#the way she loses hope in the future and commits to the “bring on the apocalypse! let us be the hot evil couple!” attitude

[sleepymarmot]

The semi-rewatch of the s3 finale validated my past self's affection for Lucy Saxon

Every single new who showrunner, RTD included, repeatedly: Check out this character who is a dark mirror of the Doctor! RTD, his brain huge: Yes yes but how about we give them a dark mirror of a companion?

[the-one-and-only-elita]

While I still feel like we should have gotten way more of Elita in TFOne, I do like what we saw of her and how she serves as a contrast to D-16. This especially goes for their respective relationships with Orion.

D-16 and Elita are pretty similar when you think about it. They are both pretty serious and driven people who both earnestly committed themselves to the system in hopes of climbing the latter.

Though its worth noting that while Elita is very proactive when it comes to climbing the latter, constantly chasing promotions, D-16 is much more passive, choosing to keep his head low and slowly but steadily work his way up.

When they learn the truth about Sentinel Prime's rule and how they were deceived and exploited, Elita does not lose herself to anger the way D-16 does, despite her intense devotion to succeeding within the system being her defining trait up until this point. I wish her feelings on the matter were explored more, but its clear her focus purely becomes about exposing Sentinel and freeing her fellow miners.

This is where Elita and D-16 go in complete opposite directions in terms of character development, which is illustrated in how they treat Orion.

D-16 completely shuts Orion out, even becoming aggressive towards him and blaming him for the pain of learning the truth. He completely disregards anything Orion has to say, paying no mind to any plan or strategy Orion proposes. He starts to treat him as a hindrance, and even before their relationship began to degrade, he was very reluctant to take part in Orion's "schemes." This of course, is what culminates in "I'm not saving you anymore" and D-16 deciding to drop Orion.

Then there is Elita, who in Orion's darkest hour, takes it upon herself to try and uplift him despite her inexperience with any sort of emotional intimacy. She makes it clear that she values his plans, his optimism, and his rebellious nature, everything D-16 grew to resent him for.

Both Elita and D-16 have very aggressive personalities, but while D-16 uses his to dominate his way to the top of the decepticon hierarchy, Elita uses her's to uplift Orion. She commands the attention of the other miners when Orion is too soft spoken to do so himself, and together they lead their people against their shared tyrant (much like what Orion wanted to do with D-16).

I personally love this dynamic between them. Elita having already mastered the assertive aspect of leadership, without the ability to adequately inspire or be charismatic; whereas Orion/Optimus brings the ideology and charisma to the equation, without the ability to properly assert himself in a way that leadership requires. (If I'm allowed to be unserious for a second, its very "Excuse me! He asked for no pickles")

While it's unclear if the writers intend to pursue a romantic arc between Optimus and Elita in the sequel, it's obvious by Optimus' decision to make Elita his Major that they will be working very closely with together going forward. While Orion may have been powerless to preserve his relationship with D-16, Optimus' relationship with Elita is the one he will be forging going into the future.

[yandere-sins]

The Orcas' Tale - Krill's Story - Prologue

So, because that first chapter became so damn long, I cut down the bit that was most separated from the rest! Please enjoy Krill's thoughts before we change over to a new perspective again (;

Fandom: Original Content   Warnings: Violence (Mentioning of ripping a throat out/backstabbing, Depiction of mental (childhood) abuse), Monsters (Mermaids), Animalistic behavior, Mention of blood/claws/sharp teeth, Mention of death

"I can't believe this! It's outrageous—TWO sons gone! How could this happen, Krill?! You were supposed to guide them—to lead them! I told you to take care of them, and you couldn't even look after your brother and cousin! How will you ever care for your own pack?!"

My mother's rage echoed through the communal space; her questions screeched in the voice of a siren, causing them to hurt in my ears. Her words were spoken in the same way as a shark's teeth would rip through my skin—meant to harm and dominate. They left everyone in the cave silent except for my aunt, who kept weeping beside the matriarch. Had it been mating season, Nerrocan's and Lyr's disappearance could have been easily brushed off, but with how little interest both of them ever had in reproducing and it having been weeks without a sign from them, their disappearance really began to weigh on everyone. 

The other orcas witnessing my scolding were growing restless at my silence; the inability to respond quickly to the accusations thrown at me only confirmed their constant suspicions—I was incapable of the role they expected from me. The prospect of the next leader of the pack being incapable of doing the one thing I was forced to do my whole life made them lose faith not only in me but also the current matriarch who birthed me. They were whispering and discussing with each other on the quiet as if I had committed a grave sin that would make me unfit to lead. Even though they were fully aware that my reign would come to a quick end once I took a female as my partner to step up to the role of matriarch. All this talking, all the anger and frustration taken out on me, was just a show of power in the end. It didn't matter in the long run, neither to the pack's future nor to me. 

I should have been angry at Lyr and Nerrocan for putting me in this situation. For leaving me alone with all the burdens, they escaped so easily, never coming back to take me with them. I thought we were closer than that. That we'd stick together forever. But the chance of getting away must have been too freeing to resist, no matter what they had to leave behind to achieve it. If the same chance had arisen before me… I might have done the same. Leave behind this life of never being enough in the strict eyes of our mothers and the whole pack and start over far away. Do something worthwhile that wouldn't end with me cowering before the matriarch yet again, like the coward I was. A pack wasn't a place where you could achieve anything extraordinary unless you bowed your head and submitted to the nagging and pushing of expectations. And I, compared to the other two, had always been too afraid to take the leap, holding the two of them back with me so I wouldn't be alone. Until they slipped my grasp—a stupid, stupid mistake.

Just like my mother, those feelings nagged at me constantly. Permanently. Most likely until the end of my life. And there was no one to share them with anymore, as those exhaustingly painful emotions threatened to drown me.

"You'll find them and bring them back here immediately!" the matriarch finally ordered, too impatient to wait for my delayed response. With how I was taught my whole life, I understood her actions. She had to settle the pack, give them hope, and show them she had everything under control. She had to make this look like a stupid mistake of a child—even her own son—so she'd not lose the pack's trust in her capabilities. Especially with her worst opponent, her own sister, ready to take over the position at any moment. Even when family was everything to the pack, no one was safe from having their throat ripped out the moment they lowered their guard. There was no loyalty in a pack of fools.

"Oh, yes!" my aunt wept, her act so good despite having enough daughters to not need Nerrocan here to be called a worthy successor to my mother's reign. "Please, Krill! You have to bring my baby back home! Please!"

It must have been so much easier to leave, knowing you never left anything behind, really. Nerrocan didn't have to worry much about what others thought about him. He could hide behind his sisters and be a good boy just for fun. Perhaps things would have been different if I had sisters who were older or my age, too. I could have escaped the responsibilities and lived a free and happy life without repercussions for every little mistake I made in the matriarch's eyes.

"I will, Mother."

Raising my head and showing the pack a steadfast expression, I placed my hand over my heart, the gesture as shallow as it was a lie. I had no idea where the two rascals had gone, much less how I'd manage to track them down. There was no telling that I could find them, but maybe by the time I'd be too exhausted from the search, I'd have developed the courage to stay far, far away from the pack. 

Judging by the glare in the matriarch's eyes, there would be no home to return to unless I brought back the missing sons anyway. 

