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dcxdpdabbles · 5 months ago

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#holiday request Sorry, it's me again! I't just that I really, really love your writing and I forgot to mention "Alley boyfriends" and "Alfred's Boy". If you could update either of those I would be very grateful <3 <3 <3

The first sign that something is wrong is finding Damian with a bow and arrow in the tallest room at Wayne Manor. Or, more specifically, seeing the boy aiming the arrow out the window in the direction of Dick and Danny cuddling in a backyard hammock.

Thankfully, he had been fast enough to snatch the arrow from the air before it went anywhere near the cuddling duo. Damian insisted he wasn't aiming for either of them- just the strings holding the hammock up.

The reason? Dick had gone over the agreed-upon cuddle time, and Damian wanted to make him stop. Bruce knew it was just because he was jealous.

Bruce had seen his youngest making doe eyes at Danny earlier that morning while the boy was doing his daily chores. He's been more energetic since Wes left and was willing to share his half-human status with the Wayne household after a talk with Alfred.

All of his children took the news well. They had many teammates who weren't human, but Bruce could tell Danny was still afraid to tell them the truth. Despite the many times Danny provided support in the Batcave and knew of said teammates, he still feared that he would be the exception to their acceptance.

It seemed his parents had left more prominent scars than Danny had been willing to show.

After a brief but vague- Alfred made it a point that his contact did not want Danny stating what he was until it was safe to do so- the Waynes got the gist that Danny needed cuddles.

Almost all his youngest had quickly offered their services, but Alfred and Bruce stopped it. The two men created a cuddling schedule, like a meal plan, to help Danny regain a healthier state, along with the few older ones, excluding Jason.

His second eldest had been highly offended to not be on the schedule, but Alfred calmed him with a whisper. "Think about how hilarious this will be to watch?" Jason had returned to his romance novel, cackling like a loon.

He was easy to manipulate.

Alfred forbade Bruce from telling Jason about Danny's slight crush. The reason was that Clockwork had already spoken to Alfred about it being a passing fancy, and it was safer for Danny's kind to not be rejected until later. Bruce burned with many questions, but he would never dare investigate Alfred or his affairs.

He respected him too much.

Now, if only his kids would behave.

"Damian Wayne, we do not shoot arrows at our siblings." Bruce scolds, wagging a finger at the boy's pouting face.

"But you let Drake throw a spoon at Girl Row!" Damian whines, crossing his arms. In moments like this, Bruce is violently reminded that for all his advanced vocabulary and intelligence, his son is still a fourteen-year-old teenager who could act childish.

"I did not let Tim do anything. He's ground for throwing things at Harper." Bruce sighs, rubbing his right temple. A pounding headache was starting to build up there. "Just because she came to watch Danny's cooking lesson with Tim and Cullen and chose to give Danny a quick snack with her hug does not mean Tim had a right to throw utensils."

"It wasn't even aimed at her head," Tim mutters from the hallway. His punishment for his behavior was that he was to stay within the six feet radius of Bruce. It was the only surefire way to ensure Tim wasn't up to something, like working on case work or plotting to overthrow a small government.

Bruce would break out the kid's leash if he tried to run again.

It was hilarious when Tim was thirteen, and the kid leash still had the same threat level at seventeen as it did then.

"That's another week," Bruce tells him.

"What!? I didn't even do anything!"

"Two weeks."

"Come on!"

"Three weeks." Bruce drawls, which causes Damian to smile until his father looks him in the eye. "I don't know why you seem too amused. You're grown for two weeks as well, young man."

Damian throws his arms up, wisely keeping his mouth shut as he steps with Tim. Now Bruce had two kids he couldn't let out of his sight, and they did something crazy. He marches them out of the room towards his office, where he plans on getting some work done and putting them both to do some extra class studying.

They pass by Jason, who looks like the cat that got the cream at their obvious grounding. He waves a couple of tickets in the air. "It seems like you brats are grounded. Too bad, I was about to invite you to show at the planetarium."

"Why would I waste my time there?" Damian scoffs as Tim glares. Bruce feels his headache growing stronger as Jason smugly proclaims.

"Danny is a huge star nerd. He was excited to finally see the show now that he was feeling better. He wanted us all to go together, but you'll have to miss it since you're still getting grounded at your age." Jason mocks, walking away while shaking his head. Bruce has only a few seconds to wonder why his second is like this, and then Tim and Damian explode with pleas to let them join the rest of the children.

He stays firm in their punishment, but he honestly doesn't feel safe by the way the two, right in front of him, start putting their difference aside and communicate with mere glances a plan of escape. Bruce wishes their corporation wouldn't come at the expense of his sanity.

He glances out the window, watching Dick and Danny talk, and it hits him suddenly that Dick is making that face he usually reserves for staring at baby ducks and baby elephants. His eldest was forming a deeper bond with the boy, which could mean several things, but the center of it all was what made him such a good leader.

Dick was breaching the walls Danny had built so strongly around him.

By tonight, Bruce would not be surprised if Dick started calling Danny his little brother. Coupled with the effort Jason put in to get Danny out of the house and around more people, the boy was healing in a way he so desperately needed.

He was so proud of them. Bruce is so glad the kids allowed him into their lives in moments like these. They saved him more times than he counted, and he does not, meanwhile, being Batman.

The kids saved Bruce Wayne, and he hopes they will save Danny Fenton similarly if the younger boy allows it. Not just because he's Alfred's boy but because he is a Wayne in a different shade.

Danny's face lights up with a smile, looking far more alive than ever before, and Bruce's eyes soften. Then they harden when he spots Steph creeping closer to the hammock from behind some bushes, a garden hose in her hand.

"No! No, no!" He shouts, running down the hallway with Tim and Damian behind. "Don't even think about it, young lady!"

#dcxdpdabbles #Alfred's boy #Part 8 #Bruce's pov #Jason is having the time of his life #The cuddle buddy schedule is causing wars #Danny opening up to them #The clam before the storm #Tim and Damian are losing their minds #Jason is unaware he's part of the plot #Bruce's blood preasure is through the roof

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permanentmess · 10 months ago

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may i request a cherik x mutant! reader? idk abt plot but i really need some fluff

a/n: i wasn’t sure whether to make this platonic or romantic, so i made it ambiguous! I also based this on the premise of brooklyn nine nine season 1, episode 3. reader has powers involving electricity and the year is after 1981

also sorry this took so long, i finished up my last week of work, went to disneyland, and then moved in for my senior year of college! and i apologize for this being short, i wasn't sure what to write :)

title: slump

word count: 424

summary: you're struggling with your powers, so charles and erik provide the comfort you need

