#no further commentary i just think its funny

[ashenberry]

[ID in ALT]

the fucks

[iphnh]

me when I first heard of Barbie: that sounds like a 2 hour commercial for Barbie

me when I saw the online reaction to the movie: hmm it might be worth watching

me after I watched Barbie: that was a 2 hour commercial for Barbie.

[vampjaeyun]

NETFLIX & CHILL

PAIRING loser!jake x maneater fem!reader | wc: 1.2k

SYNOPSIS “Do you seriously not know the meaning behind ‘Netflix and chill?’”

WARNINGS reader is in heat lmfao, soft jake, dry humping, hickeys

NOTES IF THIS SEEMS FAMILIAR, ITS BECAUSE I WROTE THIS FOR MARK ON MY NCT BLOG!!! I revamped it because I wanted to post something for jake's birthday but I haven't finished the one-shot im writing for him, so enjoy this for now <3

happy late birthday to my side piece, xo

WHAT IS JAKE SIM HERE FOR?

Tapping at your thigh, your impatience grows after every second that passes.  

You're not typically this horny or impatient, but to set the scene, you met Jake on the first day of classes.  As everyone filed into the auditorium and the professor began rambling, he took the seat alongside yours.  Throughout the first week of school, you started talking to him, sharing mutual interests and small talk.  You think he's awfully cute.  So you went ahead and texted him, wanting to "Netflix and chill" this weekend.  Maybe you were being too direct, but the deed had already been done, so you chose to embrace it. 

He doesn’t hesitate with a ‘for sure’ text back, not asking further questions or details about your request.  You smile at that, itching to explore another side of the cute boy who you see in class. 

The day arrives, and he walks over to your flat, smiling affectionately as the door swings open.  You both laugh and fond over each other while he cooks dinner and joins you afterward at the dinner table. He's so funny and sweet you realize, finally conversing about things other than school; it influences you to increase your expectations, and you wonder why hookups aren't typically like this. 

Now you're both adjacent to each other, your body cuddling up to his side as the movie plays. It's amusing since Jake hasn't made a single move towards you all night.  Aside from the arm around your shoulder, he hasn't attempted to sneak his arm any lower.  And he hasn't turned to face you since coming in contact with the couch.   Perhaps he changed his mind?  The movie is almost over, and the line has yet to be crossed. But the voice in the back of your head tells you that just because he didn't plan to tonight doesn't mean he doesn't want to, right?  A glimmer of optimism just helps to persuade you more, and once you dig a hole, you only dig deeper.

He laughs at a comedic moment in the film and you find it adorable.  He’s so invested and that’s when you finally realize Jake seriously didn’t come here to have sex with you.  It’s not his intention at all. His kindness and investment into everything you both did tonight is probably an effort into a full-on date. 

But this only made you more horny and attracted to him.  Fuck, you want to jump his bones so fucking bad.  And shit, you feel terrible because your mind and body are telling you to rip off the bandaid.  The pulsing want you have for this man is almost uncomfortable.  

You’re cursing yourself but like a bitch in heat you’re already escalating the situation. 

“Jake, the movie’s almost over,” you look up at him. 

He’s chuckling at your random commentary then looking down at you, “Yeah, it’s almost over.” 

“It’s almost over, and I invited you to Netflix and chill,” you pout.  Maybe the phrase ‘Netflix and chill’ flew over his head but it couldn’t be. You recall texting him the exact words.  There’s no way someone could misinterpret that.  Right? 

He blinks at you as if he’s unable to process your response. 

“Aren’t we doing that right now?” he quirks.  Maybe he’s genuinely clueless or the facade is running right past you, but you are fully convinced Jake has no idea about the ulterior motive of the popular phrase.

No one could guess Jake Sim would be the one who doesn’t know this term.  Maybe a stereotypical nerd whose internet consumption is strictly educational research.  Never judge a book by its cover, they said.  But you haven’t fully related to the metaphor until now.  Jake Sim’s cover has the term ‘fuckboy’ written all over.  Right to the Chrome Hearts hoodie and silver chain that looks like it belongs there.  

It’s alarming.  So alarming, that you have to sit up from Jake’s side to face him clearly.  Your brain is moving at a million miles per minute as you try to grasp the idea of how Jake doesn’t know the popular booty-call slang, head tilted to the side and all.

“Is there something wrong?” he questions. It’s beyond innocent.  His wide eyes give away the sincere worry he has and all you want to do is jump his bones.  

You smirk, “Do you seriously not know the meaning behind ‘Netflix and chill?’”

He pauses, staring like a deer in headlights, “It has another meaning? What else would it mean?” 

“Jakie,” you inch closer to him, so much that your noses brush at the nickname. “You’re so cute,” you utter slowly as you straddle him with one leg on each side of his thighs.  Thankfully, you wore a skirt, so the thin panties are the only thing obstructing the feeling of the rough material of his jeans.   

The poor boy beneath you flinches as you move so seductively in slow motion.  You’re glancing up to gauge his reactions and you swear you see a shadow of darkness in those chocolate orbs.  If that wasn’t enough for you to completely lose control, you follow his tongue gliding along his bottom lip and all you want to do is bite his lips until they’re bleeding.

“Why’d you agree to my text, but won’t do just that?” his breath hitches as you slightly move around on him, but it doesn’t have much of an effect because you’re not directly where he needs it most. 

“W-what?” he stutters slightly.  So cute.

“It means,” you bring your lips to graze his earlobe. “You wanna fuck,” u purr and he freezes at the revelation. 

“You wanna fuck while some stupid movie plays in the background,” at this, your hips move directly above his crotch and the weight of your body forces him to groan softly in pleasure. 

“It’s j-just an excuse,” You whimper as you move sensually against him.  Jake's hooded eyes tenderly glance at you, his erection slowly increasing against his jeans as the scene progresses. Because of his hesitation, his hands have yet to find homage at your hips, and you almost grab them to move them yourself. “You can touch me, you know.  Don’t be afraid.  I’m all yours,” you rasp, and the boy you’ve been crushing on crumbles underneath your fingertips. 

You waste no time chasing more pleasure,  continuing to drag your lips against his neck, sucking and biting to leave rosy marks on his flesh. Your fingers tangle in his hair, unknowingly tugging on his locks, only for him to squirm beneath you.  His rough hands attempt to steer your hips and it's not quite enough for you to cum, but the zipper rubbing against your clothed clit sends a buzz up your spine, and you moan against his neck. 

