#i know i'm not the most objective person either as a fan but like WOW people refuse to be normal about her

[racewinner]

not being able to form your own opinion over a pop album of all things is truly crazy i gotta say

[wrongcaitlyn]

okay…so…we don’t judge for special interests here right…? cause i am very VERY intense with mine.

so my question is…have you ever thought about solangelos kids….

CAUSE I HAVE

I don’t have all of the lore sorted out rn but i know that they have three kids the first two are girls and the last is a boy.

but with their first daughter…i sort of have some of her stuff sorted out i mean it might change but…

SO (if you don’t mind me infodumping i just NEED to know someone else’s opinion and i have no other ppl who won’t think i’m crazy.)

first things first. Her name is wysteria (just a dif spelling of wisteria cause it looks cool) Bianca solace di angelo (or di angelo solace i can never decide…)

she has tanner skin and freckles but nico’s brown eyes and wills blonde hair. her hair is pretty dang long and sort of whispy almost like taylor’s at the start of her career. (also i find it funny if she were to just have the horrendous mash of an italian and southern accent lmao)

most of the time i imagine her she’s like 16-ish. she’s very kind and caring like will.

she’s either aroace or a lesbian or both i can’t decide yet-

she likes dresses over other clothes (we don’t judge a girl who knows what she likes even tho that’s a stereotype)

and her main powers are sort of a combination of hades and apollo but she more specializes in the light and dark aspects of the two gods.

SO she has really good light manipulation powers and can blind people and if she tries REALLY REALLY HARD she can make it a tangible object she can step on. she also glows cause idk it’s funny.

BUT she also has amazing shadow bending powers. she can again blind people but with obscuring their vision and she is MUCH better at shadow travel than nico is since her specialty is shadows. she’s not very great at the other hades aspects tho. she gets tired after like 10 jumps where nico gets tired after 1. so she normally fights by reaching out to the shadows and pulling them around herself and then zipping around the enemy and teleporting away before they can get to her. it looks very cool from afar. her main weapon is a stygian iron sword like nico’s but it looks kinda different and has some gold aspects. (hazel got the gold for her)

she loves music and to sing (ehem headcanon that she sung a version of nancy mulligan for one of nico and wills anniversary’s ehem)

but she is great all around and i love her even if i’m the only one who actually thinks of her existence.

help i just yapped so much very sorry but lmk your thoughts!

WE DO NOT JUDGE HERE (that'd be so hypocritical seeing as im the one who got so obsessed with nico being a popstar that i wrote 200k words and counting abt it..)

to be quite honest, i haven't! i guess that in my head i kind of will always picture them sort of as like 15 year olds, bc that's how they are in canon and i also always see them younger as me, so i don't spend that much time thinking about an aged up solangelo (despite the fact that they're nearly in their twenties in talk your talk, wow) but!!! i love this hc omg!!!

i love wysteria first of all😭 my mind automatically goes to the lakes, and i just think that's SUCH a solangelo song so ofc i think that's a perfectly fitting name!!!

personally i'm a fan of solace di angelo bc when you put it into google translate, italian -> english, it means "angel's solace" (and i know that google translate is far from accurate, but i just find that so cute <3) but also my brain says make it alphabetical order (so di angelo solace...) either way both are great!!

(also i find it funny if she were to just have the horrendous mash of an italian and southern accent lmao) YES. YES. THAT'D BE HILARIOUS. i just imagine that like some words she would pick up from nico with an italian accent, and then some from will with a southern accent, and then those blended together in a sentence would be so funny😭

i loveee diving into the light manipulation powers. i find it so nice to see the things that nico and will have in common and how they could work together with those powers, i think they'd be so powerful (and also it'd look really sick)

i love this!!! thank u so much for sharing :)

[maria-eve-falcon]

I think she understood his anxieties, you can hear in her songs over the years and I think just from what we know of her as a person... I think she got tired of waiting for him to do something and decide what he wanted in his life... And you can say that him not deciding has to do with his anxieties, but I think she understood him and just waited as long as she could...

sorry I didn't answer early.. I had this answer in my mind but I was(am) to0 tired.

precaution : it's gonna be long and there will be out of this particular topic disclosure because idk why a box inside was opened by this

so.. while I get people when they say she waited too long (bit skeptical) we can't blame anyone (this is making me cry wow parasocial much?) and:

they both of mental issues as we know . god knows what was their position in times. normal people without any issues (almost everyone has issues cause 'perfect' is just not a thing) can't commit easily , famous people with issues having a hard time is really normal. commitment is big. it's not just a piece of paper (imo)

I can't blame joe at all here. cause look at the position he was in. his career kickstarted and he was with her. something very unsimilar with her other exes. so, he doesn't have a career close to the people that debuted with him / close to the time he did i.e liz debici (they won a chopard together ) . he doesn't have enough press (lmfao billy lynn had the record for most press(if not collectively) with him until recently ), nominations and stability what so far judging that he is a decent actor (you can disagree for sure but he IS a decent actor objectively (even when miscast) )

I understand he doesn't want fame and hoards of money doesn't mean he doesn't want a stable career ( while tay's is 740 million a year! that's a load even after paying for everyone and everything! (idk why I pointed this out) )(acting is not a stable career choice it self but I bet he wants to have some kind of stability before at least marriage) AND he has to calculate his every word and action since the beginning .

this is gonna sound mean but do you think tay's position screams suitable for marriage and babies? I'm sorry but she is the position (was before the tour too!) where she literally is on top of the world ! ( yeah I wrote this after the people's article so I'm angry) to get married now and gain a load of attention FOR IT, is sure to be overwhelming for an actor like joe who grew up pretty normal. posh , but normal. I'm sorry but she hasn't step down at all! (not her fault but.. not his either)

considering everything I just pointed out lame excuses (this is gonna get ugly so buck up) what about her picking fights? (when you are in love, you fight but don't pick them?! ) for example afterglow, false god. she even said she knows it's her fault but wants HIM to apologize first. (i'm a person who used to always apologize first and boy, at a point you don't care and distance yourself from those who keep making ya do that (that's how my rtl with my 8 year long bestie ended, fucking exhausting I tell ya) ) ALSO when SHE broke HIS heart first! sorry but my man is human!

ok , fuck all I said . even judging by ylm , I'm assuming with pressure to work on his career or not he couldn't read her mind cause surprise! he is human! they just needed to talk about where they were or what she actually wanted but clearly she didn't understand that.

also about letting go. do you really think a woman who is still writing songs about jm (something that happened 13 years ago) AND INDICATING ENOUGH THAT IT'S ABOUT HIM KNOWING WHAT HER FANS ARE LIKE , going as far to dress up like she was in the vma's literally a decade ago and announcing her new album on the bday of some guy's ex wife (who every one is done dragging for the last 3 years) on mtv music awards is letting go? that thing icked me soo hard . what is growing up is confusing to me since midnights announce. she needs to stop these little clues to diss people that are perfectly fine with their lives and don't care at all! it just shows she loves dragging things and can't let go or be cool about it after soo many years!(nothing else!) and worst part is she makes it obvious that it's about them. now it has come to the point where it is just a stupid topic for everyone to make fun of. her pain surrounding jm and kanye has been dragged for soo long by none other than her and her fans that either people just roll their eyes and move on or it's just a joke atp!!!!!!!!!!!!

tl;dr : I just made 7 points of why joe might have not proposed to her and was stressing about doing so.

[legendarycollectorprincess]

Ship wars and why they don't let us appreciate and enjoy good characters. PART 5 (Second to last part).

Hello everyone! It's been a while. And I mean a long, long time.

I think the most current content I shared with you, which is part of the “Ship wars and why they don't let us appreciate and enjoy good characters” series of posts I've done, was PART 4: KANA’S DOWNFALL. I recall posting it when the second season of the anime of Oshi no Ko was announced. Wow!

Well, that partly explains why it took me a while to bring you this penultimate part.

That's right, there's only one last post left!

But first, there's something you should know.

Disclaimer

My intention has always been to address the absurd hatred that Oshi no Ko's characters, Kana Arima and Akane Kurokawa, have received from their respective haters. I have believed that my posts have always reflected my objectivity towards both characters. Some really sweet Kana/Akane fans have even let me know this through little messages (Love you guys!).

However, in the last few days, following the end of the Oshi no Ko manga, it seems that my publications are coming across the wrong way to a specific group of fans: Toxic Kana fans.

Due to the unsatisfactory treatment the character received at the conclusion of the story, I understand that some of her fans are defensive and may mistake some opinions for malicious criticism. However, I hope they know that my desire to keep writing about Kana (about the hatred her character receives) has been greatly reduced after…the not-so-kind messages I've received from this group (ironic, right?). For that reason, I'm afraid my last post will focus solely on Akane's character.

I know that the opinion of others should not affect me to write about something I like. And honestly, it's not out of fear either. Thank you, block option. It has to do with the fact that I am extremely conscious that whatever I write about Kana now, it will not feel genuine to me. And, therefore, to you guys.

I hope you understand.

Well, back to the post, now it's Akane's turn!

AKANE KUROKAWA: MANIPULATIVE MASTERMIND, CRAZY YANDERE AND THE THORN ON THE SIDE OF THE AQUAxKANA SHIP

Long title, I know.

But it does its job: to bring together the three big arguments (if we can call them that) that haters use to twist Akane's character. All to justify their hatred towards her. So, let's take a look at this, shall we?

Akane The Snake

As we all know, the second season of the Oshi no Ko anime started and culminated this year, bringing new fans who had the opportunity to continue the story with the amazing Tokyo Blade arc. Sadly, having new people in a fandom is always the perfect opportunity for haters to pass off their hateful comments as genuine observations.

“Akane manipulated Aqua by linking his trauma over Ai to Kana being an idol. He can't choose Kana because that would endanger her, so he chooses Akane.” Anonymous hate comment, about Akane on episode 12 of S2.

“Akane, you snake!” Anonymous hate comment, on Akane talking to Aqua about Kana in episode 12 of S2.

