#trick question; it’s the amps that kill

[nothinggold13]

Sometimes you sit down to write and instead give yourself a crash course on electricity physics, and you know the worst part?? All of it is fake.

[omegaremix]

Omega Radio for August 5, 2024; #382.

Who Killed Society: “Nothing New”

Bitch Magnet: “C Word”

Wreck: "Song X"

Sludgeworth: "Angry Man"

M.O.T.O.: "She's Not Ready"

Didjits: "Who's Ready To Get High?"

Volcano Suns: "Punching Bag"

Sixteen Tons: "Drug Drivin'"

Fugazi: "Smallpox Champion" (Albini demo)

Pegboy: "Never A Question"

Melt Banana: "Chicken-Head Raccoon Dog"

Screeching Weasel: "Celena"

Naked Raygun: "Hot Atomics" (redux)

Flogging Molly: "Salty Dog"

Jawbreaker: "Caroline"

Federation X: "Real American Kids With Real American Ids"

F-Minus: "Sweating Blood"

Leftover Crack: "Life Is Pain"

Haymaker Riot: "You Might Know Who We R..."

Gogol Bordello: "Sally"

Vitamin X: "Full Scale Assault"

Local H: "Patrick Bateman"

Fred Schneider: "Coconut"

Palace: "Arise, Therefore"

Will Oldham: "Joya"

Nina Nastasia: "A Love Song"

Frames, The: "Rise"

Songs:Ohia: "Keep It Steady"

Scout Niblett: "I'll Be A Prince"

Joanna Newsom: "Cosmia"

Scott Weiland: "Missing Cleveland"

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy: "I Don't Belong To Anyone"

Parallax Ensemble: "Parallax Game"

Frank Iero & The Future Violents: “A New Day’s Coming”

Laura Jane Grace: "The Mountain Song"

Wedding Present, The: "Brassneck"

Silkworm: "Oh How We Laughed"

Low: "Transmission"

Guided By Voices: "It’s Like Soul Man (Sprout)”

Portastatic: “Late Night Wait Around”

Owls, The: “I Want The Quiet Moments Of A Party Girl”

New Year, The: "Newness Ends"

Electrelane: "On Parade"

Ponys, The: "Another Wound"

Sparklehorse: "Evening Star Super Charger"

Jarvis Cocker: "Further Complications"

Cloud Nothings: "No Sentiment"

Screaming Females: "Something Ugly"

Foxy Shazam: "Gonzo"

Nothing: "In Metal"

Womps: "Dreams On Demand"

Metz: "Common Trash"

Ty Segall: "Orange Color Queen"

Flat Worms: "Antarctica"

Silver Apples: "Daisy"

Cheap Trick: “I Want You To Want Me” (unreleased Albini demo)

Robert Plant & Jimmy Page: "Walking Into Clarksdale"

Iggy & The Stooges: "You Can't Have Friends"

Pixies, The: "Gigantic"

Poster Children: "10,000 Pieces"

Ut: "Safe Burning"

Hum: "(Is Like Kissing an Angel, She Said)"

Breeders, The: "Happiness Is A Warm Gun"

Mule: "Mississippi Breaks"

Failure: "Pro-Catastrophe"

Nirvana: "Heart-Shaped Box"

P.J. Harvey: "Rid Of Me"

Sloy: "Pop"

Tar: "Topless, Mindless, Senseless"

Amps, The: "She's A Girl"

Veruca Salt: "Shimmer Like A Girl"

Auteurs, The: "After Murder Park"

Bush: "Personal Holloway"

Pansy Division: "You're Gonna' Need Your Friends"

Chevelle: "Mia"

Cinerama: "And When She Was Bad"

Manic Street Preachers: “She Bathed Herself In A Bath Of Bleach”

Hugh Cornwell: "Gods Guns And Government"

Deluxe broadcast: first of two five-hour Steve Albini tributes.

[arletquin]

ok i’m too tired to do pages rn but here’s the basic gist of my harley

harley quinn was a psychiatrist at arkham asylum and her situation with the j0ker is relatively same with her being heavily manipulated by him to help his escape and become his sidekick/“girlfriend”. j0ker’s abuse against harley is still canonical to my interpretation, with the only change being that harley would be more reactive to his abuse, often physically violent when he would be violent to her, prior to them “breaking up”.

in my story, harley has killed the j0ker, ending things with him and becoming the princess of clown crime.

harley, prior to become the harlequin (as she likes to be called), was always violent and angry, but often suppressed it to such an extent that she felt completely devoid of emotion. becoming harlequin, especially after killing the j0ker, is something she would describe as “freeing” (though it is questionable to anybody else of sound mind). rather than being devoid of emotion, she heavily indulges with no thought or meaning—she destroys when she’s angry, thrills when she’s violent, laughs when she’s manic…

my harley is not an anti-hero. she is still an antagonist and very cruel to those she “plays with”.

harley’s crimes aren’t for a “bigger purpose” like some other rogues. harley likes to “have fun”, which is often violent, loud, crude, and bloody—but not always all of the above. sometimes she picks civilians or people of a higher standing, but either way, they’re a little toy for her to play mean tricks on until the bat comes knocking at her door.

harley often wears red and black latex with pigtails or braids, a big smear of white makeup and red lips with black eyeliner. she does change her outfit on certain occasions, with it always being amped up to the extremes.

[msfbgraves]

When did Terry decide to kill the LaRusso family and why? Did Terry only amp up this threat if Pop refused to give him his youngest? When did Terry decide he had to have Daniel? 

Oh, now that's a legend that may be going around the Stallion to make Terry look fierce 😄! No, it wasn't like that!

Terry wanted resources from the Don, he'd been moving into a few Italian controlled neighbourhoods after the uprising, extorting shopkeepers and whatnot. Low level stuff, but he's good at it. And he's like: "Pay me off to stop, or I am going full Kamikaze on your terrain." Now paying Terry off is out of the question to the Don. But if the man is indeed stupid or crazy enough to throw everything he has at this, he might just stretch the Don's weakened resources to the max.

The Don would have still won, I think, but he would have not been able to keep control long after until a bigger organisation swept in, plus his pups wouldn't all make it. Indeed he's wondering if someone is paying Terry to do the dirty work for him.

So how real is Terry's threat?

Enter Daniele.

If Terry really wants to go apeshit, an omega won't sway him, but if he wants more influence...

And Terry wanted more influence, but he would have been OK with money, and since he does have the reputation to do crazy shit, the Don might just have paid him, which would have been very easy money indeed, money he could have used to expand his territory in other ways. Sure, the man would have tried to retaliate but that would have been harder after Terry'd been bleeding him of yet more resources -

And then he offers this omega. In marriage. Which is definitely a trick to catch him off guard but what a beauty. What a fiery little gem! Terry's only been with frightened, bartered away little kitties, but this boy...

He's a goner right away.

He'd not planned to fall in love at all, so of course that's when it happened.

[theghostofpennsyltucky]

Mask Making Ethics: Rehauls, Conversions and Recasting.

Many folks within the masked community have probably heard the terms “rehaul,” “recast,” or conversion from time to time. You may be surprised that these terms do not solely exist within the mask community, but also branch out into the art and costuming communities as well as many more. While some long term members may already be versed with these words, I’ve spoken with quite a few newer members of many communities that are a bit confused as to what these terms are. This post will hopefully answer those questions as well as highlight what is and what is not ethical within the community.  Rehauls

Rehauling is the process of taking a mask and “amping it up,” if you will. One can typically see this with licensed character masks. No doubt you’ve seen some masks around and have thought to yourself: “That looks okay, but maybe it could look a little better.” By no means am I dumping on any artist or studio, but in a mass production setting, sometimes things get put on the backburner in an effort to get as many products out on the market as they can. It looks good, but it’s not 100% “there.” Maybe the sculpt is great but the paint job is off. For example, let’s take the Trick or Treat Studios Michael Myers mask from Halloween Kills. Like many fans and collectors, I found the mask to be sculpted very well, but lacking on the paint job. This is where rehauling comes in. Many have taken to buying these masks and rehauling them to their full potential. They can be sold online, which is perfectly ethical and legal AS LONG AS YOU MENTION IT IS A REHAUL. An example of this can be found at the link below, where Nick Mulpagano rehauls a TOTS Halloween Kills mask from start to finish.  Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joLHAYRiw5o&t=765s Conversions

Conversions are in the same vein as rehauls in that they are perfectly legal and ethical. Still, it is good to give props to the original designer and distributor of the mask. But a conversion is exactly what it sounds like: taking one mask and converting into another mask. Examples of this include some of the masks worn by Slipknot in their earlier years. In my experience, when new members find this out, they’re blown away to learn that these masks started their life as a completely different thing all together. Chris Fehn (#3) wore a converted Distortions Unlimited Liar mask, which was made by and given to him by a prior member. James Root (#4) used a converted Forums Novelties Jester mask. The band purchased these, made modifications and turned these masks into their own thing. Nothing at all wrong with that. To see how this was done, check out the video by YouTube user iamtheniko to see a #3 Liar Conversion from start to finish (Or for the Slipknot Mask community, the “Spit It Out” Liar). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4mwXy4c034

Recasting

Recasting is not okay. For the most part. There are *some* exceptions, but generally it is frowned upon within ALL communities. Recasting is the process of creating a mold of a piece and creating casts of that piece. The reason this is frowned upon is because THIS IS OURTIGHT THEFT. In recasting the work of an independent artist, you’re taking the work an artist has put into their piece, their skill, their money and everything that went into it. Not only is this stealing the work of an independent artist, but recasted pieces are generally smaller and have lesser quality to them. On the opposite end of that spectrum, recasting mass produced pieces comes with its own series of issues as well. Mainly, the pieces being mass produced means that there’s some company that owns the image of whatever the piece may be. If you are caught, this could result in a Cease and Desist notice (which is a nice way of the respective Trademark Holders saying: “Hey, how about you don’t do that,”) or a possible lawsuit. 