"Will you do it?" You resume licking a stripe from his collarbone to his jaw.  When you notice the overflowing lust painted on his features, you can't help but beam a grin.  

"Yes," he gasps at the sensation of your motions against him.  

"I'll do it."

[legoliomanikas]

Brief Thoughts About Aventurine, Religion, and Colonialism

This isn't a comprehensive summary, just things I started thinking about. It's kinda funny how things just completely fly past you when you don't think about them regularly, cuz I'm a very not-religious person so it took reading someone offhandedly refer to aspects of Aventurine's backstory as his "religious beliefs" for me to realize how important those actually are.

(2.1 Story Spoilers + reading the Sigonia relic set description will help for some context)

Despite his employment in the IPC calling for Aventurine to help amass capital in the name of Qlipoth the Preservation, we don't really hear him talk about Qlipoth often and his backstory basically omits mention of his relationship to THEM; the focus is entirely about his relationship with Gaiathra Triclops and HER blessing of luck.

The present Aventurine has changed a lot from his young self due to the influence of the IPC, in direct ways such as his newfound wealth and ruthless business practices, and in indirect manners such as how the IPCs involvement in the inter-tribal relationships of Sigonia resulted in higher tensions between the Avgins, Katicans, and other tribes.

However, his belief in Gaiathra Triclops has remained intact into his adulthood. It has soured as he begun to view HER blessing of good luck to be more akin to a curse, but it feels like a very deliberate writing decision to have him still hold onto the belief system of the Avgin. It would have been reasonable if he had later turned to the protection of Qlipoth, as joining the IPC had resulted in the wealth and status he has now, but he doesn't really do this.

Even if the colonialism took much away from him, he still wishes to retain his culture. (The value he places in the items his parents left for him and sister: the charm, the necklace, and the shirt, is further testament to this, as examples outside of his religious beliefs.)

Prayer is also something that we rarely see depicted often in Star Rail, which makes the segments of Aventurine praying with his younger self and sister stand out a lot more. The only character I can recall off the top of my head with an extended prayer sequence is Sunday at the end of 2.0, which is also notable.

One thing that I was wishing the Penacony plot would at least lampshade is the irony of sending Aventurine, a slave working for the IPC, to retake a planet that had led a slave rebellion to escape the IPC's control. While I'm now uncertain if they will address that directly, I do wonder that as we learn more about Sunday, if his relationship with Xipe the Harmony will end up being used as a way to foil him to Aventurine and/or serve as indirect commentary on the situation between the IPC and Penacony. (This is pure speculation)

But yea anyways, it's pretty interesting seeing mihoyo try to incorporate other aspects of racism and colonialism that extend beyond displays of outright hatred, such as how Aventurine's retainment of his culture's religious practices is depicted in a positive light. (Another thing that stuck out to me is how they depicted the fetishization of racial traits negatively, with the way some characters remark on his eyes, how the Avgin's untrustworthy reputation partially lies within their physical attractiveness, and how his relationship with his own appearance has changed as a result, as this is something I rarely see fictionalized but I won't elaborate on this here bc its off-topic.)

Obviously, mihoyo doesn't have the best track record when writing minorities and there's still a fucktonnnnn to be criticized about their decisions in Aventurine's lore as well (the most egregious of which being deriving the name for his planet from an actual slur), but it does seem like they are at least trying to add more depth to their depictions.

[carlyraejepsans]

i mean i think thats its kind of funny that at some point some of the most popular au/series ended up being ones which make meta commentary on the nature of aus (ink sans and error sans conceptually are just really funny)

yeah, cause they're the ones furthest from the canon and don't require basically any attention to it. I don't think they're even conceptually doing anything either, like you could do so much with the evisceration of the original story and people's disregard for it in favor of aus, and a character from the canon facing the blunt of the damage because. idfk, the existence of aus like that destabilized their reality and now they're out to "fix" this/take their revenge. but you look at error and he's just the nth variation of "ooo sans suffers through a geno run and went cray-cray" and it's Boring.

ink just gives me hives. why does he look like that. why does he act like that. he's like a parody of himself but the parody had no clear purpose in its criticism so it just ends up furthering the same flaws and shit he's supposed to be commenting on. why is he skinny. why the fuck is he skinny.

[canonmisogynyvictimstournament]

PROPAGANDA

KATHERINA MINOLA (THE TAMING OF THE SHREW) (CW: Domestic Abuse)

1.) We had to read this for English my senior year. I got so mad at the way she's treated. She's the titular "shrew" of the play. She has to be married off before her younger sister can get married, because that makes sense.

Then the most dogshit man imaginable comes along, and everybody thinks they're perfect. He literally gaslights her and denies her food and water.

Fuck Petruchio and Katherine Minola deserved better!

2.) Literally the whole play is about how she is so awful that the main guy needs to change her entire personality, which he does as a challenge not because he likes her, and then proceeds to her abuse her for the rest of the play. Yet, he is portrayed as the hero, not a villain and she is shown to have "improved" at the end. People will say, oh it's open to interpretation, it can be played different ways, it's satire, but i don't find abuse funny and there is a distinct lack of commentary in the play to count as satire imo. Taming of the Shrew is a tragedy not a comedy, I will die on this hill. Kate deserves better!

3.) The title isn’t joking, ya’ll. She literally gets broken like a rebellious feral animal and it’s treated as a happy ending.

BARBARARA GORDON (DC COMICS) (CW: Ableism)

1.) Famously fridged in 1988, which was so popular with misogynists it became canon. After almost 2 decades of being one of the only disabled characters, was rebooted to a younger, more fun version of herself whose only history is that she was fridged but not disabled by it.

2.) The Killing Joke is one of the biggest comic examples of a female character getting hurt to motivate male characters. Also tbe way different cannons will trade off who her romantic intrest is out of Batfamily is pretty disturbing ranging from Bruce Wayne in Batman the Animated series universe (ew) to Tim Drake in the Arkham games (ew). Not to mention DC now is not letting her grow out of being Batgirl taking away her legacy of other young female heroes taking up her mantle and her getting to mentor them instead forcing her into a Batgirl cycle of purgatory when she was always better as Oracle (Its a little more complicated in the new Batgirl book but its still not solving the issues in a way that feels meaningful enough to make up the damage).

