#thread: akilah.

[itchose]

@svnbleach [ from ]  ━ ❝   i'm seeing a lot of people pushed to their edge. you ever wonder if maybe that's the point? ❞

[doomdays]

akilah has made her own mental note of every monumental date passed since they got here: the end of the school year, her mothers' anniversary, the first day of her senior year, homecoming, the SATs. it's her birthday that made her realize that as much as she wants to hold onto these things that still make her feel like a real person who gets to resume her life someday, it's getting harder to ignore the true reality of their circumstances. people are dying, and she's in no power to stop it, not when that seems to be the only way for her to survive. she's no stranger to self preservation, but it's starting to eat away at her, make her feel less and less like the person she was once proud of being, even though she's still trying.

@warpainte, "it’s funny how you don’t even notice the time go by. horrible shit just stacks up day after day."

❝  you don't keep track of the time? ❞ she knows they're all different, but she's never been sure what to expect from her. ❝ i— i did. for a while. it's kind of all blurring together now. at least for a while, it wasn't all . . . horrible shit. ❞ mostly, though, and there's no escape from it now — not after the lines they've crossed. she looks up at mikayla, then back down, hesitating for a moment before she decides to say something that may either give her a death glare from mikayla or, hopefully, something much more calm. ❝  hey, um— ❞ she starts, looking back up at mikayla again. ❝ i'm really glad you and tai have each other. ❞ she may not know mikayla as well, but she does know tai, and she knows that whatever really is happening between them is something that is helping her, too -- so she can only hope it's doing the same for mikayla.

[itchose]

when she was actually in the girl scouts,  she took pride in all the skills she learned,  knowing that even if she never used half of them in her life,   it was still fun to be able to say she could do it.   there’s nothing fun about it out here— at least,  not anymore.   when they first arrived,  she liked being able to decipher what plants are which,  but that hardly felt like life or death the same way this does.  ❝  guess i got more out of it than bird watching,  ❞  she says,  attempting to tease back,  a smile tugging at her lips before starting to fade almost immediately.   though her features turn into a look of adoration as mari tells her she’s lucky to have her,  and akilah nods,  giving her arm a small squeeze.   ❝  i’m lucky to have you, too.  ❞    at least, in a way—  because akilah wishes mari was safe from this entirely;   every single day,  she notices her break even more,  and she’s doing her best to be exactly what mari needs,  she’s just afraid she’ll completely crack eventually.   ❝  kind of felt like i was going to be alone out here, ❞   she admits.   when they lost rachel immediately,  she didn’t know what that meant for her beyond her grief—   but mari fit right in place beside her so quickly,  it hardly feels like this is still new.

akilah frowns,  finding it hard to look at van this time.   no one’s ever made akilah laugh as hard as van does,  and it’s not lost on her that even if she does make it through this,   she’ll likely never be the same.   or maybe she will—   and she’ll prove everyone wrong,  laughing it off,  making them all feel silly for crying over her.   she shakes it off,  letting out a sigh.   ❝  i know,  ❞   she says quietly.   ❝  i think that’s why it was hard for me to watch,  ❞   she admits.   she looks back over to mari as she says she doesn’t want to be without her;  it’s something that akilah’s thought about, too,  and the very real possibility that they could lose each other is hitting her harder after what happened with the wolves.  they’re all lucky that they didn’t reach the same fate van did,  that any of them survived at all.  ❝  we don’t have to think about that,  ❞   she insists,  still trying to stay positive despite the growing fears.   she starts to smile again,  her hand sliding from her arm to reach for mari’s hand to hold gently.   ❝  yeah.   i was hoping you would,  ❞   she admits,  glancing back to van quickly,  then back to mari.   ❝  doesn’t feel right.  not being next to you. ❞

her touch feels nice, light, like home. it's never lost on her that there was a time when akilah was just a girl on jv, but now she can't imagine her life without her. can't imagine being here without her. so she won't. akilah is part of the fabric of her life now, and she won't apologize or feel guilty for finding this here. she wanted to get out, wanted to help tai, and she wanted to do that with akilah by her side. "a win for girl scouts." she teases, gently, instinctively moving closer. "we're lucky to have you. i'm lucky to have you." it's not a rare show of vulnerability, at least not where akilah is concerned, but it is bolder than she typically is.

she nods, tearing up at the reminder. she doesn't shove it down or brush it off with a joke like she would if it were anyone else. "i couldn't look away. van...she's so full of life. it didn't feel right." everyone else had turned away, and she wasn't in a place to judge them for it, but she couldn't look away. they deserved to be remembered for the bright person they were, and mari was going to watch every second to say goodbye. "they have to be okay." mari didn't always understand the references that van makes, but they make her smile. she makes akilah happy, too. that does matter to her. "we definitely make a good team. i don't really want to be without you like. ever." she admits. "do you think i could stay over here with you tonight?"