In her angry gaze, I noticed some doubt. For a moment, I imagined her worried that something could happen to me on this quest she sent me on. But when our eyes met, she must have known that my promise and gestures were all just for show. It hardened her feelings for me, which was for the better. We both knew I would never reach her expectations, no matter how long and hard I tried. Losing two young, efficient hunters for the pack was just the tip of the iceberg. It was better for her not to get disappointed when I'd inevitably fail the task she had given me, again. 

So when I slipped back into the water, my mother sent me off with a scoff, the whispers around me so loud, I couldn't hear my own thoughts. The cold wet was a welcome change of sounds, clearing my head for the first time since I entered that communal space. I'd become numb to the feeling of being unloved and unappreciated, so much so that it didn't face me what everyone thought of me. That's what I told myself. All I had to do was function, which was easier with a clear head. I thought back to the days before Nerrocan's disappearance, the funny human we rescued, and the way Nerrocan used to look at them. 

I wasn't stupid, even if I preferred to keep pushing away the nagging feelings that might have made me soft and even more worthless in the eyes of my mother. The two were too young to know the true horror of "love". But I was the oldest. I remembered looking at this special someone the same way that Nerrocan did with the human. I collected the shiniest stones in that small pool they held us in at that facility that Nerrocan's human wanted to go to so desperately, just so I could present these trophies to my mate. Just like Lyr now, who ransacked our treasure cave in just one night. 

Judging by how much Lyr could steal in that one night, he probably wasn't as far away as we thought. But the ocean was vast, he was a quick swimmer, and I couldn't think of a place he frequented that I should look for him. Nerrocan, on the other hand, I'd either never find him because he had been eaten by the fish all the time he'd been away or because he was back at that forsaken facility with the human. Both options made it impossible for me to ever retrieve one of them if not for sheer luck. I could have turned every stone upside down to find Lyr, who was objectively the better choice, but he was as good a hunter as I was, and unfortunately, he knew it. If he wanted to stay hidden, I'd not find him. And if he refused to come back, he might actually kill me to keep it that way.

As I turned towards the open ocean, I still lamented the fact that I'd not get to come home anymore. It was foolish to even try, but doing as I was told was all I'd ever known. I've been told how to hunt, behave, talk, act, and play all my life. My mother told me to take what I wanted, fight for what I wanted, and obey. So if she wanted to send me on a death mission, I had no choice. Compared to the other two, I didn't have a reason to betray the pack that had raised us, and no mate that I could call home, and so, I made my choice. 

And if I possibly could save even just one of those fools, then I'd wager my chances with the one that wouldn't kill me on sight. 

[writing-for-life]

Dream's Therapist

I’m not sure if I should apologise for this brain fart in advance, but it just found its way to the page after this. Yes, this is how my brain works (or rather doesn’t)…

Intake Session

The client presented for his intake session on 22/04. When he made his appointment, he showed particular interest in the fact that this is an integrative therapy practice which uses cognitive, behavioural, somatic and Jungian approaches and is also versed in sex therapy. Naturally the ethical kind.

He was extremely on time (that is to say, close to three hours early), but he insisted on spending that time in the waiting area instead of coming back later. My receptionist assured me he did not move from the offered chair during that time and that he, in fact, did not move at all. She occasionally had to check (inconspicuously of course) if he was breathing.

Upon entering my office, he was polite if slightly aloof. He was dressed all black and refused to take off his coat. No problems with personal hygiene could be perceived from a distance. After getting seated, he enquired whether I could dim the lights ever so slightly because it was too bright, to which I agreed.

I noticed his staring at the crystal paperweight on my table for an extended period of time before he, seemingly out of nowhere, asked: “I trust your office is a mere illusion, a fleeting moment in existence?��

DT: Something like that I guess. What brings you here?

Dream: Well, I have these recurring nightmares. Not while I am sleeping, since I obviously don’t sleep.

DT: Obviously.

Dream: I create them.

DT: The nightmares?

Dream: Yes. And all of a sudden, they all suffer from… existential dread instead of helping to get rid of it. Also, my hair keeps getting tangled and knotted all the time, but I am not quite… certain if this relates in any way.

DT: Interesting. And how does that make you feel?

Dream (deadpan): Feel? I don't “feel”. I weave narratives, conjure nightmares, and occasionally attend celestial tea parties. Emotions are for mortals. The hair is inconvenient though.

DT: Right. Let's explore your childhood. Did you have any issues with your family?

Dream (I notice uneasy shifting in his seat): My family? My father, always running late. My mother… (I notice a slight tremble in his bottom lip)… well, she is… dark. My sister, Death, tells me I am a buzzkill, especially at family gatherings. Truthfully, I believe all my siblings are just trying to gaslight me into believing so because I can be… quite entertaining? (I notice uncertainty). Plus, one of them is… let's just say: they are the reason I have commitment issues.

DT: Commitment issues. Let’s expand on that a bit. Have you ever been in love?

Dream: (I notice extreme rigidity): Love is a quaint human invention, like gluten-free pizza or reality TV.

DT (I don’t know what that means and ignore it): I sense reluctance around the topic?

(He stares at the paperweight for a good 3 minutes)

Okay, let's try word association. I'll say a word, and you respond with the first thing that comes to mind. Ready?

Dream: Proceed, mortal.

DT: Sand.

Dream (I notice a raised eyebrow and a slightly tetchy sigh): Golden grain sifting through my fingers.

DT: Pillow.

Dream: A convenient weapon during astral battles.

DT (I momentarily feel confused and lose my footing, to which he reacts with)

Dream: I could show you? (I notice he makes a move to get up from his seat)

DT: That won’t be necessary right now… Word association: Unicorn.

Dream: (I notice grave seriousness) My ex-wife. I think.

DT: That should suffice for now. Let’s briefly discuss coping mechanisms. How do you handle stress?

Dream: Stress? When the universe unravels and the fabric of the Dreaming tears, I binge-watch reality shows. The Kardashians, mostly.

DT: Why the Kardashians?

Dream: Distraction. Inspiration. For all manner of things. Mostly nightmares.

DT (I notice the recurring theme of nightmares): Do you hold any hopes or dreams for the future?

Dream (I notice a nervous twitch around his mouth which he tries to hide unsuccessfully): I am the King of Dreams. Dreams shape reality itself. But if you must know, I dream of a world where everyone flosses regularly and understands general relativity.

DT: Why is flossing important?

Dream: I just like good teeth.

DT: Why general relativity?

Dream: Because it would help. With ships.

DT: What ships?

Dream (I notice eye-rolling and bridge-of-nose-pinching): Never mind.

DT: It’s okay, we can talk about anything that seems important to you.

Dream: It is of no import. Is time up yet?

DT: No.

Dream: Good, I shall leave then.

DT (I feel confused but try not to show it and respect the client’s wish to leave. I’m getting paid either way): Same time next week?