Sometimes, it is given an OK, but these always fall under certain circumstances. Firstly, the Company or Trademark Holders are no longer in business, in which case, the pieces were probably sold off to another company. Second, the piece has been discontinued. Third, which may fall in line with the second, whoever owns the piece simply does not care. Either way, track down the rightful Trademark Holders first. AND DO NOT RECAST UNLESS YOU GET AN OKAY FIRST. “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission” is stupid advice and you should never follow it. Also, don’t try to be slick. People who are passionate about the community are obsessive (not an insult), and there’s always someone out there who’ll notice. No matter how well you try to cover your tracks, eventually, you WILL be caught. 

I hope that clears some things up for anyone who was curious about what recasting, rehauling and converting is. If you have questions about any piece, there’s no shame in asking someone who’s been in the community for a long time for their opinion. Call me biased, but I think we’re a good bunch. But, support your passions, the arts, small businesses and have fun collecting, rehauling, converting and making good art... without recasting. 

[linuxgamenews]

Unusual Findings 2D: A Blast from the Past with 80s Nostalgia

Unusual Findings 2D pixel art action adventure game for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the talented team at Epic Llama Games. Which is available on Steam and Humble Store with 89% Very Positive reviews. Big news from ESDigital right now. Unusual Findings, the 2D pixel art action adventure by Epic Llama, is hitting the gamescom latam event! Plus, there’s a huge content and gameplay update coming soon. You can grab it and also play the free Demo via Proton. So, what’s gamescom latam? It’s a mix of gamescom, the biggest gaming event worldwide, and BIG Festival, the largest in Latin America. This epic event is happening from June 26 to 30, 2024, at São Paulo Expo. Unusual Findings is a blast from the past in 2D pixel art, dripping with 80s nostalgia and pop culture. It’s like diving into classics such as The Goonies, Monster Squad, and Terminator, with a twist of Point and Click fun like Full Throttle. Hernan Lopez, the founder and game designer at Epic Llama, will be at the show. Due to show off Unusual Findings and all the new updates and 2D pixel art action. You can catch him for interviews and demos at the Nintendo Stand. Stay tuned for more update news soon! The game kicks off in the 80s, just before Christmas. Our heroes, Vinny, Nick, and Tony, stumble upon an alien distress signal while trying to decrypt a pay-per-view channel. They find out that a crashed spaceship has brought a deadly alien to their town, targeting specific people.

Unusual Findings 2D pixel art action - Official Launch Trailer

Get ready to explore an 80s world filled with nostalgia. Hunt for clues at the Video Buster Store and challenge kids at the Laser Llamas Arcade. Due to pick up new tricks at The Emerald Sword comic store. You’ll even meet the punk Lost Boys at their hideout and the ultimate 80s action hero, THE BULL! Your choices matter in this title. So how you make the friends interact affects their relationship, the story, and the puzzles you solve. Uncover the alien invasion mystery: Why is it here? Why is it killing locals? And will the boys manage to tune into that adult channel? All these questions and more will be answered in Unusual Findings in the 2D pixel art action. Featuring a solid coming of age sci-fi story, with three friends fighting unknown (and known) dangers. Use the See, Grab, and Talk action tokens, combine items in your inventory, and let your wits guide you. Enjoy the stylish pixel art with a modern twist, and get ready for some rad Synthwave music that amps up the 80s vibe. So, if you love the 80s, classic movies, and solving mysteries in 2D pixel art, Unusual Findings is for you. Grab it now on Steam and Humble Store. Along with support for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Priced at $19.99 USD / £16.75 / 19,99€. Also, check out the free PC demo playable on Linux via Proton. You know, if you want to try before you buy.

[tomreview]

AI Challenge Irresistible Offers Framework

If you're stuck on what to sell, how to package it, and at what price, this "Create Your First Course with AI" Challenge is just for you.

You don't know where to begin and are overwhelmed.

You are perplexed regarding which product ought to serve as the platform for success.

Finding the right niche and offering is a maze for you to navigate.

You are held hostage by persistent inaction, which results in offers that never materialize.

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, then this 5-Day "Create Your First Offer with AI" Challenge is for you. It was made specifically for you!

Learn about HI and how to replace it with AI by watching the video below. Apply HI Process & Framework to AI.

The 5-Day "Create Your First Offer with AI" Challenge will walk you through step-by-step "How To "Bootstrap" Your Offer Idea And Launch It Into The World..." Click Here To Join The Challenge Click Here To Save Your Seat Now

Day 1

Overpowering Offers Structure

( Furthermore, Why Is It The Best way To Kill Constant Inaction Issue)?

Hello, I'm really amped up for what I've arranged for you on The very beginning of our "Make Your Most memorable Proposal with artificial intelligence" Challenge!

We'll start with that sneaky little problem of constant inaction. That's right, we as a whole face it, however I have quite recently the arrangement - The Burst Offer Creation, simulated intelligence, and this demonstrated one-meeting structure. I guarantee it will alter the game!

After that, we'll get into the specifics of deciding what you should sell. I know it can be difficult, but don't worry; I'll be there to help you.

Finally, we'll talk about setting a price for your first offer. Pricing can be confusing, but I've got some tricks that will make it simple. Trust me when I say that you won't want to miss anything on Day One!

Participate in the Challenge Day 2: Big Idea and Million Dollar Pitch You're going to love what Day 2 of our "Create Your First Offer with AI" Challenge has in store for you!

First things first: we'll talk about what you need to do and where you should start. I know that the first step can sometimes appear to be the most difficult, but I will be there to help you every step of the way.

After that, we'll concentrate on finding the ideal market for your offer. To ensure that this goes as smoothly as possible, we'll make use of a handy framework and the most recent ChatGPT update.

And as the day comes to an end, we'll get down to the business of making an offer that no one will refuse. We will create a Million Dollar Pitch with the assistance of ChatGPT that will amaze your customers. It will be so energizing, and I can hardly hold on to get everything rolling!

Join the Test

Day 3

Making An Overpowering Proposal with simulated intelligence

Day 3 of our "Make Your Most memorable Proposal with simulated intelligence" Challenge is about separation and fascination!

Have you ever wondered what makes your offer stand out from the competition? Why would someone find yours to be so tempting?

Using ChatGPT and other AI tools, I will guide you through the process of creating your individual offer on Day 3. We will ensure that your offer is perfectly designed, structured, and organized.

And there's more! We will also concentrate on establishing that crucial selling point, or the "big idea" of your offer, as I like to refer to it. This will draw in the sort of possibilities you're truly holding back nothing!

A little bit of information: before the period of computer based intelligence, which presently allows us to make an incredible 95% of your proposition, the method involved with making a deal was the second greatest obstacle individuals confronted, just in the wake of conquering inaction. It's been a significant motivation behind why people couldn't change their lives. Be that as it may, learn to expect the unexpected. You are now a part of an AI-powered, smarter era! Can hardly stand by to see you on Day 3!

Participate in Day 4 of the Challenge: Traffic Secrets!

I can assure you that Day 4 of our "Create Your First Offer with AI" Challenge will be a real eye-opener! I'll show you some magical ways to get people to your offers.

The deal is this: I have a sweet little secret to share on day four.

I will tell you the best way to supercharge your proposals without laying out a solitary penny!

We will utilize this incredibly straightforward, yet really powerful, stunt to produce natural traffic. I can assure you that you will adore it! Look forward to seeing you there!

Participate in the Challenge: Day 5: Sales Copy Using AI Okay, get ready because Day 5 of our "Create Your First Offer with AI" Challenge is going to be a total blast!

On the last day, I will show you how to guide ChatGPT into making a few truly compelling deals duplicate for your proposition. We'll use what I call the "double-core method," which is done in the manner of a leading copywriting legend. Doesn't that sound pretty cool?

Here's a captivating thing: ChatGPT can with certainty mirror 64 copywriting legends. Yes, that is what I said! However, rest assured that I won't leave you guessing. I'll show you which of these legends are the best counterparts for creating that hard-hitting duplicate for Burst Offers. Don't miss Day Five, which will be jam-packed with insights!

Participate in the 5-Day "Create Your First Offer with AI" Challenge with Your Hosts! Andrew Darius is a true AI pioneer and the founder of Pitch Kickstart for ChatGPT, Prompt Strongbox, and Prompt Merchant.

With his most memorable man-made intelligence application made in 2013, Andrew has since delivered various computer based intelligence controlled applications that have been bought by huge number of business people and associates.