[itchose]

@buriedregrets [ from ]  ━ ❝   we have all seen a lot of horrible, impossible shit here. we just assume anything impossible that happens here is bad. maybe it's not. ❞

[doomdays]

akilah had spent the past hour ripping clothing in an attempt to make new bandages to prepare for van.  she was okay for now,  but given how fast everything happened,  akilah needed to feel like she had control over something.  this was something she could do,  this was a way she could actually feel prepared next time van’s bandages needed changed or someone else was hurt by the dangers of their surroundings.  in the trip back to the cabin, akilah had already accepted that she would be the one to stitch van’s face up.  she might not have known how to do that from experience,  but she’d seen it done,  and in some way,  she felt she owed it to her after what they’d experienced together.  that doesn’t mean she was any less panicked about the risks it would take —- but either van died,  or she had some small chance of living with akilah’s help,  and no matter how afraid she was,  she had to at least try.

@asuffocator said, “maybe you should take a break.”

her hands slow as she lets the cloth fall into her lap,  her eyes not meeting jackie’s just yet.  she takes a deep breath,  eyes darting across the cabin where van rests by herself with their body turned away,  clearly not interested in being part of the group at this point.  akilah can’t blame her,  but she still feels a ping of guilt — van is someone she’d always looked up to, always wanted to be around because she’d been so full of light,  and what if she didn’t do enough to save her now?  she tries to shake it off, finally looking back to jackie now. 

❝  i was just trying to do something, ❞   she explains as simply as she can, her shoulders slumping as she decides to take jackie’s advice,  mostly because it feels good to focus on someone else for a moment.  ❝  it’s hard.  not to keep thinking about it, ❞   she admits, though as soon as she says it, she’s not sure why she does.  maybe she’s just been waiting to say anything,  but too afraid to bring it up,  because everyone’s been so quiet,  no one knows how to talk about it,  and they definitely don’t want to address the fact that an escape mission had failed, leaving them entirely stranded yet again.  still, it’s easier to focus on anyone else but her own thoughts on it all.   ❝  are you doing okay? ❞

[itchose]

@feminaferitas said, "Maybe it makes me selfish. I don't think it makes me wrong."

It's been frustrating to watch Jackie these past few weeks,   noticing the way she seemed to turn her nose up at the tasks they've all been forced to complete in order to make it through another day here.   Akilah never wants to judge the way any of her teammates cope with their conditions,   because she knows firsthand just how horrifying their circumstances are and how easy it would be just to completely shut down,   but she also knows that without them all coming together,   without the help of everyone,   they'll eventually start turning against each other,   and that's the last thing she wants.   Maybe Jackie needs a push in the right direction  —    though Akilah isn't sure she's the right person to do it.   All she can try to do now is remind her what's important,   try to reason with her in a way that maybe no one else has.

❝  I don't think it makes you selfish,  ❞    she says quietly,   though she's sure the others wouldn't agree,  given the glares and the sighs that have been shot Jackie's way every time it feels like she's unwilling to help.   Akilah's not innocent from that,  either,  finding herself frustrated with Jackie despite the logic in her brain reminding her that she's just as scared as the rest of them,  too.   She takes a deep breath,   shaking her head as she thinks it over.   ❝  Hey,  I know it's hard,   trying to figure out what you're good at out here.   It's not easy for me,  either.  ❞    That's not entirely true;   her girl scout training has prepared her for this,   in some twisted way,   and she's doing everything she can to try to prove her own worth,   something in her gut telling her that's going to be important,  the way others may perceive it just as they watch Jackie.   But if it helps level with Jackie and make her feel better,  then she'll say it anyway.   