Dream (who is already standing): Time is a mere construct. But yes, let us pencil it in. And remember, reality is just a draft…

Further notes: The client suffers from insomnia and thinks he creates nightmares. He potentially has internalised he is one. He seems detached from his feelings to the point he believes he does not have any emotions and does not seem to relate to being human. He feels misunderstood by his whole family and suffers from the delusion that his sister is Death. He makes another of his siblings responsible for his failed relationships, which has led to the ingrained belief that love is not for him. He seems to compensate with believing he is above others and refers to himself as the “King of Dreams”. I notice a tendency to shirk potentially painful topics. He seems to communicate diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities apart from binge-watching TV, but he seems quite enamoured with the concept of astral battles and general relativity, which requires further exploration…

Next Session >

[waitmyturtles]

THE MORNING AFTER: ONLY FRIENDS, EPISODE 2 ("I PROMISED YOU THE MOONSHINE") EDITION

Being a day late to watching and writing about Only Friends allows me a little airspace away from the gasps and dopamine of the collective community first watch of each episode, and lemme tell ya -- my dash yesterday was so hot, it was like melting Tupperware on a stove. Unfortunately for many in the fandom, the ships are going to sink. That shower scene got some folks wrecked. Many folks on my dash have a sudden disdain for Neo Trai (poor kiddo). For anyone who reads around here, you might remember my implored begging of the Tumblr family to watch Gay OK Bangkok before Only Friends premiered, and I still stand by it. The Only Friends team -- Jojo Tichakorn, Ninew Pinya, writers Den Panuwat and Best Kittisak -- are playing with a lot of concepts that I thought were just FABULOUSLY explored in this second episode, and these concepts ARE going to lead to further innuendos and endings that the shippers are just not going to like. (I think GOKB primed us for this.) And frankly, by the way this episode played out (as we were talking about a couple days ago, @lurkingshan) -- I think that's a hell of a point that the team is making in our faces.

I'm going to get to this more in a moment. Let me explain more, by way, of all things (!) -- plum wine.

So a bunch of us meta clowns (cc @ranchthoughts, @chickenstrangers, @lurkingshan) were talking about a theory I had on Friday regarding the theme of ephemerality in the first episode. How Cheum indicated to Mew that there's a lot in Thailand that'll bring them down, from pollution to radiation. She wanted Mew to nab Top -- she indicated that life is fickle, so what did her homeboy have to lose? Go get yer man, she said.

@ranchthoughts, @chickenstrangers, @lurkingshan and I took this conversation further yesterday (please read all the reblogs on this link, folks, it's a great conversation!), exploring the many more references to the ephemeral, fickle nature of time and life that Only Friends is referencing. @chickenstrangers clocked that Yo's bar is called YOLO. @ranchthoughts clocked that Sand's bag of plum wine read "you only live once." @lurkingshan noted that Jojo's played around with the ephemeral before -- in Gay OK Bangkok, examining the impact of HIV on Bangkok's gay male population.

The reblogs of the post linked above also capture some common mentalities about the "future" for our current crop of young folks today (I... am not young, lol), particularly for the young queer community. That through climate change, the slow-snail-paced fight for equity (like the legalization of same-sex marriage in Thailand) (and even comparing it to the roll-back of rights for the LGBTQ+ community in the States) -- as @ranchthoughts wrote, there seems to be a stronger sense of "live fast, die young," among younger cohorts than when I was a young lass, born in the 1980s, when a middle management career could get you everything you needed, with a unfettered retirement in sight.

To me, the most wrenching references to the ephemeral in this second episode focused on death. "Do you want us to die?," Sand asked laughingly as Ray played around in the car. Top can't sleep alone because after a childhood trauma, he's afraid he'll die alone. Ray's deceased mom is shown with a glass in her hand.

And how are these young folks behaving? In the face of literal death, as they themselves are referring to it: they're living life very riskily. Top's a player. So is Boston. We hope they're playing safe. (Gay OK Bangkok had condoms all over the place. I haven't seen any yet in OF.) Ray's blood alcohol levels are clearly through the roof. Sand's committing a crime.

Say what now? Committing a crime?

I hope folks clocked that. What's REALLY making me shake my head is how slick the non-sexual commentary was in this episode.

Going back to my original post on ephemerality that I let loose on Friday: I talked about the metaphor of plum wine and the passage of time -- how plum wine tastes sweeter and better as you let it age.

Sand was pissed that his bottles of plum wine broke because he's making it himself. That's why he wanted Ray to pay him back for the lost supply. Sand lost both product AND time.

Making and selling plum wine is illegal in Thailand. It's like the selling of rotgut during Prohibition.

SAY WHAT? For real. Thailand's laws around alcohol are wild, y'all. The display of alcohol logos is weirdly regulated (I laugh at how bottles are often blurred out in Thai dramas), brewing alcohol within Thailand is insanely complicated (some people brew alcohol in Thailand, then bottle it elsewhere and import it BACK into Thailand to skirt these laws), and -- you cannot buy alcohol from 2 pm to 5 pm.

Remember we saw Ray sneaking some sips from a flask outside the hostel site? That's a major flag for confirmed alcoholism (drinking alone during the day). But also, if Ray wanted a drink during the hours of 2-5 pm -- he had to have the booze on himself to have a tipple.

We know Jojo does NOT shy away from political commentary. We saw it in spades during Dirty Laundry.

What I love about Jojo's work is that he's unafraid to call out the hypocrisy of these kinds of laws. The making of plum wine is ILLEGAL? In Japan, making umeshu is traditional. (It's also the easiest and most delicious thing ever, please try making it!). For many of us around the world, making umeshu is a hobby, and a perfectly safe one at that. Considering Thailand's economy is so dependent on tourism, and that Bangkok itself is a world-class city, you would think that the selling of alcohol wouldn't be so complicated, and yet... 'tis.

This leads me to what I saw as the second Big Theme of this episode, besides ephemerality: I saw a lot of hypocrisy in this episode.

We got the liquor laws bullshit. We got Boston. Boston strikes me as a hypocrite for setting up his friend Mew with Top -- all while Boston's still wanting to get with Top, to the point of sneaking into Top's shower.

And Mew strikes me as a hypocrite, too. He wants to "redo" the start of his relationship with Top?... on his own terms? So, they're not boyfriends anymore? After already....having dated? Believable, my dude. The guys are in a PatPran-esque battle of... something, and I don't think it's wits, because neither of them seem to have many wits about them. They seem to be more interested in just winning a goal that (except for sex for Top) seems wholly unclear. Does Mew not know that Top may very well NOT respect Mew? Is Mew aware that his read on Top may not be at all accurate? And.... does Mew actually care? I'm not convinced of it.

Live fast, die young. What does it matter to be a hypocrite if the future is unstable, if time is speeding by -- and if no one is holding these young folks accountable for their behavior, as I put into the tags of @ranchthoughts's post yesterday? As Nick says to Boston: "you're a rich guy -- you don't care much for things." What, exactly, would make these rich kids care about being ethical human beings?

Accountability is around the corner for this group. Nick is starting to catch feelings. Boston is wondering why he's getting rejected by Top. Sand's recognizing that Ray's sniffing out something between them (cc @neuroticbookworm) (and, who knows, as NBW first referenced in her post -- Sand might be catching feelings, too). All of these friends -- it's mindblowing! -- leave Ray alone, often, wasted off his ass, to get himself home, as Sand himself notes.

These characters are going to get hurt, and it's only a matter of time until we begin seeing it happen. At the micro-level, human to human, they will hurt each other. And society, Thai society, is doing these young people no favors by not helping to equalize the inequity between rich and poor -- as Sand has to take risks to sell illegal hooch, of all things, to just get by.

Wrapping this up with what I was mentioning up at the top about the jibbles that the fandoms are starting to feel towards the established GMMTV ships of this show slowly sinking. Isn't there a bit of hypocrisy there as well? This show is NOT going to be pretty for the ForceBook/FirstKhao established ships. What are we, as fans, going to do when that time comes? Will we condemn Jojo? Will we stop watching the show? Will we equivocate by way of blaming other characters?

