#noe: this is very lighthearted

[microwavefood]

bitches will be like "im so mad i can't experience things for the first time twice :[" well sucks to be you, there's other people inside my brain that can keep experiencing the things i already have for the first time once again 😋 i think thats a you problem ❤️

[soulsxng]

If my oc's were misinterpreted by fanon, pt 3:

Alsina

These next two are ladies (or present as ladies, in Alsi's case, since sexes are different for the vasyrus), so of course they would end up getting shoved aside for the boys. Or viewed just for sex.

I feel like she would get minimized to both the big booby goth and the wine aunt stereotypes.

People would just treat her as an accessory to Sivel. Because she did plan to overthrow him when she first came back, people would also probably speculate that she's using him/biding her time before she stabs him in the back.

I think people would take her habit of going as far as she has to in order to accomplish her goals, and her being unashamed to speak or act against things that she feels are wrong would get her pegged as being overly emotional. Or a bitch that takes things too seriously.

Nirbhi

Again, she's a lady so she'd automatically be pushed aside for the boys, for the most part. Or just viewed for sex. I could see that being especially bad with Nir.

Portrayed mostly as a ditzy airhead that lets her attendants take care of everything for her. Probably also a good bit of spoiled and selfish princess in there too, because of course.

I can see a lot of people either forgetting that she was a goddess for most of her life, or making her out to be some horrible woman that abandoned her followers without warning. All because she wanted to shirk her responsibilities and go have fun, instead!

She's a healer-type, so obviously that means she can't defend herself and is very weak. Needs protection, either in the "oh noes uwu, she needs a big, strong man to keep her safe" way, or the "ugh, she's so annoying, she can't do anything" way. I hate both, and so would she.

Pythius

People would absolutely only see him for the act he puts on with everyone. Arrogant, flirtatious and indulgent, vain and hotheaded. No depth here, no sirree! Might kind of sum up to a hot, but almost comic relief-y character in some ways.

He was never married, noooo, he's a playboy, he probably just knocked her up, he was never actually in love with her! And he probably neglected his sons, too! Actually no, I'm sorry. I mean he probably neglected Satan's sons--

People would also probably try to paint him as a drunken lecher, too. But in a "sexy way", for the most part.

Lazy, leaves all of his work to his siblings. But he still argues with all of them constantly, because there's gotta be one sibling in the bunch that causes a bunch of fights and drama!

I say all of this, but despite it all, I still feel like people would still somehow love him, and make all kinds of excuses for him.

Shilo

Always dozing off somewhere random, lazy, pretty emotionless and mysterious. People would treat his eels as snakes. This makes them sad :c

Cares a lot about nature and the state of the realms, so I can see a lot of people making him out to be really primitive and dumb. Or making him out to be the type that will jump down a person's throat for even considering the use of a plastic straw. Either way, I can also see it being treated as some haha funny joke.

Able to do mind/body control = he's instantly irredeemably evil.

Again with the "he's misunderstood, nothing he did as the Tyrant of Ennirem was wrong!" vs "he's evil and did that because he's evil and bad, and he didn't change or learn anything at all from what happened back then" battles.

Sivel

I can see a lot of blatant casual racism toward Sivel, unfortunately. Toward all of the Vasyrus, if I'm being honest. Because in a lot of places, they're painted as "the bad guys" in the Brinnelan war, with no acknowledgement to what led up to and caused any of that in the first place. And since Sivel is the king, he'd probably face the brunt of it.

He'd be viewed as cold and ruthless, power-hungry, unreasonable...all kinds of things, I'm sure. No wonder his wife left him!

Speaking of his wife, he probably forced her to marry him. Among other things.

On the more lighthearted side, I could see people dialing his nerdiness up to 11. Also his shut-in tendencies that pop up when he's really into something he's working on, or studying.

Serious all the time. Cannot take a joke. Doesn't tease, and is never playful. Sarcasm goes way over his head. I can see this being construed in both a sillier, kind of oblivious sort of light, and in a more negative sort of light, depending on what part of the fandom you ask.

Another "If you like this character, you condone everything bad that he's ever done, and you're just as problematic as him" victim.

[destinyc1020]

I'm not a fan anymore due to my own personal reasons, but I want to be objective. Timothee wants wrong to ask that worker not to stake pics. He's in character, and it was unprofessional for them to consider the eclipse over their job. Also, after seeing Tom filing TCR in new York and dealing with paps and fans asking for pics, I can understand why he was paranoid and off cause he's in character but also feels violated if that makes sense. I think Timothee may be a bit of the method and also struggles with some type of anxiety. He's very paranoid recently, so maybe being as famous as he has created that more. There was a time he was so open, and noe hes closed off. Whenever he's papped, he wears a mask, so maybe idk im speculating.

However, this isn't the first case. I've heard of this diva behaviour on set, unfortunately. There were rumours on DM a few yrs ago that alleged some crew workers in London about his antics whilst filming Wonka, and he was unpleasant to a female PA for messing up his umbrella request. There were several sources who cosinged this, but because he's big, it didn't go any further than those rumours.

He apologised the next day and gave them signed pics of the merch, lol. At the time, as a fan, I considered that he was dealing with the aftermath of his grandma passing cause it was during that time, so maybe this time he's dealing with the pressure of being Bob Dylan. I'm not defending him cause I'm not a fan, but actors in some cases do lose themselves in roles. I even remember during the press for Dune 1, Rebecca said timothee was more of a character actor than she is. When they said cut, he's still in that headspace, whereas she's making jokes.

Even Z said during a q&a for Dune 2 when she visited set, Timothee was standoffish cause he was in character. He apologised for that. I'm more shocked at the accusations of the director allegedly pushing a worker and not caring cause directors egos are never fun to work with moreso an actor imo.