Andrew has created dozens of well-known digital products and sold over 200,000 of them on ClickBank, JVzoo, and Warrior Plus as a digital product creator.

His complete deals have surpassed 8-figures, which is a really noteworthy accomplishment.

In point of fact, he was recently recognized by JVzoo for having sold more than $6 million on just one of his accounts.

Andrew is a top-performing affiliate in addition to being a successful product creator.

He has sold more than 90,000 products from other vendors, and during a few promotions, he sold more than 1,000 copies of the promoted product.

In the field of digital products, Andrew is unquestionably someone to keep an eye out for!

[kiss-my-freckle]

Jane fears loss. That's why he's afraid to tell Lisbon he loves her. He admits it when he fakes her death, but that admission comes because he's amped up by his emotions. Though fake, he’s pointing a gun at the woman he loves. When she asks him about it after the fact, he questions her for the sake of avoiding admission. Death isn’t the only way to lose someone. That's why he ends up on a plane, admitting his feelings. His fear of her death exists for obvious reasons.

The storyline I like most in the final season, is Jane's desire to stop working cases for law enforcement. It makes sense for his character. He views his gift as a curse, and only joined the CBI to get justice for his murdered family. Working with the FBI was his ticket home, but it wasn’t something he actually wanted or looked forward to. Once he killed Red John, he wanted no part in any of it. Jane hates being surrounded by death, Red John already took so much from him, and he’s simply not meant to be a law enforcement agent. 

While in hiding, the kids had to beg him to do a magic trick. I can’t see him doing much with his gift at the end of the show. I imagine him opening up a teahouse, and beside it, a shop where he makes his own tea cups for the teahouse.  

[ded-and-gonne]

Ded & Gonne: The Drabbles

1. Yes, Ben. Comfort does exist, and his name is Klaus.

From a gif by @salvador-daley | More Ded & Gonne by @firstpersonnarrator

<<———>>

AN: I’ve decided that there are too many silly one-off ideas taking up space in my brain, so here’s the first of the D&G Drabbles. Read this one in full right here, tumblr-only. Let’s do this. TWs: None.

<<———>>

“Come over here and hug your brother.” Klaus spreads his arms to welcome Ben back with a big, goofy smile.

“No.”

“Bummer, but ok.” Klaus turns away and immediately turns back. “Come over here and hug your brother.”

“No.”

“K.” Klaus itches his chin then spreads his arms wide once again, but without the grin. He figures maybe the grin was the problem. “Come over here and hug your brother.”

“No!”

“Klaus and Benny, sittin in a tree-“

“Shut UP, Klaus.”

“That’s no way to thank me for wanting to hug you, you big meanie.” Klaus pauses. “Come over here and hug your brother.”

“When have I ever said yes?”

“Is this a trick question?”

Ben does not respond.

“Cuz I have a trick answer! You said yes at the wedding, ha-ha ha-ha haaah-haaaah,” says Klaus, pulling out more schoolyard taunts. Which he’s certain he would have been good at had he ever been to a schoolyard. He sure got good at taunting back in the academy’s courtyard. Courtyard, schoolyard. Same thing.

“I did not say yes to hugging my not-brother.”

“You can try and deny it now, but you and I both know that you’re a snuggler. Who loves to snug.” Oh. Ouch, Klaus. That might have been a little too far.

Yep. It was a little too far. Or a lot. Point is, Ben has set his jaw, and is standing rigidly with his hands balled into fists.

“Now-now, Benji-“

Oh yikes no.

“Now don’t look so angry. Unless you’re hangry. You can look hangry if you want. But that’s beside the point.”

Maybe the way to amp this up a little higher is to keep talking, Klaus.

Oh God. He’s moving toward Ben, instead of slowly backing away. Dying probably kills lots of brain cells. That’s a compelling explanation. Otherwise it’s just Klaus being Klaus, which is also a compelling explanation.

Can an immortal person have a death wish? Cuz Klaus seems to have one. He’s taking one of Ben’s balled-up fists in his hands, and is now trying to smooth out Ben’s fingers. “There, there, Ben. It’s ok.”

This is odd. Ben has not flinched. Neither has he threatened, nor bellowed in any way, shape, or form of bellowing. This is wyrd. Really wyrd. Ben is just standing there, staring at his fist being smoothed out on Klaus’s palm. It’s possible that Ben is feeling “comfort.” Which is a word he’s never believed applies to anything that actually exists in the world. Not once in his life.

Never until Klaus, who has just picked up Ben’s other fist and is relaxing the fingers there, as well. He watches in fascination. Comfort exists? Yes, Ben. Comfort does exist, and his name is Klaus.

<<———>>

More Ded & Gonne

<<———>>

@hey-there-benerino This one’s for you.

[palmtreefriend]

Creating an OC Listener for Guy the Pizza Guy? It's more likely than you think.

So, let's go through a list. We got werewolves, vampires, dreamwalkers, deathwalkers, demons, daemons, and people who can literally do magic. But you wanna know what I want?

Ghosts.

You read that right. Ghosts.

And I've been listening to some other audios with ghost listeners and one thing that some of them had in common was that ghost were basically anchored to the place of which they died. That got me thinking. What if we killed off a listener (In whatever way you want to imagine. Go off.) and they died in the arms of someone. Like all that Good Good Angst of "Please Stay Awake" and "Help is on the way!" and, my personal favorite, "Please don't leave me."

I originally was gonna make another OC for the living friend but I realized Guy was a great candidate. Just sort of Being There in all of his glory.

Some Lore under the cut:

Okay, we're gonna call our lovely ghost friend Spooks

And not just because they're a ghost now

No no no no. We're much classier than that

I'm giving them College Roommates kinda vibe

So Guy and Spooks sort of met in high school

They had mutual friends and Spooks was always known for playing pranks and shit. Especially sround Halloween

They gained better connection with each other after finding out that they were roommates in college

Spooks definitely amped up on their pranks. Figuring out small fears that Guy has and using it against him

Most definitely was killed on Halloween

Probably some murderer or something while they were finishing up trick-or-treating with Guy and scaring the crap out of children

It was traumatizing to say the least

I can't think of a lot of their story right now but if you wanna ask questions, it is most definitely encouraged

[dualcoindeity]

Okay so I decided to watch the video that pissed off @kob131 and well he’s wrong, the video was not a bad argument

It was an epic failure of an argument. 

For those who don’t know which video pissed off my mate here, well it was “RWBY Villains: The “Hero’s”” (I think that might be a spelling error she didn’t catch until it was too late to change the title) and well like I said it is an epic failure of an Argument. 

In this video, The Judgemental Critter attempts to argue that RWBY’s actions  made them look worse off than the Villians of the show with three questions; 

1) What did Team RWBY do?

2) Were they rewarded for it? 

and 

3) Were they punished for it? 

 and fails to make a point, aside from two things; Blake Slapping Sun (”My Emotional Harm” is not a good excuse to slap the guy trying to help your Blonde ditching ass) and Most of the events of the Atlas Arc (I’m of the position that Ironwood was more right than the Heroes, and he was only amped from Tragic Anti-hero to full blown tyrant because the writers failed to see why people were siding with Ironwood instead of RWBY). 

What does she get wrong well; 

Her Volume 1 example points out that RWBY failed to stop the Robbery, however with her own points they couldn’t because the only people present were Blake (who she made no mention of her trying to talk the White Fang out of doing Torchwick’s robbery); Sun (who fought off Torchwick); Ruby (who was knocked out) and Penny (who stopped the Robbery). 

Her Volume 2 example (which was not the mech thing that managed not to be reported on, which she would’ve gotten a point if she had brought this up) was them stopping the White Fang’s attempt at a grimm invasion. 

Her Yang Example (what I call her Volume 3-4 arguments because it mostly focuses on Yang): Kind of is an example of the meme; “Tell me you didn’t watch x without telling me you watch x”. Well she argues that Yang shouldn’t have been “rewarded” with a shiny new arm because she Broke Mercury’s leg. Three Problems; 1) Emerald used her Sembalance to trick Yang into doing it, 2) Mercury’s legs weren’t real and 3) She lost her arm trying to fight off someone from killing someone. Also yes Ironwood would’ve gotten the people who chose to participate shiny new limbs, because that’s how he rolls and he himself has Shiny new Limbs.     

