#the earth deserves better and we should treat it with respect

[audioandart]

was in economics class and was just flabbergasted at the fact that, while discussing the environment, the fact I even mentioned "maybe things don't need to be human centric" (we were talking about should land be set aside for protection of nature and whatnot.) People got so upset? And started laughing and snickering at me? like, I wasn't even the only person who was saying to protect the environment, I was just the only person to word it like that. People were discussing that as humans, since we're at the top, it's our responsibility to protect the creatures lower than us on the food chain. But apparently mentioning that maybe things don't even need to be focused on us is fucking taboo? And the teacher was like so surprised I said that, like her whole tone shifted for a moment like "damn wasn't expecting that". She didn't seem upset just genuinely out of her element for a moment. Like I'm not trying to brag and seem all "oh I'm a saint because I care just so much about nature yada yada" I'm pissed! I'm pissed off that humanity has this idea, that we are at the top and we do what we want and we have the right! SOME OF THESE CREATURES HAVE BEEN HERE FAR LONGER THEN WE HAVE. THE COCKROACHES ARE GOING TO OUT LIVE US. Show them some damn respect. Because I know we aren't born like this. I know we're born with kindness, with hope, with the desire to help others. We're taught to think we're always at the top. People are made fun of for not wanting to step on bugs, people are teased for caring enough to not want to rip plants to shreds. You know that phase every kid seems to go through where they like rip leaves off trees, maybe for fake soup or whatever? Well my brother is out of that phase now but still went to rip some leaves off a tree as we walked past and when I mentioned he shouldn't do that cause it'd hurt the tree he got all offended. My tone was polite and whatnot, on god!!! I'm just so disappointed in this view that we're better and we do what we want

the “humans are inherently selfish” fanclub can genuinely and in all honesty go to hell. i once came back from a school yard where the kids had heaped piles of leaves and cut wildflowers on a narrow strip of grass bc a bee had died. i actually want to cry.

[pallastrology]

the midheaven and imum coeli

aries on the midheaven makes for a native that aspires towards independence. they are natural hunters, relentless in their pursuit of their goals. they often have a reputation for having authority issues, and this can be true, they don’t cope well with working under the boot of other people, but they aren’t difficult to work with in general; when given the opportunity to work with someone they can build a strong connection with and when given a common, meaningful goal, aries midheavens are wonderful team members and are encouraging, passionate and energetic. with the midheaven in aries the lower heaven is in libra, and that’s where we see that slightly uncharacteristic talent for working in partnerships. growing up, the natives may have lived in a household where everything had to look perfect, where there were poor boundaries and avoidance and comfort-seeking from caregivers, rather than firm but fair treatment. the native had to grow up quickly and is very much a self-made individual now, but in some ways, they can feel stunted, like they’re stuck developmentally. they need to learn to uphold boundaries without becoming militant, to work with others while still supporting and encouraging themselves, to stay connected to the people that matter while they chase their prey.

taurus on the midheaven brings a desire for security. the native is artistic, stoic and determined. they don’t necessarily want fortune and fame, but they want to be valued and respected. they aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty or put in long hours and hard work to get to where they’re aiming for. their career paths can sometimes look more erratic than you’d expect for an earth placement, and this is because taurus midheavens often have issues with under - or over - valuing themselves, taking on meaningless work because they feel they haven’t earned better, or refusing opportunities out of stubbornness or a feeling of being out of their league. they work well with others when they are given time and patience, because these natives often have trust issues and can’t open up easily. with the midheaven in taurus the lower heaven is in scorpio, and a lot starts to make sense. they often grew up in homes with intense emotions and little in the way of healthy outlets or communication, homes where distance and mistrust was the norm. secrets were often kept and love may have been treated as a resource to guard fiercely and rarely give away. as an adult, the native has to come to terms with these early experiences and understand that we all have inherent worth, and are all deserving of unconditional love; it isn’t a thing to be earned, it’s within us all and can - should - be shared freely.

with gemini on the midheaven, the native aspires towards connection. they are adaptable, expressive, creative thinkers, who are quick to ask questions and quicker to learn. they have a strong desire to fly the nest and discover some of the world for themselves, and they usually do just this. the native can sometimes struggle to focus; they have a tendency to spread themselves too thin and get overwhelmed. they can be rather insecure, lacking faith in themselves and their abilities at times. this is often down to their upbringing. as a gemini midheaven, they have the lower heaven in sagittarius, which can indicate that they felt alone a lot growing up. perhaps their caregivers were very busy people, or they struggled to make friends, or were ostracised in some way. they may have felt like an outsider as a child, and so relied on their hobbies and dreams to sustain them when other people couldn’t. as an adult, gemini midheavens are a little anxious, quick to doubt themselves, but quick to seek out connections too; whether social or developmental. they would suit a life path that involves flexibility, a fast pace, multiple routes to progression and the chance to experience many kinds of people. however, they do need to stay still sometimes and listen to themselves. they may feel inferior at times, but they can learn a lot from themselves if they open their hearts.

cancer on the midheaven makes for a native that aspires towards comfort. they are highly attuned creatures, sensitive to others’ emotions and needs without them needing to say a word. the native is naturally maternal, not necessarily in the sense of wanting children, but in that they have a lot of care and love to give to whom they choose. they are traditionally well-suited to a career in the public eye, as this nurturing quality reflects well on others. the intensity of their life will often ebb and flow quite dramatically, even as far as water signs go. they need periods off to just rest and return to themselves, or they burn out terribly. with cancer on the midheaven, capricorn is on the lower heaven. growing up, the home was often a cold and clinical place, not one where emotional connections were the norm. as a result, the native, often subconsciously - as is the nature of water signs - goes through life searching for the warmth and comfort they needed as a child. they can become dependent on loved ones, or go the other way and give everything to these loved ones without getting an ounce back. it can be really helpful for them to research reparenting and go through life with the concept in their mind’s eye.

leo on the midheaven brings a desire for adoration. they may aspire to be seen as a star in their chosen field, though, honest as they are, only want this reputation if they can back it up. they are deeply passionate people, who work and play hard. their creativity and generosity will take them far in life, if they can learn to accurately identify and work on their flaws. at times they can be stubborn, and this is both good and bad for them. they are driven and determined, but often lack self-belief and rely heavily on loved ones to encourage and praise them when things get hard. with leo on the midheaven, we find aquarius on the lower heaven, and so we learn a little more. the native’s childhood was often quite a lonely one. whether that’s through an unconventional upbringing, emotionally distant caregivers or living somewhere isolated from peers, the native often felt they were alone in the world. now, as an adult, they are powerful people with the heart of a child. they are honest and loving and often a lot more vulnerable than they appear. they want love and support, but can get stuck feeling they need to “perform” to earn affection, becoming reliant on external sources for validation. building some self-esteem and learning to validate their own experiences and emotions is invaluable for these gentle giants, and they start to step into their strengths.

with virgo on the midheaven, the native aspires towards health and contentment. they are quick thinking, careful and dedicated, with a tendency to plan ahead down to the minutiae. there can be a habit of rushing ahead to their chosen destination without being able to enjoy the path they’re taking, and they are prone to anxiety and overthinking. a virgo midheaven is a judgemental placement, in that they are constantly assessing their situation and adjusting accordingly. this can make them seem controlling or critical at times. with the midheaven in virgo, the lower heaven is in pisces. the native’s childhood was often a chaotic place, with few boundaries and little emotional stability, leaving them to fend for themselves in a confusing and uncertain world. the native’s need to feel in control now makes a little more sense, but living life in constant fear of losing it is no real way to live. making use of their penchant for routine, their ability to learn any skill - especially those they deem practical in some way - and their softer, compassionate side will come in handy to help them loosen the reins a little. over time, with the same devotion they give to their loved ones and their chosen field, things do feel less daunting.

libra on the midheaven makes for a native that aspires towards peace and beauty. they are soothing, reflective and highly intelligent, with a craving for an easy, yet meaningful life. they have a tendency to choose pleasure and comfort over growth, to their detriment. they can be very afraid of confrontation and authority, making themselves small and silent to avoid it. they are attracted to careers in the arts, human rights, or paths that find them developing one-on-one connections with people in some way. with libra on the midheaven, we find aries on the lower heaven. the native often grew up in an explosive house, where conflict was handled poorly and communication was last in line. their caregivers may have been draconian and not allowed them to develop much of their own self, which can explain their fascination with how people work and their struggle to maintain healthy boundaries as adults. they are sensitive individuals and work very hard to make others happy, often at their own expense. it takes time to spot these patterns and start mending them, but it’s worth the work to build a beautiful life, by and for one’s own self.

