#saw one of these and wanted to make my own less quirky and more

[seramilla]

Sera brings Vaggie to meet Charlie.

Vaggie was at first reluctant... I mean. What angel would want to marry a demon? A vile, tricky, evil being... She used to fight them, how can she marry one now. Sera... What kind of prank is this?

Imagine the suprise upon seeing Charlie.

Charlie is of course her bubbly self. Her panicky bubbly self. Her pretty panicky bubbly self.

Charlie:"Hello, I'm Charlie. Sorry about this. How this was forced upon you. Heaven was being pushy and we had no choice. I hope you won't mind being with me. Or beside me. I am fine with just being friends. Though we are gonna be married friends... What do you call that? Actually, I..."

The rest of Charlie's words simply melted away in Vaggie's mind. Vaggie was so flabbergasted she went fully mute and her jaw dropped.

How can this bubbly, pretty girl be a demon? There is no way. Is Sera playing a trick on her? Is it a trick on the demon part?

But the more Charlie kept talking, the more it made Vaggie feel things. Blush craved onto her face. This demon couldn't truly be a demon. This... This...

A decision was made at that moment.

Charlie is an angel in disguise. And she will protect her with her life.

From then on, Vaggie could be seen glaring at anyone who even looks at Charlie the wrong way, and if some person disappears here and there for a weird reason after talking to Charlie, it definitely ain't Vaggie's fault...

All was observed by Sera, Lilith and Lucifer, who were enjoying a show.

Sera while grinning: I say I made a good choice.

Lilith while grinning as well: You gave Charlie a pretty bodyguard chihuahua. I couldn't be more proud. Look at them. They are so cute. So much chaos.

Lucifer: I still ain't certain that was a good idea.

Lilith: ...Honey. Stop babying her, she is a grown woman.

Lucifer while crying: She is my baaaaby girl!!!

Lilith while cuddling Lucifer: I saw Vaggie drag 2 angels that Insulted Charlie into an alleyway. Only she came out of it. They weren't seen afterwards.

Lucifer stopped crying: ...Wait... She did?!?!

Lucifer was suddenly happilly running out.

Lucifer: Vaggie!!! Give your in law a hug!!!

Lilith running after him: Lucifer, no! Let them be!

Sera is just watching all this in confusion. Why are all demon-angel couples a bit quirky. She can't really complain. Her own marriage is amazing after all, even the start wasn't perfect. She wouldn't change it for the world.

Gotta hand it to Sera, she is a good match-maker. Lilith is, too, even though her motives may have been less than...noble in the beginning. Deep down, she knew Carmilla and Sera would work out.

And Sera, not wanting to stir the pot too much, meddled in the opposite direction. She was determined to find a match for Charlie -- one who is so devoted and loyal, and loves her so much, that there is no doubt in her mind Charlie will be happy. Sera was determined to make Charlie as happy as she is in her marriage (and hopefully they can avoid the rough start that she had). Charlie lucked out that her new wife is also her bodyguard. No one touches her or even looks at her funny in Vaggie's presence!

(Also, I think Sera's gaydar has just gotten a lot better since she married Carmilla...she honed in on Vaggie so fast and was like YES! That one! Right there! She is wife material for the princess!)

[soshadysoquiet]

TUA S4 thoughts.

Below, spoilers.

Okay. Lord gonna need some strength to get through this coherently.

Basics first:

The Music: Maybe 2-3 good songs. Dissapointing. Let's talk of a mo about Baby Shark: to me it wasn't funny, the song being such a social media present one in this world really took me out of the show. Yes sure the funnies of parents having to listen to kid music and them being stuck that way but I really wish they'd taken the time to make an original annoying jingle. TUA is usually such a delight for the ears that this hurt me bad! Plus they then kept changing whether the song was on or off, seemed like Diego could control it somewhat, but then why would he turn it back on for them riding into the final battle?

The Dialogue: Felt forced and cheap in places. They can use the word 'fuck' now and seem to therefor have decided they don't need to make the characters have witty insults for each other.

The 'Themes' of the show: Why has my quirky family drama been turned into a 90's romance film. Who asked for this. No.

The "Plot": When your own characters don't care about the plot for the sake of shindigs you think will be more entertaining then you know you fucked up. It made sense the first 2 series them having side quests. Less so in the third. Even less so now. Literally at times they had to say to each other 'oh yeah shouldn't we find Ben?' I'll be here in the corner raisining. Also they came up with these 'stages' for the apocalypse but had one guy throw up, a couple things go boom and then they merge, it was one of the least threatening depictions of apocalypse I've seen - though that could be that it wasn't shot in very interesting ways.

Also side note for why there were so many shots that started upside down and rotated? Like I get if Klaus is upside down, and yeah the umbrellas are inside out, but it (plus the Bennifer monster) gave me too many stranger things vibes.

Now the sub-cast:

Jennifer: Love that for 1/2 the protagonist of the apocalypse she had little to no love put into her character, I legit kept forgetting her and Ben were part of the storyline. I loved that she was birthed from the squid, but why put something eerie and cool like that in and make it have meant nothing? Such a waste.

The villains [Gene, Jean and Abigail/Psy(sp?)]: Whilst I liked the idea of memories infecting the timeline, literally all of these guys was Tell don't Show. And for a series with only six episodes I do not want my time wasted with some side-character villains getting a dance number over the main cast. Despicable. Also there were WAY too many villains here especially if you then also count Reggie as one. Literally make Jennifer be trying to link up with Ben and coercing him (then Viktor could break through to him briefly from past experience of a similar relationship - the symmetry is nice) and have Abbigail be pulling the strings. There were so many side characters of no import that I lost track of the main cast. Hell, make Kenny's Mom be the bad guy I'd have loved that! Also, I like that Abigail was somewhat evil, but then they tried to make her good too? No thank you. Pick a lane not everybody needs redemption.

Special RIP to Diego and Lila's twins that Never Even Got Names 💀 fucking hell that's lazy ass writing.

Now the main cast:

Viktor: He deserved better, why bother to introduce that he's had a girlfriend, slept through the entire town, and owns a bar when you then don't talk about any of it. He's told to 'grow up' it's so specific, what does it mean? Also since last we saw he was the sort of ride or die for his love type (with both Leonard and Sissy) this is a frustrating turn with no explanation. Also his whole fight with Reggie and getting things off his chest arc felt forced and not as well written to me. And his character seemed to have been given zero changes from the last 6 years. I miss when his powers actually had a sound element to them rather than just, Havoc from X Men hands. You're taking the Viktor out of my Viktor.

Allison: We have no explanation of how she and Klaus found each other and fell in together. No info of how she and Reggie parted ways. We only hear that 'Ray left her' and nothing else. She says no one wants her at the party but then seems to know Gracie? Has she talked with Any of them since? Nothing was addressed from the end of last season, or even referred to being addressed in the past. I don't see the point of her new powers, or any of them having slightly off or new powers when then some of them don't? Either way, her rumours are so classic and now she's floating people? I see the link and if they'd been developing new powers over 6 years fine but no. You're taking the Allison out of my Allison.

Luther: Praise be, I did like Luther this season. He mentioned Sloane (shock horror, a love interest from a time gone by being brought up?!?! In TUA!!??) he was cracking me up and was really being Best Boy. Although I felt a lot of his dialogue was flat, and it seemed really out of character for him to start attacking the piñata? I don't think we've ever seen him physically lash out unless angry? It looked to me like 'oh yeah here's another silly gimmick that will be a haha. Diego, sure. Luther, no. They also decided (not surprised but always so disappointed) to make him getting ape-i-fied again humorous and not the soul destroying thing it would be. Also, why was he ape-i-fied??? His ape-ness came from the serum not the marigolds? Generally though, I really did enjoy him this season.

Diego: Love that we're throwing every over used marriage-in-pieces trope in the book at these two. Love that. Especially as they seemed to have sorted out some of their communication issues. I get their trajectories but was so deeply, Deeply bored watching it. Diego was sadly pretty dislikable for the whole season, which was real sad because I had grown to love him. There were some funny moments don't get me wrong, he's got too much personality to be a boring character, but whilst they didn't have to have a perfect marriage it was so dull and in hindsight such an obvious set up for the bleh that was to come. Plus they threw in a 'don't make me turn this car around' type moment to show how 'he's a parent now look wow' but I can't imagine any of the siblings hearing that and not laughing at him.

Lila: Again, marriage and wrong-conclusions and it was so boring. She's such a fun character and she was reduced to 'ooo how can we make her be a cheater and with Five' Why do you even need to do that? I just feel sad about it. And it doesn't help that we Don't Know Two Of Her Kids Names and neither her nor Diego seem to think of them for however long they're on the road, and she mentions them only once in the 7years of subway hell and both of them seem relatively undistressed without them. Sure, parents do need a break, but if you don't care about the kids visibly you know for sure I the audience member ain't gonna. Also why the eye lasers save for again a brief gag? It makes no sense when she then also has mimics abilities?