Her Volume 5 example was The Heroes not doing shit to defend Heaven and she failed to mention; Leo (the headmaster) worked for Salem, Everyone in Heaven left, Qrow’s contacts were all dead because of Leo, Raven (wanting both the rewards for Biggest Bitch, Worst Parent and only anime girl to piss Knight off) decided to team up with Cinder to take the relic in an area where our heroes are not therefore they didn’t know it was coming (along with the White Fang Shit), and Yang was the only one who figured out Raven was the Spring Maiden and roasted her so badly she left. Not sure if I covered everything, but I believe I got the general idea on how she’s wrong across 

The Volume 6 examples were The Train (which you get to see a rare feat of an argument falling apart by the person talking about it in the span of seconds when she brings up the turrents, and as for the Relic, they don’t clam up about it they get everyone (except for the little old lady who was here for one purpose and fucked off for the rest of the show) off of one cart and separate that cart from the rest of the train) and The Airship (which mortal debates aside, she forgot Oscar has Ozpin inside of him (and not in the Catholic Priest way), and well Jacques is a dick who would most likely going to screw over Ironwood, so it was the only option, no one really saw the Grimm coming and Ruby did fix it by sacrificing her right to view the giant Tits of Jinn, unless she gets a giant load of Singles).

and

The things she did to screw up on the Atlas thing (which is the easiest thing in the world to do) was that she implied that RWBY didn’t do enough to stop Tyrian’s (who J.C non verbally implies unfairly had his stinger cut off by Ruby) and Watts plans, when they didn’t even know they were in Atlas, and Implying  that RWBY only carried out their plans so that Penny could have a functioning pussy so they could fuck her in a lesbian Orgy only the female fans of RWBY would be allowed to fap to when RWBY’s logic for opposing Ironwoods plan was that they wanted to save everyone.

In conclusion, this is one of the worst forms of criticisms I’ve seen on RWBY even though I myself am Critical due to the Atlas Arc and well due to RT being dicks (especially during the Vic fiasco). This is someone’s strawman of RWBY criticism. Please don’t attack J.C over this please. @kob131 if you’re reading this, you owe me one. 

[songofclarity]

The way I see some discussions and mentions of Nie Dad’s death, they give the impression that Wen RuoHan killed him in the same manner Meng Yao killed those Nie cultivators in the Sun Palace: by savagely cutting him open and letting him bleed out across the floor while Nie MingJue could only stand there and helplessly watch.

And like, symbolically, I can see the similarities of teenage Nie MingJue having to just stand there and watch his dad rage himself to death in his sickbed, but what happened between Wen RuoHan and Nie Dad, and the Wen Sect and Nie Sect, is much more complicated and far less direct.

There are reasons Nie MingJue’s resentment is quoted as being about his father’s death and not, directly, at Wen RuoHan.

Three key points:

First, neither the Nie nor the Wen could ever possibly agree about who started the conflict or how it ended. Was Nie Dad truly the arrogant type who would be so prideful as to mock Wen RuoHan for enjoying something or did Wen RuoHan try to teach a lesson to someone who was the innocent victim of some guest cultivator’s malice? The guest cultivator played them both by setting up a lose-lose situation.

Second, Wen RuoHan did not and does not know about the saber spirit. Nie Dad was stuck in a sickbed for six months which shows there was plenty of time to heal him. Do the Qinghe Nie just not take care of their people? The Wen Sect love getting into other people’s business and they have fantastic doctors. Did the Nie Sect reject help when it was offered due to the secrecy of Nie Dad’s underlying condition? This Sounds Like a You Problem if the Nie Sect just let Nie Dad languish and die. It’s no wonder Nie MingJue would resent his father’s death if there was nothing in-house they could do to help him and the Nie Sect refused to seek outside help--especially for reasons of Sect pride.

Third, Nie Dad’s death, namely how Nie Dad handled being injured and the six months leading up to his death, was a horrific reality check for the Nie Sect and the consequences of their saber cultivation. Wen RuoHan did not lay hands on Nie Dad or attack him in any manner, and yet one indirect hit shattered what tenuous hold Nie Dad had on his temperament. How fragile and vulnerable the Qinghe Nie must have felt! Wen RuoHan found their fatal flaw by a complete accident! It’s easier for the Nie Sect to blame the Wen Sect when there is nothing they can do about changing their cultivation methods without completely changing the Nie Sect as they know it. Change is hard. Blame is easy. Anger is easy. Resentment is easy.

Keep in mind this conflict was not started by Wen RuoHan. I cannot emphasize that point enough. This conflict began when a guest cultivator heard the innocuous question, “What do you think of this saber of mine?” (ch. 49, ERS) and started naming names.

Wen RuoHan smacked Nie Dad's saber because he was told Nie Dad was arrogant, boastful, and condescending. He was told Nie Dad was a dirty liar who would compliment Wen RuoHan’s saber to his face and talk shit about it behind his back (or in his heart, which is kind of worse, actually).

[The guest cultivator,] "[Sect Leader Nie is] awfully arrogant, always boasting about how his prized saber is absolutely unrivaled, and how even in a hundred years no sword has been able [to be] compared to his. No matter how good one's saber was, he definitely won't admit it, and even if he did admit it out loud, he won't admit it in his heart." [Ch. 49, ERS]

Is this a true account of Nie Dad’s character or is it a complete fabrication in order to throw him under the bus? We’re never told. But Wen RuoHan is told that Nie Dad will not be telling him the truth about how he feels, so Wen RuoHan can’t even talk to Nie Dad about it in order to clear the air if he so wanted. The guest cultivator has put Wen RuoHan and Nie Dad in a lose-lose situation. The conflict has immediately degraded to petty passive aggressive revenge.

Wen RuoHan decides to test the waters. Or, perhaps, he will teach Nie Dad a lesson in humility.

[Wen RuoHan,] "Are you sure about that? Well, I want to see." (Ch. 49, ERS)

Wen RuoHan requests Nie Dad’s presence. He holds the saber and compliments that it’s a very good saber. Then he does one of three things: he tests the saber’s strength for himself, teaches Nie Dad a lesson about having too much pride, or both.

Wen RuoHan smacking the saber, trying to break it, is a good way to humble a man whose pride comes from having the so-called greatest saber. Maybe when that saber breaks Nie Dad won't be such an arrogant asshole anymore. The guest cultivator noted that the saber was a point of pride for Nie Dad. Take it away, and maybe he’ll be more humble from now on.

The saber should probably have broken when slapped several times, but it didn't, because it was indeed a good saber.

Wen RuoHan hands the saber back and that is the end of Wen RuoHan’s involvement with Nie Dad and the Nie Sect.

(Keep in mind that we hear about Wen RuoHan leaving his house ONE time in canon, and that was to fight Nie MingJue at Yangquan during the Sunshot Campaign. Wen RuoHan and the Wen never go after the Qinghe Nie again until after the Sunshot Campaign begins.)

Nie Dad leaves the Sun Palace without noticing anything wrong with his saber. He finds the encounter with Wen RuoHan strange, but he leaves it at that.

The Sect Leader of the greatest saber cultivation sect didn't know his own saber had somehow been damaged! How embarrassing for him when he went on a night hunt days later and it broke and he got severely injured!

And that's it. Now Nie Dad's saber isn't the greatest saber anymore. Wen RuoHan taught Nie Dad a lesson, purposefully or not, and Nie Dad is still very much alive. Cultivators aren't down with their injuries for very long. It took Qingheng-jun a month to die from his critical injuries. By comparison, the core-less Jiang Cheng recovered from his broken ribs in just 3 days and the core-less Wei WuXian healed from an abdomen wound in a week. Six months for Nie Dad, a capable cultivator with likely a powerful golden core, is a long time! Unlike Qingheng-jun, he arguably was at least in a stable if disabled condition if he lasted six months.

Lesson learned and he'll be fine.

But Nie Dad isn't fine. He stews in his anger, his embarrassment, his resentment. He lets his fury engulf him. He can't heal from his injuries because all he wants to do, let’s say, is rage and yell and fume about that fucking Wen RuoHan who played a dirty trick!

(And if he did rage as such, perhaps there is some hearty arrogance in him that he thought himself and his saber untouchable, that he didn’t even give it a second look after Wen RuoHan was involved.)

It's not clearly stated if Nie Dad died from his injuries or by qi deviation, but considering the extent Nie MingJue and his sworn brothers go to in order to avoid a qi deviation AND Nie MingJue’s own feelings with how his father died, it's highly probable that Nie Dad died from qi deviation. And, like I said, if a cultivator doesn't die immediately from their wound, and if the wound doesn’t even put them in a critical condition, they heal just nicely.

But Nie Dad dies. It’s interesting to note the description of Nie MingJue’s trauma:

The thing in Nie MingJue's life that he loathed and regretted the most was the death of his father...

After Sect Leader Nie was brought back [from the night hunt where his saber broke], he couldn't make peace with such an event no matter what, and his injuries didn't heal either. Having fallen ill for half a year, he finally left the world, from either the anger or the illness. The reason why Nie MingJue, along with the entire Qinghe Nie Sect, detested the Qishan Wen Sect with such intensity was due to this. (ch. 49, ERS)

Although the Wens become the target of Nie hatred in the wake of Nie Dad’s death, Nie MingJue isn’t loathing them specifically. It’s not Wen RuoHan he hates, but rather the death of his father. The nuance here is important. He loathes those six months where Nie Dad could not get better and refused to get better when he picked his anger over healing. Those six months where he would have lashed out and shouted at his innocent children--just like Nie MingJue would, years later, shout and lash out at his brothers.

The death of Nie Dad showed the very worst side of the Qinghe Nie Sect and the effects of their saber cultivation. And all Nie MingJue, just a teenager at the time, could do was stand there and watch it all unfold. What a nightmare. It’s no wonder he accepted help from the Song of Clarity when he did, especially when Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao were amping up the risk. it really just highlights the outrageous betrayal by Jin GuangYao, who knew all of this about Nie MingJue and the Nie Sect and still did what he did, using intimate knowledge to slowly murder Nie MingJue for his own gain.

