#i know the quiz is old news but also i will not stop finding this so funny

[hiperchile]

fuck diagnoses posting. here's true mecore according to the openpsychometrics

[mangyraccooon]

Thoughts about Modern day Dragon him being a late diagnosed autistic

Dragon would be one of those people who knew they were different from a young age but never could figure it out because either parents (who didn’t want a ‘different’ child) or becoming so high masking that it was very difficult to tell. (Probably a mix of both)

When Dragon is 40ish he takes luffy to the doctor for a routine checkup.

The doctor tells him his son is most likely autistic.

She also tells him it’s an inherited trait

Dragons reaction is “ah.”

He never thought luffy was different. That wasn’t true he understood luffy was different but it wasn’t a bad thing in his eyes.

Unknowingly at 7 years old dragon put on a mask. It starts to crack 33 years later in a doctor’s office.

The doctor gives him some pamphlets and online resources to go through. He spends the next 24 hours going through it all + several online quizzes.

Only the next morning when he opens his closet fully prepared to go into work: when he sees all his shirts and suit jackets. That he realizes he has no idea who the fuck he is as a person.

Luffy finds him crying in a mess of ripped silks and cotton.

Luffy crawls into his lap and starts telling him about a new beetle species found in South America.

Dragon calls them both in sick and lets his son decide the schedule for the day.

Later that night he goes through old boxes in the attic. Trying to find who the fuck he is- was- could’ve been.

He finds a couple old albums, his guitar, luffys baby blanket and…

Crying is natural and normal, he has to tell himself. You are not weak for crying twice in one day.

The ring is old, it was his mother’s. It had been left with his secretary along with luffy asleep in his bassinet.

“Sometimes I feel like you just put on this face and I don’t even know which one is the real you; or if there is a real you”

He would never know how right he had been.

Dragon quits his job; he can’t stand it anymore. The partners beg him to stay, he’s the best lawyer they have. But the feeling of a suit collar now feels like a noose.

Borsalino is the only one who still contacts him after.

Dragon has money; so much money. Other than luffy and silk shirts that didn’t scrape his skin there was very little dragon spent money on.

So he glides, spends more time with luffy. Falls into a depressive episode so bad he has to stay with his mother. Tsuru purses her lips when he tells her and dragon can’t help but feel a little angry.

“You knew.”

“I suspected.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You seemed to be fine.”

But dragon hadn’t been fine, he had been miserable. It was only now he could see how miserable he had been.

He cooks with his step mother who teaches him how to make a puff pastry. Luffy meets a boy down the street who also loves bugs. Life goes on.

Luffy gets a assessment and official diagnosis

The adhd part wasn’t that surprising to Dragon or anyone within 5 seconds of meeting luffy. his son is (affectionately) a human bounce ball.

Dragon gets an official diagnosis and sends a photo of him posing with it to borsalino. Borsalino sends a photo of himself and an online quiz. And dragon understands not everyone needs the word of a doctor to know who they are.

Garp barges into his life and demands he “stop being a freeloader and get a job.” Before flopping on the couch and doing just that.

Dragon gets the drag bar gig out of spite. Iva is the best worst thing that has ever happened to him. After finding out he knew guitar the queen needled him until he started practicing again out of spite (once again he had to stop using that as motivation)

The guitar strings cut at his fingertips.

Garp sets him up on a blind date, which ends with both him and rouge laughing themselves silly. Apparently garp had taken dragons “I like dick” comment to mean anyone who was in possession of a penis (even if it was silicone.)

He turns 42 and has to valiantly fend off Luffy, Ace and Rouge from eating his rack of ribs.

Iva gets him up on stage eventually (he was fine behind the bar)

He did like the eyeliner though and how his shoulders looked in the dress (but that was a thought for another day)

The band thing was a joke (or started as one) rouge sang, dragon played bass, iva played electric and kuma drummed his heart out.

Then it became less of a joke.

It was late, the porch was empty and the moon twinkled. Dragon cradled the phone in his hands. They had gotten a record deal.

He punched in the number slowly.

He was 45 now, he could do this.

The phone rang as he held it up to his ear.

His palms were sweaty.

Voicemail

“I uh-“ what was he supposed to say? “Hi, it’s been awhile. A long time actually- fuck I think I could tell you the exact date if I wasn’t drunk. But- you probably dont want to hear that huh?” He laughed, his breath coming out in a small cloud in the autumn air.

“So a lot happened, since you left. And I don’t blame you for leaving- just so we are clear. Yeah uhmm. So the band. I’m part of a band now surprise! We got a record deal and it made me realize I still- well that is, when I was told. I realized, your the only one I wanted to tell”

“And not in a bragging way!” He added hastily

A beeping noise, indicating the end of the message

“Wani I-“

But the message ended

-should I make this into an actual thing? Lemme know

[witchthewriter]

𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞

⤷ gender neutral, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!    

a/n: I made a quiz ‘Which Son Is Your Old Man’, so you can find out once and for all who you would be best suited to!

Warnings: swears, mentions of violence, smoking, drugs

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ      

𝐉𝐚𝐱 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫

・Yes, he does spend a lot of time doing club business. But it also means he’s home randomly throughout the day. 

・His speciality is making breakfast; eggs, bacon, toast, french toast, waffles etc 

・Yes, he did develop the skill from all the one night stands he’s had...

・But hey, at least now you’re the one that reaps the reward!

・Doesn’t snore in his sleep, but does toss and turn a lot 

・Sometimes he has really really bad nightmares. He doesn’t want to wake you up, so he goes and has a smoke outside

・Really loves chewing on ice cubes. When you get McDonalds, he’ll eat everyone’s ice from their drinks (obviously after their done with it)

・When you’re feeling down; physically or mentally, he’ll read to you. Jax bought you a new edition of your favourite book for your birthday and he’s so used to holding it in his hands by now. 

・Really likes when you light candles when he gets home, he prefers them over the overhead lighting 

・Doesn’t like loud sudden noises - definitely has undiagnosed PTSD. He’s gotten really good at hiding it, but some days - when he has really long showers, you know it’s a bad day 

𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧

・When he isn’t doing things for the club, he loves to work in ‘the shed’. 

・He has a lot of projects going on - making garden beds for Gemma’s events, 

・Opie usually ends up trekking dust, shredded timber and so on throughout the house. You make him have a shower as soon as he’s finished working outside. 

・But you can’t lie, he does create some beautiful things. 

・He made a dining room table - and the detailing was so amazing you nearly teared up

・Opie is great at painting as well, honestly, he’s just good at general renovations. Somehow he knows how to do stuff around the house - unclogging drains, fixing pipes, changing lightbulbs, stopping leaks etc

・Opie’s like your own handy man! 

・Secretly a cat person. Don’t get him wrong, he doesn’t mind dogs. They’re great, but cats are so unpredictable - without the risk. He finds them so interesting. 

・Loves Disney movies, especially the cartoon version of Robin Hood. You’ll find him humming the song about Robin and Little John 

・Likes that he towers of you and will put things out of your reach just to rile you up

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝

・Actively cleans up after himself and you. 

・Really likes a clean home, and he’s lived on his own for a long time, so he knows how to run a house

・He also grew up around a lot of women, so he knows how to cook some great meals 

・Chibs was also whipped into shape by these women, so that’s why it’s ingrained in him...

・Knows a lot of Scottish drinking songs, and he always sings them when he’s had a few too much to drink

・And his voice is actually quite lovely 

・He also sings in the shower 

・A loud gruff Scottish man singing in your shower always brightens your day 

・Automatically turns the kettle on when he gets home (and will make tea for two, knowing exactly how you like it)

・Not a lot of random visitors, he likes to keep business and his home life separate. Even though the club is his life, he likes having his own space 

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐦𝐚𝐧

・Many, many takeout and movie nights

・Especially when he’s been gone on club business

・Does the washing and folding for both your clothes. It was his main job when he lived at home too. 

・Also mows the lawn without a shirt on, so that’s...a fun sight to see (he likes showing off in front of you)

・Loves the movie Avatar; would definitely go into a deep dive of how it all works and how they created it. 

・Would die if you showed interest in it as well. You bought him a book about the characters and he spent a whole afternoon reading it

・Surprises everyone with how much he loves books 

・A man of few words, he actually has really profound things to say. Some of it can be really poetic...

・Likes having his shoulders rubbed, and in return, he massages your feet 

・Is really good at looking after you when you’re sick. He has a lot of homemade recipes; soups, oldwives tricks etc. (Except the term ‘oldwives tricks’ shouldn’t be overlooked. A lot of their 

𝐓𝐢𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫

・Rescue dogs galore 

・Tig hates seeing any animal hurt, but he has a special place in his heart for dogs

・Big fucking snorer, and is out as soon as his head hits the pillow

・Hates cooking but doesn’t mind doing the dishes - yeah he’s fucked up that way

・So you handle the food; he’ll get the groceries, but for the love of god he cannot make a proper grown up dish

・In return, he doesn’t mind doing the vaccuuming and mopping (he would so dress up in a maid’s outfit and do it)

・Whenever he wakes up in the middle of the night, he goes into the loungeroom to watch cartoons - like popeye

・Cried while watching Titanic btw

・Oh and has a stash of different types of drugs. Nothing too hardcore though. 

・He also makes you have an unregistered firearm so you can protect yourself 

・Also loves comic books. He’s a DC kinda guy...yes, his favourite character is Joker

[girlishwhimsies]

Ponyboy knows it’s silly, but ever since Kat was born he’s been a little jealous because he feels like he’s no longer Soda’s “baby”. He knows he has more responsibilities to Kat than he does to him (plus he’s 15 years old, Kat is An Infant, Pony knows Kat needs Soda more than he does.) But he’s still a kid too and it stings sometimes when Soda doesn’t have as much time for him as he used to.

Usually he can ignore it, but there was one fateful day where he got picked on at school by some asshole Soc’s, flunked a math quiz, and just generally feels terrible bc 15 Years Old and he wants nothing more than to just sit on their old bed and talk to Soda & hang out like they used to do. But Kat just won’t stop crying and Pony knows she’s the priority so he kind of just shrinks into his room and doesn’t talk to anyone that night.

Darry tries to talk to him and ask what’s wrong but he just shrugs it off, finally after Kat has settled down & Cherry is with her Soda comes in and asks him what’s wrong, Pony won’t tell him at first but Soda is still Soda and can read Pony like an open book, and it all comes out at once.

Pony is crying and apologizing because he feels so guilty for feeling this way but Soda just hugs him & reassures him that he will never ever stop loving Pony or having time for him, and that’s he’s still just as much his baby as Kat is.

Idk just Pony experiencing Older “Sibling” (uncle) jealousy for the first time makes me emotional.

UGH YES THIS!!!!

no cause like he would be so so upset as things start changing!! also i feel like he would be so passive aggressive abt it he is so salty and just worried that this is gonna make soda not like him as much

no cause pony has such a case of 15 Year Old he is so angsty about literally EVERYTHING and then he isn’t able to share a room with his brother, soda has a new gf to share his time with, soda has to work more because of the fact he is gonna have a baby, AND once the baby gets here he will have to take care of her.

pony would be celebrating tho when she’s born and they all find out she’s a girl cause he feels slightly less replaced then 💀

soda’s internal guilt abt all of this too���… ooooo

[high-five0]

•FIC MASTERLIST•

So this is basically every fic I’ve reblogged so I can access them and see them organized! (Also kind of a fic recommendation post) If there’s any recommendations of what I should read please let me know!