Claire: Let's give Claire a side note at this point. I do so hate it when shows decide to make children their parent's brains and moral compasses, take little to no time to show any bond between parent and child until the last 2 episodes, and instead choose to spend that time showing us how naturally fractious a relationship they have. Love that, so much. Never seen it before really. I get it's normal, but when ever other part of the show is cookie cutter predictable I don't need this too. Give her an actual personality that isn't "the wise old rebellious teenager"

Ben: Wow. So glad that A) I had to hear a character explain crypto currency for me, so glad we wasted precious time of a 6 episode series on that. B) Ben had changed 0%. C) that he had Even Less input and impact at the end emotionally than in any previous season and this one was About Him! And do you know why? Because D) they basically used star-crossed-lovers-can't-help-ourselves and made him use every creepy stalker OTT moving way too fast line in the books especially when Jennifer at a lot of moments was verbally saying she wasn't into it.. Also why does he talk about her like he's a 12 yr old and, idk, it was a shame to have no real impact from him until the end when he's suddenly scared and pushing Viktor away to save him but we see no connection from him and Viktor previously as to why he'd listen it would make more sense if it had been Klaus or Luther at this point.

Klaus: Now, I know a lot of his storyline this season came from the comic, and sure it's good material, that should probably have been used Throughout the seasons rather than crammed into 1 day. But let's chat for a hot mo: Now I like that we got to see him be nasty rather than the precious uwu Klaus that I've been guilty of perceiving at times, and that we see some of the negative effects of addiction on the family for the first time. Great moments, important. BUT. I'd have felt his rage out at Allison and turn to drugs would have been a lot more impactful if they'd bothered to show him waking up to the sound of being screamed at, barely able to hear his siblings, struggling to focus on them and wanting to drown it out. But we don't get that, the horror of what this means for him. Then we proceed to got through this whole let's have him want to get shot by a drug dealer (don't quite get why - or how Claire knows he's immortal now? did the powers back thing ever come up??) have him kidnapped and forced to prostitute himself, take more drugs (but still use his powers?) Develop a new power though without using the comic's fun quirk that he has to take his shoes off, and then bury him alive. Wow. this guy had plenty going on, but sure. Then -he can save himself, I thought this might become something poignant - he's able to conjure the dog to Go to Allison and lead them there, but no, he just gets rescued again. Gee I wonder what grave he's in Mom? All I don't know Claire, how about the Only One That's Been Dug Up? I thought it was really interesting to see his moments as a teen with Allison, and how he was living with her and thought they handled the worry about death/germs etc thing well tbf. Though also how the hell did he get home from being 13 hrs away and why nobody cared to go with him was pretty low.

Five: Dear lord that moustache was awful and I'm glad they all called it creepy and he had no concept. I despise 2 things they did here: made it canon that he gets romantic with Lila. Made going back into the literal apocalypse that he spent time having flashbacks about barely if at all affect him - it's unsure if his hesitation going back into it the second time was hesitation to go in there, and that's what I hoped they would do, but then, no. no. Please, Pleeaasse don't take away this nice, safe space I had in this nice, safe 'you literally can't sexualise him with anyone it would be so problematic' character and say 'they held out 7 years but yeaaahhh they hook up.' don't see why it was needed. It didn't 'heal' him, it was a plot for conflict but I've got plenty of other conflict plots that can end with Lila and Diego fighting without having to make every damn character have a god damn love interest! I loved their bond before, it was so fun and special to see a male and female not have to fall in love, and they ruined it. And it was for nothing? And they didn't have time to make the 7 years feel like 7 years and it was lazy writing for cheap conflict in my opinion. I hated it, I hate that it's "canon". I don't think I can describe just how awful I found it and unnecessary. I also don't buy that Five would be willing to not drink the marigolds as much as the others, or that there would be a timeline full of given up fives that sit around a diner. It was fun to watch though. And up until they started the montage in the subway and we knew where it was going I was enjoying Five in this season. that boy has had such a shit life and this is how it ends?

I will say that the flashback to them as kids was my favourite part of this series. It's always good to have a little deeper insight into how they interacted as children but I do have some Opinions here too of course: Reggie saying 'you look ridiculous' to Viktor, no, he made their outfits? I felt that was lazy writing when Reggie in the past has laid into Viktor's insecurities much more keenly: 'That outfit is only for your brothers and sisters / we've been over this, you're not special take it off / I will not have you wasting time with frivolity when the Academy has important work to do, leave us." etc. Also I thought there might be something different about why they all forgot their Ben memories. It was brutal yes, which I appreciated, but I can't believe that these guys wouldn't see their father kill their brother and not One of them flip their shit? Idk, it was a little... good and bad I guess.

I think that's it for now, if anyone read this far then well done! I might write a fix it post in a bit for my own entertainment.

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

I just read a bunch of Owl House Criticism and have to say… a lot does make sense. I still rate the show very high and honestly I blame the pacing for a lot of the issues we DO have with the show. I also think people are taking this way more seriously then they should and some do the complaints feel nitpicky.

One thing a lot of people brought up is Luz’s character and how the first episode showed her casual dismissal of others and their safety occurs. Then there was a few comments on how Vee is right to call her out on running away and other things.

I don’t fully disagree. Luz fucked up big time her first episode where she brought live animals and fireworks to school. It’s just… no. I don’t deny people should have punished her for it. I vote that the Shakespeare play and the cheerleading thing aren’t worth punishment though. Because both are honestly just quirky kid things. She wanted to be cool so she did something she liked to try and impress others. They thought it was creepy and reacted to it. Good reasons for her to be kind of shoved aside by some people. The spiders and snakes though? Yikes.

But to just call her a bad character puts a nasty taste in my mouth because I think she is one that is a good character and whom I think would have been fun to explore. It’s just… she’s kind of a concept that was tried but fell flat.

I think the summer camp thing was handled badly and I would have liked to be explained why they never tried to talk to her about what a reasonable amount of creativity is in her school work. If it turns out they had attempted to do so multiple times but she never listened: the camp is probably a better idea then not. More so given her actions could have gotten her arrested. Honeslty leaning on that idea would have been interesting. Luz being told she had to go to camp or face probation or something would have been an interesting hook.

My friend said she felt therapy would have been better and yeah that’s a good point: but what if they did try and it didn’t work? What if they felt a camp was less expensive ? (Which it probably was.)

I would have liked more evidence that Luz was an outcast. I saw a lot of criticism on this because if you just look at the show face value: Luz does seem like she’s whining about a lot of stuff. Her mom turned out to be like her and only wanted her to not get bullied as Camila did in school. She could have made friends at camp. There’s just so much there that does make Luz seem like a bad person for being upset. And honestly it would be interesting to explore that to, to really pick apart the dramatic ‘me against the world’ mindset of teenagers who see themselves as outcasts. But the show is supposed to be about weirdos and found family.

So: I would actually nix Camila being a nerd. Manny was the nerdy one who loved fantasy, encouraging it in Luz. I would have had him be the one who was more open about Luz’s everything while Camila was more wary and put off. Sure, she could still laugh at the snake skin incident, but I would want her to be less accepting of the other stuff. I said that the first episode reminded me of my mom when I got my diagnosis of autism and she didn’t understand it. I would want to lean in.

Manny and Luz should have been canonly neurodivergent. Camila is neurotypical and she constantly compared her two family members because Manny could mask very well. Luz couldn’t. But I would have Camila struggle to understand that her daughter’s own brand of autism/ADHD is vastly different then her husband’s because it’s so common. I can’t tell you how many time people are like: oh you’re lying about being this cause you don’t act like BLANK.

Camila and Luz then have a conflict which makes it more understandable why Luz is willing to lie to her mother about not being at camp. Because Camila is set up to not understand Luz and possibly she would be pushing her daughter to act ‘normal’ because she doesn’t understand. Again this is inspired by my mom. I have vivid memories of her worrying about appearances and how others think of us, with her pushing me towards things I didn’t like. Some of it was out of concern for me, but there was a huge lack of understanding that drove a wedge between us for a while.

I would then have the idea that Luz is bullied be obvious. Luz would reference it or recall incidents. And I would have them be unpleasent. Being ditched by so called ‘friends’, name calling and mocking. Maybe having her things stolen or random crap dumped in her locker. I would have her be the outcast from the start. I would also address her being a POC person in a small town. Luz could have met Masha or the other two kids: I want a reason why she didn’t connect.

I grew up with almost no friends but people generally didn’t hate me. I got bullied a bit but most of the time I was ignored and happy about it. When I was a kid I was very particular and drove people off due to this. When I made friends I was with other weirdos: some of whom were alone because they were just… I can only call them very weird and slightly disturbing. One of whom was a girl who’d flip on a dime if she liked you or not.

Masha in canon is goth and is there to be the ‘cool goth kid’. I would have had them be dismissive of Liz’s fondness for the Azura series and possibly the type to mock her for liking a ‘gushy girly book’ because take it from this enby: a lot of us go through the phase of shunning anything feminine and romantic to be ‘cool’. I would have a reason why two people who could have totally been friends weren’t.

Luz would be an outcast among outcasts. Just that shade of different.

