#sorry about the mini rant

[danwithouttheplan]

Look, I know comfort is important and whatever, but I find it truly disheartening how lazily so many modern bands dress. Like you're on stage to put on a show for an audience and you decide to wear what? A black t-shirt for a different band and a pair of basketball shorts? Where is the flair? The flavor? The pizzazz?

[frownyalfred]

I'm seeing a lot of "ugh, so we can't even criticize fic authors anymore?" posts popping up on here and the ao3 subreddit and I just want to say, for the record: No one's saying you can't criticize (fanfic) authors publicly. They're saying it's rude and antithetical to positive fandom experience. And, yes there's a difference.

If this website was a conference and I had just spent a whole afternoon listening to a presentation on [unpopular fic trope] and after that was done, I got up on stage and very publicly told the audience that [unpopular fic trope] was illogical and anyone who writes it is woefully misinformed and should be banned from writing [relevant character], that would in fact be a dick move.

"But the canon character would never--" it doesn't matter. You're shouting down the hall at the person who just happily did a whole seminar on their OOC version of that character. "But I don't like that the author chose to make them--" good, you're well-acquainted with your likes and dislikes, time to find another fic.

We all run into fics and interpretations we don't like. But there's a huge difference between loudly talking about it on Tumblr where the author can see it, and just venting in a private discord or other group. Also, gentle reminder that this is a hobby for most writers and something they do purely because they enjoy it. Stop being massive dicks just because you feel entitled to a certain flavor of fanfiction you will probably be chasing until the Reformation of Krypton.

[rachiebeee]

they are best friends and siblings and i love them both so dearly. featuring piercings bc i stand strong in my belief that they would

[brain-deadx0]

I only played bdsp once (as most people know by now its not really worth it. Platinum was better and it kept almost all the problems of the original games while sucking the fun out of the underground and making it useless outside of completing the dex which not everyone does)

Anyway, from what I remember your watch like calls either a wild pokemon or a trained pokemon thats not yours to show up.

Don't get me wrong I'm glad they got rid of the need for hm mules but yeah.

Could've easily just changed the lore for the watch or just made it like the pokemon taxis where you call a service and it just skips the waiting.

So today I learned that apparently in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl they decided to free the HM slaves by no longer making you need to teach pokemon all those important location moves

Like Rock Smash and Surf and shit

And the explanation for this is that your watch knows how to do it now

So when you need to use Rock Smash or Surf, instead of using your own pokemon you train

A random wild pokemon will show up and smash it for you

I don’t even think you can have your own pokemon do it anymore

But that’s the official explanation

It does not hold water for about a zillion reasons, probably because it’s a wadded up coffee filter of an explanation

And listen. Listen. In the Rotom era it would work

Because your device is a pokemon that can use pokemon moves

But until someone came up with the idea for Rotom to exist… what? Children are learning Rock Smash themselves to go on adventures?

It would genuinely make more sense for your lil guy to do it than casually mind control a random nearby pokemon that just happens to know Rock Smash

(But you will never ever ever catch a wild pokemon that knows Rock Smash in most of these areas)

Anyway headcanon either the kids are learning pokemon moves or the watch is causing brainwashing and none of you told me

[drenched-in-sunlight]

Hi there! I wanted to say your art is absolutely incredible and always brings me back to Elden Ring when I forget just how amazing the game is. I live for your depictions of Marika.🥹

I was partly just curious after you posted the recent family tree, is there a reaspn Ranni and Radahn don't make as much of an appearance in your drawings? What is your thoughts on their questline/storyline in general?

Thanks for all the cool art, you're getting better with every piece!!

tbh... i think draw Ranni a lot, she's literally the cover of my first fromsoft fanbook 🥲🥲

though most of my art of her is from 2 years ago, i wouldn't say i don't draw her often at all 😭 i've drawn Radahn 4-5 times too. i understand because i draw too much, it's easy to have an impression that i draw some specific characters less, but compared to, say, the Omen Twins or Rykard or Melina (who i keep meaning to draw but haven't got around to do so yet), Radahn and Ranni are two Carian characters i draw the most of that side of the family (well, Rellana is looking to dethrone them soon but you get what i mean aksfkjdfkj)

Radahn dudebro fans keep pointing fingers saying i hate him but i actually like him. as a guyfailure that is so obsessed with these symbols of a Lord in his father and Godfrey, yet failed to live up to any of them (*stare at that scene of Morgott whooping his ass*). his involvement in the DLC is an interesting spin on things to me, and make a lot of sense in the grand scheme of things (when i saw that we found like... 11 Miquella's Lily in places most personal to Radahn like Carian Manor and Sellia. hoo boy).