This show should be celebrated already for the risks it's taking, and the risks it will take. (Remember: fans protested at the GMMTV building in 2019 when the KristSingto ship was broken for He's Coming To Me.) Only Friends deciding to take on the toxicity and hypocrisy of shipper fandom? Bring it on. We cannot only enjoy the performances of these actors when they're paired up with one repeating partner. As the life of Gay OK Bangkok depicted, as the life of Only Friends is depicting -- life is a whole lot more complicated than just a dreamlike, over-organized monogamy between two people (ahem, Mew). Life -- and TIME -- will bring complications and change, sometimes unwanted change, that we have to learn to handle and manage. I'm not colored surprised in the least that Jojo's making this experience for us jump out of the screen and into our own hearts, as we see our beloved actors take risks upon themselves by their breaking of their own ships. I am all here for it, and I hope the shipper fans can be, too.

(BIG UPS to the small meta army family -- @ranchthoughts, @lurkingshan, @chickenstrangers, @neuroticbookworm -- I'm so thrilled to continue being thoughtful with y'all!)

[ironbornsource]

Two Weeks of Theon - Shame | Villain VS Victim

Little Bit Louder, Little Bit Worse, by Redrikki Rated: G Words: 15763 Archive Warnings: Major Character Death Category: Gen Pairings/Characters: Theon & Asha, Theon & Robb Summary: In a world where the War of the Five Kings goes very differently, Asha Greyjoy sails north to retrieve her brother. Sequel to Second Verse where a time traveling Theon Greyjoy has made some changes, not all of them for the better.

A very intriguing time travel scenario where Theon time-traveled into his AGOT-time self after leaping from the walls of Winterfell with Jeyne. This development butterflies away a lot of Robb's misfortunes, leading to a scenario where the Stark forces have defeated the Lannisters enough to be able to focus their efforts on the war against the Others. After losing the kingsmoot, Asha travels to the wall to meet Robb and Theon, hoping to bring Theon home to fight Euron for their birthright together.

The result is a brand new first meeting for the Greyjoy siblings, similarly fraught and yet completely different in its dynamic. Theon's memories of their alternate timeline, though hidden by Asha's POV for a good while, obviously haunt their relationship until they come out in a predictable outburst. He is horrified by Robb's possessivity and reluctance to let him go, yet he cannot allow himself to want to share anything with the sister who humiliated him in another life. This way this fic deals with the philosophical conundrums of time travel perfectly embodies the concepts of shame, evil and victimhood as they are portrayed in Theon's arc. Theon still suffers from the guilt and pain of the horrors he both committed and endured in the original timeline, but most of all he's haunted by the unfairness of having to endure things like the memory of his canon return to the islands alone, while Asha is free of that baggage, free from feeling guilty of the cruel welcome she gave him, which leaves him unable to accept the better future this present offers him.

The siblings' tumultous journey to forgiveness culminates in a series of very fun though tragic plot twists and an exciting open ending as the threat of the Long Night becomes a more pressing issue than their ambitions, in a great horror atmosphere. Just a great read all the way to the end!

[atla-suki]

sokka’s treatment in lok was astonishing tbh but i’m actually glad he was dead by the time the series started bc toph being a cop??? aang being an awful dad???? they would’ve ruined him and suki’s characters lbr.

as far as any possible kids go idk we didn’t meet suyin till book 4 we barely saw izumi i think they just didn’t want to make the new series be a atla reunion plus lok was only meant to be one season so they were making that shit up as they went along lmao. and back in 2012-14?? they didn’t know themselves what happened to sukka lmao.

sokka and suki are definitely the type to break up bc of long distance but then find their way back to each other a few years later especially as they settle into their roles in life.

while bryke definitely neglect suki and sokka to some capacity also they do have a soft spot for suki after bringing her back. many don’t consider her to be team avatar but they’ve stated they do so idk ! she shows up a lot in the comics which have obv been created post-lok and it’s been said that they’ll utilise it’s plots and characters in shall see in future projects (crane fish town becoming republic city maybe??? where suki currently is working?? and sokka later lives!!)

i’m p sure suki will be in it at some capacity anyway and that there’ll stick with jennie as she’s one of the few asian og va’s. she’s doing a lot of work atm for avatar studios.

also random but i literally found out today that it’s not bryke-confirmed that mai and zuko end up together. it was a comment on a panel by the old comic writer. it’s not technically canon. izumi is the spit of mai anyway but hmm! interesting!!

btw btw suyin’s father was def a sandbending outlaw who toph had a secret relationship with that couldn’t be public bc of her role as police chief x

oo big ask ok let me break this up into different paragraphs …

fist point - one thing i will admit about lok is that it fell short in incorporating the original characters into the new series in an interesting way with enough verisimilitude (realistic-ness) that it didn’t feel like they were just throwing a popular character into an episode for the sake of it. such as the whole ‘aang is a bad dad’ thing because they under-utilised him as a mentor figure to korra and instead focused on his supposed favourite son (i have thoughts on this re. aang NOT being a ‘Bad’ dad but i will make another post on it if u are interested (or have i alr made one? i’ll make another one.))

i have to agree that they would’ve probably done something shitty to sokka or suki if they were included. especially with the entire first season of lok being about bender/non-bender equality… i can just imagine they’d make sokka say something dumb about the equalist movement being 100% Bad instead of him actually supporting some of their completely valid arguments. idk. i’m sad there’s no sukka but at the same time…. quit while ur ahead yk.

second point - sukka long distance relationship is so real ESPECIALLY during their first few years together. i can see them just kinda calling it off because of commitment issues due to their work, etc. but not ever really losing feelings. they’d be endgame tho🥰

i can absolutely see suki being in upcoming projects! especially since she and the other kyoshi warriors expanded their reach across the nations - it would be hard to ignore them completely if we’re assuming they’re including comic canon into the universe. i hope jenny returns!!

third point - yeah! how crazy that maiko as izumi’s parents isn’t canon confirmed… though she’s so clearly mai’s daughter. i wonder if mai’s role will be expanded in upcoming projects / if she’ll be featured more. hmmm.

fourth - would honestly prefer this to the theory sokka is her father lol. it kinda baffles me that TOPH became a cop.. not bc she opposes authority - there’s something different about enforcing it than there is having to follow it. i can see toph in authoritative positions, and she fits them well. but i think it baffles me moreso because why would toph even work as a COP? isn’t that boring as hell for her?? go do something awesome like probending or professional underground fighting (adult blind bandit anyone?? this would make a good fic) or literally just construction idk i feel like toph isn’t a Hard Worker type that would want to be stuck in such a rigid career.

[bengiyo]

I Feel You Linger in the Air Ep 6 Stray Thoughts

Last week, Not!Ohm showed up again and convinced Jom to deliver a message to Fong Kaew. Whatever was in the letter inspired Fong Kaew to accept her role in this house, and she committed to seducing Robert. It has elevated her status, and this seemed to worry Maey. We also learned that Euangphueng and Maey conspired to bring Fong Kaew into the house to direct Robert's attention elsewhere. Meanwhile, Jom tried to cover for Prik so she could take care of her dying mother, and both were punished for this. Prik took the brutal reminder that she is just a servant for what it was. Jom is also losing it over the time stuff. He's realizing that he's the one drawing the pictures he found and is seeing himself in the future.

So, Puttyuban Bar is definitely some kind of speakeasy.

