#meh the art i make is already dead anyways

[justmwahstruly]

here’s some art y’all will actually like

[ghostchanuwu]

GOOD LORD ITS ALREADY ALMOST DECEMBER HOLY SHI-

Anyways (read more underneath)

This year for me has been kinda meh to be honest,the start was already somewhat crummy with getting sick literally the day after Xmas (albeit it was comedic how it happened) and it persisting to around late April which was more annoying than anything with a near constant cough and drainage and then getting strep around late June/early July (I don't remember specifically,grandparents had it too but it cleared up just fine for all of us ^-^)

Also got around to watching the Journeys anime and rewatching XY and SM and in the process I now find Serena slightly less annoying (Amourshippers nearly ruined her character for me,not all the shippers but those shippers)

Now there was a noticeable gap where I had stopped posting as much and I'm not gonna go into specifics but tldr bad relationship with someone I knew back from middle school that I honestly should've said no to,there was communication issues and I had to break it off because the person literally had me on near daily discord calls that would last between 7-14 hours well into sunrise and wouldn't let me leave without me feeling guilty which eventually killed my motivation to do spritework and art in general outside of some scrapped sketches (also acephobia and transphobia from them but I'm not going to delve into that nor am I going to name names since I never made the relationship public outside of a few irl friends in private)

Hopefully next year will be better and I can finally work on some WIPs I've had sat aside namely the 'Self Care for Dummies' fic and actually try to get my hands on FL Studio and try to make some kind of music since I've been wanting to get into that,sadly though I might end up dropping out of the Plates of Arceus dev team since I kinda just feel like dead weight and have other things I need to work on although I did have fun making sprites for the project

[krystal-sylph]

A Cozy Night | Brian x F. Reader

I drew inspiration for this from a piece of fan-art that ♠️ Embrace Ace ♠️ made a while back (I tried to incorporate the link, but I couldn’t find it on their profile anymore). Anyway, it was an adorable picture that showcased Brian, Tim, Alex, Jay, and Jessica sitting around a campfire in the woods as Alex told them all a story - the story of Marble Hornets.  So it was basically an AU that implied the entirety of the series was nothing more than a spooky story Alex made up to keep his friends entertained while they were outside spending time together. I loved how creative it was and just had to make it into a one-shot.

If I made some mistake and credited the wrong person, I apologize! I had first seen the image months ago (and actually wrote this right after lol, but on my Quotev account instead of Tumblr), and I had written down the original artist’s name so I wouldn’t forget. Maybe they deleted it, for some reason? Idk haha. But yeah enjoy reading! Brian’s beautiful and I’ll always be soft for him ^^

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

“...And as Tim continued driving down the empty highway, he stared into the camera one final time. If one looked closely enough, they may have been able to see his eyes becoming glossy as the tears welled up. He released a shaky breath - one of relief or one of disquietude, we may never know - and spun the camera around, allowing the viewers to face the road when the car made a turn into nowhere. A moment later, the screen turned black, and there, fading across it in that familiar white font, were the words, ‘everything is fine’...”

Alex met the eyes of his five friends as the story, at last, came to a close, observing their mixed expressions. Some were eagerly looking on in anticipation, others didn’t seem nearly as interested but it was clear he still held their attention. After a few seconds of heavy silence, Y\n leaned forward and whispered, “...Is that it?”

Alex merely gave a small grin before standing to his feet and stretching his limbs out, as they had all been sitting on their respective logs, huddled around the warm fire for the past five and a half hours. Jay’s eyes widened at the implication and he restlessly tugged at his hat, making it obvious to everyone that he wasn’t satisfied. “But–but Alex, dude, you can’t leave us hanging like that! What happened to Tim and Jessica? Did anyone ever find Y\n again? You gotta tell us!”

“Sorry man, but my voice is shot for the night,” he replied, brushing the back of his pants off. “I’m ready to hit the sack.”

“But Alex…!” Jessica whined, clasping her hands together and giving him the classic “puppy-dog eyes”, to which he rose a brow. “I’m gonna be awake the whole night if I don’t know this stuff!”

“It’s up to interpretation.”

“No, but really! Did Tim actually escape from the Operator? You stopped on such an eerie note!” Alex didn’t say anything else as he turned and began making his way into his tent. Y\n smirked slightly at their persistent attitudes and raked her fingers through her hair.

“Say what you guys want, but I for one think it’s the perfect ending to an already great story.” She glanced over at Brian, who had been sitting beside her the majority of the time to see what he thought, receiving a dimpled smile and a nod.

“I agree.” Jessica crossed her arms incredulously. “Not every story has to have a dead-set ending to it. Sometimes, it’s better left up to the imagination.”

“Yeah, maybe for y’all, but I can’t just do that. ‘Imagining’ an ending gives me way too much anxiety.”

“Meh.” Jay shrugged and scratched at his arm. “I just like knowing what happened if I’m being honest. Maybe that stems from my being impatient…”

“Tim! What about you?” The male in question lifted his gaze briefly to acknowledge her before rising up and shaking his head in refusal.

“You aren’t dragging me into this weird little debate. I just wanna go to bed.” He brushed past the two that were already standing and rubbed the back of his neck, presumably because it was sore from the extended lack of movement. “Goodnight.”

The small group watched as he disappeared behind the cloth wall of his own tent; the only shelter that was intentinally set up away from the other ones. No one minded it though, considering Tim just liked the solitude. Jessica broke the short silence with a displeased huff. “Well, whatever. I’ll just write my own ending. C’mon Jay, you can help me so I won’t overwhelm myself.” Grabbing his hand, she hauled them in the direction of her tent while Jay sputtered out poorly-crafted sentences in agreement or objection, nobody could be sure. “Goodnight, guys! See you tomorrow.”

Y\n waved and bit back the giggle she felt tempted to release when Jay nearly tripped over a stray tree root, giving her yet another reminder as to why she needed to watch exactly where she was headed at all times, especially at night. She for sure didn’t want to stumble on something and break her nose - not only would it be embarrassing, but it would put a damper on the rest of the trip, and maybe end it altogether. That wouldn’t have been a preferred outcome for anyone involved.

Once the tent was zipped completely up, all was quiet. The only sound that could be heard was the soft crackling of the fire and occasional, distant cries of the coyotes coupled with the chirping of cicadas. This was one of the many reasons that she loved to camp, and it only made the experience more enjoyable to have some of her best friends to share it with. She could tell that they were all having a relatively good time, even if ones like Tim wanted to complain about bug bites and mud. It was a relationship-strengthening activity that any number of people could do together, and that’s what made it so fun.

Now, only Y\n and Brian remained sitting outside, the lustrous glow that the fire emitted crawling across their faces as they both stared at it, serenity filling the atmosphere between them. “So…how do you think the story ends?” Brian suddenly spoke up after a couple of minutes, brown eyes not leaving the orange flames rippling in front of him. Y\n shifted her position a bit in an effort to get more comfortable and replied in a mellow voice.

“...I like to think that everyone that wasn’t outright said to have died turned out alright…especially cause, they deserved a happy conclusion. But I don’t know really.” She tilted her head up to look at him curiously. “You?”

He considered her opinion as the corners of his lips tugged upward, soon providing his own. “I’m an optimist, so I like your theory. But realistically speaking, Tim - story ‘Tim’, that is - likely went somewhere that he’d be alone and killed himself cause he couldn’t take the agony of losing his friends. And Jessica got sucked into the Operator’s clutches all over again. As for Y\n…” He sent her a cheeky grin, “she totally survived everything against all odds because she’s just that awesome.”

She rolled her eyes and playfully nudged him with her arm. “Uh-huh, sure.” Releasing a gentle laugh, Brian leaned back a little, using his hands to support his body weight so he wouldn’t tumble backward off of the log. They relished each other’s company, enjoying being one with nature in the most peaceful of ways. Without warning, Y\n allowed her head to rest on top of his shoulder and her eyes grew droopy. “It’s pretty, huh?”

“Beautiful.” He welcomed the physical gesture and wrapped his arm around her smaller frame, giving her the opportunity to snuggle closer. “We should do this more often.”

“Hm, I thought you’d like it.” She pulled at her jacket, hoping it would do a better job at conserving heat, as it was getting chillier the more the night progressed. “This is actually the first time I’ve camped out with anyone but my family.”

“That so?”

“I guess nobody else just wanted to be this far away from civilization. They were scared or somethin’.” He released a hum of understanding. “I don’t get that sentiment, though. I think it’s relaxing.”

“To be fair, not everybody grew up in a family that took frequent trips like this. I’m sure the idea of being miles away from any help in case something were to go wrong, or being hunted by some big predator lurking in the woods unsettled them.”

“Pfft, that’s amateur stuff.” She flinched when he poked her side and gave a chuckle.

“The point still stands.” They spent a total of fifteen more minutes sitting side-by-side, not quite ready to say ‘goodbye’ to each other’s presence on such a nice night. But alas, the lethargy was weighing down on both slowly, though Y\n was the first to show it with a squeaky yawn. Brian laughed and bent over to catch sight of her tired face. “You wanna go to bed?”

She was quick to deny the question. “No, no, I’m fine. Let’s just stay here a little while longer…” Her mildly slurred words were all the confirmation he needed, and he brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek.

“Y\n, you need to sleep. We’re going hiking tomorrow, remember? You can’t do that on zero energy.”

“I’ll…be okay.” Her eyes were almost completely closed, making it clear that she was content to just stay where they were sitting together, but Brian pushed her away gently so he could rise to his feet, then he took her hands and helped her up, much to her protest. “Brian…”

“Y\n…” he replied with the same querulous tone, prompting her to shoot him a half-hearted glare, and he smiled, giving her a good view of the gap between his front teeth. “We’re both tired. I’m sure you’ll konk out as soon as your head hits the pillow.”

She used the tip of her shoe to drag at the dirt and finally muttered a reluctant, “fine…” and Brian tousled her hair in amusement.

“Good. You can go wait for me in the tent while I smother out the fire.”

She did just that, taking off her shoes and instantly collapsing onto her sleeping bag. She had insisted that she and Brian share a tent as soon as he agreed to go camping with her with the claim that “it would be less baggage” and that it would be a way to stay warmer at night when it got cold, but she knew he probably suspected the real reason was simply that she wanted to be close to him as often as she could.

She knew that the fire was gone when the majority of the light leaking into the space vanished, and this was further backed up when Brian revealed himself and zipped up the entrance behind him, capturing the pair in pleasant darkness. She saw his silhouette lay down on top of his own thin bed and grinned to herself. He appeared to still be adjusting to get cozier, and she curled up into a loose ball, feeling safe. “...’Night, ‘Hoody’.”

He turned his head to glimpse down at her as he processed the reference before snorting and flopping onto his back. “‘Night, N\n.”

[sodamnradd]

I had the lovely @hiyasdoodles create this art for my Dramione One Shots, and it inspired me to write this accompanying drabble:

3 lower-year students (M, L, B) watch (D, H) from afar...

M: Isn’t he fit?

L: Who?

M: Draco Malfoy.

L: Meh. I’m not into blonds.

M: You don’t need to be into blonds to think he’s fit.

B: My mum told me to stay away from him at all costs.

M: Because he was a dead eater?

B: They were called Death Eaters, Marg. And yes, he’s evil.

M: I don’t think he’s evil. He’s nice.

L: What makes him nice?

M: He picked up my books in the corridor the other day when they fell out of my arms.

B: You mean when you purposely dropped them at his feet and stared up at him all moony-eyed?

M: Did not!

B: It was pointless anyway, he’s taken.

L: Hermione Granger is so pretty. I love her hair.

M: You only say that because your hair is dark and curly.

L: It’s still pretty!

M: I thought Death Eaters hated Muggleborns?

B: They do.

M: Not Draco Malfoy.

L: If I were Draco Malfoy, I’d be in love with Hermione Granger, too.

B: You think they’re in love?

M: Haven’t you seen the way they look at one another? Look at them now, his fingers are in her hair.

L: See, even Draco Malfoy likes dark curly hair.

B: Shut up about your hair already.

L: Never mind the way they’re looking at one another. Have you seen the gold necklace she wears all the time now? Bet you he gave it to her.

M: Isn’t he filthy rich? A golden necklace is probably pocket change for him.

L: It’s not about that. When a Pureblood man gives the woman he’s seeing jewelry, it means he’s courting her.

M: You think they’re going to get married? Aren’t they only eighteen?

B: Nineteen, I think.

M: Still rather young, isn’t it?

L: Doesn’t mean they’re getting married tomorrow. It just means he intends to marry her at some point.

M: That’s so romantic. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin. Pureblood and Muggleborn… Why are you laughing at me?

B: Someone’s dreaming about Connor.

M: I was talking about Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger.

B: Sure, you were.

M: Think he’d ever go for me?

L: Hey, if a Malfoy can overcome his ways, I don’t see why Connor can’t. Malfoy’s setting precedence.

B: Those Slytherin boys do worship him. I even saw Damian checking out Hermione the other day. He never used to look twice at Gryffindors.

M: Maybe it’s because Draco’s dating her.

L: Or because she’s pretty and smart.

M: I hope they get married, they’re sweet together.

L: He carries her books everywhere.

M: They’re always snogging in the corridor when they think no one’s looking.  

B: She hexed a Seventh Year for calling him a Death Eater scum.

L: When!?

B: Last week, I saw them on my way to the library.

L: Do you really think he wanted to be a Death Eater?

B: My parents say so, they hate the Malfoys.

L: Do they know he’s dating Hermione? It just doesn’t make sense why he would.

M: Maybe he changed his mind after You-Know-Who was killed.

L: I think he’s too sweet to want to murder Muggleborns. I’m convinced he was forced to take the Mark.

B: He’s not that sweet. You should’ve seen the way he spoke to Daniels in the Great Hall. All haughty and sneering.

M: We all have our bad days.

B: He has more than a few of those.

L: Not when he’s with Hermione. He looks so peaceful.

M: Guys, are we being creepy staring at them when they don’t even know it?

B: Nah, I reckon they’re used to it.

L: Let’s go see if Connor’s at the library. Maybe you can talk to him.

D: They still watching us?

H: No, they’re leaving. Are we really that fascinating?

D: Don’t know about you, Granger, but I’ve heard I’m rather dreamy.

H: Please. Most girls aren’t even attracted to blonds.

D: You’re cute when you’re jealous. 

