#just also brain worms
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GREETINGS CAMPERS
WHO IS READY FOR
SOMERS DODECANNUAL MONTHLY BEATDOWN
october edition
OCTOBER 👏 WORD 👏 COUNT 👏: 72,479 WORDS TO Ao3
CURRENT 👏 WORD 👏 COUNT 👏: 1,000,246 WORDS ON Ao3
CHAT! CHAT! WE DID IT! POGGERS!!!
1 MILLION 1 MILLION 1 MILLION
WORKS (new/continued in October): 34 BABY!!!
MOST POPULAR: HAVING BEEN CHOSEN & CHOOSING FOR OTHERS
MY RECOMMENDATION: OBLATION (reader discretion advised!)
IN REVIEW: 1 MILLION 1 MILLION 1 MILLION!!!
also whumptober! 31 days of beating the shit out of twilight bc i can and it sparks joy. also beat up wars and time this month <3 i love them i promise
this month also saw the continuation of Memento Mori, the sequel to the ever popular Burial Rites (reader discretion advised).
further! @crazylittlejester filled twilight with cheese. and i wrote a fic about it. Cheese Whore (thank you @toyouhellohowareyou for the title)
also also 4000 comments!!! FUCK YEAH!!!
ty so much for all the support!! i love reading all your comments, reblogs, tags, and whatever else! thank you everyone who reads, kudos, bookmarks, or comments on fics!! ily!!!
on that note, lets get SAPPY for a moment motherfuckers:
when my brain latched on to @linkeduniverse in September 2023, i never imagined it would lead me to where it has today. it spurred me to not only write freely again the first time in almost 2 years, but to also POST my writing on the internet for the first time in nearly a decade. AND THE RESPONSE! i treasure every single comment just as much as my first comment. i read your bookmarks, i reread comments, i treasure it ALL!
LU has led to me forging incredible relationships. not only in my personal development as a writer with brilliant and lovely peers, dare i say, colleagues, but also deep friendships AND even led me to my loveliest gumdrop beautiful handsome partner @wanderlustmagician
i never IMAGINED hitting 1 million words after 12 months, completing 6 month long challenges, having so many regular readers, being involved in discord servers and reblog wars--! theres too much i cant even FATHOM
i am so eternally grateful to ALL of you. im grateful to the fandom, to its community of artists and writers, to @jojo56830 for creating such a lovely work which brought us all together, and anyone whos ever beta read for me
starting tonight (oct 31 my timezone) and running through tomorrow is the next 24 hour LU writers' marathon! please give it up for @hotcheetohatredwastaken and @not-freyja for keeping this up! also big s/o to @a-manicured-lawn @noorahqar @gia-d @winterfen @tashacee @weavingstarlight @rebornofstars @zarvasace for modding!!!
heres to the next 1 million words!
#somer writes#lu fanfiction#linked universe#fandom appreciation#somers dodecannual monthly beatdown#i promise i have a life#i do have hobbies#some of the time#just also brain worms
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Day 5 of Billy Batson week, this one is dedicated to all the 12 year old Dad Billy AU’s out there, especially when Kon’s the one being adopted
Part 2 here
Also I really want to know what the salary of a justice leaguer would be, is it a 401k? Can it support one person or a family? Or is it just above minimum wage? Do they even get dental?
