#you guys should watch alien stage.

[liquidstar]

FURTHERMORE

I wanna point out the flashbacks from when they were kids- I think they're emblematic of the way that this was Always Going To Go, the same way that Sua always covering for Mizi set their dynamic in stone. (They're all so fucking doomed)

Ivan crushes the flowers, possibly in a bid to get Till's attention, and Till gets pissed off and starts a fight. Ivan is NOT upset about the fight at all, instead he is very viably stoked. Part of this might be because Ivan does not really know how to properly show emotions (This is something a lot of stuff about his childhood establishes). He doesn't know when to smile (He'd practice it in the lake every day) but he also doesn't know when Not to smile... He's just happy he got the attention he was looking for

In the rest of the flashbacks, He's looking at Till, but Till isn't looking at him.

ESPECIALLY THE METEOR SCENE CALLING BACK TO ROUND 3... I really do think it would be blatantly wrong to say Till doesn't care at all about Ivan after sharing almost running away together. He just isn't in love with him the way he's in love with Mizi. Ivan probably sees it as completely null though

Till still isn't looking at him for the whole round, his own mind still clouded with grief. I think Ivan's actions are very much a "LOOK AT ME" cry. He'll die here and Till WILL remember him this time.

But I also wanna touch on the notion that the strangling wasn't just bait to get him shot. I do think he intentionally lowered his points with the kiss (Given he checks the score right after) but the choking might also be more of a double suicide situation. "We're going down together and I'll be the last thing you see" type thing.

I don't know if I fully believe it, but at the very least if you DO read it this way then

I think the sequence of him coughing up blood is also him snapping out of it. While he looks very intent at the start, it's like he jolts awake by the end. His face in the second to last pic is like "What am I doing? I can't kill him. I love him." and he just accepts his own death, the same way Sua did. (Of course it could also just be realization that he's Done For so he does his best to smile in the end)

Either way though what I personally believe is that the single chaste kiss he gives Till in the end was the "real" one in a sense. Almost like an apology for what he's doing. It juxtaposes the violence of the scene with something mush softer and kinder. Something moreakin to the warmth we see when he tries to comfort him before the round (even if he's not awake)

If all Ivan wanted was just to force himself on Till and make an impact, he could've done that off stage at any point. It's not like he doesn't consistently push boundaries (again possibly due to his limited grasp of emotions), but.... Doing all this on stage is also a means to an end. Whether he was trying to be the only one to die or to get them to go down together.

But no matter the case, in the end, he chooses to be the one to die. Because he loves him. This action isn't fully noble because it's still painted with the intentions of "I'll hurt you so you never forget me, my pain, or my love. Even if you have to carry it with you as a source of trauma"

Because he's a hypocrite.

ok ill say one thing rn

completely wild that ivan tells sua off for consistently sacrificing herself for mizi- saying that she's not being noble by doing this and will only become a source of trauma for her by the end (WHICH WAS TRUE BC SHE THREW THE CONTEST TO DIE IN MIZI'S PLACE)

but then the SECOND hes put into that same situation...

HE DOES THE SAME THING!!! HE KNOWS HIS SCORE IS WELL ABOVE TILL'S SO HE KISSES HIM TO BRING HIS SCORE DOWN AND CHOKES HIM TO MAKE SURE HES THE ONE KILLED (THE SAME WAY MIZI WAS TARGETED FOR BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF LUKA). IVAN YOU PIECE OF SHIT HYPOCRITE. "SOURCE OF TRAUMA" HUH? YOURS WAS WORSE. I CANT BELIEVE YOUVE DONE THIS.

[shakethediseeas]

NURSE, NURSE!

You've got a high fever! WHICH NURSES SHALL TAKE CARE OF YOU? (not professionals!!!) alien stage x reader i made this randomly and thought i might as well post it ALIEN STAGE CHARACTERS! (this is liek. no aliens au)

MIZI + SUA

10/10, best nurse duo. With Sua and Mizi, you get attention 24/7 and are pampered until you've fully recovered!

When Mizi found out you were sick, she got to you as quickly as possible, asking you frantic questions like whether you were okay and what happened.

Sua was the one to find out since you had been in bed rolling around in sweat so she took your temperature and wham! high fever!

They cancel any plans they have that day to make sure you're alright/

Sua is always checking in on you if you ever need anything, also giving your scalp a soft message.

Covered in warm blankets and a wet towel on your head, you groan and say thank you to both of them since they were so sweet. They just laugh and say, Of course, since you're close to them.

They also make chicken and vegetable soup, which is super good! They talk to you about their day or funny things that happened even though you can only reply with groans.

You recover quickly!

MIZI + IVAN

6/10 treated you like a baby! but forgot a bit of the essentials

You guys slept outside, waking them both up with your constant sneezing and soft groans in your sleep.

They hover over you and make brief eye contact with each other. Sua is the one who usually knows what to do but without her being here, Mizi kind of freezes and panics.

They are kind of stupid at first, but they get the hang of things quickly!

Ah, you do this, I'll do that!! With smiles, they run to get what they need- leaving you to wake up on your own, a bit upset.

Mizi comes back first, hugs you, and rambles on about how worried she is before making you lie down and placing a cold towel on you.

Ivan takes a damn long time, but he holds up the soup he made proudly before making you sit up. He holds the spoon to your lips- "Now say ah~"

Embarrassed, you shake your head, but Mizi nods along, encouraging Ivan as he makes stupid plane or train noises to get you to eat.

When you finally finish eating, they realize they never got you blankets, so instead, they use themselves as blankets! Yay! they got sick later

TILL + IVAN

5/10, with Ivan and Till you get to experience Till yelling at Ivan while Ivan just playfully teases the both of you.

Till actually attempts to help you get better while Ivan is just there to annoy you both is what basically sums this up.

When Till got the call from Ivan that you were sick, not even a minute later, he was barging in with everything you probably needed.

He starts yelling at Ivan about why you were on the floor, and Ivan just says the floors are cold; he thought that would help.

it was like a mother and a father arguing again while you were just there, completely neglected. Once they find out, though, they quickly stop and like lock in or soemthing.

the rest of the day they sit next to ur bed, giving you anything you need, probably watching something together as well.

TILL + LUKA

-10/10 with Till and Luka you experience a hell hole of none stop competition and a nightmare

thats what you thought when they were fighting over which blankets they should put on you.

Till would pick one, but then Luka would say something like oh yeah but this is their favorite and blah blah, Till just threw the blanket at Luka.

When they got to your comfort stuffed animal and which one you would like to have while ur sick, it was even worse; in the end, they just covered you in a pile of your stuffed animals.

and they both made their individual soup were if you picked one first the other was going to get mad, you finished both soups and Luka's tasted like straight up poison, making you instantly throw up.

They both scream in worry, forgetting their competition.

LUKA + HYUNA

if it was only Hyuna it'd be a 10/10 but luka was there poking you and making fun of you the whole time so knock it down to a 7/10

Hyuna is the best at taking care of you when youre sick and she doesn't mind pampering you all day long!

In the middle of you being in heaven enjoying ur sick time with Hyuna- she was away making food, Luka barges in unaware of ur state before saying ew why do you look like that.

Once he finds out you're sick, he doesn't leave, just to make your experience so much more enjoyable. He'd tease you about sweating so much or having snot in your nose, which was horrible.

When Hyuna comes back, she screams at him, seeing him pulling on ur cheeks and making another jab at ur sick state.

in the end, Hyuna had two patients to care for because she wrapped Luka in a cacoon next to you, hoping that would make him sick.

seeinmg him trying to squirm away from ur arms is such a sight for her.

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

"The True Face" - Mizi's Love for Another Woman

**This analysis is mainly themed around a pretty frank discussion of heteronormativity and misogyny. Please be mindful of that before reading this!**

Oh boy. What a doozy of a comic. What a radical shift to the way I had been reading this story up until now.

It didn't really change the way I saw Mizi as a character, to be honest. What it changed was my perception of the environment these characters grew up in, lending new context to Mizi's actions and motivations.

To summarize: Mizi being queer is a much bigger deal than I'd thought.

[Long post is long, as usual. Full analysis under the cut.]

The hints were there from the beginning that Mizi wasn't entirely oblivious to the cruel nature of their world.

I'm not going to say that she knew the true deadly end awaiting the losers on Alien Stage, because I really don't think that was the case at all. She didn't know Sua was going to be killed. At the same time, I think it was something of a case of "well, what did I think was going to happen?" after the fact. Mizi simply didn't consider it as a possibility, because she didn't want to see it.

I'll come back to this.

While watching Alien Stage, I always did have a certain thought in my head that intrigued me. Love is one of the central themes of the show, namely, the way the cast try their best to love in the only ways they know how. However, due to the structure of their world, the control they're placed under and how the only way they are allowed to shine is on stage as part of a packaged performance, their only metric for what "love" looks like is idolatry.

It didn't seem like it really mattered that much of our cast was queer. I just shrugged and assumed the aliens didn't really care what their pets got up to, so long as they performed well on stage.

This comic turned that on its head.

The scene with the unnamed Anakt Garden boy establishes something very important.

It does matter, actually, that the love is queer.

Over time, the creators have done a careful job of slowly showing us bit by bit of all the different things they are taught at Anakt - we see the music lessons first (checks out; they're being trained to sing, after all), and their mandatory play for "mental health". They have phys ed type competitions. While there is a disturbing element of all of them being essentially brought up as lambs to the slaughter, compared to the stage and to the horrors some of them faced from their guardians, the garden appears a relative paradise.

But the garden is not free of the aliens' control, far from it. Everything is fashioned to train the pet humans and serve some sort of purpose to satisfy the aliens.

We see experimentation and augmentation. We see a form of religion that emphasizes the great pride one should have in fulfilling the aliens' intended purposes for them. We see cloning.

There is another purpose to training "pets" and selecting ones that have particular desirable traits. After all, if you like a particular breed of dog for their hunting abilities, or a particular beautiful coat pattern, you can breed more like it. Io, Till's mother and a "provider", seems pretty clearly kept for that purpose.

I'm not saying that Anakt was for breeding. It's pretty clearly for the stage itself. But that doesn't change the mindset the aliens have taken to the relative "purposes" of biological females and males, and the way that trickles down into the mentality of the kids we see there.

We've seen a recent comic of the Anakt kids at school together, learning things about biology. I had originally assumed that it was focused on vocal training and anatomy pertaining to singing. Now, I suspect, from this unnamed guy saying "You know what they say", that there's a heavy focus on reproduction as well.

So, now love is corrupted two-fold. "Love" is only acceptable in terms of idolatry, or as a biological imperative to mate.

The Anakt kids are familiar with the concept of crushes. A lot of them were revealed to have crushes and have liked each other, as seen in the notes they left each other after graduation. Some of the names are difficult to discern, gender-wise. But I suspect most of these are male-female.

Till's crush on Mizi is "obvious". But Ivan's crush on Till is never noticed, and people continue to confess to Mizi and Sua despite the two always being together and Mizi directly stating that Sua is her favourite person. The boy in the most recent comic does not think anything of Mizi and Sua hanging out and instead fixates on her and Till. I don't even know if Till fully understands. Mizi tells him her favourite person is Sua, but does it occur to Till that her favouritism is born out of a romantic love for her? Does Till even recognize the possibility that Ivan's "weird" behaviour could be because he has feelings for him? I'm honestly unsure. It's very possible he doesn't know.

Another thing that intrigued me from the start: Mizi and Sua are canonically in love. But, just watching the show without knowledge that the creator, Vivinos, is queer, or without some of the comics' background information, a lot of people watching for the first time mistake them for best friends and nothing more. Even in official in-universe interviews, we see this:

They are best friends, of course! That's not in doubt and that's important too. But it's really interesting that even though the aliens were moved by their connection made obvious in the My Clematis performance, it is not called love.

By contrast, while in-universe the obliviousness is much the same, real-life audiences have no issue picking up on Ivan's feelings for Till. Part of this is gender bias (women are expected to be more affectionate with each other), but part of this is presentation. For awhile, I felt a little uncertain about the canon MiziSua relationship being so... understated compared to IvanTill, who get a full yearning song and an onstage kiss to make it completely unambiguous. It's even strange, because Mizi does nothing but talk about how much she loves Sua. But now, I think that's the point.