Most of these fics will be platonic!

-Formula One-

•Platonic Grid•

“Martins Grid walk” -taking over the grid walk is not for the faint of heart

“Slow Down, Red Flag” -what the reader does when the racing comes to a stop

“Pure Chaos 2, 3” - amazing multi part smau

“Caffeine of Choice” -a few drivers don’t get your choice of energy

“Golden (Son)” -Prema driver with OP81 as a grid dad

“Early Risers V. Night Owls” -some just don’t understand the morning grumpies

“Line Up” -Pole position equals pissy fans

“Dear Spa” -the Belgium track takes another (read for a good cry)

“Reality” -the cameras not capture everything

“Grill the Kid” “Grill the Grid” -two fics based on the quiz show

“Annoying little brothers” -self explanatory

“Grid Kids”

“Monopoly”

•MV1💙•

“Block Out the Haters” -Max defends his teammate

•CL16❤️•

“Don’t get Squeezed” -Charles little sisters position at the Chinese GP has her worried

•CS55❤️•

“Human Shield”-podium celebrations can get messy very quickly

“You don’t like spicy food?”-trying to play mermaids with chili

•DR3🩶•

“Be your Wingman” -a little crush on a sky sport reporter has someone being a tease

•SV5💚•

“Films of Anger” -Racing incident has too childhood friends explode at eachother (very brocedes core)

“Learning how to Drive” -she can driver at over 200 mph but not on a normal road

•KR7❤️•

“Very Sleepy One Bed” -long races and sharing hotel rooms

“Future world Champ” -a talk with Kimi and Seb about the new driver

“Giddy Goodbyes” -ending the season can be sad but a helmet swap can make it a little better

•LS2🩵•

“Team USA”-Logan supports his girl competing as an Olympic surfer SMAU

“Rookie Reflections” -Logan befriends the new rookie (first f1 fic I’ve ever read)

•OP81🧡•

“Rewatching love” -a group of old Prema drivers watch their old f2 videos

•LH44🖤•

“Driver Headcannons”

•PA17🤍•

“Crash Into Me” -enemies to lovers with the one bed trope what’s not to love?

-Women’s Basketball-

•PB5•

“Courtside”- “what are you doing here? I thought you had to study”

“Teammate Headcannons”

“Sleepyhead”

•KA2•

“Dating Headcannons”

•KM20•

“While we’re young” -the aces play the liberty and 2 lovers are joined together

“I wanna listen to the sound of you breathing” -just 5 more minutes

-FC Barcelona-

•Braça Femeni•

“Head in the Clouds”

“Scrubber” -la Roja debute”

“First” -Scoring your first club goal

“Priorities” -being late to practice opens up a new can of worms

“Numb” -nobody likes a rough game

•ML4•

“Protection” -injury on the field

•JF11•

“Joao with a formula 1 driver”

-Call of Duty-

•Task Force 141•

“Ain’t that a kick in the head” -just some Headcannons of new recruit

“One hell of a first mission” -your first mission goes sideways

“Migraines”

•Ghost•

“Right Behind you” -Ghost wants to keep his distance but can’t (first cod fic I’ve ever read)

“Headcannons”

“A Bedtime Story” -it’s not your fault ghost has a soothing voice

“Like Riding a Bike” -ghost finds out you never learned to ride a bike

“Picture Perfect” -snoring on the plane home

“Rodan”

-Top Gun-

•Dagger Squad•

“Friendship Bracelets”-making brackets for your squad

“Rookie” - not everyone a fan of the new recruit

•Rooster•

“Personal Space” -you like your personal space, a certain aviator likes it too

•Iceman•

“Blood in the Water” -a crash scares everyone

-MCU-

•Deadpool and Wolverine•

“Two pease in a pod”

“Troublemaker” -Wolverine seems to be there for you more times than anyone else

“The Spiderling”

“Oscar Worthy Performance”- the cops cannot be called, so you find one man to vouch for you

•Moonkight•

“Recruitment gone right?” -the avengers sent you to recruit a mercenary

•Daredevil•

“They’re Gonna Taste my Venom”- Venom and his host stumble upon a lawyer

•Spider-Man(s)”

“Art with Hands”- Hobie is the best sign language teacher

-Star Wars-

•The Clone Wars•

•Fives•

“Smugglers” -stealing treats from another commander

“Food Fight”

•104th Battalion•

“Cuddling the 104”

“Mama Wolffe” -Wolffe was grump and unnerving… to most

•Delta Squad•

“Headcannons”

•The Mandolorian•

“Come and Get Me” -Din will always come back for you

-The Last of Us-

“So Far From It”-you get into some trouble but know exactly who to call

“Carved Over the Door” - Joel finally figures out your secret

“The Tunnel” -not a very good get away driver

-Na’vi-

“Angry Spirit” -doing anything for your siblings

•Neteyaem•

“Golden Child” -A battle for the paise of your parents

“And your Brother is Here”

-Random-

•Arcane•

“Stumbled Upon” -Silco stumbled upon one of Vanders Kids

•The Hunger Games•

“Swear” - Finnick helps the new victor

[plazmafields]

Oh boy you better get your asses ready because I just beat the game again on 2.1+ and I think it actually has interesting implications for Kerry’s romance. SPOILERS FOR THE SUN ENDING SPECIFICALLY!

Like many other players, I got the Sun ending the first time I played, and (other than when I’m roleplaying a new type of character) it’s the ending I always go for and consider canon for my main oc Vesper. Over on the subreddit(s), people seem to view this ending as definitely 100% implying that V finds a cure and lives to see old age. While of course I would love my character to live a long and happy life, I don’t think that’s the case. V free floats off into space toward a several trillion dollar heavily guarded spacecraft filled with the most elite of the elite. That job was a suicide mission, and I interpreted this ending as V going out with a bang so they could finally, actually become a real Night City legend.

I believe Kerry knows this. When he calls you during the credits, Kerry asks you in a casual tone to buy some olives on your way back, then his voice gets soft and he goes, “Actually, you know what, forget it. I’ll buy them myself.” He does this backtracking in conversation several times during his romance, and I always read it as him being uncomfortable talking about his feelings. He stops himself from apologizing to V during A Like Supreme: Kerry gives V the gun he tried to shoot Johnny with, V reminding him that he was actually aiming the gun at V’s head. Kerry says “yeah…” in an apologetic tone and then starts saying “And earlier when–” then stops himself and says “nevermind.” Kerry also does this during Boat Drinks. He starts by saying “You shake things up, V. Make me feel…” trails off for a second, then stutters before saying “uh, I mean.” It sounds like he has a habit of stopping himself when he starts to feel he’s being too vulnerable.

Now, during the Sun epilogue, Kerry doesn’t hesitate when he tell’s V “I don’t want to lose you.” This would normally be a very vulnerable thing to say, and Kerry’s shown that he always backtracks in moments such as these. He even goes so far as to repeat it and make direct eye contact as he says it again. This makes it seem like maybe he’s done some emotional growing and is now more comfortable talking about his feelings, specifically with V. So, if that were the case, why does he restart the habit of backtracking in the credits call? He doesn’t backtrack during the emotional part, when he tells V he wants them to spend more time together and try to be less busy for one another. He only corrects himself when he talks about V coming back. Because he knows V isn't coming back. Even before that, right before V gets on the flying Delamain to head to the Afterlife, he says “Take care of yourself.” to Kerry, which feels very final, like he doesn’t think he’ll see Kerry again.

With all the other romances, saying goodbye in the mansion makes perfect sense. Panam is leaving with the Aldecaldos, Judy is leaving Night City for good, and River expresses that he feels their relationship doesn't feel equal. The conversation V has with Kerry feels very much like any of their other conversations throughout the game: Kerry talks about his stuff, then once he’s gotten it out of his system, asks how V is doing. But with some notable, very subtle changes.

Kerry is always excited to talk about himself, and rarely asks much about V unless he’s making sure V isn’t already dead. The text that actually sparked me wanting to put these thoughts to paper is the one where Kerry takes a personality quiz and it labels him as a narcissist. He’s self absorbed, sure, but he doesn't have the psychiatric disorder Narcissism as far as I’m convinced. Whichever reply you send, his responses are pretty funny. However, getting that text reminded me that the first time I played Cyberpunk I really wasn’t all that into Kerry as a character, and definitely not as a romance option.

So, the conversation you have in V’s mansion in the Sun ending is actually much more V focused than previous interactions with Kerry. When Kerry asks if you’re alright, even if you say everything’s fine, he still insists that he’s there for V and willing to talk, cuddle, fuck, whatever V needs. This is in stark contrast to when you call Kerry on the rooftop before picking your ending. During that call, he definitely notices something is off with V and asks if he’s ok, but doesn’t press any further when V says he’s fine. His dialog in the Sun ending is strangely caring for Kerry, who otherwise always seemed like V was more of a convenient side-piece with whom he shared a mutual friend. Obviously, as I’ve played the game more and considered Kerry’s quests and dialog options from different angles, I really like him as a character and see much more of his depth than I did on my first playthrough.

Now here’s why playing the game on version 2.1+ is important: 2.1 added dates with your romance options to the game (the “I really want to stay at your house” repeatable quest). If you were to consider the new texts, dialog, and gift responses from the perspective of any of the other endings, Kerry’s replies sound somewhat out of character. The phrasing, the word choice, the tone is all Kerry, but the sentiment is decidedly not so. “I really like you, V. Thought I should remind you.” after the first time he goes over to V’s. His response to getting the flowers or car, he’s almost too complimentary; I feel like Kerry would mention everything wrong with the gift first, then admit that he actually likes it, but still find a way to show his appreciation without saying the words “thank you, V.”

However, if you put everything added in 2.1 into the context of the Sun ending, it starts to feel like Kerry is growing as a person. That’s what his whole quest string was about, sure, but you don’t see him put any of those personal changes into practice after Boat Drinks (mostly because all the romance options just stop leaving their houses once you reach the end of their questlines). So the sweet, appreciative texts after dates and gifts, leading into the way he’s much more focused on V and their relationship during the Sun ending, It actually feels like a natural growth for his character. It’s like the dates, the gifts, the cute little replies, are all the beginning stages of him becoming a much more attentive partner in the Sun ending. Kerry even says himself, before V gets on the Delamain, that their relationship has changed his outlook on life and helped him reprioritize things. The 2.1 additions actually make it feel like we watched that journey begin for him, instead of it just being told to us after a time skip.

[vikenticomeshome]

Cyberchase Character Discussion (for your local Cyberchase trivia quiz) - #6: Slider

Alright, here's your boy.

It's about time I got around to him, right? He's, what, the most popular character in the whole show?

Slider was one of a slate of characters introduced in Season 3. So, he didn't get an original "Meet the Cybersquad" entry. His first ever appearance would have been on the Cyberchase website during their "Who's New?" promotion. We get to see Slider and Creech, who both went on to appear in numerous episodes. We also get to see Nero the Animal Hero, Mister Z, Roxy, and Sheldon. I don't think those four have appeared since their debut episodes.