#literally can Billy fully support himself with just the JL salary I’m curious#Bruce is still paying for everything the last I heard#idk if he’s rich enough to pay everyone but some exceptions should be no problem#wait he’s a billionaire he literally can nvmnd#anyway this comic is def inspired by suzukiblu’s fic#at least it’s the one that planted the brain worms#also imnotbuyingiteither’s fic raahhh#billybatsonweek#bb84week#billy batson#captain marvel#kon el#conner kent#superboy
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find another role, carry on the show
#EDIT IT DIDNT SAVE MY TAGS. hey so this post got a thousand notes huh. interesting. surely nothing will change#i'll leave all the old tags. for my thought process. and its kinda funny#take a bow stupid idiot (throws a tomato at them)#in stars and time#isat#siffrin#siffrin no middle names no last name ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧#... or is it. Smiles#i'd like to draw mira for her birthday but um (hasnt open artfight website in a few days) im scared.#also i have NICE ASKS TO ANSWER.... But im scared. give me a minute#Uawaaaaagh i drew this bc i was trying to animate a little bit but it just . Didnt look good. im not good ag 2d animation#tch. ill keep trying cause there ar e way too many songs that and now about isat because i have brain worms. i need amvs.#IM SCARED TO POST THINGS THAT ARE SPOILERY BECAUSE I WANT MY FRIENDS TO PLAY ISAT. BUT.#isat spoilers#in stars and time spoilers#sasasap#sasasa:p#WHAT IS THE PROLOGUES TAG.#tshirt that says 'i <3 killing the image in the mirror and taking its place' on the fromt#and a list of megan thee stallions tour dates on the back. お金稼ぐ俺らはスター#Im kind of tempted to edit this to be the versiom with the eyes. or maybe twt can have that. or. well#all of my friends are on twt (trombone slide sfx) so maybe thats where i should worry about spoilers.#ill see if i want to slap an eyepatch on them in the morning#Im one of those people who was like idgaf about twohats (lets it simmer for a week) Oh my god. Oh my god. Ohmy god#EDIT. i swapped it out for the Eyes version it should be fine as long as its tagged formspoilers right...#ill post eyepatch vers on twt partly bc spoilers but also ppl over there can be .. annoying ..... ....#i fear i would get 800 You Forgot The Eyepatch replies. PLEASE JUST SEE MY VISION.#[BANGING MY HANDS ON THE GLASS] HIS HAND. LIKE IN THE PROLOGUE. WHEN THEYE. HANDS. HELD[EXPLOSION
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where are my edward elric fans in the crowd tonight
#wip#fma brotherhood#fma fanart#fmab fanart#fmab#fullmetal alchemist#fullmetal alchemist brotherhood#fullmetal#edward elric#srry i haven't posted anything in 83848584 yrs life is beating me up#i rewatched brotherhood recently tho and the brain worms told me to draw edward so here we r#this is one of my fav arcs i love how it handles the conversation of a protagonist who only ever shows mercy#and the consequences OUGGHHHH it's so good guys#if you've never seen brotherhood ... smh wyd#fma is also good btw i feel like one of the few people that still likes the 03 series LOL#anyways will be back to turtle programming just had to get this guy out of my system 💯💯#fullmetal alchemist edward elric#cw eyestrain#RED#very red#procreate
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if you perchance wanted to draw jay n dick just hangin out. i would have no choice but to love and appreciate you forever
"watch your mouth, little wing."
just thought about dick being a good big bro to jaybin before everything falls apart. ruined my own life for a moment
#jaybin#jason todd#dick grayson#nightwing#batfam#tysm for the ask birdie now i have a whole can of worms in my brain that i just opened and i need to draw!! the timeskip parallel!!#dc comics#so sorry if you meant current jason and dick i can ALSO provide that too#but i hope this still works ♥♥♥#let dick warm up to the idea of jason and moreover understand this kid mf IDOLIZES him#bruce is whatever but jason!!! jason's his new little bro!! what a punk!!#ALSO COLLEGE AGE MANBUN DICK SORRY NOT SORRY
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Part 2/2 (If I misspelled something, please don't tell me I can't read and will NOT learn)
Finally had some free time to finish this and now the brain worm is fed.
#watch the images break#definitely ooc but I am finally free that the brain worm is out#the locked tomb#art#tlt#alectostasia#alecto#anastasia the first#me ripping my hair out: it's practice its practice its practice it doesn't have to be perfect it doesnt have to be good its practice lol#I honestly did this whole part 2 just to draw Pluto and also draw Alecto biting anastasia#the rest is just context lmao
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Hey uh, today is a good day to make sure you’re up to date on your vaccines.. who fucking knows what that maniac is going to do next year so get an updated Covid shot NOW.
#Liz blogs#take steps to protect yourself now#also plz reblog this I haven’t seen anyone else make this point yet#but the orange has said he’d put that brain worms guy in charge of public health#and I just… man Covid is already bad#please protect yourself
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Damn Jack... I think you might have hurt his feelings
#im letting the brain worms consume me#ill probs do more of these- just like lil funny parts from the books (and some from the blogs like the side stories)#Jack you apathy really is something else huh#tales from the gas station#tftgs#tftgs vol 1#tftgs jack#jack townsend#the man in the blue raincoat#i even added his shitty lil nissan#also i swear i can only imagine the gas station and the town being middle of nowhere appalachia so thats what my ref is#comic#art#artwork#comic art
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When Eddie is introduced to Jonathan, they both give each other a look that says “if you say anything, you’re dead” and naturally, Nancy clocks it immediately.