[writings-of-a-hufflepuff]

A Piece of My Soul

Fandom: The Mentalist or rather the Marcus Pike fandom

Collection/Series: N/A

Pairing: Marcus Pike x GN! Artist Reader

Writer: @writings-of-a-hufflepuff aka @hufflepuffing-all-day-long

Rating: G

Warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Lots of fluff, but there’s that undercurrent of angst as the reader has been hurt before and made to feel less than important so if that’s too much right now that’s okay!

Summary: Marcus has always known that you protect your art, that it is a reflection of your soul and something you guard after being hurt one too many times. He never expects you to share your sketchbooks with him, assumes he will never have the honour and he’s okay with that because he’s happy to just have you. Until, one day, you show him just how much you trust him.

Notes: For me, I always feel like when I share my art with people they’re very meh about it or they are backhanded or even mean. I’ve not had the best experiences when sharing my sketchbooks or my work with people in my life and the idea of someone being so wholly awestruck just by the trust and openness of sharing something like that gets me. So here we go back on the Marcus Pike train because if I could ever explain what I want in a husband, he’s the man.

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Marcus had known of your love of drawing from the first date. You had been a little shy when he’d asked about your hobbies and interests, when you’d quietly and cautiously told him you liked to draw. When he asked for more detail, the mediums you used, the style you preferred, it had opened you up just a little more, his interest making you preen a little. Although still cautious, gauging his reaction to your answers. It had been like seeing a part of your soul that you kept hidden from people, it had made him simultaneously proud and angry. 

Proud because you trusted him, from that first moment, to take you seriously, to listen to your interests and passions and not dismiss them. Angry because at some point, at some time, it was clear someone had dismissed you, made you feel like you weren’t worth listening to, weren’t worth investing time in. It was maddening to think that anyone could make you feel like that, like anyone couldn’t see your worth. 

It was baffling because he found you captivating in all your passions and quirks. The way you ranted and rambled on for minutes, sometimes even hours, about something you were passionate about, never failed to draw him to you like a moth to the proverbial flame. The way you managed to trip over anything and everything, clumsy to a fault, was as endearing as it was concerning and he found himself eager to compensate, to pre-empt you going flying because of a step or a crack in the floor. He found the small things, not just the large things enthralling and enamouring, the concept that anyone might think different was just unfathomable. 

So he worked to cultivate that trust, to show you that he was interested in you and all the things that made you up. He listened when you talked, never told you he was bored or showed a shred of disinterest. He remembered things you mentioned or were interested in, brought you books on the subject or sent you a link to an article he’d seen. 

Watching the way that trust bloomed, the way you opened your heart and soul up to him in little pieces was nothing short of amazing. Still, he knew your art was precious to you, a piece of your soul. Your interests, desires, thoughts, opinions, and preferences are all laid out in pages and pages of thick white paper and red pencil marks. He never pushed it, never asked to see what you were working on or to show him your art, not because he wasn’t interested but because he respected the intimacy of it. You were not some famous painter who put their work on display for the world to see and scrutinise. You were just you, just someone who used art as a form of stress relief and self-expression, someone who guarded their work like they guarded their heart. 

So the little trickles of your soul that you shared with him were enough, it didn’t matter if you showed him it all or only select pieces, anything was enough to tell him you cared, that you trusted him, that you wanted his approval. Not because you needed him to give it, not because he was that fundamental or important, but because recognition from him made you smile, made you feel important. You were important whether he liked your work or not. 

He still remembers the excitement you exuded, happiness blinding and bright and so brilliant, when you’d finished a new painting and bounded to show him. You’d bundled it up safe and made the drive to his house, rushing up the steps so quick, he’d heard you trip before he heard you knock.

You’d been bouncing on the balls of your feet, painting kept within a folder, nondescript, the sort you kept your certificates in. The wide grin on your face, the shine of your teeth, and crinkles at your eyes had him smiling the moment he opened the door to you, leaning a shoulder against the door frame to watch you adoringly. 

“I finished it! It only took me 20 hours but I finally finished it!” You’d rushed inside, pulling him by the arm so fast he had to laugh as he nearly tripped over his own rug. You’d been so excited and so proud as you’d sat him on his couch and carefully pulled the A4 piece of watercolour paper from the folder, plain back to him. 

He’d been patient, watching you with the softest of smiles as your eyes flicked back and forth between him, sat with hands clasped between his thighs, elbows on his knees, and your painting. As you grappled with the gravity of showing him a piece of your soul and not knowing how he’d respond, how he’d behave. Patience was the least he could think to give you, and it had brought the best sort of ache to his chest when you’d shyly turned the painting around to show him. 

20 hours of work and you looked away, eyes focusing on a plant he had in the corner of his living room rather than on his expression or what he might think. You’d been so nervous to show him and he’d taken the time to truly look at your painting. The colours, the composition, the subject, it didn’t ultimately matter to him whether he truly liked it or not, although he did, because he’d love it anyway. He’d love it anyway because you’d chosen to share it with him, when you were oh so private and careful with your art. 

“Sweetheart…” You’d been prepared for rejection, to face the fact that your boyfriend didn’t like your painting, your art, that it was something you just shouldn’t share with him in the future. “It’s amazing! 20 hours? Can I?” He’d gestured to take it, to hold it and get a better look and you’d let him, a little stunned, but overjoyed that he liked it, that he wanted to look at it.

That had been the starting point for you sharing more little bits of your soul with him. You’d bring him finished paintings to look at, occasionally the odd doodle here or there that you completed at work. Not everything, and never your sketchbooks. Those were off limits, something he’d respected because he knew they were more than just a tiny piece of who you were, but quite a large one. Pages and pages of you sat for perusal and to have that rejected would hurt more than anything. So Marcus had been grateful for what little pieces of your art you did choose to share with him. 

He’d always made it a point to show how much he liked your art, to shower you in praise and to make you feel listened to, seen, important. Your art was amazing to him. He was an art history major, he loved art, hence his job, but he wasn’t an artist. He’d never had the patience to sit and develop the skill set and so he focused on the work of others, yours was quickly becoming his favourite. You had your own unique style, something he found hard to describe or explain, but that he’d know if he saw your work. He’s almost certain he’d know if someone tried to pass a fake off as your own and if anyone asked who his favourite artist was he’d probably change his answer to you. 

Still, he had hoped that one day you’d share that last bit of yourself with him. He hadn’t expected to actually happen, just a hope, a little dream, something he thought about at night before falling asleep. 

Certainly not something he expects on date night. 

He’s cooking dinner for the two of you, your favourite main and dessert, because he hasn’t had the chance to see you in a good week due to a hectic case, when he hears the tell tell sound of keys in the front door. He’d long since given you your own, letting you come and go as you please, with the excuse that when he was away on a case it meant you could keep an eye on the place and make sure he didn’t get robbed. In truth he liked having you around, liked that you came over just because you wanted to, that you felt welcome and at home and if he wasn’t so dead set on not scaring you off, he might have already asked you to move in. But, he wanted to take his time, not rush it. 

“Marcus?”

“In the kitchen, honey!” He’s wiping down the side quickly, hiding the fact he’s a messy cook, when you walk in a heavy looking tote bag over one shoulder. It peaks his interest and from the little laugh you let out you can see it on his face. 

“Are you busy?”

“No, it needs a good half hour before I have to check it again, why?” You watch him wipe his hands with a towel and brush at a small stain on his white t-shirt, the one that clings to his arms just right. 

You're nervous, you know he can tell from the way your hands grip the bag straps tight over one shoulder to how you bite your bottom lip. He’s always been able to tell. One of the beautiful things about Marcus was the attention he gave to people, not just people he cared about, but people in general. He learnt everything he could about them, stored it away in his mind, and used it to show them how much he cared, how much he knew them, really knew them. 

“I...I want to show you something.” 

You grab him by the hand, the same way you always do whenever you want to share something, and begin pulling him towards his living room. It’s cosy in here at this time of night, warm light from a couple of lamps, soft blankets thrown over his couch, the ones he’d brought after realising how much you loved a good blanket. It’s a calming thing, to be in here, with him, somewhere you associate with home. 

It often seems so silly to you, just how nervous you get about sharing something with Marcus, but you know it’s not. Know it’s not his fault either. Marcus has never given you any reason to doubt him, but other people have, so you push past the nerves because you do really want to show him and watch his face light up like it always does. 

You sit him down in his seat, and curl up next to him, kicking your shoes off and placing the bag on the ground. He’s so warm and for a moment you just lean into his side, enjoying the warmth of his body and the way he nuzzles a kiss into your temple, nose tracing little lines gently for a moment. He brings you peace and it is that, that gives you resolve and has you reaching down for the items in the bag. 

It doesn’t go unnoticed by you that Marcus places his hands at your waist, worried you might take a tumble off the couch, something you’re prone to. It warms you inside, that he cares so much, that he’s so casual with his affection and so concerned with you and your safety. Even something as simple as making sure he can catch you if you start to fall. 

You come back up with a couple of books in hand, plastered with stickers over the front and a little dogeared at the corners. Marcus doesn’t remove his hands from your waist, just pulls you firmly back against his side and watches as you anxiously smooth your hands over the cover of one of them. 

“I..I wanted to show you my sketchbooks, or well...the two most recent ones anyway. I...I don’t really show people them...but I want you to see them.” Your eyes are so wide and earnest when you look up at him, that he can’t help but cup your cheek in his hand and rub his thumb across the apple of it. God, he never thought...he never thought you would. Always thought you’d keep this little part of yourself private, separate, guarding it like a dragon guards a horde of gold. But, here you are, so earnest, so nervous, so open, telling him that you want to share this piece of your soul with him and he can’t stop himself from pressing his forehead against yours. Can’t stop himself from the gentle nudge of his nose with yours or the slow press of his lips against your own. 

It’s a surprising reaction from Marcus, the way his nose presses into your cheek as he presses a firm but still tender kiss to your lips, the way his hand slides down to cup underneath your jaw, thumb pressing into the hollow there. It’s so surprising that it distracts you for more than a moment, to the point your eyelids take a little bit of time to flutter open after he breaks away, you leaning further into him. 

“What...what was that for?” 

“For trusting me.” He’s so warm and earnest, but still, he’s patient. He doesn’t grab for the books or open them himself, instead he waits for you to pull back and pick one up, settling it between the two of you. 

He waits as you find the courage to open the cover and turn to the first page and every breath leaves him at what he finds there. It is a sketchbook and so it is messy, that’s the nature of it, it is practice and experimentation and you enjoying yourself, and it’s so clear, as each page turns, that this is you in book form. 

Each page is either a confirmation of a fact he already knew about you or a new discovery. It tells him little things like how you prefer to draw certain subjects and the colours you lean towards when you reach for markers or coloured pencils. He’s reverent in the way his fingertips brush the paper and trace over the lines, in awe of the way your hands have worked in tune with your mind to put these things to paper and he can’t actually help the tears that start to well up in his eyes. Because you trust him so much, you’re opening the last part of your soul up to him with only a hope that he will not crush it or throw it back at you, that he will not abuse it. 

“Baby, why are you crying?” You’re so concerned for him, hands pawing at his cheeks, brushing the rivulets away and cupping his jaw to make him look at you. Brown eyes watery but so happy, so in love and he hopes that you can see that, see how desperately he loves you. “Are you okay? Did...did I do something wrong?”

It hurts him so much to know you assume that you’re at fault. That his tears are bad or that they are a product of you doing something wrong, when they’re a result of just how much he loves you and just how happy he is at the trust and faith you have in him, the love you have for him, that you’ll bare your soul. It’s those moments that make him angry at the people before him. Family, friends, lovers, people who took your trust and crushed it, bent it out of shape and tossed it back malformed and damaged. 

“Nooo, no, no, honey. Sweetheart, I'm crying cause I'm happy,” He covers your hands with his own, pulls you impossibly closer, “I’m happy because you trust me enough to show me this and I...I never thought I'd earn that.” 

“Oh...well, I love you.”

“I love you too.” It’s said with a laugh, but not at you, the sort of laugh that’s just a bit of a huff of happiness, that comes from being overwhelmingly happy. It’s enough for him that you come to his house, that you share little bits of yourself with him and that you love him enough to do that at all. 

While dinner cooks, you keep an eye on the time more than Marcus, he continues to flick through the pages. He comments, sweet little things. How something looks cool or how he likes the colours on a page. Each comment thrills you, fills you to the brim with pride and joy, to the point your cheeks ache from smiling. Perhaps to some people it seems understated, boring, the sort of date night that some would hate, but to the two of you it’s more than just date night. It’s a bonding experience, a sharing one. He feels impossibly lucky to look at your work, to have you there leaning on his shoulder, pressing kisses to his neck, impossibly lucky to have a piece of your soul right there in front of him. 

It’s that moment that he knows; you’re it for him. He’s certain. You’re the person he’s going to grow old with, with your sketchbooks in a dedicated bookshelf and he’ll die saying his favourite artist is you. 

                                              ------------------------------

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[ayoalex]

Why is Team RWBY since the beginning present as a dangerous team?

Ok, before I begin this post I have to warn that:

1- I'm not an expert, this is based on my basic knowledge as someone that used to do martial arts as a kid, play a lot of video games and watch a bunch of anime/cartoon or read manga

2- This is going to be a long post, sorry 😞

3- You are always welcome to discuss in the replies or to correct in whatever I could get wrong, again I'm not an expert so don't be shy to call me out. Btw, English is not my first language so it's possible I could have some grammar mistakes.

4- Do not want to see any type of hate for any character 🤨

5- And last, decided to post this here because I prefer RWBY Tumblr community than Reddit one 💀

Let's begin!

When they present RWBY at the beginning of the project we got a glimpse of what they can do individually in the short films know as Red, White, Black and Yellow as well as some aspects of their character, backstory, etc.

As RWBY continued their journey we could see they seem as a force to be reckoned with when together but seem to be lacking in some aspects when they were alone.

The ones that didn't do better alone was mostly Ruby and Weiss while Blake and Yang seems to be able to hold their own alone (tho Blake seems to be in her flop era in the last volumes 💀).

So, let's talk about them as individual first.

Ruby: we all know her, leader of the team and the youngest of them all.

Ruby do pretty well alone when she's fighting Grimms, specially those that aren't that hard to go against. She's basically a prodigy and for that she got into Beacon earlier (and the fact she has silver eyes 😬).

She's the few people in Remnant that use a scythe as a weapon and she's pretty damn good with it; as told by a lot of character using that weapon is hard af so probs for her to be able to be so fucking smooth and amazing with Crescent Rose.

As told by Ruby herself in V1 while talking with Jaune, she did her weapon and here comes her first problem.

Not practical. Crescent Rose is a bad ass weapon and I absolutely love it but it's heavy and takes a lot to use it. It's a rifle as well so Ruby basically has to be a sniper to be able to go well with it.

