#oops I spoke

[themoonbutspooky]

About disability in IWTV

disclaimer: this is not a completely thought out meta post just a few ideas that are bouncing around my brain after spending too long in the tags.

I genuinely think most characters on the show are disabled in some way. Parkinson's, schizophrenia, PTSD/Trauma in general, depression, autism etc. this isn't to mention how Claudia's physical body's age becomes a sort of disability. I think actually that they chose to write Daniel with Parkinson's as a way to draw attention to the themes surrounding disability in the show as a whole.

the vampire coven rules are explicitly ableist, saying not to make disabled vampires. I forget the exact wording. and then the treatment of vampires that go insane by other characters (Niki) or by the narrative (I'm thinking of more than one death by suicide) is not great either.

Given these very present themes in the show and book I've always been interested in the ways physical/mental/social disability affects the characters and their relationships. They manage to love each other despite and because of their flaws (and that love itself is so often so flawed!) just like the disabled people I know in real life do (ok well maybe my friends are doing a little better than these characters are lol). My point is disability and love are not in conflict any more than love is in conflict with fucking everything and the show/books show this clearly.

This is just an issue very close to my heart and I think its easy to fall into the trap of either denying the characters the full scope of their emotions as textually present in the show/book or sort of erasing their disabilities and symptoms for the sake of romance. Like for instance (lets set shipping discourse aside for a minute this is just and example) Armand and Louis can be in love not just as a way of overcoming their past traumas but while still in the depths of their respective recoveries. Love is not only for the mentally well!

There's also something to say about Akasha and disability and Marius and caretaking but I haven't thought it all the way through and its not in the show yet anyway. but also Mael and Marius 'helping him recover' after his attempt but him never showing up again. Armand turning to humans after his attempt not other vampires. I'm sure there's more examples.

[themoonbutspooky]

they should make a "yes I'm mad at you" thats interpreted as an honest communication of inner emotion and not as a punishment or a threat.

They should make a "are you mad at me" that is taken neutrally and informationally every time and doesn't make everything worse when you ask it

[moeblob]

Look, they had a GREAT C support and I really like how it ended but I couldn’t stop thinking about Diamant over-thinking this? So here’s an alternate ending to the C support... even though the actual support was probably better tbh.

[devilsrecreation]

Since the ep is INSPIRED by POTO, I’mma point out the similarities and differences

Similarities/references to POTO:

-There are obvious parodies of the characters in the book/musical. Neema’s obviously the Phantom, Paka kinda has Christine’s role, Nne and Tano are kinda like Madame Giry, and there’s an herbivore with Carlotta’s role. Maybe a wild ass

-Neema pulls very similar stunts Erik pulls, mainly sabotaging performances. But he also has a secret lair in a water cave that he takes Kiburi’s float and Paka

-The Grasslands has a tradition called the “kupiga mpira”, meaning “masquerade ball” where everyone dresses up in costumes. Neema crashes the party lol

-Like Christine, Paka is a (rookie) performer and has a relationship with the Phantom

-I guess you could say both Erik and Neema had a hard life (granted, Neema’s past wasn’t as bad as Erik’s but still) that somehow affected their reputation

-He put Paka to sleep with a soothing melody (AKA he recreates “Music of the Night”)

-“[Why would anyone want to date a strange individual who’s killed people? That just sounds like a toxic relationship.]”-Neema at one point

-The reptiles like to refer to Neema as an “angel of music”

-Tamka brings up “the point of no return”

-Like Erik, Neema kills someone

-One of the reasons he sabotages a show is that a certain spot isn’t left for him. It’s HIS spot, no one else’s

-Neema and Erik both get exposed

-Both phantoms get affection at the end

-Neema’s point of no return is to either quit this double life thing and go back to being in Kiburi’s float or stick to being a phantom and leave his only family permanently. Although Tamka/Nduli think Neema’s gonna give THEM a choice to either join him or he’ll kill everybody, to which Kiburi shuts it down cuz that makes zero sense

Differences:

-There is no operatic singing in the episode. It has singing (the Grasslands are a musical place) but not actual opera. Also there’s no Raoul nor Persian

-While Erik loves/is obsessed with Christine, Neema is aromantic and has no interest in anyone

-Neema does not wear a mask that covers his face (except during the masquerade scene)

-Like I said before, everything between them is platonic and healthy. Though Neema DOES have a soft spot for her. If anything, they’d be QPP’s

-Erik and Neema haunt their respective places for different reasons. Erik does it cuz of his passion for opera and obsession for Christine. Neema honestly just likes the music. The hero thing just comes with it.

-Two things: it was completely platonic and Neema hummed the song since he’s mute and can’t sing. It’s more of a lullaby than a romantic ballad

-Neema isn’t jealous nor possessive. The most he does when he sees Paka with someone else is make sure they don’t hurt her. He’s more protective if anything

-my guy is not a teacher. He’s never taught anyone anything (except maybe how to stand up for yourself)

-As much as I love the scene, it ain’t happening with Neema and Paka. Way too sexual for them (and the episode fic) 😭

-Unlike Erik he killed someone cuz he was hungry, not to sabotage the show. Though everybody else seems to think differently

-He doesn’t kill anyone cuz of it, although he does cause a monkey to interrupt it by scaring him

-While Erik’s face gets exposed during an opera in front of everyone, Neema’s confronted by Kiburi’s float and basically gets exposed then

-Erik gets a kiss while Neema and Paka share a hug and a head pat :)

-Neema’s ending is veeeeeeery different from Erik’s. Neema doesn’t die like in the book nor does he completely quit being a phantom and not see Paka again. He goes back with his float in the end, but he continues to be a Phantom hero in the Grasslands.

There’s a reason Neema kept up the whole “Phantom” act and it kinda has something to do with his past. Neema was raised by strict, but somewhat supportive parents as a hatchling. He never learned to actually talk but his parents convinced him that being quiet was a good thing. “Silence is golden” they’d always say. “Just do as you’re told and they’ll like you”. It was like that for a while until the day he saved that lizard. Being referred to as a “hero” awakened something in him that day. He likes being some mysterious heroic entity, he likes playing with the Grasslanders and telling them what to do, he likes keeping animals on their toes, he likes the music the Grasslands have.

He likes being his own animal.

He’s been following and obeying his leaders all his life. Don’t get him wrong, he doesn’t necessarily mind it and he loves his friends, but it just feels nice to be someone now that he’s found his passion.

Nne and Tano found out when they got hungry and wanted to try something different rather than a mole rat or trying to eat animals from the Pridelands. They soon found themselves in the Grasslands and just so happened to spot Paka walking around. Just as they cornered her, Neema came out of nowhere, gave Paka a chance to run away, and began to attack the pair…until they recognized him like “Hey wait a minute…we know you! You’re one of the crocodiles in Kiburi’s float! What’re you doing here?”. It took a bit, but the pair finally figured out that Neema was a phantom and decide to join him. They never let anyone know since (until Kiburi basically forced them to tell where Neema was going).

Ever since Paka heard about this supposed phantom saving one of her lizard friends, her sleep schedule has been out of whack (seeing how black-footed cats are nocturnal) and she’s been obsessed with seeing it for herself. It only grew when Neema saved her and she went from wanting to see him to wanting to get to know him. Luckily, Neema took interest in the little feline due to her personality and shared love for music and began watching over her. He’s even led her to his water cave (where he hummed her his lullaby) and their friendship grew from there. She doesn’t really understand him so they communicate by yes or no questions until Kiburi comes along. Same with Nne and Tano.