Timothee is tricky to discuss because hes changed a lot, so who can defend him without their own personal bias? Before, he was very open with fans, and now it's only due to work that he works when he does with his fans unless it's for himself. He doesn't gonna podcasts anymore or has personal interviews. It's not bad, but it can be jarring as those fans became accustomed to his accessibility but now all they do is criticise his dating life with conspiracy CC, lol.

I'm really a fan anymore, so I didn't think this article was going to hurt him, but I find it interesting that his agent isn't disproving it...

We will see.

Oh wow 😳

Thanks Anon for providing this backstory on Timmy and your honest thoughts. I guess I had no idea he could be such a diva! 🥴

Even on the "Wonka" set? That's supposed to be a lighthearted KIDS movie! 😂🤣

Anyway, this is disappointing, because while I'm not a HUGE huge fan of Timmy's, I DO like him as an actor, and I did think that he was generally unproblematic and an overall nice guy. Now, I'm not so sure. 👀 Like I said, I've never seen him even looking like he's in a bad mood to anyone, not even fans lol 😆 So this is just kinda shocking to me.

But if there have been other reports in the past of his behavior, then that must mean there is a pattern.

I don't think there's ever an excuse to be mean and rude to people, so if this is the type of person that he is onset, then that's disappointing. 😔

I do agree that sometimes, people don't realize that a set is STILL a working environment, and sometimes it can be pretty serious! Some people just don't take it seriously and can be a nuisance, which can cause some actors to get annoyed. I know some actors can also get into character and have a hard time getting out of it.

Some also are trying to do a serious scene, and an interruption or disruption can break focus, and cause an actor to have to re-do a take, which is more time, energy, and money spent involved for everyone.

Weren't there some reports one year from an extra on the set of "Cherry" that said that Tom got a bit angry/frustrated with someone on set during the Emily overdose scene at the hospital because someone kept breaking his concentration or smthg? 🤔 I feel like I vaguely remember that from somewhere. Correct me if I'm wrong!

Either way, I guess my point is, I suppose it can happen to anyone? 🤷🏾‍♀️ We all can lose our cool sometimes.

I'll give an actor grace if it's a once or two time thing, but if it's a PATTERN with someone, then that is no Bueno for me. 😤

One of my biggest pet peeves are people who are just rude to others for no good reason at all. 👎🏾

[knackfandomarchive]

Oh noes, how do I know if I have the right idea of a character? Or not, like, "right," but believably them.

I set out to put down a lighthearted scene. Or part of it, anyway. Instead, Lucas had some kind of breakdown. It's supposed to be in his perspective, but he doesn’t seem to know why he's so upset, and his rants don't make sense. Both me and the doctor are like: ???

My sibling, too, when I read it out loud, said something to the effect of: I thought they were supposed to be very happy in that scene in-game.

And they were! At first.

I sort of know what's going on? But it's kind of silly, and I think Lucas knows that much and is embarrassed, and that makes it worse.

I'm still working with bits and pieces of a rough draft, but I can't help feeling intimidated.

[defiant-firefly]

I didn’t even start watching the series until sister location, do you really think I was fussed about the lore? I was told at the very start that the robots were haunted, but if I wasn’t I wouldn’t have gotten it because I barely paid attention to the minigames.

I just assumed the robots weren’t 3 laws compliant and glitchy EVEN WITH THE HAUNTED KNOWLEDGE, and/or for fnaf 2 that the toys were recognizing the nightguard as a threat

This is lighthearted btw

You think I gave a shit about the lore at 1 & 2 until I had it pointed out to me? You FOOL!!

I thought "Ohhh scary games spooky oh noes oh they're haunted uh oh scary" I was not analysing the posters on the walls buddy the only voice we knew was phone guy 1 and phone guy 2 the only lore I knew was that the first one was dead lmao

I can't even call you a baby to this series of games because half of them came out within a single year...

AND BUDDY GO LOOK AT FNAF 1 NIGHT 6 OR SOMETHING RIGHT THE FUCK NOW AND TELL ME THEIR FACES GLITCHING LIKE THAT OR NIGHT 1 WHERE BASICALLY EVERYONE GOT THE 'ITS ME' FACE FLASHING AND SHIT AND TELL ME THATS NOT SPAHOOKY HAUNTED SHIT BRO WHAT YOU DO NOT NEED THE MINIGAMES TO THINK MAYBE SOMETHING'S UP

[rovingpixels]

This got a little more dire than I’d planned. It was supposed to be lighthearted but I think Axl is getting an inkling that things aren’t exactly perfect. I don’t think Luna knows how to treat people. She is motherless and her father finds his children annoying. People haven’t cared for her feelings so she doesn’t realize she should care for Axl’s. 

But my boy! I mean, holy smokes, right?! I picked this haircut because I didn’t like it but I could live with it for as long as Luna is around. Uhm, my goodness! My boy! (I’ve grown incredibly fond of Antonia and Noe but this whole story exists because I’d never had a baby alien before – and look at him now!)

Poses are by starrysimsie, simmerberlin, SamsSims, katverse, atashi77, ceci, and something-wicked-sims. The sims were very boisterous, they wouldn’t sit and have a regular conversation so they got posed – a lot! 

[monsieur-guimauve]

Episode 7 and 'What is Love?’: I’m left more confused than before (spoilers)

After that beautiful clocktower scene in episode 6, I think it’s fair to say everyone was very excited for the dance of love scene in the most recent episode. The beautiful ballroom scene, popular shippings being catered too, what else isn’t there to love?

And yet, I was left feeling very, very, unsatisfied and confused. It looks like the anime is conveying something else entirely than how the manga has it going.