warnings: none! just fluff. mild angst for plot reasons but is resolved

GIF NOT MINE

~~~

“Darling, I think you’re in a slump,” Charles says as he watches you fail to produce even a spark.

Erik nods in agreement, watching you sit down against the wall, taking a drink of water. “Take the week off and relax.”

You vigorously shake your head. “I’m not in a slump, I swear. I just didn’t sleep well last night.” You’re lying through your teeth, causing both of them to give you a look.

You decide to stand up again, focusing on producing sparks from your fingers and aiming them at the wall. A few shoot out, but stop just as soon. “Ugh, what is happening?”

“Darling, I want you to take the week off, please,” Charles insists, and you begin to profusely refuse when the light above you breaks.

“Alright fine, I’m in a slump.”

You’re resting on the couch in the lounge, a cup of peppermint tea in your hand. The TV is playing some old movie that you’re half paying attention to, so when Charles and Erik come in, you immediately turn your head to the sound.

They come to sit on either side of you, and you decide to take the comfort they provide. You rest your head on Erik’s shoulder, reaching for Charles’ hand. ‘Thank you,’ you tell Charles in your head and he responds back with a gentle ‘Of course.’

“What are we watching?” Erik asks, finally resting his head on top of yours.

“I don’t know, it was on. I was just relaxing.” Him and Charles hum in unison at the answer. “You can switch it to whatever you want.”

Charles switches the stations with his powers until he lands on a channel playing Indiana Jones. You squeeze his hand as a gesture of thanks.

It’s silent for a while, casually enjoying the movie. Occasionally other teachers will come on through the lounge, but for the most part it is peaceful.

“I think you should try to use your powers again,” Charles says, and you’re confused. It has only been 5 days since you started your break.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive, darling,” he insists, letting go of your hand. You sit up and see Erik nodding in agreement. “Just do something small.”

You’re nervous but you decide to try and turn off the TV. You focus on the energy inside the TV and see it click off immediately. Your mouth slightly opens in shock before a wide grin spreads across your face. “Holy shit, I did it!”

You pull each of the men into a hug and turn the TV back off, messing with the lights in the room.

In amongst your joy and trials, the men share a look, smiling just as wide at your enthusiasm.

#cherik #cherik x reader #charles xavier x reader #erik lensherr x reader #xmen #xmen x reader

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3hks · 6 months ago

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How to Write a Truly Terrifying Villain

Have you ever wanted to create a villain that's actually evil? One that can scare your readers yet also leave them with an everlasting impression? An antagonist is so much more than just a "bad guy", and in this guide, we'll explore how to write an evil character effectively!

*GOALS/MOTIVATIONS*

No matter what kind of character someone is, their objectives alone speak volumes about who they are as a person. Therefore, with this villain, I suggest forming a goal that stems from their selfishness.

Although, what does that really look like? Selfishness is actually quite subjective. From what I have seen, a self-serving goal tends to be quite specific since it's a personalized aim. Don't give them a target that's too broad or too generic because chances are, it won't really benefit them. (Ex: World domination)

Am I saying that you absolutely need a greedy antagonist to highlight their malice? No, but it truly is a great place to begin at.

*EMPATHY*

Next, let's talk about empathy. How well do they understand those around them? Do they care?

Many villains we see lack empathy; they aren't concerned about their victims, and sometimes, even their own followers.

However, there's also the opposite case, where the antagonist does have empathy and fully understands what others may feel, but still doesn't care. This dark empathy is truly a testament of their malevolence because they're aware of the physical and mental consequences of their actions, yet they do it anyway. That, in itself, is rather terrifying.

*NEUTRALITY*

If your villain isn't the main antagonist, this might be something you want to consider.

As I mentioned before, this type of character prioritizes themselves over anything and everything. If helping the hero will benefit them, then why not? If assisting another antagonist will be rewarding, then it's worth it. While your character is a villain, their alignment itself might be a bit blurred.

Although it could seem counterproductive to have an "evil character" who occasionally aids the protagonist, the switching of sides actually maintains a sense of unpredictability for your character.

*INTELLIGENCE*

If anything, I highly suggest not making your villain stupid. While I'm sure there are intimidating dim-witted antagonists out there, the truth is, if your character understands themselves, their limits, their abilities, and the events taking place, your readers will automatically see them as competent and intelligent, which is critical to their credibility.

Have them think things through, plan carefully, and act responsibly. They know what they're doing, you just have to prove it.

*ISOLATION*

Another thing that helps is to keep your villain isolated. You don't need to physically keep them away from everyone, but they might be figuratively, emotionally distanced from others. Sometimes this is on purpose, and sometimes it's not.

*LASTING IMPACT*

This may seem obvious to some people, but there's got to be some key event regarding your villain that has lasting impact on the plot, characters, setting, and/or protagonist. It doesn't need to occur during your story, it could have occurred beforehand, but it still must affect the current time period.

Show why they're the villain.

*REASON, DON'T JUSTIFY*

A lot of people (primarily readers) nowadays are obsessed with the idea of justifying a character's poor actions. But the truth is, you can't justify everything, not to mention that it's just unnecessary. It's unrealistic. Instead, provide a reason as to why they chose to do something. What instigated their actions? What goes through their heads? Did their past influence their current motives and character?

Don't try to balance everything out! In the end, a wrong is still a wrong, and it's okay to let it remain as such.

*CONCLUSION*

With all of these ideas taken into consideration, you have to remember that an evil character doesn't exactly correlate to a hateable character. Are there hated villains? Yes! But don't go out of your way to make them loathsome in order to establish their "evil-ness".

At the end of the day, they're still people too, so give them dimension, complexities, and weaknesses to prove it.

Happy writing (and New Year)~

3hks <3

#writeblr #writing #writerscommunity #creative writing #writing inspo #writing tips #writing advice #thank you #writers on tumblr #writing an antagonist #writing an evil character #writing an actually evil villain #writing a villain #how to write an actually evil villain #how to write a terrifying villain #how to write a scary villain #how to write an actually evil antagonist

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iridescentmirrorsgenshin · 6 months ago

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Kaveh is like this close to committing a sin with Mehrak, like he's playing a really dangerous game. It's just a matter of time Mehrak gets even more sentient when it's already this far. I know Kaveh keeps it in check, but man... I hope they'll talk about this one day. Either that or Kaveh will always brush it off, as if he didn't get some ancient core to build it??? Also, I always love your thoughts, thanks for loving these two so much!

hiya! thank you for your ask! i'm so glad you enjoy my posts :") <3 Mehrak’s existence is so ??? funny to me. we have tighnari’s story quest detailing the akademiya’s ban on research into mechanical lifeforms, directly alongside kaveh building his own mechanical lifeform and parading it around, sending it on solo coffee retrieving missions whilst everyone in sumeru looks on smiling <3

Mehrak’s legality hasn’t been mentioned at all in-game as of now, and as it’s been used consistently, both in kaveh’s hangout, a parade of providence, and now nahida’s birthday event, with not one mention of legality or potential trespasses, makes it seem that that’s how things will stay - especially since Cyno has met/is aware of mehrak’s existence during the battle scene during a parade of providence (then again, cyno did meet the wanderer during this event, and yet in nahida’s birthday event it seems he’s only HEARD of the wanderer through sethos??) but even then, since Cyno trusts Tighnari with karkata’s continued existence, it’s likely not a stretch to say that to Cyno, Kaveh can be trusted with Mehrak’s existence (it’s all very iffy)

Mehrak’s existence, overall, has had little focus other than its usage in battle, its official introduction in a parade of providence, where kaveh stipulates it has low intelligence, and was built to assist him, as well as being incapable of talking back and giving him ‘attitude’ (implicitly comparing mehrak to alhaitham), and in kaveh’s hangout when he works on designing a building. It’s only in recent events, such as cyno’s second story quest, and now in nahida’s birthday event, that mehrak has gotten more mentions, and now a spotlight, which is all in relation to coffee, tying back to alhaitham and kaveh’s improved relationship (the coffee analysis will be in the updated essay finally!!). as of right now, overall, mehrak doesn’t appear to be a major focus

It might be strange for the game to mention now that mehrak has been an illegal creation all this time, unless it’s a significant plot point that has to be resolved, but if mehrak is further explored, like in the temple of silence for example (hoyoverse I am once again asking), then perhaps this collective ignoring of a crime occurring will be explained away, if mentioned at all? It’s interesting that tighnari says it might be possible that this ban is reversed in the future, but as for whether that will actually happen, and the implications of this, aren’t clear

Mehrak’s accepted existence in general poses so many questions. I’m interested in the specifics of the ban, like does it depend on the autonomy of the machine in question? Abattouy aimed to make Karkata essentially human, capable of individual thought, processing, emotion, and conversation, which definitively broaches on the intersection of mechanical and biological life which caused the Akademiya to ban this type of research in the first place. So if a machine is able to act on its own, irrespective of human interference, then this is what the akademiya would want to prevent

In mehrak’s case, it’s unclear as to what its limits are, but from what has been shown so far, it seems that mehrak can only act on kaveh’s commands and when held in battle – it’s uncertain rn whether mehrak can act independently of this, but as kaveh invented it to only assist in certain matters, it’s doubtful. But then again, we don’t have a great scope of whether it can experience emotions, as it has shown signs of being distressed in a parade of providence when kaveh states that it can’t talk back, and when being scolded by kaveh in nahida’s birthday event

if mehrak has limited intelligence, it's interesting to compare mehrak with karkata. abattouy was attempting to make karkata understand human language, and be able to respond in order to have conversation, which was proved impossible, whereas although mehrak only speaks in beeps, kaveh is shown to have a thorough understanding of what it’s saying? Mehrak can be programmed to recognise people’s voices, but seemingly also language, as mehrak can obey spoken command, which is what abattouy tried to accomplish but was unable to with modern technology.