The thing is, Mizi has been loud about her love for Sua. It's just that no one understands.

What this comic establishes is that Mizi has near constant feelings of being misunderstood and objectified. She is a pretty woman, who is friendly, with a genuine desire to see people happy. Unfortunately, due to the aliens' emphasis on what a woman's role should be with regards to men, with regards to what is expected of her, her desire for friendship is treated as "leading people on", the way many women are accused of being "temptresses" when in reality it is others who read into her platonic expressions of behaviour. No one bothers to actually get to know her as a person, because hardly anyone cares about her beyond a pretty face. Without other female role models to help her understand that this is not her fault, Mizi internalizes this sudden anger at her as somehow her doing, even though she really doesn't get what she did "wrong".

Unlike Ivan, who at least fashioned his own personality to fit in, Mizi was forced to fill in the cracks on a smiley, cheerful, pretty mask that everyone else had decided on for her - because they could get mad at her if she doesn't.

Even though Mizi is naive in many regards, she actually notices something here that none of the rest of them seem to. Sua and Ivan "steal" these precious moments, resigned to never being able to have or keep them. Till is content to find inspiration from afar. These three have been fighting to physically survive in their awful circumstances, so that they really don't question the existing power structures much at all.

But Mizi, misunderstood and hurt by social factors more than by physical ones at this point, has just enough awareness and just enough innocence to question. She's so close to performing as a woman in the way others expect her to. And yet, there's something about her that is just "wrong" enough in the way that gets people (men) mad at her. And she doesn't get it.

She doesn't return his feelings but she does want to be friends. Why is that not enough?

She's already said she loves Sua. Why is that not enough?

She runs away here, still with a smile on her face to try and appease and placate this boy who got violent with her for a reason she cannot understand, even as she cries, clearly scared. This is a fawn response. And it's this that gets warped into Mizi somehow believing that she has made everyone love her or somehow manipulated them. Yes, it is intended for self-preservation. But not from the aliens.

Mizi runs to Sua, seeking comfort and reassurance. Surely, Sua will understand. And personally, I think Sua probably does to some degree. But in this situation, she had just spent a long time with her alien mother preparing for the stage. What's more, she doesn't trust or like many of the other people at Anakt. Mizi says that the boy wasn't a bad person, while Sua says there was "something off about him".

They had also just come off the tail end of an argument. Mizi is content to just make herself be happy now that Sua is here. But Sua cannot "just be happy", and from her perspective, Mizi's apparent ability to just shrug things off and be carefree is hurtful after the experience she has likely just had. Both girls wanted comfort from each other here and did not find it, but Sua makes the really insensitive move of accidentally echoing the boy's words back at Mizi. I don't think Sua meant this to be mean, really. Her collar is green - if anything, I think Sua is sincere about being glad Mizi doesn't get dragged around the way she does. But all the same, a level of resentment does show through, and it doesn't change the fact that this is the last thing Mizi needed to hear in that moment.

It's not really Sua Mizi wanted to hurt. She's definitely angry with her. But that's the thing: Mizi feels safe enough to get mad at and hit Sua. She did not feel safe enough to do that with the boy.

It makes sense now that Mizi was comfortable enough with Ivan to fall asleep on top of him. He was likely the one boy there she wasn't scared of, with full knowledge that he would never be interested in her that way.

And that's what I think Mizi was truly aware of that she pretended to be ignorant of. Not the full horrors of Alien Stage itself, but the emotions and mindsets of the people around her. She's much more understanding of the way people think and feel than she let on, which allowed her to tailor her reactions so that people hopefully wouldn't get so mad at her. If she's just a ditz, then they can't get too mad, right? People would feel bad for getting mad at someone so oblivious, right? She could keep finding comfort and safety and protection in Sua, right? Right?

She's innocent to many things, but when it comes to human beings, Mizi is almost hyper-aware of the way her perceived womanhood puts her in danger, not just from the aliens but from her peers, and the way her love for Sua is not accepted and would not be understood. And by not understanding that, by not seeing the love that was one of the few things she chose to pursue and cultivate for herself, does anyone really know her at all?

The religion they pray to tells them to be honoured to be selected for Alien Stage, and to carry out the purpose they were created for.

Mizi, armed with knowledge of humanity's god before the aliens, but with a naive and innocent hope in her heart due to being shielded from the horror of physical death, defies this assigned deity and chooses a new god in Sua. Her love for Sua is what she sees as the truest part of her - no matter what anyone tells her about what her's and Sua's "purpose" is, that cannot possibly be wrong. Something that brings them happiness and security like this cannot be wrong. She devotes herself to it because it is the one thing that she refuses to appease others over. She thinks this entitlement to her heart and body is "gross". She states it bluntly, many times. Her favorite person is Sua. Her best friend in the world is Sua. Her god, her universe, is Sua, and she chose her.

This changes the My Clematis performance.

We know that Mizi, unlike the rest, was not forced to participate in Alien Stage; instead, it was a choice she made because she wanted to perform with Sua. What initially seemed like a naive desire to share a special moment with her soulmate becomes something much more motivated by Mizi's own desires to have people see her love for Sua in a way that cannot be denied. She wants people to see them together.

Mizi is oblivious to the Stage's true nature, but she is not oblivious to the emotions of her friends. She knows something is wrong with the way Sua is acting about it. She knows the stage carries tension they can all feel. On some level, she knows the two of them are destined to be torn apart.

But she doesn't want to see it, because much like Sua needed her bubble of innocence to survive, Mizi needed her hope that their love could be enough some day. That they won't be torn apart and forced to fulfill some coldly practical or biological prerogative. It's the first duet in Alien Stage history; a brilliant, almost rebellious demonstration that Mizi has just about deluded herself into thinking might actually work to spare them from their fate she sticks her head in the sand about and refuses to acknowledge.

They are going to wear their most beautiful dresses. They are going to sing the most beautiful song for them, a testament to their love and connection. Look, see, aren't we beautiful?

Mizi: "Still, I want to sing and perform with SUA for as long as possible, so I want to win with her, together! I heard that there’s never been a tie in all of ALIEN STAGE’s history… But if we get that tie, then I bet everyone will call us the most fantastic duo to exist in history, right?!"

After this comic, all I can read in this is: acknowledge us.

But then Sua is shot dead in front of her.

Her blood splashes that same cheek where the boy slapped her. Mizi's final hopes are shattered. Worse yet, because she still can't understand why this happened and why everyone keeps getting violent, because her desire to display their love openly got Sua killed, Mizi internalizes the idea that she is the one with something horribly wrong with her - blaming herself for being too frightened to face reality when the rest of her friends had, and feeling like her desperate attempts to people please and hold onto an ignorant hope forced people into dying to protect her. In actuality though, Mizi is not responsible for the way people try to force her to fit an image, and she did not manipulate people into liking her - she's just friendly, and many of the guys read into it, feeling entitled to her because they're boys and she's a girl, and in the face of that, Mizi's established love for another girl is inconsequential.

This adds another layer to Mizi's violent breakdown in round 5. The boy from this comic bears quite the resemblance to Luka. This comic recontextualizes Luka's interactions with Mizi and Hyuna in a really intriguing way.

Luka is a victim. I want to make that clear off the bat. He's heavily implied to be a clone with the least amount of understanding on love and human connection. Off the stage, he is micromanaged to the point of complete and utter obedience - the perfect idol. But on stage, the performance is his to control, and he does so by asserting dominance over his performing partner and emotionally destabilizing them.

Fascinatingly, while everyone else appears somewhat oblivious to the queer love of many of our main characters, Luka appears stunningly aware of it, and is able to weaponize it. Round 5 looks like a wedding. He grabs Mizi and forces her to participate in a distorted version of a partner dance. It was really the perfect way to break her.

In addition to mocking her over Sua's death, in addition to her anger that Sua lied to her and enabled her ignorance, Mizi looks up at Luka and sees what she always feared: a man replacing her beloved Sua and forcing her into a kind of relationship she doesn't want, because "that is the way things are meant to be".

She no longer has anything to lose, nor fear for her own life, so she finally lets all her anger out on him.

Again, Luka is obedient. He's internalized many things: win at all costs being one of them. Do what you were designed to do. It's not really a surprise that he probably internalized these biological notions of what is "natural" too. Whatever his audience wants to see.

This also lends context to this scene. Hyuna is in distress. We know and she knows that Luka's feelings are genuine, but for as long as he acts out the aliens' methods of control, his "love" will only be a prison for Hyuna. He forces himself on her here, likely because... "it's only natural". That entitlement tainting what were genuine feelings between them would be unbearable for Hyuna, who values her freedom more than anything (and this is before even getting into what happened to Hyunwoo).

For Hyuna to rescue Mizi immediately after she lashed out, and for Mizi to temporarily see a woman who embodies freedom in how and who she loves, who is unabashedly loud and courageous while no less damaged, is a huge deal coming on the tail end of Round 5. It's really such a shame the time they had together was so short.

I, for one, am really hoping that Mizi can find her strength in love again, much like Hyuna did, instead of continuing to punish herself through Sua's memory.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

you should watch alien stage 😁 it’s a really wholesome and heartwarming web series on YouTube by VIVINOS. Nothing bad happens! And I think that you would like it!

So before I checked out Alien Stage, I asked an irl about it to get a feel for the series. They jokingly described Alien Stage to me as "Hunger Games with doomed yuri and yaoi plus some toxic het on the side", and after catching up with the playlist of hits... yeah, that's pretty accurate. I'm so invested in this now 🤡

I have Ruler of My Heart stuck in my head, specifically this English cover of it! To probably no one's surprise, I'm really gravitating to Luka... WHAT CAN I SAY, I LOVE ANGELIC LOOKING CHARACTERS WITH PRINCELY AND CHARISMATIC PERSONAS THAT ARE ACTUALLY SO MANIPULATIVE AND SCUMMY. AFSLFAYOEFIYFAEEAF; AND HOW CAN I NOT ADORE A GUY THAT PULLS THSI KINDA FACE:

I think part of his charm is that contrast between how he's seen as a "prince" by his fans when he's anything but. The artists outdid themselves with the MV; it perfectly conveys how truly terrible Luka is. I was so uncomfortable watching the video play out. The way he progressively creeps closer and keeps invading Mizi's personal space, taunting her, imitating her dead bestie/crush, putting his hands all over her, AND THAT GROSS WHISTLE HE DOES IN THE BEGINNING???? That made my skin CRAWL. Luka is for real so awful and I love that for him-- MIZI WAS RIGHT TO SWING AT HIM, IT WAS CATHARTIC 💀

I wanna give big props to Mizi's facial expressions too... They're so despair-filled and delicious, even when it's just her widened eyes repeating on the screen. The animation specifically for the line "I don't believe you're a liar" is top tier 👌 It's nothing fancy, but it conveys just how distressed Mizi is and how that's impacting her ability to sing. The way she gulps is so punchy and visceral. THE HATE IN MIZI'S EYES AS SHE'S RESTRAINED FROM COMING AT HIM AGAIN???? Good stuff. The twist at the end where the stage gets smoke bombed (?) and Mizi is rescued by the rebellion was great too. It robs Luka of the satisfaction of seeing his rival gunned down and him being declared as the victor. (P.S. I thought Hyuna was Jamil when I first saw her design; this is proof that Jamil has cool onee-san energy/j) Super looking forward to seeing Luka square off against Till, who is another favorite of mine. The eyebags— Till the End is probably my second favorite song so far; it's so intense in the close-up shots of Till singing his heart out to the audience. (Poor Mob-kun though, bro's getting DESTROYED out here...) I admire Till's fighting spirit but at the same time I feel so bad every time he's subdued 💦 Whereas I want Luka to get knocked down a peg, I want Till to find happiness and safety...

qweliboqeuvqied Anyway, that's my current brain rot 😊

[stxrsniolo]

⠀⠀ ⠀✦ ⠀ :⠀⠀somnium⠀ ⠀💭 ⠀ . . .

𝐀𝐄𝐆★𝐍'𝐒 notes : dear reader, this story will unfold over approximately 15 chapters, all of which have been meticulously outlined by yours truly (aka me, yes). it’s a slow burn between the characters, filled with a little bit of everything—from scenes not suitable for sensitive audiences to purely comedic moments, and even the classic teenage drama you’d expect from characters navigating this stage of life.