I love the music, the scenery, the voice acting. I know the anime cuts out some things from the manga and adds some new things but keeps relevant to Mochijun’s work, but it’s so distracting. It sounds less in Noe’s perspective as we don’t have everything in his thoughts as he narrates, and more lighthearted than the expected heartbreak Mochijun’s has prepared us for. The soundtracks played at certain clips give of a very different vibe than what I expected while reading.

Domi’s insecurity, Jeanne’s anger/irritation, Vanitas’s troll tendencies are very clear in both the manga and anime, but Noe’s feelings about love??? It seems Noe does have a crush on Jeanne, but is he jealous of Vanitas for having Jeanne’s focus on him? Or jealous of Jeanne that she can freely claim another’s blood without restrictions as he does because of his Archiviste ability? 

Now regardless whether this was the anime or manga, the idea he has now is that he’s hurt because Jeanne got to Vanitas’s blood first before he did, but it’s so random that he asks Vanitas ‘What is love?’ Noe himself, didn’t fully understand these feelings these felt, why couldn’t he ask Domi this? Someone who he already trusts well, rather than a stranger whom you ‘don’t like very much’ several days ago? This makes me wonder if Vanitas is right about Domi being convenient for him, such as if Noe takes advantage of their friendship as he is comfortable where they are at, even if he isn’t aware of it.

What much of his own feeling can Noe decipher from Vanitas’s current concept of love? Has Mochijun plotted that Noe’s feelings and emotions as core plot to his mission on seeking the Book of Vanitas is what I’m completely lost on. (And why is it relevant?)

The second thing is Vanitas’s response to Noe. While we know at this point his self-loathing is so great and reasons into why he does things the way he does, I’m surprised that he answered Noe’s question with honestly. What made Vanitas open up to Noe without hesitation to answer with small hints of vulnerability? We also see that he was analyzing Noe about his intention to dance with him, as he figured Noe had an important question to ask, but it turned out to be ‘What is Love?’. 

He didn’t take it as seriously until he saw Noe’s serious face. Vanitas could have been a troll again or deflect Noe’s question instead. Vanitas is also someone who does things efficiently and focuses his energy on what is important without regard to the other (unless it harms their wellbeing), so what made him thought it was necessary to answer Noe’s question? Why did he honestly show Noe a bit of his vulnerability?

For transparency, I’m a Noe x Vanitas shipper, but will acknowledge whatever pairing Mochijun makes canon. I’m just super confused and disappointed at the vagueness of how the manga portray’s Noe’s ignorant feelings, and how the anime isn’t making it super subtle. What is Mochijun trying to tell us about Noe? I’m really curious about the next chapter and the chapter after on how Noe and Vanitas will reflect on their confrontation.

[kingofhearts709]

Bill and Ted do a scary movie marathon but then cant sleep

hello yes its no surprise that my first thought was nightmare on elm street so we're going with a 5 movie marathon of THAT up to the 1989 film HAHA 🤙 hope you enjoy!!

A/N: there are some very vague spoilers for the nightmare on elm street series (i mean like VAGUE) and also uhh small warning for like mentions of the slashing in the films?? its NOES i mean 🤷

this came out very kinda cute and idk if that's what you wanted but it's what my brain created 🎸

---

Bill and Ted have never done very well with especially scary movies.

Of course, they could handle one by itself, so long as it's followed up by something else lighthearted and definitely not The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

However, the newest A Nightmare On Elm Street was supposed to be coming out soon, and it was Bill's brightest of ideas that they marathon the first five in preparation for the plotline. The last thing Bill remembered happening, vaguely, is an unborn baby and something about a nun. Ted hardly remembered the first one.

Hence, the marathon.

"Dude, we're totally gonna dominate this horror marathon," Bill said as he started busting out the VHS box set, laying them side by side so he wouldn't forget what order they had to watch them in. "I highly doubt that we, as mature adults of modern society, will cower in the face of Freddy Krueger." Bill looked up to see Ted's face scrunched with pension, and immediately started to back away from the whole thing entirely, putting the first movie back down.

"I just...," Ted huffed where he was slumped on their couch, and whipped his head up to look at Bill. "Remember when we saw the first one in the theatre and screamed so loud that the attendant dude had to escort us out?"

"Yeah..." Bill remembered the memory well. They totally missed out on the ending of that movie the first time. Bill shook his head, "But Ted, that was, like, seven years ago. We've totally grown up! I'm sure that it'll be a most excellent experience."

Ted could hear the hope in Bill's voice, so he gave a small huff and a firm, brave nod for Bill to put the tape in. Bill pumped his fist as he inserted the tape, jumping back up onto the couch next to Ted and nearly knocking their popcorn bowl over. Bill suggested they start the marathon around five, considering they were about to embark upon nearly eight hours of monster movie magic. The two had already spent the afternoon together making sure they had easy meals for when they got hungry later.

Ted had almost wished they didn't need the marathon as an excuse to do so, but of course, it was quickly a thought to be pushed to the back of his head.

The opening sequence of the first film began, and soon enough, both Bill's and Ted's eyes were laser-trained on the small TV, Ted giving a jump at any scare and Bill giving a gasp at any gore.

They managed okay through the first one. "The first one's never the scariest, dude," Bill said with forced confidence, though Ted could clearly see him shivering as he set up the next tape. He was shivering too, and he kind of wished Bill would sit closer to him, just to make sure he was actually there, and it all wasn't a dream where Freddy was about to slash open his insides at the last second.

They pushed their way through the second and the third without moving from the couch, and Ted finally chanced a glance over at Bill as soon as the credits started rolling.

Bill was visibly shaking, in a way that made Ted wonder if he was having some sort of horror-induced seizure.

"Dude," Ted said quietly, and Bill blinked as he let out a deep breath and looked over at Ted. "Are you okay?" Bill swallowed as he nodded.

"I'm totally cool, duder," he said assuredly, though his face didn't say the same. "Uh... Snack break?"