Oh yes, classic Akane, right? I mean, it's just so obvious that she would do something like that. After all, from the beginning she was introduced to the story as a manipulative character, so that action fits her very well, right?

*sigh

I don't know what hurts more. ¿The incredible, almost comical, lack of basic comprehension? ¿Or the fact that that scene, like many others, reflects Akane's concern for Kana, and yet haters decided to make it about the ship wars?

Akane was worried about Kana's safety and idol reputation. She knows from experience how terrible it is to be the target of public criticism. HER ENTIRE CHARACTER INTRODUCTION ARC WAS ABOUT THAT. So, that makes her exactly the right person to express these concerns to Aqua. She didn't do it to scare him. Or for him to choose her. In her entire dialogue, the words, “You should stay away from Kana and be with me instead” were never said by Akane. Quite the opposite, she even told him he should choose a private place to meet Kana next time.

If the person giving that advice to Aqua had been Melt, Taiki, or Gotanda, even the haters would have said: “You know what, that's a good point”. But because the person who did it was Akane, her haters can only assume that she did it because she wanted Aqua for herself.

In the end, staying away from Kana was Aqua's decision. There was no manipulation on Akane's part. Only haters' strong desire to blame Akane and make her out to be a manipulative person who will do anything to be with Aqua.

Yandere Akane

“She got the crazy yandere look! It's extremely bad for Aqua to have someone like her around.” Anonymous hate comment, about Akane on episode 5 of S2.

“How could she say she would kill someone? She's really f*cked up in the head. Crazy ass yandere b*tch”. Anonymous hate comment, about Akane on episode 5 of S2.

It is well known that Akane's reaction to Aqua's confession about his revenge plan was not to everyone's liking. And that's fine. Akane's reaction was not made to please all viewers. It was made for Aqua.

It was what Aqua's character needed after confessing a secret that he had been carrying alone for years. He didn't need someone who would invalidate his pain, or try to talk him out of it from a moral high ground. He just needed someone who understood why. Who understood HIM. And Akane did.

She understood that Aqua wanted to take revenge against HIS MOTHER'S MURDERER. Not a random person, but someone who caused Aqua immeasurable pain.

Akane said she would help Aqua to kill! She's crazy! It's psychopathic behavior! Anonymous hate comment, about Akane on episode 5 of S2.

If people hate Akane for trying to help Aqua get justice for a horrible crime, without using the legal system and with morally questionable methods, then they will have to hate most morally gray and anti-hero characters out there as well. Do they? No!

Because at the end of the day, her haters have no problem with this part of Akane's character, as many other characters in other media have it as well.

Joo Yeo Jung, from The Glory. A character known for being willing to kill for the female protagonist, and to help her take revenge on the people who harassed her in the past, using morally questionable methods. No love triangles. No ship wars. No hate.

Kaz Brekker, from Six of Crows. Character known for using morally questionable methods so that the girl he loves can have her freedom. No love triangles. No ship wars. No hate.

Jason Todd, from DC Comics. Directly unrelated to romance. Character known for fighting crime with methods such as torture and murder. Still, for many, he is their favorite Robin. No romance. No ship wars. No hate.

See what I mean? It all boils down to the fact that the haters couldn't stand Akane becoming close to Aqua. That she would move his heart by telling him that she would be by his side no matter what.

“Akane is so creepy, she’s giving yandere vibes!” Anonymous hate comment, about Akane on episode 5 of S2

Please, tell me I'm not the only one who have watched Mirai Nikki, and therefore knows what a true yandere is like.

Yuno Gasai, everyone? THE yandere character? No? Okay, what about Sonozaki Shion? Sayaka Miki?

The list I have can go on and on, but no matter how big it gets, Akane Kurokawa will never be on it.

[kharmii]

So let me get this straight, you hate trans people and believe them to be pervs and make a mockery out of LGBT people but ship something gay, obsess over 'weird kinks' you don't like worse than any anti I have ever seen in my life yet ship incest, and insult neurodivergent people. Yeah wow, I sure do wonder why everyone avoids you. Well at least checking this blog inspired me to make more trans Volo content, so thanks for that.

How is it you notice I'm being shunned if there's not a clique of you? Anyway........Yay! Another hate post where I get to vent about stuff in reply! You know what....I'll bet people shun me because this fandom is a lot smaller than I assumed. There might have been a whole ton of people jumping on the Submas Train when PLA first came out, but after a year and a half, most of the hardcore fans who stuck with it this long are all either antis or furries into stupid kinks. I'd be willing to bet a paycheck that most of the people into trainwreck also have blankship side-accounts, and that's why other content creators never gave my shiddy trainwreck drawings a 'like' out of pity. They're all mad I made jokes about gross, hairy werewolves with vaginas because there are srsly (secret blankshippers) people in this fandom into that. (I srsly found someone's fat furry spice hoard on Twitter. Tread with care! X-D & D-: Oh, and look! LOOK!!! 'PROSHIPPERS DNI' on their profile! The best antis are into that kind of shit, but don't you ship something that is morally wrong in the context of irl, yo!)

AGAIN, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF ANTI-SHIPPERS ARE VILE TWO-DICK COCKVORE FURRY FETISHESTS, AND WHY AM I CONSIDERED A HYPOCRIT BUT NOT THEM!?

How about this trainwreckshipping head canon? Volo gets to wake up every morning to wet chili farts in bed because Emmet is a huge, gross fat fucking dog-furry with a vagina who is extra hairy because that's the aesthetic the social justice warriors are trying to push as the new norm. I'm not an anti for hating that shit. It's gross, and I loathe it when people take a beautiful or aesthetically pleasing character and make them ugly and gross. Antis have moral objections to certain content, especially incest and pedophilia, which people frown upon irl. Maybe I should think it's morally wrong to take something beautiful and turn it into something that makes me want to throw up in my mouth a bit. Hey! Let's make a new norm where everybody is gorilla hairy with huge floppy ranga tiddies, and they have a womb routed in their asses, and they smell weird and are self-induced chemically insane!

Trans Volo content, you say? That's another thing. There's a big wide world of people who allow themselves to enjoy content without having to inject the trendy posturing into it. They're probably the majority but are afraid to speak out because, like trans and leftists are likely to do overall, a small vocal majority hijack fandom spaces and act as everybody agrees with them. If I want to ship female Volo, there's a perfectly good Cynthia. I hate that 'Volo is Cynthia' head canon, especially coming from that person who does the interracial ship where Volo always looks like a drug-addict piece of trash. Why do Volo dirty like that? He's a clean, fresh-faced pretty guy, and that's why the protag was supposed to be so surprised when he betrayed them at the end. He's fun! He smiles at you constantly! He doesn't mope around with pouty lips. Make a skeevy dirtbag oc if that's what you are into, and ffs, Cynthia is strong female representation. Men have to pose as fake women to take away from us in athletics irl; don't take away our bad-ass champion in fantasy too.

No transfemale can hope to look like Cynthia irl unless they put like $100K worth of work into it. Most of them look like Chris Farley playing the van down by the river guy, but with stringy long hair. Taking hormones a person has no business taking makes them enormously fat most of the time. -And btw, I don't hate trans people; I feel sorry for them because society is tricking people into fucking themselves up....because it's trendy, yo!

Last point: IDC if people shun me. It has no bearing on my ability to produce content, and I will continue to crank stuff out for as long as I stay with (x) hyper fixation, which could be for years.

[nanjokei]

oh god a project moon tier meta post, how bad was it

shockingly pretentious post going "i love how the characters don't have extreme speech patterns" then doesn't elaborate but only states facts at you with no bearing on WHY they like this, and describes the following, parenthesis is my own commentary when needed:

the character who uses -dono for everyone doesn't go full ninja (he uses -dono and gozaru because he's a geek. it's not rocket science)

the cult leader.....speaks like a cult leader (wow)

the protagonist is very polite but still has no issues cussing people out (yes... because he's kind of a detached bitch for many reasons.. i don't think this is rocket science either)

the annoying guy who does things to annoy the protagonist is annoying and speaks in a frivolous way but not too much because he's cunning and is faking it (no shit sherlock...)

now its pretty catty of me to describe the post to you like this especially considering anyone who takes one look at my blog will realize exactly what tag i was visiting and if OP stumbles across this— maybe just block me or something, but i also found it a little amusing there was a lot of highlighting of how they read the text on their own or whatever. (who cares. you are not special. i will go on as usual)

i personally read the fan tl for the main game (cc subs, so i can see the jp dialogue underneath, so im still aware of how ppl talk in the original text) because im lazy and there's too many hawd wowds fow widdle old me, read parts of the dlc (beginning and end, read the fan tl in the middle) on my own and then the subsequent game in the series, so i can weigh in on the labored upon "speech patterns" in their post— it is utterly mundane. i don't think anything special about the way most of the characters speak for the most part— the dialogue has very strong character voice present (something to lament about the existing fan translation.. i mean no disrespect bc they do fine for the bulk of it but the tone is so Neutral). and had i made that post, i would use literally any other set of characters. not exaggerating at all. at the end of the day it is just a fandom meta post and nothing serious, but this "stating objective facts without elaborating and acting smart for it" brand of meta post TRULY gets under my skin. you asked me about "projmoon fan tier" in particular so you must know exactly what i mean for it to pique your interest.

my entire point here is "WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THIS" and "WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOOD". none of which the post communicates. it just feels like posturing for the sake of it. if they said "i like the dialogue like that" or "i think the character voice is strong" (as i said on my own just now) it'd be FINE. but the fact that i just had objective facts spit up at me with no thoroughline to the thesis of the post. and like, i don't think i'm very smart. i guarantee i may have said something dumb in this ask or contradicted myself and i acknowledge i am being PETTY. however... it really is an issue i have with "analysis" on here. also, this series has a strong presence of projmoon fans so like.

thank you for letting me rant about this a bit btw nonnie

[rainy-knights-of-villany]

Finding Hero - Part 2

As it turned out, finding Hero was surprisingly easy. Their neighbours were pretty nosy, and gossiped a lot about the odd person living in apartment 14. They spent most of their time indoors, or in a particular cafe, hidden out of sight and on the brink of going out of business.