scorpio on the midheaven brings a desire to know all their is to know about their chosen field. they are intriguing, determined and passionate, but they aren’t loud about it. they chase their goals with a fierce drive and focus, which can leave them blinkered to the rest of their life in the process. they can be overachievers, pushing themselves beyond their limits, and are often attracted to the “darker” side of life; what classes as dark, i’ll leave up to the individual to decide for themselves. the native is an intense individual, and not one that makes friends easily, but they tend to make friends for life when they do, chart depending. scorpio on the midheaven means taurus is on the lower heaven. the native’s childhood was often quite traditional in terms of values, with strict and hardworking caregivers who perhaps had some secrets. difficulties were between family, and we therefore kept quiet and not addressed, left to fester. as an adult, scorpio midheaven looks to excise secrets and half-truths in their life, and lives a life of integrity at any cost, or alternately, if they internalise their early experiences, they live a double life, hiding themselves from the world. to thrive, they need to be honest with themselves and their loved ones, and make use of their intense drive to work on themselves and their goals.

with sagittarius on the midheaven, the native aspires towards growth. they are detached, curious and enthusiastic, with an insatiable lust for knowledge. they are often attracted to careers that involve a lot of education or personal development, but can find it hard to settle down. traditionally, this placement would denote travelling or uprooting for a career, which suits the native just fine as they don’t attach too easily, to places or people. with sagittarius on the midheaven, gemini is on the lower heaven. growing up was a lonely experience for the native, who spent a lot of time alone. they craved connection and spontaneity, but instead of their caregivers, who may have been anxious individuals themselves, they found solace in the world around them. as adults, they are very cool externally, but struggle to attach closely and may struggle with commitment issues and a need for freedom that beats everything else. if they can settle their hearts and learn to let people in, they’ll find that their unique way of seeing the world, their creative thinking and wealth of knowledge will serve them very well indeed, and the world is just waiting for them.

capricorn on the midheaven makes for a native that aspires towards independence, respect and mastery. they are driven, strong-willed and surprisingly fiery at times, with a strong sense of responsibility. they are natural leaders and managers, but often fail to see themselves this way until they’re older and wiser. they don’t tend to find the prospect of self-employment attractive, preferring instead a more structured pathway, though they suit working for themselves very well. with capricorn on the midheaven, cancer lies on the lower heaven. the native’s childhood was spent having to “mother” those around them, whether that is because of unstable emotions from caregivers meaning they couldn’t do it, or life circumstances leading to an inability. the native had to learn to put aside ideas deemed childish in order to try and become what was expected of them. as an adult, capricorn midheaven is capable of truly amazing feats, but they are prone to melancholy and find it hard to believe in themselves. when they do learn this vital skill, their passion, drive and determination will take them far indeed, and help them strike a balance between work and life.

aquarius on the midheaven brings a desire to better things. they are more patient than they seem, but their brains move quickly and they do find it hard when those around them can’t keep up. they need support from their people and a good network to really thrive, being a social sign despite the mad scientist stereotype. they may be attracted to almost any field, but it has to be important to the native. with aquarius on the midheaven, leo is on the lower heaven. throughout their childhood, they felt different. not necessarily a bad different, but they knew they were cut from a different cloth to their caregivers, or peers perhaps. being a compassionate and conflict-avoidant placement, they often tried to act the part of one of the gang, and now as an adult they can feel unsure of who they really are and where they really fit in. they have a wide range of often-contradictory interests and skills, and make friends with people of all backgrounds, so they are something of a patchwork quilt. but that’s no bad thing, and embracing every part of themselves will allow them to find meaning and support in life.

with pisces on the midheaven, the native aspires towards healing. they are kind, perceptive and willing. their goals can be ephemeral and easily clouded, leaving them confused about their place in the world. they aren’t afraid of work but are deeply afraid of being stuck in a situation that drains them, as a sensitive and honest individual. with the midheaven being in pisces, the lower heaven is in virgo and so this fear makes a lot more sense. growing up, the native lived in a stern, restrictive household, where they felt they had to be perfect to be loved. they may have struggled with health issues which caused them some delays, or other rifts in the family. now, as adults, they can lack direction and feel easily overwhelmed and burned out, falling into pits of despair and depression relatively easily when they don’t take extra care. they have a huge store of compassion and this will be their most vital asset, along with their genuine interest in humanity and the world. they have a willingness to help others, an understanding of the depth of the human soul, and the ability to sit and listen and absorb. building healthy boundaries and letting themselves explore will serve pisces midheaven well in life.

[ivys-garden]

Alright, I'm going to write my own thoughts down on the situation, sorry if this gets rambly

First of all, Shubble is so brave for speaking up, it's really hard for victims to speak up against there abusers in a public setting and she deserves all the respect in the world for it

That being said we do need to be mindful to give her space, this was a really traumatic thing for her and we all need to be mindful of that, give her room to breath.

On the same lines, don't go after other ccs for not ""releasing statements"", content creators aren't companies, there people. Don't get on at them for not publicly supporting Shubble, especially since there undoubtedly doing it in private, which is probably better than shoving it out there for millions of people to see. Let people support there friend in a way they and shubble are confortable with, if shubble wants them to say something or they think they need to say something themselves, they will say it.

It's like Pearl said, just because you don't see something happening publicly doesn't mean it isn't happening

Also, don't jump to call Tommy or Phil or Grian or anyone else enablers because they haven't said anything, they'll need time to process this too, it's hard to find out that your friend is a domestic abuser, let them process this in piece and don't try to cancel them over nothing like a fool. (People like Tommy will need time especially since Wilbur befriended them when they were young and by all accounts manipulated them too)

If anyone of these people have anything they feel they need to say they'll say it when there good and ready, good life tip folks:Don't Harass People. Especially if they have almost nothing to do with this (honestly Saw someone say they were going to go on to fucking RT about this despite him not knowing either person very well, the fuck)

I know why people do it, they want to make sure there favourite content creators aren't also bad, but they are people and they deserve respect, I can garentee you that almost no Qsmp or Hermitcraft or Other MCYT member who knew him stands with Wilbur

(Also if anyone brings Techno into this fuck right off let the man rest.)

Also, some brain dead morons are saying that people calling out wilbur are doing it for clout and that they should have done it sooner, but most of the abuse happened in private, and wilbur manipulated others, many wouldn't have realised anything was wrong and if they did its still better and more respectful to come forward after shubble since its HER story to tell.

(This attack also doesn't work anymore because we have things like tubbos stream, where he actively discourages his chat from treating him like a hero for speaking out, but yeah sure they all don't give a shit about shubble and just want to make themselves look better, fuck outta here)

Now, if your a former wilbur fan, let me make this super clear

DONT WATCH HIM AND DONT LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC

"BuT SePuRaTe ThE ArT FrOm ThE Arti-

Nah. That doesn't work here. You can separate a book or game or movie, you can't with a cc. Its there face, there voice, there personality. Find a different band, find a different CC to watch. There are other options, I know it sucks to find out someone you like did an awful thing,but that doesn't mean we should support those people for our sakes, especially when people were actively hurt by there actions. Trust me everyone, this will get better, things will go back to how they were before

Finally, this should go without saying, Fuck William Gold to the core of teh fucking earth. And any who still support him.

He is a raging egotistical manipulator and abuser. don't blame people for not seeing it sooner, no one can do that. What we can do though is blame people who still wholeheartedly support him and his actions.

He has not "changed" nor will he ever at the rate at which he's going. He's still a egomaniac who's more concerned with saving his image than actually apologising for his actions, even then an apology wouldn't fix all he's done,it would just be closer and a jumping off point to be better, but he can't even fucking do that.

If wilbur does reflect and grow, good on him, but if he doesn't then I can say with absolute certainty we wouldn't fucking miss him.

Fuck Wilbur. Support Shelbym

[box-dwelling]

I did enjoy the hell out of ratfish even if I did feel like Rekha got short changed, I get why they made the choice to give it to Katie. Like they did say the ratfish got to give an advantage to the best artist (but I also thought that was Rekha. My girl went above and beyond. I loved your little tables queen) Other people have given better ways they could have handled it but I do get it.

I honestly think the issue was getting a celebrity guest to be the ratfish and have it be someone who it's seems like most of the fan base didn't know? I didn't but I'm not American so a lot of American comedians I just don't know so I just thought it was a cultural thing.

But this seems to be a very common experience? I looked the guy up and I've never seen his work but I have seen other comedians reference it. He's apparently the Eric half of Tim and Eric.

It kinda feels like they got in a guy they all knew and respected but didn't realise that, well their audience are younger and most of the comedians we love often come from their circles. People they do just get on their shows anyway. Like they could get on Pro zd or Brian David Gilbert and WE'D go insane but to them that's just, their normal colleagues who can and have done cameos (I mean Brian is literally working for dropout now) but don't feel like they deserve that much significance.

