#it evolved into Tropes-verse

[voxofthevoid]

Random, what are your top favorite fics that you've written (feel free how much that you want to list)? Why they're special to you? Is there a specific inspiration when you wrote them?

Oh, this is gonna be dominated by JJK 😂. I'm always more aware, let's say, of things I wrote more recently. On top of that, with JJK fics, I've tried new things and challenged myself (successfully) a lot more than I have with my previous fandoms.

I've picked 7: five from JJK, plus one each from Bleach and MCU.

1. (let me be clear) every version of the story ends with you being slaughtered

JJK, goyuu: When told to choose his hell, Itadori Yuuji picks the easier one—a clean death, then and there. He couldn’t have known that it was never really a choice. Or, Gojou Satoru kidnaps a teenager, supposedly for his own good.

This is the work I'm most proud of among all my stories, and I'm sure that'd be the case even without recency bias. Not only is it the first canon rewrite I completed, it's also a story that tackles a lot of themes and tropes I find highly compelling, in general and with regard to JJK in particular. Plotting and executing it was a fun challenge; I worked with an extensive outline, but the plot and characters evolved significantly during the writing process. It was fun from the beginning to the end (there's a reason I finished this in less than two months), and the final result is something I'm immensely satisfied with.

2. bloodstains on the collar means just don't ask

JJK, sukuita and goyuu: Yuuji has a type. Unfortunately, his uncle and his teacher embody that type.

This was my first no-powers AU for JJK, and I ended up liking it way more than I expected. Transposing Yuuji, Gojou, and Sukuna to a mundane setting while keeping their relationships twisted really helped me get a deeper and better understanding of their characters and relationships. In particular, I'm now far more comfortable writing sukuita and utterly in love with their uncle/nephew dynamic. I write or intend to write plenty of incest for JJK, but most of those didn't really delve into the implications of the blood relation (due to canon circumstances), but this story is explicitly and excruciatingly clear on how Sukuna's known and (in his own fucked-up way) cared for Yuuji since he was an infant. It's a flavor I hadn't tackled before but enjoyed immensely.

3. little lamb to the slaughter

JJK, goyuu: Gojou offers to blow Yuuji as part of his training; it escalates from there.

It's rare that I fill in canon missing moments like this, but I just couldn't resist the basement era. I'm so fond and proud of this because this is the fic that cemented my grasp on Yuuji's character, in addition to helping me flesh out Gojou and Yuuji's canon dynamic. Hilariously, back when I came up with this, I figured this would be my most imbalanced, unhealthy dynamic for JJK/goyuu, but not only did this fic turn out pretty wholesome (...aside from the statutory rape aspect that goes ignored in-verse), but the bulk of my subsequent ideas for this ship makes this fic look like puppies and unicorns in comparison. I guess that impression came because it'd been quite a while since I tackled adult/minor, so it felt taboo in a way I took time to adjust to—now I thrive here.

4. the brute fact of flesh awaiting our teeth

JJK, fem!goyuu: Satoru embarks on a quest to seduce her hot giant of a teacher and continuously bites off more than she can chew.

I started this because I wanted to write filthy femlash porn, which I absolutely did do and enjoy immensely, but the reason this ended up so high on my list of favorite children fics is because exploring the role reversal dynamic and the genderbending one in tandem helped me better flesh out adult!Yuuji, especially one that lived with Sukuna for years and eventually subsumed him (her, in this case), and get a good handle on how I want to work in the gender changes while retaining their canon traits. I've tried at my hand both dynamics before, separately, but the length and depth of this fic solidified both. Also, I go wild for tits and pussy, and it shows.

5. i could keep your bed warm, otherwise i'm useless

JJK, goyuu and sukuita: Sukuna in Megumi’s body rapes Yuuji to break Megumi’s spirit, and Gojou rescues him but isn’t very sane afterward.

This is going to sound demented, but I like this one so much because it has the most viscerally uncomfortable rape scene I've ever written. It's not the sukuita; that's straightforward violent rape. But the goyuu that follows features a specific flavor of intimate violence framed as tenderness: someone who cares about you pushing your boundaries and actively retraumatizing you—not in spite of the love or even from a lack of love but because of the love.

6. and you cried, love's like watching someone die

Bleach, grimmichi: Repeat reincarnation cycle AU where Ichigo never remembers and Grimmjow never forgets.

This is a total angst train that was something of an ambitious project, in terms of technique, characterization and the general mood I wanted to evoke. Judging by my post-fic analysis and my readers' reactions, I succeeded. Writing such a heavy emotional story from Grimmjow's PoV wasn't easy, and the non-linear sequence was a bitch to sort out, but I'm very happy with how it turned out.

7. here is the repeated image of the lover destroyed

MCU, stucky: Steve's helpless not to love his ghosts.

Memory, identity, and associated manifestations of love and grief are themes that have haunted me for years now, including in the JJK fandom, but these two stories are my best takes on it, in my view. Said themes are already intrinsically present in Steve and Bucky's relationship, and this series recasts their past and their present to prod at questions of how much of us is our memories and experiences and how much is something there in core—a soul, so to speak. This is a fundamentally romantic take on the topic, so the outcome is obvious, but I'd like to say the answers are a little complicated.

[dinodontwait]

Epistles of Love(Preview/Teaser)

Summary: In a charming and new suburb, y/n stumbles upon cryptic letters from Woozi, unveiling a tale of love and heartbreak. As the past unfolds through Woozi's words, will y/n risk her heart to uncover the secrets hidden within each carefully penned letter?

Genre: Romance, Mystery, Suspense, and Contemporary Fiction.

Trope: Slow-Burn, Strangers-to-lovers?

Main Characters: afab!y/n , Woozi, Amour( real names will be revealed later)

Supporting Characters: Jeonghan, Mingyu, Seokmin, Myungho, Suengkwan and Soonyoung(This list might change as the story progresses)

Word Count: 1.3k

Release Date: 28th February

A/N:

Thank you all for your incredible enthusiasm and support! Seeing the strong response to the poll, I couldn't wait to share a sneak peek of what's in store for this story. Brace yourselves for a thrilling ride as I embark on this writing journey. Currently, I've crafted the first part, and I've sprinkled some teasers within this preview.

I'm envisioning this fic to unfold as a mini-series, spanning about 2-3 parts. However, keep in mind that I've only completed part 1, and there might be room for expansion as fresh ideas come my way. My target word count for the entire fic is around 30k, but who knows – that could evolve with the narrative.

As I dive into the world of writing, I'm aware that there might be a few bumps along the way. If you spot any mistakes or have suggestions, please feel free to let me know. I'm still learning and appreciate your input!

Thank you for joining me on this writing adventure. Your encouragement means the world to me! 🌟❤️

Holding the old-fashioned envelope in her hands, y/n hesitated. The letter inside seemed personal, like a peek into someone's private thoughts. She pondered whether to read it or not, feeling a mix of curiosity and respect for the past occupant's privacy.

The vintage style of the envelope, with its intentional old-timey vibe, hinted at a story waiting to be told. The decision to open it felt like standing on the edge of someone else's feelings and memories. The inked words on the letter, still folded, held the potential to reveal a part of someone's life not meant for casual eyes.

The mystery and curiosity won over her reservations. With a quiet determination, y/n decided to unfold the letter, ready to explore the hidden stories and emotions that the pages might unfold. The choice to step into this unknown space felt like opening a door to someone else's past, and she took that step with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.

Dear Amour,

In the silent embrace of this letter, the ink traces the echoes of a day that etched itself into the fabric of my existence.

The day unfolded like a poem, a delicate dance of moments that wove themselves into the very essence of my being. It was as if each passing second became a verse in the story of a land parched for the sweet touch of rain. The air, thick with anticipation, carried me toward a nearby cafe—an enclave of serenity that stood as a refuge from the monotony of the ordinary, a sanctuary where possibilities unfurled like petals in the gentle breeze.

Since the tapestry of my memories began, I've been the silent observer, finding solace in the quiet corners of my home. The contours of my existence were shaped by the solitude I sought, a realm where the whispers of my thoughts resonated in the stillness. Yet, on that fateful day, a gentle pull, like the invisible hands of fate, tugged at the strings of my solitude. It was an urging, a call to step into the unexplored territory of the cafe—a space that held the promise of encounters yet to unfold.

The very decision to step into that cafe marked a departure from the familiar script of my life. The door swung open, not merely to a physical space, but to the uncharted landscapes of possibility. With each step, I traversed the threshold of routine, embracing the unknown with a heart open to the serendipitous wonders that awaited within the walls of that sanctuary.