𝐀𝐄𝐆★𝐍'𝐒 pairing : dreambound!matt x lucid dream!reader

chapter 06: when the night changes

the morning light seemed to have a different quality to it, brighter, more inviting, as if the sun itself was celebrating matt's newfound happiness. the dreams with heist had become a source of joy rather than confusion, her presence in his subconscious like a beacon guiding him towards a better version of himself.

he was up early, the first one in the kitchen on the second floor, the aroma of coffee already filling the air as he prepared breakfast for himself and his brothers. there was an energy to him, a vibrancy that had been missing for too long.

chris was the first to join him, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "yo, you're up early. what's the occasion?"

matt, with a grin that was more infectious than usual, flipped pancakes with the ease of someone who'd found a new rhythm in life. "no occasion, just felt like starting the day right."

nick stumbled in next, drawn by the smell of food and the unusual sight of a cheerful matt. "is this the real matt, or did you get replaced by an alien?"

laughing, matt served them plates piled high with pancakes. "nah, just feeling good, man. can't a guy be in a good mood without it being weird?"

the breakfast was filled with laughter, the kind that comes from genuine happiness. matt was talkative, engaging in conversations about everything from their next video ideas to mundane things like what they should watch on movie night. his accent, always there, seemed to carry a lighter tone today.

"should we do another challenge video? or something more chill, like a Q&A?" matt suggested, his enthusiasm contagious.

chris nodded, his mouth full, "Q&A sounds good. let's give the fans what they want."

nick chimed in, "and maybe some behind-the-scenes stuff, they love that."

after breakfast, matt decided to take on lunch too, a rare occurrence in their household where takeout or simple meals were the norm. he hummed as he chopped vegetables, the melody something he'd heard in one of his dreams with heist.

"since when do you cook like this?" chris asked, watching matt move around the kitchen with confidence.

"since i felt like doing something nice for us," matt replied, the joy in his voice unmistakable.

the lunch turned out to be one of the best they'd had in a while, and the compliments from his brothers only added to matt's good mood.

the day continued with matt feeling this surge of life, this desire to reconnect with the world. he hadn't posted on his personal social media in ages, too caught up in his own head, but today felt different. after showering, shaving, and dressing in a cool hoodie, cargo pants, and his iconic silver horse pendant necklace, he decided to take a selfie.

he posed in front of his bathroom mirror, the natural light from the window softening his features, his smile genuine. he stopped, wondering what he could add to the caption, "nah," he shrugged it off and hit post.

the response was immediate, the comments flooding in:

randomuser: matt's back! and looking better than ever!

randomuser: whoever is making you smile like that, thank you!

randomuser: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

his brothers, seeing the post, gave him knowing looks. "so, who's the inspiration behind this glow-up?" nick teased, scrolling through the comments on his own phone.

matt just laughed, shrugging it off. "just me, trying to get my life back, you know?"

but in his mind, he knew; it was heist, her laughter, her presence, her way of seeing the world had influenced him, made him want to be the best version of himself, even if just to share that with her in his dreams.

later in the day, after the shared activities, matt felt an urge to do something he hadn't done in a while - record for his individual channel, which had been largely neglected. he set up his camera in his room, the same place where he had woken up from his dreams with heist, feeling a connection to her even in this act.

"hey, everyone, it's matt," he began, his voice warm, his accent a comforting sound. "i know i've been kinda MIA for a while, but i wanted to come back with something real, something from the heart."

he adjusted his hoodie, the camera catching the glint of his silver necklace. "lately, I've been thinking a lot about mental health, about how we all deal with our own shit, ya know? and i realized, dreams - not just the ones we have at night - but the ones we chase, the ones we hold onto, they can change everything."

he spoke candidly about how his perspective had shifted, how the night had become not just a time for rest but for discovery, even if he kept the specifics of heist to himself. "i used to think sleep was just sleep, but now, i see it as a reset, a chance to wake up with new ideas, new energy. it's like, if you can dream it, you can live it, right?"

matt shared small bits of wisdom he'd gleaned from his experiences, talking about the importance of listening to oneself, of acknowledging when you need a break, or when you need to push forward. "and mental health, it's not just about being sad or happy... it's about balance, it's about knowing when to reach out, when to take time for yourself, and when to just... dream."

he ended the video with a promise to be more present, not just in his dreams but in his life. "so, thanks for sticking with me... here's to dreaming bigger, living better, and maybe, just maybe, changing the world one dream at a time. peace out."

after stopping the recording, he felt a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of having shared a piece of his soul with his audience. he now could acknowledge totally how heist had influenced this new outlook, her presence, her warmth, even if only in dreams, had given him the courage to speak about these things.

as he prepared for bed, he reflected on the day, on the video, on the selfie that had sparked so much positive feedback. "she's changed me, hasn't she?" he mused to himself, looking at the selfie on his phone. "even if it's just in dreams, she's made me want to be better."

he felt a pang of longing, wishing he could share this day with her, tell her about the video, the comments, the joy she'd inadvertently brought into his life, but for now, he was content with the happiness he felt, the shadow of her influence very much part of his reality now.

ㅤ﹙ 𝟑𝟑𝟑 ﹚ㅤּㅤㅤ˻ㅤaegan is typingㅤ˺ᅟ⠀ i appreciate the love shown through reposts, but let me be clear: my tales are not to be copied or adapted without a whisper to me first. my words are my treasure, and i guard them jealously.

my baddies: @courta13 @chrislilcumslvt @marrykisskilled @chrislova @sturnshood @inspiredangel @strnilolover @emely9274 @sturns-mermaid @blushsturns @ariieeesworld @pixie-sticks-are-good @luvjaeeee @sturnslutz @mattswifeyy @mattswifeyy @oopsiedaisydeer @v4lsturn @pair-of-pantaloons @idkwhatthisevenislol

in case that you desire to be tagged in future works, here's the taglist.

[deminetly]

୨NOT SO DEEP JOURNALING PROMPTS୧

⠂⠁⠈⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠂⠁⠈⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂

if somebody were to make a love potion for you, what should they add in?

make a collage about your dream future

describe how you imagine pictures in your head

your fig tree

the loot you would drop in a video game

what are you currently feeling, wearing, thinking, loving, needing, wanting, hating, regretting, missing?

write down every single thought that comes up until the page is full

whats in my bag collage

write down a guide to having a good/productive day

your life story as a playlist

3-5 things you would save in a fire

“maybe I was born to…” (and add things that make you happy)

random and specific things that would “fix” you (ex: a new journal, a really sweet cup of tea)

what were you interested in as a child? go out and do those things and write down how you felt. did it feel the same as it did when you were younger?

if you could switch lives with someone forever then who would it be?

what kind of planet would you want to live in if you were an alien? (weather, gravity, nature, magic, creatures etc)

ask people you know for movie recommendations, watch and analyse the movies. why do you think they like the movie?

make up totally useless superpowers for superheroes

write down all of the lives you would be happy living

make a resume

deep dive on why you’re always sad on your birthday

write down small things that make life worth living

think of the coolest person you know. what makes them cool?how are you guys similar?

write down all of the best feelings in the world but make them really specific

instead of writing about your day, make a comic

plan a party. who’s coming? where is it? is there a theme?

draw your emotions as people

write down all of your favourite lyrics and analyse them. how are they similar? why do you like them? how do you relate to them?

write down a few things you’re never tried and don’t think you would like then go out and try doing one of them. write about how you felt. were you right about not liking it?

would you enjoy living on a boat?

what was the last risk you took? do you regret it?

which lessons are you learning at this stage of your life?

do you believe in magic, miracles and coincidences?

whats something that younger you wouldn’t believe about your current life?

how do you want people to feel around you?

think of a plot for a movie

list your favourite sensations (smells, sounds etc)

try to explain your favourite movie or show that someone who’s never seen it

write about your favourite spot in your city 

choose a random word concept and write a silly poem about it 

list small things that make you happy 

list different ways to say I love you 

make a maze

make a word puzzle

write about your day like chapter in a book or newspaper article 

list your favourite childhood memories

invent something new (music genre, word, gum flavor etc)

draw monster, give it a personality and name 

your starter pack

what would you do if you were rich?

list random facts you’ve learned recently 

write an essay/letter to God listing reasons why you should get what you want

where would you live if you were a fairy?

list fictional places you would visit 

list random life lessons you’ve learned 

rate every song in an album 

where would you live if you were a fairy

if you were cartoon character, what would your catchphrase be? 

if you were to write a book or a movie, what would it be about? 

list features that ‘arent beautiful’ according to the beauty standard but you find unique and gorgeous

your solutions to the trolley problem

whats your favourite form of art and why?

if you were a perfume, what would be the top, middle and base notes?

draw yourself then write down everything thats been on your mind lately just floating around you

if you were to participate in a talent show, then what with your talent to be?

if october was a man

write a poem about pomegranate

“im easy to please, all i need is…” and list random things you like

search up “what do you see? draw it” from pinterest and draw what you see

read a book and write down some new words you learned or just words you thought sounded nice

what do you think your energy/aura looks like?

write down all the songs that remind you of yourself

whats something that loves and kills?

would you like living in the universe of your favourite movie/show? why?

how does your favourite song make you feel?

write daily entries about an imaginary royal life you live

go on a walk, write down all the locations of the prettiest places, capture them (print or draw pictures and write about how they make you feel)

imagine you’re hosting a tea party for your past, present and future self. what stories or secrets what they share with each other?

if you could bottle up any feeling from a specific moment in your life to keep forever, what would it be?

try to remember a wish that you made a long time ago, how would you feel if it came true now?

what memory do you revisit the most and why do you think it holds such power over you?

what piece of advice would you give to a traveller who was about to embark on a journey inside of your mind? 

do you think dreams have meanings?

if your personality was a landscape, what would it look like? would it be a forest, desert, a bustling city or something entirely different like a magical kingdom?

imagine your life is a book and a new character enters in this chapter, who are they and what role do they play in your story?

if you could speak directly to the moon tonight, what would you say or ask and what do you hope she would reply?

if your life was a fairytale, what would be the reoccurring magical object and what does it symbolise for you?

write a new ending to a significant chapter of your life, changing one key decision or event. how does this ending shape the person you become? 

write about a dream you wish you had while sleeping but never did

you find a golden key in your pocket that opens a door to a parallel universe where one aspect of your life is completely different. what is it? how do you feel in this new version of your life?

if your life had a colour palette what would it look like? what does each colour represent? 

write a message, seal it in a bottle and toss it into the sea of possibility. what do you write? who do you hope finds it?

write a letter to your current self from the perspective of your inner child. what advice, reminders or dreams do they want you to remember?

trace your hand and in it draw things youre holding onto even though you know you shouldnt

“me core” page (add lyrics, characters and pictures that represent you, your vibe)

start labelling every day like a TV show episode

make a sticker pocket

write the whole page in a fun font

instead of writing, draw how you feel

make bingo cards

write something with every pencil and pen that are in your pencil case 

put your playlist on shuffle and write down every lyric you relate to until the page is full 

design a tattoo you would get

draw how you think different peoples fridges would look like (ocs, characters, celebrities, your friends)

write down as many (good) memories from your childhood as you can remember 

get three random words and write a story or silly poem, including all of them

write about someone or something that keeps occurring in your dreams. why do you think that is?

who are your favourite and least favourite characters? why? how do you see yourself in these characters?

if you had to get a tattoo right now, what would you get? what meaning does it have to you?

where is the most ideal place to read a book?

write a short story about how the stars were created

what have been the biggest changes you have noticed in yourself in the span of a year?

would you be okay with your life if it stayed exactly how it is now? if no, what would you want to change?

would you want to live in your favourite show/movie? why?

who brings out the best in you? what about the worst?

write about your life events this month like a chapter in a book

“this reminds me of me” page

make up a different personality for each letter of the alphabet and assign people that you know letters according to their personalities

list all of the songs you know by heart

are you a dreamer or a realist?

whats the first thing you notice about people?

define beauty

do you think your name fits you?

design a dress while in a high vibrational state and then design another (different) one while in a low vibrational state

how would you explain dancing and singing to an alien?