Yai seems very jealous of Jom looking at James.

Interesting. Last episode Robert got intense about a fire, and this week we're learning he may have used arson to evict people from lands he desires.

James and Yai said this is their favorite place, and we just got the backstory on Nuey. Feeling a lot of things about how hard it was for our people to find each other.

I hope James isn't revealed to be a douche later, because I like the way he regards Jom.

Nonkul's worried tone as Yai started drinking heavily was really good.

Man, what is happening to Jom? I keep thinking about Kindred and getting so nervous.

"He has become unstuck in time." -Zathras

Oh boy. I don't want Ming further involved with Fong Kaew and her situation with Khamsaen.

Yai is snooping!!

If they burned Fong Kaew's home and killed her dad just to get her to marry Robert...

Well played, Fong Kaew.

Petty Yai is amusing.

Wait, does Jom think that encounter was about food?

James saying Jom reminds him of his first lover in the time travel show carries implications.

And now James is telling Yai to shit or get off the pot. My feelings about community are swelling.

I get Jom running away. This is the past. It's dangerous for both of them, and he's hoping to leave.

I just love that Yai and James stressed multiple times that they respect if Jom doesn't like them or wants them to back off.

Jom is correct to worry about the society around them. No gays exist in a bubble.

"Our time has just begun," at the halfway point of the time travel show??? Ominous.

WHAT THAT MOUTH DO???

That was a really pretty kiss.

Next week they'll get clocked because it's hard to ignore when two people are vibing that hard

This was a beautiful episode. When I like to praise Tee for the queerness of his storytelling, I'm talking about moments like this. Tee understands that we've always been here, and many of our stories never got shared or passed down. Some of us didn't make it, and some of us were required to hide ourselves away. I think there's something really special about the way James accepted that he wasn't chosen and opted to give Yai a nudge.

[princeazriel]

It's been six years, and I'm finally back on the right path again.

It has been three weeks since I started exploring Catholicism. 9/28/2024, for future me. I hope that this is the right path for me. Regardless, I plan to track my progress here.

I am in a difficult position, as my identity as a person directly goes against this. Of course, there are LGBTQ Christians, but I am beginning to discover that I may not be transgender, as I previously thought. I have a loving and accepting family, but going back on something that I was convinced that I was so sure of... well, please pray for me. I don't believe that I will be in a place to work on detransitioning anytime soon.

I am currently on day twenty-two of the Bible in a Year podcast with Father Mike. The way he and Ascension make the complex simple... I would recommend a listen, regardless of what you believe. We need more good in the world, and wonderful people like Father Mike help bring that forth.

I have decided that it's a little too late to join RCIA this year, especially as I have very little knowledge of the Bible, let alone Catholicism. A year of waiting will test my commitment, while allowing me to work on my self in the meantime. I don't believe I would be able to juggle RCIA with all the other things I have going on right now, to be honest. I'm barely scraping by as it is.

I am seventeen days celibate. I curse like a sailor, and that is a very hard habit to break. I have been neglecting my prayers- something that is hard to start blind. Please pray for me as I begin to find my way.

I find myself in an odd situation, with no like-minded friends. I have a friend who is Mormon (which couldn't be more different than Catholic, but that's not for me to judge) who I've told about this, but she is currently on a mission trip. All of my other friends have either never been religious or have left religion, and I'm afraid that I may lose them over this. It's isolating, but I know I'm not alone. There have been countless that have walked before me, and countless walking the same path right now. If you are in a similar spot and would like to chat, please let me know. I have no one to share any of this with.

[wearethecovenofchaos]

🔮🪄✨Evan and Natalie - August 31st, 2024.

• How's Evan general energy today?

🎴 King of Wands Reversed: "forceful, domineering, tyrant, vicious, powerless, ineffective, weak leader". Taking hash, impulsive and hasty decisions. Selfishness and ruthlessness. Love and Relationship: "arrogant, bossy lover, control issues, forceful lover". Have you been controlling, dominating or egotistical?

• How does Evan see Natalie today?

🎴 The Star: "hope, inspiration, positivity, faith, renewal, healing, rejuvenation". How abundantly blessed you are by the universe as evidence by the various things around you. - This is pretty interesting: The Star follows The Tower (the card of destruction), and after going through a terrible period in one's life, they didn’t lose hope... so, I think Evan sees Natalie as a good sign in his life, a breath of fresh air. Love and Relationship: "optimistic about love life, healing from past wounds". Lots of hope in love and romance. "As the two of you remain communicative and honest with one another, there is great potential for bringing the two of you closer together." - It confirms what i said before: Evan knows that Natalie is a good partner and she's been showing him that not everyone is going to hurt him.

• How did Evan feel about Natalie meeting his family?

🎴 The Emperror: "stability, structure, protection, authority, control, practicality, focus, discipline". The Emperror is about control. A paternal figure in life that gives structure. Discipline. He acts rationally. Love and Relationship: "traditional relationship, use logic in love, unexpressed emotions". Common sense. (I see this card as Evan's family being pretty rational about meeting Natalie. They may be traditional, and try not to put too much emotion on it.)

• How did Natalie feel about meeting Evan's family?

🎴 Three of Wands: "momentum, confidence, expansion, growth, foresight, looking ahead". Planning the future with more conviction. "For most readings, this shows that you may travel to a new land over the water and that you may find an opportunity during your travels." Love and Relationship: "next stage in relationship, romantic momentum, creating lasting foundation". Love life heading to the next phase. Create a strong foundation for lasting commitment. (This is pretty clear that she felt that meeting his family is a new step in their relationship)

• Overall

🎴 Six of Cups: "nostalgia, memories, familiarity, healing, comfort, sentimentality, pleasure". Naive happiness and childhood. "Returning to a familiar place. This could be your hometown, an old friend’s home, a school, or any place that holds a lot of meaning for you (!!!). Love and Relationship: "reconnecting with ex, reliving happy memories, healing after breakup". Nostalgia from past. A time of healing after wounds.

🎴 Eight of Wands: "movement, speed, progress, quick decisions, sudden changes, excitement". Readiness to be commited on a relationship, but don't force the other part to also be ready to commit. Love and Relationship; "romantic life picking up pace, excitement, surprises in love". Movement and excitement. (I am going to interpret these two cards together as if they have decided to continue to take things slow, because they like them this way - even though Natalie can be expecting more commitment or that their situation gets labeled. They enjoy each other's company and they have a really good time together.)

That’s it for today about these two! ♥️

[carleyplays]

Daisy Bloom – Sims in Bloom Legacy | Pt. 12

Daisy couldn't deny how deeply she had fallen in love with Akira. He had become her anchor, her confidant, and her source of joy in Henford-on-Bagley. They shared countless memorable moments together, from quiet evenings at their favorite cafe to lively celebrations with friends.

But lately, something had shifted. Akira seemed distant at times, his smiles less frequent, his eyes clouded with a hint of unease. Daisy noticed the change in his demeanor, and it worried her deeply. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

One evening, as they sat together in their cozy living room, the crackling fire casting flickering shadows on the walls, Daisy sensed Akira's turmoil. He had been quiet throughout dinner, lost in his thoughts. Finally, he spoke up, his voice tinged with hesitation.

"Daisy, I need to talk to you about something," Akira began, his gaze avoiding hers. "Lately, I've been feeling... jealous and insecure. I know it's not fair to you, and I don't want to hold you back."