She can't shake the way it feels wrong,   being the one to say any of this.   She's younger than most of them,   and she's not used to being part of their team,   only brought to nationals last minute because of Allie's injury.   She's still trying to figure out her place here and when it's okay to speak up,   but she likes Jackie,   and she doesn't want to see anyone turn against her —  nor does she want to,  either,   so she's trying.   ❝   But you'll figure it out.   We just,   you know,   all have to do our part.  It's how we're going to survive.  ❞

[doomdays]

 Her face lights up at the positivity,   because it’s enough to validate Akilah into believing that it really is going to be okay.   Van’s the toughest survivor she knows,   and she’ll always be grateful that she even played a part in keeping her alive,   but she knows Van will make it worth it,  too.   She lets out a small laugh at the face she makes and instantly nods her head.    ❝   Yeah,  I think you’re right.   You look like a total badass,  actually, ❞    she admits,   but of course,  it’s not about her scars —- it’s about the way Van carries herself,   and even though Akilah can tell she’s still nervous about it,   she’s certain that she’ll get there eventually.  

Akilah looks down,   because she’s thought about that too many times —-  she has to hold onto hope,   she has to keep her optimism,   she has to believe that there’s an end to all of this eventually.  If she loses that,  then she’ll lose any sort of purpose she has out here.  She’ll lose her reason to keep choosing to survive every day.    ❝  I’m not going to do that,  ❞    she says quietly.   She means that out here,  and she means it in fiction,  too—  especially if they do see an end to all of this.  

Akilah hums as she thinks the question over,   her face lighting up after a moment as she nods excitedly.   ❝  Oh,  Angela Bassett,  obviously.   I get that from my moms,  I think—  they’re obsessed, ❞   she says,  letting out a soft laugh.   ❝  She’d make for a perfect final girl.  Can you imagine the fight scenes?  ❞    she says,  shrugging her shoulders after a moment.   ❝  As long as we’ve got her,  I don’t think it matters who else is in it.  What about you?  You surely have a list of favorites.  ❞

"Are you kidding? You probably made me look even sexier? Chicks are supposed to dig scars," Van makes an 'intimidating' face to sell it, though the effect only lasts for a handful of moments. She wonders briefly whether Taissa feels that way, but in the next moment, she sidesteps the question for another time. Honestly, the simple fact that she's alive is enough for Van, as self-conscious as she can get from her scars. It's hard, every single day, struggling through her wounds that are still healing, trying to avoid infections to the best of her ability, but it's easy to make light of them for Akilah's sake.

She feels more like herself than she has in a while, and it's not the mask that she used to put on for Tai's sake. It's genuine simple joy in the face of everything they're going through. She believes Akilah when the girl says to take her time, that she'll be excited either way, and it makes her eyes soften. There's a warmth to being wanted that she's never been fully accustomed to.

It's kind of nice to talk about movies with Akilah. Nat usually tolerates her spiels and Tai often shuts her up with kisses, but it's not often that someone actually engages with her on the topic. "Hope is pretty important, yeah," Van agrees. Even if it feels like it's in short supply at the moment, she has to believe that the happy ending will come, one way or another. Otherwise, what is the point of surviving over and over like she has? "I think once we lose hope, that's when we're really in trouble." She wonders what it would take to get to that point and shivers, though she tries to cover it up with a half-smile. "Who are you casting as your leads?"

[doomdays]

it's been days, but akilah's hands still tremble from stitching. five years ago, it was her in that position, watching as her girl scout troop leader did the emergency stitching on her own arm after a hiking excursion gone wrong -- but she was experienced, had the proper resources, and was steady. she can't get van's screams out of her head now, thoughts blurried so much that she's convinced herself she did a bad job ( better you than misty, mari had said, but that doesn't wash away akilah's fears, doesn't make the ringing stop quiet or the shaking stop. )

van seems to have kept to herself, while the rest of the cabin is more somber than ever at their failure to find an exit, but her mind only bounces between van and the wolves, refusing to think too far ahead -- optimism hasn't done them much good as is. as akilah moves closer, she wonders if @slaughtyr would prefer to be alone; she knows if it were her in that position, she would, but leaving it alone doesn't feel right. she's too uneasy, needs some kind of confirmation that van is still okay --- the wolves didn't win, but the wilderness might have.

