#they kinda have thier own story line going on at this point

[tired-twili]

HEHEHEHEHEHEH

I may know nothing about resident evil but you are lowkey getting me into aeon just with all the content for them you're reblogging

HEHEHEHEHEHE GOOD

Let me just say they have been pining after eachother for like 15 years in canon, let me set the scene for you.

Leon a little 21 yo rookie cop coming into his first day of work and oh no! The entire city is litteraly burning and there's basically zombies walking around. Hes fighting for his life and all of a sudden a demon zombie dog attacks him (He's abt to die) but then this super hot super mysterious "fbi agent" saves him and hes been chasing after her for a while bcs she's the only other non infected person he's seen around for a while. And maybe they get rlly close (they might even kiss!!!) (They litteraly save eachother when the didn't need to and they have adorable banter:)))

But then womp womp! She's not who she says she is (there may be a slight betrayal) and it hurts to say goodbye because they genuinely care for eachother they just happen to be on two different sides.( que ada falling to her death and leaving Leon broken) (she didn't actualy die bcs she's just cool like that)

Anyway that's like a very simplified synopsis of the first game they're in together (they have 2 more and a move:))) but leon is just depressed after re 2

[procrastinationonvacation]

Oh yes!! I do love your thoughts on things - you really have a knack for coming up with really interesting things! I’ve just realised I haven’t asked for your thoughts or Gil-Galad, specifically his parentage - so, if you would like to, thoughts?

- Captain Anon

Hey thanks mate!!!

For Gil-Galad, can I call him Gil? Well I'm gonna.

The run down is I have no idea what the canon story is pre-Isle of Balar is so in my imagination, Gil was adopted as Maedhros and Fingon's kid, but then as various people had their kingdoms wrecked/got killed, he got transferred from house to house until just... only his house was left.

Note: ok I'm sure you've noticed by now, I sometimes say "middle earth" and I just mean not-valinor.

If I'm correct, at some point Morgoth attacks Hithlum about 100-200 years after they arrive in Beleriand. Anyways Gil is one of the very few Young kids around (having been born after arriving in middle earth), so when his parents are (unfortunately) killed, Fingon's like "so, Neylo I hear you like kids" and Maedhros is like "haha yeah I do" so Fingon's like "great, we have one. This is Gil-Galad. Sign here."

A brief interlude from time lines to discuss Adoption: there's no "hey this guy isn't actually related!" no. no. If the person is adopted they are not only thier parent's child. They are everyone's nephew/neice/grandchild/cousin/they trace family ties a bit too far sometimes but they mean well. The point is, Gil is ABSOLUTELY part of the shiny murder family now.

Anyways, Gil has 7 uncles/aunts he regularly hangs out with plus one who he's never met, and a slew of his fathers' cousins (Arafinwe's kids) so despite the rough start, has a pretty awesome childhood hopping between Fingon's and Maedhros' houses, and going to Finrod's house once a month because Finrod is the only other responsible babysitter. At the time of the Dagor Bragollach, he's fortunate enough to be with Fingon, and it's agreed he should stay there for Awhile. In that time, he grows into a solid military commander himself, gaining a reputation across Beleriand but also trust and respect from Fingon's people.

Ergo, even if he spent time swapping between Hithlum and Himring later on, it's only natural that in the Union of Maedhros he be with Fingon's army. Unfortunately, that means Gil's group gets screwed over. He ends up in the Isle of Balar because they don't know what's going on/who'd betrayed who and I'm fairly certain Cirdan and Fingon hung out (I think there was an attack Cirdan helped repel) so he goes there bc, lets be honest, Cirdan is pretty awesome. Plus his other options were: Turgon has a hidden city someplace, the Feanorians are kinda crazy and don't really have a base anyways (plus they were inexplicably late), and hippity hoppity get off my property Doriath.

Anyways, if he claims to be literally everyone's child, it's because there isn't a Finwean who wouldn't claim him as their own. But primarily he's Fingon and Maedhros' kid, with 198475019 overly enthusiastic "uncles."

[argumentl]

The Freedom of Expression Ep 8 - About Sawajiri Erika's early comeback. (*Treatment of drug addicts*)

K: Hi, This is Dir en grey's Kaoru. Joe san, Tasai san, once again.

J, T: Please. Thank you very much.

Kami: Me too.

J: Oh, kami too, right?

K: Unlike on the radio show, he's always around now, isnt he? There were times when he wasn't around before.

J: I think he descended to us about once a month on the radio show.

T: *laughs*

K: In that show, he just flitted in sometimes, and that was it.

J: Yes, yes, yes.

K: Now he's everywhere.

J: He's a regular commentator now.

K: *laughs*

T: This time we have some news from Tokyo Sports.

J: Ah! From the celebrity world

T: Lets start.... Do you know the Japanese comedy duo 'Nihon Elekitel Rengo', famous for the 'Dameyo, damedame' sketch?

J: I didn't, but I learned about them from Tokyo Sports.

T: What about you, Kaoru?

K: I know them.

T: They are a female duo, but one of them, Nakano san, got married to an older man working at the same agency, but it was a marriage with zero prior social interaction.

J: What does that mean? They got married on the same day they met?

T: Well, she was approched by the man, Matsuo Atom san, but she continuously turned him down. Then she suddenly decided last year to marry him. So, its kinda being debated online whether it is or it isn't *1. I really want to ask them.

J: Ahh, surely it is.

K: You can't say it isn't.

J: You can't.. But if you think its isn't...what isn't?!

T: People who think that it isn't, say that because they've never dated, they don't know each other well, and they might divorce quickly.

K: Oh, thats about afterwards.

T: Some concern was raised about that.

J: But I dated my wife for twenty years before marriage, and ended up getting divorced after two years. So just because you've been together for a while, it doesn't mean you won't get divorced.

T: Ahh, I see.

J: This type of thing can't be helped.

K: But thats normal, dating for a long time, getting married, and then ending up separating. It happens to a lot of people, right?

J: Yes.

T: But this Nakano san says, they've never held hands, they don't know each other's address, they don't live together..

J: But they got married?

T: Yes

K: The possibility of them separating seems high, but...

J: Right?

T: Yeah

K:..but, they can do what they want.

J: Yes, i think so. It sounds weird, but this also works as publicity.

T: Yeah

J: Almost like a risky stunt. Personally, I think its possible. But if one of them had the idea, and the other agreed to it, isnt it something to be thankful for?

T: Yeah, but apparently thier boss was really worried about it, he said they should have told him first. He booked a hotel suit room and shoved the two of them in there, but apparently nothing ended up happening.

J: Nothing happened?! People hearing this will want to know if they love each other.

Kami: I want to meet thier boss.

J: Oh, that? *laughs* A suite room is expensive right?

Kami: Yeh, I want to stay in a suite room.

*everyone laughs*

K: What would you do if you did stay in one?

Kami: If I did? Hmm, use the internet.

*laughing*

J: You can do that anyway! What about something more extravagant?

K: Like ordering room service or something.

Kami: I would order room service.

K: What would you order?

J: What would you eat, Kami?

Kami: Ramen

*laughing*

J: I don't think there are many people who would order ramen in a suite room.

K: It might actually be good though. Eating that kind of common food in that kind of place.

J: Eating something...

K: and just looking at the internet.

J: Just looking at the internet *laughs*

K: Its luxurious, right?

J: Exactly. Isn't it wasting the suite though?

T: Okay, lets look at another story. Its this story, it caused quite a stir. Sawajiri Erika...she was found to be in possession of drugs and had her first court appearance at the end of January. The entertainment world is in uproar concerning her early comeback, should she, shouldn't she?

Kami: She should.

J: I think so too.

T: Why? I'll ask you first, Joe.

J: Well, this is her first crime, so she probably won't get a prison sentence. I think it will be a suspended sentence. So, the idea behind a suspended sentence is to give you preparation time to get back to your normal life. Its important get back to your original life as much as possible.

T: I see

J: So, with a suspended sentence she will lose all of her tv sponsers and stuff, but its important for her to gain a platform back, for example, online or such. Now, if we talk about the situation in America, drug addicts are seen as ill people, not criminals, so they embark on a process of revovery, in order to quickly return to regular life. There's a feeling of, 'you're ill, so lets get you better'. Its felt that the worst thing to do, is to be alone with it. Leaving people in these situations is seen as bad. Getting people re-immersed in the community, and returned to normality as much as possible through social interaction, is how America deals with this. As to why America does this, its mainly cost, it costs money to treat people. They want to get people back out into the world quickly. Unlike the idea of severe punishments in Japan, America generally thinks in that way. My own view is very similar to that... We'll have to wait for the verdict. If she gets prison, theres nothing to be done, but if she gets a suspended sentence, she should try to return to her normal life as much as possible. On the other hand, once you've used drugs, you must be able to continue in a clean state, so you must also have the support around you to be able to stay clean.

T: I see, I see.

J: I think thats important.

T: Kami, what are your thoughts?

Kami: The same as Joe. There were no victims.

J: Yes, thats right. No one else was hurt by this.

T: An opposing opinion might be that, as a tv star, she might have a bad influence on young people. What would you say to that?

J: In that case,..well, i don't watch tv much, so I don't really know, but there are loads of scenes of people injecting stuff on talk shows or such, aren't there? Thats got to be more of a bad influence. I think people need to consider that more. Just because she appears on tv, it doesn't mean people are gonna start doing drugs.

K: Yeh, she isn't gonna do drugs on screen.

J: Yeah, rather, those scenes of syringes and stuff..

K: Yeh, the stuff on talk shows is more of a bad influence.

J: I think so.

T: So, in connection with this, what do you think about stopping the screening of movies etc which the person has starred in, which tends to happen at lot in the entertainment world..Joe san?

J: I can only describe it as nonsense. In the music world, it would be the withdrawal of records..., there is no meaning to it. Its totally separate from what they are expressing. As for music, no one ever talks about The Beatles' or The Rolling Stones' drug use. Thats a totally different issue...In relation to drugs, I think eradicating them is important, so for example, we could have a portion of that artist's sales being donated to organisations like DARC  (Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center) in Japan, for example, which would be a good way to use them. I can't see any merit in just withdrawing thier works. If an artist returns to thier life, but is unable to be musically active, well, Tashio san is a good example of this *2, the places they can exist disappear gradually, and they become isolated. This is really sad. There's a possibility that leaving people in that isolated state can have a further negative influence, so there is no point in limiting the places people can work, or withdrawing thier works. I think Japan's management of this issue is problematic. In America, they don't arrest people for using drugs, they arrest the buyers and such, and thats what makes the news. But in Japan, you can see who's using drugs just by checking your phone. In particluar, famous people who use drugs are made into targets, to scare people, and to show how much your life will be ruined if you use drugs. It seems like its a kind of boosting of the zero tolerance policy which the Ministry of Health and Welfare introduced in the 1990s. It seems like that to me anyway.

Kami: Couldn't they make some kind of isolated place available, where its ok to do drugs?

T: Thats new.

J: Another novel idea from Kami.

K: Well, but yeah.

Kami: Because people who like drugs, will just like them.

J: I think so.

Kami: Yeh, so if you do that...because there are people who feel happier after taking medicine right?

J, T: Yeh.

Kami: Couldn't those type of people go to some place and be allowed to do it?

K: Without any crime occurring, right?

J: Right

T: Yeh, thats it.

Kami: No crime.

J: Well, i don't know if this is the appropriate way to express this, but in the case of drug dependence, its clear that the number one drug which causes mental and physical dependence is alcohol, rather than 'drugs'. You won't get arrested for alchol dependence, and the reason for that is because alcohol is legal. But incidents or fatal accidents cause by alcohol are ceaseless. There are a few incidents annually where someone murders after using drugs but, for example, as for people at the station falling onto to train lines, sixty percent of those are drunk, and many more people are killed by drunk drivers than drug addicts.

K: Well, its because there are many more people who drink alcohol.

J: Yes, the proportion is bigger. So if you consider these incidents in this way, they are certainly happening. In relation to drugs, there isn't really any logical explanation for them being illegal, but they are still strictly controled. Its a bit strange, but in America...well, it might be strange to always talk only about America, but the ban on cannabis, or medical cannabis has been lifted in America. In Japan, we have a situation where we can't even discuss such a thing, so I feel like it may be a bit of Galapagos syndrome....What do you think, Tasai san, about (Sawajiri's return)?

T: Well, she won't be able to eat, if she can't do tv work. From the viewers perspective, as long as its done appropriately..