So, what did we learn about Slider here?

Lives in Radopolis

Loves to skateboard and is really good at it

Can fix anything

That's not alot to go on. With how Radopolis is, the second point is kind of redundant. Later on, they did give us more facts on his official trading card.

He's 13 years old (or is that Cyber-years?). We'll assume that this makes him older than the Earth Brats. His favorite color is red. He enjoys speed (going fast), string cheese, and sneakers. He dislikes busy-bodies and The Hacker, with an emphasis on The Hacker. He's great at skateboarding and building stuff.

His favorite line is just "Cool." To be fair, he doesn't seems like the sort of person to bother with a proper catch phrase.

Slider appeared for the first time during the gang's second trip to Radopolis, in Season 3 Episode 2 "Borg of the Ring". When he first shows up, he rescues Inez, Matt, and Jackie from a tire avalanche. He is notably unconcerned about the chaos unfolding on Radopolis. It's only after they mention The Hacker and/or The Totally Rad Ring, that he accepts that he has to do something about this.

Matt: Thanks for saving us.

Slider: (smiles, nods, and starts to leave)

Nezzie: Wait, you can't just leave us here! We need a ride!

Slider: Not my problem

Jackie: But we have to stop Hacker! He has the totally Rad Ring!

Slider: Just became my problem.

We know that The Hacker used the Rad Ring to remove everyone's wheels. Slider has a substitute for a wheel on his board, in the form of an aluminum can. This suggests that he has already been impacted by The Hacker's actions. And yet, he needs further motivation to get involved. It makes me wonder if he was testing that can as a replacement to the wheel, skated off while lost in his own head, and didn't notice everyone else's wheels disappearing around him.

Of course, we have to talk about Jackie and Inez immediately crushing on him.

This is something that continued into the series. He looks confused or weirded out in the show.

In also continued in Ron Barrett's official comic, "The Great Cyber-skate". He's shown to be oblivious to what's going on here.

"Borg of the Ring" also introduces his rivalry with Matt. Well, okay, it was more of a one-sided rivalry where Matt was being an ass and Slider barely noticed, but we got some good Matt faces.

We also get this shot, where Matt and Slider are racing to Point Dune, and Slider overtakes Matt easily.

Relax shippers. They just met. This is a children's educational show.

Which one of you drew that?

Anyway, back in "Borg of the Ring", we get a scene where Digit is trying to figure out how to make the ring. Matt offers to show him how. And then, something odd happens.

Slider: We need to adjust the radius.

Digit: Uh-huh, what am I missing here?

Matt: Don't worry Didge. The radius is the distance from the center point out to the edge of the circle. To change how big or small a circle is, just change the radius. I'll show you.

Slider: Nevermind. I'll make it. And I've got just the tool to do it.

Yeah, Slider got sick of listening to the lesson of the episode and just interrupted it. Is that allowed?

Okay, I've put it off long enough. Let's talk about Slider's dad.

We first hear about Slider's dad in "Snelfu Snafu Part 1", where Slider finds the Syncholator and a note from dad telling him to use it to find him.

However, he accidentally uses the ID code for the Encryptor Chip, which reveals that it is on an auction site. At the same time, we just had a radio contact from Dr. Marbles stating that he found the chip. This leads to a short scene that I had forgotten about until now.

Slider: Maybe he (Dr. Marbles) is the one selling the chip.

Digit: Never!

Slider: Cyborgs have been known to switch sides, you know?

Slider immediately goes with the idea that Dr. Marbles, Motherboard's technician/husband(?) has betrayed her. The Encryptor Chip is the only thing that can cure Motherboard, and Slider speculates that Dr. Marbles is trying to sell the chip for personal gain instead.

Near the end of "Snelfu Snafu Part 2", Slider assembles the Syncholator with additional parts to amplify its power. They need to use it to locate and retrieve the Encryptor Chip to recover Motherboard's soul. However, the modifications means that the Syncholator will burn out after one use.

Jackie: Wait a minute. Is there somebody else you need to find?

Slider: My dad. I was going to use the Syncholator to try to locate him

Slider: But if I'm ever going to have a chance to find him, Motherboard needs to be saved first.

As far as I know, this is the first time Slider tells Matt, Jackie, and Inez even a little bit of his tragic back-story. And the show takes his sacrifice of the Syncholator seriously.

Anyway, before we really dig into "Measure for Measure", let's have Matt and Slider get in way over their heads trying to babysit Podlings.

For the purposes of keeping this short and relatively focused, I won't go into too much detail about Slider and Coop's story. However, I will hit the high points.

Back in the day, The Hacker and Coop worked together on a device called the Transformatron, which could transform one thing into another. However, Coop realized that The Hacker was going to use the Transformatron to take over Cyberspace. So, Coop ripped up the plans and sent them elsewhere.

The Hacker took his revenge by swapping Coop's helmet for one made of red magnetite. This damaged Coop's hard drive, causing him to age prematurely.

Coop knew that the magnetite was dangerous enough to harm Slider. So, he left Slider behind in Radopolis, while he went into hiding on Discardia to develop a cure for magnetite poisoning.

The show never states how long Coop and Slider were separated. Keep in mind that Slider is only 13 when we meet him. Slider doesn't appear to have any other family or any sort of support network before the Earthlies show up. At some point, Coop learned that the cure to magnetite poisoning requires magnetite as an ingredient. However, borgs cannot work with magnetite. It's not clear whether Coop came up with any plans after this point, or if he gave up completely.

And then, Digit and the Earthlies arrived. They are immune to magnetite and able to finally mix the cure for Coop.

Yeah, The Hacker comes along, poisons Slider with red magnetite right in front of Coop, and takes Slider as a hostage. We learn that red magnetite damage causes Slider's feet to grow very large, preventing him from running away.

Hacker: Now I have the NIC and your son. Welcome to your worst nightmare, my old friend.

Yeah, this whole storyline is shockingly dark for a children's educational show. I'm glad that they made it. I don't believe I watched this back when it came out, but I would have found it amazing as a kid. I think most kids, either back then, or today, would be able to handle it just fine.

We get a happy ending. The Earthlies are able to save Slider, recover the NIC, and even heal Coop's own magnetite poisoning. And so, Coop and Slider were re-united and ready to get back to skateboarding.

Matt appears to have let go of his one-sided rivalry with Slider. The last episode containing such a rivalry was Season 6 Episode 6 "Team Spirit", where Team Motherboard competes in the Olympics . With Jackie injured, Slider needed to come in to substitute. All the data suggested that Matt needed to handle the swimming section, while Slider needed to handle the final run up to finish line.

Matt was committed to making the final run himself, to the point of refusing to compete. As they needed three people to compete, this selfish decision would have caused Team Motherboard to forfeit.

This wasn't really about Slider as much as it was down to Matt wanting to prove himself to his hero, Zeus. Near the end of the episode, while Matt is thinking it over, Slider comes forward to say something. However, before he can say it, Matt stops him and agrees to give the final run to the finish line to Slider, for the good of the team.

With those stories wrapped up, what else can we say about Slider. Well, there is something unusual here. Let's put him next to Matt for a moment.

Let's take his shirt off real quick.

Let's take Matt's shirt off as well.

Alright, now let's put Slider next to our other favorite Cyborg child, Creech.

For a Cyborg child, Slider just looks like an Earth Brat. If you needed to ding him on something, it would be his rectangular eyes. That's not a pre-requisite for Cyborg children, as Creech has oval eyes. However, we don't see any humans with that style of eyes.

I doubt that there is any real push to change Slider's model. I'm not pushing to change Slider's model. Still, this was kind of a strange choice, especially considering that Creech and Slider both arrived in Season 3. Why does Slider look almost human, while Creech gets the antennae and circuit-board-trace treatment that more closely aligns her with the Cyborgs?

[amphiptere-art]

So we can all agree that the Sun and Moon fandom is dying right?

There is a quiz at the end of the post.

Me myself and many others have left. Whether it is due to the rising toxicity of the show or the fans. At this point it is simply a creative backdrop. Something you take ideas off of instead of something that you enjoy and turn into a AU. And at this point if you have it as an AU. You feel as if you need to somehow say it's separated or is only based off of the good old days.

The fact that there is a difference between the good old days and what has happened is sad. I will admit I haven't been here forever. I wasn't here since the beginning. I wasn't watching the episodes upload as I watched. But I did do my best to watch every single lore post I can find. Anything that wasn't a standard gaming episode. So I can at least say that I tried to follow the story.

And to put it slightly the story has gone sour. Characters have stopped feeling right in their actions. Underlying messages have started to get toxic. Many bad guys have gotten so characterized that them being bad guys doesn't feel right. Are good characters no matter how developed they get either regress due to plot convenience. Or have died and basically reset the storyline.

The story seems stuck. There's some gems here and there but it seems like they can't figure out the next story action. And even if they do, it gets so much hate from the fandom that it struggles to continue. It feels like they continuously reset and reset to try and find a story that the fans will enjoy. It's not working unfortunately. There have been many retcons due to this. And there has also been many splits.

And this is not even mentioning the toxicity of the fandom itself at this point. That's basically split itself in two and the other will hate the other. This happened most obviously with the Moon X Solar argument. Where you either enjoy it or you don't enjoy it. It has caused a multiple splits because of differences in morals. It's just created a hostile environment between fans.

And I'm not making this post a point fingers at the whole argument. I've researched it and I know why some people believe it's okay. Whether it's because they believe solar never really wanted to be a part of the family. Or the simple understanding that by most laws, incest between adopted family members is okay. I understand that people have reasons to like it. It doesn't mean that these reasons are shared though. It doesn't mean that the moral implications of that relationship don't affect some people. And neither side is willing to come to a mutual agreement.

This is also not bringing up the fact that the whole villain versus hero argument is starting to become even more split. Sun, Moon, Lunar, Earth, Solar are both currently on the good side. While Eclipse, Blood Moon, and a couple others are still obviously on the bad guy side. But Eclipse and Blood moon have started to become more and more relatable. People can no longer look at those characters and just imagine the villainy part. Especially when the heroes decide to mock the suffering that they did to the villains in the first place.

That is my personal scare between the fandom right now. I can't look at eclipse and not deny that Moon's actions were the reason of it. I can't look at moon and justify years of abuse. Whether it was old moon or new moon at this point. I can't stand and justify treating blood moon as a villain has tested its limit. I can't deny that blood moons actions are more so based on need than actual want. And the creators forcing that idea backfired enough that they barely have him as a character anymore.

There is a split between people who want to support moon and sun with all their actions. There is a split between people who think solar should be considered a part of the family or not. There is a lack of storylines that don't have half of the community hating upon it. There is a lack of feeling an actual tug of conflict in the stories due to the villains being so understandable. There is a hostility between the fan base because of all of these.

I put out a poll a long time ago. Asking people why they basically watched the show anymore. The general consensus was they were just watching the show because they needed to. Because they felt obligated to follow the plot wherever it went. I feel like the fan base that is following the show for their own enjoyment is slowly disappearing. And this is not talking about the amount of people that have straight out left due to all the reasons above.

Whether it is the show's fault for not being able to supply the engaging store anymore that people can enjoy. Or it is the fandom for it's toxic split between the morals of adoption incest, or the feeling that the villain shouldn't be getting as much hate as they do. The show was currently dying on both sides honestly. And the only reason many are continuing to watch the show, is the hope that it will get better, and the need to supply their AUs off of it.