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” they said at the same time, only growing the suspicion.
“Seriously? Do you know each other already?”
“No!”
“Yes, but-“
They glare at each other, but Eddie speaks up again.
“He bought from me a couple times. No big deal.”
Nancy looks between them, shakes her head. “There’s something else going on. But we’ve got bigger problems.”
And they did.
For months, their problems seemed to get worse by the day. It was a great distraction.
But honestly, anytime Eddie spent more time with Jonathan, it got harder not to say how they actually knew each other: a make out session in a bathroom at a party when Jonathan was yearning for Nancy.
He told Steve eventually, had to with the way he kept finding ways to avoid being around Jonathan and Steve got suspicious.
“If he said something to you about us, I’ll take care of it. He doesn’t get to say shit about what makes us happy.”
And Eddie couldn’t have Steve lose another fight, so he told him.
“So wait. You and Jonathan…”
“Made out. Yes.”
“Like…with tongue?”
Eddie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I remember tongue being involved.”
“And hands?”
“They were there too.”
Steve puts his hands on his hips, lifts one to wipe over his face, then settles it back on his hip. “And you liked it?”
“Considering at the time my options were Jonathan or the girl in Hellfire who insisted I wasn’t gay because I looked at her during campaigns, yeah. It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve been through.”
Steve huffed. “Yeah, but like. Compared to me-“
“Oh my god.”
“What?!”
“I cannot believe you’re jealous of Jonathan Byers. Again.”
“I’m not! I’ve never-“
Eddie raised his brows. “Never? Not once?”
“That was different!”
“That was worse.”
“I dunno, finding out your boyfriend has made out with the only other guy in Hawkins who’d be up for it is arguably worse.”
Steve pouted for hours. Eddie let him.
It was cute, alright?
And when he got over it, they made out for hours in his bed.
Steve, of course, was the one who told Nancy.
In his defense, he was very high, and Nancy had been pushing him all night, from the moment she caught wind that he might know how they knew each other.
Eddie went inside to grab them all water, and she pounced.
By the time Eddie got back, Steve was half asleep and Nancy was smirking at Eddie.
“You could’ve just said.”
“He’s never getting high for free again.”
“He’s your boyfriend.”
“He’s back to being a paying customer, too.”
Nancy laughed, startling Steve into opening his eyes. He smiled up at Eddie, no clue he’d just given up one of their secrets.
“Hi, baby. You know Nancy didn’t know about you and Jonathan?”
Eddie glanced over to see Nancy rolling on her side, laughing hysterically.
“Yeah. I’m sure that was on purpose. How about we get you to bed, superstar?”
He managed to get Steve onto the couch, where he immediately passed out.
Nancy hugged him, kissed his cheek, like she always did before leaving.
“It’s not a big deal, you know. He’s mentioned that he isn’t only into women. We’ve talked a lot about the Argyle situation.” She walked towards the door. “Steve will get over the jealousy eventually. It’s not like Jonathan wouldn’t have made out with him if he could have.”
She left before Eddie could respond.
Eddie suddenly understood exactly what Steve was feeling.
“Not gonna happen,” he mumbled to himself before joining Steve on the couch and pulling him close.
#eddie munson#jonathan byers#nancy wheeler#steve harrington#steddie#stranger things#sorry but it’s a very funny thought to me that Eddie and Jonathan made out once and Steve gets jealous#and it’s way way worse than any jealousy he had over Nancy#it’s also absolutely hilarious to think of Eddie getting illogically jealous in return#it’s just a silly brain worm#it took up 10 minutes of my day so now it can take up 5 of yours
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First off this absolutely cursed AU was inspired by Lemonomelette and a post they made -X Secondly I imagine it all being about bots and cons trying to one up each others factions and not actually helping in any serious way because their too busy with their own faction bs.
Think of two rival car dealerships across the street one upping each other to get business and instead of business with cars its interstellar robot fairys trying to woo sm children to let them grant their inconsequential wishes (which may or may not be worth it) instead of the other guy next door.