Unrelated, but I just realized a pattern with my headcanons for Kiburi’s float: I gave them all desires

Kiburi wants to be good enough to make his dad proud like he promised

Tamka wants to be seen as more than just one thing (which is an idiot). He wants to pursue his passion and show he’s capable of doing things

Neema wants to feel like somebody. Like I said, he’s been a follower for way too long and he wants to find himself

Nduli wants everything to stay the same. He’s lost so much due to change and he doesn’t want to lose anything or anybody else, so he clings to his loved ones in hopes they won’t let go

Wakali wants to be taken seriously since her young age and albinism causes other animals to underestimate her

Even Makuu wants to show everyone that he’s changed his ways and wants to leave a legacy. It was the same thing with Pua, although nowadays he just wants to live his best life

Ucheshi got what she wanted in that Udugu episode I have-she got her big brother back :)

[baba-o-riledup]

episode 7 is called “I want you more than anything in the world” ohhhhhhh my god because of the three timelines what if armand is saying it in all three of them. what if season 2 ends with armand throwing himself at lestat in the late 1700s, Louis in the late 1800s 1940s AND TO DANIEL IN 2022‼️‼️‼️

[themoonbutspooky]

haha oopsies locked myself out of my own head again. Anybody got a spare key?

um. locked in my own head again. does anyone have The Password

[themoonbutspooky]

The victim of tonights Devil's Minion obsession is (drum roll!) Lenard Cohen!! special attention paid to two songs off You Want it Darker.

Please consider

Leaving the Table:

Old!Daniel after regaining past memories of being with Armand and trying to get ahead of it all and reject him right away.

"I'm leaving the table I'm out of the game I don't know the people In your picture frame If I ever loved you or no, no It's a crying shame if I ever loved you If I knew your name"

but still feels that connection renewed and familiarity even as he draws away from him

"We're spending the treasure, oh, no, no That love cannot afford I know you can feel it The sweetness restored"

You Want It Darker:

Vampire!Daniel reasonably bitter with Armand about their history

"There's a lover in the story But the story's still the same"

"I struggled with some demons They were middle-class and tame"

but starting to embrace his future

"I didn't know I had permission To murder and to maim"

as well as looking to Armand as his maker to offer guidance while still being this mix of hesitant (perhaps a bit of sarcasm from Cohen in the above quoted line?) and ready to embrace his changed nature

"You want it darker We kill the flame"

Also maybe

"Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my Lord"

as the moment of turning (did he want to be turned? I think so. Did he ask for it from Armand? Much less likely IMO. ++ don't speak Hebrew/not Jewish/just skimmed google disclaimer) something about "here I am" as an "I'm ready" statement speaks to (an end to) the chase elements of their story to me.

Also also also the idea that what Armand wants ("you want it darker") might finally be the same as what Daniel wants ("to murder and to maim") That is for Daniel to be a vampire .... its so good to me. Needing permission to go off the rails and returning that permission with loving reverence. Finally being on the same page after so long.

[themoonbutspooky]

I was taught that good writing has:

evidence (fact, statistic, quote etc. WITH CITATION ex. "your dancesong soul. rarely-beloved" ee cummings "in the rain")

description (restating the evidence for CLARITY. ex ee cummings uses two different strategies for connecting words in this example once compounding with no punctuation and once by hyphenating)

analysis (interpreting the evidence in a way brings additional meaning. you stating your opinion and support for it, ex this distinction suggests a gradation of closenesses. dancesong being both more positive in connotation than rarely-beloved and literally more closely associated by means of space on the page.)

synthesis (connecting the evidence and analysis to your BROADER point or THESIS. ex. this gradation of closeness ties to the use of visual space in the poem as a whole and its relation to metaphorical closeness. cummings uses this strategy to show readers the ways in which he is both close and far from the subject of the poem.)