I want her to have suffered in school. I want her to have to explain that it’s true no one understood her. I want her to be able to look Vee in the face to go: you know nothing. Because Vee only sees a surface and not the full sum of it. Vee who isn’t into Azura and thus gets Masha being: oh you matured cool. I want to hang now. Who goes to Camila who is thankful her baby seems able to mask now.

I want Camila to be able to mistake Vee for her own kid because ‘oh god yes she’s finally normal’. And I want Luz to point this out. I want Luz to point out to Vee the other kids said camp was prison. And that ‘you might have liked it for some reason but can you say I would have? Masha thinks I’m a freak for liking Azura. They told me I was a loser for it.’

I want there to have been a damn good reason more then we got for WHY Luz stayed in the isles.

Not to say I don’t want Luz to feel bad about lying or anything. I just want the whole outcast thing to be more apparent. Luz feeling awful about lying and about resenting her mom who does love her versus the fact she never felt safe in the human realm is an idea worth exploring!!

[afpwestcoast]

Roadrunner, Boston, 11/1/24

Since November ‘22 the Dresden Dolls have been playing intimate shows in small, quirky venues, all the while assiduously avoiding their hometown of Boston. The time has come to make a triumphant return and they decided to do so in grand fashion. First, they picked a shiny new venue that just opened in 2022 and is the largest general admission music venue in New England with a capacity of 3500. Then they decided to invite not one, but two opening acts. Back in the day the Dolls were known for their stellar eclectic opening acts, but it’s been a minute since I saw them with an opener.

First up was Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards, all the way from OK City. The Poor Bastards are sort of a musical collective with a rotating cast of characters, centered around frontman piano player and songwriter Johnny Manchild. Known to perform with up to 6 members, tonight they presented a pared-down 3-piece lineup consisting of piano (and occasional guitar), bass, and drums. Upbeat, poppy rock driven by Johnny who plays piano in a style very reminiscent of our own Amanda Palmer. Overall a very enjoyable set and an excellent warm-up.

<We take you now to an alternate reality just a few timelines northwhen of here>

“Welcome back to Jeopardy! Franklin, you have control.”

“I’ll take ‘What’s That Sound’ for $500, Alex.”

“The answer is: The sound of pure, unmitigated joy.”

“What is Gogol Bordello?”

What, indeed, is Gogol Bordello? Take 3 parts Ukrainian folk music, add two parts Latin salsa, mix thoroughly, then press through a seasoned punk rock filter. Present with the energy of a squirrel on crack.

Like the Dresden Dolls, Gogol Bordello are a band that must be experienced live to fully understand. At any given time there is a rotating cast of from 6 to 9 people on stage, always in constant motion. Their music is raucous and bombastic and relentlessly uptempo. Frontman Eugene Hütz is a whirling dervish who basically dares the crowd to keep up with him. They played with the Dolls WAY back in the day, so this was a reunion of sorts. They definitely got the crowd pumped!

Due to the need to sound check three separate bands and the fact that Gogol (reportedly) slept in late the start of the show was delayed. Between the late start and the strict curfew the Dolls were a little more “by the book” than normal tonight. Still awesome, but more focused and less rambling. If there were any concerns about the Dolls’ ability to control a room this size they were quickly dispelled. The crowd bopped along frantically to the bangers and stood in rapt attention during the quiet songs. With the Dresden Dolls the whole is obviously greater than the sum of the parts, and they are clearly at the top of their game.

This was a hardcore romp through the old catalog with some hand-picked Boston-themed songs. Amanda’s intra-song banter was open and heartfelt, as usual, with just a bit of election angst thrown in for good measure. (#vote) Overall a triumphant homecoming indeed!

Annotated Set List:

Good Day (Brian on guitar to start)

Sex Changes

Backstabber

Gravity

Missed Me

Modern Moonlight

<brief excerpt of the theme from Cheers>

Pirate Jenny (from ‘The Threepenny Opera’ music by Kurt Weill, German lyrics by Bertolt Brecht, English translation by Amanda Palmer)

“It was our birthday yesterday! This band was born in Boston, not very far from here. This band was born 24 years and 18 hours ago on Northampton St. in the South End, technically actually Roxbury, but we would sort of lie. <gestures to Brian> This incredible human being! I had just moved basically into my first real apartment in Boston and wanted to start a band, because I figured I had to have a band. And I assumed that a band had to be comprised of four people. And I assumed that they would be men, because that’s pretty much all I saw around me. I mean, I would have done with anything, but I was like, Boston was teeming with musician dudes. And then this fucker walked into my Halloween party! … For the last couple of years we’ve just been playing little shows here and there and we’ve avoided our home town until tonight. It’s time!”

Whakanewha (pronounced Fuckin-A Fa) One of only two new songs tonight, this song was written during her exile in New Zealand during COVID and documents the end of Amanda’s marriage with just enough poetic license to avoid litigation. Hopefully.

Another Christmas (Brian on guitar; Amanda on jingle bells) The other new song, this was written after her return to the States and was inspired by a sign on a bridge intended to dissuade suicide jumpers. You know, Christmas!

Mein Herr (from ‘Cabaret’ by John Kander and Fred Ebb) (Brian on guitar)

“Oh! You. Should. Vote!

<in a sing-song voice> I’m not going to tell you who to vote for! There are FINE people on BOTH sides!

No actually you should vote for Kamala Harris.

I have all the respect in the world for all of the third parties right now, but fucking please. Please. Please. Please don’t make a single woman in America have to wake up on November 6th to the idea of Donald Trump having anything to do with her life.

On that note: This is the jazziest musical theater song ever written about abortion ever!”

Mandy Goes to Med School (Brian on guitar and drums to start) The prolonged improvisational jazz interludes injected into this song have become a highlight of the set for me. There was also a soupçon of ‘Careless Whisper’ by George Michael, which happens frequently, but not always.

Coin-Operated Boy Amanda teased Chappell Roan’s ‘Pink Pony Club’ before breaking into this one. (I hope they play ‘Hot to Go!’)

“I just moved home in August. I’M SO HAPPY. I fucking ran screaming from this town. It’s a long story. I never imagined in a gazillion years that I would run screaming back to Boston. But there you go; life is strange. … We’ve come up with what we’ve been referring to as the Boston Trilogy. And in order to do these songs justice we are going to bring some special guests onto the stage. So please welcome back to the stage all of the members of Johnny Manchild, and to help us out on the vocals of this song the beautiful, the beautiful, the beautiful Veronica Swift, ladies and gentlemen. … It’s about a haunted car.”

The Jeep Song Veronica brought an energy to the stage that was less singer and more aerobics instructor.

Massachusetts Avenue (Grand Theft Orchestra cover)

Boston

Half Jack I have said that they could play a set that was an hour-long version of Mandy Goes to Med School followed by an hour-long version of Half Jack and I’d be fine with it. I’m only half joking.

Girl Anachronism

— —

Truce

“So many people I know are so scared about what’s gonna happen next week. And, all I have to say is I don’t fucking know what to say any more but, we will be okay. I keep telling my son no matter what happens — no matter what happens — we definitely have a fight on our hands!”

Sing The members of Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards returned to the stage to help on this one from the start, but by the end the stage was full as Veronica Swift led a motley assemblage out for a full-throated rendition of the Greek chorus part at the end.

Photo Gallery:

Pre-show selfie with Nikki!

Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards

Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello

Mystery guests join Gogol for an encore. Who could they be?

Amanda, fully clothed, for Good Day

Well that didn’t last long

Whoa!

Brian Viglione!

Another Christmas

Mein Herr

Time to push some merch!

The Dresden Dolls!

Johnny Manchild and Veronica Swift join the fray for The Jeep Song

Half red, half blue, Half Jack

This meeting of the Dresden Dolls Mutual Appreciation Society will now come to order

The Queen is crowned

Sing!