3.) Was shot as angst value for Bruce and her dad, implied to be sexually assaulted in The Killing Joke with absolutely no respect for her long career as Batgirl. When Alan Moore asked if he could, the editor said "cripple the bitch." She became paralyzed from the waist down. THankfully, an actually good writer picked her up from there and then wrote one of the best stories ever written (Oracle Year One: Born from Hope). Was one of the most iconic disabled characters in comic book history, hell, as Oracle, she was definitely up there as one of the most iconic disabled characters ever as well as a fantastic character, period. There were a few moments where people kept trying to make things out of her disability and had her be shitty to other women for no reason but for the most part, she was awesome. During her time In 2011, Dan Didio and some other misogynistic/ableist comic book writers were responsible for "curing" her disability and forcing her back into Batgirl, despite her having shown absolutely no desire to do so, as part of the New 52. They also made it an editorial mandate that she couldn't have glasses, a cool secret base, and her time as Oracle couldn't be referenced. This was because those writers were nostalgic for the 60s Batman show where Babs was played by an actress they all had the hots for and couldn't accept she'd grown up and moved on. That was bad enough, but over time, she's been increasingly deaged and reduced even further to just Dick Grayson's on and off again girlfriend and a generic girlboss. Batgirl of Burnsides burn in hell.

[medievalcat]

I was going to joke that I always think its funny when people are like "Angelina wouldn't want Hoffman to kill any people ever :(" bc like how do we know that, we unfortunately barely know anything about her but also why would she care if someone like Ivan or the abusive guy at the school died, or yknow the guy who literally killed her, fuck knows none of us do lol. BUT it got me thinking about how...kind of the point of her inclusion in the story is a commentary on society and the legal system's endemic violence against women. Women are killed by partners so much that people just don't even think about it and the law often does nothing at all or enables it or is a part of it. Angelina's death in the story is essentially considered a minor crime that her killer pretty much gets away with legally. Seth Baxter when in his trap even claims he accidentally killed her, a classic tactic used by many men who actually do murder their wives and girlfriends. Angelina was considered an acceptable loss, a forgettable statistic, even before she was killed. She was only in the headlines because she was related to a local detective. The law was never on her side.

In retrospect, when we learn about all this, the horror of Saw IV isn't simply "wait the detective was the killer all along!" Because we see that the trafficker is known to be exploiting young girls- but that these young girls are not evidently considered a priority to help by the law (the fact that the trafficker is a woman doesn't "disprove" that what she did is violence against women). We see that the rapist operates in a motel where there are undoubtedly many witnesses who clearly have not done anything to stop him or to help his victims. We see that the wife-beating child abuser is accosted by Rigg and Hoffman but the abuser's word is backed up and he is protected, and that even the abuser's wife, a victim herself, is too afraid to do anything but support him even though he is hurting a child- reflecting how many women are silent because they know they will not believed. The horror is that with the way the legal system works Hoffman can do more to help abused women as a serial killer than he ever did as a detective.

But then, of course, Hoffman wouldn't have been the serial killer he became if he hadn't been a detective first, and the fact that he was a detective was something utilized by him and John in their endeavors. And even if he saved lives of vulnerable women and girls like his sister by getting rid of Seth Baxter and those people in IV, he still helped John do the same thing those people did to other women- and then did the same thing on his own. With these similar systems, there are similar results. We remember John sent Addison to her torture and death for being a sex worker, with Hoffman's help, further comparing and illuminating the similarities between John's work and the legal system. We see that Hoffman's resentment of Amanda (based in her similarities to Angelina, even their names point this out) that led to him orchestrating her death may have been met with disapproval by John, but was ultimately enabled by his actions, because John thought further torturing Amanda for her trauma, addiction, and self harm was not only correct but helpful. Maybe Hoffman thought he really was "helping" Sidney by putting her in the trap that enabled her to kill her abusive boyfriend, maybe he really did think this was a way of doing what he couldn't do for his sister. But ultimately, if he did help anyone, he did much more harm. Ultimately, Amanda was right. It's all bullshit- the Jigsaw ideology doesn't "save" anyone, just perpetuates the cycle.

[starry-blue-echoes]

A small idea: AU where Gravity works against Pucci, and Rikiel is taken into the Joestar fold at some point, anywhere from before Stone Ocean starts to in its endgame. The rod boi deserves some love.

yessssssss

okay but what if I take it a step further and somehow, someway all three of the brothers manage to get found by Jotaro and Jolyne as kids. Like, purely through Gravity Bullshit and accidentally meeting them and slowly forging bonds

Ungalo and Jolyne bumped into each other at the movie theatre for a Disney movie and clicked immediately, practically giving the whole movie a hushed commentary and promised to meet later to do this again

during a trip to the hospital when Jolyne got really sick and (Jotaro's actually there this time) she ends up befriending the really anxious kid she shared a room with and decides she wants to be friends with him so her parents exchange information with his mom

Jotaro was nearby when Donatello gets arrested and ends up being called in as a witness to vouch for what he meant by "they fell from the sky." After the trial is over and he learns exactly why Donatello was there and pulls some strings with the SWF to make sure he gets put in a good home

Jotaro probably realises who they are pretty quick, but just because they're Dio's kids doesn't erase the fact they're Joestars. They didn't ask for their father to be who he was, and they're completely innocent

plus, Jolyne would never forgive him if he ever mistreated her favorite cousins

fast forward to 2001 and Giorno learns that not only does he have a very large extended family, but three younger half brothers as well

also I think it would be funny that when Jotaro sends Koichi to Italy, the Brando kids just...... follow him. They used their Stands to pull it off without anyone noticing and the whole time the Bucci Gang is doing their whole thing they're being followed by some barely teenagers (Donatello would be 15 and Rikiel and Ungalo would be 13/14) who are On A Mission

hell, who knows maybe they even get Jolyne (who's 9ish I think) in on it because she's basically their sister and she wants to meet their new older brother!!!

[aiura-stan]

0-6!

(If you’re wondering how I’m getting these done so fast, it’s because I’m doing these ahead of time. I'm running on a queue.) I used dictation and actual keyboard typing for this one, so it’s going to be long. (Side note, I love the ability to dictate things and using split screen mode! Highly useful features and I have no idea why it’s taken me this long to actually use them.) Also, I guess I should say that there will be spoilers in this and probably future posts too, because I’ve already read the manga. Okay! Onto the commentary.