They knocked on the door, waiting for an answer. It took a few tries, and then they heard footsteps.

"Hello? Is this the reporters again? I told you already, I'm not going to do any interviews!"

"No, no, I'm a new neighbour, I just wanted to have a chat." Villain smiled, hoping they could sound friendly and inviting enough to convince Hero to talk to them.

"Likely story. I would have heard you moving in. Thin walls."

"Oh... Then I'm... a fan?"

"You didn't sound so sure."

"Yes! I'm a fan! Big fan of Hero, yes."

"Wow, you deserve a medal for being the most convincing person on the planet." Villain could imagine Hero rolling their eyes.

"Fine, you can come inside if you stop annoying me, but be warned, I-"

Villain heard a few dry, heaving coughs, and then the door opened.

"Sorry about that. So, you want an autograph or what?"

A few minutes later, Hero and Villain were sitting across from one another on bland, uncomfortable armchairs. A clock ticked loudly as Villain looked around the room. A stack of unpaid bills, bottles of various medication, an overflowing bin, and a broken typewriter were just a few of the objects scattered around the room. "Not what I was expecting, but it's still a very nice place."

"Are you mocking me?"

"Not at all! So umm... what happened?"

"Have you been living under a rock or something? The lawsuit?"

"Ah yeah, the lawsuit... sorry, I forgot."

"I became a hero to protect people. Someone got hurt, and I protected them. Who cares if it was a villain? Apparently they did. Long story short, I got fired, tried to sue for unlawful termination of employment, they countersued, blah blah blah, and now I have lots of legal debts to pay, and all of my friends and family abandoned me. You're saying nobody knows about it?"

"I don't follow the news much."

"Yeah, figures. I don't have many fans either, even less fans obsessive enough to track down where I live. So tell me again," Hero stood up slowly, their leg shaking, "Who are you, and what are you doing in my-"

They stumbled forward, and Villain caught them before flinching back. Ow. Something must have nicked their shoulder earlier, and they simply didn't realise till now.

Villain thought nothing of it as they took out their phone, dialing in Supervillain's number.

Part 3:

[aseriesofunfortunatejan]

I've been looking for a reason to ask your opinion and now seems almost too perfect — Cutthroat for the character opinion game?

i love him,,,,,,

I used "~" for "sorta", or something like that. The random text scribble is "highkey /j", lol. I'm gonna try to go over everything I ticked, but I'll keep it short since clearly he's,,,,, he's a lot,,,,, and also I talk too much,,,,,,,,,

• "Everyone but me is wrong about them <3" Obviously I don't... actually think that... but I can remember horrendous conversations I had with Cutthroat stans on Discord and Reddit, back when Akudama Drive was coming out. Some fans were reaching and objectively misunderstanding elements of his characterisation (some of them were most likely very young - and some of them were... religious..?). It was truly the Cutthroat stans specifically. (Adding "they got done DIRTY by fans" to this description!)

• "Wasted potential" and "Not as deep as they seem" I'm grouping these two together. I think Cutthroat was well written enough to make me love him, and to make him work perfectly within the bounds of the story told by the anime, but I also think a lot of us were expecting more. Even what was shown of his backstory in the manga wasn't much, imo. My impression is that the creators didn't put as much care into his story and characterisation as they did for Swindler's, granted that I believe she was given a lot (and deserves it. queen). I also wish I could understand his "red aura" thing for sure, which I personally interpret as synesthesia. Finally, as a classic fan of The Shining - the book - part of me is extremely excited about Episode 9 and how it turned out, but part of me also notices the clear difference between how Jack Torrance's and Cutthroat's pathologies were explored - Cutthroat could have been passionating in a very different way if he had been given Jack's treatment by his writers.

• "If they were real I would be afraid of them" and "... I would marry them" So the second part is just a joke, lol. But trivia: I have had multiple nightmares about Cutthroat. I was either Swindler, or my own self but in Swindler's position practically - the context wasn't Akudama Drive though - and he was... Cutthroat... He was infatuated with me and wanted to kill me. The chase scenes, and scenes of me trying to de-escalate felt vivid, lol. I think it's possible that I have an underlying fear of being stalked by someone who is infatuated with me, for personal reasons, but I truly hadn't considered it that much until I started having those dreams.

Worst part is I love this bastard. That made the dreams a little bit confusing, because part of me was like "oh that's Cutthroat, I love that guy", but in the plot of the dream, I didn't. (Adding "I like them enough to project my own issues onto them" to this section because that's what I meant when I ticked it!)

• "They're like a blorbo to me", "I want to carry them in a handbag like a tiny dog" and "I'm mentally ill about them" Oh yeah I definitely love him a lot. and for what

• "WOW! They are a horrible person" And that's what's great about him. Love a feral bastard. By the way, while it's a shame that his backstory wasn't explored more, I personally appreciate that he is straight-up a bad guy and the narrative doesn't try to make you forgive him for his actions. He sucks, lol.

• "They work better as part of a dynamic" You know. Because his whole thing is his relationship with Swindler

Thanks for asking! This is not short oh my God I failed at keeping it short,

[scatterpatter]

"Where's the essay OP" Said no one, and yet here I am

Lampy isn't stupid, he's neruodivergent: a rushed-together masterpost

Disclaimer: I'm not a liscened medical professional but I'm neurodivergent who's close to many neurodivergent people so I know when certain traits strike me as very familiar... Also tblt is my comfort movie I've seen it probably over 100 times, not exaggerating, so if anyone here's an expert on it, it's me.

I'm only going by the first movie because while To The Rescue and Goes To Mars probably have evidence to back me up, I don't feel like sitting down to watch them as I don't have them as memorized as the original

Point #1: Lampy is arguably the most intelligent appliance in the movie

Honestly it apalls me that so many are convinced that Lampy is an idiot when he displays some of the most intelligent traits in the movie. I'll just list off some of the most important scenes that show this

1: When discussing a way to get to the city, Lampy comes up with plans that end up failing, true. But we should also consider that not only did Radio and Toaster come up with bad plans before deciding on the swivel chair, but 2/3 of Lampy's ideas involved the same mechanic: on something with wheels(yes the mattress had wheels for some reason) being powered by Kirby

2: "From here you can see the really big lamp!" This scene is simply due to the appliances being sheltered from the outside world. Lampy displays the same level of naive-ness as everyone else: Radio seems earnest in calling the sun a "really big lamp", and Kirby calls the grass "shag carpet". Lampy is not at a lower intelligence in this scene, he's exactly at the same level as everyone else

3: The scene with the storm really sells his intelligence. The appliances have a rudimentary understanding of electricity, most likely from being appliances, but Lampy displays an excelled level of understanding by sacrificing himself for the battery. He understands that batteries are powered by electricity, lightning is electricity, and by using himself as a lightning rod, he acts as the conductive metal to easily transfer this energy from the bolt to the battery. Technically this should have overcharged and fried the battery but we'll suspend disbelief for the sake of this movie.

4: He knew that stacking the appliances to roughly human height, creating a dark environment with ominous sounds, and putting Toaster at eye-level to scare the human with his own reflection... Again, this is an intelligent understanding of how to scare a human

5: It's unclear on whose idea it was to look up Rob in a phone book, however this shows that not only can Lampy read(most likely picked up from being Rob's reading light), ESPECIALLY when Toaster struggles to read, but also has an understanding of phone books, addresses, and finding humans based on family names. I cannot stress how intelligent this is for a sentient desk lamp

There's a few more minor examples, but these are the biggest cases. Lampy is intelligent.

Point #2: Lampy struggles with social cues and doesn't empathize as easily as others

My biggest point here is when people think neruodivergents are "dumb" for having trouble picking up on things like sarcasm when that just... isn't the case. A few notable examples include:

1: When Air Conditioner says "You're a real bright little lamp", Lampy doesn't pick up the sarcasm and thinks he's being complimented. Though he definitely shows a level of emotional intelligence because he looks to Toaster to confirm "hey I was complimented", sees they're still looking angry, and gets the hint that he was insulted without someone needing to explicitly tell him that, to which he then responds with "Heyyy >:("

2: Sometimes he's able to read the room and pick up on tones, but other times he shows a level of emotional density. Legitimately not knowing if Rob had returned even when seeing Blanky disappointed to the point of near tears... But then knowing "brains wouldnt hurt either" was a jab at their intelligence and reacting with appropriate annoyance... But also when Radio says "Things could be worse!", doesn't realize he's just saying that to make Toaster feel better and asks "How could they be worse?"

3: He bullies Blanky alongside Radio and the others, unclear if he's actually being a jerk or just "oh this is what everyone else is doing so this is the normal way to act", but he's legitimately confused when Toaster tries to explain why they're suddenly being nice to him. He doesn't get the "now I feel better" argument because his argument was "Well you were never this nice to him before". Even when Toaster tries to explain why it feels nice, it just doesn't click... until Toaster finds a way to explain that connects personally to Lampy's own emotional state. He has trouble empathizing until realizing "oh this is like this thing that I feel sometimes"

4: Something I've noticed when gathering evidence is that more than once, Lampy goes "Wow..." After someone gloats about themself(Twice with Radio, once with the Computer). It's clear by the third time, when Radio goes "What does that mean?" And Lampy responds "I don't know. [To Computer] What does that mean?" That he doesn't even know what's being gloated about, let alone why he should be impressed. He has the emotional intelligence to recognize when someone's gloating and the "appropriate" response of amazement, but it seems like it never comes from a place of earnest. (While Neurotypicals can and do engage in "performative" behavior, I tend to notice this way more commonly with neurodivergents)

Also the "wow..." Performative thing is VERY reminiscent of Peridot from Steven Universe(a characters who many autistic fans see themselves in and the creator herself saying she doesn't consider Peridot or any of the gems to be neurotypical) going "wow thanks" as her default "this is how I've been taught to show gratitude" response

Point #3: Miscellaneous traits that could be neurodivergent

These traits COULD be interpreted as neurodivergent, but I will admit they could also be interpreted as something else so like take these with a grain of salt

1: Lampy appears to have sensory needs. When sleeping, he needs to tap a rock a few times(presumably to make sure it's "right") before clonking his head on it. It's interesting because rocks aren't a very "lamp" thing whatsoever, and none of the other appliances look for pillow-ish objects to rest on, so this could be a sensory thing.