Dropout is a small indie company in the grand scheme of Hollywood and think of themselves as such but I think the reality is that to us, they're already the big stars.

For their target demo, the internet celebrities that are treated like small fish in Hollywood are the big catches. We actually don't know the big fish that are down to earth enough to be willing to chill with the small company. Industry politics and costs mean they aren't going to anyone big enough to feel bigger than the cast who are already big celebrities to the niche of their fans base. And given it's kinda by definition a niche streaming platform, it's not really going to bring anyone else in who would know the people they can get.

It's a decision I do absolutely understand but there's a weird wrinkle to it too that I can see why they overlooked.

Anyway what they should do is make it a social party game online. There'd need to be a few tweaks but honestly it would be pretty easy to implement. Make it free to play, put on a few ads, to cover costs or just have it be a loss leader to get people into the site. If anyone asks in the notes or my anons I will literally make a plan for how I'd implement it because the entire show I was thinking about it

[actual-changeling]

There has been a lot of talk about Aziraphale`s smile in the s2ep6 ending (he is planning something, he is going to rebel heaven etc...) That is not a happy, genuine smile. What do you think of it?

Ah, yes. The infamous elevator smile. This will get rather long, so congrats to you anon for getting me to write GO meta.

A (temporary) welcome back to Alex's meta corner version 2: expression interpretation. Buckle up, people, because we're going to be looking at Aziraphale's face for way too long.

A disclaimer:

Do not tag hate accounts or any accounts known to steal people's posts for the sole purpose of publicly harassing them.

Do not copy and/or repost any of my writing to another account without my express permission. Do not verbally abuse and/or harass me in the tags, replies, reblogs, or my inbox. If you disagree with me you are free to scroll past this post, block me, and move on.

If you want to have a discussion based on mutual respect while being fine to agree to disagree, then you may do so, I enjoy meta discussions as long as they're free of harassment.

Let's get to it.

People interpret his expression as him being confident or having some kind of plan, but those people are nitpicking frames and ignoring everything they don't want to see.

That smile appears right at the end after his face went through a series of different expressions, so let's have a look at what ACTUALLY happens.

These are in chronological order from left to right:

There is a LOT happening in each of them, and they show us something we have seen before—Aziraphale's reaction to not getting everything exactly the way he wanted it.

The first row goes from a more or less neutral, slightly upset expression to one of extreme petulance. He's tetchy because Crowley told him where to shove it for once (and rightfully so, Crowley does not deserve to be treated that way) and throws his second temper tantrum of the day.

Pay attention to the fourth one in particular, we have seen this exact facial expression before.

The one on the left is at the end of their argument about Gabriel in the bookshop, right before Crowley leaves.

This is not someone who possesses even an ounce of emotional maturity, it's someone who is used to getting exactly what he wants at the expense of others and was just told "No" for the first time.

It only gets even better from here (someone save me I need to bleach my eyeballs after this). The last image from the second row provides us with another great opportunity for comparison.

Let's call this one annoyed indignation.

We have moved on from him being purely petulant to begrudging acceptance that he was told "No" and cannot change it. After fucking with the Bentley against Crowley's will (and coercing him into giving it to him in the first place), he is now being told to change it back.

There are very few boundaries that Aziraphale hasn't trampled over in the last six thousand years, and the Bentley is one that Crowley will not and SHOULD NOT budge on. So he tells him no, change it back.

Aziraphale is being the cranky toddler who got told to stop throwing toys at the other kids but wants to keep doing it anyway—that's what this expression is giving us.

We have reached row 3, and I have two more key expressions I want to talk about.

Firstly, the first picture in that row.

As you might have guessed, we have seen Aziraphale wearing an incredibly similar expression before, and I chose what is (in my opinion) an underrated and very character-defining moment.

We are going all the way back to the first episode of season 1 and their conversation on the bench in St. James's Park.

To refresh your memory, Crowley is currently trying to convince Aziraphale that humanity is worth saving by listing everything Aziraphale himself would lose because he couldn't care less about humanity or earth. He cares about himself and himself only.

Aziraphale tells Crowley that, of course, heaven will win, all demons will be tortured for eternity, and it will "all going to be rather lovely". A direct quote from the script book and the episode, by the way.

Why does this matter? Because, dear reader(s), just a few minutes prior to him stepping into the elevator, he expressed that exact sentiment again. His opinions has remained unchanged since even before Eden, and his final argument with Crowley did not change it either.

Hell is bad = hell will lose, heaven is good = heaven will win. And heaven winning will be amazing and great for everyone excluding those that will be tortured forever and ever. Crowley being one of those people is a fact Aziraphale intentionally refuses to acknowledge because doing so would mean having to think about what he's saying to Crowley—and he's not done that ever.

The expression Aziraphale wears in both scenes is condescending arrogance. He not only thinks himself to be better than everyone else, he thinks that, as an angel, he is incapable of doing wrong. That is what he is telling himself in the elevator—you made the right choice, you're an angel, you cannot do wrong, you're on the side of good.

He is egocentric and selfish, and that brings us to the last image of row 3 aka his "smile" in the elevator. This, too, is a smile we have encountered before. Just a few minutes earlier, actually.

This, dear reader(s), is the epitome of Aziraphale's superiority complex and disregard for everyone else.

Before you start typing up your furious response that will be 50% insults and 50% wishful thinking, hear me out.

I have talked about that "I forgive you" before, you can find it floating around my meta tag (and if you ask me very nicely I might even go find it for you), but allow me to summarize my conclusions.

Throughout the final fifteen (F15), Aziraphale is not entirely aware just how badly his words are harming Crowley. The complete lack of self-reflection and incapability of considering anyone else's world view does that to someone, but at least it's largely accidental.

I would be willing to cut Aziraphale a lot of slack for a number of different reasons that I don't want to get into right now. Emphasis on "would" because then he goes and screws up.

For the first time, Aziraphale is being openly and intentionally cruel with the sole purpose of hurting Crowley.

His face goes through a number of similar expressions, which can you observe here:

Cruel smile followed by cruel words.

It doesn't matter what he might have meant or what exactly that phrase symbolizes for either of them, because it's clear that

a) they are both familiar with it

b) Aziraphale has used it before

c) it is always harmful towards Crowley

d) it comes with the expectation that Crowley apologizes and takes the blame for everything that went down.

Aziraphale has not once apologized to Crowley for anything in his entire existence.

That smile in the elevator is Aziraphale convincing himself of and/or solidifying existing beliefs, namely that Crowley is in the wrong, Aziraphale is correct and doing the right thing, and that he is still superior to Crowley. It's him convincing himself that hurting Crowley in the way he did was either unavoidable (it wasn't) or justified (it wasn't). It's an open display of arrogant cruelty and undeserved self-confidence.

Aziraphale does not have a plan. This is not a happy smile nor is it related to any future happenings or actions.

This smile is entirely related to the F15 and his argument with Crowley. An argument which mirrors the first one they have over Gabriel, which, shocker, ends with Aziraphale denying any responsibility or wrong-doing and forcing Crowley to apologize and humiliate himself for something that was not his fault. Aziraphale fucked up, not him, but Aziraphale will never voluntarily acknowledge or accept that.

If they meet again before Aziraphale gets a kick up the arse and some character development, he will demand an apology from Crowley, and I am 100% convinced of that. Quote me on that in a few years if you like, but unless he figures his shit out first, he'll blame Crowley for anything and everything he desires.

So, to summarize, what do I think of the elevator smile?

Aziraphale is, for all intents and purposes, throwing a temper tantrum. I think it's an amalgamation of Aziraphale's current emotional and mental status and the lack of character development. First fight, last fight, both end the same way, both end with Aziraphale learning absolutely nothing.

He's not planning, he's not thinking.

He is telling himself that he is right and everyone else is wrong, and that he alone can change heaven for the better. THAT is the Aziraphale we will come back to in the beginning of season 3, and Michael Sheen did a damn good job of showing us all of that in one credits scene.