I love that Saiki outright states he doesn't want to be the "guy you know what he's thinking.” Like, come on Saiki, admit it; you have a little bit in common with Kaidou. (I think he secretly kind of likes freaking people out. He definitely likes the fact that people are a little scared of him.)

He's always the odd one out; He's one of the loner kids. I don't think he really thinks it makes him look normal. I think that's just what he tells himself to feel better about the whole thing.

I think it's funny that he dislikes Kaidou for the same reasons that he thinks he's so different from everyone else. I mean, Kaidou is always trying to stand out, and Saiki does have a legitimate reason for not wanting to stand out. But even so. He’s just got it in his head that is so much better than Kaidou at the beginning of the series. Like, dude, you're no different from him. You're the same breed of weirdo in a different font. Lol. That font is “really intentionally manipulating others’ perception of you for personal reasons.” It’s just that Kaidou’s version is much flashier than yours. I like seeing it this early on in the comic; it's interesting to see how it all started. Also, Kaidou is a lot more polite than Nendou, apologizing for talking to Saiki out of nowhere. Amusing. He absolutely knows how to behave like a normal person, but chooses not to because his persona gives him confidence.

I also like that here in the beginning of the comic, we have an unnamed guy who is was basically parroting what Kuuusuke says further on in the comic, and it’s more clearly framed as delusional weirdo behavior.

Yes, duh, he came to you because you were alone, Saiki. Weirdo behavior attracts weirdos (weirdos attract weirdos.) That's just a basic social law for ya.

Also, I laughed out loud at “okay, I’m calling you Junpei.” good response, honestly. Saiki’s narrative commentary addressed to no one in particular is always really funny.

He also seems to be egging him on in the next panel with his sarcastic remarks (wow. Your punch was soooo fast I couldn’t see it at all), though it’s never clear in this manga whether the person being spoken about can actually hear anything he’s saying in all of its dry sarcasm. My headcanon follows the lines that Saiki uses hypnosis when he’s not actively addressing them (sending telepathic messages to them), so people just hear whatever they want to hear from him. Or something like that. I’m guessing that we, the readers, are supposed to assume that they can’t hear him unless Saiki is actively sending them telepathic messages/‘broadcasts’. "I fancy you" is a strangely British way of putting it. Which also means "I like-like you" if memory serves. Translators??? strange. anyways.

Ah… XD. I forgot that Kaidou saw him teleport in the manga. That’s perfect considering Kaidou’s name joke (shunkaidou = teleportation.) wahh, I wish this one came in the tankobon volumes so I could read them.

You know… since the third chapter of this volume was adapted into the anime, can volume 0 really be called non-canon? Maybe to the manga. Hmmmmmm.

Oh come on. Why didn’t they put this in the anime??? It would have been hilarious to have Kaidou imagining some kind of green monster-humanoid hybrid and then the screen transitions to Saiki’s expressionless face, with pink limiters and green glasses. There’s an element of color that manga sadly lacks. I get the point with the black arrows, Mr. Asou, but it just isn’t quite the same without actual color.

XD Asou’s attention to detail is good. We actually see the teacher wondering where the hell he’s going when he runs out of the room, and then following through showing that he won’t be running students down just to make sure they stay in class. It’s a small thing, but it definitely makes a difference, making the Saikiverse seem a bit more realistic.

Also, look, it’s this guy who appears a bajillion chapters later in that weird gag… What was his name again? Gah… refer back to this later, future me.

Yes, Kaidou becomes a completely different person outside of his riddiculous chunnibyou persona, which he only uses at school. I do like that Asou sensei writes him this way. It would be easier to have him be in character all the time, but he’s much more realistic like this. I love that Saiki remembers the stupid nickname he gave himself. It makes the contrast even more funny. Okay, I’ll stop analyzing Kaidou and explaining every joke for now.

XD XD XD

Things like this make me wonder if Saiki really doesn’t know that’s how his looks might be interpreted at a distance… even though he understood from the verbal description that he could be perceived as having “pink horns” and “green eyes.” And he spaces out in class just thinking about it. Thoroughly neurodivergent behavior.

I also love things like this, that imply but don’t outright show that Nendou just… openly teleports in front of Nendou because he can get away with it.

I also enjoy Saiki’s stubbornness in calling Kaidou ‘Junpei.’ Peak comedy.

I love that Kaidou would rather Saiki think he has multiple personalities instead of just being polite to people outside of school. And Saiki says he appreciates the effort… lol. I think he does actually appreciate it, in a way, sarcasm aside. Kaidou is committed to the bit.

“Whether that’s true or not, you need to get to a hospital.” Lollll. But also… makes me wonder if he really believes it, again. That along with the “Kaidou personality chart” further on in this comic. From Saiki’s other confrontations with people who clearly need help (including the one where he talks down a suicidal guy. And of course Terushashi’s brother.) It’s as if it never even occurred to saiki to have a sense of urgency about these kinds of things.

Mmmm! Once again I wish I had the Japanese version because I’m sure he is using polite speech here, for a minute.

Well, at least Kaidou acknowledges here that he’s in fact a chunni and therefore doing this on purpose. Which, again, makes me wonder why Saiki would ever believe even for a second that it isn’t an intentional thing. Or maybe it’s just supposed to be taken as sarcasm outright, but the panel where Saiki is confused about the Horns Saiki drawing really is throwing me off. Another thing I should look for raws of, to see if there’s anything to be gleaned from the OG text.

YES! You and saiki are pretty similar. In a way. Yes, he is worrying about his high school debut… in a way.

Saiki, it is entirely understandable that you think Kaidou is an egomaniac, but given his “other personality,” how did you not guess that he’s just lonely??? He literally had to explain his entire thought process for you to get it??? Yeah, emotional EQ in the single digits.

Earlier, I said Kaidou knew full well how to act like a normal person and just doesn’t do it, but he’s definitely awkward. I mean, of course it’s going to be awkward asking strangers if they’ve seen a guy with green eyes, sharp teeth and horns. (I am not quite sure why Kaidou is so committed to the bit myself.)

LMAO?!?

Saiki, that’s your own goddamned fault, lmao. Put your money where your mouth is and shut him down if you’re tired of annoying people “entering your life”… :)

That wraps up 0-6.

There’s a lot going on here, to be sure. In conclusion, I think Saiki works really well here as a character who is technically omniscient, in terms of perspective, but deeply limited in his ability to interpret information.