It's a weapon that doesn't goes well with a team as can get in the way unless the user becomes a support for the team instead of being at front.

This is basically a metaphor of how Ruby is kinda a lone wolf at the beginning and awkward af with people.

But! She later gives some upgrades to Crescent Rose that helps her change the direction of scythe which give her adaptability! Which is completely important!

Now, if I take Crescent Rose away of Ruby what happens?

She's dead bro

Ruby is useless in close range combat, specifically physically one. We can see that in a lot of moments through the volumes.

She usually use her semblance as an advantage, which with her weapon works perfectly but without it is... Meh. It only helps her to speed up.

In Volume 5 Ozpin calls her out for that and then trains her, we then see Ruby being able to actually block and evade attacks without the use of her semblance... Until Ozpin took control of Oscar 💀

She knows basic stuffs, mostly with her defense but she lacks attack.

We don't actively see an improvement of this part in the future as she's seen to struggle keeping up with Harriet. Tho I'm going to give Ruby the fact that Harriet was being emotional and "aaahhh go crazy go stupid" In there.

Tho, Ruby lacks in this she make up by being a quick thinker and strategic.

She's the one that comes up with the plans and she's fast on her feet as well, she knows how to use her teammates perfectly to the point on coming up with duo attacks for them. She use her creativity to be able to defeat enemies as we can see at the end of V6 against the crazy old lady.

In general Ruby lacks close range fighting skills as well hand to hand combat + she can be really reckless and not actually think stuffs through it at first which can lead to disaster (she's getting better tho!)

Weiss: so... Oh boy, the ice queen comes next.

Her first actual win in a solo combat was Marrow if I remember correctly.

So here's the thing, as a solo fighter Weiss is the weakest link because she relies heavily in her semblance, get her someone that can break her aura fast and that's it, she loses.

But her semblance is really REALLY good.

Like she could stand in one place, do her thing and that's it but there's a thing... Weiss is too logical and sometimes narrow minded, her winning against Marrow was amazing and made me proud because she used EVERYTHING in that damn room to her favor. She was creative!

For her type of semblance that's important!

At the beginning she was too STIFF with her semblance but it got to the point where she has learned to be fast on her feet. Use her semblance in a better, creative way AND be a support in the team.

But now, without her semblance Weiss is a good fighter, being a mix of ballet with fencing/swordplay. Really pretty to see and then take off the damn weapon and she's pretty useless.

See a pattern here? Team Whiterose are completely useless without their weapons and semblance, mmmm

Overall Weiss is a freaking monster thanks to her semblance. She has gotten better to it, to control it and stuff, became more creative and less stiff as well as quick thinker but she needs to get better in hand to hand combat... Please, I'm begging.

Blake: ah yeah, our favorite emo cat girl.

So, Blake is crazy. That's it, that's everything I'm going to say about her.

Ok no, but seriously her fighting style is chef kiss

Blake use of her semblance is amazing, like this girl knows what she's doing when fighting.

Her weapons are great as well, like they are sword, a gun, then that freaking ribbon where she goes all Spiderman with everyone. Amazing!

Tho, she comes with an advantage that no other in her team has.

As explained by different characters in the series, Faunus has physical advantage over humans, not only some of them can see in the dark, but they seem to get some characteristics of the animal they are based off.

A good example is how agile Velvet is thanks to the fact she's a rabbit faunus or the way Sun jumps because of being a monkey faunus.

Blake being a cat faunus gives her ton of advantage, she's stealthy, agile, fast, listen better than the average human, etc

Combine that with her semblance, weapon and fighting style and you have an amazing fighter.

But Blake is reckless and that have cost her in the past. Not only that but while she seems to know only basic stuff in hand to hand combat, relies a lot in her semblance and lately she use her ribbon way too much.

That gives an opportunity to the enemy to take her out easily as we saw in her fight against Vine.

I'm going to say that Blake is generally a good fighter and probably one of the best in Team RWBY in general words but lately she seems to focus a lot in her ribbon which makes her an easy target, idk if this on purpose because Blake have always dislike her semblance or it just they don't know how to make Blake fighting style anymore but it kinda annoys me how she has been reduced to a damsel in distress in some fighting scenes.

Overall Blake is a top notch fighter and her weakness are small details that she slowly overcoming.

Yang: ah yeah, here comes my girl (stupid Tumblr mobile isn't letting me putting her name in yellow 😡)

As you guys know I'm a hoe for this girl so I will try to be objective here.

Yang is the strongest member of the team, not only physically but mentally as well.

So, by far she has my favorite fighting style of all the damn characters, I just love watching Yang fight. I think is because I did martial arts as a kid and then some kick boxing in college so idk.

Listen, this girl is so damn practical, her weapons are absolutely genius.

She's probably the few (maybe only one?) Character that actually took an existing fighting style and did her weapon around it + uses her semblance around it which is practical and smart af

Which comes to one of my favorite things of Yang, how tactical she is. Like Yang is what Ruby could be if it wasn't because of the damn weapon.

Like you guys don't get, Ruby weakness is Yang strength.

Yang since the very beginning showed us how of an amazing fighter she is. You thought Ruby is a prodigy? That Weiss is a monster? Blake is out of this world? Well Yang is fucking God.

I know I KNOW, I said I was going to be objective but it just MISS YANG XIAO LONG IS WHAT CINDER WISH SHE COULD BE, I SWEAR TO GOD, THIS GIRL IS BETTER THAN SOME OF THE ADULTS IN THE SHOW.

Ok ok ok

Yang is emotional tho, which cost her a lot (like A LOT, she lost her arm), in the past she was angry 24/7 (still is but baby got it under control 🥰). People are going to say "well not in v1, 2 and 3!".

I'm sorry but that girl has angry issues and the only moment she gets to be angry is when fighting so yeah, she would angry fight everyone and you know what? She still was an amazing fighter while doing so cuz she would kick everyone ass, being tactical about it, find her opponent weakness and absolutely looking hot while doing so.

Anyway, Yang doesn't have like a huge weakness like Ruby or Weiss, literally are small details. She's pretty much versatile as Ember Celica give her the option of shooting at her opponent. Since the beginning she was pretty much one of the best fighters of all the kids, probably coming second after Phyrra.

Her semblance use is pretty good as well, she seems to have a better grasp of it than some of the other kids and know how to manipulate it without overusing it.

Which btw is what made me have like a huge problem with V4 with the whole Taiyang stuff cuz Yang already knew how to fight like he was telling her, so idk I feel that was an insult to Yang as a character because the reason she lost her arm was because of stress, tired, being in battlefield and hello her partner is in danger.

RWBY

Now that I finished with them individually we can see that RWBY has 2 support fighters, 1 versatile and the other one a basically upfront fighter. Which comes in handy a lot of fights.

But it isn't this what makes them a formidable team but it's their chemistry.

Since the very beginning we see they do the most important thing in any type of relationship, communication.

As Weiss has her problem with Ruby at the beginning she end up talking with an adult about it and then getting call out for her poor behavior, that makes her change her approach to Ruby but before all that she did communicate Ruby what her problem was with her which made Ruby to talk with Ozpin and change her approach to study and her team as well.

We see that Yang and Blake goes well since the beginning as well, and they communicate a lot better than Ruby and Weiss at the beginning. To the point that we can see it in their teamwork.

When it comes to Weiss racism the rest of the team communicate her to stop it and then you have Blake and Weiss discussion about it where we got a glimpse of Weiss life in Atlas as well the revelation of Blake being a faunus and an ex member of the White Fang. This makes Blake run away which later Weiss criticized while telling her that they should talk first and communicate better.

The priority of RWBY as a team is communication. Ruby communicate her plans to the rest of the teams, Weiss her feelings, Blake her knowledge and Yang... Ok maybe Yang needs to work in this department.

This makes their teamwork really strong and their bond just continues getting deeper.

Add to this the fact they learn to use each other in a better way, as having both Weiss and Ruby as support helps a ton, Blake to distract their opponents and Yang to finish them off.

A good example of this is probably the train part in V6, where Yang fights all of the Grimms closely, Blake tends to fight them at some distance while helping out and Ruby with Weiss combination of support make the job hard for the Grimms.

This is exactly why JOYR had such a problem with a new Grimm, Yang needs someone to catch her back while she finds a way to destroy the Grimm which is usually provided by her teammates meanwhile RWB didn't had the boost of strength that Yang gives them in battle to be able to finish off the Hound.

Even in duos RWBY are a hard opponent to go against, probably the duo that would have a hard time is Freezerburn as we see in V3 and still I think if you put them fight together currently they would be a duo you wouldn't want to cross lol

They shouldn't have a problem with trios either but usually Yang is the strength of the group and basically the tank so is understandable that RWB had a hard time adapting without her there.

There's a part in the book Before the Dawn where Coco talks about RWBY and how they are a really strong team and even say that while JNPR aren't bad, they were basically carrying on with Phyrra since Jaune wasn't the fighter he is today. (Plus other problems that Renora have as fighters but this is something for other day).

RWBY in general has a great communication between the members, a great leadership, strong bonds and amazing fighters. They know how to adapt to each other styles and some members even complement each other (Yang and Blake).

Other thing that should be talk about its how basically Ruby and Weiss are too similar and too different at the same time to the point that they should clash a lot (which they used to do) but thanks to the fact they communicate their teamwork is amazing and in their own way they make it work.

It really helps that Ruby with Weiss can have the luxury to go upfront against an enemy while having Weiss to back her up which is something she can't do with Yang or Blake.

That's mostly because their teamwork is a metaphor of their own relationship as well as Yang and Blake teamwork is a metaphor of their own relationship.

Usually Weiss is the main support of her team since she's a large range fighter thanks to her semblance which is basically what she gives to her teammates outside of the battle.

RWBY basically fight is how they are with each other outside of the battle as we can see in multiple instances.

Yang being the tank and strength in their fighting style is exactly what Yang is to RWB, she's basically the heart and soul of the team and without her a lot of their attacks doesn't have the strength necessary for it to work as well as we can in V8 how long it took to RWB to know what to do while Yang already knew what she had to do with JOYR. She's the action.

While Ruby is the leader and sometimes call the shoot, she guide the girls through battle and help both with support and action. She usually starts the fight as a sniper until she sees an opening to fight up close which is a thing she actually do with her team. She takes a step back before talking with any of them and helps them navigate through situation in their lifes like promising Weiss to being on her side at Atlas to sometimes intervening between Weiss and her family.

Blake in the other hand is more of a wild card, she's usually Yang personal support as their styles complement each other but in most situations she does it on her own, unlike Ruby, Blake usually is more of an upfront fighter and only being support when Yang needs her which is a thing outside of battle. She usually does her own way, and while she support both Weiss and Ruby is with Yang where we see a more intimate support.

This is what makes RWBY dangerous, their bond and chemistry is something they worked hard to have as they started with difficulties, is a thing the 4 of them appreciate and love, it really helps they know how to communicate and do so to be able to have a healthy relationship between each other.

Right now we are finally seeing a lack of communication between RWBY, specially between Yang and Ruby.

As we all know RWBY is a direct parallel of STRQ which means this miscommunication between Yang and Ruby is important for their future as a team. Is implied that they still have each other back but it's necessary for Yang to open up to Ruby about what's going since this could create a breach if not treated.

Conclusion: stan RWBY and stan LOONA 😌

[shimmershae]

Season 11, Episode 13--Warlords

I didn’t set an alarm or sit up late for this one, lovelies, even with the welcome addition of my beloved, largely sidelined so far this season Lydia and I hate that because I really do adore her.  But I’m still not understanding why they had her throw her hat in with Maggie when Daryl, Carol, and Negan (and recently Aaron) are the characters she actually has some kind of bond with.  Like Lydia and Maggie don’t make sense to me.  The location—Hilltop being where she met Henry—I can kind of see.  But staying behind with Maggie of all people when Lydia has grown to care about Negan?  Just what are you trying to accomplish here, Angela.  Help me make sense of it.  

So yeah.  No Carol.  No Daryl.  More Maggie when we’ve already had an overabundance of her (IMHO) and there’s characters thrown together seemingly for the heck of it.  All of it has me less excited for an episode featuring one of my favorites than I really want to be and I hate feeling meh about anything Lydia because we’ve only gotten crumbs so far this season.  So yeah.  My expectations for enjoying this episode are pretty low.  Here’s hoping they can be exceeded.  

Anyway. Enough of my blithering.  On to the episode in 3-2-1.  

Five seconds in and I’m hoping AMC/TWD pay their snake wrangler a pretty penny because those hot mess express weeds look snaky as hell.  Sorry.  It’s the Southerner in me.  

 Elijah crushing on my baby girl.  Where TF did that come from?  Not that Lydia doesn’t deserve a community full of admirers but still.  Guess it’s like all of Kang’s “romances.”  It happened offscreen.  

 Speaking of that, how happy am I that this current regime wasn’t in charge during Caryl’s infancy because we would have seen them share a look once if at all and next thing you know, before they even truly started, they would have been over and divorced.  It’s almost like Kang can’t write characters meant to be together TOGETHER and I don’t just mean as a ship.  I mean the sweet, everyday (could be couple but are really) just human moments that make all the conflict she throws at these characters actually feel like part of their journeys and not just delay tactics.  

 Okay.  But random on his way to dead guy on horseback was kind of lowkey attractive, lol.  Shallow point, I know.  

 When you watch the opening credits and realize some random redshirt villains du jour and also starring characters have had more screen time this season than the show’s leading lady.  It’s a special kind of disgust you feel.  

 But hey.  At least Lydia’s already clocked almost as much screen time as she’s accumulated all season in the episode’s opening scene. I overexaggerate but gd.  This is a problem.  

 Sweet, sweet hug between Maggie and Hershel.  Poor kid, though.  Sounds like this happens to him a lot.  

 “Getting by is what I’ve been forced to do my whole life.  I was told that it makes you stronger and wiser but it doesn’t.  It hurts.”  Excuse me while I bawl my eyes out mourning Lydia’s lost childhood and innocence.  

 “Asked everyone what they wanted.  Instead of deciding for them.”  I mean, we know Maggie is right not to trust the CW but what Lydia’s proposing or intimating isn’t unfair because Maggie has been going about this in a Maggie Knows Best kinda way that echoes Rick.  

 Cassady McClincy? Where your awards at, girl?  

 “I just want things to be the same every day.”  My poor baby. She needs a hug but they’ve separated her from her Dirt Father, her Not the Mama, and her Asshole Uncle.  