Mehrak, on the other hand, understands kaveh’s basic requests – which is made even funnier in kaveh’s old sketchbook, where he says that more than anything he really wants mehrak to understand what he’s saying. he got his wish but at what cost???

Mehrak being made from ancient technology, belonging to that of king deshret’s civilisation, offers many interesting paths that could be explored in future events, as besides the primal constructs roaming around, the puzzles in the desert, and now the temple of silence, no technology really exists from that time. Someone commented that mehrak’s presence in nahida’s birthday event, in conjunction with the event being based around ancient technology with the wedjat eye, could be highlighting mehrak’s irregularity in modern day sumeru – potentially foreshadowing for a future event that could further expand upon mehrak? If this is the case, I am all for it, there are so many questions concerning kaveh’s little light <3

#haikaveh #kavetham #alhaitham #kaveh #genshin impact #in general my head is so empty when it comes to mehrak so thank you for giving me a chance to explore this #there's this contrast of ancient technology and modern technology that is interesting to me as well #since ancient technology has already achieved low intelligence life (seemingly) without cruel experiments or danger that comes with #modern attempts of creating artificial life and is why the akademiya banned this research direction #ancient technology exists separately to modern regulations so in that case would there be a distinction in the ban between ancient #technology and modern technology? i feel the answer is no but also mehrak should legally be dismantled so i'm not sure what is happening #maybe the next sumeru event will be jailbreaking kaveh and mehrak

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cecilysass · 4 months ago

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My (Late, Sorry) Perihelion Review

I’m late on this, but I wanted to offer my review of Perihelion, the official XF novel released this summer. I am going to aim this mostly at people who haven’t read it, so I will go for no spoilers (or minimal spoilers as when you typically read a review), but I will add a little spoilers section at the end for those who have read it.

First off, I really liked this novel. I'd recommend it, especially to those who have Feelings about the revival, which is almost everyone I know who has watched the revival. I think one’s reaction to this novel is going to relate a lot to one’s reaction to the series finale, as the plot here is inextricably tied to the events of that episode. I found this story very satisfying because of how it handled those events while still trying to respect the feel of the show.

To give my own bias: I am not a big revival fan, but neither am I someone who ignores its existence. I think it has many problems and some unwatchable moments. I loathed the twist about William’s parentage with every fiber of my being. But I also find some elements of the revival to be kind of interesting, and there are moments I actually like. I am not someone who is going to stick my fingers in my ears and sing loudly and pretend nothing happened in this universe after the 90s. I’d even go so far as to say I LIKE revival fix-it stories; I have even written some myself.

More coming clean of my perspective on this: I have read the work of the author of Perihelion, Claudia Gray, before, both her work as a YA novelist and as a OG X-Files MSR fanfic writer. In fact, true story—years before Perihelion, I saw her speak in person about her other novels and she mentioned in the Q&A that she once wrote X-Files fanfic. I raced to figure out who she was on Gossamer. (She was Amy Vincent.) So I am a fan of this author, and I like that she’s an old school fan.

To sum up the story very briefly, we resume action some months after the events of My Struggle IV. Scully is further in her pregnancy (just barely showing). She and Mulder have moved to a DC townhouse together, but aren’t quite back together. They are suspended from the X-files due to the events of MSIV, and they are staggering a bit with dealing with the grief and trauma of the revelations of that episode. In this context, they’re approached with not one but two serial killer cases, one that involves pregnant women and one that involves what remains of the Syndicate.

Part of Gray’s mission is very clearly to do damage control for the revival’s most egregious offenses, and honestly, this might be my favorite aspect of the book. It’s just emotionally cathartic to see someone do that in a pseudo-canonical text. (I say “pseudo-canonical” because CC backed away from this book a little, but whatever.) Because this is a CC approved book, Gray can’t settle any dangling plot threads completely conclusively, but she offers many suggestions that take us in a more hopeful path.

For example, she does very, very well at providing narrative context for Scully’s behavior in the last scene of MSIV. I’m referring to when Scully—who we saw give birth to William, be his mother, give him up in heartbreak, and then pine and wonder about him for years—suddenly rejects the same child as an “experiment” that was never theirs. This abrupt U-turn always felt like it perhaps could be explained as her entering into some self protective state of denial and emotional shutdown, but the show itself didn’t explain or earn that moment. Gray gives us a whole arc for Scully around this, and she shows how it relates to Mulder, too. It’s much, much better.

Actually, if I am not mistaken, Gray has in mind some intentional fix-it for the show overall. There are more diverse characters in this novel, including a nonbinary nurse (Casey) who plays a pivotal role and an informant who breaks the old demographic patterns. There is a moment in which Scully writes in her journal that she wishes her career at the FBI had not become so defined by her maternity. And while Scully is (again) targeted by those who want to do her ill, Gray seems to really, really resist her being victimized, her being overwhelmed with fear, or Mulder coming to her rescue. Gray gives us a confident, action hero preggo Scully.

This novel often reminded me of fanfic in the best possible way. It reads sometimes like OG classic XF fic along the lines of Syntax6, which is absolutely a compliment. Yet it also was spot-on at recreating the "feel" of the show sometimes, especially in the characters' journal entries. By the end of the revival I came to hate voiceover monologues on TXF, but Gray found a way to tap into the charm of how they used to be in earlier seasons.

Delightfully, there are MANY deep references to past events and episodes—again, like in fanfic in the best way. You know how on the show they almost never reference Emily again, and they almost never mention Melissa? Gray doesn’t forget. She also references making tape Xs on windows, Modell, Scully shooting Mulder, running in cornfields, going to Antarctica, and every single tiny thing that happened with William. She’s got a serious fan’s attention to show canon, which I appreciate.

The novel is mostly about the casefile and their work-related questions. That said, it does include details like that they trade off cooking and that they both hope to be sharing a bedroom some time soon and both agents’ feelings about parenting, both William and the new baby. I would not say MSR is the main focus, but I also would describe this as an MSR story. More than that, though, it is a story about how they recover individually and together from what happened during MSIV.

The actual plot—the casefile(s) starts out very scary, even disturbing, but does (in my opinion) never quite reach climactic stakes. In part I think this has to do with Gray not wanting Scully to be victimized, which I am not going to argue with her about. But I also wonder if it’s because there are limited revelations Gray can make. I would have dropped some more reveals if it were my post-revival fic and I had no limits imposed on me. But it’s not … and she no doubt does. I do have the vibe that we are set up for additional novels in the series, which I would happily read—although I’d say at some point she is going to have to be allowed to make some reveals if she is going to continue the story.

There is one aspect of this novel I did fixate on a little too much. The story takes place directly after MSIV, so … 2018, right? Yet there are some references to specific pop culture (Wandavision, Andor) and some cultural references (remote work, hybrid work) that place the events of the story after 2020. I can only assume this is intentional, maybe to make it not matter what year exactly the revival happened and just set it “present day.” But because we are all mentally dating these characters from the original series, and because the ages of say, William, or pregnant Scully, do arguably matter, it’s confusing. This is such a Cecily thing to perseverate on, but it is what it is.

That said, I would definitely recommend to all interested fans. I listened on audiobook, by the way, which was fun, although Mulder's voice sounds a little like Keanu Reeves. Spoilers section to follow.

SPOILERS SECTION FOLLOWING. STOP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW. SPOILERS.

All things considered, Gray did a deft job of sort-of-kind-of-but-not-quite revealing information. She partially revealed to Scully that Jackson was alive, but she only gave that info to Scully through a source Scully wouldn’t entirely trust. She gave us a gender reveal but took pains to say “it wasn’t certain.” She hinted that Scully’s pregnancy (maybe even both of them?) was caused by her really young telomeres but didn’t confirm that either.

I found Scully’s tendency not to share info with Mulder in this novel to be very, very frustrating, although not entirely out of character. Failing to mention the telomere thing when he was theorizing about her newfound ability seemed really absurd. She didn’t even give it any consideration in her internal monologue, which was hard to understand. I know she doesn’t want to let him down or hurt him, but sometimes it’s just important, Scully.

The number one thing I kept thinking in the second half of the book—the thing that was never addressed, although perhaps it will if there are more books—is that there is a very possible explanation for Scully’s supposed abilities that nobody floated. Which is that it isn’t Scully who makes the electrical shit happen, but the fetus, picking up on Scully’s fear and adrenaline. I don’t see any reason why that couldn’t be true, but the exact mechanisms for these genetic abnormalities being spread were a little vague. I couldn’t figure out if this was just me thinking wild thoughts or if the book was really preserving room for this to be true.

Anyway, anyone else read it? What did y’all think? If you want to talk about it and discuss spoilers, mark them in case someone hasn’t read yet.

#the x files #fox mulder #dana scully #x files #msr #og fanfic writers #perihelion #perihelion review

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peakofendlessjoy · 12 days ago

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Scum Villain’s Tactical Unit chap 1