2: Lampy has an interesting vocal quirk: repetition of phrases at the beginning and end of a sentence. Instances include "How exactly do you propose we do that, exactly?" "All of a sudden you're being so darn nice to him all of a sudden" "The fact is there's just not enough facts" The third one is a bit of a stretch but the first two seem to indicate a possible pattern of speech. Part of me wants to say this could be a verbal tic or some type of verbal stimming, but I've never met anyone who has a tic or stim like this so I can't say it's a neurodivergent thing with confidence, but I wanted to mention this quirk regardless.

3: Physically saying how he feels. Two instances where multiple characters are laughing, Lampy speaks while laughing "That's funny - I'm dying!" "I'm aching with joy!". It's just interesting that no one else speaks while laughing and for whatever reason, Lampy needs to verbalize "Yes I find this very funny" as if simply laughing along isn't enough. I've seen somewhat similar stuff in neurodivergents who have issues expressing emotions implicitly so they state them explicitly instead.

4: I've noticed Lampy isn't touchy... except with Radio. Some neurodivergent people can have issues with physical contact, which could explain that. But I've also noticed that Radio also gives me huge neurodivergent vibes... But more importantly Radio is extremely touchy with everyone, Lampy included, hence them often getting into physical fights but also just- tapping them or wrapping a cord around the other and pulling him close(they're so in love but that's a post on its own). A possible explanation is Lampy having issues with touching others, but either feels comfortable being touchy with Radio(due to emotional bonds and trust) or simply recognizes "Radio likes being touchy so I should be touchy back". A stretch of an argument, I'll admit, but I think the interpretation is there and valid.

In conclusion

I mean idk if Lampy was written to be neurodivergent or if the writers just wanted him to be "quirky" and accidentally gave him a lot of neurodivergent traits, but he reads as very neurodivergent to me(probably autistic or adhd but I'm not a professional and can't diagnose him). But while I can chalk up neruodivergency being one of many possible interpretations of his character, I WILL argue that he's not "stupid" given the evidence we see throughout the movie

Tl;Dr: Lampy is evidently intelligent, but sometimes struggles with social cues, empathy, and overall shows numerous traits of neurodivergency

[toujoursmiraculous]

Thoughts and Reaction to Mr. Pigeon 72!

I knew this was going to be a really good episode, just because the synopsis we got and the trailer seemed pretty bland. Whenever ML does that, a lot of big things happen in that episode. I screamed and choked on my water in the opening scene where Ladybug's with Alya in Marinette's room. I've been looking forward to Alya and Marinette scenes sooo much since Gang of Secrets! Wayzz & Alya: Hey Marinette, you should take a break and rest. Marinette: Nah, I'm good I gotta keep working Alya: YOU'RE LOSING IT, GIRL! Marinette: Don't care, must work Alya: Okay... you know Adrien and Kagami broke up, right? Marinette: Wait what?! Oh no, Kagami needs me! Alya: Not the reaction I was expecting but okay "Let's not wait for the storm to pass, but let's dance in the rain." I really like this quote! Even during bad times, you need to find the good and enjoy it. And Marinette reaaaally needs to do that. But in a literal sense, please don't dance outside during a dangerous storm.

ALYA AND TRIXX ALDJFSLJDS oh I love them, I'm so happy we'll get to see more of them. The way they both reacted to Marinette saying she has to go console Kagami, they weren't expecting that. xD But I was! I find it very amusing how in episodes like Frightningale she was more upset with Chloe being Ladybug than Chloe being in a video with Adrien that Alya's shocked by her decision, and in Frozer where Marinette was putting Adrien's wants before hers. I really don't understand why people think just because she likes Adrien, she'd not want to help make those around her happy even if it wasn't what she wanted for herself. I'm not surprised at all that Marinette would do this for Kagami, but I'm very happy that she is. "Alya, in Paris, Kagami has no other friend except me. Only I can console her." This makes me so happy. The only times in this show I like Kagami, is when she's with Marinette. After watching this episode, I'm more and more thankful she finally told Alya about being Ladybug I don't even want to know the state she'd be in had she not. O.O She almost ran out of her room as Ladybug (whoops), then almost ran out in her pjs (again, oops). Thanks to Alya, she didn't do either. xD That little detail where Marinette runs out and the sun's really intense, letting us know she's been inside a really long time, so everything outside is really bright. I really appreciate the little things like that. Or at least, that's what I take it as. Unless they're hinting at summer coming up soon... Dang Marinette, just jumps on Kagami's back LOL Kind of reminds me how Chat Noir likes to come up on Ladybug. xD "Your so original friend." Marinette is pretty original! I know the tone implies that's not a good thing, but eh. She's letting her go with Marinette and spend time away, so who cares! Marinette trying really hard to convince Kagami to get back with Adrien and how she's going to help her. I think it's really sweet of her, but Kagami of course clearly doesn't want to. Plagg: What's wrong with you, jumping into ice water! YOU'RE LOSING IT! Adrien: *exposes duffle bag full of Camembert* Plagg: I take back everything I said about you Also huh, Alya just told Marinette she's losing it, now Plagg tells Adrien he's losing it...hmmm. Bob Roth is a horrible person and each time we see him, he does something else to show it. Poor Adrien's allergic to pigeons specifically. I guess he's okay with some birds but not others? Idk? But he told Gabriel it'd be doves, so he approved. But it turned out to be pigeons instead. To be fair, at least in the US, Mourning Doves are often mistaken as pigeons, at least where I live, so they'd make a decent substitute... if it wasn't for Adrien's allergy. Adrien in Gorizilla to Wayhem: If you stop following me around screaming, I think we could be good friends! Wayhem with Cardboard Cut-out Adrien in Mr. Pigeon 72: ADRIENNNNNNN! :/ Marinette has a bag full of everything she may need in all kinds of situations. Comes in handy but good grief girl! How do you lug that all around??? What kind of scenarios do you think up to think of

some of that stuff!? Marinette's so adorable in her bathing suit awwww! Dude. Bob Roth. He said he's allergic to pigeons! And you blame Mr. Ramier because Adrien sneezed and it scared the pigeon away? How is this man successful again? He doesn't listen to anything or anybody. Marinette's like hey Kagami, look at Adrien. You'll start liking him again. Do you feel your heart beating fast now? And she's like "I feel especially bad for the trainer (Mr. Ramier)". I mean same though. He's being treated horribly! x.x Next take, Adrien dives and he sees Marinette with Kagami. But I think he only saw Marinette. Because he says he thought he saw a friend from school (Kagami doesn't attend their school, just the fencing class, as far as we're aware) and also he makes no mention of Kagami at all in this episode. Which means...

Why's your jaw dropping at the sight of your "just a friend" in a bathing suit, Adrien? And, you know, Kagami's literally right there in a bathing suit, too. Just saying. But it's like she's not even there to him. Hmmmmm. Poor Kagami's like, this entire thing is embarrassing, I feel embarrassed for me, Adrien, and this situation. Kagami: Marinette, stop! It's getting crazy! Marinette: Love is crazy! Don't think about it! I love how the more Marinette tries to help Kagami, the more things are working out in Marinette's favor. Interesting, isn't it? The more she tries to tell Adrien her feelings and make opportunities for them, the more they fail. The more she tries to help Kagami, or someone else, the more opportunities for her land in her lap. Hahahahaha the way they both fall LOL "Marinette? 😮" *guilty smile* AND THEN THEY TAKE DOWN POOR EDGAR! :( Mr. Ramier's in the background giving the poor bird CPR as he's drowned and Marinette and Adrien are just casually talking not paying attention lolol "What are you doing here?" "I came to surprise you." Kind of, she was hoping to help Kagami get back with Adrien. So that's a kind of surprise! "Uh, well to relax!" True too, actually. Alya did send her off because she needed to get out of the house and relax from her Ladybug and Guardian duties. Marinette, everyone needs to be careful when at a pool. Clumsy people like you especially need to be careful! lol Good thing Adrien's already seen her fall so many times, it's nothing new lol Gabriel: It's a failure Bob Roth: It's not my fault, it's his! Mr. Ramier: You are under arrest! Edgar is my best friend. He's the most intelligent of the pigeons! Gabriel: It's a pigeon Bob Roth: WHAAAT? IT'S A PIGEON? RAMIER, YOU LIED TO ME. Sorry Gabriel, I'll replace this man! I know a shark trainer First off... LOL that whole scene XDD I actually knew Bob Roth was going to say that entire thing before I heard it lolol Second... awww Edgar's okay! c: and third... I'M SORRY, YOU WANT OUR PRECIOUS BOY TO BE AROUND SHARKS?!?!? Who keeps this man employed?!?! Idk why but this whole time I thought that everyone would turn into giant talking pigeons lol ah well "I realized my mistake! We'll recreate the moment where you fell in love!" ohhh? Like I mentioned earlier, whenever she tries to do something to help Kagami (or someone else) that's when her intentions work out best for her. 😉 One of my favorite things from Style Queen was Plagg and Ladybug working together. Now they're working together again and just... ahhhh I gushed so much at that scene! x3 YESSSSSSS what I've been waiting for! Ladybug can just call Alya now and be like hey, I need your help! And Alya can just be like okay cool, and either goes to her room to get the Miraculous herself, or finds her and gets the Miraculous. So cool! Of course, I'll be most excited if she ever gets to just keep it on her, but... baby steps. Rena did a phenomenal job speaking as both Ladybug and Chat Noir lol. She's such a fan of them both, she knows just how they are around each other. Oh, oh no. We're trapped against a wall by a few pigeons. Looks like our only option is to give up and remove our Miraculous and reveal our identities. Are you seriously buying that, Gabriel? Plagg's like HELLO I'll be taking this! Alya did everything from inside Marinette's room. Ladybug was trapped in that room at the pool the entire time. All it took for this akuma to be defeated was Illusion that can be done from anywhere and Plagg getting the object off Mr. Pigeon. That's amazing! Also, this is the first time Ladybug didn't have to actually see things around her to know what to do. She just focused and thought about it. o.o Okay so hold up. Thanks to Alya, Marinette now knows she can create charms to protect past akuma victims and keep them from getting reakumatized, which is wonderful. I love how much of an impact Alya knowing is having! BUT How exactly does Monsier Rat come about then if he has a charm to protect him??? 🤔🤔🤔 I really like how her drive to want to figure things out was

especially because Mr. Ramier's been akumatized so many times, and she wanted to help him from having to continue to go through that. "This girl is truly Miraculous" awww cute how he got to just watch that this time.