The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans greeted me, weaving a sensory tapestry that spoke of warmth and familiarity. It was then that I saw her—the girl who, unbeknownst to her, would redefine the contours of my existence. She stood there, a living canvas painted by the hands of fate, the light wind playing a delicate symphony with the strands of her hair.

Her presence seemed like a stroke of destiny, a chapter written in the celestial script of our intertwined stories. As our eyes met, time suspended itself, and the ordinary boundaries of reality blurred. It was a moment that transcended the mundane, as if the universe conspired to orchestrate a connection, an unspoken agreement unfolding in the silent language of glances and smiles.

Her eyes, pools of warmth and mystery, held secrets and stories yet to be told. They mirrored the reflection of a kindred spirit, resonating with a depth that transcended the superficial. It was in that gaze that I felt the tendrils of an invisible thread weaving itself between our souls, binding us in a silent understanding that surpassed the limitations of spoken words.

In the symphony of that moment, the cafe transformed into a sacred space, a stage where our destinies briefly intersected. The ordinary chatter of patrons faded into background noise, leaving only the echo of our shared gaze. And in that silent exchange, a connection was forged, setting in motion a series of events that would shape the course of our intertwined narratives.

The girl I saw was you, and you had me the moment you looked at me. Your gaze became the catalyst for a myriad of emotions, unraveling a story written in the language of fate and woven into the very fabric of our shared existence.

Each recollection of that encounter is like a cherished melody, a timeless tune that plays on a loop in the quiet chambers of my thoughts. The symphony of that moment, the laughter echoing in the cafe, the delicate clink of coffee cups, all compose a melodic ode to the serendipity that unfolded that day. It's a melody that resonates through the corridors of my mind, an everlasting refrain of a connection that defies the constraints of time.

In these moments of reflection, the word "Amour" echoes through my mind, a gentle whisper that transcends the ordinary definitions of fate. It's more than a term; it's a name, a label that carries the weight of our shared connection. The mere utterance of it conjures images of you—the girl who became the focal point of a destiny written in invisible ink.

So, let this letter be a testament to the serendipity that brought us together—the day the drought of my soul quenches its thirst with the rain of your presence. Every word etched on this paper is a silent acknowledgment of the profound impact you've had on the rhythm of my life.

In the quiet solitude of my room, as I pen down these words, I find myself grappling with the uncertainty that shrouds our future. This letter, crafted with the ink of genuine emotions, might never reach your hands. I am left to wonder if our paths will ever cross again, if the serendipity that united us will weave its magic once more.

Yet, even in the face of this uncertainty, I write with a glimmer of hope—a hope that transcends the boundaries of time and distance. This letter becomes a vessel, carrying not only my sentiments but also the silent yearning to see you again. And even if this letter remains unsent, floating in the sea of unsent letters, it stands as a testament to the sincerity of my emotions and the silent hope that someday, our stories will intersect again.

Yours in reminiscence,

Woozi

The words lingered in the air as y/n absorbed the emotions woven into each sentence. The letter had painted a picture of a connection that transcended time and space. The vintage charm of the envelope seemed to have carried not just a message from the past but a piece of a love story waiting to be unfolded.

As she set the letter aside, the room felt different, as if the walls whispered secrets that begged to be heard. It felt like the quiet town held more stories than she had initially imagined, and within its embrace, she found herself entangled in the enigmatic tale of Woozi and Amour. She hoped to find more, but the letter just ends, and she keeps thinking about it. The night enveloped the town in its quiet embrace, and y/n found herself entangled in the web of possibilities. The journey into the unknown had just begun, and the quiet town, with its cobblestone streets and whispered rumors, held the key to a myriad of untold narratives.

With a heart brimming with curiosity, she hoped to uncover the layers of mystery that clung to the very fabric of her surroundings. But for now, the letter remained a silent witness to the unexplored depths of the town's history. Its words, though poignant and evocative, were a mere prologue to the stories that awaited her. As she drifted into contemplation, the vintage envelope and its contents became a beacon, guiding her into a world where love and suspense danced in tandem, inviting her to be a part of a narrative that defied the boundaries of time.

[queerespresso]

🐶 Kant, I’m curious how his character will evolve. Love his big puppy energy

Kant does not remind me of Yok or Sand at all. While Yok was flirtatious, he leaned more into his feminine energy and deeply artistic side. While Sand was an indie music lover with a slight sad boy vibe.

Kant’s vibes are totally different for me. He’s incredibly confident. Like truly confident. I haven’t seen too much of his submissiveness yet but I think he will not be ashamed of it in the slightest. He likes what he likes and isn’t afraid to say that and go for it. When Bison kind of rejected him for his pick up lines, he swiftly switched gears and approached the communication differently. These traits are true confidence to me.

He almost has a f*ck boy energy to him. His desire to literally f*ck around (respect), be free without relationship ties, okay with being unaware of his ONS name, along with using a cache of pick up lines lead me here. I normally don’t get attached to f*ck boy/girl characters (nothing wrong with them just not a magnet for me). But Kant’s down bad, romantic mushy traits screams golden retriever which balances out the suaveness and swift pick up lines. That starry eyed, goofy smile is so so endearing. He 1000% has lost the plot and forgot his mission at times and that had me smiling all goofy with him. I think

his love for Bison will surprise him, maybe even scare him, but ultimately be something he craves. With Bison showing the sides of him that take care of Kant (bringing him food and the bedroom so far) I think Kant will feel safe (hah) and fall deeper.

Yes he is a tattoo artist and I do feel that art element but I feel he partially took up the trade as a desire to share and connect with people more than it was strictly to make art. I also think there were financial reasons behind it. The car theft could have been for adrenaline or the love of certain cars but it partially feels financially motivated to me as well. He seems very family oriented with holding onto his Dad’s car and being reluctant to part with it. He also is loyal and caring for his younger brother. To the extent he’ll take on jobs and clear his name for the sake of both of their futures.

My first impression was he took on the job to clear his criminal record. That’s not how I perceived that interaction though. He was threatened. There was no option other than gaining a criminal record back which isn’t really an option considering his circumstances. So knowing he’s being forced to do this, I hope that is explained well to Bison later. If I was Bison, and I found out that my bf was threatened into this, I’d be going after the cop. Miscommunication tropes stress me out so I see that coming.

♨️💭 I don’t know the full dynamic yet (sub/brat/dom/top/bottom/verse) so can’t talk too much on intimacy. But the first go around Kant was his confident self and encouraged Bison to join him. It felt like a power play. He had no qualms with Bison over him which feels like foreshadowing. Kant certainly likes breasts/chests and sucking 😂. I feel like his submission will come from that “I have to be the mature one in charge of every aspect of my life and want to give up control sometimes” place. Many with tattoos ( ✋ ) know that some get enjoyment out of the pain so there’s that as well. It takes a lot of trust to hand over your well being to a dominant so this will definitely potentially deepen Kant and Bison’s bond.

Caveat, I have large piece tattoos including a sleeve but don’t enjoy that specific pain myself so I know not everyone does. But I do have aesthetic desires, so I can see that being a motivator behind his tattoos as well. I feel like Kant is very aesthetically driven with his house, style, car and luxurious pieces. Even his initial interest with Bison was largely based on appearance…maybe some vibes too but it seemed like he was focused on what he saw and his comments followed suit. The man has taste ✨

[topgunreacts]

for the omegaverse au, who is the alpha and who is the omega?

Explain my non-standard omegaverse system, thereby clarifying important themes and plot points within my story?? Don’t mind if I do!!!!!

I was going to do this anyway at some point because I know a lot of people avoid A/B/O due to some widely used tropes. If you (whoever reading this) are potentially interested in my story but hesitant due to past omegaverse experiences, this may help you make a final decision. Here’s a quick rundown of my treatment of common tropes in list form, and THEN I will answer your very simple question.

When in heat, do male omegas feel an unstoppable, uncontrollable horniness that overpowers any reluctance to have sex?

Not in my omegaverse. Dubcon winds up in a lot of omegaverse story tags because of this trope. But in my version of A/B/O, a male omega’s heat symptoms can look like any number of things. Horniness can be a symptom, but it isn’t for everyone. And even when it is, it presents itself like more of an itch that wants to be scratched. If a male omega in heat is horny but isn’t around someone he wants to fuck, then he will not fuck. This will cause him to feel irritated, though. If sex is among his body’s primary ways to feel safe during a heat and accrue the most biological resources, he may go on to have a really bad time psychologically. But at no point will he be trying to have sex he doesn’t want to have.