 It’s bad enough having to cosplay Stormtroopers in real, breathing life but in death too? Poor bastards.  

 Aaron running down the highway gives me early ASZ era Rick vibes.  Whatever has my good man gotten himself into and wherefore art thou, Gracie?  

 ONE WEEK AGO—fucking great.  It’s the return of the time cards.  No wonder the show has been something of a hot mess this season.  All the time hops, skips, and jumps forwards and backwards probably have the damn storyboards looking like rope/string art.  

 “God has already prepared the way.  He’s just preparing you.”  M’kay. Father G, was that your work or?

 “…decadence and wild living.”  Okay, Father Savage.  I see you.

 I’m with Aaron, though.  I was expecting more fire and brimstone too.  

 So.  I’m confused.  Is Aaron seeking temporary reprieve at the CW while ASZ is being rebuilt or is he “visiting” Father G?  

 Nevermind. New Immigration Initiative.  Okay then, lol.  

 “They didn’t seem too keen on immigrants when we came in.”  See now.  That’s the kind of stuff we should have seen in 11A instead of all the Reaper nonsense.

 Western border of Virginia—40 people.  

 Question? How are they traveling so easily back and forth between states, lol, because they are falling into the soap opera trap of teleportation more and more lately?

 There’s the kid from the horse. Looks better bloody and I don’t know what that says about me, lol.  

 Aaron having a boss named Carlson.  I thought they said Carlton for a hot minute and pictured him doing the little dance, LMAO.

 Okay.  Carlson is weird AF and Father G is side-eyeing TF outta him with his good eye.  Aaron cringing hardcore has me giggling.  Only that poor clueless kid is like okay this is cool.

 “Yeah.  I’m not doing this.  Places like that usually have some old man with a shotgun just looking for an excuse to kill some dumbass who stepped on his front lawn.”  Father Savage got me about peeing myself, lol.  “Practically screams DO NOT DISTURB.”  

 “No. Because your plan is shit and I don’t want to die.”  LOL.

 Father G means business taking his collar off.  Carlson better watch himself.  

 The way Aaron has cycled back into his original job as recruiter makes me cry a little bit because he was so bright eyed and optimistic about people’s inherent goodness then.  Remember the applesauce?  And our two hot AF soulmates casing him after he was cold clocked?  Season 5 really was the good old days.  

 Oh wow. Look at this chick.

 What’s with all these so-called religious nuts this season?  

 Restaurants, two movie theaters?  WTF? LOL.  The CW people just really don’t know, do they?  

 Imagine Daryl’s semi-feral Dirt Daughter trying to acclimate.  She’d never but Angela really robbed us of the hilarity and poignancy of her trying.  Like she could be showing us the Grimes babies experiencing these things if not Lydia to make the hard stuff hit harder but nah.  She’s throwing more new groups at us every three episodes instead.  

 “Wanted you to see who I was before learning what I was.”  Father G really getting the best lines this episode.  

 This dude saying there has to be hookers, gambling, drugs.  Like yeah.  You know the CW be trying to hide this shit but it exists.  

 Aaron and his bag. He gonna have pictures of CW in there like he did ASZ?  That didn’t work out so well the first time.  

 He’s got a fucking IPhone.  WTF? Maybe that’s where Rick got his? The CRM has to be connected to the CM but how?  

 “An audition! Well, let me get my tap dancing shoes.” Once again, I am wondering why Angela would deprive us of the Oscar-worthy performance that had to be Carol’s audition.  LOL. Guess I’m gonna die mad about it.

 Raiders, murderers, rapists, and a few cannibals—hmm.

 I mean. This dude kind of has a point.  He’s just going to bat for his people.  

 I don’t think I was supposed to laugh so hard at this line:  “Because I got plenty of room on the shelf.  Right next to Billy.”  

 “Wolves. Dressed as sheep.  Speaking lies.”  Again. Can you really fault the distrust?

 “Exactly! What do you have that we would want? This place is a shithole.  Why would we want it?”  LMAO.  Father Savage this episode’s MVP.  

 “Meat.  You want the meat.”  LOLOL.  Especially at Aaron’s incredulous response.  “Cannibals that come in with prepackaged MREs?”  I’m howling.  

 “What a day.” Same, dude.  Same.  

 Carlson!  You asshole!  

 ONE WEEK AND ONE HOUR AGO—Okay.  What’s so important about that one hour?  

 Lance and Carlson in cahoots.  

 “That other thing.”  What is that other thing, hmm?  So Aaron and Gabe are part of Lance’s “surgical solution”?

 Carlson’s former CIA/assassin?  Didn’t see that coming.  

 “You tired of living, Lance?”  What was that weirdness on my screen?  Eww, lol.

 Guns and cargo for what?

 You can’t turn your back on Father Savage, Toby.  

 TWELVE HOURS AGO—DURING THE ATTACK—So Aaron didn’t give the kid the map.  That leaves who?  

 Negan!  I’m actually happy to see you, Man.  

 Okay, though. Negan sending that kid off to get Maggie’s help feels an awful lot like a setup for future shenanigans, i.e. spinoff. Hahaha.  

 Seriously, though. Are the tides really turning that fast on Negan’s feelings about Maggie?  

 NOW—75% of this season has occurred via flashback or time jump so NOW is actually quite refreshing.  

 I like this nameless lady.  I just wish the other characters we love and know weren’t absent so that we could watch her story unfold when it’s the last season.  It’s like introducing OC’s in the last chapter of a fucking tome when all I want to read about is the main characters getting the soft epilogue they’ve more than earned.  

 I can’t believe they have Maggie, Aaron, and Elijah coming to Negan’s rescue.  I understand it’s really Father G they’re trying to help but still, lol.  At least Lydia will be glad to see Negan.  

 Wait.  That was the end of the episode?  Pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I was.  When the preview started playing I was like what?

 Speaking of the preview, it actually looks GOOD.  My faves are returning.  

 Angela’s explanation points—here we go.  

 They’re using the generational divide excuse for Lydia and Maggie’s difference in opinion. I mean, I can see it but also, there’s some stubborn pride in Maggie not using all the tools available to her to keep her community afloat.  

 Maggie kept Hilltop’s door open after Michonne walled off ASZ?  I thought that was Tara because Maggie was already off and about with Georgie but I guess we’ve just forgotten all about her.

 Overall impressions?  

 The episode was much better than I expected.  I’m not saying it was peak TWD.  I think, regretfully, those days are behind us.  But it was toward the top half of the Season 11 heap in that it kept my interest and it felt like it was actually building toward SOMETHING.  

 Lydia has my heart.  I love her and want nothing but the best for her.  Stop making her hurt, Angela, because in hurting her (and Carol)?  You’re hurting me.  

 Gabriel and Aaron always surprise me with how much I enjoy them in episodes together.  

 I’m looking forward to the next episode.  Here’s hoping it surprises me in a good way, too.  

[captlok]

@sirenalpha Look I’m sorry I got mad. If you don’t hate Aang as a character and actually separate him out from literary criticism then that’s lamentably rare in the fandom.

So let’s do the literary analysis thing.

Here’s the previous discussion, for anyone reading (Tumblr dumped this post twice and having to retype it was UGHHH so I finally gave up and made this separate)

https://captlok.tumblr.com/post/638478816737673216/sirenalpha-herebeatla-sirenalpha-oh-my-god-i

You are assigning the character arc you think Aang should have had, not what was actually presented, on purpose, which was the literary conflict type Man vs. Society.

Aang and Gaang oppose Jet’s revenge-obsessed blindly loyal micro-society.

Aang narrowly avoids being killed by another revenge-obsessed person, Hama.

Aang saves his enemy, Zuko’s, life after being told by Society, in the form of Sokka (and the vast majority of people who would agree with him) to instead let him freeze to death.

All along the way, Katara and Aang are challenged repeatedly by people telling them ‘pragmatism,’ ‘revenge’ or ‘justice’ are the RIGHT ways to go about things. And every time, because that is the story they were telling, they win this Man vs. Society conflict.

Culminating in the finale.

A thematic whole.

So you’re right, let’s step back here and keep addressing what’s amiss with your literary analysis, not simply Aang.

If you have at least elevated yourself above people who hate Aang as a person, then again, that’s good.

Aang is told repeatedly by Society to do other things, too, like Joo Dee. There’s another thread that lists all the examples. Aang is a troublemaker throughout the series in the eyes of Society.

But.

Because viewers go in expecting a ‘rise to the challenge’ ‘prove yourself by fighting’ type story, a la testosterone-fueled action hero conventions, they can’t see it for what it is.

(someone else did a wonderful analysis on this, how Aang is an Eastern styled philosophy protagonist in a Western dominated media pool, which people have a hard time digesting. I replied to it in more detail. This pointed retention of goodness through adversity- rather than being hardened by it and embittered and hating those who are aggressors- is not familiar to a lot of gritty, tough-guy Western conventions, either. This is simply not a character arc a lot of audience in the West is equipped to vibe with upon first inspection. Thus the trend in the fandom to dismiss it and call him ‘weak’ for not toughening up.)

Now onto the chakra issue.

Dude we are shown that meditating puts you in touch with your chakras. It should only take 3 more seconds of thought to conclude that this knowledge was gotten with more meditating.

As the old writing advice goes, “Show, don’t tell.”

That in itself, gaining the knowledge of what was wrong, I had no issues with. It was obvious. It was only the physical injury part that took longer for me to figure out, upon a re-watching and paying attention to the wording.

MIGHT this have benefitted from more ‘hey this GAPING WOUND and scarring is disrupting the body’s natural energy flow’? Meh. I guess.

I bet when that blockage was jarred loose, like they do with deep tissue massage, it hurt like the dickens. Acupuncture can also be painful even aside from the needles. Heat from skin and itchy, burning discomfort are reported.

Didn’t come across as unique?

A master healer, Katara, spent weeks on end working on him without his waking up.

‘Show, don’t tell.’

Besides, HE DIED. You can’t get much more ‘unique’ than DEAD.

“but they decided to adapt footloose instead.”

Wow. That’s what you got out of that episode? The purpose of that episode, along with other hints we got throughout Season 3, is that the Fire Nation is oppressive even to its own people. It feeds very small children propaganda to make them blindly loyal to a violent ruler (the puppet show we see Ozai in at one point).

I remember seeing a chilling example of this brainwashing in the real world where four year olds had AK-47s strapped to their backs while calmly watching others aim and miming of violence with adults.

All expressions of divergent thinking, like our boy “Kuzon” who stood up to a teacher repeating propaganda about the deceased Air Nomads, are quickly silenced.

[Sidebar: It also demonstrated that many martial arts styles are interwoven or derived from dance.]

[Which, yes, they should have said that outright, but, can’t be perfect. The fans slobbering over how Zuko looks like he’s breakdancing while doing Northern Shaolin leg sweeps will have to do, I guess. XD XD]

Anyway, I didn’t see anyone in Footloose asserting that actually the Jews had an army and they were threatening.

But if there’s a scene of systematically approved Holocaust denial that I missed, please point me to it.

Now, did the Kataang hog up the spotlight from the worldbuilding? Yeah, and that annoys me. But people would complaining that it wasn’t demonstrated she was attracted to him even more than they already do when they mentally block out this episode and the looks she gave him.

“Show, don’t tell.”

Oh and reciprocating his kiss on the day of the invasion, but again, let’s get back to the worldbuilding and literary analysis. For The Headband, if focusing on romance over other more interesting potential elements were a literary sin, then whole seasons and whole series (and books!) would be on the chopping block.

To then claim that one episode cannot be spent on romance, that’s just short-sighted, in the eyes of literature.

If you want to discuss the whole of Season 3 pacing, episode by episode, then please start a different thread. (I may or may not comment. Feel free to tag me.) I’ve said my piece on the central pacifist conflict of the series.

[teamsarawatshusband]

Word Of Honor - 1st watch insta thoughts - Episode 7

Here's my name overview, in case you're new to this: Zhou Zi Shu = Baby Zi Shu/ Zhou Xu lord guy/alcoholic tanned tragic hero lord guy; Wen Ke Xing = Smirky Xing/Smirky fan guy/Kissy Xing Gu Xiang = Purple Girl/my Purple Love/my Purple Queen Smirklord is my personal ship name for Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing.

Also, here are the previous episodes.

Before we get started, just FYI, I went back to have a look at the red masked ghost guys gang scene with nuts guy in episode 1, and it’s finally confirmed that it's 100% Kissy Xing, because, now that i've been hearing his laughter for some eps, I can't not recognize it. Actually, he’s not just part of the ghost gang, he’s their boss. :O

Okay, so that is settled.

Let’s move on to episode 7:

Luo Mansion. What is that? Where is that? Who are these people? There's one with a joker grin, and several with weirdly upturned eyebrows and darkened lips. Are they from the ghost gang?

And why is everything red, is this a wedding?

There's a white haired woman with long golden fingernails and she's referred to as tragicomic ghost.

Oh it IS a wedding. Something tells me this might not be a voluntary one... Maybe it's the amount of gagged people in cages who don't look joyful.

Is the gagged guy who's gonna get married unconscious magenta leader guy from when that other ghost lady dropped her face?

He's getting married to a memorial tablet? What?

Ah, back to more familiar people in familiar circumstances. Baby Zi Shu is drinking alcohol. Now this I recognize.

But he can't get more because somebody bought all the remaining bottles. Should I say that this has Kissy Xing written all over it?

Ooooh, the kid is there!!! With a-hole-uncle Shen and uncle Zhao. And the kid notices Baby Zi Shu right away, and thinks it's his master. He's better at recognizing people than I am, but he's mislead by Baby Zi Shu's lack of tan and scar. That's a shame. But he clearly misses his daaaaads! Awwwww.

Side note: I cannot stress enough how much I need to focus on not misspelling Baby Zi Shu’s name. I’ve typed Zi Shi, Zu Shi, Zu Shu, Zhu Si, Zhi Shu already... and now I almost typed “Baby Sushi”, because my brain is WEIRD. In case it happens in the future and I miss it, you have been warned. Maybe I should just go with Baby Sushi, because that one would be easiest to remember. I should also change my tumblr handle to “face-blind-and-name-stupid”.

Meh, back to the ghost gang wedding ceremony.

Whoever speaks dies. That would have been a good rule to know in advance, I guess.

So what's this list of the unfaithful? Is it like Santa's naughty and nice list?

Everybody who is unfaithful gets killed by white haired gold finger girl. Got it. Everybody who speaks gets killed too. This seems like such a shady set of rules, I bet more people get killed just for fun.

Ooooh, it's celebrity death match. But with friends of the groom.