Daisy's heart sank at his words. She hadn't expected this turn of events, and the thought of losing Akira sent a wave of fear through her. She reached out and took his hand, urging him to open up about his feelings.

They talked for hours, tears and fears laid bare between them. Akira confessed his insecurities, his fear of not being enough for Daisy, of not measuring up to what she deserved. Daisy listened with a heavy heart, feeling the weight of his words.

"I love you, Akira," Daisy whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "I don't want to lose you."

They held each other close, finding solace in their shared vulnerability. Despite the pain and uncertainty, they decided to give their relationship a chance. They embraced the new year with renewed hope and determination, celebrating their love and promising to work through their challenges together.

However, as weeks passed, Daisy couldn't shake the lingering doubts in her mind. She found herself confiding in Alex, seeking her perspective and advice. Alex, ever the supportive friend, listened attentively as Daisy poured out her heart.

"I think I love Akira more than he's willing to give," Daisy admitted quietly, her voice wavering with uncertainty. "I want to move forward, to deepen our commitment, but I'm not sure he's ready."

Alex offered gentle reassurance, encouraging Daisy to have an honest conversation with Akira about her feelings. She reminded her that relationships required open communication and mutual understanding.

Determined to find clarity, Daisy sat down with Akira once more. They talked for hours, sharing their hopes, fears, and dreams for the future. In the midst of their conversation, Daisy made a difficult decision.

"Maybe we need some time apart," Daisy said softly, her heart heavy with sadness. "Not because I don't love you, but because I want us to be sure of what we both want."

Akira nodded slowly, his expression a mix of sadness and understanding. He knew Daisy deserved someone who could give her the love and commitment she desired. They agreed to take a temporary separation, to take time to reflect and figure out their true feelings.

As they parted ways that day, Daisy couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty and sadness. She loved Akira deeply, but she also knew that their relationship needed space to grow and evolve. She hoped that their temporary separation would bring clarity and ultimately lead them back together, stronger and more certain of their future together.

Feeling the weight of her decision to take a temporary separation from Akira, Daisy decided to take some time for herself. She packed a few essentials and embarked on a well-deserved vacation to Granite Falls for the weekend. Surrounded by the tranquil beauty of nature, she hiked through the lush forests, enjoyed quiet moments by the lake, and found solace in the calming sounds of the wilderness. The break allowed Daisy to clear her mind, reflect on her feelings for Akira, and gain perspective on what she truly wanted for her future. It was a time of introspection and rejuvenation, giving her the space to consider the next steps in her relationship and in her own personal journey.

| next | previous |

[loriane-elmuerto]

—something something sentence Thursday

Got tagged by @dihardys and @indorilnerevarine to share a WIP I'm working on, thank you! Surprise surprise, it's not cod, it's jjba, in honour of stone ocean ending today (guys I'm so not ready you cannot believe)

Gonna tag @chuckhansen, @queennymeria, @countessrooster, @lucky-107, @cryptcombat, @florbelles, @unholymilf, @jendoe, @jennystahl, @shellibisshe, @cobb-vanthss, @heroofpenamstan, @cptcassian, @jackiesarch, @risingsh0t, @roofgeese, and @prometheas, only if you want to! ❤️

Putting this under a read more <3

Caroline doesn't know how long she has been on her feet, her hands never once leaving her husband's chest. Not even the long hours of the hospital that have trained her can keep her up for much more, but the sheer fucking will that has been instilled in her screams that if she moves away for even a moment, she will lose Jotaro for good.

Golden Saint, always the realist, keeps reminding her that Caroline is only exhausting her own life force for nothing, that all they can do now is wait, but Caroline can't wait. Apparently, she's been sitting and waiting for disaster to strike for almost twenty years now, which, in her own humble opinion, is just insulting.

Twenty years. That's how long their friends knew that Dio was alive, and nobody had said anything to her. As if she was a precious fucking porcelain doll that would break at the mere touch. Twenty years of silence had now destroyed the family she had worked so hard to create and maintain, the family she sacrificed her own dreams for. Her firstborn daughter, the girl that had endured too much for such a young age, now in prison for a crime she did not commit. The man she saved time and again, the one who always put his life on the line to protect her, now dead in her arms. Their youngest boy, only ten years old, but already exposed to old horrors that follow their family like a shadow, hidden away in Avdol's care, all alone on the other side of world.

Oh, how she wishes that she was still 29 years old, sitting with Jotaro on the front porch of his old home, watching Jolyne play with little Sherry as the sun was setting behind the children's backs. Where they were still happy, still in love—

"You're losing focus, Caroline." Saint's voice never failed to bring her back to reality. The Stand with the plague doctor mask was standing on the opposite side of Jotaro's bed, plague doctor mask in hand. Caroline hated at that particular moment that her and Saint had the same face.

Her throat was still raw from screaming and crying over her losses. "What do you want me to do? Pace around the room like a caged animal, driving myself insane as I watch my husband's body rots with each passing minute?" The mere thought forced her to press her palms down even harder, continuing the healing process.

"What you're doing is feeling sorry for yourself over the current situation. Your mourning the future, a future which won't even happen. You're focusing only on here and now, which, by the way, is slowly killing us both."

"You don't—"

"Shut up and listen already. You and I both know that Rejuvenation will not work, he needs both of the disks back. So focus on that. You, standing here, wasting your life? That's exactly what Pucci and Dio want. Do you want to give them the fucking satisfaction? Do you want Jotaro to wake up to your smiling face, or do you want him and the kids to find out you drained yourself to the point of death?"

She was right. She was right.

"You're Caroline Becker. When life decides to kick you down, you don't cry and feel sorry for yourself the entire time. You get angry, and you take matters into your own hands. So get angry already, and do something about it. You left a fucking dent in that psycho vampire's chest, you can rip his head off, and we both have the means to do it."

The Arrow. Truth be told, Caroline always hoped she would not have to touch the thing again, not after what happened at Morioh, to Kira.

But Saint was right. It was time Dio and Pucci were dealt with once and for all.

Saint didn't fail to notice Caroline's hands moving away from Jotaro's chest. Nor how her back straightened, how the look in her eyes changed. The Stand merely smiled as she put the mask back on her face.

"Finally."

[mrleopard25]

Doctor Who Regeneration Series Revisited: The Tenth Regeneration

Rose: “You’re not making sense.” The Ninth Doctor: “I might never make sense again.  I might have two heads, or no head.  Imagine me with no head – and don’t say that’s an improvement.  It’s a bit dodgy, this process.  You never know what you’ll end up with." Rose: “Doctor!” The Ninth Doctor: “Stay away!” Rose: “Doctor, tell me what’s going on.” The Ninth Doctor: “I absorbed all the energy of the time vortex and no one’s meant to do that.  Every cell in my body’s dying.” Rose: “Can’t you do something?” The Ninth Doctor: “Yeah, I’m doing it now.  Time Lords have this little trick; sort of a way of cheating death.”

Story (from “Bad Wolf”, “The Parting of the Ways”, the 2005 Children In Need special, and “The Christmas Invasion”):

The Doctor, Rose, and Captain Jack are kidnapped from the TARDIS and forced to play reality game shows in the far future, where the penalty for losing is death.  The Doctor breaks out and discovers that the whole network of game shows are situated in a space station, and that the network controller kidnapped him in the hopes of using him to defeat her masters, who are revealed to be the Daleks.