lately, i lowkey think Radagon specifically picked him for Miquella and encouraged his obsession with being a Lord. to me at least Radagon is really bitter that Godfrey is the First Lord and not him (her actual other's half! sentenced to live away from her while another man got to be her first in everything! the injustice!), so him not only discrediting Godfrey's descendants (whole thing with Hunters of TWLiD) but also preparing a whole new pair of Lord and God that should have been how he and Marika could have been from the start sounds like the kind of overcompensation he'd be doing (look honey that could be us but you tripping).

so in a way i do feel for Radahan and Miquella falling victims to Radagon's list of issues (though it's only one reason in many other reasons for them to turn out that way ofc. Radagon merely nudges the pieces into certain direction, they go barreling head first down on their own). and i actually like that i could come up with all that thanks to the DLC. imo it actually adds a lot more to Radahn and Miquella's character (depends on how you view the story though whoops).

you can say i like him (and Miq) the way one likes AC6 Iguazu... or Genichiro. the kind of hater characters that are doomed to fail from the start, but they are stubborn and will run head first into the wall again and again. and it's fun to put them in a jar and shake them.

Ranni... after the DLC my feeling for her is a bit more complicated. before i get why she did all those things and i like her story enough, but after the DLC as you see i come to really like Godwyn and links him closely to Marika. so now it's kinda awkward for me to insert Ranni in all the scenarios im drawing lately?

it's not that i stop liking her, it's simply that the scenario doesn't line up for me to add her in that's all. and it goes to other characters i haven't drawn tbh. not because i don't like them, i simply don't have anything in my brain about them to draw out. i don't think there's any characters in Elden Ring i hate tbh (yes i do like even the Hornsents. i find the stories in the scorpion stew and dried flower talisman really somber and give them a lot of humanity too, fucked up rituals aside).

and thank you for your kind words! my editor has been on my ass for a whole year about my art and it does help me improve a lot, im glad to know it shows in the quality of my fanarts as well!

[satyrradio]

ngl it is very disheartening when I see a positive post from a queer Christian, go into the notes, and just see other queer folks shitting on the OP for being a queer Christian. You aren't making the world any better, you're just being an asshole.

[all-too-unwell-13]

what is it with teenage boys and acting like you're their favourite person one day, then disappearing the next?

[littledollll]

I hate the word naughty. Its such a turn off for me. I don’t get why people use it or how they find it hot (to each their own). If anyone ever called me that during sex, I would immediately have them full stop. If I read it in a fic I have to swipe away quickly or I get the ick. It makes me physically cringe.

[honestlyijustfindhersocharming]

A Needlessly Long Analysis of Every Single Cat King Scene in Dead Boy Detectives and Why I Want to Throw Him.

After many, many rewatches of Dead Boy Detectives for the sake of trying to get another season, I've found myself with increasingly strong feelings about a certain feline so... Can we talk about the Cat King? Yes? Great. Forewarning, I'm about to absolutely ream this shapeshifter because he's complex, confusing, horrible, and has so much potential that I need to talk about it.

Please keep in mind that this is my personal take !! I love the Cat King as a character, I just don't like a lot of his actions given the context.

Introduction to the Madness ...

The Cat King is a wonderful antagonist for so many reasons, but I feel like a lot of people have forgotten that he's an extraordinarily flawed person and can be incredibly creepy at times. Lukas does a wonderful job portraying the Cat King's charm, as does George in portraying Edwin's brief moments of falling into his traps, but the Cat King is not a good person. Let's go down the list.

The Cat King's Introduction: Episode 2

Episode 2 starts off with the consequences of Edwin's rash actions in Episode 1, something that I'm fully here for. It gives Edwin's jealousy real weight outside of just causing tension between Crystal and Edwin. However, I think people forget that the Cat King's "punishment" is (almost) completely selfish. Yes, while he claims that it's a consequence for harming the other cats, the punishment doesn't actually reward the cat Edwin used magic on, instead only benefiting the Cat King himself. It does force Edwin to distinguish between the cats, something that I figured out after another watch of the scene, but... I'm not sure if that was his main motivation when he blatantly says later that he wanted more time with Edwin.

