#race and MK-ULTRA

[unwelcome-ozian]

The Secret Black History of LSD

“Black Americans were uniquely exploited during this first wave of psychedelic research,” concluded the authors of a 2021 University of Ottawa study of abuses in the early trials of LSD. Overwhelmingly, the African American victims of MK-Ultra were drawn from prisons and hospital mental wards, including the National Institute of Mental Health’s Addiction Research Center (ARC), which tested LSD and some 800 other psychoactive drugs on an inmate population that was almost exclusively Black. In numerous other MK-Ultra experiments, according to the study, “participants were subject to differential and torturous treatment and dosing dependent on race.” In one 1960 study, “‘Negro’ men convicted on drug charges…were recruited from prison and given LSD in a research ward,” while a comparison group made up of “professional White people at Cold Spring Harbor, living freely,” took LSD in “the principal investigator’s home ‘under social conditions designed to reduce anxiety.’”

[soupsbowl]

come and get your love || steve harrington x reader || part 4: mk ultra

part 4/?

word count: 2.5k

tw: swearing, mentions of death

--

You arrived home to a silent house. Your grandmother always went to bed early. You quietly closed and locked the front door, sliding your sneakers off your feet and tiptoeing up the stairs. You clutched Dustin’s notebook tightly as you went. You found yourself standing in front of your father's locked office. The memories flooded back—the briefcase, the hushed conversations, the unspoken fears. Something gnawed at your stomach –fear, curiosity, hunger, perhaps a mix of the three – and you reached for the doorknob.

“What are you doing?”

You nearly jumped out of your skin. Your grandmother had appeared behind you, looking at you with concern.

“Grandma! I’m…I’m sorry I didn’t mean to wake you up. I just got back from work.”

“Why are you trying to get into your father’s office?” Her voice was dark, a tone you had never heard from her before.

“I…wasn’t,” you lied, terribly. You discreetly hid the notebook behind your back, and backed up so you were pressed against the wall. “I think you should go back to bed, Grandma, it’s late. I’m sorry I woke you up.”

Your grandmother furrowed her brows and she stared at you, unblinking. “Why are you trying to get into the office?”

You felt the blood drain from your face. “I... I know something is going on, Grandma.” You didn’t know what to say. Your heart was racing. You took a deep breath before continuing. “I know that Dad’s work at Hawkins Lab has to do with things that have been going on around here. I don’t know how I know…I just…I know,” you admitted, your voice wavering slightly. “And now I need to know the truth about my family.”

Your grandmother’s expression hardened even more. “Y/N, you don’t understand what you’re messing with. Your father’s work at the lab... it was beyond dangerous. It’s complicated.”

“But I can’t shake this feeling that there’s something I need to know,” you insisted, your voice rising with frustration. “I feel like we were somehow connected to everything that’s been happening in this goddamn town. I’m old enough now, Grandma. I have a right to know how my parents really died and what they were involved in.”

She studied you for a long moment, her eyes searching yours. “You have no idea the danger involved in this. Your father… he wanted to protect you from all of it.”

“I know, but I need to understand,” you pleaded, tears welling in your eyes. “I can’t keep living in the dark. If my parents were murdered, I have a right to know!”

Her gaze softened slightly, a mix of sadness and resolve in her eyes. You thought you saw a tear. She turned and went into her bedroom to emerge a moment later holding a key. She unlocked the office. “Come with me.”

She led you into the dark office, the air heavy with dust. The room was stark, almost barren, with only a desk and a chair left untouched since your father’s passing. Papers and books were conspicuously absent.

“He kept everything locked away for a reason,” your grandmother began, her voice low but steady as she looked around the room. “Your mother always told your father not to bring his work home with him. She knew it would lead to disaster. When they left that day…” she paused, swallowed. “The day they died, your father had cleaned out this office, he wanted to take his research and reveal the truth of what was going on beyond the fences inside Hawkins Lab. He knew the risks involved. The lab... they were suspicious of him. He and your mother... they were driving to reveal the lab’s secrets to the press, along with his research and then…” she trailed off.

You listened intently, your heart pounding in your chest.

“Then they got into the accident. Just as they were about to leave town.”

She paused again, looking at you deeply. You brushed away a stray tear that had managed to sneak out of your eye and drip down your cheek.

“I’ve always believed there was foul play involved, but for your safety, it was best not to say anything.”

Tears streamed down your cheeks as you processed her words. The weight of years of secrecy and unanswered questions bore down on you. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“It wasn’t my decision to make. Your father entrusted me with this, to tell you when the time was right, when you were old enough to understand,” she replied softly, her eyes filled with sorrow and regret. “He wrote you a letter. He told me to give it you when it was time you knew the truth.”

An ache spread through your chest as you struggled to comprehend the enormity of what she was telling you. “Show me.”

Your grandmother hesitated for a moment, then nodded solemnly. She moved to the desk and lifted the chair, revealing a small compartment hidden in the leg. Inside was an old, weathered envelope, rolled into a tube shape. She handed it to you, and watched as you carefully unfolded the letter, written in your father’s familiar handwriting:

Dear Y/N,

If you are reading this, then something has happened to me and your mother. I’m sorry for keeping this from you, but I did it to protect you. For years, I have been involved in a top-secret project at Hawkins Lab—MKUltra. These experiments, as difficult as it is to believe, involve, alternate dimensions, powers beyond our understanding. Below are the details of the experiment. I trust that you will know what to do with this when the time is right:

Project Codename: "MK Ultra"

Objective: To explore and harness the energy of the Upside Down to enhance human physical and cognitive abilities, creating superhuman capabilities.

Key Components:

1. Energy Harnessing:

Portal Stabilization: Develop technology to stabilize and control portals to Dimension X, allowing safe and consistent access.