"Yeah, dude, definitely." Ted looked up and over at their wall clock to see it was almost ten at night, and they hadn't eaten a single mouthful of anything since their popcorn. "I'm egregiously starved."

Bill nodded as he stood up before stopping completely in his tracks.

"Dude," he said, quiet. "I have a most terrible feeling." Ted swallowed thickly as he watched Bill turn away.

"Dude, whatever joke you're about to pull, I swear, I'll punch you," Ted warned immediately. "Don't."

"Dude, it isn't a joke, I think-" Bill suddenly whipped his body around towards Ted and Ted let out a loud scream as he cowered away from Bill's figure. Bill let out a relieved sigh and Ted slowly uncovered his face to see Bill rubbing at his back. "I twisted my back, dude."

"Oh," Ted breathed out. He shook his head, "Dude, I totally thought you were about to Krueger me." Bill looked at him for a long moment before he started to laugh, and Ted couldn't help but join in.

The thought was so ridiculous, of course, but Ted could never be too sure with the things he'd experienced in life.

"C'mon, Ted, let's eat dinner," Bill huffed as he stretched out a little more before heading to the kitchen to heat up their pre-made spaghetti. Bill returned five minutes later with two bowls of noodles and two forks, passing one into Ted's lap and setting the other on top of the TV before reaching for the next tape.

"Bill, dude, already?" Ted said as Bill slid out the tape and inserted the next (he'd have to remind himself to rewind them all later the next day).

"Ted, the sooner we get through them, the sooner we can be done," Bill reasoned as the fourth movie began, grabbing his bowl and sliding back onto the couch, this time within Ted's immediate reach. Whether or not it was intentional was beyond either of them.

"You make it sound heinous," Ted mumbled, though his eyes were already studying the screen with apt attention.

"Sometimes, my friend, you have to suffer to enjoy masterpieces," Bill mumbled back, mindlessly twirling his spaghetti in the bowl without picking it up.

The fourth movie ended more abruptly than either of them expected, with only half of each of their bowls eaten. Bill blinked into the suddenly eerie and dark room as he abandoned his bowl and fork and dove for the TV to stop the tape. The room went suddenly quiet and Ted didn't dare move.

"One more," Bill whispered despite the fact that they were the only ones there, and Ted listened to Bill insert the fifth and final tape.

"Dude," Ted pleaded, unsure what he was pleading for. Probably for Bill to finish and get back up on the couch so Ted didn't throw himself in a full-fledged panic. They'd already come so far and they weren't about to give up now, but it would help immensely if he weren't alone.

Bill jumped back up onto the couch, thigh to thigh with Ted as the last opening sequence of the night played in their dark living room at nearly midnight.

Bill's closeness was more distracting than ever, Ted almost missing the best and most heinously gorey pieces of the film every time Bill tensed up and shook against him. He's sure he'd been doing the same thing, though Bill didn't seem at all affected by it.

It was strange how fear seemed to literally bring them closer together, and it almost made Ted laugh at the thought that Freddy Krueger could possibly be some kind of ingenious cupid, creating connection through collective terrorising.

However, as he listened to the children sing Freddy's rhyme at the end of the movie, he thought better of that notion because Bill was hiding his face in his shoulder, and he was pretty sure no cupid would do such a thing as to make his best friend cry.

"Bill, dude, you're shaking," Ted whispered quietly. "The movie's over." Bill breathed in as he lifted his head to look at the TV, relieved to see that it was over. He subtly began to wipe at his eyes, and it amazed Ted how this had all been Bill's idea, and yet he was the one most terrified.

"Ted, I do believe," Bill began, doing his best to puff up his chest, "that we are truly the most bravest of all the brave." Ted smiled as he nodded. He would've made fun of Bill for getting scared were it not for the own lingering terror he was still feeling.

"Bill, we are most definitely two of the bravest men alive," Ted agreed with a nod. He paused for a second before adding, "Next time, though, maybe we should just see the new movie by itself."

It took a moment before Bill nodded, and they both collectively said, "Agreed."

Ted did the liberty of turning the lights back on and throwing out their half-eaten dinners, Bill putting the tape pile aside for rewinding later. They both finished and met up at their bedroom door before nodding and heading to their respective beds.

It was quiet as they slipped underneath their sheets, Ted reaching and turning off the bedside lamp, shrouding them both in darkness. Ted could hear Bill's unsteady breathing from the other side of the room, large breaths in and out like he was having trouble calming down.

Ted was having a similar issue, wincing every time he tried to close his eyes and seeing gruesome scenes from the movies behind the lids. He did his best to think about other, less Krueger-y things, but ultimately, it seemed like even through film, Freddy seemed to have a hold on both of them.

After nearly a whole hour of heavy breathing and occasional wincing, Ted finally spoke up, "Dude, I totally can't sleep."

"Yeah, me neither," Bill said instantly, taking another deep breath. "I keep thinking that Freddy dude is gonna get me as soon as I fall asleep."

"Dude, me too." Ted huffed. "You think if we fell asleep at the same time, we'd have the same dream? That way if he does end up coming after us, at least we'll be together."

"Ted, that's total bogus," Bill groaned, rolling over to look at Ted. "He isn't real."

"Yeah, but our brains think he totally is," Ted countered. "So, if we trick our brains into thinking he can't fight the both of us at once, maybe we'll get some sleep." A long silence seemed to stretch before Bill let out a snort, and Ted let one out right after. "Yeah, dude, that's definitely not how it works."

"Nah, dude," Bill laughed. "But your idea would be most outrageously correct within the Elm Street universe." Ted laughed as he watched Bill shake with his own in the darkness.