Alright, the end. Ja mata! 💫

[artbyfinnbrown]

Screenshots of my favourite moments from Re:Zero Arc 7 (Part 2):

This raises questions. Actually just one: Why does Al’s authority not work as a child, and Subaru’s does?

Stargazers were much more horrific than I originally imagined. When they’re first described its phrased as “The Stars give them knowledge about the future”. When in reality its “The Stars highjack their brains and rewrite their reason for existing, forcing them to devote your existence to a singular goal at the expense of everything else”. They’re basically cosmic horror antagonists.

Between “The world hasn’t been destroyed” and “Only Natsuki Subaru can do that”, I think it’s safe to conclude that Al has at least some idea of Subaru’s ability. But that just raises more questions WHY DOES HE KNOW???

That’s an interesting thing to say, Al. Why would you say something like that?

SHE CREATED A HEINKEL-SHAPED IMPRINT IN THE WALL LIKE A FRIGGIN CARTOON CHARACTER THAT’S SO FUNNY

Every time before this when Subaru thinks back to people important to him, he thinks about the Emilia camp. Then when he becomes Natchuki Subawu, he’s only able to think about the people he’s met since he entered Vollachia. It’s a small detail, but it still manages to be unsettling. He’s still thinking about people who are important to him, but it shows how Child Subaru’s brain is adjusting what Subaru considers to be important.

It really says something about the Gladiator Island loops that Subaru having to go back further in time is framed as a triumphant moment.

AAAA she worries for him she cares about him she wants to be there for him AAAAAA

Damn, Abel really said “I have no friends” like it was a positive thing.

Rather than try to add my own commentary on this hilarious exchange, I will instead make use of the words of tumblr user Sufferu:

She really just out and stated that that Vincent’s probably gay. What an icon. Also as a bonus, she acknowledges that the fact Vincent’s probably gay has no bearing on whether of not he wants kids. Serena is like the #1 ally in all of Re:Zero. Also “I didn’t ask if you were serious, I asked if you where sane” is a hilarious line.

Alright, let’s do this

(Deep breath)

Fellas, is it gay to help a man get his cart unstuck, have that man ask you if you would die for him, have that man hire you when you said you wouldn’t, help that man become the next ruler of the country, become his right hand man, closest confidant and body double, discover that the man has had is death is prophesied as the first event that will lead to the destruction of the country, (and has planned for this, arranging things to ensure the country has the best chance of surviving after his death), and then decide to usurp that man’s position on the throne in order to take over his identity so you can die in his place in order to deny fate?

Wow, fore shadows. I wonder if this could mean anything’s for future arcs of Re:Zero. Nah, I’m probably just imagining things.

Man imagine only being able to kill Al 6 times. Those are weak numbers. You need to step up your game Todd.

[stuffnonsenseandotherthings]

August has mainly been consumed by moving country, moving job, and moving house so I've not really had any free time to do anything or have any thoughts other than panicked screaming.

That being said, there were plenty of dramas I was looking forward to due to air in August and, luckily for me, most of them did not disappoint! So without further ado, let's take a look at which dramas got me through the mountains of paperwork and stress (and which didn't).

The Trainee 🇹🇭 👨‍❤️‍👨👩‍❤️‍👨(👩‍❤️‍👩) [10/12]

I'm going to be so sad when this show ends.

It has met and matched all my expectations so far and in terms of its narrative arcs it's absolutely fantastic (as are the characters and their relationships).

This is a show that does have romance in it but which isn't about romance, choosing to focus instead on character development both within and outside of the characters' various relationships. It's done a great job of showcasing the complex period of transition between young adulthood and working adulthood and while I know that's not everyone's cup of tea, it's definitely mine. Slow-burn, character centred, slice-of-life.... Perfection 😘👌

I started watching these next few dramas after I started moving and so really don't have any other capacity for thoughts other than "like" and "don't like". There's not going to be much commentary, just vibes.

Love Next Door 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [5/16]

I was looking forward to this one and it's making me very happy so far. I love the bickering, I like the hints at deeper relationship issues and I'm just plain looking forward to whenever a new episode airs.

I'd say the only thing that's giving me pause so far is the second couple, especially Mo-Eun because wtf do you mean "the 5 year old child I just met is actually my new friend"? I don't care that she meant it innocently, that's still a damn weird thing to say.

Romance in the House 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [5/12]

Korea has been really knocking it out of the house with mother daughter dramas recently, I want to know what lit the spark now.

Again, I'm enjoying each episode as it comes and I'm looking forward to each new episode so it's a yes from me so far. It's definitely giving me Not Others vibes but given I really like that drama, that's not a criticism.

(Also the award for most complicated family tree goes to Romance in the House but it also manages to make it work?)

Cinderella at 2AM 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [2/10]

I saw someone say that a drama where the leads are already together at the start of the drama is lazy but I'm inclined to disagree.

Pretty much every romance has the leads fall in love and get together as the show progresses, there's a tried and tested route map for that (heck there's loads of route maps for that). On the other hand, I can't think of many that start with the couple 2 years into the relationship and, as such, there's probably a lot more work involved in working out how to successfully pull the romance off.

So far I have no complaints and I'm intrigued about where it's actually going to go. It's not particularly deep but it is cute and Shin Hyun Bean is who I'm here for anyway.

My Sweet Mobster 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨

This was a very cute, very funny watch that still somehow managed to tackle a serious topic with as much care as it could. Could it have delved even further into the topic of restorative criminal justice and rehabilitation? Yes, but not without completely changing the mood. Could it have subverted the "knew each other from childhood" trope and done something new? Yes, but this show wasn't going for reinventing the wheel, it was going for doing the wheel well.

The characters were very likeable, the relationships between them were beautifully written and it was a nice easy watch that I'll probably pick up again some time in the future if I need something fun.

⭐ rating: 8/10

Concrete Utopia 🇰🇷📽️

I watched this with family friends after they very kindly let me stay with them for a week and wanted to watch something with me they thought I'd enjoy. I had never heard of the film before so had no expectations whatsoever but it was a surprisingly deep and timely watch.

It spends a lot of time examining the effects of "othering" as well as asking how much people are willing to excuse, ignore or even participate in in the name of self preservation and there were definitely some scenes that felt barely exaggerated given what's been on the news in recent months.