The Doctor is astounded that the Daleks survived the Time War, and the Emperor Dalek reveals himself.  His ship was the lone survivor of a cataclysmic event (The Moment, as stated in the last entry), and fell through time to the outer reaches of Earth’s solar system.  Over several hundred years the Emperor harvested humans to slowly rebuild his Dalek army and was driven mad by his isolation, deluding himself to believe he was a god.

The Daleks now intend to invade Earth, totally complacent in its mindless entertainment, and from there build the empire up to conquer the galaxy.  The Doctor realizes the only way he can stop them is to build a Delta wave emitter using the transmitter of the station, but there’s not enough time to refine it.  As such any Delta wave emitted would not just kill the Daleks but the population of the Earth as well.

The Doctor tricks Rose into staying in the TARDIS, and he remotely sends it back to her own time, locking the controls.  Rose is furious and while back in her own time sees the words “Bad Wolf” all around her, which she had seen all through her adventures with the Doctor as if the words were following her through time.  She realizes that it is a message and breaks into the TARDIS’ telepathic circuits.  The TARDIS console opens and floods her mind with the energy of the time vortex.

The Daleks confront the Doctor and he admits that he can not bring himself to commit genocide (again).  Just as the Daleks approach to exterminate him, the TARDIS arrives.  Rose steps out, teeming with the energy of the time vortex, now omnipotent.  She annihilates the Dalek fleet with a wave of her hand and resurrects Captain Jack, who had been killed earlier.  But the Doctor pleads with her that not only is it wrong for her to stay like this but the energies will destroy her.  She can not give up the power she now has, so the Doctor kisses her and absorbs all the energy into himself, before quickly breathing it back into the TARDIS.

After setting off into flight Rose awakens with amnesia of the events and the Doctor warns her of his impending regeneration due to the burn out caused by the energies.  After a paranoid rambling he regenerates and immediately notices new teeth.  Inspecting himself he notices all the changes in the regeneration and wants Rose’s opinion.

She denies that he could be the Doctor, instead suspecting a plot of some kind.  He tries to convince her he’s the same man but she’s still suspicious.  He asks her if she wants to leave and she’s undecided.  The Doctor sets the TARDIS controls back to her home at Christmas time but then succumbs to the effects of post-regeneration trauma, lapsing into a manic craze.

The TARDIS crashes onto the street and the Doctor wishes Rose’s mom Jackie and Mickey a Merry Christmas before collapsing into a coma.  While recuperating the Doctor becomes a target for robots dressed in Santa costumes. Meanwhile the invading force of the Sycorax has arrived, and Rose finds she may be Earth’s only hope.

Production:

As stated in the seventh regeneration article the viewing figures for the 1996 Doctor Who tv movie were very high in the UK. While the audio dramas and novels were in full swing it was also apparent the audience for the program never really left.  Producer Mel Young approached the then-current BBC One Controller Peter Salmon about relaunching the series and through them writer and Doctor Who enthusiast Russell T Davies was brought on board for contributions. However this fell through and Davies went on to work on a little unknown series called “Queer as Folk”.

By 2003 Davies had attracted enough attention as a writer to be brought back to the new Doctor Who project.  By this point the new BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey had completely cleared up any rights issues – as remember with the television movie, Universal, Fox, and BBC Worldwide had all been on the production.  But by now BBC television had the authority to pursue a series with no difficulty, opting to produce it with BBC Wales and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (the CBC).

Davies was to be not only the head writer but the executive producer as well.  Also producing were Phil Collinson and BBC Wales Head of Drama Julie Gardner. Those principal three would be the main creative driving force behind the new series. Casting calls were held for who would play the Doctor and the team settled with Christopher Eccleston, a man who had never been a fan of the series in the past.  In fact Eccleston would criticize the old series for its “wobbly sets”, although admitted he found the concept of regeneration fascinating.

No one was sure if the series would even take off, so they settled on making one season before committing any further. However when ratings pulled in 10.5 million viewers for the first episode “Rose” a second season was commissioned, and everyone signed up.

Except Chris Eccleston. He wasn’t too keen on the atmosphere of the set and had fears of being typecast, so he wished to go after the first season.  It was originally intended to be a surprise to the audience, since they were announced for another season, but the BBC accidentally released this information early against Eccleston’s contract.  Everyone was a little incensed and to this day Eccleston isn’t happy with how the BBC handled his departure.  Nevertheless Eccleston still to this day is proud of his time in the role and adores the fans of the series.

Casted to replace him was 30 year old Doctor Who fan David Tennant.  Tennant had already done roles in many of the radio dramas and was thrilled at the opportunity to play his childhood hero.

You may have noticed the citing of many episodes for the story.  That’s because even though the new series format was to have standalone episodes, unlike the multi-episode story arcs of the past, Davies enjoys having plot points work their way through an entire season.  In this case Davies had written in references to the “Bad Wolf” in almost every episode, some of which barely noticeable.  The Children In Need special listed above was a seven minute charity piece that was a short dialogue scene as the Doctor feels his new body out before going manic.

As for the regeneration scene, a straight video morph effect with lights and energy were used.  Relatively simple but flashy enough to inspire those who had never seen a regeneration before.  And by setting it up with dialogue beforehand, the hope was that audiences wouldn’t feel alienated.

Analysis:

First off, I love Eccleston’s portrayal of the Doctor.  He’s a quirky guy totally unlike anyone else he’s every played in the past.  But he also shows a pain and a rage beneath that humour.  And as much as I loved Tennant’s performance I really do wish Eccleston would have hung around for one more season.

Nevertheless I was still pretty psyched at seeing a new regeneration.  After the effects of the last series, which were inconsistent, I was eager to see how much better this one would be. The budget was significantly better and we as an audience were far more emotionally invested in the event.

Okay so in regards to this “Bad Wolf” entity Rose becomes, it’s an interesting plot device and it would have seemed like a cop-out, if not for the how we’ve been seeing its effects through almost the whole season.  So I’m okay with it.  One might be wondering why Rose didn’t die from absorbing it while the Doctor did. To this I say that it makes sense that while the Doctor was imbued with its energies he reversed any damage to Rose before putting the energy back into the heart of the TARDIS.  One wonders about those continents the Daleks fried before they were stopped.  Rose brought Captain Jack back, what about all those people?  Who knows.

Back to the heart of the TARDIS, this was a concept that has been around a long time.  The first reference goes back to the First Doctor in a 1964 story arc that has been retroactively titled “The Edge of Destruction.”  The TARDIS is being plunged back to Event One and will be destroyed.  However the Doctor and his companions don’t realize this so the TARDIS tries to warn them.  From that point on in the series it is explicitly understood that the TARDIS has a degree of sentience.

We even saw the TARDIS use these energies to revive Grace and Chang Lee in the TV movie, based on sentimentality.  And then in “Boom Town” when Blaine is trying to commandeer the TARDIS by holding Rose hostage she is exposed to the heart which rejuvenates her until she is an egg, giving her a second chance at life.  So undoubtedly when Rose and the TARDIS communicated, it gave her the power it needed to resolve the situation because of compassion for the Doctor.

For most of the Tenth Doctor’s first story “The Christmas Invasion,” the Doctor is near comatose, expressing the regeneration had gone wrong.  So no Zero Room this time?  I’m actually of the opinion that it’s another example of the post-regeneration trauma manifesting itself as paranoia.  I honestly enjoyed how it was the smell of herbal tea that healed his stressed synapses and allowed him to recover. I also enjoyed the scene in which the Sycorax suddenly seem to be speaking English as soon as it’s apparent the Doctor has recuperated.  From that point on Tennant owns the episode, silencing those who doubted if he had the character to pull off the role.