[gojuo]

Hi.... If you don't mind, can I ask your top 5 (or top 3) favorite characters from Jujutsu Kaisen? And why you loved them? And your top 5 favorite moments from the series? Sorry if you've answered this before.....

gojo -> i've written so much about him already what else is there to say anymore omg... i just love his open and goofy personality so much under which he tries to repress his deep loneliness and sense of alienation all because he has been dehumanized by the entirety of jujutsu society since his birth!!! yet he still powers on and continues to do the right thing BECAUSE he is a good person!!! because he cares!!!! ahhh it's just such a refreshing way to write a "the strongest" character. and of course it's not like he's the first one to be written with a cheery personality, but he just hit all the right spots for me. after years of madara and aizen and meruem types etc. i just love that he still tries to make human connections and still tries to make the world a better place and still tries to be good.... ugh i love him so much

toji -> shakespeare himself could've never written a character more tragic than him.... and if there's one thing you need to know about me it's that i fawking love a good tragedy

yuuta -> listen after being depressed for over a year bc of The Great Bleach 686 War and everything i ever believed in being ripped apart and eradicated right in front of my eyes in real time (i literally turned into a kpop blog bc of bleach 686 back then fucking hell....) ... i saw this announcement of a new mini serialization in 2017 and i thought .... wow ... reminds me of the early bleach art so much ..... and then i read the first chapter of tokyo metropolitan curse technical school, as it was called back then, and i was like ...... okkotsu yuuta is my son, my baby, my child whomst i have carried inside for 9 months and have birthed ..... okkotsu yuuta is ME & GOJO'S SON !!!!!!

yuuji -> he's just a good kid man 🥹 he's just a child ... my child .... mine & gojo's 🥹🥹🥹 his character arc in shibuya.... truly shakespeare levels of writing i miss the HI/SI ghostwriter/editor gege used to have so much he needs to come back asap

yuki -> MY WIFE !!!!!! if it wasn't obvious by now i love open and friendly and amiable characters. also i want to be her. also i want to kiss her. also i want her swagger. also i want to be her spouse. aghhh she's the quirky outsider with a whatever i am free attitude YET she still cares about the world she lives in and tries to do good .. by thinking outside of the box and guide the world into a cursed energy-less era which directly opposes the antagonists' interests on a different level than how jujutsu society/the school/our main protags do. WHICH IS SO INTERESTING !!!!!! AND THEN GEGE KILLS HER OFF RAAAAHAHHHHHH HE NEEDS TO BE IN PRISON. WE NEVER EVEN GOT A YUKI/GOJO OR YUKI/TODO INTERACTION IS HE FUCKING CRAZY >!!??!?!?!?????? she's so badass. she's a foil to gojo if you think about it. they're both special grades and live quite outside of the confines of jujutsu: yuki in a i've abandoned the life to do my own thing (research on how to end jujutsu directly against the interests of the elders); gojo in a i stand above it all so i will do my own thing (raise a new generation of sorcerers with a new instilled creed that directly opposes the elders). very interesting analysis if someone else wants to go deeper into it...

top 5 moments:

hidden inventory in its entirety but especially the final fight between gojo and toji... those two rocked my world

hey, what's your name? / ...fushiguro... / not zen'in, huh? good for you

gojo vs sukuna (minus 236)

yuuji's entire arc in shibuya, from losing gojo sensei to getting wrecked by choso to sukuna taking over and destroying the city only to then mentally torture him over it to watching nanami and then nobara die to breaking down completely to todo coming to save him to him beating mahito to the "i'm you" scene .... god what a good fucking arc

yuuta vs yuuji. the real mc jokes back then were so fawking fun aghhh you just had to be there </3

[ghostcrows]

Uhg this is maybe gonna sound patronizing but sometimes people on here spend to much time making sociological theories and forget that evidence based practice >>>>> theories that tie things together and explain everything. Every time. Every time they trump it. So it’s like the current state of mental healthcare and disability accommodations being so bad leads to the theory of how pathology is a structural validation to stigmatization of neurodiversity esp things like schizophrenia. And that coupled with the hater mindset around how “popular” and “lol quirky” adhd and autism are being portrayed on social media (this sounds deeply unserious but it’s the best way I can put it) leads to people who are adhd and autistic which can be materially physically seen and is real dismissing themselves in favor of the theory. Like idk. People love to do lots of thinking and I am not at all trying to disparage it but even when you’re a radial anti establishment politically extreme leftist if you’re theorizing then you’re theorizing and venerable to the pitfalls of theories. Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer won a nobel prize semi recently for doing the most water-is-wet thing and conducting experiments and looking at the results to determine policy change instead of basing policy on theory. It really opened my eyes to read about. The theory is just a tool to talk about the world. The world comes first always. Adhd being a physical condition of the brain does not fit into certain theories and so proponents of the theory will consciously or not, willfully or not, brush aside certain things that do not fit into the worldview supported by the theory or would be complicated or made worse by implementing the policy proposed by the theory. But it’s all just smoke. Does this make any sense. I saw someone say bipolar wasnt harmful outside of the stigmatization because they prescribe to the theory and I was so shocked. Manic episodes can lead to the bipolar person becoming physically violent and thank god for medication. Bipolar can ruin a life because of the things you do while in a manic episode and it can end a life in a depressive episode it’s like. Circling back around to denial of mental illness.

definitely does make sense i agree with this, we can speculate all day long but at the end of the day people are struggling, and they would likely struggle regardless of society's response towards their conditions

it really does loop back around in the end and its just frustrating

i understand not wanting to be pathologized, i understand not trusting the psychs, i understand that the system is as broken as it ever was with maybe a shinier coat of paint over it now and slightly less medieval torture methods deployed...but regardless how you classify mental illness or how you rename it, its a fairly consistent set of symptoms and experiences

its like when people have this idea that mental illness will cease to exist in the utopian post-capitalist world the revolution will bring

but the way i really know people still dont get it even within these circles is the way they cant seem to agree on how much of mental illness is even in the control of the sufferer. like theres always a point at which its simply an excuse, because, well i suffer from this and i wouldnt do that...in the fight against the stigma we throw so many people under the bus and end up only advocating for the people who can speak for themselves in the first place, the 'high functioning' people (who subsequently are not really allowed to show symptoms either because, you're too functional, you're too cognizant of your own actions, you must be doing it on purpose too)

and the anti-med stance is another i cant really get behind even knowing that yeah...you can go through everything they got and never find one that works for you, you can get meds that fuck you all the way up, even when youre on them you might still struggle, you might hate the side effects more than the illness...i get all that and i recognize all that and people totally have the right not to take shit they dont want to...but also i know people who need their medication...big pharma or not doesnt fucking matter cause its obviously something that tangibly helps enough people that we cant just not have it. same with therapy its totally understandable to lose all faith in that avenue of help but there will always be people who need that kind of service even in its imperfect state

reminds me a lot of a book i read called 'no one cares about crazy people' , every few decades we have a new dominating theory of mental illness and the people who are labeled mentally ill continue to struggle through every iteration of it

[frozen-snowflakesandsunflowers]

Wish review 🌟 | Analysis

I just saw Wish today. I loved it. It was funny, it was lovable, it was cute, the songs were great too. It's not a big movie as the story isn't so groundbreaking and super dramatic. But not everything has to be. You can't compare this movie to Frozen, Encanto or any other Disney movie because it's its own movie. Definitely a classic I will say. If you're looking for something chill, not or big of a story, something simple and light-hearted, touching at times then this is your movie. I guess everyone's used to big changing stories which is why it's not so attracted to audiences. The story was a shirt so it did feel like things were happening a little fast but that doesn't overshadow it too much. And like I said it's not anything like Frozen as some initially thought it'd be. And I'm not just being biased, but Frozen is on another level especially with where the franchise is headed. But that's not to say Wish isn't fun and worth watching. It's just a more simple, cute, fun story. Fun trying to catch the Easter eggs too.

Now for the characters. Spoilers below!

Let's start with Asha. She's a great protagonist who is only doing what her family and Rosa deserve. So selfless. She wants to grant her grandfathers who turns 100 and her mother's Wish, and in order to do it she signs up as Magnifico's apprentice. But when she cuts to the question after "At all costs". Magnifico doesn't grant the wishes until a month to a year later so because she asked as soon as she gave hers it got to him and he snaps which gets Asha to learn he'll never give the wishes back. She goes through a lot in this movie but doesn't give up. If we're going by personality she's a bit like Anna and Rapunzel in the sense that she's a little goofy and quirky but she's got less than those characters do.

Magnifico, a very interesting and loved villain. Honestly I don't remember his backstory because he only tells Asha and it's very vague. But due to events of his past he wants to avoid, he keeps the wishes to himself to keep Rosa safe. But I guess as he became powerful, greed and power hunger came to him. He loves his wife a lot and listens to her mostly but it's not until he gains more magic from the book that gives him his powers in the first place that he turns evil and more power hungry. He even threatens his wife, Queen Amaya. His song "This is the thanks I get?!" is quite catchy and one of the best songs in the movie. To his defeat the power of people's wishes and Star brings them the strength to defeat Magnifico having him out in a mirror. There was no other way to cure him so because he would only get more evil putting in the mirror was his only option.

Amaya, the real Queen of hearts. Amaya has to be my favourite character. She felt like a mother to Asha, her friends, star and the animals. She didn't side with her husband until she saw how evil he had really become. She's quite pretty and very much reminds me of Elsa which I'll get to in another post.

Asha's friends. I like them being a nod to the seven dwarfs. That was nice. They were lovely and supportive in their own right way. But then there's Simon. Who tells Magnifico about Asha stealing wishes because well... I don't honestly remember but it wasn't a logical reason in my opinion. Magnifico grants him his wish in return only to make him evil too. Then at the end he apologises and all is forgiven. But then you wonder what the point of his betrayal was. I mean in the beginning all of the friends call him boring which is quite sad. Like who says that to their friend? This isn't his reason for the evil turn either so..

Star and Valentino. I loved Star and Valentino . They're chaotic duo. Star is very cute and Valentino is well interesting..