"Let's try to sleep, Bill," Ted said when the chuckles died down, and he tried to shut his eyes. The images still flashed, however, and he had to open his eyes again. Bill was still staring at him. "Dude, this is most non-triumphant."

"...Hey, Ted," Bill spoke up, voice nervous, and Ted gave him his undivided attention. "D'you... Like, would it be okay if-"

"-we shared the bed?" Ted finished the thought, and Bill let out a barely visible grin. "Yeah, dude."

Since Bill had the bigger blanket of the two of them, Ted was the one to climb under Bill's covers and lay down inches from his face. Somehow, this was far better than sleeping ten feet away from him. This way, Ted could feel him and make sure he was there.

"Hey, dude," Ted said, breath hot against Bill's face, and he managed a smile.

"Thanks, Ted," he found himself saying, and Ted furrowed his brows.

"For what, dude?"

"I would've never gotten through five of the most egregiously gorey and triumphantly horrific movies in cinema without you."

Ted laughed as he hid his face in Bill's chest, and Bill found himself holding him as he did so, until they were just lying there, together.

"And we'll get through the new one together, too," Ted mumbled into Bill, whose breathing had finally gone steady.

This time when he closed his eyes, he didn't catch the flashing images of Freddy Krueger. Instead, he saw the flashing images of Bill and his grin that said there was no way Freddy Krueger could ever best the both of them as long as they were together.

[rin-the-shadow]

Need to ramble about episode 22

And when I say ramble, I do mean with little side tangents here and there. Spoilers below the cut. 

So as you might have figured out from previous posts, reblogs, and questionable parodies, I have very aggressively mixed feelings about episode 22 of Dororo, with a variety of different things bugging me about it.

One is how fast things deteriorated post-episode 19. The way things had been going up until that point, and up until Dororo’s near-drowning, it’s hard for me to buy that they would have gotten to the point they were in episode 22 that fast. I can buy the freakout at the end of episode 20 because it’s in the moment, but the area that makes it harder to swallow is the aura suddenly going completely red around the heart without so much as a warning beforehand from Biwamaru, who has, for the most part, been fairly consistent with commenting on it before.

Still, we’ve got the explanation that something is happening with the last demon, which could potentially explain it, if now that it’s not being held back by the Goddess of Mercy, it’s able to exercise a degree of influence. Sure, why not.

But aside from the way the pacing feels like it suddenly realized it had four episodes left and floored the accelerator, it also feels like the writers are trying really hard to sell this “oh no he might become a demon” plot point, but with less and less communication about it from Dororo--who, to be fair, is only eight--ten-ish, but has also had no problem point-blank saying “if you do that, you’re acting like a demon” before. I can understand him struggling to articulate, but at the same time, it also feels a little like the writers are slamming a clamp down on communication in areas that it would be kind of important.

The main issue I’m having is the sudden shift to “stab anything in my path while riding a flaming demon horse” mode. Hyakkimaru has been established with a capacity towards ruthless pragmatism before. He’s been established as reacting strongly emotionally in the moment, but he’s been able to work back from it relatively quickly once the moment’s passed. Even when he slaughters the samurai who murdered Mio and the kids in episode 6, it’s still a pretty fast turnaround once Dororo interferes, and it isn’t like any of them weren’t directly involved or like he goes hunting other samurai after the fact.

This most recent thing felt like senseless carnage extended over a majority of the episode. And frankly, it feels like it’s the writers trying to push “oh noes he’s going to become a demon, maybe he should have just sat back and happily let the demons eat him before.” Which, I will be pissed if that’s what it ends up saying. As Dark_FalconZ had stated in their post about it, it feels excessively cruel for Hyakkimaru’s character. And again, with what I spent a majority of series episodes watching of him, it feels like a really sudden swerve. 

There’s a very large part of me that hopes the following episodes have a damn good explanation for it, because at this point, I don’t buy it. I don’t buy it as anything other than writers desperately feeling that they need angst and stakes and whatever.

At the same time, I also have to remind myself that at this point in Princess Tutu, which features a ballerina helping a prince restore the pieces of his fragmented heart and started off comparatively lighthearted before getting dark, the prince was a demon bird actively trying to feed people to the raven, because the raven’s blood was tainting one of his heart shards, and it wasn’t like that didn’t get better. (It also had a similarly lighthearted and silly episode 19 before everything went to crap and he started molting feathers before becoming a demon bird, so there’s that.) Like, it’s not the same show, but a part of me wants to hold on to the similar tone things in hopes that we might get some relief.

As for things I have aggressively mixed feelings on, I’d like to mention Tahomaru’s reaction when Mutsu tried to sacrifice herself. On one hand, sure, you don’t want your friend to do that, understandable. On the other, sacrificing one person for the good of the many sure doesn’t sound so great when it’s someone who actually matters to you, now, does it? And with Mutsu being a willing sacrifice as well, the situation was a little different.

Like, I don’t want them to die. I’m actually opposed to character death except when it is in some way fulfilling to their character arc, with a prime example, for me at least, actually being Tahomaru’s arc in the game Blood Will Tell, where his loyalty to his father drives him to fight Hyakkimaru initially, but then (ironically because he doesn’t have the information about the deal) backs off once he realizes he’s hunting demons, with the warning to stay out of his way. His loyalty drives him to stop his father from killing an unconscious Hyakkimaru inside a temple, recognizing that Daigo isn’t acting like himself. He comes to the conclusion that the demons influencing his father are what’s making him not himself, and resolves to help Hyakkimaru and Dororo with the hope of purging his father of their influence, ultimately throwing himself between Dororo and the disembodied demons in order to prevent their corrupting him.

And ultimately, his becoming a Fiend and being cut down in Dororo’s place is what allows Daigo to shake off the remainder of the Fiends’ influence, meaning his death accomplishes what he had set out to do. If he’d been killed off right after his own boss fight, even during the Kyubi boss fight? Not so much.