I feel like this guy who says that the ghost folks never break a promise, while being a jerk, might be telling the truth.

:O WTH? Did a-hole-uncle Shen just seriously call our kid useless??? He just assumes that our kid is a liar??? The audacity!!! I feel so outraged on the entire fandom’s behalf.

Huh, the kid is eavesdropping on all of it. I feel so bad for him to having to hear this, but at the same time, I feel so proud of his spying nature. He's already picked up some of his adopted dads' talents.

Back to the wedding deathmatch. A red wedding indeed. Everybody's dead.

Two guys talking at Youyang sect, alright, whoever that is, I forgot. But, they have nice dragon decor. Ah the younger guy is the leader of Window of Heaven while the older guy with the mustache is the 5 lakes final boss. Top boss, I mean. I might be playing too many computer games, sorry. Anyway, so Youyang is 5 lakes, also confirmed by the pleated skirt soldiers around. K, k.

So, pretty heaven's window leader guy wants to get the scoop on the glazed armor situation.

Whoa, did mustache final boss guy just really say glazed armor is just a rumor? Does he think people are stupid? Even I know that it's not. Tsk. He makes Window of Heaven sound like a super power spy agency.

Everybody is after our poor kid. Ooooooooh, Baby Sushi is following the uncles plus kid through the bamboo woods. Nice. He won't let the kid get harmed, I'm sure.

There's a girl kid who looks kind of like TopTap (if you're familiar with Thai TV shows).

She seems nice, but... looks like they're just trying to get our kid out of the way to discuss stuff. Pfff, they always complain about him not knowing stuff, but how is he supposed to when he's constantly left out?

"The martial arts world won't be peaceful anymore" LOL, whut? It hasn't been peaceful from the start of the series. What is 5 lakes final boss guy even trying to say?

:O what? Baby Sushi wants to genuinely leave the kid there and thinks he's safe there?

Oh, he's onto the spy situation and Window of Heaven being involved. Cool, cool.

Aaaaand spontaneously kills a spy guy, k.

Wheeeeeeee Kissy Xing is back. Has also been following around. Nice nice.

Ah, the dead guy was from the scorpion gang. And both Baby Sushi and Kissy Xing know. Oh, so Window of Heaven is an assassin organization. Alright, the more you know. Okay!

He's so daring, talking about how everybody is after the glazed armor while wearing a piece of it openly over his clothes. And he keeps hinting at how much he knows about Baby Sushi but never outright says it.

It's always the same with those two. Kissy Xing points out how good a person he is and then flirts with Baby Sushi who then gives him the cold shoulder.

LOL, I love how the subtitles really translate EVERYTHING. A random note of Tofu Pudding, not plot relevant at all, but BAM in your FACE!

(joking aside: I am so grateful for all the subs and translations. Whoever is doing this stuff, you guys will always be my heroes. <3 )

Oh, somebody looked at them, and Baby Sushi recognized him? And Kissy Xing is like a marching band, stomping onto the scene, parading around with banners that say "Look at this glazed armor!" lol.

Ooooooh, Kissy Xing is in cahoots with the merchant lady. He's planned something. This is exciting. Seems like he's trying to set all parties up against each other: 5 lakes, scorpions, window of heaven and whoever else wants to participate.

Okay, so he let that spy guy steal his piece of glass on purpose, right? And it must be one of the fakes, I assume.

Oh, the heroes conference... I remember the name, but what was that again? Was it a 5 lakes thing? Anyway, Baby Sushi and Kissy Xing are gonna be there on uncle Zhao's invitation, alright.

See, when Kissy Xing calls the kid dumb, it kinda doesn't feel offensive to me. I don't know. It just doesn't. It's like somebody affectionately calling their pet dumb or something.

Waaah, there's another beautiful tree. Please don't burn it down this time.

There's some morse code thing going on with lots of people that I don't know. Everybody's drumming on stuff and passing along messages.

:O my Purple Queen. The love of my life. There she is. ahhhhhhhh. <3

She's also drumming on stuff, but I'm not sure it's code with her, might also just be frustration, lol.

There's a bunch of drunk guys and they're requesting the traditional DJ guy to put on some song that probably has explicit content or something, because he doesn't wanna play it.

:O they snatched his daughter from DJ guy! Right under the eyes of my Purple Queen. Ooooh, she's gonna clean up that place, lol.

Yup.

Yeah you show them! Heh.

Oh, she's got herself a fanboy. Who is he?

She still keeps drumming away on the dishes with her chopsticks. Hmm, maybe it is a code after all.

LOL, they're having this awkward conversation about double standards for guys and girls, and my Purple Queen is not having it. She is the best.

Not gonna lie, every time the series cuts back to smirklord, I get all excited.

Ok, Baby Sushi places some... nut or whatever on his chopsticks obviously some code, Kissy Xing watches and looks confused. Oh, and he almost gave away that he doesn't understand the code.

LOL, what is happening? Kissy Xing looks so pissed at my Purple Queen making friends with her fanboy.

Seriously, does he have some sort of beef with fanboy guy? LOL, won't even let the poor guy finish his meal. A+ in cockblocking.

Awwwww, and my Queen still gets it. Pinpointing smirklord in one sentence. Baby Sushi brings out Kissy Xing's humanity. And now he looks sad. It must be true.

Ahaha, "I will pay. A Xu, where is your wallet?" Comedic genius.

Oh, what a clever way to bring the subject to the "thief" guy. Man, Kissy Xing is GOOOOOOD at this. And Baby Sushi is so amused that he admits to knowing thief guy too.

My queen doesn't recognize Baby Sushi. Whaaaaat? I would have expected her to feel the sparks. Oh, wait, no, she does get it. Hehe. And Kissy Xing instantly has to praise his crush's appearance and beauty. Everything's alright again in the world.

LOL, the way she goes right in to touch him. No inhibition. No etiquette. And Baby Sushi is so surprised that he lets her, lol.

Ahaha, Kissy Xing has to stop her from touching his baby. Awww

XD, I can't deal with this. He even flat out asks why he's not allowed to touch.

And Baby Sushi replies with a compliment to my Queen and a rebuff for Kissy Xing. It's funny, but I do feel a little bad for Kissy Xing. He did not deserve that.

LOL, waiter guy wins quote of the day, "Can you all pay first? Then you can touch whomever you want, however you want." This episode is gold, man. Also, I'm all for the touching. Yes, touch each other. Go go.

Heh, nice. Baby Sushi threatens that the money is a loan and he'll expect interest. And Kissy Xing does not seem sad about owing him at all but goes and buys even more food. After all, owing Baby Sushi gives him reason to stay in touch, doesn't it?

Aww, why do they always end on smirklord scenes? I want more. :(

Okay, this was a really nice episode. I can't wait to continue.

What I learned: The ghost gang enjoys torturing people. Kissy Xing is definitely nuts guy (well not learned from this episode, but I still learned it). I need the kid to return to his dads because I miss their interaction, as does he. There's a famous  thief wandering around and he stole Kissy Xing's fake Glazed Armor. The Heroes Conference is coming up.

Goals for future epsidoes: still to figure out how Kissy Xing and Baby Sushi know each other, understand the purpose and connections of the ghost gang and why Kissy Xing is part of them. Also, just generally, get to watch more smirklord interactions. ;)

[badacts]

savouring

@doc-squash made a thing, and then it inspired me to make this thing. it’s like the circle of life, except for fandom

“This is a real novel moment for me,” Hood says. “I’m savouring it.”

“Savour it quietly,” Bruce replies. They’re here for a purpose, and he may not mind it in the strictest sense, but the GCPD lockup is not the place or time for Jason’s irreverent humour.

Dick, at the same time, says, “Savouring what?” 

“Being here with you two and not being in handcuffs,” Jason replies at full volume, as though Bruce didn’t say anything. 

The others would probably snap and snarl at that insouciant reminder. Dick, proving himself, as ever, the most mild-mannered of Bruce’s children, chuckles. “Congrats, Little Wing. Hey, did I tell you about Roy and Donna?”

“What about them?” Jason says. His mask gleams under the bare overhead lightbulbs.

“Traitor,” someone hisses. The cells down here are an echo of Gotham’s greater architecture, all shadows and stone. Sound carries oddly, making it difficult to pin down the source.

Neither of the boys seems to notice, caught up in their conversation. It’s a ruse, but a skilled one. Nightwing and Red Hood are excellent listeners, but Jason Todd and Dick Grayson started young at the art of pretending like they didn’t hear anything even when listening intently.

“Bats neutered you, huh?” comes the voice again, “Big bad Hood, crawling back for forgiveness. Was the grudge all for show?”

“So then Roy tackled her to the ground,” Dick is saying, voice bright with the joy of a good story. Born entertainer, that one.

“You’d think he has a deathwish,” Jason remarks. “So, did she turn him inside out? Is he dead now?”

“You’re pathetic,” the stranger third voice says. “You’re fucking pathetic! You’re not worth shit!”

“The rules were no powers and no contact,” Dick says, “But he already broke the ‘no contact’ rule, so she just went for broke and bit him.”

“She plays dirty with the best of them.” Jason sounds admiring. Bruce suddenly and distinctly remembers the crush Jason had on the older girl when he was fourteen.

“Throwing in the towel for those psychos? You could have had something great, you could have done something for this town, but no. You had to go running back to that bat-eared fuck and fucking Nightwing.”

There’s a shift. Jason bristles, shoulders pulling square. His steps slow.

“Hey,” Dick says, tone softening, “Doesn’t bother me. Swear.”

For a second, it looks like it might end there. Then, “Did Batman make you beg on bended knee to take you back? Wait, just one, or both? He looks like the type.”

“Easy, Hood,” Bruce says. He’s heard it all before. “It’s okay.”

Jason moves. He’s not Nightwing, not Batman - he’s all his own, inexorable. He veers to the left and down a cell, boots silent on the floor. Quick as a snake, he reaches into the next cell along, reeling in a thrashing man in an orange jumpsuit like a fish on a line.

“If you have a problem with me,” Jason hisses, jerking the man forward so they’re nose-to-nose - or nose-to-mask - through the bars, “then keep it with me.”

Then he headbutts him. There’s a distinctive crack of bone and cartilage being forcibly rearranged and a bright burst of blood, and the guy on the inside of the cell goes pinwheeling back with a nasal, “Urk!”

He slumps down on the floor of his cell, dazed. Jason adds, “Asshole.”

Bruce sighs.

It’s impossible to know what expression Jason is wearing under the mask, but his tone is telling when he says, “What? I could have done worse,” as defensive as the thirteen-year-old Bruce first brought home.

“You also could have done nothing,” Bruce says, because it’s true. He keeps his voice mild, because he doesn’t really want to have a fight over this, and nothing starts a fight quicker than Jason thinking Bruce is judging him.

Jason shrugs. “Meh.”

“Wow, Hood,” Dick says from where he’s crouched down to peer at Jason’s victim. He sounds unconcerned. “This is a red-letter day.”

Jason, almost imperceptibly, bristles up again like a startled cat. Without Bruce’s immediate anger, he’s probably expecting to be praised in Dick’s usual effusive, warming way, the kind that makes most of the others squirm in place when they find themselves hopelessly unprepared for that degree of positive emotion exerted on them. 

Bruce, who reacts the same way, had absolutely no way to prepare his younger children for the effects his eldest has on them.

Dick looks up. He’s grinning under his domino. “Someone gets headbutted by you, and for once it’s not me.”

The tension goes out of Jason immediately. “Yeah, you’re welcome.”

“Anyway, where was I?” Dick asks, straightening up.

“Donna bit Roy,” Jason prompts. No one would ever describe him as easily led, but he fits himself happily under Dick’s arm and back into their procession.

“Oh yeah!” Dick falls back into the story like nothing happened. Where he had the idea of basketball as team training, Bruce truly has no clue. 

His boys. He was hardly a father at all when the two of them came into his life: he let Dick teach him how to be a parent by example, and then abruptly had to try teach Jason how to be a kid. Practice makes, if not perfect, at least something a hell of a lot better than he was in his twenties. That’s why Dick is here smiling and telling a story, and why Jason is here at all.

Jason, who he thought he had ruined. No, he hadn’t thought it - he’d been terrified, bone deep, that he’d ruined him. And now here’s Jason at twenty-four, who doesn’t care what a stranger says about him, but who can’t stand to hear a word against them. Against his family.

That’s my boy, Bruce thinks, and only doesn’t smile because he’s in the cowl.

[oojei]

Black Lightning is the BEST WRITTEN Arrowverse show

They don't follow the whole monster/villain of the week thing and they come in chapters

Story is fleshed out, everyone has their own journey, their own stuff to deal with

And yeah that's sometimes (very) stressful, but that's what makes it a good story

The politics and social issues are honestly hurtful to watch because you can see it in real life

Esp the quarantine parts and the occupation? I almost quit because of that

Music is also good like srsly awesome song choices esp during fight scenes and stuff

Oh god the fight scenes too

That thundergrace apartment fight was def foreplay i need more

I love their costumes tbh, i keep imagining Cisco's delight when he meets Gambi

Not just the superhero costumes, okay? Even the civilian ones, esp the villains

Those rich fashion, very nice choices

Also obviously Anissa and Jen's wardrobe too

But the title cards are the best part just look at them

Let me talk about the characters now

Jeff Pierce is such a DAD and i remember that dad talk he had with Barry

I wish i seen more of him as a teacher/principal?

Black Lightning's a bit meh, for me. I think it is the generation gap and the fact that I like Lightning better

The visual effects they use on him, esp that one where he had lightning hoops? Very amazing

Next is Thunder, because I could write a whole essay on Dr. Lynn Stewart so I'll talk about her later

Right, anissa. Tbh i don't feel her that much? Maybe because she's been strong almost all season

She was like this pillar that was confident in herself, in her powers, in what she wanna do and who she wanna be with

Which is VERY AWESOME esp for a woman of color

But idk i just want my characters breaking down and stuff

Like Jen, like Lightning

Tbh I hate her superhero name because it's so similar to her dad

But anyway, i like Jen's journey the most

And. She. Is. The. Most. Powerful.

Period.

I want her to transform to pure energy again just so she can meet gideon and idk ask for make up tips

Her safe space thing actually reminded me of gideon's matrix so

Anyway, her and Khalil are just ugh

Let them be happy together !!!

Also, she and Brandon are just bros oki?

I do like the combination of their powers tho

Which makes me wanna have Jen meet a water-based meta

Maybe Kuasa?