Conclusion:

Now though this movie has its few flaws like all movies do and though it's not a big blockbuster that doesn't mean it deserves the hate it gets. A Disney movie can be chill and simple. But I understand that it's a film that marks 100 years of Disney and it didn't lead to their expectations but it's still got that Disney element to it. And so I loved it. A Disney classic for sure ✨

[characternerdocs]

Tagged by: @icybreaths

Name: Eri Lorewright, you can refer to me as either! (or Eeri, like Eerie, Lol)

Star Sign: Cancer ♋

Height: 5' 7

Middle name: [REDACTED] cause I’m uncomfy revealing it as it’s really gendered, and I’d like to be a non-binary enigma.

Put your itunes/spotify/youtube on shuffle. What are the first 6 songs that popped up?

This is Home - Cavetown

Lonely Dance- Set it Off

Everything at Once - Lenka

Bubblegum Bitch - Marinana & the Diamonds

Poison Within from Headless 

Kill the Beast by Aurelio Voltaire

Ever had a poem or song written about you: Not that I am aware

When was the last time you played air guitar: Prolly a week, two weeks ago. And most definitely to Pick up the Pace by The Play Plays

Who is your celebrity crush?: Less of a crush, more gender envy for Scott Shpeley. He is the singer in the Play Plays and plays Edgar Allan in Catalyst’s musical Nevermore

What’s a sound you hate; sound you love?: Velcro, the hate the ripping sound. It makes my spin itchy. I love the sound of keys hitting against one another

Do you believe in ghosts?: Yes, though I don’t feel like I have any legit experiences. Others that I know have some stories. Other than that though I think building I work in is haunted. I repeatedly have the feeling someone was walked into the room while my back’s to the door, but when I look, no one is there.

How about aliens: Yeah, I figure if we can exist on our planet, why can’t other life exist on another planet?

Do you drive?: Yes, and once I was even licensed to drive a forklift!

If so have you ever crashed: Thankfully not.

What was the last book you read?: The Drowning Girls, it’s actually a play though by Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic

Do you like the smell of gasoline: Eeh... sorta?

What was the last movie you saw?: 7 Women and a Murder

What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had?: I don’t know. Mostly it’s all minor stupid things. Like once I crushed a cone incense with my thumb only to find it had just burned out and severely burn my finger. I was trying to declog the dermal we use at work to 3-hole punch paper when it slipped and I punched a perfect circle into my index and thumb.

Do you have any obsessions right now?: Yes, It’s the Nevermore musical. I Love EVERYTHING ABOUT IT! I cannot rationally explain it. but the costumes and props being made primary out of masking tape, sticks, and landscaping fabric give Catalyst’s production such a unique and darkly quirky feel. It’s a part fact, part fiction telling of Edgar Allan Poe’s life birth to death, using lines and themes from his own stories and poems as the lyrics and lines. Which as a life time Poe fan myself is a fun little easter egg hunt to identify what is being referenced. The music is SO powerful, it just rattles round in my head all the time now, especially Dream within a Dream.  The setup and narrative style of the show had once of the best pay off I could have imagined; no spoilers but it was great. The cast is FANTASTIC! I love Scott Shpeley and I want to be his version of Poe, because honestly Nevermore’s Poe is just Goth boy Heath and I love that. But also I love Beth Graham, who yes wrote the play the Drowning Girls, but she is super funny and a great character actor. She plays three roles in Nevermore, including Fanny Allan, who I love, best mom. But Beth Graham does a great job of giving all three of her characters distinct voices. Love love love. The amount of love and creativity that has gone into this show is incredible. And I know that my passion and love for this show is crossing the line into unhinged, but E. A. Poe said it best, “I was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched.”    

[la-cocotte-de-paris]

Can you tell me about Paris I live not far but I've always been curious, I picture coffee shops and quirky buildings and lots of books. Or maybe I watch too many movies 🤔

[NOTE: Long post!!]

Hello, Anon! <3

Hmm well I can only speak from my own experience, and my perspective will be that of a foreigner bc I did not grow up in France, and currently I'm not there (gonna try moving again maybe later in the year when I save more money), but there are a lot of cafes around central Paris (however, the famous ones are ridden with tourists and due to that are crazy expensive). There are international chains too like Starbucks or McDonalds for food, but I'd rather pay the same money on a coffee from a real cafe than on Starbucks, but that's just me lol. Imo it might be difficult to find a cheap but good cafe in central Paris because so many tourists visit them, so you have to search around a bit more if you want a good deal. Lots of boulangeries around too, and the prices are usually okay (not sure how expensive food is there now, but they were fine at some point I was there lol).

The buildings are more or less as pretty as they look in photos, but only in old Paris. A lot of boring-looking apartment buildings are around as well. Also if you're ever in an old apartment building, sometimes you have to really search for the hall/staircase light at night lol, otherwise you gotta use a torch to go up/down. But that might be normal in all of France idk, I haven't been in apartment buildings in other cities there.

Anywhere that is a tourist attraction though (of which there are many in a place like Paris) is OVERWHELMED by tourists. Like, if you lived in the area during peak holiday season (for example the Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower), you will see a lot of visitors and may have to really weave your way through crowds if you have to get to a place quickly lol. But Trocadéro is fun in the summer if you can find a spot to chill out in the sun imo (just remember to wear sunscreen bc one time I didn't think it was THAT hot and I got a pretty strong lace-patterned sunburn through my top lmao).

There are theatres and cinemas EVERYWHERE which I ADOREEEE <3333 Nightlife culture is very good - there is almost ALWAYS somewhere to go or something to do, if you felt like it. There are underground jazz clubs, hidden bars, and at one point (not sure if they do it anymore post-covid pandemic) there used to be raves thrown in abandoned churches. Those things are certainly more fun with a friend or group of friends, imo. Lots of restaurants everywhere too, but ofc some are more expensive than others.

There are many bookshops too, and little stalls dotted along the Seine that sell old books and artworks (not sure how expensive they are, but they would probably have some nice books!). One time I was going to the theatre for a show and saw this second-hand bookshop still open and I ended up leaving with a first edition of Jean Giraudoux's Sodome et Gomorrhe.

Paris is somewhat like what is shown in the movies, but you need to give the city a reality check -- no city is perfect. Like many other cities, there are dodgy areas you'd wanna avoid sometimes, you may see people begging for money, there might be litter in some places (unfortunately), strikes make it more difficult to move around, and if you planned a visit that coincided with a big protest, then you probably won't get the picturesque and squeaky-clean experience of Paris that movies always try to show off. Also, if you're ever curious to visit and if you're not a fan of huge crowds, I *HIGHLY* recommend visiting in the winter. Less annoying swarms of tourists lol.

Paris is what you make of it tbh!

Hope this helps! <3 And if you made it this far into the post, here is some cake for you 🍰

[jemandrr]

Concept: Reverse-Reverse magical girl anime where perhaps a sort of p5 phantom thief magical girl with relatively regular magic that works for all ages moves to a new school as the exchange student and finds that this city's magical underbelly has no fixed society (ie, no hogwarts, no place where people who are all magical live) and operates under a system where youth with particularly strong internal delusional/ungrounded perspectives are secretly taught to harness that power in a magical girl(/boy) system to protect the town.

They bend reality to their own viewpoint to give them powers, but it also near-inevitably causes them to be more and more warped by their perspectives and become more extreme, reducing their ability to perceive social cues, progressing to less ability to understand the normal nonmagical world, and possibly causing their perception of reality to start seeping into reality subconsciously.

The main character, who just straight up has regular magic and comes from her own underground magic subsociety where regular magic without weird drawbacks is normal, has to navigate this unfamiliar terrain, carefully and slowly learning both the local culture and the strange magical girl system in place here, and ultimately trying to divorce the good that people want to do from the corrupt magic system in place.

The basic idea would be that most significant rejections of reality are rooted in a desire for change, in the most raw form, without necessarily a target to change to or even what they they want to change, and that is what is harnessed to actually alter the world and what drives them to use their powers to defeat monsters. So the series would gradually be addressing multiple characters' conflicts at a time. How their transformation and vigilantism both comes from their ideals or issues, and how the act is in some way leading them towards their goals, offering an escape from normal reality, feels gratifying, feels like an obligation, etc.

While the main character would probably be from an older, more generic tradition where magic is about manipulating some fundamental element of the world (like ambient mana), or using the language of creation (spellwords, runes, circles), or a more simple version of externalizing the internal (mana innate to living things) etc. There might be a recurring issue where the main character has to follow traditional rules of keeping magic a secret while magical girl-magic is strongly glamored and people can't remember the person or situation they saw.

Overall, a mix of explorative worldbuilding of this urban fantasy world, action combat, school life, character exploration and cast building as she unpacks the various ideals and traumas that people can't let go of when she can, or when its above her depth, at least tries to get them to loosen the reins enough to teach them magic or quit using their magic at least, possibly forming staunch antagonists instead (possibly deeply tragic ones).

Over time the wider plot expands to exploring how this magic system became the default here, and systems or entities that perpetuate it and have lead to such a density of people whose grasp on reality is weak or tainted in ubiquitous, anime-esque ways.

Major inspiration points for me to think about this: P5 Mind Palacing and the various aesthetics and moral issues with exploring and unlocking people's hearts.