So I don’t want them to die, especially in a pointless shock death or an “oooooh, look how far Hyakki and Taho have fallen!” moment, but I do have a hard time not raising a brow a little bit that we were all “needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one, but only if the one isn’t someone who matters to me.” 

That said, I actually wish the whole “We can’t sacrifice one person if it’s actually someone who matters to me!” had been touched on earlier. Episode 22 is a bit too late to bring that up and actually have it go anywhere, and if it had happened sooner, it’s something that could have given the character (and the writers) opportunity to explore and see where it leads. And I’m kind of interested in seeing that. But it’s not going to happen because there’s fricking two episodes left in the series.

At the same time, I’m also aware that I’m a little prickly about the plot right now because of how things were handled in Avengers: Endgame, and Infinity War before it, and Madoka Magica: Rebellion before that, and so there is a part of me that worries this will be the same. On the other hand, I have a hard time thinking they’ll go that route, based on previous adaptations (particularly the movie and the game). Turning your protagonist into a monster on the 50th anniversary of the series strikes me as a bit in poor taste, but at the same time, I’ve read enough comics to know that writers don’t always think about that sort of thing. But I’m still hoping that it’s just me being prickly and overreacting, and that they won’t do the thing I’m dreading on their own fricking 50th anniversary.

I would like to remain...dubiously optimistic about the conclusion (and hey, maybe Jukai and Biwa carry aglaophotis somewhere), and I would like to think the writers are simply setting us up to expect worse than we’ll get. The fact that I haven’t been able to find any episode preview for 23 does raise a brow, but then that could also go either way. I would like to remain optimistic. But I also think I needed to ramble a bit in order to do so.

If you’ve somehow managed to read through to the end of this with my rambly nervy writing, then thank you for that. I have a tendency to overexplain while adding a bunch of extra metaphors/comparisons, and then overexplain those, and it gets worse when I get nervous. With these already being a bunch of relatively disorganized thoughts about the latest episode....

Again, thank you if you’ve somehow made it to the end of this with any part of it making any sense. If you’ve got your own two cents, I’d be interested to hear them.

[allofthisnonsenseplease]

Ouran High School Host Club fusion, anyone? XD

another plotting session with firesonic152 <3

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 XDDDDDDDDDDD oh my god i typed in soldier 76 and gabriel reyes into like an "if you were an otome character" generator and

Soldier 76 is the protagonist. type: rival good end: run away to live together bad end:love interest commits suicide

Gabriel Reyes is the side character. type: rival good end: living together bad end: love interest is executed

A LITTLE TOO REAL

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 WHAT THE FUCK

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 RIGHT

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 awful bad endings aside whassit mean about their type being rival?

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 like. they start out as your rival or apparently each other's rival lmao then they get together XD

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 OH OKAY I GOTCHA WELL HELL XD

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 IT'S A LITTLE TOO ON POINT????

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 YEAH. YEAH I DID NOTICE THAT.

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 lmao overwatch au where everything is the same except it's done in the style of a dating sim

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 i don't know whether to be intrigued or horrified tbh, all i can really think is OHSHC AU XD

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 AKJFNADKJFN PLEASE would that make gabe tamaki and jack haruhi or would it be the other way around gabe is the overdramatic one lmao and i can totally see jack being like "fuckdknakdsfjnadkfjn rich people >||(((((("

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 Gabe would ABSOLUTELY be Tamaki. Jack as Kyouya. For Haruhi...Maybe Jesse getting dragged in, and put Hanzo and Genji as the twins.

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 LOL

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 Jack as the cold shadow leader. XD

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 XDDDDDD except in this version,,,,,,, tamaki ends up w kyouya

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 Rein as Mori. D.Va as Hunny.

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 (lmao @ autocorrect valiantly trying to change tamaki into tamale bless u) A VERY LOUD MORI A VERY LOUD AND BOISTEROUS MORI

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 Well, it's not an exact match. XD

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 XDDDDDDD

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 But Gabe in Tamaki's role ABSOLUTELY makes me think he'd be like in the rolls over and steals Jack's mic comic. XD Ana as their crazy advisor girl? Who the fuck would be Nekozawa? Junkrat? shit now i wanna rewatch it XD

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 XDDDDDDDD lmao but can u imagine,,,,, they start this club before they're together and they get so unreasonably jealous,,,,,,,,,

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 like jack wants to straight up Murder everyone fawning over gabe

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 HAD NOT CONSIDERED BUT LOVE IT

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 and whenever someone requests jack they get very carefully Glared at by gabe

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 Jack gets more and more withdrawn into the actual work of running the club bc he doesn't wanna watch Gabe being so flirty with other ppl!!

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 adjfnakdjfn

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 but he can't help watching anyhow

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 wishing it was him gabe was seducing qoq gabe is happy to let jack withdraw like that bc YAY it means not as many people can request him >:3

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 oh noes gabe it's a sign of problems ;; pls notice

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 yeah QoQ

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 Unexpectedly, Jack actually gets MORE popular since it's rarer to be able to talk with him, and it's charming the way he lights up when he's hosting as opposed to being so serious when he's working. So, does Gabe get Tamaki's flair for the dramatic, as well, so that he can do some acrobatic fucking pirouettes when he needs to insert himself into a situation involving Jack? XD

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 AHAHAHA YES kjfkakdjfadkfnadf gabe gets so frustrated at the fact that jack can put on such a convincingly charming act for the customers when he's totally sour with gabe (in reality this is just the fact that a) jack is frustrated at the fact that he's in love w gabe lmao but more importantly b) he is comfortable enough w gabe to not bother with an act)

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 He notices one day though that Jack's off his game. It's little tiny clues--a slight crease between his eyebrows, a brittleness in his smile, an air of distraction. He steps in and makes up some bullshit about needing Jack for something and drags him off somplace for a private word. Turns out Jack's sick--really bad migraine or something--so Gabe hustles him off to the infirmary and makes him lie down, then heads back to the club. And Jack is sick and tired and cold and just generally miserable because he thinks Gabe was so quick to pull him because the customers might notice and be unhappy, when actually Gabe was the ONLY one who had noticed and he was concerned.