K: Don't you need sponsers for tv though? So its not something she can really decide herself. But..on the stage or theater, if there are people who want to see her, I don't think it should be a problem.

T: Yeah

K: If there are people who say they don't want to see her on the airwaves, well, they are going to say that.

J: What do you think about her comeback, Kaoru?

K: Its completey fine to do it. Well, I mean she was doing a bad thing, but she has to carry on living. She could also find a different job, thats fine too.  As for returning to the entertainment world, well, i dont really know, but she should return to some kind of work as soon as she can.

J: Yes, thats it...It might be difficult in the entertainment world.

T: Right..Especially with sponsers.

Kami: Isn't that ok though?

K: Yeah, they'll use who they want.

Kami: Its only whether the sponser will use her or not, right? On tv?

J: On tv, yes.

Kami: If they have a reason to use her, they will.

J: But as Kaoru said, she might have more freedom on the stage or something. There must be something that only she can do, so it seems at waste to just kill off her talent.

Kami: If she herself decides to lay low for a while and self reflect on what she did, thats ok too. No one needs to tell her to. Now, i mention it, its the same with alcohol. If you drink too much and end up being late, you can self reflect and show remorse. If it was me i would deduct it from thier salary though.

J: *laughs* How fresh.

Kami: Its just a problem of whether or not they self reflect on it.

T: I see

K: Well, it depends on the circumstances of the person.

Kami: Yeh, in the end. Of course, drugs, but alcohol and cigarettes etc are all bad too, right? I really want to emphasise that. But at the same time, there are people who like them, who will use them anyway. As a result they will be punished by the law, and that will be enough. I think that should be a salary deduction, and then be finished with it. But your boss or someone might be mad at you *3

T: I see

J: Its like, I've had a deduction, so forget about it already.

T: So, that was Tokyo Sports' news.

J: Ahh, Oh! I wanted to ask you, who is it? Celebrity 'X', who is about to be arrested?

K: *laughs*

T: We'll put the news out to the whole world, so..

J: You'll find this if you search for Tokyo sports news, 'X'.

T: Oh, i can't tell you.

J: You can't? Damn

K: Kami might know.

J: He might.

K: But he's only a god for us three.

J:Yeh

K: Maybe he doesn't know.

J: He's not a worldly god.

Kami: I know who it is.

J: Oh, you know?

Kami: I know.

J: Kami, who is it?

T: Joe, don't ask that!

J, K: *laugh*

T: It'll be announced to the world...my account will be banned.

K: We need people to subscribe, right.

J: Yes yes yes yes.

K: Thank you very much, see you next time. Thank you.

J, T: Thank you

*1 It is or it isn't/they are or they aren't, or that type of thing.

*2 No idea who this is.

*3 Not 100% about what he means here.

[otto-von-stirlitz]

Wicdiv #45 notes

 I It’s all so... weird and surreal. One last post to honor the tradition that really did keep me hooked on here for years. Something about those 5 years just ending. Having followed wicdiv almost from the beginning, I really feel attached to it and view it through a VERY personal lens of all the changes that happened during those years. From a depressed and passively suicidal 17yo in a highschool, to an almost graduated 22yo, trying to figure out it all with a bit more hope and a bit less of mental health issues. Eh, let’s cut it out and move to a standard spoilery bullet points format, I’m too wordy and pretentious

Of course this issue had to be happy and sad at the same point, as both life and death shine through as central motifs of the whole book, especially underlined here. Two sides of the same coin (no Yavien, you will not say ‘alexa play hyori ittai by yuzu’ to cry over hunter x hunter. no)

You know how as an urban activist I’m ideologically not a big fan of cars, but damn, that McKelvie design! Reminds me of prototypes of future cars I saw in the BMW musuem, kudos for capturing that futuristic tech feel.

I like the subtle implication that Eleanor did grow and change. But then again, she had so much time, so it’s not even that high of a bar.

‘What’s a funeral without morbidity?’ after all those years Cass stayed THE #1 goth of the cast (but Umar gets pretty close with channeling Cam). Yes, I love Cass and I love how after the kiss from #44 we got a whole ass lauracass feels issue, amazing, showstopping, incredible etc etc. You know, Im just a fan.

Gotta admit, reading the issue the first time I did miss that Laura says ‘them’ to refer to Zahid. It really explains why Kieron was so cagey about the pronouns ask back during Fandemonium. They did have time to explore thier gender and pronouns after all of the ‘2 years’ baiting. It’s a win for the nbs (sobs and cries on the floor)

Also goddamn McKelvie really popped off with all the older character designs? All those little details and shout-outs to their youger selves? And all the Minanke practice in drawing basically the same character but as a teen and as a grandma did pay off. And this all while chasing deadlines with hypermobility? Chapeau bas. Although I’m sad that Jon got his fathers aging genes, however his mom looked that age must’ve been better...

‘Every time it rains’ yes A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SHOUTOUT BUT I AM ALRIGHT I REPEAT I AM ALRIGHT ITS NOT TEARS, IT RAINS (haha both baal ref and fma hughes funeral ref IA M FINE)

Also I’m crying for Aruna, she was in such a bad place by #13 and this issue? HEr new body? The way she learned to mix miracles and songs? And in general finally having this authority over her life? And deciding to use it paritally to help people she often barely knew? I am fine i repeat

Meredith and Zoe, glad to see you and your names confirmed and a confirmation that you were also a part of the Pantheon

Umar’s line about hospitals (and the picture from #16) seems to imply Cass passed away after some illness. Eleanor saying it’s unfair that she smoked and ‘got away’ with it and Cass being prepared she’d die soon kinda ties into that theory? Was it cancer or something else?

Also yeah re: that pic (and the invitation to Was It Cam Or Cass debate) - Umar has two hands, period. And like the fact that Umar literally quotes words Cam said moments before his death in Umar’s hospital room? Yeah, it’s really raining, lieutenant...

Delivering your own eulogy via a hologram is exactly this level of gay panache that Cass would embrace, I LOVE HER SO MUCH. Also being nice AF to literally everyone but in the snarkiest way possible? PEAK CASS. But yeah, something more changed because she wears a white (!!!) shirt. Now that’s a massive wardrobe change

Zahid being one of the closest friends of Cass? I love this song

Also ‘you were never my type. until you were’ should be An Iconic quote of gay tumblr and twitter and yes i will be using it as my lauracass otp tag from now on.

Also Cass focus on how everyone changed themself and tried to change the world, so the future people are born into a better one.

And yeah, same, I also didnt always want to be buried beneath a tree but now as I’m growing out of my old edgeperson ways? It sounds wonderful, I want to be an acorn even after death.

Also yeah, the final themes of growth that takes time, becoming better and finding hope... they resonate with me now, as I also feel like I’ve been through hell for 2 (or actually more, i think) years. But you know, rip to that old me but im different (now). Thank you Kieron for luring me into a flashy colorful YA, then a messed up and depressive story, and then climbing up the walls of hell back when I did. It was not always going to be okay, but then it was okay.

And yes, to the whole fandom, fandom that let me find so many friends all over the world and grow up as a person and have so much fun with our stupid puns and shitposts: I love you. I’ll miss you. (but honestly, still feel free to HMU etc, its not like we actually die. We just lost a source of monthly engagement, thats it. Im just a dramatic lil shit too)

Also yeah, one last word: may Two Slow Dancers by Mitski be the final, ultimate Lauracass song. Let’s all play it now, and cry. No, it’s not raining anymore, I really am crying thinking about Them.

[roxannepolice]

Long asks anon again, here to offer my opinion on the current wank. Rey as a character is rather blatantly breaking sw story rules and nothing is going to get SFF fans hackles up like rule breakage. This is root of both the MarySue accusations and current wank. Rey has a tragic backstory thats doubling as the only failure she can call her own. But its a) damn near entirely offscreen and b) serves as convenient justification for why shes competent at near everything that comes up.

Reys instantly good at the force because of a convenient force download that to the best of my knowledge only occured in the noncanon KOTOR II and quite frankly cant blame most of the general audience for not getting because without prior knowledge or the novelizations why would they? She has darkness in her but as so far used and touched it consequence free and its almost entirely symbolically externalized on the Kylo (and in SW symbolism is Real in a way it isnt in other narratives) Shes strong in the force because Light rises to meet Dark but to quote the current crop of movies ‘thats not how the force works) or at least thats never how it worked before. Shes the first SW protagonist to go behind enemy lines and come out with both hands in the second movie. For ppl wondering how come Luke and Ani never get labeled MarySues, this is why, they got thier asses handed to them, Rey hasnt. There /is/ something /off/ in Reys story, and ppl pick up on it. if you can make a post (w/ over 1k notes!) about how great it is that a character meant to prop up 7hrs worth of movies has little to no character development to go through, somethings off. If multiple ppl can make posts about how its neat Rey can tap into the darkside (still characterized as evil in ST) consequence free (with some quite frankly stupid justifications, 'shes disciplined’ really? jedi lacked a lot of things thats not one of them) somethings off and again, if the only failure your main heroine has is /entirely retroactive something’s off/. If the story were getting with the is the story most ppl think we are, a 'female empowerment’ (i dont feel particularly empowered by being told I have an equal chance at being a deus ex machina but ok) than well, her story is over and theres no need for IX (hell it could have been over in TFA, most ppl assumed she had accepted her place as the future jedi in that one) and no need for reylo The ST was always gonna deconstruct all that came before it purely by virtue of being a sequel. The tragedy of anakin skywalker is now a farce, the happy ot ending now a tragedy, and the mythopoetic structure shot to shit in the name of serialization and perpetual warfare. this stand true for all the sequel characters including rey and ben. the only question is are we going to get anything out of it? I compare it to home renovation. You can knock out a wall and the walls gone, but new opportunities arise. With Benlo, I’m reasonably confident that there will be at least some attempt to take advantage of the new space. With rey and the resistance kids? not so much. it just feels like they knocked down a blue wall to rebuild it as pink one and at the point it just feels like a waste of time because ive seen this before. Ive seen pure cinnamon roll desert orphan reform jedi order If this was all youre going to do that the fuck was the point? which circles around to my problem with team good guy this go around and That Scene. JJ twisted the story into a pretzel to justify the winners of the last round being the underdogs again and then rian twisted so much further the storys head may as well be up its own ass. And then at the very end he shoots it all to shit and rushes to reassure us its all gonna be okay. He removes the entire point of the underdog trope /the tension that comes from the fact that they might lose/. I mean there wasnt a whole lot of that to begin with already but really? So theres no tension that Reys gonna win so her journey feels frictionless, and theres no question where shes gonna end up so full offense why give a shit? Thats where the whole 'can rey lose a fight?’ thing comes from. Ppl want conflict in her arc to justify its existence and give us a reason why this her story to begin with. if the only character going through growth for all three movies is ben, if the only characters whos fate is up in the air is ben, and if all the tension in the reylo relationship comes from ben, then why is this /reys story/? why not just make it about the character actually driving all the drama and thus, the story?   As a final thought, im going to add that having Kylo be aware and insecure that hes never gonna be as Iconic as Vader was a great story choice, regardless of where ends up. Current Rebels, on the other hand, seems to have not gotten the memo that they are never gonna be as iconic as Original Rebels, and the story itself seems to being trying to sell them to me as being better. Rey is Luke but better, Poe/Finn are Han wo the smuggler grit, and id be lying if i said it didnt piss me off.

&

Long asks anon to kick down ur door again, AND ANOTHER THING. SW is a lotta things. Subtle aint one of them, and St hasnt changed in that regard. If you have to debate it chances are either a) ur arguing counter to the text in which case mor power to you but not really helpful for predictions or intended meaning or b) /it aint there. A bunch of ppl didnt like anidala, but nobody doubted we were supposed to think they were in love by the end of AOTC, bunch of ppl didnt like poes arc, but no one doubts he fucked up by not listening to holdo was the intended take away. Which brings to rey and flaws or lack there of. Were told rey has flaws but she has yet to suffer any real consequences from them with the exception of The Damn Parentage Wank, which again, pulls the double duty of making her hyper competent at everything. Because rey has no consequences for her flaws, from a story function pov there aren’t any. If rey did have a flaw to overcome, we would all agree what it was

Now won’t you all just look at this beautiful, spot on rant which has been lagging in my askbox since the last time Rey’s flaws or lack thereof were the discourse’s focus (November, I believe?) and suddenly became a thing again, courtesy of Tweetgate. I think you really summed up the crux of this debate wonderfully, anon.