>video claiming to be essay/history on a topic

>ask them if its analysis or summary

>they dont understand

>pull out detailed chart explaining what's analyzing the ideas and motives behind a text and what is just presenting information without thinking about it

>"it's a good video, ma'am"

>watch it

>summary

[spokeplushie]

i think it’s so funny how spoke during the wormhole event kept giving parrot resources to survive (prominent example being giving him totems when parrot was being chased) despite being on the opposite team like …? damn okay

[themoonbutspooky]

Even if people are developing complexes around porn/masturbation it’s going to be more like “food addiction” /eating disorders than like alcoholism anyway. That is to say neither porn addiction nor food addiction are exactly real but I’d be willing to believe there’s a sexuality equivalent to having and ED. By which I mean a real serious psychological problem the solution to which is learning acceptance and finding space for the thing in your life NOT restriction/dieting or abstinence/denial of pleasure.

kinda bums me out to see all these teenagers thinking they're porn addicts or hypersexual because they like to masturbate! @ all the teenagers who are worried about this: this anon masturbated basically daily from ages 12-26. it's fine and normal to be horny especially when you're a teenager.

it's soooo so so sad seeing fucking social media teach kids to armchair diagnose themselves as addicts if they enjoy reading smut or jacking off or even if they're just feeling horny, a profoundly typical feature of being a teenager that is indicative of nothing bad at all. like. good job everyone we did it, we repackaged the protestant fear of sex into pop psychology for gen z and gen alpha.

[bigkickguy]

wip - trying to doodle my rarepair on the beach and i can't stop trying to make emo ideas happen so im spitting out here to get it out of my head eustace and isaac could be cute !! just let them have their peace and quiet!! I'm starting to rotating them in my mind !!

[lumafly]

Something went wrong :)

[hoss-bonaventuree]

my friend letting me talk about sunny cause I'm sad... I like my friends

[devilsrecreation]

i'd love to hear some headcannons for the crocs in makuu's float! :3

I ACTUALLY HAVE IDEAS FOR THIS ONE!!!!!

-I named him Usumbufu (annoyance/inconvenience)

-He’s just a bit younger than Pua, but the eldest since Makuu took over

-Was and still is a good friend of Pua’s. He definitely visits him the most out of everyone in the float next to Hodari. Pua appreciates the snacks he brings (like a wildebeest leg)

-He wasn’t the best with the hatchlings, but he of course tried to help raise them in any way he could. Pua is very grateful for that

-Like Hasira/the orange skink in Shupavu’s group, he’s seen some shit. But while Hasira’s experiences were more comical, his were more traumatic. He’s basically a war veteran for what he’s been through, tho he doesn’t like to talk about it

-Being the eldest, he always has a story to tell. All you have to do is ask him. Kinda nice to talk to someone once in a while, though don’t expect a heart to heart

-You know how Skips always says “yeah I’ve seen this before” before telling Mordecai and Rigby how to solve the problem? That’s him. He’s the Skips of the float

-He essentially opens up a bit to Hodari after the gecko asks him how he’s doing. One simple question, that’s all it took. And Hodari didn’t just listen, he was supportive too. While Bufu appreciates it, he just goes “ah you’re too good for this world”

-He will not lie, he got a little attached to Nduli. He wasn’t expecting to cuz they aren’t related, but Nduli reminds him of himself when he was younger: innocent and naive. He knows he shouldn’t care about Kiburi’s float bc of the trouble they caused, but he secretly hopes Nduli never changes

-So I’m kiiiiinda toying with a possible hc that he’s Makuu’s father? If I decide that, I won’t say he was a bad one but he…wasn’t the best. Ig he was too hard on Makuu in the past, which would probably explain his teaching methods. But then again, I still really like the idea that Pua was essentially the father figure in everyone’s lives

- Name: Kutegemea (dependable)

- Makuu’s new BFF since the rift with Kiburi. The two were always close, he just got an upgrade lol

-Very smart for a crocodile, as a parallel to Tamka’s stupidity

-The muscle of the group (also a parallel to Tamka’s weakness lol)

-Being bothered by smaller animals happens to him a lot. He doesn’t know why he has to be the unlucky one, but he is. He just wishes no one would bother him while he’s resting, is that too much to ask?