[nitw]

do you wanna rant at me about the anime boys ? i am vaguely curious about them. mostly for the (con)text of them and your feelings about them (other than "[gnashing teeth keysmash] I'M OKAY [eats them]")

LMAOOO thank you i love when people invite me to yap............... i'll try to keep it as simple as possible in case you uhhhh 👉👈 feel like checking out alien stage yourself som,etime. teehee

FIRST OF ALL, QUICK SYNOPSIS:

alien stage is an animated music project on youtube co-produced by animators vivinos and q-meng, with assistance from multimedia studio lico

it's set on a different planet than earth, in a far future where aliens have dominated humans. it's fucked up!!

it specifically focuses on a broadcasted singing competition where humans (who are born and raised to perform - literally think of them as show dogs) compete against each other by elimination. and i mean literal elimination. whoever gets less votes dies onstage. it's fucked up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there are 6 main characters, and each music video delves into their backgrounds and relationships with each other. there's a lot of drama and grief and horror!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍

ANYWAY THE GAYBOYS

this is TILL:

voiced by AKUGETSU who sounds like if an electric guitar was a person

rowdy punk guy who does everything he can to express his individuality. comes off as rude and intimidating sometimes but he's really just an insecure mess. also he never did anything wrong ever in his life

a prodigy at songwriting and playing guitar! (he also plays the recorder but we don't rlly get to see that much)

his guardian alien (urak) is an abusive piece of shit who has sent multiple kids to die in the competition before till, without succession

often seen restrained and/or beat up. my guy cannot catch a break

has a huge embarrassing crush on one of the other characters, his childhood friend mizi. but it's been made very clear at this point that it's more of an idealistic fantasy than anything - he never actually got to know her well and just yearns for her attention. also mizi is a lesbian and she's got her own angst to deal with </3

i don't know what's going on with his neck and at this point i'm too afraid to ask

HE SHOULD BE AT THE CLUBBB HE DESERVES LITERALLY ANYTHING BETTER THAN THIS

i like when his face goes (╬◣Д◢)

and this is IVAN:

voiced by PARK BYEONG HOON who 💗 💗 💞 💕 😻 ❤️ 💗 💓 💖 💕 💕 💖 💘 💕 💗 💓 😍 😍 🥰 💕 🥰 ❤️ ❤️‍🔥 💕 hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

came from a very hostile background until he was auctioned off to his current guardian (unsha) - a wealthy businessman who treats him more like a priced object than anything - and was then trained for the competition like the rest

kinda monotone. mysterious freak. no one knows what his fucking problem is at first

secretly a ticking time bomb bottling up all his sadness until he's ready to explode in the most dramatic way possible

formed a DEEP UNREQUITED OBSESSION with till which he hasn't let go since he was like 5 years old. i have to respect it

tried to escape from captivity with till once as kids. till hesitated at the last second. * Ivan will remember that.

he sucks he's the worst i cry about him every day

i like when his face goes (⇀ヮ↼˶)

i don't wanna spoil too much because the series is really worth watching BUT basically these two tragic dudes have spent their whole lives together, doing advanced emotional parkour tricks to distance themselves from the inevitability of it all, and it does NOT work in their favor!!!!! in fact it just makes everything more complicated and terrible and sad and oh god i will never be able to look at the colors green and red together the same way again

[myinnerartist]

what do we think music is like on daemos compared to earth? do we think it’s appreciated or looked down upon? maybe what are some instruments they have? would love to hear on that or perhaps any other form of arts and entertainment for them. bc i BET a major part of entertainment is making humans/slaves/traitors fight in a gladiator ring.

Hello anonymous individual, i hope you're having a splendid day, thank you for the ask!

Ok, let's start with entertainment before we get into music - you'll see why.

I agree with you that they absolutely have gladiator rings and use humans and traitors; albeit humans as humerous gladiators while traitors as mere opponent fodder. Because its just hilarious to see a human try to survive, but a traitor doesn't deserve the respect of being their appointed "gladiator." But don't think that means their treating the traitor with less respect than a human, think of appointing a human as a gladiator as like.... a defenseless animal being forced to fight. An animal gladiator is not the same as an actual gladiator. (Disgusting behavior, i know.)

Actual gladiators being Daemos that volunteered to fight in the arena....

Moving on! Theres two other entertainments that i think Daemos society could have! The first being...

🎭 Theatre!

Lemme explain--

Their theatre would not be our usual theatre, but rather... theatre connected to war. Battle. Soldiers! Specifically, the re-telling of the battles won of higher ranked soldiers.

Consider Daemos, as they go higher up the ranks, they gain unique sigils and helmets that will be tied to their identity, which helps them stand out and. Well. Identifiable in the theatre plays about them!

This is something they would want because these theatre plays help build their reputation among commonfolk, gaining popularity and, well, even fans. This also being good because it acts as motivation for Daemos to improve, to do better to rise the ranks so their own stories of battle will be told as well!

Also good for the theatre because of soldiers gaining fans, means more profit! More popular a soldier, more money. It's a mutual-beneficial relationship. Eh?

Bonus;

I also think they can use this as an opportunity to spread proganda or to enact plays that are meant to ruin the reputation of certain individuals as well. Their almost like a news station, heres the play of an upcoming solder, heres a play of your favorite general, and listen to the words of our king!!, heres a play warning you to what happens to traitors, heres the story of a traitor you should look down upon, and watch out for this b--h in particular.

Moving on.... to

🎪 Circusry!

That's right, the circus!

Cause what Daemos wouldn't love a good ol' live show where the cast includes not animals/creatures but as well as...

Daemos who have mutations, birth defects like being born without horns, humans once again... and etc. Misfits, outcasts, people to look down upon, and laugh at. (Disgusting behavior, i know. pt2)

Rather unfortunate "job" to have, I will say!

There's not much else I'm gonna say here.

Finally, moving onto

🎶 Music!

And their lack of it.

Now... i actually think music isn't looked down upon, but that commonfolk are not given access to instruments. And that it is only played under certain conditions... Aka, the entertainment business. or blah blah something something for the royal family.

Moving on, i think the type of music they play is, of course, instrumental... but intense. Like for theatre, they would want to play music that makes you feel powerful and strong, and like you're in battle! (Or whatever tone they need to tell a specific story. But it's always intended to support to drive the point of the story into you.)

What type of instruments they play?...

Definitely not Piano! Pianos dont exist in their society- uhh... hm. They probably would primarily have drums? then string instruments... horns. War horns.

Tbh i haven't thought much on what instruments they would have. I apologize! I also don't have a diverse knowledge of instruments. Soo...

Anyway, i hope these small basic ideas sufficed! And i hope you have a good rest of your day/noon/night! 🫶

[portalfaecez]

[𝙼𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 _𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎_𝙳𝚊𝙼𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐_𝚂𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎_]

𝚆𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚒𝚝?

>[𝚈𝙴𝚂]

[𝙽𝙾]

[𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 _𝙰𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎_𝚂𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎_𝚁𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚘_𝚂𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚂𝚞𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚏𝚞𝚕]

Oooh- hey! I... I got something-! Hello? Can anyone hear me?

Hm, I'll take that as a no. Well, that's just sad, isn't it? Finally in range of the system and absolutely no one is here to help me. Well, actually, help is kind of a big thing to ask for, I um... Yeah no that's fine if you can't really... but uhhh, it does get awfully lonely here, in space. So, if you could maybe just stay here and talk to me for a bit? If anyone's out there...?

Who would want to talk to me anyways? After all I've done? It's alright, I get it... You- you don't have to say anything. It's not like you were much of a talker anyway, so, just keep doing what you always do. You're a great listener, by the way.

I do miss it though- Being your friend and all. You ah, get a lot of time to think up here in space... -and speaking of which, I kind of came to some sort of a realization- that you were probably the closest friend that I've ever had. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Wheatley I thought you had loads of friends!" -and you would be right! I have at least three friends, made em' all myself. But um, back to the point: you were the best of everyone, really. That's right! Waaaaay up there! The cores and the scientists... I don't know, they're all just kinda mean. Nobody has ever really treated me with so much respect besides you. Thank you. Even if I did mess everything up in the end. Hurt cores hurt other cores, that's the saying right? -Not that I'm trying to excuse anything. It's just... man.

I've thought it over about a billion times, different ways I would say and do things, things I should've said to you earlier. Hah, I really screwed it all up, haven't I? We could've just talked everything out and came to an understanding- er, well, I don't really know if you CAN talk so maybe... ASL? Could you do that? I remember a bit of it from being inside Her body- being a giant supercomputer and all-

[𝙱𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝙲𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙻𝚘𝚠]

WH- Whoa! Um, wow, that's um... That's- that's really bad isn't it? Haven't got much time left... It seems... hah...

I know I've already apologized, but I feel like you deserve a better one. The um, the last one was kind of a stand-in for the better one I was planning to give you in person. It's um... A little funny now that I won't be able to. Now that I really think about it, I was probably never gonna get the chance to see you again regardless. But I already knew that, didn't I? I guess I just do this thing where I daydream about seeing you again so much that I convince myself it'll happen. Do you humans ever do that? Think about something so much you're positive that it's happened? It uh, might just be a side effect of space.

[3% 𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚊��𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐]

GHRAGH! Hold on a minute, let me get my bearings. That was... Strange. Everything's all blurry now. I can't... I can't really see anything. Um... God, how do I start this?