I particularly agree with the part about Rey not getting narratively punished for whatever flaws we’d like her to have (great point about returning from behind the enemy lines with both arms still in place), when SW don’t stay away from allowing characters to get “punished” even for otherwise applaudable features - vide Padmé, whose idealism is what Palps manipulates into gaining more power (this is why Padmé will never come off as a Mary Sue or too perfect, btw). But I’ll say even more - Rey doesn’t even get called out on her flaws, except for by Ben, who’s mostly dismissed as a baddie like Palpatine saying Luke was foolish to rely on his friends. Let’s just consider one thing - both Anakin and Luke get called out on their flaws by Yoda (Anakin repeatedly and by lots of other people for that matter) whereas with Rey, the same grumpy-yet-jolly senex pops up from the afterlife to further inform us what a great jedi material she is.

TBH, I have a very cynical theory as to why Rey is being pushed as the main character while it’s difficult to deny that it’s Kylo Ben who does all the plot heavy lifting. I’m pretty sure Ben’s arc was the first one DLF thought out (and the big question is, was it the only one they thought out) and only later on decided to make Rey the main character, which also involved much less spontaneous writing. Mind you, it’s not as if benepemption didn’t have a manufactured subtaste to it, but with Rey’s heroine’s journey stiff structure occasionally substitutes any in-world explanations of her actions (this is why I have to hope renperor has some narrative purpose rather than happening because lovers need to be separated and anti-hero needs to achieve what he wanted in 2nd act). I feel as if whatever potential her character had (and hopefully still has, pending IX) got smothered by layer upon layer of making her likable by everyone, which largely relied on negative characterization: she’s not helpless, she’s not too naive, not cynical, not too emotional, not too emotionless, not morally corruptible, not anything you’ve ever complained about regarding any SW character, not falling for the bad boy, not not not - and in the end it’s kinda difficult to say what Rey is like and while the goal of making her widely likable was achieved, it also made it almost impossible to view her as loveably flawed/annoying like the classic characters. And on top of all this is the matter of making her a nobody just like you!, as DLF appears to say with uncle Sam’s gesture (which also kinda assumes the existence of a Star Wars fan as some uniform entity? because if you identify with her, good for you, I just don’t understand why the franchise assumes I’ll identify with her by the grace of being a SW fan alone), because, as you excellently put it, the message here is that everyone can be chosen by God - which again, it’s not as if the saga ever contradicted this, so why the hell make a case of it? I can’t agree that it’s made into Rey’s flaw, though, imo her low birth only serves to further frame her as an oppressed virtue. And I definitely agree regarding too much of her growth being left off-screen, or before the story ever begins. The problem here isn’t even that it is left off-screen (it’s not as if we had huge insight into any of the pt or ot characters) but rather that her characterizations is left off-screen while being depicted as at least untypical (unique to put it bluntly) for her situation (same goes for Finn). A hopeful, kind person growing up on her on her own in slavery under a nicer name is a rarity and DLF makes a case for it being a rarity - and this sparks up curiosity in her past, as if market pandering to Re/sky wasn’t enough. So from this pov her un-reveal being frustrating isn’t just a case of not wanting to love her or her self only a potentially deeper psychological question getting answered with well, light.

I should add, Ben’s arc feels like the most spontaneous one (though Finn’s may yet be a masterpiece) and he’s the one to admit his fear of not living up to Vader’s legacy, because I think he’s the character serving as the creators’ vessel, more or less like Luke was Lucas’ avatar in ot. In his fear regarding Vader’s legacy one can feel Disney’s fear due to having bought popculture’s holy grail and not being entirely sure what to do with it. On this background, Rey (a literal scavenger of OT’s pieces) and rebels 2.0 repeatedly blessed by Leia come off as what DLF would want to be. And the result is that the character which was supposed to be Vader 2.0 proves the most original and surprising one, whereas “breaths of fresh air” come off as room aromatizers with “fresh” written on them.

And as far as the plot being bended into a pretzel and then disappearing up it’s own ass, well, a part of me is still hoping that taking virtually the same villains as before is a mythological-psychoanalitical metaphor of a nigredo repeating itself until the unconscious gets accepted by the conscious…. but, tbh, as the leaks flow this hope is withering.

[thoughtfulpaperback]

SPOILERS!!!! CHARMED 1x19

Okay y'all, I've finally seen the latest episode of Charmed.

So... overall I actually like the episode. I like that we are getting into the lore more. I like that connection to and the differences between the OG Charmed.

So in the OG Charmed magic isnt necessarily neutral. There is good and evil magic but (at least in the first few seasons) there was the idea that magic had to be balanced which is why there was a council made up of elders and demons to protect that balance and ensure the secrecy of magic.

Reboot Charmed I like the idea that all magic comes from one source and it is the actions that determine evil or good. Which just reaffirms what Harry has told Macy. By the same hand, there are some plot holes in all that. Macy is having a little bit of trouble with her demonic side since they said demon blood acts as an infection (and apparently Parker didnt always have it) that would mean that although witches are born demons are not or at least special conditions have to be met, maybe? So not sure how they will explain that. Also Macy is obviously having trouble with her demon side now. I dont know if her emotional state after the break up is contributing to that since her confidence is probably shaken as well as the fact breakups suck.

I actually don't mind the opening scene showing the Sarcana deaths. Hold on! Let me explain. The big villains of the show are white, I dont know if that is on purpose. I see they are trying to be diverse by having non-white witches and non-witches. So when you are trying to have diverse casting and people have to die and you only have white villains, your POCs are always gonna be on the chopping block. Which is why i think having diversity on a show is hard because you cant be callous with any of your characters (in general I dont think you should be, but i feel a lot of show writers write for shock or angst) because you have to remember that certain storylines take on a different meaning when the actors are non white. For example, OG charmed wasnt a stranger to mass murder. Season 4 started with the slaughter of the Elders and whether you were pro or anti elder that was still shocking as heck. Which I think the reboot was trying to do with the Sarcana. The issue is that in the OG we had 3 seasons of elders exploring thier faults and the good they do, and both the slaughters(titans) and elders were white (well primarily white, I think we only got to see like 2 non white elders in the entire series if I remember correctly). Here you have a white villian and mostly POCs being slaughtered. I totally see how wrong that looks and I think the writers or the casting directors either missed that or they are being heavy handed with the idea of abusive white villains against POCs. I think the scene was about showing how aweful and abusive Fiona is, also revealing her main motivation, that they dropped the ball on the whole "you are murdering most of you POCs here which arent main characters".

Speaking of abusive. I still want Villian Charity. I want her to take out Alastair and be an active villain not a passive one. I mentioned before that see would probably be a passive one before, but I said I wished she wouldn't be. I like villains. I like well written villains mostly. I think Charity has the perfect set up to be good villian. She began her own fall from grace (although the structure which taught her had a hand in it too), she fell into bigger evil under a tyrannical and abusive character, if she goes Lilith (CAOS reference) and decides to replace Alistair some way as the big bad I will be happy. Because I dont want to watch her be a meek used and abused character to then either be killed or do some sort of self sacrifice thing. She straight up murdered people and is a villain in spite of mostly being passive. Cole was killed in the OG charmed because at some point (we can argue about exactly where) his actions were irredeemable. Yes his story was complex, yes a lot of miscommunication and power dynamics went into all the issues there but the line had to be drawn. Charity, at least in my mind cannot go back to being "a good guy". She is getting in deeper and deeper. She obviously has emotional ties still to her sister and probably Harry, just as Cole did with Phoebe, and I want to see where those ties lead her. But I will be disappointed if after murdering a bunch of people and helping out a demon to try and bring on the apocalypse, they make her an abuse victim who dies. Not cool. Stop hurting abuse victims for emotional reactions on television! I know many abuse victims are killed by their abusers (RIP Dr. Wagner although Hunter did it we know who ordered him to). I dont want to see it overdone on the same show within a few short episodes. Charity shouldnt get off free for her murders either even though she is obviously in an abusive relationship now with Alistair (not talking romantic relationship) she has been set up to become a villian, tragic back story yes ,but her choices were made and she has to live with the unintended consequences.

Macy was being super toxic this episode. Let's at least call her out for it. Yes, imo Galvin hasnt been that great of a boyfriend except for a couple of cute moments (the really didnt get enough screen time to say whether the good outweighed the bad). But Macy needed to leave him alone. Like the whole time watching this episode I was just like "so are they spreading out the Cole and Phoebe arch to everyone?". He obviously is traumatized. He already told her he was out. I know she is hurting, imo they way he broke up with her made it worse and messed up her confidence even more than it could have, but she still seeks him out even though that is a violation of his boundaries. I dont like how he attacked her personality when he said that he couldnt compartmentalize the way she can. Macy does do that, I agree that they probably would have broken up because of that, but again he could have just said "I dont see it that way, please understand that". That also said, Macy trying to convince him other wise also rubbed me that wrong way. When he questioned her thoughts and actions over her demon side it was hella wrong! Equally for her to question him over how he feels about what happened to him. They are his feeling and she needed to respect that. I think that they arent right for each other and are kinda bring out the worst in each other. If Galvin gets killed because of magic I will be upset, because he firmly expressed that he wanted out, and if Macy or his lingering feelings for her get him killed that would be unfair. Just as unfair as charity dying doing something good after being abused and manipulated (abuse should never be a punishment I dont want a theon grey joy on Charmed characters shouldnt have to be abused to convince the audience that they deserve to be redeemed).

Parker and Maggie...I feel for Parker. I do. But your decision to not play a part in bringing about the apocalypse shouldnt be based on whether or not your girlfriend wants to be with you. I get it, he is freaked out and he thinks he killed his mom. Charity killed elders out of panic and I didnt cut her slack. I called her story a tragedy but didnt suggest her actions werent heinous. Parker is the same. I am getting Romeo and Juliet vibes here. Like stupid kids making stupid decision based on misunderstandings and feelings beyond thier Ken (or at least infatuation and adolescent hormones beyond thier knowledge). I never liked Romeo and Juliet so that could just be me.

I dont know. When my brother passed away I felt dead, my whole world and future as i saw just crumbled. I was depressed and had some PTSD (according to my doctor). Even though I had suicidal ideations, I still feel that in Parkers place I wouldnt do something that would involve hurting other people. I wanted to go away or disappear, but the idea of hurting others would be too much for me. And Parker is supposed to be this nice guy who has been fighting his demon side before he met Maggie. Maggie gave him the motivation to break away from his father but he was never into hurting people. So to go from that to, "let's destroy the world, I've got nothing to lose" ....except you might end up killing Maggie and a whole bunch of other people in the process. Considering he was horrified thinking he hurt his mom, it doesnt seem to be in character. Again Romeo is not thinking things through, but like not thinking things through was kind of Romeo's thing whereas for Parker not so much.

So like Mel and Niko should be the new Piper and Leo. Like they should be the one couple that despite there issues (only if it is done better than leo and piper was) makes it til the end from the very beginning. I am a Hacy fan but as the episodes go on I feel that they both need a lot of growth before that happens.

Speaking of Harry. I love him. He has recieved the best character growth within a season I've seen. So like he is an established good guy (not good as in not evil, but like a genuinely not trashy person) but obviously his faults kind of go along with his emotional boundaries. He gets attached really fast and that can cloud his judgment. His whole Charity relationship was so teenager in nature that I wanted to slap him upside the head, but I think he is ment to be compared to Fiona. In spite of being created and used as a tool of the Elders and being tossed aside coldly (although he was an idiot in many ways where Charity was concerned) after years of loyal and good service, he doesnt turn into a trash monster. He doesnt use being abused as an excuse to abuse others. Fiona is so angry (not gonna say she doesnt have a right to be) at being a tool for others that she uses and abuses people and feels justified in it.

I totally get her wanting to extinguish magic. But like ber issue is that magic made people want to use her as a tool and that power and having power ruined her life.... wouldnt it make more sense to just bind your powers and wipe you mind? Like less carnage and you get the same result. A life without magic. See doesnt seem to be doing it to protect others, it seems more like she wants to hurt them by taking thier power.

The episode was ok. Things moving along and I will be watching. I really want to know where they go from here and what the big finale will be.

The lore needs some help, maybe with the new staff coming on board that will be ironed out next season.