what are the first things you notice about a person?

define beauty

have you ever found a writer who thinks just like you? who?

do you think your social media profile is an accurate representation of you?

do you think your appearance is an accurate representation of you?

what’s the exact opposite of you? which qualities do you like and which ones do you not?

what do you think people that have had a big impact on you would say about you?

format a page like a tumblr post

draw a song

if you were to switch places with someone and they had to pretend to be you, what would you tell them?

analyse people you have liked. what do they have in common? why did you like them? why do you not like them anymore?

write about a time you realised youre no longer a child

lets say you created one thing into this world before being born. what do you think it is? why?

deeply analyse and overexplain something random

meeting with your younger self trend - when did both of you arrive? what did both of you order? what did they tell you and what did you tell them?

if you lost all of your memories what would you want to be the first thing someone reminds you of?

what kind of character would you best perform as if you were an actor?

which topics would you write a really good essay on?

design the house you would live in if you were a mouse

make a word search

make an iceberg about a topic of your choice

when was the last time you did something for the first time?

make a bingo card

make a list of ways to say "I love you" without saying it

write a letter to your future lover

make up fun jobs youd like to work but they dont exist

do you think you're the muse or the artist? would you wish to be the opposite?

find an old photo of you as a child and try to remember as much as you can about the moment it was taken (credits to dottygoth for this one)

find a random painting you like and write about it, whats the meaning? how do you see yourself in it? why did you choose that one?

make a list of very specific things you like about yourself

do you believe in love at first sight? why?

list things you wouldn’t be you without

write down every person you dislike and why, then try to find something you like about each one

what makes someone interesting?

make a whole list of positive "what if."s

whats the most impressive thing you think you could do with your eyes closed? try it and see if you really can

whats the coolest place youve ever been to? why? would you visit again?

make a mind map - draw the enterance to your mind and all of the places (ex: the kingdom of ideas

if you were to be taxidermied, which position would you want to be in? draw it

compare your dream job to your younger selfs dream job. what changed?

make a levels of intimacy triangle

choose 3 different jobs that you would like working and write a short description of your day if you did work there

what are the main differences between you right now and you one year ago?

rate/rank all of your past friends

start collecting hair from people close to you in a page

write about why your favourite song/movie is your favourite

if someone were to go through your youtube search history, what would they think you like? is it accurate to what you actually like?

list some "embarrasing" phases youve gone through

how do you show love to a partner? what about a friend? how about family? how are they different? how are they similar? give examples for each one

if you could ask one question and be guaranteed the absolute truth, what would you ask? what does that say about you?

what makes you fall in love with someone? why?

which apologies are you still waiting for? who might be waiting for an apology from you?

plan an ideal wedding/ birthday party (whos coming, where is it, what are you wearing, whats the theme, what kind of food, which presents are you getting, what time does it start, etc)

rank weekdays, months and seasons

what are your favourite and least favourite times of day? why?

draw your favourite song

list things you have lost or forgotten

list your favourite words

if you were to be famous, what would you be famous for?

what's the first thing you notice about someone and what's the first thing you hope someone notices about you?

write about your favourite childhood memory

if you could find out the truth about any mystery, which one would it be why? what do you think the truth is?

why is your favourite (color, song, movie, person) your favourite? what makes it so special to you

what did your dream life look like as a child versus what does your dream life look like now? have you achieved some of your old goals?

how would your pet describe you?

make a list of things you love about yourself

make a list of things you love about life

think of stuff that is currently having a negative impact on you and what you could do to change them

list people that always make you laugh

describe your first love and yourself during your first love

draw a movie character from a movie youre about to watch then write down your favourite quotes they say

draw the solar system but make it your own (make up new planets)

write secret messages in mini envelopes you glued in the page

bingo card for the day/ week/month/year

list things you want to get better at

draw whats in your bag

make up stain log

teabags + ratings

draw your dream wardrobe



[oh-no-its-bird]

I FUCKING FORGOT THE NEW ALIEN STAGE CAME OUT TODAY OH GOD OH FUCK I SAW IT COME UP IN RECCOMENDED AND HAD A FULL BODY REACTION TO IT PLEASEPLEAS PELSAE GO WATCH IT IM GOING TO FUCKING CRY IM GOING TO FUCKING THROW UP IM GONNA .

it was so fucking beautiful actually. I did not expect the bright spots of it, though maybe I should have. Vivinos has always been such a master of balancing fluff in a way that makes it hurt. And then the end . just. fuck. fuck. Oh my god. Fuck.

Spoilers below the cut, I am feeling many things and thinking many thoughts, so let's dissect this together:

I was so entranced by the beautiful visuals I straight up forgot to put captions on to get the lyrics for my first watch. But when it opened to Luka smiling so fucking genuinely, I almost gasped

The way he smiles when he first sees her is CRAZY, I am obsessed with it. Only pausing when a literal gun is held to his head, and even then, not for long

And then he grows so much more almost sweet and fond when she so blatantly ignores him. I felt like he was saying, "yeah, that's my Hyuna."

So like. Super strong opening to us seeing Luka killing off what I've seen others claim are his clones, presumably to make sure he can't be easily killed and replaced

I especially like this post by @kitespark talking about this bit and how Luka may have then ended up killing Hyuna's brother bc they looked so similar, and he assumed they were clones

LUKA'S HANDS !!! AS A KID !!! DID NOT HAVE PURPLE FINGERTIPS!!! We also see his hands when he's older, and he also does not have purple fingertips then! Does this mean he got them later in life, after so many experiments? That's what I'm not placing my bets on

The music itself was. Beautiful. As always, obviously, but especially so.

The slow, gentle singing that can be seen as both darkly comforting or sweetly assuring, the almost bell like chimes in the background, I loved it.

When it first shifted to Luka's voice, singing as Hyuna lay on the ground, I just about screamed. Their voices sound so pretty next to each other, I really like hearing them in contrast

Getting to see all these frames of Hyuna just surrounded by people in the resistance was so nice, actually.

I thought it was so well done, how we get to see her gradually get happier, recovering from her past.

Starting with a scene of her alone, drinking, before someone steps in (presumably to bring her comfort in company) before we start to see clips of her, each one with her a little bit happier, and each one with the lighting just a bit brighter, till we finally see her give a fully animated smile, even as we can see the silhouettes of those in the garden inside of her

She learned to smile !! Even through her grief!! She smiled even though she still kept them in her mind and heart!!!

AND THEN LUKA?? HAVING A (WANTED(?)) POSTER??? OF HYUNA ?? IN HIS ROOM??? AND HIM GIVING IT THE WORLDS JERKIEST MOST AWKWARD LITTLE KISS AFTER STARING AT IT FOR AN AWKWARD AMOUNT OF TIME, OH MY HEART !!!

The kiss is so sudden and jerky and awkward and it kind of looks like it hurt, honestly. Like, at first I wondered if it even was a kiss, but idk what else it would even be. Luka misses his girlfriend yall

There's actually so much to dissect of these short frames, tbh. Is this his room, where he is kept on a concerning amount of medical equipment, or is it just a hospital room he's been in long enough to be allowed to put things up on the wall?

And then we get to just. The happiness of the video. Which, by the way, kicked me in the fucking gut and stole all my lunch money. Like, holy shit you guys, what the actual fuck.

There's so much happening here, but in general I've seen two camps:

a) we are seeing glimpses of the actor au, where they are getting ready and into their roles and having silly fluffy fun times

and b, which is what I originally thought) We are seeing them getting ready for their death matches. Preparing costumes for the stage, hoping for the best. And just the lighter times they've gotten to spend together, in the garden

I'd like to believe it's both, tbh. That at first, we're seeing the lighter times they've spent together, getting their costumes ready, singing, running through grass, being kids while they still can.

A few flashes of other people too, in terrible situations but still smiling, showing that there is still joy to be found in this world

And then, a flash of violence-- Mizi, her face splashed with Sua's blood, and the music takes on this crescendo as it shows us this beautiful what if.

Some of the flashes are definitely some sort of modern au, a true what if.

Sua in a school uniform, giggling with a friend on the way to class, Till in art class, Hyunwoo and someone who's presumably his friend riding bikes through a glowing forest, Mizi laughing as she works on something, Hyuna and Luka dancing together on some sort of date (WITH WEDDING RINGS ON !!! WEDDING !! RINGS !!), a phone taking a photo of food better than anything the alien stage contestants have ever gotten to eat before (especially in contrast to the quiet lunch scene only a few images before, which may have been there to contrast it)

Other portions I read as more mis-remembered, 'if only the garden could have been brighter' moments (particularly the one of them cleaning that one aliens teeth, which we saw Till and Mizi terrified of in round 3) but otherwise I think can be seen as just more beautiful moments.

Running around, playing, having fun, laughing

At some point, towards the middle, I had an abstract thought that it was appropriate, to be posted on valentines day. For all that parts of it felt like a love letter to life. Seeing them all so happy, not only with each other but just being. Doing things they loved, being happy, living

I stg, I started tearing up. I love how well animated and bright this section was, you can tell they really said "guys we have to make this shit COUNT" and spared no expense. Everyone say thank you vivinos and qmeng !!

And then, of course, we hard cut back to reality. A quick glimpse of some remembered Luka angst, and we are on stage with Mizi again. Our last glimpse of happiness being Sua's smile.

What the fuck !!!

Ok so just. Everything about the next bit is so good to me.

Luka having eyes for literally nothing and no one other than Hyuna, even as a gun is literally held to his head.

The cutting back and forth between him stumbling blindly her way as an adult and as a child was so good. He has never had eyes for anyone other than her, and it shows

The way Hyuna runs for him, knowing whats about to happen even as Luka remains blind to everything but her, the way she spins him around to take the shot for him in a hug, which, BY THE WAY, THE FACT THAT LUKA WAS REACHING OUT FOR A HUG. MAKES ME INSANE.

LOOK AT HIM !!!! HE WAS REACHING OUT TO HER !!! HE WAS GOING FOR A HUG !!!! HE SAW HER AND RAN AND LITERALLY THREW HIMSELF INTO HER ARMS HE MISSED HER SO MUCH I DONT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THIS ACTUALLY !!!!

Also its funny that it was the resistance guy who took the shot, I understand his thought process (Luka probably looked like he was going for his boss lmao) but then he ended up fucking shooting Hyuna instead.

I have to wonder if we'll get to see this guys reaction in the next video, I kind of hope we do. I feel like there's a small chance we might, in some like, corner of the screen we see Dewey grabbing him by his collar to shake him angrily or smthn

It's a small thing also, but I like how we also get to see the guy next to Hyuna react to Luka's blatant idiocy. Like, yeah he's being an idiot, and yeah people are around to see it. Idk, it's small but it just makes it all feel more real to me

^ this guy is all of us watching at home as Luka ignores the gun aimed at his head and runs for hyuna lmao

Also, Luka's hands are now colored in as purple when he's a child here, so that may have just been a coloring error earlier. So throw out what I said about his hands not being purple when he was young into the bin, oops!

So then we're back to seeing more flashes of life, and what we are given is Hyuna's grief, and Hyuna's fear.

A man, presumably some resistance member, dying as they cry and watch him pass. And then Hyuna, in the hospital.

The focus on her leg, and then the abrupt cut to what I think must be the moment that she lost it, then again a cut to the round of alien stage she lost (where she was supposed to have died) and another cut to her crying, scared, makes me think we're seeing a sort of rewind of her joining the resistance

Did she lose her leg in her escape from alien stage maybe? Either way, I like this shift from like, we've seen all these good memories of life, and now we're back to the bleak. Hyuna learned to smile, got to heal, but there were still so many dark moments too

Also: I don't know who this guy is, but he's cute and I want him carnally.

AND THEN JUST THE SHIFT FROM CUTE HYUNA AND LUKA TO HER FUCKING BLEEDING OUT IN HIS FUCKING ARMSMSSSSSS IM GONNA BE FUCKING SICK WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And also Luka's fingers are back to being not purple, so was it a miscolor, or...?

And then. Hyuna's speech. This is one of the very few times we get to hear an alien stage character just,, talk. Off the top of my head, the only time I can remember us getting that is My Clematis, the very first round of alien stage. And that talk was half exposition.