How many of your friends have left because of these reasons? How many of them have had the conundrum of feeling like they need to stay because leaving feels like a betrayal to others or themselves.

How many of us are only holding because of nostalgia?

It feels like nowadays people either choose to blindly follow due to an overall support or question constantly if they should. It feels as if artists that give the show their thumbnails now, are the only people that do stuff happily with it. A conspiracy part of my brain wants to say that's only because not supporting it would mean they wouldn't have there art publicly endorsed. But that's only conspiracy and no fact.

The show has lost its splendor. As of now it's really only a character backdrop to some. A list of events and ideas that you could pull and twist to fit something kinder or better. It's like as if we're using the Sun and Moon like Robin Hood. Stripping it down to the basics just so we can share our twist of the same tale. I have heard many times from people that AUs are more enjoyable right now than actual Canon. I myself have said for multiple stories that they do not follow past backup eclipses death. Which in my opinion is when the show really started to go downhill.

I'm going to ask this question again. Because I feel as if it is important for people who read this post to see it under a newer light.

I will note. If you reblog this post just to argue that it's not dying, That solar X moon isn't incest, that characters like eclipse and blood moon should be treated as the absolute villains they are, and seeking Sun and Moon are evil is dumb. I will not respond. To be honest I will not respond to many reblogs of this. I'm simply putting this information out earnestly as my opinion. I am not here to hate on the artists. I am not here to hate on your difference in opinion. I am not here to say that the show writers are dumb or money monsters. This is my opinion. And if you wish to fight it, then you are not willing to accept differencing opinion.

[willalove75]

Fem!reader trying to figure out Rebecca’s love language by trying the five (doesn’t matter which one you choose to make her main love language) 💕

Love this idea!! Thanks for the request! 💕

"So, are you and Rebecca getting more serious?" Keeley asks with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't know, I don't think so." You say as you scroll on your phone, the two of you having lunch in her new office.

"Why not?! You two have been together for months!"

You toss your phone onto the couch.

"Ugh, I don't know, I mean we get on really well, but I feel like there's something missing, but not like something's missing where it doesn't exist, I don't know." You sigh and lay back on the couch, cradling a pillow.

"Do you want it to get more serious? Or are you cool with this casual thing you've got going on?"

"I don't know, I mean, yes I'd love to get more serious with her, but, I also don't want to ruin what we have, you know? I haven't been able to connect with her on that deeper level yet I think."

"Well I've know you've both gone deeper in other ways!" She laughs.

"Keeley!!" You throw a pillow at her and laugh. "I'm serious! I really like her and I really want this to work." You bury your face into the pillow in your lap.

"Well do you know what her love language is?" She asks, you look up at her.

"No? I don't even know what that is."

"WHAT?! Oh my god come here we're gonna find out what yours is." She runs around to her desk and pulls up some online quiz.

You sit at her desk chair and look at her confused. Keeley explains the five love languages, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, physical touch and gifts.

"Huh." You say and take the test, you immediately get your results and find out what yours are:

Words of Affirmation, 2. Physical Touch, 3. Quality Time, 4. Acts of Service, 5. Gifts.

"Yeah that makes sense." Keeley says looking at your results.

"I guess so, but how do I find out what hers are? Just make her take this quiz?"

"No! That's not romantic, you should try to figure them out, just go down the list and try them and see which one she responds best to!"

"If you say so." You say looking at the list. You're definitely nervous but wiling to try.

You head back to the office and think of what her love language might be. "Well, I think she likes getting things, so maybe gifts?" You think to yourself. You're going on a date with her later tonight so you pick up some flowers and head back to work.

You get home, get ready for you date and leave. You get to the restaurant before Rebecca and you decide to wait outside for her. Her car pulls up and she hands her keys to the valet and sees you.

"There you are." She says with a smile.

She walks up to you and looks down at the flowers.

"What are those?" She asks with a smile.

"I got you flowers," you say sheepishly. "I saw them and thought they were pretty and I decided to get them for you."

"Aw." She says and gives you a kiss. "Thank you."

You both head inside, sit down at the table and order.

"So, do you like getting gifts?" You ask, unsure if she really liked it or was just being nice.

She pauses for a moment. "Yeah, I mean I don't dislike it." She says but quickly follows up with "but I love the flowers, they're beautiful."

"I'm glad." You say with a smile.

"Why do you ask?"

"No reason, when I was buying them I realized I wasn't even sure if you liked getting stuff so I figured I'd ask." You say and take a sip of wine.

"Don't get me wrong, I like it, but Rupert would love bomb me with all of these lavish, expensive things all the time and after a while it stopped being special, especially since he would do it every time I thought he was cheating on me, which he was, but used that as a way to distract me. It got quite old fast."

"Aw, yeah that definitely takes the fun out of it." You say.

"Yeah, a bit."

Gifts were out, you decide to try out acts of service next.

A few weeks later you have your next date, Rebecca invites you over her house for dinner and you offer to cook. When dinner is finished she goes to clean the table.

"That was amazing, thank you so much for cooking." She says.

"Of course! I'm glad you liked it. Here, let me get that." You say getting up.

"No it's okay," she says with a smile.

"No really, it's okay I don't mind."

"But you cooked!"

"I know,"

"How about we clean up together then?" She suggests.

Knowing you won't win you agree. "Okay, fine."

There goes acts of service. Two down, three left.

You load the dishwasher as you look over at her wiping down the table. You lean against the counter and just watch her for a minute. Even doing something so mundane, she looks beautiful. You really, really care about her and you want to take this to the next level. She looks over and catches you staring at her.

"What are you looking at?" She says with a smile.

"Nothing, I just- it's crazy how beautiful you look doing literally everything."

She smiles and walks over to you and puts her hands on your hips and kisses you. You look into her eyes for a minute and get lost in them.

"What?" She says.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about how lucky I am that I have you in my life. You're amazing."

Her lips curl into a smile and she puts her hands on your face and pulls you in for a kiss.

Words of affirmation definitely works, but you're not sure if that's her main love language. You're getting restless so you try and combine the last two.

"Wanna put on comfy clothes and watch a movie?" You ask.

"I would love to." She says with a smile.

You both change and she meets you on the couch.

"What do you want to watch? A horror movie?" She asks.

"Absolutely not." You say with a laugh.

"Right, I forgot you were terribly boring." She says teasing you.

You scoff and go to tickle her. "I am not!"

"No no no!!" She says laughing and grabs your hands after you're able to get a few pokes in. "I fucking hate that."

"Right, I forgot you were terribly boring." You say imitating her with a laugh.

She laughs and gives you a playful scowl and grabs the remote. You come across a rom-com you both haven't seen and decide to watch it. She lays across the couch and drapes her legs over your lap, you put your hand on her calf and gently stroke it with your thumb.

"Do you want a foot rub, or a backrub or something?" You ask.

She sits up and pauses the movie and looks at you.

"You have been so weird lately. What is going on?"

"Ugh," you rest your head on her knee as it's bent over your legs. You look up at her.

"What?" She asks, looking at you with a hint of concern in her eyes.

"A few weeks ago I was talking to Keeley and she told me about the five love languages, and I had never heard about them and I realized I didn't know what yours were so she told me to try and figure it out because it was more romantic than just asking you."

"Seven."

"What?"

"There are actually seven love languages." She says.

"What!? What are the other two?!"

"Expression of affection and love is one of them. The other, which happens to be mine, is communication. Those two might not be official ones actually. But I liked them so I count them."

"Shit!! So I was never gonna get it then."

She laughs as she adjusts and sits back on her heels facing you.

"Afraid not." She says with a smile.

"What even is the communication love language?!"

"Just simple communication, talking to one another, being honest, explaining what you're experiencing or feeling, telling your partner what your needs are, things like that. I lacked that so much in my last relationship, I don't think I can ever be with someone again without being able to really communicate with each other. But if we're talking about the traditional five, I think mine is words of affirmation."

"Well then," you say grabbing her hand. "I'm sorry that I didn't communicate that I was trying to find out your love languages."

Her eyes sparkle when you say that to her, you can tell that just acknowledging her love language meant so much to her.

"So why were you and Keeley talking about love languages anyway?"

You chuckle and your cheeks turn a light shade of pink.

"She had asked if we were getting more serious and I told her I really wanted to, but I felt like there was a piece missing," you see her eyes get a little sad and you grab her hand. "And I said it's not like there's something missing that doesn't exist between us, more like something that was an obstacle, that stopped us from going there. I don't know how to describe it, but I know it's there, I just didn't know how to get there." You furrow your brows, not being able to correctly express your thoughts. "I don't know if any of that made sense."

You see her relax a little and she studies your face.

"Do you want to get more serious?"

You take a deep breath, fearful that she'll reject the idea.

"Yes. I do, but I'm so afraid of fucking up what we have, because I really, really like what we have." You pause and sheepishly look at her. "But I also really want to call you my girlfriend, and be able to be affectionate with each other in public, around our friends. Just, be a real couple I guess."

She continues to study your face as she smiles.

"Do you want to get more serious?" You cautiously ask.

"I would like that very much."

"Really?" You look deep into her eyes.

Rebecca nods her head and cups your face in her hands and kisses you. Her tongue slides into your mouth and your tongue dances around hers. She climbs into your lap and you slide one hand up to the back of her neck and hold onto her waist with the other as she holds your face in her hands. The kiss continues and eventually your lips slowly part. You study each others faces for a moment before Rebecca breaks the silence.

"I never asked, what's your love language?"

"Words of affirmation, physical touch," You pause and try to remember the rest. "Quality time, acts of service and gifts. What were the rest of yours? The normal five." You say with a laugh.

"Words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service," She pauses to think. "Physical touch and gifts."

You two stare into each others eyes for a moment and smile, taking in every detail of the others face.

"I can't imagine my life without you." Rebecca says as she looks into your eyes.

You feel your heart soar at her words, you look back into her eyes with a smile on your face.

"It's a little scary." She says.

The happiness on your face melts into worry.

"I already know I can very easily fall in love with you. But you're worth it."

You feel your eyes get glossy at her words. Every fear you had about losing what you have with her vanishes.

"I already am, and I wouldn't want to fall in love with anyone else."

She's touched by your words, even a little surprised, but very happy. She smiles at you and you both pull each other closer for another kiss. After a few minutes of making out you part and cuddle into each other. She buries her face into your neck and you lay your head on hers. Your arms wrapped around her as she sits in your lap. You're distracted by the tv automatically shutting off since the movie was paused for so long.

"So much for the movie." You say with a giggle.

"Oh well," she says. "I'd much rather do this anyway."

"Me too."

[theemporium]

okay thots incoming:

1. 🐁 sending that happy/grumpy werewolf lestappen ask sent me spiraling. like yes!!!! those are her dogs!!!! she's showing pictures to anyone who asks and it's just an excessive amount of photos of charles being silly goofy and max grudgingly putting up with his antics. and the poor person who now is stuck here for the next five minutes is like "oh wow you can really see their distinctive personalities..." and reader is just like "oh yea that always looks like he's being greatly inconvenienced." and bonus points if it's with werewolf reader so you get the errant pic of the three of them in wolf form and when asked about it she's like "oh yeah, that's max's and charles' dog" bc like !!!! they are hers and she is theirs !!!