❝  hi. ❞ her voice is quiet, like she's afraid to take up too much space. ' are you okay ' comes to mind first, but there's no way any of them are okay right now, especially after any last bit of hope had diminished. ❝  i brought you some water. ❞ she sets it next to her, and it feels like some excuse, so she urges herself to go on. ❝  i just wanted to check on you. you don't have to tell me how you are, okay, i know, what a stupid question anyway, but --- i just wanted to say, if you need any help, can you just let me know? i know i kind of had to, like, make everything worse before it got better, but i'm here. if you need me. ❞ she's desperate to find something light to cheer her up, the way van always does to everyone else, and she remembers mari's words. ❝  you know, better me than misty, ❞ she says, forcing a small smile.   

[itchose]

💬 [ @90svan ] ❝ you're this fiery, passionate person.  ❞ akilah has always admired that about van, the way she always seems to get so excited at her own jokes or her own stories; it's always made akilah more excited, too, always antsy to match their passion even if she's simply learning from them. she was one of the people akilah looked up to most on the team, one of the people she was most excited to spend more time with when she was suddenly brought up to the varsity team for nationals after allie's accident, but all of this, it's not the way akilah expected it to go. but despite all that, van has been the one akilah looked to for a sense of peace out here, their laugh making them feel like home isn't all that far away, even if that feeling only lasts a moment, and she's not sure if van even relies that, how much she's come to rely on it, how grateful she is for her own part in keeping this person alive.

but things have changed, and she can see it in van, too — no one can expect everyone to stay exactly the way they were before the crash. akilah can't do it herself, either, no matter how desperately she's been clinging to that life, telling herself that it's not too far from reach.

❝  i always liked that about you. even before all of this. ❞ she wonders, does van still see themself that way? ❝  you kind of, i don't know, bring life to this place. ❞ she keeps a mental list of all the movies van's told them about, a quiet promise to herself to revisit the ones she's already seen under van's new lens and finally watch the others, seeing how they live up to van's performances — things she doesn't know how to mention, talk of a place where they'll maybe return someday always seeming much too somber.

[doomdays]

they're all wondering, but no one is talking about it: what will this hell turn into once a baby is here? and are any of them capable of taking care of a baby, let alone, bringing it into this world? akilah's girl scout training has come in handy time and time again, enough to patch up wounds and stitch van's face, but the latter left her haunted for weeks after, and her hands still shake thinking about it. but a baby? she doesn't think even misty could muster up the courage, but she has to stay positive, for the sake of shauna, and whatever her part to play in this is, akilah is willing. and though breaching the subject may be something they're all careful of, she's willing enough to drop a hint that she's here.

❝  i brought you another blanket. i know you're spending a lot of time out there--- ❞ she cuts herself off, part of her knowing that some of the other girls might resent her for the offer, all of them seemingly annoyed with the way @recholeric is handling her disappearances to the shed, but akilah can't shake the worry. ❝ it's cold, okay, so just take it. i'll share with mari. or, i'll make her share with me. ❞

[doomdays]

the thought is nice,  and it's an idea akilah has thought of before,  so she finds comfort in tai holding onto that hope for someday,  too.   this is how akilah has kept herself alive this entire time --  thinking about what's waiting for her back at home,  considering all the ways life has moved on while she's stuck,  promising herself to make up for that lost time once they're finally back.  the moment she loses hope,  she won't know how to hold on,  so she doesn't let herself,  finding excitement in the idea instead as she nods her head.   ❝  you will.  i promise.  ❞   it's not a promise she can guarantee to keep,  but it makes her feel better to say it, anyway.   ❝  and she is---  most of the time.  but sometime she's just,  you know,  an annoying older sister, ❞   she teases,  letting out a soft laugh.    ❝  but she's cool.  kind've feel bad for how many of her sweaters i took on this trip,  ❞   she admits. 

she rolls her eyes,  but the smile remains anyway.  she's not the best soccer player,  and that never bothered her---  she had fun playing,  and that's why she did it.  it was a way to connect with people,  and it worked out --- at least for the most part.   ❝  whatever you say,  ❞   she teases.  