Energy Extraction: Create methods to extract and store energy from Dimension X for experimental use.

2. Human Enhancement:

Genetic Modifications: Experiment with genetic alterations using Dimension X energy to enhance human strength, agility, and cognitive functions.

Psychic Abilities: Investigate the potential for developing or amplifying psychic abilities (telekinesis, telepathy) using Dimension X energy.

3. Field Testing:

Test Subjects: Conduct trials on selected individuals to monitor the effects and improvements in physical and cognitive capabilities.

Behavioral Analysis: Observe changes in behavior, mental state, and any unintended consequences of the enhancements.

4. Potential Risks:

Unpredictable Mutations: Dimension X energy might cause unforeseen genetic mutations or health issues.

Psychological Instability: Enhanced psychic abilities could lead to mental instability or uncontrollable powers.

Cross-Dimensional Threats: Opening portals could invite dangerous creatures from Dimension X into our world.

5. Current Focus:

Subject Observations: Monitoring subjects who have shown resilience to Dimension X exposure for potential enhancement candidates.

Energy Stability: Ensuring the extracted energy remains stable and non-toxic for human application.

I believed in the science. I believed we could make the world a better place. But as time went on, I discovered the truth—that our work was not as safe as I thought. People were being hurt, manipulated. I couldn’t stand by anymore. I knew I had to reveal the truth.

I’m writing this letter and giving it to your grandmother, just in case anything happens to me and your mother. She will know when it’s time for you to read it.

Y/N, you are special. You have strength and courage beyond measure. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner, but I hope you can forgive me. Your mother and I love you more than words can say.

With all my love,

Dad

Your head was pounding, you felt your vision blurring. Somehow, none of it made sense yet it explained everything you had been wondering for the past five years. Your legs felt like jelly and you sat down on the dusty floor, hoping that grounding yourself would help.

Your grandmother looked at you sadly. “I’m sorry Y/N.”

You nodded, but didn’t say anything to her.

“Do you have anymore questions?”

You shook your head.

Your grandmother sighed, then padded quietly out of the room. Upon hearing the door close you immediately began to sob.

--

The only thing worse than finding out that your father was part of some top-secret experiment that led to his and your mother’s demise was having to process that information during Mrs. Click’s 9:00am history class.

You didn’t sleep a wink the night prior, visions of grotesquely enhanced humans and alternate dimensions flashed through your brain, with the occasional imagery of a burning car and your parents’ smoldering corpses.

Geez, Y/N, way to keep it lively.

Mrs. Click had been droning on about the cotton gin for an agonizing amount of time and you could feel your eyelids getting heavy when she brought up the “riveting details of the Munger cotton gin of the Civil War Era.”

You felt yourself slipping into a tranquil doze when all of a sudden you felt yourself actually slipping, as your head slid off your hand and smacked onto the desk in front of you.

Laughs erupted around the classroom and you felt a blush of embarrassment creep up your chest and onto your face.

“Ms. L/N am I boring you?” Mrs. Click stared at you over the top of her horn-rimmed glasses.

The class giggled quietly.

“No, Mrs. Click,” you said, unconvincingly. You straightened up a bit, trying to exude the confidence of someone not only awake, but engaged. “I’m not bored.”

“Lovely, then perhaps you wouldn’t mind reminding the class what inventor received a patent for the Smooth Cylinder Cotton Gin in 1840?”

You stared blankly ahead. Your knowledge of the cotton gin both began and stopped at Eli Whitney.

"Uh, Eli Whitney?" you ventured hesitantly, even though you knew it was wrong the moment you said it.

Mrs. Click sighed; her disappointment evident. "No, that would be Eli Whitney's earlier invention. The correct answer is Fones McCarthy. Maybe you would know that if you had been paying more attention rather than dozing off on your hand.”

You felt the heat of embarrassment rising in your cheeks as the class tittered again. You buried your face back in your hands, wishing you could disappear.

"Actually, Mrs. Click," a voice cut through the whispers. "I think Y/N was just confused because Eli Whitney's gin was the first major breakthrough. It's an easy mistake."

You lifted your head from your hands and met Steve Harrington’s gaze from across the room. He gave you a tight-lipped smile and a small nod.

Steve? Bailing you out? And paying attention in class? This was new. And unusual.

Mrs. Click looked at Steve, also perplexed at his uncharacteristic participation in class, then back at you, her expression softening slightly. "Well, thank you, Mr. Harrington. Let's all try to pay closer attention, shall we?"

To your relief, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. You gathered your books and made a beeline for the door, eager to escape. Before you could make your way to your locker, a hand gently grazed your shoulder.

You whipped around, locking eyes with Steve once again.

“Geez, L/N you’re jumpy today,” his eyes scanning your face as if trying to find the root of your distress. “I promise you Mrs. Click isn’t going to hang your hide over falling asleep in class. I should know, I do it all the time.”

You gave him a small smile. "Yeah, well thanks for bailing me out, Steve. I really appreciate it."

He shrugged, a lopsided grin on his face. "Hey, I just figured I owed you for comforting me after Tina’s Halloween party the other night.”

“Oh no, we were already even for that. You walked me home after the party, providing me with ‘protection’ as you called it.”

“Well, then I guess now you owe me.”

You were suddenly very aware of how close Steve was to you, and that you were staring at each other. His brown eyes were flecked with green, something you didn’t notice the other night.

Stop staring, Y/N.

You cleared your throat, breaking the spell. "Yeah, I guess I do," you said, trying to sound casual. "How about next time you come by Moretti’s I’ll sneak extra cheese on your pizza – no charge?”