Not even Wen RuoHan was that cruel.

Because all the while Wen RuoHan is not aware of the saber spirit or Nie Dad’s high risk of qi deviations. Nobody outside the Nie Sect knows about the saber spirits. Outside the Nie Sect, saber spirits aren't a real thing that someone could reasonably plan for. Hell, even Nie HuaiSang went over twenty years not knowing about the saber spirits and he lived with them!

So there is no possible way Wen RuoHan could have suspected pulling a punk ass, petty stunt to humble Nie Dad would exacerbate this supernatural disease that would anger Nie Dad to death.

This isn’t to say that Wen RuoHan is innocent. He very much chose to call Nie Dad over and made the decision on his own to smack the saber. But fate took over after that. The saber didn’t have to break and it didn’t have to break at such a dangerous moment.

Wen RuoHan’s actions did not seek Nie Dad’s death--because if he wanted Nie Dad dead, he would have killed him. (Who could have stopped him? No one.) Having policies that cause injury but not necessarily death are kind of Wen RuoHan’s thing though. (That’s an analysis for another time.) Suffice to say, no one can learn their lesson if they’re dead. Indoctrination camps and supervisory offices require living, breathing people to teach and be supervised. Wen RuoHan never sought to take over the world, only to correct the obvious flaws in the world around him. Correcting Nie Dad’s arrogance and pride was such an attempt.

And the Nie Sect secrecy shot the Nie in the foot in the end. They were angry with Wen RuoHan and the Wen Sect for causing Nie Dad's death by causing his injuries by damaging the saber, but of course Wen RuoHan and the Wens would never agree with this under the known circumstances. And with them being Wens, of course they aren’t going to take the blame and no one else is powerful enough to force them. This whole situation is especially Not Their Fault from their point of view.

Nie Dad was in bed for six months without critical injuries.

Maybe the Nie Sect should have had gotten better doctors.

(And I can perfectly imagine the Wen Sect, always throwing their weight around, actually offering to send their doctors, arguably the best doctors in the cultivation world, and the Nie Sect refusing because what ailed Nie Dad was not something the Nie Sect wanted to share. Nie MingJue allowing his sworn brothers to help him shows he learned from the experience of his father’s death, but I digress.)

We know all of this to be true because Wen RuoHan, years later at the start of the Sunshot Campaign, speaks of the Nie Sect as a place where people die in part because of their personality type and in part because the Nie Sect itself fails to care for them:

...the Qinghe Nie Sect's sect leader [Nie MingJue] was so stiff that he'd easily snap in half--soon afterward, no need for others to move and he'd die in his own people's hands sooner or later... (ch. 61, ERS)

And considering what we know about the saber spirits, this is a pretty good deduction when Wen RuoHan is missing the saber spirit cornerstone. The Nie Sect has a cultivation tradition that kills them. Obviously it’s in the hands of their own people that they die, having picked up this cultivation style. Wen RuoHan also accurately determines that personality, such as Nie MingJue being inflexible, contributes to that death. It is the build-up of anger and resentment that eventually pushes the Nie cultivator to snap and fall into a qi deviation.

But of course Wen RuoHan also lacks the knowledge that saber spirits cause those personalities to begin with. That Nie Dad acting rigid or arrogant or harsh might not be because he’s an actual asshole, but rather because the saber spirit is effecting his temperament. With a teenage son, Nie Dad was likely pushing 40 if not already much older. We see what a juggernaut Nie MingJue already is in his early 20s. Nie Dad had more than twice the time to wreck his temperament than Nie MingJue ever did, and it still took him six months to die while in a constant state of turmoil while bed bound.

(Which really shows how deadly the Collection of Turmoil was if it could kill Nie MingJue in less than half that time. I know this post is about Wen RuoHan and the Nie, but it truly cannot be understated how horrifically cruel Jin GuangYao’s actions were when he carefully crafted Nie MingJue’s murder, especially how he would have heard from both sides how this all went down.)

In the end, Wen RuoHan obviously gained a vague idea about what happened and what the Qinghe Nie are like as a Sect, but he is, of course, missing the vital point--just as he misses the vital point when he doesn't actually try to kill Nie Dad.

[pugetprincess]

“Anthony,” Colin said, sounding so deucedly innocent and earnest that it was all Anthony could do not to kill him on the spot, “you’re not engaged for this dance, are you?” Anthony said nothing, just glared at him. “Good. Then you will dance with Miss Sheffield.” “I’m sure that’s not necessary,” the woman in question blurted out. Anthony glared at his brother, then for good measure at Miss Sheffield, who was looking at him as if he’d just despoiled ten virgins in her presence. “Oh, but it is,” Colin said with great drama, ignoring the optical daggers being hurled across their little threesome.

Colin tricking Anthony & Kate into dancing

[dream-a-little-bigger-x]

Change My Mind | Carrie Wilson

Request: Hey! Love ur writing! Could I request a JATP fic where the reader is Julie’s sister who can see the band too, and she’s in love with Carrie. Carrie loves her too but she pushed her away. And basically Julie and the boys trying to get them together.

Author’s note: This is my first Carrie fic I’ve written! And the first wlw au at that! Thanks for requesting this, I loved writing for Carrie! I hope you like this! 

Song(s) used: Change my Mind - One Direction

Pairing: Carrie Wilson x Fem!Reader

Warnings: none

Words: 4,250

“Hey sis, we’re gonna rehearse, wanna co--” Julie stops in her tracks on the threshold of her sister’s bedroom as the older sibling quickly drops her phone on her bed, startled at the sudden noise from her sister.  “What are you doing?” Julie asks, finding it a tad suspicious why her sister would just drop her phone like that. “Nothing!” Locking her phone, she scrambles off her bed and moves towards the door, “Just scrolling through Instagram, waiting for you to come and get me for band practice.” Julie shoots her a questionable look, but decides not to dig any deeper even though she knows her sister is lying to her. And she’s right. The truth is, Y/N was stalking Carrie Wilson’s Instagram profile. She’s had a crush on the blonde-haired girl since the very first time she saw her perform with Dirty Candi. It may have been the pink wig, or just the fact she looked incredibly confident on that stage with her girls, but it just did something to Y/N that ignited the flame in her heart. Sure, Y/N is a year older than Julie and Carrie, and those two used to be best friends when they were younger, but that doesn’t take her enormous crush away. Besides, it’s not like Carrie could ever like her back. She’s only Y/N Molina, Julie’s big sister with no talent whatsoever. Julie inherited all of their mother’s skills and talent. “‘Sup, guys!” Y/N throws up a peace sign as she enters the barn where Julie’s bandmates are waiting for the two Molina sisters to show up. Julie’s band are ghosts. Yep, you read that right. Ghosts. They showed up here when Julie played their demo and now, every time they sing with Julie everyone else can see them too. Julie and Y/N are the only ones who can see them all the time. It was kinda funny the first time Y/N saw them, actually.  They were about to eat dinner when Y/N found Julie in her mom’s studio, talking to three boys. “Uhm, Jules… What are these boys doing here?” Julie and the boys were very confused that she could see them too. But it made it so much easier for Julie since she could at least talk about them with someone. And ever since that first day, she’s been Julie and The Phantoms’ number one fan. The first few minutes of rehearsal, Y/N listens to every song and sings along softly with a couple of them, but by song number five, she’s back on her phone, scrolling through Carrie’s Instagram profile again. At first, it’s just a scrolling through her grid, but then she turns to the highlights of Carrie’s stories, starting with the one titled ‘Dirty Candi’. Giggling, she watches each and every single one of the funny behind the scenes bloopers from their rehearsals. As long as Carrie is certain they’re going to get these routines down and there’s no time pressure, she can actually be very chill and hilarious. Or that’s what Y/N has noticed whenever she sees them rehearsing in Los Feliz High’s gym. “Earth to Y/N,” Alex’s voice makes her snap up from her day dream about the it-girl. “Wh-what?” she stutters, unaware they were talking to her, but very aware she’s grinning like a fool. All four of them stare at the older Molina, all with teasing smirks on their faces. “What’cha looking at?” Reggie asks even though he already knows the answer. “Nothing,” she quickly utters whilst locking her phone as if that would make things less suspicious. “Just some funny TikToks,” she shrugs. Her four friends in front of her exchange knowing glances before placing their instruments on their stands or coming out from behind them to surround their very own Pinnocchio. “What were you really looking at, Y/N?” Luke asks, crossing his arms. “And don’t tell us another lame excuse, we know what you were really doing, Pinnocchio,” Julie adds, raising her eyebrows. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Y/N drops her phone next to her on the sofa and rubs her hands over her face. “We know how you feel about her, Angel,” Alex chimes in with that soft voice of his that could calm Y/N down in an instant. “You don’t have to lie to us.” Luke nods his head in agreement. “Yeah, Y/N. We just wanna help ya,” he says. Y/N hesitates, but then shakes her head anyway. “Just… Don’t,” she says and stands up from the couch before heading into the house again. The four bandmates are left dumbfounded and utterly confused. “Don’t what?” Reggie asks the others, “What can’t we do?” The three others simultaneously roll their eyes before getting back to their instruments. “Can’t we help Y/N? I mean, everyone knows she’s in love with Carrie, right?” he picks up his bass as the words roll off his lips. “Yeah, but if she doesn’t want our help, there’s not much we can do,” Alex replies with a shrug. “I know my sister like I know my own mind, she’ll want to figure it out by herself before getting others involved,” Julie adds while plopping down on the stool behind the keyboard. “So, we’re just gonna do nothing?” Reggie queries. The other exchange solemn glances. “Some friends you are,” he mumbles before plugging his bass into the amp. “Reggie’s right, guys,” Luke finally says. Reggie’s face lights up at his buddy’s words. There aren’t very many moments where Luke would agree with anything Reggie says. “We can’t just let her mope around the house and do nothing about her crush on Carrie, which by the way is totally mutual.” Julie’s eyebrows rise at the leadman’s words. “How’d you know that?” she asks. Luke lets out a huff as the corners of his lips turn up ever so slightly into the cheesiest smile as he shoots alarming glances at his buddies. “Luke  Patterson, how do you know that?” Julie’s voice sounds so stern and nearly angry, it scares Luke ever so slightly. “Uhm…” all three of them shriek out into that high-pitched tone of theirs they only use when they’ve said something they shouldn’t have. Alex sighs when he sees Julie’s face turn from angry to I-swear-I’d-kill-you-if-you-weren’t-already-dead. “We may have stalked Carrie a tiny bit when we found out about Y/N’s crush on her.” “Alex,” Luke snarls, but immediately calms down again upon seeing Julie’s glare directed to him. “But we actually found some pretty interesting things!” he continues as if that’s going to make it any better. “Yeah! We found her lying on her bed, scrolling through Y/N’s Instagram for a while before she started writing a song called ‘my love’,” Reggie carries on with the story. “Spoiler alert, she didn’t sing about a boy or ‘his eyes are so pretty’. Nope! It was actually about a girl!” “That could be about everyone, guys,” Julie rolls her eyes. The boys exchange another glance before bursting out into the snippet of the song they heard that day in Carrie’s bedroom. “I’d so be with you if it wasn’t for your sister, or the fact that you’d rather be with a mister!” Julie’s eyes widen at this. Girl code states you never date your brother, but in this heteronormative world, no one ever said anything about sisters. But that’s probably a given you wouldn’t date your best friend’s sister either, right? Plus, Carrie and Julie haven’t been friends for a while, that could be another reason why Carrie wouldn’t date Y/N. “You guys might be right,” Julie whispers as though she’s telling them a secret. “Let’s end rehearsals and think of a way to help them get together!” The four of them placed their instruments back in their places again or come out from behind them, and gather on the couch and armchairs to figure out a scheme to trick Y/N and Carrie into a date. It’s going to be difficult, but they’re all up for the task. They just want to see Y/N happy. 