akilah glances away now,  because she still regrets what she couldn't say about rachel in their memorial.  they didn't know the flight crew enough to give them a proper memorial, no one wanted to overstep and speak for travis and javi on their father,  and that left rachel -- the one teammate they lost who no one knew well enough,  except for akilah,  who couldn't utter a word when she should have been able to honor her memory for everyone else.   she wants to tell tai about that regret,  but it almost feels silly now,  so she shrugs it off.    ❝  i hope so.   her parents used to take me home from games whenever my moms couldn't make it.  i hope someday i can talk to them again.   ❞    to tell them,  from her own words,  what happened to their daughter,  no matter how hard of a conversation it will be.    

her smile is genuine, almost spreading across her whole face. taissa knew talent when she saw it, and akilah had it ... that star power. it could have destroyed her, being stuck in these woods. but there she was, as kind as ever. as deserving as ever, to survive and get out of here. "you know what, i'll take that. now we need to get out of here just so i can meet this sister of yours. i'm sure she's cool."

"i am not lying, are you kidding me? look at my face." taissa chuckles before letting out a sigh at the mention of rachel. it was weird to think about the amount of their teammates that didn't even make it off the plane. that could have easily been either of them. sometimes taissa thinks that it would have been easier if it would have been, but she pushes that thought down, just focusing on the small chance that they could actually make it out. "i would have loved to play with her, too. but i'm sure she's proud of you, you know? that you aren't giving up ... you're helping her memory live on."

[manslaught]

@ladyintree: sender helps receiver clean up after a kill.

she wishes the violence didn't come so naturally to her. it reminds her too much of him, making her consider the fact that maybe she really is her father's daughter, the way she almost becomes someone else in the moment — someone bloodthirsty, callous, ugly, the same way she views him. mikayla tells herself it's different, that they have no choice, that it's either this or starving, but it hardly helps. the only thing that does help is her, because even now, when mikayla's covered in blood, her hands still shaking, looking at tai grounds her in a way, making her feel a little less monstrous, because monsters aren't capable of love, are they?

or maybe they are, if she is.

“ you don't need to help me, you know. ” i don't deserve it. and she doesn't, really, but she wants it anyway, because she doesn't want to be alone. the body's gone, being dealt with by shauna now, but she still sees it every time she closes her eyes — she doesn't want to be alone with that. but it still feels necessary to say anyway, to let her know that she's not obligated to be here, to look at her while she's like this. “ i won't be mad. ”

[0ctobres]

tag dump: van

[invisible-pink-toast]

Is Misty a serial killer?

"I’m grateful, okay? I really am very grateful that your hobby seems to be figuring out how to be the perfect serial killer." "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Misty is such a fascinating character. We know that since they were rescued, she's become a nurse/carer at a nursing home, that she's a prominent member of the Citizen Detective group, that she loves her bird Caligula and is training him, that she's gone on a lot of unsuccessful dates, and that she's kept tabs on all the surviving Yellowjackets.

But none of this explains the murder dungeon set up in her basement...

For context, Misty's had a fascination with medicine and healing since before the crash, taking the Red Cross babysitter's first aid course twice, but it's after the crash that she realises how useful this skill is in making her needed and letting her be in control.

It gives her power over people.

Her feeling appreciated for the first time in her life and feeling like she has a position of power in the group leads to her destroying the black box when she finds it. I'm not sure if she just meant to delay the rescue to give herself more time to shine, or whether she meant to trap everyone in the middle of nowhere permanently.

Even if her plan was just to delay, Ben is in a critical state, and everyone is injured and vulnerable to infection and exposure, not to mention their lack of supplies (Misty has no knowledge of the lake or cabin at this point). Either way it shows a complete disregard for others lives right from the get go.

Misty doesn't know much about herbs and plants when they're first in the wilderness, Akilah is the most knowledgeable from her time in the girl scouts. But Misty obviously pays attention, and she gathers plants into a binder that she secretly hides in the woods.

In her binder there is also a book on medicinal plants. As pointed out in this reddit thread, it looks faded, has no hole punches for the binder, and there's no reason Misty would have this with her in the crash. It's likely a book from the cabin. Instead of having it available for everyone, Misty has hidden the book so that only She has the knowledge - she's the one with the power, she's the most useful, and she appears to just know this information.