Anyway, Gambi time

Fave old man, i would believe him to be batman

Kinda waiting for a batwoman crossover tbh

But yeah, Gambi is such a badass old man, and I want his sanctum

Special shoutout to TC, let him meet Cisco and Brainy

Oh god TC and Brainy

Obviously TC and Gideon too

Right, do I get everybody on team Black Lightning?

GRACE! I love you I did not forget about you you are amazing with all your scars and trauma and spots and comic book fascination

Please give her a suit

And wake her up from the coma

Remove the order from Gravedigger too, oki? Even though that ASA fightscene was real nice

That's everybody right?

I shall be talking about Villains now

Khalil is first because he uses the line bet villain and hero as a jumping rope

At first i thought he's like Sara Lance but then I realized a lot of people in this show does not stay dead for long

He is such a thirst trap during s3 and i am not complaining

But also my arms wanna try that whole one arm pull ups to the side thing?

Maybe after i actually manage to do a pull up

Petition for him to Salmon Ladder pls

Also that sequence where he's listing the martial arts he knows? VERY COOL

There's one I did not know, that Silat thing?

Anyway, props to Jordan Calloway, he's good as a villain and a nice guy and even the damaged sad boi

At the end of s3 i imagine the Waverider picking him up when he rounded that corner lol

Let him be happy oki?

Next villain, Tobias Whale

That man had such a good evil laugh okay? Very very good. I hate him

And he's such a fancy rich cockroach

Still haven't forgiven him for killing Todd

TC and Todd would've been friends

Or even more (let us not discount that possibility)

Anyway, Lala and Lady Eve, idk they just complicate stuff

But Odell, I WANNA KILL HIM

God he's sooooo ugh

I have so much hate for him and he's still alive so he could very much well be back and ugh

Moving on, Gravedigger is such a well-written villain

He believes he's right, has that special tick that he buries all of victims and his power was awesome too

I want that tbh

Can I talk about Lynn now? Great

I love her, I want her to be my mom but also she is very hot

Christine Adams is a very very VERY GOOD actress, tbh

Her shotgun scenes, caring doctor and then the addiction storyline just *chef's kiss*

Honestly she is awesome and I love her

Imagine the power if she, Lena Luthor and Caitlin Snow worked on some bioengineer medicine

Just ugh, the pretty on the screen

Oh wait, Dr. Jace (RIP) I hated her at first and then when she got to markovia and did that whole how to make friends thing? She's hilarious

Still evil, but I like her

Super smart but dumb about people, that part when she's actually listing down the recipe for Lynn's peant butter cookie

I think I got everybody right? Right.

Let's move on to things I didn't like

Obviously the fact that Anissa and Grace didn't get a wedding like dude that is so unfair

And now Grace is in a coma

In season 3, where is perenna?

Also why did Henderson have to die

Somebody revive him pls

I think I got everything already and I am SLEEPY AF sooo

GO WATCH BLACK LIGHTNING!

[topconfessions]

[ask] Hi, I hope this doesn't come off too harsh, but I just had to say something: Just because someone is a public person doesn't make it okay to talk about their private life/mental health issues etc online. To "diagnose" someone you don't even know personally & to do it publicly is just plain disrespectful & could be incredibly harmful. I understand that you worry about top's wellbeing, but honestly, his mental health is none of your business & to gossip about it'll do more harm than good.

Meh, honey thanks for sending this but I feel absolutely 0% offended. I feel nothing from what you've said. Allow me to me to be brutally blunt and Frank with you because you like you were born after 96-98 - this is the internet. Again, this is the INTERNET. You have absolutely no clue nor recollection of what has been said and revealed about many celebrities both American and Asian on the internet. I won't expose websites and forums but I've seen and heard over 15-35 cases of dirt being spilled and discussed about a celebrity / public figure that was later deemed TRUE.

This is a fact sweetie. Miss me with the fluffy policing of what to do cause I'm brutally hard on kpop fans cause quite frankly, 79% of y'all are sheltered and dont know Jack shit about the real world when it comes to industry dirt and secrets. I implore you personally to grow some thicker skin, a more open mind to knowledge, and research.

This is more than kpop this is more than regular people - what has been said here whether from me or someone else is no different than what has been told about Britney Spears, Cardi B, Beyonce, Rihanna etc etc. Just a few weeks ago on a forum an industry insider who worked for Def Jam records exposed some old info abour Aaliyah, Diddy, Russell Simmons and Kimora etc.

Said executive spilled some lame details most of us already know with R!h R!h Fenty Beauty herself banging thats 70s show guy Ashton, which was something Rihanna denied and denied. Tea has been exposed and discussed about her unfortunately being pregnant and miscarrying with that middle eastern man's baby. That BF she broke up with which is why she suddenly gained weight all of a sudden (among other things) but according to leaker, she went into depression cause she blamed all of her heavy smoking weed days (which she does) and partying on losing the baby (when it was probably stress from the problems she had with Hassan anyways)

Point is: I know of too many stories that were literally told before the media of any type spilled that became as true as the media said it. You need to understand and accept the fact this life. Before I've ever touched this damn blog before I was even born the art (I hate to call it that) of this whole thing been around. I know mega tea about that dead celeb Michael Jackson from default cause old people know the tea and tea has been out before the internet was invented.

Like I bet you all didn't know The comedian eddie murphy is actually bisexual / gay and came onto Michael once after an awards show, trying to kiss him. Michael (this was bad era btw so before / right on the cusp of child allegations) Told him to stop and pushed him off. Michael and Eddie were never seen together sense. Lets not forget the tea that in the way you make me feel music video, his manager Frank the fat white guy FIRED Michael Jackson's video girl Tatiana thumbtzen for kissing Michaelm this has been age old industry dirt discussion everywhere and anywhere with multiple speculations but it's been denounced as Frank firing the girl behind Michael back. And celebrity managers CAN fire people without a celebrity approval. Mariah Carey manager Stella who was a wack job herself and tyrant fired people up and down without Mimi approval. Lots of drama was talked about with her until it was later confirmed when Mariah finally ditched her that she was trying to black mail Mariah and say she was lesbian and sexually harassed her via showing up naked in front of her etc etc.

Ohhhh lets not get into the whole JLO and Mariah beef with it being exposed now that JLO ripped off mant artists and is actually industry plant. Lets not get into how Ashanti actually sang I'm real without much vocals credit on the song and some of us JLO hits were NOT Jlos songs hut songs stolen from Mariah and gifted to JLO by Mariah abusive ex record label husband Tony Matola who screwed Michael Jackson over too. This info is on the same level as TOP discussion and His life.

By your logic that youtube channel Honest needs to be closed down then. By your logic the beauty community gossip channels like Rich Lux, pettypaige, and to some degree jefree star himself and all the gurus need to be gone as they've participated or said things that may hurt people feelings that weren't kept private..

Or lets not talk about open secret information that will smith and jada pinketr are swingers and Jada recent admission that she doesnt know her husband at all is hee truthfully admitting her disconnect and not her being funny for the sake of reflection for red table talk. Lets not discuss Gigi hadid doing coke and being ditzy chosing the wrong guy according to her mother. Lets not talk about Kendall Jenner being addicted to laxatives and doing drugs herself too ON TOP OF the open ended speculations about her being lesbian and going on a Leo DiCaprio route with bearding ala her particular choice of back to back basketball players with same physical features and personality. Lets not discuss the crazy rumor that Kim Kardashian has dudes she has sex with on the side behind kanye back (reportedly he is aware of this) and ks actually sleeping with that lawyer guy who is always raving about her, the black lawyer with the glasses who is helping her with the law studies and prison reform. Lets not talk about Kylie Jenner being addicted to pain killers and keeping a deal on stand by being high most of the time cause she needed meds to recover from most of the body plastic surgeries she had and the shape up after having stormi.

Let's not talk about Jessica Jung being sponsored about her sugar daddy boyfriend Tyler Kwon. Yes, Jess is a spoiled girlfriend as they say in the sugar Bowl. They didn't combine assets or nothing proper and detached like that he is funding half of her stuff and she got major connects to get her business started the same way a lot of other idols have. Lets not talk about how on porn hub many Korean actors private audition videos for roles were leaked including infamous Seo Ha Joon, the story that broke out on netizeen buzz and all the other sites where he was secretly filmed without his consent masturbating naked in his bed. I found out that ACTUALLY he wasn't chatting with a girlfriend or boyfriend it was an industry executive who was making him do certain poses and follow certain orders cause he needed to impress the exec for a chance to get sponsored for a role. He is wearing red underwear in the video. I've seen at least 3-4 jerk off videos (I didn't watch for enjoyment it was tough to watch but I needed to sort out the similarities) and I found that each actor in said jerk off videos behaved just like Seo Ha Joon. Way too exactly like him for it to be a trend in masturbating show off and they all wore certain items that were too specfic like Sri Ha Joonm anyways execs make these male actors who are C and D list do this stuff.

This is Koreas verison of male casting couch just a small version. Those videos get leakes after its over for whatever reason. Also please tell me why there are numerous supposed idol sex vids leaked on porn hub that may be some SM idols participating in gay orgy sex and gang bangs. If more them then honey its surely some poor rookies.

let's not talk about the ghost busters soundtrack on our own for the 2nd original movie being made by Bobby browns brother saving his ass writing the song himself with a friend while Bobby was raw fucking at least 3-4 models / groupies in the movie's trailer on set. Lets not talk about Janet Jackson turning hobby brown down when they were young ( after the control album did so well) cause her father Joe didnt want her dating a black man let alone a dark skin black man which rangs true in what actually occurred with Michael and all the siblings down the road.

Bet you all didn't know if Janet didn't punk out and deny Bobby a chance at dating that Whitney Houston would still be alive today possibly. Either she'd still be alive or maybe even dead sooner. Who knows. But Bobby Brown met Whitney at the awards show where she got bood oblivion when he told his brother he wouldn't date anymore famous women and thats wherw Whitney came onto him. I'm just saying Janets denial of this guy changed history due to the decisions people took as a result of it.

And everyone with sense who is in the know knows that Jim Carrey is a lunatic behind closed doors the only hear say I don't believe is ariana grande being his secret sugar baby but I wouldn't be surprised if he did sponsor her. Lets not talk about a blind item citing that Lisa from blackpink stole a choreography from a choreographer and never gave credit to said dancer nor paid said dancer. Let's talk about our fave turtle Jesse McCartney butchering his face in an effort to stay young by visiting some bad docs and getting too much fillers / plastic surgery on his face to where his face looka worse and not the same at all if you look at Instagram photos and videos on his youtube channel. He looked great last night on the mask singer but that's all studio lighting and maybe his face settling in.

Anyways sweetie the point is get over it and use some logic. Whats being discussed here js all hypothetical and technically to correct you I've always used wording such as allegedly, in my own opinion, in my POV or supposedly. I never state shit as a fact. Period. P.S sweetie you don't know me.

You don't know if I have a degree and license & certification in the psychiatric field to diagnose anyone. I've never revealed what career& areas of profession are. So technically that whole diagnose thing, which sounds yawn worthy like a stereotypical response If read on allkpop or netizeen buzz is tired and hypocritical. You're making ana assumption that is no different than what we're doing. I could be professional psychologist for all you know. Even then its not my place for that never is and never will be nor do I even care for it to be cause I don't give a fuck about TOP to that degree to deem her ill or not. But sweetie learn your lesson.

You sound silly to me cause you obviously don't know anything about how the industry as a global whole works. I'm not even trying to sound pompous or pretentious cause I'm not. But kpop is fucking weird to me now cause its like you adults act like you're living in a bubble. Wake up!!!

Whatever you're trying to give me the moral finger wag about is nothing and laughable cause this is just ad permanent oxygen and the food we eat. Get over it and toughen up. Edit: also to say it's none of MY business is to say its none of TMZ, Huffington Postb Radar online, netizeen buzz, Omaha no they didn't and allkpop business to say anything about celebrities. P.S use this quarantine to do some research yourself. You'll ton of dirt being spilled that is 10x worse than our harmless discussions that is all propable. Again please grow up. It's 2020. Once you're a celebrity I hate to say it you belong to the public and people will find out the dirt and dish it.

[19-queenbee-97]

I Knew You Were Trouble | Stray Kids AU

Chapter 1

Warning | None(?)