Shen Yuan sat in front of his PS5, trembling with rage and a tight grip on his controller. John “Soap” MacTavish, Shen Yuan’s ultimate favourite Call Of Duty character, was killed. KILLED! Where was the plot armour in this stupid game? Do the devs get off pissing off their players? Shen Yuan paid a whopping $90 for this trash?! Of course, money was never a problem for a trust fund baby like himself, but still! He picked up a dumpling beside him with shaky hands, damn near almost crushing the oddly hard dough. Shen Yuan shook his head, thinking of how much time he spent waiting for a game full of disappointments. He went onto Discord, almost gleeful to spew his hate for this wretched game, he was sure his fellow COD lovers would agree with hate in their hearts. Shame, game devs, shame!! Shen Yuan began to type with fervor, pouring his heart into every word. He wanted his peers to rise with him, to agree—and maybe even call a hit on those damn devs. So, naturally, he was stunned when a few of his friends disagreed. “Be grateful,” they said. “They worked hard on this!” Oh, the bastards. Shen Yuan took an angry bite of his dumpling, completely missing the fact that it tasted off—faintly moldy, even.

“Worked hard on this?” Shen Yuan echoed, chewing like it was a personal vendetta. Worked hard on what—Ghost’s thirst-trap redesign for the weird COD fans to swoon over? He let out a disbelieving chuckle, dumpling still wedged in his cheek, while white-hot rage simmered under his skin. “A stupid pen writes stupid words.” He added, his body shook as he laughed a little more.

Then he coughed. Once. Twice. The rage had nowhere to go but up—straight into his throat. He choked. Hands flew to his neck, clawing uselessly as panic set in, the dumpling staging a mutiny halfway down. He drew in a breath—and stopped. A sharp jerk of his body, then a hand flew to his throat.

His eyes widened, and he felt the lack of air finally hitting him like a brick. His screen was bright against his eyes, chats still passed with no problem, nobody even seemed to notice how Shen Yuan went quiet. His nails scratched at his throat as his head dropped onto his keyboard, his panic blooming like a flare.

The room’s noise dulled under the sound of his desperate gasps—wet, shallow, and so utterly futile. “Dumbfuck Devs, dumbfuck game!” With his dying breath, Shen Yuan managed to spit his final curse.

Even Shen Yuan is embarrassed at the dev’s messy, dog-shit and unreasonably complex framework and plot. Have you seen anyone go on a mission without a god damn helmet, the one time Soap goes on a mission without proper gear and it's the one he dies in? Have you seen someone as ruthless as Captain Price tell a soldier to not shoot the bastard Vladimir Makarov early on? Have you seen a dev whose comprehension and reason are enough to confuse their players?

The reason for Soap’s existence is to kill, and not be killed. If you look to the end? Don't misunderstand, Shen Yuan is not against the devs, not really. This reason is also the most ball-aching for him: The foreshadowing is numerous, plot holes everywhere, mystery after mystery, layer upon layer of confusing fog. In the end – not even one can be solved! It's enough to cause a mouthful of blood! Shen Yuan feels angry enough to come back from the dead.

In the endless darkness, a mechanical noise sounded by his ear.【Activation Code:「Dumbfuck devs, dumbfuck game.」. Automatically triggering system.】

"Who is this?" Shen Yuan asked. Where the hell was he? Was he really dead? The voice sounded like Google Translate, God, this had to be hell. He looked around. It felt like he was floating in an imaginary space, hand outstretched but touching nothing. Then, from nowhere, a voice spoke:

【Welcome to the system. During the launch of the 「you can you up, no can no bb」 System, currently in development, we aim to provide the best experience. We sincerely hope you achieve your stated goal: transforming a piece of stupid writing into a high-end, expansive, and classic work. We wish you happiness.】

Inside the clouds, there is the sound of a man's voice by his ear asking lightly: "...Shidi? Shidi, can you hear me?" Shen Yuan suddenly came to, alert, and opened his eyelids with effort. He shuddered and settled his mind, in front of his eyes are thousands of flowers and leaves tumbling, rushing and dipping away in the air before everything became clear. He is lying on a bed.

He looked up: a white, gauzy canopy hung overhead, with finely crafted perfume pouches dangling from from the four corners. Looking down: he wore a white robe of an ancient style. Next to the pillow lay a paper fan. Looking to his left: a handsome, elegant, young man dressed in xuanduan formal robes. Shen Yuan closed his eyes, then sharply reached for that folding fan and opened it with a snap.

He lightly waved it, fanning away the cold sweat pouring down his face. The man’s eyes brightened with joy when he saw Shen Yuan was at least somewhat responsive. He gave him a soft smile, tilting his head like a confused puppy would as he spoke: “Shidi finally woke up,” He said warmly. “Do you have any discomfort?”

“Nothing too bad,” Shen Yuan said with some reservation. The information being thrown at him was almost too much, he felt like his head was spinning. He tried to sit up in a dazed attempt to collect himself, and as he did, the man quickly reached out to support his back, letting him lean against the headboard.

Hell, Shen Yuan wasn’t a fucking idiot, he knew he has definitely transmigrated. His body felt different, the air was almost like a breath of fresh air than the polluted air he was used to, and he felt so much stronger. Shen Yuan resolved to himself long ago, that if he one day woke up to find himself lying in a strange place the first words out of his mouth before he understood what was happening definitely wouldn’t be a carefree giggle paired with a cheeky, “Are you filming a movie? The props look so real—your crew’s really giving it their all!” Aka, the words of a painfully slow-witted idiot trying to find their footing.

Being the smarter-than-most kind of guy he was, he’d reply in an absentminded way, as if waking up from a deep sleep, still muddled from his dreams. “I… Where is this?” Shen Yuan asked, putting a hand on his forehead. Someone ought to get him an acting reward,

The man startled, giving Shen Yuan a worried look before speaking, much softer than before. “Did you sleep yourself into a trance? This is your Qing Jing Peak.” He explained, his head tilted to the other side, he was acting like Shen Yuan had hit his head hard enough to the point where his body hosted a new soul. Oh, right, knowing the transmigration genre, that’s probably what happened.

Qing Jing Peak? God damnit, he knew exactly where he was. Proud Immortal Demon Way. Possibly the world’s worst literature, a webnovel he had to literally distance himself from. He had given up on reading the damn thing when Luo Binghe had bedded wife #283 in chapter 2900. It was so terrible, he had picked up playing COD in response. So why on God’s green Earth was he here?! From his knowledge, most transmigration stories start with the main character dying while reading it, but Shen Yuan hasn’t opened the stupid novel for weeks. Before Shen Yuan could respond, the System chimed in on the most inner parts of his mind, and he promptly shut his mouth. His eyes subtly shifted to where the hologram began to form, and looked at it with a sharp gaze.

【Ding! System Notification: Due to an internal processing error, Host has been assigned to the incorrect narrative universe.】

A pause. Shen Yuan’s stomach dropped.

【Explanation: Host was erroneously transmigrated into "Proud Immortal Demon Way" despite not meeting standard eligibility criteria. This has been logged as Error Code 6969-FML.】

Was that��was that real? Was this hell? There was no possible way The System was so stupid to make a mistake like this, it’s AI for Heaven’s sake! Lord, why don’t you just strike me down for good, I'm tired of living.

【Host has not engaged with the source material in over 32 days, 7 hours, 54 minutes, and 16 seconds. Transmigration was not authorized. Our apologies for the inconvenience.】

The hologram flickered, displaying a tangled mess of data: a wildly oscillating morality chart, several blinking INCOMPETENCE DETECTED warnings, and—ominously—a crude stick figure of Shen Yuan being dragged into a grave labeled “CONSEQUENCES.” A digital tombstone popped up beside it, reading: “Should’ve read the Terms & Conditions.”

【Resolution in progress. Please remain calm. Host will now be forcibly reassigned to a thematically appropriate alternate universe. Body data will be retained. Memory error buffers intact. Weapon proficiency pending. Uploading now...】

【Ding! New assignment located: “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.” Compatibility: 87.2%. Narrative Coherence: Questionable. Difficulty: God Help You.】

Shen Yuan didn’t even have time to blink before the world pixelated at the edges.

【Transmigration in process. Please enjoy your stay. No refunds.】

So, again, Shen Yuan was sent into a space of endless nothingness. It was like floating in a screensaver from hell.

The space around him wasn't black, not really, it shimmered with the kind of deep void color you'd get if someone tried to code "existential dread" into RGB values. Wisps of half-formed data curled around his limbs like smoke made of corrupted binary, fracturing into pixels every few seconds before reforming into strings of characters he couldn’t read.

Above him, stars blinked in and out of existence like someone was toggling them from a settings menu. Below him, there was nothing, just a white cursor blinking at the edge of a vast transparent grid, waiting for a command that never came.

And everywhere, there was that sound: a low mechanical whir, like a fan dying inside a dusty server, accompanied by the occasional cheery【Ding!】, far too upbeat for a place that felt like the System's version of purgatory.

It wasn’t heaven. It wasn’t hell. It was worse: a loading screen.

“System,” he snapped, already feeling the familiar onset of transmigration-induced migraines, “why the hell am I bouncing between universes like some budget isekai tennis ball? This has to violate at least five cosmic labor laws. I want a refund, a receipt, and a very good lawyer.”

【 Refund denied. Please enjoy your complimentary trauma. 】

Shen Yuan groaned, putting his head into his pixelated hands. He paused momentarily, and groaned once again when he realized he was still dressed in xianxia styled clothing. It was different from the robes he was wearing before, yet it was obviously more fancy by a long shot. He looked like he had just been shot out of a comicon for God’s sake! Why was he here, if not just to suffer? He’d curse out The System, but he’s afraid he’d get thrown into another universe. Speaking of which, he began to feel a sharp pull behind him, and he was basically slammed onto the dirt and mud of wherever he was this time.

Shen Yuan grit his teeth. His head throbbed like he’d just been swirled in a washing machine on the “spite” setting. He began to wonder where, exactly, he was now—because it sure as hell wasn’t Qing Jing Peak anymore.

The smell hit him first. Gunpowder. Smoke. Sweat. Mud. The stench of military-grade regret.

He cracked open one eye. Gray skies, bombed-out buildings, and someone screaming in a British accent not too far away. A bullet ricocheted off a nearby wall with a sharp ping! and Shen Yuan immediately flattened himself like a pancake. His sleeves—still very much those of a cultivator in full ceremonial robes—soaked up mud like expensive tissue paper.

“I swear,” he muttered, his just barely above a whisper, like he was afraid someone would hear him, “if this is Battlefield, I’m suing.”

Then the System, unbothered by his very real existential crisis, chimed in like a mall intercom: 【Ding! Welcome, Host, to "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III." Objectives: 1) Stay alive. 2) Blend in. 3) Avoid direct consequences of your actions. Bonus Objective: Stop crying.】

Shen Yuan screamed into the dirt. Just a little. He hated his System, he swore not all Systems were like his, right? He wished now he had taken that coding class his mother begged him to take, in which where he promptly faked sickness every time she asked, because maybe then he'd be able to reboot the stupid thing! Die, System, die!