I think the last episode was better pacing wise. This one felt a little slow to me. Anyone else feel that way. Lots of problem introduced this episode I am hoping they will lead to satisfying conclusions. Or at least a super good itch for the next season. I will probably still continue to watch either way next season because for its faults I think this show is doing some really great things and i am still excited for them.

How are y'all feeling though?

[pepperstrawberry]

Anime or not to Anime...

This post got looong. So, yeah Pepper rant and ramble. Going to put it all under the cut. X3

So... a post thing that happened earlier reminded me of one of my biggest pet peeves: What is and isn’t an ‘anime’.

So... while ‘anime’ can -generally- be used as an identifier of animations made in Japan, it’s really just another word that muddles the conversation.

Anime is literally a borrow word from English: A NI ME SHION. Animation.

Yes, I know for the most part this is common knowledge, but it isn’t often -applied- as common knowledge.

Often when folks are in a discussion, a debate, or even an argument about Anime, it’s often used as a hard line ‘style’ or ‘medium’.

Anime is neither.

Animation is a medium the world over. And every part of the world has different approaches, attitudes, and styles within the medium that effects the local ‘crop’ that is produced.

but we live in an interconnected, global world. Have for many years. So we effect each other, by trope, by culture, by style. Hell even before ‘Anime’ came over here, Osamu Tezuka was inspired and influnced by Disney. ‘Anime’ was effected by American cartoons (which weren’t always a word for ‘animation for children, that connotation came later, and even became a bit of a degragotory term. as if ‘cartoons are for kids and we don’t have to try to make it quality’).

Now, I can’t remember if one came first or the other (and I”m too lazy at the moment to do a google search), but either things like the Hanna Barbera cartoons where influenced by the cost saving tricks that Anime learned, or the other way around, but America and Japan have actually been very influential for much longer then what we think. 

Trying to draw a specific line between what’s Japanese and what is American (or even what comes from anywhere else) as a specific way to categorize what should and shouldn’t look a certain way only muddies the conversation about animation.

Yes, when it comes to talking about certain works, or cultural impact, or how culture can effect a work, place can matter. But when arguing what is and isn’t an ‘anime’, I want you to remember one thing:

In japan? IT’S ALL ANIME.

They might say American Anime like we say ‘Japanese Anime’, but the only reason why they would use something like Cartoon is similar to how we use ‘anime’, that is to short hand -where- a show comes from.

That’s it. Where. Not animation style or anything. Because there is no reason. Sure, some of our stuff they might look down on, and some of thier stuff isn’t all that hot too.

You know why?

Because there isn’t a single monolithic animation studio in American OR Japan. We both have many animation studios. Plural. With many different styles tackled. Some focus on specific styles and tropes, some can be all over the place.

Like, Disney tends toward pretty homogonistic work (tends, not always), and similarly, Kyoto Animation (kyoani) tends to be the same way.

But the on the other hand, we have things like Cartoon Network Studios and Bones that handle a lot of different styles.

Yes, I know there is a lot of hairs we can split about that, but my base point is: If I am asked is ‘Korra’ an anime, or if it’s not. I don’t know my answer.

Going by the approach of the style, I would say yes.

But going by country it was made, I would say no.

And in the end, does it matter? No. Because both answers are right. Neither is really wrong. Because, again, the word ‘anime’ is only really special to us in american. We try to pigeon hole it as if it described a style.

And sure, there is still that ‘country of origin’ argument... accept 1) Folks from japan worked on it and Avatar to some extent.

And more importantly, both have a lot of the grunt work done in Korea. Seriously. Like, the more you try to define it specifically to use the word, the more you either make the word meaningless or leave out things you thought were ‘anime’.

I’m not saying ‘lets not use it’, cause in general usage, it is useful. It’s easy to -generally- point to something and say ‘that’s anime’ and generally mean ‘it was created in japan’.

I’m just saying getting all pedantic and bent out of shape about it is a fruitless waste of time when we can have more intelligent and interesting conversations.

Like: Was an element or style used well in this or that show? Was there problematic elements. Was it fun? Well animated? Did whatever style was chosen, no matter country of origin, fit the tone needed to carry the story being told. Where did they cut on the budget and did it pay off or only make things worse?

Example: The Dragon Prince. Is it anime? I don’t care. It’s style works well enough for what they are going for. My issue with it is that they tried to use a trick to make it look like 2d animation by cutting out some frames. Worked well for the action scenes but made the slower scenes somehow way herky jerky and made the whole thing feel like a really cheep production.

(I would dredge up some japanese animation examples, but I’ve been out of the loop, and it’s been years since I binged much. only recently watched Heroman all the way through and working on My Hero Academia. And by the by, where does Heroman fall? Sure, it’s made in japan, but conceived by Stan Lee. And I’m sure if we dug a bit, we could find more fun examples of that.)

My bottom line here is, for general purposes, using ‘anime’ for what looks and feels like anime should be fine. It’s like using ‘sci fi’ or ‘fantasy’. It’s less about the exactness of the tropes or style used, and more like this difficult to define ‘that’ that we look at a thing and see.

Oh, also: Manga, also known as ‘Manhwa’ in Korea, means ‘sequential art’. I.E. COMICS. Same thing. And again, my entire spiel above? Applies here too. LIke, putting it all under ‘its manga’ only serves to try and say where its from... but the trouble with that is even more then with Anime/cartoons there are a crap ton of artists influenced as much if not more by those that created stories we like from japan as much as those from America.

And saying ‘manga style’ doesn’t help. Which style? Japanese influenced I can go for, but it is a mouth full.

I think my main argument is we are hitting a point of media saturation where the argument for Anime and Manga (aside from a very basic short hand) is loosing any real meaning.

Tropes, style, inspirations. These are more interesting to discuss. Which japanese or american artists (or even others) were you influenced by is much better angle of discussion if going deeper then the most basic general audience knowledge base.

If you are an artist, and I am an artist and we are discussing art, I think the second we start trying to parse out what is or isn’t anime outside of that layman level, it’s best to stop worrying about it. I think it’s more interesting to discuss what directly influenced RWBY beyond just ‘anime’. And how well did it use those influences.

I mean, look at WB. Teen Titans really -tried- to reference and be all ‘super deformed kawaii’ and in that ended up in tone whiplash with some of the more heavier story elements. Sometimes it does it well like Trigun did**, and many many other times? Yeah. But then look at all the other shows they have made since.I love Young Justice. Granted it doesn’t get as super looney tunes/super deformed kawaii silly with it’s jokey-ness, but it does still have a sense of humor at times and does very well. If we stuck with the ‘is it anime’ just going by style alone, I would say ‘yes’. The shading, the way they make many of the battles. It really works like that. It’s just it wasn’t created in Japan.

So yeah. Basically what I”m saying is, if you start trying to split hairs about what is or isn’t anime with me, your wasting your time. It’s not that it isn’t an interesting question on it’s own (that could do with a lot of research to see who influenced what. I’m sure there is more of a rabbit hole then I have already touched on); but when arguing about shows themselves, it’s just a waste of energy when we could be having more fun discussing the show itself.

(**I have always felt, no matter japanese, american, or anywhere, that show balanced its tone shift amazingly. top marks... granted, the ending was kinda... abrupt, but that is a common problem and I think it even handled that decently well given the situation)

[d-wntherabbithole]

For the past 6 months I have done what most would call shadow work. I was put in a situation where I had two chooses. One I can allow the circumstances I am currently in to solidify the unworthiness I feel internally or I can do some deep cleaning. It has been one hell of a ride. I have dug so deep within myself. So many intense experiences but I stuck it out. Why? For myself. For my future self. For the people I love and want to love. Let me make something clear this enlightenment came with so much pain. Pain I was scared to face. I had been running so long when I finally stopped it felt like I was hit my a train.

But now I find myself catching things (even if it takes a while) and truly reflecting. Things I never thought I can do. I am very proud of myself. I am no longer ashamed of my past nor do I cling on to it to victimize myself. Simply now I reflect and have gained so much insight from it all regardless of how painful the lessons were. I AM a better person for it.

Let me start off with how for so long I have always tormented myself with the things others have held over my head, whether it be some mistakes I have made, or things others have done. I have always lived my life with this idea that I always needed to compromise myself and what I want to please other people. Since I could recall I always found myself in situations whether it be family like (my siblings or my parents) or friends even boyfriends where I was always over compensating, always needing to do the most to prove I am worthy of thier love, affection, time, consideration.

Constantly going against the grain of my own heart because I believed if I didn’t I would end up with nothing. I mean I learned this idea from my father, not directly but with his action or should I say lack there of. He abandon my mother and her children not just me. But nonetheless his absence left me in ruins. I was left trying to teach myself what a mans love should look like and I never had good examples. So of course you could imagine how my adolescent and teenage years looked like. After my father and all that truama the second most traumatic experience I had with a “man” was in 4th grade where I had a math teacher that was my tutor after school and on two occasions he molested me. I’ll never forget the words he whispered to me as he did it “ no one will believe you if you tell” he was right. I remember finally confessing to my mom what happen she was anger so we went in for a school meeting. I remember sitting in the room with the principle and expressing what happen and she actually had the nerve to tell me “no honey. I’m sure there is a miss understanding I know him he would never do that” I remember vividly feeling so confused. Thinking to myself maybe she is right it must be me once again I found myself doubting myself. On one hand losing all faith in myself and on the other losing all trust in others. I was this sweet, kind hearted baby girl that felt like she had the world on her shoulders.

The gap between this experience and the next big one was long but definitely not uneventful. Full of hatred from my sibling ( which we’re going through their own suffering but nonetheless this is my truth) one sided friendships, misguiding teachers.

Side note: Isn’t it unfortunate we all have a habit of taking the most from the worst of things. At least I can say for myself I find it much easier to think of the negative experiences then the uplifting ones. Now as an adult is when I am much more mindful of focusing on the positive.

So the next banger was my shit choices for boyfriends. Haven’t had many to begin with but there’s one that left a really painful scar. I dated him through highschool and a bit of my first years of college. As I am sure you can tell from above I had a fucked up image of myself and what honest pure love was so supposed to be (honestly still trying to learn what love is). So imagine my dismise when I ended up with a kid that was an extreme darker version of me. Double the insecure, constantly needing validation from everyone, misguided anger for his father and the world. Ashamed of who he was. I can go on but I think it’s obvious where this is going. He was just like me but intensified. I was just the weaker version of him because as a girl I felt like I was stripped of any form of confidence I had. So I thought oh yeah this seems right this is love. I mean if I am going based off experience where love is something I have to fight out of the people I love or just simply dealing with passive aggressive people & being “understanding” then yeah that seems about right. So I fought on like I always do. Over extending myself always giving giving giving. Slowly stripping away at the baby girl inside that was already so hurt. This guy mentally and physically abused me. Cheated on me left and right. Me being weak I always took him back. It was literally like I had blinders on. Till finally the anger set in. There was a shift. Once I finally said enough the first chance he got he left. There was still something inside me that wanted my justification so I tried to get it out of him. So much resistance. For months it was this ugly back and fourth. Till finally the radio went dead.

At that point I was a 20 year old kid that truly had no idea what the fuck was going on. But I will tell you I was full of pain, rage and fear. I was angry at so many things I didn’t even know where to start. I mean imagine just based on my short story above I had a lot of things pent up. I since a little girl taught myself how to suppress everything. I mean I had no other choose. My family didn’t listen, my friends didn’t understand. I felt alone in this world.

What came after this was what I would like to call the beginning to my end. I was slowly approaching the end of my rope. I was reckless. Imagine a little girl full of sadness, pain and anger stirring me. I was a tornado like someone once called me. But you know those are short lived. Then you’re left with all the damage and destruction you caused. That’s when the unraveling began. All the demons I tucked away so deeply started spewing out of the seems of my soul. There was no hiding it anymore. I had so much hurt inside me there was no explaining it.

You know when you are angry with someone but you keep pushing it aside but then they do one little insignificant thing and it blows the cap off. Then everyone looks at you like tf this bitch is crazy lol.

Well that’s what happen. My soul said to me. You have ran enough. Down the line I was even hospitalized for a failing kidney. It was one of the wildest experiences ever. Felt like my body gave up on me. It was receptive to nothing. Spiritually it felt like I was being reborn after it all pasted. If I can find the words one day to explain the experience I will. But I still can’t.

I met someone in the mist of all this ugly, unfortunately. A guy that could see through all the masks I was wearing. A guy that I can remember vividly telling me regularly “I can see you’re acting so hard but I can tell you are very soft on the side” I didn’t like it. I thought the “hardness” he was referring too was my protection. I had been hurt so many times I knew nothing else. I said unfortunately because sadly he met me at my absolute worst.