#this whole thing is so stupid and im so sorry but holymoly i got a brain worm and it just went feed me with this bs#also that first image is more of riffing off of lemons's original post than anything to do with this au in general#cus mega and op would be their faction leads-#i just liked the original idea of starscream being a shit angel or fairy in this case on his shoulder#maccadam#transformers#lemonomelette#lemon i really hope u dont mind me drawing some cursed as ff art from this hell#i hate even typing the tags for this hot cringe#mtmte#fuk butch whats his face tho#megatron#starscream#soundwave#oh i did draw humanformers that actually go with this bs but i havent decided if i wanted to post it yet#ratchet#ultra magnus#deadlock#wheeljack#jazz#transformer crossover#fairly oddrobots#artz#pie artz
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i am fucking Thinking about how death is handled in destiny 2 once again.
in regards to guardians it’s almost treated as like a joke or something deeply unserious? possibly even alien in a way due to how we kill and destroy and wreck havoc against our alien foes, but we ourselves never die. it’s really interesting to me cause there really isn’t a lot that can permanently kill a guardian so it makes sense we’d have this perception. like off the top of my head you have weapons of sorrow, hive rituals where the light is drained from a guardian, and paracausal beings which ofc includes other guardians. but that isn’t a lot, most deaths are not permanent and so this perception of death among guardians seems like death really isnt that big of a deal.
we jump off the tower and then get resurrected and have a little laugh about it. guardians constantly kill each other for fun in crucible. we are always doing incredibly stupid shit but we are rewarded because our enemies do not share in our immortality. it’s fascinating bc this not only makes us become riskier as time goes on due to being rewarded (enemies defeated) for our lack of self preservation, but this also makes guardians as a whole uniquely unsuited to handle grief and loss. if you spend your whole unlife winning and thinking that if a friend dies they’ll just come right back, it’s such a shock if (or rather when) they actually do die permanently. and then that guardian has to spend the rest of their immortal, undying life remembering. they have to live with that while they watch the newer guardians flood into the tower with the same naive disposition as they once had.
i’m sure guardians know theoretically they could die permanently at any point, especially because of those like dredgen yor, but i feel like for most it’s one of those things that most would say “well that would never happen to me” until it does happen. guardians seem to just have this inability to let go and it makes me want to bite drywall because i think abt it too long and start going feral. like!! the past may be the past but it sure doesn’t feel like it when you’re immortal and you remember that shit clear as day!!! aghhhh pacing around my room in circles and eating ROCKS
#chat i’m back in the fucking building (being obsessed with how games deal with death)#so sorry if this is incoherent or rambley it’s like 2am and i got hit with the most intense case of brain worms#i’m simply feeling extra silly tonight ig#also sorry if the breaks in text are weird. tumblr formatting wants me dead but also i didn’t want just a wall of text#destiny 2#destiny the game#whispers from the garden
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waiting for godot, samuel beckett // interview with the vampire, s2ep5, "don't be afraid, just start the tape"
+
#danlou#interview with the vampire#iwtv#amc interview with the vampire#amc iwtv#iwtv spoilers#my stuff#captain's log#loudaniel#louis de pointe du lac#daniel molloy#don't be afraid just start the tape#i feel like this has been pointed out already but#i also already posted this on twitter but it warranted a longer post where i can fit as many images as i want#IS THIS ANYTHING.#god. dear god. theres worms in my brain i cant stop thinking about this. THEY PUT SAMUEL BECKETT IN THE SHOW#i cannot be normal !
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WALK HIM LIKE A DOG
@hellion-child you did this. Inspired by this legendary post.
‘It’s not illegal to go to the dog park, just to hear hot dads say Good Girl.’
Rating: M CW: overusage of the term daddy and Eddie just being a horny bastard.
——
“You know, this is fucking insane, right?” Chrissy laughs while Eddie lounges on the park bench.
Yes. He’s aware.
He and Chrissy don’t even have a dog and yet—
“Chris. Look at all of these great pet parents, taking care of these little doggies. Look at em. Wonderful. Stunning, very normal.”
Chrissy levels him with a glare. Being on the wrong side of a Chrissy glare is a scary thing, but alas his dog park visits are worth it.
“No. Look, listen. You’ve got all of these doggy daddies taking their lovely pups out for runs and walks and what not and then daddy wraps up his run and takes the precious ones to this here dog park. Woof.”
It really was worth it to Eddie, alright? There is nothing wrong with going to a public dog park to maybe hear a hot sweaty man coo at his dog.
‘Good Boy’
‘Precious Girl’
Bark bark bark or whatever.
Would Eddie ever talk to any of them? Absolutely the fuck not, but a man could dream.
He was bummed though because none of the hot guys were out, today.