Mpreg?

Not in my omegaverse. I have no beef with it, it just doesn’t play a role in my stories. However, I would like to point out that trans, intersex, asexual, and other flavors of queer people exist within my universe. So a male person WITH a uterus could get pregnant if they were able to.

When alphas are in rut, do they possess an uncontrollable urge to mate with someone in heat?

No, and I call that out explicitly in Marrying the Hangman as a line alphas use in court to try and get out of assault charges. Do bigoted in-universe people actually believe this happens? Yes. Does it actually happen? No.

Are alpha and omega designations synonymous with ‘top’ and ‘bottom,’ ‘dom’ and ‘sub,’ respectively?

Absolutely not! Anyone could be any combination of these things, including vers/switch. A male omega in heat who experiences horniness might personally scratch that itch by way of topping in a more assertive manner, for example. I refer to being alpha/beta/omega as a biological sex, not a gender.

The biggest reason why I chose to piggyback this info on that ask submission is because the answer to the question of who is alpha and who is omega is loaded with assumptions due to the nature of commonly seen tropes. So when I say

Maverick is the alpha and Ice is the omega

that does not impact their characterization in the ways you [general You] might think. I saw a post a while ago scoffing at the idea of Iceman being an omega, and that is almost certainly because ‘male omega’ generally amounts to the following overpacked suitcase of assumptions: passive, helpless, sex-obsessed, ditzy. None of those things apply to Ice. While we’re here, none of those traits are inherently Bad, either. It is our treatment of our assumptions and not merely the assumptions themselves that speak to our biases. They just don’t apply to MY story. Ice IS omega. He’s also still Ice.

The big question, then:

So what is the purpose of heating and rutting?

In my verse, each of the six ‘standard issue’ biological sexes come with their own niche to fill. It’s not just about steamy smut. There are Reasons, god help me, why humans evolved four distinct hormonal/pheromonal types. And sex makes up but one piece of a massive evolutionary tapestry.

We humans are strongest in groups, yes? We form communities. We specialize so that no one has to do everything. We protect our own. My omegaverse reflects that. Heats and ruts, as a result, are all about creating and maintaining those social bonds. And sometimes, that involves sex.

For plot purposes, I focus the most on male alphas and male omegas, but here is a rundown of all six sexes.

Typing Characteristics

Male Omegas

0.001% of male population

In-universe stereotypes that are based on bias, not fact: ditzy, impulsive, irresponsible, unintelligent, weak-willed, slutty, high-strung

Average sperm count

Produce slick

Throw out a LOT of Find Me pheromones during a heat—sex was one of evolution’s many great ideas on how to attract and subsequently recruit nearby alphas/betas as protection and (ideally) long term partners.

Evolved to be community leaders. Their hormones are very chatty, always reaching out pheromonally to make connections with other types. The thing that makes them unique is their ability to synthesize pheromonal bonds between individual people. In the same way periods will sync up among people in proximity who have them, a male omega’s pheromones get all of their People on the same heat/rut schedule to maximize group power and efficiency. When they heat, that ability becomes especially strong.

A male omega’s heat is driven by an external goal. Once a month, their bodies release a stockpile of hormones that compel them to identify and carry out ‘missions’ that strengthen their community. They take more risks (with success) during this time, relying on their sharp senses and protectors to balance out any dangers. [see notes for more clarification]

Their biologically-driven goal is to become the center of a community that helps nurture and protect their unique gift. Because they are so singularly focused on their goal during a heat, they need protection. Alphas and betas offer them that protection.

Heats can go ‘bad’ for a number of reasons. The two main triggers for heat sickness (toxic hormone accumulation) are (1) failing to have their personal heat care requirements met and (2) catastrophically failing to achieve their goal.

Male Alphas

30% of male population

In-universe stereotypes that are based on bias, not fact: sexually aggressive, domineering, always horny, can’t think too horny!

Higher than average sperm count

Somewhat more likely to produce more male alpha children

Strong instinct to provide for and protect their People

American taboo: male alphas don’t bottom. It just isn’t done! That’s for wimmin and gays [male omegas]

Have the ability to knot during a rut

Four types of ruts!

Unbonded annual rut: without the influence of pharmaceuticals, this will happen every year for a male that is not part of a stable community, ideally one with a male omega at the center. For a period of about a week, his senses will magnify, especially his sense of smell, and he will feel an extremely powerful urge to roam. This is Finding Mode. He wants to find a community to protect and nurture.

Bonded annual rut: without the influence of pharmaceuticals, this will happen every year for a male that IS part of a stable community. For a period of about a week, his body will completely flush his alpha hormones, effectively hitting a reset button. During this time, it is critical that his community support him; he will feel vulnerable, his protective urges will magnify beyond what is sensible, and that can turn into paranoia and even psychosis at the extreme end. Make him a pillow fort or something and he should be fine.

Unbonded pseudorut: the US military gives alphas pills to trigger these for combat. This version of the pseudorut is a dumbed down version of a bonded male’s heightened sensory period with feelings of purpose. The military becomes a stand-in for a true community leader, and the male alphas will become more aggressive and intent on following orders.

Bonded pseudorut: these are naturally triggered in an alpha male’s body every time he is around a male or female omega he is bonded to, who is also in heat. His senses heighten, and he becomes completely focused on seeing to his community leader’s needs, whether that means following them into combat as their wingman or getting them more snacks from the fridge.

The other groups see less screen time, so I will shorten their descriptions.

Female Alphas

In-universe stereotypes that are based on bias, not fact: basically every sexist thing that haunts corporate women—bossy, mean, not a team player, etc

15% of female population

Average fertility, slightly more likely to produce more alphas both male and female

Experience ruts functionally identical to those experienced by male alphas

Charlie is an alpha female in this story. She is also an ace lesbian.

Female Omegas

In-universe stereotypes that are based on bias, not fact: stupid, obsessed with babies, always want sex

High fertility rates

15% of female population

During a heat, they become even more fertile. Their bodies throw out copious amounts of protect-me, find-me pheromones. They will feel varying levels of desire to reproduce, and that desire can manifest in various ways. It is a spectrum. Some of them will conform to the stereotypical Horny Time model, while others may not care about sex itself so much as the mechanical act of fertilizing their eggs. Still others may feel little to no sex drive, but they are a minority.

Likelihood for twins, triplets, etc very high

Natural partners for male omegas in terms of community leadership. Working together, they both gain full benefits of being surrounded by dedicated protectors. Taboo in some cultures for them to be sexual partners as well.

Female and Male Betas

In-universe stereotypes that are based on bias, not fact: boring, dispassionate, genetically useless, The Other Guys, mediators

The stabilizing factor of every chemically/hormonally bonded community. They keep the balance when they’re bonded to a group by naturally assisting with pheromonal equilibrium.

Their bodies can produce rutting or heating chemicals that don’t trigger their own ruts or heats but instead “keep the peace” in terms of making sure the core team’s train doesn’t go flying off the tracks

Will play more of a role in the sequel

Other Notes

The term “heat” is used for both omega males and females due to various scientific misunderstandings that happened across many cultures many hundreds of years ago. Throughout history there have been periods of activism where researchers advocate for a more nuanced naming system, but how successful those efforts were are highly dependent on culture. American culture likes its three types, six sexes model. Makes bigotry so much easier! You fit in this box, you act this way. Step outside of it and you will be punished. The ‘It’s Complicated’ models are the ideal.

But I said earlier there are four true hormonal types, not three, and this is how: because male and female omega heats are based on entirely different hormones and evolutionary purposes, they really should not be classified together at all. The four “true” types are: male omega, female omega, alpha, and beta.

On the subject of male omegas’ heat missions: those come in various forms, and various levels of intensity. It all comes down to what the individual male omega wants to do (or is told to want to do). That could look like any number of things: a big hunt or agricultural project, leading a military unit, or starting a new company initiative. It could also look like one male omega, one female omega, three alphas, and three betas (they’re using the trunk obvs) driving to a paintball place once a month to annihilate everyone present and then leave. It’s not all about blood and sex and drama. A group of teenagers who live in a culture that eschews pharmaceutical hormone control could form a hormonal bond around a male omega that is really into skateboarding, and they all come together to built a non OSHA compliant skate park in someone’s backyard. Groups can also shift in membership over time, too. Six months later and the group’s membership and ‘missions’ could look totally different.