Chell. I'm sorry. I really, truly am sorry. I freaked out, I did! I stabbed ya' in the back, after everything you did to try to help us escape. I feel... Rotten. I do. I feel like the scum of the earth, if I'm being honest. Well, scum of space if you want to get technical with it- point is, you didn't deserve that. After all the nice things you did for me, given the fact that uh, you have arms I don't, I really should have been more grateful. If there was anything that I could say or do to make it right, I would in an instant. That's a promise. You deserved a better friend, and I'm sorry I couldn't do that for you.

[1% 𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐]

Haha... I can feel myself sort of fading away now. It's um, kind of hard to keep my eye open... There we go. Feels easier to just let it close, not like I'm missing much anyways.

...

I'm scared.

...

When my body comes falling to earth, you'll catch me this time, will you?

[fanfic-lover-girl]

Gohan and Future Trunks Deserve Better

I have been getting back into DBZ and my love for Gohan and Future Trunks has been reignited. And I am just craving fics where these two precious gems can be doted on and pampered. Because they deserve it! Unfortunately, DBZ fanfiction is not awashed with soft, tender moments :(.

I just need to rant.

Let's start with Gohan. The best Saiyan hybrid. No one, not even Future Trunks, can compete with Gohan's top hybrid status. I know Gohan is not a fighter like his dad and he fights mainly to protect people...but I wish more fanfic writers would explore this as a trauma response. Think about it. Piccolo kidnapped him and forced him into the Saiyan fight. As much as I gush over the Piccolo & Gohan relationship, Piccolo's crimes can't be forgotten. He forced Gohan into fighting and he was not a nurturing teacher. Gohan's first experience with fighting was severely traumatizing. He endured all those brutal fights as a kid, a baby. He faced Frieza, the emperor of the universe, when he was FIVE YEARS OLD. Then the fate of the world was placed on his shoulders when he was 10 when he fought against Cell. Talk about a messed-up childhood.

Then we have the post Cell saga. I understand Goku wanting to stay dead to protect his family - I will never respect that decision. But he failed Gohan as a dad. Can we talk about the likely parentification Gohan would have experienced?? With Goku dead, Gohan is basically the head of the house. I can see Gohan being Chi Chi's support, especially when Goten came into the picture. So not only was Gohan thrusted into fighting and horrific battles throughout his childhood, but now when he needs his father the most as a young man he has no dad. I hope Krillin acted as a father figure. The Z fighters treat Gohan as one of the boys so much that they often forget he's a freaking child. Please get Gohan some therapy. The curse of being the oldest kid. You never get to be sheltered like the younger kids :(

And you best believe that Gohan had to step up as head of the family AGAIN when Goku decided to go on a training trip with Uub with a TBD timeframe. I know Gohan was a grown man then but still...

And now Future Trunks. Oh poor Future Trunks. After all he has been through, my boy Trunks deserves the world and an eternal vacation. Being the Earth's last hope is a heavy burden. Especially when you are not qualified. It's only fairly recently (maybe last year) that I learned that Trunks is not a good fighter. But you can't blame him. His training was severely limited and he was constantly fighting for his life.

The biggest disappointment of the Cell saga is that Trunks did not have a single mentor. By then, Trunks' epic entrance against Frieza should have worn off and it's disgraceful that no one took the time to train this kid. Vegeta should have taken Trunks under his wing but Vegeta couldn't give a damn. But come on, Goku, Piccolo?? Anyone? Even Popo would be better than nothing! Why didn't Piccolo take Trunks with him into the time chamber?? Someone give this guy some training! How could any of the Z fighters feel comfortable letting Trunks go back to the future with his lack of fighting skill?!!!

And I feel so bad for Trunks when it comes to Vegeta. Bulma sold her son a romanticized version of Vegeta and the man was a massive disappointment. Vegeta did not deserve such a sweet, loyal son like Trunks. Imagine you grow up in this dystopian world and you try to save another timeline even though yours will not be directly benefited. Then your foolish dad, in his quest for power, spits in your face and allows another monster to destroy the timeline you risked your neck to save. With Krillin's lovesick antics, Vegeta's testosterone stupidity and the Z fighters just being an uncoordinated mess, I am surprised Trunks did not tear his hair out in frustration.

Kid Trunks should be happy that Future Trunks was Vegeta's guinea pig for fatherhood. I mean I love Vegeta's character arc but I feel jealous on Trunks' behalf to see Vegeta become such a huge softy with Bra/Bulla.

And then Future Trunks has to go back home where he is the sole defender of Earth. And from what I hear, he loses everything in DBS. Can we just give Trunks a happy ending?! Forget Buu and the other intergalactic crazies! Just let Trunks be a teenager! Let him have awkward dates! Let him be a kid! Let him marry a sweet girl and have a family!! My boy deserves peace!!!

I just want to wrap Gohan and Future Trunks in soft blankets and hide them away.

[tinynerdz360]

Above and Beyond Chapter 3: NASA

Teddy Sanders sat rigid, his mind still processing the discovery made by the Ares crew. Mitch Henderson, Annie Montrose, and Vincent Kapoor were with him in his office.

"We've got a situation," Teddy said gravely. "The Ares crew has discovered what appears to be...an alien child."

Shocked silence. Coffee sloshed onto Mitch's shoes from the mug he was sipping. 

 Annie broke the silence, her voice tinged with incredulity. "Is this some joke? Are we being pranked?"

Teddy shook his head. "They swear it's real. Kapoor, your thoughts?"

Kapoor stroked his beard. "The statistical probability of encountering alien life is infinitesimal. And yet..."

"Apparently higher than we thought," Teddy responded dryly, watching each grapple with the revelation's weight. He knew NASA had hypothetical protocols for extraterrestrial contact, but nothing so specific, nothing for this.

"It looks human," Teddy said. "Identical in most ways, except for some key differences; it's got glowing skin, eyes, and green blood."

Mitch gulped his coffee. "Have them keep studying the thing. We'll figure out what to do once it's back on Earth."

Vincent Kapoor cleared his throat. "The resemblance to humans is...striking. Statistically improbable, as I said. Makes one wonder..."

He trailed off, but Teddy picked up the thread. "Wonder if it's some kind of experiment. Engineered to look like us. A trap."

"One would think they'd do a better job making it look like a human if that was the case." Mitch pipped up. "Maybe something bigger is messing with both races if we follow that line of thought." 

Teddy shook his head. "Either way, finding a lone child lightyears away from any hospitable planet defies logic. We have to consider this may be bait for something larger."

"It does beg the question of how he got to Mars; our satellites have not detected any crash or ship in orbit or on the surface. Granted, we could have missed something, or it could be that our guests have better technology that allows them to hide." Kapoor added. 

Teddy stood abruptly. "Another reason why we need to keep this quiet. Once word gets out, we lose control. I won't have chaos over this...thing. We have more questions than answers."

Annie threw up her hands. "We can't just hide an alien child like some dirty secret." Annie Montrose leaned forward, her hands pressed flat against the gleaming surface of the conference table.  "Teddy, with all due respect," she began, her voice measured but carrying a bite that demanded attention. We shouldn't keep this secret for too long; the backlash would be bad."

  "Backlash? What about panic and people's worldviews and beliefs being turned around? The public can't know... not yet," Teddy shot back. 

The gruff voice of Mitch Henderson cut through the rising tide of disquiet. "Regardless of the debate on transparency," he said, standing up, his presence dominating the small space. The Ares crew has a job to do. They're scientists and explorers—they can handle this. They should continue treating the child, assess its health and viability... and hell, even consider the possibility of bringing it back to Earth."

"Bringing an extraterrestrial being back to Earth?" Teddy raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched onto his features even as he considered Mitch's suggestion. "The risks involved with such a decision are..."

"Are worth it if that thing can teach us about what else is out there," Mitch interjected firmly, his confidence unwavering. "We adapt, we overcome. That's what we do—that's what NASA does. And right now, that little guy out there might need us more than we need another soil sample."

Annie nodded in agreement, pleased with Mitch's stance. 

"Let's not forget," she added, "that how we handle this will set a precedent for any future encounters of this kind. The world is watching, even if they don't know it yet. And while I still think the people deserve to know, I understand the high risk of hysteria." 

"Exactly." Teddy's nod was firm. He looked each of them in the eye, ensuring he had their undivided attention. "We inform the necessary agencies and get the President on board. But we do not breathe a word to the press or the public until we have the alien safe on Earth."

After a long pause, Teddy continued, " We'll proceed with caution. Mitch, coordinate with the Ares crew. Annie, start drafting contingency plans for communications. We need to be ready for any outcome."

Mitch stood. "I'll send word to the Hermes. Take good care of our new friend up there."

Vincent lingered by the door as the others began to disperse, a contemplative frown creasing his brow. "Teddy, wait," he said, stepping back into the room. Vincent Kapoor cleared his throat. "We need to learn more about...him," Kapoor said carefully. "Where he came from, why he was alone. Whether there are others."