He was not mentally equipped for war. He was wearing silk , not Kevlar. His best weapon was sarcasm. And the moment he even tried to sit up, his sleeve got snagged on a jagged bit of rebar like fate itself wanted him to stay pathetic. Somewhere nearby, someone shouted, “Sniper! Top left!”

Instinctively, Shen Yuan rolled, yelped, and face-planted into a ditch. Water splashed. Something squelched under him. He didn’t look. He was not ready to see what—or who—it was, not enough therapy could calm the panic he’d feel.

A shadow passed overhead. Boots stomped against the floor like they were made to be loud, and, unfortunately, they were followed by a voice—low, clipped, and with a hint of irritation, like it had been through too many briefings and not enough therapy.

“…What the bloody hell are you supposed to be?”

Shen Yuan looked up. Slowly. Mud-streaked face. Leaves in his hair. His robe was half-slid off one shoulder like he was about to give a tragic monologue from a bad historical drama. He blinked up at the man in tactical gear, who looked like every Tumblr user’s military husband dream. The skull mask confirmed it. He met the one person he would be most horrified to meet, he felt like the floor should just swallow him whole.

Ghost tilted his head, one hand still on his rifle. “You hit your head or are you just lost?” His accent was thick, Shen Yuan had to really take a second to process what the man had just said, and he looked back down at his clothes. God damnit, System, you useless fuck! You didn’t bother to change Shen Yuan, possibly put him into a different body?

“I’m…” Shen Yuan trailed off, looking around for a moment, and he shivered from how damn cold it was. It was wet, and damp, and he absolutely hated it. “I’m definitely lost,” Shen Yuan admitted, trying to gather his sleeves and his dignity at the same time.

Ghost stared. Then he reached down, grabbed Shen Yuan by the back of his collar like a wet cat, and hoisted him upright.

【Ding! Social interaction successful. Relationship progress: 1%.】【Note: Try not to embarrass yourself further.】

‘Too late, you useless System, go die!’ Shen Yuan thought, legs wobbling as he was practically dragged out of the ditch. Ghost didn’t ask questions. Not out loud.

But Shen Yuan could feel it, the weight of that stare behind the skull mask, dissecting him with the precision of someone trained to notice the twitch of a finger before it pulls a trigger. This man wasn’t the type to bark threats or point guns. No, Ghost looked like the type who waited for you to dig your own grave, then judged the efficiency of your shoveling technique.

So, Shen Yuan did what he did best: he adapted.

He stayed quiet, posture steady, expression unreadable. He didn’t ask where he was. He didn’t fake ignorance. That only made people like Ghost more suspicious. Instead, he focused on taking in the environment: ruined buildings, scorched concrete, the tang of gunpowder in the air.

Ghost stood just ahead, still half-turned toward him. Watching. Judging. A test. He didn’t offer a weapon, that was deliberate. Fine.

Shen Yuan made no move to ask for one. Instead, he shifted his robe slightly, tying it back at the waist with a scorched nylon strap he’d scavenged off the ground. Loose fabric tucked in. Footing adjusted. He moved like someone who understood stealth, posture, and presence. Even if his clothes screamed “lost time traveler”, and he never even thought of applying for the military.

Ghost's eyes tracked it all. “You military?” he asked finally, undoubtedly curious, but it seemed like the ‘tough guy’ didn’t want to show any sort of emotion. That’s okay, Shen Yuan knew why, regrettably enough.

Shen Yuan didn’t look at him. “In a past life.” Obviously not, the only type of military related thing he found himself doing was playing shooting games, which was clearly not even close. Still, it was hilarious for himself, and he had to keep a straight head on for this kind of universe.

Ghost’s fingers tapped twice against the barrel of his rifle. Calculating. “That robe isn’t regulation.” His voice sounded like whiskey aged in old oak—deep, husky, and a little burnt around the edges. It slid into the air with a lazy drawl, heavy with the weight of too many late nights and unspoken regrets. There was a kind of rawness to it, like something you'd sip slowly, knowing it’d hit hard if you weren’t careful.

Shen Yuan tilted his head up and he noticed Ghost wasn’t as tall as he thought. The man was like 6’2, right? He should definitely be much taller than Shen Yuan. “Neither is the mask, but I assume there’s a reason.”

That earned a pause. Longer than expected. Not quite a reaction, not quite approval. Just more observation. Like Ghost was filing away every word for later dissection. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to reply like that… System, reverse time, please!

Then: the comms crackled to life in Ghost’s ear.

“Ghost, how do you copy?”

Soap’s voice, clear and alive. Shen Yuan let out a slow breath, tension easing just enough to remember the System wasn’t completely useless. He was on time. Good. All he had to do now was survive, keep his mouth shut, and figure out how to keep the man from dying at whatever point the plot decided to murder him.

Ghost didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he turned his head just enough to glance at Shen Yuan again—less suspicion now, more… assessment. Testing. Calculating. Shen Yuan didn’t move, he kept his expression neutral, his hands still and visible.

The best way to gain trust from a dangerous man was not through words, it was through predictability. Controlled, silent competence. No sudden moves. Like dealing with a wild animal that spoke in classified intel and carried live grenades. Then Soap appeared, jogging up behind a ruined concrete wall, rifle half-raised.

He caught sight of Shen Yuan mid-step and came to a near-comic halt, the confusion hitting his face like a brick. His eyes swept the entire length of Shen Yuan’s outfit—from the mud-streaked robe down to the ruined traditional Chinese boots—then back up to his loosely tied hair and calmly folded hands.

“…Mate,” Soap said finally, raising an eyebrow, “you bring back a wizard?”

Ghost didn’t answer, to anyone who knew him well enough, he looked just a tad bit confused. It was actually a little funny, but Shen Yuan didn’t dare laugh, he merely looked at Soap with an aloof air. He really looked like some ancient Shizun, he’s just glad he wasn’t in the body of that scum villain, that’d be bad.

Shen Yuan offered a polite nod. “I’m more of a consultant, really.” He lied through his teeth, his face was oddly good at keeping it devoid of any emotion, he was usually so expressive that anyone could tell he was lying just by the twitch of his lips or—oh God, he’s in the body of Shen QingQiu, isn’t he? Waking up on Qing Jing Peak, the expensive looking robes, who else could he be?

Soap stared. “Consultant. Right.” His eyes narrowed for a moment, trying to see if Shen Yuan was lying, but it seemed as if his face was made out of stone. Shen Yuan’s outfit wasn’t really what any of them would wear, not just the fact that it was culturally different, but the fact that it was so impractical was the kicker.

“Special circumstances,” Shen Yuan added evenly. “Field infiltration, high-value anomaly containment. Not officially in the books.” When did he get so good at lying? Damn you, Shen QingQiu, and also thanks! If these guys found out if he was lying, he was almost afraid of what they’d do to him, so he lit a candle of thanks in his heart for Shen Jiu, if not begrudgingly.

Ghost shifted his weight subtly, still watching, still silent. Soap’s confusion deepened, but he wasn’t reaching for his gun yet. “You’re dressed like a cult leader from a martial arts movie.” He tilted his head a little, but it was clearly meant to be menacing more than confusion like the handsome man he had seen in the last universe.

“That’s actually pretty close,” Shen Yuan said, voice pleasant. “It’s tactical. Flame-resistant, low noise, high mobility. The sleeves are impractical, yes, but they’re a cultural asset.” He was obviously making all of this shit up, but he wasn’t necessarily lying about his robes. If they were really Shen Jiu’s, the man would have every powerful talisman sewn into the very fabric for protection

“Sure they are,” Soap muttered, glancing between him and Ghost. “You serious with this?” he asked, eyebrows raised in disbelief that his teammate hadn’t already tackled the man and shoved a boot on his neck.

Ghost didn’t answer. Not verbally. But the way his head tilted slightly, like he was watching an animal in a cage trying to pick the lock, said enough.

Shen Yuan could feel the tension in the silence that followed. He stood perfectly still, shoulders relaxed but not slouched, gaze steady, not challenging, but not meek either. He didn’t offer anything more. If Ghost wanted to treat this like a test, he was content to let him fill in the blanks.

Soap let out a slow breath, slinging his rifle across his chest. “You know what? Fine. Whatever. I’m not the one who’s gonna explain this to Price.” He didn’t bother, he had a feeling this guy was worth the trouble, and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t just a little curious. Come on, the guy looked like he belonged in some kind of Chinese drama, this can’t possibly just be a cultural thing.

“Would love to be a fly on that wall,” Shen Yuan offered, voice smooth. His eyebrows furrowed a little, like this body was instinctively acting. Shen Yuan couldn’t wait until he got his hands on a mirror, but he was a little afraid he’d see that scum villain. Was he really in the body of a child abuser/molester? He wanted to shiver but this body wouldn’t let him.

“Oh, don’t worry. He’ll launch you through it.” Soap replied, but he caught onto the fact that Shen Yuan hasn’t even asked for their names, or given his own, yet he seemed to know exactly who Price was. It was suspicious, but Soap didn’t dwell on it long.

Ghost finally spoke again, his voice like a dead man's growl, dragged up from somewhere deep and unwilling. “He stays under watch.” He said firmly, keeping his sharp eyes on an impassive Shen Yuan, who looked like he couldn’t care less about it.

Shen Yuan gave the faintest of nods. “I wouldn't expect otherwise.” He looked a little scary, his black eyes unbelievably sharp, they held a look of hatred that one wouldn’t associate with Shen Yuan from how politely he was speaking, it was almost obvious he was lying.

“Don’t wander. Don’t touch anything. Don’t talk unless someone talks to you.” Ghost all but commands, he was clearly not joking around, and Shen Yuan wasn’t the type to fuck around and find out. Most of the time, anyway.

“Can I blink?” Shen Yuan asked mildly, he wasn’t joking, he was serious about the fact that sarcasm is his only weapon, and he wasn’t afraid to use it! Fight me—please, don’t fight me—Ghost! Shen Yuan could totally K.O the other man in his new body (no, he absolutely couldn’t).

Ghost’s stare didn’t budge. “Not if it’s suspicious.” He didn’t appreciate the sarcasm, and he clearly didn’t find it funny in the slightest. The damn bastard, Shen Yuan ought to show him his best friend’s death just to get the man to show a little emotion! No, wait, that’s a little evil. Damn this retched body!

Soap huffed out a laugh. “Jesus, mate. Let the guy breathe.” He crossed his arms, tilting his head to the side, still eyeing Shen Yuan’s clothes with a hint of incredibility, was this dude serious? Flame-resistant? What a joke, they look like a spark could set the entire thing on fire. Right?... Right.