I wouldn't call it an enjoyable watch (because the consequences of post-apocalyptic dystopias are hardly enjoyable) but it was an interesting one and I'd probably recommend it to a friend looking for a film to watch.

⭐ rating: 7.5

Knock Knock Boys! 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨

I was late picking up Knock Knock Boys! but, once I did, I binged it without any regrets. This was another show that was just cute and fun and very, very good at handling the topics it chose to tackle.

Latte is a new favourite character and Almond, Thanwa, Peak and all the rest all have a little space in my heart now (Jane especially). If anyone wants a comedy/slice of life BL to watch then I'd definitely point them in this dramas direction and them watch them watch it 😋

(also I don't know how but I somehow managed to miss the infamous poo scene everyone was talking about... Which is probably just as well because I don't deal well with scatological humour).

⭐ rating: 7.5/10

Century of Love 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [Dropped]

I'm sad about this one because I was looking forward to catching up with it after I got distracted by Knock Knock Boys but now I'm very grateful for being made to stray. This show had such a promising start but, judging by everything I saw in passing, it dropped the ball hard in the second half.

Given everything else going on right now and the fact that my drama quota is pretty much full up right now, I'm not really interested in investing time in a show that doesn't meet its own potential.

Monster Next Door 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [Dropped]

This had the weirdest pacing of a first episode I've seen in a while and it really threw me off. I just couldn't connect with anything or anyone after the multiple false starts and I wasn't curious to keep trying.

(Also the tortoise tank made me wince every time it was on screen)

(Also yes I know I said I was hyped for this one but I think the idea appealed far more than the reality of it).

Battle of the Writers 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [Dropped]

Just a no from me to be honest. I don't think it checked any of the boxes of things I usually enjoy and that's okay.

4Minutes 🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨 [On Hold] [4/8]

Don't get me wrong!!! I have loved everything I've seen so far of this drama (I'm up to episode 4). The only reason 4Minutes is here instead of in the "Currently Watching" section is because I wasn't able to keep up with it while I was travelling and I want to give it the right amount of time and attention when I catch up with it.

I'm a little sad I can't join in with the theories but I'm really looking forward to getting back to it when I'm ready!

(Also I finally own a TV after 10 years of not having one and I'm mentally preparing myself for watching it on a big screen, something the first 3 episodes have indicated is a high risk manoeuvre that may involve drawn curtains and a finger on the volume button to avoid questions from my neighbours).

Midnight Romance in Hagwon 🇰🇷👩‍❤️‍👨 [On Hold] [4/16]

Like 4Minutes, this isn't a matter of not enjoying it, this is a matter of time and focus. I couldn't watch it while I was traveling and now I am way too stressed, and thus easily distracted, to give this show the thought and attention it deserves.

It has been a fantastic watch so far though, and the level of detail in each scene was so ridiculously impressive to the point where I was frequently going back to check I hadn't missed any of the nuance 👌

I barely know what's up now, let alone next so I can't really do this section. That being said, I know I'm hyped for Love In the Big City (🇰🇷👨‍❤️‍👨) and that's airing in October so that's all the really matters at the moment. If anything else comes up that I want to watch, that's a nice little bonus.

(There are other dramas I'm looking forward to - like Kidnap (🇹🇭👨‍❤️‍👨) - but I have no clue when they're airing and I don't have the brain power to check and make a calendar so I'm just going to be pleasantly surprised when they start rather than actively anticipating their release).

[frostgnawd]

January Plot Call

While I have a few threads in the works for Kaeya, I'm eager to snag a few more!

Commission Based Threads I'd be down to grab:

Teyvat: Liyue’s famed Lantern Rite is just around the corner, and tourists from all across the land have already begun flocking into the Harbor. Of course, with so many naive souls looking forward to the celebrations, less savory individuals will follow. The demand for bodyguards exceeds the abilities of both the Millelith and private parties, and so a recommendation comes for visitors to journey in groups. What better way to meet a new friend than travel together through the beautiful fields and mountains of Rex Lapis’ lands… and maaaybe beat up a few Treasure Hoarders along the way?

Kaeya and traveling go hand in hand, so this is an easy snag. Can play watchers, bar buddies, etc. He will engage in games and whatever else freely, so a lot of wiggle room here! Also down to play combat, for sure ♪ yoinked

Quanta: Though Belobog was a far cry from defrosting, expeditions out of the city are easier to execute on. One such expedition resulted in a rather… odd specimen. A strange creature, with a segmented trunk for a nose and gnarled tusks. Faint hues of pink radiate from inside, with faded pink markings decorating what would just be white and dark purple skin. Despite its massive size, there are no previous records of creatures like this on Belobog, and a signal has been put out, requesting any further information on this strangely alien beast and how it may have gotten here.

Mostly I'd just be down to put the ice man on the ice planet. Deeply out of his depth but with the attitude to take on whatever!

Non-Commission related thread ideas:

I think it would be funny (for me, personally) if Kaeya got stuck in some kinda old school ruin capturing device he accidentally triggered and had to wait for someone to get his ass out. Expect: sarcastic commentary, theatrical pleading, and general idiotic chatter while your muse does all the work and he sits there. Bonus points if your muse gets stuck too before they both manage to get out. yoinked

Always welcome to other ideas!

Thank you for reading my plot call! If you're interested, please feel free to dm or ping me in server, and I'll reply as quickly as I am able!

[kindred-spirit-93]

way down hadestown

listening to hadestown bc ofc i am lol. its not like i have significantly more important and career determining things to be focusing on.

and this is my first time so im really enjoying the litte bits and bobs i can make out before eventually venturing into commentary and further content made for and about the musical someday

a few things so far i reeeeeeeeeally liked lol

euridice has the voice of a freaking angel i love her (the note she hit at harbour me? omg. also flowers is my favourite song hehe)

speaking of flowers persephone is such a gremlin and i love that for her. funny fluid body language and at times cheeky. good soup

her voice reminds me a lot of zira lol. scratchy vocals at time but smoother than a petal! adore her performance. i also want her bag

hades' voice dropping 17 octaves when hes wearing his sunglasses is so funny to me for some reason lol. ugh he really has a grimey vulture-y vibe to him. very cool and demanding presence tho

also him calling the workers my children whereas seph refers to orpheus at some point as brother is very interesting to me

on todays episode of it probably wasnt that deep but i brought a shovel anyway: aside from being a funny concept (and new to me lol), i think its fascinating to have seph associated so with wine. it made me think of dionysus at first, which made me think of the myths where zagreus is dio, and zagreus is persephones son. idk i just thought it was neat

hermes is the shit man i love his sweet but sarcastic old man energy. snazzy suits too he slays so hard

the fates!!! awesome dresses i need them immediately

idk what the style/ genre is called (blues???) but the note at pennies on the drum is the best thing ive heard in a while. powerful vocals, very kickass

never realised how hard it must be to be belting notes and doing full choreo as well. and in heels? my god hats off to them i cant walk properly in them lol

the set is beautiful the floor rotates and the lights and everything! so much work was lovingly put into it all and im so here for it

will add as i go on lol but have this for now

[lady-raziel]