I screamed at this moment because I knew. Since Origins, we have not seen this exact sky. Even during rainy scenes like in Chat Blanc or New York, they didn't look like this. YES, Kagami knows that the way Marinette feels about Adrien shows how much she loves him, but she knows she doesn't feel that way about Adrien too. And "You're right, Adrien is perfect... perfect for you." With a smile and everything! Awwwwww! This acceptance, and the Marinette and Kagami friendship in this episode is really, really good! 😭 "Wow, have you kept it [the umbrella] all this time?" She sure wasn't expecting that!! But wow Adrien, you noticed? Then Coup de Foudre happens again. Yeah, this girl is never getting out of her feelings for him.

Of course she's having trouble with her words still, but that's okay. But she's like oh, I'll give it back, and he just pushes it to her and says she'll need it to get home... unless she'd like a ride with him. AND SHE ACTUALLY ACCEPTED AND WRAPPED HER ARM AROUND HIS OMG.

To then only have the umbrella close on BOTH of them!

AND THEN ASKS IF HE WANTS TO WALK INSTEAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE UMBRELLA! She's come so far! And the sheer disappointment when he remembers he can't because of his Chinese lesson :/ And then, because he can't not be looking at Marinette, he hits the back of his head on the car, making himself look silly, just like in Origins she made herself look silly. This time she laughs, and he laughs with her. And it's literally Umbrella Scene 2.0 and it's absolutely everything.

DORKS ❤️❤️❤️ "They are made for each other." awwwww instead of Master Fu, this time it's Kagami. And she sounds very okay with that, that's so nice. "Let's not wait for the storm to pass, but let's dance in the rain." Then proceeds to dance in the rain!

Ahhh what a refreshing, good episode after how much she's been struggling and crying! So lovely! Her friendships with Alya and Kagami were really strong in this episode, her doing her best to help her friend with the guy she herself has always liked, and then Kagami was the one that wasn't really into it, and it made both girls realize that Marinette loves Adrien and is the one best for him, not Kagami. And I'm pretty sure this episode helped Adrien to open his eyes to Marinette more too. At least, this is the beginning of that, anyway! Alya's such a tremendous help to Ladybug now, which is everything. I do wonder if more friends will very slowly start to find out her identity and they end up contributing more to bringing down Hawk Moth, so she really, really isn't alone like she once thought. I don't really have any complaints about this episode at all! Just a bit sad we had no actual Chat Noir, but we got Ladybug and Plagg from it, so it's fine with me! x3 I know some may see it as "Chat Noir isn't necessary, how dare they do this to him!" but no, he's very necessary, sometimes he just can't be there and she can't do it alone. You have to remember how much Chat Noir means to Ladybug, and that she wouldn't even BE Ladybug if it weren't for Chat Noir! I'm really curious now about what episode 5 is, since now we've gotten Episodes 1-4, 6, we're getting 7,8, and 13 later, and we've already gotten 11. Filling in the gaps for the first half of the season! This entire week is going to be crazy with the new episodes, and for each one I'll be writing one of these posts for, so be on the look out for them!

[manesalex]

Argh, this fandom is crazy. The Michael stans who pretend they aren't his stans, are always going on about Michael being picked on by the Alex fans (which smells funky to me, because as far as I can see, Alex is the only one who gets constantly called out in their relationship) & the Alex stans (who don't hide their favour) seem like they are just simply trying to exist in this fandom. The 'Malex' fans who don't want Alex/Michael compared, I suggest they don't actively do that themselves.

Wow, Nonnie, you don't hold back! I hope you'll forgive me for being unwilling to generalize.

First, I'm going to say that, in my long time in fandom, I've learned there are assholes in every segment of every fandom. Every ship has a few jerks who won't stay out of the other ship's tags. Every character has fans who think the sun shines out of their fave's ass and they've done nothing wrong. Every fandom has a few people who spend a lot of time and energy stirring up drama. I'm generally suspicious of anyone who claims otherwise.

But, yes, I think that anyone who is really involved in a fandom and claims objectivity is either lying to themselves or lying to everyone else. And they're usually pretty transparent.

Generally, my approach is acknowledging who my fave is, acknowledging that my opinion is just that, an opinion, and trying my hardest to understand where all the characters are coming from, whether or not I agree with their actions. That's as close to objectivity as I get. It may not be perfect and other people may not like it, but it's what works best for me.

I personally don't follow any Alex stans who constantly pick on Michael (most of us don't talk about him much at all outside of his relationship with Alex). Most of what I see is simply love for Alex and defending him when others blame him or make him responsible for other characters' actions/decisions. Personally, seeing that is pretty triggering. And I have seen that a lot in this fandom.

Most of us know Alex isn't perfect. We see him trying to do better and we're proud of him for that. Or maybe just I am. Watching Alex gives me hope.

I'd imagine there are some asshole Alex fans. Just like there are some asshole Michael fans. I'd imagine the silent majority of fans of each just want to be able to love their fave in peace. Unfortunately, we probably mostly see the loud asshole stans of the other, rather than those who are just appreciating their fave.

I just want to be able to love Alex in peace. I want to stop seeing people saying "you're an awful person if you ship x or stan y". I want to stop seeing posts in which people claim that, somehow, Alex is responsible for other characters' decisions and actions. And posts in which people assume the worst of intentions from him in order to make their fave look like a victim of 'evil Alex Manes'.

I want to stop seeing Alex fans, most often those who are women of color, bullied out of fandom by fans of other characters. I want to stop seeing victim blaming behavior.

I know I won't though, so I'm trying my hardest to blacklist all the discourse and block anyone I feel is trying to stir up drama. I'm trying to make my dash my safe corner in this fandom, as I have in others. I hope you can do the same!

[kingofthewilderwest]

Don't worry, I take over my sleep time to read and write fanfictions. I wouldn't have time otherwise! I have an entire Word page with only links to fanfictions I still have to read! And it's all right to not read fanfictions if you don't want to. It's just an hobby among others. Anyway, you wrote fanfictions?? Now I'm curious, could I have a link, if you don't mind? Have a good night too and sorry for my grammar mistakes, english isn't my first language (btw, thank you for the likes

From this. Sorry I’m slow replying!! thanks for your wonderful messages! :)

No worries about grammar! Your English is great, and even if it weren’t, that’s no bother to me either. :) The fact that you’re communicating in a language that isn’t your first… just means you have extra skills and are even more awesome! :) 

I love how dedicated you are to looking at others’ fanfictions, even creating a Word document page to make sure you remember them. That’s beautiful and cool. And I’m getting curious about what you’ve written, too! 

Thanks so much for asking about my fics - this touches me! Sure, I’m happy to share! I tend to post all fics on tumblr and FFN, with FFN being my primary hub. On tumblr I use the tag #my fanfiction and tag all stories by their title. My FFN profile is kingofthewilderwest.

I’m so so so so so SO touched when anyone reads or interacts with my fics (though since I write casually, I ask no constructive criticism

THE VIGILANTE’S WAR

HTTYD. YEAR: 2014. LENGTH: 57,110 WORDS. A mysterious, antagonistic dragon rider dubbed “the Vigilante” crosses paths with Hiccup, and her increasingly violent actions appear to be leading to war against Berk. 

He tightened his hands, loosened them again. Breathed in, breathed out. He could feel himself stooped in the dirt, his shoulders hunched over his head, his knees buried in the ground and tucked underneath his torso. His neck was bent low close to the earth, providing him a good view of his hands and the ground and nothing else.

Well, and the blood.

That can’t possibly be all mine.

- PROLOGUE: FROM OUT OF THE HAZE

HTTYD 2′s original drafts had Valka as the main antagonist. I found this so interesting that I decided to rewrite HTTYD 2 - with a few of my own spins - on this concept. One of my most well-known fics, “The Vigilante’s War” is where I’ve gotten the most thorough reviews and most emotional reactions.

THE VIGILANTE’S LEGACY 

HTTYD. YEARS: 2014-2016. LENGTH: 20,546 WORDS. There’s been four years of war between three factions. Drago’s army. The Vigilante and her dragons. Berk and their allies. But now, Chief Hiccup believes there’s a way to end the conflict. Sequel to “The Vigilante’s War.”

Hiccup spoke up. Cleared his voice. Tapped his pointer finger apprehensively on the cell’s iron door. “You said we were making a mistake.” Might as well speak straight to the point of his visit. “Something about ‘you and every one of your warriors are making a mistake’ or – or something like that.”

For a moment Hiccup wondered if Valka actually would reply. The calculating gaze she gave him from the corner of her prison certainly did not seem a positive sign. However, then, with a steady, lilting cadence to her voice, she succinctly affirmed, “I did.” Just those two words. Nothing more.

- VIII. THE MISTAKES OF WAR

It’s unfinished; I haven’t updated because I ran out of steam and didn’t receive enough reader feedback encouraging me to continue. Though I did have a very vivid final chapter in mind… that I still love… which I never got to…?