Damn.
He is busy scanning the area to see if he missed anyone, Chrissy yapping on and on about how they could just get a dog when someone slows their run to chat.
“Hi!” She says. This woman is tall, short hair messed up from running, she’s got a bright ass orange jacket on, and she is most certainly Chrissy’s type. Thats not fucking fair at all, now is it?
Chrissy’s complaining tapers off. “Hey.”
They smile at each other, and this is truly unfair, Eddie thinks. This whole dog park thing was for him and yet.
“I hope you don’t mind, but me and my best friend just moved to the area and honestly, I think you’re pretty so—I just thought I would say hi.” She hardly makes eye contact with Eddie. So it’s clear who she’s talking to.
Like recognizes like, he supposes.
He can respect the straight forwardness of it all. Chrissy is just kinda staring at her so he speaks up. “Well, I’m Eddie and this is Chrissy, and I can confidently say that she also thinks you’re pretty.”
Both woman turn to stare and him, Chrissy with big eyes and the other woman with a smirk. She speaks, “Well, it must be my lucky day.” She turns back to Chrissy, “I’m Robin.”
The two get talking and Eddie is happy for his best friend, he really is, but where are all the hot men?
He’s about ready to call it quits when he sees a fucking god, running with a ridiculously stunning dog.
Hot people own hot dogs, he supposes.
This guy is—fuck. He’s sweaty from running, and his hair is fucking gorgeous, even after activities. Thats a green flag. Eddie is just shocked.
This is the dog daddy of all dog daddies. He’s wearing tiny fucking red shorts that expose thighs for days and—
“Jesus fuckin’—see?” Eddie doesn’t even care that he is interrupting the girls conversation cause this guys is—god damn. “He could slap a collar on me and walk me like a dog.”
Chrissy balks. “Eddie. We are in the company of a new friend. Robin doesn’t deserves this.”
Eddie simply shrugs and Robin laughs, “No. I think it’s hilarious which guy caught your eye?”
Oh, he likes Robin. “I like her. Get her number—“ He smiles big at Chrissy, before gesturing towards the fucking Adonis in tiny little running shorts. “Anywhozle. That one, look at him. On my knees in a second.”
He ignores Chrissy’s eye roll, and watches as Robin takes in the guy, before busting out in a laugh. “Oh my god—Steve?”
Oh shit.
“I—do you—“ Abort mission. Abort abort.
“Oh yeah, remember that best friend I was telling you guys about?”
She is still laughing, and Chrissy joins her before handing Robin her phone.
Eddie feels like he just got bamboozled.
“Chrissy, babe, I’ll text you. Eddie? I’ll see what I can do.” She smiles at them both before running over to ‘Steve’ and his—their?— gorgeous dog.
“No wait I—“ Eddie tries but she’s already over with Steve who is listening intently to what Robin has to say.
Oh god, oh no. Oh god.
Chrissy is just laughing softly into her hand, which turns into full laughter quick because Steve turns to look at them, smiles and winks.
#steddie#worm brain#something something the next time Eddie is at the dog park ALONE because Chrissy is BANNED from joining him#Steve is there with his stupid pretty dog and catches Eddie’s eye.#ends up telling Eddie that Robin told him about a ‘rowdy pup’ that needed discipline or whatever#kinky kinky#puppy play and daddy kink for days#but anyways.#I’m not dead just fucking tired#I’m still here.#Steddie ficlet#bark bark woof woof woof#also confident Robin is a legend and she deserves it#Buckingham#OH ALSO. the dog is a vizsla and her name is maple
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LONGLEGS (2024) dir. Osgood Perkins
#longlegs#longlegs 2024#horroredit#filmedit#longlegsedit#lee harker#maika monroe#keirnan shipka#carrie anne camera#kshipkaedit#mmonroeedit#my edits#mine: longlegs#mine: horror#this is probably nothing#like i know kobble is just quoting hark the herald angels sing#hark - harker#i get it#but it just stood out to me#combined with carrie anne calling her an angel bitch#like ??? why did carrie anne say that?#it could have just been to make the scene more uncomfortable and unsettling#but i also wonder if kobble said something to her about lee#i'm thinking way too much into this#this movie has crawled into my brain like a worm
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*Wade staring at himself in the mirror*
Wade: I'm so pretty.. *obviously doesn't believe it and is trying to convince himself*
*Wade frowns and reaches for his mask*
*Logan walks up behind him and gently grabs the arm reaching for his mask and Wade jumps around three feet in the air*
Wade: Marvel jesus peanut warn a gu-
*Logan reaches around his head with his other hand and puts his hand over Wade's mouth*
*Logan leans his head on Wade's shoulder looking in the mirror too*
Logan: *smiles* You're so pretty, bub.