About three days later, while at school, Y/N receives a text from Julie, telling her to meet the band in the music room during lunch. Confused as to why the band would be at Los Feliz High, Y/N drags her feet towards the classroom, only to find a picnic blanket with food scattered all around it in the middle of the floor. “Guys?” she calls out, hoping the boys would explain what’s going on. “Y/N?” a soft, melodic voice sounds from behind her. The girl immediately turns to find, in her opinion, the most beautiful girl that ever walked this earth. Her hair is curled to perfection, cascading down her right shoulder and framing her beautiful round-ish face. Her brown eyes are curiously and confusedly darting around the room before landing on Y/N’s face. Question marks are haunting the beautiful dark orbs Y/N had fallen in love with. “What’s going on?” “I-I…” Y/N doesn’t even know what to tell her. She barely knows what’s going on herself. Carrie holds a perfectly manicured finger up as a thought crosses her mind. “This isn’t what I think it is right?” Y/N opens her mouth to say something, but nothing other than weird sounds fall out. Making a great impression, Molina, she thinks to herself. “Y/N, we can’t. I can’t. Just… Don’t.” Carrie turns on her heels and leaves the music room along with the sadness and pain of a broken heart. She hears a whoosh behind her before she hears Alex’s voice say, “We’re so sorry, Y/N, we wanted to help…” As tears stream down Y/N's face, she forcefully turns around to face her friends. “I told you guys to just not do anything and you can’t even do that! Stop meddling in my life, for crying out loud! I never needed you here! I never asked you to do this! Just stay out of my life!” Her voice is shrill and cold. So cold, it even chills the three ghost boys. After sending them one last sharp glare, she turns on her heel and rushes out of the room. She doesn’t even realize she’d run past her sister and her best friend, even though the two call after her. The sobs wracking through her body deafen her whilst she blindly finds her way to the bathroom and into a stall where she collapses to the floor. “Hermanita?” Her sister’s voice calling out is the first thing she hears between all the sobs and sniffles. Julie, hearing this, starts pushing against all stall doors until one opens slightly before bumping into Y/N’s knees. The girl scoots over as far as she can to let her sister inside, deciding she needs her little JuJu right now. “I’m so sorry, Hermanita,” she whispers as she slides down to the floor too on the opposite side of the stall. Their knees touch, which feels weirdly comforting to Y/N.  “No, it’s okay…” she sniffles, “At least now I really know where I stand, you know?” Julie presses her lips together into a tight smile before sliding forward onto the dirty bathroom floor and wrapping her arms around her big sister in a kind of awkward hug. “You deserve so much better than Carrie Wilson, Y/N/N,” she whispers in the older Molina’s ear. “So much better and so much more.” More tears roll down Y/N’s cheeks upon hearing these words. “But all I want is her, JuJu,” she cries out. Hearing her sister break down like this breaks Julie’s entire heart in a thousand pieces. She was so wrong about trying to set her sister up with Carrie on this date, but there might just be another way to help her instead. All she’d need is the boys for moral support and a bit of alone time with Carrie. That should do it. 

That night, Julie takes the boys with her to go to the Wilson’s. To Julie’s surprise, Trevor opens the door with a surprised smile on his face upon seeing his daughter’s ex-best friend. That ex-best friend, however, tries to focus on the man in front of her instead of the tensing, nervous boys behind her. They still hadn’t been able to talk to Trevor about the whole song-stealing thing. “Hey, Trevor, is Carrie home?” Julie asks with the widest smile on her face to try and hide how nervous she really is. This is either going to ruin Y/N chances with Carrie completely or help them finally get together. She’s banking on the latter, trying to stay optimistic. “Uhm, yeah, she’s upstairs in her room. She hasn’t left since coming home from school,” Trevor explains as he steps aside to let the young girl inside. “Think I heard her crying too, so I’m kinda worried, but kinda scared to go in and ask. You know how she is.” Julie simply nods her head at the overexplaining man. “I’ll go and check up on her. I wanna talk to her about something anyways.” Trevor offers her a thankful smile before letting her go upstairs. Still being followed by the three ghost boys, Julie makes her way up to Carrie’s room. Memories from when she used to come here on play dates when they were younger flood in her brain. It’s a nostalgic, yet heartbreaking feeling. Upon arriving at Carrie’s bedroom, Julie raises her fist to knock on the door, but stops half-way there. “What’s she waiting for?” she hears Reggie whisper behind her. “You got this, Julie,” Luke encourages, and Alex chimes in too with the words she needs to hear at this very moment. “For Y/N.” Her fist knocks a soft, steady beat on the wooden door, and then the waiting game commences. Which doesn’t last too long. Twenty seconds max. Before that, there’s some rustling, some nose blowing noises, and then the door opens. Carrie’s face falters upon seeing Julie’s face, but Julie doesn’t care. All she cares about is the fact that Carrie’s eyes look red and puffy, as if she’d been crying all day. Trevor was right about hearing sobs. “What do you want?” she asks sharply, but her voice still wavers ever so slightly. “I wanna talk to you…” Julie says, and as Carrie opens her mouth to object, she follows with, “About Y/N.” The blonde girl’s eyes tear up upon hearing the name as it’s clearly the big trigger for her breakdown. Carrie opens her bedroom door a little further before turning and walking inside, leaving it open for Julie to follow. She and the boys walk inside, and while Julie stops in the middle of the room, the boys scatter around. Luke goes to sit on the edge at the foot of Carrie’s bed since she’s resting against the headboard, Alex takes a seat in the bright pink armchair and Reggie sits down on her desk, knocking Carrie’s pencil case off. The owner’s eyes widen upon seeing the pencil case drop without a cause while Julie just shoots Reggie a glare. He whispers a sorry while holding his hands up in defense. “What do you have to say?” Carrie then focuses back on the intruder in her house. “I …” She realizes she has no clue what she’s going to say or how she’s going to say it. “Carrie… I know you’re in love with my sister,” she then blurts out. Carrie perches up at this, eyes wide and filled with terror. “It’s fine, Carrie. It really is okay. I’m glad, even! She’s mad for you too, girl. And I kinda set up the whole picnic thing in the music room to force you two together, finally, but I guess that kinda backfired…” “Y/N’s in love with me?” she asks, and Julie nods. “I thought she hated me because I kinda dropped both of you when your mother died…” A twinge of pain shoots through Julie’s body at the memory of their fight. “I don’t get it either, but she does really love you.” Carrie chuckles light-heartedly at that, telling Julie it’s okay to do so, too. “Why did you run away from her at lunch?” she then asks, looking at Carrie who’s fidgeting with the hem of a cushion. “Because I’m scared,” she says after a few beats of silence. “Scared that if we date, people are gonna talk. Scared our fighting might put a wedge between our relationship. Scared my dad’s going to react weirdly.” Julie subtly glances at Alex. He’s giving her a reassuring look, telling her Trevor was really okay with him being gay. “It’s 2020, Carrie, I’m sure most people at our school would be jealous of whoever you date, whether it’s a guy, a gal, or a non-binary pal.” She carefully inches closer to the bed. “I heard your dad is pretty okay with the lgbtq community. My mom once told me he had a friend that was gay and he supported him and didn’t treat him any different.” She takes a deep breath before sitting down next to Luke. “And as regards to our fight, I’m willing to put that grudge aside if it means you’ll tell my sister the truth.” A twinkle in Carrie’s eyes tells Julie she likes the sound of that idea very much. “It’s been a year, Carrie. I’m pretty sick of us fighting anyway and I miss the fun times we had together,” Julie shrugs as she brings out the words carefully. Before she can even register it, Carrie has launched herself forward and taken Julie in her arms for a tight hug. Julie is surprised at first, but then wraps  her arms around her oldest friend too. The boys watch the scene with tender eyes, glad this is going so well. After a while, Carrie pulls back and holds Julie at arm's length. “Can we keep the rivalry for our shows though? I think it adds a little more showbizz to it,” she says, which makes Julie snicker, shaking her head in disbelief. “Okay, then can I ask you for another favor?” “What is it?” Julie asks, glancing at Luke quickly. He’s as intrigued as she is. “I don’t know what to say to Y/N that doesn’t make me look like a fool.” The Carrie Julie used to know back in the day is rearing its head again. It’s a soft, shy version of the one Los Feliz High knows. It’s the version Y/N fell in love with. “I have an idea.” 