2. i was NOT paying attention in my quiz section today and was totally just thinking about a driver!reader au where she is just such a girly girls girl. like yea she has to wear all the ugly team stuff but she's yassifying it, she's styling it good, she's pulling it off. not to mention HER merch???? it's so well designed, you can't even tell it's merch unless you're a fan (the way it should be imo). and like she's posting stories, doing photo dumps, feeding the girlies. and all while being absolutely on top of the points. like no questions, she's on her way to wdc for sure. and like yea she gets hate from it but also what does she care, she's loaded, she's rich, she's living her dream. like she stays winning

3. the new charles glasses pics 😵‍💫😵‍💫 like i can't stop thinking about lestappen wearing glasses around the house and reader teasing them as getting old and how their eyesight is going. and like the way they look at each other...... they'll let her tease and brat about it but they know just how much reader likes it and how they can absolutely use it to their advantage

-🌠

1 .tbh everyone is mostly shocked at the fact max has gone along with apparently having these three dogs when he’s a cat man😭like everyone finds it so funny because they just think he’s so whipped that he gave into his partners, whilst you and charles definitely play into it like, “yeah!! we have him wrapped around our finger!!”

2. I ADORE!!!!!! she’s everything and the other drivers are just there!! but also her just being iconic because people assume she’s a pushover or a bit of a doormats because she’s so feminine, but she’s ready to put anyone—even her team—in their place. and I also love the idea she gives some of the other boys so much shit for their fashion sense because look at them😭some of them are fucking hopeless and they need her guidance

3. LESTAPPEN IN GLASSES AND THEIR STREAMER ERA IS JUST🫠🫠🫠🫠idk why it brings back memories of the pornstar!driver headcanons but it low-key does. but those boys in their glasses just look so good, I wanna jump them asap

[princessanneftw]

Sorry, Charles, but the answer to everything is Princess Anne

By Deborah Ross for The Times

This week, a royal quiz because, come on, you thought you’d get away without one? This week of all weeks? And if you actually did think you’d get away without one, and I don’t mean this spitefully, aren’t you somewhat dense?

However, in the light of the no-fluff, no-nonsense interview Princess Anne recently gave to Canadian television and all the admiration that unleashed, and in my belief that you don’t like to be overstretched on a Thursday morning, particularly as some of you are still recovering from the news that Jacob Rees-Mogg finds broad beans “loathsome” — it isn’t yet known what broad beans make of him; I will ask next time I push one to the side of my plate* — I have decided to make this easy for you.

The answer, in every instance, is “Princess Anne”. Again, I don’t mean this spitefully, but if you get one wrong you will have no one to blame but yourself.

● Who is the best king we’ll never have, would have been known as “King Anne I”, and would have told those Repair Shop people to “just get on with it” and stop blubbing all over the place and let me know when you’re finished as I have to go kick ass and am behind with kicking ass as it is? (“I get up at 4.30am to kick ass but the day runs away with me all the same, Jay.”)

● Who was not their mother’s favourite child, which, to quote Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, proved “a big mistake. BIG! HUGE!”?

● Who sits somewhere between Kate being marvellous (and “dazzling”) for just wearing a dress and Meghan being an evil bitch and the new Stalin simply for adopting a different hairstyle?

● Who has never, ever suddenly adopted a different hairstyle and therefore can’t be either an evil bitch or the new Stalin?

● If someone attempted to kidnap you on The Mall and you thought, “What would a royal do in this instance?” which royal would most spring to mind? Particularly if you wished to tell the kidnapper, “Not bloody likely.”

● Ranking them in order, which royal do you suspect rolls their eyes at Fergie the most?

● If you had to bet on one royal retaking America, who would it be?

● Which royal was never dubbed “Randy Annie” or “Air Miles Annie” because they never adopted the kind of freeloading, entitled, licentious lifestyle that would one day bite them on the arse and have them running to Mummy?

● Who, of all the family, do you suspect most often swears like a sailor under their breath and would smoke Woodbines, if they smoked?

● Which royal would be most likely to run over Paddington in their Range Rover and not look back?

● Who demanded that titles weren’t conferred on their children, saying they’d have to earn their own money, and also, chances are, campaigned, albeit unsuccessfully, for Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice to get married at Hackney Town Hall followed by Nando’s?

● If a royal were to meet Greg Davies in a post-performance line-up, who would be most able to think up a brutal snub along the lines of, “A lot of ex-teachers become comedians. I can’t see why”?

● Which royal most probably inherited their mother’s Tupperware and will keep it going for future generations, thereby ensuring no royal cornflakes ever go soft?

● Which royal could probably get a potato to peel itself and leap into hot fat just by looking at it?

● Who sliced and diced Cherie Blair at Balmoral in 1997 by refusing to call her “Cherie”, as requested, and instead said, “Let’s not go that way. Let’s stick to Mrs Blair, shall we?”?

● Which royal taught their mother to use Zoom during Covid — “you should have six people on your screen . . . you don’t need to see me. You know what I look like” — but probably gave up on teaching her to text, like we all do, so no judgment there?

● Which royal probably couldn’t be bothered to even get their mother started with online banking?

● Who has inherited a look that amounts to wearing a headscarf tied under the chin like an old Greek lady guiding a donkey down a lane with a stick?

● Who has a look that, for some reason, never sells out everywhere the next day?

● Which royal did The Crown reveal to have been an absolute goer in their youth?

● Which royal did, in fact, have different hair as a young child and looked the spit of Harpo Marx?

● Which royal once reportedly said of Princess Diana, “I will not be pushed around by that brainless woman”?

● If you had all their numbers, which royal would you call if you needed a chicken’s neck wringing?

● If you had to come up with a royal who once appeared on Wogan while looking for all the world as if they’d prefer to have had their head on the chopping block like that other Anne, the Boleyn one, who would that be?

● Which royal do you most imagine would give you a horsewhipping** if you didn’t close the Tupperware properly, thus failing to maintain its airtight seal and letting the cornflakes go soft?

● Which royal has best withstood all the scandals as well as their own divorce and has provided so little grist for the newspapers we might as well all just go home?

● Which royal kind of reminds you of Willa from Succession, who sees everything that goes on in this family but knows if you get too involved you’ll be torn apart and fed to the wolves?

● Lastly, of all the royals, who would you name as the one who actually gets what being a royal is all about?

(*Funnily enough, I did push a broad bean to the side of my plate just now and it said: “The feeling is mutual”)

(**Or a savaging from her dog Dotty)

[pocket-luv101]

Desert Expedition

Fandom: Genshin Impact Ship: CynoNari

Summary: Tighnari invites Cyno to go on an expedition with him and his father.

“Cyno, will you be busy two weeks from now?” Tighnari asked during their patrol through the rainforest. While Cyno had the afternoon free, Tighnari needed to complete his Forest Watcher duties. Cyno decided to join him so they could spend time together. It was rare that their schedules aligned so they needed to carve out time together. “I have a favour to ask you but you can say no. The Matra has been overworked ever since Nahida was rescued. My last request of you also led to a lot of trouble.”

Tighnari chuckled to hide the guilt he felt. When he asked Cyno to investigate the sages and find his old master, he didn’t expect the situation to become so dangerous. After the whole ordeal, he wished they could relax in his hut and share a meal. They were finally able to spend time together but it wasn’t enough for Tighnari. He wondered if he was being greedy to want so much of Cyno’s time.

“You can ask me anything.” Cyno agreed even before he heard Tighnari’s request. Someone as prideful and independent as Tighnari wouldn’t ask for help unless he felt that it was something he couldn’t accomplish himself. Even now, he could hear that Tighnari was reluctant to tell him. They trusted each other after spending years together but Cyno wished that he would lean on him more. He watched him in the corner of his eyes and thought of how he would do anything for him.

“My father is going to the desert and collecting scarabs for his research. The tension between the rainforest and desert is slowly being resolved but I’m still worried about him going on an expedition. He reassured me that he’ll hire mercenaries to escort him. I’ll feel better if the person helping him was someone I knew and trusted. The first person that came to mind was you.”

“Because I’m from the desert?”

“Because you’re my best friend.”

The trust in Tighnari’s voice made Cyno surprisingly happy and a rare smile appeared on his face. He told himself that he appreciated how Tighnari recognized him for more than his strength. Deep inside, he knew that there was another reason his words made him happy. Cyno was in love with Tighnari. He didn’t know how to confess to Tighnari when admitting those feelings to himself was difficult.

Tighnari continued. “Your strength isn’t the only reason you would be a good guide for him. You studied at the Akademiya and you’re familiar with scholars as the General Mahamatra so you can reason with my father. He can get carried away when researching insects and he’ll run blindly into a tomb. He can be a lot of trouble but I’ll make it up to you once you return.”

“Okay, I’ll take your father through the desert. My current investigation will be completed soon and I’ll tell Shohre to cover my next case.” Cyno would’ve agreed no matter his busy schedule. He knew how Tighnari adored his parents and he didn’t want anything to happen to him. If someone was important to him, Cyno would protect them. Tighnari offered him a reward but he only needed to see him smile.

“Thank you, Cyno. I know it’s difficult for you to take breaks from your job. Those sages give you the work of three people. Your job is important to you but you need to think of your health. If it becomes too much for you, tell me and I’ll speak with my old master to stop bothering you.” He told him. Cyno could easily imagine Tighnari lecturing the new sages and it made him chuckle.

Tighnari stopped walking and he lightly tapped the furrows between Cyno’s brows. “Are you listening to me, Cyno? You shouldn’t laugh when I’m voicing my worry. As punishment, you have to return to my hut and go to sleep at a reasonable time for once. I’ll make dinner and tell you about my father’s research. No matter who he meets, he will quiz them about insects. It’s his way of starting a conversation.”

He told Cyno stories of when his father would take him on expeditions through the rainforest to search for bugs. Despite the small complaints and sighs in Tighnari’s story, it was clear that they were a close family. He finished telling him about how he begged his father to take him to the desert and fainted. He expected Cyno to laugh but he was silent. While he was a man of few words, Tighnari could hear a deep sadness and regret in his voice.

Tighnari remembered that Cyno hadn’t been able to return to his family in the desert for the past few years. Even if the Matra gave him a vacation to visit his family, the journey was long and difficult. Cyno rarely talked about his life before the Akademiya but Tighnari knew that he must miss his family. Instead of poking his forehead again, he tenderly rubbed his thumb over his temple.

“My father likes Genius Invokation TCG. He’s terrible at the game so he might not be a challenge for you but it’s better than memorizing facts about bugs to talk with him. When he tries to quiz you about bugs, change the topic to card games.” Tighnari added to change the topic. “It’s getting late so we should return home before Collei starts to worry about us.”

“My beetle card! How could it be defeated in only one round?” Tighnari’s father, Malik, sorrowfully transferred the card from the field to the growing pile of defeated cards. Cyno had intended to use a weaker deck against Malik because Tighnari mentioned that he wasn’t a skilled TCG player like they were. To his surprise, his beginner deck was still able to sweep his opponent.