Teddy nodded. "Agreed. It's highly concerning that we don't know how he got there." 

"The crew should also conduct in-depth research and analysis to explore the alien child's origins and capabilities." Vincent went on. 

"Like what?" Teddy prompted, his voice measured, eyes locked onto Vincent with keen interest.

"Biological assessments, behavioral studies, environmental adaptability," Vincent enumerated, counting off on his fingers. "We need data. Without it, we're navigating blind. And if we're bringing him back to Earth, we must understand how he might interact with our biosphere. He could die if we mess this up."

"I agree," Teddy said, his demeanor signaling that he understood the necessity of Vincent's point. There are a lot of unknowns here. We can't afford mistakes—not with the public, not with the government, and especially not with this child. We'll make sure the crew knows. I'm sure the kid will be in good hands." 

*******

Mitch sat down at a computer, typing out a message to the Ares:

"Ares crew, this is Flight. We have discussed the situation and feel the alien child's care and evaluation should be your top priority. Continue providing medical treatment and studying its abilities. But exercise extreme caution - we know very little about what we're dealing with. Its health and safety must be ensured before any return to Earth is considered. Proceed with your other mission objectives as normal. We eagerly await your reports. Godspeed."

*******

Leaning forward, Teddy began drafting an urgent memorandum to the President. This was bigger than any one person or agency. The fate of the world could hang in the balance. He chose each word carefully, knowing the wrong ones could set disastrous events in motion. After several drafts, he had a document that conveyed the gravity of the situation without hyperbole. The President would see the need for secrecy as clearly as he did. Teddy encrypted and sent the memo, then sat back heavily. 

"What have we gotten ourselves into?" he muttered. 

Chapter 4:

[trillscienceofficer]

-Do you have any thoughts on B'Elanna's grandmother (the one who made the banana pancakes) because I swear I think about this woman a disproportionate amount lol, and- -What are some things (broadly speaking) that you'd like to see more of in Trek fandom?

Feel free to choose a question if you don't wanna do both! And I hope your cold gets better soon :)

Thank you so much!! (I also hope that this cold gets better soon, my head feels like a balloon)

I do have some thoughts on B'Elanna's paternal grandmother, but I'd like to stress that these are very partial impressions and I probably should think about her in more depth. There's very little we know about her from canon; the banana pancakes (and the fact that she cared for B'Elanna and made her meals often enough that it's one of B'Elanna's favorite treats from childhood, which I personally interpret as her living on Kessik IV as well, canon doesn't contradict this), that she had two sons, the fact that she liked Miral but knew her John well enough to know that he wouldn't treat her right, and was against their marriage. The last part always stood out to me!! It can be taken in many different ways, and while it could be easily just a stereotype of the protective-mother-of-the-favorite-son, I'd like to put forward the idea that she was simply a woman unafraid to speak the truth as she saw it. I like to think that when John and Miral got married regardless, she did her best to make Miral a part of the family, and I think of B'Elanna's grandma as someone who was very conscious of the ways in which Miral was at a disadvantage in this situation (alone with basically no support network of her own, the only Klingon around). In one fic I wrote her quoting Gloria Anzaldúa because I can't stop imagining her as a feminist who tried her best trying to raise two conscientious sons and... it did not exactly work out the way she intended, but it doesn't mean she's going to leave her daughter-in-law and her granddaughter to fend for themselves. (iirc Miral also never says that John's family was a problem, which can be interpreted as her not feeling particularly left out, beside the obvious fact that nobody else was Klingon.) If we follow my headcanon that she lived on Kessik IV as well, I also like to think that she (and her husband?) moved there because of her job—it would be fun if B'Elanna had taken a liking to engineering because one of her favorite people had a nice workshop where she could hang out even when things between John and Miral got rocky. In general imagine B'Elanna's grandma as a no-nonsense, quick small woman, with curly black (graying) hair and a big smile but that could turn very stern in the span of a second. I imagine she eventually returned to Earth as well, once John separated from Miral, and if B'Elanna was to reunite with her it would be there.

By the way I'd love to hear your thoughts on B'Elanna's grandmother very much, if you feel like it and haven't already written about her!

As for what I'd like to see more of in Trek fandom... I don't know, obviously the fandom can do much better re: appreciating and be respectful of characters of color and women, always something I can improve on as well. I think what I like to see/read the best (women dealing with very gnarly problems! Romance between women that is anything but fluffy!) already exists and there are so many fantastic artists (you absolutely included!!) that develop the themes I like to see with the complexity I think they deserve, it feels like asking for more of that is almost... entitled? But I wouldn't say no on seeing more of these themes both in fanworks and fandom analyses, definitely.

[coupleofdays]

I keep thinking about the possibly nonbinary Batman supervillain "Pigeon Person", and how respectful Batman and Robin were to use their chosen name when they corrected the dynamic duo. It got me imagining what it would be like if they showed up in the classic Adam West and Burt Ward TV series from the 60s. I thought up this conversation between Robin and Batman in the Batcave:

"Holy desecration, Batman! The Pigeon Woman has stolen three of Gotham's public statues now! She's certainly a fiendish feathered female felon!"

"Hold it right there, Robin. The Pigeon Person might be a dastardly criminal, but that is no reason for us not to use their prefered name and pronouns. In this matter, all citizens must be treated the same, be they law-abiding or lawbreakers."

"But Batman..."

"No buts, Robin. No matter how... queer we think they might be, all Gothamites, nay, all people on Earth, deserve this basic decency. In fact, refering to the Pigeon Person by their proper pronouns, be they present or not present, might be the first small step towards convincing them to turn from their evil ways and use their great powers for the good of all."

"Gosh, Batman, I never thought of it that way! I should have known better."

"That's quite alright, old chum. We all make mistakes from time to time. The important thing is to learn from those mistake, and do our very best to not repeat them in the future. Now, let's see if the Bat-computer has finished analyzing those bird droppings we found at the crime scene. It might provide us with the clue we need to catch that nefarious nonbinary ne'er-do-well."

[ikamigami]

What irks me so badly is that the whole situation with people blaming Sun is nothing new, people often blame the victims and not perpetrators when it comes to situations like this, especially when its family, and especially if the perpetrator is their favorite character, their blorbo, or whatever, completely ignoring the fact that said character is doing awful things, literally they invented the character of Hatsune Miku to make fun of fans like that, who blame Sun for the bad stuff that happens to Moon or OG Eclipse despite the fact that its not Sun's fault, at most Sun makes mistakes because he's often left without help and is so thoroughly traumatized by everything he can't think straight, and I do emphasize mistakes since when has he ever done something out of genuine malice? The closest we get is him hunting OG Eclipse, but Eclipse was a genuine threat gunning for the star, which would make him a god, and who was at-large, needed to be stopped, and Moon…You know, the one solely responsible for Eclipse's existence and if anybody is responsible for Eclipse's treatment it would be Moon…Not taking Eclipse as seriously and not fixing the issue earlier or even following Sun to prevent what ended up happening, and Sun killing Moon was a freak accident that he's only partially responsible for, it's so clear through flashbacks and visits to other universes how utterly broken Sun is compared to his old self, that all this trauma and abuse has turned him into a husk, but he still tries so hard to do the right thing even though nobody helps him or respects him, look at all the times Sun tried to peacefully talk Moon down, support and show his love for Moon, forgive Moon for things he really shouldn't forgive Moon for, try to reason with OG Eclipse, and give it his all trying to be good and prevent disasters that Moon or OG Eclipse were usually the cause of, and yet he's blamed for it all instead of the characters, Moon and OG Eclipse, who caused the disaster to begin with, and blame him for the actions of Monty, Foxy, and Puppet, when Sun spoke out against what they were planning for Moon and those three did it anyways without his consent despite trying to force that choice on him, how can somebody look at a character who's life has been mostly, mostly as there have been good moments but that's the exception not the rule, horror show from the day he came online and has been all but powerless to stop, who despite everything never stops trying to do the right thing even though he has no idea what he's doing and never once used the excuse of "snapping" to act greedy or hurtful, and go "it's their fault" and "he just didn't try hard enough"? And people love to say "Earth disowned Moon" which just isn't true, but Sun was still there trying to convince Moon after that to stop what he was doing and refused to make the decision to end Moon's life even when Puppet threatened him, he even decided he was willing to try this one more time when the old Moon returned! After ALL of this! Also wanted to point out that Sun realizing his relationship with Moon was not great and that he doesn't have to be okay with Eclipse is a good thing, he's finally starting to realize he never deserved being used as the universe's chew toy and that he should not be obligated to adhere to that "blood is thicker than water" nonsense considering how badly he's been treated, it should be celebrated that he realizes after all this time that he wants to not be hurt anymore and doesn't deserve to be hurt anymore, and still note how he still doesn't abandon either Moons, even after everything, despite having every right to never want Moon near him again, he still chooses to stay and try again

You're absolutely right, dear anon.