#deadpool 3#deadpool and wolverine#deadpool#wolverine#poolverine#logan#logan howlett#wade#wade wilson#deadclaws#wolverine x deadpool#deadpool x wolverine#logan howlett x wade wilson#wade wilson x logan howlett#also happy one month plus three days to me making my account all poolverine prompts#ive gained a folloeing in that time and i love you all thank you#and i have a few asks i need to answer my inbox is just so full of spam bots i occasionally forget#working on fics ; the brain worms said ; i see your writers struggle and raise you ; start a new fic rn half way thru another one
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As a music, religion, and literature nerd, the Dies Irae has been one of my favorite go-to pieces of trivia for a long time, which means that this line:
Has been driving me batshit BONKERS since part 42! And also as a semi-professional media analysis yapper, I figured I might as well dive into the exact reasons I jumped up and audibly gasped upon first hearing this line and have subsequently lost my mind since then. So!
Here is why I think that the Dies Irae is the perfect analogy for John and Arthur:
Religion
Let's start with the most straightforward meaning: "Dies Irae" is a Latin term, and it translates to the "Day of Wrath." Or otherwise known as the Judgement Day, the foretold second coming in Catholic canon, when Christ will "come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." It's at this Last Judgement where God will wield perfect justice to send the worthy to everlasting peace and the unworthy to everlasting punishment. (everyone say "thank you" to excessive childhood Catholic lessons for burning this into my brain)
There's a kind of irony to the fact that Arthur so vehemently rejects Christianity and religion as a whole, and that John spends much of his arc trying to distance himself from the role/identity of a god, yet both are given this incredibly religious title, effectively restricting them from ever forgetting the presence/influence of religion in their lives.
This title has a couple layers though, because we have to consider why it's the Day of Wrath specifically that represents Arthur and John. Now, I don't think I have to tell you that those two are bursting with anger 80% of the time. But I am going to tell you that those two are not just angry, but moreso "divine fury" incarnate.
The Day of Wrath, the Final Judgment, is the final and eternal judgment of God on all: "For now before the Judge severe / all hidden things must plain appear; / no crime can pass unpunished here." (Dies Irae, Dies Illa). The final Judge, the all-powerful God, can see the objective morality of every single person, and is thus the sole, rightful determiner of fate.
This assumption of their right to perfectly and single-handedly decide others' worthiness shows up over and over, not just John and Arthur's actions, but also in how they describe these judgments.
When Arthur kills the widow on the island, it's not because she was dangerous, but because she was a cultist who "deserved" to be punished.
When John and Arthur need to get rid of Mr. Scratch's stone, John says they should give it to "criminals" who are "deserving of this curse." Even though, just moments before, Arthur refused to give the stone to Oscar because to do so would be to cursing him to a fate of eternal suffering.
And I can't go into every single detail about the entire Larson plotline because this post would double in size, but it obviously needs to be included here. Possibly the strongest tie between this arc and the idea of the Dies Irae is Arthur's conviction through it all. Arthur vows that he is going to kill Larson in divine retribution not because he wants to, but because he has to. He even goes so far as to admit that killing Larson will be a mistake, a cruel and overly-bloodthirsty action that goes against his compassion. But killing Larson isn't a choice to Arthur, it is the unavoidable punishment for Larson's sins and Arthur is simply the enactor of justice. Just like the Final Judgment, there is no sympathy, no hesitancy— the judgment is absolute, divinely ordained, and cannot be stopped no matter how undeniably horrific it is.
If we look at the Catholic Catechism, principle 2302 states that it is sinful to kill out of desire, but that it is "praiseworthy to impose restitution" and use violence to "maintain justic." So even if Arthur has intent to kill, his actions count as divinely sanctioned. He is acting as the hand of God's punishment.
Over the course of Season 3 and 4, Arthur's fiery rage dies down to a more gentle simmer, but his conviction only seems to grow, and John follows suit. Despite previously reprimanding Arthur for his unquestioning wrath, John eventually becomes just as convinced that Larson "deserves" to face a wrathful reckoning. The "fact" that Larson is wholly unforgivable and is fated to receive eternal punishment becomes more indisputable in their minds, and they both stop questioning the morality of their intentions, entirely convinced of their judgment.