Word Count | 1.6k

a/n | When fixing these I probably shoulda done it in order but meh. As i said in Chapter 2 this a/n is to ask y’all to let me know if i need to add a warning for anything. 

~~~~~~

Late night classes have always been the worst. Late night classes with Mr. Park are on another scale of bad. Everyone is already tired and ready to go home to their nice warm beds and significant others, if they have one. But on Thursday night’s it was made even worse by Mr. Park droning on and on about how one person beat this other person in some presidential race 70 years ago. It’s safe to say history is my least favorite subject but it was one of the conditions my parents set when they agreed to allow me to have an art major. I get to follow my dreams but I have to have a minor in science and history. I love my dad but I resent the fact that he wants me to follow in his footsteps and be a history teacher. At least mum only asked that I take science. That at least is useful in multiple professions.

Today seems to be no different in that ninety percent of the students are almost asleep at their desks, five percent are on their phone and the last five were working on one assignment or another. Mr. Park didn’t seem to notice that no one was paying any attention to the lecture and continued to drone on about some president from 1963 when he just stopped. Everyone still conscious froze at the sound of the door opening. That’s new. Almost as one every head turned to the newly opened door to see who it was. I assumed it was going to be another professor since no sane student would be out and about unless they really had to be and even then I doubt anyone would want to be here of all places but low and behold there he was all his tattooed and pierced glory.

His hair a mess of brown that looked annoyingly perfect. Wearing a black button up and ripped black skinny jeans looking far too good for a nine pm class. I’d never seen him in this class before but I heard hushed whispers coming from the row behind me. “Is that who I think it is?” Some unnamed classmate whispered to her seatmate who I assume is her friend. “It is. I didn’t know he was in this class.” The boy replied. “Neither did I. I’ve never seen him in class.” At least I’m not alone in that sense but they, at least seem to know who he is. “Mr. Bang. I’m glad to see you’ve finally deigned to grace us with your presence.” Bang? “You’re only, oh I don’t know” Mr. Park looked at his watch. “Five weeks late.” I could feel the disdain radiating from the new guy. I don’t exactly blame him though. It is Mr. Park. He just rolled his eyes and began to search for something, an open seat I assume.

Mr. Park didn’t fight the fact that this Bang someone just ignored him and sat down. That’s new. I remember in the first week some kid named Jaehyun got a whole ten minute lecture on the virtues of being on time for class. But this guy shows up now, FIVE WEEKS into the semester and Mr. Park just glared for all of ten seconds then went back to his lecture. Bang found a seat two rows in front of me, sat down, and pulled out his phone. I tried to go back to my assignment. I really did, but my eyes kept straying to the back of his head. He seemed to just, radiate a dangerous aura. Even from two rows behind him it felt like he was a predator and I was his prey. I quickly looked back at my books when I saw his head turn back. “God he’s so hot. Maybe I should get his number now that I have a chance.” The same girl from before was saying to her friend. “I wouldn’t. Haven’t you heard the things going around campus? You’ll probably end up dead if you get involved with him.” He replied in a voice so low I barely heard him. Well that’s terrifying. “I know what they say but who knows if any of it is true? All the rumors are probably from guys that are jealous. I mean Chan could get any girl he wants.” While she has a point, that feeling I get from him makes that seem unlikely.

As I was packing my things I could feel eyes burning into me from his direction but I just ignored it until Mr. Park announced the end of class. So he noticed my staring then. Well that’s just great. As I followed the flow of students leaving the lecture hall, I started to regret not riding my bike to class so I could get back to my dorm room quicker so I can go to bed sooner. Lost in my thoughts as I was I didn’t notice that it was awfully quiet even though I was surrounded by other students. A hand on my back bought me back to the present. Looking over my shoulder I saw the only person in class that I actually interact with often. I guess you could say we were friends. “So that happened. I can’t believe the Bang Chan just randomly showed up out of nowhere. I swear I nearly had a heart attack.” So Lisa knows him as well. Seems I’m the exception not the rule. “I mean, sure, but who is he? Why is he such a big deal and why was I hearing that you’ll probably die if you interact with him?” Now she’s looking at me like I have three heads, great. “How do you not know who Bang Chan is? He’s infamous around here. You remember that DK kid who used to sit next to me before he just up and disappeared?” We had somehow made our way to a bench near the lecture hall and we sat down. I feel like I should have waited until tomorrow to have this conversation. I don’t think I’m getting to bed anytime soon. “Vaguely.” He was a bit of a joker but I never really paid attention to him, I just remember how loud he was. “Well people say that he and Chan got into a fight and he ended up in hospital for a few weeks and hasn’t come back to campus since. Some people think it might’ve been bigger than that though. I’ve heard rumors that Chan is part of some gang and DK had borrowed money or something from the gang and didn’t pay it back in time.” Again that’s terrifying. “Has any of this been proven or is it just hearsay?” If it were true, it would explain the feeling I get from him but also if it were me, I would hate for people to think the worst of me while having no actual knowledge of who I am. “As far as I know, no, there’s no proof that he’s done anything but can you honestly tell me that it doesn’t make sense?” Well. “No I can’t but I’d still rather have proof before I jump on the band wagon of he’s the bad guy. Mind you none of this matters because I have no plan of interacting with him. I’m here for my degree and that is all.” She looked doubtful. “Anyway, it’s nearly 11 and I have a lecture at 10 so I need to get back to my dorm to sleep. I’ll probably see you tomorrow.” As we stood the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, I looked around us but couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary so I chalked it up to the wind. Lisa leaned in and gave me a hug and told me to be careful going home. “I will, you be careful as well.” I said waving and heading in the direction of my dorm.

Wow it’s cold. “I should have brought an extra jumper.” I mumbled to myself. The hairs on the back of my neck were still standing and I felt like I could feel eyes on me coming from every direction. “Stupid Lisa and her stupid ghost stories. Stupid Chan and his pretty and terrifying self. Stupid me for not bringing an extra jumper or riding my bike to class.”  I continued to mutter about the stupidities of the world the whole way back to my dorm. I felt ten times better as soon as my dorm building came into view. “Finally.” The relief from the cold was very welcome as I stepped through the doors into the heated entryway. Shuffling to the elevator feeling absolutely dead I pressed the button for my floor and relaxed for all of a millisecond when I saw a silhouette in the dark through the glass doors I just entered through. With my heart beating a million miles a minute and my eyes the size of saucers the elevator doors closed and it started moving up. How long was I being followed? Were they there when I was talking to Lisa? Why were they following me? Who was it? With a million thoughts running through my head I finally reached my floor and I rushed to my dorm, hurried to unlock and open the door. I locked and bolted the door and rested my back on it. After I calmed down I went to my bedroom and started gathering my toiletries so I could have a quick shower before bed. After a quick ten minute shower I dressed in my pajamas and set my alarm for eight o’clock. I relaxed into my pillow ready for a nice deep sleep that never came.

[gemsofgreece]

Hellinikon: thoughts

Hellinikon is a vast area in the southern suburbs of Athens where the old airport used to be. After the international airport was relocated, the area was used for sports venues during the Olympic Games in 2004 and then as a refugee camp. The area  was eventually abandoned which essentially turned Hellinikon into an expanded dead land. There have been a lot of discussions for investments in the area throughout the years, which were delated because privatization has traditionally not been well received in Greece (I both agree and disagree with this negative sentiment) but recently the land‘s been bought by LAMDA Development which belongs to Greek multi-billionaire Latsis family. LAMDA Development has publishized all the plans for the urban regeneration and the environmental upgrade of the area for quite a while. Despite not being familiar with the region, I was always interested in the developments of the Hellinikon issue and I thought it would be fun to just lightly rate the benefits and flaws of the huge project. And it is huge indeed, I recently found out the whole region is three times as big as Monaco and twice as big as Central Park in New York. Or, maybe, Monaco is that small. Well. Nevermind.

The Marina

Features: 

A marina that accomodates 337 moorings up to 80 meters.

A 6-star hotel in front of the marina.

Retail shops and entertainment venues. 

Thoughts:  Okay, a marina is not a big deal, especially amongst the (how-many?) marinas that Attica has. To my understanding, this one is going to be a large and particularly upscale one. Entertainment venues are to be expected but I am a bit sceptical about the retail shops. However,  YES to the 6-star hotel. I don’t mean Greece should be flooded with 6-star hotels - not at all - but the country relies on tourism so much that having at least one self-acclaimed 6-star hotel is probably good for the... prestiggggge XD  

Rate: 4 / 5

The Integrated Resort

Features: 

high-rise hotel 

state-of-the-art Gaming and MICE facilities

Thoughts: A luxe hotel just behind the 6-star hotel? Is there a crying need for it? I’m not that against it being high-rise and a Casino though. The Casino in Loutraki is somewhat far and the Casino in Mt Parnetha doesn’t cater to sea lovers. And this one will surely be a brand new posh thing so if you want to lose your money by the sea, this will be your new dream place I guess lol

Rate: 4 / 5 

The Marina Residential Tower

Features: a high-rise tall building with 200 apartments

Thoughts: It sounds stupid and unimportant but I actually like this one. If non-Europeans read that, well long story short Greece (and most of Europe) does not have skyscrapers for reasons that are associated with the region’s historical monuments. But if this building is not visible in the horizon from the Acropolis (most likely, it’s quite far), then I like it and I am all for it. 

Rate: 4,5 / 5

The Beach

Features: free-access 1km long beach with 50 m average width

Thoughts: A beach in Greece, a drop of water in the ocean. However, it will be free-access (who would save them from the wrath of the nation if it wasn’t? XD) and it’s surely a long beach (I still prefer our trademark coved bays though.) I can’t think of negatives, it’s what you’d expect. 

Rate: 5 / 5 

The Aquarium

Features: the new “world class” Aquarium, some sources say it will be the largest in Europe and part of it will be underwater

Thoughts: The only decent aquarium Greece has is in Crete island and still it cannot compete with the good aquariums around the world. Should Greece, a country so deeply associated and dependent on the sea, lack a proper eligible aquarium? Okay, it depends on what someone thinks of aquariums. If it’s more like what you’d call a wildlife sanctuary, I support it. Let’s take for granted that it will fit all criteria for health care, endangered species preservation (when needed) and ideal conditions for the hosted sealife as well as have primarily an educational purpose. The site says that the Aquarium will complement the existing Ocean Centre of Research & Technology. It sounds hopeful and sensitive.  If these are the actual designs, I freaking love them.

Rate: 5 / 5 just don’t disappoint me make it good and eligible 

The Seafront Area

Features: 

Beach villas

Luxury hotel

Marina for small boats

Thoughts: ...What...more luxury hotels?!  I assume the large marina will be suitable only for big boats (for super rich dudes) but somewhat rich dudes have rights too. This corner is kept for somewhat rich dudes. 

Rate: 2 / 5 it would be 1 for pointlessness but we stan somewhat rich dudes

The Exhibition Precinct

Features: 

transformation of the old airport into an Aviation Museum

renovating the Eero Saarinen building of the old airport to an Exhibition Center

Thoughts: The renovation is definitely needed but I don’t know what good a vague exhibition center will do for Athens with its already existing exhibition centers. Maybe I am wrong though, this whole area aims to be upscale so they ‘ll probably have plenty exclusive exhibitions. The Aviation Museum is a HUGE thumbs up, I love that they respect the history of the place and they incorporate it to the new project.  BTW this sculpture in the design is from another country and I hope they WON’T bring something like this here too, no offense

Rate: 4 / 5  

The Metropolitan Park

Features: supposedly the biggest park in Europe and one of the biggest coastal parks in the world and will include lakes, arable land (?!), thematic regions and interconnection with all other areas. 

Thoughts: This is of course necessary at the least. Athens needs some greenery badly. Urban areas lack large parks. I hope it will indeed be as expanded as they claim. I also hope Latsis will have a guard in every corner though. Urban green places sadly don’t have a lot of luck in Greece and I am already pessimistic. 

Rate: 4,5 / 5 because of my pessimism

The Sports Facilities Complex

Features: what the title says

Thoughts:  I don’t know, I technically can’t be against sports facilities but what Athenian will get out of their way to reach Hellinikon to play sports... IDK I may be thinking with my provincial mind. Obviously, they target wealthy tourists more than Greeks anyway which is what irritates me.  It says they will host professional teams and international events though. They will also restore the Olympic facilities that are located there which was absolutely necessary. Hmmm I don’t know, I am as indifferent for this as I am for sports in general, so maybe don’t listen to me.

Rate: 3,5 / 5

The New Urban Innovation and Business Centre

Features: 

educational facilities and research institutions

student campus and housing

model business park

residential developments

hypermarkets, biggest shopping center in Athens

hotels

Thoughts: Yes, yes, ok, meh, no, no. The thing with the hotels starts becoming a joke. Does Athens need a bigger shopping center? I would replace the shops and hotels with simply more park. The campus and research institutions save this. 

Rate: 3 / 5

The Mall at Vouliagmenis Avenue

Features: Another Mall

Thoughts: The site calls it “Shopping Center” so I just hope it is the aforementioned one, simply in a detailed description because I don’t dare imagine two massive shopping centers next to each other. Again, it’s a no, even if things work a little differently in Athens, overall I would say that Greek people and “hypermarkets” and malls don’t get along very well. Greeks always prefer their local shops downtown or even the posh shopping streets but hardly ever the Malls. (Or, at least, a curse seems to have fallen on nearly all these shopping complexes in Thessaly.) Thus, this shopping center that is quite far from Athens downtown and also has Glyfada’s upscale shops right next to it (and the future retail shops in the new Marina) will have a lot of competition to face from the locals. Too much ado about nothing.

Rate: 1 / 5 one point if they make it pretty 

Let’s see if they pull that off...

[bigskydreaming]

Garrett is definitely obnoxious enough to where he would have his shadow do pantomime annoyingly. Garrett definitely plays up how dangerous his shadow is, lets rumors spread about how it totally assassinated some rich fuck when really it was Violet. Theo is rubbing his temples because he won't shut up

LOLOLOL. And everyone who really knows Garrett and how his magic works knows that he’s full of shit and Violet’s the real dangerous one of their duo. And Theo’s constantly mumbling to himself, like, arguing the pros and cons of just fucking killing Garrett despite how useful he is. He’s like ugh, if only I could just figure out where the seat of his magic is so I could steal his shadow for myself, and he’s always contemplating like….okay, there has to be someone down in Answers Alley who could tell me how to kill that little asshole in such a way as to let me absorb his magic….I just can’t decide if its worth admitting that I don’t actually know how to do it or how to figure it out for myself, or potentially risk letting someone in on how my own magic works if they don’t already know that.

Plus he’s aware of the possibility that like, even if he did find someone who could give him the right answer there, they might just lie or not tell him because y’know….they don’t like him either.

And some days he’s just like fuck it, I can’t listen to one more word from that little shit, I’m just gonna kill him and be done with it, nothing’s worth this and there are plenty of changelings with like, scrying magic. Only stopped by Tracy pulling him back and pointing out; “Yeah, but you’d have to convince them to work for you first, and that’s easier said than done. I mean, I’m your right hand lieutenant and I’m mostly just meh on you myself.”

Theo, acidly: Thanks ever so much for that.

Tracy: Any time, boss!

Anyway, speaking of Answers Alley, the street sandwiched between Mercy Row and the edge of the Seventh Circle district, with one end of the Alley running all the way up to the Rose’s Garden right at the very heart of Bordertown, and the other end letting out in Shadowsmeet (the roofless warehouse turned ampitheatre that houses Jake the Drake, and where changelings gather for a kind of 24/7 street fair that showcases all kinds of art from the tangible expressions like painting and sculpture to music playing, dancing and storytelling and theater) -

Some of the Changelings found in Answers Alley - Aaron, Melody, Eloise, Rashid, Hiromi aka Compass Rose, and Jackie:

Aaron - an eighteen year old black boy whose body is covered in scrolling gold script from all kinds of different languages, the texts of books, scrolls, and tomes that have been lost to history. The text on his body is always relevant to whatever question he was just asked, information that’s applicable or relevant if not the direct answer itself, but it will vanish and be replaced by new words the second another question is posed to him, and even re-asking the first question isn’t guaranteed to bring back the original text instead of more linked text pulled from other sources. 