But I now know God put a person like that in my life for a purpose. I know the experiences him and I went through in the beginning are things I am not proud of. But it exposed me. I used to think it exposed me to the world so I felt judged but I know now what it truly did was expose that version of me to myself. Kinda like a look what you have become type of thing. See what your sadness has caused. Sadly at the expense of people that I love. But nonetheless it was the beginning of my awakening. God put all these people I spoke of above and many more I didn’t mention good and bad for a reason.

Point of sharing all this is because through my shadow work I have taught myself to look at what I have been through as my journey. It is what made me the woman I am today. Regardless of how painful. So sharing it here even if I know no one is gonna see it. It is subconsciously a way of facing my shame, or fear of judgement. My experience/past is what molded me. Don’t like it? It makes you uncomfortable? You wouldn’t have done it? well then you’re not for me. Whether you’re family, friends I have had for years or a partner. We are all on our own path. What is meant for you won’t pass you by.

For SO LONG I felt so ashamed, unworthy, always in lack. Like everything I have done, my parents, the way people have treated me defined me as a person you know?

But it feels so good to finally over come that frame of mind. I can see I have changed when I see things, read things, remember things now that would usually trigger the fuck out of me.

It is liberating to release myself from this grip. Even when I feel some type of way now the way I take it in is different.

From all this I have learned that those things from my past that I was so fucking ashamed of does NOT define me.

I hope through my own lessons I can teach or help those I love or anyone for that matter. Just simply help people understand that no matter how ugly the past is you have the power to change your future. I would love to assist and motivate people to love & believe in themselves. I wanna see people growing, happy and truly at peace with themselves. I know now if I want something I must become it.

The love & validation you seek from others is all within. Once I realized that is when I noticed I need no one. I am not afraid to stand alone. That is when I truly began to live freely. I will admit it is so hard because living in uncertainty is scary but it’s knowing that you’re all you need is a beautiful feeling.

If anything when you learn to let go of the pain and love yourself like you wish all those people around you would you learn how to truly value the people around you.

All in all I am grateful for my life and who I am. I am grateful for those who were kind to me. I am grateful for those who mistreated and misunderstand me. I am grateful for it all now.

I know now truly that I deserve love, respect , compassion & understanding. I feel fullness in my heart because I choose to give all those things to myself. I have faith that good, whole hearted people will find me. Those who have the same drive as me and are willing to give me everything I am willing to give.

What you give you get. That goes for the good and bad you put out. You will rep what you sow.

God has done so many beautiful things for me even in the mist of my worst moments and for that I forever grateful.

I am a good woman. I gotta remind myself to be proud of that more often. I am growing into the woman that I can say I am proud of and I did it all on my own.

Woke up feeling all this. Something in my heart told me to release it.

Here is to endless growth, healing and self love.



[hollypop]

Uhhh,,, I kinda also agree there should be more exploration about Belphegor's mindset on humans (and his own family) and why it changes so drastically to what he is currently in the game. And what's going on in his headspace during lesson 16 to even have such a sudden, drastic change in opinion after the reveal...

I personally like Belphie as a character, though he's not my favorite (that's Levi, I relate to him on a spiritual level) though I have a lot of Feelings on this overly specific tidbit about Belphegor (and lesson 16 as a whole; though, who doesn't in this fandom 😌?)

More under the cut:

I always found it weird that the game talked up Belphegor's love for humans in story but then never really integrated that into his character aside from the aforementioned lilith shitshow and it makes it kinda feel arbitrary?? Like outside of lilith, that trait was sort of tacked on or something....

I'm also of the opinion that despite what he did and what happened in game, he never truly hated humanity in the first place; he was more than likely afraid of them to a degree due to the trauma Belphegor experienced losing his sister in the celestial war because she loved one

(A bit of meta here, but I headcanon that a trait both demons and angels share is actually a dislike for humanity's agency and the ability to instill/cultivate that agency in others as angels are defaultly loyal to thier Father and while they can be individuals, ultimately won't truly step out of line; demons being unable to completely resist thier own sin or a binding of power if its on them even for the sake of survival,,,, Belphegor's along with Lucifer's issues plays into this theory a bit)

Ignoring the angelic demons event and later lessons for a bit (didn't do them), I think pre fall Belphie might have been extremely naive to the point of obliviousness (as much as an angel of heaven can be) about certain subjects

Or better said, he was wearing very rose tinted glasses due to being sheltered from real consequences for actions and being spoiled as the babies of the family with his twin and Lilith until the war

And then those glasses broke so severely that he couldn't see anything else but his mistakes or the ones he could make (and the ones his family made along the way)

This includes the fact that he liked humans enough to sneak visits to their world as a 'perceived' mistake

It didn't help that most of the brothers withdrew well into themselves (👀Lucifer) without really, truly grieving at what they had lost

Or that they basically had an unplanned sibling to take care of (oof I'm so sorry Satan) too

And so like many people who are put into that position in life, he spiralled into a self destructive mindset about life; tunnel visioning on that one trait of himself and the rest is... history I guess

(I also headcanon that for those whose mcs never completely moved past what happened in lesson 16 or hate him for it was the second time Belphegor faced Consequences for his actions in life. A living monument to his sins much?)

I kinda wish the fandom actually did explore that paradox with Belphegor a bit more, like he relearns what he originally loved about humans through mc (besides romantically of course) or the buildup of resentment after he fell though....

On a lighter note, Belphegor actually doing the exchange program is prime au and crossover material and it is a CRIME for the lack of content on the matter (like TSL aus)

Some Character Thoughts

[in regards to Belphegor]

Happy Valentine's Day, I don't. Have ROMANTIC content per say, but this should contain discussion of Familial Love .. and we've evolved enough as a collective society to have today be about all sorts of love, right? Right,

My.. notes?

These might be an unpopular opinion. Fair enough, I just wanted to address that.

This will, unfortunately, look a bit like a written variation of the Pepe Silvia meme. Apologies in advance.

I might ...? Do more of these? Or even more parts to this one? We'll see. Would like to know if anyone cares for this sort of thing. (Though that won't exactly affect whether I do more or not.)

There are spoilers for chapter 16, in case thats a concern. Also mentions of death.

Keep reading

[palindromeblog-blog]

Recommendations for the soul

omg, it’s been ages since I posted something. When I started this I said to myself, ‘right, now that school has finished, I have all the time in the world to write posts and keep up to date with posting regularly, maybe post 2-3 times a week!.’ yeah, no. that did not happen. Instead, I spent my time watching Netflix, TV shows mostly but the occasional film. So today, I am going to share TV shows that I watch currently or have watched in the past that I highly recommend.

ALL OF THESE SHOWS ARE ON UK NETFLIX APART FROM MODERN FAMILY.

TV shows

Pretty Little Liars - this show is known by basically everyone. For those who may not know about it, it has a good variety of genres, mystery, romance, thriller, crime, comedy. I think this show is one that would be described as ‘a girl’s show’, the beginning is a but teen and awkward acting, but when I started watching it, I did not care. People get hooked on it so fast and it is so enticing, however, like the summer of 2014, I binge watched it the whole of summer and I did get pretty sick of it as it got quite predictable at times, but give it time and damn. Pll has officially finished now but it is still a great watch for anyone who likes any genre.

Orphan Black - this show is v hard to explain. Click for the trailer. It’s about clones, so Tatiana Maslany (the actress of all the clones) is a goddess, and how they are trying to find out who made them and why they are being hunted. I fell in love with all thr characters so easily and it is very hard to stop watching. It can be quite grusome and explicit at times but it just adds to the story. It genuinely is really hard to explain without giving too much away, so watch the trailer and if you’re interested, watch the first episode and I guarentee that you will want episode 2. If you watch this, attention is needed like a lot, because they refer back to things in season 4 that happened in season 2. But super duper worth the work.

Friends - now this is the most classic comedy, romance, drama show ever. If you don’t know what it is then you have not lived, and when you do watch it, you’ll finally understand all those jokes your friends made and all the quotes on memes you’ve seen.WATCH IT. Even if you’ve already watched it a thousand times before, watch it again, and again, and again.

The Big Bang Theory - I would say that the set up of this show is similar to Friends, a solid group of friends, a well known apartment, a regular meet up place etc. So if you’re into chilled shows with comedy and science, this will tick your boxes.

Bates Motel - drama, mystery, thriller, crime, romance, this is what will be found at the Bates Motel. This show is based off the classic thriller film, Psycho. It has been majorly spread out over like 3 seasons, but it shows Norman Bates before the ending of the film. It shows how his mental health showly gets worse and when it started and why etc. With the addition of his brother, Dylan, and friend, Emma, the audience can really connect with Norman and Norma as their lives are shown. It’s quite haunting as Norman is cray cray for taxidermy, but I got used to it quite quickly. A good watch, but needs attention as I forgot things that they mention like season 1.

Teen Wolf - i find this show really enjoyable, the first couple of seasons are... they aren’t slow, but it’s just all quite basic, like ‘oh look, another fight. yep, he’s a wolf too, cool.’ but it is still amazing. It starts to pick up at season 3, season 4 is kinda like ‘how they gonna fix this mess?’, season 5 is like ‘woah, there’s a shit load of new creatures, like damn.’ and season 6 (final season) is like ‘well shit. there is now way they are fixing this mess.’ It is all incredible and all the actors and actresses are pretty sweet (on the eyes). Comedy is included, and it will make you cry at some point.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - similar set up to The Big Bang theory and Friends as being a sit-com, it is really enjoyable, i am currently watching it for the third time. Each episode is like a different scenario, i know thats the same with every show but this show is about cops and each episode is a different case. The characters are awesome and the actors play their parts so well. Comedy is the #1 genre, but there is drama and mystery (some). It for real is hilarious though! watch watch watch.

Modern Family - this show is seriously the best, just having all the different connections with each character and the diversity. I love it so much. It’s like a scripted reality show, there isn’t much I can say about it as it doesn’t really have a plot line, it’s just one huge family each with their own story. 100 percent, watch.

Parks and Recreation - similar to Modern Family in the sense of the filming technique, the characters look at the camera and they have interviews. Again is so funny and amazing and there’s just all humour types for everybody. Also, everyone will love Ron Swanson. (Sidenote: Chris Pratt stars in it which might intice a few).

Those are the main shows that I’ve watched before that I loved the most, but I am going to label some editional ones quickly that can’t go unmentioned.

13 Reasons Why - this heartbreaking show about a girl who commits suicide tells her story of what led to her decision. like srsly, your heart will melt.

Merlin - based in Camelot with Prince/King Arthur and the Knights of the round table, this show is legit, all about the magic. Main character is Merlin who has to keep his magic a secret from the royal family as it is against the law, and punishable by death, Slight hiccup, he is a servant for Arthur. Humour, romance, drama, fantasy, mystery.

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air - this show is so hilarious, the personality of Will is amazing and something that I think a small part of everyone can relate to. A great chilled out watch for people who love old shows. 

H20: Just Add Water - now i know this is a ‘childs’ show, and i did watch it in my childhood, but because it wasn’t when I was like 2, I remembered it and have re-watched it since. It’s basically about three girls that get turned into mermaids and have to keep it a secret from everyone they know, one problem, they can’t touch water. #dilemma

Sherlock - this show is amazing! i cannot stress enough how good this is. I haven’t watched it in ages because it finished, but it’s just Sherlock Holmes being savage af and solving crimes in the process. Mystery, drame, thriller, comedy, romance, oh hell no moments, Benedict Cumberbatch. It is the whole package.

iZombie - I have been a dedicated watcher of this show for ages, and i love season 1 and 2, but season 3 just didn’t do it for me. It got a bit too confusing and lost what they had is the first seasons. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the last episode of season 2 i was like ‘omg damn, what’s gonna happen now, this is such a cliffhanger omg i must know’ and then i googled when the next season was out, but now that the third and final season has finished i’m kinda like ‘hmm, i think i would’ve been okay leaving at season 2′. So i highly recommend season 1 and 2 for sure.

Now I’m just gonna write titles of shows that should definately be watched by everyone ever

Bad Education - comedy based in a british secondary school with Jack Whitehall as the main character (so you know it’s gonna be good).

Santa Clarita Diet - a woman becomes a zombie and tried to figure out how to deal with it, comedy, drama, mystery.

Outnumbered - sit-com about a british family of three children with the two parents that are now, outnumbered.

