that just because he doesn't respond at lightning speed doesn't mean he is upset with me. It's a struggle. I most often try to apologize for bringing up things that bother me and tell him that it's a me issue and I didn't mean to drag him into it, that I should be able to fix this problem by myself. Now that is never the case. I bring things up because they are issues I cannot solve myself and that take team effort to resolve and come up with a conclusion that works for both parties. But I get so frightened of him being upset or even worse upset with me that I try to take it back. I don't think that is the right thing to do but it is all I know how to. I make him gifts as often as I can to prove my affections but I don't think it's understood. I am trying to find the ways he shows affection in order to not be in a constant panic about trying to find proof that he cares for me, that is exhausting for both parties and very often annoying for him. Just why do relationships have to be so tricky? Though it brings many joys it also brings another whole set of expectations and issues and feelings along with it. I suppose this is the joy of life. To have the ups and downs of relationships and emotions. It is what makes the human experience. I'm trying to be grateful that I get the human experience. That I now have normal problems as opposed to the more extreme ones I faced in the past. It is difficult but it does help I feel if I do it correctly. I am supposed to see him today and I am waiting for him to wake up (like literally he is still sleeping it is early morning where I am) and I just hope and will him not to cancel. I would beat myself up for it for weeks because as much as I would like to solve the problem I would like to be with him far more.

[getmemymicroscope]

I'm not sure this really qualifies as a "black comedy," despite what the internet might want one to believe, because it is really lacking in the comedy.

I mean sure, the characters are laughing (for a bit) and maybe there's a random joke or two that hit - but they hit the way a gut-punch does. Because, from the start, you already know the truth that is being hidden - and you know that our main character is already seriously flawed. And then, as the movie unfolds, you start to realize that almost no one in this 'friend group' is without flaw - and hell, it's not even that great of a friend group. I mean, sure, we're only catching them on one (really bad) day, and maybe it just happens to be the day that all the selfishness comes out, but you walk away very uncertain about the friendship. (Of course, at the end, after they've taken a drastic step in the name of friendship, you have to wonder if there is any actual friendship left - if they'll even meet again, ever.) And the extra people there on top of the core group - obviously they were just there to add more characters, give a reason for Chhaya to show up, and stoke some fires before leaving.

Or maybe I was just put into an 'off' mood early on when that Paro lady, who shows up and essentially throws a fit when Malti is like "he's sick, maybe we should cancel," starts literally telling everyone to "break the door down" (this isn't your house, lady!) when the guy has been in the shower for "too long." Right at that point, I already knew I wasn't going to be a huge fan of this friend group - and sure enough, as the night passes, everyone grates on each other's nerves - and your nerves too. And that is probably the point of this movie, but it also does make it a bit hard to watch.

And we see it all: the over-drinking; the breakdown of Ranvir's psyche; the selfish interactions (Cyrus talking to Rajat about his publishing deal being a failure on the happiest day of Rajat's life); the overreactions (the whole money thing while playing cards); the poorly-timed jokes, if it was in fact a joke (Joshi to Paro); the awkwardness (Kalki's character; Manoj Pahwa & wife showing up unannounced).

Though, honestly, hopefully most friend groups don't have secrets this large or parties this fucked up. And also, like, if you go to a friend's party and they're like "he's sick, maybe we should cancel," I feel like saying "it's Diwali" is not a valid reason to overturn that and force your way in. Not that that justifies any of the events that happen after, but like, what sort of friend are you if you're like "fuck that, I want a drink" and barge in, and then threaten to break down their bathroom doors?

That scene where they bring the chest out from the room is very reminiscent of Hitchcock's Rope (also reminiscent - very grating characters).

The worst, if you will, 'red herring' (or whatever you want to call it) is Ranvir constantly thinking he's smelling something (admittedly, could be the fracturing of his psyche, plus also opening the chest a couple of times) - but then Malti's aunt is like "I have a sharp nose that can smell anything" and yet, despite sitting right next to the chest for a good portion of time, she never smells/says a thing. Like, why throw that line if it isn't going to lead to something...

The star-cast contains a lot of Rajat's usual folks (no Neha Dhupia this time, though), and they're excellent as usual.

The actress playing Malti and Ranvir Shorey have the biggest roles and do fantastic jobs - in fact, Malti might be the only character you really feel for as things progress (and, eventually, end). And as, when the bombshell drops, everyone loses their mind (and even show their lack of humanity, as one of the characters quickly points out) before banding together to pick 'status quo' and 'keep more trouble out of my life,' you find yourself hurting a bit for Malti. Sure, maybe she was partially in the wrong by agreeing to the cover-up, but of everyone, until that final bit, she was probably the most sympathetic character - if only because you knew the truth (I'm sure it'd be different if this movie was told from, like Rajat Kapoor's character or Tara Sharma's character's point of view).

I can't in good consciousness say that I "liked" this movie, because all of the characters were grating by the end (even Kalki Koechlin and Manoj Pahwa, ever-so-slightly, in smaller roles; and many of the characters honestly were grating from the moment you met them) and you never really get to the point of liking most of them (you're happy for Rajat when he breaks his news, but everything sorta implodes after that), and I definitely didn't laugh nearly enough to call it a comedy, but it's by no means a bad story or even a bad movie. People have secrets, people are flawed - and this movie lights a match (metaphorically), throws a bunch of such friends into that fire hazard, and lets us watch the events unfold.