-Is always ready to attack. Potential food? Someone trying to pick a fight? Bring it on, asshole >:)

-Name: Majadiliano (talkative) but everyone calls him Maja

-The parallel to Neema. Neema only makes sounds and doesn’t actually talk, Maja usually doesn’t shut up when you talk to him jfhfhg

-Seriously he and Ucheshi once had a 2 hour long conversation about literally anything on their minds

-He’s more social than the rest of his float. He’s not making new friends anytime soon like Beshte does but it’s nice having someone to talk to. He’d make an excellent public speaker

-While not childish or immature by any means, he is a bit of a jokester and would play small pranks on his float members here and there on a slow day

-He was the crocodile that got his tail stuck under a rock, causing Makuu to hurt his leg in “The Little Guy” (which is canon). He felt incredibly guilty afterwards and kept apologizing profusely to Makuu, even offering to get him some food so he wouldn’t have to move much. While Makuu appreciates this, he claims he’s fine and tells Maja not to worry about it

Name: Wastani (average)

-He’s Wakali’s parallel: He’s the average joe, a role model, everything a croc should be. Don’t get him wrong, he’s fine with that, but he wants to be at least a LITTLE different. He wants to stand out, he wants to have a gimmick of his own. Just one thing, that’s all

-He’s currently trying to find said gimmick. Hasn’t had much luck, but he will….someday. Closest thing he has are his ideas that are actually pretty helpful

-He had the chance to talk with Wakali while she was training with Makuu. Wakali told him she wished she could be like him and he responded with how he wished the opposite. In a way, he played a small role in her journey to accept who she is by telling her to keep being different

-Guess he has a thing without realizing it: he helps animals. It’s not worldly advice but it’s the little things that count

And they all got Makuu’s back :)

[maythedreadwolftakeyou]

like a ghost inside my head

[themoonbutspooky]

I cannot express how desperately I want Louis to recover as the show goes on so I am very glad you think that is in the cards and soon! I think there's something really beautiful about the way the show uses vampirism as a way to talk about fully owning and embracing your nature in all its goodness and badness and complexity. We see this play out with sexuality pretty prominently but it definitely applies to Louis' ED too. The monstrous capacity to consume/hurt/take is present in all of us and not actually in complete contradiction with our humanity and our desire to give/love imo thats a big theme in IWTV. I don't want Louis to have to live in permanent restraint or drink artificial food a la true blood. I want him to embody his full potential! I'm excited to see his mental health improve over all and maybe we get some more of Jacob Anderson's incredibly adorable smiles.

Hi,if I understand right Loustat's problems come from Louis refusing to drink blood right? But why is Louis refusing to drink from humans? It's not like he really care about other humans,so is he being just completely stubborn to piss Lestat?

... welllll.... it's one of the big problems, the vicious circle that came with the negation of intimacy, yes.

Louis... does not stop drinking from humans because he loves them so much, or because he wants to be "ethical". Book canonically Louis thought it would be more fitting to "work oneself up" so to say, and in the show his diet... is one of the few things Louis has full control over in his life.

He does it not (only) to "piss off Lestat", I think that is not it. I think it is a try at regaining control itself.

Louis threw himself into the relationship with Lestat, thinking it would free him, since that is part of the offer - and Lestat in turn thought it would, since it did free Gabrielle(!) - but of course it could not, not in the way Louis (and Lestat) hoped it would. And the first few years were amazing, and only when the disconnect started to come - namely the "rite of passage" that Lestat addressed in episode 2(!) - then Louis started to spiral a bit, start to doubt, start to... need control again.

And the feeding... was one of the few things he had full control over.

In the books there is also the "killing evil doers" only vs innocent blood "discussion" that the vampires engage in. Iirc the show runners said they gave the "impulse" for that to Louis here, so that Lestat "learns" that from him, so that then plays into it as well, of course.

Only - as seen also in the show - "killing only evil doers" is easier said than done, and... in the books it takes until the last book until they find a more or less practical way of doing it. *coughs* By older vampires hunting the evil doers and keeping them in dungeons for easier feeding *coughs* (not kidding).

And since "only evil doers" is so difficult to implement that also plays into Louis' decision to just... stop.

So.... it's complicated, as everything on this show is^^.