Aaron always knows how to read or understand the words on him, even if they’re written in a language that he doesn’t otherwise know, which means that he’s still usually the only one who can give a person the answers they’re seeking (and assuming he even wants to). But just sneaking a peek at his arm isn’t going to help anyone when the words on it are from a dead language that hasn’t been read or understood in millennia. Aaron’s both the answer and the key to understanding it.

Melody - a twenty-two year old, mostly mainstream appearing Latina changeling with brown skin and eyes and dark, curly hair offset by two sharp silvery horns that make a V shape like a kind of stylized tuning fork. Her only other visible change is that her ears have a pointed elfin shape and natural holes in them up and down the cartilage like she has multiple piercings in them and just wears no earrings. But with her, the true change and magic isn’t seen, but heard - its almost never completely silent when she’s around, because the very air around her seems to constantly hum when anyone is speaking in her vicinity at all. How harmonious or not the ambient music her magic produces around her is though, is entirely dependent on whether its truth or lies that are being spoken within her exceptional hearing range. 

Like most changelings, her magic is only fully accessible to her….to everyone else, the song surrounding her might be pleasing or not, but only she has the magical sensitivity needed to detect the slight changes in her song, enough to pinpoint when a lie is spoken or a truth is told. But the real gift of her magic is that its attuned to universal truths rather than just perceived truths….meaning she can detect whether something said to or around her is true or not regardless of whether or not the person who says it believes it to be true…..thus making her a sought-out changeling not just for settling disputes, but for anyone who seeks to know whether something they’ve been told or believe is actually true or not. 

The more specific the question though, the more definitive her answer for them is. She’s not good with settling matters of philosophy or religion, because as she puts it, most everything stemming from those have at least an element of truth to them, and so those kinds of questions usually prompt a veritable symphony around her, with so much harmony and discordance both, that its all but impossible for her to declare anything definitive. But personal truths, especially ones with a finite yes or no answer, she excels at - such as if someone relates a memory to her and asks if they’ve remembered it correctly or if there’s something about what actually happened that eludes them, that sort of thing.

Eloise - a dreamy, absent-minded seventeen year old white changeling of French descent, whose ‘shop’ is set back from the rest of the street a little ways, intersecting with one of the many canals that criss-cross Bordertown and allow the aquatic or amphibious residents to come and go between the mainland of it and the undersea neighborhoods that make up Sub Francisco. Her skin tone is a pale pink coral hue, and instead of hair she has a voluminous head of white sea-foam that appears and acts as if its a long, thick tangle of hair. Her shop is a fairly large one story room that’s mostly filled by the waters from the canal with the exception of just enough floor by the front entrance for most visitors to stand on while visiting her, assuming they’re not aquatic Changelings themselves.

Her magic, and the reason for her almost constant daydreaming, is that her magic makes any water she touches a scrying pool that plays out visions of whatever location she pictures. She doesn’t have to have visited herself, she only needs a point of reference for her magic to hone in on…..which can even just be someone’s description of a place they wish to view. Then all it takes is for her to sweep one languid hand through the water around her and the whole surface will shimmer and then show that place and whatever’s happening there, not as a static image but as though watching it on video.

There are a couple of caveats to her magic, same as anyone else’s…..people have to be careful when asking her to show them what’s happening currently in a place, that they describe something about it that’s true of now for her to hone in on…because her magic can just as easily show those places in the past, and if they’re describing from memory, what Eloise shows them might actually be something out of date or no longer relevant. But then again, this also allows her to show specific events that have already happened, as long as someone provides something specific to that point in time for her to hone in on as well as the place. Also, there’s no sound to her moving images, which is why she usually just says something like ��people are boring” when asked to hone in on what a particular person is doing right now instead of asking about showing a specific place. Only a few Changelings have figured out that Eloise is a lot sharper than she pretends to be and is perfectly capable of spying on any individual from the safety and privacy of her scrying pool….and does, for the right price or her own personal agendas.

Rashid - a twenty-year old blind Lebanese-American whose change takes the form of glowing beads of orange light that wrap around his arms and all the way up to his neck in double-banded spirals that usually take people a minute or two to place as just vaguely familiar, before the realize that the sight reminds them of a DNA helix.

Just as all Changelings’ magic takes something about who and what they are and just….amplifies that, externalizes it, makes them more of it in some kind of unique magical expression of that, Rashid’s natural scientific curiosity resulted in his magical ability to touch a thing and feel the building blocks that make it what it is, and if he wants to, break things down into those individual components.

There’s a wide array of ways he’s able to use this, beyond just exploring his own personal studies of things…..bring him a bloody weapon, and just by touching an unbloodied part of it he can name where the ore that weapon was made from was mined, as well as name whose blood is on it, and even whose fingerprint, if someone left one and it was handled by gloves afterward. The answers just come to him as names and place names, etc, and they don’t usually have context, so he can’t help beyond that if the names he mentions are unfamiliar to him or the person asking, he can’t tell where they are now….just that these are the basic truths he’s reading off the weapon he was handed, the things that combine to make it what it is now…the blade made of metal from this location, the fingerprint of this person, the blood of this person, etc.

And then on the more physical side of his magic, the breaking things down into their individual building blocks, one example of this is he can kinda distill something down into just what he or someone else wants it to be….like if he touches water that’s been poisoned or drugged, he can split it into just the pure unaltered water and then with the poison or toxin bubbling up to the surface like separating oil and water, easily then filtered out. Or he can touch a complicated piece of machinery or construction of some sort, and make it just tumble down into pieces of its individual components.

As with many other residents of Bordertown though, he’s got his secrets and his true limits are known only to a few. He’s one of the town’s earliest arrivals, back when they were all still fairly few in number and shaping their new society and what roles and degree of influence they would all occupy within it….so only a few remember that he early on established himself as being in the way of certain agendas of Theo’s, and in response, Theo sent one of his most dangerous assassins after him, a Changeling no one ever knew by any name other than the Doppelganger. Unfortunately for the Doppelganger, his own magic required putting his hands on his intended target to activate it…..and that was all Rashid needed to feel the essential building blocks of the Doppelganger and use his own talent first…..to strip the Doppelganger of his magic and leave him separated from it and as he was before his own Change.

Those who were aware of this feat have been careful not to speak of it since, or the reason Theo and his people so carefully avoid Rashid now. Leaving him as he likes it, sought out for his help in reading truths and other aspects of his skills, rather than known as one of the more dangerous Changelings and capable of something no other Changeling has ever managed. But that doesn’t mean nobody knows or remembers - after all, the Doppelganger hasn’t forgotten. And as far as he can tell, that magic that was stripped from him had to go somewhere….and he wants it back. 

A quest that has him give Answers Alley a wide berth, as instead he seeks out Madame Midnight and promises any favor she wants from one of Bordertown’s most dangerous residents, if she can just help him regain his Change and his magic first…..   

Hiromi, aka Compass Rose - a sixteen year old from Chicago originally, and a third generation Japanese-American, she shares a loft in the Aerie with five or so friends with their own flight-capable Changes, and just pops down to the small stall along Answers Alley that’s all she needs. She’s got a sign hanging on the front of it that declares “Don’t bother me unless you’ve already got your own ride back. Round trip service not provided.”

Hiromi’s Change makes her a mish-mash of flora and fauna….she’s got hawk-like eyes and her eyebrows are feathered, and she has short, dark hair that’s crowned by short, branching antlers between which sits her signature rose. From her back sprout two large, bat-like wings whose skeletal frame are actually made of branches rather than bone, and with the material of her wings being more akin to green leaves than feathers. Her wings are the largest thing about her, as she’s fairly tiny except for them, only about five feet tall, and nobody has any idea how they fly aerodynamically, other than well…magic.

But other than the innate magic powering her flight, Hiromi’s actual gift is a form of teleportation with very specific parameters….hence why she sends away anyone who hasn’t first procured the help of some other teleporter or transportation inclined Changeling before seeking her out. Once they do come back with another Changeling willing to help them return later, someone asks for her help finding something….could be a person, an item, or even something ephemeral, like the solution to a problem…..and Hiromi’s magic, a combination of teleportation and dowsing rod, activates upon her command and whips up a tiny miniature whirlwind around the asker and whomever they designate as their company for the trip, like another teleporting Changeling. And when her whirlwind dies down, they’re gone, having been teleported to the location of whatever it was they asked her help in finding. Even if it is something ephemeral like the solution they need to something….her magic can’t spell out for them how its the answer to their problem….just send them to where it is that they’ll find it, as long as they can figure out from there what it is about their surroundings that will help them.

Jackie - a twenty-one year old agender Native American of the Choctaw tribe, originally from Mississippi before coming to Bordertown, Jackie’s magic and Change make them the sum of not just their parts, but all their possible parts. Basically, Jackie’s appearance is like a flipbook, constantly flickering through all possible appearances they might take, making them a somewhat dizzying blur of constant albeit low-intensity motion. Even when they’re sitting totally still, their appearance isn’t, shifting hairstyles, colors, accessories, all without them doing anything at all.

The constant motion of their appearance does slow however, depending on how many aspects of themselves they split off to go accomplish various tasks…usually in pursuit of some knowledge, information or answer. Whenever they want to, they can kinda….shrug off one of the many dizzying possible appearances they have….which splits off to become another Jackie, standing right next to them, but with a steady, static appearance….as they’re only one of the seemingly infinite possible selves contained within Jackie. 

This version of them has the same experiences, knowledge and even priorities of the original Jackie, as they’re all them, the same single person…..the second Jackie is just a specific iteration of the many possible ways they could be….them. And then these other Jackies, however many of them there are, can act independent of the original and go anywhere and do anything the original can. There’s no limit to how far they can range, or limit to how long they can remain separate, and they can fairly easily go about in mainstream public without attracting much attention, as they don’t have a Change of their own….they ARE the Change. 

But then at any point they can and do all eventually return to the main Jackie and add their accumulated knowledge and experiences to the whole, and reshelving their appearance within the flicker-book of possible appearances and selves contained within Jackie.

[domakconix-blog]

Welcome to me camp!

My attempt at making a blog.

What do you even do in a blog? I don’t know what to do or what to write in it, but I do really want to create one, so here she is! I would want to make this chill-n-informal as possible and just type whatever I’d like to clack on my keyboard.

Shaving the Ice

Maybe typing in an introduction could be a good place to start. I could share a lot of sh’tuff about myself, but I don’t think knowing my favorite color is not really interesting. Knowing the amount of teriyaki and oyster sauce I pour into my cup of noodles in a kiosk near the campus library is too specific. By the way, its six and eight tablespoons respectively. I like’m salty like my sweat during a hot day doing fieldwork.

Anyway, let’s start with my name. Hi, I am Dominic! Yes, I let people know my first name, whatevs. I am a college student trying to understand what the heck emm doing. No, seriously. I entered university under a degree that I am not really quite familiar with. Even though I am treading in uncharted territory here, I could somewhat easily say that I am enjoying myself.

I know that no one would read these post-clackers of mine but doing stuff like this would help me cope up. We all know that there is this pandemic crisis going on and being in the house all day is not really something that could make anyone stay sane, so I though that I could do something like this and just type my thoughts and stuff.

Sketch-n-Shtuff

I do have a Twitter account going under the handle @domblerone! (Follow me there for real good shit!) I don’t even enjoy Toblerone. I just thought that it sounds cool but I guess it’s just meh like a Toblerone. If you taken a peek and see what’s over there, I do digital art! (and maybe some kvetchin’ here and there) 

Ever since I convinced my grandmother to buy me a Wacom tablet that’s on sale for around a hundred bucks, I have been collecting a bunch of .SAI files of unfinished work. They range from random scribbles of something that I don’t even recognize to files with around a hundred plus layers. I don’t even know how people can create amazing works of art with only a few layers. Like, what the fuck? To be fair, I abuse my blending modes.

My pen and tablet have always been my sword and shield in many fights and the scratches on it are the reminders that I should change my nib already, but my cheap-ass says that I should just use sandpaper to smooth it up. I don’t even know where I can buy nibs. Again, I just use sandpaper like using water for cleaning your paintbrush.

Other than making digital paintings, I do nothing. Heck, no. I know that I am boring, but emm not that boring! (No offense to people who just sit and do art all day. Kudos to you peeps!) I usually just relax’n with me Switch and play Animal Crossing or just a quick game of Mahjong on the new Clubhouse Games. I am also trying to learn Russian through Duolingo and by reading reference books and such. (I forgot to play today, oh menn. I am dead). I also binge watch on YouTube and listen to MrCreepyPasta or Blue_Spooky for my daily dose of nosleep or LetsNotMeet. I don’t really like watching series or movies, so Netflix isn’t really my cup of tea. I can’t stand to sit all day and marathoning a whole season. Well, sometimes, I do watch a movie or two of whatever my mother is watching at the moment and do get invested in it.

Of course, my favorite hobby, sleeping.

Diving in REM Land

This is the part I am quite excited to type in about. Along with my favorite hobby, I do like to recall or even write down what happened in my dreams. I want to share more of me traversing REM Land, but I guess an introduction to it would be fine for now. I am no means an expert in dreams or the thought behind them, but I do like to share some of my experiences with them. Sometimes, I like to tell a tale or two to my friends when this topic arises because menn, dreams are like some sort of acid trip (No, I don’t do drugs, lol).

After crying and having a breakdown due to the stress due to the exquisite life of schooling, I tend to have sleep paralysis. I do have this sleep demon that always shows up when I have these episodes. He just stands there by my side and does nothing. Can’t really take note of any physical details (well of course, he ain’t physical) because he is just some humanoid shadow. Regardless, he is there, looming. I’ll call him Fred. Just thought of it right now while typing. Fred the Sleep Demon, Something, or Other.

I do have this recurring dream, err nightmare, when I was a child. I can’t remember anything about it. My memory of it is just a blank void, but the feeling is pretty nausea-inducing. Every time I have this dream, I just jolt upwards and head straight to the bathroom to vomit my dinner. It’s weird. I really have no word for it other than it’s sickening as fuck.

I want to share more of this, but I guess having a separate entry for this is better.

Lightning Round

Let’s do an info dump here, because I want to do something else now that I can’t think of anything to talk about, ahe.

Favorite Color (LOL): Red or Maroon. I do something like cyan.

Something to munch on: I like sushi or sashimi. Not a weeb, I just like the taste of dead fish.

Something to push munch: Coffee float is my go-to beverage. It tastes like heaven if heaven was coffee and chocolate mixed with ice to keep it as cool as winters in Yakutsk.

Have a pet?: I do have a fish as a pet and its name is Bloop. Creative, ‘mright?

My jam: I listen to Indie Folk, Folktronica, and Alternative Rock.

Games I play: I like horror games like Silent Hill or Fatal Frame. I also play Pokemon, Animal Crossing, and anything I find quite interesting.

Hotel?: Trivago.

Anyway, I am all out of time now (says who?). I am now going to have a snack break. I haven’t tried eating cereal with coffee as a substitute for milk so that’s what emm going to do next! Thanks for reading me random typing. I’ll try to keep this blog aflame, don’t worry. This won’t be like my Instagram that fell into the depths of hell. I’ll also post some art here so that this won’t be just seas of grey.

Thanks for coming to my Fire Talk. See you next time!