Okay I’m done. For now.

[sitp-recs]

Happy happy birthday darling @wolfpants! I’m so excited to be finally doing a reclist with my Wolf faves. I still remember the sense of awe I felt reading the magnificent Hollow (my very first Remus/Draco, so brilliant and poignant it got me immediately sold on the ship and also obsessed with that verse). Whether it’s Drarry or rare pair goodness, Wolf always delivers top notch cottagecore porn romance with gorgeous settings, captivating characters and a perfect mix of angst, fluff and smut, what else could we ask for? I’ve had so much fun selecting my own favorites for this list. The Drarry section might look small but that’s because I wanted to give a massive shoutout to Wolf’s delicious catalogue of rare pair shorts, which seems to be carefully crafted to meet my personal tastes (you’ll find that I got a soft spot for age gap and Ron thirst but I’ve tried to include a bit of everything and there are quite a few treats from Wolf’s stellar Kinkuary23 collection 🔥).

Dear Wolf, thank you for sharing so many great stories with us. We’re so lucky to have you on this fandom! It’s been amazing to follow your work as you evolve as a writer and explore my most beloved characters and tropes in your unique, creative, fun and self-indulgent way. I hope you’ve had a lovely day and ami excited to see what this new year brings you next! 🎉💜

🐺 Drarry:

Edges (E, 1.5k)

Draco explores the limits of Harry's edges. Harry lets him.

The Farther I Fall, I'm Beside You (E, 2.3k)

What happens when you accidentally kill your friend during a birthday prank gone wrong? You ask your Master of Death boyfriend for help, of course. Check out @getawayfox’s gorgeous art here.

The Holly and the Ivy (E, 4.6k)

This year at the Annual Ministry Yule Auction, Magpies Seeker Draco Malfoy's time is up for sale. When Harry places the winning bid, will their contracturally-binding weekend together heal old wounds, or worsen them?

Look For Me In The Sun (M, 9k)

Harry and Draco are on the run in America after a mysterious string of werewolf-like attacks in the Muggle community causes the Ministry to impose new and harsh anti-werewolf legislation. Giant trees, crashing waves, seedy motel rooms, and the long and winding coastal road awaits them, but will they ever be able to go back home?

Under Giant Mountains (E, 33k)

Harry doesn't know where he's going. Everyone else has their life paths figured out; he doesn't even know where his map is. Who'd have thought Draco Malfoy bathing in a Norwegian forest would be the guidepost Harry needed?

Pages of You (E, 101k)

Summer, 1980. Harry is floating between university and becoming a Real Certified Adult. He's not ready. He really isn't. In a desperate attempt to have the Best Last Summer ever, he takes a casual job at his godfather's bookshop in London, starts an illicit pen pal affair with a wordy posh boy that he's catching feelings for, all while dealing with the son of Sirius's business rival, one Draco Malfoy, insufferable know-it-all extraordinaire. Check out @homoaesthetics ‘s fabulous rec post for this fic here.

👖 Rare pairs:

The Classics (E, 1.1k) - Draco/Sirius

Sirius gets more than he bargained for when he heads to bed after a long day and night in Grimmauld Place.

Viridian (E, 1.7k) - Draco/Blaise, implies future Harry/Draco/Blaise

There’s just something about Draco. Blaise can’t quite put his finger on it, but it’s—an impulse. To poke, to prod, to pick his delicate wings off. To teach him some humility.

Love is a Verb (E, 1.7k) - Harry/Teddy

These days, Teddy loves and hates being alone with Harry. He craves it, and he dreads it, and he thinks Harry’s starting to notice. He wants him to notice.

Hymn to Apollo (E, 2k) - Teddy/Scorpius

It's the night of Harry and Draco's wedding, and Teddy learns Scorpius has an enormous crush on him.

Seat You Higher than the Stars (E, 2k) - Rarry

When Harry tells Ron he's ready to reveal their relationship to their friends, he lets out another confession: that he wants to be completely vulnerable in bed.

Yours & Mine (E, 2.3k) - Dron

Just another Sunday lunch at The Burrow. Featuring French dessert, fond Molly Weasley, flirty Drarry, and Ron's incredulousness.

Like A Brother Would (E, 5k) - Rarry

Ron wants to tell him, again, that he’s not focused, that he’s not planning this whole thing through properly, that he keeps missing things. That they need more structure, that he wouldn’t have lost his temper like he had if only they had the safety of a strategy.

A Bigger Splash (E, 7k) - Dralbus

It's his dad's 45th birthday in rural Sicily, and all Albus wants is to be seen by Draco Malfoy.

The Hollow (E, 12k) - Remus/Draco

They both drink, and Remus wonders how much longer he can stay here. His eyes are already moving around slowly, looking for an escape. Anything to get away from the eerily familiar slope of Draco’s cheekbones, from the richness of the voice that sounds so much like the ghost inside his own head.

Trillium (E, 13k) - Dronarry

Harry and Draco are shagging. Ron’s got a hunch, and the only way to find out is to volunteer his services alongside Harry’s in the Big Malfoy Manor Cleanup of 2010. What could possibly go wrong?

Precious Metal (E, 28k) - Dronarry

Precious metal awaits in an abandoned, cursed cottage on the Isle of Jura. Ron’s illegal hunting ring is on it, but disaster strikes when he runs into a jumpy and suspicious Draco Malfoy, camped out where the treasure is hidden. What happens when they accidentally unleash a bond curse when both of them harbour feelings for the same man?

Tiny Home (E, 30k) - Dronarry

Harry and Ron left the Aurors years ago to travel the world and make up for lost time. When they finally decide to settle roots back in England, together, building a tiny home in the Lake District by hand seems like the perfect plan. What they don't realise is that Draco Malfoy already lives on the plot of land that they choose to build on. Check out @slytherco’s scorching art for this fic here.

[mayalaen]

Instead of losing touch with friends and fandom people every time a TV series ends, I decided to start a sever that isn't fandom specific and instead is a giant playground of things!

The name fEight Club is a play on words (because I'm me) and works on a few levels (like me 😏).

Pronounced Fight Club (which is hilarious and sounds like a dudebro hangout, c'mon!), but it's actually a reference to the Windows F8 key.

Geek mode activated! Immediately after Windows starts, pressing the F8 key allows you to boot the computer in safe mode.

So fEight Club is a safe space to hang out and enjoy all the things with no gatekeeping allowed, structured areas so you can see/not see what you want, maybekindasorta early screenings on movies and other content because Maya is a geek and can do things 🦜

Some of the categories:

sfw chat, dirtychat, roleplay, and other general channels

fandom specific areas with actor/actress, trope, fanfic/fanart stuff

D/s World for discipline related stuff and bot-assisted BDSM roleplay with tons of fun features

a hobbies section with a wide range of channels from crafts to food to events

Maya's sandbox with tons of info about the 'verses I've written with an open invitation to play in my sandbox

rl pr0n vids and gifs in an age-restricted area

screening rooms for watching movies & TV shows via streaming or compressed video uploads with subtitles

Not all areas have content yet, but the server will evolve to fit how everyone uses it.

Please Note: Heavy kink and roleplay areas are restricted to only those members I know are over 18 for the mental health and safety of everyone, but the rest of the server is fully open.

[maxemilianverstappen]

I’m tired of people being purposely obnoxious about the whole lestappen vs br*cedes thing. First of all, no one compares them or it’s like one person said something and then br*cedes lunatic army be like “omg how you dare??????? They blah blah blah etc etc etc” and secondly, I’m not even ship lestappen that much anymore(I’m barely in fandom tho) but the whole hate toward that ship just bc it’s the most popular outside of F1 is so strange. “Why they so popular, they doesn’t even have lore?lestappies are delusional”. Well, you’re wrong and since when ship needs a lore to be popular? They are two hot guys(with two popular yet different types of beauty) and ship hits basically every popular trope on fanfiction. No wonder people want to smash them like a dolls and make them kiss 🤭

The thing is, Lestappen HAS lore. They have been in each other's orbit since they started karting. They raced each other since they were little kids. True, they weren't acquaintances or friends. But they were both sorely aware of the other's presence, because how can you not be aware of your your biggest rival who wins if you don't win?

I am pretty sure people around them used to talk about "that other fast and talented boy" a lot in their presence and inevitably they grew up comparing themselves to each other and following the stats and possibly every move they ever made. Charles was pretty good at hiding his almost obsessive interest in Max, whereas Max was the one who stepped away from the bitterness of their rivalry and began to proudly display the joy and thrill that he took from it. Which slowly but surely eroded Charles's childhood ideas about Max's personality, and they stepped into another aspect of "rivalry" and discovered some sort of "friendship and camaderie and understanding" in it that they are both making sure that they don't have in anyone else.