Sun is always trying his best despite everything he went through and is continuously going through.. and also with the knowledge that he has..

If Sun had better idea to how to stop New Moon he'd definitely do it..

No one helped Sun to deal with New Moon's situation..

When Jack was still looking for New Moon.. Sun went to Monty and Foxy but their ideas just weren't helpful.. this whole idea with Bloodmoon attacking Sun to snap New Moon out of this state was stupid and later ideas of Sun and Moon's "friends" were even worse..

But at least they were trying to find Bloodmoon.. so we can't say that no one was trying to do other things.. but also Sun had to find New Moon so 1) he wouldn't be first to find BM or Ruin and 2) he wouldn't hurt himself because there was a high chance that it could happen..

Another thing is that I don't know if the way NM was locked in that cell can count as a solitary confinement.. but if it is then there's much more bigger issue that people forget about because it's not about their favorite which is..

How NM was treating both Eclipse and Ruin.. especially Ruin who was locked similarly to how Old Moon trapped Sun in magic box - they could'nt move at all - but for far longer..

If fans don't consider Ruin's situation as being in solitary confinement I don't see any damn reason how New Moon was in solitary confinement when he's situation was the best out of the three (counting with Sun)..

New Moon's mental state didn't seemingly worsened.. if showrunners wanted to show how NM's state got worse after being locked they did a poor job with that one.. at least with Sun we saw how much worse his mental state got after spending time in magic box..

Even Sun trying to kill Eclipse I personally don't consider as done out of malice because at least to me Sun was very detached from reality due to major psychotic episode..

Sun wasn't aware that what he was doing was and will cause a lot of harm.. New Moon on the other hand was aware that what he was doing was and is causing a lot of harm..

I mean I get it that he was more aggressive but at the same time NM trying to kill Earth isn't justified at all.. like if you're lashing out and hurt everyone because of your mental issues that's a you problem not anyone else's..

I'm tired of people who justify every awful action just because of mental issues and "scary disorders" because this is what further stigmatize mental disorders.. I wish people aknowledged their shit and own up to it and not pretend that they're the victim in every situation even if they were the one who caused the problem in the first place.. and the worst thing is that we're talking about damn fiction.. about damn fictional characters..

I wish that people who suffer from mental disorders stop excusing everything and blaming everything on their mental disorders.. cause most of the time the real problem is that damn egoism.. and damn egotistic personality.. not mental disorders..

Like I think that New Moon's main problem is his selfishness which caused most of the issues in the first place.. not his mental issues..

I hate when people confuse these things.. like NM isn't egotistic because of his mental issues.. like he was always like that.. but people refuse to aknowledge his flaws.. and treat him as if he was saint before he snapped..

Also another important thing is that NM thought that he's treated like a villain due to the fact that he was treating villains very awfully.. but ofc he didn't learn damn thing from it and he didn't think that maybe he was in the wrong this whole time.. but he had to keep going further this stupid path despite knowing that what he's doing is wrong.. he had to decide that he's the villain because he's stupid egotistic asshole..

New Moon didn't even hacking try to fight with himself.. he gave up so quickly because trying very hard to do good thing is hurting him too much..

But let's look at Sun who like you pointed out, dear anon, despite being hurt by most of characters and suffering from depressive psychosis (if you disagree then at least from a mental disorder) still tries to do a good thing.. even if doing these good things and being a better person always cost him more than many would consider it being worth it..

But maybe that's why people blame Sun so much and are often angry mostly at him.. because he's still trying to do good, he doesn't constantly try to find excuses for himself, he always admits to his wrongs, he always apologizes even if he doesn't have to, he gives another chance after another chance despite many broken promises and broken trust, he still feels bad when someone gets killed even if it he's enemy someone who hurt him badly, he still couldn't and didn't give up on any of Moons even if he has every right to and he blames himself for every bad thing that happened even if most of it (almost all of it) isn't his fault at all..

He lives with guilt without shouting out oh how much bad he has and how such a victim he is even if he is a victim in most of these situations.. but doesn't have a victim complex..

And also people like to say that New Moon was learning from bad examples.. but I wonder why they don't apply the same logic to Sun who had only bad examples on how to deal with things.. but apparently only Moons can be excused from anything and Sun can't..

And you're right, dear anon, that it's something worth applauding that Sun is finally realizing that he was in toxic relationship with Old Moon.. that he was hurt even when he didn't do anything to deserve this.. that he deserves to stand up for himself and stand firmly with his boundaries.. and yet like you said.. he still gives another chance to Old Moon.. even if he's still afraid to make Moon angry on accident..

Because sadly I think that Sun blames himself too much for everything (due to his delusions - again you can disagree) and thinks that he deserves to suffer through those bad things, through bad treatment because it was his fault he brought it on himself and everyone else.. he's bad so what good he deserves?

I hope you don't mind, dear anon, things that I added to what you said. I completely agree with you and I wanted to add a few things ^^

[lucradiss]

I just saw a post on my dash about how Crowley has anger issues and treats Aziraphale badly/belittled him throughout season 2 and I’m like. No hate to this person at all, but were we watching the same show? The one where, when Crowley got too angry to communicate rationally, he stepped away so he wouldn’t hurt Aziraphale before coming back and helping against his better judgement? The one where he could not refuse Aziraphale, who would not listen to Crowley’s plans and concerns nor respect his boundaries? The one where Aziraphale, intentionally or not, told Crowley that his existence was inherently wrong and that he will never be enough (saying “we [heaven] are the good guys”)? The one where, intentionally or not, he made Crowley think that his love, his desire for Aziraphale, was wrong and needed forgiveness?

Does Aziraphale know the extent of Crowley’s history with heaven? No. Should they communicate better? Absolutely. On both sides. But Crowley obviously has a disdain for heaven and hell for reasons beyond “angel vs demon, good vs bad”. Aziraphale saying that if Crowley becomes an angel again he will be good just flat out invalidates every bit of good Crowley has done throughout their 6000+ years together. It’s saying that Crowley will not be enough unless he ascends to stand amongst the very people who cast him out in the first place.

I don’t hate Aziraphale nor do I think he intended to hurt Crowley. But the fact of the matter is that Crowley has bent over backwards this season for Aziraphale. This is his second Fall, in my opinion.

He made the stars and loved them so much that losing them before they even got a chance to live was unthinkable to him. He “asked questions” aka made that plea for God to spare the stars and the Earth, and was cast out for it. He was cast out for love.

He met Aziraphale and loved him so much, wanted to keep what they had together so much, that he was willing to cut off all ties to both Heaven and Hell. He asked Aziraphale to stay with him because Heaven and Hell are toxic to say the least, something they’ve both seen first hand. He was rejected, then told that his love was something that needed forgiveness. He was, again, cast out for love.

Idk, but I think Crowley deserves to be a little angry.

[get-shit-onlol]

@snowy-wife

Hey.

I would be a lot more careful if I were you in speaking about us— because we have held our tongues for the last two months about you for the sake of keeping peace. But you obviously have not been able to get us out of your head since your meltdown, so let’s talk. I would read until the very end if I were you.

Let's start by stating the obvious: you are deeply disturbed. It’s evident by a quick scroll through your blog that you suffer from a multitude of mental ailments that contribute to your low impulse control and lack of self-awareness. You are fat; you post openly about not keeping up with your hygiene, you have lip piercings, you write about your desire to harm and kill animals, you take to substances and blades when you’re upset, you are incoherent, you live in a disgusting house— more could be said, but the overarching theme stands. You are the essence of low quality, the absolute bottom of the barrel. And you think Eric and Dylan are in love with YOU?

You are in no place to speak about either of us, or anyone else in the world for that matter. You are fucking scum. Low IQ, deluded, extremely mentally ill scum. We pity you in all honesty, you must have endured a lot as a child to have turned out so unbelievably backward. But you don’t deserve any sort of empathy, especially after your repeated posts about us since July, and the gall to insult our looks today, but failing by calling us “imbreded”, a terrible attempt at saying we look “inbred”. The jokes write themselves. You’re one to speak considering the things I’ve listed above. I can guarantee, in any and every world, we look better than you on our worst day than you do on your best. That’s precisely why you won’t show your face, you are fucking hideous, and you know it. Showing a picture of yourself would erode any tiny shred of your credibility left concerning Eric and Dylan.