Cyno debated whether he should change his strategy for their next game. On one hand, he respected Malik and he wouldn’t purposely lose. Another part of Cyno worried that he might anger him and his father would tell Tighnari. His concerns were similar to meeting a lover’s father-in-law for the first time. He and Tighnari were only friends so he shouldn’t be as nervous as he was.

“When does a joke become a dad joke? When it becomes apparent.” Cyno said but Malik gave him the same confused expression most did.

“Tighnari wrote about you in our letters but I thought he was exaggerating how dry your puns are. I was waiting for you to explain it.” Malik smiled politely. “He insisted that I allow you to join our expedition. You would think it’s the old man who worries about their child, not the other way around. I agreed because he said you needed an excuse to take a break from work.”

Cyno’s hand paused over his deck. When Tighnari asked him to join the expedition, it was for his father’s sake. Malik appeared to believe the opposite. Tighnari wasn’t the type to lie without a reason so Cyno silently nodded in agreement and played along. A part of him was curious about the reasons behind the lie though. He drew another card and said, “I can give you a few tips and strategies for your deck.”

“I would be a master at this game if my colleagues weren’t so closed minded and played cards with me. How can I test my deck without an opponent?” Malik said loud enough for the scholars studying a few feet from them to hear. The expedition party quickly avoided his gaze and it was clear that they were intimidated by him.

“Now we know where Tighnari gets his feral traits.” Someone among the crowd muttered. Cyno’s eyes narrowed at the insult and he started to stand. Unexpectedly, Malik was the one to stop him and silently gestured for him to return to their card game. The older man had fennec traits and he must’ve heard the person as well.

“Ignore them. They’re lucky that my wife wasn’t here or else she would drag them back to Gandharva Ville to apologize to Tighnari directly. He inherited his fearless spirit from her.” He spoke of his family with pride and love. “I miss them when I have to leave the rainforest but researching scarabs is best done in their natural environment.”

Cyno understood the conflicting feelings Malik had with his job. The Matra required him to leave on long investigations and leave behind the person he loved. A peaceful life with Tighnari could only be a dream until Sumeru was safe from the reckless pursuit of Forbidden Knowledge.

“In Tighnari’s last letter, he asked for advice to help you on your journey. He doesn’t want you to be lonely on your adventures. I haven’t had the chance to write him back but I can give you advice directly now. You should carry a picture with you.” They were friends but Cyno hadn’t expected Tighnari to tell his father about him. Did Malik already have a bad opinion on him because of his bad jokes and dangerous job?

“You don’t have to worry about Tighnari when you’re on an expedition. I will protect him.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized that he was once again speaking to him as if he were his father-in-law.

“He told me that too. After seeing you fight, I’m more confident Tighnari was being truthful and not lying just so I won’t worry.” Malik took out his notebook where he had a photo of his wife and Tighnari pinned to the cover. “This is when Tighnari was six. Isn’t he adorable? He was a good natured kid but he got into trouble. He tried to fight this older kid for bullying his friend.”

Cyno wondered how he would react if he told him that Tighnari hadn’t changed. He only became braver throughout the years. Afterall, he faced a Fatui Harbinger. Malik continued to tell him stories from Tighnari’s childhood as they played.

The game was interrupted when they heard someone call. “Dad! Cyno!”

Cyno recognized the voice immediately but he thought he was mistaken at first. In the horizon, Tighnari ran towards their camp with Layla and Faruzan following him. He rose to his feet to greet him even though he was still trying to make sense of how he could be in the desert. Due to his fur, the desert heat was difficult for him.

Tighnari was out of breath when he reached them and he placed his hand on Cyno’s arm for balance. He saw the confusion on both of their faces and smirked. He held up his wrist to show them the square bracelets he wore.

“This is the device made by the Kshahrewar Darshan. It was designed to regulate one’s body but Faruzan and Layla helped mortify it to make a cold aura around me. With this, I can join your expedition through the desert. It’s not a perfect solution since I still need to wear thinner clothes underneath.” Tighnari said and lifted his black cloak. Cyno pulled himself out of his shock and realized that he was wearing his old cape from when he was a student.

“Welcome to our expedition party!” Malik patted his shoulder.

In contrast to how hot the desert was during the day, the nights were frigid. Tighnari wished that he had packed an extra set of clothes to wear after the sun set. He wrapped himself in Cyno’s old cloak but it barely provided him with warmth. He opened his eyes and saw Cyno sitting across the firepit from him. The thought of asking him to sleep beside him to share body heat crossed his mind.

“Are you having trouble sleeping?” Cyno asked and opened his eyes. He wasn’t surprised to see that he was still awake considering his personality. He rarely allowed himself to sleep deeply due to the fear that someone could attack them at night. His spear stood next to him where he could easily wield it if needed. The few times he was able to fully relax was when he stayed in Tighnari’s hut.

“I’m just a little cold.” Without a word, Cyno patted the ground beside him and signalled for him to share body heat. He crossed the fireplace so they were sitting next to each other. As he settled himself into a comfortable position, Cyno moved his spear so it wouldn’t accidentally stab him. Tighnari leaned against his arm and sighed contently.

“Warm?”

“Very.”

Cyno looked down at Tighnari and he was tempted to brush the green locks from his face. He clutched the black fabric in his hand to stop himself from moving. Tighnari felt the fabric move and he assumed that he was cold. He adjusted the cloak so that it blanketed both of them. “Thank you for agreeing to come on this expedition, Cyno. Did my father tell you any strange stories about my childhood.”

“Maybe one or two.” He teased and Tighnari lightly slapped his leg in retaliation. He didn’t mind and he only chuckled. Cyno glanced at his father and then leaned down to whisper into Tighnari’s ear. “There is one thing that I wanted to ask you about. Your father said you wanted me to go on this expedition because I need a vacation. You told me that it was for your father’s safety.”

“Honestly, it was for both reasons. You’ll be able to rest more with an easy escort mission and my father will be protected. I didn’t ask you to go as a trick.” Tighnari told him. “Are you angry that it ended up like that?”

“There’s nothing to be upset about when you have good intentions. It’s better than how you’ll lecture the Adventurers for their own good.” He said and Tighnari smiled. He began to respond to Cyno but a yawn interrupted him. The device on his wrist allowed him to travel to the desert but he wasn’t familiar with hiking over the rolling hills of sand. He was exhausted after the journey.

“When I was setting up camp with my father, he told me about your card game. He likes you, even if he wasn’t able to take a single card from you. He said I should invite you to dinner the next time everyone in our family is free. What do you think, Cyno?”

“It would be interesting.” He whispered. Cyno looked down and found that sleep had settled over Tighnari. In their position, he knew that his arm would be numb once they woke but he didn’t move Tighnari or risk waking him. “Goodnight.”

[elizmanderson]

(For the ask game)

I've heard you mention 'Remarkable Retirement' a few times. And I NEED more information so I can propperly obsess.

Thanks:)

SO GLAD YOU ASKED

first of all, obligatory plug because The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher is out now in hardcover, paperback, and ebook, with an audiobook pending! you can find tbr and buy links (plus fun stuff like a "which character are you" quiz) at my linktree.

(I also have a shiny new website if you prefer a traditional website format or if that's more accessible to you)

okay anyway

the inspiration is exactly what you'd think it was

for anyone who doesn't know yet, the book was inspired by this post that I saw on tumblr years ago when I had my original account

...except it's not a series, she's 83, and she had one cat in the first draft who got cut because I simply cannot keep track of characters' pets, rip Mittens

here's a plot summary

which I c/p'ed from Goodreads just now, but I wrote this summary myself except for the lovely blurb from SJ Whitby at the bottom

You're never too old for adventure.

When you’re a geriatric armed with nothing but gumption and knitting needles, stopping a sorcerer from wiping out an entire dragon-fighting organization is a tall order. No one understands why 83-year-old Edna Fisher is the Chosen One, destined to save the Knights from a dragon-riding sorcerer bent on their destruction. After all, Edna has never handled a magical weapon, faced down a dragon, or cast a spell. And everyone knows the Council of Wizards always chooses a teenager—like the vengeful girl ready to snatch Edna’s destiny from under her nose.

Still, Edna leaps at the chance to leave the nursing home. With her son long dead in the Knights’ service, she’s determined to save dragon-fighters like him and to ensure other mothers don’t suffer the same loss she did. But as Edna learns about the abuse in the ranks and the sorcerer’s history as a Knight, she questions if it’s really the sorcerer that needs stopping—or the Knights she’s trying to save.

“Beyond the utterly charming premise of this wonderful book, you will find dazzling wit, a cast of delightful characters, and a plot that will sweep you away. At heart, this is a love story, but one that shows the depth and complexity of love in all its permutations. But my very favourite thing about this book is how it makes me believe in a kinder, better world.” - SJ Whitby, author of the Cute Mutants series

no-context spoilers aka random shit in the book that I like to mention now and then for funsies

handkerchief magic

a largely useless wizard

"I'm fine" [but she was not fine]

"snickerdoodles"

"we're not flying right into a SHITLOAD OF DRAGONS" (I have a temporary tattoo and stickers with this quote on it lmao it's a fave)

a dragon who thinks he's a lap dog

a dragon who hoards flowers

an extremely self-indulgent kiss-on-the-beach scene

a Soft Old Man™

maybe she's born with it, maybe it's PTSD

idk I'm bad at giving info without a specific question

I could literally talk about this book (or,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,anything I'm writing) all day, but I never know where to start or where to stop when I lack a specific question lmao. so if you have more questions or new questions or questions about anything listed here, please let me know what they are so I can answer them better!

[hibi32]

౨ৎ Mindless No Thought Rant 0.1(10.16.MMXXIV): Got called crazy by an unknown man for wanting to write a love letter out of my blood, and I’m sad. Just asked mother if I could pierce myself to extract blood, she thought I was crazy… and she was right. Tried cutting myself and thought about *them*, no—it, and stopped. Began drawing fake scars, that will help the emptiness in my heart, right? I miss them. A lot. Trying—trying—trying, to escape. Hurt in the present, hurt by thoughts in the past, happy in the present, yet happy by the past. What to do… ? I don’t know.

0.1(10.17.MMXXIV): I did have someone to love yes. Someone who will love and expect nothing in return. But even if their love was unconditional, it could never fully fulfill the missing pieces in my heart. To fill the void in my heart would take infinite quantities, but even so, no matter how much I get and take, it will never fill the darkness that once had light. I crave it, dream it, fantasize about it, and even lust… but even so, never enough. I ask myself…why—just—why isn’t it satisfying my thirst? I stumbled upon a post about a woman talking about her greatest achievements in life, majority of it was about, ‘self love’. She spoke with confidence, “The only person you should love the most would be yourself. After all, you’re spending the rest of eternity alone”. Those very words, struck a spark in my heart, and a glimmer of clearness through my sight. I now know why, the void in my puppet, is hollow. I tried to love, no—truly love, myself… But im only met with disgust… not joy, not happiness, not love…but disgust.

0.1(10.17.MMXXIV): Found out I got a 14/15 on my physics quiz. Really really unhappy with myself. Decided to beg for study tables during lunch to my physics teacher, not wanting to come for after school hours. Math midterm is today, im kinda worried despite being prepared.