Throughout the story, Arthur and John insist upon the importance of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, and say that these are the values that guide their every action. Yet, time and time again, they approach certain people with nothing but wrath and resentment. It's a sharp contrast to the benevolent figures they make themselves out to be, and Arthur and John are often blind to the contradiction because, in their eyes, they are still following those values in every action. And in the moments when they do recognize their horrific words or actions, they still cannot let their judgment go, convinced that it is their "duty" either way.
In Part 35, Arthur says "Just because you can't make the hard decision, doesn't mean it's wrong." This is exactly how John and Arthur view themselves. They know that some of their actions are harsh and violent and painful, but they are don't view that violence as wrong, because they are enacting that violence in justice. They move through life with carefully-selected destruction, culling the world of those they view as unforgivable sinners, and punishing them with divine righteousness. Arthur and John carry righteous fury in their every step, bringing the Day of Wrath down upon the world around them.
Now, there's already a ton of meaning just in this religious allusion alone. However, there's another application of the Dies Irae in modern culture, which brings us to the second side of this title:
Music
Back in the 13th century (sounds like a familiar setting...), friar Thomas of Celano wrote a poem for and about the Dies Irae. The poem was recited at Requiem Mass (church services to honor the dead), and it ended up being set to a Gregorian chant tune.
Over time, this melody has been used by a variety of composers, but the one we're focused on is Hector Berlioz. In 1837, Berlioz used the Dies Irae melody as part of his narrative symphony, Grand Messe de morts, in order to communicate that the main character had died. Then a lot of other composers saw that and said "Hey that's a cool idea!", and started also using this melody to represent death in their music. Nowadays, it's a fairly staple part of modern film and musical storytelling. If you've listened to literally any major soundtrack, then there's a good chance you've heard this motif (or a variation of it) used before. It's often subtle, sometimes loud and obvious, but no matter what, it reveals the inevitable presence of death. (essentially, the Dies Irae=death)
Now, obviously there's something tragically ironic about Arthur being likened to a musical motif when he tries so hard to distance himself from it, and there's something tragically ironic about John being associated with such a dark piece of music when he shows so much fascination and joy toward the art. Again, though, we've got some layers here. Yorick doesn't just compare Arthur and John to the Dies Irae, he literally defines them as the Dies Irae, a full embodiment of it.
Even before the story started, Arthur lost both of his parents, his friend and wife, his daughter, and his best friend.
John, when he was part of the King in Yellow, knew only how to harm and attack. In the Dark World, he falls back on this fearful lashing out with violence, harming even more people.
And throughout the story, John and Arthur seem to bring devastation to everyone else around them: Lilly the buopoth, Oscar, Noel, Collins, Daniel, Larson and Yellow.
The arrival of Dies Irae musical motif in a film always indicates that death is approaching or that is has already struck— a host carrying its blight to spread onto others. Just like the musical motif, the arrival of Arthur and John foretells the near-arrival of death. They play a duet together— John and Arthur, and death— always singing and dancing around and with each other.
These two never succumb to death, always finding a way to slip through its fingers and survive every situation. But they cannot escape death's presence because they are death's partner— singing the melody to death's subtle harmony. They cannot escape death because they are its host— destined to carry and spread devastation to death's victims. From the moment you meet John and Arthur, you know that death is inevitably approaching just a step behind, waiting to strike you down.
Whether it's the religious or musical side, we can see that John and Arthur are the literal embodiment of these allusions. They carry these powers and ideas in their every action and word, in their every step, in their very breath and blood.
Arthur and John. The hands of God's justice. The enactors of divine fury.
Arthur and John. The hosts of blight and destruction. The partner of death's song.
The man himself. The voice inside his head.
The Day of Wrath. The Dies Irae.
#this is late. like. really late#and canon is clearly lining up for an actual plot point related to this title#but ignore that!#and just think about the themes guys. the allusions. the symbolismmmm#(humor me here)#also i am. so sorry. for basically posting an entire informal essay#that appeals specifically to just me. and maybe two other people in the whole world#but the worms in my brain demanded that i yap about this#malevolent#malevolent podcast#malevolent analysis#malevolent meta#dies irae#arthur lester#john doe#cherrys rambles
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