“I am breathing,” Shen Yuan replied helpfully, a small smirk pulled at his lips as he leaned forward just a little to Soap, like he’s sharing some sacred secret. God, he really was acting like someone from a really bad historical drama, “just not loudly. You all look like the type to shoot first and file paperwork later.”

Ghost’s hand tightened on his rifle ever so slightly at the sight of the other man leaning forward and giving an oddly evil smile, it set off his flight or fight response. Shen Yuan took the hint and shut up, slowly leaning back with a sheepish look in his eyes.

【Note: Good call. You have reached the optimal amount of sarcasm allowed before probable death.】

Soap gave him one last incredulous glance, then turned to scout the perimeter. No matter if this guy was some kind of civilian with a drug problem, or an enemy sent to confuse them and spy on them (Which, to his surprise, Ghost hasn’t given him the kind of glare that he knew. Yet), they still had a mission.

Shen Yuan followed a few paces behind them, staying within formation without being told. No sudden movements. Nothing flashy. He didn’t need to win them over. He just needed to stay alive long enough to figure out how to keep Soap from dying like he was originally supposed to while staying alive himself.

Easy enough. Right?... Right.

Soap spoke up eventually, too curious to wait for a safe space to question Shen Yuan’s trustworthiness and made a low noise in his throat, half a scoff. “You MI6, CIA, or just wandered in from a cursed scroll?” He couldn’t help but ask, his Scottish accent thicker than Ghost’s British one.

Shen Yuan allowed himself a faint smile, he still had to figure out a plausible backstory, one that would gain the trust of at least Price, he’s the only one Shen Yuan really had to get under his thumb. “Need-to-know basis, you’re not cleared. Does it matter, as long as I’m on your side?”

Ghost’s voice finally broke the silence, low and precise. “That remains to be seen.” He walked past Shen Yuan, his steps slow and deliberate, if Shen Yuan was any shorter he would most definitely be shitting his pants like a baby from fear. The man was fucking terrifying, how would Shen Yuan manage to live through this?!

【Ding! Bluff check: holding. Soap: 64% convinced. Ghost: 41% suspicion. Recommendation: Stay useful or disappear.】

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angeldeviloshi · 2 months ago

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Ok I have to talk about the translation here.

In JP, Yoru says 私とやりたいのか？(watashi to yaritai no ka?) "You wanna do it with me?" which ofc, has common usage in referring to participation in sex with someone.

The availability of that implication is interesting here following my recent thread about Yoru and Denji's relationship.

In that it sounds like Yoru's reminder to Denji about what their relationship is based around and who holds the leash because of it. An owner reminding her growling dog of the promised treat if he behaves.

It's a romance that operates on a level of superficiality that's thinner than every woman Denji has had that run in with so far at least with its current presentation, that it feels like Denji being thrown a bone that's well bare-bones. Esp with the appearance of Chimerasaw Man here. Like ok the hero kinda gets what he's always wanted but is this realllyy what he wants? If he just wants to get it on with Yoru why get mad that she's devilishly cruel? She's after all, his "only woman". Yoru nipping his alternative convictions to keep him obedient.

But the double entendre of the phrasing works for misdirection too!

Especially so when it's the virtuous, just replica of Chainsaw Man that Yoru takes aim at!! That it's this voice of justice that inquires Denji if his conflict with Yoru is a falsehood and Denji's like NOPE she's just that bad!!

And Yoru responds by saying it's cold, that she's going home! The coldness befalling them in Denji's awareness, his distancing from apathy, ignorance because of Yoru's actions.

The heat Yoru represents for Denji thus far in the place of his family, so he doesn't have to face the cold.

But knowing now that Famine was in fact Death kinda further solidifies my thoughts on Denji's continued distancing of what death carries for him. Death as the bogeyman essentially. Denji inching closer towards fire/sex for warmth so he's further from the cold (the snow). The poignancy of his house w Nayuta and the pets going up in flames as he leans into being the CSM bc the heat from the fire that destroyed his normal beckons to him in the wake of his loss, him telling Pochita his next dream is "I want to be Chainsaw Man". Denji reminiscing Power and Control in what is already lost as Yoru makes him hers. His family the frozen potstickers that Yoru cooks with the heat she provides through sex and romance in making him her family as the potstickers take a messy form through her cooking and love. But then Denji cooks the potstickers himself to revive that normal in some fashion against the backdrop of death with him and AsaYoru at the center strung by their family.

Just as the heat of Makima's tea warmed up his cold hands at her house in his grief over Aki as her dog, the comfort of not having to think.

AND THEN THIS????

The heroic Chainsaw Man defended, saved by the cluster of his fandom just as much as they've become his collateral.

That these civillians are made inextricable from this embodiment of Chainsaw Man as justice as what should be Denji's justice as a hero. The heart that made him a saviour to the people in the first place.

I see what is represented here to be a case of Denji's heroism being presented to us via Chimerasaw Man in Denji's actions and his heart vs Yoru in Denji's desire and material goal. The way Denji's hero's journey is officiated through Makima's promise, teaching of sex by defeating Gun.

And we see it again in Yoru's promise of sex, love by defeating Death. The notion that Denji's heroism is marked by achievement reached by being unthinking, unfeeling. Motivation pushed by plot over character nuance.

If Denji has Yoru, he doesn't have to worry about saving lives, only killing Death matters, only having sex matters.

But there's more than what meets the eye, just as fondling Power's boobs wasn't the only reason Denji cared enough to save Power, but because he empathised with her feelings for Meowy.

Chimerasaw Man using the coldness of the snow in Denji's hands and the height which his heart and body falls in his remembrance of it against him as a mirror of justice.

Him saving Asa from falling in this shared cycle of pain and grief in his inheritance of Aki's that led Aki to saving Angel.

The way we're presented w this just 2 chapters after ch.200 as its counterpoint.

What does being Chainsaw Man mean for Denji? Is Chainsaw Man all sex and violence or is there still heart behind his story despite it all, with a life like his in a world like csm.

What makes The Chainsaw Man Denji and vice versa.

#brainrot #csm spoilers #csm 202 #csm denji #fake chainsaw man #csm yoru #aki hayakawa #csm power #hayakawa family #aki 47 #makima #csm #chainsaw man #chainsaw man analysis

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knight-says-rawr · 3 months ago

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WELCOME BACK FOLKS FOR A J.U.H.RASSIC GRAND FINALE, I’m your host Jo, here with:

The Summary Report

I have completed 27 interviews from every JWCT blog I could find with their asks open. This is our sample. In these interviews I asked the question: “WHAT one thing are YOU most excited to see in s3 of chaos theory?”

NOTE: this survey was conducted ON TUMBLR which contributes a drastic bias to all results, especially in terms of ships. I am aware. I also don’t give a shit as ask games are a tumblr exclusive site mechanic.

The name of the game here is Jo Unboxes the Hype and that is exactly what I aim to do — gather input on what exactly the wider fandom is most looking forward to with season 3 (maybe even test how it measured up to the “hype” after) and measure the results.

There is one hour left until the season releases, so without further adiue, here are those results:

First up, Character Interest

This bar graph covers every N6 member plus our three spotlight additions this season. One point was tallied for each time a character was mentioned by an interviewee as someone they were specifically interested in seeing.

This distinction from ‘every time a characters name is mentioned’ is important because many are looking forward to seeing the aftermath of a specific S2 scene that won’t even involve the character responsible for it, as such input that exclusively mentioned the character’s name for the sake of referencing the scene were not counted

Our MOST HYPED character is The Handler with 11 Individual mentions.

In descending order after that it is Brooklynn (10), Soyona (8), Yaz (7), Sammy (7), Gia (7), Ben (6), Kenji (5), and Darius (4).

It is notable to mention that Sammy and Yaz each only got 2 individual mentions each, with the rest being due to Yasammy. Speaking of:

Let’s talk Shipping

Here we have two separate pie charts - one comparing expressed interest in specific ships and the second using the same data to compare the slash types of said ships.

*Honorable mention to the 1 interview that brought up platonic Samji

To the suprise of absolutely no one our MOST HYPED ship this season is Yasammy with 7 individual mentions.

However, let’s break it down further than that. Coming in as the second biggest ship is Lab Partners/Brokerlynn with (5) mentions, followed by BenGia (4) in third. Tied were Benji and Whistlelight/Raptormoms with (3) each. Shockingly, even Dinomite (2) was discussed more than Dinostar (1) despite the latter ship’s semi-canon status.

Overall, f/f has dominated the graph, both making up 3/7 of the ships brought up AND receiving a total 15 mentions. In comparison there was an equal ratio of m/m to f/m (5).

Focused Plot Points

Of course, characters and ships aren’t the end all be all of a show - the story itself is the whole point! With the cliff hangers s2 left us on, combined with what was seen in the trailer, there has been a LOT of desires as to what everyone wants to see covered. Now, typically this would be a very personal/individual question - every fan wants to see something different, right? And for the most part this rang true, however three specific focus points were mentioned across interviews.

Aftermath of the airport scene (9)

Brooklynn’s spiraling situation (8)

Bumpy’s baby (5)

Luckily these are all things we know will actually be covered in the show but WOW are people ready to see them be unpacked

Thoughts?

Honestly this whole thing has been very fun and imo really has made the wait more enjoyable. As I type this last paragraph there are 3 minutes to the season’s release. When I started sending out asks (initially just a few to my friends, before I had realized The Potential of the reporter schtick) we still had over 2 days to go. I think the largest benefit of a small fandom is the opportunity provided to have these discussions. The community here (specifically here, on tumblr) is an amazing one.

Here’s to season 3, let’s hope it’s a stunner. This is your host Jo Knight, signing off. Roll credits guys!! 💫

#Jo Unboxes The Hype - JWCT S3 #jwct #chaos theory #jurassic world chaos theory #chaos theory season 3 #jwct s3

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let-us-cultivate-our-garden · 10 months ago

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Do you think an Owl House book (not necessarily a Belos one since we all know how Dana feels about the character) could popularize the Owl House fandom again like the book of Bill is doing for the Gravity Falls fandom? The show has been trending on Tumblr for quite a while now.