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 QOQ jack protests it a lot out of spite and they argue qoq

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 Every other member of the club drops by to check on Jack, but Gabe doesn't come back. He's actually handling Jack's customers as well as his own, plus trying to do Jack's work with the club books or whatever because he thinks that's honestly important to Jack and doesn't realize it's little more than an excuse. All Jack knows is that the damn club they started is apparently more important to Gabe than he is.

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 SOBS jack decides maybe this isn't worth it. maybe he should just quit. try to forget about gabe.

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 :rose:Farewell to Jack! Is this the end of the Host Club?:rose:

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 HAHAHA the episode ends with jack in the infirmary bed pondering his feelings and whether or not he really wants to quit. cut to jack entering the host club, gabe looking up to greet him with a smile that quickly fades when he sees jack's serious expression. "gabe... there's something i need to tell you." CUT TO BLACK

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 NO THAT'S THE WORST XD FUCKING CLIFFHANGERS

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 XDDDDD genji then excitedly talks about the preview with hanzo occasionally inputting his own opinion

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 The next episode opens with Jack's expression suddenly going all wobbly as he sags and presses a hand over his mouth. 'shouldn't have moved,' he manages. 'think i'm gonna puke'

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 AHAHA gabe is like DDDD: and swoops in to get jack to the bathroom before he can throw up on the floor

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 once Jack's steady again, Gabe asks what he was going to say, and Jack just snaps back at him 'Do you really think this is the time?' The whole episode puts off what Jack had decided to say.

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 HA

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 His migraine is worse than ever, Gabe has to take him home and put him to bed. He stays and cooks something for Jack, the others show up and fuck around in Jack's house.

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 it is a lighthearted episode that casually develops jesse and hanzo's romance on the side...... save for gabe's low-key moping also jesse and hanzo's obvious flirtation serves as a reminder to gabe that he hasn't been honest about his feelings At All

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 The ep ends with Jack waking up and Gabe's there, dozing next to the bed. When Gabe hears him stirring, he wakes up and asks if Jack is okay. Jack says he's feeling better, and Gabe is like 'Good. There's something I need to tell you, too.'

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 KDNFAJKSFD

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 and then the episode ends and the next one starts with some sort of emergency, junkrat setting the school on fire, probably

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 OH MY GOD i'M DYING HERE IS IT ONE OF THOSE FILLER EPISODES WHERE THEY DO A RECAP OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE SHOW SO FAR BC SKIP ofc jack ends up saying his piece about wanting to quit first and gabe gets the wrong idea and decides to swallow his feelings jack is like "so what were you gonna tell me" and gabe is like "UHH,,,, I JUS,,,T,,,,,,,,,, MM,,,,,, WANTED YOUR OPINION ON,,,,,, THE NEW,,,, ART?? WE SHOULD PUT UP IN THE CLUB ROOM,,,,,,,,"

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/24/2017 OH NOOOOOO ; ; Jack actually quits, and over the next week, it seems like he's less grumpy in the time they have to spend together, but he also seems distant, somehow. They both mope around. ; ;

firesonic152 - 04/24/2017 QoQ gabe is very rapidly losing his composure THEN REIN GIVES HIM A LECTURE :DDD a VERY LOUD LECTURE about NOT BEING A COWARD and GETTING THOSE FEELINGS OUT ALREADY

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 X'D OH! OHOHOH!! WHAT IF JACK ACTUALLY GETS THE BALLS TO SHOW UP TO THE CLUB AND REQUEST GABE LIKE

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 KJDFNAKFDJADNF

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 RIGHT AFTER REINS LECTURE AND GABE IS JUST WAT THIS IS...GOOD

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 AHHHHHHHH

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 BUT SUDDEN WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I SAY???? ANd Jack is fucking RED AS A STRAWBERRY

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 KJDNSFAKFN

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 and SO MAD that he ACTUALLY DID THIS because GOD DAMMIT THIS IS EMBARRASSING He's got his HEART on his fucking SLEEVE and Gabe is just SITTING THERE SO the nerves get to jack, and he's like 'fuck it, i know a rejection when i see one' and he books it outta there

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 KJNDKJNFD

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 into that fuck off rose garden with the gazebos yes goddamn rich people and their fucking beautiful settings for dramatic confessions

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 XDDDDDD gabe is stunned for a sec but then rein is like GO AFTER HIM OMFG so he DOES BUT JACK IS SO FAST ,,,,, AND WHAT IF,,,, earlier jack overheard rein's lecture (bc it was extremely loud) and he had thought he might have had a chance,,,,,, but when he booked it out of there he ran too fast and gabe lost him in the maze,,, gabe is actually standing right across from jack, but there is a hedge between them so he can't see,,,,,,, and then bc this is a shoujo and ridiculous shit has to happen someone else finds gabe there and like confesses to him, right where jack can hear it (and ofc gabe doesn't know he's right there),,,,,,,,,,,, and jack assumes that gabe's alleged feelings are for that other person,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 OH NO WHY

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 and jack leaves before he hears gabe reject the other person bc he has feelings for "someone else"

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 orz

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 >:3c

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 YOU WERE TYPING FOR SO LONG AND I WAS ALL SET FOR A FREAK THUNDERSTORM TRAPPING THEM IN A GAZEBO TOGETHER FOR DRAMATIC CONFESSIONS AND HOT MAKEOUTS BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 I'M SORRY I HAD TO BREAK IT AGAIN IT'S A SHOUJO U HAVE TO DRAG THIS SHIT OUT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 FUCK THAT NOISE MY FAVE SHOUJO MANGA ENDED IN SEVEN SHORT VOLUMES

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 XDDDDDDD

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 if you're gonna set up a misunderstanding like that, then Jack's gotta labor under it for at least a full episode, right?