0.1(10.17.MMXXIV): impulsively friended them, oh no. I shouldn’t have clicked! Ahhh~

౨ৎ 0.2(10.18.MMXXIV): Found out I got a 86% on my math mid term. I’m so fucking frustrated I DDINT take the extra time I had and doubled checked. I would have gotten an 89% if I got that one question have gotten correct. If I didn’t mixed up the differences between supplementary and complimentary, I wouldn’t be reacting this way. This is the second B I’ve ever gotten in my math class, this might be good to others, but to me, it isn’t! This is so fucking stupid. I hate being in choir for the morning, I hate being told to sit in my seat and sing for half an hour. I could just do this at home, no? It’s so heinous and tedious to have music in school when you can sing and work at home. I hate that one student in my class, they think they have the ‘authority’ and ability to be able to point out trouble makers. Teachers pet, I hate those types, always being perceptive of others and reporting back to teachers on ‘bobs’ disruptive and harmful behavior. Reasons why I stopped being a rule follower and became a rule breaker. I crave chaos and destruction, the total opposite of what my ‘old’ self would want. Jeez, since when did joining a new school become more problematic then my old one! I have multiple contradicting statements I say that I honestly can’t seems to understand myself. Mother told me I looked like a clown with eye shadow on, says it doesn’t suit me and I don’t need makeup. I want to, I just have masculine features that are overly very prominent. Been trying to scout for some online but I can’t seem to find any that I like.

౨ৎ 0.3(10.19.MMXXIV): talked to them today… I was nervous at first about responding to them. Everything is going well, and I’m glad. Still frustrated by the fact I still can’t find what works best for my face shape… but I’m sure I’ll find the missing spark. It feels better that we are still in contact… but it also feels wrong. I’m a disappointment to my family if I was to be friends with them, no? But I’m also confused, in a way where I wouldn’t know if I want them in my life or not. I just want them to be happy, at least, with someone else… not me. Without them I’m at peace, but without them my mind misses them and I constantly debate to myself to not talk to them… I constantly tell myself about their cons and how they are bad in my life… but I also day dream about them on a daily basis. I miss their words, dream of their hugs, and I want to get closer—but not. What is this that I’m feeling?

I hope you tell me soon… universe…

౨ৎ 0.2(10.20.MMXXIV): I’m feeling quite lonely today. Life’s been boring and I have thoughts about them. I wonder what they are doing other then being sick. Oh well, it’s been more then a week and it’s almost like they are never off my mind. I try to push it away but… it doesn’t go away. I have work to do today but I really don’t feel like it. Maybe later I will get my assignments done but today isn’t the day. Woke up feeling a bit gooey and such, woke up at 6 am and went back to sleep at 7 am. Been mindlessly scrolling while keeping check on the clock once in a while. Wanted to update my Carrd a bit but even so I don’t feel like getting it done. I ate 2 crunch bars with 0 regrets… craving lemonade a bit… maybe I should get that instead. Might watch some movies to relieve my boredom. I hope they text me again… even tho I’ve been purposefully texting lesser. I don’t want to get too close to them, don’t want to get into that cycle I’ve gotten myself into for the 3rd time. Hoping that maybe a woman passes by their sight and takes their heart, that will make me happy, right? Who am I kidding, it makes me sad but if it makes them happy I’ll pretend I’m happy. Whatever the universe decides I’ll stick with it, I just hope it’s the right path for the two of us. Oh yeah—I totally forgot! Amazon prime day is coming, should consider getting some items into my cart, yeah—that will do.

౨ৎ 0.2(10.20.MMXXIV): The time is 2:19 pm, I want them to text me, reply to me, respond. I’ve been waiting all day, I won’t add any other text messages. Trying to keep my distance but I’m lonely and I miss them.. I won’t put ‘kinda’ in the front anymore, I need to stop that habit. Comes off as ‘unsure’ and, ‘indecisive’, ends up making me look like an imbecile. I’m such a hypocrite, I need help. Maybe I’ll take to Daniel, he makes me happy, well… temporarily.. I’m still waiting for their text message. Maybe they are asleep— or perhaps doing something with their life with someone else. Maybe they’re talking to someone else that they usually talk to in the mornings… like a certain, well, ‘someone’. They tell me they text a few people a good morning text and I actually want to know who… I won’t pry tho, after all, we are just… ‘friends’. Kinda confusing not going to lie, this situation is surely something. 2:32 pm hits and they still haven’t texted me, maybe they are asleep…. I want to text them ‘I miss you’, but that would mean I broke the promise I made to myself… gotta stop thinking about them.. it’s for the better.. right?

౨ৎ 0.3(10.21.MMXXIV): I finished my English homework the day before. I’m so happy I finally finished, I genuinely thought I was never going to finish it. Last Friday my gut was hurting me and I wasn’t able to type the first 3 class answers on the computer. Glad that’s all over with. I texted ‘them’ today, I’m glad their feeling at least a bit better. I was smiling like an asshole talking to them, that’s enough for today. Gotta text less, don’t want to get too close, I can’t forget that they have their own life together unlike mine. (Exaggeration a bit, not entirely false). Looked over to my right to see Ben tie his hair up into a palm tree, why not do the same? He looked over to his left, another fellow Pom tree, we laughed. How fun.

౨ৎ Deep Thinking 0.3(10.21.MMXXIV): I can’t ask them for reassurance. They’re not mine, they belong to someone else, yet I think about them a lot. They have their own life, their own friends, I can’t control. I can’t control them. I can’t do anything. I think about Daniel instead, they make me happy… temporarily, that is. They’re their own person, I must respect that. I can’t control, I can’t ask, I can’t do *nothing*—or anything, as a matter of fact. Everything I want to do is pointless… we are only just, well… *friends* and *nothing* more. I really need them to find someone else, if they do, I’ll be hurt for the best. Of course I remember old conversations we had that still bother me, but what if their words weren’t *real* and they were saying it to not bother my mind? They say I can’t hurt any of the ‘good’ ones, but I want to. I want to I want to… I Want To. It makes my blood boil, my eyes widen, and I feel like I just went through one of the few symptoms of a literal heart break. I don’t think I will be able to find someone who embodies this type of **behavior** or **feeling** that I have.

౨ৎ Deep Thinking/Rant 0.3(10.21.MMXXIV): I want someone like me. Hell, I would lovingly end myself to find them in the next life. Someone who matches me. No matter who’s good or who’s bad… I want them to kill for me like I would for them. I don’t give a fuck about the happiness of others, I care about them. Why can’t anyone fit in the same intensity that I have? This sounds psychotic, even crazy. I’m aware no human in the right mind would kill anyone to preserve the feelings for their partner, but that’s what my love is. It hurts to know that no one around me understands *me* by this one aspect. I would kill, get myself hurt, and cover myself in blood just for Darling. My heart hurts, my breathing stops, and I’m stuck in a cycle where I want to hurt for Darling. If Darling doesn’t allow me, I’ll be hurt, stone wall, and resent them for it. Why are you stopping me from expressing my unwavering affection to you? I’ll question, I’ll stay silent, let the feelings and emotions bubble inside me until I explode behind closed doors. I won’t find anyone, like me. No one, is LIKE me..

I would like a partner that lacks empathy for others. Think about the direct words they would say to hurt others for ME? That is true love to me. They are hurting someone to preserve my feelings. No one has done that for me before… and I’m desperate to hear that… I hope Darling does that for me in the future and if not.. I’ll go find another Darling who will fulfill the blood lust I have. I don’t care if darling ties me up and plans on keeping me locked up in his basement… all I care is that he’s mine and I’m his.. forever.

౨ৎ Deep Thinking 0.4(10.22.MMXXIV): I saw mister pianist today… he looked nerdy and handsome as ever. The way he walks, his eloquent hand movements, and his gentle talking… it’s so.. elegant. He’s practically perfect. I want to get more information on him. Anything and everything just to feed my hunger. Maybe I should start naming him “mister perfect”. He’s like a master piece crafted with multiple works of literature from the universe. He’s intelligent, quiet, graceful, well-spoken, thoughtful, kind, caring, gentle, affable, and fastidious. He’s so… perfect. My heart rapidly beats when he gently calls my name, he even approaches me carefully like a fox wanting ‘something’. I was reading ‘Lord Of The Flies’ early morning and he came up to ask me if I finished writing the bellwork down. I nod, my heart beating too quickly, I’m afraid he would hear. We make eye contact when he plays the piano, I went to hide myself. It feels illegal to stare at a man this soft and gentle, he’s so… fatherly. I want him to be *mine*. I squeal and scream silently in my head as I watch him freestyle a piece on the piano, classmates screaming with eagerness, like fireworks bursting in the sky. Let’s just say I’m quite frankly enamored by this man and I’ll watch him from afar, secretly, of course. I’m a spectator analyzing his life, his routine, his habits, and how he interacts with the world. He’s my second dear darling now.. maybe I’ll add him to my collection. He fits perfectly into my doll collection, he’s *perfect*… and I mean it. All the other dolls I’ve met in my life don’t match… he does.

౨ৎ Deep Thinking/Rant 0.4(10.22.MMXXIV): gotta keep reminding myself that we are just friends. Gotta remind myself that we are nothing else other then just friends. They don’t belong to me. They are not mine. They are someone’s else’s… not mine. If they were mine they would have saved themselves for me before. They would have listened before by their family(or someone), valued it, and believed it. Such shame that they did not. I’m disgusted by them a lot, the ROCD hits in out of nowhere and I’m back to square 1. They said I was special, somedaysI feel like it, others… not so much. Maybe they are still in love with someone else from there past. How could I ever think I was special to them? They even *admit* to it, yet I don’t believe it. They spend such intimate times with people in the past, how could I ever come close? I’m not jealous, just disgusted with a feeling of betrayal and sadness. Why am I still holding onto them? Well, they care about me. I don’t think I can live a month without them to be quite frank. Hell, even a week would be too long. Without them I’m at peace, but I also miss them. I try to forget.c try to move on, but my thoughts always roam to them at the end of the night. How could I ever think I was ever special to them when they experienced ‘this’ with someone else before they even met me? I’m naive… to think I was something is truly foolish of me. I should keep my distance from them, find someone else, and make sure I don’t go through the 409th cycle. It’s alright tho, I remind myself many times. It’s okay they been through this and did this and that and what so-…. I only need my body-pillow to be content with life… They are … everyone around me including those I wish were ‘perfect’, are disappointing pieces of shit.

౨ৎ 0.5(10.24.MMXXIV): Watched my dad yell at my grandmother. His voice was loud, his tone was harsh, his posture was stiff, and his energy was negative. It feels like he’s angry at me despite me not doing anything. His voice scares me, loud, heavy, and quick. I hide myself in the study, shutting the glass door quick to muffle the sound. I don’t want to hear it, it scares me, and I’m afraid I’m in trouble. I try to act normal, pretend to at least, around him, whenever, and however. I’m not the problem, I know, and I’m aware. what is the problem… is the voice. I cover my ears a bit to muffle the sounds of angry shouting, I turn on my computer. ‘Shit’ I murmur to myself, the wifi isn’t on, ‘just at the perfect moment’, I said to myself sarcastically, tone lingering a bit with worry. I have physics I need to study, I have a test tomorrow, tho I will say I’m quite unprepared. I lost in jeopardy. Quite disappointed. Not much to say. I think about my father, I gotta be careful around him, I don’t want to annoy him any further. Feels like I always have to wait for him to calm down in order for me to approach him. It makes me remember about the day he told me he ‘didn’t love me’. A memory and moment full of confusion, anger, and sadness.