It's so well done, and just. Ag. Ah. A.

I dont even have the words tbh!!!

"I resented you so. I had to keep moving forward in every moment... But you were always my one and only weakness. (choking up) That's why I resented you so. Luka, live with love. Embrace the pain, the frailty, and live and the moments so unbearably shameful. Forgive yourself... Again and again, endlessly. because everything... begins from there.

I DONT EVEN KNOW MAN !!! WHAT THE FUCK !!! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK !!!!

Hyuna admitting that even as she's always resented Luka, he has always been and always remained her weakness, and that is why she continued to resent him so much

Hyuna urging Luka to love. To forgive himself. To feel.

Luka, who we've always seen as untouchable, a man who knows how to play this game-- who has won it before and now plays with his opponents in order to win it again. Just, him tearing up. His mask cracking in the face of Hyuna's words, of her blood on her face (on his hands)

THE FACT THAT IT IS LITERALLY LUKA'S FAULT SHE'S THERE!!!! THAT SHE'S NOW DYING !!!!

Luka has always been blind to everything but Hyuna, and going with some interpretations of how we've seen him do dumb shit just to see Hyuna's face before (specifically when we saw him injure (potentially kill(??)) Hyuna's little brother, then smile up at Hyuna like he was just waiting for her reaction) it is. So fitting that this is how it ends

With Luka, once again blind to everything but the girl who can make him feel something, managing to kill that girl in his blindness

Fucking rip!!

I AM HUFFING COPIUM LIKE ITS PAINT I REFUSE TO BELIEVE HYUNA IS DEAD PLEASEEEE !! YEHA OK SURE HER LIGHT WENT OUT BUT WE WERENT SHOWN THE BODY IT DOESNT COUNT OK IT DOESNT COUNT SHUT THE FUCK UP

AND MEANWHILE MIZI DIDNT EVEN SEE HYUNA GET SHOT BECAUSE SHE'S STILL SOBBING OVER TILL'S CORPSE IN HER ARMS, FUCK

Anyways. Final thoughts.

This alien stage was. Wonderful. Beautiful. It may be my new favorite.

Every second of it was so well done, and I need to applause Vivinos for once again showing off that she knows how to make all of us cry by drawing her characters happy.

What the fuck, man!!

Anyways, I watched most of this without subtitles (and when I did watch with titles, I kept getting distracted by the pretty visuals and couldn't focus) So, I possibly misread/misunderstood a thing or two.

I'm gonna go watch it like 10 more times with subtitles on this time, then maybe realize smthn and feel regret, but, whatever

Go watch alien stage.

[pestilencesingsyouforward]

How did you feel about Luka winning.. I mean it’s obvious but. Also side note how do you feel about the hate he’s getting cause till died?

I’m going insane no one understands himmmmmmmm.

He deserved to win I swear!!! This is not me saying he is a good person or the other characters didn’t deserve to win/deserved to die. I’m saying that he had no real part in this show. It’s not his fault it was a choice between life and death and he chose himself. Would you not do the same? Wouldn’t you choose yourself over strangers? He didn’t grow up with these people! He already watched his old friends die in alien stage 49, why would he even be bothered to try and spare these random ah people. Would you even care at that point? To rebel? His ass is 30 years old. He’s the model doll for his owner, it’s instilled in him to fear him. He was awake for his branding, WHICH WAS ON HIS HIP, WHICH I ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL PLACES TO GET TATTOOED, he was made to watch and hold his shirt up for it yall. All the other contestants seemed to be sedated for their branding, so why wasn’t he? His owner actively tortured him and his experimented on him, literally CUTTING OFF HIS BLOODFLOW TO SEE HOW LONG HE’D SURVIVE. The scars on his lower chest are known for being for surgeries that involve removing organs, the liver being one of them (I think) which adds to the blood experimentation as the liver filters toxins out of the blood.

Till didn’t deserve to die any more or less than Luka. I didn’t see anyone hating on Till for killing that random ass guy? NO ONE CARED??? yes I’m aware that he used manipulation and there recent trauma to his advantage, but it was to save himself?? I myself manipulated people out of fear and self preservation- but not because I’m a bad person, because I thought I still needed too. He needs to if he wants to stay the favorite, the doll, the most expensive human not on the market. No one in this show is innocent, but that doesn’t mean we should target one guy because “he killed our yaoi pair” and “was mean to our yuri girlie”

First of all Ivan literally assaulted Till??? Like bro Till did not like that man that way. Yes he cared when he died because they were friends and because he died for him. They never would have gotten together yall. As for mizi, what he did was because he needed the advantage. He watched her go head to head with another “perfect pet” and win. He could not afford to lose, nor win by a small margin. He needed to win to the point of approval of his owner.

Im gonna stop yapping now but the haters gonna hate fr

I LOVE MY WIFE

[lulling-riot]

INNAMORATI INTIMACY SCORES

Please note these scores are during Row One of Season 40. Also like, this is MASSIVE post, so if you have some ocs in here you’d like to hear how Inna, my son, feel about them, please ask so I can add them! I am trying. Really hard to make sure I don’t miss anyone.

AAMON [ @aakaneeee ] - 20%

“Aamon? Um… I hate to say it but… I’m not.. too well familiar with him… I think when we were both in ANAKT, we interacted very… few times. Perhaps once, but my memories are… fuzzy. I believe he should be performing against Xael? I wish the both of them luck… Despite us never knowing each other, I don’t want anyone else to die…”

AMBROSIA [ @rosedeleca ] - 10%

“I do actually remember Ambrosia quite a bit. I remember seeing him spending a lot of time around… Mentha was it? I’m not really sure, but I do recall how… strange the both of them were about each other. When I was in ANAKT, I found it kinda sweet that they could spar like that and still care about each other, but now it reminds me a bit too much of… someone else. I believe Ambrosia won in his round, although I forgot against who. I hope whatever ALIEN STAGE has in store for him isn’t too much…”

ATLAS [ @/aakaneeee ] - 22%

“Atlas… I… vaguely… remember him… Jeez, I’m doing really bad at remembering my old classmates and friends… ha… ha… I must be a bad friend… Atlas was, if I remember correctly, he was a rather outgoing guy. I remember us talking a lot, but for the life of me I can’t remember what we spoke about. After the. Death. Of Macbeth… I ended up isolating myself really badly… Atlas is at the end of the row, going against Wren. Maybe if he survives, we could try to have another conversation?”

ASUKA [ @imperfectnothing ] - 34%

“That’s Isla’s brother right? I’ve seen him around, here and there. If not for his rather loud personality, I could easily recognize him by his hair. Which neither of that is mean to be an insult, it’s pretty nice to be able to recognize someone as easily. Although despite that, I don’t think we had too many interactions. I was more close with Isla, which… wasn’t actually a lot. I’d say he’s more like a friend, of a friend, of a friend….. Yeah… Isla has lost…. A lot… already this season. With his round being next, I really hope she doesn’t lose him too…”

ASAHI [ @apriciticreveries ] - 56%

“I remember her… She wa- is, Yumi’s love right? I don’t think we ever… Really interacted much. And with the way things are going, it’s doubtful we ever will. It feels sad to me… We were in ANAKT together, we both care about Yumi a lot, and we were in the same season, and we are both still alive. Or well hopefully. Yet, I don’t have more to say on her other than her relationship with Yumi. Isn’t it strange? Perhaps if our situation was different, maybe we could’ve gotten to know each other. Although, if I could say anything to her now, I’d thank her. Thank her for not forcing Yumi to witness her death. It’s truly tragic, the people you love dying.”

ASTER [ @/apriciticreveries ] - 20%

“I don’t think we ever spoke much, or really ever. I only really know they were close with Clove, and had difficulty seeing… I haven’t seen them here, so I can only hope Aster is ok now… I’m worried though… It must’ve been heartbreaking to watch Clove lose…”

AVA [ @tinypaperstar ] - 23%

“Ha, it’s times like these where I really wish I was more attentive in ANAKT. I don’t remember her too well, just that she was pretty and that she was a nice person. I believe she was close to another, Nero was it? It’s hard to remember. Yet despite not really knowing her too well, it’s hard to ignore her absence after her round with Mill… Not just her but, the others too. There’s a hole where everyone used to fit perfectly, it saddens me that I wasn’t able to get the whole picture before the pieces started going missing.”

CAN [ @14-alc ] - 10%

“…He was close with Yael, if I recall. I’m not actually really too sure about the nature of their relationship, after all I stayed far away from anything connected to Yael, even before… the incident. I feel bad about it now, especially with how kind he was. I do recall a bit of a bullying problem going on with him… Part of me wonders if I was subconsciously a part of the crowd… After all I did avoid him, just because of his relations to Yael… I’m truly a bad person, aren’t I? Ha…”

CASIMIR [ @starry-skiez ] - 22%

“Casimir… I’ve seen him every now and then, like many other classmates, I… surprisingly didn’t interact with him a lot… Jeez I wasn’t as social as I thought I was! Haha… ha. I remember him specifically catching my attention, with how many bruises and scars he always had. It worried me a lot actually. I was worried, and maybe a part of that made me avoid Casimir a bit… After all I’m not… particularly good with handling conflict.”

CINNABAR [ @/apriciticreveries ] - 20%

“…Cinnabar? It’s been so long since I heard about her… She was at ANAKT for a while, but she just left one day… I hope where ever she is now, it’s better than here…”

CITINO [ @/14-alc ] - 21%

“Jeez, asking about so many people I either don’t know or haven’t seen in forever. Citino… He was close with Casimir I think… I remember seeing him around, but during Season 39 going on, he just… disappeared. It was strange, and without warning. At least with Cinna, there was a reason why. But nothing about Citino. Either way… I hope where ever he is, it’s not here…”

CLOVE [ @verdantlights ] - 29%

“I remember Clove quite clearly. When we were in ANAKT, he didn’t like Toki too well… Which… At the time, I do regret that it affected my feelings about him more than it should’ve. I didn’t like him too much, and I tried to avoid him the best I could. However, what happened in Round Seven, I feel bad. Awful actually. It’s unfair, Clove shouldn’t have lost. It should’ve been Toki.”

CIARAN [ @/starry-skiez ] - 9%

“I’m trying… To think of him, back when we were kids in ANAKT. But, all I can remember… is that thing he turned into on stage after Round One… It was… frightening to watch… But I’m sure it was even more so for him… This reminds me of the events in Season 39, with that break in… Were they… like him at some point? I’m not sure…”

CLEMENTINE [ @chevalperd ] - 38%

“A sweet girl… We had such few interactions in ANAKT, although I can remember her whimsy quite clearly. I… we should be going against each other for our next round. I’m sure neither of us want to be drowned by our fear for it though. No matter how I look at it, it’s unfair. If I win, an innocent girl will be falling. Yet if I lose, I can’t atone anymore. I hope the Great Anakt will find the best solution for us both…”

DANTE [ @/imperfectnothing ] - 10%

“I… don’t really remember him too much… I think I recall seeing him around Sirius sometimes? In ANAKT? But I’m not too certain. If him and Sirius were close… then their round must’ve been upsetting for him. Especially with… what happened on stage.”

ELIANA [ @/aakaneeee ] - 29%

“I don’t believe we ever spoke, if anything I just know her by name and… the occasional times I’d see Nene with her. I guess I could’ve tried to interact back then with her, but… heh.. Nene is anything but subtle about her crush on her. I figured to give them some space instead back then… Her round is soon, isn’t it? I hope the best for her.”