What they have become and what they will certainly evolve into (if time and their yeams/cars permit) is a healthy and respectful rivalry which they will both be vary and very hesitant to throw away that easily even when the situation might turn avry.

Brocedes is a dynamic that's entirely different. They can't be compared to each other, because they are about different types of friendship and/or romance if you like to put it that way.

I am not as well versed in Brocedes as I am in Simi or Lestappen, but I am pretty sure when people compare ships, they are solely talking about the "popularity" not about how similar (they aren't) or how valid/not valid the ship is or how one is superior over the other (people can have their own opinions you know).

Currently, people like it or not, Lestappen is the admiral ship of the fandom. Even people who have no fricking idea about what shipping is can see how popular they are together. Pairings come and go in popularity. Upto 2020, Simi was the Admiral ship. Then Maxiel took over and now it is Lestappen. Who knows what will be the popular ship in the coming years.

[revunant]

I KNOW this guy has gone through iterations. What's something that used to be true about him as a character that isn't anymore as he's evolved?

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 (always accepting)

there are... a lot of somethings... i definitely used to be a lot looser with his characterisation and his motives and his backstory - i kind of just did whatever seemed the most fun. jean spent a lot of his early years as one of the Big Bads of the rpc i played him in, and in my experience people didn't seem to mind too much that i was impulsive and inconsistent as long as i was stirring the pot/creating dramatic conflict/giving them some angst fodder for their muses (all of which i had a great time doing, mind!)

i try to be kind to myself in hindsight, but i do kinda cringe about the way i did things back then. i leant heavily into a lot of clichés and magpie'd tropes & ideas & plot beats from whatever my current hyperfixation was (something i'm still guilty of, just to a lesser and more regulated degree) and while there's nothing wrong with that, i still..............ehhhh. jean's characterisation was sloppy and fickle. he did a lot of things "just because" that i had to retcon in motivation for years after the fact. even his undeath was me wanting to write him being killed (usually as consequence for the aforementioned Being A Big Bad) and continue writing him after without having to declare that death non-canon, and originally had no concrete cause or explanation.

i like to think he's a lot more pinned down now, even if the consequence of me filling in those previously unexplained footholds is that there's kind of a lot of information to take in (i promise you do not need to know all of it upfront). i only "finished" the retconning in, like, 2022, and i'm still finding shit that needs to be fixed, but he makes a lot more sense now. i think.

the biggest change is his morality, i think. he used to be fully chaotic evil, killed people just cuz he liked doing it, dentist from little shop of horrors kind of guy. very extroverted, not even particularly secretive about anything. yeah there are human organs in the fridge in his basement, who cares? whereas now even tho (in his main verses) he's usually true neutral, he usually ends up aligned with the Good Guys in any given conflict, even if he's a bit of a liability for them.

[mandalorianbrainweasel]

hello!! I’m reading ‘born to play this game’ and I’m really enjoying it! Love the use of language in the story, every location we visit, the details of the cooking/serving/social behaviour, and every new character we meet!

(Thank you for sending me that way after ‘beautiful without our war paint’!) I will review as soon as I’m done (chapter 19!!!), but I was wondering if you have a tag or more written stuff on Tar vs Ka’ra, or overall a worldbuilding primer? It’s all so interesting, I’d love to know more!

Also, and sorry if I missed this, but ‘born to play this game’ is the first in the series, right? Is it intentional that we figure out Spar’s backstory alongside the main events? I ask because i got the impression that there is an obvious affection between him and Jango but I was also wondering how did Jango get (emotionally) to the point of seeing Spar as a family member? And does he think the same of the rest of the clones? If you ever explored this anywhere else in writing let me know, I’d love to read it! And if it’s just a matter of reading the rest of the series, then I will surely do that!

And thank you ahead of time for writing and sharing such a great story!!!!

Hi! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the fic so far! “born to play this game” is the first one in the series and while I may eventually write a fic about Spar on Kamino in the ‘verse, btptg was as early as I wanted to start the series because in the end it’s a series about Spar’s journey grappling with agency, legacy, and identity. I’ve kind of stopped making unique posts about my AUs on tumblr unless requested, because of lack of interest, but the tag “ssitb verse” has some stuff including stories that don’t quite fit the actual verse so get a “ssitb au verse” tag iirc. But here are a few more details to answer some questions.

Kar versus Tra

Kar and Tra as a system are very much still evolving as I write this series. I have used it in other fics since coming up with it, though. I’m marking down to write a more detailed bit about the mystical world building I’ve used in starstuff in the blood but that’s…a lot more than just Kar and Tra.

Spar’s backstory and his relationship with Jango

The important parts of Spar’s backstory will be revealed as things go on, but how he and Jango got to the familiar relationship they have in btptg probably won’t ever be touched on directly. Grappling with Spar’s issues was a fundamentally intimate experience between them, one that sparked both mutual sibling affection and an absolute mess of other emotions. There’s also some things that will be revealed later in the series that kind of primed Jango to make this relationship as is. But. Basically, Spar knew too much to ever be Jango’s child. They started off way more like a master and young padawan, but Spar’s knowledge of the family and Jango’s history meant he automatically and unconsciously undermined a lot of Jango’s authority over him. He’s probably the only Alpha who can get away with absolute screaming rows with Jango. And Jango kind of saw Spar as his own do-over. Spar never had to worry about being Mand’alor, but had Jango’s experiences, and that also led to a lot of affection. Jango trying to straddle the line between parent and teacher ended up with him falling into more of an older brother (promoted to parent trope) role. When Spar left Kamino, they formalized that.

How Jango sees the rest of the clones

Hhhh okay I’m going to preface this by saying. Spar isn’t a perfect person/character by any stretch. And Jango is even worse. I love him but he’s an absolute dick. Part of his arc in the series is literally learning to care about anyone who isn’t Boba or Spar, including himself.

So. Jango is fond of the Alphas like many teachers are of their students. He doesn’t have nearly the patience with them he does with Spar (who already gets less than Boba, especially because annoying little brother), but he likes them. He absolutely has favorites but will not speak them. As for the other clones…some he likes, though doesn’t really have affection for. Others he doesn’t. And generally he doesn’t care at all about them. And he also doesn’t have much consideration for their agency. Everything he does for them in the series is pretty much because he either sees it as necessary for soldiers’ morale or because someone makes him do it. Or because it serves another purpose for him.

[prince-toffee]

Spoilers for Mutant Mayhem:

So, yesterday I watched TMNT Mutant Mayhem.

And yeah, it was good, it was fun. But I wouldn't say it's the best version of the TMNT or anything. The only reason why it's so popular and why the larger world is saying that 'the turtles are finally back' is because it's a theatrical movie and associated with Rogen. Also, that little tidbit kinda pisses me off, 'the turtles are finally back' wha- fu- where did they go? What the fuck are you talking about? Seth Rogan didn't revive a dead franchise or anything. TMNT has been thriving for years! The comics is excellent. The shows are phenomenal. Fuckin' we've been here! We didn't go anywhere. I imagine it's people who aren't turtle fans that are saying this. People who watched 87 as kids and then grew up and didn't stay with the franchise and saw it evolve through the years. Geewankers as we Transformers fans call them. And I think this movie is fun, it's good, but it's not God's gift to humanity or whatever. If I'd have to rank it it'd be directly in the middle of turtle media, far from the worse, far from the best.

So here's some positives:

It's gorgeous. It's beautiful. It takes the creativity of Spider-Verse and makes it it's own, with the graffiti, school desk doodles aesthetic. It's. GORGEOUS. The artistic story telling of this movie is amazing, having the humans be just as 'ugly' and isometrical and dirty and lumpy as the mutants, showcasing a sense of realness and the fact that they're just as monstrous as the mutants they fear. Not that it looks anything like that, but it reminds me of the art of Gary Frank, artist of Superman Secret Origin (highly recommend) who manages to capture the beauty in the imperfection and sometimes uglyness of humanity. All the while the turtles are portrayed as these claymation-esk cute little potatoes, and that makes you immediately endeared to them.

Some of my favourite effects have to be using scribbles as lens flares for car headlights, and for dust kicked up by car tyres. I also love the use of inbetween frames on the weapons when they're in motion, that is one of my favourite visual tropes in animation, chef's kiss, that's why the bo staff was always my favourite weapon from the 2003 series (which introduced me to the TMNT), it's always so satisfying to watch.