Steve smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling up as he did so. “If I let you borrow my notes from class today do you think you could throw in some pepperoni, too?”

You tapped your chin, feigning consideration. “I suppose I could make that happen.”

“Excellent, then we have a deal.” Steve reached into his bag and pulled out his notebook and handed it to you. “I’ll see you around, L/N. Probably at Moretti’s to cash in the pizza you owe me.”

“I’ll be there.”

Steve smiled at you again before turning on his heel and heading down the hallway.

A tinge of guilt suddenly arose from the depths of your stomach as you watched him leave. You had been there when Johnathan drove Nancy home from the party. You had been the one to tell Johnathan to drive her home in the first place. You had heard the couple’s argument outside of the gymnasium yesterday. And here you were, borrowing his notes and staring into his eyes.

Your mind returned to the argument you had overhead between Steve and Nancy. You distinctly remember Steve saying something about “killing Barb.” Barbara Holland had gone missing around the same time Will Byers did last year. Except he was found, and she wasn’t. After everything you had discovered about your parents’ death and Hawkins lab last night, you hadn’t even had time to try and put your detective tendencies to work and further investigate Barb’s disappearance.

You unshouldered your backpack and shoved Steve’s notebook inside. Your eyes suddenly caught notice of the sticker on the front of one of the other notebooks. Hawkins Middle AV Club.

The bell rang, indicating you had three minutes to get to your next class – trigonometry with Mr. Mundy. You pulled one strap of your backpack over your shoulder, and slowly ambling towards the classroom.

In the next three minutes, you took inventory in your head the things that had happened to you over the past few days.

One, came into possession of a middle schooler’s notebook that dictated what could be utter nonsense or clues in the mysterious events in Hawkins over the past year. Two, unintentionally meddled in the relationship of Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler. Three, discovered that the former pair may have somehow been involved in Barbara Holland’s disappearance. Four,  discovered that your father had been involved in human enhancement and interdimensional travel. Five, your parents intended to reveal those secrets to the public and it resulted in their deaths. Six, you were now involved in some deep shit, and trigonometry somehow no longer seemed like a priority.

You stopped dead in your tracks, the hallway deserted.  The obnoxious buzz of the late bell echoed in the empty hall, indicating your tardiness to class.

Seven, you were skipping class to figure out what the fuck is going on.

The words from your father's letter resonated in the back of your mind, urging you forward.

Y/N, you are special. You have strength and courage beyond measure.

You pulled on the other strap of your backpack, turned on your heel, and marched outside.

[patchoulism]

I've been thinking about this a lot, in various forms, and forgive me for being unable to put my thoughts into palbable English, but the general gist of what I'm about to say is: the language barrier works one way for English.

What I want to say is: there is an amount of people from the West, especially from the USA, spotted both there on tumblr, in other places on the Internet and in real life, too, who know about all the vile shit USA has ever done and wanting to find some solace in the world from that, turn to USA's "antipode" (please note the quotation marks) - USSR and consequently Russia. I don't want to take a lot of time and effort writing out the entire receipt, but please believe me: you can read on Wikipedia about MK Ultra, you can hear people talking about Reagan ignoring AIDS on purpose to kill gays, but you have hard time hearing about persecution of minorities in USSR, about labour camps, about lingvocide, about incarceration of unemployed people, about putting gays into institutions for "aggressive mentally ill" and so on. So please, be mindful when you race to whatabout USA crimes when somebody tries to say "USSR put my grandpa into camps for writing poetry in his native language".

[nilolol30]

Mei x reader

"Finally! Todays date day is gonna be the best one yet!" Mei shouts as she parked her motorbike it took your soul to catch up with your body with how much she was speeding "If we don't get arrested..." Mei only giggled as she deactivated both of your helmets and you both hop off the bike.

"Wouldn't be the first time buut anyway let's commence our first arcade date!" Mei pulled you close to take multiple selfies then you both walk Infront of the arcade sign and take a picture Mei posting it on her socials then you both start to actually walk inside "So what games do you wanna play?" She asked shoving her phone back in her pocket.

"Eh why not walk around the place and stop by at whatever we feel like playing? Honestly you and Mk come here more than I have" Mei insisted on paying for both yours and hers passes since shes been a loyal member she gets pretty good discounts.

"True I was gonna bring you with me and him last time but I thought he'd feel bad for third wheeling but thank goodness I didn't since it was a clone and turned all party crazy" Mei shutters thinking back to 'Porty mk.'

You both started wondering the arcade ducking into some games that interested you both there was a motorcycle racing game that Mei immediately dragged you down begging you to race her unfortunately she is well versed in gaming and riding so of course she won but it was still fun then you both jumped into a photo booth taking two photo sessions so you both can keep the photo strips.

"Ooh! A claw machine! Did I tell you I am amazing at claw machines~" Mei strolled over to the machine giving a playful wink "Really? Thought you always tell everyone they're scam" laughing you lean over her shoulder to peak at what kind of prizes are inside it a green bunny caught your eye Mei noticing smirks pulling out some tokens.

"Well I'm infact a champ at scamming scams~ and I'm totally getting you a fluffy friend!" Mei immediately went into ultra claw machine focus mode trying her best to get the right angle obviously doing her best to get the green bunny.

"And just like that ah boom~" with her eyes closed she pushed the button smiling expecting to hear the automated congratulations but unfortunately the claw didn't hold onto the bunny and dropped it causing a game over Mei getting over her shock laughed a bit "Ha obviously just a fluke give me a sec-" and so the cycle of Mei shoving tokens into the machine and her slowly growing annoyance began "You know Mei you don't have to win we can just get a prize from the-" "Never! I'm totally getting you that damn rabbit if it's the last thing I do!" It's almost like you can see a green fire radiating from her.