ERI [ @/starry-skiez ] - 45%

“I remember her well… I think what stuck out most from her for me was how similar she was to… Toki… Ha, that sounds like an insult now… Everytime I saw Miss Eri, she was always covering herself over another one of our classmates, although I can’t remember who it was… But she was a very kind person other than that… Almost like a mother. I’m glad Kio lived, I am, but I also… miss Eri…”

FAISAL [ @/imperfectnothing ] - 36%

“Our announcer? Back when we were in ANAKT, he always seemed pretty friendly! I usually saw him around our other announcer, Zhuli, or even with Ciaran sometimes. I guess a part of me is glad someone like him in an announcer, someone as friendly as he was shouldn’t be down here, in the rounds fighting for our lives constantly. Although I guess it’s not that different for him…”

GAIA [ @subzeromoron ] - 54%

“Gaia… The name always stuck out to me, wasn’t it the name of the planet humans came from? Or related to it anyways? I’m not sure… Either way, Gaia was always a rather kind person… Similar with Miss Eri, Miss Gaia was motherly, despite her being barely older than me, maybe by like a year. I don’t think we ever got too close… which is a shame… I always liked her, even if I never told her. I’m definitely… not excited for her round against Eliana… ha…”

ISLA [ @nottoonedin ] - 76%

“Isla… I’d really like to say we’re old friends, although I’m sure if you asked her, she’d tell you I’m just a friend of a friend… Ha… I guess I can’t really blame her, after all I was more close with Monica than her, but in my defense she was intimidating… I… I can’t even imagine the pain she must be feeling right now… After that round? It was… cruel… making her go against Monica of all people. I… I may have lost my friend… But she lost something more. I just can only hope she doesn’t lose more people from this… I hope everything will be ok for her… I wish I could help her…”

LETO [ @/14-alc ] - 12%

“Sorry… I’m not too familiar with Leto… I know he was close with Asuka, which makes their round even more upsetting, but I don’t remember him too well… I’m sorry…”

MACBETH - 99%

“My closest friend… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry for not listening, I didn’t think it’d end up like this. I thought the conflict would figure itself out, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I’ll make it up to you I swear…”

MAYA [ @cloverandstuff ] - 29%

“Maya… I remember her… Well not by a lot, but I still remember her. She was always quiet, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever talked to her, we were more of just always in the same area. I do recall how she always liked to watch everyone. Even if we didn’t interact a lot, there were plenty of times where I could see her in the corner of my eye, just there, watching others. I wonder what her thoughts were, she must’ve seen a lot of the dumb stuff we’ve done. I wish I started a conversation with her now… But she died in her round, and it’s too late to ask about her own thoughts…. You really don’t know what you have or could have until you lose it… huh?”

MENTHA [ @/rosedeleca ] - 11%

“They were always around Ambrosia, I think… I mentioned before how I thought it was sweet, their relationship, but now it’s just reminds me of other things… Mentha should be going against Naz soon right? I do hope Ambrosia doesn’t lose someone they care about… However this world is cruel enough to take the people you love most when you pray the hardest.”

MILL [ @waterydream ] - 28%

“Him? Ugh, my head… I- I’m sorry but, It’s really hard trying to remember all these folks! Ha.. haha… Um, Mill… He always had an interesting appearance, I liked the look of him… He seemed like such a nice and sweet boy too… I think Toki… probably is more aware of him than I am, which is upsetting that I can hardly remember my classmates without the help of friends and… Toki. I know Mill probably has one of the highest chances of winning ALIEN STAGE, having won his round by a lot. I hate to say it, but I don’t think I’ll be alive to see him win or fail. Either way I hope Mill has the best of luck in his path.”

MONICA [ @/nottoonedin ] - 85%

“…She was my first friend… When I first came to ANAKT, I didn’t know anyone, and they all seemed so scary. Yet Monica was so friendly, it was so easy to interact with her. Being around her took away my worrries and fears of not fitting in, of being alone. Eventually, I did make other friends, but I’ll forever be grateful to Monica for being there for me when no one else was… I’ll miss you, Monica. You deserved better than what fate brought you.”

NAZ [ @lookatmysillies ] - 5%

“It’s NOT that I don’t like her for her personality. It’s just… I see her most often with… Wren or Yael… and I… Really… Don’t like either of them. Although, I heard that Naz lost someone close to her… A Season 39 contestant I think… I guess we’re similar in that way… I hope she doesn’t suffer a fate similar to her. ALIEN STAGE truly is unfair, isn’t it.”

NENE [ @/junebluues ] - 89%

“…My sweet girl… I still never found out what happened to you… And I don’t think I ever will… But everyday, I still think about you. Part of me wishes that it wasn’t your dead body I saw, that I am, actually crazy, but no amount of hope will change what happened. I miss you so much, Nene.”

NUMA [ @junebluues ] - 32%

“I think I remember Numa… He was close to Xael, wasn’t he? I think I also recall him being a fairly active guy… He seemed pretty charismatic if I recall correctly, the world is cruel for taking someone like that away.”

SIRIUS [ @/junebluues ] - 17%

“She seemed pretty sweet when we were kids, although knowing how much I ignored signs back then, I’m not too certain it was her true self. But I don’t have any proof of it, maybe I’ve just become paranoid since then. I don’t really understand what happened in the round with her and Dante, and I don’t think I’ll really be able to understand much of it.”

TOKI [ @/verdantlights ] - 100%

“I hate you.”

WREN [ @ivanttakethis ] - 1%

“You know… We’re on… pretty ok terms… You know like, we’re doing… ok. I trust Wren, after all it was her that told me about Toki in the first place, even if I… might’ve feigned ignorance. Wren honestly is someone you can trust, someone I could understand why you’d wanna be friends with. That doesn’t mean I would want to, but I can acknowledge her strengths. I truly can see her going far this season.”

YAEL [ @/lookatmysilles ] - 56%

“…I blamed him so unfairly. I can’t help but feel guilty for his death, as well as for Macbeth’s. Part of me wonders, if I had never met Macbeth or Yael, would they still be here? Was their fates my fate? Even if Toki was the one who did Macbeth in, I placed the target on his back, and then I turned around and blamed Yael, someone who was there for Macbeth even when I couldn’t be. I never liked Yael, not even when we were kids, when we were innocent. I can’t help but feel guilty about it. I was so unfair to him…”

YUMI [ @/imperfectnothing ] - 92%

“My girl… I have faith and trust in you, I believe you can make it far. I believe you can survive, all you have to do is just keep looking forward…. If.. if something happens to me during this season, I beg you not let it hold you back. Please… I can’t lose anyone else… Try your hardest… to live…”

YUNA [ @/starry-skiez ] - 31%

“You lost someone too… You lost… Cinna, wasn’t it? It’s so cruel, how many people we lost before the season even began… not to mention how many more people we will continue to lose…”

YVONNE [ @/aakaneeee ] - 23%

“I remember back in ANAKT, Macbeth not liking you too well, and how Toki and you were so similar. Heh, I even remember when I thought Toki was after your love, and how I’d try to comfort you… And now… It’ll be you versus Toki… Please don’t die to him of all people…”

XAEL [ @/junebluues ] - 43%

“Most of my memories of him was in ANAKT, back when we’d have our conversations… I remember back in the day when I’d play your games… which were quick the experience, I won’t lie. Heh, I even remember trying to find a nickname for you because of how similar your name was to Yael. He was close with Numa, wasn’t he? I’m sorry for your loss… I hope you stay safe for your own round…”

[gaykarstaagforever]

I just finished DS9 "The Visitor".

Jesus Christ. I need a week to recover emotionally from this.

I didn't know anything about it when I went in, since I'm trying to not spoil these for myself. But there's a reason this is considered one of like the three or four best DS9 episodes, and THAT'S saying something.

The late, great Tony Todd ALONE makes this fantastic. We did not appreciate what we had in that man until we lost him. Not only is he good physical casting for aged Cirroc Lofton, he's turning in an Emmy-worthy performance, in the same episode that also has some of the best work Cirroc and Avery Brooks have ever done.

This is like a 45 minute Broadway show. This might be one of the best episodes of Star Trek anyone has ever done, ever.

And to think, all of that out of a plot that is just another bog-standard "let's goof around with time and do yet another alternative future that gets canceled out by the end of the episode."

...OR DOES IT??

I mean, yes it does. At least, for everyone except Sisko, who seems to remember what happened.

At least this situation didn't newly ruin the O'Briens lives again.

Talking about good Star Trek episodes isn't fun because all you can do is point at them and go "See? Good," so I won't bother. You have all seen it, or need to go watch it. Even if for some reason you don't like DS9, every Trek fan should at least see The Visitor. It basically can't get any better than this.

It's like "Inner Light," but actually good. Take THAT, "Inner Light"!

...Again, "Inner Light" is fine. It's just overrated. Especially since "The Visitor" exists, which is almost literally the same premise, just with more emotional resonance.

The only complaint I have against it is that the idea that the Bajorans would ever team up with the Cardassians against a hypothetical rapacious Klingon Empire is unbelievable. Like, that's the equivalent of saying Israel would team up with Nazi Germany to stop a new Russian czar. That's really a lot to expect from me at this point, without a more thorough explanation. And I realize it's a minor point in the show, and gets erased by the end, so it doesn't matter.

I suppose I could say things get a little melodramatic here, as there is a lot of Old Jake crying and hugging his ghost-dad by the end. But they're packing like 70 years of this guy's life into one episode, and we KNOW he has to die somehow by the end, to reset the timeline. And, again, Tony Todd rips your heart out every time it happens, especially as you reflect with Sisko on the fact that this guy basically gave up his entire life, just to save his father. And Sisko is right, he shouldn't have done that. But he goddamn did, and it's awful, but he felt like he had to do it, if only because he wants to give his younger self the chance to grow up with his father.

Like, probably a lot of people would do that, in that situation, given the same choice. Heavy stuff. I still have a living dad, and that's messing ME up.

...Granted Sisko commands DS9, so there is always, theoretically, a 60% chance he could get killed by some kind of alien lightning every single week. Like, even if Jake saves him now, he could easily snuff it a few days later.

But then we wouldn't have a series past this episode, so...

They really do a good job showing how messed up Young Jake gets from this incident. Everyone on DS9 is clearly worried about him, and these are people who are all carrying around their own terrible emotional traumas. This episode finally gives that sort of thing some weight.

"The Visitor" makes us pause and really reflect on how devastating Space explosions can be on people's lives. ...At least, when it isn't O'Brien or Worf blocking them with their faces.

I like the hypothetical future Starfleet uniforms. I assume NuTrek makes visual references to these at various stages, because Star Trek costuming people are all giant nerds who do their homework, even when no one else does.

Commander / Captain Nog was great. Tony Todd is like 3 feet taller than Aron Eisenberg.

...Both these actors are dead now.

Oh goddammit.

[juno-of-wonderland]

Hello. I got an idea after listening to these songs - requiem ver chogakusei Alien Stage - sweet dreams. Namely, that Yu has the magic of music (more precisely, magic manifests itself when Yu sings or plays musical instruments, sometimes when he dances). And I would like the guys to catch Yu during one of these actions (dormitory wardens + Jamil). Just imagine how Yu sings requiem and magic begins to appear in the form of flames/shining stars/flowers, etc.)

you brought me some memories and I love ideas involving music, most of my entries are made with a POV playlist and I swear I tried to do it in dorm order, but I was blocked so I wrote who already had one (yes, I I do everything disorganized and then together) and as my limit is 7 characters, I believe you asked to change Kalim for Jamil, if not, just let me know and I'll do his THANKS FOR THE REQUEST

Azul Ashengrotto

-Azul was ending the day and going to his room -but the kitchen lights were on, which made him frown, don't people know how much energy can cost? -as he was approaching, he heard a small voice singing "I travel the world and the seven seas Everybody's looking for something" -he sneaked in to see you and his eyes widened -there you are, washing the dishes, a normal thing, if it weren't for the small bubbles forming around you and the water apparently wanting to come out of the sink -he was certainly stunned for too long for you to stop your work and look at him -you stare at each other in silence -he clears his throat and says he appreciates you staying until everything is finished, but it's already late and he's going to walk you to the mirror -if you act as if nothing had happened or don't know that anything happened, he will understand that tiredness is causing some kind of jock -if you seem nervous, then he knows that what he saw was your secret… that he can use later

Malleus Draconia

-this man loves the night, we all know, but you didn't expect him to show up today -you start singing outside the ramshackle and doing a very small and centered dance -it's not really a dance, it's just a swing -small flowers bloom next to your feet as you says "Sweet dreams are made of this Who am I to disagree" for the second time -and the dragon is watching everything -he is surprised but delighted by your performance, he finds it adorable -he only talks to you when you finish -Malleus asks about your magic with interest, but if you don't want to talk about it, he won't insist, even if it upsets him -please sing him another song