My father said he only loved me if I did *things* for him. Told me he doesn’t love me like how my mother loves me, says he would only love me if I helped him here and their, and nothing else. I’m basically only loved like this, how lucky of a family Tammy has. A father that’s distant, and a mother that’s high in expectations. I’m truly broken from the inside and out… Typing these out at 10:40 pm hurts, the tears flow down but I’m left with no other expression except *tears* falling down onto my pillow. It’s like I’m 3 people in one. The first person is the one outside, the person that is a high achiever yet afraid of making mistakes. The second person is behind the mask, fragile and afraid of criticism. And the third person, is the one behind the first and the second. It’s nothing, that’s it, just nothing. The first person was developed by mother, second person by father, and third person… underdeveloped, my person, to be exact. My person hasn’t developed… yet who is it? I watch other people out their in life have a sense of purpose, a passion, a dream, a rich in depth persona… and me? Hah, I just take it from others and use it as my own… it’s not that I don’t have a personality, it’s just… it’s somewhere. Perhaps too damaged, too damaged to come out.. or perhaps way too damaged for any help. Oh well, “34/ just hope the universe does something… well… for me..

౨ৎ 0.6(10.25.MMXXIV):

I adore them. I hug my pillow to sleep, and my thoughts drift to them. Our situation might be strange to 99% of people on planet earth, but I can’t resist them.

—————————————————————————————————————————

౨ৎ 0.7(10.28.MMXXIV): Todays been stressful. I feel like my insides are bubbling and I’m on the verge of tipping over. I feel like a disappointment right now, kinda just want to sleep on a cloud and never wake up. Thank god I gotten sweets during dinner, I don’t think I would be able to hold in my anger and stress much longer. Seeing those pastries in the fridge on the perfect day is like a blessing from god. I don’t know what makeup looks good on me, what to do to make my skin look paler, and I don’t even know if my Amazon package is going to arrive before the DAY comes. Geeez, when will I ever have a week I don’t have stress and anxiousness and anxiety?! I don’t even think i can work for anyone at this point because I’m too afraid to make a mistake. I’m clumsy, and I’m like a robot! I don’t even get a clue on when someone tells me what to do by their body movements, it’s like I have some form of bad body articulation. I might as well hope my life expectancy ends right NOW. Reality is wayyy too harsh on me and I don’t think I can handle it at this point. The comfiest and safest place is likely my sheets, yes, my sheets. Theirs not a single day I’m never missing the warmth and fluffiness of my pillows and blankets…

[thewanderingmask]

oh hey is it time to go watch old media until the writer's strike is over

welp here's my list, i highly recommend adding onto it or making your own

sit-coms

Better Off Ted (office comedy about a pretty decent guy who manages the R&D department of your standard big capitalist (evil) company. absurd, sincere, and blessedly not nihilistic.)

Golden Girls (four older women living together. openly touched upon topics like gay people are human beings actually and so are people without houses. and this was in the 80s.)

Murphy Brown (Reporter/news presenter workplace comedy. i like eldin)

WKRP (set in a radio station, this one is a pain to find unedited anywhere because of music licensing nonsense)

Designing Women (i haven't actually watched much of this yet but i heard it's pretty good so i'm listing it here in hopes i'll remember to check it out)

british panel / comedy shows (ok so they're like game shows, except the prizes range from useless to nonexistent, all the contestants are comedians, and nobody really cares that much who wins. ,fair warning though, these are british. so you're just gonna get a certain amount of jokes that are like "yup an old cishet white dude sure did write that")

Would I Lie to You (contestants make ridiculous claims and the opposing team has to guess if it's real or not)

8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown (not "8 out of 10 Cats". not "Countdown". specifically "8 out of 10 cats does countdown". yes this is important)

Taskmaster (five contestants perform a series of increasingly silly tasks to try to score points)

Big Fat Quiz of the Year / Decade (a series of long quiz specials where comedians often fail, intentionally or otherwise, to answer questions)

crime/detective/spy shows (cw copaganda. bc that's the entire genre)

Columbo (did you know it's ALL on the internet archive? for FREE?)

Simon and Simon (private investigators who are also brothers, a bit more on the fun side. pretty good for the 80s, but be warned you're still gonna get some dopey tropes like ableism in certain episodes.)

Rockford Files (ex-convict PI. doesn't like guns, friends with his dad. cynical but can't help helping people most of the time. we love to see it. like the two above, it's older but it holds up)

Brooklyn 99 (much like columbo, everybody already knows this one)

Burn Notice (recent ex-spy stuck in miami tries to get his job back. an unfortunate amount of ogle-y filler shots. I liked the first 4 seasons and low key recommend stopping after it, but everybody's mileage varies.)

and finally, because i know who i a:

cartoons

Motorcity (what if the only answer to an oppressive conformist society was UNDERGROUND TEENS WITH CARS and it looked AMAZING and it was KILLED AFTER 20 EPISODES BECAUSE THERE IS NO GOD)

Storm Hawks (what if the only answer to a returning evil empire was SKY TEENS WITH AIRPLANE MOTORCYCLES, side note this is like the only time i've ever seen stylized 3D animation in a way that just looks? good?? i would love to see more stuff try this kind of direction instead of aiming for anime or realism)

Generator Rex (a teen with TRANSFORMING MUTANT MACHINE POWERS fights alongside a kinda sus organization to try to save others who have transformed into dangerous mutants. i haven't finished this one and im not a fan of the monkey character but dam this show kinda slaps)

Teen Titans (TEEN SUPERHEROES. i have a soft spot for this show. it was my first superhero show as a kid and still mostly holds up as good fun)

Spectacular Spider-Man (spider-man has a lotta cartoons by now but this is up there near the top i feel)

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (it's PRETTY it's CUTE it's FUNNY and only has a few episodes i would outright skip. i stopped enjoying it by the last couple seasons but i still think it's worth a watch if you haven't yet)

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THIS WORLD WATCH THIS SHOW DEAR GODS IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE IT'S SO MUCH FUN AND I LOVE MY IDIOT SONS SO MUCH AND THEN IT PUNCHES YOU RIGHT IN THE EMOTIONS WHEN YOU AREN'T EXPECTING IT-)

and Bluey. watch Bluey.

AIGHT THAT'S IT FOR NOW honestly i could add more to this but my memory ain't that good

✨enjoy✨

[vikenticomeshome]

Cyberchase Character Discussion (for your local Cyberchase trivia quiz) - #3: Jackie

Here we go again. I've made this style of post about Inez and Matt, and now it's Jackie's turn.

#3: Jackie

Let's start with her bio from "Meet the Cybersquad". Again, this almost 25 years old now, so who knows how much of it is still canon.

So, we get our introduction to Jackie. She's smart, funny, has a plan, and is over-the-top. Yeah, that's accurate so far.

For some reason, this page was not in her original bio when they released it in 2001. They went back and added this page later in 2002. This is the only bio that I have seen that had content added like this. This page lets us know that her favorite color is yellow, and she loves tofu burgers. I don't know if the show has confirmed that she is a vegetarian or vegan. She is shown to care about animals, so I wouldn't be surprised if she was canonically a vegetarian.

Her favorite book is one that I hadn't heard about until now: "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech. In this story, the 13 year old protagonist, Salamanca (Sal) Hiddle, goes on a cross-country road-trip to visit her mother. There are themes of coming to term with loss and building new relationships. It makes me wonder if, at some point in development, the show-runners might have been interested in giving Jackie a tragic loss similar loss to Sal. I haven't seen the later seasons where they bring in the kid's families, but I don't believe they have gone that route so far.

For her favorite music, we get two bands: Destiny's Child and NSYNC. These are very much a product of the time. Destiny's Child actually disbanded in 2006, as the members went off to do solo work. NSYNC disbanded in 2002, and then reunited in 2023. Well, we know that Jackie loves her R&B and Pop music, so I'm sure she found other bands to follow since then.

Her favorite movie is Shrek, which only came out in 2001. Matt and Inez have definitely sent her all the memes that have come out about that movie since then. Her pet peeves are bugs and anything messy. Yeah, that still tracks. She has a "Wheaton Terrier" named Brandy. I don't know if the spelling has changed over the years, or if they just made a spelling mistake in her bio, but I have only seen it spelled as "Wheaten".

Jackie also gets a bio from Nelvana, which is pretty cool. I've only been able to find surviving archives of bios for her and Matt. They have sections for Inez, Dr. Marbles, Motherboard, The Hacker, Buzz, and Delete. However, all of those are left empty in the surviving archives of the pages. I don't know if bios were completed for those other characters.

We get emphasis on the point of Jackie being organized. We also get more insight into how she solves problems. She uses diagrams, charts, and graphs among other things. She also touched on her tendency to use initials as shorthand for things. I remember the Blue Bunny Place (B.B.P) from "Of All The Luck". Was she hip in 2002? Is she still hip now? I'm not qualified to say.

We also get an introduction to Jackie through the official prequel web comic, "How It All Started: Episode 3". We see Jackie making her own skirt out of strips of fabric. I assume it is for cheer-leading.

Narration: Meanwhile, on Earth, three kids who don't know each other are about to have the adventure of their lives.

Jackie: I gotta organize this stuff

Narration: meet Jackie, who has her own sense of style...

Narration: And her own way of doing things!

Here's Jackie's Official Cyberchase Trading Card.

When they picked her favorite line as "Make room! I gotta pace!", they probably picked her most iconic line. She loves video games, piano, and foreign languages, which is great. We do get to see her play an unnamed videogame during Season 1 Episode 25 "A Battle of Equals". The hero "San Man" is trying to save the environment by stopping the villains that are trying to pollute it. One villain is called Johnny Grime. There are number riddles, and they are the same sort of riddles that the kids solve during the episode.

I don't think we ever see her playing piano or speaking a second language on the show. Quick question: What are those shoes that she wears? Inez has a pair or blue boots. Matt has a pair of red and white sneakers. Jackie's shoes are a little harder to place. They are purple, and they have considerable heels. Were these meant to be high-tops? I don't know that I've seen high-tops with heels in that size before.

The big thing that people remember Jackie for are her dramatic outbursts. And her most iconic one is probably from Season 3 Episode 4 "A Piece of the Action". You can tell that someone in the animation department had fun with this one.

Here's a transcript.

Jackie: Great! Now we'll never get into Hacker's control center. And if we can't get in there we can't stop Hacker. And if we can't stop Hacker, he'll erase Motherboard's memory with the magnetite! Cyberspace is doomed! Doomed I tell you! Doo-hoo-hoo-hoomed!

Matt: And the award for best dramatic outburst of today goes to Jackie!

Jackie: Matt!

What else can I say about Jackie. Well, she has an amazing tolerance for cold weather. Even in Arctic Cybersites, she still made do with the same short skirt.

Anyway, here's the prototype for Jackie. She had a completely different hairstyle and outfit. She was also called Julie. Again, I consider her current design an upgrade from the prototype.

And here's the Who's Who document on her.

We get more discussion on Jackie being a gymnast and artist. She loves Instant Messaging. I guess that would have been AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) at the time.