The pacing of this movie is fantastic. Not a boring scene in the movie.

The action is out of this world. I think we all know the scene I taking about. The 'No Diggity' scene is by far the best scene in the movie. Nothing for me can beat the Shredder fight from Rise, but this, this is second place no doubt.

All of the characters are likable and cute. I don't know if I have a stand out favourite in this film, I just like all of the boys equally. And that's another really awesome thing about this movie. It's not the Raph and Leo show, each turtle is given an equal amount of screen time. It helps that all the turtles have the same unified character arc so it all follows nicely, especially tied with April's own arc, which feeds into Splinter's arc. Nicely done.

Soundtrack is a banger.

Darker than I thought. But not too much. A nice balance. That opening scene is immaculate. The tone, Trent Rezenor's ost, the vibes are off the chart.

Now, the negatives (for me) :

None of the characters are really my favourite incarnations of the turtles. (In my opinion) It doesn't have the best Leo (2003) or the best Raph (2007) or the best Donnie (Rise) or Mikey (Rise) or April (Rise). Splinter is like the RiseSplinter but with way less going on, and way less interesting.

That romance is death. It didn't work with Donnie in 2012, it doesn't work her, it's weird and gross, and I don't want to think about it. At least it's not his step-sister.

The comedy isn't for everyone. There's so many pop-culture references it gets ridiculous. When they mentioned Mark Ruffalo I was so done with it. Also, literally every scene that the turtles are together in they will mumble over each other. Every. Scene. It was cute and fun the first two times, but it happens over and over again, drop it, get a new joke.

Splinter and the turtles have no connection to Hamato Yoshi or Oroku Saki, and they learn ninjitsu from Bruce Lee films... sure, whatever. I'm interested to see how the Shredder fits in in the sequel. By the way, great tease, it sounds like this Shredder is like a bounty hunter/mercanery, cool, sounds interesting, I'm in.

The puke girl... thing, is so Rogen it hurts. I'm not the biggest fan of his writing, I think he suffers from the dudebro disease that's been an epidemic at Hollywood for too long. But I was surprised to see that it was quite subdued in this film. 'Quite' not totally.

So, yeah, those are my thoughts on Mutant Mayhem organised in a semi-coherent 'review' If you could call it that, I suppose. So... Bye.

[seaside-lovers-archive]

💥 Miguel & Kate 🕸️

Ship name/tag: 💥 bite me

Anniversary: June 8, 2023

F/O source: Spider-Verse Trilogy

My backstory: While working as a librarian, I am bitten by a radioactive spider. This causes me to gain a few powers including (most significantly) enhanced strength. Instead of becoming a super hero, though, I end up going the route of MMA and start training to enter professional fights.

However, a side effect of the spider bite is anger issues, and that leads me to getting banned from professional tournaments after I severely injure an opponent during a fight. I'm later approached by a manager and join in an underground fighting club for money.

After my partner is killed by a rival, I'm sent down the path of for-hire vigilantism; I want to avenge my partner and end up deciding to start a "business" of sorts. Thankfully, before I can go down any worse of a route, I am approached by Jessica/Spider-Woman, who invites me to speak with her and Miguel about the other Spider-People.

That leads me to wanting to better myself as I learn of others who have gone through something similar to me, so I declare myself a superhero and join the Spider-Society, wearing a spider-web bandana around my face to disguise myself (full body suits freak me out so nooo thank you).

Later on, I end up becoming the host of a symbiote who (thankfully) doesn't immediately try to kill me; we end up reaching an agreement to become "friends" (basically not causing the other's death) which later evolves into an actual friendship. When Stalemate takes over, he stands at 7'2", mostly black with dark red bits here and there and quills down his back. He's heavyset and built like a strongman.

How we meet: I meet Miguel for the first time when I'm introduced to him by Jessica.

First impressions: I'm not the biggest fan of him because of how cold he is, but figured a formal relationship a la coworker would be fine. He's attractive as all get out, too, but no, best to keep it professional.

Miguel thinks nothing particular of me; I'm just another face in the Spider-Society (maybe cute, too... but if you say anything, he'll vehemently deny it; he's not about to fall for a "coworker").

Getting closer: As I get more settled into the Spider-Society, I start to befriend various members and get to know them better. It's nice to be able to talk with others who get it - the whole "great power great responsibility", canon events, etc. Miguel and I start running missions together during this time as well; this helps me learn to control my strength better and also helps us get to know one another better.

Beginning our relationship: The start of our relationship is fairly straightforward. I end up approaching him to go on a date as my attraction to him at this point has grown into romantic desire. He accepts, reciprocating my feels, and we start dating.

A few weeks after we go on our first date, we decide to become an official relationship. Miguel brings me a small gift, asking if I would like to become his romantic partner.

Ship trope(s): Anger Born of Worry - both Miguel and I become angry with the other when either of us is in danger/hurt.

Aesthetics: Neon lights, cities, teeth

Our song(s): None ATM

Favorite kind of date: Quiet. Dates where we're not expected to talk to one another or be around noise and can just relax. Usually this means we'll watch a familiar movie together at home; it's a fun way for us to spend time together.

Ways we comfort one another: Miguel isn't one to open up about how he feels, so the best way for me to comfort him is sitting with him. Talking is not necessary; just being with him and letting him know I'm there is very comforting.

What we love most about each other: What I love most about Miguel is his caring for others. He's very much one to protect those he is close to, whether that's something small or big. That's where the Anger Born of Worry trope comes in for us - he sometimes endangers himself looking out for others (and the multiverse) which often makes me upset. I would be devasted if he was ever severely injured or even died.

Miguel loves my openness. Not only am I honest with people about how I feel (and I do my best to ensure I'm not being rude/mean), I'm also open about my own life experiences and struggles. This is something he is not usually great at so he admires how we balance each other out in that manner.

F/O headcanons:

None ATM

[mywifeleftme]

189: The Haxan Cloak // Excavation

Excavation The Haxan Cloak 2013, Tri Angle (Bandcamp)

Through his work as the Haxan Cloak and as a film composer (notably on a couple of Ari Aster pictures), Bobby Krlic has helped define the modern aesthetics of what we might call Upsetting Music:

Extremely low frequency synthesized bass with a subliminal roar

Slow, deliberate, violent industrial percussion with a ton of reverb

Creepy whirring noises that simultaneously evoke machinery and insects

Staticky, panned whooshing sounds, that suggest rapid movement captured on degraded video tape

Piercing whines, reminiscent of alarms or the shrill violin notes exploited in scores like Psycho

Snippets of higher pitched noises that sound like muffled or glitched recordings of human cries

Unlike traditional symphonic scores or even the kind of throbbing but ultimately melodic progressive electronic stuff used in ‘80s horror scores, this music largely eschews melody in favour of manipulating sounds to provoke a visceral sense of unease as directly as possible. Electronic music made its initial inroads into horror in the late ‘70s largely because it was cheap to produce, but the runaway success of independent/low-budget films with keyboard-heavy scores like John Carpenter’s Halloween made the aesthetic popular. Since then, genre film has continued to evolve alongside the darker strains of electronic music, from schlocky early ‘90s flicks that incorporate techno and horrorcore rap, to the way industrial became de rigueur for a certain variety of desaturated, nihilistic, almost fetishy brand of cheap ‘00s torture flick.

Independent of this history though, I think there’s something specific about recent horror and thriller filmmakers’ embrace of dark ambient/drone music like Krlic’s that links to Western contemporary anxieties and how these audiences experience fear. I remember many years ago (I’m 51) reading an article in a film theory class about how the rise of automation in the early 20th century kicked off a minor craze in the newspapers of the day for grisly stories about bodies being maimed by trams and the like. The author argued that these sorts of accidents were a new form or vector of terror specific to the industrial age, and that there was a corresponding spike in depictions of these tragedies in contemporaneous films, which tended to pull their subject matter and aesthetics from the well of public worries. Genre music has evolved along parallel lines. Traditional orchestral horror scores derive from ominous motifs found in classical music and opera, which reflect older notions of how evil and despair should be depicted—a Christian understanding of evil, with attendant tropes. A world mediated by religion and versed in devotional music (masses, hymnals, Gregorian chant) would naturally imagine Satanic music as its inversion (dark, baroque renditions of the religious cannon) or opposite (“primitive” tribal music).