Scream - 100 percent mystery, thriller, crime, horror. best thing to ever happen ever and total shocker. Based off the classic film, Scream.

American Horror Story - I’ve only watched season 1, 2 and 3 (Murder House, Asylum and Coven), i really enjoyed them and have re-watched them. Can be really creepy and weird, would not recommend watching in the dark.

Big School - sit-com in a british school, David Walliams stars as the weird teacher trying to date the new French teacher.

Once Upon a Time - literally combines every fairytale, classic novel etc. i really enjoyed it but i couldn’t bulk binge watch it as it would annoy me as it got somewhat predictable. #lol

Miranda - best little show ever, a woman living in Surrey trying to figure her life out. Comedian plays the role of Miranda and shows how i think everyone whats to live.

How I Met Your Mother - a show similar to Friends and The Big Bang Theory, Ted narrates each season to his children telling the story of how he met thier mother and the years before. I would definately recommend as there is a major plot twist on the very last episode that will make you super happy but also super sad.

Riverdale - this awesome show is about a murder that everyone gradually forgets about and then at the end is like ‘oh yea’, there is only one season so far with a gripping finishing episode. but another is coming soon. it looks like it’s set in the 80′s-90′s if they had iPhone 7′s. totally worth the watch.

The Wrong Man’s - a british comedy show written and produced by James Corden. two men are in the wrong place at the wrong time and their lives slowly but surely, fall apart. might watch again soon actually.

Now i’m finally done. I’ve genuinely just listed every tv show i’ve every watched. I of course love The Simpsons and Futurama, but I thought people would want to hear more about tv shows that aren’t cartoons... ya know. 

I hope this helped anyone with their tough decision of what to watch next, and it’s summer now so there’s plenty of time. 

Hannah x

[emperorsfoot]

I have mixed feelings about Omniverse. There were some things I liked about the series and some things I really, really did not like. Overall, I have to say that my opinion of the series is split 30/70 with the 70% being negative. So, for the most part, I didn't like it. But first let me discuss the things I DID like.

We got a stable Plumbers Headquarters in Bellwood and more regular Plumbers characters.

The Plumbers always stuck me sort of as the Green Lantern Corps., and just like with the Lanterns, the Corps. Comics are way better than the Green Lantern comics. Why? Because its about the whole Corps. The whole organization, not just a circle jerk for Hal Jordan (or whoever the Lantern for sector 2814 happens to be at the time). And that was what was nice about expanding the cast of Plumbers. We got to see a whole Corps of Plumbers, not just third-tier 'Plumbers Helpers' or single-episode cameos to remind us that other Plumbers existed. We had regular characters with names and backstories -many of whom weren't even from Earth. It was a good attempt at world building, and in a show that is constantly claiming to be about “experiencing what its like to be another species” or “learning how differences make us strong”, that's something that's very important. Because, as we all know (should know) UNLIKE Green Lantern Corps. (Blackest Night story arc) the Earth isn't actually the center of the universe. (Neither is Ben for that matter, although you wouldn't know it from watching the series.)

Gwen goes to collage and she and Kevin get away from Ben for a while.

For pretty much all their lives, both Gwen and Kevin's lives have revolved around Ben Mother-Fucking Tennyson. Gwen because they were raised more like siblings than cousins, she was pulled into all his absurd alien adventures -literally- from the moment they started, Ben is incapable of doing anything without her and when she does get out, he pulls her back in again -remember, it was Ben that went to Gwen at the beginning of Alien Force. If he hand't asked her for help, she might not have been a main character in the second series. And Kevin became obsessed with Ben when he was only eleven years old. When he was still in his formative years. Over the course of Alien Force and Ultimate Alien that obsession and thirst for revenge morphed and shifted into an uncomfortably dependent friendship. Seriously. Ben is Kevin's ONLY male friend Kevin has that's an actual friend, not a 'business partner' or 'tech-buddy'. Its good that Gwen went to collage and Kevin followed her, so that they could both get some time away from Ben to grow as individuals. Sure, we the audience didn't get to see any of that individual growth and development because the series was too busy being a circle-jerk for Ben. But then, I've come to expect that from this franchise.

Prince Looma and Tetramand marital practices (“Many Happy Returns”)

Same as with the additional Plumbers characters, this was a good way to add some easy world building. They took an existing alien species that the viewers are very familiar with and gave us a glimpse of their culture. It was mostly played for laughs, but I think it was one of the better episodes (and not just because it was also a mostly Kevin-centric episode). In one episode alone, we learn how Tetramand ask for/arrange their matches, engagement ceremony, length and traditions, how engagements are broken off, and even a little bit about the marriage ceremony itself. To someone who knows how to pay attention it was like a cascade of culture building, world building, and general information that expanded the world of Ben 10.

Rook -Kevin and Gwen in one person.

When they took Gwen and Kevin away, they had to replace them somehow, because -as the franchise has consistently proven- while the whole thing might be one giant Ben-wank, Ben Tennyson is also utterly and completely incapable of doing anything on his own. He needs a sidekick -usually one who's smarter and more skilled (read: more useful) than Ben himself, and doesn't mind playing second fiddle to the spotlight hogging, ego-driven, narcissist Hero of the Universe. Rook does that wonderfully while also making sarcastic quips that go over Ben's (and his fans in fandom's heads). Also, adding another species -and more importantly, showing us his home planet, family, and how his people live- was more great world building.

Basically, what I liked about Omniverse was all the wold building they tried to do.

Now, the things I didn't like...

I'll start small and shallow:

The dramatic change in artwork.

Where do I begin? First and foremost its inconsistent with the rest of the franchise up to that point. Ben 10 TOS, Alien Force, and Ultimate Alien were all drawn/animated in the same style. Something similar to the Young Justice cartoon style, proportionate bodies with realistic facial features (realistic for a cartoon). That style worked for an adventure series. It was good. But then Omniverse rolls around and suddenly everyone's got giant eyes that take up half their faces, but they're not cute anime eyes, they're weird cat-like eyes. Their body proportions are all weird so that some characters are 60% legs, or their arms are so long their hands are at their knees. Max doesn't have facial expressions anymore, Ben looks like he's ten years old again, Kevin's chin is so long they have to give him a giraffe neck to compensate... All of the familiar characters look mutated and gross. I almost wanna say Omniverse was the worst artwork decision they could have made for the franchise, but then, I've seen the new reboot and that one's even worse.

The whole series is just one big Ben circle-jerk.

Remember all those new Plumbers characters I was so happy about? We can't have a single episode about them that doesn't involve Ben. Either Ben having to rescue then while Grandpa Max vomits a small novella of exposition, or Ben trying to investigate their past for X, Y, Z reason, or them driving around Bellwood while Ben has seemingly endless battles around them that inevitably block their path, or Ben tagging along while they visit their home planet. There is no way to develop a single new character in the show without Ben having to be involved in some way. Look. I get it. The franchise is called “Ben 10”, so obviously its about Ben. But ya know what? Avatar is also called “Avatar” and they manage to have multiple episodes about other characters that don't even involve the Avatar at all. Believe it or not, it is possible to make Wester cartoons with a wide cast of characters, AND develop said characters without the title character having to stick his nose in every time someone farts.

They somehow made Ben 10 a harem anime.

Now, I like a good harem as much as the next sexually repressed and asocial nerd. Goodness knows Martian Successor Nadeshico has a permanent spot on my list of Top Ten Anime I Recommend to Everyone. But is just seemed kinda weird... Ultimate Alien ended with Ben and Julie seeming really solid. Then at the beginning of Omniverse, they're not even together anymore. Now, Word of God is that Kenny's mother is Kai, so obviously Ben and Julie couldn't be together forever. At some point they had to break up and Ben had to get with Kai. But Omniverse did not handle the inevitable facts of canon well. There was no real mention of reasons why Ben and Julie were no longer together when they seemed so solid at the send of the previous series, then, all of a sudden, Ben had a million and one women wanting to bone him. Looma, Ester, Lucy, (even his cousin Sonny in one episode and that was creepy), and yes, still Julie and Kai. And, like most protagonists in harem anime, Ben does absolutely nothing to deserve all this adulation from the distaff gender. Its very frustrating.

Kai Green -I like the IDEA of Kai, but I actually hate the CHARACTER Kai.

I really like the idea of Kai. I really do. I like a strong, independent, female, well educated, Native American character. To often in fiction Native characters are portrayed as “magical” in some way. Either as sages or spiritual guides, shapeshifters, mediums, or healers. Its very rare to find a Native American characters who's just a normal, down-to-Earth person with hopes and dreams, anxieties and fears, plans and aspirations, etc. Kai is none of the cliché tropes that Native characters are pigeon-holed  into. This is best illustrated by an exchange of dialogue between her and Ben when he comments on her hand-to-hand combat skills and asks if its some “ancient Navajo” fighting technique, and she scoffs at him and says she took after school classes at the mall -like any normal teenager would! Kai is a real person, she's not just a conglomeration of stereotypes and tropes. I really like the idea of Kai. I really do. That being said... THE WRITERS SEEMED TO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN THIER POWER TO MAKE KAI UTTERLY AND COMPLETELY UNLIKABLE! (Yes, I did have to shout that in all caps.) I like the idea of Kai, but Kai herself is condescending, and an intellectual snob. I don't like Ben, but there's one episode where he's at a museum (seeing an exhibit that Kai put on) and he makes a comment along the lines of “I didn't know aliens had old stuff!” and Kai responds to him like he's the dumbest piece of shit to ever crawl out of the public school system -and she does this in front of a crowd of his peers and strangers. Lets step out of the cartoon for a moment and look at it with some perspective. How would you feel if you've part of a tour group and someone in the group (you may or may not know) asks a silly question. What would you think if the tour guide responded with something like “How far up your ass did you have to stick your head to find that question, dumbass?” You'd think they were a terrible tour guide and should be fired, right? That's what Kai did to Ben. And that wasn't even the first time she showed a clear disrespect for Ben either. In the original series, she says she only like Ben when he was Benwolf (later renamed Blitzwolfer in Omniverse) because she wanted a “pet dog” that she could “train”. That's kinda understandable and excusable because she was ten at the time and kids are amoral assholes who don't know any better. But Omniverse is six years later, Kai is sixteen and she hasn't improved with age, she's become more of a bitch. I really don't understand why the show insisted on shoving them together and insisting that they both love each other and are happy together in the future. When we see her in the future, she's always with Ben 10,000 but she's still making disparaging comments about him or his arch enemies and Ben just smiles and cuddles and kisses her.

Kevin. Everything Omniverse did to, and took away from Kevin.

This should be a post unto itself. Anyone who reads my fan fictions will know that Kevin is my favorite character. So, of course the thing I'm gonna feel most strongly about is going to have something to do with Kevin Ethan Levin. So, sit down prepare yourself for a wall-o-text.

Osmosian. Look, I get that in the original series the PLAN was for Kevin to be a mutant and NOT an alien. But then Alien Force and Ultimate Alien changed that. They established that Osmosians were aliens. They established this so solidly that Omnivers' attempts to ret-con Kevin back to being a mutant makes no sense. Take a moment to seriously think about just how large that conspiracy has to be in order for “Osmosian” the alien species to really be a mutated Earthling. Max, Kevin's, and Kevin's mother's memories were altered, Aggregor is an experiment to replicate Kevin's powers, Ragnarok was really a Rooters agent, the Osmos System is an uninhabited system that Servantis altered the records of in order to supply a “home planet” for his fake species. And all of this was done without the Magistrata or any other high-level Plumbers stumbling across the conspiracy or finding out. Its just so far fetched. Its to much of a stretch for it to be a legitimate explanation -and yet, its canon. What it is, is absurd. This is not good story telling.

It makes the world smaller. Remember way up at the top of this post when I was listing the things I liked about Omniverse and most of it was me just gushing over the world building? Well, the Rooters story arc and subsequent ret-cons are the exact opposite of that. Its not 'wolf building' its 'world shrinking'. By making Kevin a mutant Earthling instead of an alien-human hybrid, they robbed the Ben 10 universe of a planet, a species, and possibly a culture to explore. If they really wanted to make Kevin a villain again so much, they could have had a story arc ret-conning Devin instead. Make Devin an Osmosian double agent who was supposed to infiltrate the Plumbers because Osmosians could be aggressive and warlike aliens (seeing how Kevin's so naturally obsessed with revenge, and Aggregor was determined to attain the power of a god, I think that's a plausible assumption). But, Devin accidentally fell in love with an Earthling -Kevin's mother- and quit his mission. The story arch could have been Devin's old war-buddies coming to enlist Kevin to finish the mission his father couldn't. Kevin might go along with them as a way to get to know what kind of man his father really was. They could play it the same way they did in the Rooters story arc and have him just pretending to join the baddies in order infiltrate them and help Ben defeat them and save Earth. Or they could make him OD on energy and go crazy and become a legit villain again. Either way, keep Osmosians as aliens would have been a better story than making them mutant Earthlings AND it would have been another great opportunity for more world building.