Finally when it looks like the claw is holding onto the bunny you both watch as it slowly takes it to the flap "I swear if it doesn't get in I'll punch this thing" Mei mumbled her face pressed against the glass "Yeah let's not set off alarms" then the claw let go and the bunny fell through the slot Mei rushed to pull it out and yelled out in victory.

"Yes! I did it! I'm the best girlfriend everrr!!" She held out the stuffed toy to you smiling "Here you go~" it's almost like she didn't want to murder the creator of those machines second ago you take the bunny and kissed her on the cheek.

"Of course you're the best girlfriend the best girlfriend in the world" you can hear Mei let out a small internal squeal pulling you into a hug "okay let's continue this date let playy...Oh oh that game!" You two go off to play nearly all the games the arcade has to offer the both of you agreed to keep away from any more claw machines for a bit.

[missr3n3]

Augusnippets Day 10

execution/fake execution/begging for mercy

fandom: cabin tales prequel to day 8 TW: torture, electrocution, forced to watch, unethical human experimentation, major character death word count: 496 @augusnippets

Rachel's hands had an iron grip around her mouth. The dry, frigid basement air stung at her wide eyes. Her knees buckled, a chill coursing through her entire body.

None of her discomforts compared to what she just witnessed.

“Wha… What the hell?” she squeaked, stepping back from the sight displayed through thick, tinted glass.

Roderick. Kevin. Sam. Jeremy. All writhing in agony from a shock Rachel feared would kill them – perhaps should've killed them. Though she couldn't see Sam or Jeremy well from the window's position, she assumed they had similar, blistering burns around their wrists, upper arms, ankles and neck.

“Hm, thought they would've figured out the premise sooner,” Mr. Barnett sighed.

“Y-you didn't tell them!?” Rachel gasped.

“The idea was to control for more variables than prior attempts at this.” Mr. Barnett quirked an eyebrow. “If they were told this is a prisoner's dilemma, they could've strategized beforehand, sullying the results. If you want to really test humans’ trust in each other, such things must be taken into account.”

“But this – then this is kidnapping! It's illegal!”

“You say that like some of the most valuable research into human behavior isn't also ethically or legally dubious. Does the name MK Ultra ring a bell?”

Rachel feared her throat would completely close up. Her mind raced, desperately trying to cut through the boys' resumed bickering to find a way out. For herself, and for them.

“But… But what the hell are you going to do with the results, then?” Rachel tried with a nervous, tense smile. “I-if what happens here goes public, you'll be arrested! S-so, we should just get them out of here and try-”

“Oh, Rachel,” Mr. Barnett cooed, resting an elbow against the glass with a small, chilling smile. “This isn't about fame, prestige, academic accolades. This…” Mr. Barnett beamed as he started the timer again. Rachel thought her heart would stop from the sheer shock of Kevin's frantic, terrified screams. “This is about knowledge. The truth!”

“Wha..? Who cares about that!” Rachel snapped, voice rasping from encroaching tears. “You can't do this to people!”

“Too late now.” Mr. Barnett shrugged. “I can't do anything now that the timer's started. It's up to them.”

Them…

Rachel snapped her attention to the window, beating against the unwavering glass with all her might.

“GUYS!” she screamed. “DON'T VOTE! DON’T PRESS ANYTHING! PLEASE!” Any further words were silenced as she watched Kevin and Roderick press the dials. “Oh fuck…” she whimpered. “Oh fuck, there's gotta be something, there's gotta-”

“Well! It's about time they figured it out.” Mr. Barnett clasped his hands in pride.

“No, NO! STOP!” Rachel desperately grasped Mr. Barnett's shoulders. Just as she did so, her ears rang from the booming screech of arcing electricity. “YOU'RE KILLING THEM!”

“Incorrect,” Mr. Barnett calmly chided, pointing behind Rachel. “They're killing him.”

At Mr. Barnett's words, the foulest stench Rachel had ever encountered stung at her nose.

Burning meat mixed with ozone.

[libertarian-druid-ny-separatist]

I'd genuinely love to hear about all the conspiracy theories you believe to be true and why. This isn't hate, honestly, I'm really curious. Consider this someone trying to see from a different point of view.

See, that's just it, there aren't many conspiracy "theories" I believe, most of the ones I believe are straight up confirmed by our government.

That said, I do believe the FBI killed MLK, that democrats killed Lincoln, the CIA had something to do with JFK's assassination, and that Epstein didn't kill himself.

Note, there are plenty of common ones (like the US having laser weapons THAT WE USE FOR WEATHER MODIFICATION AND USING IT TO HIT HAWAII) that I only believe part of too.

But I'll go into reasoning now

MLK: The feds have always been the most authoritarian part of our government. MLK was speaking for more rights than they had in a way UNLIKE Malcolm X. I stole a little from MLK because I only believe violence is justified in defense.

(side note: I've got no issue with the original Black Panthers beyond their common socialism, they openly defended their communities from police aggression by showing they were ready to police their communities themselves. The new Black Panthers are race grifters and communists.)

Lincoln: Southern Democrats were pissed big time, John Wilkes Booth could have easily been a paid assassin, and given how the Dems ruled for another 50 years after his death, it wouldn't exactly be surprising. But since there's no evidence directly linking modern Dems, I'm not making an accusation against modern Democrats yet.

JFK: I mean, you got a trained marine in the prime time of MK Ultra, a brain washing/mind control program. It really isn't a stretch to say that Kennedy's policies could have changed our world intensely if given the time to develop. Now, granted, this is ENTIRELY in theory, but it seems as his assassination got closer, John was more and more opposed to direct military action. That ain't good for the MIC. And the CIA and FBI aren't denying it near as much.