MEMOIRS

HTTYD. YEARS: 2015-2016. LENGTH: 44,289 WORDS. My ongoing collection of drabbles for HTTYD. Angst, pain, comfort, humor, crossovers, crack, it’s all there. Favorites include “Family Portrait,” “Stubble,” “Buffcup the Brawny,” and “Remember When.”

He held her hand softly, one wrinkled hand laid gently on top of another. It was just her and him now in the house all alone – for their children had left on a voyage with the grandkids, and would not be back for a week yet, if even two. It evoked the quietness of the old days, back before they were old, back during the times when they were newlyweds and younger even than their grandchildren were today. Oh, but the smell of her hair was just as refreshing now as when it was blonde.

- REMEMBER WHEN

DINNER AT DRAGON’S EDGE 

HTTYD. YEAR: 2015. LENGTH: 5,452 WORDS. The gang’s settling in at Dragon’s Edge. To make sure everything operates smoothly, Hiccup suggests a chore rotation system. That means everyone has to do their fair share of the cooking… but it doesn’t mean everyone is a fair cook.

“Oh my gods, is this dinner or what the rats threw away?” Snotlout exclaimed, terrified at the Unidentified Edible Object before him.

Tuffnut picked it up with one experimental hand and held it out before him at a safe distance. People would have held poisonous snakes or bloodied torture devices more cheerily. Squinting his eyes and peering carefully at the peculiar specimen pinched between his fingers, rubbing under his chin with his other, free hand, Tuffnut remarked, “Looks something like what Barf and Belch poop out after they get sick and…”

- 1. ASSIGNING JOBS

This humorous fic I think is where I do best capturing HTTYD character personalities and interactions.

[SUPER]HERO THE HARD WAY 

HTTYD. YEARS: 2014-2017. LENGTH: 86,566 WORDS. In a modern world where Berk is full of superheroes battling the League of Outcasts, power-less Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third struggles to receive appreciation for who he is. Through his crime-fighting journey, Hiccup learns that, while he might not have powers, he can become a Hero the Hard Way.

“I wasn’t born with anything. Don’t have anything. I’m the son of Chief Stoick “Skullcrusher” and I don’t have anything. Not even a superpower to turn objects purple. Which frankly would be completely pointless but at least it would have been something.“

He realized he was babbling and promptly shut his mouth. He looked over at Fishlegs, who appeared to be wordlessly processing the information. The teenager appeared baffled moreso than anything else, which at least meant he was not outright rejecting him.

“So you’re going to train to be a superhero… and you don’t have any powers? I got that right?”

“You got that right.”

“Wow.” Fishlegs said.

Hiccup waited for more.

“That’s actually really cool.”

- CHAPTER THREE: SIDEKICKED

This started as me intending to write one crack chapter. It turned into me envisioning a ROB / DOB modern AU where all characters were superheroes. The final product became a retelling of HTTYD 1′s basic concept: Hiccup gaining his peers’ approval despite being different. Somehow, despite me 70% adlibbing by the seat of my pants (should I be admitting this?), I had great fun. And it brought in the most reviews, follows, and favorites of any of my posted stories! Thanks for the reads and support, everyone!!!

RESET OR RESUME 

UT. YEAR: 2016-2017. LENGTH: 85,841 WORDS. Gaster’s research unlocks the secret of time travel. After the Royal Scientist’s untimely end, one of Gaster’s colleagues - Sans - finds himself with the power to Reset. Confronted with unpleasant timelines and dangerous choices, Sans must decide how to navigate through time… if it’s worth resetting for a better future, continuing with hope for the present, or simply giving up.

No longer timid and silent, the human happily babbled all sorts of nonsense to Sans, everything from how to bake snow pies to how weird Sans’ skull looked to how beautiful the ribbon in their hair was to their opinions of Papyrus’ ‘battle body’ to how their mom didn’t like the color black to their personal opinion of ferrets to a long narrative of their encounter with a snail-loving old lady they met on the other side of the Ruins door. Everything could be the topic of a conversation. There was no filter and even less sense of restraint for this child.

“How are you a SKELETON?” their happy little high-pitched voice squeaked. They flew gallantly over a twig that rested, flat, on the surface of the snow. Powder flew everywhere as they landed heavily into the snowbank. “That means – that means you should be DEAD, you know!”

“who says i’m not dead?” Sans trolled with a wink.

With a shrieking giggle, they exclaimed, “Don’t be silly! Only ghosts are dead!”

“i could be a skeleton ghost.”

“No you – no you can’t.” The human seemed to be quite confident about their knowledge in paranormal metaphysics. “You can be a skeleton. You can be a ghost. But nobody – NOBODY – can be a skeleton ghost.”

“is that so?”

“YES so! You CAN’T be both. That would be wrong.” Maybe the human mentally categorized skeletons and ghosts as separate Halloween creatures, ensuring they were mutually exclusive concepts. It was always challenging to comprehend a child’s train of logic. “Except…” and now the child paused, leaning down and tugging at the sleeve of their sweater. Something thoughtful – at least as much as one so young could be thoughtful – passed over their eyes. They cocked their head to the side and stared at Sans. In the same sort of innocence with which they had talked about ferrets, the human inquired, “…can ghosts also be dust?”

- 5. KNOCKS [[File 5.2 IH-20150701-3-3]]

I have particular fondness for this fic. I spent more energy and care with this than any other I’ve posted. Drenched it through with UT lore. Edited and revised thoroughly. Had two beta readers examine my ASL for accurate representation. I wrote extensive outlines that were several page long color-coded charts, had all this meticulous structuring going on…

The problem was, this was an impossibly ambitious project. Life got in the way, too. The 85,841 words here aren’t close to the end of Part 1. The final two Parts were going to explain the weirdness within Part 1 (the story doesn’t begin in chronological order - it gets pieced together like a puzzle). What I planned to write would have included a complex characterization arc for Sans, every human child that’s visited the underground, and multiple resets containing main character deaths… until the story would end with Sans confronting Frisk in the Genocide Route.

Hopefully, despite the incompleteness, this is enjoyable from its comedy to its angst! I would at least encourage people to read the first few chapters! Or “Socks” - an entire chapter devoted to Sans and Gaster pulling sock pranks on each other.

SOMEHOW THEY’RE STILL OFFICERS

FMAB. YEAR: 2018-2019. LENGTH: 6,036 WORDS. Ahhhhhh yes. Team Mustang. The hand-selected, elite group of military officers who effectively spend their time… doing nonsense. 

Everyone was scrambling at once. Mustang rushed forward to greet their guest, perfect composure only broken by the fast pace at which he moved. In fact the colonel’s posture was almost a proud enough display to make his lack of shirt go unnoticed. But Falman chucked his cards away at the same time he tried to salute; Breda was ducking from Falman’s sudden card shower; Fuery was launching pants and underwear in Havoc’s face; and Lieutenant Hawkeye, obviously abashed to be in this room at all, was covering her eyes with her hand in what was either her life’s longest sigh, or a pathetic attempt to hide her face and identity.

- WE WERE JUST PLAYING CARDS

My collection of FMA drabbles, particularly stories of Team Mustang shenanigans. Prompts / requests welcome for more adventures!

I have a few other drabbles posted, too. I also have unfinished chapters of Voltron fanfictions on my computer that I could share, too? Maybe I should? I’m currently working on several Royai fanfictions, other FMA drabbles, and a longer Deponia fanfiction.

Thank you again for being so nice and connecting with me over fanfiction and fandom and FMA and more. You’re a really wonderful and cool person and you made my day.

[tiredoftonkies-blog]

You have got to be fucking kidding me. That superstan sounds like almost every 45 supporter I've met online with the condescending and patronizing tone. Excusing every bad thing the Tonies have done when you showed them irrefutable proof too. "the story will LEAVE YOU BEHIND" - "Did (Steve) throw down the shield because he knows he doesn’t deserve it any more? OF COURSE." Wow. Just wow. I'm a Tony fan and I'm ashamed to be associated with these hateful people.

i think my reblog was posted before they made that last reply, i actually haven’t read the post you’re referencing yet… oh my god

If people are actually driving devoted fans out of the fandom, then that’s simply inexcusable and is a symptom of the meanness and ugliness that I am blogging against. I’m simply using my own fandom, the one I know, as the yardstick by which I see the hatred and petty bullying, and it isn’t pretty, and I called it out.

[…]

No one is “demonizing” Steve - I haven’t seen one Tony fan do that. If you think parsing the story and the behavior of characters in certain scenes is “demonizing” – to the level that some of you guys tend to Actually Demonize Tony in petty ways by calling him childish names and blaming him for behaviors he left behind long ago – then I feel sorry that’s happening. We Tony fans call out Tony for his behaviors as much as we call out Steve and everyone else.

[…]

Did he throw down the shield because he knows he doesn’t deserve it any more? OF COURSE. Is Tony going to improve it and save it for him, and give it back at some point, because he really does deserve it? COUNT ON IT. Did Tony help the rogue Avengers escape from the Raft? I’m betting he did (that final scene in CACW pretty much clued us in to that…).  

holy shit. between this and them saying that “most people were cheering for tony” in the siberia scene, as well as many other surreal comments, i’m becoming convinced that they’re either an incredibly devoted, convincing troll or that they live in some kind of alternate reality

i fucking love the way they wax poetic about how we all love these characters for being so flawed and human yet they’re the same fucking person who was going on about how much steve fucked up in cw and part of the post included them saying “to be fair, the writers have tony making mistakes too….. but it wasn’t REALLY a mistake” and who writes over-the-top justifications for Every Single Goddamn Thing tony does, as well as ignoring canon when it’s convenient for them and waxing poetic about how tony always does his best and his motives are pure and beautiful but steve is Objectively Wrong in cw and didn’t even try reading the accords, he just opposed them from the get-go, even with tony practically selling his soul to get him to sign

oh and look, they reblogged a post ending with “I will eternally maintain that Tony is the victim of Civil War, that Steve betrayed Tony, and that Steve does not deserve Tony’s forgiveness, and nothing anybody can say will ever change my mind.”

but they’re allllll about ending character hate and the team reuniting and making up, guys 

do they actually expect anyone who isn’t already a tony stan to believe them

[icharchivist]

I still can't believe Shalnark is dead?? It's just so wild to me, like I'm not really super attached to the troupe? They're very interesting but they still did a lot of bad stuff y'know but like. Shalnark I thought was def one of the strongest members! I figured at some point troupe members might be taken out but I def didn't think it'd be him it's so crazy to me. And we didn't really even get to see the fight like?