The two options Edwin is presented with are sex and counting all the cats in Port Townsend. Option one is mildly horrific, even if Edwin is to consent it could still be considered coercive as the Cat King is in a position of power over Edwin. I personally don't think it'd get to that point - the Cat King sees the Edwin is a repressed Edwardian boy and wants to test that boundary - but... the implication is hard to swallow. When Edwin is given the option of counting cats, he emphasizes that he is a "fair and consensual Cat King", which we'll get back to later, but the offer itself is still - essentially - a move on Edwin as it forces him to stay in the Cat King's vicinity for longer. The task itself is stupid, but it again doesn't benefit any of the cats besides the Cat King. The only reason Edwin's stay is prolonged is because the Cat King is fascinated by Edwin. That's it.

While this interaction does contribute to Edwin's eventual sexual awakening, that does not make the interaction itself good. And this dichotomy between the Cat King starring in Edwin's journey of self discovery but doing so in the literal worst way continues in Episode 4...

The Cat King and Exploiting Emotional Attachment: Episode 4

I'd like to point out that this interaction starts out with the Cat King scratching Edwin, something that he explains by referencing "rough play". Now, this is obviously a joke, but it still brings up issues with the continued lack of Edwin's consent in something that the Cat King frames as sexual. What really kills me about this scene though, is how the Cat King exploits Edwin's other crushes - or potential crushes - to get a reaction out of him. The funniest thing about this to me, is that the way that the Cat King shapeshifts into people that Edwin cares for ends up paralleling him to Angie, our monster of the week. Angie also exploits the emotional attachment of someone to their loved ones for personal gain, but in her case it's to actively seek out food. What separates the two to me, is that the Cat King does not need Edwin to care for him, nor does he need Edwin to survive, he just wants Edwin, therefore making him kind of worse that the monster that we go into this Episode trying to slay.

Again, this does end up assisting Edwin in his eventual realization that he likes Charles, but it's the entirely wrong way of going about it. The scene ends with me just feeling like Edwin got thrown around like a mouse by this cat in the middle of something that's genuinely important to him. And then the confession of why Edwin does the casework. Sweet Jesus. Yes, it's good that Edwin gets that truth out for the sake of the audience, but the knowledge that the Cat King gains out of it is chilling to me. It's another display of the power the Cat King holds over Edwin because while you can argue that he uses the binding spell on Edwin as payback for what happened to his cats, forcing the truth out of Edwin was nothing but for himself. I think he believes it's for Edwin's sake, to make him feel more comfortable sharing things now that the first hurdle has passed, but it... really doesn't? The way that this backfires really emphasizes the way that pushing Edwin's boundaries like this isn't a good way to gain his affection.

The last thing to point out in this specific interaction is the last couple of lines of the scene, specifically the way that the Cat King taunts Edwin about the cat count of 142 being "way off". We know this is a bluff because later, he confirms that there are 147 cats in Port Townsend, including himself of course. The irony to this scene in my opinion is the fact that the Cat King just said to Edwin that he wanted him to be more honest, and then immediately lies. The double standard is insane, and I can't tell if the Cat King realizes it or not.

Something I feel important to note as well is the way that Edwin, in the same episode, when asked if he'd like to kiss the Cat King answers painfully fast. Monty he at least considers, but the Cat King isn't even an option to him. To me, this just displays further how horrifically the Cat King has fucked up any chances of a meaningful relationship with Edwin.

The Cat King Becomes an Incel for a Hot Minute: Episode 6

Episode 6... Oh boy Episode 6. Episode 6 is hard because he doesn't stop being a boundary pusher, but it's also ever the more evident just how much this stupid cat cares about Edwin. I would love to defend him and be like "oh actions speak louder than words" but his actions STILL suck in this scene. So, let's break down those action one by one.

First off, he goes to the forest. That's a big one because he mentions that he's been looking for Edwin the entire night, seemingly for no other reason than to explain to him the situation with Monty being an essential double agent. The first bit of the interaction between the Cat King and Monty isn't much to note, in my opinion, because it's mostly just taunting. But, in this case, the taunting is kind of warranted. Though I personally empathize with Monty's situation, he is still leading Edwin into a trap that could kill him. Where the Cat King pushes boundaries again is the goddamn kiss. It feels... icky. Predatory.

Again, there's no consent in this situation, and though it all comes from a place of worrying for Edwin's safety, I'm not sure that excuses it. I will grant the Cat King the fact that he's extraordinarily honest with Edwin throughout the scene, exposing Monty's identity and the case without beating around the bush much. The way that the Cat King ends the interaction, because though I'm not exactly sure what to think about the Cat King's approval of Edwin lashing out at Monty, I know exactly what I think about what follows.