Hi! I've lately started expanding my video game repertoire and I would love advice on whether or not I'd enjoy any of the Fallouts. I'm more into time/colony management and simulations, but your love for the Fallout series peaked my interest. Should I take a leap of faith? Thanks :))

Hey! Love the question! I'll give a bit of context info on "why Fallout?" (for you and anyone else seeing this post) and then tell you what my take is.

First of all, a bit about Fallout and why I think the series is unique and worth people's time within the game landscape as a whole, just for background: there are a lot of good post-apocalyptic games out there, there are a lot of games with irreverent and dark humor out there, and there are a lot of RPG games that involve stories that prompt reflection on deeper themes. But what I think Fallout brings to the table beyond the combination of the above that makes it rise above the average enjoyable game series are two things:

Fallout, in each iteration, is rooted in its sense of setting. While this includes the recognizable aesthetics and icons of the series, it's more about how each story's placement within the larger world reflects the themes of Fallout at large. The locations within post-apocalyptic America focused on in the games (and the show) are fundamental to why Fallout works and is influential in a way that stories set in generic post-apocalyptic settings (or in solely fictional locations) often can't be. Each of the settings chosen are "characters" that further the thematic messages of the universe. (That's why, IMO, trying to set a Fallout anywhere but North America wouldn't work--it wouldn't be the same story.)

The series is known for its satirical commentary on America, war, and human nature as a whole. It doesn't take itself too seriously all the time, and thus is very fun and funny to enjoy. A lot of people are fans for this reason alone! But at the same time there really is an intense amount of deeper meaning-- not just in the "best" (subjective) parts but nearly everything, given someone wants to take the time to look. It's as deep as one WANTS it to be, and many other games can't manage that. It can be an important mirror to understanding real world events in a unique way.

As far how to go about approaching Fallout (and what you specifically might enjoy most), I think a fundamental pitfall that nearly everyone gets tripped up by is viewing the entire franchise as a uniform story and universal experience. In truth, while they all share the same world, I think a lot of the conflict between fans themselves (as to what the BEST game is/how things should be) and between fans and the creators' choices comes from a key misunderstanding. Fallout's stories may all share a universe, but every single installment offers a different experience with different assets that appeals to different desires.

Each prioritizes different things-- and people have a tendency to gravitate towards the experience that elevated the elements they prefer. The issue comes when audiences struggle to accept that the variation in experiences is an ASSET, because naturally they think the version that appealed to them the most should be applied universally. At its core I think this is why Fallout fans are always fighting about what is "good" or "bad," and why there will always be a portion of fans upset at ANY new content. If it doesn't reflect their preferred experience, they think things are going in the wrong direction.

All of this is a VERY long way of saying that I think when people are trying to approach this series, it's key to match the elements and type of experience you like best to the installment(s) instead.

Everyone will have their own take on good/bad/etc. and it will all conflict-- so trying to come at it from that angle can prove to be a barrier for many entering the series. I would take that discourse with a grain of salt and optimize for personal enjoyment.

For you personally, based on enjoying colony management and simulations, I would start with Fallout 4 and Fallout Shelter.

Fallout 4 (PC, Playstation, Xbox) has a pretty advanced settlement building, resource management, and crafting system that involves creating networks of settlements within the open-world map, and crafting to upgrade those locations (via infrastructure, defense, resources, etc.). It's easy to spend hundreds of hours solely focusing on playing with this, completely outside of any quests or role-playing elements! I think this would appeal to you and allow you to dip your feet into the world even if FPS or RPG aspects involving a complex story may not be your primary goal.

I'd also definitely try out Fallout Shelter--this is an entire free-to-play construction/resource management sim that you can download as a mobile app (as well as PC, Playstation, Xbox, AND the Nintendo Switch). Some fans out there might scoff at including this in an official slate of Fallout games, but keep in mind what I said above about prioritizing for preferred experience. It's not story-heavy, but it is easy to get in to and fun to play especially for a low time investment! IMO it's a great way to get a feel for some of the world elements if engaging in one of the larger games seems daunting (or potentially cost prohibitive).

This post is already getting lengthy, so I won't take up more of your time. But if you (or anyone else) want a full writeup as to what I think each installment prioritizes, and why that appeals to given playstyles and desired experiences, I'm happy to do so! This series does have a little bit of something for pretty much anyone, it's sometimes just about knowing what to look for. 👍

[poetriarchy]

IWTV THOUGHTS!!!!

someone else said this felt like less strong of an ep compared to others this season and i see that as far as it being more set-up for upcoming plot rather than plot itself. but i think it's still a really interesting ep with some really strong moments.... digs into the characters in a way the other eps so far haven't had as much time for.

louis giving up on photography, then later letting go of the ghost lestat. and getting this outside opinion from the art dealer guy that he's got an eye for others' work but his own photos aren't strong. i think it's him giving up on trying to fill the hole in his life that was left by (the things he liked about) lestat. i.e. giving up on trying to be someone he's not. and then acknowledging that ghost lestat's commentary is actually just his own words (the "say apple" dialogue). jacob mentions in the post-ep that louis kind of falls into a lestat role in his relationship with armand because he knows he can manipulate him and get away with a lot, because armand is so insecure. so i think the moment of lestat's ghost losing its illusion and disappearing is in part louis absorbing that part of himself back into himself. acknowledging that he too can be powerful, he too desires control. that's not lestat, that's always existed in him.