No too much to say on this one, other than I really enjoyed Doctor Who coming back and the regeneration was very well done.  And with David Tennant taking over the reins, the series would see even greater ratings and an entirely new audience.

And Another Thing...

I really wish they’d go somewhere else besides Earth.  They’ve got the whole universe to explore!

The Tenth Doctor: “Now then, what do I look like?  No no no no no no no no no – don’t tell me.  Let’s see.  Two legs, two arms, two hands, slight weakness in the dorsal tendon.  Hair!  I’m not bald!  Ooooh, big hair.  Sideburns, I’ve got sideburns!  Or really bad skin.  Little bit thinner, that’s weird, give me time and I’ll get used to it. I have got a mole.  I can feel it.  Between the shoulder blades is a mole.  That’s all right.  Love the mole.  Go ahead, tell me, what do you think?” Rose: “Who are you?” The Tenth Doctor: “I’m the Doctor!”

[takadasaiko]

2, 11, 20 and 25?

25 star wars asks

2. which character do you want to be most like?

My immediate reaction is Luke or Mara because they're two of my favourites, but I think the real answer is Bail Organa. He is a committed friend and servant to his people and lives unwaveringly by his convictions, putting his own life on the line countless times. He's wise in knowing which battles to pick and doesn't lose faith in people, even when they've lost faith in themselves. All that while being an A+ parent and partner.

11. who is the most underrated character?

Cara Dune. I love her dearly and she has such an intriguing backstory that I will always be bitter that we didn't have a chance to learn more about. I just hope she's out there in the Star Wars galaxy kicking ass and taking names, even if we don't get to see it.

20. what do you hope will happen in future movies?

Ah.... yeah. I don't have a lot of hope for future movies after the sequels. They seem very determined to continue following down that path and I'm just... not at all interested in that.

What I wish would would happen would be to reset a timeline so that the sequels essentially become an alternative future and have Jon and Dave head up a project that would bring the Thrawn Trilogy into canon. You'd have to recast the OT trio, but I've slowly come to terms with that, especially understanding that some of Luke's stoicness in BoBF might have been due to the limitations on deep fake emotions. Bring Mara and Kardde in, build up the fledgling New Republic rather than skipping over all of that just to show another war just for the sake of trying to copy to OT format, and let Thrawn shine in all of his brilliant glory. Saying that, I would only be fully onboard with that if Kathleen Kennedy wasn't involved and bonus points if George Lucas and Timothy Zahn were brought in as consultants (at the very least) for the story.

Pipe dream, I know, but hey. That's what I'd love to see happen.

25. which character do you have a love/hate relationship with?

I'd say Palpatine. Part of me has to be impressed with the levels of patience and manipulation that man possesses. He's a truly terrifying villain, but I will never be over the way Anakin just yeets him down the shaft. Makes me smile every time. His end is something I'm really looking forward to in AFoL 😈

Thanks for the questions!

[wuxiaphoenix]

On Writing: Bits of Joy

Jason on finding out he’s back in a Little Ice Age: Everything is Not Okay, and we’re going to have to struggle to survive, and I am not looking forward to any of it.

Also Jason, on seeing Chae’s library: ...I am camping here and never leaving.

You have to know what your heroes fear, what they hate, what mental knots they need to work their way through before they can finally face and defeat outside dangers. But you also have to know what brings your characters joy.

For a swordsman it might be finding the perfect blade, or at last mastering a form he’s only attempted before. For the lady in an arranged marriage, it could be the gradual realization that her husband is as good a man as she hoped for, and just as committed to making this work. For a scholar and historian, several thousand books he’s never read before, many of them primary-source histories written by people on the ground at the time, is a sight to gladden the heart.

(Yes, several thousand. This is not only possible, it’s plausible. We have records of several wealthy merchants from the Ming Dynasty who had upwards of ten thousand volumes. Chae hasn’t always had money, but she’s had time, qiankun pouches, and the ability to wander many, many places selling books.)

Joy is hard to write about. For one thing it’s a relatively ephemeral feeling; if you stop to pin it down to a written page, you may lose it. For another it’s harder for the brain to hang onto long-term; we’re hardwired for survival, not happiness. Our neurochemistry encodes nasty stuff hard, fast and deep so we can hopefully avoid it in the future, while letting happy things fade, so we have to go after them again to regain that feeling. For a third thing - well. A lot of writers are writers because we desperately want to communicate something, and that often means there’s something we are Not Happy about.

But you need to have it in your story. Even if only for instants. The time two lovers breathe together after that first kiss; yes, that really happened, this person wants me. The roar of the crowd as the clock ticks down and the player shifts the last piece, and wins. That moment when your friend’s car goes over the cliff, you fall to your knees... and you see a trembling, dirt-stained hand reach up.

Give your characters joy. Your readers will remember it forever.

[septembersghost]

I know we're supposed to separate art from artist or whatever but it's really hard for me to take anything she wrote from rep to midnights seriously when she was writing about maturity and recovery and building a real love w someone only to stand onstage and say she's happier than she's ever been and her life "finally" makes sense with a racist while her fans are hurting. wtf is that. it's not only the activism feeling performative it is literally everything about her that I thought was genuine and real seems fake and empty now. she's trying to change the meaning of songs, not to heal but for her pet rat's sake. she doesn't even stand by her own art at this point.

while they were never married, i think there's a usefulness here in viewing it in terms like a kind of divorce - separating a shared life, losing a love you were building a future on and a partner who was a support for you. does a divorce mean that all the love those people had and the vows they took weren't real? it doesn't. people also cope with that loss very differently - they may go into deep mourning, they may feel relief, they may be angry, they may feel free, they may start immediately dating again, they may never date again in their life (my mom). there's no single way to handle it, which is true of grief in general. i can't speak too much on romantic relationships since i don't have life experience there, but based on the observation i have, there's not one way to handle it. it doesn't mean all that love wasn't genuine and beautiful and needed in the moment. it was true when it was written. and ultimately it matters more what it means to you and if it still brings you joy and solace.

a lot of us connect to her because she's had a special way of making us feel understood. it's not comfort or even enjoyment in the music alone, it's this sense of empathy and personal reflection, where we find pieces of our own hearts and souls in her lyricism, and the closeness and resonance of that is part of why this is affecting fans now. but i don't think you need to question what was genuine - it was real (it was rare, i was there!), and what it means to you is still true! that will always be true! i promise that matters.

i think taylor has a lot of trouble being alone and feeling validated without a romance, and it's caused her a lot of pain, and i wish she could learn to love herself more, but that's not the easiest thing. i also think she gets obsessed and caught up in limerance (or, as she called it, the lavender haze), and that's not real, committed love, nor is it sustainable. i have other things i could say about this, but i hate to armchair diagnose her. i just hope she has real help right now that isn't throwing herself into infatuation while she works. i think to some degree she's clinging on with her fingernails and trying to totally disassociate from what certain songs mean to be able to perform them, it doesn't mean she doesn't stand by her art, it's just a survival method. none if this is excusing the person she's chosen to do this with, but keeping it in mind helps to sort through some of what's happening.

as ever, i hear you and hate this situation and am so sorry you're hurt. please take care of yourself ❤