Idia Shroud

-a miracle happened and this man was outside his room -he wanted to play a new game with you -Idia just didn't expect to catch you singing alone in a completely personal and shameful moment -he planned to sneak out, he was really going to do it! but your voice is so jahavsbgsjsbsfgssnj he sounds like an otome boy, stop doing this to him! -you start another song "one vague, misjudged view like a faint flower gone insane " -and that's when he realizes, small spark of fire dancing on top of his head -he leans over from where he was hiding, to get a better look… and ends up tripping and falling -Please don't do anything to him! he didn't want to peep! -if he has the courage to mention what happened while you were singing and you look confused, he will get excited like "I think you unlocked a power because you were brought here like in an isekai… in fact you are already in one isekai" -if you are aware of this ability, it will be your little secret, he will keep this information and fulfill the promise

Vil Schoenheit

-Vil was going to her dorm, to take you on a comparison trip -This man's ears are trained and he doesn't even need to open the door to see that you are singing -he ponders whether he should go or not, he chose to stay and open the door slowly and you sing "if i became a butterfly, so free"

-and look at his surprise when he saw you beaming like a crystal while (trying to) clean -several occasional sparkles and butterfly's swirling around you -you get scared when you see him -"your performance…" Vil begins "it wasn't bad, but I'm disappointed that you hid your magic potato" he's serious -after all, his magic suits you, he wants to know why you don't tell anyone, but he won't be invasive, he will be… subtle

Jamil Viper

-I couldn't think of an excuse for this guy to find you, so let's get to the basics -he was passing in the hallway when he heard his voice coming from an empty room -he pulled up next to the door and heard you sing "Lord, Please when the song is over, save me please My Father, My Universe Take away the small and weak me" -and when he looks at you and literally sees stars dancing with you -this man is bewildered, I think tiredness has finally caught up with him -but he remains silent, without interrupting you, you seem so carefree now, he doesn't want to take away that feeling -At some point he will leave, you won't even notice it -he needs to see this again and make sure it wasn't something in his head

Leona Kingsholar

-Now I Live in Darkness Bring me brightness Show me proof you hear my sound Live in darkness Bring me brightness Show me proof you're here now -His ears twitched at that, why does someone always have to show up at the botanical garden and disturb his sleep? -Leona intended to go back to sleep when he recognized your voice -he decided to sit down and look at the free and private show he was getting -…why are there rose petals surrounding like a hurricane and why are flowers blooming on the bushes? -he remained quiet, his mind loading until you noticed him -this guy has a mischievous smile on his face -"it seems that the herbivore hides several little things, doesn't it?"

Riddle Roseheart

-you had offered to help paint the roses -you were bored and started singing "Sweet Dream, it's today, wait for me I'll go see you soon, woo~woo~woo" along with small movements -a crown of flowers began to form on his head and roses as red as blood surrounded the garden -like when you hear a familiar voice behind you, you even spill paint on yourself -"since…since when can you do this?" -Don't try to pretend you didn't notice -he is willing to listen and help you control this magic better -he thinks what you do is really beautiful…just don't say it out loud

I hope I got the songs you said right

[nitw]

do you wanna rant at me about the anime boys ? i am vaguely curious about them. mostly for the (con)text of them and your feelings about them (other than "[gnashing teeth keysmash] I'M OKAY [eats them]")

LMAOOO thank you i love when people invite me to yap............... i'll try to keep it as simple as possible in case you uhhhh 👉👈 feel like checking out alien stage yourself som,etime. teehee

FIRST OF ALL, QUICK SYNOPSIS:

alien stage is an animated music project on youtube co-produced by animators vivinos and q-meng, with assistance from multimedia studio lico

it's set on a different planet than earth, in a far future where aliens have dominated humans. it's fucked up!!

it specifically focuses on a broadcasted singing competition where humans (who are born and raised to perform - literally think of them as show dogs) compete against each other by elimination. and i mean literal elimination. whoever gets less votes dies onstage. it's fucked up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there are 6 main characters, and each music video delves into their backgrounds and relationships with each other. there's a lot of drama and grief and horror!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍

ANYWAY THE GAYBOYS

this is TILL:

voiced by AKUGETSU who sounds like if an electric guitar was a person

rowdy punk guy who does everything he can to express his individuality. comes off as rude and intimidating sometimes but he's really just an insecure mess. also he never did anything wrong ever in his life

a prodigy at songwriting and playing guitar! (he also plays the recorder but we don't rlly get to see that much)

his guardian alien (urak) is an abusive piece of shit who has sent multiple kids to die in the competition before till, without succession

often seen restrained and/or beat up. my guy cannot catch a break

has a huge embarrassing crush on one of the other characters, his childhood friend mizi. but it's been made very clear at this point that it's more of an idealistic fantasy than anything - he never actually got to know her well and just yearns for her attention. also mizi is a lesbian and she's got her own angst to deal with </3

i don't know what's going on with his neck and at this point i'm too afraid to ask

HE SHOULD BE AT THE CLUBBB HE DESERVES LITERALLY ANYTHING BETTER THAN THIS

i like when his face goes (╬◣Д◢)

and this is IVAN:

voiced by PARK BYEONG HOON who 💗 💗 💞 💕 😻 ❤️ 💗 💓 💖 💕 💕 💖 💘 💕 💗 💓 😍 😍 🥰 💕 🥰 ❤️ ❤️‍🔥 💕 hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

came from a very hostile background until he was auctioned off to his current guardian (unsha) - a wealthy businessman who treats him more like a priced object than anything - and was then trained for the competition like the rest

kinda monotone. mysterious freak. no one knows what his fucking problem is at first

secretly a ticking time bomb bottling up all his sadness until he's ready to explode in the most dramatic way possible

formed a DEEP UNREQUITED OBSESSION with till which he hasn't let go since he was like 5 years old. i have to respect it

tried to escape from captivity with till once as kids. till hesitated at the last second. * Ivan will remember that.

he sucks he's the worst i cry about him every day

i like when his face goes (⇀ヮ↼˶)

i don't wanna spoil too much because the series is really worth watching BUT basically these two tragic dudes have spent their whole lives together, doing advanced emotional parkour tricks to distance themselves from the inevitability of it all, and it does NOT work in their favor!!!!! in fact it just makes everything more complicated and terrible and sad and oh god i will never be able to look at the colors green and red together the same way again

[mandatory-blog-stop-asking]

my favorite stand-alone star trek episodes

someone in bluesky asked around my sphere what are the best Star Trek stand alone episodes for each show and I thought it was a cool exercise. My list and specifications are below. Long post so click the button to check it out.

Rules: Can't be super dependent on other episodes of the show, can't be a two or multiple-parter, can't just be every season finale just because it made me cry or anything; it has to be something that showcases how the show works its own individual aspects in a relatively ideal stage. Think of it like the episode you could show someone to prime them to like any of these shows if they don't even know the show exists.

The Original Series - The Corbomite Manuever

It's one of the first times Star Trek talks about peacemaking and looking before shooting as something you're supposed to do even in a situation where an overwhelming power is bullying you. Kirk comes out of this as a genius who knew better than to take a situation at face value, and has one of my favorite lines in the show:

What's the mission of this vessel, Doctor? To seek out and contact alien life, and an opportunity to demonstrate what our high-sounding words mean.

Banger idea, banger execution, iconic alien, cool shit all around, 10/10

Runner ups: Balance of Terror, Court Martial, The City at the Edge of Forever. Didn't make it because I like this one more.

The Animated Series - The Magicks of Megas-tu

I think it's probably the wildest episode in TAS? Kirk & Crew meet the devil and he's like, a swell guy you should be friends with. Spock learns magic. The devil tells the audience of mostly children to not have prejudices against those oppressors have deemed unworthy of attention. There's a magic duel at the center of the galaxy that is then tailored after the Salem Witch trials. If you haven't watched TAS, it goes fucking crazy.

Runner ups: Yesteryear, The Lorelei Signal, The Time Trap. Overall just think Megas-tu is more interesting and more incredibly fucking wild, how did that air in the 80s, oh my god.

The Next Generation - The Measure of a Man

While it is pretty early on, I think it's a very good example of what TNG does best: single-issue stories using its main cast as a vehicle for drama. This has a little bit of everything people love TNG for: Data's struggles as an android, Picard's struggles as a reinassance man occasionally having to face the dumbest motherfuckers in the entire Federation who would be burning witches at the stake if they could, a Badmiral, Riker vs Picard, Guinan taking Picard by the hand and gently reminding him the human condition includes some unpleasant elements, a farcical trial...

it's not perfect but I do think it holds up, and whenever I recommend Star Trek to people, this is always an easy case study to check if they're interested in the project.

Runner ups: Elementary Dear Data, Yesterday's Enterprise, Sarek, and honestly a lot of other episodes that just don't quite work if you don't have all the context of watching more of the show. Either that or they have weird characterizations that I don't think work super well for the episode.

Deep Space Nine - The Ship

I think Deep Space Nine has a ton of great episodes, but I do believe that show shines brightest when everyone involved is stuck in a bottle episode having to fight their way out of it. In TNG they would talk, in VOY they would trick people, in DS9 they use violence!

I think The Ship is the best version of a good DS9 episode that doesn't need so much preamble to understand. You have a tight cast, a very clear drama point, and the slow build up into a horrific ending where nobody is happy and everyone wishes war wasn't such bullshit.

While there's literally better episodes, I think this works really well for this "challenge."

Runner ups: This list literally had Homefront/Paradise Lost as my pick, but I ended up deciding two-parters don't count. Other than that, The Wire, The House of Quark, Badda-Bing Badda-Bang and my favorite episode of Star Trek of all time, It's Only a Paper Moon, that unfortunately only works if you've spent 7 seasons watching Nog go from the worst character in Star Trek to the best character in Star Trek.

Voyager - One Small Step

I think Voyager is very flawed and that season 4 is the highest peak the show comes to, but even then, I think One Small Step is my favorite episode. It has the BIG VOYAGER THINGS: Seven of Nine trying to wrap her head around human emotions, an old-timey feel (literally, it's about an old Mars mission), it has the Delta Flyer, and it ends with an absolute emotional gut punch that I haven't really recovered from to this day. It's a love letter to space exploration that really fits a show named god damn Voyager a lot more than it would any of the others. I really love this episode.

Runner ups: The 37s, Living Witness, Death Wish, and DISTANT ORIGINS, OH MY GOD, THE LIZARD PEOPLE ARE REAL; all episodes i like but that either don't quite get me where I want to go, or I just personally feel aren't as strong.

Enterprise - Dead Stop

So like, this list is awful for Enterprise, because every single episode of that series builds on the previous ones somehow. Season 3 is impossible to watch out of context so I can't use any of it, and my no-multiple-parters rule means Season 4 (which I don't even like anyway so I guess it doesn't matter ) is mostly out. But I really do think Dead Stop excels at what Enterprise is good at: making the galaxy look fucking weird again.

Dead Stop feels like a really good sidemission from a game you've played a lot but never did 100%. It proposes some things about the state of the galaxy that you never really consider and never comes back, and it acts like this really interesting bottle episode that, while relatively predictable (this is Enterprise), is also effective. I think everyone shines in this and I think the situation is very unique. Worth a shot if you've never seen Enterprise.

Runner ups: E², The Catwalk (lol), it... look, I'll be real, Enterprise is not made for this.

Discovery - Unification III

Speaking of shows that aren't made for this, Discovery wouldn't have made it if it didn't get a soft-reboot halfway through. I'm one of the people who likes the second half of Discovery, sometimes a lot even. And while I think it should have gone way crazier with its own stuff instead of wasting its time with references (season 4 is probably the moment I was happy saying I like Discovery), I think Unification III is the first time I actually liked Michael's character.

It still has Discovery's major problems of being overly melodramatic in the wrong places, wasting a little too much time with dramatic camera shots and monologues that don't always hit, but I think Unification III is Discovery deciding it can stand side by side with other shows: it fundamentally changes the Romulan/Vulcan dichotomy, it takes something old and makes it new again, and it for the first time in years doesn't feel embarrassed of itself.

I don't know if it would make a Disco hater become a Disco enjoyer, but hey, I enjoy the episode, and it's my list.

Runner ups: Forget Me Not, and.... that's it actually. Don't watch Discovery on random, it doesn't work. Picard isn't in this list.