For about a week, Carrie comes in on rehearsals to rehearse their surprise for Y/N, but of course, they have to hide it for the older Molina. They’d rehearse at Carrie’s place or in the garage whenever Y/N was with friends or at Carlos’ baseball games. Whenever she did walk in, Carrie would hide behind Alex’s drum kit, trying her hardest to withhold herself from jumping out and just confessing her love to the girl. This is the most perfect surprise and if she ruins it now, it’s going to take away the romantic flair of it all. On Friday, they’re finally ready to execute the plan. Julie sets up her keyboard outside in the garden underneath her sister’s bedroom window, along with a microphone for Carrie, plugged into the amp. The boys are ready to jump in too, instruments in hand, ready to go. “Ready?” Julie whispers to Carrie. The girl nods her head, but the fear in her eyes says something different. “You got this,” she utters the words Luke always tells her. “Okay, let’s go,” she whispers. Julie starts playing a couple of notes on her piano whilst Luke starts to strum his guitar, suddenly appearing to Carrie. The girl, now a little calmed down, inhales deeply before starting to sing, her soft melodic voice carrying through the night. “The end of the night We should say goodbye But we carry on While everyone's gone” Y/N’s lying on her bed, scrolling aimlessly through Instagram when she hears the voice of an angel in the night from outside her bedroom window. Thinking it’s Julie and the band rehearsing, she ignores it and continues scrolling. “Never felt like this before Are we friends or are we more As I'm walking towards the door I'm not sure” Alex and Reggie join in too, appearing next to Luke and Julie, and giving Carrie another boost of confidence. In the past week, these hologram boys have really given her a little more confidence for this surprise as she really didn’t think she could do this. “But baby if you say you want me to stay I'll change my mind 'Cause I don't wanna know I'm walking away If you'll be mine Won't go, won't go So baby if you say you want me to stay Stay for the night I'll change my mind” Y/N finally starts to realize that this isn’t Julie’s voice at all, and crawls off her bed, leaving her phone there. Carefully, but drawn in by the music, she moves to her window and opens it further to find Carrie along with the rest of the bend on the lawn. Upon seeing Y/N’s beautiful face, Carrie’s lips curl upwards, reaching her eyes. The other confidence boost she needed. “Lean in when you laugh We take photographs There's no music on But we dance along” Y/N sits down on her window sill, enthralled by the gorgeous voice serenading her from her backyard. She glances at the boys and Julie once, and each of them has the proudest, happiest smile on their faces. Happy they could help their friends finally get together. “Never felt like this before Are we friends or are we more As I'm walking towards the door I'm not sure” Then Y/N focuses back on Carrie and the words she’s singing, feeling each and every single one of them deep in her heart. It even makes her tear up a little. “But baby if you say you want me to stay I'll change my mind 'Cause I don't wanna know I'm walking away If you'll be mine Won't go, won't go So baby if you say you want me to stay Stay for the night I'll change my mind I'll change my mind” Carrie takes the mic off the stand and walks even closer towards the window, never breaking the intense eye contact the two are sharing. “Baby if you say you want me to stay I'll change my mind” Quickly wiping away the tears that have fallen, Y/N makes her way downstairs and into the yard as fast as she can, in time to hear them sing the last chorus. Carrie, having seen this, is waiting for her at the door and grabs her hand to lead her towards the rest of the band whilst still singing to her girl. “But baby if you say you want me to stay I'll change my mind 'Cause I don't wanna know I'm walking away If you'll be mine Won't go, won't go So baby if you say you want me to stay Stay for the night I'll change my mind” The boys stop playing, and to Carrie, they disappear, but Y/N can see they’re still there. It does make her relax a little, knowing she has their moral support. Carrie takes both her hands in hers, pulling her a little closer to her body as she inhales deeply. “That was beautiful, Care, I--” Carrie interrupts her by placing a finger on her lips. “Please, let me talk?” Y/N nods her head slowly as Carrie removes her finger and places her hand back in Y/N’s. “I’ve been so scared about what people at school would say behind my back or what my dad would say, but… I don’t care what they say, Y/N. I am so in love with you and I have been for a while now, but I was so scared to admit that even to myself. But I know now that it’s okay to love whoever you wanna love and I know that the people who love me will still love me and will realize that nothing has changed. I know now I wanna be with you, Y/N.” A smile plays at Y/N’s lips upon hearing those words. The words she wanted to hear for such a long time have now finally reached her ears and settled in her brain for her to think back on later. “I wanna be with you too, Carrie. You have no clue how long I’ve wanted to tell you that,” she chuckles, and Carrie lets out a giggle too. It’s Y/N’s favorite sound in the entire world. Carrie then lets go of Y/N’s hands and places hers on her cheeks instead, bringing the girl closer to press their lips together for their very first kiss. The firework-filled, long-awaited kiss that sends Julie’s ghost band into loud cheers. Y/N is too focused on the girl kissing her, she doesn’t even notice. Carrie is finally kissing her. The girl she’s been pining for is finally kissing her. They’re actually together. That’s something she’d never thought would happen, but now that it’s happened, it’s better than she could ever dream of. 

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[gendercraft]

When I Fell Overboard [Chapter Eight: Never Been The Type To Trust]

Read on ao3

Synopsis: Sebastian struggles with his relationship with Maru as she strives to get close to him. Meanwhile, he and Elliott get closer and closer.

Trigger warnings: Panic attacks, fighting, snapping, potentially unsympathetic Robin, crying, food mention, let me know if I missed anything please

Fall came around full force. Nearly overnight, the leaves turned red and orange and yellow, crisp breeze carrying them across the cobble walkways. Pierre and Caroline had Abigail help them hang a huge sign above their entranceway advertising their ‘one of a kind’ and ‘Joja-free’ pumpkin seeds. Gus brought out a new menu, similarly pumpkin themed, but Sebastian couldn’t say he hated the spiced pumpkin mead. 

He and Elliott spent most days together. Any time he had to pull himself away, either to get some alone time or catch up with Abigail and Sam, they stood behind Elliott’s closed door with their arms wrapped around each other, Sebastian safely cradled against Elliott as they promised to meet again soon. 

Sebastian was falling hard. Every time he saw Elliott, he couldn’t help but smile. Elliott would do something small, like whisper an “aha!” when he figured out how to fix a plot hole, or accidentally burnt himself with his raspberry tea, or made too many crab cakes and had to share, and all Sebastian could think was, “I love you.” 

It was becoming a little bit of a problem. Elliott showed no signs of feeling the same way, gave Sebastian no hints, nothing to work off of. He eventually broke and spent a good twenty minutes venting to Sam and Abigail, who stared at each other, and then him, and then each other, then Sam sighed and left the room. 

“What’s his problem?” Sebastian asked, face hot. 

“You. You’re an idiot.” Abigail grabbed her drumsticks. “Come on, if we start he’ll come back in.” 

Abigail was spending a suspicious amount of time with Maru. Occasionally Abigail would come over while Sebastian was working and stay shut inside Maru’s room until he finished, sometimes for hours. There was an awful lot of laughing, though Sebastian couldn’t understand why. 

He eventually accepted that if she and Abigail were going to be friends, Maru and Sebastian had to be a little more than civil. Not quite friends themselves, but close. So when Maru reached out, he forced himself to stop snapping back. He still didn’t like that she was so insistent on them having a good relationship, didn’t understand why she didn’t already have enough—you’re stealing my best friend and you want me, too?—but he had to let it go. He couldn’t lose Abigail. He’d die. 