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 we can still have the freak thunderstorm lmao XDDDD yep

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 so give him the start of the next day, waking up just rekt from having been unable to sleep the night before (and prolly crying into his pillow 'cause really) and he's dead on his feet and has circles like twin halves of a black hole under his eyes, but he drags his sorry carcas out of bed, gets dressed and ready, and of course because the fucker can't just go ahead without him ONE TIME, meets Gabe to walk to school. And Gabe immediately asks what happened, but Jack doesn't want to talk about it. So Gabe starts to say 'about yesterday--' but Jack Doesn't Want To Talk About It. So Jack's the picture of misery all day, and Gabe is shooting him worried glances through their classes, but by the end of hte school day, Jack has decided that he's got to man up and be Gabe's friend and support him. SO instead of waiting till after the club to walk home with Gabe, he just leaves so that Gabe can walk his crush home instead.

And of course, Gabe goes looking for Jack when he's not waiting, and has to hear from a classmate that Jack left already.

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 CLUTCHES CHEST

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 And Gabe is just like 'fuck this. i'm gonna find out What The Hell is up with him.' So he legs it to Jack's house and bangs on the door till he gets a response, and Jack still looks like death warmed over, and he just kinda glares tiredly at Gabe and asks why he's there.

Gabe is in no mood to deal with this shit--the dirty looks and Jack's tone and the way he's not even inviting him inside, so Gabe is just 'So are we suddenly not friends anymore, 'cause I didn't get the memo about that.' and Jack is taken aback, because of course they're friends, he needs that much at least if he can't have everything. He gets mad pretty quick, though, 'cause he's trying his best, dammit, he's barely had a full day to come to terms with the fact that he has a fucking broken heart of all things.

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 jsakfnaksjfnaskjfsjnfaf

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 So Jack just says 'I was staying out of your way, idiot. Don't you have someplace more important to be?'

'The hell I do! Not when you're acting like this! Not when you suddenly won't give me the time of day. I have something important to say to you, Jack, and you can slam the door in m face afterward if you want, but I'm damn well going to say it this time!'

And then the entire rest of the club shows up to check on Jack because he looked like he was Going To Die.

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 The joke's worn thin at this point, so Gabe chases them all off, while Jack stands by, looking ill and considering closing the door and hiding. But Gabe pushes past him and shuts the rest of the world out, cornering Jack in the process. They're standing so close together that Jack can't tell if the heat on his face is from Gabe or because he's blushing or because he's about to have to fend off tears again. Gabe takes a deep breath, and just that is enough for his chest to brush against Jack's, and he lays it out. 'I like you, Jack. That's...that's what I wanted to say.'

They stand there in silence for a moment. Jack is gaping at him, not sure he heard right, almost sure he must be misunderstanding somehow. The silence gets to Gabe, and he fidgets nervously.

'I can leave, if you want. I just--Jesus, Jack, are you crying?'

'Huh?' Jack touches his face and, sure enough, he's started crying again. He rubs angrily at the tears and shoves past Gabriel into the house, muttering about how he's too fucking tired for this. Gabe follows him, concerned, feeling like that's a clear enough rejection, but wondering why Jack would reject him after requesting him in the club.

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 JACK'S CRYING AND I'M CRYING

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 'Am I who you were talking to Rein about?' Jack demands. Gabe goes red. 'You weren't supposed to hear that,' he mumbles. 'Am I or not??' '...yeah. Liked you for a while now, Jackie. Didn't have the balls to say anything.' Jack just stares at him for a moment, heaves a sigh, and drops down onto the couch, head in his hands. 'I'm an idiot,' he grumbles.

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 AHHHHHH

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 'Well, sure, Jackie, but it's a simple question. You want me to go, or...?' Jack looks up at him, glaring with red-rimmed eyes. 'Dont' you fucking dare leave.' And Gabe's heart does a little flutter in his chest, because he's pretty sure he knows now how Jack feels, intense glare notwithstanding.

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 kajnKJNkjnskjfnsakKJSDFNAKSDJNFKASJDNFASDF I'M DYING

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 HOLY JEEZUS IT IS WAY LATER THAN I REALIZED XD

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 WAIT LET THEM SMOOCH FIRST

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 I gotta turn in aaaaaaaaaaaah smooches

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 gabe is all flustered and has no idea what to do next until jack hisses at him to get his ass over to the couch and they make out the end]

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 lol

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 :heart:

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 what about Gabe goes over to where Jack is sitting, and kneels down in front of him on the floor, looking up into his exhausted, angry, tear-streaked face.

'What are you grinning for?' Jack grouches.

'You like me, don't you?'

'Give the man a prize.'

Gabe laughs and leans in a bit closer, eyes bright and eager. He's itching to wipe away the last of Jack's tears, but he's pretty sure calling attention to them will get him punched. Instead, he asks: 'All right if I kiss you?'

Jack eyes him for a moment, then slides right off the couch into Gabe's arms, straddling Gabe's thighs as he wraps his arms around him for a kiss.

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 AKJDFNASKDFJN I'M GONE

SuspiciousPopsicle - 04/25/2017 XD all right, cool. we got closure i'mma get some sleep. Have a good rest of your evening. ^^ ((the kiss is interrupted by flashes from the windows as the club members, who had all stayed to watch, take photos)) Night night. <3

firesonic152 - 04/25/2017 <333333333 good night <333333