Oh boy nonny I feel you so much!!

I actually kinda like the troupe, they’re amazing antagonists and i’m really invested in them as characters. I don’t expect any of them to survive and, well, i’m a Kurapika’s stan before anything so ye gotta have a bias and want them to die, but so far, every Troupe’s deaths had left me... wow. 

Shalnark’s especially, and Korutopi’s, were really violent??? But in a way, narrativewise I find it interesting: Every members of the troupe has a role to play, and Hisoka took out Shalnark, the informator who usually gathers informations from the hunter website or manipulate people to get infos, and Korutopi, the copier, the one who allows the Troupe to be more subtle about their stealing. Every legs has its functions, but those two were really something important in general.

And especially, what I find the most shocking, is that Hisoka didn’t even leave them a chance? Hisoka is all there for the fight. He fights because he likes to, he doesn’t liketo fight something that’s not worth it. 

yet he killed Korutopi in the bathroom, Korutopi who has the least offensive Nen of the whole Troupe, arguably the youngest member of the Troupe aside from Kalluto. 

And he killed Shalnark while Shal didn’t even have his phone to fight? Chrollo still had it, Shalnark actually mentions he can keep it, which therefore means Shalnark had no means to fight. It’s mentioned multiple times in the anime but especially shown with Morel that if a manipulator loses the object he uses as a Nen receptor, he can be completely powerless, and that’s exactly the situation in which Shalnark was in.

And also, like, he didn’t give Shal a chance either, he threw Korutopi’s head at him and killed him right away, and left their corpses on displays. Because he was sending a message to Chrollo directly.

which wasn’t fair, at all. But it explains also the lack of fight since neither of them could fight. And Hisoka knew that. Hell, if Chrollo actually stole the Nen powers like he pretended during the fight, Hisoka knew even better.

 although i’m personally a huge fan of the “Chrollo cheated” theory (part 1/ part 2)- that therefore, Shalnark and Korutopi had their powers and were in the audiance helping Chrollo, misguiding Hisoka since Hisoka was calculating which techniques Chrollo was using. To me it’s especially important to notice that Chrollo uses Shal’s power completely wrong by talking into the phone while Shal’s pwoer is about playing a game on his phone.

(also which is why I think Hisoka is going on this Troupe killing spree right now. He won’t get a fair fight against Chrollo until he killed all of them, or at least provoke Chrollo enough for Chrollo to take him seriously in a real fight. If that’s why, he’s being strategic about it).

Which brings me to something else, while Shalnark’s death was shocking, and if we do consider that Chrollo did indeed call Shal in the Fight, and that he called them after the fight to talk about them reuniting, and that when we found his corpse, Shal’s phone was ringing and he couldn’t answer because he was dead:

Chapter 108.

The thing is that this fortune dates back from the York New Arc, but it also comes from a fortune Chrollo made and that Chrollo read with Neon’s power. However, while Neon doesn’t seem to understand she has a Nen power, she did say that she believes if she reads her fortunes, they would be less accurate, and it may have been a restriction she made. Which would mean that Chrollo’s fortunes may have been off eventually... at least for now.

(also that’s why i’m kinda worried for Shizuku right now since they’re going on the boat to steal the treasure of Kakin, which is in itself probably already ill gotten) (Notice that the “No Data Team” involved Phinks, Feitan and Korutopi, so we don’t know anything about what could have happened to them, including Korutopi is kinda sad there)

Honestly I personally totally forgot about that before, and I was honestly shocked by Shal’s death when I got to it. It’s extremely frustrating! And yes, Shalnark did seem powerful but at this point I feel eventually he showed off everything he could really do with his ability after the CA arc.

Honestly i’m all good with the Troupe dying, I’m just. Still kinda shocked by the turn of event and how violent it was. And especially regarding Hisoka’s and his probable reasons why, it’s even more unsettling to me. 

Soo..... ye feel you nonny. I’m so sorry for you though, going through that is quite something :’D

Have fun with the rest though!!

[bodyprintmachine]

((please do all of the cosplayer questions i'm so curious))

Phew, that is a lot! ^^” But thank you for the interest, you are a doll.

1: What was your first cosplay?

Irene Adler from Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (badly done tbh).

2: Favorite thing to cosplay?

Harley Quinn and Star Wars villains/antiheroes. Complex characters in general, especially ones that require some acting.

3: Have you ever been in a panel at a convention?

I wish!

4: How many people do you think you met because of cosplaying?

Pretty much everyone I know and, like, all of my friends except one or two.

5: What do you think makes a ‘good cosplay’?

Passion for the character and the costume. Attention to detail. Spending time on it because that is how you really get into it. Not being an asshole to people around you, especially less experienced or poor cosplayers.

6: Have a cosplay blog?

Your standing in it, ha.

7: Ever done a group cosplay?

Yes! You can find them in my *group cosplay tag.

8: Couple’s cosplay?

With @agent-without-ok-days​. 💖 Most things in my *ship cosplay tag.

9: When did you start cosplaying?

2011. But dressing up has always been one of my favourite things to do.

10: Would you consider yourself good at cosplaying?

I have grown a lot as a cosplayer & costume maker and at this point, I would say: yes, I’m good at it.

11: Which cosplay took you the longest time to make?

The Winter Soldier.

12: Shortest time to make?

The first 24-hour-version of Endor!Leia that I am currently remaking.

13: Do you like Genderbent/AU cosplays?

Depends. I like genderfluid cosplays, where it’s like … basically you just don’t bind and maybe change a few things, but you don’t make it sexy to make it feminine or change from pants to a skirt or put boobplates on things. I think cosplay always also should be about feeling comfortable and if you don’t like to “crossdress” then you shouldn’t have to. There are also more overtly genderbent cosplays that are fine because they show creativity and the ability to adapt things and reinterpret them. I don’t like the term genderbent because it’s pretty cissexist, and I genuinely do like to think of gendebents as basically trans headcanons? So within that realm I like them, I just don’t like the often transphobic and misogynist connotations that a lot of genderbent versions carry. So it really depends on the cosplayer and I personally do them rarely.

With alternate universes it also depends. On the one hand, it gives you a lot of freedom to make up your own stuff. On the other, you usually have to work harder to make sure your costume is still recognizable as the character you’re portraying. The general rule of thumb is that if I like the AU, I probably also like the AU cosplay. I mostly enjoy to make them though with characters that are very recognizable due to certain tropes & symbols, and characters that already exist in many versions in canon.

14: List all of your cosplays.

That is a pretty long list. I’m gonna put a link if you really wanna read it.

15: Are you currently working on something?

I finished Harley (except that I still come up with stupid trinkets to add), so now I am only working on Leia! After that I will start on Revan, I hope.

16: Would you, if given the chance, cosplay at school/work?

Eeeeeeh, tough question. I don’t think so, since I like to keep my work and private life seperate and cosplay is pretty private to me. My colleagues know about it and I’ve shown them a few pictures, but arriving at work in full cosplay is a whole different deal.

17: Do any of your IRL friends cosplay?

Most of them either do or did.

18: What does your family think of it?

I hope that at this point they are quite positive about it. My mum seems to understand it is basically the equivalent of me dressing up as a kid and that it’s harmless and fun and a good outlet for me. I know my brother once accused me of losing my grip on reality, but I explained it to him and I suppose he understands now? In general it’s one of those things they just take as me being a weird person with weird hobbies and that’s okay because it’s true tbh.

19: Do you consider cosplay an art?

Definitely!!

20: Have you ever had to get help with a cosplay?

I use all kinds of tutorials and often ask my cosplayer friends for advice. They have also helped me before with cutting my wigs, doing my make-up and other stuff I’m not so great at. I have received a lot of help especially from @agent-without-ok-days​ and @mimicrysquid​, who are both incredibly talented and sweet.

21: Least favorite thing to cosplay?

I don’t understand this question. If I don’t like it, I don’t cosplay it.

22: Ever been in a cosplay contest?

I’m too self-conscious and I often lack the time to enter, but I really would like to.

23: First con that you cosplayed at?

Sherlocon 2011.

24: What’s your definition of ‘cosplay’?

Asdjhjsdfghfjdf, god, wow, that is? Really hard?? Uuuuuhhhh … if I have to explain it to others, I usually say something like “It’s where you dress up as characters from media and then take pictures together and maybe act out small scenes and basically just have a good time together”. As for what it means for me personally, I think it is the perfect combination of crafts and performance art; it’s a great creative outlet and a way to meet like-minded people, and what I like about it most that others interact directly with your art. You’re not on a stage or uploading music to the internet or putting a picture in a museum. You get to carry something special into a mundane, everyday setting and people get to experience it first-hand and it just makes normal events a bit more extraordinary.

25: Favorite tumblr cosplay ask blog?

I like @cosplay-refs​ quite a lot.

26: Ever cosplay an inanimate object?

I don’t think I have, but I would if the option presented itself and I had a good idea.

27: Who is your cosplay headcanon of your favorite character?

That would have to mean I have a singular favourite character and a singular headcanon about them, which I don’t. 

28: What is your ‘Cosplay First Aid Kit’ (what you use to repair a cosplay)?

A small sewing kit (thread, needles, scissors), different types of glue and tape, samples of the paint I used for the costume, replacement buttons/sequins/whatever is stuck on there, stain remover. I usually forget something important though.

29: Would you go pro?

I don’t think that is a reasonable option with my bad health (and lack of fame).