Epstein: I don't even feel a need to go into this. It was obviously fucky. You don't leave a dude on suicide watch entirely alone.

Truth be told, I don't trust or approve of any existing government. I'm willing to read from sources tied to governments, but more as a comparative POV than absolute fact.

Thank you for your interest anon, if you'd like a longer, more in depth conversation, feel free to dm me. I leave all dms private as possible (hi FBI agent Smith {or whatever generic name}) but I also won't force you into not sending more anons.

[franki-lew-yo]

About Us

K, so like what is the deal with people saying Us doesn't make sense? No really? People keep saying that it's a plot hole that the tethered might be science experiments and like...how is that a plot hole? It's not a plot hole, it's just an explanation that I don't even think you're supposed to buy into considering who's telling it. To me, there's a different between the writing mistakes that make up plot-holes vs 'plot logic'. A plot-hole is when no one was around to hear Kane's last word in Citizen Kane; plot-logic is the explanation of the tethered or the one in Star Wars everyone was complaining about before Rogue One happened. That is to say; if the explanation or lack of explanation for things is too much of a problem for you to take the movie seriously as t wants to be taken...well I get it but that's still not a problem or a matter of 'turning your brain off' like this person suggests.

((do not bother op. I don't think any of you are mean enough to do that but leave the people in this screencap BE))

The tethered being an experiment by the government as the only explanation or under-explaination for why they exist/how they work isn't a plot-hole; it just may be the make-or-break-you point of contention regarding the movie. Does that worldbuilding beat personally ruin the movie for you or not?

It doesn't for me because- [click 'Read More' if you wanna hear me gush about Us. If not and you're one of the 'Us sucks' crowd please don't bother; this is MY post on my blog Felicia.]

-I never needed an explanation for how the tethered work+exist. I feel the storytelling of the movie itself, especially if you watch it multiple times, reveals and elaborates on what exactly the Tethered are and aren't while still leaving it ambiguous on the specifics. Besides the fact that the information given about them is from the point of view of Red/og!Addy, and so is biased and possibly a fake explanation; to me the logic feels pretty solid based on what is shown:

there is a race of dopplegangers linked spiritually in some way to the above ground-American population -> who are unable to speak without being taught and must live on what they have with them which isn't much -> are prone to violence because they are feral -> and are bound to unwillingly instinctively copy the movements of their above-counterparts -- all that's enough of what I need to know to make the story from there work.

I guess I always assumed if there IS any truth to the 'abandoned government experiment'-explanation, it was less of an real work MK-Ultra deal and more of some kind of quantum interdimensional mindscrew science' deal. I instantly took it to heart that the Tethered were created by someone playing some kind dimensional astralphysical physics they shouldn't have; some Jimmy Neutron-level magic science. Or I guess maybe Dr. Whovian/Quantum Leap science for people who watch shows made for their age group....

Somehow someone in the 20th century wound up making copies of the then-current American population and THEN abandoned them and forgot they were ever there, while the copies continued to be so tied to their counterparts that they created more Tethered by bearing copies of their original's children, who were then tied to THEIR OWN counterparts: the current generation. If you think of the Tethered pairing up only because their above-version is doing so willingly, it actually makes sense that they'd biologically have the same children as their above counterparts. THEN that same Tethered bonding physics-gene is then passed from Tethered-parent to Tethered-child and so said Tethered-child is born with an instinctive bond to their Tethered-parent's counterpart's offspring.

How exactly they were made, what time period they were made and for what exact purpose they were made for isn't what's important within the context of the story off Red and Tethered-Addy'. I guess, to me, those things aren't as important as the details we do know, i.e. the ones discussed in the paragraph above- and also the ones discussed in the paragraph below:

As seen with Tethered-Addy, the Tethered ARE capable and be independent and even speak on their own IF they learn to. The Tethered aren't heartless or without souls, but they instinctively copy their above-world counterparts because they know nothing else in their feral existence besides being a copy of their counterparts, hence the resentment and rage they have for them. As to the smaller details that put a wrench in this concept, I guess I presumed that the clothes without logos that the Tethered somehow had were a result of the magi-quantum science that originally created the Tethered in the first place: that the underground is somehow a pocket dimension/gate to the Tethered's reality - a reality that is ALL liminal space backrooms and fading remnants of whatever magiscience which made them...I don't know why I just presumed that without that being said out loud, but that's my takeaway then and now.

I guess, if you find the government experiment-backstory bad, the real problem isn't that it can't make sense but that it shouldn't have been said at all. Peele should have kept the Tethered to JUST some kind of pocket-dimension hapless dopplegangers and not tried to explain their being on earth with any sort of science -flawed logic of the person telling that story notwithstanding. If your problem with the Tethered is that the brief explanation actually makes them more confusing and frustrating-- I get that ruining the movie for you. Somehow it doesn't ruin it for me I guess.

What I like about the current existing Jordan Peele trilogy is that each one has this "creepypasta/SCP vibe but if it was actually good"-vibe to them. Fantastical things happen within a grounded reality that, even with the science of how it works being broken down and dealt with, feels as unreal and terrifying as any non-supernatural threat much like how real-world people would react to an impossible sounding situation.

'The family in Get Out use pseudoscience hypnotherapy to traffic people for racist selfish means by trapping them in their own minds and bodies'; 'Jean Jacket in Nope is an alien creature that DOES scheme but and yet it behaves like a genuinely hostile earth animal when it hunts and when it's threatened'; 'the Tethered in Us were created from universe-bending magi-science and hate their counterparts for being the reason they exist and are in agony. Here's one story about a Tethered that found the will to leave and the trickle-down cycle of horror it caused'. All different kinds of horror, all different kinds of in-exact 'science'.