“Is it cool if I invite Maru with us to the saloon tonight?” Abigail asked during band practice one day. 

“Sure,” Sebastian mumbled. “Oh, and Elliott gave the okay for next week.” Sebastian asked if the three of them could use his cabin to rehearse one day so they could see how their songs would sound how they were meant to, on the piano. 

“Awesome.” Sam plugged his guitar into the amp with a wicked grin. “I am ready to give my mom a headache.” 

Sebastian rolled his eyes. 

After practice, they headed out to the saloon, an order of pizza and a round of beers already waiting for them. Sam gave Shane a cheerful wave and a smile, who returned it with a grunt. 

Abigail hopped onto Journey of the Prairie King, cussing the arcade machine out while Sebastian killed Sam in pool. Elliott showed up to drink his share of the beer and wrap his arms around Sebastian’s shoulders from behind. Sebastian blushed under everyone’s stares, but couldn’t bring himself to push Elliott away. It always made Sebastian so happy when Elliott touched him, a feeling of me, he’s choosing me. He could have anyone else right now and he’s choosing me.

It was hard to push aside the dread piercing Sebastian’s stomach when Maru came through the saloon doors. He focused on the game, not meaning to ignore her but trying to act casual and, well, taking it too far. 

“Hey, Sebastian.” Maru smiled. 

He glanced up. “Hey.” 

They stared for a moment, then Maru stepped aside to join Abigail at the machine. 

“So how are things going with you?” Elliott asked, giving him space to shoot. 

Sebastian bent over the table slightly with his pool cue. His tongue poked between his lips as he analyzed the set up, then moved and shot, hitting three of his balls into the holes and knocking aside two of Sam’s. 

“Damnit!” Sam side. “Fuck, Seb.”

Sebastian grinned. Then he remembered Elliott’s question and it faded. “Right. Um… fine, I guess? I mean, she’s here, right?” 

Elliott nodded slowly. “Right… is she still asking for your help with the robot?” 

“Yeah. Every other day, pretty much.”

“Why don’t you help her?” He rested a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. 

“She doesn’t need my help,” Sebastian muttered. 

“I think she does,” Elliott said gently. 

Sebastian shook his head and leaned against the pool table while Sam considered his move with a snail’s pace. 

“What does it matter?” Sebastian asked in frustration. “I thought you were staying out of it, remember?”

Elliott smiled nervously. “Right.” 

They played a little while longer, until Sebastian won and they were all tipsy. They stumbled out the saloon doors, milling around for a second while they figured out who was going with who. 

“Did you still want to see those videos of the Stardew caves?” Abigail asked, shyer than usual. 

Maru nodded with a smile. “I have a good computer. Wanna spend the night?”

She nodded. “Sebastian, you coming?” 

“Uh…” He glanced to Elliott, tipsy enough to allow the hope to show plainly on his face. 

Elliott laughed and wrapped an arm around his waist. “You can spend the night with me. You know I never mind.” 

“Well, I’m going to my own house,” Sam said, holding his hands up. “Have fun.” 

Maru, Abigail, and Elliott laughed, and they all split ways. Sebastian slipped his hand into Elliott’s when they were out of sight. 

Elliott smiled at him. “Want me to read to you when we get home, my dear?” 

Home. 

Home home home. 

Sebastian nodded. “Yeah.” 

Then Sebastian saw it. He looked up and Elliott was smiling softly, his brows relaxed, eyes sparkling. He was… happy to see Sebastian. 

Elliott chuckled. “What?” 

“Nothing,” Sebastian murmured. “Just…” He bit his lip. How could he say this? He forced the words out, “just… happy to… to be… you know, to be with- with you.” 

Elliott brightened. “That is so sweet! Sebastian!” He squeezed his hand as they stepped onto the beach, kicking sand as they went. “Before we head inside, do you want to go on a walk?” 

With the alcohol buzzing pleasantly in his head and the moon hanging above them, there was absolutely nothing Sebastian would rather do. He nodded. 

They strolled along the sand, headed towards the tidepools on the other side of the beach. When they arrived, Elliott broke off, and Sebastian missed holding his hand but it was worth it to watch him run around the tidepools, picking up shells and holding them to the starlight. He came over to Sebastian with a small, smooth black and purple shell and held it out to him. 

“Reminds me of you,” he said sheepishly, and that was it, Sebastian was in love. 

He cradled it in his hands, staring up at Elliott with the widest grin. 

Kiss him. 

Sebastian’s grin weakened. He couldn’t do that. He could never do that. What if he read everything wrong, and Elliott didn’t like him at all? Sebastian wouldn’t survive the embarrassment—or the guilt, if Elliott didn’t feel the same but kissed him anyway to spare Sebastian’s heart. 

“I had a really good time with you tonight,” Elliott said softly. He stepped closer and fit his hand into Sebastian’s. He cupped Sebastian’s face. “I always have a good time with you.”

Sebastian couldn’t speak, just smiled up at him, eyes damn near close to watering. 

“I was worried, with Maru being there. You guys always have so much- so much friction, and I know it upsets you. I don’t want anything to upset you. Maru is truly trying though, and it means a lot that—” 

He stopped. His face flushed, eyes widening. 

“I mean…” 

Sebastian frowned. “What are you talking about? What does that mean?” 

“No, nothing.” He brushed Sebastian’s hair back. “It was nothing.”

Sebastian took a step back. His hands trembled. “Have you been talking to Maru?” 

He hesitated. “Sebastian…” 

“Have you been talking to Maru?” He asked harder. “You promised you wouldn’t meddle in my relationships.” 

“I- I know. And I’m sorry. But after we started getting close, she came to me, and she was so upset, Bastian-”

Sebastian shook his head, eyes squeezed closed. The shell fell to the sand. “You promised me. Why would you… I can’t believe you’d…” 

“Please don’t be upset,” he begged. He stepped closer, and Sebastian stumbled back. “I just want you to be happy.” 

“That’s none of your business!” Sebastian exploded. “I told you not to get involved, it’s none of your business whether Maru and I get along or not! I can’t believe you’d- you’d-” 

Fuck, now his eyes were watering. Shit. He shook his head and turned, stumbling over the tidepools. 

“Sebastian! Wait!” 

“Just leave me alone, Elliott!” 

He stormed away. 

He was grateful it was so cold, because his body was hot, sweat pin-pricking his brow. He slammed the door open to his house and stormed towards Maru’s room. He banged on the door until she answered. 

“Sebastian?” Her anger faded. “What is it?” 

“I can’t believe you’d talk to Elliott behind my back,” he snapped. “You’re really so desperate to have a relationship with me that you’d trick me into it?” 

“Seb?” Abigail peeked over Maru’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?” 

He couldn’t even get the words out anymore. Part of him knew he was overreacting, knew he’d regret this, but his stomach boiled and his chest was tight and he was so, so angry, so upset that Elliott and Maru would… 

He squeezed his eyes shut. 

“Sebastian, you need to breathe,” Abigail said firmly. 

Her cold hands cupped his face. He blinked his teary eyes open. 

“Whatever you’re mad about, it’s okay,” she soothed. “You can figure it out.” 

He turned and hurried away. He barely managed to get his bedroom door shut and locked before he sank to the ground, hands trembling and body numb. 

He’d never been the type to trust people. In all honesty, he probably doomed his and Demetrius’ relationship from the start. Maybe he doomed his and Elliott’s, as well. 

All he knew is he didn’t trust Elliott anymore, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to.

[murtaghsbeard]

Season 5 episode 12- finale

Never my love

Interesting approach to the “previously on”

California. Claire has a weird dream/dissociation

Kidnappers continue to be bastards. Some are convinced to be kinder because of Claire’s witch reputation... which seems to have followed her from Europe.

She finds another time traveler. One of otter tooth’s pals. He doesn’t want escape yet. Of course. More gratuitous and unnecessary rape. Just so very tired of this {cue internal monologue about how this narrative can seemingly only figure out how to raise the stakes through enacting sexual violence on some beloved character} ok. Deep breath. Ok.

Bri and Roger can only pull off their disappearing trick for a minute and land right back into Ian’s care. Shame about those gems. Can you request a refund?

Roger wants to go with the men hoping to recover Claire. Hope you get more useful.

Somehow they are already fighting the Brown clan. It was quite quick evidently to track them down. Battle is quick. Vengeance, though delegated, is quick.

The pacing in this entire season has been very strange.

They decide to leave the ringleader alive for questioning. Better keep very good track of him.

Roger improves on his usual uselessness, both in words and deeds

Roger gets amped up for his big confession. He has killed a man. I understand that this is pretty big deal for a Roger, but considering the body count of this show, it feels extremely pedestrian and a bit pearl clutching. By now every major character except for Marsali and Lizzy have killed someone in one way or another

Well, I guess we can drop Marsali from the list of people who have not killed anyone. I truly appreciate Marsali’s concern about getting haunted.

A rare Jamie voiceover. A literal storm forms on the horizon.

Still no one has broken out the chalkboard to figure out why the time travel was a failure