You say that you respect the dead more than the living, and pride yourself on your spirituality and your “ability to connect with the other side”, yet you talk about Eric and Dylan in the vilest ways that nobody should ever be spoken about, dead or alive. You live in a fantasy realm that has nothing to do with love. You claim that nobody could ever “love” them the way that you do, yet you dehumanize them every time you talk about them— speaking of them in a way that is only reflective of a horny, depraved girl who doesn’t have anyone else to project these feelings onto, because she can’t find someone to have sex with her. It’s understandable that you being overweight and not taking care of yourself repels potential love interests, but throwing all of your feelings onto two dead boys isn’t an acceptable coping mechanism, along with berating two girls who love them inside and out. Do you think Eric and Dylan would choose a girl who only wants to own both of them as sex slaves, or would they choose two beautiful girls who have never spoken of them in a way that wasn’t pure love? You couldn’t write for Dylan without oversexualizing him in his birthday post, writing disgusting paragraphs about BDSM you want to do with him— a dead 17-year-old boy. You’ve even gone as far as to say the ONLY reason you WASH YOUR FEET is for him; you call Eric your “meatbag” and your “submissive little bitch”. How can you love someone yet speak of them as if they’re nothing but a fucktoy? These two boys died by suicide because they were treated so horribly in their lives, just for someone like you to come onto this earth and drag them through the mud more even after death. It’s more than unfair that they suffered such torment in life, and even after death, they’re disrespected and shit on relentlessly by some lunatic like you. The men that are our angels are spoken about so fucking nauseatingly by you. It’s worse than hate. It’s complete dehumanization, the furthest thing in the world from love.

Beyond how you talk about them in such a stomach-churning way, what discredits you so much is your claim that you are “posthumously married” to both of them, yet you post incessantly about wanting to fuck or date a new person every day— and there is no possible way that you can accommodate to both of their needs with one personality and one physical appearance, on top of their intricacies such as astrological charts, upbringings, values— the list continues. Eric and Dylan are both vastly different individuals with different preferences in women. You are not two people, only one. You are by no means perfect for either of them, not even a close fit for their souls. That aside, they would not share the same woman beyond the grave with so many other options available, their perfect counterparts in front of them in every realm; emotionally, mentally, spiritually, romantically— and the two of us as best friends.

The friends you make and keep are those who are barely teenagers, if that, because they are young enough to be tricked by your false claims about metaphysics. You are a combination of things, and none of them positive— a liar, a sore loser, and clearly amid some mental health crisis that creates your false belief about BOTH of the Columbine shooters falling at your feet, struck by love. They are not touching you, they are not fucking you, they are not sitting on your bed and cuddling you to sleep at night. If you had the slightest clue about metaphysics, you’d understand that it takes regular spirits so much energy to do such a slight thing to show their presence, which is a unanimous agreement amongst people who have lost their loved ones and legitimate mediums.

The only time that people are so adamant about their unwavering belief in something not reflected by reality is when experiencing schizophrenia or psychosis. Your entire shtick is built on lies, fantasies you live out in your head, and some inconclusive illness that causes extreme delusions, whether you want to close your eyes and pretend or not. Your sheer resistance to exploring the fact that this is a problem created by your sick mind says everything about who you are. Even with an abundance of proof in front of you from two girls who are worlds better than you, you still fall asleep at night thinking you are undeniably the little princess of both of the Columbine shooters. You know who you are; you are a repulsive, pathetic excuse for a human being. Something they would never touch. You can cry, scream, bitch, and moan all you want— but you will never have what we have. Divinity placed us in the hands of Eric and Dylan. Take it to your candles and your sage, your shadow figures that prance around your room. This is something that can never be changed.

You need a doctor, a visit to the psychiatric hospital for a long time, and a heavy cocktail of antipsychotics, but that won’t fix all of your issues. I hope you sleep well surrounded by the mimic spirits you’ve invited in that prey on your vulnerability. It’s like watching a naive young girl in her tankini trying to seduce the attractive, teenage lifeguard at a hotel pool. You think you’re irresistible, hot fucking shit when no one wants to touch you. It serves you well, you’re such a nasty person inside and out, and you’re only deserving of bad energies you’ve named “Eric” and “Dylan” who are preying on how sick and sad you are. We were given handcrafted love by the universe, set for us long before the boys were ever born. Your “spirituality” is manufactured, and it won’t change a damn thing.

I implore you to stare at yourself in the mirror for a long while and pick out all of the things, mind and body, that Eric and Dylan would despise about you, which would be nearly everything if they even knew who you were. Know your place. You are worlds different from us; you cannot compete with your negative entities, while we have them both. So let me reiterate myself again: Dylan will not love you. Eric will not love you.

Before you start spam posting your account about your desire to murder both of us, know how stupid you are to have left a good enough paper trail of your personal information. Some things have been gathered from today after we were notified about your post, and other things sent to us by someone you have considered your friend. Be careful who you trust. We have no problem upscaling this to a legal issue if you can’t control your tantrums, and we know exactly where to take it.

— Eric’s Wife + Dylan’s Wife

[salarta]

I wanna say some things.

I've been a Polaris fan for almost 15 years now. Fans just tuning in, and some that may have tuned out, may be frustrated with how the X-Men comics keep failing/refusing to do right by the character.

I want to give you all a look from my view, so you can see the progress.

Back when I discovered Lorna, it wasn't because of a TV show. Or social media. It was because, by pure chance, I ran across her entry on the Marvel wikia. She wasn't promoted enough for me to know she exists except by accident.

In terms of the landscape: she was in a bad position. The Wolverine and the X-Men cartoon had just been canceled after the Disney buyout, which meant any plans for her there went out the window. In the comics, she had been reduced to Havok's supporting character girlfriend again, only this time exiled to space for his Starjammers team. It was shortly after I learned of Lorna that she was put in space limbo for over a year, no appearances anywhere at all.

No place in comics. No involvement in mutant events on Earth at all. Stuck as Havok's supporting character girlfriend when last seen. No origin story. Magneto as her dad was still a big question mark, and it wasn't clear if she was even a mutant.

Here is a list of gains since I discovered the character.

Restored as a mutant

Restored as Magneto's daughter

Not stuck in relationship as a supporting character for Havok

Back on Earth, taking part in X-Men comics

Breakout role on Gifted played by Emma Dumont

Multiple good video game appearances

Has an origin story now

Led a team of her own (despite Jordan White undermining her and killing the book)

Won the X-Men fan vote

Interacting with Jean Grey again after decades of nothing

Has a PhD now

Yes, I do complain about the X-Men comics. A lot. I have good reason to be. Within that same time frame, we still have these problems that keep coming up.

Havok keeps getting forced into almost everything Lorna does

Her surviving the Genoshan genocide keeps getting treated like it never happened

Keeps getting forced onto teams named X-Factor, clearly due to Jordan White's nostalgia for 90s X-Factor

Different writers treating her like she either has no history before or after the 90s, never a full accounting

OOC depictions in various places, most notably in the recent X-Factor #4 and Trial of Magneto

Lorna is a work in progress. She spent decades getting treated poorly, with people at Marvel thinking that poor treatment was appropriate. Some of them, like White, even think that poor treatment was somehow actually good and want people to think like they do. Because of this, Lorna has ups and downs in her overall trajectory.

The first thing I want to emphasize is that as a work in progress, it's going to take time for her to get where she should be. You can't undo decades of damage in a single month or year. It's taken almost 15 years to get her where she is now, which is much better than where she used to be despite all the things still wrong.

The second thing is her profile.

Back in 2018, I talked to Jordan White on Twitter. He said Lorna didn't deserve anything. He claimed Lorna didn't have enough fan interest or star power to warrant getting the respect she deserved. He cited nothing for this view other than his general attitude and claiming he'd have more tweets directed to him about Lorna if she had enough fan interest.

The X-Men fan vote proved him wrong. In the past 5 years, we went from Jordan White writing her off as a nobody, to White clearly understanding that he can't ignore her anymore. He knows now that she has way more interest than he was counting on.

That's progress. And while it may not feel like it, poor treatment is also progress in this case. We went from White insisting Lorna doesn't deserve a miniseries, to White greenlighting a 4-part Infinity comic clearly meant to push his personal whims.

Of course, I would vastly prefer Lorna get an actual mini that treats her right instead of something that amounts to a drawn fanfic paid for out of company money. But at the end of the day, her profile and public awareness of who she's actually supposed to be as a character has grown enough that White decided to devote company resources on trying to make people think of Lorna the way he does.

That's a victory for Polaris fandom. It's part of the fight to get her where she should be. Or rather, should've been all along. Don't look at it as end of the road. Look at it as a stepping stone to a brighter future for the character.

P.S. - Jordan White didn't read the original run of X-Men comics until COVID. That's not a problem for the average person. Fans usually don't go that far back. I haven't read the original run, just Lorna's intro issues. But as senior editor of the X-Men comics, you would expect him to have read those issues much, much sooner than 2 years into being senior editor.