Ret-conning Kevin's backstory was cruel. Kevin has almost no positive male role-models. Thing about it. Think about his life. When Kevin was young, his male role-model was his step-father, an average human with nothing special or noteworthy about him EXCEPT THAT HE WAS TERRFIED OF HIS STEP-SON. Think about that. Kevin's first male role-model was afraid of him. How positive an influence could Harvey have been if he was scared shitless of an eleven-year-old child? Then Kevin was trapped in the Null Void and sent to prison where he met Kwarrel. Now, Kwarrel was shown to be a fairly decent guy. But lets also keep in mind that he is in an maximum security prison within the Null Void, so he must have done something pretty bad to be sentenced there. Also, keep in mind that we only got to see a few short flashbacks of Kwarrel and they were all through Kevin's point of view -usually of Kwarrel mentoring him. But we also know that Kwarrel was “top dog” in the prison. The only way to stay that was in jail is to rule through strength and intimidation. We saw Kwarrel being all nobel and empathetic, but that doesn't mean he wasn't also sometimes aggressive, violent, or even cruel to the other inmates. Omniverse gave Kevin NOTHER super-shitty role-model in Proctor Servantis. Amoral, self-serving, uses children as experiments and puppets, fucks with people's minds, and devotes his entire life to destroying one single human boy. The only truly positive male role-models Kevin has in his life are Max Tennyson and the memory of Devin Levin -except Omniverse made it so that Devin never actually existed. That was just downright cruel.

So, that's what I think about Omniverse.

[mah345-blog]

HYBRID

Okay so this is my first ever imagine, kinda something I had in my head, I really not sure what it might be but basically you are a hybrid between a lycan and a vampire and you're new to beacon hills. What happens when they fill threatened by your power. Anyway it might be to long or not enough, I'm still testing the waters with everthing so yeahhh... I hope you like it or not dislike it that much💕 ********* ...I'm all alone... It's dark, fog spreading its way through the forest floor. A group of shadows stalkes behide the tree line. I am one of them.... *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* Ughh... again that same stupid dream, I swear it messes with my head. I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling, well here goes my first day in beacon hills, I am a born hybrid between a vampire and lycan, powerful by all means but me in particural, not really. I know I have the ability to harm but hybrids aren't really acepted in the supernatural world becuase we're natures mistake so I prefer to hide, there will all ways be someone stronger, smarter and more powerful than you and I learned that the hard way. Especially when that someone isn't just one person but a group. Thats how I ended up here in beacon hills, something drew me here, not sure what but I hope it's something good. I get up and start getting ready turning off the stupid alarm. I choose a tight light jeans with a white loose crop top, a jean jacket and black nikey tenni shoes. I grab my hair in a pony tail and add some mascara and eyeliner after that I grab my stuff and head out my complex building. My parents are dead, probably for having an affair and creating such a monster. They left me in an orphanage before they were caught (well thats my theory), when my "powers" started appearing I escaped and well badda boo badda baa long story short i'm here, in the front entrace to beacon hill high. Okay y/n, stick to your plan, keep a low profil and maybe you can live a normal life, at least for awhile. I begin to walk toward the principle's office to recieve my locker number and the classes that I'll attend. Out of nowhere I hit a hard chest that makes me take a step back. "Oh, I'm so sorry, are you okay?" -He was a guy with brown hair and kind gentle eyes, he smiled lightly. He's not human is also something I noticed, if I can smell him that means he also can. "Yeah, sorry" - It seems he hasn't noticed or more likely he doesn't know what I am, confusion takes over his factions and he starts to smell like anxiaty, he can sense my power. "My name is Scott, I haven't seen you around here before."- I can sense his aswell, the difference is I know what he is but he doesn't know what I am. Lets keep it that way. "Y/N, nice to meet you, yeah, well I'm new here soo..." "Oh really? Thats great, well if you need anything you can just ask me."- He says nicely. "Thanks, I'll see you around"- With that I leave, part of being a hybrid, the lycan part, is that I want to show domanice over other wolves and its hard for them to be around me, thats a reason lycans mostly are found packless. I get what I need and go to my first class that wasn't hard to find, after it's over I just asked the teachers to direct me to my next class. In a few classes there are people staring. I found out there is alot of creatures roaming the school. They also know I'm here. But all seemed confused, good. I don't want them to know what I am, that way I have the upper hand. They seem aware of my every moment. In the halls I see some talking, I guess they're some kind of wierd pack. A deep part of me wants to go and stake my domanice to show them, one not to mess with me and two to mind thier own buissness.Lunch comes around, and just as I'm about to find a spot to sit, a strawberry haired girl walkes up to me, she's different than the rest. "Hey, my names lydia, we have math together, I was wondering if you would like to sit over there with my friends."-She smiled sweetly, but I could tell something was off. "Thanks but no, thankyou" - With that I walk away. She seems like a popural girl. Remember low profil. "Wait, common we don't bite"- She says while pulling me to the table where Scott sits if I remember correctly. I give a tight lip smile as we arrive at the table, everybody looks up. "Hey Y/N" -says Scott while lydia pushes me to sit down between a werecoyote by the smell of it and a werewolf with a boyish face. "Hi" - I say to the strangers, Lydia sits by a girl at the opposite end of the table, kitsune, I take note. "Well Y/N, this is Scott as you know, Malia, Liam, Kira, and Stiles."-She says as she points to each person. They give a nod or say hi. And it looks like the only human, other way known as Stiles has something else to ask me but prefers not to. That is until he does. "Okay we know you are not human so just tell us what it is you want here and what are you, cuase every time someone new shows up it becomes a masive killing spree."- Says this Stiles, oh stupid human. "Stiles...!"- Scott whispers/yells. " I don't need to justify myself, somehow you are the weakess here and you are the one who demands answers, you would think that you might recover from your weakness with smarts at least enough to keep your mouth shut. You see not everything has to do with you. And last why would I tell you what I am and ruin the fun."-I finalize with a croocked smile ready to sink my claws into his neck. I feel my y/c/e flash. I hear a growl. "Malia, stop"- says Scott, I'm begining to know who's the Alpha here, not only by smell. I get up and walk away. Its better that way. ********* The Next day its the same old boring high school stuff, and the next, and the next. The wierd pack has left me alone for the moment, or more likely waiting for my next move. Today is friday and the school is hiped for some type of lacrosse game. I decided I would go becuase well I want to. It's about five thirty when I start to get ready.I decide on black leggins and a hoddie. I walk to beacon hill and before I know it I'm sitting on the benches. It's getting chilly out but that doesn't stop a crowd from showing up. The other team is practicing on the field while beacon hill is still on the side lines. I quickly identify another were, tall and muscular and wierd hair, he also sees me and sniffs the air. I'm not going to lie that was hot. He likes my smell or at least the savage in him does. ******* The game ends. Beacon hill loses and the other team wins, really I didn't even try learning their name. I wait till most have left to get up and go to the restroom, after I head out from where I came from finding that it's lonely, not a soul to the eye but to my nose I know they are here. And right on cue they appear exept now with tall bronzed wierd hair dude. Mmm...he smells good. "Hey y/n, look we're sorry for coming at you like that but that being said we are also very protective of each other, we are a family.."- Kira tries to explain but i interrupe her. "Good for you but I couldn't care less."- I can't help being cold after all, I'm dead on the inside. Liam is the first to snap. "Look we're trying to be nice here, so you don't have to be such a bitch!"- he takes a step forward. "Listen here mutt, you have no idea who you're talking to, so fuck off before I hurt you"- My little patience has officially faded away. My eyes are only focused on Liam, everything is turning black, I don't notice Scott coming closer to try to calm me so by the time he touches my shoulder I snap using my speed and force twisting Scott's arm in an akward angle. Now he to flashes his eyes. A direct challenge. I growl rumbles out of the back of my thoart everybody seems to have disappeared except Scott. The ground echos my growl. Sending a clear sign that if we battle there will be death... "What are you?"- he whispers more to himself than me. *****

[cherryblossom-nightscape]

yes finally someone gets it!!!! This is why I love the au btw because there is no good or bad guy, just annoyingly mean people ; dream is nice and was just ignorant of the fact this was happening and tried his gosh darn hardest to cheer him up

Night on the other hand didn't want to burden dream with his own problems, both sides have a miscommunication that if correctly talked about in cannon could potentially fix their war or at least help in a sense

Can I also point out this is the reason why my 'swapped version' of dream and night that just switches the sides of the story talks about how the villagers loved him a bit too much and took him away, he knows that the villagers just want him as a pocket of positivity or a toy for thier own benefit

While as night since he was left alone wasn't bullied at all and had stayed away from the village because he may have been the older but he trusted dream and his instructions to not go into the village unless he HAD to

And dream turns the tables by telling them that he will leave them if they so much as hurt nightmare so they don't, and night gets books from the bookstore

The whole multi verse is called blurred fates because there isn't a clear line of good and bad unless you take everything spoon fed to you then according to each characters backstory you have been given more context and don't understand those basic borders of 'good' and 'bad' hence blurred being used in the title

Sorry about rambling about my characters but the fact of the matter is that I highly respect this au and it's message of not everything being what it seems, and that there will be miscommunication between family and friends, the thing is I made these characters so people can see that side of the story,

look I kinda kin these two dream reminds me of who I am now someone who experienced hardships and from that wants to help others and make sure that they don't end up on the wrong or sadder path while also keeping silent of things they are facing now because they don't want to upset or hurt anyone else with that information

while nightmare both passive and goopy king reminds me of my past of the fact I was bullied because of something I couldn't control while goopy king reminds me of when I got so bad I fell into despair and shut myself off from the world hiding behind anger and sarcasm

TLDR

Night and dream aren't good or bad

People are jerks

I kin both of them

And I made an au that focuses on this perspective

Edit: okay so I saw the post about the misconceptions and need to point out a mistake I have made the Goop King known as nightmare is in fact not nightmare but Nim the guy that tried to kill dream and nightmares mother he is nightmare but not really, although I HEADCANNON note the obvious headcannon warning that it is possible to bring nightmare back just not OG uncorrupted nightmare, but nightmare in the sense of the person he was inside..but as I said it is a HEADCANNON and should not be treated as lore

This fandom's insistent blaming of Dream for what happened to Nightmare is something that has always vexed me.

In the canon comics, I am aware not everything about Dream's side is shown, however, even there, I believe there's intense amounts of evidence to show Dream did everything he could to try to help Nightmare when he was depressed, and what Nightmare did is in absolutely no way Dream's fault.

In the canon comics, Dream and Nightmare are 6 years old when the apple incident happens. Remember they're immortal guardians that likely were never infants. They also have magic powers, so treating them exactly the same as a human 6 year old probably isn't accurate, but the point is, they were both very inexperienced. They have 6 years of experience. I could go into why this makes blaming Dream for not knowing how to help someone with depression a little fucked up on its own but why bother, I have an entire list here.

Dream is shown to take on the little brother role to Nightmare, with Nightmare being the one supporting and protecting him. Dream is also shown to look up to him immensely. He loves Nightmare with all his heart. He even gives Nightmare books to read that are given to him by the villagers.

Dream is also constantly trying to help other people, and is said to not be aware of the bullying, as the villagers never do it when he's present, but rather when he's out helping others. This makes sense, as the villagers don't want to upset the guardian of positivity who keeps coming out to aid them and make them happy. When Nightmare is hurt by the villagers he actively lies to Dream about what happened, telling him he just fell and got a little scraped up.

When Nightmare grows even worse, and begins to never leave the tree, Dream stops going to help people and stops going to see his friend, solely to be with Nightmare. But no matter what he does or says, Nightmare doesn't talk about what happens, and Nightmare never cheers up. How anyone could read this and think 'ah yes, Dream just doesn't care about his brother' is beyond me.