Lower Decks - wej Duj

Lower Decks rules and wej Duj is the best episode of Star Trek released in the year it came out. It takes its premise and allows it to breathe, shows you parts of the universe you'd never see, introduces great characters you could make a mini series about if you were crazy, and it looks and sounds great. Lower Decks was too good for this world and cancelling it characterizes cruel and unusual mistreatment of an audience.

Runner-ups: First First Contact, Empathological Fallacies, a couple more but Lower Decks is so referential in nature that it also makes it hard. But this wasn't really a contest. I wrote wej Duj without looking up other episodes.

Prodigy - Time Amok

Prodigy is a weird one because it's less "Star Trek" and more "Voyager 2". It has a different idea and execution for what it wants to do, so it doesn't really adhere to structures other shows have. That being said, I think Time Amok is the first time the crew really comes together and shows why they're a good cast, what their specialties are and why you should like them. I would probably not have continued the show without an episode like Time Amok, and genuinely, it goes great places. Season 2 is one of my favorite seasons of current Star Trek. It just, you know, isn't the same.

Runner-ups: Honestly for my specific rules, this is it. But I want you to know Prodigy fucking rules and you should watch it. "Now... go boldly" still gets to me every time I think about it.

Strange New Worlds - Ad Astra per Aspera

I like Season 1 of SNW a lot more than Season 2, but the S2 opener really is the show at its best. It doesn't pull any punches when exploring the subject of what's essentially Federation-approved apartheid, and it might have the best performances in the show so far. It would have probably interested me more if this wasn't another prequel that can't change things too much, but, still. If you've never seen SNW and don't want to just watch it from episode 1, give this one a try.

Runner-ups: Strange New Worlds the pilot! It's a very good pilot! Also "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" and "Those Old Scientists", but like, a crossover wouldn't really fit here very well.

And there you go, that was a fun little exercise. How about you make your own? Add any of the shows you want, I just happen to be a freak who wanted to do it with all of them.

[atrophiedemotion]

leans against the wall. hey. 😏 u should. uhm. tell me more abt ur rebel ivan au. 😏

sdhvbj honestly there isn't much else at this point, i haven't developed it too much. but! i will try and give you some tidbits!!

in this au, ivan grew up in the slums and was caught trying to steal from the rebellion when he was a young teenager. they offered him a home, food, and work, so he couldn't find a reason to say no. when he's older, ivan grows to be one of the rebellion's best strategists, despite not exactly caring as much about the cause as the others.

he does care of course, and the main reason he does is because the people he's found worthy of his care are passionate about it and he is fueled by everyone else's strong passion. but he simply does not experience empathy so he's kind of. detached? in a way that most rebellion members aren't. he's kind of the realist of the group, in a way. he can make a lot of tough decisions that others can't.

when ivan first sees till, it's through his research of the 50th alien stage. he watches all the promo and till catches his attention because he has never seen someone fight back while in the alien's captivity. he knows hyuna escaped, presumably knows the whole story, but it's different because this kid is there, constantly getting tortured and still fighting. and ivan couldn't imagine himself fighting that hard for anything, even if seeing till's fighting spirit reminds him a little bit of his days in the slums. but everyone there was so resigned, and he can only imagine how resigned human pets are. so till is already a blip on his radar before he even meets him, simply because he piques his curiosity.

also. ivan and till Both get teased tremendously about each other because after a few months (of till following ivan around like a lost duckling) they're practically glued to each other's sides. hyuna and ivan have one conversation about it and then after that she never fails to send them looks. till, on the other hand, gets the worst of it from dewey, who teases him relentlessly about his big huge obvious crush. (dewey takes a quick liking to till, happy to treat him as 'one of the guys' and till likes him, but he gets annoyed when he's around him a little Too long lmao)

wow. i said i didn't have much but i guess i had more than i thought!! i hope this satiated your rebel au ivan hunger,,,

[namefluidd]

psst. you should join my Madoka Magica themed syscord server

Are you a fan of Puella Magi and/or have some other guys in your head? Maybe one of the other guys in your head is FROM Puella magi! Yes? Well then, i've got another question for you.

Do you want to be a magical girl?

You'd get access to Puella Magi Syscord, a anti-harrasment 13+ system server! Here you'll:

Talk to other magical girls with like-minded views, with no rules against littles talking in the main chat!

Channels to talk about fandoms such as Puella Magi (Of course!), Other Anime, Roblox, Fnaf, Crk, and more!

Use fun bots such as Cookie Simulator, Marriage bot, and Truth or Dare!

Watch anime in the Watch Party voice channel!

Theres only a few people in here right now, as this server is in very early stages of its lifespan, but we're willing to put time and effort into cultivating an active server! We'd love to have new members <3

So, why not take a chance, make a wish, and become a magical girl?

[emerysaks]

heyy could you do a fluffy cartinelli fic where they're old ladies living happily ever after

Thanks for the ask! Gal Pals

A/N: This ask is set in 1981 when Raiders of the Ark premiered. The Uptown Theater was a movie theater nestled in Washington, D.C.’s Cleveland Park neighborhood. Built in 1936, it hosted several world premieres, including Jurassic Park, and it was one of the 32 theaters to play Star Wars on opening day.

Peggy ended up in DC with S.H.I.E.L.D. in this universe, and Angie followed.

***

“Hurry up, darling. We’re going to be late!” Peggy glanced at her watch and sighed. After almost 35 years, she should be used to Angie running behind schedule.

“Hold your horses, English. I’m coming,” Angie grumbled as she came into the room. “Some of us had to work today and are exhausted.”

“Were your students troublesome?” Peggy teased. She placed her hand on Angie’s back and ushered her through their front door.

“Summer classes are rarely troublesome, Peg,” Angie corrected. “They just get excited because of the summer musical revue.”

Peggy turned the key in the lock and tugged at it. Satisfied their home was secure, she turned to Angie and offered her arm. Angie slipped her own through and shrugged. “Honestly, I shouldn’t complain. Most of the teachers would kill to have interested students.”

“Most teachers didn’t share the stage with Julie Andrews and Carol Channing,” Peggy observed.

Angie rolled her eyes. “I was in the ensemble. I don’t think Julie knew my name until you showed up and started talking in the same posh accent.”

“Such a lovely woman.”

“Meanwhile,” Angie pressed, “I don’t think my resume impresses my students.”

Peggy let her eyes trail down Angie’s form before resting appreciatively on the soft curves of her bottom. “Perhaps not your male students,” she smirked.

Angie scoffed. “I’m 56, Peggy.”

“And they’re hormone-fueled college students. Trust me, I’ve been to your shows. I’ve seen how their eyes wander,” she growled.

Angie slapped her hand against Peggy’s arm. “Stop it. You’re almost 60.”

“I’ll never be too old for jealousy, darling.”

Angie threw her a sly grin. “Are you too old for other things?”

Peggy tugged her closer. “We don’t have to go to the movie tonight,” she winked.

“Nope! I’ve been dreaming of movie popcorn all week,” Angie told her. “We’re going.” She glanced at Peggy and cleared her throat. “We can talk about that… later.”

“Flirting aside,” Peggy smiled, “your students love you, as evidenced by the waitlist every semester. They’re going to be heartbroken when you retire.”

Angie nodded and smoothed a hand down her dress. “I’ll miss them, too.” She gazed thoughtfully at Peggy. “Was it hard for you? Leaving the field and becoming a Director? I know retiring from teaching college drama isn’t the same, but-”

“Darling, I’ve told you many times. Your job is not lesser than mine.”

“You saved the world from Hydra, Pegs. And aliens. And that one guy who could talk to slugs.” She pursed her lips. “That one was weird, and I still don’t fully understand it.”

“And you educate the minds of future generations,” Peggy interrupted. “I daresay your job is more important.”

“Do you miss it?” Angie pressed again.

Peggy grew pensive. She’d been Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. for over thirty years but still sometimes longed for the adrenaline-fueled missions in a foreign country. She’d always enjoyed fieldwork, and although she occasionally participated in missions here and there, her job these days tended to be at a desk, sifting through requests and dealing with bureaucratic nonsense.  

“I do miss it,” Peggy admitted. “I miss the camaraderie in the field. The satisfaction of capturing an enemy agent. Going to sleep at night sore and bruised but knowing the world’s a little bit safer because of it.”

“I don’t miss it,” Angie told her softly. “I hated nights waiting up for you. Hoping you were safe. Cleaning up your bloodied face and hands. Watching you while you slept and wondering if you’d return the next time you left.”

Peggy sighed. She knew all of that. She’d only been released from the hospital for a few days in March 1977 before she tried to volunteer for a mission her team could handle without her. When Angie found out, a particularly explosive argument ensued. In the end, Peggy had trudged into Howard’s office and told him she needed to scale back fieldwork and focus on how she could best serve S.H.I.E.L.D. from her desk.

“I know, and I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that.”

Angie smiled and bumped her shoulder against Peggy’s. “Well, I probably shouldn’t have said some of those things back then. But,” she continued, “it’s much nicer getting to see you every day. Nice to worry less, too.”

“You might not have to worry if Johnson gets his way,” Peggy scowled. “I’ve never seen someone campaign so hard for an unavailable job.”

“Oh, please,” Angie rolled her eyes. “They’ll have to pry your cold dead body out of that chair before you willingly leave.”

Peggy frowned. “That’s a big dramatic.”

“Am I wrong?”

Peggy smiled but didn’t answer. “Tell me again what we’re seeing?”

***

“Raiders of the Lost Ark?”  Peggy asked, studying the poster plastered outside the Uptown Theater.

“Yup!” Angie grinned.

“Han Solo made a biblical movie?”

Angie laughed and nudged Peggy in the ribs. “Don’t pretend you don’t know the actor’s name. Besides, I know you secretly think Harrison Ford is a dreamboat.”

Peggy turned away from the poster and frowned. “What? No! I merely said he was a nice-looking man.”

“Come on, Pegs. Any time we pass a Star Wars poster, you glance at it appreciatively.”

Peggy huffed. “He’s young enough to be my son.”

Angie giggled. “And Greer Garson was old enough to be my mother, but that didn’t stop me.”

“You always did have a soft spot for English accents,” Peggy murmured affectionately.

“You think?” Angie laughed and slipped her arm back through Peggy’s. “Now, let’s go get some popcorn and find a seat. I’m excited to see Han Solo beat the Nazis.”

Peggy looked startled. “What?”

“You’ll see,” Angie promised. 

***

Peggy found their seats and waited for Angie to sit before taking hers and handing the giant bucket of popcorn Angie had insisted they buy. As she sipped her drink, she watched Angie fish a bag of candy from her purse, followed by another box of Cracker Jack.

“Retrieving a measuring tape or lamp out next?” Peggy asked dryly.

“I understand that reference,” Angie smirked. “And no, I’m not. But I refuse to pay what they want for a box of Cracker Jack.”

“So, you resort to candy smuggling.”

“Whatever it takes, English. I’m saving money. Be grateful.”

Peggy shook her head in amusement and passed the soda to Angie. 

Angie took a long sip and gazed at Peggy. “You know one of the best things about being old ladies now?”

“I thought we established that we’re not old.”

“Hush, grandma.”

Peggy rolled her eyes but said nothing.

“Nobody gives us a second glance when we go out. We’re just two older – okay, middle-aged ladies – spending time together. Best friends. Gal pals.”

Peggy snorted inelegantly. “Gal pals. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that one.”

Angie laughed. “Yep. Gal pals. Getting popcorn and sharing a soda.”

The lights dimmed, and cheers broke out in the theater as the opening credits began to play. 

Peggy felt a warm palm slip into her lap and brush against her thigh. She glanced at Angie. Her lover’s eyes were fixed on the movie screen, but a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. 

Peggy placed her hand over Angie’s and laced their fingers together. She leaned over and felt Angie shudder when her lips brushed against her ear. 

“What else do these gal pals share, darling?”

Angie turned her head until her lips were almost touching Peggy’s. “I promise to tell you all about it when we get home tonight, English.”

Peggy’s pulse quickened, but ever aware of their surroundings, she pulled away and returned her gaze to the screen. Giving Angie’s hand a squeeze, she settled in her seat and watched Indiana Jones swing across a deep chasm, off to seek his ark and adventure.