Edwin, rightly, immediately thinks to take the information he just learned to Crystal and Charles, the two people who could still be in danger because of this now pointless case. The Cat King takes this time to make yet another move instead of just... accepting the fact that he helped and that could build Edwin's trust later. The way the Cat King says "I believe I'm at least owed a little thank-you" threw me off the first time I watched it, but I accepted it. I suppose Edwin could have been more polite. And then the Cat King said "By the way, the second kiss is always much better."

Dude. What. So, to break this down, the Cat King comes out to help save Edwin from a potentially life threatening situation only because he believes that he will get a reward out of it. When Edwin refuses (rightfully so, what the fuck) the Cat King asserts his power again by saying that he's "not someone to be dismissed". Edwin's words are harsh when he states that the Cat King is nothing more than the chain linking him to Port Townsend, but I don't feel as though he's entirely wrong to be upset in this situation. The Cat King, instead of making me feel bad for him afterwards, goes full Nice Guy™ on Edwin afterwards by yelling at him that he'll stop playing nice. Instead of taking literally two seconds to introspect, he threatens Edwin like that's going to keep his stubborn ass from doing anything.

Hello? What happened to fair and consensual Cat King, dude? He's so out of touch with how to actually express his affection for someone, and it's honestly insane.

Alone: Episode 7

Episode 7 is the third to last time we see the Cat King, and it's the first time that he's not in the presence of Edwin. We see him be more vulnerable here, and get a better understanding of how he acts when he's cornered. He starts off haughty, continues his antics with innuendo to offset tension, and then continues to taunt Ester until he gets literally killed by her. After his death he expresses his fear through anger, and continues to attempt to defend Edwin. First by trying to remind her that he's not going to give her the youth she desires, then by telling her to "keep your paws off of him".

It's somewhat heart warming to know he does truly care for Edwin, but he's still in it for himself, ultimately. He doesn't attempt to go against Esther again out of fear that he'll die for it, and his values of his survival above else. It's great character building, and a great flaw, but again annoying that he only expresses this level of care without Edwin around.

Redemption?: Episode 8

Episode 8 is meant to be his, sort-of, redemption Episode in my opinion. He is vulnerable with Niko and Crystal in regards to his fear of Esther (kind of, he does confess that he was killed by her), gives them information on Esther's background, and also gives them a tip off on something that could help stop her - black salt.

After Niko's death, when he presents Edwin with flowers, I believe he is meant to be at his best. He does not demand anything from Edwin in that moment, only apologizes for the loss of Niko and compliments her bravery. It's interesting to note that the lilies that he gifts to Edwin are toxic to cats, potentially a symbol of his attempt to be less selfish when it comes to him. And that he doesn't ask for anything more from Edwin when he is given the kiss on the cheek.

Of course, he still maintains his bravado and teasing nature, but that - it seems - is meant to be the Cat King's redemption arc.

But... is it enough?

Is it Enough?: Conclusions

I don't think so, personally. I think that in a Season 2, the Cat King could've become a better, less selfish, person. But at the moment, I think he's still stuck in the same middle ground that Monty ends up in where the one good deed he does ends up being a small drop in the bullshit that comes before that. While I do think that Monty is ultimately more forgivable, there is still a lot that would need to happen to truly get both of them to a point where they can be forgiven by those they harmed (and me, tbh). The Cat King may have done better eventually, but he still never really apologized for his contributions to everything that happened in Port Townsend, or the bullshit that he did to Edwin personally.

All this to circle back around to this: Fuck Netflix for depriving us of Season 2 and potentially truly redeeming the Cat King and having him actually learn to care about Edwin in a way that doesn't push his boundaries immeasurably. And fuck Netflix for not giving me a chance to see the Cat King start to accept the fact that he is fucking lonely and does way too much to cover it up. I need him acknowledging his fuck ups, becoming a genuine protagonist and not just someone who could be good! He has so much potential to be more than a mere predator playing with his food and Netflix took that from us.

Tldr; Netflix is the real villain here, but the Cat King sure does a good job of trying to be the best, most complicated, most annoying, most horrifying antagonist.

[oreolesbian]

the absolute lack of media literacy from people who haven’t even seen oppenheimer is making my head spin but whatever

[punkitt-is-here]

For the people who want me to make Applejack christian conservative jokes I will not that's CRINGE!!! this ain't pony.mov or some shit I still want these characters to be reasonably within their actual personalities. The only reason people want that is because they associate people who are southern US with being shitty old religious racists!! That shit is simply not true. Plus it's such an overdone joke!! It wouldn't even be funny!