Quirky/ubiquitous Anime character tropes that rely on strong central ideals or ignoring reality, with obvious examples being Shirou Emiya's desire to be a Hero of Justice, or Arthur from Fire Force, but also I think a lot of eccentric anime characters fit this bill enough to take inspiration from.

Also my general desire to think of ways to make dark and edgy takes on things inspiring and wholesome again, if still acknowledging problems. While the most famous magical girl deconstruction already kind of does that, in general i have a perspective of, 'if the point of deconstructing is to remove the magic from something and ground it, how do I put it back in in an interesting way?'

There's also a certain magical girl show that I've never seen but I read the synopsis of years ago and it completely randomly popped into my head earlier today which apparently starts off as a pretty normal episodic show for, like, entire seasons, before suddenly transitioning to trying to confront the larger systematic issues that her local acts of good don't ultimately help but she can't do it in the end? Which is a fascinating sounding trajectory and just put magical girl shows in my head today.

And when the beginning of this thought happened, I immediately thought of the vocaloid album, Diary of the underaged observer, which is about a student who just observes all the exceedingly eccentric students around and writes it down. I think that album is a great fun encapsulation of youthful coping mechanisms, obsessions, and processing of emotions fleshed out into fantastical anime-esque allegory. So basically every single song on it could be the basis of a person in this setting pretty easily.

[earth-93]

BRIGADE FILES: ANT-MAN (Part 1)

Stars & Stripes Hotline [Version 1.11]

C: \login\Nowhere_Man

C:\Users\mini\BrigadeFiles\Avengers

Directory of C: \BrigadeFiles\Avengers

04/21/2006 11: 43 AM Total Files Listed: 16 File(s) 538, 687 bytes

Directory of C:\BrigadeFiles\Avengers\PYM_HANK_JR.txt

[file data =

Main Alias/Moniker: Ant-Man

Legal Name: Henry Jonathan Pym, Jr

Other Aliases: Hank, Hanku, Junior, Bug-Man, Party-Killer

Date of Birth: September 5th, 1976 (Age: 27)

Status: Alive

Species: Human

Sex: Male

Gender: Cisgender

Height/Weight: 6' 0" (1.83 m) / 185 lbs (83.91 kg)

Hair/Eye Color: Blond / Blue

Timeline (1976 - 1987): It's wild to think now, what with how so many of us these days are carrying around a piece of tech with his name on it, but when he was first born Hank Pym was living closer to the rest of us. Hank Pym Jr, I should say, though these days I don't know if the distinction is needed anymore. Hank was still in training pants when his folks were first running PymTech out of their garage. That might be why Pym is less of a chav in my book than Stark. Building and programming in their garage. Reminds me of my mom, but she was just trying to make a living. The Pyms had far loftier ambitions, and living snack dab in the Valley they had the means to seize it.

Before Hank had even finished grade school, his family were millionaires, and PymTech had become the hot new thing on the commercial tech market. Those good vibes in the Pym workplace didn't trickle down into the Pym household, though. By all accounts, was the kind of father who would give a sneer and a shrug to anything short of an A+ grade. Hank's mom Maria was the emotional crutch of the whole family, who Hank himself was really fond of. So when he was bluntly informed by his old man that Maria had died in a plane crash when Hank was eleven, he went numb to it all, even when his sister Hope got into a shouting match with Hank Sr. The siblings spent the rest of their childhoods in separate boarding schools, where Hank kept his head down and largely kept to the books or his ant-keeping hobby.

Timeline (1987 - 2002): For Hank, one of those "boarding schools" was the Tomorrow Academy in New York. The three people of note Hank would meet up with during this stretch would be Elihas Starr, Tony Stark and the future big guy himself, Bruce. All four of them had the mutual baggage of growing up with bad dads and quirky hobbies, but Starr wasn't so much a part of the group as he was a tag-along with Hank. They all went in different directions once the Academy was shut down in '91, but Hank and Bruce would keep in touch.

Hank spent the 90's on the academic grind, and in-between racking up a slew of consultancy gigs. He did his best to keep an arm's length from PymTech, eager to carve a name for himself. This caused some beef between Hank and his sis. While Hank kept away from their old man's business like the plague, Hope firmly planted her roots there. All the while, the siblings kept working long-distance to find ways to apply Pym Particles in the new millennium. Hank would only help his sis so far. He knew his way around Pym Particles, sure. But if PymTech blipped into the air the next day, he likely wouldn't have lost a wink of sleep.

So when Starr, who had spent the last decade more on the business end of the tech world, had been climbing the corporate ladder back at PymTech, Hank didn't use his minimal influence as a shareholder to ward Starr off from booting his dad out of the head chairman's seat. As far as Hank saw it, his old man was the big roadblock to what Hope wanted to do with Pym Particles, and he assumed the best of intentions in Starr. Just one of many regrets saddled onto Hank Pym. Before things really hit the fan, he finally set up shop in PymTech, through an offer made by Starr. Hank took up a spot in the company's AI division, all while Hank kept workshopping his own AI projects in the basement of his family's estate.

Timeline (2002 - 2003): After the "lab accident" that kvaporized Vernon Van Dyne and put his daughter (And Hank's beau) in a coma, Hank could no longer deny his old buddy Starr was trouble. He kept up appearances within the company, all while Hope and her group made a plan to ouste Starr and foil his plans for PymTech to get into the arms racket. In the end, they only succeeded in one of those things, thanks it part to Jan's now-infamous 50-Foot Woman incident. But Starr was gone and Jan had sprung back to life, so as far as Hank was concerned it was a win.

Hank was the only one among the group to support Janet's aspirations to get into the superhero game, calling it "unconventional therapy." He even volunteered to go out on patrols with her, and was the one to come up with the whole bug schtick for the two of them in the first place. It was out of the box behavior, something I'm sure Hank himself would admit to. The few times Hank has been pressed on it, he's cited what Dr. Richards and his whole crew had been doing over in New York around the same time. Me, I think that drive to carve something out for himself was what pushed him into something so out-there as dressing up in a red suit and a shiny helmet. The influence of Jan, who was probably the best thing he had going for him at the time, didn't hurt either.

After about six months of "Ant-Man & The Wasp" becoming a big west coast sensation, Bruce was apprehended and detained by SHIELD. That following summer, a plan was brewing to surgically resolve Bruce's condition, and Hank volunteered to help his old Academy alum, and Jan tagged along as well. Being seasoned heroes by them, Hank and Jan held their own once all hell broke loose later that day, and they both were on the ground with Fury while Thor was duking it out with Graviton above them. They got it out of Fury the connections SHIELD had with Graviton, which really got under Hank's skin. So when the smoke cleared and Fury made his offer, Hank shot it down and sided with Stark, even though Hank barely trusted Stark much better than Fury. Enemy of my enemy, I guess.

continue data? y/n]

[clubsmarties]

Annie started to laugh uncontrollably at that and nodded her head. "You're funny." she said between her laughing fit. "But, you're right. If more than five hate you then it's definitely your problem. I don't like people who can't laugh at themselves. You know the type. Also the ones who hurt my uncle." Her frown deepened remembering who he still worked for. "I wish you could just," she made a slit throat gesture. "Get him rid of that hell." Once she realized what she said she looked up and around making sure none of her family were around to hear her say hell. Once in the coast was clear she went back to being herself. "We have that in common," her toothy grin how amused she was in finding others who also didn't like people. It made her feel less alone in her disgust of dumb people. "My secret?" She contemplated it and giggled. "What's in it for me if I tell you?"

"Of course! I have really nice handwriting. I write in cursive. The squiggles. I learned that first because according to some scientist, it uses the left part of your brain." Just like Wally, she too learned random facts. "I'll get to writing your wife a note after dinner and before bath time." The entire thing now exciting her to another level. "Don't leave without it or the box of treats. You're staying for dinner. Orion is going to be the best big brother. He treats mine will such care so that is already in his DNA. I'm glad you're having one of each. You have all you can ask for. Anything else is bonus." Annie nodded and sighed. "I am but I'm also very happy for my parents. They have been wanting to give me a sibling since I was three. It just wasn't in the cards. But they found a way and now I've got a little brother."

"A very good thing you kept her around! I want to do things with her but sometimes she's got work and I've got lessons so our schedules don't match. But we do fun things when she babysits me and uncle wally is busy." Her eyes glowed and nodded. "I would love to become a detective one day. I know my mom doesn't want me to but I want to make a difference like my uncle. He carries too much on his shoulders. Even though he says he's fine. I know him. But I'm very per–" she sounded it out like she would any other long ass word. "Ceptive. Perceptive."

She giggled and followed his gaze. "Not your first choice? Smart, funny, caring, boy you're hard to impress." All said in a teasing manner since she was afterall a Bordeaux. "Have to work on him then. Eugh yeah. She could have ended with someone who didn't respect her. Or a boring person. Blah." She made a whole show of it as she continued to tease Charlie. She placed her small hand on his and nodded. "You've both got family now. Hey, that's what I'm against too. His unhappiness is my notp. I do know they love each other. Sometimes I see them being really close and smiling before one of my uncle's tells them to get a room."