What works to me about them all, world building wise, is not how that science works but the function it plays in the story.

I really REALLY like the story of Us. Granted I also just love doppleganger, 'dark counterpart' stories in general where two sides/two versions of a person are in competition to be the 'true' version. It feels like a modern, artsy but never to stilted retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's The Shadow, which is one of my favorite fairytales. Thematically it has all the juicy elements of that story in it's own context; I love the characters of 'Addy' and Red for that reason. Us was my first Jordan Peele film and I've been in love with all three movies ever since. Each one has a unique flavor from the other. I guess it's a blessing and a curse that Get Out blew everyone away thought because in some ways I can't help but think people were hoping the later two movies would be sequels and would be exactly like Get Out thematically. Well, I'm happy they're not. Get Out is Get Out. Nope is Nope. Us is Us.

[tacticalvalor]

«────── « HEADCANON » ──────»

Nerding out over Bell's official soundtrack (and the main menu music by extension, as the official track merges both) and the lyrics tying into his story, so—

Want to talk about that. A little, anyway, I'm on mobile and trying to do so in-depth with proper research(tm) would be a nightmare. So I'll keep it brief... ish.

There are two lyrical sections as, like I said, the official track merges two audio tracks into one thing (re: menu track & character track).

The first part is more thematic in terms of setting the exposition. Really highlighting what's going on in the world around Bell. Here's the English translation:

U.S.S.R. in the mirror

Who’ll be first to pull the trigger.

You persuade falsely claiming Freedom of the Individual.

Proxy wars and psy-ops raging

Space race, SALT talks

Brezhnev, Reagan

Fear Strategic nuclear weapons

Down to mutually assured destruction.

With the power and the might of the

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Patriots working as one with the strength of the order

Towards a radiant future.

Science, Creativity, Family, Unity

Education, Communal living, Hard work,

Discipline, Planning, Kindness.

Motherland – we sing to you

We pledge to you fealty

Workers of the world unite!

Sickle and Hammer!

Naturally, this fits Bell as he (prior to MK-Ultra) is a KGB spy. A devout follower of Perseus. Even ignoring the faux CIA background (which they did just decide to be honest about that part; "ex-KGB turned American hero"). He believes in the Soviet's cause and would have given his life for them.

He technically did, considering the state Adler et al. found him in.

But then we get into the character-specific track and it just... It hits. The punctuality of it, after this very detailed exposition. The translation is as follows:

Who am I? What am I? I don't remember, don't know. Why not? Something is wrong. I'm breaking through no matter what.

And I think that little detail in the theme alone does so much to accentuate Bell's story.

I mean, I could go ON about MK-Ultra (both the real experimentations and the fictionalized version in the lore), but it just... It does so well to encapsulate that confusion that's felt once the truth is let out. Once Bell realizes Adler has fucked him up beyond belief.

The loss of identity that, unfortunately, is only really shown in the memory sequence (as Bell dies/barely survives after the fact).

Here's the video link for that sequence because, my God, it is horrific.

All to say, that shift in tone throughout his theme really showcases the aftermath of everything.

Bell, my portrayal anyway, develops Depersonalizarion/Derealization Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (with Paranoid Tendencies) as a result of the experimentations. He can hardly remember who he was. He doesn't know who he is. He just knows that he's going to make sure he survives.

Damned be the CIA. Damned be the KGB.

[thefreethoughtprojectcom]

In a new investigation that blows the lid off a dark chapter of CIA history, the infamous MK Ultra program included ethnic bioweapons, race based torture, mind control, and experimentation. Read More: https://thefreethoughtproject.com/deep-state/new-mkultra-files-reveal-terrifying-experiments-on-black-americans

[bellcdi]

BELLCDI (Temporary name) is a science fiction epic about several genetic experiments and their struggle against evils and identity issues.

CDI stands for Covert Deployment Initiative, a plot point which the entire story revolves around. The CDI is a secret and illegal governmental experiment (Think MK Ultra) being conducted by the US Government and a company named Pactus Unlimited.

Pactus is a massive tech and pharmaceutical company in the world of BELLCDI. Beneath the surface, the company is involved in illegal human experiments and the development of advanced military technology.

Although the company does use this technology to advance the worlds medical capabilities, most funding goes toward weapons manufacturing and biological experiments.

Their primary goal is to aide the US Government as a defense contractor, and advance the capabilities and sustainability of biotechnology. Overall, they're a major force in the war machine, seeking technology for profit no matter the applications.

The Covert Deployment Initiative was created to strengthen the security for citizens by unauthorized surveillance, and heavy use of deception by means of the supernatural or uncanny. Many of the creations made under the CDI were made to replicate and perfect already existing supernatural phenomena and apply them to humans. (Some of these include Psionics, Extraterrestrial Biology, Magic)

It's worth noting that the process for most of these experiments result in severe physical and mental trauma. Most, if not all subjects were not consenting individuals (some not even being aware of being apart of these processes). Subjects include prisoners, mercenaries, citizens and even children. Pactus and their head council exhibit extreme lack of ethics in their methods.

A few notable experiments include:

The Hundejäger (Dog Hunters) Conceptualized as a squad of super soldiers genetically altered and spliced with the DNA of an alien race of "Dog People" (Think werewolves, but with different dog breeds instead of wolves.). This results in a mutation so severe that it converts a regular human into a large dog man. The only successful result of this experiment is a former mercenary by the code name of Patron Saint, who is now a high ranking agent in Pactus' security division.

Ultra Cognitive Intelligence force This is a real fancy way of saying Psychic espionage. The idea is to place a series of agents with Psionic capabilities to monitor and aide in homeland security. Given their ability to process others emotions and thoughts, they could be an ultimate tool used to bust crime and prevent organized attacks. There are a handful of characters belonging to this experiment group, including the main character herself, Avery.