30: Who is your favorite professional cosplayer?

I’m not sure if any of the cosplayers I like are “professional”, and I am not a big fan of most of the really huge names in the community (you know, like the ones on that cosplay TV show). But here’s some more or less influential faves that I follow on Facebook:

Jay Justice

Karin Olava

Katie Starr

Wheels of Steel

Joker’s Harley/Harley’s Joker

Don’ttouchmymilk

Cissy Cosplay

Howling Commandos Cosplay

Lady Haha

UndiesOfWondy

Misa on Wheels

Kizuki Cosplay

Brichibi Cosplay

Ashe Cosplay

Kiera Please

Wonder Woman 4 Hire

Khaleesi Cosplay

Oona Sura

Rian Synnth

Lucy Saxon

AvantGeek

Amazonian Cosplay

Chameleon

Riddikulus Cosplay

Petite Ebby

Emiliadressesup

Lil Prince

fuck this is getting way too long …..

shoutout to my super talented friends @mimicrysquid, @ginnytheweasleycosplay, @elisescostumes, @whatsernamecosplay and many more!

[sagebodisattva]

Meta Q & A - Part II: Mystic Gumbo and New Age Mumbo Jumbo

I’m alright with mystic gumbo. But I ain’t alright with new age mumbo jumbo.

Mystic gumbo is wisdom, storytelling, spiritual practices and liberation from illusion. New age mumbo jumbo is lies, deception, distraction and bondage to a delusion.

Mystic gumbo is good for the soul. It provides comfort and sustenance to the aching bones of a weary and weather beaten traveler. New age mumbo jumbo, on the other hand, robs a traveler of the vitality of clarity, and gives an existential explorer a bum steer to a dead end.

So, mystic gumbo, okay... new age mumbo jumbo, not okay.

Why?

I got a comment on a recent video expressing some CONCERN about this subject, which I’ll read for you now. And I’m glad this came up, because it’s a common source of confusion; as, apparently, many of you seem to believe that there’s some exception to the rule when it comes to the thinking function. So it’s overdue to be addressed. So, on to the comment. It states, quote:

“Hey Sage you know I love your work and I’m a huge fan of yours!! But I feel like you’re being Intellectually dishonest in a part of this video around the 11:20 mark. You start to rag on positive thinking/New Age philosophies when it comes to controlling reality with positive thoughts. I could be wrong (uh, COULD be?) but it seems like your viewpoints on these points are coming from a negative egotistical desire to bash those particular philosophies. Which really boggles my mind because positive thinking would seem like from my point of view to go directly hand-in-hand with your philosophies on Solipsism. The reason I say that is because if you believe consciousness is within one’s own mind you should be able to directly control the physical world based off of your focus (because in reality the physical world is simply thoughts or in other words a focus state of being). I don’t understand how New Age thinking/positive thinking and solipsism can contradict each other and you seem to be saying they do.. very confusing. If awareness/consciousness is the base fundamental building block of this reality, how you focus your consciousness would seem to be the way for an individual to have reality mirror ones owns desire. I have noticed in all of your videos where you talk about consciousness and ego you like to steer away people from thinking that they can control reality... which you never really explain why... Which makes me believe that you’re infusing your personal believes as opposed to given people the real truth on the fundamental based reality rules of consciousness/awareness. Because if all things being equal and solipsism is true one should be able to have the ability to focus one’s attention on one’s desires and manifest it accordingly. My question for you is how do these contradict and are you infuse your own egotistical viewpoints on solipsism? which I think you are because it makes solipsism seem more spiritual for lack of a better word. Which I hope I’m wrong because It would really make me sad that my favorite teacher would have his own alternative motive.” unquote.

To this, I replied, quote:

“Sorry you don’t like it, but it’s raw truth. Thoughts can’t levitate objects. Thoughts don’t manifest miracles. When you get results, it’s from effort. It’s not from any magical secret or the universe granting you a wish. It’s from effort. Like I already said, positive thoughts can lead to actions, and actions can bring results. It’s as simple as that. But if you listened to the video, you would know that I said gaining control over dream phenomena involves lucidity. This involves quieting the mind. Something like psychokenesis isn’t practiced by having thoughts. It’s a functionality that can be uncovered by the cessation of thoughts.”, unquote.

Seems pretty clear, no? But then he made another comment, saying, quote:

“Wow Sage you're starting to sound like a materialist... you're honestly the last person on the face of the planet that I would have ever thought would type the words "Thoughts don’t manifest miracles.". What about the placebo effect, double splits experiment/observer effect, as well as unexplained coincidence and people that have precognitive psychic dreams which I definitely have experienced personally. And I'm sure you are aware of all of these things as well, so maybe I'm conflating the words thoughts, consciousness and awareness. So from my definitional understanding thoughts would be the process of one's mental focus on the material realm, consciousness would be the recognition of one's thoughts and awareness would be the baseline unfiltered reality of existence and what we truly are. But to me all three of those things would seem to go hand-in-hand and you would need all three components for any type of sentient being to operate in any type of framework. I say all of that to tie back into my original point that an individual does have the ability to control reality based off their focus. You seem to be putting restrictions on something that is restrictionless”, unquote.

To which, I replied again, saying, quote:

“Much of your misunderstanding stems from a faulty premise that you are holding to be true. And in this case, it’s that: thoughts have important functional utility.

They may have important functional utility, but only towards the mundane layer of existence. This has been a constant theme all throughout my many years of unteaching, so I’m not sure why you are acting surprised now. But, I know why. It’s because you’ve never liked this implication... due to your heavy attachments to the egoic identity. You desire to possess and control dream phenomena... but the perennial wisdom is clearly pointing away from all that. Every example that you listed has nothing to do with thoughts. Focus has nothing to do with thoughts. This conflation is the reason you are stuck. These things have more to do with the subconscious mind and the clear seeing of pure awareness. Thoughts are not the will or the intent. Thoughts are egoic narration. Narration can often provide direction to an ego, especially when directed towards the mundane layer, but that’s about it. But since we are not egos, thoughts are ultimately detrimental towards enlightenment, and compose the difficulty of overcoming the obstacles of misidentification and mental slavery. If you have doubts, then give it a try. Lock yourself in your room and THINK about a million dollars getting dropped on your doorstep. Then wait until it manifests. Let’s see if the universe magically makes it happen, or if the secret magnetic law of attraction pulls it towards you. Let me know how that works out.”, unquote.

So that was the exchange, and I’d like to expand on this a little more, as this aspect seems to dog the steps of many existential explorers. It’s this over reliance on a security blanket: the thinking function. And this over reliance on the thinking function is the most common cause of misidentification, which is what enables the overall state of mental slavery. Rene Descartes followed similar tracks, with cogito ergo sum. But to THINK that thoughts have some kind of fundamental primacy is a form of externalism. I know it doesn’t seem that way, as we like to THINK about thoughts as being an introspective utility, but this isn’t the case. Thoughts themselves are inference and attribution. They are still a reference to illusion as a reinforcement of an identification. Thoughts are a tool of the ego, and the ego is part of the unified stream up on the screen of sensory perception. The constant yammering of the thoughts is what fosters distraction from our true identity: the empty self. This is the primary reason there is diversion from the whole and this misguided sense of a fractured identity. You can’t stop thoughts, and the object isn’t to eliminate them, but they certainly aren’t the proper place to assume an identity.

So, the problem is a misplaced sense of identiity. You aren’t an egoic character running around in a world, suffering and orgasming. That’s all part of oneiric delusion. And the thinking function will only try to constantly reinforce that you are the illusory ego. It also dictates all of your many limitations, by the continuous fortification of the mental blockades that keep you in the box. But the way out isn’t by THINKING outside of the box either. THINKING, no matter if it’s in the box, or out of the box, is a distraction to overcome; if one is at all interested in lucidity. If one is predominantly concerned with the ego and the world of illusion, then thinking is the right tool for the job. But as far as lucid awareness, enlightenment and beyond, thinking can be a hinderance and obstruction to the purity of the zen mind.

Which is exactly why it is also very hard to accept that, when it comes to the discovery, gradual intimacy and subsequent command of the fundamental truth, the process won’t be a matter of studying, or the gathering of knowledge. It’s not going to be a question of navigating an external world and cataloging discoveries. It won’t be historical research, contemporary experiments or the gathering and testing of material samples.

But you want to control dream phenomena, don’t you? You wanna elevate your egoic status into that of a god, and then command everything within your awareness. Of course you do. It’s only natural for a completely limited ego to desire this. Just as a completely limitless god craves restrictions in order to gain self awareness, the limited ego desires complete power to lose himself in. It’s a vicious cycle to get caught up in. Better to see it from the meta and step back from it. Then it’s seen as a complete hamster on a wheel.

So do you see what the problem becomes when lucidity is realized? When you are lucid enough to command phenomena, the power to actually do so loses all it’s purpose when you realize that the phenomena is all a product of your own mind. Power over one’s own mind is only craved by one who is in a delusion that there is some literal character existing in some objectified location. Then it seems as if you are gaining something real and material by getting command of these so-called objects and materials. But clarity clearly shows, this is all just masturbation in a blind fold.

So yes, I am steadfast in my criticism of theistic religions that place a lot of stock in faith and judgement. I am unwavering in my condemnation of new age mumbo jumbo philosophies that extol the magic of belief, or the power of positive thinking. If you can’t see that this is all just a scam to sell books and dvds so some opportunistic entrepreneur can make a fast buck by preying on people’s insecurities and desires, then I don’t know what else to tell you. But I guess that this it isn’t all that surprising; as, most of you are willfully devoted to circumventing the truth in favor of a delusion. Most of you have not yet gotten a fill of the gluttonous indulgence in the passing show. So naturally you gravitate towards things that promise to improve your delusion. It’s understandable. So when you finally get done with all that, maybe you can then start to familiarize yourself with the fundaMENTAL truth. Until then, I’ll be waiting.

Mystic gumbo? Hell yes.

New age mumbo jumbo? Get the hell outta here.