"I suppose that's right. We are all found family but kids aren't. They're made into a family. Everyone stumbles until they find their person and make their own unit. Want or actually like to be in your life. You and Tia Liz were family way before you actually realized it." Her eyes scanned their open area as she saw her uncle scooping three kids up taking them back inside for food. She assumed he was getting Orion a plate too. "You knew?" Her eyes bugged out wide at the revelation. "They weren't subtle. But you're also a detective aren't you? You saw clues before. They are." A laugh rang out as she rubbed her nose. "They're funny like that. They do everything backwards. But at least they're not boring. It wasn't a met at a cafe and then love at first sight happened. Come to think of it none of my family actually had a traditional way of meeting their spouses. Quirky isn't it?" Oh that was what brought her back to her original thought. "I do think they'd get married without telling anyone until way later." Again she knew words other children wouldn't have known at such a young age. "Tell you a secret? I did see a teeny tiny ring. It had a very pretty diamond. I don't think it's a diamond. The density of it isn't much. So, I think you may be adding brother in law to your family. That also means if she does say yes I get you as an uncle. That's exciting."

"Yeah, when fifteen dislike you, you have to know it is a personality thing. A you, not me, issue." He couldn't help but wink back knowing fully well that he had used his accent to his advantage in the past. Seeing Annie light up at the fact that Elizabeth spoke highly of her, he could see why she liked her. "I knew you were exceptionally special because she doesn't really like people but she really likes you. You're going to have to tell me your secret."

His best friend had told him that this girl had an old soul but talking to her was a whole other experience. "That sounds like a lovely idea. I'm sure Anna would appreciate the gesture. I think if you include a little note from you to her she'd like that too." At the thought of his soon-to-be daughter, he glowed. "I am, to have a boy and girl will be exciting and he is very excited to be a big brother. Are you excited for a baby brother?" In all honesty, they could be having boy and Charlie would still be excited. The fact that his wife was having their child was just a blessing enough.

"A list?" He could see why Elizabeth had taken a liking to her, she was as smart as Elizabeth was at that age, just without the trauma involved in making her so. "Inner child, huh?" Charlie couldn't deny that he had seen it poke up from time to time when she was around Orion. To hear that she was doing it more often now made him happy. "You think so? Good thing I kept her around, huh?" A wide playful grin came to his face. "Interesting things, you say? Elizabeth did say you'd make a great detective one day."

At her question, he looked over at her uncle and his son having fun all around them. With a sigh, he looked back over at her. "He's not exactly my first choice but," it was a joke. "He's a good guy. She could have done a lot worse" Okay, he was going to be serious about it. "I think your uncle is a great man. Better than Elizabeth and I could ever be. I know that they love each other and if that is what makes her happy, it makes me happy. The only thing that I am ever against is her not being happy. We both don't have any family, well, we do now," he corrected himself. He had started one. "And I think that your uncle becoming her family, by extension mine, is a great thing. And I think technically all family is found, is it not? It can't start unless you find someone you want in your life, right?" With that, he took a blow pop for himself and unwrapped it before popping it in his mouth. "But I, like you, knew about how they felt each other before they admitted it to each other. And now I'm excited to see what comes The day he met Wally and the way he saw Elizabeth cared came to mind. "But they are very non-traditional, aren't they? I suspect those two would elope and not tell any of us until they came back. What do you think? " It wasn't until the sentence was out of his mouth that he considered if the girl knew what the word meant or if had been inappropriate at all to say.

[genetierneysattorney]

i dont think they made ally sheedy any more or less feminine at the end of the breakfast club - her character's outfit at the beginning was just as feminine, really. just because it was darker and more layered doesn't make it less feminine, unless you believe the only indicators of femininity are pink and lip gloss. the reason people are unhappy with the change isnt that "oh pink is bad and makeup is wrong >:( " its that allison had a unique style and personality - that the other characters learned to accept and even like - and then at the end we get this washing out of her unique traits. the story took what was a very unique character and style and then at the end went "anyway now that we've all learned to care about and respect each other even with and indeed because of our differences, here's the fun unique quirky girl! we've taken the cinematographic indicator of her uniqueness (her clothing style) and removed it to look like the other female character. isnt that great!"

it has nothing to do with a hatred of femininity or misogyny and more to do with the fact that the transformation is at odds with the whole point of the story - that being different from each other is good. also, allisons style was very cute and it was sad to see it go.

As someone who related pretty hard to Allison when I first saw it, it never occured to me that I should think the makeover erased her individuality. I never got the idea that brushing your hair and wearing some color is so powerful it completely transforms your identity, particularly in someone like Allison who already had a very strong sense of personhood (although admittedly it's not as standout as her look before). Maybe because I don't limit myself to one style. Although I admit I have no idea what the guy in the tweet is talking about 😭

But the whole point was Allison was unhappy, insecure and used her look as a shield against others- so her accepting a new look from Claire was letting her guard down and accepting this toke of friendship from someone she didn't think she had anything in common with and it was a touching moment between the two. I suppose you're right and not all the critics hate it bc it's girlier, but it's inarguably a more femme look, and in my experience people who bash femme things or anything associated with women do tend to do it bc of their own issues with femininity. Some of the hate mail I've gotten seems to back that up. But to me it's as silly as, for example, those people claiming that Lola Bunny not having big boobs anymore makes her masculine. Maybe if we get a reboot, Claire can do something that fits better with Allison's own aesthetic while still being new?

(It also wasn't for Andy, and that's what gets me, how people are dishonest and pretend it was "just for a guy" when Andy had nothing to do with Claire offering to do it. 😕)

Plus, she can just change whenever she wants- the shirt at least is clearly her own too- and probably will. Unlike Sandy's which seems to be more permanent as well as not for the better (and people always seem less bothered by her radical change that Allison's for some reason).

Thank you for being respectful, btw. You've changed my perspective more than the other people who've been just insulting me ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[chaosgremlim]

TW: Formication, tactile hallucinations, derealization.

The neurodivergent urge to gouge out your skin to stop existing and letting The Worms™️ free.

[vampiremeerkat]

Speaking of “Chicken little”, did you ever wonder of how you’d rewrite it like with other Disney movies (or like, adapting the original story in your own personal twist)?

I can make something up on the spot, but it won’t be a Disney reboot. The characters and alien twist didn't interest me much, so I’m borrowing the original story. I don’t have all the plot details, but I’d want the main character to be a girl named Penny Little, and setting the 1700s-1800s countryside. Her village is inhabited by birds only, and those who live in poverty are usually prey animals. Royalty and high calibre residents are predators. Instead of the acorn, a better scare would be a vivid dream taken as a prophecy, but something that actually happened to her. She was drugged up or too sleepy to understand she was part of a scandalous kidnapping of her people, ordered by the king no one suspects, for the purpose of becoming food or a slave. Lewl, spoilers. Penny is too small, so not useful for either and dumped back in her room. If you want the acorn thing to come back in some way, maybe it’s one of the soldiers’ shields she saw and got whacked with when they saw she was gaining consciousness. ..Though in hindsight, maybe it’s better if she was conscious, but guessed the attack to come from an enemy kingdom. Less convoluted. In any case, she believes their peaceful lives are in danger and wants to warn the king. She’s accompanied by her friends along the way, not because they all believe her, some just aren’t comfortable letting her waddle into a domain of meat eaters by herself. Eventually they meet a fox (not red-furred, the red fox is the most overused breed in fiction and I’m tired of it) and they recognize him as the discarded prince “Todd L’Woxy”, which is good, because these idiots didn’t know the way to the castle to begin with. I have nothing in mind for what his crimes are that made him no longer welcome at the castle, but he is a violent, patronizing douche-ass, so it probably has something to do with that. He thinks their simple minds and gullibility are all very convenient and pretends to be their friend for a bit. As it’s tough for a fool out there, he plans to lead them inside a dark forest and promote them to dinner. He won’t be quirky about it; this man is a murderer like his parents taught him to be. Cool foreshadowing. They get separated and one of the friends is grabbed, but manages to free herself, though not without a wing getting plucked clean. Depending on what kind of bird she is, that sucks. The prince goes on to find a new target in the darkness, and finds Penny, but she’s pretty alert and greets him as he comes. He acts real ominous, but she’s being angelically nice and it makes him feel bad. When her friends come running, the one who was attacked warns her for the prince, but of course he lies and Penny believes it, making him feel more bad. Because it’s dark, his victim can’t 100% confirm it was him and everyone settles on giving him the benefit of the doubt. He is eventually swayed into helping them for real.. because.. I don’t know, Penny is hot? Anyway, reformed murderers always die in my stories, so Todd will likely get his throat ripped out by his father at the end. ..I’m tired of writing now.

[awesomerextyphoon]

I love your writing. May I have Loki x Reader? The reader is a sweet, delicate dreamer. Loki has come to conquer the world. He saw her and wants her to become his Queen of Midgard. He kidnapped her. She pleads with him to let her go while she is tied to the bed. He caresses her hair and says she will love him (he doesn't want to use the scepter on her).