The only reason Dream wasn't present when the apple incident took place is because he took a golden apple to heal someone extremely ill, as the golden apples have immense healing properties. (remember how Dream has healing and faster self-regenerative powers when it becomes his soul? Yeah, side fun fact, that's because of that.)

When he realized something very bad had happened, he raced back as fast as he could and tried to stop the villagers from going after his brother, only to be pushed down by them, and trampled to near death. when Dream was finally able to stand back up, Nightmare had already been corrupted.

So people who say canon Dream is at fault for Nightmare and/or just didn't care enough, are blaming a child guardian who did everything he possibly could to help the brother he adored get better with the 0 knowledge he had as to why he was so upset, who put his life on the line to try to protect him. This definitely makes sense.

But wait, that's just the comics. I said there was even more to it than that. There's info that exists outside of it.

This includes:

Dream would receive gifts from villagers and use them to make new ones for Nightmare to try to make him feel better

And

Dream was also struggling to cope with the villagers, but in a very different ways. He wanted to help everyone but they abused this fact. They would overwhelm him with requests and treat him like nothing more than an object of potential positivity. Dream would constantly leave the village and the tree to visit his friend Neil, whom he stated was the only other person he could truly talk to. He was the only person beyond his brother that treated him like another individual with feelings.

And

Dream also hid these emotions from Nightmare, because he didn't want Nightmare to worry or upset about him, and he figured he could deal with them on his own.

It's almost like Dream is not the villain here simply because he was unable to stop Nightmare from making a bad decision that lead to his corruption. Dream did everything in his power to try to help him, and pretending he was in any way at fault for what happened is ridiculous.

Alas, this fandom will forever be the death of me.

But I will forever stand for Dream's side of the story.

[undertalescreeching]

What Happened to Doc’s Kids After his Death?

beabaseball: idk like I guess they're smuggled out just before Doc is taken to be tortured and executed and they get out just barely in time hide in a caravan in the dark for weeks until the troop reaches Snowdin askull4everyoccasion: Doooooc ;_; beabaseball: and they're sent to live with the rabbits, who already have enough kids and can handle things pretty well? askull4everyoccasion: Yeah beabaseball: stories of the scientists' death spread pretty far and wide and definitely reach the mountains and like it kinda changes the whole dynamics of the wars? but the wars do end pretty crushingly askull4everyoccasion: Do the rabbits know where they come from? beabaseball: the mom does, yeah The inkeeper and her sister askull4everyoccasion: Ok beabaseball: the kids just sort of accept it, but between the rabbits and Grillby keeping an eye on them, Sans and Pap still grow up as outsiders sort of? askull4everyoccasion: Yeah beabaseball: and I guess eventually lead a rebellion against the King?

askull4everyoccasion: Ooooo beabaseball: Sans wants to take the direct route and lead an armed force Papyrus thinks there shouldn't need to be a rebellion at all and they can fix thigns somehow else??? maybe the king can just be reasoned with?? so they have a feud over it Sans still remembers Doc better than Papyrus does askull4everyoccasion: Is the king still being an ass or fighting others? beabaseball: the wars settled down but without a royal doctor to put the blame on it's been getting harder to scapegoat? Doc had to be disposed of because he was rebelling more and more and about to fall apart, and it'd be better if he were executed instead of just be allowed to die naturally askull4everyoccasion: Ahhh beabaseball: but by the time Sans and Papyrus are grown up, the effect has worn off more it's just a really strict kingdom and the closer you get to the capital the stricter it is so a lot of people who don't like the King end up fleeing to places like Snowdin, that are farther out askull4everyoccasion: Right beabaseball: I think the local kingdoms have all been united under Andorufs tho, yeah so no more war right now, but like kinda Qin-Dynasty shit happening with some fuckin Great Wall being built and a huge strain on resources and etc askull4everyoccasion: Yeah beabaseball: meanwhile beabaseball: Prince Asgore has grown up, too oh geez I guess Sans goes around recruiting people? he's a charismatic fucking leader man askull4everyoccasion: Oh man beabaseball: Sans goes bar to bar, sweet talking people into rebellion with him he's a real "man of the people" askull4everyoccasion: Hahaha beabaseball: no one really knows his relation to the doctor but when he gets back to Snowdin, he learns his brother's gone and joined up in the Royal Guard askull4everyoccasion: Oh no beabaseball: He tries to talk Paps out of it, but??? He's never really been able to get Paps to do anything he didn't want to do askull4everyoccasion: Yeah beabaseball: and he can't stop the whole rebellion just for his brother, even though he loves his brother more than anything so the obvious solution is to just make sure Papyrus Isn't There when shit goes down beabaseball: even though he knows Papyrus will be pissed with him askull4everyoccasion: Is sans also low-key working to clear doc's name? beabaseball: more like avenging his name? or honoring him? askull4everyoccasion: Nice beabaseball: like he knows he probably won't clear THE DOCTOR'S name but like he can honor "the man who died to save me from the King" askull4everyoccasion: Yeah beabaseball: and the people will honor that man with him yeah but still, doesn't want to take chances. So he also trots over to the nearest neighboring kingdom happens to be Toriel's Kingdom and promises her some of the land along the borders if she and her troops help his rebellion usurp Andorfus askull4everyoccasion: Oooo beabaseball: and Toriel's kingdom's been beaten pretty black and blue by the King's before, so she's like fuckin down for this shit VENGENCE askull4everyoccasion: Hahaha beabaseball: so the time finally comes to do the attack in hte cpaital and Toriel just basically asks for a meeting with Andorfus for political reasons and brings an army with her sans probably had a plan to call Papyrus away but something went wrong askull4everyoccasion: Oh no beabaseball: and instead of Papyrus being at the Wall and far from fucking anywhere he's in the capital askull4everyoccasion: Oh nooooo beabaseball: with the leader of the Royal Guard, Undyne she's had him transferred to her unit just recently enough to fuck up Sans' plan and Papyrus has been talking a lot to people askull4everyoccasion: Uh oh beabaseball: and he's not very charismatic or very well spoken when it comes to persuasion beabaseball: but he's earnest and endearing, and he honestly believes he's doing the right thing when he does something and that makes Undyne loyal and by extension Papyrus has a small group of Undyne's followers who are also following him askull4everyoccasion: Ooooo beabaseball: so as much as Undyne's duty is to protect the King and etc she's also heeding Papyrus' wish to not harm the attackers and especially to not harm the short, low-HP skeleton whose CHECK reads some pretty weird shit so it's pretty fucked up and that's when the King comes out askull4everyoccasion: Hahaha beabaseball: and hte King isn't?? really good at sparing people??? in his defense he was once a one-man wall against the humans in the war askull4everyoccasion: Lol beabaseball: and learned to never show mercy back then because that's how you SURVIVED so Andorfus comes out and like it turns from this fight between revolutionaries who have a lot of differnet motives but aren't trained and the well trained amy unit under Undyne to this fight beteen a bunch of revolutionaries trying to save thier own skins (understandable) and the King who at this point seems to have guards mostly to protect his assassins (i should note: the dogs LISTEN to Undyne and love her so like... being eaten alive is much less of a problem now) but then like askull4everyoccasion: Haha beabaseball: this means we get a fight between Andorfus of the bajillion HP and 1 HP sans askull4everyoccasion: Holy shit Bone dog time? beabaseball: see like I'm not sure!!! Maybe???? maybe Andorfus forces him into that form instead of being too tired and falling asleep Sans realizes he can't dodge one of them effectively or needs to change trajetory or something and becomes bone dog and just tears shit up askull4everyoccasion: Hahaha beabaseball: naturally, the canine guards are like losing their shit the king is being attacked??? but also DOGE??? askull4everyoccasion: LOL WHO FOLLOW??? beabaseball: YEAH THEY'RE A LITTLE STUNNED SO THEY LIKE IDK beabaseball: GO RUN BEHIND UNDYNE PAPYRUS IS SCREAMING askull4everyoccasion: Hahahaha beabaseball: UNDYNE IS FUCKING CONFUSED BUT LIKE SHE'S GOTTA DO SOMETHING??? OH SHIT ASGORE IS IN THE LINE OF FIRE; BETTER GO SAVE THE PRINCE good excuses to do your duty undyne i feel like Papyrus has to trip Andorfus from behind with an unexpected Bone attack but like also threaten to attack Sans possibly with his own blaster to get Sans to stop beabaseball: "you know what he was going to do to us and what he did to our dad" "THAT'S WHAT DUNGEONS ARE FOR??????" "AND TALKING????" askull4everyoccasion: Hahahaha Ohhhhh pap beabaseball: sans doesn't understand how a dungeon is anymore humane than death, but 'humane' comes from 'human' and from what he's heard they weren't exactly great folks, so maybe it IS much more 'humane' get some runic cuffs on him. Undyne is like "wait why am I arresting him, I'm his guard captain???" ... she arrests him anyway makes sense at the time beabaseball: oh fuk the country's in a state of anarchy now, no one tell the peasants askull4everyoccasion: Rofl beabaseball: double fuck, what's the ruler of the neighboring kingdom doing here? sans is like "yeah she's getting some of the border lands as thanks" and Toriel's like "yeah unless I wanna invade right now with this army behind me" askull4everyoccasion: Rekt beabaseball: and then she's like "lol it's ok i'm joking hohohohoho" beause toriel is like that adsdfkj beabaseball: everyone takes like 10 steps away just in cas case .... and then she's like "nah actually like that's a good idea" askull4everyoccasion: hahahaha Gdi beabaseball: and this is why not just anyone should be doing the goddamn politicking SANS sdfg beabaseball: ...but naw they get it figured out and go inside the castle and like... do terms of agreements Asgore is technically King now but Undyne declares herself Reagent for the proceedings she's negotiating with Sans and Toriel but Papyrus comes in with her since he's power in this case against Sans who is like covered in his shredded snowdin clothes and just goes into the meeting like that he dgaf askull4everyoccasion: Hahaha beabaseball: Sans doesn't actually want to be leader or ruler, that's a lot of work. He just wanted to see Andorfus suffer and get revenge. askull4everyoccasion: Typical So Andorfus is in the dungeon? beabaseball: yeap he's not invited to this that's part of Sans' conditions for not killing him immediately idk he might get toriel to haul him back to HER kingdom to do it??? who knows right now they have to focus on how to maintain stability after the coup askull4everyoccasion: Yeah beabaseball: Undyne can be a pretty good Queen for a while but she can't see it being good long term, and Asgore's going to be of age soon beabaseball: and he's a mess living with Andorfus he mostly just like avoided the fuck out of his dad did his tutoring and then ran and hid in the gardens until nightfall when he had to go back in askull4everyoccasion: Did Andorfus ever hurt him or was he just... intimidating? beabaseball: Andorfus didn't intentionally hurt him, but being in the area where all thsoe things happened (and when he was young Doc was around) made him very aware that Andorfus DID hurt people he's got the knowledge base to rule, but he's clearly been pretty fucked up and isn't the strong backbone this country's used to, and there's genuine fear that the court and needs of the country would overwhelm him and demand too much that he'd try to give but literally be unable to askull4everyoccasion: Yeah beabaseball: fortunately Toriel thinks he's adorable and charming askull4everyoccasion: Haha beabaseball: so the plan is Undyne is Queen while Asgore and Toriel form an alliance between their Kingdoms and once Asgore is able to he will assume the throne after observing Undyne for a while Sans is given the Judge position as a Special Advisor to the monarchs, to stop them if they ever go too far and to administer justice when necessary Judge was probably made up just for him askull4everyoccasion: Niiiice beabaseball: and before too many more questions can be asked, Sans and Papyrus slip away into the castle and find the old corridor they grew up in, in the back of the royal scientist's chambers (also, Papyrus is fired from the Royal Guard) (in Undyne's words, "you literally just asked us to fight a war and not kill anyone", and in Papyrus' words, "YEAH BUT IT WORKED, DIDN'T IT!?" ) askull4everyoccasion: Rofl Oh no, seeing their dads old place;_; beabaseball: yeah it's been moved into by another scientist who isn't nearly as well known or reviled, Alphys, but the hidden room is still intact they meet some of Alphys' failed experiments Undyne wants some explanations, and so do the dogs but they aren't really sure about talking to the guys who ate their dad right now Papyrus is much more forgiving than Sans is, but that doesn't mean they want to talk about it askull4everyoccasion: Yeah beabaseball: yep and then I propose an rp about doc going back to that world and sans meeting a doppleganger of his dad's face :) askull4everyoccasion: Omg