The plants in the binder include the ones that make you sick and hallucinate - you can see the 'vomiting' label! And this is not to know what to avoid, she gathers enough to use - which she does! It's completely premeditated.

Misty's eager to control Ben and poisons him when he appears to reject her advances. When she thinks she has a chance with him at Doomcoming she excitedly goes to drug him into a state of compliance. Her plan is ruined before she can attempt it (though I doubt Ben would've ever accepted another tea from Misty lmao) when Mari adds the shrooms to their stew. Misty knows that Everyone is going to be drugged and there will be consequences - but she says nothing and even has the stew herself in order to try and appear innocent. So she knows it's not something someone's supposed to be doing but does it anyway for her own gain.

"You poisoned me! Why?" "That's a very strong word. I wouldn't-"

Chronologically, the first death that Misty directly causes is Kristin's.

Misty threatens to kill her if the other girl reveals her secret (destroying the black box) and backs Kristin up against the cliff. When Kristin steps back, she falls to her death.

I truly don't think Misty meant to kill Kristin here. I think she was 100% capable of it, but her actual death was an accident. Misty panicked and was trying to gain control of the situation. Misty is in shock after Kristin falls off the cliff, she's devastated and climbs down and does CPR to try and save Kristin. Absolutely not a death she meant to occur, but despite her grief, Kristin's death does solve a problem for Misty.

Something that she'll remember going forwards.

The next death Misty is (at least partly) responsible for is Javi's. Misty is the one who relays Lottie's wish to be used as food if she dies, this causes the group to decide to sacrifice someone in Lottie's place. Natalie draws the card, Travis and Javi help her escape, but when Javi falls into the icy lake, Misty is the one to pull Natalie back from helping him and make it clear that it is Natalie or Javi's life and he is already drowning.

Misty also has complicated reactions to death. She immediately covers up Kristin's death with the blizzard, knowing that she'll be blamed if anyone discovers she fell from the cliff. But she's also panicked and upset and berating herself. She makes justifications for Javi's death and looks way too intrigued when Travis bites into the heart. But in contrast - Misty's devastated when the baby dies, and she actually convinces Ben not to commit suicide because "I can't have another death on my hands"

Yet Misty is also enamoured with violence - looking positively gleeful as Shauna nearly beats Lottie to death and grinning after they feast on Pit Girl.

At this point this is as much as we've seen of Misty in the '96 timeline but it's... troubling. Especially considering what she's like in 2021.

Misty's become a nurse, working in an aged care facility, where she can play God and have control over people's lives again without any real oversight.

But none of this makes her a potential serial killer. What does is:

1) Her basement.

Misty kidnaps Jessica (we'll get into that) but she already has a basement set up for this exact need. A bed, TV and kitchen facility in a basement isn't usually suspicious - but we know that Misty has ZERO guests staying (willingly) with her, the basement only locks from the outside, it's already set up with restraints on the bed (potentially just kinky but given the context more murdery), a wheelchair that someone can be easily handcuffed to, duct tape, etc.

There's also other details that show that... this is not the first time Misty has done this. She gives Jessica plastic cutlery like what a child would use (unlike the metal cutlery Natalie uses to stab Lisa and escape when she's kidnapped and chained to a bed). Misty wears gloves and a full jumpsuit to conceal her DNA and a pair of work boots that are clearly for this purpose only.

Even knowing that Misty is a researcher, is fascinated by true crime and is a citizen detective, there's just too many details in the set up for this to be a one off thing and first time success.

2) Misty's knowledge, supply of, and willingness to use drugs.

Misty kidnaps Jessica in about ten seconds. She's convinced Jessica to willingly get into her car to discuss what they talked about on the phone, and without a word Misty stabs her in the thigh with a syringe and knocks her out. Then Misty drives away with a smile. hm.

After discovering that Jessica will be harder to crack then Misty thought, she's perfectly willing to... murder Jessica's father. By lacing chocolates with a deadly drug and sending them to the guy from his daughter. Misty even gets his nurse to agree to deliver them personally sjdlk;fhaskl;dfh holy shit??

Drugs are Misty's weapon of choice. It's another thing that gives her power over people. She laces Jessica's cigarettes, murdering her, when Lisa shows up with a shotgun to try and get all the masked armed people away from Lottie, Misty's first instinct is to kill the girl. The only reason she doesn't succeed is that Natalie covers Lisa and sacrifices herself.