Well, before we answer that, I think it's important to examine why Gravity Falls is "making a comeback." It ended nearly 10 years ago, and since then, it has a reputation of being a groundbreaking tv show that has influenced Disney TVA shows since then. Artists and writers who worked on GF then proceeded to make their own popular and well-regard shows (The Owl House and Amphibia). Even during the near-decade since it ended, its fandom has been chugging along nicely, making art, fics, and meme templates. To put it simply, GF has a larger fandom that is still interested in its world and characters.

In contrast, The Owl House ended just last year and while the show does trend on here occasionally, it's usually because of MoringMark (and even just looking at his recent comics, they're mostly rehashing plots and character arcs from the original). The wider fandom has mostly moved on to other media (except for the usual die-hards).

I think The Book of Bill is so successful because it provides so much: it is an interactive text, it has a website that is an extension of the book itself, allowing readers to decode riddles and learn more about GF's lore and characters. It's about a character people love and want to engage with. That interactivity has always existed on the show and now Disney can capitalize on audience nostalgia and provide a book aimed at an older audience.

Can the same be done with toh?

I'd argue no. The world building and characterization are far more limited in toh but besides that, I don't think it's likely we will see official toh content ever again. Alex Hirsch has an amicable relationship with Disney but the same does not seem to be the case for Dana Terrace. She left with her show cancelled and has even stated that the characters aren't hers anymore but Disney's.

Gravity Falls is founded on mysteries and ended with some to speculate on. Toh pretty much explained everything except for the Wittebanes and the Titan-Archivists War. Of those two, perhaps a Philip Wittebane journal would be the most lucrative since it's connected to the main plot and you can make it fun and creative. A book explaining the Titans would just be more lore. So when you have a world that's rather flimsy and characters who are more like archetypes, then it's no wonder that people have largely moved on.

#asks #the owl house #gravity falls #the book of bill #toh critical

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sgdlrexchange · 25 days ago

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Likes/Prompts

This is a resource on how to pick out details/information to provide in your exchange sign-up for the Link Click/SGDLR Exchange.

Likes/prompts help to offer your creator a jumping-off point. These aren’t binding and can be ignored (inclusion is optional for both you and your creator), but: your creator usually wants to make something you’ll enjoy; it helps to give them a place to start from and allows them to tailor their work more to your tastes.

Other Links: 1. Guide to Optional Details // 2. DNW (Do Not Wants) // 3. Likes/Prompts

How do I craft a list of general likes?

General likes tend to be tropes, themes, AUs, and plots you enjoy— what do you hunt for when you’re looking for fic on AO3? What immediately makes you light up to see? What tags make you immediately click on something? Write down anything you can think of yourself enjoying, no matter how rambling, broad, or overly-specific. We have 20 fairly broad additional tags as options to help guide your creator in knowing what your taste is— you can elaborate on what appeals to you about the ones you chose.

You may want to get inspiration from weeding through a list of tropes/kinks/cliches like this, or you may want to look through other exchanges’ requests (stealing likes and DNW is a time-honored tradition).

What about more character/relationship/fandom-specific likes?

This is in essence an excuse to talk about what you like about your favorite characters/relationships and about how you see them. Why do you care about this character/relationship? How do you interpret this character/relationship? What are you looking for from them— do you want to see this character getting their hair braided by someone they like, to see them wrecked, or to see them get wrapped in a blanket sobbing into their love interest’s chest?

Feel free to ramble into half-coherent character/dynamic analysis or to talk about what you really really look forward from them in canon vs what you’re craving desperately in fic. Talk about why you love Link Click itself and what parts of it appeal to you the most. Themes, specific episodes, specific dynamics, and so.

For prompts: an easy formula can be “[Character/relationship] but [trope/AU/etc]”— taking things you like and applying them towards the characters/relationships you’ve requested. If you have more specific things in mind, this guide is a good resource to help you brainstorm and elaborate on prompting.

NSFW likes/prompts:

If you are looking for sexual content in your gift, please don’t be shy about requesting and about including NSFW likes/prompts. Looking through the requests of an exchange like this currently running exchange can help to pick up common NSFW tags you’d like to see— if your preference is to go much less specific than that, sticking to more vague likes and moods in your NSFW likes is possible: e.g. “I prefer focus on sappy, romantic feelings” vs “I prefer aggressiveness and messiness,” etc.

Even one or two likes generally make a difference to suggest what you’d enjoy. While people can write sex into your gift regardless, a fair amount of people will either exclude it altogether or stick to what their interpretation of safe/tame is if you’re not vocal about what you’d prefer. If you’re worried about getting PWP as a focus but are not opposed to sexual content in general, you can add in a clarifying note of “DNW porn-without-plot, but [with plot/as character study/as a minor part of the work/etc] is fine.” On the other hand, if you’re aiming to get something wholly SFW and would dislike anything else, we recommend placing “sexual content” on your list of DNW.

This resource is a good breakdown of how to prompt for art and to make artist-friendly prompts— in essence, if you’re requesting art, it’s good to include general moods/outfits/postures/color palettes and to stay away from prompts that require a narrative progression. It’s best to stick to something that can be conveyed in one image.

Note: we don’t allow boxing creators into writing/drawing NSFW and have geared the exchange towards both kinds of content— if you have NSFW likes, please make it a point to include SFW likes as well!

In general: provide options! Don’t box your creator in with exactly one prompt or very hyper-specific likes— this puts pressure on them to write towards that prompt/like, whether or not you intend it, and can make them feel like they’re disappointing you if they can’t write towards that. Give them a variety to choose from! Make it clear you’ll enjoy whatever they create, so long as [broader/more mood-based likes to help guide them].

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warrioreowynofrohan · 4 months ago

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I’m now midway through Season 3 of For All Mankind. And while I’m cautious about saying this, because most of my previous predictions for where the show was going have been very wrong, one of the things I’m really enjoying is that while the show involves plenty of conflict and danger, there’s little in the way of real villains. (Except the KBG. Leave Sergei alone! 😡)

There are a lot of different people with different aims and viewpoints, often working at cross purposes, and a lot of them have at various points made bad decisions or done things that are wrong, but the overarching plot has generally been about these people having to come together to solve problems, not ‘good guys’ defeating ‘bad guys’. As one example, at the start of this season Dev Iyatil was coming across pretty good, with a company whose workers all shared in the profits and had a say in the decisions. Then he made a selfish call and people died because of it and he wouldn’t even admit responsibility and was looking pretty antagonistic. And then in the latest episode we got a closer look at what was driving him, and he came up with the life-saving solution to the episode’s crisis. He’s not a hero or a villain, he’s just a guy – a guy who, like all of us, sometimes makes bad decisions and gives into his worse instincts, and sometimes makes good ones.

This was true for the most part even in Season 2, when the world came to the brink of nuclear war. Yes, the Soviets invaded the Jamestown base on the moon, but you could easily see why they would do that! The Americans had been responsible for all the most extreme escalation up to that point: they were the ones who first engaged in a confrontation that used guns and threats of force; they then shot two unarmed cosmonauts, killing one and wounding another; and they then refused to return the wounded cosmonaut to his colleagues. (Yes, he wanted to defect, but you have to see how utterly unbelievable that claim is in that context without stronger proof, which the Americans did not provide.) And on top of that, they were trying to set up nuclear weapons on the moon. On Earth, the main conflict was over the US being willing to use military force to hold onto a colonially-established base in a sovereign country who didn’t want them there! (Due to one of the downsides of this alternate history being that Jimmy Carter did not become president and thus it was Reagan dealing with the Panama Canal in a far more inflammatory manner.) In the final episode, it was Ed Baldwin, the closest thing this show has to a central protagonist, who came within a hair’s-breadth of starting that nuclear war! The “victory” in the end of Season 2 wasn’t about beating the Soviets, it was about everyone taking a deep breath and moving a step back and deescalating, and the heroic sacrifice at Jamestown base was about solving a problem that threatened everyone, not driving the Soviets away.

One big example of this moral complication of characters in Season 3 is Margo, who has propelled space exploration to new heights, decreased tensions with the Soviets, laid a foundation for cooperation, and is from the perspective of the US government a traitor. And has just been found out by one of the people she’s closest to, who is feeling deeply betrayed (in yet another episode of “Margo reprises the experiences of the parental figures she resents”). But we understand why! All her motives were good! (I am SO mad about how this went, I want Sergei back! he and Margo are better than all the other characters’ hookup/divorce/whatever drama combined!). Another example is Ellen and Larry, who have reached the heights of power while betraying the people they used to be and a lot of the people they once knew.

(On that last note, when the astronaut on Mars announced he was gay, I had genuinely forgotten that would be controversial. With the show reaching the ‘90s, we’re in a time when I was alive, and it felt contemporary enough – esp. with the tech being way ahead of the real world – that I forgot it wasn’t, well, contemporary.)

Karen has made some immense mistakes with lasting repercussions, but that doesn’t prevent her from being able to be a caring and empathic person, someone with her own goals and own story, and someone the audience can sympathize with.

Even Danny, who is an absolute trainwreck right now, with very major consequences, snaps himself out of it long enough to provide medical care to Ed and probably saves his life.

And on the flip side, Kelly is a wonderful person who just did something really stupid that is going to create serious problems for everyone.

There are labels you could pin on half the cast that would make them sound utterly unsympathetic, but they aren’t those labels. They’re fully-rounded people with all the good and bad of that.