TL;DR - (Fuck you this took a long time /j) Pactus Unlimited is a company under the ruse of being a pharmaceutical company, when they really experiment on humans in order to big brother everybody with the help of the US government. The Covert Deployment Initiative is one of their projects that allows them to do this, and involves non-consensual experiments resulting in death, horrible disfigurement and superpowers.

[i-am-deeply-poem]

“THE DECEPTION. THE WAR”

Pick your poison, what’s your treat?

Lost all feeling in your arms and feet

Nitrous oxide for the masses

Passing your seminary classes

Manufactured for your pleasure

Changed the days, because they spare no measure

What’s your sabbath? Quickly forgot

A couple centuries of brain and body rot

What have you wrought?

Man made horrors by the comprehension of demons

Not what you thought

Because you’ve been manipulated by his legions

Track it all down, set the stage?

What caused the abstraction, what was the change?

Pontifex Maximus

God most high

Building a tower past the sky

O Babalon sleeps not

O daughter of Eden, sleeper dreaming, cost of your life was already bought

Blood of martyrs, tears of saints

Bastardized by intentions sacrosanct

How easily you forget

The wiles and tricks of the government

MK Ultra, 9/11

Sent our Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers up to Heaven

Oh Statute, Statue high

Head of Gold up in the sky

Chest of silver for the Medes

Abdomen of bronze, wonder why?

Legs of iron, feet that will not cleave

Miry clay, what tangles that we weave

Here comes the rock of God

Don’t be surprised or left feeling odd

Cut the karma, cut the bullshit

Cut the attitude, chamber it

A round in the head of the human race

Simple smiles

Misunderstood

Would get it if you could

Zionist, oh so patriotic

Bootlicker dogs sucking on it

[commie-butch-dyke]

I finally got my Adderall prescription filled and went straight back to my full dosage, so I can't sleep. Here's what is racing through my head if anyone is interested.

Not to sound pessimistic AF, even though I am. Just saying that if we think fascism was bad the first time around, all of that was done on extremely primitive calculations and computing. AI is developing at a lightning fast pace, and the largest corporations in the world, most of which can be traced directly to the ones who happily provided tech to the Nazis, are being handed our consciousness on a platter. AI is so clearly going to end horribly, and I can't understand why so many people aren't taking the threat seriously. The internet has always been a giant, practically automated mk ultra machine that attempts to limit human thoughts and expression into only predetermined possibilities, weaving an inescapable maze of various psyop booby traps to get stuck in. So we probably shouldn't hand massive genocidal corporations even more control over our humanity and thoughts, in what is likely the most important time in human history to think outside of the schemas they have predestined for us and come up with concrete solutions. Instead, companies are going to be writing people's emails for them, writing essays, summarizing texts, creating "art", etc. They have always known that it is easier to control our thoughts than to survey every individual, and AI is going to be the ultimate realization of that plan. They will crush the possibility of any radical solution in every way till the day the last billionaire flies off of the burning earth. Not saying I have any ideas or solutions, but would someone mercifully flip the switch before this goes any further??????

[calamari-chaos]

It must have been difficult for H.P Lovecraft, having friends during a time when American establishment was racist as fuck and still deciding whether or not Hispanic people counted as "white people".

The idea wasn't culturally ingrained until the 50s and 60s when the American establishment went all red scare and wanted to manifest destiny on Central/South America, thankfully. So he could be friends with R.H. Barlow and thus be inspired by Meso-American myths and imagery.

Because otherwise Guillermo Del Toro might not have been willing to do his thang.

It was also probably difficult to be in a mixed race relationship with a Jewish woman during a time and place when the KKK not only existed but were celebrated. My research suggests that midcentury Lovecraft fanboys thought Sonia Greene was an evil cheating whore and didn't give a single shit about her when she was alive, anyway. Buncha nerds who were too busy fantasizing about her getting railed by black men while also being racist because "black ppl are stealing our womenfolk with their beautiful huge throbbing dark dongs".

Then they made weed illegal because they thought it could turn you gay.

[jessicalprice]

I love how many people are like “psychiatry??? what???” and oh my darlings, let me give you just a small sampling of other things people have believed to be Jewish conspiracies:

*blows on the pitchpipe*

Ahem.

*puts on tap shoes and top hat, picks up cane*

socialism, communism, and capitalism too

feminism, gayness, and transness woohoo!

aliens and moon landings and hell, just science (all of it)

WWI and WWII and war in general (sorry, I don’t have the bandwidth to make this all rhyme and scan)

but also, the whole concept of “peace between nations”

9/11 and 1/6 and COVID and AIDS and JFK and MLK and MK Ultra and

the Holocaust and Critical Race Theory and the Civil Rights Movement

~Intersectionality~

Every secret society you’ve ever heard of and lizard people too

The space laser and the Black Plague and germs themselves (like have you ever actually SEEN one? doctors washing their hands? seems sus)

Vaccines (yes all of them, the very concept) and fluoride and all of western medicine

astronomy AND astrology and maybe astrophysics

quantum entanglement and the Earth being round

the UN and FEMA and the WHO and the European Union

this is just a sampling

I could go on all day

*jazz hands*

But they believe we’ve made you all feminist and trans and medicated and vaccinated and communist and peaceful and multicultural and sciency and gay

(we didn’t, but you’re welcome?)