So in the adult timeline - that's one straight up murder (Jessica), two attempted murders (Lisa and Jessica's father), and one accidental-ish killing (Natalie). All with drugs.

3) Misty's manipulation and lack of boundaries

Not as big of a reason as some of the others, but important to consider overall. Misty has no boundaries with other people, and uses her skills against everyone around her, whether she thinks of them as a friend, foe, or a complete stranger.

She keeps tabs on the other survivors, including Travis, who changed his name and disappeared. She's disappointed in herself for not knowing Lottie was back from Switzerland.

She tampers with her own car to guilt her date into driving her home, then guilts him into coming inside by crying that he doesn't think she's pretty.

She tampers with Natalie's car in order to force Natalie into going with her to find Travis.

She texts Kevyn Tan pretending to be Natalie and starts up a relationship with him (i mean acab but still bad from natalie's perspective)

She puts a hidden camera in Natalie's room in order to spy on her, listening in on her conversations and watching her have sex (girl come on.)

To threaten Jessica, Misty finds out the aged care facility her father is in, who his nurse is, and using a fake name has a lengthy conversation with the nurse to find out as much information as she can.

Misty does a whole background check on the random motel employee in order to threaten / blackmail him into helping her.

Not to mention all the ways Misty abuses the residents in her care at her job.

4) She knows exactly how to get rid of a body

She's so flattered I just-

Once again, because she's a Citizen Detective and loves true crime I can see her knowing a fair bit about this. Like the 'fun fact' that 12% of killers are caught buying cleaning supplies. Why she knows exactly what brand of bleach is best to clean up a murder because "regular bleach leaves behind hemoglobin for the luminol tests" is not something anyone who has not cleaned up a murder scene would know. Also she knows exactly what to steal from her work to clean up a murder scene and dump a body on short notice...

A lot of things that Misty still uses are things that she learnt in the wilderness - the drugs, the manipulation, etc. Cleaning was not a part of the wilderness. This and her murder basement are things she has learnt over time since they've been back.

She's also so upbeat?? All of the survivors have dealt with bodies, but for most of them it's been a while and they're all pretty shaken when getting rid of the evidence of Adam's murder. Misty is practically glowing - but given that her 'friends' need her and that she's in charge, that tracks for her character.

So after all this, there's still the question:

Is Misty a serial killer?

Honestly? Yeah, probably. She has far too many resources and techniques and is just far too comfortable with murder and cleaning up afterwards to have not killed at least a few people that we don't know about. A serial killer is someone who has murdered at least three people over a period of time. I'm thinking Misty qualifies.

Then there's the question of why?

Misty thinks of herself as a hero. The underdog who's protecting her friends, especially Natalie. She's doing what needs to be done when the others aren't able to.

And it's the phrasing of the quote above that really gets me. The 2021 timeline in both season 1 and 2 takes place over only a couple of weeks. The bulk of it - from Jessica's kidnapping and the blackmail to ending up in Lottie's compound - happens over about two weeks.

In that two weeks, Misty has (according to herself) taken care of things such as: helping Natalie find answers on Travis' death, stopped Natalie from relapsing, killed Jessica and neutralised a potential threat, helped the others cover up Adam's murder & tracked Natalie down after her kidnapping.

Only they really didn't find answers on Travis' death, Adam's murder was not covered up and Shauna is being investigated, and Natalie stayed willingly with Lottie. The other two are highly debatable.

So Misty did not take care of things. Also, "always" is a strong way to phrase a two week period. Considering she hasn't seen the other survivors in years.

So is Misty... not talking about that two week period? Is she talking about before?

The Yellowjackets and their survival have been public speculation since their rescue. Jessica pretending to be a reporter and poking around for a story is not shocking to any of them. But no official story has ever come out. Maybe Misty has been "taking care" of any potential leaks.

Has anyone checked in with the author of 'Skin in the Game' i'm just saying

She already has the basement set up for interrogation. She already has the drugs on hand to make a murder look like an overdose. She would rather kill someone then deal with the consequences of them living. Take Jessica, or the fact that Misty used a lethal drug (probably the fentanyl) when attacking Lisa, when she could have easily used some sort of tranquilliser.