***Can I have White Reader x Loki, please? Loki just escaped from the Helicarrier. He saw the reader who is a sweet and innocent creature. Loki doesn't want her dead when he will start battle. Loki kidnaps her and locks her up to keep her safe. When he wins, Loki tells her that she will become his queen.***

Hi! I decided to combine the prompts and make the reader plus-sized. I hope you enjoy! 

His Match

Pairing: Dark!Loki x Plus-Sized Female Reader 

Summary: You’ve tried to live by your grandmother’s rule  of being kind to others, even when the world gives you the middle finger. What if a Norse God decided reward you by becoming his Queen?

Word Count: 1,745

Rating: 18+/Mature

Warning: Kidnapping, Implied Dub/Non-Con, Angst, and some Violence

A/N: Thanks goes to the amazing @angrythingstarlight for beta reading this!

Loki was walking around New York City, scouting Stark Tower making sure the final preparations of his plan was perfect when something, or rather someone, caught his eye.

She walked out of what looked like a women’s clothing store with a forlorn smile. She was plumper than the average female Midgardian last time he frequented the realm. His eyes did not miss the enticing curves that lied beneath her clothes despite her efforts to ensconce herself into the background.

She was a vision.

Her eyes met his for the briefest of moments and it felt like time stopped. His heart quickened in his chest and a rush of blood surged to his groin.

He had to follow her. His Elskan.

“Barton, tell the others I’ll be out for a few more hours. Proceed as planned.”

–––––

He found you entering a rather destitute apartment complex. Its lights and foundation were a bit unsound and gave off a seedy ambience.

Loki grimaced at her living conditions. When he ruled Midgard, she would have only the best.

Casting a simple concealment spell, Loki entered her fairly small apartment. She began mixing ingredients together for what looked to be ‘chocolate chip cookies’. He smiled as he inhaled the sweet aroma knowingly; Asgard had only recently started consuming the sweet. She soon laid out a batch of thick, scrumptious cookies with a satisfied expression.

They reminded him of better times when he and Thor would sneak into the kitchens and swipe confections from under the baker’s nose. Loki chuckled at the memory; those were the days.

Not ten minutes after she placed the last cookie onto the cooling rack did her phone ring. It was her mother. Loki felt dread coming off his Elskan in waves.

Loki could only make out bits and pieces of the conversation, if you could call it that. Her mother constantly nagged her about her weight, life choices, and her ‘pathetic’ attempts to get over her ex-boyfriend. His heart broke as he saw tears begin to fall and the croaking of her voice as she bid the odious creature goodnight.

Several minutes after she cried herself to sleep, Loki entered his Elskan’s bedroom. He spied her diary on the nightstand and decided to read a few pages.

He was fuming within two minutes.

How dare that caustic pig sow treat his Elskan, her own daughter, in a such ghastly manner! Her ‘perfect’ sister always slighting and reminding her on how ‘she’ll never be good enough for anything’ and her father’s callous indifference to her cries for help and solace only added to his rage. Combined with the way her ex-boyfriend, the repugnant gnat, treated her (he cheated on her with someone who ‘wasn’t built like a blimp’ and ‘the only thing you thing you had going for you were your tits’) and he wanted to speed up the invasion just to watch the horror become engrained onto their faces.

And yet, she endeavored to treat everyone with kindness harkening back to your grandmother. She strived to be the one light in one’s otherwise miserable existence.

Well, she can be his light as his Elskan and Queen.

Loki took a deep, cleansing breath. He needed to stick to the plan. When he conquers Midgard, she will be their queen. She will grace the undeserving masses with her elegance and beauty and he will worship her every chance he got.

He just had to make her see it that way.

Gently, the light forest green glow of Loki's magic flowed from his hand to the crown of her head like a halo. He leaned in and kissed her cheek with a smile as he left.

He hated to leave her, but he had a realm to conquer. Though he hoped she’d enjoy the introductory gift.

––––––

You were in your grandmother’s living room; spacious yet comfy with all of her quirkiness and splendor included. It was odd since you haven’t been in her house since your parents sold after her death seven years ago. You tearfully smiled remembering all the good times you had with her, the only member of your family you gave you any true warmth or love.

Her piano was in the corner, barely aged a day with all the music sheets, pens, a light scratches you came to know and love. You took your seat and started to play the piano version of one of your favorite movie themes.

You were so engrossed in playing, you failed to notice someone materializing into your dreamscape.

“What a lovely tune! What is it called?” A smooth, honey-tinged voice broke your concentration.

You turned your head and saw what had to be the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen. He was tall (6’ 10” / 2.08m) easily towering over any man you’ve ever met. He had smooth alabaster skin, light rose undertones with a little blue-red just under his eyes. His cheekbones were immaculate, somehow looked sharp and soft at the same time. He had thin lips with a fair plumpness to the bottom one. His slicked-back, shoulder-length Ponzu/Shadow Purple hair kissed his lean, battle-hardened physique (if the way he’s filling out his outfit was anyway to go by). All of this deliciousness was clothed in a casual Palm Green suit with a Glossy Black tie and shoes.

It took you a full minute to stop ogling him, “Wha-What did you say?”

“I apologize for disturbing you, my lady. I asked what you were playing.” His voice had hints of mirth which was odd considering his appearance. Most people in his league would give you a thinly veiled sneer of disgust, but he seemed genuinely interested.

“Um, well, it’s called Merry-Go-Round of Life from the movie Howl’s Moving Castle. It’s a favorite of mine. I used to play it all the time until…” You trailed off, not wanting to revisit how your grandmother died.

“You do not have to tell me if it brings you such displeasure.”

“Thank you, um…”

“Loki. Please, call me Loki.”

“Loki,” he inwardly moaned at the way you said his name, “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. Please, continue playing.”

And you did for what felt like hours, all while your sexy dream companion asked about your hopes, dreams, anything he could think of really. You in turn asked him about his life and interests; you even laughed at a story of his brother having to dress like a bride to get his hammer back.

You soon became enamored with Loki. It was refreshing to be noticed with actual interest, not ridicule or pity. He seemed to taken with you as well, if his gentle caresses and not-so-subtle lustful glances he gave you were any indication.

You were glad this was just a dream. You didn’t want your heart to break like last time.

Loki was about to lean in for a kiss when everything faded to black.

–––––

You jolted up from the mattress and screamed once you realized you weren’t in your room.

No, this room was…spectacular for lack of better word. It had high ceilings, large windows, ornate chandeliers, and magnificent balcony. Luxurious dark greens, gold, and black covered the room in splendor. Extravagant pieces of furniture dripped with precious stones metal worthy of queens or royal mistresses of old.

“What is this place?”

You tried to leave but was forced back onto the bed by a force field. You tried to take calm breaths just like your therapist taught you in order to make an escape plan.

No sooner did you calm down than the door open to reveal-

“Loki!”

Only Loki was wearing radically different clothing; looked like he walked right out of a fantasy epic. And yet, his smile was enchanting.

“What am I doing here? I need to go back home.”

He tutted in response, “That would not be wise, Elskan Mín. This world is mine now and this is safest place to be.” He was right. His brother’s team of desperate souls were no match for his cunning and Chitauri Forces. Midgard’s pathetic leaders gave up in less than an hour once their beloved ‘heroes’ were defeated, broken, and laid bare before them.

“You can’t be serious, Loki. I need to leave.”

“And go where? Like I said, this realm is mine now. That rat poison of a dwelling is no more and I have dealt with your ‘family’ as needed.” Loki smirked at the memories. It gave him extreme joy squeezing the life out of that worthless pig of mother, breaking every bone in your father’s body one by one, and leaving your ‘perfect’ sister alive with partially rotten skin. Not even the scavengers or maggots would find or want the remains of the scurvy insect of an ex-boyfriend, though he was still alive..just barely.

Well, at least until he decided on how to destroy the blight of creature.

Though he did make sure to leave two of your real friend were treated well. You needed to have someone to talk to while he was away.

You gazed into his Spearmint colored eyes in one last attempt, “Please Loki! If you love me, you’ll let me go!”

For a split second, you could’ve sworn you saw hurt in his eyes and he glided across the room. You back hit the headboard in you sad efforts to get away from him.

“Elskan Mín, I promise to always love, cherish, and worship every part of your glorious body. You will become Midgard’s queen and my goddess. No. One. Will. Ever. Demean. Or. Slight. You. Again.” he punctuated each word of the last sentence with soft, open-mouthed kisses to your face, neck, shoulders, and collarbone.

You tried to fight him, but it felt so good. His touches sent shots of lightning to your core; plus his lips and fingers were cook to the touch provided excellent contrast to the spike in heat.

You started crying realizing how pathetic this was, to have the first person to profess such feelings be a kidnapper. You were actually contemplating whether or not he was telling the truth.

Loki sensed your sorrow and kissed your tears away. “I know this might be ‘difficult’ at first, but you will love me in time.” He hoped he did not have to use the scepter.

You thought about your dream and all of the effort he was putting into this. It was frightening, but it came from a place of love.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stay.

–––––––

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