By the middle of the century a secularized notion that evil might derive from the personal psychoses of individuals, or (as the tram reading suggested) the indifference of technology and institutions, became widespread, and was duly reflected in the cinema. Today, in the West anyway, our bodies are more insulated than ever before from daily exposure to the sorts of violence depicted in horror films, and our fears have become more secularized and more abstracted still. Our most immediate experiences of dread and bodily harm have tended to come from what we witness on our screens, the fear of seeing something troubling. At the same time, filmmakers have realized that the sonically unsettling aspects of ominous symphonic music (extreme high and low frequencies; disharmony; jerky rhythms) could be divorced from the orchestral context, leaving artists with a set of specific tools for physically startling audiences in tandem with the action onscreen.

Krlic’s music is a product of these parallel processes. As noted, much of his work prioritizes psychological and physiological effect above all, pushing these notions (in his Haxan Cloak work especially) about as far as they can be taken outside of extremist genres like harsh noise and powerviolence. When he makes his synths literally growl, our bodies respond to the perceived threat, even though we know what we’re hearing isn’t produced by a living animal. Some of what he’s exploiting, again, is stuff that goes back to our base threat-detecting instincts, but the overtly technological aspect is also the sound of horrible things both real and simulated we’ve seen through media. Staticky screams and the scrape of metal on concrete summon the spectre of snuff films, hostage videos, extreme BDSM porn, war footage, and all of the movies, video games, and music videos that have adapted their imagery to get a rise out of people. It also, especially to a broad subset of “average” moviegoers, sounds like the type of music people who want to rape and murder your family would listen to for kicks.

There is a good deal more going on in Krlic’s music than simple fearmongering though—we can look at Excavation, his second and final LP to date as the Haxan Cloak,as part of a long lineage stretching from ‘60s experimental electronic music like White Noise through Nurse with Wound, Aphex Twin, and Nine Inch Nails among many others. “The Mirror Reflecting (Part 2)” eventually reveals a sequence of austere, crystalline guitar-like sounds that post-metallers Agalloch might’ve produced; “Dieu” opens with some subterranean breakbeats and chopped up samples that nearly threaten to look in the direction of a dancefloor before a creepy violin quells the thought; the rain-drenched “The Drop” flashes a bit of a Baths-style emo/downtempo vibe when it isn’t trudging past the sounds of dark satanic mills. Just as some people will hear Excavation as sadistic junkie music, others will no doubt find it an exceedingly warm and plush casket to disappear within, the overwhelming weight of its sounds divorced of violent associations, just signals strobing across the darkened hemispheres.

189/365

[wack-ashimself]

Overdone Super Hero Movie tropes (you can only pick 3. Otherwise, it's a shit movie.)

1-(Graphically, recently, or during the movie) Dead parents. Dead spouse. Dead kids. Dead sibling. Dead loved friend. It is a fucking MIRACLE if their family is healthy and fine the whole time.

2-Killing tons of grunts/soldiers/etc, but THEN showing mercy to the main bad guy WHO HAS KILLED MORE THAN ALL THE SOLDIERS HE KILLED ALREADY COMBINED!

3-Sky beam. I totally stole this from like 3 youtube channels. Everyone hates the fucking sky beam.

4-Talking/monologuing to the audience or themselves.

5-A soundtrack clearly picked to seduce a specific generation. 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and soon! 10s...(and it doesn't have to be time period current.)

6-Trying to be funny/knowing you're funny to the point you're breaking the '3.999999^infinity-rd' wall (almost the 4th wall) and then it stops-being-funny.

7-CGI battles so fast and blurry, you don't even know what's going on. And a million quick cuts ain't fucking helping. Use real sets so it looks like a real fucking fight.

8-No one ever acknowledging the collateral damage (people to buildings alike) they are doing. <Watch 'Invincible' for the MOST GRAPHIC SUPERMAN-LIKE FIGHT EVER!>

9-Basically, no one important dying. SURE, someone died, and they were kinda loved, but...meh. If there are not any stakes, then it's like watching a preschooler's cartoon: we know it all comes out perfect in the end.

10-The bad guy kills his/her own henchperson. COME ON> OVERPLAYED.

11-They introduce side characters that they either dive REAL deep into or NOT at all, then they disappear/don't matter later in the movie (or series).

12-They introduce you to a character you hate initially, but then you find out their backstory with the lead, and you fall in love...then they KILL THEM OFF OUT OF NOWHERE, right when you were ready to open up your heart! Right when you thought a glimmer of hope appeared!! RIGHT WHEN... ... ....YONDU! WHY DID THEY DO YOU LIKE THAT, YONDU!? ... ... ... ...(okay, this one may not count...)

13-There's absolutely no real character arc. They came in as 'a', left as 'A', and some 'BS' happened in the middle.

14-The lead baddie is more interesting than the lead. That's a sin. You go to bad bad land.

15-THE MAIN BAD GUY DOES NOT KILL THE HERO WHEN GIVEN ANY OPPORTUNITY> Fuck that. You'll kill millions of innocents, but not the dude who has been trying to stop you and ruin all your plans? DUMB> DUMB DUMB DUMB. I am SO desperate for anything new, I'd even let a few 'actually kills them but they're brought back to life' fly....(not too many, you slippery fucks).

16 (#12 being kinda a joke one, I wanted an even 15. Spoilers for Ant-man 3.)-'Comes in at the last moment, out of left field, saving grace.' And you can take this how you will, but my personal example was THE FUCKING ANTS IN ANT-MAN 3 WHO WERE HYPER INTELLIGENT AND SAVED THE MULTIVERSE> Ant-man did not do shit. Not really. It was fucking HYPER INTELLIGENT SUPER ANTS WHICH YOU HAD NO IDEA ABOUT TILL THE END OF THE MOVIE. The ONLY hints were: super intelligent ants went into the whatever tiny verse with them (so? So did a table). The old fuck hears something that irritates his headset with the ants. But did that explain them EVOLVING BEYOND HUMANS BECAUSE THEY LIVED THRU MILLIONS OF YEARS AFTER GOING THRU THE SAME PORTAL AS EVERYONE ELSE, BUT ENDING UP SOMEWHERE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT? No. No it did not. At fucking all. In any way. They never explained how the ants, again who lived millions of years somewhere else (cuz Kang didn't even know about them) found the leads and got to them RIGHT IN THE NICK OF TIME. It made no fucking sense. FUCK THAT HORRIBLE ASS MOVIE! (it's why I wrote this fucking list).

Fuck it.

#17-Again from ant man 3. Taking away some of the best parts of your other movies (his posse/crew/work buddies) and adding in old elements no one gave a fuck about (the villain in the original movie. NO ONE GAVE A FUCK, ANT SHIT!)

<what ones did I miss? PLEASE tell me! I want to know so I can go 'fuck, I knew that, but forgot.' Or didn't even consider. Blow my mind! Should it be more than 3 cuz it's impossible to make a movie that doesn't have SOME of these? Also, can you name ANY Superhero movie that doesn't do ANY of these? CHALLENGE! And do not even hate watch ant man 3. It's incredibly disappointing. Like it is amazing how much work it took to fail.>

[scary-senpai]

It's good to see this come up in the manga, because this is something I'd been wondering about/concerned about since I dipped my toes into the OPM-verse: what it means to be a monster, both figuratively and literally. (Well, I guess "good" is the wrong word, but you get what I mean).

I wrote this on my main blog awhile ago (OG post is here), but I think the point still stands, so I'll say it again:

Monster has a funny etymology — it’s an antiquated term for all the things we didn’t understand once upon a time, because we didn’t know any better.

Those bones belong to a dinosaur, not a dragon — and that terrifying, strange and mysterious creature has always been the same animal — even if we called it something else for centuries, that doesn’t alter its core components. But the words we choose influence the sentiment surrounding a thing and that’s why some people see a monster where others just see a Precious Wolf Boy.

The stories we tell take on a life of their own — growing into myth and lore; misunderstandings that we can feed or even dispel, if we’re so inclined to enlighten others. This is why, as an avid reader, nomenclature — an artist’s rationale for picking one descriptor over another — has always fascinated me. And also I worked in a linguistics lab for awhile, that ruined me for anything else.

Today, the word “monster” survives mainly as metaphor or hyperbole. Going back to my earlier example — if I refer to a dinosaur as a “monster,” you might take umbrage with the accuracy of my terminology but you’d understand the subtext behind why I chose it & the emotions I intended to evoke.