There's also the fact that she just enjoys having power over other people. She enjoys violence.

Some theories:

There's Stan, the guy she went on a date with in 1x02. It's obvious the date is going terribly. Misty is trying way too hard and he's not into her but she keeps pushing. That is in character, and maybe they're just trying to set Misty up as being desperate. But also... the guy is kind of a loser. He's just been fired, he tries to ditch the date at 6PM, he's even more awkward then Misty. But she still messes with her car so he has to give her a ride home. She still manipulates him into coming inside.

Why? Why does she want this guy in her house? To try to convince him to have sex with her? She doesn't really seem that into him either. And once Natalie turns up Misty could care less about the guy.

Maybe Misty was looking to use her murder basement. This guy just lost his job, if he disappeared would anyone notice right away? If he turned up a week later, dead of an apparent overdose, would anyone suspect anything? Misty sees herself as being noble, when she kidnaps Jessica she taunts her saying "good night, sleep tight, don't let the fact that you're a terrible person keep you up tonight". Stan was a jerk, so would Misty justify her actions to herself because of that?

Then there's Walter. He knows more about Misty then he's letting on. He may have found her on the citizen detective boards, but even with his odd behaviour, this doesn't explain his borderline obsession with her. When covering up Adam's murder, he's also covering Jessica's. How does he know about Jessica or that her murder relates to Misty? He's very into true crime - has he tracked Misty down because he's linked her to several suspicious deaths? It clearly doesn't bother him, it actually seems to be something that endears her to him, but it supports the serial killer theory. Also hilarious that he thinks her being a surviving Yellowjacket is the least interesting thing about her and... he's right actually jsldkfhsaldhfas;hf

At the end of the day, Misty Quigley is a fantastic and fascinating character and I can't wait to see where her story goes. I would love for this theory to be true, but either way I'm sure Misty will be as entertaining as ever.

"I know when you look at me, you don't see someone you should be afraid of, but, uh... you're wrong."

[doomdays]

she’s noticed the change in mikayla lately —- it’s hard not to,  since she was always one of the most intimidating players on the team,  one akilah tried so hard never to piss off in any way,  but she knows there could be a lot of reasons for that.  it’s hard not to change out here,  for better or for worse,  so she tries not to think too much about it,  but she’s grateful for whatever it is that seems to give her a softer edge suddenly.  it brings a relieved smile from akilah as she looks back at her,  proud of herself for not only doing good,  but seemingly impressing her,  of all people.   she scoffs,  quickly shaking her head.   ❝  it would take one person a long time to do all of this,  ❞   she counters.   ❝  you shouldn’t have to do it all alone.  and—  you’re good for a lot of things,  anyway. i think we're all really lucky to have you here, ❞   she promises.   

“ that makes two of us. ” that doesn't guarantee she won't die, but mikayla chooses not to point that out, because she's been in a better mood lately, despite everything, so blatant negativity doesn't come as naturally as it used to. because of that, she doesn't say anything more about her initial attempt at sharpening a knife, because the memory of her father always threatens to ruin her mood, and for once, she doesn't want to let him have that power. mikayla watches akilah's attempt, unsure of what to say, because she's never been good at compliments—but the truth feels like a decent place to start. “ no, that was pretty good. better than my first time. i dulled the shit out of the edge. ” before she can think too much about what happened after, mikayla clears her throat, taking the knife back to inspect the edge of the blade. “ you didn't, so that's good. practice'll help but—maybe i shouldn't help you get better. i need to be good for something here. ” she's mostly joking, although there's some seriousness to it, too, because none of her skills feel useful here, outside of this.

[itchose]

❝  you two kind of remind me of my moms.  ❞   she hears it the moment it comes out of her mouth,  her eyes shutting tightly and her face scrunching up,  quickly shaking her head.   ❝  okay.  no.  not like that.  not that— you two are like moms.  ❞   her eyes open carefully,  looking back to @manslaught with hopes that she she isn’t weirded out by the comments.  ❝  i just mean—  the way you are with each other.  it reminds me of them.  you love each other.  ❞   she wonders if that’s an overstep,  if they’ve gotten to that point yet,  but akilah trusts her intuition.  ❝  i mean,  you do,  right?  ❞