WHICH sets up louis saying to armand "i don't know much about art, but i know a lot about running things". louis clearly retains his insecurity about not being able to be an artist like the artists he admires—and this continues to the present day as we see with the photos—but here he's willing to fall back into the role that feels good, the role that he knows he's good at. there's also that funny sort of parallel set up here between louis as pimp and louis as art dealer/theatre business guy/whatever. you can kind of picture him pulling the strings behind the scenes at the theatre, and doing it well. that's unlikely to actually happen now that the coven has claudia's old journals (and also just because they dislike him so much lol) but it's fun to think about.

there's also an interesting connection there with armand's personal history—being sexually exploited, and also being an artist's muse (i didn't catch some of that part bc no subtitles, so idk if i'm fully correct on that). louis' own personal history as a pimp works as a crazy foil to that, even if it's just on a subtextual level. the two of them are not on as level of ground as we might have thought, and armand as the eldest may not have the power over louis that one might assume from their present-day interactions. armand's "yes maitre" is CRAZY

anyways CLAUDIA. i'm kind of wishing we got more inside her head in this ep, especially because she doesn't have that much time left... it's interesting because you can see her spiraling and she says to madeleine how she feels broken, that there's something inherently wrong with her, but even then we still don't get a full window into her mind. it makes sense given the limited perspective of louis and armand as narrators, but still kind of sucks because she's the central female character of the whole show lol.

engaging with the show on its own terms, though, it's interesting how it's set up that claudia is denied subjectivity on multiple levels in this episode.

she's always been denied subjectivity by virtue of being perceived as a child. she's further denied subjectivity by being told to "live" the role of lulu by the coven she calls her family, being told to fully embody this naive, reckless, neglected child. this makes it so that later, when she behaves recklessly (being w/ madeleine), when she calls out louis for again prioritizing his romantic relationships over her, the audience is invited to ask—how much of this is her, and how much is just the role she's literally been forced to embody? she IS naive, and reckless, and neglected, but that is her real life, and her real emotions. by making her play a theatrical part that's a flat, cruel synecdoche of her life, you make her feel as though her real life and justified emotions are nothing but the tantrum of a stupid child. then you invite that (mis?)reading of her by the audience. then maybe, after enough time, she becomes that caricature of herself and is finally lost in the manner that armand suggested (...and orchestrated) in the previous episode.

and THEN, once she's gone, you have the additional layer of lost subjectivity. because she's no longer there to tell her story.

seriously fucked up

i guess the ep is all about ROLES. louis, claudia, armand, everyone. kind of obvious but still a useful shorthand for understanding how louis' and claudia's story arcs here overlap. even in the place where louis says he felt more free (as a vampire, as a Black man, as a gay man) than he did in the states, even in the old country that claudia longed for, they're still both coming up against that double consciousness.

looking forward to rewatching on my usual subtitled piracy site instead of having to cycle thru vpn servers for mega lmao

[djsherriff-responses]

So... I know I've never watched Captain Laserhawk... but I have a weird parody series I made that not only has the characters be more like their game selves (in looks, personalities, and even their own independent stories), but also:

Eden is not America, but is instead the evil government that controls America

Dolph has little to no idea as to what's going on early in the story

Jade is his adopted sister (I am. so sorry)

Pey'j and Alex actually act like father figures to the group (again, I am so sorry)

Bullfrog is... still Bullfrog

Alex, instead of being a bad guy of some sorts or Dolph's... overage boyfriend (jesus christ...), is an agent working for this story's Supermaxx, S.P.I.R.I.T. (which is this secret rebel organization that works against Eden instead of being... whatever the heck it was in the original, soooo...), as a mentor for rookie members of the organization, the S.P.I.R.I.T. Farts (haha funny fart joke I know (/s)).

He even offers Dolph, Jade, and Pey'j if they'd like to join the Farts as well, and while Jade was the only one to not hesitate on joining, they basically all agreed because hey they could stand up against Eden much more easily this way, what's the worst that could happen amirite? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Rayman, instead of being some guy who swears a lot and gets fired and goes "pew pew!" at Eden, is actually a limbless guy who's real name is Ramon and who quit by himself for several reasons (mainly because he wanted to "be more intimate with the outside world" but also because he felt like the world was bigger than the already big studio and mansion he lived in and also his coworkers were pretty mean towards him due to his success, so he wants to find at least someone who'd be nicer to him). Of course, this leads to him being the comic relief/ironic punching bag of the group, but at least Bullfrog's a good friend to him, so he sticks around. Even if he's supposed to be "held hostage" by the Farts.

Oh and did I mention that Ramon has a weird, one-sided crush on Dolph? (Yeah, I still stand by the idea of Rayman and Bullfrog just being friends/having a more familial relationship.) (I do, however, am testing the waters on the idea of Ramon having this crush on Dolph and Dolph just being annoyed and/or just really weirded out by that)

And that's everything I can list off the top of my head for my parody of Captain Laserhawk.

Isn’t that essentially the same thing?

In fairness no one has any idea what’s going on in the actual show, though I’m assuming here Dolph is cranked up to 11 for comedy’s sake

Why be sorry? I think that Dolph and Jade having a sibling-like bond is a sweet idea

Again why apologise? It’s your au and I totally get wanting to keep Pey’J more faithful to his character from the original Beyond Good and Evil as well as being uncomfortable with certain elements, same goes for Alex

Of cause he is

I’m assuming that Sarah is the defo bad guy and Alex is the good guy leader? I recommend looking into the game source material of each of these characters and use the game lore to develop them further. For example , Alex has a brother and nephew in the original Crew game as well as various close friends who you could implement into your au

No head bombs? : (

….. I feel like you’ve missed Rayman’s character arc or over simplified it but there’s plenty of other posts which explain that Rayman in CLH isn’t just a kids character gone edgy , so I’ll spare you the essay

Awww that’s cute!

This feels less like a parody and more like a what if AU where CLH was made for a younger demographic, with a some of its social commentary watered down. It’s most notably how you erased Dolph’s relationship with Alex and made Alex a completely different person, when in canon the relationship between those two is a massive driving force of the show’s themes and plots (Rayman would not have gotten fired if it wasn’t for those two!)

I do understand why though, CLH is a fast paced show with mature and uncomfortable topics with very little room for any of it to breath so it can come across as shock factor on a first time view

If you want to keep Alex as a friendly ally to Dolph, don’t let me stop you. But I think you should at least watch the show first, and also you’d find the 2000s Teen Titans series to be a useful source of inspiration going forward with this au, especially the dynamic between Robin and Slade