[danwithouttheplan]

sorry if you're getting tired of the axolotl song stuff but I just think it is incredible. did you compose the song? if so, what DAW did you use? any cool vsts? sample packs? I absolutely loved it

Oh, I love talking tech! I still consider myself an amateur in the ways of production, but I'm always working on getting better. None of this is by any means the best way (or even a good way) to do anything, it's just how I did it.

I did compose the song, yes - musically and lyrically (other than the first line of the first verse, of course). I use Studio One for my DAW. I got it a good number of years ago and I've liked it enough that I haven't moved to anything else.

I don't play drums and I don't pretend to write drums, so all of the drum tracks are just standard midi samples from EZdrummer (although I did add the tambourine and shaker).

I normally hate using ribbon mics with my voice, but I think I used a ribbon mic through a preamp with built-in channel strip. Other than stock EQ and compression, I threw vocals and bass through some simple LANDR plug-ins that I got as a pack. There's a bit more post-production on the vocals, but nothing notable. Bass was all DI.

I usually like to either live mic my guitars or run my amps through cabinet simulators, but this one was all DI + digital. I've recently been turned on by Neural DSP's plug-ins (though I normally use them for... heavier... guitar riffs), so all of the guitar tracks in this were using the Nolly model because I felt it had a relatively Cake feel.

The trumpet sounds very fake because it came from a not-particularly-great stock instrument sample pack in my DAW. It was the only trumpet I had on hand. The synth sounds both came from an Arturia Analog Lab synth package that came with my midi keyboard. Yes, I did play that freaky little synth thing after the first chorus.

I actually forgot to throw on a master reverb, but I don't think it was lacking too much without it (especially for a meme song). The real magic came from two things at the end of it all. I ran everything through an outboard Elysia mid/side stereo saturation module to widen it all and beef it up a little, and finished it all off with the iZotope Ozone mastering plug-in to really make it sparkle and get the final levels right.

Hope this answers most/all of your questions!

[frownyalfred]

Certain sections of tumblr will truly have you believe that proshipping, shipping “problematic” pairings, or shipping anyone with an age gap of more than thirty seconds is worse than like, the actual Holocaust or something and I’m here to remind you that it absolutely, absolutely isn’t.

You are not a bad person because you read [trope/pairing]. Conversely, you are not a better person if you avoid [trope/pairing]. It’s all down to personal preference, and the more we buy into that peculiar flavor of Puritanism, the worse off we will be. Even if it feels morally “right” to some of y’all.

[spookystarfishzombie]

Hearing that that racist party here in the UK is now neck & neck with Labour & the Tories (for the record - I don't like either of those parties) is soul destroying. I swear Brits are getting dumber by the minute (I mean look at the street interviews for those who support Reform UK 'I can't get a job because foreigners are taking them' proceeds to talk about his assault charge that he's got on his record).

The UK desperately wants to be a mini USA, with diet Trumpet in charge. You really think getting rid of immigrants will solve all of Britain's problems? Oh honey, not even close. We need to work on our people skills & empathy to get on the right track. The number of right wing nutjobs taking over European countries is dangerous. Those people are the most emotionally unstable lunatics around & we're headed straight for WW3. Let's see all those men who think we should go back to traditional roles will be saying the same thing when they get drafted into war.

[regular-theodore]

opinion: jeff x abed being canon in the community movie would actually sort of make narrative sense?

agree - okay so I LOVE jabed I love it an insane amount and honestly I think it would make sense. I really liked them especially in the last episode where they kinda came full circle.

Abed finally being able to ease off using TV and media as a coping mechanism like he has his whole life because he's moving on from Greendale, but Jeff reverting back to using TV as a coping mechanism because he spent his whole life with no comfort, and now that he's found some he's clinging to Greendale and Abed's "gimmick" because he's afraid of letting go.

I genuinely think it could make sense but I don't think it would be done correctly. they aren't trobed, they aren't meant to be wholesome and childish, if they were together it would be messy and hard and probably sometimes toxic because of how similar they are but how Abed's instinct was always to embrace his "nerdy" side and use it to hide his true feelings but Jeff created a blank canvas of a personality to hide the fact that he's not as cool as he wishes he was.

they're just two insecure teenage boys, but one became the victim and the other became the bully.

[peacesmith]

i’m. not gonna say much, but if you think that me calling out ‘x readers’ that aren’t actually x readers and just end up being white women, is racist, then you need to reevaluate some things