***

all of which is apparently anti-Christian

but people blame us for Christianity, too

and Islam

and

How did we end up shitting on redheads so hard can you BELIEVE how cool it is that some humans just HAVE red hair?? Like a group really saw the irl equivalent of a shiny pokemon and collectively went “I’m gonna bully that” and everyone went along with it for a hundred years. Like WHAT

[starsfic]

Mk and Red Son putting a scavenger hunt for their guardians to tell them that they'll be grandparents (bonus if Wukong, DBK, Iron Fan, Pigsy, and Tang are over the moon about the news especially upon looking at the ultra sound pic)

"Here you go!"

Pigsy raised a brow as Tang oohed over the bowl of noodles their son had stuffed into his hands. “I thought we were having lunch together?” He asked as Xiaotian leaned over into the kitchen and pulled out a scroll. That was the plan at least, with the Demon Bull couple and Sun Wukong there too.

Xiaotian let out a wordless noise of apology. “Sorry, I was really looking forward to it. But, uh,” His fingers gently tapped against the scroll he held. “Something came up. I hope you guys enjoy lunch!”

Before Pigsy could say anything, he was out the door.

“Well, that was weird.” Tang didn’t sound too bothered, however. He was eyeing the noodles he held and licking his lips. “Hello, my beauties…” He leaned the bowl back.

“Wait!” Wukong had noticed the same thing Pigsy had. Grabbing his husband, he plucked off the envelope taped to the bottom of the bowl.

“What does it say?” Princess Iron Fan asked. She looked both bored and intrigued somehow.

Pigsy cleared his throat. "We sent you this to begin a game, in it you'll follow clues leading you place to place, and once you get to where we lie, we will give you a special prize; now to find the next clue that you will need, go to the place where the young one go to play, where people go to enjoy a sunny day, you'll find the clue on a post by the lilies-”

Wukong gasped. “This sounds like a scavenger hunt!” DBK winced as his former sworn brother's tail wagged back and forth. “Okay, okay, so-”

“What does the letter mean “Where the young ones go to play?” Wukong frowned as DBK cut him off.

Pigsy considered the letter. He gasped as an idea popped to mind before grinning brightly. “Wait, this sounds like that park located in the east section!” Tang let out his own gasp, clearly catching on. It was a large park with stunning views and a beautiful pond full of water lilies.

“So what are we waiting for?!” Tang grabbed Pigsy’s hand and yanked him out of the shop. Wukong and the Demon Bull couple followed fast behind. “Let’s go!”

-_-

The East Park was full of people. Most of them were children, racing around and playing on the playground as parents watched on. Iron Fan made a little noise and Pigsy was tempted to do the same.

Pigsy and Tang had taken Qi Xiaotian to this park for years. His favorite spot was the swings. 

Push me Daddy! Push me! 

His second was under a big oak tree next to the lily pond, where he sketched. And there, tied to a branch, was a familiar red bandana. DBK pulled it off and when he opened his hand, a white scroll sat there. It wasn’t the scroll Xiaotian had pulled out. It didn’t have the red bow.

“My turn!” Wukong practically sang the words as he snatched the paper away. Settling on DBK’s shoulder and ignoring the bull’s angry snort, he unfurled it. "This next clue is found somewhere where you can go to learn, whether it'll be science, math or about the world, the next clue is hidden where you go to do art, then you'll know where to go for the next part."

“A school?” Iron Fan offered. She looked less bored now. “Is there a certain school…?”

Tang grinned. “I know the place!” He looked around before grabbing Pigsy’s hand. “And it’s just down the street!”

Right down the street was an elementary school. Tang went there every week to read to the kids, mostly Journey to the West. Xiaotian also swung by occasionally to help the kids in art class. Once Pigsy had driven by to pick up Xiaotian, the kid had been covered in so many kids, all pleading for him to stay and play some more.

A receptionist was tapping away when the group entered. “Hey, Meilin!” Tang said brightly.

“Oh, hello Tang! Are you here for the special surprise?”

Tang raised a brow. “Yes. How did you know?”

Meilin looked around before leaning forward. “He hid it in 106.”

And just like that, they were heading down the hall and into 106. The room was bright and colorful, art supplies were organized nicely and neat, and students’ work was hung up on one wall. Thankfully it was also empty. DBK had to shrink down to fit and Pigsy didn’t want to cause a panic.

“Hm, now where could that clue be?” DBK said out loud. He headed over to the students’ work, Wukong following. On a guess, Pigsy headed over to the art supplies. He could see Tang head to the teacher’s desk.

“Found it!”

Tang handed over the scroll to Iron Fan. She unfurled it, traced down the words were a red nail, before clearing her throat. “The next clue is a place near and dear to DBK's heart, the place where Noodle Boy danced in the underground-” She came to a pause. Her brows furrowed.

“What?”

“I know where it is.”

-_-

Wukong let out an awkward “Ah.”

Tied to a pipe above was a scroll.

They were in the cave that Wukong admitted was where DBK had been sealed up. There was an awkward silence before the monkey hopped up and passed it to DBK. He snatched it away and opened it. “And now you return to your home away from home where a special prize awaits you, where Red Son conducts his business.”

“Is that their place?”

“Has to be!” Tang said brightly. “Let’s see what they have!”

-_-

The elevator dinged.

“Kid?” Pigsy called. On either side of the elevator into the penthouse, balloons floated.

“Upstairs!” Xiaotian’s voice called, sounding from Red’s office. He sounded really really happy. “You’re just in time!”

Up the stairs, open the door, and-

“SURPRISE!”

Sandy and Xiaojiao yanked out poppers. The office had been transformed. The walls were now a gentle pink, one wall being overtaken by shelves of plushies while the other was covered in a beautiful mural of red and orange flowers. Baby furniture was carefully arranged. Red, holding a cake, was arm in arm with Xiaotian, holding a present box with a scroll.

The nursery filled with screams. Someone burst into tears.