#for all mankind #alternate history #science fiction #you know the star trek movie where they have to go back in time and find the inventor of the warp drive?#and he’s a total mess?#that’s a bit like the vibe of this show?

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 10 months ago

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8 Things to Know About NASA’s Mission to an Ocean Moon of Jupiter

The first NASA spacecraft dedicated to studying an ocean world beyond Earth, Europa Clipper aims to find out if the ice-encased moon Europa could be habitable.

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, the largest the agency has ever built for a planetary mission, will travel 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometers) from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Europa, an intriguing icy moon of Jupiter. The spacecraft’s launch period opens Thursday, Oct. 10.

Data from previous NASA missions has provided scientists with strong evidence that an enormous salty ocean lies underneath the frozen surface of the moon. Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter and conduct 49 close flybys of the moon to gather data needed to determine whether there are places below its thick frozen crust that could support life.

Here are eight things to know about the mission:

1. Europa is one of the most promising places to look for currently habitable conditions beyond Earth.

There’s scientific evidence that the ingredients for life — water, the right chemistry, and energy — may exist at Europa right now. This mission will gather the information scientists need to find out for sure. The moon may hold an internal ocean with twice the water of Earth’s oceans combined, and it may also host organic compounds and energy sources under its surface. If the mission determines that Europa is habitable, it would mean there may be more habitable worlds in our solar system and beyond than we have imagined.

2. The spacecraft will fly through one of the most punishing radiation environments in our solar system — second only to the Sun’s.

Jupiter is surrounded by a gigantic magnetic field 20,000 times stronger than Earth’s. As the field spins, it captures and accelerates charged particles, creating radiation that can damage spacecraft. Mission engineers designed a spacecraft vault to shield sensitive electronics from radiation, and they plotted orbits that will limit the time Europa Clipper spends in most radiation-heavy areas around Jupiter.

3. Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter, studying Europa while flying by the moon dozens of times.

The spacecraft will make looping orbits around Jupiter that bring it close to Europa for 49 science-dedicated flybys. On each orbit, the spacecraft will spend less than a day in Jupiter’s dangerous radiation zone near Europa before zipping back out. Two to three weeks later, it will repeat the process, making another flyby.

4. Europa Clipper features NASA’s most sophisticated suite of science instruments yet.

To determine if Europa is habitable, Europa Clipper must assess the moon’s interior, composition, and geology. The spacecraft carries nine science instruments and a gravity experiment that uses the telecommunications system. In order to obtain the best science during each flyby, all the science instruments will operate simultaneously on every pass. Scientists will then layer the data together to paint a full picture of the moon.

5. With antennas and solar arrays fully deployed, Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission.

The spacecraft extends 100 feet (30.5 meters) from one end to the other and about 58 feet (17.6 meters) across. That’s bigger than a basketball court, thanks in large part to the solar arrays, which need to be huge so they can collect enough sunlight while near Jupiter to power the instruments, electronics, and other subsystems.

6. It’s a long journey to Jupiter.

Jupiter is on average some 480 million miles (about 770 million kilometers) from Earth; both planets are in motion, and a spacecraft can carry only a limited amount of fuel. Mission planners are sending Europa Clipper past Mars and then Earth, using the planets’ gravity as a slingshot to add speed to the spacecraft’s trek. After journeying about 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometers) over 5½ years, the spacecraft will fire its engines to enter orbit around Jupiter in 2030.

7. Institutions across the U.S. and Europe have contributed to Europa Clipper.

Currently, about a thousand people work on the mission, including more than 220 scientists from both the U.S. and Europe. Since the mission was officially approved in 2015, more than 4,000 people have contributed to Europa Clipper, including teams who work for contractors and subcontractors.

8. More than 2.6 million of us are riding along with the spacecraft, bringing greetings from one water world to another.

As part of a mission campaign called “Message in a Bottle,” the spacecraft is carrying a poem by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, cosigned by millions of people from nearly every country in the world. Their names have been stenciled onto a microchip attached to a tantalum metal plate that seals the spacecraft’s electronics vault. The plate also features waveforms of people saying the word “water” in over 100 spoken languages.

More About Europa Clipper

Europa Clipper’s three main science objectives are to determine the thickness of the moon’s icy shell and its interactions with the ocean below, to investigate its composition, and to characterize its geology. The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet.

Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the development of the Europa Clipper mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The main spacecraft body was designed by APL in collaboration with JPL and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The Planetary Missions Program Office at Marshall executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission.

NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft, which will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy.

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #nasa #astrophysics #europa clipper

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maybe-boys-do-love · 9 months ago

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So far, Kidnap the series, is BL-ing in all the right ways. It's light fare, but that's exactly what it aims for, and its hitting near the bullseye every episode. Just because its light doesn't mean its bad. Consider this my plea to everyone--for the sake of romance, BLs, and Thai BLs in particular--to stop equating dramatic naturalism with 'good' art. Kidnap is silly, sweet, and such a throwback to classic BLs--it's already hit most of the BL tropes. More importantly, Kidnap understands a major 'why' of BLs and light fare, and the series, itself, is depicting that 'why': they can give an overwhelming sense of reparation for queer people's buried traumas.

On the podcast Boys Love Boys Love, hosts and gay married couple Adam and RJ have been recapping their first watch of ITSAY (which very much broke open many traditions of the BL genre) with guests. In all three recaps so far, the guests and hosts have detailed vividly how, despite feeling 'proud' of their sexuality, BL shows allowed them to revisit painful experiences of isolation and abandonment in adolescence that occurred because of homophobia and then re-imagine an adolescence in which they weren't constantly on guard but instead experienced genuine adult care, friendship, and uninhibited explorations of first love. BL shows and their happy endings help queer people process griefs we don't realize we've suppressed.

I see a parallel to this experience in Kidnap as Min aids Q in coping with his acute PTSD, especially in the play acting scenes. Q can safely engage with his past experience and gain a sense of control and compassion over what he couldn't manage originally. Because I'm a performance dork at heart, the context of Ohm, the 'king of BLs,' leading Leng, an entirely green actor, within the show and through the actual process of acting in BLs doubles down on the theme. With each clear-from-outer-space romance beat, the show promises that this is a safe place to be vulnerable.

In the latest episode (episode 5), the series even began to reveal plot-relevance to its BL levity. We've all joked about Min's incompetency with all the crime he's been drawn into. After the first episode, the people on the internet chucked it up to a cheesy show disinterested in researching and committing to the realities of crime, but then James walked in the next week and called him out on it all. It was just Min, not the show. His exuberant care and desperation to please has led him, unsurprisingly, into a web of deception with no way out.

Brother Mhen laid it flat out this week: just because Min takes care of him doesn't mean he doesn't also provide kinds of care for his brother. Min, like any human-being, has his own weaknesses and issues of self-worth, and Q, with his savvy and prerogative of self-preservation learned from his upbringing, is positioned perfectly to provide the care and encouragement Min needs. I don't think the show has invited this comparison as directly, but it does make me think about how we figure the lighter BL shows and people like Ohm, a particularly evocative representative for creators in the industry, who endure controversies and vitriol to bring their best attempts to lighten the burdens of audiences.

For all the intense feelings ITSAY or The Eight Sense or The On1y One produced in me, I can recognize that their 'cinematic' style, with its naturalistic performances and precise camera work, is still just a style. It's not inherently better than shows recorded on sound-stages with more theatrical performance styles, though many critics and scholars have trained us to think that way. I Love Lucy, The Golden Girls, and shows like them are undeniably celebrated series that have no interest in approaching cinematic style.

Stable cameras, broader characters, and more absurd situations allow for subversive problems to be broached and tackled (and laughed at) while maintaining audience comfort. The slapstick and screwball comedy is one of the things I've adored about Thai BLs, in particular. The audience can feel for but not with the characters. And, that healthy distance is not to be diminished. Comfort can be a vitally important aesthetic experience, and the rules for judging genres that prioritize it are very different than those used for judging prestige tv and *poetic cinema.*

Too much realism would be detrimental to an action rom-com like Kidnap because the audience would no longer feel safe to laugh and coo about these characters in their situation. Although GMMTV is leaning more into its cinematography for BLs recently with this series and The Trainee (maybe toss Moonlight Chicken in there), I personally appreciate how they've maintained the genre's unpretentious sentimental tone, even as they've allowed creators to expand the breadth of the genre and address its problems. That tonal lightness allows us, in Kidnap, to safely dive into PTSD and perhaps our own experiences as queer adolescents with parents who left us unseen as we suffered alone; we trust the show will leave us and the characters resolved in the end.

But I don't want to mistake that kind of depth as the main point of BLs. Those are the undercurrents but we're meant to have fun here. You don't pull-up Miss Congeniality on your TV to understand the human condition. We like these characters, feel safe to open up our hearts, and trust, even as threats of death loom, queer love will conquer all.

#kidnap the series #thai bl #just witnessed one too many statements this week about thai bls not being 'good'#bl drama

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