Nowadays, people would more readily apply the word monster to other humans — humans that kill indiscriminately and strip away the rights of others — than any unexplained phenomena in the natural world. Essentially, what's happening to Psykos here (and possibly Garou in the future, and definitely Amai Mask in the WC).

The point that ONE/Murata make is a worthwhile one: if you support the right to something, then you have to support those rights for everyone--even people you don't like. Once you draw a line in the sand, it won't stay put.

“no rights/no assets because monster!” is literally something out of the propaganda books (and unfortunately from not-so-recent history).

Anyway, I think it’s interesting that ONE specifically mentioned rights and asset forfeiture. I can’t speak for the author, of course, but it’s an unusual (and very specific!) aspect of world building. It’s a heavy thing to touch and never revisit again.

Given that OPM is fundamentally about subverting tropes, I always read the monsters as neutral beings — and I will point out that ONE goes so far as to frame them as a public health issue (because anger / dissatisfaction cause people to transform) or environmental (pollution causes the water/earth/animals to transform). And fighting monsters inadvertently causes them to evolve and become stronger — which seems like a case against fighting them, and a good reason to focus on the root cause.

This post peripherally inspired by: an episode of throughline where one of the guests more or less said: “we get all high and mighty about the concept of ‘humanity’ and 'human nature’ but in reality no other living creatures are as cruel as humans. you don’t see penguins rounding up and torturing other penguins.”

Anyway just putting that out there as a thought, and also sharing the whimsical imagery of penguin strife. Here's the OG episode; this is one of my favorite podcasts: https://www.npr.org/2021/03/15/977526130/chaos

[tm1o-a]

#𝐓𝐌𝟏𝐎! › a 𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄'𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄, and hub for 𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄'𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐒. mostly a testing ground for possible muses! rules & credits under the cut. trained by 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 / 𝐒𝐂𝐏. 27 years old, italian, any pronouns.

𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋. all sideblogs: will follow from this one. ecliidse › nanu from pokémon sun&moon tapumana › the four tapus from pokémon sun&moon backstatiion › ingo from pokémon legends: arceus truebeginnings › trainer red, sun&moon timeline centred ( to be fixed ) saiirensa › team rocket grunt original character ( huge work in progress ) olimdise › professor sada and professor turo, scarlet&violet ( remaking ) cfjacks › pokémon verse for handsome jack ( on its own account, remaking )

𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐒. team umbra admin OC MIANFEI team umbra enforcer OC FIRETRUCK ( might be moved ) eterian detective OC HUMBERT ( will be moed ) generation one's glitch ZZAZZ ( will be moved ) sun&moon's PROFESSOR KUKUI scarlet&violet's GYM LEADER LARRY scarlet&violet's ARVEN xy's PROFESSOR SYCAMORE

𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒.

o1. 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋. common etiquette applies: BE RESPECTFUL! that’s pretty much all i ask for. as mentioned above i’m LOW ACTIVITY and won’t be super present. i will always reply, sooner or later, but expect long times! i’m NON-MUTUAL FRIENDLY, but i do tend to be a little selective with who i roleplay with. remember that MUN AND MUSES ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, and what they think or do might not reflect what i would think or do.

o2. 𝐈𝐍𝐁𝐎𝐗 & 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒. the prompts lists i reblog NEVER EXPIRE, and you don’t have a cap on how many you can send me! SEND AS MANY AND AS OFTEN AS YOU WISH, regardless of how “old” the list is, with or without plotting! any questions are always welcome, both ic and ooc! just please make it clear if you’re talking to me or my muses, especially if you’re going for a heavy hitting question or statement.

o3. 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐒. my turns usually get really long: i tend to write multi-para and novella, and often don’t use any icon and minimal formatting. DON’T WORRY ABOUT MATCHING MY LENGTH OR STYLE. write as much as you like, being it more or less than me, and use any graphic you wish, i have no problems at all! i only ask you to write at least enough for me to work with on my next turn, so a couple of lines at least, and to keep the formatting readable. IF I NEED TO MODIFY ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW! i have no problems in modifying or straight up rewriting a turn. i’m open to roleplay pretty much anything, from the light and fun ideas to extremely delicate and dark topics, but i’m not interested in smut, as it makes me extremely uncomfortable.

o4. 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆. i don’t require it for us to roleplay, but I ADORE IT! from pre-established relationships to entire plots to develop and roleplay together, if you have an idea, throw it at me! i’m open to have multiple plots with each character, and even with the same person: if there is something i love roleplaying for, is to see how differently things can evolve based on circumstances! basically, i just enjoy putting together ideas and writing, haha. so never fear of throwing ideas at me, i have never enough of them!

o5. 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄. while it is not a main focus for me, i easily get invested in ships and enjoy writing them! I GLADLY EXPLORE ALMOST ANY KIND OF SHIPS, unrequited and one night stands included. for toxic relationships i INSIST we plot it beforehand, and set our boundaries before writing absolutely anything about it. i ship characters that have some alchemy and am a big fan of slow-burns, unfortunately for me, so those are the ones that i’ll prefer. I’M NOT INTERESTED IN THE CHEATER TROPE, SO ANY NEW SHIP WILL BE IN ITS OWN TIMELINE. i do roleplay some suggestive but am highly selective with who i write it with. SMUT MAKES ME EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE, so i avoid it entirely.

𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐒. avatar is an official decidueye sprite from the games. decidueye pixel art in header by ahruon. art in header and dividers by melissa lee on art station. edits by me.

[soundofmeme]

Humor: The Endless Verses of the Song of Meme

Prelude to Laughter: Understanding the Meme Melody

In the grand symphony of internet culture, memes stand as the chorus, each one a unique note contributing to the collective melody of humor and creativity. The Song of Meme is a composition that transcends boundaries of language and culture, weaving together images, videos, text, and even sounds into a tapestry of amusement and insight. To truly appreciate the Song of Meme, one must delve into its origins, its evolution, and its profound impact on modern communication and expression.

The Rhythmic Evolution of Memes

The Song of Meme has evolved over time, adapting to the changing landscape of the internet and reflecting the zeitgeist of each era. From the early days of internet forums and chat rooms to the explosion of social media platforms, memes have undergone a remarkable transformation, yet their essence remains unchanged. They serve as vessels of humor, satire, and cultural commentary, resonating with audiences across generations and continents. As technology advances and new platforms emerge, the Song of Meme continues to evolve, its melody ever-changing yet eternally recognizable.

Lyrics of Laughter: Decoding Memetic Language

At the heart of the Song of Meme lies a rich tapestry of language and symbolism, a lexicon of inside jokes and shared references that form the foundation of meme culture. Memetic language is a complex and ever-evolving system, incorporating slang, wordplay, and pop culture references into its vocabulary. From the iconic "Pepe the Frog" to the ubiquitous "Keep Calm and Carry On" slogan, memes draw upon a vast reservoir of cultural tropes and motifs to convey humor and meaning. Decoding memetic language requires fluency in internet culture and a keen understanding of the social contexts in which memes emerge and circulate.

The Harmonic Convergence of Memes and Music

Music has always played a central role in the Song of Meme, providing rhythm, melody, and harmony to accompany the visual and textual elements of meme culture. Memetic music, or "meme songs," often repurpose familiar melodies and lyrics to create catchy and infectious tunes that resonate with audiences. From remixes of popular songs to original compositions inspired by internet culture, memetic music spans a wide range of genres and styles, reflecting the diversity and creativity of meme creators. The harmonious convergence of memes and music adds depth and texture to the Song of Meme, enriching the memetic experience and expanding its reach beyond the confines of the digital realm SONG OF MEME.

Singing in Harmony: The Global Chorus of Meme Culture

The Song of Meme is a global chorus, sung by millions of voices in unison across the vast expanse of the internet. Memes transcend geographical, cultural, and linguistic barriers, forging connections and fostering communities in the digital space. Whether it's a viral video shared on social media or a niche meme format circulated within a specific online community, memes have the power to unite people from all walks of life in shared moments of laughter and camaraderie. The global chorus of meme culture is a testament to the universal appeal of humor and the transformative power of digital communication.

Encore: Embracing the Endless Verse of Memetic Creativity

As we listen to the Song of Meme, let us embrace the endless verse of memetic creativity, celebrating the diversity, humor, and insight that define meme culture. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a cultural phenomenon, memes continue to evolve and adapt, finding new ways to entertain, inform, and inspire audiences around the world. As we sing along to the chorus of laughter and wit, let us remember that the Song of Meme is a living, breathing expression of human creativity, innovation, and connection in the digital age.